Datasets:

GPT-JF

/

Corpus_1B

like 0

January 20, 2005 Mr. Speaker, thank you, sir. Senator Trent Lott, thanks for being such a great organizer. This part of this day has gone incredibly well, and I appreciate your hard work. Senator Dodd, Senator Frist, other distinguished Members of the Congress, and some who aren't quite so distinguished laughter it's an honor to be here. I really want to thank you for your hospitality. Laura and I are grateful for your gifts and grateful for your wonderful hospitality. What a day, and what a special lunch. We really appreciate you having us. I appreciate the Justices of the Supreme Court being here. I want you to know how touched I was that Chief Justice came to administer the oath. That was an incredibly moving part of the ceremony. I want to thank the members of my Cabinet who are here. I appreciate General Myers, who is here. And I want to thank all my friends from Texas who have come. I'm surprised that some were able to penetrate the security. Laughter But I appreciate you coming. I'm really proud of Dick Cheney, my Vice President. He is a fabulous man, a man of sound judgment and great character, and I'm honored to serve with you, Dick. I want to thank President Carter and Mrs. Carter for coming and President Clinton and Senator Clinton for joining us today. It means a lot that both former Presidents were here. I thank you very much for the for your presence. I'm also really happy that another former President is with us that would be my dad. Thanks for coming and Mother. Laughter I appreciate Barbara and Jenna. I love them dearly. I thank them for joining the campaign trail. It was the like the camping trip I promised to take them on and never did. Laughter I want to thank my brothers and sisters. They have meant a lot to me. Their unconditional love is an important part of keeping perspective here in the Nation's Capital. I am impressed by this Inaugural ceremony. It is a magnificent event. I think any President who has ever been through one is able to step back and say, "What an impressive moment, not in my life but in the life of the country." It reminds us that we serve a cause larger than ourself. We have one country, one Constitution, and one future that binds us. As leaders, we have a common duty to achieve results for the people, regardless of our political parties. There's important work to be done, and I look forward to working with Members of both Houses and both parties to achieve that job. We have a solemn duty to protect our people and to win the war on terror, and we will. We have other vital duties, and we will strive to achieve results on behalf of the people. I'm eager for the work. I'm looking forward to it, and I hope you are as well. I'm looking forward to putting my heart and soul into this job for 4 more years. Together, we can make this great Nation of ours a safer place and a freer place and a better place for all our fellow citizens. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless our great land. January 18, 2005 At ease. Thanks for the warm welcome. It is such a pleasure to be with the courageous men and women of the United States Armed Forces. As we prepare to celebrate our Nation's 55th Presidential Inauguration, I can think of no better way to begin than by giving thanks for our freedom and those who make it possible. Please be seated. It may be a long speech. Laughter Whether you serve in the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard, each of you has stepped forward to serve. You have risked your lives in faraway mountains and arid deserts, in perilous skies and on the high seas, to defend liberty and to free those trapped by tyranny. As I prepare to take the oath of office, I want you to know how grateful I am for your service and sacrifice and how proud I am to be your Commander in Chief. And I am really proud of our First Lady, my wife. I love her dearly. I appreciate so very much the service and advice and friendship of our Vice President, Dick Cheney. Like me, he married well. Laughter It's good to see my mother and father. Secretary Rumsfeld, thank you for your great service to our Nation, and it's good to see Joyce. I appreciate the military commanders who are here. I want to thank the members of my administration who've joined us, Members of Congress, members of the active military, wounded troops, Congressional Medal of Honor recipients. Family members of our fallen soldiers, thank you so much for being here today. Our troops watching from Baghdad, Iraq, and Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan, God bless you all. I thank Kelsey Grammer what a fine man. I appreciate his patriotism and being the emcee of this fantastic event. I want to thank all the other entertainers who have taken of their time to entertain our troops and really to say what they're doing here is to say, "Thank goodness for your service." The Inauguration of a President is a great moment in the life of our country. With an election behind us, the American people come together in unity to celebrate our freedom. A Presidential Inauguration is a testament to the power of democracy, a symbol of our confidence in the popular will, and a sign of hope for freedom loving people everywhere. We are blessed to live in hopeful times, when the promise of liberty is spreading across the world. In the last 4 years, more than 50 million people have joined the ranks of the free. The people of Afghanistan have thrown off an outlaw regime and chosen a President in the first free elections in that nation's 5,000 year history. And in coming days, the Iraqi people will have their chance to go to the polls, to begin the process of creating a democratic government that will answer to the people, instead of to a thug and a tyrant. These are landmark events in the history of liberty. And none of it would have been possible without the courage and the determination of the United States Armed Forces. Through your service and sacrifice in the war on terror, you are making America safer. You're making America safer for not only those of us who live today but for future generations of Americans. Your sacrifice has made it possible for our children and grandchildren to grow up in a safer world. Many here today have endured long separations from your families. We understand that, and we thank you for that. Some are preparing to do so. Others have suffered terrible injuries, wounds you will carry with you for the rest of your lives. Still others have lost loved ones in this struggle, heroes who gave their lives so that we might live in freedom. We hold them in our hearts we lift them up in our prayers. We're grateful to you, and we are grateful to your families who love and support you. Your families miss you, and they worry about you, and they pray for you, always wondering where you are and if you're safe. By their sacrifice, they also serve. Our Nation is grateful to our military families. You, those who wear our uniform, have given much, and much more will be asked of you in the months and years ahead. In Afghanistan and Iraq, the liberty that has been won at great cost now must be secured. We still face terrorist enemies who wish to harm our people and are seeking weapons that would allow them to kill on an unprecedented scale. These enemies must be stopped, and you are the ones who will stop them. The road ahead will be difficult and dangerous, but we can proceed with courage and with confidence. History moves toward freedom because the desire for freedom is written in every human heart. And the cause of freedom is in the best of hands, the hands of the United States Armed Forces. And so, thank you for your service. Thank you for your sacrifice. May God bless you, and may God bless your families, and may God continue to bless the United States of America. January 14, 2005 The President. Thank you all. Please be seated. Thanks for having me. Laughter It's an honor to be here. I it's kind of nice to be introduced by your brother. Laughter I'm real proud of Jeb. I asked Jeb to take on an important assignment, and that is to travel to the countries that had been hit by the tsunamis. He went with Colin Powell. I couldn't think of two better representatives of the United States of America to show the compassion and heart of the people of the United States of America. For those of you who have given your hard earned dollars to help the victims, I want to thank you for that. I also want to remind you, there's a lot of other work to be done at home and around the world. Please don't let your gift to help the tsunami victims shortchange other vital programs to help feed the hungry and to provide comfort for those who have been those who need help. And so Jeb, thanks for doing a good looking forward to seeing you in Washington here pretty soon. They'll turn down the bed for you. Laughter I Steve, thanks for having me. I'm really looking forward to talking about the importance of the community college system in the United States and in Florida to help make sure that we train people for jobs. That's what we're here to talk about, how to help people improve their lives. And the community college system is a vital part of a hopeful America. So thanks for having me. I want to thank all the folks who teach here. I want to thank the folks who put up with my entourage. Laughter It's quite large these days. Laughter I'm proud to be traveling in the limo today with Mel Martinez, the new United States Senator. I flew down today with Ander Crenshaw, the fine United States Congressman. And also, the mayor came out to say hello. And I appreciate the mayor. Mayor Peyton, thanks for joining us. I appreciate you coming. So there I was with the Senator, the Congressman, the mayor, and the Governor, and guess what we talked about? Laughter We talked about the importance of Jacksonville, Florida, to the security of the United States of America. And I appreciate so very much the very strong presentation these leaders made about the importance of Mayport. I listened very carefully. I know full well that Jacksonville is the home port that most in the United States Navy want to be based at. I fully understand the importance of Mayport and the Navy to the economy of Jacksonville, Florida. I want to thank you, Mr. Mayor, for your willingness to take time out of your schedule to brief me on the realities of the situation here. And I'll take your message back to Washington, DC. I want to thank John Winn, the commissioner of education from this great State of Florida. Just do what the Governor tells you to do. I want to thank laughter isn't that what you told me to say, Jeb? Laughter I want to thank David Armstrong, who's the chancellor of the Community Colleges and of Workforce Education. I want to thank all the State and local officials who are here. I want to thank our panelists. I think you're going to find some interesting stories here. I'm going to try to tell you something about education. They can tell you firsthand what is some of them can tell you firsthand what it's like to go to school at the community college. I think you're going to find it fascinating. I certainly did, during our discussion. I met a fellow named Steve Miller, who mentors low income high school students and helps them prepare for college. Where are you, Steve? There he is, right there. Thanks for coming out. Listen, he is a volunteer, and one of the things one of the important one of the strengths the strength of America is the heart and soul of our citizens. We like to talk about our military representing the strength of America and it does to a certain extent and the size of our wallets representing the strength of America. But the true strength of the United States of America lies in the hearts and souls of our citizens. And I want to thank Steve for taking time out of his life to mentor a child. It's a fantastic gift, and I appreciate the example you have set. And if you want to serve our country, love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. I we've got a lot on the agenda. Obviously, winning the war on terror is still on my mind. And I want to appreciate those of you who wear our Nation's uniform for your sacrifice and for joining our great country's cause of freedom. We will stay on the hunt to bring killers to justice before they hurt us. In the long run, we will defeat the enemy by spreading freedom. And it's been a remarkable 3 months for freedom around the world. People in Afghanistan voted for a President. People in the Palestinian Territory voted for a new leader. And on January the 30th, amazingly enough, the people of Iraq will be going to the polls to elect leadership that will guide this country forward. And I'm so optimistic about the future, because I believe deep in everybody's soul is the desire to live in a free world. I know that mothers of all religions want to raise their child in a peaceful society. And I firmly believe that the more freedom spreads, the more peace will spread. And so I want to thank those in the military for helping us to achieve a grand mission during historic times. At home, we've got to keep this economy growing, and that's why we're going to keep the taxes low. I'm looking forward to Congress to passing a smart budget, one that recognizes we got to be wise about how we spend your money and deal with our deficit. I'm looking forward to Congress to make sure that working with Congress to make sure America is the best place for the small business to grow and flourish. That means we need legal reform we need class action reform, asbestos reform, and medical liability reform. We've got a lot to do. I noticed we've got some young younger folks here today. There you yes. I can't help but look at you and realize we have a responsibility to do something about Social Security. If you're retired, you don't have anything to worry about Social Security, because you're going to get your check. You can forget about the old days of saying, "Well, if they talk about Social Security, I'm not going to get my check." The Social Security trust has got plenty of money in it to take care of those who have retired or near retirement. But if you're a youngster in America, you better understand that by the time if you're in the twenties and by the time you retire, if nothing is done about Social Security, the system will be bust. In other words, there won't be anything available for you. And so I'm going to work with Congress to take on this big problem. We have a problem, and now is the time to fix it. The longer we wait, the harder it is to fix it. And we have a duty to the youngsters of America to make sure the retirement system is available for them. And we have a duty to continue to make sure every child is educated in this country. There are some I've heard that say, "Well, maybe we ought to change the No Child Left Behind Act." Forget it. The No Child Left Behind Act is working. We've set high standards. We believe every child can learn, and we're going to measure to make sure that every child is learning. And when they're not, we'll correct problems early, before it's too late. And here in Florida, I just I can't tell you how proud I am of Jeb and his education initiatives because they're so hopeful. He, like others, just refuses to shuffle kids through the system without making sure there's excellence available for every child. And so I look forward to continuing the education reform, the spirit of high standards to the high school systems in America. I want to work with Congress to get some positive initiatives passed, because we have a duty in the country to make sure that the next generation not only has a retirement system but is educated and literate. Now, to make sure America is the most competitive place in the world, the best place to do business, a place where people can work, we've got to make sure education systems actually educate willing workers for the jobs which exist. And that's why I'm here at the community college system today. The community college system is flexible. It is available. It's got the ability to change a curriculum to meet the needs. It's the demand driven education system, which works. I believe government ought to fund that which works and de fund that which does not work. And the community college system is viable. And that's why I worked with Congress to get 250 million passed last time. It's still in the budget for this time. I'm looking forward to working with Mel and Ander to make sure the community college programs the job training programs is really what they are remains viable. You see, it used to be that they'd say to a State, "Just go educate people." And so all that mattered was the number of people educated. Now we're saying, "Educate people for jobs which exist so that you're actually helping people, not conforming to an empty bureaucratic standard." And that's why, since the community colleges are able to do that, I'm confident and encouraging our Secretary of Labor to continue moving forward with high growth job training initiative grants. I know you've received some from the Federal Government, I think about 4 million worth. It's money well spent. I can confidently tell the taxpayers that the money spent here is making a difference. Somebody else is going to tell you who has got more authority on the subject than I do. That's the person who runs the school. I want to talk about an interesting program that I'm going to submit to Congress, here real quickly, and that is how to make sure the Pell grants work better. Pell grants are really important. Pell grants make it possible for people to go to school who otherwise won't go to school. I'm about to talk to some Pell grant recipients here. We've added about a million students in the last 4 years to the Pell grant program. I think that is money really well spent. I'm going to reform the student loan program to make it more or ask Congress to reform it to make it more effective and efficient, and thereby saving money. We've got a unique way of saving money, and that saved money from the administration of the student loan program will be plowed into the Pell grant program. There's a 4.3 billion shortfall in the Pell grant program. We intend to use the savings from changing how student loans are granted and administrated administered to closing that deficit. We want to increase the Pell grants by 100 a year over 100 per year over the next 5 years. We want to continue to say to students who take rigorous course loads throughout Florida and the country that when you do so and you qualify for a Pell grant, you'll get an extra 1,000 on your Pell grant. In other words, we want to raise the standards and provide incentives for people to aim high in life. And that's what the Pell grants can be used for. And so I'm looking for Congress to get this new program and initiative in place. And finally, I know many of you here are involved with the Workforce Investment Act. It needs to be reformed. It needs to be changed so more people are trained. Right now, the Workforce Investment Act is trains about 200,000 people. I think with some reasonable reforms, some flexibility in the program, less proscription by the United States Congress on how the program is administered, we can double the number of people trained under the Workforce Investment Act for the same amount of money. And that's what we intend to work with Congress on doing. So that's what I'm here to talk about, what Congress can how we can work together to make sure this community college system is viable and vibrant but really to make sure people can find work. That's what it is, to make sure the education system focuses on the needs of the students. Government can help, the Federal Government can help. But it's going to require a collaborative effort between the Federal Government, the State government, and the local government. And that's why I'm so proud that Susan Pareigis is with us today. What do you do? Susan Pareigis. I work for your brother. Laughter The President. That's a heavy lift. Laughter Fine lad, but it's a heavy lift. Laughter Ms. Pareigis. I'm the director for the Agency for Workforce Innovation, and we are really trying here at the local level and at the State level to make sure that we marry the jobs, as you describe, in the marketplace, that we have the students coming out of the education system with the skills and the training that they need at the job site. The President. All right. And so give us some idea of what you and brother are doing to make sure the community college how do you help the community college system? At this point, Ms. Pareigis, director, Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation, Tallahassee, FL, made further remarks. The President. Yes, see, this is a really important point. Government tends to change incrementally, and as it does, there's another set of rules and another set of regulations. And then, sure enough, after a while, you wake up and the money has got a lot of strings to it, and which makes it hard for Governors and Susan to do their job. And so, one of the things this administration will do throughout our budget, in particular today we're talking about the Workforce Investment Act is to provide as much flexibility as possible. That way, we can say with certainty to the taxpayer, "We're results oriented people." As opposed to focusing on the process, we think government ought to focus on the results and give flexibility to those who are charged with making sure we achieve results. And so I want to appreciate you bringing up the flexibility issue. I look forward to working with the Congress to provide as much flexibility as possible. It's very important for those who write the law to understand you've got to make sure you align authority and responsibility. And a good way to do so at the Federal level is to pass the power back to those who we're holding responsible for spending the money. Thank you for bringing it up. Ms. Pareigis. Thank you very much. The President. You got anything else? I notice you're on the President's National Hire Veterans Committee. Thanks for joining. Ms. Pareigis. Thank you for letting me serve. I would tell you that we work with our veterans on a daily basis within the State of Florida. We think they're very strong candidates for the job community, and we're glad to have them. The President. You've got a lot of great veterans here in the Jacksonville area, I know that. Okay, speaking about aligning authority and responsibility Mr. President. Laughter Steven Wallace. Yes, sir. The President. Steve Wallace. How long have you been here? Dr. Wallace. Seven and a half years, Mr. President. The President. Great. Let her rip. Here's your chance to tell us. Laughter Dr. Wallace. Well, first of all, Mr. President, on behalf of the 60,000 students and 4,000 employees of Florida Community College, we welcome you here. We are thrilled The President. Thousand? Dr. Wallace. Yes, sir. The President. That's good. That's a lot. Dr. Wallace. I also want to thank you for your extraordinary support of America's community colleges. The President. Well, thanks for saying that. I appreciate that. I'm proud to do so. You know why? Because they work. Dr. Wallace. And we're getting better all the time. The President. That's good. So give us a sense for what has changed? What do you see in your future? Why are 60,000 people coming here? I mean, it's a pretty good sign when that many people have made a conscious decision to come to your school. Something must be going right. Dr. Wallace, president, Florida Community College at Jacksonville, made further remarks. The President. It's pretty interesting, isn't it, when you think about it. So you get a group of employers come to the community college and say, "Here's what we're looking for," and the community college is able to adjust its curriculum, which is sometimes hard to do in educational in the educational world, adjust its curriculum to meet the needs. That's what you're saying, I think. Dr. Wallace. Absolutely. The President. Whew. Got it right. Laughter You got anything else you want to tell me while you got me? Never mind. Laughter Should we go to Eric? You ready? Eric Mitchell. Yes, sir. The President. Eric, where do you go to school? Mr. Mitchell. I currently attend Florida Community College in Jacksonville. The President. Fabulous. Tell us a little bit I'm not going to ask you how old you are. Laughter Mr. Mitchell. Currently, I'm an engineer here with the Jacksonville Fire Department. The President. Fantastic. Mr. Mitchell, student, Florida Community College, and firefighter engineer, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue, Jacksonville, FL, made further remarks. The President. Right. And so, first you had to make up your mind, obviously. I guess the easier path would have said, "Well, I'm doing okay. I think I'll just do what I'm doing." Somehow, something clicked and said, "I think I'm going to go back to school," right? Mr. Mitchell. Right. The President. Well, see, government can't make you do that. Laughter It's called personal ambition. That comes from your soul. Anyway, so you decide so what happens? Mr. Mitchell. So I decided to go back to school, and an opportunity arose within the department to obtain my paramedic license. And so that's what I'm doing currently right now. And the way that I'm funding that is actually through financial aid, student loans and the Pell grant as well as, this semester, a scholarship. The President. Fantastic. So, in other words, there's help. If somebody's out there listening, you're looking kind of an older guy here, graduated in '95. Not really old laughter compared to me and the old president there laughter but a little older. And you're probably wondering whether or not it makes sense to go back to school. And you're saying, "Well, gosh, I can't afford it." There's plenty of help. You received it. Mr. Mitchell. Yes, I did. The President. And that's helpful. I mean, he's got a son to raise. He's probably wondering how to make sure that he can do be the dad, provide, and at the same time go back to school. There's help you've got to know that the Pell grant program, the loan program. And now, as I understand it, this is kind of an upgrade. In other words, you're able to say if you get this degree, it enables you to maybe make a little more money? Mr. Mitchell. Correct, correct. It opens doors for advancement, as far as promotional. And with 85 to 90 percent of our call volume being EMS related, it actually makes me better at my job. The President. Yes, see, this is important for people to understand, and that is that there's a lot of talk about productivity in our society. Productivity translates to higher wages over time. And one way to become more productive is to get an additional education. And that's what Eric has done. And so he's taking time he's getting loans. But he's going to make a lot more money than he's making today. I'm not going to tell you how much more, because he's afraid the IRS man is watching. Laughter I won't tell him. But I appreciate you coming back to school. I think it means a lot to hear a story about somebody who has been out of school for a while, working in the fire department, sees an opportunity, comes to the community college. It says a lot about you, and it says a lot about the community college. There is a program tailored to meet this man's needs, which I appreciate. All right, here we go. Kim wasn't so sure, when I came barging in the room, that this was such a cool idea after all. Laughter Right? Name, please. Laughter This is Kim Wilkerson, a student at the Florida Community College. Right? Kim Wilkerson. Yes. Hello. The President. Let her go. Went to high school? Ms. Wilkerson. Yes, sir. Laughter The President. She said she likes short answers. Laughter How many children do you have? One. Laughter This is a great story, by the way. We're about to get to it. I'm not telling I mean, it is laughter went to high school and was working for quite a while and decided to go back to school. Ms. Wilkerson. I decided to go back in 1999 after I had my daughter. And I worked dead end jobs, and I realized that a college education was the best way to go to provide for her and myself. The President. Just stop right there. It's kind of like what we call personal responsibility, where so what how did you know what to do? I mean, so it's time to go back to college. There's two issues One, what do you major in, and how is it paid for. That's what people are going to be asking. They say, "Well, I've heard Kim. She said she had to go back to college." Were you able to get financing? Ms. Wilkerson. Yes, sir. I've got Pell grants and loans. The President. Good, so that's made it a little easier to go back? Ms. Wilkerson. Yes, sir. Without that, it would have been impossible to go. The President. That's why Pell grants are important. That's why we want to expand them. That's why we want to make sure they're available, so that people feel comfortable going back. Then how did you know what to do? I mean, how did you know what to major in, what subject to take? Was there help here at the community college, for example, a kind of career counseling? Ms. Wilkerson. Yes. My first choice was addictions counseling. And I realized I really didn't want to go into that. And I went to the Advanced Technology Center and talked with Mr. Lance Wallace, and he gave me a tour. The President. Is Wallace here? He should be. He's about to get national publicity, and he didn't show up. Laughter Anyway, so there's a place where you could go get counseling. The reason we're going through this is that if somebody is listening, there's help. So you go get counseling. Ms. Wilkerson. Yes, sir. I go talk with Lance, and he explains the program that I went into, which is computer engineering technology. The President. That sounds pretty sophisticated, computer engineering technology. Was it intimidating when you first heard that? Ms. Wilkerson. Yes. The President. Yes. And you've mastered it. Ms. Wilkerson. Yes. Well, I'm on my way to mastering it. Laughter The President. Good. That's good. That's what Ms. Wilkerson. And I will have it mastered, so The President. There you go. That's the right attitude. And so the person said, "These are the kind of jobs which exist," I presume Wallace. Ms. Wilkerson. Yes. The President. So, like, if you get the degree, you're liable to find a job in this field, and it interests you. Ms. Wilkerson. Yes, sir. The President. And you said, "Let's get after it." Ms. Wilkerson. Oh, yes. The President. And what's really interesting is that you were being paid maybe 16,000 a year, kind of, in the jobs that you had previously? Is that what you had mentioned to me? Ms. Wilkerson. Yes, sir. The President. And when you get your degree, you'll be eligible for jobs which start at 61,000 a year? Ms. Wilkerson. Yes, sir. The President. Is that right? Ms. Wilkerson. Yes, sir. The President. No doubt in my mind you're going to succeed. Probably be number one in your class, when it's all said and done. Ms. Wilkerson. I am definitely trying. The President. Yes, well, even if you're not, there's others of us who had weren't number one, either laughter if you know what I mean. How about the story, though, seriously? Somebody who has worked a series of jobs, has a responsibility as a mom, hears about the availability of the program. She gets help I presume the school helps people with the loans and Pell grants and, "This is what you quality for." You've got a whole office for that. Dr. Wallace. We have a whole network of offices. The President. And she gets a little takes some time to it must have been a little frightening, I would suspect. Or not I mean, I don't want to put words in your mouth. Laughter So were you confident coming in? I mean, seriously. Ms. Wilkerson. I was very afraid at first. The President. Yes, see, I was right. Ms. Wilkerson. But with great family support, I made it. The President. Now, you're doing great. This is a fantastic this is an important story. It's an important story for a lot of reasons. It's an important story because it shows how effective the community college system can be. It's an important story for those of us at the Federal level who are deciding Pell grants, because a Pell grant has it sounds like but it's there's a human dimension to it when you start hearing how they're applied Pell grants are applied. And it's an important story because if you so desire, there's a pathway for a better tomorrow. And I really want to thank you for sharing it with us. It's great. Ms. Wilkerson. You're welcome. Thank you. The President. Really good job. Ms. Wilkerson. Thank you. The President. Finally, we've got Jim McCollum with us. Jim works for Jim McCollum. BellSouth. The President. That's good. And I believe there is a responsibility in corporate America to work with the community college system and other agencies to help people help themselves. And explain what you do, Jim. I think people find this to be very interesting. Mr. McCollum. Thank you, Mr. President. The President. Make it a little easier to pay the phone bills. Mr. McCollum, regional director, Corporate and External Affairs, BellSouth, Amelia Island, FL, made further remarks. The President. That's great, yes. Thanks. It's a competitive world. Telecommunications is competitive, and these companies are constantly having to update their skill levels. In other words, it used to be if you could handle a shovel, you're in pretty good shape when it came to employment. I'm talking about way back. Laughter Now, all of the sudden, the skill set is completely different and it's changing. And one of the things that Jim said I think is interesting is that we're constantly trying to make our work with our employees to help them become more productive. In other words, it's ongoing education. Education is not just a moment that you quit. There's a constant process, and the community college system fits in nicely with that. I presume you're pretty well linked up with the president there. Mr. McCollum. Well, I also I do know Dr. Wallace. I also have the opportunity to be to serve on the board for his Advanced Technology Center, and if I could explain that The President. I wish you would. Helps you. Mr. McCollum. Rather than just opening another division of the college to meet the needs of future work skills, we collaborated the local, political, and private and public and educational sectors, and with Susan and Governor Bush in Tallahassee, and said, "Let's look at the type of jobs and type of companies that we want to bring to northeast Florida." And we did that, and we said, "Okay, here's the type of companies," and we did studies. And then we said, "Okay, what are those specific skill sets?" We went to Dr. Wallace, met with them, and they said, "Well, why don't we just develop the technology center," which we did. And it addresses those very specific companies that we want to bring in here so that when we do, they will be graduating employees that will come out and go to work. The President. Yes, that's really smart. Nice going, Mayor. This is a smart chamber of commerce people who are responsible for attracting capital and jobs to a community is one which effectively utilizes the community college system. If people a company knows that they're going to find a skilled workforce, they're coming. And I appreciate you bringing up that point. It makes sense. So how many businesses are actively involved with the community college system, would you say? Are you the right person to ask? Maybe Dr. Wallace knows that. Mr. McCollum. We've got 4,000 businesses that are members of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, and I don't know the exact number within The President. A lot? Mr. McCollum. But I would say 75 percent would be a very easy number. The President. No wonder this is such a vibrant community. It is utilizing all its assets to continually to make this Jacksonville an attractive place for a lot of reasons, and got anything else you want to say? Mr. McCollum. Just thank you for being here, and thank you for the job you're doing. The President. Yes, thanks. Listen, I applause thanks. I want to thank our the folks sitting up here, willing to get in front of all the cameras and talk. Laughter You can get used to it. Laughter But I hope you found this interesting. I certainly did. I love to see success. And I think part of my job is to herald success, and part of the job of those of us who have been elected is to focus on success, which means results. And we're getting fantastic results all around our country from our wonderful community college system. Jeb told me that coming to when I came to Jacksonville, I'd see one of the great community college systems in the country. I suspect he's right, Dr. Wallace. You get a lot of credit for it. And you get a lot of credit for being able to attract well motivated, incredibly smart students. So I want to thank you all for coming today. May God bless you all. May God continue to bless our country. January 13, 2005 War on Terror Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunamis Disaster Relief The President. Mr. Secretary, thank you very much for the briefing that we just had. The Secretary arranged for a briefing from Admiral Fargo and our commanders on the ground who are providing organization and handling the relief effort for the victims of the tsunamis. I got to tell you, our military is making a significant difference in providing relief and aid and help and compassion for those who have suffered. I am very impressed, Mr. Secretary, by how quickly we have responded and the assets that you have ordered deployed to help these people. And there's a lot of talk about how some in the world don't appreciate America. Well, I can assure you that those who have been helped by our military appreciate America. We also talked about the war on terror. We're constantly reviewing our strategy as to how to defeat the enemy fully recognize that the war on terror will require a coordinated effort within our own Government as well as a coordinated effort with the countries around the world which understand the stakes of this war. I am pleased with the response from around the world, appreciate so many nations understanding that we must work together to defeat these killers. I'm mindful of the fact that we have constantly have got to review our plans and never lose our will. So, Mr. Secretary, thanks for the briefing. It was a very good briefing, and you're doing a fine job on behalf of the American people. Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld. Thank you, sir. The President. Thank you all. January 11, 2005 Good morning. I'm pleased to announce my nomination of Judge Michael Chertoff to be the Secretary of Homeland Security. Mike is a talented and experienced public servant. In his stellar career, he has been a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit he's been an Assistant Attorney General of the United States he's been the U.S. Attorney for New Jersey a Federal prosecutor in New York City and a law clerk to Supreme Court Justice William Brennan. He's been confirmed by the Senate three times. In all of his roles, Mike has shown a deep commitment to the cause of justice and an unwavering determination to protect the American people. Mike has also been a key leader in the war on terror. On September the 11th, 2001, he was managing the Criminal Division of the Department of Justice, an 800 person operation devoted to enforcing our Nation's criminal laws. In the days after September the 11th, Mike helped trace the terrorist attacks to the Al Qaida network. He understood immediately that the strategy on the war on terror is to prevent attacks before they occur. His energy and intellect put him at the center of many vital homeland security improvements, especially increased information sharing within the FBI and with State and local officials. He's faced countless challenging decisions and has helped to protect his fellow Americans while protecting their civil liberties. I'm grateful that the judge has agreed to bring his exceptional judgment and integrity to an urgent new responsibility. I'm confident that he will be a strong, effective leader for the Department of Homeland Security. Two years ago, we created this new Department to ensure a comprehensive, unified effort to protect the American people against new dangers. Since that time, the employees of the Department have carried out the largest reorganization of the Government in a half a century. Under the direction of Secretary Tom Ridge, the Department of Homeland Security has improved airline security, enhanced the protection of our borders and ports of entry, and taken vital steps to safeguard the Nation's critical infrastructure. Tom Ridge has the gratitude of our entire Nation. I thank him for his leadership. I appreciate his hard work. The Department of Homeland Security will also continue working to reduce the Nation's vulnerabilities to weapons of mass destruction and cyberterrorism. We are engaged in a daily mission to prepare effective responses to any future attack and to closely coordinate homeland security efforts with State and local officials. Our Nation is still at war. We're focused. We're taking decisive actions on the homefront that are critical to winning this war. When Mike is confirmed by the Senate, the Department of Homeland Security will be led by a practical organizer, a skilled manager, and a brilliant thinker. As head of the Criminal Division and as a U.S. Attorney in New Jersey, Mike built an impressive record of cutting through redtape and moving organizations into action. He's worked cooperatively with the Federal and State and local law enforcement officials. He will always be a friend to America's first responders. Mike is a strong and decent man. As an attorney, he has prosecuted organized crime and corporate fraud. He stood against racial profiling. He's worked with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to represent poor inmates on death row. He's earned the respect of lawyers of many backgrounds and of politicians on both sides of the aisle. This is the third time I've asked Mike to serve our Nation, and I'm grateful he's agreed. I'm also grateful to Meryl, Mike's wife, and his family. I urge the Senate to promptly confirm this outstanding nominee as America's second Secretary of Homeland Security. Congratulations, Mike. January 07, 2005 The President. I want to thank the Secretary of the Treasury, John Snow, for being here today. I also want to thank my friend Senator Senators Connie Mack and John Breaux for agreeing to head a group of citizens who will be exploring ways to simplify the Tax Code. I believe this is an essential task for our country. It's a task that will treat our taxpayers more fairly. A simple code will make it easier on the taxpayers. But it's an important task in order to make sure the economic growth we are seeing in the United States continues forward. Today we had a very positive set of numbers to come out to show that more and more Americans are finding work 159,000 new jobs were added in December, and that doesn't include the revisions from previous months. And that's positive news. And the fundamental question is how can the administration and the Congress continue to make changes so to keep this economy growing, to make sure we're the best place in the world to do business. Today I'm going to Detroit to talk about legal reform. These fine, distinguished citizens will be taking a good, hard look at the Tax Code and coming up with recommendations as to how to make sure the Tax Code encourages economic vitality and growth. It seems like to me the Tax Code today discourages economic vitality and growth when you spend billions of hours filling out the forms. And so I want to thank you all for taking on this important job. I told the members the former Senators and members of this committee that I am firm in my desire to get something done. We're going to take their work, and we'll go to the Congress and say, "Let's work together to achieve something very constructive for the American people." And so thanks for taking this on. Senator Breaux. Glad to do it. The President. These are distinguished citizens of our country, and I'm proud you're here. Senator Breaux. Thank you. Senator Mack. Look forward to doing it. The President. Yes, you're doing a good job. Let me answer some questions. Hunt Terence Hunt, Associated Press . Upcoming Iraqi Elections Q. Mr. President, former National Security Adviser Brent Scowcroft had a gloomy assessment about Iraq's elections. He said that they would probably deepen the conflict, increase divisions between the Shiite and Sunni Muslims, and that Iraq would slip into an incipient civil war. Do you share those concerns? The President. Quite the opposite. I think elections will be such an incredibly hopeful experience for the Iraqi people. Remember, these are people that lived in a society where, if they didn't toe the line of the leadership, they'd be tortured or killed or maimed. And all of a sudden, a new way of life is being introduced into Iraq, a chance for people to express their beliefs and their opinions. I believe democracies can take hold in parts of the world that have been condemned to tyranny. And I believe when democracies take hold, it leads to peace. That's been the proven example around the world. Democracies equal peace, and that's what we're trying to achieve in this administration. Steve Holland Reuters . Threat of Terrorist Attacks During Upcoming Iraqi Elections Q. Yes, sir. The President. Yes, there you are. Q. General Metz says he can't guarantee that every Iraqi who wants to vote will be able to because of security. Can there be a legitimate election if not everybody is able to vote? The President. Fourteen of the eighteen Provinces appear to be relatively calm. Four of the eighteen Provinces are places where the terrorists are trying to stop people from voting. And the reason they're trying to stop people from voting is because they understand that democracies stand in the exact opposite to what they believe. These are people who want to try to impose their will on people. These are people just like the Taliban, just like Usama bin Laden who have this dim vision of the world that says, "If you do not agree with us, then you're of no count." And they're trying to stop people from voting. And the job of the United States military is to do the best job we can to give every citizen the best chance they can to vote and to participate. Democracy is hard. Our own country has had a history of kind of a bumpy road toward democracy. And we'll do the very best we can, but what is important is that the Iraqi people for the first time have a chance to vote. And it was hard leading up the Afghan elections, as you remember. There was a lot of talk about how the somebody was going to get killed, and they couldn't vote. And sure enough, when people were given a chance, millions of people showed up, and the first voter was a woman in a country where women had been savaged by the former government run by the Taliban. So, look, I know it's hard, but it's hard for a reason. And the reason it's hard is because there are a handful of folks who fear freedom. And the job of the world that that those of us in the world who desire for there to be peace is to be aggressive in the spread of freedom, is to stand with those brave citizens in Iraq who want to vote. And that's exactly what we will do. Go ahead. Followup? Spread of Democracy in the Middle East Q. Are you worried about Sunni participation? You were talking to President Mubarak and King Abdullah earlier in the week. The President. Well, I want everybody to vote. And I understand that parts of the Sunni area are being targeted by these killers. And their message is, "If you vote, we'll kill you." But their real message is, is that, "We can't stand democracy." And if the free world steps back and lets these people have their way, it will be, "We can't stand democracy here," and then "We can't democracy there." And we'll never address the root causes of terror and hatred, which is frustration caused by tyranny. This administration firmly believes that if people are given a right to express themselves in a ballot in the ballot box and in the public square and through a free and open press, it will lead to peace. If we step back and allow for tyrannies to exist and people not to be free, the world our children will grow up in will be a hostile world. And this is a big moment for the Iraqi people. It wasn't all that long ago that a lot of people said, "Iraqi people will never vote at all." I think it's constructive now we're beginning to worry about the size of the turnout. It's something I was worried about right here two months ago, the size of the turnout. But the positive, incredibly amazing development, when you take a step back and look at history, is that Iraqi citizens will actually be allowed to go vote. And they will elect an assembly. And I think one of the things, Steve, you ought to be looking at is the nature of the assembly, who gets elected. And that's what we're certainly going to be looking at because this assembly will then be deciding the constitution of the country of Iraq. And I look at the elections as a historical marker for our Iraq policy. It is an interesting point. And we look forward to working with the new Government that comes out of that out of these elections. Yes, John John Cochran, ABC News . Democratically Elected Government in Iraq Q. If I could follow that up, sir, a couple of things. You said, "Look at the assembly." Are you concerned that maybe the Sunnis won't vote enough and that the Sunnis will not be well represented in the assembly? And are you concerned, as Secretary Rumsfeld is he's sending this retired four star general over are you concerned about our military policy in Iraq that it's not doing enough to control the insurgents? The President. Look, I think what you're beginning to see is a an assessment of how to make sure our policy dovetails with the elections and the post election period. You see, our policy all along has been We'll help these people get to the elections, and there will be elections. And then once the elections take place, we look forward to working with the newly constituted Government to help train Iraqis as fast as possible so they can defend themselves. See, part of a successful strategy is one that says there'll be elections and the political process will be going forward but one in which the Iraqis assume more and more responsibility for their own security. And that's precisely why the assessment team is going to Iraq, to make sure that at this historic moment in the history of Iraq, there is a focused, determined strategy to help the new Government and the new and the the new Government to stand up the forces necessary to defend themselves because ultimately the success in Iraq is going to be the willingness of the Iraqi citizens to fight for their own freedom. Q. So you're not dissatisfied? The President. I think we're making great progress. We're having elections on January the 30th. It's going to be an historic moment. I suspect if you were asking me questions 18 months ago and I said there was going to be elections in Iraq, you would have had trouble containing yourself from laughing out loud at the President. But here we are at this moment, and it's exciting times for the Iraqi people. And it's so exciting, there are some who are trying to intimidate people from going to the polls. And I appreciate listen, our military is doing great work over there. Q. And the Sunnis? The President. Well, I talked to President Yawr the other day. He's a Sunni. I said, "How's your campaign going?" He said, "It's going fine." He's out there trying to convince people to vote for him. There are Sunnis throughout the different tickets and slates, and we, of course, hope everybody votes. And our job is to try to provide as much security along with the Iraqis to give people a chance to express their will. And no doubt about it, there are people trying to kill people who want to vote. That's and they make it clear, "If you vote, we'll kill you." But it's very important to understand why they're doing that, John. They're doing that because the thought of a democracy in that part of the world is the most frightening thing to the terrorists. They cannot stand the thought of freedom in their midst. And there's a reason, because free societies are societies that actually listen to the will of the people. The people get to decide the course of their of the history of their country, not a few tyrants who are willing to use brutality in order to set the direction of the country. And we're going to stand with those who love freedom. And we'll stand with those who want to vote. Thank you all very much. January 05, 2005 The President. Thank you all. Please be seated. Thanks for coming out to say hello. It's great to be in southern Illinois. I appreciate the chance to come to Madison County. I'm honored to be the first sitting President to visit the city of Collinsville. I'm sorry Laura is not with me. Audience members. Aw w w! Laughter The President. That is generally the reaction. Laughter I was hoping she and I could go look at the Catsup Bottle. Laughter Thanks for waiting on me. I had a visit with some of the some folks from the area here, a neurosurgeon, a cardiologist, the administrator of a hospital, ob gyn, a patient, all about the health care crisis that exists here in this part of the world. And that's what I'm here to talk about. I'm here to talk about how we need to fix a broken medical liability system. I want to thank all the good folks who provide health care for the folks in this part of the world, the nurses, the docs, the administrators. Thank you all for coming. Thanks for your compassion. Thanks for your care. Thanks for taking an active interest in an important issue that faces not only this part of the world but the country. But really what I'm here to do is to make say as clearly as I can, the United States Congress needs to pass real medical liability reform this year. And there's no doubt in my mind we have a strong ally in this issue in the great Speaker of the House of Representatives from the great State of Illinois, Denny Hastert. And I want to thank Congressman John Shimkus for his leadership not only on this issue but on other issues. It's good to be with his wife, Karen, again, sons, David, Joshua, and Daniel. Nice to see you boys. And you brought Mom and Dad. Your mom is probably telling you what to do, just like mine is. Laughter You're probably listening about half the time, just like I am. Laughter Welcome. I'm also proud to be traveling today with a great Congressman from Peoria, Illinois, Ray LaHood. Thank you, sir. Appreciate you coming. The State Treasurer of Illinois has joined us, Judy Baar Topinka. Appreciate you. Tom Cross is here. He's the minority leader in the house. I'll tell you what he's doing in the house of representatives for the State of Illinois He is leading the medical liability reform effort. And I want to thank you, Tom, for taking a strong role. Appreciate you coming. I know the mayor is here. Mr. Mayor yes, he's here, Stan Schaeffer. I appreciate you coming, Mr. Mayor. Appreciate you being here. I usually like to give mayors unsolicited advice Fill the potholes. Laughter You've probably got some advice for me Pass the highway bill. Laughter I want to thank those of you who are working on this medical liability issue here in the State of Illinois. I appreciate your efforts. Look, it's about time the medical profession gets involved. It's about time you let people know what's on your mind. It's time to make sure that the issue comes to the forefront not only at the Federal level but at the local level as well. I want to thank Connie Bergmann. I met Connie. She came out to the airport airbase, and kind of airbase airport combo, I guess it is. She is a volunteer for the American Red Cross. The reason I bring her up is, every stop I make in America I like to herald a citizen who's taken time out of his or her life to volunteer to make the country a better place. See, the great strength of America is not our military might, and it's certainly not the size of our wallets. The great strength of America lies in the hearts and souls of our fellow citizens, people who are willing to love a neighbor just like they'd like to be loved themselves, people who are willing to take time to volunteer to make America a better place. And Connie Bergmann is such a person. And I want to thank you for serving the Red Cross. And speaking about the Red Cross, the International Red Cross is doing heroic work in a part of the world that has suffered incredible, incredible death and destruction. The American people express our sympathy to the victims of the tsunami disasters. Yesterday I spoke to Secretary of State Colin Powell and Governor Jeb Bush of Florida, who I sent on a delegation with a delegation to assess the relief operations. And they reported in that the devastation is beyond comprehension. They also reported in that they will come back with an assessment about how we can more effectively help. But they also reported that our military is doing heroic work in helping to save life. They're flying rescue missions 24 hours a day. They're making a huge difference in the people's lives over there by delivering supplies directly to those in need. Our Government has not only stepped up with the use of military assets, but we have pledged 350 million in disaster assistance to help the people over there who are suffering. There's huge generosity here in America as well. As you know, I tapped a couple of ex Presidents laughter number 41 and number 42, to help out. I asked them to help, and they are. My dad and President Clinton have graciously given of their time to help make sure that people know there is a need and to make sure the donations are properly channeled into programs that work. If you want to help, get on the Internet for the USA www.usafreedomcorps.gov. There's a place to help. And on that web page, you'll find different agencies which are doing the good work. What I don't want is, I don't want people to be sending money to places that aren't really doing the job. We don't need to support organizations that aren't effectively delivering compassion and help. And so on this web page, you'll find a way to help, if you so desire to do so. What they tell me is, the most important contribution a person can give is cash, and let the agencies on the ground be able to use that cash to best meet the needs of those who have suffered. I want to thank all the Americans who thus far have been participating in this urgent cause. You're showing the true strength of America through your good heart. I don't know if you know this This is my first trip after the New Year. And it's good to come here to Illinois. I'm rested and ready to continue to serve to be your to continue to be your President and to serve the people of this country. And we've got a big agenda item a big agenda and a series of items that we'll be dealing with. First of all, we're going to win the war on terror. We've still got to we will be steadfast. We will be resolved. We'll be wise. We won't give in to these people. We have a duty in your Government to protect the American people. So the second big task at hand is to make sure we do everything we can to protect our homeland. And I will assure you I will continue to work to spread freedom and democracy and, therefore, peace in parts of the world that are desperate for freedom, democracy, and peace. We're going to work with the Congress to be wise about how we spend your money. We're going to keep your taxes low so this economy continues to grow. We're going to continue to work with our farmers and ranchers to make sure they can sell the products overseas, in markets where people need food and beef and pork. We're going to work to pass a national energy plan. We're going to work to cut our deficit in half over the next 5 years. And I look forward to working with members of both political parties to do something about our health care system. First, it is important for Americans to understand we have the best health care system in the world. And we need to keep it that way. We've got the best hospitals, both urban and rural. We've got the world's most talented and compassionate doctors and nurses. And we've got the world's and we lead the world in innovative research. We're on the cutting edge of change. We're saving lives through our research. Americans should be proud of our medical system, and we all must be grateful for those who work hard to provide compassion and care. Our health care system faces serious challenges. We all know that. The cost of health care is rising rapidly, and that burdens our families. It hurts our small businesses. It makes it harder for the job creators to expand the job base. Too many Americans are left struggling to find affordable health care. And so I think we need to take practical steps to make sure this health care system of ours is more affordable and available, and we've got to take those steps this year. To improve health care in America, we need to expand the use of health savings accounts. It's a product that lets you save tax free for routine medical care while keeping affordable coverage against major illness. Small businesses must be allowed to join together, to pool risk so they can buy insurance for their employees at the same discounts that big businesses are able to do. To address the cost of medical care, we need to apply 21st century information technology to the health care field. We need to have our medical records put on the IT. We need to make sure that we speed up the delivery and arrival of cheaper generic drugs to help control costs. We want to make sure our Medicare system still allows seniors to have choice in the system. There's a lot we can do. We've got to make sure we expand community health centers around our country to provide care for the poor and the indigent. And we've got to make sure low income children are enrolled in government health care programs so they receive the care they need. These are practical steps to help people be able to find health care at affordable prices and, at the same time, make sure the health care system is not run by the Federal Government but by patients and doctors. To make sure our health care system works the way we want it to work, we've got to address the root causes of rising medical costs. Part of addressing those costs can be achieved by introducing information technology. Part of addressing those costs can be achieved by introducing generic drugs faster, just like I mentioned. Some of the cost increases in our health care system are necessary and worthwhile. After all, research into new treatments requires major investments. World class medical technology is expensive. In other words, to stay on the leading edge of medicine, it costs money. And I suspect somebody whose life has been saved by the latest technology is going to say that cost increase was necessary. But some costs are not necessary. And that's what the American people must understand and Members of the United States Senate and the United States House must understand. Many of the costs that we're talking about don't start in an examining room or an operating room they start in a courtroom. What's happening all across this country is that lawyers are filing baseless suits against hospitals and doctors. That's just a plain fact. And they're doing it for a simple reason They know the medical liability system is tilted in their favor. Jury awards in medical liability cases have skyrocketed in recent years. That means every claim filed by a personal injury lawyer brings the chance of a huge payoff or a profitable settlement out of court. That's what that means. Doctors and hospitals realize this. They know it's expensive to fight a lawsuit, even if it doesn't have any merit. And because the system is so unpredictable, there is a constant risk of being hit by a massive jury award. So doctors end up paying tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars to settle claims out of court, even when they know they have done nothing wrong. That's what's happening in the system today. It's a system that's just not fair. It's costly for the doctors. It's costly for small businesses. It's costly for hospitals. It is really costly for patients. When those providing insurance have to pay the bills for enormous jury verdicts or out of court settlements, they have to raise premiums on physicians they cover. Specialists in high risk practices like ob gyn or neurosurgery are particularly vulnerable to lawsuits, so their premiums rise the fastest. You're about to hear a couple of stories of folks in this area who can testify to that fact. Because junk lawsuits are so unpredictable, they drive up insurance costs for all doctors, even for those who have never been sued, even for those who have never had a claim against them. When insurance premiums rise, doctors have no choice but to pass some of the costs on to their patients. That means you're paying for junk lawsuits every time you go to see your doctor. That's the effect of all the lawsuits. It affects your wallet. If you're a patient, it means you're paying a higher cost to go see your doctor. If part of the national strategy has got to be to make sure health care is available and affordable, health care becomes less affordable because of junk lawsuits. And that's what the people of southern Illinois and the people of America must understand, that every time you read about big jury verdicts or out of court settlements or lawsuits being filed here or there, you're paying for it. For some physicians, even raising costs for patients isn't enough to afford the premium increases caused by these lawsuits. And so physicians are faced with a terrible choice give up medicine entirely, or to move to another place where they can afford to practice medicine. And that problem affects all doctors, from family practitioners in rural towns to surgeons in big city hospitals. In 2003, almost half of all American hospitals lost physicians or reduced services because of medical liability concerns. Think about that One half of all American hospitals lost physicians. Over the past 2 years, the liability crisis has forced out about 160 physicians in Madison and St. Clair counties alone. When doctors move or close their practices, guess who suffers the patients, the people who live in these good towns in this part of the world. Pregnant women have to travel longer distances for checkups. Accident victims lose critical minutes in transit to faraway emergency rooms. New residents, people you're trying to get to come and live in your communities, have a hard time finding doctors willing to accept extra patients. And that causes the quality of life in your community to deteriorate. It's a problem that we must address. America's health care professionals should be focused on fighting illnesses, not on fighting lawsuits. Junk lawsuits change the way docs do their job. Instead of trying to heal the patients, doctors try not to get sued. Makes sense, doesn't it? If you're worried about getting sued, you're going to do everything you can to make sure you don't get sued. That's why doctors practice what's called defensive medicine. That means they're writing prescriptions or ordering tests that really aren't necessary, just to reduce the potential of a future lawsuit. They have specialists who stop taking emergency room calls. Doctors turn away patients with complicated, life threatening conditions because they carry the highest risk for a lawsuit. Defensive medicine drives a wedge between the doctors and the patients, and defensive medicine is incredibly costly for our society. Altogether, defensive medicine drains some 60 to 100 billion dollars from the economy. Defensive medicine raises medical bills for patients and increases insurance costs for employers, and it takes money away that small businesses could use to invest and expand. This liability system of ours is, what I'm telling you, is out of control. And you have people in this area and the doctors in this area understand what I'm talking about. A recent study ranked Madison County the number one place in the country for trial lawyers to sue. And that's a ranking I'm sure you'd like to get rid of. And those of you traveling in from St. Clair County aren't doing much better. Laughter St. Clair is ranked the second county in America where you're likely to get sued. In other words, if you see a team of trial lawyers spending a lot of time in the Collinsville area, you can be pretty sure they're not looking for horseradish. Laughter Let me share some of the stories of the folks I met with today. I think this will help clarify what I'm trying to say to you. Dr. Chris Heffner is with us. He's a neurosurgeon from Belleville Memorial and St. Elizabeth Hospitals. Raise your hand, Doc. He is one of only two neurosurgeons still practicing south of Springfield, Illinois. You've got two people in the area. In just 2 years, his annual premiums have more than doubled from 131,000 a year to 265,000 a year. And at the same time, his amount of insurance coverage has been cut in half. A few years ago, Chris decided that closing his head trauma part of his practice was the only way he could afford to stay in this area. He told me he loves living here in this part of the world. He likes to raise his family here. He and his wife made a tough decision to stay here, in spite of the fact that his premiums doubled and he got half the coverage. And so the only way he could stay here and to provide a level of care that he wants everybody to have was to cut out part of his practice. He still treats dozens of patients with spinal cord injuries, but now brain trauma victims in southern Illinois have to be airlifted across the river to St. Louis. He said, "It's very distressing. I spent years of training to do brain surgery. It's a big part of my life. I made a commitment to stay here, but I had to make adjustments to keep the ax from falling." The system needs to be fixed. Dr. Greg Gabliani is with us. He's from Alton, and he is a cardiologist. He was raised in Quincy, and he moved to Madison County in 2001, even though his colleagues warned him about the medical liability crisis here. In 3 years, his premiums have risen from 12,500 to 60,000 a year 3 quick years. Last year he had to stop performing certain procedures to bring his costs under control. He said, "You either have to change the nature of your practice, or you have to leave." He didn't want to leave, so he's having to cut back on his services. We've got a problem, folks. I met with Bob Moore. He's the CEO of Red Bud Regional Hospital. That's big Bob. He's a father of six, I want you to know. Laughter His hospital has a long tradition of delivering babies, but this past November, he made the difficult decision to close his ob unit. The malpractice see, he had the they employ the doctors in his hospital. They become the employer. They're going to cover the insurance for them, and it doubled from 150,000 to 270,000 more than doubled. They're paying 270,000 a year now. That's a lot for a little hospital in a small town. Maybe for a big hospital, it's not a lot, or for those of us who are used to dealing with the Federal budget, it's not a lot. Laughter It's a lot for a small town hospital. Red Bud used to handle 120 deliveries a year. But now a lot of the women have to drive an hour to get to an ob unit. He said, "You wouldn't get an ob gyn to come here. It's affecting rural medicine." "It" happens to be the medical liability crisis, is affecting rural medicine. Lawsuits are affecting rural medicine. It's a societal issue that has to be dealt with. I couldn't put it any better, Bob. It is a societal issue that we must deal with. It is a quality of life issue. We don't want our little towns being not having any health care. We want people who live in rural America, like Crawford, Texas laughter to be able to get to have a quality of life applause . Leslie Scariano is with us. She is an ob gyn from Alton. She spent her entire career as a doctor in southern Illinois, and she has never been sued. She is a good doc. She shut down her practice on December the 31st of this year because her premiums have skyrocketed out of control. That means she couldn't afford to stay in practice. She had a choice to make quit practicing medicine, or go broke. She said, "I don't want to quit practicing medicine and I'm not going broke, so I'm going to move to Colorado." You lost a good soul from this part of the world because the system is out of control. Leslie's premiums will be about 80 percent lower in Colorado than here in Illinois. I met with Kim Vogel, who is right with us yes, there she is. She was one of Leslie's patients. She's expecting her second child early next month like, soon. Laughter When she found out she was pregnant last year, Kim started seeing the ob gyn that delivered her daughter, Katie. That ob gyn moved to Tennessee. Then she started seeing Leslie. Leslie is moving to Colorado. Kim is now on her third ob gyn, and she's worried about it. She said, "I understand the doctors' position. I don't blame them. But as a patient, I see them leave and I think, what am I going to do now, and where does that leave me? I feel like I've lost control over how my pregnancy will go." Unfortunately, this is not just a story confined to this part of the world. This is a story of pregnant moms all over America who are wondering whether or not they're going to be able to find good quality health care for their child and themselves. I've come to this part of the world because I want to assure you that, one, I understand the problem and I intend to work with Congress to do something about it. You know, when I was the Governor of Texas, I felt that we could solve medical liability issues at the State level. And there was two things wrong with that strategy. One is that a State would pass good medical liability reform, and all the trial lawyers would do is go to the State that has lousy medical liability law. So you're not solving the problem, you're just shifting the problem. You're making the quality of life issue go from one area the deterioration of quality of life issue go from one area to the next. That didn't seem to make any sense. But the other thing I discovered is that because of medical liability problems and lawsuits and increasing premiums and the defensive practice of medicine, your Federal budget spends 28 billion a year, extra money. See, we have to pay for Medicaid and Medicare and veterans' benefits. The rising cost of health care, the number of lawsuits, the defensive practice of medicine is driving up the cost to our taxpayers. Medical liability reform is a national issue, and it requires a national solution. So I went to Congress with some proposals that I think are fair, proposals that will build confidence in the judicial system. Nobody likes to come to a part of the world that says the judicial system is out of control, and people lose confidence in it. We've got to have confidence in the fairness of our system. We want people who are harmed to be able to get have their day in court and get fair treatment in the courts of law. But we want we don't want a system that's so tilted the other way that it runs good doctors out of business and makes it hard for hospitals to deliver care. I believe a victim of a legitimate medical error should be allowed to collect full economic damages, 100 percent of the cost of their medical care and recovery plus economic losses for the rest of their life. Seems to be fair, if you get hurt. And when appropriate, injured people should be allowed to collect reasonable noneconomic damages. And in the case of truly egregious wrongdoing, patients should be entitled to punitive damages. But there needs to be some reason when it comes to noneconomic damages in the system, and that's why I proposed a hard cap of 250,000 on noneconomic damages. Interestingly enough, the State of California has a cap on noneconomic damages that was enacted in 1975. Patients in that State see their claims settled a third faster than in States without those limits. In other words, patients are treated more fairly where there's a cap. And since 1975, insurance premiums for California doctors have become much more affordable premiums than anywhere else in the country than in most States. Caps on noneconomic damages work. It's a good idea, and the Congress ought to adopt them. We have another problem with our legal system, and that is trial lawyers sometimes sue all the doctors involved in the patient's case even if most of the doctors have nothing to do with the patient's injuries. It's simply unfair to punish doctors who have done nothing wrong. And so to make sure doctors and hospitals are treated fairly, Congress needs to pass joint and several liability reform. I think the people are beginning to understand the importance of this issue. I know you do. I know the people of this part of the world understand it, because you see firsthand what happens when the system gets out of control 160 docs leave 2 counties. People understand that no patient has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit no small business has ever grown because of a frivolous lawsuit the cause of justice is never served by frivolous lawsuit. I know you're serious about this liability issue here. I talked about it everywhere I went on the campaign nearly everywhere I went on the campaign trail, and I believe the voters made their position clear on election day about medical liability. The House passed a good medical liability reform bill last year. I want to thank the two Members of Congress for working on it. The Senate failed to get the job done. Well, the new Congress is starting over, you know. We've got a new chance to get something done for the on behalf of the American people. Both Houses will have a fresh opportunity to address this issue. I'm looking forward to working with the leadership of the House to get the bill moving. It's important for the United States Senators from this State and other States to recognize the significance of the problem and get a meaningful, real medical liability bill to my desk so I can sign it in the year 2005. Junk lawsuits affect more than just the medical field. According to a recent study, frivolous litigation has helped drive the total cost of our tort system to more than 230 billion a year. That's the equivalent of 3,200 for every family of four. The lawsuit burden falls especially hard on small businesses. And yet small businesses are the engine of job are the engines of job creation in our country. Seventy percent of all new jobs in America are created by small businesses. The tort costs in America are now far higher than in any other major industrialized nation. Think about that. We live in a competitive world. This is a global economy, and so our tort system has become a needless disadvantage for American manufacturers and entrepreneurs. And so here are some actions Congress can take as well. To protect small businesses and workers, we need to change the way we handle class action lawsuits. Interestingly enough, this is another problem you know well in Madison County. The number of class actions filed here increased by over 5,000 percent between 1998 and 2003, even though the vast majority of defendants named in those suits are not actually from Madison County. Think about that. These massive interstate class actions clog your local courts. They hurt the honest workers and communities of the businesses targeted by the class action lawyers. The proper place for large interstate class actions to be tried is not in a local court but rather in a Federal court, which are designed applause . I look forward to working with both bodies and members of both parties to get good class action reform out of the Congress this year. I'll also work with Congress to reform asbestos litigation. Asbestos lawsuits in southern Illinois and elsewhere have led to the bankruptcy of dozens of companies and cost tens of thousands of jobs. Many asbestos claims are filed on behalf of people who are not sick. The volume of asbestos lawsuits is beyond the capacity of our courts to handle, and it is growing. More than 100,000 new asbestos claims were filed last year alone. Congress has begun considering options to improve the current system for handling asbestos lawsuits. They need to act and get the job done. I look forward to signing an asbestos reform in 2005. I think we're sent to Washington to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Congresses. I believe we are called to do the hard work to make our communities and quality of life a better place. And it's hard work for some in Congress to stand up to the trial lawyers. I understand that. But all we're asking for is fairness. We want our doctors treated fairly. We want the hospitals treated fairly. And most of all, we want the patients and the American people treated fairly. And I appreciate you all giving me a chance to come by and talk about the vital issue of legal reform. I intend to go back to Washington here shortly, and when I see Members of the Congress as I work this issue, I'm going to say, "I spoke to the good folks of southern Illinois. They understand the problem, and they expect you, Members of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, to get the job done." Thanks for coming by to say hello. I hope you and your families have a blessed and healthy 2005. May God bless you all. December 29, 2004 The President. Good morning. Laura and I and the American people are shocked and we are saddened by the terrible loss of life from the recent earthquake and the tsunamis in the Indian Ocean. Our prayers go out to the people who have lost so much to this series of disasters. Our hearts are also with the Americans who have lost loved ones in this tragedy. Our Embassies are working with host governments to locate American citizens who are still missing and to assist those who have been injured or displaced. This morning I spoke with the leaders of India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Indonesia. I expressed my condolences and our country's condolences. I told them of our support. I praised their steadfast leadership during these difficult time. We're grateful to the American and international organizations that are working courageously to save lives and to provide assistance, and I assured those leaders this is only the beginning of our help. We are committed to helping the affected countries in the difficult weeks and months that lie ahead. We pledged an initial 35 million in relief assistance. We have deployed disaster experts to the region. All leaders expressed their appreciation for the hard work of our Ambassadors and their embassy staffs to help the countries in need. As well we're dispatching a Marine expeditionary unit, the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, and the maritime preposition squadron from Guam to the area to help with relief efforts. Secretary Powell is working hard. He has spoken with his counterparts in Japan, India, Australia, as well as other nations who are helping with the response, in order to begin building an international coalition for immediate humanitarian relief and long term recovery and reconstruction efforts. Based on these discussions, we've established a regional core group with India, Japan, and Australia to help coordinate relief efforts. I'm confident more nations will join this core group in short order. Under Secretary of State Marc Grossman will lead a U.S. task force to work with these partners to help coordinate interagency response in our own Government and to encourage other nations to participate in the relief efforts. These past few days have brought loss and grief to the world that is beyond our comprehension. The United States will continue to stand with the affected governments as they care for the victims. We will stand with them as they start to rebuild their communities. And together the world will cope with their loss we will prevail over this destruction. Let me answer some questions. Deb Deb Riechmann, Associated Press . Iraqi Elections Q. Mr. President, more than 50 people died yesterday alone in the Sunni Triangle area. And with the Sunnis backing out of the election, how concerned are you that the world and the Iraqis will view this election as credible? The President. Well, you said "with the Sunnis backing out" you mean a Sunni party has backed out, yes. I talked to President Yawr yesterday, who happens to be a Sunni, who on the one hand expressed concern about the security situation in Mosul and on the other hand reminded me that most people in Iraq, Sunni or Shi'a, want to vote. And so the task at hand is to provide as much security as possible for the election officials as well as for the people inside cities like Mosul, to encourage them to express their will. Now, Usama bin Laden issued a statement, as you know, which made the stakes of this pretty clear to me. His vision of the world is where people don't participate in democracy. His vision of the world is where people kill innocent lives in order to affect their behavior and affect their way of living. His vision of the world is one in which there is no freedom of expression, freedom of religion, and or freedom of conscience. And that vision stands in stark contrast to the vision of, by far, the vast majority of Iraqis and leaders like Prime Minister Allawi and President Yawr, whose vision includes the freedom of expression, the freedom of the right to vote. And so the stakes are clear in this upcoming election. It's the difference between the ability for individuals to express themselves and the willingness of an individual to try and impose his dark vision on the world, on the people of Iraq and elsewhere. And it's very important that these elections proceed. We just got off a conference call with our acting not "acting" Ambassador Negroponte is not in Baghdad, but Ambassador Jeffrey, his number two man, as well as General Casey, talking about how best to provide the security necessary for people to feel comfortable in voting. Yes, ma'am. United Nations International Disaster Assistance Q. Mr. President, were you offended by the suggestion that rich nations have been stingy in the aid over the tsunami? And is this a sign of another rift with the U.N.? The President. Well, I felt like the person who made that statement was very misguided and ill informed. The take, for example, in the year 2004, our Government provided 2.4 billion in food, in cash, in humanitarian relief to cover the disasters for last year. That's 2.4 billion. That's 40 percent of all the relief aid given in the world last year, was provided by the United States Government. No, we're a very generous, kindhearted nation. You know, the what you're beginning to see is a typical response from America. First of all, we provide immediate cash relief, to the tune of about 35 million. And then there will be an assessment of the damage, so that the relief is the next tranche of relief will be spent wisely. That's what's happening now. I just got off the phone with the President of Sri Lanka. She asked for help to assess the damage. In other words, not only did they want immediate help, but they wanted help to assess damage so that we can better direct resources. And so our Government is fully prepared to continue to provide assistance and help. It takes money, by the way, to move a expeditionary force into the region. In other words, we're diverting assets, which is part of our overall aid package. We'll continue to provide assets. Plus, the American people will be very generous, themselves. I mean, the 2.4 billion was public money of course, provided by the taxpayers but there's also a lot of individual giving in America. In this case, I think it's very important for Americans who want to give to provide cash to organizations that will be able to focus resources and assets to meet specific needs. In other words, a lot of times Americans, in their desire to help, will send blankets or clothes. That may be necessary, but to me it makes more sense to send cash to organizations that could then use that cash to make sure we match resources with specific needs on the ground. There are many NGOs now involved that understand what is specifically needed to meet the needs of these countries. This has been a terrible disaster. I mean, it's just beyond our comprehension to think about how many lives have been lost. I know that our fellow citizens are particularly troubled to learn that many of the deaths were young children, and we grieve for their families, their moms and dads who are just, you know, heartsick during this during these times. Yes, Holly Holly Rosenkrantz, Bloomberg News . Debt Moratorium for Somalia and Indonesia Q. Sir, Schroeder this morning said that the Paris Club nations should put a moratorium on the debt of Somalia and Indonesia. Is that something that people think the U.S. and other Paris Club nations should do, put a moratorium on these countries' debt? The President. Well, we'll look at all requests. Right now we're assessing the short term needs. We are there are two issues that are involved, obviously, in these disasters One, what can we do immediately to help and then, what needs to happen in the long term to help these countries rebuild? And we're still at the stage of immediate help. But slowly but surely, the size of the problem will become known, particularly when it comes to rebuilding infrastructure and community, to help these affected parts of the world get back up on their feet. Tsunami Early Warning Systems Q. Mr. President, are you confident that the U.S. west coast residents, Hawaiian residents, Alaska residents, are well enough protected with early warning systems for possible tsunamis affecting this country in coastal waters? The President. No, I appreciate that question. It's a I think that part of the long term strategy in how to deal with natural disaster is to make sure we have "we," the world, has a proper tsunami warning system. As a matter of fact, the President of Sri Lanka also mentioned that to me. She said that one of the things that she and the Prime Minister of India have discussed I'm not sure if they discussed it, but they're both thinking the same way, let me put it to you that way is the development of a proper warning system. And I think it's going to be very I can't answer your question specifically, do we have enough of a warning system for the west coast. I am going to I am now asking that to our agencies in Government, to let us know. I mean, that's a very legitimate question. Clearly, there wasn't a proper warning system in place for that part of the world, and it seems like to me it makes sense for the world to come together to develop a warning system that will help all nations. Q. And seeing that as we have, does it concern you that we may not have that mechanism in place? Or is this something we can use through our civil defense air raid siren system? The President. Yes, I just have to look into it. That's a very legitimate question. I am on the I presume that we are in pretty good shape. I think our location in the world is such that we may be less vulnerable than other parts, but I am not a geologist, as you know. But I think it's a very legitimate question. I've so far focused on the international approach towards tsunami warning systems, and it seems like to me it's a it makes sense for governments to come together and figure out how best to provide a warning system that will help all nations be prepared for such a disaster. Obviously, such a warning system was not in place. Yes, Richard Richard Benedetto, USA Today . Armored Humvees for U.S. Troops Q. Mr. President, there continues to be criticism of the speed with which American troops are being armed in Iraq. Are you satisfied with the way the The President. In which the Iraqi troops are being armed? Q. No, the U.S. troops. The President. Oh, I beg your pardon. Q. Are you satisfied with the pace with which the U.S. troops are being armed in Iraq? The President. Are you talking about the armored vehicle issue, for example? Q. That and others. The President. Well, I have looked at the statistics on that, and we have stepped up the production of armored Humvees significantly. And the other issue is the rearmament of existing of vehicles that are now in theater, vehicles that require a different armament structure than that which they initially were manufactured with. And I am told that those vehicles will be armed up by mid summer of 2005. And what I know is, is that the Defense Department is working expeditiously with private contractors and with our military to get these vehicles armed up. Well, listen, thank you all for coming by. I'm sorry to disrupt your day, but I felt like it was important to talk about what is going to be one of the major natural disasters in world history. And it's important for the world to know that our Government is focused and will continue to respond to help those who suffer. Thank you. New Year's Eve Q. Any plans for New Year's Eve? The President. Early to bed. Q. New Year's resolutions? The President. I'll let you know. Already gave you a hint on one, which is my waistline. I'm trying to set an example. Thank you all. December 25, 2004 Good morning. On this Christmas Day, as families across the Nation gather in our homes to celebrate, Laura and I extend to all Americans our best wishes for the holidays. We hope this Christmas is a time of joy and peace for each of you, and we hope it offers you a chance for rest and reflection as you look forward to the new year ahead. The Christmas season fills our hearts with gratitude for the many blessings in our lives, and with those blessings comes a responsibility to reach out to others. Many of our fellow Americans still suffer from the effects of illness or poverty. Others fight cruel addictions or cope with division in their families or grieve the loss of a loved one. Christmastime reminds each of us that we have a duty to our fellow citizens, that we are called to love our neighbor just as we would like to be loved ourselves. By volunteering our time and talents where they are needed most, we help heal the sick, comfort those who suffer, and bring hope to those who despair, one heart and one soul at a time. During the holidays, we also keep in our thoughts and prayers the men and women of our Armed Forces, especially those far from home, separated from family and friends by the call of duty. In Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere, these skilled and courageous Americans are fighting the enemies of freedom and protecting our country from danger. By bringing liberty to the oppressed, our troops are helping to win the war on terror, and they are defending the freedom and security of us all. They and their families are making many sacrifices for our Nation, and for that, all Americans are deeply grateful. The times we live in have brought many challenges to our country. And in such times, the story of Christmas brings special comfort and confidence. For 2,000 years, Christmas has proclaimed a message of hope, the patient hope of men and women across centuries who listened to the words of prophets and lived in joyful expectation, the hope of Mary who welcomed God's plan with great faith, and the hope of Wise Men who set out on a long journey, guided only by a promise traced in the stars. Christmas reminds us that the grandest purposes of God can be found in the humblest places, and it gives us hope that all the love and gifts that come to us in this life are the signs and symbols of an even greater love and gift that came on a holy night. Thank you for listening, and Merry Christmas. December 20, 2004 The President. Good morning, and happy holidays to you all. I thought I'd come and answer some of your questions. Before I do so, I've got a statement I'd like to make. We're nearing the end of a year where of substantial progress at home and here and abroad. In 2004, the United States grew in prosperity, enhanced our security, and served the cause of freedom and peace. Our duties continue in the new year. I'm optimistic about achieving results. America's economy is on solid footing, growth is strong, and the Nation's entrepreneurs have generated more than 2 million jobs in this year alone. There's more we must do to keep this economy flexible, innovative, and competitive in the world. In a time of change, we must reform systems that were created to meet the needs of another era. Soon I will appoint a citizens panel to recommend ways we can transform the outdated Tax Code. I'll work with the new Congress to make health care more accessible and affordable, to reform the legal system, to raise standards of achievement in public schools, especially our high schools, and to fix the Social Security system for our children and our grandchildren. Early in the year, I will also submit a budget that fits the times. We will provide every tool and resource for our military. We'll protect the homeland, and we'll meet other priorities of the Government. My budget will maintain strict discipline in the spending of tax dollars and keep our commitment to cutting the deficit in half over 5 years. All of these goals require the energy and dedication of members of both politicalparties. Working in a spirit of bipartisanship, we will build the foundation of a stronger, more prosperous country. We'll meet our obligations to future generations as we do so. Our duties to future generations include a sustained effort to protect our country against new dangers. Last week I signed legislation that continues the essential reorganization of our Government by improving the Nation's intelligence operations. Because we acted, our vast intelligence enterprise will be more unified, coordinated, and effective than ever before, and the American people will be more secure as a result. Our country is also safer because of the historic changes that have come around the world in places like Afghanistan. This year brought the first Presidential election in the 5,000 year history of that country. And the Government of President Hamid Karzai is a steadfast ally in the war on terror. President Karzai and the Afghan people can be certain of America's continued friendship and America's support as they build a secure and hopeful democracy. In Iraq, a people that endured decades of oppression are also preparing to choose their own leaders. Next month, Iraqis will go to the polls and express their will in free elections. Preparations are underway for an energetic campaign, and the participation is wide and varied. More than 80 parties and coalitions have been formed, and more than 7,000 candidates have registered for the elections. When Iraqis vote on January the 30th, they will elect 275 members to a transitional National Assembly as well as local legislatures throughout the country. The new National Assembly will be responsible for drafting a constitution for a free Iraq. By next October, the constitution will be submitted to the people for ratification. If it is approved, then, by December, the voters of Iraq will elect a fully democratic constitutional government. My point is, the elections in January are just the beginning of a process, and it's important for the American people to understand that. As the Iraqi people take these important steps on the path to democracy, the enemies of freedom know exactly what is at stake. They know that a democratic Iraq will be a decisive blow to their ambitions, because free people will never choose to live in tyranny. And so the terrorists will attempt to delay the elections, to intimidate people in their country, to disrupt the democratic process in any way they can. No one can predict every turn in the months ahead, and I certainly don't expect the process to be trouble free. Yet, I am confident of the result. I'm confident the terrorists will fail, the elections will go forward, and Iraq will be a democracy that reflects the values and traditions of its people. America and our coalition have a strategy in place to aid the rise of a stable democracy in Iraq. To help the Iraqi Government provide security during the election period, we will increase U.S. troop strength. Coalition forces will continue hunting the terrorists and the insurgents. We will continue training Iraqi security forces so the Iraqi people can eventually take responsibility for their own security. We have a vital interest in the success of a free Iraq. You see, free societies do not export terror. Free governments respect the aspirations of their citizens and serve their hopes for a better life. Free nations are peaceful nations. And free nations in the heart of the Middle East will show what is possible to others who want to live in a free society. In Iraq and elsewhere, we've asked a great deal of the men and women of our Armed Forces. Especially during this holiday season, those on duty far from home will be in our thoughts and our prayers. Our people in uniform and our military families are making many sacrifices for our country. They have the gratitude of our whole country. Now I will be glad to answer some questions. Hunt Terence Hunt, Associated Press . Russia U.S. Relations Q. Thank you, Mr. President. A month ago in Chile, you asked Vladimir Putin to explain why he has taken actions widely seen as a move away from democracy. What do you think Mr. Putin's intentions are, and do you think that Russia's behavior has chilled relations with the United States? The President. As you know, Vladimir Putin and I have got a good personal relationship, starting with our meeting in Slovenia. I intend to keep it that way. It's important for Russia and the United States to have the kind of relationship where, if we disagree with decisions, we can do so in a friendly and positive way. When Vladimir made the decision, for example, on the whether to elect Governors or appoint Governors, I issued a statement that said in a free society, in a society based upon Western values, we believe in the proper balance of power. I think he took that on and absorbed that in the spirit in which it was offered, the spirit of two people who've grown to appreciate each other and respect each other. I'll continue to work with him in a new term. Obviously, we have some disagreements. He probably has disagreements over some of the decisions I've made. Clearly, one such decision was in Iraq. But this is a vital and important relationship, and it's a relationship where it's complicated it's complex, rather than complicated. It's complex because we have joint efforts when it comes to sharing intelligence to fight terrorism. We've got work to do to secure nuclear materials. I look forward to working with the Russians to continue to expand cooperation. I think one of the things we need to do is to give the Russians equal access to our sites, our nuclear storage sites, to see what works and what doesn't work, to build confidence between our two Governments. Obviously, there's a lot of trade that's taking place between Russia and the West and the United States. And that trade relationship is an important relationship. I told Vladimir that we would work in a new term for to see if Russia could then be admitted to the WTO. I think that would be a positive step for relations between our two countries. And I'll continue to express my belief that balanced government, the sharing of power amongst government will lead to a will lead to stability in Russia. And the relationship is an important relationship, and I would call the relationship a good relationship. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Several Republican lawmakers recently have criticized Secretary Rumsfeld. What does he need to do to rebuild their trust? The President. Well, first of all, when I asked the Secretary to stay on as Secretary of Defense, I was very pleased when he said yes. And I asked him to stay on because I understand the nature of the job of the Secretary of Defense, and I believe he's doing a really fine job. The Secretary of Defense is a complex job. It's complex in times of peace, and it's complex even more so in times of war. And the Secretary has managed this Department during two major battles in the war on terror, Afghanistan and Iraq. And at the same time, he's working to transform our military so it functions better, it's lighter, it's ready to strike on a moment's notice in other words, that the force structure meets the demands we face in the 21st century. Not only is he working to transform the nature of the forces, we're working to transform where our forces are based. As you know, we have recently worked with the South Korean Government, for example, to replace manpower with equipment, to keep the Peninsula secure and the Far East secure but, at the same time, recognizing we have a different series of threats. And he's done a fine job, and I look forward to continuing to work with him. And I know the Secretary understands the Hill. He's been around in Washington a long period of time, and he will continue to reach out to Members of the Hill, explaining the decisions he's made. And I believe that in a new term, Members of the Senate and the House will recognize what a good job he's doing. Let's see here. Let's go to the TV personalities. Laughter Let's start with you, Cochran John Cochran, ABC News . David David Gregory, NBC News , prepare yourself. Kerik Nomination Vetting Process Director of National Intelligence Q. Any lessons you have learned, sir, from the failed nomination of Bernard Kerik? As you look forward now to pick a new Director of the Homeland Security Department and also as you pick a Director of National Intelligence, any lessons learned in terms of vetting and particularly with the DNI? What sort of qualities are you going to be looking for in that man or that woman that you choose? The President. Well, first, let me say that I was disappointed that the nomination of Bernard Kerik didn't go forward. In retrospect, he made the right decision to pull his name down. He made the decision. There was a when the process gets going, our counsel asks a lot of questions and a prospective nominee listens to the questions and answers them and takes a look at what we feel is necessary to be cleared before the FBI check and before the hearings take place on the Hill, and Bernard Kerik, after answering questions and thinking about the questions, decided to pull his name down. I think he would have done a fine job as the Secretary of Homeland Security, and I appreciate his service to our country. We've vetted a lot of people in this administration. We vetted people in the first. We're vetting people in the second term, and I've got great confidence in our vetting process. And so the lessons learned is, continue to vet and ask good questions and get these candidates, the prospective nominees, to understand what we expect a candidate will face during a background check FBI background check as well as congressional hearings. Now, in terms of the NDI DNI, I'm going to find someone that knows something about intelligence, and capable and honest and ready to do the job. And I will let you know at the appropriate time when I find such a person. Gregory. Training Iraqi Forces Polls Q. Mr. President, thank you. A year ago we were in this room, almost to the day, and you were heralding the capture of Sad dam Hussein and announcing the end of Ba'athists' tyranny in Iraq. A year later, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee in the Senate said, after returning from Iraq, that talking about Iraqi troops the raw material is lacking in the willpower and commitment after they receive military training. At the same time, here at home a higher percentage of Americans is less confident of a successful conclusion in Iraq, 48 percent less confident to 41 percent. What's going wrong? The President. Well, first let me talk about the Iraqi troops. The ultimate success in Iraq is for the Iraqis to secure their country. I recognize that the American people recognize that. That's the strategy. The strategy is to work to provide security for a political process to go forward. The strategy is to help rebuild Iraq. And the strategy is to train Iraqis so they can fight off the thugs and the killers and the terrorists who want to destroy the progress of a free society. Now, I would call the results mixed in terms of standing up Iraqi units who are willing to fight. There have been some cases where when the heat got on, they left the battlefield. That's unacceptable. Iraq will never secure itself if they have troops that when the heat gets on, they leave the battlefield. I fully understand that. On the other hand, there were some really fine units in Fallujah, for example, in Najaf, that did their duty. And so the our military trainers, our military leaders have analyzed what worked and what didn't work. And I met with General Abizaid and General Casey in the White House last week. And I think it was before the I think it was Thursday morning, if I'm not mistaken I was going to say before the interminable press conference I mean press party. Anyway. Laughter Here's what first of all, recruiting is strong. The place where the generals told me that we need to do better is to make sure that there is a command structure that connects the soldier to the strategy in a better way, I guess is the best way to describe it. In other words, they've got some generals in place and they've got foot soldiers in place, but the whole command structure necessary to have a viable military is not in place. And so they're going to spend a lot of time and effort on achieving that objective. And so the American people are taking a look at Iraq and wondering whether the Iraqis are eventually able going to be able to fight off these bombers and killers. And our objective is to give them the tools and the training necessary to do so. Q. What about that percentage, though, 48 to 41? More Americans losing confidence The President. You know, polls change, Dave. Polls go up. Polls go down. I can understand why people they're looking on your TV screen and seeing indiscriminate bombing where thousands of innocent or hundreds of innocent Iraqis are getting killed, and they're saying whether or not we're able to achieve the objective. What they don't see are the small businesses starting 15 of the 18 provinces are relatively stable, where progress is being made life is better now than it was under Saddam Hussein. And so there is there are very hopeful signs. But no question about it, the bombers are having an effect. You know, these people are targeting innocent Iraqis. They're trying to shake the will of the Iraqi people and, frankly, trying to shake the will of the American people. And car bombs that destroy young children or car bombs that indiscriminately bomb in religious sites are effective propaganda tools. But we must meet the objective, which is to help the Iraqis defend themselves and at the same time have a political process to go forward. It's in our long term interests that we succeed, and I'm confident we will. I saw an interesting comment today by somebody, I think in the Karbala area or Najaf area, who said, "Look, what they're trying to do" "they" being the terrorists "are trying to create sectarian violence." He said, "They're not going to intimidate us from voting. People want to vote. People want to live in a free society." And our job in these tough times is to work and complete our strategy. Yes, John John King, Cable News Network , and then John John Roberts, CBS News . Q. Mr. President, thank you. The President. I had to work my way through all the mass medias. Syria and Iran Q. You mentioned that meeting with General Abizaid and General Casey. One of their complaints now and a complaint we have heard dating back more than a year ago, even to when combat was underway in Iraq, is what some called meddling, interference from Syria and Iran, people coming across the border, people going back across the border, sometimes money. Now they say meddling in the political process. What specifically is the problem now, in your view? And there are some who watch this and see a series of complaints from the administration, but they say, "Will there ever be consequences?" The President. Well, the yes, I spent some time talking to our generals about whether or not there are former Saddam loyalists in Syria, for example, funneling money to the insurgents. And my attitude is, if there's any question that they're there, we ought to be working with the Syrian Government to prevent them from either sending money and or support of any kind. We have sent messages to the Syrians in the past, and we will continue to do so. We have tools at our disposal, a variety of tools, ranging from diplomatic tools to economic pressure. Nothing is taken off the table. And when I said the other day that I expect these countries to honor the political process in Iraq without meddling, I meant it. And, hopefully, those governments heard what I said. John. Second Term Agenda Social Security Reform Q. Thank you, Mr. President. You've made Social Security reform the top of your domestic agenda for a second term. You've been talking extensively about the benefits of private accounts. But by most estimations, private accounts may leave something for young workers at the end but wouldn't do much to solve the overall financial problem with Social Security. And I'm just wondering, as you're promoting these private accounts, why aren't you talking about some of the tough measures that may have to be taken to preserve the solvency of Social Security, such as increasing the retirement age, cutting benefits, or means testing for Social Security? The President. Yes, I appreciate that question. First of all, let me put the Social Security issue in proper perspective. It is a very important issue, but it's not the only issue, very important issue we'll be dealing with. I expect the Congress to bring forth meaningful tort reform. I want the legal system reformed in such a way that we are competitive in the world. I'll be talking about the budget, of course. There is a lot of concern in the financial markets about our deficits, short term and long term deficits. The long term deficit, of course, is caused by some of the entitlement programs, the unfunded liabilities inherent in our entitlement programs. I will continue to push on an education agenda. There's no doubt in my mind that the No Child Left Behind Act is meaningful, real, reform that is having real results. And I look forward to strengthening No Child Left Behind. Immigration reform is a very important agenda item as we move forward. But Social Security as well is a big item. And I campaigned on it, as you're painfully aware, since you had to suffer through many of my speeches. I didn't duck the issue like others have done have in the past. I said this is a vital issue, and we need to work together to solve it. Now, the temptation is going to be, by well meaning people such as yourself, John, and others here, as we run up to the issue, to get me to negotiate with myself in public, to say, you know, "What's this mean, Mr. President? What's that mean?" I'm not going to do that. I don't get to write the law. I will propose a solution at the appropriate time, but the law will be written in the Halls of Congress. And I will negotiate with them, with the Members of Congress, and they will want me to start playing my hand "Will you accept this? Will you not accept that? Why don't you do this hard thing? Why don't you do that?" I fully recognize this is going to be a decision that requires difficult choices, John. Inherent in your question is, do I recognize that? You bet I do. Otherwise, it would have been done. And so I am I just want to try to condition you. I'm not doing a very good job, because the other day in the Oval when the press pool came in, I was asked about this, a series of question on a question on Social Security with these different aspects to it. And I said, "I'm not going to negotiate with myself," and I will negotiate at the appropriate time with the law writers. And so thank you for trying. The principles I laid out in the course of the campaign and the principles we laid out at the recent economic summit are still the principles I believe in. And that is, nothing will change for those near our Social Security payroll I believe you were the one who asked me about the payroll tax, if I'm not mistaken will not go up. And I know there's a big definition about what that means. Well, again, I will repeat, don't bother to ask me. Or you can ask me. I shouldn't I can't tell you what to ask. It's not the holiday spirit. Laughter It is all part of trying to get me to set the parameters apart from the Congress, which is not a good way to get substantive reform done. As to personal accounts, it is, in my judgment, essential to make the system viable in the out years to allow younger workers to earn an interest rate more significant than that which is being earned with their own money now inside the Social Security trust. But the first step in this process is for Members of Congress to realize we have a problem. And so for a while, I think it's important for me to continue to work with members of both parties to explain the problem. Because if people don't think there's a problem, we can talk about this issue until we're blue in the face, and nothing will get done. And there is a problem. There's a problem because now it requires three workers per retiree to keep Social Security promises. In 2040, it will require two workers per employee to meet the promises. And when the system was set up and designed, I think it was, like, 15 or more workers per employee. That is a problem. The system goes into the red. In other words, there's more money going out than coming in, in 2018. There is an unfunded liability of 11 trillion. And I understand how this works. Many times, legislative bodies will not react unless the crisis is apparent, crisis is upon them. I believe that crisis is. And so for a period of time, we're going to have to explain to Members of Congress, the crisis is here. It's a lot less painful to act now than if we wait. Q. Can I ask a followup? The President. No. Laughter Otherwise, it will make everybody else jealous, and I don't want that to happen. Angle Jim Angle, FOX News . Personal Retirement Accounts Q. Thank you, sir. Mr. President, on that point, there is already a lot of opposition to the idea of personal accounts, some of it fairly entrenched among the Democrats. I wonder what your strategy is to try to convince them to your view? And specifically, they say that personal accounts would destroy Social Security. You argue that it would help save the system. Can you explain how? The President. I will try to explain how without negotiating with myself. It's a very tricky way to get me to play my cards. I understand that. I think what you people ought to do is to go look at the Moynihan Commission report. The other day, in the discussions at the economic summit, we discussed the role of a personal account, in other words, what how a personal account would work. And that is, the people could set aside a negotiated amount of their own money in an account that would be managed by that person, but under serious guidelines. As I said, you can't use the money to go to the lottery or take it to the track. There would be it's like the some of the guidelines that some of the Thrift Savings Plans right here in the Federal Government. And the younger worker would gain a rate of return which would be more substantial than the rate of return of the money now being earned in the Social Security trust. And over time, that rate of return would enable that person to be have an account that would make up for the deficiencies in the current system. In other words, the current system can't sustain that which has been promised to the workers. That's what's important for people to understand, and the higher rate of return on the negotiated amount of money set aside would enable that worker to more likely get that which was promised. Now, the benefits, as far as I'm concerned, of the personal savings account, is, one, it encourages an ownership society. One of the philosophies of this government is, if you own something, it is it makes the country a better if more people own something, the country is better off. You have a stake in the future of the country if you own something. Secondly, it's capital available for when people save, it provides capital for entrepreneurial growth and entrepreneurial expansion, which is positive. In other words, it enhances savings. And thirdly, it means that people can take their own assets, their own retirement assets, and pass them on, if they so choose, to their family members, for example. That's positive. That's a step. The Social Security system was designed in a obviously, in an era that is long gone, and it has worked in many ways. It's now in a precarious position, and the question is whether or not our society has got the will necessary to adjust from a defined benefit plan to a defined contribution plan. And I believe the will will be there, but I'm under no illusions. It's going to take hard work. It's going to take hard work to convince a lot of people, some of whom would rather not deal with the issue why deal with the issue unless there is a crisis? and some of whom have got preconceived notions about the benefits of what may be possible. Okay, let's get away from the media. Yes, Carl Carl Cannon, National Journal , thank you. I accused Carl of trying to look like Johnny Damon. Laughter Timetable for Iraq Training Iraqi Forces Q. Mr. President, it's 140,000 Americans are spending this Christmas in Iraq, as you know, some of them their second Christmas there. Now, you outlined your vision for Iraq, both in your statement and in response to David Gregory. My question is, how long do you think it will take that vision to be realized, and how long will those troops be there? The President. No, it's a very legitimate question, Carl. And I get asked that by family members I meet with, and people say, "How long do you think it will take?" And my answer is, you know, we would like to achieve our objective as quickly as possible. It is our commander again I can the best people that reflect the answer to that question are people like Abizaid and Casey, who are right there on the ground. And they are optimistic and positive about the gains we're making. Again, I repeat, we're under no illusions that this Iraqi force is not ready to fight. They're in toto, there are units that are, and that they believe they'll have a command structure stood up pretty quickly, that the training is intense, that the recruitment is good, the equipping of troops is taking place. So they're optimistic that as soon as possible it can be achieved. But it's I'm also wise enough not to give you a specific moment in time because, sure enough, if we don't achieve it, I'll spend the next press conference I have with you answering why we didn't achieve this specific moment. Sanger David Sanger, New York Times . North Korea Iran Q. Thank you, Mr. President. You spent a good deal of time before the Iraq war, some in this room, explaining to us why the combination of Saddam Hussein as a dictator and the weapons that you thought at the time he had assembled made a case for regime change. In the case of North Korea and Iran, you have not declared yourself on the question of regime change, though North Korea, your intelligence agencies believe, may have added six or seven nuclear weapons in the past 2 years. And Iran seems to have a covert program, or at least your government believes it does. Where do you stand on regime change? And how would it be accomplished? The President. I'll tell you where I stand, David. I stand on the continuing the six party talks with North Korea to convince Kim Chong il to give up his weapons systems. As you might remember, our countries tried a strategy of bilateral relationships in hopes that we can convince Kim Chong il. It didn't work. As a matter of fact, when we thought we had in good faith agreed to an agreement I mean, agreed to a plan that would work, he, himself, was enriching uranium, or saw to it that the uranium was enriched. In other words, he broke the agreement. I think it's an important lesson for this administration to learn and that the best way to convince him to disarm is to get others to weigh in as well the Iranian situation as well. We're relying upon others, because we've sanctioned ourselves out of influence with Iran, to send a message that we expect them to in other words, we don't have much leverage with the Iranians right now, and we expect them to listen to those voices, and we're a part of the universal acclaim. I believe that and so, therefore, we're dealing this is how we're dealing with the issue. And it's much different between the situation in Iraq and Iran because of this. Diplomacy had failed for 13 years in Iraq. As you might remember and I'm sure you do all the U.N. resolutions that were passed out of the United Nations, totally ignored by Saddam Hussein. And so diplomacy must be the first choice and always the first choice of an administration trying to solve an issue of, in this case, nuclear armament. And we'll continue to press on diplomacy. Now, in terms of my vision for the future of the world, I believe everybody ought to be free. I believe the world is more peaceful as liberty takes hold. Free societies don't fight each other. And so we'll work to continue to send a message to reformers around the world that America stands strong in our belief that freedom is universal, and that we hope at some point in time, everybody is free. Yes. Federal Spending Budget Process Q. Thank you, Mr. President. You talked earlier about the importance of spending discipline in the Federal budget, but you went your entire first term without vetoing a single spending bill, even though you had a lot of tough talk on that issue in your first term. And I'm wondering, this time around, what are you going to do to convince Congress you really are serious about cutting Federal spending? Will you veto spending bills this time? The President. Here's what happened. I submitted a budget, and Congress hit our number, which is a tribute to Senator Hastert and I mean, Senator Frist and Speaker Hastert's leadership. In other words, we worked together. We came up with a budget, like we're doing now. We went through the process of asking our agencies, "Can you live with this," and, "If you don't like it, counter propose." And then we came up with a budget that we thought was necessary, and we took it to the leadership, and they accepted the budget. And they passed bills that met our budget targets. And so how could you veto a series of appropriations bills if the Congress has done what you've asked them to do? Now, I think the President ought to have a line item veto, because within the appropriations bills there may be some differences of opinion on how the money is being spent. But overall, they have done a superb job of working with the White House to meet the budget numbers we submitted, and so the appropriations bill I just signed was one that conformed with the budget agreement we had with the United States Congress. And I really do appreciate the leadership not only of Speaker Hastert and Senator Frist but also the budget committee chairman. I talked to Senator Gregg this morning, as a matter of fact, who's running he'll be heading the budget committee in the United States Senate. And we're working very closely with Members of Congress as we develop the budget. And it's going to be a tough budget, no question about it, and it's a budget that I think will send the right signal to the financial markets and to those concerned about our short term deficits. As well, we've got to deal with the long term deficit issues. That's the issue that John Roberts talked about, which is the unfunded liabilities when it comes to some of the entitlement programs. Ed Ed Chen, Los Angeles Times . Social Security Reform Q. Good morning, Mr. President. I'd like to ask you, on Social Security, you said that you don't like to come to the table with having negotiated with yourself. Yet, you have ruled out tax cuts and no cuts in benefits for the retired and the near retired. I wonder how you square that statement. And also, what do you in your mind, what is near retired? The President. Yes, well, that's going to fall in the negotiating with myself category. But look, it was very important for me in the course of the campaign, and it's going to be very important for all of us who feel like we have a problem that needs to be fixed, to assure Americans who are on Social Security that nothing will change. Part of the problem, politically, with this issue in the past, Ed, as you know, is the minute you bring up Social Security reform, people go running around the country saying, "Really what he says is he's going to take away your check," or, "That which you have become dependent upon will no longer be available for you to live on." And so, therefore, part of setting the stage or laying the groundwork for there to be a successful reform effort is assuring our seniors that they just don't have to worry about anything. When they hear the debate that is taking place on the floor of the Congress, they just need to know that the check they're getting won't change, that promises will be met, that, you know, if there is to be an increase in their check, they'll get their check. In other words, the formula that has enabled them to the to a certain extent the formula they're relying on won't change, let me put it that way. I was trying to be really brilliant. Now, what was the other part of your question? Q. If I could just follow up. Why The President. Is this a followup or part of the question? Q. You asked, though. Laughter The President. Okay, yes, you're right. Laughter Medicare Reform Q. Why did you choose to take on Social Security and not Medicare, which some people believe is a worse problem? The President. Well, I appreciate that, Ed, but we did take on Medicare. And it was the Medicare reform bill that really began to change Medicare as we knew it. In other words, it introduced market forces for the first time. It provided a prescription drug coverage for our seniors, which I believe will be cost effective. I recognize some of the actuaries haven't come to that conclusion yet. But the logic is irrefutable, it seems like to me, that if the Government is willing to pay 100,000 for heart surgery but not a dime for the prescription drug that would prevent the heart surgery from happening in the first place, aren't we saving money when we provide the money necessary to prevent the surgery from being needed in the first place? I think we are. That's one of the differences of opinion that I had with the actuaries. I readily concede I'm out of my lane. I'm not pretending to be an actuary. But I know that we made progress in modernizing the Medicare system. And there's more work to be done, no question about it. But as you know, it's a 3 year phase in on Medicare or 2 year phase in from now. And in 2006, the prescription drug coverage will become available for our seniors. And I look forward to working with Members of Congress to make sure the Medicare system is solvent in the long run. Let's have somebody new. Mike Mike Allen, Washington Post , you want to no, you're not new. Laughter That is a cheap shot. Go ahead that is generous. Immigration Reform Q. Thank you. Laughter Yes, Mr. President The President. Yes, Mike, welcome. Q. since early in your first term you've talked about immigration reform, but yet, people in your own party on the Hill seem opposed to this idea. And you've gotten opposition even on the other side. Do you plan to expend some of your political capital this time to see this through? The President. Yes, I appreciate that well, first of all, welcome. I'd like to welcome all the new faces some prettier than others, I might add. Laughter Yes, I intend to work with Members of Congress to get something done. I think this is an issue that will make it easier for us to enforce our borders. And I believe it's an issue that is that will show the if when we get it right, the compassionate heart of American people. And no question, it's a tough issue, just like some of the other issues we're taking on. But my job is to confront tough issues and to ask Congress to work together to confront tough issues. Now let me talk about the immigration issue. First, we want our Border Patrol agents chasing crooks and thieves and drugrunners and terrorists, not good hearted people who are coming here to work. And therefore, it makes sense to allow the good hearted people who are coming here to do jobs that Americans won't do a legal way to do so. And providing that legal avenue, it takes the pressure off the border. Now, we need to make sure the border is modern, and we need to upgrade our Border Patrol. But if we expect the Border Patrol to be able to enforce a long border, particularly in the south and the north, for that matter we ought to have a system that recognizes people are coming here to do jobs that Americans will not do. And there ought to be a legal way for them to do so. To me, that is and not only that, but once the person is here, if he or she feels like he or she needs to go back to see her family, to the country of origin, they should be able to do so within a prescribed in other words, and the card, the permit would last for a prescribed period of time. It's a compassionate way to treat people who come to our country. It recognizes the reality of the world in which we live. There are some people there are some jobs in America that Americans won't do and others are willing to do. Now, one of the important aspects of my vision is that this is not automatic citizenship. The American people must understand that, that if somebody who is here working wants to be a citizen, they can get in line like those who have been here legally and have been working to become a citizen in a legal manner. And this is a very important issue, and it's a and I look forward to working with Members of Congress. I fully understand the politics of immigration reform. I was the Governor of Texas, right there on the frontlines of border politics. I know what it means to have mothers and fathers come to my State and across the border of my State to work. Family values do not stop at the Rio Grande River, is what I used to tell the people of my State. People are coming to put food on the table they're doing jobs Americans will not do. And to me, it makes sense for us to recognize that reality and to help those who are needing to enforce our borders legalize the process of people doing jobs Americans won't do take the pressure off of employers so they're not having to rely upon false IDs cut out the "coyotes" who are the smugglers of these people, putting them in the back of tractor trailers in the middle of August in Texas, allowing people to suffocate in the back of the trucks stop the process of people feeling like they've got to walk miles across desert in Arizona and Texas in order just to feed their family, and they find them dead out there. I mean, this is a system that can be much better. And I'm passionate on it because the nature of this country is one that is good hearted and compassionate. Our people are compassionate. The system we have today is not a compassionate system. It's not working. And as a result, the country is less secure than it could be with a rational system. Yes, sir. Let us take it overseas, across the pond. Usama bin Laden Guantanamo Bay Detainees Q. Thank you very much, Mr. President. I wonder whether I could ask you two central questions about the war on terrorism. The first one is, do you have a sense of where Usama bin Laden is and why the trail on him seems to have gone cold? And secondly, how concerned are you by the reports of torture, to use your word, the interminable delays to justice, for the detainees held in Guantanamo and how much that damages America's reputation as a nation which stands for liberty and justice internationally? The President. Right, thank you. If I had to guess, I would guess that Usama bin Laden is in a remote region on the Afghan Pakistan border. But I don't have to guess at the damage we have done to his organization. Many of his senior operators have been killed or detained. Pakistan Government has been aggressive in pursuit of Al Qaida targets in Waziristan. And I appreciate the work of President Musharraf. He came the other day, on a Saturday morning, to the White House, and it was an opportunity to thank him once again for some of the bold steps he's taken. And Al Qaida is dangerous, no question about it. But we've got a good strategy, and it's a strategy that requires cooperation with other nations, and the cooperation has been great when it comes to sharing intelligence and cutting off finances and arresting people or killing people. We'll stay on the hunt. In terms of the second part of your oh, the damage. Look, we are a nation of laws and to the extent that people say, "Well, America is no longer a nation of laws," that does hurt our reputation. But I think it's an unfair criticism. As you might remember, our courts have made a ruling. They looked at the jurisdiction, the right of people in Guantanamo to have habeas review, and so we're now complying with the court's decisions. We want to fully vet the court decision, because I believe I have the right to set up military tribunals. And so the law is working to determine what Presidential powers are available and what's not available. We're reviewing the status of the people in Guantanamo on a regular basis. I think 200 and some odd have been released. But you've got to understand the dilemma we're in. These are people that got scooped up off a battlefield, attempting to kill U.S. troops. I want to make sure, before they're released, that they don't come back to kill again. I think it's important to let the world know that we fully understand our obligations in a society that honors rule of law to do that. But I also have an obligation to protect the American people, to make sure we understand the nature of the people that we hold, whether or not there's possible intelligence we can gather from them that we could then use to protect us. So we'll continue to work the issue hard. Let's see here, yes, Hutch Ron Hutcheson, Knight Ridder . Go ahead and yell it out, Hutch. Defense Secretary Rumsfeld Q. Going for another new face, huh? The President. Yes. Laughter Q. I'd like to go back to Secretary Rumsfeld The President. It's not a pretty face. Laughter Q. Thank you. Laughter You talked about the big picture elements of the Secretary's job, but did you find it offensive that he didn't take the time to personally sign condolence letters to the families of troops killed in Iraq? And if so, why is that an offense that you're willing to overlook? The President. Listen, I know how I know Secretary Rumsfeld's heart. I know how much he cares for the troops. He and his wife go out to Walter Reed and Bethesda all the time to provide comfort and solace. I have seen the anguish in his or heard the anguish in his voice and seen his eyes when we talk about the danger in Iraq and the fact that youngsters are over there in harm's way. And he is he's a good, decent man. He's a caring fellow. Sometimes, perhaps, his demeanor is rough and gruff, but beneath that rough and gruff, no nonsense demeanor is a good human being who cares deeply about the military and deeply about the grief that war causes. Deans Bob Deans, Cox Newspapers . Situation in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, I want to kick forward to the elections in Gaza in a few weeks if I could, please. As you know, Presidents back to Carter have searched for a solution to the Palestinian Israeli conflict. Your dad worked hard for it. Your predecessor said once it was like going to the dentist without getting your gums numbed. I'm wondering what great The President. Guy had a way with words. Laughter Q. I'm wondering, sir, what lesson you draw, though, from their efforts, how you think the war in Iraq may, at this point, have improved prospects for a Mideast peace, and whether you think you might sit in that diplomatic dental chair yourself this year? The President. I've been in the diplomatic dental chair for 4 years. This is an issue we talk about a lot, but it became apparent to me that peace would never happen so long as the interlocutor in the peace process was not really dedicated to peace or dedicated to a state. I was at look, I gave the speech June 24, 2002, in the Rose Garden that laid out the vision about how to achieve at least from my point of view, how to achieve a peaceful solution and something that I hope happens. But I'm realistic about how to achieve peace, and it starts with my understanding that there will never be peace until a true democratic state emerges in the Palestinian territory. And I'm hopeful right now because the Palestinians will begin to have elections, have will have elections, which is the beginning of the process toward the development of a state. It is not the sign that democracy has arrived. It is the beginning of a process. And we look forward to working with Israel to uphold her obligations to enable a Palestinian state to emerge. But we've got a good chance to get it done. And I just want the people and I know the world is wondering whether or not this is just empty rhetoric or does do I really believe that now is the time to move the process forward. And the answer is, now is the time to move the process forward. But we cannot shortcut the process by saying, you know, "Well, the Palestinians can't self govern. They're not suitable for a democracy." I subscribe to this theory, that the only way to achieve peace is for there to be democracies living side by side. Democracies don't fight each other. And the last system didn't work, which was the hope that a Palestinian Authority, run by a singular head who on some days would say, "We're for peace," and some days would say, "Now is the time to attack," hope that everything would be fine. It just didn't work. So I look forward to working with the world, the new Secretary of State, to work with the Palestinians to develop the structures necessary for a democracy to emerge. And I appreciate the fact that Prime Minister Tony Blair is willing to help that process by holding a conference with Palestinians that will help develop the state. And if the free world focuses on helping the Palestinians develop a state and there is leadership willing to accept the help, it's possible to achieve peace. And there are responsibilities for all parties. The Palestinians have responsibilities. The Israelis have responsibilities. The Americans have responsibilities. The EU has responsibilities. But we all have got to keep the big vision in mind in order to achieve the objective. Listen, thank you all very much. I wish everybody truly wish everybody a happy holidays. For those of you coming to Crawford, I look forward to not seeing you down there. Laughter Thank you all. Football Q. Are you going to the Rose Bowl? The President. No, I won't be going to the Rose Bowl. I'll be watching the Rose Bowl. And by the way, in case you're not following high school football in Texas atta boy, Jackson David Jackson, Dallas Morning News the Crawford Pirates are the State 2A, Division II champs. And we look forward don't we to wave the championship banner above the Crawford High School. All right, happy holidays. December 17, 2004 Good morning. In a few minutes, I will sign into law the most dramatic reform of our Nation's intelligence capabilities since President Harry S. Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947. Under this new law, our vast intelligence enterprise will become more unified, coordinated, and effective. It will enable us to better do our duty, which is to protect the American people. I want to thank the Members of Congress who have worked hard on this legislation. I particularly want to thank the leader of the Senate, Bill Frist, Speaker of the House Denny Hastert, and their counterparts in both bodies. I appreciate Senator Susan Collins from Maine and Senator Joe Lieberman from Connecticut for steering this legislation through the United States Senate. I appreciate Congressman Pete Hoekstra and Congresswoman Jane Harman for their leadership on this important issue as well. Welcome. I want to thank all the Members of Congress who have joined us today for your good work on this legislation. I appreciate the members of my administration who helped, and that would be Director Porter Goss, Director Bob Mueller, Condi Rice, and Fran Townsend. I particularly want to thank the 9 11 Commission, ably led by Tom Kean and Lee Hamilton. I want to thank the Commission members who are here as well. I pay my respects and offer our gratitude to the family members of the victims of September the 11th. Thank you for working hard on this issue. Thank you for remembering your loved one. Nearly six decades ago, our Nation and our allies faced a new the new world of the cold war and the dangers of a new enemy. To defend the free world from an armed empire bent on conquest, visionary leaders created new institutions such as the NATO Alliance. The NATO Alliance was begun by treaty in this very room. President Truman also implemented a sweeping reorganization of the Federal Government. He established the Department of Defense, the Central Intelligence Agency, and the National Security Council. America, in this new century, again faces new threats. Instead of massed armies, we face stateless networks. We face killers who hide in our own cities. We must confront deadly technologies. To inflict great harm on our country, America's enemies need to be only right once. Our intelligence and law enforcement professionals in our Government must be right every single time. Our Government is adapting to confront and defeat these threats. We're staying on the offensive against the enemy. We'll take the fight to the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. And here at home, we're strengthening our homeland defenses. We created the Department of Homeland Security. We have made the prevention of terror attacks the highest priority of the Department of Justice and the FBI. We'll continue to work with Congress to make sure they've got the resources necessary to do their jobs. We established the National Counterterrorism Center, where all the available intelligence on terrorist threats is brought together in one place and where joint action against the terrorists is planned. We have strengthened the security of our Nation's borders and ports of entry and transportation systems. The bill I sign today continues the essential reorganization of our Government. Those charged with protecting America must have the best possible intelligence information, and that information must be closely integrated to form the clearest possible picture of the threats to our country. A key lesson of September the 11th, 2001, is that America's intelligence agencies must work together as a single, unified enterprise. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 creates the position of Director of National Intelligence, or DNI, to be appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate. The Director will lead a unified intelligence community and will serve as the principle adviser to the President on intelligence matters. The DNI will have the authority to order the collection of new intelligence to ensure the sharing of information among agencies and to establish common standards for the intelligence community's personnel. It will be the DNI's responsibility to determine the annual budgets for all national intelligence agencies and offices and to direct how these funds are spent. These authorities, vested in a single official who reports directly to me, will make all our intelligence efforts better coordinated, more efficient, and more effective. The Director of the CIA will report to the DNI. The CIA will retain its core of responsibilities for collecting human intelligence, analyzing intelligence from all sources, and supporting American interests abroad at the direction of the President. The new law will preserve the existing chain of command and leave all our intelligence agencies, organizations, and offices in their current Departments. Our military commanders will continue to have quick access to the intelligence they need to achieve victory on the battlefield. And the law supports our efforts to ensure greater information sharing among Federal Departments and Agencies and also with appropriate State and local authorities. The many reforms in this act have a single goal, to ensure that the people in Government responsible for defending America have the best possible information to make the best possible decisions. The men and women of our intelligence community give America their very best every day, and in return, we owe them our full support. As we continue to reform and strengthen the intelligence community, we will do all that is necessary to defend its people and the Nation we serve. I'm now pleased and honored to sign into law the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. December 16, 2004 The President. Thank you all. Yes, Joshua. Thank you all for coming. Last night I had the honor of attending a reception for those who have participated in these series of panels, and I had a chance to thank them. I said something I think is true, which is, citizens can actually affect policy in Washington. In other words, I think people who end up writing laws listen to the voices of the people who and can be affected by citizen participation. So I want to thank you all for doing this. We're talking about significant issues over the course of these couple of days. We'll talk about an important issue today, which is how do we keep the economy growing, how do we deal with deficits. And I want to thank you all for sharing your wisdom about how to do so. One thing is for certain In all we do, we've got to make sure the economy grows. One of the reasons why we have a deficit is because the economy stopped growing. And as you can tell from the previous 4 years, I strongly believe that the role of Government is to create an environment that encourages capital flows and job creation through wise fiscal policy. And as a result of the tax relief we passed, the economy is growing. And one of the things that I know we need to do is to make sure there's certainty in the Tax Code, not only simplification of the Tax Code but certainty in the Tax Code. So I'll be talking to Congress about that we need to make sure there is permanency in the tax relief we passed so people can plan. If the deficit is an issue which it is therefore, it's going to require some tough choices on the spending side. In other words, the strategy is going to be to grow the economy through reasonable tax policy but to make sure the deficit is dealt with by being wise about how we spend money. That's where Josh comes in. He's the as the Director of the OMB, he gets to help us decide where the tough choices will be made. I look forward to working with Congress on fiscal restraint, and it's not going to be easy. It turns out appropriators take their titles seriously. Laughter Our job is to work with them, which we will, to bring some fiscal restraint continue to bring fiscal restraint after all, non defense discretionary spending non defense, non homeland discretionary spending has declined from 15 percent in 2001 to less than 1 percent in the appropriations bill I just signed, which is good progress. What I'm saying is we're going to submit a tough budget, and I look forward to working with Congress on the tough budget. Secondly, I fully recognize and this administration recognizes there we have a deficit when it comes to entitlement programs, unfunded liabilities. And I want to thank the experts and the folks here who understand that. The first issue is to explain to Congress and the American people the size of the problem and I suspect Congressman Penny will do that as well as Dr. Roper and the problems in both Social Security and Medicare. The issues of baby boomers like us retiring, relative to the number of payers into the system, should say to Congress and the American people, "We have a problem." And the fundamental question that faces Government, are we willing to confront the problem now or pass it on to future Congresses and future generations. I made a declaration to the American people that now is the time to confront Social Security. And so I am looking forward to working with Members of both Chambers and both parties to confront this issue today before it becomes more acute. And by doing so, we will send a message not only to the American people that we're here for the right reason, but we'll send a message to the financial markets that we recognize we have an issue with both short term deficits and the long term deficits of unfunded liabilities to the entitlement programs. And I want to thank the panelists here for helping to create awareness, which is the first step toward solving a problem. The first step in Washington, if you're interested in helping, is to convince people that there is a problem that needs to be addressed. And once we have achieved that objective, then there will be an interesting dialog about how to solve the problem. I've got some principles that I've laid out. And first, on Social Security, it's very important for seniors to understand nothing will change. In other words, nobody is going to take away your check. You'll receive that which has been promised. Secondly, I do not believe we ought to be raising payroll taxes to achieve the objective of a sound Social Security system. Thirdly, I believe younger workers ought to be able to take some of their own payroll taxes and set them up in a personal savings account, which will earn a better rate of return, encourage ownership and savings, and provide a new way of, let me just say, reforming, modernizing the system to reflect what many workers are already experiencing in America, the capacity to manage your own asset base that Government cannot take away. So with those principles in mind, I'm openminded laughter with the Members of Congress. Laughter Anyway, thank you all for coming. I'm looking forward to the discussion. Office of Management and Budget Director Joshua B. Bolten. Mr. President, thank you. Thank you for convening us. It warms my budget heart laughter that you've taken the time to come and talk about fiscal responsibility, which is so important, especially at this time. We've come through some tough years, Mr. President, during your tenure. As you entered office, the economy was entering recession. We had the attacks of 9 11. We've had the war on terror. We've had corporate scandals that undermined confidence in the business community. All of those together took a great toll on our economy and especially on our budget situation, as you mentioned. And we've started to turn it around. The economy is well out of recession. It's growing strongly, as I think our panelists will talk about. And as a result of that, we are seeing a dramatically improving budget situation. We originally projected our 2004 deficit to be about 4.5 percent of GDP, and when we got the final numbers just a few weeks ago it was down to 3.6 percent of GDP, a dramatic improvement. Now, that's still too large, but it's headed in the right direction. You mentioned, Mr. President, the 2005 spending bills that you just signed last week. I think those have to be regarded as a fiscal success, because you called on the Congress almost a year ago to pass those spending bills with growth of less than 4 percent overall and especially to keep the non national security related portion of that spending below 1 percent, and they delivered. And that's the bill that you signed just last week. We're working now, Mr. President, as you know, on the 2006 budget. And I'm hopeful that we will keep that momentum of spending restraint going. What I think we will be able to show, when we present your budget about 6 or 7 weeks from now, is that we are ahead of pace to meet your goal of cutting the deficit in half over the next 5 years. And I think that's very important. And I think our panelists will talk a little bit about why that is. So let's step back a little bit from the Budget Director's preoccupations and talk more broadly about the economy. Our first panelist is Jim Glassman, who is senior U.S. economist at J.P. Morgan Chase. He's a frequent commentator in the financial press, I think well known in the financial community. And Jim, let me open it with you and ask you to talk about how the budget situation is related to the economy overall, because that's really what people care about. James Glassman. All right. Thanks, Josh. Thanks, President Bush, for inviting us here to participate in this discussion. It's a privilege. The Federal budget is tied very closely to the fortunes of the economy. When the economy is down, revenues are down. When the economy comes back, revenues come back. In the last several years, we've seen that link very closely The economy slowed down revenues dried up the budget deficit widened. It's happened many times before. And in Wall Street, Wall Street understands this link between the economy and the budget, and that's why we anticipate that these circumstances are going to be temporary, and that's why long term interest rates today are at the lowest level in our lifetime, even though we have a budget deficit that's widened. And in fact, now, with the economy on the mend, the revenues are coming back, and the budget deficit appears to us to be turning the corner. So I think the prospects are looking quite good for the budgets going in the next several years. Now, to me, the link between the economy and the budget tells you there's an important message here, and that is Policies that enhance our growth potential are just as important for our long run fiscal health as are policies to reform Social Security and health care reform. We know how to do this, because over the last several decades we've been reforming our economy, deregulating many businesses, breaking down the barriers to trade. And it's no surprise that countries all around the world are embracing free market principles. Free markets is the formula that has built the U.S. economy to be the economic powerhouse that it is. Now, I realize the last several years have been challenging for a lot of folks, and it's hard for folks to step back and appreciate the amazing things that are going on in the U.S. economy when they're struggling with this, with the current circumstances. But I have to tell you, what we are watching around the U.S. economy is quite extraordinary, and I would like to highlight two things in particular that are important features of what's going on in the U.S. economy, because it tells us that basic message is, it tells us that we're on the right paths, and number two, it tells us how we might build on the policies that are helping to encourage growth. The first important observation Productivity. Productivity in the U.S. economy is growing almost 3 times as fast as the experts anticipated several years ago, a decade ago. Now, we know why that's happening Economic reform has strengthened competition the competition has unleashed innovation that innovation is driving down the cost of technology and businesses are investing in tools that allow us to do our jobs more efficiently. Why that's important? Because most of us believe that what's driving this productivity is information technology. Now, in my mind, when we're at an extraordinary moment like this with rapid changes in technology, it opens up a lot of frontiers. Who is it that brings that technology and creates growth? Who is it that drives the economy? It's small businesses. That's where the dynamic part of the economy is. And so policies that focus on making the business environment user friendly for small businesses, like the tax reform, are an important element of building on this productivity performance that's going on and building on the information technology. Second important aspect of what's going on in the U.S. economy everybody knows we faced an incredible number of shocks in the last several years. These shocks, which, by the way, destroyed almost half of the stock's market value in a short period of time, for a moment, were potentially as devastating as the shocks that triggered the Great Depression. And yet, the experts tell us the recession we just suffered in the last several years was the mildest recession in modern times. That tells you something about the resilience of the U.S. economy. It tells you that we have a very flexible economy to absorb these kinds of shocks. And I personally think that this is the result of a lot of the reforms that we've been putting in place in the last several decades. It has made us much more resilient. I find this an even more incredible event because when you think about it, we had very little help around the world. The U.S. economy was carrying most of the load during this time. Japan, the number two economy, was trapped by deflation. Many of our new partners in East Asia have linked to the U.S. economy, and they're depending on their linkage with the U.S. economy to bring in hopes of a better future. The European region has been very slow growing. They've been consumed by their own problems. So, frankly, we've been in a very delicate place in the last several years the U.S. economy was the main engine that was driving this. And yet, we had this incredible performance. I think it's quite important. Now, when you ask economists to think about the future, where we're likely to go, it's very natural the natural tendency is to believe that we're going to be slowing down eventually. And we can give you all kinds of reasons why this is going to happen, demographics, productivity slows down. My guess is we would have told you this story 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 100 years ago. And I think what's quite incredible I'm, frankly, somewhat skeptical of this vision that we all have, because, if you think about it, we've been growing 3.5 percent to 4 percent per year since the Civil War. If we can match that performance in the next 50 years and I don't see why that's so hard to do, given the kinds of things we are discovering about our economy and the kinds of benefits we see from all this re form then I think the fiscal challenge that we see in our mind's eye will be a lot less daunting than is commonly understood. So, of course, I don't want to say that growth can solve all our problems. It won't. There clearly are challenges on the fiscal side, and it's important that we strengthen the link between personal effort and reward. And that's why it's right this forum should be focusing on Social Security reform and health care reform. Thank you. The President. May I say something? Director Bolten. Mr. President. Laughter The President. Thank you. Laughter Who says my Cabinet does everything I tell them to? Laughter You know, it's interesting, you talked about the Great Depression, and if I might toot our horn a little bit, one of my predecessors raised taxes and implemented protectionist policies in the face of an economic downturn, and as a result, there was 10 years of depression. We chose a different path, given a recession. We cut taxes and worked to open up markets. And as you said, the recession was one of the shallowest. And the reason I bring that up is that wise fiscal policy is vital in order to keep confidence in our markets and economic vitality growing. And that's one of the subjects we'll be talking to Congress about, which is wise fiscal policy. And that is the direct connection between the budget and spending and confidence by people who are willing to risk capital and therefore provide monies necessary to grow our job base. Director Bolten. Mr. President, let's talk a little bit about how investors see those issues that you and Jim Glassman have just been talking about. Liz Ann Sonders is chief investment strategist to Charles Schwab Company. She's a regular contributor to TV and print media on the market issues that investors care about. And Liz Ann, let me just open it to you and ask you, how do investors see those broad macroeconomic issues that Jim was just talking about? Liz Ann Sonders. Thanks, Josh. Thanks, Mr. President. I do spend a lot of time out on the road talking to individual investors. And I will say that the deficit issue is probably, if not the number one, certainly in the top three questions I get. I think there is a terrific amount of misunderstanding, though, about the nature of deficits, how you get there, how do you get out of a deficit situation, the cause and effect aspects of it, and I'll talk about that in a moment. And we know that higher deficits are a burden on future taxpayers, but I think what, in particular, the market would like to see is the process by which we go about fixing this problem. And I think the markets are less concerned about the number itself and don't have some grand vision of an immediate surplus but the process by which we solve that problem. There's a lot of ways to do that. It is all about choice. And certainly, there's one theory that the only way to solve it is to raise taxes. I don't happen to be in that camp, and I would absolutely agree with Jim and certainly with this administration that the policies absolutely have to be progrowth. And I think the other benefit that we have right now and Marty Feldstein talked about this yesterday the difference between the Waco Summit and this conference today as representing a very strong economy right now versus a couple of years ago. And what that allows you to do is have this much stronger platform from which you can make a sometimes tougher decision. And I think that's a very important set of circumstances right now. I would agree with Jim, also, at the bond markets' perception of this, the fact that long term interest rates are low, so we have at least have that camp of investors telling you that maybe the risks aren't quite high as some of the pessimists might suggest. Forecasting is also difficult. I know your administration suggested that going beyond 5 years is a tough task, and it is. The market, however, builds itself on making forecasts for the future and oftentimes will develop a consensus about something. And I will say that I think the consensus is one maybe of a little bit maybe not pessimism but not a lot of optimism from a budget deficit perspective. So, I think the opportunity comes with showing some effort. And you can really turn the psychology of the market very, very quickly under a circumstance where maybe market participants are actually pleasantly surprised by the turn of events. Typically, when you look back in history and you look at processes by which we've improved a deficit situation, those that have been accompanied by better economic growth have typically been those where the focus has been on spending restraint, entitlement reform. Those times where we have improved the deficit but it's been in conjunction with weaker economic growth are typically those periods where tax increases have been the process by which we have gotten there. And I also think that many investors misunderstand the relationship between deficits and interest rates, and there is a theory building now that higher deficits automatically mean higher interest rates. Well, case in point, it's just the most recent experience, but we can even go back to the late nineties the reason why we went from deficit to surplus was because the economy was so strong. Because the economy was strong, the Federal Reserve was raising interest rates. The reason why we went into deficit was because the economy got weak, which is the reason why the Federal Reserve had to lower interest rates. So you have to understand, again, the cause and effect here. The path of least resistance, of course, is to make everybody happy, but something has to give. You've all talked about this, the "no free lunch" idea. But I'm just a strong believer that entitlement reform and long term priorities take precedence right now over short term fixes, certainly if it required tax increases. And I think that Mr. President, you talked about having political capital I'll go back to this idea that we now have economic capital that allows us to not disregard the short term fixes for the deficit here but really take this opportunity for long term structural reform. I'm a big believer in personal accounts, empowering investors. My firm, built by "the Man," Chuck Schwab, is all about empowering individual investors. And I think these long term adjustments that need to be made, which is really a part of this whole conference, are so important right now. And I think that's absolutely what the market wants to see. Thanks. The President. Good job. You're not suggesting that economic forecasts are as reliable as exit polling, are you? Laughter Ms. Sonders. I'm not going there. Laughter Director Bolten. Mr. President, I'm going to move on. Laughter I'm glad that Liz Ann raised the distinction, as you did in your opening remarks, between our short term picture and our long term picture. Our short term picture is, indeed, looking a lot better. I think we'll be able to show a very clear path toward your goal of cutting the deficit in half over the next 5 years. But the long term picture is very challenging. We're very honored to have with us Tim Penny, who is a professor and co director of the Hubert Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs. He's also a former Democratic Congressman and an expert on a lot of the long term issues we're talking about. And Congressman, let me turn it over to you and ask you to talk a little bit about what are these entitlement programs, and why are they important for our long term budget picture. Representative Tim Penny. Well, I think thanks, Josh, and Mr. President. I think the first thing to note is that the long term picture is rather bleak, that the status quo is unsustainable. And when you talk about the difference between discretionary and entitlement spending, that tells the story. Discretionary spending, as you referenced earlier, is the part of the budget that we control annually. It comes out of the general fund. It's education. It's agriculture. It's defense. It's a whole lot of stuff that we think about as the Government. But the entitlement programs are those that are on automatic pilot. They're spelled out in law, and the checks go out year in and year out, based on the definitions in law. So if you're a veteran, you're entitled to certain health care benefits under this system. If you're a farmer and you grow certain crops, you're entitled to subsidies. There are some that are means tested, in terms we give them to you only if you need them, and that's where our welfare programs and much of our Medicaid spending comes into play. And then there are the non means tested entitlement programs, and among those are Medicare for the senior citizens and Social Security for senior citizens. So, they're age based programs. And those entitlement programs are the biggest chunk of the Federal budget. I think it's constructive to look back over history. In 1964, all of these entitlement programs plus interest on the debt, which is also a payment we can't avoid, consumed about 33 percent of the Federal budget. By 1984, shortly after I arrived in Congress, they consumed 57 percent of the Federal budget, and today, they consume 61 percent of the Federal budget. Now, let's look forward a few decades and see where we're going to be with entitlement spending. By the year 2040, just three well, actually four of these sort of mandatory programs are going to eat up every dime, income taxes, payroll taxes, all other revenues that we collect for the Federal Government. Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and interest on the debt will eat up everything. There won't be a dollar left in the budget for anything else by the year 2040. That tells you the long term picture, and it is bleak. So something has to give. Doing nothing is not an option. Let's look at Social Security alone. And this is something that my colleague, Mr. Parsons, will speak to in a few minutes. There are huge unfunded liabilities here. We haven't honestly saved the current Social Security trust fund. Even though extra payroll tax dollars are coming in each year, they're not honestly being set aside for this program. Just by the year 2040, there's about 5 trillion of unfunded liability in that program. Now, we've got to come up with the money somehow to replace those promised dollars, and it's no easy task. And I know that a million, a billion, a trillion sort of gets lost on the average listener, so I always like to explain that if you're looking at a trillion dollars, just imagine spending a dollar every second, and it would take you 32,000 years to spend a trillion dollars. So even in Washington, that's big money. Laughter Or as we say in farm country, it's not chicken feed. Laughter So the other way you can look at this is, your Social Security statement comes in the mail every year, and it gives you some sense of your promised benefits in the Social Security system. But on page two of this statement, there's an interesting asterisk. And the asterisk says, "By about the year 2040, we're not going to be able to pay you all of the benefits that we're promising you. We're going to be about 25 percent short of what we need to pay those benefits." So, what does that mean we would have to do if we wait until the last minute to fix this program? We'd either have to cut benefits dramatically, or we'd have to impose the equivalent of a 50 percent payroll tax increase on workers to get the money into the system to honor the promised benefits. So huge benefits cuts or a huge tax increase I don't think that's where we want to go, especially since 80 percent of Americans now pay more in payroll taxes than income taxes. I don't think that's a solution that they're going to applaud. But frankly, it is the kind of solution we're left with if we wait too long to fix the mess. We waited too long 20 years ago. When I first arrived in Congress in 1983, we had a Social Security shortfall. We were borrowing money out of the Medicare fund to pay monthly Social Security checks. So what did we do, because we were already in a crisis? We cut benefits by delaying cost of living adjustments. We cut benefits by raising the retirement age, first to 67 and 66 and ultimately to 67, and we increased payroll taxes significantly during the 1980s. And so we basically said to future workers, based on that legislation in 1983, "You're going to pay more and get less." I mean, to me, that's the problem with waiting until the last minute to fix this, is that you give people a worse deal. So my view on this is that, for the long term, we can't wait until the crisis hits to address the issue. We have to look at these challenges now and give the next generation a better deal. And if we plan ahead and plan appropriately, we can do that. So we need to act before it's too late. And then I think we send all the right signals, and we do a better deal for younger workers than sort of the same old, "cut benefits, raise taxes," a solution that's been imposed in the past. The President. I appreciate that. I think the issue has shifted. I think there are more people now who believe they'll never see a check than people who are worried that they'll have their check taken away. And I think it's important for Congress to understand that. And my attitude is exactly like Congressman's, and that is is that now is the time to deal with it. And it's going to be very important that we reassure our seniors who depend upon Social Security that nothing will change as and that's been part of the political problem. And any time anybody mentioned the word Social Security, the next thing that followed was, "Yes, he's saying that because he's going to take away your check." And really what we're talking about is the new generation. I appreciate you pointing that out, Tim. Representative Penny. If I can just add this one point, if we had saved these surpluses honestly, in personal accounts over the last 20 years, we'd be well on the way to fixing this problem by now. And so we may be a little late in getting this done, but it's still important to move in that direction. The President. Thank you. Director Bolten. Somebody who's been directly involved in and a leader in trying to formulate a solution for the Social Security problem is Dick Parsons, who is CEO and chairman of Time Warner. And he was Chairman of the President's Commission on Social Security, cochair with the late Senator Patrick Moynihan, whom I know we all miss at this time. Mr. Parsons, we're grateful that you're here, and I wonder if you would follow on Congressman Penny's remarks and talk a little more specifically about your Commission's work, what problems you saw, what solutions you saw. Richard D. Parsons. Thank you, Josh, Mr. President. The President said earlier that we have to recognize that we have a problem with Social Security. I think everybody does. And I don't know that they share the urgency that Tim just spoke to and the President just spoke to or really understand the nature of the problem. So, let me take a step back and talk about approach it from a slightly different angle, talk about what is the problem with the Social Security system, which was created in 1935 as what they call a pay as you go system. Now, most people here know that, but it was amazing to me, when we had our Social Security Commission, we went all around the country, we had a number of public hearings, and the people would come and say, "Well, what are they doing with my money?" Well, what most people didn't know is they were taking your money that you pay in every day or every week when you get a paycheck, and within a very short period of time it's going out the other door to pay benefits, pay as you go Money comes in it goes out to pay the benefits. Now, that system was created at a time when for every person who is eligible to participate retirees, let's call them there were 40 people in the workforce. There were 40 people working to support one. It was also created at a time when the average life expectancy for males was such that the average man would not live to see the day that he could qualify for Social Security. So, you would pay in, and the system was built in part this is not cynical it's just fact on the notion that half the people who paid in would never get anything out because they would be dead. So, where are we today? Today, there are three people in the workforce for everybody who's eligible for Social Security. Today life expectancy is expanded anywhere from 5 to 7 years, depending on gender, since the time the system was created, so that the great majority of the people who participate will live to see benefits. The fastest growing part of our population is 85 and up. So, we have a totally different set of circumstances that we're dealing with. And it's only going to get worse in the sense of or more distant from the way the situation that existed when the system was created. By the year 2020, you'll have two people in the workforce for every person eligible to receive benefits. And life expectancies will be even greater then. So the whole factual basis that underlies this pay as you go system has changed. And what's happened is Tim mentioned that we have huge underfunded shortfalls in the system. If you they usually do this on an actuarial basis out 75 years. If you look out 75 years and say, "How much does the system promise it will pay," and you look out 75 years and say, "Under the existing tax scheme, how much money are we going to be able to have to pay it," in current dollars, in actual dollars, it's about an 11 trillion to 12 trillion shortfall over 75 years. If you roll that back into the current dollars and you say, "What would it take today to close that," it's about 4 trillion. So that's the problem. The problem is, we've promised more than the revenues that we have or that we can look to, to pay. So what's the solution? The traditional solutions are, as Tim just indicated, either we increase the taxes so you get more revenues in or you decrease the benefits so you get less money out. The problem with that is it's a Band Aid. And given these demographic shifts that we're talking about and that we see, it simply can't last. You might be able to put one more Bandaid on the wound and patch us over for another 5 or 6 years. But for example, some people say, "Why don't you just lift the wage cap?" Only the first 90,000, as of the beginning of the year, is subject to Social Security taxes. Well, even if you eliminated the wage cap, that only buys you 4, 5, 6 more years, and then you're back in the same problem. We have to face up to the fact that the country is in a different place than it was when this system was created. And the fix needs to be structural. It needs to be fundamental. We need to change the architecture of Social Security. And what I mean by that is we gradually have to move from a system that is based on a pay as you go basis when you had 40 people in the workforce for every one not, to a system that is on a fund as you go basis, where people can begin to start to fund and put away the money that they will look to in their later years for their support and sustenance. Now, this is not unprecedented. This is exactly what's happened in the business world. Every corporation in America, mine included, has been engaged over the last 20, 25 years in a migration from pay as you go kind of pension arrangements to funded arrangements. Now, nobody has gotten there very few have gotten there probably Charles Schwab has gotten there, in terms of fully funded arrangements right now but putting the money away now to pay liabilities in the future. This is what private accounts is all about. And that's why the Commission came down recommending, in all of the options that we put forward, private accounts. It's the beginning of shifting from complete pay as you go to starting to fund some of our future liabilities now. And that's at the end of the day, while the Government is, in law and in sort of a forced social reality, a different entity than the business community, economically, it's not. Economically, it's going to have to step up to the same reality that business had to step up to, that we can't continue a system that puts a huge burden on future generations that they're not going to be able to meet. We're going to have to start saving and funding our responsibility to ourselves on a current basis. And that's why we made private accounts as a beginning step this is not privatization of Social Security. What it really is, is and again, this isn't unprecedented this is what business has done it's beginning to have a hybrid system where you have a floor, a base, below which no one can go that is funded on what they call a "defined benefit" basis that you will get this money, this minimum amount of money, no matter what. But then you have an ability above that to enhance that on a defined contribution basis i.e., you put money away now, invest it wisely, and it will come back to you and give you an even better standard of living in a future time. So that's essentially the nature of the problem and why we thought that it was time for structural, architectural change to Social Security, not just tinkering. You can't you know, tinkering can't work anymore. The demographics this was Pat Moynihan's point. He would say, "Demography is your destiny. We just can't do what we've done in the past any longer. We've got to do something different." And this was an idea that made sense. Director Bolten. Mr. President, you mentioned that for current seniors, this is not a debate for them, that those at or near retirement, this discussion that's going on now should not affect what they've been promised and what they can expect to get. It's the next generations that this is de bate that this debate is about and who should be concerned about it. You mentioned, Mr. President, that a lot of the next generation doesn't think that there will be benefits there for them. Sandi Jaques is somebody, obviously, from that younger generation. She's a single mom from West Des Moines, Iowa, and she's active in a group called Women for Social Security Choice. And Sandi, let me ask you to speak for the speak for regular folks and younger regular folks laughter and tell us why you got involved in this organization, why are you active on Social Security issues. Sandra Jaques. Sure, Josh. Well, I think the President stated it the best when he said most people in my generation believe that we're more likely to never get a benefit than to have our check taken away from us. I guess it would be nice to get to the point where we had a check, and then we're worried about it being taken away. So I guess I'm here because I want to make sure that we do get to the point where my generation retires and we do have Social Security around and intact for us. But more importantly, as you mentioned, I have a daughter at home. Her name is Wynter. She's 10 years old, and I want to make sure that she has Social Security when she retires as well. And I believe that the only way to really get to that point is with personal retirement accounts. They're really the only way to update or modernize Social Security in a real way without tinkering it, as Mr. Parsons talked about and as Congressman Penny did when they were in Congress, because then you only resort to a tax increase or benefit cuts. With personal retirement accounts, you have money in an account, and that money is allowed to grow, and it's that growth that actually will help to fix Social Security for future generations. Without that, if we wait, we will have to resort to raising payroll taxes or cutting benefits like they did in the eighties. To speak to raising payroll taxes on a personal level, I can't afford a payroll tax increase. In fact, I think I definitely pay more than enough right now, and that's another reason why I support Social Security reform. I am not one of these young people that is willing to give up on that money I'm already paying into the system. I want to see the system fixed so that I can get that money back when I retire. And as Tim mentioned, by 2040 I actually retire in 2044 unless the retirement age is raised again but in 2044, we're already at the point if we do nothing, I will get 25 percent less than what I should get under the current system right now. So, that is why this issue is very, very important to me. But I also want to talk about current seniors right now. My grandma is already retired. My dad actually plans to retire next year and my mom a couple years after that. It's very important to me to make sure that their benefits remain intact for them. They it's too late for them to invest in a personal retirement account. But because of that we need to make sure that we guarantee their benefits through their retirement, because it's something that they've been relying on. And it's, I think, our duty to make sure that we make sure that happens. But at the same time, I also think it's the country's duty to make sure that we fix Social Security now so that it's around for when future generations retire because personal accounts are really the only way to give us retirement security in the future for me and, more importantly, my daughter. Because if I am faced with a 25 percent benefit cut when I retire, they may be looking at raising payroll taxes on my daughter and younger generations at that time. So really, that's why this is very important to me, Josh. The President. You know, one of the interesting visions of personal savings accounts is that Sandi will be able to pass her account on to Wynter as part of Wynter's capacity to retire as well. It is a novel concept, clearly different from the current system where you don't pass anything on. Ms. Jaques. That's a great point. That's also very important to me because if you do get to the point where you're raising payroll taxes or cutting benefits to make Social Security solvent at that time, you still don't own your benefits. With a personal account, you own the money that's in that account. And I'm sure Wynter will be hoping that I have a very modest retirement so that there is some left for her laughter when I die. But that's a very important aspect as well. The President. One of the things on personal accounts that listeners must understand is that you cannot take if a personal account, in fact, exists, you can't take it to the racetrack and hope to really increase the returns. Laughter It's not there for the lottery. In other words, there will be reasonable guidelines that already exist in other thrift programs that will enable people to have choice about where they invest their own money, but they're not going to be able to do it in a frivolous fashion, which will mean two things. One, it's more likely there will be a rate of return higher than that which is in the Social Security trust and, secondly, more likely to be actual money available when you retire. Director Bolten. Mr. President, we've been focused on principally so far on the retirement security of today's and future seniors. It's also very important that seniors have some security about their health care situation. And so we're privileged to have with us Dr. Bill Roper, who is dean of the School of Medicine at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. And he's also head of the UNC health care system. Dr. Roper also served in a previous Bush administration as among other things, as the head of the Medicare system. So he knows a lot about this stuff. And let me just ask Dr. Roper to bring us out of the retirement system and into the health care system and tell us what are the challenges we face there and what do they mean for our budget situation. William Roper. Thanks, Josh. And thank you, Mr. President. I think that is my role on this panel, is to say Remember health care remember Medicare. Surely, the focus on Social Security is important, but there's this other large and, indeed, faster growing entitlement program called Medicare. Just a few numbers to make the point This year, the Medicare program is one eighth of the entire Federal budget. Ten years from now, that's projected to be one fifth of the Federal budget. And by 20 years from now, Medicare will be larger than Social Security, so it will be the largest Federal entitlement under current growth rates. Another point This year, 2004, the trust fund that our payroll taxes go into that pays for hospital and related benefits in Medicare more money is going out of that trust fund to pay for current needs right now for seniors and others in the Medicare program than payroll taxes are going into it. So the balance in the trust fund is beginning to go down, and it's projected to be entirely exhausted, under current spending patterns, by the year 2019. All of that is driven by changing demographics. We're aging as a society, and we have a more expensive health care system. Now, a lot of times we in the health policy community beat up on ourselves, saying that's a terrible thing that we're devoting so much to health care. I think it's important to point out that health care is something that we value tremendously as a society. The ability to spend so much on health care is part of our being a very healthy economy and a society that says we want to invest in our health, especially the health of seniors. And many good things result from health care. A very careful study a few years ago by some economists showed that if you look carefully and count the costs and count the benefits, that technology technological advances in health care are worth the cost. The benefits far outweigh the costs. And so we ought to continue to feel good about that, especially those investments in prevention that end up paying rich dividends down the line. Projections about how much we're going to spend in Medicare is more difficult than the projections for Social Security. Everybody who is going to be a senior citizen 50 years from now has already been born, so we know how to project Social Security numbers. But we don't know what medical advances are going to occur, what new technologies, new treatments, new drugs, whatever, are going to be there. We don't know how much they're going to cost. Some will surely save money some will cost more. The benefits there are substantial. But the simple point is, the growth rate for Medicare is unsustainable. We just can't devote the entire Federal budget to health care. So the question becomes, how do we constrain that growth? What do we do about it? And broadly speaking, we face two options. One is to do what Medicare has done over the last several decades. And I was there in the eighties and the nineties, and we put in place what are called administered price systems, which is the Government deciding how much to pay hospitals and how much to pay doctors and running those systems so that we try to restrain the rate of growth to the extent possible. The alternative, which many people, myself included, and you, sir, are advocating is a much greater reliance on individuals and empowering them to make choices, helping them see the value of investing in preventive behavior, better health for themselves long term, providing information on who are the quality health care providers so that people can make choices about where to go for themselves, and moving us towards a time when we will see head to head competition between alternatives to Medicare and the traditional Medicare program. The Medicare Modernization Act of last year took us important steps in that direction. But we have much more to do. In general, we need to see that the philosophy of private accounts applies to Medicare, just as we've been talking about Social Security. So we need to move towards more choices for individuals, more competition in market forces and health care, and more organized, integrated care, especially for people with chronic illnesses, because they're the ones who end up costing so much. If we can intervene early with preventive techniques, as I said, we can lower that rate of growth in spending and end up with a program that we value just as much as the one that we value today, but doesn't cost as much. The President. Thanks for mentioning the Medicare bill. One of the reasons I was strongly for it was because it did begin to interject a sense of choice for seniors into the marketplace. And secondly, it recognized that medicine has changed. And when you have a kind of a static system where Government makes the decisions, it's hard sometimes to get bureaucracies to adjust to the reality. And the reason why I believe the prescription drug benefit was a vital component of a new and modern Medicare system was so that we could prevent hospital stays, for example, by the judicious use of prescription drugs. And Medicare I've said this a hundred times around the country Medicare would pay for hospitalization for a heart attack but wouldn't pay for the prescription drugs the could prevent the heart attack from occurring in the first place, which didn't seem like a very cost effective way to try to provide good health care. And the reforms in the modernization program that we've got there has begun, I think, to address the inadequacies of Medicare as a result of decisions being made at the Federal level. But you're right, we've got more to do. Dr. Roper. A lot more to do, but it's a step in the right direction. The President. Thank you. Director Bolten. Mr. President, I want to bring our economists back in now, because we've heard about some daunting challenges in the Social Security system, in the health care system and let me ask Liz Ann first, what are markets and investors looking to the Federal Government to do at this point? Ms. Sonders. Let me stay on Social Security reform for a minute. NBC Wall Street Journal just had an interesting poll out this morning that was reported showing about 50 percent of the surveyed population was not for private accounts. What I found more interesting was a little bit later in the report, there were more questions asked than just that, and there was another more general question asked about, if these same folks had the opportunity to put more money in the stock market, would they? And 80 percent said yes. So I think this goes back to this idea of a lot of misunderstanding, I think. One of the problems that we're dealing with now is because many in the Wall Street community very much believe in private accounts, there's this natural assumption that it must only be because Wall Street is going to be a huge beneficiary of these private accounts. And certainly what I think makes the most sense and the person for whom I work, Chuck Schwab, thinks makes most sense, is that you are very controlled. As you said, Mr. President, a thrift savings plan kind of program where your options are very limited it's very index in nature. The fees are structured to be so minimal that in fact even the studies have shown that under any set of proposals Wall Street probably doesn't make any money on this for another 7 or 8 years. So I think there is this natural assumption that if Wall Street is for it, it must mean that they are going to be big financial beneficiaries of it. I just think, again, it goes back to what I know you're a big supporter of, which is the democratization of the markets for individuals, putting more control in people's hands. And I think this, much like 401(k)s did as we moved from a benefit part of the non Social Security retirement to more of a contribution style it's really been one of the reasons why net worth has gone up. And I think Sandy made some wonderful points about the power that that puts in your own hands. And the fact that you can actually pass it on to future generations makes all the sense in the world to me. Director Bolten. Liz Ann has focused on those personal accounts in particular. Let me ask Dick Parsons to say a little more in detail about what your Commission concluded about personal accounts and what's the right way to do this kind of thing. Mr. Parsons. Fair enough. The point I was making earlier is that we've got to migrate from an unfunded plan, right, that assumes there are always going to be enough people in the workforce to take care of those who are not, to a funded plan where folks who are out of the workforce have had a chance, over the course of their working lives, to take care of themselves. Now, that can be done one of two ways. The Government could do it. In other words, the Government could hang on to the money and actually save it instead of spend it, or you could give people the power to do it on their own behalf. And after we went around the country, we talked to literally scores of people representing scores and scores and scores more. And clearly, I think, the sense of our fellow Americans and our sense as a Commission was, the better of those two choices is to begin to let people fund their own programs so that they, A, had a sense of ownership, of wealth creation. The object ought to be, at the end of the day, to put everybody in America in a place where, while the Government is the place of last resort when everything goes wrong, there are fewer and fewer of them because more and more of us can take care of ourselves, right? So that's the objective that's the direction the Commission felt that this migration to a funded world should go. Now, there are lots of examples of how you can do that. Sure, the President just said you don't want to say to everybody, "Well you just you can hang on to 2 or 3 percent of your money and just put it in your pocket, do what you want with it." There's some people who would go to the track. People aren't ready for that just yet. But there are lots of examples of ways in which this can be done cost effectively. The Federal Thrift Savings Plan which the President referred to and which Liz Ann just talked about is a great example. That is a program that exists for people who work for the Federal Government now, who have this right. And it's been run for a number of years. Its results are superior, particularly compared to the returns you would get leaving that money with the Government. And the beneficiaries of that are the people who participate in that plan. So we think that there ought to be, at least initially, limitations on how much discretion you have in terms of investing the funds and creating some kind of trust arrangement where there are people who are investment professionals who help structure and manage the costs of the initial options. But clearly, people ought to be able to start to save on their own behalf to create wealth for themselves so that they have that wealth to look to in their later years, as opposed to a Government promise only, which at some point in time is going to have to come up empty because you won't have a big enough revenue base to draw from to satisfy the problems. Director Bolten. Congressman Penny, the one of the critiques I've heard about taking some of the steps that Dick Parsons is talking about is that, look, this isn't a problem for decades to come. It may be a problem by the time Sandi retires but certainly not a problem now. Why do we have to wrestle with this tough political issue now? How do you answer that? Representative Penny. You can pay me now or pay me later. Wasn't there a commercial on TV once where and the purpose of the commercial was to say that you can spend a little bit now and fix this thing permanently, or you can just pay me forever. It's sort of like a credit card where you can pay it off now and be done with it, or you can pay the minimum payment forever. And that's sort of the choice we're facing here. And if we choose not to address Social Security reform now and we let this thing drag along until we do get to a point of crisis, then we're going to be cutting and pasting and cutting and pasting, year after year after year, well into the future. It's going to unsettle the markets, because they're going to look at a fiscal house that is not in order. So that's the reason it's important to address this now. I gave an example during my initial remarks about what did happen when we waited until the crisis was already upon us. We've now got a window of opportunity to address this issue, and I think we ought to take it. And I do want to just add one point about polling data, because depending upon how you word the question, you get widely disparate responses. But I've seen polling data that indicates that for younger people like Sandi, support for Social Security reform that includes personal accounts is about 80 percent. The President. That's right. Representative Penny. So it's huge. And frankly, the support for personal accounts as part of the solution and it has to be part of a package. And that's what we tried to address in the Commissions How do you put this all together in order to make it work for the long term, in order to pre fund as much of this as we can while retaining a basic safety net under the traditional system. It has got to be a package. But when you talk about reform that includes personal accounts, it's strongly favored by everyone that currently is ineligible to join the AARP. Laughter And it seems to me this is really who we're talking about, because, as you've said, we're not talking about any changes in the near term. People who are eligible to join the AARP today are going to be protected under the traditional system. But we ought to, on a voluntary basis, give people working today the option of pre funding part of their retirement and then owning that retirement in a way that the Government can't take it away from them. Director Bolten. Tim, the other thing I've heard and I'm going to ask Jim Glassman to come in here the other thing I've heard is, "Well, maybe you do have to deal with the problem now because it just gets harder to deal with it later. But we can deal with this Social Security problem, and in fact, we can deal with most of our fiscal problems by raising taxes." How do you react to that as an economist? And how do you think markets would react to that kind of solution? Mr. Glassman. Well, I think markets would worry about that. Because markets would worry about what does that do to growth incentives and investment incentives and savings incentives? And I think, in the markets, we're interested in we know it's a structural problem and we know that if you come up with structural changes and structural reforms, we're going to be much more impressed by that, because we don't need promises to cut this and that. What we need is to see that the reform that's taking place will be changing behavior and will be bringing market discipline into the process. And I think people would be pretty disappointed if the only solution you could think of was raising taxes. The President. Why do markets matter to the person out there looking for work? Mr. Glassman. You know, the markets are a barometer of this this is where we, collectively, think about the future. And the markets are a taste test of what people, collectively, think is going to be happening in the future. So it's for one thing, it's a barometer of what we think of your policies. And for another thing, it affects us when we go to take out a mortgage loan. Interest rates go up, because we don't like what's happening, or we're worried about a policy that's not going to be fixing the problem, then we homeowners pay a price. Director Bolten. Sandi, what there has been talk about personal accounts here, and you've been around Iowa, I guess, campaigning for them. Tell me a little more specifically what it is that attracts you about them, what you would do with it, and whether you have any concerns about the safety of that, of making an investment in a personal account rather than letting the Government keep your money. Ms. Jaques. Well, Tim already mentioned earlier, by the time I retire I should expect a 25 percent reduction in what I should expect to get. So I have a hard time thinking that I could do worse in a personal account than I could with the current system. So I guess I'm not worried at all about the security of my investments in a personal account. Because, as others have mentioned, the choices would be limited. I'm not going to be able to invest the money at the racetrack or invest it you know, open up the paper and pick one stock and cross my fingers and hope that it does well. I will be given limited options for how to invest that in very diversified funds. So I'm not worried one bit that I would do better in a personal account than I would do under the current Social Security program because of the demographic changes that will take place before I retire. But on a more broader sense, why personal accounts are important to me it's very important to me because I think they're the only way to give me security in my retirement and my daughter's retirement without raising payroll taxes. I can look at paying the same percentage in payroll taxes until I retire but have a bigger account when I retire, because of the growth that will take place over the next 40 years that I work. I have 40 more years to work before I retire. And if you raise payroll taxes, you're just going to be asking me to pay more but give me less when I retire. But with a personal account, I can pay the same amount in payroll taxes and use a portion of that to go to into my personal account, so I can pay the same and get back more. Now, paying the same and getting back more when I retire I don't know why anyone else is considering any other option than that because I can't think of a better deal than that. Director Bolten. Dick Parsons. Mr. Parsons. Yes, just the other thing that I think people need to consider when Tim talks about a window of time to operate is, the statistics we saw in the Commission say by about the year 2020, you're going to have about two people working for every person retired. But that's still two to one. And where I come from, that's a majority. And you've got to ask yourself, are those two going to let the Congress tax them sort of into oblivion to pay for the one that's not in the workforce. I don't think so. I think the limit there is a limit to how much you can tax, which means that either benefits will have to come down that's inevitable, and people who have been promised something and who believe that they're entitled to something and who've planned on getting it aren't going to get it or essentially, you sort of monetize it that you just issue more money to pay those promises. But by doing that, a dollar buys 50 cents of what it used to buy, so that we're on a collision or a train wreck course. And Tim is 100 percent right when he says that the time to start to deal with that you can't fix this problem with no pain, without making some sacrifices. But the time to start making those sacrifices is now, so that they're manageable, so that the markets can have confidence that we're on a course that is going to avoid the train wreck. Because if we wait until later, it will be a huge train wreck for our whole economy. Director Bolten. Mr. President, we're reaching the end of our time, and I'm going to do the smart thing and give you the last word. Laughter The President. Thank you, Ambassador. Laughter I love the idea of people being able to own something. You know, one of the most hopeful statistics in America is the fact that more and more people are owning their own home. It is a it's just I met a lot of people on the campaign trail that said, "I just bought my first home." And there's just such joy in their voice, that they were able to say, "This is my home." I love the fact that more and more people are starting their own business. I think one of the unique things about America is that the entrepreneurial spirit is so strong that people are willing to take risks. People from all walks of life, all income levels are willing to take risks to start their own company. And it's a fantastic experience to meet people who say, "My business is doing well. I'm trying to do the best I can with my business." And I like the idea of people being able to say, "I'm in charge of my own health care." In other words, "If I make a wise decision about how I live, I end up with more money in my pocket when it comes to a health care savings account." I particularly like the idea of a Social Security system that recognizes the importance and value of ownership. People who own something have a stake in the future of their country, and they have a vital interest in the policies of their Government. And so I want to thank the panelists who are here for helping to illuminate the need to fix problems but, at the same time, recognizing the inherent optimism about promoting an ownership society in America. And I want to appreciate you helping advance this issue these issues, so that when we begin the session after the new year, these will be foremost and forefront issues for the Congress to consider. Now is the time to solve problems and not pass them on. This is my message today. It'll be my message to Members of the United States Congress. We have come to Washington to serve, to solve problems and do the hard work so that when it's all said and done, they'll look back and say, well done, you did your job. Thank you all for coming. December 15, 2004 President Bush. There will be two opening statements, and then we'll take two questions per side. Thank you for coming. Silvio, it's great to welcome you back to our country. I think it's fitting that one of the first world leaders to have visited after our elections is my friend Silvio Berlusconi. He is a close personal friend. He is a friend of the United States of America. I told the Prime Minister I look forward to working with him over the next 4 years to make the world a better place for all, that I've got work to do in Europe. He gave me some very good advice about my upcoming trip. But he always gives me good advice, and I'm proud to have his advice. We talked about peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. I think there's a very good chance that we can achieve that peace. I look forward to working toward that end. The Prime Minister had good advice on that subject as well. He expressed his concerns about the relationship between the dollar and the euro. I told him we're going to take this issue on seriously with the Congress. The best thing that we can do from the executive branch of Government in America is to work with Congress to deal with our deficits. One deficit is a short term budget deficit. Another deficit is the unfunded liabilities that come with Social Security and some of the health programs for the elderly. I told the Prime Minister that Social Security reform will be at the top of my agenda. I campaigned on the issue. I look forward to working with Members of Congress to resolve this long term, unfunded issue so that the world financiers can take comfort in the fact that this Government will address one part of the budget deficit. There's a trade deficit. That's easy to resolve people can buy more United States products if they're worried about the trade deficit. But we've had a good visit. And I'm proud my friend is here. And finally, we discussed our mutual desire to spread freedom and peace. I want to thank the Prime Minister for his understanding about the need for the free world to succeed in Afghanistan and Iraq. He's the kind of man, when he gives you his word, he keeps his word, which is the sign of an impressive, strong leader. So thank you for coming. Prime Minister Berlusconi. Thank you, Mr. President, for your kind words. Thank you for the friendship you showed to me, to my Government, and my country. And my behavior and the behavior of my Government is based on the fact that we share the same values. We appreciate strongly the fact that America has taken on the responsibility of defending and spreading peace and democracy all over the world. And we appreciate the fact the United States do that with sacrifices and a lot of suffering. So we fully share the work carried out by the American administration. And the political agenda, the program which has been announced for the next 4 years, is something we fully agree on. We share the same opinion as to the need of reforming the United Nations in order to make it an institution which will be able to tackle the problems affecting this century and the multilateralism which has to take into account results to be achieved and complete facts. We agree on the fact that we have to continue the fight and the war on terror together. And we agreed on the fact that it is now the appropriate time to solve the Middle East issue. And in particular, I agree on the way in which we keep on and carry on our relationship. It's a very frank, direct, straightforward, and spontaneous way, full of truth. And I think this was the deepest reason why President Bush succeeded so much, especially vis a vis the Americans. It is not politics. There is no politics which makes people say things which people do not believe in or think. President Bush tells me and all of the others always what's in his mind. And it is very positive that "yes" means really "yes" to him and "no" means "no." And I want to reassure President Bush that we'll do any possible effort to strengthen the relationship between the United States of America and Europe. Because I agree with him The West is only one. President Bush. Welcome. Anybody representing AP here? Oh, you are, Terry Terence Hunt, Associated Press . Go ahead. Upcoming Iraqi Elections Q. Iraq's Defense Minister says that Iran and Syrian intelligence agents are supporting Al Zarqawi and that Iran is trying to sway the January 30 elections. Do you believe these charges are accurate, sir? And is there anything the United States can do besides simply telling Iran and Syria to refrain? President Bush. We have made it very clear to the countries in the neighborhood, including the two you mentioned, that we expect there to be help in establishing a society in which people are able to elect their leaders and that we expect people to work with the Iraqi Interim Government to enforce border, to stop the flow of people and money that aim to help these terrorists. We've made that very clear, and we'll continue to make it clear. We have made it clear that for the good of the area, that there ought to be a peaceful country where the different religions can come together under the TAL which has been passed, the go by for what a new constitution should look like. And we will continue to make it clear to both Syria and Iran that as will other nations in our coalition, including our friend the Italians that meddling in the internal affairs of Iraq is not in their interests. You want to call on somebody from the Italian press? At this point, an interpreter translated President Bush's remarks into Italian. The President. I'll be more polite to the translator from now on. Laughter Want to call on somebody from the Currency Exchange Rates Q. You said you've discussed the euro dollar ratio, and therefore, you discussed your relations between the two economic blocs. Can you say something more in detail about what you talked about and if there is, in the future, the possibility of a better balance between the euro and the dollar in terms of the exchange rate? The President. The policy of my Government is a strong dollar policy. Interpreter. I'm sorry, sir. I didn't hear you. Laughter The President. She might not agree with it. Laughter We believe that the markets should make the decision about the relationship between the dollar and the euro. Therefore, to the extent that the Federal Government is involved with strengthening making the conditions such that a strong dollar will emerge, we'll do everything we can in the upcoming legislative session to send a signal to the markets that we'll deal with our deficits, which, hopefully, will cause people to want to buy dollars. Independently, the Federal Reserve, under the leadership of Alan Greenspan, raised the interest rates yet again, a signal to the world markets that the Chairman is also aware of the relative currency valuations between the euro and the dollar. I'm not that generous yet. We love April April Ryan, American Urban Radio Networks , but there's a limited number of questions. Holland Steve Holland, Reuters . Social Security Reform Q. Sir, you're going to this conference today. Some Democrats call the private accounts in Social Security a risky scheme. What happens if people lose money on their investments? Does the Government bail them out? President Bush. Look, Steve, this is the issue about addressing the long term liability issue. This is the Social Security issue. Like many nations in Europe, there's an issue with Social Security systems. Baby boomers are getting ready to retire, and there's not enough workers to sustain that which that which has been promised. And so the fundamental question I placed before the Congress is We have a problem let's work together to deal with it. I believe there's a consensus beginning to grow, that members of both political parties understand now is the time to address this problem. I believe one way to help make sure the system meets the needs of a younger generation is to allow younger workers to take some of their own taxes and invest in a personal savings account under certain conditions. The people in our country have heard this notion, so called "risky scheme" adjectives in the 2000 campaign and the 2004 campaign. I took the message to them. They realize, like I realize, now is the time to deal with the problem. And I look forward to working with both members members of both parties to solve this problem. But let me just give you one this is a chance now to kind of start laying the groundwork for future questions. The great desire for people in Congress is for me to negotiate with myself. You notice I said the great desire for Members of Congress, not members of the press. And therefore, I will continue to articulate principles that I think are important and reach out to members of both parties to fashion a plan that solves the problem. Prime Minister Berlusconi. The problem of Social Security is common to all of the Western World. And this is, luckily, due to the fact that we live longer because of the better standard of living and because of the discoveries made by medicine. In Europe, all governments are dealing with reforming Social Security systems, but one thing is for sure, that it needs to be done. That is, we have to extend the working life of the people. I'm one of the strongest believers in that, because at my age, I'm convinced that one at my age, you can keep on working pretty well. Laughter And you can tap on the experience you've kind of piled up over your working life. President Bush. You look like a baby boomer. Laughter Prime Minister Berlusconi. I thank you very much. It's medicine as well also credit medicine. Laughter President Bush. Final question. Do you want to call on somebody? Prime Minister Berlusconi. I want to say something. We have already reformed our Social Security system in Italy. And this is one of the 24 reforms through which we are modernizing our country. And I've just said to President Bush that at the end of its term, my Government will have completed many more reforms than all of the previous governments in the Italian Republic. President Bush. Very good. A final question from the Italian press? Proposed Joint Italian U.S. Helicopter Production Q. Did you debate the possibility that the President of the United States will soon fly on Italian helicopters? Laughter President Bush. No, I appreciate that Prime Minister Berlusconi. The Italian helicopters almost completely made, manufactured, in the United States. President Bush. With U.S. parts. I've got the message, yes. Laughter Prime Minister Berlusconi. I can only say that I've been flying these helicopters for 30 years, and I'm still here. President Bush. And you never crashed. Laughter That's a good start. Laughter The Prime Minister brought up the issue. I'm very familiar with it. As you know, we delayed a decision until later on in the spring. I'm very aware of the joint venture. I understand the nature of U.S. jobs that will be created in this venture, and I assured him the venture will be treated fairly. Thank you for coming. Happy holidays. Happy holidays. December 14, 2004 The President. Good morning, and welcome to the White House. Laura and I are proud to have you all here today, especially our three honorees and their families and their friends. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is our Nation's highest civil award, given to men and women of exceptional merit, integrity, and achievement. Today this honor goes to three men who have played pivotal roles in great events and whose efforts have made our country more secure and advanced the cause of human liberty. George Tenet learned the value of hard work as a busboy in the 20th Century Diner, the family restaurant in Queens, New York. Between work and school and athletics, George always kept up with current events and world affairs, and that enthusiasm led him into public service. In Washington, George immersed himself in the field of intelligence work. After a long career in the legislative and executive branches of Government, George was tapped by President Bill Clinton to run the Agency he loved. His challenges at the CIA were many. George acted quickly and aggressively to rebuild the Agency's capabilities. He made the recruitment of new talent a top priority. Applications to join the Agency have now soared to more than 138,000 per year. Under George's leadership, the number of yearly graduates from the Clandestine Service Training Program have increased nearly sixfold. And just about every CIA officer can tell you a story about Director Tenet's hands on style of management. He was often seen in the hallways, chewing on an unlit cigar laughter or showing up at their cafeteria table and talking shop. George and his wife, Stephanie, came to know the people of the CIA, and the people of the CIA came to know them as decent, caring people who love their country and love their family, especially their son, John Michael. Early in his tenure as DCI, George Tenet was one of the first to recognize and address the growing threat to America from radical terrorist networks. Immediately after the attacks of September the 11th, George was ready with a plan to strike back at Al Qaida and to topple the Taliban. CIA officers were on the ground in Afghanistan within days. Seasoned American intelligence officers, armed with laptop computers, Afghan clothes, and a visionary plan, rode horseback with the fighters of the Northern Alliance, identified key targets for our military, and helped to free a nation. Since those weeks, CIA officers have remained on the hunt for Al Qaida killers. More than three quarters of Al Qaida key members and associates have been killed or detained, and the majority were stopped as a result of CIA efforts. CIA officers were also among the first to enter the battle in Iraq, alongside their colleagues in uniform. In these years of challenge for our country, the men and women of the CIA have been on the frontlines of an urgent cause, and the whole Nation owes them our gratitude. George is rightly proud of the people of the Agency, and I have been proud to work with George. George has carried great authority without putting on airs, because he remembers his roots. There's still a lot of Queens in George Tenet. Laughter A colleague once said that "George has the intellect of a scholar and the demeanor of a longshoreman." Laughter His tireless efforts have brought justice to America's enemies and greater security to the American people. And today we honor a fine public servant and patriot in George John Tenet. General Tommy Franks was raised in Midland, Texas. Nothing wrong with that. Laughter I didn't know him then, but Laura and he went to the same high school. In those days, some people in Midland wondered about Tommy's future. Sounds familiar. Laughter At a recent high school reunion, Tommy's old principal told the general, "You weren't the brightest bulb in the socket," to which the general replied, "Ain't this a great country?" Laughter America rewards talent, intelligence, and hard work, and the career of Tommy Franks is living proof. Tommy dropped out of college after 2 years to enlist in the Army. He quickly rose to become an officer, graduating from Officer Candidate School with honors and beginning his ascent through the ranks. He went on to finish his degree and earn one more. And he made the best decision of his life when he asked a young lady named Cathy Carley to marry him. Tommy Franks served in Germany and Korea, at the Pentagon, and at the Army War College. He served in the Persian Gulf war. He served in Vietnam, where he was wounded twice. Yet his greatest challenges and his greatest service came after the attacks on September the 11th. As the commander of CENTCOM, Tommy Franks held responsibility for defending American interests in some of the most remote and difficult terrain in the world. It's a job that requires the toughness of a general, the foresight of a strategist, the tact of a diplomat, and the skill of a good manager. Tommy Franks led the forces that fought and won two wars in the defense of the world's security and helped liberate more than 50 million people from two of the worst tyrannies in the world. In Afghanistan, America and our allies, with a historically small force and a brilliant strategy, defeated the Taliban in just a few short weeks. The general likes to say that "no plan ever survived the first contact with the enemy." But in Iraq, Tommy Franks' plan did. A force half the size of the force that won the Gulf war defeated Saddam Hussein's regime and reached Baghdad in less than a month, the fastest, longest armored advance in the history of America warfare. Today, the people of Iraq and Afghanistan are building a secure and permanent democratic future. One of the highest distinctions of history is to be called a liberator, and Tommy Franks will always carry that title. General, the American people thank you for your courage, your leadership, and your lifetime of service in the cause of freedom and security. To the lists of medals and honors and awards you have already earned, I am proud to add the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Jerry Bremer is a diplomat, a philanthropist, a businessman, and a fashion pioneer. Laughter Everyone knows the Bremer look coat, dress shirt and tie, and desert combat boots. Laughter Beyond the fashion statement, Jerry will be remembered for his superb work in laying the foundations of a new democracy in the Middle East. Jerry Bremer's life of service began in 1966, when he joined the Foreign Service. He was a special assistant to six different Secretaries of State and rose to become America's Ambassador to the Netherlands. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan appointed Jerry Ambassador at Large for Counterterrorism. Eventually, Speaker Hastert named him Chairman of the National Commission on Terrorism, and I chose him to serve on my Homeland Security Advisory Council. When America and our coalition needed a seasoned diplomat and a manager to help the people of Iraq emerge from decades of oppression, I knew where to turn. For 14 months, Jerry Bremer worked day and night, in difficult, dangerous conditions, to stabilize the country, to help its people rebuild, and to establish a political process that would lead to justice and liberty. The job was demanding, requiring personal courage, calmness under fire, and hundreds of decisions every day. Yet, Jerry not only rose to the challenge, he found time nearly every day to study the Arabic language. Jerry Bremer earned the respect and admiration of Iraqis and helped to assemble an exceptional group of Iraqi leaders for the Governing Council. With his help, these leaders drafted the Transitional Administrative Law, which charted the country's political future and established a bill of rights. In the final days of hammering out consensus on this landmark law, Jerry sat through day long meetings, sometimes without ever speaking. His silence was essential to reassure Iraqis that the new law was entirely their own. Yet his presence was essential to reassure Iraqis of our coalition's steadfast commitment to their future and their success. Every political benchmark that the Iraqis set for themselves and that Jerry helped them meet was achieved on time or ahead of schedule, including the transfer of sovereignty that ended his tenure. Sometimes, Iraqi officials would express doubts that the day would ever come. Jerry would pick up a photo of his granddaughter and say, "This is your guarantee I'm leaving." Laughter Jerry, I know your wife, Francie, and your children, Paul and Leila, and your granddaughter, Sophia, are really glad to have you back. When Jerry Bremer greeted visitors at his office in Baghdad, he always began, "Welcome to free Iraq." Jerry, Iraq is free today, and you helped make it so. And a free Iraq will help make generations of Americans more secure. Our Nation will always be grateful to Ambassador Jerry Bremer and his good work. These three men symbolize the nobility of public service, the good character of our country, and the good influence of America on the world. Now it is my honor to present the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and I ask the military aide to read the citations. At this point, Maj. Steven T. Fischer, USA, Army Military Aide to the President, read the citations, and the President presented the medals. The President. Thank you all for coming. Laura and I now invite you for a reception here to honor our honorees. Congratulations. December 13, 2004 The President. Thank you. Good morning. I am pleased to announce the nomination of Michael O. Leavitt as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Last year I welcomed Mike to my Cabinet as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. In that office, he has enforced high standards and a spirit of cooperation and with good common sense. He has upheld this administration's commitment to sustain improvements in the quality of the natural environment. He has managed the EPA with skill and with a focus on results. I've come to know Mike as a fine executive, as a man of great compassion. He is an ideal choice to lead one of the largest departments of the United States Government. The Department of Health and Human Services touches the life of every person in this country. From the safety of our food and medicine to the Medicare program to preparing for any kind of health emergency, HHS has comprehensive responsibilities for the health of Americans. To meet those responsibilities, the Department needs many thousands of skilled professionals and a leader who is able to act on many fronts all at once. For the last 4 years, HHS has served the American people extremely well under the energetic leadership of Tommy Thompson. Early in his tenure, our Nation went on a wartime footing and had to prepare for emergencies of a kind never seen before. Secretary Thompson led the effort to prepare the medical infrastructure for any terrorist challenge. At the same time, he has presided over dramatic increases in medical research, adding to the promise of hopeful new cures. He's helped set in motion major improvements in Medicare, which will benefit seniors all across America. He has worked closely with State and local officials to ensure that public health programs function as effectively as possible. And throughout his career as Governor and as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy Thompson has led efforts to reform welfare laws and to help more people transition from welfare to work. Tommy Thompson is a good friend who has given every day of the last 38 years to public service. As he and Sue Ann move on to new challenges, Tommy has my deep gratitude for a job well done. My new nominee for HHS Secretary, like Tommy Thompson, served many years as a Governor. The people of Utah elected Mike Leavitt to three terms, and during his administration, Utah was named one of the best managed State governments in the country. Governor Leavitt was a leader in welfare reform, resource management, and environmental stewardship. He improved child welfare services in the State and made strides toward expanding access to health care for children. He made government services more accessible through the Internet, and he always insisted that the government remain accountable to the people it serves. When confirmed by the Senate, Mike Leavitt will be charged with a broad agenda for the health and safety of the American people. In this new term, we will implement the first ever prescription drug benefit for seniors under Medicare. We will expand Federal cooperation with faith based groups that provide essential services, such as counseling and treatment for addictions. We will continue pursuing the great promise of medical research, always ensuring that the work is carried out with vigor and moral integrity. We will not relent in our efforts to protect the American people from disease and the use of disease as a weapon against us. Mike Leavitt is the right leader to lead HHS in meeting all these vital commitments. I thank him for accepting this new responsibility. I also thank his wife, Jackie, and their son Westin for being with us today. I urge the Senate to confirm Governor Leavitt's nomination as soon as possible. Congratulations. At this point, Secretary designate Leavitt made brief remarks. The President. Good job. December 07, 2004 Thank you all. Thank you for the warm welcome. It was getting a little quiet back at the White House laughter so I decided to drop in on the Devil Dogs. Thank you for coming out to say hello. I've been looking forward to this for quite a while. It's a pleasure to be with so many squared away, gung ho United States marines. I'm here to thank you for serving our country in a time when we need you. In a season where Americans stop to count their blessings, I want you to know one of America's greatest blessings is the men and women who wear our Nation's uniform. And many of you are blessed by having a husband or wife or a son and daughter who stand with you during this time of sacrifice. Our Nation is blessed because of our military families. Your fellow citizens are proud of you, and so is your Commander in Chief. I appreciate Secretary of the Navy Gordon England for joining us today. I want to thank Major General Tim Donovan for his leadership. I want to thank Brigadier General James Williams for being here as well. I want to thank all the State and local officials. I want to thank the military families. But most of all, I want to thank the United States Marine Corps. Last month, marines across the world broke out their dress blues to celebrate the 229th birthday of the Corps. But the men and women of Camp Pendleton's 1st Marine Expeditionary Force marked the occasion a little differently, by fighting the enemies in Iraq. As one Pendleton marine near the frontlines put it, "This is what we, as marines, do. It is where the American people expect us to be." The marines of Camp Pendleton are serving our Nation with valor and integrity. This is the home of the 1st Marine Division, one of America's oldest and most decorated units. In Korea, the marines of the 1st Division were surrounded at the Chosin Reservoir by 10 divisions of Chinese troops. When Colonel Chesty Puller heard the news, he said, "They've got us right where we want them. We can shoot in every direction now." He wasn't bluffing. The 1st Marine Division made it out, destroying seven enemy divisions and upholding the great tradition of the Corps. That courage, determination, and devotion to duty have made the United States Marines one of the most feared and respected fighting forces in the world. And in these dangerous times, when terrorists seek to harm our families and murder free citizens, Americans are thankful that the marines are on the frontline, taking the fight to the enemy. Since I took office almost 4 years ago, I have visited our troops around the world, and one of my first stops as the Commander in Chief was right here in Camp Pendleton. It was in the summer of 2001. I told you that day, because you're marines, you would be asked to perform our Nation's most difficult and dangerous missions. Since that day, you have performed every mission with honor and with courage and with commitment. In the war on terror, you have fought enemies' freedom freedom's enemies from the caves and mountains of Afghanistan to the deserts and cities of Iraq. Marines of Camp Pendleton's 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit were the first conventional forces to fight in Operation Enduring Freedom. They deployed hundreds of miles into a landlocked country to help seize the Kandahar Airport, hunted down the Taliban and Al Qaida fighters, and helped to liberate more than 28 million people from one of the world's most brutal regimes. If any of you were in that 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, I want you to hear what's happening today. Today the Vice President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense are in Kabul for the inauguration of Afghanistan's first democratically elected President. Afghanistan has been transformed from a haven for terrorists to a steadfast ally in the war on terror, and the American people are safer because of your courage. When America led a coalition to enforce the demands of the free world and to end the regime of Saddam Hussein, the marines of Camp Pendleton made us proud once again. When the appointed hour came, the 1st Marine Division rolled across the border, pressing more than 500 miles over the Iraqi desert in less than one month. Backed by the 1st Force Service Support Group and the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, you helped liberate the Iraqi capital, pulled down the statues of the dictator, and pushed north to secure the homeland of Tikrit. You drove Saddam Hussein from his palace into a spider hole, and now he sits in an Iraqi prison awaiting justice. Because of your bravery, because of your skill, America and the world are a safer place. In recent days, the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force has once again shown America's purpose and resolve, this time in Fallujah. Block by block, building by building, marines and soldiers and Iraqi security forces took that city back from the terrorists and the insurgents, and when the smoke is cleared, we saw once again the true nature of the enemy. We found bloodstained torture chambers where hostages had been executed. We found videos of beheadings and brutal terrorist attacks. We found travel documents of foreign terrorists and equipment of forging Iraqi passports to make the foreign fighters appear to be Iraqi insurgents. We found more than 600 improvised explosive devices, including an ice cream truck that had been loaded with bombs for a terrorist attack. In the battle for Fallujah, the terrorists hid weapons in the cemetery. They hid ammunition in private homes. They hid bombs in mosques, but they could not hide from the United States Marines. We have dealt the enemy a severe blow. The terrorist Zarqawi has lost his main sanctuary in Iraq. The Ba'athist insurgents have lost one of their main bases of operation. We seized tons of weapons and shut down terrorist bombmaking factories, killed more than 2,000 enemy fighters, and captured thousands more. The enemies of freedom in Iraq have been wounded, but they're not yet defeated. They'll keep on fighting, and so will the Marine Corps. Next month, Iraqis will vote in free and democratic elections. As election day approaches, we can expect further violence from the terrorists. You see, the terrorists understand what is at stake. They know they have no future in a free Iraq, because free people never choose their own enslavement. They know democracy will give Iraqis a stake in the future of their country. When Iraqis choose their leaders in free elections, it will destroy the myth that the terrorists are fighting a foreign occupation and make clear that what the terrorists are really fighting is the will of the Iraqi people. The success of democracy in Iraq will also inspire others across the Middle East to defend their own freedom and to expose the terrorists for what they are, violent extremists on the fringe of society with no agenda for the future except tyranny and death. So the terrorists will do all they can to delay and disrupt free elections in Iraq, and they will fail. As Iraqi President al Yawr said in the Oval Office yesterday, the Iraqi people are anxious to go and cast their votes and practice, for the first time in 45 years, their right and duty of voting. Free elections will proceed as planned. The United States has a vital interest in the success of a free Iraq. A free Iraq will be a major victory in the war on terror. Free nations do not export terror. Free nations listen to the hopes and aspirations of their people. Free nations are peaceful nations. And a free Iraq will make America more secure and the world a peaceful place. America and our coalition have a strategy in place to aid the rise of a stable democracy in Iraq. To help the Iraqi Government provide security during the election period, we will increase U.S. troop strength by about 12,000 personnel for a total of 150,000 troops. As the election approaches, coalition forces will continue hunting the terrorists and the insurgents. We'll help the people of Fallujah and other cities to rebuild and to move forward. We'll continue training Iraqi security forces so the Iraqi people can eventually take responsibility for their own security. Some Iraqi units have performed better than others, as you know. Some Iraqis have been intimidated enough by the insurgents to leave the service to their country. But a great many are standing firm. In Fallujah, Iraqis fought alongside our soldiers and marines with valor and determination. One American soldier who saw them up close in combat said, "They really excelled, kicking in the doors, clearing the houses, running out into fire to pick up wounded marines." The Iraqi security forces made up about 20 percent of the forces in Fallujah. They're killing the terrorists, blocking the escape routes, and saving American lives. These brave Iraqis are fighting for their freedom, and we are proud to stand by their side. Our coalition is determined to help them succeed. We're working to develop a corps of well trained senior, mid level Iraqi officers. After all, Iraqi soldiers want to be led by Iraqis. NATO trainers are already in Iraq, and the Alliance will soon develop a new training center for the Iraqi security forces and a military academy outside of Baghdad. We will help the Iraqi Government build a force that no longer needs coalition support so they can defend their own Nation. And then American soldiers and marines can come home with the honor they have earned. Our success in Iraq will make America safer for us and for future generations. As one Marine sergeant put it, "I never want my children to experience what we saw in New York, at the Pentagon, and in Pennsylvania." He said, "If we can eliminate the threat on foreign soil, I would rather do it there than have it come home to us." That's why we're on the offensive today in Fallujah and Mosul, Ramadi and north Babil. We're getting after the terrorists. We're disrupting their plans. We're holding the state sponsors of terror equally responsible for terrorist acts. We're working to prevent outlaw regimes from gaining weapons of mass murder and providing them to terrorists. We'll stay at these efforts with patience and resolve, and we will prevail. A time of war is a time for sacrifice, especially for our military families. Being left behind when a loved one goes to war is one of the hardest jobs in the military. It is especially hard during the holidays. Families here at Camp Pendleton endure long separation. Carrying these burdens, you serve our country. America is grateful for your service. Our Nation also honors the men and women who've been injured in the line of duty. I met some of these Americans. This Saturday, I'll be going to Bethesda to meet more. Many face a hard road ahead. They've inspired their comrades with their strength of will. General Sattler recently visited with some of the wounded in the Fallujah campaign. One marine was pretty beat up, but when he saw the general, he lifted his hand and said, "Sir, I've still got my trigger finger. I can get back out there." That is the spirit of the Corps, and America will show the same sense of duty. We will provide the best possible medical care for every American servicemember wounded in action. And some of you have lost comrades and family members in the war on terror. Words can only go so far in capturing the grief and sense of loss for the families of those who have died, but you can know this They gave their lives for a cause that is just. And as in other generations, their sacrifice will have spared millions from the lives of tyranny and sorrow. America prays for the families of the fallen, and we stand with the families of the fallen, and their sacrifice will always be remembered. In the last 4 years, I've seen and the world has seen the courage and the skill and the decency of the United States military. You are a great force for good in this world. The American people know it, and they are behind you. Your service and sacrifice has touched the hearts of our people and inspired millions to show their gratitude. Last month, I met a 15 year old from California named Shauna Fleming, who collected a million thank you letters for our military personnel. In Washington, DC, veterans Vietnam vet Steve Cobb and his wife, Tanya, have been coming out regularly to Andrews Air Force Base to meet wounded servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Those two good folks welcome the troops home, and they offer whatever help they can provide. Steve earned four Purple Hearts and the Silver Star in Vietnam, but this is what he said. He said, "When I came home, there was nobody but demonstrators to meet our troops. I never wanted to see another generation of troops come home without being welcomed and appreciated." In Massachusetts, a contractor named John Gonsalves says heard about a soldier who had lost both legs in an RPG attack in Iraq. So he started Homes for Our Troops, a nonprofit dedicated to building and adapting homes for disabled veterans with special needs. John says, "The war on terror is something the American people should all be a part of, not just the people on the frontlines in Afghanistan and in Iraq." He says, "We have a responsibility to do more for our veterans who are out there fighting every day and putting their lives on the line." Here at Camp Pendleton, a nurse named Karen Guenther saw the financial strain on the families of the injured sailors and marines. Many spent weeks, even months away from home, standing by their loved ones recovering at a military hospital. They struggle with the cost of food and lodging and travel and lost income. So she and other Marine spouses started the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund to raise money for those struggling military families. Since its founding here 6 months ago, it has grown into a national organization that has helped over 300 military families across the United States, with more than 400,000 in grants. As a wife of a wounded marine recently put it, "There was no redtape. They just helped. Had it not been for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, I would not have been able to pay my bills for the past 3 months or stay at my husband's bedside." These examples represent the true strength of the country, the heart and souls of your fellow citizens, and they make America proud. Across our country, Americans are coming together to surround our deployed forces and wounded warriors with love and support. We should be doing more, so I want to speak to our fellow citizens who might be listening today. I urge every American to find some way to thank our military and to help out the military family down the street. The Department of Defense has set up a web site americasupportsyou.mil. If you're interested in finding out how you can help, go to americasupportsyou.mil. You can go there to learn about efforts in your own community to say you support our troops. In this season of giving, let us stand with the men and women who stand up for America, our military. Every man and woman who serves at Camp Pendleton and all who wear the Marine Corps uniform are part of a great history. The general mentioned, 63 years ago today, our Nation was attacked at Pearl Harbor. And soon, the United States Marines were storming beaches and engaging the enemy in distant lands. In places like Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima, our fathers and our grandfathers struggled and sacrificed to defend freedom. And today, in places like Fallujah and north Babil, this generation of marines is fighting to extend freedom. Today's war on terror will not end with a ceremony, a surrender ceremony on a deck of a battleship. But it will end with victory. Just as we defeated the threats of fascism and imperial communism in the 20th century, we will defeat the threat of global terrorism. And we will help the people of liberated countries to rebuild and to secure a future of freedom and peace. I have confidence in our country, and I have faith in our cause. There's still important work ahead, yet the outcome is assured. History moves toward freedom because the desire for freedom is written in every human heart. And the cause of freedom is in the best of hands. It's in the hands of people like the United States Marine Corps. The United States Marines will fight, in the words of the Rifleman's Creed, "until victory is America's and there is no enemy." May God bless you, and may God continue to bless the United States of America. December 06, 2004 President Bush. Mr. President, welcome to the Oval Office. Last time we met was in Georgia, and now you're here in Washington, DC. I'm really honored you're here. First, I want to thank you for your courage and your vision for a united and free Iraq. The President and I just had a great conversation about the future of Iraq. He can speak for himself, but I came away that I'm talking to a man who has got great confidence in the Iraqi people's capacity to self govern and a great belief in the fact that it's going to happen. We talked about a variety of issues. We talked about how the United States can continue to stand with those who believe in democracy. We talked about the security situation. We talked about the election process. And I assured the President that my comments about the need to have elections was real and genuine. I believe it's necessary for the Iraqi people to vote on January the 30th because it provides an opportunity for people to participate in democracy. It'll send the clear message to the few people in Iraq that are trying to stop the march toward democracy that they cannot stop elections. It will give the Iraqi people a chance to become invested in the future of that vital country. And the President can speak for himself on the subject, but he was very reassuring to me, as he was yesterday in his comments to the American people. All in all, Mr. President, I am really proud you're here. I look forward to working with you. President Yawr. Thank you. President Bush. And I look forward to achieving the common objective, which is an Iraq that is free and peaceful. President Yawr. Thank you very much, sir. I've been honored this morning to meet the President of the United States after all, we in Iraq are in debt for the United States for and the courageous leadership of President Bush of liberating Iraq from a dynasty, a villain. Right now we are faced with the armies of darkness who are who have no objective but to undermine the political process and incite civil war in Iraq. But I want to assure the whole world that this will never, ever happen, that we in Iraq are committed to move along. After all these sacrifices, there is no way on Earth that we will let it go in vain. This is very important. Victory is not only possible it's a fact. We can see it. It's there. We are committed. We see that we have all the reasons to prevail. We see that our enemy is an enemy that has only a short time because they have no roots in the Iraqi society, they have no ideology that they can sell to Iraq or the whole world. There is unfairness by calling them Sunni insurgents these are not Sunni. These are a mix of people who have one thing in common, hatred to the Iraqi society and hatred to democracy, people who are trying to stop us from having our first elections. We in Iraq, the whole Iraqi society are willing to participate in elections. Nobody in Iraq wants to boycott the elections, except for some politicians but I'm talking about the mass public of Iraq. They all are very anxious to go and cast their votes and practice, for the first time in 45 years, their right and duty of voting for whoever they feel confidence in. This is very important. I just came here to tell the President of the United States and the American public that we in Iraq are very appreciative for all the sacrifices, that this is a job that we see has honor and even a duty that we have to make everybody free. In Iraq, these people are trying to kidnap people in streets and sell them from one gang to another. This is slavery, and shame on anybody who can condone to slavery. We are going to face them. We are determined. And God bless you, sir. President Bush. Thank you very much. Good job. President Yawr. Thank you. President Bush. We'll answer a couple of questions in the spirit of democracy. Attack on U.S. Consulate in Jeddah Upcoming Iraqi Elections Q. Mr. President, who do you think was behind today's attacks in Saudi Arabia, and what do you think was their motive? And on Iraq, if I could ask a little bit more, how can Iraqis feel secure about going to the polls on January 30th when there is so much violence and bloodshed? President Bush. First, on the incident in Saudi Arabia, I want to thank the Saudi Government for responding as quickly as they did. We send our heartfelt condolences to the Saudi National Guard that died in the defense of our consulate. I want to thank the marines who are doing their job so splendidly. We will find out more about who caused the attacks. As I understand it, several of the attackers died, but several were captured by the Saudi Government, and I'm confident they will share the information with us. The attacks in Saudi Arabia remind us that the terrorists are still on the move. They're interested in affecting the will of free countries. They want us to leave Saudi Arabia. They want us to leave Iraq. They want us to grow timid and weary in the face of their willingness to kill randomly and kill innocent people. And that's why these elections in Iraq are very important. You remember all the dire threats prior to the elections in Afghanistan. People said, "If you vote in Afghanistan, you'll be killed." But the desire of people to vote overwhelmed the capacity of the terrorists. And this is the same message we're getting here in Iraq, that people who are willing to blow up people by the use of car bombs will do anything they can to stop democracy. And there is a reason why, because a free society in Iraq will be a major defeat for the terrorists. And I think that the capacity of these killers to stop an election would send a wrong signal to the world and send a wrong signal to the Iraqi people, themselves. And the President has said that people want to vote, and I believe they ought to have a chance to vote. And we'll do everything we can, working with the Iraqis, to make the election sites as secure as possible. That's why the commanders on the ground have asked for additional troops, to help with the election process, and I granted them that request, Mr. President. And our commanders, working with Ambassador Negroponte and the Iraqi security forces, believe they can do a lot to make these polling places secure. You can never guarantee 100 percent security. But Iraqi people have a chance to say to the world, "We choose democracy over terrorism." And that's going to be defining moment in that country. Are you Al Jazeera? Democracy in the Middle East Q. Al Arabiyya. President Bush. I mean, Al Arabiyya. Welcome. Q. Mr. President, I know that the democracy is your major concern in Iraq and in the Middle East. Despite all difficulties, security difficulties we see in Iraq, are you confident that this election will produce a true democracy in Iraq and then will help your project in the Middle East? President Bush. Yes. I appreciate that question. I am confident that when peoples are allowed to vote and express their will, peaceful societies emerge. And I'm confident that the process that has been set up by the international community to allow the people of Iraq to express their will is a major step in democracy in the greater Middle East. I believe the Iraqi people have got the capacity and the desire to self govern. And these elections will be a very important moment in the advance of democracy. The American people must understand that democracy just doesn't happen overnight. It is a process. It is an evolution. After all, look at our own history. We had great principles enunciated in our Declarations of Independence and our Constitution, yet we had slavery for 100 years. It takes a while for democracy to take hold. And this is a major first step in a society which enables people to express their beliefs and their opinions. I also believe that success in Iraq will breed success elsewhere. I believe it is very possible for there to be a Palestinian state with the institutions of democracy in place that will allow for leadership to emerge that listens to the demands of the Palestinian people. And when such a state takes place, it will make peace much more possible with the Israelis. And so in a second term, not only will I work with our Iraqi friends to help them achieve democracy that the President has just said is the overwhelming desire of most people, but I'll also spend time and efforts to help the Palestinian people grow their own state and own democracy so we can achieve peace. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Intelligence Reform Legislation Q. Senator Warner has raised some concerns about the chain of command issue in the intelligence reform bill. Is this bill going to have to wait until next year? President Bush. I certainly hope the bill gets to my desk soon. I believe we haveaddressed the concerns of, by far, the majority of Members of both the House and the Senate. As we speak, we're working with the key Members to address concerns. I call upon the Congress to pass the intelligence bill. It is a good piece of legislation. It is a necessary piece of legislation. It's a piece of legislation that is important for the security of our country. Thank you. December 04, 2004 President Bush. It's my honor to welcome a friend, a leader, President Musharraf of Pakistan. He is a person with whom I've worked very closely over the past 4 years, a person with whom I look forward to working closely over the next 4 years. And we had a really good discussion. We discussed international politics. I assured President Musharraf that there is an opportunity at hand to work toward the development of a Palestinian state and peace in the Middle East. I told him that this will be a priority of my administration. The goal is two states living side by side in peace and security. We spent time talking about our bilateral relations. We reviewed the relationship between India and Pakistan. He has showed great courage in that relationship, leading toward what we hope will be a peaceful solution of what has been a historically difficult problem. We talked about our own bilateral relations. The President and I are absolutely committed to fighting off the terrorists who would destroy life in Pakistan or the United States or anywhere else. And I appreciate very much your clear vision of the need for people of good will and hope to prevail over those who are willing to inflict death in order to achieve an ideology that is the predominance of an ideology that is just backward and dark in its view. I we talked about commerce between our countries. The President is very concerned about whether or not Pakistan goods are being treated equally, as fairly as other goods coming into the United States. I listened very carefully to what he had to say. He had some constructive ideas as to how to deal with that situation. Having brought up his economy, however, I reminded him that he's doing quite a good job of making sure that the economy grows in Pakistan so that people have got a chance to realize their dreams. And I congratulate you on the good stewardship of the Pakistan economy. All in all, our relationships are good they're strong and they will remain that way. And I'm honored you're here. President Musharraf. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. President. I don't have much to add to what the President has already said. We had a very wholesome interaction. And all that I would like to say, that I've come here basically to congratulate the President very sincerely, with all my sincerity, for having won the elections. And he does me an honor by receiving me on a Saturday. Laughter And therefore, the other issues that we discussed were incidental and all the important issues the most important issue, a resolution of the Palestinian dispute, in the interest of peace in the whole world, and I would repeat whatever the President has already said Enhancement of our bilateral relations, enhancement of our commercial ties with the United States. I'm grateful for the extreme understanding that the President has shown towards the concerns of Pakistan. Thank you. President Bush. Welcome. Welcome. We'll answer a question from the American side, and the Pakistani side, and the American side, and Pakistani side. And that will be it, in the spirit of Saturday morning meetings. And so the first person that will be asking the question will be Mr. Mark Knoller CBS Radio . Homeland Security Q. Thank you. Mr. President, what do you make of the warning sounded yesterday by Tommy Thompson that the American food supply may be at risk to terrorist attack? President Bush. Tommy was commenting on the fact that we're a large company country, with all kinds of avenues where somebody can inflict harm. And we're doing everything we can to protect the American people. I picked a good man to head the Homeland Security Department in Bernie Kerik. I hope the Senate confirms him quickly so he can get to work. There's a lot of work to be done. We've made a lot of progress in protecting our country, and there's more work to be done. And this administration is committed to doing it. Q. Mr. President President Bush. Do you want to call on somebody? President Musharraf. I know that I know that you're trying your best to address the issue of terrorism all over the world, and obviously, the most important part is to protect your own, the United States, from terrorism. President Bush. Actually, I wasn't asking you necessarily to answer the question I was asking you to call on somebody from the Pakistani press, I'm sorry. Laughter You don't have to answer every question they ask me. I would advise you not answering those questions. Laughter Pakistan U.S. Relations Q. Mr. President, the public perception in Pakistan is that Pakistan is doing much more, deeper cooperation, and doing more favors to the United States than Pakistan is getting anything in return. What is your comment, and what is the room for Pak U.S. relations during your next term? President Bush. Well, first of all, I don't view relations as, one, that there's a scorecard that says, you know, "Well, if we all fight terror together, therefore, somebody owes somebody something." This is a world in which cooperation is essential, and mutual cooperation is really essential between Pakistan and the United States. Obviously, there's ways to strengthen our bilateral relations. The President and I are constantly discussing ways to do so. After all, he is the strongest advocate for the Pakistan people I have ever met. His duty is to represent Pakistan, and so, therefore, we talk about ways to enhance trade. Trade between the United States and Pakistan is good. It can be better, and we discussed ways to enhance that. But our cooperation has been very strong. But let me just say something. Friends don't sit there and have a scorecard that says, "Well, he did this," or "He did that, and therefore, somebody is there's a deficit." Our relationship is much bigger than that. Our relationship is one where we work closely together for the common good of our own people and for the common good of the world. Jennifer Jennifer Loven, Associated Press . President Musharraf's Role in the War on Terror Q. Thank you, sir. You've talked repeatedly about how pleased you've been with President Musharraf's cooperation in the arrest of Al Qaida suspects. But are you not disappointed that his army has somewhat downgraded the search for Usama bin Laden? President Bush. Quite the contrary. His army has been incredibly active and very brave in southern Waziristan, flushing out an enemy that had thought they had found safe haven. His army has suffered casualty, and for that, we want to thank their loved ones for the sacrifice that their family has made. The President has been a determined leader to bring to justice not only people like Usama bin Laden but to bring to justice those who would inflict harm and pain on his own people. Remember, this is a man whose life had been threatened by and still is threatened by Al Qaida leadership. He's the person who survived two direct assassination attempts. And there is nobody more dedicated than in the protection of his own people than President Musharraf. And I am very pleased with his efforts and his focused efforts, and our discussions today were to determine how best we can help the President achieve his objective and which is not only protect himself but protect his country. Pakistan U.S. Relations Pakistan's Role in the Middle East Peace Process Q. Mr. President, it's determined that you have a long vision, long term vision between Pakistan and the United States. How would you define it, and how do you see it in the days to come? President Bush. I think the long term vision is one that is a relationship which is very mature in this sense that there is a commercial relationship which is fair and balanced, mutually beneficial to both people a defense relationship which is one in which there is close collaboration and complementary efforts based upon the true threats of the 21st century and thirdly, there's a relationship in which I can call upon my friend to help deal with international issues such as the development of a Palestinian state, one in which the aspirations of the Palestinian people are met and listened to because democracy has taken hold. One of the interesting lessons that the world can look at is Pakistan. You see, there are some in the world who do not believe that a Muslim society can self govern. Some believe that the only solution for government in parts of the world is for there to be tyranny or despotism. I don't believe that. The Pakistan people have proven that those cynics are wrong. And where President Musharraf can help in world peace is to help remind people what is possible. And the solution in the Middle East is for there to be a world effort to help the Palestinians develop a state that is truly free, one that's got an independent judiciary, one that's got a civil society, one that's got the capacity to fight off the terrorists, one that allows for dissent, one in which people can vote. And President Musharraf can play a big role in helping achieve that objective. None of us can convince the Palestinians to say or make the Palestinians adhere to this point of view, but we can help convince them. And that's precisely what I intend to do. And as a Palestinian state evolves there will be much more confidence, and when that happens, peace is more likely to happen. And I look forward to working with this world leader on that important issue. Thank you all for taking time out of your weekend. I know it's been a disappointment for you to have to work on Saturday, but laughter the press. But nevertheless President Musharraf. Because of me. Laughter President Bush. the President and I are thrilled you're here. Thank you. December 04, 2004 Good morning. Since the attacks of September the 11th, 2001, American military forces, intelligence officers, and law enforcement officials have defended our country with skill and honor and have taken the fight to terrorists abroad. Here at home, we have created the Department of Homeland Security, strengthened our defenses, and improved the collection and analysis of vital intelligence. Yet we must do more. To protect America, our country needs the best possible intelligence. The recommendations of the 9 11 Commission chart a clear, sensible path toward needed reforms to our Government's intelligence capabilities. I strongly support most of those recommendations, and my administration is already implementing the vast majority of those that can be enacted without a vote of Congress. In August, I established the National Counterterrorism Center, where all the available intelligence on terrorist threats is brought together in one place. Just last month, I issued two directives instructing the FBI and CIA to hire new personnel and to press forward with the transformation of these agencies to meet the threats of our time. But other key changes require new laws. For the past few months, I have been working with the Congress to produce an intelligence reform bill that will make America more secure. Congress made good progress toward a strong new law. Provisions have been included to strengthen our ability to arrest those who aid and train terrorists, to hold dangerous terrorists who are awaiting trial, and to prosecute those who seek to acquire weapons of mass destruction. The most important provisions of any new bill must create a strong, focused new management structure for our intelligence services and break down the remaining walls that prevent the timely sharing of vital threat information among Federal agencies and with relevant State, local, and private sector personnel. Our intelligence efforts need a Director of National Intelligence who will oversee all of the foreign and domestic activities of the intelligence community. The legislation I support preserves the existing chain of command and leaves America's 15 intelligence agencies, organizations, and offices in their current Departments. Yet the Director of National Intelligence will oversee all of America's intelligence efforts to help ensure that our Government can find and stop terrorists before they strike. To be effective, this position must have full budget authority over our intelligence agencies. The many elements of our intelligence community must function seamlessly, with an overriding mission to protect America from attack by terrorists or outlaw regimes. I will continue to work with the Congress to reach an agreement on this intelligence bill. I urge Members of Congress to act next week so I can sign these needed reforms into law. We have made great progress against the terrorists who seek to harm our Nation. We are safer, but we are not yet safe. The enemy is still plotting, and America must respond with urgency. We must do everything necessary to confront and defeat the terrorist threat, and that includes intelligence reform. By remaining focused and determined in these efforts, we will strengthen the safety of our citizens and defend our Nation from harm. Thank you for listening. December 02, 2004 President Bush. Mr. President, welcome back. It is great to see you. I'm looking forward to working with you over the next years to strengthen our relationship, to work on a prosperous continent of Africa, to work with you on implementing our strategy to help defeat the pandemic of HIV AIDS. I look forward to our discussion today. I particularly want to thank the President for his contributions to the peacekeeping forces of the African Union. We have worked together on issues such as Liberia, Sudan, and other important parts of the continent of Africa. I look forward to a fruitful relationship, and I'm glad you're here. I want to welcome you, and thank you for coming, sir. President Obasanjo. Thank you very much, sir. Mr. President, let me start by congratulating you once again. And let me express our appreciation for receiving me and my delegation so very early in your preparation for the second term. Of course, you are receiving me not only in my capacity as President of Nigeria but also in my capacity as the Chairman of AU, continuing that organization. I'm looking forward to this meeting to consolidate what we have been able to do together, like you have rightly said, in the area of peace and security and conflict resolution in Africa, in the area of trade and resource flow for Africa, and in the area of fight against terrorism by making the world, particularly Africa, a more peaceful and a more conducive continent to live in, and of course in the area of security, stability, and availability of some of the essential resources for the development of the world, but the inaudible in the Gulf region of our continent. I'm looking forward to being able to work with you. President Bush. It's good to see you again, sir. Scott Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press , a couple of questions. Secretary General Kofi Annan of the United Nations Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Do you think questions of fraud in the U.N.'s Oil for Food Programme have hurt Kofi Annan, and do you think he should resign, as Senator Coleman has urged? President Bush. Yesterday I spoke about the United Nations. I said the United States participates in multilateral organizations, and we expect those organizations to be effective. You know, when an organization says there's going to be serious consequences if something doesn't happen, it better mean what it says. And on this issue, it's very important for the United Nations to understand that there ought to be a full and fair and open accounting of the Oil for Food Programme. In order for the taxpayers of the United States to feel comfortable about supporting the United Nations, there has to be an open accounting, and I look forward to that process going forward. Q. Should he resign, sir? President Bush. I look forward to the full disclosure of the facts, a good, honest appraisal of that which went on. And it's important for the integrity of the organization to have a full and open disclosure of all that took place with the Oil for Food Programme. Yes, Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Ukraine Q. Sir, should there be a new election in Ukraine, and should it be free of Russian influence? President Bush. Well, I think any election, if there is one, ought to be free from any foreign influence. These elections ought to be open and fair. I appreciate the progress that is being made. I particularly want to again thank my friend the President of Poland, the President of Lithuania, and the EU for its involvement in helping to resolve the Ukrainian election crisis. The position of our Government is that the will of the people must be known and heard. And therefore, I will we will continue to monitor and be involved in a process that encourages there to be a peaceful resolution of this issue. And you know, there are different options on the table, and we're watching very carefully what is taking place. But any election in any country must be must reflect the will of the people and not that of any foreign government. Yes, Gregory David Gregory, NBC News . Iraq Q. Mr. President, you're sending more troops to Iraq now. This comes on the heels of reports that Iraqi security forces appear to be underperforming, appear to be unprepared for elections in January. If that's the case, what would be so bad about postponing elections if there's the potential that those elections may be seen as illegitimate? President Bush. Well, first of all, the elections should not be postponed. It's time for the Iraqi citizens to go the polls, and that's why we are very firm on the January 30th date. Secondly, I have always said that I will listen to the requests of our commanders on the ground. And our commanders requested some troops delay their departure home and the expedition of other troops to help these elections go forward. And I honored their request. And thirdly, we are working hard to train Iraqis. And we have got certain benchmarks in mind. And General Petraeus is in charge of training the Iraqi troops, and the Iraqi ministers in charge of that are meeting the goals. And the idea, of course, and the strategy, of course, is have the Iraqis defend their own freedom. And we want to help them have their Presidential elections. And at some point in time, when Iraq is able to defend itself against the terrorists who are trying to destroy democracy as I have said many times our troops will come home with the honor they have earned. It's time for those people to vote, and I am looking forward to it. It's one of those moments in history where a lot of people will be amazed that a society has been transformed so quickly from one of tyranny and torture and mass graves to one in which people are actually allowed to express themselves at the ballot. Thank you all very much. Q. Mr. President. Mr. President President Bush. Yes, sir. U.S. Role in Africa Q. As you march into the second term, what will Africa be looking forward to in terms of America's contribution to security, especially in the Gulf of Guinea? President Bush. No, I appreciate that. First of all, Africa was a very important part of my first term. I have met with the President four or five times? President Obasanjo. Four or five President Bush. So many times, it's hard to count. President Obasanjo. And at the G 8, I think about 10 times. President Bush. Ten times. I have met with other leaders from the continent of Africa a lot. I have traveled to Africa. I have made the fighting the pandemic of HIV AIDS a central part of my administration. I helped work to extend AGOA on the full belief that economic trade and the benefits of trade far exceed the benefits of direct aid. I've worked on a Millennium Challenge Account to help encourage the habits of good governance. And I will continue that focus and attention on the continent of Africa. I think it is vital that the continent of Africa be a place of freedom and democracy and prosperity and hope where people can grow up and realize their dreams. It's a continent that has got vast potential, and the United States wants to help the people of Africa realize that potential. Thank you all. December 02, 2004 Thank you all very much. Tonight we begin a joyous season, and the city of Washington is never more beautiful than during the holidays. At Christmastime, we celebrate good tidings first announced 2,000 years ago and still a source of great joy in our world. Laura and I are always happy to join in the Pageant of Peace, and we thank you all for coming this evening. I thank our special guests. I want to thank Santa for such good weather. Laughter I appreciate Peter, the chairman of the Pageant of Peace, and his wife, Nancy. I want to thank John Betchkal, the president of the Christmas Pageant of Peace. I want to thank the members of the board of the Christmas Pageant of Peace for your hard work in putting on this joyous festival. I want to thank Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton. I want to thank other members of my Cabinet who are here tonight. I appreciate the Members of Congress who are here. I want to thank Fran Mainella, who is the Director of the Parks Service, and all the National Parks Service employees. I thank Dr. Schuller and all the entertainers. Thanks so very much for being here tonight. The season of Advent is always the season of hope. We think of the patient hope of men and women across the centuries who listened to the words of the prophets and lived in joyful expectation. We think of the hope of Mary, who welcomed God's plan with great faith. We think of the hope of the wise men who set out on a long journey guided only by a slender promise traced in the stars. We are reminded of the hope that the grandest purposes of the Almighty can be found in the humblest places. And we embrace the hope that all the love and gifts that come to us in this life are the signs and symbols of even a greater love and gift that came on a holy night. The old carol speaks of a "thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn." And every year at this time we feel the thrill of hope as we wait on Christmas Day. This Christmas, as loved ones come together, some in our military are separated from family by the call of duty a long way from home. We have service men and women celebrating the holidays at bases from Europe to East Asia and on many fronts in the war on terror. Especially for those deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq, the work is dangerous and the mission is urgent. American service men and women are bringing freedom to many and peace to future generations. Their sacrifices defend us all, and all Americans are grateful to them and to our military families. Across our country, citizens are supporting our people in uniform with their prayers and many acts of kindness. Often the effort is led by children. In Chantilly, Virginia, Brownie Troop 5179, who are here tonight, by the way, collected donations of candy and sun screen, bug spray, and handmade cards to send to our soldiers overseas. They gathered more than 200 pounds of gifts and made sure the packages arrived on time for the holidays. I'm sure those thoughtful gifts were gladly received. And I thank the Brownies for reminding the good people of our military how much they mean to America. And to show our appreciation to the Brownies of Chantilly, Virginia, and all those who volunteer in our blessed land, we have two representatives of the Troop to help Laura and me light our national Christmas tree. And so, if Nichole and Clara will come forward, we will turn on the lights. Are you ready? Now will you join me in the countdown? Five, four, three, two, one. December 01, 2004 Thank you very much. Please be seated. Thank you all very much. Thanks for the warm welcome. Mr. Prime Minister, thank you, and Mrs. Martin, for a fantastic dinner last night in Ottawa. We really loved it. My only regret today is that Laura is not with me. She is went home to thank those who have been decorating the White House for the great Christmas season that's coming up. I married well. Laughter I appreciate the Premiers who are here. Premier Hamm, thank you for your hospitality. Premier Lord, Premier Binns, and Premier Williams, I appreciate you all joining. I want to specifically mention the Premiers because, as an ex Governor, I feel a special kinship to those who laughter run the Provinces here in Canada. But thank you for your service. Ambassador Cellucci, mayors, local officials, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I am honored to be with you today to reaffirm America's enduring ties to your country. I am really glad to be in Canada, and I'm really glad to be among friends. I appreciate the warm hospitality we've received. In the past year, I've come to know your new Prime Minister. We've met in Mexico, in the United States, in Chile, and now in Canada. Paul Martin is a leader who is asserting Canada's good influence in the world. And as I prepare for a second term in office, I look forward to a successful working partnership between our two countries. Paul and I share a great vision for the future, two prosperous, independent nations joined together by the return of NHL hockey. Laughter I told Paul that I really have only one regret about this visit to Canada. There's a prominent citizen who endorsed me in the 2000 election, and I wanted a chance to finally thank him for that endorsement. I was hoping to meet Jean Poutine. Laughter I'm proud to stand in this historic place, which has welcomed home so many Canadians who defended liberty overseas and where so many new Canadians began their North American dream. I'm grateful for the hospitality shown by the people of this fine city who have been so very kind to Americans before. Three years ago, Halifax and other towns and villages, from Newfoundland to Manitoba to the Northwest Territories to British Columbia, welcomed, as the Prime Minister mentioned, more than 33,000 passengers on diverted flights. For days after September the 11th, Canadians came to the aid of men and women and children who were worried and confused and had nowhere to sleep. You opened your homes and your churches to strangers. You brought food, you set up clinics, you arranged for calls to their loved ones, and you asked for nothing in return. One American declared, "My heart is overwhelmed at the outpouring of Canadian compassion. How does a person say thank you to a nation?" Well, that's something a President can do. And so let me say directly to the Canadian people and to all of you here today who welcomed Americans, thank you for your kindness to America in an hour of need. That emergency revealed the good and generous heart of this country and showed the true feelings of Canadians and Americans toward each other. The affection that appeared in an instant will always be there, and it runs deep. Beyond the words of politicians and the natural disagreements that nations will have, our two peoples are one family and always will be. We're united in part by the daily contact of commerce, and both our nations are better off for it. In the 10 years since the North American Free Trade Agreement was enacted, trade between the United States and Canada has nearly doubled. Twenty three percent of America's exports go directly north, and more than 80 percent of Canadians' exports go to my country. With so much trade, there are bound to be some disagreements. I proudly ate some Alberta beef last night, and laughter I'm still standing. Laughter With determined efforts and relying on sound science and mutual good will, we can resolve issues. Take, for example, those PEI potatoes. Laughter Right, Mr. Premier? Laughter Canada represents America's most vital trade relationship in the whole world, and we will do all that is necessary to keep that relationship strong. Yet, our ties go deeper than trade. Our community of values reaches back centuries. Canada and the U.S. may have disagreed on the wisdom of separating from the Crown, but we've always agreed on the great principles of liberty derived from our common heritage. We believe in the dignity of every human life, and we believe in the right of every person to live in freedom. We believe in free markets, humanized by compassion and fairness. We believe a diverse society can also be united by principles of justice and equality. The values we hold have made us good neighbors for centuries, and they will keep us as strong allies and good friends for the centuries to come. These shared convictions have also led our great democracies to accept a mission in the wider world. We know it is not possible to live in quiet isolation of our peaceful continent, hoping the problems and challenges of other nations will pass us by. We know there can be no security, no lasting peace in a world where proliferation and terrorism and genocide and extreme poverty go unopposed. We know that our own interests are served by an international system that advances human rights and open societies and free trade and the rule of law and the hope that comes from self government. Both Canada and the United States have accepted important global duties, and we will meet those responsibilities for our own benefit and for the good of mankind. Canada's leadership is helping to build a better world. Over the past decade, Canadian troops have helped bring stability to Bosnia and Kosovo. Canada's willingness to send peacekeepers to Haiti saved thousands of lives and helped save Haiti's constitutional government. Canadian troops are serving bravely in Afghanistan at this hour. Other Canadians stand on guard for peace in the Middle East, in Cyprus, Sudan, and the Congo. Just 2 weeks ago, NATO countries showed their esteem for your military by electing General Ray Henault as Chairman of NATO's Military Committee. This admiration for your armed forces goes way back and for good reason. It was said during World War I, "The Canadians never budge." America respects the skill and honor and the sacrifice of Canadians' armed Canada's armed forces. Our nations play independent roles in the world, yet our purposes are complementary. We have important work ahead. A new term in office is an important opportunity to reach out to our friends. I hope to foster a wide international consensus among three great goals. The first great commitment is to defend our security and spread freedom by building effective multinational and multilateral institutions and supporting effective multilateral action. The tasks of the 21st century, from fighting proliferation to fighting the scourge of HIV AIDS to fighting poverty and hunger, cannot be accomplished by a single nation alone. The United States and Canada participate together in more multilateral institutions than perhaps any two nations on Earth, from NATO in Europe to the OAS in the Western Hemisphere to APEC in the Pacific. Canada and the United States are working with a coalition of nations through the Proliferation Security Initiative to stop and seize shipments of weapons of mass destruction materials and delivery systems on land and at sea and in the air. America always prefers to act with allies at our side, and we're grateful to Canada for working closely with us to confront the challenges of Iran and North Korea. Multilateral organizations can do great good in the world. Yet, the success of multilateralism is measured not merely by following a process but by achieving results. The objective of the U.N. and other institutions must be collective security, not endless debate. For the sake of peace, when those bodies promise serious consequences, serious consequences must follow. America and Canada helped create the United Nations, and because we remain committed to that institution, we want it to be more than a League of Nations. My country is determined to work as far as possible within the framework of international organizations, and we're hoping that other nations will work with us to make those institutions more relevant and more effective in meeting the unique threats of our time. Our second commitment is to fight global terrorism with every action and resource the task requires. Canada has taken a series of critical steps to guard against the danger of terrorism. You created the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. You've toughened your antiterror laws. You're upgrading your intelligence. I want to thank the Government for all those constructive and important decisions. Our two countries are working together every day every day to keep our people safe. That is the most solemn duty I have and the most solemn duty the Prime Minister has. From the Smart Border accord to the Container Security Initiative to the joint command of NORAD, we are working together. I hope we'll also move forward on ballistic missile defense cooperation to protect the next generation of Canadians and Americans from the threats we know will arise. The energetic defense of our nations is an important duty. Yet, defense alone is not a sufficient strategy. On September the 11th, the people of North America learned that two vast oceans and friendly neighbors cannot fully shield us from the dangers of the 21st century. There's only one way to deal with enemies who plot in secret and set out to murder the innocent and the unsuspecting We must take the fight to them. We must be relentless and we must be steadfast in our duty to protect our people. Both of the countries have learned this lesson. In the early days of World War II, when the United States was still wrestling with isolationism, Canadian forces were already engaging the enemies of freedom from the Atlantic across the Atlantic. At the time, some Canadians argued that Canada had not been attacked and had no interest in fighting a distant war. Your Prime Minister, McKenzie King, gave this answer "We cannot defend our country and save our homes and families by waiting for the enemy to attack us. To remain on the defensive is the surest way to bring the war to Canada. Of course, we should protect our coasts and strengthen our ports and cities against attack," but the Prime Minister went on to say, "we must also go out and meet the enemy before he reaches our shores. We must defeat him before he attacks us, before our cities are laid to waste." McKenzie King was correct then, and we must always remember the wisdom of his words today. In the new era, the threat is different, but our duties are the same. Our enemies have declared their intentions, and so have we. Peaceful nations must keep the peace by going after the terrorists and disrupting their plans and cutting off their funding. We must hold the sponsors of terror equally responsible for terrorist acts. We must prevent outlaw regimes from gaining weapons of mass destruction and providing them to terrorists. We must stay at these efforts with patience and resolve until we prevail. Our third great commitment is to enhance our own security by promoting freedom and hope and democracy in the broader Middle East. The United States and Canada and all free nations need to look ahead. If, 20 years from now, the Middle East is dominated by dictators and mullahs who build weapons of mass destruction and harbor terrorists, our children and our grandchildren will live in a nightmare world of danger. That must not happen. By taking the side of reformers and democrats in the Middle East, we will gain allies in the war on terror and isolate the ideology of murder and help to defeat the despair and hopelessness that feeds terror. The world will become a much safer place as democracy advances. For decades of tyranny and neglect in the broader Middle East, progress toward freedom will not come easily. I know that. Yet, it is cultural condescension to claim that some peoples or some cultures or some religions are destined to despotism and unsuited for self government. Today in the Middle East, the doubters and pessimists are being proven wrong. We're seeing movement toward elections and greater rights for women and open discussion of peaceful reform. I believe that people across the Middle East are weary of poverty and oppression and plead in silence for their liberty. I believe this is an historic moment in the broader Middle East, and we must seize this moment by standing with everyone who stands for liberty. We're standing with the people of Afghanistan, a nation that has gone from a safe haven for terrorists to a steadfast ally in the war on terror in 3 1 2 short years. Canada deployed more than 7,000 troops and much of your navy in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. This year, your country has led the International Security Assistance Force in Kabul. The coalition we share is doing honorable work, yet democracy is taking hold in that country because the Afghan people, like people everywhere, want to live in freedom. They registered by the millions to vote in October. They stood in long lines on election day. An Afghan widow brought all four of her daughters to vote alongside her. She said, "When you see women here lined up to vote, this is something profound. I never dreamed this day would come." But that woman's dream finally arrived, as it will one day across the Middle East. These are unprecedented, historic events that many said would never come, and Canadians can be proud of the part you have played in the advance of human liberty. We must also stand with the brave people of Iraq, who are preparing for elections on January the 30th. Sometimes, even the closest of friends disagree. And 2 years ago, we disagreed about the best course of action in Iraq. Yet, as your Prime Minister made clear in Washington earlier this year, there is no disagreement at all with what has to be done in going forward. We must help the Iraqi people secure their country and build a free and democratic society. The Canadian Government has pledged more than 200 million in humanitarian aid and reconstruction assistance and agreed to relieve more than 450 million in Iraqi debt. That help is greatly appreciated. There's more work to be done together. Both Canada and the United States and all free nations have a vital interest in the success of a free Iraq. The terrorists have made Iraq the central front in the war on terror because they know what is at stake. When a free and democratic society is established in Iraq, in the heart of the Middle East, it will be a decisive blow to their aspirations to dominate the region and its people. A free Iraq will be a standing rebuke to radicalism and a model to reformers from Damascus to Tehran. In Fallujah and elsewhere, our coalition and Iraqi forces are on the offensive, and we are delivering a message Freedom, not oppression, is the future of Iraq. Freedom is a precious right for every individual, regardless of the color of their skin or the religion they may hold. A long night of terror and tyranny in that region is ending, and a new day of freedom and hope and self government is on the way. And we will stand with the Palestinian and Israeli peoples and help end the destructive conflict between them. Prime Minister Martin has expressed the desire of his Government to take a broader role in the quest for peace and democracy, and America welcomes your involvement. It's a time of change and a time of hope in that region. We seek justice and dignity and a viable independent and democratic state for the Palestinian people. We seek security and peace for the state of Israel, a state that Canada, like America, first recognized in 1948. These are worthy goals in themselves, and by reaching them, we will also remove an excuse for hatred and violence in the broader Middle East. Achieving peace in the Holy Land is not just a matter of pressuring one side or the other on the shape of a border or the site of a settlement. This approach has been tried before, without success. As we negotiate the details of peace, we must look to the heart of the matter, which is the need for a Palestinian democracy. The Palestinian people deserve a peaceful government that truly serves their interests, and the Israeli people need a true partner in peace. Our destination is clear, two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. And that destination can be reached by only one path, the path of democracy and reform and the rule of law. If all parties will apply effort, if all nations who are concerned about this issue will apply good will, this conflict can end and peace can be achieved. And the time for that effort and the time for that good will is now. The United States and Canada face common threats in our world, and we share common goals that can transform our world. We're bound by history and geography and trade and by our deepest convictions. With so much in common and so much at stake, we cannot be divided. I realize and many Americans realize that it's not always easy to sleep next to the elephant. Laughter Sometimes, our laws and our actions affect Canada every bit as much as they affect us, and we need to remember that. And when frustrations are vented, we must not take it personally. As a member of Canada's Parliament said in the 1960s, "The United States is our friend, whether we like it or not." Laughter When all is said and done, we are friends, and we like it. Three years ago, when the American planes were diverted away from home, passengers knew they were safe and welcome the moment they saw the Maple Leaf flag. One of them later said of the Canadians he met, "They taught me the meaning of the word friend."' For generations, the nation of Canada has defined the word "friend," and my country is grateful. God has blessed America in many ways. God has blessed us because we have neighbors like you. And today I ask that God continues to bless the people of Canada. Thank you. November 30, 2004 Prime Minister Martin. Good afternoon. The President and I had a very good discussion during the past few hours, both one on one and with Cabinet members and officials at the table. The President and I have had a productive meeting. In fact, we agreed to put forward an agenda in which our two nations will cooperate in a practical way towards common goals. From this work plan, a set of concrete milestones will be established in the new year. Furthermore, while this is a bilateral effort between our two countries, it is trilateral in ambition, and we'll be inviting our Mexican partners to join us, obviously, in this project. This work plan is aimed at achieving practical results for the people of our countries, enhanced security, greater prosperity, and improved quality of life. And it's about working together to advance democratic values and fundamental freedoms around the world. To do this, we've identified specific priorities and will task individuals within our respective governments with the responsibility of making these files move. We will bring new energy and tangible goals to this old and deep friendship. The objective is lasting progress and benefits for people in both countries. Here at home, we will collaborate further to ensure our shared border is closed to terror but open to the safe movement of people and goods, which is so integral to our economic success. We'll focus on ensuring that our businesses have the capacity to compete with entrenched and emerging global competitors. We'll work together to make sure that we apply smart regulation that raise standards in both countries, and reinforce our mutual efforts to protect the environment, to fight crime, to stop traffic in humans and illegal drugs, and enhance our ability to combat infectious disease. Abroad, we will cooperate in our efforts to foster democracy and help find a path to peace in the Middle East, protect civilian populations from grave threats, and build and protect the democratic institutions that are so important to the ability of troubled states to recover and to thrive to multilateral cooperation in the world, and we will be forceful advocates of free trade, whether that be in North America or in the early completion of the Doha round. At all times, we'll be vigilant in countering and combating terrorism and halting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Now, given the wide variety of areas that have been encompassed in corresponding the need to ensure direction and focus, I've asked the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to work with the relevant ministers to oversee the efforts that we have now laid out before us and to report to me directly on progress in all areas of this work plan no later than next June. President Bush and I are well aware that the prosperity of our nations, our status as open societies, and the well being of our democratic institutions are linked now to the integrity of our collective security. And the work plan will be an important step forward toward the mutual protection of our citizens, our values, and our way of life. Mr. President. President Bush. Thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister. Laura and I are so pleased to be here in Canada. We thank you for your warm hospitality. Thank you for the meetings we've had. And I'm proud to be standing with the Prime Minister. He's a strong leader. He's a statesman who's helping to build a better world. I want to thank you for your leadership and friendship. Canada and the United States share a history, a continent, and a border. We also share a commitment to freedom and a willingness to defend it in times of peril. The United States and Canada fought side by side in two World Wars, in Korea and the Persian Gulf, and throughout the cold war. Today, we're standing together against the forces of terror. Long term success in this war requires more than military might. It requires the advance of liberty and hope as the great alternatives to hatred and violence. All free nations appreciate Canada's leadership leadership of the security and stabilization mission in Afghanistan leadership which helped make possible the first free nationwide election in that country's history. Afghanistan is a world away from the nightmare of its recent past, Mr. Prime Minister. It is building a decent and democratic future, and I want to thank you for your help. Once again, people in that part of the world have demonstrated the power of liberty to overcome great challenges. Your vision is clear on that, Mr. Prime Minister, and I can't thank you enough for that. We're also standing with the brave people of Iraq, who are preparing for elections on January the 30th. Both of our nations have a vital interest in helping the Iraqi people secure their country and build a free and democratic society. I want to thank the Prime Minister's resolve and his support for this great cause. The Canadian Government has pledged more than 200 million U.S. in humanitarian aid and reconstruction assistance and have agreed to relieve more than 450 million U.S. dollars in Iraqi debt. A free and democratic Iraq is rising in the heart of the Middle East. The success of liberty there will be a decisive blow to the ideology of terror and a model to reformers and democrats throughout the region. As we seek freedom for the Afghan and Iraqi people, America and Canada are working to further the spread of democracy in our own hemisphere. In Haiti, Canada was a leader along with the United States, France, Chile, and other nations in helping to restore order. Canadian police are standing watch in Haiti at this hour, and the Prime Minister just visited the country to further the cause of political reconciliation. I appreciate your briefing on your visit. Prime Minister Martin and I share a vision of a free and democratic Western Hemisphere in which every nation upholds human dignity, and we will work together to realize that vision. Prime Minister Martin and I also discussed the situation in Ukraine. I informed the Prime Minister that I talked this morning to President Kwasniewski of Poland. President Kwasniewski will again lead a delegation, which will include a representative of the European Union, to the Ukraine to encourage the parties to reject violence and to urge the parties to engage in dialog toward a political and legal solution to the current crisis. Our common goal is to see the will of the Ukranian people prevail. The Prime Minister and I want to thank President Kwasniewski for his efforts, and we wish him all the success. We also discussed ways to strengthen the security partnership that for more than six decades has helped to keep this continent peaceful and secure. We talked about the future of NORAD and how that organization can best meet emerging threats and safeguard our continent against attack from ballistic missiles. We talked about our common commitment to securing our border. Canadians and Americans benefit from the free movement of people and commerce across the world's longest unfortified border. Yet, we must work to ensure that our ports of entry are closed to terrorists and criminals and deadly weapons. Under the Smart Border Action Plan, our two nations have developed more secure travel documents, increased our intelligence sharing, improved the collection and dissemination of passenger and customs data, and adopted better rules for processing visas. Under the NEXUS program, we're expediting transit for trusted travelers at 11 border crossings. We discussed the vital links of commerce and trade that unite the Canadian and American people. Today, total trade between our two nations stands at nearly 400 billion 23 percent of America's exports come into your nation more than 80 percent of Canada's exports go into my country. Trade is important. America and Canada seek for the world the same open markets that are essential to our own prosperity. We're committed to the success of the Doha development agenda. We will continue to work to reduce agricultural subsidies that distort trade. Listen, the relationship between Canada and the United States is indispensable to peace and prosperity on the North American Continent. The United States is fortunate to have a neighbor with whom we share so many ties of values and family and friendship. We look forward to even stronger relationships in the years to come. Thank you for your hospitality. Prime Minister Martin. I noticed, Mr. President, you seem to draw a larger crowd than I do. Laughter President Bush. I don't know if that's good or bad. Laughter It all depends on who shows up, I guess. Canada U.S. Relations Q. My question is for President Bush, and then, Prime Minister, if you would respond en Francais, s'il vous plait? In the days after September 11th, thousands of Canadians went to Parliament Hill to demonstrate solidarity with the U.S. and, in fact, in cities across the country. Yet, public opinion polls and other evidence suggest that now, today, our peoples are, in fact, diverging, that, in fact, our peoples are drifting apart. Why do you think that is? And do you have any responsibility for it? President Bush. You know, I haven't seen the polls you looked at, and we just had a poll in our country where people decided that the foreign policy of the Bush administration ought to be stay in place for 4 more years. And it's a foreign policy that works with our neighbors. Trade between our countries has never been stronger, but it's a foreign policy that also understands that we've got an obligation to defend our security. I made some decisions, obviously, that some in Canada didn't agree with, like, for example, removing Saddam Hussein and enforcing the demands of the United Nations Security Council. But the agenda that the Prime Minister and I talked about is one that where most people should agree that we'll work to fight disease and poverty on the continent of Africa, for example that we'll work to make sure our hemisphere is trades as freely as possible that we'll work to make sure that the Afghan people continue to enjoy the fruits of a democratic and free society and that it's important for Iraq to become a democratic society, and I think it will be. Now, look, I fully understand there are some in my country, probably in your country and around the world, that do not believe that Iraq has the capacity of self government, that they're willing to sign those people up for tyranny. That's not what I think, and that's not what a lot of Americans think. And they believe that democracy is possible in Iraq. That's a legitimate point to debate. But I'm the kind of fellow who does what I think is right and will continue to do what I think is right. I'll consult with our friends and neighbors, but if I think it's right to remove Saddam Hussein for the security of the United States, that's the course of action I'll take. And some people don't like that. I understand that, but that's the good thing about a democracy, people can express themselves freely. I, frankly, felt like the reception we received on the way in from the airport was very warm and hospitable, and I want to thank the Canadian people who came out to wave with all five fingers for laughter for their hospitality. Laughter Prime Minister Martin. I know what you mean, Mr. President. I mentioned to the press who was with us in Chile that I found that we that Spanish and English and French are three different languages, but that sign language is universal. Laughter There is no doubt that, when one examines the values that we share, they are, indeed, the same. When the President was talking about the Ukraine, we have the same ideas about Ukraine the same goes for Africa. Obviously, there are disagreements on various questions of foreign policy. There are disagreements in terms of commerce softwood lumber. We discussed that question. In fact, we discussed BSE. It is quite normal among countries to have this kind of disagreement. But we have common shared values, shared ambitions, and we share optimism also. I think that that is what is fundamental. Ukraine Press Secretary Scott McClellan. Scott Lindlaw with the Associated Press. Q. Mr. President, President Putin said today that the political crisis in the Ukraine must be solved without foreign pressure. I wonder if you took that as some sort of warning toward the United States and whether you think he's lived up to his own words. President Bush. I haven't seen his comments so I'm hesitant to talk about something that I haven't seen his quote. But I would tell you that, like I said in my opening statement, I appreciate the efforts of President Kwasniewski of Poland to lead a delegation into the country to help resolve the differences among the parties in a peaceful way. It's very important that violence not break out there, and it's important that the will of the people be heard. I'm aware of what the Prime Minister of Canada said yesterday about foreign involvement, and he had a very strong statement to for countries to make sure that the process is fair and open, and that's what we're dedicated to. And I want to again thank the President of Poland, Kwasniewski, for taking the lead. I as best I could, I tried to encourage him to continue to play a constructive and useful role. And hopefully, this issue will be solved quickly, and the will of the people will be known. Prime Minister Martin. Well, I'll just simply pick up. What I said yesterday was that the essence of democracy is that elections be free and open and transparent and that they be elections in which people can have confidence. And if you can't have confidence in the elections, then obviously, that there's a major flaw in your in their democracy. I also said that I absolutely agree that elections within Ukraine have got to be free from outside influence, and that includes Russia. Mad Cow Disease Trade Issues Q. I'm going to ask my question in French, but it will be for the both of you, so Mr. President, if you could put the translation on. Laughter President Bush. Maybe I don't want to know the question. Laughter Q. Of course you do. The mad cow crisis has been going on for a year and a half. It has cost millions of dollars to our farmers, and now they are blocking slaughterhouses. Mr. President and you, Mr. Prime Minister, what are you doing to settle the question right now? Prime Minister Martin. The question what she said I'll translate was, don't you think Canada has a great Government? The laughter . President Bush. Yes. Laughter Prime Minister Martin. Did you understand the question? President Bush. Well, yes, I did. I heard the question. Want me to start? Prime Minister Martin. Sure. President Bush. Look, the Prime Minister has expressed the a great deal of frustration that the issue hasn't been resolved yet, and I can understand his level of frustration. There are a series of regulations that are required by U.S. law, and the latest step has been that the Agriculture Department sent over some proposed regulations to handle this issue to what's called the Office of Management and Budget. This is a part of my office. I have sent word over that they need to expedite that request as quickly as possible. I fully understand the cattle business. I understand the pressures placed upon Canadian ranchers. I believe that, as quickly as possible, young cows ought to be allowed go across our border. I understand the integrated nature of the cattle business, and I hope we can get this issue solved as quickly as possible. There's a bureaucracy involved, and I readily concede we've got one. I don't know if you've got bureaucracy here in Canada or not, but we've got one in America, and there are a series of rules that have to be met in order for us to be able to allow the trafficking of cows back and forth, particularly those 30 months and younger. So we're working as quickly as we can. And I understand the impact it's had on your industry here. Prime Minister Martin. I'll just continue, obviously. We discussed a number of contentious issues concerning BSE. As the President has just said, I expressed our frustration. Having said this, last week the President announced a very important step, the reference to the American Agency. And we hope that after a reasonable amount of time we hope it won't be too long we hope to obtain a favorable decision. At the same time, we also discussed the question of softwood lumber. And once again, we expressed our frustration, and we said that a better way will have to be found to solve our differences. The system in place at the present time does not correspond to the reality of exchanges between our two countries. We'll have to find a better way. On BSE, I believe that the President took a significant step last week in making the reference to the OMB. And one very much hopes that the time delays which are set out can be cut short simply as a result of the fact that this has been studied to death. And of course, what we're really looking for is a scientifically based answer, and I think that the science has clearly demonstrated that a decision should be taken and a favorable decision to Canada should be taken as quickly as possible. We discussed other issues as well. Softwood lumber was another one in which we not only raised the issue but also said that there is something the matter with the dispute settlement mechanism that simply allows these kinds of things to go on and on. And we believe that, in fact, we've got to find a better way. Iran Press Secretary McClellan. Steve Holland with Reuters. Q. Thanks, Mr. President. Are you prepared to take Iran to the Security Council over its nuclear program? And are you disappointed the IAEA did not take a harder line yesterday? President Bush. The Iranians agreed to suspend but not terminate their nuclear weapons program. Our position is, is that they ought to terminate their nuclear weapons program. So I viewed yesterday's decision by the Iranians as a positive step, but it's certainly not a it's certainly not the final step. And it's very important, for whatever they do, to make sure that the world is able to verify the decision they have made. And so we've obviously got more work to do. Q. Inaudible President Bush. Well, I'm he said I sound skeptical. It's taken a long time to get to the stage where Iran is willing to suspend. Think about all the hours of negotiations that our friends the French, the Germans, and the Brits have used to get them to suspend a program. What we're interested in is them terminating a nuclear weapons program in a verifiable fashion, and we'll continue to work with our friends. The Prime Minister and I have discussed this issue. We discussed it at the G 8 in Sea Island, Georgia, and we continue to discuss it. He's got a very clear vision of this as well, and I appreciate his understanding that the world will be better off if Iran does not have a nuclear weapon. Prime Minister Martin. Whether it's Iran, whether it's North Korea, I think that the world came to a very important decision many, many years ago, in terms of nuclear proliferation. Canada certainly, given the fact of our natural resources, we could be a nuclear power, and there were wise heads at that time that prevailed. And I would hope that that view would be held universally today by those countries. Canada U.S. Border Q. My question is to President Bush. After September 11th, there were complaints that the Canada U.S. border was too porous. Since then there have been many changes. But can you please expand on your vision of the border in the future? Does North America need a common security perimeter? And as an aside, how do you think Canada decriminalizing marijuana would affect the border? Laughter President Bush. It will probably affect those who use marijuana a lot more than it will affect the border. But the we've got an obligation to defend our respective countries, and I am impressed by the Prime Minister's commitment to work jointly to share intelligence and to share information so that we can prevent those who would do harm to either the United States or Canada from being able to do so. Now which presents a challenge. And that is, how do we make sure those who are coming from the United States into Canada are known to both sides and or vice versa? And at the same time, how do we make sure that we expedite trade and commerce? And I think we're making very good progress toward that end. We spent some time talking today about issues in Windsor and Detroit. Believe it or not, the Prime Minister had that on his mind. And the amount of equipment that has been added there is substantial. The management of lanes is productive. The Deputy Prime Minister talked about perhaps the need for an additional bridge, which he asked us to consider. My point is, is that I believe it is possible to be able to deal with terrorist activity and illegal activity and, at the same time, have a robust commercial relationship. And a lot of it has to do with using technologies in an effective way, and we're making good progress. And obviously, there's more progress to be done, and I'm impressed by the Prime Minister's commitment to work in a very close fashion to deal with somebody who may be willing to do harm to either of our countries. And that really is the first step toward making sure we're secured. Yes. Marijuana Q. Inaudible the issue of marijuana President Bush. I don't have a comment on what you're doing internally about that. Prime Minister Martin. I just like doing press conferences with you. You get all the questions. Laughter Intelligence Reform Legislation Press Secretary McClellan. John King with CNN. President Bush. Yes, King. Why don't you ask the Prime Minister a question. You heard him Q. I was just about to apologize for disappointing the Prime Minister. Laughter Mr. President, I'd like you to answer critics back home who say that they think you're trying to have it both ways on this intelligence reform bill, that you say you want the legislation, but they don't see a sustained effort, both publicly or privately, to challenge the members of your own party who are blocking the bill, like, say, you have done without hesitation many times when it comes to Democrats blocking your judicial nominees. President Bush. Yes. Well, I want a bill. Let's see if I can say it as plainly as I can I am for the intelligence bill. I have spoken with Duncan Hunter, Representative Hunter, about the bill. I spoke with Representative Sensenbrenner about the bill. Vice President Cheney today is meeting with members of the 9 11 Commission about the bill. I am I believe the bill is necessary and important and hope we can get it done next week and look forward to talking to Speaker Hastert and Leader Frist here before the week is out to express to them why I just told you in public I'm for the bill again. Thank you. Prime Minister Martin. Thank you. President Bush. Gregory David Gregory, NBC News , the Prime Minister needs a translator. Laughter November 29, 2004 The President. Thank you all. I am proud to announce my nomination of Carlos Gutierrez to be America's next Secretary of Commerce. Carlos Gutierrez is one of America's most respected business leaders. He is a great American success story. As CEO of the Kellogg Company, he has been an effective, visionary executive. He understands the world of business from the first rung on the ladder to the very top. He knows exactly what it takes to help American businesses grow and create jobs. I look forward to having his creativity and expertise in my Cabinet. Carlos's family came to America from Cuba when he was a boy. He learned English from a bellhop in a Miami hotel and later became an American citizen. When his family eventually settled in Mexico City, Carlos took his first job for Kellogg as a truck driver, delivering Frosted Flakes to local stores. Ten years after he started, he was running the Mexican business, and 15 years after that, he was running the entire company. At every stage of this remarkable story, Carlos motivated others with his energy and optimism and impressed others with his decency. In his career, Carlos has been sustained by the values taught by his parents, Pedro and Olga, and by the love of his wife, Edi, and his children, Carlos, Erika, and Karina. I know Olga Gutierrez, who lives in Florida, is proud to see the boy she took from Cuba chosen to help strengthen the world's greatest and finest economy. Carlos will carry on the work of a distinguished leader, Secretary Don Evans. During the past 4 years, our economy has overcome a recession, terrorist attack, corporate scandals, and the uncertainty that comes with war. In all these challenges, Don has been a strong and steady advocate for America's businesses and workers and entrepreneurs. Don has also been my friend for over three decades. I've counted on his wisdom and optimism and character at every step on my journey to the White House. Now Don's own journey leads him back to Texas, where we were young men together. Don is one of the finest people I have ever known. I will miss having him in Washington, and Laura and I wish him and Susie well. When he's confirmed by the Senate, Carlos Gutierrez will take office at a time of historic opportunity for our changing economy. With Carlos's leadership, we'll help more Americans, especially minorities and women, to start and grow their own small business. We'll reduce the burden of junk lawsuits and regulations on our entrepreneurs. We'll reform our outdated Tax Code to eliminate needless paperwork and encourage savings, investment, and growth. We'll continue our commitment to free and fair trade. Carlos and I know that America's workers can compete with anybody in the world. And in all these policies, we will ensure that the American economy keeps creating jobs and remains dynamic and flexible far into the future. In Carlos Gutierrez, the Department of Commerce will have an experienced manager and an innovative leader. He will be a strong, principled voice for American business and an inspiration to millions of men and women who dream of a better life in our country. I ask the Senate to confirm this fine nominee as quickly as possible. I look forward to welcoming him into my Cabinet. Congratulations. At this point, Secretary designate Gutierrez made brief remarks. The President. Great job. Thank you. Congratulations. November 27, 2004 Good morning. As Americans gather to celebrate this week, we show our gratitude for the many blessings in our lives. We are grateful for our friends and families who fill our lives with purpose and love. We're grateful for our beautiful country and for the prosperity we enjoy. We're grateful for the chance to live, work, and worship in freedom. And in this Thanksgiving week, we offer thanks and praise to the provider of all these gifts, Almighty God. We also recognize our duty to share our blessings with the least among us. Throughout the holiday season, schools, churches, synagogues, and other generous organizations gather food and clothing for their neighbors in need. Many young people give part of their holiday to volunteer at homeless shelters or food pantries. On Thanksgiving and on every day of the year, America is a more hopeful nation because of the volunteers who serve the weak and the vulnerable. The Thanksgiving tradition of compassion and humility dates back to the earliest days of our society. And through the years, our deepest gratitude has often been inspired by the most difficult times. Almost four centuries ago, the pilgrims set aside time to thank God after suffering through a bitter winter. George Washington held Thanksgiving during a trying stay at Valley Forge. And President Lincoln revived the Thanksgiving tradition in the midst of a civil war. The past year has brought many challenges to our Nation, and Americans have met every one with energy, optimism, and faith. After lifting our economy from a recession, manufacturers and entrepreneurs are creating jobs again. Volunteers from across the country came together to help hurricane victims rebuild. And when the children of Beslan, Russia, suffered a brutal terrorist attack, the world saw America's generous heart in an outpouring of compassion and relief. The greatest challenges of our time have come to the men and women who protect our Nation. We're fortunate to have dedicated firefighters and police officers to keep our streets safe. We're grateful for the homeland security and intelligence personnel who spend long hours on faithful watch. And we give thanks to the men and women of our military who are serving with courage and skill and making our entire Nation proud. Like generations before them, today's Armed Forces have liberated captive peoples and shown compassion for the suffering and delivered hope to the oppressed. In the past year, they have fought the terrorists abroad so that we do not have to face those enemies here at home. They've captured a brutal dictator, aided last month's historic election in Afghanistan, and helped set Iraq on the path to democracy. Our progress in the war on terror has made our country safer, yet it has also brought new burdens to our military families. Many service men and women have endured long deployments and painful separations from home. Families have faced the challenge of raising children while praying for a loved one's safe return. America is grateful to all our military families, and the families mourning a terrible loss this Thanksgiving can know that America will honor their sacrifices forever. As Commander in Chief, I've been honored to thank our troops at bases around the world, and I've been inspired by the efforts of private citizens to express their own gratitude. This month, I met Shauna Fleming, a 15 year old from California who coordinated the mailing of a million thank you letters to military personnel. In October, I met Ken Porwoll, a World War II veteran who has devoted years of his retirement to volunteering at a VA medical center in Minneapolis. And we've seen the generosity of so many organizations like Give2theTroops, a group started in a basement by a mother and son that has sent thousands of care packages to troops in the field. Thanksgiving reminds us that America's true strength is the compassion and decency of our people. I thank all those who volunteer this season, and Laura and I wish every American a happy and safe Thanksgiving weekend. Thank you for listening. November 22, 2004 President Uribe. Mr. President, Mrs. Laura Bush, Lina Maria, members of the delegations of the U.S. and Colombia, friends from the media, citizens of the United States, and my fellow citizens of Colombia Mr. President, Mrs. Bush, welcome to the historic city of Cartagena de Indias, an expression of this Colombia full of possibilities, with many problems to resolve, and with citizens who are happy, who are joyous, and who have not been made bitter by terrorism and the poverty that it has brought with it. Thank you, President Bush, and thank you, Mrs. Bush, for honoring us with your visit. We greatly appreciate the support of your Government and of the U.S. people. While the Colombian people fight for democracy, terrorism has assassinated democratic fighters. While the Colombian people fight for growth, employment, and social justice, terrorism has halted our economy. It made poverty more acute and produced internal displacement and a stampede towards other countries. While the Colombian army destroys the antipersonnel land mines and gives the world the example of facing the terrorist threat by following the rule of law and respecting human rights, the terrorists have killed 600 Colombians over the last year, especially members of law enforcement forces. While the Colombian people love to live in peace and respect the ethical rule of not hurting your neighbor, terrorism only wreaks havoc and destruction. The drugs that finance terrorism have sacrificed generations of Colombians, with thousands of young people who have been assassinated or put in jail, and their families are saddened. The drugs that finance terrorism threaten to destroy the Amazonian jungle. They already tried this by eliminating 1.7 million hectares of tropical forests in Colombia. The support of the United States left behind speeches and has become an effective type of help. And we trust that the United States and President Bush will continue with that help until Colombia is free of the scourge of terrorism and drugs. We cannot stop this task halfway through. We will win, but we have not won yet. We have made progress, but the serpent is still alive. President Bush, our success against terrorism will be the success of the people, of democracy, of the supremacy of law. Our success will be the guarantee for the happiness of our children and future generations. Our success will avoid contagion to other neighboring countries, and our success will be a reason for pride in the U.S. and Colombia for those who have suffered from the scourge of drugs. The negotiation of a free trade agreement is a step in the process to unify the Americas, and we are sure that it will be an agreement reached with equity, offering opportunity for the agricultural sector, for small business, activities that we need to bolster in order to provide true alternatives of revindication for the poor and to foster the creativity of our social enterprises that are based on our capitalist society. The respect for intellectual property must be joined to the rights of researchers so that science can move forward and so that the people will have the right to have universal access to new medications and welfare. We attach great importance to this visit, President Bush, just after your new victory and at the beginning of your second term. This is a new example of your friendship for Colombia and a clear indication of a renewed interest in Latin America. Latin America needs social cohesion, good governance, and trust in integration. The role of the United States in the multilateral institutions, in the IMF, your signals to the markets will be definitive so that this continent can build social justice. The role of the United States in the struggle against terrorism and in the respect for the tolerant debate of opposing ideas is definitive for good governance on the continent. The equity we need to guarantee in the free trade agreement is going to be a beacon to establish the necessary confidence for all the Americas to become integrated. In this same spot your father stood, President George Bush, along with President Virgilio Barco, at a summit meeting against drugs. This historic city is pleased to show you its past and its promise for the future. Endowed by nature like other parts of Colombia, it is grateful for the generous help of the United States. This beautiful city, which is now adorned by your visit, wants you to take back to the people of the United States an invitation to come and visit. In order to do so and with your help, we have made a major effort, Mr. President, which translates into greater security. We welcome you, President Bush, with gratitude and with friendship, in the midst of our emotional reflections of Abraham Lincoln and Simon Bolivar, both of them paradigms of a commitment to their peoples and the idea of authority and order to respect the law. In Gettysburg, President Lincoln made the democratic statement that establishes that the Government "of the people, by the people, and for the people must never perish from the face of this Earth." The message to the Ocana Convention by the Liberator, Bolivar, is for us a proposal that the strength of the state must guarantee the life of the weak and must guarantee the Government and the strength of institutions as a warranty of virtue and the permanence of our Nation. Thank you very much, President Bush, for this wonderful visit. Thank you, Mrs. Bush. President Bush. I appreciate those kind words. Laura and I are so honored to be here. We want to thank you and Mrs. Uribe for such warm hospitality, such gracious hospitality. I want to thank your Cabinet and thank the Colombian people as well. I'm proud to be with my friend President Uribe. El es mi amigo. He's a strong and he's courageous, like the nation he leads. He has been tireless in the fight against terror, and he's making progress on behalf of the people of Colombia. President Uribe and the Colombian people are dedicated to the triumph of democracy and the rule of law against the forces of violence. And the United States stands with you. Our two nations share in the struggle against drugs. The drug traffickers who practice violence and intimidation in this country send their addictive and deadly products to the United States. Defeating them is vital to the safety of our peoples and to the stability of this hemisphere. President Uribe and I also share a basic optimism. This war against narcoterrorism can and will be won, and Colombia is well on its way to that victory. During the President's tenure in office, he's built an impressive record. Kidnapings in Colombia are significantly down. Terrorist attacks and homicides have declined. Cocaine seizures have risen dramatically. And since July of last year, dozens of leaders and financiers of the FARC narcoterrorist organization have been killed or captured. President Uribe has also reformed Colombia's judicial system and is aggressively fighting corruption. My Nation will continue to help Colombia prevail in this vital struggle. Since the year 2000, when we began Plan Colombia, the United States has provided more than 3 billion in vital aid. We'll continue providing aid. We've helped Colombia to strengthen this democracy, to combat drug production, to create a more transparent and effective judicial system, to increase the size and professionalism of its military and police forces, to protect human rights, and to reduce corruption. Mr. President, you and your Government have not let us down. Plan Colombia enjoys wide bipartisan support in my country, and next year I will ask our Congress to renew its support so that this courageous nation can win its war against narcoterrorists. Full and final victory also requires the spread of prosperity and progress throughout this nation and throughout this region. President Uribe's economic reforms have created jobs and improved living standards. Investor confidence is up. Unemployment is down, and growth is strong. Our two nations also share a strong commitment to advancing free and fair trade and economic growth throughout the Americas. We're working hard on a free trade agreement that will link the United States and Colombia, as well as other Andean nations of South America, in a wider economic partnership. As hope advances, violence and extremism will retreat. President Uribe has a vision for a better Colombia, a vision of peace and prosperity that he is pursuing with skill and energy. He is a fierce opponent of terror and drug trafficking. He's a defender of Colombia's democracy, and I'm proud to call him friend. Gracias, Senor Presidente. President Uribe. Thank you, President. Thank you very much. Plan Colombia Free Trade Agreement Q. Mr. President, President Bush, good afternoon. How far are you willing to pursue the groups that you have labeled as terrorists in Colombia, including the self defense groups? And how do you see the peace process that is being carried out here with the self defense groups? And President Uribe, what did President Bush actually say to you about helping Colombia and being a little more flexible with regard to the FTA, especially with the farmers in our country? Thank you. President Bush. First, let me talk about the security situation and the President's strategy to defeat groups like the FARC. If I didn't think he had an effective strategy and the willingness to fight the FARC, I wouldn't be standing here in this great nation saying I'm going to work with Congress to continue the support. In other words, I believe in results. My administration is a results oriented administration. And so when I first met with the President in the Oval Office a couple of years ago, we talked about how to achieve results for the good of Colombia and for the good of our hemisphere. And he said he was going to do the following things, and he did. And so to answer your question, we will support him in this strategy, because it's working. President Uribe. Thank you, President. Can I answer him first? The issue of the free trade agreement we understand that the FTA has to be totally equitable. It has to be passed not just by the U.S. Congress but also by Colombia's Congress and also by the public opinion of the U.S. and of Colombia. President Bush has understood throughout this process in assisting Colombia how important it is for the legal farming business in Colombia to prosper so that we have opportunities for our farmers. We understand that it's very difficult to negotiate an agreement where everyone is working in good faith, but we will be able to get ahead for our people. And this will build more trust between our nations, and it will be a reason for prosperity, but also it will be a major step forward in uniting the Americas. Iran Q. The IAEA, Mr. President, has said that they apparently believe that Iran's claim they've suspended uranium enrichment is true. Are you skeptical at all of that, and if so, why? President Bush. Well, let's say I hope it's true. And I think the definition of truth is the willingness for the Iranian regime to allow for verification. You know, they have said some things in the past, and it's very important for them to verify and earn the trust of those of us who are worried about them developing a nuclear weapon. And that's just not the United States it's France and Great Britain and Germany and other nations around the world who understand the dangers of the Iranian Government having a nuclear weapon. And so it looks like there is some progress, but to determine whether or not the progress is real, there must be verification. And we look forward to seeing that verification. Plan Colombia Q. President Bush has committed himself here broadly to extend Plan Colombia and to continue helping Colombia. I'd like to know how you're going to convince your Congress to continue helping us at a time that's so difficult with your own deficit after the war in Iraq, and how much assistance will there be? Is it going to be as much as the 3 billion that has been given over the last 4 years? Laughter President Bush. Well, I thought I'd go to the Congress look, here's what you've got to do with the Congress. You say, first of all, it's an important issue. And the issue is whether or not we're willing to stand with a friend to help defeat narcotrafficking. Most Members of Congress understand it is important to help Colombia defeat the narcotraffickers. And so the first question is whether or not there will be a consensus about the importance. I think there will be. And secondly, do we want to continue spending money on the project that's important? And the answer to that question is, only if there are results. And there have been significant results. The number of acres under cultivation are down significantly. The number of arrests are up. The number of murders is down. In other words, this man's plan is working. And there is a focused strategy. How do we know? Because our Ambassador is working closely with the Government. Southern Command is working closely with the Government. We're very aware of not only the strategy but the will of this Government to implement the strategy. And so, to answer your question, I'm very optimistic about continued funding. And I look forward to working with Congress to achieve a level that will make the plan effective. Martin Morgan David Morgan, Reuters , I mean. Morgan. Martin, Morgan what the heck. President's Visit to Chile Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Last night in Santiago, a dinner for 200 guests had to be scaled back dramatically after the Chileans objected to U.S. security plans that must have been in place for some time. And the night before that, you had to come to the rescue of your own security man. Why do you think there was such friction between the U.S. delegation and the Chilean delegation? President Bush. This is a question? Laughter Look, we had a fabulous dinner last night. It was really wonderful to be in the presence of President Lagos and his Cabinet, and I thought the visit was a spectacular visit. And I appreciated the hospitality of our Chilean friends, just like I appreciate the hospitality of our Colombian friends. You know, we're making good progress, thanks to strong leadership. The President said, "Thanks to America, things are going well." No, he's got it backwards. It's not thanks to America, things are going well it's thanks to strong leadership that things are going well. It's thanks to a strategy that's working. It's thanks to a Cabinet that is dedicated to what's best for the interests of the Colombian people. Thank you very much. President Uribe. Thank you, Mr. President. President Bush. I appreciate it. President Uribe. Do you want to get in one more? President Bush. That's plenty. No, thank you. November 21, 2004 President Lagos. My good friend President Bush, Laura, members of the President's delegation, members of my administration, authorities, friends We're very pleased, for the third time this year, to meet with President Bush and to be able to continue in this way with a modern, mature relationship which our two countries have been able to achieve historically. As I was telling you, you're not the first George Bush to come to La Moneda. His father was here when we worked in order to consolidate our democracy. But you're the first President to come here at the dawn of the 21st century. And as a consequence, we must use all our energies towards a future agenda, an agenda in which most of the time we will be in agreement sometimes we won't. But that's life, and that's what a more mature and a richer agenda can do for you. Our area of cooperation is extremely broad. We share essential values which make our ties stronger. We want democratic societies that are pluralistic, in which the capacity for enterprise will be an opportunity for many open societies. As we've said over the past few days, economic growth and trade are incompatible with terrorism and incompatible with corruption. For that reason, the decisions we're making at this APEC meeting. Today too we have reviewed the progress of the free trade agreement between Chile and the United States. After 9 months of enforcement, this agreement has led to major results. Our shipments to the United States have increased by 27 percent. The shipments from the United States to Chile have increased by 25 percent. And the free trade commissions of both countries continue working in order to be able to fulfill the obligations we still have outstanding and, at the same time, to accelerate the removal of tariffs. Today, for us in Chile, 1,350 companies are sending to the United States over 1,350 products, which ties in directly with the creation of jobs here in Chile. Trade, therefore, equals more and better jobs. More and better jobs consolidate a democracy. And we have other fields of cooperation. And that's why we spoke about the English language and how important it is to be able to foster through our ministries the learning of English. As a country, we wish to be a bridge. We want to be a bridge and a platform in the flows of international trade and the flows in the Asia and Pacific region. We also spoke about Latin America. We spoke about the importance that our commitment in Haiti has and the reasons why we are present in that country and why we need the cooperation of many to be able to move Haiti forward. We want there to be elections in Haiti, but this requires the conditions for elections, so that there is a possibility of good governance in the long term. We've also pointed out that the political reality shows itself in many areas where they feel that progress is not reaching them. In the Americas, we need to work within our governments so that progress reaches those who need it most. And we definitely believe that economic progress and social progress are basic. And the President was kind enough to talk to us as well about issues of international peace. We have very closely followed the position of President Bush on the situation in the Palestine and the prospectives of consolidating a state there with a democratically elected government as a way for Palestinians and Israelis to be able to live together in peace. And, why not say this as well We've agreed in today's meeting on the need to push forward the negotiations for the Doha round in the WTO. There we need to lend all our efforts for that international forum to be able to reach rules for freer, fairer trade and thus be able to cement the futures of our countries. And so we have agreement on bilateral issues, regional issues, and modestly speaking, multilateral issues. And that, therefore, is the reason why we have so much ahead of us. And for all of that, your visit here today is a very welcome one, and we Chileans are happy to have you with us. You are welcome, sir. President Bush. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you very much. Laura and I are pleased to be here in Chile, and we thank the President and Mrs. Duran and the people of this fantastic country for the wonderful hospitality. I'm honored to stand with the President of this great nation. I congratulate President Lagos on hosting the APEC Leaders' Meeting and on helping to ensure its success. You did a really good job. Chile is a remarkable country. Chileans are a good hearted people who treasure their freedom. They're committed to democracy. The people of this country understand the importance of economic freedom. Modern Chile insists on the rule of law by ensuring the basic rights and freedoms of its people. The prosperity and progress that grow from this conviction is important. It's important for Latin America, and it's important for the rest of the world. The United States and Chile are partners in addressing the challenges and opportunities facing our hemisphere. President Lagos and I agreed that the surest path to prosperity is through free and fair trade. Success of our free trade agreement is a model for other countries. Exports have risen dramatically in both our countries, and both the Chilean people and the people of the United States have benefited. And through the establishment of free trade in the Americas, we are committed to a future in which every free nation in the hemisphere can share in the benefits of open markets and in the creation of new jobs. The friendship between our two peoples is deeper than the ties of commerce. The United States and Chile also share a strong commitment to human freedom. Today President Lagos and I discussed ways to strengthen democratic institutions throughout the Americas and around the world. I appreciate his advice. I enjoy listening to his wisdom. Chile plays a leading role in the Community of Democracies, a caucus of democratic nations from every corner of the world whose representatives meet regularly to support the advance of freedom. Chile will host the next ministerial meeting of the Community, and we look forward to those discussions, which will examine ways to spread the benefits of liberty. The President and I also reaffirmed our determination to fight terror, to bring drug trafficking to bear, to bring justice to those who pollute our youth, to bring greater security and stability to our hemisphere. Chile has been a leader in the efforts to strengthen security initiatives among the nations of the Americas, and I appreciate your leadership, Mr. President. Your nation has expanded joint military exercises and security cooperation with key regional partners. Chile has sent 600 troops to support peacekeeping operations in Haiti, and we thank you for that strong contribution. Chilean soldiers have also made important contributions to peacekeeping efforts in Cyprus, in East Timor, and Bosnia. These are the actions of an ally of the United States, a good citizen of Latin America, and a friend of liberty. Along with my fellow citizens, I look forward to a future of even stronger and closer relations between our two countries in the years ahead. Thank you for your hospitality. Trade Relations With China U.S. Deficit Q. President Bush, good afternoon. China has a very close rapprochement with Latin America, a lot of investment in this region. And in your second Presidency, are you going to do anything so you don't lose your influence in this region? And second, many business people are worried if you're going to be doing anything about the fiscal deficit in your country during your second term. President Bush. First, China is a growing country. Today we heard from Hu Jintao about the phenomenal growth rates that he expects for his economy, and that's positive. I think it's helpful for there to be universal prosperity. China represents great opportunities for Chile and the United States. And we look forward to working with China. We've got a lot of trade with China, and we want to continue to have good trading relations with China. We got a lot of trade in the hemisphere. We got a free trade agreement with Chile. NAFTA is a strong driver for prosperity in our own neighborhood, and we'll continue to advance free trade throughout this hemisphere. I, frankly, don't view trade China's actions and the actions of the United States as zero sum. I view it as a positive development. Secondly, at the meeting today people expressed concern about the value of the U.S. dollar, and I reiterated the fact that my Government has a strong dollar policy. And the best way to affect those who watch the dollar's value is to make a commitment to deal with our short term and long term deficits. As far as our short term deficit goes, I'll present a budget that continues us on the path to reducing our deficit in half over a 5 year period of time. We're in the fourth year of first year of we finished the first year of a 5 year period to reduce the deficit in half. Congress is working on the appropriations bill that meets those targets. I look forward to signing it when they come back and finally finish the package in early December. A long term deficit issue really relates to unfunded liabilities when it comes to Social Security and Medicare. In my recent campaign, I made it clear that I think it's very important for us to address those long term unfunded liabilities. For example, in Social Security, I talked about the need for personal savings accounts for younger workers as a part of a solution. Frankly, the Chilean model serves as a good example for those that are going to be writing the law in the United States. And so my commitment to the international world is that we'll deal with the short term deficit and the long term unfunded liabilities, so that people can then take a look at our dollar in terms of fiscal austerity in Washington. Press Secretary Scott McClellan. The first question from the American press will come from Finlay Lewis of Copley News Service. Temporary Worker Program Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Your administration recently received a letter from 21 or 22 Members of the House raising skeptical questions about your guest worker program. Now, you met with President Fox earlier today, and I'm wondering how much specifically how much political cap ital that you're so proud of you're going to spend on trying to overcome the built in resistance to that plan. Specifically, what kind of steps are you proposing to take to sell it to the Congress? President Bush. Finlay, I am proud of my political capital. That's what you get when you win an election, and in the course of that election, I talked about immigration reform. I think it's important for our country to recognize that people are coming to our country to do jobs that Americans won't do, and therefore, I think a program that recognizes the desire of some to come to America to work and the desire of some in America to employ them makes sense. It makes sense not only for our economy it makes sense for border security. We'd much rather have security guards chasing down terrorists or drugrunners or drug smugglers than people coming to work. And so therefore, I think a guest worker program is important, and I look forward to working with Congress on it. I get letters all the time from people that are trying to steer me one way or the other when it comes to legislation. But I'm going to move forward. In the letter, I noticed that they said, "Well, this is because" they're objecting to the program because it's an amnesty program. It's not an amnesty program. It's a worker program. It's a program that recognizes, however, that if somebody wants to become a citizen in the United States, they can get a line in line with the people who have done so legally. I think it's necessary. I think it's an important piece of legislation. I look forward to working it. You asked me what my tactics are. I'm going to find supporters on the Hill and move it. Iraq Q. President Bush, good evening. Conservative calculations say that the Iraqi war has left many dead. This action has led to enormous protests all over the world. This week we saw them in Chile. You stated that you like to hear the wisdom of President Lagos. At any point did Chile say no to this invasion Chile did say no to this invasion. Who was right and who was wrong? And how can we change this negative image of the White House that exists in large parts of the world right now? President Bush. President Lagos didn't agree with my decision, and I respect that. He's still my friend. Secondly, whether people agree with my decision or not, there are two things that they've got to agree with One, the world is better off with Saddam Hussein not in power and secondly, it is important to succeed in Iraq. It's important to develop a democracy there. I fully recognize some do not believe that a democracy can take hold in Iraq. I strongly disagree. I believe not only democracy can take hold in Iraq I believe a democracy will take hold in Iraq. I noticed today that the elections are on schedule for January the 30th. Think how far that society has come from the days of mass grave and torture chambers to a day in which they're going to be voting for a President. Prime Minister Allawi, the current leader of Iraq, is a strong, capable democrat. He believes in the possibilities of the people of Iraq, and he knows that a free society will unleash those possibilities. And so the United States of America will stay the course, and we will complete the task. We will help Iraq develop a democracy, and the world will be better off for it. Free societies don't attack each other. Democracies listen to the aspirations of their people, not feed hatred and resentment and future terrorists. And what we're doing is the right thing in Iraq, and history will prove it right. Press Secretary McClellan. Mark Silver from the Chicago Tribune. Legislation To Restructure the Intelligence Community Q. Thank you, Mr. President. With the intelligence reform bill apparently failing, how confident are you that Secretary Rumsfeld is not partly responsible for that? Is there something more you, personally, could have done? And what does this say about your ability to achieve your own legislative agenda in the next 2 years? President Bush. I was disappointed that the bill didn't pass. I thought it was going to pass up until the last minute. So I look forward to going back to Washington to work with the interested parties to get it passed. I understand they're back into session to see if they can't get the bill passed, and I look forward to working with Members of the Senate and the House to get it passed. It's very clear I wanted the bill passed. I talked to key Members of the House, as did my Vice President. And we'll continue working with them, and hopefully, we can get a bill done. I saw the Speaker today said that the matter wasn't complete it wasn't over it wasn't final that we have a chance to get a bill. And therefore, when I get home, I'm looking forward to working it. Thank you, sir. President Lagos. Thank you. November 20, 2004 President Bush. Mr. President, thank you for this very frank exchange. I told the President that I look forward to working with him over the next 4 years to continue our close work on keeping peace peace on the Korean Peninsula and peace throughout the Pacific region and to spread peace throughout the world. And I'm looking forward to working with him on those matters. We also spent time talking about our economic relationships, about how we'll work over the next 4 years to continue to spread prosperity to both our people, to make sure the relationship is fair and equitable on both sides. I invited President Hu to come and visit the United States as soon as he can, and he invited me to China. Neither of us committed because we don't have our schedules in front of us, but nonetheless, we did commit to make sure our relationship is healthy and strong. Thank you, Mr. President. President Hu. Friends from the press, I just had a talk with President Bush through which we covered many grounds. I first re offered my congratulations to him on his reelection to the Presidency of the United States. We together reviewed how much this relationship has come in the past 4 years. We expressed satisfaction over the positive programs made in a constructive and cooperative relationship between the two countries. We agree that the second term of President Bush will be an important period for continued development of China U.S. relations. We are also committed to stronger coordination and cooperation between the two countries on economic matters and in terrorism, as well as important international and regional issues. We also exchanged views on the question of Taiwan. I expressed my high appreciation to President Bush's adherence to the one China policy and the three communiques and to his opposition to Taiwan independence. We also discussed the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. Both sides expressed the hope that the issue can be solved peacefully through dialog. I would like to thank President Bush for inviting me to visit the United States, and I have also invited him to visit China. Thank you, Mr. President. President Bush. Thank you all. November 20, 2004 Good morning. This weekend I am on my first trip outside the United States since the election, traveling to South America for the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. I am meeting with many allies and friends to strengthen our ties across the Pacific and discuss practical ways we can enhance prosperity, advance liberty, and improve our shared security. America and the nations of Latin America and Asia share many vital interests. All Pacific nations benefit from free and fair trade, the foundation of this region's remarkable prosperity. The United States has completed free trade agreements with nations throughout Asia and the Americas, including Australia and Singapore, Chile, the five nations in Central America, and the Dominican Republic. We are also negotiating new agreements with Thailand, Panama, and the Andean nations of South America. America has opened our markets, and I will urge other countries to do the same. Pacific nations also have a clear interest in spreading the benefits of liberty, democracy, and good government across this vital part of the world. From the recent history of the Asia Pacific region, we know that freedom is indivisible. The economic liberty that builds prosperity also builds a demand for limited government and self rule. Modernization and progress eventually require freedom in all its forms. And the advance of freedom is good for all, because free societies are peaceful societies. America and our friends are helping other countries lay the foundations of democracy by establishing independent courts, a free press, political parties, and trade unions, by instituting the rule of law, and by keeping up the fight against corruption. America joined with other members of the Organization of American States to create the Inter American Democratic Charter. This charter recognizes democracy as the fundamental right of all peoples in the Americas and pledges our governments to promoting and defending the institutions of liberty. All Pacific nations must also keep up the fight against the forces of terror that threaten the success of our economies and the stability of the world. At last year's summit, APEC leaders started a major initiative to strengthen the security of ports and transportation networks, to defend our aircraft from the threat of portable missiles, and to end the flow of terrorist finances. This year, APEC leaders will work together to improve the security of our ships and ports. We will develop a new system to track and stop the travel of suspected terrorists using forged or stolen documents. And we launched new programs to support APEC members that have the will to fight terror but need help in developing the means. Terrorism is a threat, not just to the West or to the wealthy but to every nation. And every nation must fight the murderers. During my trip, I will also meet with President Lagos of Chile and President Uribe of Colombia to reaffirm our strong ties with those nations. Colombia is making progress in the fight against terrorists who traffic in illegal drugs, and America is standing with the Colombian Government to oppose the drug trade that destroys lives in our countries and threatens the stability of our hemisphere. In my second term, I will continue to pursue a confident foreign policy agenda that will spread freedom and hope and make our Nation more secure. America seeks wider trade and broader freedom and greater security for the benefit of America, our partners, and all of the world. Thank you for listening. November 20, 2004 Thank you very much. Sientese. Gracias. Thank you for the warm welcome. It is such an honor to be in Chile. Who is ever responsible for the weather, thank you very much. Laura and I are delighted to be here. Chile is such a fabulous country. It's a great place to talk about entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial spirit. It's a country which shows the world what is possible when you create the right conditions for economic vitality and economic growth. And we're so honored to be here. I want to thank my friend Ricardo Lagos for organizing this summit. I appreciate the business leaders who are here. I thank you for your interest in working collaboratively with business leaders from around the world. And as a result of vision and hard work, we meet today on the eastern rim of an incredibly dynamic region. In our lifetimes, we've seen the Asia Pacific region grow in wealth and freedom beyond many beyond that which many thought was possible. If you think back about 20 years ago, what people thought about the Asian Pacific region, they couldn't imagine such prosperity and such wealth and such freedom. And that's what APEC is all about, as far as I'm concerned. And that's why it's an honor to be here at this summit with my fellow leaders. Incredibly enough, APEC economies account for nearly half of all the world trade and half of the world's economic output. For somebody who is interested in prosperity for my own citizens, it's a good place to hang out, with that much trade, commerce. And I believe that this new century, with the right policies, can extend the prosperity even further. And that's what we're here to discuss. I believe we must increase the flow of trade and capital. I know our societies must reward enterprise and open societies and open markets. I know we've got to reject the blocks and barriers that divide economies and people. And I believe, with the right policies, we can continue to grow. I'm honored to be here today with a man who has served our country so well, a great United States Secretary of State, Colin Powell. Right after my speech, he's headed to the Middle East. That's a heck of a retirement, Mr. Secretary. Laughter I look forward to your report when you get back. I want to thank the U.S. members of the APEC Business Advisory Council. I want to thank you for your hard work. I want to thank you for representing our country so well. I appreciate Gary Benanav and Mike Drucker Mike Ducker and Robert Prieto for your hard work in organizing this summit and representing the business leaders who are here. You know, what's interesting about our country is that for years, we were isolated from the world by two great oceans, and for a while we got a false sense of security as a result of that. We thought we were protected forever from trade policy or terrorist attacks because oceans protected us. What's interesting about today's world is that the oceans now connect us. It didn't take all that long in the march of history for that change to take place. And therefore, America must respect and value the friendships that we're able to make as a result of our transatlantic and transpacific ties. Right after I'm inaugurated, I'll go to Europe to renew our transatlantic ties, to remind the people of Europe how important my administration regards our vital Atlantic alliance. And of course, our Nation is Pacific country as well. And that's why the APEC conferences are so important. Do you realize, the capital of our 50th State is nearly as close to Sydney and Manila as it is to Washington, DC? That's a Pacific Rim nation. More than 15 percent of Americans claim Hispanic or Asian Pacific heritage. Our APEC partners account for nearly two thirds of all American exports and imports. America's future is inseparable from our friends in the Pacific. And by working together and by continuing to foster reasonable progrowth economic policies, the fellowship of Pacific nations will continue to be strong. That's what I'm here to tell you. There is a different attitude in the world about foreign policies, particularly if you happen to be an influential nation. In the past, many powerful nations preferred others to remain underdeveloped and therefore dependent. It was a cynical doctrine. And that doctrine is unsuited for our times. In this century, countries benefit from healthy, prosperous, confident partners. Weak and troubled nations export their ills problems like economic instability and illegal immigration and crime and terrorism. America and others sitting around the table here at APEC understand that healthy and prosperous nations export and import goods and services that help to stabilize regions and add security to every nation. So we've got three clear goals to help spread prosperity and hope and to secure the peace. We want to seek wider trade and broader freedom and greater security for the benefit of our partners and for the benefit of all. That's what I'm going to do over the next 4 years. The first goal is to lower barriers to trade and investment and to promote sound fiscal policies for all our governments. Free and fair trade combined with prudent fiscal discipline are the foundation of the region's remarkable prosperity, and I'm committed to staying on the path to progrowth proeconomic growth economic growth by progrowth policies. We're doing our part. You know, we've overcome a lot in the U.S. economy. We faced a recession, coupled with terrorist attacks, which affected our capacity to grow. But we stimulated our economy by cutting taxes. And America is growing again, and people are working. And the question ahead is, how do we make sure we maintain growth? We need legal reform in the United States. We got to make sure that those who risk capital are rewarded for taking risk and not subject to needless and frivolous lawsuits. We need regulatory reform in the United States. Our Tax Code is too complex. So I'm going to work with members of both political parties to simplify the Tax Code. But I also understand there is concern about whether or not our Government is dedicated to dealing with our deficits, both short term and long term. I look forward to standing up in front of the Congress in my State of the Union and telling them why I submitted a budget that will help us deal with the short term deficit of the United States, and I will do that. And I'll also work with Members of Congress to deal with the unfunded liabilities of our entitlement systems, so that we can say clearly to the world, the United States of America is committed to deficit reduction, both short term and long term. Overall, the economy of this part of the world is expected to grow by nearly 5 percent this year. And that's good news, and the United States wanted to be a part of that growth. We can add to that progress by reducing trade barriers that I believe are an obstacle to economic growth everywhere, especially in the developing world. And so this Government and our country is strongly committed to the WTO's Doha round of negotiations. And my trade minister will be strongly committed to ensure the success of the WTO round. And we need your help in making sure that nations around the APEC table are focused on the benefits of global trade, that we put aside some differences that could prevent Doha from going forward. We will continue to assist our Asia Pacific partners in meeting their WTO obligations. We are encouraging Russia and Vietnam in their efforts to join the WTO. The history between our countries has changed dramatically between America and Vietnam and Russia. The tensions are no longer existing. Conflict is behind us, and we have a chance to work with those countries for the common good, and we will. We're going to be aggressive about our bilateral trade agreements and our regional trade agreements. We've completed trade agreements with nations throughout Asia and the Americas, including Australia, Singapore, Chile, the five nations of Central America, and the Dominican Republic. We are working on new agreements with Thailand, Panama, the Andean nations of South America. We're moving ahead with the enterprise for the ASEAN initiative, which is lowering trade barriers and strengthening economic ties in Southeast Asia. We're committed to the Bogor goals, which call for free trade among developed nations of the Asian Pacific region by 2010 and free trade among all APEC economies by 2020. We seek free trade in the Americas, uniting the markets of all 34 free nations in the Western Hemisphere. I think you can tell that I believe free trade is necessary for economic development, that free trade is essential to prosperity. But it is not sufficient, and we understand that. All governments in the region must make the difficult choices needed to stabilize economies and to keep public finances on foot. We have been impressed by the reform programs in Chile and Colombia and Uruguay that have spurred growth and investment in those countries and throughout the region. My Nation and many others have acted to lift the crushing burden of debt that limits the growth of developing economies and holds millions of people in poverty, and we will continue to do so. We will continue working to relieve the current debt of those highly indebted poor countries that pursue sound fiscal policy. We will continue to encourage our large trading partners to adopt flexible market based exchange rates for their currencies. Expanding prosperity has lifted millions in our region out of poverty, has bound our nations closer together, and has benefited all our people. And my administration will continue to promote pro growth, pro trade economic policies for the good of all. Our second goal is to spread the benefits of freedom and democracy and good government across parts of the world. We've seen progress toward these goals in the recent history of the Asia Pacific region. We've seen some interesting lessons of history as free markets take hold The demand for limited government and self rule builds. That's why it's important to promote free trade and open market policies. In the long run, economic freedom and political liberty are indivisible, and the advance of freedom is good for all, as free societies are peaceful societies. My Government and many others are working with countries to lay the foundations for democracy by helping them institute the rule of law and independent courts and a free press and political parties and trade unions. We have joined with other members of the Organization of American States to create the Inter American Democratic Charter. This charter recognizes democracy as a fundamental right of all peoples in the Americas and pledges our governments to promoting and defending the institutions and habits of liberty. Because political liberty and economic freedom go hand in hand, America and many nations have changed the way we fight poverty, curb corruption, and provide aid. In 2002, we created the Monterrey Consensus, a bold approach that links new aid from developed nations to real reform in developing ones. We created the Millennium Challenge Account in America that says we'll increase aid and help to nations which are willing to fight corruption, which are willing to educate their people, which are willing to spend money on the health of their citizens, and nations which are willing to expand economic freedom. We owe that to the taxpayers of the United States, to promote the habits necessary for free societies to develop. And we believe every nation is capable of fighting corruption, is capable of putting good economic policies in place, is capable of educating their people and helping defeat the scourge of bad health care. Developing nations have responded, and we appreciate that, but not nearly as much as the people who live in their countries. They've responded by fighting corruption, by building schools and hospitals, and passing new laws that reward enterprise from their people. The United Nations also has an important role, and America has proposed a democracy fund to help countries lay the foundations of democracy and help set up voter precincts and polling places and support the work of election monitors. The growth of free and hopeful societies depends on controlling the spread of deadly diseases, especially AIDS and tuberculosis and malaria. HIV AIDS cases are growing in the Asian Pacific region. It's an issue we just discussed with the leaders around the table. Last year more than 1 million new HIV infections occurred in Asia, one out of every five infections worldwide. My Nation is working to fight this disease through a 15 billion Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief 15 billion over 5 years, which helps provides help for 100 nations around the world. Earlier this year, we expanded the focus of this effort by committing new resources to Asia. As part of this effort, the United States is supporting the United Nations Global Fund, and other nations need to participate in that fund. It's not the United States global fund it is the world global fund. And so I'm going to continue to urge nations here at this APEC Summit to contribute to that fund, to help defeat this pandemic that has swept across the continent of Africa and now threatens nations in Asia. It is the greatest AIDS is the greatest health crisis of our time, and all nations must join in a united effort to turn the tide against this terrible disease. The spread of liberty is our most powerful weapon in the fight against hatred and terror. And we've seen some amazing events take place in the history of liberty. Perhaps the most amazing of all took place in Afghanistan when millions of people showed up to vote for the President of that country some 3 years after that country had been ruled by the barbarians called the Taliban. And the most amazing moment of all in this march of democracy was the fact that the first voter was a 19 year old woman. Freedom has taken place in parts of the world where people never dreamt freedom is possible, and as a result, the world is better for it. Our third great goal is to help keep up the fight against the forces of terror that threaten the success of our economies and the stability of the world. Every nation represented here has a stake in this conflict. Terrorism is a threat not just to the West or to the wealthy but to all of us. And all of us must do everything we can to defeat the murderers. We're determined to end the state sponsorship of terror. And my Nation is grateful to all that participated in the liberation of Afghanistan. We're determined to prevent the proliferation of deadly weapons and materials and to enforce the just demands of the world. And my Nation is grateful to the soldiers of those nations who've helped to deliver the Iraqi people from an outlaw dictator. We're determined to destroy terrorist networks wherever they operate, and the United States is grateful to every nation that is helping to seize terrorist assets and to track down their operatives and to disrupt their plans. APEC nations are playing a crucial role in the war on terror, for which we are very grateful. We'll continue to work with nations that have the will to fight terror but need help in developing the means. We're sharing intelligence and increasing our cooperation in customs and law enforcement to stop terrorists before they can strike. We're moving forward on the initiatives of last year's summit in Bangkok to strengthen the security of our ports and transportation networks, to defend our aircraft from the threat of portable missiles, and to end the flow of terrorist finances. America has joined with Singapore to found a new research institute, which opened this year, dedicated to stopping the spread of deadly diseases and combating the threat of bioterrorism. We're working to ensure that the shores of the Pacific remain peaceful. In Santiago, APEC leaders committed to signing by 2005 the additional protocol of the IAEA safeguards agreements, which requires nations to declare a broad range of nuclear activities and facilities and allows the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect those facilities. And I appreciate that cooperation and that commitment. We also agreed to further strengthen our Nation's export controls and to develop a new system to track and stop the travel of suspected terrorists using forged or stolen documents. Through the Proliferation Security Initiative, many nations are also fighting the trade in deadly weapons. And over the past years we've had notable successes, most particularly the disruption of the A.Q. Khan network and its willingness and capacity to spread deadly technology to nations that would like to inflict harm on the to inflict harm on nations like APEC members. Five APEC members are working to convince North Korea to abandon its pursuit of nuclear weapons, and I can report to you today, having visited with the other nations involved in that collaborative effort, that the will is strong, that the effort is united, and the message is clear to Mr. Kim Chong il Get rid of your nuclear weapons programs. In all our efforts, we'll maintain and strengthen the alliance among our nations that have served the peace so well. By making our countries safer, these steps will also create a more secure business environment and boost confidence in our economies. You know as well as I know that terrorist attacks affect the capacity of people to make a living. We discovered that firsthand in the United States of America when we lost nearly a million jobs in the 3 months after the September the 11th attacks. The people of Bali, Indonesia, know what I'm talking about when it comes to terrorist attacks. We have an obligation as nations to work together to stop terrorism. And you in the private sector have an important role to play. The new inspection technologies that you create can shorten delays and reduce insurance costs and cut redtape. By working closely with customs officials of APEC governments to establish better procedures, you can make the delivery of goods and services more secure and more efficient. These are great goals that I've just talked about goals to advance our common prosperity, goals to spread freedom and dignity, and goals to strengthen our common security. And I have come here to Chile to tell my colleagues and friends, the United States of America is committed to achieving those goals for the next 4 years. Thank you for your interest. Thank you for coming. November 16, 2004 The President. Good afternoon. I'm pleased to announce my nomination of Dr. Condoleezza Rice to be America's Secretary of State. Condi Rice is already known to all Americans and to much of the world. During the last 4 years, I've relied on her counsel, benefited from her great experience, and appreciated her sound and steady judgment. And now I'm honored that she has agreed to serve in my Cabinet. The Secretary of State is America's face to the world. And in Dr. Rice, the world will see the strength, the grace, and the decency of our country. Both Condi and I have been proud to serve with our friend Secretary of State Colin Powell. He has been one of the most effective and admired diplomats in America's history. Secretary Powell has helped to rally the world in a global war. He's helped to resolve dangerous regional conflicts. He's helped to confront the desperate challenges of hunger, poverty, and disease. He has been tireless and selfless and principled, and our entire Nation is grateful for his lifetime of service. I'm also grateful that Steve Hadley has agreed to become my new National Security Adviser. Steve served Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Bush before me, and he has done a superb job as Dr. Rice's deputy during these past 4 years. Steve is a man of wisdom and good judgment. He has earned my trust, and I look forward to his continued vital service on my national security team. When confirmed by the Senate, Condoleezza Rice will take office at a critical time for our country. We're a nation at war. We're leading a large coalition against a determined enemy. We're putting in place new structures and institutions to confront outlaw regimes, to oppose proliferation of dangerous weapons and materials, and to break up terror networks. The United States has undertaken a great calling of history to aid the forces of reform and freedom in the broader Middle East so that that region can grow in hope instead of growing in anger. We're pursuing a positive new direction to resolve the Arab Israeli conflict, an approach that honors the peaceful aspirations of the Palestinian people through a democratic state and an approach that will ensure the security of our good friend Israel. Meeting all of these objectives will require wise and skillful leadership at the Department of State, and Condi Rice is the right person for that challenge. She's a recognized expert in international affairs, a distinguished teacher and academic leader, and a public servant with years of White House experience. She displays a commitment to excellence in every aspect of her life, from shaping our strategy in the war on terror to coordinating national security policy across the Government to performing classical music on stage. Above all, Dr. Rice has a deep, abiding belief in the value and power of liberty, because she has seen freedom denied and freedom reborn. As a girl in the segregated South, Dr. Rice saw the promise of America violated by racial discrimination and by the violence that comes from hate. But she was taught by her mother, Angelena, and her father, the Reverend John Rice, that human dignity is the gift of God and that the ideals of America would overcome oppression. That early wisdom has guided her through life, and that truth has guided our Nation to a better day. I know that the Reverend and Mrs. Rice would be filled with pride to see the daughter they raised in Birmingham, Alabama, chosen for the office first held by Thomas Jefferson. Something tells me, however, they would not be surprised. Laughter As many of you know, Condi's true ambition is beyond my power to grant. Laughter She would really like to be the commissioner of the National Football League. I'm glad she's put those plans on hold once again. The Nation needs her. I urge the Senate to promptly confirm Condoleezza Rice as America's 66th Secretary of State. Congratulations. At this point, Secretary designate Rice made brief remarks. The President. Good job. Thank you all. November 13, 2004 Good morning. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Allawi of Iraq authorized military operations to rid the city of Fallujah of Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists. American marines and soldiers, alongside Iraqi security forces, are on the offensive against the killers who have been using Fallujah as a base of operations for terrorist attacks and who have held the local population in the grip of fear. Fighting together, our forces have made significant progress in the last several days. They are taking back the city, clearing mosques of weapons and explosives stockpiled by insurgents, and restoring order for law abiding citizens. In the course of this operation, Iraqi troops have discovered new evidence of the enemy's brutality. An Iraqi general has described hostage slaughter houses, where terrorists have killed innocent victims and proudly recorded their barbaric crimes. The terrorists have shown once again the stakes of this struggle. They seek to spread fear and violence throughout Iraq, throughout the broader Middle East, and throughout the world, and they will fail. The terrorists will be defeated. Iraq will be free, and the world will be more secure. Our commitment to the success of democracy in Iraq is unshakable, and we will prevail. Ultimately, Iraq must be able to defend itself, and Iraqi security forces are taking increasing responsibility for their country's security. As we see in Fallujah and as we saw in Najaf and elsewhere, Iraqi security forces are standing and fighting and risking their lives for the future of their nation. As terrorists have targeted these forces, still more brave Iraqis have come forward as volunteers. Today, nearly 115,000 trained and equipped Iraqi soldiers, police officers, and other security personnel are serving their country. The Iraqi Government is on track to meet its goal of fielding more than 200,000 security personnel by the end of next year. In January, the Iraqi people will elect a transitional National Assembly, which will draft a new constitution to prepare the way for the election of a permanent Iraqi Government. The Iraqi people, like the people of Afghanistan before them, are embracing a democratic future even in the face of threats and intimidation. Throughout the country, Iraqi men and women are registering to vote political parties are forming candidates for office are stepping forward. International support for the Iraqi election is essential, and that support continues to grow. Military forces from some 30 nations are working alongside Iraqi forces, helping to establish stability and security. A U.N. team is providing critical technical support to Iraq's independent electoral commission. Other diplomatic personnel are helping the Iraqi people prepare for those elections to be held on schedule in January. As those elections draw near, the desperation of the killers will grow, and the violence could escalate. The success of democracy in Iraq would be a crushing blow to the forces of terror, and the terrorists know it. The defeat of terror in Iraq will set that nation on a course to lasting freedom and will give hope to millions, and the Iraqi people know it. And a free, democratic Iraq will inspire reformers throughout the Middle East and make America more secure. The United States and our allies have shown our determination to help Iraqis achieve their liberty. We will continue to stand by our friends, and we will finish the job. Thank you for listening. November 12, 2004 President Bush. Thank you. Welcome. I'm pleased to welcome a statesman and a friend back to the White House. Prime Minister Blair is a visionary leader. I've come to know him as a man of unshakeable convictions. America's alliance with Great Britain has never been stronger, and we're working closely every day to spread that freedom that leads to peace. Our two nations have shared in some of the most hopeful and positive achievements of our time. The people of Afghanistan have now chosen their President in a free election. The Taliban and the terrorists did everything they could to intimidate the long suffering people of that country. Yet men and women lined up at the polls, some of them waiting for hours to have their first taste of democracy. The success of Afghanistan's election is a standing rebuke to cynicism and extremism and a testimony to the power of liberty and hope. The people of the United States and Great Britain can be proud of the role we have played in aiding the rise of a free nation and, in so doing, making our countries more secure. Together we're serving the same cause in Iraq. Prime Minister Allawi authorized military operations to rid Fallujah of Sad dam holdouts and foreign terrorists, and American and Iraqi forces have made substantial progress in the last several days. Our coalition is training Iraqi security forces who are performing bravely and taking increasing responsibility for their country's security. British, American, and other coalition forces are helping provide stability that is necessary for free elections. And U.N. officials are helping the Iraqi people prepare for those elections, to be held in January. As those elections draw near, the desperation of the killers will grow, and the violence could escalate. The success of democracy in Iraq will be a crushing blow to the forces of terror, and the terrorists know it. The defeat of terror in Iraq will set that nation on a course to lasting freedom and will give hope to millions, and the Iraqi people know it. The United States and Great Britain have shown our determination to help Iraqis achieve their liberty and to defend the security of the world. We'll continue to stand with our friends, and we will finish the job. Prime Minister Blair and I also share a vision of a free, peaceful, a democratic broader Middle East. That vision must include a just and peaceful resolution of the Arab Israeli conflict based on two democratic states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. Our sympathies are with the Palestinian people as they begin a period of mourning. Yet the months ahead offer a new opportunity to make progress toward a lasting peace. Soon Palestinians will choose a new President. This is the first step in creating lasting democratic political institutions through which a free Palestinian people will elect local and national leaders. We're committed to the success of these elections, and we stand ready to help. We look forward to working with a Palestinian leadership that is committed to fighting terror and committed to the cause of democratic reform. We'll mobilize the international community to help revive the Palestinian economy, to build up Palestinian security institutions to fight terror, to help the Palestinian government fight corruption, and to reform the Palestinian political system and build democratic institutions. We'll also work with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to complete the disengagement plan from Gaza and part of the West Bank. These steps, if successful, will lay the foundation for progress in implementing the roadmap and then lead to final status negotiations. We seek a democratic, independent, and viable state for the Palestinian people. We are committed to the security of Israel as a Jewish state. These objectives two states living side by side in peace and security can be reached by only one path, the path of democracy, reform, and the rule of law. All that we hope to achieve together requires that America and Europe remain close partners. We are the pillars of the free world. We face the same threats and share the same belief in freedom and the rights of every individual. In my second term, I will work to deepen our transatlantic ties with the nations of Europe. I intend to visit Europe as soon as possible after my inauguration. My Government will continue to work through the NATO Alliance and with the European Union to strengthen cooperation between Europe and America. America applauds the success of NATO and EU enlargement and welcomes the stability and prosperity that that enlargement brings. We must apply the combined strength and moral purpose of Europe and America to effectively fight terror and to overcome poverty and disease and despair, to advance human dignity, and to advance freedom. In all that lies ahead in the defense of freedom, in the advance of democracy, and the spread of prosperity, America, the United Kingdom, and all of Europe must act together. Mr. Prime Minister, welcome. Prime Minister Blair. Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you for your gracious welcome to me here in the White House. And once again, many congratulations on your reelection. There are three major issues that arise. The United States and the United Kingdom have stood together since September the 11th, 2001, in order to combat this new form of global terrorism that we face. And the three things that we can do most to make sure that we defeat this terrorism, apart from being ever vigilant on security, are, first of all, to bring democracy to Afghanistan, which we are doing, as the successful election of President Karzai shows. And that is quite magnificent tribute not just to the courage of the Afghan people but, actually, also to the power of democracy. Secondly, we have to complete our mission in Iraq, make sure that Iraq is a stable and a democratic country. And I have no doubt at all that whatever the difficulties the terrorists and insurgents, supporters of Saddam Hussein may pose for us, that we will overcome those difficulties ourselves, the multinational force, together with the Iraqi Government and ensure that Iraq can be that democratic, stable state that the vast majority of Iraqis, I know, will want to see. And the third thing is, as the President rightly said a moment or two ago, we meet at a crucial time where it is important that we revitalize and reinvigorate the search for a genuine, lasting, and just peace in the Middle East. I would like to repeat my condolences to the Palestinian people at this time. As you will have seen, we have set out the steps that we believe are necessary to get into a process that will lead to the two state solution that we want to see. And I think those steps are very clear. They are, first of all, making sure that we set out a clear vision that clear vision was articulated by President Bush some time ago, repeated by him today of a two state solution, two democratic states living side by side together in peace. The second thing is, we need to support those Palestinian elections. That is a chance for the first beginnings of democracy to take hold on the Palestinian side. So it's important that we support it. Thirdly, however, if we want a viable Palestinian state, we need to make sure that the political, the economic, and the security infrastructure of that state is shaped and helped to come into being. We will mobilize international opinion and the international community in order to do that. The fourth thing is that Prime Minister Sharon's plan for disengagement is important. I think we recognized that when we were here at the White House back in April of this year. That disengagement plan is now going forward. It's important that we support it, and then, on the basis of this, we are able, in accordance with the principles of the roadmap, to get back into final status negotiation, so that we have that two state solution. And I think there is every possibility that we can do this, with the energy and the will and the recognition that in the end, it is only if the two states that we want to see living side by side are indeed democratic states where the rule of law and human rights are respected in each of them, that a just peace could be secured. I would also like to support very strongly what the President has just said about the transatlantic alliance. Again, I think there is a tremendous desire and willingness on the part of, certainly, our partners in the European Union to make sure that that alliance is strong. It's necessary for the security of the world. It's necessary for us to be able to tackle many of the problems that confront us. I look forward to working with the President over these coming months in order to try and secure that progress that we have laid out for you today. And also, of course, we've had the opportunity to discuss the upcoming G 8 Presidency of the United Kingdom, and we intend to take those issues forward as well. So, Mr. President, once again, many, many thanks. President Bush. Sure. Prime Minister Blair. Thank you for your alliance and for your leadership at this time. President Bush. Welcome, thanks. Terry Terence Hunt, Associated Press . Situation in the Middle East Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you. With Yasser Arafat's death, what specific steps can Israel take to revive peace negotiations? And do you believe that Israel should implement a freeze on West Bank settlement expansion? President Bush. I believe that the responsibility for peace is going to rest with the Palestinian people's desire to build a democracy and Israel's willingness to help them build a democracy. I know we have a responsibility as free nations to set forth a strategy that will help the Palestinian people head toward democracy. I don't think there will ever be lasting peace until there is a free, truly democratic society in the Palestinian territories that becomes a state. And therefore, the responsibility rests with both the Palestinian people and the leadership which emerges, with the Israelis to help that democracy grow, and with the free world to put the strategy in place that will help the democracy grow. Prime Minister Blair. James. Prospects for Middle East Peace Q. James Blitz, Financial Times. Mr. President, can you say today that it is your firm intention that by the end of your second term in office, it is your goal that there should be two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side? President Bush. I think it is fair to say that I believe we've got a great chance to establish a Palestinian state, and I intend to use the next 4 years to spend the capital of the United States on such a state. I believe it is in the interests of the world that a truly free state develop. I know it is in the interests of the Palestinian people that they can live in a society where they can express their opinion freely, a society where they can educate their children without hate, a society in which they can realize their dreams if they happen to be an entrepreneur. I know it's in Israel's interest that a free state evolve on her border. There's no other way to have a lasting peace, in my judgment, unless we all work to help develop the institutions necessary for a state to emerge civil society, based upon justice free speech free elections the right for people to express themselves freely. The first step of that is going to be the election of a new President, and my fervent hope is that the new President embraces the notion of a democratic state. I hate to put artificial timeframes on things. Unfortunately, I've got one on my existence as President. It's not artificial it's actually real. And I'd like to see it done in 4 years. I think it is possible. I think it is possible. I think it is impossible to think that the President of the United States or the Prime Minister of Great Britain can impose our vision. I think it's unrealistic to say, "Well, Bush wants it done, or Blair wants it done. Therefore, it will happen." But I think it is very possible that it can happen, because I believe people want to live in a free society, and our job is to help it happen. Thank you. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . President's Upcoming Visit to Europe Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Prime Minister Blair wants a international conference on the Middle East. What has to happen before you would sign on to that? And will you name a U.S. envoy? And what would you like to accomplish on this Europe trip that you're planning? President Bush. Let's see here. Laughter I'll start with the accomplishing on the Europe trip. It is to remind people that the world is better off, America is better off, Europe is better off when we work together. And there's a lot we can accomplish working together. There's a lot we have accomplished working together. We're working very closely to find Al Qaida and bring members of Al Qaida to justice. We've worked closely to free Afghanistan. We're working closely to interdict the flow of weapons of mass destruction. The Proliferation Security Initiative is based the membership of which is a lot of members of the EU. I mean, there's a lot of things we're working together on. NATO expansion we worked together on. It was such a refreshing moment when the new leaders of the leaders of the new countries in NATO walked in the room in the Czech Republic. It was a fantastic moment to see these proud members walk in and say, "We're now a member of the greatest alliance ever." And there's a lot we can continue to do. First two questions? Prospects for Middle East Peace Q. Prime Minister Blair's idea about an international conference President Bush. Yes. Q. and the sending of a U.S. envoy to the Middle East. President Bush. Right. In the spirit of the last question, we'll do what it takes to get a peace. And the conference what the Prime Minister and I discussed last night is, do not we have an obligation to develop a strategy? And the answer is, absolutely, we have an obligation. And one way to do that is to include the Quartet to bring nations together and say, "Here's what it takes to help the Palestinians develop a state that is truly free." And I'm all for conferences, just so long as the conferences produce something. And we had a long discussion about whether or not a conference could produce a viable strategy that we could then use as a go by for our own obligations as well as the obligations of the Palestinians, for them to have their own state. And the answer is, if that conference will do that, you bet I'm a big supporter. But one thing is for certain We are going to develop a strategy, so that once the elections are over, we'll be able to say, "Here's how we will help you. If you want to be helped, here's what we're willing to do. If you choose not to be helped, if you decide you don't want a free, democratic society, there's nothing we can do. If you think you can have peace without democracy" again, I think you'll find that I can only speak for myself, that I will be extremely doubtful that it will ever happen. I've seen it work too many times tried too many times. Now, there's going to be people around who say, "The Palestinians can't develop a democracy. It's impossible for them to live in a free society." I strongly disagree with that. And so the whole premise of this strategy that we'll outline is all based toward that vision of a free and truly democratic society emerging. See, what's going to happen is, when that happens, there will be great trust developed between Israel and the Palestinian people. Free societies are able societies able to develop trust between each other, and there's clearly a lack of trust right now. And so, yes, I mean, we will do that what it takes to put a strategy in place and advance it and call upon other nations to develop to work with us. Prime Minister Blair. Yes, that's absolutely right. I mean, what we will do is anything that is necessary to make the strategy work. The important thing is that, first of all, there's got to be an agreement as to what a viable Palestinian state means. And what we're really saying this morning is that that viable state has to be a democratic state. The second thing is, how do we get there? How do we enable the Palestinians to get there? We will do whatever it takes to help build support for that concept, to work through the details of it and make sure that it can actually be brought into being. But the bottom line has got to be that if you want to secure Israel and you want a viable Palestinian state, those are two states living side by side, and they are democratic states living side by side. And we've got the chance over the next few months, with the election of a new Palestinian President, to put the first marker down on that. Trevor. Iran Q. Trevor Cavanagh from The Sun. Mr. President, I know that Iran, as well as Iraq, has been a very significant part of the agenda for this week, and I'd like to ask you whether, in light of the nuclear ambitions of Iran, whether America would tolerate a nuclear Iran? And if the answer to that is no, would Britain, Mr. Prime Minister, stand as four square behind America on this issue as it has done on Iraq? President Bush. Let me make sure I understand your question. You're saying a Iran with a nuclear weapon Q. Nuclear power. President Bush. Nuclear power or nuclear weapon? Q. Nuclear weapon. President Bush. Okay. No, we don't want Iran to have a nuclear weapon, and we're working toward that end. And the truth of the matter is, the Prime Minister gets a lot of credit for working with France and Germany to convince the Iranians to get rid of the processes that would enable them to develop a nuclear weapon. Prime Minister Blair. Absolutely. And there's an agreement in the international community to make sure that Iran comes into compliance with its international obligations. And we've been working with France and Germany but, obviously, with the United States and others too, to make sure that that happens. President Bush. Let's see here. Cochran. John John Cochran, ABC News . Q. I'm totally shocked. Laughter President Bush. That's why I called on you. Laughter Democracy in the Middle East Q. You know, you talk about democracy being so necessary. There are those who would say there is sometimes a harsh peace of a dictator. What if the Palestinian state comes up with somebody who is not a democrat but is willing to have peace with the Israelis? And let me transfer that to the Iraqis as well. What if the Iraqis come up with somebody who's not friendly to the United States, is not a democrat, but it's peaceful. Is this something you can live with? President Bush. Well, first of all, if there's an election, the Iraqis will have come up with somebody who is duly elected. In other words, democracy will have spoken. And that person is going to have to listen to the people, not to the whims of a dictator, not to their own desires, personal desires. The great thing about democracy is you actually go out and ask the people for a vote, as you might have noticed recently. And the people get to decide, and they get to decide the course of their future. And so it's a contradiction in terms to say a dictator gets elected. The person who gets elected is chosen by the people. And so I don't I'm not Q. You can be elected and be a tyrant. President Bush. Well, you can be elected and then be a strong man, and then you get voted out, so long as you end up honoring democracy. But if you're true to democracy, you'll listen to the people, not to your own desires. If you're true to democracy, you'll do what the people want you to do. That's the difference between democracy and a tyrant. And the Palestinians may decide to elect a real strong personality. But we'll hold their feet to the fire to make sure that democracy prevails, that there are free elections. And if they don't the people of the Palestinian territory don't like the way this person is responding to their needs, they will vote him or her out. And the reason why I'm so strong on democracy is, democracies don't go to war with each other. And the reason why is, the people of most societies don't like war, and they understand what war means. And one of these days, the people of the Palestinian the Palestinians will realize that there is a bright future because freedom is taking hold a future that enables their children to get educated, a future in which they can start their businesses, a future in which they're certain that the money that's going into the treasury of their government is being spent fairly, in a transparent way, a future in which corruption is not the norm, a future in which rule of law prevails. And that leads to a peaceful society. I've got great faith in democracies to promote peace. And that's why I'm such a strong believer that the way forward in the Middle East, the broader Middle East, is to promote democracy. I readily concede there are skeptics, people who say democracy is not possible in certain societies. But remember, that was said right after World War II with Japan. And today, one of the people that I work closest with is my friend Prime Minister Koizumi. And it's a it's remarkable to me that we sit down at the same table, talking about keeping the peace in places like North Korea, and it really wasn't all that long ago in the march of history that we were enemies. The Prime Minister knows Koizumi. He's a good man. And he's an ally because democracy took hold in Japan. And yet there was a lot of skeptics. When you look at the writings right after World War II, a lot of people said, "You're wasting your time to try to promote democracy in Japan." There were some, I suspect maybe in Great Britain and I know in America, that were writing, "You're wasting your time to promote democracy in Germany," after World War II. And yet fortunately, people who preceded us had great faith in liberty to transform societies. And that's what we're talking about is taking place. And it's hard, and it's difficult, particularly in a society like Iraq, because the terrorists understand the stakes of freedom. And they're willing to kill people in brutal fashion to stop it. And I believe we have a duty and an obligation to work to make sure democracy takes hold. It's a duty to our own country. It's a duty to generations of Americans and children of Great Britain to help secure the peace by promoting democratic societies. Prime Minister Blair. First of all, I should say, Koizumi is a good man not just because I know him, but laughter although that helps a lot, I think. Laughter But I think the President said something here that I really think is very, very important. In the politics when I was first a member of Parliament and making my way up the greasy pole and all the rest of it, there was a view in foreign policy that you dealt with countries on the basis of whatever attitude they had towards you, but really, whatever they did within their own countries, that was up to them and didn't really make a difference to your long term relationship. I think what we are learning today is that there is not stability of any true, long term kind without democratic rights for free people to decide their government. Now, that doesn't mean to say we try and interfere with every state around the world, but it does mean that there's been a shift, and I think a shift quite dramatically, since 9 11 in the thinking that is informing our view of how we make progress. That's why it wasn't enough to go into Afghanistan and root out Al Qaida or knock down the Taliban. We actually had to go there and say, "No, we must replace that with a democratic form of government," because, in the end, if we replace it simply with another dictator, then we'll get the same instability back. That's why in Iraq, we decided, when Saddam was removed, we didn't want another hard man coming in, another dictator. Now, it's a struggle, because democracy is hard to bring into countries that have never had it before. But I've no doubt at all that the Iraqi people, given the chance and indeed, you can see this in some of the local elections now down in the south of Iraq given the chance, they'll want to elect their leaders. Why wouldn't they? I mean, why would they want a strong arm leader who's going to have the secret police, no freedom of speech, no free press, no human rights, no proper law courts? The people want the freedom. What we recognized, I think, today, is that we're not going to have our security unless they get that freedom. So when we come to the issue of Israel and Palestine, I think what we are saying is, we are going to work flat out to deliver this. But people have to understand, we can't deliver something unless the people whom it affects actually want it to happen. And we don't believe there will be a viable future for a state of Palestine unless it's based on certain key democratic principles. Now, I think that's a tremendous thing. And I also think that in the end of course, you're right, people can vote for the people they'd like to vote for in elections, right? That's what democracy is about. I think we've got to have some faith, though, in the ability of ordinary people, decent people, to decide their own future. Because it's a curious thing, you look at all these Eastern European countries Central, Eastern European countries in the European Union now, just democracies over the last 10 years fierce election debates, changes of Government, often difficult circumstances when the Governments change. But you go to those countries and talk to the people there, and their sense of liberation and their sense of self worth as a result of the freedom they have that is the best testament to why it's sensible to have faith in democracy. And sometimes when people say, "Well it's you've got a Republican President and a progressive politician from across the water," but in my view, people from different sides of the political spectrum should be able to come together to argue that policy case, because democracy is something that should unite us, whatever political position we have. David. United Kingdom United States Relations Q. David Charter from The Times in London. Mr. President, first, the Prime Minister is sometimes, perhaps unfairly, characterized in Britain as your poodle. I was wondering if that's the way you may see your relationship? And perhaps, more seriously, do you feel for the Prime Minister Blair. Don't answer yes to that question. If you do, I would be laughter that would be difficult. Q. Do you feel, for the strong support that Britain has given you over Iraq, that you have to pay back Britain for that support in some way? President Bush. The Prime Minister made the decision he did because he wanted to do his duty to secure the people of Great Britain. That's why he made the decision plenty capable of making his own mind. He's a strong, capable man. I admire him a lot. You know why? When he tells you something, he means it. You spend much time in politics, you'll know there's some people around this part of the this kind of line of work where they tell you something, they don't mean it. When he says something, he means it. He's a big thinker. He's got a clear vision, and when times get tough, he doesn't wilt. When they when the criticism starts to come his way I suspect that might be happening on occasion he stands what he believes in. That's the kind of person I like to deal with. He is a I'm a lucky person a lucky President, to be holding office at the same time this man holds the Prime Minister ship. These are troubled times. It's a tough world. What this world needs is steady, rock solid leaders who stand on principle, and that's what the Prime Minister means to me. Prime Minister Blair. I just want to add one thing, which is that, well, this concept of payback we are we're not fighting the war against terrorism because we are an ally of the United States. We are an ally of the United States because we believe in fighting this war against terrorism. We share the same objectives. We share the same values. And if we look back over our own history in the last half century or more, we, both of us, in different ways, the United States and Britain, have a cause to be thankful for this alliance and this partnership. And I should we I believe we should be thankful that it is as strong as it is today. And as long as I remain Prime Minister of our country, it will carry on being strong, not because that's in the interests of America, simply, or in the interests of the international community, but because I believe passionately it is in the interests of Britain. President Bush. Good job. Thank you, sir. Thank you all. November 11, 2004 Thank you for that warm welcome. Laura and I are honored to be here today. Mr. Secretary, thank you for your kind introduction, and thank you for your strong leadership in making sure our veterans have got the very best care possible. Secretary Principi has done a fantastic job for the American veteran. I thank the members of my Cabinet who have joined us today. I appreciate the Chiefs of Staff and other members of the United States military who have joined us. I want to thank all the veterans who are here today. I want to thank the representatives of veterans organizations. And I want to thank my fellow Americans. Veterans Day is set aside to remember every man and woman who has taken up arms to defend our country. We honor every soldier, sailor, airman, marine, and coastguardsman who gave some of the best years of their lives to the service of the United States and stood ready to give life, itself, on our behalf. Twenty five million military veterans walk among us, and on this day, our Nation thanks them all. These are the hidden heroes of a peaceful nation, our colleagues and friends, neighbors and family members who answered the call and returned to live in the land they defended. Our veterans are drawn from several generations and many backgrounds. They're Americans who remember the swift conflict of the Persian Gulf war and a long cold war vigil, the heat of Vietnam and the bitter cold of Korea. They are veterans in their eighties who served under MacArthur and Eisenhower and saved the liberty of the world. And still with us in the year 2004 are a few dozen Americans who fought the Kaiser's army and celebrated the end of the Great War on this day in 1918. The last doughboys are all more than 100 years old. Our Nation will always be proud of their service. Some of our veterans are young men and women with recent memories of battle in mountains and in deserts. In Afghanistan, these brave Americans helped sweep away a vicious tyranny allied with terror and prepared the way for a free people to elect its own leaders. In Iraq, our men and women fought a ruthless enemy of America, setting the people free from a tyrant who now sits in a prison cell. All who have served in this cause are liberators in the best tradition of America. Their actions have made our Nation safer in a world full of new dangers. Their actions have also upheld the ideals of America's founding, which defines us still. Our Nation values freedom, not just for ourselves but for all. And because Americans are willing to serve and sacrifice for this cause, our Nation remains the greatest force for good among all the nations on the Earth. Some of tomorrow's veterans are in combat in Iraq at this hour. They have a clear mission, to defeat the terrorists and aid the rise of a free government that can defend itself. They are performing that mission with skill and with honor. They are making us proud. They are winning. Our men and women in the military have superb training and the best equipment and able commanders. And they have another great advantage They have the example of American veterans who came before. From the very day George Washington took command, the uniform of the United States has always stood for courage and decency and shining hope in a world of darkness. And all who have worn that uniform have won the thanks of the American people. Today we're thinking of our fellow Americans last seen on duty, whose fate is still undetermined. We will not rest until we have made the fullest possible accounting for every life. Today we also recall the men and women who did not live to be called veterans, many of whom rest in these hills. Our veterans remember the faces and voices of fallen comrades. The families of the lost carry a burden of grief that time will lighten but never lift. Our whole Nation honors every patriot who placed duty and country before their own lives. They gave us every day that we live in freedom. The security of America depends on our active leadership in the world to oppose emerging threats and to spread freedom that leads to the peace we all want. And our leadership ultimately depends on the commitment and character of the Armed Forces. America has needed these qualities in every generation, and every generation has stepped forward to provide them. What veterans have given our country is beyond our power to fully repay, yet today we recognize our debt to their honor. And on this national holiday, our hearts are filled with respect and gratitude for the veterans of the United States of America. May God bless our veterans and their families, and may God continue to bless our great Nation. Thank you. November 10, 2004 President Bush. It's my honor to welcome the Secretary General of NATO to the Oval Office. This is the first meeting I've had, since my reelection, with a leader from overseas. I'm proud you're the person, Secretary General, because, first of all, I've got a very close personal relationship. I've come to admire his leadership and his fortitude. And secondly, my Nation is committed to a strong and vibrant NATO. NATO is playing a very constructive role in Afghanistan. Today we had a chance to revisit one of the great moments of modern history, when millions of people went to the polls to vote for a President in a country that had been ruled by the Taliban only 3 years ago, and we were rejoicing in the fact that the first voter was a 19 year old woman. And NATO is playing a very active role in Afghanistan. And NATO is playing a role in helping to train Iraqi citizens so that they can become the people that defend their country against those who are trying to stop freedom. And I want to thank you for that, Mr. Secretary General. We talked about the need to make sure NATO is relevant, that NATO is constructed in a way that is not only effective but one that continues to foster free societies and democracy around the world. And I thank you for your vision and your commitment. Welcome to the Oval Office. Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer. Thank you very much. Well, thank you very much, Mr. President. The fact that I am sitting here now in the Oval Office as the first foreign visitor is the best proof, I think, for the full commitment of the United States of America and this President Bush to NATO. And that's of the utmost importance, because NATO is the unique transatlantic forum where everything we have, the big challenges of the world we are facing in the world today should be discussed, and NATO is the only organization which can deliver. We delivered, as the President said, in Afghanistan. Less burkas and more ballot boxes, that's what it's all about. We are delivering in Kosovo. We are delivering by setting up a training implementation mission in Iraq. There is no second forum. There's no second organization in the world like NATO, where 26 democracies are defending values, democracy, respect for human rights, freedom of religion, and all those basic values which are at the heart of all these 26 societies. And it gives me pleasure to have the full support I knew that already, of course to have the full support of President Bush for this endeavor. Of course, I think NATO has a very challenging agenda, and I'll make sure that we can deliver NATO can deliver, that we can face all those challenges successfully. Thank you so much, and it's a great pleasure to be here in the Oval Office once again. President Bush. Welcome back. We'll be glad to answer a couple of questions. Scott Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press , why don't you start it off. Future Cooperation With the Palestinian Authority Q. Thanks, Mr. President. In June 2002, you urged the Palestinian people to replace Yasser Arafat with a leader, in your words, "not compromised by terror." Arafat today is gravely ill. In fact, Palestinians have already selected his successor. Do you see a new opening for peace here? President Bush. I do. There will be an opening for peace when leadership of the Palestinian people steps forward and says, "Help us build a democratic and free society." And when that happens and I believe it's going to happen, because I believe all people desire to live in freedom the United States of America will be more than willing to help build the institutions necessary for a free society to emerge, so that the Palestinians can have their own state. The vision is two states, a Palestinian state and Israel, living side by side in peace, and I think we've got a chance to do that. And I look forward to being involved in that process. Adam Adam Boulton, Sky News . Secretary of State Powell Q. Mr. President, today you met with your Secretary of State. Do you want him to stick around to lead your efforts to revive the Middle East peace talks? President Bush. I'm proud of my Secretary of State. He's done a heck of a good job. Heidi Heidi Pryzbyla, Bloomberg News . Troop Levels in Iraq Q. Yes, sir. Can elections in Iraq be free and fair without the participation of Sunnis? And you've also said you'll give the commanders in Iraq what they need. Does this mean that you're open to substantially increasing the level of troops? President Bush. That is a loaded question, and I don't blame you for asking it. The commanders on the ground will have that which they need, and they have yet to say, "We need a substantial number of troops." As a matter of fact, I met with the commanders on the ground today General Casey, and he a commander on the ground, General Casey, the commander on the ground. And he said that things are going well in Fallujah and they're making very good progress in securing that country. But I haven't changed the job of the Commander in Chief is to set the strategy and to set the direction of policy and say to those who are in charge of implementing the policy, "You'll have that which you need." And I have said that ever since we've begun operations in Iraq. I said it when we began operations in Afghanistan, and it's still true. And if the commanders were to bring forth a request, I would look at it I would listen to it very seriously and implement the request. They have yet to do so. Sunni Participation in Iraqi Elections Q. Do you need Sunni participation to make the elections free and fair? President Bush. Well, I'm confident when people realize that there's a chance to vote on a President, they will participate. People want to be free. This is tough right now in Iraq because there are people that are willing to commit violent acts to stop elections. But as I reminded our citizens prior to the Afghanistan elections, there's a deep desire in every soul to vote and to be free and to participate in the Presidential elections, which is precisely what happened in Afghanistan in spite of the doubt of some and in spite of the violence that took place in Afghanistan prior to the vote. I believe that a lot of citizens in Iraq will want to vote for their leaders. And I believe that because I believe deep in everybody's soul is a desire to be free. Thank you all. November 10, 2004 Good afternoon. I'm pleased to announce my nomination of Judge Al Gonzales to be the Attorney General of the United States. This is the fifth time I have asked Judge Gonzales to serve his fellow citizens, and I am very grateful he keeps saying yes. A decade ago, when I was elected Governor of Texas, I asked Al to be my general counsel. He went on to distinguished service as Texas's secretary of state and as a justice of the Texas Supreme Court. Since I arrived in Washington 4 years ago, he has served with skill and integrity in the White House as Counsel to the President. I have counted on Al Gonzales to help select the best nominees for the Federal courts, one of the President's most important responsibilities. His sharp intellect and sound judgment have helped shape our policies in the war on terror, policies designed to protect the security of all Americans, while protecting the rights of all Americans. As the top legal official on the White House staff, he has led a superb team of lawyers and has upheld the highest standards of government ethics. My confidence in Al was high to begin with it has only grown with time. Over the past decade, I've also come to know the character of this man. He always gives me his frank opinion. He is a calm and steady voice in times of crisis. He has an unwavering principle, a respect for the law, and he and Becky are dear friends of Laura and my of me, and I'm also very friendly with Graham and Gabriel Gonzales. My newest Cabinet nominee grew up in a two bedroom house in Texas with his parents and seven siblings. Al's mother and dad, Pablo and Maria, were migrant workers who never finished elementary school, but they worked hard to educate their children and to instill the values of reverence and integrity and personal responsibility. These good people lived to see their son, Al, study at Rice University and Harvard Law School. Maria still lives in Humble, Texas, in the house her husband built, and I can only imagine how proud she is today of her son, Al. Serving as Attorney General is one of the most challenging duties in our Government. As the Nation's chief law enforcement officer, Al will continue our administration's great progress in fighting crime, in strengthening the FBI, in improving our domestic efforts in the war on terror. As a steward of civil rights laws, he will ensure that Americans are protected from discrimination so that each person has the opportunity to live the American Dream, as Al himself has done. With the Senate's approval, Judge Gonzales will succeed another superb public servant, Attorney General John Ashcroft. Attorney General Ashcroft has served with excellence during a demanding time. In 4 years, he's reorganized the Department of Justice to meet the new threat of terrorism. He's fairly and forcefully applied the PATRIOT Act and helped to dismantle terror cells inside the United States. During his watch, violent crime has dropped to a 30 year low and prosecutions of crimes committed with guns have reached an alltime high. Drug use amongst our students is down. Confidence in the financial markets has been restored because the Attorney General aggressively prosecuted corporate fraud. And thanks to John Ashcroft's leadership, America has stepped up its efforts to prosecute the cruel exploitation of children by Internet pornographers. The Nation is safer and more just today because John Ashcroft has served our country so well. I'm committed to strong, principled leadership at the Department of Justice, and Judge Al Gonzales will be that kind of leader as America's 80th Attorney General. I urge the Senate to act promptly on this important nomination. I look forward to welcoming my great friend to the Cabinet. Congratulations. November 10, 2004 Thank you all. Please be seated. Thank you. Thank you all for coming, and welcome to the White House, and Ramadan Mubarak. I'm honored to be with so many friends and distinguished guests. As we gather during this holy month, America is stronger and more hopeful because of the generosity and compassion of our Muslim citizens. Our Nation is safer and more prosperous because we have a close relationship with our Islamic friends around the world. And tonight we honor the traditions of a great faith by hosting the Iftaar dinner here at the White House. I want to acknowledge our Secretary of State, Colin Powell. I appreciate his great service. I want to thank our Secretary of Energy, Spence Abraham, who is with us today. I want to thank Dr. Elias Zerhouni for his great work at the National Institutes of Health. Thank you. I want to thank all the distinguished Ambassadors who are with us today. I want to thank the American Muslim leaders who've joined us. I appreciate you coming from all around the country. I want to thank Imam Faizul Khan of the Islamic Center of Washington, who will lead the blessing tonight. And tonight we also remember the late Shaykh Zayid, the founder of the United Arab Emirates, who passed away last week. He was a wise leader, and America joins the people of the UAE in honoring his memory. For Muslims in America and around the world, Ramadan is a special time of reflection, fasting, and charity. It is a time to think of the less fortunate and to share God's gifts with those in need. It is a time of spiritual growth and prayer, and the heartfelt prayers offered by Muslims across America are a blessing for our whole Nation. Ramadan is also a time for togetherness and thanksgiving. And Muslims gather to break the fast, and there is so much to be thankful for. I know you're thankful for your families and communities, and we all pray for their safety and happiness in the year ahead. Here in America, Muslims also think of their brothers and sisters in distant lands where lives are being lifted up by liberty and by hope. In Iraq, families are observing this holy month in a free society. After enduring decades of tyranny and fear, the Iraqi people are guiding their nation toward democracy. And this January, they will choose their leaders in a free election. In Afghanistan, brave men and women have transformed a country, and they have inspired our world. Just over 3 years ago, the Taliban government controlled Afghanistan. They harbored terrorists and denied basic rights to millions of citizens. And today, the Taliban is gone from power women have their freedom girls go to school and last month, the people of Afghanistan stood in long lines to cast their vote in a free election. The elections in Afghanistan and Iraq will be counted as landmark events in the history of liberty. And America will always be proud of our efforts to bring liberty and hope to those nations. Freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. Over the next 4 years, we'll work to ensure that the gift of freedom reaches more men and women in the broader Middle East. By working with leaders in that region, we can advance reform and change in a vital part of the world. And as we do so, we'll build a better future for all mankind. As we defend liberty and justice abroad, we must honor those values here at home. At our founding, America made a commitment to justice and tolerance, and we keep that commitment today. We reject ethnic and religious bigotry in every form. We strive for a welcoming society that honors the life and faith of every person. We will always protect the most basic human freedom, the freedom to worship the Almighty God without any fear. In recent years, Americans of many faiths have come to learn more about our Muslim brothers and sisters. And the more we learn, the more we find that our commitments are broadly shared. As Americans, we all share a commitment to family, to protect and to love our children. We share a belief in God's justice and man's moral responsibility. We share the same hope for a future of peace. We have so much in common and so much to learn from one another. Once again, I wish you a blessed Ramadan. I want to thank you for joining us at the White House for this Iftaar, and may God bless you all. November 09, 2004 Listen, I've Laura and I have just toured one of the wards upstairs. I am every time I come to Walter Reed, I'm struck by the courage and bravery of our men and women who wear the uniform. It's such an honor to meet the troops who are wounded. And it's so uplifting to see their spirit, their drive to become rehabilitated, their love of their country, their support of the mission. Laura and I spent time with the moms and dads and husbands and wives of those who are wounded, and I was struck by just the patriotic sense that they have and that their strong support for their loved ones. Every time I come to the hospital, one of the things I try to determine is to whether or not our troops and their families are being treated with first class care. It's very important for all of us involved in decisionmaking to know that a troop who had been injured in Iraq or Afghanistan is immediately brought to care. And to a person, they were very strong in their support and praise to how this hospital is run. I want to thank the generals, the doctors, the nurses for running this hospital. I mean it's such a comforting sense for me to be able to tell a loved one, "Your person hurt, your loved one will get the best care possible." And finally, we've got troops in harm's way in the Fallujah area right now, and our prayers are with the soldiers and their loved ones as they're doing the hard work necessary for a free Iraq to emerge. There are still terrorists there who are trying to stop the march of freedom. And at the request of the Allawi Government and alongside of Iraqi troops, coalition forces are now moving into Fallujah to bring to justice those who are willing to kill the innocent and those who are trying to terrorize the Iraqi people and our coalition, those who want to stop democracy. And they're not going to succeed. And so we wish our troops all the best and Godspeed to them as well. Thank you all. November 06, 2004 Good morning. This week, the voters of America set the direction of our Nation for the next 4 years. I am honored by the support of my fellow citizens. I commend Senator John Kerry for a spirited campaign. Now the election is behind us, and our country is ready to move forward. Our Nation is fighting a continuing war on terror, and every American has a stake in the outcome. Republicans and Democrats and independents love our country, and together, we will protect the American people. We will persevere until the enemy is defeated and our Nation is safe from danger. Every civilized country also has a stake in the outcome of this war. Whatever our past disagreements, we share a common enemy and common duties to confront disease and hunger and poverty in troubled regions of our world. I will continue reaching out to friends and allies, including our partners in NATO and the European Union, to promote development and progress, to defeat the terrorists, and to encourage freedom and democracy as the alternatives to tyranny and terror. Here at home, we have serious responsibilities and historic opportunities. To accelerate the momentum of this economy and to keep creating jobs, we must take practical measures to help the small business sector. We must confront the junk and frivolous lawsuits that are driving up the cost of health care and hurting doctors and patients. We must continue to work on education reform to bring high standards and accountability, not just to elementary schools but to the high schools as well. We must reform our complicated and outdated Tax Code to get rid of needless paperwork and make our economy more competitive in the world. And we must show our leadership by strengthening the Social Security system for our children and grandchildren. This is more than a problem to be solved it is an opportunity to help millions of our fellow citizens find the security and independence of ownership. Reaching these goals will require the broad support of Americans. To make this Nation stronger and better, I will need the support of Republicans and Democrats and independents, and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust. A new term is a new opportunity to reach out to the whole Nation. We have one country, one Constitution, and one future that binds us. And when we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America. In the election of 2004, large issues were set before the country and discussed every day of the campaign. Now Americans are expecting bipartisan effort and results. My administration will work with both parties in Congress to achieve those results and to meet the responsibility we share. With the campaign over, the United States of America goes forward with confidence and faith. I see a great day coming for our country, and I'm eager for the work ahead. Thank you for listening. November 04, 2004 The President. Thank you all. Please be seated. Yesterday I pledged to reach out to the whole Nation, and today I'm proving that I'm willing to reach out to everybody by including the White House press corps. Laughter This week the voters of America set the direction of our Nation for the next 4 years. I'm honored by the support of my fellow citizens, and I'm ready for the job. We are fighting a continuing war on terror, and every American has a stake in the outcome of this war. Republicans, Democrats, and independents all love our country, and together we'll protect the American people. We will preserve we will persevere until the enemy is defeated. We will stay strong and resolute. We have a duty, a solemn duty to protect the American people, and we will. Every civilized country also has a stake in the outcome of this war. Whatever our past disagreements, we share a common enemy, and we have common duties to protect our peoples, to confront disease and hunger and poverty in troubled regions of the world. I'll continue to reach out to our friends and allies, our partners in the EU and NATO, to promote development and progress, to defeat the terrorists, and to encourage freedom and democracy as alternatives to tyranny and terror. I also look forward to working with the present Congress and the new Congress that will arrive in January. I congratulate the men and women who have just been elected to the House and the Senate. I will join with old friends and new friends to make progress for all Americans. Congress will return later this month to finish this current session. I urge Members to pass the appropriations bill that remain, showing spending discipline while focusing on our Nation's priorities. Our Government also needs the very best intelligence, especially in a time of war. So I urge the Congress to pass an effective intelligence reform bill that I can sign into law. The new Congress that begins its work next year will have serious responsibilities and historic opportunities. To accelerate the momentum of this economy and to keep creating jobs, we must take practical measures to help our job creators, the entrepreneurs and the small business owners. We must confront the frivolous lawsuits that are driving up the cost of health care and hurting doctors and patients. We must continue the work of education reform to bring high standards and accountability not just to our elementary and secondary schools but to our high schools as well. We must reform our complicated and outdated Tax Code. We need to get rid of the needless paperwork that makes our economy that is a drag on our economy, to make sure our economy is the most competitive in the world. We must show our leadership by strengthening Social Security for our children and our grandchildren. This is more than a problem to be solved. It is an opportunity to help millions of our fellow citizens find security and independence that comes from owning something, from ownership. In the election of 2004, large issues were set before our country. They were discussed every day on the campaign. With the campaign over, Americans are expecting a bipartisan effort and results. I'll reach out to everyone who shares our goals. And I'm eager to start the work ahead. I'm looking forward to serving this country for 4 more years. I want to thank you all for your hard work in the campaign. I told you that the other day, and you probably thought I was just seeking votes. Laughter But now that you voted, I really meant it. I appreciate the hard work of the press corps. We all put in long hours, and you're away from your families for a long period of time. But the country is better off when we have a vigorous and free press covering our elections. And thanks for your work. Without overpandering, I'll answer a few questions. Laughter Hunt Terence Hunt, Associated Press . Middle East Iraq Q. Mr. President, thank you. As you look at your second term, how much is the war in Iraq going to cost? Do you intend to send more troops or bring troops home? And in the Middle East, more broadly, do you agree with Tony Blair that revitalizing the Middle East peace process is the single most pressing political issue facing the world? The President. Now that I've got the will of the people at my back, I'm going to start enforcing the one question rule. That was three questions. Laughter I'll start with Tony Blair's comments. I agree with him that the Middle East peace is a very important part of a peaceful world. I have been working on Middle Eastern peace ever since I've been the President. I've laid down some a very hopeful strategy on in June of 2002, and my hope is that we will make good progress. I think it's very important for our friends the Israelis to have a peaceful Palestinian state living on their border. And it's very important for the Palestinian people to have a peaceful, hopeful future. That's why I articulated a two state vision in that Rose Garden speech. I meant it when I said it, and I mean it now. What was the other part of your question? Q. Iraq. The President. Oh, Iraq, yes. Listen, we will work with the Allawi Government to achieve our objective, which is elections, on the path to stability, and we'll continue to train the troops. Our commanders will have that which they need to complete their missions. And in terms of the cost, I we'll work with OMB and the Defense Department to bring forth to Congress a realistic assessment of what the cost will be. Supreme Court Nominations The Cabinet Q. Thank you, Mr. President. How will you go about bringing people together? Will you seek a consensus candidate for the Supreme Court if there's an opening? Will you bring some Democrats into your Cabinet? The President. Again, he violated the one question rule right off the bat. Obviously, you didn't listen to the will of the people. But first of all, there's no vacancy for the Supreme Court, and I will deal with a vacancy when there is one. And I told the people on the campaign trail that I'll pick somebody who knows the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. You might have heard that several times. I meant what I said. And if people are interested in knowing the kind of judges I'll pick, look at the record. I've sent up a lot of judges, well qualified people who know the law, who represent a judicial temperament that I agree with, and who are qualified to hold the bench. The second part of your two part question? Q. Any Democrats to your Cabinet, by any chance? The President. I haven't made any decisions on the Cabinet yet. Bipartisanship Q. How else will you bring people together? The President. We'll put out an agenda that everybody understands and work with people to achieve the agenda. Democrats want a free and peaceful world, and we'll and right away, right after September the 11th we worked very closely together to secure our country. There is a common ground to be had when it comes to a foreign policy that says the most important objective is to protect the American people and spread freedom and democracy. There's common ground when it comes to making sure the intelligence services are able to provide good, actionable intelligence to protect our people. It's not a Republican issue. It's a Republican and Democrat issue. So I'm plenty of places for us to work together. All right, Gregory David Gregory, NBC News . War on Terror Promoting Democracy Q. Thank you, Mr. President. On foreign policy, more broadly, do you believe that America has an image problem in the world right now because of your efforts in response to the 9 11 attacks? And, as you talked down the stretch about building alliances, talk about what you'll do to build on those alliances and to deal with these image problems, particularly in the Islamic world. The President. I appreciate that. Listen, I've made some very hard decisions, decisions to protect ourselves, decisions to spread peace and freedom. And I understand that in certain capitals and certain countries, those decisions were not popular. You know, you said you asked me to put that in the context of the response on September the 11th. The first response, of course, was chasing down the terror networks, which we will continue to do. And we've got great response around the world in order to do that. There's over 90 nations involved with sharing information, finding terrorists, and bringing them to justice. That is a broad coalition, and we'll continue to strengthen it. I laid out a doctrine, David, that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorists," and that doctrine was ignored by the Taliban, and we removed the Taliban. And I fully understand some people didn't agree with that decision. But I believe that when the American President speaks, he'd better mean what he says in order to keep the world peaceful. And I believe we have a solemn duty, whether or not people agree with it or not, to protect the American people. And the Taliban and their harboring of Al Qaida represented a direct threat to the American people. And of course, then the Iraq issue is one that people disagreed with. And there's no need to rehash my case, but I did so, I made the decision I made, in order to protect our country, first and foremost. I will continue to do that as the President. But as I do so, I will reach out to others and explain why I make the decisions I make. There is a certain attitude in the world, by some, that says that it's a waste of time to try to promote free societies in parts of the world. I've heard that criticism. Remember, I went to London to talk about our vision of spreading freedom throughout the greater Middle East. And I fully understand that that might rankle some and be viewed by some as folly. I just strongly disagree with those who do not see the wisdom of trying to promote free societies around the world. If we are interested in protecting our country for the long term, the best way to do so is to promote freedom and democracy. And I simply do not agree with those who either say overtly or believe that certain societies cannot be free. It's just not a part of my thinking. And that's why during the course of the campaign, I was I believe I was able to connect, at least with those who were there, in explaining my policy, when I talked about the free elections in Afghanistan. There were there was doubt about whether or not those elections would go forward. I'm not suggesting any of you here expressed skepticism, but there was. There was deep skepticism, and because there is a attitude among some that certain people may never be free they just don't long to be free or incapable of running an election, and I disagree with that. And the Afghan people, by going to the polls in the millions, proved that this administration's faith in freedom to change people's habits is worthy. And that will be a central part of my foreign policy. And I've got work to do to explain to people about why that is a central part of our foreign policy. I've been doing that for 4 years. But if you do not believe people can be free and can self govern, then all of a sudden the two state solution in the Middle East becomes a moot point, invalid. If you're willing to condemn a group of people to a system of government that hasn't worked, then you'll never be able to achieve the peace. You cannot lead this world and our country to a better tomorrow unless you see a better unless you have a vision of a better tomorrow. And I've got one, based upon a great faith that people do want to be free and live in democracy. John John Roberts, CBS News , and then I'll get to Terry Terry Moran, ABC News . No followups today, Gregory. Q. Thank you, sir. The President. I can see one yes. Troop Levels in Iraq Q. Would you like it? Now that the political volatility is off the issue because the election is over, I'd like to ask you about troop levels in Iraq in the next couple of months leading up to elections. The Pentagon already has a plan to extend tours of duty for some 6,500 U.S. troops. How many more will be needed to provide security in Iraq for elections, seeing as how the Iraqi troops that you're trying to train up are pretty slow coming on line? The President. Yes, first of all, the we are making good progress in training the Iraqi troops. There will be 125,000 of them trained by election time. Secondly, I have yet to I have not sat down with our Secretary of Defense talking about troop levels. I read some reports during the course of the campaign where some were speculating in the press corps about the number of troops needed to protect elections. That has not been brought to my attention yet. And so I would caution you that what you have either read about or reported was pure speculation thus far. These elections are important, and we will respond, John, to requests of our commanders on the ground. And I have yet to hear from our commanders on the ground that they need more troops. Terry. Religious Values Q. Mr. President, your victory at the polls came about in part because of strong support from people of faith, in particular, Christian evangelicals and Pentecostals and others. And Senator Kerry drew some of his strongest support from those who do not attend religious services. What do you make of this religious divide, it seems, becoming a political divide in this country? And what do you say to those who are concerned about the role of a faith they do not share in public life and in your policies? The President. Yes. My answer to people is, I will be your President regardless of your faith, and I don't expect you to agree with me necessarily on religion. As a matter of fact, no President should ever try to impose religion on our society. A great the great tradition of America is one where people can worship the way they want to worship. And if they choose not to worship, they're just as patriotic as your neighbor. That is an essential part of why we are a great nation. And I am glad people of faith voted in this election. I'm glad I appreciate all people who voted. I don't think you ought to read anything into the politics, the moment, about whether or not this Nation will become a divided nation over religion. I think the great thing that unites us is the fact you can worship freely if you choose, and if you you don't have to worship. And if you're a Jew or a Christian or a Muslim, you're equally American. That is such a wonderful aspect of our society. And it is strong today, and it will be strong tomorrow. Jim Jim Angle, FOX News . Social Security Reform Q. Thank you, sir. Mr. President, you talked once again this morning about private accounts in Social Security. During the campaign, you were accused of planning to privatize the entire system. It has been something you've discussed for some time. You've lost some of the key Democratic proponents, such as Pat Moynihan and Bob Kerrey, in the Congress. How will you proceed now with one of the key problems, which is the transition cost which some say is as much as 2 trillion how will you proceed on that? And how soon? The President. Well, first, I made Social Security an issue. For those of you who had to suffer through my speeches on a daily basis, for those of you who actually listened to my speeches on a daily basis, you might remember, every speech I talked about the duty of an American President to lead. And we have we must lead on Social Security because the system is not going to be whole for our children and our grandchildren. And so the answer to your second question is, we'll start on Social Security now. We'll start bringing together those in Congress who agree with my assessment that we need to work together. We've got a good blueprint, a good go by. You mentioned Senator Moynihan. I had asked him prior to his passing to chair a committee of notable Americans to come up with some ideas on Social Security, and they did so. And it's a good place for Members of Congress to start. The President must have the will to take on the issue not only in the campaign but now that I'm elected. And this will reforming Social Security will be a priority of my administration. Obviously, if it were easy, it would have already been done. And this is going to be hard work to bring people together and to make to convince the Congress to move forward, and there are going to be costs. But the cost of doing nothing is insignificant to is much greater than the cost of reforming the system today. That was the case I made on the campaign trail, and I was earnest about getting something done. And as a matter of fact, I talked to members of my staff today, as we're beginning to plan to the strategy to move agendas forward, about how to do this and do it effectively. Q. If I could, Mr. President The President. Yes no, no, you're violating the followup rule. It would hurt Gregory's feelings. King John King, Cable News Network . It's a new Q. Mr. President, thank you. Q. That's always one of my concerns. The President. Hurting Gregory's feelings? He is a sensitive guy, well centered, though. Laughter 2004 Election Night 1992 Election Q. I'm not going there. Mr. President, you were disappointed, even angry, 12 years ago when the voters denied your father a second term. I'm interested in your thoughts and the conversation with him yesterday as you were walking to the Oval Office, and also whether you feel more free to do any one thing in a second term that perhaps you were politically constrained from doing in a first. The President. At 3 30 in the morning on I guess it was the day after the election, he was sitting upstairs, and I finally said, "Go to bed." He was awaiting the outcome and was hopeful that we would go over and be able to talk to our supporters, and it just didn't happen that way. So I asked him the next morning when he got up, I said, "Come by the Oval Office and visit." And he came by, and we had a good talk. He was heading down to Houston. And it was there was some uncertainty about that morning as to when the election would actually end. And it wasn't clear at that point in time, so I never got to see him face to face to watch his, I guess, pride in his tired eyes as his son got a second term. I did talk to him, and he was relieved. I told him to get a nap. I was worried about him staying up too late. But so I haven't had a chance to really visit and embrace. And you're right, '92 was a disappointment. But he taught me a really good lesson, that life moves on. And it's very important for those of us in the political arena, win or lose, to recognize that life is bigger than just politics, and that's one of the really good lessons he taught me. Electoral Process President's Agenda Q. Do you feel more free, sir? The President. Oh, in terms of feeling free, well, I don't think you'll let me be too free. There's accountability and there are constraints on the Presidency, as there should be in any system. I feel it is necessary to move an agenda that I told the American people I would move. There's something refreshing about coming off an election, even more refreshing since we all got some sleep last night, but there's you go out and you make your case, and you tell the people, "This is what I intend to do." And after hundreds of speeches and three debates and interviews and the whole process, where you keep basically saying the same thing over and over again, that when you win, there is a feeling that the people have spoken and embraced your point of view. And that's what I intend to tell the Congress, that I made it clear what I intend to do as the President, now let's work to and the people made it clear what they wanted now let's work together. And it's one of the wonderful it's like earning capital. You asked, do I feel free. Let me put it to you this way I earned capital in the campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it. It is my style. That's what happened in the after the 2000 election, I earned some capital. I've earned capital in this election, and I'm going to spend it for what I told the people I'd spend it on, which is you've heard the agenda Social Security and tax reform, moving this economy forward, education, fighting and winning the war on terror. We have an obligation in this country to continue to work with nations to help alleve poverty and disease. We will continue to press forward on the HIV AIDS initiative, the Millennium Challenge Account. We will continue to do our duty to help feed the hungry. And I'm looking forward to it. I really am. It's been a fantastic experience campaigning the country. You've seen it from one perspective. I've seen it from another. I saw you standing there at the last, final rally in Texas, to my right over there. I was observing you observe, and you saw the energy. And there was just something uplifting about people showing up at 11 o'clock at night, expressing their support and their prayers and their friendship. It's a marvelous experience to campaign across the country. Mike Mike Allen, Washington Post . The Cabinet Q. Mr. President thank you, Mr. President. Do you plan to reshape your Cabinet for the second term, or will any changes come at the instigation of individuals? And as part of the same question, may I ask you what you've learned about Cabinet government, what works, what doesn't work? And do you mind also addressing the same question about the White House staff? Laughter The President. The post election euphoria did not last very long here at the press conference. Laughter Let me talk about the people that have worked with me. I had a Cabinet meeting today, and I thanked them for their service to the country and reminded them we've got a job to do and I expected them to do the job. I have made no decisions on my Cabinet and or White House staff. I am mindful that working in the White House is really is exhausting work. The people who you try to get to leak to you spend hours away from their families, and it is there is the word "burnout" is oftentimes used in the in Washington, and it's used for a reason, because people do burn out. And so obviously, in terms of those who are who want to stay on and who I want to stay on, I've got to make sure that it's right for their families and that they're comfortable, because when they come to work here in the White House, I expect them to work as hard as they possibly can on behalf of the American people. In the Cabinet, there will be some changes. I don't know who they will be. It's inevitable there will be changes. That happens in every administration. To a person, I am proud of the work they have done. And I fully understand we're about to head into the period of intense speculation as to who's going to stay and who's not going to stay, and I assured them that today I warned them of the speculative period. It's a great Washington sport to be talking about who's going to leave and who their replacements may be and handicapping, you know, my way of thinking. I'll just give you but let me just help you out with the speculation right now. I haven't thought about it. I'm going to start thinking about it. I'm going to Camp David this afternoon with Laura, and I'll begin the process of thinking about the Cabinet and the White House staff. And we'll let you know at the appropriate time when decisions have been made. And so, nice try, Mike. Yes, Ed Ed Chen, Los Angeles Times , and then Q. What you learned The President. Learned and not learned about the Cabinet? Q. What works, what doesn't. The President. Yes, well, first I've learned that I put together a really good Cabinet. I'm very proud of the people that have served this Government, and they, to a man and a woman, worked their hearts out for the American people. And I've learned that you've got to continue to surround yourself with good people. This is a job that requires crisp decisionmaking, and therefore, in order for me to make decisions, I've got to have people who bring their point of view into the Oval Office and are willing to say it. I always jest to people, the Oval Office is the kind of place where people stand outside they're getting ready to come in and tell me what for, and they walk in and get overwhelmed in the atmosphere, and they say, "Man, you're looking pretty." And therefore, you need people to walk in on those days when you're not looking so good and saying, "You're not looking so good, Mr. President." And I've got those are the kind of people that served our country. We've had vigorous debates, which you all, during the last 4 years, took great delight in reporting, differences of opinion. But that's what you want if you're the Commander in Chief and a decisionmaker. You want people to walk in and say, "I don't agree with this," or "I do agree with that, and here's what my recommendation is." But the President also has to learn to decide. You take you know, there's ample time for the debate to take place and then decide and make up your mind and lead. That's what the job's all about. And so I have learned how important it is to be to have a really fine group of people that think through issues and that are not intimidated by the process and who walk in and tell me what's on their mind. Ed, and then Stevenson Richard Stevenson, New York Times . Small Business Agenda Q. Good morning. Sir, does it bother you that there's a perception out there that your administration has been one that favors big business and the wealthy individuals? And what can you do to overcome that, sir? The President. Ed, 70 percent of the new jobs in America are created by small businesses. I understand that. And I have promoted during the course of the last 4 years one of the most aggressive pro entrepreneur, small business policies. Tax re lief you might remember I don't know if you know this or not, but 90 percent of the businesses are sole proprietorships or Subchapter S corporations. Laughter Q. We've heard it. The President. Tax relief helped them. This is an administration that fully understands that the job creators are the entrepreneurs. And so in a new term, we will make sure the tax relief continues to be robust for our small businesses. We'll push legal reform and regulatory reform because I understand the engine of growth is through the small business sector. Stevenson. Model for Bipartisanship Q. Sir, given your commitment to reaching out across party lines and to all Americans, I wonder if you could expand on your definition of bipartisanship and whether it means simply picking off a few Democrats on a case by case basis to pass the bills you want to pass or whether you would commit to working regularly with the Democratic leadership on solutions that can win broad support across party lines? The President. Do you remember the No Child Left Behind Act? I think that's the model I'd look at if I were you. It is a I laid out an agenda for reforming our public schools. I worked with both Republicans and Democrats to get that bill passed. In a new term, we'll continue to make sure we do not weaken the accountability standards that are making a huge difference in people's lives, in these kids' lives. But that's the model I'd look at, if I were you. And we'll there's a certain practicality to life here in Washington. And that is, when you get a bill moving, it is important to get the votes, and if politics starts to get in the way of getting good legislation through, you know, that's just part of life here. But I'm also focused on results. I think of the Medicare bill. You might remember that old, stale debate. We finally got a bill moving. I was hoping that we'd get strong bipartisan support. Unfortunately, it was an election year, but we got the votes necessary to get the bill passed. And so we will I will my goal is to work on the ideal and to reach out and to continue to work and find common ground on issues. On the other hand, I've been wisened to the ways of Washington. I watched what can happen during certain parts of the cycle, where politics gets in the way of good policy. And at that point in time, I'll continue to you know, I'll try to get this done. I'll try to get our bills passed in a way, because results really do matter, as far as I'm concerned. I really didn't come here to hold the office just to say, "Gosh, it was fun to serve." I came here to get some things done, and we are doing it. Yes, Big Stretch Bill Sammon, Washington Times . Yasser Arafat Q. Thank you, Mr. President. I know you haven't had a chance to learn this, but it appears that Yasser Arafat has passed away. The President. Really? Q. And I was just wondering if I could get your initial reaction? And also your thoughts on, perhaps, working with a new generation of Palestinian leadership? The President. I appreciate that. My first reaction is, God bless his soul. And my second reaction is, is that we will continue to work for a free Palestinian state that's at peace with Israel. Yes. Legislative Agenda Q. Mr. President, as you look at your second term domestic priorities, I wonder if you could talk a little bit about how you see the sequence of action on issues beyond Social Security tax reform, education. And if you could expand a little bit for us on the principles that you want to underpin your tax reform proposal do you want it to be revenue neutral? What kinds of things do you want to accomplish through that process? The President. I appreciate that. I was anticipating this question, that, what is the first thing you're going to do? When it comes it legislation, it just doesn't work that way, particularly when you've laid out a comprehensive agenda. And part of that comprehensive agenda is tax simplification. The first of all, a principle would be revenue neutral. If I'm going to if there was a need to raise taxes, I'd say, "Let's have a tax bill that raises taxes," as opposed to, "Let's simplify the Tax Code and sneak a tax increase on the people." It's just not my style. I don't believe we need to raise taxes. I've said that to the American people, and so the simplification would be the goal. Now, secondly, that obviously, that it rewards risk and doesn't it doesn't have unnecessary penalties in it. But the main thing is that it would be viewed as fair, that it would be a fair system, that it wouldn't be complicated, that there's a kind of that loopholes wouldn't be there for special interests, that the code itself be viewed and deemed as a very fair way to encourage people to invest and save and achieve certain fiscal objectives in our country as well. One of the interesting debates will be, of course, in the course of simplification, will there be incentives in the code charitable giving, of course, and mortgage deductions are very important. As Governor of Texas, when I sometime I think I was asked about simplification, I always noted how important it was for certain incentives to be built into the Tax Code, and that will be an interesting part of the debate. Certain issues come quicker than others in the course of a legislative session, and that depends upon whether or not those issues have been debated. I think of, for example, of the legal issue the legal reform issues. They have been medical liability reform had been debated and got thwarted a couple of times in one body in particular on Capitol Hill. And so the groundwork has been laid for some legislation that I've been talking about. On an issue like tax reform it's going to tax simplification it's going to take a lot of legwork to get something ready for a legislative package. I fully understand that. And Social Security reform will require some additional legwork, although the Moynihan Commission has laid the groundwork for what I think is a very good place to start the debate. The education issue is one that could move pretty quickly because there has been a lot of discussion about education. It's an issue that the Members are used to debating and discussing. And so I think all issues are important. And the timing of issues as they reach it through committee and floor really depend upon whether or not some work has already been on those issues. A couple more questions. Bob Bob Deans, Cox Newspapers . Fallujah Freedom in Iraq Q. Mr. President, American forces are gearing up for what appears to be a major offensive in Fallujah over the next several days. I'm wondering if you could tell us what the objective is, what the stakes are there for the United States, for the Iraqi people, and the Iraqi elections coming up in January? The President. In order for Iraq to be a free country, those who are trying to stop the elections and stop a free society from emerging must be defeated. And so Prime Minister Allawi and his Government, which fully understands that, are working with our generals on the ground to do just that. We will work closely with the Government. It's their Government. It's their country. We're there at their invitation. And but I think there's a recognition that some of these people have to must be defeated, and so that's what they're thinking about. That's what you're that's why you're hearing discussions about potential action in Fallujah. Heidi Heidi Pryzbyla, Bloomberg News . Federal Deficit Q. Thank you, sir. Many within your own party are unhappy over the deficit, and they say keeping down discretional spending alone won't help you reach your goal of halving the deficit in 5 years. What else do you plan to do to cut costs? The President. Well, I would suggest they look at our budget that we've submitted to Congress, which does, in fact, get the deficit down cut in half in 5 years and is a specific, line by line budget that we are required to submit and have done so. The key to making sure that the deficit is reduced is for there to be, on the one hand, spending discipline, and I as you noticed in my opening remarks, I talked about these appropriations bills that are beginning to move. And I thought I was pretty clear about the need for those bills to be fiscally responsible, and I meant it. And I look forward to talking to the leadership about making sure that the budget agreements we had are still the budget agreements, that just because we had an election, that they shouldn't feel comfortable changing our agreement. And I think they understand that. Secondly, the other way to make sure that the deficit is decreases is to grow the economy. As the economy grows, there will be more revenues coming into the Treasury. That's what you have seen recently. If you notice, there's been some write downs of the budget deficit. In other words, the deficit is less than we thought because the revenues is exceeding projections. And the reason why the revenues is the revenues are exceeding projections "Sometimes I mangle the English language. I get that" laughter . Q. Inside joke. The President. Yes, very inside. Laughter The revenues are exceeding projections, and as a result, the projected deficit is less. But my point there is, is that with good economic policy that encourages economic growth, the revenue streams begin to increase. And as the revenue streams increase, coupled with fiscal discipline, you'll see the deficit shrinking. And we're focused on that. I do believe there ought to be budgetary reform in Washington, on the Hill, Capitol Hill. I think it's very important. I would like to see the President have a line item veto again, one that passed constitutional muster. I think it would help the executive branch work with the legislative branch to make sure that we're able to maintain budget discipline. I've talked to a lot of Members of Congress who are wondering whether or not we'll have the will to confront entitlements, to make sure that there is entitlement reform that helps us maintain fiscal discipline. And the answer is yes. That's why I took on the Social Security issue. I believe we have a duty to do so. I want to make sure that the Medicare reforms that we've put in place remain robust, to help us make sure Medicare is available for generations to come. And so there is a I've got quite an active agenda to help work with Congress to bring not only fiscal discipline, but to make sure that our progrowth policies are still in place. Herman Ken Herman, Austin American Statesman . I'm probably going to regret this. Laughter Q. I don't know if you had a chance to check, but I can report you did eke out a victory in Texas the other day. The President. Thank you, sir. Bipartisanship Q. Congratulations. I'm interested in getting back to Stevenson's question about unity. Clearly, you believe you have reached out and will continue to reach out. Do you believe the Democrats have made a sincere and sufficient effort to meet you somewhere halfway, and do you think now there's more reason for them to do that in light of the election results? The President. I think that Democrats agree that we have an obligation to serve our country. I believe there will be good will, now that this election is over, to work together. I found that to be the case when I first arrived here in Washington, and working with the Democrats and fellow Republicans, we got a lot done. And it is with that spirit that I go into this coming session, and I will meet with both Republican and Democrat leaders, and I am they'll see I'm genuine about working toward some of these important issues. It's going to be it's not easy. These I readily concede I've laid out some very difficult issues for people to deal with. Reforming the Social Security system for generations to come is a difficult issue otherwise, it would have already been done. But it is necessary to confront it. And I would hope to be able to work with Democrats to get this done. I'm not sure we can get it done without Democrat participation, because it is a big issue, and I will explain to them and I will show them Senator Moynihan's thinking as a way to begin the process. And I will remind everybody here that we have a duty to leave behind a better America and when we see a problem, to deal with it. And I think the I think Democrats agree with that. And so I'm optimistic. You covered me when I was the Governor of Texas. I told you that I was going to do that as a Governor. There was probably skepticism in your beady eyes there. Laughter But you might remember, we did we were able to accomplish a lot by and Washington is different from Austin, no question about it. Washington one of the disappointments of being here in Washington is how bitter this town can become and how divisive. I'm not blaming one party or the other. It's just the reality of Washington, DC, sometimes exacerbated by you because it's great sport. It's really it's entertaining for some. It also makes it difficult to govern at times. But nevertheless, my commitment is there. I fully am now more seasoned to Washington. I've cut my political eyeteeth, at least the ones I've recently grown here in Washington. And so I'm aware of what can happen in this town. But nevertheless, having said that, I am fully prepared to work with both Republican and Democrat leadership to advance an agenda that I think makes a big difference for the country. Listen, thank you all. I look forward to working with you. I've got a question for you. How many of you are going to be here for a second term? Please raise your hand. Laughter Good. Gosh, we're going to have a lot of fun, then. Thank you all. November 03, 2004 Thank you all. Thank you all for coming. We had a long night and a great night. The voters turned out in record numbers and delivered an historic victory. Earlier today, Senator Kerry called with his congratulations. We had a really good phone call. He was very gracious. Senator Kerry waged a spirited campaign, and he and his supporters can be proud of their efforts. Laura and I wish Senator Kerry and Teresa and their whole family all our best wishes. America has spoken, and I'm humbled by the trust and the confidence of my fellow citizens. With that trust comes a duty to serve all Americans, and I will do my best to fulfill that duty every day as your President. There are many people to thank, and my family comes first. Laura is the love of my life. Applause I'm glad you love her too. Laughter I want to thank our daughters, who joined their dad for his last campaign. I appreciate the hard work of my sister and my brothers. I especially want to thank my parents for their loving support. I'm grateful to the Vice President and Lynne and their daughters, who have worked so hard and been such a vital part of our team. The Vice President serves America with wisdom and honor, and I'm proud to serve beside him. I want to thank my superb campaign team. I want to thank you all for your hard work. I was impressed every day by how hard and how skillful our team was. I want to thank Marc, Chairman Marc Racicot, and the campaign manager, Ken Mehlman, and the architect, Karl Rove. I want to thank Ed Gillespie for leading our party so well. I want to thank the thousands of our supporters across our country. I want to thank you for your hugs on the ropelines. I want to thank you for your prayers on the ropelines. I want to thank you for your kind words on the ropelines. I want to thank you for everything you did to make the calls and to put up the signs, to talk to your neighbors, and to get out the vote. And because you did the incredible work, we are celebrating today. There's an old saying, "Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks." In 4 historic years, America has been given great tasks and faced them with strength and courage. Our people have restored the vigor of this economy and shown resolve and patience in a new kind of war. Our military has brought justice to the enemy and honor to America. Our Nation has defended itself and served the freedom of all mankind. I'm proud to lead such an amazing country, and I'm proud to lead it forward. Because we have done the hard work, we are entering a season of hope. We'll continue our economic progress. We'll reform our outdated Tax Code. We'll strengthen the Social Security for the next generation. We'll make public schools all they can be. And we will uphold our deepest values of family and faith. We will help the emerging democracies of Iraq and Afghanistan so they can grow in strength and defend their freedom. And then our service men and women will come home with the honor they have earned. With good allies at our side, we will fight this war on terror with every resource of our national power so our children can live in freedom and in peace. Reaching these goals will require the broad support of Americans. So today I want to speak to every person who voted for my opponent To make this Nation stronger and better, I will need your support and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust. A new term is a new opportunity to reach out to the whole Nation. We have one country, one Constitution, and one future that binds us. And when we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America. Let me close with a word to the people of the State of Texas. We have known each other the longest, and you started me on this journey. On the open plains of Texas, I first learned the character of our country, sturdy and honest and as hopeful as the break of day. I will always be grateful to the good people of my State. And whatever the road that lies ahead, that road will take me home. The campaign has ended, and the United States of America goes forward with confidence and faith. I see a great day coming for our country, and I am eager for the work ahead. God bless you, and may God bless America. November 01, 2004 The President. Thank you all. Thank you all for coming. Thank you all for coming. I want to thank all the cheese heads who are here. It's close to voting time, and I'm here to ask for your vote and your help. Get your friends and neighbors to go to the polls tomorrow. Get our fellow Republicans to go to the polls, wise independents, and discerning Democrats. And when you get them headed to the polls, remind them that if they want a safer America, a stronger America, and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office. Perhaps the most important reason to put me back in is so that Laura will be First Lady for 4 more years. I am sorry that she's not here today. Audience members. Aw w w! The President. That's generally the reaction. Laughter She's campaigning. You've come to know her like I know her. She's warm. She's compassionate. She is a strong First Lady. I'm proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. I readily concede that he does not have the waviest hair in the race. Laughter You'll be pleased I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. Laughter I picked him because of his experience, his judgment, and he's getting the job done for the American people. I'm proud of my friend and your former Governor, Tommy Thompson. He's done a great job. He's done a fantastic job for the people. You trained him well. Laughter And I want to thank Sue Ann Thompson for her sacrifice and for let ting allowing Tommy to work so hard on behalf of the people of the United States. I want to thank Congressman Paul Ryan and Janna Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner and Cheryl and Congressman Mark Green for such a great job in the United States Congress. I want to thank the statehouse people who are here. I want to thank the local government people who are here. Old Scott W. is with us. At least that's what I call him. The high sheriff is with us. Sheriff Clarke, thanks for coming. I've been most impressed during my travels throughout Wisconsin to have met and talked with a man who will make a great United States Senator, Tim Michels. I wish Jerry Boyle all the best in his run for the Fourth Congressional District. I want to thank Morgan Hamm for coming today. I appreciate him being here. He's been a great Olympic champ from the State of Wisconsin. I want to thank Keith Tozer and Tom Crean, great basketball coaches here in Milwaukee. I want to thank Brooks and Dunn for being here. I'm so honored they traveled. I can't thank both of the guys enough and their band. I also want to thank our longtime friends the Oak Ridge Boys for being here. Thank you all. I want to thank all the people who've worked so hard in this State over the last year to get ready for tomorrow. I understand people have been working hours, day after day. I want to thank you for making the phone calls and putting up the signs and preparing these fantastic bus trips we have taken all across your State. I want to thank you for what you have done. I want to thank you for what you're going to do. You're going to turn out a big vote, and we're going to carry Wisconsin. Tomorrow the people of this good State go to the polls and vote, and I'm excited about the election day. I'm optimistic about this country and our future. I see a brighter day, a more hopeful America for every citizen. One of my favorite sayings is by a fellow Texan named Tom Lea. Here is what he said. He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." During this campaign, my opponent spent much of the time talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that's coming. I see a great day coming for America, a day where prosperity reaches every corner of our country, a day where every child is able to read and write and add and subtract, a day in which this world of ours becomes more peaceful for our children and our grandchildren. Tomorrow the people of Wisconsin and America have a chance to bring that better day by voting for strong, competent, and principled leadership. I'm here asking for your vote. The American President must lead with clarity and purpose. The role of the President is not to follow the path of the latest poll. The role of a President is to lead based on principle and conviction and conscience. During these 4 years, I've learned that whatever your strengths are, you are going to need them whatever your shortcomings are, the people will notice them. Laughter Sometimes I'm a little too blunt. I get that from my mother. Laughter Sometimes I mangle the English language. I get that from my father. Laughter But at all times, whether you agree with me or not, you know where I stand, what I believe, and where I'm going to lead this country. This election comes down to five clear choices for our families. The first clear choice concerns your family's budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for America's families. I kept my word. We doubled the child credit to help moms and dads. We reduced the marriage penalty. We believe the Tax Code ought to encourage, not penalize, marriage. We reduced taxes on everybody who pays taxes. And the result of our good policies is clear to all. Our economy is growing at rates as fast as any in nearly 20 years. We've added 1.9 million jobs in the last 13 months. The farmers of Wisconsin the farm income in Wisconsin is up. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in America. The small business sector is alive and well. The homeownership rate is at an alltime high, and more minority families own a home today than ever before in our Nation's history. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. Let me put that in perspective for you That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. The unemployment rate in the great State of Wisconsin is 5 percent. This economy of ours is strong, and it is getting stronger. And I have a message for the people of Wisconsin To keep your economy growing, we will keep your taxes low. We will make sure the small business sector remains vibrant, and we will make sure Wisconsin farmers continue to make a good living. My opponent has got an economic plan as well. Audience member. Tax everything! Laughter The President. Let me remind you of his record. He voted 98 times to increase taxes. That's in 20 years in the Senate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That's five times a year. You might say it's a predictable pattern laughter a leading indicator. Laughter In this campaign, the Senator has pledged to raise taxes on the top two brackets. When you hear a politician say he's going to raise taxes, that's generally a promise they keep. Laughter He's proposing 2.2 trillion in new Federal spending. That's trillion with a "T." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That is a lot. That's a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. And yet, by raising the top two brackets, he falls short of the 2.2 trillion. As a matter of fact, there is a significant tax gap. Given his record, guess who he's going to call upon to fill the tax gap? The middle class of our country. We're not going to let him tax you we're going to carry Wisconsin tomorrow and win a victory on Tuesday. The second clear choice in this election involves the quality of life for our Nation's families. I believe every child can learn, and I expect every school to teach. When I ran for President, I promised to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations by reforming our schools. I kept my word. We passed education reforms to bring high standards to our classrooms. Math and reading scores are on the rise. We're closing the achievement gap by helping minority students. My vision for a new term is to build on these reforms and extend them to our high schools so that no child is left behind in America. We will continue to improve life for our families by making health care more affordable and available. We'll expand health savings accounts. We'll allow small businesses to join together and buy insurance at the same discounts that big companies are able to do. We will help our families who need help. But we will also do something about the frivolous lawsuits that are running up the cost of your health care and running good doctors out of practice. We have a difference of opinion on this big issue. My opponent has voted against medical liability reform not 1 time, not 2 times, but 10 times as a Member of the United States Senate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I'm standing with Wisconsin's docs. I'm standing with Wisconsin's patients. I am standing with Wisconsin's families. I am for real medical liability re form now. In all we do to improve health care, we will make sure the decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. My opponent has got a different approach. You might remember in one of the debates when they asked him about his health care plan, he looked square in the camera and said, "The Government doesn't have anything to do with it." Laughter I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it. Eighty percent of the people will end up on a Government plan under his vision. Federalizing health care for America's families is the wrong prescription. The third clear choice in this election involves your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage. I worked with Tommy Thompson. We got the job done, and I kept my word. Seniors are getting discounts on medicine with drug discount cards. And beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. My opponent has a record. He voted against the Medicare bill that included prescription drug coverage for our seniors. He's also trying to scare seniors about their Social Security. But he forgets to mention that he has voted eight times to raise taxes on Social Security benefits. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He can run from his record, but he cannot hide. I've kept the promise of Social Security for our seniors, and I will always keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors. And the Social Security trust is in pretty good shape for baby boomers like me and some others out there I see. Laughter But we need to worry about our children and grandchildren when it comes to Social Security. The job of the President is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future generations and future Presidents. I believe younger workers ought to be allowed to take some of their payroll taxes and set it aside in a personal savings account, an account they call their own. The fourth clear choice in this election is on the values that are crucial to keeping our families strong. I stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. I stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and every being counts. I proudly signed the ban on partial birth abortion. I stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. On these issues my opponent and I are miles apart. He voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He voted against the Defense of Marriage Act, even though most Democrats supported it. There is a mainstream in American politics, and John Kerry sits on the far left bank. He can run from his liberal philosophy, but he cannot hide. The final choice in this election is the most important one of all because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If this country shows uncertainty or weakness during these troubling times, this world of ours will drift toward tragedy. This is not going to happen on my watch. Our strategy to protect America is clear. We strengthened protections for the homeland. We are reforming and strengthening our intelligence capabilities. We are transforming the All Volunteer Army. There will be no draft. We are relentless. We are determined. We are staying on the offensive. We are fighting the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. We are succeeding. Afghanistan is free and an ally in the war on terror. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are making arrests and capturing terrorist leaders. Libya is dismantling its weapons programs. The army of a free Iraq is beginning to defend its freedom. Al Qaida no longer controls Afghanistan. We have shut down its camps there. We are systematically destroying the Al Qaida network. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. I am proud to be the Commander in Chief of such a great United States military. And we have a great military because of the character of the men and women who wear our Nation's uniform. I want to thank the military families who are here for your sacrifice and your courage. I want to thank the veterans who are here for having set such a great example for those who wear the uniform. And I want to assure our troops and our families that their loved ones will have all they need to complete their missions. That's why I went to the United States Congress and asked for 87 billion of supplemental funding. This was necessary. This was important funding to support our troops. My opponent said that it would be irresponsible to vote against funding for our troops until his poll numbers began to go down, and then he voted against funding for our troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And then he entered the flip flop hall of fame. And as he entered, he said this famous quote "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, before I voted against it." He has has a lot of explanations about that vote since then, but I think the most revealing is this. He said, "The whole matter was a complicated matter." My fellow Americans, there is nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. The problems with Senator Kerry's record on national security are deeper than election year reversals. For 20 years, on the largest national security issues of our time, he has been consistently wrong. During the cold war, Senator Kerry voted against critical weapons systems and opposed President Ronald Reagan's policy of peace through strength. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Ronald Reagan was right. When former President Bush assembled an international coalition to drive Saddam Hussein from Kuwait, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force to liberate Kuwait. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. Only a year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, the Senator proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence, so extreme that even his colleague from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy, opposed them. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and we must be fair Senator Kennedy was right. Laughter We have a clear difference of opinion on how to best defend America's families. My opponent has said that America must submit to a "global test" before we commit force. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I'm not making that up. Laughter He was standing right about there when he said it. Laughter As far as I can tell, that means that America must get permission from foreign capitals. I will work on alliances. I will continue to strengthen our friendships around the world. But I will never, never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. We have a difference of opinion about the world in which we live. The Senator said that September the 11th did not change him much at all. September the 11th changed me. It changed my outlook about how what we needed to do to defend this country. September the 14th, 2001, I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers. I'll never forget the sights and sounds of that day. I will never forget the workers in the hardhats yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I remember the man who grabbed me by the arm, and he looked me in the eye, and he said, "Do not let me down." From that day forward, I've gotten up every morning thinking about how to better protect America. I will never relent in defending this country, whatever it takes. Over the next 4 years, we'll use every asset at our disposal to protect you. Perhaps the most powerful asset we have is freedom. I believe in the power of liberty to transform societies. I know that free nations do not breed resentments and export terror. Free nations become allies in the war on terror. Free nations will help us keep the peace we want for our children and our grandchildren. I want you all to think, particularly the young here, to think about what has taken place in a brief period of time. In Afghanistan, young girls couldn't go to school, and their mothers were taken to the public squares and whipped and sometimes shot in a sports stadium, because of the ideology of hate of the Taliban. But because we acted to defend ourselves, because we acted to uphold a doctrine, which said, "If you harbor a terrorists, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist," millions of people voted in a Presidential election in Afghanistan. And the first voter was a 19 year old woman. Freedom is powerful, and freedom can be threatening to the terrorists. And that's why Iraq is so dangerous. But we're headed toward free elections there. Think how far that society has come from the days of torture chambers and mass graves. See, I believe everybody deserves and wants to be free. I believe deep in everybody's soul is the desire to live in freedom. I believe moms and dads across this world want to raise their children in a free society. I believe this because I understand freedom is not America's gift to the world I believe this because I know that freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. My fellow citizens, these are historic times, and a lot is at stake in this election. The future safety and prosperity of America are on the ballot. Ultimately, this election comes down to, who do you trust? Who do you trust to defend the country? Audience members. You! The President. Who do you trust to extend prosperity? If you believe that taxes should stay low so families can pay their bills and small businesses can create new jobs, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe in high standards for our public schools, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe that patients and doctors should be in charge of health care, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe this Nation must honor the commitments of Medicare and strengthen Social Security for generations to come, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe this Nation should honor marriage and family and make a place for the weak and the vulnerable, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe America should fight the war on terror with all our might and lead with unwavering confidence in our ideals, I ask you to come stand with me. If you are a Democrat who believes your party has turned too far to the left this year, I ask you to come stand with me. If you are a minority citizen and you believe in free enterprise and good schools and the enduring values of family and faith, and if you're tired of your vote being taken for granted, I ask you to come stand with me. And if you are a voter who believes that the President of the United States should say what he means and do what he says and keep his word, I ask you to come stand with me. Four years ago, when I traveled your great State asking for the vote, I made this pledge, that if elected, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. Thanks for coming. God bless. Thank you all. November 01, 2004 The President. Thank you all. Thank you all for coming. We are honored to be in Sioux land. Thanks for coming. It's good to be in a part of the world where the cowboy hats outnumber the ties. Senator Grassley is right. Laura and I feel right at home with folks like you all, and thanks for coming out to lift our spirits. We're coming down the stretch. I'm here to ask for your vote, I'm here to ask for your help. I'd like you to get your friends and neighbors to go to the polls tomorrow. Turn out our fellow Republicans, wise independents, and discerning Democrats. And when you get them headed to the polls, remind them, if they want a safer America and a stronger America and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office. Perhaps the most important reason of all that I should be reelected is so that Laura is the First Lady for 4 more years. And there's nothing better than coming down the stretch in a Presidential campaign with two women I love, our daughters Barbara and Jenna. I'm proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. I don't want to offend anybody here who is follically challenged, but I readily concede that Vice President Cheney does not have the waviest hair in the race. Laughter But I'm confident that you'll appreciate the fact I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. I picked him because of his judgment. I picked him because of his experience. I'm proud to call Chuck Grassley friend. I know you're proud to call him United States Senator. He's a really fine Senator, and we have done a lot of work together. I it's important that he remain the chairman of the Finance Committee, and one way to make sure he remains the chairman of the Finance Committee is for the people of South Dakota to elect John Thune to the United States Senate. I know John Thune, and there's no doubt in my mind that he will make a great United States Senator for the people of South Dakota. I want to thank Congressman Steve King from the great State of Iowa for being here. I want to thank Sioux City Mayor Dave Ferris for being here today. I know the mayor didn't ask me for any advice, but I'm going to give him some. Fill the potholes. Laughter Mr. Mayor, thank you for your service. Mr. Mayor, I appreciate it. I want to thank the speaker of the house, Christopher Rants. I want to thank all the State and local officials. I want to thank my friend Ricky Skaggs for being here, and his band. But most of all, I want to thank you all. Thanks for coming. Thanks for what you have done and thanks for what you're going to do as we come down the stretch, putting up the signs and making the phone calls and turning out the votes. No doubt in my mind, we'll carry Iowa and win a great victory in November. I am excited about this election, and I am optimistic about the future of our country. I see a brighter day and a more hopeful America. One of my favorite sayings comes from a fellow Texan named Tom Lea. He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." During the course of this campaign, my opponent has spent much of the time talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that's coming. I see a great day coming for America. I see a day where prosperity reaches every corner of our country. I see a day where every child is able to read and write and add and subtract. I see a day in which this world becomes more peaceful, where we achieve the peace we want for our children and our grandchildren. And tomorrow, the people of America have a chance to bring that better day by voting for strong, confident, optimistic leadership by voting for Bush Cheney. The American President must lead with clarity and purpose. The role of the President is not to follow the path of the latest polls. The role of the President is to lead based upon principle, conviction, and conscience. During the last 4 years, I've learned that whatever your strengths are, you are going to need them, and whatever your shortcomings are, the people are going to notice them. Laughter Sometimes I'm a little too blunt. I get that from my mother. Laughter Sometimes I mangle the English language. I get that from my father. Laughter But all the time, no matter whether you agree with me or not, you know where I stand, what I believe, and where I'm going to lead this country. This election comes down to five clear choices for America's families. The first clear choice concerns your family budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for American families, and I have kept my word. We doubled the child credit to help moms and dads all across America. We reduced the marriage penalty. We believe the Tax Code ought to encourage, not penalize marriage. We reduced taxes on everybody who pays taxes. And as a result of these good policies, our economy is growing as fast at rates as any as fast in nearly 20 years. Real after tax income that's money in your pocket is up 10 percent since I have been the President. Our farmers and ranchers are making a good living all across America. Homeownership rate is at an alltime high. More minority owns more minority families own a house than ever before in our Nation's history. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in America. Our small businesses all across the Nation are doing well. We've added 1.9 million new jobs in the last 13 months. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. In the great State of Iowa, the unemployment rate is 4.7 percent. This economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. I've a message for the farmers and ranchers of Iowa and South Dakota and Nebraska. We will continue to open up foreign markets for your products. We'll promote renewables like ethanol and biodiesel. We will keep our farm economy strong, and you can count on me to keep my word. My opponent has an economic plan. I want you to remember he has voted to increase taxes 98 times in 20 years as a United States Senator. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That is five times a year. You might say that is a predictable pattern, a leading indicator. In this campaign the Senator has pledged to raise taxes on the top two brackets. But that's not enough to pay for his priorities. See, he's promised 2.2 trillion in new Federal spending. That is trillion with a "T." That's a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. But raising those top two brackets, that penalizes your small business owner, and at the same time, it doesn't even come close to paying for his promises. There's a tax gap. That's a gap between what he has promised and what he can deliver. And you know who usually fills that tax gap? Middle class families do. We're not going to let him tax you we're going to win on Tuesday. The second clear choice in this election involves the quality of life for our Nation's families. I believe every child can learn and that every school must teach. I went to Washington to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations and to reform our public schools. I have kept my word. We passed education reforms to bring high standards to the classrooms. Math and reading scores are on the rise. We're closing the achievement gap by helping minority students all across America. In a new term, we will build on these reforms, extend them to our high schools so that no child is left behind in America. We'll continue to improve life for our families by making health care more affordable and available. We will expand health savings accounts. We will allow small businesses to join together so they can buy insurance at the same discounts available to big companies. We will help families in need, and we will help our patients and doctors all across America by doing something about these junk lawsuits that are running up the cost of medicine. I have met too many ob gyns across our country that are having to stop practicing medicine because these lawsuits are running up their premiums. And I have met too many expectant moms who are desperately concerned about their health and the health of their little one because they have to drive miles to find a doctor. We have a national problem when it comes to these frivolous lawsuits. My opponent voted 10 times against medical liability reform, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I'm standing with the doctors of America. I'm standing with the patients of America. I am for real medical liability reform. In all we do to improve health care, we will make sure that the medical decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. My opponent has got his ideas on health care. You might remember one of the debates when they asked him about his health care plan. He looked right in the camera, and he said, "The Government doesn't have anything to do with it." I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it. Eighty percent of the people end up on a Government plan under his vision. Federalizing health care is the wrong prescription for American families. The third clear choice in this campaign involves your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to our seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage. I have kept my word. I remember campaigning in 2002 in Iowa with Senator Grassley. I remember all those newspaper editorials saying that Iowa hospitals, rural hospitals were being treated unfairly under Medicare. So I worked with the Senator. Now, Iowa's hospitals are being treated fairly under Medicare because of the work we have done. So are the rural hospitals in Nebraska and South Dakota. And beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. My opponent has a record. He voted against the Medicare bill that included prescription drug coverage. He also tries to scare seniors about Social Security. But he forgets to tell you that he's the one who voted eight times to tax Social Security benefits. He can run from his record, but he cannot hide. I have kept the promise for Social Security, and I will always keep the promise for Social Security for our seniors. And baby boomers like me and some other ones out there that I'm looking at are in pretty good shape when it comes to the Social Security trust. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren when it comes to Social Security. We need to worry about whether or not the Social Security system will be there when they need it. And that is why I think younger workers ought to be allowed to take some of their own payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account, an account that earns a better rate of return, an account they call their own. The fourth clear choice in this election is on the values that are crucial to keeping our families strong. I stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. I stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and every being counts. And I proudly signed the ban on partial birth abortion. I stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. On these issues, my opponent and I are miles apart. He was part of an extreme minority that voted against the Defense of Marriage Act, and he voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. There is a mainstream in American politics, and Senator John Kerry sits on the far left bank. He ran run from his liberal record, but he cannot hide. The final choice in this election is the most important of all because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty or weakness in these troubled times, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch. Our strategy is clear. We have strengthened the protections for our homeland. We are reforming and strengthening our intelligence capabilities. We are transforming our All Volunteer Army. There will be no draft. We are relentless. We are steadfast. We are determined to protect the American people. We're staying on the offensive. We're fighting the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. We are succeeding. Afghanistan is an ally in the war on terror. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are making arrests and capturing terrorist leaders. Libya is dismantling its weapons programs. The army of a free Iraq is defending freedom. Al Qaida no longer controls Afghanistan. We have shut down its camps. We are systematically destroying the Al Qaida network. More than three quarters of Al Qaida's key members and associates have been brought to justice, and the rest of them know that we're on their trail. One reason we're succeeding is because we have a great United States military. I want to thank those who are here who wear our Nation's uniform. I want to thank the military families who are with us today, and I want to thank all the veterans here who have set such a great example for our military. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. I have made a commitment to our military and to the families of our military that our troops will have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That is why in September of 2003, I proposed 87 billion in funding for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. It was vital funding. Most of the people in Washington supported that funding. My opponent, on national TV, initially said, "It would be irresponsible to vote against the funding for the troops." And then his poll numbers went down, and he voted against the funding for our troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And then he entered the flip flop hall of fame. And he entered the flip flop hall of fame by saying this "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, right before I voted against it." Laughter I haven't spent much time in the coffee shops around here, but I feel pretty comfortable in predicting that not many people talk like that in Sioux land. He's given several explanations of that vote since then. But perhaps the most revealing of all is when he said, "The whole thing is just a complicated matter." Laughter My fellow Americans, there is nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. The problem with Senator Kerry's record on national security are deeper than election year reversals. For 20 years, on the largest national security issues of our time, he has been consistently wrong. During the cold war, Senator Kerry voted against critical weapons systems and opposed President Ronald Reagan's policy of peace through strength. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Ronald Reagan was right. When former President Bush assembled an international coalition to drive Saddam Hussein from Kuwait, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force to liberate Kuwait. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. Only a year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, the Senator proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence, cuts so extreme that even his fellow Massachusetts Senator, Ted Kennedy, would not support them. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and we have got to be fair about it Senator Kennedy was right. We have a difference of opinion as to how to protect America. My opponent says that America must submit to what he has called a "global test" before we take action to defend ourselves. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I'm not making that up. Laughter I heard it during one of the debates. As far as I can tell, my opponent's "global test" means America must get permission to defend our country. I'll work with allies and I'll work with our friends, but I will never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries. Senator Kerry said recently that September the 11th did not change him much at all. Well, it changed the way I look at the world. I'll never forget going to the ruins of the Twin Towers on September the 14th, 2001. There were workers in hardhats there yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I remember the fellow coming out of the rubble, and he grabbed me by the arm, and he looked me in the eye, and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I wake up every morning trying to figure out how to better protect the American people. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes. Over the next 4 years, we'll use every asset at our disposal to protect the American people. And one of the most one of the strongest assets we have is freedom. Free nations do not breed resentments and export terror. Free nations become allies in the war on terror. By spreading freedom, it helps us to achieve the peace we all want. I believe in the power of liberty to transform society. Just think about what's happened in Afghanistan in just 3 short years. That country used to be the home base of Al Qaida and its training camps. Little girls were not allowed to go to school because of the barbaric vision of the Taliban. And if their mothers did not toe their line, their ideological line, they were taken into the public squares and whipped and sometimes shot in a sports stadium. Because we acted to protect our country, because we upheld the doctrine that I laid out that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist," millions of people went to the polls to vote for a President of Afghanistan. And the first voter was a 19 year old woman. It's an amazing story about the power of liberty to transform a society. Iraq is still very dangerous, and the reason it is, is because democracy is emerging, is because the society is becoming free and freedom scares these terrorists. They can't stand the thought of a free society in their midst. But think how far Iraq has come from the days of torture chambers and mass graves and the brutal reign of a barbaric tyrant. I believe every soul in the world yearns to be free. I believe mothers and dads want to raise their children in a free world. I believe all these things not because freedom is America's gift to the world I believe it because freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. My fellow citizens, these are historic times, and a lot is at stake in this election. The future safety and prosperity of America are on the ballot. But ultimately, this election comes down to who can you trust who can you trust to protect your family? Who can you trust to put plans in place to make sure prosperity spreads its wings? If you believe that taxes should stay low so families can pay the bills and small businesses can create new jobs, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe in high standards for our public schools, I ask you, come stand with me. If you believe patients and doctors should be in charge of health care, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe that this Nation must honor the commitments of Medicare and strengthen Social Security for generations to come, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe that this Nation should honor marriage and family and make a place for the weak and the vulnerable, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe America should fight the war on terror with all our might and lead with unwavering confidence in our ideals, I ask you to come stand with me. If you are a Democrat who believes your party has turned too far to the left this year, I ask you to come stand with me. If you are a minority citizen and you believe in free enterprise and good schools and the enduring values of family and faith, and if you are tired of your vote being taken for granted, I ask you to come stand with me. And if you are a voter who believes that the President of the United States should say what he means and do what he says and keep his word, I ask you to come stand with me. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. Four years ago, when I traveled throughout Sioux land asking for the vote, I made this pledge If elected, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. God bless and thanks for coming. Thank you all. November 01, 2004 The President. Thank you all. Thank you all for coming. We're coming down the stretch, and there's no better place to come than Albuquerque, New Mexico. We are honored you've come out tonight. Thanks for being here. Laura and I are so thrilled that so many have come out to say hello. You're lifting our spirits. And we are here to ask for your vote and to ask for your help. Tomorrow is voting day, and I'm asking you to get your friends and neighbors to go to the polls. Turn out our fellow Republicans, wise independents, and discerning Democrats. And tell them, if they want a safer America and a stronger America and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office. Perhaps the most important reason to put me back in is so that Laura will be First Lady for 4 more years. And there's no better way to come down the stretch with two women I love, our twins, Barbara and Jenna. I'm proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. I readily concede he does not have the waviest hair in the race. Laughter You all will be pleased I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. Laughter I picked him because of his experience. I picked him because of his judgment. I'm really proud of your Senator, Pete Domenici. What a fantastic man. He's as good as they come in public service. He does a fabulous job for New Mexico, and like me, he married well when he married Nancy. I'm also proud to know a fantastic Congresswoman in Heather Wilson. I want to thank Heather's husband, Jay, for joining us today. I can't tell you how important it is to send Heather Wilson back to the United States Congress. It is such an honor to be here with Little Texas and Ricochet. Thank you all for playing. I want to thank my friend Bob Martinez of the New Mexico Fraternal Order of Police. I was so proud to get the endorsement of the FOP across this country. Thank you for coming, Bob. I want to thank Allen and John and Ken and all the grassroots activists who are here. I want to thank you for putting up the signs. I want to thank you for making the phone calls. Con su apoyo, vamos a ganar. Tomorrow we're going to carry New Mexico. Audience members. Viva Bush! Viva Bush! Viva Bush! The President. Thank you. I feel so incredibly optimistic about the future of our country. I see a brighter and more hopeful day for every American. One of my favorite sayings comes from a fellow Texan named Tom Lea. He was from El Paso, right across the line, I might add. He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." During the course of this campaign, my opponent has spent much of the time talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that's coming. I see a great day coming for this country, a day where prosperity reaches every corner of America, a day when every child is able to read and write and add and subtract, a day in which this world becomes more free and so we're able to achieve the peace we want for our children and our grandchildren. Tomorrow the people of America have a chance to bring that better day by voting for strong, confident, optimistic leadership, by voting Bush Cheney. Audience members. We want Bush! We want Bush! We want Bush! The President. The American President must lead with clarity and purpose. The role of a President is not to follow the path of the latest polls. The role of the President is to lead based upon principle and conviction and conscience. During these 4 years, I have learned that whatever your strengths are, you are going to need them whatever your shortcomings are, the people are going to notice them. Sometimes, I am a little too blunt. I get that from my mother. Sometimes I mangle the English language. Laughter I get that from my dad. But all times, whether you agree with me or not, you know where I stand, what I believe. This election comes down to five vital issues for our families. The first clear choice concerns your family's budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for America's families. I kept my word. As a result of our good policies, our economy is growing at rates as fast as any in nearly 20 years. We've added 1.9 million new jobs in the last 13 months. Our farmers and our ranchers are making a living. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in America. Small businesses are flourishing. Homeownership rates are at an alltime high. More minority families own a home than ever before in our Nation's history. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent, which is lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. And the unemployment rate in New Mexico is 5.3 percent. This economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. My opponent has got plans for your family budget, and that's to take a big chunk out of it. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He's been in the Senate for 20 years, and he's voted to raise taxes 98 times. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That's nearly five times every year he's been in the Senate. I would call that a predictable pattern. I'd call that a leading indicator. And when you couple that with the fact that he's promised to raise 2.2 trillion he said he's going to pay for it by raising the by taxing the rich. You can't raise enough money by running up the top two brackets to pay for 2.2 trillion. You raise about 6 to 800 billion. That's way short of what he has promised. I would call that a tax gap. Laughter And given his record, guess who's going to have to fill that tax gap. Audience members. We are! The President. You are. The good news is, we're going to carry New Mexico tomorrow and win. The second clear choice in this election involves the quality of life for our families. Every school must teach, and I believe every child can learn. I went to Washington to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations and reform our public schools. I kept my word. We're raising standards. We're raising standards. Math and reading scores are on the rise. We're closing the achievement gap by helping minority children. In a new term, we'll build on these reforms and extend them to our high schools so that no child is left behind in America. We will work to make sure our families have got good health care by making health care more affordable and available. We'll expand health savings accounts. We'll allow small businesses to join together so they can buy insurance at the same discounts that big companies are able to do. We will help our families in need, and we will do something about these junk lawsuits that are running up the cost of health care and running good docs out of practice. We have got a national problem when it comes to these lawsuits. I have met too many ob gyns during the course of this campaign who have had to quit practice because their premiums are too high as a result of lawsuits. I have met too many expectant moms who are desperately worried about whether they're not going to get the health care they need. See, you can't be pro doctor, pro patient, and pro personal injury trial lawyer at the same time. My opponent veto voted against medical liability reform 10 times, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I am standing with the patients of New Mexico and the doctors of New Mexico. I'm standing for medical liability reform now. My opponent's got an idea about health care. You might remember one of the debates when he said that the Government didn't have anything to do with his plan. I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it. Eight out of ten people end up on the Federal plan under his vision, and that is the wrong prescription for American families. In all we do to reform health care, we will make sure the decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. The third clear choice in this election involves your retirement. We have made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. And when I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drugs for our seniors, and I kept my word. Beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. And I have kept the word on Social Security. I remember those campaigns when they said, "If George W. gets elected, you're not going to get your checks." Well, I got elected, and our seniors got their checks. And they will continue to get their checks. But we need to do something about the youngsters. We need to do something about Social Security reforming Social Security for our children and our grandchildren. That's why I'm for personal savings accounts. I believe younger workers ought to take some of their own payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account that will earn a better rate of return, a personal savings account they call their own, an account the Government cannot take away. The job of a President is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future generations and future Presidents. In a new term, I'll bring people together to make sure Social Security is sound and secure for generations to come. The fourth clear choice in this election is on the values that are crucial to keeping our families strong. I stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. I stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and every being counts. I proudly signed the ban on partial birth abortions. And I stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. My opponent has a different opinion. He was part of an extreme minority that voted against the Defense of Marriage Act that President Clinton signed into law. He voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. There is a mainstream in American politics, and John Kerry sits on the far left bank. He can run from his liberal record, but he cannot hide. The final choice in this election is the most important of all because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If our country shows any uncertainty or weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This is not going to happen on my watch. Our strategy is clear. We have strengthened protections for the homeland. We're reforming and strengthening our intelligence capabilities. We are transforming our military. There will be no draft. The All Volunteer Army will remain an all volunteer army. We are resolute. We are determined. We are staying on the offensive. We are fighting the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. And we are succeeding. Afghanistan is an ally in the war on terror. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are making raids and capturing terrorist leaders. Libya is dismantling its weapons programs. The army of a free Iraq is defending freedom. Al Qaida no longer has training camps in Afghanistan. We are systematically destroying the Al Qaida network across the world. More than three quarters of Al Qaida's key members and associates have been brought to justice, and the rest of them know that we're on their trails. And one reason we're succeeding is we've got a fantastic military, and I want to thank those who wear our Nation's uniform for your service. And I thank the military families who are here tonight, and thank you for your service to our country. And I thank the veterans who are here, who have set such a great example for those who wear the uniform. And I want to assure you all, we'll keep our commitment I have made to our troops and their families they will have that which is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the United States Congress and asked for 87 billion in supplemental funding to support our troops in combat. It was an important piece of legislation, and we got widespread support. As a matter of fact, Senator Kerry, on national TV, at one time said, "It would be irresponsible to vote against the funding for our troops." And then his poll numbers went down, and he did the irresponsible thing. He voted against the funding. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And then he entered the flip flop hall of fame. And as he entered the hall of fame, he said this "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, before I voted against it." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I have spent a lot of time in New Mexico, and I've never heard a person talk that way. Laughter He's given a lot of reasons why he voted the way he did, but the most telling of all was when he said, "The whole thing was a complicated matter." Laughter There's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. We have a difference of opinion when it comes to protecting the homeland. My opponent believes that America must submit to what he calls a "global test" before we commit troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I'm not making that up. Laughter He actually said that. I was standing pretty close to him when he did. Laughter As far as I can tell, that "global test" means that America must get permission before we defend ourselves. Listen, I'll work with our allies. I will strengthen our alliances. But I will never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries. Recently, my opponent said that September the 11th did not change him much at all. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. September the 11th changed me, and it changed my outlook on how to defend this country. I will never forget standing in the ruins of the Twin Towers on September the 14th, 2001. There were workers in hardhats there yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I remember the person that came out, had been in the rubble, and he grabbed me by the arm. He looked me in the eye, and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I wake up every morning trying to figure out how to better protect our country. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. During the next 4 years, we'll wage a comprehensive strategy to defend our country, and we will use every asset at our disposal. And one of the most powerful assets we have is freedom. Free nations do not breed resentment. Free nations do not export terror. Free nations become allies in the war against terror. By spreading freedom, we help keep the peace. I believe in the power of liberty to transform societies. I want the younger folks here to realize what has taken place in a brief period of time. Think about what's taken place in the last 3 1 2 years of your life. Take Afghanistan. Afghanistan used to be the home base of Al Qaida, where they could train. Young girls could not go to school in that country because the Taliban were so backward and barbaric. And if their mothers did not toe their line of ideological hatred, they were taken into the public squares and whipped and sometimes executed in a sports stadium. But because we acted to defend ourselves, because we acted to uphold a doctrine that I declared which said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you are equally as guilty as the terrorist," millions of people in Afghanistan because we upheld that doctrine, millions of people in Afghanistan voted in a Presidential election. And the first voter was a 19 year old woman. Think about that. Freedom is on the march, and we're safer because of it. Iraq is still dangerous. It is dangerous because that society is becoming more free and heading toward democracy. And think about how far that country has come since the days of a rule of a brutal tyrant who had torture chambers and mass graves, who used weapons of mass destruction on his own people. Freedom is on the march, and the world is better off for it. I believe that everybody yearns to be free. I believe that mothers and dads want to raise their children in a free society. I believe all this not because freedom is America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. These are historic times, and a lot is at stake in this election. The future safety and prosperity of America are on the ballot. The truth of the matter is this election ultimately comes down to who you can trust. Who can you trust to make this country secure? Who can you trust to make this society a more hopeful place? If you believe that taxes should stay low so families can pay the bills and small businesses can continue to create jobs, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe in high standards for public schools, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe patients and doctors should be in charge of health care, I ask you, come stand with me. If you believe that this Nation must honor the commitments of Medicare and strengthen Social Security for generations to come, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe that this Nation should honor marriage and family and make a place for the weak and the vulnerable, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe America should fight the war on terror with all our might and lead with unwavering confidence in our ideals, I ask you to come stand with me. If you are a Democrat who believes your party has turned too far to the left this year, I ask you to come stand with me. If you are a minority citizen and you believe in free enterprise and good schools and the enduring values of family and faith, and if you are tired of your vote being taken for granted, I ask you to come stand with me. And if you are a voter who believes that the President of the United States should say what he means and does what he says do what he says and keeps his word, I ask you to come stand with me. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. When I traveled your great State 4 years ago, I made this pledge, that if I got elected, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office to which I had been elected. With your help, with your hard work, we're going to win tomorrow, and I will carry that honor and dignity for 4 more years. God bless, and thank you for coming. Thank you all. November 01, 2004 The President. Thank you all. Thank you all for coming. I really appreciate you being here. It's great to be back where it all started. Tomorrow my fellow Texans are going to the polls to help us start the next 4 years. Ten years ago when I first ran for Governor, I had my last campaign rally in Dallas, and we won. Tonight, after six other stops, I'm having my last campaign rally in Dallas, and we're going to win. I appreciate all your help and all your hard work. And I've got a pretty good feeling that Texas is going to be a red State tomorrow. You're going to start a trend. I want to thank all our friends who are here tonight. You know, we're blessed by having a lot of friends. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all you have done for us for so many years and what you're going to do tomorrow and for the years ahead. With your help, this will be the beginning of a new term to make America a safer place, a stronger place, and a better place. I've had a fantastic time traveling our country. I love to get out amongst the people. I love America. I love its citizens. I've been telling people what I intend to do for the next 4 years, but the most probably the most important reason to put me back in is so that Laura will be the First Lady for 4 more years. She has put her SMU degree to good work. And I want to thank Gerald Turner and the trustees of SMU and all the SMU students who are here today for coming out to say hello. I'll try to keep my speech short so you can get back and do your homework. Laughter Make sure you vote. Make sure you go to the polls. One of the greatest things about this campaign is I've had a chance to campaign with Barbara and Jenna. I love them dearly. They are fantastic young women. No, you can't have their phone number. Laughter I'm proud of my nephew, George P. Bush, and his wife, Mandi. Thanks for coming. I've got a great runningmate in Dick Cheney. He's done a great job as the Vice President. I'm looking forward to working with him for the next 4 years. I want to thank my friend Pete Sessions for introducing Laura. It is really important that you send Pete Sessions back to the United States Congress. I see a lot of friends from the statehouse days. I'm really proud that the Governor of the great State of Texas is with us, Rick Perry. Thanks for coming, Governor. And the Lieutenant Governor, David Dewhurst, is with us. Appreciate you coming. I want to thank all the other statehouse officials. I know the speaker of the house is with us, Speaker Tom Craddick and Nadine. They're from our old hometown of Midland. I want to thank the really fine United States Senator from the State of Texas, Kay Bailey Hutchison, and the other Senator, who is also a really fine United States Senator, John Cornyn. I want to thank the Members of the Congress who are here, Ralph Hall and Jeb Hensarling, Kay Granger, and Michael Burgess. I'm proud you all are here. Three candidates for the United States Congress who are here who I proudly support Kenny Marchant, running for the 24th District Louis Gohmert, running out of CD 1, Congressional District 1 in east Texas. I wish you all the best, Louis. And I'm looking forward to having a new Congressperson represent me in the Crawford area, and that person is going to be Arlene Wohlgemuth. I want to thank Toby Keith for being here. It means a lot that he's here. It sounds like he ought to be running. Laughter I want to thank Tracy Byrd. I want to thank the SMU Mighty Mustang Band. Thanks for coming. I want to thank my friend Chuck Norris, who's here. Most of all, thank you all for coming. It's been a fantastic day traveling around our country. There's no better place to end it than right here in big "D" Dallas, Texas. I understand this about the Presidency The American President must lead with clarity and purpose. The role of the President is not to follow the path of the latest polls. The President must not change positions for the sake of political convenience. The President must lead based on principle and conviction and conscience. During these 4 years, I have learned that whatever your strengths are, you're going to need them, and whatever your shortcomings are, people are going to notice them. Laughter Sometimes I'm a little too blunt. I get that from my mother. Sometimes I mangle the English language. Laughter I get that from my father. Laughter But all times, whether you agree with me or not, you know where I stand, what I believe, and where I'm going to lead. I have been letting the people know what I intend to do for the next 4 years. I'm running to make sure this economy stays strong by keeping our taxes low and doing something about these lawsuits that are making it hard on our small business owners. I'm running to make sure every child can learn and keep the high standards in our public schools so no child is left behind in America. I'm running to make sure health care is available and affordable, and to reduce the cost of medicine and to keep good doctors in practice, we've got to get rid of these junk lawsuits that are running up the cost of medicine. In all we do to reform health care in Washington, we'll make sure the decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. I believe the President's job is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. We've got a problem with Social Security. Social Security is fine for those who are now on Social Security, and we'll always keep the promise to our seniors. Social Security is okay for baby boomers like me and like some others out there I see. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren when it comes to Social Security. I believe younger workers ought to be able to take some of their own payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account, an account they call their own. Over the next 4 years, I'll continue to stand for the values that are important to our Nation. I stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. I stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and every being counts. And I stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. During the course of this campaign, after all the debates and all the speeches, it is clear there are big differences between me and my opponent. He's from Massachusetts, and I'm from Texas. He is a committed liberal, and I am a compassionate conservative. He's voted to cut our intelligence budget and major weapons systems. I am for a strong national defense. He has promised to raise taxes. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And that is generally a promise most politicians keep. I'm for keeping your taxes low. And we've got a big difference when it comes to protecting the American people. The most important job of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty or weakness during these troubling times, this world of ours will drift toward tragedy. This is not going to happen on my watch. We are steadfast. We are resolved. We will chase the terrorists around the world so we do not have to face them here at home. There are big differences of opinion about how to protect America. During one of our debates, my opponent said that America must pass a "global test" before we commit troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I'm not making that up. Laughter I heard him say it. Laughter He was standing right about there. As far as I can tell, that means this Nation of ours must go to other nations to seek permission before we secure our defense. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. In a new term, I will work with our allies and I will strengthen our alliances, but I will never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries. Now, we have big differences. I have told the families of our military and those who wear the uniform they will have all they need. The military will have all it needs to complete their missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. That's why I went to the Congress and asked for 87 billion for supplemental funding in September of 2003. It was important funding. It was necessary funding for our troops. And we received great bipartisan support. As a matter of fact, my opponent first said that it would be irresponsible to vote against funding for the troops until his poll numbers went down. Laughter And then he actually did the irresponsible thing and he voted against funding for our troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And then he entered the flip flop hall of fame. And as he entered that hall of fame, he said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, before I voted against it." Laughter I have spent hours in the coffee shops of Texas. I have never heard anybody in this great State talk that way. He has given a lot of explanations about that vote since then, but I think the most revealing explanation was this. He said, "The whole thing was a complicated matter." Laughter There's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. Laughter We have a difference of we have a different understanding about this war on terror. My opponent says September the 11th didn't change him much at all. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Well, September the 11th changed me, and it changed my outlook about how to protect you, about how to do my duty to protect the American people. I will never forget the day I went to the ruins of the Twin Towers. It was September the 14th, 2001. There were workers there in hardhats yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I remember a man grabbed me by the arm, and he looked me in the eye, and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I wake up every morning trying to figure out how to better protect our country. I will never relent in our Nation's defense, whatever it takes. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. Fantastic way to win way to end what has been a great campaign. These are historic times. There's a lot at stake in this election. The future safety and prosperity of America are on the ballot. The truth of the matter is, this election comes down to who do you trust? Who do you trust? Audience member. You! The President. The American people will trust the candidate who can see a better day, who can clearly see that you can't lead this Nation unless you know where you want to lead it. And I know exactly where I want to take this Nation for the next 4 years. One of my favorite sayings comes from a fellow Texan, Tom Lea. He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." During much of this campaign, my opponent has been talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that's coming. I'm talking about a better day for every American. I see a day where prosperity reaches every corner of our country, a day where every child is able to read and write. And I see a day, because we spread freedom, that this world becomes more peaceful, and we achieve the peace we want for our children and our grandchildren. Now, I see a better day. And tomorrow the people of America have a chance to bring that better day to all of us by voting for strong, confident, optimistic leadership, by sending me and Dick Cheney back to Washington, DC. Four years ago when I traveled our country asking for the vote, I made a pledge that if I was elected, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office. Because of your friendship, because of the hard work of many people here, because of the votes tomorrow, I will continue to uphold the honor and the integrity of the Presidency for 4 more years. Thank you for coming. God bless. On to victory. Thank you all. November 01, 2004 The President. Thank you all for coming. Thank you all. Senator, what I have learned is every day is a good day to be in Iowa. And I've really enjoyed campaigning in your State in 2000, now in 2004. And I'm here one more time to ask for your vote and ask for your help. I'm asking for you to go to your friends and neighbors and tell them we have a duty in our country to vote. Go to our fellow Republicans, wise independents, and discerning Democrats. And tell them, if they want a stronger America, a safer America, and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office. Perhaps the most important reason why people should put me back in is so that Laura is the First Lady for 4 more years. I'm sorry she's not with me right now. She's working laughter thankfully, for me. Laughter She gives a lot of speeches, and when she speaks, the American people see a warm, compassionate, strong First Lady. And I'm really proud of Barbara and Jenna. I want to thank them for joining up. I can't think of a better way to complete the last day of this campaign than to be campaigning with two girls I love. And guess who surprised me today? My sister, Dorothy, is with us. Thank you, Doro. I'm a lucky man. I've got a great family, and I love my family. I'm looking forward to working with them as we complete this campaign. I've got a great Vice President too. I'm real proud of Dick Cheney. I don't want to offend anyone here who is follically challenged, but I readily concede the Vice President doesn't have the waviest hair in the race. But I know the people of Des Moines, Iowa, will be pleased to hear that I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. I picked him because of his judgment, and I picked him because of his experience. And he's getting the job done for the American people. I can't tell you how proud I am to be able to work with your United States Senator Chuck Grassley. He's an accomplished, effective Senator for Iowa. He is really good at what he does. I know you're going to put him back into office. He is so good at what he does, I've got a job for him on the South Lawn of the White House got a lot of grass. Laughter And we love Barbara Grassley too. Chuck's wife is a fine, fine woman. I want to thank my friend Congressman Jim Nussle, the chairman of the Budget Committee in the House of Representatives, for coming today. I want to thank the State auditor here. I want to thank the majority leader. I want to thank the Urbandale mayor. I want to thank all the State and local officials. I want to thank some candidates who are here. I want to thank Stan Thompson, who's running for the United States Congress. He's the right man for the job. I want to thank all the grassroots activists who are here. I want to thank those of you who have been putting up the signs and making the phone calls. I want to thank you for all the work you've done over the past year to get ready for tomorrow. I want to thank Dave Roederer. I want to thank my friend Becky Beach. I want to thank the John Stone is with us. Thank you for coming, John. I'm proud you're here. How about Cael Sanderson, gold medalist what a great ambassador for Iowa, a great ambassador for the United States. I want to thank you for all you've done and what you're going to do over the next 24 hours. With your help, with your hard work, by turning out this vote, there is no doubt in my mind we will carry Iowa and win a great victory on Tuesday. Tomorrow the people of this good State and the people of America go to the polls. I'm excited about Election Day. I'm looking forward to it, and I'm also optimistic about the future of this country. I see a brighter day and a more hopeful day. One of my favorite quotes was said by a fellow Texan named Tom Lea. He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It's the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." During the course of this campaign, my opponent has spent much of it talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that's coming. I see a day where prosperity reaches every corner of this country. I see a day where every child is able to read and write and add and subtract. I see a day in which this world becomes more peaceful, where we achieve the peace we want for our children and our grandchildren. Tomorrow the people of this country have a chance to bring that better day by voting for strong and principled and optimistic leadership by voting for Bush Cheney. The American President must lead with clarity and purpose. The role of the President is not to follow the path of the latest polls. The role of the President is to lead based upon principle and conviction and conscience. During these 4 years, I have learned that whatever your strengths are, you're going to need them, and whatever your shortcomings are, people will notice them. Laughter Sometimes I'm a little too blunt. I get that from my mother. Laughter Sometimes I mangle the English language. Laughter I get that from my father. Laughter But at all times, whether you agree with me or not, you know where I stand, what I believe, and where I intend to lead. This election comes down to five clear choices for America's families. The first clear choice concerns your family's budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for American families. I have kept my word. We doubled the child credit to help moms and dads. We reduced the marriage penalty. We believe the Tax Code ought to encourage, not penalize marriage. We reduced the taxes on everybody who pays taxes. As a result of these good policies, our economy is growing at rates as fast as any in nearly 20 years. Real after tax income is up 10 percent since I've been the President. Homeownership in America is at an alltime high. More minority families own their home than ever before in our Nation's history. Small businesses are flourishing. We've added 1.9 million new jobs since September of 2003. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. Let me put that in perspective for you That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. Farm income in Iowa is up, and the unemployment rate in this State is 4.7 percent. This economy of ours is strong, and it is getting stronger. I have a message for the people of Iowa. We're going to open up foreign markets for Iowa corn and other products. We'll promote renewables like ethanol and biodiesel. We will keep this farm economy strong, and the people of Iowa can count on me to keep my word. My opponent has an economic plan. I want you to remember he voted 98 times to increase taxes, in 20 years in the Senate. That is five times a year. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That is a predictable pattern. Laughter That's a leading indicator. Laughter There's not enough to pay for all his promises. He's proposing 2.2 trillion, and he said he's only going to raise the top two brackets. See, that raises about 600, 800 billion, but that's far short of the 2.2 trillion he's promised. There is a tax gap. And given his past history, guess who is going to have to fill the tax gap? Audience members. We are! The President. The middle income families of the America. The good news is, he's not going to be able to tax you we're going to carry Iowa and win a great victory. The second clear choice in this election involves the quality of life for our Nation's families. I believe every child can learn and every school must teach. I went to Washington to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations and reform our public schools. I kept my word. We passed education reforms that bring high standards to the classrooms. Math and reading scores are now on the rise. We are closing the achievement gap by helping minority children. My vision for a new term is to build on these reforms and extend them to our high schools so no child is left behind in America. We'll continue to improve life for our families by making health care more affordable and available. We'll expand health savings accounts. We'll allow small businesses to join together so they can buy insurance at the same discounts big companies are able to do. We'll help families in need, and we will do something about these junk lawsuits that are running up the cost of medicine and driving good docs we're driving good docs out of practice. My opponent and I disagree on this medical liability issue. I see it as a national problem that requires a national solution. He's voted against medical liability reform 10 times, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I'm standing with the doctors of Iowa. I'm standing with the patients of Iowa. I am for medical liability reform now. In all we do to improve health care, we'll make sure the medical decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. My opponent has a different approach. He voted for education reform but now wants to weaken the accountability standards. He's proposing a big Government health care plan. You might remember one of the debates, when they asked him about his health care plan, he looked in the camera and said, "The Government doesn't have anything to do with it." I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it. Eighty percent of the people end up on a Government health care plan under his vision. And that is the wrong prescription for American families. The third clear choice in this election involves your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage. With the help of Senator Grassley and with the help of Congressman Nussle, I kept my word. We have modernized Medicare for our seniors. And beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. When you're out rounding up the votes here in Iowa, I want you to remember what that Medicare did for Iowa's rural hospitals. You might remember that issue about how the rural hospitals in this State were not being treated fairly. Because of the law I signed, because of the hard work of this Senator and this Congressman, Iowa's hospitals are now being treated fairly under Medicare. My opponent voted against that Medicare bill that helped Iowa's hospitals and provided prescription drug coverage for our seniors. He's also said that he's going to do something to protect Social Security, except what he forgot to tell you is that he voted eight times to raise taxes on Social Security benefits. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He can run from that record, but he cannot hide. I know they're trying to scare some seniors, this being election time, about Social Security. But I have kept the promise of Social Security for our seniors. I will always keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors. And the Social Security trust is in pretty good shape for baby boomers like me and some others out there I see. Laughter But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren. We need to worry about whether the Social Security system will be there for them when they retire. That's why I believe younger workers ought to be allowed to take some of their payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account, an account that earns a better rate of return than the trust, an account they call their own and the Government cannot take away. The fourth clear choice in this election is on the values that are so crucial to keeping our families strong. I stand for marriage and family, which are the foundation of our society. I stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and every being counts. I was proud to sign the bill that banned partial birth abortions. I stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. On these issues, my opponent and I are miles apart. He was part of an extreme minority that voted against the Defense of Marriage Act and voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. There is a mainstream in American politics, and John Kerry sits on the far left bank. He can run from that record, but he cannot hide. The final choice in this election is the most important of all because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If this country shows weakness or uncertainty during these troubled times, the world will drift toward tragedy. This isn't going to happen on my watch. Our strategy is clear. We've strengthened protections for the homeland. We are reforming and strengthening our intelligence gathering capabilities. We are transforming our military. There will be no draft. We'll keep the All Volunteer Army an all volunteer army. We are relentless. We are determined to protect this country. We're staying on the offensive. We will fight the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. We're succeeding. Afghanistan is an ally in the war on terror. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are making raids and capturing terrorist leaders. Libya is dismantling its weapons programs. The army of a free Iraq is defending freedom. And Al Qaida no longer controls Afghanistan. We've shut down camps there, and we are systematically destroying the Al Qaida network across the world. And we're able to do so because we have a great United States military, and I want to thank those who wear our Nation's uniform. I want to thank the loved ones of those who wear our Nation's uniform, and I want to thank the veterans who are here, who have set such a great example to those who wear our Nation's uniform. And I want to assure you, we will keep our commitments to make sure our troops have all they need to complete their missions. That is why I went to the Congress in September of 2003, and asked for 87 billion in supplemental funding. It was a very important request. At first, my opponent said, "It would be irresponsible to vote against the funding for the troops." Then his poll numbers began to decline, and he voted against the funding for our troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And then he entered the flip flop hall of fame. Laughter And as he entered, as he entered, he said this "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, right before I voted against it." Laughter He's given several explanations on that vote since then, but I think the most revealing is when he said, "The whole thing is a complicated matter." Laughter My fellow Americans, there's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. It is important for our fellow citizens to know the facts. See, the problems with Senator Kerry's record on national security are deeper than election year reversals. For 20 years, on the largest national security issues, he's been consistently wrong. During the cold war, Senator Kerry voted against critical weapons systems and opposed President Ronald Reagan's policy of peace through strength. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Ronald Reagan was right. When former President Bush assembled an international coalition to drive Saddam Hussein from Kuwait, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force to liberate Kuwait. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. Only a year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, the Senator proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence, cuts so extreme that even his fellow Senator from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy, would not support them. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and we have got to be fair Senator Kennedy was right. Laughter We have differences of opinion as to how to protect the American people. My opponent believes that America must submit to what he calls a "global test." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I'm not making that up. Laughter I heard him say it laughter in the debate. As far as I can tell, my opponent's "global test" means that America must get permission in order to defend ourselves. I will work with our allies, and I will strengthen our alliances, but I will never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries. We have a difference of opinion as to better how to better protect America. My opponent has said September the 11th didn't change him much at all. Well, it changed me. I'll never forget the day I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers, September the 14th, 2001. There were workers in hardhats there yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I remember the man who came out of the rubble, and he grabbed me by the arm, and he looked me in the eye, and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I've gotten up every morning thinking about how to better protect our country. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes. For the next 4 years, we'll use every asset at our disposal to protect the American people. The strongest asset we have is to spread freedom. Free nations do not breed resentments and export terror. Free nations become allies in the war on terror. Free nations will help us keep the peace that we want for our children and our grandchildren. I believe in the power of liberty to transform society. Think about what's happened in a brief period of time in Afghanistan. It wasn't all that long ago that that country was the home base of Al Qaida, and young girls were not allowed to go to school because the Taliban were so backward and so dark in their vision. And if their mothers did not toe the line, they were taken in the public square and whipped and sometimes shot in a sports stadium. But because we acted to protect ourselves, because we upheld a doctrine that I laid out for the world that "If you harbor at terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist," millions of people went to the polls to vote for the President of Afghanistan. And the first voter was a 19 year old woman. Think about that. Freedom is a powerful force to transform society. Iraq is dangerous. It is dangerous because democracy is advancing. But think of how far that country has come from the days of torture chambers and mass graves and the brutal reign of a tyrant who hated America. They will be having Presidential elections in January. Freedom is on the march, and we're more secure for it. I believe everybody yearns to be free. I believe that moms and dads around the world want to raise their children in free societies. I understand freedom is not America's gift to the world, but I do understand freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. My fellow citizens, these are historic times, and a lot is at stake in this election. The future safety and prosperity are on the ballot. Ultimately, though, this election comes down to, who do you trust? Who do you trust to protect you? Audience members. You! The President. Who do you trust to spread prosperity? Audience members. You! The President. If you believe that taxes should stay low so families can pay the bills and small businesses can create jobs, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe in high standards for our public schools, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe patients and doctors should be in charge of health care, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe this Nation must honor the commitment of Medicare and strengthen Social Security for generations to come, I ask you to stand with me. If you believe that this Nation should honor marriage and family and make a place for the weak and the vulnerable, I ask you, come stand with me. If you believe America should fight the war on terror with all our might and lead with unwavering confidence in our ideals, I ask you to come stand with me. If you are a Democrat who believes your party has turned too far to the left this year, I ask you to come stand with me. If you are a minority citizen and you believe in free enterprise and good schools and the enduring values of family and faith, and if you are tired of your vote being taken for granted, I ask you to come stand with me. And if you are a voter who believes that the President of the United States should say what he means and do what he says and keep his word, I ask you to come stand with me. Four years ago, when I traveled your great State asking for the vote, I made this pledge, that if elected, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office. With your help, with your hard work, we will carry Iowa, and I will do so for next 4 years. Thank you all for coming. God bless. November 01, 2004 The President. Thank you all for coming today. There's nothing like an early morning rally in the great State of Ohio. I can't think of a better place to kick off the last day of this campaign than with the good folks here in Ohio. I want to thank you for coming. Thank you for your support. With your help, we will carry this great State and win tomorrow. I'm here to ask for your help. You get your friends and neighbors to go to the polls. Find our fellow Republicans, wise independents, and discerning Democrats, and tell them, if they want a safer America and a stronger America and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office. Perhaps the most important reason why people ought to put me back in is so that Laura is the First Lady for 4 more years. I'm proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. You know, he doesn't have the waviest hair in the race. Laughter You'll be pleased to hear I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. Laughter I picked him because he can get the job done. I picked him because of his experience. I picked him because of his judgment. I'm proud to be traveling today with Curt Schilling. Everybody knows him as a great pitcher. I know him as a great husband, a great dad, and a man of great character. He's a champion on the field, and he's a champion off the field. And like me, he married well, and I'm proud that Shonda is with us today too. Thank you all for coming. Appreciate you being here. I'm proud to be here with Michael DeWine and his wife, Fran, the Senator from the great State of Ohio. I'm asking you to make sure you vote for George Voinovich for United States Senator. I want to thank Congressman Mike Turner for being here and his wife, Lori. I want to thank your Governor, Bob Taft, and your Lieutenant Governor, Jennette Bradley, for coming today. Thank you all for coming. I want to thank all the State and local officials. I want to thank the entertainment, the Wil Gravatt Band and the Wilmington, East Clinton, Blanchester, and Clinton Massie High School marching bands. I will try to keep my remarks short so you can make sure you study before class starts. Laughter I'm here with a message for the people of Ohio. I know the economy of this State has been through a lot, but we are moving in the right direction. And to do so, we've got to keep your taxes low. And I want you to remind your friends and neighbors that my opponent will raise the taxes on Ohio's families and Ohio's small businesses. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. In a new term, I will put pro growth keep pro growth, pro small business, pro farmer policies in place. I will defend your deepest values, and I will work every day to make sure your families are safe. And you can count on me. I'm asking for your help, and there is no doubt in my mind, with your help, we will win Ohio again and win a great victory tomorrow. The election takes place in a time of great consequence. The person who sits in the Oval Office for the next 4 years will set the course of the war on terror and the direction of our economy. America will need strong, determined, optimistic leadership, and I am ready for the job ahead. The American President must lead with clarity and purpose. As Presidents from Lincoln to Roosevelt to Reagan so clearly demonstrated, a President must not shift with the wind. A President has to make the tough decisions and stand by them. The role of the President is not to follow the latest polls. The role of the President is to lead based on principle and conviction and conscience. During these 4 years, I've learned that whatever your strengths are, you are going to need them, and whatever your shortcomings are, the people will notice them. Sometimes I am a little too blunt. I get that from my mother. Laughter Sometimes I mangle the English language. I get that from my father. Laughter But all the time, whether you agree with me or not, you know where I stand, what I believe, and what I intend to do. This election comes down to five clear choices for America's families. The first clear choice concerns your family's budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for America's families. I have kept my word. We've doubled the child credit. We reduced the marriage penalty. We believe the Tax Code ought to encourage, not penalize marriage. We dropped the lowest tax bracket to 10 percent. We reduced taxes on everybody who pays taxes. And as a result of these good policies, our economy is growing at faster rates than any in nearly 20 years. Real after tax income is up by 10 percent, and that's good for America's families. Home ownership rate in America is at an alltime high. More minority families own a home today than ever before in our Nation's history. Ohio's farmers are making a living. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in America. Small businesses are flourishing all across your State. We've added 1.9 million jobs new jobs in the last 13 months. The unemployment rate across this country is 5.4 percent. That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. There have been some tough times in Ohio, but last month alone, we added 5,500 jobs. The unemployment rate has dropped from 6.3 percent to 6 percent in this State. This economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. My opponent has got an economic plan. He's been in the United States Senate for 20 years, and he's voted to raise taxes 98 times. That's five times every year in the Senate. That's what I would call a leading indicator, a predictable pattern. Plus, he's promised about 2.2 trillion in new Federal spending. That is trillion with a "T." That is a lot. That's a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. So they said, "How are you going to pay for it?" He said, "Well, we'll just tax the rich." But that leaves a tax gap. See, you can only raise between 600 and 800 billion. That's far short of the 2.2 trillion he promised. Given his record, guess who's going to have to fill the tax gap? You are. But the good news is he's not going to tax you because we're going to carry Ohio and win tomorrow. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. The second clear choice in this election involves the quality of life for our Nation's families. I ran for President to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations by reforming our public schools. I kept my word. We passed education reforms, good, solid education reforms to bring high standards to our classrooms. Math and reading scores are now up in America. We're closing an achievement gap by helping our minority children. My vision for a new term is to build on these reforms, extend them to our high schools so no child is left behind in America. We'll continue to improve life for our families by making health care more affordable and available. We'll expand health savings accounts. We'll allow small businesses to join together so they can buy insurance at the same discount that big companies are able to do. We'll help our families in need. And we'll help our families and patients and doctors by getting rid of the frivolous and junk lawsuits that run up the cost of health care. This is an issue in this campaign. My opponent voted against medical liability reform not once, not twice, but 10 times. He put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I'm standing with the families of Ohio. I'm standing with the docs of Ohio. I am for medical liability reform now. In all we do to improve health care, we will make sure the decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. My opponent has a different approach. He voted for education reform, and now he wants to weaken the accountability standards. He's proposing a big Government health care plan. I remember that debate when he looked square in the camera when they asked him about his health care plan. He said, "The Government didn't have anything to do with it." I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it. Eighty percent of the people would end up on a Government program. The wrong prescription for American families is to federalize your health care. The third clear choice in this election involves your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drugs for our seniors. I have kept my word. Seniors are getting discounts on medicine with their drug discount cards, and beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. When you're out gathering up the vote, remind people my opponent has got a record on this issue. He voted against the Medicare bill that included prescription drug coverage. He's trying to scare our seniors in this campaign. That's an old, tired practice. But as he does so, I want you to tell your friends and neighbors, he's the one that voted to tax Social Security benefits eight times. We'll keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors. We will always keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren when it comes to the Social Security system. Baby boomers like me are in fine shape when it comes to the Social Security trust. I see a couple of others out there too. Laughter But the job of a President is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future generations. And that's why I'll bring people together to make sure we strengthen the Social Security system for generations to come. Fourth clear choice in this election is on the values that are crucial for our families. I stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. I stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and every being counts. I proudly signed the ban on partial birth abortion. I stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. We have a difference of opinion on these issues. My opponent voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. He voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. There is a mainstream in American politics, and Senator John Kerry sits on the far left bank. Laughter He can run from that liberal record, but he cannot hide. The final choice in this election is the most important of all because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If this country of ours shows any uncertainty or weakness during these troubling times, the world will drift toward tragedy. This is not going to happen on my watch. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. Our strategy is clear. We have strengthened the protections for our homeland. We are reforming and strengthening our intelligence capabilities. We are transforming the great United States military. There will be no draft. We will keep the All Volunteer Army an all volunteer army. We are relentless, and we are determined. We are staying on the offensive. We will chase the terrorists overseas so we do not have to face them here at home. The 9 11 Commission report said America is safer but not yet safe. We're making progress. Afghanistan is an ally in the war on terror. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are making raids and capturing terrorist leaders. Lybia is dismantling its weapons programs. The army of a free Iraq is fighting for freedom. Al Qaida no longer controls Afghanistan. We've shut down their camps. We are systematically destroying the Al Qaida network across the world. More than three quarters of its key leaders and associates have been brought to justice, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. And we are making progress because we have a great United States military. I want to thank those who wear the uniform who are here. I want to thank the military families who are here. And I want to thank the veterans who have set such a great example for those who wear the uniform. And I want to assure you, we will keep our commitment that I have made to our troops and to their families. That's why in September of 2003, I went to the United States Congress and asked for 87 billion of important supplemental funding. That's money that went to our troops in combat in Iraq and in Afghanistan. It was important, really important. My opponent, on national TV, said prior to that vote, "It would be irresponsible to vote against funding for the troops." And then he started to go down in the polls, and he voted against funding for our troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And then he entered the flip flop hall of fame by saying this "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, right before I voted against it." I haven't spent a lot of time in the coffee shops around here, but I bet you a lot of people don't talk that way. Laughter They kept pressing him. He's given a lot of explanations about the 87 voting against the 87 billion, but I think the most revealing of all was when he said, "The whole thing was a complicated matter." My fellow Americans, there is nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. The problem with Senator Kerry's record on national security are deeper than election year reversals. Twenty years for 20 years, on the largest national security issues of the time, he has been consistently wrong. During the cold war, Senator Kerry was critical, was against President Ronald Reagan's policy of peace through strength. Well, history has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Ronald Reagan was right. When former President Bush assembled an international coalition to drive Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force to liberate Kuwait. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. One year after the bombing of the first bombing of the World Trade Center, the Senator proposed massive cuts in our intelligence budgets, so massive that his colleague from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy, opposed them. Well, history has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and we've got to be fair about it Senator Kennedy was right. Laughter During our debates, it became clear we have a different attitude about how to protect American families. He said America must pass a "global test" before we commit force. I'm not making that up. I heard it, and so did you. As far as I can tell, a "global test" means that America must get permission to defend ourselves. I will build on our alliance. I will strengthen our relationships overseas, but I will never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries. We have a different point of view about how to protect our families. My opponent said that September the 11th didn't change him much at all. Well, September the 11th changed me. It changed my outlook. Perhaps the best way to describe to you about how I feel is that experience I had at the Twin Towers on September the 14th, 2001, in the rubble. And I remember the workers in hardhats yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I remember the person coming out of that rubble, and he grabbed me by arm. He looked me square in the eye, and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I wake up every morning trying to figure out how to better protect our families and our country. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. We will use every asset at our disposal to protect you. We will wage a comprehensive strategy to defend our country. And perhaps the most powerful asset we have is freedom. I believe in the power of liberty to transform societies. I know that free nations do not breed resentments and export terror. Free nations become allies in the war on terror. Freedom will help us keep the peace we want for our children and our grandchildren. I want the younger folks here to remember and think about what has taken place in a quick period of time. It wasn't all that long ago in Afghanistan that young girls could not go to school, and if their mothers didn't toe the line of the ideologues of hate that ran that country, they would be taken into the public square and whipped and sometimes shot in a sports stadium. But because we acted in our own self defense, because we upheld a doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist," millions of people in Afghanistan voted for a President. And the first voter was a 19 year old woman. Freedom can change societies for the better. Iraq is dangerous. It is dangerous because that society is heading toward democracy. Think how far that society has come from the days of torture chambers and mass graves. There will be Presidential elections in January. I believe every soul desires to be free. Freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. These are historic times, and there is a lot at stake in this election. The future safety and prosperity of this country are on the ballot. Ultimately, though, this election comes down to who do you trust who do you trust to make the tough decisions? Who do you trust to lead this country to a better tomorrow? If you believe that taxes should stay low so families can pay your bills and small businesses create jobs, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe in high standards for our public schools, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe patients and doctors should be in charge of the health care, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe this Nation must honor the commitments of Medicare and strengthen Social Security for generations to come, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe that this Nation should honor marriage and family and make a place for the weak and the vulnerable, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe America should fight the war on terror with all our might and lead with unwavering confidence in our ideals, I ask you to come stand with me. If you are a Democrat who believes your party has turned too far to the left this year, I ask you to come stand with me. If you are a minority citizen and you believe in free enterprise and good schools and the enduring values of family and faith, and if you're tired of your vote being taken for granted, I ask you to come stand with me. And if you're a voter who believes that the President of the United States should say what he means and does what he says and keeps his word, I ask you to come stand with me. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. Four years ago when I traveled across Ohio, I made a pledge that if I were to be elected, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office to which I had been elected. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. On to victory. Thanks for coming. Thank you all. November 01, 2004 The President. Thank you all. Thank you all for coming. Thanks for being here. I am so honored so many came out to say hello. I'm here to ask for your vote and ask for your help. It is close to voting time, and I'm out here to ask you to get our fellow Republicans and wise independents and discerning Democrats here in western Pennsylvania to do our duty and go to the polls tomorrow. And remind your friends and neighbors, if they want a safer America and a stronger America and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back into office. Perhaps the most important reason to put me back in is so that Laura will be the First Lady for 4 more years. I regret that she's not here. We started Audience members. Aw w w! The President. I understand. Laughter We were campaigning together yesterday. She's off on her own for a while, which is wise use of her time. Laughter A lot of people have come to know her like I know her. She is a warm, compassionate, great First Lady. I'm proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. I really don't intend to insult anybody who's follically challenged laughter but I readily concede that the Vice President does not have the waviest hair in the race. Laughter The people of western Pennsylvania will be pleased to know I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. Laughter I picked him because of his judgment and his experience. He's getting the job done. I want to thank Curt and Shonda Schilling for taking time out of a busy life to come and endorse my candidacy for President. We all know him as a great baseball player. I know him as a great dad, a wonderful husband, a man of enormous character and value. I'm proud to have his support. And Santorum talks about Shonda lobbying the Congress she's pretty effective about lobbying the President too. Laughter I want to thank them for their concern, their care, and their compassion. Thank you all for coming. I want to thank my friend the Senator from Pennsylvania, Ricky Santorum. I wish Senator Arlen Specter all the best. When you put me in, put him in too. I appreciate Congressman Tim Murphy, his dedication and service in the United States Congress. I want to thank Congresswoman Melissa Hart for her service. I want to thank all the candidates who are here, those running statewide and those running locally. I want to thank my friend Lynn Swann for his friendship and leadership. I want to thank Mark Wills and Daron Norwood for being here today. Both of them are fine singers. I want to thank the Wingmen for Bush. They are a coalition of guys I served with. I am honored they're here. I appreciate your friendship. Thank you all for taking time to come. Most of all, I want to thank the grass roots activists for being here. I want to thank you for putting up the signs. I want to thank you for making the phone calls. I want to thank you for what you have done and what you're going to do over the next 24 hours. By turning out the vote, by finding people who are concerned about the future of this country, we are going to carry Pennsylvania and win a great victory on Tuesday. Tomorrow the people of this good State and the people of our Nation will be heading to the polls. And I'm excited about election day, and I'm optimistic about the future of this country. You know, one of my favorite sayings comes from a fellow Texan who said this He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." During the course of this campaign, my opponent has spent a lot of time talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that's coming. I see a great day coming for America. I see a day where prosperity reaches every corner of this country. I see a day where every child is able to read and write and add and subtract. I see a day in which this world becomes more peaceful so our children and our grandchildren can grow up in the peace we all want. I see a day that's better for every American. And tomorrow, the American people have a chance to bring that better day by voting for Bush Cheney. The American President must lead with clarity and purpose. The role of the President is not to follow the path of the latest polls. The President must lead based on principle and conviction and conscience. During these 4 years, I've learned that whatever your strengths are, you're going to need them, and whatever your weaknesses are, people will notice them. Sometimes I'm a little too blunt. I get that from my mother. Sometimes I mangle the English language. Laughter I get that from my dad. Laughter But all the time, whether you agree with me or not, you know where I stand, what I believe, and where I'm going to lead. This election Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. This election comes down to clear choices on five vital issues facing our families. And the first clear choice concerns your family's budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for American families. And I kept my word. We doubled the child credit to help moms and dads. We reduced the marriage penalty. We believe the Tax Code ought to encourage, not penalize marriage. We lowered taxes on everybody who pays taxes. As a result of these policies, our economy is growing at rates as fast as any in nearly 20 years. Real after tax income the money in your pocket is up by 10 percent since I've been your President. Homeownership rate is an alltime high in America, and more minority families own a home today than ever before in our history. Pennsylvania's farmers are making a living. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong. Small businesses are flourishing all across the State. We've added 1.9 million new jobs in the last 13 months. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. Let me put that in perspective for you That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. And the unemployment rate here in Pennsylvania is 5.3 percent. This economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. People in western Pennsylvania need to hear this message. I know this State depends on a healthy steel and coal economy. And we will keep taxes low. We will insist on free and fair trade, and we will make those industries strong so the Pennsylvania recovery keeps on creating jobs for the Pennsylvania people. My opponent has an economic plan. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Let me remind you of his history. He's been in the United States Senate 20 years. He's voted to raise taxes 98 times. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That's five times for every year he's been in the Senate. I would call that a predictable pattern, a leading indicator. Laughter And when you couple that with the fact that he's promised 2.2 trillion in new spending Audience members. Boo o o! The President. you begin to get a sense of his economic plan. That's 2.2 trillion with a "T." That is a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. They asked him how he was going to pay for it. He said he'll tax the rich. You have heard that before. You can't raise enough money to pay for 2.2 trillion. There is a tax gap. There is a gap between what he has promised and what he can deliver, and given his record, guess who is going to get to fill that tax gap? Audience member. We are! The President. Hard working people of western Pennsylvania. We are not going to let him tax you we're going to carry Pennsylvania and win on November the 2d. The second clear choice involves the quality of life for your families. I ran for President to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations by reforming our public schools. And I have kept my word. We passed education reforms to bring high standards to our classrooms. Math and reading scores are now on the rise. We're closing the achievement gap by helping minority children. My vision for a new term is to build on these reforms and extend them to our high schools so that no child is left behind in America. We'll continue to improve life for our families by making health care more affordable and available. We will expand health savings accounts. We will allow small businesses to join together so they can buy insurance at the same discount that big companies are able to do. We will help our families in need, and we will do something about these junk lawsuits that are making it hard to find good doctors in Pennsylvania. We have a difference of opinion on these lawsuits. My opponent has voted against medical liability reform not once, twice, three times but 10 times as a Member of the United States Senate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I understand the problem you face here in Pennsylvania. I've talked to too many ob gyns in this State that are having problems staying in practice. I've talked to too many expectant moms that are worried about their health care. I'm standing with the doctors of Pennsylvania. I'm standing with the patients of Pennsylvania. I am for medical liability reform now. In all we do to improve health care, we will make sure the decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. My opponent takes a different approach. He voted for the education reforms but now wants to weaken the accountability standards. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He's proposed a big Government health care plan. I remember that debate when he looked square in the camera and he said the Government didn't have anything to do with it, when he was talking about his health care plan. I could barely contain myself. The Government has got a lot to do with it. Eighty percent of the people end up on a Government run plan. The wrong prescription for American families is to federalize your health care. He can run from his record, but he cannot hide. The third clear choice involves your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage. I have kept my word. Seniors are already getting discounts on medicine with drug discount cards. And beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. My opponent has a record. He voted against the Medicare bill that included prescription drug coverage. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And his campaign is trying to scare our seniors when it comes to Social Security. But he forgets to mention that he is the one who voted to increase taxes on Social Security benefits eight times. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I have kept the promise of Social Security, and we will always keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors. And baby boomers like me and some others out there I see are in good shape when it comes to the Social Security trust. But we need to to worry about our children and our grandchildren. That's why I believe younger workers ought to be able to take some of their payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account, an account they call their own. In a new term, I will bring people together to strengthen Social Security for generations to come. The fourth clear choice in this election is on the values that are so crucial to keeping our families strong. I want the Democrats and Republicans, independents of western Pennsylvania to understand this I stand for marriage and family, which are the foundation of our society. I stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and every being counts. I proudly signed the ban on partial birth abortions. I stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. On issue after on these issues, my opponent and I are miles apart. He voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. There is a mainstream in American politics, and John Kerry sits on the far left bank. He can run from his record, but he cannot hide. The final choice Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. The final choice in this election is the most important of all because it concerns the security of your family. All progress in every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If this country shows uncertainty or weakness during these troubled times, the world will drift toward tragedy. This is not going to happen on my watch. Our strategy is clear. We are protecting our homeland. Tom Ridge, the former Governor of this great State, is doing a wonderful job. We're reforming and strengthening our intelligence capabilities. We are transforming our All Volunteer Army. There will be no draft. We are determined. We are relentless. We are steadfast. We're staying on the offensive. We are fighting the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. We're succeeding. Afghanistan is free and an ally in the war on terror. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are making raids and capturing terrorist leaders. Libya is dismantling its weapons program. The army of a free Iraq is fighting for freedom. Al Qaida no longer controls Afghanistan. We've shut down its camps there. We are systematically destroying the Al Qaida network. We are making progress on protecting the American people because we've got a great military. We will keep it a great military. And I want to thank those who wear our Nation's uniform for your service. I want to thank the military families who are here for your sacrifice for our country. I want to thank the veterans who are here for having set such a great example to those who wear the uniform. And I assure you, we'll make sure our troops have that which they need to complete their missions. That's why, in September of 2003, I went to the United States Congress and asked for 87 billion to support our troops in combat. It was a very important funding request. My opponent said on national TV that it would be irresponsible to vote against the funding for our troops. And then, because the political polls changed, he changed his position, and he did the irresponsible thing, and he voted against funding for our troops. Audience members. Flip flop! Flip flop! Flip flop! The President. And then he entered the flip flop hall of fame by saying this upon his entry, here is what he said "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, right before I voted against it." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I doubt many people in western Pennsylvania talk that way. Laughter He's given a lot of explanations since that vote, but I think the most revealing is this. He said, "The whole thing was a complicated matter." Laughter My fellow citizens, there is nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. Senator Kerry's record on national security has far deeper problems than election year reversals. For 20 years, on the largest national security issues, he has been consistently wrong. During the cold war I want the citizens of this of western Pennsylvania to hear the truth here during the cold war, Senator Kerry voted against critical weapons systems and opposed President Ronald Reagan's policy of peace through strength. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Ronald Reagan was right. When former President Bush assembled an international coalition to drive Saddam Hussein from Kuwait, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force to liberate Kuwait. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. One year after At this point, there was a disruption in the audience. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. One year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, the Senator proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence budget, so massive The disruption in the audience continued. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. So massive that his colleague Ted Kennedy opposed them. Well, history has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and we got to be fair Senator Kennedy was right. Laughter We have a difference of opinion. And as you gather up the vote, remind people about this difference of opinion as to how to better secure our Nation's families The disruption in the audience continued. The President. My opponent suggested America must pass a "global test" before we defend ourselves. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. I will always work with our friends and allies, but I will never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries. Senator Kerry says September the 11th didn't change him much at all. It changed me. It changed my outlook about how to better defend this country. I remember going to the ruins of the Twin Towers on September the 14th, 2001. It's a day I'll never forget. There were workers in hard hats there yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I remember the man who came out of the rubble, and he grabbed me by the arm. He looked me in the eye, and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I get up every morning trying to figure out how to better protect our country. I will never relent in defending this country, whatever it takes. Over the next 4 years, we will defend this country. We will use every asset at our disposal, and one of the most powerful assets we have is freedom. I believe in the power of liberty to transform societies. I want the youngsters here to realize what has happened in a short period of time in Afghanistan. It wasn't all that long ago that young girls could not go to school, and their mothers were taken into the public squares and whipped and sometimes shot in a sports stadium, because the ideologues of hate, the Taliban, had such a dim view of the world. Because we acted to defend ourselves, because we upheld the doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist," millions of citizens went to the polls to vote for their President. The first voter was a 19 year old woman. Freedom is on the march. And free societies help us keep the peace we all want. Iraq is still dangerous. That's because that country is headed toward democracy. There will be elections in Iraq in January. Think how far that country has come from the days of torture chambers and mass graves. I believe every person wants to live in a free society. I believe mothers and dads want to raise their children in a free and peaceful world. I believe this not because freedom is America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. We are living in historic times, and a lot is at stake in this election. The future safety and prosperity of America are on the ballot. The truth of the matter is, this election comes down to who do you trust who do you trust to make this country secure? Who do you trust to offer leadership and results in a time of challenge to America? If you believe that taxes should stay low so families can pay the bills and small businesses can expand and create jobs, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe in high standards for public schools, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe that patients and doctors should be in charge of health care, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe this Nation must honor the commitments of Medicare and strengthen Social Security for generations to come, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe that this Nation should honor marriage and family and make a place for the weak and the vulnerable, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe America should fight the war on terror with all our might and lead with unwavering confidence in our ideals, I ask you to come stand with me. If you are a Democrat who believes your party has turned too far to the left this year, I ask you to come stand with me. If you are a minority citizen and believe in free enterprise and good schools and the enduring values of family and faith, and if you are tired of your vote being taken for granted, I ask you to come stand with me. And if you are a voter who believes that the President of the United States should say what he means and do what he says and keep his word, I ask you to come stand with me. When I traveled your great State 4 years ago, I made a pledge that if elected, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. Thanks for coming. Thank you all. October 31, 2004 The President. Thank you all. Thank you all for coming. So Jeb said, "Why don't we go to Gainesville? Maybe a couple hundred will show up and say hello." I said, "Well, I'm more than willing to go." I can't thank you all enough for coming. Thanks for taking time out of your Sunday afternoon. You're lifting our spirits, and we appreciate it. I'm here to ask for your vote and your help. I'm here to ask you to take your friends and neighbors to the polls. Remind them we have a duty in our free country to vote. We have an obligation, in my judgment, to participate in our democratic system. Now, when you're lining up votes, of course look for our fellow Republicans and independents, but don't forget to get discerning Democrats to go to the polls, people like Senator Zell Miller from right north of here. And when you get them headed to the polls, remind them, if they want a safer America, a stronger America, and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office. Perhaps the most important reason of all to put me back in is so that Laura is the First Lady for 4 more years. Audience members. Laura! Laura! Laura! The President. I'm proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. I don't want to offend anybody here who's follically challenged, but I readily concede my runningmate doesn't have the waviest hair in the race. Laughter But I suspect the people of north central Florida are going to be pleased to know I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. I picked him because of his judgment. I picked him because of his experience. He's getting the job done for the American people. I'm proud of brother Jeb. What a great Governor, and what a great brother. Jeb and I share the same campaign consultant Mother. Laughter And my brother Marvin is with us too. I'm proud Marv is here. Thanks for coming, Marvin. I love my family, and I'm glad that I'm a fortunate man to have such a great family. Listen, I want to urge you, when you go to the polls, to vote for Mel Martinez for the next Senator of your State. I know him well. He'll make a great United States Senator for Florida. I want to thank Congressman Cliff Stearns for joining us today. He does a great job for the people of this part of the world. I want to thank all the other candidates, people running for office. I want to thank Carole Jean Jordan and all the grassroots activists who are here. I want to thank the Bellamy Brothers for being here. I'm proud to call them friend. I'm glad they are here. I want to thank you for what you have done. It takes a lot of work to turn out a crowd this big. I want to thank you for what you're going to do Call your friends call your neighbors turn them out. We'll carry Florida again and win a great victory on Tuesday. This election takes place in a time of great consequence. The person who sits in the Oval Office for the next 4 years will set the course of the war on terror and the direction of our economy. America will need strong, determined, optimistic leadership, and I am ready for the work ahead. My 4 years as your President have confirmed some lessons and have taught me some new ones. I've learned to expect the unexpected, because war can arrive quietly on a quiet morning. I have learned firsthand how hard it is to send young men and women into battle, even when the cause is right. I am grateful for the lessons I've learned from my parents Respect every person do your best live every day to its fullest. I have been strengthened by my faith and humbled by its reminder that every life is part of a larger story. I've learned how crucial it is for the American President to lead with clarity and purpose. As Presidents from Lincoln to Roosevelt to Reagan so clearly demonstrated, a President must not shift with the wind. A President should make the tough decisions and stand by them. The role of a President is not to follow the path of the latest polls the role of a President is to lead based on principle and conviction and conscience. During these 4 years, I've learned that whatever your strengths are, you're going to need them, and whatever your shortcomings are, people will notice them. Laughter Sometimes I'm a little too blunt. I get that from my mother. Sometimes I mangle the English language. I get that from my father. Laughter But all the time, no matter whether you agree with me or not, you know where I stand, what I believe, and where I'm going to lead. You cannot say that about my opponent. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I think it is fair to say that consistency is not his strong suit. I look at an issue and take a principled stand. As we've learned in this campaign, my opponent looks at an issue and tries to take every side. The people of Florida know the difference. And on Tuesday, Florida will vote for strong leadership and send me and Dick Cheney back to Washington. This election comes down to clear choices on five vital issues, issues facing every family in our country. The first clear choice concerns your family budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for our families. I kept my word. We doubled the child credit. We reduced the marriage penalty. We believe the code ought to encourage marriage, not penalize marriage. We dropped the lowest bracket to 10 percent. And as a result of these good policies, real after tax income the money in your pocket, the money you have available for spending is up by about 10 percent since I took office. And this economy of ours has been through a lot. The stock market was in serious decline 6 months prior to my arrival. Then we had a recession and corporate scandals and an attack on our country that cost us a million jobs in 3 months after September the 11th. But we acted. And our policies are paying off. Our economy is growing at rates as fast as any in nearly 20 years. We've added 1.9 million jobs in the last 13 months. Homeownership rate is at an all time high. More minority families own a home than ever before in our history. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong. Our small businesses are flourishing. Florida's farmers and ranchers are making a good living. The unemployment rate is 5.4 percent across this country. Let me put that in perspective for you That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. The unemployment rate in the great State of Florida is 4.5 percent. This economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. My opponent has an economic plan too. He voted to increase taxes 98 times. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That's in 20 years. That's five times a year, nearly. I would call that a predictable pattern, a leading indicator. In this campaign, he's also promised 2.2 trillion of new spending. That is trillion with a "T." That's a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. Laughter They asked him how he's going to pay for it. He threw out that same old, tired line, "We're going to tax the rich." By raising the top two brackets, you raise between 6 and 800 billion dollars. That's far short of the 2.2 trillion. There is a tax gap. And given his record, guess who he's going to ask to fill it? You. The good news is, we're not going to let him tax you we will carry Florida and win on November the 2d. The second clear choice in this election involves the quality of life for our Nation's families. I ran for President to challenge and end the soft bigotry of low expectations by reforming our schools. I kept my word. We passed education reforms to bring high standards to the classrooms of America. Math and reading scores are up. We're closing an achievement gap for minority students across this country. My vision for a new term is to build on these reforms and extend them to our high schools so that no child is left behind in America. We will continue to improve our lives for our families by making health care more available and affordable. We'll expand health savings accounts. We will allow small businesses to join together so they can buy insurance at the same discounts that big companies are able to do. We'll help our families in need. We'll help patients and doctors by getting rid of the frivolous and junk lawsuits that are running docs out of practice and running up your medicine. I'm standing with the families of Florida. I'm standing with the doctors of Florida. I am for medical liability reform now. In all we do to improve the health care for our families, we will make sure the decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. My opponent has a different approach. He voted for the education reform but now wants to weaken the accountability standards. He's proposing a big Government health care plan. You might remember in the debate, they said, "Talk about your health care plan." He looked straight in the camera, and he said, "The Government doesn't have anything to do with it." I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it. Eighty percent of the people on his plan end up on a Government plan. He's voted against medical liability reform 10 times. He's put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He can run from his record, but he cannot hide. The third clear choice in this election involves your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage. I kept my word. Seniors are getting discounts on medicine with drug discount cards. Low income seniors are getting help to pay for their prescription. And beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage through Medicare. My opponent has a record on this issue. He voted against the Medicare bill that included prescription drug coverage. In this campaign, he said he promised to repeal the bill, and then shortly thereafter, he promised to keep it. That sounds familiar. He also tries to scare our seniors about their Social Security, but he conveniently forgets that he's the one that voted eight times for higher taxes on Social Security benefits. He can run, but he cannot hide. I've kept the promise of Social Security for our seniors, and I will always keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors. But I understand we have a problem for the younger generation coming up. Baby boomers, like me and some others I see out there, are in pretty good shape when it comes to Social Security, but we need to worry about the younger folks. That's why I believe younger workers ought to be able to take some of their own payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account, a personal savings account they call their own. In a new term, I'll bring people together to strengthen Social Security for generations to come. The fourth clear choice in this elections are on the values that are so crucial to keeping our families strong. I stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. I stand for a culture of life in which every person counts and every being matters. I proudly signed the ban on partial birth abortion. I stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. On these issues, my opponent and I are miles apart. He said he would only appoint judges who pass his liberal litmus test. He was part of an extreme minority that voted against the Defense of Marriage Act, and he voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. There is a mainstream in American politics, and John Kerry sits on the far left bank. He can run from his liberal record, but he cannot hide. The final choice in this election is the most important one of all because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty or weakness during these troubled times, the world will drift toward tragedy. This is not going to happen on my watch. Our strategy is clear. We are strengthening protections for the homeland. We are reforming and strengthening our intelligence capabilities. We are transforming the United States military. The All Volunteer Army will remain an all volunteer army. There will be no draft. We are determined. We are relentless. We will stay on the offensive. We are fighting the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. And we're succeeding. Afghanistan is an ally in the war on terror. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are making raids and arrests. Libya is dismantling its weapons programs. The army of a free Iraq is fighting for freedom, and Al Qaida no longer controls territory like Afghanistan. They no longer have training camps there. We are systematically destroying the Al Qaida network across the world. More than three quarters of Al Qaida's key members and associates have been brought to justice, and the rest of them know we are on their trail. The leader must be consistent. The leader must not send mixed signals to the world. My opponent has taken a different approach. Senator Kerry says that we're better off with Saddam Hussein out of power, except when he says that removing Saddam made us less safe. He said in our second debate that he always believed Saddam was a threat, except a few questions later, when he insisted Saddam Hussein was not a threat. He said he was right when he voted to authorize the use of force against Saddam Hussein, but I was wrong to use force to remove Saddam Hussein. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. The problems of Senator Kerry's record on national security are deeper than election year reversals. For 20 years, on the largest national security issues of our time, he has been consistently wrong. During the cold war, Senator Kerry voted against critical weapons systems and opposed Ronald Reagan's policy of peace through strength. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Ronald Reagan was right. When former President Bush assembled an international coalition to drive Saddam Hussein from Kuwait, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force to liberate Kuwait. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. One year after the bombing the first bombing of the World Trade Center, the Senator proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence, so massive that even his fellow Massachusetts liberal, Ted Kennedy, would not support them. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and let's be fair about it Senator Kennedy was right. We will be relentless we will be strong we will be consistent in our security, in securing this country. And we've got a great United States military to help. I thank those who wear our Nation's uniform who are with us today. I thank the military families who are here with us today. And I thank the veterans who have set such a great example for those who wear the uniform. I assure you, we'll keep our commitment I made to the troops and their families and to our vets. We will make sure our troops have all the resources they need to complete their missions. That is why I went to the Congress in September of 2003 and asked for 87 billion of supplemental funding. It was important funding. It was necessary funding. It was funding to support troops in harm's way in both Iraq and Afghanistan. And we received great bipartisan support for that funding, so strong only 12 Members of the United States Senate voted against it, 2 of whom were my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Senator Kerry said on national TV prior to that vote that it would be irresponsible to vote against the troops. Then the polls began to change. And he did the irresponsible thing, and he voted against the troops. Then he entered the flip flop hall of fame by saying, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, right before I voted against it." He's given a lot of answers since then about that vote, but I think the most revealing of all is when he said, "The whole thing was a complicated matter." Laughter My fellow Americans, there's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. We have differences on how to best protect America's families. During one of the debates, my opponent said that America must pass a "global test" before we commit troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Some of you probably think I'm making that up. I heard him. He was standing right there. You see, to me that means that we've got to get permission before we get troops. I'll work with our allies. I'll continue to build alliances. But I will never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. A couple of weeks ago, Senator Kerry said that September the 11th didn't change him much at all. September the 11th changed me. It changed my outlook about what we need to do to protect this country. A few days after that attack, I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers, on September the 14th, 2001. It was a day I'll never forget. I'll never forget the sights and sounds. I will never forget the workers in hardhats who were yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I'll never forget the person that grabbed me by the arm, and he looked me in the eye, and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I wake up every morning trying to figure out how to better protect this country. I will never relent in the security of America, whatever it takes. During the next 4 years Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. During the next 4 years, we will use every asset at our disposal to wage a comprehensive strategy to defend you. And perhaps the strongest asset we have is freedom. I believe in the power of liberty to transform nations. Free nations do not breed resentments. Free nations do not export terror. Free nations become allies in the war on terror. And by spreading freedom, we'll achieve the peace we all want for our children and our grandchildren. I want the younger folks here to think about what's happened in Afghanistan in just 3 years. Society there was grim under the reign of the Taliban. These people were ideologues of hate. Young girls couldn't go to school. If their mothers didn't toe the line, they'd get whipped in the public square and sometimes executed in a sports stadium. But because we acted to defend ourselves, because we upheld a doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist," millions of people in that country went to the polls to vote for President. And the first voter was a 19 year old woman. Iraq is still dangerous. It's a dangerous place because that country is headed toward a free society. There will be elections in January. Think how far that country has come from the days of torture chambers and mass graves. Freedom is on the march, and America and the world are better for it. I believe everybody yearns to be free. Freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. These are historic times, and a lot is at stake in this election. The future safety and prosperity of America are on the ballot. Ultimately, though, this election comes down to who you can trust who you can trust to keep your families secure, who you can trust to spread prosperity. I proudly offer a record of leadership and results at a time of threat and challenge. If you believe that taxes should stay low so families can pay the bills and small businesses can create new jobs, I ask, come stand with me. If you believe in high standards for our public schools, I ask you, come stand with me. If you believe patients and doctors should be in charge of health care, I ask you, come stand with me. If you believe that this Nation must honor the commitments of Medicare and strengthen Social Security for generations to come, I ask, come stand with me. If you believe that this Nation should honor marriage and family and make a place for the weak and the vulnerable, I ask you, come stand with me. If you believe America should fight the war on terror with all our might and lead with unwavering confidence in our ideals, I ask you to come stand with me. If you are a Democrat who believes your party has turned too far to the left this year, I ask you to come stand with me. If you are a minority citizen and you believe that free enterprise and good schools and enduring values of family and faith, and if you're tired of your vote being taken for granted, I ask you to come stand with me. If you are a voter who believes that the President of the United States should say what he means and do what he says and keep his word, I ask you to come stand with me. Four years ago, when I traveled your State asking for the vote, I made a pledge that if elected, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. Thanks for coming. God bless. Thank you all. October 31, 2004 The President. Thank you all for coming. We're honored you're here. Thank you all. Thank you for coming. Thank you for being here. Thanks for taking time out of your Sunday morning to come by and say hello. Laura and I are honored you're here. I'm here to ask for your help. You need to get your friends and neighbors to go to the polls. You're voting today you're voting on Tuesday. Tell your friends and neighbors, in a free society, we have an obligation to vote. Tell them, if they want a safer America, a stronger America, and a better America por todos, to vote for me and Dick Cheney. Con su apoyo, vamos a ganar. The most important reason perhaps the most important reason to put me back in is so that Laura will be the First Lady for 4 more years. Audience members. Laura! Laura! Laura! The President. Que bella. Que magnifica. I want to thank my Vice President, who's working hard. He does not have the waviest hair in this race. I don't want to offend some of you out there who are follically challenged you'll be happy to hear I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. Laughter I picked him because of his experience. I picked him because of his judgment. He's getting the job done. I want to thank my hermanito. What a great Governor he is. He loves Miami, and he loves the people of Miami. And I want to thank First Lady Columba Bush for being such a gracious first lady for Florida. It's really important that when you get in that booth and get your friends to go to the booth to remember there's an important Senate race here in Florida. I'm going to say it as strongly as I can, Mel Martinez is the right man for Florida. And we love Kitty Martinez as well. She's a classy lady. I want to thank the three Congressmen from this part of the world that are here, starting with the Congresswoman from this district, Ileana Ros Lehtinen, mi amiga. Y tambien los hermanos, Diaz Balart, Lincoln y Mario. Thank you all for your steadfast and strong support. I appreciate Tom Gallagher being here. I want to thank Marco Rubio, who's here with us today. Listen, there are a lot of Democrats supporting my candidacy. There may be some here. You know the Democrat Party left you you didn't leave it. And I want to thank Miami Beach Mayor David Dermer, Democrats for Bush. Mr. Mayor, we are proud you're here. Thank you, sir. I want to thank all the other State and local officials. I know that there are some members of the 1972 Miami Dolphins football team here. Thank you all for coming. You guys haven't aged a bit. Laughter Thanks for setting such a great example. I want to thank the grassroots activists. I want to thank you all for putting up the signs. I want to thank you for making the phone calls. No doubt in my mind, we'll carry Florida again and win a great victory on Tuesday. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. This election takes place in a time of great consequence. The person who sits in the Oval Office for the next 4 years will set the course of the war on terror and the direction of our economy. America will need strong, determined, optimistic leadership. I am ready for the work ahead. My 4 years as your President has confirmed some lessons, and they've taught me some new ones. I've learned to expect the unexpected because horror can arrive suddenly on a quiet morning. I've learned firsthand how hard it is to send young men and women into battle, even if the cause is right. I'm grateful to the lessons I've learned from our parents Respect for every person do your best live every day to its fullest. I've been strengthened by my faith and humbled by its reminder and I've been humbled by its reminder that every life is part of a larger story. The President must lead with clarity and purpose. As Presidents from Lincoln to Roosevelt to Reagan so clearly demonstrated, a President must not shift in the wind. A President has to make the tough decisions and stand by them. The role of the President is not to follow the latest polls. The role of the President is to lead based upon principle and conviction and conscience, and that is how I will continue to lead this Nation. During the last 4 years, I've learned that whatever your strengths are, you're going to need them. And whatever your shortcomings, the people will notice them. Laughter Sometimes I am a little too blunt. I get that from my mother. Laughter Sometimes I mangle the English language. Laughter I get that from my dad. Laughter But all the time, whether you agree with me or not, you know where I stand, what I believe. And you can't say that about my opponent. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. It is fair to say that consistency is not his long suit. Laughter My opponent looks I look at an issue, and I take a principled stand. My opponent looks at an issue and tries to take every side. Laughter The people of Florida know the difference, and Tuesday, Florida will vote for strong leadership based upon conviction and consistency and support the Bush Cheney ticket. This election comes down to some clear choices on vital issues facing every American family. The first clear choice concerns your budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for America's families. I kept my word. We doubled the child credit. We reduced the marriage penalty. We dropped the lowest bracket to 10 percent so our working families would have more money in their pocket. The plan is working. Real after tax income that's the money you've got to spend is up about 10 percent since I took office. Our economy has been through a lot. When you're out gathering up the vote, remind people what the economy has been through. Six months prior to my arrival in Washington, the stock market was in serious decline. Then we had a recession and corporate scandals, and the attacks on our country cost us about a million jobs in the 3 months after the attack, after September the 11th. But we acted. I led. The tax relief is now leading our economy forward. It's working. America's economy is strong, and it's getting stronger. We added 1.9 million jobs in the last 13 months. The home ownership rate in America is at an alltime high. More minority families own a home than ever before in our Nation's history. Our farmers are making a living. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in America. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. And the unemployment rate in the great State of Florida is 4.5 percent. Our economic plans are working. My opponent has got a plan. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. It involves the promises he makes and the money he intends to take. For the Senator from Massachusetts, he's voted to raise taxes 98 times. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That's five times every year he's been in the Senate. I would call that a predictable pattern, a leading indicator. Laughter In this campaign he's also pledged to spend 2.2 trillion new dollars. That's a lot. That's trillion with a "T." Laughter That is even that's a lot for a Senator from Massachusetts. I mean, it's laughter . They asked him how he's going to pay for it, and he said he's just going to tax the rich. You've heard that before. By raising the top two brackets, you raise between 600 and 800 billion dollars. That's far short of the 2.2 trillion. That's what we call a tax gap. And guess who gets to fill the tax gap? Audience members. We do! The President. Yes, you do. We're not going to let him tax you we're going to carry Florida and win a victory. The second clear choice in this election involves the quality of life for our Nation's families. I ran for President to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations by reforming our schools. I kept my word. We passed education reforms to bring high standards to the classrooms, and reading and math scores are now on the rise. We're closing an achievement gap for minority students all across America. And we're not going to go back to the old days of low expectations and mediocrity. We'll continue to improve life for our families by making health care more affordable and available. We'll expand health savings accounts so small businesses can cover their workers and more families are able to save tax free with health care accounts they manage and call their own. We'll create association health plans so small businesses can join together and buy insurance at the same discounts that big companies can do. We'll help our families by expanding community health centers and making sure every eligible child is enrolled in our low income health insurance programs. And we will make sure health care is available and affordable by getting rid of these junk lawsuits that are running the docs out of practice. For the sake of quality health care, we need medical liability re form now. My vision is for better and more affordable health care where decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. My opponent has a different approach to these issues. He voted for education reform, but now he wants to weaken the accountability standards. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And he's proposing a big Government health care plan. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I heard him in the debates you probably did too when he said, "The Government doesn't have anything to do with it." That's what he said about his plan. I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got everything to do with it. And the wrong prescription for American families is to federalize health care in America. And when it comes to these lawsuits, my opponent has voted against medical liability reform not once but 10 times. And he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He can run, but he cannot hide. The third clear choice in this election involves your retirement. We made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage. I kept my word. Seniors are already getting discounts on medicine with drug discount cards. Low income seniors are getting direct help to pay for prescriptions. And beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. My opponent has got a record on this issue. He voted against the Medicare bill that included prescription drug coverage. In this campaign, he's promised to repeal the bill, and then he promised to keep it. Laughter Audience members. Flip flop! Flip flop! Flip flop! The President. It sounds familiar, doesn't it? He doesn't change positions only on national security issues. Laughter He also tries to scare seniors about their Social Security. But he forgets to mention that he is the one who voted eight times to raise taxes on Social Security benefits. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He can run from that record Audience members. But he cannot hide! The President. I've kept the promise of Social Security for our seniors. I will always keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren when it comes to Social Security. We need to worry about whether the system will be there when they need it. That's why I believe younger workers ought to take some of their personal payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account, an account they call their own. The fourth clear choice Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. The fourth choice in this election is on the values that are so crucial to keeping our families strong. I stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. I stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and every being counts. I proudly signed the ban on partial birth abortion. I stand for appointing judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. On these issues, my opponent and I are miles apart. He voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. He voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He said there would be a litmus test when it came to appointing judges. There is a mainstream in American politics, and John Kerry sits on the far left bank. Laughter He can At this point, there was a disruption in the audience. The President. Yes, he can run from being the most liberal Senator Audience members. Viva Bush! Viva Bush! Viva Bush! The President. The final choice in this election is most important of all because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty or weakness during these troubled times, the world will drift toward tragedy. This is not going to happen on my watch. Our strategy is clear. We've strengthened protections for the homeland. We're reforming and strengthening our intelligence capabilities. We're transforming the army. We will have no draft the army will remain an all volunteer army. We are staying on the offensive. We're chasing the terrorists around the globe. We will find them and bring them to justice so we do not have to face them here at home. Pakistan was we're making progress. Every day, we're making progress. Afghanistan is now an ally in the war on terror. Pakistan and Saudi are making raids and arrests. Libya is dismantling its weapons programs. An army of a free Iraq is fighting for freedom. And Al Qaida no longer controls Afghanistan. We shut down its camps. We are systematically destroying the Al Qaida network around the world. More than three quarters of Al Qaida have been brought to justice, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. My opponent has taken a different approach except when he hadn't. Laughter Here again, consistency has not been his long suit. The Commander in Chief must be consistent in this dangerous world. Senator Kerry says that we're better off with Saddam Hussein out of power except when he says that removing Saddam made us less safe. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He said in our second debate that he always believed Saddam was a threat except, a few questions later, when he insisted Saddam Hussein was not a threat. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He says he was right when he voted to authorize the use of force against Saddam Hussein, but that I was wrong to use force against Saddam Hussein. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. The problem with Senator Kerry's record on national security are deeper than election year flip flops. For 20 years, on the largest national security issues of our time, he has been consistently wrong. During the cold war, Senator Kerry voted against crucial weapons systems and opposed President Ronald Reagan's policy of peace through strength. History Audience members. Boo o o! The President. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Ronald Reagan was right. When former President Bush assembled an international coalition to drive Saddam Hussein from Kuwait, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. Only a year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, the Senator proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence budget, cuts so extreme that even his fellow Massachusetts colleague, Ted Kennedy, voted against the cuts. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. History has shown Senator Kerry was wrong and let's be generous about this Senator Kennedy was right. Laughter Just one year ago, I went to the Congress and proposed 87 billion in funding to support our troops in combat. The Commander in Chief must support our troops in harm's way. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. Prior to the vote, on national TV, Senator Kerry said it would be irresponsible to vote against the troops. Audience member. Inaudible Laughter The President. And then he did the irresponsible thing He voted against the troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And then he entered the flip flop hall of fame laughter by saying, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, right before I voted against it." Laughter He's given several explanation since then, but the most revealing perhaps the most revealing is when he said, "The whole thing was a complicated matter." There's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. The differences on how we'll defend our families are significant. My opponent said in one of the debates that America must pass a "global test." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I'm not making that up. I heard him. So did you. We'll work with our friends and allies, but I will never, ever turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries. Recently, my opponent said September the 11th "didn't change him much at all," end quote. Well, September the 11th changed me. My eyes are wide open to the realities of this world. I fully understand my duty to protect the American people. A few days after the attacks of September the 11th, I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers. I will never forget the sights and sounds of that day, workers in hardhats yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I remember the man grabbed me by the arm. He looked me square in the eye, and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day from that day forward, I've gotten up every morning thinking about how to better protect our country. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes. We will use all the assets at our disposal to protect America. We will wage a relentless, comprehensive campaign to protect you. And one of the most powerful, powerful assets we have is freedom. We believe in the power of liberty to transform societies. Free nations do not breed resentments and export terror. Free nations become allies in the war on terror. Think about what has happened in Afghanistan in a relatively brief period of time. It wasn't all that long ago that young girls couldn't go to school and their mothers were taken into the public square and whipped because the ideologues of hate, the Taliban, had such a dim view of the world. Because we acted in our self interest, because we upheld the doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you are equally as guilty as the terrorist," millions of people went to the polls in Afghanistan to vote for their President. The first voter was a 19 year old woman. Iraq is dangerous, but it's moving toward elections. There will be elections in January. Think about how far that country has come from the days of torture chambers and mass graves. Freedom is on the march, and America and the world are better for it. And over the next 4 years, we will continue to press hard and ensure that the gift of freedom finally reaches the men and women of Cuba. Audience members. Viva Bush! Viva Bush! Viva Bush! The President. We will not rest we will not rest. We will keep the pressure on until the Cuban people enjoy the same freedoms in Havana they receive here in America. I strongly believe the people of Cuba should be free from the tyrant. I believe that everybody yearns to be free. Freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. My fellow citizens, these are historic times, and a lot is at stake in this election. The future safety and prosperity of America are on the ballot. Ultimately, this election comes down to who can you trust. Audience members. You! The President. I offer a record of leadership and results in a time of challenge, and I ask for your vote. If you believe that taxes should stay low so families can pay the bills and small businesses can expand and our economy can continue to create new jobs, I ask you, come stand with me. If you believe in high standards for our public schools and parents and doctors patients and doctors should be in charge of health care, I ask you, come stand with me. If you believe that this Nation must honor the commitments of Medicare and strengthen Social Security for the next generation, I ask you, come stand with me. If you believe that this Nation should honor family and marriage and make a place for the weak and vulnerable, I ask you, come stand with me. If you believe America should fight the war on terror with all our might and lead with unwavering confidence in our ideals, I ask you, come stand with me. If you are a Democrat who believes your great party has turned too far left in this year, I ask you, come stand with me. If you are a minority citizen and you believe in free enterprise and good schools and the enduring values of family and faith, if you're tired of your vote being taken for granted, I ask you, come stand with me. If you are a voter who believes that the President of the United States should say what he means and do what he says and keep his word, I ask you, come stand with me. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. When I traveled your State 4 years ago, I made this pledge, that if I got elected, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office to which I had been elected. With your help con su apoyo, I will do so for 4 more years. Gracias. Vamos a ganar. Thank you all. October 31, 2004 The President. Thank you all. Thank you all for coming. I am here to ask for your vote, and I am here to ask for your help. We have come to the great city of Cincinnati, Ohio, asking for you to turn your friends and neighbors out to the polls on Tuesday. With your help, we will carry Ohio again and win a great victory on Tuesday. Perhaps the most important reason of all to put me back into office is so that Laura will be the First Lady for 4 more years. I'm proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. I admit it, he does not have the waviest hair in the race. Laughter You all will be happy to know I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. I picked him because of his judgment, his experience. He's getting the job done for the American people. I want to thank one of Cincinnati's great citizens, Johnny Bench, for having introduced me today. We can judge a person by the company he keeps, and I'm keeping good company up here on this stage. I'm proud you're here, Johnny. Thank you very much. I'm proud to be here with some elected officials from the great State of Ohio. Governor Bob Taft and First Lady Hope Taft are with us. Thank you for coming. Senator Mike DeWine. Senator George Voinovich is out campaigning, but put him back into office for 6 more years. I'm proud to be here with Senator Jim Bunning from Kentucky, and I hope the citizens of Kentucky put him back into office. And we love Mary as well. Steve Chabot, the Congressman from this district, is with us. Congressman, thank you. My friend Congressman Rob Portman is with us tonight. Thank you for being here, Rob. The Lieutenant Governor from Ohio, Jennette Bradley, is with us. State Treasurer Joe "Write in My Name" Deters is with us. I want to thank Betty Montgomery. I want to thank all the State and local officials. I want to thank Mike Sodrel, who is from the Indiana Ninth Congressional District. I strongly support Mike's bid for the United States Congress. And I strongly support the bid of Geoff Davis from Kentucky's Fourth Congressional District. I want to thank my friend Anthony Munoz for being here today. I'm proud to call him friend. Marty Brennaman. I want to thank my friend Larry Gatlin and brother Rudy for joining us today. Yes. I want to thank the Wil Gravatt Band. But most of all, I want to thank you all. I want to thank the people who have been putting up the signs and making the phone calls and doing all the hard work. You're turning out this vote on Tuesday. This election takes place in a time of great consequence. The person who sits in the Oval Office for the next 4 years will set the course of the war on terror and the direction of our economy. America will need strong, determined, optimistic leadership, and I am ready to get the job done for 4 more years. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. My 4 years as your President confirmed some lessons and taught some new ones. I've learned to expect the unexpected. I've learned firsthand how hard it is to send young men and women into battle. I am grateful for the lessons I have learned from my parents Respect every person do your best live every day to its fullest. I've been strengthened by my faith and humbled by its reminder that every life is part of a larger story. I understand how crucial it is for the American President to lead with clarity and purpose. As Presidents from Lincoln to Roosevelt to Reagan so clearly demonstrated, a President must not shift with the wind. A President has to make tough decisions and stand by them. The role of the President is not to follow the path of the latest polls. The role of a President is to lead based on principle and conviction and conscience. During these 4 years, I've learned that whatever your strengths are, you are going to need them, and whatever your shortcomings are, people will notice them. Sometimes I'm a little too blunt. I get that from my mother. Laughter Sometimes I mangle the English language. I get that from my dad. Laughter But all the time, whether you agree with me or not, you know where I stand, what I believe, and where I'm going to lead. You cannot say that about my opponent. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I think it's fair to say that consistency is not his strong suit. Laughter I look at an issue and take a principled stand. My opponent looks at an issue and tries to take every side. And the people of Ohio know the difference. And that's one of the reasons why on Tuesday we're going to carry your great State. This election comes down to clear choices on five vital issues facing every American family. The first clear choice concerns your family's budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for American families. I kept my word. We doubled the child credit. We reduced the marriage penalty. We believe the Tax Code ought to encourage, not penalize marriage. We reduced taxes on everybody who pays taxes. As a result of these good policies, real after tax income the money in your pocket to spend on groceries or house payments or rent is up 10 percent since I took office. When you're out there convincing your friends and neighbors to vote, remind them what our economy has been through. Six months prior to my arrival in Washington, the stock market was in serious decline. And then we faced the recession and corporate scandals and an attack on our country that cost us a million jobs in just 3 months after the attack. But we acted. Our economy is creating jobs and growing faster than any major economy in the world. We've added homeownership rate is at an alltime high in America. More minorities own a home today than ever before in our Nation's history. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong. Small businesses are flourishing all across the State of Ohio. Ohio farmers are making a living. We added more than 1.9 million new jobs in the last 13 months. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. I've traveled your State a lot. I know that in certain areas of this State, people are struggling. But we're making progress. Ohio added 5,500 new jobs last month. Your unemployment rate has gone from 6.3 to 6 percent in one month. This economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. My opponent has an economic plan too. He voted to increase taxes 98 times in the 20 years he's been in the United States Senate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That's five times every year he's been in the Senate. I would call that a leading indicator laughter a predictable pattern. Couple that with the fact that he's promised 2.2 trillion in new Federal spending that's trillion with a "T." That's a lot laughter even for a Senator from Massachusetts. Laughter They asked him how he's going to pay for it. He said, "Oh, we'll just tax the rich." The problem is, is that by raising the top two brackets, one, you penalize the small business sector of this country, and secondly, you only raise between 600 and 800 billion dollars. That's far short of the 2.2 trillion. That's what I would call a tax gap. Given his record, it's not hard to figure out who's going to fill that tax gap. You are. But the good news is, we're not going to let him tax you we're going to win Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. The second clear choice in this election involves the quality of life for our Nation's families. I ran for President to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations by reforming our public schools. I kept my word. We passed education reforms to bring high standards to the classroom. Math and reading scores are now on the rise. We're closing the achievement gap for minority children all across this country. My vision for a new term is to build on these reforms and extend them to our high schools so that no child is left behind in America. We'll continue to improve life for our families by making health care more affordable and available. We'll expand health savings accounts. We'll allow small businesses to join together and buy insurance at the same discounts that big companies are able to buy insurance for. We'll help our families in need by expanding community health centers. And we will help Ohio families and patients and doctors by getting rid of the frivolous and junk lawsuits that make health care too expensive. In all we do to improve health care, we will make sure the medical decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. As you can imagine, my opponent has a different approach. He voted for the education reform but now wants to weaken the accountability standards. He's proposing a big Government health care plan. I don't know if you remember the debate when they said, "Tell us about your health care plan." And one of the things he said was, "The Government doesn't have anything to do with it." I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it. Eighty percent of the people would end up on the Government plan with his vision. And that is the wrong prescription for American families. Now, we got a different point of view when it comes to our docs and patients. He voted against medical liability reform 10 times, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He can run, but he cannot hide. The third clear choice in this election involves your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage. I kept my word. Seniors are already getting discounts on medicine with drug discount cards. Low income seniors are getting direct help to pay for prescriptions. And beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. My opponent has got a record on that. He voted against the Medicare bill that included prescription drugs. In the campaign, he's promised to repeal the bill, and then shortly thereafter, he promised to keep it. Sounds familiar. He tries to scare seniors about their Social Security. But he forgets to mention that he is the one who voted eight times to raise taxes on Social Security benefits. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I have kept the promise of Social Security for our seniors. And I'll always keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors. And the Social Security trust is in pretty good shape for baby boomers like me and a couple of other folks I see out there. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren when it comes to Social Security. We need to worry about whether or not the Social Security system will be there when they retire. And that is why I believe younger workers ought to be allowed to take some of their payroll taxes and put it in a personal savings account, an account that earns a better interest, an account they call their own. The fourth clear choice in this election is on the values that are so crucial to keeping our families strong. I stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. I stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and every being counts. And I proudly signed the ban on partial birth abortion. And I stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. On these issues, my opponent and I are miles apart. He said he would only appoint judges who pass a liberal litmus test. He was part of an extreme minority that voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. He voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. There is a mainstream in American politics, and my opponent sits on the far left bank. Laughter He can run from his record, but he cannot hide. The final choice in this election is the most important of all because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty or weakness during these troubled times, this world will drift toward tragedy. This is not going to happen on my watch. Since that terrible morning of September the 11th, 2001, we've fought the terrorists across the Earth, not for pride, not for power but because the lives of our citizens are at stake. Our strategy is clear. We've strengthened protections for the homeland. We're reforming and strengthening our intelligence services. We're transforming our military. There will be no draft. The All Volunteer Army will remain an all volunteer army. We are fighting the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. We are determined. We are relentless. And we are succeeding. Afghanistan is free and is an ally in the war on terror. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are making raids and capturing terrorist leaders. Libya is dismantling its weapons programs. The army of a free Iraq is fighting for freedom. And Al Qaida no longer controls Afghanistan. We've shut down its camps. We are systematically destroying the Al Qaida network across the world. More than three quarters of Al Qaida's known leaders and associates have been brought to justice. And the rest of them know we're on their trail. And one of the reasons we're protecting America better than we have in the past is because we've got a great United States military. I'm proud to be the Commander in Chief of such a fine group of people. I want to thank the military families who have joined us today for your sacrifices. I want to thank the veterans who are here for having set such a great example to those who wear the uniform. And I assure you, we'll keep our commitment to our troops. We'll make sure they have that which they need to complete their missions. That's why I went to the United States Congress in September of 2003 and asked for 87 billion of supplemental funding. That was vital funding. That was necessary funding. That was important funding. And we received great support. As a matter of fact, only 12 Members of the United States Senate voted against that funding, 2 of whom were my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. On national TV, Senator Kerry said it would be irresponsible to vote against the troops. And then when the vote came around, he did the irresponsible thing and voted against the troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And then he entered the flip flop hall of fame by saying this laughter "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, right before I voted against it." Audience members. Flip flop! Flip flop! Flip flop! The President. He's given several explanations for that vote since, but perhaps the most revealing of all was when he said, "The whole thing was a complicated matter." My fellow Americans, there is nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. Senator Kerry has a pattern of switching positions in this campaign. In the second debate, he said he always believed Saddam Hussein was a threat except, a few questions later, when he insisted Saddam Hussein was not a threat. He said he was right when he voted to authorize the use of force against Saddam Hussein but that I was wrong to use force against Saddam Hussein. Yet, the problems with Senator Kerry's record on national security are deeper than election year reversals. For 20 years, on the largest national security issues of our time, he has been consistently wrong. During the cold war, Senator Kerry voted against critical weapon systems and opposed President Ronald Reagan's policy of peace through strength. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Ronald Reagan was right. When former President Bush assembled an international coalition to drive Saddam Hussein from Kuwait, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force to liberate that country. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. Only a year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, the Senator proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence, cuts so extreme that his fellow Massachusetts Senator opposed them. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and we've got to be fair Senator Kennedy was right. Laughter We have big differences about how to protect you, about how to protect America's families. In one of the debates, Senator Kerry said we must be subject to a "global test" before we commit troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I'm not making that up. Laughter He wasn't standing that far away from me when he said it. Laughter The best I can tell, my opponent's "global test" means that America must get permission from foreign capitals before taking action to defend our country. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I'll build on our alliances. I will work with our friends and allies to protect ourselves and to protect freedom. But I will never submit America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries. Senator Kerry the other day said that September the 11th didn't change him much. September the 11th changed my outlook. I remember standing in the ruins of the Twin Towers on September the 14th, 2001. It's a day I will never forget. There were workers in hardhats yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I remember the first responder who had just come out of the rubble who grabbed me by the arm, and he looked me square in the eye, and he said, "Don't let me down." Ever since that day, I wake up every morning trying to figure out how to better protect our country. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. We will continue to use all our Nation's assets to protect the American people. We will wage a comprehensive strategy to protect you. Perhaps the strongest asset we have is freedom. See, I believe in the power of liberty to transform societies. I believe free nations do not breed resentments and export terror. Free nations become allies in the war on terror. Freedom will help us keep the peace we all long for for our children. Think about what's happened in the recent history of the world. It wasn't all that long ago that young girls couldn't go to school in Afghanistan because that country was run by the barbarians called the Taliban. And if their mothers didn't toe their line of ideological hatred, they would be whipped in the public square and sometimes executed in the sports stadium. But because we acted to defend ourselves, because we acted to uphold a doctrine which said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist," millions of people went to the polls to vote for a President in Afghanistan. The first voter was a 19 year old woman. Iraq is a dangerous place today because Iraq is moving toward freedom. There will be elections in Iraq in January. And think how far that society has come from the days of torture chambers and mass graves. Freedom is on the march in this world, and America is more secure because of it. Much of our foreign policy is driven by my deep belief that everybody yearns to be free. See, freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. These are historic times, and a lot is at stake in this election. The future safety and prosperity of America are on the ballot. But ultimately, this election comes down to who can you trust who can you trust to provide security for your family? Who can you trust to make sure this economy continues to grow? If you believe that taxes should stay low so families can pay the bills and small businesses can create jobs, I ask, come stand with me. If you believe in high standards for our public schools, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe that patients and doctors should be in charge of the health care, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe this Nation must honor the commitments of Medicare and strengthen Social Security for generations to come, I ask you, come stand with me. If you believe this Nation should honor marriage and family and make a place for the weak and the vulnerable, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe that America should fight the war on terror with all our might and lead with unwavering confidence in our ideals, I ask you to come stand with me. If you are a Democrat who believes your party has turned too far to the left this year, I ask you to come stand with me. If you are a minority citizen and you believe in free enterprise and good schools and the enduring values of family and faith, and if you're tired of your vote being taken for granted, I ask you to come stand with me. And if you are a voter who believes that the President of the United States should say what he means and do what he says and keep his word, I ask you to come stand with me. In 2000, when I campaigned across the State of Ohio and Indiana and Kentucky, I made this pledge I said if I got elected, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office to which I had been elected. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. God bless, and thanks for coming. Thank you all. October 31, 2004 The President. Thank you all for coming. We really appreciate you coming out on a Sunday afternoon. I'm here to ask for your vote, and I'm here to ask for your help. Find your friends and neighbors and tell them we have a duty to vote, and get them going to the polls. Turn the Republicans out. Turn the independents out. Find discerning Democrats like my friend the former mayor of Tampa, who is a Bush supporter, Dick Greco, like Senator Zell Miller from Georgia. When you get them going to the polls, tell them, if they want a safer America, a stronger America, and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office. Perhaps the most important reason why you should put me back in is so that Laura will be the First Lady for 4 more years. Audience members. Laura! Laura! Laura! The President. I'm proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. I readily concede he doesn't have the waviest hair in the race. Laughter You'll be happy to hear I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. I picked him because of his experience. I picked him because of his judgment. He's getting the job done for the American people. I am proud of your Governor, my brother Jeb Bush. He is doing a fabulous job. We both share the same campaign consultant Mother. Laughter My brother Marvin is with us too, and I want to thank Marv for coming. He's the good looking one. Laughter I'm proud to be introduced by General Norman Schwarzkopf, a great American and a great general. I want to thank his daughter, Jessica, for joining us today. I want to thank my friend Congressman Mike Bilirakis for being here today. I want to thank Congressman Adam Putnam for being here today. I want to thank the Lieutenant Governor and the attorney general for being with us today. I want to urge you, when you go to the polls, make sure you vote for Mel Martinez as the United States Senator. And I appreciate his wife, Kitty, joining us. I want to thank my friend Mayor Greco for joining us. I want to thank Mel Tillis for being here. Mel, I'm proud you're here. Tino Martinez how good does that get? Thanks for coming, Tino. I want to thank all the grassroots activists who are here, the people putting up the signs, the people making the phone calls. I want to thank you for what you have done. I want to thank you for what you're going to do over the next 48 hours. You're going to turn out the vote. We'll win Florida again and win a great victory in November. This election takes place in a time of great consequence. The person who sits in the Oval Office for the next 4 years will set the course in the war on terror and the direction of our economy. This country needs strong, determined, optimistic leadership, and I'm ready for the job. My 4 years as your President have confirmed some lessons and taught me some new ones. I have learned to expect the unexpected because horror can arrive quietly quickly on a quiet morning. I've learned firsthand how hard it is to send young men and women into battle, even when the cause is right. I'm grateful for the lessons I've learned from my parents Respect every person do your best live every day to its fullest. And I've been strengthened by my faith and humbled by its reminder that every life is part of a larger story. The American President must lead with clarity and purpose. As Presidents from Lincoln to Roosevelt to Reagan so clearly demonstrated, a President must not shift with the wind. The President has to make tough decisions and stand by them. The role of a President is not to follow the path of the latest polls. The role of the President is to lead based on principle, conviction, and conscience. During these 4 years, I've learned that whatever your strengths are, you're going to need them. And whatever your shortcomings are, the people will notice them. Laughter Sometimes I am a little too blunt. I get that from my mother. Sometimes I mangle the English language. I get that from my father. But all the time, whether you agree with me or not, you know where I stand, what I believe, and where I'm going to lead. You can't say that about my opponent. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. It is fair to say that consistency is not his long suit. I look at an issue and take a principled stand. My opponent looks at an issue and tries to take every side. And the people of Florida know the difference. And Tuesday, Florida will vote for strong, consistent, convicted conviction and new and our leadership. Florida will go to the polls and make sure that Bush Cheney has got 4 more years. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. This election comes down to some clear choices on vital issues for American families. The first clear choice concerns your family budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for American families. I kept my word. We doubled the child credit. We reduced the marriage penalty. We dropped the lowest bracket to 10 percent so working families can have more money to spend. As a result of these policies, real after tax income that would be money in your pocket is up by about 10 percent since I took office. We've been through a lot. When you're out rounding up the vote, remind people that the stock market was in serious decline 6 months prior to my arrival. Then we had a recession and corporate scandals and the attack on our country that cost us a million jobs in 3 months. But we acted. And because we acted, our economy is growing again. We're creating new jobs. Our economy is growing at rates as fast as any in nearly 20 years. We added 1.9 million new jobs in the last 13 months. Homeownership rate is at an alltime high. More minority families own a home than ever before in our history. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in America. Small businesses are flourishing. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. And in Florida, the unemployment rate is 4.5 percent. This economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. My opponent has an economic plan. It involves the promises he makes and the money he intends to take from you. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He's got a record. He's got a record. He's voted to increase taxes 98 times in the 20 years he was in the Senate. That's five times every year he was in the Senate. That's a predictable pattern. That's a leading indicator. He's also promised 2.2 trillion in new Federal spending. That's trillion with a "T." That's a lot. That's a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. They asked him how he's going to pay for it. He said, "Oh, don't worry, we'll just tax the rich." You have heard that before. The problem is, when you raise the top two brackets, you only raise between 600 and 800 billion dollars. That is far short of the 2.2 trillion he has promised. That's a tax gap. Given his record, guess who's going to get to fill the tax gap? You are. We're not going to let him tax you we're going to carry Florida and win on November the 2d. Second clear choice involves the quality of life for our Nation's families. I ran for President to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations by reforming our public schools. I have kept my word. We passed education reforms to bring high standards to our classrooms. Reading and math scores are on the rise. We're closing the achievement gap by helping our minority students. My vision for a new term is to build on these reforms and extend them still to our high schools so that no child is left behind in America. We'll continue to improve life for our families by making health care more affordable and available. We will expand health savings accounts so more small businesses can cover their workers and more families are able to save tax free for health care accounts they manage and call their own. We will expand association health plans to help small businesses. They should be allowed to join together to share risk so they can buy insurance at the same discounts big companies do. We will expand community health centers to help the poor and the indigent, and we'll make sure every eligible child is enrolled in our low income health insurance program. And to make sure health care is available and affordable, we will do something about the junk lawsuits that are running good doctors out of practice and running up the cost of health care. I am for medical liability reform now. In all we do to reform health care, the decisions will be made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. My opponent has a different approach. He voted for education reform but now wants to weaken the accountability standards. He has proposed a big Government health care plan. You might remember one of our debates when he looked square in the camera and said when they asked him about his health care plan, he said, "The Government doesn't have anything to do with it." I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it. Eighty percent of the people would be signed up to a Government program under his plan. Eight million Americans would lose their private health insurance and end up on a Government program. He's voted against medical liability reform 10 times. He put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Federalizing health care is the wrong prescription for American families. He can run, but he cannot hide. The third clear choice in this election involves your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage. I kept my word. Seniors are already getting discounts on medicine with drug discount cards. Low income seniors are getting direct help to pay for prescription drugs. And beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. My opponent has a record. He voted against the Medicare bill that included prescription drug coverage. Remind your friends and neighbors of that when they're headed to the polls. In this campaign, he promised to repeal the Medicare bill, and then he's promised to keep it. Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Audience members. Flip flop! Flip flop! Flip flop! The President. He tries to scare seniors about their Social Security. But he forgot to mention he's the one who voted to tax Social Security benefits eight times. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I have kept the promise of Social Security for our seniors, and I will always keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors. But I also know the job of a President is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. That's why in a new term, I'll work with members of both political parties to make sure the Social Security system is strengthened for a younger generation to come. The fourth clear choice in this election is on the values that are crucial to keeping our families strong. I stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. I stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and every being counts. And I proudly signed the ban on partial birth abortions. I stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. On these issues, my opponent and I are miles apart. He said he would only appoint judges who pass a liberal litmus test. He was part of the extreme minority who voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. He voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. There is a mainstream in American politics, and John Kerry sits on the far left bank. He can run from that liberal record, but he cannot hide. The final choice in this election is the most important of all because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty or weakness during these troubling times, the world will drift toward tragedy. This is not going to happen on my watch. Our strategy is clear. We're strengthening our homeland. We're reforming and strengthening the intelligence capabilities. We will transform our military. There will be no draft. The All Volunteer Army will remain an all volunteer army. We are steadfast. We are determined. We are staying on the offensive so we do not have to face the terrorists here at home. And we're making progress. Afghanistan is an ally in the war on terror. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are making raids and arrests. Libya is dismantling its weapons program. The army of a free Iraq is fighting for freedom. Al Qaida no longer controls territory like it did in Afghanistan. We have shut down its camps. We are systematically destroying the Al Qaida network across the world. More than three quarters of Al Qaida's key members and associates have been brought to justice. And the rest of them know we're on their trail. My opponent has taken a different approach except when he hadn't. Laughter Consistency is not his long suit, as I mentioned. Senator Kerry says we're better off with Saddam out of power except when he said that removing Saddam made us less safe. He said in our second debate that he always believed Saddam was a threat except, a few questions later, when he insisted Saddam Hussein was not a threat. He says he was right when he voted to authorize the use force against Saddam Hussein but I was wrong to use force against Saddam Hussein. The problems with the problem with my opponent's record on national security are deeper than election year reversals. For 20 years, on the largest national security issues of our time, he has been consistently wrong. During the cold war, Senator Kerry voted against critical weapons systems and opposed President Reagan's policy of peace through strength. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Ronald Reagan was right. When President when former President Bush assembled an international coalition led by General Norman Schwarzkopf to drive Saddam Hussein from Kuwait, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force to liberate Kuwait. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. One year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, the Senator proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence. The cuts were so extreme that even his fellow Massachusetts Senator, Ted Kennedy, voted against them. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and let's be fair Senator Kennedy was right. I know there are some members of the military with us today, and I want to thank you for your dedication. I want to thank you for your service. I want to thank the military families who are with us today. And I want to thank the veterans who have joined us today. I want to thank our veterans for having set such a great example to those who wear our Nation's uniform. And I want to assure you like I've assured families all across our country, we will make sure our troops have that which they need to complete their missions. That is why I went to the United States Congress last September September of 2003 and asked for 87 billion in funding to support our troops in both Afghanistan and Iraq. On national TV, my opponent said it would be irresponsible to vote against the troops. And then he did the irresponsible thing and he voted against the funding for our troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And then he entered the flip flop hall of fame by saying, quote, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, right before I voted against it." Audience members. Flip flop! Flip flop! Flip flop! The President. He's given several answers since then, but perhaps the most illustrative is when he said, "The whole thing is a complicated matter." My fellow Americans, there's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. We have a difference of opinion on how to protect our families. You might remember in one of the debates, my opponent said there must be a "global test" before we commit troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I'm not making that up. I heard him loud and clear. As far as I can tell, that means America must submit to the will of others before we defend ourselves. Listen, I'll work to build alliances. I will strengthen our coalitions. But I will never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries. My opponent was recently said that September the 11th didn't change him much at all. Well, September the 11th changed me. It changed my outlook about what we need to do to protect the American people. I remember standing in the ruins of the Twin Towers on September the 14th, 2001. I remember the sights and sounds of that day. There were workers in hardhats yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I remember the man who grabbed me by the arm. He looked me square in the eye, and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I wake up every morning trying to better figure figure out how to better protect the American people. I will never relent in defending our country, whatever it takes. We will use all our assets to protect the American people. We will wage a comprehensive strategy to protect you. Perhaps the biggest asset we have of all is freedom. I believe in the power of liberty to transform nations. Free nations do not breed resentment and export terror. Free nations become allies in the war on terror. Think about what's happening in Afghanistan in a relatively brief period of time. I want the youngsters to hear what life was like in that country 3 1 2 years ago. Young girls couldn't go to school. And if their mothers didn't toe the line of the ideologues of hate, they were taken into the public square and whipped and sometimes killed in a sports stadium. Because we acted in our self defense, because we upheld a doctrine that I clearly laid out that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist," millions of citizens in Afghanistan voted in a Presidential election. And the first voter was a 19 year old woman. Iraq is dangerous. It's dangerous because Iraq is heading toward a free society. There will be Presidential elections in January. Think how far that country has come from the days of torture chambers and mass graves. Freedom is on the march, and America is more secure for it. I believe that everybody yearns to be free. Freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. These are historic times, and there is a lot at stake in this election. The future and safety the future safety and prosperity of America are on the ballot. Ultimately, this election comes down to who do you trust who do you trust to lead this Nation? I offer a record of leadership and results at a time of threat and challenge. If you believe that taxes should stay low so families can pay their bills and small businesses can create new jobs, I ask you, come stand with me. If you believe in high standards for our public schools, I ask you, come stand with me. If you believe patients and doctors should be in charge of the health care system, I ask you, come stand with me. If you believe that this Nation must honor the commitments of Medicare and strengthen Social Security for the generations to come, I ask you, come stand with me. If you believe that this Nation should honor marriage and family and make a place for the weak and the vulnerable, I ask you to come stand with me. If you believe America should fight the war on terror with all our might and lead with unwavering confidence in our ideals, I ask you to come stand with me. If you are a Democrat who believes your party has turned too far to the left this year, I ask you to come stand with me. If you're a minority citizen and you believe in free enterprise and good schools and the enduring values of faith and family, if you are tired of your vote being taken for granted, I ask you to come stand with me. And if you are a voter who believes that the American President should say what he means and do what he says and keep his word, I ask you to come stand with me. Four years ago, when I traveled your State, I made this pledge, that if I won the election, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office to which I had been elected. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. Thanks for coming. On to victory. Thank you all. October 30, 2004 The President. Thank you all for coming. Laura and I really thank you for taking time out of your Saturday evening to come by and lift our spirits, and we're grateful for your presence. We're going to carry Florida with your help. Perhaps the most important reason to put me back in office is so that Laura will be the First Lady for 4 more years. I'm proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. Look, I readily concede he doesn't have the waviest hair in the race. People of Orlando will be pleased to know I didn't pick him up pick him because of his hair. Laughter I picked him because of his judgment. I picked him because of his experience. He's getting the job done for the American people. We are some kind of proud in my family of brother Jeb. We share the same campaign consultant Mother. Laughter We're both listening to her. Also proud my brother Marvin Bush is with us today. Thank you for coming, big Marv. I want to thank the Lieutenant Governor, Toni Jennings, Attorney General Charlie Crist, Congressman Ric Keller, Congressman Tom Feeney. I want to thank Rich Crotty. I want to thank my friend Mel Martinez. Put him in the Senate he'll do a great job. I want to thank Mark Wills. I want to thank Shawn Michaels, professional wrestler. I was hoping to see him backstage if I could ask him if it was real. Laughter I want to thank all the grassroots activists who are here. I want to thank you for putting up the signs, making the phone calls. I know how much work went into putting this great rally together. I thank you for what you have done, and I want to thank you for what you're going to do as we're coming down the stretch run. I need your help. I need your work. We will carry Florida and win a great victory on November the 2d. My 4 years as your President have confirmed some lessons and taught me some new ones. I have learned to expect the unexpected, because war and emergency can arrive suddenly on a quiet autumn morning. I've learned firsthand how hard it is to send young men and women into battle, even when the cause is right. I've been grateful for the lessons I've learned from our parents Respect every person do your best live every day to its fullest. I have been strengthened by my faith and humbled by its reminder that every life is part of a larger story. I know how a President needs to lead. As Presidents from Lincoln to Roosevelt to Reagan so clearly demonstrated, a President must not shift in the wind. A President has to make tough decisions and stand by them. The American President must not follow the path of the latest polls. The role of the President is to lead based on principle and conviction and conscience. Especially in a time of war, mixed signals only confuse our friends and embolden our enemies. Mixed signals are the wrong signals for an American President to send. In the last 4 years, Americans have learned a few things about me as well. Sometimes I'm a little too blunt. I get that from my mother. Sometimes I mangle the English language. I get that from my dad. Laughter But all the time, whether you agree with me or not, you know where I stand and where I'm going to lead this Nation. You can't you cannot say that about my opponent. I think it's fair to say that consistency is not his long suit. Next Tuesday, the American people will vote for conviction and consistency. And with your help, we're going to win this election. This election comes down to five choices for your family. The first clear choice is the most important because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. Americans will go to the polls Tuesday in a time of war and ongoing threats. The terrorists who killed thousands of innocent people are still dangerous, and they're determined to strike. The outcome of this election will set the direction of the war against terror. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. If America shows uncertainty or weakness in these troubling times, the world will drift toward tragedy. This is not going to happen on my watch. Our strategy is clear. We've strengthened the protections for the homeland. We're reforming our intelligence capabilities. We are transforming our military. The All Volunteer Army will remain an all volunteer army. There will be no draft. We are relentless. We are steadfast. We are determined. We will fight the terrorists across the globe so we do not have to face them here at home. Because we led, the world is changing. Afghanistan is a free nation and an ally in the war on terror. Pakistan is capturing terrorist leaders. Saudi Arabia is making raids and arrests. Libya is dismantling its weapons program. The army of a free Iraq is fighting for freedom. And more than three quarters of Al Qaida's key members and associates have been brought to justice. We will use every asset at our disposal to protect the American people. And one of the best assets we have is freedom. I believe in the power of liberty to transform society. I want the younger Americans here to realize what has happened in a brief period of time. Three and a half years ago, young girls couldn't go to school in Afghanistan because the Taliban were so barbaric and backwards. And if their mothers didn't toe the ideological line of hatred, they were taken into the public square and whipped and sometimes to a sports stadium and executed. Because we acted in our own interest, because we upheld the doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist," millions of people voted in the Presidential election in Afghanistan. And the first voter was a 19 year old woman. Freedom is powerful. Iraq is still dangerous, but Iraq will be having elections in January. Think how far that country has come. It is in our interests, it is in our children's interests that we promote liberty and freedom around the world. I believe everybody yearns to be free. Freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. A President must lead with consistency and strength. In a war, sometimes your tactics change but never your principles. And you have seen how I do my job. On good days and on bad days, when the polls are up or the polls are down, I am determined to protect the American people. And I will always support the United States military. I want to thank those who wear our Nation's uniform who are here today. I want to thank the military families who are here today. And I want to thank the veterans who have set such a great example for those who wear the uniform. We will support our troops in harm's way. That's why I went to the United States Congress in September of 2003 and asked for 87 billion of supplemental funding. This was necessary support. We had troops in Afghanistan and in Iraq. We received great support for that piece of legislation, so strong only 12 Members of the United States Senate opposed the funding for our troops in harm's way. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Two of those twelve were my opponent and his runningmate. But I want to tell you another statistic. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Let me tell you one more statistic. There were only four Members of the Senate who voted to authorize force and then did voted against supporting our troops in harm's way only four Members, two of whom were my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. So they asked him several times why he made the vote he made. One of those answers was perhaps the most famous quote of the 2004 campaign when he said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, right before I voted against it." Audience members. Flip flop! Flip flop! Flip flop! The President. I have spent enough time in the great State of Florida to know not a people not a lot of people talk that way here. Laughter He's given several explanations since, but I think the most revealing explanation of all about his vote against supporting our troops was when he said, "The whole thing was a complicated matter." There is nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. Senator Kerry's record on national security has a far deeper problem than election year flip flopping. On the largest national security issues of our time, he has been consistently wrong. When Ronald Reagan was confronting the Soviet Union at the height of the cold war, Senator Kerry said that President Reagan's policy of peace through strength was making America less safe. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Well, history has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Ronald Reagan was right. When former President Bush led a coalition against Saddam Hussein to get him out of Kuwait after he invaded Kuwait in 1991, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force to liberate Kuwait. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. In 1994, just one year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, Senator Kerry proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence budget, so massive that his colleague from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy, voted against it. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Well, history has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and we've got to be fair about it Senator Kennedy was right. During the last 20 years, in key moments of challenge and decision for America, Senator Kerry has chosen the position of weakness and inaction. With that record, he stands in opposition not just to me but to the great tradition of the Democratic Party. The party of Franklin Roosevelt, of Harry Truman, of John Kennedy is rightly remembered for confidence and resolve in times of crisis and in times of conflict. Senator Kerry has turned his back on "pay any price" and "bear any burden." He has replaced those commitments with "wait and see" and "cut and run." Many Democrats in this country do not recognize their party anymore. Today I want to speak to every Democrat If you believe that America should lead with strength and purpose and confidence in our ideals, I would be honored to have your support, and I'm asking for your vote. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. When you're out rounding up the vote, when you're getting people to go to the polls like I know you're going to do, remind them we have big differences as to how to best protect our country and our families. In one of our debates, my opponent said that America must pass a "global test" before we commit our troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I know, you're probably thinking I made that up, but I was standing right there pretty close to him when he said it. Laughter I was just as startled as you are. As far as I can tell, it means our country must get permission from foreign capitals before we act. As President, I will work with our friends. I will strengthen our alliances. But I will never turn over national security decisions to leaders of other countries. In a recent interview, my opponent said that September the 11th didn't change him much at all. Well, it changed me. It changed me a lot. It gave me it caused me to think about how to protect America in a different way from the past. I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers on September the 14th, 2001. It is a day I will never forget. I'll never forget the workers in hardhats yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I will never forget the fellow who grabbed me by the arm. He looked me right in the eye, and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I wake up every morning trying to figure out how to best protect the American people. I will never relent in the security of this country, whatever it takes. The second clear choice in this election concerns your family's budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for the American families. I kept my word. We doubled the child credit to 1,000 per child, and that helps moms and dads. We reduced the marriage penalty. Our Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not penalize marriage. We dropped the lowest bracket to 10 percent. We reduced income taxes for everybody who pays income tax. And our economic recovery plan is working. Remember what we have been through. Six months prior to my arrival in Washington, the stock market was in serious decline. That foretold a recession. We had corporate scandals. And the attacks on America cost us about a million jobs in the 3 months after September the 11th. But our economic policies are working. Our economy is growing at rates as fast as any in nearly 20 years. We've added 1.9 million new jobs in the last 13 months. The homeownership rate is at an alltime high in America. More minority families own a home than ever before in our Nation's history. Florida's farmers and ranchers are making a living. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong. The small business sector of our economy is thriving and doing well. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent, and the unemployment rate in the great State of Florida is 4.5 percent. This economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. My opponent has a different plan for your budget. He plans to take a big chunk out of it. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He's been in the United States Senate for 20 years, and he's voted to raise taxes 98 times. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That's five times for every year he's been in the Senate. I would call that a predictable pattern, a leading indicator. Laughter During the campaign, he's made some big promises too. He's promised 2.2 trillion of new spending. That is trillion with a "T." That's a lot. That's a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. So they asked him how he's going to pay for it. He said, well, he's just going to tax the rich. We've heard that before. There's a problem with that. If you run up the top two brackets like he says he's going to do, it raises between 600 and 800 billion dollars. That is far short of the 2.2 trillion. That's called a tax gap. Guess who usually gets to fill the tax gap? Audience members. We do! The President. You do. But we're not going to let him tax you we're going to carry Florida and win next Tuesday. The third choice in this election involves the quality of life for our Nation's families. A good education and quality health care are important to America's families. As a candidate, I pledged to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations by reforming our public schools. I kept my word. I signed the No Child Left Behind Act and proudly so. It's a great piece of legislation. We increased Federal funding for our schools, particularly for the disadvantaged and special ed kids, and that's important. But also what's important is to measure. We said, "In return for extra money, show us whether our children can read and write and add and subtract," because we believe every child can read and we believe every school must teach. You cannot solve a problem unless you diagnose the problem. We're now diagnosing and solving problems all across America, particularly in States like Florida because of your good Governor. We're closing an achievement gap for minority students all across America, and we're not going to go back to the old days of low expectations and mediocrity. We'll continue to work to make health care more accessible and affordable. We have a duty to take care of those who can't help themselves. That's why I'm such a strong believer in community health centers, places where the poor and the indigent can get good primary and preventative care. I believe and I know we must work with our Governors and mayors to make sure that the program for children from low income families is fully subscribed so our children can get good health care. But I also understand that most of the uninsured work for small businesses. And we ought to allow small businesses to pool risk across jurisdictional boundaries so they can buy insurance at the same discounts that big companies are able to do. We'll expand health savings accounts to help our families and small businesses. And to make sure health care is available and affordable for families all across this country, we will do something about the frivolous and junk lawsuits that are running good doctors out of practice and running up the cost of your health care. We have a national problem when it comes to litigation. I have met too many ob gyns, some from the State of Florida, that have been run out of their practice because the lawsuits have caused their premiums to be too high. And I have met too many expectant moms that are deeply concerned about the quality of health care they're going to get for themselves and their child. You cannot be pro doctor, pro patient, and pro personal injury trial lawyer at the same time. I think you have to make a choice. My opponent made his choice. He's voted against medical liability reform 10 times in the Senate, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I have made my choice. I'm standing with Florida's docs and Florida's patients and Florida's families. I'm for medical liability reform now. We have a difference of opinion when it comes to health care. In one of those debates, they asked my opponent about his health care plan, and he said, "The Government doesn't have anything to do with it." I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it. Eighty percent of the people would end up on a Government plan. If you make it easier for people to sign up for Medicaid, it is likely small businesses will stop writing insurance for their employees because the Government will. And that moves people from the private sector to the Government plans. And when the Government writes the checks, the Government makes the rules. And when the Government makes the rules for your health care, the Government starts making decisions for you and decisions for your doctors. Federalizing health care is the wrong prescription for America's families. In all we do to improve health care, we'll make sure the decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. The fourth clear choice in this election involves your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and to improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage. I kept my word. I told the Congress Medicare needed to be modernized. You know, Medicare would pay thousands of dollars for a heart for heart surgery, but it wouldn't pay one dime for the prescription drugs that could prevent the heart surgery from being needed in the first place. That didn't make any sense. So I brought Republicans and Democrats together. We modernized Medicare. And beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. We'll keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors, and we will strengthen Social Security for generations to come. Every election, politicians try to scare our seniors and say that they're not going to get their checks if somebody like me gets elected. They said that in 2000. I got elected, and the seniors got their checks. The seniors will always get their checks. Baby boomers like me and like some others I see out there laughter we'll get our checks. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren. We need to worry about whether or not Social Security will be there when they need it. And that is why I think younger workers ought to be allowed to take some of their own payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account, an account they call their own, an account the Government cannot take away. My opponent and I take a different approach toward Social Security. He said he's going to protect Social Security, but he forgot to tell the people that he's voted eight times for higher taxes on Social Security benefits. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He can run, but he cannot hide. And when it comes to the next generation, he's offered no reform. The job of the President is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. In a new term, I will bring people together to strengthen Social Security for generations to come. The fifth clear choice in this election is on the values that are important for our country. We stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of this society. We stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and every being counts. I proudly signed the ban on partial birth abortion. We stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. My opponent has a different point of view. He voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And at one time in his campaign, he said the heart and soul of America can be found in Hollywood. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Most of our families don't look to Hollywood as a source of values. The heart and soul of America is found in communities like Orlando, Florida. All these choices make this one of the most important elections in our history. And the decision is in the best of hands. It is in the hands of the American people. I've got a clear view of where I want to take this country. I clearly see a better tomorrow. One of my favorite quotes is by a fellow Texan named Tom Lea. He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." In the course of this campaign, my opponent has spent much of his time talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that's coming. I see a great day coming for America. I see a day where prosperity reaches every corner of our country. I see a day in which every child can read and write and add and subtract. And I see a day that after all the struggle, peace comes, a peace we want for our children and our grandchildren. You know, when I campaigned across the State of Florida 4 years ago, I made this pledge, that if I got elected, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. God bless. Thank you all for coming. Thank you all. October 30, 2004 The President. Thank you all for coming. Thanks for taking time out of your Saturday morning to come by and say hello. Laura and I are honored to be back in western Michigan. You've lifted our spirits. We're proud to be in a home of a fine former President, President Gerald Ford, and a great First Lady in Betty Ford. I know you honor their service to our country, as do Laura and I. We're here to ask for your vote, and I'm here to ask for your help. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. We're close to voting time. We have a duty in our country to vote. In our free society, we have an obligation, I think, to go to the polls and express our opinions. So I'm here to ask you to convince your friends and neighbors to do their duty. Make sure our fellow Republicans go to the polls. Make sure independents go to the polls. Make sure discerning Democrats go to the polls. And when you get them headed to the polls, remind them, if they want a safer America and a stronger America and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office. I enjoy traveling our country. I enjoy talking to the people. I love to tell the people what I am going to do for the next 4 years. Perhaps the most important reason to put me in, though, is to make sure Laura is the First Lady for 4 more years. Audience members. Laura! Laura! Laura! The President. I am proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. I readily concede he does not have the waviest hair in this race. Laughter But I know the people of western Michigan will be pleased to hear I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. I picked him because of his judgment. I picked him because of his experience. He's getting the job done for the American people. I want to thank my friend Betsy DeVos for her leadership and her community spirit. I want to thank the DeVos family for joining us today. I want to thank my friend Congressman Peter Hoekstra for joining us today. Pete, I'm glad you're here his wife, Diane, is here other family members are here. I look forward to working with the chairman of a really important committee to make sure our intelligence gathering works, to make sure America can stay secure. Appreciate your service, Pete. I want to thank Congressman Vern Ehlers for joining us today. Congressman, we're proud you're here. Thank you for representing this district with such distinction and honor. I want to thank the attorney general, Mike Cox, and Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land for joining us. I want to thank all the local and State officials who are here. I want to thank all the people who have thrown their hat in the ring and are running for office. I want to thank the Sparta High School Marching Band for joining us today, the Western Michigan Home School Northern Lights Marching Band. I want to thank Daron Norwood for singing for you today. He's good, isn't he? But most of all, I want to thank you all and the grassroots activists, the people putting up the signs, the people making the phone calls. I know how much work it requires to get a crowd this big, and I thank you for what you have done. I want to thank you for what you're going to do. You're going to turn out a big vote in western Michigan, and we'll carry this State on November 2d. This election takes place in a time of great consequence. The person who sits in the Oval Office for the next 4 years will set the course of the war on terror and the direction of our economy. America will need strong, determined, optimistic leadership, and I'm ready for the work ahead. My 4 years as your President have confirmed some lessons and taught me some new lessons. I've learned to expect the unexpected, because war and emergency can arrive on a quiet autumn morning. I've learned firsthand how hard it is to send young men and women into battle, even when the cause is right. I've been grateful for the lesson I've learned from my parents, respect every person and do your best and live every day to its fullest. I've been strengthened by my faith and humbled by its reminder that every life is a part of a larger story. I've learned how a President needs to lead, as Presidents from Lincoln to Roosevelt to Reagan so clearly demonstrated. A President must not shift in the wind. A President has to make tough decisions and stand by them. The role of the American President is not to follow the path of the latest polls. The role of the President is to lead based upon principle and conviction and conscience. Especially in dangerous times, mixed signals only confuse our friends and embolden our enemies. Mixed signals are the wrong signals for the American President to send. The last 4 years, Americans have learned a few things about me as well. Sometimes, I'm a little too blunt. Laughter I get that from my mother. Laughter Sometimes I mangle the English language. I get that from my father. Laughter But Americans have learned also that even when you might not agree with me, you know where I stand. You know what I believe, and you know where I'm going to lead. You cannot say that about my opponent. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I think it's fair to say, consistency is not his long suit. And next Tuesday, the American people will go to the polls. They will be voting for vision. They will be voting for consistency. They will be voting for conviction. And no doubt in my mind, they'll be voting for Bush Cheney. This election comes down to five clear choices for the American people. The first clear choice is the most important because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. The will this will be the first Presidential election since September the 11th, 2001. Americans will go to the polls in a time of war and ongoing threats unlike any we have faced before. The terrorists who killed thousands of innocent people are still dangerous, and they are determined. The outcome of this election will set the direction of the war against terror. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows any uncertainty or weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch. Since that terrible morning of September the 11th, 2001, we have fought the terrorists across the Earth, not for pride, not for power but because the lives of our citizens are at stake. Our strategy is clear. We have strengthened protections for the homeland. We're reforming and strengthening our intelligence services. We are transforming our military. There will be no draft. The All Volunteer Army will remain an all volunteer army. We are determined. We are steadfast. We are staying on the offensive against the terrorists across the globe so we do not have to face them here at home. Our strategy is succeeding. As the September the 11th Commission pointed out, we are safer but not yet safe. But because we led, Afghanistan is a free nation and now an ally in the war on terror. Because we led, Pakistan is capturing terrorists Saudi Arabia is making raids and arrests Libya is dismantling its weapons programs the army of a free Iraq is fighting for freedom and more than three quarters of Al Qaida's key members and associates have been brought to justice. And part of our strategy to make sure our children and our grandchildren grow up in a peaceful world is to spread freedom. I believe in the transformational power of liberty. I believe liberty can transform societies. Think about what has happened in Afghanistan in a relatively brief period of time. It wasn't all that long ago that young girls were not allowed to go to school and their mothers were taken into the public square and whipped because of these ideologues of hate called the Taliban. Because we acted in our own self interest, because we acted to uphold a doctrine I outlined which said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist," because we acted to secure the American people, millions of citizens voted in a Presidential election in Afghanistan. And the first voter was a 19 year old woman. Despite the horrific acts of the terrorists in Iraq, there are going to be free elections in Iraq in January. And think how far that country has come from the days of torture chambers and mass graves. Freedom is on the march. Freedom is on the move around the world, and that's important. Free societies will be peaceful societies. Free societies will join us in fighting the terrorists instead of harboring the terrorists. I believe every soul wants to be free in this world. Freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. A President must lead this country with consistency and strength. In a war, sometimes your tactics change but never your principles. Americans have seen how I do my job. On good days and on bad days, when the polls are up or the polls are down, I am determined to protect this country. And I will always support the men and women who wear our Nation's uniform. I am proud to be the Commander in Chief of a great military, and I want to thank those who wear our uniform for your service to our country. I want to thank the military families who are here, for your sacrifice and service. And I want to thank the veterans who are here who have set such a great example for those who wear the uniform. And I will assure you, in a new term, I will keep the commitment I have made to support our troops in harm's way. I went to the Congress in September of 2003, asking for 87 billion to support our troops in combat. It was very important funding. We got great support Pete might remember overwhelming bipartisan support. Only 12 Members of the United States Senate voted against it, 2 of whom were my opponent and his runningmate. I want you Audience members. Boo o o! The President. When you're out gathering up the vote, remind people of this statistic, this fact Four Members of the Senate voted to authorize force and then voted against the funding necessary to support our troops in harm's way, two of whom two of those four were my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. You might remember what he said when they asked him about why he made the vote. Senator Kerry said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, before I voted against it." I haven't spent nearly as much time in this part of the world as you have, but I can assure you, you're not going to find many people in Grand Rapids, Michigan, who talks that way. You know, he's given several answers on that vote since then. Perhaps the most revealing of all was when he just said, "The whole thing was a complicated matter." My fellow Americans, there's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. My opponent has had a propensity to change positions in this campaign. His positions are like the weather here in western Michigan. Laughter You don't like it, wait a little bit, and it will change. Senator Kerry said that we're better off with Saddam Hussein out of power, except when he declares that removing Saddam Hussein made us less safe. He stated in our second debate he always believed Saddam was a threat except, a few questions later, when he said Saddam Hussein was not a threat. He says he was right when he voted to authorize the use of force against Saddam Hussein, but I was wrong to use force against Saddam Hussein. His record on national security has a far deeper problem than election year flip flops. One of the largest national security issues of our time on the largest national issues of our time, he has been consistently wrong. When Ronald Reagan was confronting the Soviet Union at the height of the cold war, Senator Kerry said that President Reagan's policy of peace through strength was making America less safe. Well, history has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Reagan was right. When former President Bush led a coalition against Saddam Hussein in 1991, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force to liberate Kuwait. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. In 1994, just one year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, Senator Kerry proposed massive cuts in America's budget, so massive that even his Massachusetts colleague, Ted Kennedy, opposed them. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and let's be fair about it Senator Kennedy was right. During the last 20 years, in key moments of challenge and decision, Senator Kerry has chosen the path of weakness and inaction. With that record, he stands in opposition not just to me but to the great tradition of the Democratic Party. The party of Franklin Roosevelt, the party of Harry Truman, the party of John Kennedy is rightly remembered for confidence and resolve in times of war and in hours of crisis. Senator Kerry has turned his back on "pay any price" and "bear any burden," and he has replaced those commitments with "wait and see" and "cut and run." Many Democrats in this country do not recognize their party anymore, and today, I want to speak to every one of them. If you believe that America should lead with strength and purpose and confidence in our ideals, I would be honored to have your support, and I am asking for your vote. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. There are big differences in this campaign when it comes to your family's security. Senator Kerry said that America must submit to what he calls a "global test." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I'm not making that up. He said it in a debate. I was surprised, like you were. Laughter As far as I can tell, it means our country must get permission from foreign capitals before we act in our own defense. I will work with our allies. I will strengthen our alliances. I will work with our friends, but I will never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries. We have a difference of opinion. My opponent was quoted as saying that September the 11th did not change him much at all. His policies make that clear. He says the war on terror is primarily a law enforcement and intelligence gathering operation. September the 11th changed my outlook. I remember the day I went to the ruins of the Twin Towers on September the 14th, 2001. The sights and sounds will be with me forever. I remember the workers in hardhats yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I remember looking the man square in the eye who came out of the rubble. He grabbed me by my arm, and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I wake up every morning trying to better figure out how to better protect America. I will never relent in defending our country, whatever it takes. The second clear choice in this election concerns your family's budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for America's families. I kept my word. We doubled the child credit to 1,000 per child. We reduced the marriage penalty. We think the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not penalize marriage. We dropped the lowest bracket to 10 percent. We reduced income taxes for everybody who pays taxes. Our plans are working. When you round up the vote, remind people about what this economy has been through. Six months prior to my arrival in Washington, the stock market was in serious decline. Then we had a recession. Then we had corporate scandals. And then the attacks of September the 11th cost us a million jobs in the 3 months after those attacks. But our economic policies have led us back to growth. This economy of ours is growing at rates as fast as any in nearly 20 years. We've added 1.9 million new jobs in the last 13 months. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. Homeownership rate is at an alltime high in America. More minority families own their own home, and that's better for our country. Michigan farmers are making a living. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong. The small business sector is alive and well in America. People are still hurting in the State of Michigan. I know that. I've traveled here a lot. I've heard the stories. But the fundamental question is, which candidate can continue to grow this economy? Who's got the pro growth, pro entrepreneur, pro small business plan? And that's George W. Bush. My opponent has very different plans for your family's budget. He intend to take a big chunk out of it. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He voted against the higher child tax credit. He voted against marriage penalty relief. He voted against reducing income taxes. If he had had his way over the past 3 years, the average Michigan family would be paying 2,000 per year more to the Federal Government. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Now, I know that doesn't sound like a lot to some of them in Washington, but it's a lot for families right here in Grand Rapids. It helps moms and dads. That money helps our small businesses create new jobs. My opponent has been in the Senate for 20 years, and he's voted to raise taxes 98 times. That's about five times per year in the Senate. I'd call that a predictable pattern laughter a leading indicator. Laughter A Senator does something that often, he must really like it. Laughter During this campaign, he's also promised 2.2 trillion in Federal spending. That's trillion with a "T." Laughter That's a lot. Even for a Senator from Massachusetts, that's a lot. Laughter So they asked him, "How are you going to pay for it?" He said that same old thing, you know, "We're just going to tax the rich." Two things wrong with that. One is, most small businesses pay individual income taxes. Most small businesses are sole proprietorships and Subchapter S corporations. Seventy percent of the new jobs in America are created by small businesses. So when you run up the top two brackets like he has promised to do, you're taxing the job creators, and that's lousy economic policy. And here's something you need to be wary about. When you talk about top raising the top two brackets, you're only raising between 600 and 800 billion dollars. I say "only" because he's promised 2.2 trillion. So there's a tax gap. That would be a gap between what he has promised and what he can deliver. And given his record, you probably can guess who is going to have to fill that tax gap. You are. But don't worry about it. We're going to carry Michigan, and he's not going to be able to tax you. The third clear choice in this election involves the quality of life for our Nation's families. A good education and quality health care are important for a successful life. As a candidate, I pledged to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations by reforming our public schools. As President, I kept my word. The No Child Left Behind Act is substantial reform. In return for extra help from the Federal Government, we now demand accountability in our classrooms. You know why? Because we believe every child can learn, and we expect every school to teach. You cannot solve a problem until you diagnose the problem, and we're making diagnoses all across our country, and we're solving problems. Test scores are up in reading and math. We're closing achievement gaps for our minority students all across America. And we're not going to go back to the days of low standards and mediocrity in our classrooms. We'll continue to improve life for our families by making health care more accessible and more affordable. We will take care of the poor and the indigent by spreading community health centers. We will make sure our programs for children with from low income families are fully subscribed. We want to help people get health care. But we also understand we've got to make it more affordable, and here are three commonsense ways to do so. Small businesses ought to be allowed to join together to share risk, so they can buy insurance at the same discounts that big companies are able to do. We will expand health savings accounts to help our families and our small businesses better afford insurance and plans that enable you to manage your health care. And finally, we will do something about the frivolous lawsuits that are running good docs out of practice and running the cost of health care up. I have met too many ob gyns in our country who are having to quit the practice of medicine because these lawsuits have driven their premiums sky high. I've met too many expectant moms who have told me about their concerns about getting quality health care because their doctor is no longer in practice. We have a national problem when it comes to medical liability reform. I don't think you can be pro patient and pro doctor and pro personal injury trial lawyer at the same time. I think you have to make a choice. My opponent has made his choice. He voted 10 times against medical liability reform, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I have made my choice. I'm standing with the doctors of Michigan. I'm standing with the patients of Michigan. I am for real medical liability reform. Senator Kerry's got a different point of view when it comes to health. You might remember one of the debates. And they asked him about his health care plan. He looked square in the camera, and he said, "The Government doesn't have anything to do with it." I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it. Eighty percent of the people under his plan would end up on a Government run program. When you make it easier for people to sign up on Medicaid, it means small businesses are likely to drop coverage for their employees because the Government will provide the coverage. People move from the private sector to the Government sector under his plan. And when Government writes the checks when it comes to health care, they start writing the rules when it comes to health care. And when they start writing the rules when it comes to health care, they start making decisions for you when it comes to your health care and they start making decisions for the doctors when it comes to health care. The wrong prescription for American families when it comes to their health care is to federalize health care. In all we do to improve health care, we will make sure the decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. The fourth clear choice in this election involves your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage. I have kept my word. Medicare needed to be modernized. The Government would pay thousands of dollars for the heart surgery under Medicare but not a dime for the prescription drugs that could prevent the heart surgery from being needed in the first place. We brought people together. We strengthened and modernized the system. And beginning in 2006, our seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. And when it comes to Social Security, we will keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors, and we will strengthen Social Security for generations to come. When you're gathering up the vote, remind your friends and neighbors about what took place in the 2000 campaign. They said by TV and by flier and by word of mouth that, "If George W. got elected, our seniors would not get their checks." You might remember that aspect of the 2000 campaign. Well, George W. got elected, and our seniors got their checks. And our seniors will continue to get their checks. And baby boomers like me and a couple others out there I see, we will get our checks. The Social Security system is in good shape for the seniors and baby boomers. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren when it comes to Social Security. We need to worry about whether or not Social Security will be there when they need it. And therefore, I think younger workers ought to be allowed to take some of their personal savings account some of their payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account, an account they call their own, an account the Government cannot take away. My opponent has taken a different approach about Social Security. He told the people he's going to strengthen Social Security, but remind your friends and neighbors, he voted to tax Social Security benefits eight times. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And he hasn't offered anything for the younger Americans when it comes to modernizing the system. The job of a President is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. In a new term, I will bring people together, and we will strengthen the Social Security system for generations to come. The fifth clear choice in this election is on the values that are crucial to keeping our families strong. I believe marriage and family are the foundation of our society. I will promote a culture of life, and I proudly signed the ban on partial birth abortion. I stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. My opponent and I differ. He voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. He voted against the Defense of Marriage Act, and at one point in this campaign, he said that the heart and soul of America can be found in Hollywood. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Most families do not look to Hollywood as a source for values. The heart and soul of America is found in communities like Grand Rapids, Michigan. I'm optimistic about the future of our country. You know, when you're running for President, anger is not an agenda, and a litany of complaints is not a plan. I have a hopeful and positive vision. The President must see clearly where he intends to lead this Nation. Perhaps, let me define to you how I feel by quoting a friend from Texas, Tom Lea. Unfortunately, he's deceased recently, but here's what he said. He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." In the course of this campaign, my opponent has spent much of the campaign talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that's coming. I see a great day coming for our country. I see a day when prosperity reaches every corner of America. I see a day where every child is able to read and write. I see a day in which this world becomes more peaceful. I see a day in which we achieve the peace we all long for, for our children and our grandchildren. When I campaigned across your State in 2000, I made this pledge I said if I won, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office to which I had been elected. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. God bless. Thank you all. October 30, 2004 The President. Thank you all for coming. We appreciate you coming. Thank you all. Thanks for coming. Laura and I are honored so many came to say hello. We, first, want to thank you for lifting our spirits. How good does it get Arnold yesterday, Mike Tice today. I'm proud to be introduced by a leader and somebody who's getting results. Thanks for coming, Mike. Laura and I are thrilled you are here. We are here to ask for your vote. We are here to ask for your help. It is close to voting time. That's the time when people in a free society do their obligations and go to the polls. We have a duty in this country to vote. I'm here to get your friends I'm here to ask you to ask your friends and neighbors to do their duty. Get our fellow Republicans to the polls. Get wise independents to the polls laughter discerning Democrats like Mayor Randy Kelly from St. Paul, Minnesota, to the polls. I appreciate you, friend. The Democrat mayor of St. Paul is not alone. There are a lot of Democrats who, just like you, want America to be a safer, stronger, and better place. When you get people headed to the polls, remind them, if they want a safer America, a stronger America, and a better America, put me and Dick Cheney back in office. Perhaps the most important reason why people should reelect me is so that Laura is the First Lady for 4 more years. I'm proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. I don't want to offend anybody who is follically challenged, but I fully recognize that the Vice President doesn't have the waviest hair in the race. Laughter The people of this great State will be pleased to know I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. I picked him because of his judgment, his experience. He is getting the job done for the American people. I am proud of your Governor, Tim Pawlenty, and so are the people of Minnesota. I want to thank my friend and your United States Senator, Norm Coleman, for his leadership. I want to thank the Members of Congress who are here, Congressman John Kline, Congressman Jim Ramstad, Congressman Mark Kennedy, for their service. I want to thank Pat Anderson. I want to thank all the candidates running for office. I want to thank my friend Rudy Boschwitz for being such a strong and loyal supporter. I want to thank Gary Cayo, the president of the Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police, for his support and the support of the Fraternal Order of Police all across our country. I want to thank Billy Dean. Most of all, I want to thank you all. I want to thank the grassroots activists who are putting up the signs, making the phone calls, doing the hard work necessary to have such a big rally as this one. I want to thank you for what you have done and what you are going to do, which is to turn out that vote. No doubt in my mind, with your help, we will carry Minnesota and win a great victory in November. Applause Thank you all. This election takes place in a time of great consequence. The person who sits in the Oval Office for the next 4 years will set the course on the war on terror and the direction of our economy. America needs strong, optimistic, determined leadership, and I'm ready for the job. My 4 years as your President have confirmed some lessons and taught some new ones. I've learned to expect the unexpected, because war and emergency can arrive suddenly on a quiet morning. I've learned firsthand how hard it is to send young men and women into battle, even if it's the right cause. I've been grateful for the lessons I've learned from my parents Respect every person do your best live every day to its fullest. I've been strengthened by my faith and humbled by its reminder that every life is part of a larger story. I know how a President needs to lead. As Presidents from Lincoln to Roosevelt to Reagan so clearly demonstrated, a President must not shift with the wind. A President has to make the tough decisions and stand by them. In the last 4 years, Americans have learned some things about me as well. Sometimes I'm a little too blunt. I get that from my mother. Laughter Sometimes I mangle the English language. I get that from my father. Laughter But all the time, whether you agree with me or not, you know where I stand and where I intend to lead this country. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. You cannot say that about my opponent. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Consistency is not his long suit. Laughter The people of this country will vote next Tuesday. I am confident they will vote for consistency, for conviction, and for principle. And with your help, we'll win in November the 2d. This election comes down to five clear choices for America's families. The first clear choice is the most important because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. Americans go to the polls in a time of war and ongoing threats. The terrorists who killed thousands of innocent people are still dangerous and determined to strike. The outcome of this election will set the direction of the war against the terrorists. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty or weakness during these troubled times, the world will drift toward tragedy. This is not going to happen on my watch. Since that terrible morning of September the 11th, 2001, we've fought the terrorists across the Earth, not for pride, not for power but because the lives of our citizens are at stake. Our strategy is clear our strategy is clear. We've strengthened protections for the homeland. We're reforming and strengthening our intelligence capabilities. We're transforming our All Volunteer Army. There will be no draft. We are determined. We are steadfast. We are resolute. We will stay on the offensive against the terrorists around the world so we do not have to face them here at home. Because we led, the world is changing. Afghanistan is a free nation and an ally in the war on terror. Pakistan is capturing terrorist leaders. Saudi Arabia is making raids and arrests. Libya is dismantling its weapons programs. The army of a free Iraq is fighting for the freedom of its people. And more than three quarters of Al Qaida's key members and associates have been brought to justice. So long as I'm your President, I will use every asset at our disposal to protect the American people, and perhaps the strongest asset we have is our belief in liberty, our belief that liberty can transform societies. I want the youngsters here to understand what has taken place in a brief period of time. It wasn't all that long ago in Afghanistan that young girls couldn't go to school because the country was run by the ideologues of hate called the Taliban. And if their mothers didn't toe the line, they were taken into the public squares and whipped and sometimes taken to a sports stadium and executed. Because this great Nation acted to defend ourselves, because we upheld the doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist," millions of citizens millions of citizens voted in a Presidential election in Afghanistan. And the first voter was a 19 year old woman. And America is better off as freedom spreads around the world. Iraq will have Presidential elections in January. Think how far that society has come from the days of torture chambers and mass graves and the brutal rule of a fierce tyrant. Freedom is on the march. I believe everybody longs to be free. I believe deep in everybody's soul is the desire to live in a free society. I believe that not because freedom is America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. A President must lead with consistency and strength. In a war, sometimes your tactics change but never your principles. And Americans have seen how I do my job. On good days, on bad days, when the polls are up or the polls are down, I am determined to protect the American people. And I am the Commander in Chief of a great United States military. I want to thank those who wear our Nation's uniform who have joined us today. I want to thank the military families who are with us today, and I want to thank the veterans of the United States of America who've set such a great example. And I assure you and I assure our vets and our families and those men and women in uniform that you'll have the resources the military will have the resources they need to complete their mission. That's why I went to the United States Congress and asked for 87 billion of supplemental funding in September of 2003. That money was necessary. That money was important. We had troops in harm's way, and they needed the full support of the Government. And we received good bipartisan support, so strong that only 12 Senators voted against the funding Audience members. Boo o o! The President. 2 of whom were my opponent and his runningmate. But as you gather the vote, I want you to remind people of this fact. Four Members of the Senate only 4 out of 100 voted to authorize force and voted against the support for our troops in combat. Two of those four were my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Now, they asked him why he made the vote he did, and you might remember perhaps the most famous quote of the 2004 campaign when he said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, before I voted against it." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I haven't spent a lot of time in the coffee shops in this great State, but I doubt I'm going to find hardly anybody who talks that way in Minnesota. He's given several reasons why he made that vote, but perhaps the most revealing of all was when he said, "The whole thing is a complicated matter." Laughter My fellow Americans, there is nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. The American people have been watching this election carefully, and they noticed my opponent's positions are kind of like the weather here in Minnesota. If you don't like it, wait a little bit, and it will change. Laughter He was for the war and against the war, for the war and against the war. But his record on national security has a far deeper problem than election year flip flopping. On the largest national security issues of our time, he has been consistently wrong. When Ronald Reagan was confronting the Soviet Union at the height of the cold war, Senator Kerry said that President Reagan's policy of peace through strength was making America less safe. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Ronald Reagan was right. When former President Bush led a coalition against Saddam Hussein in 1991 because he had invaded Kuwait, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force to liberate Kuwait. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. In 1994, just one year after the first bombing in the World Trade Center, Senator Kerry proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence budget, so massive that even his Massachusetts colleague, Ted Kennedy, opposed them. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and we've got to be fair about it Senator Kennedy was right. During the last 20 years, in key moments of challenge and decision for America, my opponent has chosen the position of weakness and inaction. With that record, he stands in opposition not just to me but to the great tradition of the Democratic Party. The party of Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman and John Kennedy is rightly remembered for confidence and resolve in times of war and in hours of crisis. Senator Kerry has turned his back on "pay any price" and "bear any burden," and he's replaced those commitments with "wait and see" and "cut and run." Many Democrats in this country do not recognize their party anymore, and today I want to speak to every one of them If you believe that America should lead with strength and purpose and confidence in our ideals, I'd be honored to have your support, and I'm asking for your vote. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. We have big differences about how to protect our country's families. I recall that moment in one of our debates when my opponent said that America must submit to a "global test" before we commit troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. As you can tell, that's kind of how I felt too. Laughter As far as I can tell, that means our country must get permission from foreign capitals before we act in our own defense. I'll work with our allies, and I'll work with our friends. I believe in building coalitions, and we have done just that. But I will never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries. We have differences of opinion, clear differences of opinion about this war on terror. Recently, my opponent said that September the 11th didn't change him much at all. That's what he said. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Well, September the 11th changed me. It changed my view of the world and how we must defend ourselves. I remember standing in the ruins of the Twin Towers on September the 14th, 2001. It's a day that will be forever etched in my memory, the sights and the sounds. I can remember those voices of the workers in hardhats yelling at me, "Whatever it takes." I remember looking in the eye of a fellow who grabbed me by the arm, and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that morning ever since that day, I wake up every morning trying to better figure out how to protect America. I will never relent in defending this country, whatever it takes. The second clear choice in this election concerns your family's budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for America's families, and I kept my word. We doubled the child credit to 1,000 per child to help the moms and dads in America. We reduced the marriage penalty. We believe the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not penalize marriage. We dropped the lowest bracket to 10 percent. We reduced taxes on everybody who pays taxes. And we're growing. This economy is getting stronger. Remind your friends and neighbors as you round them up to go to the polls laughter what we have been through. Six months prior to my arrival in Washington, the stock market was in serious decline, and then we had a recession and corporate scandals. And the attacks of September the 11th cost us about a million jobs in the 3 months following that fateful day. But our policies are working. We're on the path to growth. This economy is as strong as it's been in nearly 20 years. The homeownership rate is at an alltime high in America. More minority families own a home all across this country than anywhere at any time in our history. Minnesota farmers are making a living. The farm economy is strong in America. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong. Small businesses are flourishing all across America. We've added 1.9 million new jobs in the last 13 months. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. And let me put that in perspective for you It's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. And the unemployment rate in Minnesota is 4.6 percent. We are strong, and we will get stronger. My opponent has different plans for your budget. He's going to take a big chunk out of it. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. You know, he voted against the child tax credit. He voted against marriage penalty relief. He voted against lower taxes. If he'd have had his way, the average family in Minnesota would be paying 2,000 more per year in Federal taxes. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Now, that probably doesn't seem like a lot to some of them in Washington, but I understand it's a lot for the families in this part of the world. It means a lot to people trying to raise their children. It means a lot to people struggling to put food on the table and meet their expenses. He's been in the Senate 20 years he has voted to raise taxes 98 times. That's five times for every year in the Senate. I would call that a leading indicator laughter a predictable pattern. Laughter If you put that in this context, he promised 2.2 trillion in new Federal spending. Now, that's trillion with a "T." That's a lot. Even for a Senator from Massachusetts, that's a lot. Laughter And so they asked him, "How are you going to pay for it?" And he said, "Well, we'll just tax the rich." You have heard that before. First of all, most small businesses around Minnesota and around the country pay tax at the individual income tax level. See, most small businesses are Subchapter S or sole proprietorships. And by the way, 70 percent of new jobs in America are created by small businesses. And so when you raise the top two brackets, you're taxing job creators. It makes no economic sense to tax the entities that are creating the new jobs in our country. And secondly, he has promised 2.2 trillion, but raising the top two brackets only raises between 600 and 800 billion. That's what I would call a tax gap, the difference between what is promised and what's delivered. Given his record, I think you understand how he's going to fill that tax gap. Yes, he's going to tax you. But we're not going to let him we will carry Minnesota and win next Tuesday. The third clear choice in this election involves the quality of life for our Nation's families. A good education and quality health care are important to a successful life. As candidate, I pledged to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations by reforming our public schools. And I kept my word. I proudly signed the No Child Left Behind Act to raise the standards. See, we believe every child can learn, and we expect every school to teach. We're spending more money at the Federal level, and in return, we expect measurement. See, you cannot solve a problem until you diagnose the problem. And as a result of the law we put in place, we are now diagnosing and solving problems. Math and reading scores are up across America, and we are closing an achievement gap for minority students. And we will not go back to the days of low expectations and mediocrity in our schools. We will continue to improve life for our families by making health care available and affordable. We will take care of the poor and the indigent by expanding community health centers. We have a duty to help people who cannot help themselves. And that's why we'll make sure our program for children of low income families is fully subscribed, to make sure people get the health care and the help they need. But I also recognize that most of the uninsured in America work for small businesses. And to help small businesses better afford insurance, we must allow them to pool risk across jurisdictional boundaries so they can buy insurance at the same discounts that big companies are able to do. We will expand health savings accounts to help our small businesses and families. And to make sure health care is available and affordable, we will do something about the junk lawsuits that are running up the cost of medicine and running too many doctors out of practice. We have a problem in this Nation. I have met too many ob gyns that no longer practice because the premiums are too high. See, they can't afford to stay in practice. These lawsuits are driving them out of practice. I met too many patients, expectant moms who are traveling miles to find an ob gyn, and they are deeply concerned about the quality of health care that they and their little one will receive. This is a national problem, and it requires a national solution. You cannot be pro doctor and pro patient and pro personal injury trial lawyer at the same time. You have to choose. My opponent has made his choice. He voted 10 times against medical liability reform, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I've made my choice. I'm standing with the doctors of Minnesota. I'm standing with the patients of Minnesota. I'm standing with the families of Minnesota. I am for medical liability reform. My opponent has a different view when it comes to health care. In one of the debates, I remember the questioner said, "Tell me about your health care plan." He looked square in the camera, and he said, "My health care plan, well, the Government doesn't have anything to do with it." I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it. Eighty percent of the people, according to his plan, would be signed up by the Government. If you raise Medicaid and make it easier for people to get on Medicaid, it provides an incentive for small businesses to stop writing insurance because the Government will write the insurance. And when the Government writes the checks, the Government makes the rules. And when the Government makes the rules for your health care, the Government makes decisions for you and they make decisions for your doctors. The wrong prescription for American families is to federalize health care. In all we do to improve health care for our families, we will make sure that the decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. The fourth clear choice in this election involves your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage. I kept my word. Medicare needed to be modernized for our seniors. We would pay thousands of dollars for a heart surgery under Medicare but not a dime for the prescription drugs that could prevent the heart surgery from being needed in the first place. And that wasn't fair to our seniors. So I brought people together, and I proudly signed a Medicare reform bill that will make prescription drugs available for all our seniors beginning in 2006. And we will keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors, and we will strengthen Social Security for years to come. I want you to tell your friends and neighbors about what took place in the 2000 campaign. You might remember those ads and the fliers when people said, "If George W. gets elected, the seniors will not get their checks." Well, tell them George W. did get elected, and the seniors got their checks. And the seniors will continue to get their checks. And baby boomers like me and a couple others out there I'm looking at laughter will get their checks. The Social Security trust is in good shape for us. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren. We need to worry about whether or not the Social Security system will be available when they need it. And that's why I believe younger workers ought to be allowed to take some of their own payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account, an account that will earn a better rate of return, an account they own, an account the Government can never take away. My opponent takes a little different point of view on this. First, he said he'd protect Social Security, but he forgot to tell the American people he's voted eight times to tax Social Security benefits. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. See, he can run from his record, but we're not going to let him hide. And he has offered nothing to help the younger generation when it comes to strengthening Social Security. See, the job of a President is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future generations and future Presidents. I'm going to bring people together, and we will work to make sure the Social Security system is strong and viable for generations to come. The fifth clear choice in this election involves the values that are crucial for our Nation. We stand for things. We stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. We stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. I'll reach out to Americans of every belief and move this goodhearted Nation toward a culture of life. We believe in a culture of life. I proudly signed the ban on partial birth abortion. My opponent Senator Kerry has had a different view on these issues. He voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. He voted against the Defense of Marriage Act and, at one time in his campaign, actually said that the heart and soul of America can be found in Hollywood. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. The heart and soul of America is found in communities all across the great State of Minnesota. All these choices make this one of the most important elections in our history. And the decision is in the best of hands. It is in the hands of the American people. In less than 72 hours, the American people will be voting, and the decision comes down to who do you trust. Audience members. You! The President. I stand I offer leadership and results for a time of threat and challenge. I'm asking for people's votes. I'm asking for their trust. I'm asking for your help. I have a view of the future that is bright. I see clearly where I want to lead this country, and it is to a better day. One of my favorite quotes was written by a fellow Texan named Tom Lea. He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." During this campaign, my opponent has spent much of the time talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that's coming. I see a great day coming for America. I see a day when prosperity reaches every corner of our country. I see a day where every child can read and write and add and subtract. And I see a day in which this world becomes more peaceful by spreading liberty, that we achieve the peace we all want for our children and for our grandchildren. When I campaigned across your State 4 years ago, I made this pledge If I got elected, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office to which I had been elected. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. God bless. Thank you all for coming. October 30, 2004 The President. Thank you all for coming. Thank you all. It's good to be with all the cheeseheads. It's great to be back in Brown County. We're here to ask for your vote and here to ask for your help. It is close to voting time. We have a duty in our democracy to vote. And so I'm asking you to get your friends and neighbors and remind them of that duty. Find our fellow Republicans, and turn them out. Find independents, and turn them out. Find discerning Democrats, and head them to the polls. And when you get them going to the polls, remind them, if they want a safer America, a stronger America, and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office. Perhaps the most important reason of all to put me back in for 4 more years is to make sure that Laura is the First Lady for 4 more years. I'm proud of my runningmate. I don't want to offend anybody here who is follically challenged laughter but admit it, Vice President Cheney doesn't have the waviest hair in the race. Laughter People in this part of the world will be happy I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. I picked him because of his judgment. I picked him because of his experience. He's getting the job done for the American people. I'm proud of your former Governor, my friend and Cabinet Secretary, Tommy Thompson. He's done a great job. You know, one of the jobs of a President is to surround himself with smart, capable people. I obviously know how to do that when I picked Tommy Thompson. I want to thank Congressman Mark Green for being such a fine Member of the United States Congress. I want to thank his wife, Sue. I want to thank Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner and wife, Cheryl, for joining us today. I want to thank Congressman Tom Petri for joining us today. I want to thank Congressman Paul Ryan for joining us today. I want to thank your State treasurer, Jack Voight. I want to thank the assembly speaker for being here. I want to thank Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker. I call him Scott W. I want to thank all the local officials, the mayors and the city council folks. I want to thank Tina Danforth, the Oneida Nation chairwoman, for joining us today. I want to thank Bob Chicks, the Stock bridge tribal president, for joining us today. I am honored I'm honored these tribal leaders are here, and I look forward to working on a government to government basis in the next 4 years to help build a more hopeful America for every citizen who lives in this country. I hope you vote for Tim Michels for the United States Senate. Laura and I have come to know he and Barbara, and he is a fine, fine man. He'll make a great United States Senator. I want to thank my friend Kayne Robinson, who's the president of the NRA, the National Rifle Association. I want to thank Wayne LaPierre for being with us today. I'm proud to have the endorsement and support of so many of the sports men and women across the State of Wisconsin. I appreciate Jeff Schinkten, who's the Whitetails Unlimited founder and board president, for supporting my candidacy. I want to thank Lee Greenwood for being here, my friend. But most of all, Laura and I thank you all for coming. Thank you for taking time out of your Saturday afternoon to come by and say hello. I want to thank those of you who are putting up the signs. I want to thank those of you who are making the phone calls. I want to thank you for turning out such a huge crowd today. I want to thank you for what you have done and what you're going to do. By working hard and by turning out the vote, there is no doubt in my mind we will carry Wisconsin and win a great victory in November. The person who sits in the Oval Office for the next 4 years will set the course of the war on terror and the direction of our economy. America will need strong, determined, optimistic leadership, and I am ready for the job. My 4 years as your President have confirmed some lessons and have taught me some new ones. I've learned to expect the unexpected because war and emergency can arrive suddenly on a quiet morning. I have learned firsthand how hard it is to send young men and women into battle, even if the cause is right. I've been grateful for the lessons I have learned from my parents Respect every person do your best live life to its fullest. I've been strengthened by my faith and humbled by its reminder that every life is part of a larger story. I know how a President must lead, as Presidents from Lincoln to Roosevelt to Reagan so clearly demonstrated. A President must not shift with the wind. A President has to make the tough decisions and stand by them. In the last 4 years, Americans have learned a few things about me. Sometimes I am a little too blunt. Laughter I got that from my mother. Laughter Sometimes I mangle the English language. Laughter I got that from my father. Laughter But all the time, whether you agree with me or disagree with me, you know where I stand. You know what I believe, and you know where I'm going to lead. You can't say that about my opponent. I think it is fair to say that consistency is not his long suit. Laughter Next Tuesday, the citizens of this country will vote. They will vote for conviction. They will vote for principle. They will vote for somebody who knows how to lead this country, and with your help, they'll be voting for George W. Bush. This election comes down to five choices for America's families. And the first clear choice is the most important, because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. The terrorists who killed thousands of innocent people are still dangerous and determined to strike. The outcome of this election will set the direction of the war against terror. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. And if our country, if America shows any uncertainty or any weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This is not going to happen on my watch. Since that terrible morning of September the 11th, 2001, we fought the terrorists across the Earth, not for pride, not for power but because the lives of our citizens are at stake. Our strategy is clear. We're protecting the homeland. We're transforming or reforming and strengthening our intelligence capabilities. We are transforming our military. The All Volunteer Army will remain an all volunteer army. There will be no draft. We are relentless. We are steadfast. We are determined. We will chase the terrorists around the globe so we do not have to face them here at home. Because we led, Afghanistan is a free nation and now an ally in the war on terror. Because we led, Pakistan is capturing terrorist leaders Saudi Arabia is making raids and arrests. Because we led, Libya is dismantling its weapons programs. Because we led, an army of a free Iraq is fighting for freedom and more than three quarters of Al Qaida's key members and associates have been brought to justice. We will not only stay on the offense with all our assets we will stay on the offense by spreading freedom and liberty. I believe in the power of liberty to transform societies. And I want the youngsters to know firsthand what I mean. Just look at what happened in Afghanistan. It wasn't all that long ago that the people of that country lived under the brutal reign of barbarians, ideologues of hate called the Taliban. Young girls were not allowed to go to school, and if their mothers did not toe the line, they were taken into the public square and whipped and sometimes executed in a sports stadium. Because we acted in our own self defense, because we upheld a doctrine that I clearly laid out for the world which said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist," because we did what we said we were going to do, millions of people in Afghanistan voted for President of that country. And the first voter was a 19 year old woman. And America is better off to have freedom take the place of tyranny in Afghanistan. And there are going to be elections in Iraq in January. Think how far that country has come from the days of torture chambers and the brutal reign of a hater of America who had mass graves for thousands of his citizens. Freedom is on the march, and America and the world are more secure because of it. I believe in my heart of hearts that every person in the world desires to live in a free society. I believe this because I understand that freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman of this world. A President must lead with consistency and strength. In a war, sometimes your tactics have to change but never your principles. Americans have seen how I do my job. On good days and on bad days, when the polls are up or the polls are down, I am determined to protect the security of the American people. And I will always support the men and women who wear our Nation's uniform. I want to thank those who wear the uniform who are here today. I want to thank the military families who are here today for your sacrifice. And I want to thank the veterans who are here today for having set such a great example for the men and women of today's military. And we'll make sure our troops have got the full support of the Government. That's why I went to the Congress and requested 87 billion of funding to support our troops in combat. It was important. This happened in September of 2003. And it was vital, a vital funding request. And we got good bipartisan support there in Washington. Only 12 Members of the Senate voted against the funding, 2 of whom are my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. But I want to tell you this fact. As you're gathering up the vote, remind your friends and neighbors about this. Only 4 Members of the United States Senate 4 out of 100 voted to authorize force and then voted against the funding to support the troops they authorized, and 2 of those 4 were my opponent and his runningmate. They kept asking him why he made the vote he did. And he uttered perhaps the most famous quote of the 2004 campaign, when he said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, right before I voted against it." Laughter Now, I haven't spent a lot of time in the coffee shops here in Green Bay, but I suspect I'm not going to find many people who talk that way. Laughter They kept pressing him. They kept asking for answers. He's given several answers since then, but perhaps the most revealing of all was that he said, "The whole thing was a complicated matter." Laughter My fellow Americans, there is nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. My opponent's positions are kind of like the weather here in Green Bay laughter if you don't like it, wait a little bit, and it will change. Laughter My opponent's record on national security has a far deeper problem than election year flip flopping. And it's important for you to understand the record. On the largest national security issues of our time, he has been consistently wrong. When Ronald Reagan was confronting the Soviet Union at the height of the cold war, Senator Kerry said that President Reagan's policy of peace through strength was making America less safe. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Reagan was right. When former President Bush led a coalition against Saddam Hussein in 1991 because the tyrant had invaded Kuwait and threatened the peace and stability of the world, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force to liberate Kuwait. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. In 1994, just one year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, Senator Kerry proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence budget, so massive that even his colleague from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy, voted against them. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and we have got to be fair in this case, Senator Kennedy was right. Laughter During the 20 years during the last 20 years, in key moments of challenge and decision for America, Senator Kerry has chosen the position of weakness and inaction. With that record, he stands in opposition not just to me but to the great tradition of the Democratic Party. The party of Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman and John Kennedy is rightly remembered for confidence and resolve in times of crises and in times of war. Senator Kerry has turned his back on "pay any price" and "bear any burden," and he has replaced those commitments with "wait and see" and "cut and run." Many Democrats in this country do not recognize their party anymore. And today, I want to speak to every one of them If you believe that America should lead with strength and purpose and confidence in our ideals, I would be honored to have your support, and I'm asking for your vote. We have big differences about how to approach the security of our country. You might remember one of our debates when my opponent said that America must pass a "global test" before we commit our troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I'm not making that up. Laughter I heard it too. Laughter As far as I can tell, that means we've got to get permission from foreign capitals before we act in our own defense. That's Audience members. No o o! The President. That is a dangerous policy in the world in which we live. I'll work with our friends. I will work with our allies. I understand how important these alliances are, but I will never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries. The security of our families are is at stake. We've got to be firm and resolved. My opponent was quoted about September the 11th, and he said it didn't change him much at all. Well, September the 11th changed me. It made me look at the world in a different light. I'll never forget the day I stood in the ruins of the Twin Tow ers that was September the 14th, 2001. I'll never forget the sights and the sounds of that moment when the workers in hard hats were yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." And one of the first responders I don't know if he worked for the fire department of New York or the police department he came out of the rubble, and he grabbed me by the arm, and he looked me right in the eye and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I wake up every morning trying to figure out how to better protect America. I will never relent in defending this country, whatever it takes. The second clear choice in this election concerns your family's budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for our families, and I kept my word. We raised the child credit. We lowered the penalty on marriage. We believe the code ought to encourage marriage, not penalize marriage. We created a 10 percent bracket. We reduced taxes on everybody who pays taxes, and we're overcoming obstacles because of that plan. When you're out gathering the vote, remind your friends and neighbors that 6 months prior to my arrival the stock market was in serious decline. That would be 6 months prior to my arrival in January of 2001. And then we had a recession and corporate scandals and an attack that cost us about a million jobs in the 3 months after September the 11th. But our economic policies are working. This economy of ours is strong, and it is getting stronger. We've added 1.9 million jobs in the last 13 months. Homeownership rate is at an alltime high in America. More minority families own a home than ever before in our Nation's history. Wisconsin farmers are making a living. The small business sector in our country is strong. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive, and it is well. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. Let me put that in perspective for you That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. The unemployment rate in the great State of Wisconsin is 5 percent. We're overcoming the obstacles. We're strong, and we are getting stronger. My opponent has different plans for your budget. He's going to take a big chunk out of it. He voted against the child credit raising the child credit. He voted against reducing the marriage penalty. He voted against the tax relief. And had he had had his way, the average family in Wisconsin would be paying 2,000 more per year in taxes. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Now, that probably doesn't seem like a lot to some of them in Washington, but I understand it's a lot for the families in Green Bay, Wisconsin. People can use that 2,000. It can help them raise their children, help them make a living and if you're a small business owner. My opponent's been in the Senate for 20 years, and he voted to raise taxes 98 times. That's five times a year. Now, I would call that a leading indicator. Laughter He's also promised 2.2 trillion in new spending. That would be trillion with a "T." Laughter And that's a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. Laughter So they asked him how he's going to pay for it, and he threw out that same old, tired line, "Oh, we'll pay for it by taxing the rich." That means he's going to raise the top two brackets. You know most small businesses are sole proprietorships or Subchapter S corporations, which means they pay tax at the individual income tax level. Seventy percent of new jobs in America are created by small businesses. So therefore, when you run up the top two brackets, you're taxing job creators you're taxing small business owners. And that doesn't make any economic sense at all. And secondly, when you top raise the top two brackets, you raise between 600 and 800 billion dollars, which is far short of the 2.2 trillion he has promised. I call that a tax gap. Laughter And given his record, guess who gets to fill the tax gap? You do. The good news is, you're not going to get taxed we're going to carry Wisconsin and win on November the 2d. The third clear choice in this election involves the quality of life for our families. That means good education and quality health care. As a candidate, I pledged to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations by reforming our public schools. I kept my word. We passed the No Child Left Behind Act, which I proudly signed into law. In return for increased Federal spending, we're now expecting results because we believe every child can learn and we expect every school to teach. You cannot solve a problem unless you diagnose the problem. And so the new system enables us to diagnose and solve problems. The test scores are on the rise across this country in reading and math. We're closing an achievement gap for minority students all across this country. And we refuse to go back to the days of low standards and mediocrity in our classrooms. And we will improve health care by making sure it is available and affordable. To make sure health care is available, we'll expand community health centers to help the poor and the indigent get primary and preventative care. We'll make sure our program for children of low income families is fully subscribed. A compassionate society takes care of those who cannot help themselves. But I also recognize that most of the uninsured work for small businesses. And so to enable the small businesses to better afford insurance, we ought to allow them to join together to pool risk so they can buy insurance at the same discounts that big companies are able to do. We will expand health savings accounts to help our families and our entrepreneurs. And to make sure health care is available and affordable, we will do something about the frivolous lawsuits that are running up the cost of medicine and driving too many doctors out of business. I have met too many ob gyns as I've traveled our country who are having trouble staying in practice because these lawsuits are running up their premiums and running them out of practice. And I have met too many women who are concerned about whether or not they and their child will get the health care they need. Too many communities have been upset because doctors can no longer practice medicine. This is a national problem, I'm telling you, that requires a national solution. You cannot be pro doctor, pro patient, and pro personal injury trial lawyer at the same time. I think you have to make a choice. My opponent made his choice. He has voted against medical liability reform not once but 10 times as a Senator. And he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I've made my choice. I'm standing with the doctors. I'm standing with the patients of Wisconsin. I am for medical liability reform now. My opponent has got a different point of view when it comes to health care. You might remember the debate when he said, well, the they asked him about his plan, and he looked in the camera and he said, "The Government doesn't have anything to do with it." I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it. Eighty percent of the people that would be signed up for health insurance under his plan would go on the Government health care plan. If you make it easier for people to sign up for Medicaid, small businesses will drop insurance because the Government will provide the insurance. And so you're moving people from the private sector to the public sector. And when the Government starts writing the check, the Government starts making the rules. And when the Government starts making the rules for your family's health care, they start making the decisions for your family's health care and they start making the decisions for your doctors. Federalizing health care is the wrong prescription for American families. In all we do to make sure health care is available and affordable, we will make sure the decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. The fourth clear choice in this election involves your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage. I kept my word. The Medicare debate was one of those debates in which people said a lot of stuff but nothing ever got done. I worked with Republicans and Democrats to make the system work better. We would pay thousands of dollars for a heart surgery under Medicare but not one dime for the prescription drugs that could prevent the heart surgery from being needed in the first place. It didn't make any sense. The system wasn't working. We got the job done. And beginning in 2006, all seniors will get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. And we'll keep our commitment in Social Security as well. Let me talk about Social Security well, you don't have any choice. I'm going to talk about Social Security. Laughter You might remember the 2000 campaign when they ran the ads in Wisconsin that tried to scare our seniors by saying that, "If George W. gets elected, the seniors will not get their checks." Remind your friends and neighbors, George W. got elected, and the seniors got their checks. And the seniors will continue to get their checks. No matter how they try to scare Wisconsin seniors, the seniors will get their checks. And baby boomers like me and like some of the others I see out there laughter are in pretty good shape when it comes to Social Security. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren. We need to worry about whether the Social Security trust will be available for them when they need it. And therefore, I think younger workers ought to be allowed to take some of their payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account, a personal saving account they call their own, a personal savings account the Government cannot take away. My opponent takes a different approach about Social Security. He's promised he's going to protect the system, but what he didn't tell you was he voted eight times for higher taxes on Social Security benefits. He can run from his record, but he cannot hide. We're not going to let him hide. And he didn't offer anything for the youngsters when it comes to strengthening Social Security. The job of a President is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. In a new term, I will bring people together and strengthen Social Security for generations to come. And the fifth clear choice is on the values that are crucial for our country. We stand for things. We stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. We stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and every being counts. I proudly signed the ban on partial birth abortions. And we stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. My opponent has had a different point of view. He voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. He voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. And at one point in this campaign, he said that the heart and soul of America can be found in Hollywood. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. The heart and soul of America is found in communities all across the great State of Wisconsin. All these choices make this one of the most important elections in our history. And the decision is in the best of hands. It is in the hands of the American people. In less than 72 hours, the American people will be voting, and the decision comes down to who do you trust? Audience members. You! The President. I offer Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. I offer leadership and results for a time of threat and a time of challenge. I ask for your trust. I ask for your vote. I ask for your help. I have a vision for this country that is clear. I know where I want to take us, and it's to a more hopeful tomorrow. One of my favorite quotes is by a fellow Texan named Tom Lea. He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." During this campaign, my opponent has spent much of the campaign talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that's coming. I see a day where prosperity reaches every corner of America. I see a day when every child can read and write. I see a day when we achieve the peace that we all long for our children and our grandchildren. When I campaigned across your State 4 years ago, I made this pledge, that if elected, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. God bless. Thank you all for coming. Thank you all. October 30, 2004 Good morning. In just a few days, Americans will choose who will lead our country during a time of war and economic opportunity. And the choice on Tuesday comes down to a few issues of great consequence. The first choice is the most important, because all our progress depends on our safety. Since September the 11th, 2001, I have led a relentless campaign against the terrorists. We have strengthened homeland security. We removed terror regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq. We are on the offensive around the world, because the best way to prevent future attacks is to go after the enemy. My opponent has a different view. Senator Kerry says September the 11th didn't change him much, and his policies make that clear. He says the war on terror is primarily an intelligence and law enforcement operation. He has proposed what he calls a "global test" that would give foreign governments a veto over American security decisions. And when our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq needed funding for body armor and bullets, Senator Kerry voted against it. The direction of the war on terror is at stake in the election of 2004. And when you go to the polls on Tuesday, remember this I will do whatever it takes to defend America and prevail in the war on terror, and I will always support the men and women who do the fighting. The second choice in this election concerns your family budget. As a candidate, I pledged to lower taxes for families, and I have kept my word. We doubled the child tax credit, reduced the marriage penalty, and dropped the lowest tax bracket to 10 percent. Now working families keep more of their paychecks, and America's economy is growing faster than any other among major industrialized nations. My opponent voted against all our tax relief for working families. His votes would have squeezed about 2,000 more in taxes from the average middle class family. Now Senator Kerry is promising to increase Federal spending by more than 2.2 trillion. And to pay for all that new spending, he would have to raise taxes on American families. I will keep your taxes low because I know it's not the Government's money it's your family's money. The third choice in this election involves your quality of life. As President, I signed historic education reforms to bring high standards to the classroom and make schools accountable to parents, and our children are making progress in reading and math. We've strengthened Medicare, created health savings accounts, and expanded community health centers to help more Americans get health care. I'm proposing a series of practical reforms to make health care more affordable and accessible by expanding health savings accounts, allowing association health plans, and protecting patients and doctors from junk and frivolous lawsuits. My opponent has a different approach. Senator Kerry voted for the No Child Left Behind Act, but he has pledged to weaken the accountability standards. He's voted 10 times against medical liability reform. And now, he's proposing a big Government health care plan that would do nothing about rising health costs and would cause millions of Americans to lose their private health insurance and end up on Government programs. Finally, this election presents a choice on the values that keep our families strong. I believe marriage is a sacred commitment, and I will always defend it. I will continue to appoint judges who strictly interpret the law. And I will keep working to move this goodhearted nation toward a culture of life. On these issues, my opponent and I are miles apart. Senator Kerry was part of an out of the mainstream minority that voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. He believes there ought to be a liberal litmus test for judicial appointments. He voted against banning the brutal practice of partial birth abortion. I believe that reasonable people can find common ground on difficult issues, and I will continue reaching out and bringing Americans together to protect our deepest held values. All of these choices make this one of the most important elections in our history. These past 4 years, you have seen how I do my job. Even when you might not agree with me, you know where I stand, what I believe, and what I intend to do. Soon, the decision will be in your hands. And however you decide, I urge you to get out and vote on Tuesday. Thank you for listening. October 29, 2004 The President. Thank you all. Thank you all for coming. Thanks for coming. We are honored you are here. Thanks for being here today. You've lifted our spirits. And with your help, we'll carry New Hampshire and win a great victory next Tuesday. I want to thank my friends Senator Judd Gregg and Kathy. I want to thank Senator Sununu, Congressman Bradley, Congressman Bass, Governor Benson put him back in. Put Gregg back in too. Most of all, thank you for coming. Laura and I are thrilled you are here. You know, I'm here to tell the people of New Hampshire, you need to put me back in for a reason. Perhaps the most important one of all is so that Laura is the First Lady for 4 more years. I love her dearly. She is a great First Lady. In the final 4 days of this historic campaign, I'm taking my vision of a more hopeful America directly to the people of this country. That's what I've come to New Hampshire about, to talk about a hopeful future for all of us. Today, our economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. The tax relief we passed is working. Think about this Homeownership rate is at an alltime high in America. More minority families own a home than ever before in our Nation's history. Our farmers are making a good living. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in America. In the course of traveling your State, I met a lot of small business owners who are making a good living because of our tax relief and because of their ingenuity and vision. And because they're making a good living, they're hiring people. We've added 1.9 million new jobs across this country in the last 13 months. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. Let me put that in perspective for you. That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. The unemployment rate in the great State of New Hampshire is 3.5 percent. Our economic policies are working. In a new term, we'll keep your taxes low. We'll reduce the regulations. We'll do something about these lawsuits. We will put plans in place to make sure the entrepreneurial spirit is strong so people can continue to work. When I campaigned in 2000, I promised to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations in our public schools. I kept my word. In a new term, we'll stay on the path of reform and results in all our schools so no child is left behind in America. In a new term, we'll make sure health care is more affordable and accessible for our families. In all we do to reform health care, we will make sure the health care decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. In a new term, we'll keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors and strengthen the system for our children and our grandchildren. In a new term, we'll protect marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. And all the progress we hope to make depends on the security of our Nation. We face enemies who hate our country and would do anything to harm us. I will fight these enemies with every asset of our national power. We will do our duty, and we will protect the American people. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. On September the 11th, 2001, our Nation suffered terrible harm, and the pain was greatest for our families of the lost. With us today are Ernie Strada and his wife, Mary Ann, who lost their son, Tom, at the World Trade Center. Please welcome the Stradas. The September 11th families will always be in our thoughts and always be in our prayers. This Nation must never forget their pain. On the day of that tragedy, I made a decision America will no longer respond to terrorist murder with half measures and empty threats. We will no longer look away from gathering dangers and simply hope for the best. We are pursuing a comprehensive strategy to fight the terrorist enemy and defend America. We will not relent, and we will prevail. First, we're on the offensive against the terrorist networks. The best way to prevent future attacks is to go after the enemy. We will confront the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. We are waging a global campaign from the mountains of central Asia to the deserts of the Middle East, from the Horn of Africa to the Philippines. We're getting results. Since September the 11th, more than three quarters of Al Qaida's key members and associates have been detained or killed, and the rest of them know we are on their trail. Secondly, we are confronting regimes that harbor terrorists and feed the terrorists and support the terrorists. I set a doctrine that these regimes are equally as guilty as the terrorists. When a President speaks, he must speak clearly and he must mean what he says. I meant what I said, and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan doubted our commitment. The regime is no more, and America and the world are safer. Third, we're confronting outlaw regimes that pursue weapons of mass destruction, have ties to terror, and defy the world. A lesson of September the 11th is we must never allow the terrorists to gain the world's most dangerous weapons. Saddam Hussein chose to defy the world. He doubted our resolve, and America and the world are safer because he is sitting in a prison cell. And that message was heard in Libya, which has now given up its weapons of mass destruction programs, and that has made America and the world safer. Fourth, we're promoting freedom and democracy in the broader Middle East. If 20 years from now the Middle East is dominated by dictators and mullahs who build weapons of mass destruction and harbor terrorists, our children and our grandchildren will grow up in a nightmare world of danger. This does not have to happen. We have a duty to protect ourselves and to protect future generations of Americans. By taking the side of reformers and democrats in the Middle East, we will gain allies in the war on terror, and we'll isolate the ideology of hatred, and we'll help defeat the despair and hopelessness that feeds terror. So we're helping to build free societies in Afghanistan and Iraq and across that troubled region. Freedom is on the march, and America and the world are more secure. Our strategy to win the war on terror is succeeding. We are shrinking the area where terrorists can operate freely. We have the terrorists on the run. And so long as I am your President, we'll be determined and steadfast, and we will keep the terrorists on the run. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. To win the war on terror, to do our duty, America needs an unwavering commitment to see the task through. In any war, there are good days and there are bad days, but everyday, you need the same resolve. When I took the oath of office 4 years ago, none of us could have envisioned what these years would bring. We've been through a lot together. My years as your President have confirmed some lessons and have taught me some new ones. One of the things I've learned about the Presidency is that whatever your strengths are, you're going to need them, and whatever your shortcomings are, people are going to notice them. Laughter Sometimes, I'm a little too blunt. I get that from my mother. Sometimes, I mangle the English language. Laughter I get that from my dad. But all the times, you know where I stand, what I believe, and where I'm going to lead this country. A President must make America's priorities absolutely clear, especially in our uncertain world. I've learned firsthand how hard it is to send young men and women into battle, even when the cause is right. I've been reminded that the world looks to America for leadership, and it is crucial for the American President to be consistent. I have learned a President must base decisions on principle, core convictions from which he will never waver. The issues vary. The challenges are different every day. The polls go up the polls go down. But a President's convictions must be consistent and true. And through these 4 years, I have learned anew the enduring character of this great Nation. I have met exceptional men and women during my time as your President. I have seen their strength and their sacrifice, and their examples have confirmed there is no limit to the greatness of America. I have seen the character in people like Cheryl McGuinness, Debra Burlingame, and Elizabeth Kovalcin, who are with us today. Cheryl's husband, Tom, and Debra's brother, Charles, were both pilots who lost their lives on September the 11th. Elizabeth's husband, David, was a passenger on Flight 11. These women have shown that hope can be found even in the worst tragedy. Cheryl says this "While those terrorists may have killed almost 3,000 of our husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, children and friends on that day, they did not take away our spirit, our hope, or the promise of tomorrow." There is hope beyond the ashes of September the 11th, and nobody can take that away from us. I've seen the character of America in people like Lisa Beamer and the husband she lost. Todd Beamer and other passengers on Flight 93 rushed those hijackers and led the first counterattack in the war on terror. Todd's final words captured the spirit of a nation. He said a prayer, and then he said, "Let's roll." Todd's dad, David Beamer, is with us today. I have been honored to have met Lisa as well. In terrible sadness, this family has been a model of grace, their own and the grace of God. Just over a month after her husband's death, Lisa decided to take the same New ark to San Francisco flight that Todd had taken. And she explained, "I won't be held captive by fear." In the years to come, Lisa's words must be remembered by all Americans. As we fight the terrorists, they will try to frighten us. They will test our will by their barbaric tactics. We must be resolved. So long as I'm your President, we will not be held captive by fear. The enemies who hit our country on September the 11th thought Americans would be fearful and weak. Instead, the world saw courageous rescuers, like New York City firefighters Michael Boyle and Tim and Tom Haskell, who ran toward danger. Michael's father, Jimmy, is with us today. Also with us is Ken Haskell, brother of Tim and Tom. America honors the courage of our first responders. And we must always be grateful to those who carry out the great tradition of bravery and courage in the likes of Michael, Tim, and Tom. After September the 11th, the world saw strangers comforting each other and a nation united in pride and defiance. For 3 years, the people of this country have shown patience and purpose in the hard tasks of history. We've risen to great challenges, and every American can be proud of their country. I have seen the spirit of our country in those who wear our Nation's uniform, people like Mike McNaughton. Mike is a platoon sergeant from the Louisiana National Guard. He enlisted after September the 11th. He fought in Afghanistan and lost two fingers and a leg. I remember visiting Mike in the hospital. I said, "What do you like to do?" He said, "I like to run." I said, "Well, someday, you and I are going to run on the South Lawn of the White House." I don't know if he believed me at the time, but one day he showed up at the South Lawn of the White House, and we ran. I will never forget his determination and his courage and his sacrifice for our freedom. I've spoken with so many of our people in uniform, from bases across America to a Thanksgiving in Baghdad. And I know their courage and their honor. They have fought our enemies with skill. They have treated the innocent with kindness, and they have delivered millions from oppression. I have returned the salute of the wounded who told me they were only doing their duty. I've tried my best to comfort the families of the lost who told me to honor their loved ones by completing the mission. Like the men of Normandy and Iwo Jima before them, another great generation is serving America today, and our Nation is proud to stand with them. All Americans must always remember the debt this Nation owes to the men and women who defend us. Those who wear the uniform are people of great character and service and duty and honor. We are thankful. And as we remember those who wear the uniform today, we must always remember the veterans who have set such a good example for today's men and women. And we are grateful to our military families for their sacrifice. And as long as I am the Commander in Chief, I assure you, we will keep our commitment we have made to our troops and their families. They will have the resources they need to complete their missions. As America saw on the 87 billion supplemental request, when I say something, I mean it. We are not in this war alone. We must remember, our cause has been joined by many great nations and strong leaders. I've seen the determination of allies like Prime Minister Tony Blair of Great Britain. The Prime Minister and I come from different political backgrounds and traditions, yet we share a clear understanding of the threat we face and our duty to defeat it. I remember a phone call I had with Prime Minister Blair on a Sunday morning early last year. I called him when he was facing a political crisis at home. I told him I wanted him as an ally, but if politics was such that he could not commit British troops to combat in Iraq, I would understand. The Prime Minister replied that he believed our cause was right, and because it was right, Britain would join us. He said, "I am with you, and I mean it." That day I heard the spirit of Winston Churchill in the Prime Minister of Britain. More than 90 countries share this commitment in the war on terror, because they understand this is civilization's fight. All 26 NATO nations have personnel in Iraq, Afghanistan, or both. And 14 of the countries that have joined our coalition in Iraq have lost forces in our vital work. In the war on terror, America has led many have joined and America and the world are safer. We must always remember the steadfast conviction of our good allies. Their contributions and their sacrifice must never be dismissed or denigrated. They have earned the gratitude of the American people. In a new term, in order to secure America, I will continue to work with our allies. We will strengthen our alliances. But I will never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries. As the President, I've also seen the spirit of the people we have liberated. I will never forget the day when seven Iraqi men came into the Oval Office. Coming into the Oval Office can be sometimes a awe inspiring experience. It's a magnificent shrine to democracy. They came in they had all had their right hands cut off by Saddam Hussein. They had had their hands cut off because his currency had been devalued and he needed a scapegoat. These men had been discovered in Iraq, had been flown to America to get a prosthesis, a new hand. I told them, I said, "Welcome to the Oval Office. As we helped secure liberty in your country, we'll make sure and you need to make sure the institutions are bigger than the people who occupy the offices." That's certainly the case of the Oval Office. The institution of the President is always bigger than the person. I told them that by having the institutions bigger than the people, never again will somebody be able to pluck them out of society and arbitrarily cut off their right hands. I will never forget the moment when one of those Iraqi men grabbed a Sharpie and in his new hand that he was just learning to use, slowly wrote out in Arabic a prayer for God to bless America. America should always be proud that our country remains the hope of the oppressed and the greatest force for good on this Earth. Just last month, I welcomed Iraq's Prime Minister Allawi to the White House. For decades, he was a fearless critic of Saddam Hussein. As a matter of fact, in 1978, a team of assassins sent by the dictator attacked Dr. Allawi and his wife with axes and nearly killed him. He is a courageous man. Saddam Hussein knows the man he tried to murder is the leader of a free Iraq. Prime Minister Allawi is now confronting the enemies of freedom with strong determination. In the Rose Garden, he said that his nation would fight the terrorists in Iraq, room to room and house to house, so that the people of Iraq would never again have to live in tyranny. Our mission in Iraq is clear. We are helping Iraq's new Government train armies and police forces and security forces so they can do the hard work of defending their freedom, so they can stand up and fight the terrorists who are trying to stop the advance of liberty. We'll help Iraq get on the path to stability and democracy as quickly as possible, and then our troops will come home with the honor they have earned. The will of the Iraqis is strong, and their dream for freedom is moving forward. The terrorists are brutal and cruel. Yet everyday, Iraq and coalition forces are defeating the enemy's strategic objectives. The enemy in Iraq wants to establish terrorist bases from which to operate. We are on the offensive. We are denying them sanctuary. The enemy wants to intimidate Iraqis from joining the security forces, yet more 100,000 Iraqi soldiers and police and border guards are bravely serving their country. The enemy seeks to disrupt the march toward democracy, but Iraqis are preparing for free elections on schedule this coming January. The violent acts of a few will not divert Iraqis or our coalition from the mission we have accepted. Iraq will be free. Iraqis will be secure. And the terrorists will fail. The Afghan people are also showing their character. The terrorists did everything they could to stop this month's elections, but the will of the Afghan people was more powerful than the hatred of the killers. Millions of Afghans lined up at the polls. The first vote in the Presidential election the first voter was a 19 year old woman. Imagine what the Taliban would have said about that. Laughter The new President, Hamid Karzai, is a brave, respected leader who traveled southern Afghanistan by horseback to rally forces against the Taliban. Three years ago, his country was the training camp of Al Qaida. Now it is a democracy, a friend of America, and an ally in the war on terror. By acting in Afghanistan and Iraq, we removed threats. We're making our country safer. We are also living up to the highest calling of our history. We're the Nation that freed Europe and lifted up former enemies in Germany and Japan. And we gave hope to captive peoples behind the Iron Curtain. The liberation of more than 50 million people in our time is a noble achievement, and every American can be proud of that achievement. We must always remember the principles of our founding and the hope that our country has brought to the world. As long as I'm your President, this Nation will stand for freedom and stand by our friends and never cut and run. I believe everybody wants to be free. Freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. These experiences have helped shape my view of the world and the kind of leader I am. And one of the most powerful and defining experiences took place on September the 14th, 2001. George Howard, an officer with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, was off duty on September the 11th. But when he learned the news, he went right to the Twin Towers. He died trying to save others. On that day of September the 14th, I met his mom, Arlene, who is with us today. She gave me George's police shield. She asked me not to forget the fallen. I carry Shield Number 1012. I will never forget the fallen. God bless you, Arlene. Time passes, but we must always remember the enemy that kills without shame or mercy. I will always remember the men in hardhats at Ground Zero shouting at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." My determination has not faded since that day. My determination is wrong strong. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes. We have come so far. We've accomplished so much. Yet, our work is not finished. All of us are part of a great historic endeavor. We will lead our country through a time of danger. We will build a world of freedom and peace beyond the war of terror. I know we'll succeed. I know the character of the American people. The polls open in Manchester at 6 a.m. on Tuesday. For a safer America, for a stronger America, and for a better America, I ask the people of New Hampshire to vote for me. God bless you, and God bless America. Thank you all. October 29, 2004 The President. Thank you all for coming. We are honored to be back. Such a beautiful day here in the great State of New Hampshire. Thank you all for coming out to say hello. We are here in your State today asking for your vote and asking for your help. I'm asking you to get your friends and neighbors to do their duty, and that is to vote. We have a duty in this society of ours, in our free land, to vote. And so will you please find fellow Republicans and wise independents laughter discerning Democrats and head them to the polls. And when you get them going that way, remind them, if they want a safer America, a stronger America, and a better America, to put Dick Cheney and me back in office. Perhaps the most important reason to put me back in is so that Laura will be the First Lady for 4 more years. I'm proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. I don't want to offend anybody here who is follically challenged laughter but the Vice President doesn't have the prettiest hair in the race. Laughter You'll be happy to hear I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. I picked him because he's a man of sound judgment, excellent experience. He's getting the job done for the American people. Two of our favorite people in Washington, DC, is Judd and Kathy Gregg. We're proud to call him friend. I know you're proud to call him Senator, and you should be. He's doing a great job for the people of New Hampshire. And we're fond of your junior Senator, John Sununu. What a good job he's doing. Congressman Jeb Bradley, your Congressman, is doing a great job in the House of Representatives. And Congressman Charlie Bass is with us. I appreciate you coming, Congressman. He's a good one. And finally, I'm fond of your Governor. I know something about being a Governor. I was one once one. He's doing a great job for the people of New Hampshire. You got to put Governor Benson back into office. I want to thank Paul Needham for joining us. He's the former Democrat Derry town councilor. He was John Edwards for President State cochair. He's now a Democrat for Bush, and I'm proud he's here. And he's not alone. A lot of Democrats want a secure America. A lot of Democrats want a prosperous America. With your help, we're going to carry New Hampshire, and we're going to win a great victory in November. I want to thank the grassroots activists who are here. We made a lot of friends in our travels throughout New Hampshire. I see Barbara. I know Ruthie is here, people who have been friends of ours for a long time. I want to thank you for putting up the signs. I want to thank you for making the phone calls. I want to thank you for what you have done and what you're going to do over the course of the next 5 days, and that is gather up the vote and turn them out for a great victory. The voters have a clear choice between two very different candidates with dramatically different approaches and different records. You know where I stand. And sometimes, you even know where my opponent stands. Laughter We both have records. I'm proudly running on mine. The Senator is running from his. Laughter This election comes down to clear choices for our families, issues of great consequence. The first clear choice is the most important because it concerns the security of your family. All our progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. Americans will go to the polls in a time of war and ongoing threats unlike with any we have faced before. The terrorists who killed thousands of innocent people are still dangerous, and they're determined to strike us again. The outcome of this election will set the direction of the war against terror. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty or weakness during these troubled times, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch. Since that terrible morning of September the 11th, 2001, we've fought the terrorists across the Earth, not for pride, not for power, but because the lives of our citizens are at stake. Our strategy is clear. We've strengthened the protections for the homeland. We're reforming our intelligence services. We're transforming our All Volunteer Army. There will be no draft. We are relentless. We are determined. We're staying on the offensive. We're defeating the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. Because we have led, Afghanistan is a free nation and an ally in the war on terror. Because we led, Pakistan is capturing terrorists, and Saudi Arabia is making raids and arrests. Because we led, Libya is dismantling its weapons programs. Because we led, the army of a free Iraq is fighting for freedom, and more than three quarters of Al Qaida's key members and associates have been brought to justice. And I'll protect America by leading the cause of freedom. I believe in the transformational power of liberty. I believe liberty can transform societies and help us keep the peace. I want you to remind your sons and daughters about the amazing history that has taken place in a relatively short period of time. Three and a half years ago, young girls could not go to school in Afghanistan because of the brutality and dark vision of the Taliban. And if their mothers didn't toe their line of ideological hatred, they were whipped in the public square and sometimes executed in a sports stadium. Because we acted to protect ourselves, because we upheld the doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist," millions voted in the Presidential election in Afghanistan. And the first voter was a 19 year old woman. Iraq will have Presidential elections in January. Think how far that country has come from the days of torture chambers and mass graves. Freedom is on the march, and America is better for it. Freedom is on the move around the world. I believe everybody yearns to be free. That's what I believe. And it drives much of my foreign policy. Listen, I understand freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. The President has to lead with consistency and strength. In a war, sometimes your tactics change but not your principles. And Americans have seen how I do my job. Even when you might not agree with me, you know what I believe and where I stand and what I intend to do. On good days and on bad days, whether the polls are up or the polls are down, I am determined to protect the American people, and I will always support our men and women who wear our Nation's uniform. I want to thank those who wear our uniform. I want to thank the military families who are here today. And I want to thank the veterans who are here who have set such a great example for the men and women of the military. We have made a commitment to support our troops in combat. I'm the kind of fellow, when I say something, I mean it. I want the military families to know I mean what I said. That's why I went to the United States Congress in September of 2003 and requested 87 billion of important funding to support our troops in combat. We received great support from people of both political parties. As a matter of fact, only 12 Members of the United States Senate voted against supporting our troops in harm's way. Only 12 voted against the 87 billion, 2 of whom were my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. When you're out gathering up the vote, I want you to remind people of this startling statistic Only four Members of the United States Senate voted to authorize the use of force and then voted against supporting our troops in combat four Members, two of whom were my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. You might remember perhaps the most famous quote of the 2004 campaign. When they asked my opponent about his vote, he said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, right before I voted against it." Laughter You know, I spent some time here in New Hampshire. I've been to the coffee shops. I've been to the community centers. I haven't heard anybody talk that way. Laughter They asked him several times about that vote, and he's given several different answers. Perhaps the most revealing of all was when he said about his vote against the 87 billion, "The whole thing was a complicated matter." Laughter My fellow Americans, there's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. Senator Kerry's record on national security has a far deeper problem than election year flip flopping. On the largest national security issues of our time, he has been consistently wrong. When Ronald Reagan was confronting the Soviet Union at the height of the cold war, Senator Kerry said that President Reagan's policy of peace through strength was making America less safe. He voted against many of the weapons systems critical to our defense buildup to help us keep the peace. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Ronald Reagan was right. When former President Bush led a coalition against Saddam Hussein in 1991, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force to liberate Kuwait. If his view had prevailed, Saddam Hussein today would dominate the Middle East and would possess the most dangerous weapons. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. In 1994, just one year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, Senator Kerry proposed massive cuts in Americans' intelligence budget, so massive that even his Massachusetts colleague, Ted Kennedy, opposed them. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and we've got to be fair Senator Kennedy was right. During the last 20 years, in moments of challenge and decision for America, Senator Kerry has chosen the position of weakness and inaction. With that record, he stands in opposition not just to me but to the great tradition of the Democratic Party. The party of Franklin Roosevelt, the party of Harry Truman, the party of John Kennedy is rightly remembered for confidence and resolve in times of war and hours of crisis. Senator Kerry has turned his back on "pay any price" and "bear any burden," and he has replaced those commitments with "wait and see" and "cut and run." Many Democrats in this country do not recognize their party anymore. Today I want to speak to every one of them. If you believe that America should lead with strength and purpose and confidence in our ideals, I would be honored to have your support, and I am asking for your vote. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. There are big differences between us as to how to best protect our country. The security of our families is at stake during this election. Senator Kerry says that the war on terror is primarily a law enforcement and intelligence gathering operation. He says that America must submit to what he calls a "global test." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I'm not making that up. Laughter He was standing right about here when he said it during one of the debates. Laughter As far as I can tell, that means our country must get permission from foreign capitals before we act in our own defense. That's what the "global test" says to me. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Listen, I'll always work with our friends and allies. But I will never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries. We have a big difference of opinion. Recently the Senator was quoted as saying about 9 11 that it didn't change him much at all. It changed me. It changed my outlook. A few days after the attacks, I stood where the buildings fell. I will never forget that day. There were workers in hardhats there yelling at me at top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I remember the policeman or fireman I don't know which one, where he worked, but he came out of the rubble, and he looked me square in the eye, and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I've gotten up every morning thinking about how to better protect our country. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes. The second clear choice in this election concerns your family's budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for American families, and I kept my word. We doubled the child credit to 1,000 per child. We reduced the marriage penalty. We think the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not penalize marriage. We dropped the lowest bracket to 10 percent. We reduced income taxes for everybody who pays income taxes. And after tax income in America is up by about 10 percent since I have been your President. That means more money in your pocket. When you're out gathering the vote, remind people about what we have been through. The stock market was in serious decline 6 months prior to my arrival in Washington. Then we had a recession. Then we had corporate scandals. And then we had the attacks of September the 11th that cost us about a million jobs in the 3 months after September the 11th. But our economic policies are working. We're on the path to growth. Our economy is growing at rates as fast as any in 20 years. Homeownership is at an alltime high in America. Our farmers are making a good living. The small business sector of our economy is strong. The entrepreneurial spirit is flourishing across New Hampshire. Listen, we've added 1.9 million new jobs in the last 13 months. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. Let me put that in perspective for you. That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. The unemployment rate in New Hampshire is 3.5 percent. We've overcome the obstacles. This economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. Now, my opponent has very different plans for your budget. He intends to take a big chunk out of it. He voted against the higher child tax credit, and he voted against the marriage penalty relief. He voted against lower taxes. If he had had his way, the average family in America would be paying 2,000 more to the Federal Government. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That may not sound like a lot to people in Washington. It's a lot to families right here in New Hampshire. It means a lot to you. It means a lot to a mom or a dad who are trying to raise their children. It means a lot to a small business owner who's expanding his or her company. All told, during my opponent's 20 year career in the United States Senate, he voted to raise taxes 98 times. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That is five times for every year he's been in the Senate. That's what I would call a predictable pattern laughter a leading indicator. Laughter When a Senator does something that often, he must really enjoy it. Laughter He's also promised 2.2 trillion of new spending in this campaign. That's trillion with a "T." That's a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. Laughter So they asked him they asked him, how are you going to pay for it? And he trotted out that same old, tired line we hear every campaign. He said, "Well, I'm just going to tax the rich." Well, first of all, most small businesses in New Hampshire and around the country are sole proprietorships or Subchapter S corporations, which means they pay tax at the individual income tax level. Most small businesses create most new jobs in America. Seventy percent of new jobs in this country are created by the small business sector. And so when you're running up the top two tax brackets, you're taxing the job creators. And that makes no economic sense. Secondly, raising the top two brackets raises about 600 billion or 800 billion, depending on who's doing the counting. In either case, that's far short of 2.2 trillion of spending. See, there's a gap laughter a gap between what has been promised and what can be delivered. I would call it a tax gap, and you know who usually gets to fill the gap. Laughter You do. The good news is, we're not going to let him tax you we're going to carry New Hampshire and win on November the 2d. The third clear choice in this election involves the quality of life for our Nation's families. A good education and quality health care are important to a successful life. As a candidate, I pledged to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations by reforming our public schools. I kept my word. I worked with Senator Gregg and others, and we passed the No Child Left Behind Act, a fine piece of reform. We're increasing spending at the Federal level, but in return, we're asking for results. See, we believe every child can learn to read and write and add and subtract, and we expect every school to teach. You cannot solve a problem until you diagnose the problem. We're diagnosing the problems all across our country, and the test scores are improving. Scores in reading and math are on the rise, and an achievement gap for minority students is closing. In a new term, we'll build on these reforms. We'll extend them to high schools so that no child is left behind in America. We'll continue to improve the lives of our families by making health care more accessible and affordable. We'll promote and extend community health centers to help the poor and the indigent get good primary and preventative care. We'll make sure our programs for children from low income families will be fully subscribed to help people get the health care they need. In order to make sure health care is affordable, small business ought to be allowed to pool together across jurisdictional boundaries so they can buy insurance at the same discounts big companies get to buy insurance. We'll expand health savings accounts, which will help our small businesses and families with more affordable health care. To make sure health care is available and affordable, not only in New Hampshire but across this country, we must do something about the frivolous lawsuits that are running up the cost of health care. I have met too many ob gyns that have been driven out of practice because of high premiums as a result of these lawsuits. I have met too many moms, expectant moms, who are concerned about the health care they and their baby will receive because their doctor no longer is in practice. This is a national problem that requires a national solution. You cannot be pro doctor, pro patient, and pro personal injury trial lawyer at the same time. You have to choose. My opponent made his choice. He's voted against medical liability reform 10 times in the United States Senate, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I made my choice. I'm standing with New Hampshire's docs. I'm standing with New Hampshire's families. I'm standing with the patients. I'm for medical liability reform now. My opponent has a different point of view when it comes to health care. I don't know if you remember the debate. They asked him about his health care plan. He stared straight in the camera, and he said his plan "The Government has nothing to do with it." That's in reference to his health care plan. I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it. Eighty percent of the people under his plan will go to a Government run plan. If you make it easier for people to get on Medicaid, small businesses will start dropping insurance because the Government is going to pay for it, and that moves people from private care to public care. When the Government starts writing a check, when it comes to your health care, then they start making the rules. And when the Government starts making the rules, when it comes to your health care, they start making decisions for you, and they start making decisions for your docs, and they start rationing care. Government run health care is the wrong prescription for health care for America's families. In all we do to improve health care for our families, we'll make sure the decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. The fourth clear choice concerns your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drugs for our seniors. I kept my word. Medicare needed to be fixed. See, we would pay thousands of dollars for a heart surgery but not one dime for the prescription drugs that could prevent the heart surgery from being needed in the first place. I didn't think that made sense for our seniors. It didn't make sense for the taxpayers. We brought people together, and I signed a Medicare law. And beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. And we'll keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors. And we'll strengthen Social Security for generations to come. Now, I remember the 2000 campaign, clearly remember it. They said in TV ads in those days and through mailers and word of mouth that, "If George W. got elected, the seniors wouldn't get their checks." When you're out rounding up the vote, please remind people that George W. did get elected and our seniors got their checks. And our seniors will continue to get their checks. And baby boomers like me and Senator Gregg, we're in pretty good shape when it comes to the Social Security trust. But we need to worry about our children, and we need to worry about our grandchildren. We need to worry about whether or not Social Security will be there when they need it. And that is why I believe in personal savings accounts, that a worker ought to take some of their money and set aside a personal savings account, an account they call their own, an account the Government cannot take away. Now, my opponent takes a different approach. He talks about protecting Social Security. But he's the only candidate in this race who voted eight times for higher taxes on Social Security benefits. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. On issue after issue, he tries to run, but we're not going to let him hide. When it comes to the next generation, he hasn't offered anything about fixing the system. See, the job of a President is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. In a new term, I'll bring people together, and we will strengthen Social Security for generations to come. The fifth clear choice in this election is on the values that are crucial to keeping America's families strong. I stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. I stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. I stand for a culture of life, and I proudly signed the ban on partial birth abortions. My opponent has taken a different approach. He voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. He voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. At one time in his campaign, he actually said, "The heart and soul of America can be found in Hollywood." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. The heart and soul of America is found in communities all across New Hampshire. I'm asking for your vote based upon my plans for the future, my record, and my philosophy. My opponent's views are out of the mainstream. I share your values. In a new term, I will stand for bedrock values of strengthening our economy every day. And I will do everything in my power to keep our country safe. I'm sure Senator Kerry means well, but his policies are the wrong policies at this time of threat. He'll raise your taxes to pay for his promises, and that will stall our economy. He cannot lead our troops to victory in a war he does not agree with, a war he has called wrong. He cannot attract or keep allies in a cause he's labeled a diversion. As your President, I'll rally the world. I will lead our troops. I commit our Nation to decisive victory in the war against terror. And my fellow citizens, against this threat to our founding values of freedom and tolerance and equality, victory is our only option. One of my favorite quotes that I hope helps capture my feeling about our country and about our future came from a fellow Texan named Tom Lea. He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." During the course of this campaign, my opponent has spent much of this campaign talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that is coming. I see a great day coming for America. And with your help and with your hard work, I'll be honored to lead this Nation for 4 more years. God bless. Thanks for coming. Thank you all. October 29, 2004 The President. Laura and I are so honored so many came out to say hello. We appreciate it very much. I'm honored we thank you for taking time out of your day. I've got something to tell you. I'm traveling Ohio a lot. I'm asking for the vote, and I'm asking for your help. We have a duty in this country to vote. You may have heard, the election is right around the corner. Laughter And I'm asking you, get your friends and neighbors to go to the polls. Make sure our fellow Republicans vote. Make sure independents vote. Find some discerning Democrats, and there's a lot across the State of Ohio. And get them headed to the polls and remind them, if they want a safer America, a stronger America, and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office. One of the most important reasons why I think you ought to put me back into office is so that Laura is the First Lady for 4 more years. Audience members. Laura! Laura! Laura! The President. I don't want to offend anybody who is follically challenged, but I admit my great Vice President doesn't have the waviest hair in the race. Laughter The people of Toledo will be proud to know that I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. Laughter I picked him because of his judgment, his experience. He's getting the job done for the American people. I want to thank Senator Mike DeWine for joining us today. I'm proud to call him friend. You're proud to call him Senator. I urge you to put George Voinovich back in the United States Senate. I want to thank your Governor for joining us. I want to thank Paul Gillmor, Congressman Paul Gillmor, for being here today. I want to thank Betty Montgomery for joining us. And I want to thank the next Congressman from the Ninth Congressional District, Larry Kaczala, for joining us. I want to thank the Wil Gravatt Band. I want to thank the Anthony Wayne High Marching Generals for being here. I will try to keep my speech short so you can get home and do your homework. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I want to thank the grass roots activists. I want to thank my friend Bernadette Noe and Tom Noe for their leadership in Lucas County. I remember our breakfast. She had me flipping pancakes. Laughter I want to thank those of you who are putting up the signs and making the phone calls. I want to thank those of you who are working long hours. We're almost there. Election Day is almost here. I urge you to continue working to turn out that vote. With your help, we'll win Ohio again and win a great victory. We've just got 4 days to go, and the voters have a clear choice between two very different candidates and different approaches and different records. You know where I stand, and sometimes, you even know where my opponent stands. Laughter We both have records. I'm proudly running on mine. My opponent has an interesting idea of how to win friends. During this campaign, he's insulted our allies and he questioned the good work of our troops in combat. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Earlier today, my opponent even insulted the American people, saying you need to, quote, "wake up." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Well, the American people are awake. Their eyes are wide open. They are seeing more clearly every day the critical choices in this election The Senator's failed, out of the mainstream policies or my commitment to defend our country, to build our economy, and to uphold our bedrock values. This election comes down to some clear choices, five clear choices for America's family. The first clear choice is the most important because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. This will be the first Presidential election since September the 11th, 2001. Americans will go to the polls in a time of war and ongoing threats unlike any we have faced before. The terrorists who killed thousands of innocent people are still dangerous, and they are determined. The outcome of this election will set the direction of the war against terror. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty or weakness during these troubling times, the world will drift toward tragedy. This is not going to happen on my watch. Since that terrible morning of September the 11th, we've fought the terrorists across the Earth, not for pride, not for power but because the lives of our citizens are at stake. Our strategy is clear. We're strengthening the protections for our homeland. We're reforming our intelligence capabilities. We are transforming the All Volunteer Army. There will be no draft. We are determined. We are relentless. We are staying on the offensive. We're chasing the terrorists overseas so we do not have to face them here at home. Because we led, Afghanistan is a free nation and an ally in the war on terror Pakistan is capturing terrorist leaders Saudi Arabia is making raids and arrests. Because we led, Libya is dismantling its weapons programs the army of a free Iraq is fighting for freedom and more than three quarters of Al Qaida's key members and associates have been brought to justice. We have led. Many have joined. And America and the world are safer. And part of our strategy is to spread liberty and peace. I believe in the transformational power of liberty to change societies. I want you to remind your sons and daughters what has taken place in a relatively quick period of time in Afghanistan. It wasn't all that long ago that young girls could not go to school or their mothers were taken into the public square and whipped and sometimes into a sports stadium and killed because of the barbaric vision of the Taliban. Because we acted in our self interest, because we acted to uphold the doctrine which I laid out that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist," millions of people millions of people in Afghanistan voted in a Presidential election. The first voter was a 19 year old woman. Free societies will be peaceful societies. Free societies will help us keep the peace. Iraq is going to have elections in January. Think how far that society has come from the days of mass graves and torture chambers. Freedom is on the march. I believe everybody yearns to be free. I believe people long for freedom. I believe this. I understand freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. A President must lead with consistency and strength. In a war, sometimes your tactics change but not your principles. Americans have seen how I do my job. Even when you might not agree with me, you know what I believe. You know where I stand, and you know where I'm going to lead our Nation. On good days and on bad days, when the polls are up or the polls are down, I am determined to protect the American people. And I'll support our troops in harm's way. You know, I want to thank those who wear our Nation's uniform. I want to thank the military families who sacrifice on behalf of our Nation's freedom. I want to thank the veterans who have set such a great example to those who wear the uniform. And I assure you, we will keep the commitment we have made. Our troops will have what they need to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress and asked for 87 billion of supplemental funding in September of 2003. And we received great bipartisan support for this necessary and critical funding. As a matter of fact, the support was so strong that only 12 Members of the United States Senate voted against the funding, 2 of whom were my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. But let me give you a more startling statistic, one that I would hope you would use as you're gathering up the vote Four Members of the United States Senate only four voted to authorize the use of force and then voted against the funding necessary to support our troops in combat. Two of those four were my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. So they asked him why he made that vote, and you might remember this quote. He said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, before I voted against it." Now, look, I haven't spent all that much time in Toledo, but I doubt I'm going to find many people who talk that way here in Toledo, Ohio. He has given several answers about why he made the vote. Perhaps the most revealing was when he said, "The whole matter was a complicated matter." My fellow Americans, there is nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. Senator Kerry's record on national security has a far deeper problem than election year flip flopping. On the largest national security issues of our time, he has been consistently wrong. When Ronald Reagan was confronting the Soviet Union at the height of the cold war, Senator Kerry said that President Reagan's policy of peace through strength was making America less safe. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Well, history has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Reagan was right. When former President Bush led a coalition against Saddam Hussein in 1991 because he had invaded Kuwait, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force to liberate Kuwait. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Well, history has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. In 1994, just one year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, Senator Kerry proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence budget, so massive that even his Massachusetts colleague, Ted Kennedy, opposed them. Laughter History shows that Senator Kerry was wrong and let's be fair about it Senator Kennedy was right. Laughter During the last 20 years in key moments of challenge and decision for America, Senator Kerry has chosen the position of weakness and inaction. With that record, he stands in opposition not just to me but to the great tradition of the Democratic Party. The party of Franklin Roosevelt, the party of Harry Truman, the party of John Kennedy is rightly remembered for confidence and resolve in times of war and hours of crisis. Senator Kerry has turned his back on "pay any price" and "bear any burden," and he's replaced those commitments with "wait and see" and "cut and run." Many Democrats in this country do not recognize their party anymore. And today, I want to speak to every one of them If you believe that America should lead with strength and purpose and confidence in our ideals, I would be honored to have your support, and I'm asking for your vote. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. In this campaign, there are big differences about how to protect America's families. One time in our debate, my opponent said America must submit to what he calls a "global test" before we commit force. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I'm not making that up. Laughter I heard it. Laughter As far as I can tell, that means our country must get permission before we act in our own defense. As President, I'll always work with friends and allies. I'll always build coalitions. But I will never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries. My opponent says that September the 11th did not change him much at all. And that's clear in his policies. He believes that the war on terror is primarily a law enforcement and intelligence gathering operation. September the 11th changed me. I remember that day when I was at Ground Zero on September the 14th, 2001. I'll never forget the sights. I'll never forget the sounds. I remember the workers in hard hats yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I remember the first responder I can't remember if he was a firefighter or a policeman who came out of the rubble, and he grabbed me by the arm, and he looked me square in the eye, and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I've gotten up every morning thinking about how to better protect our country. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes. The second clear choice in this election concerns your family budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for American families. And I kept my word. We doubled the child credit to 1,000 per child. We want to help the moms and dads of America do their duty. We reduced the marriage penalty. We believe the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not penalize marriage. We dropped the lowest bracket to 10 percent. We reduced income taxes for everybody who pays taxes. Real after tax income is up 10 percent since I've been the President. That's money in your pocket. That's money you can spend. I want you to remind your friends and neighbors that the stock market was in serious decline 6 months prior to my arrival in Washington. And then we had a recession, and we had some corporate scandals. We passed tough laws. We have made it abundantly clear we will not tolerate dishonesty in the boardrooms of America. The attacks of September the 11th cost us nearly a million jobs in the 3 months after that attack. But our economic policies are working. They have led us back to the path of growth and recovery. Our economy is growing at rates as fast as any in nearly 20 years. We've added 1.9 million new jobs in the last 13 months. Homeownership rates are at an alltime high. Minorities are owning their home at rates greater than ever before in our history. Farm income is up. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in America. Small businesses are flourishing. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. Let me put that in perspective for you That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. I know people are still struggling here in Ohio. I understand that. I've traveled your State a lot. I've spoken to people. But that doesn't mean we should get away from pro growth economic policies. Quite the contrary. We need to keep your taxes low. We need to do something about lawsuits. We need to do something about regulatory reform. To keep this economy going, I will empower our small businesses, our consumers, and American families by keeping the taxes low. Speaking about taxes, my opponent has got some plans for your budget. He's going to take a big chunk out of it. He voted against the higher child tax credit, and he voted against the marriage penalty relief. He voted against lower taxes. If he'd have had his way, the average middle class family would be paying 2,000 more dollars a year in taxes. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That's probably not a lot for some of the folks in Washington. It's a lot for the folks in Toledo, Ohio. That means a lot to the people in this part of the world. That money helps moms and dads. It helps our families. You know, he's been in the United States Senate for 20 years, and he's voted to raise taxes 98 times. That's five times for every year he's been in the Senate. I would call that a predictable pattern laughter a leading indicator. Laughter When a Senator does something that often, he really must like it. Laughter And he's proposed 2.2 trillion in new spending. That is trillion with a "T." That's a lot. That's a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. Laughter So they asked him how he's going to pay for it. He said, well, he's going to tax the rich. You know, by raising the top two brackets, you're taxing small business creators. Most small businesses pay tax at the individual income tax rate. Seventy percent of new jobs in America are created by small businesses. It makes no sense to tax the job creators in America. Running up the tax is lousy economic policy. Let me tell you what else is wrong, and you need to tell this to your friends and neighbors. He's proposed 2.2 trillion in new spending, but when you raise the top two brackets, you only raise between 600 and 800 billion. So there's a gap. I would like to call it a tax gap, a gap between what he's promised and what he can pay. And guess who usually fills the tax gap. Audience member. We do! The President. You do. The good news is, we're not going to let him tax you we're going to carry Ohio and win on November the 2d. The third clear choice in this election involves the quality of life for our families. A good education and quality health care are important to a successful life. As a candidate, I pledged to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations by reforming our public schools. I kept my word. We passed strong education reforms in Washington. We're increasing spending, particularly for low income students. But in return for increased spending, we're now asking whether or not a child can read or write and add and subtract. See, we realize or we think every child can learn, and we expect every school to teach. You cannot solve a problem unless you diagnose the problem, and we are diagnosing and solving problems all across America. Our test scores in reading and math are up. We are closing a achievement gap for minority students all across America. And we're not going to go back to the old days of mediocrity and low expectations in our Nation's schoolrooms. We will continue to work to make sure health care is available and affordable. We'll make sure health care is available by expanding community health centers so the poor and the indigent can get good primary and preventative care in places other than your emergency rooms. We're going to make sure that children of low income families are subscribed to our health programs. We want to make sure people get health care in America that can't afford it. We also want to make sure it's affordable. Most of the uninsured work for small businesses. Small businesses ought to be allowed to join together, to spread risk, so they can buy insurance at the same discount that big companies are able to do. We will expand health savings accounts, which will help our families and our small businesses. And to make sure health care is available and affordable in this good State, we will do something about the frivolous lawsuits that are running up the cost of health care and running doctors out of business. I was campaigning in Canton the other day, and I met two docs who are no longer practicing medicine because their premiums got so high because of the lawsuits. I have met too many ob gyns who are leaving practice because of the lawsuits. And I have met too many young expectant moms who are concerned about their health care because they don't have a doc close by. And that's not right for America. This is a national problem that requires a national solution. You cannot be pro doctor, pro patient and pro personal injury trial lawyer at the same time. My opponent has made his choice. He voted against medical liability reform 10 times in the Senate, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I have made my choice. I'm standing with the doctors of Ohio. I'm standing with the patients of Ohio. I'm standing with the families of Ohio. I'm for medical liability reform. My opponent has got a different point of view when it comes to health care. You might remember one of the debates when they asked him about his health care plan, and he said, with a straight face, "The Government doesn't have anything to do with it." I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it. Eighty percent of the people would be signed up to a Government program under his vision. When you make it easier for people to sign up for Medicaid, it means the small business owners will stop writing insurance for their employees because the Government is going to. That moves people from the private sector to the public sector. Now, when the Government starts writing the checks when it comes to health care, they start making the rules when it comes to health care. And when they start making the rules when it comes to health care, they start making the decisions for you when it comes to health care and they make decisions for your doctors when it comes to health care. The wrong prescription for American families is to federalize health care. In all we do to improve health care for our families, we'll make sure the decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. The fourth clear choice in this election involves your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drugs. I kept my word. We got the job done for our seniors. Medicare needed to be modernized. Medicare would pay thousands of dollars for a heart surgery but not one dime for the prescription drugs that might prevent the heart surgery from being needed in the first place. That didn't make any sense to people on Medicare. And so I brought Republicans together and Democrats together. I signed a Medicare law. And beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. And we will keep our promise of Social Security for our seniors. And we'll strengthen Social Security for generations to come. Now, you might remember the 2000 campaign, when they were running the ads and the fliers and the mailers that said, "If George W. gets elected, our seniors will not get their checks." Well, as you gather up the vote, please remind your friends and neighbors that George W. did get elected, and the seniors got their checks. And the seniors will continue to get their checks. And baby boomers like me and a couple other people I see out there, we'll get our checks. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren. We need to worry about whether the Social Security system will be there when they need it. And that's why I believe younger workers ought to be able to take some of their own payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account, a personal savings account that will earn a better rate of return, a personal savings account they call their own, a personal savings account the Government cannot take away. My opponent's taken a different approach on this issue. He said he's going to protect Social Security. I want you to remind your friends and neighbors that he has voted eight times for higher taxes on Social Security benefits. He can run from his record, but he cannot hide. And when it comes to the young generation, he's offered nothing. The job of a President is to confront problems, not pass them on to future generations and future Presidents. In a new term, I'll bring people together and make sure the Social Security system is strong for generations to come. The fifth clear choice in this election is on the values that are so crucial to keeping our families strong. I stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. I stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. I will promote a culture of life, and I proudly signed the ban on partial birth abortion. My opponent's taken a different point of view. He voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. He voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And at one time in this campaign, he actually said the heart and soul of America can be found in Hollywood. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Most families do not look to Hollywood as a source of values. The heart and soul of America is found in caring communities like Toledo, Ohio. All these choices make this one of the most important elections in our history. The security and prosperity of our country are at stake. The health and education for our families and our children are at stake. The direction of our culture is at stake. The decision is in the best of hands. It's in the hands of the American people. It's in your hands. Our country is a strong country. It is a great country. I see a great day coming for all Americans. One of my favorite quotes is from a fellow Texan named Tom Lea. And he said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." In the course of this campaign, my opponent has spent much of the campaign talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that is coming, a prosperous day, a hopeful day, a compassionate day, and a day when we can achieve the peace we so long for for our children and our grandchildren. When I campaigned across Ohio 4 years ago, I made this pledge, that if I was elected, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. Thanks for coming. God bless. Thank you all. October 29, 2004 The President. Thank you all. Thanks for coming. Thank you all for being here. Thank you all for coming. Laura and I are honored so many of you came out to say hello. You've lifted our spirits. I also want to thank Governor Schwarzenegger for coming. It's such an honor to have him here in Columbus and campaigning on my behalf. You know, he and I share some things in common. We both married well. Laughter We both have trouble speaking the English language. Laughter We both got big biceps. Laughter Well, two out of three ain't bad. Laughter It's great to be back in Columbus. I don't know if you know this or not, but my grandfather was raised here. So why don't you send a home boy back to Washington? We love campaigning in your State. Ohio is a wonderful place. I'm campaigning hard to let people know that I've got an agenda for 4 more years. Perhaps the most important reason why you ought to put me back into office is so that Laura is the First Lady for 4 more years. I'm proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. I readily concede that he does not have the waviest hair in the race. You'll be happy to hear I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. Laughter I picked him because he's a man of sound judgment, excellent experience. He's getting the job done for the American people. Laura and I are pleased that your Governor, Bob Taft, and First Lady Hope Taft are with us today. Thank you all for coming. Senator Mike DeWine is with us. Senator, thank you for being here. You need to put George Voinovich back in the United States Senate. I want to thank Congressman Pat Tiberi for his leadership. I want to thank Congressman Dave Hobson and Carolyn for being with us today. We're honored you are here. I want to thank my friend Deborah Pryce in the United States Congress, who is here. I want to thank the Lieutenant Governor, who is with us. The Supreme Court of Ohio Chief Justice is with us. We've got a lot of State and local officials here. We are honored with your presence. I want to thank all the grassroots activists who are here. I want to thank my friend Jo Ann Davidson and Doug Preisse. I want to thank you all, all of you who are making the phone calls, putting up the signs, and turning out the vote. I'm here to not only ask for your vote I'm here to ask for your help. I'm here to ask you to get your friends and neighbors to go to the polls. Turn out our fellow Republicans, fine independents, and discerning Democrats. Four days to go, and we're counting on your help. There's no doubt in my mind, with your help, we will carry Ohio again and win a great victory on Tuesday. We have a clear choice or you have a clear choice in this campaign, a clear choice between two very different candidates, dramatically different approaches and different records. You know where I stand, and sometimes, you even know where my opponent stands. Laughter We both have records. I am proudly running on mine. This election comes down to some clear choices for America's families. The first choice is the most important because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every issue depends on the safety of our families. Americans will go to the polls in a time of war and ongoing threats unlike any we have faced before. The terrorists who killed thousands of innocent people are still dangerous and determined to strike. The outcome of this election will set the direction of the war against terror. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty or weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch. Since that terrible morning, we have fought the terrorists across the Earth, not for pride, not for power but because the lives of our citizens are at stake. Our strategy is clear. We have strengthened our homeland. We're reforming and strengthening our intelligence capabilities. We are transforming the All Volunteer Army. There will be no draft. We are relentless. We are determined. We are staying on the offense. We're chasing the terrorists across the globe so we do not have to face them here at home. Because we led, Afghanistan is a free Nation and an ally in the war on terror Pakistan is capturing terrorist leaders Saudi Arabia is making raids and arrests. Because we led, Libya is dismantling its weapons programs the army of a free Iraq is fighting for freedom and more than three quarters of Al Qaida's key members and associates have been brought to justice. And we've got another asset at our disposal freedom. We believe I believe in the power of liberty. Think about what has happened in a short period of time. Young girls in Afghanistan couldn't go to school because the Taliban was so barbaric and backward. And if their mothers didn't toe the line of ideological hatred, they were taken into the public square and whipped and sometimes executed in a sports stadium. Because we acted in our own interests, because we acted to protect ourselves, because we upheld a doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist," millions of people went to the polls to vote for the President of Afghanistan. The first voter was a 19 year old woman. Iraq will have elections in January. Think how far that country has come from the days of torture chambers and mass graves. Freedom is on the march. Freedom is taking place around this world, and America is more secure for it. I believe everybody longs to be free. I believe deep in everybody's soul, there's a yearning to live in a free society. I believe all these things because freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. A President has to lead our country with consistency and strength. In a war, sometimes your tactics change but not your principles. Americans have seen how I do my job. Even when you might not agree with me, you know what I believe and where I stand and where I intend to lead this country. On good days and on bad days, whether the polls are up or the polls are down, I am determined to lead this Nation and win the war on terror. And I will always support the United States military. I want to thank those who wear our Nation's uniform. I want to thank our military families who are here. I want to thank the veterans who have set such a great example for our military. And I want to assure our military and their families and our veterans, we will make sure our troops have that which they need to complete their missions. That's why I went to the United States Congress and asked for 87 billion of supplemental funding, necessary funding to support our troops in harm's way. We got great bipartisan support for that request. Only 12 United States Senators voted against the funding for our troops, 2 of whom were my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. When you're out gathering the vote over the next 4 days, when you're rounding up people to go to the polls, remind them of this statistic Only four Members of the United States Senate voted to authorize the use of force and then voted against providing the funding necessary for our troops in combat. Two of those four were my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. You might remember the most famous quote of the 2004 campaign. When asked about his vote on the 87 billion, Senator Kerry said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, before I voted against it." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Now, I haven't spent a lot of time in Columbus, but I doubt we're going to find many people here who talk that way. Laughter He's given several explanations since about his 87 billion vote. Perhaps the most illustrative one of them all was when he said, "The whole thing was a complicated matter." Laughter My fellow citizens, there is nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. Unfortunately, my opponent, tonight, continued to say things he knows are not true, accusing our military of passing up a chance to get Usama bin Laden in Tora Bora. As the commander in charge of that operation, Tommy Franks, has said, "It's simply not the case." It's the worst kind of Monday morning quarterbacking. It is especially shameful in the light of a new tape from America's enemy. Our commander in Afghanistan, Tommy Franks, recently said, "The Senator's understanding of events does not square with reality." General Franks said America's Special Forces were actively involved in the search for the terrorists in Tora Bora. And intelligence reports at the time placed bin Laden in any of several different countries. As General Franks said, "If we'd ever known where bin Laden was, we would have gotten him." Before Senator Kerry got into political difficulty and revised his views, he saw our actions in Tora Bora differently. In the fall of 2001, on national TV, he said, quote, "I think we have been doing this pretty effectively, and we should continue to do it that way." Senator Kerry also went on to say about Tora Bora on national TV, "I think we've been smart. I think the administration leadership has done it well, and we are on the right track." I couldn't have said it better myself. Senator Kerry's record on national security has a far deeper problem than election year flip flopping. On the largest national security issues of our time, he has been consistently wrong. When Ronald Reagan was confronting the Soviet Union at the height of the cold war, Senator Kerry said that President Reagan's policy of peace through strength was making America less safe. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Ronald Reagan was right. When former President Bush led a coalition against Saddam Hussein in 1991, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force to liberate Kuwait. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. In 1994, just one year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, Senator Kerry proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence budget, so massive that even his Massachusetts colleague, Ted Kennedy, opposed them. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and we have got to be fair Senator Kennedy was right. Laughter During the last 20 years, in key moments of challenge and decision for America, Senator Kerry has chosen the position of weakness and inaction. With that record, he stands in opposition not just to me but to the great tradition of the Democratic Party. The party of Franklin Roosevelt, the party of Harry Truman, the party of John Kennedy is rightly remembered for confidence and resolve in times of war and hours of crisis. Senator Kerry has turned his back on "pay any price" and "bear any burden," and he's replaced those commitments with "wait and see" and "cut and run." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Many Democrats in this country do not recognize their party anymore, and today, I want to speak to every once of them If you believe that America should lead with strength and purpose and confidence in our ideals, I would be honored to have your support, and I am asking for your vote. We have a difference of opinion. We have a difference of opinion how as how to protect our families. My opponent said America must submit to what he calls a "global test" before we commit our troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I'm not making that up. Laughter He was standing about three yards away when he said it. I couldn't believe it either. As far as I tell, that means our country must get permission before we act in our own defense. As President, I'll build on alliances. We'll continue to work with our friends and allies, but I will never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries. We have a difference of opinion as to how to protect you on this crucial issue. My opponent said that September the 11th did not change him much at all. September the 11th changed me a lot. I'll never forget the day I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers on September the 14th, 2001. I'll never forget the sights and sounds of that day, the workers in hardhats who were yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." The worker came out of the rubble policeman or a fireman, I'm not sure which one who grabbed me by the arm. He looked me square in the eye. He said, "Do not let me down." From that day forward, I get up every morning thinking about how to better protect our families. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes. The second clear choice in this election concerns your family's budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for America's families. I kept my word. We doubled the child credit to 1,000 per child to help moms and dads. We reduced the marriage penalty. We believe the Tax Code ought to encourage, not penalize marriage. We dropped the lowest tax bracket to 10 percent. We reduced income taxes on everybody who pays income taxes. I want you to remind your friends and neighbors about this fact When I came into office, the stock market had been in serious decline for 6 months and we faced a recession and corporate scandals and the attacks of September the 11th cost us about a million jobs in the 3 months after that fateful day. But our economic policies are working. Because we increased consumption and encouraged investment, our economy is growing at rates as fast as any in nearly 20 years. We added 1.9 million new jobs in the last 13 months. The entrepreneurial spirit in America is strong. Small businesses are flourishing all across Ohio. Farm income is up in Ohio. The homeownership rate is at an alltime high. More minority families own a home than ever before in our Nation's history. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. Let me put that in perspective for you That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. I fully understand there are still people hurting in the great State of Ohio, but we're heading in the right direction. Your unemployment rate dropped from 6.3 percent to 6 percent in the month of September, and we added 5,500 new jobs. We're headed in the right direction. My opponent has plans for your family budget. He intends to take a big chunk out of it. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He voted against the higher child tax credit. He voted against marriage penalty relief. He voted against lower taxes. If he'd have had his way, the average American family would be paying 2,000 more in Federal taxes. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That may not sound like a lot to some of them in Washington, but it's a lot for families right here in Columbus, Ohio. It helps moms and dads. It helps the small business owners. You know, my opponent has been in the Senate for 20 years and he voted to raise taxes 98 times. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That's five times for every year in the Senate. I'd call that a predictable pattern, a leading indicator. During this campaign, he's also made a lot of promises. He's promised 2.2 trillion in new Federal spending. That's trillion with a "T." That's a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. So they asked him, "How are you going to pay for it?" And he said, "Oh, we'll just tax the rich." You've heard that before. Be wary. See, you raise, when you run up the top two brackets, between 600 and 800 billion dollars. That is far short of the 2.2 trillion he's promised. I would call that a tax gap. That's the gap between what he's promised and what he says he can deliver. And guess who usually gets to fill the tax gap? Audience members. We do! The President. Yes, you do. The good news is, he is not going to tax you we're going to carry Ohio and win a great victory. Third the third clear choice in this election involves the quality of life for our Nation's families. A good education and quality health care are important to a successful life. As candidate for President, I pledged to end the soft bigotry of low expectations by reforming our public schools. I kept my word. We passed good education reforms. We believe every child can learn, and we expect every child, every school to teach. We increased Federal spending. But in return for Federal increases, we now expect State and local jurisdictions to measure. We understand you cannot solve a problem until you diagnose the problem. And we are diagnosing and we are solving problems all across America. Test scores are up in reading and math. We're closing an achievement gap for minority students. And we will not go back to the days of low expectations and mediocrity in our classrooms. We'll continue to improve life for our families by making health care affordable and accessible. We'll make sure the poor and the indigent get good health care in community health centers. We'll make sure our program for children of low income families is fully subscribed. To make sure health care is affordable, we must allow small businesses to join together across jurisdictional boundaries so they can buy insurance at the same discounts big companies are able to do. We will expand health savings accounts to help our small businesses and our families. And to make sure health care is available and affordable for citizens of Ohio, we will do something about the frivolous lawsuits that are running up the cost of health care. I have met too many ob gyns who are having to leave practice because of increased premiums due to lawsuits. I have met too many expectant moms who are deeply concerned about getting the health care they need. This litigation problem is a national problem. You cannot be pro doctor, pro patient, and pro personal injury trial lawyer at the same time. My opponent has made his choice. He voted against medical liability reform 10 times and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I have made my choice. I'm standing with the doctors of Ohio. I'm standing with the families of Ohio. I'm for medical liability reform. Senator Kerry has got a different idea about health care. You might remember in the debate when he looked square in the camera and he said about his health care plan, "The Government didn't have anything to do with it." I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it. Eighty percent of the people who are signed up under his program end up on a Government plan. If you make it easier for people to be on Medicaid, it is likely small business owners will drop insurance for their employees because the Government will provide it. See, you're moving people from the private sector to Government plans. When the Government writes the check, the Government makes the rules. And when the Government is making the rules about your health care, the Government starts making decisions for you and they make decisions for your doctors. The wrong prescription for American families is to federalize our health care. In all we do to improve our family's health care, we will make sure the decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. The fourth clear choice involves your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage. I kept my word. Medicare needed to be changed. See, we would pay thousands of dollars for a heart surgery but not one dime for the prescription drugs that could prevent the heart surgery from being needed in the first place. That didn't make any sense to our seniors. So I brought Republicans and Democrats together. We modernized Medicare for our seniors, and beginning in 2006, seniors will get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. And we'll keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors, and we will strengthen Social Security for generations to come. Now, you might remember the 2000 campaign when they started running those ads and putting out the leaflets and flyers that said this to our seniors "If George W. gets elected, our seniors will not get their checks." So when you're out there rounding up the vote, when you're working hard over the next 4 days, remind your friends and neighbors that George W. did get elected, and the seniors did get their checks. And our seniors will continue to get their checks. And baby boomers like me and Arnold laughter we're in pretty good shape when it comes to Social Security. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren. We need to worry about whether Social Security will be there for them. And that is why I believe younger workers ought to be allowed to take some of their payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account, an account that earns a greater rate of interest, an account you own and an account the Government can never take away. My opponent takes a different approach. You know, he said he's going to protect Social Security. But tell your friends and neighbors that he voted eight times for higher taxes on Social Security benefits. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Like on other issues, he can run, but he cannot hide. And he's offered nothing for the next generation when it comes to Social Security. The job of the President is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. In a new term, I will bring people together so that we modernize and strengthen Social Security for generations to come. The final choice in this election is on the values that are crucial to keeping our families strong. I believe marriage is a sacred institution. I will promote a culture of life and proudly signed the ban on partial birth abortion. And I stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. All these choices make this one of the most important elections in our history. The security and prosperity of our country are at stake. The health of our families is at stake. The education of our children is at stake. And the direction of our culture is at stake. And the decision is in the best of hands. The decision is in the hands of the American people. One of my favorite quotes was written by a fellow Texan named Tom Lea. He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." My opponent has spent much of this campaign talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that's coming. I see a day where prosperity reaches every corner of America. I see a day where every child is able to read and write and add and subtract. I see a day in which this world becomes more peaceful and we're able to achieve the peace we all dream for for our children and our grandchildren. When I campaigned across your State in 2000, I made you this pledge, that if I got elected, I would uphold the honor and the integrity of the office. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. God bless. Thanks for coming. Thank you all. October 29, 2004 Earlier today I was informed of the tape that is now being analyzed by America's intelligence community. Let me make this very clear Americans will not be intimidated or influenced by an enemy of our country. I'm sure Senator Kerry agrees with this. I also want to say to the American people that we're at war with these terrorists, and I am confident that we will prevail. Thank you very much. Thank you. October 28, 2004 The President. Thank you all. Thanks for coming out to say hello. I got to tell me, you have lifted my spirits, for which I am grateful. It's good to be back in Saginaw. I'm grateful so many of you came out to say hello. Listen, I'm traveling your State asking for the vote and asking for your help. It is close to voting day. We have a duty in our country to vote. In our free land, free citizens must vote. And so I'm asking you to get your friends and neighbors to go to the polls, turn out our fellow Republicans, find independents who understand we have a better tomorrow ahead of us, and don't overlook discerning Democrats. Tell your fellow citizens that if they want a safer country, a stronger country, and a better country, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office. My only regret is that Laura is not here to see this fantastic crowd. She headed off to campaign today in Florida. You know, when I asked her to marry me, she said, "I'll marry you, but make me a promise." I said, "What is it?" She said, "Promise me I will never have to give a political speech." Laughter I'm sure some of you can relate to that. I said, "Okay, you got a deal." Fortunately, she didn't hold me to that deal. She is giving a lot of speeches, and when she does, the American people see a strong, compassionate, great First Lady. Perhaps the most important reason why people ought to put me back in office is so that Laura will be the First Lady for 4 more years. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. I am proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. He is doing a great job. Although, I admit, he does not have the waviest hair in the race. Laughter You will be pleased I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. I picked him because of his experience. I picked him because of his judgment. I picked him because he can get the job done for the American people. I'm proud to call Dave Camp my friend, and I know you're proud to call him Congressman. And I want to thank Terri Lynn Land for joining us, the secretary of state for the great State of Michigan. And I wish Myrah Kirkwood all the best in her run for the United States Congress. I want to thank Betsy DeVos and all the grassroots activists who are here. I want to thank the Saline Fiddlers. I want to thank the Saginaw Area Band. I want to thank the Wil Gravatt Band for joining us. Thank you for entertaining this good crowd. Most of all, I want to thank you all. I want to thank you for what you have done on behalf of my candidacy and what you're going to do. By working the phones, by getting people to by reminding people of their duty to vote, by putting up the signs, by turning out that vote, there is no doubt in my mind, we will carry Michigan and win a great victory in November. Five days from now, the people go to the polls. We are choosing the leader of our country at a time of great consequence to our Nation. We're at war against a terrorist enemy unlike any we have ever seen. We have much more to do to win a decisive victory against the terrorists. The most important duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty or weakness in these troubling times, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch. Our economy is in the midst of change and challenge. It can be a great time of opportunity if we have the right policies that strengthen rather than stall our economic growth. We have much more to do to create jobs, to improve our children's education, to make health care available and affordable, and to strengthen Social Security for our seniors and for generations to come. And I am ready for the job. My years as your President have confirmed some lessons and have taught me some new ones. A President must have a vision. A President must set goals and bring people together to achieve those goals. A President must surround himself with strong, capable people. And I have done so. A President must make America's priorities crystal clear in this uncertain world. I've learned to expect the unexpected, because history can deliver sudden horror from a soft autumn sky. I found you better know what you believe or risk being tossed to and fro by the flattery of friends or the chorus of the critics. I've been grateful for the lessons I have learned from my parents Respect every person do your best and live every day to its fullest. I have been strengthened by my faith and humbled by its reminder that my life is part of a much bigger story. I've learned firsthand how hard it is to send young men and women into battle, even when the cause is right. I've been reminded that the world looks to America for leadership and that it is crucial for an American President to be consistent. Perhaps most of all, I've learned the American President must make decisions on principle, core convictions from which you must not waver. The issues vary the challenges are different every day. Tactics and strategy must be flexible, but a President's convictions must be steady and true. As Presidents from Abraham Lincoln to Franklin Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan so clearly demonstrated, a President cannot blow in the wind. A President has to make tough decisions and stand by them. A President must follow the must not follow the path of the latest polls. A President must lead based on conviction and conscience. Especially in a time of war, mixed signals only confuse our friends, embolden our enemies. Mixed signals are the wrong signals for the American President to send. When America chooses a President, you choose not just a set of positions on issues or a philosophy or record you choose a human being who comes with strengths and weaknesses. One of the things I've learned about the Presidency is, whatever your strengths are, you're going to need them, and whatever your shortcomings are, people are going to notice them. Sometimes I'm a little too blunt. I get that from my mother. Sometimes I mangle the English language. Laughter I get that from my dad. Laughter But Americans have learned that when you disagree with me, at least you know what I believe and where I stand. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. You cannot say that about my opponent. Laughter Senator Kerry has taken a lot of different positions, but he rarely takes a stand. He's run a campaign of contradictions. I think it's fair to say consistency is not the Senator's strong suit. Laughter He was for the PATRIOT Act and the No Child Left Behind Act, until he was against key provisions of both of them. He voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq and then said I was wrong to use that force. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. When I sent troops into Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein from power, he said it was the right decision. Now he says it was the "wrong war." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. During one of our debates, he said Saddam Hussein was a threat. And then a couple of answers later, he said there was no threat in Iraq. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Just last year, American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq needed 87 billion for body armor, hazard pay, vehicles, weapons, and bullets necessary funding, funding that would keep a commitment we have made to our soldiers and their loved ones. They will have what is necessary to complete their mission. Something the veterans in this crowd understand, the Government must support those in harm's way. And I say thanks to our veterans from the bottom of a grateful heart. Back to the 87 billion. First Senator Kerry said, "It would be irresponsible to vote against the troops." That's what he said on TV, national TV. Then he did the irresponsible thing and voted against the funding for our troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Now, they asked him about that vote, and you might remember perhaps the most famous quote of the 2004 campaign when he said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, before I voted against it." Pressed further to explain his vote, he's given several explanations. One of the most interesting was this "The whole thing was a complicated matter." Laughter There's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. You have to wonder why my opponent has taken such different positions at different places and different times in this campaign. I think you'll find two reasons why. Senator Kerry changes positions because he's willing to say anything he thinks will help him politically at the time. And he does so to try to obscure a 20 year record, 20 years of out of the mainstream votes. That leads to an inescapable conclusion. Senator Kerry has been wrong on the wrong side of the defining national security and domestic policy debates for the last two decades. He can run from his record, but he cannot hide. Several times during the course of this campaign, the Senator has changed his positions for political convenience. The Senator recognized Saddam Hussein was a threat and authorized force to remove him, until his Democratic opponent Howard Dean began gaining ground as an antiwar candidate. And then he decided he had to appeal to that wing of his party, so he voted against the troops after voting to put them at risk in the first place. See, he looked at the polls and changed positions. The Senator was all for removing Saddam Hussein when we went into Baghdad. He was very supportive when we captured him. After all, the polls showed that that was very popular at the time. When the going got tough and when we faced determined opposition and things weren't quite so popular, the Senator suddenly wasn't quite so supportive. In fact, he changed his mind entirely, deciding it was the "wrong war at the wrong place at the wrong time." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. It's important for the citizens of Michigan to think about this. What does that lack of conviction say to our troops who are risking their lives in a vital cause? What does it say to our allies who have joined us in that cause? What does that lack of conviction signal to our enemies, that if you make things uncomfortable, if you stir up trouble, John Kerry will back off? And that's a very dangerous signal to send during this time. This week Senator Kerry is again attacking the actions of our military in Iraq, with complete disregard for the facts. Senator Kerry will say anything to get elected. The Senator's willingness to trade principle for political convenience makes it clear that John Kerry is the wrong man for the wrong job at the wrong time. And there's another reason the Senator changes positions. He doesn't want you to know where he really stands. Laughter He doesn't want you to know where he stands on national security, because he has a record of weakness. When Ronald Reagan was confronting the Soviet Union at the height of the cold war, Senator Kerry proposed cancellation of critical defense weapons systems and said that President Reagan's policy of peace through strength was making America less safe. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Ronald Reagan was right. Former President Bush led a coalition against Saddam Hussein in 1991. Senator Kerry voted against using force to liberate Kuwait. If his view had prevailed, Saddam Hussein today would dominate the Middle East, possess the world's most dangerous weapons. History has shown that John Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. In 1994, just one year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, Senator Kerry proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence budgets, cuts so extreme that even his Massachusetts colleague, Ted Kennedy, opposed them. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and we have got to be fair Senator Kennedy was right. Laughter When you are one Senator among 100, you can be wrong without consequence. But the President's opinion decides the security and the fate of our country. And while the Senator's 20 year record of votes is long, it's also lacking of significant reform or achievement. He talks about bringing new allies to the war against terror if somehow countries that have not yet been involved might want to join what he calls the "wrong war." Laughter Yet he has no history of convincing even his colleagues in the United States Senate to join him on signature reforms or achievements. The next 4 years, I will work with our friends and allies. We will strengthen our coalition, but I will never turn over America's national security decisions to leaders of other countries. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. The security of our country is at stake. Senator Kerry says September the 11th, in his words, "did not change him much at all." That's what he said. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And his policies make that clear. The Senator says the war on terror is primarily a law enforcement and intelligence gathering operation. He says his goal is to go back to the days of the 1990s when terrorism was seen as a "nuisance" Audience members. Boo o o! The President. fought with subpoenas and cruise missiles. Well, September the 11th changed my outlook for the world. It made it crystal clear to me the dangers we face. A few days after the attacks, I went to Ground Zero, September 14th, 2001. I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers. It's a day I will never forget. The sights and sounds of that day are always in my mind. Workers in hardhats there yelling at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." A man coming out of the rubble grabbed me by the arm. He looked me in the eye, and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I wake up every morning thinking how to thinking about how to better protect our country. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes. There are other things about his views and his ideas the Senator really doesn't want you to know about. You might remember the debate when they asked him about his health care plan. He looked straight in the camera and said, "The Government doesn't have anything to do with it." I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it. Eighty percent of the people end up, under his idea, on a Government plan. When you increase Medicaid eligibility, it means small businesses will likely stop writing insurance because the Government will provide the insurance. That moves people from the private sector to the public sector when it comes to health care. And see, when the Government starts paying the money, the Government starts writing the rules. And when the Government starts writing the rules when it comes to your health care, the Government starts making decisions for you and decisions for your doctors and rationing care. Senator Kerry's plan for health care for America is the wrong prescription. We will make health care more affordable and available for our citizens. We will expand community health centers to help the poor and the indigent. We'll make sure our program for low income children is fully subscribed. We'll expand health savings accounts to help our businesses and families with innovative ways to manage so you can manage your own health care account. We understand small businesses provide important insurance to the workers, and yet, many small businesses are having trouble affording health care, so we'll allow small businesses to join together so they can buy insurance at the same discounts that big companies are able to do. And we understand that these frivolous lawsuits are running up the cost of health care for small businesses, for patients, and they're running good doctors out of practice. You cannot be pro doctor, pro patient and pro personal injury trial lawyer at the same time. You have to make a choice. My opponent made his choice, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I made my choice. I'm standing with the doctors of Michigan. I'm standing with the patients of Michigan. I am for medical liability reform now. This campaign, the Senator doesn't want you to know where he really stands on taxes. He's going to raise them. To be fair, raising taxes is one of the few things that he's been consistent about. You might say he's made a habit out of it. See, he's been in the United States Senate 20 years, and he's voted to raise taxes 98 times. That's five times for every year he's been in the Senate. I'd call it a predictable pattern, an early warning indicator. Laughter You know, when we reduced the taxes for our families by raising the child credit and doing something about the marriage penalty, he voted against it. He voted against that tax relief at a vital time. Plus, he's decided to raise 2.2 trillion in new Federal spending. He's going to spend it. That's what he said. He said, "I'm going to spend 2.2 trillion new money," when you add up all his promises. He doesn't really want to clarify that. That's 2.2 trillion with a "T." That's a lot. That is a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. Laughter And so they asked him, "How are you going to pay for it?" They said, "How are you going to pay for it?" He said, "Oh, I'm just going to tax the rich." Now, people in Saginaw, Michigan, have heard that before. You see, if you raise the top two brackets, it raises 600 to 800 billion dollars. That is short of the 2.2 trillion. That's called a tax gap. Laughter And guess who usually has to fill that tax gap? Audience member. We do! The President. Yes, you do. The good news is, we're not going to let him tax you we're going to carry Michigan and win a victory. No, the Senator doesn't really want to talk about his record, and there is a reason why. There is a mainstream in American politics, and he sits on the far left bank. I'm a compassionate conservative and proudly so. I'm more than happy to travel our country talking about my record, talking about a record that has made America a stronger place and a safer place and a better place. When you're rounding up the vote, remind people what this economy has been through. Six months prior to my arrival in Washington, the stock market was in serious decline, which foretold a recession. And then we had some corporate scandals, passed we passed tough laws, and we have made it abundantly clear that we're not going to tolerate dishonesty in the boardrooms of America. And then the attacks came, and they cost us about a million jobs in the 3 months after September the 11th. But we acted. I led the Congress to cut the taxes on the American people to encourage consumption and investment, to stimulate the small business sector of our economy. And our policies are paying off. We're growing at rates as fast as any in nearly 20 years. We have added 1.9 million jobs in the last 13 months. The farmers in Michigan are making a living. The small business owners are alive and well. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong. The home ownership rate in America is at an alltime high. More minorities own a home than ever before in our Nation's history. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. Let me put that in perspective for you That is lower than the average rate of the 1970s and the 1980s and the 1990s. I understand there are some people hurting in Michigan, but that's not a reason to go back to tax and spend. The best way to make sure people can find work is to continue to promote a pro growth, pro entrepreneur, pro small business economic policy, which is what we have done. Our economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. When I ran when I was running for President 4 years ago, I promised to do something about the public schools. I told the American people I was troubled by a system that would shuffle children through, grade after grade, year after year, without teaching the basics. I call that the soft bigotry of low expectations. So I promised to reform our system. I kept my word. We've increased spending, particularly for minority students and poor students. But in return, we've now said, "Show us whether or not a child can read and write and add and subtract." See, you can't solve a problem until you diagnose the problem. And as a result of the system in place, the system that says we're going to set high standards for every child, we're diagnosing problems and we're solving them. Math and reading scores are up across this country. We are closing an achievement gap for minority students. And we're not going to go back to the days of mediocrity and excuses for failure in our public schools. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to improve Medicare by adding prescription drugs. I kept my word. You might remember the old Medicare debates. They would call it "Medi scare" because politicians wouldn't talk about it. I came to Washington to solve problems. We had a problem in Medicare. Medicare would pay thousands of dollars for the heart surgery but not one dime for the prescription drugs that could prevent the heart surgery from being needed in the first place. Now we've strengthened Medicare. We've modernized Medicare. Beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. My opponent voted against that bill that provided prescription drug coverage for our seniors Audience members. Boo o o! The President. even though AARP and other senior groups supported it. As your President the next 4 years, I will defend the reforms we put in place for our seniors. We will keep our promise to America's seniors with modern medicine. When I ran for President, I said we would help those who need help in America, we would help those who could not help themselves. I said Government should not discriminate against faith based and community groups who provide compassionate care for the broken heart. And now our Government welcomes those groups as partners in meeting the needs of those who need hope and those who need help. I said we would help the poor and the indigent with health care, and we've expanded community health centers all across this country, and we will continue to do so. We've doubled funding for medical research into new cures and diseases, just like I said I would do during the campaign. As we pursued threats around the world, as we have used our might to protect ourselves and to protect others, we have also delivered American compassion. We've dramatically increased funding to combat AIDS and to help developing countries who are making good governance decisions and investing in their future. We're pursuing a forward strategy of freedom around the world. We're promoting democracy. I want you to tell your children about what has taken place in a brief period of time in this world. You know, it wasn't all that long ago that young girls couldn't go to school in Afghanistan because the country was run by ideologues of hate called the Taliban. And if their mothers didn't toe the line, they would be pulled into the public squares and whipped and sometimes shot in a sports stadium. They were backward. The society was grim and dark. Because we acted to defend ourselves, because we upheld the doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist," millions of people in Afghanistan went to the polls to vote for a President. And the first voter was a 19 year old woman. There will be elections in Iraq in January. Think how far that society has come from the days of torture chambers and mass graves. Freedom is on the march. Liberty will transform societies. I believe everybody yearns to be free. I believe this not because freedom is America's gift to the world, I believe this because freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. The role of a President is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future generations and future Presidents. That is how I have led, and that is how I will continue to lead our great Nation. We will keep your taxes low so this economy continues to grow. We will work on the education reforms and take them to our high schools. We will expand Pell grants for low and middle income families so more of our children can start their career with a college degree. We'll make sure that health decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. We'll keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors. You might remember the 2000 campaign. Perhaps the same thing is happening in this campaign. It's kind of the old, tired scare tactics. They said, "If George W. gets elected, our seniors aren't going to get their checks." That's what they said 4 years ago. Please tell your friends and neighbors, George W. did get elected, and our seniors did get their checks. Our seniors will continue to get their checks. Baby boomers like me and a couple others out there I see we're in pretty good shape when it comes to the Social Security trust. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren. We need to worry about whether or not a Social Security will be available for them when they retire. I believe younger workers ought to be able to take some of their payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account, a personal savings account that earns a better rate of return than the Social Security trust, an account they call their own, an account the Government cannot take away. Over the next 4 years, I'm going to work with Republicans and Democrats to do something about the Tax Code. It is a complicated mess. It is a million pages long. We need to make the Tax Code easier to understand and more fair for the American people. Over the next 4 years, I will defend the values that are important for our families and our Nation. Marriage and family are the foundations of our society, and we will keep them strong. I believe that this society must promote a culture of life. I was proud to sign the ban on partial birth abortion. I stand and will continue to stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. My opponent and I differ on these issues. Look at his record. He voted against the Defense of Marriage Act and voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He said he he said there would be a litmus test for his judges. And at one point in this campaign, he said that you can find the heart and soul of America in Hollywood. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. The heart and soul of America is found in caring communities like Saginaw, Michigan. Now, I'm looking forward to the rest of this campaign. I like talking about what we have done to make it clear to the American people I intend to do what I say I'm going to do during the next 4 years. I got a hopeful vision for this country. I see a better day coming. That stands in contrast with my opponent, who has offered a long litany of complaints without a significant record. One of my favorite quotes that I hope helps you understand how I feel about our great country comes from a fellow Texan named Tom Lea. He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It's the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." During the course of this campaign, my opponent has spent much time talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that is coming. I see a prosperous America where people are able to realize their dreams. I see an education system that challenges our children so that no child is left behind. I see a compassionate health care system run by you, where doctors aren't being sued every day. I see a world that is free and therefore peaceful. I see the peace that we all long for our children and our grandchildren. When I traveled your State 4 years ago, I made you this pledge, that if I was elected, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office. With your help and with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. Thanks for coming. God bless. Thank you all. October 28, 2004 The President. Thank you all for coming. Thank you all for being here today. I am so honored so many came out to say hello. You've lifted my spirits. I am here in Westlake, Ohio, asking for your vote and your help. I am asking you during the next couple of days to get on the telephone, to tell your friends and neighbors we have a duty in our free society to vote. We have an obligation to vote. Tell them they need to go to the polls, and when you get them headed to the polls, tell them that if they want a safer America, a stronger America, and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office. I am so honored you are here. My only regret on this beautiful day is that Laura is not here to see the size of this crowd. Audience members. Aw w w! The President. I know it. That is generally the reaction. Laughter "Why didn't you stay at home and send her?" Laughter I don't know if you know this or not, but Laura and I went to the seventh grade together, San Jacinto Junior High. By the way, she went to the same high school at the same time that Tommy Franks did, in Midland, Texas. He's older, and she's prettier. Laughter And so, I met her again we became reacquainted and she was a public school librarian when I did so. And she said I said, "Will you marry me?" She said, "Fine, but make me a promise." I said, "What is it?" She said, "Promise me I will never have to give a political speech." Laughter I said, "You got a deal." Fortunately, she didn't hold me to that promise. She's giving a lot of speeches she's speaking in Florida today and when she does, the American people see a strong, compassionate, great First Lady. I'm proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. I readily concede he does not have the waviest hair in the race. Laughter You'll be happy to hear I did not pick him because of his hairdo. Laughter I picked him because of his judgment. I picked him because of his experience, and he is getting the job done for the American people. I'm proud and I am honored to be supported by General Tommy Franks. America is safer and the world is better off because of the leadership of this fine American. God bless you, Tommy. And I'm proud to be here with Senator Bob Dole and all the retired officers who are on this stage who represent hundreds of people, former military leaders who are supporting my candidacy. It means a lot. It means a lot to be standing on the stage with people who have served our country so courageously. Thank you all for coming today, and thank you for your support. I've been traveling today with a fine United States Senator in George Voinovich. Send him back to Washington. He's doing a great job for you. And so is Mike DeWine. I'm proud to call him friend. I know you're proud to call him United States Senator. I want to thank Lieutenant Governor Jennette Bradley. I want to thank Mayor Hruby for joining us. And guess who else is with us today, a buddy of mine I've been traveling with across the State of Ohio, the Democrat mayor of Youngstown, Ohio, George McKelvey. He represents a lot of Democrats that are supporting my candidacy. There are a lot of people who understand and remember the great Democrat tradition of Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman and John Kennedy, of standing strong in times of crisis. As the mayor puts it, he didn't leave the Democrat Party the Democrat Party under John Kerry left him. And I welcome every Democrat to my campaign, and I'm honored you're here. I want to thank all the State and local officials. I appreciate so very much the Fraternal Order of Police folks who are here today. I want to thank you for the endorsement of my candidacy for President. I know the great Cleveland Indian, Bob Feller, is with us today. I'm honored you're here. I appreciate my friend Sammy Kershaw for being here today. Thank you, Sammy and Lorrie Morgan, his wife, for coming thanks for entertaining everybody. But most of all, thank you all. I'm here to thank you for what you have done and what you're going to do over the next 5 days. Get on that phone. Tell your friends and neighbors to vote. There's no doubt in my mind, with your help, we will carry Ohio again and win a great victory on November the 2d. When people go to the polls, we'll be choosing the leader of our country at a time of great consequence in our world. We're at war against the terrorist enemy unlike any we have seen. We have much more to do to win this war on terror. The primary job of the President of the United States is to protect the American people. If America shows any uncertainty or weakness in these troubling times, the world will drift toward tragedy. This is not going to happen on my watch. Our economy is in the midst of change and challenge. It can be a time of great opportunity if we have the right policies to strengthen, rather than stall, the economic recovery. We have more to do to make sure people can find work in places like Ohio, more to do to improve our children's education, more to do to make sure health care is available and affordable, more to do to strengthen Social Security for a generation to come, and I am ready for the job. My 4 years as your President have confirmed some lessons and taught me some new ones. The President must have a vision. You must understand where you're going in order to lead this Nation. A President must set clear goals and bring people together to achieve those goals. A President must surround himself with good, capable, strong people, and I have done so. I have learned to expect the unexpected. History can deliver sudden horror from a soft autumn sky. I've found you better know what you believe or you risk being tossed to and fro by the flattery of friends or the chorus of the critics. I've been grateful for the lessons I've learned from my parents, respect every person, do your best, live every day to its fullest. I have been strengthened by my faith and humbled by its reminder that my life is part of a much bigger story. I have learned firsthand how hard it is to send young men and women into battle, even when the cause is right. I've been reminded that the world looks to America for leadership and that it is crucial for America's President to be consistent. I've learned America's President must base decisions on principle, core convictions from which you will not waver. The issues vary the challenges are different every day as your President. Tactics and strategy will be flexible, but a President's convictions must be steady, and they must be true. As Presidents from Abraham Lincoln to Franklin Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan so clearly demonstrated, a President cannot blow in the wind. A President has to make tough decisions and stand by them. That is how I have led our country, and that is how I will continue to lead our country for 4 more years. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. The President must not follow the path of the latest polls. The President must lead based on conviction and conscience. Especially in a time of war, mixed signals only confuse our friends, embolden our enemies. Mixed signals are the wrong signals for an American President to send. When America chooses a President, you choose not just a set of positions on issues or a philosophy or record you choose a human being who comes with strengths and weaknesses. One of the things I've learned about the Presidency is whatever your strengths are, you are going to need them, and whatever your shortcomings are, people are going to notice them. Laughter Sometimes I'm a little too blunt. I get that from my mother. Laughter Sometimes I mangle the English language. I get that from my father. Laughter But Americans have learned that even when you disagree with me, at least you know what I believe and where I stand. You cannot say that about my opponent. Senator Kerry has taken a lot of different positions, but he rarely takes a stand. He has run a campaign of contradictions. I think it's fair to say consistency has not been the Senator's strong suit. He was for the PATRIOT Act and the No Child Left Behind Act until he was against key provisions of both of them. He voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq and then said I was wrong to use that force. When I sent troops to Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein from power, he said it was the right decision. Now he says it's the wrong war. During one of our debates, he said Saddam Hussein was a threat. Then a couple of answers later, he said there was no threat in Iraq. This last year, American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq needed 87 billion to support them in their missions. First, Senator Kerry said on national TV, "It would be irresponsible to vote against the troops." Then he did that irresponsible thing and voted against the troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. You might remember perhaps the most famous quote of the 2004 campaign when they asked him about that vote, when he said this "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, before I voted against it." I haven't spent nearly as much time in these parts as you have, but I think you're going to have trouble finding anybody in Westlake who talks that way. He's given a lot of answers about that vote. One of the most interesting ones of all is when he said, "The whole thing was a complicated matter." My fellow Americans, there's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. You have to wonder why he's taken such dramatically different positions in different places in different times in this campaign. Well, here's two reasons why, and it's important for the Ohio voters to understand this. Senator Kerry changes positions because he's willing to say anything he thinks will help him politically at the time. And he does so to try to obscure a 20 year record of out of the mainstream votes that leads to this conclusion Senator Kerry has been on the wrong side of defining national security and domestic policy debates for the last two decades. That is his record. He can run, but he cannot hide. Several times during the course of this campaign, the Senator has changed his position for political convenience. The Senator recognized Saddam Hussein was a threat and authorized the use of force, until his Democratic opponent Howard Dean began gaining ground as an antiwar candidate. The Senator decided he had to appeal to that wing of his party. So he voted against the troops after voting to put them at risk in the first place. The Senator was all for removing Saddam Hussein when we went into Baghdad and very supportive when we captured him. After all, the polls showed that was popular at the time. Laughter When the going got tough, when we faced determined opposition and things were not quite so popular, the Senator suddenly wasn't quite so supportive. In fact, he changed his mind entirely, deciding it was the "wrong war at the wrong place and the wrong time." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. The voters of Ohio must ask these questions. What does that lack of conviction say to our troops who are risking their lives in the vital cause? What does it say to our allies who have joined that cause? And what does his lack of conviction signal to our enemies? That if you make things uncomfortable, if you stir up trouble, John Kerry will back off. And that's a very dangerous signal in a world of grave threats. The President must be consistent. The President must stand for something. Just this week, Senator Kerry showed his willingness to put politics ahead of the facts and the truth. He criticized our military's handling of explosives in Iraq, when his own advisers admitted he did not know what had happened. His spokesman has now had to acknowledge that the explosives may have been moved before our troops ever arrived. A President needs to get all the facts before jumping to politically motivated conclusions. The Senator's willingness to trade principle for political convenience makes it clear that John Kerry is the wrong man for the wrong job at the wrong time. And there's another reason why the Senator changes positions. He doesn't want you to know where he really stands. He doesn't want you to know where he stands on national security because he has a record of weakness. When Ronald Reagan was confronting the Soviet Union at the height of the cold war, Senator Kerry said President Reagan's policy of peace through strength was making America less safe. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong, and President Ronald Reagan was right. When former President Bush led a coalition against Saddam Hussein in 1991, Senator Kerry voted against using force to liberate Kuwait. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong, and former President Bush was right. In 1994, just one year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, Senator Kerry proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence budget, cuts so extreme that even his Massachusetts colleague, Ted Kennedy, opposed them. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and we've got to be fair laughter Senator Kennedy was right. When you are one Senator among 100, you can be wrong without consequence. The President's opinion the President's decision decides the security and the fate of our country. My opponent and I have a different view about how to protect you, about how to make this country secure. He's got a limited, narrow view of the war on terror. Senator Kerry said September the 11th did not change him much at all. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Those are his words, not mine. And his policies make that clear. The Senator says the war on terror is primarily a law enforcement and intelligence gathering operation. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. My outlook was changed by September the 11th. I clearly see the threats that we face. A few days after the attack, I stood where the buildings fell. I'll never forget the evil of the enemy and the suffering of our people. I remember that day clearly remember that day. I remember the sights and sounds. I remember the workers in hardhats yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I remember looking in the eyes of a man coming out of that rubble who said to me, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I've waken up every morning trying to figure out how to better protect our country. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes. There are other things about my opponent's views he doesn't want you to know. I don't know if you remember that in one of those debates. He looked square in the camera when they asked him about his health care plan, and he said, "The Government doesn't have anything to do with it." I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with his health care plan. Eighty percent of the people would end up on Government insurance. If you increase the Medicaid limits, it provides an incentives for small businesses not to provide insurance for their employees, because the Government is going to provide insurance for their employees. You're moving people from the private sector to the Government when it comes to health insurance, and when the Government writes the checks, the Government makes the rules. And when it comes to your health care, when the Government makes the rules, the Government starts making decisions for you and starts deciding for your doctors. The wrong prescription for our families' health care is the Federal control of health care. I have got a better idea. We'll take care of the poor and the indigent through community health centers. We'll make sure low income children are fully subscribed into the health programs aimed for them. I understand that most of the uninsured work for small businesses. Small businesses ought to be allowed to pool risk so they can buy insurance at the same discounts that big companies can do. We'll expand health savings accounts to help our small businesses and our families. And to make sure health care is available and affordable, we will do something about the junk lawsuits that are running good docs out of practice and running your bills up. I was in Canton a while ago and met ob gyns that could no longer deliver babies. They had to get out of practice because these lawsuits had run their insurance up so high they couldn't afford to stay in practice. I've met too many women around our country who are worried about their baby. They're worried that they can't get the quality of health care that they need. Too many people are driving too far to get good health care because these lawsuits are ruining medicine, as far as I'm concerned. You can't be pro doctor and pro patient and pro personal injury trial lawyer at the same time. You have to make a choice. My opponent made his choice, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I have made my choice. I'm standing with the doctors of Ohio. I'm standing with the patients of Ohio. We are for medical liability reform. The Senator doesn't want you to really know where he stands on taxes, because he's going to raise them. Listen, to be fair, raising taxes is one of the view things that he has been consistent about. Laughter You might say he's made a habit out of it. He's been in the Senate 90 he's been in Senate 20 years, and he's voted to raise your taxes 98 times. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That's five times every year he's been in the Senate. I would call that a predictable pattern laughter a leading indicator tells you what he thinks about your wallet. He's also proposed 2.2 trillion in new spending. That's a lot. That's a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. So they asked him, "How are you going to pay for it?" And he threw out that same old tired line, you know, "We're just going to tax the rich." Well, the problem is, is that by running up the top two brackets you raise between 600 and 800 billion dollars, and that's far short of the 2.2 trillion worth of promises. I would call that a tax gap. That would be the gap between what he's promised and what he can deliver. And guess who usually fills the tax gap. Audience member. We do! The President. The good news is we're not going to let him tax you. We're going to carry Ohio and win on November the 2d. The Senator's record is clear. There is a mainstream in American politics, and he sits on the far left bank. I'm a compassionate conservative and proudly so. I am glad to talk about my record. You know, when I ran for office, I said we would cut the taxes on the American people, and I kept my word. We increased the child credit. We reduced the marriage penalty. We believe that the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not penalize marriage. We created a 10 percent bracket to help our working families. We cut the taxes on everybody who pays taxes. We're helping our small businesses, and our economic policies are paying off. This economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. You remind your friends and neighbors, when you're out gathering the vote, what we have been through. Six months prior to my arrival in Washington, DC, the stock market was in serious decline. That foretold a recession. Then we had some corporate scandals. We passed good law that make it abundantly clear we're not going to tolerate dishonesty in the boardrooms of America. And finally, those attacks cost us about a million jobs in the 3 months after September the 11th. But our plans are working. We've added 1.9 million new jobs since August of 2003. Homeownership rate is at an alltime high in America. More minorities own a home today than ever before in our Nation's history. Ohio's farmers are making a living. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in the State of Ohio. Our small businesses are creating jobs. I know there's pockets of problems here in this State. I understand that. I've been traveling your State. I know it well. But I want to remind you, in the month of September, the unemployment rate went from 6.3 percent to 6 percent in the State of Ohio. You added 5,500 new jobs in this State. We're making progress. We're going forward, and we're not going to go back to the days of tax and spend. No, I'm proud to run on my record. When I campaigned for President 4 years ago, I promised to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations in our public schools. I kept my word. We passed the No Child Left Behind Act, which is a fine piece of legislation. In return for increased Federal spending, we're now measuring. You know why? Because we believe every child can learn in America, and we expect every school to teach. You cannot solve a problem unless you diagnose the problem, and we're now diagnosing problems all across America, and our children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. The math scores are up. The English scores are up. We're closing an achievement gap among minority students, and we are not going to back to the day of low standards and mediocrity in our classrooms. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage for our seniors. I kept my word. Medicine was changing, and Medicare wasn't. We pay thousands of dollars for heart surgery but not one dime for the prescription drugs that could prevent the heart surgery from being needed in the first place. I brought Republicans and Democrats together. We have strengthened and modernized Medicare. Beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. Now that you've got me on a roll, let me talk about Social Security. Laughter I promised our seniors we would keep the promise of Social Security, and we did. In the 2000 campaign, I remember those some of those television ads, the fliers that went out to our seniors that said, "If George W. gets elected, our seniors are not going to get their checks." You might remember those, the shameless scare tactics. Well, George W. did get elected, and our seniors got their checks. And our seniors will continue to get their checks. And baby boomers like me I see a few of us out there don't admit it laughter we're going to get our checks. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren. We need to worry about whether Social Security will be there for them when they need it. That's why I think younger workers ought to be allowed to take some of their payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account, a personal savings account they call their own, that the Government cannot take away. During the debate, I remember my opponent standing up there saying, well, he's going to protect Social Security. But what he forgot to tell you was, he voted eight times to raise taxes on Social Security benefits. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. The good thing about a campaign is, you can run, but you cannot hide. He also offered nothing for the younger generation. The job of a President is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. In a new term, I will bring Republicans and Democrats together to make sure the Social Security system is strengthened for generations to come. There's more work to be done. I'm here to ask for the vote and let you know I want to make sure education systems continue to work. We'll expand the high standards to our high schools and expand Pell grants for low and middle income families so more children can start their career with a college degree. We'll continue to expand our economy and create an environment for the entrepreneur to flourish, by keeping your taxes low and doing something about regulations and lawsuits. We're going to make sure that the compassion of America continues to be unleashed through our faith based and community based initiatives. And we'll work hard to make sure this country is secure, by not only chasing the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home but by spreading freedom and liberty. I want to thank you all for bringing your children here today. I want to tell the children something, and I hope parents reinforce this. We we're changing the world because of our belief in liberty. It wasn't all that long ago in Afghanistan where young girls could not go to school. Think about a society that way. Think about how barbaric and backward the Taliban were. And if their mothers didn't toe their ideological line of hatred, they would be pulled in the public square and whipped some cases, killed in a sports stadium. We acted in our own self interest in Afghanistan. We acted to uphold a doctrine that I explained to the world, that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist." When the President says something, he needs to speak clearly and mean what he says in order to keep the peace. And I meant what I said, and Tommy knew I meant what I said. We acted in our interest and removed the Taliban Al Qaida can no longer train there but in so doing, millions of people voted in a Presidential election. The first voter in the Afghanistan Presidential election was a 19 year old woman. Think about that. Think about how that society has gone from darkness to light because of freedom. Iraq will hold elections in January. Think how far that society has come from the days of torture chambers and mass graves. Freedom is on the march, and America is more secure because of it. And freedom will stay on the march so long as I am your President. I believe everybody yearns to be free. Freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. Over the next 4 years, we will work to protect and defend the values that make our country such a unique place. I stand for judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. I stand for a culture of life in which every being matters and every person counts. I proudly signed the ban on partial birth abortion. I stand strongly for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. My opponent and I disagreed on these issues. He voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. As a matter of fact, at one time during this campaign, he actually said he thought you could find the values find the heart and soul of America in Hollywood. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. The heart and soul of America is found right here in places like Westlake, Ohio. It's an important election. I want to thank you all for coming out and giving me a chance to encourage you to vote and to work the crowd, work the folks work the folks in your neighborhood and communities community centers and your coffee shops. Tell the people we have an obligation, and when you're talking to them, tell them I see such a bright future for America. I see a great day ahead for our citizens. One of my favorite quotes is written by a fellow Texan named Tom Lea. Here's what he said. He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." The course of this campaign, my opponent has spent much of the time talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that's coming, a better day for all Americans, a prosperous America, an educated America, a compassionate America, and a peaceful world that we all want. You know, when I campaigned across your State 4 years ago, I made you this pledge, that if I got elected, I would uphold the honor and the integrity of the office. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. God bless. Thank you all for coming. Thank you all. October 28, 2004 The President. Thank you all. Thanks for coming. Thanks for coming out today. You're lifting my spirits. I'm honored you're here. I have come back to the great city of Dayton, Ohio, to ask for your vote and ask for your help. We have a duty in our country to vote. I'm asking for you to remind your friends and neighbors of that duty. We have an obligation in a free society to show up to the polls. I've come to Dayton to ask you to get our fellow Republicans to vote, to find independents to go to the polls, and don't overlook discerning Democrats like Mayor McKelvey from the great city of Youngstown, Ohio. And when you get them headed to the polls, remind them, if they want a safer America, a stronger America, and a better America for all of us, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office. My regret is that Laura is not with me today. Audience members. Aw w w! The President. It's obviously your regret as well. Laughter So we were in the seventh grade together at San Jacinto Junior High in Midland, Texas. And then we became reacquainted when she was a public school librarian. And I asked her to marry me, and she said, "Fine, but make me a promise." I said, "Okay, what is it?" She said, "Promise me I'll never have to give a political speech." Laughter I said, "Okay, you got a deal." Fortunately, she is not holding me to that promise. She is giving a lot of speeches, and when she does, the American people see a strong, a warm, a compassionate First Lady. I love her dearly. And, as a matter of fact, just as we pulled into the parking lot I got a phone call from three other members of my family. Barbara and Jenna, our twins, are out campaigning, and guess who they're with? They're with old Number 41. That would be former President Bush. And they send their best to the good people of Dayton, Ohio. And they send their best to my buddy, the Senator from Ohio, George Voinovich. I tell you, you're lucky to have a man of this caliber serving you in the United States Senate. What a fine American, and I hope you put him back in office with a resounding vote. Plus he married well. I want to thank my friend George McKelvey, the from Youngstown, Ohio. We had a rally there yesterday. A lot of people showed up to see the Mayor. Laughter They wanted to see their leader. I'm proud that George has stood up by me by side side by side with me. There's a lot of Democrats that are for my candidacy. There's a lot of people around this country who know that the Democrat Party has left them. And I welcome every Democrat's support. You are welcome on our team. I want to thank the other United States Senator from Ohio for joining us today. Mike DeWine and his wife, Fran, are with us. Thanks, Mike, for coming. I know you're proud of Congressman Mike Turner. Mike, you're doing a great job. And my friend John Boehner is with us, Congressman John Boehner and his wife, Debbie the author of the No Child Left Behind Act in the House of Representatives. I want to thank Chief Justice Tom Moyer for joining us today. Mr. Judge, thanks for being here. I want to thank your mayor, the mayor of Trotwood, Ohio, for joining us today. Thanks for coming, Don. I'm proud you're here. I want to thank all the local and State officials, all the candidates. But most of all, I want to thank you all. I want to thank the grassroots activists, the people putting up the signs, the people making the phone calls, the people doing all the hard work. I want to thank you for what you have done, and I want to thank you for what you're going to do. With your help, with your hard work in turning out that vote, there is no doubt in my mind we'll carry Ohio again and win a great victory on November the 2d. Five days from today, the people of America will go to the polls. We're choosing the leader of our country at a time of great consequence in our world. We're at war against a terrorist enemy unlike any we have seen. We have much more to do to win a decisive victory in the war on terror. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty or weakness in these troubled times, the world will drift toward tragedy. This is not going to happen on my watch. Our economy is in the midst of change and challenge. It can be a time of great opportunity if we have the right policies to strengthen rather than stall our economic recovery. We have much more to do to improve our children's education, to make health care more accessible and affordable, to strengthen our Social Security for our children and our grandchildren. And I'm ready for the job. My 4 years as your President have confirmed some lessons and have taught some new ones. A President must have a vision in order to lead this country. You cannot lead if you don't know where you're going. A President must set clear goals and bring people together to achieve those goals. A President must surround himself with smart and capable people who are willing to express their opinion. I have surrounded myself with smart and capable people. A President must make America's priorities crystal clear, especially in an uncertain world. I've learned to expect the unexpected, because history can deliver sudden horror from a soft autumn sky. I have found you better know what you believe or risk being tossed to and fro by the flattery of friends or the chorus of critics. I've been grateful for the lessons I've learned from my parents Respect every person do your best live every day to its fullest. And I've been strengthened by my faith and humbled by its reminder that my life is part of a much bigger story. I have learned firsthand how hard it is to send young men and women into battle, even when the cause is right. I've been reminded that the world looks to America for leadership and that it is crucial for the American President to be consistent. I have learned America's President must base decisions on principle, core convictions from which you will never waver. The issues vary the challenges are different every day in this job. Tactics and strategy must be flexible, but a President's convictions must be steady and true. As Presidents from Abraham Lincoln to Franklin Roosevelt to Ronald Reagan so clearly demonstrated, a President cannot blow in the wind. A President has to make the tough decisions and stand by them. The President must not follow the path of the latest polls. The President must lead based on conviction and conscience. Especially at a time of war, mixed signals only confuse our friends, embolden our enemies. Mixed signals are the wrong signals for an American President to send. When America chooses a President, you choose not just a set of positions on issues of philosophy or record you choose a human being who comes with strengths and weaknesses. One of the things I've learned about the Presidency is, whatever your strengths are, you're going to need them, and whatever your shortcomings are, people are going to notice them. Laughter Sometimes I'm a little too blunt. I get that from my mother. Sometimes I mangle the English language. Laughter I get that from my dad. But Americans have learned this, that even when you disagree with me, at least you know what I believe and where I stand. And you cannot say that about my opponent. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Senator Kerry has taken a lot of different positions, but he rarely takes a stand. He has run a campaign of contradictions. I think it's fair to say that consistency has not been the Senator's long suit. Laughter He was for the PATRIOT Act and the No Child Left Behind Act until he was against key provisions of both of them. He voted to authorize the use of force in Iraq, then said I was wrong to use that force. When I sent troops into Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein from power, he said it was the right decision. Now he says it was the "wrong war." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. During one of our debates, he said Saddam Hussein was a threat. Then a couple of answers later, he said there was no threat in Iraq. Just last year, American troops in Afghanistan and Iraq needed 87 billion to help them complete their missions. This was vital support. First, Senator Kerry said, "It would be irresponsible to vote against the troops." He said that on national TV. Then he did that irresponsible thing and he voted against the funding for our troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. You might remember perhaps the most famous quote of the 2004 campaign. When they asked him about his vote, he said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, before I voted against it." He's given several explanations of that vote since then, but perhaps one of the most interesting is, he said, "The whole thing was a complicated matter." There's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. I will always stand with our troops. I want to thank the military families who have joined us today. And I want to thank the veterans who have set such a great example to those who wear the uniform. Now, you have to wonder why the Senator has taken such different positions at different places and different times in this campaign. Well, let me give you two reasons. It's important for the people of Ohio to understand this. Senator Kerry changes positions because he's willing to say anything he thinks that will help him politically at the time. And he does so to try to obscure a 20 year trail of out of the mainstream votes that leads to an inescapable conclusion Senator Kerry has been on the wrong side of the defining national security and domestic policy debates of the last 2 years. He can run, but he cannot hide. Several times during the course of the campaign, the Senator has changed his positions for political convenience. The Senator recognized Saddam Hussein was a threat and authorized force to remove him, until his Democratic opponent, Howard Dean, began gaining ground as an antiwar candidate. The Senator decided he had to appeal to that wing of his party, so he voted against the troops after voting to put them in risk in the first place. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. The Senator was all for removing Saddam Hussein when we went into Baghdad, and he was very supportive when we captured him. After all, the polls showed that he was that that was very popular at the time. People liked that. When the going got tough and when we faced determined opposition and things weren't quite so popular, the Senator suddenly wasn't quite so supportive. In fact, he changed his mind entirely, saying that Iraq was the "wrong war at the wrong place at the wrong time." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. What does that lack of conviction say to our troops who are risking their lives in this vital cause? Think about what that says to our allies who have joined our cause. Think about what that says, that lack of conviction, say to our enemies, that if you make things uncomfortable, if you stir up trouble, John Kerry will back off. And that's a very dangerous signal in the world in which we live. Just this week Senator Kerry showed his willingness to put politics ahead of facts and the truth. He criticized our military's handling of explosives in Iraq, when his own advisers admitted he didn't know what had happened. His spokesman has now had to acknowledge that the explosives may have been moved before our troops arrived. A President needs to get all the facts before jumping to politically motivated conclusions. The Senator's willingness to trade principle for political convenience makes it clear that John Kerry is the wrong man for the wrong job at the wrong time. There's another reason the Senator changes positions. He doesn't want you to know where he stands. He has a history. He doesn't want you to know where he really stands on national security because he has a record of weakness. When Ronald Reagan was confronting the Soviet Union at the height of the cold war, Senator Kerry proposed cancellation of critical defense weapons systems and said that President Reagan's policy of peace through strength was making America less safe. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Ronald Reagan was right. When former President Bush led a coalition against Saddam Hussein in 1991, Senator Kerry voted against using force to liberate Kuwait. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. In 1994, just one year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, Senator Kerry proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence budget, cuts so extreme that even his Massachusetts colleague, Ted Kennedy, opposed them. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and we've got to be fair Senator Kennedy was right. When you are one Senator among 100, you can be wrong without consequence. But the President's opinion decides the security and the fate of the American people. We have a different point of view when it comes to your security. Senator Kerry says September the 11th did not change him much. That's what he said. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And his policies make that clear. The Senator says the war on terror is primarily a law enforcement and intelligence gathering operation. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. September the 11th changed me a lot. In the days after the attacks, I went to Ground Zero. On September the 14th, 2001, I stood where those buildings used to stand. I'll never forget that day, workers in hardhats yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I remember the man I remember one person in particular, who grabbed me by the arm. His eyes were bloodshot, and he looked me square in the eye and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I've gotten up every morning thinking about how to better protect our country. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes. There are other things about my opponent's positions he doesn't want you to know. I don't know if you remember the debate one of the debates, they were talking about health care. And he looked square in the camera and he said, "My plan the Government doesn't have anything to do with it." Laughter I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it. Eighty percent of the people in his plan end up on a Government plan. You see, if you make it easier for people to get on Medicaid, small businesses will drop coverage for their employees because the Government will provide the insurance. That's moving people from the private sector to the public sector. When the Government starts writing the checks, the Government starts making the rules. And when it comes to your health care, when the Government starts making the rules, the Government starts making your decisions, and they start deciding for the docs. Federal control of health care is the wrong prescription for American families. I've got a better idea. We'll make sure health care is available and affordable. We'd take care of the poor and the indigent by expanding community health centers across this country. We'll help make sure low income children are signed up for the health programs available for them. We're also going to help our families. We'll expand health savings accounts so small businesses and families can better afford insurance and manage their own account. We will allow small businesses to come together so they can buy insurance at the same discounts that big companies are able to do. And to make sure health care is available and affordable, we're going to do something about these frivolous lawsuits that are running up the cost of medicine. I have met too many doctors, here in Ohio and elsewhere, too many ob gyns that are getting run out of practice because these lawsuits are causing their premiums to go up. And that hurts the people of Ohio when that happens. I have met too many expectant moms who are worried about the quality of the health care for their baby. See, these lawsuits are making it hard for you to afford health care. You cannot be pro doctor and pro patient and pro personal injury trial lawyer at the same time. You have to choose. My opponent made his choice, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I have made my choice. I'm standing with the patients of Ohio. I'm standing with the doctors of Ohio. I am for medical liability reform now. The Senator really doesn't want you to know where he stands on taxes, because he's going to raise them. Listen, to be fair, raising taxes is one of the few things that he has been consistent about. You might say he's made a habit of it. He's been in the Senate for 20 years. He's voted to raise taxes 98 times. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That is five times for every year he's been in the Senate. I would call that a predictable pattern, a leading indicator. Laughter During the campaign, he's promised a lot of new spending, 2.2 trillion of new spending. That's trillion with a "T." That's a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. They asked him how he's going to pay for it, and he said, "That's simple. We'll just tax the rich." Most small businesses in Ohio pay tax at the individual income tax. One of the reasons why people are finding work here is because the small business sector of your economy is strong and getting stronger. Seventy percent of new jobs are created by small businesses. And by raising the top two brackets, my opponent would be taxing the job creators of Ohio, and that's bad economic policy. The other thing is, is that by raising the top brackets, you only raise between 600 and 800 billion. That is far short of 2.2 trillion. I would call that a tax gap. That would be the difference between what he has promised to spend and what he can deliver. Guess who usually gets to fill the tax gap? You do. But the good news is, we're not going to let him tax you we're going to carry Ohio and win nationally on November the 2d. You know where I stand when it comes to taxes. When I campaigned for the Presidency in 2000, I said we're going to provide our families tax relief. I kept my word. We increased the child tax credit to help our families. We reduced the marriage penalty. We believe the Tax Code should encourage marriage, not penalize marriage. We provided help for our small businesses. This economy of ours is strong, and it is getting stronger. We're growing at rates as fast as any in nearly 20 years. The number of jobs have been increased by 1.9 million since August of 2003. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. Let me put that in perspective for you That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. Ohio's farmers are making a living. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in the State of Ohio. Homeowner ship rate is at an alltime high. More minority families own a home today than ever before in our Nation's history. I understand times are tough here in Ohio in certain parts of your State. I know that. That's why I've been coming to your State, listening to people, talking about how to make sure this economy continues to grow. The unemployment rate went from 6.3 percent to 6 percent last month. Ohio added 5,500 new jobs last month. We're on our way to recovery. And the question the Ohio people have got to answer Who's got the plan to make sure this economy continues to grow? I do Low taxes less regulation and tort reform. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations in our public schools. And I kept my word. We passed the No Child Left Behind Act. We are spending more money for Title I students, trying to help low income students. But now we're asking the question, "Can you read and write and add and subtract?" See, in return for excess money, we want to know whether or not people are learning. We believe every child can learn. We believe everybody has got potential, and we expect every child to learn in America. You cannot solve a problem until you diagnose the problem. And now we're diagnosing, and we're beginning to solve them. Math and reading scores are going up. The achievement gap amongst minority students is closing in America. And we're not going to go back to the old days of low expectations and mediocrity in our schoolhouses. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage for our seniors. I kept my word. You might remember the old debates of Medicare. They called it "Medi scare." Laughter People weren't willing to really take on the issue. I took on the issue. I was joined by Senator Voinovich and Senator DeWine, Congressman Boehner, Congressman Turner. We go to Washington to do things for the people. Medicare needed to be strengthened. Medicare needed to be modernized. You see, Medicare would pay thousands of dollars for a heart surgery but not one dime for the prescription drugs that could prevent the heart surgery from being needed in the first place. That wasn't fair to our seniors. We got the job done, and beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage in Medicare. My opponent voted against the Medicare bill. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. In a new term, I will defend the reforms we have put in place and keep our promise to our America's seniors. And speaking about our seniors, let me talk about Social Security, now that you got me on a roll. Laughter When you're out gathering up the vote, remind your friends and neighbors that in the 2000 campaign, it was said that if George W. got elected, the seniors would not get their checks. I don't know if you remember that. It may be happening here in Ohio now. You remind them that George W. did get elected, and our seniors got their checks. And our seniors will continue to get their checks. And baby boomers like me, we'll probably get our checks. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren. We need to worry about whether or not Social Security will be there for them when they retire. I believe younger workers ought to be allowed to take some of their payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account, an account they call their own, an account the Government cannot take away. The job of a President is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. My opponent said he's going to protect Social Security, but remind your friends and neighbors, he voted eight times to tax Social Security benefits. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And he's offered nothing for the younger generation. In a new term, I'll bring Republicans and Democrats together to strengthen Social Security for generations to come. Let me tell you what else we're going to do in a new term. We're going to simplify the Tax Code. It is a complicated mess. It's a million pages thick. We're going to make it fair for our workers, fair for our business, and fair for America. Now, there's more to do. I'm asking for your vote because I know where I want to lead this country. I see a more hopeful America. I want to work with you to make sure our education system fulfills its promise and to make sure health care is available and affordable without the Federal Government taking it over. I want to make sure we do our duty to younger generations of Americans, and I want to continue to work to spread freedom and liberty so the world is more peaceful. I want you to understand what has taken place in a brief period of time, particularly the youngsters who are here. The Taliban ran Afghanistan, and young girls could not go to school because they had a dark vision of the world. And if their mothers did not toe their ideological line of hatred, they would be pulled in the public square and whipped and sometimes killed in a sports stadium. These people were barbaric people. Because we acted to defend ourselves, because we upheld doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist," because we acted in our self interest to defend ourselves and eradicated those Al Qaida training camps that were in Afghanistan, millions of people were able to go to the polls and vote for a President of Afghanistan. And the first voter was a 19 year old woman. Think about that. There will be elections in Iraq. Think how far Iraq has come from the days of torture chambers and mass graves. Freedom is on the march, and we're better off for it. We believe that people want to be free. Freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. Over the next 4 years, we've got work to do to make sure our families are secure and prosperous and our children are educated. And we've also got work to do to defend the values that are important for our country. I believe marriage is a sacred commitment. I believe marriage and family are the foundations of our society. I believe in a culture of life in America. I proudly signed the ban on partial birth abortion. I will name judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. My opponent has a different view. He voted against the Defense of Marriage Act, and he voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. The way I heard it, he says he's going to have a litmus test for his judges. He also went on to say that, one time in this campaign, that the heart and soul of America can be found in Hollywood. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. The heart and soul of America is found in caring communities like Dayton, Ohio. I'm optimistic about the future of this country. I know we can overcome any problem that faces us, because I know the American people. I know the strength and courage and compassion of the people who live in this land. You know, one of my favorite quotes is written by a fellow Texan named Tom Lea. He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." You know, in the course of this campaign, my opponent has been talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that is coming. And I see a great day coming for America. I see a hopeful day. And I see the fact that the hard work we've done is paying off. I see peace coming as well, peace for our children and our grandchildren. You know, when I campaigned across your State, I made this pledge, that if I won in 2000, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office to which I had been elected. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. God bless. Thank you for coming. Thank you all. October 28, 2004 The President. Thank you all for coming. I have had a fabulous day today. What a great way to end it. Thanks for lifting my spirits. It is such an honor to be back in Bucks County. First, I want to thank Ruth Wright, who's the owner of this beautiful farm. And I want to thank her for enrolling the land in the Conservation Reserve Program, to help preserve the open spaces of Bucks County. What a great citizen. What a fantastic contribution to this beautiful part of the world. Ms. Wright, we are honored that you let us all come here. Some of us will stay over afterwards and help clean up. Laughter I, of course, will be going to another State to keep putting the message out. I'm here to ask for your vote, and I'm here to ask for your help. We're coming down the stretch. There's not many days left. We have a duty in this country to vote, and I'm asking you to get your friends and neighbors to go to the polls. Tell your friends and neighbors that in a free society, all of us have an obligation to participate in our democracy. Make sure our fellow Republicans get the word. Make sure independents get the word. And don't overlook discerning Democrats. They too want what we want, which is a safer America, a stronger America, and a better America. I am sorry that Laura is not with me this evening. Audience members. Aw w w! The President. That is generally the reaction. I take it like, "Why didn't you stay home and send her?" Laughter What a fabulous woman she is. You know, when I asked her to marry me, she was a public school librarian. She said, "Fine, I'll marry you, but make me a promise." I said, "What is the promise?" She said, "Promise me I'll never have to give a political speech." Laughter I said, "Okay, you got a deal." Fortunately, she didn't hold me to that promise. She was in Florida today giving speeches. When the people see Laura Bush give a speech, they see a strong, compassionate, great First Lady. I'm proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. I do not want to offend anybody here who's follically challenged, but I admit my runningmate does not have the best hairdo in the race. Laughter I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. I picked him because of his judgment, his experience. He is getting the job done for the American people. I'm honored to be introduced by Chad Lewis. No, I know you know him as a fine football player. Michele knows him as a loving dad and a great husband. I know him as a man of character. I'm proud to be standing on stage with Chad, and I want to thank the other Eagles for coming here today. I'm honored you all are here. Congratulations on a great season. Just don't be too tough on the Cowboys. Laughter I want to thank my friend Arlen Specter for being here today. I hope you put him back in for 6 more years. And I enjoy the other Senator from Pennsylvania, a good friend of mine, I know a friend of yours, Rick Santorum. I'm a little angry at your Congressman. He's leaving. I've enjoyed working with Jim Greenwood. He cares deeply about the people of Pennsylvania and Bucks County. He has done a fine job as a Member of the United States Congress, and I wish him all the best in this new venture. And I urge you to support Mike Fitzpatrick to take his place. I welcome Melissa Brown here. She too is running for the United States Congress from the Thirteenth Congressional District. I wish Melissa all the best. I want to thank all the other candidates who are here. I appreciate the entertainers who are here. Most of all, I thank you all for coming. Thanks for putting up the signs. Thanks for making the phone calls. Thanks for working hard to turn out such a big crowd. I want to thank you for what you're going to do. Turn out the vote no doubt in my mind, we can carry and will carry Pennsylvania and win a victory on November the 2d. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. And one other person I want to recognize, and that's Sam Evans. Sam Evans is 101 years young. He is with us tonight. He is the chairman of the American Foundation of Negro Affairs. I am proud to have his support. Mr. Evans, God bless you, and thanks for coming. The election comes down to some clear choices for America's families, and that's what I'm here to talk about. The first clear choice is the most important because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every issue depends on the safety of our citizens. This will be the first election since September the 11th, 2001. Americans will go to the polls in a time of war and ongoing threats. The terrorists who killed thousands of innocent people are still dangerous, and they are determined. The outcome of this election will set the direction of the war on terror. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty or weakness in these troubled times, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch. Since that terrible morning of September the 11th, 2001, we've fought the terrorists across the Earth, not for pride, not for power but because the lives of our citizens are at stake. Our strategy is clear. We're strengthening the protections of our homeland. The former Governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Ridge, is doing a great job as the Secretary of Homeland Security. We're reforming our intelligence capabilities. We are transforming our military. There will be no draft. The All Volunteer Army works, and we'll keep it an all volunteer army. We are relentless. We are determined. We are staying on the offense against these terrorists so we do not have to face them here at home. And we're making progress. More than three quarters of Al Qaida's key members and associates have been brought to justice, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. And at the same time, we use all our assets to protect ourselves. We've got one other asset, and that's our deep belief in liberty and freedom. We believe in the power of liberty to transform societies. I want you to tell your children and grandchildren about the astonishing events that are taking place. In a short period of time, Afghanistan has gone from a country ruled by barbarians who would not let young girls go to school. And if their mothers didn't toe their line of hatred, they were taken into the public squares and whipped and sometimes executed in a sports stadium. Because we defended ourselves, because we upheld the doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist," millions of people voted in a Presidential election in Afghanistan. And the first voter was a 19 year old woman. Because of freedom, that society has gone from darkness to light, and America is more secure to have Afghanistan as an ally in the war on terror. Iraq will hold Presidential elections in January. Think how far that society has come from the days of mass graves and torture chambers, from the days of a brutal dictator, Saddam Hussein. Freedom is on the march. The world is changing because of our deep belief in freedom. We believe everybody wants to be free. Freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. A President must lead with consistency and strength. In a war, sometimes your tactics change but not your principles. Americans have seen how I do my job. Even when you might not agree with me, you know what I believe, you know where I stand, and you know where I'm going to lead this country. On good days and on bad days, whether the polls are up or the polls are down, I am determined to protect the American people, and I will always support the men and women who wear our uniform. I see a sign that says "Moms of Military." I want to thank the families who are here the families of our military who are here for their sacrifices. I want to thank the veterans who are here for having set such a great example for those who wear the uniform. And I want to assure those who wear the uniform and their loved ones, we will make sure they have all the resources they need to complete their missions. That's why I went to the United States Congress in September of 2003 and asked the Congress for support to support our men and women in harm's way. We asked for 87 billion, and it was necessary. It was important funding. The bipartisan support for that measure was overwhelming. Republicans and Democrats both understood the need to support our troops in harm's way. It was so strong that only 12 Members of the United States Senate voted against the funding, 2 of whom are my opponent and his runningmate. As you're out gathering up the vote, as you find people who wonder about which candidate can lead, you might remind them of this startling statistic Four Members of the United States Senate voted to authorize the use of force and voted against providing the funding necessary to support our troops in combat only 4 out of 100 4 Members of the Senate, 2 of whom are my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. They asked him why, and you might remember the famous quote of the 2004 campaign, when he said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, right before I voted against it." He's given several explanations since then about that vote. Perhaps the most interesting and telling of all is when he finally said, "Well, the whole matter was a complicated matter." There is nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. Senator Kerry's record on national security has a far deeper problem than election year flip flopping. On the largest national security issues of our time, he has been consistently wrong. When Ronald Reagan was confronting the Soviet Union at the height of the cold war, Senator Kerry said that President Reagan's policy of peace through strength was making America less secure. Well, history has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Ronald Reagan was right. When former President Bush led a coalition against Saddam Hussein in 1991, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force to liberate Kuwait. Well, history has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. In 1994, just one year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, Senator Kerry proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence budget, so massive that even his Massachusetts colleague, Ted Kennedy, opposed them. Well, history has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and we've got to be fair laughter Senator Kennedy was right. During the last 20 years, in key moments of challenge and decision for America, Senator Kerry has chosen the position of weakness and inaction. With that record, he stands in opposition not just to me but to the great tradition of the Democratic Party. The party of Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman and John Kennedy is rightly remembered for confidence and resolve in times of war. Senator Kerry has turned his back on "pay and price" and "bear any burden," and he has replaced those commitments with "wait and see" and "cut and run." Many Democrats in this country do not recognize their party anymore. And today, here in the great State of Pennsylvania, I want to speak to every one of them If you believe that America should lead with strength and purpose and confidence in our ideals, I would be honored to have your support, and I am asking for your vote. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. The security of our families is at stake. Senator Kerry says that September the 11th did not change him much at all. That's what he said. His policies make that clear. He says the war on terror is primarily a law enforcement and intelligence gathering operation. September the 11th changed me, and changed my outlook. I'll never forget the day that I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers, September the 14th, 2001. I'll never forget the sights and sounds of that day, the workers in hardhats yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I remember the firefighter or police officer, I'm not sure which one, who'd come out of the rubble. He grabbed me by the arm. He looked me square in the eye, and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that morning, I've gotten up thinking about how to best protect America. I will never relent in defending our country, whatever it takes. The second clear choice in this election concerns your family's budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for American families. I kept my word. We doubled the child credit to 1,000 per child to help the moms and dads. We reduced the marriage penalty. I believe the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not penalize marriage. We dropped the lowest bracket to 10 percent so working families can take keep more of their paychecks. We reduced income taxes for everybody who pays income taxes. And real after tax income, the money you have in your pocket, is up by about 10 percent since I've been your President. When you're out gathering the vote, remind people about what this economy has been through. Six months prior to my arrival in Washington, the stock market was in serious decline. It foretold a recession that we went through. And then we had some corporate scandals. But we acted. We passed good legislation that made it abundantly clear we will not tolerate dishonesty in the boardrooms of America. And then we got attacked, and those attacks cost us about a million jobs in the 3 months after September the 11th. But our economic policies are working. By stimulating consumption and increasing investment, this economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. Think about what's taken place. Homeownership is at an all time high in America. More minority families own a home than ever before in our Nation's history. Pennsylvania farmers, like farmers everywhere, are making a good living under the Bush administration. Small businesses are flourishing. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in America. We've added 1.9 million new jobs in the last 13 months. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. Let me put that in perspective for you That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. The unemployment rate in Pennsylvania is 5.3 percent. This economy is moving forward, and we're not going to go back to the days of tax and spend. My opponent has a different plan for your family's budget. He's going to take a big chunk out of it. You remind your friends and neighbors about these facts. He voted against the child increasing the child credit. He voted against the marriage penalty relief. He voted against lower taxes. If he had had his way, the average American family would be paying 2,000 more in Federal income taxes. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That probably doesn't seem like a lot to people in Washington. It's a lot to people who are trying to make ends meet in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It matters to families right here in this part of the world. He's been in the United States Senate 20 years, and he's voted for higher taxes 98 times. That is five times a year. I would call that a predictable pattern, a leading indicator. When a Senator does something that often, he must really enjoy it. Laughter I want you to couple that fact with this one He's proposed about 2.2 trillion in new Federal spending. That's trillion with a "T." That's a lot. That's a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. Laughter And so they asked him, "How are you going to pay for it?" And he threw out that same old tired line we've heard before. He's going to tax the rich. Let me tell you two things about that. One, most small businesses are sole proprietorships or Subchapter S's. They pay tax at the individual income tax level. Seventy percent of new jobs in America are created by small businesses. By running up the top two brackets, you're taxing the job creators. You're taking money out of the coffers of small businesses, and that is bad economic policy. This may interest you as well. By raising the top two brackets, by taxing the rich, you raise about 600 billion to 800 billion dollars. That is far short of the 2.2 trillion that he had promised. That's what we call a tax gap. That's the difference between what's promised and what's delivered. Guess who usually fills the tax gap? You do. But the good news is, we're not going to let him tax you we're going to carry Pennsylvania and win on November the 2d. The third clear choice in this election involves the quality of life for our families. A good education and quality health care are important to our families. As a candidate, I pledged to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations by reforming our public schools. I kept my word. I signed the No Child Left Behind Act and proudly so. We're raising the standards. We're spending more money, but in return, we're asking for results. We believe every child can learn, and we expect every school to teach. You cannot solve a problem until you diagnose the problem, and we're now diagnosing problems and we're solving them. Test scores are up in reading and math. We're closing an achievement gap for minority students all across America. And we're not going to go back to the days of low standards and mediocrity in our classrooms. We'll continue to improve life for our families by making health care more affordable and available. We'll make it available by making sure the poor and the indigent are able to get care in community health centers, places where people can get good preventative care and good primary care without burdening the emergency rooms of your local hospitals. We'll make sure that children of low income families are subscribe to the programs aimed to help them, to make sure health care is affordable. We'll help our small businesses. Small businesses ought to be allowed to pool risk across jurisdictional boundaries so they can buy insurance at the same discounts that big companies are able to do. We will expand health savings accounts to help our small business owners and families afford health insurance and manage their own health care plans. To make sure health care is available and affordable in a State like Pennsylvania and others, we will do something about the frivolous lawsuits that are running up the cost of medicine and running good doctors out of practice. We have a problem in this Nation when it comes to medical liability. There are too many lawsuits. I have met too many ob gyns from the State of Pennsylvania who are being driven out of practice because their premiums are so high because of the lawsuits. And I, unfortunately, have met too many patients of ob gyns who are deeply concerned about the quality of health care for not only the mom but the baby. This is a national problem. You cannot be pro doctor and pro patient and pro personal injury trial lawyer at the same time. You have to make a choice. My opponent made his choice, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He's voted against medical liability reform 10 times in the United States Senate. I made my choice. I'm standing with the doctors of Pennsylvania. I'm standing with the patients of Pennsylvania. I am for real medical liability reform. My opponent proposed a plan. You might remember, at one of our debates, he looked straight in the camera and he said about his plan, "The Government doesn't have anything to do with it." I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government's got a lot to do with it. Eighty percent of the people in this plan will end up on a Government plan. If you make it easier for people to get on Medicaid, it is likely small business owners will stop providing insurance for their employees because the Government will cover them. That's moving people from the private sector to the public sector when it comes to health care. And when the Government writes the checks, the Government makes the rules. And when the Government starts making the rules for your family's health care, they start making decisions for you. And they make decision for the docs. And they start making decisions on rationing of care. Countries that have tried centralized health care can't get away from it quick enough. The wrong prescription for American families is to federalize health care in America. In all we do to make sure health care is available and affordable, we will make sure the decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. The fourth clear choice in this election involves your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage. I kept my word. We reformed Medicare. The system need to be fixed. We would pay thousands of dollars for a heart surgery but not one dime for the prescription drugs that could prevent the heart surgery from being needed in the first place. And that was not fair to our seniors, and it certainly wasn't fair to the taxpayers. And so we modernized Medicare. I brought Republicans and Democrats together. I proudly signed the Medicare bill. And beginning in 2006, all seniors in America will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. We'll keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors, and we'll strengthen Social Security for generations to come. In the 2000 campaign, I remember some of those ads that said, "If George W. gets elected, our seniors won't get their checks." You might remember those. When you're out gathering up the vote, remind people George W. got elected, and the seniors got their checks. Those scare tactics are not going to work in 2004. They're too old, and they're too tired. Seniors will always get their checks. Baby boomers like me, like some of you, are in pretty good shape when it comes to the Social Security trust. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren. We need to worry about whether the Social Security system will be there when they retire, and that's why I think younger workers ought to be allowed to take some of their own payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account, a personal savings account that will earn a better rate of return, a personal savings account they call their own, a personal savings account the Government cannot take away. My opponent takes a different approach. He said he's going to protect Social Security, but tell your friends and neighbors about this fact He voted eight times for higher taxes on Social Security benefits. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And when it comes to the next generation, he has offered no reform. See, the job of a President is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. In a new term, I'll bring people together to strengthen Social Security for generations to come. The fifth clear choice in this election is on the values that are so crucial to keeping a family strong. I stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. I stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. I stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and every being counts. And I proudly signed the ban on partial birth abortion. My opponent has taken a different position. He voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. He voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. And at one point in this campaign, he actually said that the heart and soul of America can be found in Hollywood. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That's what he said. Most Americans do not look to Hollywood as a source of values. The truth of the matter is, the heart and soul of America is found in communities in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. I'm running for a reason. I see clearly where this country needs to go. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. I thank you all. I know where I want to lead us. You know, one of my favorite quotes is from a fellow Texan named Tom Lea, and he said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." The course of this campaign, my opponent has spent much of it talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that's coming. I'm talking about a day in which our families are able to realize their dreams for their children. I'm talking about a day where prosperity reaches every corner of America, a day in which every school sets high standards so every child can realize the great promise of America. I'm talking about a day when we achieve the peace we all desperately want. When I campaigned across Pennsylvania 4 years ago, I made this pledge, that I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office. With your help, I will do so for 4 more years. God bless. On to victory. Thank you all. October 27, 2004 The President. Thank you all for coming. Laura and I appreciate you all being here. You're lifting our spirits, and we're grateful. I'm so honored you're here. I'm here in Michigan today and tomorrow. I'll be back on Saturday. I'm here to ask for the vote and to ask for your help. It is important for all of us to vote. In a free society we have a duty to go to the polls. And so I'm asking you to get your friends and neighbors to go to the polls and exercise their duty. And as you get them headed to the polls, make sure you don't overlook discerning Democrats like my friend Zell Miller from the great State of Georgia. Make sure you talk to independents and, of course, our fellow Republicans. And when you get them to the polls, remind them that if they want a safer America, a stronger America, and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office. You know, Laura and I love to campaign, and I like to tell people why I think people ought to put me back in. And perhaps the most important reason of all is so that Laura is the First Lady for 4 more years. Audience members. Laura! Laura! Laura! The President. I am proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. I see some folks out here who are follically challenged, kind of like the Vice President. I admit it, he doesn't have the waviest hair in the race. You'll be pleased to hear, I did not pick him because of hairdo. I picked him because of his judgment. I picked him because of his experience. I picked him because he's the got the ability to get the job done for the American people. I want to thank my friend Michael Williams for joining us today. And I want to thank the other African American leaders I'm proud to call friend, who have joined me on this stage, including the Lieutenant Governor from the State of Maryland, Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele. I appreciate you coming, Michael. I want to thank Joe Knollenberg and Thad McCotter, Members of the United States Congress from Michigan. I particularly want to thank Congresswoman Candice Miller for leading my campaign in Michigan. I want to thank Terri Lynn Land. I want to thank Betsy DeVos. I want to thank the entertainers who were here today. And I want to thank all the grassroots activists who are here, the people who put up the signs and made the phone calls and helped turn out this huge crowd. I want to thank you for what you have done and what you are going to do as we come down the stretch. With your help, with your hard work, there is no doubt in my mind we will carry Michigan and win a great victory on November the 2d. This election comes down to some clear choices for our families, issues of great consequence. The first clear choice is the most important because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. This will be the first Presidential election since September the 11th, 2001. Americans will go to the polls in a time of war and ongoing threats. The outcome of this election will set the direction of the war against terror. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty or weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch. Our strategy is clear. We're strengthening protections for the homeland. We're reforming our intelligence capabilities. We're transforming the United States military. There will be no draft. We will keep the All Volunteer Army an all volunteer army. We are determined. We are relentless. We will fight the terrorists overseas so we do not have to face them here at home. And we understand that our long term security comes from spreading freedom. I want some of the younger folks here to understand how far the world has come in about 3 3 4 years. It wasn't all that long ago that young girls were not able to go to school in Afghanistan because the Taliban was so barbaric, and if their mothers didn't toe the line of the ideologues of hate, they'd be taken in the public square and sometimes killed in a sports stadium. Because we acted to defend ourselves, because we upheld a doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist," millions of people went to the polls to vote for a President. The first voter in the Afghan Presidential election was a 19 year old woman. There will be Presidential elections in Iraq in January. Think how far that country has come from the days of torture chambers and mass graves. Freedom is on the march, and we're more secure for it. Free societies are peaceful societies, and we believe everyone desires to live in freedom. Freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. A President must lead with consistency and strength. In a war, sometimes our tactics have to change but never your principles. Americans have seen how I do my job. Even when you might not agree with me, you know what I believe, where I stand, and where I intend to lead this Nation. On good days and on bad days, when the polls are up or when the polls are down, I will do everything I can to defend the American people, and I will support our troops in combat. I am honored to be the Commander in Chief of such a fine group of people, the people in the United States military. I want to thank the veterans who are here today for having set such a great example. I want to thank the military families who are here. And I will assure you that so long as I'm the Commander in Chief, our troops will have that which is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the United States Congress and asked for 87 billion of supplemental funding to support our troops in combat. As you gather the vote, I want you to remind people of this startling statistic There were only four Members of the United States Senate that voted to authorize the use of force and then voted against funding for our troops in harm's way only four Members two of whom were my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. They asked him why he made his vote, and Senator Kerry uttered perhaps the most famous statement of the 2004 campaign when he said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, right before I voted against it." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. The Commander in Chief must be consistent. After repeatedly calling Iraq the wrong war and a diversion, Senator Kerry this week seemed shocked to learn that Iraq was a dangerous place full of dangerous weapons. The Senator used to know that, even though he seems to have forgotten it over the course of the campaign. Of course, that's why we went into Iraq. Iraq was a dangerous place run by a dangerous tyrant who hated America and who had a lot of weapons. And we have seized or destroyed more than 400,000 tons of munitions, including explosives, at thousands of different sites. And we're continuing to round up more weapons almost every day. I want to remind the American people if Senator Kerry had had his way, we would still be taking our "global test." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. We would be waiting for yet another United Nations resolution to make us more safe. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Saddam Hussein would be in power. He would control all those weapons and explosives and could have shared them with the terrorist enemy. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Now, the Senator is making wild charges about missing explosives, when his top foreign policy adviser admits he does not know the facts. He said, quote, "I don't know the truth," end quote. But think about that. The Senator is denigrating the actions of our troops and commanders in the field without knowing the facts. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Our military is now investigating a number of possible scenarios, including that the explosives may have been moved before our troops arrived. This investigation is important. It's ongoing. And a political candidate who jumps to conclusions without knowing the facts is not a person you want as Commander in Chief. Unfortunately Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. Unfortunately, that is part of a pattern of a candidate who will say anything to get elected. My opponent is throwing out the wild claim that he knows where bin Laden was in the fall of 2001 and that our military passed up a chance to get him at Tora Bora. You might remember that discussion during our debates. I think this is unjustified criticism of our military commanders in the field. This is the worst kind of Monday morning quarterbacking. Our commander in Afghanistan, General Tommy Franks, recently wrote this about Tora Bora, quote, "The Senator's understanding of events doesn't square with reality." That's what the man knows what who knows what he's talking about said. The general says that American Special Forces were actively involved in the search for terrorists in Tora Bora and that intelligence reports at the time placed bin Laden in any of several countries. Before Senator Kerry got into political difficulty and revised his views, he saw our actions in Tora Bora differently. In the fall of 2001, on national TV, he said, quote, "I think we have been doing this pretty effectively, and we should continue to do it that way." He went on to talk about Tora Bora. The Senator said this "I think we have been smart. I think the administration leadership has done it well, and we are on the right track." All I can say to this is, I am George W. Bush, and I approve of that message. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. The security of our families is very important. And my opponent's record on national security has far deeper problems with just election year flip flopping. On the largest national security issues of our time, he has been consistently wrong. He has a record. When Ronald Reagan was confronting the Soviet Union at the height of the cold war, Senator Kerry said that President Reagan's policy of peace through strength was making America less safe. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Ronald Reagan was right. When former President Bush led a coalition against Saddam Hussein in 1991, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force to liberate Kuwait. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. In 1994, just 1 year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, Senator Kerry proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence budget, so massive that even his colleague from Massachusetts, Ted Kennedy, opposed them. Laughter History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and we've got to be fair Senator Kennedy was right. During the last 20 years, in key moments of challenge and decision for America, Senator Kerry has chosen the position of weakness and inaction. With that record, he stands in opposition not just to me but to the great tradition of the Democrat Party. The party of Franklin Roosevelt, the party of Harry Truman, the party of John Kennedy is rightly remembered for confidence and resolve in times of war and in hours of crisis. Senator Kerry has turned his back on "pay any price" and "bear any burden," and he's replaced those commitments with "wait and see" and "cut and run." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Many Democrats in this country do not recognize their party anymore, and today I want to speak to every one of them here in the State of Michigan. If you believe America should lead with strength and purpose and confidence in our ideals, I would be honored to have your support, and I'm asking for your vote. The second clear choice in this election concerns your family's budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for American families. I kept my word. We doubled the child credit to 1,000 per child to help moms and dads. We reduced the marriage penalty. We believe the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not penalize marriage. We lowered we dropped the lowest tax bracket to 10 percent to help our working families. We reduced income taxes for everybody who pays taxes. After tax income in America is up by 10 percent since I've become the President. We have overcome a lot. I want you to remind your friends and neighbors about what this economy has been through. Six months prior to my arrival in Washington, the stock market was in serious decline. Our economy was slowing. We had a recession. We had corporate scandals. And then the attacks on September the 11th cost us nearly a million jobs in the 3 months after those attacks. But our economic policies are working. They've led us back to the path of growth. We're growing our economy is growing faster than any in the major industrialized world. Small businesses are flourishing. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in America. Michigan farmers are making a good living under the Bush administration. We've added more than 1.9 million jobs in the last 13 months. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. There is more work to be done to make sure this economy continues to grow so people in Michigan can find work, but one thing is certain This economy of ours is strong, and it is getting stronger. My opponent has a very different view about your budget. He intends to take a big chunk out of it. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He voted against the higher child tax credit. He voted against the marriage penalty relief. He voted against lower taxes. If he had had his way over the last 3 years, the average American family would have been paying 2,000 more in Federal taxes. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That may not sound like a lot to people in Washington. It's a heck of a lot for people living in Michigan. You know, my opponent has been in the United States Senate for 20 years. And hear this fact He voted for increased taxes 98 times. That's five times for every year he's been in the Senate nearly five times. I would call that a predictable pattern. I'd call that a indicator. Laughter When a Senator does something that often, he must really enjoy it. Laughter The problem is you won't enjoy it. If he raises your taxes as a matter of fact, here's another indicator. He's promised 2.2 trillion of new spending. That's trillion with a "T." That's a lot even for a senator from Massachusetts. Laughter And they said, "How are you going to pay for it? How are you going to pay for it?" He said, "Oh, we'll just tax the rich." Now, we have heard that before. Let me tell you two things wrong with that. One, most small businesses pay tax at the individual income tax. Ninety percent of small businesses are what they call Subchapter S corporations and sole proprietorships, and they pay tax at the individual income tax rate. Seventy percent of new jobs are created by small businesses. And so when you start running up the top two income brackets, guess who you're taxing? You're taxing the job creators in America, and that makes no economic sense. And secondly, by taxing the rich you raise about 600 to 800 billion dollars. So you can see there is a gap between that which he has promised and that which he can deliver. I would call it a tax gap. And guess who usually gets to fill the tax gap? Audience member. We do! The President. The good news is we're not going to let him tax you. We're going to carry Michigan and win a great victory. The third clear choice in this election improves the quality of life for our families. A good education and quality health care are important to a successful life. As a candidate, I pledged to end the soft bigotry of low expectations in our schools. And as President, I have kept my word. We passed the No Child Left Behind Act, which is an historic achievement for public education. We are raising the standards in our schools. We've increased Federal spending, especially for poor students. But in return for an increase of Federal spending, we're now saying, "Show us whether or not a child can read or write, and add and subtract. Show us whether or not children are becoming literate. Show us whether or not we're ending that practice of just shuffling kids through school, year after year, without learning the basics." You cannot solve a problem until you diagnose a problem, and we are diagnosing problems, and we're solving more and more problems, so that our children are learning to read and write. We're closing an achievement gap in America, and we're not going to go back to the days of low expectations and mediocre results. We will continue to improve life by making sure health care is affordable and available. To make sure health care is available, we will expand community health centers so the poor and the indigent can get good primary and preventative care. We will make sure our low income children for low income family program for health care is fully subscribed. To make sure health care is affordable, here are three commonsense ways to help the American family. First, we'll expand health savings accounts to help our small businesses and families have an affordable health care account that you manage and you call your own. Secondly, we will help our small businesses by allowing them to pool risk across jurisdictional boundaries so they can buy insurance at the same discounts that big companies are able to do. And thirdly, we will do something about these frivolous lawsuits that are running up the cost of health care and running good docs out of practice. You cannot be pro doctor and pro patient and pro trial lawyer at the same time. I think you have to make a choice. My opponent made his choice, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I have made my choice. I am standing with the families of Michigan. I am standing with the docs of Michigan. I'm standing with the hospitals of Michigan. I am for real medical liability reform now. We have a difference of opinion when it comes to your health care. I don't know if you remember that debate when he my opponent, when they asked him about his health care plan, looked straight in the camera, and he said, "The Government doesn't have anything to do with it." You know, I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with his health care plan. Eighty percent of the people would end up on a Government run health program. See, if you increase Medicaid eligibility, it provides an incentive for many small businesses to drop private coverage because the Government will be providing coverage for their employees. That's moving people from the private sector to the public sector. And when the Government writes a check, the Government makes the rules. And when it comes to your health care, when the Government makes the rules, the Government starts making decisions for you and for your doctors. Federalizing health care is the wrong prescription for America's families. In all we do to reform health care, we will make sure the health decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. The fourth clear choice in this election involves your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage. I kept my word. Beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. And we'll keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors and strengthen it for generations to come. I don't know if you remember the 2000 campaign, when they were running ads that said, "If George W. gets elected, our seniors will not get their checks." They may be running some here in Michigan now for all I know, trying to scare our seniors again. As you're rounding up the vote, I want you to remind your friends and neighbors that George W. did get elected, and our seniors got their checks. And our seniors will continue to get their checks. Nobody is going to take away the Social Security checks of our seniors. And baby boomers like me, and like a couple others out there I see laughter we're in pretty good shape when it comes to Social Security. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren. We need to worry about whether the Social Security system will be there when they need it. And that's why I believe younger workers ought to be able to take some of their own payroll account some of their payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account, an account they call their own, an account that will earn better interest, an account the Government cannot take away. My opponent takes a different approach on the Social Security issue. He talks about protecting Social Security. But I want you to remind your friends and neighbors about this fact He's the only candidate in the race who has voted eight times for higher taxes on Social Security benefits. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He can run, but he cannot hide. And when it comes to offering help for the next generation, he's offered nothing. The job of a President is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. In a new term, I will bring Republicans and Democrats together to strengthen the Social Security system for generations to come. The fifth clear choice in this election is on the values that are so crucial to keeping America's families strong. I stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. I stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. When Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act, the vast majority of Democrats supported it, and my predecessor, Bill Clinton, signed it into law. But Senator Kerry was part of an out of the mainstream minority that voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Reasonable people can find common ground on difficult issues. Republicans and Democrats came together and agreed we should ban the brutal practice of partial birth abortions. I proudly signed that bill into law. My opponent was part of an out of the mainstream minority that voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I'll continue to reach out to Americans of every belief and move this good hearted Nation to a culture of life. At one point in this campaign you might remember that my opponent said the heart and soul of America can be found in Hollywood. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. No, I agree. I understand. I understand most American families do not look to Hollywood as a source of values. The heart and soul of America is found in places like Oakland County, Michigan. No, this election is an important election. It's about important choices, and the decision is in the best of hands. It is in the hands of the American people. I am optimistic about the future of this country. I believe so strongly in what we stand for, and I understand the strength of this country. It lies in the hearts and souls of our fellow citizens. That's the true strength of America. You know, one of my favorite quotes was written by a fellow Texan named Tom Lea, and here's what Tom said. He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." During this campaign, my opponent has spent much of the campaign talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that is coming. I see a day that's coming where America is more safe and our families are more secure, a day when this country is prosperous in every corner of the land, a day in which every child can read and write and add and subtract, a day in which we defend the bedrock values that make our society such a compassionate, decent place. When I campaigned across your State 4 years ago, I made this pledge, that if I got elected, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office to which I had been elected. With your help, I will do so for 4 more years. Thanks for coming. God bless. Thank you all. October 27, 2004 The President. Thank you all for coming. You know, it is such a beautiful day in Flag City, I think I'll just take off my jacket and stay a while. Thanks for coming out. You are lifting our spirits. We're honored you're here. And Laura and I have come with the great Senator from Georgia to not only ask for your vote but to ask for your help. We need your help coming down the stretch to get your friends and neighbors to go to the polls. We have a duty in our democracy to vote. We have an obligation to vote. So I'm asking you to tell your friends and neighbors about that obligation. Get our Republicans to go out there. Get independents to go out there. And find those discerning Democrats like Zell Miller and head them to the polls. And when you get them to the polls, remind them, if they want a safer America and a stronger America and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. I have been traveling your State a lot, and I enjoy it. I have had a chance to say hello to a lot of the citizens from Ohio. And I've been telling them why they ought to put me back in office. But perhaps the most important reason why I ought to have 4 more years is so that Laura is the First Lady for 4 more years. I'm sure some will be able to relate to this story. You know, Laura and I went to the seventh grade together in San Jacinto Junior High in Midland, Texas. We became reacquainted. She was a public school librarian, and when I asked her to marry me, she said, "Fine, but make me a promise." I said, "Okay, what is it?" She said, "Promise me I'll never have to give a political speech." Laughter I said, "Okay, you got a deal." Fortunately, she did not hold me to that promise. She is giving a lot of speeches, and when she does, the American people see a warm, compassionate, strong First Lady. I'm looking around. I see some people out there who are follically challenged. Laughter And think about that, it reminds me of my Vice President. Laughter Dick Cheney is a great Vice President. He does not have the waviest hair in the race. Laughter But you all will be pleased to hear, I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. I picked him because of his judgment. I picked him because of his experience. I picked him because he's getting the job done for the American people. It's a joy to travel with my friend Zell Miller. He's strong. He is courageous. He puts party aside and puts his country first, and for that, I am grateful. I call him Ox you call him Congressman. Mike Oxley is as fine as they are in the House of Representatives. He's a good man, and I appreciate his service. And I want to thank his wife, Pat, for joining us as well. And I am proud to be up here, or close by, with the fine United States Senator, Michael DeWine. He's doing a good job for the people of Ohio, as is George Voinovich. Make sure you put George back in. And I appreciate Fran DeWine joining us. I want to thank Congressman Paul Gillmor for being here today. I want to thank your Governor, Bob Taft, for joining us today. Mr. Governor, I appreciate your service to the State of Ohio. I want to thank Jennette Bradley for joining us today, the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Ohio. I appreciate Mayor Iriti for joining us today. Mr. Mayor, you didn't ask me for any advice, but I'm going to give you some Fill the potholes. Mayor Iriti is a good man, and I appreciate him being here. And I want to thank you, Mr. Mayor, for serving. I want to thank all the other State and local officials. I want to thank the Findlay High School Marching Band for joining us. I want to thank Wil Gravatt Band for joining us today. Most of all, I want to thank you all. I want to thank the grassroots activists, the people who are putting up the signs, the people making the phone calls, the people who have worked so hard to make this rally such a successful rally. I want to thank you for what you have done, and I want to thank you for what you are going to do, which is turn out that vote. And with your help, there is no doubt in my mind, we'll carry Ohio again and win a great victory on November the 2d. This election comes down to some clear choices for America's families, choices on issues of great consequence. The first clear choice is the most important because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. This will be the first Presidential election since September the 11th, 2001. Americans will go to the polls in a time of war and of ongoing threat unlike any we have faced before. The terrorists who kill thousands of innocent people are still dangerous, and they are determined to strike. The outcome of this election will set the direction of the war against terror. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty or weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch. Since that terrible morning of September the 11th, 2001, we have fought the terrorists across the Earth, not for pride, not for power but because the lives of our citizens are at stake. Our strategy is clear. We have strengthened the protections for the homeland. We're reforming our intelligence capabilities. We're transforming the United States military. We will keep the All Volunteer Army an all volunteer army. There will be no draft. We are relentless. We are determined. We are staying on the offensive so we do not have to face these terrorists here at home. And we're spreading freedom and liberty. Some amazing things have happened in a short period of time. I want the youngsters here to understand what has happened in the world. In Afghanistan, 3 1 2 years ago, young girls couldn't go to school. And if their mothers did not toe the line of the ideologues of hate who ran that country, they were whipped in the public square, sometimes executed in a sports stadium. We acted to defend ourselves. We upheld the doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist." And in so doing, we liberated people from the clutches of those barbaric people called the Taliban. Millions of people went to vote in a Presidential election. The first voter was a 19 year old woman. Freedom is on the march. It's never easy to go from tyranny to liberty, but that's where we're headed. There will be elections in Iraq. Think how far that country has come from the days of mass graves and torture chambers. I believe everybody in the world yearns to be free. I believe people deep in their soul want to live in a free society. I believe that because freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. A President must lead with consistency and strength. In a war, sometimes you have to change your tactics but never your principles. Americans have seen how I do my job. Even when you might not agree with me, you know what I believe, you know where I stand, and you know what I intend to do. On good days and on bad days, whether the polls are up or the polls are down, I will do everything we can do to defend the American people and win this war against the terrorists. And I will always support the men and women who wear our Nation's uniform. We have got a great United States military. And I am proud to be their Commander in Chief. I want to thank the families of those who wear our Nation's uniform. I want to thank you for your sacrifices. I want to thank the veterans who are here today for having set such a great example for those who wear the uniform. As I've told families all across this country, we will make sure your loved ones have the support necessary to complete their missions. And that's why I went to the United States Congress and asked for 87 billion of supplemental funding in September of 2003, necessary funding, important funding to support our troops in harm's way. And we received good support for that. As a matter of fact, the support was so strong that only 12 Members of the United States Senate voted against funding for our troops, 2 of whom were my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Now, I would like for you to share this startling statistic with your friends and neighbors as you get them going to the polls There were only 4 Members of the United States Senate 4 out of 100 that voted to authorize the use of force and then voted against supporting our troops in harm's way, and 2 of those 4 were my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Now, you might remember his Senator Kerry's explanation about that vote. He said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, right before I voted against it." Now, I haven't spent much time in the coffee shops of Findlay, but I suspect you're not going to find many people in this part of the world who talk that way. They kept pressing him about it. He's given four or five different explanations about the vote. One of the most interesting ones of all that speaks to my opponent, said, "Well, the whole thing was just a complicated matter." Laughter There's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in harm's way. After repeatedly calling Iraq the "wrong war" and a "diversion," Senator Kerry, this week, seemed shocked to learn that Iraq was a dangerous place full of dangerous weapons. Laughter The Senator used to know that, even though he seems to have forgotten it over the course of the campaign. But that's why we went there. See, Iraq was a dangerous place run by a dangerous tyrant who hated the United States. And he had a lot of weapons. And we've seized or destroyed more than 400,000 tons of munitions, including explosives at thousands of sites. And we're continuing to round up weapons nearly every day. Now, I want to remind you all, if Senator Kerry had had his way, we would still be taking our "global test." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And Saddam Hussein would still be in power, and he would control all those weapons and explosives and could have shared them with a terrorist enemy. Now, the Senator is making wild charges about missing explosives. One of his top foreign policy advisers admits he doesn't know the facts. He said, "I don't know the truth," end quote. Well, think about that. The Senator is denigrating the actions of our troops and commanders in the field without knowing the facts. Our military is now investigating a number of possible scenarios, including that the explosives may have been moved before our troops even arrived at the site. This investigation is important, and it is ongoing. And a political candidate who jumps to conclusions without knowing the facts is not the person you want as the Commander in Chief. Unfortunately, that is part of a pattern. My opponent is throwing out the wild claim that he knows where bin Laden was in the fall of 2001 and that our military passed up a chance to get him at Tora Bora. You might remember that. He kept repeating that in the debates. Well, this is unjustified criticism of our military commanders in the field. This is the kind of worst kind of Monday morning quarterbacking, what we've come to expect from him, however. In fact, our commander in Afghanistan, General Tommy Franks, recently wrote this about Tora Bora "The Senator's understanding of events does not square with reality." He went on to say the General says, "American Special Forces were actively involved in the search for the terrorists at Tora Bora" and that "intelligence reports at the time placed bin Laden in any of several countries." That's what Tommy Franks, who knew what he's talking about, said. Before Senator Kerry got into political difficulty and revised his views, he saw our actions in Tora Bora differently. In the fall of 2001, on national television, he said this about Tora Bora "I think we've been doing this pretty effectively, and we should continue to do it that way." At the time, the Senator said about Tora Bora "I think we have been smart. I think the administration leadership has done it well, and we are on the right track," end quote. All I can say about that is, I am George W. Bush, and I approve of that message. The security of our families is vital, and it's important to our people of this country to understand the records. Senator Kerry's record on national security has the far deeper problem than election year flip flopping. On the largest national security issues of our time, he has been consistently wrong. When Ronald Reagan was confronting the Soviet Union at the height of the cold war, Senator Kerry said that President Reagan's policy of peace through strength was making America less safe. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Ronald Reagan was right. When former President Bush led a coalition against Saddam Hussein in 1991, Senator Kerry voted against the use of forces to liberate Kuwait. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. In 1994, just one year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, Senator Kerry proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence budget, so massive that even his Massachusetts colleague, Ted Kennedy, opposed them. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and we have got to be fair that Senator Kennedy was right. During the last 20 years, in key moments of challenge and decision for America, Senator Kerry has chosen the position of weakness and inaction. With that record, he stands in opposition not just to me but to the great tradition of the Democratic Party. The party of Franklin Roosevelt, the party of Harry Truman, the party of John Kennedy is rightly remembered for confidence and resolve in times of war and hours of crisis. Senator Kerry has turned his back on "pay any price" and "bear any burden," and he has replaced those commitments with "wait and see" and "cut and run." Many Democrats in this country do not recognize their party anymore. And traveling Ohio, I want to speak to every one of them If you believe that America should lead with strength and purpose and confidence in our ideals, I would be honored to have your support, and I'm asking for your vote. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. The second clear choice in this election concerns your family's budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for American families. And I kept my word. We doubled the child credit to 1,000 per child to help our families. We reduced the marriage penalty. I believe the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not penalize marriage. We dropped the lowest bracket to 10 percent. We reduced income taxes for everybody that pays income taxes. After tax income that's money in your pocket has gone up by about 10 percent since I became your President. And I want you to remind your friends and neighbors, when you're out there getting people to the polls, what this economy has been through. Six months prior to my arrival, the stock market was in serious decline. Then we had a recession. Then we had corporate scandals. But we passed what's called the Sarbanes Oxley bill, a bill that makes it abundantly clear that we will not tolerate dishonesty in the boardrooms of America. And I want to thank Congressman Oxley for authoring this legislation. And then we got attacked on September the 11th. Those attacks cost us about a million jobs in the 3 months after that fateful day. But our economic policies have led us back to growth. Our economy is growing at rates as fast as any in nearly 20 years. Homeownership in America is at an alltime high. We saw a lot of good farmland, flying in today. The farm incomes are up all across America. Our small businesses are flourishing. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong. We've added 1.9 million new jobs since August of 2003. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. Let me put that in perspective for you That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. I know there are placed hurting here in Ohio. I've traveled into those neighborhoods. I've talked about an economic plan to continue growth. But I want to remind you that just last month, the unemployment rate in the State of Ohio went from 6.3 percent to 6 percent, and this great State added 5,500 new jobs in 1 month. We're on the move. We're moving forward. My opponent has very different plans for your budget. He's going to take a big chunk out of it. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He voted against the child tax credit. He voted against marriage penalty relief. He voted against lower taxes. And if his way had prevailed, the average family in America would have been paying 2,000 more in taxes to the Federal Government. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That may not seem like a lot to folks in Washington. It means a lot to people in Findlay, Ohio. He served in the United States Senate for 20 years, and he's voted for higher taxes 98 times. That's five times every year he served in the Senate. I would call that a predictable pattern laughter a reliable indicator. Laughter When a Senator does something that often, he must really enjoy it. Laughter Around the campaign, he's been promising 2.2 trillion in new Federal spending. That's trillion with a "T." That's a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. Laughter So they asked him, "How are you going to pay for it?" And he said that same old, tired line you've heard over and over again, "We're going to tax the rich." Well, there's a problem with that. When you run up the top two brackets, you only raise between 600 and 800 billion dollars. That's far short of the 2.2 trillion he has promised. I would call that a tax gap. And guess who gets to usually fill that tax gap? Audience member. We do! The President. You do. The good news is we're going to carry Ohio, and we're not going to let him tax you. The third choice in this election involves the quality of life for our Nation's families. A good education and quality health care are important for your future. As a candidate, I pledged to end the soft bigotry of low expectations by reforming our public schools. I kept my word. We passed a really good piece of reform legislation. We're raising the standards. We've increased Federal spending, but now we're asking for results. We want to measure. See, you can't solve a problem unless you've diagnosed the problem. And we're diagnosing problems all across America, and we're beginning to solve them. Our test scores in reading and math are up. We're closing achievement gaps for minority students all across America. We'll build on these reforms and extend them to our high schools so that no child is left behind in our country. We'll continue to improve life for our families by making health care more affordable and accessible. We'll make sure the poor and the indigent get health care in what's called community health centers. We'll make sure our low income our program for low income children in low income families is fully subscribed so they get health care. To make sure health care is affordable, we'll help our small businesses. We'll allow them to pool together so they can spread risk and buy insurance at the same discounts big companies are able to do. We will expand health savings accounts, which will help our families and small business owners. Let me tell you what else we need to do. We need to do something about these frivolous lawsuits that are running up the cost of medicine and running good doctors out of practice. I was in Canton the other day talking to a ob gyn who got run out of business because these lawsuits made her premiums too high to practice medicine. And I met too many citizens not only in your State but across the country, too many moms, expectant moms, who are worried about their health care and the health care of their baby because these lawsuits have made ob gyn care more scarce. This is a national problem. You cannot be pro doctor, pro patient, and pro plaintiff injury attorney at the same time. You've got to make a choice. My opponent made his choice, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I have made my choice. I'm standing with the doctors of Ohio. I'm standing with the patients of Ohio. I'm for medical liability reform now. In one of our debates, my opponent looked straight in the camera when they asked him about his health care plan, and he said, "The Government doesn't have anything to do with it." I'll be frank with you, I could barely contain myself. The Government has got a lot to do with his plan. Eighty percent of the people who sign up on his plan would end up on the Government. See, if you make it easier for people to sign up for Medicaid, it means small businesses are likely not to provide insurance for their employees because the Government will provide insurance for their employees. That's logical. And when the Government starts writing the checks, the Government starts making the rules. And when it comes to health care when the Government's making the rules, the Government starts making decisions for you and decisions for your doctor. The wrong prescription for health care in America is to increase the role of the Federal Government. In all we do to improve health care, we'll make sure the decisions are made by patients and doctors, not by officials in Washington, DC. The fourth clear choice in this election comes to your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage. I kept my word. We have modernized Medicare for our seniors. Beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. And we'll keep our promise for Social Security for our seniors, and we will strengthen Social Security for generations to come. I remember the campaign in 2000. I remember those ads they were running. You might remember them. They said, "If George W. gets elected, the seniors are not going to get their checks." They may be doing it again this year. I want you to remind your friends and neighbors as you get them to the polls that George W. did get elected, and our seniors did get their checks. And our seniors will continue to get their checks. Nobody's going to take away your check. Baby boomers like me, we're in pretty good shape when it comes to the Social Security trust. We'll probably get our checks. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren. We need to worry about whether or not the Social Security system will be there for them when they retire. That's why I believe younger workers ought to be able to take some of their own money some of their own payroll taxes and put it in a personal savings account, an account they call their own, an account the Government cannot take away. Now, my opponent takes a different approach. He says he's going to strengthen Social Security he's going to protect it. But you might remember, he is the only candidate in this race who has voted eight times for higher taxes on Social Security benefits. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He doesn't like talking about that. He can run, but he cannot hide. And he offered nothing for the younger generation in terms of reform. The job of a President is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. In a new term, I will bring Republicans and Democrats together to strengthen the Social Security system for generations to come. And the final choice in this election is on the values that are so crucial to keeping our families strong. And here, my opponent and I are miles apart. I stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. I believe marriage is a sacred commitment, a pillar of our civilization, and I will defend it. This is not a partisan issue. When Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act, defining marriage as a union of a man and a woman, the vast majority of Democrats supported it and President Bill Clinton signed it into law. But Senator Kerry was part of an out of the mainstream minority that voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I believe that reasonable people can find common ground on difficult issues. Republicans and Democrats came together and agreed we should ban the brutal practice of partial birth abortion. I proudly signed that bill. But Senator Kerry was part of an out of the mainstream minority that voted against the ban. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He voted against parental notification laws and against the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. I will continue to reach out to Americans of every belief and move this goodhearted Nation toward a culture of life. At one point in this campaign, you might remember this My opponent said that the heart and soul of America can be found in Hollywood. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Most American families do not look toward to Hollywood as a source of values. The heart and soul of America is found in communities like Flag City, Ohio. All these choices make this one of the most important elections in our history. The security and prosperity of our country, the health and education of our families, the retirement of our citizens, and the direction of our culture are all at stake. And the decision is in the best of hands. It is in the hands of the American people. It is in your hands. You get to decide. And that gives me great confidence. See, I'm optimistic about this country and our future. One of my favorite quotes is from a fellow Texan named Tom Lea. He said this, he said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." During the course of this campaign, my opponent has spent much of his campaign talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that's coming. We've been through a lot together. We have been through a lot together during the last nearly 4 years. Because we've done the hard work of climbing the mountain, we can see the valley below. The next 4 years, we'll work to protect our families, build our prosperity, and defend our values. We will work hard to spread freedom and liberty so we can achieve the peace we want for generations to come. Four years ago, when I traveled your great State asking for the vote, I made you this pledge, that if I was elected to the office I hold, I would uphold the honor and its dignity. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. Thanks for coming. God bless. Thank you all. Thanks for coming. October 27, 2004 The President. Thank you all for coming. Thanks so much for coming. My fellow Republicans, discerning Democrats, wise independents, I'm here to ask for your vote and ask for your help. We're getting close to voting time here in Ohio. It's coming close to time for people to get out and exercise their responsibility in a free society. And so I'm asking you to get people to go to the polls. I'm asking you to get your friends and neighbors to do their duty. Don't overlook discerning Democrats, people like the mayor and Senator Miller. Don't overlook people who understand that I stand for all of America, that my vision is a vision for everybody. And when you get them headed to the polls, remind them, if they want a safer America, a stronger America, and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office. Perhaps the most important reason why your fellow citizens ought to vote for me is so that Laura is the First Lady for 4 more years. I'm sure many of you will relate to this. When I asked Laura to marry me, she said, "Fine, but make me a promise." I said, "Okay, what is it?" She said, "Promise me I'll never have to give a political speech." Laughter I said, "Okay, you got a deal." Fortunately, she didn't hold me to that promise. She's giving a lot of speeches, and when she speaks, the American people see a warm, compassionate, strong First Lady. I'm proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. Now, look, I admit it, he does not have the waviest hair in the race. Laughter I see some others who are follically challenged. Laughter But you'll be happy to hear I did not pick the man because of his hairdo. Laughter I picked him because of his experience. I picked him because of his judgment. I picked him because he can get the job done for the American people. Nothing better than traveling throughout Ohio with Zell Miller. What a good man, good, down to earth, solid citizen of the United States of America. Zell, we're proud you're here. And I want to thank George McKelvey, the mayor of Youngstown, Ohio. I can't thank him enough for his friendship and his strong support. I'm proud to be with your fine Governor, Bob Taft. Governor, thanks for being here. I want to thank all the State and local officials, all the candidates who are running for different offices. I want to thank my friend Sammy Kershaw. I appreciate you, Sammy. And I want to thank Lorrie Morgan as well. We're honored you're here. I want to thank the Boardman High School marching band for being here. Most of all, I want to thank you all for coming. You're lifting my soul and lifting my spirits. It is so great to see such a big crowd. I want to thank you for putting up the signs. I want to thank you for making the phone calls. I want to thank you for what you're going to do as we're coming down the stretch, which is to turn out that vote. With your help, there is no doubt in my mind, we will carry Ohio again and win a great victory. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. Thank you all. This election comes down to some clear choices for America's families, choices on issues of great consequence. The first clear choice is the most important because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. This will be the first Presidential election since September the 11th, 2001. Americans will go to the polls in a time of war and ongoing threats to our Nation. The terrorists who killed thousands are still dangerous, and they're determined. The outcome of this election will set the direction of the war against terror. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty or weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch. Since that terrible morning of September the 11th, 2001, we have fought the terrorists across the Earth, not for pride, not for power, but because the lives of our citizens are at stake. Our strategy is clear. We've strengthened the protections for the homeland. We're reforming our intelligence services. We're transforming our military. There will be no draft the All Volunteer Army will remain an all volunteer army. We are relentless. We are steadfast. We are pursuing the enemy across the Earth so we do not have to face them here at home. And we are spreading liberty. I want you to tell your children what a monumental event has taken place in Afghanistan. It wasn't all that long ago that young girls couldn't go to school, and if their mothers didn't toe the line of the ideologues of hate, the Taliban, they were pulled out in the public square and whipped and sometimes executed. But because we acted in our self defense, because we acted to remove terrorist training camps in Afghanistan, because we upheld doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorist," millions of people in Afghanistan went to the polls to vote for a President. The first voter was a 19 year old woman. Freedom is on the march. Iraq will have Presidential elections. Think how far that country has come from the days of torture chambers and mass graves. We believe everybody wants to be free. We believe in the power of liberty to transform societies. And we believe that not because freedom is America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. A President must lead with consistency and strength. In war, sometimes you change your tactics but never your principles. Americans have seen how I do my job. Even when you might not agree with me, you know where I stand, you know what I believe, and you know where I intend to lead this country. On good days and on bad days, whether the polls are up or the polls are down, I am determined to protect the American people. I will continue to lead with resolve. And I can assure you, I will always stand by the men and women who wear our Nation's uniform as they protect us. And that's why I went to the United States Congress in September of 2003, asking for 87 billion to support our troops in harm's way. It was vital funding request. We got good support for that request except from a handful of people. I see we got a lot of veterans here. I want to thank you for serving and setting such a great example. You all know what I'm talking about when I say "support our troops in harm's way." You know how important that is. Well, most of them in Congress understood how important it was. I want you to tell your friends and neighbors, Republicans, Democrats, independents, about this startling statistic There were only four Members of the United States Senate that voted to authorize the use of force and then did not provide the funding to our troops in combat only four, two of whom were my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. So they asked him about that vote, and you might remember perhaps the most famous quote of the 2004 campaign when John Kerry said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, right before I voted against it." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. You know, I haven't spent as much time in Youngstown as the mayor has, but you know, I talked to the mayor, and he assures me not many people in Youngstown, Ohio, talk like that. Laughter People in this part of the world like somebody who shoots straight with them. They finally pressed him, and Senator Kerry finally said, after about four or five different answers as to about why he made the vote he made, he said, "The whole thing was a complicated matter." My fellow Americans, there is nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. A President must be consistent. After repeatedly calling Iraq the "wrong war" and a "diversion," Senator Kerry this week seemed shocked to learn that Iraq was a dangerous place full of dangerous weapons. Laughter The Senator used to know that, even though he seems to have forgotten it over the course of this campaign. But after all, that's why we went into Iraq. Iraq was a dangerous place run by a dangerous tyrant who hated America and who had a lot of weapons. We've seized or destroyed more than 400,000 tons of munitions, including explosives, at more than thousands of sites. And we're continuing to round up the weapons almost every day. I want to remind the American people, if Senator Kerry had his way, we would still be taking our "global test." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Saddam Hussein would still be in power. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He would control all those weapons and explosives and could have shared them with our terrorist enemies. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Now the Senator is making wild charges about missing explosives, when his top foreign policy adviser admits, "We don't know the facts," end quote. Think about that. The Senator is denigrating the actions of our troops and commanders in the field without knowing the facts. Unfortunately, that's part of the pattern of saying anything it takes to get elected, like when he charged that our military failed to get Usama bin Laden at Tora Bora, even though our top military commander, General Tommy Franks, said, "The Senator's understanding of events does not square with reality," and intelligence reports place bin Laden in any of several different countries at the time. See, our military is now investigating a number of possible scenarios, including this one that explosives may have been moved before our troops even arrived even arrived at the site. The investigation is important and ongoing. And a political candidate who jumps to conclusions without knowing the facts is not the person you want as the Commander in Chief. We have a very different perspective when it comes to protecting the American people. Senator Kerry says that September the 11th did not change him much at all. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Those were his words. That's what he said. And his policies make that clear. He says the war on terror is primarily a law enforcement and intelligence gathering operation. My outlook was changed on September the 11th. It changed my view of risks we face. I'll never forget the day when I was at Ground Zero on September the 14th, 2001. The sights and sounds of that day will never escape my memory. Workers in hard hats were yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I remember the man coming out and grabbing me by the arm and looking me square in the eye, and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I have awakened wondering how best to protect this country, trying to figure out everything we can do to protect you. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes. The second clear choice in this election concerns your families' budget, your wallet. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for American families. I kept my word. We doubled the child credit to 1,000 per child to help you raise your kids. We reduced the marriage penalty. We believe the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not penalize marriage. We dropped the lowest tax bracket to 10 percent to help the working Americans. We reduced income taxes for everybody who pays taxes. I want you to tell your friends and neighbors, remind them before they go to the polls, what our economy has been through. Six months prior to my arrival in Washington, the stock market was in serious decline six months prior to my arrival. Then we had a recession. Then we had some corporate scandals. We passed laws, tough laws that now make it abundantly clear we will not tolerate dishonesty in the boardrooms of America. We lost nearly one million jobs after the attacks on our country on September the 11th, 2001. We have been through a lot. But our economic policies, our policies of helping the small businesses and helping the families, have led us back to growth. Our economy is growing as fast as any in nearly 20 years. Homeownership rate is at an alltime high in America. We have added 1.9 million new jobs in the last 13 months. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. I understand you've had tough times in Ohio. I know that. I've traveled your State a lot. But let me remind you, things are getting better here. The unemployment rate dropped from 6.3 percent to 6 percent last month. We added 5,500 new jobs in one month here in the State of Ohio. But there's more work to be done. There's more work to be done. I signed a bill last week to help our manufacturing sector here in Ohio and across the country. We'll continue to support our community colleges. We've expanded trade adjustment assistance to make sure our workers have got the skills necessary to fill the jobs of the 21st century. We have overcome a lot together. Our economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. My opponent has a different point of view, a different view about your family's budget. To put it bluntly, he intends to take a big chunk out of it. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He voted for all the tax relief against all the tax relief. We put the tax relief up there to stimulate the economy, to encourage consumption, to help investment, to stimulate our small businesses. And he voted "no." If he had had his way, the average family in America would be paying 2,000 more dollars in income taxes to the Federal Government. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He's been in the United States Senate 20 years, and he's voted to raise taxes 98 times. That's five times a year. I would call that a predictable pattern. Laughter I would call that as an indicator. When a Senator does something that often, he must really enjoy it. Laughter I also want to remind you, he's promised 2.2 trillion of new Federal spending. That's trillion with a "T." That's a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. So they asked him, "How are you going to pay for it?" He threw out that same old, tired line we've heard every 4 years "Oh, I'll pay for it by taxing the rich." The problem is, is that when you raise the top two brackets, you only raise between 600 and 800 billion dollars. There is what I would call a tax gap. That would be the difference between what he's promised and what he can pay for. And when you have a tax gap like that and you've got a man of his record running for President, guess who usually gets to pay? Audience members. We do! The President. Here's the good news. We're not going to let him tax you we're going to carry Ohio and win a great victory. Senator Kerry can run from his record, but he cannot hide. Third clear choice in this election involves the quality of life for our families. A good education and quality health care are important for our families. As a candidate, I pledged to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations by reforming our public schools. I kept my word. We passed education reforms to bring high standards to our schools. We increased Federal spending, but instead in return for Federal spending, increases of Federal spending, we said, "Measure. Show us." We believe in accountability. You cannot solve a problem unless you diagnose a problem. We are diagnosing and solving problems all across America. Math and reading scores are up. The achievement gap for minority students across our country is closing. We'll extend these kind of reforms and high standards to our high schools so that no child is left behind in America. We'll improve our lives for our families by making sure health care is affordable and accessible. We'll take care of the low income and the needy by expanding community health centers across our country. We will work to make sure our low income children's health program is fully subscribed. To make sure health care is affordable, we will promote health savings accounts, which will help our families and small businesses better afford insurance. We will allow small businesses to pool risk, to join together so they can buy insurance at the same discounts big companies are able to do. And to help families and small businesses afford health care, we will do something about the frivolous lawsuits that are running up the cost of health care. We have a problem when it comes to these lawsuits. I have met too many ob gyns that are being run out of the practice of medicine because their premiums are too high. I have met too many pregnant moms who are worried about their health care and the health care of their child because they can't find an ob gyn that's close to the community in which they live. This is a national problem that requires a national solution. You cannot be pro doctor, pro patient, and pro personal injury trial lawyer at the same time. You have to choose. My opponent made his choice, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I have made my choice. I'm standing with the doctors of Ohio, the patients of Ohio. I'm for medical liability reform now. I remember one of those debates when my opponent looked straight in the camera and said when asked about his health care plan, he said, "The Government doesn't have anything to do with it." I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it. About 80 percent of the people who sign up for health insurance under his plan will end up on the Government. Do you realize, when you make it easier for people to get on Medicaid, small businesses will no longer provide insurance because the Government will provide insurance, moving people from the private sector to the Government? Now, listen, when the Government starts writing checks, the Government starts making rules. And when the Government starts making rules, the Government starts making decisions on behalf of the people, and the Government starts to ration health care, and they decide your doctors, and then they start telling your doctors what to do. Federally run health care is the wrong prescription for America's families. In all we do to improve health care, we'll make sure the decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. The fourth clear choice in this election involves your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to our seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drugs. I kept my word. We are strengthening Medicare. Seniors are now getting discounts on medicine with drug discount cards. Poor seniors can get 600 worth of help on their drug discount card this year and next year. And beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get a prescription drug benefit when it comes to Medicare. And we'll keep our promise of Social Security for our seniors. Let me remind you about what took place in the 2000 campaign. That same old, tired scare tactic was unleashed probably being done today too, who knows. People said, "If George W. gets elected, our seniors will not get their checks." Now, I want you to remind your friends and neighbors, George W. did get elected, and the seniors did get their checks. And our seniors will continue to get their checks. And baby boomers like me and a couple of others I see out there, we're in pretty good shape when it comes to the Social Security trust. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren. We need to worry about whether or not Social Security will be available for them when they retire. I believe younger workers ought to be able to take some of their own money and set up a personal savings account, an account that earns a better rate of return, an account they call their own, an account the Government cannot take away. My opponent takes a different approach. He has said that he is going to protect Social Security, but I want you to remind your friends and neighbors of this fact He's the only candidate in this race who has voted eight times for higher taxes on Social Security benefits. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He can run from that record, but I'm not going to let him hide. And when it comes to the next generation, when it comes to our children and our grandchildren, he hasn't offered any reform. See, the job of a President is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future generations and future Presidents. In a new term, I'll bring Republicans and Democrats together to strengthen Social Security so our children will be able to have a Social Security system that works. In this campaign, I'm speaking to the hopes of all Americans. The President's job is not to lead one party but to serve one Nation. I'm proud to have lifelong Democrats like Zell and George by my side in this campaign, and they're joined by millions of other Democrats all across this country. As the citizens of this Nation prepare to vote, I want to speak directly to the Democrats. I'm a proud Republican, but I believe my policies appeal to many Democrats. In fact, I believe my opponent is running away from some of the great traditions of the Democratic Party. If you're a Democrat and you want America to be strong and confident in our ideals, I would be honored to have your vote. The Democratic Party has a great tradition of leading this country with strength and conviction in times of war. I think of Franklin Roosevelt's commitment to total victory. I think of Harry Truman's clear vision at the beginning of the cold war. I think of John Kennedy's brave declaration of American ideals. President Kennedy said, "The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God." Many Democrats look at my opponent and wonder where that great tradition of their party has gone. My opponent takes a narrow, defensive view of the war on terror. As the United States of America hunts down the terrorists and liberates millions from tyranny and aids the rise of liberty in distant lands, my opponent counsels retreat. He votes against supporting our troops in combat. He downplays the power of democracy and adopts a narrow so called realism that is little more than defeatism. I believe I believe that American leadership is the hope of the oppressed, the source of security, and the greatest force for good in this world. I believe the liberation of captive peoples is a noble achievement that all Americans can be proud of. I believe that our troops in the field need our support 100 percent of the time. If you are a Democrat who wants America to lead with strength and idealism, I would be honored to have your support. The Democratic party has a tradition for support of our public schools. I think about Lyndon Johnson and Hubert Humphrey, who always stood up for the right of the poor and minority children to get the best education America could offer. Many Democrats look at my opponent and wonder where that firm conviction has gone. Just as teachers and principals across America are lifting the sights of our schools and raising the test scores of minority children, my opponent is talking about weakening the standards and going back to the old days of stagnation and excuses for failure. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I got into politics and I ran for Governor of my State because I would not stand by and watch another generation of students miss out on the opportunity of America. And when I came to Washington, I made schools my top domestic priority. If you are a Democrat who believes in strong public schools that teach every child, I'd be honored to have your vote. Americans of both political parties have always had respect and reverence for the institution of marriage. Never in our history has marriage been a partisan issue, and it's not a partisan issue today. Yet, many Democrats look at my opponent and wonder, where is his commitment to defending the basic institution of civilization?. He says he supports marriage, but he will do nothing to defend it. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. My opponent even voted against the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman. And two thirds of the Democrats in the Senate supported it, and my predecessor, Bill Clinton, signed it into law. On the issue of protecting marriage, the Senator from Massachusetts is outside the mainstream of America and outside the mainstream of the Democratic Party. I believe that our society must show tolerance and respect for every individual. Yet, I do not believe this commitment to tolerance requires us to redefine marriage. If you are a Democrat who believes that marriage should be protected from activist judges, I'd be honored to have your vote. The Democrat Party is also a great tradition of defending the defenseless. I remember the strong conscience of the late Democratic Governor of Pennsylvania, Robert Casey, who once said that when he looked to an unborn child, the real issue is not when life begins but when love begins. I remember the moral clarity of the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Democrat of New York, who said that partial birth abortion is, quote, "as close to infanticide as anything I have come upon." Many opponents many Democrats look at my opponent and see an attitude that is much more extreme. He says that life begins at conception but denies that our caring society should prevent even partial birth abortion. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I proudly signed the ban on partial birth abortion. Preventing partial birth abortion is an ethical conviction shared by many people of every faith and by people who have no religion at all. I understand good people disagree on the life issue, and I'll continue to work with Republicans and Democrats to find common ground on the difficult questions and move this goodhearted Nation toward a culture of life. If you are a Democrat who believes that our society must always have room for the voiceless and the vulnerable, I would be honored to have your vote. I know that Democrats are not going to agree with me on every issue, yet on the big issues of our country's security, victory in the war against terror, improving our public schools, respecting marriage and human life, I hope people who usually vote for the other party will take a close look at my agenda. If you are a Democrat and your dreams and goals are not found on the far left wing of the Democratic Party, I'd be honored to have your vote. And next Tuesday, I ask you to stand with me. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. I am optimistic about our great land. I love my country. The great strength of America is found in the hearts and souls of our people. What a fantastic land we have. One of my favorite quotes was written by a fellow Texan, a fellow named Tom Lea. And here's what he said, he said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." You know, my opponent has spent much of this campaign talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that is coming. Because we have done the hard work of climbing that mountain, we can see the valley below. Over the next 4 years, we'll work to protect our families we'll build our prosperity we will defend the deepest values. Over the next 4 years, we'll continue to spread liberty so we can achieve the peace we want for our children and our grandchildren. When I traveled your State 4 years ago, I made you this pledge I said if I was if I happened to win that election, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office to which I had been elected. With your help, I will do so for 4 more years. God bless. Thank you all for coming. Thank you all. October 27, 2004 The President. Listen, before I want to say something, I'm traveling with a guest and a friend who represents thousands of people all across this country who are affiliated with the Democrat Party. My friend has come from Georgia to share a message with you about how we're going to work with Republicans and Democrats and independents to carry the great State of Pennsylvania. Please welcome my friend Senator Zell Miller. Applause I'm thrilled to be traveling with him. I told Zell when we landed, I said, "This is a good size crowd here, and there's a reason why because we're going to carry Pennsylvania on November the 2d." And that's what I'm here to do. I'm here to ask for your vote and ask for your help. I'm asking that you turn out your friends and neighbors to the polls. I'm asking you to continue to make the phone calls and put up the signs. I'm asking you to do everything you can because with your help, we'll make America a safer country, a stronger country, and a better country for every single citizen. Perhaps the most important reason to put me back into office is so that Laura will be the First Lady for 4 more years. When I asked her to marry me, she said, "Fine, just make me a promise." I said, "What is it?" "Promise me I'll never have to give a political speech." Laughter I said, "Okay, you got a deal." Fortunately, she didn't hold me to that deal. She is giving a lot of speeches, and when she does, the American people see a fine, compassionate, strong First Lady. I'm proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. I admit it, he does not have the waviest hair in the race. Laughter You'll be happy to hear I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. I picked him because of his judgment. I picked him because of experience. He's getting the job done for the American people. What a great United States Senator Rick Santorum is. He and Zell serve in the Senate together. I'm proud to have Rick Santorum as my campaign manager for the State of Pennsylvania. I'm proud to excuse me call him friend, and I know you're proud to call him Senator. And I hope you put Arlen Specter back in there. We need to work with him for 6 more years. I'm honored to be on the stage with Joe Pitts, Congressman from this area. I appreciate you being here, Joe. Thanks for your service. I want to thank Pat Toomey for the class he showed during the primary campaign. I appreciate his leadership and his service to the Congress. I want to thank all the candidates who are here, people running for office. I wish you all the best coming down the stretch. I want to thank my friend Daron Norwood and the Matt Goss Band for singing. Most of all, I want to thank you all. You've lifted our spirits for being here. You're kind with your time, and I want to thank you for coming. This election comes down to some clear choices Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. This election comes down to some clear choices, clear choices for our families. We have issues of great consequence. The first clear choice is the most important because it concerns the security of your family. All the progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. It will be the first Presidential election since September the 11th, 2001. Americans will go to the polls in a time of war, an ongoing threat unlike any we have ever faced before. The terrorists who killed thousands are still dangerous, and they are determined to strike again. And the outcome of this election will set the direction of the war against the terrorists. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty or weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch. Since that terrible morning of September the 11th, 2001, we fought the terrorists across the Earth, not for pride, not for power but because the lives of our citizens are at stake. Our strategy is clear. We've strengthened the protection of the homeland. Tom Ridge, the former Governor of your State, is doing a great job as the Secretary of Homeland Security. We're strengthening our intelligence capabilities. We're transforming our military. There will be no draft. The All Volunteer Army will remain an all volunteer army. We're staying on the offensive. We're relentless. We are determined. We will strike the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. And part of our strategy is to spread liberty. We believe in the transformational power of liberty to change societies. Think what happened in Afghanistan think about what's happened there. It wasn't all that long ago that young girls couldn't go to school, and if their mothers didn't toe the line of the ideologues of hate which ran that country, they were whipped in the public square and sometimes executed in a sports stadium. Because we acted in our self interest, because we acted to destroy Al Qaida's capacity to train in Afghanistan, millions of people went to vote in a Presidential election. The first voter in that election was a 19 year old woman. Freedom is on the march, and America is more secure for it. Iraq will be having Presidential elections in January. That society has come a long way from the days of torture chambers and mass graves. Free societies are hopeful societies. By spreading freedom and liberty, we not only secure ourselves in the short term, we spread the peace that we all long for so our children and our grandchildren can grow up in a hopeful tomorrow. A President has to lead with consistency and strength. In a war, sometimes your tactics have to change but not your principles. Americans have seen how I do my job. Even when you might not agree with me, you know what I believe and where I stand and where I intend to lead our country. On good days and on bad days, whether the polls are up or the polls are down, I am determined to win this war on terror and to protect the American people. And I will always support the men and women who wear their Nation's uniform. I want to thank those who wear the uniform. I want to thank the families of our military. And I want to thank the veterans who are here who have set such a great example. We have a duty to support those in harm's way with all the resources they need, necessary for them to do their job. That's why I went to the United States Congress and asked for 87 billion of supplemental funding to support our troops in combat. And we got good support in the Congress. Matter of fact, the support was so strong that only 12 United States Senators voted against the supplemental funding request, 2 of whom were my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. As you're out gathering the vote and as you're out talking to people about this election, remind people of this startling statistic Only four members of the United States Senate voted to authorize the use of force and then voted against providing the funding for our troops in combat only four, two of whom were my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. So they asked him they asked him I'm sure the people of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, are just as surprised as people all around the country when he gave his famous answer about his vote. He said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, right before I voted against it." Laughter He's given a lot of explanations since then, a lot of them. One of the most interesting ones of all was that it was just a complicated matter. There's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. After repeatedly calling Iraq the "wrong war" and a "diversion," Senator Kerry this week seemed shocked to learn that Iraq was a dangerous place full of dangerous weapons. Laughter The Senator used to know that, even though he seems to have forgotten it over the course of the campaign. But after all, that's why we're there. Iraq was a dangerous place run by a dangerous tyrant who had a lot of weapons. We have seized or destroyed more than 400,000 tons of munitions, including explosives, at more than a thousands of different sites, and we're continuing to round up more weapons every day. I want to remind the American people, if Senator Kerry had his way, we would still be taking our "global test." Saddam Hussein would still be in power. He would control all those weapons and explosives and could have shared them with our terrorist enemies. Now, the Senator is making wild charges about missing explosives when his top foreign policy adviser admits, quote, "We do not know the facts." Think about that. The Senator is denigrating the action of our troops and commanders in the field without knowing the facts. Unfortunately, that's part of a pattern of saying almost anything to get elected, like when Senator Kerry charged that our military failed to get Usama bin Laden at Tora Bora, even though our top military commander, General Tommy Franks, said, "The Senator's understanding of events does not square with reality." And our intelligence reports placed bin Laden in any of several different countries at the time. Our military is now investigating a number of possible scenarios, including that the explosives may have been moved before our troops even arrived at the site. This investigation is important, and it's ongoing. And a political candidate who jumps to conclusions without knowing the facts is not a person you want as your Commander in Chief. When it comes to your security when it comes to the security of our families, my opponent takes a very different approach. He says that September the 11th did not change him much at all. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And his policies make that clear. He says the war on terror is primarily a law enforcement and intelligence gathering operation. Well, September the 11th changed me. I remember the day I was in the at Ground Zero, on September the 4th, 2001. It's a day I will never forget. There were workers in hardhats there yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I remember a man grabbed me by the arm, he looked me square in the eye, and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I wake up every morning trying to figure out how to better protect America. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes. The second clear choice in this election concerns your family budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for American families. And I kept my word. We've doubled the child credit to 1,000 per child. We reduced the marriage penalty. The Tax Code should encourage marriage, not penalize marriage. We created the lowest a lower tax bracket of 10 percent so working families would get help. We reduced income taxes for everybody who paid income taxes. We helped our farmers. We helped our ranchers. We helped our small business owners. After tax income that's the money in your pocket increased by about 10 percent since I became your President. Our economy has been through a lot, and I want you to remind your friends and neighbors about these facts. First, 6 months prior to our arrival in Washington, the stock market was in serious decline, and then we had a recession. Then we had corporate scandals, and then the attacks of September the 11th cost us about a million jobs in the 3 months after that fateful day. But we acted. By cutting the taxes, we spurred consumption and investment, and our economic policies have led us back to growth. Our economy is growing faster than in any nation in the industrialized world. We've added 1.9 million new jobs since August of 2003. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent, which is lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. The unemployment rate in Pennsylvania is 5.3 percent. Home ownership rate is at an alltime high. Farm income is up. The small business sector of our economy is flourishing. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong, and we're not going to go back to the days of tax and spend. My opponent has very different plans for your budget. He's going to take a big chunk out of it. He voted against all the tax relief that I suggested Congress pass. If he'd had his way, the average family in America would be paying 2,000 more in taxes to the Federal Government. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. All told, during his 20 years in the United States Senate, he has voted to raise taxes 98 times. That's five times a year. I would call that a predictable pattern. Laughter When a Senator does something that often, he must really enjoy it. Laughter During this campaign, he's proposed 2.2 trillion of new spending. Now, that is a trillion with a "T." That's a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. Laughter So they said, "How are you going to pay for it?" And he said, "Oh, we're just going to tax the rich." Now, you've heard that before. Be wary when you hear, "Oh, we're just going to tax the rich." My opponent has promised 2.2 trillion, but when you run up the top two brackets, you only raise between 600 and 800 billion. There is a gap between that which he promised and that which he can deliver. And guess who usually fills that gap? Audience members. We do! The President. We're not going to let him tax you we're going to carry Pennsylvania on November the 2d and win a great victory. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. The third clear choice in this election involves the quality of life of our families. A good education and quality health care are important to a successful life. As a candidate, I pledged to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations by reforming our public schools. And as President, I kept my word. We passed education reforms to bring high standards to our classrooms and to make schools accountable to our parents. We're seeing progress all across America. Math and reading scores are on the rise. Achievement gaps, particularly for minority students, are closing all across our country. We're building on these reforms. We'll extend them to our high schools so that no child is left behind in America. We'll continue to improve our lives. We're making health care more accessible and affordable. We will expand health savings accounts so small businesses can cover their workers and more families are able to get health care accounts they manage and call their own. We will create association health plans so small businesses can join together and buy insurance at the same discounts that big companies are able to do. We will help families in need by expanding community health centers. We'll make sure every eligible child is enrolled in our Government's low income health insurance programs. And to help the families of Pennsylvania, we will do something about the frivolous lawsuits that are running up the cost of medicine and running good doctors out of practice. Like other States, you've got an issue when it comes to these medical liability lawsuits. I met too many good ob gyns who have been run out of practice because their premiums have gone up too high. I have met expectant mothers here in Pennsylvania who are worried about whether they and their baby will get the health care they need. You cannot be pro doctor and pro patient and pro personal trial lawyer at the same time. You have to make your choice. My opponent made his choice, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. I have made my choice. I'm standing with the doctors of Pennsylvania, with the patients of Pennsylvania. I'm for medical liability reform now. My opponent has got a different view when it comes to health care. I remember our debate, when he looked right in the camera and he said his health care plan, "the Government has nothing to do with it." I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it. Eight out of ten people would be signed up to a Government program. Think about the idea of making it easier for people to sign up for Medicaid. It means small businesses will no longer provide coverage for their employees because the Government will. And people would be moved from private insurance to Government insurance. You see, when the Government writes the checks, the Government starts making the rules. And when it comes to health care, when the Government makes the rules, the Government starts making your decisions. And they start making the decisions for you, and they start making the decisions for the doctors. His plan is a big Government run health care plan. It is the wrong prescription for American families. In all we do to reform health care, we'll make sure the decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. The fourth clear choice in this election involves your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage. I kept my word. Seniors are now getting discounts on medicine with drug discount cards. Low income seniors are getting 600 of help this year and 600 of help next year to help them afford prescription drugs. And beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. And we'll keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors, and as we do so, we'll strengthen Social Security for generations to come. I want you to remember what happened in the 2000 campaign. It is it's pretty predictable what takes place when it comes to elections. You might remember, they said, "If George W. gets elected, our seniors will not get their checks." Well, I want you to remind your friends and neighbors when you're out gathering up the vote that George W. did get elected, and our seniors did get their checks. And our seniors will continue to get their checks under Social Security, no matter what the politicians try to scare you with. Baby boomers like me are in pretty good shape when it comes to the Social Security trust. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren. We need to worry about whether the Social Security system will be there when they need it. And that's why I think younger workers ought to be able to take some of their own money and put it in a personal savings account, a savings account that will earn a better rate of return, a savings account they call their own, a savings account that the Government cannot take away. My opponent takes a different approach when it comes to Social Security. He declared he will protect Social Security. But I want you to remind people that he voted eight times for higher taxes on Social Security benefits. And when it comes to the next generation, he hasn't offered anything at all when it comes to strengthening Social Security. The job of a President is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future generations and future Presidents. In a new term, I'll bring people together and strengthen the Social Security system for generations to come. In this campaign, I'm speaking to the hopes of all Americans. The President's job is not to lead one party, but to serve the entire Nation. I'm proud to have lifelong Democrats like Zell Miller by my side, and he's joined by millions of other Democrats across our country who are supporting our ticket. As the citizens of this Nation prepare to vote, I want to speak directly to the Democrats. I'm a proud Republican, but I believe my policies appeal to many Democrats. In fact, I believe my opponent is running away from some of the great traditions of the Democrat Party. If you're a Democrat and you want America to be strong and confident in our ideals, I'd be honored to have your vote. The Democratic Party has a great tradition of leading this country with strength and conviction in times of war and crisis. I think of Franklin Roosevelt's commitment to total victory. I think of Harry Truman's clear vision at the beginning of the cold war. I think of John Kennedy's brave declaration of American ideals. President Kennedy said, "The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God." Many Democrats look at my opponent and wonder where the that great tradition of their party has gone. My opponent takes a narrow, defensive view of the war on terror. As the United States of America hunts down the terrorists and liberates millions from tyranny and aids the rise of liberty in distant lands, my opponent counsels retreat, votes against supporting our troops in combat, downplays the power of democracy, and accepts and adopts a narrow so called realism that is little more than defeatism. I believe American leadership is the hope of the repressed, the source of our great security, and the greatest force for good in this world. I believe the liberation of captive peoples is a noble achievement that all Americans can be proud of. If you are a Democrat who wants America to lead with strength and idealism, I would be honored to have your vote. The Democratic Party has a tradition of support for our public schools. The party of Lyndon Johnson and Hubert Humphrey always stood up for the right of poor and minority children to get the best education America could offer. Many Democrats look at my opponent and wonder where that firm conviction has gone. Just as teachers and principals across America are lifting the sights of our schools and raising the test scores of minority children, my opponent is talking about weakening the standards and going back to the old days of stagnation and excuses for failure. I got into politics and I ran for Governor of Texas because I wanted to challenge that soft bigotry of low expectations. I didn't want to stand by and watch another generation of students miss out on the opportunity of our great country. When I came to Washington, I made schools my first domestic priority. We've increased funding to record levels. We're demanding results for our children of every background. If you're a Democrat who believes in strong public schools that teach every child, I'd be honored to have your vote. Americans of both political parties have always had respect and reverence for the institution of marriage. Never in our history has marriage been a partisan issue it's not a partisan issue today. Yet, many Democrats look at my opponent and wonder, where is his commitment to defending the basic institution of civilization? He says he supports marriage, but he'll do nothing to defend it. My opponent even voted against the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman. More than two thirds of Democrats in the Senate supported that act, and President Bill Clinton signed it into law. On the issue of protecting marriage, the Senator from Massachusetts is outside the mainstream of America and outside the mainstream of the Democratic Party. I believe that our society must show tolerance and respect for every individual, yet I do not believe this commitment of tolerance requires us to redefine marriage. If you are a Democrat who believes that marriage should be protected from activist judges, I'd be honored to have your vote. The Democrat Party has also a great tradition of defending the defenseless. I remember the strong conscience of the late Democratic Governor from Pennsylvania, Robert Casey, who once said that when we look to the unborn child, the real issue is not when life begins but when love begins. I remember the moral clarity of the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Democrat of New York, who said that partial birth abortion is, quote, "as close to infanticide as anything I have ever come upon." Many Democrats look at my opponent and see an attitude that is much more extreme. He says that life begins at conception but denies that our caring society should prevent even partial birth abortion. Preventing partial birth abortion is an ethical conviction shared by many people of every faith and by people who have no religion at all. I understand good people disagree on the life issue, so I've worked with Republicans and Democrats to find common ground on difficult questions and to move this goodhearted Nation toward a culture of life. If you're a Democrat who believes that our society must always have room for the voiceless and the vulnerable, I would be honored to have your vote. There are Democrats all over America, north and south, east and west, who believe their party's nominee does not share their deepest values. I know the Democrats are not going to agree with me on every issue. Yet on the big issues of our country's security, victory in the war against terror, improving our public schools, respecting marriage and human life, I hope people who usually vote for the other party will take a close look at my agenda. If you're a Democrat and your dreams and goals are not found in the far left wing of the Democrat Party, I'd be honored to have your vote. And next Tuesday, I ask you to stand with me. And I want to thank each and every one of you who have come today for standing with me. I appreciate your support. I appreciate your convictions. I appreciate your good work. I believe in the future of this country. One of my favorite quotes was written by a Texan named Tom Lea. He said this, he said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." During the course of this campaign, my opponent has spent much of the time talking about the day that is gone. I'm talking about the day that is coming. We've been through a lot together in the last 4 years. Because we've done the hard work of climbing that mountain, we can see the valley below. For the next 4 years, we'll protect our families. We'll build on the prosperity of our Nation. We will defend our deepest values. We will spread freedom and liberty around the world and continue to work for the peace we all long for. You know, when I campaigned across this great State in 2000, I said if you gave me a chance to serve, I would uphold the honor and the integrity of the office to which I have been elected. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. Thanks for coming. God bless. Thank you all. October 26, 2004 The President. Thank you all for coming. I am honored you're here. Thanks for coming today. You know, Cuba City is known as the City of the Presidents. Kind of makes sense that a President stops in to say hello, doesn't it? A few months ago, I was the first sitting President to pass through Cuba City. Today I'm the first sitting President to stop in and give a speech. And I'm looking forward to signing my name to the shield of the 43d President. As I'm traveling your beautiful State asking for the vote and I'm asking for your help, I'd like to encourage you to get your friends and neighbors to go to the polls. We have a duty in this democracy to vote. We have an obligation. When you get them headed to the polls, don't overlook discerning Democrats laughter people like Zell Miller, the Senator from Georgia who is strongly for my candidacy. Remind people if they want a safer America, a stronger America, and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office. Listen, I'm going to give you I've been traveling Wisconsin a lot, giving people reasons to put me back into office. But perhaps the most important one of all is so that Laura is the First Lady for 4 more years. When I asked her to marry me, she said, "Fine, just make me a promise." I said, "What is it?" She said, "Promise me I'll never have to give a political speech." Laughter I said, "Fine, you know, you've got a deal." Fortunately, she didn't hold me to the deal. Laughter She is giving a lot of speeches. And when she does, the American people see what I know, that she is compassionate she is warm she is a strong, great First Lady. I asked Tommy to take on a tough job in Washington, DC, and he's done a heck of a job. I'm proud of Tommy Thompson. My only problem with being around Tommy, all he wants to do is talk about Wisconsin football. And of course he did have to bring up the Packers Cowboy game as well, played right there at Lambeau Field. Laughter I want to thank Steve Freese for his introduction. I appreciate his service to your community in the statehouse. I want to thank my friend Mark Green, Congressman Mark Green, who's traveling with us. Thanks for coming, Mark. I want to thank the mayor, Dick Davis. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, for being here. It's kind for you to come. I want to thank the members of the City of Presidents Committee right there. Thank you all. I'm traveling with a fine man and his wife, Tim and Barbara Michels. He is going to make a great United States Senator. I appreciate him coming. And I want to thank my friend Dale Schultz, who will also make a great Congressman in the Third Congressional District. I want to thank Sam McGrew, the superintendent of schools. Appreciate you being here, Mr. Superintendent. I want to remind you, Mr. Superintendent, when it came time to pick a Secretary of Education, I picked a superintendent of schools. And the reason why I did is because I understand local control of schools is important, and I understand a superintendent of a school district understands education firsthand. And I appreciate your service. And I want to thank Tim Hazen, the principal of the Cuba City High School. Thank you, sir. Applause That's a good sign, when the students are cheering for you. Laughter I want to thank the Danielle Wallenhorst, the student council president. Madam President, thank you for greeting me. Oh, there she is. Yes, there she is, good. Listen, I understand the football team has got a game tonight. I wish you all the best. Good luck to you. And as Tommy pointed out, the volleyball team here is really good too. I appreciate you being here. Listen, thanks for coming. We're coming down the stretch in this campaign. And there are different candidates running with different points of view. You know where I stand, and sometimes, you even know where my opponent stands. Laughter Now, we both have records. I'm running on mine. He's running from his, and there's a reason why. There is a mainstream in American politics. The fellow I'm running against sits on the far left bank. I'm a compassionate conservative and proudly so. I have a positive and optimistic vision for our future, a comprehensive strategy for victory in Iraq and for victory in the wider war against terror, a plan to make sure our economy continues to grow so that hope spreads its wings in every corner of America. My opponent has no plan, no vision, just a long list of complaints. But a Monday morning quarterback has never led any team to victory. This election comes down to five clear choices for your families, for America's families your family's security your family budget your quality of life your retirement and the bedrock values that makes this a great country. The first clear choice is the most important one because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. This will be the first Presidential election since September the 11th, 2001. Americans will go to the polls in a time of war and ongoing threats. The terrorists who killed thousands of innocent people are still dangerous, and they're determined. The outcome of this election will set the direction of the war on terror. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows weakness or uncertainty in this decade, this world of ours will drift toward tragedy. That's not going to happen on my watch. Our strategy is clear. We've strengthened the protections of our homeland. We're reforming our intelligence capabilities. We're transforming our military. There will be no draft. The All Volunteer Army will remain the All Volunteer Army. We are relentless. We are determined. We're staying on the offensive. We're defeating the terrorists overseas so we do not have to face them here in our own country. And we're making progress. More than three quarters of Al Qaida's key members and associates have been brought to justice, and the rest of them can be certain of this We're on their trail. A President has to lead with consistency and strength. In war, your tactics change but never your principles. Americans have seen how I do my job. Even when you don't agree with me, you know what I believe, where I stand, and what I intend to do. On the good days and on the bad days, when the polls are up or the polls are down, I am determined to win this war on terror, and I will always support the men and women who wear our Nation's uniform. My opponent in this campaign has taken a different approach. It's fair to say that consistency has not been his strong point. Laughter Senator Kerry says we're better off with Saddam Hussein out of power, except when he declares that removing Saddam makes us less safe. In our second debate, he said he always believed that Saddam was a threat, except a few questions later when he said Saddam was not a threat. Laughter He says he was right when he voted to authorize the use of force against Saddam Hussein, but that I was wrong to use force against Saddam Hussein. Laughter Now he's saying he knew where bin Laden was in the fall of 2001 and that our military passed up a chance to get him at Tora Bora. Let me talk about that for a minute. That's unjustified criticism of our military commanders in the field. This is the worst kind of Monday morning quarterbacking. In fact, our commander in Afghanistan, General Tommy Franks, recently wrote this about Tora Bora "The Senator's understanding of events does not square with reality." The general says that American Special Forces were actively involved in the search for the terrorists in Tora Bora, and the intelligence reports at the time placed bin Laden in any of several countries. Before Senator Kerry got into political difficulty and revised his views, he saw our actions in Tora Bora differently. In the fall of 2001, on national TV, he said this about Tora Bora "I think we have been doing this pretty effectively, and we should continue to do it that way." At the time, the Senator said this about Tora Bora "I think we've been smart. I think the administration leadership has done it well, and we are on the right track." All I can say to that is, I am George W. Bush, and I approve of that message. Laughter Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. I want to thank those who wear the Nation's uniform that have joined us today. I appreciate your service. I want to thank the veterans who are here, who have set such a great example for those who wear the uniform. And I want to thank the military families who are with us today as well. And I made a pledge to our troops and their families that they would have all they need to do their jobs and to complete their missions. That's why I went to the United States Congress and proposed 87 billion of supplemental funding to support our troops in harm's way. It was necessary funding. It was really important and so important that we got great bipartisan support for the vote on the vote to fund the money. As a matter of fact, it was so strong that only 12 Members of the United States Senate voted against it. As you're out rounding up the vote, I want you to remind the people of this important part of the State of this startling statistic 4 Members of the United States Senate, 4 out of 100, voted to authorize the use of force and then voted against supporting our troops in harm's way only 4, 2 of whom are my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. They asked him, they said, "Well, how could you have made that vote?" And he said perhaps the most famous quote of the 2004 campaign laughter "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, before I voted against it." Laughter Now, look, I didn't spend any time in the coffee shops around Cuba City, but I suspect you're not going to find many people who talk that way here. Laughter He's given several explanations you can't be calibrating the polls when it comes time to be supporting our troops. They said, well, when did he start changing his mind? Well, he started changing his mind about his position when it looked like he was losing to Howard Dean in the Democrat primary, right about the time this vote came up. See, earlier on TV, prior to the vote, he said it would be irresponsible not to support our troops in combat. And sure enough, he took a look at the polls and decided not to support our troops in combat. A President must be consistent. A President must be willing to stand for what he believes. In the last 20 years, in key moments of challenge now remember, my opponent opposed President Ronald Reagan's doctrine of peace through strength. He didn't support removing Saddam Hussein from Kuwait, even though the international community united in concert. In moments of challenge and decision, he has chosen the path of weakness and inaction. Now, look, his record not only stands in opposition to me but in opposition to the great tradition of the Democrat Party of America. The party of Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman and John Kennedy is rightly remembered for confidence and resolve in times of crisis. Senator Kerry has turned his back on "pay any price" and "bear any burden," and he has replaced those commitments with "wait and see" and "cut and run." Many Democrats in this country do not recognize their party anymore. Today I want to speak to every one of them If you believe that America should lead with strength and purpose and confidence in our ideals, I'd be honored to have your support, and I'm asking for your vote. We have big differences we have differences in this campaign about how to keep you secure, and the differences are clear. Senator Kerry says that September the 11th did not change him much at all. Those are his words. And the policies make it clear. He said that the war on terror is primarily a law enforcement and intelligence gathering operation. Well, I want to tell you something. My outlook changed on September the 11th. I understand the stakes. I understand the consequences of inaction. I understand the consequence of sending mixed signals. I remember standing in the ruins of the Twin Towers on September the 14th, 2001. It's a day I will never forget. I will never forget the sights and the sounds. I will never forget the hardhats yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I remember the guy looking at me straight in the eye, and he said, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I wake up every morning trying to figure out how to better protect our country. I will never relent in defending our security, whatever it takes. The second clear choice involves your budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for American families, and I kept my word. And remember what we have been through as an economy. Six months prior to my arrival, the stock market was in serious decline. And then we had a recession and corporate scandals and the attack on America, which cost us about a million jobs in the 3 months after September the 11th. But we acted. I led the Congress to reduce your taxes, and our economic policies have led us back to growth. Think about these statistics and remind your friends and neighbors about these statistics. We've created 1.9 million jobs in the last 13 months. Farm incomes are up all across America. The farmers are making a good living. Homeownership rate is at an alltime high. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in America. Small businesses are flourishing. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. Let me put that in perspective for you That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. The unemployment rate in Wisconsin is 5 percent. And one of the reasons Wisconsin is doing so well is because your small businesses are flourishing and because the farmers are making a living. In 4 years, we'll the next 4 years, we'll continue to help our dairy farmers. I support the MILC program to help the dairy farmers here in Wisconsin. We will make sure we'll continue to open up markets for Wisconsin's farmers. I understand a good farm economy is necessary for a good national economy. Look, we have a different point of view when it comes to taxes. My opponent has a different economic plan. It starts with the fact that he said he's going to raise taxes. And that's a promise most politicians keep. Laughter He's promised to spend 2.2 trillion in new money spending. That's trillion with a "T." That's a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. Laughter And they asked him, "How you going to pay for all that new spending?" And he said, "Oh, we're just going to tax the rich." You've heard that before, haven't you? See, there's a difference between what he's promised and how much he can raise. He's promised 2.2 trillion, but by running up the top two brackets, he only raises about 600 to 800 billion dollars. There's a gap. Guess who usually fills the gap? The good news is, we're not going to let him tax you because we're going to carry Wisconsin and win a great victory on November the 2d. A third issue about the quality of our families and the life of our families is education and health care. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to end the soft bigotry of low expectations in our schools. And I kept my word. The No Child Left Behind Act is a good, solid piece of legislation. It says in return for extra Federal money, schools must measure to show us whether or not our children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. You can't solve a problem until you diagnose the problem. And so by measuring early, we're correcting problems before they become too acute, before it is too late. And an achievement gap in America is closing all over America. People are learning to read and write and add and subtract, and we're not going to go back to the old days of mediocrity and low expectations in our schoolhouses. And I've got a commonsense way to help on health care. Most of the uninsured work for small businesses. Small businesses ought to be allowed to pool together to extend risk so they can buy insurance at the same discounts big companies get to do. I believe we ought to expand health savings accounts, low premium, high deductible, tax free policies that enable people to manage and control their own health care. I know we're going to help the poor and the needy through community health centers and rural health centers. We're going to help sign up people for our low income children's programs. But also to make sure health care is available and affordable to you, we've got to do something about these junk lawsuits that are running good doctors out of practice and running up the cost of medicine. I've met too many ob gyns around our country that are quitting the practice of medicine because these lawsuits are running their premiums up too high on their insurance policy. They just can't practice. I met too many women who are wondering whether or not they're going to get the quality health care for themselves and their baby because ob gyns are being run out of practice. This isn't right for America. You cannot be pro doctor and pro patient and pro plaintiff attorney at the same time. You've got to make a choice. My opponent made his choice, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I have made my choice. I'm standing with the doctors and the patients and the hospitals and the small business owners. I am for medical liability re form now. You know, in one of our debates, my opponent looked right in the camera and said his health care plan about his health care plan, "The Federal Government has nothing to do with it." You know, I could barely contain myself. Laughter See, I understand his plan. The Federal Government has got a lot to do with it. Eight out of ten people will be signed up on a Federal program. When you make it easier to get on Medicaid, small businesses will drop insurance for their employees because the Government will pay for it, and that will cause about 7 or 8 million people to get on Medicaid. And when the Government starts writing the checks, the Government starts writing the rules. And then when the Government starts writing the rules, the Government starts making decisions for you. They start rationing health care. They decide what doctor you can go see. To me, that is the wrong prescription for health care in America. Here's what I believe. I believe when it comes to health care, the decisions ought to be between patients and doctors, not by officials in Washington, DC. The fourth clear choice involves your retirement. Our Nation has made a solemn commitment to our seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drugs. I kept my word. And I want to thank Tommy Thompson for his help. You know, you've heard this issue debated for years. Matter of fact, it became such a political hot potato they called Medicare, "Medi scare." But Tommy and I ignored all that, and we decided to do what was right for our seniors. Seniors are now getting discounts on medicines with drug discount cards. Low income seniors are getting 600 this year to help them on their cards and 600 next year. And beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. Let me talk about Social Security. You all might remember the 2000 campaign here in Wisconsin, the ads that said, "If George W. gets elected, our seniors are not going to get their checks." That's the old style scare tactics. When you're out there talking to your friends and neighbors, remind them, George W. did get elected, and our seniors got their checks. And our seniors will continue to get their checks. And baby boomers like me, we're in pretty good shape when it comes to the Social Security trust. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren when it comes to Social Security. When the baby boomers retire, it's going to be hard for the next generation to support us and then have a retirement system for their own. That's why we need a President to think differently about Social Security. I think younger workers ought to be allowed to take some of their own money and set up a personal savings account, an account that earns better interest, an account they call their own, an account the Government cannot take away. You know, we have a difference of opinion on Social Security. My opponent said he's going to protect Social Security, but what he forgot to tell you is he's voted eight times for higher taxes on Social Security benefits. That's part of that record. See, that's just see, he doesn't want you to know the record. He can run, but he cannot hide. That's what I say. He can run from it, but he can't hide from it. And then he said, when it comes to Social Security, things are okay for the next generation. I think the job of a President is to confront problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. You've got to expect from your President somebody who is willing to take on the tough issue, not have their finger stuck in the wind trying to figure out which way the winds are blowing but somebody who is going to do what is right. And what is right is to protect Social Security for our seniors and make it viable for the younger citizens of this country. And finally, the final clear choice in this election is on the values that are crucial to keeping our families strong. And here my opponent and I are miles apart. I stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. I believe marriage is a sacred commitment, a pillar of our civilization. I don't believe this is a partisan issue. As a matter of fact, when Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act, defining marriage as the union between a man and a woman, the vast majority of Democrats supported it, and President Bill Clinton signed it into law. But Senator Kerry was part of an out of the mainstream minority that voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Listen, reasonable people can find common ground on the most difficult of issues. Republicans and Democrats came together and agreed we should ban the brutal practice of partial birth abortion. I proudly signed that bill. But my opponent was part of an out of the mainstream minority that voted against the ban. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. See, we just have a difference of opinion, a big difference of opinion. I'll continue to reach out to Americans of every belief and move this goodhearted Nation toward a culture of life. My opponent said the heart and soul of America can be found in Hollywood. Laughter Most American families don't look to Hollywood as a source of values. Laughter The heart and soul of America is found in communities like Cuba City, Wisconsin. You know, one of my favorite quotes that I hope tells you what I believe and how I lead is by a fellow Texan named Tom Lea, and here's what he said. He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that has gone." That's how I feel about this country, optimistic and hopeful. I know we can achieve anything we set our mind to. You know, in the last 4 nearly 4 years, we've come through a lot together. Because we've done the hard work of climbing the mountain, we see the valley below. And that valley is a valley full of prosperity and hope, a valley where people in this country feel comfortable about owning something, a valley where the entrepreneurial spirit is strong, where our families are strong. We're going to continue to spread freedom and liberty so we can achieve the peace that we all want for generations to come. Four years ago, when I traveled your State asking for the vote, I made you this pledge I said I would restore the integrity to the Oval Office. With your help and with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. Thanks for coming. God bless. I appreciate it. Now I'm going to sign this shield. October 26, 2004 The President. Thank you all. What a great way to spend a Tuesday, and that's to be on a bus traveling throughout the great State of Wisconsin. Thank you all for coming out to say hello. It's such an honor to be here. Laura and I are our spirits are lifted up because so many have come out to say hello. We're honored you are here. I'm here to ask for your vote. I'm here to ask for your help. There's no doubt in my mind, if we turn out our vote in Wisconsin, we'll win a great victory on November the 2d. I don't know if you know the history of me and Laura. We were in the seventh grade together in San Jacinto Junior High in Midland, Texas, and then we became reacquainted years later when she was a public school librarian. And I asked her to marry me I'm sure some of you can relate to this. She said, "Fine, but make me a promise." I said, "What is it?" "Well, promise me I'll never have to give a political speech." Laughter I said, "Okay, you've got a deal." Laughter Fortunately, she didn't hold me to that promise. She's giving a lot of speeches, and when she does the American people see a warm, compassionate, great First Lady. I have been traveling your State a lot, talking about the reasons why I think people ought to put me back into office. But perhaps the most important one is so that Laura will be First Lady for 4 more years. I am proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. In all due respect to those who are here who are follically challenged laughter I readily concede my runningmate does not have the waviest hair in the race. You'll be pleased to know I did not pick him because of his hairdo. Laughter I picked him because of his experience and his judgment and his ability to get the job done. And I'm proud of your friend Tommy Thompson. He has done a great job. I gave him one of the toughest jobs in Washington, DC, and he has responded. He has done a fabulous job to help those who hurt. Just take the issue of Medicare. Tommy and I went to Washington to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. That's our job, to tackle the tough problems. Medicare was a problem. See, Medicare hadn't changed, but medicine had. For example, they pay nearly 100,000 for heart surgery, but not one dime for the prescription drugs that could prevent the heart surgery from being needed in the first place. Tommy recognized that wasn't fair. I recognized it wasn't fair. We brought Republicans and Democrats together. We did what other Presidents and other Secretaries couldn't do We modernized Medicare, and starting in 2006, our seniors will get prescription drug coverage. Let me say one other thing to our seniors here in Wisconsin. You might remember the 2000 campaign, when they ran those ads that said, "If George W. gets elected, our seniors are not going to get their Social Security checks." Remember those? Yes. Well, I want you as you're gathering up the vote, remind your friends and neighbors that George W. did get elected and our seniors did get their Social Security check. And our seniors will continue to get their Social Security checks. But we're also going to strengthen Social Security for our younger generation. Our youngsters ought to be allowed to take some of their payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account they call their own, an account the Government cannot take away. I want to thank Congressman Mark Green, who is with us today. Congressman, I appreciate you coming. He's a fine, good, young Member of the House of Representatives. I want to thank the mayor of Onalaska with us today. Mr. Mayor, I'm proud you're here. Thanks for coming. Fill the potholes. Laughter I'm proud to be standing with the next United States Senator from Wisconsin, Tim Michels. He married a lady named Barbara. Laughter I know some Barbaras. Laughter One of them is still telling me what to do. Laughter And I'm still listening, I want you to know. I'm very impressed by a candidate for Wisconsin's Third Congressional District, a man I hope you support, the next Congressman, Dale Schultz. I want to thank the grassroots activists who are here, the people who are putting up the signs, making the phone calls, the people who helped turn out such a huge crowd here. I'm honored to have your support. Now is the time to keep the work up. Now is the time to find every single voter and tell them we have a duty, a duty in this country to vote. When you get them headed to the polls, remind them if they want a safer America, a stronger America, and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. We're only one week away from the vote, and I'm focusing on the big issues that are facing our country's families. This election comes down to five clear choices for our families your family's security your family's budget your quality of life your retirement and the bedrock values that are so critical to our country's future. First and foremost, I've talked about the quality retirement. When I'm talking about Medicare and making sure it exists and strong, that helps our families. When I'm talking about Social Security and making sure it's around today as well as around tomorrow, that helps our families. But the first, biggest concern of any President is your security. Our Nation is at war against a terrorist enemy unlike any we have faced before. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. We will be relentless, determined, steadfast, and strong. We will not relent. We will stay on the offensive until the fight is won. Another big issue, of course, is our economy. It affects the quality of life. It affects your budget. It affects how much money you have in your wallet. We will expand and strengthen our economic recovery to make sure opportunity spreads throughout every corner of this country. This campaign offers a clear choice when it comes to the economy and our vision for how to create jobs. My policies support and strengthen the small businesses, which are creating most new jobs in America. I'm going to spend a little time talking about the vision of enhancing the entrepreneurial spirit. My opponent promises to raise your taxes. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And unfortunately for our small business owners, that's a promise most politicians tend to keep. Laughter Our economy has been through a lot. When you're out there rounding up the vote, I want you to remind people that 6 months prior to my arrival, the stock market was in serious decline. Our economy was declining in the last half of the year 2000. We fell into a recession. We had corporate scandals which affected our economy. By the way, we passed tough laws. We have made it abundantly clear, we will not tolerate dishonesty in the boardrooms of America. We were attacked. And those attacks cost us about a million jobs in the 3 months after September the 11th. But, see, I understand something. I understand the engine of growth that this economy has found with the entrepreneurs and workers of America. And that's why we passed the largest tax relief in a generation, tax relief which encouraged consumption and investment. And it's working. The economic stimulus plan we passed is working. This country created about 1.9 million jobs in the last 13 months. The national unemployment rate is down to 5.4 percent. And let me remind you of where that stands That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. The unemployment rate in Wisconsin is down to 5 percent. That is down almost a full point since the summer of 2003. We're headed in the right direction in America. Our farmers are doing well. Farm income is up, and that's good for our economy. The homeownership rate is at an all time high in America. We're on the move. We're going forward, and we're not going to go back to the days of tax and spend. This is a time of fantastic opportunity. The job of Government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneurial spirit can flourish, in which people are willing to work hard to realize their dreams. Government doesn't create wealth. Government creates the environment that says, "Take a risk. Start a business if you choose to. Own something." Today Joan Shelley is with us. I want you to hear her story. Joan is right there. First of all, she is a mom. She and her husband have got eight children. Listen to her story. She didn't think she was spending enough time she worked as a nurse didn't spend enough time at home. First of all, she's got her priorities straight. If you are fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, your most important responsibility is to love your child with all your heart and all your soul. So guess what happened? Six years ago, she decided to start an online business selling cabinet hardware from the basement of her home. How many times have you heard that story? You know, "I sat around the kitchen table and came up with an idea and started a business." "I started a business in my garage." She started hers in her basement. Today, KnobGallery employs 20 people, most of them moms who wanted more flexibility for their families. This administration believes in flex time. The world has changed. Our labor laws ought to change with them. Moms and dads ought to be able to have the flex time in the workplace so they can balance family and the need to work. KnobGallery is a thriving, 1.4 million business. Her family is working in the business Kristina, it turns out, designs the company's web page. Joan is living the American Dream. She has started her own business. She owns her own company. And she I said, "Are you going to increase the jobs?" She said, "I'm intending to add more people to work." See, the more Joans that start up their own business, the more likely that somebody is going to find a job in America. The role of the Government is to create an environment for the Joan Shelleys to feel comfortable in starting and expanding their business. Ric Hartman is with us. There he is. Hi, Ric. He managed at one time the in house design shop of a large packaging firm for 15 years. Last October, about a year ago, he learned the company was going to close his operation. So guess what he did? He got some of those people he worked with, put them in a van, went to a local flour mill and said, "This is where we're going to start our new company." See, the entrepreneurial spirit must be strong if America is going to be a hopeful place. Five came with him. Today, he runs a profitable small business called Hartman Design. Here's what he said "Deep down, I think every design person wants to run their own shop." Deep down, a lot of people in America want to run their own shop. Deep down, people have a desire to start their own business, and when they do, somebody is more likely to find a job. A hopeful America and one that's good for your budget is one in which small businesses are thriving, in which people from all walks of life feel comfortable about starting their own business. Do you realize minority businesses are up in America? That is hopeful and positive for the future of this country. Seven out of ten new jobs in America are created by small businesses. And there is a source of upward mobility in America that comes with ownership. When a woman owns her own business, she's upwardly mobile. When a Latino or an African American starts his or her own business, they become upwardly mobile. Ownership is a powerful part of the American Dream. And so the fundamental question in this campaign, who's got the best strategy to make sure the entrepreneurial spirit is strong? Who's got the idea, who understands, and who can best make sure that more small businesses grow in America? First, in order to make sure the entrepreneurial spirit is strong, America must be the best place in the world to do business. If you want businesses to start, this must be the best place in the world to do business. And secondly, to make sure this is a hopeful world, we've got to make sure the workforce is the best trained in the world. A lot of good jobs and a lot of good hopes start with good education. First, let me talk about how to make sure this is the best place in the world to do business. One, we've got to keep your taxes low. We passed good tax relief. We raised the child credit. That helps if you're a mom or a dad. We reduced the marriage penalty. I believe strongly the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not penalize marriage. We created a 10 percent bracket. That helps the working families. But we also said, "If you pay taxes, you ought to get relief." If you're going to have tax relief, everybody who pays taxes ought to get relief. That's only fair. But guess what happens? What most Americans don't know, and evidently what my opponent doesn't know, is that most small businesses are either a Subchapter S corporation like the two small businesses I just mentioned or sole proprietorships, which means you pay tax at the individual income tax rate. Ninety percent of businesses in America pay individual income taxes, which says when you cut the taxes on everybody who pays taxes, you're helping the small businesses. See, there is a connection between good tax relief and growth in the small business sector. And so to encourage small business investment, not only did we say, "You can have more money in your coffers so you can expand your business or pay more money or better afford health care," but we encouraged investment by increasing the small business expensing deduction from 25,000 to 100,000. See, I understand if you create the demand for goods and services and provide incentives for investment, the economy grows. That's what you've got to understand. It's a difference of opinion. It's a difference of philosophy. My opponent believes the economy grows by growing the size of the Federal Government. I believe the economy grows by growing the size of the coffers of small businesses. Here's what Paul Schoeneck of New Berlin, Wisconsin, said. See, his business, like the other two, were Subchapter S corporations. He said about tax relief, "We have doubled our workforce. We've increased pay. We have consistently paid out bonuses. We've significantly increased our gross and net income. We've increased our production lines by nine, remodeled our offices, and significantly improved our infrastructure." That's what he said. Those aren't my words. That is what a small business owner from Wisconsin has said about the tax relief. He said, "Without tax relief, this would not have been possible." I want you, when you hear these people talking about tax relief, about how it only benefited certain people this tax relief has helped our small businesses grow and prosper, and this economy is on the move because the entrepreneurial spirit is strong. And taxes are an issue in this campaign. I'm running against a fellow who's promised 2.2 trillion of new Federal spending. That's with a "T." That is that's a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. Laughter So they said, "How are you going to pay for it?" He said, "Oh, we'll just tax the rich." That means raise the top two brackets. By raising the top two brackets, he's taxing the small business sector of America. That's bad economic policy. Just as the economy is beginning to grow, just as the small businesses are feeling confident I talked to the two small business owners here. I said, "Are you going to hire somebody?" They said, "We're thinking about hiring new people." But running up the taxes on them would make it less likely they'd hire somebody. It's bad economic policy to tax the small business owners of America, which is precisely what my opponent's plan would do. See, when you say you're going to run up the top two brackets, you raise about 600 billion, maybe 800 billion, depending on whose accountant you use. Laughter But the point is, in either case you're far short of the 2.2 trillion that he has promised. There is a gap. There is a gap between what he's promised and what he can deliver. And guess who usually gets to fill the gap? Audience members. We do! The President. Yes, you do. But we're not going to let him tax you. We're going to win on November the 2d. The bottom line about our economic visions is this To pay for all his new spending he's proposed, my opponent will have to raise taxes not just on small business owners but on everyone who's ever worked for a small business, shopped at a small business, or walked by a small business. Laughter We're not going to let him tax you we're going to win. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. To make sure that this economy is strong and the small businesses can flourish, we've got to do something about the frivolous and junk lawsuits. These kind of lawsuits cost our economy about 230 billion a year. This amounts to about 3,000 a year for the average family. They're expensive, and they're really expensive on small businesses. If part of the vision is to make sure the small business sector of our economy flourishes, we've got to do something about the liability. The average cost of tort liability for a small business is about 150,000. That's money that could be better used for employees, worker training, health care, expanding the business, creating new jobs. My opponent and I have a different approach. He's sided with the personal injury trial lawyers time and time again. They're powerful in Washington, make no mistake about it. It's hard to get good legal reform out of the United States Senate because they're influential. As a matter of fact, he's raised more money from lawyers than any other Member of the United States Senate. That's about 22 million so far since 1989, and still counting. And there's a reason why. He's voted five times against protecting small businesses on punitive damages. He's made it clear where he stands. He's made it abundantly clear. He's put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Now, I'm going to stand with our small business owners and continue to be for legal reforms in Washington, DC. We need less regulations on our small businesses. We need reasonable regulations. I can't guarantee that anybody in Washington has ever read the forms small businesses have to fill out. I wish I could say they have I doubt it. But one way to make sure we reduce the burden on our not only our small businesses but our the working people here in America is to reform the Tax Code. It's a complicated mess. It is too complex. I'm going to bring people together. Listen, I recognize the first of all, the code is a million pages long. American workers and small business owners and families spend 6 billion hours a year filling out the forms. We can do a better job. We can make this Tax Code pro growth, pro family, and fair. And I will bring Republicans and Democrats together to do so. A couple of other quick points on how to make sure the environment is good for business growth so that you've got more money, so that you can manage your budget better, so that people can find a job. We need Congress needs to pass my energy plan. It's a plan that makes sense. It's common sense. It encourages conservation. It encourages the use of renewables like ethanol and biodiesel. It uses technologies to help us burn coal more cleanly. It encourages exploration for natural gas in environmentally friendly ways. To make sure that this environment for growth is strong, we need to be less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Let me talk right quick about education, because I believe a good economy requires this workforce of ours to be educated. I think the two go hand in hand. I don't think you can have a hopeful environment for growth if our people aren't educated. It all starts with the younger kids. That's why I went to Washington, to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. You know, this business about just shuffling the children through, grade after grade, year after year, without learning the basics was not good enough for America, as far as I'm concerned. I believe every child can learn, and I believe every school must teach. And so we increased funding, particularly for Title I students. But we said, "In return for extra funding, show us whether or not a child can read and write and add and subtract." See, I understand you can't solve a problem until you diagnose a problem. You can't fix a problem until you fully understand the nature of the problem. By measuring, we now know where the problems exist in America, and we're providing the extra money to solve them. And guess what's happening? Kids are learning to read and write and add and subtract. Because we're measuring, we now know the benchmarks. We're seeing progress. We're closing the achievement gap amongst minority students in America. And we're not going to go back to the old days of mediocrity and low standards. I think one of the country's greatest assets is the community college system. Community colleges are able to adjust their curriculum to meet the needs of the job providers. I've met small businesses who have told me about helping set up a curriculum in our community colleges so our workers can gain the skills necessary to fill the jobs of the 21st century. You just heard about Joan's company, where in her basement, she started a company over the Internet. In other words, we need new skill sets as this economy of ours changes. And a great place for America's workers to gain new skill sets is in the community college system all across our country. Most of the uninsured in America work for small businesses. Small businesses are having trouble affording health care. That's why I believe small businesses ought to be allowed to pool risk to join together so they can buy insurance at the same discount that big companies are able to do. We'll expand health savings accounts to help our families and small businesses to be able to better afford health insurance and, at the same time, provide a health account that you can own and you can manage, you can take with you from job to job. And we'll make sure we do something about these frivolous lawsuits that are running up the cost of health care. This is a national issue. I have met too many ob gyns who are being driven out of practice because the lawsuits are running up their cost of doing business, their premiums. And I've met too many patients of ob gyns who are having to drive for miles, wondering whether or not they and their child will get the health care they need. Medical liability is a crisis in America, and it's a crisis because we can't get anything done in the United States Senate because the trial bar is too strong. My opponent has voted against medical liability reform not once, not twice but 10 times. In a new term, I'm going to bring people together and say, "The people have spoke. We need medical liability reform now to make sure health care is affordable and available." We have a big difference when it comes to health care in this campaign. And it is a big difference. I remember that debate when my opponent stood up there with a straight face and he said, "The Government has nothing to do with it," "it" being his health care plan. I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it a lot to do with it. Eight out of ten people would end up on the Government health care. Think about this When you run up the Medicaid, make Medicaid more eligible for people, it's going to provide an incentive for small businesses to not provide insurance for their employees because the Government will. That doesn't make any sense, to be moving people from private insurance to the Government. When the Government writes the check, the Government starts setting the rules, and you don't want the Federal Government making the rules when it comes to your health care. I've come here to Wisconsin to tell the people I understand how this economy works, and my policies are standing square with the workers, the families, and the small business owners of America. I also want to tell you in changing times, some things do not change, the values we try to live by, courage and compassion, reverence and integrity. In changing times, we will support and must support the institutions that give our lives direction and purpose, our families, our schools, and our religious congregations. We stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and every being counts. We stand for marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. We stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. My opponent takes a different approach. His words on these issues are a little murky, but his record is really clear. Laughter He says he supports the institution of marriage but voted against the Defense of Marriage Act, which overwhelmingly passed with Democrat and Republican votes. My predecessor signed that bill into law, which defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman, and my opponent voted against it. He says you know, he says he's got a personal view on the issue of life, but he voted against the ban on the brutal practice of partial birth abortion. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He's called the Reagan years a time of moral darkness. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. There is a mainstream in American politics, and my opponent sits on the far left bank. My fellow Americans, he can run from his views, but he cannot hide. All the progress we hope for in America and all the prosperity and opportunity we want for every family and for our children ultimately depends on the security of our Nation. We're in the middle of a global war on terror. We face a determined enemy. In the war on terror, there's no place for confusion, no place for weakness, no substitute for victory. I believe if America shows uncertainty or weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. Since that terrible morning of September the 11th, 2001, we fought the terrorists across the Earth, not for pride, not for power but because the lives of our citizens are at stake. Our strategy is clear. We're defending the homeland. We're strengthening our intelligence services. We're transforming our military. There will be no draft. The All Volunteer Army will remain an all volunteer army. We're on the offensive. We will strike the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. We're promoting democracy and liberty, the great alternatives to despair and terror. I want you to tell your children about what took place in Afghanistan. It wasn't all that long ago that young girls lived under the reign of the Taliban, a brutal, barbaric people. They would not let young girls go to school, and if their mothers didn't toe their ideological line, they were taken in the public square sometimes and whipped. These people were dark and dim. There was darkness in Afghanistan. Because we defended ourselves, because we believe in freedom, the Afghanistan people went by the millions to the polls to vote for their President. The first voter the first voter was a 19 year old woman. Iraq will have a Presidential election. Think how far that country has come from the days of torture chambers and mass graves. Freedom is on the march. Freedom is on the move, and our country is better for it. A President must lead with consistency and strength in these troubling times. In war, sometimes you change your tactics, but you never change your principles. And Americans have seen how I do my job. Applause Thank you. Even when you might not agree with me, you know where I stand, what I believe, and what I intend to do. On good days and on bad days, whether the polls are up or the polls are down, I am determined to win this war on terror, and I will always support the men and women of the United States military. My opponent has taken a different approach. It's fair to say that consistency has not been his strong point. Laughter Senator Kerry says we're better off with Saddam Hussein out of power, except when he declared that removing Saddam made us less safe. He stated in our second debate that he always believed that Saddam was a threat except, a few questions later, when he said Saddam Hussein was not a threat. Laughter He says he was right when he voted to authorize the use of force against Saddam Hussein, but that I was wrong to use force against Saddam Hussein. Laughter And now he's throwing out a wild claim that he knows where bin Laden was in the fall of 2001, and that our military passed up a chance to get him at Tora Bora. It is unjustified criticism of the military commanders in the field. It is the worst kind of Monday morning quarterbacking. Our commander in Afghanistan at the time was General Tommy Franks, and he wrote this about Tora Bora, he said, "The Senator's understanding of events does not square with reality." Laughter That's what the man who was there said. He says the American Special Forces were actively involved in the search for the terrorists in Tora Bora, and that intelligence reports at the time placed bin Laden in one of several countries. They didn't know whether he was here, there, or otherwise. In other words, they didn't have hard intelligence. Maybe my opponent has seen something we all haven't seen. As a matter of fact, Senator Kerry, before he got into political difficulty and revised his views, he said this about Tora Bora on national TV, in the fall of 2001, he said, "I think we have been doing this pretty effectively, and we should continue to do it that way." At the time, the Senator said about Tora Bora, "I think we have been smart. I think the administration leadership has done it well, and we are on the right track." All I can say about that is, I am George W. Bush, and I approve of that message. My opponent's record on national security has a far deeper problem than election year flip flopping. On the largest national security issues of our time, he has been consistently wrong. When Ronald Reagan was confronting the Soviet Union at the height of the cold war, Senator Kerry said that President Reagan's policy of peace through strength was making America less safe. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Ronald Reagan was right. When former President Bush led a coalition against Saddam Hussein in 1991, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force to liberate Kuwait, even though the United Nations had passed a resolution and there was a strong coalition and agreement with U.S. policy. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong, former President Bush was right. In 1994, just one year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, my opponent proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence budget, so massive that even his Massachusetts colleague, Ted Kennedy, opposed them. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong we've got to be fair Senator Kennedy was right. Laughter The President must be consistent and strong in these difficult times. Just last year, when American troops were in combat in Afghanistan and Iraq, I proposed 87 billion of increased funding to support our troops in harm's way. It was important funding. Bipartisan support for that funding was very strong. As you round up the vote, I want you to remind your friends and neighbors of this startling statistic Only 4 members of the United States Senate 4 out of 100 voted to authorize the use of force and then voted against funding for our troops in harm's way, and 2 of those 4 were my opponent and his runningmate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. You might remember, when they asked him about the vote, he said this, he said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, right before I voted against it." History has shown that Senator Kerry was right, then wrong, then briefly right, then wrong again. Laughter They finally kept pressing him. He said the whole thing about the 87 billion was a complicated matter. My friends, there is nothing complicated about supporting our men and women in combat. And speaking about those men and women, we have got a fantastic military and I'm proud to be their Commander in Chief. And I want to thank the military families who are here today for your sacrifice. And I want to thank the veterans who are here today for having set such a great example. During the last 20 years, in key moments of challenge and decision for America, Senator Kerry has chosen a position of weakness and inaction. With that record, he stands in opposition not just to me but to the great tradition of the Democratic Party. The party of Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman and John Kennedy is rightly remembered for confidence and resolve in times of war and hours of crisis. Senator Kerry has turned his back on "pay any price" and "bear any burden." He's replaced those commitments with "wait and see" and "cut and run." Many Democrats in this country do not recognize their party anymore, and today I want to speak to every one of them If you believe America should lead with strength and purpose and confidence and resolve, I'd be honored to have your support, and I'm asking for your vote. Our differences on keeping the security of the country and protecting our families are vast. My opponent says that September the 11th did not change him much at all. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And his policies make that clear. He says the war on terror is primarily a law enforcement and intelligence gathering operation. Well, my outlook was changed on September the 11th. I'll never forget going to the Ground Zero on September the 14th, 2001. There were workers in hardhats there yelling at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I'll never forget the sights and sounds. I'll never forget the person looking me straight in the eye and saying, "Do not let me down." Ever since that day, I wake up every morning trying to figure out how best to protect our country. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes. When I traveled your State 4 years ago, I made a pledge that if I was elected, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office to which I had been elected. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. Thanks for coming. God bless. Thank you all. October 26, 2004 The President. Thank you all for coming. Listen, Laura and I are glad to be back in Dubuque and so honored so many came out to say hello. You lift our spirits. Really appreciate you coming. We're here, of course, asking for the vote and asking for your help. We need you to get your friends and neighbors to go to the polls, find our fellow Republicans, find independents, find discerning Democrats and remind them if they want a safer America, a stronger America, and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office. When I asked Laura to marry me, she said, "Fine, so long as you make me a promise." I said, "What is it?" She said, "Promise me I'll never have to give a political speech." Laughter I said, "Okay, you've got a deal." Fortunately, she is not holding me to that promise. She's giving a lot of speeches, and when she does, the American people see a compassionate, strong, great First Lady. And I'm proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. He's doing a wonderful job. You know, I admit it, he does not have the waviest hair in the race. Laughter You'll be happy to hear I didn't pick him because of his hairdo I picked him because of his experience, his judgment, his ability to get the job done. I'm proud to be on the stage with Congressman Jim Nussle, and I want to thank his wife, Karen, for being here. He's the chairman of the Budget Committee. He's watching your money like a hawk eye. Nussle is a good man, good, solid citizen from the State of Iowa and I'm proud to call him friend. You know, we love your Senator, Chuck Grassley. I saw him the other day, and I said, "Say, Chuck, you know, the South Lawn has got a lot of grass" laughter "and we're looking for somebody to give us a hand." Laughter He's done a wonderful job as the chairman of the Finance Committee. I know the people of Iowa are proud that he's the Senator I know you're going to put him back into office for 6 more years. I want to thank Dale Schultz for coming. Dale is right there. He's from the Third Congressional District in the great State of Wisconsin. He's been traveling with me all day. Just in case anybody from Wisconsin is watching on TV, put this good man in as a Congressman. I want to thank Dave Vaudt for being here. I want to thank Dave Roederer. I want to thank Doug Gross. I want to thank the Wil Gravatt Band for entertaining you all. I want to thank the grassroots activists who are here, the people putting up all the signs and making the phone calls and helping turn out people to rallies in the Dubuque area. With your help, there is no doubt in my mind we're going to carry Iowa and win a great victory in November. We have just one week to go. Voters have a clear choice between two very different candidates with dramatically different approaches and records. Now, you know where I stand. And sometimes sometimes you even know where my opponent stands. Laughter We both have records. I'm proudly running on mine. The Senator is running from his, and there's a reason why. There's a mainstream in American politics, and my opponent sits on the far left bank. I'm a compassionate conservative and proudly so. I have a positive, optimistic vision for our future and a comprehensive strategy for victory in Iraq and the wider war against terror. My opponent has no plan, no vision, just a long list of complaints. Laughter But a Monday morning quarterback has never led any team to victory. This election comes down to five clear choices for America's families your family's security your family's budget your quality of life your retirement and the bedrock values that are so critical to our families and to our future. The first clear choice is the most important because it concerns the security of your family. All progress on every other issue depends on the safety of our citizens. This will be the first Presidential election since September the 11th, 2001. Americans will go the polls in a time of war and ongoing threats. The terrorists who killed thousands are still dangerous and determined to strike us again. And this outcome the outcome of this election will set the direction of the war against the terrorists. The most solemn duty of the American President is to protect the American people. If America shows uncertainty or weakness in this decade, the world will drift toward tragedy. This will not happen on my watch. Since that terrible morning of September the 11th, 2001, we fought the terrorists across the Earth, not for pride, not for power but because the lives of our citizens are at stake. Our strategy is clear. We've strengthened the protections for the homeland. We're reforming our intelligence capabilities. We're transforming our military. There will be no draft the All Volunteer Army will remain an all volunteer army. We're staying on the offensive. We are relentless. We are determined. We will strike the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. We will continue to spread freedom and liberty. And we will prevail. The President has to lead with consistency and strength. In a war, sometimes your tactics change but not your principles. Americans have seen how I do my job. Even when you might not agree with me, you know what I believe, you know where I stand, and you know what I intend to do. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. On good days and on bad days, whether the polls are up or the polls are down, I am determined to protect the American people and I will always support the men and women who do. My opponent has taken a different approach. It's fair to say that consistency has not been his strong point. Senator Kerry says we're better off with Saddam Hussein out of power, except when he declares that removing Saddam made us less safe. He said in our second debate that he always believed Saddam was a threat, except a few questions later when he said Saddam Hussein was not a threat. Laughter He says he was right when he voted to authorize the use of force against Saddam Hussein, but that I was wrong to use force against Saddam Hussein. Laughter Now my opponent is throwing out a wild claim that he knows where bin Laden was in the fall of 2001, that our military passed up a chance to get him at Tora Bora. It's an unjustified criticism of the military commanders in the field. It is the worst kind of Monday morning quarterbacking. Tommy Franks was our commander in Afghanistan, and here's what he said about Tora Bora. He said, "The Senator's understanding of events does not square with reality." Tommy was there. Tommy says that Special Forces were actively involved in the search for the terrorists in Tora Bora and that intelligence reports at the time placed bin Laden in any of several countries. Now, before Senator Kerry got into political difficulty and revised his views, here's what he said about Tora Bora on national TV in the fall of 2001. He said, "I think we've been doing this pretty effectively, and we should continue to do it that way." At the time, the Senator said about Tora Bora, "I think we've been smart. I think the administration leadership has done it well, and we are on the right track." Well, all I can say to that is, I am George W. Bush, and I approve of that message. Yet, my opponent's record on national security has a far deeper problem than election year flip flopping. On the largest national security issues of our time, he has been consistently wrong. When Ronald Reagan was confronting the Soviet Union at the height of the cold war, Senator Kerry said that President Reagan's policy of peace through strength was making America less safe. Well, history has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and President Ronald Reagan was right. When former President Bush led a coalition against Saddam Hussein in 1991, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force to liberate Kuwait. If his view had prevailed, Saddam Hussein today would dominate the Middle East and possess the world's most dangerous weapons. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and former President Bush was right. In 1994, just one year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, Senator Kerry proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence budget, so massive that even his colleague from Massachusetts opposed them. Well, history has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and got to be fair Senator Kennedy was right. Just last year, American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan needed 87 billion to help them on their missions, to make sure they had all that was necessary in harm's way. First, Senator Kerry said it would be irresponsible to vote against the troops, then he voted against the troops. You might remember perhaps the most famous quote of the 2004 campaign when he said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, before I voted against it." Laughter History has shown that Senator Kerry was right, then wrong, then briefly right, then wrong again. Laughter You know, he's given quite a few answers about that vote, and finally, at one time he just said, "The whole thing was a complicated matter." My fellow Americans, there is nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. I thank our troops. I thank the families of our troops. And I thank the veterans who have set such a great example to our troops. During the last 20 years, in key moments of challenge and decision for America, my opponent has chosen the position of weakness and inaction. With that record, he stands in opposition not just to me but to the great tradition of the Democratic Party. The party of Franklin Roosevelt, of Harry Truman, of John Kennedy is rightly remembered for confidence and resolve in times of war and hours of crisis. Senator Kerry has turned his back on "pay any price" and "bear any burden," and he has placed those commitments replaced those commitments with "wait and see" and "cut and run." Many Democrats in this country do not recognize their party anymore. Today I want to speak to every one of them If you believe that America should lead with strength and purpose and confidence in our ideals, I'd be honored to have your support, and I'm asking for your vote. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. All the difference all the differences I've outlined today add up to one big difference. My opponent says that September the 11th, in his words, did not change him much at all. And his policies make that clear. He says the war on terror is primarily a law enforcement and intelligence gathering operation. My outlook was changed on September the 11th. A few days after the attacks, I stood where the buildings fell, in Ground Zero. It's a day I'll never forget the workers in hardhats yelling at me at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." I remember a guy grabbed me by the arm, he looked me square in the eye, and he said, "Do not let me down." After that morning, I wake I've wakened up every morning thinking about how to better protect America. I will use every asset at our disposal. I will never relent in defending the security of the American people, whatever it takes. The second clear choice concerns your family's budget. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I pledged to lower taxes for American families. And I kept my word. We doubled the child credit to help mothers and dads raise their children. We reduced the marriage penalty. Listen, I think the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not penalize marriage. We created the lowest bracket of 10 percent, so to help families. We're reduced income taxes for everybody who pays taxes. Now, I want you to remind your friends and neighbors what we have overcome, the obstacles this economy has overcome. You know, the stock market had been in decline for 6 months prior to my arrival. We were headed into a recession. And these corporate scandals which affected the economy we passed tough laws, by the way, and we made it abundantly clear we're not going to tolerate dishonesty in the boardrooms of America. And then we got attacked, and those attacks cost us about a million jobs in the 3 months after September the 11th. But because we cut your taxes, because we encouraged consumption and investment, because we recognized the contributions small business owners make in this country, our economic policies have led us on the path to growth. Our economy has been growing at rates as fast as any in nearly 20 years. We've added 1.9 million new jobs since August of 2003. The national unemployment rate is 5.4 percent. Let me put that in perspective for you That's lower than the average rate of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. Our farm economy is strong. I campaigned here in the caucuses, and I campaigned in 2000, and I've been coming back to your State saying, "I support ethanol." We're supporting ethanol. I said, "I'm going to come back and open up markets so Iowa farm products are all around the world." We've opened up markets. Our farmers are making a good living. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong. Small businesses are flourishing. The homeownership rate is at an alltime high. And the unemployment rate in the State of Iowa is 4.7 percent. Our policies are working, and we're not going to go back to the days of Federal spending and Federal taxes. We have a different point of view on the budget. My opponent has different plans. He's going to take a big chunk out of your budget. Listen, he's promised 2.2 trillion in new spending in this campaign. That's trillion with a "T." Laughter That's a lot even for a Senator from Massachusetts. Laughter And they asked him how he's going to pay for it. And he threw out the same old tired line, "We're going to tax the rich." Well, first of all, when you run up the top two brackets, you're taxing job creators. Do you realize most of the small businesses in America pay individual income taxes because they're either a Subchapter S or a sole proprietorship? Seventy percent of new jobs are created by small businesses. Senator Kerry's plan would tax the job creators of America, and that is bad economic policy. And secondly, by taxing people who have earned over 200,000 or entities that have earned over 200,000, you raise between 600 and 800 billion dollars. It doesn't take much math to figure out that's far short of the 2.2 trillion he's promised. So there's a gap, a gap between what he's promised and how he's going to pay for it. And guess who usually fills the gap? Audience members. We do! The President. You do. The good news is, he's not going to tax you, because we're going to win Iowa and win a great victory. The third clear choice involves the quality of life for our Nation's families. A good education and quality health care are important for our country's families. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations by reforming our public schools. I kept my word. We passed education reform to bring high standards into the classrooms and to make our schools accountable to our parents. We're seeing progress. Math and reading scores are rising. We are closing achievement gaps for minority students all across America. We'll build on these reforms. We'll extend them to our high schools so that no child is left behind in America. We'll make sure health care is available and affordable. We'll expand health savings accounts so small more small businesses can cover their workers and more families can get health care accounts they call their own and manage. In order to make sure our small businesses can afford health care, we ought to allow them to pool together, pool risk so they can afford insurance at the same discount that big companies get. We're going to make sure we take care of the poor and the indigent through community and rural health centers. We'll work hard to make sure every eligible child is enrolled in our Government's low income health insurance program. To make sure health care is available and affordable for you, we will do something about the frivolous lawsuits that are running up the cost of medicine and running good doctors out of practice. I have met too many good doctors who have quit practicing medicine. Some of the saddest tales are those of ob gyns. These lawsuits are running up the cost of premiums to the point where they can't afford to stay in business. So they leave their community. Some of them quit the practice of medicine. And that means there are expectant moms who are desperate desperately worried about whether or not they'll get the health care they need for their child and for themselves. You cannot be pro doctor and pro patient and pro personal injury lawyer at the same time. You have to make a choice. My opponent made his choice, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. I have made my choice. I'm standing with the patients. I'm standing with doctors. I'm standing with small business owners. I'm standing with hospitals. I'm for medical liability reform now. There is a big difference of opinion when it comes to health care between me and my opponent. I remember that debate when he looked right in the camera, and they asked him about his health care plan, and he said, "The Government doesn't have anything to do with it." I could barely contain myself. Laughter The Government has got a lot to do with it. Eight out of ten people end up on a Government program under his health care. Listen, when you make Medicaid more attractive, small businesses will stop providing insurance for their employees because the Government will. And that moves people from private care private insurance to Government insurance. And you know what I know When the Government starts writing the checks, the Government starts making the rules and the Government starts making the rules, the Government starts making your decisions. They ration care they decide what doctors you go to. No, Federal health care is the wrong prescription for health care in America. In all we do, we'll make sure the health decisions are made by doctors and patients, not by officials in Washington, DC. The fourth clear choice in this election involves your retirement. We made a solemn commitment to America's seniors on Social Security and Medicare. When I ran for President 4 years ago, I promised to keep that commitment and improve Medicare by adding prescription drug coverage. I kept my word. You might remember the Medicare issue. People in Washington have been debating Medicare for years, and nothing got done. Well, thanks to working with Senator Grassley and Congressman Nussle, we got the job done for our seniors. Beginning in 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. I remember coming to eastern Iowa during the congressional campaigns in 2002. I said that I understand Iowa's hospitals are not being treated fairly under Medicare. Nussle, you might remember I stood and looked right in the camera. I said, "I'm going to work with Congressman Nussle and Senator Grassley to make sure Iowa's rural hospitals, in particular, are treated fairly." The bill I signed not only helps our seniors but it helps Iowa hospitals. I kept my word. And we will keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors. And I want to remind you what happened in the 2000 campaign. I don't know if it's happened here yet or not, but it certainly happened in 2000, when they made it abundantly clear to people that if I got elected, our seniors were not going to get their Social Security checks. That's the old scare tactics that they like to use. You might remember those ads. As you gather up the vote, I want you to remind people, George W. did get elected, and our seniors did get their checks. I don't care how they put it or how they try to scare you, our seniors will continue to get their checks. And baby boomers like me, I think we're in pretty good shape when it comes to getting the checks when we retire. But we need to worry about our children and our grandchildren when it comes to Social Security. We need to worry about whether or not there will be a Social Security system available for them when they retire. And that's why I think we ought to allow younger workers to take some of their own payroll taxes and set them in a personal savings account, an account that earns a better rate of return, an account that they can call their own. My opponent has taken a different approach on this issue. He said he is going to protect Social Security, but he forgot to tell you he's the only candidate in this race who voted eight times for higher taxes on Social Security benefits. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. You're wondering why you got those taxes on your Social Security benefits there's one reason why, Senator John Kerry. And then when he talks about reforming the system for our youngsters, he had nothing to offer. The job of a President is to confront problems, not pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. In a new term, I'll bring people together to strengthen the Social Security system for a younger generation. And the final clear choice in this election is on the values that are so crucial to keeping our families strong. And here my opponent and I are miles apart. I stand for the appointment of Federal judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. I believe marriage is a sacred commitment, a pillar of our civilization, and I will defend it. This isn't a partisan issue. You know, when Congress passed the Defense of Marriage Act, which defined marriage as a union of a man and a woman, the vast majority of Democrats supported it and President Bill Clinton signed it into law. But Senator Kerry was part of the out of the mainstream minority that voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I believe reasonable people can find common ground on difficult issues. Republicans and Democrats came together and agreed we should ban the brutal practice of partial birth abortion. I proudly signed that bill. But Senator Kerry was part of the out of the mainstream minority that voted against the ban on partial birth abortion. As a matter of fact, he voted against parental notification laws. He voted against the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. I'll continue to reach out to Americans of every belief and move this goodhearted Nation toward a culture of life. I don't know if you remember this in the campaign, but at one point my opponent said you can find the heart and soul of America in Hollywood. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Most families don't look to Hollywood for a source of values. The heart and soul of America is found in communities like Dubuque, Iowa. All of these choices make this one of the most important elections in our history. The security and prosperity of our country is at stake. The health and education for families are important. The retirement of our seniors, the direction of our culture they're all at stake. And the decision is in the best of hands it's in the hands of the American people. I've got a I see a great America coming. I see a hopeful day. One of my favorite quotes I hope it helps capture how I feel about America is what a fellow Texan named Tom Lea wrote. He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It's the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that has gone." In the course of this campaign, my opponent has spent much of the time talking about the day that has gone. I'm talking about the day that is coming. I'm talking about a great day for America. We've been through a lot together in the last nearly 4 years. Because we've done the hard work of climbing the mountain, we can see the valley below. We'll protect our families. We'll build on their prosperity. We'll defend the deepest values. We'll continue to spread liberty and freedom, achieving the peace we all long for. You know, when I campaigned in your State around your State in the caucuses and in the 2000 general election, I made you this pledge I said if I was honored to be elected, I would uphold the honor and the dignity of the office. With your help, with your hard work, I will do so for 4 more years. Thanks for coming. God bless. We're on to victory. Thank you all. October 26, 2004 The President. Thank you all for being here. Laura and I are we're glad you came, and we are glad we came. I'm here to give you some reasons why I think you ought to put me back into office. I'm here to talk about issues that matter to our future. We're going to have we're going to do it a little interesting way today. I've asked some of your fellow citizens to come up and talk about how our policies have affected their lives. And this will perhaps give people a clear view of why I have made some of the decisions I have made. Perhaps the most important reason why people ought to put me back into office is so that Laura will be the First Lady for 4 more years. I'm going to take my jacket off. Okay. Some of you all may relate to this. When I asked her to marry me actually, we had gone I don't know if you know this or not, but we were in seventh grade together in San Jacinto Junior High in Midland, Texas. We became reacquainted are you from Midland? Audience member. Lubbock. The President. Lubbock, Texas, 150 miles south of Midland. Anyway, thank you, welcome. When we became reacquainted, she was a public school librarian. It's fitting we're in a school here, by the way. We want to thank the teachers who work in this school to help every child realize their dreams. Thank you. She said, "Fine, I will marry you" this is after I asked her, of course "only if you make me one promise." I said, "What is the promise?" "Promise me I'll never have to give a political speech." Laughter I, of course, said, "Okay, you've got a deal." She didn't hold me to the promise, thankfully. She's giving a lot of speeches, and when she does, the American people see a warm and compassionate and great First Lady. I want to thank our friend Tommy Thompson. I want to thank him for his service to our country, and I want to thank him for his friendship. Tommy has done a great job in Washington. You trained him well. Laughter He was a wonderful Governor of Wisconsin I knew that when I was looking for a Cabinet Secretary. I gave him a tough assignment, and he's handled it brilliantly. And I want to thank you, Tommy, for your service. Appreciate you. You know, Tommy and I went to Washington to get some things done, and one of the things we had to do was to make sure our seniors had quality health care. Medicine was changing Medicare was not. For example, the Government would pay thousands of dollars for a heart surgery under Medicare but not one dime for the prescription drugs that could prevent the heart surgery from being needed in the first place. And Tommy and I understood that didn't make any sense for our seniors and it didn't make any sense for the taxpayers, so we worked together with both Republicans and Democrats to strengthen Medicare, to keep the promise to our seniors. And beginning in the year 2006, all seniors will be able to get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. I think it's important for you to know that when I say something, I mean it, and I'm going to get the job done. I want to thank thank Congressman Mark Green. I appreciate you coming, Congressman, a fine young Congressman from Wisconsin. He's not from this part of the world, but you'll get to know him, and when you do, you'll like him. He's a good, honest man. I want to thank Jack Voight for being here, the State treasurer of the great State of Wisconsin. Jack, thank you, sir. Good to see you again. And I want to thank the mayor. Madam Mayor, thanks for coming. I'm proud you're here. I appreciate you being here. It means a lot. I want to thank U.S. Senate candidate Tim Michels and his wife, Barbara. You need to put him in the Senate. He's a good man. He's got good values. He'll make you a fine United States Senator. And I'm going to tell you who's going to make you a fine United States Congressman, and that would be Dale Schultz. Appreciate you Schultz. He's working. He's shaking a lot of hands. He's putting up a lot of signs. I know firsthand. See, I'm taking the bus throughout this part of the world. Laughter And I've seen a lot of the signs, and that's a good sign. And I also want to thank Rachel Rachel Schultz, who happens to be the district superintendent of the schools. And I want to thank you for your being in education. I want to thank John Cler and all the folks associated with the high school for letting us come here today. I appreciate you coming. I want to thank the students. Thanks for coming, letting me come. All right. Study more than you watch TV. Laughter And if you're 18, make sure you vote. See, that's what I'm here to do. I'm here to ask people for the vote and for their help. We have a duty in this country to vote. We have a duty in democracy to go to the polls. People need to exercise their right in a free society. And I'm asking you for your help to get people to go to the polls. I know you've done a lot of work in this part of the world. I've seen a lot of signs for me, too, and I appreciate it. But those signs are important, but they don't pull the lever. And so coming down the stretch, I'm here to ask for your help in turning out the vote. And there's no doubt in my mind, with your help, we're going to carry the State of Wisconsin. We've really enjoyed our bus trips through Wisconsin. Today we stopped off and saw John and Connie Turgasen. Audience members. Inaudible The President. Evidently you've heard of them. That's good. Laughter Well, I wonder if they'd reconsider when they saw four buses pull up in their front yard. Laughter But they're dairy farmers. There were four generations of Turgasens right there, making a living off that one farm. It reminds me about how important it is to support our small businesses, our farmers, our ranchers. When you're getting people to go to the polls, remind them of this, that under the Bush administration, the farmers are doing just fine. The income is up, and people are making a living. And that's good for people all across this part of the world. We enjoyed going to that farm, and we enjoyed meeting that great Wisconsin family. You know, we've overcome a lot in this country. I pledged to make this country a more hopeful place, and that means hopeful for everybody. But we've had to overcome a lot in order to make it more hopeful. When you're out rounding up the vote, remind people about what this economy has been through. You know, a hopeful country is one in which people can make a living, people can stay on the farm, people who say to me, "Mr. President, we've been able to support four generations of Turgasens on this farm." But we've been through a lot in this economy. You know, the stock market was in serious decline 6 months prior to my arrival in Washington, DC. And then we had a recession. And then we had some corporate scandals, and that affected our economy. It's now abundantly clear that we're not going to tolerate dishonesty in the boardrooms of America. We expect people to be responsible citizens in this country. And we got attacked. And that attack of September the 11th cost us nearly a million jobs in the 3 months after the attack. We've had some obstacles put in our path. But we acted. I understand that when somebody's got more money in their pocket, they're likely to demand an additional good or a service. And when you demand an additional good or a service in our marketplace, somebody is going to produce it. When somebody produces it, somebody is likely to find a job. The tax relief we passed is working. The tax relief we passed has got this economy growing again. And the facts are clear. We've added 1.9 million jobs in the last 13 months. We're growing at rates as fast as any in nearly 20 years. Our farmers are doing well. Homeownership rate is at an alltime high. The unemployment rate nationally is 5.4 percent. Let me put that in perspective for you 5.4 percent is lower than the average of the 1970s, the 1980s, and the 1990s. The unemployment rate in the State of Wisconsin is 5 percent. We're moving forward, and we're not going to go back to the days of tax and spend. That's not an economic policy that's a way to get in your wallet and grow the size of the Federal Government. So there's more to do. It's one thing to talk about a record, but the only reason to look back is to be able to say to people, "Here's what we're going to do as we move forward." The job of the President is to make sure the entrepreneurial spirit is strong, the environment for small business creation is good, that people have a chance to make a living. So what does it take? One, it means we've got to keep your taxes low. I'm about to talk to some small business owners here who know what it means to pay high taxes and what it means to have their taxes lowered. But taxes are an issue in this campaign. As you travel in your district and travel talking to people, remind people that taxes are an issue. The fellow I'm running against has proposed 2.2 trillion of new Federal spending. That's trillion with a "T." That's a lot. Even for a Senator from Massachusetts, that's a lot. And so they said and you know the legitimate question is, "Fine, you made all these promises how are you going to pay for them?" And he threw out that same old line we've heard almost every campaign "Oh, we're just going to tax the rich." Now, we've heard that before. Let me tell you the two things wrong with that. One is that when you tax the rich in other words, when you're running up the top two income brackets you're going to tax small business owners. Many small businesses pay tax at the individual income tax rate because they're called Subchapter S corporations or sole proprietorships. Those are fancy legal and accounting words which mean they pay income tax at the individual rate. That's just the truth. About 90 percent of all small business pay individual income taxes. So when you hear somebody say, "Oh, we're just going to tax the rich," I want you thinking about the truth. And the truth is they're talking about taxing about 900,000 to a million small businesses. You know what the problem with that is? Seventy percent of new jobs are created by small businesses in America. It makes no sense to be taxing the job creators. And here is the other thing wrong with it. If you promise 2.2 trillion, but your tax plan only raises between 600 and 800 billion, there is a gap between what is promised and what can be delivered. Now, there is a my opponent has a history it's a record. I like to tell people I'm running on my record. He's not running on his he's running from his record. And part of his record in his 20 years as Senator, part of his record is he's voted to raise taxes 98 times. That's a record that's what he's done. I'm not making it up. That's five times every year he's been in the Senate. That's a predictable pattern. And so when you're trying to find out who's going to fill the tax gap, think about predictable patterns. In order to fill that gap, in order to make the difference between what he's promised and what he can deliver, guess who's going to get stuck with the bill? Yes, that's always what happens. We're not going to let him tax you we're not going to let him tax the small businesses, because we're going to carry Wisconsin and win on November the 2d. A couple of other things that I want to talk to you right quick about to make sure this economy continues to grow. First, we will continue with good farm policy. I'm for the MILC program MILC, which is helping our dairy farmers. I'm for the reauthorization of that. Ask your dairy farmers whether that means something to them, and you're going to find out it does. We'll continue to open up markets, opening up markets for agriculture products and manufacturing products and high tech products. They're good for the job creation and the job creators. Listen, we've opened up our market for goods from overseas, and that's good for you as a consumer. Think about how the market works. If you have more products to choose from, you're likely to get that which you want at a better price and higher quality. That's how the market works. So instead of shutting down our market when it comes to trade and hurting our consumers, our strategy is to say to places like China, "You treat us the way we treat you," is to open up markets, is to demand that others are fair to us. And the reason why I do that is because I know we can compete with anybody, anytime, anywhere, so long as the rules are fair. If you want jobs to stay here, we've got to do something about the energy situation. I submitted a plan to the United States Congress 2 years ago that encourages conservation, that encourages the use of ethanol and biodiesel. Think about the idea of being able to say as the President, "The corn crop is up, and we're less dependent." Think about that, that someday it's going to happen. We're going to continue to spend research and development dollars so we can grow our way toward less reliance. We're promoting clean coal technology so that your powerplants can have power. We're going to modernize the electricity grid. We're going to explore for natural gas in environmentally friendly ways. What I'm telling you is this In order to make sure that jobs continue to grow, that people can make a living, this country must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. We're going to talk to a small business manufacturer here. He told me he's had a problem with health care. Small businesses are having trouble affording health care. Most of the uninsured in America work for small businesses. So here's some commonsense ways to help you on health care. Small businesses ought to be able to pool together, pool risk so they can buy insurance at the same discounts that big companies get to do. You know, there needs to be economies of purchase in the marketplace. If you're a stand alone small business, it costs you a lot of money to afford health care. If you're able to pool across jurisdictional boundaries, if you get more people to spread the risk, you're able to get insurance at better prices for your workers. That's a commonsense way of helping small businesses. We'll expand health savings accounts, which are commonsense ways of enabling people to be able to manage their own health care account, low premium, high deductible accounts where you can save tax free. It will help your families. If you change jobs, you can take your health account with you from year to year. If you save money, you can roll over your savings in your health account tax free. It's a way to make sure the decisionmaking is between you and your doctor, not between some insurance person and your doctor. The more you're able to have the more you're involved with your health care decisions, the more likely it is there's a cost discipline in the marketplace. Listen, we'll take care of the needy. We have an obligation in our society to do so. I'm a big believer in community health centers, places where the poor and the indigent can get good primary and preventative care. My pledge, I said in the convention speech and I'm saying all over the country, is that in a new term, we'll make sure every poor county in America has got a community health center to take the pressure off our emergency rooms and our hospitals. But let me tell you another practical way to make sure health care is available and affordable. We must do something about the litigious nature of our society. There's too many lawsuits. Lawsuits are running up the cost of doing business. Lawsuits are running good doctors out of practice. Lawsuits are hurting people who need health care. I have met too many ob gyns around this country that are having to leave their practice because these lawsuits are running up their premiums. They cannot afford to practice medicine. I've met too many women who are deeply concerned about their health care and the health of their child because their local doctor no longer practices. And that's not right for America. If we're interested in our quality of life, we'd better do something about all these lawsuits. You cannot be pro doctor, pro patient, and pro personal injury trial lawyer at the same time. You have to choose in life. My opponent made his choice, and he put a personal injury trial lawyer on the ticket. I have made my choice. I am standing with the Wisconsin docs and patients and small business owners. I am for medical liability reform now. We have a difference of opinion when it comes to health care. I remember the debate when my opponent they asked him about his health care plan, and he actually looked in the camera and said, "The Government has nothing to do with it." You know, I could barely contain myself when he said that. Laughter The Government has a lot to do with his plan, and that's what I want you to understand. His plan is one for example, when you run up Medicaid, run up the eligibility for Medicaid, it provides an incentive for small businesses to not provide insurance for their employees because the Government will. It's estimated some 8 million people will go from private insurance to Government insurance. Eight out of ten people will be signed up to a Government program under his plan. I just strongly disagree. You don't want the Federal Government running your health care. When the Government starts paying, the Government starts deciding. And then the Government rations, and the Government chooses your doctor. It is not the right way to go when it comes to making sure there's quality health care for the people. Let me talk about another issue, and then we're going to talk to our guests. I have made a commitment to our seniors not only to good quality Medicare but to Social Security. And Tommy and I were talking about the 2000 campaign. We were coming down the stretch, and they ran some ads here in this State that said to the seniors of Wisconsin, "If George W. gets elected, you're not going to get your check." I don't know if you remember those. Tommy sure remembered them. Well, I want you to tell your friends and neighbors this George W. did get elected, and the seniors got their checks. And the seniors will continue to get their checks. The Social Security trust, no matter what the politicians say, is in good shape for our seniors. It's going to meet the seniors have nothing to worry about. Every 4 years, the scare tactics come out. I just assure you, you're going to get your checks. And baby boomers like me, we're in pretty good shape when it comes to the Social Security trust. But a President must deal with problems you want a President who confronts problems, not passes them on to future generations and future Presidents. We have a problem with Social Security when it comes to our children and our grandchildren. When the baby boomer generation retires, there is a question as to whether or not the children will have a Social Security accounts available for them unless we think differently. I believe younger workers ought to be allowed to take some of their payroll taxes and set up a personal savings account, a personal savings account that will earn a greater rate of return than the current Social Security trust, an account they call their own, an account the Government cannot take away. Eric Sauey is with us. Eric, you ready to say something? Eric Sauey. Yes, sir. The President. Good. Laughter I hope so. I call him "Mr. President." He's the president of? Mr. Sauey. Seats, Incorporated. The President. Based in? Mr. Sauey. Reedsburg, Wisconsin. The President. What do you do? Mr. Sauey. We manufacture seating for vehicles with wheels or tracks, other than passenger cars. The President. Okay. Laughter Mr. Sauey. Some of the markets that we serve are off highway equipment, semi tractors, commercial turf mowers, firetrucks, delivery vans, many different custom types of seats. The President. Are you making a living? Mr. Sauey. We're making a living. The President. Good. Tell me first of all, I want you to know how are you organized? Mr. Sauey. We're an S corporation. We're a family run, family owned business. We're an S corporation. We're in the process of trying to expand here into Richland Center. Some of the things that we have, from the basic values that we have applause . The President. Sounds like they want you here. Laughter Mr. Sauey. We have some values of a small business that were passed on to me by my father, who helped start this business, and my mother, that we can't take all the profits out of the business. We have to put them back into the business to grow the business, to nurture it. I'm second generation. I hope to pass it the business goes to my kids or nieces and nephews, and we can't do that if we're paying taxes. We need to invest that back into the business for capital, reinvestment, R D. The President. Perfect. Let me so here's the tax relief. Remember all the rhetoric about the tax relief, "only certain people benefit." When you cut the taxes for everybody who pays taxes, you're benefiting small business owners like Subchapter S corporations. Have you hired anybody this year? Mr. Sauey. We've hired a lot of people this year. We're up to about 380 people right now we're looking to hire more. The President. Yes, see, they're hiring. They're expanding. They're growing. One reason why they're doing well, they've got innovative leadership. Isn't that right? Mr. Sauey. Yes, sir. Laughter The President. Another reason why is they've got more money. See, the money is not going to the Federal Government the money is staying with his company, which gives him the optimism and confidence to expand. Seventy percent of new jobs are created by small businesses. Our economic policies recognize that and we say to people like Eric, "Go for it. Expand. Here's some extra money, your money to begin with." And he says he's going to hire. He may come here to Richland Center. And so my opponent says, oh, he's just going to tax the rich. You're looking at the rich. Laughter You're looking at a man who said, "We may come to Richland Center. We may hire new people." They're less likely to expand and to hire new people if the Federal Government takes money from them. That just makes sense. That's just simple economics. Let me ask you something. Do you ever invest? Mr. Sauey. We invest a lot. Every year we invest in excess of 1 1 2 million. This last year we've invested more than 2 million in capital equipment. We are in the process right now of installing a computerized inaudible machine, a computerized inaudible , a 400 ton punch press laughter . The President. That sounded like a big one to me. Laughter You see, good tax policy says to businessowners, "Invest," because you know what investment means? Investment means jobs. And so in our tax policy we said to small business owners that you're able to deduct up to 100,000 for equipment expensing in the year in which you buy it, as opposed to 25,000. And why did we do that? Because we want to encourage Eric to invest. And so he says he buys a 400 ton Mr. Sauey. Punch press. The President. Punch press. Laughter Kind of hard to say if you're from Texas laughter punch press. But guess what, because of the decision he made, two things happened One, his business is more productive it's more likely that he can compete. He's bought a piece of equipment that makes him more competitive. And we live in a competitive world, and the more competitive he is, the more likely it is someone is going to work for his company. The more competitive he is, the more likely it is he's going to expand his business here. But guess what else, because he bought the 400 ton punch press, somebody had to make it. And when somebody makes it, somebody is more likely to find work at the punch press manufacturing business. This economy is moving because people like Eric are confident about the future. He's sitting here in front of all these cameras and these people saying, "I'm going to expand my business." That's what you want to hear. And the question is, which one of the Presidential candidates, one, understands the importance of small businesses and the entrepreneurial spirit, and which one of us has the plans to make sure Eric feels comfortable investing and expanding his business? And I make the case to the people of Wisconsin, it is George W. Bush who understands that. Ready to go, Greeley? Jim Greeley. I'm ready for you, I think. The President. All right. Jim Greeley, small business owner. What do you do? Mr. Greeley. Thank you. The President. Greeley Signs, yes. Mr. Greeley. Yes. The President. Tell us what you do. Mr. Greeley. Well, Mr. President, I have a sign company that I started about 30 years ago. And I'm at the point now where I'm passing it along to my son. But in the last 2 years, we've expanded with a 20,000 square foot addition. We've added new printing equipment so we can print giant posters, such as political posters. If you need any, you know where to look. Laughter The President. It's a little late. You should have gotten your order in early. But anyway. Laughter Mr. Greeley. We've added a laser engraver, and we've added several other such printing equipment The President. So you've been investing. Mr. Greeley. Pardon? The President. You've been investing. Mr. Greeley. I've been investing, and we've been putting our money where our mouth is. We have to. We have to have confidence in the future of America The President. Right. Mr. Greeley. and confidence in the future of this country. The President. See, he's investing 140,000 this year. I hope you didn't mind me saying that. Laughter And he saved 27,000 as a result of the tax relief package, because of the investments. See, good tax policy says to Jim, "If you make a capital investment, there's an incentive to do so." And it's very important for people to understand that the reason we passed tax policy when we did was to help move this economy forward, and the best way to move it forward is to talk is to address the needs of small business owners. If 70 percent of the new jobs in America are created by the Jims of the world, then we ought to encourage him, and we ought to provide incentives for him to expand his business. Did you hire anybody? Are you going to hire anybody? Tell me. Mr. Greeley. Oh, yes, we'll keep hiring. The President. Good. Well, it says here you hired three in 2004. Mr. Greeley. Say again? The President. You hired three people in 2004. Mr. Greeley. Yes, we've hired three in 2004, and we'll hire more because we have plans of continuing to expand. In fact, we have dibs on another acre and a half of land. The President. There you go. Mr. Greeley. We want to keep on The President. See, here's what's happening in America. Small businesses hire 3 people there, 100 here, 50 there, and it's the real vitality of our economy, when you think about it. I want to say something else about small business ownership, two other things. And this relates to our farmers too. You heard both these men say they're thinking about passing their business on to their family members, but our Tax Code discourages that. The Tax Code makes it really hard for somebody the Turgasens were talking about it, how hard it is to pass their dairy farm on to the next generation. You know why? Because this Tax Code of ours taxes a person twice, once when they're living and once when they die. And the death tax is hard on our small business owners and really hard on our farmers. If you're interested in keeping family farms alive, then you need to support me when it comes to getting rid of the death tax forever. If you want there to be a small business applause . Thank you, sir. You did a great job. Mr. Greeley. Did you see the Packer Dallas game? Laughter The President. I saw that, and I know the Wisconsin Badgers are undefeated, you know. And let me tell you what else I know. I know the Packers beat Dallas at Lambeau Field. Who invited you? Laughter Anyway, you know, one of the things we did good tax policy also helps families. And part of our tax plan was to help families be able to better afford life and better enable them to raise their children. Margie Seamans is with us. When people are arguing about this Tax Code, remind them we raised the child credit to 1,000. We reduced the marriage penalty. By the way, there is a I can't imagine a Tax Code that penalizes marriage. The Tax Code ought to encourage marriage. And so what do you do? Margie Seamans. I work at Land's End, and I do payroll and scheduling. The President. Very good company. Yes. And David your husband, David? Mrs. Seamans. Yes. My husband, David, is not employed right now. The President. Right. Mrs. Seamans. He has a back injury that he had in the service. The President. Service, right. Mrs. Seamans. And so he currently stays home right now. The President. You're bringing home the money. Mrs. Seamans. I'm bringing home the money. The President. And children? Mrs. Seamans. I have two children Danielle, 13, and Megan, 11. The President. Fabulous. Teenage years, I remember them fondly. Laughter The tax relief we passed saved this family 1,700 a year. Now that may not sound a lot to people in Washington, DC. It's a lot for this family. Mrs. Seamans. It was a blessing when we received the child tax credit. My husband had outstanding medical bills, and we used those used that money to pay for those. And just having that lower tax from my paycheck each week, it makes a big difference, a noticeable difference. The President. See, here's the fundamental difference in the campaign. By the way, my opponent voted against all this tax relief. It would have cost the average family middle class family 2,000 extra in Federal taxes, and that's the philosophical difference. Who do you want spending your own money? See, we're setting priorities in Washington, and we'll meet those priorities. You're going to hear me talk about a big priority here pretty soon, which is defending the homeland. But I believe this family can spend their money better than the Federal Government can spend their money. Thanks for coming, Margie. I appreciate you being here. Finally, we've got Corey Kanable. Welcome. Corey Kanable. Thank you. Applause The President. You've got quite a following here. Laughter I'll tell you why he's here. He bought a home. You know, one of the greatest things in America is when somebody opens up the door where they live and says, "Welcome to my home. Welcome to my piece of property." Do you realize the homeownership rate is at an all time high under my administration. So when did you buy it? Mr. Kanable. We bought our home in July 2003. The President. Good. What's it like? You like it? Mr. Kanable. Oh, we love it. It's a three bedroom ranch on the west side of town. It's a nice quiet neighborhood most of the town is. It's real comfortable to be in your hometown. My wife, Gretchen, and I both grew up in this area and wanted to come back here and The President. Fantastic. Good. Mr. Kanable. It allowed us to do so. The President. And you were a renter before? Mr. Kanable. We rented 2 years out of the area. And I mean, the American Dream of owning your own home was realized to us because of the tax credit and the interest rate. We couldn't go wrong. The President. Well, this is important for, I think, for the future of this country, is to encourage owner homeownership as well as ownership. We want youngsters being able to own and manage their own Social Security account. We want businesses flourishing and people to own their own small business. And we want people owning their own home. You know why? Because when you own something, you have a vital stake in the future of your country. I like to tell people, no one ever washes a rental car. Laughter Mr. Kanable. Absolutely. The President. So how has it changed your life? If somebody is watching and hears says, "Gosh, I don't know whether I want to buy a home or not," how has it changed your life? Mr. Kanable. Oh, it's great. I mean, you have something of your own, something you've invested in. We've had the privilege of doing some remodeling to it, things that, you know, it would be great to be able to do. We would like to do this. We recently were able to get a FEMA grant to fix our basement it had a water problem. So now we can finish that off. You know, we're looking at new siding, new roofing, and maybe adding a garage on. We're planning on building a deck this spring, things that we just you know, in an apartment, you can't do that. The President. Right, it's your home. Mr. Kanable. That's right. The President. The tax relief saved this family 1,000 this year and last year. So you hear a person say, "Gosh, I'm thinking about adding a garage," you know, "I'm thinking about doing something to my piece of property." Tax relief has helped people realize their dreams. Tax relief is a vital part not only of helping this economy recover, but it's a vital part of enhancing the quality of life of our citizens. And that's why I'm going to keep your taxes low. I've got a couple other things if you've got time, I've got a couple other things on my mind. First, I've been talking about a changing world, and it's important that we know the world is changing. In a changing world, jobs change, the nature of jobs change, the skill sets necessary to fill jobs change. That's why education is so vital. That's why we've got to make sure we get it right. The No Child Left Behind Act is a great piece of legislation because we believe in high standards and accountability. We're challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. We want to make sure the high school diploma means something. We'll expand Pell grants for lower and middle income families so more children are able to start their career with a college diploma. I'm a big believer in the community college system, because community colleges are able to devise curriculum for the jobs which actually exist, to be able to help people get the skills necessary to fill the new jobs which are being created. But in times of change, some things do not change, the values we try to live by, courage and compassion, reverence and integrity. We stand for a culture of life in which every person matters and every being counts. We stand for marriage and families, which are the foundations of our society. And we stand for judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. And on these issues, there is a difference of opinion. My opponent's words on values issues are a little murky laughter but his record is clear. You know, the Congress in the mid nineties voted on what was called the Defense of Marriage Act. It's an act that defined marriage as between a man and a woman. It received big bipartisan support. Republicans voted for it. Democrats voted for it. President Clinton signed the bill into law. My opponent was one of a few out of the mainstream Democrats that voted against the Defense of Marriage Act. He voted against the ban on the brutal practice of partial birth abortion. He has said that the Reagan years were a period of moral darkness. There is a mainstream in American politics, and he sits on the far left bank. He can try to run, but he cannot hide from his record. And finally, I want to talk to you about how to keep the peace. I want to talk to you about the overriding issue in this campaign, which is the security of the American people. See, all we've talked about is really important, but unless we're secure, unless we're able to achieve the peace, we won't be able to achieve a hopeful America. And the people are confronted with a clear choice in this campaign on this issue. Let me tell you what I have learned and what I know about the post September the 11th world. First, that we're fighting against a ruthless enemy that has no conscience, which means you cannot negotiate with them, you cannot appease them, you cannot hope for the best with them. The way to deal with them and protect the American people is to stay on the offense, find them where they hide, defeat them overseas so we do not have to face them here at home. Secondly applause . Thank you. Thank you all. I tell people that if we show uncertainty or weakness during these troubled times, this world of ours will drift toward tragedy. It's not going to happen so long as I'm your President. I understand that we must not show weakness. We must be certain in our resolve. The terrorists must absolutely understand they can't intimidate us they can't force us to not defend our freedom. Second lesson is that when the President says something, he better mean what he says in order to keep this world peaceful. And I meant what I said when I said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty as the terrorists." In other words, this is a different kind of we have a different challenge to defend our country. And I was speaking at that moment in time specifically to the Taliban in Afghanistan. Why was I doing that? Because you might remember, some 3 1 2 years ago, Al Qaida was training in Afghanistan. They were like the parasite, and the host was slowly but surely being overcome by the parasite, it seemed like to me. But there was a kind of a convenience of philosophy. These people are ideologues of hate. They have a backward, dim vision of the world. I want the kids here to understand what life was like in Afghanistan. Young girls could not go to school. There was a grim ideology that expected certain things, particularly out of women. And if the women did not toe the line, they were taken to the public square and whipped and sometimes executed in a sports stadium. These are barbaric people, the Taliban. This is their view of the world and Al Qaida's view of the world. They've hijacked a great religion. They hate what we stand for because we're the opposite. We believe in freedom. We believe people can express their opinion anyway they see fit, that you can worship the Almighty or not worship the Almighty in America and you're equally American. And if you choose to worship the Almighty, you're just as American if you're a Muslim, Jew, or Christian. That's what we believe in our country. And that's the opposite of them. They don't believe that. And so I said, you know, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're equally as guilty." And they just ignored what we said. And we removed the Taliban from power, thanks to a great United States military, and as a result it's important to uphold doctrine when you say it sent a message throughout the world that when America says something, we mean it. When we say we're going to defend ourselves, we mean it. And as a result of the Taliban being removed from power, Al Qaida no longer trains in Afghanistan. As a result of the Taliban no longer being in power, millions of citizens registered to vote and voted in a Presidential election. And the first voter was a 19 year old woman, the first voter in the Afghanistan election. Unbelievable moment. Think about how far that society has come in a brief period of time. You know, I'm confident there were a lot of doubters as to whether or not democracy would take hold in Afghanistan. You can understand why. I mean, who would have ever thought that people that had been subjected to such a brutal life would conceivably want to vote. But they forgot what we know Freedom lurks in everybody's heart. People want to be free in the world. Freedom is on the march, and America is more secure for it. Thirdly, when we see a threat, we must take it seriously before it comes to hurt us. Prior to September the 11th, if we saw a threat, we could deal with it or not deal with it because we felt secure. We felt oceans could protect us. But we learned a different lesson on September the 11th. It's essential the American people and the American President understand that when we see a threat, we must take it seriously. Elsewise, it might come and hurt us. I saw a threat in Saddam Hussein, and the world is better off with Saddam Hussein sitting in a prison cell. And our strategy in Iraq is clear. We'll train Iraqi citizens so they can do the hard work of defending their freedom against the likes of Zarqawi. You know, I've heard the critics say, "Well, if we hadn't been on the offensive, the terrorists wouldn't be as active as they are." Well, Zarqawi was planning in Afghanistan he was in a training camp until we arrived and closed the camp down. Then he moved to Baghdad, where he's beheading people and setting off car bombs. What do these people think Zarqawi would be doing? Do they think he'd be kind of a peaceful small business owner? Laughter He hates America. It is best we defeat Zarqawi in Iraq so he doesn't come here and hurt us. It is best we secure our country by defeating the enemy overseas. And we're training the Iraqis to do the hard work. I remember the debates. He said, "Well, America is suffering all the casualties." That excludes and ignores the casualties being lost by the Iraqi people as they defend their own country. We mourn every single life in America, and we mourn the lives of those brave souls who are defending freedom in Iraq as well. Iraq is going to have elections. Think about how far that country has come in a brief period of time from the days of torture chambers and mass graves, the days of a brutal tyrant. We're better off with America helping to promote liberty around the world. And so we'll get those countries on the path to stability and democracy as quickly as we can. And then our troops will come home with the honor they have earned. I want to thank those who are here who have set such a great example for those who wear the uniform, our veterans. I appreciate your service to our country. I want to thank the military families who are here for your sacrifice. I want to thank those who wear the uniform. We got a great United States military. Applause And I want to assure please be seated, thank you. We've still got a lot a little work left to do. Just a little, then we're heading on the bus to Cuba City. So I want to assure the loved ones of those who wear the uniform that so long as I'm the Commander in Chief, we'll give your loved ones all the support they need to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress and asked for 87 billion of vital funding for our troops in harm's way, and it was important. It was important such an important request that we got great bipartisan support. I want you tell your friends and neighbors of this startling statistic 4 Members of the United States Senate, 4 out of 100, voted to authorize the use of force and then voted against the funding to support our troops in combat 4 people, 2 of whom were my opponent and his runningmate. Think about that voted yes for the authorization but voted no when it came time to support the troops. They asked him why, and he said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, right before I voted against it." Laughter I haven't been in any coffee shops in this part of the world I suspect not a lot of people talk like that. Laughter He's given a lot of explanations since, a lot of them. One of the most interesting ones of all is, he finally said about the 87 billion vote, "The whole thing was a complicated matter." There is nothing complicated about supporting our men and women in harm's way. I believe that liberty has the power to transform societies. It's etched in my very being. Let me help make my case by describing our relationship to Prime Minister Koizumi of Japan. We like him a lot I say, "we" Laura and I do. We've had him to our ranch. He's a good man. I saw him in the U.N. I said, "You know, I'm out on the campaign trail, and I'm telling people about my relationship with you. I hope you don't mind." He said, "Oh, fine, go ahead and talk about it." What I didn't ask him was permission to tell you that Elvis was his favorite singer laughter true. Anyway, so we have got a good relationship with him. And that's I'm sure to some doesn't seem odd. "So what, the President of the United States and the Prime Minister of Japan working together it's happened with other Presidents." That's right, except it wasn't all that long ago that we were at war with the Japanese. Some 60 years ago, Japan was the sworn enemy of the United States of America. There's a generation of Americans still alive today that fought in that war. My dad was one your dads I'm sure somebody here did that very same thing. There's a gentleman right there. Thank you, sir. There's another man. Yes, sir. There's another gentleman. Thank you. Another one well, they're everywhere. Yes, sir, thanks. It makes my point. It wasn't all that long ago that we were at war with the Japanese. They were the bitter enemy of the United States. And after we won that war, Harry S. Truman, President of the United States, believed in the power of liberty to transform an enemy into an ally and worked to build a democracy in Japan. Now, there was a lot of skeptics. You can understand why. Why should we help an enemy? A lot of people's lives were turned upside down as a result of that war with the Japanese, and they weren't interested at all about helping the Japanese. I'm sure there were skeptics saying the enemy couldn't conceivably become a democracy a lot of doubters. There was also people in this country had faith in the ability of liberty to transform societies. As a result of that faith, I sit down at the table with Prime Minister Koizumi, talking about how to keep the peace that we all want. Think about that. Think about what liberty can do to a society. And that's what I want the young to understand, what's taking place in the world today. Someday, an American President will be sitting down with a duly elected leader from Iraq, talking about the peace in the broader Middle East. And our children and our grandchildren will be better off for it. I believe everybody yearns to be free. I believe people in the broader Middle East want to be free. I believe that because freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. So I've come to your good city to ask for the vote and ask for your help. I know why I'm running again. I want to extend prosperity and hope to every corner of the country. I want to promote an ownership society where more and more citizens from all walks of life can say, "I own my home. I own my business." I want people to be able to realize a great tomorrow by making sure this country is safe and secure from an enemy. I know where I want to take us. We've done the hard work together over 3 3 4 years. We've climbed the mountain, and now we can see the valley below, a valley which is hopeful and prosperous and peaceful. And with your help, we will get there together. God bless. Thank you for coming. I appreciate you being here. Thank you all. Thank you, sir. October 25, 2004 The President. Thank you all. Thanks for coming today. Laura and I are so honored so many came out to say hello. You have lifted our spirits. Thank you for being here. It's great to be here in Greeley, Colorado. You know, I am told the last sitting President to visit Greeley was Franklin D. Roosevelt, who came right before he won his second term. With your help, history will be repeated. And that's what we are here to do we're here to ask for your help. We'd like you to get your friends and neighbors to go to the polls. Remind them we have a duty in our democracy to vote. When you get them headed to the polls, tell them if they want a safer America, a stronger America, and a better America, to put me and Dick Cheney back in office. So Laura and I were in the seventh grade together in west Texas. And then we became reacquainted when she she was a public school librarian at the time. I asked her to marry me. She said, "Fine, but make me one promise." I said, "What is that?" She said, "Promise me I'll never have to give a political speech." Laughter I said, "Okay, you've got a deal." Fortunately, she didn't hold me to that promise. She's given a lot of speeches, and when she does, the American people see a strong, compassionate, great First Lady. I am proud of my runningmate, Dick Cheney. Look, I readily concede that he does not have the waviest hair in the race. Laughter But you'll be pleased to know I didn't pick him because of his hairdo. I picked him because of his judgment, his experience. He's getting the job done for the American people. You know, Laura, and I were able to welcome the Giulianis to our ranch in Crawford, Texas, last night. We know him more I know him better than I knew him as mayor. I know him as a person, a compassionate, strong leader. I am proud to have Rudy and Judith Giuliani traveling with us. I'm proud to have your support, Mr. Mayor. And I appreciate your great service to our country. And like the mayor, I recognize that you've got a great Governor in Governor Bill Owens, I want to thank his wife, Frances, and daughter, Monica, and son, Brett, for being with us today. I want to thank Senator Wayne Allard for his great service to the State of Colorado, and his wife, Joan, is with us today. I'm proud to stand with the next Senator from Colorado, Pete Coors. I appreciate Marilyn being here. And when he wins, he'll be taking the place of a fine man in Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell. And I know you're proud of the Congresswoman from this district, Marilyn Musgrave. We're proud you're here, Marilyn. I appreciate Steve being here. I want to thank the Lieutenant Governor. I want to thank all the State and local officials who are here. I appreciate Congressman Bob Schaffer for being here. Congressman, I appreciate working together to make sure this party stays united coming down the stretch. I want to thank Mark Wills, the country and western singer who is here. He likes to sing in a part of the world where the cowboy hats outnumber the ties. I want to thank Kenny Cordova The Olde Rock Band. I'm proud to be up here with a man who can hit that baseball in Todd Helton. We got to know him a little while back we had he and his wife to the White House for dinner. And he can sure play. Laughter I want to thank those who wear the uniform who are with us here today. Thank you for your service. I want to thank the veterans who are here today for having set such a great example. I want to thank the military families who are here today for your sacrifice. But most of all, I want to thank the rest of you for coming. I appreciate what you have done on behalf of our campaign and what you're going to do. Keep putting up the signs, making the phone calls, turning out the vote, and we're going to win a great victory on November the 2d. We're coming down the stretch in the last week of this campaign. I will continue to talk about my vision for a more hopeful America. I am committed to low taxes, spending discipline. I'm committed to a sound energy policy that makes us less dependent on foreign sources of energy. In a new term, we'll continue to work to make sure our farmers and ranchers can make a decent living. In a new term, we'll continue to work to make sure the entrepreneurial spirit in America is strong so small businesses can thrive and succeed. In a new term, we'll stay on the path of reform and results in our schools so no child is left behind in America. In a new term, we'll make sure health care is more affordable and accessible for all our families and small businesses. In a new term, we'll keep the promise of Social Security for our seniors and strengthen the system for our children and our grandchildren. We will protect marriage and family, which are the foundations of our society. And I'll name judges who know the difference between personal opinion and the strict interpretation of the law. And all the progress we hope to make depends on the security of our Nation. We face enemies who hate our country and would do anything to harm us. I'll fight these enemies with every asset of our national power, and we will do our duty and protect the American people. In the last 4 years, we've been through a lot of history. We saw a ruthless, sneak attack on the United States. We learned of heroism on doomed airplanes. We saw the bravery of rescuers running toward danger. We've seen our military bring freedom to the oppressed and justice to our enemies. Our Nation has shown our character to the world. We are proud to be Americans. Now we are nearing the first Presidential election since September the 11th, 2001. The people of the United States will choose the leader of the free world in the middle of a global war. The choice is not only between two candidates it is between two directions in the conduct of the war on terror. Will America return to the defensive, reactive mindset that sought to manage the dangers to our country? Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Or will we fight a real war with the goal of victory? In every critical aspect, in every critical respect, my opponent and I see the war on terror differently, and the Americans need to consider these differences as they make a vital choice. First, I believe that America wins wars by fighting on the offensive. When I saw those images of the fire and death on September the 11th, I made a decision Our country will not sit back and wait for future attacks we will prevent those attacks by going after the enemy. We are waging a global campaign from the mountains of central Asia to the deserts of the Middle East, from the Horn of Africa to the Philippines. And those efforts are succeeding. Since September the 11th, 2001, more than three quarters of Al Qaida's key members and associates have been brought to justice, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. After September the 11th, we set a new direction for American policy and enforced a doctrine that is clear to all "If you supported or harbored terrorists, you are equally guilty of terrorist murder." We destroyed the terror camps that trained thousands of killers in Afghanistan. We removed the Taliban from power. We have persuaded Governments in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to recognize the enemy and to join the fight. We ended the regime of Saddam Hussein, which sponsored terror. America and the world are safer with Saddam Hussein sitting in a prison cell. We sent a clear message to Libya, which has now given up its weapons of mass destruction programs. We have acted through diplomacy and force to shrink the area where the terrorists can freely operate. And that strategy has the terrorists on the run. My opponent has a different view. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He says that fighting terrorists in the Middle East, America has, quote, "created terrorists where they did not exist," end quote. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. This is his argument, that terrorists are somehow less dangerous or fewer in number if America avoids provoking them. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. But this represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the enemy. We are dealing with killers who have made the death of Americans the calling of their lives. If America were not fighting these killers west of Baghdad and in the mountains of Afghanistan and elsewhere, what does Senator Kerry think they would do? Would they be living productive lives of service and charity? Laughter Would the terrorists who behead innocent people on camera just be quiet, peaceful citizens if we had not liberated Iraq? Audience members. No o o! The President. We are fighting these terrorists with our military in Afghanistan and Iraq and beyond so we do not have to face them in the streets of our own cities. America is not to blame for terrorist hatred, and no retreat by America would appease them. We don't create terrorists by fighting them. We defeat the terrorists by fighting them. Our second big difference concerns Iraq. Victory in Iraq is essential to victory in the war on terror. We have a strategy to achieve that victory. The stakes in that country are high. If a terror regime were allowed to reemerge in Iraq, terrorists would again find a home, a source of funding, and vital support they would correctly conclude that free nations do not have the will to defend themselves. As Iraq succeeds as a free society in the heart of the Middle East, an ally in the war on terror, and a model of hopeful reform in a troubled region, the terrorists will suffer a crushing defeat, and every free nation will be more secure. We are still confronting serious violence from determined enemies. Yet, the Iraqi Interim Government, with American and coalition support, is making progress week by week. Along with Iraqi forces, we're on the offensive in Fallujah, north Babil. We've restored Government control in Samarra, Tall Afar, and Najaf. More than 100,000 Iraqi soldiers, police, and border guards are already trained, equipped, and bravely serving their country. More than 200,000 will be in place by the end of next year. An Iraqi independent electoral commission is up and running. Political parties are planning campaigns. A free and fair Iraq elections will be held on schedule this January. The desperate executions of unarmed Iraqi security forces show the evil nature of the terrorists we fight. It proves these terrorists are enemies of the Iraqi people and the American people and everyone who loves freedom. The terrorist insurgents hate our progress, and they fight our progress, but they will not stop our progress. We will stay on the offense against these terrorists, and we will prevail. We will help the Iraqis get on the path to stability and democracy as quickly as possible, and then our troops will return home with the honor they have earned. My opponent has a different view. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. The Senator calls America's missions in Iraq a "mistake," a "diversion," a "colossal error." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And then he says he's the right man to win the war? Audience members. Boo o o! The President. You cannot win a war you do not believe in fighting. On Iraq, my opponent has a strategy of pessimism and retreat. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He's talked about artificial timetables to pull our troops out. He has sent the signal that America's overriding goal in Iraq would be to leave, even if the job is not done. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. That sends the wrong message. It sends the wrong message to Iraqis who need to know that America will not cut and run. That sends the wrong message to the troops of our coalition who need to know that we will honor their sacrifice by completing the mission. My opponent has the wrong strategy for the wrong country at the wrong time. On this vital front of the war on terror, protest is not a policy, retreat is not a strategy, and failure is not an option. As long as I'm the Commander in Chief, America will never retreat in the face of the terrorists. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. Third, American leadership is indispensable to winning the war on terror. Ever since September the 11th, 2001, America has sounded a certain trumpet. We've stated clearly the challenge to civilization. We've rallied many nations to oppose it. More than 90 nations are actively engaged in the war on terror. All 26 nations of NATO have personnel in either Iraq, Afghanistan, or both. NATO has taken leadership of an international force in Afghanistan, the first out of area deployment in the history of our Alliance. Japan has deployed forces in Iraq, the first overseas mission in the history of their democracy. Forces from South Korea are there. America has led. Many have joined. And America and the world are safer. My opponent takes a different approach. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He believes that instead of leading with confidence, America must submit to what he calls a "global test." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I'm not making that up. Laughter I was standing right here when he said it. As far as I can tell, that means our country must get permission from foreign capitals before we act in our own defense. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. As President, I will always work with other countries. I will seek their advice. But there is a world of difference between working with good allies and giving a few reluctant nations veto power over our national security. I will never, never submit our national security decisions to veto of a foreign government. In addition to a "global test," my opponent promises what he calls a "golden age" of diplomacy, to charm critical governments all over the world. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. I don't see much diplomatic skill in Senator Kerry's habit of insulting America's closest friends. He's called the countries serving alongside us in Iraq, quote, "a trumped up coalition of the bribed, the coerced, the bought, and the extorted." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Even last week, my opponent said that we have, quote, "hardly anyone with us in Iraq." That is a deeply offensive way to treat some 30 nations that are in Iraq, and especially the 14 nations that have lost forces in our cause. How can Senator Kerry denigrate the contributions led by the likes of Tony Blair of Great Britain, John Howard of Australia, Silvio Berlusconi of Italy, Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland, and then expect other leaders to stand with America in the future? You cannot expand an alliance by showing contempt for those already in it. In this time of challenge to civilization, America has found strong and responsible allies, and they deserve the respect of all Americans, not the scorn of a politician. Fourth, I believe that America will gain long term security by promoting freedom and hope and democracy in the broader Middle East. Our country needs to look ahead. And 20 years from now, if the Middle East is dominated by dictators and mullahs who build weapons of mass destruction and harbor terrorists, our children and grandchildren will live in a nightmare world of danger. That doesn't have to happen. By taking the side of reformers and democrats in the Middle East, we'll gain allies in the war on terror and isolate the ideology of murder and help defeat the despair and hopelessness that feeds terror. By spreading freedom, by spreading liberty, the world will become a much safer place for future generations. Progress in the broader Middle East toward freedom will not come easily. Yet, that progress is coming faster than many would have said possible. Across a troubled region, we're seeing a movement toward elections, greater rights for women, and open discussion of peaceful reform. The election in Afghanistan this month and the election in Iraq next January will be counted as landmark events in the history of liberty. My opponent looks at things differently. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. He's not only skeptical of democracy in Iraq he has not made democracy a priority for his foreign policy. But what is his long term answer to the threat of terror? Is he content to watch and wait as anger and resentment grow for more decades? Is he content to wait as more and more people are angry and hostile and turn to terrorism? Is he content to wait until radicals without conscience gain the weapons to kill without limit? Ignoring the root causes of terror, turning a blind eye to the oppression and despair of millions may be easier in the short run, but we learned on September the 11th, if violence and fanaticism are not opposed at their source, they will find us where we live. Instead of offering his own agenda for freedom, my opponent complains that we are trying to, quote, "impose democracy on the people of the broader Middle East." Is that what he sees in Afghanistan, unwilling people having democracy forced upon them? We did remove the Taliban by force, but democracy is rising in that country because the Afghan people, like people everywhere, want to live in freedom. No one forced them to register by the millions or to stand in long lines waiting to vote. For many people, that historic election was a day they will never forget. One man in western Kabul arrived to vote at 7 a.m. He said, "I don't want" he said, "I didn't sleep all night. I wanted to be the first in my polling station." My fellow citizens, freedom is on the march, and it is changing the world. We are witnessing big and hopeful events. Yet, my opponent refuses to see them. I believe that people across the Middle East are weary of poverty and oppression. I believe everybody wants to be free. Freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. Our fifth great difference concerns the role of the Presidency. A President has to lead with consistency and strength. In a war, sometimes your tactics will change, but not your principles. Americans have seen how I do my job. Even when you might not agree with me, you know what I believe, where I stand, and what I intend to do. On good days and on bad days, whether the polls are up or down, I am determined to win the war on terror, and I will always support the men and women who do the fighting. My opponent has taken a different approach. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. It's fair to say that consistency has not been his strong point. Laughter Senator Kerry says that we are better off with Saddam Hussein out of power, except when he declares that removing Saddam made us less safe. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Senator Kerry stated in our second debate that he always believed that Saddam Hussein was a threat, except a few questions later, when he said Saddam Hussein was not a threat. Laughter He says he was right when he voted to authorize the use of force against Saddam Hussein, but that I was wrong to use force against Saddam Hussein. Laughter Now my opponent is throwing out the wild claim that he knows where bin Laden was in the fall of 2001 laughter and that our military had a chance to get him in Tora Bora. This is an unjustified and harsh criticism of our military commanders in the field. This is the worst kind of Monday morning quarterbacking, and it is what we've come to expect from Senator Kerry. In fact, our Commander in Afghanistan, General Tommy Franks recently wrote, quote, "The Senator's understanding of events do not square with reality." He was talking about Tora Bora. The General says that American Special Forces were actively involved in the search of terrorists in Tora Bora and that intelligence reports at the time placed bin Laden in any of several countries. Before Senator Kerry got into political difficulty and revised his views, he saw Tora Bora differently. In the fall of 2001, on national TV, Senator Kerry said, quote, "I think we have been doing this pretty effectively, and we should continue to do it that way." At the time, Senator Kerry said about Tora Bora, "I think we've been smart. I think administration leadership has done well, and we are on the right track," end quote. All I can say is that I am George W. Bush, and I approve of that message. Yet, Senator Kerry's record on national security has a far deeper problem than election year flip flopping. On the largest national security issues of our time, he has been consistently and dangerously wrong. When Ronald Reagan was confronting the Soviet Union at the height of the cold war, Senator Kerry said that President Reagan's policy of peace through strength was making America less safe. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And he voted against many of the weapons systems critical to our defense buildup. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong, and President Reagan was right. When former President Bush led a coalition against Saddam Hussein in 1991, Senator Kerry voted against the use of force to liberate Kuwait. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. If his view had prevailed, Saddam Hussein today would dominate the Middle East and possess the world's most dangerous weapons. History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong, and former President Bush was right. In 1994, just one year after the first bombing of the World Trade Center, Senator Kerry proposed massive cuts in America's intelligence budget Audience members. Boo o o! The President. so massive that even his Massachusetts colleague, Ted Kennedy, opposed them. Laughter History has shown that Senator Kerry was wrong and we've got to be fair laughter Senator Kennedy was right. Just last year, American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan needed 87 billion for body armor, hazard pay, vehicles, weapons, and bullets. First, Senator Kerry said, "It would irresponsible to vote against the troops." Then he voted against the troops. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Then he said, "I actually did vote for the 87 billion, before I voted against it." Laughter History has shown that Senator Kerry was right, then wrong laughter then briefly right laughter then wrong again. Laughter Since then, the Senator has said the whole matter about the 87 billion is a complicated matter. There's nothing complicated about supporting our troops in combat. During the last 20 years, in key moments of challenge and decision for America, Senator Kerry has chosen the position of weakness and inaction. With that record, he stands in opposition not just to me but to the great tradition of the Democratic Party. The party of Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman and John Kennedy is rightly remembered for confidence and resolve in times of war and in hours of crisis. Senator Kerry has turned his back on "pay any price" and "bear any burden." And he has replaced those commitments with "wait and see" and "cut and run." Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Many Democrats in this country do not recognize their party anymore. Today I want to speak to every one of them If you believe that America should lead with strength and purpose and confidence in our ideals, I would be honored to have your support, and I ask for your vote. All the differences I outlined today add up to one big difference Senator Kerry says that September the 11th did not change him much at all. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And his policies make that clear. He says the war on terror is primarily a law enforcement and intelligence gathering operation. His top foreign policy adviser says, "The war is just a metaphor, like the war on poverty." The Senator's goal is to go back to the mindset of the 1990s, when terrorism was seen as a nuisance, and we fought with subpoenas and a few cruise missiles. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. There is a major problem with that. The era of calm he longs for was only a shallow illusion of peace. We know that throughout the 1990s, the terrorists were training and plotting against us. They saw our complacency as weakness. And so their plans became more ambitious and their attacks more deadly, until, finally, the Twin Towers became Ground Zero and the Pentagon was in flames. My outlook was changed on September the 11th. A few days after the attacks, I stood with Rudy where the buildings fell. He'll never forget that day, and neither will I. I'll never forget the evil of the enemy and the suffering of our people. I know we're not fighting a metaphor. And I remember the hard workers in hardhats there yelling at the top of their lungs, "Whatever it takes." A fellow grabbed me by the arm, and he said, "Do not let me down." From that day forward, I have gotten up every morning thinking about how to better protect our country. I will never relent in defending America, whatever it takes. In a new term, we will finish the work we have started. We will stand against terror. We will stand for freedom and peace. And on November 2d, my fellow Americans, I ask you stand with me. God bless. Thank you all. February 25, 2004 President Bush. Here's what we're going to do. I will make a statement. The President will make a statement. I will then call upon an American correspondent to ask a question. The President will call upon a Georgian correspondent. We'll have two questions per side. Mr. President, welcome. We followed the revolution that took place in your country very closely. We appreciate your firm commitment to democracy and freedom. We've had a very interesting discussion. I know firsthand that the President will do everything he can to earn the confidence of the people of Georgia by representing their will, by fighting corruption, by working for a system based upon integrity and decency and human rights. I'm impressed by this leader. I'm impressed by his vision. I'm impressed by his courage. I am heartened by the fact that we have such a strong friend, a friend with whom we share values. So Mr. President, welcome to the Oval Office. I appreciate the candid discussion we've had, and I'm proud to call you friend. President Saakashvili. Thank you. It's a great honor, for me and for the people of Georgia, to be here in this Oval Office. It's not our cooperation is very deep. We consider ourselves as very close ally and friend of the United States. We are proud to be friend of the United States. I am speaking on behalf of every Georgian. I have to say that this cooperation, friendship the U.S. helped us when we needed it most, and would like peoples other peoples in Europe will never forget that. But our cooperation is that held friendship is not only about security. It's not only about economy. Primarily it's about our shared values. And we are part of proud part of antiterrorist coalition. We have forces in Iraq. We are cooperating on other issues. We are also working very hard on our improved relations with Russia. I had a very interesting conversation with President Putin in Moscow, and I believe Russia should become our reliable partner and we should improve our relations. But at the same time, we believe that America's help is absolutely essential, and we are grateful. We will stay grateful, and we want to be not only close ally, but we want to be strong ally. Georgia will become stronger. Georgia will become more democratic. Democracy is top priority. Freedom of speech is top priority. Free enterprise, free market is top priority. And I think Georgia can become a role model for the whole region. And this is very important. We need U.S. help in that. Regarding our revolution, it was the proudest moment of my own life and of life of the whole generation. And we are so proud that we were supported in our fight for democracy and for people's right to choose by the United States, and Washington was the first to come and help us. And I'm sure we'll never forget that. Mr. President, I really enjoyed being here at the White House. Thank you very much. President Bush. Thank you. Hold on a second, please. Deb Deb Riechmann, Associated Press , we're going to Q. What do you think about President Bush. Hold on, please. Will somebody translate President Saakashvili. It's in English. President Bush. I understand. I understand. Hold on for a second. The way this is going to work is this. Q. I'm from Georgia. President Bush. I know you are, excuse me. We're going to start with the American press, and then there will be a Georgian press, and then there will be an American press, and then there will be a Georgian press. That's the best way to maintain order, so we don't have everybody yelling at the same time. Deb. Federal Deficit Social Security Q. Mr. President, Chairman Greenspan today suggested trimming Social Security benefits for baby boomers to deal with the rising budget deficit. Do you think this is a good idea, a good way to ease the deficit, which is expected to top over 520 billion this year? President Bush. First of all, let me talk about the short term deficit. The best way to trim the deficit is to follow the budgetary plan I submitted to the United States Congress. We presented a plan that will cut the deficit in half over the next 5 years. I haven't talked to the Chairman or read his comments. I need to see exactly what he said. My position on Social Security benefits is this, that those benefits should not be changed for people at or near retirement. As you know, in the 2000 campaign, I articulated a point of view that we ought to have personal savings accounts for younger workers that would make sure those younger workers receive benefits equal to or greater than that which is expected. I still maintain the same position, but I haven't seen his comments completely. Georgia's Rose Revolution Q. What do you think about Rose Revolution in Georgia? President Bush. The Rose Revolution? It was an historic moment. It was a moment where the people spoke. It was a moment where a Government changed because the people peacefully exercised their voice and raised their voice. And Georgia transitioned to a new Government in an inspiring way. The President and I discussed the ramifications of the Rose Revolution around other parts of the world. The possibility of people taking charge of their own lives and transforming society in a peaceful way is a powerful example to people around the world who long for freedom and long for honest government. And so the Rose Revolution is an inspiring moment of history. And again, I want to congratulate the President and his team for insisting that democracy prevail through peaceful means. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Situation in Haiti Q. Mr. President, in Haiti, the rebels are advancing and a power sharing deal has collapsed. Are you prepared to let President Aristide be overthrown? President Bush. Secretary Powell and I have been in close consultations on this subject. We still hope to be able to achieve a political settlement between the current Government and the rebels. We are watching the situation very carefully. The Secretary of State has been in touch with Canadian officials and French officials and Caribbean officials, all aimed to convince the parties to come to the table and effect a peaceful solution. In terms of our own planning here, I have made it abundantly clear to the Coast Guard that we will turn back any refugee that attempts to reach our shore. And that message needs to be very clear as well to the Haitian people. We will have a robust presence with an effective strategy. And so we encourage, strongly encourage the Haitian people to stay home as we work to reach a peaceful solution to this problem. Q. Do you think it's possible you'll have to send troops there? President Bush. What we are incident to a political settlement, we will encourage the international community to provide a security presence. And that is also being discussed right now. But first things, first, Steve, is to work on a is to work on a political solution. Georgia Russia Relations Q. very complicated problems, with Russian bases problems President Bush. Well, I appreciate you bringing up the Russian bases problem. We expect the Russian Government to honor the Istanbul commitment. The Istanbul commitment made it very clear that Russia would leave those places. We will continue to work with the President and President Putin on that commitment. I also appreciate very much the President's work with the Russians. It's important that relations between Georgia and Russia be positive. I found it a very positive move and a very sophisticated move by the President that his first trip was to Russia, and I encouraged that. I thought it was a smart thing to do. And we will work with Vladimir Putin, with whom I've got a good relationship, to make sure relations are good with Georgia. It's important for the Georgian people to have good and strong and peaceful relations with Russia. There's a lot we can work on. We can work together to fight terror. Hopefully, as the Georgia economy approves improves and I'm confident it will there will be opportunities for business opportunities. So the President has got a good vision and this has been a good trip. I believe in his abilities, and I appreciate his vision. And the people of Georgia will be well served by his leadership. Thank you all. February 23, 2004 Well, that's it? Okay. Laughter Always love to get a short introduction. Hope you all cleaned the room up after last night. Laughter Laura and I really enjoyed that. Thanks for coming. It was a lot of fun. Everybody seemed pretty well behaved. I don't know about Coach, but yes, I know, it's hard to take him out. I'm glad members of my Cabinet are here. Obviously, the more communications we can have about issues that worry you, the easier it is for us to solve problems. Governors are problem solvers, and so is the President. Our jobs are to identify problems and deal with them, and the best way to do so is in the spirit of cooperation. That's sometimes hard in Washington, I readily concede. This is not a town that thrives upon cooperation, like most State capitals. But we'll continue to work hard to help you, because by helping our Governors, we really help our people. That's the job of a President. Yesterday in my toast, I said the war on terror goes on, and it does. I wish I could report otherwise, but that's not a true assessment of the world. We are chasing Al Qaida. We're dealing with rogue nations and proliferation, but the war still goes on. And as a fellow Commander in Chief, it's important for you to know that. And therefore, it's essential that we continue to cooperate on matters of homeland security. We'll have a robust budget in front of the Congress, and we expect it to be passed. Tom, evidently, has met with you all to talk about ways to make sure that the flow of money is expedited from the Federal Government to the State governments to the local governments. And that's essential. And I appreciate that he has convened a conference of Governors and mayors and local responders to make sure that we all do our jobs well. That's the purpose of the meeting. I will tell you, the response to emergency and or threats has been, from my perspective, really good. Governor Easley and Governor Warner of Virginia had to suffer through a devastating act of nature. But the response between the Federal Government and the State governments and the local governments was more seamless than ever, and I want to thank the Governors and their offices of emergency preparedness. Ridge is doing a good job, from my perspective. He's taken on a tough assignment. I see Governor Rendell is nodding his head. You trained him well. But he's taken on a tough assignment, to bring together diverse agencies under one roof and have it function smoothly not only here in Washington but in the field. And we'll continue to work and make sure that the Office of Homeland Security enables you to do your job better. There's talk about the PATRIOT Act. Let me just tell you it needs to be renewed, and I'll tell you why. Prior to the PATRIOT Act, the CIA and the FBI couldn't communicate on matters of intelligence. And yet, we're fighting a war against individuals and killers that can hide in our communities, hide in dark parts of the world, hide in caves, and we need to be able to communicate. It makes no sense not to have the tools available to chase these terrorists down. So you'll see me actively pursuing renewal of the PATRIOT Act, so not only can we do our job, the Federal Government, but people in the State and local level can too do so as well. The Joint Terrorism Task Force in your community require cooperation interagency cooperation. It's essential they have the tools necessary to find these people and bring them to justice. That is our solemn call in this, the beginning of the 21st century. After all, the most important job of anybody in office is to protect the people of our country, which means we got to stay on the offense when it comes to dealing with Al Qaida, and we got to be wise about dealing with threats before they become imminent or fully materialize. That's the to me, those are the lessons of September the 11th, 2001. It changed the calculation as to how you analyze and deal with threat. We are on the hunt for Al Qaida. You just got to know that there's a lot of brave people searching them out. And I view the hunt for Al Qaida as part of the war on terror. And it requires all assets, intelligence assets and military assets, to chase them down and bring them to justice. And we're doing pretty good better than pretty good. If Al Qaida were a corporation, middle management has been brought to justice. And that's important for you to know. We can take comfort about the progress we're making. But we've got a lot more to do, and so we'll just stay on the hunt here in out of Washington, DC. As you know, I laid out some doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist." And it's very important for the administration to follow through when they say something. It makes diplomacy a little easier when your word means something, and in Al Qaida, our word meant something. The Taliban is no longer in power. We've still got work there to do, but the country is now more free than ever before. You ought to see the movie "Osama." It's an interesting movie. It talks about what it was like to be a woman in Afghanistan during the Taliban era. It will give you a perspective about what it means to be a Governor in a nation which is willing to sacrifice not only for its own security but for the freedom of others. When you hear talk about being a liberator, that movie will bring home what it means to be liberated from the clutches of barbarism. A lot of my foreign policy is driven by the fact that I truly believe that freedom is a gift from the Almighty to every person and that America has a responsibility to take a lead in the world, to help people be free. And we're making progress in Afghanistan. We really are. Just look at the fact that young girls are now going to school for the first time in a long period of time. Secretary Rumsfeld's wife and Karen Hughes and Margaret Spellings, who is my Domestic Policy Adviser they're on a plane right now heading to Afghanistan to continue the progress toward a more free society. And in Iraq, obviously, I made a tough choice. But my attitude is, is that the lessons of September the 11th mean that we must be clear eyed and realistic and deal with threats before they fully materialize. I looked at the intelligence and came to the conclusion that Saddam was a threat. The Congress looked at the same intelligence, and it came to the conclusion that Saddam Hussein was a threat. The United Nations Security Council looked at the intelligence, and it concluded that Saddam Hussein was a threat. My predecessor and his administration looked at the same intelligence and concluded that Saddam Hussein was a threat, and that's why Congress passed a resolved to remove Saddam from power, that regime change was a was policy for the Government. And there's a reason why not only did the intelligence say that he was a threat, his actions said he was a threat. He had used weapons of mass destruction on his own people. He hid weapons of mass destruction from inspectors. In other words, he wouldn't be open. The United Nations Security Council, at my request, took a look at the issue one last time and unanimously voted to have Saddam reveal, disclose, and destroy weapons of mass destruction and or weapons of mass destruction programs and, if not, face serious consequences. September the 11th affected my way of thinking when it came to the security of the country. We saw a danger, and so I gave him an ultimatum. The world, really, gave him an ultimatum. And he refused. And rather than take the word of a madman whose actions had proven unworthy of leadership, we acted, and we removed him. And the world is better off for it, in my judgment. It is essential we succeed in Iraq, just like it's essential we succeed in Afghanistan. A free Iraq is an historic opportunity to help change the world. And I want to thank the Governors for going to Iraq. I want to thank you for taking the risk to go and to say thanks to the troops on the ground, whether they be your Guard's troops or reservists or whether they be active duty personnel. We can debate all day long about whether or not I made the right decision, but what is not in question is the bravery and skill of our troops. And I want to thank you for your support support for people who are serving a cause greater than themselves, people who are willing to sacrifice not only for our own security but people who when, by and large, when you talk to them, understand that the long term consequences of a free Iraq will make us more secure. Some of the stories from Iraq are amazing stories. Just ask your Governors to account for what they saw and heard. It's important for you to know that we fully recognize there needs to be certainty in troop rotation, that we're asking families and troops to go serve the country, and there needs to be a certain timeframe. It's important for you to know that our troops will get the best equipment and best possible training. I went to Fort Polk in Louisiana, and they showed me some of the training missions that our Guard units are going through, particularly the Guard unit out of Arkansas Huckabee. And the training is very good. It is intense. It is realistic. It is preparing these souls for duty. And again, I want to thank you, as Commander in Chief, for understanding the mission. See, the danger is, is that the Iraqi people think we'll cut and run. That's what they're worried about. I think if you ask the Governors, they'll tell you they heard that same sentiment. We're not going to cut and run. We've got to make it clear we're there to succeed, and we will. And they're making progress on the ground. I don't think it's all that bad that people are arguing about the nature of government. It's a pretty good sign. We argue about government all the time here. As a matter of fact, later on this year, we'll be having a pretty good argument about government. Laughter But it's a good sign in Iraq. That's part of the process of heading for a society in which minority rights are recognized and human dignity is paramount. Again, I'll repeat to you, I view this as an historic moment. I truly believe that a free Iraq is going to change the world for the better. I had a dinner with Koizumi Prime Minister Koizumi in Tokyo, and we were eating Kobe beef, which is quite good, I might add. And we were talking about, of all things, North Korea, how best, as friends, to deal with North Korea. It dawned on me in the midst of that conversation, what would it have been like if we'd blown the peace with Japan. Would I have ever or any American President ever been sitting down with a Prime Minister talking about how to deal with the current threat, for the common good? During the course of the conversation, I also realized that 50 years from now, when we get it right in Iraq, some American President will be sitting down with the leader of Iraq, talking about the common good, how to maintain the peace, how to create a more hopeful society. This is an historic opportunity, and this country will not flinch from the hard duty ahead of us. At home, obviously, the economy and jobs are on my mind. I know they're on yours as well. I'm pleased that the economy is growing 5.6 percent unemployment is a good national number. It's not good enough, but it's a good number, particularly since what we've been through, which has been a recession, an emergency, and corporate scandal and war. And yet, the economy is growing, which is a good sign. My view of government is to create an environment that is good for the entrepreneur, that encourages capital formation, particularly among small businesses. The tax relief we passed not only put more money into the pockets of individuals, which I believe is good when you're trying to come out of a recession, but it also helps small businesses. Remember, most small businesses in your States are sole proprietorships or Subchapter S corporations. That's a fact, and when you cut income taxes all taxes, not a few but all you're providing additional capital for Subchapter S and sole proprietorships. And if you're worried about job growth, it seems like it makes sense to give a little fuel to those who create jobs, the small business sector. So I'll vigorously defend the permanency of the tax cuts, not only for the sake of the economy but for the sake of the entrepreneurial spirit, which is important in your States. It's important that people have got incentive to create jobs. Not only is it good for those people looking for work, it's good for the soul of the country for people to own something. We want us to be an ownership society in America. There's more to do. We need an energy bill. We'll try to get one out of the Congress here. We need tort reform, it seems like to me. We need tort reform for class action we need tort reform for asbestos. We need medical national medical liability reform in order to help control the rising cost of health care, associated health care plans. I hope you support these. These are opportunities for small businesses to pool risk in order to better control the cost of health. That's where the focus ought to be, how best to address the rising cost of health care. And this administration will continue to do so for the sake of jobs less regulations, obviously. We won't back off our desire to open up markets for U.S. products farm products, ranch products, manufacturing products. It's pretty easy to trade into America. What's hard is for Americans to trade into other countries. And so it's important for the administration to continue to focus on trade and the benefits of trade here at home. And I mentioned the permanency of the tax cuts. It's very important for people who are planning for the future to have wonder about tax relief, whether it will be there. It's essential that there be certainty in the Tax Code. We also recognize that these are changing times. The economy is changing. People go to work in different ways. And therefore, the policy ought to reflect that. The policy ought to reflect it through health care, where people have got more control over their health care decisions. Health savings accounts are one such way to do that. The education system is vital. However, as the economy changes, people have got to be prepared to work in the changing economy. I'm going to vigorously defend No Child Left Behind because I know in my heart of hearts it's the absolute right role for the Federal Government to provide money but insist upon results, to say for the first time, "Would you please show us whether or not the children are learning to read and write and add and subtract." And if not, there will be special help to make sure they do. And if so, there will be ample praise. You design the accountability. I know Rod talked to you about flexibility and how we get to the numbers, which is good. Accountability isn't meant to punish anybody. Accountability systems are meant to help determine whether curriculum are working, whether or not the strategy is working, and whether or not people are being just shuffled through from grade to grade without concern as to whether or not they can read or write. That's what this is all about, and I look forward to working with you to make sure the system works well. And I just can assure you this is there will be a vigorous defense of what I think is the one of the most constructive reforms in education policy at the Federal Government ever. We have put out some policies to encourage reading and math, a program for high school students who are falling behind, additional money for advanced placement for low income schools, increasing larger Pell grants for students who prepare for college by taking more rigorous courses. And of course, I've always felt that the community college system provides a great opportunity for job training. Elaine will talk about that to you. Community colleges are available, affordable they're flexible. We don't need to be training 500 hairdressers for 50 jobs which exist. The system ought to be designed toward meeting the demand of your employers, and a good community college system will make it much easier for Governors and mayors to attract jobs to your communities. And I know a lot of you have used your community college system wisely. Governor Napolitano I was in Arizona, went to the Mesa Community College System. It's a fine community college system. One of the interesting stories there, a lady who worked for 15 years as a graphic design artist, and she went to the community college system to help get the skills necessary to become a viable employee in the high tech world. And her starting pay I believe it's called Cable One was higher than her 15th year as a graphic artist because she took time, with Government help I think a Pell grant in her case to become reeducated. So we've got money in our budget to help invigorate the community college system. Another issue that I think we need to work on I know we need to work on is welfare. They need to reauthorize welfare. I hope the Congress will reauthorize welfare. Welfare reform had worked. You need to have certainty as you plan your on how to help people become less dependent on government, and we need a welfare reform bill. And we'll push it here in Washington. And finally, the Faith Based Initiative I want to talk a little bit about that. My attitude is, if a program works, let's use it. If a program can help save somebody's life, it seems like to me that program ought to be allowed to access monies aimed at helping people help themselves. And yet, that's not the way it was here in Washington. Faith based programs were discriminated against. There was a process argument, and Governors are results oriented people, and so am I. And it seems like to me, you ought have the flexibility and people at your grassroots level ought to have the flexibility to access taxpayers' money if they're able to meet common objectives. Now and so well, I couldn't get the bill out of the Congress, so I just signed an Executive order which opened up Federal grant money to faith based groups on a competitive basis. We're also making sure that our bureaucracies don't say to faith based groups, "You can't be a faith based group." If faith is part of being an effective program, it doesn't make sense to say to somebody, you can't practice your faith. And so we recognize, here in Washington, faith based programs are a two way street one, there's a Federal interface, and two, that sometimes can be frightening to people of faith. And by the way, I'm talking about all faiths. This isn't just a single faith. It's Christian, Jewish, Muslim faiths, all of which exist because they've heard the universal admonition to love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. And so I want to applaud those of you who have set up faith based offices and encourage you, if you haven't, to do so. There is a lot of Federal money available to effective providers of social services. One such program is going to be the 100 million drug treatment programs, where now vouchers can be issued to people where they can choose where they go, whether it be kind of a clinical program or a program designed to help change somebody's heart. By the way, if your heart gets changed, it's a lot easier to quit drinking. I know. And so it's so this is an opportunity that I think is a viable opportunity for Governors and States to really help people. And that's why we're in office, isn't it, is to do the best applause . So regardless of your party, I hope you have this sense of optimism I do. You see the people in your States we are lucky to be leaders in such a fabulous country. We really are good, honest, decent, honorable people. We've overcome a lot. There's more to do. There's a lot we can do together. So thanks for coming by the White House. That's my pledge. This is going to be a year in which a lot of people are probably going to think nothing can get done, right, because we're all out campaigning. Well, that's not my attitude. I fully understand it's going to be the year of the sharp elbow and the quick tongue. But my pledge to you is, we'll continue to work with you. You've got what you you've got to do what you've got to do in your home States, in terms of politics. But surely we can shuffle that aside sometimes and focus on our people, do what you were elected to do and what I was elected to do to make this country hopeful. So thanks for coming by. I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions. You're out of here. February 23, 2004 Thank you all very much. It is always an honor to welcome fellow Governors to Washington, DC. I'm a proud former member of the RGA. And tonight we're proud to welcome the newest members of this growing organization, Olene, Ernie, Haley, and Arnold. The Governor of California is new to politics, so he's still getting used to all the cameras and lights. Laughter I used to think the coolest Governor was from Florida. Laughter The most distinguished former member of the RGA is a predecessor of Governor Schwarzenegger and a predecessor of mine. President Ronald Reagan had his 93d birthday this month, and tonight we want Nancy and his family to know we are thinking of this great American. Ronald Reagan's leadership revived America's economy, renewed America's strength, and lifted America's confidence. And that spirit of optimism and faith in fundamental American values is the spirit we will carry to victory in November of 2004. I married really well. Laughter I am so honored I appreciate you coming tonight, Laura. She's a great First Lady for our country. I'm really proud of the job she's doing. I want to thank my friend Bob Taft for being the chairman of this august group. I appreciate Kenny Guinn from Nevada for being the vice chairman. I thank Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts for hosting this reception. I want to thank all the other Republican Governors who are here. I'm proud to call you friend. I want to thank all of you who are here to support these Governors. They're making a significant difference in their States. They bring such optimism and hope. I appreciate the members of my Cabinet who are here. I also want to acknowledge a man who is not here. Vice President Dick Cheney spent the day campaigning in Minneapolis and Wichita, but he's recently completed another important assignment. Once again I put him in charge of my Vice Presidential search committee. Laughter He tells me he's reviewed all the candidates, and he's come back with the same recommendation as last time. Laughter In fact, I made the choice myself, after I had taken the measure of this man. They don't come any better, and I am proud to have Dick Cheney by my side. We meet during the Presidential primary season. We're witnessing a clear trend. It looks like we have a winner in the Republican primaries. Laughter The other party's nomination battle is still playing out. The candidates are an interesting group with diverse opinions For tax cuts and against them for NAFTA and against NAFTA for the PATRIOT Act and against the PATRIOT Act in favor of liberating Iraq and opposed to it. And that's just one Senator from Massachusetts. The other party is still not finished selecting its nominee. Yet this much is already certain Come November, the voters are going to have a very clear choice. It's a choice between keeping the tax relief that is moving the economy forward or putting the burden of higher taxes back on the American people. It is a choice between an America that leads the world with strength and confidence or an America that is uncertain in the face of danger. The American people will decide between two visions of Government, a Government that encourages ownership and opportunity and responsibility or a Government that takes your money and makes your choices. I will set these alternatives squarely before the American people in a spirited campaign. I look forward to the contest. We have a record of historic achievement. And most important, we have a positive vision for the years ahead, for winning the war against terror, for extending peace and freedom and creating jobs and opportunity here at home. We'll leave no doubt where we stand, and we will win our second term in November. The last 3 years have brought serious challenges. We've given serious answers and the strong leadership these times of extraordinary change demand. We came to office with an economy heading into recession. We delivered historic tax relief, and the consumer spending and investment that resulted helped lift our economy back to growth so that people are getting hired again. At a time when competition is not just across town but across borders and continents, America's productive workers have made this economy the fastest growing of any major industrialized nation. We had to confront corporate crimes that cost people jobs and savings, so we passed the strongest corporate reforms since Franklin Roosevelt and made it clear that we will not tolerate dishonesty in the boardrooms of America. We saw war and grief arrive on a quiet September morning, and from that day to this, we have pursued terrorists across the world. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. There is no cave or hole deep enough to hide them. We confronted the dangers of state sponsored terror and the spread of weapons of mass destruction. We have used the power of this country to end forever two of the most violent and dangerous regimes on Earth. More than 50 million people in Afghanistan and Iraq are reclaiming the rights and dignity of free men and women, and America has been proud, once again, to lead the armies of liberation. When Dick Cheney and I came to Washington, we found a military that was underfunded and underappreciated, so we increased the defense budget to give our men and women the tools and training they need to win the war on terror. And today, no one in the world can question the skill, the strength, and the spirit of the United States military. We learned that on September the 11th, our homeland is no longer protected by vast oceans, so we reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to safeguard the ports and borders and to better protect the American people. When we came to office, people in this city had gotten used to gridlock. Old problems were used to score points. Old problems were politicized, debated, and just passed on from year to year. We didn't come here to this Nation's Capital to do things the Washington way. We chose to lead and to get things done. We passed major reforms to raise the standards of public schools. We passed reforms in Medicare to give prescription drugs and choice to our seniors. We're showing that with big goals and clear principles, you can get past old differences and make progress for all of the American citizens. It's the President's job to confront problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. It's the President's job to seize opportunities and not let them slip away. A President needs to step up and make the hard decisions and keep his commitments, and that is how I will continue to lead our country. Great events will turn on this election. The man who sits in the Oval Office will set the course of the war on terror and the direction of our economy. The security and prosperity of America are at stake. Our course is clear. In the next 4 years, we'll keep our enemies on the run and extend the frontiers of liberty. In the next 4 years, we'll help more Americans to find that there are opportunities in a changing economy. In the next 4 years, we will stand for the values that make us a good and decent country. Our opponents have not offered much in the way of strategies to win the war or policies to expand our economy. So far, all we hear is a lot of old bitterness and partisan anger. Anger is not an agenda for the future of America. We're taking on the big issues with strength and resolve and determination, and we stand ready to lead this Nation for the next 4 years. A big issue for every family in America is the Federal tax burden. With the largest tax relief since Ronald Reagan was President, we have left more money in the hands of those who earned it. By saving and spending and investing and to help create new jobs, the American people have used their money far better than the Federal Government would have. Our opponents have their own plan for these tax cuts. They plan to take them away. They will use that money to expand the Federal Government. I have a better idea. To keep this economy growing, we will have fiscal discipline in Washington, DC. To keep this economy going, the tax cuts must be permanent. We must do more to keep this economy growing. We need to protect small business owners and employees from frivolous lawsuits and needless regulation. We need to control the costs of health care by passing medical liability reform. No one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. We need to pass sound energy legislation to modernize our electricity system and to make America less dependent on foreign sources of oil. Our opponents talk about job creation, but they're against every one of these job creating measures. Empty talk about jobs won't get anybody hired. The way to create jobs is our pro growth, pro entrepreneur, pro small business owner agenda. This economy of ours is going through a time of challenge and change. In the new economy, many workers change jobs several times or start their own businesses or work out of their homes as contractors. They often don't have pensions or health care through their jobs. Many have had to learn new skills. It's our responsibility to help people gain the skills and security to make a good living and to look forward to their retirement. All skills start with education. My administration has put education at the top of the agenda. We passed the No Child Left Behind Act, a good law that is bringing higher standards and accountability to every public school in America. We have a plan to help high school students who fall behind in reading and math. We have a plan to help community colleges train workers for the industries that are creating the most new jobs. We are strongly committed to education because we believe everyone in America should have a chance to learn and to succeed and to realize the great promise of our country. My administration understands the importance of ownership in our society. We've set a great goal We want every worker in America to become a saver and an owner. And we have an agenda to meet this goal. We'll help more people of every background to own their homes and build their own savings. We'll encourage more people to own their own small businesses. We'll help more people to own their own health care plans. We want younger workers to own and manage their own retirement under Social Security, so that one day every worker can have the security of a personal account. When people have solid assets to call their own, they gain independence and security and dignity and more control over their future. I believe in private property so much, I want everyone in America to have some. On issue after issue, the American people have a clear choice. Our opponents are against personal retirement accounts, against putting patients in charge of Medicare, against tax relief. They seem to be against every idea that gives Americans more authority and more choices and more control over their own lives. We'll hear them make a lot of promises over the next eight months, and listen closely, because there's a theme. Every promise will increase the power of politicians and bureaucrats over your income, over your retirement, over your health care, and over your life. It's the same old Washington mindset. They'll give the orders, and you'll pay the bills. I've got news for them. America has gone beyond that way of thinking, and we're not going back. I trust the people, not Washington politicians, to make the best decisions for their own money, their own health, their own retirement, and their own lives. Our future also depends on America's leadership in this world. The momentum of freedom in our time is strong, but we still face serious challenges. Al Qaida is wounded but not broken. Terrorists are testing our will in Afghanistan and Iraq. Regimes in North Korea and Iran are challenging the peace. The actions we take and the decisions we make in this decade will have consequences far into this century. If America shows weakness and uncertainty, the world will drift toward tragedy. That will not happen on my watch. This Nation is strong and confident in the cause of freedom, and no friend or enemy today doubts the word of the United States. America and our allies gave an ultimatum to the terror regime in Afghanistan. The Taliban chose defiance, and the Taliban are no longer in power. America and our allies gave an ultimatum to the terror regime in Iraq. The dictator chose defiance, and now the dictator sits in a prison cell. September the 11th, 2001, taught a lesson I have not forgotten. America must confront threats before they fully materialize. In Iraq, my administration looked at the intelligence and saw a danger. Members of Congress looked at the intelligence, and they saw a danger. The United Nations Security Council looked at the intelligence, and it saw a danger. The previous administration and Congress looked at the intelligence and made regime change in Iraq the policy of our country. We all knew Saddam's history well. He waged aggressive wars against neighboring countries and aspired to dominate the Middle East. He cultivated ties to terrorists. He built weapons of mass destruction. He hid those weapons. He used chemical weapons against thousands of Iraqis and Iranians. In 2002, the United Nations Security Council yet again demanded a full accounting of Saddam Hussein's weapons programs. As he had for over a decade, Sad dam Hussein refused to comply. So we had a choice to make Either take the word of a madman, or take action to defend America and the world. Faced with that choice, I will defend America every time. Others would have chosen differently. They now agree that the world is better off with Saddam out of power. They just didn't support removing Saddam from power. Laughter Maybe they were hoping he'd lose the next Iraqi election. Laughter We showed the dictator and a watching world that we mean what we say. Because our coalition acted, Saddam's torture chambers are closed. Because we acted, the Middle East is more peaceful. Because we acted, Iraq's weapons programs are ended forever. Because we acted, nations like Libya have gotten the message and renounced their weapons programs. Because we acted, an example of democracy is rising at the heart of the Middle East. Because we acted, the world is more free, and America is more secure. We still face thugs and terrorists in Iraq who would rather go on killing the innocent than accept the advance of liberty. They know that a free Iraq would be a major defeat in the cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of America and the civilized world. They don't know us very well. America will never be intimidated by thugs and assassins. We're aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we do not have to face them in our own country. We're calling other nations to help Iraq build a free society, which will make us all safer. We're standing with the Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward self government. These aren't easy tasks, but they're essential tasks. We will finish what we have begun, and we'll win this important victory in the war on terror. On national security, Americans have the clearest possible choice. Our opponents say they approve of bold action in the world but only if no other government disagrees. I'm all for united action, and so are the 34 coalition partners we have in Iraq right now. But America must never outsource America's national security decisions to the leaders of other governments. Some of our opponents are skeptical that the war on terror is really a war at all. They view terrorism more as a crime, a problem to be solved with law enforcement and indictments. Our Nation followed that approach after the World Trade Center was bombed in 1993. The matter was handled in the courts and thought to be settled. But the terrorists were still training in Afghanistan, plotting in other nations, and drawing up more ambitious plans. After the chaos and carnage of September the 11th, it is not enough to serve our enemies with legal papers. With those attacks, the terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States, and war is what they got. The men and women who are fighting this war and who have seen the enemy understand the stakes. Last year, in a letter home from the Iraqi theater, a Navy Corpsman named Lonnie Lewis wrote this "We have to remind ourselves of what this country stands for, life, liberty, and justice for all. In order to maintain those rights, we have to stop the threat of terrorism." Corpsman Lewis' letter concludes, "My family is first. My country is where they live. I will defend it." This is the caliber of the people who are defending America. We are counting on them. The people of Iraq and people across the Middle East are depending on them. And I assure you, ladies and gentlemen, the cause of freedom is in good hands. This Nation is prosperous and strong, yet we need to remember the sources of America's greatness. We're strong because we love freedom. America has a special charge to keep, because we are freedom's home and defender. We believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. We believe that freedom is the future of every nation, and we know that freedom is not America's gift to the world. It is the Almighty God's gift to every man and woman in this world. We also know that the greatest strength of this country lies in the hearts and souls of our citizens. We're strong because of the values we try to live by, courage and compassion, reverence and integrity. We're strong because of the institutions that help to give us direction and purpose, families and schools and religious congregations. These values and institutions are fundamental to our lives, and they deserve the respect of our Government. We stand for the fair treatment of faith based groups so they can receive Federal support for their works of compassion and healing. We will not stand for Government discrimination against people of faith. We stand for welfare reforms that require work and strengthen marriage, which have helped millions of Americans find independence and dignity. We will not stand for any attempt to weaken those reforms and send people back into lives of dependence. We stand for a culture of life in which every person counts and every person matters. We will not stand for the treatment of any life as a commodity to be experimented upon or exploited or cloned. We stand for the confirmation of judges who strictly and faithfully interpret the law. We will not stand for judges who undermine democracy by legislating from the bench and try to remake the culture by court order. And we stand for a culture of responsibility in America. We're changing the culture of America from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and, "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands we're responsible for the decisions we make. If you're fortunate enough to be a mother or a father, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're concerned about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in this new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. For all Americans, these years in our history will always stand apart. There are quiet times in the life of a nation when little is expected of leaders. This is not one of those times. You and I are living in a period when the stakes are high and the challenges are difficult, the choices are clear, and resolve is needed. None of us will ever forget that week when one era ended and another began. On September the 14th, 2001, I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers. I remember a lot that day. Workers in hardhats were shouting, "Whatever it takes." One fellow pointed at me and said, "Don't let me down." As we all did that day, these men and women searching through the rubble took it personally. I took it personally. I've a responsibility that goes on. I will never relent in bringing justice to our enemies. I will defend America, whatever it takes. In these times I've also been witness to the character of this Nation. Not so long ago, some had their doubts about the American character, our capacity to meet serious challenges, to serve a cause greater than self interest. But Americans have given their answer. I've seen the unselfish courage of our troops. I've seen the heroism of Americans in the face of danger. I've seen the spirit of service and compassion renewed in our country. We've all seen our Nation unite in common purpose when it mattered most. We will need all of these qualities for the work ahead. We have a war to win, and the world is counting on us to lead the cause of freedom. We have a duty to spread compassion and opportunity to every part of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for the United States of America, the best days lie ahead. God bless. Thank you all. February 22, 2004 Good evening. Welcome to the White House. Laura and I are honored to host so many of our friends and new acquaintances. The Nation's Governors were the guests at our first official state dinner almost 3 years ago today. It's great to see so many of those same Governors with us tonight. It's kind of like being with members of your family. Right, Jeb? Laughter I appreciate the fact that the Vice President is with us. I oftentimes say Dick Cheney is the finest Vice President our country has ever had. Mother always says, "Wait a minute." Laughter I want to thank the former Governors who are in my Cabinet, Tommy Thompson and John Ashcroft, Tom Ridge, who is not with us tonight, and the newest member of my Cabinet, Mike Leavitt. I want to welcome the Nation's new Governors, Barbour and Fletcher, Kernan, Blanco, Walker, Tulafono, and Schwarzenegger. Laughter Last time I was with Governor Schwarzenegger, it dawned on me that we have some things in common. We both married well. Laughter We both have trouble with the English language. Laughter We both have big biceps. Laughter Well, two out of the three. Laughter In the past 3 years, our country has faced some great challenges. We're still at war. The war on terror is a new kind of war in which every American is threatened and every level of government must work together. We've taken vital steps to secure our homeland, and I want to thank the Governors for their hard work. I'm going to continue to work with you to fulfill our solemn duty to protect the American people. We share responsibility as well to enhance the entrepreneurial spirit so that our economy continues to grow and people can find work work together to make sure Americans can gain affordable access to health care to make sure every child learns to read and write and add and subtract. We've made good progress. We'll continue to meet our obligations in future years. I've got great confidence in America because I believe in the strength of the American people. I've got great confidence in our Nation's Governors because you represent your State's highest ideals and you hold your people's trust. It's a pleasure to host you all here. And now I'd like you all to join me in a toast to the Governors of the United States. February 21, 2004 Good morning. This week, I traveled to Fort Polk in Louisiana to visit with soldiers and family members who are giving vital service in the war on terror. Fort Polk is home to some of the Army's oldest and finest units. Since September the 11th, 2001, Fort Polk has trained and deployed more than 10,000 troops to fight the terrorist enemy worldwide, including in Afghanistan and Iraq. Thanks to their bravery and skill, America is waging this fight with focus and determination. Over the last 29 months, many terrorists have learned the meaning of justice. Nearly two thirds of Al Qaida's known leaders have been captured or killed. The terrorists are on the run, with good reason to fear what the night might bring. Success in the war on terror also requires that we confront regimes that might arm terrorists with the ultimate weapons. America is determined to meet this danger and to deny terrorists and dangerous regimes the ability to threaten us with the world's most deadly weapons. For 12 years, the former dictator of Iraq defied the international community. He refused to disarm or account for his illegal weapons and programs. My administration looked at the intelligence information, and we saw a threat. Members of Congress looked at the intelligence, and they saw a threat. The United Nations Security Council looked at the intelligence, and it saw a threat. All of us knew Saddam Hussein's history. He waged aggressive wars against neighboring countries and aspired to dominate the Middle East. He cultivated ties to terrorists. He built weapons of mass destruction. He hid those weapons. And he used chemical weapons against thousands of Iraqis and Iranians. Saddam Hussein doubted our resolve to enforce our word. Now he sits in a prison cell while his country moves toward a democratic future. Today in Iraq, our coalition faces deadly attacks from a remnant of Saddam's supporters joined by foreign terrorists. Recently we intercepted a letter sent by a senior Al Qaida associate named Zarqawi to one of Usama bin Laden's top lieutenants. The letter describes a terrorist strategy, to tear Iraq apart with ethnic violence, to undermine Iraqi security forces, to demoralize our coalition, and to prevent the rise of a sovereign, democratic government. This terrorist outlines his efforts to recruit and train suicide bombers and boasts of 25 attacks on innocent Iraqis and coalition personnel. And he urges Al Qaida members to join him in waging war on our coalition and on the people of Iraq. Zarqawi and men like him have made Iraq the central front in our war on terror. The terrorists know that the emergence of a free Iraq will be a major blow against the worldwide terrorist movement. In this, they are correct. But we have seen this enemy before, and we know how to deal with them. Fighting alongside the people of Afghanistan, we are defeating the terrorists in that country, and fighting alongside the people of Iraq, we will defeat the terrorists there as well. Iraq, like Afghanistan, will be free. Our coalition is working with Iraq's Governing Council to draft a basic law with a bill of rights. We're working with Iraqis and the United Nations to prepare for a transition to full Iraqi sovereignty. The establishment of a free Iraq will be a watershed event in the history of the Middle East, helping to advance the spread of liberty throughout that vital region. And as freedom takes hold in the greater Middle East, the people of the region will find new hope, and America will be more secure. Two and a half years ago, on a clear September morning, the enemies of America brought a new kind of war to our shores. Three days later, I stood in the rubble of the Twin Towers. My resolve today is the same as it was then I will not relent until the terrorist threat to America is removed. Thank you for listening. February 19, 2004 The President. Thanks for coming. I want to thank the folks who have joined me here on the stage. We've just had a chat about their personal circumstances, and I'll share some of their stories with you. We were talking about our economy and the hopes of families, how to keep the entrepreneurial spirit strong in America. I hope I conveyed to them my sense of optimism about the future of the country. After all, I've seen firsthand what we've been through, and we've been through a lot. And in spite of that, our economy is strong, and it's getting stronger. There's still room for improvement. Let me walk you through right quick of what these families and small business owners and large business and CEOs have dealt with, what the country has dealt with in the last 3 years. First, the economy began to slow down in March of 2000. The stock market started to go down. That affected people's savings. And if you watch your savings accounts go down, it tends to have a negative effect on people's attitudes. Then the country got into went into a recession, early of 2001. Recession means that people's incomes, at the employer level, are going down, basically, relative to costs, people are getting laid off. It's a slowdown. It's a time of it's a tough time for risktakers. It's a very tough time for workers. A lot of industries felt like they needed to lay off people, which created uncertainty. And then on September the 11th, the country got attacked, a vicious attack by brutal killers that affected the Nation's psychology. It affected how I view the world, by the way. When we see gathering threats, the country now must take them very seriously. We can't let threats become imminent. We can't trust madmen with the security of the American people. September the 11th attacks hurt the economy. We began to recover. I mean, this is a strong nation. The entrepreneurial spirit is really strong. You might remember the attitude after September the 11th No terrorist is going to hold this country down or hold us back. I saw that spirit firsthand when I went to New York shortly after the attacks. It was just such an uplifting experience in the midst of tragedy and horror, to see the will of the American people. Then the economy got affected because some of our citizens forgot to tell the truth. They assumed positions of responsibility and behaved irresponsibly. Corporate CEOs didn't tell the truth to employees or shareholders, and that affected the economy. Capitalism is based upon trust, open books, honest accounting. And a lot of citizens were beginning to wonder what went on. Fortunately, we passed tough laws, and those who betrayed the trust are now paying the price for having done so. There needs to be serious consequences for people who are don't tell the truth. And then, as you know, I made the very difficult decision to deal with Saddam Hussein. It's the right decision. The country is more secure. The Iraqi people are free from the clutches of tyranny. The march to war affected our economy. When you turn on your TV screen in the summer of 2002 and it says, "America's March to War," that's not very conducive for investment. Marching for war doesn't instill a lot of confidence in the future. It creates uncertainty. People who employ people don't like uncertainty. We need certainty in order to have a to have risktakers feel comfortable about taking risk. We've been through a lot. But we acted here in Washington. I led. I convinced the Congress to cut the taxes on the people, because I felt like, during this time of uncertainty and economic slowdown, if people had more of their own money, they would demand an additional good or a service. And in our marketplace, when that happens, a producer will produce that good or a service. And when that happens, the economy gets moving somebody is more likely to find work. And that's what happened. We cut the taxes on everybody who pays taxes. I don't think it makes sense for tax cutters to say, "Okay, you win, and you lose." My attitude was, if you pay taxes, you ought to get relief. And we cut all taxes, and one of the important things about cutting all income taxes is we really affect the capacity of small businesses to grow, because many small businesses pay tax at the individual income tax level. A sole proprietor pays tax at the individual income tax. The Subchapter S pays tax at the individual income tax level. So when you cut all rates, you're not only affecting the purchasing power of families and individuals you're affecting small business capital formation. And it helped, and it worked. And at the same time, I asked Congress to increase the limit for deductibility of 100,000 from 25,000 to encourage capital investment in the small business sector. And why did I focus on small businesses, or why did the Congress focus with me on small business? And the answer is, most new jobs are created by small businesses in America. Some estimates say up to and if you're interested in job creation, why not focus on the job creators? So the tax relief was passed not only to help individuals but to help our small business sector. We also increased the child credit to 1,000. We reduced the marriage penalty. I like to remind people that the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not discourage marriage. Laughter Seems like we want people to stay married, and the Tax Code ought to encourage that. We helped on dividend and capital gains to encourage investment and particularly to help the elderly. We put the death tax on its way to extinction. I'm going to talk a little bit about that in regards to one of our guests, but the death tax is a bad tax bad tax. Think about all the people who are starting their own businesses, who are working hard to realize the American Dream. They're preparing their estates to leave something to their whoever they choose to, a son or a daughter. And it becomes awfully difficult to do so because the Government is taxing assets twice. They tax you when you earn. They tax you when you die. And it's a bad tax. It's bad for farmers. It's bad for ranchers. It is particularly bad for small business owners. Fortunately, the Congress heard the call. We've still got a little issue to make sure it stays gone forever that I'll talk about here in a minute. The tax relief we passed 111 million taxpayers this year will save 1,586 off their taxes. That's a lot of money that will be in circulation as a result of individual decisionmaking. See, there's a fundamental debate here in Washington. It's who do you want spending money? Look, we need money here. There's plenty of money in Washington. We need money to fight the war and win the war on terror. We need money to protect the homeland. We need money to meet priorities, but I felt it was important to let people spend their own money. I think the collective decision making of the American people with their own money is wiser than the decision making of the Federal Government. Twenty five million small business owners will receive an average cut of 3,000 this year. That's important. A lot of companies being started up in garages it's kind of the American Dream, isn't it? I remember when my friend Michael Dell started his computer company in a garage. Laughter Who knows where the next Michael Dell will be, but perhaps this 3,000 will help that person achieve his or her dream about building their own company. Nearly 5 million taxpayers will be off the rolls as a result of the tax relief this year. What's interesting is that the tax relief lowered rates, but the amount withheld from the paycheck was not adjusted until summertime last year. And so the Treasury Department estimates Americans will receive an additional 50 billion in higher refunds and lower tax payments when they file their taxes in April April 15th of this year. That's positive news, to help keep this momentum, this economic momentum, alive and well. Tax relief is working. Factory orders are up. Housing is strong. Unemployment rate is down from 6.3 percent last June to 5.6 percent in January. Things are positive. But there's more that Congress should do to keep the momentum alive. One, we need an energy plan. If you're a manufacturer, you need reliable sources of energy. I've talked to a lot of small manufacturers who explained what it means to have their power disrupted as a result of an antiquated electricity grid. Unreliable supplies of energy creates uncertainty for price. There needs to be certainty. We need an energy plan. Congress needs to get me a bill. They need to stop talking. They need to get a bill to my desk. We need tort reform. Too many small businesses are like you, I'm concerned about the cost of providing decent medical care to your employees and yourselves. Medical costs are up. Some practical things we can do health savings accounts are a very practical way for small business owners and employees to deal with increasing costs. I urge you to look at those. Associated health care plans are vital for small business owners and small business plans. Medical liability reform at the national level will help control health care costs. It's stuck in the Senate, of course. There's some special interests here in Washington that simply are not interested in seeing reasonable medical liability law passed. There are very powerful interests here in Washington that prevent the kinds of laws to pass that will help control costs. And I'm going to continue working, and I think it's an important issue I know it's an important issue for small business owners and employees. We need to continue to open up markets. Our markets are relatively open compared to the rest of the world, and if our markets are open, let's open up other markets so people can sell. We're good at things. We ought to be selling them to other people around the world. There needs to be free trade, and there needs to be a level playing field when we trade. There needs to be less regulation in Washington, DC. But one thing's for certain, is we need to make the tax cuts permanent. Interestingly enough I don't know if you're aware of this, but all the tax cuts we passed are set to expire. But the Congress giveth the Congress taketh away. Laughter And these tax relief will be will expire on an irregular basis. In other words, they don't all expire at the same time. For example, this coming year, the child credit the tax relief we put in the child credit goes away. The penalty in the marriage penalty gets worse. And the expanded 10 percent bracket will go away. See, if Congress doesn't do anything, there will be tax increases on the American people. That's what that means. When you hear, "We're going to repeal the Bush tax cuts," that means tax increases. That's what that is. "I'm going to raise your taxes," is what they're saying. There's a philosophical difference here. Who would you rather spending your money, you or the Federal Government? And that's the debate I look forward to taking across the country. Raising taxes at this point will hurt our economy. When the economy is coming out of recession, it's beginning to grow. It makes no sense to raise the taxes on the people. If the Congress doesn't act, the tax relief would be an increase of about 28 billion on the American people for the year 2005. That's 28 billion going into the U.S. Treasury out of your pockets be reducing demand by that amount, be taking capital out of small business coffers if that happens. That's part of the debate. "Let's raise your taxes so we have more money to spend on programs in Washington, DC." That's the debate, and I believe strongly that the tax relief needs to be permanent. You see listen to this story. If you're a family of four earning 40,000, when those provisions expire in 2005, it'll be a 915 tax increase for that family. That's a lot of money for a family making 40,000. The small business deductions expire in '06. These have been really effective. Congress needs to make them permanent. And so I talked to some folks up here today about what tax relief has meant to them. And maybe the best way I can make my point to the tax raisers and spenders here in Washington is to listen to the stories of people like Amy Cofer. She is a mom of two, soon to be a mom of three. Amy is right there. Joe is a police officer. Joe is out there dedicating his life to the protection of our fellow citizens. They saved 1,700 in taxes in '03. That probably doesn't sound like a lot when you're up here, when you're dealing with a lot of zeros behind the numbers. It's a lot for that family, though. She talked about paying her son's preschool tuition with that. She made a choice to send her son to a school that she thought was good. That's a whole other subject, by the way parents being laughter but it helped pay for her son's tuition. The money meant something to them. It made life easier by being that money, to help pay for the preschool tuition. It took pressure off of their bill paying. If Congress doesn't act, there will be a 1,000 tax increase on this family. It's a new family, a new child coming doesn't make sense to have this family pay a thousand dollars. See, Congress has got to make the tax cuts permanent. It helps families like the Cofers. Katie Powers is here as well. Katie and there she is Katie and David have two children, Nicholas and Allison. They had tax relief of 3,500. The tax burden will go up by 2,000 if they doesn't make the tax cuts permanent. When you hear people say, "Let's just let the tax cuts expire," that's a tax increase. It's a code word for, "I'm raising your taxes to increase the amount of money we have to spend here in Washington on new programs, on programs that meet a particular political desire of the appropriators." That's what they're telling you. Shemetra Washington Shemetra is a started a new job this month, by the way, at New Technology Management in Virginia. Laughter Audience member. Yeah! Laughter The President. About time you hired her. Laughter She's got the toughest job in America. She's a single mom. She's raising Raegan and Lauryn. She is going to grad school, a human resource person who's going to get a master's degree. She's been taking she's working, raising her family, and going to grad school to upgrade her skills so she can make more money. She got a tax cut of 1,700 in 2003. She said it went to help pay for her education, helped her upgrade her skills so she becomes a more productive person, which means she'll get better pay as time goes on. Again, if they don't make the tax cuts permanent, she has to pay 1,000 more in taxes. I don't think we want Shemetra paying 1,000 more in taxes laughter when she's struggling with her family, raising that family. See, there's a human dimension to all the talk about numbers, and it's important for the people here in Washington to think about the people whose lives will be affected if they don't act they don't act they don't act to make it easier for families to raise their children and to realize their dreams. Guy Donaldson is with us. He's got an interesting story. He is a fruit orchard man out of Pennsylvania, apples, cherries, and peaches. Laughter I was lobbying for some of them to be sent over here for breakfast. Laughter See, he is he, by the way, is a partnership, so his entity is taxed at the individual income tax rate level. But he's more concerned about the death tax. His dream is to keep this farm in his family. It's been in his family now for the fourth generation. That's part of his dream. That's what he has decided that he would like to do with his assets, and he wants to leave the orchard to his kids. I said, "Are they here today?" He said, "No, they're pruning trees." Laughter But the problem is, is that when you're asset heavy in your small business or on your farm, it's really hard to leave it to your the death tax makes it nearly impossible to leave to a family without having to mortgage the future so heavily or to sell off parts of the farm in order to pay the Government again. The death tax is an unfair tax to farmers and ranchers and small business people. The Congress put it on its way to extinction. However, it comes back to life in 2011. It's hard to explain the rules of the Senate that allow that to happen, but it does. It just doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense, as Guy was talking about, for him to have such uncertainty about an asset he loves and uncertainty about his family. And yet because Congress won't act, there is uncertainty. And that's not right, and it's not fair. They need to put the stake in the heart of the death tax forever, and get rid of it. Rex Hammock is with us last stander from Nashville, Tennessee. He started his own company. I love the entrepreneurial spirit. Don't you love to be in a country where people feel comfortable about where people feel comfortable and free to start their own business? And by the way, Government's role is to create an environment where the entrepreneurial spirit is strong, where people feel free and comfortable doing that. And he did, and he's got what is called a Subchapter S corporation. Many of you know what that means, but for those who don't, it means that you get taxed at the individual income tax level. So when we cut the rates on everybody, not just a few, it helped Rex, made him a little more comfortable in his ability to plan. But more importantly, by raising the level of deductibility for small businesses to 100,000, it provided incentive for him to invest. And so this year, he told me, he's going to spend 100,000 on computers, scanners, and software to help his employees in his publishing business become more productive. It means they're more competitive. When you're more competitive, you've got a more productive workforce, and when you're competitive, it means you're more likely to stay in business. And it means you're more likely your workforce is more likely to have steady work. And if you really get productive and can compete, it means you add employees. And he added two last year, and he plans on adding five this year. Now, there's a lot of Rexes in the country, and you put two on here and five on there, and all of a sudden, there's a lot of people beginning to find jobs. And that's important. That's how jobs grow, through the individual decisionmaking of thousands of entrepreneurs and employers around the country. He wants to invest in '05 and '06, same amounts. But as I told you, this aspect of the tax relief package will expire unless Congress acts. He said it's really hard and he's right, by the way really hard to be a planner with in the face of tax uncertainty. How can you plan if you're not certain about what the Tax Code looks like? And there are entrepreneurs all over the country who are uncertain about what the Tax Code will look like after '06 because the tax relief plan has got uncertainties built into it. And an important aspect of the tax relief plan is the deductibility for small businesses. Then it goes away. Congress needs to make all aspects of the Tax Code permanent so people can plan their businesses and their lives. And so it's time for them to step up on Capitol Hill. I'm ready to continue to lead on tax relief. They need to follow. They need to listen to the voices not just of me but of the people here on the stage. It's a time for action. It's a time to make the tax relief permanent. It's a time to listen to the voices of the hard working families in America. It's a time to listen to the entrepreneurs of this country. It's a time to keep this recovery strong by doing what's right with the Tax Code. I want to thank you all for coming today to give me a chance to spell out a practical way to make life a more hopeful place for America and small business owners. Congress needs to act. Thanks for coming. February 18, 2004 President Bush. A couple statements, and I'm going to answer a couple of questions afterwards. Mr. President, welcome. I'm glad you're here in the Oval Office. Thank you for your friendship. I'm looking forward to a good discussion. I want to thank you for working with the United States in the war on terror. I want to thank you for your understanding for the need for Iraq to be democratic and free. I appreciate the fact that you've got an education system that is modern and viable, that women in your country are given equal rights. I look forward to talking to you about the need to have a press corps that is vibrant and free as well as an open political process. There's a lot we can talk about. Tunisia can help lead the greater Middle East to reform and freedom, something that I know is necessary for peace for the long term. So welcome. President Ben Ali. Mr. President, thank you for very much for this opportunity. I am delighted to be here in the United States, and thank you very much for your generous invitation. As you know, the Tunisian U.S. relationships have been always unique and ancient. They go back for two centuries. Mr. President, we also look forward to increasing and cementing those relationships between the two countries in all spheres and every area, in order to continue to support the friendship between the two peoples and between the two countries. We share principles together, Mr. President, and that is the establishment of states on the basis of democracy, human rights, and combating terror. We believe that Tunisia is an ally of the United States and the relationships between the two countries has strategic dimension. And I would like to take this opportunity to thank the friendly American people who stood by us during our liberation and after our independence. Thank you very much. President Bush. A couple of questions. Scott Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press. Same Sex Marriage Q. Thanks, Mr. President. More than 3,000 same sex couples have taken vows since San Francisco started issuing marriage licenses to gays and lesbians. This Massachusetts court ruling could result in the first legally recognized gay marriages in May. Do these developments make you any more inclined to endorse a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage? President Bush. I strongly believe that marriage should be defined as between a man and a woman. I am troubled by activist judges who are defining marriage. I have watched carefully what's happened in San Francisco, where licenses were being issued even though the law states otherwise. I have consistently stated that if I'll support law to protect marriage between a man and a woman. And obviously these events are influencing my decision. Q. Are you close to a decision? President Bush. I'm watching very carefully. But I'm troubled by what I've seen. People need to be involved with this decision. Marriage ought to be defined by the people, not by the courts. And I'm watching it carefully. Stevie Steve Holland, Reuters . National Economy Q. Mr. President, do you think the economy is strong enough to produce 2.6 million jobs this year, as your economic report projected? President Bush. I think the economy is growing, and I think it's going to get stronger. I do think there are some things we need to do. We need to make sure the tax cuts are permanent. I look forward to continuing to talk about this issue. Uncertainty in the Tax Code could affect small business planning. Uncertainty in the Tax Code will make it harder for our citizens to make rational decisions about spending money. We need to have an energy policy, open up markets for trade. We need less regulation. We need tort reform. There are things we can do to make sure the economy grows. I'm pleased by the fact that since August, there's been 366,000 new jobs, in one survey. There was another survey called the Household Account that's been more optimistic. But I'm mindful there are still people looking for work, and we've got to continue building on the progress we've made so far. February 17, 2004 Thank you all. What a week, first NASCAR and today Fort Polk, Louisiana. Thank you for the warm welcome. It is an honor to be here with the soldiers and families of Fort Polk. This post is home to some of the Army's oldest and finest units. All of you are living up to the motto of our 2d Armored Calvary Regiment, "Always ready." The 2d Calvary is now deployed in Iraq. So is the mighty Warrior Brigade from Fort Polk. This post has long been vital to the defense of America, and today, the men and women of Fort Polk are serving with skill and bravery in the war on terror. Since our Nation was attacked on September the 11th, 2001, this post has trained and deployed more than 10,000 troops to fight the terrorist enemy. The JRTC Operations Group is providing superb training for America's soldiers. And with people like you in the fight against terror, there is no doubt that the enemy will be defeated and freedom will prevail. In the war, America depends on our military to meet the dangers abroad and to keep our country safe. The American people appreciate this sacrifice, and our Government owes you more than gratitude. We must always make sure that America's soldiers are well equipped and well trained to fight this war on terror. Every person in uniform also depends on the faithful support of their family. Military families have faced many hardships in this time of testing, and you have faced them together. Every military installation is a strong and caring community. You look out for each other. You accept the sacrifices of service to America. And I want you to know, our whole Nation is grateful to our military families. I appreciate General Kamiya for his introduction. When I was walking here from Marine One, somebody told me he just got promoted. Congratulations, General. Les Brownlee, the Acting Secretary of the Army, is with us. General Pete Schoomaker, who is the Army Chief of Staff, is with us today. General, thank you for coming. General Ellis, I appreciate you being here. Colonel Woolfrey, Command Sergeant Major Christian Command Sergeant Major Savusa is with us as well. I'm honored that you men are here. Today I had the privilege of traveling with Senator Mary Landrieu from the State of Louisiana, Congressman David Vitter, and Congressman Rodney Alexander. I want to thank all the State and local officials who are with us today. I appreciate so very much Kevin Sharp and John Berry for taking time out to provide the entertainment for the troops and families today. I just met Margie Nobles. Margie volunteered more than 1,400 hours helping families of soldiers during their transition to Fort Polk and during times of deployment. People often talk about the strength of America being our military, and it is strong, and I intend to keep it that way. But the real strength of the country lies in the hearts and souls of our citizens, people like Margie who are willing to help somebody who hurts, people who are willing to take time out of their busy lives to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. For those of you who are soldiers in the army of compassion, I want to thank you for your service to your community and to your country. The Fort Polk community is also home to thousands of veterans and retired military. Our veterans defended our Nation and served the cause of freedom in the great struggles of the 20th century. Many veterans from the area are with us today, and we honor your faithful service to America. Our service men and women today follow in a great tradition of achievement and courage. You're living up to that tradition in hard missions and decisive victories. This generation of our military has been called to duty to fight and to win the first war of the 21st century. The struggle began on a September morning, when terrorists murdered thousands of our fellow citizens. We saw the violence and grief that terrorists can inflict. We had a glimpse of a far worse harm that the terrorists intend for us. And on behalf of this Nation, I made a pledge Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done. Life in America in many ways has returned to normal, and that's a good thing. And I want every American to know that I understand my job as your President. I have a duty to protect the American people, and my resolve is the same today as it was on the morning of September the 12th, 2001. My resolve is the same as it was on the day when I walked in the rubble of the Twin Towers. I will not relent until this threat to America is removed, and neither will you. In the past 29 months, many terrorists have learned the meaning of justice. Nearly two thirds of Al Qaida's known leaders have been captured or otherwise dealt with. The terrorists are on the run, with good reason to fear what the night might bring. Thousands of very skilled and determined military personnel are on an international manhunt, going after the remaining killers who hide in caves and in cities. When they attacked our country, the terrorists chose their own fate, and they are meeting that fate, one by one. Success in the war on terror also requires that we confront regimes that might arm terrorists with the ultimate weapon. There's no greater danger before this Nation and humanity than the possibility of secret and sudden attack with a nuclear or chemical or biological weapon. We must confront this danger with open eyes and unbending purpose. I've made clear the policy of this country America will not permit terrorists and dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most deadly weapons. With good allies at our side, we have shown this resolve in decisive action to liberate two nations once ruled by terror regimes. The first to see our determination were the Taliban, who made Afghanistan the primary base of Al Qaida. That was where the training camps operated. That is where the attacks of September the 11th were conceived. And that's where we first took the fight to the enemy. Two years after we liberated Afghanistan, our troops continue to face danger. Our coalition is leading aggressive raids to rout out surviving members of the Taliban and Al Qaida. The new Afghan army is adding to the stability of that country. Afghanistan still has challenges, but that nation is a world away from the nightmare of the Taliban. As of last month, Afghanistan has a new constitution, guaranteeing free elections and full participation by women. Businesses are opening, health care centers are being established, and the children of Afghanistan are back in school boys and girls. The people of Afghanistan are building a nation that is free, that is proud, and that is fighting terror. And America is honored to be their friend. The former regime in Iraq also witnessed America's resolve to confront dangers before they fully materialize. My administration looked at the intelligence information, and we saw a danger. Members of Congress looked at the same intelligence, and they saw a danger. The United Nations Security Council looked at the intelligence, and it saw a danger. We reached a reasonable conclusion that Saddam Hussein was a danger. We remembered his history. He waged aggressive wars against neighboring countries and aspired to dominate the Middle East. He cultivated ties to terrorists. He built weapons of mass destruction. He used weapons of mass destruction against his own people. He hid those weapons. In 1998, the President and the Congress made it the policy of the United States to change the regime in Iraq. In September of 2001, America made a decision We will not live in the shadow of gathering threats. In 2003, after 12 years of deception by Saddam Hussein, he was given one final chance. The U.N. Security Council demanded a full accounting of his weapons programs or face serious consequences. Saddam Hussein chose defiance. And we had a choice of our own Either take the word of a madman, or take action to defend America and the world. Faced with that choice, I will defend America every time. Having broken the Ba'athist regime in Iraq, we face a remnant of violent Saddam supporters. Men who ran away from our troops in battle are now dispersed and attack from the shadows. These killers are joined by foreign terrorists. Recently in Iraq, we intercepted a letter sent by a terrorist named Zarqawi, a man well known to our intelligence services. Zarqawi operated in and out of Saddam Hussein's Iraq. He ordered the murder of an American diplomat in Jordan. He fought against our troops in Afghanistan. And now, in a letter we intercepted, Zarqawi is urging Al Qaida members to wage terrorist war on our coalition in Iraq. In the document, Zarqawi describes the terrorists' strategy. He lays it all out To tear the country apart with ethnic violence to undermine Iraqi security forces to demoralize our coalition to prevent the rise of a sovereign democratic government. This terrorist outlines his efforts to recruit and train suicide bombers. He boasts of 25 attacks on innocent Iraqis and coalition personnel. Zarqawi and men like him have made Iraq the central front in our war on terror. The terrorists know that the emergence of a free Iraq will be a major blow against the worldwide terrorist movement. And in this, they are correct. But we've seen this enemy before, and we know how to deal with them. Fighting alongside the people of Afghanistan, we are defeating the terrorists in that country. And fighting alongside the people of Iraq, we will defeat the terrorists there as well. Iraq, like Afghanistan, will be free. We're making good progress against these enemies by staying on the offensive, with hundreds of patrols and swift and precision raids every single day. Thanks to our military, thanks to our brave soldiers, Iraq's citizens do not have to fear the dictator's secret police or ending up in a mass grave. The torture chambers are closed. Of the top 55 officials of the former regime, we have captured or killed 46. And as for the once all powerful ruler of Iraq, we found him hiding in a hole. At the same time, we're helping Iraqis make daily progress toward democracy. A year ago, Iraq's only law was the whim of one brutal man. Today, our coalition is working with the Iraqi Governing Council to draft a basic law with a bill of rights. But we're now working with Iraqis and the United Nations to prepare for a transition to full Iraqi sovereignty. As democracy takes hold in Iraq, the enemies of freedom will do all in their power to spread violence and fear. They're trying to shake the will of our country and our friends. But they don't understand America. They don't understand the nature of our troops. This country and our military will never be intimidated by a bunch of thugs and assassins. It is the nature of terrorism that a few evil people can bring grief to many. Here in the Fort Polk community, you have sent brave men and women to confront this evil, and you have said farewell to some of your best. One of them was Private First Class Rey David Cuervo, who was killed in Baghdad. Private Cuervo was born in Mexico and is one of several noncitizens in the military who have given their lives in the defense of America. At my direction, each of them has been posthumously granted a title to which they have brought great honor Citizen of the United States. Last month, PFC Cuervo was laid to rest under a marker with these words "All gave some, and some gave all." We do not take freedom for granted in America, and we do not take for granted the courage of those who face the danger and do the fighting. May God comfort the families of the lost. May He keep this Nation always grateful for their sacrifice. All the men and women we have sent to Iraq and Afghanistan have given vital service in the war on terror. By liberating these countries, we and our coalition have delivered more than 50 million people from cruel oppression. We've removed sources of violence and instability from the greater Middle East. We've removed from power enemies of this country. We have made America more secure. We face a clear choice in the greater Middle East Either freedom will advance, or that region will continue to export violence to the world. The work of building democracies in nations that have endured decades of tyranny is hard. It's hard work. It will require the kind of sustained commitment that won the cold war. We accept that duty. We accept that duty in our time because our cause is right. Even governments that did not join in the removal of Saddam's regime now understand that democracy in Iraq must succeed. And that work will succeed, because the appeal of freedom is universal. Freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to every man and woman in this world. The will of this country is strong. The will of our coalition is strong. And what we have begun, we will finish. For all Americans, the last 3 years have brought tests we didn't ask for and for achievements shared by all. And by our actions, we have shown what kind of nation we are. We're a nation with a mission, and that mission comes from our most basic beliefs. We believe that freedom is the right of every single person in the world. By the unselfish dedication of Americans in uniform, people in our own country and in lands far away, people can live in freedom and know the peace that freedom brings. America has been given great responsibilities, and they have come to the right country. We don't shirk from any challenge. We're rising to the call of history. Now and in the future, this great Republic will lead the cause of freedom and peace. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless our country. Thank you all. February 14, 2004 Good morning. On September the 11th, 2001, America and the world saw the great harm that terrorists could inflict upon our country, armed with box cutters, mace, and 19 airline tickets. Those attacks also raised the prospect of even worse dangers, of terrorists armed with chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons. The possibility of secret and sudden attack with weapons of mass destruction is the greatest threat before humanity today. America is confronting this danger with open eyes and unbending purpose. America faces the possibility of catastrophic attack from ballistic missiles armed with weapons of mass destruction, so we are developing and deploying missile defenses to guard our people. The best intelligence is necessary to win the war on terror and to stop proliferation, so we are improving and adapting our intelligence capabilities for new and emerging threats. We are using every means of diplomacy to confront the regimes that develop deadly weapons. We are cooperating with more than a dozen nations under the Proliferation Security Initiative to interdict lethal materials transported by land, sea, or air. And we have shown our willingness to use force when force is required. No one can now doubt the determination of America to oppose and to end these threats to our security. We are aggressively pursuing another dangerous source of proliferation, black market operatives who sell equipment and expertise related to weapons of mass destruction. The world recently learned of the network led by A.Q. Khan, the former head of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program. Khan and his associates sold nuclear technology and know how to rogue regimes around the world, such as Iran and North Korea. Thanks to the tireless work of intelligence officers from the United States and the United Kingdom and other nations, the Khan network is being dismantled. This week, I proposed a series of new, ambitious steps to build on our recent success against proliferation. We must expand the international cooperation of law enforcement organizations to act against proliferation networks, to shut down their labs, to seize their materials, to freeze their assets, and to bring their members to justice. We must strengthen laws and international controls that fight proliferation. Last fall at the United Nations, I proposed a new Security Council resolution requiring all states to criminalize proliferation, enact strict export controls, and secure all sensitive materials within their borders. I urge the Council to pass these measures quickly. The Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, one of the most important tools for preventing the spread of nuclear weapons, is undermined by a loophole that allows countries to seek nuclear weapons under the cover of civilian nuclear power programs. I propose that the world's leading nuclear exporters close that loophole. The Nuclear Suppliers Group should refuse to sell enrichment and reprocessing equipment and technologies to any state that does not already possess full scale, functioning enrichment and reprocessing plants. For international rules and laws to be effective, they must be enforced. We must ensure that the International Atomic Energy Agency is fully capable of exposing and reporting banned nuclear activity. Every nation should sign what is called the Additional Protocol, which would allow the IAEA to make broader inspections of nuclear sites. We should also establish a special IAEA committee to focus on safeguards and verification. And no nation under investigation for proliferation violations should be able to serve on this committee or on the governing board of the IAEA. Governments breaking the rules should not be trusted with enforcing the rules. Terrorists and terrorist states are in a race for weapons of mass murder, a race they must lose. They are resourceful. We must be more resourceful. They are determined. We must be more determined. We will never lose focus or resolve. We will be unrelenting in the defense of free nations and rise to the hard demands of our dangerous time. Thank you for listening. February 12, 2004 The President. Thank you all very much. It is nice to be back in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Thank you for such a warm welcome. Behave yourself. Laughter I we're going to have an interesting dialog today about how our economy works, how we can make sure people are prepared to take advantage of a growing economy. I hope that the students here at this very fine high school are able to have a better understanding about their future and how to seize opportunities. Before we begin the discussion, I do want to thank the high school for welcoming me and quite a large entourage. Laughter Rich, thank you and your staff. I appreciate the teachers of this fine high school. I want to thank you all for teaching. Teaching is such a noble profession. I've come to this high school it's a high school that's willing to raise the bar, challenge what I've been calling the soft bigotry of low expectations, that is willing to measure, willing to change if you need to change, willing to use curriculum that actually works, in order to make sure every child is educated, every child has a chance to succeed. This is a fabulous high school. I'm proud of the administrators and teachers and students who make it such. I also want to thank the parents who are here for paying attention to your sons and daughters, for caring about the quality of the education they receive. I often talk about the need for us to usher in a period of personal responsibility. Nothing is more responsible than a parent understanding that he or she is the first teacher of a child and he or she must pay attention to the education of their children. I also want to thank our panelists, who we'll talk to in a minute here. But I also want to thank members of the mighty Pennsylvania congressional delegation for traveling with me today. The senior Senator I try to downplay the senior part laughter today is actually his birthday. That would be Arlen Specter, who is traveling with us. I look forward to working with him. Where is the Senator? He's somewhere around here anyway. Either that, or he knew this was going to be a long speech. Laughter We're working well together. We've got some challenges in Washington. I appreciate him working with my administration on issues such as judges. Speaking about friends and people who I think is doing a great job for the State of Pennsylvania, Senator Rick Santorum is with us as well. Applause Don't go overboard. Laughter I've got to fly back with him to Washington. Laughter I appreciate the Congressman from this district, Tim Holden. Congressman, thank you for accompanying us today. The Congressman kindly allowed others from the Pennsylvania congressional district to come into his district today, Members such as John Peterson, Joe Pitts, Don Sherwood, Todd Platts, Bill Shuster, and Jim Gerlach. Thank you all for coming. We've got senators here we've got State representatives here we've got mayors here. Thank you all for being here city councilmen, a lot of citizens. I'm proud to be here to share with you some thoughts about how to make sure the American Dream shines brightly in every corner of the country. Before we have a little discussion about economics and of what we can do to make sure people are prepared for the new jobs of the 21st century, I do want to herald a Lauren Simkulak. Lauren is a senior at this high school. She came out to meet me at Air Force One. She was invited to do so because, you see, she is volunteering her time. She's taking time out of her busy life. If you're a senior in high school, your life can be very busy, sometimes with studying, sometimes with other things, but nevertheless laughter . She's involved with the Four Diamonds Fund, a fund to create awareness for cancer. She is a volunteer in the army of compassion. The reason I bring that up is that oftentime, you hear our country's strength is defined as our military might. We're going to stay strong. You hear people talk about the might of America being the size of our wallets. We want more citizens having bigger wallets. But the truth of the matter is, the strength of this country is the heart and souls of the American people, people who are willing to love a neighbor just like they'd like to be loved themselves. Here's my message to the high school students who are listening, and to anybody else Find somebody who hurts and surround them with love. Governments you can do so in all kinds of ways. You can do so in the Boys or Girl Scouts. You can do so in the Boys or Girls Club. You can do so through your church or your synagogue or mosque. The strength of America is the fact that we're a loving, compassionate, decent people who are willing to help save America, one soul at a time. I appreciate the service of people in this applause . I want the students here to understand we've been through historic times in this country. You hear me often say I'm optimistic about the future. Well, one reason I'm optimistic is because I've seen what we have just been through as a nation. Remember, this country has been through a recession, an attack by an enemy which clearly hates what we stand for. We had some corporate scandals, and by the way, we expect our citizens in positions of responsibility to tell the truth. We passed tough laws, by the way, to send those corporate criminals to justice, which is exactly where they belong because they betrayed the trust to employees and shareholders. And then I made the tough decision about dealing with threats by committing some incredibly brave citizens into harm's way to remove a danger, to remember the lessons of September the 11th and remove a danger before it became imminent and before it could conceivably strike America again. All that affected our economy. Think about what this economy has been through, recession, an attack, a national emergency, corporate scandals, and war. And yet, the economy is growing. The numbers are good, see. The numbers are good, but I don't worry about numbers. I worry about people. There are still some people looking for work because of the recession. There are people looking for work because jobs have gone overseas, and we need to act in this country. We need to act to make sure there are more jobs at home and people are more likely to retain a job. I've got some ideas that I'd like to share with you, before we get to making sure we educate people for the jobs that are being generated in the 21st century. The first idea is to make sure there's certainty in the Tax Code. As you know, we acted by cutting taxes. We saw all the challenges to our economy. We cut taxes, which basically meant people had more money in their pocket. It's kind of a simple Crawford, Texas, economic lesson. When you have more money in your pocket, you're likely to demand a good or a service an additional good or a service. And when you make a demand for an additional good or a service, in our economy, somebody will produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces the good or a service, somebody is more likely to retain a job or find a job. In other words, the tax cuts stimulated growth. The tax cuts also made it more likely that the small business sector of our country would be strong and vibrant. Seventy percent of the new jobs in America are created by small businesses. And that's why much of the tax cuts, the individual tax cuts as well as the encouraging of invest ment those tax cuts which encourage investment, were aimed at small businesses. The tax cuts are making a difference, but unfortunately, they are set to expire, which means if Congress doesn't renew the tax cuts, the child credit will go down. So, in other words, if you're now getting a bigger child credit because you're a mom or a dad, you're going to pay more taxes. It's a tax increase. The marriage penalty will go up if Congress doesn't act. In other words, they'll be raising your taxes. In order to make sure people can find work or retain a job, we need to make the tax cuts permanent. There needs to be certainty in the Tax Code. People need to be able to plan. Small businesses need to be able to plan. Individuals need to be able to plan. We do not need a tax increase right now in our country. Health care costs are too high. It's going to be hard to increase jobs with health care costs going up. I put out a plan to address health care costs, associated health plans, health savings accounts. But one of the interesting components of making sure we control the rising costs of health care is to make sure our judicial system doesn't run docs out of business and run the cost of medicine up for patients. We need medical liability reform in the United States. We've got too many lawsuits in America. It's one thing to be taking a lawsuit based upon a real claim. There's too many junk lawsuits which are running up the cost of doing business. It makes it hard to increase the job base. It makes it hard for people to retain a job when people are getting sued right and left. We need tort reform at the Federal level. We need class action reform. We need asbestos reform. We need to get less regulations on people who are trying to create jobs. Washington oftentimes poses too many mandates, which makes it hard to retain a job. The other day I met with an entrepreneur from Philadelphia. She runs a small foundry. She said, "I've got some issues. I'm worried about jobs." She said, "I'm worried about the taxes jumping up and down." She said, "A lot of my customers are getting sued, which makes it hard for them to buy products from me." She also said something very interesting she said she's worried about reliable energy supplies. You see, when you have blackouts or brownouts and you're trying to employ people, it's awful hard to have to do so. In order to get jobs back, in order for people to retain jobs, we need an energy plan in this country. We need to modernize the electricity grid. We need to become less reliant on foreign sources of energy. Listen, Pennsylvanians are great entrepreneurs and farmers. We ought to be opening up markets for Pennsylvania products. In other words, there's a lot of things we can do. But I'm confident about the future of this economy because I've seen what we've been through. I know the spirit of America. I know the entrepreneurial spirit. I know the fact we've got the best workers in the world. Productivity increases are high. This is a fabulous country. There's nothing we can't overcome, and we are overcoming it. And as we overcome the recession and war and emergency, we better make sure we've got a workforce that is prepared for the higher paying jobs of the 21st century. And that's what we're here to talk about today. A good education system begins at the early grades. We passed what's called the No Child Left Behind Act. It basically says we trust local people to chart the path to excellence. We're going to spend more Federal money, but we want to know whether or not the children are learning to read, write, and add and subtract. This business about just shuffling kids through the system has got to end. It's got to end. We've got to make sure that as we focus on primary and secondary education, we never forget the fact that we can strive for higher standards at the high school level. One of the things you hear people talking about is reading programs to make sure that those kids who have been shuffled through now have a chance to learn to read before it's too late and, by the way, using curriculum that actually works, not curriculum that sounds good, not curriculum that may be based upon some interesting theory, but curriculum that actually makes a difference, so that when we measure, we can see clearly that children are learning to read. We need to expand AP courses. We're going to talk a little bit about AP. One of the interesting things about AP courses, it says clearly that we expect the best from our children. AP courses challenge our kids. It also means that they're more likely to go to college and strive for higher goals. Too many of our minority students aren't getting AP classes. I've got a plan to make sure AP is spread throughout all segments of our society. We've got to make sure that math and sciences are we've got to focus on math and science. We've got to encourage people who have got expertise in math and science to come into classrooms. Oftentimes you'll hear school districts say, "We're pinched for teachers. We need extra help with math and science." We've got a program to encourage people to come in and teach part time to help out. In other words, we're focused on making sure that secondary and elementary education works well and that high schools work well. And another interesting part of our society which oftentimes gets overlooked is the fabulous community college system in America. You've got a great community college here in applause . Community colleges are available and affordable. They're particularly affordable because the Federal Government wants to help people go to community college with all kinds of different scholarship programs, including Pell grants, which we intend to expand, particularly for those students who are willing to take rigorous academic programs, are willing to set their sights. The community college system is flexible, and you're going to hear an interesting and innovative program that deals with your health care system here in Harrisburg and central Pennsylvania and the community college and the high school, to prepare folks for the jobs which actually exist. Listen, it used to be in job training that they never asked the question whether jobs do the jobs exist for the training programs. The way I used to put it is, you used to train 500 hairdressers for 10 jobs. And yet we satisfied our requirement at the State level because they didn't ask whether or not the jobs actually existed. They just asked, were you training somebody. Now we're beginning to ask the question, when you train somebody, is there a job, and does the curriculum make sense for the job. So what you're about to hear is, educational excellence here in Harrisburg exists innovative programs exist. People who are listening in different communities around Pennsylvania and the country might want to pay attention to what is happening in this community. Rich I appreciate your hospitality is the principal of the mighty Rams. Richard Mazzatesta. You're more than welcome here, Mr. President. The President. I guess I should have said you're the head Ram. Laughter Mr. Mazzatesta. Well, Dr. Hasson might think that I'm the second head Ram. Laughter The President. You can call her a Ram. I'm not. Laughter I'm going to call her, "Ma'am." Laughter Barbara Hasson. Barbara. The President. Barbara, that's right. Richard Mazzatesta, principal, Central Dauphin High School, made brief remarks. The President. Well, I'm here to help. Laughter However, educational excellence will only be found at the local level. And by that I mean, is that it's important to have local control of schools so that good superintendents and good principals are able to be adjust according to the circumstances. The Federal Government can write checks, and we are. Federal funding is up. What's changed is we're finally asking the question, are we getting any results for our money? Good schools don't mind answering that question. Rich said something interesting about the No Child Left Behind Act. What's interesting in this piece of legislation is that because of measuring, you're able to determine whether or not a child can read or write and add and subtract early. And what the measurement system allows you to do is, one, analyze curriculum. You know, is it working? Is the reading program we've got working? But also, it enables you to focus attention on a particular child that might slip behind, which will make it easier, by the way, when this law is fully implemented, for high schools because you'll have a more literate population coming your way at some point in time. We've got kind of a gap in the pipeline. There's been a because we haven't focused that intensely on measurement, there's some kids who are just being shuffled through, and you're having to remediate. But we're going to correct that by having high standards early, enough money to help provide remedial help so that no child is left behind. That's why we called it that law. We don't want anybody left behind in America. Barbara listen, I've been listening to Barbaras all my life. Laughter Dr. Hasson. And as I told the President backstage here, he's going to listen to one more Barbara. Laughter Dr. Hasson, superintendent, Central Dauphin School District, made brief remarks. The President. Let me see here laughter I think we're doing our responsibility here at the Federal level. Most funding should be at the State and local level, in order to make sure you've got local control of the schools. We've increased the Federal funding at the for elementary and secondary school programs up by 49 percent over the last 4 years. I think let me say a couple of things Barbara said. First, because you measure, you know whether or not children are learning. I hear people say, "Well, I can't believe you're making people measure." Look, I didn't like to take tests either, but that's too bad. You see, we've got to know. If you don't know whether a child can read and write and add and subtract, it's likely that child will be just shuffled through. And guess who gets hurt? Guess who gets hurt? A lot of inner city kids get hurt. We want the American Dream to be everywhere. A lot of kids whose parents may not speak English as a first language, they're easy to quit on. Let's just move them through, see. But we're through with those days in America. Every child has worth. I believe every child can learn, and our systems must challenge mediocrity when we find it, must be willing to raise the bar. Barbara, that's why I'm here. You're willing to raise the bar. She said, "We accept the challenge." It's not my challenge. It's a national challenge to make sure every single child can learn. If you can't read, there is no way you're going to be able to take advantage of the fantastic opportunities being created in America. If you can't read, you're going to be left behind when it comes to these unbelievable job opportunities that are going to exist. And so what we're talking about really here is the basics of job training, aren't we? And that's to give the people the skills necessary to take advantage of a changing, dynamic, exciting economy. Schools can't survive without good teachers, and we've got one with us right here. Rebecca is a shall I tell them 31 year teacher? No, I won't say that. Laughter It might give away our age. Laughter She's been in the classroom for 31 years. She is an incredibly dedicated professional who told me that after 31 years, she still loves walking into the classroom. Rebecca is in charge of the English AP. Would you share with us your story? Rebecca Deitman, teacher, Central Dauphin High School, made brief remarks. The President. I appreciate your dedication. You're leading with your heart, and you've got to be. See, the issue with AP is whether or not teachers know how to teach AP. That's one of the bottlenecks, to make sure more advanced placement AP means raising the bar, is what it means. It means challenging students to the max, which is what we want to do in society, don't we? And part of the money that we're going to spend out of Washington is to make sure that there is teacher training money. Another bottleneck is you know, a kid goes home and says, "Mom, I want to take the AP exam. How much does it cost?" And it's quite costly. And so therefore, a lot of students say, "Well, I'm not going to take the course, because it's too much money to take the exam." We've got to help, particularly, low income students pay for the exam. We cannot allow the cost of a test to prevent students from reaching high. And so part of the AP program applause . Ms. Deitman made further remarks. The President. What Barbara mentioned, for example, is not only training AP teachers how to teach AP, which is essential, but if you remember, Barbara said, "We're making sure our teachers have been retrained in the curriculum we're now going to use for reading at the primary level." Teacher training is an essential aspect of making sure our children get the best education possible. And one of the reasons you measure, by the way, is to test whether or not the curriculum is working. And if the curriculum is not working, you need superintendents and principals and teachers bold enough to say it's not working. And so then you pick what you think will work, and then you've got to train teachers to teach that curriculum. That's what the No Child Left Behind Act also does. And you've got a vibrant school district here. You see, if you listen carefully, what people are saying is, "We're going to challenge every child." And that's the beginnings of educational excellence. And we need to challenge every child because the jobs of the 21st century are going to require a lot of smarts. People have to have the capacity to think. It used to be, you know, crank somebody out of high school, and if they could run a backhoe, that's going to be fine. And there's nothing wrong with backhoe drivers. We're going to need them. But we're also going to need computer programmers or people working in the health sciences. There's some exciting new fields coming, and therefore, the education system must start early, make sure the high schools continue to raise the bar, and our community colleges must be flexible enough to have a curriculum that actually meets the needs of the local communities. In other words, you don't need to be training people for jobs that don't exist. And somebody who understands that is Edna. She runs the Harrisburg Area Community College, which as I understand it, is the oldest community college Edna Baehre. That's correct. The President. The youngest leader with the oldest college. Dr. Baehre. Don't I wish. Laughter The President. Tell us about your school. Tell us how you've made the curriculum relevant. Tell us what you're doing. Dr. Baehre, president, Harrisburg Area Community College, made brief remarks. The President. Now, what let's see if I can say kind of summarize what you just said. There's a lot of interesting job opportunities, whether it be forklift drivers or health care providers, and there are people who need to get extra training to be able to do those jobs. And you're helping them. And that's good. That's what we want our community colleges to do. Dr. Baehre made further remarks. The President. All right, Roger. Roger is the CEO of PinnacleHealth System. He's here because you're looking for people to work. One of the most exciting fields is the health care field one of the exciting fields to find work. But you've got to able to have some got a skill set that makes you employable. And tell us what you've done with the community college. Tell us what kind of people you're looking for. Roger Longenderfer, president and CEO, PinnacleHealth System, made brief remarks. The President. Thank you, Roger. Thanks for being innovative. The message I heard from Roger is if you're looking for work in central Pennsylvania and you're willing to retrain, willing to go back to school, you can find work, see. There's jobs in this part of the world that may require a different skill set than you have, but there is ample opportunity to retrain, particularly at the community college level. And I'm sure there's some people listening out there saying, "I want to work. I'm worried about my job security, but I may be too old to go back to the community college." That's not the way it works. The community college accepts all comers. What Roger is looking for is smart, capable, hard working people who need just a little extra training so that he can put them to work. Speaking about young workers, Athan's mother is here. Athan is 4? Cari Aftosmes. Four and a half. The President. Four and a half, yes. I want to make sure she's 4 1 2. Cari is a student at HACC. She's got an interesting story that I would like for her to share with you. By the way, for the Congress to understand, she got a 1,000 child credit for Athan, and if they don't make the tax cuts permanent, she's going to be paying taxes next year. Ms. Aftosmes made brief remarks. The President. It's a fabulous story. Cari, first of all, understands her most important responsibility is to love her child with all her heart and, therefore, to be able to provide for her child. She's also willing to say, "I can do better. I want to do better. I want to serve my community, and I understand it's going to take a little extra time to get the skills necessary." So she actually became entrepreneurial. She said, "How best to improve?" And she researched and she found a good company willing to pay for her tuition, a community college system that was able to develop a curriculum that matched her desires. And here she is on the cusp of a new career, one that pays better, with better benefits. See, education enables our workers to be more productive. When you hear about productivity increases, what you're really hearing about is better paying jobs. But it requires a certain spirit, doesn't it? It requires somebody to seize the moment, some citizen to say, "I want to do better." Government can't make you do better. We can provide the opportunities, and we all work hard to do so. But it requires the spirit of a person like Cari to rise up and say, "I want to do my duty as a mom. I'm going to do my duty as a wife. I'm going to do my duty as a citizen to provide care and comfort for people in hospitals." She took advantage of the opportunity. For those of you looking for work out there, take advantage of the opportunities available to embetter yourself. Listen, I'm going to tell you something. We've been through a lot in this country. We're going to win the war on terror. We're going to promote freedom and peace. The world is going to be more free and therefore more peaceful. At home, we're going to be a society which understands the issues facing our fellow citizens, helps our fellow citizens realize great expectations of our society, encourages the entrepreneurial spirit of Americans, enables people to realize their dreams by having an education system which works and functions well. And as well this is a society where people who hurt and are lonely and hopeless can find solace, because there's a loving citizen with arms open, willing to do their duty as an American by loving their neighbor. I am so honored to be back here in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I thank you for the warm welcome. I thank our panelists for this discussion. And may God bless you all. February 11, 2004 Thanks for the warm welcome. I'm honored to visit the National Defense University. For nearly a century, the scholars and students here have helped to prepare America for the changing threats to our national security. Today, the men and women of our National Defense University are helping to frame the strategies through which we are fighting and winning the war on terror. Your Center for Counterproliferation Research and your other institutes and colleges are providing vital insight into the dangers of a new era. I want to thank each one of you for devoting your talents and your energy to the service of our great Nation. I want to thank General Michael Dunn for inviting me here. I used to jog by this facility on a regular basis. Then my age kicked in. Laughter I appreciate Ambassador Wolfgang Ischinger from Germany. Mr. Ambassador, thank you for being here today. I see my friend George Shultz, a distinguished public servant and true patriot, with us. George, thank you for coming, and Charlotte, it's good to see you. I'm so honored that Dick Lugar is here with us today. Senator, I appreciate you taking time and thanks for bringing Senator Saxby Chambliss with you as well. I appreciate the veterans who are here and those on active duty. Thanks for letting me come by. On September the 11th, 2001, America and the world witnessed a new kind of war. We saw the great harm that a stateless network could inflict upon our country, killers armed with box cutters, mace, and 19 airline tickets. Those attacks also raised the prospect of even worse dangers, of other weapons in the hands of other men. The greatest threat before humanity today is the possibility of secret and sudden attack with chemical or biological or radiological or nuclear weapons. In the past, enemies of America required massed armies and great navies, powerful air forces to put our Nation, our people, our friends at risk. In the cold war, Americans lived under the threat of weapons of mass destruction but believed that deterrents made those weapons a last resort. What has changed in the 21st century is that in the hands of terrorists, weapons of mass destruction would be a first resort, the preferred means to further their ideology of suicide and random murder. These terrible weapons are becoming easier to acquire, build, hide, and transport. Armed with a single vial of a biological agent or a single nuclear weapon, small groups of fanatics or failing states could gain the power to threaten great nations, threaten the world peace. America and the entire civilized world will face this threat for decades to come. We must confront the danger with open eyes and unbending purpose. I have made clear to all the policy of this Nation America will not permit terrorists and dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most deadly weapons. Meeting this duty has required changes in thinking and strategy. Doctrines designed to contain empires, deter aggressive states, and defeat massed armies cannot fully protect us from this new threat. America faces the possibility of catastrophic attack from ballistic missiles armed with weapons of mass destruction, so that is why we are developing and deploying missile defenses to guard our people. The best intelligence is necessary to win the war on terror and to stop proliferation, so that is why I have established a commission that will examine our intelligence capabilities and recommend ways to improve and adapt them to detect new and emerging threats. We're determined to confront those threats at the source. We will stop these weapons from being acquired or built. We'll block them from being transferred. We'll prevent them from ever being used. One source of these weapons is dangerous and secretive regimes that build weapons of mass destruction to intimidate their neighbors and force their influence upon the world. These nations pose different challenges they require different strategies. The former dictator of Iraq possessed and used weapons of mass destruction against his own people. For 12 years, he defied the will of the international community. He refused to disarm or account for his illegal weapons and programs. He doubted our resolve to enforce our word, and now he sits in a prison cell while his country moves toward a democratic future. To Iraq's east, the Government of Iran is unwilling to abandon a uranium enrichment program capable of producing material for nuclear weapons. The United States is working with our allies and the International Atomic Energy Agency to ensure that Iran meets its commitments and does not develop nuclear weapons. In the Pacific, North Korea has defied the world, has tested long range ballistic missiles, admitted its possession of nuclear weapons, and now threatens to build more. Together with our partners in Asia, America is insisting that North Korea completely, verifiably, and irreversibly dismantle its nuclear programs. America has consistently brought these threats to the attention of international organizations. We're using every means of diplomacy to answer them. As for my part, I will continue to speak clearly on these threats. I will continue to call upon the world to confront these dangers and to end them. In recent years, another path of proliferation has become clear as well. America and other nations are learning more about black market operatives who deal in equipment and expertise related to weapons of mass destruction. These dealers are motivated by greed or fanaticism or both. They find eager customers in outlaw regimes, which pay millions for the parts and plans they need to speed up their weapons programs. And with deadly technology and expertise on the market, there's the terrible possibility that terrorists groups could obtain the ultimate weapons they desire most. The extent and sophistication of such networks can be seen in the case of a man named Abdul Qadeer Khan. This is the story as we know it so far. A.Q. Khan is known throughout the world as the father of Pakistan's nuclear weapons program. What was not publicly known until recently is that he also led an extensive international network for the proliferation of nuclear technology and know how. For decades, Mr. Khan remained on the Pakistani Government payroll, earning a modest salary. Yet, he and his associates financed lavish lifestyles through the sale of nuclear technologies and equipment to outlaw regimes stretching from North Africa to the Korean Peninsula. A.Q. Khan, himself, operated mostly out of Pakistan. He served as director of the network, its leading scientific mind as well as its primary salesman. Over the past decade, he made frequent trips to consult with his clients and to sell his expertise. He and his associates sold the blueprints for centrifuges to enrich uranium as well as nuclear designs stolen from the Pakistani Government. The network sold uranium hexafluoride, the gas that the centrifuge process can transform into enriched uranium for nuclear bombs. Khan and his associates provided Iran and Libya and North Korea with designs for Pakistan's older centrifuges as well as designs for more advanced and efficient models. The network also provided these countries with components and, in some cases, with complete centrifuges. To increase their profits, Khan and his associates used a factory in Malaysia to manufacture key parts for centrifuges. Other necessary parts were purchased through network operatives based in Europe, in the Middle East, and Africa. These procurement agents saw the trade in nuclear technologies as a shortcut to personal wealth, and they set up front companies to deceive legitimate firms into selling them tightly controlled materials. Khan's deputy, a man named B.S.A. Tahir, ran SMB Computers, a business in Dubai. Tahir used that computer company as a front for the proliferation activities of the A.Q. Khan network. Tahir acted as both the network's chief financial officer and money launderer. He was also its shipping agent, using his computer firm as cover for the movement of centrifuge parts to various clients. Tahir directed the Malaysia facility to produce these parts based on Pakistani designs and then ordered the facility to ship the components to Dubai. Tahir also arranged for parts acquired by other European procurement agents to transit through Dubai for shipment to other customers. This picture of the Khan network was pieced together over several years by American and British intelligence officers. Our intelligence services gradually uncovered this network's reach and identified its key experts and agents and money men. Operatives followed its transactions, mapped the extent of its operations. They monitored the travel of A.Q. Khan and senior associates. They shadowed members of the network around the world. They recorded their conversations. They penetrated their operations. We've uncovered their secrets. This work involved high risk, and all Americans can be grateful for the hard work and the dedication of our fine intelligence professionals. Governments around the world worked closely with us to unravel the Khan network and to put an end to his criminal enterprise. A.Q. Khan has confessed his crimes, and his top associates are out of business. The Government of Pakistan is interrogating the network's members, learning critical details that will help them prevent it from ever operating again. President Musharraf has promised to share all the information he learns about the Khan network and has assured us that his country will never again be a source of proliferation. Mr. Tahir is in Malaysia, where authorities are investigating his activities. Malaysian authorities have assured us that the factory the network used is no longer producing centrifuge parts. Other members of the network remain at large. One by one, they will be found, and their careers in the weapons trade will be ended. As a result of our penetration of the network, American and the British intelligence identified a shipment of advanced centrifuge parts manufactured at the Malaysian facility. We followed the shipment of these parts to Dubai and watched as they were transferred to the BBC China, a German owned ship. After the ship passed through the Suez Canal, bound for Libya, it was stopped by German and Italian authorities. They found several containers, each 40 feet in length, listed on the ship's manifest as full of used machine parts. In fact, these containers were filled with parts of sophisticated centrifuges. The interception of the BBC China came as Libyan and British and American officials were discussing the possibility of Libya ending its WMD programs. The United States and Britain confronted Libyan officials with this evidence of an active and illegal nuclear program. About 2 months ago, Libya's leader voluntarily agreed to end his nuclear and chemical weapons programs, not to pursue biological weapons, and to permit thorough inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. We're now working in partnership with these organizations and with the United Kingdom to help the Government of Libya dismantle those programs and eliminate all dangerous materials. Colonel Qadhafi made the right decision, and the world will be safer once his commitment is fulfilled. We expect other regimes to follow his example. Abandoning the pursuit of illegal weapons can lead to better relations with the United States and other free nations. Continuing to seek those weapons will not bring security or international prestige but only political isolation, economic hardship, and other unwelcomed consequences. We know that Libya was not the only customer of the Khan network. Other countries expressed great interest in their services. These regimes and other proliferators like Khan should know We and our friends are determined to protect our people and the world from proliferation. Breaking this network is one major success in a broadbased effort to stop the spread of terrible weapons. We're adjusting our strategies to the threats of a new era. America and the nations of Australia, France and Germany, Italy and Japan, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and the United Kingdom have launched the Proliferation Security Initiative to interdict lethal materials in transit. Our nations are sharing intelligence information, tracking suspect international cargo, conducting joint military exercises. We're prepared to search planes and ships, to seize weapons and missiles and equipment that raise proliferation concerns, just as we did in stopping the dangerous cargo on the BBC China before it reached Libya. Three more governments, Canada and Singapore and Norway, will be participating in this initiative. We'll continue to expand the core group of PSI countries. And as PSI grows, proliferators will find it harder than ever to trade in illicit weapons. There is a consensus among nations that proliferation cannot be tolerated. Yet this consensus means little unless it is translated into action. Every civilized nation has a stake in preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction. These materials and technologies and the people who traffic in them cross many borders. To stop this trade, the nations of the world must be strong and determined. We must work together. We must act effectively. Today I announce seven proposals to strengthen the world's efforts to stop the spread of deadly weapons. First, I propose that the work of the Proliferation Security Initiative be expanded to address more than shipments and transfers. Building on the tools we've developed to fight terrorists, we can take direct action against proliferation networks. We need greater cooperation, not just among intelligence and military services but in law enforcement as well. PSI participants and other willing nations should use the Interpol and all other means to bring to justice those who traffic in deadly weapons, to shut down their labs, to seize their materials, to freeze their assets. We must act on every lead. We will find the middlemen, the suppliers, and the buyers. Our message to proliferators must be consistent, and it must be clear We will find you, and we're not going to rest until you are stopped. Second, I call on all nations to strengthen the laws and international controls that govern proliferation. At the U.N. last fall, I proposed a new Security Council resolution requiring all states to criminalize proliferation, enact strict export controls, and secure all sensitive materials within their borders. The Security Council should pass this proposal quickly. And when they do, America stands ready to help other governments to draft and enforce the new laws that will help us deal with proliferation. Third, I propose to expand our efforts to keep weapons from the cold war and other dangerous materials out of the wrong hands. In 1991, Congress passed the Nunn Lugar legislation. Senator Lugar had a clear vision, along with Senator Nunn, about what to do with the old Soviet Union. Under this program, we're helping former Soviet states find productive employment for former weapons scientists. We're dismantling, destroying, and securing weapons and materials left over from the Soviet WMD arsenal. We have more work to do there. And as a result of the G 8 Summit in 2002, we agreed to provide 20 billion over 10 years, half of it from the United States, to support such programs. We should expand this cooperation elsewhere in the world. We will retain WMD scientists and technicians in countries like Iraq and Libya. We will help nations end the use of weapons grade uranium in research reactors. I urge more nations to contribute to these efforts. The nations of the world must do all we can to secure and eliminate nuclear and chemical and biological and radiological materials. As we track and destroy these networks, we must also prevent governments from developing nuclear weapons under false pretenses. The Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty was designed more than 30 years ago to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons beyond those states which already possessed them. Under this treaty, nuclear states agreed to help nonnuclear states develop peaceful atomic energy if they renounced the pursuit of nuclear weapons. But the treaty has a loophole which has been exploited by nations such as North Korea and Iran. These regimes are allowed to produce nuclear material that can be used to build bombs under the cover of civilian nuclear programs. So today, as a fourth step, I propose a way to close the loophole. The world must create a safe, orderly system to fuel civilian nuclear plants without adding to the danger of weapons proliferation. The world's leading nuclear exporters should ensure that states have reliable access at reasonable cost to fuel for civilian reactors, so long as those states renounce enrichment and reprocessing. Enrichment and reprocessing are not necessary for nations seeking to harness nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. The 40 nations of the Nuclear Suppliers Group should refuse to sell enrichment and reprocessing equipment and technologies to any state that does not already possess full scale, functioning enrichment and reprocessing plants. This step will prevent new states from developing the means to produce fissile material for nuclear bombs. Proliferators must not be allowed to cynically manipulate the NPT to acquire the material and infrastructure necessary for manufacturing illegal weapons. For international norms to be effective, they must be enforced. It is the charge of the International Atomic Energy Agency to uncover banned nuclear activity around the world and report those violations to the U.N. Security Council. We must ensure that the IAEA has all the tools it needs to fulfill its essential mandate. America and other nations support what is called the Additional Protocol, which requires states to declare a broad range of nuclear activities and facilities and allow the IAEA to inspect those facilities. As a fifth step, I propose that by next year, only states that have signed the Additional Protocol be allowed to import equipment for their civilian nuclear programs. Nations that are serious about fighting proliferation will approve and implement the Additional Protocol. I've submitted the Additional Protocol to the Senate. I urge the Senate to consent immediately to its ratification. We must also ensure that the IAEA is organized to take action when action is required. So, a sixth step, I propose the creation of a special committee of the IAEA Board which will focus intensively on safeguards and verification. This committee, made up of governments in good standing with the IAEA, will strengthen the capability of the IAEA to ensure that nations comply with their international obligations. And finally, countries under investigation for violating nuclear nonproliferation obligations are currently allowed to serve on the IAEA Board of Governors. For instance, Iran, a country suspected of maintaining an extensive nuclear weapons program, recently completed a 2 year term on the Board. Allowing potential violators to serve on the Board creates an unacceptable barrier to effective action. No state under investigation for proliferation violations should be allowed to serve on the IAEA Board of Governors or on the new special committee. And any state currently on the Board that comes under investigation should be suspended from the Board. The integrity and mission of the IAEA depends on this simple principle Those actively breaking the rules should not be entrusted with enforcing the rules. As we move forward to address these challenges, we will consult with our friends and allies on all these new measures. We will listen to their ideas. Together, we will defend the safety of all nations and preserve the peace of the world. Over the last 2 years, a great coalition has come together to defeat terrorism and to oppose the spread of weapons of mass destruction, the inseparable commitments of the war on terror. We've shown that proliferators can be discovered and can be stopped. We've shown that for regimes that choose defiance, there are serious consequences. The way ahead is not easy, but it is clear. We will proceed as if the lives of our citizens depend on our vigilance, because they do. Terrorists and terror states are in a race for weapons of mass murder, a race they must lose. Terrorists are resourceful. We're more resourceful. They're determined. We must be more determined. We will never lose focus or resolve. We'll be unrelenting in the defense of free nations and rise to the hard demands of dangerous times. May God bless you all. February 09, 2004 The President. Jack, thanks for having me. I want to thank the good folks who work here for allowing us to disrupt your day to talk about our economy and how it works. And hopefully out of this discussion, people will learn better how people make decisions, decisions with their own money or decisions with investors' money. I hope people come away from this discussion with this great sense of optimism about the future for our country. It's exactly what I believe. I believe we ought to be applause . So this ought to be a lot of fun. I am thrilled to be here with the two United States Senators from Missouri, Kit Bond and Jim Talent. I appreciate their friendship and thank them for coming. Congressman Roy Blunt, who you know well, is with us today. He's a man who knows a good deal. I said, "Would you like to fly down to your hometown on Air Force One?" Laughter Guess what his answer was? Laughter I appreciate the mayor coming, Tom Carlson. Mr. Mayor, thank you for being here. Fill the potholes. Laughter Sorry, Mr. Mayor, you didn't ask for any advice. Laughter I also want to thank the other State and local officials and community and business leaders for coming here. Thank you all for coming as well. Before I begin to talk a little bit about the economy and then of course have our panelists talk about what they think and some of the decisionmaking they made, I want to introduce a fellow who you may or may not know. His name is Travis Morrison. Travis, why don't you stand up right quick. Applause I guess you know Travis. Laughter I didn't until I arrived, but I know a lot of people like Travis. See, Travis is a person who takes time out of his life to volunteer in your community. When the tornadoes hit here, he went up to help those who suffered. When people are looking for food, particularly children, he's willing to take time out of his life to fill the knapsacks full of food for the kids. He walks for the March of Dimes. He works for the United Way. He's a soldier in the army of compassion. A lot of times, this country talks about our strengths, and we should. We talk about the military strength of America, and that's important, and we're going to keep us strong. We talk about how fat our wallets may be, and that's important too. But the true strength of America is found in the hearts and souls of people like Travis, people who are willing to love their neighbor just like they'd like to love themselves. I like to talk about the Travis Morrisons of the world because everybody can be an army a soldier in the army of compassion. Everybody can make a difference. This country's strength is found in the faith centers and neighborhoods and community centers, where people help somebody who hurts. And one of my jobs is to lift that spirit of America and invigorate it and to call people to action. One of the best ways to do so is to remind people that in Springfield, Missouri, there are thousands of people like Travis, and if you want to help your community, help make somebody's life a little brighter. Travis, thanks for what you do. Thanks for being a solid, sound American by volunteering to help somebody who hurts. Speaking about strengths, our country has been through a lot over the last 3 years. I just want you to think about what the economy has been through. In March of 2000, the stock market started to decline. And that matters if you own stocks, and a lot of you do. You own them through your retirement accounts, for example. It's the indication of the rough times ahead. See, when a stock market sometimes indicates is a predictor of the future, and sure enough, in the first quarter of 2001, the country was in a recession. And when you're in a recession, it means somebody is not going to be able to work. Things are going backwards. The economy is in decline. People are starting to get laid off. There's a lot of uncertainty out there. People just aren't sure what their future looks like. It's tough times when the country is in a recession. We started to recover from the recession, and then we got attacked on September the 11th, 2001. In other words, we had tough economic times to begin with, and then the enemy hit us. And that changed us. It really did. It hurt us economically. It changed our whole outlook about the world. Perhaps by now, you're beginning to get an impression of how it changed my outlook. It changed the way I look at the threats to America. It reminded me that my most important duty, my most solemn obligation, is to protect our country and the people. I'll never forget the lessons of September the 11th, and when I see a grave and gathering threat to the United States, we will deal with it. We will deal with it for the good of our country. The war on terror goes on, unfortunately, but we're going to win. We're going to win because America is tough and strong and disciplined and patient. We'll win because we've got fabulous men and women in the United States military who are willing to sacrifice for our own security and for the freedom. And then, after we settled in with the new reality of the world, we discovered that some of the corporate citizens in America forgot what it meant to be a responsible citizen. See, when you're a CEO of a corporation, you have a responsibility. Jack knows that, and I suspect he might talk about at least when he talks, you'll hear he recognizes that. But we had some people in this country who didn't tell the truth to their shareholders and their employees. By the way, we passed laws and I want to thank the Senators and the Congressmen who are here we passed laws, and now they know there will be a consequence in America for not telling the truth. We expect people in positions of responsibility, in CEO America, in corporate America, to be honest to their shareholders and their employees. That affected the people's confidence. Make no mistake about it. When we started reading that some of these CEOs of publicly held companies lied with the numbers, it affected people's confidence. And then, of course, as you know, I made the tough decision to secure America by after having gone to the United Nations and after having worked to given Mr. Saddam Hussein a chance to disarm himself, to do what the world had demanded, we went and disarmed him. The march to war affected the people's confidence. It's hard to make investment. See, if you're a small business owner or a large business owner and you're thinking about investing, you've got to be optimistic when you invest. Except when you're marching to war, it's not a very optimistic thought, is it? In other words, it's the opposite of optimistic when you're thinking you're going to war. War is not conducive to for investment. And so we've overcome a lot. And I say we've overcome a lot because we're growing. The growth is good. New jobs are being created. Interest rates are low. Homeownership in America is at one of the highest levels ever, and that's positive. People are owning their own home. A lot of it had to do with the fact that we cut your taxes, a lot of the reasons why this economy is growing. Make no mistake about it, the main reason the economy is growing is because the entrepreneurial spirit of America is strong and we've got the greatest workers in the world. But it helps when those workers have got more money in their pocket, and it helps when the small business owners have got more money in their coffers. And that's what tax relief does. See, when you cut the taxes for the people, you let them keep more of their own money. It means somebody is going to demand an additional good or a service, and when they demand an additional good or a service in our economy, somebody is going to produce that good or a service. And when somebody produces it, somebody is more likely to find work. And secondly, we did some smart things with the tax relief. We said, "If you have a child, you ought to get help with raising that child," so we increased the child credit to 1,000 per child. It says that we want the Tax Code to work the right way. We used to penalize marriage. That doesn't make any sense. We ought to be rewarding marriage in the Tax Code, and so there was a marriage penalty. We helped small businesses by encouraging them to invest. We cut the taxes on everybody. Sometimes in Washington you see them play favorites so and so gets a tax relief, so and so doesn't. My attitude is, if you're going to give tax relief, you ought to give it to everybody who pays taxes. And we did that, and it's helping. People got more money in their pocket to spend. You know what I'm talking about. Small businesses are feeling pretty good about their future, because there's incentives for them to invest. And by the way, it's very essential for you to understand that when you say cutting taxes on everybody who pays taxes in other words, you're reducing individual income tax rates that affects small business. Most small business owners are sole proprietorships or Sub chapter S corporations, which means they pay tax at the individual income tax rate. So when you hear us talking about cutting individual income taxes, think small business as well. And most new jobs in America are created by small businesses. It makes sense to invigorate the small business sector of this country. If you're worried about job creation, if you're worried about somebody finding work, it makes sense to stimulate the small business sector of this economy. And that's what we did. Now, I want to before we let Jack talk he's probably wondering whether or not I'm filibustering. Laughter I think that's what you call it in the Senate, isn't it? Yes. Anyway, I do want to talk to you real quick that this is one of the real challenges we face a couple of challenges. One, my attitude is, in order to make sure people can find work, that we need to open up markets for U.S. products. I believe we need to have tort reform so that these frivolous and junk lawsuits applause . I know we need tort reform particularly when it comes to health care. The costs of health care are going up dramatically. And that affects small business owners it affects employees. One cause of increasing health care costs is the frivolous lawsuits that are running these docs out of business, that are causing people to have to practice defensive medicine. We need medical liability reform now in Washington, DC. We need association health plans so small businesses can pool risk so they can better provide health insurance for their employees. We need health savings accounts. We've expanded them in the Medicare law, but I want people to understand they're available now. And it's a really good way for people to buy insurance, whether you're a small business owner and or an employee. People ought to look into health savings accounts. We want less regulation. We need an energy plan. We need to be less dependent on foreign sources of energy. If you're a business, you need to have reliable sources of energy available. But I don't know if you know this or not, but the tax relief we passed is set to expire, parts of it. And some of it's going to expire next year, in 2005. In other words, the child credit is going down in 2005 unless Congress acts. The marriage penalty is going back up in 2005 unless Congress acts. And that's going to be an interesting part of the national dialog. I believe we need to make the tax cuts permanent. There are some in Washington and they're going to say, "Let's not make the tax cuts permanent." That means it's going to raise your taxes. When you hear people say, "We're not going to make this permanent," that means tax increase. Now is not the time to raise taxes on the American people. This economy is getting better. We're showing good growth, good, strong growth. Yet, some in Washington want to raise your taxes. Make no mistake about it let me tell you what's going to happen when they raise them. They're going to say, "Oh, we've got to raise it so we can pay down the deficit." No. They're going to raise the taxes and increase the size of the Federal Government, which would be bad for the United States economy. People have got to understand and listen to the rhetoric carefully. When they say, "We're going to repeal Bush's tax cuts," that means they're going to raise your taxes. And that's wrong, and that's bad economics. Anyway, that's enough from me. Laughter Jack Stack. I'm stimulated, stimulated. The President. I'm not interested in you being stimulated I'm interested in the economy being stimulated. Laughter And since you're an entrepreneur laughter . See, one of the things that's fabulous about this country is people can start their own business. We want people owning something in America. We want you owning your home. We want you owning your own business. We want you owning your retirement account or your health care plan. We want you managing your affairs. And Jack understands what it means to own something. He's an entrepreneur. He's a risktaker. And as a result of being an entrepreneur and a risktaker and somebody who has actually made it happen in a positive way, he's also an employer. He's hiring people. So, Jack, thanks for your letting me come by. Mr. Stack. It's nice to have you here. You are definitely the toughest act to follow I've ever had in my entire life. Laughter The President. I think you can handle it. At this point, Mr. Stack, chief executive officer, Springfield ReManufacturing Corp., made brief remarks. The President. Thanks for your vision. Mr. Stack. Thank you. The President. He said "bonus depreciation." That means that it was the tax relief passed by Congress encouraged him to invest. When he buys a piece of equipment, somebody has to make the equipment, which means somebody is more likely to find a job. So when Jack makes a decision to buy a piece of equipment, based upon the tax relief, he really says, "I'm going to not only help my workers become more productive which means better pay over time but it means somebody is going to have to make the equipment." And that's how the economy works. It's an economy that responds to the decisionmaking processes of a lot of people around the world like Jack. He said he's going to add employees. That's great. That's what I'm hearing all over the country. You know, 10 people here, 15 people there, but it adds up in America. It adds up because there's a lot of entrepreneurs and a lot of small businesses. In order to figure out how this economy is going to do and whether or not to be upbeat about it, just listen to the businessowners, the small business owners who are on the leading edge of hiring folks. We've got a fellow here named Mike Sadler. Mike is the president of Custom Manufacturing and Polishing. Why don't you tell us what you do. Mike Sadler made brief remarks. The President. Mike's company is a Sub chapter S. That's a legal term for they pay tax at the individual income tax rate. So when you hear people talking about reducing the individual income tax rates, you're really cutting taxes on his business as well. That's important if you're interested in job growth because he has got more money in his coffers, money that will enable him to more likely hire somebody as the demand for his products stays strong, money that will enable him to pay for health care benefits for employees. In other words, money available in the private sector and particularly in the small business coffers is money that's going to be put to good use. It's money that's going to make it easier for somebody to find a job. And I'm telling you, Congress should not raise the taxes on people that are creating jobs and of people that are spending this money wisely. So I want to thank you, Mike, for coming. I appreciate your entrepreneurial spirit. You hiring anybody this year? Mr. Sadler. We're probably going to get two or three, yet, this year. The President. Two here or three there, all of a sudden, it starts adding up all across the country. Tricia is with us. Tricia Derges is the president and CEO of Mostly Memories. It's an interesting name. Tricia Derges. It's an interesting company. The President. All right, well, tell us about it. Ms. Derges made brief remarks. The President. Good. Let me just pick up a couple of things she said. One, she is going to invest. I don't want to get repetitive, but I'm going to somebody has got to make the conveyor belt. That's how the economy works. When your people talk about stimulating the economy, tax relief encourages her to make a decision, and that decision then affects somebody's ability to find work. Secondly, she talked about people who have been laid off. One of the most important things our society must do is to train people for jobs which exist. And I hope that the State of Missouri uses the community college system here in a way that says, "Let's devise curriculum based upon the needs of the employers, so that people can find work." We've constantly got to upgrade the skills of our fellow citizens. As this economy changes, people need to get learn new skills. And the best place to do that is a place like the community college. That's why I've called on Congress to provide money for job training. And I'm sure you had to help these people learn their jobs. But it's amazing what happens when people are able to gain new skills and a new lease on life, be more productive as a worker. Higher productivity means better pay. I'll never forget meeting a lady in Arizona, where she told me that she had worked 15 years as a graphic artist, went to community college, took some courses, then got employed by a high tech company and makes more in her first year in her new job as she did after 15 years in her old job. And so education provides ample opportunity for new workers if it's done right. And the best way to do it is to trust the local people to put a curriculum in place to train people for jobs which actually exist. Mr. Mayor, this is a good way to recruit business, by the way, is if you've got a good worker training program so that the employers know that they can find somebody who can do the job. Speaking about people doing the job, Gary Brown is with us. He's a warehouse supervisor here at SRC Automotive. Thanks for being with us. You've got kids. You've got Gary Brown. Yes, a lot of kids. The President. How many have you got? Mr. Brown. I have four kids. The President. That is a lot. Laughter Mr. Brown made brief remarks. The President. He got tax relief. See, everybody who pays taxes got tax relief. They told me about 3,000. Mr. Brown. That's right. The President. That may not sound like a lot might not sound a lot to somebody. It's a lot to him. Mr. Brown. Yes, it is. The President. Sounds like a lot to me. Mr. Brown. Yes, and if we continue going down that road, it's only going to help us to my wife is a stay at home mom. We home school all our kids, and we'd like to continue that The President. Congratulations. Mr. Brown. and hopefully keep them home schooled and with a good education. The President. Yes, that's a first of all, Mom, you're doing that's tough. Laughter But it's I appreciate that. I appreciate the idea of you wanting to give your children the education from you and the mom. Tax relief helps 3,000 makes it a little easier for mom to stay at home, to help them meet their dreams and aspirations. I'm going to tell you what's going to happen if Congress doesn't make this permanent. When the child credit goes back down, this man and his family are going to pay 1,500 more let me rephrase that instead of 3,000 a year, they're only going to receive 1,500 a year from the Government. That's like a 1,500 tax increase. Now is not the time for Congress to be raising taxes on the people. Mr. Brown. To put some talk about my wife a little bit. One thing she also does is she also takes care of my nephew, whose mom is right now serving in the 203d Engineer Battalion in Iraq. The President. Fabulous. Yes, thanks. I appreciate that. Pass the word, the Commander in Chief is incredibly proud. Mr. Brown. I will. Thank you. The President. Thank her for her service. And you might remind her, when Iraq is free and democratic and peaceful, it will change the world. These are historic times. These are times where we have a chance to define a more peaceful world for our children. I mean, we'll keep America secure by taking making the tough decisions, by speaking clearly, and by being strong. But it's also important for our fellow citizens and people who wear our uniform can attest to this that a free Iraq in the midst of a part of the world where there's such hatred, such despondency and hopelessness, will be an historic moment for world peace. See, free societies are peaceful societies. People need to see what can happen when there's a free society. And you tell your relative Mr. Brown. Sister. The President. Sister. You tell your sister, thanks a lot, and it's a meaningful sacrifice she is making. Mr. Brown. Thank you. The President. Teresa, thanks for coming. Teresa Noblitt. It's an honor to be here with you. The President. You don't have a big family, do you? Ms. Noblitt. Yes. The President. How many kids? Ms. Noblitt. Four. Laughter The President. It seems to be running here is this company policy? Laughter You've got five six three. Tell us about yourself. You're an accountant? Ms. Noblitt, accountant, SRC Automotive, made brief remarks. The President. Yes, that's good. See, one of the things she's saying is that with the tax relief, means she can save more money and put it aside for her kids' education. That's noble and important. See, tax relief can be used to spend, and that's good, because it increases consumer demand, but tax relief also is being saved by a lot of our families, and that savings are really important in a society that rests upon the flow of capital. Savings actually is capital to be invested so people can find work. Tax relief is vital. This family received 2,700 in tax relief this year, every year, unless Congress, of course, doesn't act. When the child credit goes down and the marriage penalty goes up, which is going to happen in '05 unless this Congress acts, makes a decision, does what is right, this good family will pay 1,300 have 1,300 less in money to spend. And it means people in Congress will be spending it. Now, we've got plenty of money in Washington. I would rather have Teresa making the decision with that 1,300 than the people in Congress. She makes wise decisions with her money. I hope you've enjoyed the conversation. I have. One of the things that you hear if you listen carefully to what these folks are saying is that Government policies can make a difference in people's lives in a positive way. The entrepreneurial spirit in this country is strong. You've got people who started businesses out of garages and had people delivering goods in the streets, and they had to kick them out and make them go get a warehouse. Laughter A guy takes a huge risk on a giant debt to equity ratio and has succeeded. People buy the company. A man over here buys a company. This is I love the entrepreneurial spirit in the country, and tax policy has got to encourage it, and we're going to keep it strong here in America. The other thing you hear, mothers and dads doing their duty, being responsible citizens by loving their children. Government needs to stand with the moms and dads. We need to be squarely on their side, whether it be sending signals to professional sports teams, we're not going to put up with any you ought not to be putting up with any steroid use amongst your players. We ought to be supporting the moms and dads who are trying to teach their children the right lessons in life. We also ought to be supporting them, helping them raise their kids, and tax relief helps people raise their children. I'm glad you all came. I'm thrilled to be back in this part of our country, the great Springfield, Missouri. It's got good folks here, good, honest, down to earth, hard working people that really represent the backbone of America. I'm proud that you all sat up here today and shared your stories with us. I hope the people listening have a better sense of how this economy works. I hope the people listening come away with a great sense of optimism about the future of America, primarily because the great strength of America is the people of this country. And you just heard five good people talk about America and where we're headed. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless this country. February 07, 2004 TIM RUSSERT And we are in the Oval Office this morning with the President of the United States. Mr. President, welcome back to "Meet The Press." THE PRESIDENT Thank you, sir. RUSSERT On Friday, you announced a committee, commission to look into intelligence failures regarding the Iraq war and our entire intelligence community. You have been reluctant to do that for some time. Why? THE PRESIDENT Well, first let me kind of step back and talk about intelligence in general, if I might. Intelligence is a vital part of fighting and winning the war against the terrorists. It is because the war against terrorists is a war against individuals who hide in caves in remote parts of the world, individuals who have these kind of shadowy networks, individuals who deal with rogue nations. So, we need a good intelligence system. We need really good intelligence. So, the commission I set up is to obviously analyze what went right or what went wrong with the Iraqi intelligence. It was kind of lessons learned. But it's really set up to make sure the intelligence services provide as good a product as possible for future presidents as well. This is just a part of analyzing where we are on the war against terror. There is a lot of investigations going on about the intelligence service, particularly in the Congress, and that's good as well. The Congress has got the capacity to look at the intelligence gathering without giving away state secrets, and I look forward to all the investigations and looks. Again, I repeat to you, the capacity to have good intelligence means that a president can make good calls about fighting this war on terror. RUSSERT Prime Minister Blair has set up a similar commission in Great Britain. THE PRESIDENT Yeah. RUSSERT His is going to report back in July. THE PRESIDENT Right. RUSSERT Ours is not going to be until March of 2005, five months after the presidential election. THE PRESIDENT Yeah. RUSSERT Shouldn't the American people have the benefit of the commission before the election? THE PRESIDENT Well, the reason why we gave it time is because we didn't want it to be hurried. This is a strategic look, kind of a big picture look about the intelligence gathering capacities of the United States of America, whether it be the capacity to gather intelligence in North Korea or how we've used our intelligence to, for example, learn more information about A.Q. Khan. And it's important that this investigation take its time. Now, look, we are in a political season. I fully understand people He's trying to avoid responsibility. There is going to be ample time for the American people to assess whether or not I made a good calls, whether or not I used good judgment, whether or not I made the right decision in removing Saddam Hussein from power, and I look forward to that debate, and I look forward to talking to the American people about why I made the decisions I made. The commission I set up, Tim, is one that will help future presidents understand how best to fight the war on terror, and it's an important part of the kind of lessons learned in Iraq and lessons learned in Afghanistan prior to us going in, lessons learned that we can apply to both Iran and North Korea because we still have a dangerous world. And that's very important for, I think, the people to understand where I'm coming from to know that this is a dangerous world. I wish it wasn't. I'm a war president. I make decisions here in the Oval Office in foreign policy matters with war on my mind. Again, I wish it wasn't true, but it is true. And the American people need to know they got a president who sees the world the way it is. And I see dangers that exist, and it's important for us to deal with them. RUSSERT Will you testify before the commission? THE PRESIDENT This commission? You know, testify? I mean, I'd be glad to visit with them. I'd be glad to share with them knowledge. I'd be glad to make recommendations, if they ask for some. I'm interested in getting I'm interested in making sure the intelligence gathering works well. Listen, we got some fine let me let me, again, just give you a sense of where I am on the intelligence systems of America. First of all, I strongly believe the CIA is ably led by George Tenet. He comes and briefs me on a regular basis about what he and his analysts see in the world. RUSSERT His job is not in jeopardy? THE PRESIDENT No, not at all, not at all. We've got people working hard in intelligence gathering around the world to get as good an information as possible. Intelligence requires, you know, all kinds of assets to bring information to the President, and I want that intelligence service to be strong, viable, competent, confident, and provide good product to the President so I can make judgment calls. RUSSERT There's another commission right now looking into September 11th. THE PRESIDENT Yeah. RUSSERT Will you testify before that commission? THE PRESIDENT We have given extraordinary cooperation with Chairmen Kean and Hamilton. As you know, we made an agreement on what's called "Presidential Daily Briefs," so they could see the information the CIA provided me that is unique, by the way, to have provided what's called the PDB, because RUSSERT Presidential Daily Brief? THE PRESIDENT Right. And see, the danger of allowing for information that I get briefed on out in the public arena is that it could mean that the product that I receive or future presidents receive is somewhat guarded for fear of for fear of it being revealed, and for fear of people saying, "Well, you know, we're going to second guess that which you told the President." I need good, honest information, but we have shared this information with both those gentlemen, gentlemen I trust, so they could get a better picture of what took place prior to September the 11th. And again, we want I want the truth to be known. I want there to be a full analysis done so that we can better prepare the homeland, for example, against what might occur. And this is all in the context of war, and the more we learn about, you know, what took place in the past, the more we're going to be able to better prepare for future attacks. RUSSERT Would you submit for questioning, though, to the 9 11 Commission? THE PRESIDENT Perhaps, perhaps. RUSSERT Senator Charles Grassley, a Republican THE PRESIDENT Yes. RUSSERT said he is absolutely convinced we will capture Osama bin Laden before the election. THE PRESIDENT Well, I appreciate his optimism. I have no idea whether we will capture or bring him to justice, may be the best way to put it. I know we are on the hunt, and Osama bin Laden is a cold blooded killer, and he represents the nature of the enemy that we face. These are these are people that will kill on a moment's notice, and they'll kill innocent women and children. And he's hiding, and we're trying to find him. There's a I know there is a lot of focus on Iraq, and there should be, but we've got thousands of troops, agents, allies on the hunt, and we're doing a pretty good job of dismantling al Qaida better than a pretty good job, a very good job. I keep saying in my speeches, two thirds of known al Qaida leaders have been captured or killed, and that's the truth. RUSSERT Do we have a pretty good idea where Osama is? THE PRESIDENT You know, I'm not going to comment on that. RUSSERT Let me turn to Iraq. And this is the whole idea of what you based your decision to go to war on. THE PRESIDENT Sure, sure. RUSSERT The night you took the country to war, March 17th, you said this "Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised." THE PRESIDENT Right. RUSSERT That apparently is not the case. THE PRESIDENT Correct. RUSSERT How do you respond to critics who say that you brought the nation to war under false pretenses? THE PRESIDENT Yes. First of all, I expected to find the weapons. Sitting behind this desk making a very difficult decision of war and peace, and I based my decision on the best intelligence possible, intelligence that had been gathered over the years, intelligence that not only our analysts thought was valid but analysts from other countries thought were valid. And I made a decision based upon that intelligence in the context of the war against terror. In other words, we were attacked, and therefore every threat had to be reanalyzed. Every threat had to be looked at. Every potential harm to America had to be judged in the context of this war on terror. And I made the decision, obviously, to take our case to the international community in the hopes that we could do this achieve a disarmament of Saddam Hussein peacefully. In other words, we looked at the intelligence. And we remembered the fact that he had used weapons, which meant he had had weapons. We knew the fact that he was paying for suicide bombers. We knew the fact he was funding terrorist groups. In other words, he was a dangerous man. And that was the intelligence I was using prior to the run up to this war. Now, let me which is this is a vital question RUSSERT Nothing more important. THE PRESIDENT Vital question. And so we I expected there to be stockpiles of weapons. But David Kay has found the capacity to produce weapons. Now, when David Kay goes in and says we haven't found stockpiles yet, and there's theories as to where the weapons went. They could have been destroyed during the war. Saddam and his henchmen could have destroyed them as we entered into Iraq. They could be hidden. They could have been transported to another country, and we'll find out. That's what the Iraqi Survey Group let me let me finish here. But David Kay did report to the American people that Saddam had the capacity to make weapons. Saddam Hussein was dangerous with weapons. Saddam Hussein was dangerous with the ability to make weapons. He was a dangerous man in the dangerous part of the world. And I made the decision to go to the United Nations. By the way, quoting a lot of their data in other words, this is unaccounted for stockpiles that you thought he had because I don't think America can stand by and hope for the best from a madman, and I believe it is essential I believe it is essential that when we see a threat, we deal with those threats before they become imminent. It's too late if they become imminent. It's too late in this new kind of war, and so that's why I made the decision I made. RUSSERT Mr. President, the Director of the CIA said that his briefings had qualifiers and caveats, but when you spoke to the country, you said "there is no doubt." When Vice President Cheney spoke to the country, he said "there is no doubt." Secretary Powell, "no doubt." Secretary Rumsfeld, "no doubt, we know where the weapons are." You said, quote, "The Iraqi regime is a threat of unique urgency." "Saddam Hussein is a threat that we must deal with as quickly as possible." You gave the clear sense that this was an immediate threat that must be dealt with. THE PRESIDENT I think, if I might remind you that in my language I called it a grave and gathering threat, but I don't want to get into word contests. But what I do want to share with you is my sentiment at the time. There was no doubt in my mind that Saddam Hussein was a danger to America. No doubt. RUSSERT In what way? THE PRESIDENT Well, because he had the capacity to have a weapon, make a weapon. We thought he had weapons. The international community thought he had weapons. But he had the capacity to make a weapon and then let that weapon fall into the hands of a shadowy terrorist network. It's important for people to understand the context in which I made a decision here in the Oval Office. I'm dealing with a world in which we have gotten struck by terrorists with airplanes, and we get intelligence saying that there is, you know, we want to harm America. And the worst nightmare scenario for any president is to realize that these kind of terrorist networks had the capacity to arm up with some of these deadly weapons, and then strike us. And the President of the United States' most solemn responsibility is to keep this country secure. And the man was a threat, and we dealt with him, and we dealt with him because we cannot hope for the best. We can't say, "Let's don't deal with Saddam Hussein. Let's hope he changes his stripes, or let's trust in the goodwill of Saddam Hussein. Let's let us, kind of, try to contain him." Containment doesn't work with a man who is a madman. And remember, Tim, he had used weapons against his own people. RUSSERT But can you launch a pre emptive war without iron clad, absolute intelligence that he had weapons of mass destruction? THE PRESIDENT Let me take a step back for a second and there is no such thing necessarily in a dictatorial regime of iron clad absolutely solid evidence. The evidence I had was the best possible evidence that he had a weapon. RUSSERT But it may have been wrong. THE PRESIDENT Well, but what wasn't wrong was the fact that he had the ability to make a weapon. That wasn't right. RUSSERT This is an important point because when you say that he has biological and chemical weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles THE PRESIDENT Which he had. RUSSERT and they could come and attack the United States, you're saying to the American people we have to deal now with a man who has these things. THE PRESIDENT That's exactly what I said. RUSSERT And if that's not the case, do you believe if you had gone to the Congress and said he should be removed because he's a threat to his people but I'm not sure he has weapons of mass destruction, Congress would authorize war? THE PRESIDENT I went to Congress with the same intelligence Congress saw the same intelligence I had, and they looked at exactly what I looked at, and they made an informed judgment based upon the information that I had. The same information, by the way, that my predecessor had. And all of us, you know, made this judgment that Saddam Hussein needed to be removed. You mentioned "pre emption." If I might, I went to the United Nations and said, "Here is what we know, you know, at this moment, and you need to act. After all, you are the body that issued resolution after resolution after resolution, and he ignored those resolutions." So, in other words, when you say "pre emption," it almost sounds like, "Well, Mr. President, you decided to move." What I decided to do was to go to the international community and see if we could not disarm Saddam Hussein peacefully through international pressure. You remember U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441 clearly stated "show us your arms and destroy them, or your programs and destroy them." And we said, "There are serious consequences if you don't" and that was a unanimous verdict. In other words, the worlds of the U.N. Security Council said we're unanimous and you're a danger. So, it wasn't just me and the United States. The world thought he was dangerous and needed to be disarmed. And, of course, he defied the world once again. In my judgment, when the United States says there will be serious consequences, and if there isn't serious consequences, it creates adverse consequences. People look at us and say, they don't mean what they say, they are not willing to follow through. And by the way, by clearly stating policy, whether it be in Afghanistan or stating the policy that we expect you, Mr. Saddam Hussein, to disarm, your choice to disarm, but if you don't, there will be serious consequences in following through, it has had positive effects in the world. Libya, for example, there was an positive effect in Libya where Moammar Khaddafy voluntarily disclosed his weapons programs and agreed to dismantle dismantle them, and the world is a better place as a result of that. And the world is a safer and better place as a result of Saddam Hussein not being in power. RUSSERT There's a sense in the country that the intelligence that was given was ambiguous, and that you took it and molded it and shaped it your opponents have said "hyped" it and rushed to war. THE PRESIDENT Yeah. RUSSERT And now, in the world, if you, in the future, say we must go into North Korea or we must go into Iran because they have nuclear capability, either this country or the world will say, "Excuse you, Mr. President, we want it now in hard, cold facts." THE PRESIDENT Well, Tim, I and my team took the intelligence that was available to us and we analyzed it, and it clearly said Saddam Hussein was a threat to America. Now, I know I'm getting repetitive, but I'm just trying to make sure you understand the context in which I was making decisions. He had used weapons. He had manufactured weapons. He had funded suicide bombers into Israel. He had terrorist connections. In other words, all of those ingredients said to me Threat. The fundamental question is Do you deal with the threat once you see it? What in the war on terror, how do you deal with threats? I dealt with the threat by taking the case to the world and said, "Let's deal with this. We must deal with it now." I repeat to you what I strongly believe that inaction in Iraq would have emboldened Saddam Hussein. He could have developed a nuclear weapon over time I'm not saying immediately, but over time which would then have put us in what position? We would have been in a position of blackmail. In other words, you can't rely upon a madman, and he was a madman. You can't rely upon him making rational decisions when it comes to war and peace, and it's too late, in my judgment, when a madman who has got terrorist connections is able to act. RUSSERT But there are lots of madmen in the world, Fidel Castro ... THE PRESIDENT True. RUSSERT ... in Iran, in North Korea, in Burma, and yet we don't go in and take down those governments. THE PRESIDENT Correct, and I could that's a legitimate question as to why we like felt we needed to use force in Iraq and not in North Korea. And the reason why I felt like we needed to use force in Iraq and not in North Korea, because we had run the diplomatic string in Iraq. As a matter of fact, failed diplomacy could embolden Saddam Hussein in the face of this war we're in. In Iraq I mean, in North Korea, excuse me, the diplomacy is just beginning. We're making good progress in North Korea. As I've said in my speeches, every situation requires a different response and a different analysis, and so in Iran there is no question they're in danger, but the international community is now trying to convince Iran to get rid of its nuclear weapons program. And on the Korean peninsula, now the United States and China, along with South Korea and Japan and Russia, are sending a clear message to Kim Jung Il, if you are interested in a different relationship, disclose and destroy your program in a transparent way. In other words, the policy of this administration is to be is to be clear and straightforward and to be realistic about the different threats that we face. RUSSERT On Iraq, the vice president said, "we would be greeted as liberators." THE PRESIDENT Yeah. RUSSERT It's now nearly a year, and we are in a very difficult situation. Did we miscalculate how we would be treated and received in Iraq? THE PRESIDENT Well, I think we are welcomed in Iraq. I'm not exactly sure, because the tone of your question is, we're not. We are welcomed in Iraq. RUSSERT Are you surprised by the level and intensity of resistance? THE PRESIDENT No, I'm not. And the reason I'm not surprised is because there are people in that part of the world who recognize what a free Iraq will mean in the war on terror. In other words, there are people who desperately want to stop the advance of freedom and democracy because freedom and democracy will be a powerful long term deterrent to terrorist activities. See, free societies are societies that don't develop weapons of mass terror and don't blackmail the world. If I could share some stories with you about some of the people I have seen from Iraq, the leaders from Iraq, there is no question in my mind that people that I have seen at least are thrilled with the activities we've taken. There is a nervousness about their future, however. RUSSERT If the Iraqi people choose THE PRESIDENT Well, let me finish on the nervousness. I don't want to leave it on that note. There's nervousness because they're not exactly sure what their form of government will look like, and there is you can understand why. In nine months' time, there's we're now saying, democracy must flourish. And as I recall from my history, it took us quite a while here in the United States, but nevertheless we are making progress. And so, when you see the debate and the discussion about freedom, those are welcoming signs as far as I'm concerned. People are saying how best to develop this system so that we're free and minority rights are protected. RUSSERT If the Iraqis choose, however, an Islamic extremist regime, would you accept that, and would that be better for the United States than Saddam Hussein? THE PRESIDENT They're not going to develop that. And the reason I can say that is because I'm very aware of this basic law they're writing. They're not going to develop that because right here in the Oval Office I sat down with Mr. Pachachi and Chalabi and al Hakim, people from different parts of the country that have made the firm commitment, that they want a constitution eventually written that recognizes minority rights and freedom of religion. I remember speaking to Mr. al Hakim here, who is a fellow who has lost 63 family members during the Saddam reign. His brother was one of the people that was assassinated early on in this past year. I expected to see a very bitter person. If 63 members of your family had been killed by a group of people, you'd be a little bitter. He obviously was concerned, but he I said, you know, "I'm a Methodist, what are my chances of success in your country and your vision?" And he said, "It's going to be a free society where you can worship freely." This is a Shiia fellow. And my only point to you is these people are committed to a pluralistic society. And it's not going to be easy. The road to democracy is bumpy. It's bumpy particularly because these are folks that have been terrorized, tortured, brutalized by Saddam Hussein. RUSSERT You do seem to have changed your mind from the 2000 campaign. In a debate, you said, "I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called 'nation building.'" THE PRESIDENT Yeah. RUSSERT We clearly are involved in nation building. THE PRESIDENT Right. And I also said let me put it in context. I'm not suggesting you're pulling one of these Washington tricks where you leave half the equation out. But I did say also that our troops must be trained and prepared to fight and win war and, therefore, make peace more possible. And our troops were trained to fight and win war, and we did, and a second phase of the war is now going on. The first phase, of course, was the Tommy Franks troop movement. RUSSERT But this is nation building. THE PRESIDENT Well, it is. That's right, but we're also fighting a war so that they can build a nation. And crosstalk the war is against terrorists and disgruntled Baathists who are saying we had it good in the past, and therefore we don't want this new society to spring up because they have no faith in democracy, and the terrorists who want to stop the advance of freedom. And if I might, people say to me, "OK, you made a judgment as to how to secure America for the short term with the Taliban and with Saddam Hussein, and with staying on the hunt for al Qaida, but what about the long term?" Which is a legitimate question. And the best way to secure America for the long term is to promote freedom and a free society and to encourage democracy. And we're doing so in a part of the world where people say it can't happen, but the long term vision and the long term hope is and I believe it's going to happen is that a free Iraq will help change the Middle East. You may have heard me say we have a forward strategy of freedom in the Middle East. It's because I believe so strongly that freedom is etched in everybody's heart I believe that and I believe this country must continue to lead. RUSSERT Are you now willing to allow the United Nations to play a central role in the reconstruction? THE PRESIDENT In the recon in spending our money, no. They don't want to spend our money, the money that was appropriated by the United States Congress I think you're talking about, but they will play a vital role in helping the Iraqis determine the proper course to democracy. RUSSERT In transferring power, the U.N. will play a central role? THE PRESIDENT Yeah. I call it a vital role because there is a lot of roles being played by different players, but the U.N. will play and this role is a very important role. It says to the Iraqi citizens who again are trying to figure out the right balance as they head toward this new democracy after years of after years of being enslaved by a tyrant how best to do this, and I think it's very helpful to have the stamp of the international community be placed upon the political process. In terms of reconstruction, of course we want the international community to participate, and they are. There's a lot of participation by the international community in restoring this infrastructure of the country of Iraq that Saddam Hussein had just totally I shouldn't say "totally," but destroyed a lot of. RUSSERT Before we take a break, now that we have determined there are probably not these stockpiles of weapons that we had thought, and the primary rationale for the war had been to disarm Saddam Hussein, Paul Wolfowitz, the Deputy Defense Secretary, said that you had settled on weapons of mass destruction as an issue we could agree on, but there were three. "One was the weapons of mass destruction, the second is the support for terrorism, and third is Saddam's criminal treatment of his Iraqi people." He said the "third one by itself is a reason to help Iraqis but it's not a reason to put American kids' lives at risk, certainly not on the scale we did." THE PRESIDENT Um hmm. RUSSERT Now looking back, in your mind, is it worth the loss of 530 American lives and 3,000 injuries and woundings simply to remove Saddam Hussein, even though there were no weapons of mass destruction? THE PRESIDENT Every life is precious. Every person that is willing to sacrifice for this country deserves our praise, and yes. RUSSERT Do you think THE PRESIDENT Let me finish. RUSSERT Please. THE PRESIDENT It's essential that I explain this properly to the parents of those who lost their lives. Saddam Hussein was dangerous, and I'm not gonna leave him in power and trust a madman. He's a dangerous man. He had the ability to make weapons at the very minimum. For the parents of the soldiers who have fallen who are listening, David Kay, the weapons inspector, came back and said, "In many ways Iraq was more dangerous than we thought." It's we're in a war against these terrorists who will bring great harm to America, and I've asked these young ones to sacrifice for that. A free Iraq will change the world. It's historic times. A free Iraq will make it easier for other children in our own country to grow up in a safer world because in the Middle East is where you find the hatred and violence that enables the enemy to recruit its killers. And, Tim, as you can tell, I've got a foreign policy that is one that believes America has a responsibility in this world to lead, a responsibility to lead in the war against terror, a responsibility to speak clearly about the threats that we all face, a responsibility to promote freedom, to free people from the clutches of barbaric people such as Saddam Hussein who tortured, mutilated there were mass graves that we have found a responsibility to fight AIDS, the pandemic of AIDS, and to feed the hungry. We have a responsibility. To me that is history's call to America. I accept the call and will continue to lead in that direction. RUSSERT In light of not finding the weapons of mass destruction, do you believe the war in Iraq is a war of choice or a war of necessity? THE PRESIDENT I think that's an interesting question. Please elaborate on that a little bit. A war of choice or a war of necessity? It's a war of necessity. We in my judgment, we had no choice when we look at the intelligence I looked at that says the man was a threat. And you know, we'll find out about the weapons of mass destruction that we all thought were there. That's part of the Iraqi Survey Group and the group I put together to look at. But again, I repeat to you, I don't want to sound like a broken record, but David Kay, who is the man who led the Iraqi Survey Group, who has now returned with an interim report, clearly said that the place was a dangerous place. When asked if President Bush had done had made the right decision, he said yes. In other words, the evidence we have uncovered thus far says we had no choice. RUSSERT We're going to take a quick break. THE PRESIDENT Thank you. RUSSERT We're going to come back and talk to the President a lot more about our world and our economy here at home and the presidential election of 2004. We're in the Oval Office with President George W. Bush. (Commercial) RUSSERT And we are back in the Oval Office talking to the President of the United States. Mr. President, this campaign is fully engaged. The chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Terence McAuliffe, said this last week "I look forward to that debate when John Kerry, a war hero with a chest full of medals, is standing next to George Bush, a man who was AWOL in the Alabama National Guard. He didn't show up when he should have showed up..." THE PRESIDENT Yeah. RUSSERT How do you respond? THE PRESIDENT Political season is here. I was I served in the National Guard. I flew F 102 aircraft. I got an honorable discharge. I've heard this I've heard this ever since I started running for office. I I put in my time, proudly so. I would be careful to not denigrate the Guard. It's fine to go after me, which I expect the other side will do. I wouldn't denigrate service to the Guard, though, and the reason I wouldn't, is because there are a lot of really fine people who have served in the National Guard and who are serving in the National Guard today in Iraq. RUSSERT The Boston Globe and the Associated Press have gone through some of the records and said there's no evidence that you reported to duty in Alabama during the summer and fall of 1972. THE PRESIDENT Yeah, they're they're just wrong. There may be no evidence, but I did report otherwise, I wouldn't have been honorably discharged. In other words, you don't just say "I did something" without there being verification. Military doesn't work that way. I got an honorable discharge, and I did show up in Alabama. RUSSERT You did were allowed to leave eight months before your term expired. Was there a reason? THE PRESIDENT Right. Well, I was going to Harvard Business School and worked it out with the military. RUSSERT When allegations were made about John McCain or Wesley Clark on their military records, they opened up their entire files. Would you agree to do that? THE PRESIDENT Yeah. Listen, these files I mean, people have been looking for these files for a long period of time, trust me, and starting in the 1994 campaign for governor. And I can assure you in the year 2000 people were looking for those files as well. Probably you were. And absolutely. I mean, I RUSSERT But you would allow pay stubs, tax records, anything to show that you were serving during that period? THE PRESIDENT Yeah. If we still have them, but I you know, the records are kept in Colorado, as I understand, and they scoured the records. And I'm just telling you, I did my duty, and it's politics, you know, to kind of ascribe all kinds of motives to me. But I have been through it before. I'm used to it. What I don't like is when people say serving in the Guard is is may not be a true service. RUSSERT But you authorize the release of everything to settle this? THE PRESIDENT Yes, absolutely. We did so in 2000, by the way. RUSSERT Were you favor of the war in Vietnam? THE PRESIDENT I supported my government. I did. And would have gone had my unit been called up, by the way. RUSSERT But you didn't volunteer or enlist to go. THE PRESIDENT No, I didn't. You're right. I served. I flew fighters and enjoyed it, and provided a service to our country. In those days we had what was called "air defense command," and it was a part of the air defense command system. The thing about the Vietnam War that troubles me as I look back was it was a political war. We had politicians making military decisions, and it is lessons that any president must learn, and that is to the set the goal and the objective and allow the military to come up with the plans to achieve that objective. And those are essential lessons to be learned from the Vietnam War. RUSSERT Let me turn to the economy. THE PRESIDENT Yes. RUSSERT And this is one of my charts that I would like to show you. THE PRESIDENT I was hoping to see one of them. RUSSERT The Bush Cheney first three years, the unemployment rate has gone up 33 percent, there has been a loss of 2.2 million jobs. We've gone from a 281 billion surplus to a 521 billion deficit. The debt has gone from 5.7 trillion, to 7 trillion up 23 percent. Based on that record, why should the American people rehire you as CEO? THE PRESIDENT Sure, because I have been the President during a time of tremendous stress on our economy and made the decisions necessary to lead that would enhance recovery. Let me review the bidding here. The stock market started to decline in March of 2000. That was the first sign that things were troubled. The recession started upon my arrival. It could have been some say February, some say March, some speculate maybe earlier it started, but nevertheless it happened as we showed up here. The attacks on our country affected our economy. Corporate scandals affected the confidence of people and therefore affected the economy. My decision on Iraq, this kind of march to war, affected the economy, but we have been through a lot. And what those numbers show is the fact we have been through a lot. But what the people must understand is that instead of wondering what to do, I acted, and I acted by cutting the taxes on individuals and small businesses, primarily. And that, itself, has led to this recovery. So, you show that the numbers kind of I'm not suggesting the chart only shows the bad numbers, but how about the fact that we are now increasing jobs or the fact that unemployment is now down to 5.6 percent? There was a winter recession and unemployment went up, and now it's heading in the right direction. The economic stimulus plan that I passed, or I asked the Congress to pass, and I worked with Congress to pass, is making a big difference. RUSSERT But when you proposed your first tax cut in 2001, you said this was going to generate 800,000 new jobs. Your tax cut of 2003, create a million new jobs. That has not happened. THE PRESIDENT Well, it's happening. It's happening. And there is good momentum when it comes to the creation of new jobs. Again, we have been through a lot. This economy has been through a lot, which is why I'm so optimistic about the future because I know what we have been through. And I look forward to debate on the economy because I think one of those things that's very important is that the entrepreneurial spirit of this country be strong and the small business sector be strong. And the policies I have laid out enhance entrepreneurship, they encourage small business creation, and I think this economy is coming around just right, frankly. RUSSERT The General Accounting Office, which are the nation's auditors THE PRESIDENT Yeah. RUSSERT have done a study of our finances. THE PRESIDENT Um hmm. RUSSERT And this is what your legacy will be to the next generation. It says that our "current fiscal policy is unsustainable." They did a computer simulation that shows that balancing the budget in 2040 could require either cutting total federal spending in half or doubling federal taxes. THE PRESIDENT Um hmm. RUSSERT How why, as a fiscal conservative as you like to call yourself, would you allow a 500 billion deficit and this kind of deficit disaster? THE PRESIDENT Sure. The budget I just proposed to the Congress cuts the deficit in half in five years. Now, I don't know what the assumptions are in the GAO report, but I do know that if Congress is wise with the people's money, we can cut the deficit in half. And at that point in time, as a percentage of GDP, the deficit will be relatively low. I agree with the assessment that we've got some long term financial issues we must look at, and that's one reason I asked Congress to deal with Medicare. I strongly felt that if we didn't have an element of competition, that if we weren't modern with the Medicare program, if we didn't incorporate what's called "health savings accounts" to encourage Americans to take more control over their healthcare decisions, we would have even a worse financial picture in the long run. I believe Medicare is going to not only make the system work better for seniors but is going to help the fiscal situation of our long term projection. We got to deal with Social Security as well. As you know, these entitlement programs need to be dealt with. We're dealing with some entitlement programs right now in the Congress. The highway bill. It's going to be an interesting test of fiscal discipline on both sides of the aisle. The Senate's is about 370, as I understand, 370 billion the House is at less than that but over 300 billion. And as you know, the budget I propose is about 256 billion. RUSSERT But your base conservatives and listen to Rush Limbaugh, the Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute, they're all saying you are the biggest spender in American history. THE PRESIDENT Well, they're wrong. RUSSERT Mr. President THE PRESIDENT If you look at the appropriations bills that were passed under my watch, in the last year of President Clinton, discretionary spending was up 15 percent, and ours have steadily declined. And the other thing that I think it's important for people who watch the expenditures side of the equation is to understand we're at war, Tim, and any time you commit your troops into harm's way, they must have the best equipment, the best training, and the best possible pay. That's where we owe it to their loved ones. RUSSERT That's a very important point. Every president since the Civil War who has gone to war has raised taxes, not cut them. THE PRESIDENT Yeah. RUSSERT Raised to pay for it. Why not say, I will not cut taxes any more until we have balanced the budget? If our situation is so precious and delicate because of the war, why do you keep cutting taxes and draining money from the treasury? THE PRESIDENT Well, because I believe that the best way to stimulate economic growth is to let people keep more of their own money. And I believe that if you raise taxes as the economy is beginning to recover from really tough times, you'll slow down economic growth. You'll make it harder. See, I'm more worried about the fellow looking for the job. That's what I'm worried about. I want people working. I want people to find work. And so, when we stimulate the economy, it's more likely that person is going to find work. And the best way to stimulate the economy is not to raise taxes but to hold the low taxes down. RUSSERT How about no more tax cuts until the budget is balanced? THE PRESIDENT That's a hypothetical question which I can't answer to you because I don't know how strong the economy is going to be. I mean, the President must keep all options on the table, but I do know that raising the child lowering the child credit thereby raising taxes on working families does not make sense when the economy is recovering, and that's exactly what some of them are calling for up on Capitol Hill. They want to raise taxes of the families with children, they want to increase the marriage penalty. They want to get rid of those taxes on small businesses that are encouraging the stimulation of new job creation, and I'm not going to have any of it. RUSSERT We're going to take another quick break. We'll be right back with more of our conversation with the President in the Oval Office, right after this. (Commercial) RUSSERT And we are back. Mr. President, last time you were on this show you said that you wanted to change the tone in the nation. THE PRESIDENT Yeah. RUSSERT This is Time magazine "Love Him or Hate Him Why George Bush arouses such passion and what it means for the country." THE PRESIDENT Yes. RUSSERT Tom Daschle, the Democratic Leader in the Senate, said that you've changed the tone for the worse that it's more acrimonious, more confrontations, that you are the most partisan political president he's ever worked with. Our exit polls of primary voters, not just Democrats but Independents in South Carolina and New Hampshire, more than 70 percent of them said they are angry or dissatisfied with you, and they point to this whole idea of being a uniter as opposed to a divider. Why do you think you are perceived as such a divider? THE PRESIDENT Gosh, I don't know, because I'm working hard to unite the country. As a matter of fact, it's the hardest part of being the president. I was successful as the governor of Texas for bringing people together for the common good, and I must tell you it's tough here in Washington, and frankly it's the biggest disappointment that I've had so far of coming to Washington. I'm not blaming anybody. It's just the environment here is such that it is difficult to find common ground. I'll give you a classic case the Medicare bill. The Medicare bill was a tough vote, but the Medicare bill is a bill that a lot of people could have signed on to and had it not been for kind of the sense of, well, "Bush might win, we might lose," you know, or "Bush might lose, we might win" kind of attitude. And... but I will continue to work hard to unite the country. I don't speak ill of anybody in the process here. I think if you went back and looked at my comments, you will see I don't attack. I don't hold up people. I talk about what I believe in, and I lead, and maybe perhaps I believe so strongly in what we are doing around the world or doing here at home. RUSSERT But around the world, in Europe, favorable ratings unfavorable ratings, 70 in Germany, 67 in France. THE PRESIDENT But you know, Tim, that RUSSERT Why do people hold you in such low esteem? THE PRESIDENT Heck, I don't know, Ronald Reagan was unpopular in Europe when he was President, according to Jose Maria Aznar. And I said, "You know something?" He said to me, he said, "You're nearly as unpopular as Ronald Reagan was." I said, "so, first of all, I'm keeping pretty good company." I think that people when you do hard things, when you ask hard things of people, it can create tensions. And I heck, I don't know why people do it. I'll tell you, though, I'm not going to change, see? I'm not trying to accommodate I won't change my philosophy or my point of view. I believe I owe it to the American people to say what I'm going to do and do it, and to speak as clearly as I can, try to articulate as best I can why I make decisions I make, but I'm not going to change because of polls. That's just not my nature. RUSSERT Two polls out this weekend show you THE PRESIDENT See there, you're quoting polls. RUSSERT you're trailing John Kerry in both U.S.A. Today and Newsweek polls by seven and five points. THE PRESIDENT Yeah. RUSSERT This is what John Kerry had to say last year. He said that his colleagues are appalled at the quote "President's lack of knowledge. They've managed him the same way they've managed Ronald Reagan. They send him out to the press for one event a day. They put him in a brown jacket and jeans and get him to move some hay or move a truck, and all of a sudden he's the Marlboro Man. I know this guy. He was two years behind me at Yale. I knew him, and he's still the same guy." Did you know him at Yale? THE PRESIDENT No. RUSSERT How do you respond to that? THE PRESIDENT Politics. I mean, this is you know, if you close your eyes and listen carefully to what you just said, it sounds like the year 2000 all over again. RUSSERT You were both in Skull and Bones, the secret society. THE PRESIDENT It's so secret we can't talk about it. RUSSERT What does that mean for America? The conspiracy theorists are going to go wild. THE PRESIDENT I'm sure they are. I don't know. I haven't seen Web pages yet. (Laughs) RUSSERT Number 322. THE PRESIDENT First of all, he's not the nominee, and but look, I look forward RUSSERT Are you prepared to lose? THE PRESIDENT No, I'm not going to lose. RUSSERT If you did, what would you do? THE PRESIDENT Well, I don't plan on losing. I've got a vision for what I want to do for the country. See, I know exactly where I want to lead. I want to lead us I want to lead this world toward more peace and freedom. I want to lead this great country to work with others to change the world in positive ways, particularly as we fight the war on terror, and we got changing times here in America, too. RUSSERT Biggest issues in the upcoming campaign? THE PRESIDENT Who can properly use American power in a way to make the world a better place, and who understands that the true strength of this country is the hearts and souls of the American citizens, who understands times are changing and how best to have policy reflect those times. And I look forward to a good campaign. I know exactly where I want to lead the country. I've shown the American people I can lead. I've shown the American people I can sit here in the Oval Office when times are tough and be steady and make good decisions, and I look forward to articulating what I want to do the next four years if I'm fortunate enough to be their president. RUSSERT Mr. President, we thank you for sharing your views. I hope we can come back and talk about issues during the course of the campaign. THE PRESIDENT Thank you, Tim. RUSSERT That's all for today. We'll be back next week. If it's Sunday, it's "Meet The Press." February 06, 2004 Good afternoon. Today, by Executive order, I am creating an independent Commission, chaired by Governor and former Senator Chuck Robb, Judge Laurence Silberman, to look at American intelligence capabilities, especially our intelligence about weapons of mass destruction. Last week, our former chief weapons inspector, David Kay, reported that Saddam Hussein's regime had weapons programs and activities in violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and was a gathering threat to the world. Dr. Kay also stated that some prewar intelligence assessments by America and other nations about Iraq's weapons stockpiles have not been confirmed. We are determined to figure out why. We're also determined to make sure that American intelligence is as accurate as possible for every challenge in the future. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction poses the most serious of dangers to the peace of the world. Chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorists or terror regimes could bring catastrophic harm to America and to our friends. It is the policy of the United States Government to oppose that threat by any means necessary. Our efforts against proliferation begin with and depend upon accurate and thorough intelligence. The men and women of our intelligence community and intelligence officers who work for our friends and allies around the world are dedicated professionals engaged in difficult and complex work. America's enemies are secretive. They are ruthless, and they are resourceful. And in tracking and disrupting their activities, our Nation must bring to bear every tool and advantage at our command. In Iraq, America and our coalition enforced the clearly stated demands of the world, that a violent regime prove its own disarmament. In the aftermath of September the 11th, 2001, I will not take risks with the lives and security of the American people by assuming the good will of dictators. And now, as we move forward in our efforts to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction, we must stay ahead of constantly changing intelligence challenges. The stakes for our country could not be higher, and our standard of intelligence gathering and analysis must be equal to that of the challenge. The Commission I have appointed today will examine intelligence on weapons of mass destruction and related 21st century threats and issue specific recommendations to ensure our capabilities are strong. The Commission will compare what the Iraq Survey Group learns with the information we had prior to our Operation Iraqi Freedom. It will review our intelligence on weapons programs in countries such as North Korea and Iran. It will examine our intelligence on the threats posed by Libya and Afghanistan before recent changes in those countries. Members of the Commission will issue their report by March 31st, 2005. I've ordered all departments and agencies, including our intelligence agencies, to assist the Commission's work. The Commission will have full access to the findings of the Iraq Survey Group. In naming this Commission these men as Cochairmen of the Commission, I'm also naming today Senator John McCain Lloyd Cutler, former White House Counsel to Presidents Carter and Clinton Rick Levin, the president of Yale University Admiral Bill Studeman, the former Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Judge Pat Wald, a former judge on the DC Court of Appeals. Those are seven members named. The Commission calls for up to nine members. As we vet and find additional members to fill out the nine, we will let you know. Thank you for your attention. February 06, 2004 I'm glad I came here to the National Targeting Center. This is a building full of modern technology and hard working people. People here are working incredibly long hours to better secure the homeland, and I am here to thank them for their service to our country. A lot of our citizens really don't know the extent to which our Government and many of the employees are really working hard. Here I've learned I've seen how we are able to mate information with terrorist lists or information with potentially dangerous cargo so we can spread valuable information throughout the country at ports of entry or border crossings. It's a fascinating place. It's a place where after 9 11 we grew, grew with getting the very best programs and programmers and computers to keep us better protected. I really want to thank the people here. On another front, I'm pleased, obviously, with the new job growth. I have been saying that this economy looks pretty strong, and today 112,000 new jobs were created last month a report that 112,000 new jobs were created last month. And that's good. Things are getting better. There is more to do, but this economy is growing in strength, and I'm obviously pleased with that. Thank you all for coming. February 05, 2004 Thank you all very much. Thank you all. I am glad to be back in the great State of South Carolina. I appreciate you all coming out. I'm so honored to have been invited to one of America's great cities, Charleston, South Carolina. This is one of the busiest container ports in our country. It's an important hub of commerce. And we will work to make sure that not only is the port strong for economic reasons we will make sure that the port defends the people, is ready to defend against the threats of a new era, that this port is secure and safe for not only the people of South Carolina but for the people of the great United States of America. I appreciate my friend Tom Ridge for becoming the first Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. He's got a big job, and he's doing it well. I want to thank Governor Mark Sanford for greeting me at the airport and for driving with me to the Port of Charleston. Mark is doing a great job for the people of South Carolina. I know that the Lieutenant Governor is with us today, Lieutenant Governor Andre Bauer. I appreciate you coming, Andre. I flew down on Air Force One with some of the members of the mighty South Carolina congressional delegation, starting with Senator Lindsey Graham. He was telling me what to do during the entire flight. Laughter I appreciate so very much Congressman Jim DeMint, Congressman Joe Wilson, Congressman Gresham Barrett, and the Congressman from this district, Henry Brown, for joining us as well. These are good, honorable citizens. They're working hard in Washington, DC, on behalf of the people of South Carolina. I'm proud to call them friend. I'm proud to work with them for the good of the country. I appreciate the mayor, Joe Riley, being here today. Mr. Mayor, thank you for coming. You're the mayor of a great city. Last time I saw the mayor, he said, "Need I remind you that your mother was educated in this great city." Laughter No, you didn't need to remind me, Mr. Mayor. She reminds me all the time. Laughter I appreciate my friend Speaker David Wilkins, who has joined us. All the members of the statehouse who are here, thanks for coming, State and local officials. I want to thank the members of the oh of course, my friend the Adjutant General, Stan Spears, is with us today. General, it's good to see you again. I appreciate Commander Gary Merrick, Captain Jim Tunstall of the mighty Coast Guard. I appreciate their service here, and I want to thank the members of the Coast Guard who are with us. I'm proud of the men and women of our Coast Guard, who are always ready always ready to protect the American people. I want to thank the members of the Air Force 437th Airlift Wing who are with us today. I appreciate the members of the United States Navy who are with us today. I thank the cadets from the Citadel who have joined us today. I want to thank the employees of the Department of Homeland Security. Thank you for your work. Thank you for your dedication. Thank you for what you're doing to make this part of the world as safe and secure as you can. I want to thank South Carolina's State and local first responders who are with us, the police and the firefighters and the emergency squad personnel. But most of all, thank you for coming. I've got some things I want to talk about. Laughter This country is a strong country, and we're rising to meet great challenges. The first great challenge is to make sure people can find work. The first great challenge of this country is to have a progrowth environment so people can find a job. Our economy is growing. It's getting better, but I want to remind you of where we have come from. See, people say, "President Bush is optimistic." You bet I'm optimistic. I know where we have been, and I know where we're going. We have this country went through a recession. And as we were coming out of the recession, we got attacked. And make no mistake about it, that attack hurt our country's economy. It also you'll hear me talk about how it affected my view of national security as well. It hurt. And as we began to recover from that, we discovered that some of our fellow citizens forgot what it meant to be a responsible citizen. In other words, they didn't tell the truth. They didn't tell the truth to their employees, and they didn't tell the truth to their shareholders. And that affected the confidence of our economy. By the way, we passed laws to hold those corporate criminals to account. They will understand now that there is a consequence for not telling the truth. And then, of course, there were the uncertainties of war. That affected the economy. Yet we're still strong, in spite of the hurdles. And one reason we're strong is because we acted in Washington, DC. We passed tax relief. You see, we understand that when somebody has got more money in their pocket, they're more likely to demand a good or a service. And when they demand that good or a service, somebody is more likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or a service, someone is more likely to be able to find work. The tax relief we passed, the willingness to have people have more money in their pocket to spend, to save, or invest, is helping this economy recover from tough times. We also understand that most new jobs are created by small businesses. Most new jobs in the American economy are created by the entrepreneurs and small business owners of America. And so the tax relief we passed not only helped individuals and helped families raise children, but it was also directed at the small business sector of our economy. We must never forget the vital role that small businesses play in the United States economy. Things are looking good across the country. New home construction in 2003 was the highest in 25 years. Homeownership rates are the highest ever. And for the first time, most minority households own their own homes. We're closing the housing gap in America. Manufacturing activity is increasing. Inflation is low. Interest rates are low. Exports are growing. Productivity is high. Jobs are on the rise. The tax relief we passed has made a difference. One of the things I know about your great State I've spent some quality time in South Carolina in the past one of the things I know about your great State is this is a State full of decent, hard working, honorable people. You've got a great workforce in the State of South Carolina. Many foreign companies and companies from other States move here because South Carolina workers are dependable, good people. Yet, the State has got economic challenges. Even though the unemployment rate is down, it's still too high. Many factory workers in textiles and apparel have faced layoffs. But there are new jobs being created, and the challenge at all levels of government is to make sure that people are trained for jobs which actually exist. I laid out what's called the Jobs for the 21st Century program, which says to States and local communities, "We want to help you. We want to help you make sure the hard working people who are looking for work have got the skills necessary to take advantage of a changing economy." The numbers aren't as good as they can be, but they will be with focused efforts. They will be so long as Washington promotes a pro entrepreneur, pro growth agenda. They will be if the Congress makes sure the tax cuts we passed are permanent. I'm optimistic about our economy's future because the numbers look good, but that's not the true reason I'm optimistic. I'm optimistic because I understand the entrepreneurial spirit of America. I'm optimistic because I know the type of worker we have in this country. I'm optimistic because I trust the American people. The second great challenge is to fight and win the war on terror. After we were attacked in 2001, I said time would pass and people would assume that the threats to our country had gone away. That's false comfort. The terrorists continue to plot against us. They still want to harm us. This Nation will not tire we will not rest until this threat to civilization is removed. Part of doing our duty in the war on terror is to protect the homeland. That's part of our solemn responsibility, and we are taking unprecedented steps to protect the homeland. In the 2005 budget, as the Secretary mentioned, we proposed increases in homeland security spending, and some of those increases are measures to protect our seaports. And that's why I've come to this vital seaport, to remind people to remind the American people, as they pay attention to the debates in the Halls of Congress, that we have a solemn duty to protect our homeland, including the seaports of America. Our National Targeting Center in Northern Virginia, where I'll be going tomorrow with the Secretary, is analyzing cargo manifest information and focusing frontline inspection on high risk shipments. We're looking at things differently now in America. We're adjusting our strategies to better protect the American people. We've got a Container Security Initiative, which means we're posting officers at foreign ports to identify and inspect high risk shipments before they're loaded and shipped to America. We've extended the reach out to make sure America is more secure. We're doing things more wise in order to protect our country. We're not waiting for ships and planes to arrive. We've got what we call a Proliferation Security Initiative, fancy words which means America is working with other governments to track and stop the shipments of dangerous weapons and dangerous cargo. We're determined to keep lethal weapons and materials out of the hands of our enemies and away from our shores. We have a duty to protect the American people, a solemn duty. And there's a lot of people in this crowd who have heard that duty, and I appreciate your service. I appreciate your willingness to sacrifice on behalf of the people. Another vital tool in the homeland security is for Congress to pass laws that enable us to do our job. I'm referring to the PATRIOT Act. The PATRIOT Act gives Federal law enforcement the tools they need to seize terrorists' assets and disrupt their cells. It removes the PATRIOT Act removed legal barriers that prevented the FBI and the CIA from sharing information, information that is vitally needed to uncover terrorist plots before they are carried out in America. Imagine a system that would not allow people who collect information to share information. It makes it awfully hard to protect the homeland if the FBI and the CIA can't share data in order to protect us. The PATRIOT Act made that possible. The PATRIOT Act imposes tougher penalties on terrorists and their supporters. We want to send a clear message to people that there will be a consequence. For years, we've used similar provisions, provisions that are now in the act, to catch embezzlers and drug traffickers. What's in the PATRIOT Act today is nothing new. We've been using these provisions in the past. If the methods are good enough for hunting criminals, they're even more important for hunting terrorists. The Congress needs to extend the PATRIOT Act. We'll do everything in our power to defend the homeland. Yet, we understand this, that the best way to defend the homeland is to stay on the offensive. The best way to protect America is to find the killers and bring them to justice before they ever harm another American, and that's exactly what this administration will continue to do. There are thousands of our troops and troops of our friends on an international manhunt. We're running down Al Qaida. We're finding them where they hide. For our own security, we're bringing them to justice. Nearly two thirds of the Al Qaida leaders have been captured or killed. And we're chasing the rest of them. There is no hole deep enough to hide from America. Part of this new war, this different kind of war, is to confront regimes that harbor terrorists, that support terrorists, that could supply them with weapons of mass murder. This is an essential part of the war on terror. When America speaks, we better mean what we say. And I said right after September the 11th, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists," and the Taliban found out exactly what we meant. It wasn't all that long ago that Afghanistan was a haven for terrorists. This is where many terrorists learned to kill. There were training camps, places for them to hide. Thanks to the United States and our friends, thanks to the bravery of many of our fellow citizens, Afghanistan is no longer a haven for terror. Afghanistan is a free country. America also confronted a gathering threat in Iraq. The dictatorship of Saddam Hussein was one of the most brutal, corrupt, and dangerous regimes in the world. For years, the dictator funded terrorists and gave reward money for suicide bombings. For years, he threatened and he invaded his neighbors. For years, he murdered innocent Iraqis by the hundreds of thousands. For years, he made a mockery of United Nations demands that he account for his weapons. For years, Saddam Hussein did all these things. But he won't be doing any of them this year. Instead, he's sitting in a prison cell, and he will be sitting in a courtroom to answer for his crimes. The liberation of Iraq was an act of justice, delivering an oppressed people from an evil regime. The liberation of Iraq removed a source of violence and instability from the Middle East, and the liberation of Iraq removed an enemy of this country and made America more secure. America and our friends have shown the world that we are serious about removing the threats of weapons of mass destruction, and the facts are becoming clearer. In Iraq, our Survey Group is on the ground, looking for the truth. We will compare what the intelligence indicated before the war with what we have learned afterwards. As the chief weapons inspector said, "We have not yet found the stockpiles of weapons that we thought were there." Yet, the Survey Group has uncovered some of what the dictator was up to. We know Saddam Hussein had the capability to produce weapons of mass destruction. He had the scientists and technology in place to make those weapons. We know he had the necessary infrastructure to produce weapons of mass destruction because we found the labs and dual use facilities that could be used to produce chemical and biological weapons. We know he was developing the delivery systems, ballistic missiles that the United Nations had prohibited. We know Saddam Hussein had the intent to arm his regime with weapons of mass destruction, because he hid all those activities from the world until the last day of his regime. And Saddam Hussein had something else he had a record of using weapons of mass destruction against his enemies and against innocent Iraqi citizens. Knowing what I knew then and knowing what I know today, America did the right thing in Iraq. We had a choice Either take the word of a madman, or take action to defend the American people. Faced with that choice, I will defend America every time. September the 11th, 2001, was a lesson for America, a lesson I will never forget and a lesson this Nation must never forget. We cannot wait to confront the threats of the world, the threats of terror networks and terror states, until those threats arrive in our own cities. I made a pledge to this country I will not stand by and hope for the best while dangers gather. I will not take risks with the lives and security of the American people. I will protect and defend this country by taking the fight to the enemy. When you're the Commander in Chief, you have to be willing to make the tough calls and to see your decisions through. America is safer when our commitments are clear, our word is good, and our will is strong. And that is the only way I know how to lead. If some politicians in Washington had their way, Saddam Hussein would still be in power. All of the Security Council resolutions and condemnations would still be issued and still be ignored, scraps of paper amounting to nothing. Other regimes and terror networks, had we not acted, would have concluded that America backs down when things get tough. Saddam would still have his weapons capabilities, and life would sure be different for the Iraqi people. The secret police would still be making arrests in the middle of the night. Prisons and torture chambers would still be filled with victims. More innocent Iraqis would have been sent to mass graves. Because we acted, Iraq's nightmare is over. Their country, our country, and the entire world are better off because the regime of Sad dam Hussein is gone and gone forever. Because of American leadership, the world is changing for the better. Other dictators have seen and noted our resolve. Colonel Qadhafi in Libya got the message and is now voluntarily disclosing and eliminating his weapons of mass destruction programs. These are historic times, times of change. In Afghanistan and Iraq, more than 50 million people once lived under tyranny. And now they live in free societies, societies that are moving toward democracy, societies that will set an example for all of the Middle East. And that's important. That's important for our own security. Free societies do not attack their neighbors. Free societies do not develop weapons of mass terror. Freedom and peace go hand in hand. These are great and hopeful events, and they came about because America and our allies acted bravely in the cause of freedom. We know there are challenges ahead. We know that freedom still has enemies in Iraq and Afghanistan, surviving Ba'athists, the Taliban, suicide bombers, and foreign terrorists. All these enemies have one goal They want to stop the advance of freedom and to shake the will of the United States of America. But they don't understand us. They don't understand the nature of the American people. We will never be intimidated by thugs or assassins. The killers will fail, and the people of Iraq and Afghanistan will live in freedom. And that's important to us in America, because we understand freedom is not America's gift to the world. We understand freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. South Carolina is a State that is really proud of the people who wear the uniform. Over 5,000 reservists and National Guardsmen are currently deploying in Iraq and Afghanistan and Kosovo and for the defense of the homeland. Hundreds of officers from the Citadel are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere in the war on terror. Like everyone who serves in uniform today, these fine citizens of your State are protecting this Nation from danger, and they're making us proud. I made a commitment to the men and women of our military America is asking a lot of you, and you deserve a lot in return. You deserve our praise and our thanks, and we will give you the resources you need to fight and win the war on terror. So we depend on our military our people in uniform depend on their families. These are challenging times for military families. Some of them have experienced great loss. We ask for God's blessings. We ask God to give them strength in their time of grief. Our Nation will never take their sacrifice for granted. All of us are grateful to the families of the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States. By the unselfish dedication of Americans in uniform, people in our own country and in lands far away can live in freedom and know that the peace that freedom brings. America has been given great responsibilities, and those responsibilities have come to the right country. By our actions, we have shown what kind of nation we are, a good and just and generous people. We don't shrink from any challenge. We're rising to the call of history. Now and in the future, this great land will lead the cause of freedom and peace. May God bless you all. Thank you for coming. Thank you all. February 04, 2004 Thank you all very much. I'm honored to join you as we welcome a magnificent collection to the Library of Congress. I've always been a great admirer of Sir Winston Churchill, admirer of his career, admirer of his strength, admirer of his character so much so that I keep a stern looking bust of Sir Winston in the Oval Office. He watches my every move. Laughter Like few other men in this or any other age, Churchill is admired throughout the world. And through the writings and his personal effects, we feel the presence of the great man, himself. As people tour this exhibit, I'm sure they'll be able to smell the whiskey and the cigars. Laughter I appreciate Jim Billington for hosting this exhibit and for hosting me. It's good to see Marjorie. I appreciate the members of Winston Churchill's family who have come Lady Mary Soames, the daughter Winston Churchill III the man bears a mighty name and his wife, Luce Celia Sandys, who is a granddaughter. Thank you all for coming. We're honored to have you here in America. I'm pleased to see my friend the Ambassador from the United Kingdom to America, Sir David Manning, and Lady Manning here as well. I appreciate the Members of Congress who have come the chairman. We've got a couple of mighty powerful people here, Winston, with us today Chairmen Lugar and Warner, Senator Bennett, Congressmen Bill Young, Doug Bereuter, Jerry Lewis, Tom Petri, Vern Ehlers, and Jane Harman. I'm glad you all are here. Thanks for taking time to come. This exhibit bears witness to one of the most varied and consequential lives of modern history. Churchill's 90 years on Earth joined together two ages. He stood in the presence of Queen Victoria, who first reigned in 1837. He was the Prime Minister to Elizabeth II, who reigns today. Sir Winston met Theodore Roosevelt, and he met Richard Nixon. Over his long career, Winston Churchill knew success and he knew failure, but he never passed unnoticed. He was a prisoner in the Boer War, a controversial strategist in the Great War. He was the rallying voice of the Second World War and a prophet of the cold war. He helped abolish the sweatshops. He gave coal miners an 8 hour day. He was an early advocate of the tank, and he helped draw boundary lines that remain on the map of the Middle East. He was an extraordinary man. In spare moments, pacing and dictating to harried secretaries, he produced 15 books. He said, "History will be kind to me for I intend to write it." Laughter History has been kind to Winston Church ill, as it usually is to those who help save the world. In a decade of political exile during the 1930s, Churchill was dismissed as a nuisance and a crank. When the crisis he predicted arrived, nearly everyone knew that only one man could rescue Britain. The same trait that had made him an outcast eventually made him the leader of his country. Churchill possessed, in one writer's words, an "absolute refusal, unlike many good and prudent men around him, to compromise or to surrender." In the years that followed, as a great enemy was defeated, a great partnership was formed. President Franklin Roosevelt found in Churchill a confidence and resolve that equaled his own. As they led the Allies to victory, they passed many days in each other's company and grew in respect and friendship. The President once wrote to the Prime Minister, "It is fun to be in the same decade with you." And this sense of fellowship and common purpose between our two nations continues to this day. I have also been privileged to know a fine British leader, a man of conscience and unshakable determination. In his determination to do the right thing and not the easy thing, I see the spirit of Churchill in Prime Minister Tony Blair. When World War II ended, Winston Churchill immediately understood that the victory was incomplete. Half of Europe was occupied by an aggressive empire. And one of Churchill's own finest hours came after the war ended in a speech he delivered in Fulton, Missouri. Churchill warned of the new danger facing free peoples. In stark but measured tones, he spoke of the need for free nations to unite against communist expansion. Marshal Stalin denounced the speech as a "call to war." A prominent American journalist called the speech an "almost catastrophic blunder." In fact, Churchill had set a simple truth before the world, that tyranny could not be ignored or appeased without great risk. And he boldly asserted that freedom freedom was the right of men and women on both sides of the Iron Curtain. Churchill understood that the cold war was not just a standoff of armies but a conflict of visions, a clear divide between those who put their faith in ideologies of power and those who put their faith in the choices of free people. The successors of Churchill and Roosevelt, leaders like Truman and Reagan and Thatcher, led a confident Alliance that held firm as communism collapsed under the weight of its own contradictions. Today, we are engaged in a different struggle. Instead of an armed empire, we face stateless networks. Instead of massed armies, we face deadly technologies that must be kept out of the hands of terrorists and outlaw regimes. Yet in some ways, our current struggles or challenges are similar to those Churchill knew. The outcome of the war on terror depends on our ability to see danger and to answer it with strength and purpose. One by one, we are finding and dealing with the terrorists, drawing tight what Winston Churchill called a "closing net of doom." This war also is a conflict of visions. In their worship of power, their deep hatreds, their blindness to innocence, the terrorists are successors to the murderous ideologies of the 20th century. And we are the heirs of the tradition of liberty, defenders of the freedom, the conscience, and the dignity of every person. Others before us have shown bravery and moral clarity in this cause. The same is now asked of us, and we accept the responsibilities of history. The tradition of liberty has advocates in every culture and in every religion. Our great challenge is to support the momentum of freedom in the greater Middle East. The stakes could not be higher. As long as that region is a place of tyranny and despair and anger, it will produce men and movements that threaten the safety of Americans and our friends. We seek the advance of democracy for the most practical of reasons, because democracies do not support terrorists or threaten the world with weapons of mass murder. America is pursuing a forward strategy of freedom in the Middle East. We're challenging the enemies of reform, confronting the allies of terror, and expecting a higher standard from our friends. For too long, American policy looked away while men and women were oppressed, their rights ignored, and their hopes stifled. That era is over, and we can be confident. As in Germany and Japan and Eastern Europe, liberty will overcome oppression in the Middle East. True democratic reform must come from within. And across the Middle East, reformers are pushing for change. From Morocco to Jordan to Qatar, we're seeing elections and new protections for women and the stirring of political pluralism. When the leaders of reform ask for our help, America will give it. I've asked the Congress to double the budget for the National Endowment for Democracy, raising its annual total to 80 million. We will focus its new work on bringing free elections and free markets and free press and free speech and free labor unions to the Middle East. The National Endowment gave vital service in the cold war, and now we are renewing its mission of freedom in the war on terror. Freedom of the press and the free flow of ideas are vital foundations of liberty. To cut through the hateful propaganda that fills the airwaves in the Muslim world and to promote open debate, we're broadcasting the message of tolerance and truth in Arabic and Persian to tens of millions. In some cities of the greater Middle East, our radio stations are rated number one amongst younger listeners. Next week, we will launch a new Middle East television network called Al Hurra, Arabic for "the free one." The network will broadcast news and movies and sports and entertainment and educational programming to millions of people across the region. Through all these efforts, we are telling the people in the Middle East the truth about the values and the policies of the United States, and the truth always serves the cause of freedom. America is also taking the side of reformers who have begun to change the Middle East. We're providing loans and business advice to encourage a culture of entrepreneurship in the Middle East. We've established business internships for women to teach them the skills of enterprise and to help them achieve social and economic equality. We're supporting the work of judicial reformers who demand independent courts and the rule of law. At the request of countries in the region, we're providing Arabic language textbooks to boys and girls. We're helping education reformers improve their school systems. The message to those who long for liberty and those who work for reform is that they can be certain they have a strong ally, a constant ally in the United States of America. Our strategy and our resolve are being tested in two countries in particular. The nation of Afghanistan was once the primary training ground of Al Qaida, the home of a barbaric regime called the Taliban. It now has a new constitution that guarantees free election and full participation by women. The nation of Iraq was for decades an ally of terror ruled by the cruelty and caprice of one man. Today, the people of Iraq are moving toward self government. Our coalition is working with the Iraqi Governing Council to draft a basic law with a bill of rights. Because our coalition acted, terrorists lost a source of reward money for suicide bombings. Because we acted, nations of the Middle East no longer need to fear reckless aggression from a ruthless dictator who had the intent and capability to inflict great harm on his people and people around the world. Saddam Hussein now sits in a prison cell, and Iraqi men and women are no longer carried to torture chambers and rape rooms and dumped in mass graves. Because the Ba'athist regime is history, Iraq is no longer a grave and gathering threat to free nations. Iraq is a free nation. Freedom still has enemies in Afghanistan and Iraq. All the Ba'athists and Taliban and terrorists know that if democracy were to be, it would undermine violence their hope for violence and innocent death. They understand that if democracy were to be undermined, then the hopes for change throughout the Middle East would be set back. That's what they know. That's what they think. We know that success of freedom in these nations would be a landmark event in the history of the Middle East and the history of the world. Across the region, people would see that freedom is the path to progress and national dignity. A thousand lies would stand refuted, falsehoods about the incompatibility of democrat values in Middle Eastern cultures. And all would see, in Afghanistan and Iraq, the success of free institutions at the heart of the greater Middle East. Achieving this vision will be the work of many nations over time, requiring the same strength of will and confidence of purpose that propelled freedom to victory in the defining struggles of the last century. Today, we're at a point of testing, when people and nations show what they're made out of. America will never be intimidated by thugs and assassins. We will do what it takes. We will not leave until the job is done. We will succeed because when given a choice, people everywhere, from all walks of life, from all religions, prefer freedom to violence and terror. We will succeed because human beings are not made by the Almighty God to live in tyranny. We will succeed because of who we are, because even when it is hard, Americans always do what is right. And we know the work that has fallen to this generation. When great striving is required of us, we will always have an example in the man we honor today. Winston Churchill was a man of extraordinary personal gifts, yet his greatest strength was his unshakable confidence in the power and appeal of freedom. It was the great fortune of mankind that he was there in an hour of peril. And it remains the great duty of mankind to advance the cause of freedom in our time. May God bless the memory of Winston Churchill. May God continue to bless the United States of America. February 02, 2004 The President. I want to thank the members of my Cabinet for their service to our country. I'm proud of the team I've put together to serve our citizens. These are good, honorable people who have come to Washington, DC, to put the Nation's interests above their self interest. We had a good discussion today about our Nation's priorities. Secretary Powell briefed us on the alliances the strong alliances we have around the world, a deep desire to continue to work with nations to bring freedom and peace around the world. The Secretary of Defense briefed us on the progress we're making in Afghanistan and in Iraq. Appreciate the briefing I got from Tom Ridge about homeland security efforts. And we've got a lot of really fine people in the country who are working overtime, long hours, to protect the American people, and they're doing a really fine job. And finally, Josh Bolten gave us a briefing on our budget. This administration is putting together has put together a budget and will be submitting it to Congress, which sets clear priorities winning the war on terror, protecting our homeland, making sure our children get educated, making sure the seniors get a modern Medicare system. And at the same time, we're calling upon Congress to be wise with the taxpayers' money. We look forward to working with them to bring fiscal discipline to the appropriations process so we can cut the deficit in half over a 5 year period of time. Again, I'm proud of the Cabinet appreciate your work. I'll be glad to take a couple of questions. Terry Terence Hunt, Associated Press , you might have a question. Weapons of Mass Destruction Q. Yes, Mr. President. I'd like to ask you about this intelligence investigation that you're going to order. Do you think that the country is owed an explanation about the Iraq intelligence failures before the election, so that voters have this information when they elect a new President? The President. Well, the first of all, I want to know all the facts. We do know that Saddam Hussein had the intent and the capabilities to cause great harm. We know he was a danger, and he was not only a danger to people in the free world he was a danger to his own people. He slaughtered thousands of people, imprisoned people. What we don't know yet is what we thought and what the Iraqi Survey Group has found, and we want to look at that. But we also want to look at our war against proliferation and weapons of mass destruction kind of in a broader context. And so I'm putting together an independent, bipartisan commission to analyze where we stand, what we can do better as we fight this war against terror. Before I move forward with the commission, I want to sit down with Mr. Kay.I appreciate his service. I've invited him to come down to the White House. I'll be doing so soon. I do want to get a briefing from him. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Q. Sir, do you worry that your budget passes along problems to future generations? You often say you don't want to do that. The President. No, I'm confident our budget addresses a very serious situation, and that is that we are at war, and we are dealing had dealt with a recession. And our budget is able to address those significant factors in a way that reduces the deficit in half. We propose the Congress disposes. And so we look forward to working with the appropriators to meet our priorities and to reduce the deficit in half. We're confident we can do so. The reason we are where we are, in terms of the deficit, is because we went through a recession, we were attacked, and we're fighting a war. And these are high hurdles for a budget and for a country to overcome, and yet we've overcome them, because we've got a great country full of decent people. And the economy is getting better. And as the economy gets better, it enables us to send up a budget to the Congress that does cut the deficit in half. Super Bowl XXXVIII Q. What part of the Super Bowl did you like the best? The halftime or the ending? Laughter The President. I don't want to admit it, but because this White House starts early, I missed it again. Saw the first half did not see the halftime. I was preparing for the day and fell asleep, but don't tell anybody. Laughter January 31, 2004 Thanks for coming. I thought I would give the State of the Union again. Laughter Actually, I'll spare you. I do want to thank the leadership for the House and the Senate, first and foremost, for being such good friends and great Americans. Speaker Denny Hastert is doing a fabulous job on behalf of the American people, and I want to thank Majority Leader Bill Frist for doing a fabulous job as well. I appreciate your leadership. The country is better off by having these two good souls leading the Congress. I want to thank McConnell, Santorum, and Kyl, DeLay, Blunt, and Deborah Pryce as well for sitting up here with me and for your leadership. I appreciate it very much. I'm proud to work with you. I want to thank my friend Dennis Miller, who is here. I'm honored that he is here. He's a solid American who applause . And of course, like you, I was most impressed by the vocalist this morning, Tim Kelly. Thank you, Tim. I know that a member of my Cabinet is here. Is that an accurate statement? Where's Elaine? Elaine, thanks. You're doing a great job. I appreciate so much your service. Your service is great. Your choice of husbands is somewhat questionable. Laughter That's not right I mean, what the heck. Laughter I really appreciate what you've done. I want the people as you travel around the country, please remind people that one of the jobs of the President is to find really good folks to serve our Government, people from all walks of life, honorable, decent people who have put country ahead of self interest. And I have done just that. And Elaine is an example of the really quality people that are serving our country in my Cabinet, and I want to thank you for being here. And finally, I want to thank Jerry Clymer for hosting this event and making sure it runs well. I think one of the things I was thinking about what to tell you here, when I was flying in from Washington, was that we're serving in historic times. And first I want to thank you for your service during these historic times. It's not easy to serve in the Congress or the Senate. It's a tough life when you come and you work hard and you represent your constituencies, and then you fly home. I see Thomas of California or Heather of New Mexico, some people who are traveling a long way to serve the country. And so the first thing I want to tell you is, I'm proud of your service and appreciate your willingness to serve our country. And I also want to thank your spouses as well I want to thank your family members. When you swear in, you never know what's going to happen, and you better be ready to respond. And this Congress, in working with this administration, can say, "We have responded to the challenges of our time. We have met the tests." As we look back on the last 3 years, we've gone to war to uphold the most solemn duty of Government, and that is to protect its people. We have dealt with national emergency. We not only responded to the emergency we all worked together to help heal the psyche of the country that had been damaged. We dealt with recession. The economy was negative in growth for the first three quarters of 2001, yet we responded. Instead of trying sitting around committee rooms or White House conference tables trying to figure out what to do, we figured it out. And we acted quickly, and we responded. Instead of the economy still languishing as a result of some incredible problems we face, it's now growing, and it's getting stronger. We had some people that didn't tell the truth in America, these corporate CEOs that forgot what it meant to be a responsible citizen, and we responded. The Congress and the White House worked together to pass meaningful legislation that sends clear signals to our fellow citizens Regardless of their party or where they live, we expect people who are running corporations in America to tell the truth. We responded. What I'm telling you is, history has dealt us a hand, and we're playing it well for the American people. And I want to thank you for that, very much. These are historic times, because we're at war. You're a war Congress. And this upcoming year we will continue to make sure our troops have what it takes to fight and win the war against terror and not only make sure we fight and win the war against terror but to make sure we continue to promote our values of freedom and, therefore, peace in parts of the world where people long for freedom and peace, where people are desperate for freedom. See, what we believe is that freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each person who lives in this world. And America no question, we will win the war on terror by staying on the offensive. This administration and this leadership is committed to making sure that we stay on the offensive against the terrorists. And we will be. But as well, we've got to make sure we continue to protect the homeland. And I want to thank the Members of Congress for working to implement a plan that is now being executed to better protect the homeland, to take lessons learned and to look at flawed systems and coordinate better, so we can tell the American people as best as we possibly can, "We're working together to make sure the homeland is secure." I want to thank you for your understanding of that solemn obligation and for your willing to work to make sure the homeland security programs are funded and implemented. At home, we've got to make sure that the economy keeps growing. And one of the things we've shown the American people is we understand how the economy works. The economy doesn't work by growing Government. The economy works by growing people's wallets so they can spend, save, or invest. The tax cuts we passed are working. I look forward to taking the case to the American people and explain as clearly as I possibly can This Congress heard the needs of the people looking for jobs it responded the tax cuts are working and now we need to make them permanent. There's a lot on there's a lot involved with making sure the economy continues to grow, and that's cost containment of health care, controlling the costs of health care to citizens and small businesses and large businesses. And we've got to continue to make sure we're a trading nation and open up markets for our entrepreneurs less regulation. There's a lot of things we can do together to keep the economy growing. But one clear signal we need to send to the American people and the markets is, we're going to be wise when it comes to the expenditure of the people's money. And we submitted a budget that says just that, and we look forward to working with you on it. You spend. I propose. Together, we're responsible. And this is going to be a challenging year for making sure we spend the people's money wisely, and I sent up an initiative to do just that. It cuts the deficit the plan cuts the deficit in half over the next 5 years. And we look forward to working with you to make sure we meet that important goal, so that we can say to the American people, "We've set priorities. We understand whose money we spend, and we're going to cut this deficit in half through wise policy." And finally at home, it's important for us to kind of play to the strength of the country, to remember the true strength of America. It's not our military and by the way, we'll keep the military strong and it's not the size of our wallets, although we want to make sure our wallets all across the country are healthy. The strength of the country is the hearts and souls of the American people. That's where we find our true strength. See, we understand the proper relationship between Government and the people. It's the people's Government we represent. And as well, we shouldn't be afraid to empower those organizations that are serving our fellow citizens in an incredibly important and efficient way. They're serving because of love, first and foremost. They're following their hearts to mentor a child or to feed the hungry or to help the addicted. Congress understands I know the leadership does, and I know you do as well the true strength of America is the American people. We must listen to them. We will trust their judgments, and we must empower them to love their neighbors just like they'd like to be loved themselves. Oh, '04 is going to be an unusual year for us all. It's an election year, and the people are probably saying, "Well, they're going to play politics with our time." That's not my attitude, and I know it's not the leadership's attitude. Working together, like we have done over 3 years, working together to accomplish important things for the people, we can show the cynics and the critics that we're capable of doing the people's business, election year or not. And I look forward to working with you. I appreciate your friendship. I'm proud to be serving with such a fine group of people during historic times. And there's no doubt in my mind, we're making a significant difference for this country's security, prosperity, and freedom. God bless you all. January 31, 2004 Good morning. This coming week, my administration will release our proposed budget for fiscal year 2005. In that detailed blueprint for Government spending, Americans will see my priorities clearly at work. We will devote the resources necessary to win the war on terror and protect our homeland. We'll provide compassionate help to seniors, to schoolchildren, and to Americans in need of job training. And we will be responsible with the people's money by cutting the deficit in half over 5 years. With troops currently on the ground fighting our enemies, my budget increases defense spending by 7 percent, money that will go the pay for equipment, ammunition, and troop housing. We'll keep our military strong and ready for every challenge that may come. Since I took office, we have increased pay for our men and women in uniform by 21 percent. Next year, I propose raising their pay by another 3.5 percent. Our troops put their lives on the line to defend America, and we owe them our best in return. Given the continued terrorist threat against the American people, my budget nearly triples homeland security spending over 2001 levels, including an increase of nearly 10 percent next year, to 30.5 billion. This money will help tighten security at our borders, airports, and seaports, and improve our defenses against biological attack. I'm proposing to raise the budget for the FBI by 11 percent, including a 357 million increase in spending on counterterrorism activities. America will not let its guard down in our war on terror. My budget also focuses on our priorities at home. This year, we'll begin moving towards prescription drug coverage under Medicare by providing drug discount cards to seniors. We'll also help lower income seniors this year and next with up to 600 in direct assistance for drug costs. We're devoting additional resources to our schools to help them meet the higher expectations set by the No Child Left Behind Act. My budget calls for a 49 percent increase over 2001 spending on our public schools. There will be additional money for early reading programs for schools in low income areas and for enhanced Pell grant scholarships for students who complete a rigorous curriculum. My budget also asks Congress to fund my Jobs for the 21st Century Initiative, which will help young people and adults gain the skills they need to fill the new jobs in our changing economy. This initiative will help high school students who are falling behind in reading and math by supporting better teaching methods. And with the support of Congress, we will provide new funding to America's fine community colleges to help them teach the skills our changing economy demands. We're meeting these priorities within a responsible budget. Under my plan, overall discretionary spending will grow at less than 4 percent. And non security related spending would rise less than 1 percent, the smallest such proposed increase in 12 years. By exercising spending discipline in Washington, DC, we will reduce the deficit and meet our most basic priorities. To assure that Congress observes spending discipline, now and in the future, I propose making spending limits the law. This simple step would mean that every additional dollar the Congress wants to spend in excess of spending limits must be matched by a dollar in spending cuts elsewhere. Budget limits must mean something and not just serve as vague guidelines to be routinely violated. This single change in the procedures of the Congress would bring further spending restraint to Washington. Americans expect Government to meet its most basic responsibilities, protecting citizens from harm and promoting prosperity and compassion at home. Americans also expect our Government to live within spending limits. My 2005 budget is designed to meet both of these goals, using tax dollars wisely and by focusing resources where they are most needed. Thank you for listening. January 30, 2004 President Bush. Mr. Secretary General, welcome. We are proud that you're here. The Secretary General and I have had a good discussion about NATO, my administration's commitment to a strong and vibrant NATO, our mutual desire to make the world more peaceful through freedom. I appreciate your willingness to discuss important theaters like Afghanistan and Iraq, the need for us to make sure our militaries are transformed and modern. I know that we will have a good working relationship, and I know you'll do a great job on behalf of all of us who treasure the NATO the NATO Alliance. So welcome, sir. Secretary General de Hoop Scheffer. Thank you very much. Thank you very much, Mr. President. Also, from my side, may I say that I entirely share your opinion, as we discussed in our conversation. But NATO is about values. NATO is defending values which might be normal for us, but our in other parts of the world, less normal. And that's why we are in Afghanistan fighting terrorism. And NATO is going to take a larger role in Afghanistan. That's what we discussed. We have, of course, touched upon Iraq, the political developments in Iraq, the upcoming 1st of May for the transfer of sovereignty in Iraq, and a possible greater NATO role after that. We discussed the Balkans. We have discussed NATO Russian relationship. In other words, the full range of subjects NATO is dealing with, defending these values as an organization which is undergoing a fundamental transformation process, taking in, in a short time, new member states, seven new member states it's a matter of weeks transforming into an organization which can defend those values wherever there is a necessity in the world be it in the Balkans, where NATO has been very successful be it in Afghanistan be it in Iraq, where NATO is now supporting the Polish led multinational division and where NATO might take on a greater role when the sovereign Iraqi Government would ask NATO to do that. So I very much enjoyed, Mr. President, my conversation with you. And I'm sure that with your support, with the support of the United States, and all the other NATO Alliance, we are going to make this a success. Thank you so much. January 30, 2004 The President. Thank you all for coming. I just had a very interesting discussion with some of our Nation's finest economists about the state of our economy and how we can work together to make sure that the economy continues to grow. Today we received news that indicates that the economy is strong and getting stronger. Fourth quarter growth in 2003 was at 4 percent. We also discussed ways for Congress to make sure we sustain growth. We need to make sure the tax cuts are permanent. If Congress doesn't make the tax cuts permanent, they will have raised taxes on the working people of this country at the exact wrong time. We need to make sure we continue to be a nation which trades freely. We need to make sure that we have less regulation. We need to do things that are wise to control the cost of medicine without nationalizing health care. We had a really good discussion. I want to thank you all for coming. These economists are optimistic about our future, and so am I. And the American people can know that we continue to work hard to make sure this economy is vibrant and robust and strong so our fellow citizens can find good jobs. I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions. Scott Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press , have you got one today, perhaps? Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction Q. Yes, sir, I do. Thanks, Mr. President. Senator McCain, David Kay, among many others, say it's time for an independent investigation into weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and intelligence. Why resist this kind of inquiry now, when your own weapons inspector says it's needed? The President. I want the American people to know that I too want to know the facts. I want to be able to compare what the Iraqi Survey Group has found with what we thought prior to going into Iraq. One thing is for certain, one thing we do know from Mr. Kay's testimony as well as from the years of intelligence that we had gathered, is that Saddam Hussein was a danger. He was a growing danger. And given the circumstances of September the 11th, this country went to the United Nations and said, "Saddam Hussein is a danger. Let us work together to get him to disarm." He was defiant. He ignored the request of the international community, and this country led a coalition to remove him. We dealt with the danger, and as a result, the world is a better place and a more peaceful place, and the Iraqi people are free. And a free Iraq is in this Nation's national interest. A free Iraq will bring a much needed change in a part of the world that has fostered terror. Caren Caren Bohan, Reuters . Q. Are you dead set against it? The President. Caren. Q. Ruling it out? The President. I want to know the facts. Caren. Q. Are you against the idea of a new The President. Is this a followup to Scott's question? Q. Yes. The President. Let me repeat, I just let me repeat what I just said. Q. Okay. The President. I want to know the facts. And I want to know exactly I want to compare what the ISG finds with what we thought going in. Keil Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 Q. Mr. President, are you concerned at all that the new ballooning cost of Medicare bill will get you in trouble, political trouble, with members of your own party who voted for it only on the assurance that it wouldn't go above 400 billion? The President. Well, I, 2 weeks ago, received an estimate about Medicare. I asked two questions to the estimators. One, does the Medicare reform do what we want it to do still, which is to provide modern medicine for our seniors and to introduce competition, which will eventually hold down costs of Medicare. And secondly, the new estimate of Medicare costs fulfilled my promise to reduce the deficit in half over a 5 year period of time. And the budget we'll submit on Monday does fulfill that promise, that we'll reduce the deficit in half. Now, it's going to require Congress to be wise with the taxpayers' money. The Medicare reform we did is a good reform, fulfills a long standing promise to our seniors. Congress is now going to have to work with us to make sure that we set priorities and are fiscally wise with the taxpayers' money. I'm confident they can do that if they're willing to make tough choices. And so the budget we submit will show that we can cut the deficit in half over a 5 year period. January 29, 2004 President's Religious Perspective Mr. President, thank you very much for supporting our channel and our initiative. We will make sure on our channel, your policy, the point of view of your administration, will always be presented clearly and in fair context. However, we will make sure we want to be a model for the free press, the American tradition other point of views, relevant ones, will always be there, even if they are critical of you. The President. Well, I understand that. I hope so. First of all, I appreciate your willingness to allow the people in the Middle East to hear my views. My views are one that speaks to freedom. I believe the Almighty God's gift to every person in the world is freedom, and I work for free societies because I believe in people. I want people to know that I respect religion. I'm a religious man, myself. I respect the religion of other people as well. I believe we pray to the same Almighty God. I want people to know that I believe in peace. I want there to be peace. I also want people to know that it's very important for us to work together to fight terror, to fight those who would be willing to kill innocent lives in order to foster their own personal agendas. I appreciate that. I also don't mind people expressing opinions other than mine. I expect that to happen. It happens here in America, and I expect it to happen around the world. Freedom and Democracy in the Middle East Mr. Harb. You may be the only world leader today, and maybe the first American President, to pay a lot of attention to freedom and democracy in the Middle East. Why is that? Are you so committed to that? The President. I am very committed to freedom and democracy in the Middle East. I believe people can self govern around the world. Now, there are some, admittedly, say, "Well, they can't have freedom and democracy in the Middle East." But I think that point of view is condescending. I think it diminishes the hopes and aspirations of the citizenry of the Middle East. I absolutely believe in freedom and peace, and I look forward to working with governments to achieve freedom and peace. Now, I recognize not every government is going to fashion a free society in the vision of America. I don't expect that, but I do expect every government to uphold the aspirations of the average citizens in a free society. National Endowment for Democracy Mr. Harb. You mentioned in the State of the Union Address that you would be doubling the budget for the National Endowment of Democracy towards the Middle East. What's your vision? How are you trying to accomplish that? The President. Well, I think we need to work with governments and institutions and NGOs to encourage the institutions of a free society. See, one of the interesting things in the Oval Office I love to bring people into the Oval Office, right around the corner from here, and say, "This is where I office, but I want you to know the office is always bigger than the person." In other words, free societies are societies where people come and go, but the institutions that protect the rights of people never leave. And that's what the institute is going to be working on, free press, just like we just talked about, free elections, free society. Evolution of Democracy Mr. Harb. You said you would be working with governments in the Middle East. The President. Sure. Mr. Harb. And you know the type of governments that now exist in the Middle East, and for how long the U.S. has been accused of playing ball with governments that people hate. When you say you want this strategy, forward strategy of freedom, are you saying you're going to be abandoning the monarchies and, you know, those guys? The President. No, of course not. I know them well. First of all, many of the countries in the Middle East are modernizing. And that's what I look for. I fully understand it takes time for free societies, truly free societies to evolve. I don't expect instant success. After all, in my own country it took a while for our current system to evolve. Take Saudi Arabia, for example. First of all, I respect Crown Prince Abdullah and like Crown Prince Abdullah. He's a man of great faith and great integrity who gave a speech the other day about the need to modernize and to reform Saudi society. I take him for his word. To me that was a positive development. King Abdullah of Jordan, the King of Morocco, I mean, there's a series of places Qatar, Oman I mean, places that are developing Bahrain they're all developing the habits of free societies. They evolve differently. But nevertheless, progress is being made. And for that, I'm very grateful. Discussions With Middle Eastern Leaders Mr. Harb. When you sit down with the leaders of the countries you just mentioned, Mr. President, do you get a sense of the urgency, when we talk about the issues of reform and democracy, from them? The President. Well, I get a sense of two things from them. One, I do believe they understand the need to reform. But I also know they agree that we need to continue to work together to fight terror. And that's vital, because it's hard for a free society to develop with terrorists killing innocent people. For example, I have a vision in the Middle East for there to be a Palestinian state. I'm the first President to have ever articulated a Palestinian state. I believe there needs to be a Palestinian state, and I'm not going to change my opinion. On the other hand, I know how hard it is to achieve a Palestinian state so long as there's groups of terrorists willing to murder in order to prevent that from happening. And so I hear two things. I hear, one, the need to reform, to include more people in the process which is taking place, but also the clear understanding from leaders that we must continue to work together to fight off the terrorists. And I say this with conviction. There's a the murderous ambitions of a few are trying to derail the hopes of many. And my Government wants to work with governments to prevent that from happening. Roadmap for Peace Reform of the Palestinian Authority Mr. Harb. Has the roadmap failed? Do we need a new approach to revive the peace talks and work towards your vision? The President. No, not at all, no. The roadmap is in place. What has failed is the some parties are not advancing on the roadmap. They're stuck. And I stood up with Mr. Abu Mazen, at that time the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, with Prime Minister Sharon, in Aqaba, Jordan and King Abdullah, of course, our host and we linked arms and said, "Let us move forward on the roadmap to peace." There needs to be a commitment to fight terror. There needs to be a commitment to put the institutions of a free society in place. There needs to be a commitment on the Israelis to worry about the plight of the average Palestinian citizen to encourage a society to evolve that is commercially viable and free. There needs to be a commitment from the neighborhood to help fight off the flow of funds to fund the terrorist groups, that would stop. And we were making progress. We really were, and then he got shoved aside. And so the roadmap is still intact. The vision for where we need to go is intact. What we need right now are parties who are willing to take a risk for peace and to lead. And I look forward to working with any such party. Mr. Harb. Why then are some people in the U.S. or some of your friends and allies in the Middle East say that you're not personally doing enough? How would you respond to that? The President. Well, I would remind them of the pictures of Aqaba, Jordan. I mean, it's it is a rare occurrence when the President stands up with Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and says, "We're linked together to move toward peace." The problem was, was that somebody undermined that peace process by making it very difficult for Prime Minister Abu Mazen to work to achieve his vision. And that somebody was Chairman Arafat. I'm sorry that happened. On the other hand, I still believe that a Palestinian state is essential for the aspirations of the Palestinian people. And I fully understand there needs to be a firm commitment to fight off terror in order for that to happen. Transition in Iraq Mr. Harb. On the issue of Iraq, how do you see the transition of sovereignty to the Iraqis? The President. Moving. I mean, if you really take a step back, we're here in February of 2004, and the Iraqi people weren't really liberated until April of 2003. We haven't been there a year. And yet, there's tremendous progress being made. The first thing I pay attention to there are voices speaking out about how to achieve democracy. Had those voices spoken out last year or the year before or the year before, they probably wouldn't be a voice anymore, given the fact that Saddam Hussein was willing to torture and kill dissidents. And today, a free society is emerging. And it may look bumpy at times, but democracy sometimes looks bumpy. I mean, here in our own country I'm sure people take a step back and say, "What is happening in the election process?" I mean, it looks like there are some sharp elbows. But I am encouraged by what is taking place in Iraq. I appreciate so very much the fact that the Shi'as speak out for freedom. I appreciate the fact that the Sunnis are questioning whether or not they have a role in the future of their country. I appreciate the fact that the Kurds are active. I appreciate the fact that all three parties are trying to work for a common law that guarantees the religious rights of others, the minority rights of people in a free society. So I think it's very positive. We look forward to working with the United Nations to help the process along, to add some international legitimacy to what the Iraqis think is necessary to move the process toward a new constitution and elections of people. Ayatollah Sistani Mr. Harb. From the outside, it looked like the Grand Ayatollah in Iraq, he's a religious man, he's calling for immediate elections, and we're kind of hesitant to do it right now. What's your reaction to that? The President. Well, that's very interesting. No, I understanding completely. First of all, I admire the fact that he is confident enough in democracy to call for elections. I mean, after all, America believes in elections. I think the only hesitancy from the experts is whether or not the process is ready to absorb direct elections. And we want to work with Mr. Sistani, the Ayatollah. He's a wise man. He's a distinguished gentleman who cares deeply about the Iraqi people. And I'm confident we can work toward a solution that is in Iraq's interest and, at the same time, addresses his deep desire to have the people of Iraq participate in the process. I think the fact that he's willing to be involved is a very positive development. It shows people care about the future of Iraq. We just must all work together to come up with an Iraqi solution as to how best to get a constitution written and then direct elections. The first step, of course, is a general law and then a temporary assembly of some kind to help so we can hand over sovereignty. And then the process moves forward. Syria Mr. Harb. If we can move towards Syria. The President. Sure. Mr. Harb. You had a couple of phone calls with the Syrian President after September 11, and things looked, you know, that the President of Syria was going in the right direction, according to your administration. And then things went sour. What happened? The President. Well, first of all, I think we made some legitimate requests. I said, "Look, Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. They headquartered in your country. You need to shut down those headquarters. You need to prevent terrorist activities from being planned and or orders being emanating out of Syria. Secondly, you've got to work on the border to make sure that the border between Iraq and Syria is not porous, but, in fact, you are able to stop the flow of people and contraband and information back and forth. We don't want terrorists coming in from Syria into Iraq to kill innocent Iraqis and or American troops." And it's very important for us to keep sending that message to him. That's why I appreciate doing this interview. The message still stands. And we would hope there would be a strong cooperation on these very reasonable points. Mr. Harb. The Syrian President sent a couple of signals recently expressing his willingness to resume peace talks with Israel. Would you be willing how do you assess this The President. It's very interesting. First of all, I'm interested in peace. And the fact that a party is willing to talk about peace is, I think, a positive signal. I look forward to understanding fully what that means. As you know, there was some progress had been made prior to my arrival as President on Syrian Israeli peace talks. And we've just got to understand the intent, the sincerity, and the desire of both parties involved that would be Syria and Israel. Libya Mr. Harb. Libya. The President. Yes. Mr. Harb. Although some people, maybe in Washington, and you may consider what happened with Libya as a success for diplomacy, but it did not sit well with the Libyans. It looks like it contradicts this forward strategy of freedom. The President. How do you mean it didn't sit well with them? It sat well with Colonel Qadhafi because he made the decision. Mr. Harb. But in terms of democracy, I mean, you know, Qadhafi is a dictator The President. Oh, whether or not democracy then follows I see. Well, we hope it does, of course, and we look forward to working with him. But first things first. We had no relationship with Libya, and now the relationship can improve because he has made a very wise decision to disclose programs and dismantle those programs. To me, it's a signal that Colonel Qadhafi is interested in a peaceful is interested in peace and a resumption of relations with a country like the United States, and that will begin to change the relationship. Right now we want to make sure that we all fulfill our obligations. And a key obligation is for the United States and Great Britain and the IAEA to work with the Libyans to fully disclose and dismantle, in a transparent way, weapons programs. Mr. Harb. Would it be safe to say that the United States would not fully normalize with Libya unless the human rights record of the Libyan Government were to improve The President. Well, obviously, there's a lot of conditionality in any relationship. We do want to improve relationships with Libya, but the first thing the first step, of course, is for the Colonel to fulfill his commitment to the entire world, and that is to disclose and dismantle. And then the relationship will evolve. Iran and Weapons of Mass Destruction Mr. Harb. On the issue of weapons of mass destruction Iran. The President. Yes. Mr. Harb. Libya is a case where diplomacy worked. Iraq is a place where The President. Diplomacy didn't work. Mr. Harb. didn't work. The President. Well, it didn't work. It was tried for 12 years, and it didn't work. And the world continually said, "Disarm," and he didn't do it. And finally, I went to the United Nations and said to the United Nations, "For your sake and for our sake you, the United Nations' sake for our sake, America, and for the world's sake, let us enforce these resolutions." Mr. Harb. So we've got the Libyan model, and we've got the Iraqi model. The President. Yes. Mr. Harb. Which one would fit Iran today? The President. All models must start with a strong effort by the world community to convince people to abandon in this case, abandon programs, nuclear weapons programs. And we certainly hope the Iranian situation can be resolved diplomatically. I appreciate very much the fact that members of the European Community have spoken with one voice about the need for Iran to fully disclose and disarm its weapons programs, and IAEA is very much involved. So, in other words, we're now early in the stage, obviously, and it's a stage where I'm hopeful that diplomacy will work. Iraq Mr. Harb. You mentioned the international community. Are you satisfied with the way the international community is reacting towards the rebuilding of Iraq? The President. Yes, I really am. I mean, gosh, there's a lot of countries that are very much involved in Iraq. The other night in the State of the Union, I began to read off the list. And the longer the list got, the more the American people begin to realize this is a truly internationalized effort. And people are contributing money. I mean, I was talking about forces on the ground, and the level of contributions are very generous starting with the United States, I might add. And I'm most proud of the Congress for being willing to help rebuild Iraq, because they understand, like I understand, that a free Iraq is going to be an agent of change in a positive way in the Middle East. Again, I want to go back to where we began. See, if you didn't believe certain countries in the Middle East could be free, then you wouldn't be worried about rebuilding of a country. But I believe they can be free, and I know free societies are peaceful societies. And I believe in the Iraqi people of all walks of life, and I believe that they're going to show the world what is possible. After all, the Iraqi people have such a Iraqi history is so rich. The culture of Iraq is fantastic. And it's I have visions of a university system that really leads the Middle East in education and on the forefront of science and engineering, because I know the Iraqi Americans who are here, very bright, capable, honorable people who have come to our country, realized the benefits of freedom, taken advantage of some fantastic opportunities, and made great citizens. Well, the same thing is going to happen in Iraq. And that will cause others to say, "Well, gosh, if it's happening in Iraq, let's follow that model of a free society." And the American Congress understands that. I understand that. And a lot of people around the world understand it. And I am grateful for the contributions that people are willing to make for the reconstruction of Iraq. Mr. Harb. Are you concerned that Iraq's neighbors may work to undermine the democracy because it doesn't suit the region? The President. Well, it's an interesting question. I certainly hope not. But if look, one of the neighbors to Iraq is Turkey. And they withstood any pressure, if there was any pressure, to undermine the development of a free and secular society. They still maintain its respect for Islam. Pakistan is another country which is evolving, showing what is possible in terms of a free society and an active Parliament and, at the same time, honoring Islam. No, I think a truly free society will resist foreign efforts to undermine the development of that society. 2004 Election Future of the Middle East Mr. Harb. Mr. President, this is an election year for you. The President. Yes. Mr. Harb. If, hypothetically, people in the Middle East could vote, would the next 4 years be if you were to be elected would be good for them? The President. Oh, absolutely. Mr. Harb. Why would they vote for you? The President. Absolutely. Well, they'd vote for me because I am strong on the war on terror, for starters. I refuse to relent to terrorist groups. There's no negotiation with these people. These are people that are willing to kill people who are devout, religious people, and not care about it. They kill innocent women and children and not care about it. More Muslims have died at the hands of killers than I say more Muslims a lot of Muslims have died I don't know the exact count at Istanbul. Look at these different places around the world where there's been tremendous death and destruction because killers kill. They would appreciate George W. in the future because I understand that freedom and prosperity go hand in hand. And a free society is more likely to be a prosperous society where people can realize their hopes and aspirations. Listen, I'm a dad. I love my girls more than anything in life, our daughters. I know that other dads feel the same way about their children, and all they want is for their children to have a chance to succeed, to grow up in a peaceful society, to be well educated, and to realize their God given potential. I share that dream. I think the people of the Middle East will see that the Bush administration is unrelenting when it comes to dealing with the few who want to hurt the many but, at the same time, believes in the people of the Middle East, believes in their hopes and aspirations. Mr. Harb. Thank you very much, Mr. President. The President. Yes, sir. January 29, 2004 Thank you all for coming. Thanks for coming. This is a huge crowd. I'm honored. I appreciate so many people being here tonight. I appreciate Debbie mentioning Yale. Some of my classmates from the mighty class of 1968 are here. They were the ones who invented shock and awe when they heard I was President. Laughter They're all fine lads. They themselves were C students. Laughter Vice President Cheney went to Yale. It just goes to show if you drop out, you can be the Vice President. Laughter But I appreciate you coming. We're laying the foundation for what is going to be a great national victory in November of this year. I'm loosening up. Laughter And I'm getting ready. Laughter But politics is going to come in its own time. See, I've still got a job to do, and I want you to tell your friends and neighbors that my administration will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of every American by keeping this Nation strong and secure, prosperous and free. I want to thank my cousin Debbie for finally doing something positive. Laughter No, I want to thank her. I love Debbie, and I want to thank her for her leadership for this event. She married my great friend Craig, the former Ambassador to the Czech Republic, who represented our Nation so well. I'm not Debbie's favorite in my family. Laughter Laura is her favorite. Laughter And Laura was her first choice. Laughter She couldn't make it, but she sends her love. She's a fabulous First Lady for this country. I want to thank Rick as well for your hard work, thank your team. You've done a fabulous job. It's important that you be well funded if you're going to run a national campaign, so I want to thank you for your help. I also want to thank my friend Mercer Reynolds. He's from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is the national chairman for the Bush Cheney campaign, and he's doing a fabulous job on my behalf. Thank you for coming, Mercer. I appreciate you being here. I want to thank your fine Congressman, Chris Shays, for his friendship and leadership. Somebody told me the funniest thing, that somebody is actually challenging Shays in this year. We need to send him back to Congress. He's doing a great job. I want to thank you, Lieutenant Governor, for being here tonight, and all the State and local officials. I appreciate you coming. I'm counting on you. You need to organize and turn out that vote. And I appreciate your service to your State, and I appreciate what you're fixing to do for this campaign. I want to thank Debbie mentioned that we have some family in this neck of the woods. I remember coming to Grove Lane here in Greenwich to visit my grandfather and grandmother, two really fine, fine people. If you can't count on your family, it's hard to count on anybody in politics, so I'm really happy that some of my family has showed up tonight. Laughter I appreciate Uncle Jon and Uncle Pres that's Jon Bush and Prescott Bush and Jody and Beth. I'm honored that they're here and proud to be a member of their family with them. I want to thank the political activists who are here, Herb Shepardson and Charlie Glazer and Jo McKenzie. Thank you all for coming. I want to thank all the grass roots activists. These are the people who put up the signs, get on the phones, turn out the vote. These are the people who go to the community centers, places of worship, coffee shops, and you put out the word. I'm counting on you. You cannot win a campaign without a good grassroots organization. So for those of you getting ready to get after this campaign, I want to thank you. And when you're out there, you tell them this You tell them, in the last 3 years our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. My administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many key leaders of the Al Qaida network. And the rest of them know and the rest of them can be certain we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people 50 million in those 2 countries once lived under tyranny, and today they live in freedom. Three years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer, so we increased the defense budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Three years ago, the economy was in trouble, and a recession was beginning. And then attacks on our country and scandals in corporate America and war all affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. This administration understands that when Americans have more money to spend or save or invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. So we're returning more money to the people to help them raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We've given small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new workers. With all these actions, we're laying the foundation for greater prosperity so that every single citizen has a chance to realize the American Dream. This economy in America is strong, and it is getting stronger. The figures for third quarter of 2003 showed that the economy grew at the fastest rate in nearly 20 years. Productivity is high. Business investment is rising. Housing construction is expanding. Manufacturing activity is increasing. We've added over a quarter million new jobs. The tax relief we passed is working. Three years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform in Washington, but there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We've increased funding, particularly for poor students. But for the first time, the Federal Government is asking the question, "Can our children read and write and add and subtract?" This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. We're raising the bar. We expect every child to read and write and add and subtract, and we expect every school to teach every child. The days of excusemaking are over in America. No child shall be left behind in this country. We reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better protect our borders and ports and to safeguard the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for America's entrepreneurs and farmers and ranchers. We passed budget agreements to bring much needed spending discipline to Washington, DC. And last month, we completed the greatest advance in health care coverage for America's senior citizens since the founding of Medicare. There's a lot of talk about Medicare in Washington over the years. The system got old and tired and stale. So we acted. The new Medicare law that I proudly signed will give older Americans the option of a prescription drug benefit and more control over their health care, so they can receive the modern medicine they deserve. We've got a record of accomplishment. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. And the Congress gets a lot of credit. I enjoy working with Congressman Shays and the Speaker of the House, Denny Hastert, Majority Leader Bill Frist. We're working hard to change the tone in Washington there's just too much politics up there, too much needless politics, endless backbiting, zero sum attitude and the best way to do that is to work on behalf of the people and deliver results. And the Congress gets a lot of credit for the successes over the last 3 years, and so do the people in my administration. I put together a fantastic group of Americans from all walks of life to serve the American people, people who came to Washington, DC, with one thing in mind, service to their country. Speaking about good people in my administration, our Nation has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion. Laughter In 3 years, we've come far, but our work is only beginning. I've set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we will continue to work for a society which is prosperous and compassionate, so every citizen has a chance to realize the full promise of our land. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror continues. I wish I could tell you it didn't, but it does. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where all people can be certain they will never again have to fear the brutality of Saddam Hussein. The Ba'athist holdouts largely responsible for the current violence now know there will be no return to corrupt power and privilege they once held. All Iraqis who have taken the side of freedom have taken the winning side. We face terrorists who would rather go on killing the innocent than accept the rise of liberty in the Middle East. And there is a reason why, because, see, they know that the advance of freedom in Iraq would be a major defeat in the cause of terror. The collection of killers is trying to shake the will of America. America will never be intimidated by thugs or assassins. We're aggressively after the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we do not have to face them in our own cities. Other nations are helping in Iraq, because they understand a free and democratic and peaceful Iraq is in their interests. The whole world becomes more secure. And the Iraqi people are assuming more of their own defense and heading towards self government. And these are not easy tasks. I recognize that, but I believe they're essential tasks. We will finish what we have begun, and America will win this essential victory in the war on terror. We're working to oppose proliferation around the world. Last month, after talks with the United States and Great Britain, Libya voluntarily committed to disclose and dismantle all of its weapons of mass destruction programs. Leaders around the world now know with certainty, weapons of mass destruction do not bring influence or prestige they bring isolation and other unwelcome consequences. Nations who abandon the pursuit of these weapons will find an open path to better relations with the United States of America. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations don't support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass destruction. And Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. And I know, like you know, that freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to every man and woman in this world. My administration also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world, and when we see disease and starvation or hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. This strong and powerful Nation is a compassionate nation. And America now leads the world in bringing hope and medicines to millions of men and women and children suffering from AIDS. This incredible Nation of ours is leading the world in this very important work of human rescue. We have challenges here at home, and our actions will prove that we're equal to those challenges. This administration understands entrepreneurship. We understand the vital role of risktaking. We will continue to promote a progrowth economic agenda so fellow citizens can find work. We also understand the effects of frivolous and junk lawsuits on our society. For example, in health care, we need to cut down on these frivolous lawsuits which are running up the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court, yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care for every citizen, and they affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. This administration has acted. We passed good legislation up to the Hill, and it was passed by the United States House of Representatives, for which I am grateful. It's stuck in the Senate. Perhaps you ought to notify your two United States Senators to get it unstuck. For the sake of a health care system that is available and affordable, we need medical liability reform now. No one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. I have a responsibility to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I've met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing. It is time for some Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. We've got more work to do, and the Congress needs to get me an energy bill. We need a bill which encourages more conservation. We need a bill which unleashes the technology of our country to be advanced in how we explore and use energy. But for the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, this Nation must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. A strong and prosperous nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance what I call compassionate conservatism, which means we'll use the most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens who hurt. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. Congress must build on the success of welfare reform to bring training and, therefore, work into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. We need to make sure more Americans can serve their communities and their country through vibrant citizen service programs. Congress needs to complete work on the Faith Based Initiative. You see, many of the problems that citizens face are problems of the heart, problems of addiction, problems that can't be solved necessarily by a Government program. And yet one of the great strengths of our country is the fact that we're a country of many faiths, Christian, Jewish, Muslim. And in many of those programs emanating out of those faiths come healing programs, programs that change people's lives. Our country should not fear faith based programs. We ought to welcome faith based programs, and Government ought to be their ally. I believe part of being a compassionate society is one in which we encourage ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their own home. There's a minority home ownership gap in America that must be addressed. This administration is addressing it. We want more people owning and controlling their own retirement accounts. We want people owning and managing their own health care plans, like health savings accounts. We want more people owning their own small businesses, and the administration understands that. You see, we fully understand that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of this country. A compassionate society is one in which people respect one another, respect their religious views, respect their opinions. It's a society in which people take responsibility for the decisions they make. The culture of this country is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and, "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are lucky enough to be a mom or a dad, you are responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're worried about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you are a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in this new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we would like to be loved ourselves. The culture of service and responsibility is strong here in America. I really believe it's the great strength of our country. Two years ago, I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to encourage people to love their neighbor, to do something to help somebody in need. And the response has been really strong, and I am grateful. Our faith based programs and charities all across America are vibrant integral part of our society. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than ourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and courage of America. I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 3 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift up whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the history this is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it and know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. God bless. January 28, 2004 The President. It is my honor to welcome Prime Minister Erdogan to the Oval Office for the second time. I've been looking forward to this meeting because Turkey is a friend and an important ally of America. I have found that the Prime Minister is a person who is easy to talk to. He's a straightforward man, which makes it easy to be able to deal with common issues. And we talked about Iraq, and I assured him the United States' ambition is for a peaceful country, a democratic Iraq that is territorially intact. He briefed me on the Cyprus talks, and I appreciated his trying to find a solution a solution to a long standing dispute. I appreciate the Prime Minister's steadfast determination to fight terror. Both of us understand what it means to have our fellow citizens destroyed by the merciless killing of terrorists. Both of us understand that we must stay on the offensive against terrorists and bring them to justice before they hurt innocent people. Over lunch, we'll discuss other issues of importance. I'm really looking forward to going to Turkey later on this year. It's going to be an important meeting. Every one of my friends who has traveled to your country has come back with great stories of warm hospitality and magnificent sights. So I'm proud to welcome our friend to the Oval Office. Prime Minister Erdogan. First of all, I would like to thank you very much. It, indeed, made us very happy to learn that after listing PKK and KADEK in the list of terrorist organizations, the United States has decided to list KONGRA GEL among terrorist organizations. We were very happy for that. We thank you. It's very obvious where Turkey stands in the fight against terrorism that needs to be mutual and international, especially in the aftermath of what happened on September 11th. We are in a common effort to fight terrorism, and we share the same views regarding our strategic partnership in restructuring Iraq. I also share the same views in in developing Middle East. And we spoke of the fact that we support the good will mission of the Secretary General of the United Nations, and we are willing to restart the negotiations, taking Annan's plan as a reference point. I state once again that the Turkish side is determined for a solution. We will always be a step ahead of our Greek counterparts, and we're determined to solve this as soon as possible. I thank you for your invitation, for your The President. Thank you. January 27, 2004 Legislative Agenda I want to thank the Members from the Senate and the House who are here, both Republicans and Democrat leaders who are here to discuss the upcoming session. We've got a lot of common interests this year, interests of continuing to fight and win the war against terror. We need to protect our homeland. We need to put policies in place that help people find work. We'll work together on the health needs of our fellow citizens. We've got to be wise with the people's money. I look forward to constructive conversation today and working together constructively throughout the year. This is an election year. It's a year where people say, "Nothing can get done." We need to prove them wrong. We need to continue to do the people's business in a sound way. I want to thank the Members for coming. I appreciate the chance to visit with you, and I look forward to a good relationship here in 2004. January 26, 2004 The President. Thank you. Thanks for coming. Thanks for having me. Thanks for the warm welcome. I appreciate the fact that a Texan is being treated so well here in Arkansas. Laughter It's nice to be in this part of the world again. Arkansas is full of really good people, decent, caring people, and so is this hospital. I'm honored that you would have allowed me and my rather significant entourage laughter to come to Baptist Health Medical Center. I'm here to talk about health issues. I'm here to talk about one of the reasons why health care costs are going up. And that's the fact that we've got too many darn lawsuits, too many frivolous and junk lawsuits that are affecting people. I'm here to make sure that we talk in a way that says to the people of Arkansas and America that we need medical liability reform to make sure that medicine is affordable and available. But I'm here, first and foremost, to thank the people of this medical center, those here in person and those listening via cable. I want to thank you for what you do. I want to thank you for your heart. I want to thank you for caring about your fellow citizens. I appreciate very much your being on the frontline of healing, healing lives in such a compassionate way. Our health care system is the best in the world, and we need to keep it that way. I appreciate Russ. Thank you for your introduction. Thanks for being the CEO of Baptist Health System. Thank you for joining us in we just had what they call a roundtable. The table was square. Laughter But nevertheless, we had a great discussion, and Russ was there. He talked about this hospital, its outreach, its not only desire to serve people in the city of Little Rock but also its desire to serve people in rural Arkansas. I want to thank Doug Weeks, the senior vice president and administrator, our host. I want to thank my friend the Governor for coming. Governor Huckabee is a applause . Part of good health care depends on how you treat your own body. Laughter No, I'm serious. I'm absolutely serious. The best way to one of the best ways to prevent disease is to make right choices. One of the right choices is to watch what you eat. The Governor has clearly done that. Laughter He's setting a good example. Another right choice is to exercise frequently. Some of us like to run or used to like to run before we broke down. Laughter I try to exercise 6 days a week. The Governor exercises. And I hope people in Arkansas and around the country understand that the exercise is a good way to avoid disease in the first place. Making right choices is important. And Governor, I appreciate the example you've set for this great State. I want to thank the Lieutenant Governor, Win Rockefeller, for joining us. Win, glad to see you. He exercises too. Laughter I appreciate the mayor, Mayor Dailey from Little Rock, for being here. Mr. Mayor, thank you for coming. Mayor Hays of North Little Rock is here as well. Thank you for coming, appreciate you. You've got a tough job. I like to remind the mayors, just go ahead and fill the potholes, and everything will be fine. Laughter I know we've got leaders from the statehouse here, Senator Baker and Representative Parks and others. Thank you all for coming out and giving me a chance to share some thoughts with you. Before I get into the issue of health, I do want to remind you that our country still faces big challenges. And we're rising to meet the challenges. The most important job of my administration is to protect the American people, is to chase down those who would do us harm and bring them to justice, is to never forget the lessons of September the 11th, is to stay on the offensive, and that's what we're doing. We're spreading freedom, and as we do so, the world becomes more peaceful. Freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty's gift to each man and woman in the world. I appreciate so very much the contribution of the Arkansas Guard. Over 4,000 troops are part of our effort to not only make America more secure but to make the world more free. I know that the Governor informed me that these troops are ready to go. They understand the mission. They're proud to serve our country. I'm proud to call them I'm proud to be their Commander in Chief. And I want their families to know how much we are grateful for their sacrifice as well. Arkansas ought to be proud of the men and women who wear the uniform, and they're going to make this Nation proud and more secure in their sacrifices. I told everybody the other night at the State of the Union that we're going to stay on the offensive against Al Qaida, and we're making good progress. We're on an international manhunt. We're in a different kind of war. It used to be in the old days, you could measure progress based upon the number of airplanes that the enemy had or the number of ships in a flotilla. And the big battles of the past were clashes of equipment that were visible for people to see. And this is the kind of war where sometimes you see action, and sometimes you don't. Sometimes progress is being made, and it's hard to tell it, because in order to dismantle the Al Qaida terrorists network, we've got to be on a manhunt, and we've got a lot of people on the manhunt. Just yesterday not yesterday just last week, we made further progress in making America more secure when a fellow named Hassan Ghul was captured in Iraq. Hassan Ghul was a reported directly to Khalid Sheik Mohammed, who was the mastermind of the September the 11th attacks. He was a killer. He was moving money and messages around South Asia and the Middle East to other Al Qaida leaders. He was a part of this network of haters that we're dismantling. Our intelligence officers did a good job. He was captured in Iraq, where he was helping Al Qaida to put pressure on our troops. There is one less enemy we have to worry about with the capture of Hassan Ghul. Our people are doing great work. This country's economy is getting better, and that's positive news for the people of Arkansas and the people of America. The tax relief we passed is working. See, I believe that when people have more money in their pocket, they will then spend or save or invest, and that causes the whole economy to grow, which then helps people find a job. Much of the tax relief we passed is set to expire, and it's set to expire right about the time the economy gets going. It makes no sense to have a tax increase on the American people at this stage or any stage as far as I'm concerned. And therefore, we need to make the tax relief permanent. In order to make this tax relief permanent, let people keep more of their own money to keep driving this economy forward. Small businesses need to keep more money. You see, most new jobs in America are created by small business owners. If you're worried about job creation, we need to continue to stimulate the small business sector of our economy. Congress needs to act. They need to make these tax relief packages we passed for small business permanent so people can find work here in America. We also need to have an energy policy. The people of Arkansas understand energy. We need a policy. We need a policy that encourages conservation. We need a policy that helps modernize our electricity systems, and we need a policy that makes us less dependent on foreign sources of energy. We need to open up markets for Arkansas' farmers and ranchers. When you're good at something, we ought to encourage the sale of those products elsewhere, outside of our markets. And we're good at things in America. We're good at growing crops, and we're good at raising cows, and we're good at being on the cutting edge of innovation. We need markets for those products. We need less regulation for businesses and small businesses. And we've got to deal with rising health care costs. Rising health care costs are making it difficult for some entities to hire people. Rising health care costs affect all Americans. We want our families to feel more secure. Rising health care costs create insecurity in our Nation. And so we need to continue the focus on costs. We're making some good progress, by the way, about helping people with health care. We've got what we call community health centers in America. I'm committed to the expansion and the building of new community health centers. These are places where people who don't have insurance or live in areas without enough doctors can find health care. Community health centers make sense. It takes the pressure off the emergency rooms of hospitals such as this. We've opened or expanded 600 community health centers since 2001. The budget I proposed calls for another 218 to be opened or expanded. This is a good way to make sure that health care is available for those who don't have insurance yet. And so I call upon Congress to look at that part of my budget and continue working with the administration to expand these vital centers around Arkansas and around America. And then we worked on Medicare. You might remember what it was like before this year when people talked about Medicare. The political issue was really called "Medi scare." Laughter If somebody would talk about it, somebody else would say, "Wait a minute. They're going to try to take away Medicare from the seniors." But I felt strongly that Medicare needed to be modernized. I felt like we needed to deal with the issue now and not pass it on like other Congresses and administrations had done. It's time to address the issue before it became so acute that the system didn't work. And it was time to fulfill a promise to our seniors, and so we acted. I was proud to sign that bill, and as I told the Congress, "If you try to change it and it hurts our seniors, I'll veto the bill." It's going to take a while to implement the Medicare bill. It's a complex piece of legislation. After all, it's the first modernization since Lyndon Johnson signed Medicare in the mid sixties. This year, seniors are going to get a drug discount card, which will save them 10 to 25 percent off the retail price of most prescription drugs. And the lowest income seniors will get a 600 credit. That will help seniors with drug costs. Secondly, next year we'll begin preventive screenings against diabetes and heart disease for seniors just entering Medicare, plus they'll get a wellness exam. That's important. It's the first time that Medicare has actually been into the business of preventive screenings. Any good doc will tell you, you need to figure out what the issue is in order to deal with people. And a preventive screening will help the medical profession better treat our seniors. Finally, in year 2006, seniors will receive the prescription drug coverage they've been promised. For about 35 a month, most seniors will see their drug bills cut in half. That's a good deal for America's seniors. And finally, in the bill is an interesting innovation, one that isn't the first time it's been tried, but it's now been expanded they're called health savings accounts, which will allow Americans to save for future medical expenses, tax free. And that's an important innovation, an important reform. Another way to help, by the way or a way to help deal with rising costs is to understand the impact rising costs have on small businesses. A lot of big businesses are able to absorb the costs because they've got the capacity to negotiate better. When you've got a large universe of people that you're trying to cover, you can have more strength in negotiations. It gives you a better hand. The problem we have with small businesses is they don't have the capacity to pool together, to negotiate on behalf of a lot of people. And that's why I'm a strong supporter of what's called association health plans that will allow small businesses to pool risk and have a better negotiation policy with those who offer insurance. Congress needs to pass this piece of legislation. It is good for the entrepreneurs of Arkansas. Lower income Americans should be helped with health care by refundable tax credits. It's been a part of my budget. It's an important reform. It will help with the issue of the uninsured. People with health savings accounts, when they buy high deductible insurance policies to protect them against catastrophic medical costs or hospitalization or major surgery, should be allowed to deduct those premiums. See, that will help with the rising costs of health care as well. Those are some practical suggestions for Congress to look at, ways to strengthen the private delivery of medicine as opposed to strengthening the Government involvement in medicine. There's something else we can do at the Federal level, and that is to promote promising health information technology. The truth of the matter is, medicine is on the leading edge of change. And some of the new drugs are fantastic about to help save lives. Some of the new machinery is fantastic. The information systems of the health care system are a little antiquated. I mean, you're still moving files by hand, aren't you? Kind of writing it out by hand.Well, what we need to do is to have standards and computerized records so that we can improve care and prevent errors, which will save money in the system. There's tremendous savings to be had by bringing technology into the medical field, and the Federal Government can help there as well. These are good steps. Yet one of the main cost drivers, that has nothing to do with what happens in an operating room or a waiting room, happen in the courtroom. One of the reasons people are finding their premiums are up and it's hard to find a doc these days is because frivolous and junk lawsuits are threatening medicine across the country. And there's a lot of them, people just filing these suits. I call them junk suits because they don't have any merit. The problem is they cost money to fight. Every one of these junk suits that people put out there requires the expenditure of money, which affects consumers. That's you. It affects hospitals. That's you as well. In order to avoid protracted litigation, those who provide insurance oftentimes just settle the case. You've got these giant judgments looming out there, people say, "Well, I better just go ahead and settle this, rather than risk a bad jury verdict." That drives up costs too. People just filing these lawsuits right and left, and it's running up the costs. Doctors' premiums, the cost of doing business, they're rising. That makes it hard on the docs. It makes it hard on docs to do what they're called to do, which is to heal lives. Medical liability premiums for Arkansas doctors rose more than 150 percent last year. That makes it awfully hard for doctors to do business. And what is their business? Their business is seeing patients. Their business is helping to make somebody's life better. Yet these lawsuits are making it hard for docs to practice their business in the State of Arkansas and other States as well. You see, the costs get passed on. They get passed on to patients or their employers. One of the major cost drivers in the delivery of health care are these junk and frivolous lawsuits. The risk of frivolous litigation drives doctors and hear me out on this they drive doctors to prescribe drugs and procedures that may not be necessary, just to avoid lawsuits. That's called the defensive practice of medicine. According to a survey of the Arkansas Medical Society, 90 percent of Arkansas doctors say the fear of lawsuits have caused them to do unnecessary procedures. See, lawsuits not only drive up premiums, which drives up the cost to the patient or the employer of the patient, but lawsuits cause docs to practice medicine in an expensive way in order to protect themselves in the courthouse. The defensive practice of medicine affects the Federal budget. The direct cost of liability insurance and the indirect cost from unnecessary medical procedures raise the Federal Government's health care costs by at least 28 billion a year. Remember, we provide at the Federal level, we provide health care through Medicare and Medicaid and veteran's health and Government employee costs. The defensive the cost of defensive medicine raises your bill as a taxpayer. Not only does it make it harder to go see a doc, it also costs you more as a taxpayer. Medical liability reform is a national issue because medical liability lawsuits raise the Federal budget. It's a national issue that requires a national solution. You need to get your Governor I know he's strongly, and the Lieutenant Governor is strongly in favor of liability reform you need to work it here in Arkansas, by the way. Just don't rely upon the Federal Government, but get you good medical liability. It's tough, because some of these lawyer groups are some of the politically strongest groups in the State and the country. I understand how tough it is. But we're doing the right thing by insisting upon medical liability reform. We're doing the right thing by telling people the truth, and that is the health care system looks like a giant lottery. That's what it looks like these days because of these lawsuits. And somehow, the trial lawyers always hold the winning ticket. Lawyers walk away with up to 40 percent 40 percent of every settlement and verdict, which adds up to billions of costs, billions of unnecessary costs. Lawsuits don't heal patients. That's a fact. And they're driving a wedge between the docs and their patients. One of the most vital links of good medicine is the doctor patient relationship. Yet many doctors fear what they tell a patient will be used against them in a court of law. We've got a culture of lawsuit here in America, a culture of lawsuits, a litigation culture, which is driving a wedge between the doctors and patients, and that's not right. When docs treat their patients, the only thing they should worry about is the health of their patients, not some trial lawyer breathing down their neck. Seventy one percent of the doctors in Arkansas say they are considering early retirement. Let me tell you what's happening here in Arkansas, and it's happening in other States too. You're not alone. These frivolous and junk lawsuits are not only driving up the costs, but a lot of docs are thinking about quitting the practice of medicine. Remember, I talked about to make sure medicine is affordable and available. Lawsuits drive up the affordability. Lawsuits are driving docs out of the practice, which means there's less availability. You've got to have doctors in your communities. In order to be a vibrant, successful community, you need a viable health care industry with good docs. And yet, 71 percent of the doctors in this State say they're considering early retirement 50 percent of the physicians say they're having difficulty recruiting new doctors to practice in Arkansas. This litigation culture puts a sign up there saying, "If you come to our State, you're likely to get sued." Who wants to do that? People want to practice medicine. They don't want to spend their time defending themselves in the courthouse because of the frivolous and junk lawsuits that are too prevalent today in America. More than a third of the docs are considering moving out of State. See, that says to me you got a problem here in Arkansas. And by the way, again I repeat, you're not alone. Trust me, you're not alone. There's a lot of States that can't get good medical liability reform through. Today I met with some decent docs and health administrators. Let me tell you their stories so that we get a better feel for why we need medical liability reform at the State and Federal level. Sara McBee is here. There's Sara. She's from Fayetteville, Arkansas. She practices family medicine. She was delivering between 80 and 100 babies a year. Now, there's a soul a good soul who loves life to the point where she's willing to take her talents and deliver babies. It must be an unbelievably satisfying profession to bring life to be. And yet, in July of 2002, her insurance premiums more than doubled. See, the litigation culture made it nearly impossible for her to practice her love. I say nearly impossible, because she wouldn't break her commitments to expecting patients and hung in there for a year. But her premiums continued to rise, and Dr. McBee has stopped delivering babies, as a direct result of too many junk lawsuits, and that's not right. That's not right. Let me give you another story. Dr. John Wilson is with us. Dr. Wilson is a good soul. He's an orthopedist from Little Rock, Arkansas. He's been practicing medicine for I think he said 35 years, 30 of which he wasn't hassled by lawsuits. In other words, what we're talking about is a new phenomenon here in society in this society. He is a he believes that doctors are called to serve. Besides just healing people, they're called to serve people. And I bet you when you talk to most docs, that's the way they feel as well. So he traveled every week to the Arkansas Delta. And for people who aren't familiar with Arkansas, that is a poor, rural area that, frankly, does not have enough doctors. And he heard a calling. So he would go there to help to love, really, if you think about it to practice his talent and skills and to love people by helping them, and then he got sued. And the lawsuits were dropped, but he was unable to find insurance because he was told if he kept going over there, the cost of his business, the cost of being a doctor, would rise dramatically. And so he quit going. He quit going. By the way, I went to Mississippi a while ago and talked to a doc who was there in the Mississippi Delta. He came down from another State to practice medicine. He understood there's a lot of poor people there he wanted to help them. He got sued for helping poor people, because he's a doctor. And guess what? He left. The Wilson story and the story I just mentioned to you, it's just all too common. And people get affected. These junk lawsuits not only are running up the cost of medicine they're making the quality of life of some of our citizens diminishing the quality of life. Sully and Mary Ligon are with us. They're from Helena or Henrietta? Mrs. Ligon. It's Helena. The President. Helena, yes, Helena. How quickly we forget. Laughter Anyway, see, the Ligons got help from Dr. Wilson. She was telling me she got injured during one Christmas and tore a rotator cuff, and Dr. Wilson being the good doc he is, fixed it. Her fastball is back up to about 85 miles an hour now. Laughter But Dr. Wilson no longer goes there. And Sully got knocked over by a cow. He said a wild cow, not a mad cow. Laughter He got hurt, see. And Dr. Wilson was their doc because he used to go there. He no longer goes there. So guess what? The Ligons now have to drive here. And as they were quick to point out, they can afford to do so, which is good. It's inconvenient as heck, but they can afford to do so. There's a lot of people there that can't, and they're missing out on a good doc. And the reason Dr. Wilson is not there is because lawsuits are running up the cost of medicine, make it hard for him to practice. His heart's right. Trust me. I heard him. But he just can't go there. There's just too many junk and frivolous lawsuits. We need to do something about it for the sake of a lot of people. I met with Frank Wise. He's from Fulton County Hospital. It's a rural hospital. These junk lawsuits have raised the cost of delivering babies such that they no longer do so in his hospital. And he tells the story about people desperately looking for a place to for a bed, and babies being delivered on a bridge. Listen, I'm going to tell you something. We can have balance in our society when it comes to having a good legal system and a good medical system. It's not that way today. The pendulum has swung way, way too far. D'Borai Lynn Cook you might have heard of her if you work here. She's the emergency room case manager. She sees firsthand what it means to practice medicine defensively. She says they over prescribe to cover themselves to make sure that, as they do their job, they're thinking about what would happen if they end up in a court of law. She says that she said then there's the negative aspect of defensive medicine with people saying, "I'm not going to handle that case." See, too many lawsuits affect the lives of a lot of good people, and we need to do something about it. And so I proposed to the Congress to act. My job as the President, if I see problems, is to address them square on, and I expect Congress to do the same thing. I expect Congress to do the same. First of all, we want to make sure the court system is uncluttered. We want to make sure that if a person is injured, they have their day in court. Frivolous and junk lawsuits make it hard for those who get injured to have their day in court, for starters. And secondly, obviously, if they've been hurt by a bad doc, there needs to be a judgment, and that person needs to be able to recover the cost of their care, the recovery, and the economic losses for the rest of their life. Every good doc wants to make sure that the legal system works fairly. Good docs aren't afraid to stand up in a court of law. They just don't want to be run out of business because of these junk lawsuits, just filing suit after suit after suit. People ought to be allowed to recover economic damages. But for the sake of a strong health care system, for the sake of making sure health care is accessible and affordable, we need a 250,000 cap on non economic damages. States that have got a hard cap have seen positive results, have seen the judicial system work well and the medical field stay vibrant. And if harm is caused by truly egregious behavior, patients should be able to recover reasonable punitive damages. What I propose is fair, see. I've laid out something that's balanced and fair, something that addresses a critical national need, and that is the cost of medicine. The problem is, is that some in the United States Senate don't see it that way. That bill I put up there passed the House of Representatives, and it's stuck in the Senate. And your Senators need to hear from you about a balanced, fair system. For the sake of Arkansas and States around the country, you need medical liability reform. We need to make sure we've got joint and several liability reform as well. See, what happens is some of these junk lawsuits, they'll just file against everybody. Even though they may not be like 100 percent responsible for an issue, they'll have to pay 100 percent of the cost. That's not fair. That hurts hospitals in particular and a lot of docs as well. There needs to be good reform. There just needs to be good, sound national reform that's fair and balanced and full of common sense. The House passed a bill. It's stuck in the Senate. These Senators have got to understand no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. And I'm going to stay on the issue until we get it fixed. This is a national problem. Let me talk about one other issue, and then I'll let you get back to work. Today I met Mary Lynn Roberson at the airport. Mary Lynn has volunteered she's right there. I told her I was going to say her name. Thank you, Mary Lynn. She has volunteered here for nearly three decades. She visits with family and friends of surgery patients. In other words, she's spreading love, is what she's doing. And the reason I bring that up, and her work, is because the true strength of America is the fact that there are Mary Lynns in every community who are willing to take time out of their personal life to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. We're a mighty nation when it comes to our military, and we'll keep it that way. We're a mighty nation when it comes to wealth in our economy, and it's getting better. But the most mighty aspect of our Nation is the fact that our citizens, from all walks of life, care deeply about a neighbor in need. One of the most compelling things about being the President is I get to see on a daily basis the true compassion of our fellow citizens. And I hear just unbelievably fantastic stories about people overcoming big odds, because a neighbor is helped. Somebody has just taken time out of their life to make a difference. My call to the good people of Little Rock is to work with the Boy Scouts and I thank you for being involved in such a values based program or to start a program in your house of worship to feed the hungry or find shelter for the homeless. If you are interested in helping make a difference, mentor a child, teach a child how to read. What a fantastic gift that is to teach a child to read. After all, I like to say reading is the new civil right. And you can help. The strength of this country is the fact that we're a compassionate country. And there are thousands of people who are soldiers in the army of compassion, working hard to change lives, just like you're doing here at this hospital. I'm so grateful that you gave me a chance to come by and talk about issues of national concern. I'm particularly grateful for the love you show for people who hurt here in society. This country is a great country because it is full of great people. I'm honored to be here. May God bless your work, and may God continue to bless America. Thank you. January 23, 2004 Thanks for your kind words, Big Jim. Laughter I've known him for quite a while, and he's an honorable man who's doing a fine job for the mayors. And I appreciate you all giving me a chance to come by and visit. I've got some thoughts I'd like to share with you about how we can work together to make this country hopeful and safe and secure. I want to, first, thank you for serving your communities. It's not easy to be a mayor. Probably a lot harder than being a President. After all, I don't have to fill potholes laughter or empty the trash. Laughter But I do really want to thank you. This country is a fabulous country because we've got good, honorable people who are willing to serve at all levels of government. And one of the key levels of government, of course, is running the city hall, and you're doing a fine job. And I look forward to working with you, and so does my administration. I do want to thank you all for the invitation. I want to thank Mayor Plusquellic, who's going to be chairman next year. Is that done? Yes okay, good. I didn't want to jump the gun. Laughter I look forward to working with you. Mayor O'Neill, thank you very much for having me. Mayor Riley, it's good to see you, sir. You reminded me, my mother went to high school in the town he runs in South Carolina, and I reminded him that she grad uated laughter like her son, barely. Speaking about sons, there's nothing wrong with a guy following in his father's footsteps. In this case, this guy is doing it really well. Mayor Daley, I appreciate you. Great mayor. I appreciate my temporary Mayor, Mayor Williams. He's a really good guy. He's the Mayor of Washington, DC. I notice you were over lobbying Laura the other day to handle a project. Laughter He knows where the power is in the White House. Laughter I appreciate you, Tony. He's a good fellow. We worked hard on an interesting education initiative. He took a bold leadership position on education, and we worked with the Congress to get some scholarship money to poor students in Washington, DC, who are going to schools that are failing, that will help liberate them and their parents to be able to choose new schools. And this is a landmark piece of legislation that's going to change people's lives for the better. And the Mayor showed strong leadership. He got out on front on a tough issue, and as a result, the children of this city are going to benefit. And I appreciate you, Mayor, a lot for taking that on. I want to thank the mayors who are here from Texas. Yes. Behave yourselves. Laughter Go to bed early. Laughter Don't whoop and holler. Laughter But I'm glad you're here. I miss my home State. I love Texas. I love the people who represent our State, and thanks for coming today. I also want to thank Pat McCrory for meeting me. You might remember he is the mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. We worked together on brownfield legislation, which, Tommy, I want to thank you and the organization for working on that important piece of legislation. It will change America for the better. It's a collaborative effort between the administration and the mayors to do some good environmental policy that will make communities a better place. McCrory I wanted to talk about brownfields of course, he wanted to talk about football. Laughter And I bet Mayor Menino does too. Laughter So perhaps I can arrange a little bit of a friendly wager between you two, if it hasn't happened yet. It has happened? Well, that's good. Be careful what you bet. Laughter I wish I could report to you that the war on terror is over with and America is safe and secure, but I cannot. I can't tell you that in good conscience because I don't believe in it. The truth is that there's an enemy that still lurks out there. And we must continue to work together to protect our country. It is the most solemn duty of government, is to protect American people. It's important for all of us in positions of responsibility never to forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001. It is natural that we would, as distance passes, that we would kind of try to think for the best and hope for the best and think that time has maybe solved the problem of the first war of the 21st century. It's just not the case. It's not the case, and so we will continue to work with you on homeland security. My '05 budget has got 30 billion in there for homeland security. That's 3 times the amount spent prior to September the 11th. It's important that the money be spent wisely and focused on the protection of the American people. Mayor Jim just told me, on the way in he said, "You know, one of the problems we face, we mayors face, is that the money is allocated and gets stuck." And I appreciated that recognition of the problem, and so we'll work with the mayors to make sure it gets unstuck. I understand sometimes it gets stuck not in Washington it gets stuck at the State level, as I understand. Look I don't hold on, I'm an ex Governor, so I'm laughter and we're hosting the Governors pretty soon. Laughter But it will provide an opportunity to work this out so that it works better. Listen, I'm not interested in pointing fingers. I'm interested in making the system work better. Our most solemn duty is to work together to protect our people. That is the most important responsibility we have. And I want to thank you for the coordination that is taking place between the Federal Government, the State government, and the local governments. I've asked Tom Ridge often, how well are we doing communicating with each other, how good is the city response mechanism? And the report is very good. And the mayors get the credit. The mayors get the credit for energizing Joint Terrorism Task Forces. The mayors get the credit for good communication. The mayors get credit for good response. Recently, over the Christmas holidays, Los Angeles and Las Vegas and Washington, DC, and New York were put on especially high alert, and I'm telling you, the mayors and their offices did a fabulous job of coordinating information and activity. And I don't know if they're out there, but mayor, you deserve a lot of credit for doing the right thing and for responding. I know there's some talk in your communities about the PATRIOT Act. Let me tell you about the PATRIOT Act right quick. We're in a new war, a different kind of war. We need to be able to share information across jurisdictional boundaries at the Federal level. Do you realize, prior to September the 11th, 2001, the CIA could not pass information to the FBI or vice versa? By law, they were prohibited from sharing information. How can you fight a war against terrorists who hide in dark corners of the world and maybe slide into our country if you can't share information? We need the CIA and the FBI to be able to talk to each other. As I said in the State of the Union, many of the provisions in the law have been used to catch embezzlers or criminals. We need to make sure those provisions stay in the law. We're at war. We're trying to hunt terrorists. It's a different kind of war. In the old days, you know, you could measure progress based upon tanks destroyed or airplanes brought down to Earth, you know, by missiles or air to air combat. It's no longer the way it is in the 21st century. We're on an international manhunt. We have to find these people before they come and get us. And in order to do so, we need the best intelligence and the capacity to share that intelligence across jurisdictional boundaries. The PATRIOT Act is vital for our security, and Congress needs to renew it. We want to work with you on defending America. The best way to defend America, however, is to stay on the offensive and to find these killers, one by one, and bring them to justice. That's precisely what our Government is doing and will continue to do. There are thousands of military personnel, with aid from intelligence personnel, on an international manhunt. Slowly but surely, we are dismantling the Al Qaida network that caused such great harm to America and still continues to plot, by the way. I said in the speech the other night that two thirds of known leaders have been captured or killed. That's a significant number when you think about where we were prior to September the 11th. We're, slowly but surely, demolishing them. If you if Al Qaida was a corporation in America, you'd have the board of directors somewhat intact, but the operators, the middle management, retired, no longer useful, no longer a part of the problem. And we're going to stay on the hunt, which requires good intelligence, good cooperation, good participation with friends and allies around the world. As the world saw, there is no hole deep enough from the long arm of American justice. We're making progress. It's important for America to speak clearly and, when America says something, to mean it. And so when I said right after September the 11th, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist," I meant it. I meant it as clearly as I could say it. And the Taliban found out what we meant. Thanks to a coalition, a large coalition of freedom loving nations, we removed the Taliban from power. And America is more secure for it, because remember, Afghanistan was a haven for training bases. This is where many of the Al Qaida fighters learned how to fight and kill. And as importantly, the people of Afghanistan are free. They're free from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in history. It is hard for the Western mind to fathom such a regime, a regime that refuses to allow young girls to go to school, but that's the way it was. And today, thanks to our coalition and our deep love for freedom and our intense desire to protect ourselves, young girls go to school in Afghanistan, and the world is better off for it. And as you know, I made a tough decision to take out Saddam Hussein, and I did so for this reason September the 11th made it clear that America can no longer ignore gathering threats. Oceans no longer protected us from harm. We just couldn't say, "Okay, well, there's a gathering threat. Let's just hope it goes away." I'm never going to forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001. And so, when we saw a threat we saw a threat we dealt with it. We dealt in this way I went to the United Nations, and I said, "You've given this man warning after warning after warning, and he's totally ignored you. You've got to have credibility." We want international institutions to work, but he ignored them. And the more he ignored them, the weaker the United Nations became. So I said, "Let's pass a resolution," which was passed unanimously. "Now let's enact, enact the resolution. Let's be a credible body. Let's be people, when you say something, people believe it for the sake of peace and freedom." And we moved. We moved against a man who had used weapons of mass destruction against his own people, attacked his neighbors, a man who we found out subsequently had murdered thousands of men, women, and children and buried them in mass graves, a person who when he found dissenters, tortured them, a person who ruled with utmost fear. No, we acted in our own for our own security. No one can say the world is not more safe with Saddam Hussein sitting in a jailhouse. It is more safe, and so is America. Our most important duty is to protect America. But I also want you to know that something else drives me. And it's that my belief that freedom is not America's gift to the world, but freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. And it's the spread of freedom that will bring peace. Free societies are peaceful societies. And yet, we're running against a pretty strong current, because some in the world say that certain people, evidently, can't be self governing and can't be free. That's not what Americans believe. We believe that people all people from all walks of life have got freedom indelibly etched in their heart. And I believe this Nation has an obligation to lead the world to be more free and more peaceful. I know many of you you hear from families whose sons and daughters are in our military. I try the best I can to thank them for their service. I hope you do as well. I know you do. I know you're just as proud of them as I am. But I want to assure you as leaders in your community, these troops will have the resources they need to be successful in the war against terror. We're making good progress we really are in parts of the world. Afghanistan has now got a constitution which talks about freedom of religion and talks about women's rights. I don't think anybody would have dreamed that would have been possible prior to September the 11th, and now it's a reality. Democracy is flourishing. The world is better off because of that. I met with some of the city council leaders in Baghdad when I snuck in over Thanksgiving. I hope someday that you're able to welcome them to your own cities. And these are people that are you can imagine what their vision might be like. First of all, they're overwhelmed with the thought of being free. That makes sense, because they had been locked in this cell of a country by a brutal tyrant. And they're learning what it means to be a free country, and they're learning what it means to be able to get along with their neighbor that may have a different view of how to worship the Almighty. But it's happening. Adnan Pachachi was with us the other day. He sat next to Laura at the State of the Union. He came to the Oval Office. He's a distinguished gentleman who believes in the possibilities of the Iraqi people. He sees a clear vision of a free country, and we're moving that way, moving toward a basic law that honors minority rights, a basic law that based upon the principles of human dignity. I hope to have the sovereignty passed over, and I think we will, by June the 30th. But there's still work to do you read about it in your newspapers because people are trying to shake our will. That's what you've got to understand is happening. They're willing to kill innocent life to shake our will, but thugs and assassins will not intimidate America. We will stay the course until the job is done, because a free Iraq in the heart of the Middle East will make the world more peaceful. These are historic times. This is an historic opportunity to change the world, and America will continue to lead. At home, I'm optimistic as well. I'm optimistic because I see the economy is growing. That's important for the health of our cities. And it's getting better, and statistics say it's getting better. One aspect about the growing economy that I believe speaks to why it's growing is the tax cuts we passed. We'll have a philosophical argument about that here in Washington, DC, of course. I look forward to it. But I will tell you that one of the things in the tax relief plan that I hope you find inspirational for your cities is it is aimed at the entrepreneur. Much of the tax relief is aimed at the small business owner. And the truth of the matter is the vibrancy of the inner cities of our country depend upon ownership. When more people own a small business, when people are starting their own business, when people are creating small businesses, they're creating jobs. They're not only creating a more vibrant and hopeful community more jobs are being created. And the tax relief we passed was, in part, aimed at small businesses for this reason Most small businesses are sole proprietorships or Subchapter S corporations, and they, therefore, pay tax at the individual income tax rate. And so therefore, when you reduce individual income taxes, you're injecting capital into the small business sectors of America's cities. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in America. You know it as well as I do. The desire for some to own their business is strong, and the tax relief we passed helped invigorate that spirit. So this economy is growing, and we've got to make sure people are prepared to meet the jobs of the 21st century. It starts with making sure there's a literate America, which make sure that the schools work well. No Child Left Behind Act let me tell you my view of that important piece of legislation, since I was the person that asked Congress to pass it. I said, first of all, "We'll increase the budgets," which we have done by 49 percent since 2001. But I've also said, "In return for additional money, primarily aimed at Title I students, we should expect results." You see, some people aren't interested well, I'm sure they're interested in results. They just don't want to measure results, and I think that's a shame. If you believe that every child can learn, then you want to know whether or not that's happening. It seems like to me that if the expectation is for excellence, we ought to measure. We ought to measure in a way that is open, measure in a way that puts the results out for everybody to see, including the mayors. So you know for a fact whether or not the obligations of our society are being met to the youngest of our children. In the bill, in the No Child Left Behind Act, not only do we insist upon local control of schools, an accountability system designed at the State or local level, we also say that when you see failure early, there's additional money to make sure children aren't left behind. This is an important piece of legislation, and I will resist any attempt to undermine it. I laid out the other night a Jobs for the 21st Century program. A part of that is to make sure there's additional money to help junior high and high school students who have been just simply shuffled through the system. And that's what's happened, as you know. If you want to be blunt about what has taken place, sometimes when you don't measure, you just shuffle kids through. Then you wake up at the high school level and find out that the literacy level of our children are appalling. I expect you, as mayors, to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. I challenge you to keep raising that bar and standards. And we want to help here. We've got money for that. We've got money for additional grants, for Pell grants for low income kids who are taking a good, strong curriculum. I told you what the Mayor did. He's challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. It might not have been the most politically popular thing in certain editorial pages or around the city, but he's taken the lead. He's not afraid to lead, and that's what we expect from people at the local level when it comes to insisting that every child learn and no child be left behind in America. I also hope you work with your community colleges. The community college system provides a great opportunity to make sure you match willing workers with the skills necessary to occupy the jobs of the 21st century. Some of you who have been around long enough may remember the old days when they had workforce training requirements that said, "Just go train people." So they'd go out and train 1,000 hairdressers for 50 jobs. You'd have 950 well trained hairdressers, but they weren't working. We've got to make sure the workforce training programs focus on the needs of the employers. And I know many of you are doing that in your communities and many of you are working with your local chambers. I went to Phoenix, and if the mayor is here, thank you, Mr. Mayor, for your hospitality. But there is a really interesting collaboration between the high tech community and the community college system, all aimed at providing people with the skills so that when the job base expands, and as it is in many communities, they've got the skills necessary to fill the work. There is a health care shortage of workers in America. You need to work with your community colleges to make sure that those colleges are able to provide the skills in the health care industry so that people who want to work can do so. And that's what we're talking about when you hear about this community college initiative of 250 million. I certainly hope the Congress listens as well, because it makes sense to use the community college system wisely. Speaking about workers, I want to talk about illegal immigrants who are working in your cities. I believe strongly that this Nation is a nation of rule of law, and therefore, we must be open about what's taking place. And as you know, there's a lot of people here on false papers who have been smuggled in by "coyotes," who have risked their lives to come and do what many of us many of our citizens do, which is to work hard to put food on the table for their families. And they're here, and they're working, and they're making a contribution to the economy. And yet we don't have a system to deal with them, do we? We have a system that's underground, that's in the shadows of society. And in my judgment, that's not right. So what I think we need to do is have what I call a temporary worker program, to issue a card, a temporary worker card that's legitimate and real, that says, if you're a willing American employer, you can hire a willing foreign employee that has a tem porary worker card, so long as there's not an American worker available. In other words, people are doing jobs Americans aren't doing. And they're coming to our country, and they're taking great risk. And we've got a lot of Border Patrol agents trying to chase the good, hard working people down. If we make the system work right, if we make it legitimate, then our Border Patrol will be able to chase down true threats to our national security. They'll be able to focus on the threats. We won't be putting our employers in a position where they're hoping the documentation that's presented to them is real. Now, this isn't an amnesty program. Let me be clear about this. This is a temporary worker program to be registered and aboveboard. I oppose amnesty because amnesty amnesty would encourage further illegal immigration. And I oppose amnesty because amnesty would reward those who have broken the laws of the United States. We've had people in line trying to become a citizen of our country. They've been waiting in line for a long period of time, and this program will not allow people to jump ahead in the line of those who have been here legally. I think this is a realistic approach to make sure the employer employee relationship is honest in this country. And I also think it's necessary. I think it's necessary because I don't like the thought of hard working citizens, no matter where they may be from, not willing to report abuse, for example, because they'd then get shipped home and wouldn't be able to do their job as a mom or a dad. This is a humane country, and we need to treat people humanely, with good, reasonable, commonsense law. I look forward to Congress to getting it passed. I thank you for giving me a chance to explain that piece of policy. I'm winding down. I'm sure Daley is wondering when he's going to quit. Laughter Being from the Windy City he's laughter he sees the President is a little windy, himself. Laughter Let me talk about housing right quick. I know housing is important for the mayors. We want people owning their own home in America. This administration has been consistent about promoting what I call an ownership society. You heard me talk about creating environments for the entrepreneur to flourish. I want people owning their own home. Homeownership is high in America. I think it's the highest ever, which is really positive. It's positive for our country. We understand, when somebody owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of this country. But we've got more work to do. There's still a minority homeownership gap in America. I think here at the mayors', I laid out some initiatives that, in the past, one of which just recently passed the Congress, which is the downpayment assistance program. I'm asking Congress for 200 million to help people with their downpayment. As you know better than me, many citizens have the desire to own a home, but they don't have the dough to make the downpayment. And therefore, they balk at making the decision. So we want to help families with downpayments, and we've now got a plan to do so. Congress needs to fund it. It's authorized. It now needs to be funded. The print on these contracts is a little too fine for first time homebuyers. And frankly, it's a little too fine for multiple time home buyers. It's hard to understand the contracts. And I know HUD is working to simplify the contracts and to make it easier and less expensive for people to enter the process of buying a home, by simplifying the forms. I don't know if you felt it yet. We're expanding counseling services around the country, many times run by faith based groups, by the way, to help people understand what it means to buy a home. First time homebuyers are sometimes confused by not only the regulations but the obligations. And we've got counseling services being expanded out of HUD. And if you haven't had one in your neighborhood, call HUD. Get them to show up. It's a useful service. It's a helpful service to close the homeownership gap. I'm going to talk to the Congress about allowing the Federal home administration to permit zero percent downpayment loans to low income Americans. That needs to happen in order to encourage more home ownership. And Congress also, by the way and they need to pass the single family housing credit to help people who are building these homes, these affordable homes inside America's cities. And we're making progress, by the way. The gap is narrowing. There's more work to do. I look forward to working with the mayors to close the minority homeowner ship gap in America, for the good of the country for the good of your cities, but for the good of the country as well. Let me conclude by talking about a really important domestic initiative, at least as far as I'm concerned, and that's the Faith Based Initiative see if I can explain it properly to you. First of all, we strongly believe in the separation of church and state here in Washington, DC, and that's the way it's going to be. Secondly, I love the fact that people are able to worship freely in our country, and if you choose not to worship, you're just as patriotic as your neighbor. Freedom of religion means freedom to practice any religion you choose or the freedom not to practice. Thirdly, there has been discrimination against faith based programs in Washington, DC. Sure, you can receive a Federal grant, but you have to take the cross off the wall in order to do so or the Star of David down or the crescent. Well, how can you be a faith based program if you can't practice your faith? All of a sudden, you become just another program. Fourthly, I want you to know that out of frustration with Congress, I've asked them to pass a Faith Based Initiative. I just decided through Executive order to open up as much Federal money as we possibly could, the grantmaking process, to faith based programs, to let them apply. We want people of faith involved in solving people's lives. I know that you have opened an office to expedite Federal monies or the process or the grantmaking progress process for your faith based programs in your communities. I urge you to take advantage of it. I urge you to take advantage of it. You know as well as I do that many of the problems your citizens face are problems of the heart addiction and programs sometimes work. Government programs sometimes work, but sometimes they don't work. And sometimes it requires a higher power than a government program to help change a person's life. You've got armies of compassion in your communities that I'm confident, by working together, we can unleash, for the betterment of the people we serve. You know, I was down in New Orleans. Ray Nagin is the fine mayor of that city. And we had a Faith Based Initiative there, and he has got a faith based coordinating group to not only work in the city but with the State of Louisiana. I also urge you kind of like the grant problem we got in other areas, sometimes the money goes to the States, and if the State is not anxious to be involved with the faith programs, it gets stuck and doesn't make it to you. And so I urge you to work with your Governors to make sure that their faith based offices are up and running and that they help cut through the inherent prejudice toward faith programs, the inherent prejudice in government. And I'm talking about all faiths, by the way. There's fantastic Jewish charities in America that are helping change this country, one soul at a time. You ought to look at those and welcome them and encourage them. Same with the Muslim charities and, of course, the Christian charities that are strong. This Government is will continue to work hard to make sure this vision becomes reality. Jim Towey raise your hand, Towey right over there he runs the faith based office in the White House. We've got faith based offices throughout bureaucracies. I see that the Deputy Secretary of HUD designee is with us. We've got a faith office at HUD that can be used by mayors and community groups to access Federal money. Billions of dollars are now available. I encourage you I encourage you to use this source of fund and empower one of the greatest strengths we have in our country, the faith community. There are other initiatives. I laid out the prison initiative, 300 million to help on the prison reentry program. This will make a big difference in your communities. It will make a big difference in people's lives. Call upon your faith based programs to help with these souls that are looking for help. You know, the clinical probation program sometimes works. But oftentimes, it's helpful to have somebody with their arms out there saying, "I love you, brother," or "I love you, sister. What can I do to help you reenter our society?" That's not exactly the traditional approach, I readily concede, to prison to rehabilitation programs. I know that. But sometimes traditional rehabilitation programs have fallen short of the mark. Sometimes, it's that extra ingredient called love that will make a fundamental difference in somebody's future. And our houses of worship are houses of love. That's what they exist for. The universal call, love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself, is a important part of the soul of your community. Use it. And the Federal Government want to help you. Towey's job is to make sure that we cut through the strings, to make sure your faith groups are able to access the money without losing their faith. You're going to hear people say, "Why do I want to interface with the Government? They're going to call me to have to do something I don't want to do." Towey's job and by the way, just to show you what kind of society we have, before he came, he was Mother Teresa's lawyer. Laughter I'm not going to get into lawsuit abuse laughter but he's doing a good job. And his job is to make sure that the armies of compassion are unleashed. So those are the things that are on my mind. I thank you for giving me a chance to come by and share them with you. I'll tell you what else is on my mind. I understand '04 is going to be a difficult year for some. But I want you to know this laughter I want you to know this. I don't want I don't want politics to get in the way of me doing my job and you doing your job for the people. I want you to know, I assure you I understand it, and so do you. But let us not let the elections get in the way of our solemn responsibility. I don't care what your party is. I don't care who you're for, for President. I have a job to do, and so do you. And by working together, by working together on key initiatives in a way that respects our differences, honors our values, we can do our job for America. And that's what I expect of you, and I know that's what you expect of me. And together, we're going to make this country continue to be great. Thanks for coming. January 22, 2004 The President. Thank you all. Thanks for coming. Audience member. We love you, President Bush! The President. Thank you. It's nice to be back in New Mexico. I understand you had reports this morning of an unfamiliar aircraft. Laughter No worry, it was just me. Laughter It's good to be back here. The last time I came to Roswell, I wasn't on Air Force One. I was headed to Ruidoso from Midland. Laughter Roswell was what we call a watering stop. Laughter You've got great people in this part of the State. I'm proud to be in this wonderful town. Thank you for inviting me. I appreciate you showing up to hear me talk. If you listened to the State of the Union, I appreciate that. And I can assure you, it's not I can assure you, I'm not going to be quite as windy. But I do have some things I want to share with you today. This Nation is called to great responsibilities, and we're meeting them all. The state of this Union is strong, and it is confident. I'm proud to be here with the Corps of the New Mexico Military Institute, the West Point of the West. I appreciate the values instilled at this fine institution, of discipline and service and honor. I know many folks who have come to this fine place, some of them from Midland, Texas. I happen to have hired one, an alumnus of this school, for my Cabinet, Mr. Tony Principi, who is representing America's veterans so capably as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. I want to thank the law enforcement and first responders who are here with us. Thank you for wearing the uniform that says clearly you're willing to dedicate your lives to make your community a safer place. Thank you for being on the frontline of securing our homeland. I appreciate your service. I appreciate Lt. Gen. Robert Beckel for his greeting me here today. He was from the first graduating class of NMMI in 1959. He doesn't look that old. Laughter But he's had a distinguished service for our country. General, I appreciate what you're doing. Thank you for leading this fine institution. I'm so proud to be up here with Pete Domenici. What a class act he is. He's an honorable man, an honorable man who cares deeply about New Mexico and all its citizens. He cares deeply about our country. He's a strong leader. He sets the pace in the United States Senate. He's taken the lead on a vital piece of legislation, the energy bill. This country needs an energy bill. We need an energy bill that makes sure our electricity system works well. We need an energy bill that encourages technologies that advance conservation. We need an energy bill that makes this country less dependent on foreign sources of energy. The Senator worked hard on this piece of legislation. I thought we had it at the end of last year, and then it got stuck. We're going to unstick it for the good of the country. Pete, I appreciate your friendship. Just one piece of advice Just remember, it's the birds that's supposed to suffer, not the hunter. Laughter I'm honored to be traveling today with your Congressman, Steve Pearce. He's what they call a freshman that's first year but as a freshman, he's making a huge difference. Let me tell you something You sent somebody up there from this part of the world who's effective and strong, who's not going to back down one inch from what he believes. And he's plenty capable, and he's making a difference. He worked hard on bills that matter to this part of the State, like the healthy forests bill commonsense legislation. He worked to help on the defense appropriations bill for an amendment that says, "We can defend our country and, at the same time, conserve our resources in a wise way." No, he's an effective Member of the United States Congress, and I'm proud to call him friend. I'm proud to be traveling with Congresswoman Heather Wilson as well. She's over there, from Albuquerque. She's plenty capable. She's a distinguished Member of the United States Congress. She's a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and reminded me coming in that General Beckel was one of her instructors. General, you did a heck of a job in preparing this good woman for public service. I'm proud to be working with my friend Heather Wilson. Thank you for coming. I'm honored that the mayor came to see me. Mayor Owen, I appreciate you coming. My only advice is, fill the potholes. Laughter I appreciate the business and community leaders who have come. I'm honored you all are here. You'll hear me talk about the strengths of our country. One of the strengths is that we're prosperous and getting more prosperous. That's a strength. One of the strengths is we've got a military that is second to none, and we aim to keep it that way. That's a strength as well. But that's not the strongest part of our country. The strongest part of the country is the people, because of the hearts of the people of America. The compassion of America really defines the strength of America. Today, when I landed at the airport, I met Amy Coppin. She is a senior at NMMI. She came to say hello because she is a mentor. She teaches children. She's taking time out of her busy life as a senior in college to make a difference in somebody's life. She's serving something greater than herself by loving a neighbor just like she would like to be loved herself. She is a soldier in the army of compassion. When you hear me talk about the strength of America being the heart and soul of the people, what I'm talking about are the Amy Coppins of the world, and people in this crowd who are serving your community and your country by helping somebody who hurts. One of the most profound initiatives I put out, I think, in order to help change America is for the Federal Government to welcome faith based programs in delivery of essential services. I believe strongly that our Government should not discriminate against religious institutions. Quite the contrary I believe we ought to welcome religious institutions into providing much needed social services, because many of the problems of our society are problems of the heart. Many of the problems of society require a power greater than Government to help people realize the great potential of their lives. Where's Amy? Amy didn't get a very good seat. Well laughter trust me she's here. And I hope the cadets here follow her example, and as you go on to life, remember part of service to your country is to help somebody in need. And for those of you in this community who are a part of the army of compassion, thank you from the bottom of my heart. And for those of you who want to figure out how to contribute to our society, do so. Do so, and reach out a hand to somebody who might be hungry or homeless or lonely or hurt. The power of love in America is a power that will change our society, one soul at a time. I hope you could tell last night and so far today that I'm incredibly optimistic about our Nation's future. And I've got reason to be. Not only do I know the character of the people, I'm beginning to see some results in some important areas that say optimism defines the future of this country. Let me talk about the economy, for starters. This economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. I tell you I'm optimistic not only because of the numbers I'm optimistic because I remember where we have come from. In March of 2000, the stock market, which is an indicator of sometimes an indicator of economic times to come, started to decline. And then we had a recession. In '01, the first quarter of '01 was recession, and that's negative growth. And when the economy is not growing, it's hard for people to find a job. And then we kind of got going, got things going. The Congress passed the stimulus package I want to thank the Senator and the Members of Congress for working on that and things started getting better. And then we got hit by the enemy. And make no mistake about it, the enemy attack affected America. It affected the way I think about foreign policy because we can no longer take gathering threats for granted. If we see a threat gathering overseas, the lesson of September the 11th says we must pay attention to it. We just can't and if it gets so bad, we've got to do something about it. We cannot assume that oceans protect us anymore. It affected our psychology in America. It also affected the economy. And things were beginning to get okay, and all of a sudden, the attack came, and it hurt us. It hurt us bad. But we recovered because America's strong. We recovered because the American people are strong. And just as we were beginning to get our feet on the ground again, we had a problem with some of our fellow citizens telling the truth. We had corporate scandals. We had CEOs that did not understand what it meant to be a responsible citizen. If you've got responsibilities, you've got obligations. In a society that tries to promote responsibilities, there are certain obligations. If you're a mom or a dad, you have the obligation to love your child with all your heart. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you have the responsibility to tell the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And if you don't, there has to be a consequence. We passed tough laws, and now people are beginning to you begin to read what it means to have consequences for not telling the truth. And that's the way it should be. And then we marched to war. I made the tough decision of war, and I want to thank the Members of Congress who made the tough vote on war. It's not easy, but we acted because of the lessons of September the 11th. We acted based upon the facts. We acted to make the country more secure and the world more free. But when you're marching to war, it's tough on the economy. For this reason, the message, march to war, is not conducive for optimistic investment. Marching to war is negative, not positive. It's hard to be optimistic about the future when you look on your TV screen and it says, "America is marching to war." Now we're marching to peace and freedom. So I've seen firsthand, and you've seen firsthand, what this Nation and our economy has been through. Those are plenty high hurdles to cross, but we're crossing them. One reason we're crossing them is because the Congress and this administration acted boldly. We weren't afraid to act. We knew what to do. And we passed economic stimulus packages, which is a fancy word for giving people their money back. We acted on this principle. It was a principled decision. It was based upon this principle, that when you have more money in your pocket, you'll spend, save, or invest. And when you do so, it drives the whole economy forward. The American people are driving the economy forward. But I want to warn you, the stimulus package we passed is set to expire. Congress, in order to get the bill out, had to expire certain of the provisions, one of which was the child credit, which went up from went up to 1,000, will decline to 700. If Congress doesn't act, you get a tax increase if you have a child. The marriage penalty, we wanted the code to say We want marriage to work. If we believe in marriage, we ought to say so in the Tax Code. And so we began to phase back the marriage penalty. If Congress doesn't act, the marriage penalty goes back up. See, we understand that if you're interested in job creation, you've got to stimulate small business. Most new jobs are created by small business owners in America. If you're a small business owner, you know what I'm talking about. We stimulated small business investment and, therefore, growth. If Congress doesn't act, small businesses will pay taxes. We decreased the well, we got rid of the death tax or put it on its way to extinction. We listened to New Mexico's farmers and ranchers and small business owners that understand if you work all your life to build up an asset, you shouldn't be taxed twice. You shouldn't be taxed once as you're building up your asset and twice after you go on. And then, in order to stimulate our economy, everybody got tax relief. You see, we didn't try to pick and choose who won and who lost. We said, "If there's going to be tax relief, let's be fair about it. If you pay taxes, you ought to get relief." If the Congress doesn't act, those taxes will go up. If the Congress doesn't act, the economy will suffer and people will make more taxes. Congress must make the tax relief they gave the people permanent. Now, things are looking pretty good. Third quarter growth last year was the highest in 20 years. And home construction is high. And homeownership levels are high, and that's really important. We want people owning things in America, don't we? We want people owning their own home. There's nothing like owning your own home or your own business to have a vital stake in the future of this country. Productivity is high. We've got the best workforce in the world. Manufacturing activity is strong. Exports are on the rise. Jobs are increasing. We're doing well we're doing well. But we've got a new economy we're dealing with. And one of the things I addressed yesterday in Arizona was how do you make sure that as technology changes, people's skills change with it so they can find work. See, my attitude is, if somebody is looking for a job and can't find one, that says, no matter what the numbers look like, we still have got an issue in America. We want people working. We want people to be able to put food on the table. Before I talk about how to make sure American workers are trained, I do want to bring up a subject that I had addressed in the State of the Union and before, that I think it's important for me to continue to clarify for the American people. We've got people doing jobs in America that Americans won't do, and that's helpful to our economy. It's helpful that there are some people that are willing to do the work that others won't do. And I think we need to be honest about what's taking place in America. After all, we're a country of the rule of law, and we've got people breaking law. And the question is how best to bring what's happening to light in an honest and legal way. My attitude is this my attitude is So long as there is a willing worker and an employer looking to hire somebody, we ought to have a system that allows for temporary work in America, in an honest, open way, in a way that talks to the values of our country. I oppose amnesty, loud and clear, because amnesty will encourage further illegal immigration. Amnesty rewards somebody for breaking the law. On the other hand, I do want to change a system that has ignored reality and allow willing employer to be matched with willing employee in an honest, open way. We should not say to somebody who's working on a temporary worker basis, "You get added you get a special break when it comes to citizenship." You don't. You don't get a special break. But think about a system that has people working in the shadows of America. That's not the American way. That's not the way we do business in this country. People are working who are trying to put food on the table for a family in Mexico. You've got to understand why they're here. They're motivated out of the deep love of their children and their wife. They're working just as hard as any other mom or dad do, for the same reason They have an obligation and a responsibility. Those people need to be treated with respect. They need to be honored for their commitment to their families. A temporary worker plan that's honest and open will be good for this economy. It will also be good for the security of the country. We've got a lot of Border Patrol agents working hard to stop the flow of illegal immigration. I believe if we make the system open and honest, it will help stop the flow of illegal immigration. It will cut down on those "coyotes" that are putting people in the back of these trailers and driving them across incredibly hot desert. It will stop it will make sure that those who are working to secure our borders will focus on the true threats to America, the illegal drugs or the contraband or the potential terrorists that could be coming across our borders. No, this plan makes sense. I call upon the Congress to do what is good for our economy, what is good for our security, and what is compassionate, and pass the temporary worker plan. I also want to talk about how to make sure American workers don't get left behind. By the way, that starts with making sure our public schools work. It starts by making sure our public schools teach the basics. I went up to Washington, and thanks to Pete's help and to Heather's help and to Steve's, now, help, we passed laughter we passed the No Child Left Behind Act. Let me just tell you the principles behind that as plainly as I possibly can. Every one of us needs to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. We need to raise that bar. If you believe every child has got the capacity to learn, you need to raise the bar. I don't care what the color of skin of that child may be everybody can learn. And that's the principle of No Child Left Behind. We raise the standards. We expect everybody to learn. We've increased Federal education spending, particularly for poor students, dramatically. But now, for the first time, we're asking the question, "Are we meeting expectations?" In return for increased Federal spending, the Federal Government is saying to local districts, "Show us whether or not the children are learning to read and write and add and subtract." I don't think that's too much. I don't think it's too much to increase budgets and in return say, "What are the results?" If you believe every child can learn to read and write and add and subtract, then you're not afraid to ask the question Are they learning to read and write and add and subtract? This administration trusts local people. We know you can chart the path to excellence. Your decision is on how to get there. All we want to know is, are you doing what we expect you to do? Are you just meeting those obligations? In the bill we passed, there's extra help for students who fall behind. Listen, when you find out a third grader is not reading at grade level, get him or her extra help. We provide money to do that. We don't want any child in America left behind. The bill we passed is a great piece of legislation for America's children. There's more we need to do. I talked about making sure that some of the high school students who are falling behind in reading and math get a little extra help. We've got to make sure there's literacy is the law of the land. I talked about making sure that we expand advance placement programs in certain low income schools in order to keep raising that bar, Pell grants for students that take rigorous curriculum, in order to encourage excellence. We want to make sure our community college system is flexible and viable to help people find jobs that exist. Yesterday I was in Arizona, and I reminded people that in the old days of workforce training, they said, "Just go train people." So we'd go out and train 1,000 hairdressers, and there might be 50 slots. But you'd have 950 well trained hairdressers with nothing to do. Now the workforce program says, "Let's match up employers with the community college system to train people for jobs that actually exist, for jobs that work." So we've got 250 million in the budget to go directly to community colleges, to invigorate the business communities and the community college, invigorate a joint strategy to help people find work. Yesterday I sat with some folks on the stage. They were not student age, let's put it that way. They had worked for years. One woman worked for 15 years as a graphic designer. She's a single mom, by the way, and that's the toughest job in America. She was struggling to get ahead. She went back to the community college. She gained new skills, and in her first year in her new job, she's making more than she did after 15 years as a graphic designer. Education what I'm telling you is as the economy changes, there's tremendous opportunities for workers. We've just got to make sure the education system matches people with the skills necessary for the 21st century. And that's what this administration is going to do. No, I'm optimistic about this country, because I understand the character of the people. And I'm optimistic because I know we're doing the right things when it comes to educating our children and workers. I'm optimistic about the economy. I'm also optimistic because we're going to win the war on terror. The greatest responsibility of the Federal Government, and my first responsibility as your President, is to defend and protect America. I remember talking to the country after September the 11th and reminding people that this would be a different kind of war we faced. Sometimes you'd see action, and sometimes you wouldn't that we'd be on a manhunt to find the terrorists who destroyed us. It would require a different kind of attitude about chasing these people down. I also knew that time would pass and people would take the comfortable position of saying the dangers had passed as well. That's just not reality. I wish it was reality, but it's not reality. My job as your President is to be realistic, be open eyed, to understand the lessons of September the 11th, 2001, to understand there's terrorists who still plot against us. By our will, by our steadfast determination, by our courage, we will prevail in the war first war of the 21st century. In the United States, where the war begun, we will continue our vital work to protecting American people, by protecting our ports and borders and safeguarding infrastructure, preparing for the worst. I mentioned the first responders. I can't tell you how pleased I am with the coordination now between the Federal Government, the State government, and local governments for preparing our homeland. I'm going to submit a budget to Congress next month which will include spending of 30 billion for homeland security. That's more than 30 billion almost 3 times the amount that we were spending prior to September the 11th, 2001. We understand our obligation in Washington. Our obligation is never to forget what happened on September the 11th. And our obligation is to support the homeland security people, those on the frontlines, to prepare for a potential threat. I think it's very important for the country to understand the PATRIOT Act. See, that's an important part of fighting the war on terror. It's essential that the FBI and the CIA be able to share information if you want to whip the terrorists. See, it's a different kind of war. We're in a different era. We need to view law differently. We'll always protect our Constitution and safeguard individual rights, but our law enforcement, those who collect information and share information and expected to act on information, must be able to talk together. Many of the tools in the PATRIOT Act have been used by law enforcement to chase down embezzlers and criminals. It is essential that those same tools be used in fighting against terrorists. We're in a different era. The PATRIOT Act is going to expire. The Congress needs to renew it for the sake of fighting the war on terror. We'll protect the homeland. The best way to protect America, however, is to go on the offensive, stay on the offensive, and bring the terrorists to justice. I said in the speech the other night, two thirds of known Al Qaida leaders have been captured or killed. We're making progress against them. The rest of them are hiding. They think they are, but they cannot escape the justice of America. We've got thousands of troops, thousands of brave soldiers. We're chasing them, one by one. We're on an international manhunt for those who would do harm to America or for anybody else who loves freedom. One by one, we'll bring them to justice. There is no hole deep enough to hide from America. Not only are we after Al Qaida, we will continue to confront regimes that harbor or support terrorists, regimes that could supply them with weapons of mass destruction. The United States and our allies refuse to live under the shadow of this ultimate danger, refuse to be in a position where to find ourselves in a position where terrorists could show up with weapons of mass murder. Our obligation is, defend our country. Our obligation is to be clear eyed about the threats, and our obligation is to deal with them. I laid down a doctrine early on that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist." One of the lessons that people can pick up in this part of the world is, when you say something, you better mean it. That's particularly true in diplomacy. If you say something, you better mean it. I meant it, and the Taliban found out what we meant. Afghanistan was the primary training base for Al Qaida. That's where the killers were learning the skills necessary to destroy innocent life. And we gave the Taliban a chance, and then they, of course, rejected rejected the ultimatum I laid out. And so they no longer exist, thanks to the United States military and our friends and allies. This barbaric regime is no more, and the people of Afghanistan are better off for it. You see, America loves freedom, but we understand that freedom is not America's gift to the world. It's the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. We love the fact that people in Afghanistan are now free. Remember, prior to our arrival, the Taliban wouldn't even let young girls go to school, and today, they do. They have written a constitution the people of Afghanistan have written a constitution which is guarantees free elections, freedom, full participation in government by women. Things are changing. Freedom is powerful. The people of Afghanistan are opening up health care centers and new businesses. Times are changing, because they have been liberated. America is safer because the Taliban doesn't exist. America is safer because Afghanistan is now free, and we stand strongly with the freedom lovers in Afghanistan. I made a tough decision, with the Congress' support, to remove Saddam Hussein from power, and we did. And the world is safer America is more secure and the world is more free because we got rid of Saddam Hussein. This brutal dictator attacked his neighbors, used weapons of mass destruction against his own people, plotted, was devious. He tortured Iraqis. We discovered mass graves of thousands of men and women and children. He had torture rooms for somebody who spoke out against him. Saddam Hussein was found in a hole, hiding. Saddam Hussein, the once all powerful tyrant who used his brutal dictatorship to intimidate and destroy lives, will no longer be able to do so in Iraq. He sits in a prison cell, and the Iraqi people are free. Fifty five of the top officials, former officials in that regime of the 55, 45 have been captured or killed. The other 10 have got to be nervous. Laughter They're out there. They're out there trying to shake our will. See, these people are murderers. They'll take innocent life to try to convince others that freedom isn't worth it. They will kill indiscriminately they don't care who to try to shake our confidence, to try to get in the heads of the American people. They don't understand America. America will never be intimated by thugs and assassins. We're making progress. It's important for you to know that we're on the offensive in Iraq. As I said the other night, we're leading over 1,600 patrols a day, 180 raids every week. I mean, we're chasing them down. We're bringing them and foreign terrorists to justice there so we don't have to face them in America. We're bringing them there because we understand freedom is vital for our future, freedom in Iraq is vital for our future. I'm pleased with the progress we're making with the Iraqi citizens who are interested in running their own country. I met with the Acting President of the Governing Council, Adnan Pachachi. He sat next to Laura during the State of the Union. By the way let me digress I'm really glad I married a west Texas woman. She is a fabulous, fabulous she's great. She's doing well, and she sends her love. Applause You Texans, calm down. Laughter You know the reputation you have here in eastern New Mexico. Laughter Anyway, she was sitting next to Acting President Pachachi Audience member. We can't hear you. The President. I can hear you. Laughter And I met with him prior in the Oval Office prior to the State of the Union. I was pleased with his vision, his understanding of freedom. The Oval Office is an interesting place to meet, particularly, people who are beginning to struggle with democracy and freedom because it's a reminder that the institutions, at least in this country, are always bigger than the people. Sometime we've got an all right President sometimes he's not all right. But the Presidency itself exists. It's a reminder of the power of institutions in a free society, that institutions in a free society are always bigger than the people, and he understood that. And they're working hard. The Iraqi people are taking the brunt of most of these killings that are taking place. They also understand it's their responsibility to secure the country, so we've increased in large number the number of police and people who are willing to help secure the country. More Iraqis are now coming forward. They realize the killings that are taking place sometimes maybe by foreign terrorists, obviously sometimes by former Ba'athist officials will stop the march to freedom. They want to be free. You've got to understand, these people, like you and I, love freedom. It's in everybody's heart, and Pachachi understands that, and so does the Governing Council. Freedom is happening in Iraq. And you've got to understand why it's important. Freedom in the heart of the Middle East, freedom and democracy in the place that has breeded resentment and terror, is in our national interests. A free Iraq will help change the world. A free Iraq will help change a neighborhood that needs to be changed. A free Iraq will make it easier for our children to grow up in a peaceful society. People say, "What are you doing in the long term? We know what you're doing in the short term. We can hear you and see you you're sending troops after the killers. What about the long term plan against terrorists?" Free societies do not breed terrorism. Free societies are peaceful nations. What we're doing for the long term, we're promoting freedom. The world is changing for the better. The world is getting more free and peaceful and less dangerous. Recently, Muammar Qadhafi made a wise decision to show and get rid of his weapons of mass destruction programs. The British Government and the American Government worked for 9 months to convince in negotiations with Qadhafi about what to do with his programs. You want to remember, I want to contrast that with the 12 years of diplomacy that took place at the United Nations when nothing happened. I mean, we had resolution after resolution after resolution just totally ignored by Saddam Hussein sometimes not ignored but played with, is a better way to describe it. Nine months of intense discussions with Qadhafi worked because the word of the country word of this country matters. When you say something, you better believe it. People now trust the word of America. People now understand. And we're not doing this work alone. I just told you that Great Britain was very much involved with the intense discussions with Colonel Qadhafi. And I appreciate my friend Prime Minister Blair and the people he assigned to people he assigned to the task. We're working together with people. And that's positive. We're working together with people who love freedom and understand the stakes of the war against terror, people who clearly see a future that's peaceful and positive but understand sometimes you have to make the tough choice to get there. You have to do the hard things to achieve a positive vision of peace and freedom. There are 34 nations that have joined us in Iraq. That's too long to list. The Senator might fall out on me if I start trying to read them all. Laughter Thirty four laughter 34 nations stand with us in that country. Thirty seven nations in NATO are contributing to joint efforts in Afghanistan. I've worked hard to bring people along. I meet with foreign leaders all the time to explain the intentions of America, to talk about what we see in the future. There is a difference, however, between leading a coalition of nations and shutting down efforts because a few object. It's a big difference. It's the difference between being willing to gather a group of like minded nations and lead the world towards freedom and peace or allowing some to object and, therefore, nothing happens. That's not the way this administration functions. As I said the other night, we will never seek a permission slip to defend the American people. This war, this new war of the 21st century, has fallen hardest on our military. And I want to thank those of you who have got relatives in the United States military. And if you do, please tell them the Commander in Chief is really proud of their service. We mourn for the fallen. We send our prayers to their loved ones, and we thank them for their service. I also want to thank the Guard and Reserve members from around the country but particularly, now that I'm in New Mexico, from New Mexico who have served our country so ably and so well. We've also got thousands of service men and women who are based in this State, at Kirtland and Cannon and Holloman Air Force Bases. The people in the military from this State have done and continue to do vital work on the war against terror. And like everyone who serves in uniform today, you are making this Nation grateful and proud. And I appreciate their families. I appreciate the moms and dads, husbands and wives who are staying at home as their loved one goes off to defend America and to spread freedom. Their loved ones sacrifice, and so do the families. America's military families are steadfast and strong. Not only should we show them the gratitude, but we need to make them this promise Your loved one will have the resources you need to fight and win the war on terror. It's an honor to be here in Roswell. I'm optimistic about the future. I'm optimistic about the future for a lot of reasons, but the main reason is, I'm optimistic about the future because I understand the country. I know the values of America. I know the decency of our people. I know the willingness of the American citizen to serve a cause greater than themself. It's the great strength of America. It's an unbelievably great country we have, because the people are so strong, so resilient, so compassionate, and so decent. We believe values in our heart that we just won't change. We believe everybody has dignity, everybody has worth. We believe in freedom. We believe people yearn for freedom. We have an obligation to unleash freedom in the world, and we're not afraid to lead. This country stands strongly on the values that make us great, and we're not the least bit afraid of sharing those values in a world that needs peace and freedom. I'm proud to be here. I'm proud to lead the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. I'm proud to be in front of some of the great citizens of America. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless our great country. January 21, 2004 The President. Thank you, Dr. Adams. Well done. Laughter You read it just like I wrote it. Laughter I appreciate your invitation. Thank you for your leadership. I want to thank you all for coming. I particularly want to thank the panelists who are here. We're about to have a discussion about how a community college can change people's lives in a positive way, how we can use our community college system to help people who want to work gain the skills necessary to find jobs in what is a changing economy. Before we get there, I do want to say a few comments, now that you're stuck here. Laughter First, it's great to be in Toledo, the home of the Mud Hens. I've always been intrigued by the nickname, the "Mud Hens." Laughter I'm glad to be in the presence of two Members of the United States Senate who actually hitched a ride on Air Force One. They endured a rather long speech last night, then got on the airplane and endured another speech. Laughter And that would be Senator George Voinovich and Senator Mike DeWine. I want to thank you for coming. There they are, yes. I was telling talking to George about what we were going to do here today. He said, "You know, when I was a Governor, I recognized the role of community colleges in job training." And I want to give George credit where credit is due. He was a pioneer in making sure that the curriculum of the community college system in Ohio was relevant to the needs of employers and potential employees. What we're really here to talk about is something that George Voinovich started, and I'm grateful. That tradition is being carried on by your current Governor, Governor Bob Taft. I'm honored you're here, Governor. Thank you for coming. I appreciate Paul Gillmor Congressman Gillmor is with us today. Congressman, thank you for coming. He was quick to point out that Owens is in his district. Laughter I'm quick to point out, you better take care of Owens. It's doing a fine job, Congressman. I appreciate you. And you are and you are. We've got a lot of local officials here, mayors, and I appreciate you coming. We've got members of the school board who are here, trustees of this important college, and I want to thank you all for being here. Last night I had the opportunity to address the Nation. I talked about a lot of subjects that were on my mind. One of them, of course, is that we still fight the war on terror. I just want to assure you that I understand, my most important obligation as your President is to keep this country secure and strong. And there are a lot of really good people working on your behalf, whether it be people in the Homeland Security Department and thank you for training people for the Homeland Security Department local police, local firefighters, or the brave men and women who wear our uniform, all of whom understand the solemn obligation to protect the people. We will never forget the lessons of September the 11th. We will stay on the offensive. We will win the war on terror and make sure that America is secure and free. I see local officers here. It is very important that we provide law enforcement with the tools necessary to fight and win this war. I called for the renewal of the Patriot Act. I want to tell you why. It is important that we be able to share information at the Federal level. It's important we have the authority to be able to seize assets. These tools in the Patriot Act, most of the tools, we have been using for years against embezzlers or criminals. We're at war. It seems like to me it is logical that we apply tools that we've used to catch embezzlers to be able to catch terrorists. The Congress needs to renew the PATRIOT Act so we can win the war on terror and secure the homeland. I also reminded the people that we've been through a lot in this country, particularly when it comes to the economy. Just a brief recap We've been through a recession. That means three quarters of negative growth, which means people get laid off their jobs. We had a terrorist attack which affected the psychology of the country. It really did. It changed foreign policy, by the way. When you see a gathering threat, we can no longer ignore it and hope it goes away. It also said to America that we are we can be hurt by an enemy that hates us. And it affected us. It really did. We had corporate scandals. I oftentimes talk about the need to usher in a period of personal responsibility. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And we passed laws to make that abundantly clear. And then, we marched to war. We took gathering threats seriously, and we dealt with them. The world is better off without Saddam Hussein and the Taliban. But all that the march to war affected our psychology and confidence. It is hard to be optimistic about the future when you turn on your TV screens and say, "America is marching to war." War is not positive. War is it sends the signal that there will be uncertainty. We're now marching to peace. But we overcome a lot, and it's important for our citizens to remember that. We overcame it, in my judgment, because we properly stimulated the economy by letting people keep their money. And now we're growing. Nationwide, this economy is strong Housing up inflation's low interest rates are low. We had good exports the last quarter. New jobs are being created I mean, last month on the exports. Things are happening. I fully recognize, in Ohio there are still troubled times. The manufacturing here is sluggish at best, and therefore, people are looking for work. People who could rely upon a steady job in the manufacturing sector are hoping to be able to realize their hopes by finding work elsewhere. There are some things we can do to make sure the Ohio manufacturing sector is strong. One is to make sure our trading partners understand, we expect there to be free, but level the playing field needs to be level, that we expect countries like China to understand that trade imbalances doesn't mean that says that the trade is not balanced and fair, that they've got to deal with their currency. We also need an energy policy, by the way. If you rely upon manufacturing to have a vibrant job base, you've got to have an energy policy. Manufacturers need to have a reliable source of energy. We're too dependent on foreign sources of energy. We got public policy that is that makes it difficult for Ohio's manufacturers to say, "We got a reliable source of energy." We've run up the demand for natural gas. We haven't had a corresponding increase in natural gas. It's hard to keep people working when your energy bills are going out of sight. We need an energy policy. I called on Congress to pass one, and they need to get one to my desk. One other issue that makes it hard for people to stay working in certain industries is that we got a problem with medical liability. There are junk and frivolous lawsuits which are running good docs out of business. Now, look, any doctor who is a bad doc deserves to be held to task. But you can't have a system where people just file lawsuit after lawsuit after lawsuit, fishing for a rich settlement, because what that's going to do is, it's going to run up the cost of health care and drive good docs out of business. And that affects the ability for employers to keep people working. Congress needs to pass medical liability reform now. These are some of the ways to make sure the manufacturing activity of this State remains strong. But the truth of the matter is, there is job growth in other sectors, and therefore, we'd better have a system which is able to be flexible enough to help people who want to work find a job, to match willing worker with willing employer. And that's what we're here to talk about. Very quickly, the first stage to make sure workers are trained is to make sure our public education system does its job. The No Child Left Behind Act is challenging what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. We're raising standards. We're trusting local people to make the right decisions. But we expect every child every child not just a few but every child to learn the basics of reading and math. Like I said last night, I'm going to repeat here, the days of just quitting on kids early and shuffling them through our public schools is over. The ability for these community colleges to do their job means we better have people coming out of high school who can read and write and add and subtract. The best place to start is early, and we're starting early now in America. We're testing to make sure we figure out who needs extra help. And the Federal Government is increasing Federal spending, particularly on Title I students, in dramatic fashion. I also think we need to spend additional money for kids in high school. See, there's a learning gap where the accountability systems are late in arriving in certain places, and therefore, some kids have been shuffled through. Last night I didn't specify what I meant, but I'll tell you right now what I meant. I think we need to spend an additional 100 million for high school and intermediate reading programs. We want these kids at least reading when they're coming out of high school. And you've got to be honest about it, and these presidents of these community colleges will tell you, sometimes they're getting kids out of high school that can't read. And that's a shame, and that's not right. And we can focus extra resources there. We need people who are more steeped in math and sciences. And therefore, it's important for us to encourage scientists and mathematicians to teach part time and to make sure our teachers are properly trained in the math and sciences so they can impart knowledge that is necessary for kids to have a bright future. We got extra teacher training money, about 120 million a year. I think we need to have more advanced placement programs in low income schools to encourage rigorous curriculum for all students. See, if you're challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations, you believe every child can learn. And therefore, we ought to be raising that bar for all students. And so we've got money in the budget, 28 million to encourage advanced placement programs to go into neighborhoods that have not had the benefit of an advanced placement program. And then, to coincide that, I think we ought to have increased Pell grants for students who qualify and take rigorous curriculum, and that would be Pell grants of up to 1,000 additional money. I'm telling you what I'm telling you is we're focusing on people who can achieve the great promise of our country. We're not going to quit on anybody, and we're going to make sure the community college system does its job. As you know full well, particularly if you're a trustee of the community college, that most of the money is local money, but the Federal Government can help, particularly when it comes to job training. The president talked about the job training initiative I talked about last night. It's 250 million of direct money to help on these programs which match workers with employers. There's no better place to do that than the community college system. The community college system is flexible. The community college system is local. The community college system accepts input. And that's what we're here to talk about. It's very important for people who are listening to this conversation that if you're running a community college, I want you to pay attention to what Owens has done. And as importantly, if you're somebody out there who doesn't see a bright tomorrow, listen to the two students. They may look old to be students laughter but nobody's too old to be a student. Let me why don't we you heard from Dr. Adams. I don't know if you want to elaborate beyond this, Dr. Adams. I thought your explanation about what your community college is doing was great. It should be clear to people when you hear the number of students being trained for work 18,000, I think you said is the reason I'm here. You've got 18,000 people coming through here who are better skilled to meet the jobs being generated in this part of the world. And if you want to elaborate on that, you can. She also told me a lot about nursing, by the way. We've got a nursing applause yes, there you are. It's a nursing shortage? Participant. Yes. The President. Forty thousand students? Well, anyway. At this point, the discussion continued. The President. Yes, I appreciate the guy who is responsible for making sure the curriculum actually adjusts and doesn't stay stuck. What you've got to worry about, if you're in the local community, you've got to ask this question to a provost, "Are you flexible?" Laughter In other words, if somebody shows up and says, "We've got a demand for jobs," will the community college adjust? It used to be, in the old days when they held Governors to account as to whether or not we were meeting workforce requirements, it didn't matter what job you trained somebody for. All that mattered is, you train them. So I'm sure this didn't happen with Voinovich it might have happened with me you go out and train 1,000 hairdressers for 50 jobs. But everybody said, "You're doing a fine job. You're training a lot of people." The key is to train people for the work which actually exists. No better place to do that than in a community college that's why we're spending 250 million to encourage that. Paul Unger is with us. He's the provost fancy word for the guy responsible for making sure it works. Laughter And he is. Paul Unger, provost, Owens Community College, made brief remarks. The President. Yes, see, I hope everybody listened to what he just said. He said, "We take input." Sometimes institutions of higher education don't take input and miss opportunity. Owens takes input because they're willing to listen to the people on the frontlines of hiring, making the hiring decisions, for which I'm grateful. Jim Gilmore is the coordinator here of the Skilled Trades Technology and Integrated Systems Technology Programs. Why don't you tell us what that means, what a coordinator does, and just tell me what you do. Jim Gilmore. Coordinator is a fancy word for the guy who does a lot and The President. And gets no credit. Mr. Gilmore. And gets no credit. Laughter The discussion continued. Mr. Gilmore. The other part of my position is to work with local area business and industry and find out what those needs are, what are they looking for, and if they have an opening, to put those students with those companies and match them up. The President. How do you do that? In other words, if some person out there says, "I need to hire five new people," how does that person get in touch with you? How does Mr. Gilmore. What are you looking for, Mr. President? Laughter The President. I'm trying to think of a cute answer. Laughter Mr. Gilmore. The quiet ones are dangerous. Laughter The President. That's right. I don't need a new wife, fortunately. Laughter I married really well. Laughter Mr. Gilmore. In my position, companies will usually seek us out and ask us specifically, "We are looking for people with these skills." For example, a company might say, "We're looking for maintenance people, and we need our maintenance people to have skills in hydraulics, pneumatics, electronics, PLCs." And they might come to me and say, "Do you have somebody in mind or can you put me in touch with a placement service, with anybody that would have an idea of what Owens and Owens students have to offer?" And most typically, we'll put them in touch with our placement service, the Wood County's placement service, or Lucas County or whatever county that that company happens to reside in. And we match those people up to find them the right job. So it's a two way street. The President. Good job. Here's the thing, that he talks about one stop let me tell you what that means. That means there's one place at the local level where a somebody who is looking for work can go to try to find a job. That's what that means. And there's a lot of opportunities around the country at one stops. It's one of the interesting innovations which Government put in place in the past decade to make sure that people are able to find a job. They can find help there. They can find counseling services. Better to explain the one stop than me is Ruth Larabee. She is the director of the Wood County Department of Jobs and Family Services. Would you please tell everybody what a one stop does, what your day is like, what here in the community, are people looking for workers? What do you see, and what do you hear? Ruth Larabee made brief remarks. The President. Thanks, I appreciate you sharing that with us. You heard me talk about statistics, and they're good. There's no doubt things are getting better, and that's positive. There's no doubt the economy is changing because of technology, and that's interesting. It makes for great, interesting opportunities. But one of the things we've got to recognize in our society, as technology races through the economy, some people could conceivably be are being left behind because of the skill sets, and that we welcome innovation, productivity increases. These are all positive for labor stability, higher wages, better opportunity. But this country of ours must also recognize that the workforce needs to be constantly trained to stay up with the technological advances. And two people to best talk about that are with us today students, people who are not satisfied with falling behind, people who have found that there's opportunity and are willing to seize it. I was teasing Becky, publicly, of course, here. Laughter But I did so with pride in my voice, I want you to know, because she is has struggled. And here she sits with a bright future. And so I want you to share your story with us, Becky. She's a good soul who has got and I told Becky coming in here today, I said, "There's people just like you, Becky, who are probably watching, or may be watching, who just got to know that because of what you have done here at Owens, they've got a shot too. They've got an opportunity to improve themselves." So let her go. Rebecca Albritton, student, Owens Community College, made brief remarks. The President. This good soul says, "I've got a skill set I need to upgrade it," that "The world is changing I need to change with it." Community colleges need to change, but people also have got to make the conscious decision to seize opportunity, to see a brighter future. That's what I love about Becky's story. She could have just said, "Well, I quit." But she didn't. She found opportunity. Some of the people may be out there wondering whether or not this is affordable, whether or not there is any help. And why don't you tell us, Becky, what you found. Ms. Albritton. I found, when I went out to the one stop, that tuition was available, and they pay for your tuition they pay for your books. The only thing they don't pay for is your time. That's honest. The President. That's good. Laughter Let me ask you this question. Is it worth it? Ms. Albritton. Very much so, very much so. The President. There you go. The other living example of what is possible when people make up their mind to improve themselves and seek opportunity, and the local community provides those opportunities, is Mike. Mike Potter is with us. He's the pretty one down there on the end. Laughter I asked Mike to share his story with you because I think you'll find it interesting. I think anybody who wonders whether or not they can learn a new skill should listen to what Mike has to say. Mike, why don't you let her go. Mike Potter, maintenance technician, Oracle Packaging, made brief remarks. The President. How long did it take? I mean, you're laid off you come here. How long did it take you to get prepared, to get to be ready for the new kind of job, the higher paying job? Because, frankly, he was more productive as a worker. He had the skills necessary to fit into the changing economy. How long were you here for? Mr. Potter. The program actually it's a self based program. It's an excellent program for anybody that doesn't have much trouble with well, that has trouble with bookwork, I'm sorry. It's hands on, self paced, and that's what was a great part. It actually took me about, probably about maybe 3 or 4 months to finish the program. The President. So it's not a lifetime? Mr. Potter. No, no, not at all. The President. You're able to come in, move quickly, get some skills, and all of a sudden, somebody says, "I love his attitude. He's a hard worker, and he's got the skill sets necessary to fit into this new workforce." That's what people need to know. Mr. Potter. Everything is changing. People don't just want to see a person with just one skill anymore. They want several skills, and that's what the IST program offers. The President. That's good. Thanks for sharing. You did a great job. Our two students here are serving as mentors, in a way, aren't they? They're saying what is possible. And I want to thank you all for sharing your story. I'm sure it was a nerve wracking experience laughter thinking about coming here. Laughter Look at all those cameras. We've got another mentor with us today. Bruce Vanisacker is with us. He came out to the airport to meet me. It's an interesting idea he's doing. He has started what's called First Robotics, that teaches and inspires young people to be interested in the sciences, and that's important. Science and engineering and mathematics are all essential as we head into the 21st century. I appreciate Bruce coming because it gives me a chance to remind people here and in Toledo and around the State of Ohio and the country that the true strength of the country lies in the hearts and souls of our fellow citizens, that we're a mighty military country we'll stay that way, in order to keep the peace that we've got wealth, compared to other countries, and that's good. But the true strength can be found in neighborhoods where people have decided to mentor a child, to teach a person to read or write, to love the homeless, to help feed the hungry. Bruce is with us. Bruce, thank you for coming. You might stand up right quick. He happens to be interested in science and robotics, but really what he's doing, when you think about it, is mentoring a child. This country is prosperous. We're going to be more prosperous, but we don't want anybody left behind. No child should be left behind in the education system, no worker left behind because we haven't created a flexible system in order to get skills, nobody who needs love left behind. Government can't make people love one another, but we darn sure can encourage people who love to reach out to a neighbor in need. America can change for the better one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time, and I call upon you to be a part of the army of compassion, to help make this community and this State and our country one of hope for every single citizen who lives here. It's such an honor to be here today. I thank our panelists for what I have found to be an interesting discussion. I hope you have as well, and thank you all for coming. May God bless you all. January 20, 2004 Mr. Speaker, Vice President Cheney, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, and fellow citizens America this evening is a nation called to great responsibilities, and we are rising to meet them. As we gather tonight, hundreds of thousands of American service men and women are deployed across the world in the war on terror. By bringing hope to the oppressed and delivering justice to the violent, they are making America more secure. Each day, law enforcement personnel and intelligence officers are tracking terrorist threats analysts are examining airline passenger lists the men and women of our new Homeland Security Department are patrolling our coasts and borders. And their vigilance is protecting America. Americans are proving once again to be the hardest working people in the world. The American economy is growing stronger. The tax relief you passed is working. Tonight Members of Congress can take pride in the great works of compassion and reform that skeptics had thought impossible. You're raising the standards for our public schools, and you are giving our senior citizens prescription drug coverage under Medicare. We have faced serious challenges together, and now we face a choice We can go forward with confidence and resolve, or we can turn back to the dangerous illusion that terrorists are not plotting and outlaw regimes are no threat to us. We can press on with economic growth and reforms in education and Medicare, or we can turn back to old policies and old divisions. We've not come all this way, through tragedy and trial and war, only to falter and leave our work unfinished. Americans are rising to the tasks of history, and they expect the same from us. In their efforts, their enterprise, and their character, the American people are showing that the state of our Union is confident and strong. Our greatest responsibility is the active defense of the American people. Twenty eight months have passed since September the 11th, 2001 over 2 years without an attack on American soil. And it is tempting to believe that the danger is behind us. That hope is understandable, comforting and false. The killing has continued in Bali, Jakarta, Casablanca, Riyadh, Mombasa, Jerusalem, Istanbul, and Baghdad. The terrorists continue to plot against America and the civilized world. And by our will and courage, this danger will be defeated. Inside the United States, where the war began, we must continue to give our homeland security and law enforcement personnel every tool they need to defend us. And one of those essential tools is the PATRIOT Act, which allows Federal law enforcement to better share information to track terrorists, to disrupt their cells, and to seize their assets. For years, we have used similar provisions to catch embezzlers and drug traffickers. If these methods are good for hunting criminals, they are even more important for hunting terrorists. Key provisions of the PATRIOT Act are set to expire next year. The terrorist threat will not expire on that schedule. Our law enforcement needs this vital legislation to protect our citizens. You need to renew the PATRIOT Act. America is on the offensive against the terrorists who started this war. Last March, Khalid Sheik Mohammed, a mastermind of September the 11th, awoke to find himself in the custody of U.S. and Pakistani authorities. Last August the 11th brought the capture of the terrorist Hambali, who was a key player in the attack in Indonesia that killed over 200 people. We're tracking Al Qaida around the world, and nearly two thirds of their known leaders have now been captured or killed. Thousands of very skilled and determined military personnel are on the manhunt, going after the remaining killers who hide in cities and caves, and one by one, we will bring these terrorists to justice. As part of the offensive against terror, we are also confronting the regimes that harbor and support terrorists and could supply them with nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons. The United States and our allies are determined We refuse to live in the shadow of this ultimate danger. The first to see our determination were the Taliban, who made Afghanistan the primary training base of Al Qaida killers. As of this month, that country has a new constitution guaranteeing free elections and full participation by women. Businesses are opening. Health care centers are being established, and the boys and girls of Afghanistan are back in school. With the help from the new Afghan army, our coalition is leading aggressive raids against the surviving members of the Taliban and Al Qaida. The men and women of Afghanistan are building a nation that is free and proud and fighting terror, and America is honored to be their friend. Since we last met in this Chamber, combat forces of the United States, Great Britain, Australia, Poland, and other countries enforced the demands of the United Nations, ended the rule of Saddam Hussein. And the people of Iraq are free. Having broken the Ba'athist regime, we face a remnant of violent Saddam supporters. Men who ran away from our troops in battle are now dispersed and attack from the shadows. These killers, joined by foreign terrorists, are a serious, continuing danger. Yet we're making progress against them. The once all powerful ruler of Iraq was found in a hole and now sits in a prison cell. Of the top 55 officials of the former regime, we have captured or killed 45. Our forces are on the offensive, leading over 1,600 patrols a day and conducting an average of 180 raids a week. We are dealing with these thugs in Iraq just as surely as we dealt with Saddam Hussein's evil regime. The work of building a new Iraq is hard, and it is right. And America has always been willing to do what it takes for what is right. Last January, Iraq's only law was the whim of one brutal man. Today, our coalition is working with the Iraqi Governing Council to draft a basic law with a bill of rights. We're working with Iraqis and the United Nations to prepare for a transition to full Iraqi sovereignty by the end of June. As democracy takes hold in Iraq, the enemies of freedom will do all in their power to spread violence and fear. They are trying to shake the will of our country and our friends, but the United States of America will never be intimidated by thugs and assassins. The killers will fail, and the Iraqi people will live in freedom. Month by month, Iraqis are assuming more responsibility for their own security and their own future. And tonight we are honored to welcome one of Iraq's most respected leaders, the current President of the Iraqi Governing Council, Adnan Pachachi. Sir, America stands with you and the Iraqi people as you build a free and peaceful nation. Because of American leadership and resolve, the world is changing for the better. Last month, the leader of Libya voluntarily pledged to disclose and dismantle all of his regime's weapons of mass destruction programs, including a uranium enrichment project for nuclear weapons. Colonel Qadhafi correctly judged that his country would be better off and far more secure without weapons of mass murder. Nine months of intense negotiations involving the United States and Great Britain succeeded with Libya, while 12 years of diplomacy with Iraq did not. And one reason is clear For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible, and no one can now doubt the word of America. Different threats require different strategies. Along with nations in the region, we're insisting that North Korea eliminate its nuclear program. America and the international community are demanding that Iran meet its commitments and not develop nuclear weapons. America is committed to keeping the world's most dangerous weapons out of the hands of the most dangerous regimes. When I came to this rostrum on September the 20th, 2001, I brought the police shield of a fallen officer, my reminder of lives that ended and a task that does not end. I gave to you and to all Americans my complete commitment to securing our country and defeating our enemies. And this pledge, given by one, has been kept by many. You in the Congress have provided the resources for our defense and cast the difficult votes of war and peace. Our closest allies have been unwavering. America's intelligence personnel and diplomats have been skilled and tireless. And the men and women of the American military they have taken the hardest duty. We've seen their skill and their courage in armored charges and midnight raids and lonely hours on faithful watch. We have seen the joy when they return and felt the sorrow when one is lost. I've had the honor of meeting our service men and women at many posts, from the deck of a carrier in the Pacific to a mess hall in Baghdad. Many of our troops are listening tonight, and I want you and your families to know America is proud of you, and my administration and this Congress will give you the resources you need to fight and win the war on terror. I know that some people question if America is really in a war at all. They view terrorism more as a crime, a problem to be solved mainly with law enforcement and indictments. After the World Trade Center was first attacked in 1993, some of the guilty were indicted and tried and convicted and sent to prison. But the matter was not settled. The terrorists were still training and plotting in other nations and drawing up more ambitious plans. After the chaos and carnage of September the 11th, it is not enough to serve our enemies with legal papers. The terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States, and war is what they got. Some in this Chamber and in our country did not support the liberation of Iraq. Objections to war often come from principled motives, but let us be candid about the consequences of leaving Saddam Hussein in power. We're seeking all the facts. Already, the Kay Report identified dozens of weapons of mass destruction related program activities and significant amounts of equipment that Iraq concealed from the United Nations. Had we failed to act, the dictator's weapons of mass destruction programs would continue to this day. Had we failed to act, Security Council resolutions on Iraq would have been revealed as empty threats, weakening the United Nations and encouraging defiance by dictators around the world. Iraq's torture chambers would still be filled with victims, terrified and innocent. The killing fields of Iraq, where hundreds of thousands of men and women and children vanished into the sands, would still be known only to the killers. For all who love freedom and peace, the world without Saddam Hussein's regime is a better and safer place. Some critics have said our duties in Iraq must be internationalized. This particular criticism is hard to explain to our partners in Britain, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Italy, Spain, Poland, Denmark, Hungary, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania, the Netherlands, Norway, El Salvador, and the 17 other countries that have committed troops to Iraq. As we debate at home, we must never ignore the vital contributions of our international partners or dismiss their sacrifices. From the beginning, America has sought international support for our operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, and we have gained much support. There is a difference, however, between leading a coalition of many nations and submitting to the objections of a few. America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our country. We also hear doubts that democracy is a realistic goal for the greater Middle East, where freedom is rare. Yet it is mistaken and condescending to assume that whole cultures and great religions are incompatible with liberty and self government. I believe that God has planted in every human heart the desire to live in freedom, and even when that desire is crushed by tyranny for decades, it will rise again. As long as the Middle East remains a place of tyranny and despair and anger, it will continue to produce men and movements that threaten the safety of America and our friends. So America is pursuing a forward strategy of freedom in the greater Middle East. We will challenge the enemies of reform, confront the allies of terror, and expect a higher standard from our friend. To cut through the barriers of hateful propaganda, the Voice of America and other broadcast services are expanding their programming in Arabic and Persian, and soon a new television service will begin providing reliable news and information across the region. I will send you a proposal to double the budget of the National Endowment for Democracy and to focus its new work on the development of free elections and free markets, free press, and free labor unions in the Middle East. And above all, we will finish the historic work of democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq so those nations can light the way for others and help transform a troubled part of the world. America is a nation with a mission, and that mission comes from our most basic beliefs. We have no desire to dominate, no ambitions of empire. Our aim is a democratic peace, a peace founded upon the dignity and rights of every man and woman. America acts in this cause with friends and allies at our side, yet we understand our special calling This great Republic will lead the cause of freedom. In the last 3 years, adversity has also revealed the fundamental strengths of the American economy. We have come through recession and terrorist attack and corporate scandals and the uncertainties of war. And because you acted to stimulate our economy with tax relief, this economy is strong and growing stronger. You have doubled the child tax credit from 500 to 1,000, reduced the marriage penalty, begun to phase out the death tax, reduced taxes on capital gains and stock dividends, cut taxes on small businesses, and you have lowered taxes for every American who pays income taxes. Americans took those dollars and put them to work, driving this economy forward. The pace of economic growth in the third quarter of 2003 was the fastest in nearly 20 years new home construction, the highest in almost 20 years homeowner ship rates, the highest ever. Manufacturing activity is increasing. Inflation is low. Interest rates are low. Exports are growing. Productivity is high, and jobs are on the rise. These numbers confirm that the American people are using their money far better than Government would have, and you were right to return it. America's growing economy is also a changing economy. As technology transforms the way almost every job is done, America becomes more productive and workers need new skills. Much of our job growth will be found in high skilled fields like health care and biotechnology. So we must respond by helping more Americans gain the skills to find good jobs in our new economy. All skills begin with the basics of reading and math, which are supposed to be learned in the early grades of our schools. Yet for too long, for too many children, those skills were never mastered. By passing the No Child Left Behind Act, you have made the expectation of literacy the law of our country. We're providing more funding for our schools, a 36 percent increase since 2001. We're requiring higher standards. We are regularly testing every child on the fundamentals. We are reporting results to parents and making sure they have better options when schools are not performing. We are making progress toward excellence for every child in America. But the status quo always has defenders. Some want to undermine the No Child Left Behind Act by weakening standards and accountability. Yet the results we require are really a matter of common sense We expect third graders to read and do math at the third grade level, and that's not asking too much. Testing is the only way to identify and help students who are falling behind. This Nation will not go back to the days of simply shuffling children along from grade to grade without them learning the basics. I refuse to give up on any child, and the No Child Left Behind Act is opening the door of opportunity to all of America's children. At the same time, we must ensure that older students and adults can gain the skills they need to find work now. Many of the fastest growing occupations require strong math and science preparation and training beyond the high school level. So tonight, I propose a series of measures called Jobs for the 21st Century. This program will provide extra help to middle and high school students who fall behind in reading and math, expand advanced placement programs in low income schools, invite math and science professionals from the private sector to teach part time in our high schools. I propose larger Pell grants for students who prepare for college with demanding courses in high school. I propose increasing our support for America's fine community colleges, so they can I do so, so they can train workers for industries that are creating the most new jobs. By all these actions, we'll help more and more Americans to join in the growing prosperity of our country. Job training is important, and so is job creation. We must continue to pursue an aggressive, progrowth economic agenda. Congress has some unfinished business on the issue of taxes. The tax reductions you passed are set to expire. Unless you act, the unfair tax on marriage will go back up. Unless you act, millions of families will be charged 300 more in Federal taxes for every child. Unless you act, small businesses will pay higher taxes. Unless you act, the death tax will eventually come back to life. Unless you act, Americans face a tax increase. What Congress has given, the Congress should not take away. For the sake of job growth, the tax cuts you passed should be permanent. Our agenda for jobs and growth must help small business owners and employees with relief from needless Federal regulation and protect them from junk and frivolous lawsuits. Consumers and businesses need reliable supplies of energy to make our economy run, so I urge you to pass legislation to modernize our electricity system, promote conservation, and make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy. My administration is promoting free and fair trade to open up new markets for America's entrepreneurs and manufacturers and farmers, to create jobs for American workers. Younger workers should have the opportunity to build a nest egg by saving part of their Social Security taxes in a personal retirement account. We should make the Social Security system a source of ownership for the American people. And we should limit the burden of Government on this economy by acting as good stewards of taxpayers' dollars. In 2 weeks, I will send you a budget that funds the war, protects the homeland, and meets important domestic needs while limiting the growth in discretionary spending to less than 4 percent. This will require that Congress focus on priorities, cut wasteful spending, and be wise with the people's money. By doing so, we can cut the deficit in half over the next 5 years. Tonight I also ask you to reform our immigration laws so they reflect our values and benefit our economy. I propose a new temporary worker program to match willing foreign workers with willing employers when no Americans can be found to fill the job. This reform will be good for our economy because employers will find needed workers in an honest and orderly system. A temporary worker program will help protect our homeland, allowing Border Patrol and law enforcement to focus on true threats to our national security. I oppose amnesty, because it would encourage further illegal immigration and unfairly reward those who break our laws. My temporary worker program will preserve the citizenship path for those who respect the law while bringing millions of hard working men and women out from the shadows of American life. Our Nation's health care system, like our economy, is also in a time of change. Amazing medical technologies are improving and saving lives. This dramatic progress has brought its own challenge, in the rising costs of medical care and health insurance. Members of Congress, we must work together to help control those costs and extend the benefits of modern medicine throughout our country. Meeting these goals requires bipartisan effort, and 2 months ago, you showed the way. By strengthening Medicare and adding a prescription drug benefit, you kept a basic commitment to our seniors. You are giving them the modern medicine they deserve. Starting this year, under the law you passed, seniors can choose to receive a drug discount card, saving them 10 to 25 percent off the retail price of most prescription drugs, and millions of low income seniors can get an additional 600 to buy medicine. Beginning next year, seniors will have new coverage for preventive screenings against diabetes and heart disease, and seniors just entering Medicare can receive wellness exams. In January of 2006, seniors can get prescription drug coverage under Medicare. For a monthly premium of about 35, most seniors who do not have that coverage today can expect to see their drug bills cut roughly in half. Under this reform, senior citizens will be able to keep their Medicare just as it is, or they can choose a Medicare plan that fits them best, just as you, as Members of Congress, can choose an insurance plan that meets your needs. And starting this year, millions of Americans will be able to save money tax free for their medical expenses in a health savings account. I signed this measure proudly, and any attempt to limit the choices of our seniors or to take away their prescription drug coverage under Medicare will meet my veto. On the critical issue of health care, our goal is to ensure that Americans can choose and afford private health care coverage that best fits their individual needs. To make insurance more affordable, Congress must act to address rapidly rising health care costs. Small businesses should be able to band together and negotiate for lower insurance rates, so they can cover more workers with health insurance. I urge you to pass association health plans. I ask you to give lower income Americans a refundable tax credit that would allow millions to buy their own basic health insurance. By computerizing health records, we can avoid dangerous medical mistakes, reduce costs, and improve care. To protect the doctor patient relationship and keep good doctors doing good work, we must eliminate wasteful and frivolous medical lawsuits. And tonight I propose that individuals who buy catastrophic health care coverage as part of our new health savings accounts be allowed to deduct 100 percent of the premiums from their taxes. A Government run health care system is the wrong prescription. By keeping costs under control, expanding access, and helping more Americans afford coverage, we will preserve the system of private medicine that makes America's health care the best in the world. We are living in a time of great change in our world, in our economy, in science and medicine. Yet some things endure courage and compassion, reverence and integrity, respect for differences of faith and race. The values we try to live by never change, and they are instilled in us by fundamental institutions such as families and schools and religious congregations. These institutions, these unseen pillars of civilization, must remain strong in America, and we will defend them. We must stand with our families to help them raise healthy, responsible children. When it comes to helping children make right choices, there is work for all of us to do. One of the worst decisions our children can make is to gamble their lives and futures on drugs. Our Government is helping parents confront this problem with aggressive education, treatment, and law enforcement. Drug use in high school has declined by 11 percent over the last 2 years. Four hundred thousand fewer young people are using illegal drugs than in the year 2001. In my budget, I propose new funding to continue our aggressive, community based strategy to reduce demand for illegal drugs. Drug testing in our schools has proven to be an effective part of this effort. So tonight I propose an additional 23 million for schools that want to use drug testing as a tool to save children's lives. The aim here is not to punish children but to send them this message We love you, and we do not want to lose you. To help children make right choices, they need good examples. Athletics play such an important role in our society, but unfortunately, some in professional sports are not setting much of an example. The use of performance enhancing drugs like steroids in baseball, football, and other sports is dangerous, and it sends the wrong message, that there are shortcuts to accomplishment and that performance is more important than character. So tonight I call on team owners, union representatives, coaches, and players to take the lead, to send the right signal, to get tough, and to get rid of steroids now. To encourage right choices, we must be willing to confront the dangers young people face, even when they're difficult to talk about. Each year, about 3 million teenagers contract sexually transmitted diseases that can harm them or kill them or prevent them from ever becoming parents. In my budget, I propose a grassroots campaign to help inform families about these medical risks. We will double Federal funding for abstinence programs, so schools can teach this fact of life Abstinence for young people is the only certain way to avoid sexually transmitted diseases. Decisions children now make can affect their health and character for the rest of their lives. All of us, parents and schools and government, must work together to counter the negative influence of the culture and to send the right messages to our children. A strong America must also value the institution of marriage. I believe we should respect individuals as we take a principled stand for one of the most fundamental, enduring institutions of our civilization. Congress has already taken a stand on this issue by passing the Defense of Marriage Act, signed in 1996 by President Clinton. That statute protects marriage under Federal law as a union of a man and a woman and declares that one State may not redefine marriage for other States. Activist judges, however, have begun redefining marriage by court order, without regard for the will of the people and their elected representatives. On an issue of such great consequence, the people's voice must be heard. If judges insist on forcing their arbitrary will upon the people, the only alternative left to the people would be the constitutional process. Our Nation must defend the sanctity of marriage. The outcome of this debate is important, and so is the way we conduct it. The same moral tradition that defines marriage also teaches that each individual has dignity and value in God's sight. It's also important to strengthen our communities by unleashing the compassion of America's religious institutions. Religious charities of every creed are doing some of the most vital work in our country mentoring children, feeding the hungry, taking the hand of the lonely. Yet Government has often denied social service grants and contracts to these groups, just because they have a cross or a Star of David or a crescent on the wall. By Executive order, I have opened billions of dollars in grant money to competition that includes faith based charities. Tonight I ask you to codify this into law, so people of faith can know that the law will never discriminate against them again. In the past, we've worked together to bring mentors to children of prisoners and provide treatment for the addicted and help for the homeless. Tonight I ask you to consider another group of Americans in need of help. This year, some 600,000 inmates will be released from prison back into society. We know from long experience that if they can't find work or a home or help, they are much more likely to commit crime and return to prison. So tonight I propose a 4 year, 300 million prisoner reentry initiative to expand job training and placement services, to provide transitional housing, and to help newly released prisoners get mentoring, including from faith based groups. America is the land of second chance, and when the gates of the prison open, the path ahead should lead to a better life. For all Americans, the last 3 years have brought tests we did not ask for and achievements shared by all. By our actions, we have shown what kind of nation we are. In grief, we have found the grace to go on. In challenge, we rediscovered the courage and daring of a free people. In victory, we have shown the noble aims and good heart of America. And having come this far, we sense that we live in a time set apart. I've been witness to the character of the people of America, who have shown calm in times of danger, compassion for one another, and toughness for the long haul. All of us have been partners in a great enterprise. And even some of the youngest understand that we are living in historic times. Last month a girl in Lincoln, Rhode Island, sent me a letter. It began, "Dear George W. Bush. If there's anything you know I, Ashley Pearson, age 10, can do to help anyone, please send me a letter and tell me what I can do to save our country." She added this P.S. "If you can send a letter to the troops, please put, 'Ashley Pearson believes in you."' Tonight, Ashley, your message to our troops has just been conveyed. And yes, you have some duties yourself Study hard in school listen to your mom or dad help someone in need and when you and your friends see a man or woman in uniform, say, "Thank you." And Ashley, while you do your part, all of us here in this great Chamber will do our best to keep you and the rest of America safe and free. My fellow citizens, we now move forward with confidence and faith. Our Nation is strong and steadfast. The cause we serve is right, because it is the cause of all mankind. The momentum of freedom in our world is unmistakable, and it is not carried forward by our power alone. We can trust in that greater power who guides the unfolding of the years. And in all that is to come, we can know that His purposes are just and true. May God continue to bless America. January 17, 2004 Good morning. This coming week, I will report to the Congress and the American people on the state of our Union. Over the past few years, America has been confronted with great challenges, and the American people have responded with strength and compassion and confidence. This Nation is meeting its priorities, both at home and abroad. America continues to wage a relentless campaign against terrorists who threaten our country. We're fighting this war on the offensive, denying terrorists refuge, identifying and seizing their secret finances, and holding terrorists and their sponsors to account. These terrorists are still dangerous, and we will stay on the hunt until they are destroyed. Across the greater Middle East, America is confronting dangers and promoting democracy and hope as the alternative to terror and violence. Afghanistan, once ruled by the brutal Taliban regime, has adopted a new constitution and is following the path of democracy, including providing fundamental rights to women. The leader of Libya has now pledged to disclose and dismantle all of his weapons of mass destruction programs. And in Iraq, the enemies of freedom are being systematically routed from their holes and rounded up. Iraqis are assuming greater responsibility for their own security and future Government. American troops in that country are performing their duty with skill and courage, and we're proud of them all. Here at home, we continue to build prosperity and economic security for our people. Tax relief has helped turn our economy around. We've doubled the child tax credit, cut taxes for everyone who pays income taxes, and increased incentives for small businesses to invest in new equipment and create jobs. The results are clear. Our economy grew at its fastest pace in two decades in the third quarter of 2003. Manufacturers are seeing a rebound in new orders in factory activity, and more than a quarter million new jobs have been created since August. Our Government has also acted to strengthen our Medicare system. To keep our commitment to America's senior citizens, we're adding better preventative care and a prescription drug benefit to the Medicare program. Many thought these reforms were impossible, yet members of both parties put old debates behind them and fulfilled our promise to America's seniors. On Tuesday night, I will outline the steps we must take to meet the goals of this Nation. We will work to expand opportunities for all Americans to own their own business. We'll press forward on an agenda of economic growth so that everyone who wants to work can find a job. We'll take steps to help families and small businesses deal with the rising cost of health care. We will continue to help schools and students meet the high standards we've set so no child in America is left behind. We will encourage the good work of faith based groups that bring hope to those in need. For the sake of our own freedom and security, we will continue to fight the war on terror. With all these actions, we will continue to confront the challenges of our time, and we will continue to make America a more secure, more prosperous, and more hopeful place. Thank you for listening. January 15, 2004 Thank you very much. Thanks for coming. And thanks for your support. I'm honored first, let me tell you how honored I am to be introduced by a bestselling au thor laughter and a great American. I am privileged to call Zell Miller my friend. The people of Georgia are privileged to call him United States Senator. He is a decent, honorable citizen of this country. I'm also proud to be on the stage with your Governor, Sonny. Sonny said, "I want you to meet some of my friends from the legislature." He said, "What's unusual about this bunch is they don't call themselves Republican." Laughter There's a handful of Democrat legislators here from the great State of Georgia. I know there's a handful of Republican legislators as well. I'm kind of taking you for granted tonight. Laughter But I do want to say thanks, Sonny to Sonny and the Democrat legislators who've come. I'm proud to have you on my team. You're welcome on my team. And I'm proud you all are here. We put together a good team in Georgia in the year 2000. We're going to do better in the year 2004. We're laying the foundation for what is going to be a great national victory in November of 2004. And you're helping, and I appreciate your help. I'm loosening up. Laughter I'm getting ready. But I got a job to do for everybody who lives in this country. When you're going to your coffee shops and your community centers, they say, "What is George W. up to," you tell them this, that I'm doing the people's business in Washington, DC, that I'm working hard to earn the confidence of every single American by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. I know that Zell's wife, Shirley, is with us today as well. Shirley, I'm proud you're here. Zell and I both married above ourselves. Laughter I regret that Laura hasn't joined us. She is a fabulous First Lady for this country. I'm really proud of her. And I'm proud as well of the junior Senator from the great State of Georgia, a close ally, good friend, good, honorable man, Saxby Chambliss. I better make sure I mention Mary Perdue as well, the first lady of the great State of Georgia. Governor, I appreciate what you're doing at the statehouse here. I'm proud of my friend Jamie Reynolds. I appreciate the team he has put together to help make this an incredibly successful fundraiser. Don't go overboard on Jamie. He's not bad for a country boy. Laughter I appreciate the members of the congressional delegation who are here Mac Collins and Nathan Deal, Charlie Norwood, Phil Gingrey, and Max Burns. These are good ones, good, honorable citizens who are doing what they think is right for the country. I appreciate you all coming. I know my friend Nancy Coverdell is here. She is just a great personal friend of our family's. Nancy, thank you for taking time out of your schedule to be here. I'm honored that my friend Mercer Reynolds happens to be related to Jamie he's the national finance chairman for Bush Cheney is here. It's important to make sure that you've got plenty of cash on hand when you're running for President. You want to be well financed. We're becoming well financed. We've got a great national effort, a great Georgia effort. And again, I want to thank you all you all for participating in this. Ralph Reed is with us. He's the Southeast regional chairman and he's the Georgia chairman for my campaign, for the campaign of Vice President Cheney. Alec Poitevint is with us as well, who's the party chairman. And for the grassroots activists who are here, I want to thank you for what you're going to do. Thank you for the work that you're going to do as we're coming down the stretch. That's the work that's putting up the signs and talking the talk, getting on the phone, and addressing the envelopes. I appreciate what you're going to do. You cannot win a campaign unless hard working grassroots people get out there and pound the pavement on behalf of this ticket. And I can assure you, we'll be right with you. And when you're out there, I want you to remind everybody that for the last 3 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. My administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know that we are on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and today, they live in freedom. Three years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Three years ago, the economy was in trouble and the recession was just beginning. And then there was attacks on our country and scandals in corporate America and war, which all affected the people's confidence. But this administration acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. We understand that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or to invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. So we're returning more money to the people to help them raise their families, reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We've given small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, we are laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs so every single citizen in this country has a chance to realize the American Dream. Today, the American economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. The figures for the third quarter of 2003 show the economy grew at an annual rate of 8.2 percent, the fastest pace in nearly 20 years. Productivity is high. Business investment is rising. Housing construction is expanding. Manufacturing activity is increasing, and we've added over a quarter million new jobs over the past 5 months. The tax relief we passed is working. Three years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform in Washington, but there just wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We've increased spending at the Federal level, particularly for Title I students, for poor students. But for the first time, the Federal Government is saying, "Why don't you show us whether or not the children can read and write and add and subtract." The reason why we're saying that is because we believe every child, regardless of their background, can learn to read and write and add and subtract. We expect every school to teach every child to read and write and add and subtract. This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. We expect results so that not one single child is left behind in America. We reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our borders and ports and to protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Georgia's farmers and ranchers and entrepreneurs and manufacturers. We passed much needed budget agreements to help maintain spending discipline in Washington, DC. And last month, we completed the greatest advance in health care coverage for America's seniors since the founding of Medicare. The new Medicare bill that I signed will give older Americans the option of a prescription drug benefit and more control over their health care. America's seniors deserve a modern health care system, and this administration delivered. On issue after issue on issue after issue this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. And the Congress deserves a lot of credit. I enjoy working with Speaker Denny Hastert, Majority Leader Bill Frist. I enjoy working with Senator Miller and Chambliss and working with this Georgia congressional delegation. We're working hard to change the tone in Washington, DC. There's too much needless politics up there. There's too much backbiting and backstabbing. The best way to fight through that noise is to focus on results, to do what I call the people's business, and get some things done. And we're getting a lot done. We're also getting a lot done because I've surrounded myself with plenty capable people, good, honorable, decent people from all walks of life who have come to serve in my administration with one thing in mind, to represent the greatest country on the face of the Earth. Our country has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion. Laughter In 3 years, we've done a lot. We have come far, but our work is only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society that is prosperous and compassionate so every citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and to realize the great promise of America. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. We are freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where all people can be certain they will never again have to fear the rule of Saddam Hussein. The Ba'athist holdouts largely responsible for the current violence now know there will be no return to corrupt power and the privilege they once held. All Iraqis who have taken the side of freedom have taken the winning side. We still face terrorists who would rather go on killing the innocent than accept the rise of liberty in the Middle East. You see, they know that the advance of freedom in Iraq would be a major defeat for the cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of the United States of America. America will never be intimidated by a bunch of thugs and assassins. We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we do not have to face them in our own country. Other nations are helping to build a free Iraq because they understand a free and peaceful Iraq in the heart of the Middle East will make us all more secure. We're standing with the Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward self government. These are not easy tasks, but they're essential tasks. We will finish what we have begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror. And part of winning the war on terror is to oppose proliferation around the world. Last month, after talks with the United States and Great Britain, Libya voluntarily committed to disclose and dismantle all its weapons of mass destruction programs. Leaders around the world now know this Weapons of mass destruction do not bring influence or prestige they bring isolation and other unwelcome consequences. Laughter And nations who abandon the pursuit of these weapons will find an open path to better relations with the United States of America. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass destruction. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. And we know that freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to every man and woman in this world. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world, and when we see disease, starvation, and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, this great, mighty land is committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. This great country of ours is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges here at home as well, and our actions will prove that we're equal to these challenges. This administration will continue to promote a pro growth, pro small business, pro entrepreneur economic agenda until everyone who wants to work can find a job. And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which are driving up the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. Yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, and they therefore affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. The House of Representatives passed a good bill. The bill is stuck in the United States Senate. Senators Miller and Chambliss are working to get it unstuck. The Senate must act on behalf of the American people. Some of those Senators must understand that no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit in America. I have a responsibility as your President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Yet some Members of the Senate, are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. I appreciate Senator Miller and Senator Chambliss' strong support for the nominees I've nominated. It's time for some of the Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. This country needs an energy plan, and Congress needs to complete the work on that bill and get it to my desk. We must promote energy efficiency and conservation and to develop cleaner technologies to help us explore in environmentally friendly ways. But for the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, we must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. A strong and prosperous nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, which means we'll apply the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping fellow citizens in need. We need there are millions of men and women in this country who want to end their dependence on government and become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of welfare reform, put good job training programs in place that help people find work that actually exists, so that more people can have work and dignity in their lives. With the help of Congress, we're working to ensure that more Americans can serve their communities and their country through what's called the Citizen Service Program. Both Houses of the United States Congress must pass my Faith Based Initiative. It is essential that our Government not fear the influence of faith in our society but welcome people of faith into serving the difficult problems of heart, the difficult problems of the homeless, the addiction, mentoring of children. Faith is one of the great strengths of America, and our Government must welcome faith based programs. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for every single citizen, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their own home. In our country today, we have a minority home ownership gap, and that's not good for America. I have put forth plans, have worked with Senator Miller and Senator Chambliss to close this gap. We're working hard to encourage more people in America to own their own home. We want more people owning their own health care plans and managing their health care plans. We want people owning and managing their own retirement accounts. We want more people owning their own small business, because we understand that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of America. A compassionate society is one in which people respect one another, respect their religious views, respect their backgrounds, and take responsibility for the decisions they make in life. The culture of this country is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and, "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands that we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mother or a father, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're worried about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you are responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in this new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. We can see that culture of service and responsibility growing around us. I went to a church in downtown New Orleans today that was full of neighborhood healers, people who have heard the universal call, people from all walks of life, different religions, all aimed at serving our Nation by helping somebody who hurts. I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need, and the response has been fantastic. The strength of this country lies in the hearts and souls of our citizens. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform remind us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than ourselves in life. Once again, the children of this country believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 3 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it and know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you all. Thanks for coming. January 15, 2004 Thank you all. Thank you all very much for coming. Thanks for the warm welcome. It's great to be back in the Big Easy. I've got a lot of good memories from this part of the world. Laughter Some I can share with you laughter and some I can't. Laughter We love New Orleans, fabulous city. Thanks for coming. I appreciate your support. It's great to be in the State of Louisiana, the home of those Bayou Bengals, the mighty LSU Tigers. That's pretty that was that's awesome. Laughter It was exciting for Louisiana. I'm proud for you. I'm also glad that you didn't play the University of Texas this year. Laughter Wait a minute. Laughter I want to thank you for what you did for Vice President Cheney and me last that last time we were ran, in 2000. We carried Louisiana. I'll tell you what we're doing today We're laying the foundation for what is going to be another victory in the great State of Louisiana, and we're laying the foundation for what is going to be a great national victory in November of 2004. And I appreciate your help. I want to thank you for coming today. I want to thank you for your support. I want to thank you for your prayers. I want to thank you for what you're going to do, which is turn out that vote, find those voters and turn them to the polls. I'm getting ready, and I'm loosening up. Laughter But politics is going to come in its own time. See, I've got a job to do. There's a lot on my agenda, on behalf of all the people of this country. As this campaign gets cranked up, you tell the people that I'm working on their behalf and I'm going to continue to work hard to earn their confidence by keeping America secure and strong and prosperous and free. I am sorry Laura is not here. She is a fabulous First Lady. She's doing a great job. She is she really, really, makes me proud and thankful she said yes when I said, "Will you?" Laughter She sends her love to all our friends here in New Orleans and some of our friends who might have snuck in from Texas. I appreciate Boysie. I've known him for a long time. I want to thank you for your leadership, Boysie. You and Canizaro are doing a fine job. I want to thank all of you who worked hard to make this event such a successful event. You've sent some good people from Louisiana to the Congress. I want to thank Jim McCrery for joining us today, and the next United States Senator, David Vitter. Mr. Mayor, I know you're here. I want to thank you for coming. I appreciate the mayor of this great city. I appreciate his leadership. I appreciate his vision. I look forward to working with him to make sure New Orleans realizes its full potential and everybody in this city has a chance to succeed. Joey Durel is here, the city parish president from Lafayette. I want to thank you for coming, Joey. I want to thank all the State and local officials who are here. I want to thank my friend Pat Brister, who is the chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party, for being here today. I particularly want to say thanks to all the grassroots activists applause yes, there you are. The phone callers, the sign putter uppers, the envelope addressers get ready. Laughter We're counting on you. We're counting on you to work those precincts. We're counting on you to work those phones. We're counting on you to go to the community centers. We're counting on you to turn out the vote. I want you to remind the people that over the last 3 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. My administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and today, they live in freedom. Three years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Three years ago, the economy was in trouble and a recession was beginning, and then there was attacks on our country and scandals in corporate America and war, all of which affected the people's confidence. But this administration acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. When Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. And so we're returning more money to the people to help them raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, this administration has laid the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America so every single citizen has a chance to realize the American Dream. And today, the economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. The figures for the third quarter of 2003 show that the economy grew at an annual rate of 8.2 percent, the fastest pace in nearly 20 years. Productivity is high. Business investment is rising. Housing construction is expanding. Manufacturing activity is increasing. We've added over a quarter million new jobs in the last 5 months. The tax relief we passed is working. Three years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform in our Nation's Capital, and frankly, there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We've increased funding, particularly for the poor. But in return for access funding, we're finally asking the question of school districts all across America, "Are you teaching our children how to read and write and add and subtract?" This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. We believe every child can learn, and we expect every child every school to teach so that not one single child is left behind in America. We reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard ports like New Orleans' port, better safeguard our borders, and to better protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Louisiana's farmers and ranchers and manufacturers and entrepreneurs. We passed budget agreements that have helped to maintain spending discipline in Washington, DC. And we recently completed the greatest advance in health care coverage for America's seniors since the founding of Medicare. The new Medicare bill will give older Americans the option of a prescription drug benefit and more control over their health care so that they receive the modern medical care that they deserve. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. The Congress gets a lot of credit. I enjoy working with Speaker Hastert I enjoy working with Leader Frist two good, honorable people who are working hard to deliver results to the American people. I enjoy working with the two Congressmen who are here today. We're working hard to change the tone in Washington. There's too much needless politics in the Nation's Capital, too much zero sum attitude, too much backbiting. The best way to change that tone is to focus on the people's business, is to deliver results, and that's exactly what we're doing. Those are the kind of people I've attracted to my administration, results oriented people, good, honorable, honest people from all walks of life. I put together a fantastic administration. Our country has had no finer Vice President than Vice President Dick Cheney. My mother may have a second opinion. Laughter In 3 years, we have done a lot. We have come far. But the work is only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we will work for a society that is prosperous and compassionate so that every citizen every citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and realize the great promise of this country. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where all people can be certain they will never again have to fear the rule of Saddam Hussein. The Ba'athist holdouts, largely responsible for the current violence, now know there will be no return to corrupt power and privilege they once held. All Iraqis who have taken the side of freedom have taken the winning side. We will still face terrorists who would rather go on killing the innocent than accept the rise of liberty in the Middle East. You see, they know that the advance of freedom in Iraq will be a major defeat in the cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of the United States of America. America will never be intimidated by a bunch of thugs and assassins. We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we do not have to face them in our own country. And other nations are helping a lot of other nations are helping because they understand a free Iraq, a peaceful Iraq, a free Iraq in the heart of the Middle East will make the world more secure. We're standing with the Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward self government. These are not easy tasks, but they are essential tasks. The United States of America will finish what we have begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war against terror. In order to make the world more secure and peaceful, we're working to oppose proliferation all around the world. Last month, after talks with the United States and Great Britain, Libya voluntarily committed to disclose and dismantle all weapons of mass destruction programs. Leaders around the world now know weapons of mass destruction do not bring influence or prestige they bring isolation and other unwelcome consequences. Nations who abandon the pursuit of these weapons will find an open path to better relations with the United States of America. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. And I know that freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to every man and woman in this world. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world. And when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, this great Nation, this strong and compassionate land, is bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. America is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges at home as well, and we'll be equal to those challenges. This administration will continue to promote a pro growth, pro entrepreneur economic agenda until anybody who wants to find a job is able to do so. And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who've been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court, no question about it. Yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care and they do they affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. I sent up a good bill to the House, and the House passed it. The bill is stuck in the Senate. I call upon the Senate to act on behalf of the American people. Perhaps you know a Senator or two you need to contact here in Louisiana. No one no one and the Senate must understand this no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit in America. We need medical liability reform now. I have a responsibility as the President to make sure the judicial system runs well. And I've met that duty. I've nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench, people like Miguel Estrada. You might have heard of Miguel Estrada here in the State of Louisiana. Some Members of the United States Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some of the Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. Congress needs to get me an energy bill. This country needs a plan. We need a plan to promote energy efficiency and more conservation, a plan to develop cleaner technology, to help us explore for energy in environmentally friendly ways. But one thing is for certain We need an energy plan to make sure that this country does not have to rely upon foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of what I call compassionate conservatism, which means we'll apply the best and most innovative ideas to the tasks of helping our fellow citizens in need. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on government, become independent through work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to encourage job training programs that actually work so we can bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. With the help of Congress, we're working to ensure that more Americans can serve their communities and their country through the Citizen Service Program. Both Houses need to reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative, an initiative that will help support the armies of compassion people from all faiths, Christian or Jewish or Muslim faiths, who have heard the universal call and are loving a neighbor just like they'd like to be loved themselves, people who are helping change America by caring for the homeless, mentoring children, and offering hope to the addicted. Congress must not fear the influence of faith. Congress must welcome faith based programs to help solve the intractable problems of society. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all of us, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. See, we want more people owning their own home. We have a minority homeownership gap in America. I proposed a plan to the Congress, starting with helping with the poorest of poor make a downpayment for a home, to close that gap. It's in the national interest that more people own their own home. We want people owning and managing their own healthcare accounts and their own retirement accounts. We want more people owning their own small business. This is an administration that understands, when someone owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another. They respect their religions. They respect their point of view. And they take responsibility for the decisions they make. The culture of America is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and, "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands that we're responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mother or father, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're concerned about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in this new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. I see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us. I just met with some of the great social entrepreneurs of the State of Louisiana today, neighborhood healers, helpers, people who are actively involved in saving America, one heart and one soul and one conscience at a time. I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps. It's a chance to get people it's an opportunity for people to extend a hand to a neighbor in need, and the response has been fantastic. Civil society in America is strong and vibrant. Our charities are strong. Churches and synagogues and mosques are strong. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform remind us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 3 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it and know for our country, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you all. Thank you all. Thank you very much. January 12, 2004 President Fox. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. President Bush, welcome to Mexico, and welcome to Monterrey. We receive you with great enthusiasm, the way we are receiving the leaders of the countries of America. We have great expectations in order to work in this extraordinary Summit of the Americas. In order to know each other better all of us leaders that have responsibilities in America it's best to analyze extraordinary matters that have been brought about in the last few years, since the last meeting of the Americas. While checking and making a revision on these matters, we can give broad solutions to the problems economic and poverty problems in a great part of the continent perhaps solutions to the problems of human capital, social capital in our respective countries and likewise deal, as we have been doing in every single meeting, the safety and security matters, going deep inside the problems of corruption, making sure that in our countries, democracy should be there and the state of law should be there. So this meeting will enable us to give steps forward in all these multilateral topics. Likewise, we have had a bilateral meet ing and I will mention this later on, a couple of matters, important matters in reference to this bilateral conversation. First of all, relating to the migration topic, President Bush has given us in full detail and has told us once again the proposal made in the United States for the migration matters and the policy that should be checked upon that that topic. It's a sovereign matter of the United States. Consequently, this migration proposal is analyzed according to the different conversations that President Bush and President Fox, myself, even when he was a Governor in the State of Texas and I was a Governor in the State of Guanajuato. Since that time, we have been touching upon this subject, and we did that in the first meeting in Rancho San Cristobal in the State of Guanajuato. We did it once again, and we spoke about migration. We have been doing this in each one of the different meetings. So I would like to give full acknowledgement that part of the conversations, a great part of the conversations have been collected and analyzed. But this is a proposal made by the President of the United States. We totally agree and are aware that the proposal should be discussed, broadly discussed, analyzed, particularly in the Congress of the United States. Consequently, we should give full time so that the idea well, the idea should mature, and it should definitely be approved. So for us in Mexico, this is a very important step forward on what has to do with the relationship between the two countries, on what has to do with the migration flow. It is a topic with a great priority for our countries, for both countries. This proposal opens an opportunity to have a certain movement, a certain situation, important for many millions of Mexicans. It is a priority. It is a valuable proposal, and by all means, it will have to do with the improvement of the situation of these migrants, but it will have to do as well with the strengthening of our respective economies that on the one hand. On the other, the topic that we have been dealing with is the initiative of North America, by means of which both Governments want to work with very specific objectives so as to create a greater economic growth, increase productivity and competitiveness within the region through the reduction of costs, and facilitating trade flows, promoting development of common markets in different specific sectors. And it has as an objective to establish a security regional framework protecting Mexico, the United States, and Canada from terrorism. Several tables, working tables, analyze the normalization of different standards within the market in automobiles, food, agriculture products, construction materials, and consumption goods. Likewise, there's a table that has to do with trade and services. Another one is working on energy another one in scientific and technological cooperation another one, regional cooperation on trade and investment. Consequently, it is a great effort so as to achieve the objectives that I just mentioned. President Bush, once again, thank you for visiting us. Thank you for being here. This summit, this meeting, will allow us to be near the different Presidents, the different leaders of Latin America, the Caribbean area, Central America, and by all means North America. And it will be for the good of this continent in the future. Thank you. President Bush. Thank you, Mr. President. Laura and I are really appreciate your hospitality. We want to thank you and Marta for being our friends. I remember well our visit to your ranch. And to this end, we would like to extend an invitation to both you and the First Lady of Mexico to visit our ranch on March the 5th and 6th. I hope you can find I hope it's a convenient date for you on your calendar because we'd love to have you there. The bonds of friendship and shared values between our two nations are strong. We have worked together to overcome many mutual challenges, and that work is yielding results. Today, Mexico is America's second largest trading partner, and we are Mexico's largest. Every day, thousands of Americans and Mexicans cross the border in both directions for reason of commerce and tourism. And many Americans settle many Mexicans settle in America, bringing with them optimism and a strong desire to succeed. They come to fulfill their dreams, and in the process they enrich our Nation. Last week, I proposed a new temporary worker program that will help further the cause of safe, legal, and orderly migration. This temporary worker program will match willing foreign workers with willing American employers when no Americans can be found to fill the jobs. Under this program, undocumented workers currently in the United States will be able to come out of the shadows and establish legal identities. All participants in the program will be issued a temporary worker card that will allow them to travel back and forth between their home and the United States without fear of being denied reentry into our country. This plan is not amnesty, placing undocumented workers on the automatic path of citizenship. I oppose amnesty because it encourages the violation of our laws and perpetuates illegal immigration. My proposal expects that most temporary workers will eventually return permanently to their home countries when the period of work that I will be negotiating with the Congress has expired. And I think it's important to give financial incentives to those workers in order for them to make the decision to return home permanently. I'll work with President Fox and other leaders on a plan to give temporary workers credit in their home countries' retirement systems for the time they worked in the United States. I support making it easier for temporary workers to contribute a portion of their earnings to tax preferred savings accounts, money they can collect as they return to their native countries. Under this program, the United States will benefit from the honest labor of foreign workers. Our neighbors will benefit as productive citizens return home with money to invest and to spend in their own nation's economy. This program will be more humane, humane to workers, and will live up to the highest ideals of our nations. While my Nation benefits from the dreams that newcomers bring to America, I believe that people should be better able to achieve their dreams at their own home. The best way in the long term to reduce the pressures that create illegal immigration is to expand economic opportunity in countries at both ends of an immigrant's journey. This is why President Fox and I are committed to free and fair trade. We've seen it lift both our nations and our economies. Since 1994, trade between our two countries has grown from 100 billion to 232 billion. We will continue to work together and with Canada to enhance North American prosperity and security. We're also working to reduce the cost of sending money home to families and local communities. These remittances exceed 10 billion per year. But the cost of such transfers reduces the amount of money that hardworking people can return to their families. Our two countries have made it a priority to keep hard earned money in the hands of those who need it most. In recent years, our efforts under our U.S. Mexico Partnership for Prosperity Initiative have reduced the cost of remittances by almost 60 percent. Two years ago, in this city, world leaders agreed on a vision to expand opportunity and spread prosperity throughout the hemisphere. With this year's Special Summit, we continue to put that vision into action. Through the Inter American Development Bank, we are expanding access to credit for small business entrepreneurs, the key engines of growth and job creation for any nation's economy. We're helping nations improve their legal systems to protect property rights so that owners can use their property as collateral to finance the purchase of a home or to start a business. We're investing in the health and education of our peoples, and we're intensifying our common fight against corruption. President Fox and I will also continue our efforts to support democracy in the region. We will work with the Organization of American States to ensure the integrity of the Presidential recall and referendum process underway in Venezuela. And as part of our effort to protect the institutions of democracy in Bolivia, we will cochair the initial meeting of the Bolivia Support Group in Washington this coming Friday. Our bilateral relationship is strong. This summit's agenda is full. The United States will continue to work with our friends in the neighborhood in a spirit of common purpose and mutual respect. Thank you, Mr. President. Temporary Worker Program Airport Security Q. Question for both of you. President Fox, once more on migrating matters, what else did the Mexican Government propose? What else can we expect for the Mexican workers? Can we aspire the same treatment of the Canadian ones without any approaches? What are the purposes in reference to migrants? Does this have election purposes? And will the United States avoid violating the human rights in our airports? What is the question, and the question is addressed for both Presidents. Thank you. President Fox. First of all, I would like to say, what else can we wish? What we want is the plan presented by President Bush. We hope that the plan has a happy ending, through the political process that should be followed within the United States so that it can be approved in the Congress of the United States. I would say that this is what we want. The plan, as it was mentioned before, is a very important step forward for many Mexican workers in the United States. Those that have the direct benefit of this will recognize and acknowledge this proposal that has a great importance for them. Not only because they can see that their labor rights and their human rights are completely respected there but there is a human face on this proposal, a human face that has to do with the families of these workers. Consequently, for us it is a plan that meets the demands and its measures. And our will should be to support the plan to be achieved and go on. In reference to safety matters on the airports and the flights, that is a sovereign decision in Mexico to implement these safety and security programs within the airports and within the Mexican airlines. So we are not violating any human right of any sort of citizen. What we're doing is paying special attention so as to avoid terrorist acts, violent acts within the Mexican territory or within the Mexican airlines. And in this same approach, we mention that there's no direct intervention of no official personnel, policemen, agents direct intervention, direct participation in operations that have to do with the assurance of this task within the Mexican airports or within the Mexican airlines. What we do have is a participation and an exchange with the personnel, the liaison personnel, the link personnel for security. We exchange information so as to do our work much better. We reject any other sort of information, different information that has been brought about that in these activities well, we can state that only Mexican personnel participates, agents of the airlines or agents of security here in Mexico. Thus, there is no intervention in the direct operation of any other official agent from abroad. It is the liaison officers, the link offices we exchange information the way we agreed upon with President Bush since the beginning of our conversations in Rancho San Cristobal. And we have a mutual trust that's the way we started so that the security and safety institutions would trust each other, they could have an exchange of information, and they could be very, very efficient in their work. Never, never before had we reached efficiency level fighting organized crime, guaranteeing the security and safety of the different passengers, stopping, let's say, loads of drug, drug trafficking the way we have been achieving this in the last few years, based upon mutual trust and based on this coordinated work between the two parts. President Bush. Mr. President, I appreciate your wonderful cooperation that we've achieved between our two countries. You've just articulated that level of cooperation in a way that I don't think I ever could. So that's my answer to the second question you asked. My answer to the first question you asked is that I proposed this change in immigration law because I think it is the right thing to do. It recognizes the reality of our country. The President and I talked about whether or not the ramifications of this initiative to Mexico. But the migration policy applies to all foreign workers. But the truth of the matter is, the vast majority of foreign workers in America are from Mexico. We know that in Texas very well. And I repeat to you that this is these workers are a benefit to my country. These are hard working, decent, honorable people that are in our country because to fill jobs that others won't take, on the one hand, and also to make a living, to put money to get money and to send money back to their families. There is a deep human desire for a mother or a father to provide for his or her family. And that's how I view the motivations of good, decent Mexican citizens working in our country. And it seems like to me, it makes sense to have laws that treat people with respect. We are a country of law. Rule of law is important in America. And therefore, we ought to not have a system that is based upon a undocumented underclass but a system that is based upon law. And so I you said something about politics yes, there's politics involved. But the reason I made and there will be politics probably involved in whether or not it passes Congress. But the reason I proposed the initiative is because it is the right thing for America to do. Iraq Q. Thank you, Mr. President, President Fox. My question is about Iraq. The death toll in Iraq, the American death toll, is approaching 500. I wonder whether you have any reservations now about whether that toll is worth it to achieve your objectives in Iraq and the Middle East. President Fox, you had a disagreement with the President going into the war. I wonder whether you aired that out during your meeting just now, whether you now see eye to eye on postwar Iraq. Thank you. President Bush. A democratic, free Iraq is in the national interests of our country. A free country in the midst of the Middle East will make America more secure and, matter of fact, make any country more secure. And the decision I made was a tough decision. We've had discussions prior to the decision and after the decision. Vicente Fox is a good enough friend for him to be able to express his opinion to me without the loss of friendship, and he didn't agree with the decision I made. But the decision I made was the right one for America, and history will prove it's the right one for the world. And we will stay the course until the job is done. And the job is getting done. Iraq is more free every day. The citizens are begin ning the lives of the citizens are improving every day. And one thing is for certain, there won't be any more mass graves and torture rooms and rape rooms. The tyrant will no longer come back to threaten the Iraqi people. These people will be able to live in these Iraqi citizens will not only be able to live in a free society they'll be able to live in a society that is free from one of the most brutal dictators in the world's history. President Fox. As a democratic nation, to meet the challenge of terrorism, to make sure that terrorism is eradicated from the face of this world that's our challenge today, and that's what we work on. It is why we congratulate the U.S. Government that they withheld Saddam Hussein, and he will be taken to trial, to judgment. We fully support that, and we congratulate President Bush and the United States for that very important accomplishment, which is for the better of all nations, all families, all people in the world that would want to live in peace without terrorism. Free Trade Agreements Q. Good afternoon. My question is addressed for both Presidents, if you can really talk about a free trade agreement inaudible North America, between Mexico, United States, and Canada, in the midst of all the problems of commercial exchange such as transportation, food, agricultural sector. Second question Can you achieve a free trade agreement of the Americas with the opposition of many countries such as Brazil and Venezuela? President Fox. Well, in the case of a free trade agreement of North America, we have clearly pointed out many a time that it has been successful for Mexico. We are very much satisfied with what has been achieved in the last 10 years. Mexico is the ninth economy in the world. It has enabled Mexico to have the size of the seventh power for exports in the world and a per capita income going beyond, let's say, 6,000, the highest in Latin America. These are things that have been brought about because of this relation that has been established. And we have worked upon that for 10 years. I read a report of the ILO about Latin America and unemployment and wages and salaries of the different workers. And Mexico has the best, let's say, rate on unemployment in Latin America, improving the situation, improving the actual wages of the workers in Latin America the only one in Latin America. And by all means, this is coming from the free trade agreements. Consequently, we are satisfied with the free trade agreement, and it should continue operating and working with success. On a parallel basis, we have thought about the Initiative of North America to thrust and develop our economies much more, achieving competitiveness and productivity, generating jobs and quality of life in our respective countries. It is a parallel, an additional pathway. And as President Bush already mentioned in reference to the Association for Prosperity the document known as Partnership For Prosperity, that's the name of the document it has many inaudible we work day by day so as to thrust and improve the document. So we're giving steps forward in this direction that on the one hand. On the other, as a consequence of this, Mexico is a passionate promoter of the free trade agreements in the Americas. We are totally in favor of the free trade agreement for the American Continent, by all means. And we're working in favor and working actively so that it will be achieved as soon as possible. We received with great satisfaction the results of the last meeting in Miami, Florida, where the agreement is to continue building this free trade agreement so as to have it ready on the foreseen dates that we thought about. So we are working enthusiastically in this field. By all means, we do not only want a free trade agreement but we want a very good free trade agreement, an agreement with quality and that has to do with trade that would take development to the less developed countries, the poorest countries in our continent, that could take development to the different regions where there's greater poverty in our continent. And that is the fundamental purpose of this agreement. Trade promotes development, undoubtedly. Trade undoubtedly promotes the reduction of poverty. And trade and relations amongst countries promote human capital. So we are absolutely in favor of trusting and supporting this agreement. President Bush. It's helped America it's helped Mexico it's helped Canada. I think we need to move the process forward the President and I discussed that earlier today with the North American Initiative. The President is absolutely right. The best way to eradicate poverty is to encourage trade between nations. Trade gives people hope and provides opportunity. Obviously, that must be coupled with anticorruption measures, like the President has done here in Mexico. It must be coupled with good education measures. At this meeting, we're going to talk about ways to get capital into the hands of the entrepreneurial classes of respective countries. But without trade, there's going to be it's going to be hard for some people to find opportunity. And so I hope those who have expressed some opposition about the free trade agreement of the Americas look at the facts. And the fact is that NAFTA has lifted lives and ended poverty in some parts of our in our neighborhood. And to this end, the United States will not only push for the free trade agreement of the Americas we will continue trade agreements with countries like Chile we just concluded one with Chile but with the Central American countries, Andean countries. We believe in trade. We believe it's in the interest of the neighborhood that we trade freely. Paul O'Neill Q. Thank you, President Fox. President Bush, is it true, as your former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill says, that you started planning for the invasion of Iraq within days of your inauguration? Do you feel betrayed? And should he have released those documents? President Bush. First, let me say I appreciate former Secretary O'Neill's service to our country. We worked together during some difficult times. We worked together when the country was in recession, and now we're coming out of recession, which is positive news. We worked together when America was attacked on September the 11th, which changed how I viewed the world. September the 11th made me realize that America was no longer protected by oceans and we had to take threats very seriously, no matter where they may be materializing. And no, the stated policy of my administration towards Saddam Hussein was very clear. Like the previous administration, we were for regime change. And in the initial stages of the administration, as you might remember, we were dealing with Desert Badger or fly overs and fly betweens and looks, and so we were fashioning policy along those lines. And then, all of a sudden, September the 11th hit. And as the President of the United States, my most solemn obligation is to protect the security of the American people. That's my to me that's the most solemn thing an American President or any President must do. And I took that duty very seriously. And as you know, not only did we deal with the Taliban, we gave working through the United Nations and working through the international community, we made it clear that Saddam Hussein should disarm. And like he had done with a lot of previous resolutions, he ignored the world's demands. And now he's no longer in power, and the world is better for it. The Iraqi people are better for it America is better for it Mexico is better for it. The world is more peaceful as a result of Sad dam Hussein not being in power. And the task at hand, Mr. President and he and I he knows this fully well is to make sure that the aspirations of the Iraqi people are allowed to flourish. And we'll get there. It's a tough task right now. It's hard work, but we've done hard work in the past. And a free Iraq is going to be in the world's interest. Thank you very much. President Fox. Thank you, Mr. President. Good afternoon. January 08, 2004 Thank you all. Thanks for coming. Thank you all very much. Thanks for the warm welcome. It's glad I'm glad to be in the land of the orange and white. UT kind of sounds like home. Laughter Really appreciate coming back to Knoxville. I'm so thrilled that so many came out to support the Bush Cheney ticket. As you might recall, we had pretty good success here in the year 2000. Because of today, we're laying the foundation for what is going to be even better success in Tennessee in 2004. We're on our way to a national victory in November of 2004. I'm loosening up laughter and I'm getting ready. But there will be plenty of time for politics, because I've got a job to do on behalf of every citizen of this country. I'm focused on the people's business in Washington, DC. My administration will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of all Americans by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. I'm honored you invited me here today. I know I wasn't your first choice. Laughter Laura was tied up. Laughter She's a fabulous First Lady. I'm a lucky man that she said yes when I said, "Will you marry me?" She really sends her best and her love. She's I'm really proud of her. I also want to thank my friend Lamar Alexander for doing such a fine job in the United States Senate on behalf of the great people of Tennessee. He brings such class and dignity to public office. You've known that when he was your Governor. He's now doing it again as the Senator, as is the other Senator from the great State of Tennessee, Senator Bill Frist, the majority leader of the United States Senate. You've done a great job of sending two fine people to the Senate. I'm honored that members of the congressional delegation from Tennessee have joined us today, starting with your own homegrown Jimmy Duncan. I appreciate you, Jimmy. I got off Air Force One and the first thing he said was, "This is my district." Laughter I want to thank Congressman Zach Wamp for joining us today. Thank you for being here, Zach. Congressman Bill Jenkins is with us today. Congressman, thank you for coming. I see you got a seat in the back. Laughter And Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn is with us today. Marsha, thank you for being here. I'm honored that members of the statehouse have come. It's always a good sign when the State senators and State legislators are coming. After all, all good politics is local politics. I want to thank Ben Atchley, he's the Republican leader in the State senate, for joining us today. Beth Harwell, who is the chairman of the Tennessee Republican Party, is with us. I want to thank you for coming too, Beth. I'm so honored that many of you all took time to make this event a successful event. Jim Haslam is event cochairman. Big Jim, I thank you for your friendship, and I appreciate I also appreciate Jimmy for being the event cochairman. And I appreciate the fact that the mayor is with us today as well. I want to thank my friend Mercer Reynolds. He's from Cincinnati, Ohio. He's the national finance chairman of Bush Cheney. He's working hard to make sure that this campaign is well funded. When the campaign starts, we want to be ready to go. And thanks to the people in this room, and thanks to people around the country when the campaign gets started we are going to be ready to go. I appreciate David Kustoff, who is the State chairman. His job is to rally the grass roots. And so, for those of you who are involved in grassroots politics here in Tennessee, I want to thank you for what you're going to do. I want to thank you for the signs you're going to put up. I want to thank you for the phone calls you're going to make. I'm want to thank you for joining us as we turn out the vote to make sure this good State turns out in significant numbers. And as you're turning out that vote, I want you to remind them, in the last 3 years our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. My administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. Three years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Three years ago, the economy was in trouble and a recession was beginning. And then we had attacks on our country and corporate scandals and war, which all affected the people's confidence. But this administration acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. We understand that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows and people are more likely to find a job. So we're returning more money money to people to help them raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We've given small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, we are laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America so that every single person in this country has a chance to realize the American Dream. Today, the American economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. The figures for the third quarter of 2003 show that the economy grew at an annual rate of 8.2 percent, the fastest pace in nearly 20 years. Productivity is high. Business investment is rising. Housing construction is increasing. We've added over 300,000 new jobs in the last 4 months. The tax relief we passed is working. Three years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We're spending more money at the Federal level, but we're finally asking the question, "Are you teaching the children how to read and write and add and subtract?" This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations because we believe that every child can learn and we expect every school to teach. The days of excusemaking are over. No child should be left behind in America. We reorganized the Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard the borders and ports of our country and to better protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Tennessee's farmers and ranchers and entrepreneurs and manufacturers. We passed budget agreements that is helping to maintain much needed spending discipline in Washington, DC. And last month, we completed the greatest advance in health care coverage for America's seniors since the founding of Medicare. The new Medicare law, that I pushed for and signed, will give older Americans the option of a prescription drug benefit and more control over their health care, so that they can receive the modern health care that they deserve. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made great progress for the American people. A lot of credit belongs to the Members of the United States Senate and the United States Congress. I enjoy working with Majority Leader Bill Frist. You know as well as I do he's plenty capable, plenty competent, and a very decent man. I enjoy working with Speaker Denny Hastert, who shares the same characteristics as Bill Frist, an honorable, decent man. We're working hard to change the tone in Washington, DC. There's too much backbiting, endless politics, name calling. The best way to change the tone is to focus on the people's business and to focus on results. And that's what we're doing with the Congress. Our record has been a good record. And those are the kind of people I've asked to join my administration. I put together a fantastic team of people, people from all walks of life to serve our country, people who have come to the Nation's Capital not to represent their own special interests but to represent the greatest country on the face of the Earth. There's been no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion. Laughter In 3 years, we've done a lot. We have come far, but our work is only beginning. I've set great goals worthy of this great Nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we will work for a society that is prosperous and compassionate so every citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and to realize the great promise of our country. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where all people can be certain that they will never again have to fear the rule of Saddam Hussein. He started last year in a palace. He ended this year in a prison. The Ba'athist holdouts largely responsible for the current violence now know there will be no return to the corrupt power and privilege they once held. All Iraqis who have taken the side of freedom have taken the winning side. We still face terrorists who would rather go on killing the innocent than accept the rise of liberty in the Middle East. And there is a reason why. They know that the advance of freedom in Iraq will be a major defeat for the cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of America. America will never be intimidated by a bunch of thugs and assassins. We're aggressively after them in Iraq, defeating them there so we will never have to face them in our own country. Other nations are helping, because they understand a free Iraq will make the world more secure. We're standing with the Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward self government. These are not easy tasks, but they are essential tasks. We will finish what we have begun. We will win this essential victory in the war on terror. We're working to oppose proliferation of weapons around the world. Last month, after talks with the United States and Great Britain, Libya voluntarily committed to disclose and dismantle all its weapons of mass destruction programs. Leaders around the world now know weapons of mass destruction do not bring influence or prestige they bring isolation and unwelcomed consequences. And nations who abandon the pursuit of these weapons will find an open path to better relations with the United States of America. Yet our greatest security comes from the advance of freedom, from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. And we understand that freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to every man and woman in this world. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world. When we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. This powerful, strong, and compassionate land is leading the entire world on this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges here at home as well. We'll be equal to those challenges. This administration will continue to push a progrowth, pro entrepreneur economic agenda so that people who want to work and can't find a job today will be able to find that job. And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. Yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, and they therefore affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. I sent a bill over to the House, and the House of Representatives passed a good bill to reform the system. The bill is stuck in the Senate. I look forward to working with Senator Frist and Senator Alexander to convince reluctant Senators to act on behalf of all the people in America and get a good medical liability bill to my desk. Some Members of the Senate must understand that no one in America has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. I have a responsibility as your President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women to the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some of the Members of the Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The Congress needs to get an energy bill to my desk. This Nation must be more energy efficient. We must conserve our resources. We must do a better job of protecting the quality of the air in places like Knoxville, Tennessee. But for the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, we must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. A strong and prosperous nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, which means we'll apply the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. There's still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on the Government and become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring more work and, therefore, dignity into the lives of our fellow citizens who are still dependent upon the Government. With the help of Congress, we're working to ensure that more Americans can serve their communities and their country through citizen service programs. I urge both Houses of the United States Congress to pass my Faith Based Initiative, which will help empower the armies of compassion that are mentoring our children and caring for the homeless and offering hope to the addicted. One of the great strengths of our country is that we're a nation of many faiths, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim faiths. Out of that faith comes the deep desire for many of our citizens to heed the universal call to help a neighbor who hurts. The Federal Government should never fear the influence of faith based programs. We ought to welcome faith based programs into helping solve some of the intractable problems of our society. A compassionate society is one, also, that must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration understands the power of owning something in our society. We'll constantly strive to promote an ownership society. Listen, we have a minority homeownership gap in America. I proposed plans to the Congress to help close that gap. We want more people owning their own home. We want people owning and managing their own health care accounts and their own retirement accounts. We want more people owning their own small businesses. And that's why developing the entrepreneurial spirit and keeping it strong is so important. You see, we understand that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another. They respect each other's religious beliefs, political opinions. People take responsibility for the decisions they make in life. See, the culture of America is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and, "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands that we're responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're fortunate enough to be a mother or a father, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're worried about the quality of the education in Knoxville, Tennessee, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you are responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in the new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. We can see that culture the culture of service is strong in America. You know, I started the USA Freedom Corps right after September the 11th to encourage our fellow citizens to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need. And the response has been fantastic. People from all walks of life are serving our Nation by helping people who hurt. Our neighborhood healers are vibrant and strong. Faith based and charitable organizations thrive in our country. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform remind us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than ourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America, and I have been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 3 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it and know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you all. January 08, 2004 Thank you all. Thanks for coming. It's great to be back in the great State of Florida. We carried it once, and we're going to carry it again. And I want to thank you all for your help. I appreciate you showing up today. I appreciate your contributions. I appreciate your friendship, appreciate your prayers. I appreciate you laying the foundation for what is going to be a great national victory in November of '04. And I'm getting ready. Laughter I'm loosening up. Laughter But there's plenty of time for politics. See, I've got a job to do. I'm focused on the people's business in Washington, DC. I want you to remind your friends and neighbors that I will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of every American by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. I love my brother Jeb. He is a great Governor. He is a great Governor, first and foremost, because he has a large heart. He cares deeply about the people. He and I share some things in common. We share the same last name. Laughter We share the same political consultant laughter Mother. Laughter And we both married extremely well. I'm honored to be onstage with a fabulous first lady for the State of Florida, Ms. Columba. And a great First Lady for America sends her love. I'm sorry Laura is not here. I know she was Jeb's first choice to be the speaker today. Laughter She's in Washington. But I'm a lucky man to have married Laura Bush. She is a great wife, a fabulous mother, and a wonderful First Lady for America. I know my friend and former colleague in the Cabinet Mel Martinez is with us. Mel, thank you for being here today. I know Congressman Mark Foley is with us. Mr. Congressman, I'm glad you're here. I'm sorry Congressman Clay Shaw is not here. This is his district, I understand, but he is traveling with Speaker Denny Hastert. He made a good choice. When the Speaker calls, it's probably a pretty good thing to travel with him. I know the Lieutenant Governor, Toni Jennings, is here. The attorney general, Charlie Crist, is here. Tom Gallagher is here. Where's Gallagher? I appreciate you coming. A lot of members of the statehouse are here. It's a good sign when State senators and State reps show up. After all, you win campaigns by energizing the grassroots. I appreciate the members of the statehouse being here. I'm looking forward to working with you to carry Florida. I want to thank all the grassroots activists who are here. I want to thank you for what you're going to do, which is to put up the signs, to man the phone booths, to put out the mailers, and to turn out the vote. I want to thank the mayors and local officials who are here. I want to thank all those who worked hard to make this event such a successful event. We've had three event cochairmen, the Guzzettas, the Gaineses, and Elizabeth Fago. I want to thank you for your hard work. I appreciate your good work. My friend Mercer Reynolds is here. He's the national finance chairman. He's from Cincinnati, Ohio. He's taken a lot of time out of his private life to help make sure we get well funded in what's going to be a tough campaign. I want to thank my friend Al Hoffman from the great State of Florida, who is doing such a fantastic job as the raising money. And of course, there's Tom Petway and Zach Zachariah, two good buddies as well who have been working hard to make this campaign go well. In the last 3 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems instead of passing them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. My administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. The world is better off, and so are the 50 million people in those two countries who once lived under tyranny, and today, they live in freedom. Three years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed and morale was beginning to suffer, so we increased the defense budgets to meet the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Three years ago, the economy was in trouble and a recession was beginning. And I want you to remember what we have come through. Not only was a recession beginning, but our country was attacked. And then there were corporate scandals and war, all of which affected the people's confidence. But this administration acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. This administration understands that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. So we're returning more money to the people to help them raise their families. We've reduced taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We've given small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, we have laid the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America, so every single citizen has a chance to realize the American Dream. Today, the American economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. The figures for the third quarter of the year 2003 show the economy grew at an annual rate of 8.2 percent, the fastest pace in nearly 20 years. Productivity is high. Business investment is rising. Housing construction is expanding. Manufacturing activity is increasing, and we've added over 300,000 new jobs in the last 4 months. The tax relief we passed is working. Three years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We've increased spending out of the Federal Government, particularly for Title I students, for the poorest of students. But now, because we believe every child can learn to read and write and add and subtract, we're insisting that States measure. We want to know. The State of Florida, led by this great Governor, is on the leading edge of education reform because he holds people to account. And the reason he does is because he and I both know every child can learn. We are challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. We've raised the bar. We've raised the standards. We expect results so that not one single child in America is left behind. We've reorganized our Government during the past 3 years and created the Department of Homeland Security to better guard Florida's ports, better guard our borders, to better protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Florida's ranchers and farmers and entrepreneurs and manufacturers. We passed budget agreements, much needed budget agreements, to help bring spending discipline to Washington, DC. And last month, we completed the greatest advance in health care coverage for America's senior citizens since the creation of Medicare. The new Medicare law that I fought for and signed the bill that I campaigned for, worked for, and signed will give older Americans the option of a prescription drug benefit and more control over their own health care, so they can receive the modern medical care they deserve. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. The Congress gets a lot of credit. I enjoy working with Majority Leader Bill Frist, Speaker Denny Hastert, Congressman Mark Foley. We're working hard in Washington, DC, to change the tone of the Nation's Capital. There's too much politics, endless backbiting, zero sum attitudes. And the best way to do that is to stay focused on the people's business and on results. And we have delivered results over the last 3 years. A major reason this administration has been successful is because I have surrounded myself with really good, decent, capable, honorable people, people from all walks of life, people who have come to the Nation's Capital to serve the United States of America, not a special or self interest. This Nation has had no finer Vice President than Vice President Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion. Laughter In 3 years, we have come far. We've done a lot, but our work is only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society that is prosperous and compassionate so that every citizen every citizen regardless of their background, has a chance to work and to succeed and realize the great promise of this country. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror goes on. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where all the people of that country can now be certain they will never again have to fear the rule of Saddam Hussein. The Ba'athist holdouts largely responsible for current violence now know there will be no return to the corrupt power and privilege they once held. All Iraqis who have taken the side of freedom have chosen the winning side. We still face terrorists who would rather go on killing the innocent than accept the rise of liberty in the Middle East. You see, they know that the advance of freedom in Iraq would be a major defeat for the cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of the United States. The United States will never be intimidated by a bunch of thugs and assassins. We are on the offensive in Iraq. We're aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq. We will defeat them there, so we do not have to face them in America. And a lot of nations are helping to build a free Iraq, because they understand a free Iraq is in their interest. A free Iraq will make the world more peaceful. And we're standing with the Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and more of their own self government. These are not easy tasks, but they are essential tasks. And America will finish what we have begun. We will win this essential victory in the war on terror. We're working to oppose proliferation of weapons around the world. Last month, after talks with the United States and Great Britain, Libya volunteered to disclose and dismantle all its weapons of mass destruction programs. Leaders around the world now know weapons of mass destruction do not bring influence or prestige. They bring isolation and other unwelcome consequences. And nations who abandon the pursuit of these weapons will find an open path to better relations with the United States of America. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. And I know that freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each man and woman in this world. America understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world, and when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children suffering with AIDS. We face challenges here at home as well, and we will prove that we're equal to the challenges. This administration will continue to promote a progrowth, pro small business, pro entrepreneur economic agenda until everybody who wants a job can find one. And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. I appreciate Jeb's leadership on this issue. He and I understand that people who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. Yet, the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, and they therefore affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. I put forth a good plan. The House of Representatives passed it. However, the bill is stuck in the Senate. And I know two United States Senators who keep it stuck in the United States Senate, and they might happen to be from your State. The Senate must act on behalf of the American people and pass medical liability reform, and the Senators must understand no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. I have a responsibility as the President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members from the United States Senate, two of them from this State laughter are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some of those Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. This country needs an energy plan, and the Congress needs to get an energy plan to my desk. I've been calling for one for several years now, an energy plan that encourages energy efficiency and conservation, that uses technology in wise ways to find additional supplies of energy. For the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, this country must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. A strong and prosperous nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of what I call compassionate conservatism, which means we'll apply the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping fellow citizens who are in need. There are still a lot of people, millions of men and women, who want to end their dependence on government, become independent through hard work. We must continue to build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. With the help of Congress, we're working to ensure more Americans serve their communities and through their country through the citizen service programs. Both Houses should come together and pass my Faith Based Initiative. Our Government should not fear the influence of faith in the lives of our fellow citizens. As a matter of fact, the great strength of the country is the fact that we're a nation of many faiths. And faith based community programs are those that are often able to change people's hearts. And when you change a person's heart, you help save a person's life. We need to rally the armies of compassion, those who mentor our children, those who care for the homeless, those who offer hope to the addicted. A compassionate society is a society that promotes opportunity for every citizen, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their own home. We have a minority home ownership gap in America, and I have put forth a plan to close that gap. We want people owning and managing their own health care plans and their own retirement accounts. We want more people owning their own small business, because we understand that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of America. In a compassionate society, people respect one another. They respect their religious beliefs. They respect their opinions. And they take responsibility for the decisions they make in life. The culture of this country is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and, "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands that we're responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're fortunate enough to be a mother or a father, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're worried about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. In a responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourselves. And we see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us. You know I started right after September the 11th, I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps. It's a chance for people to find out ways to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need, and the response has been strong, really strong. A lot of Americans and I'm sure many are here understand that patriotism can mean helping somebody who hurts. Charitable organizations in America are vibrant. Neighborhood healing groups are really good. Faith based programs are strong. Police and our firefighters and people who wear the Nation's uniform remind us on a daily basis what it means to serve something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 3 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift up whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it and know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you. Thank you for coming. January 07, 2004 Thanks for coming. Thanks for the warm welcome. Thanks for joining me as I make this important announcement, an announcement that I believe will make America a more compassionate and more humane and stronger country. I appreciate members of my Cabinet who have joined me today, starting with our Secretary of State, Colin Powell. I'm honored that our Attorney General, John Ashcroft, has joined us Secretary of Commerce Don Evans Secretary Tom Ridge of the Department of Homeland Security, I'm honored you're here el embajador de Mexico, Tony Garza. I thank all the other members of my administration who have joined us today. I appreciate the Members of Congress who have taken time to come Senator Larry Craig, Congressman Chris Cannon, and Congressman Jeff Flake. I'm honored you all have joined us. Thank you for coming. I appreciate the members of citizen groups who have joined us today chairman of the Hispanic Alliance for Progress, Manny Lujan Gil Moreno, the president and CEO of the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans Roberto de Posada, the president of the Latino Coalition and Hector Flores, the president of LULAC. Thank you all for joining us. Many of you here today are Americans by choice, and you have followed in the path of millions. And over the generations, we have received energetic, ambitious, optimistic people from every part of the world. By tradition and conviction, our country is a welcoming society. America is a stronger and better nation because of the hard work and the faith and the entrepreneurial spirit of immigrants. Every generation of immigrants has reaffirmed the wisdom of remaining open to the talents and dreams of the world. And every generation of immigrants has reaffirmed our ability to assimilate newcomers, which is one of the defining strengths of America. During one great period of immigration, between 1891 and 1920, our Nation received some 18 million men, women, and children from other nations. The hard work of these immigrants helped make our economy the largest in the world. The children of immigrants put on the uniform and helped to liberate the lands of their ancestors. One of the primary reasons America became a great power in the 20th century is because we welcomed the talent and the character and the patriotism of immigrant families. The contributions of immigrants to America continue. About 14 percent of our Nation's civilian workforce is foreign born. Most begin their working lives in America by taking hard jobs and clocking long hours in important industries. Many immigrants also start businesses, taking the familiar path from hired labor to ownership. As a Texan, I have known many immigrant families, mainly from Mexico, and I have seen what they add to our country. They bring to America the values of faith in God, love of family, hard work, and self reliance, the values that made us a great nation to begin with. We've all seen those values in action, through the service and sacrifice of more than 35,000 foreign born men and women currently on active duty in the United States military. One of them is Master Gunnery Sergeant Guadalupe Denogean, an immigrant from Mexico who has served in the Marine Corps for 25 years and counting. Last year, I was honored and proud to witness Sergeant Denogean take the oath of citizenship in a hospital where he was recovering from wounds he received in Iraq. I'm honored to be his Commander in Chief. I'm proud to call him fellow American. As a nation that values immigration and depends on immigration, we should have immigration laws that work and make us proud. Yet today, we do not. Instead, we see many employers turning to the illegal labor market. We see millions of hard working men and women condemned to fear and insecurity in a massive undocumented economy. Illegal entry across our borders makes more difficult the urgent task of securing the homeland. The system is not working. Our Nation needs an immigration system that serves the American economy and reflects the American Dream. Reform must begin by confronting a basic fact of life and economics Some of the jobs being generated in America's growing economy are jobs American citizens are not filling. Yet these jobs represent a tremendous opportunity for workers from abroad who want to work and fulfill their duties as a husband or a wife, a son or a daughter. Their search for a better life is one of the most basic desires of human beings. Many undocumented workers have walked mile after mile through the heat of the day and the cold of the night. Some have risked their lives in dangerous desert border crossings or entrusted their lives to the brutal rings of heartless human smugglers. Workers who seek only to earn a living end up in the shadows of American life, fearful, often abused and exploited. When they are victimized by crime, they are afraid to call the police or seek recourse in the legal system. They are cut off from their families far away, fearing if they leave our country to visit relatives back home, they might never be able to return to their jobs. The situation I described is wrong. It is not the American way. Out of common sense and fairness, our laws should allow willing workers to enter our country and fill jobs that Americans are not filling. We must make our immigration laws more rational and more humane. And I believe we can do so without jeopardizing the livelihoods of American citizens. Our reforms should be guided by a few basic principles. First, America must control its borders. Following the attacks of September the 11th, 2001, this duty of the Federal Government has become even more urgent, and we're fulfilling that duty. For the first time in our history, we have consolidated all border agencies under one roof to make sure they share information and the work is more effective. We're matching all visa applicants against an expanded screening list to identify terrorists and criminals and immigration violators. This month, we have begun using advanced technology to better record and track aliens who enter our country and to make sure they leave as scheduled. We have deployed new gamma and x ray systems to scan cargo and containers and shipments at ports of entry to America. We have significantly expanded the Border Patrol with more than 1,000 new agents on the borders and 40 percent greater funding over the last 2 years. We're working closely with the Canadian and Mexican Governments to increase border security. America is acting on a basic belief Our borders should be open to legal travel and honest trade our borders should be shut and barred tight to criminals, to drug traders to drug traffickers and to criminals and to terrorists. Second, new immigration laws should serve the economic needs of our country. If an American employer is offering a job that American citizens are not willing to take, we ought to welcome into our country a person who will fill that job. Third, we should not give unfair rewards to illegal immigrants in the citizenship process or disadvantage those who came here lawfully or hope to do so. Fourth, new laws should provide incentives for temporary foreign workers to return permanently to their home countries after their period of work in the United States has expired. Today I ask the Congress to join me in passing new immigration laws that reflect these principles, that meet America's economic needs and live up to our highest ideals. I propose a new temporary worker program that will match willing foreign workers with willing American employers when no Americans can be found to fill the jobs. This program will offer legal status as temporary workers to the millions of undocumented men and women now employed in the United States and to those in foreign countries who seek to participate in the program and have been offered employment here. This new system should be clear and efficient so employers are able to find workers quickly and simply. All who participate in the temporary worker program must have a job or, if not living in the United States, a job offer. The legal status granted by this program will last 3 years and will be renewable, but it will have an end. Participants who do not remain employed, who do not follow the rules of the program, or who break the law will not be eligible for continued participation and will be required to return to their home. Under my proposal, employers have key responsibilities. Employers who extend job offers must first make every reasonable effort to find an American worker for the job at hand. Our Government will develop a quick and simple system for employers to search for American workers. Employers must not hire undocumented aliens or temporary workers whose legal status has expired. They must report to the Government the temporary workers they hire and who leave their employ so that we can keep track of people in the program and better enforce our immigration laws. There must be strong workplace enforcement with tough penalties for anyone, for any employer, violating these laws. Undocumented workers now here will be required to pay a one time fee to register for the temporary worker program. Those who seek to join the program from abroad and have complied with our immigration laws will not have to pay any fee. All participants will be issued a temporary worker card that will allow them to travel back and forth between their home and the United States without fear of being denied reentry into our country. This program expects temporary workers to return permanently to their home countries after their period of work in the United States has expired, and there should be financial incentives for them to do so. I will work with foreign governments on a plan to give temporary workers credit, when they enter their own nation's retirement system, for the time they have worked in America. I also support making it easier for temporary workers to contribute a portion of their earnings to tax preferred savings accounts, money they can collect as they return to their native countries. After all, in many of those countries, a small nest egg is what is necessary to start their own business or buy some land for their family. Some temporary workers will make the decision to pursue American citizenship. Those who make this choice will be allowed to apply in the normal way. They will not be given unfair advantage over people who have followed legal procedures from the start. I oppose amnesty, placing undocumented workers on the automatic path to citizenship. Granting amnesty encourages the violation of our laws and perpetuates illegal immigration. America is a welcoming country, but citizenship must not be the automatic reward for violating the laws of America. The citizenship line, however, is too long, and our current limits on legal immigration are too low. My administration will work with the Congress to increase the annual number of green cards that can lead to citizenship. Those willing to take the difficult path of citizenship, the path of work and patience and assimilation, should be welcome in America like generations of immigrants before them. In the process of immigration reform, we must also set high expectations for what new citizens should know. An understanding of what it means to be an American is not a formality in the naturalization process it is essential to full participation in our democracy. My administration will examine the standard of knowledge in the current citizenship test. We must ensure that new citizens know not only the facts of our history but the ideals that have shaped our history. Every citizen of America has an obligation to learn the values that make us one Nation liberty and civic responsibility, equality under God, tolerance for others. This new temporary worker program will bring more than economic benefits to America. Our homeland will be more secure when we can better account for those who enter our country, instead of the current situation in which millions of people are unknown, unknown to the law. Law enforcement will face fewer problems with undocumented workers and will be better able to focus on the true threats to our Nation from criminals and terrorists. And when temporary workers can travel legally and freely, there will be more efficient management of our borders and more effective enforcement against those who pose a true threat to our country. This new system will be more compassionate. Decent, hard working people will now be protected by labor laws, with the right to change jobs, earn fair wages, and enjoy the same working conditions that the law requires for American workers. Temporary workers will be able to establish their identities by obtaining the legal documents that we all take for granted. And they will be able to talk openly to authorities, to report crimes when they are harmed, without the fear of being deported. The best way in the long run to reduce the pressures that create illegal immigration in the first place is to expand economic opportunity among the countries in our neighborhood. In a few days, I will go to Mexico for the special Summit of the Americas, where we will discuss ways to advance free trade and to fight corruption and encourage the reforms that lead to prosperity. Real growth and real hope in the nations of our hemisphere will lessen the flow of new immigrants to America when more citizens of other countries are able to achieve their dreams at their own home. Yet our country has always benefited from the dreams that others have brought here. By working hard for a better life, immigrants contribute to the life of our Nation. The temporary worker program I am proposing today represents the best tradition of our society, a society that honors the law and welcomes the newcomer. This plan will help return order and fairness to our immigration system. And in so doing, we will honor our values by showing our respect for those who work hard and share in the ideals of America. May God bless you all. January 05, 2004 Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming. Thank you all. Thanks for your warm welcome. I appreciate such a warm response. I appreciate such a huge crowd. It's great to be back here in St. Louis. I don't know if you know this or not, but my grandmother was raised right here in St. Louis. And I've got a lot of relatives here. By the way, if you're looking for a great uncle, model somebody after Bucky Bush. This record setting event really means we're laying the foundation for what is going to be a victory in the State of Missouri in November of 2004 and a nationwide victory in 2004. I want to thank all the event organizers. I want to thank those of you who are in the grassroots. I want to thank you for working hard. I want to thank you for what you're going to do. The political season is going to come in its own time. I admit I'm loosening up laughter and I'm getting ready. But right now, I'm focused on the people's business. See, I have a lot on the agenda. I want you to remind your fellow citizens that I will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of all Americans by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. My one regret tonight is that Laura isn't here. She is a fabulous lady. She's a great First Lady for our country. She is a wonderful wife, a great mother, and she's doing a heck of a job on behalf of the American people. I appreciate so very much Senator Kit Bond's leadership in the United States Senate. I also appreciate a short introduction. Laughter I also want to thank my friend Senator Jim Talent as well for doing a great job for the people of Missouri. I'm pleased that Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson is with us tonight as well as Kenny Hulshof, two fine Members of the United States Congress from Missouri. I know the secretary of state is with us, Matt Blunt. Thank you for coming, Matt. I'm proud you're here. I appreciate the speaker coming, Catherine Hanaway, as well as Senate Majority Leader Peter Kinder. Thank you all for coming. I want to thank all the members of the statehouse for being here and the local officials. I'm so honored you take time to come. I particularly want to thank my friend Sam Fox, who is the State finance chairman for Bush Cheney. I'm honored that Sam has taken on such a big role, and I appreciate the hard work of Sam and the team he has put together to make this such a strong and successful event. I call him Foxie. Foxie, thanks for your friendship. I also appreciate Ann Wagner from the great State of Missouri. She's the cochairman of the Republican National Committee. I'm proud to have her friendship and proud to have her support here as the chairman of the party in Missouri. I want to thank Ambassador Steve Brauer and his wife, Kimmy. By the way, they did a fabulous job representing our country overseas, and I want to thank them for their hard work at this event. I know my friend former Senator Jack Danforth is here. I named him to a special mission, to be the envoy to the Sudan, and he has done incredibly good work in that war ravaged country. I appreciate your service, Jack, and your friendship. But most of all, I thank you all for coming. It lifts my spirits to see so many people here. It is it gives me great confidence that we're on the path to victory, to know that I've got such broad support in this important State of Missouri. In the last 3 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems instead of passing them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. My administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. Three years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Three years ago, the economy was in trouble and a recession was beginning. And then our country was attacked, and we had scandals in corporate America and the march to war, all of which affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. We understand that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows and people are likely to find a job. We are returning more money to the people to help them raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We've given small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, we are laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America so every single person in this country has the chance to realize the American Dream. Today, the American economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. The figures for the third quarter of 2003 show the economy grew at an annual rate of 8.2 percent, the fastest pace in nearly 20 years. Productivity is high. Business investment is rising. Housing construction is expanding. Manufacturing activity is increasing. And we've added 300,000 new jobs over the last 4 months. The tax relief we passed is working. Three years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We're bringing high standards and strong accountability measures to every public school in America. See, we believe every child every child can learn the basics of reading and math, and we expect every school to teach the basics of reading and math. This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excusemaking are over. We expect results so that not one single child is left behind in America. We reorganized the Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our borders and ports and to protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Missouri's farmers and ranchers and entrepreneurs and manufacturers. We passed budget agreements that is helping to maintain much needed spending discipline in Washington, DC. And last month, we completed the greatest advance in health care coverage for America's seniors since the founding of Medicare. The new Medicare law will give older Americans the option of a prescription drug benefit and more control over their health care so they receive the modern medical care they deserve. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. The United States Congress deserves a lot of credit. I enjoy my relationship with Speaker Denny Hastert and Leader Bill Frist. These are two strong, fine leaders. I appreciate working with the Members, the Senators from the State of Missouri and the Members of the House of Representatives. We're working hard to change the tone in Washington, DC. There's too much needless politics and endless backbiting, and the best way to change the tone is to focus on results, to be results oriented people, to deliver progress on behalf of all Americans. And those are the kind of people I've attracted to my administration. I've put together the finest administration of any President in our Nation's history, good, honorable, decent, hard working people who have come to Washington, DC, to serve a cause greater than their own self interest. Our country has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion. Laughter In 3 years, we've come far. We have done a lot, but our work is only beginning. I've set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society that is prosperous and compassionate so that every citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and to realize the great promise of our country. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where all people can be certain they will never again have to fear the rule of Saddam Hussein. The Ba'athist holdouts, largely responsible for the current violence, now know there will be no return to the corrupt power and privilege they once held. All Iraqis who have taken the side of freedom have taken the winning side. We still face terrorists who would rather go on killing the innocent than accept the rise of liberty in the Middle East. They know that the advance of freedom in Iraq would be a major defeat for the cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of the United States, but America will never be intimidated by a bunch of assassins and thugs. We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we will never have to face them in our own country. We're calling on other nations to help build a free Iraq, because a free Iraq will make the whole world more secure. We're standing with the Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward self government. These aren't easy tasks, but they're essential tasks. We will finish what we have begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror. We're working hard to oppose proliferation around the world. Last month, after talks with the United States and Great Britain, Libya voluntarily committed to disclose and dismantle all its weapons of mass destruction programs. Leaders around the world now know weapons of mass destruction do not bring influence or prestige they bring isolation and unwelcome consequences. And nations who abandon the pursuit of these weapons will find an open path to better relations with the United States of America. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. And we know that freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is God's gift to every man and woman who lives in this world. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world, and when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, this great country is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. This great, compassionate land is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges here at home, and our actions will prove that we're equal to those challenges. My administration will stay focused on a progrowth agenda until everyone who wants to work can find a job. And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who get harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. Yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, they affect the Federal budget. Therefore, medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. The House of Representatives passed a good bill to reform the system. The bill is stuck in the United States Senate. I want to thank the two Missouri Senators for supporting this incredibly important piece of legislation. Other Members of the Senate must understand that no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit in America. I have a responsibility as President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some of the Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy bill and get it to my desk. This Nation must promote energy efficiency and conservation. We must work to develop cleaner technology to help us explore for energy in environmentally sensitive ways. For the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, we need to become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, applying the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on the Government and become independent through hard work. We must continue to build on the successes of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so more Americans can serve their communities and their country. Both houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative, so we can better support the armies of compassion, people of all faiths who are willing to lead with their heart and help solve the problems that seem intractable in our society. We need to support those soldiers in the armies of compassion who are mentoring the children, caring for the homeless, and offering hope for the addicted. This Nation must not fear the influence of faith in our society. We must welcome the works of faith in our society. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for every one of us, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. My administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their own home. We have a minority homeownership gap in America. I want to thank the Senate for passing the down payment assistance plan to help more people afford a new home. We want people owning and managing their own retirement accounts and owning and managing their own health care accounts. We want more people to own their own small business. This administration understands that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of this country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another, respect another person's religion and their point of view. And people take responsibility for the decisions they make. The culture of America is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and, "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're fortunate enough to be a mother or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're worried about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you are responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in the responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving a neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourselves. We can see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us. I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need, and the response has been incredibly strong. People are serving our Nation by helping somebody who hurts. You know, the great fabric of America exists at the community level, where civic groups are formed to put reach out a hand to someone in need. It's really one of the great strengths of our country. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform remind us on a daily basis what it means to sacrifice for something greater than ourselves. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America, and I have been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 3 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use our strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift up whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it, and we know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you all. January 01, 2004 The President. Wish everybody a happy New Year. It's a good way to start the new year, outdoors in my case, with my dad. And it's I know this part of Texas real well. It's a spectacular part of our State. And we were just on a ranch with owned by a lady who knows it's important to protect the environment by taking care of the land. And as a result of her taking care of the land, worrying about bird habitats, we happened to see a lot of birds today. But most importantly, I was with my dad. It's a great way to start 2004. I'm looking forward to 2004. We'll continue to stay focused on our economy, so people can find work, and stay focused on working to keep the peace and by spreading freedom and by holding people to account who are willing to harm innocent people around the world. But it's a I think 2004 is going to be a great year. And in the spirit of great years, I'll answer a few questions. President's Hunting Trip Q. How was the hunt? The President. It was good fun. You know, when you hunt quail, you get a lot of exercise. As you know, I like exercise. And so my dad and I and Ms. Negley, whose ranch we were on, walked a lot of territory, watched the dogs work, and knocked down some birds. Q. How many? The President. I think I shot five. The limit in Texas, I believe, is 15. I'm not that good a shot, but it was a lot of fun. Special Presidential Envoy James A. Baker III's Meetings on Iraqi Debt Relief Q. Did you talk to Mr. Baker? The President. Pardon me? Q. Did you talk to Secretary Baker? The President. I did talk to Secretary Baker. He came by for lunch. First, I thanked him for spending as much time as he did on the road for our country. As you know, he went to Europe first and then recently went to the Far East. He reported on his visits with Prime Minister Koizumi and President Hu Jintao. And he was very positive about his meetings. He's going to come back up and brief Condi and me in a little bit of time. Yes, ma'am. Q. Where's he going next? The President. Where's he going next? He's yet to go to the Middle East, and he's going to let me know when he thinks the timing is good for that. Earthquake Relief and Iran U.S. Relations Q. Can I ask you about what you did for Iran, in terms of the easing restrictions for humanitarian aid? The President. Yes. Q. Does this ease represent an easing of our relationship with Iran? The President. What we're doing in Iran is we're showing the Iranian people the American people care, that we've got great compassion for human suffering. And I eased restrictions in order to be able to get humanitarian aid into the country. The Iranian Government must listen to the voices of those who long for freedom, must turn over Al Qaida that are in their custody, and must abandon their nuclear weapons program. In the meantime, we appreciate the fact the Iranian Government is willing to allow our humanitarian aid flights into their country. And it's a good thing to do. It's right to take care of people when they hurt, and we're doing that. Q. Do you see any signs that the Iranian Government is doing any of the things that could lead to a stronger relationship? The President. My hope is, is that they will hand over Al Qaida to their countries of origin, that they will get rid of their nuclear weapons program in a verifiable way, that they will listen to the IAEA and the United Nations and get rid of the programs they said that they're willing to do. And as well it's very important for them to listen to those voices in their country who are demanding freedom. And we stand strongly with those who demand freedom. Yes, Mark Mark Knoller, CBS Radio . Assassination Attempts on Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf Q. Mr. President, how worried are you about the attempts on the life of President Musharraf, and what does it mean for the security of Pakistan's nuclear weapons? The President. Well, I appreciated talking to President Musharraf. I told him how much I was hopeful that he continued to join us in the war on terror. Obviously, terrorists are after him. And he sounded very confident that his security forces would be able to deal with the threat. President Musharraf has been a friend of the United States. He's been a standup guy when it comes to dealing with the terrorists. We are making progress against the Al Qaida because of his cooperation. We need to do more, particularly on the Pakistan Afghan border. He sounded confident, and therefore I feel confident about his security situation. South Asia Nuclear Weapons Pakistan India Relations Q. And what about Pakistan's nuclear weapons? Are they secure? The President. Yes, they are secure. He is and that's important. It's also important that India as well have a secure nuclear weapons program. We're hopeful that the Indians and the Pakistanis in upcoming meetings will be able to begin a dialog on a variety of issues. It looks like they're making progress toward reconciling differences. Slowly but surely, positive things are taking place, and I commend the leaders of both countries for taking steps toward a peaceful reconciliation of major issues that have divided them. CIA Employee Identity Disclosure Investigation Q. Did Attorney General Ashcroft take too long to recuse himself from the leak investigation? The President. Did he take too long? Q. Why did he take so long to recuse himself? The President. You're going to have to ask him. I mean, I don't know the details which caused him to recuse himself. That's up to people inside of DC to tell you what's going on with the case. He doesn't talk to me about it he doesn't brief me on it. My only point is, is that I'd like to find out the truth as quickly as possible. Q. Are you concerned that it's taking as long as it is? The President. I'm not involved with the investigation in any way, shape, or form. I've told the members of the White House to totally cooperate. I think you'll find that there has been total cooperation. And the Justice Department and the investigative team which, by the way, is a team comprised of professionals who have done this in the past will proceed at a pace necessary to find out the truth. And the sooner they find out the truth, the better, as far as I'm concerned. Last question, and then we've got to go back to Crawford. Mad Cow Disease Q. Your administration has announced some measures with regard to mad cow. The President. Did we do what? Q. With regard to mad cow, do you think there is more that needs to be done, and The President. Well, I've talked to Secretary Veneman about this issue. I told her that I want her to take the steps necessary to make sure that the food supply is safe and that the American consumer can be confident. And she is looking at different ways to do that. As a matter of fact, she announced some measures the other day. Q. How much time do you think Americans can feel safe eating beef? The President. I think they should be. As a matter of fact, I ate beef today and will continue to eat beef. Thank you all very much. President's New Year's Resolution Q. What are you going to do for your New Year's resolution? The President. Oh, my New Year's resolution this year is to work stay physically fit to the point where I can run in other words, rehab my knee. I miss running. The elliptical machine is good, but it just doesn't have that same sense of that running gave me. So that's one of my resolutions, which may require eating less desserts, kind of getting a little trimmer, to take the pressure off the knee. I wish everybody a happy New Year, and 2004 is going to be a great year for this country. It's going to be a year in which the world will become more peaceful and more people will be able to find work, and that's important. Thank you all. December 27, 2003 Good morning. In this week of Christmas, Laura and I send good wishes to the families of America. We hope this season has brought happy reunions, celebration, and new memories to cherish as we approach the new year. Christmas centers on the birth of a child and on the message of hope and peace. We hear that message in many ways at Christmas, and it never loses the power to lift our hearts. The holidays can also deepen our sense of gratitude for life and for all the family and friends who fill our lives. In this great and prosperous land, we remember how much we have been given and how much we have to share. We think of those among us who spend the holidays in sadness or solitude. We think of those facing illness or the loss of a loved one or the hardships of poverty or unemployment. And across our country, caring citizens are reaching out to those in need by volunteering their time. By serving a cause greater than themselves, Americans spread hope in our country, and they make our Nation better, one life at a time. At Christmas, we also think of the men and women of our Armed Forces who are defending freedom around the world. These brave Americans are fighting terrorists in Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere so that we do not meet these killers on our own streets. We are grateful for the courage and commitment of our troops, and we are safer because of their skill and sacrifice. Separation from loved ones is always difficult, especially at this time of year. All our men and women serving abroad can know that their families miss them, millions are praying for them, and their Nation is proud of them. All who serve others are living out the spirit of the Christmas season. The story of Christmas is familiar to us all, yet it still brings inspiration and comfort and love to people everywhere. The voice first heard 20 centuries ago in Bethlehem stirs churches and communities to open homeless shelters and food pantries and job training centers to help those in need. This Christmas season comes at a time of great challenge for our country. Yet the story of this holiday reminds us of an eternal promise, that God's purpose is justice and His plan is peace. Thank you for listening. December 19, 2003 Good evening. I have called you here today to announce a development of great importance in our continuing effort to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction. Today in Tripoli, the leader of Libya, Colonel Muammar al Qadhafi, publicly confirmed his commitment to disclose and dismantle all weapons of mass destruction programs in his country. He has agreed immediately and unconditionally to allow inspectors from international organizations to enter Libya. These inspectors will render an accounting of all nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons programs and will help oversee their elimination. Colonel Qadhafi's commitment, once it is fulfilled, will make our country more safe and the world more peaceful. Talks leading to this announcement began about 9 months ago when Prime Minister Tony Blair and I were contacted, through personal envoys, by Colonel Qadhafi. He communicated to us his willingness to make a decisive change in the policy of his Government. At the direction of Colonel Qadhafi himself, Libyan officials have provided American and British intelligence officers with documentation on that country's chemical, biological, nuclear, and ballistic missile programs and activities. Our experts in these fields have met directly with Libyan officials to learn additional details. Opposing proliferation is one of the highest priorities of the war against terror. The attacks of September the 11th, 2001, brought tragedy to the United States and revealed a future threat of even greater magnitude. Terrorists who kill thousands of innocent people would, if they ever gained weapons of mass destruction, kill hundreds of thousands without hesitation and without mercy. And this danger is dramatically increased when regimes build or acquire weapons of mass destruction and maintain ties to terrorist groups. The United States and our allies are applying a broad and active strategy to address the challenges of proliferation, through diplomacy and through the decisive actions that are sometimes needed. We've enhanced our intelligence capabilities in order to trace dangerous weapons activities. We've organized a Proliferation Security Initiative to interdict dangerous materials and technologies in transit. We've insisted on multilateral approaches, like that in North Korea, to confront threats. We are supporting the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency to hold the Iranian regime to its treaty obligations. We obtained an additional United Nations Security Council resolution requiring Saddam Hussein to prove that he had disarmed, and when that resolution was defied, we led a coalition to enforce it. All of these actions by the United States and our allies have sent an unmistakable message to regimes that seek or possess weapons of mass destruction Those weapons do not bring influence or prestige. They bring isolation and otherwise unwelcome consequences. And another message should be equally clear Leaders who abandon the pursuit of chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them will find an open path to better relations with the United States and other free nations. With today's announcement by its leader, Libya has begun the process of rejoining the community of nations. And Colonel Qadhafi knows the way forward. Libya should carry out the commitments announced today. Libya should also fully engage in the war against terror. Its Government, in response to the United Nations Security Council's Lockerbie demands, has already renounced all acts of terrorism and pledged cooperation in the international fight against terrorism. We expect Libya to meet these commitments as well. As the Libyan Government takes these essential steps and demonstrates its seriousness, its good faith will be returned. Libya can regain a secure and respected place among the nations and, over time, achieve far better relations with the United States. The Libyan people are heirs to an ancient and respected culture, and their country lies at the center of a vital region. As Libya becomes a more peaceful nation, it can be a source of stability in Africa and the Middle East. Should Libya pursue internal reform, America would be ready to help its people to build a more free and prosperous country. Great Britain shares this commitment, and Prime Minister Blair and I welcome today's declaration by Colonel Qadhafi. Because Libya has a troubled history with America and Britain, we will be vigilant in ensuring its Government lives up to all its responsibilities. Yet, as we have found with other nations, old hostilities do not need to go on forever. And I hope that other leaders will find an example in Libya's announcement today. Our understanding with Libya came about through quiet diplomacy. It is a result, however, of policies and principles declared to all. Over the last 2 years, a great coalition of nations has come together to oppose terror and to oppose the spread of weapons of mass destruction. We've been clear in our purposes. We have shown resolve. In word and in action, we have clarified the choices left to potential adversaries. And when leaders make the wise and responsible choice, when they renounce terror and weapons of mass destruction, as Colonel Qadhafi has now done, they serve the interest of their own people, and they add to the security of all nations. Thank you. December 15, 2003 The President. Thank you all. Please be seated. Thank you for coming to this, the last press conference of the year 2003. Before I begin, I do want to talk a little bit about a meeting I just attended. Rend al Rahim is here she's the representative from the Iraqi Government, the interim Government, to the United States as well as Dr. Khadir Abbas, who is the interim Minister of Health. We just had an interesting discussion in the Roosevelt Room about the health needs of Iraq, about the future of the health care system in Iraq. And we were joined by doctors, Iraqi doctors who were anxious to work with theirfellow counterparts here in America to enhance educational opportunities and to get caught up on the latest technologies in health care. The thing that struck me about the meeting was the kind of joy that they expressed about being free. It was a touching meeting, and I want to thank you all for coming. And Doc, I want to thank you for your good work. We are making progress together in improving the lives of your citizens with better health care. Immunization rates are up. People are getting better health care. He was reminding me, I think the budget of Saddam Hussein's Government for health was, like, 16 million, less than a dollar per person. And of course, we're spending a lot more than that now on health care in Iraq. But it was a very meaningful meeting. I want to thank you please thank those good docs for being there. This weekend's capture of Saddam Hussein was a great moment for the people of Iraq. Iraqi citizens have lost a source of fear, and they can now focus with confidence on the task of creating a hopeful and self governing nation. With the capture of the former dictator, the enemies of a free Iraq have lost their leader, and they've lost any hope of regaining power. The nightmare of the Ba'athist tyranny is finally over. The terrorists in Iraq remain dangerous. The work of our coalition remains difficult and will require further sacrifice. Yet, it should now be clear to all, Iraq is on the path to freedom, and a free Iraq will serve the peace and security of America and the world. This achievement comes at the end of an extraordinary year for our country, abroad and here at home. In 2003, we have become a safer, more prosperous, and better nation. Our Armed Forces, joined by our allies, continue on the offensive against terrorist enemies around the world. We continue our systematic hunt for Al Qaida leaders and Al Qaida cells in many countries. I want to thank the Congress for standing behind our military with needed resources and for giving vital support to the work of reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan. America's economy is growing at a robust pace and beginning to generate new jobs for America, American workers. I want to thank the Congress for passing my jobs and growth package, which is doing just what it was supposed to do. And we will continue pursuing a progrowth agenda next year. In this year of accomplishment, we passed Medicare reform. American seniors can now look forward to prescription drug coverage, more choices, and a stronger Medicare system. I want to thank the Congress for coming together to get the job done. This session of Congress has also produced vital action on homeland security, healthy forests, global AIDS relief, housing assistance, adoption, Amber alerts to capture kidnapers and rescue their victims, and protection of children from partial birth abortion. Members of both political parties can take pride in the important goals we have met by working together. We have a great deal to show for our efforts in 2003. Yet, unfinished business remains. The majority in both Houses support a comprehensive energy bill as well as reforms in class action to curtail junk lawsuits. The House also passed a medical liability reform bill. It is stuck in the Senate. These measures were blocked, and they are needed. They are needed to help America become more prosperous, and they're needed to help America be a better place. When the House and Senate return in January, there will be more to do, and I look forward to working with them. I've got a few ideas about what we can do together in the year 2004. As we end 2003, we have a lot to be thankful for, especially for the fine men and women who wear our country's uniform and who will spend their holidays far from home. I hope all Americans will keep these brave men and women in their thoughts and prayers during this blessed season. I will take some questions, starting with AP man Terence Hunt, Associated Press . Trial of Saddam Hussein Q. Thank you, Mr. President. What's the United States going to do with Saddam Hussein after questioning him? Will he be turned over to Iraqis for trial? And based on what you know now about mass executions and hundreds of thousands of graves, do you think that execution should be an option? The President. He will be detained. We will work with the Iraqis to develop a way to try him in a that will stand international scrutiny, I guess is the best way to put it. I shared my sentiments today with Prime Minister Martin of Canada. He asked me about Saddam Hussein and his trial. I said, "Look, the Iraqis need to be very much involved. He was the person that they were the people that were brutalized by this man." He murdered them. He gassed them. He tortured them. He had rape rooms. And they need to be very much involved in the process, and we'll work with the Iraqis to develop a process. And of course we want it to be fair. And of course we want the world to say, "Well, this he got a fair trial," because whatever justice is meted out needs to stand international scrutiny. I've got my own personal views of how he ought to be treated, but that's I'm not an Iraqi citizen. It's going to be up to the Iraqis to make those decisions. Q. And the question of execution? The President. Yes, I said I have my personal views, and this is a brutal dictator. He's a person who killed a lot of people. But my views, my personal views, aren't important in this matter. What matters is the views of the Iraqi citizens. And we need to work, of course, with them to develop a system that is fair and where he will be put on trial and will be brought to justice, the justice he didn't, by the way, afford any of his own fellow citizens. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . U.S. Policy in Iraq Q. Thank you, sir. Will Saddam's capture accelerate the timetable for pulling U.S. troops out and increase the likelihood of getting more foreign troops involved? The President. We will stay the course until the job is done, Steve. And the temptation is to try to get the President or somebody to put a timetable on the definition of getting the job done. We're just going to stay the course. And it's very important for the Iraqi people to know that. I've expressed that to Rend I've told that to the Iraqi citizens with whom I have met on a regular basis. I tell them two things One, you can count on America remaining until the job is done. And it's important for them to hear that, because there will probably be some that will continue to test our will. They'll try to kill in hopes that we will flee, and the citizens of Iraq need to know we will stay the course. I also tell them that now is a chance to seize the opportunity and show the world that which this Government believes, and that is, you're plenty capable of governing yourself. And the level of the troops in Iraq will depend upon the security situation on the ground, and those decisions will be made by our commanders. I have not changed my philosophy of how a President ought to act during wartime, which is to set the strategy, lay out the goals, and empower the military people, both civilian and uniform, to make the decisions necessary to achieve the objective. And they will make those recommendations about troop levels and what is necessary to go ahead you've got a followup? This is part of the holiday spirit, to give you a followup. Laughter Possible Expansion of Coalition in Iraq Q. Inaudible opportunity to get more foreign troops involved? The President. Well, listen, we're constantly working to get foreign countries involved, but I want to remind you we've got over 60 nations involved now. When you hear me talk about "our" efforts, I'm talking about the efforts of a lot of countries. We've got a large coalition involved, and of course we will accept the willingness of nations to put troops on the ground. We're continuing to work, whether it be troops on the ground or construction contracts or loans. We're constantly reaching out to more nations to get them involved in the process. And after all, there is a reason why nations should be involved in the process. A secure and free Iraq is in their national interest. A free country, a peaceful country in the heart of the Middle East is in the interest of all nations. This is a transforming event. The emergence of a peaceful Iraq will transform the region in a positive way that will make it more likely that the world is peaceful. And that we're constantly talking about that message and encouraging people to participate. Gregory David Gregory, NBC News . Saddam Hussein Q. Mr. President, good morning. When Saddam emerged from his hole on Saturday, he told a U.S. soldier that he was willing to negotiate. Might there be room for negotiation, perhaps in exchange for a public statement to the Iraqi people that may serve your interest? And secondly, this soldier also said to Saddam, reportedly, that President Bush sends his greetings. You say this is not personal, but you've also pointed out this was a man who tried to murder your father. What is your greeting to him? The President. Good riddance. The world is better off without you, Mr. Saddam Hussein. I find it very interesting that when the heat got on, you dug yourself a hole, and you crawled in it. And our brave troops, combined with good intelligence, found you. And you'll be brought to justice, something you did not afford the people you brutalized in your own country. And what was the first part of the question? Q. I know you'd scoffed at the idea of negotiation. What I'm asking you The President. Oh, yes, yes. How do you know I scoffed at it? Laughing does not mean scoffing, but laughter . Q. Oh, I know, I'm just saying Q. There were others who were scoffing. Laughter The President. Okay. Q. If you were to do something that you might view as constructive, like making a public statement, a video statement? The President. David, it's just way too early to tell. First of all, I don't trust Sad dam Hussein. I don't believe he'll tell the truth. He didn't tell the truth for over a decade. I just can't believe he's going to change his ways just because he happens to be captured. And so I don't think we ought to trust his word. I think what needs to happen is, he needs to be brought to justice, and the Iraqi citizens need to be very much involved in the development of a system that brings him to justice. And there needs to be a public trial, and all the atrocities need to come out, and justice needs to be delivered. And I'm confident it will be done in a fair way. Terry Terry Moran, ABC News . France and Germany Q. Mr. President, do you believe that the capture of Saddam Hussein will bridge some of the differences, the bitter differences that have arisen in the world over Iraq? Or do you believe that the Iraq war marks a dividing line, perhaps a long term dividing line, between those countries which fought to topple Saddam Hussein and those which did not? The President. Interesting question. I think that well, first of all, as I want to repeat, there's over 60 nations involved in the reconstruction of Iraq now. So there's a a lot of people are participating, and we're out working to encourage others to participate. You're talking what you're talking about is France and Germany, if the truth be known, if I might clarify your question to me. Look, France and Germany I have reached out to them. They've reached out to us. It's in our national interests we work together. A whole and united and peaceful Europe is in this country's interest, and we look forward to working with them on a wide range of issues, whether it be intelligence sharing or in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. I want to remind you, Germany has committed troops to Afghanistan. It's in this country's interest that Afghanistan emerge as a peaceful country. Germany is contributing to that effort. There's a lot of areas where we do work together. We had a disagreement on this issue about Saddam Hussein and his threat. I obviously felt like September the 11th changed the equation to the point where we needed to deal with emerging threats and deal with them in a way that would make America more secure. And they didn't see that they didn't agree with that point of view. I can understand that. And we are now reaching out to them, by the way Jim Baker, as you know, will be going to both those two countries tomorrow, I think it is, to encourage them to work with us on debt relief, all aimed at encouraging the development of a free and peaceful Iraq. So, no, I don't agree that this is a dividing line. I think this is a disagreement on this particular issue. And I know that we can work together on a variety of other issues, and I'll cite one example, Iran. I was most pleased that the French and Germans as well as the Brits delivered a very strong message to the Iranian Government about the development of a nuclear weapon. It was a message that we agree with, and that is Don't do so otherwise there will be international consequences at the United Nations. And it was a very important message to be delivered. We agreed on that. And working together, it made it easier for us to send that message. John John Roberts, CBS News . Working my way across here. President's Course of Action 2004 Elections Q. Thank you, Mr. President. The capture of Saddam Hussein is something that has been universally applauded. But there still remain a lot of lingering questions about the postwar phase of Iraq. This administration has stated that it would like to see an interim Iraqi Government stood up by next June, the ability to be able to begin to draw down troops if that's possible. Even a political novice would have to say, well, there appears to be some political component to all this, some way of making real progress ahead of the November elections. The President. Yes, well, people can read whatever they want to read into it. My job is to keep America secure. That's my job. I've got a solemn duty to do everything I can to protect the American people. I will never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001. Terrorists attacked us. They killed thousands of our fellow citizens. And it could happen again, and therefore, I will deal with threats, threats that are emerging and real. We gave Saddam Hussein plenty of time to heed the demands of the world, and he chose defiance. He did. He said, "Forget it. I don't care what the United Nations has said over a decade. I don't care about all the resolutions passed." He chose defiance. We acted. And I acted because I I repeat I have a duty to protect this country. And I will continue to protect the country, so long as I'm the President of the United States. A free and peaceful Iraq is part of protecting America, because, I told you before, and I truly believe this, this will be a transforming event in a part of the world where hatred and violence are bred, a part of a world that breeds resentment. And you know, look, we're going into an election there's going to be plenty of time for politics. And people can debate all they want. I'm going to do my job. That's what I'm going to do. I'm going to do my job to make this country safer, and I believe we're making good progress toward that objective. Angle Jim Angle, FOX News . Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Until recently, a growing number of Americans and a couple of Presidential candidates were saying it might be time to think about getting out of Iraq. I know you said that you intend to stay the course, but I wonder what your view is of such sentiments, how concerned you are about that view among the public, and whether or not you think Saddam's capture should change people's thinking? The President. You know, I think Saddam's capture should make it clear to the people of Iraq, most importantly, that he's through, that people can no longer no longer have to hold back their sentiments and their feelings toward living in a free society because he might reemerge. That's the most important thing about this capture, is that he can no longer provide any excuse for some who were afraid to act. And I can understand why people would be afraid to act in Iraq, afraid that Saddam might come back. After all, he's a torturer and a killer. I met with a doctor today. The guy took me aside and he said, "I want to thank you. My dad was murdered by Saddam Hussein." A lot of people share that sentiment, by the way, because it's happened to them. And you can understand why people feared him. After all, he stayed in power by fear, by ruling through fear. And you know, Jim, I will make the decisions based upon what I think is right to achieve the objectives I've outlined, the objectives I outlined prior to freeing Iraq from Saddam Hussein, and that is to make this country more secure and the world more free. And I'm confident people aren't going to agree with every decision I make. I understand that, and I don't expect people to agree with every decision I make. But regardless of whether they do or not, I'm going to continue making the decisions in the way that I think is best for the country. And there will be ample time to have the debate about whether or not it's the right strategy or not. I look forward to the debate. I look forward to making my case to the American people about why America is more secure today based upon the decisions that I've made. As I said, there's ample time for politics. I know you all want to jump the gun. It makes exciting news. It makes the stories more interesting and more vital from your perspective. Let me just so that we can get this straight early in the process, I take my job seriously. I will do my job, and I look forward to the political debate later on. So I'm confident during the numerous press conferences I'll be having next year, just like I had this year, that you'll be asking me questions about this political statement or that political statement. And my answer is going to be the same until I'm ready to engage, and that is let me just tell you what the strategy is of this administration forget politics the strategy that I've outlined in order to do my solemn duty, and my duty is not only to keep the country more secure but more prosperous and a better country as well. Dana Dana Milbank, Washington Post . Federal Deficit Q. Thank you, Mr. President. The dollar has fallen quite sharply. Wall Street is increasingly worried about the deficit sorry Wall Street is increasingly worried about the deficit. Will you have a specific plan for reducing the deficit, or will economic growth alone take care of the problem? The President. Yes. No, I appreciate that question. Josh Bolten laid out a plan that will shrink the deficit in half in a 5 year period, and that's based upon reasonable growth assumptions. And it's a plan that depends upon Congress to continue to hold the line on spending. We have a deficit because of, one, a recession, two, a war. I want to remind you all that in order to fight and win the war, it requires a expenditure of money that is commiserate with keeping a promise to our troops to make sure that they're well paid, well trained, well equipped. And so we've exceeded we've spent a lot on defense budgets in order to win the war. We've also spent a lot of money to secure our homeland. And then of course, there was the tax relief, a stimulus package which was necessary to make sure that we had ample revenues coming into the Treasury in the first place. See, without the tax relief package, there would have been a deficit, but there wouldn't have been the commiserate not "commiserate" the kick to our economy that occurred as a result of the tax relief. And the tax relief is working. When the Senate finishes its work on the appropriations bill, we will have held discretionary spending to 4 percent, and that's what we agreed to with the Congress during the budget negotiations. I want to remind you of a fact that I think you'll find interesting or maybe you won't find interesting, but I find it interesting that non military, non homeland security discretionary spending was at 15 per cent increase from year to year was at 15 percent prior to our arrival then it was at 6 percent, 5 percent, and 3 percent. So we're working with Congress to hold the line on spending. And we do have a plan to cut the deficit in half. Sanger David Sanger, New York Times . Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction North Korea Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, it's been 9 months now, and still there is relatively little evidence of WMD in Iraq. In retrospect, if you think back over the year, would you have been better to make more of your of the argument that you've made in recent times, that democratization in the Middle East was the reason to go to war, rather than WMD? And since the CIA has been telling you that North Korea does have two or more weapons, what lesson should Kim Chong il draw from the capture of Saddam Hussein? The President. Very deft at weaving in two questions there. Here's what I took away from September the 11th, 2001, that any time a President sees a gathering threat to the United States, we must deal with it. We can't pick or choose like we used to, could in the past. In the old days, oceans protected us from harm's way, and a President could stand back and say, "Well, maybe this gathering threat is an issue. Maybe it's not." After September the 11th, that complacency, I guess may be the right word, no longer is relevant. And therefore, I began to assess threats. And the threat of Saddam Hussein was a unique threat in this sense The world recognized he was a threat for 12 years and 17 resolutions, I think it is I believe it was 17 resolutions for the resolution counter, give me a hand here 17? Seventeen resolutions. And he ignored them. He just treated the U.N. as an empty debating society, as if their resolutions meant nothing. This is a person who has used chemical weapons before, which indicated to me he was a threat. He invaded his neighbors before. This is a person who was defiant. He's a deceiver, and he was a murderer in his own country. He was a threat. And so I went to the United Nations, as you recall, September the 12th, 2002, and said to the United Nations, "Let's work together to disarm this man. You recognized he had arms. We recognize he's got arms. Let's disarm him." And 1441 came about. It's when the world spoke in through the United Nations Security Council with one voice and in a unanimous voice said, "Disarm, or there will be serious consequences." In other words, they agreed that Saddam was a threat, and so we moved to disarm him. In other words, there were serious consequences because he was defiant. Since then, David Kay has reported back that he had weapons programs that would have put him in material breach of 1441. What that means, of course, is that had David Kay been the lead inspector and had done the work that he did prior to our removal of Saddam, he would have reported back to the U.N. Security Council that Saddam was, in fact, in breach of the Council resolutions that were passed. Secondly, North Korea one of the things, David, I think you've seen about our foreign policy is that I'm reluctant to use military power. It's the last choice. It's not our first choice. And in Iraq, there was a lot of diplomacy that took place before there was any military action. There was diplomacy prior to my arrival, diplomacy during my time here, and we tried all means and methodologies to achieve the objective, which was a more secure America, by using diplomatic means and persuasion. In North Korea, we're now in the process of using diplomatic means and persuasion to convince Kim Chong il to get rid of his nuclear weapons program. And that's changed by altering the dynamics between the United States and North Korea this way, by inviting other parties to be stakeholders in the process. And that's been successful thus far, of convincing others that they have a stake in the process. This started in Crawford with Jiang Zemin, where we held a joint press conference, and he stepped out and said that we share a common goal, and that is a nuclear weapons free Peninsula and as you know full well, that the relationship has evolved beyond just a statement, where we're now coparticipants in the process of convincing Kim Chong il to change his ways. And that's exactly where we are in the process. And I'm pleased with the progress we're making, and I hope, of course, he listens. Suzanne Suzanne Malveaux, Cable News Network . Iraqi Reconstruction Contracts Q. Mr. President, you have justified your policy in awarding prime Iraq contracts to members of the Coalition Authority because of their sacrifice with the war in Iraq. At the same time, your administration has indicated some room for negotiation. Your critics have called this retaliation and even blackmail. How do you respond to that, and how is this policy helpful in generating international support? The President. There are over 60 nations involved in Iraq. Let's make sure everybody let's all start from the same basis, if you don't mind. So there is international support. When you say there's over 60 nations involved in Iraq, that means that there's international support in Iraq. Again, I think you're talking about one or two countries, if I'm not mistaken. And we're reaching out to them, and we want them to participate. But the idea of spending taxpayers' money on contracts to firms that did not participate in the initial thrust is just something I wasn't going to do. And you know what? The American taxpayers understand that. They understand that clearly. That's not to say there's not other ways to participate, and we look forward to including them in the process. Stretch Big Stretch Bill Sammon, Washington Times . I'm sorry. Laughter Howard Dean Q. I know you said there will be a time for politics. But you've also said you wanted to change the tone in Washington. Howard Dean recently seemed to muse aloud whether you had advance knowledge of 9 11. Do you agree or disagree with the RNC that this kind of rhetoric borders on political hate speech? The President. There's time for politics. And, you know there's time for politics, and I it's an absurd insinuation. Immigration Policy Q. In that case, sir, can I follow up on something unrelated? Laughter Tom Ridge recently seemed to discuss something you had talked about pre 9 11, and that is finding a way to legalize some of the illegal immigrants in this country. Could you clarify your policy, what it is, short of blanket amnesty? The President. Yes. Well, first of all, I have constantly said that we need to have a immigration policy that helps match any willing employer with any willing employee. It makes sense that that policy go forward. And we're in the process of working that through now so I can make a recommendation to the Congress. Let me also clarify something. This administration is firmly against blanket amnesty. Let's see here. Judy Judy Keen, USA Today . Situation in Iraq War on Terror Q. Mr. President, do you have a sense yet of how involved Saddam Hussein was in planning and directing attacks on coalition troops? Should the American people expect that those attacks will now decrease, or should they be prepared that they might, in the short term, get worse? The President. To answer your question, we're the Defense Department will try to learn more from Saddam Hussein as time goes on. And secondly, I believe there will be more violence, because I believe there's holdovers of Saddam that are frustrated, and I believe there are foreign terrorists that cannot stand the thought of a free Iraq emerging in the Middle East. This is a a free Iraq will be a defeat for those who believe in violence and murder and mayhem. And they will try to resist us there. And that's I do believe that there are going to be some people who are persuaded that since Saddam Hussein has been captured, that he will never return, and therefore, they need to be a part of the emergence of a free Iraq and a free society and that there and it's going to be very important for the Iraqi authorities to reach out to those people and talk about a system that guarantees minority rights and a system which says that for some the future is bright. And I think when people begin to realize that, when people begin that were I would call them fence sitters when people begin to realize that the Saddam regime is gone forever and that the new society that will emerge will be a fair society, it will protect people, and protect people from the protect them based upon their own religious views, for example, guarantee them rights that's what I mean by "protect" that it's more likely people will begin to sign on to the future of Iraq. And that's positive. It's a very hopeful thing. But there will be terrorists, and they want to fight us. Remember this is Iraq is a battle in the war on terror. The war on terror is being fought on many fronts, and some of them obviously more visible than others. Obviously, the Afghanistan front was a visible front. Iraq is a visible front. The Philippines, for example, is a front in the war on terror against Abu Sayyaf, and we've had fairly stealthy operations there to bring the leadership of Abu Sayyaf to justice. The war on terror encompasses more than just military action, of course, or the use of special force strike teams. Cutting off money is an important part in the war on terror. And so, Judy, it's very important for people to put this Iraq in a broader context about a war that will continue on. The reason I bring that up is that these the enemy, the terrorists, the killers may continue to try to strike in Iraq. They think they may be able to defeat us there. Yesterday was a clear signal to them that they won't be able to. The other thing that's happening in Iraq that's positive, and I think this some of you, your papers and broadcasts have picked this up is that the intelligence on the ground is getting better. It's getting richer. There's what they call actionable intelligence, to which our military's responding on a quick basis, is improving. And that's a very important development because, as you notice, when there's a hole in the ground and a person is able to crawl into it, in a country the size of California, it means we're on a scavenger hunt for terror. And the best way to find these terrorists who hide in holes is to get people coming forth to describe the location of the hole, is to give clues and data. And we're on it. Our military is responding, and our intelligence services are doing very good work. And it's just a long process that requires patience and perseverance. And yesterday's arrest of this tyrant and killer was a good example of persistence and fine tuning intelligence and gathering information and the hard work necessary to find people who are willing to hide in holes. Other Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . Economic Growth Monetary Policy Q. Thank you, Mr. President. At the outset you said that you will pursue next year, the election year, a progrowth agenda. Up until now, "progrowth" in this administration has largely been synonymous with tax cuts. Can you rule out the possibility of further tax cut proposals next year? The President. You know, Stretch, it's a trick question. Laughter It's not very generous of you during the holiday season. Laughter First of all, I'm pleased with the economic growth that we've seen. I believe the economy is strong. I believe it's getting stronger. I'm pleased with the productivity numbers. I appreciate the fact that durable orders for durable goods are up. It looks like the manufacturing sector is strengthening. And what I've been referring to, in terms of progrowth, are an energy bill, good tort reform coming out of the Congress. I thought we had a chance to get some this year. It got stuck, unfortunately, in the Senate. In my judgment, it was a mistake. It was a mistake not to let class action lawsuit reform go forward. It was a mistake not to get asbestos reform, a mistake not to get medical liability reform. All three of those measures, in my judgment, obviously, are justifiable reforms at the Federal level which would have made a difference in terms of a progrowth environment. We need more regulatory relief. We certainly need to send a signal to the capital markets that we're going to maintain spending discipline. Dana talked about the deficit. He also mentioned the strong dollar. And by the way, I didn't answer that part of your question. I'll get back there right now. Part of the economic policy of this administration is a strong dollar policy. We fully expect markets to set the dollar. But we have a strong dollar policy, which is, in our judgment, good for the economic vitality of this country. And so we'll see, is the answer to your question. Yes, Ed Ed Chen, Los Angeles Times . Trial of Saddam Hussein Q. Mr. President, you said earlier this morning that in a trial, that all of Saddam's atrocities be brought up. He was in power more than 30 years probably would make for a long rap sheet. Do you believe The President. Well, Ed, you're not supposed to prejudge. Q. I'm just counting the years. The President. Okay, good. Q. Do you believe that the invasion of Kuwait in 1990 should be included, as well as his assassination attempt against former President Bush? The President. Ed, that will all be decided by the lawyers. And I will instruct this Government to make sure the system includes the Iraqi citizens and make sure the process stands in withstands international scrutiny. But we'll let the lawyers handle all that, and as you know, I'm not a lawyer. And I delegate, and I'm going to delegate this to the legal community, which will be reviewing all this matter. Tamara Tamara Lipper, Newsweek . Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction Q. Thank you, sir. Given your skepticism about Saddam Hussein's ability to tell the truth, do you think his interrogation might help resolve any lingering questions about what he did with his weapons of mass destruction and his ties to terrorist groups? The President. I don't know. I would think not. I mean, he's a deceiver. He's a liar. He's a torturer. He's a murderer. I can't imagine why he would change his attitude, since he'll be treated humanely by the U.S. coalition U.S. troops. And you know, I would be very skeptical of anything he said, one way or the other, I might add. You just don't know. He's a he's just he is what he is. He's a person that was willing to destroy his country and to kill a lot of his fellow citizens. He's a person who used weapons of mass destruction against citizens in his own country. And so it's he is the kind of person that is untrustworthy, and I'd be very cautious about relying upon his word in any way, shape, or form. Yes. Q. Mr. President The President. Yes, Bob Bob Deans, Cox Newspapers . The Presidency Capture of Saddam Hussein Q. when you asked the American people for their support 3 years ago, there was no way anyone could have imagined the nature of the job you would have before you. If you had known then what you know now, sir, would you have wanted the job? Would you have had any hesitation The President. That's an interesting question. Q. about asking the American people for it? Now, I have to ask you since we're here, sir, have you chatted with your dad since Saddam was captured? The President. He called me let me answer your first question. I absolutely would have wanted the job. I have come to realize this job is a magnificent job because you have a chance to use the position of the United States of America to achieve peace and freedom. And that is a rare opportunity for any person. I put together a fantastic administration to help me with this task. I feel very comfortable in the job because I've got great advice and advisers to whom I get good advice from great advisers to whom I listen. I am comfortable delegating the awesome responsibilities of, in this administration's case, war two times to incredibly capable and brave people. At home, this job affords the opportunity to capture what I call the American spirit and to call people to serve in their communities and their neighborhoods and to help people who hurt. It's a fantastic opportunity to try to lift up this country so everybody can realize its full potential. I absolutely would seek the office again, and I intend to do so in '04, by the way. Laughter I talked to my Dad. He called me Sunday morning. I got the call from Donald Rumsfeld Saturday afternoon and made the decision there, until I was more certain about the facts, that I would talk to very few people. I talked to Condi and asked her to call Andy, and I talked to Vice President Cheney. Because what I didn't want to have happen is that there would be this rush of enthusiasm and hope and then all of a sudden it would turn out not to be the person that we would hope it would be. So I didn't talk to my family. I told Laura, of course, and pretty much went to bed early Saturday night. And Condi woke me at 5 15 in the morning, which was okay this time. Laughter Just don't do it again. Laughter But she said that Jerry Bremer had just called her and they were prepared to say this was Saddam Hussein, in which case we got dressed and hustled over to the Oval Office to start making calls. One of the calls I did receive was from my dad, and it was a very brief conversation. He just said, "Congratulations. It's a great day for the country." And I said, "It's a greater day for the Iraqi people." And that's what I believe. I believe that yesterday was a day or Saturday, when we captured Saddam, it was a day where America is more secure as a result of his capture. But more importantly, Saturday was a great day for the people who have suffered under this tyrant. He is I believe, firmly believe and you've heard me say this a lot, and I say it a lot because I truly believe it that freedom is the Almighty God's gift to every person, every man and woman who lives in this world. That's what I believe. And the arrest of Saddam Hussein changed the equation in Iraq. Justice was being delivered to a man who defied that gift from the Almighty to the people of Iraq. And justice will be delivered to him in a way that is transparent and for the world to see. And so I told my dad, I said, "It's a great day for America, but it's a better day for the people of this country," and that's why. Thank you all for coming. I'll see you Thursday, coats and ties. Laughter This year, Gregory, don't take any silverware. Laughter December 14, 2003 Good afternoon. Yesterday, December the 13th, at around 8 30 p.m., Baghdad time, United States military forces captured Saddam Hussein alive. He was found near a farmhouse outside the city of Tikrit, in a swift raid conducted without casualties, and now the former dictator of Iraq will face the justice he denied to millions. The capture of this man was crucial to the rise of a free Iraq. It marks the end of the road for him and for all who bullied and killed in his name. For the Ba'athist holdouts largely responsible for the current violence, there will be no return to the corrupt power and privilege they once held. For the vast majority of Iraqi citizens who wish to live as free men and women, this event brings further assurance that the torture chambers and the secret police are gone forever. And this afternoon, I have a message for the Iraqi people You will not have to fear the rule of Saddam Hussein ever again. All Iraqis who take the side of freedom have taken the winning side. The goals of our coalition are the same as your goals Sovereignty for your country dignity for your great culture and for every Iraqi citizen, the opportunity for a better life. In the history of Iraq, a dark and painful era is over. A hopeful day has arrived. All Iraqis can now come together and reject violence and build a new Iraq. The success of yesterday's mission is a tribute to our men and women now serving in Iraq. The operation was based on the superb work of intelligence analysts who found the dictator's footprints in a vast country. The operation was carried out with skill and precision by a brave fighting force. Our service men and women and our coalition allies have faced many dangers in the hunt for members of the fallen regime and in their effort to bring hope and freedom to the Iraqi people. Their work continues, and so do the risks. Today, on behalf of the Nation, I thank the members of our Armed Forces, and I congratulate them. I also have a message for all Americans The capture of Saddam Hussein does not mean the end of violence in Iraq. We still face terrorists who would rather go on killing the innocent than accept the rise of liberty in the heart of the Middle East. Such men are a direct threat to the American people, and they will be defeated. We've come to this moment through patience and resolve and focused action, and that is our strategy moving forward. The war on terror is a different kind of war, waged capture by capture, cell by cell, and victory by victory. Our security is assured by our perseverance and by our sure belief in the success of liberty, and the United States of America will not relent until this war is won. May God bless the people of Iraq, and may God bless America. Thank you. December 13, 2003 Good morning. This week I was honored to sign the Medicare Act of 2003, the greatest advance in health coverage for America's seniors since Medicare was founded nearly four decades ago. This new law will give seniors better choices and more control over their health care and provide a prescription drug benefit. Beginning in 2006, most seniors now without prescription coverage can expect to see their current drug bills cut roughly in half in exchange for a monthly premium of about 35. And for the first time, seniors will have peace of mind that they will not face unlimited expenses for their Medicare. These and other major improvements in Medicare came about because Republicans and Democrats in Congress were willing to work together for the interests of our senior citizens. We were able to pass this law because we listened to the people, set the right priorities, and worked hard until we finished the job. The reform and modernization of Medicare was one milestone in a year of accomplishment. We worked with Congress to take action in a number of areas on behalf of the American people. Last May, the House and Senate passed my jobs and growth package into law, delivering substantial tax relief to 91 million Americans. We reduced taxes for everyone who pays income taxes, increased the child tax credit, cut the taxes on dividends and capital gains, and gave 23 million small business owners incentives to invest for the future. And now we are seeing the results. In the third quarter, the economy grew at the fastest pace in almost 20 years. Productivity, manufacturing, and housing construction are expanding, and we have added over 300,000 jobs since August. The tax relief we passed is working, and our economy is gaining strength. Legislation passed this year also showed the compassion and the good heart of America. We created the American Dream Downpayment Fund to help low income citizens afford the downpayment on homes of their own. We defended children from the violence of partial birth abortion and passed new incentives to promote the adoption of children in foster care. And we acted to fight the global spread of AIDS by launching a multiyear emergency effort to prevent millions of new infections in Africa and the Caribbean and to provide medicine and humane care to millions more who suffer. This year we took important action to protect the environment. Our whole Nation saw the devastation left by wildfires in the West, and we passed healthy forest legislation to thin the underbrush that fuels catastrophic blazes. Our Government also took urgent action on every front in the war on terror. Congress appropriated more than 31 billion for the Department of Homeland Security to prepare first responders and safeguard our ports and infrastructure and help scientists develop vaccines against dangerous biological threats. Our country stood behind the men and women of our Armed Forces as they liberated Iraq and helped carry out the work of reconstruction there and in Afghanistan. In Congress, members of both parties worked together to provide vital resources for our troops, who are fulfilling their responsibility to defend the Nation. All these actions have made us safer, more prosperous, and a better country. We confronted problems with determination and bipartisan spirit. Yet our work is not done. There will be pressing business in the new year on issues from job creation to health care to public schools. And above all, we will continue to fight the war on terror until the war is won. On behalf of all Americans, I thank the Congress for a productive year. Working together, we can add to this progress in the year to come. Thank you for listening. December 12, 2003 The President. Good afternoon. I am pleased to announce that I will nominate Alphonso Jackson of Dallas, Texas, to serve as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Since 2001, Alphonso Jackson has given fine service as Deputy Secretary of the Department, responsible for many of the day to day operations of HUD. In his career, Alphonso has been a senior administrator of housing agencies in three cities, St. Louis and Washington and Dallas. He's an experienced executive in the public and private sectors, a man who knows the issues facing HUD and knows how to get things done. I can tell you from personal experience that Alphonso is a man of great integrity and compassion. We used to live in the same neighborhood in Dallas. Laughter I used to drop by for an occasional cup of coffee, sometimes unannounced. Laughter I'm pleased that he has agreed to join my Cabinet. I'm also grateful to former Secretary Martinez, Mel Martinez, for his outstanding leadership of HUD over the past 3 years. These have been years of important progress for the Department, for its mission, and for the families across America that benefit from its good work. Over the last 3 years, homeownership in America has reached its highest level ever, and in the last 18 months, more than a million minority citizens have become homeowners. As leader of HUD, Mel has repaid my confidence many times over. He is a good man and a good friend, and I thank him for his service to our Nation, and I wish Mel and Kitty all the very best. With the Senate's approval, Mel Martinez will be succeeded by another man who understands the struggles and hopes of urban America. Alphonso Jackson grew up in a family with 12 children, a housing challenge unto itself. Laughter His dad, Arthur, worked three jobs, educated his children, and instilled the values that have carried his son far in life. These values and experiences have also shaped the priorities Alphonso brings to his new assignment. He believes, as I do, that homeownership is a source of stability for our communities and a source of dignity for our families. He believes our Government can provide effective help to our fellow citizens who are homeless, and he has seen how entire neighborhoods can turn themselves around with strong local leadership and the help of our Federal Government. Alphonso is just the man to carry on the work of compassionate conservatism in America's cities. Laura and I have known Alphonso and Marcia for many years. They're close friends, and I appreciate you coming, Marcia. I also want to welcome the other members of your family who are here. Alphonso is a friend, and he's one of the most experienced and respected authorities on housing policy in America. He will be a superb Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. I want to thank you for accepting this assignment and congratulate you, my friend. At this point, Deputy Secretary Jackson made brief remarks. The President. I thought I would answer a couple of questions. Jennifer Jennifer Loven, Associated Press . Halliburton Contract in Iraq Q. Yes, sir, thank you. With the Pentagon looking into the Halliburton contract, are you concerned that that gives some fuel to your critics that the contract was inappropriate in the first place? The President. I appreciate the Pentagon looking out after the taxpayers' money. They felt like there was an overcharge issue. They put the issue right out there on the table for everybody to see, and they're doing good work. We're going to watch we're going to make sure that as we spend the money in Iraq that it's spent well and spent wisely. And their investigation will lay the facts out for everybody to see. And if there's an overcharge, like we think there is, we expect that money to be repaid. Randy Randall Mikkelsen, Reuters . Middle East Peace Process Q. Mr. President, Secretary Powell has been meeting with unofficial Middle East peace negotiators, despite Israel's objections. And there's other signs of U.S. dissatisfaction with Israel. My question is, what does Israel need to do to convince you that it's doing its part in the peace process? The President. Randy, you may remember I gave the speech on June 24, 2002. I laid out exactly what I think must happen in order for us to achieve peace in the Middle East, in order for the Palestinian state to emerge that is at peace with Israel. And I haven't changed my opinion. Step one is for all parties to fight off terror, to stop the few from destroying the hopes of the many. Step two is for the Palestinians to find leadership that is willing to reject the tired old policy of the past and lead the Palestinian people to not only a democratic state but a peaceful solution of differences. Israel must be mindful that the decisions they make today will make it difficult to create must be mindful that they don't make decisions that make it hard to create a Palestinian state. It's in Israel's interests there be a Palestinian state. It's in the poor, suffering Palestinian people's interest there be a Palestinian state. The Arab world has got responsibilities to see that this vision be implemented. Q. But why these contacts with the unofficial negotiators? The President. I'm sure the Secretary of State meets with all kinds of people all the time. But the policy of this administration was laid out in the Rose Garden for everybody to see, everybody to listen to. You might remember I took that policy to Aqaba, Jordan. I stood up in front of the world and said this man has he, Abu Mazen, came to the Oval Office and said, "I'm willing to join you, Mr. President, to help fight off terror," because he understood that terror was what was preventing progress from being made. He said, "I'm willing to work to put the institutions in place for a Palestinian state." And as we began to make progress, he got shoved aside, and that's why we're stalled where we are today. It is time for Palestinian leadership to emerge that believes in peace and believes in the aspirations of the Palestinian people. April April Ryan, American Urban Radio Networks , I see you've got something that you'd like to ask. First, let me ask you a question. As you're heading into my turn to ask you a question. Laughter So this is your first Christmas season as a mom. Q. Second, actually, 18 months. The President. Exactly right. Laughter Good answer. I was just trying to check and see if you knew if you and I both knew how old your child was. Laughter Do you have a question to the President? Halliburton Contract in Iraq Q. Yes, I do, sir. Mr. President The President. Do you remember what it is? Laughter Q. You can throw a person, you know that. Laughter Mr. President, many of your critics are saying that you should distance yourself from Halliburton, and they say it's an albatross around this administration's neck, particularly the Vice President and you. What are your thoughts about that? The President. My thoughts are, is that I expect anybody doing business with the United States Government to be transparent and to give the taxpayers a good return on their money. That's what I expect. And if anybody is overcharging the Government, we expect them to repay that money. Wendell Wendell Goler, FOX News . Iraqi Debt Relief Q. Mr. President, in light of the New York Times editorial today, tell me why The President. Right. Let me stop you, Wendell. I don't read those editorials laughter so you're going to have to maybe you ought to ask the question not in that context, but in another context. Sorry to interrupt you. Q. All right, sir. Tell me why former Secretary of State Baker's ties with Carlyle Group and with Baker Botts don't pose a conflict of interest in this new task you have given him of restructuring Iraq's debt? The President. Jim Baker is a man of high integrity. He's a man of enormous experience. And it makes sense for him to serve our country on an important mission. And that mission is to encourage countries to forgive debt so the Iraqi people can more easily grow a nation that is prosperous and peaceful. And Jim Baker is we're fortunate to have Jim Baker agree to serve our country. We're fortunate he decided to take time out of what is an active life but one out of the press and one that's probably not nearly as stressful as it has been when he's been involved in public service, to step forward and serve America. We're fortunate that he is willing to do that, and I thank him for that. And I'm really happy that he has agreed to serve. His mission is to go to Paris and Berlin and Moscow and London to convince these countries to forgive debt. And I'm hopeful they do forgive debt. I'm hopeful that they're willing, in some cases, to contribute for the first time to the efforts of the Iraqi citizens. See, it's in the interest of their countries that Iraq be free and peaceful. Matter of fact, it's in the interest of all countries that Iraq be peaceful and free. It makes us all more secure. Imagine what the effect is going to have a peaceful and free Iraq is going to have in the heart of the Middle East, where there's so much violence and hatred. And so Jim Baker is on a noble mission. He'll do a great job. I didn't mean to dis the New York Times editorial page, but I just didn't I'm not reading it a lot these days. Laughter Yes, sir. Q. Mr. President The President. Or anybody else's, for that matter. Q. I have no ties with the New York Times. Laughter The President. You didn't mean to dis it either, then. Laughter Strength of the Dollar Q. Mr. President, the dollar fell again against the euro. Mr. Snow, your Treasury Secretary, says that the decline has been orderly, boosting exports. Do you plan any intervention to stop the slide in the dollar? The President. My answer to that question about the dollar is that this Government is for a strong dollar and that the dollar's value ought to be set by the market and by the conditions inherent in our respective economies. And our economy is very strong and is getting stronger. But the policy, the stated policy and not only the stated policy but the strong belief of this administration is that we have a strong dollar. Well, listen, thank you all. Alphonso, congratulations. Deputy Secretary Jackson. Thank you, Mr. President. The President. I appreciate you coming. December 11, 2003 Thanks for the warm welcome. Thanks for coming. Thanks for your strong support. I tell you what we're doing here We're laying the foundation to make sure that we carry Virginia again in 2004, and we're laying the foundation for what is going to be a great nationwide victory in 2004. And I really appreciate your help. I also appropriate you letting some Oklahoma folks come today too. Laughter Yes, that's what inaudible . Tell them hello in Tulsa. I want you to know that I am I'm getting ready for the campaign. I'm loosening up. Laughter But politics is going to come in its own time. See, I've got a job to do. I'm focusing on the people's business. I want you to remind your neighbors and your friends that this administration will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of every single citizen by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. I want to thank the attorney general for his kind introductory remarks. I appreciate you, General. I appreciate the fact that you're going to be the campaign chairman of the Bush Cheney '04 campaign. I'm counting on you to energize the grassroots. And for those of you who are involved in the party like Kate Griffin, who's the party chairman, and other folks who are out in the precincts, thank you for what you are going to do. I'm so proud that I married above myself. I'm sorry the First Lady is not here with me. Laura is a great wife, a great mother, and a great First Lady for our country. She sends her very best, and she sends her warm regards to all our friends here in northern Virginia. Speaking about great family members, I am lucky to have a great brother who's from the great State of Virginia. He is my friend. He is he comes to the White House he helps remind me about what is important in life, and what is important is family. And Marvin Bush, I want to thank you for your love. I'm also proud to be closely working with the chairman I call him the chairman one of the great leaders in the United States Senate, somebody who has stood strong for the State of Virginia and, more importantly, has stood strong for America by making sure we are a strong nation, and that is Senator John Warner. I know your former Governor is here with us today, my good friend Jim Gilmore. Thank you for coming, Jim. I appreciate your support. I want to thank my friend Dwight Schar, who is the State finance chairman for Bush Cheney '04. Thank you, Dwight, for helping make this event such a good event. I appreciate all the event chairmen for working so hard. It's been an incredibly successful day today, and I want to thank you. I know how much work goes into organizing and planning and rallying the folks to come to this type of event. I want to thank my friend Mercer Reynolds, who is the national finance chairman, for being here. But most of all, thank you all. I want you to remind your friends and neighbors that in the last 3 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems instead of passing them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. This administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Iraq and Afghanistan, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and today they live in freedom. Three years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era. And nobody in the world today can question the skill, the strength, and the spirit of the United States military. Three years ago, the economy was in trouble, and a recession was beginning. And then our country was attacked, and we had some citizens who didn't tell the truth, and war came upon us in order to make us the America more secure and the world more peaceful. And all that affected the people's confidence. But this administration acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. This administration understands that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or to invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. And that is why we are returning more money to people to help them raise their families. That is why we reduced taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. That is why we've given small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, we have laid the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America, so every single citizen has a chance to realize the American Dream. And this economy of ours is strong, and it is getting stronger. The figures for the third quarter show that our economy grew at an annual rate of 8.2 percent, the fastest rate in 20 years. Productivity is high. Business investment is rising. Housing construction is expanding. Manufacturing activity is increasing. We've added 300,000 new jobs in the last 4 months. The tax relief plan we passed is working. Three years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform in Washington, but there wasn't much action. So I acted, and I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We've increased spending at the Federal level, particularly for Title I students, but for the first time, the Federal Government is asking whether or not our children can read and write and add and subtract. See, we believe every child can read and write and add and subtract. We expect every school in America to teach every child, so that not one single child is left behind. We reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our borders and ports and the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Virginia's entrepreneurs and manufacturers and farmers. We passed much needed budget agreements to help maintain spending discipline in Washington, DC. And this week, we completed the greatest advance in health care coverage for America's seniors since the founding of Medicare. The new Medicare law will give older Americans the option of prescription drug benefits and more control over their health care so they can receive the modern medical care they deserve. The new bill will provide more access to comprehensive exams and disease screenings and offer preventative care so seniors across this land can live better and healthier lives. The bill I signed creates health savings accounts so all Americans could put money away for their health care, tax free. We confronted a big issue, and we made progress on behalf of today's seniors and tomorrow's seniors. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. And the Congress gets a lot of credit. We've done a lot, working together. I appreciate my relationship with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and, of course, Chairman Warner and Senator Allen from this State as well. Got a great relationship with Speaker Hastert. We're working hard to try to change the tone in Washington. There's too much needless politics, endless backbiting, constant posturing. See, the best way to deal in that kind of environment or with that environment is to elevate the discourse and to focus on the people's business by delivering. And that's what we have done. We've delivered on behalf of all people who live in this country. And by the way, that's the kind of people I've attracted to my administration. I've put together a superb team of men and women from all walks of life to represent the United States of America. Our country has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney, although Mother may have a second opinion. Laughter In 3 years in 3 years, we've done a lot. We have come far, but our work is only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society that is prosperous and compassionate, so every single citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and to realize the great promise of America. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking coalition forces, international aid workers, and innocent Iraqis. You see, they know that the advance of freedom in Iraq will be a major defeat in the cause of terror. This collection of coldblooded killers is trying to shake the will of the United States of America. America will never be intimidated by thugs and assassins. We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq. We will defeat them there so we do not have to face them in our own country. Other nations are helping, and the reason they are is because they understand that a free Iraq will make the world more secure. And we're standing with the Iraqi people. I was so touched when the symphony, the Iraqi Symphony, played in Kennedy Center the other night. These are brave, decent people who love freedom like we love freedom. And we're standing with them and encouraging them to assume more of their own self defense and to take the steps necessary for self government. I understand and you know these are not easy tasks. But they are essential tasks. And we will finish what we have begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror, free nations don't attack their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. I also know that freedom is not America's gift to the world. Freedom is God's gift to every man and woman in this world. This country also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world, and when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. And that is why, on the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children suffering from AIDS. This great, strong, compassionate Nation is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges here at home. Our actions will prove that we're equal to those challenges. This administration will stay focused on a progrowth agenda. We'll stay focused on making sure this economy continues to grow so that everyone who wants to work can find a job. For the sake of our health care, we've got more to do. We need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. Yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, and they, therefore, affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. I submitted a good bill to the Congress. The House of Representatives passed that bill. Senator Warner is working hard to get the bill out of the United States Senate, but it is stuck. The Senate must act. And some Senators must understand that no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. We need medical liability reform. I have a responsibility as the President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. I appreciate so very much the strong support of Senator Warner and Senator Allen on this very important issue. See, some Members of the Senate are trying to keep nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the floor of the United States Senate. It is time for some Members of the Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. This country needs a comprehensive energy plan. Congress needs to complete work on the plan when you come back. You see, we need to promote energy efficiency and conservation and clean coal technology. We need to develop better technologies to explore for energy in environmentally sensitive ways. But for the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, this Nation must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. A strong and prosperous nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance what I call compassionate conservatism, which means we'll apply the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping fellow citizens who are in need. There's still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on the Government and become independent through hard work. I look forward to working with the Congress to build on the success of welfare reform, to bring more work and dignity into lives of our fellow citizens. We should complete the "Citizen Service Act," so more Americans can serve their communities and their country. Congress should finally reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative, which will help us support the armies of compassion that are mentoring our children and caring for the homeless, offering hope to the addicted. One of the great strengths of America is the fact that we worship the Almighty in different ways. We value religious diversity in America. We also understand that many of the problems, seemingly intractable problems in our society, can be solved by helping a soul change their heart. Our Government should never fear the influence of faith in the lives of our average citizens. We ought to encourage faith based programs to help solve problems. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all citizens, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their own home. We have a minority homeownership gap in America that must be closed. Next week, I'm signing a bill to help people with their downpayment so they can realize the great American Dream of owning their own home. We want people owning and managing their own retirement accounts. We want people owning and managing their own health care plans. We want more people owning their own small business. When a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of this great land. In a compassionate society, people respect one another. They respect their religions. They respect their backgrounds. They respect their opinions. And they take responsibility for the decisions they make in life. The culture of America is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're worried about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in a responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. The culture of service is strong in America. I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to encourage our fellow citizens to extend a hand to a neighbor in need, and the response has been great. People are responding in America to the needs of others. It's truly the great strength of our country. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform remind us on a daily basis what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. You see, once again the children of America see heroes believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world is seeing the resolve and the courage of America. And I have been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 3 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it, and we know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you all. Thank you very much. December 09, 2003 President Bush. Welcome. I will make a statement the Premier will make a statement. We'll answer questions, one from the American side, one from the Chinese side, one from the American side, and one from the Chinese side. Mr. Premier, welcome. We're going to have extensive discussions today on a lot of issues. We've just had a very friendly and candid discussion. There's no question in my mind that when China and the United States works closely together, we can accomplish a lot of very important objectives. Our relationship is good and strong, and we are determined to keep it that way for the good of our respective peoples and for the sake of peace and prosperity in the world. So, welcome. Glad you're here. Premier Wen. I'm very grateful towards President Bush and the U.S. Government for the kind invitation and warm hospitality. Just now, President Bush and I had an indepth exchange of views on China U.S. relationship and on international and regional issues of mutual interest. The discussion took place under very friendly, candid, cooperative, and constructive atmosphere, and we reached consensus on many issues. President Bush and I both believe that the further improvement and growth of the bilateral ties between China and the U.S. will not only bring benefits for the people of the two countries but also in the interest of world peace and stability. Thank you. President Bush. AP man. Taiwan Q. Mr. President, George Gedda of AP. Given the sensitivity of the issue, do you believe the referendum planned by the Taiwanese on March 20th should be canceled? President Bush. Someone needs to interpret that. Let me tell you what I've just told the Premier on this issue. The United States Government's policy is "one China," based upon the three communiques and the Taiwan Relations Act. We oppose any unilateral decision by either China or Taiwan to change the status quo. And the comments and actions made by the leader of Taiwan indicate that he may be willing to make decisions unilaterally to change the status quo, which we oppose. Why don't you call on somebody from your press. Q. Premier Wen, what is the position of the Chinese Government on the question of Taiwan? Premier Wen. Our fundamental policy on the settlement of the question of Taiwan is peaceful reunification and one country, two systems. We would do our utmost with utmost sincerity to bring about national unity and peaceful reunification through peaceful means. The Chinese Government respects the desire of people in Taiwan for democracy, but we must point out that the attempts of Taiwan authorities, headed by Chen Shui bian, are only using democracy as an excuse and attempt to resort to defensive referendum to split Taiwan away from China. Such separatist activities are what the Chinese side can absolutely not accept and tolerate. We also want to say that so long as there is a glimmer of hope, we would not give up our efforts for peaceful reunification. We have expressed our will and determination to uphold national unity. This is for the very purpose of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits. And such stability can only be maintained through unswerving opposition and firm opposition to pro independence activities. On many occasions and just now in the meeting as well, President Bush has reiterated the U.S. commitment to the three Sino U.S. Joint Communiques, the "one China" principle, and opposition to Taiwan independence. We appreciate that. In particular, we very much appreciate the position adopted by President Bush toward the latest moves and developments in Taiwan, that is, the attempt to resort to referendum of various kinds as excuse to pursue Taiwan independence. We appreciate the position of the U.S. Government. President Bush. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . North Korea Q. Mr. President, thank you. North Korea is saying they will freeze their nuclear program if the U.S. takes them off the terrorism list and provides fuel aid. Is this a worthwhile idea? And how are you going to get the six party talks going again? President Bush. Yes, well, we spent a lot of time talking about North Korea here. We share a mutual goal, and that is for the Korean Peninsula to be nuclear weapons free. I thank the Premier for China starting the six party talks, and I will continue those talks. I think they're very important. The goal of the United States is not for a freeze of the nuclear program. The goal is to dismantle a nuclear weapons program in a verifiable and irreversible way, and that is a clear message that we are sending to the North Koreans. And we will continue to work with China and the other countries involved to resolve this issue peacefully. China U.S. Relations Q. Premier Wen, what's your reading of the status quo and the future development of China's economic relationship and trade with the United States? Premier Wen. The expansion of China's economic cooperation and trade with the United States, as we see today, has not come by easily. Just imagine, 25 years ago, our trade was less than 2.5 billion U.S. dollars, and now the volume has exceeded 100 billion U.S. dollars. Our economic and trade links have been conducive to the interest of our two people and two countries. We have to admit, though, in our economic and trade relationship, problems do exist, and mainly, the U.S. trade deficit with China. The Chinese Government takes this problem seriously and has taken measures to improve the situation. Soon, in a few minutes, we will have a large group meeting with the U.S. side, and in that setting, I would make one proposal, and I will also share with President Bush five principles we think that should guide the development of economic cooperation and trade between China and the U.S. President Bush. Thank you, sir. Thank you. December 09, 2003 Mr. Premier, members of the delegation, it is my honor to welcome you to the White House. Your visit reflects the increasing ties of cooperation and commerce between our two nations. America and China share many common interests. We are working together in the war on terror. We are fighting to defeat a ruthless enemy of order and civilization. We are partners in diplomacy working to meet the dangers of the 21st century. We are full members of a world trading system that rewards enterprise and lifts nations. Our two nations seek a Korean Peninsula that is stable and at peace. The elimination of North Korea's nuclear programs is essential to this outcome. Realizing this vision will require the strong cooperation of all North Korea's neighbors. I am grateful for China's leadership in hosting the six party talks which are bringing us closer to a peaceful resolution of this issue. And my Government will continue to work with China as it plays a constructive role in Asia and in the world. The rapid rise of China's economy is one of the great achievements of our time. China's increasing prosperity has brought great benefits to the Chinese people and to China's trading partners around the world. We recognize that if prosperity's power is to reach in every corner of China, the Chinese Government must fully integrate into the rules and norms of the international trading and finance system. China has discovered that economic freedom leads to national wealth. The growth of economic freedom in China provides reason to hope that social, political, and religious freedoms will grow there as well. In the long run, these freedoms are indivisible and essential to national greatness and national dignity. As our two nations work constructively across areas of common interest, we are candid about our disagreements. The growing strength and maturity of our relationship allows us to discuss our differences, whether over economic issues, Taiwan, Tibet, or human rights and religious freedom, in a spirit of mutual understanding and respect. China is a great civilization, a great power, and a great nation. Premier Wen, when my country looks forward to my country looks forward to working with you as China increasingly takes its place among the leading nations of the world. The United States and China have made great progress in building a relationship that can address the challenges of our time, encourage global prosperity, and advance the cause of peace. It is my hope that your visit will further that progress. Welcome, and thank you for coming. December 05, 2003 The President. Thank you all. I left my credit card at home. Laughter Thanks for having me. I'm honored to be here at a great company. I really appreciate the spirit of the company. I appreciate the fact that this company cares about the people who work here. And that's really what we're here to talk about, is people working and realizing their dream. I want people working in the country. I want you to know, I'm an optimistic guy for a lot of reasons. I've seen what we've been through. I want to remind you what this country has been through in order to get to where we are today. First, we were in recession. You know that better than me, what that means. It means fewer people coming in to buy things, as far as you're concerned. And the recession started in 2001, early 2001. We started to come out of the recession a little bit you probably felt it around the summer of 2001, maybe fall of 2001. And then the enemy hit us, and that hurt. Again, those of you on the frontlines of the retail business know what I'm talking about. The cash registers weren't ringing quite as much, and people weren't coming through the aisles quite as much. And it hurt us. It hurt the country a lot. It kind of changed our attitude, and it should change your attitude. We should never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001. I have an obligation the Congressmen who are here have an obligation. I want to thank Roscoe Bartlett and Dutch Ruppersberger and Ben Cardin, whose district this is. We have an obligation to do everything we can to keep this country secure, to never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001, to find the enemy before they come again, to stay on the offensive, and to bring these killers to justice, which is what we're going to do. But it hurt our economy when they attacked us, of course. Not only did it change foreign policy in other words, we can't sit there and pick and choose what threat we deal with. Now that we have become vulnerable, we're going to have deal with the threats before they mature and come upon us. But it hurt our economy. It hurt us pretty bad. And then we started to recover, and I just wanted to remember another thing we've overcome. Some of the corporate citizens of America forgot what it meant to be a responsible citizen. This guy's a responsible guy. See, some of them didn't tell the truth, though. We had some of our citizens not tell the truth. They forgot what it meant to be a leader, and it hurt the confidence of the people. You might remember that period of time. There were these scandals, and people began to wonder whether or not there was honesty in the system. By the way, the way you deal with that, of course, is you find them and you put them into jail. Those who lie, cheat, and steal go to jail. And then, as you know, I made the decision to deal with threats. As we saw, we put the doctrine out that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists." And the Taliban, we took them down for the sake of our own security and for the sake of the long suffering people of Afghanistan. And then I obviously made the decision to go into Iraq and by the way, a free and peaceful Iraq is in our Nation's interest it's in our security interest that affected the economy. When you turned on your TV, it said, "America is marching to war." That's not very conducive for that's not a very positive statement. It doesn't build a lot of confidence people, you know, marching to war, why would I want to invest in my home? Or why would I want to come to Home Depot if we're fixing to go to war? So we've overcome a lot, when you think about it. Today the unemployment rate dropped, as you may know, from 6 percent to 5.9 percent. More workers are going to work. Over 380,000 have joined the workforce in the last couple of months. We've overcome a lot. We're a strong country, a strong economy. A lot of it has to do with the fact that we got the best workers in the world. Our productivity is high. I hope some of it has to do I know some of it has to do I hope you understand some of it has to do with the fact that the role of Government can help create growth. See, when a person has more money in their pocket, they're likely to come to Home Depot. Participant. Right. The President. If they have less money in their pocket, they may not come here. And so I worked with the Congress I want to thank Congressman Ehrlich, when he was in the Congress, now Governor Ehrlich. We cut taxes on people. It's your money to begin with, by the way. You've got more money to spend. And when you have more money to spend, it increases demand for a good or a service. And when that demand increases for a good or a service, somebody has to produce it. And so the tax relief went for everybody, not just the favorite few. Everybody got tax relief. And it helped the economy. It also helped small business. You're going to hear from some entrepreneurs here. And by the way, most new jobs in America are created by small businesses. We're happy to have the Home Depot job, don't get me wrong. Laughter But the truth is, most new jobs are started by the entrepreneurs. And so you're wondering why we've got small business owners here, because I want you to hear from them. I want you to hear what it means to have a little more money in your pocket. Most small businesses pay tax at the individual income tax level. See, these two small businesses do you're Subchapter S's, which means when the taxes come out, you pay like you're an individual, your business does. Which means when you reduce individual taxes, really what you're doing is you're making a big difference for small businesses across America so that they can grow and hire new people. If small businesses create most new jobs, then it makes sense to reward small businesses for labor and risk by reducing their taxes, which we did. And we did a couple of other smart things. If you're married, you ought not to be penalized in the Tax Code. It seems like the Tax Code ought to encourage people to be married, not discourage them from being married. We know how hard it is to raise a child, and therefore, we increased the child credit to 1,000 per child. That helps if you're a mom or a dad. And actually, this summer I remember going I think it was to Philadelphia, where they were making the checks. I said, "The check is in the mail." After I said it, I felt a little nervous. Laughter Fortunately, it was in the mail. And so you got the difference between the child credit today and the new child credit of 1,000 per child. That's important that's important relief. That's part of the money going into your pocket. We also provided incentives for small businesses to make investment. When small businesses invest in machinery or computer equipment, somebody has to build it, see. And when somebody builds that machine, somebody is more likely to find work. And so, in other words, we passed a plan that makes sense. Part of the things you'll hear me talk about is how to continue the growth. I mean, we're growing. This economy is good. It can be better, so more people find work. One of the ways to make sure this economy continues to grow is to make all the tax relief we passed permanent. See, it's about to it's going to go away in phases. The child credit is going to go back down. The marriage penalty will go back up. Taxes will go back up unless we make this permanent. It doesn't make any sense to have a Tax Code that gyrates like that. You need stability in your Tax Code, particularly for the small business owners and planners. So one thing that I want you to take away from here is that if you're interested in job creation and job growth for the future, the tax relief we passed must become permanent. I want to thank all the local officials who have come, by the way. I know the Lieutenant Governor is here. I want to thank the Members of the House and the Senate. It turns out when a President shows up, all kinds of people come. Laughter And I want to thank you for being here. It's an honor to be here. I look forward to maybe shaking a couple of hands on the way out and yes. Pretty soon. Yes, pictures, we'll get a picture. Maybe buy a chainsaw. Laughter Participant. We carry your brand. Laughter The President. Why don't we start off we've got a man here who is building homes. One of the interesting things about our policy is that when interest rates go low, it provides incentive for people to buy a home you know, it pushes mortgages down. We want a lot of people owning homes. We've got a minority homeowner ship gap in America, by the way, we've got to close. See, we just don't want one segment of our population owning homes. We want everybody owning a home. We want everybody to feel comfortable. I put a plan up to the Congress to do that, help with downpayments, to make sure the fine print in the contract becomes a little larger so everybody understands what they're signing before they go in. It makes people a little nervous when you particularly the first time homebuyer, if you know what I mean. So we've got programs to help educate. We've got programs to simplify the process. We've got programs to help with the downpayment. Low interest rates help. And our man here, Jim Montgomery, is an owner. He's an entrepreneur. By the way, he is at one of these companies, a Subchapter S, it's called, that pays taxes at the individual rate. So when we cut his taxes individually, we also cut taxes on his business, so he can more likely be able to hire somebody else. He wants to hire and expand. But Jim, welcome. Tell us about your business. Tell us what's on your mind. It's your chance to tell the Governor and Lieutenant Governor if you don't like things here in Maryland. Laughter If you don't like things at the Federal level, write your Congressman. Laughter The discussion continued. The President. Yes. Well, that is a tax cut. That was part of it. In other words, when you provide an incentive for somebody to buy equipment that's what Jim is talking about it means somebody has to make the equipment or somebody has got to sell the equipment, in your case. And I appreciate you bringing that up, because it's an integral part of the tax plan, to encourage investment. And investment means jobs. And that's what we're really talking about, jobs. See, I'm glad he's building homes. I'm glad people are owning homes, but I'm also glad there's an incentive for him to go out and buy additional equipment. Somebody has got to make that equipment. And when somebody makes that equipment, somebody is working, and that's what we're really talking about. We're talking about the human dignity that comes from people being able to find a job. Thank you for being an entrepreneur. James Montgomery. You're welcome. The President. Yes, I appreciate your spirit. See, one of the great strengths of America is what we call the entrepreneurial spirit. It's a chance for to create an environment so people like Jim feel comfortable about building their own business. And it's an exciting part of our economy and a vibrant part, just like the Bell Nursery folks here. We've got an owner we've got a regional manager. Tell us about your business, Gary. The discussion continued. The President. A couple of points she made. One of the things that's interesting, low interest rates allow people to refinance their homes. You all know better than a lot the effects of refinancing. I mean, people refinance, come in with a little cash, it gives them a chance to remodel. Secondly, I do want to mention a couple of things that are important for small businesses. One, health care, it's important for large businesses, really important for small businesses. It's difficult for a small business to provide health care, because they don't have any purchasing power. What we need to do is allow small businesses to accumulate purchasing power. It's called associated health care plans. If you've got more people demanding, it means you can reduce the price. We need the associated health care plans. Another thing that affects all business, by the way, but especially hurts small businesses, are excessive regulations. I mean, if you've got four employees, you don't want to be spending a lot of time filling out paperwork. The Governor, I know, is working hard to reduce excessive paperwork at the State level. We're doing so at the Federal level. Look, I readily concede we've got a lot more to do. There's a lot of paperwork, a lot of regulation. Another thing that's a problem is lawsuits. They get to be a problem on these small business owners and large business owners. Medical liability reform is an issue we need. I'll tell you why. They're driving up the cost of your medicine, and it's making fewer doctors practice medicine. Medicine ought to be affordable and ought to be available. And these lawsuits everybody ought to be able to sue, don't get me wrong. We just don't want the junk lawsuits and the frivolous lawsuits and the lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement to be prevalent. Anyway, I'm interested in hearing how this great company works. Obviously, I heard the enthusiasm laughter when I was coming in. But John, why don't you start off, and then you can introduce your fellow workers. The discussion continued. The President. Let me ask you a question. So what's your feel? You're hearing from people when they're coming through, shopping, and John Ferraiuolo. I've got to tell you, our business in this store, this year, is about 18 percent better than last year. So where last year things were a little bit of a struggle I think the enthusiasm and interest in people, the confidence level as people came in shopping wasn't quite there people are now going from last year, I think, doing projects that were maybe necessities, I see people doing a little dreaming again and wanting to step themselves up and move forward and doing some wanting in their purchasing as opposed to just necessities. The President. That's good, yes. John, by the way he probably doesn't want me to tell you this, but I'm going to tell you anyway. He got 1,200 of tax relief as a result of the tax reductions. Probably considered a fair amount of money, I would guess. Mr. Ferraiuolo. That's an awfully great amount of money. What happened there, I think last year a few months ago, when my wife came home, she found a check in the mail, and you know what The President. Thank goodness. Laughter Mr. Ferraiuolo. I'm going to basically, she said, "Sign here. I'll do it for you." The President. That's right. Yes. Laughter Mr. Ferraiuolo. And then she went shopping, and she took the chance to buy herself a few treats. And I think with the rest of it, one of the things I've been able to do is up my 401(k) contributions The President. That's good. Mr. Ferraiuolo. as opposed to so I keep a little bit more of that money for my future. The President. That's wonderful. Brandy, you're a manager, store manager. Tell us your history here, and The discussion continued. The President. One of the things I like to talk about is the need for us to be a responsible society people take responsibility for the decisions they make in life people take responsibility people seize opportunity. The thing I like about Jessica's story is she's willing to seize an opportunity. If you notice, she came looking, she worked hard to find a position, and now she's found a company that is doing its responsibility in other words, helping people realize their dreams. And that's a very important part of corporate America. It's one of the reasons I like Bob, is he understands that, see. One of the things that this company does is it provides volunteer time and encourages people to help love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. One of the things about America is look, we've just gone through an interesting story, that says to me that things look pretty good for the economy, and we've been through a lot. In other words, it's a fabulous country, because we'll handle every challenge put in front of us, every challenge, because we've got wonderful people. The strength of this country, though, is not our military, although we'll keep it strong. It's strong. It needs to stay strong and will. It's not a thank you, sir. And by the way, thanks for supporting the military. And if you've got a loved one over there, you tell them the Commander in Chief is incredibly proud, proud of what they're doing. Participant. They're right out there. The President. Where? Participant. This young man right here. The President. Thank you for your service. I appreciate you, thanks. Participant. He just came home. The President. Yes. That's great. It's not strength is not our military. It's not our wallet. It's the heart and soul of the American people. That's the strength. And the fact that this company is willing to say, you know, "Follow your heart and go help somebody who hurts," is an important part of keeping this country strong. It really is. The fact that people are willing to hear the universal call to love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself is really an important part of this Nation. And it's a vital part of the Nation. So for those of you who are dreaming big dreams and working for them, like Jessica is, thanks for doing that like our business owners I appreciate that. It's important that you dream big dreams and work hard. For those of you who are helping people realize their dreams, I thank you as well. It's just an incredibly vital part of a bright future for our country. There's nothing America can't achieve nothing we can't achieve. You know why? Because this country is full of fabulous people. It's my honor to be with a lot of them here today. Thank you for coming. God bless. Thank you for your time. December 05, 2003 Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming. Thanks for the warm welcome. Thanks for the bumper sticker. Laughter Thanks for making this such a successful event. Thanks for laying the foundation for what is going to be a victory in the State of Maryland in 2004. I want to thank you for your contributions. I also want to thank you for the contribution of time you're going to make. Laughter We want you to help energize the grassroots, to put up the signs, and to get on the phones and to mail the letters, all reminding your fellow citizens that we have a duty to vote in America we have an obligation in a democracy to participate. You know, the political season is going to come in its own time, and I'm getting ready. I'm loosening up. Laughter But I've got a job to do. Right now, I'm focused on the people's business, and there's a lot on the agenda. I will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of all Americans by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. Laura sends her best. I'm sorry she's not with me. She is a fabulous wife and mom. She's doing a great job as our First Lady. I'm incredibly proud of her. Fortunately, my favorite sister came laughter well, my only sister. I love Doro. A brother could have no finer sister than Dorothy Koch. Thank you for coming. I appreciate your Governor. He is a livewire laughter which is what this State needed. I love his attitude. He never forgot his roots, but he's an incurable optimist as well, because he brings some common sense to the Governor's office. He's doing a fine job. I'm proud to be here with the first lady, Kendel, as well. Thank you, Kendel. I'm also proud to be with Michael Michael Steele, the Lieutenant Governor, and Andrea. I thank them for their service and for working with the Ehrlichs to set such a positive tone for the great State of Maryland. Thank you, Lieutenant Governor, for coming. Congressman Roscoe Bartlett is with us today. Congressman, thank you for coming. I know there's a lot of State and local officials who are here. Thank you all for coming today. I appreciate you coming. When I'm talking about energizing the grassroots, I'm talking to you. Laughter We need you to get into your districts and to energize people and get them to vote. If you happen to be a mayor, my only advice is to fill the potholes. Laughter My campaign is going to be run by a fellow named Ken Mehlman. I just had to mention him. You know why? Because his mother and dad are here, and I appreciate them coming. You raised a good man in Ken Mehlman. My friend Mercer Reynolds is with us. He's the national finance chairman. Dick Hug is the State finance chairman, and Dick, I want to thank you and the team that made this event so successful. Thanks for working very hard, for what you're doing. Shelly Kamins gets a lot of credit for working hard as well. Shelly, I'm honored to have your friendship and to have your hard work, along with Dick, to make this work. I want to thank all of you all for being here. I really appreciate you taking time to come. I'm proud to have your support. I want you to tell your friends and neighbors, in the last 3 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and to future generations. I came to seize opportunities, instead of letting them slip away. My administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and today they live in freedom. Three years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Three years ago, the economy was in trouble, and a recession was beginning. And then our country was attacked, and some of our fellow citizens in corporate America forgot to tell the truth, and war came upon us, which all affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. When Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. And so that's why we're returning more money to the people, to help them raise their families. That's why we've reduced taxes on dividends and capital gains, to encourage investment. That is why we're giving small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, this administration has laid the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America so every single citizen has a chance to realize the American Dream. The American economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. Today they've released some more statistics that show the economy is strong. Unemployment dropped from 6 percent to 5.9 percent. More jobs are being created. In the third quarter, our economy grew at an annual rate of 8.2 percent, the fastest pace in nearly 20 years. The Purchasing Managers Index indicates that our manufacturing sector is getting stronger and is growing. The productivity is high. Investment is strong. The home industry is vibrant. The tax relief we passed is working for the American people. Three years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action in Washington, DC. So I acted, and called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We've increased spending on Title I students at the Federal level. But for the first time, we're asking schools to prove that our children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. We are challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. We're raising the standards, because we believe very child can learn the basics of reading and math, and we expect every school to teach the basics of reading and math, so not one single child is left behind. We reorganized the Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our borders and our ports and to better protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Maryland's entrepreneurs and manufacturers and farmers. We passed budget agreements to help maintain spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. The Congress gets a lot of credit for the achievements. I appreciate working with the Speaker and Majority Leader Frist. These are two fine men, good leaders. We're working hard to change the tone in Washington. There's too much needless politics and endless backbiting and the zero sum attitude. The best way to defeat that attitude is to focus on results, is to do the people's business and deliver. And that's what we're working hard to do. And those are the kind of people I've asked to serve in my administration, by the way. I've attracted fine, fine people to serve the American people, good, honorable, decent Americans from all walks of life. Our country has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion. Laughter In 3 years, we have come far. In 3 years, we've done a lot for the people, but our work is only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of this great Nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society that is prosperous and compassionate so every single citizen can realize the great potential, the human potential, the God given potential, and the great promise of this country. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not stop we will not tire until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking our forces, by attacking international aid workers, by attacking innocent Iraqi citizens. They know that the advance of freedom in Iraq would be a major defeat for the cause of terror. This collection of killers and assassins is trying to shake the will of the United States of America. America will never be intimidated by a bunch of thugs. We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we will not have to face them in our own cities. We're calling other nations to help, and they are, because they understand that a free Iraq will make their own countries more secure. We're standing with the brave Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward self government. This isn't easy work, but it is essential work. The United States of America will finish what we have begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war against terror. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. I believe that freedom is the future of every nation, and I know that freedom is not America's gift to the world. Freedom is God's gift to every man and woman who lives in this world. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world, and when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. And that is why, on the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children suffering from AIDS. We face challenges at home, and our actions will prove equal to those challenges. I want everybody working. I worry when someone who wants to work can't find a job. That is why I'm going to continue to push a progrowth, pro entrepreneurial spirit agenda. We must make our health care system work better, and that is why we are keeping our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. For years, seniors have called for a modern Medicare system that provides coverage for prescription drugs and more health care choices. For years, Washington listened but did nothing. Finally, the Congress has acted. I look forward to signing this important piece of legislation. I look forward to signing a piece of legislation that says clearly, when America makes a commitment to our elderly, we will keep that commitment. For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which are increasing the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. But this system shouldn't reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Because frivolous lawsuits frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, they therefore affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. I submitted a plan to the United States Congress. I want to thank the House of Representatives for passing a good reform bill. It is stuck in the United States Senate. It is time for your Senators from the State of Maryland to understand that no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. I have a responsibility as your President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some of the Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. We need to modernize our electricity systems. We need to encourage conservation, promote energy efficiency. We need to develop cleaner technologies to help us find energy in environmentally friendly ways. For the sake of economic security, for the sake of national security, this country must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. A strong and prosperous nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance what I call compassionate conservatism, which means we'll apply the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping fellow citizens who hurt. There's still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through work. We must continue to advance the successes of the welfare reform program in a decent way, a compassionate way. We must train people for jobs which actually exist. We must bring more work and dignity into the lives of more of our citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so more Americans can serve their communities and their country. Both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion, the armies of compassion that are mentoring children and caring for the homeless and offering hope to the addicted. This great Nation has got all kinds of fabulous religions, Christian, Jewish, and Muslim. And out of that religion comes a universal call for people to help those who suffer, to those who need help. Our Government must understand that some problems are so intractable, the only thing that will matter, the only thing that will help, is for a faith based program to intercede in their lives. Our country should never fear faith. We should welcome faith into the compassionate delivery of human help. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their own home. There is a minority home ownership gap in America that must be closed, and I've submitted a plan to Congress to do so. We want people to own and manage their own retirement accounts. We want people to own and manage their own health care accounts. We want people more people to own their own small business. You see, this administration understands that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our country. A compassionate society is one in which people respect each other, respect their opinions, respect their religious beliefs. It is a society in which each of us take responsibility for the decisions we make in life. The culture of this country is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and, "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands we're responsible for the decisions we make. If you're a mother or a dad, if you're fortunate enough to be a mother or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're worried about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're the CEO a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in a responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. The culture of service is strong in America. It's one of the things that makes this country so great and so unique. There is a willingness for people to serve our country by helping somebody in need. That's a powerful part of the American culture. And it's strong today, and I can tell you why. We started the USA Freedom Corps, and the response has been magnificent. People from all walks of life have signed up to help, to help make this country strong by helping to save lives. Policemen and firefighters and the people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than ourselves. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 3 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use the strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. God bless. Thanks for coming. Glad you all are here. Thank you. December 04, 2003 President Bush. We're going to have some opening statements, and then I'll take a couple of questions two questions. The Jordanian press may want to ask a question. First, Your Majesty, thanks for coming. It's great to have you back. I view His Majesty as one of our really close friends in the world. You know, I went to London recently and gave a speech about reform and reform in the Middle East and the possibilities of governments that adhere to rule of law and transparency and women's rights and economic freedom. And Your Majesty, you're doing just that. I'm proud of your leadership. It's you're a modern leader with a big heart and a vision for what is best for your people. I also want to thank you for your very strong support in our mutual desire to bring peace to the Middle East. We made a tough decision when it came to Iraq, and Your Majesty, you stood with us. And we made the right decision when it came to Iraq, because Iraq will be free and will be peaceful. And that's in your interests, and it's in our interests, and it's in the world's interests that we succeed. I look forward to discussing with you a wide range of issues of our of mutual concern. And I look forward to your wise counsel and advice. King Abdullah II. Thank you, sir. Well, Mr. President, again, it's always a pleasure to see you and to be back here in Washington. I'm very grateful for your support for the region, what you're trying to do to bring peace and stability for all of us in the Middle East Iraq, the Israelis, the Palestinians. And so I'm looking forward to our discussions today, and see how we can best bring hope to all of the people of our part of the world. And the President has always been very courageous in trying to do the right thing and to push for a dialog and hope for all of us in the Middle East. And I'm very appreciative. President Bush. Thanks for coming. We'll answer a couple of questions, starting with this fellow right there, Scott Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press . Steel Tariffs Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Are you going to repeal all the steel tariffs today? President Bush. I am making a decision let me the decision I make will be based upon my strong belief that America's consumers, the American economy is better off with a world that trades freely and a world that trades fairly. And I listened to an International Trade Commission report about the effects that steel imports were having upon our important industry. I acted. I acted to give the steel industry time to adjust. I acted in time for us to say to the world that we will trade, but we want to trade in a fair way. And the decision will be announced here shortly. Discussion With Prime Minister Blair Q. Did you talk to Mr. Blair about it today? President Bush. No, it didn't come up today with Prime Minister Blair. I did talk with the Prime Minister today. Let's see, you're not the only guy asking questions throughout this thing, but Q. No. President Bush. it's good that you recognize that. I did talk to the Prime Minister. We talked about our we talked about Iraq. We talked about NATO, and we had a good discussion. I talk to him about once a week, maybe once every 2 weeks. His Majesty just was with the Prime Minister. King Abdullah II. Yes, the day before yesterday. President Bush. Steady friend of ours, a steady friend of Jordan's as well. Anybody here from the Jordanian press that you would like to call on? Middle East Peace Process Q. Your Majesty, given some of the recent events, such as the Palestinians' factions are meeting in Cairo, Geneva Accords, and the Palestinian proposals, do you feel that there is hope to revive the negotiations? What is your next step to revive the roadmap? King Abdullah II. Well, the President has always been out front in trying to move the process forward. There is a lot of difficulties on the ground at the moment, as we know, but we've all been working very hard behind the scenes to encourage the Palestinian Prime Minister to be able to have the dialog with the Israelis. We believe that there will be, I hope, some small steps on the ground that move the process forward. We haven't given up on the peace process. The President has been very dedicated from day one. We appreciate his support. But it's going to be a tough road ahead for all of us. President Bush. Steven Steve Holland, Reuters . Q. The Geneva Accord, do you think some of these proposals should be included in an overall peace agreement? And why is Secretary Powell meeting with these people? President Bush. Everybody knows where I stand. I gave a speech right here in Rose Garden in June of 2002. I laid out what I believe is necessary to achieve peace in the Middle East. It starts with having a Palestinian state that is at peace with Israel, a Palestinian state based upon democratic principles, a Palestinian state which recognizes the hopes and aspirations of the Palestinian people, and a Palestinian state with leadership which is committed to defeating and dismantling the terrorist organizations who are trying to prevent a Palestinian state from emerging. I also talked about the need for the Israelis to keep in mind that if they support a Palestinian state, which they have told me they do, that the conditions on the ground must be such for a Palestinian state to be able to emerge. And that's why we're continuing to talk to them about the illegal settlements and outposts illegal outposts and settlements as well as the fence. As well, nations in the neighborhood must take responsibility. The King and I have spent a lot of time talking about this subject. He understands fully what I'm talking about. I want to remind you that it was in Jordan where His Majesty hosted us. I stood up with His Majesty as well as Prime Minister Sharon and then Prime Minister Abu Mazen. and made a public declaration that we were prepared to work together for the creation of a Palestinian state. Abu Mazen has since been shoved aside, and the process stalled. What the Palestinians need is leadership willing to remain committed to the aspirations of their people and bold enough to stand up and fight off the terrorists' organizations. And His Majesty and I will be glad to work with such leaders as they emerge. Q. This is a productive process, the Geneva Accords and Secretary Powell's meeting? President Bush. Well, I think it's productive, so long as they adhere to the principles I have just outlined. And that is, we must fight off terror, that there must be security, and there must be the emergence of a Palestinian state that is democratic and free. And it's the position of this Government is clear, and it's firm. We appreciate people discussing peace. We just want to make sure people understand that the principles to peace are clear. Thank you all for coming. December 02, 2003 I appreciate you coming. Thanks for being here. It's great to be back in Knowledge City Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Thanks for the warm welcome. I thought I'd start off by talking a little bit about Texas football. Laughter Then I ran into Jerome Bettis. Laughter I'm a man who listens to good advice. Laughter So I'd better talk about thanking you for coming. Laughter I appreciate your strong support. I'm proud to be back in Pennsylvania. We're laying the foundation for what is going to be a victory in Pennsylvania in 2004 and a nationwide victory in 2004. I'm getting ready. I'm loosening up. Laughter But politics will come in its own time. I've got a job to do. I've got a job to do for every single American. I want you to remind your friends as the political season unwinds that I will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of every American by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. I regret one thing about today, and that is that Laura is not traveling with me. Yes. You probably regret the fact that she's not the headline speaker. Laughter She is a fabulous lady. I love her dearly. She's a great wife, a wonderful mother, and she's doing a wonderful job for the people of this country as the First Lady. I appreciate Evans Rose's leadership and short introduction. Laughter Evans has done a fine job. He's been a friend for a long time. I want to thank you for responding to his call. I want to thank Arlen Specter, who is the State campaign cochairman for Bush Cheney '04. I'm proud that he's traveling with me today on Air Force One. He'll attest to the fact there's not much air rage on Air Force One. Laughter But I'm proud of his leadership for the State of Pennsylvania. I look forward to working with him as the chairman of the Judiciary Committee in the United States Senate to make sure my judges get through and get appointed. I want to thank Congresswoman Melissa Hart and Congressman Tim Murphy for joining us today. Both are doing a fine job and are strong members of the mighty Pennsylvania delegation. I understand my friend Rob Portman has snuck across the border from the State of Ohio. I appreciate so very much Rob being here. He's one of the rising stars in the United States House of Representatives and is a strong ally. I'm honored that the Attorney General Mike Fisher has joined us. General, I'm glad you're here. I appreciate you coming. I want to thank the local and State officials who are here. I know we've got the Roddey is with us, and other mayors might be with us. If you're a mayor who is here, my only advice is to make sure you fill the potholes laughter maybe pick up the garbage too. Thanks for serving. My friend Mercer Reynolds, who is the Bush Cheney '04 national finance chairman, is here today. And I appreciate Mercer's strong support and hard work. David Girard diCarlo is here, and Manny Stamatakis is here. They're both great friends. They're not from this part of the State they're from down there in the Philadelphia area, like Arlen, but they're strong supporters and they're taking a leadership role to help us raise money. I appreciate Leslie Gromis Baker for her hard work. And I want to thank all the grassroots politicians who are here, the people who are turning out the vote. I'm counting on you. I'm counting on you to go to your coffee shops and community centers, and I'm counting on you to put up the signs and to make the phone calls and to mail the letters. I'm counting on you to find the people and get them to the polls. That's how you win elections. And that's how we're going to win in Pennsylvania, because of your hard work and strong support. And finally, I'm proud to be here with Lynn Swann, my friend who is the chairman of the President's Council on Physical Fitness. What you need to do applause you need to exercise. Laughter And Lynn is helping us send the message to young and old alike in this country that a healthy America is a country that takes care of its physical fitness needs. As a matter of fact, when I get back this evening, I think I'll just get a good jog in. I appreciate Lynn's friendship. In the last 3 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems instead of passing them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. My administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and today, they live in freedom. Three years ago, our military was not receiving the help it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer, so we increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Three years ago, the economy was in trouble, and a recession was beginning. And then our country was attacked, and we had some scandals in corporate America, and we marched to war for our own security and for the peace of the world. All that affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. When Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save or invest, the whole economy grows, and some people are more likely to be able to find a job. So we're returning money to the American people to help them raise their families, reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand so they can hire new people. With all these actions, this administration has laid the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America, so every single citizen has a chance to realize the American Dream. The American economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. Perhaps you saw the fact that the third quarter annualized growth numbers were increased to 8.2 percent, the fastest pace in nearly 20 years. Yesterday, the Purchasing Managers Index was released, which shows strong growth in the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy. Productivity is high. Business investment is rising. Housing construction is strong. The economic stimulus package that we passed out of the United States Congress is working. Three years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. We believe every child can learn the basics of reading and math. We expect every school to teach the basics of reading and math. In return for increased Federal money for Title I students, we want States to measure so that not one single child is left behind in America. We reorganized the Government and created the Department of Homeland Security, ably headed by former Governor of Pennsylvania Tom Ridge. We did so to better safeguard our borders and our ports and to better protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for America's entrepreneurs and farmers and ranchers and manufacturers. We passed much needed budget agreements to maintain spending discipline. In Washington, DC, on issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. The Congress gets a lot of credit. I enjoy working with Speaker Denny Hastert and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist. I enjoy working with the Pennsylvania Senators and the Members of the House. I enjoy working on the people's business. We're working hard to change the tone in Washington, DC. It's there's just too much backbiting and endless politics. And the best way to change the tone is to focus on results, is to do the work on behalf of the American people. And that's exactly what we're doing. And those are the kind of people I've attracted to my administration. I've assembled a fine group of Americans, people from all walks of life, people from different backgrounds, who have come to Washington, DC, with one thing in mind, and that is to serve the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. Our country has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother has a second opinion. Laughter In 3 years, we have come far. We have done a lot for the people, but our work is only beginning. We have great I have set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society that is prosperous and compassionate so that every single citizen has a chance to realize the great promise of America. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest, we will not stop, we will not tire until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking coalition forces or international aid workers and innocent Iraqi citizens. See, they know that the advance of freedom in the heart of the Middle East would be a major defeat for the cause of terror. This collection of coldblooded killers is trying to shake the will of the United States. America will never be intimidated by a bunch of thugs and assassins. We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we do not have to face them in our own cities. Other nations are helping in Iraq, because they understand a free Iraq will make us all more secure. And we're standing with the brave Iraqi citizens as they assume more of their own defense and move towards self government. These are not easy tasks, but they are essential tasks. We will finish what we have begun, and we will win this important victory in the war against terror. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. I know that freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is God's gift to every man and woman in this world. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world. When we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. And that is why, on the continent of Africa, America is committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to the millions of men and women and children suffering with AIDS. This great, powerful nation is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges here at home, and our actions will prove we're equal to the challenges. I'm going to stay focused on a progrowth economic agenda, one that elevates the entrepreneurial spirit of America, until everybody who wants to work can find a job. We're keeping our commitment to our country's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. For years, our seniors have called for a modern Medicare system that provides more choices and prescription drug coverage. For years, the United States Congress did nothing. Finally, the Congress acted. The House and the Senate have approved historic legislation that I look forward to signing soon that will keep this country's promise to our Nation's elderly citizens. For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court, yet the system should not reward lawyers who are fishing for a rich settlement. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care. They therefore affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. I proposed a good plan to the Congress. The House of Representatives passed a good bill to reform the system. The bill is stuck in the United States Senate. I appreciate the hard work of Senator Specter and Senator Santorum to get the bill to the floor of the United States Senate. Yet it is being blocked. It is time for some of the Members of the United States Senate to understand that no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit in America. We need medical liability reform now. I have a responsibility as the President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. My nominees have been strongly supported by your two United States Senators, yet some Members of the Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the floor of the Senate. It is time for some members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. This country needs a national energy policy. We need an energy bill out of the United States Congress. I appreciate the hard work in both bodies, but they need to get a bill to my desk. We need to encourage conservation. We need energy efficiency. We need new technologies to help us explore for energy in environmentally friendly ways. But for the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, this country must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. A strong and prosperous nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance what I call compassionate conservation, which means we'll apply the best, most efficient, and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens who are in need. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on the Government and become independent through hard work. I look forward to working with Congress to expand on the success of welfare reform and to help people better prepare themselves and to better find a job and the dignity that comes from working. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so more of our citizens can serve their communities and their country. Both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative. It will help support the armies of compassion that are mentoring our children, caring for the homeless, offering hope to the addicted. America's strength is based upon our religious diversity. People of all faiths have heard a call to help somebody who hurts. Our Government must not fear faith we must welcome faith into helping solve the intractable problems that face our country. A compassionate society is one that promotes opportunity for everybody, including the independence that comes from owning something. This administration is working hard to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their own home. We have a minority home ownership gap in America, and I presented plans to help close that gap. We want people owning and managing their own retirement accounts, owning and controlling their own health care accounts. We want more people owning their own small business. This administration understands that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our country. A compassionate society is one in which people respect one another, respect their opinions, respect their religious beliefs, and a society in which people take responsibility for the decisions they make. The culture of this country is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us is responsible for the decisions we make. If you're a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you don't like the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you are responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. In a responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourselves. The culture of service is strong in America. The culture of responsibility is growing. You know, I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps it's a chance to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to somebody who hurts. And the response is strong. The charitable organizations in America are growing. I want to thank you for supporting our local charities, thank you for helping people who hurt. You know, the true strength of the country is found in the heart and souls of the American citizens. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than ourselves. Once again the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I have been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 3 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift up whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of this country. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it, and we know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. God bless you all. Thank you for coming. Proud you're here. December 01, 2003 The President. Thank you all very much. I appreciate the warm welcome. I'm so thankful so many friends have come tonight. You know, earlier this fall, I had the honor of welcoming a fine hockey team from this State to the White House to celebrate their championship. But the start the Devils have had this season looks like they need to repeat their trip back to the White House. I'm making similar plans myself. And with your help tonight, we are laying the foundation for what will be a victory in New Jersey in '04 and a nationwide victory in '04. I'm getting ready. I'm loosening up. But the truth of the matter is, politics will come in its own time. See, I've got a job to do. What I would like for you to do is to remind your friends and neighbors that this administration and this President is working hard to keep America secure and strong and peaceful and free. My only regret tonight is that Laura is not traveling with me. Audience members. Aw w w. The President. No, I know. Yes. Laughter You'd rather have her. I don't blame you. Laughter She's a fabulous wife, a great mother, and she's doing a wonderful job as our country's First Lady. And somebody who did a great job for our country, a valued member of my Cabinet, a person whose judgment I trust, that would be Christie Todd Whitman. I'm proud applause . I miss her. But she did leave behind a little something there in Washington, DC his name is Barney. Laughter I know Audience member. I love you! The President. Gracias. Laughter I appreciate the fact that Christie Todd is our State chairman. And I want to thank my friend Lew Eisenberg for being the State campaign cochairman and finance chairman for the great State of New Jersey. I understand that some of Lew's grandchildren gave the Pledge of Allegiance. They're raising them right in his family. Laughter I want to thank Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen for being here. Rodney is a friend and an ally. He's doing a great job for the people of New Jersey. I'm also pleased that his wife, Virginia, is with him. I also want to thank my friend and ally Mike Ferguson Congressman Mike Ferguson. I know we've got members of the statehouse here. I particularly want to thank Senator Joe Kyrillos, who is the party chairman State Senator Leonard Lance, who is the new minority leader for the State senate State Assemblyman Alex DeCroce is the new minority leader. I know we've got a lot of mayors here. I want to thank the mayors for coming. My only advice is to make sure you fill the potholes laughter and pick up the garbage. Laughter I thank the mayors for being here. Thank you for serving your towns and your communities. I particularly want to thank my friend Mercer Reynolds, who's the national finance chairman. And he's from Cincinnati, Ohio. He's joined us today. I want to thank all the grassroot activists who are here. You win campaigns by convincing your neighbor to go to the poll. So I want to thank you for what you're going to do, which is put up the signs and get on the phones and mail out the letters and convince your fellow citizens to do their duty and to show up to vote in November of 2004. You might just convince them, when they show up to vote, to vote for Bush Cheney. Remind them that during the last 3 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems and not pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. My administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We captured or killed many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and today, they live in freedom. Three years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer, so we increased the defense budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill, the strength, and the spirit of the United States military. Three years ago, the economy was in trouble and a recession was beginning. And then our country was attacked, and we had scandals in corporate America, and war all affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed up new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. We know that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. That's why we're returning more money to the people to help them raise their families, why we reduced taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. And that's why we're giving small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, this administration has laid the foundation for greater prosperity across America so that every single person in this country has a chance to realize the American Dream. Today, the American economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. Perhaps you noticed that the third quarter annualized rate of growth numbers were increased to 8.2 percent, the fastest pace in nearly 20 years. Today the Purchasing Managers Index came out, showing that our manufacturing sector is recovering strongly. Productivity is high. Housing constructing is booming. The tax relief we passed, the economic stimulus plan that we passed, is working. Three years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform in Washington, DC, but there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reform in a generation. We believe that every child in America can learn the basics of reading and math, and we believe that every school in America should teach the basics. This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. In return for increased Federal dollars, we now expect results. The days of excuse making are over. We want every child to learn to read and write and add and subtract so that not one single child is left behind in America. We reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard the borders and ports of America and to better protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for New Jersey's farmers and entrepreneurs and manufacturers. We passed budget agreements to help bring spending discipline to Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. The United States Congress has shared in these great achievements. I appreciate working with Speaker Denny Hastert and Majority Leader Bill Frist. I want to thank Rodney and Mike for working with us to focus on results. The tone in Washington needs to be changed. There's too much needless partisanship, backbiting, and bickering. The best way to do that is to focus on results, and that's what we'll continue to do. We'll work with Congress to focus on results, to do the people's business. And those are the kind of people I've attracted to my administration. I've put together a superb group of men and women from all walks of life to serve the American people. And we've had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion. Laughter In 3 years, we have done a lot. In 3 years, we've come far, but our work is only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society that is prosperous and compassionate so every single citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and realize the great promise of America. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest, we will not tire, we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We're confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking coalition forces and international aid workers and innocent Iraqi citizens. They know that the advance of freedom in the heart of the Middle East would be a major defeat for the cause of terror. This collection of coldblooded killers is trying to shake the will of the United States. The United States will never be intimidated by a bunch of thugs and assassins. We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we do not have to face them in our own country. And other nations are helping, because they understand a free Iraq will make us all more secure. And we're standing with the brave Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward self government. These are not easy tasks, but they are essential tasks. We will finish what we have begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. Free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. And I know that freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty's gift to each man and woman who lives in the world. America understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world. When we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. And that is why, on the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men, women, and children now suffering with AIDS. This great, powerful nation is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges at home as well, and our actions will prove that we're equal to the challenges. Even though the economic numbers look good, there are still people who are trying to find a job. I will continue to promote a progrowth, entrepreneurially friendly growth package so that the people of America can find work. As Christie Todd has mentioned, we are keeping our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. For years, seniors have called for a modern Medicare system that provides health care choices and prescription drug coverage. For years, the Congress did nothing. Finally, the House and the Senate have both approved legislation, which I will soon sign, that will keep our promise to America's seniors. For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court, yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care and, therefore, they affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. I submitted a good plan to the Congress. The House of Representatives passed the plan. It is stuck in the United States Senate. Perhaps you ought to write your United States Senators and remind them that nobody in America has been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. We need medical liability reform now. I have a responsibility as your President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women to the Federal bench, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the United States Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some of the Members of the U.S. Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. Congress needs to get an energy bill to my desk. This country needs a comprehensive energy plan that will encourage conservation, that will enable us to develop new technologies that will enable us to find energy in environmentally friendly ways. For the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, this country must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. A strong and prosperous nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of what I call compassionate conservatism, which means we'll find the most innovative, effective ideas to help neighbors who hurt. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence upon Government and become independent through hard work. Congress must continue to build on the success of welfare reform, provide job training money to help our fellow citizens find a job. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so more Americans can serve their communities and their country. Both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring children and caring for the homeless and offering hope for the addicted. One of the great strengths of our country is the fact that we are a nation of many faiths and the fact that faith based people, whether they be Christian, Jewish, or Muslim, have had a universal call to help somebody in need. Government should not fear faith we ought to welcome faith and to help healing to help to heal hurting hearts and people who need help in America. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their own home. We have a minority home ownership gap in America. I presented plans to the Congress to close that gap. We want more people owning and managing their own retirement accounts and their own health care plans. We want more people owning their own small business in America, because this administration understands that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another, respect their point of view, respect their religious beliefs, and take responsibility for the decisions they make. The culture of America is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a new day, a culture in which each of us understands that we're responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mother or a father, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're worried about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in a new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for heeding a universal call to love a neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. The culture of service is strong in America. People are responding to the call to serve their country. I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need. The response has been strong. People are serving their Nation by supporting charities, faith based groups, neighborhood healers that are changing America one life at a time. Policemen and firefighters and the people who wear our Nation's uniform remind us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than ourselves. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 3 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. Thank you for coming. God bless. December 01, 2003 Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming. I appreciate you joining our campaign. You know what this means? It means we're laying the foundation for what is going to be a victory in Michigan and a nationwide victory in '04. I want to thank you for your help, and I want to thank you for your support. I'm getting ready, and I'm loosening up. Laughter But the political season will come in its own time. There will be plenty of time for politics, plenty of time for all the balloon drops and political speeches. See, I've got a job to do. I've got a job to do for everybody who lives in this country. So when you go to your coffee shops and your community centers, you tell them, "The politics will come, but right now the President is working hard to make sure America is secure and strong and prosperous and free." Laura sends her best. I know, you wish she were here instead of me. I understand. Laughter She's a fabulous First Lady. I really am a lucky man that she agreed to marry me, and the country, I think, is lucky that she is the First Lady. I appreciate State campaign chair Candice Miller. I thank her for her introduction. I thank her for her service to this State. I look forward to working with her to carry Michigan. I want to thank Michael, Michael Kojaian, for his leadership as the State finance chairman for Bush Cheney. I'm honored that Michael has taken on this responsibility. I want to thank the Members of the United States Congress other than Candice Miller who have shown up today, Congressmen Upton, Camp, Knollenberg, Smith, Rogers, and McCotter. I'm honored they are here. I want to thank you all for coming. I appreciate Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land for joining us today, as well as Attorney General Mike Cox. I know the speaker is here, Rick Johnson. Mr. Speaker, thank you for coming. And I appreciate all the members of the house and the State senate who have joined us. Go back to your districts and work hard laughter for Bush Cheney '04. I want to thank Betsy DeVos and Sharon Wise for taking a leadership position. I want to thank my friend Mercer Reynolds, who is the national finance chairman. Mostly I want to thank the activists who are here. You see, you win a campaign not only by helping to raise money you win a campaign by putting up the signs and licking the envelopes and making the phone calls to turn out the vote. I want to thank you for what you're going to do as we come down the stretch in 2004. And as you do so, I want you to remind people that during the last 3 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. You see, I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. My administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and today they live in freedom. Three years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense budgets to prepare for the threat of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill, the strength, and the spirit of the United States military. Three years ago, the economy was in trouble and a recession was just beginning. And then our country was attacked, and we had corporate scandals and war all affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. When Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and someone is more likely to find a job. So we're returning more money to the people to help them raise their families, reduce taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment, giving small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions with all these actions, we're laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America so that every single citizen has a chance to realize the American Dream. Our economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. Figures for the third quarter were recently revised upward to an annual growth rate of 8.2 percent. That's the fastest growth rate in nearly 20 years. Today the purchasing manager's index came out, which shows that our manufacturing sector is getting stronger. It's the highest numbers in nearly 20 years. Productivity is high. Business investment is getting strong. Housing construction is strong. The tax relief we passed is working. Three years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform there wasn't much action at the Federal Government. So I acted. I called for and Congress passed, with a solid bipartisan majority, the No Child Left Behind Act. This was the most dramatic education reform in a generation. It said we will spend money at the Federal level, particularly on Title I students, but for the first time, the Federal Government is demanding results, high standards and results. You see, we believe every child can learn the basics of reading and math. We expect every school to teach the basics of reading and math. This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. In return for Federal money, we now expect results in every single classroom in America so not one single child is left behind. During this period, we reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our borders and ports and to better protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Michigan's farmers and entrepreneurs and manufacturers. We passed budget agreements to help maintain spending discipline in Washington. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. The Congress shares in these achievements. We've done a lot because we've worked together. I appreciate Speaker Hastert and Leader Frist. Again, I want to thank the Members of the U.S. Congress who are here today. See, we're working hard to get rid of the needless politics that tends to dominate the political landscape in Washington, DC, the backbiting and name calling. The best way to do that is to focus on results for the American people, and that's exactly what we're doing. We're delivering for the American people. And those are the kind of people I've attracted to my administration. A mark of the administration is the capacity of fine, good, honorable people from all walks of life to serve America, and I have done just that. I put together a great group of Americans to serve. This country has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother has a second opinion. Laughter In 3 years, we have come far. We've done a lot, but our work is only beginning. I've set great goals worthy of this great Nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society that is prosperous and compassionate so that every citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and realize the tremendous promise of our country. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw the country into chaos by attacking coalition forces and aid workers and innocent Iraqi citizens. They know that the advance of freedom in Iraq, in the heart of the Middle East, would be a major defeat for the cause of terror. The coalition of killers the collection of killers is trying to shake the will of America. America will not be intimidated by a bunch of thugs and assassins. We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq. We will defeat them there so we do not have to face them in our own country. Other nations are helping. They're helping to build a free country in Iraq because they know a free Iraq will make us all more secure. We're standing with the Iraqi people, the brave Iraqi people, as they assume more of their own defense and more of their own self government. These are not easy tasks, but they are essential tasks. And the United States of America will finish what we have begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. Free nations do not develop weapons of mass terror to threaten the world. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. We believe that freedom is the future of every nation. And we know that freedom is not America's gift to the world. Freedom is the Almighty God's gift to every man and woman living in this world. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. When we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. And that's why, on the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men, women, and children now suffering with AIDS. We face challenges here at home. Our actions will prove that we're equal to those challenges. I'm leaving here to go to a small business to talk about the entrepreneurial spirit in America, about the need to create continue to create a progrowth environment so their businesses, large and small, can remain vibrant and can grow, so that people can find a job. We're keeping our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. See, for years, seniors have called for a modern Medicare system, one that provides coverage for prescription drugs and a system that gives seniors more choices. Washington listened. Washington didn't do anything. Finally, Washington has acted. I want to thank the House and the Senate for passing a bill I will shortly sign that will modernize the Medicare system and keep a promise to this country's seniors. For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. Yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care. They therefore affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. I proposed a good bill for the Congress to look at. The House of Representatives passed the bill. The bill is stuck in the United States Senate. The Senators from this State must act on behalf of the American people and support medical liability reform. No one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. We need reform now. I have the responsibility as the President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I've nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. A small group of Senators is willfully obstructing the process. Some appeals court nominees, including four from the great State of Michigan, four outstanding jurists from this State, are being forced to wait months or even years for an up or down vote. The needless delays in the system are harming the administration of justice. They're deeply unfair to the nominees themselves. It is time for some Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. This country needs an energy policy. We need a policy that encourages more conservation and energy efficiency. We need an energy policy which will help modernize the infrastructure, the capacity to deliver much needed power to homes and businesses. We need to explore in environmentally friendly ways for more energy. What we really need is, for the sake of economic security and national security, to become less dependent on foreign sources of power. A strong and prosperous nation must be a compassionate nation as well. I'm going to continue to advance our agenda of what I call compassionate conservatism, which means we'll apply the most effective, the best, the most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. We'll promote social entrepreneurship all across our country. There's still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of welfare reform by training and help, so more of our fellow citizens can find work and dignity. Congress should pass what's called the "Citizen Service Act" so more Americans can serve their communities and their countries. Both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative. Government can hand out money, can write checks, but it cannot put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. Many of the seemingly intractable problems of our society can only be solved through love. And we find love in our houses of worship. We find love where there's faith, faith of all walks of life, faith of all religions. Our Government should not fear faith. We ought to welcome faith in the helping to heal the broken hearts of America. A compassionate society is one that promotes opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. See, we want more people owning their own home. We have a minority homeownership gap in this country. I've submitted a plan to Congress to help close that gap. We want people owning and controlling their own health care plans, their own retirement accounts. We want more people owning their own small business. You see, we understand that when a person owns something in America, he or she has a vital stake in the future of this country. A compassionate society is one in which people respect one another, respect their points of view, respect their opinions, respect their religion, and also a society in which people take responsibility for the decisions they make. The culture is changing in America from one that said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're fortunate enough to be a mother or a father, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're concerned about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in a responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. The culture of service is strong in America. People are accepting responsibility for the decisions they make. I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps. It was a chance for people to extend a compassionate hand to people in need, and the response has been strong. Our neighborhood healers are vibrant and strong. The armies of compassion are growing all across America. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself in life. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. And in these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 3 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of this country. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it, and we know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you all. Thank you for coming. Glad you're here. November 29, 2003 Good morning. On Thursday, I was honored to travel to Iraq to spend Thanksgiving with some of the finest men and women serving in our military. My message to the troops was clear Your country is thankful for your service we are proud of you and America stands with you in all that you are doing to defend America. I'm pleased to report back from the frontlines that our troops are strong. Morale is high, and our military is confident we will prevail. Many members of our Armed Forces, Guard, and Reserve observed Thanksgiving in places far from home. In Afghanistan, Iraq, and elsewhere, our military is confronting the terrorist enemy so we don't meet that enemy in our own country. They're serving the cause of freedom. They're helping millions of people in newly liberated countries to build lives of dignity and hope. They are protecting the lives and security of the American people. All of us can be grateful to live in a country that has produced such brave men and women who stand between us and the dangers of the world. This holiday weekend is also a time when many proud military families are also feeling separation and worry. Long deployments in dangerous places have added hardships in military communities across the country. Many parents are dealing with the burdens of raising families while praying for the safe return of a loved one. Our whole Nation respects and appreciates the commitment and sacrifice of our military families. Americans are also thinking of the military families that must face this holiday with sorrow of recent loss. It is the nature of terrorism that a small number of people can inflict such terrible grief. Every person who dies in the line of duty commands the special gratitude of the American people. And the military families that mourn can know this Our Nation will not forget their loved ones and the sacrifice they made to protect us all. The courage of our soldiers and their families show the spirit of this country in great adversity. And many citizens are showing their appreciation by helping military families here at home. Members of the VFW have started an Adopt A Unit program, so veterans and their families can support military units in Iraq and Afghanistan. Volunteers from a group called Rebuilding Together have repaired homes for military families while their spouses are deployed. Citizens interested in finding volunteer opportunities to support our military should visit the USA Freedom Corps web site at usafreedomcorps.gov. Our Nation owes a debt of gratitude to every member of the United States military and to their families. It was a privilege to offer that gratitude in person to some of our troops serving in Iraq. May God bless them all, and may He continue to bless the United States of America. Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you for listening. November 27, 2003 President's Visit to Iraq The President. I thank you for honoring the confidentiality necessary to pull this off. I made the decision to go because I wanted our troops not only that were there to have dinner but the troops in harm's way to know that their Commander in Chief and, more importantly, their country support. And I thought the best way to do that would be to spend time with them on Thanksgiving to thank them and to send a message you know, the message I sent, which is we appreciate their sacrifices. You know, Thanksgiving has got to be hard for young troops, to know that their families are gathered, having dinner, a turkey feast and everything. That's got to be a lonely moment for them. And I felt like at this point that it would be hopefully, it would help them to see their President. And I recognize that I didn't see every troop in harm's way scattered throughout the region, but the word will get out, thanks to you all. The idea first came up in mid October. Andy said, "Would you be interested in going to Baghdad?" And I said, "Yes, I would, except I don't want to go if it puts anybody in harm's way. It's very essential that I fully understand all aspects of the trip, starting with whether or not we could get in out safely, whether or not my presence there would in any way cause the enemy to react and therefore jeopardize somebody else's life." I felt it was important to send a message that we care for them and we support them strongly and that we erase any doubt in their minds as to whether or not the people stand with them. You know, I understood the consequences and risks. And over time, I was assured by the planners and, as importantly, our military people and the pilot here of this airplane that the risk could be minimized if we were able to keep the trip quiet. I was fully prepared to turn this plane around. I thought a crucial moment yesterday was when I saw you all. That's why I said, you know, no phones. A crucial moment in this trip, frankly, was in between changing planes, and I wasn't sure whether or not and the circle is pretty tight I wasn't sure whether or not people would be able to tell their loved ones, "I can't see you on Thanksgiving, and I can't tell you why." So I was worried about that, but I was fully prepared to turn this baby around and come home. And 3 hours out, I checked with our Secret Service, who checked with people on the ground. They assured me that it was still a tight hold on the information and that the conditions on the ground were as positive as could possibly be. I even went up to the cockpit and watched Tillman bring it in which, had the security been broken, there would have been the time that we would have been most vulnerable. However, the plane that's why Colonel Tillman's judgment was so important to this this plane is protected it's protected against the kinds of things that could be used against it. It also we obviously flew in in the dark precautions were taken. At any rate, it was an emotional moment to walk in that room. The energy level was beyond belief. I mean, I've been in front of some excited crowds before, but this was the place truly erupted, and I could see the, first, look of amazement and then look of appreciation on the kids' faces. Working the crowd, a soldier said to me, "I'm so glad you came. Thanks for coming. It's important for us to know that the people of America support us, and the fact that the President would come confirms that in this soldier's mind." And I think it confirmed in a lot of soldiers' minds. Anyway, I'd be glad to answer any questions. Q. How'd you slip out of Crawford? The President. How'd I get out of Crawford, was the question. The agents, the Secret Service well, first of all, I didn't slip out, because I had to tell my family that would be my wife and daughters that I would not be there for Thanksgiving today. My mother and dad came over from College Station, thinking they would see me. They did not know I was not going to be there. So they knew Laura knew, and the girls knew. I assured them that I wouldn't be going if it wasn't well thought out and well planned. They understood. I think the girls thought it was a great thing to do, to go see the go thank our troops. A lot of the kids are their age, 22 years old, and younger. And Laura was pleased that I had decided to go. I comforted her about the you know, I assured her that I wouldn't be doing this if I wasn't confident we could get in and out of there safely. That was very important. They pulled up kind of a plain looking vehicle with tinted windows, and I slipped on a baseball cap and pulled her down, as did Condi. We looked like a normal couple. Laughter Q. On your way to the Wal Mart. Laughter The President. To buy some Berkeley Power worms. Laughter Q. Pulling a bass boat behind you? Laughter The President. Yes, exactly. Laughter We encountered some traffic. I 35, as you know, if you're a Texan well, you know. Anyway, Thanksgiving traffic, a lot of people heading up to Dallas, so we were about, I guess, 10 minutes late to the plane. But he kept moving. There were plenty of vehicles out there there just were. There were people out there. Then we got here, to TSTC. They had a bunch of people go in the front, and I came up the back. Q. The footman's entrance. The President. The footman's entrance. Glad to know how the people live. Laughter Q. Well, do you think Americans mind that you just slipped The President. I think Americans understand that we've got a bunch of kids in harm's way and that the President, if it can be done safely, owes an explanation of thanks and thanksgiving to these kids. Had I not been convinced it could be done and done properly, I wouldn't have gone. I think Americans also understand that, had we announced this, had I gone in to thank our troops with the flurry of announcement and all the analysts talking about it ahead of time, it would have put me in harm's way, and it would have put others in harm's way, including yourselves. So I think the American people appreciate me going to express their sentiments to these kids. These people are sacrificing for our freedom and our peace. We are at war with terror, and we are in the process of changing Iraq, which will make America more secure, and Americans appreciate that a lot. Meeting With Members of Iraq's Governing Council Q. Mr. President, we were told you got to see Mr. Chalabi today? The President. I did see Chalabi. I met with well, let's see, I had the dinner. You saw that. I wasn't sure how long you were there. You probably timed it, but an hour or so are these the times? Oh, these are the people there. I shook a lot of hands, saw a lot of kids, took a lot of pictures, served a lot of food, and we moved on to see four members of the Governing Council the names are here. Talabani is the head of it right now, so he was the main spokesman. But Chalabi was there, as was Dr. Khuzai, who had come to the Oval Office I don't know if you all were in the pool that day, but she was there she was there with him and one other fellow, and I had a good talk with them. We were there for about maybe a little less than 30 minutes. I was able to assure them that we were going to stay the course and get the job done, but I also reminded them what I said publicly, that it's up to them to seize the moment, to have a Government that recognizes all rights, the rights of the majority and the rights of the minority, to speak to the aspirations and hopes of the Iraqi people. I assured them that I believe in the future of Iraq, because I believe in the capacity of the people to govern as I said, govern wisely and justly. I meant what I said. I told them that privately. I told them I back Jerry Bremer 100 percent. He's got my full confidence. He was sitting right there as well. We had a nice visit. They assured me that they were making good progress, that the Iraqi people are overwhelmingly pleased that Saddam is gone, that they do see a bright future, and they want us to they want to work with us. Q. What do you make of what some of the ayatollahs have said lately about the need to have elections sooner and some of the concerns they've expressed about the process? The President. Well, I think that as I explained to these Governing Council members, to get where they need to be is going to require debate and discussion, and that's healthy. You know, the fact that there are different opinions being discussed is positive. It's a positive sign that things are different inside of Iraq. It took us a while to get from the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution. So we've got to be realistic and patient about how they proceed. I think the game plan they've got now in place is a good plan. The Governing Council came up with the plan. I supported it. We discussed the overarching flaw that they're discussing. They understand the basic the notion of human rights and the dignity of each person. I'm confident they'll get to where they've got to be. President's Visit to Iraq Q. Was there any point along in the planning for this trip that you looked at it and thought, you know, "This might be too risky maybe we should" The President. Yes, all along. I mean, I was the biggest skeptic of all. Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card. Yes, he was. Laughter The President. Our planners worked hard to answer every question, and I had a lot of questions. John Abizaid, who I just spoke to by phone, thanking him for the trip he chose not to come here because he wanted to be with his troops. And I understand that and appreciate that. But he was a very enthusiastic backer of this idea. But I also made sure that people interfacing with Abizaid knew that at any time he wanted us to pull out, I would do so. It was very important for John Abizaid and Jerry Bremer to be comfortable John Sanchez, General Sanchez, to be comfortable with this trip. And they were comfortable all the way through. I think we addressed every issue. Hagin is the point man in the administration for this. He did a fabulous job of addressing the details. I sat down with Colonel Tillman on one of our trips recently and just said, "Look, I need to know, what does it take to get into Baghdad now, and how risky is it?" And he said, "Sir, I wouldn't take you in there if I wasn't convinced that we could do this in a way that would safely bring you to the troops." I wouldn't have asked you to come if I didn't think it was safe. I would not have put you in this position. Q. Was there a moment when you thought it wasn't going to happen The President. No, no. It was moving all along, but I was pretty tough. In Vegas, I called in and still had more questions about how this was going to happen. Andy was there, and I was pushing hard. Yesterday I sat down on CIVITS out of Crawford with Condi and Andy and the Vice President, went around one more time just to make sure everybody knew all the details. People knew different aspects of it, but these three knew all the details and were confident that it was the right thing to do. It is the right thing to do. Having seen the reaction of those troops, you know it was the right thing to do, and the word will get out. And their parents will appreciate it, and their loved ones will appreciate it. I went over there to thank them and not only thank them but to remind them our country stands with them and that we will stay the course until the job is done. I met with then we went from the Governing Council I met with the key generals and colonels, the commanders in the field. They reported to me that we're on the offensive, that we're using the tools necessary to suppress the handful of the killers, and we're making good progress, and that the spirit of the troops is high they understand the mission and the goal. And I was pleased to be able to talk with these men and women as well. It's an important moment. They needed to see me. They needed to see because they don't read they don't get to see me all the time. Sometimes they read things. And they got to see me. They saw my determination and my support and respect for what they're doing. Meeting With Baghdad Area Leaders Communications Director Dan Bartlett. You might want to remind them about the Baghdad officials. The President. What? Director Bartlett. Two Baghdad officials. The President. Oh, met the chiefs head of the two council members, the chief of the council and one of his compatriots Baghdad. Bremer tells me crime in Baghdad is down by something like 38 percent. The chairman was very positive and optimistic and very thankful, by the way. To a person, the Iraqi leadership I met with are incredibly thankful and generous with their praise of what America has done for them. But that was a good meeting. It was getting down to the grassroots level, to you've seen me enough to know when I see these mayors, I tease them about filling the potholes. That's what you know, they've got a job to do, and they're doing it. I didn't say, "Fill the potholes," by the way. Laughter But I did encourage them, to let them know that we have confidence in their ability to self govern and we respect their culture and we want to help them. President's Visit to Iraq Q. Did you tell any Members of Congress that you were going to make The President. Do what now? Q. Did you inform any Members of Congress or anything? The President. No. Q. We're still a little unclear about when you told the First Lady. The President. Oh. Well, I told her that she knew all along actually, I didn't mean Laura and the girls. I meant the girls. Laura knew from we first started talking about this seriously on the trip to Asia. She was on the trip. I said, "Look, I'm thinking about going to Baghdad." And as the planning got more and more in place, I informed her more and more in place that it was more and more in place. I was more and more comfortable. And she asked me yesterday morning, am I going? I said, "Yes, I'm going." And so I told her yesterday she knew I was going, or planning on going, because I told you I'd pull the plug if I needed to. And I said, "It looks like we're on." And then the girls came up from Austin in the afternoon, and that's when I told Barbara and Jenna, with Laura there, that I was going to Baghdad. Q. Mr. President, you talked about talking to the generals and the colonels and about the more aggressive stance they've taken recently. You know, Secretary Rumsfeld said recently it's hard to get a grasp for whether or not we're making progress. Did you get a sense of what they're doing and how we can actually measure whether or not we're making headway? The President. Well, one way you measure is how many people you bring to justice. And they feel like they're making good progress. You can measure based upon feedback from the ground. That's what they get. And that's they're upbeat. They just said, "Mr. President, we'll stay the you stay the course. We'll succeed." And my message was, "I know you'll succeed, and I'm here to tell you we're going to stay the course." And I asked the General Sanchez about the recruitment of Iraqi citizens into these different security elements. He said, "It's strong. Training is going well." The Iraqi people and the Governing Council all thought the same. They want to be on the frontline of their own security, and that's a positive development. And so I was pleased with the report. Personal Aide Blake Gottesman. Thank you, everyone. The President. Good job. Q. What kind of ball cap was it? What did it say on it? National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. Mine was in my bag, it was Q. A Cleveland Browns hat? Q. It was actually I didn't have a Cleveland Browns hat. Q. That would have been a dead giveaway. Dr. Rice. That would have been a dead giveaway. The President. Here are the names of the people here. Q. We would love to get some video of you up here sometime, sir. Q. What does it say, Blake? The President. something like this. Q. Did you really pull it down that low? The President. No. We had pretty tinted windows. We went through a gate where Q. They thought, "Who in the world is that?" The President. Eddie said, "We're coming to a gate." Q. Inaudible The President. Well, I'm telling you, this is again, had this been jeopardized in any way, we wouldn't put myself and or you all in this position. And we were very we were cautious, and we needed to be. And I want to thank you for honoring that. This is an historic trip. And it'll reverberate in such positive ways for these kids who are and these soldiers who are far away from home serving us. And it's exactly what I wanted to do. Q. Thank you. Historic Presidential Visits to Combat Areas Q. Did you look back at any precedents of any other President's trips? The President. There is no precedent in the war on terror. This is the first war of the 21st century, unique in its nature. But I don't know. I guess you all need to do that. I don't know whether or not I think Lyndon Johnson went as a Vice President or as President. I don't know. Q. He was in Asia, and he made an unscheduled trip. The President. Into Vietnam as President? Q. Eisenhower went to Korea as a The President. Franklin Roosevelt went to north Africa, but the front was in Tunisia, I think, but maybe not. Q. Abraham Lincoln went to Richmond a couple of days after The President. He sure did. I got the picture of the White House of the Lincoln with his generals and Admiral Porter talking about the peace. I think that's what you're talking about. Q. But he was mobbed by people when he went to this was a couple of days after he fell. The President. Right. And he was on a boat outside of Richmond unfortunately called "The Peacemakers." It had a wonderful rainbow behind he and his generals. That's where he's talking about making sure the peace was fair and generous so that the United States would stay united. And, interestingly enough, the original is in the upstairs in the Treaty Room in the White House. And it is in the Pentagon as well, a copy of it, which I found to be very so I remember going into the Pentagon and somebody took laughter . But thanks for honoring it. Q. I appreciate it. The President. You're a credit to your Nation, a credit to your profession. November 27, 2003 Thank you. I was just looking for a warm meal somewhere. Laughter Thanks for inviting me to dinner. General Sanchez, thank you, sir, for your kind invitation and your strong leadership. Ambassador Bremer, thank you for your steadfast belief in freedom and peace. I want to thank the members of the Governing Council who are here, pleased you are joining us for one of our Nation's great holidays. It's a chance to give thanks to the Almighty for the many blessings we receive. I'm particularly proud to be with the 1st Armored Division, the 2d ACR, and the 82d Airborne. I can't think of a finer group of folks to have Thanksgiving dinner with than you all. We're proud of you. Today Americans are gathering with their loved ones to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives, and this year we are especially thankful for the courage and the sacrifice of those who defend us, the men and women of the United States military. I bring a message on behalf of America We thank you for your service we're proud of you and America stands solidly behind you. Together, you and I have taken an oath to defend our country. You're honoring that oath. The United States military is doing a fantastic job. You are defeating the terrorists here in Iraq so that we don't have to face them in our own country. You're defeating Saddam's henchmen so that the people of Iraq can live in peace and freedom. By helping the Iraqi people become free, you're helping change a troubled and violent part of the world. By helping to build a peaceful and democratic country in the heart of the Middle East, you are defending the American people from danger, and we are grateful. You're engaged in a difficult mission. Those who attack our coalition forces and kill innocent Iraqis are testing our will. They hope we will run. We did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq, pay a bitter cost in casualties, defeat a brutal dictator, and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins. We will prevail. We will win because our cause is just. We will win because we will stay on the offensive. And we will win because you're part of the finest military ever assembled. And we will prevail because the Iraqis want their freedom. Every day, you see firsthand the commitment and sacrifice that the Iraqi people are making to secure their own freedom. I have a message for the Iraqi people You have an opportunity to seize the moment and rebuild your great country based on human dignity and freedom. The regime of Saddam Hussein is gone forever. The United States and our coalition will help you, help you build a peaceful country so that your children can have a bright future. We'll help you find and bring to justice the people who terrorized you for years and are still killing innocent Iraqis. We will stay until the job is done. I'm confident we will succeed because you, the Iraqi people, will show the world that you're not only courageous but that you can govern yourself wisely and justly. On this Thanksgiving, our Nation remembers the men and women of our military, your friends and comrades, who paid the ultimate price for our security and freedom. We ask for God's blessings on their families, their loved ones, and their friends, and we pray for your safety and your strength as you continue to defend America and to spread freedom. Each one of you has answered a great call, participating in an historic moment in world history. You live by a code of honor service to your Nation for the safety and the security of your fellow citizens. Our military is full of the finest people on the face of the Earth. I'm proud to be your Commander in Chief. I bring greetings from America. May God bless you all. November 25, 2003 Thanks for coming. Go ahead and please be seated. I appreciate you coming. Thanks for the warm welcome. It's great to be in one of America's greatest cities, Las Vegas. The Governor was saying, ''Don't you want to spend a little time here, a little quality time?'' And I said, ''Well, I'm on Government pay'' laughter if you know what I mean. But this is a dynamic part of our country. The growth is amazing. The spirit is great. It's such an honor to be here. We did really well in the year 2000 here in Nevada. We're going to do great in 2004 too. I appreciate you coming. As the Governor said, this is a successful fund raiser. I'll tell you what we're doing We're laying the foundation for what is going to be a great national victory in November 2004. I'm loosening up. I'm getting ready. But politics will come in its own time. See, I've got a job to do. I want you to tell your fellow citizens, this President is going to work on behalf of everybody to keep this country safe and secure, prosperous and free. I appreciate Kenny, who's a good friend, and Dema. They've been friends of Laura and mine for a while. We both married above ourselves. Laughter Dema is doing a great job as the first lady of this State. Laura is doing a great job as the First Lady of our country. She sends her best. I left her this morning in Crawford. We went for about a 3 1 2 mile walk together across the countryside, had a little time to visit outside the bubble in Washington, DC, and we're going to spend Thanksgiving together. She's a great wife, a wonderful mother, and I'm really proud of the tone she has set and the job she's doing as our Nation's First Lady. Darlene Ensign is here. I'm proud to call John Ensign, Senator John Ensign, a friend and an ally. I appreciate so very much members from the congressional delegation who are here. You've sent some fine people from Nevada to Washington, DC, starting with Congressman Jim Gibbons. Jim, I thank you, appreciate you. Dawn is with him. Congressman Jon Porter, appreciate you coming, Jon. Laurie is with Jon. Nevada is such a powerful attraction for people around the country that you've been able to attract some people from the United States House of Representatives who aren't from your great State. Laughter Trent Franks and Josie Franks came over from the State of Arizona. I want to thank Congressman Franks for joining us today. Frank LoBiondo from New Jersey is with us. I'm honored that Frank is with us. Thank you for coming, Frank. I told old Frank, I said, "Gosh, it's great to see you. Thanks for coming to see me." He said, "I didn't come to see you." Laughter "I came to be with my fiancee, Tina." Laughter Happens to live here in Las Vegas. I'm honored that the Lieutenant Governor is here, Lorrie Hunt Lorraine Hunt. I appreciate you coming, Lorraine. The chairman of the campaign, chairman of the Bush Cheney '04 campaign, is your great attorney general, Brian Sandoval. Thanks for coming, Brian. I'm honored that Secretary of State Dean Heller is with us today. Dean, thank you for coming. I appreciate you being here. State Controller Kathy Augustine is with us. Thank you for coming, Kathy. Got a lot of other State and local officials. I'm grateful you're here. I appreciate your service to your State and to your county and to your city. I'm honored that my friend Mercer Reynolds, who's the national finance chairman, is with us. He's from Cincinnati, Ohio. He's a business person taking time out of his life to help make sure this campaign is adequately funded. He's doing a really good job, thanks to you all. Larry and Camille Ruvo have done a lot to do with this event. I'm honored you all are here. Thank you. Appreciate you, Larry. I want to thank all the grassroots activists who are here with us today. See, it's important to make sure that we're well funded. It's also important to make sure people get on the phones and put up the signs and go to the coffee shops and put out the word that this is an optimistic and hopeful administration who's getting the job done for the American people. In the last 3 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems instead of passing them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. This administration is meeting the tests of our time. Declare terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. Three years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era, and today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Three years ago, this economy of ours was in trouble, and a recession was beginning. And then our country was attacked, and we had scandals in corporate America as well as the war to make America more secure and the world more peaceful. All of that affected the people's confidence, but we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get this economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. I believe that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. And so we're returning more money to the people, returning money to help them raise their families. We've reduced taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We've given small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, we're laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America, so that every single person has a chance to realize the American Dream. This economy of ours is reacting to our policy. The American economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. The third quarter figures were just revised upward to 8.2 percent, the fastest pace in nearly 20 years. Productivity is high. Business investment is rising. Housing construction is strong. The job base is expanding. The tax relief we passed is working. Three years ago there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We're now bringing high standards and strong accountability measures to every public school in America. We've increased the education budgets at the Federal level. But for the first time in our Nation's history, we now expect results in return for the increased funding. This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. We're raising the bar. We're raising the standards, because we believe every child can learn, and we expect every school to teach, so not one single child is left behind in America. We reorganized this Government of ours to create the Department of Homeland Security, safeguard the borders and ports of America, and to better protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for our country's entrepreneurs and farmers and ranchers. We passed budget agreements to bring much needed spending discipline to Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. The United States Congress deserves a lot of the credit. I appreciate working with Speaker Denny Hastert, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, the good folks from Nevada who are working with this administration. You see, what we're doing in Washington, DC, is we're trying to change the tone of the Nation's Capital. There's too much needless backbiting and endless politics. Instead of focusing on political process, we're focusing on the people's business by focusing on results. And those are the kind of people I've assembled in my administration. I've put together one of the greatest teams ever to serve the American people. We've got people from all walks of life, strong, dedicated, honorable Americans who have come to Washington, DC, to serve the people of this country. Our country has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a different opinion. Laughter In 3 years, we have come far, but our work is only beginning. I've set great goals worthy of this great Nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and to realize the promise of America. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking coalition forces and aid workers and innocent Iraqi citizens. You see, they know that the advance of freedom in Iraq would be a major defeat for their cause of terror. A collection of killers is trying to shake the will of the United States. The United States of America will never be intimidated by a bunch of thugs. We're on the offensive. We're aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq. We will defeat them there so we do not have to face them in our own country. Other nations are helping. They're helping to build a free country, because they understand a free Iraq will make us all more secure. We're standing with the Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward self government. These are not easy tasks, but they are essential tasks. The United States of America will finish what we have begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. Free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. We believe that freedom is the future of every nation. And we know that freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty's God's gift to every person who lives in the world. Also understand that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world, and when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children suffering from AIDS. This great, strong, compassionate land is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We've got challenges here at home as well, and we're equal to those challenges. I just mentioned some nice economic numbers, but we're going to stay focused on a progrowth economic agenda until everyone who wants to work can find a job. And we're keeping our commitment to America's seniors. Today the United States Senate joined the House of Representatives and passed strong reform that will modernize and strengthen Medicare. For years, seniors have called for a modern Medicare system that provides coverage for prescription drugs and more health care choices. For years, Washington simply listened and did nothing. Finally, the House and the Senate have acted. This historic legislation is the greatest improvement in senior health care coverage since the enactment of Medicare in 1965. And I look forward to signing this important piece of legislation. For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doctor deserve their day in court, yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, and they therefore affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. I have proposed such a solution. I proposed such a solution, and the U.S. House of Representatives, thanks to the Members here, voted for medical liability reform. The bill is stuck in the Senate. It is time for your Senator to understand that no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. We need medical liability reform now. I have a responsibility as the President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some of the Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. Our Nation must promote energy efficiency and conservation. We must work to develop cleaner technologies. We must explore for energy in environmentally sensitive ways. For the sake of our economic security and for the sake of national security, this country must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. A strong and prosperous nation must also be a compassionate nation. I'm going to continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, which means we'll apply the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. There's still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. The Congress must work with the administration to continue to build on the success of welfare reform, to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our citizens. The Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so more Americans can serve their communities and our country. Both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring our children and caring for the homeless and offering hope to the addicted. One of the great strengths of our country, the people of faith from all religions people have heard a universal call to help somebody in need. This Government of ours must not fear faith, but it must welcome the good works of our faith based institutions as we reach out as a society to heal broken hearts, to help the lonely, to say to somebody who wonders about the future of this country, "I love you." A compassionate society must also promote opportunity for all of us, and that means the independence and dignity that come from ownership. You see, this administration is working for and will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their own home. We've got a minority homeownership gap in America. I presented a plan to Congress to close that gap. We want people owning and managing their own retirement accounts, owning and managing their own health care accounts. We want more people owning their own small business in America, because we understand that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our country. A compassionate society is one in which people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make in life. The culture of America is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to one in which each of us understands we're responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're fortunate enough to be a mother or a father, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're worried about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you are responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in a responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. The culture of service and responsibility is strong in this country. It's truly one of the strengths of America. You know, I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to neighbors in need, and the response has been strong. A lot of people are interested in helping, helping our country by helping somebody who hurts. Our charities are strong, and thank you for helping them. Our faith based organizations are vibrant. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear this country's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than ourself in life. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 3 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift up whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it, and we know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. Thank you for coming, and may God bless America. Thank you all. November 25, 2003 The President. Thank you all very much. Thank you for coming. I'm honored that so many people showed up tonight. Jon said, "If you come to Arizona, we may be able to get a couple of folks to come." Laughter This is a fantastic event. You know what we're doing? We're laying the foundation for what is going to be a great national victory in 2004. I'm honored you're here, I really am. I want to thank you all for coming. It's a big deal that you showed up. It means a lot. You know, I'm getting ready. I'm kind of loosening up. Laughter But politics will come in its own time. I've got a job to do. I've got a job to do in our Nation's Capital. And as you circulate around this important State, when you go to your coffee shops or your community centers or your houses of worship, you tell them President Bush and his administration is focused on the people's business. We're working on behalf of everybody to keep this country strong and secure and prosperous and free. My one regret for this evening, Senator, is the fact that Laura isn't with me. Audience members. Aw w w. The President. No, I know it. I know it. A lot of you would rather have had her than me. Laughter It shows how wise you are. Laughter She is a fabulous lady. She is a great wife, a wonderful mother, and she's doing a heck of a good job as the First Lady of this country. Kyl married well too I'm honored Caryll is here. I picked two fine people to be the State cochairmen of this campaign, and that's Senator Jon Kyl and Senator John McCain. You've sent two fine Americans to the United States Senate. We've also got a great congressional delegation, some of whom are here tonight. I'm so honored that Congressman Jim Kolbe is here. Congressman J.D. Hayworth and his wife, Mary, is here. As I mentioned a little while ago, they're starting to call him "Slim" Hayworth. Laughter He's looking quite pretty these days. Laughter John and Shirley Shadegg are here with us today. John, thank you for coming. Cheryl and Jeff Flake are with us today. Josie and Trent Franks are with us today. And finally, Congressman Rick Renzi is with us today. I'm honored that they're thank you all for coming. I appreciate working with these fine folks from Arizona. They care deeply about our country. They're strong leaders. They love the people of Arizona. I know you're proud of them. I'm proud to call them friends and allies. I also want to thank statehouse members who are here. Jan Brewer, the secretary of state, is with us. Jan, thank you for coming. Speaker Jake Flake asked me to watch Congressman Jeff Flake in Washington to make sure he behaved himself. Laughter But Mr. Speaker, I'm glad you're here. As Jeff came through, he said he's a real, live cowboy. I like coming to States where they have real, live cowboys. You know, Senator, we're keeping pretty good company when people show up to fundraisers in cowboy hats. Laughter I appreciate the mayor of this fine city, Skip Rimsza, for being here. Mr. Mayor, you've done a fine job, but most of all, thank you for coming. I do know that the former Governor, Fife Symington, is here. I saw him up close. He's a great Governor for the State of Arizona. I appreciate my buddy from down south, Jim Click, for being such a great friend inaudible and Jim Simmons. Both of you all have worked hard to make sure this has been a fantastic evening, and I want to thank you. I want to thank the chairman of the Republican Party, Bob Fannin, and I want to thank Mike Hellon, the national committeeman. I want to thank the grass roots activists who are here. It's important to have a successful fundraising operation. Evelyn, thank you for coming. Laughter It's important to have a active fundraising effort, and we've done well tonight. It's equally important to have an active grass roots effort. You see, you win campaigns when you go and you put up the signs and you get on the telephone and you write the letters. For the grassroots activists here, I want to thank you for what you're going to do on behalf of the Bush Cheney ticket in '04. In the last 3 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems instead of passing them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. My administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and today they live in freedom. Three years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill, the strength, and the spirit of the United States military. Three years ago, our economy was in trouble, and recession was beginning. And then our country was attacked, and we had scandals in corporate America, and we went to war to make our country more secure and the world more peaceful. And all those actions affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. Here is what we believe, that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and someone is more likely to find a job. We're returning money to the people. To help them raise their families, we've reduced taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We've given small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, we're laying the foundation for greater economic prosperity and more jobs across America, so that every single citizen in this country has a chance to realize the American Dream. Today, this economy of ours is strong, and it is getting stronger. They just released some new figures on the revised third quarter growth. It turns out the third quarter grew at an annual rate of 8.2 percent. That's the fastest growth in nearly 20 years. You see, productivity is high business investment is rising housing construction is strong. The tax relief we passed is working. Three years ago, there was a lot of talk in Washington about education reform, and there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We increased spending for Title I students. But for the first time, the Federal Government has asked a simple question Are the children learning to read and write and add and subtract? In return for Federal money, we now expect results. You see, we believe every child can learn. This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. Not only do we believe every child can learn, we expect every school to teach, so that not one single child is left behind. We reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our borders and ports and to better protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Arizona's farmers and ranchers and entrepreneurs. We passed budget agreements, much needed budget agreements, to bring spending discipline to Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. And the Congress gets a lot of credit. As I told you, I've enjoyed working with the Members from the great State of Arizona, good, honorable, and decent people. I've got a great relationship with Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist from Tennessee and Speaker Denny Hastert from Illinois. These are fine people. We're working hard on behalf of the American people. We're working hard to change the tone in Washington. There's too much needless backbiting and petty politics in the Nation's Capital. We're working hard to focus on results to do the people's work, and those are the kind of people I've attracted to my administration. I brought people from all walks of life, all backgrounds to serve the people of America. There has never been a finer administration than the one I put together for the people of this country, and we've had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion, Senator. Laughter In 3 years, we've come far. If you look at the results, we've done a lot. But our work is only beginning. See, I've set great goals worthy of this great Nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society that is prosperous and compassionate so that every single citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and realize the great promise of America. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking coalition forces, international aid workers, and innocent Iraqi citizens. You see, they know that the advance of freedom in Iraq would be a major defeat in the cause of terror. This collection of coldblooded killers is trying to shake the will of the civilized world and trying to shake the will of America. America will never be intimidated by a bunch of thugs. We're on the offensive in Iraq. We're aggressively after them. We're striking the terrorists in Iraq. We will defeat them there so we will not have to face them in our own cities. Other nations are helping, and there is a simple reason They understand that a free Iraq will make the world more secure. And we're standing with the Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward self government. These are not easy tasks, but they are essential tasks. And we will finish what we have begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. Free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. We believe that freedom is the future of every nation. And we know that freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty's gift to every person who lives in the world. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world, and when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power, the healing power of medicine, to millions of men and women and children suffering with AIDS. This incredibly strong and powerful Nation is a compassionate nation, and we are leading the world in this very important work of human rescue. We face challenges here at home as well, and we will be equal to those challenges. This administration will stay focused on a progrowth economic agenda until everyone who wants to work can find a job. We are keeping our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. For years, seniors have asked that the Federal Government keep its commitment, its solemn promise, by having a modern Medicare system that provides preventative care and prescription drugs and health care choices for our seniors. And Washington listened to those seniors but didn't do anything. Finally, the House and the Senate have acted. They've approved legislation that will bring modern medicine to our seniors. This historic legislation is the greatest improvement in senior health care coverage since the enactment of Medicare in 1965. I look forward to signing this bill. For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doctor deserve their day in court, yet the system shouldn't reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care. They affect the Federal budget, and therefore, medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. I submitted a good plan to the Congress. The House of Representatives acted. The bill is stuck in the United States Senate. I want to thank Senator Kyl and Senator McCain for working for this important legislation. Certain Members of the Senate must understand, however, that no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. We need medical liability reform now. I have a responsibility as your President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the Senate not this Senator, not Senator McCain are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some Members to stop playing politics with American justice. Congress needs to get an energy bill to my desk. We need a comprehensive energy plan in this country. We need to encourage conservation, develop cleaner technology. We need to do a lot of things. But one thing we need to do is to become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. For the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, I need an energy bill to my desk. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I'll continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, which means we'll apply the most effective and innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens who hurt. See, there's still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on our Government and become independent through work. I want to work with Congress to build on the success of welfare reform, to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our citizens. Congress needs to complete the "Citizen Service Act" so that we can encourage more Americans to serve their communities and their country. We need to get the Faith Based Initiative finished. I proposed a Faith Based Initiative which will empower the armies of compassion which exist all across America to help the homeless, to mentor the children, to offer hope to the addicted. This is a great nation because we're a nation of many faiths. People are free to worship any way you see fit. But there's a commonality to our faiths, the call to help somebody hurt. Our Government should not fear faith. We ought to welcome faith into helping cure some of the intractable problems of our society. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for everyone, including the independence and dignity from ownership. My administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their own home. We have a minority homeownership gap in America. I proposed a plan to the Congress to close that gap. We want people owning and managing their own retirement accounts. We want people owning and managing their own health care plans. We want more people owning their own small business. This administration understands that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of this country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another, respect their opinions and respect their beliefs. And people take responsibility for the decisions they make in life. America's culture is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands that we're responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're lucky enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're concerned about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. In a responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. The culture of service and responsibility is strong in this great country. It's truly one of the great strengths of America. I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps right after September the 11th. It was a chance to give people a web portal in which to find out how to volunteer in their communities, and the response has been really strong. Americans care about their neighbors. Our charities are vibrant. If you're involved in a charity or a faith based group, thanks for what you're doing. You're making America a better place. Our policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform applause you haven't even got the punch line yet. Laughter People who wear the uniform remind us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. You know, once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 3 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of our country. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you all. Thank you for coming. I appreciate it. November 24, 2003 Thank you for the warm welcome, and good morning. I'm honored to be here at the Pentagon with the men and women who are defending America and who are fighting the war on terror. America is counting on your skill and courage. People in our military depend upon the support of the Congress and the President and the administration. Today, with the National Defense Authorization Act, our Government is meeting its obligations. We're sending a clear message In a time of conflict and challenge, America stands with the United States military. Mr. Secretary, you are doing a fantastic job for America. You lead with courage you lead with clear vision and you lead with strength. I appreciate General Dick Myers and the members of the Joint Chiefs who are with us. Thank you for your great service to our country. I want to thank the ranking enlisted personnel who are with us today, Sergeant Major John Estrada and Master Chief Petty Officer Terry Scott. I appreciate you all being up here as well. Thank you for your fine service. I want to thank the Department of Defense personnel who are with us today. Thank you for working with the Secretary and Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz and others for making sure the Pentagon does its job and does its job well. I want to thank the Members of Congress who are here. I particularly want to single out Chairman Warner and Chairman Hunter John Warner of Virginia, United States Senate Duncan Hunter of California, the House of Representatives. I want to thank both of you for working on this important piece of legislation, for solving issues inside the bill, and getting a good bill to this desk. Thank you inaudible . I also thank Senator Carl Levin, who's the ranking member, Senator Susan Collins from Maine, and Congressman Tom Davis for joining us on this stage and for their leadership in this important piece of legislation. I want to thank the other Members of the United States Senate and the House of Representatives who have joined us. Thank you for supporting this piece of legislation. It's an important signal we're sending, because, you see, the war on terror is different than any war America has ever fought. Our enemies seek to inflict mass casualties without fielding mass armies. They hide in the shadows, and they're often hard to strike. The terrorists are cunning and ruthless and dangerous, as the world saw on September the 11th, 2001, and again in Istanbul last week. Yet these killers are now facing the United States of America and a great coalition of responsible nations, and this threat to civilization will be defeated. In this new kind of war, our military needs to be fast and smart and agile, and it is. Right now, America's Armed Forces are the best trained, best equipped, and best prepared in the world, and this administration will keep it that way. The bill I sign today authorizes 400 billion over the next fiscal year to prepare our military for all that lies ahead. We will do whatever it takes to keep our Nation strong, to keep the peace, and to keep the American people secure. First, this legislation respects and supports the men and women of our military and their families, all of whom are a vital source of our national strength. For more than three decades, America has been well served and well defended by our All Volunteer Force. The quality and professionalism of that force has never been higher. Whether you wear four stars or one stripe, our military is making America proud. In this time of war, our military is facing greater sacrifice. Our men and women in uniform are facing longer separations. Your families are feeling great pride, and sometimes they worry. America is grateful for your willingness to serve, and we are showing our gratitude. This bill authorizes an across the board pay increase averaging 4.15 percent. It extends through next year the increase of extra pay earned by servicemembers who volunteer for hazardous duty and who endure long separations from their families. The bill further reduces housing costs for those living off posts. It reauthorizes bonus pay for those with specialized skills. Those who risk their lives for our liberty deserve to be fairly paid and fairly treated, and this bill keeps those commitments. Second, this legislation helps America remain prepared and fully equipped for the challenges of our time. In our new struggle, threats can emerge suddenly, and so we must always be ready. This bill authorizes funds for realistic training, because battles are won with the effective training of our people. The Congress has authorized the full 9.1 billion that I requested for ballistic missile defense. The spread of ballistic missile technology, along with the spread of weapons of mass destruction, is a terrible danger to America and to the world, and we must have the tools and the technologies to properly protect our people. This bill also advances the vital work of transforming the personnel system for civilian defense workers, so that we can place the right person in the right job to meet the challenges we face. Nearly 700,000 civilian defense workers have been laboring under a cumbersome, inefficient system designed for another century. The bill I sign today reforms this system. It gives DOD managers the flexibility to place civilian workers where they are most needed, without needless delay. It speeds up the hiring process so that new employees will not have to face a wait of many months before beginning their service to our country. It introduces pay for performance bonuses and streamlines the promotion process, making a career at the Defense Department more attractive to talented workers. These are landmark reforms, the most ambitious of their kind in a quarter century and similar in scope and purpose to those enacted for the Department of Homeland Security. To win the war on terror, America must fully utilize the skills and talents of everyone who serves our country, and this bill will help us achieve that goal. Every member of the United States military is now involved in a great and historic task, and the stakes for our country could not be higher. We face enemies that measure their progress by the chaos they inflict, the fear they spread, and the innocent lives they destroy. America's military is standing between our country and grave danger. You're standing for order and hope and democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq. You're standing up for the security of all free nations and for the advance of freedom. The American people and your Commander in Chief are grateful, and we will support you in all your essential missions. And now it is my honor to sign the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004. May God bless you all. November 24, 2003 The President. Thank you all. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. Thank you all very much. Thank you for the warm welcome. I'm honored to be in the Rocky Mountain State. I'm honored to be in Fort Carson. More importantly, I'm honored to be in the presence of so many fine Americans, so many great citizens who proudly wear our Nation's uniform. The soldiers of Fort Carson are now engaged in the largest deployment from this post since World War II. You reflect tremendous credit to the United States Army. You bring great pride to the people of the United States of America. The people of our Armed Forces are serving at a crucial period for America and for all free nations. We're at war with terrorists who hate what we stand for, liberty, democracy, tolerance, and the rights and dignity of every person. We're a peaceful nation, yet we are prepared to confront any danger. We are fighting the terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan and in other parts of the world so we do not have to fight them on the streets of our own cities. And we will win. In this war, America depends on our people in uniform to protect our freedom and to keep our country safe, and all who serve depend every day on the support of your families. These are challenging times for military families. You in the Pikes Peak community know that very well. Military life makes many demands on wives and husbands and sons and daughters. You have faced hardships, and you have faced them together. And I want you to know, our whole Nation is grateful to our military families. America is also indebted to the men and women of the Guard and Reserve who are serving abroad and to those who are called for homeland security assignments. Hundreds of Reserve units across America have been activated in this time of war. Our country thanks these fine citizens, and we thank their employers for putting duty first. I want to thank Major General Bob Wilson for his leadership and his strength of character. I want to thank General Larry Ellis as well for greeting me here today. It's my honor to have met General Lance Lord, Commander of the Air Force Space Command. I appreciate Colonels Orr, Terry, Wininger, and Resty for being such strong leaders and for greeting me here. It was my privilege to have lunch with Sergeant Major Mac McWilliams. He's the kind of guy you don't want to cross. Laughter He's the kind of guy you want on your side. I'm glad he's on my side, and I'm glad you're on my side. I appreciate Bill Hybl, who is the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army. I want to thank the families of the fallen soldiers who are here with us today. Our prayers are with you. We ask for God's strength and God's guidance. I'm honored that the great Governor of the great State of Colorado is with us today, Governor Bill Owens. We've got some members of the United States Congressional delegation here who are strong supporters of our military and our military families, Congressman Hefley and McInnis, Tancredo, Beauprez, and Musgrave. Thank you all for coming. I'm honored you're here. The speaker of the house is here Madam Speaker, thank you for coming, Lola Spradley. The mayor of Colorado Springs and the mayor of Fountain, Mayor Rivera and Mayor Barela, are with us as well. Thank you all for coming. I thank all State and local officials for being here. But most of all, I want to thank you all for coming. It's my honor to be here. When I landed, when I got off that magnificent bird, Air Force One, I was greeted by a lady named Diane Campbell. She brought her family with her. She's an active volunteer with the Army Family Team Building program. Applause As I said, she brought her family with her. Laughter The reason I bring up Diane Campbell is, oftentimes people measure the strength of America based upon the number of tanks and airplanes we have or the size of our wallets. No, the strength of America lies in the hearts and souls of our citizens. You see, people like Diane Campbell are providing training and information to military spouses and families to help them adjust to the life in the Army. See, they're reaching out. They've heard the universal call to love a neighbor just like they would like to be loved themselves. The true strength of America is the American people, because we're a compassionate, decent, caring, loving people, just like Diane Campbell. I want to thank Diane and all the Army Family Team Building members for your service. I ask you all to reach out a hand to somebody who hurts. I ask you to help us change our country one lonely soul at a time. For more than 60 years, the units of Fort Carson have been known for training hard and being prepared at all times. Men and women have gone forth from this base to make history, from the Pacific theater in World War II to Korea, Vietnam, and Desert Storm. Many thousands who served in these causes still live here in this area. I don't blame you. Laughter It's a beautiful part of our country. Our veterans and military retirees played their part in maintaining the greatest fighting force in the world. They kept our country free, and we are grateful to the veterans who are with us here today. Today, a new generation has been called to great challenges. The soldiers of the Mountain Post have been called to serve in the first war of the 21st century. This war began more than 2 years ago, on September the 11th, 2001, when America was attacked and thousands of our fellow citizens were murdered. The events of that morning changed our Nation. We awakened to new dangers, and we accepted new responsibilities. That day we saw the harm that our enemies intend for us. And last week we saw their cruelty again, in the murders in Istanbul. Today, America, Britain, and Turkey and all responsible nations are united in a great cause We will not rest until we bring these committed killers to justice. These terrorists will not be stopped by negotiations or by appeals to reason or by the least hint of conscience. We have only one option We must and we will continue to take the fight to the enemy. We fight this war against terror on many fronts. Terrorists hide and strike within free societies, so we're draining their bank accounts, disrupting their plans. We're hunting them down one by one until they can no longer threaten America and other free peoples. Terrorists need places to hide, to plot, and to train, so we're holding their allies, the allies of terror, to account. Working with a fine coalition, our military went to Afghanistan, destroyed the training camps of Al Qaida, and put the Taliban out of business forever. In Iraq, where a dictator defied the world, cultivated ties to terror, armed with deadly weapons, America led a mission to make the world safer and to liberate the Iraqi people, and that brutal dictator's regime is no more. Thanks to our great military, Iraqi citizens do not have to fear the dictator's secret police or ending in a mass grave. Thanks to our military, the torture chambers are closed, and the prison cells for children are empty. Thanks to our military, we have captured many members of the former regime, and the rest of them have a lot to worry about. Recently, in Operation Iron Hammer, our coalition worked with the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps and police to strike hard against the forces of murder and chaos. We countered attacks. We seized weapons. We brought coldblooded killers to justice. We're proud of all who participated in these forceful and successful operations. And we're sending a clear message Anyone who seeks to harm our soldiers can know that our great soldiers are hunting for them. Our mission in Iraq and Afghanistan is clear to our servicemembers, and it's clear to our enemies. America's military is fighting to secure the freedom of more than 50 million people who recently lived under two of the cruelest dictatorships on Earth. America's military is fighting to help democracy and peace and justice rise in a troubled and violent region. And because we're fighting terrorist enemies thousands of miles away, in the heart and center of their power, we are making the United States of America more secure. Units from this base have been vital to our campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. The 7th Infantry Division has done fine work preparing Guard brigades for combat duty overseas, with one battalion in Iraq from the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom preparing a brigade to deploy and a brigade now in Afghanistan helping to train the Afghan National Army. We're grateful for the 3d Brigade Combat Team, the 3d Armored Calvary Regiment, the 10th Special Forces Group, the 43d Area Support Group. These and other units are showing the skill and the discipline that define Fort Carson, and you're showing the courage that defines the United States Army. Today, American forces in Iraq are joined by about 24,000 troops from 32 other countries. Together, we're helping the Iraqi people move steadily toward a free and democratic society. Economic life is being restored to cities of Iraq. A new Iraqi currency is circulating. Local governments are up and running. Iraq will soon begin the process of drafting a constitution, with free elections to follow. As Iraq rejoins the world, it will demonstrate the power of freedom and hope to overcome resentment and hatred. And this transformation will help make America more secure. The work we are in is not easy, yet it is essential. The failure of democracy in Iraq would provide new bases for the terrorist network and embolden terrorists and their allies around the world. The failure of democracy in those countries would convince terrorists that America backs down under attack. Yet democracy will succeed in Iraq, because our will is firm and our word is good. Democracy will succeed because every month, more and more Iraqis are fighting for their own country. People we have liberated will not surrender their freedom. Democracy will succeed because the United States of America will not be intimidated by a bunch of thugs. This community knows firsthand that the mission in Iraq is difficult and the enemy is dangerous. Saddam loyalists and foreign terrorists are attacking the symbols of order and freedom, from international aid workers to coalition forces to innocent Iraqi citizens. Terrorists have chosen to make a stand and test our resolve. Our resolve will not be shaken. It is the nature of terrorism that a small number of people can inflict terrible grief, and here, you felt loss. Every person who dies in the line of duty leaves a family that lives in sorrow and comrades who must go on without them. The Fort Carson community said farewell to some of your best. One of them was Staff Sergeant Daniel Bader. This good man left behind his wife, Tiffany, and their 14 month old daughter. Tiffany Bader said this to a reporter recently "I'm going to wait until she is old enough to realize what happened, and I will tell her exactly what her daddy did for her. He died serving his country so that my little girl could grow up free." The courage of that soldier and the courage of that wife show the spirit of this country in the face of great adversity. And all our military families that mourn can know this Our Nation will never forget the sacrifice their loved one made to protect us all. By the unselfish dedication of Americans in uniform, children in our own country and in lands far away will be able to live in freedom and know the peace that freedom brings. As Americans, we believe that freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty God's gift to every person who lives in the world. As men and women who serve the cause of freedom, each one of you has answered a great calling. You live by a code of honor, in service to your Nation, for the safety and security of your fellow citizens. You and I have taken an oath to defend America. We're meeting that duty together, and I'm proud to be the Commander in Chief of the greatest military, full of the finest people on the face of this earth. God bless you all. God bless America. November 21, 2003 Prime Minister Blair. I'd just like to say, first of all, how delighted we both are to be at Sedgefield School here, and how wonderful the welcome has been from all the teachers and pupils, and what a magnificent job of work they do here. I also want to express my real pride that the President of the United States of America is here in my constituency and in the northeast of England. And everyone is really thrilled to see him here and delighted at the honor his presence here does us. The last 2 or 3 days have been an interesting time, I think, to reflect. It's been a time when with some fairly tragic things going on in the world. It's been an opportunity for us to reflect and know that amongst the tragedy, the alliance between Great Britain between the United States of America is an alliance that is strong and enduring, of immense importance to our two countries. And we've got to continue that alliance now. And these terrible attacks that happen, the terrorism that we see, the destruction, the intent to take innocent life that we see around us in our world today should make us just all the more determined to do what we need to do to restore order and justice, to bring peace and freedom and democracy to people all over the world. It's been a fantastic opportunity these last few days just to as I say, to think about this relationship between Britain and the United States, to reflect on its history, to assess the strength of it today, and to use that strength for a better future for our two countries but also for the wider world. Mr. President, George, you and the First Lady, Laura, have been really welcome here in the northeast. And as I say, it's been a fantastic day for people here, and we can't tell you how delighted we are to see you. President Bush. Mr. Prime Minister, it's been a great trip. Thanks for the invitation. Thanks for the hospitality. You and Her Majesty The Queen have made this a special part of our life. And it's really good to be in your own constituency. It's clear they love you up here, which is always a good sign. Laughter We being with the school the schoolkids here reminds us of our solemn responsibility to protect our people and to create the conditions necessary for peace to prevail when they become older. That's our biggest job, and yesterday's attack in Turkey reminded us that we hadn't completed our job yet. You know, as the Prime Minister so eloquently said yesterday, the terrorists are trying to intimidate the free world. And this man will not be intimidated, and neither will I. But more importantly, the people of Great Britain won't be intimidated, and neither will the people of America. And working together, we will make the world safer and freer for boys and girls all across the world, starting with these right here. And so, Mr. Prime Minister, it's been a fantastic trip, and we're so thrilled to have been here. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality. And we look forward to I look forward to our weekly phone calls to stay on the offensive against the enemy. Thank you. I've already answered your questions, but if you've got another one The West's Response to Terrorism Q. Sure, if I may. In light of the tragedy of these terrorist attacks, have your the leaders from either Germany or France, do you find there are any indications that they're more empathetic or sympathetic to your cause? Do you feel as if there might be more aid or troops or even a stronger political alliance with those who have not agreed with you? Prime Minister Blair. I think the important thing is that when these terrible terrorist attacks occur, there's one of two responses. People can respond either by being intimidated by it, by feeling, "Let's reduce our profile in this struggle." That's one response. Or people can respond by saying, "When we're under attack, we defend ourselves, and we go out and fight with renewed strength and determination for what we believe in." Because when you look at what we're trying to do and trying to make sure that the world it's not just about security it's actually about recognizing that a world that is more free and stable and prosperous is a world that is more secure. When you recognize that that's what we're trying to do, and these people are trying by these appalling acts of terrorism against wholly innocent people, trying to prevent that world happening, then I think the response from everyone is very clear. And I believe and hope that that is true, not just in Britain but all over Europe. Because, after all, what did we learn in Europe in our history, in the history that we share with the United States of America? And that is, when freedom is threatened in Europe, we have to fight. And the reason why you have a European Union today and we have democracy and stability and freedom in Europe is because in the face of attacks upon that freedom, we, with our allies, the United States, defended that freedom. And so I'm sure that people in other countries in Europe will feel the same way about that. And I think you saw from the reaction, for example, in Italy, when that terrible act of terrorism killed Italian citizens who were over in Iraq trying to make that country better, I think you could see by that reaction from people in Italy that I think there is an instinctive knowledge that when you're attacked by people, by these wicked acts, there is only one response that is possible to make, and that is to get out there and be absolutely up front and say, "We are not tolerating this. We're going to fight back." Germany's Contribution in Afghanistan Q. Chancellor Schroeder has said that it's nice that we're going to speed up the timetable for handing over power to the Iraqi people, but he's still not going to contribute troops or any more money. Is that a disappointment? President Bush. Chancellor Schroeder is committing troops to Afghanistan. And it is very helpful for our coalition. Afghanistan is obviously been a is a recently liberated country from a barbaric regime. And Chancellor Schroeder understands that it is essential that Afghanistan be free and democratic and peaceful. And I thank him for his significant and strong contribution. U.K. U.S. Alliance Q. Mr. Prime Minister, you've talked a lot about the alliance between the two countries. A lot of your critics this week have said that Britain is not getting enough out of this alliance. What do you say to that? And do you feel that you've accomplished a lot this week for Britain? Prime Minister Blair. What I say to that is that people sometimes talk about this alliance between Britain and the United States of America as if it were some scorecard. It isn't. It's an alliance of values. It's an alliance of common interests. It's an alliance of common convictions and beliefs. And the reason why we are standing side by side with America is not because we feel forced to it is because we want to, because we believe that is the right place to be. And as I was saying to you I was discussing this with last night and was just reflecting, when September the 11th happened, remember obviously many, many American citizens lost their lives this was the worst terrorist attack against British citizens. We're in this together. And we didn't Britain didn't go off and attack Al Qaida. We didn't start a war against these people. They came to us. And if you look right around the world at the moment, there are something like nationals from 60 different nations in the world who have lost citizens in these terrorist attacks. And it doesn't matter whether you're up front or at the back, whether you're people who have got big profile on this or a low profile. These people aren't interested in that. This is a fundamental struggle. And so the reason we have this alliance with the United States, the reason I'm proud to have the President here, the reason why I believe the vast majority of my country is proud of the alliance with the United States, is not because there's some payback that's going to be given to us. It's not about that. It's about knowing that this is a struggle in which we're both engaged, just as in my father's generation they knew there was a struggle in which we both had to be engaged. And thank goodness both of us were, because that's the reason we're standing in a free country today. President Bush. Listen, thank you. One comment on that. This leader and this country are willing to take on hard tasks in the name of freedom and peace, and so is America. And by working together, we will be able to accomplish a lot in these hard things. As I said in my comments, that we are fortunate to have friends I'm fortunate to have a friend like Tony Blair. America is fortunate to have friends like the people of Great Britain, because the people of Great Britain have got grit and strength and determination and are willing to take on a challenge. And we're being challenged. We're challenged by killers, cold blooded killers. And we're going to prevail. And we're more likely to prevail working together, and that's the importance of the relationship. Listen, thank you all. It's been a wonderful time being here in this great country. November 21, 2003 Terrorist Attacks in Turkey President Bush. It was a sad day yesterday, but it's a day that reminds us all that we've got a job to do that is to defeat terror. Q. What did you tell Erdogan, sir? President Bush. What? Q. What did you tell the Turkish leader? President Bush. I told him our prayers are with his people. I told him that we will work with him to defeat terror and that the terrorists have decided to use Turkey as a front. Q. Inaudible specific aid, like sending FBI agents or investigators? President Bush. You'll see as time goes on. Both countries want to help. Obviously, we need to share intelligence. The best way to defeat Al Qaida type killers is to share intelligence and then work with local authorities to hunt these killers down. Great Britain has got a fantastic intelligence service, and we've got a good one as well. And we want to work with countries like Turkey to anticipate and to find killers. War on Terror Q. Is Turkey a new front in this war on terror? President Bush. It sure is, two major explosions. And Iraq is a front. Turkey is a front. Anywhere where the terrorists think they can strike is a front. Q. Inaudible Turkish officials wanted to go and strike Al Qaida in perhaps another country or another site? President Bush. We'll work with any country willing to fight off terror, just like Great Britain. This country is fortunate to have a Prime Minister who is clear sighted about the threats of the 21st century, and America is lucky to have a friend as strong as Tony Blair. The Press Q. Do you like having all these press around you? President Bush. Do I like having all the press around me? Let me see here. Laughter Now, who has the final let me ask, who has the final word, I wonder, me or the press? I love the press around me. Just take a look at this lot. Take, for example, Scott Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press . He thinks he's a fine runner until he came out to the ranch never mind. Laughter Prime Minister Blair. I'll tell you the truth a bit later, okay? Laughter President Bush. Yes, we like the press. A vibrant society is a society with a free press. Thank you all. November 21, 2003 Good evening. Laura and I have just returned from Great Britain, where we had a fantastic trip. Her Majesty the Queen was a great host. Of course, we spent some time today in Tony Blair's constituency, which was not only a lot of fun, but it was a chance to continue our dialog about how to fight and defeat terror. We've got a special relationship with Great Britain. That relationship was reaffirmed during the last 3 days. Back here at home, I'm pleased that the Congress passed the Healthy Forests Initiative, which will help us maintain our national treasure, our forests, again providing a commonsense strategy and making sure that the fire hazards that we've seen over the last couple of summers are mitigated as best as possible. Secondly, I was pleased that House of Representatives passed an energy bill. This Nation needs an energy bill. It needs an energy plan. A minority of Senators are holding it up. For the sake of our national security and economic security, the Senate has got to pass this bill. And finally, as you know, the Medicare legislation is will be debated tonight in the House of Representatives and eventually in the Senate. It is an important time for Members of the U.S. Congress to honor our obligations to our seniors by providing a modern Medicare system, a system that includes prescription drugs and choices for our seniors. I urge the House and the Senate to pass this good piece of legislation. We're glad to be home. It's good to see you all. Good night. Thank you. November 20, 2003 Prime Minister Blair. Good afternoon, everyone. First of all, can I extend the warmest possible welcome to the President of the United States and to the First Lady to Downing Street and say how delighted I am to see them both here. And as you would expect, I think, I would like to say some words about the latest terrorist outrage that has occurred today in Turkey. First of all, I would wish to express my deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims. Some will be British many will be Turkish citizens. I would like to express my condolences also to the Government and to the people of Turkey. Once again we're reminded of the evil these terrorists pose to innocent people everywhere and to our way of life. Once again we must affirm that in the face of this terrorism there must be no holding back, no compromise, no hesitation in confronting this menace, in attacking it wherever and whenever we can, and in defeating it utterly. It should not lessen, incidentally, in any way at all our commitment to Iraq. On the contrary, it shows how important it is to carry on until terrorism is defeated there as well, because it is in a free, democratic, and stable Iraq that not just the violence but the wretched and backward philosophy of these terrorists will be defeated and destroyed. Yesterday, as some of you will have heard, the President of the United States delivered a powerful, telling speech extolling the virtues of freedom, justice, democracy, and the rule of law, not just for some people but for all the peoples of our world. Today the fanatics of terror showed themselves to be callous, brutal murderers of the innocent, and the contrast could not be more stark. There may be some who think that Britain would gain from standing back from this struggle, even some who believe that we and the United States and our allies have somehow brought this upon ourselves. Let us be very clear America did not attack Al Qaida on September the 11th Al Qaida attacked America and, in doing so, attacked not just America but the way of life of all people who believe in tolerance and freedom, justice and peace. Say we issue for you, in the light of this latest outrage, a short summary on the casualties and cost of terrorism. It's quite interesting to see just how many countries have been affected, what the cost of terrorism is, how many thousands of people have died over this past period of time many of the victims, incidentally, Muslim people, not least the civilians murdered in Iraq. So this is a time to show strength, determination, and complete resolve. This terrorism is the 21st century threat. It is a war that strikes at the heart of all that we hold dear, and there is only one response that is possible or rational to meet their will to inflict terror with a greater will to defeat it to confront their philosophy of hate with our own of tolerance and freedom and to challenge their desire to frighten us, divide us, unnerve us, with an unshakable unity of purpose to stand side by side with the United States of America and with our other allies in the world to rid our world of this evil once and for all. In the course of the discussions that President Bush and myself had yesterday and today, we also, of course, discussed many other issues, and let me just run through a few of those with you. There will be two communiques put out afterwards, one on Iraq, one on the other issues we discussed, and I can just simply list them for you. Obviously, we discussed the situation in relation to the WTO and world trade and the issues to do with steel, with which we're familiar. We agreed a special joint task force on the issue of HIV AIDS in relation to global health, a preoccupation of both our Governments. We, of course, discussed the issues to do with weapons of mass destruction and the threat that it poses the Middle East and the Middle East peace process. And since we have the successive G 8 chairmanships in the next couple of years, we also discussed how we might use those to make progress on all these issues, including some of the challenging and difficult issues to do with climate change, world trade, and poverty. So, once again, Mr. President, welcome here. It's a very, very great pleasure and honor to have you here in our country, and we're delighted to see you. Thank you for that magnificent speech yesterday. And it's my pleasure to ask you to address this simple gathering. President Bush. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. It's my honor to be standing by the side of a friend. And Laura and I were so honored to be invited by Her Majesty the Queen to come to the United Kingdom for this state visit. It's been a fantastic experience for us. I also want to express my deep sympathy for the loss of life in Turkey. The nature of the terrorist enemy is evident once again. We see their contempt their utter contempt for innocent life. They hate freedom. They hate free nations. Today, once again, we saw their ambitions of murder. The cruelty is part of their strategy. The terrorists hope to intimidate. They hope to demoralize. They particularly want to intimidate and demoralize free nations. They're not going to succeed. Great Britain, America, and other free nations are united today in our grief and united in our determination to fight and defeat this evil wherever it is found. Britain and America have shared the suffering caused by terrorism before. On September the 11th, 2001, no country except America lost more lives than Britain. Since that day, no ally has accomplished more or sacrificed more in our common struggle to end terror, and we are grateful. Our shared work of democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq is essential to the defeat of global terrorism. The spread of freedom and the hope it brings is the surest way in the long term to combat despair and anger and resentment that feeds terror. The advance of freedom and hope in the greater Middle East will better the lives of millions of that region and increase the security of our own people. I've just come from a meeting with families of British servicemen who were killed in Iraq. These brave men died for the security of this country and in the cause of human freedom. Our nations honor their sacrifice. I pray for the comfort of the families. Our mission in Iraq is noble and it is necessary. No act of thugs or killers will change our resolve or alter their fate. A free Iraq will be free of them. We will finish the job we have begun. Together, Great Britain and the United States met the defining challenges of the last century. Together, we're meeting new challenges, challenges that have come to our generation. In all that lies ahead in the defense of freedom and the advance of democracy, our two nations will continue to stand together. I'm honored to be here, Mr. Prime Minister. I thank you for your leadership and your friendship. Prime Minister Blair. We'll take three questions from British journalists, three questions from U.S. journalists. Andy, you start us off. Timetable for Iraq Q. Andy Marr from the BBC. Could I ask both leaders about the agenda on Iraq? You are both engaged in an unpredictable and dangerous war, as we've seen today. And yet, you say you want to bring the troops home starting from next year. Now, how is that possible when the security situation is still so unresolved? You haven't got Saddam Hussein. Aren't you stuck in Iraq, with your enemies holding the exit door? President Bush. I said that we're going to bring our troops home starting next year? What I've said is that we'll match the security needs with the number of troops necessary to secure Iraq. And we're relying upon our commanders on the ground to make those decisions. Q. So you'll keep a certain number of troops in Iraq for a longer time? President Bush. We could have less troops in Iraq we could have the same number of troops in Iraq we could have more troops in Iraq, what is ever necessary to secure Iraq. Prime Minister Blair. Let me make it absolutely clear for our position as well. We stay until the job gets done. And what this latest terrorist outrage shows us is that this is a war its main battleground is Iraq. We have got to make sure we defeat these terrorists, the former Saddam people in Iraq, and we must do that because that is an essential part of defeating this fanaticism and extremism that is killing innocent people all over our world today. And I can assure you of one thing, that when something like this happens today, our response is not to flinch or give way or concede one inch. We stand absolutely firm until this job is done done in Iraq, done elsewhere in the world. President Bush. Andy, if I may have a followup to it's kind of a new thing, a followup to the answer. One thing that's happening that you need to know that will help us make the necessary calculations for troop levels is that there's a lot of Iraqis beginning to be trained to deal with the issue on the ground. There's Iraqis being trained for an army. There's Iraqis being trained for an intelligence service. There's Iraqis being trained for additional police work. There are Iraqis being trained for asset protection. There are Iraqis being trained for border guards. There's over 130,000 Iraqis now who have been trained, who are working for their own security. So part of the answer to your question is how fast the new brigades of Iraqi army are stood up, how effective they are. We believe that the Iraqi citizens want to be free. We know that they're willing to work for their own freedom. And the more people working for their own freedom, the more we can put that into our calculations as to troop levels. Thank you for letting me butt in there, again. Tom. Terrorist Attacks Transition Plan for Iraq Q. Tom Raum from the Associated Press. For both of you, Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister, do the attacks today, do you view them as a direct attack on the alliance? And does the fact that these attacks are coming sort of with an increasing intensity and randomness, does that make it less likely that you'll be able to turn over sovereignty to an Iraqi council by June? President Bush. Well, first of all, in Iraq, we're working on two tracks. We're working on a political track, and we believe that the timetable that the Governing Council has set for itself is an accurate timetable. And we'll work with the Governing Council to turn over sovereignty. It's their decision, and we agreed with their decision, based upon the conditions on the ground. And some of those conditions were the fact that there wasn't the sectarian violence that was predicted. Iraq remained intact. There wasn't the mass of refugee flows that had been predicted. There wasn't starvation that had been predicted. In other words, the conditions on the ground were such that the Governing Council felt like they could move forward in a constructive way, and we supported that. Secondly, these terrorist attacks are attacks on freedom, and they attack when they can. And our job is to secure our homelands and chase down these killers and bring them to justice. And we're making good progress with Al Qaida. And if you were to view Al Qaida's organization structure as kind of a board of directors and then there would be the operating management, we are dismantling the operating management, one person at a time. We're on an international manhunt. That's why relations and cooperation between our intelligence services are essential to secure the people of our respective countries. And I will tell you, the Prime Minister's cooperation has just been unbelievably good, as has the intelligence service of Great Britain, a fine group of people, by the way, people who are dedicating their lives to the security of the people of this great country. And the more we share intelligence with other nations, the more likely it is that we'll be able to rout out these terrorists. That's why the phone call I had with Prime Minister Erdogan was an important phone call, when I assured him we're willing to work with the Turkish Government, as are the Brits willing to work with the Turkish Government, to share information and to find these killers so they don't kill again. I don't know the nature of the casualties today, but I do know the nature of the casualties in the recent attack in Istanbul. More Muslims died in that attack. These are Al Qaida killers killing Muslims, and they need to be stopped, and we will stop them. Prime Minister Blair. See, here's where we got to we've got to see what this struggle is about, because you can see it clearer and clearer day by day. This is a struggle between fanaticism and extremism on the one hand and people who believe in freedom and in tolerance on the other. And these attacks have been building for years. They came to their height, okay, on September the 11th, but that actually wasn't the first attack that Al Qaida was perpetrating against America and other countries. And you look round the world today, and I tell you, in virtually every place there is trouble and difficulty, these terrorists and fanatics are making it worse, whether it's Kashmir, whether it's Palestine, whether it's Chechnya, wherever it is. And they're prepared to kill anyone. They're prepared to shed any amount of bloodshed, because they know how important this battle is. And here's why Iraq is important in this because in the end, their case, which is based on dividing people the Arab world and the Western world, the Muslim world and the Christian world and other religions their case is that we are in Iraq to suppress Muslims, steal their oil, to spoil the country. Now, we know you know that all those things are lies. They know, therefore, that if we manage to get Iraq on its feet as a stable, prosperous, democratic country, the blow we strike is not just one for the Iraqi people it is the end of that propaganda. And that's why they're fighting us. And when you say, is this attack today directed at our alliance? It's directed at anybody who stands in the way of this fanaticism. And that's why our response has got to be to say to them, as clearly as we possibly can, "You are not going to defeat us because our will to defend what we believe in is actually, in the end, stronger, better, more determined than your will to inflict damage on innocent people." And that's what this whole thing is about. That's why when I hear people talking about the alliance between our two countries, this is not an alliance that's based on simply Britain and America and the ties that go back in history and all the rest of it. This is a real living alliance about the struggle going on today, in the early 21st century. And if we don't win this struggle, it's not just Britain and America that's going to suffer. People everywhere are going to suffer, and that's why it's important. If they think that when they go and kill people by these terrorist attacks, they are going to somehow weaken us or make us think, "Well, let's shuffle to the back of the queue and hide away from this," they are wrong. That is not the tradition of my country, and it's not the tradition of the British people or the American people. Adam Adam Boulton, Sky News . British Detainees at Guantanamo Bay Q. What do you say to those people, both those who support what your two Governments have done since September 11th and those who oppose it, that in fact the treatment of the captives in Guantanamo Bay actually belies all your talk of freedom, justice, and tolerance? And on a specific point, in view of the comments from the Secretary of State and from Charles Kennedy and Michael Howard, is there on the minority of British nationals held captive an explicit offer from the United States to repatriate them? And if that depends on a request from you, Prime Minister, are you prepared to make it now? Prime Minister Blair. First of all, let me just deal with the very specific issue of the British nationals over in Guantanamo Bay. We are in discussion about this. I've already said in the House of Commons it will be resolved in one of two ways. Either they will be tried by the military commission out there, or alternatively, they'll be brought back here. Now, we're in discussion at the moment Q. How Prime Minister Blair. It will be resolved at some point or other. It's not going to be resolved today, but it will be resolved at some point soon. Let me just say this to you, however, about Guantanamo Bay. Indeed, the people that are there again, let's just remember, this arose out of the battle in Afghanistan, that arose out of September the 11th and the attack there. And the very fact that we are in discussion about making sure there are fair procedures for trial or alternatively, it's up to us, as the President very fairly has said, these people come back here is an indication that we actually treat people differently. So even though this arose out of this appalling, brutal attack on America on September the 11th, nonetheless, we make sure that justice is done for people. President Bush. These are justice is being done. These are illegal noncombatants picked up off of a battlefield, and they are being treated in a humane fashion. And we are sorting through them on a case by case basis. There is a court procedure in place that will allow them to be tried in fair fashion. As to the issue of the British citizens, we're working with the British Government. Randy Randall Mikkelsen, Reuters . Trade Policy The Doha Round Q. Mr. President and Mr. Blair, how accurate would it be to conclude that the new China trade quotas, along with a weakening dollar and your disagreement with the WTO on steel, altogether constitute a reelection strategy of boosting U.S. exports at the expense of free trade principles? And Mr. Blair, I'd like to know how these policies are affecting Europe and the U.K. Prime Minister Blair. Mr. President, you should answer that one first. Laughter President Bush. My administration is committed to free trade the first administration in a long time to achieve trade promotion authority from the Congress. And we're using that to promote free trade agreements on a bilateral basis, on a hemispheric basis. And we're strongly advocating a successful round for the the Doha round of the WTO. Secondly, free trade agreements require people honoring the agreements. And there are market disruptions involved with certain Chinese textiles we're addressing those disruptions. And we look forward to visiting with our Chinese counterparts on this particular matter. And as I have been saying publicly, that free trade also requires a level playing field for trade. In terms of the steel issue, it's an issue that the Prime Minister has brought up not once, not twice, but three times. It's on his mind. It's also on my mind. And I'm reviewing the findings about the restructuring of our steel industry, which is the ITC ruling basically said that the industry needs some breathing time to restructure. I'm looking at the findings right now and will make a timely decision. But I will reiterate, we believe strongly in free trade. We just want to make sure that free trade is also trade in which all parties are treated fairly. Prime Minister Blair. Obviously, we've stated opposition. I know the President is well aware of it, and as you just heard, the administration will make its decision in the coming period of time. The other thing I would draw your attention to is the joint belief in the importance of the WTO doing well and getting the deadlock that there was at Cancun resolved. That's immensely important. And never forget, incidentally I said this in the House of Commons yesterday whatever the disagreements on trade between Europe and America and ever since I've been Prime Minister there have been such disagreements on particular issues trade between Europe and America is vast. In fact, I think it is right to say it has doubled since 1989. It amounts to a huge amount of money and jobs both ways every single year. So that's not to say we don't have to resolve these issues, and I hope we can resolve them soon, but I don't think we should forget the bigger picture, either. Nick. London Demonstrations War on Terror Q. Nick Robinson, ITV News. What do you say to people who today conclude that British people have died and been maimed as a result of you appearing here today, shoulder to shoulder with a controversial American President? And Mr. President, if I could ask you, with thousands on the street with thousands marching on the streets today here in London, a free nation, what is your conclusion as to why apparently so many free citizens fear you and even hate you? President Bush. I'd say freedom is beautiful. It's a fantastic thing to come to a country where people are able to express their views. Q. Why do they hate you, Mr. President? Why do they hate you in such numbers? President Bush. I don't know that they do. All I know is that it's that people in Baghdad, for example, weren't allowed to do this up until recent history. They're not spending a lot of time in North Korea protesting the current leadership. Freedom is a wonderful thing, and I respect that. I fully understand people don't agree with war. But I hope they agree with peace and freedom and liberty. I hope they care deeply about the fact that when we find suffering and torture and mass graves, we weep for the citizens that are being brutalized by tyrants. And finally, the Prime Minister and I have a solemn duty to protect our people, and that's exactly what I intend to do as the President of the United States, protect the people of my country. Prime Minister Blair. To answer your first question and your other, indeed, people have the right to protest and to demonstrate in our countries, and I think that's part of our democracy. And all I say to people is and this is the importance, I think, of the speech the President made yesterday listen to our case as well. I mean, we listen. That's what a democratic exchange should be about, but listen to the case that we are making. Because there is something truly bizarre about a situation where we have driven the Taliban out of Government in Afghanistan, who used to stop women going about the street as they wished, who used to prevent girls going to school, who brutalized and terrorized their population, there's something bizarre about having got rid of Sad dam in Iraq from the Government of Iraq, when we've already discovered just so far the remains of 400,000 people in mass graves there is something bizarre about these situations happening and people saying that they disagree, when the effect of us not doing this would be that the Taliban was still in Afghanistan and Saddam was still in charge of Iraq. And I think people have got to accept that that is the consequence of the position therein. Now, as for your first point, just let me say this. What has caused the terrorist attack today in Turkey is not the President of the United States, is not the alliance between America and Britain. What is responsible for that terrorist attack is terrorism, are the terrorists. And our response has got to be to unify in that situation, to put the responsibility squarely on those who are killing and murdering innocent people, and to say, "We are going to defeat you, and we're not going to back down or flinch at all from this struggle." For all the reasons I've given you earlier, this is what this struggle is about. And when you look as you can see from the list of the people from 60 different nationalities who have died in terrorist attacks, thousands of people from every religion, every part of the world, you aren't going to stop these people by trying to compromise with them, by hesitating in the face of this menace. It's defeat them or be defeated by them. That's what we're going to do. Religion Shared Values Q. Thank you, Mr. President, Mr. Prime Minister. Mr. President, when you talk about peace in the Middle East, you've often said that freedom is granted by the Almighty. Some people who share your beliefs don't believe that Muslims worship the same Almighty. I wondered about your views on that. And Mr. Prime Minister, as a man also of faith, I'd like to get your reaction to that. President Bush. I do say that freedom is the Almighty's gift to every person. I also condition it by saying freedom is not America's gift to the world. It's much greater than that, of course. And I believe we worship the same God. Prime Minister Blair. And I believe that if people are given the chance to have freedom, whatever part of the world they're in, whatever religion they practice, whatever faith they have, if they're given the chance to have freedom, they welcome it. And I think it is the most appalling delusion that actually affects some people even within our own societies that somehow, though we in our countries love freedom and would defend freedom, somehow other people in other parts of the world don't like it. And the reason why they like freedom is because then, if you've got freedom and democracy and the rule of law, you can raise your family, you can earn a decent standard of living, you can go about your daily business without fear of the secret police or terrorism. And in those types of societies, the terrorists who thrive on hatred and fanaticism, they get no breathing ground, they get no breathing space. And the really important thing and I just wanted to say this about the President's speech yesterday, because I hope people sometimes say to me, "Well, you've got a Republican President, a center left Government here in Britain, how can you two guys work together?" On this issue, I believe people from whatever side of the political spectrum they're on can respond to the call, that in the end, the best security we can have is not just through our armed forces and intelligence services, magnificent though they are, but actually through our values, through the spread of those values of freedom and justice and tolerance throughout the world. And the case the President made yesterday, I think, is a really powerful call, not just to people in our own countries but to people right throughout the world, that these are basic human values. They're not the in the ownership exclusively of America or Britain or the West or any particular religion they're human values. And actually, every time you give people the chance to have those values, they opt for them. Of course they do, because they're the values that sustain the human spirit. November 19, 2003 Mr. Al Rashed. I know you are the busiest person The President. Thanks for coming by. I appreciate your interest. I'm honored you'd come by. Timetable for Transition in Iraq Mr. Al Rashed. Mr. President, I think the question, number one, I have to ask is, now you're talking about transferring the power from the coalition now to the Governing Council sometime in the summer. What is exactly your timetable for that? The President. Well, it really depends upon the Governing Coalition. They've expressed a desire for the transfer of authority in June. There are certain benchmarks that must be achieved. But let me just give you a kind of a broader assessment. We Ambassador Bremer came to the United States, as you know, gosh, I think it must have been a week ago or 10 days ago. And we sat down and made a conscious decision to listen to the voices on the Governing Council that were interested in accelerating the transfer of sovereignty, and we decided to obviously if that's what they're interested in, that we needed to assess whether or not it was possible. The assessment was positive. And therefore, Jerry Bremer went back to the Governing Council and worked out a timetable that they're comfortable with. And that's very important. As you know, one of the initially the thought was to have a constitution written, then elections, then sovereignty. It was going to take a while to write the constitution, because there was a sentiment amongst the people that there needed to be elections to a constitutional assembly. And yet, because certain things had happened, the transfer of sovereignty seemed more realistic at this point in time than it did initially. And I could cite some of those in a minute. And so the idea was to have kind of a standard law under which the Iraqi people would operate, transfer of sovereignty, and then a constitution be written. And as you know, the Governing Council is now in the process of you asked the timetable one of the decisions they must make is what will be the form of the kind of the local elections or caucuses that will then determine the makeup of the initial kind of representative body. That's their decision. And it's important for me to emphasize "their" decision, because we believe and still believe believed and believe that the Iraqi people are plenty capable of running their own country, a free country. Mr. Al Rashed. But who are we going to hand it over to let's say, if you start in the summer, are we saying the summer is accurate? The President. Yes, I think so. That's exactly what we're aiming for now. Mr. Al Rashed. Who is going to go for without, of course, the constitution, without a The President. Well, there's going to be kind of a general law that will be agreed upon before by the Governing Council so that people know that their rights will not be trampled, that there will be that the minority populations will have a voice in the future Government. In other words, there has to be something other than a constitution, because the constitution it looked like was going to take a long time to write but something that would have basic rights guaranteed, a preceding document to what eventually will be the constitution. And so that's part of what the Governing Council agreed to do. Mr. Al Rashed. But your vision, you think it's going to be one person, a President would be The President. My vision doesn't matter. That's important for you and your readers to know. What matters is the vision of the Iraqi people. And I've said in my speeches that I believe in democracy, but I recognize that democracy can come in different forms and democracies will not look like America's democracy necessarily. So there's ways to get to a system in which minority rights are represented, a rule of law prevails, all the systems inherent in democratic form. And they come in different ways, as you know, in particular in the Middle East or throughout the Arab world. In my speech today, which I don't know if you heard it or not Mr. Al Rashed. Not yet. The President. You've got to hear it please. Mr. Al Rashed. I will, indeed. The President. Okay, because it's important for you to hear because I think it gives you some insights into my thinking in my heart about the Arab people and the Muslim people. I said in my speech, there are I said one of the things that the Western world has to do is change its way of thinking about the Muslim world or the Arab world. And that is that some will say, "Oh, these kind of people can't manage, can't govern themselves." I completely disagree. And one of the points I point out is that half the Muslims live under democratic societies, and they're contributing citizens. And those societies have got different ways of dealing with democracy. And Iraq's democracy will emerge in a uniquely Iraqi fashion. And that's what I'm trying to say. Mr. Al Rashed. So we don't know in the summer it's one President or a governing council, elected The President. And that's fine. Because a system is emerging. And that's what's important to know. But the Iraqi Governing Council, the Iraqi people will make that decision. Withdrawal of Coalition Forces Coalition Strategy Mr. Al Rashed. Are we saying will that follow by withdrawing troops, American troops from The President. No two separate courses. I'm sorry to interrupt you I'm anticipating your questions in the name of time. Mr. Al Rashed. No, that's the question The President. We're talking two separate tracks. The political track is developing, and it's developing well, because certain things didn't happen. One, there was no great huge refugee flows. Two, there wasn't the sectarian violence. Remember, these were all some of the predictions. I'm not suggesting you were making these predictions, but others might have been making predictions about sectarian violence you remember that prediction or refugee flows or hunger, food shortages throughout the country. And none of that happened. But obviously, what is happening is violence that we're dealing with, and that's a security issue. But the political process is moving forward, and the ministries are now being staffed. There is a local region local governments up and running. There's a variety of indicators that the system is moving toward this democratic transition, which the Governing Council recognizes and supports. So that's happening. The other track, of course, is the security track. They're not mutually exclusive, of course. But in terms of our participation, we will stay until Iraq is allowed to emerge as a free society, which we know will happen. Let me give you kind of the strategy. See, I said in my speech today, the Iraqi people will not reject freedom, and I believe that. And one way that they will protect their freedoms is to develop the forces necessary, internally, to work with coalition forces to deal with the few that are trying to destroy the hopes of the many. And I think we have over 130,000 now, Iraqis, in one kind of uniform or another. That would be your border guards, your facilities protection services, the police. And we've got a battalion in the army, and we're growing the army. I think they think it will be up around 30,000 by the end of next year, a trained, capable Iraqi army. And the first task, of course, for these uniformed Iraqi personnel is to rout out the killers, people willing to destroy. I had a very interesting meeting I'm sure you read about the 17 Iraqi women who came, that came to the White House. It was really, really interesting, a hopeful meeting, very capable women, anxious for a free society to emerge. And one lady made it clear to me that, "Yes, you've lost people, but we've lost a lot." And the Iraqi people are suffering and are dying, because people are trying to terrorize their society by killing them. And the Iraqi people will reject this because they yearn for freedom, just like you yearn for freedom and I yearn for freedom. Mr. Al Rashed. Mr. President, am I getting this right, you will not have any withdrawal of any troops by the summer? The President. No. We will have troops on the ground that will match the security needs, is the best way to put that. Mr. Al Rashed. So you're not saying more or less? The President. I'm saying I'm going to listen to the generals who say, Mr. President, we need more we need less we've got exactly the right number. They will tell me the number. Their job is to secure is to work with the Iraqis to deal with the terrorists. And there are the Ba'athist terrorists there jihadists there are Al Qaida types, Ansar Islam types. And their job is to help the Iraqis secure their country, and they assess all the time, the commanders, and they say, we need this number here we need that number here. And it's their decision to make. I set the goal they decide the tactics. So General Abizaid if you want to know what the troop strength will look like in June, go find General Abizaid, and he'll tell you. Timetable for Transition in Iraq Mr. Al Rashed. Are we saying that you are doing the transfer of power earlier than planned because the pressure, because of the loss of life, the French, everybody The President. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Because what I told you, that the Governing Council the circumstances the situation in Iraq and the Governing Council's progress led us to believe that this transfer of sovereignty could take place in a realistic and helpful way. Mr. Al Rashed. So do you expect the violence do you have a number, like, of loss of life will determine how you will run your The President. Of course not. We're not leaving until we get the job done. Mr. Al Rashed. How long is that and how The President. That's like if you were interviewing me before the attack on Baghdad, you would have said, "How long is it going to take?" And I would have said, "However long," you know. I mean, you're asking me to put calendars on things this is the second calendar question you've asked me. Iraq and Vietnam Mr. Al Rashed. Some people make a parallel between Iraq and Vietnam. Do you see it? The President. I know that people are anxious to be free. They were glad to get rid of Saddam Hussein. They were pleased when his sons met their demise. This person tortured, brutalized an entire population. And it's a different situation. Mr. Al Rashed. I didn't hear the word "Vietnam" in your answer. The President. No, because I gave you the answer you asked the question. You asked me if there's parallel. I said it's a different situation. You understand the difference here, the people Mr. Al Rashed. Yes. The President. Okay. You know what I'm talking about. The people are pleased to get rid of Saddam. Progress in Iraq Mr. Al Rashed. Mr. President, is it accurate to say that your military did a good job and they won the war in a very quite short and surprising matter, but your civilian managers did not manage the country very well? The President. I think what's safe to say is that the initial phase of the war went well, and the second phase of the war is going as expected, because Ba'athists there are some people who refuse to give up and yield to freedom because they were the ruling elite. And we're making, in many phases, very strong progress. For example, the currency I think if you were to go back and look at the history of currency replacements or issuing new currencies, that's not an easy task. And yet Mr. Al Rashed. President Saddam, his face on the currency The President. No, they've got new currencies, and that's hard to do. And yet, we're making good, steady progress in replacing the currency. The oil revenue is an interesting question. Again, this was an issue, if you remember, before the when the ultimatum was reached, there was a lot of speculation that if we went to war, the Iraqi the main asset of the Iraqi people would be destroyed, and it would take years to bring the oil production back up. But in fact, the oil is flowing, up to about 2.1 million barrels a day, to the benefit of the Iraqi people. In other words and we got that ministry stood up very quickly, and it's functioning well. The school system I think there's 1,500 elementary schools up and running with new textbooks and supplies. The hospitals I mean, there's example after example on the civil society side where we've made good progress. Obviously, what is what's tough are the terrorists who kill, and they kill Iraqis. They kill international aid workers. They kill because they're trying to shake our will. And they're not going to shake they're not going to shake our will. Possible Visit to Iraq Mr. Al Rashed. Are you going to visit Baghdad? The President. I don't know yet. Will I at some point in time? I certainly hope so. Mr. Al Rashed. Before election or The President. Laughter I don't know. I'm just trying to finish my trip here to England. Roadmap for Peace Reform of Palestinian Authority Mr. Al Rashed. What about the road map? It's your project, but nothing has The President. No, it's our project. Mr. Al Rashed. Nothing has happened so far. The President. Well, that's not exactly correct. I mean, it's first of all, the road map exists let me tell you, this was U.S., EU, U.N., and Russia. So it's kind of an international strategy toward saying to parties, "Take responsibility, be responsible citizens." I gave a speech on June 24th, '02, in the Rose Garden, which get on the web page and look at it, because it will give you my sense of I hate to keep directing you to my speeches, but it will give you a sense for and I reiterated that today. I spent quite a bit of time in the speech today on the Arab Israeli issue. And I called on all parties to adhere to responsibility. I said the best way for see, I believe that the Palestinians deserve a state. As a matter of fact, I'm the first United States President to stand up and call for that. And I believe it, and I mean it. But that state must be democratic in order for it to survive, with institutions that will survive the test of time. And it needs leadership that will not steal money, that will not deal with terrorists, that will not continually dash the hopes of the Palestinian people. And I found such a leader, I thought, in Abu Mazen. And I stood with him in Aqaba, Jordan, and as you might recall and Israel has got responsibilities, and the Arab states have got responsibilities. And I delineated Israel's responsibilities, end the settlements and not prejudice final negotiations on states with walls, to end the daily humiliation of the Palestinians. This was all clearly enunciated today, by the way, in the public arena. Anyway, I was with Abu Mazen. He convinced me that he believes in the aspirations of the Palestinians, and he wanted to work on the security issue. He wanted to dismantle the security these terrorist organizations, which are destroying any chance for peace. And guess what happens to him? He gets shoved aside, and I thought it was an interesting lesson. We hope this new Prime Minister will stand up and do what is right, which is to work to dismantle the terrorist organizations and put the institutions in place that are larger than the people, institutions which will survive the test of time, so Palestine can emerge as a peaceful, viable, democratic state. Anyway, so therefore that's it, the road map there is a roadmap. The roadmap calls for mutual responsibilities. I just laid the division at the end of the road, which I believe in. Saudi Arabia Iran Syria Mr. Al Rashed. Can I ask about now, a loaded question, which is, I know it's The President. Well, you've already asked about five loaded questions. Laughter Mr. Al Rashed. It's about three countries. I'd like to hear your exactly how you're going to treat the end of this crisis. One is Iran, how you're going to The President. Well, it depends on Iran's decision Mr. Al Rashed. on Syria, and finally your friends in Saudi Arabia. The President. Yes. Well, first of all, let's start with Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Abdullah is an honest man, and he is a friend of mine. I like him and respect him. And he has told me that we are joined at fighting off the terrorist organizations which threatened the Kingdom and they threaten the United States, and he's delivering. He also has told me that he's going to work on reform, and I believe him. Iran The choice is theirs. They must adhere to the Non Proliferation Treaty that they agreed to. And they must be transparent and open and honest with the world about their ambitions. It looks like we're making some progress. The Secretary of State, as you know, yesterday met with ministers from European countries with this message, that we all need to speak with a unified voice that says to the Iranians, "Get rid of your nuclear weapons ambitions." And hopefully the not hopefully and work with the IAEA to develop a open and transparent regime with the Iranians. Syria Again, it's the leader of Syria's choice to make. The most important thing that he can do oh, by the way, on the Iranians, one other point I want to make to you is that they hold Al Qaida operatives. And we would hope that those Al Qaida operatives were sent back to their countries of origin. Mr. Al Rashed. From Iran. The President. In Iran, yes. Syria We have talked to Syria before, and we still feel very strongly about the same thing, that they need to shut down the Hezbollah offices in their country, Syria. Mr. Al Rashed. jihad The President. Hezbollah and JI, absolutely Hamas, if there are such offices there. And they need to do a better job on their border to stop any infiltration going from Syria into Iraq with weapons and terrorists and jihadists. A peaceful Iraq is in Syria's interest. A free and peaceful Iraq is in the interest of the neighborhood. And we would hope that Syria would be cooperative in the development of a free and peaceful Iraq and not turn away from any infiltrations that might be taking place that are taking place from Syria into Iraq. Mr. Al Rashed. Does that mean you will on Syria, is there negotiation now taking place? The President. Well, there's there's not much negotiation. How do you mean, negotiations? Mr. Al Rashed. Discussions. The President. It's hard to negotiate stop terror. You either stop terror or you don't stop terror. It's not oh, yes, they understand. They know our feelings. They do, yes. Mr. Al Rashed. They know it by there is someone in between? The President. Well, they know it because they first, they're going to read their story, and since I'm speaking directly to you and there's nobody in between, they will hear that. Secondly, that Secretary of State Powell talked to President Asad last early last summer, I think it was, and delivered some of this message. This is before I say "some of it" because this is before the well, I think he delivered all the message, if I'm not mistaken. I mean, he is in other words, if you're saying, has any body has President Asad heard from my Government? Yes, Secretary of State Powell had a good talk with him. Discussions With Prime Minister Blair of the United Kingdom Mr. Al Rashed. Did you promise Blair anything about the roadmap? Because there's a story yesterday about it. The President. What do you mean, promise him anything? Mr. Al Rashed. Prime Minister Blair, about the roadmap. There was a story yesterday that came out to be activated or some The President. We haven't talked about the roadmap. I mean, we talk about the Middle East all the time, but he hasn't said I'm not sure what you're referring to. It seems like a lot of things are printed in the newspapers here. Laughter Not yours. Mr. Al Rashed. Can I just have your signature here, please? The President. I'd love to. Thank you. Thanks for the interview. Mr. Al Rashed. Thank you. The President. And what you need to do is get stationed in America again. Laughter November 19, 2003 Thank you very much. Secretary Straw and Secretary Hoon, Admiral Cobbold and Dr. Chipman, distinguished guests I want to thank you for your very kind welcome that you've given to me and to Laura. I also thank the groups hosting this event, the Royal United Services Institute and the International Institute for Strategic Studies. We're honored to be in the United Kingdom, and we bring the good wishes of the American people. It was pointed out to me that the last noted American to visit London stayed in a glass box dangling over the Thames. Laughter A few might have been happy to provide similar arrangements for me. Laughter I thank Her Majesty the Queen for interceding. Laughter We're honored to be staying at her house. Americans traveling to England always observe more similarities to our country than differences. I've been here only a short time, but I've noticed that the tradition of free speech, exercised with enthusiasm laughter is alive and well here in London. We have that at home too. They now have that right in Baghdad as well. The people of Great Britain also might see some familiar traits in Americans. We're sometimes faulted for a naive faith that liberty can change the world. If that's an error, it began with reading too much John Locke and Adam Smith. Americans have, on occasion, been called moralists who often speak in terms of right and wrong. That zeal has been inspired by examples on this island, by the tireless compassion of Lord Shaftesbury, the righteous courage of Wilberforce, and the firm determination of the Royal Navy over the decades to fight and end the trade in slaves. It's rightly said that Americans are a religious people. That's in part because the "Good News" was translated by Tyndale, preached by Wesley, lived out in the example of William Booth. At times, Americans are even said to have a puritan streak. And where might that have come from? Laughter Well, we can start with the Puritans. To this fine heritage, Americans have added a few traits of our own, the good influence of our immigrants, the spirit of the frontier. Yet, there remains a bit of England in every American. So much of our national character comes from you, and we're glad for it. The fellowship of generations is the cause of common beliefs. We believe in open societies ordered by moral conviction. We believe in private markets humanized by compassionate government. We believe in economies that reward effort, communities that protect the weak, and the duty of nations to respect the dignity and the rights of all. And whether one learns these ideals in County Durham or in west Texas, they instill mutual respect, and they inspire common purpose. More than an alliance of security and commerce, the British and American peoples have an alliance of values. And today, this old and tested alliance is very strong. The deepest beliefs of our nations set the direction of our foreign policy. We value our own civil rights, so we stand for the human rights of others. We affirm the God given dignity of every person, so we are moved to action by poverty and oppression and famine and disease. The United States and Great Britain share a mission in the world beyond the balance of power or the simple pursuit of interest. We seek the advance of freedom and the peace that freedom brings. Together, our nations are standing and sacrificing for this high goal in a distant land at this very hour, and America honors the idealism and the bravery of the sons and daughters of Britain. The last President to stay at Buckingham Palace was an idealist, without question. At a dinner hosted by King George V in 1918, Woodrow Wilson made a pledge. With typical American understatement laughter he vowed that right and justice would become the predominant and controlling force in the world. President Wilson had come to Europe with his Fourteen Points for peace. Many complimented him on his vision, yet some were dubious. Take, for example, the Prime Minister of France. He complained that God himself had only Ten Commandments. Laughter Sounds familiar. Laughter At Wilson's high point of idealism, however, Europe was one short generation from Munich and Auschwitz and the Blitz. Looking back, we see the reasons why. The League of Nations, lacking both credibility and will, collapsed at the first challenge of the dictators. Free nations failed to recognize, much less confront, the aggressive evil in plain sight. And so dictators went about their business, feeding resentments and anti Semitism, bringing death to innocent people in this city and across the world, and filling the last century with violence and genocide. Through World War and cold war, we learned that idealism, if it is to do any good in this world, requires common purpose and national strength, moral courage, and patience in difficult tasks. And now our generation has need of these qualities. On September the 11th, 2001, terrorists left their mark of murder on my country and took the lives of 67 British citizens. With the passing of months and years, it is the natural human desire to resume a quiet life and to put that day behind us, as if waking from a dark dream. The hope that danger has passed is comforting, is understanding, and it is false. The attacks that followed on Bali, Jakarta, Casablanca, Bombay, Mombasa, Najaf, Jerusalem, Riyadh, Baghdad, and Istanbul were not dreams. They're part of a global campaign by terrorist networks to intimidate and demoralize all who oppose them. These terrorists target the innocent, and they kill by the thousands. And they would, if they gain the weapons they seek, kill by the millions and not be finished. The greatest threat of our age is nuclear, chemical, or biological weapons in the hands of terrorists and the dictators who aid them. The evil is in plain sight. The danger only increases with denial. Great responsibilities fall once again to the great democracies. We will face these threats with open eyes, and we will defeat them. The peace and security of free nations now rests on three pillars. First, international organizations must be equal to the challenges facing our world, from lifting up failing states to opposing proliferation. Like 11 Presidents before me, I believe in the international institutions and alliances that America helped to form and helps to lead. The United States and Great Britain have labored hard to help make the United Nations what it is supposed to be, an effective instrument of our collective security. In recent months, we've sought and gained three additional resolutions on Iraq, Resolutions 1441, 1483, and 1511, precisely because the global danger of terror demands a global response. The United Nations has no more compelling advocate than your Prime Minister, who at every turn has championed its ideals and appealed to its authority. He understands as well that the credibility of the U.N. depends on a willingness to keep its word and to act when action is required. America and Great Britain have done and will do all in their power to prevent the United Nations from solemnly choosing its own irrelevance and inviting the fate of the League of Nations. It's not enough to meet the dangers of the world with resolutions. We must meet those dangers with resolve. In this century, as in the last, nations can accomplish more together than apart. For 54 years, America has stood with our partners in NATO, the most effective multilateral institution in history. We're committed to this great democratic Alliance, and we believe it must have the will and the capacity to act beyond Europe where threats emerge. My Nation welcomes the growing unity of Europe, and the world needs America and the European Union to work in common purpose for the advance of security and justice. America is cooperating with four other nations to meet the dangers posed by North Korea. America believes the IAEA must be true to its purpose and hold Iran to its obligations. Our first choice and our constant practice is to work with other responsible governments. We understand as well that the success of multilateralism is not measured by adherence to forms alone, the tidiness of the process, but by the results we achieve to keep our nations secure. The second pillar of peace and security in our world is the willingness of free nations, when the last resort arrives, to restrain aggression and evil by force. There are principled objections to the use of force in every generation, and I credit the good motives behind these views. Those in authority, however, are not judged only by good motivations. The people have given us the duty to defend them, and that duty sometimes requires the violent restraint of violent men. In some cases, the measured use of force is all that protects us from a chaotic world ruled by force. Most in the peaceful West have no living memory of that kind of world. Yet in some countries, the memories are recent. The victims of ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, those who survived the rapists and the death squads, have few qualms when NATO applied force to help end those crimes. The women of Afghanistan, imprisoned in their homes and beaten in the streets and executed in public spectacles, did not reproach us for routing the Taliban. The inhabitants of Iraq's Ba'athist hell, with its lavish palaces and its torture chambers, with its massive statues and its mass graves, do not miss their fugitive dictator. They rejoiced at his fall. In all these cases, military action was preceded by diplomatic initiatives and negotiations and ultimatums and final chances until the final moment. In Iraq, year after year, the dictator was given the chance to account for his weapons programs and end the nightmare for his people. Now the resolutions he defied have been enforced. And who will say that Iraq was better off when Saddam Hussein was strutting and killing or that the world was safer when he held power? Who doubts that Afghanistan is a more just society and less dangerous without Mullah Omar playing host to terrorists from around the world? And Europe too is plainly better off with Milosevic answering for his crimes instead of committing more. It's been said that those who live near a police station find it hard to believe in the triumph of violence. In the same way, free peoples might be tempted to take for granted the orderly societies we have come to know. Europe's peaceful unity is one of the great achievements of the last half century. And because European countries now resolve differences through negotiation and consensus, there's sometimes an assumption that the entire world functions in the same way. But let us never forget how Europe's unity was achieved by Allied armies of liberation and NATO armies of defense. And let us never forget, beyond Europe's borders, in a world where oppression and violence are very real, liberation is still a moral goal, and freedom and security still need defenders. The third pillar of security is our commitment to the global expansion of democracy and the hope and progress it brings as the alternative to instability and hatred and terror. We cannot rely exclusively on military power to assure our long term security. Lasting peace is gained as justice and democracy advance. In democratic and successful societies, men and women do not swear allegiance to malcontents and murderers they turn their hearts and labor to building better lives. And democratic governments do not shelter terrorist camps or attack their peaceful neighbors they honor the aspirations and dignity of their own people. In our conflict with terror and tyranny, we have an unmatched advantage, a power that cannot be resisted, and that is the appeal of freedom to all mankind. As global powers, both our nations serve the cause of freedom in many ways, in many places. By promoting development and fighting famine and AIDS and other diseases, we're fulfilling our moral duties as well as encouraging stability and building a firmer basis for democratic institutions. By working for justice in Burma, in the Sudan, and in Zimbabwe, we give hope to suffering people and improve the chances for stability and progress. By extending the reach of trade, we foster prosperity and the habits of liberty. And by advancing freedom in the greater Middle East, we help end a cycle of dictatorship and radicalism that brings millions of people to misery and brings danger to our own people. The stakes in that region could not be higher. If the Middle East remains a place where freedom does not flourish, it will remain a place of stagnation and anger and violence for export. And as we saw in the ruins of two towers, no distance on the map will protect our lives and way of life. If the greater Middle East joins the democratic revolution that has reached much of the world, the lives of millions in that region will be bettered, and a trend of conflict and fear will be ended at its source. The movement of history will not come about quickly. Because of our own democratic development the fact that it was gradual and, at times, turbulent we must be patient with others. And the Middle East countries have some distance to travel. Arab scholars speak of a freedom deficit that has separated whole nations from the progress of our time. The essentials of social and material progress limited government, equal justice under law, religious and economic liberty, political participation, free press, and respect for the rights of women have been scarce across the region. Yet that has begun to change. In an arc of reform from Morocco to Jordan to Qatar, we are seeing elections and new protections for women and the stirrings of political pluralism. Many governments are realizing that theocracy and dictatorship do not lead to national greatness they end in national ruin. They are finding, as others will find, that national progress and dignity are achieved when governments are just and people are free. The democratic progress we've seen in the Middle East was not imposed from abroad, and neither will the greater progress we hope to see. Freedom, by definition, must be chosen and defended by those who choose it. Our part, as free nations, is to ally ourselves with reform, wherever it occurs. Perhaps the most helpful change we can make is to change in our own thinking. In the West, there's been a certain skepticism about the capacity or even the desire of Middle Eastern peoples for self government. We're told that Islam is somehow inconsistent with a democratic culture. Yet more than half of the world's Muslims are today contributing citizens in democratic societies. It is suggested that the poor, in their daily struggles, care little for self government. Yet the poor especially need the power of democracy to defend themselves against corrupt elites. Peoples of the Middle East share a high civilization, a religion of personal responsibility, and a need for freedom as deep as our own. It is not realism to suppose that one fifth of humanity is unsuited to liberty. It is pessimism and condescension, and we should have none of it. We must shake off decades of failed policy in the Middle East. Your nation and mine, in the past, have been willing to make a bargain, to tolerate oppression for the sake of stability. Longstanding ties often led us to overlook the faults of local elites. Yet this bargain did not bring stability or make us safe. It merely bought time while problems festered and ideologies of violence took hold. As recent history has shown, we cannot turn a blind eye to oppression just because the oppression is not in our own backyard. No longer should we think tyranny is benign because it is temporarily convenient. Tyranny is never benign to its victims, and our great democracies should oppose tyranny wherever it is found. Now we're pursuing a different course, a forward strategy of freedom in the Middle East. We will consistently challenge the enemies of reform and confront the allies of terror. We will expect a higher standard from our friends in the region, and we will meet our responsibilities in Afghanistan and in Iraq by finishing the work of democracy we have begun. There were good faith disagreements in your country and mine over the course and timing of military action in Iraq. Whatever has come before, we now have only two options to keep our word or to break our word. The failure of democracy in Iraq would throw its people back into misery and turn that country over to terrorists who wish to destroy us. Yet democracy will succeed in Iraq, because our will is firm, our word is good, and the Iraqi people will not surrender their freedom. Since the liberation of Iraq, we have seen changes that could hardly have been imagined a year ago. A new Iraqi police force protects the people instead of bullying them. More than 150 Iraqi newspapers are now in circulation, printing what they choose, not what they're ordered. Schools are open with textbooks free of propaganda. Hospitals are functioning and are well supplied. Iraq has a new currency, the first battalion of a new army, representative local governments, and a Governing Council with an aggressive timetable for national sovereignty. This is substantial progress, and much of it has proceeded faster than similar efforts in Germany and Japan after World War II. Yet the violence we are seeing in Iraq today is serious, and it comes from Ba'athist holdouts and jihadists from other countries and terrorists drawn to the prospect of innocent bloodshed. It is the nature of terrorism, in the cruelty of a few, to try to bring grief in the loss to many. The Armed Forces of both our countries have taken losses, felt deeply by our citizens. Some families now live with a burden of great sorrow. We cannot take the pain away, but these families can know they are not alone. We pray for their strength. We pray for their comfort, and we will never forget the courage of the ones they loved. The terrorists have a purpose, a strategy to their cruelty. They view the rise of democracy in Iraq as a powerful threat to their ambitions. In this, they are correct. They believe their acts of terror against our coalition, against international aid workers, and against innocent Iraqis will make us recoil and retreat. In this, they are mistaken. We did not charge hundreds of miles into the heart of Iraq and pay a bitter cost of casualties and liberate 25 million people only to retreat before a band of thugs and assassins. We will help the Iraqi people establish a peaceful and democratic country in the heart of the Middle East. And by doing so, we will defend our people from danger. The forward strategy of freedom must also apply to the Arab Israeli conflict. It's a difficult period in a part of the world that has known many. Yet, our commitment remains firm. We seek justice and dignity. We seek a viable independent state for the Palestinian people, who have been betrayed by others for too long. We seek security and recognition for the state of Israel, which has lived in a shadow of random death for too long. These are worthy goals in themselves, and by reaching them we will also remove an occasion and excuse for hatred and violence in the broader Middle East. Achieving peace in the Holy Land is not just a matter of the shape of a border. As we work on the details of peace, we must look to the heart of the matter, which is the need for a viable Palestinian democracy. Peace will not be achieved by Palestinian rulers who intimidate opposition, who tolerate and profit from corruption, and maintain their ties to terrorist groups. These are the methods of the old elites, who time and again had put their own self interest above the interest of the people they claim to serve. The long suffering Palestinian people deserve better. They deserve true leaders capable of creating and governing a Palestinian state. Even after the setbacks and frustrations of recent months, good will and hard effort can bring about a Palestinian state and a secure Israel. Those who would lead a new Palestine should adopt peaceful means to achieve the rights of their people and create the reformed institutions of a stable democracy. Israel should freeze settlement construction, dismantle unauthorized outposts, end the daily humiliation of the Palestinian people, and not prejudice final negotiations with the placements of walls and fences. Arab states should end incitement in their own media, cut off public and private funding for terrorism, and establish normal relations with Israel. Leaders in Europe should withdraw all favor and support from any Palestinian ruler who fails his people and betrays their cause. And Europe's leaders and all leaders should strongly oppose anti Semitism, which poisons public debates over the future of the Middle East. Ladies and gentlemen, we have great objectives before us that make our Atlantic alliance as vital as it has ever been We will encourage the strength and effectiveness of international institutions we will use force when necessary in the defense of freedom and we will raise up an ideal of democracy in every part of the world. On these three pillars we will build the peace and security of all free nations in a time of danger. So much good has come from our alliance of conviction and might. So much now depends on the strength of this alliance as we go forward. America has always found strong partners in London, leaders of good judgment and blunt counsel and backbone when times are tough. And I have found all those qualities in your current Prime Minister, who has my respect and my deepest thanks. The ties between our nations, however, are deeper than the relationship between leaders. These ties endure because they are formed by the experience and responsibilities and adversity we have shared. And in the memory of our peoples, there will always be one experience, one central event when the seal was fixed on the friendship between Britain and the United States. The arrival in Great Britain of more than 1.5 million American soldiers and airmen in the 1940s was a turning point in the Second World War. For many Britons, it was a first close look at Americans, other than in the movies. Some of you here today may still remember the "friendly invasion." "Our lads," they took some getting used to. There was even a saying about what many of them were up to in addition to being "overpaid and over here." Laughter At a reunion in north London some years ago, an American pilot who had settled in England after his military service said, "Well, I'm still over here and probably overpaid. So two out of three isn't bad." Laughter In that time of war, the English people did get used to the Americans. They welcomed soldiers and fliers into their villages and homes and took to calling them "our boys." About 70,000 of those boys did their part to affirm our special relationship. They returned home with English brides. Americans gained a certain image of Britain as well. We saw an island threatened on every side, a leader who did not waver, and a country of the firmest character. And that has not changed. The British people are the sort of partners you want when serious work needs doing. The men and women of this Kingdom are kind and steadfast and generous and brave. And America is fortunate to call this country our closest friend in the world. May God bless you all. November 17, 2003 The Oval Office The President. Have you ever been in the Oval Office before? Mr. Kavanagh. Once, just once. The President. Okay. The rug was designed by my wife. Every President gets to design his own rug. You probably didn't know that. Mr. Kavanagh. Fabulous. The President. I wanted mine mine was designed by my wife, Laura. And I wanted people to have a sense of optimism when they came in here, that this is a guy who kind of sees a better world, not a worse world. Sometimes the Oval can be foreboding, and I wanted it to be cheery. So I hope you felt that. This is called "A Charge To Keep." It's based upon a Methodist hymn. One of America's great imports from England was John Wesley. And it talks about serving something greater than yourself, which speaks to my own personal faith. As a President, it speaks to my need to capture the spirit of America and call on people to serve. You've probably followed some of my domestic policy, but one of the things that's important is to call on people to serve their communities by helping neighbors who hurt. The de Tocquevillean view of America at that point was just kind of a civic fabric of loving organizations part of my vision, as well, is to energize them. The painting's of Texas. That's kind of what my ranch looks like, by a guy named Onderdonk. He's a Texas landscape artist. The bluebonnets are not quite that big. Blair and I well, he's been there, and he would recognize kind of the look, if he were here. This is west Texas, where my wife's family was raised. We were both raised in west Texas, but this is farther west than where I was raised. It's called El Paso. But it's a famous Texas artist and historian who painted that. More Texas. The reason I have Texas up there is it's where I'm from. And in this job if you can't figure out who you are you better know who you are because of the pressures and the decisionmaking process and all the noise of politics and all that. Really quickly, this is a desk given to us by Queen Victoria. A famous desk called the U.S.S. Resolute, and it's wood from the Resolute. The door was put on by Roosevelt to cover his infirmities. Out of the door poked John Kennedy's son Mr. Kavanagh. Oh, yes, I remember. The President. I chose to use this. Ronald Reagan put the bottom on to make the desk high so it won't bump your knees. I love the desk. I love its history. It does speak to the great relationship between America and Great Britain I'm sitting at a desk given to our country by Queen Victoria. And finally, the Churchill bust is on loan from the Brits. Tony Blair knew I was a great admirer of Churchill, so here he sits, along with Lincoln and Eisenhower. That's it. Welcome. Mr. Kavanagh. Fantastic. Thank you very much, Mr. President. Where would you like me? The President. Sit right here. Take Vice President Cheney's seat. Mr. Kavanagh. I'm more than a little impressed by being here and by sitting in this seat. The President. Well, you know, this is a shrine to democracy, and we treat it as such. And it's an honor to serve here. Mr. Kavanagh. Well, I would like to thank you on behalf of our readers for giving them and me the time to talk to you. The President. Well, I'm glad you're here, thanks. World After Afghanistan and Iraq Mr. Kavanagh. We're a very pro American newspaper, and our readers were shocked and deeply moved by September the 11th. And they supported what happened subsequently in Afghanistan and a little more reluctantly in Iraq, but in fact, the majority of our readers were behind the action. I think what they would like to know we've talked with them in a way which is quite interesting. We actually spent a weekend with about 2,000 of our readers. The President. Really? Laughter Good marketing tool. Laughter That's interesting. Mr. Kavanagh. Yes. And the one question they wanted to ask you is, is the world a safer place after the conflict than it was before? The President. Yes, much safer. It's safer for a couple of reasons. One, the free world has recognized the threat. In order to make the world safe, you've got to actually see reality. And the reality is that there are cold blooded killers who were trying to intimidate, create fear, create hostility, and to shape the will of the civilized world. And a lot of countries have seen the threat for what it is. So, therefore, step one is recognizing the problem. Tony Blair recognizes the problem. Jose Maria Aznar recognizes the problem. Silvio Berlusconi recognizes the problem. Clearly, the United States recognizes the problem. After all, the clearest indication that we were at war and that the stakes had changed dramatically was September the 11th. After all, we were a country which was able to sit back in our kind of in our geographical posture and pick and choose where a threat might emerge and say we may have to deal with that or we may not deal with it. We were pretty confident that we were protected ourselves by oceans. That changed. And one of my vows to the American people is I won't forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001. Secondly, the world is safer because the actions we have taken will ultimately strengthen multinational institutions. Take the theater in Iraq. The United Nations had recognized that Saddam Hussein was a threat. They recognized it in not one resolution but multiple resolutions and yet didn't do anything about it. And therefore, the resolutions became weak, became just words. And as a result of enforcing 1441, which said that you disarm or there will be serious consequences, now when multinational institutions speak, hopefully people will take them seriously. And in order to win the war on terror, there needs to be alliance and cooperation because these are killers that are capable of hiding in societies. They're patient. They're lethal. They pop up and will destroy. And by the way, they don't care who they destroy. There are no rules for these people. They will kill children just as soon as they'll kill somebody in a military uniform. Thirdly, the world is safer because there is a and by the way, multinational forum doesn't necessarily mean U.N. It can also mean collaborations, like the collaboration that's now taking place with North Korea in dealing with Kim Chong il, who is a threat to peace. And now it's not just the United States dealing with Kim Chong il it's the United States, China, South Korea, Japan, and Russia in a collaborative effort. Or the fine work the initial fine work done by the foreign ministers of Great Britain, France, and Germany in telling Iran to get rid of its nuclear ambitions. I say "initial fine work" because the Iranians, in the past, have had clandestine operations. And therefore, in order to make sure that the words that have been issued to them are true, there must be transparency. Fourthly, we dealt Al Qaida. We are tough on Al Qaida. Now, you know, there are key figures still looming in caves and remote regions of the world, but we're dismantling them. If you were to look at Al Qaida as a business organization, middle management is no longer. That's not to say that they're not grooming junior executives to take over certain roles. But we're tough, and we're on their trail, and we're still hunting them down. Make no mistake about it. And as a result of dismantling Al Qaida, the world is safer. We've also dealt with the tyrants in Afghanistan, which is an incredibly dangerous regime, dangerous not only to the free world because they provided housing, training, money, safe haven, but also they were just tortuous and barbaric to their own people. And in Iraq, Saddam Hussein was clearly a threat to peace. And we can argue about the definition of "serious consequence," and I respect the debate, but no one can justify this man's behavior to his people. We've discovered mass graves with over 300,000 people there, rape rooms, and torture rooms. He is paying suiciders to go kill innocent Israelis. He had a weapons program as discovered I promise you this is going to be a short answer, eventually. I saw you looking at the clock your glance can't escape me. Laughter This is an important question. It is the question. Mr. Kavanagh. Of course, absolutely. The President. David Kay discovered a weapons program that was in material breach of 1441. In other words, it was in violation of precisely what the United Nations had asked him not to do. Saddam Hussein, in 1991, it was assumed that he his nuclear weapons program would be active in the out years, and in fact, the inspectors discovered he's got nuclear ambitions, not only real and active but his program was a lot farther along than we thought. And had he ever developed a nuclear weapon, had he been allowed to have a nuclear weapon, he would have been the ultimate source of international blackmail. And so the removal of Saddam Hussein makes the world safer. And as importantly, the removal of Saddam Hussein gives the Iraqis a chance to live in freedom, which is the ultimate freedom is the ultimate route to security. I strongly believe that free nations are peaceful nations. Free nations are not terrorist havens, do not become terrorist havens. Free nations won't create conditions of strife and resentment that breeds anxiety and terror. And therefore, the world is becoming safer, is safer, and will be even more safe when Iraq becomes free. And Iraq will be free, and it'll be peaceful. And we need peace and freedom in that part of the world. Now, there's an interesting debate going on as to whether or not people like the Iraqis will ever adapt the habits of freedom. There's kind of an elitism that takes place in our country, in your country, and elsewhere, feels, well, "Certain people can't be free. They can't adapt the habits of democracy." I strongly disagree. I strongly disagree. And so, yes, the world is safer, and the world is more peaceful. Future U.S. Activity in Iraq Mr. Kavanagh. Okay. That answer will resonate with our readers. Nonetheless, there is concern about the events, particularly in the last week or so, when things have escalated. I think this causes concern everywhere. Are we going to increase military presence there? Are we going to pull out? There's a fear that The President. You don't have to worry about us pulling out. Mr. Kavanagh. There's a famous T shirt slogan which shows the American flag and the words, "These colors don't run." Do you stand by that? The President. Yes, absolutely. Absolutely. Our will is being tested. See, the tactics of the terrorists is to kill as many innocent people as possible and, therefore, try to shape the will of the Iraqis. As progress is made and we're making interesting progress, and I'll cite some examples in a minute that I think are fascinating. But as the Iraqis begin to say, "Wait a minute. Life can be better," and their instincts kick in about what it means to live in a free society, the terrorists want to shake that. They want to scare them. They want the police not to become police. And we've got over 118,000 people now, Iraqi citizens, in uniform beginning to conduct operations for their own security. They, of course, want to kill our own soldiers and, therefore, try to shake the will of the American people and the President and the command structure. They killed those Italians. And they were hoping that Berlusconi would say, "Oh, my goodness, this is too big a fight. We'll leave." We're not leaving. We're staying there to get the job done. Of course we mourn the death of any citizen. But I recognize that it is I still remember the death, what happened to us on September the 11th as well. I was there at Ground Zero right after the attacks, and I remember this kind of haze and the smells and the death and destruction. I'll always remember that, of course. And as I've told you, I vowed not to forget the lessons. Mr. Kavanagh. That changed everything? The President. Absolutely. Look, what changed for me was sitting on Air Force One and getting the reports that we were under attack. And I made up my mind then, right then, that we didn't need a bunch of legal briefs. I didn't need a bunch of you know, let's kind of hold hands and hope to get the right answer. We were at war, and we were going to win the war. And I still feel that same exact determination today that I did then. Mr. Kavanagh. So you'll stay in Iraq even The President. We will do our job. Mr. Kavanagh. after there's an interim council, a Government which is The President. Yes. There's a lot of talk right now about the political process, as there should be. And we are interested in the Iraqis assuming more responsibility on the political side and on the security side. And a political process in which the Iraqis assume more responsibility will make the security side come together quicker as well in our judgment. And therefore, Bremer came here, he took instructions back from me to talk to the Governing Council to find out what is feasible when it comes to the passing of more power to the Governing Council. That's where we are right there. On the security side, absolutely we're there. The goal is for Iraq to be peaceful and free. I understand the consequences of a free and peaceful Iraq in the midst of the Middle East. We can have the debate all day long as to whether the Middle East will ever adapt the habits of democracy and freedom. I think they will, obviously, and I'm confident they will. I like to tell people in this country, freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is not Great Britain's gift to the world freedom is the Almighty's gift to everybody in the world. Freedom for Iraq Mr. Kavanagh. And this is what you'll tell the demonstrators? Or this is what you would tell the demonstrators if you had 5 minutes with them? The President. Of course I would, absolutely. I will say, "You may disagree with our tactics. Nobody likes war. War is my last choice." If the demonstrators are there as anti war protestors, they may be there for other reasons as well global trade and I'd be glad to talk to them about that as well. But in terms of war, I can understand why people are anxious about war. I can understand why citizens in Great Britain, protestor or not, wonders about why a President would commit to war, because nobody likes war. On the other hand, I would tell them, the skeptics and the critics, that I have a job to protect the security of the United States of America and that Saddam Hussein was a security risk, as witnessed by the international community speaking loudly on that subject 12 different times. But I would tell those who doubt our policy that we share a common goal, which is peace, and that free societies are peaceful societies. They may say, "Well, you can't possibly expect a country like Iraq to be free," and then we'd have an interesting philosophical debate because I believe freedom exists in the heart of every single human being. It may take longer for people to accept freedom, if they've been tortured and brutalized like Saddam Hussein did. Secondly, I would tell the skeptics that not only is the world more secure as a result of the decisions we made, the Iraqi people now have a chance to live in a society which is hopeful and optimistic, a society in which you're able to speak your mind, a society in which you don't have to pay homage to a brutal tyrant and his two brutal sons, which is precisely how they had to live in the past. Threats to World Peace Mr. Kavanagh. So how do you respond to those people who were polled by the Europe Commission and found that America was alongside Iran, North Korea is the second most powerful threat to world peace? The President. You just have to tell them, "Watch what happens." The world is going to be more peaceful, and the free world will be more secure as a result of the decisions we've taken. United Kingdom's Contribution in Iraq Mr. Kavanagh. Can I ask you about the special relationship, the role the British soldiers play in Iraq and are still playing? The President. Sure. Mr. Kavanagh. Would you like to tell me about you feel about our contribution? The President. Yes, I'll tell you about your troops. They are well trained. They are well motivated, and they're really good at what they do. And our soldiers and our generals and our commanders really appreciate being side by side with the Brits. They trust them, and that's important. Secondly, in Basra, the Brits have brought an interesting strategy in dealing in Basra because you have dealt in Northern Ireland. In other words, it was kind of a transfer of experience that has been incredibly useful and important. I am really proud of our not only our alliance because it's close now, and I intend to keep it that way. I've got a great personal relationship with Tony Blair. Let me tell you something about him just real quick, because it relates also to the trust of the troops. He's a man who comes in here, and he says he's going to do something, and as I said as they say in Texas, you can book him when he says he's going to do something you can take it to the bank. Because every time he has said something, he has done it, and I appreciate that a lot. It's not always the way it is in politics, whether it be domestic or international politics. Sometimes they'll come and look you in the eye and say, "Oh, don't worry, Mr. President, we're with you and behind you," and it turns out they're way behind you. You can't find them when the heat gets on. But that's not the way Tony Blair is, and that's not the way the Brits' command structure is, and that's not the way the soldiers in the field have been. They've been tough and capable and decent people that's the other thing about militaries. Both our militaries are full of compassionate people, because not only are we chasing down people and bringing them to justice, as we say, but there are schools being built, orphanages being opened, hospitals being supplied, thanks to compassionate British troops and American troops as well, and other troops. It speaks to the honor of our respective militaries. These are honorable people. President's Upcoming Meeting With Families of Fallen British Soldiers Mr. Kavanagh. You're going to speak to some of the families of those who have already died in Iraq and also September the 11th. The President. Yes. Mr. Kavanagh. You're going to see them, I guess, on Downing Street. The President. Well, I'm not sure exactly where, but you bet. I am going to see them. Mr. Kavanagh. What are you going to say to them? The President. Well, I'm going to first of all ask for God's blessings, because I understand how bad they hurt. I can't imagine what it would be like, if I were a mother or a dad, to have lost a child. I'm a proud dad. It's got to shatter a person's heart to lose a loved one, and I will do the best I can to provide some comfort. I have done this here in America as well. It's part of my duty as the leader of this country to comfort those who have sacrificed. I'll also explain to them as best as I can that the sacrifices that their loved one has made is for a noble cause, and that's peace and freedom. I strongly believe that what we're doing today will make it easier for this person's grandchild to grow up in a free world and a peaceful world. I'll tell you an interesting story, kind of dawned on me a while ago. I was talking to Prime Minister Koizumi of Japan in Tokyo. We were having dinner, actually. And I kind of reflected on what it would be like during our dinner, I reflected on what it would be like if America and the Allies hadn't done a good job in post World War II. Would I be sitting with a Prime Minister of Japan, with whom I've got great relations, talking about how to deal with Kim Chong il and North Korea? It's an interesting thought. Mr. Kavanagh. Very interesting. The President. Beyond that is whether or not somebody 50 years from now is going to be sitting with a leader from Iraq or any other country in that region saying, "Thank goodness George W. and Tony Blair held the line, because I'm now able to deal with terrorist threats or potential terrorist threats with an ally. I'm able to help bring more peace to the world." Presidents and Prime Ministers should never worry about their short term history, how they're viewed in short term history. There's no such thing as short term history, except for the musings of somebody who's not very objective to begin with, because if you set big goals and work on big items, the President or the Prime Minister won't be around to see the effects of those policies. And therefore, I don't worry about the short term history. I think in terms of long term history. I know what we're doing now is going to have an effect, a positive effect on this world. France, Germany, and NATO Mr. Kavanagh. Can I just backtrack a little? The President. Sure. Mr. Kavanagh. You were talking earlier about the contributions countries like Britain and Italy have made, and others. The President. Spain, Poland, a lot of people. Mr. Kavanagh. You didn't mention France and Germany in that. You seem very critical of France. The President. Look, my attitude is the past is there. It's past, and now let's go on. I'll tell you one example of why that attitude is important, and that is Germany's contribution in Afghanistan. And it's a positive contribution, more than positive it's incredibly helpful. They've got a number of troops there. It's the first deployment of German troops, as I understand, outside of their soil since World War II. It's a positive yes, I think that's right. Check the facts. But anyway, it's helpful, really helpful. Mr. Kavanagh. And NATO? The President. Yes, NATO is important. Mr. Kavanagh. But France is a semidetached member of NATO The President. Well, it's a historic role Mr. Kavanagh. They won't be a rival The President. I certainly hope not. See, there's no need to rival the United States and our friends. Our goals are peace. Mr. Kavanagh. But France wants to counter. The President. You mean multipolarity? Well, I think we need to work against multipolarity, and the reason why I know we need to work against multipolarity is a Europe working with American can do a lot together. A united Europe working with America can do a lot together. We can promote peace. We can fight off terror, which is necessary, and there needs to be full cooperation in order to defeat the terrorists. We can work on issues like global AIDS. I'm real proud of our country's contribution to global AIDS, just to give you a sense of my feeling on this. We are a fortunate country. We're prosperous and by the way, we're becoming more prosperous, which is good news. Global AIDS Initiative Mr. Kavanagh. I'd like to ask you about that. The President. Okay. But I believe we owe a lot to the world's peace, and we owe a lot to those who suffer, because of our fortune, because of our wealth. I'm proud of the fact that Congress has supported my initiative to provide a large sum of money. And as importantly, I'm proud of our NGOs and faith based organizations that are willing to help provide the infrastructure so that we can get help to beat this pandemic. We're a prosperous country, and yet in our world an entire generation is about to be wiped out. And I feel strongly about America's need to be involved and Europe's need to be involved in this issue together, just like I feel strongly we need to provide food for the hungry, just like I feel strongly that when we see tyranny, that we need to work for freedom. Every situation, of course, doesn't require military action. I just repeat I want your readers to know, the military is my last choice, not my first choice. See, I understand the consequences of war. I understand the risks of war. I understand firsthand, particularly when I go and hug the moms and dads and brothers and sisters and sons and daughters of those who died. I also see the consequences of not acting, of hoping for the best in the face of these tyrannical killers. So therefore, our foreign policy will be active. We'll work closely with our friends and allies, and we're going to stay on the offensive against the terrorists. National Economy Steel Tariffs Mr. Kavanagh. Let me just ask you one quick question on the economy. The President. Yes. Mr. Kavanagh. It's going great guns. You're revising figures upwards. You introduced tax cuts. You promised tax cuts you introduced them. Is this a message to the rest of the world too? The President. Well, I think people ought to look at progrowth policies and how to stimulate the entrepreneurial spirit. To me, one of the unique qualities of our country is the individualism of our country and the willingness of people to take risks to better themselves. Most new jobs in America are created by small businesses, and that's an exciting aspect of our economy, because it not only is good economics to have the job hiring dispersed throughout society, it also is such a hopeful part of our economy, when you think about somebody in America can start their own business and grow it and then actually own something. They become the owner of this piece of property. Our tax policy was very effective at stimulating small business growth, because most small businesses pay tax at the individual income tax level. When you hear "small business" or "small corporation," you think "corporate tax." But in America most small businesses are sole proprietorships or Sub chapter S's, so that when we cut all rates, not trying to select rate cuts but all rates, it really affected capital formation in the small business. This economy and this country, more importantly, is tough and resilient. We've been through a lot. When I showed up here, we were in recession. I guess we were headed into recession. But the first I show up Dick Cheney and I are here we get sworn in in late January and the first quarter of '01 is recession or the beginnings of a recession. And then the attacks hurt us, and we had corporate scandals. But I think the world is beginning to see America will deal with corporate scandals in a tough way. It doesn't matter whether you're we will hold people to account. I believe, in criminal matters, that there has to be consequences for bad behavior, and clear consequences, and that's how you deter bad behavior. And our SEC and our prosecutors are moving quickly. The war affected people, but we're overcoming that. It's not only good tax policy, but we've got to work on making sure Congress doesn't overspend, and that's tough. But I'm holding the line. We've done pretty good on our budget agreements so far. We need better legal policy. I've been pushing tort reform at the national level on class action suits, all of which make it easier for people to kind of calculate risk when it comes to employing capital, which is the essence of promoting the entrepreneurial spirit. Trade is a very important element. I'll be dealing real quickly I'm going to take a good look at the steel issue. The International Trade Commission made a ruling. It said our industry was being harmed by imports. I felt I had an obligation to take that report seriously, which I did. I imposed tariffs to see whether or not to give the breathing room for the industry to restructure. I'm not analyzing the extent to which they restructured. Having said that, I am a fierce free trader. I believe in free trade. I know free trade is important between America and Great Britain, and I will continue to resist any protectionist tendencies here. In order for us to be free traders, however, we've got to enforce the rules of free trade, and I was doing so through the International Trade Commission's report. Sorry I cut you off. Mr. Kavanagh. Not at all. The President. First Lady Bush is standing out there. We're getting ready to award the National Humanities Award here. Mr. Kavanagh. Many thanks. The President. See you over there. November 17, 2003 The President. It's been my honor to host one of the most extraordinary meetings I've had as the President of the United States. I'm seated here with five courageous, brave Iraqi women who believe in the people of Iraq, believe in the future of Iraq, who love their freedoms, who look forward to working to see that their nation is a free and peaceful country. The stories of these five courageous leaders is a story of human tragedy on the one hand and human hope on the other. And I am so honored that they're here. Two members of the Governing Council are with us. I'll ask each member to say a couple of words, and then I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions. Would you like to start? The leader of the delegation. And by the way, there is an extensive group of Iraqi women in the room next door that I will go talk to here in a minute with these along with these other five leaders here. Raja Habib al Khuzai. I lead the delegation of the 17 women, Iraqi women, and we represent Iraq. And all of us are different ethnic and religious groups, but we are from Iraq. And we are all Iraqis, and Iraq is just one nation. And we are looking forward to see the new, democratic Iraq, and everyone will live in peace. We don't like wars anymore, and we suffered a lot. Songul Chapouk. Yes. I'm also from the Governing Council. I'm also leading these women. And I am from the Turkoman community, and it's a pleasure for me to be in America. And I work for my people. I'd like to see Iraq have a new Government, and I'd like to see my people more security. And I'd like to say that my people in Iraq, all of them, Kurdish, Turkoman, Arab, they're all working together. And the Sunni Triangle, there is no Sunni Triangle they're all Iraqi. We all like Iraq. We all like America, and we don't want them let we don't want them to leave us. We need them because we have open borders and we don't have army and we don't have trained policemen, so we need them at this time. And we ask them to not leave us, please, at this time, because this is a very, very difficult condition for us. Our children like you, our children want you to stay, and all Iraqi people like your forces. Thank you very much. The President. I assured these five women that America wasn't leaving. When they hear me say, "We're staying," that means we're staying. And that's precisely what the terrorists want to do, is to try to drive us out of Iraq before these leaders and other leaders are able to put their Government together and live in peace. And we will succeed we will succeed. Let me answer a couple of questions. Hunt Terence Hunt, Associated Press . Iraqi Transition U.S. Cooperation Q. Sir, I'd like to pick up there on what you just said about "America isn't leaving" and what this woman said about they want us to stay. Is it fair to think of this provisional Government that's going to be established as any part of an exit strategy? Or The President. No. The politics will go forward. The political process is moving on. The Iraqi people are plenty capable of governing themselves. We're in the process now of working with the Governing Council to put in place the necessary laws so that people feel comfortable about the evolution of the Government. The Governing Council itself is going to be making these decisions, and it's full of capable people. On the other hand, we will continue to work with the Iraqi people to secure its country. We fully recognize that Iraq has become a new front on the war on terror and that there are disgruntled Ba'athists as well as Fedayeen fighters and mujahideen types and Al Qaida types that want to test the will of the civilized world there. And we will work with Iraqis to bring people to justice. We talked about the high price the Iraqi citizens are paying. There's a lot of brave and courageous Iraqi soldiers and police who are chasing down these terrorists, and they're paying a price for it. And the reason I bring that up is, the Iraqi people want to be free. And we will continue to work with them to develop a free society. And a free Iraq is not only in the interests of these five courageous women a free Iraq is in our interests. A free Iraq in a part of the world that is troublesome and dangerous will set such a good example. We're talking about an historic opportunity to change parts of the world, and Iraq will be the leader of that change. It's important for American citizens to know that what is taking place in Iraq will be in the long term security interests for their children and their grandchildren. And I want to thank these five pioneers for freedom who are sitting here with me today. Last question, Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Al Qaida and Terrorist Attacks Q. Al Qaida appears to be taking responsibility for bombings in Istanbul, Riyadh, Baghdad. Are we seeing a reconstitution of Al Qaida? The President. We're seeing the nature of Al Qaida. They'll kill innocent people anywhere, anytime. That's just the way they are. They have no regard for human life. They claim they're religious people, but they're not. Religious people do not murder innocent citizens. Religious people don't just indiscriminately bomb. The bombing in Istanbul, I was told today, may have taken more Muslim lives than any other religion. They just kill, and they're trying to create fear and chaos. I had a good talk with Prime Minister Erdogan, who assured me that, one, he understood his responsibilities to protect people from all religions within his country and, two, that he would chase these killers down and bring them to justice. There's only one way to deal with Al Qaida find them and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what the United States and a lot of other nations, including a free Iraq, will do. We do this in the name of humanity. We do this in the name of freedom, and we do it in the name of peace. November 16, 2003 The President. Thank you. Today I spent some time in prayer for our service men and women who are in harm's way. I prayed for their families. I prayed for those who are still in harm's way, whether it be American troops or coalition troops. The sacrifice that our folks are making in Iraq will serve our Nation's interests in the short term and long term. It's best to defeat the terrorists in Iraq so we don't have to defeat them here. As well a free and stable Iraq, in the heart of a part of the world where there is frustration and anger, where the recruiters of hatred are able to find terrorists a free Iraq will be a transforming event. And I appreciate the families who are making the sacrifices along with our troops. As well in Iraq, it was a tough week, but we made progress toward a sovereign and free Iraq. The Iraqi Governing Council has laid out a timetable for the transfer of sovereignty. We're pleased with that timetable. We think it makes sense. On the one hand, the politics is moving on on the other hand, we're going to stay tough and deal with the terrorists. I also talked to Prime Minister Erdogan over the weekend, expressed our deep condolences for the senseless death caused by bombings in Turkey. He assured me that he would fight the terrorists and bring the terrorists to justice. I told him we would help, and we're grateful. But it's just a reminder that the war on terror takes place on different fronts. At home, I am pleased with the progress made on the energy bill and on Medicare. I want to thank the leaders in the House and the Senate for coming together on two important pieces of legislation. On Medicare, it looks like there's agreement in principle to provide our seniors with a modern Medicare plan, and that's very positive news. I urge the Members of the House and the Senate to take a look at it, vote it, and get it to my desk as soon as possible. And I'm pleased that we're finally developing a national energy plan. So we're making good progress on the domestic front here at home. Let me answer a couple of questions. Saddam Hussein Audiotape Q. Can you comment on the latest tape, reportedly from Saddam Hussein, that's being aired now? The President. I haven't seen the specifics. I suspect it's the same old stuff. You know, it's propaganda. We're not leaving until the job is done, pure and simple. A free and peaceful Iraq will be a historic event. And I'm sure he would like to see us leave, if, in fact, it's his voice. And I know that elements of the Ba'athist Party, those who used to torture, maim, and kill in order to stay in power, would like to see us leave. We will do our job. Randy Randall Mikkelsen, Reuters . Helicopter Crash in Iraq Q. Mr. President, what information do you have about the chopper crash The President. No more than you have, but it's sad. It's a sad day when we lose life. It doesn't matter whether it's in a chopper crash or an IED, the loss of life is sad. Iraqi Transition Plan Q. What plans do you have for security after the new transition plan is implemented, after the Iraqi sovereignty is granted? How do you ensure The President. Well, it depends on what's taking place on the ground. Somebody told me, they said, "Well, this means there's going to be less troops." Politics is going to go forward. The political process will move on. And we'll adjust our troop level according to the security situation in Iraq. Yes. Who are you with, first of all? I haven't seen Q. Fox News Channel. The President. Very good. Welcome. Protests During President's Upcoming Visit to the United Kingdom Q. Are you concerned at all about the protests that you're going to be facing in London when you go? The President. No, I'm not concerned at all. I'm glad to be going to a free country where people are allowed to protest. Not the least bit. Yes, who are you with? Q. I'm with CNN. The President. Good. Iraq Q. Do you see the use of surface to air missiles as an escalation in the conflict in Iraq? The President. It's symptomatic of the fact that there was a lot of weapons lying around. And we've just got to bring these killers to justice, which we will. The military is adjusting. You've been reading about the fact that they're adjusting their strategy and their plans. That's exactly what the Commander in Chief expects, flexibility on the ground to change response to a change of tactics with the enemy. Hillman G. Robert Hillman, Dallas Morning News . President's Upcoming Visit to the United Kingdom Q. Yes, are you concerned at all with your visit to London, that it comes at a kind of uncomfortable time in some respects for Prime Minister Blair The President. No, I'm not concerned about my trip to London. I'm really looking forward to it. It's the second "are you concerned" question about my trip to England. I'm really looking forward to it. It's going to be a fantastic experience. I know you do you have something else on the "concerned" question there? I cut you off. I beg your pardon. Q. No, there have just been, you know, immense speculation that this is coming at an awkward political time for you and the Prime Minister, for that matter. The President. Awkward political time for me? Q. Inaudible the situation in Iraq. The President. No, I'm looking forward to the trip. I'm honored to have been invited. I look forward to my consultations with Tony Blair. We visit all the time via telephone or via secure video link. I'm looking forward to sitting down with him in person. It's going to be a great trip. I guess everywhere every time I go somewhere, there is immense speculation. I'm not suggesting you're the speculators, but I remember before I went to the Far East, there was some speculation about this and speculation about that. No, I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be a great trip. Yes, sir. Steel Tariffs Q. Mr. President, are you any closer to a decision on steel? The President. Than I was Friday? Q. Yes. The President. Well, if there is a date at which I'm going to make it, I guess I'm 2 days closer. But no, I'm thinking about it. I've got some considerations. People are presenting reports to me, which I will look at, and let you know at the appropriate time, when I make up my mind. Yes, sir. Who Q. NBC News. The President. Very good. Medicare Reform Legislation Q. Okay, thank you. Mr. President, what do you think the chances are of getting the Medicare bill passed? The President. The what? Medicare? You know, that's a good question. I think it's good. I think I'm pleased we've come this far. And I think there's going to be immense pressure on Members of both the House and the Senate to support this bill. It is a good piece of legislation. It is a complex piece of legislation. After all, we're changing a Medicare system that has been stuck in the past for a long period of time. I'm beginning to get a sense of the supporters for this piece of legislation. And there's some mighty active groups of people who are interested in good health care for our seniors that are getting mobilized, and so I think we've got a good chance of passing it. I know I will be actively pushing the bill, because it conforms to the principles I laid out of prescription drugs for our seniors, choice for seniors, accountability for the Medicare plan. There's a lot of good features in this bill. I look forward to working to see its passage. Listen, you all have a wonderful Sunday. Thank you very much. November 14, 2003 President Bush. Thank you all for coming. Mr. President, it is my honor to welcome you to the Oval Office. You come at a difficult period for your country. You come at a time when your nation grieves for the brave sons who lost their life. I send our Nation's gratitude and prayers to the loved ones who are grieving today in Italy. I want to thank you for the friendship between our two nations. I want to thank you for your strong leadership in standing up to the terrorists who are trying to create fear and chaos. And I want to thank you for your understanding that a free and peaceful Iraq will help make the entire world more peaceful. And so it is my privilege and honor to welcome a close friend to the Oval Office. Welcome. President Ciampi. Today I come to the United States as President of the Italian Republic and as a staunch advocate of European integration. I will go to Arlington Cemetery this afternoon. No Italian, no European can ever forget how much democratic Europe owes to the young Americans who gave their lives for our freedom. On Sunday I will go to Ground Zero to honor the victims of terrorism. President Bush. Thank you. President Ciampi. I want to thank President Bush for his words, for expressing solidarity in connection with the horrible attack against Italian forces in Iraq. Italy went to Iraq not to take part in a war but to contribute to rebuild a country. This is the identity of the Italian Republic, to build peace, to solve post conflict situations. We have done it in the past, and we do it in many parts of the world today. With President Bush, we agreed on the goal to accelerate full implementation of United Nations Resolution 1511. We support the idea of drawing a roadmap for the Iraqi political process in order to establish a full fledged Government. The ideals of democracy and freedom have their roots and their strongest foundation in Europe and North America. As it happens, even among friends, there have been problems between us on specific aspects of transatlantic cooperation. We are committed, especially us Italians, to put them fully behind us, for they do not dent and cannot dent the inaudible solidarity between Europe and the United States. Upholding Atlantic cohesion is a duty and a necessity. I already mentioned to President Bush, and we will continue to do so during the working lunch, about the rationale of what the European Union wants to do to become more united and speak with a single voice. We are progressing in bringing about and completing a constitutional treaty which will enable the European Union to function better and, again, to speak with a single voice. A united, stronger with a new configuration of Europe, it will be a stronger Europe with 25 member states and over 450 million citizens and will reinforce and extend a vast area of security and peace. And they will become a better partner also for the United States. I intend to continue my conversation with President Bush so that we can work together, United States, Italy, Europe, to reinforce pressures to bring about a solution to the conflict of Israel and Palestinian problems, so that we can arrive to a right and just solution. And this will help us to fight, better, terrorism. And we have to fight terrorists terrorism in a better way so that the Islamic world will know that we view them as a civilization both near and friendly to ours. In conclusion, I think that we should reinforce our action to increase the actions also within the international institutions, such as the United Nations, to whose establishment the United States has made a fundamental contribution. Italy will continue to fight, with determination, terrorists. President Bush. Thank you. Listen, we'll have a couple of questions here. We'll alternate between the American press and the Italian press. We expect there to be some order here during the question and answer period. In order to set the example, Jennifer Jennifer Loven, Associated Press , would you like to begin in a calm and rational way? Coalition Goals and Tactics in Iraq Q. I would. With the speeding up of the transfer of power in Iraq, do you envision that meaning a quicker reduction of U.S. forces there? President Bush. Well, we are I instructed Ambassador Bremer to take to go back to Iraq with the instructions that we will work with the Governing Council to speed up the political process in a rational way. That's what he's going to do, on the belief that we've made a lot of progress on the ground, that the Governing Council is better prepared to take more responsibility. In terms of security, we will do whatever it takes to help Iraq develop into a free and peaceful country. That is our goal. And we will stay there until the job is done, and then we'll leave. And the enemy has changed tactics on the ground, and so we're changing our response, and that's what you're beginning to see now. The discussions with General Abizaid and the discussions with Bremer and all the different pieces of evidence to that effect are really saying that as the enemy changes, so will we. And we'll bring them to justice, and Iraq will be more secure, and Iraq is going to be free. And that's in the Nation's interest that it be so. Would you like to call on an Italian member of the press? There is traveling press from Italy, isn't there? Would anybody care to ask a question? It's the old double question trick. Q. It's a question to both you, President Bush, and President Ciampi. Italy is going through very difficult times, as it is the case for other countries who are present in Iraq. And so the question is, will the presence of U.S. and Italian troops in Iraq change their strategy in order to respond to the deterioration of the situation? President Bush. That's a very good question. I'll go first, if you don't mind. The answer to your question is yes. It's very important that our commanders on the ground be given flexibility to be able to adjust tactics to an enemy that is changing its tactics. First of all, the enemy wants to create the condition of fear. They want people to fear them. They will lose that aspect of the battle because our will will remain strong. And secondly, we must use more Iraqis to gather intelligence and to be on the frontline of securing their own country. And that's exactly what we're doing. And third, when we find actionable intelligence, we will strike fast to bring killers to justice. And that's what we're doing as well. President Ciampi. I only want to add a few words, and this concerns exclusively tactical maneuvers that have to be decided by the commanders who are on the field, onsite. Our military forces received specific and very clear instructions when they went to Iraq. The implementation of these instructions stem from the assessment of their commanders on the field. President Bush. Yes, very good. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Yes, sorry. Q. Can you envision pulling U.S. troops out of Iraq before Saddam Hussein is found? President Bush. Look, we will stay until the job is done, and the job is for Iraq to be free and peaceful. A free and peaceful Iraq will have historic consequences. And we'll find Saddam Hussein. The goal is for a free and peaceful Iraq, and by being strong and determined, we will achieve that objective. Final question here. I promised the President I would buy him lunch, and if we keep answering questions, we won't be able to eat lunch. President Ciampi. I have nothing else to add. President Bush. Okay. Sir, please. Humanitarian Aid Workers in Iraq Q. I have a question to President Bush. Given the difficult security situation in the country and given the fact that the Red Cross left the country, what can be done to ensure and guarantee the protection of the return of the Red Cross and also of other humanitarian organizations? President Bush. Yes, that's an excellent question. Thank you for asking that. First, there are Red Cross workers still there. The headquarters left Baghdad, but many workers are still there. Secondly, there are besides the Red Cross, there are other organizations still in place that are delivering the humanitarian help that is needed to help Iraq rebuild herself. It is very important for the leaders of the NGOs to recognize that if they don't go into Baghdad, they're doing exactly what the terrorists want them to do. The situation on the ground for the Iraqi citizens, the humanitarian situation, is improving, and the main reason why is because there are ministries up and running, staffed by very capable Iraqi citizens. We will stay the course, and as more and more Iraqis realize freedom is precious and freedom is a beautiful way of life, they will assume more and more responsibilities, not only for security but for humanitarian reasons as well. Finally, I want to thank the Italian people once again for working toward a world that is more humane and more decent and more peaceful. The Iraqi people deserve to live a life of freedom. The Iraqi people deserve to have their children go to schools. The Iraqi people deserve to be free of torture chambers and mass graves. And the work we are doing together is humane and compassionate and necessary for peace, and I thank the people of Italy. Thank you all. President Ciampi. I just want to add that the Italian Red Cross is still in Iraq, and they're still carrying out their duties, and they're giving assistance to the people who is really in need of assistance. President Bush. All right. We've got to go eat. I hope you do too. November 14, 2003 The Oval Office The President. I wanted to show you this shrine to democracy here, kind of give you a sense of who I am. Laura designed that that would be my wife. I wanted people to, when they walk in here, to have a sense of optimism. I wanted people to say, "The person whose office is in here, or who works in here, is an optimistic person." And I thought she did a fabulous job capturing my sense about our future. Well, as you can see, it's got sun rays. Q. Has it worked? Have people coming in The President. See, that's what you're supposed to tell me. Laughter Q. Can we inaudible the enemy to you? Laughter The President. I don't ask everybody that comes in to work. I just want you to know why we do what we do with the rug. This looks like Texas it's a Texas star. These are paintings of Texas. This is a guy named Onderdonk, a great Texas painter. That's what our ranch looks like. That's west Texas, where far west Texas. Where I was raised, it's flatter than that. Laura's mother was raised in that country. It's a really special part of the room. Q. Is that actually the ranch? The President. No, it's not. It looks like it two other Texas paintings. Obviously, I love Texas. It's very important for a President to know who he is before you take this job, a lot of pressure here, a lot of decisionmaking. If you try to figure out who you are on the job Q. It's too late. The President. you're not doing a very good job. Exactly. Before I get to there well, Washington, George Washington, of course. It's kind of hard to envision Rutherford B. Hayes above the mantel, isn't it? Anyway, Lincoln is this country's greatest President, so I put him on the wall. I think he was the greatest President, because the job of President is to unite the country to achieve big objectives. It's hard to achieve big things if you're not united. We're achieving freedom and peace, so we'll spend a little time talking about it Iraq. At home, a compassionate America is a big objective. In order to do that, a President must call upon people to serve their neighbors in need. I understand the limits of government when it comes to compassion. The truth of the matter is, the great strength of our country is the heart and souls of our citizens, incredibly passionate people here. My job is to call them to, as I like to put it, to love their neighbor like they would like to be loved themselves, which leads to this painting here. It's called "A Charge To Keep." It's based upon a Methodist hymn. As you know, there was a renegade Englishman named John Wesley, and we are Methodists at least, I am Methodist, and my wife is a Methodist. And we sang this hymn at my first inaugural church service as Governor. And my friend O'Neill, who is not a Methodist he introduced Laura and me in their backyard in Midland he said, "I've got a painting based upon that hymn, and would you like to hang it in the Governor's office?" I said, "I don't think it's going to fit." It turned out to be perfect. The hymn talks about serving something greater than yourself in life. Personally, it speaks to my spirituality. But my job as the President is not to promote a religion. My job is to capture what I call the spirit of America, to call upon people to serve, and that painting reminds me of that. Q. What painting is it again? The President. Pardon me? Q. What's it called? The President. "A Charge To Keep I Have." Q. Is that possible The President. I think it is, yes. This, by the way now we're going to get to the this is the beginning. I hope you're recording all this. Q. Can we go again? Laughter The Resolute Desk Churchill Bust The President. This desk was given to America by Queen Victoria. By the way, I would like to talk about two things here in the Oval Office, two articles, one the desk and one a bust, that should describe how I value the relationship with our close and unique friend, which is why I'm so grateful that I've been invited to go. You're about to get the preamble to the discussions. This desk is called the H.M.S. Resolute Desk. The timber is from the H.M.S. Resolute, which was rescued in the Arctic, and Queen Victoria, out of gratitude for the relationship, made this desk from the timber. It's a beautiful desk. Not every President has used this. It has some interesting features. Roosevelt put the door on the desk to cover up his infirmities. He didn't want people to know he was in a wheelchair. John John Ken put his head out of the desk, probably the most famous Oval Office photo. His dad was looking out at the South Lawn there. Reagan put the bottom on the desk so his knees wouldn't hit. So it's been an interesting history. I love it. Q. What are you going to do to it? The President. I don't know. Good question. I'm just going to treat it like a treasure, which is what it is. Q. Does this mean we're forgiven for burning down the White House? Laughter The President. Well, that's another part of the White House. This was built after that tragic occurrence. As a matter of fact, there's a painting hanging in there that we love to show people, where Dolly Madison cut out the picture of George Washington, rolled it up, and ran with it before the White House burned, thanks to a savage attack. Laughter Q. It was all a mistake. The President. Of course it was. Q. Identification problem. The President. Yes, exactly. Weren't sure where they were. This is, of course, Churchill. Tony Blair knew that I was an admirer of Churchill, and he arranged for this bust to be loaned here. I am an admirer. I thought Churchill was a clear thinker. I thought he was a the kind of guy that stood tough when you needed to stand tough. He represented values that both countries hold dear, the value of freedom, the belief in democracy, human dignity of every person. I admired his wit. I wish I could be as witty as he was, because he had a fantastic mind and a charming guy. And there's some interesting political lessons there. Sometimes you're up. Sometimes you're down. But you've got to do what you think is right. And that's the lesson of Winston Churchill, who was a strong leader. So anyway, he sits here, along with Lincoln and Ike. All right. So welcome to the Oval Office. Q. Thank you very much. President's Upcoming Visit to the United Kingdom The President. The President must understand in this office that the person is never bigger than the office. If you think you're bigger than the office, you'll fail as President. The Presidency is bigger than the person. It will last stay here a lot longer than any individual. That's an important lesson here that Presidents must understand. Come on in. Just a couple of comments, then we'll answer questions for a while. I am looking forward to the trip. It's going to be a really interesting and fun experience for Laura and me. Obviously, staying at Buckingham Palace is going to be an historic moment. I never dreamt when I was living in Midland, Texas, that I would be staying in Buckingham Palace. Buckingham Palace has got a resonance to it here in America which is pretty grand and pretty magnificent. I've been looking forward to it. I'm really looking forward to spending time with my friend and I emphasize "my friend" Tony Blair. He's a smart, capable, trustworthy friend, and we've got a lot to talk about. We'll talk about Iraq. We'll talk about trade. We'll talk about commerce. We'll talk about issues that we can work together on to help human suffering. I'll be doing different events. I'll be giving a speech there that I'm working on now, that will confirm my understanding of the importance of this relationship. But I'll talk about other ambitions that we can work on together to promote freedom and peace and a compassion agenda that I think our countries are uniquely suited to work on. So I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be an exciting trip for us, and I really thank Her Majesty for opening the invitation. I've got my tails all set out and ready to go. Laughter Had to rent them, but laughter just don't tell anybody. Q. It gets a bit noisy in the palace when the morning papers arrive, so you'll need to The President. They do? Yes. I guess I'll have to go to bed early and wake up early. Anyway, let's go around while we've got time. President's Upcoming Meeting With Families of Fallen British Soldiers Q. May I just begin by asking what you hope to take away from the visit? And in particular, can I ask you what message you will have for families of the British servicemen who have been killed in Iraq? The President. Sure. Q. Because I gather you'll get to meet. The President. I am going to meet some. Look, there's two messages. One, the prayers of the American people and the prayers of the President are with them as they suffer. I believe in prayer. I believe that there is a comforting and healing Almighty, and I'll ask that their souls be comforted. Secondly, that I will tell them that their loved one did not die vain. The actions we have taken will make the world more secure and the world more peaceful in the long run, that a free Iraq, free of weapons of mass destruction, free of tyranny, is not only good for the long suffering Iraqi people, which in itself is important, but is going to be good for the long term for countries which love freedom. Can you imagine the historic change, the landmark moment that is taking place now, where we've got a free a country which is emerging to be free and peaceful in the midst of a part of the world where violence and tyranny and terror have reigned? And I view this as an historic moment, and I will share with them, just like I share with our own families here, a deep grief, my sorrow for the sacrifice, but the fact that what is taking place today is a noble cause. Prime Minister Tony Blair Q. Mr. President, to focus it back on Mr. Blair and Britain, here is a guy who has lost two Ministers, who has lost a large part of the Parliamentary party, and who it could be said, polls has lost the faith of a large part of the country over Iraq. He's still, as you saw the other night in the Lord Mayor's banquet speech, 100 million percent there, and this against the great tide of popular opinion. What have you got on him? What's the relationship? And what's the The President. Well, that's just Tony Q. And what's the payoff? Laughter The President. Freedom and peace. Tony Blair is making decisions for the right reasons. He is a in my relationship with him, he is the least political person I've dealt with. And I say that out of respect. He makes decisions based upon what he thinks is right. He's plenty independent. If he thinks if he thought the policy that we have both worked on was wrong, he'd tell me. He believes it's in his country's interest that we work for a free and peaceful Iraq. He, as much as any world leader, saw the consequences of September the 11th, 2001. Obviously, there are more those consequences and that moment has directly affected my foreign policy. See, it changed the nature of the Presidency. It changed the security arrangements of the United States of America. I vowed to the American people I would never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001, and that is we are no longer protected by oceans. We're vulnerable to attack by terrorists. Tony Blair understands the devastation that terror can bring to a country in a civilized world. He knows the tactics of the terrorists are to create fear and chaos. He knows what they want is for the civilized world to retreat so that their tyranny and their bloodshed and their unbelievable barbaric form of government, like the Taliban, will take hold. And he refuses to allow his country to be terrorized, and he refuses to allow peoples to become subjugated to that kind of ideologies. And I respect him greatly for that. And I admire him as a strong leader. He tells you what he thinks, and he does what he says he's going to do. And that's about as high a compliment as I can pay a fellow leader. President's Popularity Decisionmaking Q. Mr. President, you're going to find, I think, quite a large number of people on the streets demonstrating during your visit for a variety of reasons, which highlights a rather striking contrast between you're still a pretty popular President at home, but you're not a very popular President in various states around the world. The President. Yes. Q. Does that how do you account for the lack of popularity around the world? And does it matter to you? The President. Well, first of all, I it's kind of all I can tell you is I went to the Philippines. There was thousands and thousands and thousands of people out there, and they were waving with all five fingers. Laughter No, look, I frankly haven't paid that much attention to what you just described. But first, I admire a country which welcomes people to express their opinion. I'm proud of Great Britain's tradition of free speech. I remember going to Hyde Park and seeing Speaker's Corner what do they call it, Speaker's Corner? Q. Yes. The President. People up there expressing their opinion. And it's kind of it's a longstanding tradition. People speak their mind. Q. Mr. President The President. Let me finish here. Q. Sure. The President. And I fully understand not everybody is going to agree with the decisions I've made. I don't expect everybody to agree. And I make decisions based upon in the foreign policy arena, made decisions based upon a couple of principles. One, how best to secure America? That's my biggest responsibility. See, I was there right after September the 11th. I saw the smoke. I saw the devastation. I heard the grief. I hugged the firefighters whose the families of the firefighters who rushed in to save. I saw the heroism. And I vowed right then and there that I would use everything in my power to prevent America from being attacked again. But there's a greater ambition as well, because I understand that free societies are societies which do not breed terror. And I gave a speech the other day, and in that speech I said the are certain folks who I think don't believe that freedom can take hold in parts of our world. And I reminded them about some of the statements about the post World War II Japan, that there were some skeptics who said that, well, Japan couldn't possibly be a free society or a democratic society. I thought about that when I was eating dinner with Koizumi, Prime Minister Koizumi he's a good friend thinking about what would happen if we had not done a good job with the peace after World War II. Would America and Japan be able to work together, for example, on the North Korean issue, had it not been done right? My point to you is that free societies and democratic societies are transforming societies. And we have a chance to transform by working together, transform in a positive way whole societies and whole regions of the world. And finally and people don't I can understand people not liking war, if that's what they're there to protest. I don't like war. War is the last choice a President should make, not the first. And it was the last choice, after endless years of diplomacy took place resolution after resolution after resolution after resolution that was put forth in the U.N. condemning the and warning the world, frankly, of the dangers of Saddam Hussein and condemning his programs and insisting that he disarm. And finally, in 1141, as you know, by unanimous vote, the world said at least the U.N. Security Council said, "Disarm or there will be serious consequences." And he didn't disarm. He had no intention of disarming. And so then the fundamental question came down to a couple of things, one, the definition of serious consequence. Serious consequence is not another resolution or another debate inside the U.N. And I understand people loathe war. So do I. And yet, we are war. That's what September the 11th taught us. It's a different kind of war. And I intend to, so long as I'm the President, wage that war vigorously to protect the American people. And there's all kinds of ways to wage it. And the best way to win, in the long run, though, is the spread of freedom. And that's what's happening. But sure, I can understand people not agreeing with the decision I made. Q. But it is striking, isn't it, that opinion poll after opinion poll The President. I don't know. I don't read them. Q. huge solidarity after 9 11 The President. I just don't pay attention to the polls. If I were trying to be President paying attention on the polls, I'd be running around in circles. It's a great that's one of the reasons I've got Winston Churchill's bust here is, at least from my reading of the history, he pretty much said what he thought, did what he thought was right, and led. He was courageous in his leadership. And you know the interesting thing about Presidents and Prime Ministers is you're never going to be around to judge history, judge the true merit of the history, of the decisions you make. Short term history is it's hard to call it unobjective. It's very subjective, I guess, is the best way to put it. After all, the person who has written the history hasn't had a chance to see the full effects of the decisionmaking. And in my case, most of the short term historians probably aren't that thrilled with me being President in the first place, which might color the short term history. Laughter But my only point is, I think a President must not try to write the legacy of every moment. The President just does what he thinks is right and try to explain as clearly as I can part of the purpose of my visit to your great country is to use the opportunities I've had to speak directly, like I'm doing right now, to people about why I made the decisions I made. Go ahead, go ahead. Iraq Q. On Iraq, you mentioned you're having intensive consultations these days The President. Constantly. Q. Yes. The President. With Blair, by the way. Q. Indeed. The President. Weekly. Q. Seeming to point to the need to hand over or a desire to hand over power faster to the Iraqis? Where is this going? The President. Yes. Well, we Jerry Bremer is here in town today. I think he just had a press availability. And we discussed all options and just to make sure we understand where we are relative to the situation on the ground. We want the Iraqis to understand that we believe they're plenty capable of running their own country. See, we're of the school of thought, this administration and Tony is the same way, if I could put words in his mouth that believe the Iraqi people are plenty capable of running a peaceful country. And therefore, the sooner the people the more the people realize that, I think the more comfortable they'll be with their future. And the sooner that sovereignty is handed over in a way commensurate with a with a stable country, the better off it is. That's been our position all along. So we're constantly reviewing the progress. There's been obviously, it's tough. We lost Italian police today. These killers are they're hardnosed people. They'll kill because they want to intimidate. They want us to leave. That's their goal. They've got different ambitions. Some would like to see a Taliban type government, that would be the mujahideen type people. Some want to revenge the loss the defeat in Afghanistan. They would be your Al Qaida types. And the Ba'athists, of course, want to get back in power. They represent roughly 18 percent of the people, and they've had 100 percent of the power, and they like that. And obviously, in a free society, that's not going to be the case, power sharing as opposed to not power sharing. And so there are elements of the Ba'athists and Saddam holdouts that are desperately trying and I use the word "desperate" because they see the progress being made. And there is progress being made. And I certainly don't want to underestimate the security situation. I know how tough it is. I know how tough it is firsthand. And yet, on the humanitarian side, in 7 months we've got a new currency moving through the system, which is pretty remarkable when you think about it. The oil revenues, which belong to the Iraqi people, are now up to 2.1 million barrels. Prior to going in, I think if you were to review some of the writings and speculation, they would have said, "Well, that's what's going to take place if the oil reserves are destroyed. How is the coalition going to handle that?" You might remember there was talk about sectarian violence, that all we would do is create a vacuum and longstanding bitterness and hatred would take hold, and Shi'ites and Sunnis and Kurds would all be after each other. That hasn't happened. Electricity is up to prewar levels, although it has dipped this month because of maintenance. My only point to you is that these killers are beginning to see a society begin to emerge, a peaceful society, which is a major defeat for terror. And you bet we're consulting on a regular basis to determine how best to deal with the tactics on the ground. The enemy is changing tactics, and we'll change tactics with them. But I do I talk to Tony a lot. He's got good wisdom on this subject. Our intelligence services are very close. Our militaries are talking to each other. You've got this Government officials there amongst the CPA, and our relationship is good there. And it's very important for us to continue to discuss these issues closely. And then, of course, I stay in touch with Bremer. And sorry. Q. Well The President. Are you trying to dominate? You're doing a fine job. Laughter No, go ahead. Q. No, go The President. We'll make it around. I promise you. I'll wait. Nice try. I call down to these characters all the time for hogging the mike, as we say. He's one of the worst of them. Blair Bush Relationship Q. Regarding the nature of the pressure that Prime Minister Blair is under, is that putting pressure on the decisionmaking, your own relationship The President. Not as far as I can tell. Q. Or pressure for change or change of tactic or anything? The President. Never once has he said to me, ever, "Gosh, I'm feeling terrible pressure." Our discussions go as you would hope leaders of two allies would go What can we do to help each other? What can we do to succeed? I have never heard him complain about the polls or wring his hands. I'm telling you, the relationship is a very good relationship because I admire him, and I admire somebody who stands tough. And I admire somebody who has got a vision which is a vision that is peaceful, and somebody who shares that same deep feeling that freedom is an incredibly important part of changing the world. Free societies do not attack each other. And Tony Blair doesn't hold an elitist view that says only certain people should be free or can be free or capable of freedom. And I admire that in him. And so to answer your question, you say he's look, it may be hard for you to believe, and these guys will tell you, I and ladies will tell you, excuse me, guys and ladies that my style of leadership is to lay out an agenda based upon principle and lead. And I don't pay that much attention to what is written about me or polls. And I think they will verify that what I've just told you is true. And it's not to say I don't respect the press. I do respect the press. But sometimes it's hard to be an optimistic leader. A leader must project an optimistic view. It's hard to be optimistic if you read a bunch of stuff about yourself, if you know what I mean. I don't know how much time Tony looks at polls or anything. I'm just telling you from my perspective, my relationship, he is the kind of person with whom I like to consult, a person I'm proud to call friend, because he's willing to make the tough decision and stand by it. And he makes a tough decision based upon what he thinks is right. Flexibility in Foreign Policy Q. Mr. President, we've heard or heard from the administration emanating the phrase, "No war in '04." The President. Who said that? Q. Behind the scenes. The President. Oh, yes. Is that you, Lindlaw Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press ? Laughter Q. Well, there you go. It's now in the lexicon. The President. We're at war. We are at war, see? I don't mean to anticipate your question, but I'm just going to tell you, we're at war now. We're at war with terror. But go ahead. Q. My point is The President. And Iraq is just one of the is a front in the war on terror. Q. That's where I'm going. I'm going to Syria, and I'm going to Iran. These are countries which, by the criteria of Iraq, you could argue, have the same application. The President. Not really, because remember, the first of all, not every situation needs to be resolved through military action, and I would cite you North Korea and Iran. Secondly, the case in Iraq was unique, is unique, because the world, for over a decade, had spoken. The diplomatic route was tried. No one can argue with that. We tried, I think it was 12 resolutions, if I'm not mistaken, culminating in 1441 which said, "Disarm, or you face serious consequences." I remember going to the U.N. to give that speech. And basically I was looking forward to giving that speech because I wanted the U.N. to understand that they are a vital institution, but their vitality depended upon their willingness to have some meaning to their words. And we're at war. Okay? The war on terror goes on. And the war on terror is going to take a while. America is vulnerable to attack. So is your country, by the way. And the only way to win this war is to do everything you can to protect your homeland but to stay on the offensive, which is what we're going to do. And having said that, not every situation requires a military response. As a matter of fact, I would hope very few situations would require a military response. Let me talk about Iran. The Iranians must hear from a unified world that it is unacceptable for them to develop a nuclear weapon. And I want to thank I thanked Tony the other day on our videoconference we had, for he and his Foreign Minister Straw and the French Foreign Minister and the German Foreign Minister, delivering a message on behalf of all of us that a nuclear weapon is unacceptable. The IAEA, an international organization, as you know, based out of the United Nations, is now very much involved in this issue. The United States position is, is that we appreciate their focus, and we expect there to be a transparent regime inside of Iran. They admitted they had were enriching, that they hadn't disclosed their enrichment under the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty. They had made that admission, which says that we need to be on guard. My point to you in regards to your question on war is that there is a way to deal with this issue in an international forum, which we are now doing. There's bilateral pressure there's trilateral pressure and there is multilateral pressure, I guess is the best way to put it. And that's the best way to deal with it. Let me talk about North Korea, if you don't mind, right quick, to show you, at least, how I think on foreign policy issues. North Korea is a had a bilateral relation with the United States, and the leader would insist that the United States come to the table and provide different aid, and he, the leader, would not "he," Kim Chong il, would not develop a nuclear weapon. And so our country agreed to that. It turns out he was developing highly enriched uranium suitable for a nuclear weapon. The thought of Kim Chong il having a nuclear weapon is very dangerous and or the capacity to export a nuclear weapon into the hands of terrorists. By the way, terrorist networks who are willing to kill with car bombs are also willing to kill on a massive scale. The idea of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of terrorist organizations is a dangerous, dangerous thought for the 21st century. And we've got to deal with it. So I looked at the history and realized that the bilateral relations with Kim Chong il hadn't worked. There's a real politic here, when somebody says they're going to do something and they don't do it. That should be a warning signal, and it was. So I went and worked with the Chinese and convinced the Chinese through a variety of means of argument that they need to be involved, and they now are involved. They're hosting these talks. So you've got the Chinese, and you've got the Americans, and of course, South Korea and Japan and now Russia are all involved. So you've got five countries saying the same message to Kim Chong il We expect you not to develop a nuclear weapons program. And my point to you is, is that there are ways to rally constituencies and nations toward a common objective, which is precisely what we're doing. That is exactly what the U.N. tried to do and others tried to do, and the U.N., as far as Iraq went. It's just at the end, some countries decided that serious consequences meant something other than something different than what I thought serious consequences meant, I guess is the best way to put it. Steel Tariffs Q. Can I ask a question about trade? The President. Please, yes. Let me guess. Laughter Q. You had a ruling on Monday The President. We did. Q. which was not favorable to the U.S. decision last year. Are you going to lift the tax? The President. Well, let me kind of review the bidding right quick on this issue. The International Trade Commission ruled that imports were harming the industry. Therefore, I felt obligated to take a look at that ruling and make a decision based upon that ruling, which as you know, I did. And we're now in the process of looking at a lot of things. One, of course, is whether or not the respite given helped the industry to restructure and to the extent at which it did restructure. Somebody went off. Q. Not me. The President. I would hate for this profundity to be lost. Laughter To answer a very short answer I am listening, looking, and we'll decide at an appropriate time. I haven't made up my mind yet. Iraq and Afghanistan Democracy in the Middle East Q. Just one last question on Iraq and Afghanistan. The President. Sure. Q. Is it really it's inconceivable that you could consider pulling out The President. It is inconceivable. Q. However, bin Laden is at large, and Saddam Hussein. How close are you to finding these people? The President. No, first of all, I wouldn't I think that your let me answer your question this way. We will find them. Okay? Yes, we're not pulling out until the job is done. Period. Q. And that includes finding those two? The President. Yes, that's part of it. But even bigger is a free and democratic society. That is the mission. And again, I'd repeat I know I'm sounding like a broken record to you. I just want you to get a sense for how strongly I feel for the mission we are on. I gave a speech the other I think I might have or mentioned it to you. I gave a speech about democracy in the Middle East. I believe a first of all, I believe that the Middle Eastern countries are plenty capable of being democratic countries. Their democracy won't be Western. We don't expect them to look like America. We expect the governments to be modern, however, and that includes, well, women's rights and including women into the future of their societies. So the mission in Iraq is a free and peaceful and stable country. It will be a this is a transforming mission. It is a milestone, as I said it, a milestone in the history of liberty. And Tony Blair understands that. He looks and I would hope what they would say this of me I look beyond the signs and the moment to be able to see out, out in years, out in history. It's an exciting time to be leaders of our two countries. It is exciting in the sense that, working together, we can transform society in a positive way. And I say, "working together," I mean with everybody. There's some unbelievable devastation besides terror going on in the world. And I look forward to reminding the British people that our country proudly is leading the world when it comes to the battle of AIDS. I put forth an initiative of 15 billion, 10 billion new money on top of 5 billion we're already spending over a 5 year period of time, to help get antiretroviral drugs into the hands of the healers and helpers that are in these ravished countries. Can you imagine living in a world we are living in a world, you don't need to imagine it, it's happening in a world in which the pandemic of AIDS is wiping out an entire generation on a continent? And we must do something about it. And it's sad, and yet, we have an opportunity to lead. And I look forward to talking to my good friend about how we can work together. And it's not only the United States working with Britain it's the United States working with Europe, whole, free, and at peace whole, free, and at peace. Today I was able to present the Medal of Freedom, which is the highest civil award that I give, to Lord George Robertson. I don't know if you all were in there and saw it or not. Were you there? Q. On TV. The President. Yes, I'm sorry. Well, you know, security risk. Laughter Anyway, it was a but the reason I bring that up is that during my tenure here as President, we worked with George and Tony Blair and other countries to expand NATO and the most significant expansion ever, except for the initial thrust. And we expanded to the Baltics. And by the way, we not only expanded to the Baltics, but at the same in the same period of time, got rid of the ABM Treaty, which I felt codified hatred and distrust. And yet, relations are good. And we're moving forward. NATO is an incredibly important institution, and NATO is an instrument for freedom. Yes, one last. Q. One last question. Can I ask a question about European defense? The President. Yes. Anyway, what I was going to say is, is that the relations with Europe are vital and important. We've got good relations. Obviously, there was some disgruntlement about the decision made on Iraq, but I would remind you that Germany has troops in Afghanistan supporting that mission there, for which we're very grateful. And they're doing a darn good job. Yes, last question. Yes, okay, last two questions, then I've got to go. I'm heading toward television. I'm trying to beam my way into Great Britain. Q. David Frost will wait. Laughter The President. That's easy for you to say. He gets to ask the questions, not you. Go ahead. Laughter European Defense Force Q. There was a fuss from American officials after Tony Blair met with Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schroeder in Berlin and appeared to take forward the European initiative on defense. I wanted to ask you what your administration was worried about whether you could trust Tony Blair to keep the thing Atlantic alliance The President. Let me make sure you understand our position. What we believe, that Europe needs to take more of a defense posture and should act independently of NATO if NATO chooses not to take on the mission. We also believe that the European Defense Force we agree with Tony Blair that it should not undermine the vitality of the NATO mission. And I trust Tony Blair to make the right decision there. I don't know what chirping you're hearing about it, but at least in the President's chair, I'm confident that when he says this is the man, remember, he has told me things and has stuck to his word. And therefore, I say with confidence that when he says to me that NATO is a vital relationship and the European Defense Force will not undermine NATO's capacities and or ability to move when it needs to move, I believe him. Last question. President's Upcoming Visit to the United Kingdom Q. Yes, if I may, I gather your program includes a visit to the northeast of England The President. It does. Q. which is Jordyland. And I was wondering how your Jordy was, and how you might all understand each other? The President. My Jordy is probably just about as bad as my English. Laughter And I hope they understand Texan. You know what I'm saying? Q. Yes, exactly. The President. We may be talking above each other. I can't wait to go to his constituency. It's going to be it will be good to get out into the countryside. I like it's hard for a President to get out to the countryside. I travel in somewhat of a bubble. Q. You'll need your phrase book. The President. What? Q. You'll need your phrase book while you're out there. The President. Yes. They'll need theirs too, I'm afraid. Laughter But I'm looking forward to it. This is going to be an historic trip, and it's going to be one that will be in my memory for a long time. I'm really looking forward to it. I appreciate you all giving me a chance to visit with you. Thanks for coming by. November 14, 2003 Thank you all for coming. Thanks for the warm welcome. Welcome to the people's house. In a few moments, I will sign a proclamation in honor of employers across America who have shown their support for our National Guardsmen and reservists. In times of need, our Nation counts on the guard and reserve members to fulfill their commitments of service. We value their courage, and we honor their sacrifice. They are defending their Nation in the war on terror, and they're serving in a just cause. Our guardsmen and reservists depend on the understanding of their employers. Across America, where units have been activated, employers at offices and factories and schools, hospitals, and other workplaces have been understanding and really supportive. They've given priority to the needs of our Nation. Employers have shown great consideration for their workers who have been called to duty and great support for the Nation's defense. These companies have the gratitude of our Nation. They have the gratitude of the Commander in Chief. I appreciate members of my team who are here today. Secretary Elaine Chao of the Department of Labor and Secretary Tony Principi of the Department of Veterans Affairs, thank you both for coming. I appreciate Deputy Secretary Paul Wolfowitz at the Department of Defense for being here as well. Under Secretary David Chu thank you for coming, David. I appreciate Acting Secretary of the Army Les Brownlee for being here. I see that General Pete Pace is here, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I appreciate Assistant Secretary Thomas Hall, Assistant Secretary for Reserve Affairs, for coming thank you, sir. I appreciate David Janes, the Acting National Chairman of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve group. Thank you for coming. Most of all, I thank you all for being here, particularly those who wear our Nation's uniform. American citizen soldiers have served in every conflict since the Revolutionary War. Some of the most legendary names in American military history are associated with Guard and Reserve units. The famed "Keystone Division," as the Pennsylvania National Guard was long known, once marched under the command of Omar Bradley. The "Rainbow Division," which drew soldiers from Guard units in 26 States and from the District of Columbia, was led in World War I by a young brigadier general named Douglas MacArthur. In 1905, 21 year old Harry S. Truman joined the Missouri National Guard. Our 33d President learned much from his experiences in the Guard, and so did the 43d President. But most of all, I remember the high caliber of the people with whom I served. Today, more than 1.2 million men and women serve in the Guard and the Reserve. That's almost half of America's total military strength. These men and women face the difficult challenge of balancing military duty with civilian employment. They know that the call to active duty can come at any time. And they're always ready. Guardsmen and reservists are now serving around the world, in places like Afghanistan and in Iraq. They serve here at home as well, in the war on terror. They're meeting the terrorist enemy abroad so our fellow citizens do not have to face the enemy at home. They are part of our efforts to employ targeted and decisive force against cold blooded terrorist killers. They're helping to train and equip Iraqis and Afghans to defend their own nations. They're helping the Iraqi and Afghan people build just and free and democratic governments. They're helping to defend the American homeland. Our guardsmen and reservists are showing great skill and courage, and America honors their unselfish dedication to duty. Our guardsmen and reservists rely on the support and patience of their families, their wives and husbands and daughters and sons who must bear the prolonged absence of a loved one. They rely on their civilian employers to put the national interest above the corporate or self interests. Employers of guard and reserve members make possible the contributions of our citizen soldiers. By supporting the mobilization of patriots, employers are demonstrating their own patriotism. With us today are representatives of companies that have given outstanding support to the Guard and to the Reserve. Central Atlantic Toyota Distribution Center, D.H. Griffin Wrecking Company, Miller Brewing, Pacific Gas and Electric Corporation, Tyson Foods are all winners of this year's Secretary of Defense Employers Support Freedom Award. These companies do all their utmost to support and encourage service in America's National Guard and Reserve. They provide pay, health care benefits, and job security to the men and women who are called to active duty. They recognize that their workers are fighting to keep America free. Other companies are making equally important contributions. Albertson's, Clear Channel Airports, Home Depot, and Verizon all provide outstanding support to their employees during mobilizations. All of us appreciate the generosity and the public spirit shown by these outstanding companies and many others like them around our country. Members of the guard and reserve are with us today. We're proud of your service. We thank you for your sacrifice. The war on terror has drawn on many of America's strengths, and one of the greatest strengths is the citizen soldier, like Specialist James Dexter of the Illinois National Guard. At home, Specialist Dexter is a volunteer firefighter. In Iraq, he is serving as a military police officer. On three separate occasions in a single month, Specialist Dexter rushed to the scene of traffic accidents, twice saving the lives of American soldiers and Iraqi citizens and once putting out a dangerous fire. He was awarded the Bronze Star. He has earned the gratitude of our country for his service. America needs the Guard and Reserves more today than we have had in decades. We're at war. Yet we're fortunate that so many of our citizens have heeded the call to serve a cause greater than themselves. And we are fortunate that our Guard and Reserve units have received such support from America's business community. As a sign of America's gratitude, I'm pleased to invite representatives from the nine companies here today to join me in signing a proclamation designating National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless our great country. November 13, 2003 The President. Thank you all. Thanks for coming. Thanks, Jeb I mean, Governor. Laughter It's hard to get used to it. Laughter The thing I love about Jeb is he's a modest fellow. When the Florida Marlins won, he was trying to take credit for their success. Laughter I told him he doesn't have any idea what it takes to run a championship baseball team. Laughter He reminded me I don't either. Laughter Love being back in Florida with our friends. Thank you all for coming. I appreciate your support a lot. It means a lot to me. Listen, the political season is going to come in its own time. I'm loosening up, and I'm getting ready. But I've got a job to do for everybody who lives in this country. And I'm going to continue doing that job. And as you work the phones and go to the coffee shops and houses of worship, I want you to remind the people that I'm going to work hard to keep America strong, to keep America secure. I'll work hard to make sure we're prosperous and free. I regret one thing about this event, and that is Laura is not with me. Audience members. Oh h h. The President. I know it. I know it. Laughter You drew the short straw. Laughter She is a fabulous sister in law. She's a great wife, a wonderful mother, and she's doing a heck of a good job as the First Lady of this country. I'm really proud of her. She sends her very best to all our friends here in central Florida. I'm proud of my brother. I tell you, he is a he has been a superb Governor. He is a principled man, principled man. When he says something, you can book it. He is a man of his word. He is a courageous person, and he's got his priorities absolutely right. He loves his faith. He loves his family, and he loves his Florida. I want to thank the other cast of characters who have joined me on this stage. That would be Tom Petway, Zach Zachariah, and David Brown, all of whom are working hard to make sure that this campaign is well financed. I want to thank you for your hard work. I appreciate your efforts. Mel Martinez is here today. He serves in my Cabinet. Where are you? There he is. Mel. He's done a superb job in my Government. You'll hear me talk a little bit about the homeownership gap a little later on. He's the leader in making sure that we promote ownership here in America. He is a I love his story it's the story of America, as far as I am concerned. As you know, Mel was a part of what they call Pedro Pan Peter Pan. It's a program that where Cuban moms and dads had the courage to send their children I think Mel was 13 at the time to send this teenager to America so that they could grow up in freedom. It speaks a lot about the mom and dad. It speaks a lot about the compassion of the American families who received the Mel Martinezes of the world. As well it speaks a lot about Mel and the other men and women who came from Cuba to flee to freedom. And Mel it touches my heart to know that this man, who could have been living in repression and tyranny, is now in the Cabinet of the President of the United States. I want to thank Congresswoman Katherine Harris and Congressman Tom Feeney for joining us today. Thank you all for coming. I appreciate my friend Bill McCollum, former Congressman from this part of the world, for being here. Thank you for coming, Bill. I know we've got members of the statehouse here. You're probably standing by, waiting for your orders from Governor Bush on what to do next. Laughter Oh, yes, that's not the way it works. Laughter The Lieutenant Governor, Toni Jennings, is here, and I want to thank Toni for coming. Charlie Crist is here. I appreciate Charlie for being here, the attorney general. We call him "General" now. Laughter Tom Gallagher is here. I appreciate both the statewide holders. I know State Senator Dan Webster is with us today. I want to thank you for coming, Dan. I know my friend Rich Crotty is here, one of the cochairmen of the event. But most of all, I want to thank you all for coming. Audience members. Inaudible The President. Well, Crotty laughter a couple of distant cousins leading the charge there. Laughter Finally, my friend Mercer Reynolds is with us, who is the national finance chairman for Bush Cheney '04. He's from Cincinnati, Ohio. He's an entrepreneur and a business guy who has taken time out of his life to work hard, to encourage you all to participate. It looks like he as well as the Floridian leadership did a fabulous job. I'm proud you're here, and I thank you for coming. Over the last 3 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems and not pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. My administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and today, they live in freedom. Three years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed and morale was beginning to suffer, so we increased the defense budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Three years ago, the economy was in trouble, and then recession was beginning. Then the attacks happened on our country. That affected economic growth. We had some scandals in corporate America. We marched to war in order to make America more secure and the world more peaceful. That all affected the way our people felt about the future, but we acted. We acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account, and in order to get this economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. I know that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. We're returning more money to the people to help them raise their families, reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, we're laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America, so every single citizen has a chance to realize the American Dream. Today, the American economy is strong, and it is getting stronger. Third quarter growth in our economy was at the fastest pace in nearly 20 years. That's a good sign. People are finding more new jobs are being created. That's a good sign. Productivity is high. Business investment is rising. The housing construction is strong. The tax relief we passed is working. We left more money in the hands of the American people, and our economy is growing stronger. Three years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but the truth of the matter is, in Washington, there was not much action. So I acted. I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. See, we believe in high standards. We're going to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. We believe every child can learn to read and write and add and subtract, and we expect every child to learn to read and write and add and subtract. We've increased the education budgets for Title I students. But for the first time, now the Federal Government is saying, "Show us some results." For the first time, we're saying the days of excuse making are over. We expect results in every classroom so not one single child is left behind. We reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our ports and borders and better secure the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up markets for Florida's farmers and ranchers and entrepreneurs. We passed budget agreements to maintain much needed spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. The Congress gets a lot of credit for the progress we've made. I want to thank the Speaker, Denny Hastert, and Majority Leader Bill Frist for providing strong leadership. I want to thank the Members who are here. And you've got a great delegation from Florida with whom I've been able to work. I want to thank them for their hard work. See, what we're trying to do is to change the tone in Washington, DC. We're trying to get rid of all the needless politics and focus on the people's business, focus on results, and not the ugly process that sometimes takes on. We're making good progress. We really are. And one of the reasons why this administration has been successful is because I've called upon people from all walks of life, people like Mel Martinez, to join our Government. I have put together a fantastic administration for the American people. Our country has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Audience member. Inaudible The President. Okay, I agree. Mother may have a second opinion. Laughter In 3 years, we've come far, we've done a lot. But our work is only beginning. I've set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and realize the great promise of America. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, the latest front in the war on terror. We're confronting that danger where Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking coalition forces and international aid workers and innocent Iraqi citizens. They know that the advance of freedom in Iraq would be a major defeat for the cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of America. America will not be intimidated. We're aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we will not have to face them in our own country. We're calling for other nations to help. You see, a free Iraq will make the whole world more secure. We're standing with the Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and as they move toward self government. These are not easy tasks, but they are essential tasks. We will finish what we have begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. And I know that freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is God's gift to every man and women who lives in the world. We understand that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world, and when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is leading the world. We are committed to bringing the healing power, the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children suffering with AIDS. This mighty, strong, powerful Nation is a compassionate nation. And I'm proud to say, we're doing everything we can in the important work of human rescue. We've got challenges here at home, and we'll be equal to the challenges. We'll continue to push a progrowth environment. I want people working. We'll continue to work on our economy until everybody who wants to work and is not working today can find a job. We have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. After years of debate and delay and deadlock, the Congress is nearing final passage of the biggest improvements in senior health care in nearly 40 years. We're on the verge of giving our seniors prescription drug coverage, expanded coverage for preventive medicine and therapies, more health care choices. Members of Congress have supported these Medicare reforms with their words. Now it is time to support these reforms with their votes. The House and the Senate must quickly reconcile their differences and send me a bill. We need to give our seniors a modern Medicare system before the year is out. And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. I appreciate Jeb's leadership on this important issue, and it's an important issue. If you've been harmed by a bad doctor, you deserve your day in court. Systems shouldn't reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Jeb's taken on this issue, and so have I. And the reason I have is because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, and they therefore affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. I put out a good proposal. It was passed by the House of Representatives. It is stuck in the United States Senate. It is important for those Senators who are preventing this bill from going forward to understand that nobody has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. I have a responsibility as the President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I met that duty. I've nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Today I met with three superb women in the Oval Office before I got on the airplane to come to Florida, three fantastic nominees, people who will represent their judiciary with class and distinction and integrity. Yet, their nominations are being held up. They can't get a vote on the floor. I call upon the Florida Senators to let these three women get a vote on the floor of the United States Senate. Every nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote. It's time for Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. This country needs a comprehensive energy plan. We must promote energy efficiency and conservation and develop clean technologies to help us explore in environmentally sensible ways for energy. For the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, this Nation must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. They passed a bill out of the House. They passed a bill out of the Senate. They need to reconcile their differences and get the energy plan to my desk before they go home this Christmas. A strong and prosperous nation must also be a compassionate nation. I'm going to continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, which means we will apply the most effective, innovative techniques and ideas to help fellow citizens who hurt. There's still a lot of people in our country, millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. We've got a bill on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our citizens. Congress needs to complete the "Citizen Service Act" so that more Americans can serve their communities and their country. Both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion, the soldiers of which are mentoring children, caring for the homeless, offering hope to the addicted. Government can hand out money, but it cannot put hope in people's hearts. This country is strong because we're a country of all faiths, we welcome all faiths. And our Government should not fear the positive influence of faith when it comes to the help of healing broken hearts. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from owning something, from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their own home. There is a minority homeownership gap in America that must be closed. Mel and I have developed a plan to close that gap. I've submitted elements of the plan to the United States Congress. We want more people owning and managing their own health care plans. We want more people owning and managing their own retirement accounts. We want more people owning their own small business. This administration understands that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our country. A compassionate society in a compassionate society, people respect one another, and they take responsibility for the decisions they make in life. The culture of America is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands we're responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're worried about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in a responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. I said the culture is changing, and the culture of service is growing. I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to give Americans a chance to participate in making their communities and cities and neighborhoods better, and the response has been fantastic. Our charities are strong. Neighborhood healers are active all across America. Our policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform remind us on a daily basis what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of the American people. I've been privileged to see the compassion and character of the American people. All the tests of the last years have come to the right Nation. We're a strong country, and we use our strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it, and we know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you all. November 13, 2003 The President. I have the job of nominating people to serve on the Federal benches. I have handled my duty in the right way by picking superb men and women to serve our country as Federal judges, people of integrity and honor, people of high intelligence, three of whom are with me today. Carolyn Kuhl, Janice Brown, Priscilla Owen really represent the best of America superb, superb women. And yet, these three women are being denied a chance to serve on the bench because of ugly politics in the United States Senate. These folks deserve an up or down vote on the Senate floor. If they get an up or down vote on the Senate floor, they will be confirmed because the majority of justices believe they should serve. And yet a few Senators are playing politics. And it's wrong, and it's shameful, and it's hurting the system. I have told these three ladies I will stand with them until the bitter end because they're the absolute right pick for their respective positions. And the Senators who are playing politics with their nominations are acting shamefully. And I want to thank you all for being such stalwarts for justice and fairness and decency, and I appreciate you standing here. Carolyn Kuhl. Thank you, Mr. President. The President. Let me answer a couple quick please. Iraq Q. Mr. President, could you tell us your ideas about how you would like to see speed up the transfer of power in Iraq? Are you interested in setting up, for example, an interim government before a constitution is written? The President. What I'm interested in doing is working with Ambassador Bremer and the Governing Council to work on a plan that will encourage the Iraqis to assume more responsibility. Ambassador Bremer sat right here yesterday and talked to me about the Iraqis' desire to be more involved in the governance of their country. And that's a positive development because actually that's what we want. We want the Iraqis to be more involved in the governance of their country. And so Ambassador Bremer, with my instructions, is going back to talk to the Governing Council to develop a strategy. And he'll report back after he's consulted with the very people that we want to assume more responsibility. Yes. Steel Tariffs Q. Mr. President The President. You're in there, Stretch David Gregory, NBC News . Q. What's your timetable for deciding on whether to lift the steel sanctions? And how far do you think the U.S. industry has gone now in restructuring toward The President. Well, that's exactly what I'm reviewing now. Part of the the decision was based upon the International Trade Commission's finding that our industry had been harmed, and therefore, I imposed some tariffs in order to allow for a restructuring of the industry. I'm in the process of reviewing the extent to which the industry has been restructured. I'm going to make a decision within a reasonable period of time. Q. Mr. President? The President. Yes, Stretch. Q. Thank you, sir. The President. Excuse me, I couldn't tell if you wanted to ask a question or not today. Laughter Iraq Q. How worried The President. Is this about the judges? Q. Yes, right. The President. Okay. Q. I would if I had time, I would. What are you prepared to do about the fact and how worried are you about the fact that ordinary Iraqis appear to be more irritated with the presence of U.S. troops and more supportive of Iraqi insurgents? The President. Well, first of all, the goal of the terrorists, whether they be Ba'athists or mujahideen fighters or Al Qaida type fighters, is to create terror and fear amongst average Iraqis, is to create the conditions where people are just so fearful for their lives that they cannot think positively about freedom. That's their goal. Our goal, of course, is to continue to work with those Iraqi citizens who understand that freedom is a precious commodity, those who understand that there is a hopeful life possible in a part of the world where a lot of hope has been diminished in the past. And that's the struggle that's the struggle. And we're going to prevail because, well, one, we got a good strategy to deal with these killers. Two, I believe by far the vast majority of Iraqis do understand the stakes and do want their children to grow up in a peaceful environment and do want their children going to a school and do want to be able to live a free life that is prosperous. That's what I believe. And I recently, I was told by for example, Bremer was telling me about a survey done by an American firm in Baghdad, for example, and it said that by far the vast majority of people understand that if America were to leave and the terrorists were to prevail in their desire to drive us out, the country would fall into chaos. And no one wants that, and so I'm confident we'll prevail in the long run. And I'm confident we're doing good work right now. Yes. Q. Mr. President, are you Judicial Nominations The President. Do you have a followup on the judges? Q. Yes, well, the Democrats say they have confirmed 98 percent of your judges The President. Yes. Q. and by focusing on the few that they are opposing, that you're picking essentially an unfair fight. The President. Well, our circuits circuit courts remain, in some cases, dangerously vacant. And here are three cases where people are being treated unfairly. My question is, why won't they give these three ladies an up or down vote? Where's the justice? These are eminently qualified people. These are three women who are represent the best of American jurisprudence. And why won't they let them come to the floor? If they're so fair, bring them up to a vote today. Let these three nominees get onto the floor of the United States Senate for an up or down vote, and then I will listen to whether or not they're fair or not. Yes, last question, then I've got to go. President's Upcoming Visit to the United Kingdom Q. Are you concerned, Mr. President, that the massive amount of protesters that are going to be in London next week will undercut your message of unity in Iraq? The President. I am so pleased to be going to a country which says that people are allowed to express their mind. That's fantastic. You know, freedom is a beautiful thing. And the fact that people are willing to come out and express themselves says I'm going to a great country. And secondly, I don't expect everybody in the world to agree with the positions I've taken. But certainly, those should agree with the goals of the United States, which is peace and freedom. You see, we believe that freedom is not America's gift to the world. We believe freedom is the Almighty's gift to everybody in the world. We believe free societies are peaceful societies. We believe in human justice and human dignity and human rights. We cry when we hear stories about people being tortured, women being raped in rape rooms. We weep when we discover mass graves of innocent Iraqis. We understand that tyranny is not the form of government that will bring hope and justice. And therefore, we're not only willing to defend our own security we're also willing to defend the rights of others. Thank you. November 12, 2003 Good morning. I'm proud to welcome members of the diplomatic corps and my administration, and of course Lord Robertson, the Secretary General of NATO, to the White House. I've been honored to host Lord Robertson here at the White House many times over the past 3 years. I'm grateful that he's come once more before he leaves his post. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is our Nation's highest civil award, given to individuals of exceptional merit and integrity. For Lord Robertson, it is a fitting tribute to his long and distinguished career of service to his nation, to our alliance, and to the world. NATO is the most successful alliance in history, and Lord Robertson has led NATO during some of the most challenging years of its history. Not long ago, some questioned whether NATO could or should survive the end of the cold war. Then the Alliance proved its enduring worth by stopping ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and keeping the peace in Kosovo. Some wonder whether NATO could adopt to the new threats of the 21st century. Today, NATO forces are fighting terror in Afghanistan and supporting a multinational division in Iraq. Today in Iraq, a member of NATO, Italy, lost some proud sons in the service of freedom and peace. The United States sends our deepest condolences to the families who died of the soldiers and policemen who died. We appreciate their sacrifices. I appreciate the steadfast leadership of Prime Minister Berlusconi, who refuses to yield in the face of terror. Lord Robertson is a patient leader. He's a determined leader, and over the past 4 years his skills and talents have made many achievements possible. Lord Robertson oversaw the largest expansion in NATO's history, a major milestone in the fulfillment of our shared vision of a Europe whole, free, and at peace. He helped open a new chapter in NATO's relationship with Russia through the creation of the Russian NATO Council. He ensured that NATO would honor its commitment to come to the defense of fellow NATO member Turkey. And he pursued an ambitious agenda of transformation to make NATO forces lighter, faster, and better able to respond to complex and ever changing threats. America owes a special debt to Lord Robertson. When our Nation was attacked on September the 11th, 2001, Lord Robertson led NATO to invoke, for the first time in its history, Article V, which states that an attack against one NATO Ally is an attack against all. Americans will never forget that vital support from our closest allies on one of the darkest days of our history. Our alliance continues to face and to meet the threats to peace and prosperity and freedom. Lord Robertson's leadership has been crucial to meeting these challenges. His tenure at the helm of this institution shows the power of collective defense when free nations act to serve great causes and free nations act to produce results. Lord Robertson's efforts and vision leave behind a legacy of effective multilateralism that will benefit this Alliance for years to come. When NATO was founded over half a century ago, President Harry Truman said this "By this treaty, we are not only seeking to establish freedom, freedom from aggression and from the use of force in the North Atlantic community, but we're also actively striving to promote and preserve peace throughout the world." We honor Lord Robertson here today for his dedication to the high ideals of the NATO Alliance, the promise of peace throughout the world. I'm going to ask the military aide now to read the honor. It is my honor to welcome this good man, to present the Medal of Freedom to the Right Honorable Lord Robertson of Port Ellen. November 12, 2003 President's Upcoming Visit to the United Kingdom Mr. Frost. Mr. President, a lot of people say this might be your first trip to London, but it's not. The President. No, it's not. I've been there a couple of times. I remember, Laura and I went to see "Cats" in London. Gosh, I remember going to some nice pubs when I was a drinking man in London. It's a great city, and I'm looking forward to going. Mr. Frost. We're looking forward to seeing you there, too. In fact, of course, you're famous for the fact that normally social dressing up socially is not your favorite thing, and you once said that marvelous quote, "Read my lips No new tuxes." The President. That's right. Laughter Mr. Frost. Are you going to take a new tux this time? The President. I'm going to take a tux, and I'm going to take tails. And don't tell anybody, but I had to rent them. Laughter I'm sure you won't tell anybody. Mr. Frost. This is entirely between us. The President. I'm looking forward to it's a huge honor to be invited by Her Majesty to stay in Buckingham Palace. It's hard to imagine me even considering staying in Buckingham Palace when I was living in Midland, Texas. It's just one of those things. And Buckingham Palace has got a tremendous mystique to it, and so Laura and I are really looking forward to coming. President's Agenda in the United Kingdom Mr. Frost. And you pinch yourself about those things too. What would you like to see come out of this trip in terms of in addition to the fun part? The President. Well, I've got some business to do with Tony Blair. We've got a lot of things to discuss. We're going to talk about how to continue to spread freedom and peace. We'll talk about how to work the compassion agenda on the AIDS Initiative, for example. We're going to spend some time talking about that. I value his advice, and I every time I visit with him, whether it be on the phone or on video or in person, I come away with a some interesting ideas about how to advance a positive agenda. Secondly, I look forward to speaking to the people of your great country. I'm going to have a chance to give a speech to talk about the importance of our relationship, the unique relationship between America and Great Britain. And I'll have a chance to answer some questions, I'm sure, from what we call the Fourth Estate here, the mighty media. I look forward to it. Protests War on Terror Mr. Frost. And Tony Blair on Monday night and he would probably have told you is expecting there to be quite a lot of protesters about the war. What would be your message to those protesters? The President. Well, freedom is a beautiful thing, I would first say, and aren't you lucky to be in a country that encourages people to speak their mind. And I value going to a country where people are free to say anything they want to say. Secondly, I would say that I understand you don't like war, and neither do I. But I would hope you understand that I have learned the lessons of September the 11th, 2001, and that terrorists declared war on the United States of America and war on people that love freedom, and I intend to lead our Nation, along with others like our close friends in Great Britain, to win this war on terror, that war is my last choice, not my first choice, but I have an obligation as the President to keep our country secure. Blair Bush Relationship Mr. Frost. And at the same time, you'll be working with Tony Blair, and what is the key to your working together so well? I mean, it's like you have a special relationship. Is partially the bond, the bond that you're both men of strong faith? The President. I think so. Tony is a man of strong faith. You know, the key to my relationship with Tony is he tells the truth, and he tells you what he thinks, and when he says he's going to do something, he's going to do it. I trust him, therefore. I've seen him, under some tough tough circumstances, stand strong, and I appreciate that in a person. The other thing I admire about Tony Blair is that he's got a vision beyond the current. In other words, he can see a world that is peaceful, and he agrees with me that the spread of democracy and freedom in parts of the world where there's violence and hatred will help change the world, that there are reformers in the Middle East that long for democracy, that long to live in a free world. And Tony Blair, like me, agrees kind of rejects the elitist point of view that only a certain type of person can adapt the habits of freedom and democracy. And he knows that freedom in the Middle East will help change that world in dramatic fashion. So it's an historic moment which he has been willing to seize, and I'm honored to be working with him to seize the moment. Public Opinion Lessons of September 11 Mr. Frost. And in terms of as you look at the world, Mr. President, at the moment and you see the protesters in Australia or wherever they are and you see that poll that came out, an EU poll the other day that shows that the United States was second among the most dangerous countries in terms of war in the world level, for God's sake, with North Korea and Iran when you see things like that, do you think the world is out of step with America, or America is out of step with the world? The President. Well, first of all, you've got to know, I don't pay attention to the polls. I just don't. I've got a job to do for the American people. It's a job that was changed on September the 11th, 2001, and I refuse to I refuse to forget I'll never forget the lessons, is a better way to put it, of what happened to this country. And there are terrorists who are willing to kill innocent life in order to create fear and chaos. There are terrorists who want the free world to retreat from duties so that they can impose Taliban type governments and enslave people. There are people like Saddam Hussein, who tortured and maimed and killed and, at the same time, threatened and created the conditions of instability. And I know some people don't understand the need to deal with that, but I feel firmly we must deal with those issues. Mr. Frost. But do you need to woo people more in the rest of the world? The President. We wooed we did a pretty good job of wooing them at the United Nations. After all, remember, 1441 was a unanimous vote that said, after a decade of sending messages to Mr. Saddam Hussein for him to disarm, 1441 said, "Disarm or there will be serious consequences." And that was a unanimous vote. In other words, the world, at least the Security Council, came together and sent a clear signal. Obviously, there was a disagreement about the definition of "serious consequence." But I can assure you, "serious consequence" isn't more resolutions or more debate. "Serious consequence" was with dealing with Mr. Saddam Hussein today, before it became too late. And I understand people don't agree with that position. But nevertheless, I'm convinced that the decisions we made and there's a lot of countries that made that decision with us that decision will make the world more peaceful and more free. That decision is in the long term interests of people who love freedom. France and Germany Mr. Frost. And will you ever be able to forgive Jacques Chirac and Chancellor Schroeder for their actions of that time in undermining the second resolution? The President. Of course. It's like, I can understand why people express their disagreement with the policy. I understand not everybody is going to agree with every decision that I make or others make. But I've had meetings with Gerhard Schroeder and Jacques Chirac since then. They've been very cordial meetings. Gerhard Schroeder has now committed German troops to Afghanistan, which is a very important mission, to help stabilize that good country as it not only enacts a constitution but heads toward elections. And I appreciate the contribution of the German Government toward Afghanistan. I'm proud to say that it is a vital contribution, and I appreciate their willingness to work with us. Again, we're not going to agree on every issue, but a Europe which works closely with America and an America which works closely with Europe means the world will be better off. EU U.S. Relations Mr. Frost. The difference really is, between Tony Blair and them, is that Tony Blair sees Europe as a partner of the United States, and they perhaps see Europe as a rival of the United States. The President. I don't think Germany sees that, for starters. In my conversations with Gerhard Schroeder, they never yielded that impression. I think Germany understands it's important for the bilateral relationship between America and Germany to be strong. It's in our economic interests that it's strong. It's in the interest of peace that it be strong. I understand there was kind of this notion of multipolarity, which means that somehow the values of America need to be offset. But we're for peace we're for freedom. This country is leading the world when it comes to fighting AIDS. And I can assure you, having studied this issue a lot, and I understand the pandemic of AIDS on the continent of Africa, we'll be better off the people of Africa will be better off if Europe and the United States work together to fight the pandemic of AIDS. My only point is, there's a lot we can do working together. European Defense Force Mr. Frost. And what about the I gather that you have some misgivings about the proposed European army, the danger that it might be a threat to NATO. The President. Yes, here's the thing, first of all, I believe that the European defense force ought to take on more responsibility on those missions which NATO turns down. I think it's good for the United States' interests. I think it's good for NATO's interests, so long as the defense force doesn't undermine the vitality of NATO. And Tony Blair tells me that the discussions he's having with other European countries will in no way undermine NATO, and I take his word for it. He's been a man who's been true to his word on a lot of issues, and I believe he'll be true to his word on this issue. Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction Mr. Frost. Tell me about in terms of Iraq, tell me about weapons of mass destruction. The fact that we didn't find them, and so on, has been much discussed. But do you think that you were the victim of a failure of intelligence in a way? The President. Not at all. Mr. Frost. No? The President. No, not at all. I think our intelligence was sound. I know the British intelligence was sound. It's the same intelligence that caused the United Nations to pass resolution after resolution after resolution. It's the same intelligence that was used by my predecessor to bomb Iraq. I'm very confident we got good intelligence. And not only that, Mr. David Kay, who went over to kind of lead the effort to find the weapons or the intent of weapons, came back with a report that clearly stated that Mr. Saddam Hussein would had been in material breach of Resolution 1441. In other words, had the inspectors found what Kay found, they would have reported back to the United Nations that he was in breach, that he was in violation of exactly what the United Nations expected him not to do. We'll find the truth. But this guy for many years had been hiding weapons, deceiving weapons. He had dual use programs that could have been sped up. Nobody could say that Saddam Hussein wasn't a danger. Not only was he a danger to the free world and that's what the world said the world said it consistently he was a danger to his own people as well. Remember, we discovered mass graves with hundreds of thousands of men and women and children clutching their little toys, as a result of this person's brutality. Go ahead. Sorry. Mr. Frost. But in terms of did you feel, in terms of if there wasn't a failure of intelligence, that there was a sort of exaggeration in what was predicted? I mean, did you ever believe that stuff, for instance? Did you ever believe that stuff about him having weapons of mass destruction that could be unleashed in 45 minutes, or did you never really believe that? The President. I believe he was a dangerous man. Mr. Frost. But you didn't believe that. The President. Well, I believed a lot of things. But I know he was a dangerous man. And I know that for the sake of security, he needed to be dealt with. After all again I repeat this because it's a very important point that people in your country must remember, and that is, the world had spoken, universally spoken, about this man's danger for 12 long years. And in order for at the very minimum, in order for a multinational organization to be valid and effective, something has to happen other than resolutions. And when an organization says, "If you don't disarm" in other words, in order to say, "They don't disarm," intelligence convinced a lot of nations, including France, that he had weapons. In other words, he had to disarm something. "Dismantle your programs. If you don't do that, there will be a serious consequence." And the fundamental question is, what is a "serious consequence"? It's not another resolution. It's not more empty debate. A "serious consequence," in this case, was removing Saddam Hussein so that his weapons programs would not be activated. And David Kay found evidence of weapons programs. He found some biological weapons evidence of biological weapons. And it doesn't take much time Mr. Frost. But we really need the big discovery, don't we? The President. Well, that's pretty big, what I just told you. Now remember, for a long period of time, it was assumed that he didn't have a nuclear weapons program. And yet, after 1991, the world had to changed its attitude about this man's nuclear weapons program and admitted that it was very advanced. A nuclear weapon in the hands of somebody like Saddam Hussein, particularly given the lessons of September the 11th, 2001, would be a horrendous development. And we had to deal with him. And we did in a way, by the way, that was a compassionate way. We spared innocent life. We targeted the guilty, and we moved hard and fast. And very little of Iraq was touched in toppling Saddam Hussein. Planning for Iraq After Combat Operations Mr. Frost. Did we, in fact people have said, Mr. President, as you know, that the same meticulous planning that went into winning the war didn't go into winning the peace, and we were a bit unprepared for some of the surprises, the unpleasant surprises, you know, the terrorists and all of that that came along. Is that a fair comment? The President. No laughter it's not a fair comment. We look at all contingencies and are dealing with the contingencies. Look, let me if I could step back and maybe think out loud here about some of the stories or some of the speculation that was going on before we went into Iraq One, the oil revenues would be blown up the oil fields would be destroyed. They weren't. As a matter of fact, oil production is up to 2.1 million or 2.2 million barrels a day, to the benefit of the Iraqi people. That's a very important point. Remember, there was speculation about sectarian violence, that the long suppressed Kurds or Shi'a may take out their anxieties and their frustrations on the Sunnis. That didn't happen. There was talk about mass starvation it didn't happen. Refugee flows that would be unmanageable that never happened. And so a lot of the contingency that we had planned for didn't happen. What has happened is that in a relatively small part of the country, there are Ba'athist Mr. Frost. You call it now the Ba'athist Triangle. The President. Sunni Triangle, they are attacking. And they're attacking not only coalition forces they're attacking innocent Iraqis, because what they're trying to do is stop the spread of progress. Mr. Frost. It's almost a guerrilla war there, really. The President. Well, I would call it a desperate attempt by people who were totally in control of government, through tyrannical means, to regain power. This is nothing more than a power grab. Now, there are some foreign fighters, mujahideen types or Al Qaida or Al Qaida affiliates involved as well. They've got a different mission. They want to install a Taliban type Government in Iraq, or they want to seek revenge for getting whipped in Afghanistan. But nevertheless, they all have now found common ground for a brief period of time. And what we will do is, we will use Iraqi intelligence we will use Iraqi security forces we're up to about 118,000 Iraqi folks in one type of uniform or another securing the country to be a integral part of chasing these killers down and to bring them to justice before they kill innocent life. Mr. Frost. But it must have taken us a bit by surprise, or otherwise we'd have prepared for it, the level of this the combination of the, what, 700, perhaps, foreign terrorists who came into Iraq, and so on. That was The President. I don't think so. I think a lot the people who came in initially wish they hadn't come in initially, or they're not wishing at all right now. But no, we understood it was going to be tough. We've been there for 7 months, David, which seems like a long time, particularly giving the news cycles the way they are. I'm certainly not complaining about the news cycles, but nevertheless, there's a certain sense of impatience that has now crept into the world. And my job is to enable our operators and military to make adjustments necessary to succeed. We've got the same strategy, which is a peaceful Iraq. The tactics shift, depending upon the decisions of the enemy. We're making progress. That's not to say it's not tough. Of course, it's tough. What they want to do is, they want to shake the will of the free world. And the good news about having a partner like Tony Blair is, he won't be shaken. And neither will I, and neither will Jose Maria Aznar. I heard Berlusconi stand up with a strong statement after the Italian police had been murdered. And we, of course, send our sympathies and prayers to the Italian people. But Berlusconi said, "They're not going to run us out." And that's what these terrorists need to hear. And more importantly, or as importantly, the Iraqi citizens need to hear that. They need to know that we won't leave the country prematurely. They need to know two things We're not going to cut and run and two, we believe they have the capacity to run their own country. Timetable for Iraq Mr. Frost. The cut and run thing, obviously, is absolutely vital. And you've said you're not going to cut and run. You'll be there as long as it takes. Tony Blair, in his speech on Monday night, said, "We're not going to retreat one inch." I mean, we're there for how long it takes to produce a successful Iraqi democracy, are we? The President. Yes, absolutely. Mr. Frost. Whether that's years and years or what? The President. Well, we don't think it will be years and years, because, first of all, we think the Iraqi people are plenty capable of running their own country, and we think they want to run their own country. And just today I had discussions with Jerry Bremer, our Ambassador in Baghdad, who flew back to discuss ways Mr. Frost. Oh, yes The President. Well, just to discuss ways to do to assure the Iraqi people that we have confidence in their capability. See, some in the world, some in the world don't believe that Iraq can run itself. They believe that, "Might as well let them have a military dictatorship or a tyrant. That's the only way they can be governed." I disagree, and Tony Blair disagrees with that. We believe that democracy will take hold in Iraq, and we believe a free and democratic Iraq will help change the Middle East. There are hundreds of reformers that are desperate for freedom. Freedom freedom is not America's gift to the world or Great Britain's gift to the world. Freedom is the Almighty's gift to everybody who lives in the world. Role of Saddam Hussein Mr. Frost. Is there any likelihood that Saddam himself could be behind this violence? The President. Saddam Hussein is a violent man. Listen, he tortured and maimed and killed. He had rape rooms, and people disappeared because they spoke out against him. We've discovered mass graves. He's a brutal, brutal tyrant brutal tyrant. We did the Iraqi people a great favor by removing him. So I wouldn't be surprised that any kind of violence is promoted by him, but I don't know. I don't know. All I know is, we're after him. Role of World Opinion in Regime Change Mr. Frost. That's one of the interesting things. I mean, nobody has time for a moment for Saddam Hussein. Some people are worried in England and around the world by the idea of regime change, because they say, "Once we've done regime change, Britain and America with Saddam Hussein, what can we say if India wants to do regime change with Pakistan, or Pakistan wants to do regime change with India?" The President. Well, see, I can understand their concerns, except they forgot the history. This issue has been discussed in the United Nations for over a decade. And the United Nations, as a multilateral international body, passed resolution after resolution after resolution calling for Saddam Hussein to disarm. In other words, the diplomatic process went forward. There was plenty of diplomacy. And to the critics, I would say that there will be diplomacy when it comes to India and Pakistan. The world will speak out clearly. The problem is, is that when the world speaks out clearly and then nothing happens, all we've got is empty words. It's tyrants that take advantage of that. Tyrants if tyrants don't fear feel like they can torture and kill with impunity, feel like they can blackmail the world, and all the world does is put out empty words, it makes multilateralism extremely ineffective. If I could take a second to remind your viewers that, obviously, not every situation needs to be solved militarily. Military option is the last option, as far as I'm concerned. And I would refer people to North Korea, where we've got a multilateral attempt to convince Kim Chong il to get rid of his nuclear ambitions. We understand, just like Saddam Hussein, that he has been torturous to his people people in North Korea are starving to death and that weapons of mass destruction in his hands given his history, just like weapons of mass destruction in Saddam's hands given his history, is a very dangerous element. It's a dangerous it inhibits the capacity for peace and freedom to spread. But what I've done is, I've convinced China and South Korea and Japan and Russia to speak with one voice to the North Koreans, and say, "Get rid of your nuclear ambitions." We're also, at the same time, working on a counterproliferation regime that will stop his ability to ship weapons of mass destruction or a nuclear warhead to a terrorist group. In other words, we're working together in a multilateral, multinational fashion to bring peace and stability to the world. War on Terror Mr. Frost. Someone who knows how passionate you are about this war on terror and Iraq and so on said, "I know George Bush, and I think, in terms of his legacy, he'd rather I'll tell you how strongly he feels. He said he'd rather be defeated by the voters than by the terrorists." Is that true? The President. I'd rather not be defeated by either. Laughter And we will not be defeated by the terrorists. I say that confidently, because the allies in the war on terror are strong and steadfast, and there's no stronger and steadfast ally in the war on terror than Tony Blair. He understands the stakes. He knows that freedom is being challenged. He understands as well that the spread of freedom and democracy, in the long run, will defeat terror. And that's why the battle the stakes are so high in Iraq right now. By the way, Iraq is a front in the war on terror. And it's important for people to understand that, because the war takes place elsewhere. Reform of the Palestinian Authority Mr. Frost. And in one of the reasons that people say, in the Arab world obviously there was your landmark speech last week but in the Arab world, that you won't really be able to address the balance against America until the United States is seen not to tilt towards Israel in the Middle East. What do you think about that? The President. I think about that I think it's an excuse, because America I am the first President ever to go to the United Nations Mr. Frost. And say, two The President. Two states side by side in peace. Mr. Frost. two states. The President. No President has ever said that. And I said it, and I said it with conviction, because I believe it is in Israel's interest that there be a peaceful Palestinian state, and I know it's in the Palestinians' interest. However, to achieve a peaceful Palestinian state, the emergence of a peaceful Palestinian state, a state where people are willing to risk capital, a place where people are willing to develop an economy, there must be a focused effort to defeat terror. And there hasn't been with the current Palestinian leadership. I went in and embraced, in Aqaba, Jordan, Abu Mazen. And the reason I did so, David, is because he came to the Oval Office and he said, "I will join you in the fight against terror. We're not going to allow the few to destroy the hopes of the many." As well, I could sense in his talk, in his feeling, that he has he's got great trust in the Palestinian people. In other words, given the chance, the Palestinian people will develop the habits of democracy, and out of that will come a great state, a peaceful state. And I trusted him, and we were working with him. We were making good progress. And I was working with Ariel Sharon. I gave a speech on June 24th, 2002, which says, "All of us have responsibilities, and you, Israel, have a responsibility." Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel Mr. Frost. Do you think Ariel Sharon could ever emerge as a man of peace? The President. Yes, I do. I believe he wants peace for his people. I truly do. I mean, he's a man who has presided over suiciders, where he has to go to the funerals of women and children because some cold blooded killer is trying to destroy the hopes of all the people in the region. And it's yes, I believe so. And I believe he believes in a Palestinian state. I've asked him in the Oval Office, I said, "Listen, am I out there by myself on a Palestinian state, or will you support it?" He said he will. But both of us understand, as do a lot of other people, that for a state to emerge, there must be a focused effort to get after the Hamas killers, for example, who want to destroy the hopes of the people that believe in a Palestinian state. And there hasn't been that effort. Anyway, let me finish my Abu Mazen story, if you don't mind. I embraced the guy, and I believe that he is a I believe he's a partner with whom we can work, and he's shoved out. Progress is being made, and he is shoved aside by the old guard. And that's unacceptable behavior. It's just unacceptable. British Detainees at Guantanamo Bay Mr. Frost. Guantanamo. You're going to get asked about, obviously, in England, what's going to happen to our British detainees. Tony Blair was talking about it in the House of Commons this week and saying, hopefully they'd be tried before a proper court or repatriated to be tried in the U.K. Will you have any good news for us on that? For him on that? The President. You mean right here, sitting right here, me and you, talking the good news is, one, they'll be treated fairly, like they are. And two, I'm working closely with Tony to come up with a solution that he's comfortable with. And I emphasize, a solution that he's comfortable with. These prisoners are being treated these were illegal non combatants picked up off of a battlefield. And they're being well treated, and they will go through a military tribunal at some point in time, which is a military tribunal, which is in international accord or in line with international accords. Mr. Frost. As we approach the end of this interview, Mr. President I could carry on for hours, actually, but I know you've got a lot to do, more than the rest of us. As we approach the end of this interview, what would you say is the most important lesson you've learned in life in the Presidency? The President. The most important lesson in life in the Presidency is to have a clear vision of where you want to lead, and lead. I've got a clear vision It's a world that is more free and therefore more peaceful a world based upon human rights, human dignity, and justice a world that does not discriminate between one group of people or a vision that does not discriminate between one group of people or another, because I believe all people have the desire to be free. And I'm willing to lead there. And the people of this country will make their you asked about politics they'll make the decision as to whether or not they I've have been honest with them and open with them and whether or not they like my leadership style. A lot of it will have to do with the economy, of course, whether I get another 4 years. But I think it's important to know where you want to lead, and lead. Bush Team for a Second Term Mr. Frost. Would you hope to present to the country the same team, Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld and Colin Powell and Condi Rice, for the second term? The President. It's been a fabulous team, and Cheney for certain. And I haven't obviously, I'm not going to talk to my Cabinet ministers until after the election. But I'm proud of this team. I put together one of the finest teams, one of the finest administrations any President has ever assembled. These are good, honest, decent, hard working, experienced people who give me good, unvarnished advice and, when I make a decision, say, "Yes, sir, Mr. President, we'll go execute it." Mr. Frost. Well, thank you for your decision to do this interview. The President. Thank you, sir. I enjoyed seeing you. November 11, 2003 Thank you all very much. Thank you for the warm welcome. Thank you, Secretary Principi, for doing a really fine job to represent our Nation's veterans. Members of the Cabinet, Members of the Congress, members of our military, veterans, Commander Berger, representatives of veterans organizations, and fellow Americans Laura and I are proud to join all of you and citizens across our country as we honor the service of America's veterans. We observe Veterans Day on an anniversary not of a great battle or of the beginning of a war but of a day when war ended and our Nation was again at peace. Ever since the armistice of November the 11th, 1918, this has been a day to remember our debt to all who have worn the uniform of the United States. Our veterans have borne the costs of America's wars and have stood watch over America's peace. And today, every veteran can be certain The Nation you served and the people you defended are grateful. Our Nation knows this national cemetery as the final resting place of those lost to the violence of war. Yet, most of the markers here stand over the graves of Americans who lived beyond their years of military service. On the hills of Arlington and in the daily lives of our country, veterans have a special place. We honor them all for their service in uniform. And we honor America's veterans for the full lives of their service they continue to lead. Today, more than 25 million Americans wear the proud title of veteran or retired military. Their ranks include young men and women who gave good years to our all volunteer military and recently returned to civilian life. Our veterans include more than 11 million men and women from the conflicts of Korea and Vietnam who earned this Nation's gratitude and respect. More than 4 million living Americans served in World War II, under the command of Eisenhower and Bradley and Nimitz. And on Veterans Day 2003, it is still possible to thank, in person, almost 200 Americans who were in uniform when the guns of World War I went silent 85 years from today. All the men who served when Woodrow Wilson was the Commander in Chief are now more than 100 years old, and they can know that America is still proud of them. Every veteran has his or her own story of entering military service. Many enlisted on Monday morning, December 8th, 1941, or at the beginning of other conflicts. For some, military life began with the initiation at an academy. For others, it began with a letter from the United States Government. Yet when their service is complete, veterans of every era, every background, and every branch have certain things in common. And those shared commitments and experience formed bonds that last a lifetime. Every veteran has lived by a strict code of discipline. Every veteran understands the meaning of personal accountability and loyalty and shared sacrifice. From the moment you repeated the oath to the day of your honorable discharge, your time belonged to America your country came before all else. And whether you served abroad or at home, you have shared in the responsibility of maintaining the finest fighting force in the world. Veterans who took the oath and served in battle have known the hardships and the fears and the tragic losses of war. These memories follow them through life and are sometimes hard to bear. Yet our war veterans, wherever they fought, can know this In the harshest hours of conflict, they serve just and honorable purposes. Americans are a peaceful people, and this Nation has always gone to war reluctantly and always for a noble cause. America's war veterans have fought for the security of this Nation, for the safety of our friends, and for the peace of the world. They humbled tyrants and defended the innocent and liberated the oppressed. And across the Earth, you will find entire nations that once lived in fear, where men and women still tell of the day when Americans came and set them free. America's mission in the world continues, and we count on the same kind of people to carry it out. Today, in assignments around the world, more than 1.4 million Americans are on active duty, earning the title of veteran by serving in the cause of freedom. In 2 years and 2 months since our country was attacked, the men and women of our Armed Forces have engaged the terrorist enemy on many fronts. They've confronted grave dangers to defend the safety of the American people. They have liberated two nations, Afghanistan and Iraq, delivering more than 50 million people from the hands of dictators. Those who serve and fight today are adding great achievements of their own to America's history. America is grateful for their daring, grateful for their honor, and grateful for their sacrifice. On this Veterans Day, with our Nation at war, Americans are deeply aware of the current military struggle and of recent sacrifice. Young Americans have died in liberating Iraq and Afghanistan. They've died in securing freedom in those countries. The loss is terrible. It is borne especially by the families left behind. But in their hurt and in their loneliness, I want these families to know your loved ones served in a good and just cause. They died in distant lands to fight terror, to advance freedom, and to protect America. They did not live to be called veterans, but this Nation will never forget their lives of service and all they did for us. At this hour, many thousands are following their duty at great risk. One young man serving in Iraq recently said this "We in the military signed up and pledged to protect this great country of ours from enemies foreign and domestic." "We're fighting," he said, "so that the next generation might never have to experience anything like September the 11th, 2001." Today and every day, the prayers of the American people are with those who wear our country's uniform. They serve a great cause, and they follow a great tradition, handed down to them by America's veterans. Our veterans from every era are the finest of citizens. We owe them the life we know today. They command the respect of the American people, and they have our lasting gratitude. Thank you for coming today. May God bless America, and may God bless all who defend it. November 11, 2003 Ed, thank you very much. It's an honor to be here. I appreciate your invitation. I want to thank you for your decades of leadership in the conservative movement. Presidents come and go, except here at the Heritage Foundation. Laughter I appreciate being with your good bride, Linda, the trustees of the Heritage, the longtime Heritage supporters, and the Ronald Reagan Fellow at Heritage, a man who is a fine leader, a fine Attorney General, Ed Meese. It's appropriate that we gather in the building named for Ronald Reagan. The Heritage Foundation emerged as an important voice in Washington during the Reagan years. The American people gave Ronald Reagan his mandate for leadership. Yet it was the Heritage Foundation, with a book by that title, from which he drew ideas and inspiration. Ever since, in the councils of Washington, Heritage has been an advocate for free enterprise, traditional values, and the advance of liberty around the world. My administration has benefited from your good work, and so has our country. Thank you for what you do. We meet on Veterans Day, and I know there are many veterans in this room. On behalf of the Nation, I thank you for your service to our country. The title of "veteran" is a term of great respect in America. All who served, whether for a few years or for many, have put the Nation's needs above their own. All stood ready if the order came to risk everything for their country's cause. Our wars have taken from us some of our finest citizens and every hour of the lifetimes they had hoped to live. And the courage of our military has given us every hour we live in freedom. In every generation, members of the Armed Forces have been loyal to one another and faithful to the ideals of America. After the Second World War, returning veterans often said they had just been doing their jobs, or didn't talk about their service at all. Yet they knew the stakes of the fight they had been in and the magnitude of what they had achieved. Long after putting away his uniform, one American expressed his pride in having served in World War II. He said, "I feel like I played my part in turning this from a century of darkness into a century of light." This is true of all who have served and sacrificed in the struggles of the 20th century. They maintained the greatest fighting force in the world. They kept our country free, and we're grateful to them all. We come to this Veterans Day in a time of war. And today's military is acting in the finest traditions of the veterans who came before them. They've given all that we've asked of them. They are showing bravery in the face of ruthless enemies and compassion to people in great need. Our men and women in uniform are warriors, and they are liberators, strong and kind and decent. By their courage, they keep us safe by their honor, they make us proud. When we lose such Americans in battle, we lose our best. And the time this time of brave achievement is also a time of sacrifice. Not far from this place, at Army and Navy medical centers, young servicemembers are recovering from injuries of war. Not far from here, at Arlington National Cemetery, as in hometowns across America, we have laid to rest young men and women who died in distant lands. For their families, this is a terrible sorrow, and we pray for their comfort. For the Nation, there is a feeling of loss, and we remember and we honor every name. Our people in uniform know the cost and risk of war. They also know what is at stake in this war. Army Command Sergeant Major Ioakimo Falaniko recently lost his son, Private Jonathan Falaniko, in an attack near Baghdad. Father and son both served in Iraq in the same unit, the 1st Armored Division's Engineer Brigade. At his son's memorial service, Command Sergeant Major Falaniko said this "What our country brings to Iraq is a chance for freedom and democracy. We're making a difference every day. My son died for a good cause. He answered the Nation's call." Our mission in Iraq and Afghanistan is clear to our servicemembers and clear to our enemies. Our men and women are fighting to secure the freedom of more than 50 million people who recently lived under two of the cruelest dictatorships on Earth. Our men and women are fighting to help democracy and peace and justice rise in a troubled and violent region. Our men and women are fighting terrorist enemies thousands of miles away in the heart and center of their power so that we do not face those enemies in the heart of America. Our men and women are fighting for the security of America and for the advance of freedom, and that is a cause worth fighting for. The work we are in is not easy, yet it is essential. The failure of democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq would condemn every advocate of freedom in those two countries to prison or death and would extinguish the democratic hopes of millions in the Middle East. The failure of democracies in those two countries would provide new bases for the terrorist network and embolden terrorists and their allies around the world. The failure of democracy in those two countries would convince terrorists that America backs down under attack, and more attacks on America would surely follow. The terrorists cite the examples of Beirut and Somalia as evidence that America can be made to run. Five years ago, one of the terrorists said that an attack could make America retreat in less than 24 hours. The terrorists are mistaken. The United States will complete our work in Iraq and in Afghanistan. Democracy in those two countries will succeed, and that success will be a great milestone in the history of liberty. A democratic revolution that has reached across the globe will finally take root in the Middle East. The stagnation and isolation and anger of that region will give way to progress and opportunity. America and the world will be safer from catastrophic violence because terror is not the tool of the free. The United States has made an unbreakable commitment to the success of freedom in Afghanistan and Iraq. We have a strategy to see that commitment through. In Afghanistan, we're helping to build a free and stable democracy as we continue to track down and destroy Taliban and Al Qaida forces. Following years of cruel oppression, the Afghan people are living with hope, and they're making steady progress. In Iraq, the terrorists have chosen to make a stand and to test our resolve. Their violence is concentrated in a relatively small area of that country. Yet the terrorists are dangerous. For the sake of Iraq's future, for the sake of America's security, these killers must be defeated. After the swift advance of our coalition to Baghdad and the removal of Saddam Hussein from power, some remnants of the regime fled from the battlefield. Over time, Ba'ath Party and Fedayeen fighters and other Saddam loyalists have organized to attack our forces, to terrorize international aid workers, and to murder innocent Iraqis. These bitter holdouts would rather see Iraqis dead than see them free. Foreign jihadists have arrived across Iraq's borders in small groups with the goal of installing a Taliban like regime. Also present in the country are some terrorists from Ansar Islam and from Al Qaida, who are always eager to join in the killing and who seek revenge after their defeat in Afghanistan. Saddam loyalists and foreign terrorists may have different long term goals, but they share a near term strategy to terrorize Iraqis and to intimidate America and our allies. Recent reporting suggests that despite their differences, these killers are working together to spread chaos and terror and fear. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein, 93 percent of terror attacks have occurred in Baghdad and five of Iraq's 18 provinces. The violence is focused in 200 square miles known as the Ba'athist Triangle, the home area of Saddam Hussein and most of his associates. Here, the enemy is waging the battle, and it is here that the enemy will be defeated. In the last few months, the adversary has changed its composition and method, and our coalition is adapting accordingly. We're employing the latest battlefield technology to locate mortar positions and roadside bombs. Our forces are moving against specific targets based on intelligence gathered from Iraqis. We're conducting hundreds of daily patrols. Last month alone, we made 1,500 raids against terrorists. The recent operations have resulted in the capture or death of more than 1,000 killers, the seizure of 4,500 mortar rounds 1,600 rocket propelled grenades have been seized, thousands of other weapons and military equipment. Our coalition is on the offensive in Iraq, and we will stay on the offensive. The long term security of Iraq will be assured by the Iraqis themselves. One hundred and eighteen thousand Iraqis are now serving as police officers and border guards, civil defense personnel, and in the facilities protection service. Iraq's security forces join in operations with our troops, and they patrol towns and cities independently. Some 700 troops are now serving in the new Iraqi army. Thousands more are being trained, and we expect to see 35,000 Iraqi troops in the field by the end of next year. Increasingly, the Iraqi people are assuming the responsibilities and the risks of protecting their own country. And their willingness to accept these duties is one of the surest signs that the Iraqis want freedom and that the Iraqis are headed toward self government. Under our strategy, increasing authority is being transferred to the Iraqi people. The Iraqi Governing Council has appointed ministers who are responsible for the day to day operations of the Iraqi government. The Council has also begun the process that will lead to a new constitution. No friend or enemy should doubt Iraq liberty will find a lasting home. Iraqis are a proud people, and they want their national independence. And they can see the difference between those who are attacking their country and those who are helping to build it. Our coalition is training new police the terrorists are trying to kill them. We're protecting pipelines and powerplants for the good of the Iraqi people the terrorists are trying to blow them up. We're turning authority over to Iraqi leaders the terrorists are trying to assassinate them. We're offering aid and self rule and hope for the future the terrorists offer nothing but oppression and death. The vast majority of Iraqis know exactly what is going on in their country today. Having seen the worst of tyranny, the Iraqi people will reject the return of tyranny. After decades of a dictator's sustained assault on Iraq's society and dignity and spirit, a Jeffersonian democracy will not spring up in a matter of months. We know that our Ba'athist and terrorist enemies are ruthless and cunning. We also know that the lives of Iraqis have improved greatly in 7 short months. Yet, we know the remaining tasks are difficult. We also know a few things about our own country. America gained its own independence and helped free much of the world by taking on difficult tasks. We're a confident people, and we have a reason to be confident. Our Armed Forces are skilled and powerful and humane. They're the best in the world. I will keep them that way. We've got good friends and allies serving with us in Iraq. There are 32 countries standing beside our troops. Our commanders have the capabilities they have requested, and they're meeting a changing enemy with flexible tactics. The Congress has provided the resources we need to support our military and to improve the daily lives of newly liberated people. Other nations and organizations have stepped up to provide more than 18 billion to the emerging democracies of Afghanistan and Iraq. The peoples of those two countries are sacrificing for their own liberty. And the United States once again is fighting in the cause of our Nation, the great cause of liberty. And we know that the cause of liberty will prevail. Much is asked of us, and we have answered this kind of challenge before. In the summer of 1948, the Soviet Union imposed a sudden and total blockade on the city of Berlin in order to force the allies out. More than 2 million people would soon be without food or fuel or medicine. The entire world watched and wondered if free peoples would back down, wondered whether free people would abandon their commitments. It was at the outset of the cold war, and the will and the resolve of America were being measured. In an urgent meeting, all the alternatives were discussed, including retreat. When the moment of decision came, President Harry Truman said this "We stay in Berlin, period. We stay in Berlin, come what may." By the determination of President Truman, America and our allies launched the Berlin airlift and overcame more than 10 months of siege. That resolve and the daring of our military saved a city and held back the Communist threat in Europe. Nearly four decades later, Ronald Reagan came to West Berlin with the same kind of resolve, and vision beyond the cold war. When he called on the Soviets to tear down that wall, he was asserting a confident new doctrine. He believed that communism can not only be contained but transcended, that no human barrier could hold back the spread of human liberty. The triumph of that vision eventually turned enemies into friends, healed a divided continent, and brought security and peace to Europe and America. Two years into the war on terror, the will and resolve of America are being tested in Afghanistan and in Iraq. Again the world is watching. Again we will be steadfast. We will finish the mission we have begun, period. We are not only containing the terrorist threat, we are turning it back. We believe that freedom is the right of every person. We believe that freedom is the hope of every culture. We believe that freedom is the future of every nation in the Middle East. And we know as Americans that the advance of freedom is the surest path to peace. May God bless you all. November 10, 2003 Thank you all. Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming. Thank you. Please be seated, thanks. Thanks for coming. Thanks for the warm welcome. I appreciate your fine words, Skinny. Laughter I got off the airplane, I wasn't sure who I was looking at. Laughter So we get in the limousine, and we're driving here from the airport, and the Governor says, "Do you still follow college football?" Laughter I wasn't exactly sure what he was driving at. I said, "Yeah, I pay attention to it." He said, "Were you paying attention to it a couple of weeks ago?" I said, "Yes, I sure was, Governor. Congratulations to the Hawgs." Thank you all for coming today. What we're doing today is we're laying the foundation for what is going to be a victory in Arkansas in '04 and a nationwide victory in '04. I want to thank you for your hard work and for your strong support. I want to thank you for what you did in 2000. I re member applause yes. I remember coming as the last stop we made prior to getting back to Texas after a long, long campaign. And we went to northwest Arkansas, and the crowds were huge. I remember flying over and seeing the line of red lights, all trying to get into the event. It was really a put the wind at my back coming off of a tough campaign, the people of Arkansas did. I want thank you for support then. I want to thank you for the support that you've shown today. I want to thank you for what you're fixing to do, which is to man the grassroots and to get on the phones and get the signs out and to turn out the vote. When you're out working the vote right now, you tell them the President is focused on keeping America strong and secure and prosperous and free. The political season will come in its own time. I'm loosening up laughter and I'm getting ready. But I got a job to do, and I'll keep working on the people's business, doing what's right for America. I've got a job to do for everybody who lives in this country. My regret today is that the First Lady isn't traveling with me. You drew the short straw. Laughter But I'm proud of Laura. She's a great wife, a great mother, and is a fantastic First Lady for America. She sends her very best to all her friends here in Arkansas. Speaking about our friends, I'm proud to call your Governor friend and Janet Huckabee friend. Mike is doing a great job for the people of Arkansans. He's a strong leader. I appreciate his friendship, and I appreciate his leadership. I also want to thank your Lieutenant Governor, Win Rockefeller, and Lisenne for being here today. It's good to see you again, Governor. I appreciate your friendship. You got a fine Congressman named Boozman representing you in Washington, DC. John, you're doing a great job. I'm proud to call you ally and friend. I want thank all the State and local officials who are here. I see former some former Congressmen. Jay Dickey and John Paul, it's good to see you. I appreciate the grassroots folks who are here, the people who are making this party work. I want to thank Warren Stephens and French Hill, who are the State finance cochairmen, for taking on the task of seeing to it that my campaign and the campaign of Vice President Cheney's is well organized and well funded. I appreciate all the folks who have made this event such a great success. Most of all, I thank you all for coming. In the last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems instead of passing them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. My administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and today, they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And then our Nation was attacked, and we had some scandals in corporate America, and we went to war to make America more secure, all of which affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. I know that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows and people are more likely to find a job. So we're returning more money to the people to help them raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives so they can hire new people. With all these actions, we have laid the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America so every single person in this country can realize the great American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. I appreciate your Governor leading on this issue. I appreciate the fine reading initiative you got here in this State. You see, we believe that every child in every public school can learn to read and write and add and subtract. We are challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. We've increased the Federal budget to help Title I students, to help make sure every child can read. But we expect results. The days of excuse making are over. We want results in every single classroom so that not one single child is left behind. We reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our borders and ports and to protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Arkansas' farmers and ranchers and entrepreneurs. We passed budget agreements that are helping to maintain spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. And the United States Congress has shared in these substantial achievements. I want to thank John. I also want to thank Speaker Hastert and Leader Frist. They're good friends. We're working hard to change the tone in Washington, DC. There's a lot of needless politics in the Nation's Capital. We're focused on the people's business. You sent us to Washington to work on behalf of the people, not special interests, not lobbyists, but the people. And that's what we're doing. I've surrounded myself with people in my administration who are focused on results. I have put together a fine team of public servants to represent America. There is no finer Vice President in our Nation's history than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion. Laughter In 2 1 2 years, we have come far, but our work is only beginning. I've set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every single citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and to realize the promise of America. It should become clear it should be clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking coalition forces and aid workers and innocent Iraqis. They know that the advance of freedom in Iraq would be a major defeat for the cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of America and the civilized world. America will not be intimidated. We're aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we will not have to face them in our own country. We're calling on other nations to help Iraq to become a free country, which will make the world more secure. We're standing with the Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward self government. These are not easy tasks, but they are essential tasks. We will finish what we have begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. Free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest hope and need of every human heart. And I believe that freedom is the right of every person, and I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world, and when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. This great, powerful Nation is a compassionate nation, and we are leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges here at home, and our actions will prove worthy of the challenges. So long as any of our citizens who want to work can't find a job, we must work to make sure the entrepreneurial spirit, the environment for job growth is strong. The numbers look good. I'm encouraged by what I see, but too many of our fellow citizens aren't working. I've laid out a six point plan to the United States Congress to make sure job creation remains strong and vibrant. I will stay focused on our economy until the American people are able to put food on the table and take care of their family responsibilities by finding a job. We have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. Congress has taken historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and the Senate have passed reforms to increase choices for seniors and provide coverage for prescription drugs. It is time for the House and the Senate to reconcile their differences and to get a bill to my desk. We owe it to our seniors to have a modern health care system available for them, and we owe it to those of us who are going to be seniors to make sure the Medicare system is modern. And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doctor deserve their day in court. Yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, they affect the Federal budget. Therefore, medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. I submitted a good bill to reform the medical liability system of our country to the House to the Congress. The House of Representatives has acted. It is stuck in the United States Senate. It is time for some Senators to understand that no one in this country has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. We need medical liability reform. I have a responsibility as the President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I've nominated superb men and women to the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Yet some Members of the United States Senate you might even know some laughter are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by filibusters, by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. Is it time for Members of the Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. We must promote energy efficiency and conservation. We must use technologies to be able to use the resources at hand. But for the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, this Nation must become less reliant on foreign sources of energy. A strong and prosperous nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, which means we will apply the best and most effective and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. Still, millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through hard work must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so more Americans can serve their communities and their country. And both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring our children, caring for the homeless, and offering hope to the addicted. Our Government should not fear faith. We should welcome faith and the healing power of faith into the lives of more of our citizens. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their own home. Today in America, we have a minority homeownership gap. I've submitted plans to the United States Congress to close that gap. We want more people owning and managing their own retirement accounts, owning and managing their own health care plans. And we want more people owning their own small business. We understand that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of America. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make. The culture of America is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it. If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a new culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make. If you're fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're worried about the quality of the education in Little Rock, Arkansas, or anywhere in Arkansas, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in the new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving a neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourselves. The culture of service, the culture of responsibility is growing here in America. You know, I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to neighbors in need, and the response has been great. People want to serve. People want to help their communities. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift up whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you all. Thank you all. November 10, 2003 Thank you all for coming. I'm honored to be here. Please be seated. Mr. Speaker, thank you for those warm remarks. South Carolina will always have a big part of my political career. I'm proud of all the people here. I want to thank you for your friendship. I remember 2000 very well. Today we're laying the foundation for what will be a South Carolina and a national victory in 2004. I'm proud to have your support. I'm loosening up. Laughter I'm getting ready. But politics will come in its own time. See, I've got a job to do. And when you go to your coffee shops and your farm implementation dealers or your places of worship, you tell them that George W. Bush is working hard for everybody, working hard to make sure this country remains strong and secure and prosperous and free. I appreciate my friend David Wilkins. He's the kind of friend that is with you when times are good and when times are bad. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate your leadership on this event made an enormous difference tonight for this very successful fundraiser. I also want to thank your dear wife, Susan. You and I both married very well. Speaking about marrying well, I am sorry that Laura is not here, and I'm sure you are as well. Laughter You drew the short straw. Laughter She is a fabulous wife, a great mother, and she's doing a wonderful job as our country's First Lady. I'm honored that the Governor is here, Governor Mark Sanford. I appreciate his leadership and his friendship, and I also appreciate the great service that Jenny, the wonderful first lady of South Carolina, is providing to your State. Thank you for coming, Governor. I see you don't really care who you sit next to. Laughter You've chosen to sit next to the Senator from the great State of South Carolina, Senator Lindsey Graham, strong ally and good friend. I appreciate you coming. South Carolina has sent some fantastic people to Congress, good allies, good friends. Henry Brown and Joe Wilson and Gresham Barrett and Jim DeMint are people you can be proud of that represent you. I know this is DeMint's district. He's doing a fine job as a United States Congressman. But I'm proud of all of them that are representing your great State there in Washington. I know the Lieutenant Governor is with us today, Lieutenant Governor Bauer. I know the attorney general is with us, Henry McMaster. I know there's other State officials who are here. I want to thank you all for coming tonight. Some of my club members are with us. I'm a member of the ex Governors club, and so is Beasley, Campbell, and Edwards. I appreciate all three of those distinguished South Carolinian citizens for joining us tonight. Speaking about ex members, Charlie Condon, who is a former attorney general of this great State, is with us, and a friend of mine as well. I appreciate Charlie coming. Most of all, I'm glad you're here. I want to thank you for working hard to get this event on. My friend Mercer Reynolds is the national finance chairman for Bush Cheney '04. He's a fellow from Cincinnati, Ohio. He was educated up the road in Chapel Hill. He still came anyway. Laughter I appreciate Dr. Eddie Floyd and John Rainey and Barry Wynn, all of them personal friends. All of them have worked hard to make this a tremendously successful event. I want to thank the grassroots activists who are here, the people who are going to put up the signs and mail the mailers and get on the telephone to turn out the vote. I cannot win without your help. I want to thank you for what you've done in the past. I want to thank you for what you're fixing to do when we come down the pike next year. I appreciate Sarah Reese. I appreciate Todd Graham leading the pledge. And I want to thank the Governor's School Choir for joining us as well. In the last 2 1 2 years, this Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. My administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and today, they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era, and today, no one can question the skill, the strength, and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And then our country was attacked, and we had scandals in corporate America, and we marched to war for our own security and for the peace of the world, all of which affected the people's confidence. But I acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. I understand that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows and people are more likely to find a job. So we're returning more money to the people to help them raise their families, reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're providing small businesses with incentives so they can hire new people. With all these actions, this administration has laid the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America so every single person in this country has a chance to realize the American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I called for and Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We believe every child can learn to read and write and add and subtract. We are challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. We've increased Federal funding, but in return for additional Federal dollars, we expect results in every classroom so that not one single child is left behind. We created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our ports and borders and better protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for South Carolina entrepreneurs and manufacturers and farmers. We passed budget agreements to help maintain spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. And the Congress gets a lot of credit for the success we have had. I've enjoyed my work with the South Carolina delegation. I enjoy working with Speaker Denny Hastert, Majority Leader Bill Frist, two fine Americans. We're working hard to change the tone in Washington, DC. There's too much needless politics in the Nation's Capital. We're doing the people's business by focusing on results, and we're achieving good results for the people. Those are the kind of people I've attracted in my administration. I want people who are results oriented people, can do people, people from all walks of life. I have put together a fantastic administration for the American people. Our country has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion. Laughter We've done a lot in 2 1 2 years. We've come far, but our work is only beginning. I've set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and to realize the promise of our country. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking coalition forces and aid workers and innocent Iraqis. They know that the advance of freedom in Iraq would be a major defeat for the cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of the United States and the civilized world. America will not be intimidated. We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we do not have to face them in our own country. We're calling on other nations to help Iraq to build a free country, which will make us all more secure. We're standing with the Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward self government. These aren't easy tasks, but they're essential tasks. We will finish what we have begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror. Yet, our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And I believe that freedom is the right of every person, and I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world. And when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children suffering with AIDS. This great, strong, compassionate land is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We've got challenges here at home as well. We will prove equal to those challenges. Anytime one of our citizens who wants to work can't find a job, it says to me that we must continue to strive to enhance the entrepreneurial spirit of America. We've had some good numbers recently. We're making progress. But enough of our not enough of our citizens are working. I spent some quality time today at the BMW plant talking about jobs and job creation and job training. So long as people are looking for work, this President and this administration will work for a progrowth policy so our people can find work. We have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. The Congress has taken historic action to improve the lives of older citizens. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and the Senate have passed reforms to increase the choices for our seniors and to provide coverage for prescription drugs. It is now time for the House and the Senate to iron out their differences and to get a good bill on my desk so we keep the promise to America's seniors to have a modern health care system. For the sake of health care, we also need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. Yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, and they therefore affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. The House of Representatives passed a good bill. The bill is stuck in the Senate. Some Senators must recognize that no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. We need medical liability reform. I have a responsibility as President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women to the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some members of the Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for Members of this U.S. Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. This Nation must promote energy efficiency and conservation, no doubt about it. But we must use our technologies to be able to use the resources we have at hand in environmentally friendly ways. We need clean coal technology. We need more natural gas exploration. We need safe nuclear energy. For the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, we must become less reliant on foreign sources of energy. Our prosperous and compassionate prosperous and strong Nation must be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, which says we'll apply the most innovative and effective ways and ideas to help our fellow citizens who hurt. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so that more Americans can serve their communities and their country. Both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring our children and caring for the homeless and offering hope to the addicted. People of all faiths in America hear a universal call. People of all faiths can do things Government cannot do, which is to heal broken hearts. Our Government must not fear the influence of faith in helping people who hurt in our society. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people to own their own home. Today in America, we have a homeownership gap, a minority homeownership gap. I proposed plans to the United States Congress to close that gap. We want more people to own and manage their own retirement accounts. We want people to own and manage their own health care plans. We want more people owning their own small business. This administration understands that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of America. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make. The culture of America is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're fortunate enough to be a mother or a father, you are responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're concerned about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in the responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving a neighbor just like we would like to be loved ourself. The culture of service and responsibility is growing here in America. I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need, and the response has been strong. People are signing up to help. Faith based programs and charities are vibrant here in America. Firemen and policemen and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Our children again believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these changing times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it, and we know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you all. Thank you very much for coming. November 07, 2003 Thanks for your warm welcome. Thank you for coming. I appreciate you. Thanks. Thank you all. Please be seated. Listen, it is great to be back in Winston Salem. It's a incredibly beautiful part of our country, but more beautiful are the people who live here. And I want to thank you for your friendship. I want to thank you for your support. I want to thank you for coming today. What we're doing is laying the foundation for what will be a great national victory in November of 2004. We had a good run in 2000, thanks to you all. And the Vice President and I expressed our deepest appreciation for the hard work you all put in in the year 2000. We'll do even better in 2004 here in North Carolina. I want to thank you for applause . I'm loosening up. Laughter I'm getting ready, but I've got a job to do. I've got to work on the people's business in Washington, DC. We've got a lot on the agenda, and so when you go to your coffee shops, your houses of worship, or your community centers, please tell them, Republican, Democrat, or independent alike, that the President is focused on the people's business and he will keep this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. I regret that Laura isn't with me today. You drew the short straw. Laughter She's a fabulous wife, a great mother, a wonderful First Lady. I'm really proud of the job she has done. She sends our very best to our friends here in North Carolina her very best to our friends here in North Carolina. We've got a great friend in the Culbertsons. I'm so proud to know the Culbertsons. I want to thank them for their friendship and their leadership. I appreciate so very much traveling today with Congressman Richard Burr. He flew down on Air Force One. There isn't much air rage on Air Force One. Laughter He is going to make a great United States Senator for North Carolina. It's good to see Brooke Burr. I appreciate so very much that David Burr was here, his dad, who gave the invocation. I'm sorry that Senator Elizabeth Dole is not here, who, by the way, is doing a really good job for the people of North Carolina. I appreciate the Senator whose place she took, a man who stood strong, a man who stood on principle, Jesse Helms. Speaking about former Senators, I know Jim Broyhill is here. I appreciate you coming, Senator. I will pass your best on to your good friend my I will pass your best on to your good friend number 41 laughter if you know who I'm talking about there laughter who, by the way, is going to jump out of an airplane on his 80th birthday. I know it laughter Mother had the same reaction. Laughter I want to thank very much my friend the mayor of Charlotte, Pat McCrory, who is here with us today. Mayor, thank you for coming. Good to see you. I know there's a lot of statehouse folks here and local government officials. I want to thank you all for being here. I appreciate your service to your great State and to your communities. I've asked a North Carolina graduate to serve as the national finance chairman for the Bush Cheney campaign of '04. Mercer Reynolds is doing a fantastic job of working hard on our behalf, and I want to thank Mercer for his dedication and his friendship. I also want to appreciate appreciate Dr. Aldona Wos, the State chairman for Bush Cheney. Thank you very much for your hard work. We've got a lot of grassroots activists who are here, people who are actually going to get on the phone and put up the signs and lick the envelopes, all necessary to make sure that we run a vibrant campaign. I want to thank Ferrell Blount for his leadership here in North Carolina. I want to thank all the grassroots activists for what you're fixing to do when we're coming down the stretch in 2004. Chief Linda Davis is here. I'm honored the chief is with us. I appreciate the fine job she is doing. It's not the first time I have seen the chief. I know you're proud of the job she does here in Winston Salem. I want to thank her for coming. But most of all, thank you all once again. It's a great turnout. It makes a fellow feel good to see so many people supporting him. The last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems instead of passing them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. My administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people 50 million people in those countries once lived under tyranny, and today, they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can doubt or question the skill or the strength or the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession, and then our Nation was attacked. And then we had some scandals in corporate America, and then we marched to war, war in Afghanistan and Iraq, all of which affected the people's confidence. That's tough hurdles to cross, when it came to our economy. Yet, this administration acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. I know that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows and people are more likely to find a job. So we're returning more money to the people to help them raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives so they can hire new people. With all these actions, this administration has laid the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America so every single citizen can realize the American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I acted I called for and Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We believe every child can learn to read and write and add and subtract. We expect every child to learn to read and write and add and subtract. This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. We dramatically increased Title I funding. For the first time, the Federal Government is now asking the question, "Are you succeeding?" We're asking the question of every single public school whether or not we're meeting the high standards that we expect. The days of excuse making are over. This country will stay focused on the basics to make sure every child learns to read and write and add and subtract so not one single child is left behind. We reorganized the Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our ports and borders and to better protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up markets for North Carolina's farmers, ranchers, and entrepreneurs. But I understand that trade is a two way street, that if we have trade with other neighbors and countries, we expect there to be fair trade coming the other way. We passed much needed budget agreements to help maintain spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. A lot of the credit goes to the Congress, people like Congressman Burr, people with whom we've people like Speaker Denny Hastert, Majority Leader Bill Frist. We're working hard to focus the town on results, not on senseless politics. There's too much politics in Washington, DC. The leadership in the administration we're trying to set a better standard. See, the people want us there to do the business. People there want us to do what's right for the country. That's what we're working hard to do, to change that culture in Washington. And those are the kind of people I've asked to serve in our Government. I put together a fantastic team of people from all walks of life to serve the American people. Our country has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion. Laughter In 2 1 2 years, we've done a lot. We have come far, but our work is only beginning. I've set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every citizen, every single citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and to realize the great promise of America. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom aren't idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw that country into chaos by attacking coalition forces, by attacking the people who are there to provide aid to the long suffering Iraqi citizens, and by attacking Iraqi citizens themselves. See, they know that the advance of freedom in Iraq would be a major defeat in the cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of America and the civilized world, and this country will not be intimidated. Impressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we will not have to face them in our own country, we're calling on other nations to help. But you see, a free Iraq, a peaceful Iraq, a peaceful Iraq in the heart of the Middle East will make the entire world more secure. We're standing with the Iraqi people, the very capable, competent Iraqi people, as they assume more of their own defense and as they move toward self government. These are not easy tasks, but they are essential tasks. And we will finish what we have begun. We will win this essential victory in the war on terror. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And I believe that freedom is the right of every person, and I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world. And when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power, the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. This great, powerful, strong, compassionate land is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges here at home as well, and our actions will prove equal to those challenges. So long as any of our citizens who want to work can't find a job, it says to me we've got a problem. I will continue to try to create an environment of job creation and job growth by enhancing the entrepreneurial spirit of America. We've had some good news recently about our economy. But we won't rest until everybody who wants to work can find a job. I'm going to talk today at one of your fine community colleges about the need for us to make sure there is adequate worker training programs to train to help train the good citizens of North Carolina for the jobs which actually exist in the State of North Carolina. We have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. A few weeks ago, Congress took historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and the Senate have passed reforms, reforms which will increase the choices for our seniors, reforms which will provide coverage for prescription drugs. The next step is for both Houses to reconcile their differences and to get a good bill to my desk. We must handle our responsibilities in Washington by making sure the Medicare system is vibrant and viable and real, not only for seniors today but for those of us who are fixing to be seniors tomorrow. For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doctor deserve their day in court. Yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, and they therefore affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. I put forth a good piece of legislation which passed the House of Representatives. It is stuck in the United States Senate. It is time for some of the Senators to understand that no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. We need medical liability reform today. I have a responsibility as the President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women to serve on the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Here in Carolina, I nominated Judge Terry Boyle for the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals. I nominated this good man, this man of integrity, more than 2 years ago. We're still waiting for his vote in the United States Senate because a small group of Senators is willfully obstructing the process. Too many nominees like Judge Boyle are being denied an up or down vote. These needless delays in the system are harming the administration of justice. They're deeply unfair to the nominees and their families themselves. It is time for some of the Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. Our Nation must promote better energy efficiency, better conservation. We must develop clean technology to help us explore in environmentally friendly ways. But for the sake of economic security, for the sake of national security, this Nation must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. A prosperous nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, which says we will apply the most innovative ideas, the most effective ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens who hurt. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of the welfare reform by bringing work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so more Americans can serve their communities and their country. And both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring our children, caring for the homeless, and offering hope to the addicted. Oftentimes, many of the problems that our citizens face are problems of the heart. And Government can hand out money, but it can't put hope in people's hearts or sense of purpose in people's lives. That's done when people from any faith put their arms around a brother and sister in need and says, "I love you." Our Government should not fear the work of our faith based programs. We ought to welcome faith based programs and the healing of citizens who hurt. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their own home. Today in America, we have a minority homeownership gap. I've submitted a plan to the United States Congress to close that gap. We want more people owning and managing their own retirement accounts. We want them owning and managing their own health care accounts. We want more people owning their own small business in America. We understand that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our country. In a compassionate society, people respect each other and people take responsibility for the decisions they make. The culture of America is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "You got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're worried about the quality of the education in Winston Salem, North Carolina, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in the new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we would like to be loved ourself. The culture of service and the culture of responsibility is growing around us here in America. I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps in order to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a citizen in need, and the response has been fantastic. People from all walks of life are willing to help, willing to stand up, willing to make a difference in their communities. Our faith based programs are strong and vibrant and growing. The social entrepreneurship in American is an integral part of the fabric of our society. You've got policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform remind us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I have been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it, and we know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you all. November 06, 2003 Thank you all for coming. Good afternoon, and welcome to the White House. On September the 11th, 2001, America grieved for our losses, and we made a commitment. We determined to conduct the war against terror on the offensive. We determined to confront and undermine threats abroad before they arrive in our own cities. We're waging this war in relentless pursuit of the Al Qaida network. We're waging this war in Afghanistan against Taliban remnants and Al Qaida killers. We're waging this war in Iraq against Saddam loyalists and foreign terrorists who seek the return of tyranny and terror. We're pursuing long term victory in this war by promoting democracy in the Middle East so that the nations of that region no longer breed hatred and terror. Today the United States is making a critical financial commitment to this global strategy to defeat terror. We're supporting our service men and women in the field of battle. We're supporting reconstruction and the emergence of democratic institutions in a vital area of the world. The American people accept these responsibilities now, in our time, so that we will not face far greater dangers in the future. With this act of Congress, no enemy or friend can doubt that America has the resources and the will to see this war through to victory. I want to thank our Secretary of State, Colin Powell, and Secretary of Defense, Don Rumsfeld, for their extraordinary leadership during these tough times. I appreciate Deputy Secretary Rich Armitage, Deputy Secretary Paul Wolfowitz for joining us today as well. Thank you all for coming. Josh Bolten, a member of my Cabinet, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget the keeper of the money is with us. Andrew Natsios, the Administrator of the USAID, is with us today. Andrew, thank you for coming. There he is, right there. I appreciate the leadership of the Congress being here today. Speaker Denny Hastert and Leader Bill Frist are with us. Thank you all for coming. Thank you for your strong leadership. I also want to pay a particular mention to Chairman Ted Stevens and Chairman Bill Young for doing a fabulous job on a very tough issue. Thank you very much. There are a lot of Members of the Senate and House with us. Thank you all for coming, for making a good, courageous vote. I particularly want to pay homage to Mitch McConnell of Kentucky for his leadership on the floor, Jerry Lewis from California, and Norm Dicks from Washington for supporting your chairman and getting this bill out. I want to thank the military and civilian staff members of the Coalition Provisional Authority who are with us. Thank you for serving our country. We appreciate the sacrifices you are making. Today, in Iraq and Afghanistan, the world sees a test of will and a clash of strategies. The strategy of our enemies, whether Al Qaida, Ba'athist, Taliban, or others, is to intimidate newly free men and women who are trying to establish democracy and to cause America and our allies to flee our responsibilities. Their goal is to halt and reverse all progress toward freedom in the Middle East, to reinstate permanently the rule of fear and oppression. The strategy of America and our allies is equally clear. We are employing targeted and decisive force against the killers. We're training and equipping Iraqis and Afghans to defend their own nations. We're helping the Iraqi and Afghan people build just and democratic governments. And we will meet our duties until the job is done. The terrorists and their supporters have had many setbacks in the last 2 years. They have lost many leaders, many training camps, and two countries, and we will not relent until they are fully and finally defeated. The legislation I'm about to sign commits 87 billion to America's global offensive against terror. More than 65 billion of these new funds will pay for ongoing military operations. We're supporting such basic military necessities as air, rail, and sea transportation for American and coalition troops to the theaters of action. We will purchase ammunition for our weapons and fuel and spare parts for airplanes and helicopters and vehicles. We will replace equipment lost or damaged in combat. We'll acquire vital new equipment, such as armored humvees and body armor and communications gear. Our service men and women are carrying out their missions with skill and honor, and they deserve the finest equipment and best weapons we can provide. This legislation contains needed funds to pay our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines, including the additional pay our forces receive for hazardous duty. We will also cover the salaries of National Guard and Reserve troops who have left jobs and homes and families in an hour of national need. The American Government will keep its responsibilities to all who risk their lives for America. This legislation also includes nearly 20 billion to help build stable democratic societies in Iraq and Afghanistan. We will help train and equip the growing number of Iraqis and Afghans who are fighting and dying to defend and secure their rights. We'll help to upgrade hospitals and schools and repair infrastructure and improve basic services, including water, electricity, and sanitation. Our investment in the future of Afghanistan and Iraq is the greatest commitment of its kind since the Marshall plan. By this action, we show the generous spirit of our country, and we serve the interest of our country, because our security is at stake. The Middle East region will either become a place of progress and peace, or it will remain a source of violence and terror. And we're determined to see the triumph of progress and the triumph of peace in that region. We will do all in our power to ensure that freedom finds a lasting home in Afghanistan and in Iraq. We know this will require patience and sacrifice. I just had the honor of meeting PFC Phillip Ramsey and SPC Alex Leonard, two brave Americans who were wounded in action. We thank you for your service. Recent attacks have shown once again the cruelty of the enemy. They don't care whose lives they take, men, women, or children. They're coldblooded. They're heartless. We're engaged in a massive and difficult undertaking, but America has done this kind of hard work before. After World War II, we made long term commitments to the transformation of Germany and Japan so that those nations would not be sources of war but our partners in peace. That investment in peace has been repaid many times over. Now our generation will show the same perseverance and the same vision in the cause of peace. I appreciate the solid bipartisan support for this bill in the House and the Senate. I also appreciate that reconstruction funds for Iraq have been provided in the form of grants so that this struggling nation is not burdened with new debt at a moment of new hope. The establishment of a free Iraq and a free Afghanistan will be watershed events in the history of the Middle East, watershed events in the global democratic revolution that has already transformed Europe and Latin America and much of Africa and Asia. The resources we commit today will further advance the cause of freedom, thereby serving the cause of peace and enhancing the security of the American people. Now I'm pleased to sign into law the Iraq and Afghanistan supplemental appropriations bill. November 06, 2003 Thank you all very much. Please be seated. Thanks for the warm welcome. Thanks for inviting me to join you in this 20th anniversary of the National Endowment for Democracy. Staff and directors of this organization have seen a lot of history over the last two decades. You've been a part of that history. By speaking for and standing for freedom, you've lifted the hopes of people around the world, and you've brought great credit to America. I appreciate Vin for the short introduction. I'm a man who likes short introductions, and he didn't let me down. But more importantly, I appreciate the invitation. I appreciate the Members of Congress who are here, Senators from both political parties, Members of the House of Representatives from both political parties. I appreciate the ambassadors who are here. I appreciate the guests who have come. I appreciate the bipartisan spirit, the nonpartisan spirit of the National Endowment for Democracy. I'm glad that Republicans and Democrats and independents are working together to advance human liberty. The roots of our democracy can be traced to England and to its Parliament, and so can the roots of this organization. In June of 1982, President Ronald Reagan spoke at Westminster Palace and declared the turning point had arrived in history. He argued that Soviet communism had failed precisely because it did not respect its own people, their creativity, their genius, and their rights. President Reagan said that the day of Soviet tyranny was passing, that freedom had a momentum which would not be halted. He gave this organization its mandate to add to the momentum of freedom across the world. Your mandate was important 20 years ago. It is equally important today. A number of critics were dismissive of that speech by the President. According to one editorial of the time, "It seems hard to be a sophisticated European and also an admirer of Ronald Reagan." Laughter Some observers on both sides of the Atlantic pronounced the speech simplistic and naive and even dangerous. In fact, Ronald Reagan's words were courageous and optimistic and entirely correct. The great democratic movement President Reagan described was already well underway. In the early 1970s, there were about 40 democracies in the world. By the middle of that decade, Portugal and Spain and Greece held free elections. Soon there were new democracies in Latin America, and free institutions were spreading in Korea, in Taiwan, and in East Asia. This very week in 1989, there were protests in East Berlin and in Leipzig. By the end of that year, every communist dictatorship in Central Europe had collapsed. Within another year, the South African Government released Nelson Mandela. Four years later, he was elected President of his country, ascending, like Walesa and Havel, from prisoner of state to head of state. As the 20th century ended, there were around 120 democracies in the world, and I can assure you, more are on the way. Ronald Reagan would be pleased, and he would not be surprised. We've witnessed, in little over a generation, the swiftest advance of freedom in the 2,500 year story of democracy. Historians in the future will offer their own explanations for why this happened. Yet we already know some of the reasons they will cite. It is no accident that the rise of so many democracies took place in a time when the world's most influential nation was itself a democracy. The United States made military and moral commitments in Europe and Asia which protected free nations from aggression and created the conditions in which new democracies could flourish. As we provided security for whole nations, we also provided inspiration for oppressed peoples. In prison camps, in banned union meetings, in clandestine churches, men and women knew that the whole world was not sharing their own nightmare. They knew of at least one place, a bright and hopeful land where freedom was valued and secure, and they prayed that America would not forget them or forget the mission to promote liberty around the world. Historians will note that in many nations, the advance of markets and free enterprise helped to create a middle class that was confident enough to demand their own rights. They will point to the role of technology in frustrating censorship and central control and marvel at the power of instant communications to spread the truth, the news, and courage across borders. Historians in the future will reflect on an extraordinary, undeniable fact Over time, free nations grow stronger, and dictatorships grow weaker. In the middle of the 20th century, some imagined that the central planning and social regimentation were a shortcut to national strength. In fact, the prosperity and social vitality and technological progress of a people are directly determined by the extent of their liberty. Freedom honors and unleashes human creativity, and creativity determines the strength and wealth of nations. Liberty is both the plan of heaven for humanity and the best hope for progress here on Earth. The progress of liberty is a powerful trend. Yet, we also know that liberty, if not defended, can be lost. The success of freedom is not determined by some dialectic of history. By definition, the success of freedom rests upon the choices and the courage of free peoples and upon their willingness to sacrifice. In the trenches of World War I, through a two front war in the 1940s, the difficult battles of Korea and Vietnam, and in missions of rescue and liberation on nearly every continent, Americans have amply displayed our willingness to sacrifice for liberty. The sacrifices of Americans have not always been recognized or appreciated, yet they have been worthwhile. Because we and our allies were steadfast, Germany and Japan are democratic nations that no longer threaten the world. A global nuclear standoff with the Soviet Union ended peacefully, as did the Soviet Union. The nations of Europe are moving towards unity, not dividing into armed camps and descending into genocide. Every nation has learned or should have learned an important lesson Freedom is worth fighting for, dying for, and standing for, and the advance of freedom leads to peace. And now we must apply that lesson in our own time. We've reached another great turning point, and the resolve we show will shape the next stage of the world democratic movement. Our commitment to democracy is tested in countries like Cuba and Burma and North Korea and Zimbabwe, outposts of oppression in our world. The people in these nations live in captivity and fear and silence. Yet, these regimes cannot hold back freedom forever, and one day, from prison camps and prison cells and from exile, the leaders of new democracies will arrive. Communism and militarism and rule by the capricious and corrupt are the relics of a passing era. And we will stand with these oppressed peoples until the day of liberation and freedom finally arrives. Our commitment to democracy is tested in China. That nation now has a sliver, a fragment of liberty. Yet, China's people will eventually want their liberty pure and whole. China has discovered that economic freedom leads to national wealth. China's leaders will also discover that freedom is indivisible, that social and religious freedom is also essential to national greatness and national dignity. Eventually, men and women who are allowed to control their own wealth will insist on controlling their own lives and their own country. Our commitment to democracy is also tested in the Middle East, which is my focus today and must be a focus of American policy for decades to come. In many nations of the Middle East, countries of great strategic importance, democracy has not yet taken root. And the questions arise Are the peoples of the Middle East somehow beyond the reach of liberty? Are millions of men and women and children condemned by history or culture to live in despotism? Are they alone never to know freedom and never even to have a choice in the matter? I for one do not believe it. I believe every person has the ability and the right to be free. Some skeptics of democracy assert that the traditions of Islam are inhospitable to the representative government. This "cultural condescension," as Ronald Reagan termed it, has a long history. After the Japanese surrender in 1945, a so called Japan expert asserted that democracy in that former empire would, quote, "never work." Another observer declared the prospects for democracy in post Hitler Germany are, and I quote, "most uncertain at best." He made that claim in 1957. Seventy four years ago, the Sunday London Times declared nine tenths of the population of India to be, quote, "illiterates not caring a fig for politics." Yet when Indian democracy was imperiled in the 1970s, the Indian people showed their commitment to liberty in a national referendum that saved their form of government. Time after time, observers have questioned whether this country or that people or this group are ready for democracy, as if freedom were a prize you win for meeting our own Western standards of progress. In fact, the daily work of democracy itself is the path of progress. It teaches cooperation, the free exchange of ideas, and the peaceful resolution of differences. As men and women are showing from Bangladesh to Botswana to Mongolia, it is the practice of democracy that makes a nation ready for democracy, and every nation can start on this path. It should be clear to all that Islam, the faith of one fifth of humanity, is consistent with democratic rule. Democratic progress is found in many predominantly Muslim countries, in Turkey and Indonesia and Senegal and Albania, in Niger and Sierra Leone. Muslim men and women are good citizens of India and South Africa, of the nations of Western Europe, and of the United States of America. More than half of all Muslims in the world live in freedom under democratically constituted governments. They succeed in democratic societies, not in spite of their faith but because of it. A religion that demands individual moral accountability and encourages the encounter of the individual with God is fully compatible with the rights and responsibilities of self government. Yet there's a great challenge today in the Middle East. In the words of a recent report by Arab scholars, the global wave of democracy has, and I quote, "barely reached the Arab states." They continue "This freedom deficit undermines human development and is one of the most painful manifestations of lagging political development." The freedom deficit they describe has terrible consequences for the people of the Middle East and for the world. In many Middle Eastern countries, poverty is deep, and it is spreading. Women lack rights and are denied schooling. Whole societies remain stagnant while the world moves ahead. These are not the failures of a culture or a religion. These are the failures of political and economic doctrines. As the colonial era passed away, the Middle East saw the establishment of many military dictatorships. Some rulers adopted the dogmas of socialism, seized total control of political parties and the media and universities. They allied themselves with the Soviet bloc and with international terrorism. Dictators in Iraq and Syria promised the restoration of national honor, a return to ancient glories. They've left instead a legacy of torture, oppression, misery, and ruin. Other men and groups of men have gained influence in the Middle East and beyond through an ideology of theocratic terror. Behind their language of religion is the ambition for absolute political power. Ruling cabals like the Taliban show their version of religious piety in public whippings of women, ruthless suppression of any difference or dissent, and support for terrorists who arm and train to murder the innocent. The Taliban promised religious purity and national pride. Instead, by systematically destroying a proud and working society, they left behind suffering and starvation. Many Middle Eastern governments now understand that military dictatorship and theocratic rule are a straight, smooth highway to nowhere. But some governments still cling to the old habits of central control. There are governments that still fear and repress independent thought and creativity and private enterprise, the human qualities that make for a strong and successful societies. Even when these nations have vast natural resources, they do not respect or develop their greatest resources, the talent and energy of men and women working and living in freedom. Instead of dwelling on past wrongs and blaming others, governments in the Middle East need to confront real problems and serve the true interests of their nations. The good and capable people of the Middle East all deserve responsible leadership. For too long, many people in that region have been victims and subjects. They deserve to be active citizens. Governments across the Middle East and north Africa are beginning to see the need for change. Morocco has a diverse new Parliament. King Mohamed has urged it to extend the rights to women. Here is how His Majesty explained his reforms to Parliament "How can society achieve progress while women, who represent half the nation, see their rights violated and suffer as a result of injustice, violence, and marginalization, notwithstanding the dignity and justice granted to them by our glorious religion?" The King of Morocco is correct The future of Muslim nations will be better for all with the full participation of women. In Bahrain last year, citizens elected their own Parliament for the first time in nearly three decades. Oman has extended the vote to all adult citizens. Qatar has a new constitution. Yemen has a multiparty political system. Kuwait has a directly elected national assembly, and Jordan held historic elections this summer. Recent surveys in Arab nations reveal broad support for political pluralism, the rule of law, and free speech. These are the stirrings of Middle Eastern democracy, and they carry the promise of greater change to come. As changes come to the Middle Eastern region, those with power should ask themselves Will they be remembered for resisting reform or for leading it? In Iran, the demand for democracy is strong and broad, as we saw last month when thousands gathered to welcome home Shirin Ebadi, the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. The regime in Tehran must heed the democratic demands of the Iranian people or lose its last claim to legitimacy. For the Palestinian people, the only path to independence and dignity and progress is the path of democracy. And the Palestinian leaders who block and undermine democratic reform and feed hatred and encourage violence are not leaders at all. They're the main obstacles to peace and to the success of the Palestinian people. The Saudi Government is taking first steps toward reform, including a plan for gradual introduction of elections. By giving the Saudi people a greater role in their own society, the Saudi Government can demonstrate true leadership in the region. The great and proud nation of Egypt has shown the way toward peace in the Middle East and now should show the way toward democracy in the Middle East. Champions of democracy in the region understand that democracy is not perfect. It is not the path to utopia, but it's the only path to national success and dignity. As we watch and encourage reforms in the region, we are mindful that modernization is not the same as Westernization. Representative governments in the Middle East will reflect their own cultures. They will not and should not look like us. Democratic nations may be constitutional monarchies, federal republics, or parliamentary systems. And working democracies always need time to develop, as did our own. We've taken a 200 year journey toward inclusion and justice, and this makes us patient and understanding as other nations are at different stages of this journey. There are, however, essential principles common to every successful society in every culture. Successful societies limit the power of the state and the power of the military, so that governments respond to the will of the people and not the will of the elite. Successful societies protect freedom with the consistent and impartial rule of law, instead of selectively applying the law to punish political opponents. Successful societies allow room for healthy civic institutions, for political parties and labor unions and independent newspapers and broadcast media. Successful societies guarantee religious liberty, the right to serve and honor God without fear of persecution. Successful societies privatize their economies and secure the rights of property. They prohibit and punish official corruption and invest in the health and education of their people. They recognize the rights of women. And instead of directing hatred and resentment against others, successful societies appeal to the hopes of their own people. These vital principles are being applied in the nations of Afghanistan and Iraq. With the steady leadership of President Karzai, the people of Afghanistan are building a modern and peaceful Government. Next month, 500 delegates will convene a national assembly in Kabul to approve a new Afghan constitution. The proposed draft would establish a bicameral Parliament, set national elections next year, and recognize Afghanistan's Muslim identity while protecting the rights of all citizens. Afghanistan faces continuing economic and security challenges. It will face those challenges as a free and stable democracy. In Iraq, the Coalition Provisional Authority and the Iraqi Governing Council are also working together to build a democracy, and after three decades of tyranny, this work is not easy. The former dictator ruled by terror and treachery and left deeply ingrained habits of fear and distrust. Remnants of his regime, joined by foreign terrorists, continue their battle against order and against civilization. Our coalition is responding to recent attacks with precision raids, guided by intelligence provided by the Iraqis themselves. And we're working closely with Iraqi citizens as they prepare a constitution, as they move toward free elections and take increasing responsibility for their own affairs. As in the defense of Greece in 1947 and later in the Berlin airlift, the strength and will of free peoples are now being tested before a watching world. And we will meet this test. Securing democracy in Iraq is the work of many hands. American and coalition forces are sacrificing for the peace of Iraq and for the security of free nations. Aid workers from many countries are facing danger to help the Iraqi people. The National Endowment for Democracy is promoting women's rights and training Iraqi journalists and teaching the skills of political participation. Iraqis themselves, police and border guards and local officials, are joining in the work, and they are sharing in the sacrifice. This is a massive and difficult undertaking. It is worth our effort. It is worth our sacrifice, because we know the stakes. The failure of Iraqi democracy would embolden terrorists around the world, increase dangers to the American people, and extinguish the hopes of millions in the region. Iraqi democracy will succeed, and that success will send forth the news, from Damascus to Tehran, that freedom can be the future of every nation. The establishment of a free Iraq at the heart of the Middle East will be a watershed event in the global democratic revolution. Sixty years of Western nations excusing and accommodating the lack of freedom in the Middle East did nothing to make us safe, because in the long run, stability cannot be purchased at the expense of liberty. As long as the Middle East remains a place where freedom does not flourish, it will remain a place of stagnation, resentment, and violence ready for export. And with the spread of weapons that can bring catastrophic harm to our country and to our friends, it would be reckless to accept the status quo. Therefore, the United States has adopted a new policy, a forward strategy of freedom in the Middle East. This strategy requires the same persistence and energy and idealism we have shown before, and it will yield the same results. As in Europe, as in Asia, as in every region of the world, the advance of freedom leads to peace. The advance of freedom is the calling of our time. It is the calling of our country. From the Fourteen Points to the four freedoms to the speech at Westminster, America has put our power at the service of principle. We believe that liberty is the design of nature. We believe that liberty is the direction of history. We believe that human fulfillment and excellence come in the responsible exercise of liberty. And we believe that freedom, the freedom we prize, is not for us alone it is the right and the capacity of all mankind. Working for the spread of freedom can be hard. Yet, America has accomplished hard tasks before. Our Nation is strong. We're strong of heart, and we're not alone. Freedom is finding allies in every country. Freedom finds allies in every culture. And as we meet the terror and violence of the world, we can be certain the Author of freedom is not indifferent to the fate of freedom. With all the tests and all the challenges of our age, this is, above all, the age of liberty. Each of you at this endowment is fully engaged in the great cause of liberty, and I thank you. May God bless your work, and may God continue to bless America. November 04, 2003 The President. A lot of people in this neighborhood lost all their possessions, but the spirit is strong. America has got some wonderful citizenry who just refuse to be defeated. I met some families here that are obviously crushed by the material loss, and they look forward to rebuilding rebuilding their lives. And the role of government, the Federal Government and the State government and the local government, is helping as best as we can. You know, the worst of nature can bring out the best in our fellow human beings. And to a person, they were thankful for the fact that neighbors do care about neighbors and people are helping people here.It's just tough for a lot of folks who live in this part of the world. I want to thank the supervisor and firefighters for welcoming us here. Let me answer a few questions, and we'll keep going. Q. What do you say to these people The President. Hold it one second, please. We've got an order Q. I'm sorry. Iraq California Wildfires Q. Thanks, Mr. President. I've got a couple questions. One, what's your evaluation, your assessment of this scene you've seen here? And two, to more and more Americans, the situation in Iraq is looking like a hot war. Are we back to major combat operations? The President. No, we're back to finding these terrorists and bringing them to justice. And we will continue to find the terrorists and bring them to justice. These people want to "these people" being the terrorists and those who would kill innocent life want us to retreat. They want us to leave, because they know that a free and peaceful Iraq in their midst will damage their cause. And we will stay the course. We will do our job. First question? Q. What's your what do you see when you look at this scene here? The President. I see more tragedy and heartache. I see the loss of a lot of material possessions. However, I see a strong spirit which exists here. I see people who are resolved to rebuild their lives. Amidst their tears, they do see hope, and that is a great tribute to the people in this part of California. This State has been devastated Over 3,300 homes have been destroyed 4,000 some odd structures have been destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres have been burned. And yet the spirit is strong. People are resolved to move on with their life, and we want to help them. That's why I'm here with Federal agencies, with the Governor and Governor elect, as well as local officials, all of whom are determined to provide the resources necessary to help. Iraq Q. Mr. President, again on Iraq, sir. Are you moving to a process of Iraqification, trying to use Iraqi The President. What was the word? Q. Iraqification to accelerate the transition to the Iraqi people, instead of bringing in more international aid. Are you having trouble getting a broader The President. Randy, Randall Mikkelsen, Reuters we'll do both. We'll bring in aid from those countries that want to help. We had a very successful donors' conference. We just passed the supplemental yesterday. As you know, I look forward to signing it. I believe I'm going to sign it tomorrow. And it is a commitment by our Government and our country to help the Iraqis rebuild their society. And that rebuilding is part of the development of a peaceful and free Iraq. And a peaceful and free Iraq is essential to the security of the United States. This will help change the world in a positive way, so that years from now, people will sit back and say, "Thank goodness America stayed the course and did what was necessary to win this battle in the war on terror." Q. You seem to be accelerating the process of turning it over to Iraqis. Is that correct? The President. As you know, from the moment of liberating the country from Saddam Hussein, we have now stood up over 70,000 Iraqi citizens to be police, border patrol, and beginnings of the military, so that Iraqis will be able to run their own country. That has been our mission all along, to develop the conditions such that a free Iraq will emerge, run by the Iraqi citizens. You remember early on, I kept saying I've got great confidence in the capacity of the Iraq people to run their own country. And it is to this Nation's advantage that there be a peaceful and free Iraq. It's in our security interests. And it will help promote world peace for Iraq to emerge as a free and peaceful country. Edward Ed Chen, Los Angeles Times . California Wildfires Q. Mr. President, clearly the residents here appreciate your coming and your seeing the devastation here. Do you bring additional help, beyond what has been announced, sir? The President. No, what I do is I answer questions, Ed, as to whether or not the help that is available is being delivered. Hopefully, I get the truth. I mean, if there is a frustration at the Federal level, I need to know about it. I haven't heard that yet. I've been frankly, Mike Brown and FEMA have been getting high marks. But I want to see, as best as the President can possibly see, the truth. First of all, I've seen the truth of the devastation of a fire. That's evident. Now I want to know whether or not the help that is available is being expedited and made available. So far the marks appear to be good. But if we're slow and if we're not doing what we need to be doing, we'll adjust and respond. Former President Saddam Hussein's Role in Iraq Q. You said that Saddam Hussein is no longer a menace, but there's reports that he may be behind these attacks. So how can we be sure that he is, in fact, no longer a menace? The President. Well, he's no longer running a country. He's no longer got rape rooms, no longer raping young girls, having young girls raped because their families don't agree with them. He's no longer torturing people. He's no longer developing mass graves. Remember, we discovered thousands and thousands and thousands of men, women, and children in mass graves in Iraq. He's no longer running the no longer threatening people, and he is no longer in power. We'll get him. We'll find him. Q. He's not behind these attacks, though? The President. Oh, I'm sure he's trying to stir up trouble. As I've said, Saddam loyalists, those are the people, the torturers and murders and thugs that used to benefit from Saddam Hussein's regime are the ones some of the ones creating the havoc, trying to create the conditions so that we leave, testing our will. And I'm sure that I don't know, look, I can't tell you what he's doing. All I can tell you is, he's not running Iraq. And all I can tell you as well, there's a lot of some people who are upset by the fact that he's no longer in power. Loss of Life in Iraq Q. Mr. President, as you know, Sunday was the deadliest day in Iraq since the end of major combat. What was your reaction to the downing of the Chinook and the 16 soldiers who were killed on board? And also, should Americans be prepared for more such deadly days ahead? The President. I am saddened any time that there's a loss of life. I'm saddened, because I know a family hurts. And there's a deep pain in somebody's heart. But I do want to remind the loved ones that their sons and daughters or the sons in this case died for a cause greater than themselves and a noble cause, which is the security of the United States. A free and secure Iraq is in our national security interests. We are at war. And it's essential that the people of America not forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001. We are vulnerable to attack. There are people that hate us, and there are people who are willing to take thousands of lives in acts of tremendous violence. And the United States must understand that and adjust to the new realities. And part of that reality is defeating terrorism and defeating the terrorists. And that's precisely what the loved ones who died on that day were doing. They were making America more secure. And I want to thank their families for the ultimate sacrifice. Yes, ma'am. You've been very patient, unlike some of the others in the press corps Q. Well, they took all my questions. The President. that's the case. California Wildfires Q. No, I'm kidding. You've had a chance to talk to a few of the families here. You know, I live here so I've seen the destruction, as I'm seeing it firsthand here for the first time. How do you continue to get these give these folks hope? I mean, sometimes we're giving up. The President. That's a really good question. The best thing I can do is to listen and hug and empathize as best as I can empathize. It's very difficult for me to put myself in their position, because it's their home and their possessions. As the lady just said, she said, "All my pictures are gone. All my memories have been destroyed in one act of nature." And it is a sad moment for me to hear that. On the other hand, best as I possibly can, I try to encourage her and lift up her spirit by reminding her that some of the most precious things are still there, her husband, her daughter, who is, by the way, serving in the United States military. This was the lady up here with whom hopefully she'll be reunited soon and can hug and kiss and love. But it's a very sad moment to listen to the stories of those who are obviously devastated by what has taken place. And all our jobs, for those of us who are still standing, have got our lives intact, is to comfort and provide comfort and help. I met a lady at the airport when I landed at Miramar. She's a Red Cross volunteer. She spent 100 hours this week helping people who hurt. And I suspect the citizens here who are at the darkest moments will find light when a fellow citizen loves them. And the response, as I understand, in this neighborhood had been terrific, where people have come together and they want to help their help their fellow citizens. Okay, listen, thank you all. November 03, 2003 The President. Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming. I told Shelby I wanted a short introduction. Laughter He delivered. Laughter Thanks for coming. I'm thrilled to be back in the great State of Alabama. I do have a lot of friends here, and I appreciate your friendship, and I appreciate your support. What we're doing here is laying the foundation for what is going to be a great national victory in 2004. And I'm getting ready for it. Laughter I'm loosening up. Laughter But I want you to know that politics will come in its own time. As my strong supporters, you've got to know that I know I've got a job to do. And so when you start laying the grassroots organization and you go to your coffee shops and your houses of worship and your farm implementation dealership, you tell them the President is doing the job. He's doing the job for every single American. I will keep America strong and secure and prosperous and free. My regret is that Laura didn't come. A lot of people are Audience member. Inaudible The President. Yes, I'm sure it is. Laughter She said, "Mine, too." Laughter She understands you drew the short straw. Laughter For the people in Mobile who are here, thank you for coming up. But you drew the long straw, and Laura had a fabulous visit down to Mobile, Alabama. But she sends her best. I've got to tell you, I'm really proud of her. She is a fabulous wife, a great mother, and a wonderful First Lady. I want to thank Richard and Annette for their friendship. Shelby is a good man, and he told me, he said, "I'm going to make sure this fundraiser is successful." I know here we're talking about our election campaign, but it's very important you send Senator Shelby back to the United States Senate. And I also like your other Senator a lot, Senator Jeff Sessions. He's doing a fabulous job for Alabama. I'm proud to be here with my friend the Governor of Alabama, Bob Riley. I appreciate Governor Riley coming. I'm also honored to be with many members of the Alabama congressional delegation Jo Bonner and Terry Everett and Mike Rogers and Robert Aderholt and Spencer Bachus. I want to thank all of them for coming. And I want you all to know who came up here with Robert's mother, that I know where Winston County, Alabama, is laughter mobile homes and Republicans. Laughter I appreciate so very much Attorney General Bill Pryor. I want to thank my friend Mercer Reynolds from Cincinnati, Ohio, who is the national finance chairman for Bush Cheney. He's an entrepreneur, like many of you all are. He is taking time out of his life to help us gather the resources necessary to run a vibrant campaign, and I appreciate his help. And I want to thank Mike Thompson. Mike is our State finance chairman here in Alabama, and obviously he has done, along with many others, a fabulous job of organizing this fundraiser. I want to thank Marty Connors and Edgar Welden and Bettye Fine Collins, all of whom are very much involved in grass roots politics here in Alabama. I'm going to be counting on you. I'm going to be counting on you to put up the signs and to send out the letters and counting on you to get this grassroots organization alive and well here. We can't win this without your help. I want to thank you for all of you who are involved in grassroots politics. I want to thank the local officials and the State officials who are here. I want to thank the mayors who are here. I had the honor of meeting Johnny Spann, whose son, Mike, was one of the first casualties in the war on terror in Afghanistan. Our prayers are with the Spann family. I want to thank Johnny for his spirit and his strength, and I want to thank Mike for giving his life for a cause greater than himself. And finally, I want to thank Dr. Charles Durham, the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa. I'm not surprised that Shelby made sure that the pastor here was from Tuscaloosa. Laughter Most of all, I want to thank you all for coming. In the last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, instead of passing them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. My administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and today, they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era, and today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And then our country was attacked. And we had scandals in corporate America, and we marched to war, all of which affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. We know that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. So we're passing money back to the people to help them raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, we're laying the foundation for greater economic prosperity and jobs across America so every single person in this country can realize the American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We insist upon high standards and accountability in every public school in America because we believe every child can learn. We are challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. In return for increased Federal money, we expect results. We want to see results. The days of excuse making are over. We expect results because we don't want one single child in America left behind. We've reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our borders and ports and to better protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open new markets for Alabama's farmers and entrepreneurs and manufacturers. We passed budget agreements to help maintain a much needed spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. And the Congress has shared in these great achievements. I've got a great relationship with Denny Hastert, the Speaker of the House, and Bill Frist, the majority leader, as I do with the Alabama Senators and congressional delegation. They deserve a lot of credit. We're working hard to change the tone in Washington. And the truth of the matter is, there's just too much needless politics up there. We're focusing on the people's business, focusing on results. And those are the kind of people I've attracted to my administration. I've put together a superb team on behalf of the American people, starting with a Birmingham soul, Condi Rice, who is doing a fabulous job. Our country has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a different opinion. Laughter We've done a lot in 2 1 2 years. We've come far. But our work is only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every citizen has a chance to work and succeed and to realize the great promise the great prom ise of America. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. Our war on terror continues. And the enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking our forces and aid workers and innocent Iraqi citizens. They know that the advance of freedom in Iraq will be a major defeat for the cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of America. We will not be intimidated. We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we will not have to face them in our own country. We're calling other nations to help Iraq to build a free country, which will make us all more secure. We're standing with the Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward self government. These are not easy tasks, but they're essential tasks for the security of the United States and for the peace of the world. We will finish what we have begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, free nations do not develop weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And I believe that freedom is the right of every person, and I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world, and when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power, the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. This great land is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges here at home as well, and our actions will prove that we're equal to those challenges. I just spent some time at CraneWorks, a successful small business here in Alabama. I went there to deliver this message as clearly as I could So long as anybody in our country is looking for work and can't find a job, I know we have a problem. My job as the President is to continue to create an environment for small businesses to grow to be big businesses, an environment that rewards the entrepreneurial spirit. We have a duty to keep our commitments to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. The Congress has taken historic action. The House acted and the Senate acted to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the Congress is passing reforms to increase choices for our seniors and to provide coverage for prescription drugs. Those two bodies need to iron out their differences and to modernize the Medicare system. We owe it to our seniors and we owe it to those of us who are going to be seniors to have a modern Medicare system. For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. Yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, and they therefore affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. The House of Representatives passed a good bill. It is stuck in the United States Senate. Senators must realize that no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. I have a responsibility as the President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women to the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. I have nominated really good, honest people like Bill Pryor. Bill Pryor will make a fantastic judge on the court of appeals. Because of a small group of Senators who are willfully obstructing the process, some of my nominees, like Bill, have had to wait months, in some cases, even years, for an up or down vote. But needless to say, delays in the system are harming the administration of justice. They are deeply unfair to the nominees themselves. It is time for some Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. Our Nation must promote energy efficiency. We must work to increase conservation. We must develop cleaner technology to explore for supplies of energy at home in environmentally friendly ways. But for the sake of our economic security and for the sake of our national security, we must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, which means we'll apply the most innovative and effective ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so that more Americans can serve their communities and their country. Both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring children and caring for the homeless and offering hope to the addicted. This Nation of ours applause Government should welcome the great work that comes out of our Christian houses and Jewish temples and Muslim institutions. We must not fear faith in our society. We must welcome faith and welcome the armies of compassion who are healing hearts and helping change America one soul at a time. A compassionate society must provide promote opportunity for all, and that includes the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their home. We've got homeownership a minority homeownership gap in America. I've submitted a plan to Congress to close that gap. We want more people owning their own health care plans and managing their own health care plans. We want people to manage and own their own retirement accounts. We want more people owning their own small business. We understand that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of America. In a compassionate society, people respect one another, respect their points of view, and they take responsibility for the decisions they make. The culture of America is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a new culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you are concerned about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in this new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourselves. We can see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us. I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps. If you're interested, you can go right on the computer and look it up. It's a chance to encourage people to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need, and the response has been strong. America is a giving country. The heart and soul of the American people is really the strength of our country. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I have been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right Nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it, and we know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. God bless. Thank you all. November 03, 2003 Thanks for the warm welcome. It's great to be back in the great State of Alabama. I'm honored you all came out. Today I'm going to talk about a couple things on my mind. One is our economy. I want to make sure people are working here in Alabama and all across America. I'm going to talk about how to make America a more secure place. Before I do, I want to thank the CraneWorks boys for hosting us, the brothers, the Upton boys laughter entrepreneurs, job creators, dreamers, people who have created something out of nothing. I want to thank the employees as well for being such hard working, good folks here at CraneWorks. I'm honored to be in your place of business. I'm honored here in a company that is creating jobs, new jobs, to be talking about how best we can continue to create new jobs all across America. This economy of ours is growing. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong. But there's more work to do, and that's what I want to talk to you all today about. Before I do so, I do want to thank David and Steve for hosting us. I want to thank Rom Reddy as well. Rom is a local entrepreneur. He started Nexcel Synthetics. I'm going to talk a little bit about his business, but I know he's got some employees here as well, hard working people who have helped take this startup company from nothing to something in a quick period of time. The chief executive officer has got a bright and enthused future about this little company. He's talking about creating more jobs, but he also said, "When you get up there, make sure you recognize the people that work with me in my company, because I wouldn't be having, or we wouldn't be having the success we're having without the good, hard working people that are working with Rom." So wherever you are, thank you for coming. I'm traveling in some pretty fancy company today, at least from the airport to here. Your Governor, Bob Riley, is here today, and I want to thank my friend for serving the State of Alabama. I appreciate you being here, Governor. Two really fine United States Senators are here with us, strong allies, good friends, and that's Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions. I appreciate you all coming. The mighty Alabama congressional delegation is strong and active. Spencer Bachus and Robert Aderholt and Jo Bonner and Mike Rogers and Terry Everett are all with us today. Congresspeople, thanks for coming. Attorney general from the State of Alabama is with us, Bill Pryor. I'm honored that Judge Pryor is here. Today, when I landed out there, I met a fellow named Jason Nabors. You probably never heard of Jason. He is a soldier in the army of compassion here in Birmingham, Alabama. The reason I like to bring up people who are volunteering in their community is, oftentimes people look at America and say, "Well, that's a mighty country," because we've got a strong military it's a mighty country because our wallets are heavier than other people around the world. No, we're a mighty country because the people who live here in this country are decent, caring, compassionate people who have heard the call to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. Jason Nabors works at a local law firm, and by the way, his law firm encourages the lawyers in that firm to find a way to contribute to the Birmingham community by helping somebody who hurts. He's involved with First Look. It is a nonprofit organization that is created to increase the number of youngsters and young adults in the service to the people of Alabama by encouraging them to follow their hearts, by mentoring a child, by helping somebody who may be addicted, by feeding the hungry and housing the homeless. I see we've got Scouts with us today. There's nothing better than being a Boy Scout leader and sending good signals and examples to the youth of America. For all of you who take time out of your busy lives to help somebody in need, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are the strength of our country. When we talk about our economy and the future of our country, it's important to remember what we have been through. See, we've been through a lot here in America. The stock market started to decline about 9 months before Dick Cheney and I showed up in Washington, and then the country was in a recession. That means three quarters of negative growth. That means we were headed backwards. That means people were not finding work. That means we had trouble on the homefront of many homes across the country, because people weren't able to do their job of providing food for their families they were looking for work. And then we began to recover somewhat, and the enemy hit us on September the 11th, 2001, and that hurt. It hurt us economically. Frankly, it hurt us psychologically, because most of us grew up in a period where we thought oceans would protect us from harm. We saw a problem overseas, we could deal with it if we felt it was necessary for our security, but we at home were secure. We were protected. It was a big blow to us. It hurt a lot. We responded. We dedicated ourselves to the security of this country. We understood the challenge. America is a tough, resolved nation when we're challenged. And then we began to recover from that, and our confidence was shaken by the fact that some of our chief executive officers forgot what it meant to be responsible citizens. They didn't tell the truth. They didn't tell the truth to their employees. They didn't tell the truth to their shareholders. They betrayed the trust. We passed laws, by the way, that are sending a clear signal If you betray the trust, there will be a consequence we will hold you responsible for not telling the truth. But the fact that some in corporate America betrayed the trust affected our confidence. And then, as you well know, we marched to war in Afghanistan and Iraq for the security of our country and for the peace of the world, all of which affected our confidence. It affected the economy. I mean, Alabama has been hit hard by in the manufacturing sector, the textile sector. These are challenges, but we met the challenges with action. We took tough action in order to move this economy forward. First of all, as I mentioned, we passed new laws that say if you're going to cheat, we will hold you to account. And if you noticed, some of those who behaved irresponsibly are now being held to account. Secondly, we acted on principle. We said the best way to get this economy going and the best way to help people find work is to let people keep more of their own money. We understand how the economy works. If a person has more of his or her own money, they're likely to demand a good or a service, and when somebody demands a good or a service, in this economy, somebody is going to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces a good or a service, somebody is more likely to find a job. And so therefore, I went to the Congress, not once but twice, and said, "In order for people to be able to find work here in the country, let's pass meaningful, real tax relief." And I want to thank the two Senators and the Members of Congress who are here today for joining me in passing tax relief so people can find work. We wanted tax relief to be as broad and as fair as possible, so we reduced taxes on everybody who pays taxes. We thought that was a fair principle. Government shouldn't try to pick or choose winners and losers on who gets tax relief. If you're going to reduce taxes, reduce them on everybody, which is precisely what we did. We felt like the marriage penalty sent the wrong signal. See, we want people to be married. We think marriage is good. We think it's a part of a applause but the Tax Code penalized marriage. And so we've reduced the marriage penalty. We understand that it's when the economy is slow and people are worried about the future, that it takes a lot to raise a child. And so we increased the child credit from 600 per child to 1,000 per child. This summer, I remember going to Pennsylvania where they were cutting the checks, and I said, "The check's in the mail." Fortunately, it turned out to be in the mail. Laughter People got money back, money in their pocket. If you had a child, you got 400 per child. That meant you're in a position to demand the additional good or a service, which meant somebody was more likely to find work here. We also wanted to encourage investment. If you're interested in job creation, then you must be interested in encouraging investment. When people invest in plant equipment, for example, it means somebody is going to have to produce the plant produce the equipment. And so we encouraged investment by quadrupling the expense deduction for small business investment. I'm going to talk a little bit about that in a second. But we also cut taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. More investment means more jobs. We also believe that if you're a small business or a farmer or a rancher, you ought to be able to leave your assets to whomever you choose without the Government getting in the way again, so we're phasing out the Federal death tax. We don't believe the IRS should follow you into your grave. Laughter We passed these measures to help individuals, but the measures we passed also are incredibly important to the small business sector of America. The small business sector of our country is vital for job creation. See, most new jobs in America are created by small businesses. Most small businesses pay a tax at the individual income tax level. See, if you're a Subchapter S, or a limited liability corporation, just like the two small businesses I've spoken of today, then when we cut individual taxes, it's really a cut in taxes for small businesses. It means small business owners have got more money to invest, and when they invest, it means somebody is more likely to find a job. It is essential for those politicians in Washington to know that individual income tax relief is incredibly important for job creation, not only because it stimulates demand but because it provides a vital boost in the arm for the small business sector here in America. The Uptons bought nine cranes last year in order to rent them out. And they told me that one of the reasons why is because of the tax relief. It provided an incentive for them to purchase additional equipment. Now, that means a couple of things Somebody has got to make the equipment, which means somebody is working somebody has got to maintain the equipment, go rent the equipment it means people here at CraneWorks are more likely to keep a job but in the Uptons' case, or this case, you've actually added 15 jobs this year. Now, that's a lot for a startup company, but it's a really a lot when you think about the 15 jobs here and the 15 jobs there and this small business in another State. It's the compound effect of the hiring decisions of millions of small businesses that paint a good perspective for people to be able to find work. If you're interested in job creation in America, you've got to understand the role small businesses play in the creation of new jobs in this economy. CraneWorks is such an example. Steve Upton says about investing, "You go out there you take your risks" these are his words, not mine "you put people to work you get aggressive and you get business." That's the entrepreneurial spirit. That's what America is all about. That just goes with having a vision for a better tomorrow. That vision was cleared up somewhat by the tax plan we passed, and I appreciate the Congressmen understanding and the Senators understanding the vital role that small business plays. Now look, CraneWorks isn't going to succeed because of Government policy. It's up to the Uptons to figure out how to build a strategy that works. It's up to the Uptons to figure out a marketing plan. It's up to them to make wise investment decisions. It's up to them to treat their employees with dignity. But all Government is doing is trying to put a little wind at their sails, and it seems to be working. I appreciate Rom Reddy. He's an entrepreneur. He said the tax relief helped him gain confidence in making investments as he said, leveraged up the opportunity to make investments, so he bought 6 million in new equipment so he could get in the artificial turf business. And somebody had to make the equipment when he purchased it. Somebody had to sell the equipment. In other words, it's part of economic activity, when people make rational decisions in the marketplace. Tax relief encouraged rational decisions to be made in the marketplace. Rom's company has gone from zero sales, zero turf sales, to 17 million in a quick period of time. He's added 60 new jobs in one year. Sixty people are now working. The tax relief helped him to have the confidence necessary to move forward. By the way, a lot of his sales are going in Europe and China. See, I'm going to talk a little bit about what it means to open up markets, but I just want you to know that his business is going to be more successful because he's developing a product that he's confident he can sell in other markets, which is good for job creation, and it's good for the 60 he's got working for him and the some he intends to add. Tax relief puts money into the pockets of those who are hiring new people. We've got a consistent and effective strategy, and we're making progress. Remember, this last week, a surprising announcement at least, it confounded some of the experts that our third quarter economic growth was vibrant. And that's good. Inflation is down, and that's good. After tax incomes are up. People are keeping more of their own money, and that's really important for economic growth. We've got the best workforce in the world here in America, incredibly high productivity gains, which is vital for competition and job creation in the long run. By reducing taxes, this administration kept a promise. We did the right thing at the right time for the American economy. And our country is approaching a choice now. Just as our economy is gaining some momentum, some in our Nation's Capital, some in Washington, are saying now is the right time to raise taxes. To be fair, they think any time's a good time to raise taxes. Laughter They're consistent. Laughter So am I. I strongly disagree. Raising taxes now will wreck economic recovery and will punish hard working Americans and endanger thousands of jobs. There's some other things we can do to make sure that the momentum in our economy continues, and I want to talk about them right quick. It's what we call the six point plan. I've laid it out for Congress to consider. First, in order to make sure our small business sector is strong and vibrant and make sure they continue to create new jobs, we must allow small businesses to form what we call associated health plans. That will allow small businesses to pool risk so that they can better control the cost of health care. We also must have medical liability reform. I'm worried about the what I call frivolous lawsuits that make it hard for docs to practice medicine and run up the cost of medicine. It makes medicine less affordable and less available. And by the way, frivolous lawsuits increase the cost of the Federal budget to Medicaid and Medicare and veterans health benefits. You need your day in court when you run into a bad doc, but we've got to control these frivolous lawsuits because they're making health care too costly. Since it affects the Federal budget, medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. The Senate needs to pass that bill. And the Senate needs to get out for the junk lawsuits that make it hard to do business. It's important that we have a judicial system that's fair and balanced. Class action lawsuits oftentimes are not fair and balanced. After all, the money goes to the lawyers and not to the people who got hurt. We need a system that's fair and balanced, and the Senate needs to act on that. We've got to cut useless government regulations. We need to do it at the Federal level. Riley needs to do it here at the State level. We need to make sure our entrepreneurs are focused on job creation, not filling out needless paperwork. But I believe if you're good at something, you ought to promote it. We're great farmers. We're really good ranchers. We're great entrepreneurs. We ought to be opening up markets for U.S. products. If you're interested in job creation, companies ought to be encouraged to sell overseas. If you're good at something, let's promote it. I'm concerned, like you are, that trade is not on a level playing field, so this administration is spending a lot of time to make sure that trade is a two way street, that it's fair, that it's open. But I want you to know that 220 foreign companies from 30 nations have located right here in Alabama, in factories and offices, which means jobs for Alabama citizens. Trade, if it's done right, can help create new jobs, and that's what this administration is committed to doing. We also ought to make sure that tax relief is permanent. It's hard for me to explain the rules in Washington. Let me put it to you this way the Congress giveth and the Congress taketh away not because of these Members, by the way. But much of the tax relief we passed is scheduled to go away, and that's a problem if you're a small business owner. The Upton boys need to have certainty in the Tax Code, so when they plan in the future, they know what the rules are going to be. If you're raising a family, you don't want the child credit to go back down again. If you're married, you don't want the marriage penalty to raise. And yet, because of the quirk in the law, the taxes we passed will steadily increase over time. And we've got to make the tax relief permanent. For the sake of job creation, the Congress must make the tax relief permanent. And finally, we need a national energy policy. If you're in the manufacturing sector, you rely upon energy. And the thought of energy supplies being disrupted because of shortages makes it hard for people to plan and be aggressive about the future. We had a wake up call this summer. It became quite evident that some of the electricity grid needs to be modernized so that people can know the lights are going to be on in their houses, so businessowners can plan for the future. We submitted a plan to Congress about 2 years ago that had some key principles. One, we need to modernize the electricity grid. We need to encourage more investment. Those providing electricity must do so on a must have reliability standards not on a voluntary basis, on a mandatory basis. We're going to make it mandatory that you make sure you've got backup systems available for the people, so if the electricity goes out here, you can crank it back up there. But the system needs to be modernized. It's antiquated in some parts. Secondly, we need to use our technologies to encourage conservation. That's very important. Conservation is a vital part of the future of our country. We also use our technologies to find different sources of energy. I think it would be great if we were able to grow our way out of an energy crisis, have the farmers produce product that'll be converted into fuel. That makes sense. But we've also got to find more energy and use the energy we've got at home. We need clean coal technology. We need to use our technologies to explore in environmentally friendly ways. Let me tell you what I'm telling you, for the sake of national security and for the sake of economic security, we need to be less reliant on foreign sources of energy. The House passed a bill. The Senate passed a bill. They're now reconciling their differences. They need to get the job done. They need to get an energy bill to my desk. They need to make sure that this country is planning for the future with good, sound energy policy. We've overcome a lot in this country. The economy took some serious shocks. But you know, the entrepreneurial spirit is strong, and the workforce is vibrant. We handled a lot we've overcome it. And now we're growing. And the six point plan I laid out is a plan that says to the Congress, "Let's get together to make sure the economic momentum continues." We want people working. We're saddened by the fact that somebody might be looking for work and can't find a job. There's more jobs to be created here in America. We've laid the foundation for growth. They need to get these other six things done so we can continue the momentum. I'm optimistic about our future because I'm optimistic when I meet people like Rom and the Upton boys. They love their country. They love the people working with them. The entrepreneurial spirit in their heart is strong. They take risk. They're willing to make calculated risk in order to not only expand their businesses but to make employment possible for people here in the great State of Alabama. As we overcome the challenges to the economy, we're also answering the challenges to the national security. September the 11th, 2001, moved the country to grief. It also moved us to action. We must never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001. We must never forget that tragic day. I made a pledge that day, and we've kept it. We will bring the guilty to justice. We will secure America. We put together a Homeland Security Department to do the best we possibly can in coordinating Federal efforts and State efforts and local efforts to protect people. We're doing everything we can to get resources to the those on the frontline of national, State, and local emergency. That would be your firefighters and your police officers and your emergency management teams. But the best way to secure the homeland is to hunt the enemy down one at a time and bring them to justice, which is what America is going to do. America cannot retreat from our responsibilities. We can't hope for the best. See, that's what September the 11th taught us, that we must be diligent and active. We can't hope terrorists will change their attitudes. I like to remind people that therapy is not going to work with this bunch. Laughter And that's why we've got some really incredibly brave people on the hunt. We will win the war on terror there's no doubt in my mind. We will not rest we will not tire until the danger to America and civilization is removed. We have got a great United States military, and some of the best have fallen in service to our fellow Americans. We mourn every loss. We honor every name. We grieve with every family. And we will always be grateful that liberty has found such brave defenders. We have put the best on the job of securing America and defending the peace. Five hundred soldiers in the 877th Engineer Battalion, the Alabama National Guard, are deployed. They're fixing roads so life will be better. They're rebuilding orphanages. They're repairing schools. These proud sons and daughters of Alabama were responsible for demolishing the final hideout of the thugs, the sons of Sad dam Hussein. We're grateful for them, and I'm grateful to their families for making the sacrifice. You see, freedom's home is America. We're freedom's defender. We understand that the advance of human liberty is in our national interests. We remember the lessons of September the 11th, but we also remember that free nations do not attack their neighbors, free nations do not develop weapons of mass terror to blackmail or hold hostage the world. We also know that America that freedom is not America's gift to the world that's what we know freedom is the Almighty's gift to everybody who lives in this world. The terrorists and the killers and those who harbor terrorists cannot stand the thought of a free society in their midst. That's why the mission in Iraq is vital. A free Iraq will be a peaceful Iraq, and a free and peaceful Iraq are important for the national security of America. A free and peaceful Iraq will make it more likely that our children and grandchildren will be able to grow up without the horrors of September the 11th. We'll defeat the terrorists there so we don't have to face them on our own streets. The enemy in Iraq believes America will run. That's why they're willing to kill innocent civilians, relief workers, coalition troops. America will never run. America will do what is necessary to make our country more secure. We've come through a lot in this country, and yet, there is a lot more to do. By being patient and united and determined, by remembering the values that make us a strong and unique nation, this country will prosper, and our Nation will prevail. I want to thank you all for coming. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless America. November 01, 2003 Good morning. This week, terrorists launched a series of attacks in Iraq. Their targets included police stations in Baghdad and Fallujah, the headquarters of the International Red Cross, and living quarters for the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad. The majority of their victims were Iraqis working to rebuild and restore order to their country and citizens of other nations engaged in purely humanitarian missions. Some of the killers behind these attacks are loyalists of the Saddam regime who seek to regain power and who resent Iraq's new freedoms. Others are foreigners who have traveled to Iraq to spread fear and chaos and prevent the emergence of a successful democracy in the heart of the Middle East. They may have different long term goals, but they share a near term strategy to intimidate Iraqis from building a free government and to cause America and our allies to flee our responsibilities. They know that a free Iraq will be free of them and free of the fear in which the ideologies of terror thrive. During the last few decades, the terrorists grew to believe that if they hit America hard, as in Lebanon and Somalia, America would retreat and back down. Five years ago, one of the terrorists said that an attack could make America run in less than 24 hours. They have learned the wrong lesson. The United States will complete our work in Iraq. Leaving Iraq prematurely would only embolden the terrorists and increase the danger to America. We are determined to stay, to fight, and to win. The terrorists and the Ba'athists loyal to the old regime will fail because America and our allies have a strategy, and our strategy is working. First, we are taking this fight to the enemy, mounting raids, seizing weapons and funds, and bringing killers to justice. One example is Operation Ivy Focus, a series of aggressive raids by the Army's 4th Infantry Division that in a little over a month has yielded the capture of more than 100 former regime members. In other operations, our soldiers have also seized hundreds of weapons, thousands of rounds of ammunition and explosives, and hundreds of thousands of dollars suspected of being used to finance terror operations. Second, we are training an ever increasing number of Iraqis to defend their nation. Today, more than 90,000 Iraqis are serving as police officers, border guards, and civil defense personnel. These Iraqi forces are also supplying troops in the field with better intelligence, allowing for greater precision in targeting the enemies of freedom. And we are accelerating our efforts to train and field a new Iraqi army and more Iraqi civil defense forces. Third, we are implementing a specific plan to transfer sovereignty and authority to the Iraqi people. The Governing Council, made up of Iraqi citizens, has appointed ministers who are responsible for the day to day operations of the Iraqi Government. The Council has also selected a committee that is developing a process through which Iraqis will draft a new constitution for their country. When a constitution has been ratified by the Iraqi people, Iraq will enjoy free and fair elections. All these efforts are closely linked. As security improves, life will increasingly return to normal in Iraq, and more and more Iraqis will step forward to play a direct role in the rebirth of their country. And as the political process moves forward and more and more Iraqis come to feel they have a stake in their country's future, they will help to secure a better life for themselves and their children. The terrorists and the Ba'athists hope to weaken our will. Our will cannot be shaken. We're being tested, and America and our allies will not fail. We will honor the sacrifice of the fallen by ensuring that the cause for which they fought and died is completed, and we will make America safer by helping to transform Iraq from an exporter of violence and terror into a center of progress and peace. Thank you for listening. November 01, 2003 The President. Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming. I'm proud to be here in southern Mississippi. Thanks for your time. It's a beautiful night to be with the next Governor of the State of Mississippi. I'm here to say it as plainly as I can say it. The right man to be the Governor of Mississippi is Haley Barbour. We've known each other a long time. Even when he was in high cotton laughter running with the big shots laughter he always talked about Mississippi. He loves this State, and he loves the people of Mississippi. I think he's going to be a great Governor because he's going to be the Governor of everybody. He's not going to be the Governor of one political party or another. He's going to represent every single person who's fortunate enough to live in the great State of Mississippi. He's going to be a fine Governor because he's an optimist. He's got a clear and optimistic and positive vision for this great State. He believes in the potential of the State because he believes in the people of Mississippi. Haley Barbour is a family man, a man of faith. There is no doubt in my mind he is going to be a great Governor of this big State. Plus, he married well. Laughter Marsha is going to be a great first lady. And speaking about great First Ladies, I'm sorry Laura is not with me today. I know it you got the short straw. Laughter But after I shake enough hands, I'm going to head back to Crawford, and I'm going to tell her that there's no doubt in my mind that the people of this great State support Haley Barbour to be the next Governor. And the definition of support means not only coming out to a big rally like this it means doing your duty to vote. In our free society, you have a duty and an obligation to go to the polls. I'm asking you to ask your friends and neighbors to go to the polls as well. Don't be afraid to talk to that disenchanted Democrat laughter or the discerning independent. They want good government too. And Haley Barbour is going to give them good government. Turn out that vote. Work hard to get this man into office. I'm proud to be onstage as well with your Lieutenant Governor, Amy Tuck. She's a woman of conscience. She made a tough decision. She decided she wanted to be a principled politician. Laughter That's what you need. That's what you want in your statehouse. You want a principled Governor, and you want a principled Lieutenant Governor, and you'll have a principled Lieutenant Governor in Amy Tuck. I appreciate so very much Tricia Lott being here. She's a great friend of mine and Laura's. She married well laughter Senator Lott, who does a fantastic job for the people of Mississippi. He came out to the airport. He said, "Look, I've heard you speak before." Laughter He's heading north laughter to rally the vote for Haley. I said, "You've got an excused absence just so long as you send your wife." Laughter I appreciate so very much Congressman Chip Pickering and his wife, Leisha, for being here as well. Chip's one of the rising stars in the United States House of Representatives, a good, honorable, decent family man who cares deeply about the people of this State. I'm also honored to here with Margaret Ann Pickering. She is the wife of Charles Pickering, Judge Pickering. You may have applause . My job as the President is to find good, honorable citizens to serve on the high courts. When I picked Charles Pickering to serve in the high court, I picked a smart, intelligent, perfectly capable judge. It is time for some of the Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. I want to thank Scott Newton, who's running for the attorney general. I appreciate you coming, Scott. Don't forget him when you get in the booth. I want to thank the mayors who are here and the local officials. I particularly want to thank the Lynyrd Skynyrd band. But most of all, I want to thank you all. It's got to make a candidate that's coming down the stretch feel great to see so many people. They've been working hard and knocking on doors and making the phone calls, and here you all show up and give them extra energy, and I want to thank you for coming. It's important to have the right platform when you're running for Governor. You've got to believe in something. You can't get by just on your pretty looks. Laughter Well, in Haley's case laughter . You've got to stand for something, and I appreciate what he stands for. First of all, he shares the same concerns I have. When we hear that a fellow citizen is looking for work and can't find a job, that says we've got a problem. We want all our people working. We want people to be able to put bread on the table for their families. We want people to realize their ambitions. It's important to have a Governor who understands the role of government is to create an environment for small businesses to grow to be big business, to create an environment which is pro growth and pro jobs. Haley Barbour understands that. You know, we face an issue in Washington, and that is the country was in recession just about the time we arrived. Then the enemy hit us. That hurt our economy. We had some of our citizens forget to tell the truth. They forgot what it means to be a responsible citizen, so they kind of they fudged the books a little bit. They're weren't open and honest with their employees and shareholders. They now know what it means to be held accountable. War, a national emergency, and a recession all affected our economy. That's why I went to the United States Congress, not once but twice, and said, "Let's let the people keep more of their own money. If you're interested in job creation, if you want economic growth, have tax cuts for the American people." And the economy is beginning to recover, thanks to the hard work of the American people. You need to have you a Governor in the great State of Mississippi who understands what it means to create an environment for job growth, who hurts when he hears people are working, and that man is Haley Barbour. It's also important, if you want to have a good economic environment so people can find work, that you have a Governor who will manage the budget well. And that starts with having somebody who understands whose money government spends. We don't spend the government's money in Washington or here in Mississippi, see. We're spending the people's money. And Haley Barbour understands that. He'll be a good steward of the people's money. He will set priorities for the people of Mississippi. He won't play politics with the people's money. In order to make sure people can find work, you better have a legal environment that is reasonable. People need to be able to have their day in court. The problem is, frivolous and junk lawsuits clog up the dockets. They make it hard for employers to hire people who are looking for work. You need a Governor who is strong enough to stand up to the personal injury trial lawyers, a Governor who is tough enough to insist upon medical liability reform for the people of Mississippi. I used to say, when I was the Governor of Texas, education is to a State what national defense is to the Federal Government. It's the top priority. That's the way it ought to be here in Mississippi. You'll have you a Governor, Haley Barbour, who will set education as the top priority for this State, and that's the way it should be. Haley will stand with the hard working teachers all across the State of Mississippi. Haley will stand with the parents of the schoolchildren all across the State of Mississippi. Haley will stand with the schoolchildren by challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations, by raising the bar, by insisting upon standards and insisting upon curriculum that will teach our children how to read and write and add and subtract. No, Haley's got a good, strong platform. And he understands what I understand, that amidst our plenty there are broken hearts, there are people who hurt, there are people who are addicted or homeless, there are people who need to be fed. He also understands that government can hand out money sometimes we do a pretty good job of it but what government cannot do is put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That is done when somebody who has heard the universal call to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself puts their arm around somebody who needs love. Government should never sponsor religion, and religion should never try to be the state. But it's essential to make sure America is hopeful, that government not fear the role of faith in the lives of providing compassionate help for people who hurt. I look forward to working with Governor Haley Barbour to make sure the Faith Based Initiative, which will come out of Washington, DC, is implemented in such a way that people have got hope for the future. I look forward to working with Haley Barbour to make sure that the homeland security initiative is well implemented, to make sure there's good coordination between the Federal Government and the State government and the local governments, to make sure our first responders, the brave police and firefighters and emergency squads, have got the help necessary to do their job here in Mississippi. But he and I understand this The best way to secure the homeland is to chase the killers down and bring them to justice, which is exactly what America will do. We must never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001. America cannot afford to sit back and hope for the best. In order to make America secure, we must stay on the offensive. This country will not tire we will not rest until the danger to civilization is removed. A lot of people support the military here in this part of our country, and I want to thank you for that. A lot of you have got relatives who wear the Nation's uniform. When you e mail them or write them a letter or talk to them on the phone, you tell them the Commander in Chief is incredibly proud of the sacrifice and service they're giving to this Nation. We'll stay on the offensive. We'll do what it takes to keep this country secure. But I want you to know, I fully understand the best way for long term security is for this Nation to work to spread freedom around the world. See, free nations don't attack their neighbors. Free nations don't develop weapons of mass terror to blackmail or threaten the world. That's why we will succeed in Iraq. A free Iraq, a free and peaceful Iraq, is in this national is in our national interests. It's in the interests of our children and our grandchildren. Can you imagine what will take place, the change that will take place when democracy flourishes in the midst of a part of the world that has been an area of hate and violence? I also understand this, that freedom is not America's gift to the world, freedom is the Almighty's gift to every person who lives in this world. I want to thank you all for taking time out of your Saturday evenings to come out here. You're showing a strong commitment to your State, and I'm proud for that. You're showing a strong commitment of what it means to be a citizen living in a democracy. I'm going to ask you to take it a little extra farther. Audience members. Inaudible The President. Thank you. Laughter If you love me so much, make sure you turn out to vote. Laughter Make sure you go to the polls. Make sure you put this good man in office. Mississippi can do better, and Haley Barbour will lead Mississippi to that day. Thanks for coming. May God bless. Thank you all. November 01, 2003 Thank you all. Thanks for coming. I'm honored to be here. I'm honored to be here with the next Governor of the State of Mississippi, Haley Barbour. It is great to be in northern Mississippi. I'm proud to be here with a lot of friends. You know, I woke up in Crawford this morning. I said to First Lady Bush, I said, "I don't know if I'm going to be able to find the energy to be able to make it through a long day." You know, I'm kind of getting up in years and laughter and here I come to northern Mississippi, where thousands of our fellow citizens are here. You've energized me. I'm thrilled to be here. Thanks for coming. I appreciate you coming. I appreciate you coming. Haley and I married above ourselves. I'm thrilled that the next first lady of Mississippi is with us today, and that's Marsha. And Laura sends her love. I'm sorry she's not with me. She's been a fabulous First Lady for our country. I've known Haley for quite a while. He used to run in high circles. I guess in this part of the world, you say he used to pick high cotton. Laughter But one thing about him, no matter how high the circle he ran in, he always loved to talk about Mississippi. He's proud of this State, and that's the kind of Governor you need, somebody who will relate to people from all walks of life. One of the things about his campaign that I like a lot is, Haley is proud to be a Republican, but he also wants to be the Governor of Democrats and independents. He's reaching out. He understands his job is to represent everybody when he gets to be the Governor in three days. I like the fact that he's an optimist. He's got a positive view for the great State of Mississippi. He believes in the great potential of the great State of Mississippi. That's the kind of Governor you want, somebody who sees a positive future for every single citizen. That Governor is Haley Barbour. I like the fact that Haley Barbour is a man of good values. He honors his family. He treasures his relationship with the Almighty. He believes in hard work. He believes everybody has worth. It's these kind of values that are necessary to have in your statehouse here in Mississippi. I'm proud to stand with this man. Haley Barbour is the right man to lead the State of Mississippi. And in order to have this good man lead the State of Mississippi, he needs your help. We're coming down to voting time here in Mississippi. It's time to make sure that people get the message that you've got a good man in Haley Barbour. That means you need to go out and find your neighbors, Republicans, Democrats, independents, people who don't care about political parties at all, to get to the polls. Remind them they have a duty as a citizen of this free country to vote. And once you get them headed to the polls, make sure they do what's in the best interests of the State of Mississippi and vote for Haley Barbour. I'm so thankful that we've got a great United States Senator with us today, a man who is a leader on the floor of the United States Senate, a strong ally of mine, a great friend of the people of Mississippi, and that's Senator Thad Cochran. As well another fine Representative for the State of Mississippi in Washington, DC, a man who's done a great job in the United States Congress, friend and ally, and that would be Congressman Roger Wicker. I had the honor of welcoming some Mississippi citizens to Washington a while ago, and one of the citizens that came was a courageous politician, a leader who didn't do the politically expedient thing but decided that she would find a home in a different political party, somebody who stood by her convictions, somebody who said, "Principle matters a lot to me," and that's the next Lieutenant Governor of the State of Mississippi, Amy Tuck. I know we've got a lot of other statewide candidates here. When you get in that booth for Haley and Amy, make sure you remember Phil Bryant, Julio Del Castillo, Scott Newton, Max Phillips, Tate Reeves, all fine candidates running for statewide office. Not only should people vote for Haley because he's so pretty to look at laughter well laughter he's got the right issues. He knows what he's talking about when it comes to the issues. He knows when people in Mississippi are looking for work, you better have a progrowth policy for the State of Mississippi. We share the same philosophy. First of all, we're concerned about people looking for work, and secondly, we know that in order to get an economy growing, you've got to do two things You must have fiscal discipline in the statehouses around the country. Haley Barbour knows how to manage a budget. Haley Barbour will be wise with the taxpayers' money in the State of Mississippi. I know where Haley stands because when I stood up in front of the Congress and the country and advocated a progrowth policy for our economy, he was strong by my side. I said this, I said, "If people have more money in their pockets, they're more likely to demand a good or a service. And when somebody demands a good or a service in our economy, somebody will produce a good or a service. And when somebody produces the good or a service, it means somebody is more likely to find a job." The tax cuts we passed came at the right time. Haley Barbour also understands that in order for your economy to grow, you better make sure you've got a legal system that is fair, a legal system that isn't dominated by the plaintiff's bar, a legal system that doesn't have so many frivolous lawsuits that it makes it hard for people to find a job. You better have you a Governor who's willing to stand up to the trial attorneys and have medical liability reform, so that people can get good health care in the State of Mississippi. I appreciate the fact that Haley Barbour has set as a priority the education of every child in the State of Mississippi. I used to like to say when I was in Texas, education is to a State what national defense is to the Federal Government, the number one priority. Haley Barbour understands that every child must be educated in the State of Mississippi. He stands strong with the teachers of Mississippi. He stands on the side of the parents of Mississippi. He wants to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations by raising the bar for every single child. Finally, I appreciate the fact that Haley Barbour not only has supported me on this issue I'm about to talk about but is willing to do have his own version of a faith based initiative here in the State of Mississippi. And he understands what I know, that some of the problems in our society are problems of the heart, that while Government can hand out money, Government cannot put hope in a person's heart or a sense of purpose applause . No, the great strength of America lies in the hearts and souls of our fellow citizens. And you need a Governor who is willing to rally the armies of compassion. We should never have the state fund the church, or the church try to be the state. But what we should have is States and the Federal Government willing to empower those who have heard the universal call to love a neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourselves. We need mentors for our children. We need people to help the homeless. We need to help the addicted. And faith based programs work. It's also been helpful to have a friend like Haley who supported me and others in Washington, DC, to make sure that Mississippi judges get a fair hearing. I've named some good people to serve on the Federal bench, people who will use the bench to interpret the law and not try to write law. I want to thank Senator Cochran and Senator Lott and, of course, Haley for standing strong with a nominee I named from Mississippi, Charles Pickering. I stand strong with Judge Pickering, and it's time for some Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. I look forward to working with Haley to make sure that the State of Mississippi has got what's needed to protect the homeland. You've got valuable ports that need to we need to work on to make sure that nobody comes and harms any of our fellow citizens. I look forward to working with him to make sure that the resources we're spending out of Washington for those on the frontline of homeland security are well coordinated and well spent. I look forward to making sure our police forces and firefighters and emergency response teams are well coordinated between the Federal Government and the State government and the local governments. Haley would be a good leader when it comes to working on homeland security matters. But I want to remind you that the best way to protect the homeland is to hunt down the enemy, one by one, and bring them to justice. The terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. This country will not rest we will not tire we will do what it takes to remove this danger from civilization and make America secure. For those of you who have got relatives in the United States military, I want to thank you. And you make sure you send word to them that their Commander in Chief is incredibly proud of the sacrifices they're making on behalf of our Nation. And I also want you to know that I understand that the best way to secure America is to advance human liberty. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. Free nations do not develop weapons of mass terror. The United States of America strongly believes that freedom is the right of every single person, that freedom is not America's gift to the world, that freedom is the Almighty's gift to every person who lives in this world. With the advance of human freedom, the world will be more peaceful, and America will be more secure. We've overcome a lot of challenges in the last 2 1 2 years, and there will be other challenges. And in my judgment, the best way for Mississippi to deal with the challenges you face is to make sure you put a Governor in place who's optimistic and hopeful, somebody who can unite this State to get people pulling in the same direction, somebody who firmly believes in his heart of hearts that Mississippi "can do better." And that person and that leader is the next Governor of the State of Mississippi, Haley Barbour. November 01, 2003 The President. Thank you all for coming. Thank you for being here. I'm honored to be here. Thanks for so many people showing up today. It's a beautiful day to talk about the next Governor of the State of Kentucky. My only regret is I wasn't here a month ago for the fried chicken festival. Laughter I appreciate so many folks showing up. It's a good sign, Ernie. It's a good sign people care about their government. It's a good sign that people know they have got a responsibility to vote. I'm here to say as clearly I can, the right person to become the next Governor of the State of Kentucky is Ernie Fletcher. I want to thank you all for bringing your families. I also want to thank the Bush Volunteer Fire Department for coming. That's a heck of a name you chose. Laughter I'm proud to share it with you, and thanks for what you do. I can say without any uncertainty at all that Ernie is the right man to be the Governor. Listen to this He's a fighter pilot. That says something. And he's a healer. He's a doctor. He's an engineer. He did a fine job in the United States Congress. He's had good experience. He married well laughter just like me. I appreciate Glenna. I appreciate the sacrifices she's making for the people of this great State. The people of this State must be assured that when they elect somebody to high office, that person will uphold the dignity of that office. You want your kids looking at somebody who for whom you can be proud. Ernie Fletcher values his faith. He values his family. He understands the responsibilities that you must assume when you get elected to high office. The right man for the job is Ernie Fletcher. It's one thing to be listening to the speeches it's another thing to be doing the work. I'm asking you to go out and turn out the vote. I'm asking you to go to your coffee shops, your farm implement dealers, your community centers, your houses of worship, and remind people they have a duty to vote. In this free land you have a duty to exercise your responsibility. And you might also remind them when they're heading to the polls, he's the right man for the job. And don't overlook those disgruntled Democrats, either. Laughter They want good, clean government in Frankfort. There's plenty of independents you can encourage to go vote. This is voter turnout time now. The good people of this part of the State understand what I'm talking about. You go find your neighbors and get them to the polls, and you'll be proud of the job he does on behalf of everybody in this State. Make sure that you also get them to vote for the Lieutenant Governor. Laughter It's kind of natural, isn't it? I'm proud of the fact that Ernie picked Steve Pence. He's a good, solid man. See, I picked him first. I don't know if you know this or not, but I named him to be the U.S. Attorney for western Kentucky. I looked long and hard to get the right person to do this important job. Steve Pence was the man. He's not only the man to be the U.S. Attorney he's the man to become your Lieutenant Governor. Laura sends her love to the people of eastern Kentucky. She's a fabulous First Lady. I'm really proud of her. You drew the short straw. You got me. Laughter I'm so proud to be on the same platform with two great United States Senators. First, Senator Mitch McConnell he represents Kentucky really well. He also married well. Laughter He married so well, I put Elaine, his wife, into the Cabinet. Laughter I'm proud of the job she's doing for the working people of this country. I'm also proud to be here with Jim and Mary Bunning, two great citizens of this State. It is really important you send him back to the United States Senate in '04. The truth of the matter is, I'm here because a great friend of my family's said, "Listen, if you want to help Ernie, you make sure you come to London." He said, "If you really want to do some good for this good man, you make sure you come to the heart of my district." I think you know who I'm talking about. Audience members. Applause The President. Yes. A great American, a great friend, a wonderful Congressman from this part of the world, one of the real powers in the Halls of Congress, a man who thinks constantly about the people in this district, and that would be Hal Rogers. It's been a real pleasure to get to know Cynthia as well. I like a man who married a younger woman. Laughter I'm also proud to be here with the former Governor, Governor Louie Nunn. I appreciate Governor Nunn being here today as well. Thank you, Louie. Adam Koenig is with us. He's running for the State treasurer, and he wants your vote. You talk about a man who picked a good name running for the commissioner of agriculture laughter Richie Farmer is throwing his hat in the ring, and he wants your help. I'm proud to be here with my friend David Williams, the president of the State senate. Ellen Williams runs the party here, and Mike Duncan is the national committeeman. And all of you all involved in the grassroots that means fixing to turn out the vote that's what that means to me thanks for coming. It's been a real joy to be here. I also want to thank Rebecca Lynn Howard for singing so beautifully for you all. What's important for a Governor candidate is to have a good agenda, a good platform you've got to run for a reason. And Ernie is running for the right reason. First of all, he and I share a concern Anytime any of our citizens who wants to work and can't find a job, it says we've got a problem, and you better get you a Governor here in Kentucky who understands what it means to create the environment so jobs can grow. You know, when I came into office, the country was in a recession. And then the enemy hit us. And then we found out some of our citizens forgot what it means to be responsible. They didn't tell the truth to their shareholders and their employees. By the way, some of them are finding out what it means to be held accountable. So I went to the Congress and said, "We've got to be concerned about the fact that people aren't working." But I went with this principle and Ernie understands this that's why I'm bringing it up it's important you have a Governor who understands how to create that environment for job growth and job creation. When a person has more money in his or her pocket, he or she is likely to demand a good or a service. And when you demand a good or a service, somebody is going to produce that good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or a service, somebody is more likely to find a job. The tax relief that Ernie supported strongly came at the right time for the American economy and the American people. When you have more money in your pockets, somebody is more likely to find a job. In order to make sure that you've got an economy that's strong here in Kentucky, you better make sure you've got a Governor who is wise with the people's money. And that starts with understanding this principle In government, we don't spend the government's money that's your money. We spend the people's money. And Ernie is not going to play politics with your money. He's going to set priorities. He's going to be wise about how to spend the taxpayers' money. In order to make sure you've got an economy that grows, you better have a legal system that is fair and balanced. Junk lawsuits make it hard to have a State that creates jobs. You need a Governor who's willing to stand up to the plaintiff's bar, somebody who will stand strong and say, "If you need your day in court, you'll have a day in court, but frivolous and junk lawsuits make it hard for people to find work." And frivolous and junk lawsuits make it hard for people to get good, affordable health care. You need medical liability reform in this State. I used to say in Texas that education is to a State what national defense is to the Federal Government. The top priority of any State is to make sure every child gets a good education. And that's Ernie Fletcher's top priority. Ernie is going to stand with the teachers. Ernie is going to stand with the parents. Most importantly, Ernie is going to stand with the children. He'll challenge what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. He believes every child can learn. He'll raise the standards and insist that our children learn to read and write and add and subtract. You need a Governor who will make sure no child is left behind in the State of Kentucky. He's right on a lot of the issues. He's running on a good, solid platform. This is a platform, by the way, that's good for Republicans and Democrats and independents. This is a Kentucky platform. One of the things I like most about his platform is his understanding of the role of faith in our society. The state should never fund the church, and the church should never try to be the state. But in order to heal broken hearts, in order to address some of the deepest needs of our fellow citizens, whether they be the homeless or the addict or the child who needs special love, we must welcome faith in our society. We must rally the armies of compassion. I look forward to working with Ernie to make sure the Federal efforts and the State efforts and the local efforts here in Kentucky are well coordinated when it comes to protecting the homeland. I look forward to working with him to make sure that our first responders, the brave police and firefighters and emergency management teams, get resources necessary to do the job you expect them to do. But I also want you to know, and he understands this, that the best way to protect the homeland is to chase the killers down, one at a time, and bring them to justice. We must never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001. We must understand we have a duty and responsibility to provide security for the people of this country. Therapy is not going to work with that bunch. Laughter We must be smart. We must be tough. We will not tire. We will not rest until this danger to civilization is removed. When I came into office, morale in the U.S. military was beginning to suffer, so we increased the defense budget. Ernie Fletcher stood right by my side, making sure our troops, our brave troops, got the best training, the best pay, and the best possible equipment. But I want you to know, the best way to safeguard America is to work to spread freedom, is to make sure that freedom can take hold around the world. See, free societies don't attack their neighbors. Free societies do not develop weapons of mass terror to blackmail or threaten the world. We understand this it's very important that freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is the Lord Almighty's gift to each person in the world. I'm proud that Ernie stood strong on these tough issues. I'm proud I could count on him. And you can count on him when he's your Governor. He's a good, honest man. He's a decent man. He's an honorable man. And I'm here to ask you to turn out the vote here, in this important part of the State, and send this man to the statehouse, who will do you a great job. Thanks for coming. May God bless, and may God bless America. November 01, 2003 The President. Thank you all. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. Thank you all very much. It's actually 3 more days laughter 3 more days until Ernie Fletcher becomes the Governor of Kentucky. Thanks for coming. I appreciate you taking some time out of your Saturday afternoon to say hello. I'm honored so many people in western Kentucky came out. It's good to be back in Paducah. It's not my first time here. The first time here, I was knocking on doors asking for the vote, for me. Laughter This time I'm back, knocking on doors, asking the vote for Ernie Fletcher. And the reason why, there's no doubt in my mind he is the best candidate for the job. I like the fact that he was a fighter pilot. Laughter That says something about him, doesn't it? I like the fact that he was a physician. He's a healer. I like the fact that he's an engineer. I like the fact that he's been an effective United States Congressman. I know, I work with him closely. You should like the fact that when he becomes the Governor and he calls up to Washington, the President will answer the phone. I appreciate the fact that, like me, he married well. Laughter Laura sends her love to the people of western Kentucky. You drew the short straw you got me. But I can't wait for Glenna to become the first lady of Kentucky. She'll bring a lot of class to the Governor's mansion. Glenna, Glenna Fletcher is a good soul. I like and support Ernie Fletcher because he's a man of integrity. He understands that when you assume an oath of office, you have an obligation to bring honor to the office that you assume. If you're interested in having somebody set a good example at your State capitol, if you want somebody who will send the right signal to the youth of Kentucky, the right man is Ernie Fletcher. I'm here to embrace his candidacy, but most importantly, I'm here to ask you to go out and turn out the vote. When you guys are driving your cycles, make sure when you see another cycler that you get them to go vote. When you farmers are going to your coffee shops, make sure you tell your people that work the land with you to get out the vote. See, we have an obligation in the free society to vote. I urge all people in this great State to vote. And when you're on the phones urging them to vote, make sure you tell them what's in their interest, and what's in their interest is to have Ernie Fletcher as the Governor of the State of Kentucky. I appreciate the fact that when Ernie wins, he's going to be the Governor of everybody. He's not going to say, "I'm the Governor of this particular political party or that political party." He's going to be the Governor of every single citizen. So when you're out canvassing for the vote, when you're knocking on doors, you'll find some disgruntled Democrats. Make sure you encourage them to vote. You'll find discerning independents. Make sure you encourage them to vote. I'm here to ask you to do your duty as a citizen to vote and to do extra work to make sure you turn out to vote for this good man, Ernie Fletcher. And don't forget to put in a good word for Steve Pence. Laughter See, he's running for the Lieutenant Governor. He's from western Kentucky he knows how you think. It makes sense to put him in as Lieutenant Governor. See, Ernie picked him, but I picked him first. Laughter I don't know if you recall, but I named him the U.S. Attorney for western Kentucky. I did because he's a man of integrity he's a good, honest man, the kind of fellow that when he holds office you can say, "I'm proud of the way he's conducting himself in office." I also want to thank very much the United States Senators who have joined us, strong allies, good people, people who will make you proud here in the great State of Kentucky, starting with Mitch McConnell. I appreciate you coming, Mitch. Speaking of somebody who married well laughter he married so well, I picked his wife to be in my Cabinet laughter the Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao, doing a great job. I appreciate you, Elaine. When I was a kid, I always hoped to have a Jim Bunning baseball card. Laughter Now, I get to call him Senator, and so do you. It's vital you send this good man back to the United States Senate in 2004. Kentucky has sent some fine folks up to Washington in the United States Congress, the House of Representatives. Two of them are here with us, besides Ernie, and that's Congressman Ed Whitfield and Congressman Ron Lewis. Applause Thank you all for coming. Hi, Ed. I'll try it again. And Congressman Ron Lewis, good to see you, Ron. Thanks for coming. As well we've got some other good folks who have decided to run for office. Trey Grayson is running for secretary of state. Jack Wood is trying to become the attorney general he's running hard. Linda Greenwell is running for State auditor. In order to be a good Governor, you'd better be running on a good platform, so you've got to run for a reason. You've got to give people a reason to vote for you. Ernie Fletcher has done that. He mentioned jobs. Let me tell you something We both share the same passion for our fellow citizen who is looking for work. So long as one person is looking for work, so long as one person who wants to work can't find a job, it says we've got an issue here in America. I put forth a strong, progrowth package that means a package that encourages economic growth so people can find work. Ernie Fletcher supported that plan. We need a pretty good dose of medicine for our economy. Remember, when I first came into office, we were in recession. That's three quarters of negative growth. We were going backwards, and then the enemy hit us. And then we had some of our corporate citizens who forgot to tell the truth. By the way, if you notice, some of those who forgot to tell the truth are now paying the price for not telling the truth. All of that affected the confidence of the American people, so we acted. We acted on this theory and this is important to have a Governor who understands how it works when a person has got more money in their pocket, they're going to demand a good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service, somebody is going to produce that good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or a service, somebody is more likely to find a job. The tax cuts we passed came at the right time, and they're helping this economy. In order to make sure your economy grows, you better make sure you've got a Governor who's not going to play politics with the people's money, somebody to bring some fiscal discipline to the statehouse. So it's not only a combination of progrowth policies, but you better watch how the money is spent. Ernie Fletcher is a fiscal watchdog. He understands whose money we spend in government. We're not spending the government's money. We're spending the people's money, and you better have a Governor who knows that. In order to make sure that Kentucky is a good place for people to do business so people can find work, you need a Governor who's willing to stand up to the plaintiff's attorneys. You see, what you don't want is a State dominated by plaintiff's attorneys so you've got a bunch of frivolous and junk lawsuits that on the one hand deny a person a chance to get their day in court, and on the other hand make it awfully costly for the State of Kentucky. You need medical liability reform. You need a Governor who's willing to stand up and be tough. When I was the Governor of Texas, I used to tell our people that education is to a State what national defense is to the Federal Government, the top priority. One of the reasons I'm proud to stand by Ernie is because he understands that we must educate every single child in the State of Kentucky. He'll stand with the teachers. He'll stand with the parents. He will challenge what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. See, when you lower the bar, when you have low expectations, you're going to get lousy results. You must have a Governor who's willing to raise the bar, to set high standards, to have high hopes for every single child. You must make sure you've got a Governor who insists that the curriculum used in public schools works, not based upon some fancy theory but actually works. You've got to make sure every child can read. You need to use phonics in the classroom. Ernie Fletcher understands that. And finally, there are a lot of people who hurt around our country. You must have a Governor who understands that government can hand out money and we do a pretty good job of it sometimes but what government cannot do is put hope in a person's heart or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That's done when a fellow citizen surrounds a soul with love. It's done when people who have heard the universal call to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself step forward and say, "I want to be a part of the fabric of change in a society. I want to help feed the hungry, house the homeless. I want to be there to help the drug addict understand that if you change your heart, you can change your behavior." It is essential. I have put forth a Faith Based Initiative, and I'm talking about all faiths, all faiths. And I put out a Faith Based Initiative because I want the great strength of the country, the heart and soul of the American people, to rally to the cause of those who hurt. It's important to have a Governor who does not fear faith but welcomes faith and to providing help for those who hurt, and that Governor is going to be Ernie Fletcher. I look forward to working with Ernie Fletcher to make sure that the homeland security initiative is done well here in Kentucky. We want to make sure that there's good coordination between the Federal, the State, and the local authorities, to make sure your good police folks and firefighters and emergency response teams have a coordinated strategy to be able to deal with a situation if it were to occur. The thing I appreciate about Ernie Fletcher is he understands what I know, that the best way to secure the homeland is to hunt the killers down, one by one, and bring them to justice, what America will do. We must never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001. We must understand that we can't sit back and hope for the best, that when we see danger we must respond. We must respond in a way that is responsible. We are responsible for the security of the people of this country. We must use every power we have to make sure that another attack does not occur. The lessons of September the 11th, 2001, are indelibly etched in my mind. I will not forget the responsibility that we have to the people, and neither will Ernie. For those of you with loved ones in the United States military, you get a hold of them either by e mail or phone or letter, and you tell them their Commander in Chief is incredibly proud of the sacrifices they are making for this country. But I also want you to know that we'll stay on the offensive, but we'll also stay on the offensive for the spread of freedom. The greatest security America can gain is from the advance of human liberty. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. Free nations do not develop weapons of mass terror to threaten or blackmail the world. No, the greatest security for America will come when America continues to lead the world toward a free society. We understand we understand that freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is God Almighty's gift to each and every person that lives in the world. In this war on terror, I've had no stronger supporter than Ernie Fletcher. I'm proud to stand with this man. There's no doubt in my mind he'll make a great Governor. There's no doubt in my mind he'll be a Governor for every single person that lives in this vital and important State. There's no doubt in my mind he's got a vision that's clear and hopeful, a vision that will provide the best opportunity, so that everybody who lives here can say, "I've been given my chance to succeed. I've been given a good education. The environment for finding a job is strong. I can raise my family in peace and security." There's no doubt in my mind that the right person to lead this great State into the 21st century is Ernie Fletcher. Thank you all for coming. May God bless. God bless you all. Work hard. Thank you all. October 30, 2003 Thanks for coming. Thanks for the warm welcome. It is great to be back in Columbus. I feel comfortable coming here. I like good football. I like to be around good people. And my grandfather was raised here. I don't know if you know that, but Prescott S. Bush was raised in Columbus, Ohio, and the last time I came to Ohio, I said I was proud of the fact that my paternal grandfather was raised here. And my mother got me on the phone. She said, "You forgot about your maternal grandfather, Marvin he grew up in Dayton." So, Mother, if you're paying attention applause . I'm proud to be in Ohio, because my two grandfathers grew up in Ohio. I'm proud of my family roots here. I am proud of what you all did in the year 2000. And I want to thank you for coming. Today we're laying the foundation for what is going to be an Ohio victory and a national victory in the fall of 2004. And I'm getting ready. I'm loosening up. Laughter But the political season will come in its own time. I have got a job to do. I've got a job to do for all Americans, and that is to keep this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. My one regret about this event today is that Laura isn't traveling with me. She is a fabulous First Lady. She's doing a great job. She is working her way down to Crawford, where we'll spend the night tonight. She is stopping off in Tyler, Texas, to do a little political work herself. And then we're going to spend some time on the weekend, although I'm going to take off on Saturday. We've got some Governors' races coming up. But we're looking forward to getting some quality time together after spending a lot of quality time together on the airplane when we traveled throughout the Far East on a very successful trip. I want you to know our alliances with our friends are strong, and the world is more peaceful for it. Speaking about a man who married well, so did your Governor. And I'm honored the first lady of Ohio is with us. Hope Taft, thank you for coming. And I'm proud to call Governor Taft my friend. I want to thank you for your service to your great State and appreciate your leadership. We've got other officials here. The Lieutenant Governor, Jennette Bradley, is with us. Ken Blackwell is with us. Joe Deters is with us. Jim Petro, the attorney general, Betty Montgomery, the State auditor all friends and all great leaders for the State of Ohio. Thank you all for coming. I'm honored that members of the statehouse are here, particularly the speaker of the house, Larry Householder. Sorry he didn't bring all his kids with him. Laughter Maybe the person serving the meals isn't sorry he brought all his kids with him. I think he said he's got six or seven kids, which is pretty darn good, Speaker. And I want to thank the president of the senate, Senator Doug White, for being here as well. I thank the legislators for coming. I'm proud to have your support, and I'm counting on your support as we get in this election cycle. I selected a man from Ohio, from Cincinnati, Ohio, to be the national finance chairman of this campaign, and he's doing a terrific job. His name is Mercer Reynolds. I'm proud to call him friend. I'm proud he has taken on such a vital role for the Bush Cheney 2004 campaign. I also want to thank Tim Timken and Bill DeWitt and Jo Ann Davidson for their hard work all across the State of Ohio. I want to thank the cochairmen of this event for making this an incredibly successful event. I want to thank the grassroots activists who are with us today the party chairman, Bob Bennett Michael Colley, who is the national committeeman Martha Moore, the national committeewoman. I'm honored you all are here. I'm going to need you and count on you to energize the grassroots here in the State of Ohio, to man the phones and put up the signs and mail the letters. I want you to remind people that when you do so, this administration has got a hopeful, optimistic vision for every single American. In the last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems instead of passing them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities and not let them slip away. This administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and today they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed and morale was beginning to suffer, so we increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession, and then our country was attacked, and we had some scandals in corporate America, and we marched to war, all of which affected the confidence of the American people. But we acted. We took the lead. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. I know that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. So we returned more money to the people to help them raise their families. We reduced taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We gave small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, we're laying the foundations for greater prosperity and more jobs across America so that every one of our citizens has a chance to realize the American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, and there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. I believe that every child can learn. And this country ought to expect every child to learn. In return for Federal money, we have begun to ask the question, are you teaching our children? Are you holding up high standards? Are you willing to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations? The days of excuse making are over in public education. We expect results in every classroom so that not one single child is left behind. We reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our ports and borders and to protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Ohio's manufacturers and farmers and ranchers. We passed budget agreements that is helping to maintain much needed spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle. We have kept our word, and we have made progress for the American people. The United States Congress shares in the achievements. I thank the Speaker, Denny Hastert, and I thank Majority Leader Bill Frist for their hard work. We're working to try to change the tone in Washington. There's too much politics in the Nation's Capital, too much zero sum attitude. We've got to lift the rhetoric and focus on results. And that's what we're working to do in the Nation's Capital, results for all the people. And those are the kind of people I've asked to serve in my administration. When you're sitting around your coffee shops and community centers, you're talking up the campaign which I hope you do remind the people that I put together a great team on behalf of the American people people from all walks of life, people who have come to our Nation's Capital to serve their country, people like Dick Cheney, our country's greatest Vice President we've ever had. Mother may have a different opinion. Laughter In 2 1 2 years, we have done a lot, if you think about it. We have come far, but our work is only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every single citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and to realize the great promise of America. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam Hussein holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking coalition forces and aid workers and innocent Iraqis. They know that the advance of freedom in Iraq would be a major defeat for the cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of the United States of America. And we will not be intimidated. We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq. We will defeat them there so that we do not have to face them in our own country. We continue to call on other nations to help build a free country in Iraq. After all, it will make the world more secure when this happens. We're standing with the Iraq people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward self government. And these aren't easy tasks, but they're essential tasks. They're essential for the future of our children and grandchildren. We will finish what we have begun in Iraq, and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations don't support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. Free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And I believe that freedom is the right of every person. And I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. This country also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. And we have duties in this world. When we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, America will not turn away. This great, mighty Nation is leading the world in confronting a terrible disease on the continent of Africa. This Nation is bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. This great land is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges here at home as well. I'm about to go to a business here in Ohio to talk about the economy. My attitude is that anybody if anybody who wants to work in Ohio or in America is looking for a job and can't find a job, it says we've got a problem. I'll continue to work to create the conditions in which small businesses can grow to be big businesses, the conditions necessary for the entrepreneurial spirit to flourish. We want everybody working in America. We're making progress, but we will not stop until there are jobs aplenty for those who are looking for work. We have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. Congress is taking historic action to improve the lives of our older citizens. For the first time hear this for the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and the Senate have passed reforms to increase the choices for our seniors and to provide coverage for prescription drugs. The House and the Senate must iron out their differences. They must come together and get a bill to my desk soon. We have a promise to keep to our seniors, and we must modernize the Medicare system for those of us who are fixing to become seniors. For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doctor deserve their day in court. Yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for rich settlements. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, and they therefore affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. I proposed a good bill to solve the medical liability issue all across America. It was passed by the House. It is stuck in the Senate. Your two Senators are good votes on this issue. Some Senators need to hear loud and clear that not one single person has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. We need medical liability reform now. I have a responsibility as the President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal bench, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some of the Members of the United States Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. This Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. If you're worried about manufacturing jobs in Ohio, you need an energy plan. It's hard to hire people if you can't find energy. I proposed a bill 2 years ago to the Congress, a bill which encourages us to use, in environmentally friendly ways, the resources at our disposal. We need clean coal technology in America. We need more natural gas. We need to encourage alternative sources of energy. We need to encourage conservation. We need to make sure the electricity system is reliable. As the people of northern Ohio found out, it's not that reliable at times. Laughter We need to modernize the system. We need an energy bill. For the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, the Congress needs to complete the energy bill and get it to my desk. A strong and prosperous nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, which means we must apply the best and most innovative ideas to help our fellow citizens who are in need. There are a lot of men and women who want to end their dependence on government. They want to find work. They want to become independent through hard work, so we must build on the success of the welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so more Americans can serve their communities and their country. Both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to help support the armies of compassion, which exists right here in Columbus, Ohio they exist in every city in Ohio the armies of compassion who are mentoring our children, caring for the homeless, who offer hope to the addicted. People of all faiths Christians, Jewish, Muslims, Hindus have heard a universal call to love a neighbor just like they'd like to be loved themselves. This Nation should not fear faith. We should welcome programs based upon faith to answer the deepest needs of the human heart which exist in our society. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the dignity and the pride that comes from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their home. We have a minority homeownership gap in America. I presented a plan to Congress to close that gap. The more people that own their home, the better off America will be. We want people owning and managing their own health care plans and their own retirement accounts. We want more people owning their own business because we understand that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our country. A compassionate society is one in which people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make. The culture of America is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "You got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you are responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're worried about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in a responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we would like to be loved ourself. The culture of service and responsibility is growing here in America. I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps. If you're interested, you can go on the web page and look it up. It's a chance to for people to serve their country, to serve their community, to help a neighbor who's in need. And the response has been great. It really has been. People want to serve. People want to want to help their country by helping somebody who might be struggling. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear this Nation's uniform remind us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use our strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. May God bless. October 30, 2003 The President. Thanks for the warm welcome. It is really good to be home, and it's good to be with so many friends. It seems like old home week here. Laughter I want to thank you all very much for your friendship and your strong support. I want to thank you for your prayers. I want to thank you for being my friend before I became the President laughter and my friend after I become the President laughter in 2009. No, no, we applause . This is a fantastic event tonight. It not only lifts my spirits to be with a lot of people with whom I've served in the past and a lot of friends, but we're laying the foundation for what is going to be a great national victory in 2004. I'm loosening up laughter and I'm getting ready. But politics will come in its own time, because I've got a job to do. Audience member. And you're doing a great one. The President. Well, thank you very much. Laughter I'm focused on the people's business. I'm doing what's right for this country. I will continue to work to make sure this country is strong and secure, prosperous, and free. I have a regret, and that is that the First Lady is not with me tonight. She's in Tyler. We're going to meet up in Crawford. She is a fabulous wife, a fabulous mother, and a great First Lady for America. I want to thank the Loefflers for their friendship and their hard work. It's a fantastically successful event. As I look around, I see folks who hold high office. The chief justice of the supreme court is here, Tom Phillips the attorney general is here, Greg Abbott the secretary of agriculture is here, Susan Combs Albert Hawkins, the commissioner of health and human services Diane Rath, the workforce commissioner. I see Wentworth is here, the State senator State Representative Jones and Edmund Kuempel and Ken Mercer. Thank you all for coming. It's great to see you again. I miss my buddies in the statehouse. I've got such fond memories of working with people here in the great State of Texas. It was a fantastic experience. I also want to thank my friend Mercer Reynolds from Cincinnati, Ohio, who is the national finance chairman for Bush Cheney. He's doing a great job of Audience member. Go Mercer! The President. laying the groundwork. Mercer brought his cousin. Laughter Most of all, I want to thank you all. Thanks a lot for coming. In the last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems instead of passing them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. This administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance. Those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and today they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense budgets to meet the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And then our country was attacked. And then we had some scandals in corporate America, and war. All those affected the people's confidence, but I acted. We passed tough new laws in Washington, DC, to hold the corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. When Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. So we're returning more money to the people to help them raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to hire new people. With all these actions, this administration has laid the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America so that every single one of our citizens can realize the American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms at the Federal level in a generation. In return for Federal money, we expect public schools to teach children how to read and write and add and subtract, because we believe every child can learn to read and write and add and subtract. This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse making are over. We expect results in every single classroom so that not one single child in America is left behind. We reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our borders and ports and to protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Texas farmers and ranchers and entrepreneurs. We passed much needed budget agreements to bring spending discipline to Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, kept its word, and made progress for the American people. The Congress gets credit for these achievements. I've got a great relationship with Speaker Denny Hastert and Majority Leader Bill Frist. We're working hard to focus on results and to get rid of the needless politics that dominates the Nation's Capital. We're doing the work for the people. And those are the kind of people I've asked to join this administration. I put together a fantastic, diverse group of people to serve the American people. We've had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion. Laughter In 2 1 2 years, we have done a lot. We have come far, but our work is only beginning. I've set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every single citizen, every citizen, has a chance to work and to succeed and realize the great promise of our land. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home. We are freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest. We will not tire. We will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam Hussein holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking coalition forces and international aid workers and innocent Iraqis. They know that the advance of freedom in Iraq would be a major defeat in the cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of America and the civilized world, and this country will not be intimidated. We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we will not have to face them in our own country. We're calling other nations to help Iraq to build a free country, which will make the world more secure. We're standing with the Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward self government. These aren't easy tasks, but they're essential tasks. We will finish what we have begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And I believe that freedom is the right of every person, and I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world, and when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. This great, strong Nation is leading the world. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. This great land is doing incredibly important work of human rescue. We've got challenges here at home as well, and our actions will prove that we're equal to the challenges. We had some good news today on the economy. But let me tell you this, so long as anybody who wants to work can't find a job, means that I must continue to create the conditions for economic vitality and growth, to make sure the great entrepreneurial spirit of America is alive and well in every corner of this country. We have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. Congress has taken historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and Senate passed reforms to increase the choices for seniors and provide coverage for prescription drugs. The next step is for both Houses to reconcile their differences and get a bill to my desk soon. We owe it to America's seniors, and we owe a modern Medicare system to those of us who are going to be America's seniors. For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. I appreciate the reforms that Governor Perry and the legislature did here in Texas. We recognize that people who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court, yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, they affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. We proposed good law to the House and Senate. The House of Representatives passed a good bill. The bill is stuck in the United States Senate. I'm proud to report, our two United States Senators, the Senators from Texas, are on the right side of the issue. Those who have held up this important piece of legislation in the United States Senate must recognize that not one single person has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. I have a responsibility as the President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members are trying to keep my nominees, people like Priscilla Owen, off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some of the Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. Two years ago, I submitted a plan to the United States Congress, a plan that will promote energy efficiency and conservation, that will develop new technologies, but will encourage exploration in an environmentally friendly way in our own country. For the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, the Congress must act so we become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, which means we will apply the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on the Government and become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so more Americans can serve their community and their country. And both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring children, that are caring for the homeless, that are offering hope to the addicted. People from all faiths Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu have heard a universal call. We must welcome that call. In order to heal the broken heart, this country must not fear faith. We must welcome faith in the essential delivery of need for people who hurt. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their own home. This Nation has a minority homeownership gap. I presented a plan to the United States Congress to close that gap. America must act. The Congress must act. We want more people to own and manage their own health care accounts. We want more people to own and manage their own retirement accounts. We want more people owning their own small business. We understand in this administration that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make. The culture of America is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make. If you're fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're worried about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in the new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. The culture of service and responsibility is strong here in America. I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need, and the response has been great. Faith based charities and charitable programs are strong and vibrant. And that's important, really important, to make sure the future of this country is alive and well for every citizen. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We are a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity across our land. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it and know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. God bless. Thank you all. Thank you all very much. October 30, 2003 Thanks for coming. I'm honored to be here in Columbus, Ohio. I appreciate so very much the warm hospitality. I like to come to good football country. I like to be with good, hard working people, like the people here who are sharing the stage with me. I like to be with entrepreneurs. I like to be in the State where both my grandfathers were raised. My dad's dad was raised right here in Columbus. My mother's dad was raised in Dayton. So I feel quite at home here in the great State of Ohio. I appreciate the good folks at Central Aluminum for letting me come and interrupt the work day. I've got some important things to talk about. The first thing I want to remind people of is, we're a great country because we've got great workers in America. The most productive workforce in the world is right here in America. Because of the spirit the entrepreneurial spirit and the work ethic of America, our economy is strong, and it's getting stronger. The figures for the third quarter the economic figures for the third quarter show that the economy grew at an annual rate of 7.2 percent. That's the fastest growth we've had in nearly 20 years. Exports are expanding. Investment is rising. Housing construction is growing. The tax relief we passed is working. We left more money in the hands of the American people, and the American people are moving this economy forward. We cannot expect economic growth numbers like this every quarter. Yet, by continuing a progrowth agenda, we will sustain growth and job creation in this country. We're on the right track, but we've got work to do, and I want to talk today about the need for this Nation to develop a comprehensive energy plan to make sure our fellow citizens can find work. I appreciate Gale Roshon for opening up the plant. Thank you, sir. I want to thank John Wright. And I want to thank Bill, who showed me how the machine works. Laughter I'm honored that the State officials are with us today. Your fine Governor, Bob Taft, and the Lieutenant Governor have joined us, for which I'm grateful. The secretary of state and State auditor are with us. We've got local officials. We've got a lot of people who just came to say hello to the President, and I'm grateful. Thank you for coming. This Nation has been through a lot in the last 2 1 2 years. We have been challenged. And I've set some big goals for our country one, we believe in freedom and peace. That's what we believe. And I also accept the responsibility of making sure this Nation is secure. This Nation must never forget the lessons of September the 11th in 2001. We must stay on the offensive against terrorists who would do harm to the American people. We can't forget the lessons of September the 11th. We must understand there are people who hate what we stand for. And so we must find them and bring them to justice. We must defeat them where they hide so we don't have to face them in our own cities. I'm confident in the justice of our cause. I'm confident in the character and resolve of the American people. I'm confident in the skill and the honor of the American military. And likewise, I am confident in the entrepreneurial spirit of this country, and I'm confident in our workforce. And the reason I'm confident is because I know what we've been through. We've been through a lot. The country was in recession when we first showed up in Washington, DC. And then the terrorists attacked us, and it hurt our economy. We went through a lot when the terrorists attacked. Not only do we have to reorder our thinking about how to make America secure, we had to remember the lessons when it came to protecting our country. But it also hurt our the attacks hurt our country, hurt our economy. It set us back, and we began to recover from the attacks, in and out of recession. And then unfortunately we had some corporate citizens who forgot to tell the truth. They forgot what it meant to be a responsible citizen and didn't tell the truth to their shareholders and employees. And then, as you know, we took decisive action to uphold doctrine. One doctrine was, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists." And we went into Afghanistan and freed the people of Afghanistan from the clutches of a barbaric regime at the same time made our country more secure. We upheld the demands of the world by removing Saddam Hussein from power, not only for the benefit of the Iraqi people who suffered under this brutal tyrant but for the benefit of the security of the American people and peace in the world. And as we did so, it shook the confidence of the people. It's not a very it doesn't inspire a lot of confidence when people turn on the TV and say, "march to war." In other words, it creates uncertainty and doubt. And yet we've overcome all this. We sent a clear signal to the people that forgot to be responsible citizens that if you don't tell the truth, there is going to be serious consequences. And the American people are beginning to see what I meant about serious consequences for those who betrayed the trust. We're obviously doing everything we can to make the country more secure. We also acted when it came to putting a little wind behind the sails of the entrepreneurs by letting people keep more of their own money. The tax cuts were an important part of our economic recovery. I believe that when people have more money in their pocket, they you know, they're obviously they're going to demand an additional good or a service. And in our society, when they demand a good or a service, somebody will produce a good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or a service, it is more likely somebody is going to find a job. I'm concerned about the stories I read, where people want to find work and can't find work. It means we've got a problem. If there's one person looking for work and can't find work, it says we have a problem. We've got to continue to create the conditions for economic growth. And the tax cut, the two tax cuts were an integral part of creating the conditions for growth. And so we advocated and the Congress passed broad tax relief. I believe that if you're going to have tax relief you want it to be fair, and everybody who pays taxes ought to get tax relief. The Government should not try to pick and choose winners when it comes to tax relief. We also understand that the Tax Code should not discourage marriage. So we provided relief so we reduced the penalty on the marriage penalty. I understand it's hard to raise children, so we raised the child credit from 600 to 1,000 per child. We said the check was going to be in the mail. If you happen to be a mom or a dad raising children, it actually turned out to be in the mail, which was positive for our economy. We wanted to encourage investment, not discourage investment, in order to enhance the economic recovery, so we cut taxes on dividends and capital gains, and we quadrupled the expense deduction for small business investment. And that's important. In other words, this tax relief plan not only helped families and individuals, but it also helps small businesses. You say, "Well, why would you want to help small business?" Well, small businesses like this business create the most new jobs. If you're interested in job creation, you've got to focus your plan on small businesses. So not only do we encourage small businesses to invest, we also, by cutting the taxes on the individuals, allow small businesses to keep more money, because most small businesses are Subchapter S or sole proprietorships, which means they pay tax at the individual income tax rates. Cutting individual income taxes provides capital for small businesses. Small businesses create more jobs, most new jobs in America. The tax cut was good for small businesses. The tax cut was good for job creation. Not only were the third quarter growth figures encouraging, there's some also other encouraging signs. Housing starts are strong, and that's important, particularly if you're making aluminum siding laughter if you know what I mean. Laughter After tax incomes are rising. Inflation is low. Productivity is high. Businesses are now receiving strong orders. Things are improving. And we've got a choice to make. Just as the economy is coming around, some over in Washington say now is the time to raise taxes. To be fair, they think anytime is a good time to raise taxes. Laughter At least they're consistent. Laughter I strongly disagree. Tax relief put this Nation on the right path, and I intend to keep America on the path to prosperity. There is still more to do to make sure our fellow citizens can find a job. And so I presented a six point plan that Congress must act on. I'm going to talk about five parts of it, and then I'm going to spend a little time on the energy part of it. Small businesses must have affordable health care for their employees. That's why we need association health care plans, so small businesses can pool risk just like big businesses do. Small businesses must be allowed to come together in order to pool risk to provide their employees with reasonably priced health care. And we need to have medical liability reform so that the frivolous lawsuits do not drive up the cost of health care. Congress must act on medical liability reform. They ought to act to limit the junk lawsuits that harm good businesses. We need to cut useless regulations. We must work to open up markets for Ohio's manufacturers and Ohio's farmers. I want the markets to be open, and I want the playing field to be level, so that we have access. The tax relief we passed is scheduled to go away. There is a I'm not sure how to describe it it's like the Congress giveth, and the Congress taketh away. Laughter But there is a quirk in the rules which says that a lot of the tax relief had to expire after 10 years. And in the recent tax package, they accelerated some of the expiration dates, which means the child credit will go down, the marriage penalty will go up, individual rates will change. For the sake of job creation, there needs to be certainty in the Tax Code. Entrepreneurs and small business owners don't need to be trying to constantly guess where the taxes are going to be. People need to plan, and they need to plan for more than on a more than a one year horizon. If Congress is truly interested in job creation, they will make all the tax cuts we passed permanent. To keep this economy moving, to sustain growth far in the future so people can work, we need a sound national energy policy. Every person who owns a home, every person who works on an assembly line, every person who drives a truck or runs a small business depends on reliable, affordable energy. That's what we depend upon. Our economic security and our national security requires secure sources of energy. We must become less reliant on foreign sources of energy. I've come to Central Aluminum because this company and these employees rely upon reliable sources of energy. The company spends about 30 percent more on natural gas this year than it did last year. That's a cost that makes it hard to expand the workforce, when money goes into a 30 percent increase in your energy bill. By not having enough energy at home, our manufacturing sector is not doing as well as it should be. When the gas prices go up, the manufacturing sector hurts here in Ohio and around the country. Congress needs to pass a sound energy plan to help deal with the issues that confront this good company, Central Aluminum. First, we need more energy production close to home. We need to produce in our own country, and we need to encourage exploration in our own hemisphere so we're less dependent from other parts of the world. Our Nation and our hemisphere have got natural gas, the energy used right here in this plant. But this resource has been hampered by restrictions on exploration. Congress should allow reasonable exploration and responsible exploration to bring more natural gas to the market, which will lower the costs of the product. Congress should promote research into the next generation of nuclear plants and encourage investment in existing nuclear plants to expand a clean and unlimited source of energy. Congress should encourage clean coal technology so that we can use our Nation's most plentiful energy resource in an environmentally responsible way. In other words, the energy bill ought to encourage the use of resources close to home. When you increase supply, it takes pressure off price. We need a commonsense, reasonable energy policy. I call upon Congress to pass that commonsense, reasonable energy policy. Part of the energy bill I submitted and by the way, we submitted a package to Congress 2 years ago and are kind of grinding through all the details now but part of that package says America needs a better infrastructure as well. We need better pipelines, gas terminals, and powerlines so that the flow of energy is reliable. You might remember what happened last summer. I certainly do. The rolling blackout affected this State of Ohio. That ought to be a signal that we need to modernize the electricity grid. The bill we're trying to get out of Congress understands that. The current grid is old, and it's inefficient in places. Incredibly enough, Federal law discourages new investment in the infrastructure. You got old laws on the books that need to be changed. We're heading into a new era. We've got to think new. We've got to be ready for the 21st century. By keeping investors from entering the electricity and the natural gas business, it stifles the capacity to provide more electricity and more natural gas. And remember, when you increase the supply of a product, it takes pressure off a price, which means people are more likely to be able to find a job. We need to encourage new investment in a modern electric grid, ending old rules. We need mandatory not voluntary reliability standards for our power companies. We now need to make sure that the placement of new powerlines, which oftentimes get bogged down because local authorities block transmission lines, that the Federal energy officials have the authority to site new powerlines. That's what we need to do. We need to modernize our grid so the lights don't go off in people's homes, so that business owners are able to plan for a stable and expanding workforce. We need to wake up and realize we're heading into the 21st century, and we need a 21st century energy policy, is what we need to do. And a 21st century energy policy says this country must develop and deploy the latest technology to provide a new generation, a different kind of energy, new sources of energy, cleaner and more efficient energy sources. A lot of companies in Columbus are doing some groundbreaking research on what I'm talking about. For example, we ought to expand tax credits for renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. We ought to see if we can't use technology to diversify our energy supply in a smart way. Congress should fund research in a new hydrogen fuel technology that I called for in my State of the Union. We ought to make sure that we use ethanol from corn and biodiesel made from soybeans. It seems to me to make sense that we ought to use our technology and know how to grow our way out of dependence on foreign sources of energy. In other words, we need a comprehensive plan. We need to encourage production, and we need to encourage conservation. We need to use the energy resources we've got at hand in an environmentally friendly way. And we need to advance new kinds of energy. But we've got to get after it. And that's my message to the United States Congress Resolve your differences understand that if you're interested in people finding a job, we need an energy policy. That's why I'm here. I want these people working. I want their friends to be able to find jobs. Get the bill done. Now, we've overcome a lot in this country, and there's still more to do. We're making tremendous progress. But we can't rest. We can't rest. We're making great progress in helping people find a job. But as I said, so long as one person is looking for work, this administration will continue to figure out ways to encourage economic growth by empowering the entrepreneurs of America and the small businesses to do smart things to create a condition for economic growth. We'll continue to stay on the offensive when it comes to keeping the Nation secure. As well I will continue to speak to the great character of the American people and to call people to action in order to help people understand that the American Dream is meant for them. Listen, there are people amidst our plenty who hurt, people who wonder whether or not America is meant for them. And I understand those challenges, but I also understand the strength of the country. It lies in the hearts and souls of our fellow citizens. I'm probably looking at people who are doing what I'm about to say ask you to do, but there are thousands of people in our country who love a neighbor just like they'd like to be loved themselves, who are mentoring a child, who are helping feed the hungry, who are providing shelter for the homeless. See, our society is changing and will continue to change one heart and one soul at a time, because our fellow citizens have heard the call to love a neighbor. And my call to you all is if you see somebody who hurts, help him. Remember that Government can hand out money we do a pretty good job of it at times but what we can't do is put hope in a person's heart or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That's done when a fellow citizen puts their arm around somebody who hurts and says, "I love you. What can I do to help you?" Now, this is a fabulous country. We've met the challenges that have been put to us. There will be other challenges to come. I stand confident before you, knowing that we can meet any challenge because of the greatness of the people who live in America. Thanks for coming by today. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless America. Thank you all. October 28, 2003 Good evening. Ramadan Kareem. Welcome to the White House. I'm pleased to host all of you, our distinguished guests, during this blessed month of Ramadan. For Muslims in America and around the world, this holy time is set aside for prayer and fasting. It is also a good time for people of all faiths to reflect on the values we hold common love of family, gratitude to God, and a commitment to religious freedom. America is a land of many faiths, and we honor and welcome and value the Muslim faith. I appreciate Secretary Powell being here today, the great Secretary of State of America. There are members of my administration scattered amongst you, and I appreciate them coming. I particularly want to thank the Secretary of Energy, Spence Abraham, for being here as well. I appreciate Your Highness Sheik Hamdan bin Zayid, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs for the United Arab Emirates, for coming. I want to thank all the Ambassadors who are here and representatives of the members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. We're honored you're here tonight. I want to thank the American Muslim leaders who are here with us today. I appreciate my friends coming. I particularly want to thank Imam Faizul Khan, who will lead us in prayer. According to the teachings of Islam, Ramadan commemorates the revelation of God's word in the Holy Koran to the Prophet Mohammed. In this season, Muslims come together to remember their dependence on God and to show charity to their neighbors. Fasting during Ramadan helps Muslims focus on God's greatness, to grow in virtue, and cultivate compassion toward those who live in poverty and hunger. The charity, discipline, and sacrifice practiced during Ramadan in America makes America a better, more compassionate country. The family gatherings that break the fast at the end of each day enrich our communities. And the heartfelt prayers offered at this time of year are a blessing in many lives, and they're a blessing to our Nation. As we gather during this season, we are mindful of the struggles of the men and women around the world who long for the same peace and tolerance we enjoy here in America. Brave American and coalition troops are laboring every day to defend our liberty and to spread freedom and peace, particularly to the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. The citizens of those countries have survived decades of tyranny and fear. Now, new leaders are emerging. They're emerging in Iraq in the form of medical workers and teachers and citizens of all backgrounds who are coming together to guide their country's future. They're moving toward self government and practicing their faith as they see fit. We will continue to support the people of Iraq and Afghanistan as they build a more hopeful future. And we will not allow criminals or terrorists to stop the advance of freedom. Terrorists who use religion to justify the taking of innocent life have no home in any faith. As we defend liberty and justice abroad, we must always honor those values here at home. America rejects all forms of ethnic and religious bigotry. We welcome the values of every responsible citizen, no matter the land of their birth. And we will always protect the most basic human freedom, the freedom to worship God without fear. Islam is a religion that brings hope and comfort to good people across America and around the world. Tonight we honor the contributions of Muslims and the tradition of Islam by hosting this Iftaar dinner at the White House. I wish you all a very blessed Ramadan, and may God bless. October 28, 2003 The President. Good morning. After the 26,000 mile journey last week, I hope the members of the traveling press had a restful weekend. I have a brief statement. Then I'll be glad to take questions. On my trip to Asia, I had a series of very productive meetings with some of America's closest allies in the war on terror. Nations such as Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines are fighting terrorism in their own region. Their leaders understand the importance of our continuing work in Afghanistan and Iraq. Liberating the people of those nations from dictatorial regimes was an essential step in the war on terror, and the world is safer today because Saddam Hussein and the Taliban are gone. We're now working with many nations to make sure Afghanistan and Iraq are never again a source of terror and danger for the rest of the world. Our coalition against terror has been strengthened in recent days by U.N. Security Council Resolution 1511. This endorses a multinational force in Iraq under U.S. command, encourages other nations to come to the aid of the Iraqi people. Last week a donor conference in Madrid brought together more than 70 nations to discuss future contributions to Iraqi reconstruction. America appreciates the recent announcements of financial commitments to Iraq offered by many of the donors at the conference. After decades of oppression and brutality in Iraq and Afghanistan, reconstruction is difficult, and freedom still has its enemies in both of those countries. These terrorists are targeting the very success and freedom we're providing to the Iraqi people. Their desperate attacks on innocent civilians will not intimidate us or the brave Iraqis and Afghans who are joining in their own defense and who are moving toward self government. Coalition forces aided by Afghan and Iraqi police and military are striking the enemy with force and precision. Our coalition is growing in members and growing in strength. Our purpose is clear and certain Iraq and Afghanistan will be stable, independent nations, and their people will live in freedom. This essential goal in the war on terror requires continued American leadership and the continued support of Congress. The House and the Senate are now considering my supplemental request for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of this money is for the safety and success of our military, for their pay, for their weapons, ammunition, body armor, vehicles, fuel, and for every other resource they need to carry out their mission. Part of the money is for reconstruction, from the training of Afghan and Iraqi police and military personnel to the building of schools and clinics. These funding requests are just as critical to the overall success in Iraq. I commend the House and the Senate for approving the supplemental request. I urged both Houses of Congress to reach agreement soon on a final bill so these vital funds can go quickly to where they are needed. I also asked Congress to move forward on elements of my agenda for growth and jobs. After the shocks of the stock market decline, recession, terrorist attack, and corporate scandals, our economy is showing signs of broad and gathering strength. America is starting to add new jobs. Retail sales are strong. Business profits are increasing. The stock market has been advancing. The housing construction is surging, and manufacturing production is rising. All of this can all of us can be optimistic about the future of the economy, but we cannot be complacent. I will not be satisfied until every American who is looking for work can find a job. So I proposed additional measures to keep the economy on the path to greater job creation taking action to control the rising cost of health care protecting businesses from junk lawsuits by cutting needless and costly Government regulations by making permanent the tax cuts that have helped our economy. One action Congress should take immediately is to pass a comprehensive energy bill, which I proposed more than 2 years ago. Our entire economy depends on steady, affordable supplies of energy. We must encourage conservation, promote efficient technology, modernize our electricity grid, and increase energy production here at home. In the closing months of this year, Congress should also complete the vital work of strengthening and modernizing Medicare. The best way to provide our seniors with modern medicine, including prescription drug coverage and better preventative care, is to give them more choices under Medicare. When seniors have options, health plans will compete for their business by offering better coverage at affordable price. American seniors are counting on these reforms. I look forward to signing them into law. Finally, the United States Senate must step up to serious constitutional responsibilities. I've nominated many distinguished and highly qualified Americans to fill vacancies on the Federal district and circuit courts. Because of a small group of Senators is willfully obstructing the process, some of these nominees have been denied up or down votes for months, even years. More than one third of my nominees for the circuit courts are still awaiting a vote. The needless delays in the system are harming the administration of justice, and they are deeply unfair to the nominees themselves. The Senate Judiciary Committee should give a prompt and fair hearing to every single nominee and send every nomination to the Senate floor for an up or down vote. Finally, of course, we are monitoring the fires in California. FEMA Director Brown is in the State. I express my deep concerns and sympathies for those whose lives have been hurt badly by these fires. The Federal Government is working closely with the State government to provide resources necessary to help the brave firefighters do their duty. With that, I'll be glad to answer some questions, starting with Terry Hunt Terence Hunt, Associated Press . Terrorist Attacks in Iraq Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, you just spoke about the suicide bombers in Iraq as being desperate. But as yesterday's attacks show, they're also increasingly successful and seem to be trying to send a warning to institutions like the police and the Red Cross not to cooperate with the United States. Has the United States been able to identify who's behind this surge of attacks, where they come from, and how to stop them? The President. Yes. I think it's a very interesting point you make in your question, "They're trying to send a warning." Basically, what they're trying to do is cause people to run. They want to kill and create chaos. That's the nature of a terrorist. That's what terrorists do. They commit suicide acts against innocent people and then expect people to say, "Well, gosh, we better not try to fight you anymore." We're trying to determine the nature of who these people were. But I will tell you, I would assume that they're either, or, and probably both Ba'athists and foreign terrorists. The Ba'athists try to create chaos and fear because they realize that a free Iraq will deny them the excessive privileges they had under Saddam Hussein. The foreign terrorists are trying to create conditions of fear and retreat because they fear a free and peaceful state in the midst of a part of the world where terror has found recruits, that freedom is exactly what terrorists fear the most. And so I as I said yesterday, we will not be I said today again, they're not going to intimidate America, and they're not going to intimidate the brave Iraqis who are actively participating in securing the freedom of their country. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Syria and Iran Q. Mr. President, if there are foreign terrorists involved, why aren't Syria and Iran being held accountable? The President. Yes. Well, we're working closely with those countries to let them know that we expect them to enforce borders, prevent people from coming across borders if, in fact, we catch them doing that. The coalition forces have stepped up border patrol efforts. There are now more Iraqis patrolling the border. We are mindful of the fact that some might want to come into Iraq to attack and to create conditions of fear and chaos, and that's why General Abizaid, in his briefing to me yesterday, talked about the additional troops we have on the borders. And that is why it is important that we step up training for Iraqis, border patrol agents, so they can enforce their own borders. John John King, Cable News Network . National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States Q. Mr. President, thank you. As you know, the Chairman of the Commission investigating the September 11th attacks wants documents from the White House and said this week that he might have to use subpoena power. You have said there's some national security concerns about turning over some of those documents to people outside of the executive branch. Will you turn them over, or can you at least outline for the American people what you think is a reasonable compromise so that the Commission learns what it needs to know and you protect national security, if you think it's that important? The President. Yes. It is important for me to protect national security. You're talking about the Presidential daily brief. It's important for the writers of the Presidential daily brief to feel comfortable that the documents will never be politicized and or unnecessarily exposed for public purview. I and so therefore, the kind of the first statements out of this administration were very protective of the Presidential prerogatives of the past and to protect the right for other Presidents, future Presidents, to have a good Presidential daily brief. Now, having said that, I am we want to work with Chairman Kean and Vice Chairman Hamilton. And I believe we can reach a proper accord to protect the integrity of the daily brief process and, at the same time, allow them a chance to take a look and see what was in the certain the daily briefs that they would like to see. Q. Do you need to bring them here so that the Chairman and Vice Chairman can see them The President. Well, we're working out we're working out the procedures. My only point is, I do want to be helpful to Chairman Kean and Lee Hamilton. These are men of integrity. They're people who understand the process. They know the importance of the Presidential daily brief. They know the importance of the daily brief to future Presidents. And therefore, I think they will be mindful of the need to gather evidence and, at the same time, protect the capacity for Presidents to get unfettered, real, good intelligence. Norah Norah O'Donnell, NBC News . Remarks on Iraq Aboard the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln Q. Mr. President, if I may take you back to May 1st when you stood on the U.S.S. Lincoln under a huge banner that said, "Mission Accomplished." At that time you declared major combat operations were over, but since that time there have been over 1,000 wounded, many of them amputees who are recovering at Walter Reed, 217 killed in action since that date. Will you acknowledge now that you were premature in making those remarks? The President. Norah, I think you ought to look at my speech. I said, "Iraq's a dangerous place, and we've got hard work to do. There's still more to be done." And we had just come off a very successful military operation. I was there to thank the troops. The "Mission Accomplished" sign, of course, was put up by the members of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, saying that their mission was accomplished. I know it was attributed somehow to some ingenious advance man from my staff they weren't that ingenious, by the way. But my statement was a clear statement, basically recognizing that this phase of the war for Iraq was over and there was a lot of dangerous work. And it's proved to be right. It is dangerous in Iraq. It's dangerous in Iraq because there are people who can't stand the thought of a free and peaceful Iraq. It is dangerous in Iraq because there are some who believe that we're soft, that the will of the United States can be shaken by suiciders and suiciders who are willing to drive up to a Red Cross center, a center of international help and aid and comfort, and just kill. It's the same mentality, by the way, that attacked us on September the 11th, 2001 "We'll just destroy innocent life and watch the great United States and their friends and allies crater in the face of hardship." It's the exact same mentality. And Iraq is a part of the war on terror. I said it's a central front, a new front in the war on terror, and that's exactly what it is. And that's why it's important for us to be tough and strong and diligent. Our strategy in Iraq is to have our strike forces ready and capable to move quickly as we gather actionable intelligence. That's how you deal with terrorists. Remember, these are people that are willing to hide in societies and kill randomly. And therefore, the best way to deal with them is to harden targets, harden assets as best as you can. That means blockades and inspection spots. And as you noticed yesterday, one fellow tried to was done in as he tried to conduct a suicide mission. In other words, an Iraqi policeman did their job but as well that we've got to make sure that not only do we harden targets but that we get actionable intelligence to intercept the missions before they begin. That means more Iraqis involved in the intelligence gathering systems in their country so that they are active participants in securing the country from further harm. Remember, the action in Iraq was to get rid of Saddam Hussein was widely supported by the Iraqi people. And the actions that we're taking to improve their country are supported by the Iraqi people. And it's going to be very important for the Iraqi people to play an active role in fighting off the few who are trying to destroy the hopes of the many. You've heard me say that before. That's just kind of the motto of the terrorists. It's the way they operate. Plante Bill Plante, CBS News . U.S. Strategy in Iraq Q. Mr. President, in thank you. In recent weeks, you and your White House team have made a concerted effort to put a positive spin on progress in Iraq. At the same time, there's been a much more somber assessment in private, as with Secretary Rumsfeld's memo. And there are people out there who don't believe that the administration is leveling with them about the difficulty and scope of the problem in Iraq. The President. Yes, I can't put it any more plainly Iraq is a dangerous place. That's leveling. It is a dangerous place. What I was saying is, there's more than just terrorist attacks that are taking place in Iraq. There's schools opening. There are hospitals opening. The electricity the capacity to deliver electricity to the Iraqi people is back up to prewar levels. We're nearly 2 million barrels of oil a day being produced for the Iraqi people. I was just saying we've got to look at the whole picture, that what the terrorists would like is for people to focus only on the conditions which create fear, and that is the death and the toll being taken. No, Iraq is a dangerous place, Bill. And I can't put it any more bluntly than that. I know it's a dangerous place. And I also know our strategy to rout them out which is to encourage better intelligence and get more Iraqis involved and have our strike teams ready to move is the right strategy. People are constantly taking a look at the enemy. In other words, one of the hallmarks of this operation in Iraq as well as Afghanistan was the flexibility we've given our commanders. You might remember the "stuck in the desert" scenario that during the dust storms, that we're advancing to Baghdad and all of a sudden there was we got stuck. But remember that at that period of time, it also became apparent that Tommy Franks had the flexibility necessary to adjust based upon, in this case, weather conditions and what he found. And that's exactly what's taking place on a regular basis inside of Iraq. The strategy remains the same. The tactics to respond to more suiciders driving cars will alter on the ground more checkpoints, whatever they decide how to harden targets will change. And so we're constantly looking at the enemy and adjusting. And Iraq's dangerous, and it's dangerous because terrorists want us to leave. And we're not leaving. Let's see, Terry Terry Moran, ABC News , then you, Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . Reform of the Palestinian Authority Israeli Security Fence Q. Thank you, sir. Mr. President, your policies on the Middle East seem so far to have produced pretty meager results as the violence between Israelis and Palestinians The President. Major or meager? Q. Meager. The President. Oh, okay. Q. Meager. The President. Meager. Q. as the violence between Israelis and Palestinians continues. And as you heard last week from Muslim leaders in Indonesia, your policies are seen as biased towards Israel, and I'd like to ask you about that. The Government of Israel continues to build settlements in occupied territories, and it continues to build the security fence, which Palestinians see as stealing their land. You've criticized these moves mildly a couple of times, but you've never taken any concrete action to back up your words on that. Will you? The President. My policy in the Middle East is pretty clear. We are for a two state solution. We want there to be a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel. Now, in order to achieve a two state solution, there needs to be a focused effort by all concerned parties to fight off terror. There are terrorists in the Middle East willing to kill to make sure that a Palestinian state doesn't emerge. It's essential that there be a focused effort to fight off terror. Abu Mazen came here at the White House you were here. You witnessed the press conference. He pledged a focused and concerted effort to fight terror so that we could have a Palestinian state emerge. And he asked for help, which we were willing to provide. Unfortunately, he is no longer in power. He was eased out of power. And I do not see the same commitment to fight terror from the old guard. And therefore, it's going to be very hard to move the peace process forward until there's a focused effort by all parties to assume their responsibilities. You asked about the fence. I have said the fence is a problem to the extent that the fence is a opportunity to make it difficult for a Palestinian state to emerge. There is a difference between security and land acquisition, and we have made our views clear on that issue. I've also spoken to Prime Minister Sharon in the past about settlement activities. And the reason why that we have expressed concern about settlement activities is because we want the conditions for a Palestinian state on the ground to be positive, that when the Palestinians finally get people that are willing to fight off terror, the ground must be right so that a state can emerge, a peaceful state. This administration is prepared to help the Palestinians develop an economy. We're prepared to help the long suffering Palestinian people. But the long suffering Palestinian people need leadership that is willing to do what is necessary to enable a Palestinian state to come forth. Stretch. Iraqi Support for U.S. Efforts Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Senior U.S. intelligence officials on the ground in Iraq have estimated that we have, at most, 6 months to restore order there and quell the violence, or else we risk losing the support of the Iraqi populace, which you've said many times we need to make this mission work. Do you share that sense of pessimism? And if not, why not? And in addition, are you considering the possibility of possibly adding more U.S. troops to the forces already on the ground there to help restore order? The President. That's a decision by John Abizaid. He makes that General Abizaid makes the decision as to whether or not he needs more troops. I've constantly asked the Secretary of Defense, as well as when I was visiting with General Abizaid, does he have what it takes to do his mission? He told me he does. Secondly, I believe the Iraqi people are appreciative of the reconstruction efforts. The small business owners, who are all of a sudden beginning to realize there's a market developing, appreciate that. The mothers who send their children to the over 1,500 schools we've refurbished appreciate that. There are going to be new textbooks coming which no longer glorify the tyrant Saddam Hussein but glorify basic education or at least promote basic education. They will be there. I think the people of Iraq appreciate what is taking place inside the country. And what we, of course, are going to do is implement the strategy, which is encourage Iraqis to help deal with the security issues. And that's what's taking place. We're getting better intelligence, more actionable intelligence, and the Iraqi citizens themselves are willing to fight off these terrorists. If you look at some of the brave actions by the Iraqi police, people who've died for the future of their country, you know what I'm talking about. There are people willing to sacrifice for the future of their country, the Iraqi citizen the Iraqi citizens willing to sacrifice for the future of their country. Rosen James Rosen, FOX News . Flexibility in Foreign Policy Q. Thank you, sir. Perhaps the clearest, strongest message you have ever sent from any podium has been what you like to call the Bush doctrine, that is to say, if you feed a terrorist, if you clothe a terrorist, if you harbor a terrorist, you are a terrorist. And I'd like to follow up on the Middle East. You have noted that Yasser Arafat is compromised by terror. Condi Rice has said he "cavorts with terror." You've both noted that he is an obstacle to peace. He has, in political terms, choked off your last two Palestinian interlocutors. What is it that prevents you from concluding that he is, in fact, under your own definition of what a terrorist is, a terrorist and should be dealt with in the same way that you've dealt with Saddam Hussein and Charles Taylor? The President. Yes. Well, not every action requires military action, Jim. We as you noticed, for example in North Korea, we've chosen to put together a multinational strategy to deal with Mr. Kim Chong il. Not every action requires military action. As a matter of fact, military action is the very last resort for us. And a reminder When you mentioned Saddam Hussein, I just wanted to remind you that the Saddam Hussein military action took place after innumerable United Nations Security Council resolutions were passed, not one, two, or three but a lot. And so this Nation is very reluctant to use military force. We try to enforce doctrine peacefully or through alliances or multinational forums, and we will continue to do so. Yes, Elisabeth Elisabeth Bumiller, New York Times . Iraq Stabilization Group Q. Thank you, Mr. President. You recently put Condoleezza Rice, your National Security Adviser, in charge of the management of the administration's Iraq policy. What has effectively changed since she's been in charge? And the second question, can you promise a year from now that you will have reduced the number of troops in Iraq? The President. The second question is a trick question, so I won't answer it. The first question was Condoleezza Rice. Her job is to coordinate interagency. She's doing a fine job of coordinating interagency. She's doing what the role of the National Security Adviser is to not only provide good advice to the President, which she does on a regular basis I value her judgment and her intelligence but her job is also to deal interagency and to help unstick things that may get stuck, is the best way to put it. She's an unsticker. And is she listening? Okay, well, she's doing a fine job. Dana Dana Milbank, Washington Post . Disclosure of CIA Employee's Identity Q. Thank you, Mr. President. You have said that you were eager to find out whether somebody in the White House leaked the identity of an undercover CIA agent. Many experts in such investigations say you could find out if there was a leaker in the White House within hours if you asked all staff members to sign affidavits denying involvement. Why not take that step? The President. Yes. Well, the best person to do that, Dana, so that the or the best group of people to do that so that you believe the answer is the professionals at the Justice Department, and they're moving forward with the investigation. It's a criminal investigation. It is an important investigation. I'd like to know if somebody in my White House did leak sensitive information. As you know, I've been outspoken on leaks. And whether they happened in the White House or happened in the administration or happened on Capitol Hill, it is a they can be very damaging. And so this investigation is ongoing and by professionals who do this for a living, and I hope they I'd like to know. Judy Judy Keen, USA Today . Partial Birth Abortion Legislation Theresa M."Terri" Schiavo Case Q. Sir, in your last campaign, you said that the American public was not ready for a complete ban on abortion. You're about to sign legislation that will ban a certain abortion procedure known as partial birth. Do you believe that the climate has changed since the last campaign and all abortions should be banned? And do you believe your brother made the correct decision in Florida when he intervened in the case of a woman who had been ordered by the courts to be taken off life support? The President. Yes, I believe my brother made the right decision. Yes, I'll sign the ban on partial birth abortion. And no, I don't think the culture has changed to the extent that the American people or the Congress would totally ban abortions. Let's see. Who's Mark Smith Associated Press Radio , a radio man. Iraqi Aid Legislation Q. Thank you very much, sir, for including our radio folks here. The President. A face for radio. Laughter Q. I wish I could say that was the first time you told me that, sir. Laughter The President. The first time I did it to a national audience, though. Laughter Q. Actually it was my wife the last time. Laughter Your package of reconstruction aid, sir, that the Congress, as you point out, is considering that's an emergency package, meaning it's not budgeted for. Put another way, that means the American taxpayer and future generations of American taxpayers are saddled with that. Why should they be saddled with that? I know you don't want the Iraqis to be saddled with large amounts of debt, but why should future generations of Americans have that The President. Well, first of all, it's a one time expenditure, as you know, and secondly, because a secure a peaceful and free Iraq is essential to the security, future security of America. First step was to remove Saddam Hussein because he was a threat, a gathering threat, as I think I put it. And secondly is to make sure that in the aftermath of removing Saddam Hussein, that we have a free and peaceful country in the midst of a very troubled region. It's an historic opportunity. And I will continue to make that case to the American people. It's a chance to secure have a more secure future for our children. It's essential we get it right. You know, I was struck by the fact when I was in Japan recently that my relations with Prime Minister Koizumi are very close and personal. And I was thinking about what would happen if, in a post World War II era, we hadn't won the peace as well as the war. I mean, would I have had the same relationship with Mr. Koizumi? Would I be able to work closely on crucial relations? I doubt it. I doubt it. In other words, we've got very close alliances now as a result of not only winning a war but doing the right things in the postwar period. And I believe a free and peaceful Iraq will help effect change in that neighborhood. And that's why I've asked the American people to foot the tab for 20 billion of reconstruction. Others are stepping up as well 13 billion out of the Madrid Conference, which may be just only a beginning. And by the way, in the Madrid Conference, most of the money came from the World Bank and the IMF, which are lending institutions, as you know. The Iraqi oil revenues, excess Iraqi oil revenues, coupled with private investment, should make up the difference to fund the estimates of what the World Bank thought was necessary to help that country. Q. Another radio? Another radio, Mr. President? The President. Excuse me particularly since you interrupted me, no. And that's what the World Bank estimated it would cost, and it looks like we'll be able to help the Iraqis get on their feet and have a viable marketplace. Bill Douglas William Douglas, Newsday . Reform of the Palestinian Authority Iraq Q. Speaking of in speaking on Abu Mazen, do you feel this administration did everything it could to help him out with his situation? The President. Yes, I do. Q. And secondly, on Iraq, do you feel that the attacks that have happened recently will discourage some countries to contribute troops or manpower? The President. Good question. I hope not. That's what the terrorists want. They want countries to say, "Oh, gosh, well, we better not send anybody there because somebody might get hurt." That's precisely what they're trying to do. And that's why it's important for this Nation and our other coalition partners to stand our ground, to improve our intelligence, to move quickly when we find good intelligence, and to bring people to justice. The terrorists rely on the death of innocent people to create the conditions of fear that, therefore, will cause people to lose their will. That's their strategy, and it's a pretty clear strategy to me. And this country will stay the course. We'll do our job, and it's to our interest that we do our job. It's in our interest we do our job for a free world. A free Iraq is essential to creating conditions of peace. See, that's what this is all about. This is, how do we achieve a peaceful tomorrow? How do we do our duty for our children and our grandchildren? We must never forget the lessons of September the 11th. The terrorists will strike, and they will kill innocent life not only in front of a Red Cross headquarters. They will strike and kill in America too. We are at war. I said right after September the 11th, this would be a different kind of war sometimes you'd see action, and sometimes you wouldn't. It's a different kind of war than what we're used to. And Iraq is a front on the war on terror, and we will win this particular battle in the war on terror. And it's dangerous, and it's tough. And at the same time that we're confronting the danger, we're also helping rebuild a society. We put in a new currency, in place. For the financial types who are here, you'll understand how difficult that assignment is. And yet it seems to be going well. It's an achievement that is a very important achievement for the future of Iraq. A stable currency, a new currency, a currency without the picture of the dictator or the tyrant or the torturer, however you want to define him, is important for the future. And that's taking place. There's a market developing. There are women owned small businesses now beginning to flourish in Iraq. And there's positive things happening in the midst of the danger. And I hope that countries, when they take a look at the situation there, understand the nature of the terrorists and the strategy of the terrorists, and don't back off. Tom Hamburger Wall Street Journal , you got a question? If not, make one up. Meeting With Religious Leaders in Indonesia Lieutenant General Boykin Q. Mr. President, tonight you're meeting with Muslim leaders The President. Yes. Q. at an Iftaar dinner, and I wondered if you could tell us your reaction when you encountered Muslim leaders in Indonesia. Were you surprised at the hostility they expressed towards the United States and towards your policies, both in the Middle East and also, I understand that some of them brought up specific comments made by General Boykin The President. Yes, they did. Q. and I wondered if you would address those comments and whether you think that General Boykin ought to be disciplined or resign. The President. Sure, I appreciate that. First, the characterization of hostility, that just wasn't the case. It was not a hostile meeting, nor did I sense hostility. Quite the contrary, I the five leaders I met with were appreciative for a chance to express their views. But it was a very positive meeting, very hopeful. Two things that came out of there that I think will interest you One was that the question was, "Why do Americans think Muslims are terrorists?" That was the universal question from the three Muslim leaders. And my answer was, "That's not what Americans think. Americans think terrorists are evil people who have hijacked a great religion." That's why Mr. Boykin's comments were General Boykin's comments don't reflect the administration's comments. And by the way, there's an IG investigation going on inside the Defense Department now about that. He doesn't reflect my point of view or the view of this administration. Our war is not against the Muslim faith. As a matter of fact, as you mentioned, tonight we're celebrating the Iftaar dinner with Muslim leaders. But we welcome Muslims in our country. In America, we love the fact that we are a society in which people can pray openly or not pray at all, for that matter. And I made that point to the Muslim leaders. Secondly, the question was about the Middle Eastern policy. "Why is your policy so slanted toward Israel," was the question. And I informed them I was the first President ever to have advocated a Palestinian state. I did so at the United Nations. I also informed them that in order for a Palestinian state to go forward, as I told Terry, there must be a focused, concerted effort to destroy the terrorist networks who are trying to prevent a Palestinian state from emerging which requires good, strong, capable leadership, is what it requires. And so those were the two main points that were brought up. There was concern about General Boykin. It seemed like to me that we've got a challenge to make sure that people in countries like Indonesia understand the nature of the American people, that how we think is going to be an important part of good diplomacy in the long run, that we've got to fight off the imagery of a society which condemns entire swaths of people because of the acts of a few, which is not the way we are. And I was pleased to get the opportunity to make that case to the leaders that were there. It was a very cordial and good discussion, and I'm going to drop them a note thanking them for showing up and giving me a chance to talk about the America I know and love. Bill Bill Sammons, Washington Times . Aid Package for Iraq Q. Thank you, Mr. President. After more than a year of being accused by your critics of waging war for oil, is it frustrating to now hear some of those same critics demand that you essentially take that oil in the form of loans instead of grants for reconstruction? The President. Well, that's exactly the point I made to the Members of Congress who have come here to the White House to talk about loans or grants. I said, "Let's don't burden Iraq with loans. The only thing they'll be able to repay their loans with is oil." And hopefully, we'll get a good solution out of the Congress on this issue. We're making progress. We're working hard with the Members to make the case that it's very important for us not to saddle Iraq with a bunch of debt early in its in the emergence of a market oriented economy, an economy that has been wrecked by Mr. Saddam Hussein. I mean, he just destroyed their economy and destroyed their infrastructure, destroyed their education system, destroyed their medical system, all to keep himself in power. He was the ultimate Q. Inaudible on the part of your critics? The President. No, that's my answer there. Hillman G. Robert Hillman, Dallas Morning News . Foreign Policy and Domestic Politics Q. Thank you, Mr. President. You have repeatedly urged Americans to have patience when they view postwar operations in Iraq. But isn't there a limit to American patience, particularly in an election year, when your foreign policies The President. Interesting question. Q. will be the center of debate? The President. Well, I think the American people are patient during an election year, because they tend to be able to differentiate between politics and reality. As a matter of fact, the American people are the electorate is a heck of a lot smarter than most politicians. And the only thing I know to do is just keep telling people what I think is right for the country and stand my stand on what I believe, and that's what I'm going to do. And there's no question politics can will create get a lot of noise and a lot of balloon drops and a lot of hot air. I'll probably be right in the mix of it, by the way. But I will defend my record at the appropriate time and look forward to it. I'll say that the world is more peaceful and more free under my leadership and America is more secure. And that will be the that will be how I'll begin describing our foreign policy. Ed Ed Chen, Los Angeles Times , and then Bob Bob Deans, Cox Newspapers , and then I'm going to go eat lunch. Q. Are we invited? Laughter The President. It depends on your question. Q. Fair enough. Mr. President, you talked about politics. For weeks, if not months now, when questions have been posed to members of your team, those questions have been dismissed as politics, and a time will come later to address those questions. You, indeed, have said that yourself. How can the public differentiate between reality and politics when you and your campaign have raised over 80 million and you're saying that the season has not started? The President. Yes. You're not invited to lunch. Laughter Look, we are we're arming, raising money to wage a campaign. And there will be an appropriate time for me to engage politically that is, in the public forum. Right now, I'm yes, no question, I'm going out to our friends and supporters and saying, "Would you mind contributing to the campaign for the year '04?" To me, that's and that's a part of politics, no question about it. And as you know, these are open forums you're able to come and listen to what I have to say. To me, there's a difference between that and actually engaging potential opponents in a public discourse in a debate, and there will be ample time for that. There will be ample time to differentiate views and to defend records in the face of political criticism. And I know that the campaign has started for some, in terms of the public debate from a political perspective. It just hasn't for me yet. And we'll continue to lay the groundwork for the campaign. I mean, there's organizing efforts going on in States right now. There are people being put in place that are going to work hard to turn out the vote. I mean, after all, the election is nearly a year away. There will be we're preparing different strategies in order to run a viable campaign. But I'm focused on security of the American people, working with Congress to get a Medicare bill and an energy bill, and will continue to use the platform I have to urge passage of those two pieces of legislation. As a matter of fact, tomorrow I'll be giving a speech on Medicare, and the next day I'll be talking about energy and will continue to talk about job creation. But in terms of the balloon drops and all that business, it's going to take it will be a little while for me to be catching the confetti, as they say. Bob, last question. Iraqi Weapons Program Q. Thank you, sir. Mr. President The President. Fine looking vest, fine looking vest. Q. Thank you, sir. Laughter It's inspired by some of the attire from your APEC colleagues last week. Laughter The President. Yes. Laughter Q. Sir, David Kay's interim report cited substantial evidence of a secretive weapons program. But the absence of any substantial stores of chemical or biological weapons there have caused some people, even who supported the war, to feel somehow betrayed. Can you explain to those Americans, sir, whether you were surprised those weapons haven't turned up, why they haven't turned up, and whether you feel that your administration's credibility has been affected in any way by that? The President. David Kay's report said that Saddam Hussein was in material breach of 1441, which would have been casus belli. In other words, he had a weapons program. He's disguised a weapons program. He had ambitions. And I felt the report was a very interesting first report because he's still looking for to find the truth. And the American people know that Sad dam Hussein was a gathering danger, as I said. And he was a gathering danger, and the world is safer as a result for us removing him from power "us" being more than the United States, of course Britain and other countries who were willing to participate, Poland, Australia, all willing to join up to remove this danger. And the intelligence that said he had a weapons system was intelligence that had been used by a multinational agency, the U.N., to pass resolutions. It had been used by my predecessor to conduct bombing raids. It was intelligence gathered from a variety of sources that clearly said Saddam Hussein was a threat. And given the attacks of September the 11th, it was we needed to enforce U.N. resolution for the security of the world. And we did. We took action based upon good, solid intelligence. It was the right thing to do to make America more secure and the world more peaceful. And David Kay continues to ferret out the truth. This is a man Saddam Hussein is a man who hid programs and weapons for years. He's a master at hiding things. And so David Kay will continue his search, but one of the things that he first found was that there is clear violation of the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441. Material breach, they call it in the diplomatic circles. Casus belli, it means a that would have been a cause for war. In other words, he said it's dangerous. And we were right to enforce U.N. resolutions as well. It's important for the U.N. to be a credible organization. You're not credible if you issue resolutions and then nothing happens. Credibility comes when you say something is going to happen and then it does happen. And in order to keep the peace, it's important for there to be credibility in this world, credibility on the side of freedom and hope. Thank you all very much. October 27, 2003 The President. Good morning, everybody. I'll share a few words and then answer a couple of questions. First, Ambassador Bremer and General Abizaid have been briefing the Secretary of Defense and my national security team, General Myers, about the situation in Iraq. We spent time talking about the success of the donors' conference, the fact that the world community is coming together to help build a free Iraq, and we want to thank the world for the willingness to step up and to help. Ambassador Bremer was particularly pleased with not only the fact that governments stood up but that there was a series of private sector companies willing to help in Iraq, and that's a positive move for the people. We spent time, obviously, on the security situation. There are terrorists in Iraq who are willing to kill anybody in order to stop our progress. The more successful we are on the ground, the more these killers will react. And our job is to find them and bring them to justice, which is precisely what General Abizaid briefed us on. It is a the people have got to understand, the Iraqi people have got to understand that anytime you've got a group of killers willing to kill innocent Iraqis, that their future must not be determined by these kind of killers. That's what they've got to understand. I think they do understand that they do. The Ambassador and the general were briefing me on the the vast majority of Iraqis want to live in a peaceful, free world. And we will find these people, and we will bring them to justice. This Government is determined to hear the call from the Iraqis, and the call is They want a society in which their children can go to school, in which they can get good health care, in which they're able to live a peaceful life. It's in the national interest of the United States that a peaceful Iraq emerge. And we will stay the course in order to achieve this objective. Deb Deb Riechmann, Associated Press , you've got a question? Terrorist Attacks in Iraq Q. Yes, sir. Mr. President, the attacks are getting more brazen. They're getting more frequent. What do you know about who is behind these attacks? Is it Saddam? And what steps did you all discuss this morning about better protecting U.S. personnel there? The President. The best way to describe the people who are conducting these attacks are coldblooded killers, terrorists. That's all they are they're terrorists. And the best way to find them is to work with the Iraqi people to ferret them out and go get them. And that's exactly what we discussed. What was the other part of your question? Protecting U.S. Personnel Q. What steps did you discuss this morning about better protecting U.S. personnel? The President. Well, I think if you we've hardened a lot of our targets for U.S. personnel there. And today's attacks were against places like the Red Cross or police stations. These people will kill Iraqis. They don't care who they kill. They just want to kill. And we will find them, exactly what we discussed on how best to do so. The Iraqi people understand that there's a handful of people who don't want them to live in freedom, aren't interested in their children going to schools, aren't don't really care about the nature of the health care they get, aren't pleased with the fact that the electricity is coming back online, aren't happy about the fact that Iraq is now selling oil on the world markets and people are finding work. And they'll do whatever it takes to stop this progress. And our job is to work with the Iraqis to prevent this from happening. That's why we're working hard to get more Iraqi policemen. That's why we're working hard to build up the Iraqi armed forces, and that's why we're working hard with freedom loving Iraqis to help ferret these people out before they attack and strike. And Q. But, sir The President. No, that's your question. Randy Randall Mikkelsen, Reuters . Madrid Donors' Conference Veto of Iraqi Aid Bill Q. Mr. President, much of the aid offered for Iraq at the Madrid conference was in the form of loans, rather than grants. What impact might this have on your threat to veto the U.S. Iraqi aid bill if part of the reconstruction aid is in loans? The President. My attitude is the United States ought to provide reconstruction money in the form of grant. Q. So no change in the veto threat, then? The President. My attitude has been and still is that the money we provide Iraq ought to be in the form of a grant. And the reason why is we want to make sure that the constraints on the Iraqi people are limited so that they can flourish and become a free and prosperous society. Let's see. Ryan Ryan Donmoyer, Bloomberg News . Terrorist Attacks in Iraq Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Welcome back from Asia, sir. The President. Thank you very much. I'm glad somebody welcomed me back. Laughter I better call on you first next time. Laughter Q. If I may just follow on Deb's question. The President. Yes. Q. And actually, Mr. Bremer as well. The situation in Iraq, can you characterize how it is you come since July 23d, when you last met, I believe, with the President, and as you adjust tactics to deal with things like suicide bombers, what effect, if any, is that having on the hunt for weapons of mass destruction? The President. I'll let the Ambassador speak. Again, I will repeat myself, that the more progress we make on the ground, the more free the Iraqis become, the more electricity is available, the more jobs are available, the more kids that are going to school, the more desperate these killers become because they can't stand the thought of a free society. They hate freedom. They love terror. They love to try to create fear and chaos. And what we're determined in this administration is not to be intimidated by these killers. As a matter of fact, we're even more determined to work with the Iraqi people to create the conditions of freedom and peace, because it's in our national interest we do so. It's in the interest of long term peace in the world that we work for a free and secure and peaceful Iraq. A free and secure Iraq in the midst of the Middle East will have enormous historical impact. You may want to speak to the issue, Ambassador. Ambassador Bremer. Well, a lot of wonderful things have happened in Iraq since July, as you mentioned. We have a cabinet now, with ministers actually conducting affairs of state. We have met all of our goals in restoring essential services. All the schools and hospitals are open. Electricity is back at prewar levels. We're moving ahead with our plan. We'll have rough days, such as we've had the last couple of days. But the overall thrust is in the right direction, and the good days outnumber the bad days, and that's the thing you need to keep in perspective. The President. Ann Ann Compton, ABC News , yes. Last question. Sorry. Southern California Wildfires Q. The fires in Southern California, they're now not only taking homes, but there are a number of casualties. What can your administration do to come in and help? Are you getting reports on what's happening in California? The President. I have. Chief of Staff Andy Card spoke to the Governor last night, spoke to the Senators last night, Senator Boxer, spoke to Congressman Duncan Hunter, assured all three that the Federal Government will provide all resources necessary, at the request of the State, to work and fight these fires. FEMA Director Brown is on his way to California now. He will give us an assessment. We want to help put them out. This is a devastating fire, and it's a dangerous fire. And we're prepared to help in any way we can. I'm sorry, one more question sympathetic soul here. National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States Q. Thank you very much. Can you tell us if you will direct your staff to turn over the highly classified intelligence documents that the 9 11 Commission has so far been unsuccessfully seeking, even if they are Presidential daily briefings, and if so, when? The President. Yes, those are very sensitive documents. And my attorney, Al Gonzales, is working with Chairman Kean. Thank you. October 25, 2003 Good morning. Last month, I addressed the United Nations and told member countries that the peace and security of Iraq are essential to the peace and security of all free nations. I encouraged countries to help the people of Iraq to build a future of freedom and stability. I also called for a U.N. resolution supporting the efforts of our coalition in Iraq. The Security Council has now responded by unanimously passing Resolution 1511, which endorses a multinational force in Iraq under U.S. command and urges greater international support for Iraqi reconstruction. In recent weeks, leaders of South Korea, Japan, Great Britain, Denmark, Spain, and other nations have committed billions of dollars to Iraqi reconstruction. This week brought even more progress. In Madrid, representatives of more than 70 nations and international bodies, including the World Bank, UNICEF, and the Organization of the Islamic Conference, gathered to discuss the future needs of Iraq and the ways in which other countries can help. And these nations and international organizations pledged billions of dollars to aid the reconstruction of Iraq. This growing financial support will allow us to build on the success of the broad military coalition already serving in Iraq. Today, American forces in Iraq are joined by about 24,000 troops from 32 other countries, including Great Britain, Poland, the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Thailand, El Salvador, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, and the Philippines. Coalition forces are helping to hunt down the terrorists and Saddam holdouts, clearing mines from Iraqi waterways so that aid shipments can proceed, and coordinating the recruitment and training of a new Iraqi police force, army, and border police. Members of our coalition are also showing the compassion of our cause in Iraq. We are rebuilding schools and clinics and powerplants. The Iraqi people are moving steadily toward a free and democratic society. Economic life is being restored to the cities. A new Iraqi currency is circulating. Local governments are up and running. And Iraq will soon begin the process of drafting a constitution, with free elections to follow. There is still difficult work ahead, because freedom has enemies in Iraq. Terrorists and loyalists of the former regime reveal their true character by their choice of targets. They have attacked diplomats and embassies, relief workers, and the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad, all symbols of the international effort to help the Iraqi people. America and the international community will not be intimidated. Every coalition member understands that Iraq must never again become the home of tyranny and terror and a threat to the world. So we will be patient and determined and unified. America will continue working with the United Nations and our coalition partners to finish the work we have begun. Having liberated Iraq from a brutal tyrant, we will stand with the people of Iraq as that country becomes more stable, secure, and free. Thank you for listening. October 23, 2003 President Bush. Governor General Michael Jeffery, Prime Minister John Howard, Speaker of the House, Leader of the Senate, Leader of the Opposition Simon Crean, distinguished Members of the House and the Senate, Premiers, members of the diplomatic corps, ladies and gentlemen Laura and I are honored to be in the Commonwealth of Australia. I want to thank the Prime Minister for his invitation. I want to thank the Members and Senators for convening this session of the Parliament. I want to thank the people of Australia for a gracious welcome. Five months ago, your Prime Minister was a distinguished visitor of ours in Crawford, Texas, at our ranch. You might remember that I called him a "man of steel." Laughter That's Texan for "fair dinkum." Laughter Prime Minister John Howard is a leader of exceptional courage who exemplifies the finest qualities of one of the world's great democracies. I'm proud to call him friend. Americans know Australia as a land of independent and enterprising and good hearted people. We see something familiar here, something we like. Australians are fair minded and tolerant and easygoing. Yet in times of trouble and danger, Australians are the first to step forward, to accept the hard duties, and to fight bravely until the fighting is done. In a hundred years of experience, American soldiers have come to know the courage and good fellowship of the "diggers" at their side. We fought together in the Battle of Hamel, together in the Coral Sea, together in New Guinea, on the Korean Peninsula, in Vietnam. And in the war on terror, once again we're at each other's side. In this war, the Australia and American people have witnessed the methods of the enemy. We saw the scope of their hatred on September the 11, 2001. We saw the depth of their cruelty on October the 12, 2002. We saw destruction and grief, and we saw our duty. As free nations in peril, we must fight this enemy with all our strength. No country can live peacefully in a world that the terrorists would make for us. And no people are immune from the sudden violence that can come to an office building or an airplane or a nightclub or a city bus. Your nation and mine have known the shock and felt the sorrow and laid the dead to rest. And we refuse to live our lives at the mercy of murderers. The nature of the terrorist threat defines the strategy we are using to fight it. These committed killers will not be stopped by negotiations. They will not respond to reason. The terrorists cannot be appeased. They must be found. They must be fought, and they must be defeated. The terrorists hide and strike within free societies, so we're draining their funds, disrupting their plans, finding their leaders. The skilled work of Thai and Indonesia and other authorities in capturing the terrorist Hambali suspected of planning the murders in Bali and other attacks was a model of the determined campaign we are waging. The terrorists seek safe harbor to plot and to train, so we're holding the allies of terror to account. America, Australia, and other nations acted in Afghanistan to destroy the home base of Al Qaida and rid that country of a terror regime. And the Afghan people, especially Afghan women, do not miss the bullying and the beatings and the public executions at the hands of the Taliban. The terrorists hope to gain chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons, the means to match their hatred. So we're confronting outlaw regimes that aid terrorists, that pursue weapons of mass destruction, and that defy the demands of the world. America, Australia, and other nations acted in Iraq to remove a grave and gathering danger, instead of wishing and waiting while tragedy drew closer. Since the liberation of Iraq, we have discovered Saddam's clandestine network of biological laboratories, the design work on prohibited long range missiles, his elaborate campaign to hide illegal weapons programs. Saddam Hussein spent years frustrating U.N. inspectors for a simple reason because he was violating U.N. demands. And in the end, rather than surrender his programs and abandon his lies, he chose defiance and his own undoing. Who can possibly think that the world would be better off with Saddam Hussein still in power? Surely not the dissidents who would be in his prisons or end up in his mass graves. Surely not the men and women who would fill Saddam's torture chambers and rape rooms. Surely not the families of the victims he murdered with poison gas. Surely not anyone who cares about human rights and democracy and stability in the Middle East. Today, Saddam's regime is gone, and no one At this point, there was a disturbance in the audience. Speaker Andrew. Senator Brown, I warn you Senator Brown will excuse himself from the House. Senator Brown will excuse himself from the House. The Sergeant will remove Senator Brown from the House. The President. President Bush. Surely no one who cares about human rights and democracy and stability in the Middle East. Today, Saddam Hussein's regime is gone, and no one should mourn its passing. In the months leading up to our action in Iraq, Australia and America went to the United Nations. We are committed to multilateral institutions, because global threats require a global response. We're committed to collective security, and collective security requires more than solemn discussions and sternly worded pronouncements. It requires collective will. If the resolutions of the world are to be more than ink on paper, they must be enforced. If the institutions of the world are to be more than debating societies, they must eventually act. If the world promises serious consequences for the defiance of the lawless, then serious consequences must follow. Because we enforced Resolution 1441 and used force in Iraq as a last resort, there is one more free nation in the world, and all free nations are more secure. We accepted our obligations with open eyes, mindful of the sacrifices that had been made and those to come. The burdens fall most heavily on the men and women of our Armed Forces and their families. The world has seen the bravery and skill of the Australian military. Your Special Operations forces were among the first units on the ground in Iraq. And in Afghanistan, the first casualty among America's allies was Australian, Special Air Service Sergeant Andrew Russell. This afternoon, I will lay a wreath at the Australian War Memorial in memory of Sergeant Russell and the long line of Australians who have died in the service to this nation. And my Nation honors their service to the cause of freedom, to the cause we share. Members and Senators, with decisive victories behind us, we have decisive days ahead. We cannot let up on our offensive against terror, even a bit. And we must continue to build stability and peace in the Middle East and Asia as the alternatives to hatred and fear. We seek the rise of freedom and self government in Afghanistan and in Iraq for the benefit of their people, as an example to their neighbors and for the security of the world. America and Australia are helping the people of both those nations to defend themselves, to build the institutions of law and democracy, and to establish the beginnings of free enterprise. These are difficult tasks in civil societies wrecked by years of tyranny. And it should surprise no one that the remnants and advocates of tyranny should fight liberty's advance. The advance of liberty will not be halted. The terrorists and the Taliban and Saddam holdouts are desperately trying to stop our progress. They will fail. The people of Afghanistan and Iraq measure progress every day. They are losing the habits of fear, and they are gaining the habits of freedom. Some are skeptical about the prospects for democracy in the Middle East and wonder if its culture can support free institutions. In fact, freedom has always had its skeptics. Some doubted that Japan and other Asian countries could ever adopt the ways of self government. The same doubts have been heard at various times about Germans and Africans. At the time of the Magna Carta, the English were not considered the most promising recruits for democracy. Laughter And to be honest, sophisticated observers had serious reservations about the scruffy travelers who founded our two countries. Laughter Every milestone of liberty was considered impossible before it was achieved. In our time, we must decide our own belief Either freedom is the privilege of an elite few, or it is the right and capacity of all humanity. By serving our ideals, we also serve our interests. If the Middle East remains a place of anger and hopelessness and incitement, this world will tend toward division and chaos and violence. Only the spread of freedom and hope in the Middle East in the long term will bring peace to that region and beyond. And the liberation of more than 50 million Iraqis and Afghans from tyranny is progress to be proud of. Our nations must also confront the immediate threat of proliferation. We cannot allow the growing ties of trade and the forces of globalization to be used for the secret transport of lethal materials. So our two countries are joining together in the Proliferation Security Initiative. We're preparing to search planes and ships and trains and trucks carrying suspect cargo to seize weapons or missile shipments that raise proliferation concerns. Last month, Australia hosted the first maritime interdiction exercise in the Coral Sea. Australia and the United States are also keeping pressure on Iran to conform to its letter and spirit of the nonproliferation obligations. We're working together to convince North Korea that the continued pursuit of nuclear weapons will bring only further isolation. The wrong weapons, the wrong technology in the wrong hands, has never been so great a danger, and we are meeting that danger together. Our nations have a special responsibility throughout the Pacific to help keep the peace, to ensure the free movement of people and capital and information, and advance the ideals of democracy and freedom. America will continue to maintain a forward presence in Asia, continue to work closely with Australia. Today, America and Australia are working with Japan and the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and Singapore and other nations to expand trade and to fight terror, to keep the peace in the Taiwan Straits. Your country is hosting President Hu Jintao. Australia's agenda with China is the same as my country's. We're encouraged by China's cooperation in the war on terror. We're working with China to ensure the Korean Peninsula is free of nuclear weapons. We see a China that is stable and prosperous, a nation that respects the peace of its neighbors and works to secure the freedom of its own people. Security in the Asia Pacific region will always depend on the willingness of nations to take responsibility for their neighborhood, as Australia is doing. Your service and your sacrifice helped to establish a new Government and a new nation in East Timor. And working with New Zealand and other Pacific Island states, you're helping the Solomon Islands reestablish order and build a just Government. By your principled actions, Australia is leading the way to peace in Southeast Asia. And America is grateful. Together There was a disturbance in the audience. President Bush. Together, my country, with Australia, is promoting greater economic opportunity. Our nations are now working to complete a U.S. Australia Free Trade Agreement that will add momentum to the free trade throughout the Asian Pacific region, while producing jobs in our own countries. There was a disturbance in the audience. Speaker Andrew. Senator Nettle will resume her seat. Sergeant, remove Senator Nettle. Senator Nettle will resume her seat. The President has the call. Senator Nettle is warned. Sergeant will remove Senator Nettle. President Bush. I love free speech. Laughter Speaker Andrew. The President has the call. President Bush. The relationship between America and Australia is vibrant and vital. Together, we will meet the challenges and the perils of our own time. In the desperate hours of another time, when the Philippines were on the verge of falling and your country faced the prospect of invasion, General Douglas MacArthur addressed Members of the Australian Parliament. He spoke of a code that unites our two nations, the code of free people, which, he said, "embraces the things that are right and condemns the things that are wrong." More then 60 years later, that code still guides us. We call evil by its name and stand for freedom that leads to peace. Our alliance is strong. We value, more than ever, the unbroken friendship between the Australian and the American peoples. My country is grateful to you and to all the Australian people for your clear vision and for your strength of heart. And I thank you for your hospitality. May God bless you all. October 23, 2003 Thank you all very much. Aloha! Thank you. Please be seated. Thanks for the warm welcome. If I seem a little jet lagged laughter it's because I've spent a long week away from home. After 8 days on the road and more than 18,000 miles in the air, it's great to be back in America. And it's really great to be in the beautiful State of Hawaii. We had a great trip. I visited with some of our strongest allies in the war on terror and some of the Nation's most important trading partners. We made progress on a broad agenda, an agenda that will help make America more secure and more prosperous. I want to thank each of you for giving me a warm welcome home. I particularly want to thank you for your strong support. See, what we're doing today is we're laying the foundation for a victory in Hawaii and a nationwide victory in 2004. As your Governor said, and my chairman of the campaign here said, we need more than just financial contributions. We need you talking up the campaign. We need you going to your coffee shops and your houses of worship and your community centers and reminding everybody that this administration has got an optimistic, positive, hopeful agenda for everybody who lives in America. I'm getting ready, and I'm loosening up. Laughter But the political season will come in its own time. I've got a job to do. And there's a lot on the agenda in Washington. I'm going to continue, though, to work hard to earn the confidence of every American by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. As we go about our work in Washington, Vice President Cheney and I are grateful for the continuing support in Hawaii. We appreciate our friends here. I also appreciate the unique contributions native Hawaiians have made to this State and to our Nation. I'm impressed by the rich culture of the native Hawaiian people. I respect our shared traditions, and I appreciate Governor Lingle's dedication to all of Hawaii's citizens. You've got a great Governor for this State. And I've got a great wife. I'm really proud of Laura. She's a fabulous mom, a wonderful wife, and a great First Lady for our country. And I appreciate the Lieutenant Governor, Duke Aiona. I appreciate Felix Camacho, who is the Governor of Guam, who is with us today. I want to thank the members of the statehouse who are here. We've got a lot of State representatives. The Governor was telling me she wants to increase the number in '04. Mayor Arakawa is here from Maui. Bryan Baptiste is here. I appreciate you, Mr. Mayor. I want to thank Travis Thompson, who was our event cochairman. I want to thank all the other cochairs for their hard work. I want to thank the grassroots activists who are here, the party chairmen, the national committeewoman. But most of all, I want to thank you all for coming. It warms our heart. This is a big crowd, and we're honored. In the last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and to future generations. I came to seize opportunities and let instead of letting them slip away. This administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And then our country was attacked. And we marched to war for our security and for peace. And we had scandals in corporate America, all of which affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed two tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. When Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. We're returning more money to the people to help them raise their family. We're reducing the taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, this administration is laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America, so every single person in this country has a chance to realize the American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We've increased spending for Title I students. We've increased spending at the Federal level. But in return for increased Federal dollars, we expect results, because we believe every child can read and write and add and subtract. This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse making are over. We expect results in every classroom so that not one single child is left behind. We reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to safeguard our borders and ports and to better protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for our farmers and ranchers and manufacturers and entrepreneurs. We passed budget agreements to help maintain much needed spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. The Congress gets credit. I enjoy working with our Speaker, Denny Hastert, and the majority leader, Bill Frist. They're fine people. We work together to try to change the tone in Washington, to elevate the debate, to focus on results. After all, we're there to represent the people. And those are the kind of people I have asked to join my administration results oriented, decent, hard working people from all walks of life. I have put together a fantastic administration for the American people. Our country has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion. Laughter In 2 1 2 years, we have done a lot. We have come far, but our work is only beginning. I've set great goals worthy of this great Nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion, so that every citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and to realize the great promise of our country. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest. We will not tire. We will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking coalition forces and aid workers and innocent citizens. They know that the advance of freedom in Iraq would be a major defeat for the cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of the United States of America. America will not be intimidated. We're aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we will not have to face them in our own country. We're calling other nations to help build a free country in Iraq, which will make us all more secure. We're standing with the Iraqi people as they assume their defense and move toward self government. These are not easy tasks, but they are essential tasks. We will finish what we have begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And I believe that freedom is the right of every person, and I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world. And when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. This great, strong, and compassionate land is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges here at home as well. And our actions will prove that we're equal to those challenges. Any time somebody who wants to work can't find a job, says we've got a problem. This administration will continue to create the conditions for economic growth and economic vitality, so every single citizen can find work. We have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. The Congress took historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and Senate have passed reforms to increase the choices for seniors and to provide coverage for prescription drugs. They must get their differences ironed out and get a bill to my desk. The sooner they get the job done, the sooner America's seniors will get the health care they need. For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doctor deserve their day in court. Yet the system should not simply reward lawyers who are fishing for rich settlements. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, and they therefore affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. The House of Representatives has passed a good bill to reform the system. The bill is now stuck in the United States Senate. The Senate must act on behalf of the American people. Senators must understand, no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. I have a responsibility as your President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the United States Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. This country needs a comprehensive energy plan. You may have noticed last summer that we had a problem with the delivery of electricity in parts of our country. Laughter We need to modernize our systems. If we're interested in economic growth, we need a modern system, one that we need laws that encourage investment in order to modernize the system. We need to use our technologies to encourage conservation. We need to use our technologies to enable us to explore for energy in environmentally friendly ways. But for the sake of our national security and for the sake of our economic security, we need to be less reliant on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism by applying the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens who are in need. There are millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so that more Americans can serve their communities and their country. Both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring our children and caring for the homeless and offering hope to the addicted. This Nation should not fear faith we ought to welcome faith into the compassion and help of citizens in need. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their own home. We have a minority home ownership gap in America. I presented a plan to the United States Congress to close that gap, and I urge them to act. We want people to own and manage their own health care plan. We want people to own and manage their own retirement account. We want more people to own their own small businesses, because in America we understand, if a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of this country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make. We're working to change the culture in this country from one that said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a new culture in which each of understands we're responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mother or a father, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're concerned about the quality of the education in your community, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you are a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in the new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. We can see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us. I started the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need. Your response has been strong. I get reports about our faith based and charities that are strong all across America. People want to serve our country. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear this Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it, and we know that for our country, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you. October 23, 2003 President Bush. Can't get any better than that. Laughter Australia U.S. Free Trade Agreement Q. Mr. Bush, did you discuss the free trade agreement? And how are you committed to keeping agriculture in the free trade agreement if it goes ahead? President Bush. What I'm committed to is seeing that we can get this free trade agreement done by the end of December. That's what John and I talked about in Crawford. I think a free trade agreement with Australia would be good for America, good for American workers. I also believe that it would be good for Australia. Prime Minister Howard. Very good. President Bush. And the commitment we talked about was to make sure our negotiators push forward with a deal. Obviously, agriculture is an important issue intellectual property is an important issue. There's a lot of important issues that we've got to work through if and I think we can. Prime Minister Howard. Thank you. American? President Bush. Yes, Tom. War on Terror Q. Mr. President, the Defense Secretary has written a memorandum saying there have been mixed results in the war on terror, that it's going to be a long, hard slog, and no bold steps have been taken yet. Do you agree with that characterization? President Bush. What I agree with is that the war on terror is going to be tough work, and it's going to take a while. And we're making great progress. We're dismantling the Al Qaida network. They hide in hills, in caves, and you know, they hide in free societies. And it takes a while to find them, which is why John Howard and I talked a lot about sharing intelligence and finding these killers before they kill again, people like Hambali, who was routed out of society. The Australians and the Prime Minister were very helpful, as was our intelligence service. But the success went to the Thai authority. Prime Minister Howard. Yes, I met the general that handcuffed him. President Bush. Yes, he's a good fellow. Anyway, we've got work to do. This is a long war on terror. And removing Saddam Hussein from power was an important part of winning the war on terror. Ridding Afghanistan of the Taliban was an important part of winning the war on terror. I haven't seen the Secretary's comments, but somebody told me they thought he said we need to make sure our military's intelligence services are focused on the war on terror. And I couldn't agree more with you. That's exactly what we're doing. Australian Detainees in Guantanamo Bay Iraq Q. Mr. President, on the war on terror, and in light of the Rumsfeld memo, are you inclined now to ask Australia for more assistance in Iraq? And how long do you intend to hold the two Australians detained in Guantanamo Bay without charge or trial? And have you discussed that with the Prime Minister? President Bush. I did discuss it with the Prime Minister. There's a process, ongoing process to deal with these two people that were picked up off of a battlefield of war. And I think one of the somebody in the Australian media, when they were in America, asked me about torture or some it's alleged allegations of torture. It's ridiculous, utterly ridiculous. And we will deal with them in a in a way that conforms to our standards. John the Prime Minister I keep calling him John we're close friends. The Prime Minister and I have talked about the procedures, and I assured him these people will be taken care of in a way that conforms with our rules and regulations. The first question was oh, Iraq. Listen, Australia has made a tremendous contribution in Iraq. Their troops were fantastic. They laid it on the line, and every military person I talked to about the contribution of the Australians was had high praise for the skill and the strength and spirit of the Aussie troops. In my judgment, Australia has made a significant contribution to peace and freedom, and the people of Iraq who suffered in the hands of a brutal tyrant are very thankful for the contributions of the Australians. Adam. Australia U.S. Relations Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, you called Australia a "sheriff." Does that mean Australia should flex its military might more in Asia? And Mr. Howard, how do you see the job of a sheriff? President Bush. Yes, Adam can I put it in context? Q. Please. President Bush. I was asked the question, is Australia America's deputy sheriff that was the question. It was a very careful, clever question. I don't think you were I don't think you asked it, Adam. And my answer was, "No, we're equal. We're equal partners on the war on terror. We're equal partners working for a world that's more free." And today in my speech to the Parliament, I will praise Australia's work in this part of the world. I'll note the fact that Australia led in East Timor. And Australia's Australia is carrying a heavy load, for which we are grateful. And I appreciate you, Mr. Prime Minister. I said Mr. Prime Minister somebody told me that they made fun of me for call ing or they made fun of the Prime Minister, when they call him "the man of steel." I'm going to repeat the words. That's a high compliment. That means in the face of criticism, he's staying strong, that he does what he think is right. And the world is better for the leader leaders like Prime Minister John Howard. Prime Minister Howard. You asked me, did the President put in correct and proper Texan we were in Crawford. And so the language of sheriff and deputy sort of rolls easily off any tongue, particularly an American tongue. Look, our role in the region is I've categorized it as that of helpem fren. That is for the benefit of the Americans, that is pidgin English used by the Pacific Islanders. It means helping a friend. And I see Australia's role in the region as helping friends. And that's what we're doing in the Solomons. It's what we did in East Timor. It's what we may have to do again in other parts of that region. But when necessity arises, we help people. We don't see ourselves as having any kind of enforcement role, but we're always good to our allies, particularly the United States, to defend values that are important to both our societies. Thank you. October 22, 2003 President Megawati. President George Bush and I have just concluded the meeting. I have met with His Excellency, the President, several times. Our last meeting was in New York on 23d September, 2003, when we attended the 58th session of the United Nations General Assembly. I attach great importance of my personal relation with President Bush as well as of bilateral relations between Indonesia and the United States, for both are the large democratic countries in the world and have great potential of cooperation. We started our meeting today by conducting bilateral talks. It was followed by working luncheon attended by a number of members of the Cabinet. During the talks, we have discussed issues of common concern, namely counterterrorism U.S. support to the democratization and reform process in Indonesia military cooperation U.S. support to the territorial integrity and national unity of the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia and renunciation to any terrorist movement in the country U.S. support to the Indonesian economy through a inaudible free process, particularly in the post IMF program and cooperation in the field of education in Indonesia. In addition, we have exchanged our view of various regional and international issues, among others, on the latest development in Asia and the situation in the Middle East, despite the fact that we do not always share common perspective. But we both continue to hold mutual understanding that it is to the interest of the two countries to maintain consultation and cooperation in the pursuit of global peace. Following bilateral talks and lunch, I accompanied President Bush in his meeting with some eminent leading figures from Islam, Hindu, and Christian. I regard this particular meeting as positive development as the Indonesian religion figures had the opportunity to conduct open and direct dialog with the leader of the U.S. administration. I am pleased to note that both sides were in agreement about the importance of religion tolerance as one of the major pillars of democracy in Indonesia. My current meeting with President Bush might be the last before the two countries carry out general election in 2004. We will continue to foster cordial and cooperative bilateral relations. May I now invite President George W. Bush to present his remarks. Thank you. President Bush. Thank you, Madam President. Good afternoon. Thank you very much. Laura and I are honored to be in Indonesia, the world's third largest democracy and the world's home to the world's largest Muslim population. Indonesia is a vital partner, and Indonesia is a friend of America. We share a commitment to democracy and tolerance. We stand together against terrorism. I thank President Megawati for her leadership, for her friendship, and for her hospitality today. The success of Indonesia as a pluralistic and democratic state is essential to the peace and prosperity of this region. Indonesians profess many faiths and honor many traditions. And like Americans, you understand that diversity can be a source of strength. Your national motto, "Unity in diversity," sounds a lot like our own, "Out of many, one." Americans admire the way Indonesians maintain unity and balance modern ideas with ancient traditions and deep religious faith. More than 200 years ago, the Founders of my country recognized and protected the essential role of religion in society within a democratic and pluralistic constitution. Your constitution affirms the same inalienable right of all to worship freely, a gift from your founders that enriches the Indonesian nation to this day. Earlier, just minutes ago, we met with five Indonesian religious leaders, including leaders of Indonesia's two largest Islamic organizations, who are sustaining Indonesia's tradition of tolerance and moderation. Americans hold a deep respect for the Islamic faith, which is professed by a growing number of my own citizens. We know that Islam is fully compatible with liberty and tolerance and progress, because we see the proof in your country and in our own. Terrorists who claim Islam as their inspiration defile one of the world's great faiths. Murder has no place in any religious tradition. It must find no home in Indonesia. Nearly 3 months ago, America shared Indonesia's grief when a suicide bomber killed 14 people outside a Jakarta hotel. One year ago, miles from where we now stand, Indonesia suffered the worst terrorist attack in its history when over 200 innocent men and women lost their lives. Today we pay tribute to the victims. We remember the suffering of their families, and we reaffirm our commitment to win the war on terror. President Megawati has confronted this evil directly. She was one of the first leaders to stand with me after September the 11th. Under her leadership, Indonesia is hunting and finding dangerous killers. America appreciates Indonesia's strong cooperation in the war on terror. America believes that freedom and democracy are critical to defeating terror, because free nations that respect human rights do not breed hatred, resentment, and the ideologies of murder. The United States is working for democracy and freedom and economic progress in Afghanistan and Iraq, to lift millions out of poverty, to overcome years of brutal repression, to help create a more secure and safe world. And the United States strongly supports a healthy democracy in Indonesia, for the sake of your own people and for the sake of peace. Indonesians have made good progress over the last 5 years in strengthening democracy and in building the civil institutions that sustain freedom. Next year, your country will reach an important milestone when some 150 million Indonesians vote in the nation's first ever elected Presidential election. The United States is working with Indonesia to support these historic elections. In a short time, Indonesia has traveled far down the road to full democracy, and Indonesians should be proud of this accomplishment. We'll also support Indonesia's efforts to build an education system that teaches values and discourages extremism. I will propose to our Congress a 6 year, 157 million program to support basic education in Indonesia. The partnership between our two peoples is strong and is growing stronger. In all that lies ahead, in the defense of freedom, in the advance of tolerance and democracy, Indonesia will have a firm ally in the American Government, and you'll have the friendship and the respect of the American people. Thank you, Madam President. President Megawati. Thank you. President Bush. I think we'll take a couple of questions is that not true from alternating both sides? President Megawati. Yes. President Bush. Would you like to call on somebody first? I'll call on him. You call on laughter you sure you want to call on him? Laughter Okay. U.S. Middle East Policy Q. Mr. President, some of the religious leaders that you just met with have said that U.S. foreign policy is biased toward Israel and against Muslims, making it easy for the terrorists to find recruits. How do you answer those charges, and how do you deal with that situation? President Bush. Our foreign policy is for a development of a Palestinian state that lives side by side with Israel in peace. And I'm the first President to ever articulate such a vision, and I still believe it is possible. In order to achieve a Palestinian state living side by side in peace, there needs to be leadership willing to fight off the terror that is trying to prevent the state from emerging. U.S. Foreign Policy Goals Q. I would like to ask question in Indonesian. Because your visit to Indonesia has been opposed by many people, what is your views? And is there a possibility of a change in your foreign policy view, which is seen as imbalanced toward the Islamic world? President Bush. Well, I strongly believe in peace and freedom. I think it's important for the world to be as free as possible, and I strongly believe that free nations are peaceful nations. And my foreign policy promotes that. America is also a compassionate nation. We lead the world in helping feed the hungry and battle disease. I look forward to working with the President in terms of allowing Indonesians to use our money to help implement an education system that the Government decides, not America. No, I'm proud of our foreign policy. President Megawati. Can I still add something? Because you also spontaneously accepted the invitation of my invitation to come to Indonesia, which proves that he is very open to come to this country of ours in this spontaneous way. North Korea Iran Q. North Korea is rejecting your offer as laughable and still insisting on a nonaggression treaty. How do you proceed from here? And are you confident that Iran is forswearing nuclear weapons? President Bush. Well, first of all, I want to thank the Foreign Ministers from Great Britain and France and Germany and their Governments for taking a very strong universal message to the Iranians that they should disarm. The Iranians have it looks like they are accepting the demands of the free world, and now it's up to them to prove that they've accepted the demands. That's a very positive development. On terms of North Korea, we had a really good visit at APEC about how best to resolve the North Korean issue peacefully, how best to convince the North Koreans to disarm, at least abandon their nuclear ambitions nuclear weapons ambitions. And we had good progress in Bangkok. And there's going to be a series of these statements that I guess are trying to stand up to the five nations that are now united in convincing North Korea to disarm. And my only reaction is we'll continue to send the very clear message to the North Koreans. The good news is that there's other nations besides America now sending the message. Q. Inaudible is that helping the climate? President Bush. Launching missiles into the sea? No, of course, not. Look, the guy, he we'll determine whether he's serious or not. He wanted to have dialog we're having dialog. And he wanted a security agreement, and we're willing to advance a multiparty security agreement, assuming that he is willing to abandon his nuclear weapons designs and programs. And we'll just stay the course. Wait a minute, you're crowding out the host press. This is unbelievable. Laughter This is unilateralism at its worst. I've never heard laughter two and two, Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . Sorry. President's Visit Q. Mr. President President Bush. Yes. Q. what is the message you would like to convey to the Indonesian people with this 3 hour visit, the shortest one that you make among the six nation visit in this journey? President Bush. Yes, well, first of all, it's been a it might not have been very long, but it's been very productive. And my message is, thank you for the hospitality, and thank you for the wonderful exchange we've had with the President. I'm traveling to a lot of countries in a very quick period of time, and I appreciate the fact that the Indonesian Government was able to accommodate my desires to come here. And we've got a lot in common. We both appreciate democracy. We both care about trade so that our nations can prosper. We both care about educating people so that children have a chance to succeed in life. We both love freedom, and we both want the world to be peaceful. And we had a great exchange along those lines. So my message to the Indonesian people is, thank you very much for the warm hospitality. And I want to thank the President for the warm hospitality as well. Thank you all very much. That's it. President Megawati. That's it? President Bush. Unless you want to keep answering questions. Laughter I'll stay here as long as you want to. President Megawati. No President Bush. You want to? Okay. Laughter October 22, 2003 The President. What I thought I would do is just Q. On the record? The President. Yes, on the record. I thought I would just give you some observations of this trip and then answer some questions. Just first observation is that we have worked hard to build up good bilateral relations in the Far East. And the part of the purpose of the trip is to continue to foster those relations. It struck me as interesting that the United States now has got good enough relations with both with countries like Japan and South Korea and China to effect policy which helps our mutual security and our economy and economy. I think that's a very positive development. The most notable example of where that is taking where it is helping is in North Korea. When I visited with Hu Jintao, I spent a lot of time talking about North Korea, our mutual desire to effect change with Kim Chong il. And it was a very positive discussion. But I also had the very same discussion with Koizumi and President Roh. I mentioned it to Vladimir. I didn't have a bilateral with Vladimir Putin, but I did talk to him about it in passing. My point is, is that by working hard to establish good relations on a lot of fronts, when a common problem arises, we can effect the solution in a positive way. I know you asked me, Steve Steve Holland, Reuters , about the North Korean reaction. I didn't exactly see what official said it. But I what I hope my answer conveyed to you in public there was that this requires a degree of patience, because Kim Chong il is used to being able to deal bilaterally with the United States. But the change of policy now is, is that he must deal with other nations, most notably China. And I was pleased with my discussions with Hu Jintao, about his reaffirming his mutual desire or his desire, which is our mutual goal, that Kim Chong il disarm. He realizes that it's a problem. We discussed the security guarantees, what form they may come in. I made it very clear, obviously I said this during the pool spray there that a treaty is not going to happen, but there are other ways to effect on paper what I have said publicly we have no intention of invading. Obviously, any guarantee would be conditional on Kim Chong il doing what he hopefully will say he'll do, which is to get rid of his nuclear weapons programs. The APEC summit was positive. I mean, one of the things that's very important the two things that came out of that, although evidently didn't get equal emphasis, but they were equally emphasized by all parties, was, one, the need to get the Doha Round of trade going again. This was really one of the first official meetings of a group of countries after the Cancun talks broke down. And there was a positive statement coming out of the meeting, kind of universal agreement that Cancun was a missed opportunity. Hopefully the missed opportunity will be will serve as a catalyst. I think people now have taken a step back and said, "Well, we did miss an opportunity," and hopefully this will enable the talks kind of not start at ground zero but have a running start as a result of the missed opportunity. And it's interesting, in the room there is something like 60 percent of all the world trade was affected was countries in that room, and therefore it was a, I think, a very positive and strong statement. The other thing was the clear understanding of the countries of the need to fight terror. That's important for the United States, that people continue to recognize that the war on terror goes on. I've always felt that there's a tendency for people to kind of seek a comfort zone and hope that the war on terror is over. And I view it as a responsibility of the United States to remind people of our mutual obligations to deal with the terrorists. That notion of responsible behavior by countries was finally accepted. This was not a didn't require a lot of push. People understood. President Megawati understands that when terrorists bomb Bali, it affects economies. It not only there's a serious economic consequence, same thing we felt on September the 11th, to our economy. That was a very positive development. Bilateral discussion with all the leaders in those bilateral discussions, we talked about this war on terror. Gloria Arroyo, with Abu Sayyaf, President Megawati just hours ago, we talked about the continued need for us to work together. I think the other notable when you step back and take a look at what our work with these Asian countries has been, they understand the Iraq issue well. South Korea was very forthcoming. Japan is forthcoming. Hu Jintao made it clear that he that a peaceful Iraq was in the world interest. Those are all positive developments in kind of the aftermath of the military operation. And I think it speaks to our the nature of our relationship with these countries right now. Obviously we haven't been to Australia, but Australia is a key component in a peaceful Asia Pacific region and a key partner in the war on terror. So I'm looking forward to seeing John Howard. He and I have got a great relationship. He is a as I said in Crawford, he's a man of steel. He's a standup guy. Q. A sheriff? The President. He's a sheriff. See, that's a good lesson. You should never answer the question you're asked. Laughter Actually, I answered it for a reason. Of all the people in the world who understand Texas, it's probably Australians. Q. Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters . The President. Yes, Patsy. Anyway, it's going to be a good visit down there. We had some good discussions there at APEC, but this will be a chance to further our discussions and assure the Australian people that the American people are really grateful for the support and mutual efforts to make the world secure. I had a good visit with the religious leaders today. It was an important visit. There were three Muslims, a Christian, and a Hindu. A couple of observations from the meeting One, there was kind of a sense that Americans believe that Muslims are terrorists. And one of the reasons I wanted to have this meeting was because I wanted to make it very clear that I didn't feel that way and Americans don't feel that way. And I made it assured them that Americans know that these terrorists are hiding behind Islam in order to create fear and chaos and death. Secondly, there was a they did bring up the Middle East. I explained to them what our policy was, that in order for there to be a Palestinian state and I reminded them I was the first President to have articulated that that there needs to be a concerted effort to fight off the terrorists who are trying to prevent the establishment of a state. I didn't really have time to go in further than that, about the whole Aqaba accords and the progress we were making, until the Prime Minister, who had avowed who vowed to fight terror with us, was eased out. Let's see, what else did they discuss? Iraq, of course. I assured them that we would do our job, and then the Iraqis will run themselves, and that our job means to provide enough security so that the Iraqi citizens are able to write a constitution and hold elections, at which point the United States and the coalition forces will move on. And I think they were pleased to hear it. I don't want to put words in their mouth, but I think that relieved them to know that we have confidence in the Iraqi people's abilities to be a peaceful, free society. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. You listened. The President. Well, they did a lot of talking. National Security Adviser Rice. They had a lot to say. The President. They had some prepared texts. There was a good exchange. I'm glad I did it. They were, I think, appreciative of the fact I took time to listen to them and dispel some notions and to my own personal views about religion and the views of our country. I reminded them, we've got a lot of Muslims living in the United States, and they make an important contribution to our country, and they're welcome in the United States. And we're a pluralistic, free society people can worship the way they want to worship. And it works well in America. All in all, it's been a very positive experience. Indonesia Meeting With Religious Leaders Q. Was it confrontational at all? The President. Not at all, polite. Q. You said that there were some texts. Did they come out with the line about what did they tell you? How direct were they? They said some things going into the meeting that the United States policy is tilted against Muslims. What did they The President. They said the United States policy is tilted toward Israel, and I said our policy is tilted toward peace and that and then I went through the notion of a Palestinian state and the need for us to fight off terror in order for a state to develop. There wasn't a lot of debate. There were five people there that felt that all needed to say something. So I gave them all a time to speak, and I listened and would occasionally interject some thoughts about what they had said. But they were direct. One fellow felt that the war on Iraq was I guess the best way to put it was maybe just I can't remember his exact words, but it was like we just decided to act. And I reminded him that the world had spoken before, that there was a the United States had passed I didn't get into all the resolutions, but I made it clear that a process had gone on way before I made the decision to use military force, that the world had spoken before about Saddam Hussein. I also made the point very clearly that there was a lot of human suffering a lot of Muslims suffered in Iraq. And I did bring up the mass graves and the torture rooms and the rape rooms and the death at the hands of Saddam Hussein. My point to them was, was that we ended a lot of suffering, prevented a lot of suffering. Lieutenant General Boykin Q. Is your job made tougher in convincing them that Americans don't have a war on don't dislike Islam when you have General Boykin saying that Muslims all The President. Yes, that came up. Boykin came up. I said he didn't reflect my opinion. Look, it just doesn't reflect what the Government thinks. And I think they were pleased to hear that. Indonesia Meeting With Religious Leaders Q. Something in your answer to your Terry's Terence Hunt, Associated Press question was interesting. You articulated the fact that you're the President first President to advocate a Palestinian state. And obviously in trying to reassure Muslims The President. Not that good a question. Go ahead. Q. not only in America but around the world, potential terrorist hotbeds to reassure people who are interested in this subject of that point. It's not something we have heard you saying a lot lately. Is there a reason The President. About a Palestinian state? Q. Right, that you were the first President to advocate it. The President. I say it quite a bit. I mean, I really do. First of all, in America, most people know that. In Indonesia, maybe they didn't pay attention to it. But anyway, I explained it. It was not a I don't view that as I wouldn't read anything into that, I had to say that in Indonesia, but not saying it in every press conference I give. Q. Can I ask you about some of the leaders you've met with here? The President. Well, anyway Q. I guess what I'm getting at is, it's a good thing to have out there, I guess. We don't hear it a lot. The President. Yes, I don't know. There's a lot of things that there's misconceptions. Evidently it's a misconceptions that Americans believe that Muslims are terrorists. And there was a that's probably one of the best things that came out of the meeting, for me, was to have heard that concern, and for me being able to assure people and remind them about the nature of our society, that and that Islam's a peaceful religion. The basic tenets of Islam is peace and respect and tolerance. And that's what they wanted to make the point to me, that we are that's the way we are. Interesting, their elections came up. This is the first direct Presidential election. It's going to be interesting an interesting exercise in democracy. And they wanted to talk about that. And as you know maybe you don't know our USAID money is helping with the elections. They were appreciative of that. The education money came up. They wanted to make sure that this wasn't America's education system. I said, "It's not. It's money available for the Indonesian Government to help basic education develop." So those were a couple of misconceptions that it was important for me to help alter. Democratic Candidates and Foreign Policy Q. Can I ask a question I know that you say campaigning there will be time enough for campaigning. In just months, Democrats, at least, will be fighting in some very highly contested what do you say to those who are criticizing your policy? Where does the line end where they've got to be very careful to not undermine American foreign policy? The President. I don't know. You know, I'm not paying that much attention to it. Maybe you are. I'm not. You know, one of these days, they'll have a candidate, and then it will all sort out, kind of come in focus. Primarily I don't know what they're saying, so it's hard for me to answer that. Q. Democrats who are criticizing your policy now, some of them fairly severely, about the war, does that hurt when you go to meet with these foreign leaders? Does that have any resonance? The President. You know, I can't I don't know, because they have never brought it up. Nobody has ever said, "Your foreign policy is being challenged in Democrat primaries, and therefore you're less credible." I mean, it really hasn't come up. I think most people who understand America know that the field will eventually be whittled down to one opponent, and then we'll campaign. Decisionmaking and Leadership Q. You seem, on these trips in particular, to bond with some of these leaders who have taken on very difficult problems at home, sort of stuck their neck out, whether it's President Arroyo or you had some of those comments about the King of Jordan when he came. And I was just wondering, do you relate to that at all, particularly in having to take on the war on terrorism and kind of not, as you say, wanting to be too comfortable and pretend that it's over? The President. You know, that's an interesting question. First of all, I like people. And I spend time trying to I think about the other person and how the other person might think and relate to the other person's problems. I do have good relations with these leaders on an individual basis, for a variety of reasons. I mean, Gloria Arroyo, who is taking a tough stand against Abu Sayyaf, there is a common bond there because she has made some tough decisions. But these leaders for example, Aznar of Spain or Blair of Britain, these guys stood up, stood strong and were did what they thought was right. That's my approach. I remember when we had the discussion down in Crawford, one of reporters, fellow reporters, said, "I hear you don't pay attention to the press." I said, "Not really." And he said, "Why?" And I said, "Well, because sometimes your opinion matters to me and sometimes it doesn't, but I've got a job, and I'm willing to lead." And the fellow said, "Well, how do you know what the people think?" And I said, "Well" I reminded the fellow that people don't make up their mind based upon what they write, and secondly, my job is to lead. My job is to do what I think is the right thing and lead. And I think those world leaders appreciate that, and I appreciate that when I see that they make those tough decisions. There is a common bond that's established when you're in the decisionmaking process and you're not trying to chase popular will, which is fickle and moves around. You stay focused on the objectives you set for a country. That's a very good question. It may be an area where we do establish in common. And I've reminded them at times that, just do what you think is right, stand your ground in the face of public criticism, and the people when things turn out the way for the good, people will judge you correctly. Dana Dana Bash, Cable News Network , how are you? Q. I'm well, thank you. The President. Are you surviving this trip? Q. I wish we just got a little more time in Bali. The President. Yes, that and Hawaii. Look, I've heard all the people Q. She spent her honeymoon in Bali. The President. You'll be thankful when we get back. You'll be grumpy very grumpy, starting tomorrow, when we get airborne. But you'll be thankful when we all land home. Reform of the Palestinian Authority Q. Mr. President, I was wondering, the last time we sat around this table was coming from Aqaba. The President. Middle East, that's right. Q. And you were talking about how positive you felt about Prime Minister Abbas and the fact that you thought that things would be able to move forward. The President. And they did move forward, for a while. Q. I wonder if you could reflect on how you felt since during the fact that the man you put confidence in and hope in is gone. The President. I was disappointed that Arafat shoved him out of the way. I just it was an unfortunate decision, because it stopped good progress toward a Palestinian state. And when the Palestinian Authority comes up with a leader who is willing to genuinely fight and dismantle terrorist organizations, the process will pick up where it left off and move forward. Q. Are you confident of that? The President. I hope it does. I think eventually it will. You've got to be patient in foreign policy sometimes. Q. Is there anything more the United States can do on that, or is the roadmap once they get on track on the roadmap, then things will come back and move forward again? The President. The roadmap is still there. And we just need leadership willing to stand up and say, "We're going to prevent the few from letting the process move forward." And that's what they're doing. There are a few people there that don't want a Palestinian state. They've got different ambitions. And we've just got to fight them off. Q. Do you think the public support of the U.S. for Abbas sort of got Arafat to dig in his heels? The President. I don't know. I really don't. I can't speculate as to why the decision was made. This was an unfortunate decision, because it delayed the development of a Palestinian state. Prime Minister Mahathir's Remarks at the Organization of the Islamic Conference Summit Q. What did you tell Prime Minister Mahathir? Apparently he's saying you didn't fuss at him. The President. No, I walked up and said, the I said, "I want to inform you that you're going to read the newspapers" Condi had briefed the press about me saying that the comments were reprehensible. I said, "You're going to see I'm here to inform you that you're going to see that I thought your comments were reprehensible." I said, "They're divisive and unnecessary." I didn't yell at him. I just told him confirmed exactly what was in the newspaper. Q. How did he respond? Q. Yes, what did he say? The President. "I was misquoted" or something. I can't remember exactly what he said, but I just had that was it. You know the way I felt. Q. He said he was misquoted? The President. Well, he said he was Q. Taken out of context? The President. Yes, context, whatever he said to you all. Press Secretary Scott McClellan. He said that in the paper. The President. Not misquoted. It's hard to misquote what he said. Q. The issue were his comments. Obviously he's on his way out, but the response, apparently, at the Islamic conference, was a round of applause. What do you make of that? The President. It's just unfortunate, again. I mean, it's one of these situations where in order to achieve peace and freedom, you can't pit groups against each other. And there's a tendency to blame Jewish people. And that's not the policy that's not how I think, and that's not the policy of the United States Government. I wasn't there, so I don't pitting groups against each other will never achieve a common objective. It does quite the opposite. He knew how I felt. There's no question about that. I don't know, what did he say? Q. Inaudible he was asking Muslims to have more understanding, at one part The President. Evidently, in his speech, he said that we need more education, a terrorist ban, which is good. That was positive. Madrid Donors' Conference Q. I know you hate two questions, but I can just just two quick ones. You talked about your meeting with Hu, and that was positive. Is there anything that he offered to you that he can any pressure he can apply on North Korea? And the second one is a brief one. Are you happy with the progress or the contributions with the Madrid donors' conference coming up? The President. Donors' conference? Yes. I think we're making good progress. And the question on Hu was? North Korea Q. Is there anything that he can any pressure that he can apply on North Korea? Did he say he would be able to do anything or The President. He is a China is a major presence in the neighborhood. And the fact that they're willing to take the same message to the North Koreans that the United States is taking to the North Koreans, along with three other nations, is a powerful statement to Kim Chong il that it's in his national interest that he abandon his nuclear weapons ambitions and that he has been saying as I said in the press conference, I think one of your questions he's been saying, "I want a security guarantee." And what we have now said is that in return for dismantling the programs, we're all willing to sign some kind of document, not a treaty but a piece of paper that says we won't attack you. We'll see what happens. Q. How does that a lot of people were saying we can't make it look like we're giving in to blackmail from North Korea. The President. What's changed is we've now got five countries involved. And the neighborhood is now speaking. What happened before was the bilateral relations with the United States. And now he's got his big neighbor to the right on his border, he's got a neighbor to the south, he's got Japan, he's got another neighbor, Russia, all saying the same thing. It's a different dynamic, is what I'm that's where the policy has changed. Q. This security guarantee, what should it say? The President. That's what we'll determine. We haven't worked out the words, but the point is, is that North Korea must hear that in return for the dismantling of their program in a verifiable way, by the way I mean, we're going to want to know that now five nations are willing to say something about his security. Q. Everybody is behind that? The President. Yes. Iran Q. Can I ask you one on Iran? The President. On Iran? Yes. Q. It seems like last night there was some maybe cautious optimism that this is a good first step. If they comply with the three criteria that you've laid out, would they be then allowed to have a civilian nuclear energy program, or would that The President. Well, it depends on first things first, and that is, let us have, in a verifiable way, their agreement that was made with the IAEA. The IAEA must be allowed in, and we'll discuss it then. Our relations with Iran that will help relations with Iran, obviously, if they do abandon a nuclear weapons program. It will also help if they we end up doing a reaching an agreement on the Al Qaida that they hold. Q. What are the cross strings there? The President. You've got to have patience in foreign policy. Q. Are you at all suspicious of the European motives? The President. Am I suspicious? No, not in this case. No, I'm not. I believe, in this case, they generally are concerned about Iran developing a nuclear weapon. They understand the consequences. I appreciate it very much. We spent a lot of time talking to the European our European counterparts, who are influential, more so than we are, in Iran. You know, we've got a sanctions policy with Iran they don't. And there's influence. This is an effective approach. I've been saying all along that not every policy issue needs to be dealt with by force. There are ways to achieve common objectives, and this is a common objective. And the European Union and we're speaking directly to Silvio Berlusconi about it, who is the head of the EU. We've also obviously spoke to the three the leaders of the countries who went into Iran. And they made a decision collectively in Europe that it's not in their interest or the world interest that Iran have a nuclear weapon. And we came to that conclusion, they've come to that conclusion, and working together is an effective way. It's the same approach kind of approach we're taking in North Korea as well, a collective voice trying to convince a leader to change behavior. Legislative Agenda Q. Inaudible Republicans in Congress didn't follow your wishes on the phone The President. I thought they did in the House. There's two bodies. North Korea Q. Do you regret saying that you loathe Kim Chong il? Some people think that it helped them sort of it made them sort of harden their position The President. Any leader who starves his made him do what? Q. It just made him The President. Made Kim Chong il surely it didn't make Kim Chong il renege on the last agreement, did it? Because I wasn't there, you know what I'm saying? Q. Right, but they've been much more vocal about their nuclear ambitions. The President. No, they've been remember, they lobbed a rocket over Q. Japan. The President. Remember the rocket over Japan? Keep it in perspective. Anybody who starves his people is I just can't respect anybody that would really let his people starve and shrink in size as a result of malnutrition. It's a sad, sad situation for the North Korean people. That's one people I've assured the our partners in this effort that we deeply care about the plight of the North Korean people. It's just unconscionable that that many people are starving in the 21st century. We provide we're a generous nation. We provided food. We're not so sure the food is getting to the people, is one of the issues that we face. I feel strongly about failed leadership dashing the hopes of the people, in this case creating incredible starvation. Q. Thank you. The President. You're welcome. October 19, 2003 President Bush. President Hu and I have had a very constructive dialog. We talked about a lot of important issues. We talked about the issue of trade. We talked about the need to make sure that trade is open and that both countries benefit from trade. I congratulated China on its recent space launch. I thanked the President for his work on the recent Security Council resolution for Iraq. We talked about our mutual desire to wage and win the fight against terror. We spent time, of course, talking about North Korea. We have a mutual goal, and that is that the Peninsula be free of nuclear weapons. I want to thank the President for leading the Beijing talks. We talked about how to advance the Beijing talks. We talked about how to advance them to achieving a mutual goal, which is a weapons free Peninsula as well as addressing the security concerns of North Korea within the context of the six party talks. So we've had a very constructive dialog, and I want to thank the President. President Hu. I just had a friendly meeting with President Bush. This is our second meeting in this year. I think that in itself shows the very sound momentum of the development of our bilateral relations. We discussed the questions such as the economy and trade, the terror question, counterterrorism, Iraq, and North Korean nuclear issue. We both agreed that the economic cooperation and trade between our two countries have benefited our two peoples tremendously, and we stated our readiness to resolve whatever questions that might emerge in our economic exchanges and trade through dialog. President Bush restated his Government's position of adhering to the "one China" policy, the three China U.S. joint communiques, and his opposition to Taiwan independence. And we both stated our desire to further intensify our cooperation against the terrorism. About the North Korean nuclear issue, I said to the President that China will continue to strengthen our communication and consultations with various parties concerned, and we will continue to work to promote the Beijing six party talks process, so as to strive for a peaceful resolution of this issue. I'm ready to work together with the President to promote further development of our constructive and cooperative relationship. President Bush. Thank you, sir. October 19, 2003 Thank you, Your Majesty, for your warm and gracious welcome. Thanks also to Her Majesty the Queen for hosting this event. I thank as well the Grand Chamberlain who earlier today led us on a tour of the magnificent Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Laura and I have been seeing the famous hospitality of the Thai people, and we are most grateful. The United States of America deeply values our alliance with the Kingdom of Thailand. Your Majesty, the world has changed greatly since your reign began 57 years ago. Yet thanks to your enlightened leadership and steady hand, the friendship between our two nations has remained constant. Over the decades, we worked together to build the foundations of liberty in this region, rule of law, respect for human rights, free enterprise, and peace. Today, we continue to strive toward the same goals in the face of different challenges. Nations are working together in Afghanistan and Iraq. Royal Thai troops have served well in both places, helping Afghans and Iraqis make the transition from tyranny to self government. The emergence of these free nations is a setback for terrorism and radicalism. By sharing the duties of our coalition, Thailand is contributing to peace and stability in those two countries and increasing the security of all free nations. Thailand has played a vital role in East Timor, helping create a new nation to bring dignity to nearly a million people and to stabilize an entire region. You are fully joined in the fight against the drug trade and against HIV AIDS and other diseases. Thailand is a principled, generous nation, rising to meet the challenges of our time. Thailand's positive influence in the world is inspired by the fine example of service that Your Majesty and Her Majesty the Queen set for your people. It's also vivid in the great, humane traditions of this land. America is honored to have your friendship. So I offer a toast to Your Majesties, to the royal family, and to your great nation. October 19, 2003 President Bush. Mr. Prime Minister, thank you very much for your grand hospitality. Our entire delegation is honored that you have worked so hard to make our stay comfortable and meaningful. We just had a very good bilateral with our very close friend. I want to thank the Prime Minister for his strong support in the war on terror and remind our fellow citizens that because of his Government and his good work, Mr. Hambali, one of the masterminds of the Bali bombing, has been brought to justice. Mr. Prime Minister, the world is safer because of that. And I want to thank you, and I want to thank you for your support in Iraq. I told the Prime Minister that this country is willing to grant major non NATO ally status to Thailand, which is a very important recognition of your friendship and your strong support. As well we discussed the fact that we want to move forward the free trade agreement. We have the intention to begin negotiations on our free trade agreement, which is a very important step in our bilateral relations. And I want to thank you for that. We also talked about a wide range of issues, including Burma and our deep desire for freedom to take place in Burma. We care deeply about Aung San Suu Kyi and the status of Aung San Suu Kyi, and we would like to see her free. I appreciate the sympathetic hearing I got from the Prime Minister. We share the same goal the Government assured us of that, and I thank him for that. All in all, it was very constructive visit, perhaps made more constructive by the fact that the Prime Minister went to university at Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas laughter and therefore, we speak the same language. Laughter Thank you, sir, for your hospitality. I thought I'd take a couple of questions. North Korea Q. Mr. President, would you be willing to offer North Korea some kind of non invasion or non aggression agreement or pact, maybe something short of a treaty, if it would get out of the nuclear weapons business? President Bush. Well, that's exactly what I'm going to talk to the leader of China about here in a couple of hours, how to move the process forward. I've said as plainly as I can say that we have no intention of invading North Korea. And I've also said as plainly as I can say that we expect North Korea to get rid of her nuclear weapons ambitions. And the progress we're making on this issue is that we've convinced other nations to say the same thing, including China and Japan and South Korea and Russia and Thailand. The Foreign Minister recently has had a trip there, and briefed us on his discussions with the North Korean Government. We would like to see the Korean Peninsula without any nuclear weapons. And we will also be willing to discuss with the Chinese and our other partners how to move the process forward. That's precisely what I'm going to do. Holland Steve Holland, Reuters . Usama bin Laden Tape War on Terror Q. Sir, bin Laden is threatening new attacks. How serious a threat is this, and will this discourage other countries from stepping forward in Iraq? President Bush. I think that the bin Laden tape should say to everybody the war on terror goes on, that there's still a danger for free nations and that free nations need to work together more than ever to share intelligence, cut off money, and bring these potential killers or killers to justice. And we've got to find them. And that's one of the discussion points that the Prime Minister and I just had. It's something I'll discuss with other leaders here at APEC. This is still a dangerous world, and that tape just points out exactly what I meant. David. North Korea Q. Mr. President Q. Mr. President Q. Which one? President Bush. Neither. Laughter Both. Laughter The prettier one first. Laughter Q. I'll let you go Q. I won't go there, Mr. President. If I could just follow up on your answer on North Korea. You've often said in recent days that you had made the decision on Iraq because you could not leave the security of the American people in the hands of a madman President Bush. Yes. Q. You are now in a position where the CIA says, has long said that North Korea has maybe two weapons. There are some arguments they may now have four or six, while this slow diplomacy has gone on. Would you say that Kim Chong il now poses as urgent and immediate a threat today as Saddam Hussein did a year ago? President Bush. I would say that the situation is different between North Korea and Iraq, and that it's this, David, that we tried diplomacy for 12 long years in Iraq, and many Security Council resolutions for Iraq, and the world spoke clearly about Iraq. And Saddam Hussein ignored the world. And therefore, we put a coalition together to deal with Saddam Hussein. We're making progress on the diplomatic front. I'd like to resolve all issues in a peaceful way, without using our military, and I think we have an opportunity to do so Q. Even if they're still building weapons while you do it? President Bush. Well, we'll find out if they are or not. We the key thing we're going to do is now, for the first time, have started to speak with not one voice but five voices to convince Mr. Kim Chong il that he ought to change his way. And today is we're furthering the process with my discussions with Mr. Hu Jintao on this very subject. China is now very much engaged in the process. And as you very well know as a student of this issue, that hasn't been the case up until recently. As a matter of fact, the bilateral approach to dealing with North Korea didn't work. We signed an agreement with North Korea prior to our arrival in Washington, DC, and the North Koreans cheated. And so we're trying another approach. And I'm hopeful this will work, and we're making good progress on this approach. Yes. Q. Sir, can I just follow on one aspect of that, which is you're making very clear again today that you have no intention of invading North Korea, and you want them to know that. But in your mind, is there a distinction between saying that publicly and putting that down on paper in a non aggression pact? Is that something you are unwilling to do? President Bush. I'm going to look at all options. But you know, first of all, it is very important for us to work with our partners on this issue. That's the difference. And the difference is that we've now got four other voices besides ourselves who say the same message to Mr. Kim Chong il, and that is, "Disarm." And we want to explore these options with our with China and Japan, South Korea, and Russia. And that's what I intend to do. Q. Inaudible that's an important idea, you may President Bush. First of all, what's important is that the burden is on North Korea, not on America. North Korea must get rid of her nuclear ambitions. She must get rid of her weapons program. That's exactly the point we're trying to make in a verifiable way, I might add. And we are we think there's an opportunity to move the process forward, and we're going to discuss it with our partners. We will not have a treaty, if that's what you're asking. That's off the table. Perhaps there are other ways we can look at to say exactly what I said publicly on paper, with our partners' consent. October 19, 2003 Thank you very much, Mr. Minister. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. General Thammarak, commanders of the Royal Thai Armed Forces, members of the Royal Thai Army, veterans, members of the United States military, distinguished guests and citizens of Thailand, Mrs. Bush and I appreciate your kind welcome to the Royal Thai Army Headquarters. We are honored to be here. We're honored to be in the Kingdom of Thailand. Today I'm pleased to convey the respect of the American Armed Forces and the good wishes of the American people. I'm grateful to His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen for inviting us to this ancient and beautiful land. Earlier today I met with Prime Minister Thaksin, and I was proud to reaffirm the great friendship between our nations. We share a belief in democracy and human rights and ethnic and religious tolerance. We also share a willingness to defend those values in times of danger. Our alliance of conviction is also an alliance of courage. The Thai people have proven your commitment to freedom many times. With us today are members of the Free Thai Movement, who showed such fierce courage during World War II. Other veterans have served in Korea and Vietnam, where the Americans and Thais fought and died together, and during the cold war, when our partnership was so vital to the stability of Asia. All the veterans hold an honored place in a great alliance, and I salute your service. Today, our nations are challenged once again. We're threatened by ruthless enemies unlike others we have faced. Terrorist groups hide in many countries. They emerge to kill the innocent. They seek weapons to kill on a massive scale. One terrorist camp in the mountains of central Asia can bring horror to innocent people living far away, whether they're in Bali, in Riyadh, or in New York City. One murderous dictator pursuing weapons of mass destruction and cultivating ties to terror could threaten the lives of millions. We must fight terrorism on many fronts. We must stay on the offensive until the terrorist threat is fully and finally defeated. To win the war on terror, we must hunt a scattered and resourceful enemy in dark corners around the world. We must break up their cells, shut off their sources of money. We must oppose the propaganda of hatred that feeds their cause. In the nations where resentment and terrorism have taken root, we must encourage the alternative of progress and tolerance and freedom that leads to peace. Nations that choose to fight terror are defending their own safety and securing the peace of all mankind. The United States of America has made its choice. The Kingdom of Thailand has made its choice. We will meet this danger and overcome this evil. Whatever is asked of us, no matter how long it takes, we will push on until our work is done. Three months after my country was attacked on September the 11th, 2001, Prime Minister Thaksin came to America and offered Thailand's help in the war on terror. Since then, Thailand has committed military forces outside Southeast Asia for the first time in more than 50 years. Some of you have just returned from Afghanistan, where you gave many months of service. Thai engineers rebuilt Afghanistan's national airfield and helped restore much of that country's infrastructure. And the Afghan people and the American people are grateful for your service. The Thai task force is a vital part of the multinational division in Karbala, Iraq, once again helping a shattered country rebuild after years of oppression. Inside your own country, you are pursuing dangerous terrorists and finding them, and America thanks you for ending the lethal career of the terrorist Hambali, who is suspected of planning the attack on Bali and other acts of terror. Thailand pledged to fight the war on terror, and that pledge is being honored in full. Thailand is also a force of good throughout Southeast Asia. When East Timor was torn by violence, Thai forces joined with Americans and Australians to bring stability, and they helped establish the world's newest nation. This important work has brought dignity to the people of East Timor and greater security to this region. Together, our two nations are fighting the drug trade by sharing intelligence that helps Thai law enforcement officials interdict shipments and catch drug traffickers. We're fighting the trafficking in human beings to abolish a modern form of slavery. America supports your country's humane efforts to find, defuse, and dispose of land mines. And having cooperated for decades to fight hepatitis and malaria, we're now working together to turn the tide against AIDS. America and Thailand understand that trade and growth are the only sure ways to spread prosperity and lift people and nations out of poverty. And this morning I'm pleased to announce that the United States and Thailand are planning to launch negotiations toward a free trade agreement. This region and our world must one day trade in freedom. In all our common efforts, we are confident of the outcome. We're confident in the power of freedom to overcome hatred and uplift whole nations. We're confident in the strength of our alliance, and I have acted to designate Thailand a major non NATO ally of the United States. And we're confident in the character of those who defend us. American and Thai forces serve together and train together and study at military academies in each other's countries. We have come to know and respect one another. America remembers and honors a young man named Kemaphoom Chanawongse, known to his family and friends as Ahn. He was born in Bangkok, the grandson of a Royal Thai Air Force veteran. He moved to America when he was 9 years old, fulfilled his great ambition to become a United States Marine. Ahn was part of the force that defeated the army of Saddam Hussein. He was killed in action near An Nasariyah. This son of Thailand, this American patriot, was buried among America's greatest military heroes at Arlington National Cemetery. This brave marine brought honor to the Nation he served and honor to the nation of his birth. Thailand and the United States lie thousands of miles apart. Yet in the ideals we serve, we will always be close. America is grateful for your friendship. We respect the skill and valor of the Royal Thai military, and we're proud to stand by your side in the cause of peace. May God bless you. October 18, 2003 President Macapagal Arroyo. I'd like to thank President Bush for coming to the Philippines on this state visit. It affirms the warm and deep relations between our two countries. It's another building block in the revitalized and maturing alliance, rooted in shared histories and shared values, a common interest in global peace and prosperity, as well as a real commitment of combating terrorism and advancing freedom. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the United States for its support for the Philippines as a nonpermanent member of the Security Council for the term 2004 to 2005 and also for designating the Philippines as a major non NATO ally. I also welcome the Joint Defense Assessment named by our respective defense agencies. It recognizes that the world today requires a new perspective on political and economic security. The assessment recognizes the determination of the Philippines to take greater responsibility for its own political and economic security, even as it acknowledges that strong relations with the U.S. will contribute greatly to peace and prosperity, stability and security, especially from terrorism. Indeed, we must close ranks and stand firm against terrorist threats, however grave, however armed, and from whatever quarter. When those violence happened in May 2001, the Philippines chose to fight terrorism, compensating for such modest means that it commands with an unshakable resolve to defeat it once and for all. I thank President Bush for continued security assistance which enhances the means to defeat terrorism. I also appreciate the help of President Bush for increased economic assistance to alleviate poverty and other socio economic ills from which terrorism draws its strength. I take pride in the robust economic ties that bind the Philippines and the United States. This past week, in preparation for this visit, we witnessed the launching in the Philippines of Convergys, the largest customer care service company in the world, which is hiring 3,000 workers in its first year of operation. We also witnessed the launching of a new 50 million investment of Ford to launch the Philippines as an export hub for the world. We received 33 million of new USAID money for educational assistance in the conflict affected areas, and we celebrated the electrification of 1,650 barangays with a contribution of one million pesos per barangay from Mirant, CalEnergy, and San Roque, all in preparation for your visit, Mr. President. I look forward to the rest of my talks with President Bush and the officials of his administration. Once again, thank you, Mr. President, and thanks to Mrs. Bush for making this state visit to the Philippines. President Bush. Madam President, thanks. It's been a this is going to be a great trip, thanks to your wonderful hospitality. I want to thank you and your Government for such wonderful arrangements. And I want to thank the people of Manila for being so friendly to Laura and me as we drove through the streets. There was an outpouring of enthusiasm and waving that really made us feel great, and we want to thank your country very much. I'm here to continue our important discussions. And I want to remind the people of this country what a great leader you've been when it comes to fighting terror. You've been strong and stalwart, and that's what's needed. The terrorists want to frighten people into inaction. They want to create fear and, therefore, have their way. And you have been strong, and I appreciate that very much. We want to continue to help you. And I also want to thank you for your vision of understanding that freedom is important. It's a human right, and where there's human suffering and tyranny, that at the same time, terrorist links the free world must work to change conditions, hopefully in peaceful ways. But sometimes tyranny is so stubborn and ignores the reality that we have to take tough decisions. And Mr. President, you understand that, and I want to thank you very much for that. I also want to continue to work on close ties, particularly when it comes to trade and jobs. We want the people of the Philippines working, and we want the people of America working. And by having good free trade and fair trade, we can help both countries. And finally, I want to thank you very much for working together on matters of education. We've got a great education initiative, and you recognize, like I recognize, that education is the best way to fight poverty. And therefore, education is also a great way to enhance democracy. Thank you for your leadership. Thanks for your hospitality. I'm looking forward to the rest of the day in this beautiful country. President Macapagal Arroyo. Thank you. President Bush. If it's all right, we've got, obviously, some anxiety built up in our press corps there laughter . Q. Mr. President President Bush. Yes. Speaking about anxiety, yes laughter the dean of the traveling crowd here. Terrorist Threat in the Philippines Q. How serious do you think the terrorism threat is here in the Philippines? And what specifically can you do to help President Arroyo deal with it? President Bush. Well, I think the Abu Sayyaf is serious. It's serious because there are no rules when it comes to a crowd like the Abu Sayyaf. They kidnap. They kill. They maim. And there's only one way to deal with them, and that's to find them and to bring them to justice, which is precisely what the Arroyo Government has been doing. I was briefed before you all came in about the progress made against the Abu Sayyaf group. Not only has the leadership been slowly but surely brought to justice, but many members of the Abu Sayyaf have been brought to justice. The best thing we can continue to do within our respective constitutions and or budgets is to work in a close, cooperative way, starting with intelligence sharing and then providing the assets and the capacity and training to move quickly when a particular target is found. The cooperation between the United States and the Philippines is strong. The success against this particular group is a model for the region, as far as I'm concerned, and I want to thank the President for that. President Macapagal Arroyo. Thank you. APEC Summit Agenda Q. Mr. President, you're trying to put security on the agenda at APEC. Do you think some leaders of this region, some countries are not doing enough to crack down on terrorism? President Bush. No, I think security is on the agenda. What I'm trying to do and will do is to remind people that the war on terror goes on. See, the easiest thing to do is to think the war on terror is over with. It's certainly the most comfortable approach. And I just will remind people that, in view of the United States, that the United States is still threatened and our friends are threatened, and therefore, we must continue to cooperate and work. And the good news is that I don't have to convince Madam President of that. She understands that as well as anybody in the region. We'll also, of course, talk about jobs. And I want our people working, and I know the President wants the people of the Philippines working. And trade is important. It's an important way to lift lives on both sides of the Pacific. But it's also important to have free fair trade. In other words, we want the trade to be markets to be equally open. And that's an important conversation that I will have with the members of APEC. And the other thing, of course, is a chance to renew friendships and to be able to kind of continue discussions that I had been having in the past. The President and I, gosh, we've talked a lot. We've met a lot, and we've talked a lot. These meetings are important ways to keep our friendships going and to keep our common interests alive. Q. Mr. President President Bush. Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . We call him Stretch. Laughter President Macapagal Arroyo. I can see why. Laughter U.N. Security Council Resolution on Iraq Q. You got a resolution through the U.N. this week, but some of the countries that opposed the war, going back to last year, France, Germany, Russia, still haven't come forward with any contributions. Do you think this and some members of your administration cautioned us against assuming there will be any major inflow of contributions, troops, and money, as a result of this. Do you think that's a realistic outlook on things? President Bush. Well, first, let me thank those countries for their vote at the U.N. That was a very important vote. And as a matter of fact, the first thing that the President and I discussed, and the first thing that Prime Minister Koizumi and I discussed was the vote at the U.N. It's important for these countries around the world to see the U.N. act the way the U.N. acted in a 15 to nothing U.N. Security Council resolution vote. It was a strong vote. And as to whether or not they'll participate, time will tell. But I take, for example, Germany. Germany is participating in the aftermath of certain battles in the war on terror. And that is in Afghanistan they're making a very serious, important contribution. And for that we are very grateful. And there will be other ways for nations to contribute in the overall war on terror. And I'm pleased with the progress we are making in Iraq. The President and I discussed that progress, and it's measurable progress. For example, we had a goal of 1,000 schools to open after the end of the conflict, and it wasn't 1,000 schools that were refurbished and opened, but it was 1,500 1,500 schools. And the electricity is coming on, and the water is more pure. And I can cite a series of examples where life is improving for the Iraqi citizen. It is still a dangerous place because there are still haters and thugs and terrorists who are willing to take innocent life. And the reason why is, is because they want America to leave. They want to create the conditions of fear, and therefore, we'll say, "Well, we've had enough." But we're not leaving. See, we're not leaving until we complete the task. And I am pleased with progress. And one of the President's ministers was there, talking about education matters and the need for us to continue to work together to improve the lives of the Iraqi citizens, and we will. It's in our interest that Iraq be free and peaceful. It will help change the world. And I want to thank the President for her strong support. There are Philippine citizens there today. All right, thank you all. October 18, 2003 The President. Thank you very much, Madam President and Attorney Arroyo, for your gracious hospitality. Laura and I are really grateful for your warm words of welcome. We also appreciate the distinction you have bestowed upon us this evening, the Order of the Sikatuna and the Order of Gabriela Silang. We are honored to accept them on behalf of the American people. I represent the oldest democracy in the Americas. And I'm proud to pay tribute to the oldest democracy in Asia. The friendship between our countries is strong and warm and enduring, and we reaffirm that partnership here tonight. Today I was the first United States President since Dwight Eisenhower to address a Joint Session of your Congress. In 1960, President Eisenhower expressed America's firm support for a fledgling democracy. Two generations later, I am pleased to show my country's support for the great democracy you have become. The Philippines and the United States are linked by shared values, by shared history, and by a shared commitment to the defense of liberty. Only a few miles from this palace are the graves of 17,000 Americans who fought for freedom in the Pacific. Their lasting legacy and the legacy of the Filipinos who fought with them is a free and democratic Philippine nation. Today, free nations are tested once again. Once again, we face determined enemies of freedom, the terrorists and their allies. Once again, we are depending on one another in an hour of need. Once again, we are relying on the strength of the great alliance between our two countries. Once again, we will prevail. Madam President, I thank you for your friendship and counsel, for your courage and perseverance. And I offer this toast to you, to the great nation of the Philippines, and to the lasting friendship between our two peoples. At this point, the President offered a toast. The President. Thank you. October 18, 2003 Thank you all very much. Thank you. Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Congress, distinguished guests, I thank you for your gracious welcome to the Republic of the Philippines. I also want to thank the citizens of Manila who lined the streets today for their warm and gracious welcome to Laura and me. It warmed our hearts. And I want to thank you for inviting me to be the first American President since Dwight Eisenhower to address this body. Earlier this year, Laura and I hosted President and Attorney Arroyo at the White House, the first state visit from an Asian country during my administration. Today we are honored to visit America's oldest ally in Asia and one of America's most valued friends in the world. The great patriot Jose Rizal said that nations win their freedom by deserving it, by loving what is just, what is good, what is great to the point of dying for it. In the 107 years since that good man's heroic death, Filipinos have fought for justice you have sacrificed for democracy you have earned your freedom. America is proud of its part in the great story of the Filipino people. Together our soldiers liberated the Philippines from colonial rule. Together we rescued the islands from invasion and occupation. The names of Bataan, Corregidor, Leyte, Luzon evoke the memories of shared struggle and shared loss and shared victory. Veterans of those battles are here today. I salute your courage and your service. Along the way and through the years, Americans have gained an abiding respect for the character of your nation and for the decency and courage of the Filipino people. The Pacific is wide, but it does not divide us. Over 2 million American citizens trace their ancestry to these islands. The commerce between us is vibrant and growing. We work together each day in law enforcement and economic development and government reform. Our young people study at each other's universities. Many Filipinos teach in American public schools. And just this week, our two Governments launched a 6 year effort to extend greater educational opportunities to children in some of the poorest regions of this country. We understand we both know that education helps defeat poverty. The United States and the Philippines are warm friends. We cherish that friendship, and we will keep it strong. Our countries are joined by more than a market, even more than an alliance. This friendship is rooted in the deepest convictions we hold. We believe in free enterprise, disciplined by humanity and compassion. We believe in the importance of religious faith, protected by religious liberty. We believe in the rule of law, made legitimate by the will of the people. And we believe that democracy is the only form of government fully compatible with human dignity. These ideals speak to men and women in every culture yet they are under attack in many cultures in many parts of the world. A new totalitarian threat has risen against civilization. Like other militarists and fascists before them, the terrorists and their allies seek to control every mind and soul. They seek to spread chaos and fear, intimidate whole societies, and silence all opposition. They seek weapons of mass destruction to complete their hatred and genocide. The terrorists will continue their missions of murder and suicide until they're stopped, and we will stop them. Every nation in Asia and across the world now faces a choice. Nations that choose to support terror are complicit in a war against civilization. Nations that try to ignore terror and hope it will only strike others are deluding themselves, undermining our common defense, and inviting a future of catastrophic violence. Nations that choose to fight terror are defending their own safety and the safety of free people everywhere. The Philippines and the United States have seen the enemy on our own soil. Americans witnessed the murder of thousands on a single day. Filipinos have known bombings and kidnaping and brutal murders of the innocent. We've endured the violence and grief of terror. We know the enemy wants to spread fear and chaos. Our two nations have made our choice. We will defend ourselves, our civilization, and the peace of the world. We will not be intimidated by the terrorists. We're on the offensive against the terrorists, draining their funds, disrupting their plans, and bringing them to justice, one person at a time. Here in the Philippines, one face of the enemy is the Abu Sayyaf group. These killers torture and behead their victims while acting or claiming to act in the name of God. But murder has no home in any religious faith. And these terrorists must find no home in the Philippines. My Government and your Government pursue a common objective We will bring Abu Sayyaf to justice. And we will continue to work together, along with our friends in Southeast Asia, to dismantle Jemaah Islamiyah, the terrorist network, as well as other groups that traffic in violence and chaos. As we fight the terrorists, we're also determined to end conflicts that spread hopelessness and feed terror. The United States supports President Arroyo's campaign to establish a lasting peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. Shortly before his death, Ustaz Hashim Salamat wrote a letter to me professing his rejection of terrorism. Only that commitment to peace can bring a better future to the people in Mindanao. I call on all the members of the MILF to reject terror and to move forward with political negotiations. When a lasting peace is established, the United States is prepared to provide development assistance to Mindanao. Yet there can be no compromise with terror. Philippine security forces have the right and the duty to protect local communities and to defeat terrorism in every form. In the war on terror, U.S. Philippines military alliance is a rock of stability in the Pacific. And this afternoon, President Arroyo and I agreed to update our defense cooperation. We completed the comprehensive review of Philippine security requirements announced last May. Today President Arroyo and her Government committed to a 5 year plan to modernize and reform your military. I commend the President and your military leadership for taking this bold action. My country will provide technical assistance and field expertise and funding. But success requires more than American assistance. The Members of this body must invest in the Philippine military to ensure that your forces have the resources needed to win the war on terror and to protect the Philippine people. Free nations have faced a great challenge all around the world and a great challenge in Iraq. Saddam Hussein pursued weapons of mass destruction, sponsored terrorism, oppressed his people, and for 12 years defied the demands of the United Nations. Finally, the U.N. Security Council in Resolution 1441 demanded that Saddam disarm, prove his disarmament to the world, or face serious consequences. Saddam Hussein chose defiance, and President Arroyo was one of the first world leaders to recognize the need for action. The Philippines joined the United States in supporting and enforcing the serious consequences. You rose to the moment, and the American people respect your courageous and principled stand. Since the liberation of Iraq, we have discovered Saddam's clandestine network of laboratories suitable for biological and chemical weapons research, his design work on prohibited long range missiles, his elaborate campaign to hide his illegal weapons programs. We've shut down terror camps, denied terrorists a sanctuary. By our actions, our coalition removed a grave and gathering danger. We also ended one of the cruelest regimes in our time. Saddam's rape rooms and torture chambers and children's prisons are closed forever. His mass graves will claim no victims. The world was right to confront the regime of Saddam Hussein, and we were right to end the regime of Saddam Hussein. Now that the dictator is gone, Americans and Filipinos and many others share a common vision for that country. Coalition forces, including Filipino peacekeepers and medical workers, are working for the rise of freedom and self government in Iraq. We're helping to build a free Iraq, because the long suffering Iraqi people deserve lives of opportunity and dignity. And we're helping to build a free Iraq, because free nations do not threaten others or breed the ideologies of murder. By working for democracy, we serve the cause of peace. Democracy always has skeptics. Some say the culture of the Middle East will not sustain the institutions of democracy. The same doubts were once expressed about the culture of Asia. These doubts were proven wrong nearly six decades ago when the Republic of the Philippines became the first democratic nation in Asia. Since then, liberty has reached nearly every shore of the western Pacific. In this region of the world and in every other, let no one doubt the power of democracy, because freedom is the desire of every human heart. Sustaining liberty is not always easy. The world saw this last July here in the Philippines. And all free nations rejoiced when the mutiny against this Government failed. People of this land fought too hard, too long to surrender your freedom to the conspiracy of a few. All of you in this chamber are the protectors of Philippine democracy, charged with upholding the legacy of Rizal and Quezon. Members of the Philippine Armed Forces are commissioned to fight for freedom, not to contend for power. I'm certain that in the coming election, this nation will show its deep commitment to democracy and continue to inspire people throughout Asia. In this city, on a January morning in 1995, Pope John Paul II addressed millions of the faithful. He spoke of the goodness of the Filipino people and the strength of your democracy and the example this nation has set for others. He said, "May your light spread out from Manila to the farthest corners of the world, like the great light which shone in the night at Bethlehem." Ladies and gentlemen, the world needs the Philippines to continue as a light to all of Asia and beyond. There is so much to be proud of in your beloved country, your commitments to democracy and peace and your willingness to oppose terrorism and tyranny. The United States and the Philippines have a proud history. And we face the future bound by the strongest ties two nations can share. We stand for liberty, and we stand together. May God bless. Thank you all very much. October 16, 2003 Thank you all. Please be seated, Colonel. Thanks for coming. Thanks for the warm welcome. It's great to be in the Inland Empire with the 38th Governor of the great State of California. We did have a good visit, and during that visit I was able to reflect upon how much we have in common. We both married well. Laughter Some accuse us both of not being able to speak the language. Laughter We both have big biceps. Laughter Well, two out of three isn't bad. Laughter We both love our country. Arnold Schwarzenegger is going to be a fine and strong leader for California. I'm proud to call him friend. Mark, I want to thank you and the Inland Empire Economic Partnership for hosting this event. I appreciate it very much. And thank you all for coming. I appreciate Teri Ooms as well, as the president and CEO of the partnership. I want to thank those from the military who are here, particularly James Rubeor, who is the colonel at March Air Force Base. I appreciate you coming, Colonel. I presume you left somebody behind to make sure Air Force One is fueled up. Laughter We're leaving I say we Laura is coming from Washington this morning. I'm sorry she's not here. You drew the short straw when you got me. Laughter But she is we're fixing to go overseas to represent our great country. I'm looking forward to the trip to remind the world about the challenges we face. I'm really here today to talk about the challenges we face at home as well. I want to thank the local officials who have so kindly come. Most of all, I want to thank our citizens who are here, because I am talking about two of the great priorities for our country. One is to create jobs for America, and to win the war on terror the two challenges we're faced with. This country is being tested. We're being tested abroad, and we're being tested here at home. And we're meeting the tests of history. We're defeating the enemies of freedom, and we're confronting the challenges to build prosperity for our country. That's what we're doing. Every test of America has revealed the character of America. And over the last 2 years, no one in the world, friend or foe, can doubt the will and the strength of the American people. When you become President, you cannot predict all the challenges that will come. But you do know the principles that you bring to office, principles that should not change with time or with polls. I took this office to make a difference, not to mark time. I came to this office to confront problems directly and forcefully, not to pass them on to future Presidents or future generations. The challenges we face today cannot be met with timid, timid actions or bitter, bitter words. Our challenges will be overcome with optimism and resolve and confidence in the ideals of America. Because we believe in our free enterprise system, we can be confident in our economy's future. Our economy has been through a lot. When I took office, the stock market had been declining for 9 months, and the economy was headed into a recession. And just as we started to recover, the killers came and attacked America on September the 11th, and that struck a blow to our economy. And then investor confidence was shaken by scandals in corporate America, dishonest behavior we cannot and will not tolerate in our country. And then we faced the uncertainty that preceded the battles of Afghanistan and Iraq. The country has been hit hard during these times, and so has the great State of California. Declines in investment have hurt the tech sector. You lost manufacturing jobs. Farmers are wondering whether they'll be able to sell their products overseas. Unemployment in this important State is too high. But we acted. I acted to overcome these challenges to this State and our country, and I acted on principle. Government does not create wealth. The role of Government is to create the conditions where risktakers and entrepreneurs can invest and grow and hire new workers. We know how to create jobs for America. It starts when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, which causes the economy to grow, and therefore, someone is more likely to find a job. So I twice led the Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. We wanted tax relief to be as broad and as fair as possible, so we reduced taxes on everyone who pays taxes. It doesn't make sense to penalize marriage in the Tax Code, so we reduced the marriage penalty. It costs a lot to raise children, and so we increased the child credit from 600 per child to 1,000 per child. And we put the checks in the mail directly to moms and dads. It's counterproductive to discourage investment, especially during an economic recovery, so we quadrupled the expense deduction for small business investment and cut taxes on dividends and capital gains. It is unfair to tax the estates people leave behind after a lifetime of saving money and building a business or running a farm. When you leave this world, the IRS should not follow you. Laughter So we're phasing out the Federal death tax. I proposed and signed these measures to help individuals and families. But they also help the small businesses of America. See, most small business owners pay taxes under the individual tax rate because they're Subchapter S's or sole proprietorships. And therefore, small business has benefited from the tax cuts. Millions of mom and pop companies are also benefiting from the higher expense deductions. And this is important because small businesses create most new jobs for our country, and they're usually the first to take risks. They're usually the first to hire people. By helping small businesses, we help our entire economy. We are following a clear and consistent economic strategy, and I'm confident about our future. Last month, this economy exceeded expectations and added new jobs. Inflation is low. After tax incomes are rising. Homeownership is at record highs. Productivity is high. Factory orders, particularly for high tech equipment, have risen over the last several months. Our strategy has set the stage for sustained growth. By reducing taxes we kept a promise, and we did the right thing at the right time for the American economy. Now our country is approaching a choice. Just as our economy is coming around, some in Washington are saying now is the time to raise taxes. To be fair, they think any time is a good time to raise taxes. Laughter At least they're consistent. Laughter I strongly disagree. A nation cannot tax its way to growth or job creation. Tax relief put this Nation on the right path, and I intend to keep America on the path to prosperity. We're moving forward, but we're not satisfied. We cannot be satisfied so long as we have fellow citizens looking for work. We must continue to act boldly. So I'm asking Congress to join me in carrying out a six part plan for job creation for America. Businesses are more likely to hire people if health care for workers is affordable. One way to help our small business owners is to allow association health care plans, where small businesses can pool risk and gain the same bargaining power as big businesses. And to help control costs for small businesses, large businesses, and Government, we need effective legal reform to stop the frivolous lawsuits against doctors. We need more than tort reform just for medical liability. Unfair lawsuits harm a lot of good and small businesses. There are too many large settlements that leave the plaintiffs with a small sum and the lawyers with the fortune. Class action and mass tort cases that reach across State lines should be tried in the Federal court, so the lawyers cannot shop around looking for a favorable judge. We got a good bill out of the House. It's stuck in the Senate. The Senate must act. Job creation will occur when we've got legal reforms. Our economy will grow stronger and create more jobs if we have a sound national energy policy. When we we had a wake up call this summer. We need to modernize our electricity grids. Laughter We need to make sure that we encourage investments so that the capacity to move electricity or natural gas is capable to sustain growth in the 21st century. We need to use our technology to develop clean and efficient energy sources, so that we can sustain economic growth and protect the environment. But one thing is for certain For the sake of national security and for the sake of economic security, America must be less dependent on foreign sources of energy. More people will find jobs when employers do not have to waste time and resources complying with needless Government regulations. For the sake of American workers, at the Federal level we're cutting unnecessary rules and making rules simpler to understand. Small business owners should spend more time building companies and pleasing customers and less time filling out needless forms. To create jobs in this country, we need to pursue free trade agreements that will open up foreign markets for American products. Expanded trade will help businesses large and small businesses such as UVP, Inc., and Maney Aircraft based right out of here will help them to sell more good and locally made products overseas. Free trade must be two ways. We're good at what we do. We ought to be allowed to sell what we do in other people's countries. Farmers ought to have markets opened up to them. California's ranchers and farmers are really good at what they do. We need a level playing field when it comes to trade, and a level playing field will help us create jobs here in America. There's one more thing we need to do. We need to make sure that all the tax relief we passed does not disappear in future years. Employers need certainty in the Tax Code. Because of a quirk in the legislation, the tax cuts are scheduled to go away unless we act. When we passed tax relief, Americans did not expect to see higher taxes sneak through the back door. If Congress is interested in job creation, they will make every one of the tax cuts permanent. We have a responsibility to set good policies in Washington. Governor Schwarzenegger has a responsibility to set good policy in Sacramento. Yet the true strength of this country is found in the creativity and the entrepreneurial spirit of America. And that is one reason and that is the main reason I am so confident about the future of our economy. As we overcome challenges to our economy, we are answering great threats to our security. September the 11th, 2001, moved our country to grief and moved our country to action. We made a pledge that day, and we have kept it. We are bringing the guilty to justice. We're taking the fight to the enemy. And now we see that enemy clearly. The terrorists plot in secret and target the innocent. They defile a great religion, and they hate everything this Nation stands for. These committed killers will not be stopped by negotiations. They will not respond to reason. The terrorists who threaten America cannot be appeased. They must be found. They must be fought, and they will be defeated. In this new kind of war, America is following a new strategy. We are not waiting for further attacks. We are striking our enemies before they can strike us again. We have taken unprecedented steps to protect the homeland. Yet wars are won on the offensive, and America and our friends are staying on the offensive. We're rolling back the terrorist threat, not on the fringes of its influence but at the heart of its power. We have sent a message understood throughout the world "If you harbor a terrorist, if you support a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist." And the Taliban found out what we meant. Thanks to a great military, Afghanistan is no longer a haven for terror. The Afghan people are free, and the people of America are safer from attack. And we fought the war on terror in Iraq. The regime of Saddam Hussein possessed and used weapons of mass destruction, sponsored terrorist groups, and inflicted terror on its own people. Nearly every nation recognized and denounced this threat for over a decade. Finally, the U.N. Security Council in Resolution 1441 demanded that Saddam Hussein disarm, prove his disarmament to the world, or face serious consequences. The choice was up to the dictator, and he chose poorly. Laughter I acted because I was not about to leave the security of the American people in the hands of a madman. I was not about to stand by and wait and trust in the sanity and restraint of Saddam Hussein, so our coalition acted in one of the swiftest and most humane military campaigns in history. And nearly 6 months ago, the statue of the dictator was pulled down. Since the liberation of Iraq, our investigators have found evidence of a clandestine network of biological laboratories, advanced design work on prohibited longer range missiles, and an elaborate campaign to hide illegal programs. There's still much to investigate, yet it is now undeniable that Saddam Hussein was in clear violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441. It is undeniable that Saddam Hussein was a deceiver and a danger. The Security Council was right to demand that Saddam Hussein disarm, and America was right to enforce that demand. Who can possibly think that the world would be better off with Saddam Hussein still in power? Surely not the dissidents who would be in his prisons or end up in his mass graves. Surely not the men and women who would fill Saddam's torture chamber or rape rooms. Surely not the families of victims he murdered with poison gas. Surely not anyone who cares about human rights and democracy and stability in the Middle East. There is only one decent and humane reaction to the fall of Saddam Hussein Good riddance! Now our country is approaching a choice. After all the action we have taken, after all the progress we have made against terror, there is a temptation to think that danger has passed. But the danger has not passed. Since September the 11th, the terrorists have taken lives in Casablanca, Mombasa, Jerusalem, Amman, Riyadh, Baghdad, Karachi, New Delhi, Bali, Jakarta. And most recently, American lives were lost by terrorist attack in the Gaza. The terrorists continue to plot. They continue to plan against our country and our people. America must never forget the lessons of September the 11th. America cannot retreat from our responsibilities and hope for the best. Our security will not be gained by timid measures. Our security requires constant vigilance and decisive action. I believe America has only one option We will fight this war against terror until it is won. We are fighting on many fronts. Iraq is now the central front. Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are trying desperately to undermine Iraq's progress and throw the country into chaos. The terrorists in Iraq believe their attacks on innocent people will weaken our resolve. They believe we will run from a challenge. They're mistaken. Americans are not the running kind. The United States did not run from Germany and Japan following World War II. We helped those nations to become strong and decent and democratic societies that no longer waged war against America, that became our friends. That's our mission in Iraq today. We're rebuilding schools. We're repairing hospitals, restoring water and electricity, so the Iraqi people can live a normal life. Americans are providing this help not only because our hearts are good but because our vision is clear A stable and democratic and hopeful Iraq will no longer be a breeding ground for terror, for tyranny and aggression. Free nations are peaceful nations. Our work in Iraq is essential to our own security. And no band of murderers and gangsters will stop that work or shake the will of America. Nearly every day in Iraq, we're launching swift precision raids against the terrorists. Helped by intelligence from Iraqis, we're rounding up the enemy, and we're taking their weapons, and we're working our way through the famous deck of cards. Laughter We've already captured or killed 43 of the 55 most wanted former Iraqi leaders. And the other 12 have got a lot to worry about. Laughter Anyone who seeks to harm our soldiers can know that our soldiers are hunting for them. Our military is serving with courage, and some of the best have fallen. We mourn every loss. We honor every name. We grieve with every family, and we'll always be grateful that liberty has found such brave defenders. In defending liberty, we are joined by more than 30 nations now contributing military forces in Iraq. Great Britain and Poland are leading two multinational divisions. We're in that cause with fine allies, and we thank them. And that includes the good people of Iraq. Last week, the first battalion of the new Iraqi army completed its training. Within the year, Iraq will have a 40,000 member military force. Tens of thousands of Iraqi citizens are guarding their own borders. They're defending vital facilities, and they're policing their own streets. Normal Iraqis want Iraq to be secure and peaceful. Our goal in Iraq is to leave behind a stable, self governing society which will no longer be a threat to the Middle East or to the United States. We're following an orderly plan to reach this goal. Iraq now has a Governing Council, which appointed interim Government ministers. Once a constitution has been written, Iraq will move toward national elections. We want the process to go as quickly as possible, yet it must be done right. The free institutions of Iraq must stand the test of time. Today I want to thank the United Nations Security Council for unanimously passing a resolution supporting our efforts to build a peaceful and free Iraq. A democratic Iraq will stand as an example to all the Middle East. We believe and the Iraqi people will show that liberty is the hope and the right of every land. Our work in Iraq has been long, and it's hard. It is not finished. Since September the 11th, nearly 10,000 California National Guard soldiers and airmen have been mobilized for this effort 1,600 are currently in the Middle East. They're playing a vital role for the defense of this Nation. Our country is grateful to those who serve and their families who support them. Americans have sacrificed in the cause of freedom and security, and that cause goes on. Beyond Iraq, the war on terror continues. There will be no quick victory in this war. But if we persevere, our victory is certain. I'm confident of that victory because I know the character of our military, shown in the conduct of young men like Joseph Robsky. He's a career soldier. He served with the Marines in Bosnia and saw the dangers of unexploded bombs, became an explosive ordnance disposal specialist with the Army's 759th Ordnance Company, based in California at Fort Irwin. Along with his unit, he was sent to Iraq. And on September the 10th of this year, he was killed disarming a bomb. Hear the words of his mother, Bonnie "My son always said he had a job to do. He said the terrorist has to be stopped." Staff Sergeant Joe Robsky's devotion to his Nation will not be forgotten. We'll always remember the words, "Terrorism must be stopped." This war on terror has brought hardship and loss to our country, beginning with the grief of September the 11th. Let us also remember that the first victory in this war came on that same day, on a hijacked plane bound for the Nation's Capital. Somehow the brave men and women on Flight 93, knowing they would die, found the courage to use their final moments to save the lives of others. In those moments and many times since, terrorists have learned about America. They won't we won't be intimidated. We'll fight them with everything we got. Few are called to show the kind of valor seen on Flight 93 or on the field of battle. Yet all of us do share a calling Be strong in adversity and unafraid in danger. We Americans have come through so much. We have much yet to do. If we're patient, united, and determined, our Nation will prosper, and our Nation will prevail. May God bless you. Thank you all. October 15, 2003 Thanks for the warm welcome. It's nice to be back in Riverside, California. I appreciate your hospitality. I appreciate your friendship, and thank you for your strong support. I'm proud to have it. I understand there's been a couple of changes here in California since I was last time here. And tomorrow at the Mission Inn, I have the opportunity to congratulate the Governor elect of the great State of California, and I'm looking forward to it. I'll tell you what we're doing here tonight. We're laying the foundation for what is going to be a great national victory in 2004. And I appreciate you being on the team and want to tell you that I'm going to continue to count on your support when you go to your houses of worship or your community centers or your coffee shops, and you tell the people who haven't made up their mind yet that this administration will continue to work for what's right and best for every single American. The political season is going to come in its own time. I am kind of loosening up laughter and getting ready. But I've got a job to do. I'm focused on the people's business, and there's a lot on the agenda in Washington, DC. I will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of all Americans by keeping this Nation strong and secure and prosperous and free. My one regret is that Laura isn't with me tonight. That's your regret too, I know. Laughter You kind of got the short straw. Laughter She was in the Dominican Republic today and is flying out. Tomorrow we'll meet at March Air Force Base, and then we're on a very exciting journey to Asia. I'm proud that she's going to be on my side. I'm going to get a few pointers from her about diplomacy. Laughter You might remember that she recently took a trip to France. Laughter You probably saw the picture of her visit there. Laughter I went to France. Laughter The people were nice to me, but I certainly wasn't treated that well by Jacques Chirac. Laughter Laura is great. I'm really lucky that she's my wife. She's a great First Lady for our country. I appreciate very much two Members of the United States Congress coming today. I know they flew out for this event. They're leaving in the morning for votes tomorrow, and that's Congressman Ken Calvert from this district I appreciate you, Ken and Congresswoman Mary Bono from the great State of California. Thank you, Mary. I want to thank my friend Jim Brulte for being here today. I told him if he gets any skinnier, he's going to end up in a Subway ad. Laughter But I appreciate his leadership. He's a great minority leader of the State senate, the cochairman of this event. I also thank State Senator Dennis Hollingsworth who is here. I appreciate you coming, Senator. Jim Battin is here, another State senator. I appreciate you coming, Jim. Thank you. Ray Haynes, another State senator, is here. Pretty soon we're going to get the whole State senate here. Laughter Bonnie Garcia is a State assemblywoman. Russ Bogh is here with us. Thank you, Russ, for coming. I'm honored you're here. Bob Dutton, John Benoit, members of the statehouse. I want to thank all the local officials who are here, the supervisors and the mayors and so honored you all are here. I appreciate the folks who have worked so hard to make this such a successful event. I particularly want to thank my friend Brad Freeman and Gerry Parsky my friends Brad Freeman and Gerry Parsky, who have been the leaders in this State for my campaign. As well I want to thank my friend Mercer Reynolds from Cincinnati, Ohio, who is the Bush Cheney national finance chairman. He's taken a lot of time out of his life to make sure this campaign of ours is well funded. It seems like he's doing a pretty darn good job. But most of all, thanks to you all again for being here. You know, in the last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. This administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and today they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. And so we increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And then our country was attacked, and we had scandals in corporate America, and our Nation marched to war, all of which affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. Here is what we believe and what I know, that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. We also know whose money we spend in Washington. It is not the Government's money it is the people's money. With all these actions, we are laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across our country, so that every single person in America has a chance to realize the American Dream. We're returning more money to people. We're helping them raise their families. We've reduced capital gains taxes and dividends. We're helping small businesses. When I hear that someone is looking for a job who wants to work and can't find that job, we will continue to work to create an environment that is strong for the entrepreneur. We want the people of America working. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. See, we're bringing high standards to public schools all across America. And we're going to have strong accountability measures to make sure that those standards are met. In return for Federal money, we're now saying to the public schools, "Show us whether our children can read and write and add and subtract. We believe they can. You show us if you're teaching them how to do so." You see, we're challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. We believe every child can learn. We expect every school to teach so that not one single child is left behind. We reorganized the Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our borders and better safeguard the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up markets for California's farmers and ranchers and entrepreneurs. We passed budget agreements that is helping to maintain much needed spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle. We have kept our word, and we have made progress for the American people. And the Congress deserves a lot of credit for the success we've had. It's a great pleasure to work with Speaker Denny Hastert and majority leader Bill Frist. We're working hard to try to change the tone in Washington, DC, by focusing on results, not politics. We want to do what's right for the American people. By the way, those are the kind of people I've called to service in my administration. I have put together a superb team of Americans from all walks of life to serve in the administration. Our Nation has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion. Laughter In 2 1 2 years, we have done a lot. We have come far, but our work is only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion, so that every citizen has a chance to work and succeed and realize the great promise of our country. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire and we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking coalition forces and aid workers and innocent Iraqis. They know that the advance of freedom in Iraq will be a major defeat for the cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of the United States of America. We will not be intimidated. We are aggressively striking at terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we will not have to face them in our own cities. We're calling other nations to help Iraq to build a free country, which will make all of us more secure. And we're standing with the Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward self government. These aren't easy tasks, but they are essential tasks. We will finish what we have begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. Free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every heart. And I believe that freedom is the right of every person. And I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world, and when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children suffering with AIDS. This great Nation is taking the lead. We're leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges here at home as well. I talked about our need to make sure we continue to create the conditions for economic growth and vitality, so people can find work. As well we have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. Congress took historic action. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and the Senate passed reforms to increase choices for our seniors and to provide coverage of prescription drugs. The next step is for both Houses to iron out their differences and to get the bill to my desk. The sooner that Congress finishes the job, the sooner American seniors will get the health care they deserve. And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. Yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, they affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. The House of Representatives passed a good bill to reform the system. The bill is stuck in the Senate. The Senate must act, and those Senators holding up the bill must understand that no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit in America. I have a duty as President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for our Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the floor of the Senate. It is time for some Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. This country needs a comprehensive energy plan, and the Congress needs to act. This Nation must promote energy efficiency and conservation. We must use technologies to help us find energy in an environmentally sensitive way. But for the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, we must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. A strong and prosperous nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism by applying the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act," so more Americans can serve their communities and their countries. Both Houses should reach agreement on the Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring children and caring for the homeless and offering hope to the addicted. This Nation is a great nation because we believe in worshiping freely. This Nation should not fear faith and providing the compassionate help to people who hurt. We should welcome help from the Christian community and the Jewish community and the Muslim community, the Hindu community, to help people find help they need. Love comes from houses of worship. This Government ought to welcome the Faith Based Initiative. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people to own their homes. We have a minority home ownership gap in America, and today in Fresno, I discussed ways to narrow that gap. We want people to own and manage their own health care plan. We want more people to own and manage their own retirement accounts. We want more people to own their own small business. You see, this administration understands that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make. We're changing the culture of America from one that has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands we're responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're worried about the quality of education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your employees and your shareholders. And in the new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourselves. We see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us here in our country. I started what we call the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need, and the response has been strong, just like the response has been strong for charities all across our country and just like the response has been strong in our faith based institutions. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I have been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for our country and for our cause, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you all. Thank you very much. October 15, 2003 Thanks for the warm welcome. It's great to be back in California. It's great to be back in Fresno. I was trying to figure out, since I've been running for President, this is either my third or fourth time here. And every time I come, I'm better off for it. Laughter It kind of reminds me of where I was raised good people, except you've got water and trees. Laughter I know there's been some interesting changes here in the State of California. Laughter And tomorrow I have the honor of congratulating the Governor elect in Riverside. And today I want to thank you all for your contributions and for your support. See, what we're doing is, we're laying the groundwork for what is going to be a great national victory in 2004. I want you to know that your contributions are important, but so is your grass roots support. And by that I mean, when you go to the coffee shop and I know there's a lot of farmers here who go to the coffee shops laughter tell everybody, or when you go to your community centers or your places of worship, you tell them that this administration is dedicating its efforts to making sure our country is hopeful for every citizen, that our message is optimistic, because we believe in the future of this country. That's what I'm counting on you to do. And I'll do my part, but the political season is going to come in its own time. I'm warming up, and I'm getting ready, but I've got a job to do. I've got a job to do for our country, and there's a lot on the agenda. And I'm going to continue to work hard to earn the confidence of every American, regardless of their political party or where they're from, by keeping this Nation strong and secure and prosperous and free. I bring greetings from First Lady Laura Bush. She is applause you got the B team. Laughter She has been in the Dominican Republic recently, meeting with the First Ladies of the different countries in our hemisphere. I'll be meeting her tomorrow in Riverside as we take off to Tokyo, and I'll be getting some advice from her about diplomacy. Laughter You may remember the picture of her trip to France. Laughter I went to France. Laughter And they were kind to me, but they I wasn't treated that way by Jacques Chirac. Laughter But she is great. I am a lucky man that she agreed to marry me, and she's a fabulous First Lady. I appreciate my friend Brad Freeman, who is the State finance chairman. I appreciate my friend Mercer Reynolds from Cincinnati, Ohio, who is the national finance chairman. These are two very capable, able business people who are taking time out of their lives to make sure this campaign is well funded. I want to thank Members of the Congress who are here. George Radanovich is with us today. He is a good friend and a fine Congressman, as is Devin Nunes, and I appreciate Devin being here as well. I had the honor of traveling from the airport out to Ruiz Foods, by the way, which was a fantastic experience, going out there. I love the story of America. I love the fact that people started with nothing and have built a fantastic food processing business. The Ruizes are here with us today. They were great hosts. They now process 3 million burritos a day. Are you having burritos for lunch? But on the way out to the facility, Alan Autry was traveling with me, the great mayor of Fresno, California. And I appreciate him being here today, and I thank him for his friendship. Chuck Poochigian is here, the State senator, who's been a longtime friend of mine. And it's great to see his wife, Debbie. Bob Waterston is the supervisor of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors all politics is local politics, and thank you for coming, Bob. My friend Bill Jones is here. He's a Fresno lad who has made a name for himself here in the great State of California. It's great to see you again, Bill. Thank you for coming. Gerry Parsky is with us today he's the State campaign chairman. Rosario Marin is with us today, the former Treasurer of the State of the country. I want to thank all the cohosts for working so hard to make this event a recordbreaking event. I appreciate Lance Corporal Nolan Cochran, who gave the Pledge of Allegiance. He's a brave young guy. He served his country with distinction. I had the honor of meeting him at the Bethesda Naval Hospital as he came back from the battlefields. And I was pleased to see his mom and dad. I'm glad to know his spirits are high and that he understands that he was making our country more secure in his sacrifice. And finally, I want to thank JoAnna Dias, who sang the national anthem. In the last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities and not let them slip away. This administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know that we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. And so we increased the defense budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And then the attacks came on our country, and we had a march to war to defend ourselves, and we had scandals in corporate America, all of which affected the people's confidence. But this administration acted. We passed two tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. Here's what I know. I know that when people have more take home pay, more money in their pocket to save or to spend or invest, the whole economy will grow and someone is more likely to find a job. I also know this I understand whose money we spend in Washington. We don't spend the people's money I mean, we don't spend the Government's money we spend the people's money. Laughter So we're returning more money to families. We've increased the child credit. And we said, "The check was in the mail," and it was in the mail. We reduced the taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We gave small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, by the fact because we led, we are laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs so that every single person in this country has a chance to realize the American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We insisted on high standards for every public school because we believe every child can learn. Because we believe every child can learn, we're now saying that in return for Federal money, you must measure to determine whether every child is learning. We're challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. We believe every child can learn the basics of reading and math. And we expect every public school in America to teach reading and math so that not one single child is left behind. We reorganized our Government, the largest reorganization of any time in our Government's history since the Defense Department was reorganized. We created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard America. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for California farmers and ranchers and entrepreneurs. Listen, I understand free trade, and the cornerstone of free trade is not only for us to open up our markets but to make sure the playing field is level. We're really good at growing things in California. I want California farmers selling their crops overseas. We passed budget agreements in Washington that is helping to maintain spending discipline. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle we have kept our word and we have made progress for the American people. The Congress deserves credit. We've got a great Speaker in Denny Hastert and a great majority leader in Bill Frist. I appreciate the Congressmen who are here with us today. See, we're working to change the tone in Washington. There's too much politics in the Nation's Capital, too much zero sum activity. And the best way to do that is to focus on the people's business and to focus on results. And those are the kind of people I've attracted to my administration. I think you can judge a President by the kind of people that he brings to Washington to serve the people, and I have put together a great team to serve the American people. We've had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion. Laughter In 2 1 2 years in 2 1 2 years we have done a lot, and we have come far, but our work is only beginning. I have great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion, so that every citizen has a chance to work and succeed and to realize the promise of our country. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest. We will not tire. We will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. And we are confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking coalition forces, by attacking international aid workers, and by killing innocent Iraqis. They know that the advance of freedom will be a major defeat in the cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of the United States. They're trying to frighten us. They do not understand our country. We will not be frightened. We will stay on the offensive. We're aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we will not have to face them in our own country. We're calling other nations to help Iraq to build a free country. A free and peaceful Iraq will make the world more secure. And we'll stand with the Iraqi people, the long suffering Iraqi people they are people who put up with torture chambers and rape rooms and mass graves. We will help them assume more of their own defense and move as rapidly as possible toward self government. These tasks are not easy, but they are essential tasks. And we will finish what we have begun. We will win this essential victory in the war on terror. But I understand this Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. Free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And I believe that freedom is the right of every person. And I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in this world, and when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, this great Nation, this strong Nation, is committed to bringing the healing power, the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. I am incredibly proud of the fact that this great land is leading the world in the important work of human rescue. We've got challenges here at home, and our actions will prove equal to those challenges. So long as somebody in our economy in our country is looking for a job, I will continue to try to create the conditions for job growth, to foster the entrepreneurial spirit, to make it easier for the small businesses who hire most new workers to be able to grow and to expand. I want everybody in this country finding a job. And we have a duty to keep our commitment to our seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. A few weeks ago, the Congress finally passed some Medicare reform. The House passed a version, and the Senate passed a version. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, both Houses have passed reforms to increase the choices for seniors and to provide a much needed prescription drug benefit. It is time for both bodies to reconcile their differences and to do their duty, not only for today's seniors but for those of us who will be seniors, to modernize the Medicare system. For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. Yet, the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care and, therefore, affect the Federal budget Medicare goes up Medicaid goes up veteran health care costs go up because of the frivolous lawsuits. Medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. And so I proposed a good, strong piece of legislation. The House passed it. It is stuck in the Senate. The Senate must act on behalf of the American people, and they must hear loud and clear that no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. I have a responsibility as President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some of the Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. This Nation must promote energy efficiency and conservation and develop cleaner technology to help us explore for energy in environmentally sensitive ways. But for the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, we need to be less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism by applying the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on the Government and become independent through hard work. We must build on the successes of the welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so more Americans can serve their communities and their country. And both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative, so we can support the armies of compassion that are mentoring children, that are caring for the homeless and offering hope to the addicted. Our Government must not fear the influence of faith in our communities. We must welcome faith programs to help solve the intractable problems of our society. A compassionate society promotes opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their homes. Today I discussed the minority homeowner ship gap. I described a plan that we put before Congress to close that gap. We want more people to own and manage their own health care plans. We want people to own and manage their own retirement accounts. We want more people owning their own small business in America, because we understand that when a person owns something, he or she will have a vital stake in the future of this country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another, and they take responsibility for the decisions they make. We're changing the culture of this country from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to one in which each of us understands that we are responsible for the decisions we make. If you are fortunate enough to be a mother or father, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're concerned about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in America, you have a responsibility to tell the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in this new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourselves. We see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us. Right after September the 11th, I started the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need, and the response has been strong. Our charities are strong. Our faith based organizations are vibrant. Police and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I have been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for our country and for our cause, the best days lie ahead. Thank you for coming. God bless. Thank you all. October 15, 2003 Como esta? Applause Me, too. Laughter Thanks for coming. It's an honor to be here. Fred, thank you very much foryour hospitality on this beautiful day. It's been my honor to come to a place that's the embodiment of the American Dream. See, what we believe is, we believe people in this country ought to be able to work hard and dream big and realize their dreams. And the Ruiz family has done that. It started with Grandma Rosie's pots and pans and the first batch of enchiladas. Fred was just telling me they produce 3 million burritos a day. For a man who likes burritos, I'm in heaven. Laughter I also like to thank the hospitality Louis Ruiz has shown me, the patriarch of this great family, the initial dreamer along with his son to build and create but, most importantly, to provide jobs for over 1,200 people a chance for 1,200 people to realize their dreams. That's what America is all about. We're here to herald the greatness of America, the American spirit, the strength of our country. I also had the honor of meeting Kim Ruiz Beck, who is the vice chairman of Ruiz Foods. I met the entire Ruiz family. They've got a big family. Laughter My only advice to the kids that were there was, "Listen to your mother. I'm listening to mine." And she's given me plenty of advice, I want you to know. Laughter I appreciate the president of this company, John Signorino. I want to thank my friend Mel Martinez, who you've just met. Mel is the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. He's in my Cabinet. He's got a lot to do about the housing initiative I'm going to talk about in a minute. Mel is a fellow who was raised in Cuba. His mother and dad didn't like the idea of their son being raised in a totalitarian state where there was no freedom, where there's still no freedom. So you know what they did? When he was 15 years old they put him on an airplane to America. They found a program where a loving family would be welcoming young Mel with open arms. He fled tyranny because his parents love freedom, and now he's in the Cabinet of the President of the United States. And I'm proud of my friend. Congressman Devin Nunes is with us today. Congressman, thank you for coming. George Radanovich as well is a Member of the United States Congress. Thank you for coming, Jorge. Bienvenidos. I had the honor of driving from the airport to this facility with the mayor of Fresno, Alan Autry. He's a good man. He cares deeply about the people of Fresno. He's doing a great job. I'm proud to call him friend. I want to thank Mike Smith, who is the mayor of Dinuba. We just had what we call a roundtable discussion it happened to be at a square table laughter about homeownership, the idea of people owning a home is part of the American Dream. Farid Assemi is a homebuilder here, was here, and Cara Pierce is the director of Housing and Consumer Credit, and the Azel family were all sharing with me their stories and what they're doing to help people own a home. I want to thank them for coming. When I landed at your airport, I met a fellow named Denny Klaseus. Denny brought some of his family with him. Laughter You know, there's a lot the reason I bring up Denny is there's a lot of talk about our country's military might, and we're strong, and I'm going to keep us strong. And there is talk about the economy and the wealth of the country, and we'll do everything we can to make sure the economy grows. But the true strength of the country is the heart and souls of our American citizens. That's our strength. It's the thing that makes this country incredibly strong. I bring up Denny because he is what we call a soldier in the army of compassion. Out of the First Church of the Nazarene, he has become a volunteer, see. He has heard the call, the universal call of all religions to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. He helps each month to organize and pick up food donations. He knows when somebody is hungry and hurts, there needs to be love to help that person. Denny sets a great example. The Ruiz Company sets a good example by encouraging people like Denny to volunteer. My call to our fellow Americans is, love a neighbor. When you find somebody who hurts, put your arm around them. Mentor a child. Go see shut ins. Tell somebody you love them on a daily basis. America can and will change, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time, thanks to the soldiers in the armies of compassion. And Denny, thank you for being here. Tomorrow I get to meet the Governor elect. I'm looking forward to it. I'm going to share with him my optimism about the future of this country. I can't wait to talk to him about why I believe that America is on the right path, is on the path to making sure this Nation is secure and the world is more free and peaceful. We're on the right path to make sure our fellow citizens can find a job. I'm optimistic, and I have reason to be optimistic. Our country has overcome a lot during the last couple of years. I want to remind you right quick what we have overcome, particularly as it relates to our economy. First of all, the stock market started to decline in March of 2000. And then, just as we were going into office, the country went into a recession. That means there was negative growth. It means people were being laid off. Things weren't good in our economy. And then, just as things began to get better, the enemy hit us, on September the 11th, 2001, and that hurt us. It hurt the economy. It hurt the psyche of the American people. But we're a tough people. We're a determined people. And we began to get it began to get right, and all of a sudden we found out that some of the leaders in corporate America forgot what it means to be a responsible citizen. They didn't tell the truth, and that hurt us. It shook the confidence. And then we had the march to war, both in Afghanistan and Iraq. All of these provided great challenges to our economy. But we acted in Washington, DC. We passed tough laws tough, new laws that says to the corporate criminal, "You'll be brought to justice for not telling the truth to your employee or your shareholders." We also passed taxes. See, I believe that if somebody has more money in their pocket, that person is going to demand an additional good or a service. And when that person demands a good or a service in our marketplace, somebody will produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work. The best way to get out of a recession and to encourage job creation is to let the people keep more of their own money. And that's what we did. I took the message to the people, and the Congress heard the message, and we passed historic tax relief. We said, "Everybody who pays taxes ought to get tax relief. If you're going to have tax relief, let's just treat everybody the same. If you pay taxes, you get tax relief. We're not going to try to pick or choose winners." We said we want to encourage marriage in the Tax Code, not discourage marriage. So we've reduced the penalty on marriage. We understand how tough it is to raise a child in our society, and so we increased the child credit from 600 a child to 1,000 a child and put the check in the mail last summer. We wanted to make sure that people had incentives to invest, so we reduced the tax on capital gains and dividends. And we want people, whether you're a farmer or a rancher or a small business owner, to be able to pass your assets on from one generation to the next without the Government stepping in the way again. And so we got rid of the death tax. But inherent in that tax I want you all to understand that one of the things I kept in my mind the entire time that we were proposing this policy was the importance of the small business owner in America. Most new jobs in America are created by small businesses. Most small businesses pay taxes at the individual income tax rates. And so when you hear me talking about cutting individual taxes, I want you to remember that it benefits a lot of small business owners. If you're interested in creating jobs, you want to provide incentives for expansion to those who create jobs. And that's the small business owner right here in the United States of America. We also raised the expensing allowed for small businesses on purchases from 25,000 to 100,000 to encourage people to be purchasing things in our society. And it's making a difference. These policies are making a difference. We are overcoming the challenges we have faced. Our economy is growing. Last month, we had an increase in net new jobs. The after tax incomes of people are going up. The productivity of the American worker is strong. We've got the best workers in the world. The entrepreneurial spirit is vibrant. And low interest rates have encouraged a housing boom here in America, and that's good that's good. Low interest rates mean that people, for example, have got the capacity to refinance their home. And probably some of you all have done that. That's helped our economy. The Azels, who I met with today, Kelly and Dan by the way, he's got a scratch handicap. Laughter . I told him I needed a lesson or two. He said that they were able to take their first home they're newly wed, and the first thing they do is they buy a home, thanks to low interest rates. It's a fantastic way to start off your marriage. They then were able to refinance, which meant they could do some remodeling on their home. They paid off the loan on their car. Low interest rates has helped the American citizens. It's helped them buy a home. It's helped them refinance if they own a home. It's put more money in circulation, which is good for job creation. Low interest rates makes it easier to buy a home. And homeownership is at near record highs, and that's good because we need to be an ownership society in America. We want people owning their own home. If you own your own home, you have a vital stake in the future of this country. And even though homeownership is at near record highs, we've got too many of our fellow citizens who happen to be minorities who don't own a home. Seventy five percent of the Anglos in America own a home. The minority homeownership in America is below 50 percent. And it seems like to me we've got to do something about it. If it's good for America that people own a home, we want people from all walks of life owning their own home. And so I let out a goal. I said over the next decade, we want there to be 5.5 million new minority homeowners. That's why Mel is here. He helped set the goal. He is going to help implement the Federal policy I'm about to describe to you about how to meet that goal. Last year, we did a pretty good job. There's now 809,000 new minority homeowners in America. And that's positive for the country. It's good for the economy. It's also good for the spirit of our country that more people are owning a home. But here are some of the things that we intend to do, and we discussed today earlier. Sometimes people have trouble finding the downpayment for a home. It makes them nervous when they hear the downpayment. We need to have a down payment fund to help people with downpayments if they qualify. The Congress the House passed my request for 200 million a year. It's stuck in the Senate. The Senate needs to act. If they're interested in closing the minority homeowner ship gap, they need to act on the downpayment fund. A lot of times, there are people think about buying a home, and they don't like the complexity. They don't understand what it means and how to buy a home. It's obviously a big deal when somebody purchases a home, but it's confusing. People get nervous about it. And so we need more counseling and more education to make sure our fellow citizens know what it means to buy a home and can get comfortable with the idea of buying a home. And so we've doubled the amount of money available for community based programs, faith based programs to be able to brief their parishioners and or their fellow citizens about the opportunities and the hope and what it takes to be able to purchase a home. And finally, one other thing we're doing amongst many, by the way is simplifying the process to buy a home. A lot of people thinking about buying a home and all of a sudden they take a look at the fine print, and it kind of makes you nervous when you see a thick pile of paper with fine print. You're not exactly sure what you're buying into. So not only do we need to have counseling and education, but we've got to make sure the forms are more simple so that people know what they're doing. No, we're going to close this gap for the good of America. I've also put out a six point plan I want to share with you right quick that the Congress must pass in order to make sure the momentum of our economy continues. First and foremost, we've got to do a better job of controlling the high cost of health care. Small businesses need to be able to come together and form what's called associated health care plans to reduce the cost of health care. This country and this State must fight off the junk lawsuits that are making it awfully difficult for people to expand their businesses and hire people. We need a national energy policy. If you're interested in growing the economy, people have got to make sure they've got a reliable source of energy. We need to encourage more conservation, more environmentally friendly ways of using the energy we have in hand. But one thing is for certain For the sake of economic security and national security, we need to be less reliant on foreign sources of oil. We need to cut out useless regulations and redtape that oftentimes come from Washington, and probably Sacramento, for that matter. We need to make sure that our trade policy, our trade policy opens up markets and creates a level playing field. I want to be selling U.S. farm products all over the world. And finally, in order to make sure this economy continues to grow, there needs to be certainty in the Tax Code. All the tax relief I described to you goes away because of a quirk in the rules in the United States Senate. In other words, the Senate giveth on the one hand, and they taketh away with the other. In order to make sure our economy grows, all the tax relief I described needs to be made permanent by the United States Congress. We're overcoming the challenges to our economy. And I also want you to know we're answering the great threats to our security. September the 11th, 2001, moved this country from grief to action. We made a pledge that day, and we have kept that pledge, that we will bring the guilty to justice, and we will take the fight to the enemy. And we now see the nature of the enemy very clearly. These people are terrorists, coldblooded killers. They plot in secret. They target the innocent. They defile a great religion, and they hate everything America stands for. They're not going to be stopped by negotiations. They won't be appeased. Therapy is not going to work on them. Laughter They must be fought. They must be found, and they must be defeated. We are in a new kind of war, and it requires a new kind of strategy. We will not wait for further attacks. We will not hope for the best. We will strike our enemies before they can strike us again. We've taken unprecedented steps to protect this homeland. We have a solemn duty to do so. Yet wars are won on the offensive, and America and our friends will stay on the offensive. We're hunting down the Al Qaida wherever they hide, whether it be from Pakistan or Iraq or the Philippines or the Horn of Africa. And we're making good progress. Nearly two thirds of Al Qaida's known leaders have been captured or killed. The resolve of this Nation is firm, and it is clear. No matter how long it takes, all who plot against America will face the justice of America. This administration has also sent a message that has been heard around the world "If you harbor a terrorist, if you support a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists." And the Taliban in Afghanistan found out what we meant. Thanks to our great military, Afghanistan is no longer a haven for terror America is safer from attack and the long suffering people of that country are now free. You need to remember, thanks to our Nation and a coalition of nations, many young girls now go to school for the first time in Afghanistan. And we fought the war on terror in Iraq. The regime of Saddam Hussein possessed and used weapons of mass destruction. The regime of Saddam Hussein sponsored terrorist groups. The regime of Saddam Hussein inflicted terror on its own people. Nearly every nation recognized and denounced this threat for over a decade. And finally the United Nations Security Council, in Resolution 1441, demanded that Saddam Hussein disarm, prove his disarmament to the world, or face serious consequences. The choice was up to the dictator, and he chose poorly. I acted because I was not about to leave the security of the American people in the hands of a mad man. I was not about to stand by and wait and trust in the sanity and restraint of Saddam Hussein. So we acted, in one of the swiftest and most humane military campaigns in history. Since the liberation of Iraq, our investigators have found evidence of a clandestine network of biological laboratories, advanced design work on prohibited longer range missiles, an elaborate campaign to hide illegal programs. We've still got more to investigate. Yet it is undeniable that Sad dam Hussein was in clear violation of United Nations Security Resolution 1441, which said he must disarm, prove his disarmament, or face serious consequences. It is undeniable that Saddam Hussein was a deceiver and a danger. The United Nations Security Council was right to demand that Saddam disarm, and we were right to enforce that demand. Who can possibly think the world would be better off with Saddam Hussein still in power? Surely not the dissidents who would be in his prisons or end up in the mass graves. Surely not the men and women who would fill Saddam's torture chambers or rape rooms. Surely not the families of victims he murdered with poison gas. Surely not anyone who cares about human rights and democracy and stability in the Middle East. There's only one decent and humane reaction to the fall of Saddam Hussein Good riddance! Our country now is approaching a choice. After all the action we have taken, after all the progress we have made against terror, there is a temptation to think the danger has passed. The danger hadn't passed. Since September the 11th, 2001, the terrorists have taken lives in Casablanca, Mombasa, Jerusalem, Amman, Riyadh, Baghdad, Karachi, New Delhi, Bali, Jakarta. Today an American died as a result of a terrorist attack in Gaza. No, they continue to plot. They continue to plan against our country and our people. America must not forget the lessons of September the 11th. America cannot retreat from our responsibilities and hope for the best. Our security will not be gained by timid measures. Our security requires constant vigilance and decisive action. I believe America has only one option We must, and we will, fight the war on terror until our work is done. We're fighting on many fronts, and Iraq is now the central front. Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to undermine Iraq's progress. See, they hate freedom. They can't stand the thought of a peaceful and hopeful society. They want to throw the country into chaos. The terrorists believe their attacks on innocent people will weaken our resolve. They don't understand our country. See, they believe we'll run from a challenge. This country will not be intimidated by a group of cold blooded killers. This country will stay the course. We're making good progress in Iraq. We're after the killers. We've got better intelligence now. The Iraqi citizens are coming forward to help us secure their own country. We've got great strike teams of brave soldiers who are moving on a moment's notice to bring people to justice. And at the same time, we're making the country more secure. We're opening up hospitals and schools and roads. We're bringing electricity to the people who suffered under the hands of a tyrant, who spent his money on weapons and palaces and not on the people. Slowly but surely, this country is emerging as a peaceful and democratic and hopeful place. And that's in our national interest. A peaceful and hopeful Iraq will make America more secure, because there will be freedom in the heart of a part of the world that needs freedom. Free countries don't attack their neighbors. Free countries are peaceful countries. But we also believe something else about freedom and liberty. We don't believe that freedom is America's gift to the world. We believe freedom is the God Almighty's gift to each and every person in the world. No, we're making progress, and we'll do the job the right way. We'll make sure that Iraq has got a constitution and free elections. We'll make sure the job gets done the right way, so that the Iraqi people will show the Middle East and the world that liberty is the hope and the right of every land. The work in Iraq and the work on the war against terror has been tough, and it's been hard, but we're doing our duty to future generations of Americans. We're doing our duty to make sure that we spread freedom and peace and, at the same time, make America more secure. This country has overcome a lot. We've overcome attacks and recessions and corporate scandals. We've overcome tyrants, people who have harbored terrorists. But there's no doubt in my mind that because of who we are and who we what we stand for, this Nation can not only overcome challenges, but we'll do our duty to make sure America is as hopeful and secure for every person who is fortunate enough to live in this land. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless America. Thank you all very much. October 14, 2003 The President. I'll make an opening statement. We'll go around and see how many times we can make it around. First, I'm really looking forward to this trip. It is a long trip, and it is an important trip. It is a chance for me to say thanks to a lot of nations for cooperating with America, for being friends with America, for working with America to achieve common objectives. It's a chance to strengthen alliances, longstanding alliances. Alliances are important, an important part of our foreign policy. Together we can accomplish a lot of important objectives no more important objective than continuing to fight terror. It's going to be an important part of my discussions with each leader, to renew our efforts to find those who would kill innocent people and bring them to justice, disrupt cells, cut off financing, prevent the catastrophes that have taken place, thathave taken innocent life, from happening again. That's really our call. And I go with a strong determination to continue to work with the leaders and to fight terror. And it's very important for them to look at me and listen to me, because my determination is just as strong today as it was on September the 12th, 2001. Secondly, I'm looking forward to talking about economic matters. I will tell our friends that things are looking up for the U.S. economy but that there's more work to be done. And one of the key components of economic growth in America and job creation here, as well as job creation with our friends, is a trade policy that opens markets and at the same time recognizes that what we call a level playing field is prevalent, that trade must be free and it must, at the same time, be a fair policy, that people on both sides of any trade equation ought to be treated fairly. I'll bring up the WTO, of course. It's a missed opportunity. I'll talk about free trade agreements with friends. We've just completed one with Singapore. There will be other trade agreements that we'll discuss. But a key component of a key part of this trip is going to be the discussion about mutually beneficial economic policy. And finally, an important part of the trip is for me to talk about the values of freedom and democracy and to herald the moderate Islamic movements in certain countries as their being a very important part of a hopeful society, that those movements are willing to participate in the democratic traditions of their respective countries. And one of the things that we stand for in this country is democracy, and I will remind people about those values. It's those shared values with some of our friends that have caused us to take very decisive action in the world, not only for world security but for freedom. It's an important shared value, and I look forward to speaking to the legislative bodies, the parliaments, and express my deep appreciation as well as our mutual shared goals of freedom and peace and opportunity. So listen, thanks for coming. I'll be glad to answer some questions. We'll start with Paul John. Australia U.S. Relations Q. Looking at the alliance between Australia and the United States, Mr. President, how important is Australia to America as an ally? And given the war on terrorism, do you think that this alliance, that this relationship is likely to become more important in the future? The President. I would put I would say that the alliance between America and Australia is a critical alliance. And the reason I say so is that Australia has got a keen understanding of the relationship between good, strong, decisive action and security and a relationship between freedom and peace. And it's a very important connection and very important mutual understanding that helps us "us" being all of us take the action necessary to make the world more peaceful. So I call it a critical alliance. I found that John Howard was a visionary person, who was able to see kind of beyond the immediate noise inherent in a democracy, and could see the future and realize that sometimes difficult decisions will yield short term issues but long term success. And I appreciate that vision. And it says to me that many in Australia share that as well. He's got good standing with the people. And therefore, when I go to Australia, I'll be speaking to a country which does understand the consequences of sacrificing for something greater than themselves. And yes, the alliance in this relationship is going to be critical in the future because the war on terror goes on. See, John Howard understands that. And it's important to have friends and allies who understand that the war on terror is a long term issue that requires decisive action and close cooperation. And so I go to Australia with a great deal of gratitude and respect. I look forward to speaking at the Parliament. I look forward, of course, having breaking bread with my friend. He's a good guy. He's a very strong leader. Australia's Role in the War on Terror Q. Of course, we've just commemorated the 12 month anniversary of the Bali bombing. The President. Yes. Q. How concerned are you about terrorism in Southeast Asia, about the links that have been established there? And what role do you think that Australia should be playing in this? To what extent do you see a leadership role for Australia in combating regional terrorism? The President. Well, there's no question that Southeast Asia has seen its share of violence from terrorist activities. That's why one of the key agenda items on my trip is to discuss terror and to remind people that we're dealing with coldblooded killers, people who just take innocent life in order to create and instill a sense of fear. They want people to be afraid, and they want governments to take action. The great thing about the Australians is they're not afraid. Howard knows that Prime Minister Howard knows that one of the tactics of the terrorists is to create the conditions so that people say, "Well, let's withdraw and let them have their way." And therefore, the relationship in Southeast Asia is an important relationship because starting first and foremost with the strength of John Howard and the Australian people. The Australians know firsthand what it means to be attacked without impunity or without care. And I remind our people in our country that, yes, September the 11th was devastating here, but there have been other victims, including the victims in Bali. And John has played a very important role. And there's a lot of things that we must continue to do together, and that's part of the purpose of my trip. First of all, we've got to identify who these people are, which requires good, smart intelligence gathering, and the Australians are good at that. Secondly, it means that we've got to work to cut off funding. When we find cells in respective countries that are utilizing the international finance system to move money, we've got to collectively cut off money. John Howard knows that. And then we've got to have the capacity to move and work with other governments to bring these killers to justice. And the Australians are very good at that as well. And so there's a major role to be played in this war on terror. It starts with the mentality, though, Paul John, it starts with a recognition about what is possible and what is needed. And the Prime Minister has shown that, as has the Parliament. And that's one of the key things I'm going to talk about when I go to Australia. Yes, sir. Rikard. Indonesia Q. Yes. Indonesia is a moderate country, but the campaign against terrorism has invited much controversy between a small minority of militant groups and the more dominant militant groups moderate groups. The President. Moderate groups, yes. Q. The problem is that the militants have big opportunities to voice its interest, ideology, and values, harming the process of inaudible and democratization in Indonesia. So what should be done? The President. Well, I think it's very important for Indonesia to understand that first of all, to herald the nature of its moderate Islamic population, to make it clear to the world that, by far, the vast majority of the Muslims in that country value democracy and want to have a peaceful life. At the same time, it's very important not to allow a few killers to define Indonesia. And therefore, there needs to be a focused, concerted effort to bring people to justice. Now, one of the things I will thank the people from Thailand for is we brought Hambali to justice. He's the guy that masterminded the Bali bombing. And by the way, Paul John, I was over in gosh, I can't even remember where it was. It was recently, where I met a mother and dad whose oh, this was in Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, when I was there to help this fellow running for Governor. And a mom and dad came up to me and said, "We lost a twin daughter in the Bali bombing." This bombing struck a lot. It really hurt Australia. It hurts your own country. And my point is, I'm going to continue to talk with Madam Megawati about this, that it is we cannot allow Indonesia to be defined by the hatred of a few, and that it's very important that we combine efforts, not just the United States with Indonesia but all assets, to help Ms. Megawati bring the rest of the cells to justice and prevent this from happening. It's unfortunate that a country have an attack. It should be viewed as an opportunity for people of good will to come together and prevent this from happening. There is a Indonesia is a very important country. It's important because of its strategic location. It's important because of the nature of its population. It's important that this country succeed, and we look forward to working with Indonesia. Reform of the Palestinian Authority Q. Last September, in the U.N. General Assembly, President Megawati stated that terrorism issues cannot be solved without removing their roots in the Middle East conflict. As long as countries, great countries maintain injustice unjust and a one sided policy toward Middle East, the conflict will continue and the campaign against terrorism will suffer. The President. First of all I'll be glad to talk about my Middle East policy. I have with Ms. Megawati. And I made it very clear to her that the roadmap to peace still exists. The problem is, we need people who are willing to uphold their responsibilities. I gave a speech here in the Rose Garden on June 24, 2002, which laid out a vision for a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel. But I also said that the Palestinians must do everything in their power to fight off terror, to prevent the few that want to kill to stop the peace process from going forward from doing so. And we had an opportunity to move the process forward when Mr. Abu Mazen stepped up and was willing to say publicly and clearly that the Palestinians wanted to dismantle the terrorist groups that were destroying innocent life, and that provided a hopeful moment. It allowed me to continue to articulate the policy that all parties are responsible. Israel is responsible for helping a peaceful Palestinian country emerge and create the conditions necessary for a peace to move forward. The Arab nations are responsible to not support these terrorist groups. And unfortunately, the Prime Minister, who I stood by next to in Aqaba, Jordan, no longer is in power because he was shoved aside by the old guard, which has failed the Palestinian people. This old guard has been in power for quite a period of time, and life is worse, not better. And therefore I will continue to remind Prime Minister Megawati that we do have a vision for two states living side by side in peace. I was the first President, American President, ever to articulate that vision. But in order to do so, there are certain prerequisites. And one of the prerequisites is there be a universal condemnation and fighting of terror. And that applies not only to the Middle East that applies elsewhere, because Indonesia, unfortunately, has seen as has America and Australia and Thailand and the Philippines a few people, a few killers they don't have an ideology except for one, destruction to create fear. They've hijacked a great religion. They kill innocent life in the name of a great religion in order to have their way, in order to create conditions of fear. And that we must fight them we must fight them. There's no negotiations with these people. There's no, "We'll sit down at a peace table." You cannot deal with these killers that way. So I will continue to explain and articulate our Middle East policy but at the same time make it very clear that there's only one way to deal with the few who want to destroy the hopes of the many, and that is to bring them to justice. And we are. We're making good progress. The world has significantly changed. If you think about what cooperation was like prior to September the 11th, 2001, compared to today, it's a different world. And so part of my trip is to continue to emphasize the mutual need, in order to enhance democracy and to support those peaceful people that live within Indonesia or in any other country to support them, to support their hopes and aspirations by defeating those who would like to who run absolutely contrary to what moderate, peaceful people believe. Roger. Q. Roger. The President. I'm just trying to be international in my flavor. Laughter Upcoming APEC Summit Discussions Q. Mr. President, are you concerned at the way American jobs are being sucked away to Asia, particularly China, but also Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand? Are you going to be speaking to your APEC colleagues to try to help you do something about this? The President. Well, I'm going to say that where there is trade imbalances, countries need to be mindful that we expect there to be fair trade. And I fully understand a competitive world is one that I think is positive, so long as the competition is fair. And we'll talk about currency with the Chinese and with my friend Prime Minister Koizumi. I will remind them that this Nation has a strong dollar policy, and we expect the markets to reflect the true value of currency, that the way that currencies ought to be valued is based upon economic activity, fiscal policy, monetary policy of the respective governments, the potential for growth, the potential for long term viability of the economies. That's how our respective currencies ought to be valued. Yes, we'll bring that up. And I am my main focus here in America is there to be significant job creation. It looks like we're getting some positive results. Part of making sure that the job creation momentum of the job creation is viable is to make sure is to talk to our trading partners about fair trade. And there are some trade imbalances that I will be discussing. Singapore U.S. Relations Q. Singapore supported you in the war in Iraq and in general, and you've signed a free trade agreement with Singapore recently. The President. I did. Q. But in the past, there have been tiffs over social and political issues. How do you characterize U.S. Singapore relations now? The President. Well, I would say they're very positive. I mean, I've had first of all, we do free trade agreements with countries with whom we'd like to trade. I guess that's fairly logical. And these are countries we respect. And we respect Singapore people. We respect the Government, and we respect the fact that they want to trade with us. And the cooperation in the war on terror has been excellent with Singapore. As you know, one of the interesting opportunities is to create a new the use of technology to better have a handle on what's leaving ports, what's in containers, what's on ships, and have basically a port inspection process prior to a cargo leaving a particular port of exit. And Singapore has been in the lead on this, helping to establish kind of a virtual customs inspection process, so we're able to better track that which is being shipped and have a better handle about that which is coming into our respective countries. It makes eminent sense that we have full transparency from the point a cargo ship leaves until when it arrives in our ports. Singapore has been in the lead on this, and for that, I appreciate Prime Minister Goh's leadership. On a personal basis, he has got a very good handle about and a good feel for the neighborhood. And I value his advice. He is, as we say here in America, plugged in to the political currents and is a very savvy man. And I really have enjoyed my relationship with him. I'm looking forward to going to Singapore. Q. Do you I'm sorry. The President. Go ahead. Q. I was going to say The President. This is a followup on a followup. Laughter Q. You stressed the war on terror The President. Our press corps does the same thing if we don't stay with, they laughter . I'm used to it. I'm well trained by them. Laughter Addressing the U.S. Image in Southeast Asia Q. You stressed dealing with moderate Muslims in Indonesia and other places, but there seems to have been a rising tide of anti American sentiment in parts of Southeast Asia. Are you going to try and stem it? The President. Sure, that's part of the purpose, is to make sure that the people who are suspicious of our country understand our motives are pure. We believe in freedom for all people. We believe in peace. We don't believe a few killers ought to determine the fate and the future of a lot of people. We believe in education. We believe in health. One of the things about this Nation is that we're strong militarily, but we're also very compassionate. We're helping lead the fight against international AIDS. Part of the trip is to say as clearly as possible, is that this country is a is full of decent and caring people who care about the future of the people in these nations. On the other hand, people have just got to understand that we've got to fight those who are willing to kill. As you can tell from my language, terrorists who take innocent life must be treated as coldblooded killers, because that's what they are. And we will continue to work with our friends who understand that, to bring people to justice, so we don't go to funerals and lay wreaths, so we don't commemorate anniversaries of the brutal slaughter of innocent people in the name of a religion or in the name of with any attempt to instill fear. That's all they're trying to do. They want us to crumple and go away, so they can then spread their false ideology based upon hate. And America's ideology is based upon compassion and decency and justice. And I look forward to making that case. Pichai. War on Terror in Southeast Asia Q. Mr. President, you mentioned progress against terror. I just want your assessment. Has the threat of the network in Southeast Asia diminished as a result of the policies so far? The President. Yes, it has. When Hambali is gone, thanks to the Thai officials, a major operator in the war on terror one of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's close buddies, the organizer of the attack that killed a lot of people he has been brought to justice. And that is a major blow for the Al Qaida affiliated networks. There's more to do. This is a let me just remind everybody that, at least from our perspective, from the perspective of the Government of the United States, the war on terror is going to last a while. I don't know how long it is, but it's it is very important that free nations understand that this is a long term effort and that we just can't relent and can't yield. And I knew one of the hardest tasks I would have is explaining that this is a different kind of war to our own people. Wars we used to think about flotillas and bombing runs and whatever. And for the war on terror, although there has been some traditional battle moments, military moments like parts of the battle for Baghdad, which is a part of the war on terror most of the war on terror will be fought by the use of intelligence, highly trained teams that have got the capacity to move quickly, and the willingness and will of collective governments to stay on the hunt. And in we're making good progress. But there's more to do. Trade Negotiations Q. All right. Could I just have a question on trade? The President. Sure. Q. The WTO failed The President. Wait, wait, wait. The meetings in Cancun did not go well, but I wouldn't condemn the WTO round to failure yet. Q. Okay, but there's there's a theory The President. Sometimes I have a bad habit of correcting the interlocutors laughter because sometimes they're not always correct. Laughter Q. So what's the future, then? You feel that there's still an opportunity The President. I do. I do feel we can get the Doha round up and running. Now, the meetings were disbanded in Cancun. The sense I get is a lot of countries feel this was a missed opportunity and that our Ambassador, Zoellick, believes there is a framework to get the process restarted and moved forward, that there was substantial progress made, and that we're interested in getting the process up and running again. In other words, the United States has not quit on the process, is the best way to say it. And I look forward to talking to the Prime Minister about a free trade agreement. As you know, discussions are going on with a bilateral free trade Q. That's right, yes. The President. with Thailand. And we'll continue our discussions. Q. Any announcement expected in The President. Well, you know the problem is, if I were to make the announcement now to you in order to help you with your editors, it would take away kind of the yes, it would take away the excitement. I don't know. We'll see. We'll see. Laughter Yes, Mercedes. Mindanao Philippines U.S. Relations Q. Thank you, sir. There is this 30 year old, low intensity war in Mindanao. And the United States, through your administration, has now a role in the peace process. Would you like to address that? The President. Have not had a role? Or have had a role? Q. They have a role now. The President. Yes, a role in the peace Q. Right. The President. Well, that's right. I made a statement when President Arroyo was here, urging the parties to come together and that we would as a matter of fact, there was some progress. I'm not exactly sure where we are in the discussions, but shortly after her visit, the parties came to the table, which is a very positive development. Let me speak to a broader issue, if you don't mind, in the Philippines. First of all, I respect President Arroyo. I respect her will. I respect her desire to deal with the Abu Sayyaf, for example. She's been very strong, and there's been progress made in dealing with the leaders of this group. There is still more to be done. She knows, for example, very well that when U.S. citizens, or any citizen for that matter, gets kidnaped, killed, it defines the Philippines in a negative way. It doesn't really talk to the true character and the nature of the Philippines. The Philippines are loving, decent, kind people. And her country these terrorists, again, want to create a different atmosphere, a different environment. And Gloria Arroyo knows that, and that's why she's been very strong. And that's why we've been in got a very cooperative relationship. A training mission and now a comprehensive security review is ongoing, which I will discuss with President Arroyo. So in the larger context, the President's strategy of dealing firmly with those who would kill, kidnap, maim, is a very good strategy, one that we support strongly, and are willing to cooperate to the extent that she asks for help. In terms of bringing long simmering disputes to peaceful conclusion, my judgment is the stronger a leader acts against terror, the more likely those people are going to be willing to want to sit down and con clude make arrangements, make accord. And I believe that's one of the reasons why President Arroyo has been able to make some progress on long simmering disputes. Cancun WTO Meeting Philippines U.S. Free Trade Agreement Q. I have a question that relates to the Philippines and the WTO. The President. Sure. Q. In Cancun, the Philippines left the U.S. to join the G 21 countries. The President. Yes. Q. It appears that it displeased your administration. The President. It displeased us? Well, I'm not do I look displeased? I'm a friendly guy. Q. Well, does that does that put into a risk The President. No, not at all. Q. the bilateral and trade agreement? The President. No, it doesn't. Not at all. I mean, it's very important for me to explain to the leaders that we are interested in moving the process forward, that WTO negotiations are complicated and complex matters, that we believe that it is in the Philippines' interest, in Thailand's interest, or any other country's interest that the Doha round succeed, that we want to work through the difficult issues. And I think a lot of countries, Mercedes, now believe that this was a missed opportunity, that it was an opportunity to make progress. And the fact that it didn't, that we didn't make progress, may actually serve as an impetus to get people back together. Let's don't miss this opportunity again. Let's move on. So the purpose of my trip is to say that we want Doha to succeed. I'm also saying as clearly as possible that we will negotiate bilateral agreements with countries. Our strategy is to have a is to have free trade worldwide, free trade regionally through the Free Trade of the Americas and free trade on a bilateral basis. And when Congress gave me what's called trade promotion authority, I then had the capacity to negotiate our people to negotiate free trade agreements and then bring that to Congress in an up or down vote, which makes it more likely nations will want to negotiate with us. Singapore was one of the first and Chile were two countries that said, "Okay, fine, now the President's got it. We can negotiate a treaty. We know it won't be amended on the floor of the Congress, and therefore, we can negotiate in good faith. And the President will submit it for up or down votes." This has given me the opportunity to be to move forward on trade on a bilateral basis. And so we've got a two a three pronged strategy when it comes to trade. And we do hope that the WTO goes forward. But that won't prevent us from doing negotiating bilaterally with nations. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. One in English? Q. Yes. The President. Okay. My Japanese is a little limited. Laughter Q. If you speak if you speak Japanese? The President. No, I don't speak Japanese. Laughter Some accuse me of not speaking English. Laughter Japan's Reconstruction Aid to Iraq Q. So before you come visit to Japan, we Japanese would like to hear your views on a couple things, first of all, your evaluation about Japan's contribution to reconstruction of Iraq. The President. Yes, well, I talked to my friend Prime Minister Koizumi. And he is my friend, let me emphasize that. We've got a great relationship. And he told me that he would try to work with the leaders to come up with a reconstruction package for Iraq, and I believe he will. And I look forward to talking to him about it. And he's a fellow, when he says something, at least to me, he means it. And that's why I'm optimistic that Japan will be an active participant in the reconstruction of Iraq. They certainly were an active participant in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. And for that we are grateful. Japan played a key role in the early stages of the postwar in Afghanistan environment loya jirga got started, but also Japan took a lead in terms of the reconstruction effort. North Korea Q. One about North Korea. The President. Yes. Q. Well, how do you place the North Korea's abduction of Japanese people in the six party The President. Well, the key notion on the six party framework is to make sure that the stated objective of the five countries involved with the six party with North Korea in the six party discussions is achieved. The key objective, the most important objective is for there to be a Korean Peninsula that is free of nuclear weapons. That's the primary focus of our discussions, and we're making progress, because now there are five nations other than the United States or four nations other than the United States sitting down the North Koreans, making the very same point. And I will talk to the Prime Minister about how to you know, what we need to do to keep the process alive and strong and to keep the coalition of the peaceful united so that we have one message and one voice. In terms of the relationship between North Korea and Japan, that is for Prime Minister Koizumi to manage. Obviously, if you have abductees, it is a very serious issue. And it speaks to the nature of the North Korean Government and hence another reason for us to work for a nuclear weapons free Korean Peninsula. Monetary Policy Q. Given the recent depreciation of the dollar vis a vis the yen, what do you think of the dollar's devaluation? The President. I think I'm for a strong policy. We have a strong dollar policy in this administration. Currencies ought to be valued based upon the respective strengths of the economies, based upon the policies of the governments. We have had a very progrowth policy in this administration. I've worked with Congress to enact historic tax relief in order to give our people more of their own money back and let them spend it and drive demand for goods and service. And it's beginning to pay off. The economy is improving. And markets ought to be evaluating our respective currencies. Q. So what is your view on Japan's The President. Well, that's my view, that markets ought to be determining respective to currencies. North Korea Q. Well, come back to the North Koreans The President. Sure. This is the multiple Q. I'm sorry. The President. No, you're doing a fine job, Toshio, that's good. Short questions, short answers. Laughter Q. I appreciate it. The President. You're setting a new standard for the followup. Keep that in mind. Laughter Q. Do you think the North Koreans' nuclear problem should be brought to the U.N. Security Council? The President. No, I think Q. If yes, why? When? The President. I appreciate that. That's part my discussions with Prime Minister Koizumi. First things first is that we've got to make sure our strategy of the five of us moves forward. I'm looking forward to discussing this with Mr. Hu Jintao. He has been a important part of these discussions, and I will visit the strategy with about the mutual desire to move forward with Prime Minister Koizumi. Yes, Mercedes. Designation of the Philippines as a Major Non NATO Ally Q. Anything on the designation of the Philippines as a major NATO The President. Yes, we'll be discussing that. Short question, short answers. Burma Q. Yes, you mentioned democracy, a take on Burma. How do you see things going there now in recent developments? The President. It's pleased about Burma. I think the fact that Burma continues to that there is an historic figure in Burma that needs to be treated with respect, and the wishes of the people need to be honored. And we will continue to speak out, and I will talk to the Prime Minister about that, as I have in the past. He is concerned, as you know, about narcotics and the flow of narcotics. I believe free societies and the ability to control narcotics and terrorism go hand in hand. We will continue to press for freedom in Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi is a great figure. She is a heroic woman. And this country honors her, and we'll continue to press for her freedom. I did so at the United Nations. I will continue to do so on a bilateral basis. The Presidency Q. How does it feel to be the most powerful man in the world? The President. Humbling. Q. Humbling? The President. Yes. And it also means there's tremendous responsibilities with that. Very interesting question the fundamental question is what you do with power. And I believe it's very important for the President to work with others to lead for a more peaceful and free world. And part of that use of power now we must use our power to fight terror. And at the same time, we must use our power and wealth to help improve the lives of those who suffer. It's humbling to think about that. It is also an awesome responsibility which I take seriously. And part of the trip, I hope you can get from the tenor of these discussions, part of the trip is to say very clearly to our friends and allies, "We want to work together to achieve common objectives." I'm very serious about it. Indonesia Q. Yes. Can I just ask, Indonesia is one of the victims of terrorist attack, but, however The President. Which the innocent is? Yes, always. Q. Indonesia also victimized by inaudible from several countries The President. The Q. Victimized, yes. The President. In other words, people come from other countries to your country to create terrorist acts? Q. Yes. The President. Yes. That's why it's important that we cooperate closely to watch these terrorists, to track terrorists, to make sure we know who's coming in and out of our countries, to share intelligence, to get inside these networks as best we can, to use all means available to understand them, to watch their movements, and when they move, bring them to justice, arrest them, get them off the streets. And you're right, countries are if a country is viewed as a safe haven, terrorists will tend to flock to that country. And that's why the strong action of governments sends a clear sign Not welcome here. And that's why arrests and strong action are necessary to prevent people from feeling comfortable about migration. And that's why the decisions by Prime Minister Megawati to arrest people is a very important signal to people. And I continue to talk to her and work with her on this. I appreciate very much the efforts made by the Indonesian Government to bring terrorists to justice. Australia's Role in the War on Terror Australia U.S. Free Trade Agreement Q. How confident can we be that we will see an Australia America FTA and with the negotiations finalized by the end of this year, which is the deadline you said you wanted? And secondly, does the United States actually see Australia as its deputy sheriff in Southeast Asia? The President. No. We don't see it as a deputy sheriff. We see it as a sheriff. Laughter There's a difference. I see you're playing off the Crawford visit to the ranch, the sheriff thing. Laughter Anyway, no, equal partners and friends and allies there's nothing deputy about this relationship. I'm optimistic on free trade agreement, and I'll talk to John about that. We did set a deadline. Deadlines are important. Sometimes you get things done, and we'll work toward that deadline. And part of our discussions will be the free trade agreement. It's in our Nation's interest to do so. We've got some heavy lift in certain areas that we're just going to have to work through them. And I know our negotiators and our people are talking in the spirit of trying to complete the agreement. Okay, looking forward to it. Anybody gets to go with us? Q. Thank you, Mr. President. October 14, 2003 Indonesia's Role in the War on Terror Ms. Silalahi. Mr. President, thank you for your time. What specifically do you want to do by Megawati President Megawati in fighting terrorism? What inaudible some assistance to your country? The President. First of all, President Megawati has responded to the war on terror, and I appreciate that. She's responded in a way that I think the people of her country ought to be proud your country ought to be proud. Terrorism is such it's such a stain. It's a horrible thing that people have to live with. The terrorists want to create fear. That's what they want to do. They want to kill innocent life to create fear. And the Bali bombing was a terrible moment for Indonesia and obviously those who lost life. But President Megawati refuses to stand in fear of the terrorists. What I want her to do is to continue to work closely with the United States and others, to share intelligence, find money as it floats around, and to bring people to justice. Information Sharing on Hambali Ms. Silalahi. How do you expect President Megawati or Indonesia to cooperate with the United States if we don't have a chance to question Hambali one on one? The President. I think the thing on Hambali is first of all, the good news is he's not a problem anymore. He's not a threat. And as I explained to the President that we will share any information with her. But right now, the key is to find out as much as we possibly can, and when we get information, we will share it with her. Ms. Silalahi. Well, the problem is that Indonesia needs a chance that the Indonesian police to question Hambali directly, not just to share information. The President. Yes. Ms. Silalahi. When are you going to give us this chance? The President. Right now, we're going to get as much information as we possibly can. Ms. Silalahi. So there's no way that Indonesia will have their chance to question Hambali? The President. I wouldn't say, "No way." You said, "No way." I didn't say, "No way." I said, "Right now, we're going to get as much information as we can to make sure America is secure and Indonesia's secure. And any information we get, we'll be glad to share with the President." I've explained this to her, and she understands. Situation in the Middle East Terrorism Ms. Silalahi. Sir, Indonesia is a moderate and inaudible Muslim society. But the way U.S. handle terrorism issues and by the U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East is distancing society. Aren't you concerned that this moderate society could be militant eventually? The President. Well, first of all, terrorism the Bali bombers decided to kill innocent people based upon their own ideology of hatred. And our foreign policy in the Middle East is based on the same principles that I just discussed with you on the war on terror. In order for there to be a peaceful Palestinian state, people have got to fight terror. A few people are trying to destroy the hopes of a lot of people in the Palestinian territory. And so I gave a speech first of all, I'm the first President ever to articulate a Palestinian state and to support a Palestinian state. But to get there, it's very important for people to assume responsibilities, and one of the key responsibilities is for the Palestinian leadership to stand up and fight terror. And we've got a good man getting ready to do that. As you know, we had the meeting in Aqaba, Jordan, and we were making progress. And then he got eased out, pushed aside by the old guard, which has failed the Palestinian people. And so they're not assuming their responsibilities. But I wouldn't I think you can make all kinds of excuses for terror, but terrorists are interested in one thing, creating fear in free societies. That's what they want to do. The only way to deal with them is to bring them to justice. And you can do that and protect your civil liberties. Indonesia U.S. Relations Ms. Silalahi. How do you propose to change anti American sentiment in Indonesia? The President. Explain what we're all about, explain that we're a compassionate country, that we love freedom and human rights and human dignity, that we care when people suffer. We've got a great very compassionate foreign policy. One of the things I hope to do is, when I go to your country, explain that just like I'm explaining to you now. And one of the big scourges of the world is AIDS, and the United States of America is leading the fight against AIDS, particularly on the continent of Africa. We believe in decency and human rights. We've always been a leader on human rights. And we speak out for human rights, because we believe in the dignity of each person. Situation in Papua and Aceh Ms. Silalahi. Speaking about human rights, Papua and Aceh are struggling to be independent because the human rights has become a critical issue. What is your standpoint about this? The President. Our standpoint is that we don't think that in Aceh, for example, that the issue should be solved and can be solved militarily. It ought to be solved through peaceful negotiations. Ms. Silalahi. And how about Papua? The President. Same, peaceful negotiations. Ms. Silalahi. How about American citizens that got killed in Papua? The President. We're not happy about that, of course, and I appreciate the Government's full cooperation with our Federal Bureau of Investigation that is now seeking out the evidence to determine who the killers were. Ms. Silalahi. Does it change your military policy towards Indonesia? The President. No, as a matter of fact, we're going to discuss mil to mil relations between Indonesia. And for a while, the Congress put restrictions on it. But now the Congress has changed their attitude, and I think we can go forward with a package of mil to mil cooperation because of the cooperation of the Government on the killings of two U.S. citizens. Ms. Silalahi. Thank you, Mr. President. So many questions, but The President. So little time? Ms. Silalahi. So little time. The President. Well, give your mother my best. Ms. Silalahi. I thank you very much. October 14, 2003 The Philippines' Role in the War on Terror Mr. Nebrida. Mr. President, the Philippines has taken a position behind just about every initiative that the United States Government has taken against the global fight against terrorism. As a partner in this endeavor, what do you see the Philippines doing further? The President. First of all, Gloria Arroyo, the President, has been very strong, and I appreciate that. And I appreciate my friendship with her. Secondly, the Philippines has recognized that there is a problem in parts of the country and have asked for some help, some training. And we're more than happy to provide it, because there's no question in my mind the will of the Government is to bring people to justice, and the Government has. In other words, there's a recognition of the problem and a willingness to deal with it. I think that our relationship is such it's a very close, longstanding relationship is such that we will see opportunities to work together, and we will work in concert. I would never ask the Philippines to do something that the Government was comfortable doing, but our relationship is good. And one key thing that people need to understand is that the war on terror goes on, and therefore, it's important to have leaders who understand that. And the President understands that, and I appreciate her courage. Upcoming Elections in the Philippines Mr. Nebrida. Continuing with the program, the Philippines is coming into a very critical phase. We're getting our national and local elections in 2004. Are there apprehensions over the exercise itself, or the outcome of the election? The President. Well, first of all, there's no apprehension over the outcome of the election. The people we trust the people in America. We've got our own elections, by the way, coming up in 2004. I would hope that the Philippines would continue to serve as a good example of democracy in the region, in other words, that there be an inclusiveness and, of course, that the elections be carried off in a peaceful way. It will be a very important election for others to watch, and watch the example of the Philippines' elections. And the people will make the right decision. I know my friend is running again, and she's got a strong agenda to run on. Filipino Americans Mr. Nebrida. All right. Close historic links between the United States and the Philippines are seen in the very large and significant Filipino community in the United States. The President. Yes. Mr. Nebrida. How do you see the contribution of that particular community in nation building here in the United States? The President. Well, first of all, there's roughly 2 million Philippine Americans, which is a wonderful contribution to our country. These people are great people. And I know I work with them right here in the White House. We've got some great Philippine Americans here that are proud of their country but most of all love America, because we stand for freedom and justice and opportunity. And the Philippine community has provided great contributions in business and arts and civic participation. And I'm really proud that there are that many Philippine Americans who are citizens of our great land. Upcoming APEC Summit Mr. Nebrida. You're heading for Thailand. The Philippines our President is also heading for the APEC meeting there. You will be meeting each other. There are apprehensions over the emergence of bilateral agreements, trade agreements, and regional trading blocs. Is APEC still a relevant organization as far as the United States sees its allies and its partners? The President. Yes, that's a very good question. It needs to be relevant, because APEC has that room will fill up with leaders that can do a lot to shape a more peaceful world and a more prosperous world. Trade is a central element of our foreign policy, and many of our trading partners, like the Philippines, will be in that room. And we've got to talk about free trade and open trade. We cannot you know, we must advance the agenda of the WTO. There is a great opportunity to discuss ways to enhance prosperity. And I might remind everybody that this war on terror continues. There's a lot of wonderful leaders that will be in the room who have dedicated themselves to the proposition that we must deal with terror now or be dealing with it in more violent forms later. And President Arroyo is such a leader. So I'm looking forward to having a very frank discussion and a good discussion with APEC. I think APEC is relevant, and I think this meeting will help make it more relevant. Mr. Nebrida. Mr. President, thank you so much. The President. Thank you, sir. Mr. Nebrida. Thank you for this opportunity to be with you, and it's indeed an honor and privilege. The President. My honor, too. You're welcome. Thank you, sir. October 14, 2003 President's Upcoming Visit to Australia Mr. Oakes. Mr. President, thanks for speaking to us. What's the main purpose of your trip to Australia? Are you hoping for greater Australian contribution to the stabilization and rebuilding of Iraq? The President. No, the main purpose is to thank the people of Australia and thank my friend John Howard for being strong in the face of terror and being understanding that we have a historic opportunity to bring peace and freedom to parts of the world that need peace and freedom. It really is the main purpose. Australia is a great country. I would define our relationship as a unique relationship. And I'm looking forward to it. I've been there. They tell me it's kind of like Texas, which is another reason I want to go. Mr. Oakes. I think that's right. But not everyone agrees in Australia, agrees with you on the war. Some members of the opposition are talking about possibly protesting when you address the Parliament by wearing white armbands or turning their backs. Would that concern you? The President. Not at all. No, it means that democracy is alive and well. It's a I don't expect everybody to agree with us, but one thing is for certain, the Prime Minister was strong. And the Australian military performed brilliantly I mean brilliantly. And I've talked to a lot of our generals and commanders about how the Australians participated, and they were just A plus was the rating. And I think a lot of people would like to hear that from the American President, and I'm going to tell them. And if somebody feels like they want to express discontent, that's okay. That's democracy. Iraq Mr. Oakes. Well, what about the suggestion from your critics that while you won the war, the peace is being bungled? The President. They're wrong. We're making great progress in Iraq. We've got a pretty steep hill to climb. After all, one, we're facing a bunch of terrorists who can't stand freedom. These thugs were in power for a while, and now they're not going to be in power anymore, and they don't like it. And they're willing to kill innocent people. Their terrorist activities we'd rather fight them there than here. And secondly, that life is pretty darn good compared to what it was under Sad dam Hussein. People aren't going to be tortured. They're not going to be raped. They're not going to mutilated. There are not going to be mass graves. And plus, that the infrastructure is improving. I talked to our Secretary of Commerce today. His exact he's in Baghdad. He said, "Look," he said, "Mr. President," he said, "You're not going to believe the world here is a lot different than some in America think it is. There's a burgeoning marketplace." He met with women businessowners. I mean, there's excitement there about a free society emerging, and it's in our interests that this society be free. Australian Detainees in Guantanamo Bay Mr. Oakes. Sir, there are two Australian citizens being held in Guantanamo Bay. The President. Yes. Mr. Oakes. What's going to happen to them? And what do you say to people in Australia who think they should be either charged or released? The President. Well, we would be glad to work with the Government on the issue. And if John wants to discuss it, I'm more than happy to discuss it. We're working with a variety of countries that have got people in Guantanamo Bay. These are people picked up on the battlefield. We're trying to learn more about them to make sure we fully understand Mr. Oakes. Are they being tortured? The President. No, of course. We don't torture people in America. And people who make that claim just don't know anything about our country. Australia U.S. Free Trade Agreement Mr. Oakes. Another issue between the two countries is the possibly the free trade agreement. The President. Yes, sir. Mr. Oakes. Do you think you will get it, and will you be using this to push it along? The President. Yes. I told John that we'd like to get a free trade agreement done by the end of this year, and I think it's a good opportunity to say that again. And he and I won't sit down and negotiate the fine points. That's what we've got fine staffs to do, but at our level we can encourage the negotiators to move along. Let's get it done. Let's resolve our differences. Australia is an important friend, an important economy, and I think trade is in our national interests. War on Terror Mr. Oakes. Australians have spent this week at memorial services for the victims of the Bali bombing. Can you hold out any hope for them that this that the war on terrorism is actually getting somewhere? The President. Yes, Hambali is no longer a problem. He's the guy that organized the Bali bombing. He won't be bombing anybody anymore. That's a positive step. First of all, I understand what it means to be in a country that grieves over the senseless death of innocent life. And the Australians suffered a mighty blow. And the matter of fact, the other day I was in Kentucky, you know, politics for a guy running for Governor. And a mother a fine looking couple walked up, a mom and dad, said, "You've got to know, our daughter died in Bali," and tears in his eyes. And I gave him a big hug. And he said, "Mr. President, whatever you do, don't stop, so it doesn't happen again." The best way to deal with terror is to be on the offensive and to find these people and bring them to justice. That's why Australia is such an important partner, equal partner, in the war on terror. John Howard gets it. He understands. The Prime Minister knows that we've got to be tough and at the same time create the conditions where there's an alternative to terrorism, and that's freedom and peace. Mr. Oakes. One final question. The President. Sure. Australian, British, and U.S. Leaders' Popularity Mr. Oakes. You're in trouble politically, if you believe the polls. The President. Why do you say that? Mr. Oakes. The polls show you dropping in popularity. The President. Well, actually, there's a poll that showed me going up yesterday. Not to be on the defensive, but go ahead. Laughter Mr. Oakes. Well, I was going to ask why you think you and Tony Blair seem to have lost support, but John Howard hasn't? The President. Well, it must be his charisma. Laughter I don't know. Actually, I'm in pretty good shape politically. I really am. I didn't mean to sound defensive. Mr. Oakes. No, sir. The President. I am. Politicians, by the way, who pay attention to the polls are doomed to be kind of chasing trying to chase opinion. What you need to do is lead, set the tone. And I've taken some tough decisions. And I will look forward to making the case that the decisions I have taken will make America more secure, make the world more peaceful, and make this country more prosperous. And so I'm upbeat about it. And as to why Howard is maintaining his popularity and he married well, and he's smart. Mr. Oakes. Sir, thank you. And I look forward to seeing you in Australia. The President. Yes, sir. Looking forward to it. Thanks. October 14, 2003 Thailand U.S. Relations Mr. Yong. Mr. President, I understand that during your visit to Bangkok you'll be announcing that your administration will designate Thailand as a major non NATO ally. What does it mean to Thailand and to Thai American relations? The President. First of all, you're a pretty darn good reporter. Secondly, it's probably best that I not reveal what the Prime Minister and I are going to talk about until after we talk about it. However, having said that, Thailand and the United States are very close friends. The level of cooperation has been really strong, particularly in matters of common interests. We have a common interest to make sure our countries are secure from terrorism. As you know, the Thai Government very capably I emphasize "capably" brought to justice Mr. Hambali, the planner of the Bali bombings in Indonesia, the killer of hundreds of innocent lives. And I really and it was a piece of really good work. My only point is that we value our relationship and friendship on this key matter. Of course, I'll be talking economics as well. Our non NATO ally status is something I want to speak to privately first with the Prime Minister and not on your TV screen, if you don't mind, but it's a very good question. Laughter President's Upcoming Visit to Thailand Demonstrations Mr. Yong. Some of the public opinion in Thailand, like in your country, doesn't always support what the Government does. The President. Yes. Mr. Yong. You may admire Thaksin, the Prime Minister, for being supportive of the antiterror campaign. But there are people in Thailand who are not happy with that, against the war in Iraq and, again, your policy of preemption. And there are people who plan to stage a demonstration to demand that you be arrested during your visit in Bangkok. How do you respond to these critics? The President. Laughter Well, I'm first of all, a society which allows for people to express themselves is the kind of society I admire. I don't expect everybody to agree with my policies, and I appreciate the fact that they are able to express themselves. I'm not so sure I agree with their desire to have me arrested. Look, some people disagree with my decision to take action against a thug who had been torturing his own people. We've discovered mass graves with hundreds of people that had been buried there, but it's also a man who used chemical weapons. And the United Nations I didn't act alone. The critics must understand that I was acting in concert with the U.N., who for 10 years which for years had said, "Disarm." And finally, I went to the U.N. and said, "Wait a minute. This is time to let's take care of this man one way or the other, and give him a chance to disarm." And he didn't. So I said, "There ought to be serious consequences for not disarming," and we acted. I'm going to tell you something, people have got to understand I'm not going to forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001. These are coldblooded killers that received their support from different governments, and this Nation will act to protect our people, and just like I hope the people of Thailand would expect the Prime Minister to act to protect the people in Thailand. Prime Minister Thaksin Chinnawat of Thailand Mr. Yong. There is an increased recognition among South Asian countries that Prime Minister Thaksin of Thailand is gradually emerging as a new regional leader. You have met him. You have talked to him. You see him being different from the other ASEAN leaders? The President. Well, I certainly don't want to compare him to other leaders. I think that would be unfair. But I do see him as a very strong leader and a very capable leader. He's got a good grasp of the issues. He understands how economies work. He is not afraid to make tough decisions. He stands his ground in the face of criticism. And so I think he is a very interesting, dynamic leader. Iraq Mr. Yong. I think there are people in Thailand who doubt whether we made the right decision to send Thai troops to help in the reconstruction of Iraq. The President. Yes. Mr. Yong. With mounting casualties on the part of the American troops, there are people who doubt that it's worth the risk or not. The President. Yes, well, I think of course, in a free society, there are doubters. But people ought to understand that a free and peaceful Iraq is necessary for world security. A peaceful society in the midst of a part of the world that's been troubled is going to, for the long run, help will help change the world in a positive way. And therefore, the idea of helping to rebuild a country ought to be something the Thai people accept. You've got to understand, the people in Iraq lived under incredible tyranny and torture and rape rooms, the kinds of things the people in Thailand reject. These people were the tyrant brutalized them and at the same time built up weapons and didn't spend the money on social services. And so not only are we making the world more secure and peaceful we're actually making life better for people who had been brutalized by this man. And surely the people who respect human rights and decency understand the need to help. Now, our troops are we're in the process of hunting down these killers. And the more progress there is in Iraq, the more the terrorists get angry, because they can't stand freedom. So I look forward to making the case of the United States about why it was important to Thailand to contribute. It's important for humanitarian reasons, at the very minimum. But for the long term, it's important for peace and security. Mr. Yong. Thank you very much for your time. The President. I'm really looking forward to coming to your beautiful country. October 14, 2003 Singapore's Role in the War on Terror Mr. Brown. Talking about your trip specifically to Singapore, how happy are you with the measures that Singapore has taken, specifically regarding terrorism? And what are your concerns about the residual threat in the region? The President. First, I'm very happy with the Government of Singapore's response to terrorism. They are strong, and they are resolute. They understand the task at hand, and they understand the dangers. Prime Minister Goh and I have had some great conversations about the region. He is a very knowledgeable man. He keeps me abreast of his views of different players in the region and what's going on. Of course we're concerned about terrorism in the region, because, after all, there's been attacks in the region. I remind our own citizens here that we're still focused on September the 11th as kind of the defining terrorist moment, but there have been a lot of attacks. And the Bali bombing is a classic example of the terrorist activities, and that happens to come in Southeast Asia. The Prime Minister and the Government are concerned, obviously, about those kind of attacks. We'll have a good discussion about it. He's got a lot to offer, a lot of advice to offer, a lot of wisdom, and I listen to it. Role of APEC Partners in Iraq Mr. Brown. Mr. President, have your APEC partners done enough to help the United States in Iraq? The President. In Iraq? Well, we can always use more. And as a matter of fact, the Japanese are going to make an announcement. We're out there working hard to convince others to participate in the reconstruction effort in Iraq. It's in their interests that Iraq be free and peaceful. And the reason it is, is because the region needs democracy. The region needs an example of what can happen in a peaceful society. The region needs something alternative to a type of society which breeds terrorism. I firmly believe that Iraq will emerge to be that example and that leader. North Korea and Iraq Mr. Brown. Clearly, the region is also concerned about North Korea. The President. Yes. Mr. Brown. You've described Saddam Hussein as a madman and a danger, and he was deposed by force. You've also said that you loathe Kim Chong il, and he has a known nuclear program. Why this disparity? The President. Because, first of all, remember in Iraq, we spent 11 years' or so worth of resolutions and discussions and diplomacy trying to convince Saddam Hussein to disarm. He chose not to. I believe we can solve the issue on the North Korean with the North Korean issue on the Korean Peninsula peacefully. As a matter of fact, we're making great strides toward that. You might remember, up until recent history, the whole issue is the United States and North Korea. And the Government signed an agreement with North Korea, and they didn't tell the truth. So I've decided to come with a new strategy, and that is, rather than just the United States being the interlocutor with North Korea, we convince others in the neighborhood, like the Chinese and the Russians and the Japanese and the South Koreans. And we're moving along. This will be a major part of our discussions in APEC, to keep this group together, to speak with one voice, and that is, to Kim Chong il, "Get rid of your nuclear ambitions. No nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula." It's in all our interests we do so. And we're making progress. Now he's hearing at least five voices, not just one. And I believe this can be solved peacefully. Force is the last resort for the United States, not the first resort. It's the last option, and I'm very hopeful that we can make good progress on this issue. China's Space Program Mr. Brown. On China, how do you see their space program? Is it a threat to the U.S.? The President. No, it's an interesting development. I don't necessarily see it as a threat. I think it's a country that's now beginning to emerge as a sophisticated country, and it's got great potential. And I think it's interesting. I hope that they are able to make discoveries in space, like we did, that will the technology that will come out of that will help mankind. No, I don't view it as a threat. New Zealand U.S. Relations Mr. Brown. Finally, on a regional trade issue, with New Zealand, you'll meet Prime Minister Helen Clark on the sidelines, I understand, at APEC. Why does Australia have negotiations on a FTA free trade agreement , and New Zealand doesn't? Is it to do with their nuclear policy? The President. No, not really. I mean, we haven't gotten started with New Zealand. The nuclear policy, obviously, makes it difficult for us to have a military alliance, but we're friends with the New Zealands. We respect the New Zealand people. But Australia is farther along the road when it comes to trade discussions. Prime Minister Howard and I discussed trade at my ranch in Crawford. We hope to get it done by the end of this year. The people of New Zealand shouldn't read anything into it other than, we just haven't gotten started. And I respect the people of New Zealand. I respect that great country. Mr. Brown. I'm going to have to call it a day. That's all. The President. I think you did a fine job. October 11, 2003 Good morning. Six months ago this week, the statue of Saddam Hussein came down in the center of Baghdad, and Iraq began the transition from tyranny to self government. The goal of our coalition is to help the Iraqi people build a stable, just, and prosperous country that poses no threat to America or the world. To reach that goal, we are following a clear strategy. First, coalition forces in Iraq are actively pursuing the terrorists and Saddam holdouts who desperately oppose freedom for the Iraqi people. Secondly, we are committed to expanding international cooperation in the reconstruction and security of Iraq. And third, we are working closely with Iraqi leaders as they prepare to draft a constitution, establish institutions of a civil society, and move toward free elections. As part of this strategy, we're helping Iraqis to rebuild their economy after a long era of corruption and misrule. For three decades, Iraq's economy served the interest only of its dictator and his regime. Saddam Hussein built palaces and monuments to himself while Iraq's infrastructure crumbled. He built up a massive war machine while neglecting the basic needs of his own people. Now that the dictator is gone, we and our coalition partners are helping Iraqis to lay the foundations of a free economy. This coming week, the Iraqi economy will reach an important milestone with the introduction of a new currency. The new Iraqi dinar notes will bear the images of Iraq's proud heritage and not the face of a hated dictator. For more than a decade, different areas of Iraq have used two different versions of the dinar, and many of those notes were counterfeit, diminishing the value of those that were genuine. The new dinar will be used throughout Iraq, thereby unifying the economy and the country. The new currency will have special features that will make it difficult to counterfeit. Following World War II, it took 3 years to institute a new currency in West Germany. In Iraq, it has taken only 6 months, and the new currency symbolizes Iraq's reviving economy. Iraq has a strong entrepreneurial tradition, and since the liberation of that country, thousands of new businesses have been launched. Busy markets are operating in villages across the country. Store shelves are filled with goods from clothing and linens to air conditioners and satellite dishes. Free commerce is returning to the ancient region that invented banking. With our assistance, Iraqis are building the roads and ports and railways necessary for commerce. We have helped to establish an independent Iraqi central bank. Working with the Iraqi Governing Council, we are establishing a new system that allows foreign investors to confidently invest capital in Iraq's future. And we have helped restore Iraq's oil production capacity to nearly 2 million barrels a day, the benefits of which are flowing directly to the Iraqi people. Iraq is making progress. As the mayor of Kirkuk, Abdul Rahman Mustafa, recently said, "Our economic potential has barely been tapped." We must help Iraq to meet that potential. The request I have made to Congress for Iraqi reconstruction includes support for important health and training projects. Under our strategy, Iraq will have employment centers to help people find jobs. We intend to establish computer training and English language instruction and vocational programs to help Iraqis participate fully in the global economy. I urge Congress to pass my budget request soon so this vital work can proceed. Americans are providing this help not only because our hearts are good but because our vision is clear. A stable, democratic, and prosperous Iraq will no longer be a breeding ground for terror, tyranny, and aggression, and a free Iraq will be an example of freedom's power throughout the Middle East. Free nations are peaceful nations. By promoting freedom and hope in other lands, we remove direct threats to the American people. Our actions in Iraq will increase our safety for years to come. Thank you for listening. October 09, 2003 Thanks for coming. It's great to be back in this beautiful State. It's good to see a lot of friends. I know something about the culture of Kentucky. I know the priorities of this State. I promise you I'll keep my speech short so you can get to the football game. Laughter All I can say is, thank goodness it wasn't basketball season, because nobody would be here. Laughter I appreciate the warm welcome to this former Governor, and I'm proud to be here with the next Governor, Ernie Fletcher. For me, politics will come in time. I've got a job to do, and it's my honor to lead this country. But politics is upon the people of Kentucky, and I'm here because I want to make it as clear as I possibly can In the interests of every person who lives in this State, whether they're Republican, Democrat, or independent, the best man to be the Governor of Kentucky is Ernie Fletcher. I know him well. I've worked with him as a United States Congressman. The first thing I found out about Ernie is he loves his family, and he loves this State. I finally had to tell him to quit saying the word "Kentucky" every time he lobbied me on an issue. Laughter He cares a lot about people. He believes in personal responsibility, the dignity that comes from hard work, and the importance of a good education for every child. There's no question in my mind this man has the right values to lead this great State. And I appreciate the fact that Ernie picked a good man named Steve Pence to be the Lieutenant Governor of this State. I picked him first. Laughter He was the U.S. Attorney for Western District of Kentucky, appointed by President George W. Bush. I looked at a lot of candidates. This man was the best candidate for the job. I'm proud that he served as U.S. Attorney. I'm proud that he served as a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves. And I'm proud to be standing on this stage with the next Lieutenant Governor of the State of Kentucky. Ernie and I both married above ourselves. Laughter I'm proud to be with Glenna and the Fletcher family. I want to thank you for your sacrifice and service. Glenna, you'll make a great first lady for this State, just like Laura has made a great First Lady for our country. I'm really proud of Laura. She recently went on a high level diplomatic mission. She went to Russia to help promote a book festival with Lyudmila Putin by the way, came back right after that in Russia and hosted a national book festival. She loves books. She loves reading. She wants every child to read in America. And then she before she went to Russia, she stopped off in France. Laughter Now, you may have seen the picture. I went to France. Laughter I had a nice reception, but I wasn't treated like that. Laughter No, she's great. I'm proud of her. I can't tell you how thankful I am that when I got on bended knee and said, "Will you marry me," she said yes. Laughter She sends her love and her best to all her friends here in the great Commonwealth of Kentucky. I also thank Ruth Ann Pence and the Pence family for working hard to get the next Lieutenant Governor in office. It's a sacrifice for families when somebody makes the decision to run. It's a team effort, and I thank the families for what you're doing. In our midst is a man who you must send back as the United States Senator from this great State, and that is Mr. Jim Bunning. He's strong. He's capable. He's the absolute right man for the job. Speaking about Senators, Mitch's wife is in my Cabinet. That would be Mitch McConnell, and I'm speaking about Elaine Chao. She's done a fabulous job as the Secretary of Labor. Hi, Elaine. Need a ride back? Laughter Not much air rage on Air Force One, by the way. Laughter Two Members of the United States Congress are with us today. A great Member, a fellow I remember campaigning with for my dad at his house, a person who has done a really good job for Kentucky he is a person who is a leader in the House of Representatives, and that's Congressman Hal Rogers. As well we've got another fine Member from the House of Representatives with us, a good stalwart, a good ally, and that's Congressman Ron Lewis. I know the current Congressman, soon to be Governor, is really appreciative of the Members of the Congress for coming tonight. You know him as well as anybody. I appreciate the members of the statehouse who are here. It's in your interest you're here, because you're going to be working with a fine man as Governor. We've got the senator, Dan Kelly, who's the majority leader. You're fixing to have a great Governor to work with, Senator. You've got State Representative Jeff Hoover, minority leader of the statehouse. And I want to thank the other members of the senate and the house who are here tonight as well. Help is on the way. I know there's a lot of other candidates running for statewide office, too numerous to name, but I wish you all the best. I thank your families for making the sacrifice. I also want to thank all the grassroots activists who are here, people who are putting up the signs and dialing the phones and licking the envelopes. You can't win a race unless you energize the grassroots. And we've got some fantastic leaders of the Republican Party who are with us tonight. Ellen Williams, my good friend, is the chairwoman of the Republican Party of the State of Kentucky. My friend Cathy Bailey, the national committeewoman and the State finance chair, by the way, for the Bush Cheney 2004 campaign, is with us tonight. But my message to the grassroots folks is it's one thing to come to a fundraiser and that's important, don't get me wrong but you need to go to your coffee shops. You need to go to community centers and your houses of worship, and you need to say to people who haven't made up their mind, "You've got a good man in Ernie Fletcher." You need to spread the word. You need to energize those folks. Find those folks that say, "My vote doesn't matter," and look them in the eye and says, "It does matter to have the right kind of Governor in the statehouse." I appreciate Ernie's priorities. The number one priority of any Governor ought to be the education of the children of the State in which he's the Governor. That ought to be the priority. It's Ernie's priority. See, if you can't get education right, there's a dismal future for the State. It's essential that you have a Governor who stands tall for every child. And that starts with having a Governor who understands the dire need to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. You've got to have a Governor that believes that every child can learn and is willing to raise the standards, a Governor who believes in the worth and potential of every single child in his State. And that's Ernie Fletcher. You see, if you do not believe that every child can learn, then you're willing to accept a system which simply shuffles children through the schools. And that's unsatisfactory. It should be unsatisfactory to everybody who lives in the State of Kentucky. It's important to know whether or not the children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. It's important to hold public schools accountable. That way, Governor Fletcher can praise the teachers and principals and parents in succeeding schools. And that way, Governor Fletcher can take the accountability measures and say, "We're not doing it right here." For the sake of Kentucky, put a Governor in who's willing to work hard to make sure not one single child is left behind. Ernie talked about health care. Health care is an issue. It makes sense to have somebody who knows something about health care as the Governor. He does. I've worked with him closely on key issues. We worked on the Medicare bill together. See, we want to make sure the Medicare system is modern, so seniors have got choices. I'm not only talking about the seniors today I'm talking about those of us who are fixing to be seniors. You've got to have a system that works. Let's make sure we have prescription drugs available for our seniors. Ernie has been a leader on this issue. He knows what he's talking about. And he and I know this, that for the sake of affordable and available health care, we need to have medical liability reform. For the sake of the working people of this State, you better have you a Governor who is strong enough to stand up to the trial lawyers, somebody who is going to remind the people of this State that nobody has ever been healed by a frivolous or junk lawsuit. And that's soon to be Governor Ernie Fletcher. We spent a lot of time in Washington talking about jobs. See, he and I understand this, that things might look okay, but so long as anybody is looking for work and can't find a job, it means we still have a problem. We've got to work to create the conditions for job growth. The role of our governments is not to create wealth Ernie knows that the role is to create the environment in which small businesses can flourish to be big businesses, in which the entrepreneurial spirit is strong. We had a problem at the national level. When we came in Vice President Cheney and I came in the country was headed into a recession in the first quarter of 2001. We were in recession. The economy started coming around, and then the enemy hit us, and that hurt. And then we found out some of our citizens forgot to tell the truth. We had some corporate scandals. And by the way, there's no excuse for that. They will be held to account. We expect corporate CEOs to be responsible citizens in America. We vigorously waged the war on terror, and the battles of Afghanistan and Iraq affected the confidence of the American people. We had an issue with our economy. I went to the Congress. I said, "The best way to get the economy growing again, the best way to make sure people can find a job is to return the people's money." I proposed historic tax relief. We increased the child credit from 600 to 1,000. We reduced the marriage penalty. The code ought to encourage marriage, not discourage marriage. We cut the taxes on everybody who pays taxes. We thought the fairest way to deal with tax relief was not to play favorites but to say, "If you pay tax, you get tax relief." We provided incentives for small businesses to expand, because Ernie and I understand that most new jobs in America are created by small businesses. No, we acted. I called upon Congress this good man supported me. The tax relief came at the right time for American history. Now, I've watched him carefully. He understands what I know When we're spending money at the Government level, we're not spending the Government's money we're spending the people's money. And you'd better have a Governor who understands that in your statehouse. There's another thing we're working on in Washington to make sure our businesses flourish, and that's a reliable source of energy. I look forward to working with Ernie on clean coal technology. I want to use the resources at hand. You've got some great resources here in Kentucky. We've got to use them. We've got to make sure we use our technology so that the air is cleaner. But we need an energy policy for the sake of economic vitality. And for the sake of national security, we need to be less dependent on foreign sources of energy. We've been working on a jobs plan at the national level, Ernie's working on a jobs plan here in Kentucky. He knows what he's doing. He's got the right philosophy. If anybody out there is listening and is worried about their job, I'd strongly suggest that you make Ernie Fletcher your Governor. He knows what he's talking about when it comes to job creation for the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Another thing I'm looking forward to working with Ernie on is homeland security. There's a lot responsibility at the State level when it comes to protecting the homeland. Make sure you've got a Governor who is well organized, who can make sure that there's a response mechanism in case the worst might happen, somebody who supports the first responders, the fire and the policemen and the emergency service squads all over your State. I'm confident Ernie can do the job. I've worked with him on matters of homeland security. The truth of the matter is, the best way to secure the homeland is never to forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001, and chase the enemy down, one by one, and bring them to justice. One of the big problems we had when we got to Washington was morale in the United States military was beginning to suffer. When we showed up, there was an issue in the military. So I proposed strong defense budgets to meet the threats of a new era. Congressman Fletcher was a strong supporter of those defense budgets. And today, thanks to his support and the good work of others here in this audience, no one no one in the world can doubt the strength and the spirit and the sacrifice and the class and the technological ability of the United States military. Thank goodness we did strengthen our military, because we're still at war. I knew, after September the 11th, one of the hardest things for me to do would be to convince the people that there was a new kind of war, and they had to be diligent and patient in order to do our duty, in order to answer history and secure our homeland. Ernie Fletcher got that right off the bat. It's important that our country not forget the lessons of September the 11th. The first lesson is the nature of the enemy. These people are nothing but coldblooded killers. They've hijacked a great religion. They'll kill innocent women and children and men. They care not who they kill. They try to create fear and intimidation. Therapy won't work with these people. Negotiation won't work with these people. The only way to secure America is to stay on the offensive, and this country will stay on the offensive. We're making good progress against Al Qaida. I vowed that we would bring those killers to justice, and we're making good progress. We're teaming up with other nations and, slowly but surely, bringing them to justice. About two thirds of the Al Qaida leadership have either been killed or captured. And we're after the rest of them. I know we've got a family here who grieved because of the bombing in Bali. The man who ordered that bombing, masterminded the bombing, is now in custody. He's no longer a threat. May God rest your daughter. We have a duty, no matter whether the citizen lives here in America or elsewhere, to be tough and strong and vigilant, to use our resources and capabilities to bring killers to justice. I also laid out another initiative that's an important lesson of September the 11th. It's important for those who harbor a terrorist and feed a terrorist and hide a terrorist to understand they're just as guilty as the terrorists. And the Taliban in Afghanistan found out exactly what we meant. Because of the bravery of the United States military and our friends and coalitions, the Taliban is no more. The people of Afghanistan are free. Many young girls go to school for the first time, thanks to the United States of America. There's another lesson involved with September the 11th, and that is, when we see a gathering threat, we must deal with it. You see, in the past, oceans protected us, or so we thought. We felt thought we were invulnerable to attack. So if we saw a gathering threat overseas, we might decide to deal with it, or might not. September the 11th changed that calculation. The enemy can strike anytime, anywhere in America with ruthless fashion. They know no rules. They know no bounds of decency. They kill in the name of great religion. And therefore, this Nation must deal with gathering threats when we find them. And Saddam Hussein was a gathering threat. He possessed and he used weapons of mass destruction. He was a brutal tyrant and dictator to his own people. We discovered mass graves of men, women, and children. He had rape rooms and torture rooms. Words cannot describe the tyranny of this brutal man. I was not about to leave the security of the United States to the desires and hopes of this madman. But we weren't alone. The world called for Mr. Saddam Hussein to disarm, to prove he had disarmed, not once but time after time. The world clearly saw the threat of Mr. Saddam Hussein. Last year, you might remember, we passed Security Council Resolution 1441. The United Nations said, "Mr. Saddam Hussein, you must declare your weapons. You must disarm for the sake of peace, or there will be serious consequences. Your choice." He made a bad choice. Saddam Hussein is no more. Recently, there was a report about Mr. Saddam Hussein's weapons programs. If you read the report, it is absolutely clear that he was in defiance of Security Council Resolution 1441, that he was not only a danger but a deceiver. The United Nations was right to demand Saddam Hussein be disarmed, and the United States and our coalition was right to remove him from power. And we have more work to do in Iraq. See, we're at an historic moment. A free Iraq, a peaceful Iraq in the heart of the land of terror will change the world and make America and our friends more secure. A peaceful Iraq in the heart of the Middle East will change the habits of countries that have spawned terrorists. It's essential we succeed for the long term. It's essential we succeed for our children and our grandchildren in developing a peaceful, democratic country. And make no mistake about it, we will succeed. We're making great progress. I don't care what you read about. Just ask anybody who's been there. They will tell you that the schools are opening, the children are getting immunized, the electricity is up, water is purified and moving. We're making great progress in helping this nation establish itself. The Iraqis want a secure country. They're moms and dads just like you all are. They want to live in a peaceful, hopeful place. The marketplaces are burgeoning. The entrepreneurial spirit is growing. And they'll start taking over their own security. By the end of next year, we'll have 40,000 militia trained so they can deal with the thugs and the criminals and the Ba'athists who long for Saddam Hussein. I talked to Bernie Kerik, the police chief of New York City, who was the commissioner there during 9 11. He went over there in the midst of chaos and set up a 37,000 person police force in Baghdad. No, it's different. We're making progress. This country is growing. I readily concede it's still hard work. There's thugs and killers who can't stand the thought of freedom. Freedom makes them nervous. And so, they're going to try to intimidate. See, you've got to understand, their goal is to try to frighten the United States of America. They want us to leave early. They want to inflict damage so that we run. They don't understand our country. We don't run from a challenge. We understand the stakes. We will stay the course, not only for our own security but for the peace of the world. I've received great support from the United States Congress on this initiative. Ernie Fletcher understands the stakes. He understands the historic nature of what we are doing. He understands this war on terror. It will be good to have him as your Governor. He has got a vision. I also know what he knows, that the true strength of this country is not our military might, however, or it's not the size of our wallets. That's not the true strength of America. The true strength of this country is the heart of the American people. We're a compassionate, decent nation. It's very important that you have a Governor who knows that Government can hand out money, but it cannot put hope in a person's heart or a sense of purpose in a person's life. That comes when loving citizens put their arm around somebody who hurts and says, "I love you. What can I do to help you? How can I make a difference in your life?" You need to have a Governor who knows that amidst the plenty of this great State, there are people who hurt. There are people who cry for help. There's homeless people. There's battered women. There's addicted people. And the best way to solve that is to rally the armies of compassion. Whether it be at the Federal level or at the State level, elected officials should never fear rallying faith, no matter what the religion, to help people in need. No, the greatest strength of this country is the fact that there are thousands and thousands of people who have heard the universal call, whether they be Christian or Jewish or Muslim, to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. Problems will be solved one person at a time, one person one conscience at a time, when our country gathers up the true strength, those who have heard the call, and help them provide the services that will save lives. Ernie Fletcher understands that the people are the strength of this State. There's no doubt in my mind he'll make a great Governor. And it's my high honor to come and stand by his side and urge the good people of this State to vote him into office. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. October 09, 2003 Thanks for the warm welcome. It's good to be back in New Hampshire again. I've spent some quality time here. Laughter It's good to see many of our friends. It seems like Manchester is a popular destination place these days laughter not just because the leaves are changing. Laughter This city was the scene of my first great victory in 2000, the perfect flip at the Presidential Pancake Flip off. Laughter I would suggest some of our other fellow Americans practice. Laughter I want to thank the Chamber and the Business Industry Association for inviting me here today to talk about two great priorities of our country, to create jobs for America and to win the war on terror. I wish Laura was with me today. She sends her best wishes. You might remember that she has recently been on a diplomatic mission. She went to Russia, and she was in France. Perhaps you saw the picture laughter of her in France. Laughter Last time I was in France, I got a nice welcome but nothing like that. Laughter She's such a great representative for our country. I'm really proud to call her wife. I love her dearly. I want to thank Raymond for his kind introduction. I appreciate Harold Turner as well for letting me come. Thank you all for coming. I traveled from Pease Air Force Base with your fine Governor and First Lady, Denise. Craig, I'm proud to call you friend. Thank you for serving your great State. I'm also here with my buddy Judd Gregg and his wife, Kathy. Don't mess with Kathy. Laughter I'm also honored to be here with a fine United States Senator, John Sununu. I appreciate you coming, John. Congressmen Charlie Bass and Jeb Bradley flew down from Washington with me today. I know the mayor of Manchester and the mayor of Nashua are here with us today. I'm honored you are here. Members of the executive council are here State representatives are here State senators are here. The attorney general is here. There are a lot of people here that I need to thank. I appreciate you coming and giving me a chance to visit with you. When I landed today in Manchester, I met a fellow named Robert Perkins. He is one of the thousands of citizens who volunteer in your State. I like to point out people like Robert Perkins, because it gives me a chance to remind our fellow citizens that our true strength is not our military might. Our true strength is not the size of our wallet. The strength of this country is the heart and soul of fellow citizens who are willing to love a neighbor just like they'd like to be loved themselves. Robert Perkins volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club here in Manchester. He helped create the chapter in 1995. He has dedicated 5 to 10 hours each week over the past 5 years. My call to our citizens is, in order to make America as hopeful and promising a place as possible, help somebody who hurts. Put your arm around somebody in need. And for those of you who already do so, like Robert Perkins, thank you for being patriots. Since I was last here, New Hampshire lost one of its finest citizens, Governor Hugh Gregg. He loved his country, and he served it well. He loved this State, and he believed in the common sense and wisdom of its people. This tradition continues in his good family. We honor Hugh Gregg's memory, and my family was proud to be his friend. I began my visit this morning at Pease, with the New Hampshire Army and Air Guardsmen and reservists from every branch of our military. New Hampshire guardsmen have served on every front of the war on terror, from Afghanistan to Iraq to protecting our homeland to guarding the detainees at Guantanamo Bay. I went to tell them how much I appreciated the fact that they are showing what it means to be patriots and citizens. I told them that our country is grateful for their service. America is being tested. We're being tested abroad, and we are being tested here at home. And we're meeting the tests of history. We're defeating the enemies of freedom. And at the same time, we're confronting challenges to build the prosperity of our Nation. Every test of America has revealed the character of America. After 2 years, no one in the world, friend or foe, can doubt the strength or the will of the American people. When you become the President, you can't predict all the challenges that will come. But you do know the principles you bring to office, and they should not change. They shouldn't change with time, and they shouldn't change with polls. I took this office to make a difference, not to mark time. I came to this office to confront problems directly and forcefully, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. The challenges we face today cannot be met with timid actions or bitter words. Our challenges will be overcome with optimism and resolve and confidence in the ideals of our country. Because we believe in our free enterprise system, we can be confident in our economy's future. Our economy has been through a lot, been through some tough times. When I took office, the stock market had been declining for 9 months, and the economy was headed into a recession. And just as we started to recover, the enemy attacked us on September the 11th, and that struck a blow to our economy. And then investor confidence was shaken by scandals in corporate America dishonest behavior we cannot and we will not tolerate in our America. And then we faced the uncertainty that preceded the battles of Afghanistan and Iraq. We have acted to overcome all these challenges, and I've acted on principle. See, Government doesn't create wealth. The role of Government is to create the conditions where risktakers and entrepreneurs can invest and grow and therefore hire new workers. I've acted to create the conditions for job growth. See, I understand that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and someone is more likely to find a job. And so I twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. We wanted tax relief to be as broad and as fair as possible, so we reduced taxes on everyone who pays taxes. I don't think it makes sense to penalize marriage in the Tax Code. We want to reward and honor marriage. And so we reduced the marriage penalty. We understand it takes a lot of to raise a family and to educate a child, so we increased the child credit to 1,000. This summer I said the check would be in the mail, and it was. It's counterproductive to discourage investment, especially during an economic recovery. So we quadrupled the expense deduction for small business investment and cut tax rates on dividends and capital gains. It is unfair to tax the estates people leave behind after a lifetime of saving and building up their business or running the family farm. When you leave the world, the IRS shouldn't follow you. So we're phasing out the Federal death tax. I proposed and signed these measures to help individuals and families, but I also know the effect it would have on small businesses. See, most small businesses in America pay taxes under the individual income tax rates. Most small businesses are sole proprietorships or Subchapter S corporations, and so when you cut all taxes, you benefit the small business owner in America. And when you couple that with the higher expense deductions, we've really put the wind under the sails of small businesses. And that's important, because small businesses create most new jobs in our country. They're usually the first to take risks and the first to hire new people. The tax relief plan we passed helps small businesses, which helps economic growth, which means it's more likely somebody is going to find a job. The actions we're taking are helping people. We've cut the taxes on 112,000 small business owners in New Hampshire. We've reduced the marriage penalty for 192,000 couples. We've increased the child tax credit for 124,000 families. I understand this, that New Hampshire citizens can better spend their own money than the people in Washington. We're following a clear and consistent economic strategy, and I'm confident about the future of this country. Last month, the economy exceeded expectations and added net new jobs. Inflation is low. After tax incomes are rising. Homeownership is at record levels. Productivity is high, and it is rising. Factory orders, particularly for high tech equipment, have risen over the last several months. Our strategy has set the stage for sustained growth. By reducing taxes, we kept a promise, and we did the right thing at the right time for the American economy. Just as our economy is coming around, some are saying now is the time to raise taxes. To be fair, they think any time is a good time to raise taxes. Laughter At least they're consistent. But I strongly disagree. A nation cannot tax its way to growth or job creation. Tax relief has put this Nation on the right path, and I intend to keep this Nation on the path to prosperity. We are moving forward, but we cannot be satisfied. We can't be satisfied, so long as we have fellow citizens who are looking for work. Here in New Hampshire, one out of every five jobs that have been lost are manufacturing jobs. And that's a problem. I believe we must act boldly to stem the tide of job loss. So I'm asking Congress to join me in carrying out a six point plan for jobs for America. Businesses are more likely to hire people if the health care for workers is affordable. We need to allow association health care plans, where small businesses can pool risk and gain the same bargaining power as big businesses. And in order to control health care costs, we need effective legal reform, medical liability reform at the Federal level. Defensive medicine against frivolous lawsuits runs up the Federal budgets. It increases the cost of Medicare and Medicaid and veteran health benefits. Medical liability reform is a national problem that requires a national solution. The House has passed a good bill. It is stuck in the Senate. Senators must understand no one has been healed by a frivolous lawsuit in America. Unfair lawsuits are also harming a lot of good and honest employers. There are too many large settlements that leave plaintiffs with a small sum and lawyers with a fortune. Class actions and mass tort suits that reach across State lines should be tried in a Federal court so lawyers cannot shop around looking for a favorable judge. And most of the money in a judgment or settlement should go to those who have actually been harmed, not the lawyer. A good bill has passed the House. It is stuck in the Senate. We need class action tort reform out of the United States Senate. Our economy will grow stronger and create more jobs if we have a sound national energy policy. The manufacturing sector of New Hampshire and around our country need reliable sources of energy. We need better infrastructure. We need to modernize the delivery of electricity and natural gas so cities and businesses and employers are not left in the dark. We'll continue to give low income people help with their fuel bills this winter. We must use our technology to develop plain and efficient energy sources so we can sustain economic growth and protect the environment. We need more energy production close to home. For the sake of national security and for the sake of economic security, America must be less dependent on foreign sources of energy. We passed a good bill out of the House and the Senate. They must come together and get a bill to my desk before they go home for Christmas. Most people will find jobs when employers don't have to waste time and resources complying with needless Government regulations. For the sake of American workers, we're cutting unnecessary rules and making some of the rules still on the books simpler to understand. This administration understands that small business owners should spend more time building companies and pleasing customers and less time filling out the endless forms the Federal Government requires. To create jobs, we are pursuing free trade agreements that will open up markets for New Hampshire products. Last month, I signed trade agreements with Singapore and Chile, and we are working toward other free trade agreements across the globe. Expanded trade will help New Hampshire companies like Len Tex and Warwick Mills and Tender to sell more goods, which will mean more jobs and better jobs for New Hampshire workers. I will insist that for free not only will we have free trade but that there be a level playing field, that the people with whom we trade treat America fairly. I firmly believe that when the rules are fair, American workers and entrepreneurs can compete with anybody, anyplace, and anytime. There is one more thing we need to do. We need to make sure that all the tax relief we have passed doesn't disappear in future years. See, there's a quirk in the legislation. The tax cuts that we passed are scheduled to go away unless we act. The child credit will drop in several years. The death tax that we put to extinction will pop back up 10 years after enactment. In other words, there's uncertainty in the Tax Code. See, Americans hear about tax relief. They don't expect to see higher taxes sneak through the back door. For the sake of job creation, for the sake of people looking for work, the United States Congress should make every one of the tax cuts we passed permanent. We have a responsibility to set good policies in Washington, and we are. Yet the real strength is found in the creativity and the entrepreneurial spirit of the American people. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in this country. It's one of the great aspects of our national character. And that's why I'm so confident about the future of our economy. Brain Stowell is here. He's a second generation entrepreneur based in Claremont, New Hampshire. I met Brian backstage. His family owned a cabinetmaking company called Crown Point Cabinetry, which started by his dad, Norm, in a garage, 25 years ago. Brian said, "If you talk about me, make sure you talk about my dad, Norm." Now that business employs 90 people. From the garage to now being an employer of 90 people, that's what America is all about. This year, four this week, Brian added four new workers. Most new jobs in America are created by small business owners. In the next 2 1 2 years, he plans on adding 25 workers. Folks working now not only know they'll have a job, but they're about to be joined by other working with them. He says the tax cuts helped a lot. That's his words, not mine. Because of tax relief, he's putting more than 800,000 of his company's money at work in new equipment. See, he's made a decision. Tax relief, it creates demand. In a market oriented economy, when there's more demand, somebody meets that demand with a service or a product. And when somebody meets that demand with a service or a product, somebody is more likely to find work. He's going to buy a new router, made in North Carolina. There's a router worker who's going to be a benefit from his decision caused by tax relief. He's going to buy a sander made in Minnesota, spray booths made just outside of Boston, Massachusetts, a forklift made in Iowa, more than a dozen other pieces of equipment, nearly all of them made here in America. The tax relief encouraged Brian to make an investment. And when he makes an investment, not only will it help his company be more productive, the people who are making the equipment for Brian to purchase are more likely to find work and keep work. He's an optimist. He's an optimist because he believes in the people in this country. Here's what he said. He said, "After September the 11th, everybody collectively held their breath, but our confidence has grown. We've turned a corner." Confidence like that is well founded. We live in a country that rewards big dreams and honest effort. My job is to keep the entrepreneurial spirit alive and well through good policy in Washington, DC. As we overcome challenges to our economy, we are also answering great threats to our security. September the 11th, 2001, moved our country to grief and moved our country to action. We made a pledge that day, and we have kept it. We're bringing the guilty to justice. We're taking the fight to the enemy. And we now see that enemy very clearly. The terrorists plot in secret. They kill the innocent. They defile a great religion. And they hate everything America stands for. These committed killers will not be stopped by negotiations. They won't respond to therapy or to reason. The terrorists who threaten America cannot be appeased. They must be found they must be fought and they must be defeated. We are in a different kind of war than we're used to. We're in a new war, and it requires a new strategy. We're not waiting for further attacks. We're striking our enemies before they can strike us again. We've taken unprecedented steps to protect our homeland, yet wars are won on the offensive. And America and our friends are staying on the offensive. We are rolling back the terrorist threat, not on the fringes of its influence but at the heart of its power. We're making good progress. We're hunting the Al Qaida terrorists and their allies wherever they hide, from Pakistan to the Philippines to the Horn of Africa to Iraq. Nearly two thirds of Al Qaida's known leaders have been captured or killed. Our resolve is firm and clear No matter how long it takes, all who plot against America will face the justice of America. We have sent a message understood throughout the world, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you support a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists." And the Taliban found out what we meant. Thanks to our great military, Afghanistan is no longer a safe haven for terror. Afghanistan is free. Many young girls now go to the school for the first time in Afghanistan, and the people of America are safer from attack. And we fought the war on terror in Iraq. The regime of Saddam Hussein possessed and used weapons of mass destruction. He sponsored terrorist groups, inflicted incredible terror on his own people. Nearly every nation, every nation, recognized and denounced this threat for over 10 years. The U.N. Security Council, in Resolution 1441, demanded that Saddam Hussein disarm, to prove his disarmament to the world or face serious consequences. The choice was up to the dictator. He chose poorly. I acted because I was not about to leave the security of the American people in the hands of a madman. I was not about to stand by and wait and trust in the sanity and restraint of Saddam Hussein. So in one of the swiftest and most humane military campaigns in history, we removed the threat. Six months ago today, the statue of the dictator was pulled down. Since the liberation of Iraq, our investigators have found evidence of a clandestine network of biological laboratories, advance design work on prohibited longer range missiles, an elaborate campaign to hide illegal weapons programs. There's still much to investigate. Yet it is undeniable undeniable that Saddam Hussein was in clear violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441. It's undeniable that Saddam Hussein was a deceiver and a danger. The Security Council was right to demand that Saddam disarm, and we were right to enforce that demand. Who can possibly think that the world would be better off with Saddam Hussein still in power? Surely not the dissidents who would be in his prisons or end up in his mass graves. Surely not the men and women who would fill Saddam's torture chambers or rape rooms. Surely not the families of victims he murdered with poison gas. Surely not anyone who cares about human rights and democracy and stability in the Middle East. There's only one decent and humane reaction to the fall of Saddam Hussein Good riddance! Our country faces a choice. After all the action we have taken, after all the progress we have made against terror, there is a temptation to think that danger has passed. The danger hasn't passed. Since September the 11th, since that fateful day here in America, the terrorists have taken lives in Casablanca, Mombasa, Jerusalem, Amman, Riyadh, Baghdad, Karachi, New Delhi, Bali, and Jakarta. The terrorists continue to plot. They continue to plan against our country and our people. America must never forget the lessons of September the 11th. America cannot retreat from our responsibilities and hope for the best. Our security will not be gained by timid measures. Our security requires constant vigilance and decisive action. I believe America has only one option. We must fight this war until our work is done. We're fighting the war on terror on many fronts, and Iraq is now the central front. Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are trying desperately desperately to undermine Iraq's progress and throw the country into chaos. Terrorists in Iraq believe their attacks on innocent people will weaken our resolve. That's what they believe. They believe we'll run from a challenge. They're mistaken. Americans are not the running kind. The United States did not run from Germany and Japan following World War II. We helped those nations to become strong and decent and democratic societies that no longer wage war against America. And this is our mission in Iraq. We're rebuilding schools. We're rebuilding hospitals. Thousands of young kids have received immunizations recently. We're returning electricity and water to the good people of that country. We have pride in this help not only because our hearts are good, because our vision is clear. A stable and democratic and hopeful Iraq will no longer be a breeding ground for terror and tyranny and aggression. Free nations are peaceful nations. Our work in Iraq is essential to our own security. And no band of murderers and gangsters will stop that work or shake the will of America. Nearly every day, we're launching swift precision raids against the enemies of peace. Helped by intelligence from the Iraqis, we're rounding up the enemy and taking their weapons. We're working our way through the famous deck of cards. We've already captured or killed 43 of the 55 most wanted former Iraqi leaders. The other 12 have a lot to worry about. Anyone who seeks to harm our soldiers can know that our soldiers are hunting for them. Our military is serving with great courage. Some of the best have fallen. We mourn every loss. We honor every name. We grieve with every family. And we'll always be grateful that liberty has found such brave defenders. In defending liberty, we are joined by more than 30 nations now contributing military forces in Iraq. Great Britain and Poland are leading two multinational divisions. And in this cause with fine allies must be included the good people of Iraq. They want a peaceful country. They want security for their families. Last week, the first battalion of the new Iraqi army completed its training. Within a year, Iraq will have 40,000 members in their military force. Tens of thousands of Iraqi citizens are guarding their own borders and defending vital facilities and policing their own streets. We're making good progress in Iraq. Six months ago, the Iraqi people welcomed their liberation 6 short months ago. And today, many Iraqis are armed and trained to defend their own liberty. Our goal in Iraq is to leave behind a stable and self governing society which will no longer be a threat to the Middle East or to the United States of America. We're following an orderly plan to reach this goal. Iraq now has a Governing Council which has appointed interim government ministers. Once a constitution has been written, Iraq will move toward national elections. We want this process to go as quickly as possible. Yet, it must be done right. The free institutions of Iraq must stand the test of time. And a democratic Iraq will stand as an example to all the Middle East. I believe, and the Iraqi people will show, that liberty is the hope and the right of every land. I do not believe freedom is America's gift to the world. Freedom is God's gift to every individual in the world. Our work in Iraq has been long and hard, and it is not finished. We will stay the course. We will complete the task. And beyond Iraq, the war on terror continues. There will be no quick victory in the war on terror, but if we persevere, victory is certain. I'm confident of victory because I know the character of our country and our military, shown in the conduct of young men like Army Sergeant Matthew DeWitt of Hillsboro, New Hampshire. While serving in Iraq, Sergeant DeWitt stepped forward to volunteer on a dangerous mission to root out Saddam loyalists. In the fighting, he was seriously wounded. He's now receiving care at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. I was honored to visit him. He was awarded the Purple Heart. He doesn't consider himself a hero. He just says, "I was just doing my job." Yet it is great people like this 26 year old from New Hampshire who protect us. We count on them, and we're proud of them. The war on terror has brought hardship and loss to our country, beginning with the grief of September the 11th. Let us also remember that the first victory in this war on terror came that same day on a hijacked plane bound for the Nation's Capital. Those men and women on Flight 93, knowing they would die, found the courage to use their final moments to save the lives of others. In those moments and many times since, terrorists have learned about the courage of America and that we will not be intimidated. We will fight them with everything we have. Few of us are called to show the kind of valor seen on Flight 93 or on the field of battle. Yet all of us share a calling to be strong in adversity and unafraid of danger. We Americans have come through so much together, yet there is a lot to do. And if we're patient and united and determined, this Nation will not only prosper this Nation will be secure as we prevail in the war against terror. Thank you for letting me come today, and may God bless you. October 09, 2003 Thanks for coming. Thanks for such a warm welcome. I'm pleased to be back in the great State of New Hampshire again. And I'm honored to be with the Army and Air National Guard, and with reservists from every branch of our military. You are demonstrating that duty and public service are alive and well in New Hampshire. You stand ready to defend your fellow citizens, and you need to know your fellow citizens are grateful. All of you are balancing jobs and your lives and public service. You care about your communities, and you care about your country. Today I'm going to talk about two great priorities for our country. We'll promote economic growth and create jobs for America, and we'll wage the war on terror until it is won. I want to thank Major General Blair for the introduction and for putting up with my entourage. Laughter I want to thank his commander in chief, the Governor of the great State of New Hampshire, for joining us today, Governor Benson, and first lady Denise. I want to thank Major General Joseph Simeone, Brigadier General John Weeden, Brigadier General Benton Smith, Colonel Protzmann Carolyn Protzmann, Lt. Colonel Robert Monahan, and Lt. Colonel Leroy Dunkelberger, State Command Sergeant Michael Rice, Command Chief Master Sergeant Ronald Nadeau. And thank you all. Thank you for coming to say hello. I'm honored that you are here. This State is fortunate to have an excellent Governor. You're fortunate to have an excellent congressional delegation as well. I'm proud to be here today with two fine United States Senators, my friend Judd Gregg and his wife, Cathy and my friend John Sununu. Thank you, Senators, for being here. These Senators are strong supporters of your mission. They appreciate what you do. They vote for strong defense budgets because they know what I know, that any time we put our troops into harm's way, you must have the best training, the best equipment, the best possible pay. Congressman Charlie Bass and Congressman Jeb Bradley, who are with us today, understand that as well. Thank the Congressmen for coming with me today. Thank you all for being here. My friend Ruth Griffin is here from the Executive Council of New Hampshire. Maureen Barrows is here as well. I appreciate the local officials who have come State and local officials to greet me and to be here with you today. I know that the New Hampshire Wildcat hockey players are here. I'd like to give you some advice, but I don't know how to ice skate. Laughter Today when I landed, I met a lady named Cathy Rice. It's important for me to herald the armies of the soldiers of compassion, people I meet when I land in respective cities. It's important because it helps our country understand our true strength is not our military might or the size of our wallet. The true strength of America is the hearts and souls of fellow citizens who are willing to help people who need help. You see, Cathy Rice supports provides support services to hundreds of New Hampshire National Guard families. She helps find babysitters and prepares meals and assists with paying bills, helps families when there's a deployment. She knows people stay behind they worry about their loved ones. She helps fill that void with love and compassion and care. She offers support to the New Hampshire Army National Guard Family Volunteer Program. It's an important service. It's an important part of completing the mission. She does so because she cares about a fellow citizen. I'm proud of Cathy. I'm proud of her heart. I want to thank her for her service and encourage each and every one of you to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. America's strength is the heart and soul of our citizens. New Hampshire has had citizen soldiers since before America was a country. Militia and volunteers and guardsmen have served from the Revolution to the Civil War to World War II to Desert Storm. Honor and service and courage are great New Hampshire traditions, and you're upholding those traditions. We live in an era of new threats, and the citizens of New Hampshire are stepping forward to meet those dangers. Citizen soldiers have performed mid air refueling missions for coalition forces in Iraq. You're training members of the Afghan National Army. You're guarding suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, preparing for homeland security missions. Citizen soldiers are serving on every front on the war on terror, and you're making your State and your country proud. Serving your country can bring sacrifice and uncertainty and separation. Your lives can be changed in a moment, with a sudden call to duty. I want to thank you for your willingness to heed that important call. And I want to thank your families. I want to thank your sons and daughters, your husbands and wives, who share in your sacrifice, who are willing to sacrifice for our country, and who stand behind you. You're serving at a time of testing for this Nation. And we're meeting the tests of history. We're defeating the enemies of freedom. We're confronting the challenge to build prosperity for our country. Every test of America has revealed the character of America. And after the last 2 years, no one in the world, friend or foe, can doubt the will and the character and the strength of the American people. When you become the President, you cannot predict all the challenges that will come. But you do know the principles that you bring to the office, and they should not change with time or with polls. I took this office to make a difference, not to mark time. I came to this office to confront problems directly and forcefully, not to pass them on to other Presidents and other generations. The challenges we face today cannot be met with timid actions or bitter words. Our challenges will be overcome with optimism and resolve and confidence in the ideals of America. Because we believe in our free enterprise system, we can be confident in our economy's future. Our economy has been through a lot. When I took office, the stock market had been declining for 9 months, and our economy was headed into recession. And just as we started to recover, the attacks of September the 11th struck another blow to our economy. And then investor confidence was shaken by scandals scandals in corporate America, dishonest behavior we cannot and we will not tolerate in our country. And then we faced the uncertainty that preceded the battles of Afghanistan and Iraq. No, we've been through a lot. But we acted. We led. We acted to overcome these challenges and acted on principle. Government doesn't create wealth. The role of Government is to create the kind of conditions where risktakers and entrepreneurs can invest and grow and hire new workers. We acted to create the conditions for job growth so people can find work. When Americans have more take home pay, more money in their pocket to spend or save or invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. So I twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. We wanted tax relief to be broad and fair as possible, so we reduced taxes on everyone who pays income taxes. We have a Tax Code that penalizes marriage. That doesn't make sense. Laughter So we reduced the marriage penalty. It costs a lot to raise children we understand that in Washington, DC and it costs a lot to pay for their education. So we increased the child credit to 1,000 per child. And when we said, "The check was in the mail," we meant it. We recognize that it's counterproductive to discourage investment, especially during an economic recovery. So we quadrupled the expense deduction for small business investment and cut tax rates on dividends and capital gains. It is unfair to tax the estates of people people leave behind after a lifetime of saving or building a small business or running a farm. When you leave this world, the IRS shouldn't follow you. Laughter So we're phasing out the Federal death tax. I proposed and signed these measures to help individuals and help families, but I did so as well to help small businesses. See, most small business owners pay taxes under the individual tax rates, and therefore, when we cut all rates, small businesses benefit. We help mom and pops and start ups and small businesses by allowing higher expense deductions. The reason I did so is because I understand small businesses create most of the new jobs in America. If we're worried about job creation, if we want there to be jobs for America, we must encourage small businesses. See, small businesses are the first to usually the first to take risk, the first to hire new people. By helping small businesses, we help the entire economy. These actions are helping people across this State. We've cut taxes on 112,000 small business owners in New Hampshire. We've reduced the marriage penalty for 192,000 couples. We've increased the child credit for 124,000 families. See, I know this I know that New Hampshire citizens can spend their money better than the people in Washington, DC. We're following a clear and consistent economic strategy, and I'm confident about our future. Last month this economy exceeded expectations and added net new jobs. Inflation is low. After tax incomes are rising. Homeownership is at record highs. And productivity is high, and it is rising as well. Factory orders, particularly for high tech equipment, have risen over the last several months. Our strategy has set the stage for sustained growth. By reducing taxes, we kept a promise, and we did the right thing at the right time for the American economy. We're moving forward, but we are not satisfied. We can't be satisfied so long as we have fellow citizens who are looking for work. I understand that here in New Hampshire, one out of every five jobs have been lost in the manufacturing sector. That's an issue we must deal with. We must act boldly from this point forward to create jobs for America. So I want Congress to join me in a six point plan to encourage job creation. First, we must help small businesses grow and hire by controlling the high cost of health care. I have laid out a plan to do so. We must confront the junk lawsuits that are harming a lot of good and honest businesses. I have laid out a plan to do so. We must have a sound national energy policy. We must keep the lights on and make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy. We must continue to cut useless Government regulations that choke job creation. We must work for a free trade policy that opens up markets and levels the playing field for American workers and manufacturing companies. And we need to make sure the tax relief we passed doesn't disappear in future years. Now, you're wondering why I would say that. Well, because of a quirk in the legislation, the tax cuts that we passed are scheduled to go away unless we act. See, the child credit goes away in a couple of years. In other words, you get the 1,000 now it's going down to 700 in a couple years unless the Congress acts. The death penalty which is scheduled to go away comes back unless the Congress acts. You see, when we passed tax relief, I know most Americans did not expect to see higher taxes come back through the back door. I also understand for job creation, it's important to have certainty in the Tax Code. People have got to be able to plan. And so if Congress is really interested in job creation, they will make the tax cuts we passed permanent. And as we overcome our challenges to the economy, we're answering great threats to our security. September the 11th, 2001, moved our country to grief and moved our country to action. We made a pledge that day, and we have kept it We will bring the guilty to justice we will take the fight to the enemy. We now see our enemy clearly. The terrorists plot in secret. They target the innocent. They defile a great religion. They hate everything this Nation stands for. These committed killers will not be stopped by negotiations they won't respond to reason. The terrorists who threaten America cannot be appeased. They must be found. They must be fought, and they must be defeated. This is a new kind of war, and we must adjust. It's a new kind of war, and America is following a new strategy. We're not waiting for further attacks. We're striking our enemies before they can strike us again. We've taken unprecedented steps to protect our homeland. And for those of you who are here who are on the frontlines of homeland protection, thank you. Thank you for what you're doing. Yet wars are won on the offensive, and our friends and America are staying on the offensive. We're finding them. We're on the hunt. We're rolling back the terrorist threats, not on the fringes of its influence but at the heart of its power. We're making good progress. We're hunting the Al Qaida terrorists wherever they hide, from Pakistan to the Philippines to the Horn of Africa to Iraq. Nearly two thirds of Al Qaida's known leaders have been captured or killed. Our resolve is firm our resolve is clear No matter how long it takes, all who plot against America will face the justice of America. We have sent a message understood throughout the world, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you support a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you are just as guilty as the terrorists." And the Taliban found out what we meant. Thanks to our great military, Afghanistan is no longer a safe haven for terror, the Afghan people are free, and the people of America are more secure from attack. And we have fought the war on terror in Iraq. The regime of Saddam Hussein possessed and used weapons of mass destruction, sponsored terrorist groups, and inflicted terror on its own people. Nearly every nation recognized and denounced this threat for over a decade. Last year, the U.N. Security Council in Resolution 1441 demanded that Saddam Hussein disarm, prove his disarmament to the world, or face serious consequences. The choice was up to the dictator, and he chose poorly. I acted because I was not about to leave the security of the American people in the hands of a madman. I was not about to stand by and wait and trust in the sanity and restraint of Saddam Hussein. So our coalition acted, in one of the swiftest and most humane military campaigns in history. And 6 months ago today, the statue of the dictator was pulled down. Since the liberation of Iraq, our investigators have found evidence of a clandestine network of biological laboratories. They found advanced design work on prohibited longer range missiles. They found an elaborate campaign to hide these illegal programs. There's still much to investigate, yet it is now undeniable that Saddam Hussein was in clear violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441. It is undeniable that Saddam Hussein was a deceiver and a danger. The Security Council was right to demand that Saddam Hussein disarm, and we were right to enforce that demand. Who can possibly think that the world would be better off with Saddam Hussein still in power? Surely not the dissidents who would be in his prisons or end up in mass graves. Surely not the men and women who would fill Saddam's torture chambers or the women in his rape rooms. Surely not the victims he murdered with poison gas. Surely not anyone who cares about human rights and democracy and stability in the Middle East. There is only one decent and humane reaction to the fall of Saddam Hussein Good riddance! Now our country is approaching a choice. After all the action we have taken, after all the progress we have made against terror, there is a temptation to think the danger has passed. The danger hasn't passed. Since September the 11th, the terrorists have taken lives. Since the attacks on our Nation that fateful day, the terrorists have attacked in Casablanca, Mombasa, Jerusalem, Amman, Riyadh, Baghdad, Karachi, New Delhi, Bali, and Jakarta. The terrorists continue to plot and plan against our country and our people. America must not forget the lessons of September the 11th. America cannot retreat from our responsibilities and hope for the best. Our security will not be gained by timid measures. Our security requires constant vigilance and decisive action. I believe America has only one option We must fight this war until the work is done. We're fighting on many fronts, and Iraq is now the central front. Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are trying desperately to undermine Iraq's progress and to throw that country into chaos. The terrorists in Iraq believe that their attacks on innocent people will weaken our resolve. That's what they believe. They believe that America will run from a challenge. They're mistaken. Americans are not the running kind. The United States did not run from Germany and Japan following World War II. We helped those nations to become strong and decent democratic societies that no longer waged war on America. And that's our mission in Iraq today. We're rebuilding schools a lot of kids are going back to schools reopening hospitals. Thousands of children are now being immunized. Water and electricity are being returned to the Iraqi people. Life is getting better. It's a lot better than you probably think. Just ask people who have been there. They're stunned when they come back when they go to Iraq, and the stories they tell are much different from the perceptions that you're being told life is like. You see, we're providing this help not only because we've got good hearts but because our vision is clear. A stable and democratic and hopeful Iraq will no longer be a breeding ground for terror, tyranny, and aggression. Free nations are peaceful nations. Our work in Iraq is essential to our own security, and no band of murderers or gangsters will stop that work or shake the will of America. Nearly every day in Iraq we're launching swift, precision raids against the enemies of peace and progress. Helped by intelligence from Iraqis, we're rounding up the enemy. We're taking their weapons. We're working our way through the famous deck of cards. We've already captured or killed 43 of the 55 most wanted former Iraqi leaders, and the other 12 have a lot to worry about. Laughter Anyone who seeks to harm our soldiers can know that our soldiers are hunting for them. Our military is serving with great courage. Some of our best have fallen. We mourn every loss. We honor every name. We grieve with every family. And we will always be grateful that liberty has found such brave defenders. In defending liberty, we are joined by more than 30 nations now contributing military forces in Iraq. Great Britain and Poland are leading two multinational divisions. And in this cause, with fine allies, we've got the Iraqis as well. They care about the security of their country. They want to be free. They love freedom just like we love freedom. Last week, the first battalion of the New Iraqi Army completed its training. Within a year, Iraq will have a 40,000 member military force. Tens of thousands of Iraqi citizens are also guarding their own borders, defending vital facilities, and policing their own streets. Six months ago, the Iraqi people welcomed their liberation. Today, many Iraqis are armed and trained to defend their liberty. Our goal in Iraq is to leave behind a stable, self governing society which will no longer be a threat to the Middle East or to the United States. We're following an orderly plan to reach this goal. Iraq now has a Governing Council, which has appointed interim Government ministers. Once a constitution has been written, Iraq will move toward national elections. We want this process to go as quickly as possible, yet it must be done right. The free institutions of Iraq must stand the test of time. And a democratic Iraq will stand as an example to all the Middle East. We believe, and the Iraqi people will show, that liberty is the hope and the right of every land. Our work in Iraq has been long. It's hard, and it's not finished. We will stay the course. We will complete our job. And beyond Iraq, the war on terror continues. There will be no quick victory in this war. We will persevere, and victory is certain. I am confident of victory because I know the character of our military, shown in people like Master Sergeant Jack Negrotti of Plaistow, New Hampshire. Jake is a member of the New Hampshire Air National Guard who's volunteered for overseas deployments 3 times since September the 11th. He served in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Right now Jake is an airport manager at Baghdad Airport, helping make sure our military and humanitarian operations move ahead. People like Jake Negrotti are showing what it means to be a patriot and a citizen. We're honored to have Jake's wife, Donna, and his children, Alicia and Christopher, with us here today. Next time you talk to Jake, Donna, you tell him his President appreciates his service, and his country is grateful. The war on terror has brought hardship and loss to our country, beginning with the grief of September the 11th. Let us also remember that the first victory in this war came on that same day, on a hijacked plane bound for the Nation's Capital. Those men and women on Flight 93 took action, served their country, knowing they would die. They found incredible courage in their final moments to save the lives of others. In those moments and many times since, terrorists have learned that Americans are courageous and will not be intimidated. We will fight them with everything we have. Few are called to show the kind of valor seen on Flight 93 or on the field of battle. Yet all of us do share a calling, to be strong in adversity and to be unafraid in danger. We Americans have come through so much together, and we have much yet to do. If we're patient, united, determined, our Nation will prosper, and our Nation will win. May God bless you all. Thank you all very much. October 08, 2003 Thank you all for coming. Go ahead and be seated, unless you don't have a seat. Laughter I'm honored you all are here. I appreciate your warm welcome. I thank you for your strong support and friendship. I thank you for your contributions. I thank you for your grassroots work. I thank you for your prayers. There's a lot of happy folks here tonight. There's some Cubs fans. There's some Red Sox fans, and there are some happy people from California. I am so glad that Laura came with me tonight. As you know, she's back home from an official trip. She went to Russia to help them with literacy. She went to France. Laughter You may have seen the picture in the newspaper. Laughter Last time I was in France, I got a nice welcome but nothing like that. Laughter Laura is a great First Lady. I'm really proud of her. I want to thank my friend Ed Gillespie for leading our great party. He could be doing a lot of other things. There's no doubt we picked the right man to lead us into this election year. I appreciate the fact that Cathy, his fine wife, is supporting Ed in this really important mission. I not only want to thank Ed, I want to thank all of the RNC members who are here, all the county officials, all the grassroots activists. We're going to win in 2004. I appreciate your support. I appreciate the friendship of all those on the stage here tonight who helped set a record. It's important to be well funded as you go into a campaign, and you've made it possible. I want to thank my friend Al Hoffman and his wife, Dawn, for their longtime friendship. I want to thank Ann Wagner, our party cochairman. I want to thank the gala cochairmen, Brad Freeman and David Girard diCarlo and Carl Linder. I want to thank all those who worked hard to make this event go so successfully. I appreciate Monsignor Marc Filacchione who is here, the chaplain from the New York City Fire Department. I want to thank Lieutenant Kim Royster from New York from the New York City Police Department. I'm really thankful you brought your Governor with you, a great Governor in George Pataki. I want to thank the Wright Touch Orchestra, Jonathan Yeaworth, and Michael Israel, as well as Michael Feinstein for providing entertainment here tonight. I know we've got Members of the United States Congress with us. I had a meeting right before I came here with Speaker Denny Hastert. He told me that he wasn't able to make it. He said he's heard me speak before. Laughter But he is a great Speaker. He is a great leader for the United States Congress. I appreciate Tom DeLay and Roy Blunt and all the House Members who are here. I also know that Bill Frist, the Senate majority leader, is here as well. What a class act he is. I've got two goals in '04. One is slightly selfish. Laughter And the other is to make sure that Denny Hastert remains the Speaker of the House and Bill Frist the leader of the Senate. It is in our Nation's interest that Hastert remain the Speaker and Bill Frist the majority leader. These are strong leaders. They have led the Congress in a lot of important matters. We've achieved a lot of results together, results that are good for Republicans and Democrats and Independents, results that are good for all Americans. You know, I wasn't sure what to expect when I became your President. I was certain there would be some challenges. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, but I knew there was going to be some problems to solve. And therefore, I knew I needed to surround myself with really strong, competent, capable people. I've assembled a great administration of Americans from all walks of life who have put their country above self. This country is blessed to have a great Vice President in Dick Cheney. I listen to a great national security team and a great domestic policy team. Some of my members some of the members of my Cabinet are here tonight. The Secretary of Interior, Gale Norton, is with us. The Secretary of Agriculture, Ann Veneman, is with us. The Secretary of Commerce, Don Evans, is with us. The Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao, is with us. And the Secretary of Energy, Spence Abraham, is with us. Thank you all for coming, and thank you for a job well done. I knew we would face challenges, and I was right. We're at war. We face an enemy that cannot stand what America stands for. We love freedom. We love the right for people to worship freely, to speak freely. And we're not going to change, and neither will they. We got attacked on September the 11th, and this Nation must never forget the lessons of September the 11th. We must never forget the lives lost. We must never forget the fact that oceans no longer protect us from an enemy which hates us. We must never forget the nature of our enemy. These people are nothing but coldblooded killers. They've hijacked a great religion and kill innocent men, women, and children. They know no law. They know no rules. We must remember that the best way to deal with this enemy is to stay on the offensive. We must not tire. We must not weary. We must not be afraid. This administration is leading the world to make the world more secure. We have a solemn duty, not only to our homeland but to help others who embrace freedom. History has called us into action, and we will not let history down. We must remember that one of the lessons of September the 11th is these killers will try to find safe harbor. And that's why I laid out a new doctrine for American foreign policy. It said, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists." It's important, as you begin to make the case for this administration, that not only do we lay out doctrine, but more importantly, we enforce doctrine. And the Taliban found out what we meant. Because of the bravery of our troops in Afghanistan, America is more secure, the world is more peaceful, and the people of that country are now free. One of the important lessons of September the 11th, 2001, is that our country must deal with gathering threats before they materialize, before they come back to haunt us. And that's what we did in Iraq. We saw a gathering threat, a man who had possessed and used weapons of mass destruction on his own people, a man who sponsored terror, a man who is a danger in the region in which he lived. But it wasn't just us who recognized a threat. Free nations recognized the threat. The United Nations passed resolution after resolution after resolution calling upon Mr. Saddam Hussein to disclose his weapons and to disarm. And finally, in Security Council Resolution 1441, led by the United States, he was told that he had one final chance to disarm disclose what he had and disarm, or there would be serious consequences. The world spoke. He chose defiance, and Saddam Hussein is no more. The lessons of September the 11th are lessons we must not forget. I was not about to leave the security of the American people in the hands of a madman. I was not going to stand by and wait and trust the sanity and restraint of Mr. Saddam Hussein. So our coalition acted, and we acted in one of the swiftest and most humane military campaigns in history. Iraq is free. America is more secure. Since the liberation of Iraq, our investigators have found evidence of a clandestine network of biological laboratories, advanced design work on prohibited long range missiles, an elaborate campaign to hide these illegal programs. There's a lot more to investigate. Yet it is now undeniable undeniable that Sad dam Hussein was in clear violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441. It is undeniable that Saddam Hussein was a deceiver and a danger. The Security Council was right to demand that Saddam disarm. And America was right to enforce that demand. Thanks to our brave troops and a coalition of nations, America is now more secure, the world is more peaceful, and Iraq is free. Iraq is free of a brutal dictator. Iraq is free of the man who caused there to be mass graves. Iraq is free of rape rooms and torture chambers. Iraq is free of a brutal thug. America did the right thing. One of the problems we faced when we came was that morale in our military was beginning to suffer. So this administration worked with the Congress to pass new budgets for our defense, budgets that would meet the threats of a new era. And today, nobody in this world can question the skill and the spirit and the strength of the United States military. In order to win this war on terror, our military must be strong. I will keep the United States military strong. We faced another problem. You might remember that in March of 2000, the stock market began to decline, and right about the time we got sworn in, the country was headed into a recession. That's a problem. That's a challenge, mainly a challenge for people who want to work. It's a challenge for those who have got to put bread on the table for their families. And just as the economy was kind of getting better, thanks to a historic tax cut, the enemy hit us. September the 11th hurt, but we're dealing with that. I said then that it didn't matter how long it's going to take, those who inflicted harm on America would be brought to justice, and that's precisely what we're doing. The battles in Afghanistan and Iraq affected consumer confidence. Corporate scandals affected consumer confidence. But we acted. We weren't timid. We did what we thought was right. We not only passed one tax relief package for the American people, we passed two, because we know when you have more money in your pocket, it's your choice to save or to spend or invest. More money means more growth, and more growth means more jobs. There's more to do. We need to make sure we open up markets for America's entrepreneurs and farmers and ranchers. And while we open up markets, this administration will make sure that trade is not only free but it is fair. We need an energy plan. We need reliable sources of energy. For the sake of national security and economic security, we need to be less reliant on foreign sources of energy. We need tort reform, and we've got to make sure that there's certainty in the Tax Code. This tax relief we passed, because of a quirk in the rules, will go away. For the sake of economic vitality, for the sake of job creation, the Congress must make the tax relief permanent. This administration has got a strong agenda to keep this Nation secure and prosperous. And we lead. We're willing to stake out the high ground and lead. My job as your President is to set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, this country is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace, not only for our own security but for the benefit of the world. It is essential that this Nation not grow weary in the war on terror. It's essential that we remain determined and strong. You see, the enemies want to create a sense of fear and intrepidation. They don't understand America like I know America. This Nation will not be intimidated. We will continue our war on terror until this threat to civilization is removed. But the war on terror is more than just chasing down the killers or holding tyrants to account. The war on terror our security comes in the war on terror from the spread of human liberty. See, free nations do not develop weapons of mass destruction. Free nations do not intimidate their neighbors. Free nations are peaceful nations. And so one of the missions of this administration is to spread freedom. I understand that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every heart. And I believe that freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation. And that's exactly what we're now doing in Iraq. We believe that freedom is not America's gift to the world, we believe that freedom is God's gift to each and every individual. And so we're working in Iraq, working with other nations to make sure that Iraq is free and peaceful. Terrorists don't like that. Freedom is a threat. Freedom contradicts their way of life. A free Iraq in the middle of the Middle East will change the world. This is historic times. This Nation will stay the course until Iraq is free and peaceful and prosperous. And in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion and compassion so that every single citizen has a chance to work and succeed and realize the great promise of this country. That starts with making sure that everybody can find work. This administration understands the role of Government is not to create wealth but an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish, in which small businesses grow to be big businesses. We will stay with our progrowth policy until our fellow citizens can find a job. We understand that a compassionate and hopeful tomorrow requires that every child be educated. We have led on this issue. We called for Congress to pass historic education reforms, and they responded. And now, in return for record amounts of Federal money, we expect every public school in America to teach the basics. And we say, "You must measure to show us whether or not a child can read or write and add and subtract. And if they can't, there will be extra resources to help that child." But at some point in time, if a child is trapped in a school which will not teach and will not change, we believe the parent ought to have different options to liberate that child. No child should be left behind in America. A hopeful tomorrow make sure America keeps its promises. We have led on the issue of Medicare. The House passed a bill. The Senate passed a bill. They're working out differences to give seniors more choices, more options, just like the Members of Congress have, and at the same time, prescription drug coverage. Congress needs to come together and get a good Medicare bill to my desk. There are a lot of ways to make sure America remains hopeful, a prosperous economy, good health care, a great education system. But we must remember that in our society, there are some who seem hopelessly lost, some who hurt, some who are lonely. Government can pass out money, but it cannot put hope in a person's heart or a sense of purpose in a person's life. And that's why the job of the President is to capture the great spirit of our country, to call people to service. I recognize that our strength is not in our armies or in our pocketbooks. Our strength is in the hearts and souls of American citizens, people from all faiths, all walks of life, whether they be Christian, Jew, or Muslim, or Hindu, people have heard the universal call to love a neighbor just like they'd like to be called themselves. No, that's our strength. In order to make sure this country meets the great goal of hope and respect and decency, the President must be willing to rely upon the strength of the country. And that's why I put forth a Faith Based Initiative, recognizing that in our houses of worship of all faiths, we find love and compassion and decency. There are some whose problems can only be solved when a brother or sister puts their arm around you and says, "I love you. What can I do to help you? I want to mentor you. I want to teach you how to read. I'll provide food if you're hungry, shelter if you need a place to stay." No, the strength of this country is the heart and soul of the American people, the decency, the compassion, the soldiers in the armies of compassion. There's no question in my mind that America will be a hopeful place. And there's no question in my mind that with your help, in November of 2004 we will win a great victory and will continue to work to keep America strong and secure and prosperous and free. Thank you all for coming. May God bless. God bless you all. October 06, 2003 President Bush. It's my honor to welcome President Kibaki to the White House. Thank you, sir, for coming. President Kibaki. Thank you. President Bush. Today we affirm the growing strategic relationship between the United States and the African Continent. And we continue the longstanding partnership between the United States and Kenya. President Kibaki's election last December showed Kenyans and Africans and people throughout the world the power of the ballot and the benefits of peaceful, democratic change. The President won a mandate for reform, and he is moving ahead with an ambitious agenda, redrafting Kenya's constitution, liberalizing its economy, fighting corruption, and investing in education and health care. With these steps, Kenya will attract investment, strengthen its role in the world, and improve the lives of its people. Success will take time, and progress may sometimes seem uneven. Yet, the benefits of democracy and freedom and investment in people are certain, and they are lasting. Today the President and I discussed our alliance in the war on terror. In Nairobi and Mombasa and beyond, terrorists have made Kenya a battleground. The President affirmed the fact that the Kenyan people refuse to live in fear. Kenyan security forces have disrupted terror operations and have arrested suspected terrorists. Earlier this year, I announced a 100 million counterterrorism initiative to provide east Africa with training, equipment, and assistance to strengthen the security of those nations in east Africa. Kenya is our key partner in this initiative, and its Government clearly has the will to fight terror, and my Government will continue to give them the help they need to do so. The President and I also discussed efforts to achieve peace in Sudan, an effort in which Kenya plays the leading role. Two able envoys, General Sumbeiywo and Senator John Danforth, have helped bring Africa's longest running civil war to very close to a peaceful end. America will stay engaged in this effort. I appreciate your efforts, Mr. President. Yet, only the north and south can arrive at a just and comprehensive peace, and I urge them to do so quickly. In Somalia, we will continue to work with Kenya to bring unity and reconciliation to a badly divided land. The establishment of an effective representative government in Somalia will help stabilize the region and dispel the hopelessness that feeds terror. President Kibaki and I share a deep commitment to waging a broad, effective effort against the AIDS virus, which afflicts nearly 30 million people on the African Continent. In Kenya alone, some one million children have been orphaned due to AIDS. I fully support the President's declaration of total war his words on this disease, and I'm proud to stand with him. The United States is Kenya's largest bilateral donor in the fight against AIDS. Our support will grow under my Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which is a firm commitment to spend 15 billion over 5 years to turning the tide against this disease. Mr. President, America also stands with you in your work of modernizing the Kenyan economy, rewarding the enterprise of your people. Trade and growth are the only sure ways to lift people and nations out of poverty. I'm committed to keeping America's markets open to African goods and to increasing commercial ties with African nations. Kenya is one of America's most important economic partners in Africa. American investment in Kenya totals more than 285 million, and trade between our two countries tops 400 million per year. These numbers have grown in recent years under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA. And they have the potential to grow even more as reforms in your country take hold, Mr. President. Kenya and the United States are old friends working together to face new challenges. Our relationship is strong, and it's growing stronger, and I'm grateful for the leadership and vision of the President. Welcome. President Kibaki. Thank you. It is my pleasure to be here with you, Mr. President. This morning we had a fruitful meeting with my good friend, President Bush. Our discussions centered on bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest to our two nations. I was encouraged by a keen interest and concern that President Bush has shown on issues affecting Kenya and Africa, in particular, the establishment of the Millennium Challenge Account and the 15 billion U.S. dollars' HIV AIDS program bears testimony to this particular commitment. We reaffirmed our mutual desire to further deepen our cooperation for the benefit of our two countries. President Bush welcomed the efforts made by Kenya in consolidating democracy, particularly after the successful general elections of December, the year 2002. We share the common desire to promote and entrench democracy in Africa and the need to support Kenya as a model of democracy. I briefed President Bush on the priorities of my Government that includes economic revival, education, health, and security. I am pleased by the willingness of the Bush administration to support our efforts to promote and sustain our economic recovery. President Bush shared my concern over the devastating effects of the HIV AIDS pandemic and other infectious diseases, especially in Africa. I briefed the President on the vigorous campaign my Government is conducting against the HIV AIDS pandemic. I am confident that these efforts are benefiting substantially from the support of the U.S. Government. We discussed at length the issue of terrorism. Kenya, like United States, has in the past suffered at the hands of terrorism. The attacks have strengthened our resolve to intensify and enhance our cooperation with the United States and the international community in the fight against terrorism. I have requested the U.S. Government to support Kenya, to strengthen its security as an essential element in the fight against terrorism. This assistance will also enhance Kenya's role as a peacemaker in the Horn of Africa. President Bush expressed his appreciation for the leadership that Kenya has taken in the peace process in Sudan and IGAD. We note with satisfaction the historic signing of an agreement on the 25th of September, 2003, in Naivasha, Kenya, to address the transitional security arrangements for the parties to the conflict. On Somalia, I emphasized that in order to maintain the democratic gains and to sustain the war against terrorism, it is essential that Somalia stabilizes. In this respect, it is important that the U.S. to for the U.S. to increase its involvement in the search for peace in Somalia. It is pertinent that all parties involved in the peace process remain engaged. I requested the U.S. Government to assist in this regard, and I thank you very much indeed. President Bush. Thank you, Mr. President. The President has kindly agreed to take a couple of questions, and so have I. We'll start with the American side and then alternate back and forth. First, Associated Press, Terry Hunt, Mr. President. Israeli Air Strike in Syria Palestinian Authority Responsibilities Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, do you think that Israel's air strike in Syria was justified? And do you think that you can work with the Palestinian Prime Minister, who says he would not use force under any circumstances against Palestinian militants? President Bush. Terry, I talked to Prime Minister Sharon yesterday. I expressed our Nation's condolences at the needless murder of innocent people by the latest suicider. That murder came on a weekend of a high holy holiday. Secondly, I made it very clear to the Prime Minister, like I have consistently done, that Israel has got a right to defend herself, that Israel must not feel constrained in terms of defending the homeland. However, I said that it's very important that any action Israel take should avoid escalation and creating higher tensions. The speech I gave June 24, 2002, should explain to the world and to the American people the policy of this Government. We have not changed. Parties need to assume responsibility for their actions. In order for there to be a Palestinian state, the Palestinian Authority must fight terror and must use whatever means is necessary to fight terror. In order for this roadmap, which is a as a way to get to a peaceful settlement, people have got to assume responsibility. All parties must assume responsibility. The Palestinian Authority must defeat the terrorists who are trying to stop the establishment of a Palestinian state, a peaceful state, in order for there to be peace. Mr. President, want to call on somebody? President Kibaki. Well, we hardly have anything to add to that particular statement, because it's fully adequate. President Bush. You're welcome to call on somebody from your press corps, Mr. President. April April Ryan, American Urban Radio Networks , you're not in his press corps. You're trying to play like you're in his press corps. Laughter Q. They put me over here. President Bush. I know, but this is subversion, and this isn't laughter . Leadership in Kenya Q. I'd like to ask the President of Kenya a question. My name is Esther Githui I work for the Voice of America. Mr. President, there has been very good will for you and Kenyans after you took over the Government. But I'm wondering why you have repeatedly asserted that you're in charge of Kenya. Is there any doubt that you are the President of Kenya? President Kibaki. No, there is no doubt at all. There is no no one has any doubt, certainly not in Kenya. Look by the way they voted. And look by the way they support the present Government. So I don't see anybody who has any doubt well, anybody who has any doubt, he can ask us. Laughter You know, I mean inaudible you know, truly. President Bush. Steve Holland Reuters . Iraq Stabilization Group Q. Thank you, Mr. President. What is the purpose of the Iraq Stabilization Group? And is this an acknowledgment that the effort to stabilize Iraq is flagging? Does it diminish the authority of Secretary Rumsfeld? President Bush. Yes. You know, it's common for the National Security Council to coordinate efforts, interagency efforts. And Condi Rice, the National Security Adviser, is doing just that. And this group formed within the National Security Council is aimed at the coordination of interagency efforts as well as providing a support group to the Department of Defense and Jerry Bremer. That's the purpose. And listen, we're making good progress in Iraq. Sometimes it's hard to tell it when you listen to the filter. We're making good progress. I had a Bernie Kerik came in the other day, and he described to me what it was like to set up a police force in Baghdad right after our successful efforts there. I was really impressed. I was impressed by the his work. I was impressed by the spirit of the Iraqi citizens desirous to start taking care of business on their own. And the truth of the matter is, in order for us to succeed in Iraq and that is to provide the security necessary for a peaceful country to evolve the Iraqis must take responsibility, and they are. The situation is improving on a daily basis inside Iraq. People are freer. The security situation is getting better. The infrastructure is getting better. The schools are opening. The hospitals are being modernized. And I really appreciate the effort of the Americans who are there and our coalition partners who are there who are working under very difficult circumstances. Condi's job and Condi's team is going to make sure that the efforts continue to be coordinated so that we continue to make progress. Mr. President. President Kibaki. Well, we first of all want to congratulate America for the effort they are making. You know, it is important for all of us to think of the present and the future, because what has passed, has passed. And I think we can gain plenty by focusing on the present. President Bush. April, are you going to try again to look like you're in the be careful. Laughter Mr. President, call on who you laughter . President Kibaki. Yes, yes. President Bush. I exposed you. Laughter Q. Inaudible President Bush. That's right. Laughter Kenya U.S. Relations African Debt Relief Q. My name is Martin Mbugua, for the East African Standard, and I have a question for each President. President Bush. Yes. President Kibaki. Yes. Q. Your Excellency, a lot of people see your trip to the United States as yet another begging trip. How different is this trip for those people who are seeing it as another lineup for aid? And Mr. President, a lot of times people have talked about the debt that saddles a lot of African countries. You can give a lot of aid, but it's likely to do nothing if the country is sending all the money out. Are you looking to use your influence at the G 8 and the Bretton Woods institution to probably try and ease that, perhaps even forgive the debt for progressive countries? President Bush. Thank you. President Kibaki. Well, first for us, I don't think that we are in any way one of those countries which gain nothing or add nothing. But we definitely do gain by talking to friends like America and seeking help. Now, if you are seeking for help, you cannot adequately say publicly whether it is adequate or whether it is not. Laughter So really, if you are asking for help, you really don't ask you don't say how much. And so, really the question isn't should not be asked of me. President Bush. Let me tell you, in many ways, we're the country asking for help. We asked the President in Kenya for help in fighting terror, and the response has been strong. And we appreciate that response. We support HIPC. We'll continue to support HIPC. We also support trade with Kenya. And the President, in talking about what he would like to see in our relationship, brought up international financial institutions, what can be done with the World Bank and or the International Monetary Fund. And the President understands, like I understand, that it's the choice of the Kenyans to make. And that's why his anti corruption policy is so important, because as that policy takes root, as he deals with judges and or whoever, Government officials that do not honor the integrity of the system, the international financial institutions will take notice and be more likely to become involved with Kenya. And so we talked a lot about a lot of things, debt, IMF, trade, all aimed at lifting lives and helping Kenya realize her potential. I've long believed that African nations are plenty capable of making the right decisions and managing their own affairs. Our foreign policy recognizes that, and we will work with governments in particular that have developed the habits necessary for strong democracies and market economies to grow. This is such a leader. So our relationship is a complementary relationship, and it is important that it be strong like it is today. April, you're really beginning to bother the President. Laughter President Kibaki. No, no. Laughter President Bush. Okay, I am anxious to hear what you've got to say. Go ahead. Let her rip. Q. Inaudible President Bush. No, not you. Q. Thank you so much. President Bush. Yes, April. Justice Department Investigation of Classified Information Leak Q. Mr. President, on another issue, the CIA leak gate. What is your confidence level in the results of the DOJ investigation about any of your staffers not being found guilty or being found guilty? And what do you say to critics of the administration who say that this administration retaliates against naysayers? President Bush. No, first of all, I'm glad you brought that question up. This is a very serious matter, and our administration takes it seriously. As members of the press corps here know, I have at times complained about leaks of security information, whether the leaks be in the legislative branch or in the executive branch. And I take those leaks very seriously. And therefore, we will cooperate fully with the Justice Department. I've got all the confidence in the world the Justice Department will do a good, thorough job. And that's exactly what I want them to do, is a good, thorough job. I'd like to know who leaked, and if anybody has got any information inside our Government or outside our Government who leaked, you ought to take it to the Justice Department so we can find out the leaker. I have told my staff I want full cooperation with the Justice Department. And when they ask for information, we expect the information to be delivered on a timely basis. I expect it to be delivered on a timely basis. I want there to be full participation, because, April, I am most interested in finding out the truth. And you know, there's a lot of leaking in Washington, DC. It's a town famous for it. And if this helps stop leaks of this investigation in finding the truth it will not only hold someone to account who should not have leaked and this is a serious charge, by the way. We're talking about a criminal action, but also hopefully will help set a clear signal we expect other leaks to stop as well. And so I look forward to finding the truth. Q. What about retaliation? People are saying that it's retaliation President Bush. I don't know who leaked the information, for starters. So it's hard for me to answer that question until I find out the truth. You hear all kinds of rumors. And the best way to clarify the issue is to full participation with the Justice Department. These are professionals who are professional prosecutors who are leading this investigation, and we look forward to look, I want to know. I want to know, and the best way to do this is for there to be a good, thorough investigation, which apparently is going to happen soon. And all I can tell you is, inside the White House, we've said, "Gather all the information that's requested and get it ready to be analyzed by the Justice Department." Listen, thank you all very much. Mr. President, I'm glad you're here. President Kibaki. Very good. President Bush. Appreciate it. President Kibaki. Thank you very much. President Bush. Thank you, sir. Very good job. October 06, 2003 President Bush. Mr. President, Madam First Lady, members of the Kenyan delegation, on behalf of the American people, Laura and I are pleased to welcome you to the United States. This is the first state visit by the leader of an African country during my administration and the first visit of President Kibaki since his historic election last year. Under President Kibaki's leadership, Kenya is pursuing important reforms and making the difficult and necessary and rewarding transition to permanent, multiparty democracy. Mr. President, your courage serves the Kenyan people well, and you honor the American people with your visit. Kenya is a nation of rich traditions and ancient history. The Great Rift Valley, which runs through Eastern Kenya from Lake Rudolf to Lake Victoria, is known as the "cradle of civilization." The story of Kenya is inseparable from the story of mankind. And out of this proud past, Kenya is building a modern, prosperous, and peaceful future. In building that future, Kenya will have a partner in the United States. Our countries face common challenges, and we meet them with shared values. Both our nations are threatened by terrorists, and both have suffered. In one savage act 5 years ago in Nairobi, members of the Al Qaida network murdered more than 200 Kenyans and Americans. Our countries grieved together then and after September the 11th and after the attack last November in Mombasa. Yet we have done more than grieve. We are working together to defeat the terrorists, to cut off their funding, to deny them sanctuary, and to bring them to justice. There can be no compromise with this evil, and the Government of Kenya is a vital ally in the ongoing war against terror. We're also working together to create a better world, to end long simmering conflicts, and to alleviate the suffering caused by poverty and hunger and disease. Our goal is to end the hopelessness that feeds terror and to help spread the blessings of liberty that are the birthright of every man, woman, and child on this Earth. The partnership between our nations is sustained by the friendship between our people. Some 7,000 Americans live in Kenya. Thousands of our citizens love to travel to Kenya. One of the Peace Corps' largest programs is in Kenya, helping to encourage private enterprise, to fight AIDS, and to improve the nation's schools. Every year, thousands of Kenyans come to study at American universities, more than from any other African country, including two of the President's children. And the United States is enriched by the many Americans who trace their ancestry to Kenya, many of whom live right here in Washington. Kenya and the United States have been friends since the days of Jomo Kenyatta and John F. Kennedy. Mr. President, I'm proud to join you in carrying our friendship forward in this new century. Welcome to the White House, and welcome to the United States of America. President Kibaki. Mr. President, thank you for your kind remarks. I wish to thank you for Mr. President, the Government, and the people of the United States, for the warm welcome and hospitality extended to me and my delegation since our arrival. I feel privileged to have been accorded such a great honor and look forward to successful deliberations on matters of mutual interest to our two nations. Mr. President, Kenya values the warm and cordial friendship that exists between the two nations. Following our successful democratic elections last December, my Government is determined to uphold democratic values, human rights, good governance, and the rule of law, and to empower our people. We thank the Government and the people of the United States for supporting Kenya to achieve democratic change. Mr. President, we are committed to deepening our ties with the United States. I commend you for your various initiatives for supporting development in Africa and, in particular, the recent announcement of 15 billion U.S. dollars' assistance in the fight against HIV AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, of which Kenya is a beneficiary. We equally welcome your personal efforts in promoting trade and investment opportunities through AGOA. Your recent announcement of the Millennium Change Account Initiative will help promote sustainable development in Africa. Mr. President, our two nations have been victims of international terrorism. Kenya stands with the United States and the international community in fight against this global menace, in our conviction that no just cause can be served by taking away innocent lives. Finally, Mr. President, I look forward to fruitful discussions on the various issues affecting our two nations, the Horn of Africa, and the international community. October 06, 2003 The President's remarks are joined in progress. It is a real honor for us to welcome you. Our two nations are old friends and natural partners. We both emerged from a colonial past to become free nations. We stood together during the cold war, opposing imperial communism. Today, we stand together against the forces of terror and in the defense of human dignity. We both understand the danger and cost of terrorism. It has brought damage to both our economies and grief to both our nations. With us tonight are two women who suffered terribly on August 7, 1998. Susan Hirsch lost her husband, Abdulrahman Mohamed Abdulla, a Kenyan citizen, in the attack on the U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. And Susan Bartley lost her husband, Julian, our U.S. Consul General, and her son, Jay, when the terrorists struck our Embassy in Nairobi. Both of you are honored guests here tonight, and we honor as well the memory of your loved ones. America and Kenya are committed to the war on terror, and we seek a just and peaceful world beyond the war on terror. Kenya is finding what America has found, that democracy and liberty and free markets are honorable and just and indispensable to real progress. The challenges of freedom are real yet the benefits of freedom are great and everlasting. There is a Swahili proverb which says, "Forever persist a rope can cut stone." Kenya and its leaders have been persistent and courageous in the cause of freedom. You're resolved in the fight against terror. Kenya is an example to all of Africa and a respected partner of America. For all these reasons, Mr. President, I'm pleased to offer a toast to the enduring friendship between Kenya and the United States of America. October 04, 2003 Good morning. This weekend in Iraq, 750 Iraqi citizens completed their military training and became the first battalion of the new Iraqi Army. For decades, Iraq's army served the interests of a dictator. Today, a new army is serving the Iraqi people. And less than a year from now, Iraq will have a 40,000 member military force, trained and dedicated to protecting their fellow citizens. Our coalition is helping to train and equip Iraq's new army so that Iraqis can take over border protection and other security duties as soon as possible. Soldiers in the new battalion join more than 80,000 other Iraqis who are defending their country's security. Iraq now has a Civil Defense Corps of nearly 2,500, a border guard force of 4,700, and a facility protection service of over 12,000. And more than half of the Iraqis under arms are police officers, instructed by professionals like New York City's outstanding former police chief, Bernard Kerik. Iraq's neighbor, Jordan, has announced that it will help Iraq train additional police officers. For three decades, the police in Iraq were the feared enforcers of a dictatorship. Now Iraq's new police are enforcing the just laws of an emerging democracy. Already the Iraqi police are assuming greater responsibility and greater risks. This week, Iraqi officers aided a series of joint raids by American troops, leading to the arrest of more than 50 suspected criminals and terrorists. We're on the offensive against the desperate holdouts and Saddam loyalists who oppose progress in Iraq. The free nation we are helping to build will be free of them. The United States is standing with the Iraqi people as they move toward self government. My wartime funding request to Congress includes more than 5 billion to help the people of Iraq take responsibility for their own security. These funds will be used to prepare the Iraqi Army, to train public safety and emergency personnel, and to establish a fair and effective judicial system. Greater security is essential to Iraq's future. A secure Iraq will protect the nation's schools and the hospitals that are opening and the roads that are being built and the water and power facilities we are repairing. Across Iraq, our coalition is turning over responsibility to the future leaders of that country. Those leaders include women. Just this weekend, a conference is being held at the University of Babylon to affirm the vital role of women in the Iraqi society. The transition to self government is a complicated process, because it takes time to build trust and hope after decades of oppression and fear. Yet we are making steady progress, and we will keep our promise to fully return Iraq's Government to Iraq's people as soon as possible. The men and women of our coalition have shown bravery and skill and compassion in Iraq. And they know their mission. They know that we are fighting terrorists in Iraq so that we will not have to face them and fight them in the streets of our own cities. Our forces know that a secure and sovereign Iraq will be a setback for terrorists and an inspiration to all who dream of freedom in the Middle East. And the world can be certain, this essential mission in the war on terror will be completed. Thank you for listening. October 03, 2003 Thanks for coming. Thanks for that rousing Wisconsin welcome. It's such an honor to be back here. It's a great State, full of a lot of really neat people, and I want to thank you for your friendship. And I want to thank you for your contributions and help and prayers. With your help, Vice President Cheney and I came pretty darn close of carrying this State in 2000. There's no doubt in my mind, in 2004 we're going to win the State of Wisconsin. And that victory in Wisconsin is going to be part of a great nationwide victory in November of 2004. I want to thank you for your help in getting there. I appreciate the fact that you've contributed your money, and now I need you to contribute your time. When you put up those signs at the right time, knock on the doors, when you go to your coffee shops if you live in a community with a coffee shop you tell them that this administration is working for everybody. We believe in a hopeful, positive, optimistic vision for every single person who is fortunate enough to live in this country. You tell them that this is an administration focused on the people's business. You know, I'm loosening up for this campaign. I'm kind of getting ready. Laughter But the political season will come in its own time. I've got a job to do. I've been entrusted to lead this great Nation, and I will do so. We've got a lot on our agenda in Washington, DC. And what I'm going to do until the political season comes, I will work hard to earn the confidence of every American by keeping this Nation strong and secure and prosperous and free. Rick, I want to thank you for your leadership and thank you for your kind introduction. I've known Rick for a while. When he says we're going to win, I believe him. And I want to appreciate him energizing the grassroots, and I want to thank all of you grassroots participants for getting ready to go. I traveled today with a really good, fine friend, a man I'd say you trained well, a person who is making an enormous contribution to my Cabinet and to our country, a person who has got a huge job running the Department of Health and Human Services, and that's Tommy Thompson. I heard Tommy whispering to somebody he said, "You know, the campaign made a mistake in sending George W. They should have sent Laura." Laughter Speaking about Laura, she just got back from a sensitive diplomatic mission. Laughter You probably saw the picture in the newspaper. Laughter But I'm proud that she represented our country, because she does it with such class. She is a fabulous First Lady. She sends her best and sorry she can't be here. Right after here, I'm going to fly back to Washington, and she's organizing a National Book Festival. She loves books. She loves the idea of people teaching kids how to read books, and she's going to herald some of our great authors. She's making an enormous contribution. I'm lucky she said yes when I said, "Will you marry me?" Laughter I want to thank the Members of the Congress flying with us today who flew with us today, and one who met us here today. The chairman, Jim Sensenbrenner, is with us, and it's been a joy to work with Jim. He's a good, strong patriot. Tom Petri is with us today, good, honorable, decent guy. Tom, I want to thank you for your friendship, and I appreciate you coming today. A young star we've got some young stars from the State of Wisconsin, people who are making a big difference in the Halls of Congress, and they've done so in a quick period of time. That would be Paul Ryan, the Congressman from this part of the world, and Congressman Mark Green. I want to thank people from the statehouse who have joined us today. John Gard, who is the speaker of the assembly. Mary Panzer, who is the senate majority leader, is with us today. Mary, thank you for coming. Jack Voight, your State treasurer is with us. Jack, thank you for being here. Scott McCallum, the former Governor, is with us. Scott, I'm honored that you're here. Thank you for coming. And Scott Walker, local man, is with us today. I appreciate you, Scott. Thanks for the good work you're doing. My friend Mercer Reynolds from Cincinnati, Ohio, who is the national finance chair of the Bush Cheney 2004 campaign, he's taking time out of his business to travel the country with us and organize this very important fundraising effort we're doing nationwide. Mercer, I want to thank you for coming. Glad you're here. I appreciate my longtime friend Jim Klauser for taking on the State campaign chairman role for the State of Wisconsin. San Orr is the State finance chairman. Jon Hammes is the State finance cochair. San Orr is the cochair as well. We've got cochairmen here. I'm thankful for your hard work. Thanks for making this event go so well. Mary Buestrin is the national committeewoman from this State. I appreciate all of you all, again, for coming. I particularly want to say something about the Arrowhead High School Choir. I am glad you're here. Thanks for coming. In the last 2 1 2 years, this Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities and not let them slip away. This administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of Al Qaida, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people 50 million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and today, they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we acted. We increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era, and no one today in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And then we had the attacks on our country, coupled with the march to war, and corporate scandals. All of those events affected the confidence of the American people. But we acted. We passed tough laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. We believe and know that when people have more money in their pocket, more money to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and someone is more likely to find a job. We also understand whose money we're spending in Washington, DC. We're not spending the Government's money. We spend the people's money. And we're sending more of the people's money back to them so they can help raise their families. We reduced the taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand their businesses and hire new people. With all these actions, by being proactive, we're laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs, so that each and every single purpose person in this country has a chance to realize the American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform in Washington, DC, but there just wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid, bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. Finally we are bringing high standards and accountability to public schools. We said, in return for the receipt of Federal money, "Please show us whether or not a child is learning to read and write and add and subtract." We're challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. We believe in raising the bar. We believe in high standards. We believe every child can learn. And for the first time in Federal history, we're insisting that every child learns. We don't want one single child left behind in America. We reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our borders and ports and to protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Wisconsin's entrepreneurs and manufacturers and farmers. We passed, with the Congress, much needed spending discipline. We passed budget agreements to help hold the line on spending. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle. We have kept our word, and we have made progress for the American people. And the Congress gets a lot of credit. I've got a great relationship with Speaker Denny Hastert. He's a good, solid man. I've got a great relationship with Senator Bill Frist, the majority leader. We're working together we're working together to get results for the American people. We're working hard to change the tone in Washington, DC. It needs a it needs a tonal change. There's too much partisan bickering. There's too much zero sum politics. We need to focus on results, not politics. And those are the kind of people I've surrounded myself with in Washington. I've put together a fantastic administration for the American people. We've got a great National Security staff, a great economic team. We've got people who have come to Washington to serve the people, not petty partisan politics. Richard B. Cheney is the greatest Vice President our country has ever had. Mother's got a second opinion. Laughter In 2 1 2 years, if you think about it and you tell them at the coffee shops in 2 1 2 years, this administration has come far. We've done a lot. We've tackled a lot of tough problems. But our work is only beginning. My job is to set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of peace and freedom for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion, so that every citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and to realize the great promise of our land. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home, and we are freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror continues. There's still people out there that hate America, cold blooded killers who hate what we stand for. These people are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We continue to confront that danger in Iraq, for Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking coalition forces, aid workers, innocent Iraqis. See, they know that the advance of freedom in Iraq will be a major defeat in the cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake our will. They're trying to frighten the civilized world. They don't understand this country. They don't understand this administration. We will not be intimidated. We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we will not have to face them in our own country. We'll call on other nations to continue to help us in Iraq. See, by making Iraq a free country, it'll make the world more secure. We'll stand with the Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward self government. These aren't easy tasks. I know that. But they're essential tasks. We will finish what we have begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations don't support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. Free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And I believe that freedom is the right of every person, and I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world. And when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, this great Nation is committed to bringing the healing power of medicines to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. I want to thank Tommy for his good work. He's a part of our great land's leadership. We're leading the world in providing this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges here at home as well, but we'll be equal to those challenges. First of all, any time anybody who is looking for work and can't find a job is still looking, I think we've got a problem. I will continue to work to create an environment in which the entrepreneurial spirit flourishes, in which small businesses can grow, so that people in America can find work. I just had a great session with small business owners here in Milwaukee. The optimism is high. The spirit is strong. We will continue to create the conditions for increased employment in America, so everybody can find a job. We also need to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. A few weeks ago, earlier in the summer, Congress took historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and the Senate have passed reforms to increase the choices available for America's seniors and to provide coverage for prescription drugs. Tommy's working this issue on the Hill. He's working with the House and the Senate so they can iron out their differences and get a good bill to my desk. We have a duty to America's seniors. We have a duty to those of us who are going to be seniors to make sure that we have a modern Medicare system. And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increases the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court, no doubt about it. Yet, the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Because of frivolous lawsuits, docs practice defensive medicine, which drives up the cost of health care. And they therefore affect frivolous lawsuits affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. The House of Representatives passed a good bill to reform the system. It is stuck in the United States Senate. The Senators must understand that no one has been healed by a frivolous lawsuit in America. I have a responsibility as the President to make sure the judicial system runs well. And I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal benches, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Yet some Members of the United States Senate you might know some of them laughter are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some Members to stop playing politics with American justice. The Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. Wisconsin is a State it is a manufacturing State. Manufacturers need reliable sources of energy. The manufacturing sector lags in America. And one way to help us was good trade policy that levels the playing field, good tax policy that encourages investment, less regulations. But as well we need to have an energy plan. I submitted one 2 years ago. This summer, we had a problem with our electricity grid. You might remember that. It should be a wake up call to the Congress that we need to modernize our ability to move electricity around America. We need to make sure that reliability standards for electricity are mandatory, not voluntary. We need to encourage more investment into modernizing the grid. We need to use our technological capacities to increase conservation, to find new sources of energy. But we need to use the old sources of energy in an environmentally friendly way to make sure we're less dependent on foreign sources of crude. The Congress needs to get an energy bill to my desk. For the sake of national security and for the sake of economic security, they need to get a bill to my desk soon. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, which means we'll apply the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. There's still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of welfare reform, to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act," to encourage more Americans to serve in their communities. And Congress should finally pass my Faith Based Initiative, to help empower the armies of compassion which exist all across America. The soldiers in that army mentor children they care for the homeless they offer hope to the addicted. One of the great strengths of America is the faith of the American people. People of all faiths, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, and Jew, should be welcomed by our Government to help people who hurt, to help save lives. This Government should not fear faith. We should welcome faith. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their own home. We want people to own and manage their own retirement accounts. We want people to own and manage their own health accounts. And we want more people owning a small business. You see, we understand in this administration that when somebody owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another, and they take responsibility for the decisions they make. The culture of America is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a new culture in which each of us understands that we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child. If you're worried about the quality of the education in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in a responsibility society, each of us are responsible for loving a neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. We can see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us here in America. I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need. The response has been very strong. Go to the web page and take a look at it, if you're interested in serving your community by helping somebody who hurts. Our faith based charities are strong in America. People have heard the call, just like policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than ourselves. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and courage of America, and I have been fortunate enough to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We are a strong country, and we use our strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift up whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it, and we know that for our country and for our cause, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you. Thank you all. October 03, 2003 Thanks for coming. Thanks for the warm welcome. It's nice to be back in Milwaukee. Today I'm going to talk about some of the challenges which face our country and why I believe our country can overcome any challenge we face. One of the reasons I'm optimistic about the future of our economy is because of the entrepreneurial spirit of America, the entrepreneurial spirit that is strong in Milwaukee and in the great State of Wisconsin, the fact that there are people who are risktakers and job creators and people who, like me, see a better future for those who are looking for work. I'm here to herald the small businesses which are the strength of the economy of the United States of America. I want to thank Tim for inviting a few of his friends here today. Laughter Thanks for coming out. Thanks for your leadership, Tim. I appreciate your willingness to give me a chance to talk about our country. I traveled today with a man who you trained well, a person who serves in my Cabinet in one of the most difficult jobs of all, Secretary of Health and Human Services. He represents our country with class and distinction, and that is Tommy Thompson. Where's Tommy? There you go. Applause Let us not get carried away. Laughter You know him well. He's a good guy. Today I also had the privilege of flying from Washington to Milwaukee with three members of the congressional delegation from the great State of Wisconsin, Jim Sensenbrenner, Tom Petri, and Paul Ryan. These are fine applause . We had a great visit on the plane. There is no air raids on Air Force One, by the way. Laughter And it's a chance for us to talk about issues of concern. And one thing is clear The three love the State of Wisconsin, and they represent you well. And I'm proud to call them friends, and I enjoy working with them. I enjoy working with them to try to change the tone in Washington, to elevate the discourse, to get rid of needless politics and partisan bickering and focus on the people's business. They understand what I'm talking about, and they're good, strong leaders. I want to thank the members of the statehouse who have come today Jack Voight, who is the State treasurer Mary Panzer, who is the State senate majority leader Steve Foti is the State assembly majority leader. I want to thank you all for coming as well. A lot of local officials here, starting with Scott Walker of the county executive. The sheriff is here, David Clarke. I want to thank everybody else for coming too. Today when I landed, I met a fellow named Roy Bubeck. You don't know Bubeck at all, and I didn't either maybe some of you do. The reason I herald him is because he is a soldier in the army of compassion. He's one of these kind citizens who has decided to make a difference in other people's lives. A lot of times we talk about the strength of America, and people automatically think about maybe the size of our wallet or the strength of our military. No, the strength of our country is the fact that we've got fantastic citizens who hurt when somebody hurts, who worry when somebody needs help. Roy runs Badger Mutual Insurance Company. He understands that he employs a lot of really decent folks who care about the community in which they live. And he's assumed his responsibility as a CEO in this way He offers paid leave to employees to go out and help in a neighborhood. He's encouraged people in his company to mentor a child. He's encouraged people to go tutor, so that if a child is having trouble learning to read, he or she can succeed in life. What I'm telling you is, he is encouraging people of compassion by providing leave for those folks from their business. No, the strength of this country is the fact that when communities all across America, when we find somebody who hurts, there is some good soul willing to stand up and say, "I love you." America's greatness is the heart and soul of the American people. And I want to thank Roy for his leadership and encourage others who are CEOs in corporate America to encourage those who've heard the call to love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself to do so by good corporate policy. I said we had faced some challenges. I want to review some of the challenges we faced. If we can summarize the obstacles we overcome, you'll see why I'm such an optimistic person, because we have overcome a lot as a nation. First of all, the market stock market began a decline in March of 2000. That affected a lot of citizens, because we are slowly but surely becoming an ownership society in America. More and more people are owning equities or bonds as a result of 401(k)s or pension plans. A stock market decline affects people. They affect their pocketbooks. They affect their obviously, their wealth, and the market began a decline. In early 2001, we had a recession, three quarters of negative growth. In other words, our economy was not doing very well. We acted, and Congress with the Congress, we acted by passing tax relief. And by far, the vast majority of economic historians would say that as a result of the tax relief, the recession was shallow, because we started coming out after three quarters. Some have said, "Well, maybe the recession should have run its course. Maybe it should have been deep, and you shouldn't have had the tax relief." My concern is about the people who are looking for work. You see, I'm not worried about the numbers. What I am worried about is the lives affected by recession. Shallow recession was good because fewer people were laid off, fewer people hurt, fewer people were worried about their future. Things started getting going okay, though. And then we were attacked on September the 11th, 2001, and that hurt us. It hurt the economy, but it hurt our psyche as well. See, for we grew up in a time when we thought oceans could protect us, that there may have been threats overseas, but we could pick or choose which threats to deal with because we were invulnerable here in America. And that changed on that fateful day. All of a sudden, it became apparent to all of us that an enemy could hurt us at home, an enemy that hates what we stand for. Our security became threatened. We had a new responsibility in Washington, DC, and at the State level and at the local level to do everything we can to secure the homeland. We have a new charge to keep. September the 11th not only affected us in the pocketbook it changed the strategic vision of our country, that we just couldn't see threats gathering overseas and ignore them, that we had to deal with them before they came to hit us. The realities of September the 11th changed the way America must view threats. I vowed on September the 11th after September the 11th, that I would do everything in my power, with a great country, to hunt down those who killed Americans, plotted against Americans, and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what we are doing. Thanks to a lot of brave Americans and coalition friends, we're dismantling Al Qaida, person by person. Doesn't matter how long it takes, we will complete the job for the security of our country. I also put a doctrine out after September the 11th, 2001, that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you house a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you are just as guilty as the terrorists," and we upheld that doctrine. We upheld that doctrine in Afghanistan. The Taliban was a regime which allowed for the Al Qaida to train. It gave them safe haven. At the same time, by the way, they were one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. The United States led a coalition to not only uphold that doctrine but to free the people of Afghanistan. We believe strongly in this country that freedom is not America's gift to the world. We believe strongly that freedom is God's gift to every individual in the world. Thanks to the United States and our coalition, the Afghan people are free from the Taliban, America is more secure, and young girls many young girls for the first time now go to school. We not only acted to make our country more secure, to do our duty to deal with threats or the potential threats, but at the same time we freed people. We took action in Iraq as well. I made it clear that we wanted to work with the international community we want to enforce the United Nations resolutions that time and time again had called for Mr. Saddam Hussein to disclose and destroy weapons of mass destruction. He ignored the world. He chose defiance. He is no more, and the world is a better place because of it. Yesterday, Dr. David Kay and his team reported to the Congress about 3 months of investigations into the regime of Saddam Hussein and his weapons programs. It's an interim report. By the way, it was completed under incredibly difficult circumstances. Let me tell you what the report said. It states that Saddam Hussein's regime had a clandestine network of biological laboratories they had a live strain of deadly agent called botulinum that he had sophisticated concealment efforts in other words, he's hiding his programs that he had advanced design work done on prohibited long range missiles. The report summarized the regime's efforts this way, and I quote Dr. Kay, his report "Iraq's WMD programs spanned more than two decades, involved thousands of people, billions of dollars, and it was elaborately shielded by security and deception operations that continued even beyond the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom." That's what this man stated in his report. That's what the report said. Specifically, Dr. Kay's team discovered what the report calls, and I quote, "dozens of WMD related program activities and significant amounts of equipment that Iraq concealed from the United Nations during the inspections that began in late 2002." In addition to these extensive concealment efforts, Dr. Kay found systematic destruction of evidence of the illegal activities. This interim progress report is not final. Extensive work remains to be done on his biological, chemical, and nuclear programs. But these findings already make clear that Saddam Hussein actively deceived the international community, was in clear violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441, and was a danger to the world. The world is a better place when we got rid of Saddam Hussein. We have more work to do in Iraq. A free Iraq, a peaceful Iraq will help change an area of the world that needs peace and freedom. A peaceful Iraq and a free Iraq is part of our campaign to rid the world of terror. And that's why the thugs in Iraq still resist us, because they can't stand the thought of free societies. They understand what freedom means. See, free nations are peaceful nations. Free nations don't attack each other. Free nations don't develop weapons of mass destruction. There will be a free and peaceful Iraq. What's taking place in Iraq is the evolution of a society to be democratic in nation nature, a society in which the people are better off. I met with Bernie Kerik this morning in the Oval Office. He was a former police commissioner in New York City. He was charged with going to Baghdad to help the Iraqis develop a police force. When he got there, there was no police force. The place was in shambles. And in a very quick period of time remember, we've been there for about 4 months plus he helped develop a police force. Over 37,000 Iraqis now are patrolling the streets of Baghdad to make it a safer place. The reason I bring this up is, we'll work hard to bring the thugs and terrorists to justice in Baghdad. We would rather fight them there than our own streets. But eventually, Iraq will be safe and secure because the Iraqi people have made the decision to live a peaceful and free life. And it's happening. It's happening every day. We will stay the course. We will not be intimidated by thugs who are trying to create fear and the conditions for us to remove. A free Iraq is essential to making sure that America and the future generations of America are able to live in peace and freedom. No, the attacks of September the 11th and the march to war leading up to the Iraqi excursion affected the psychology of the country. We had a recession, and we had the attacks, the national emergency, plus the march to war. But we're a strong country. We're a resilient country because the entrepreneurial spirit is strong, and things seem to be okay. We also had another hurdle to cross, and that is we had some corporate CEOs that forgot their responsibility to our society. They didn't tell the truth. They didn't tell the truth to their employees and their shareholders. They failed to uphold the high standards expected in America. And therefore, they're going to pay the price. We expect people in positions of responsibility to behave responsibly and to tell the truth. We passed tough laws. I want to thank the Congress for working on those laws. And we're holding people to account. By far, the vast majority of people in corporate America are honest, decent folks. But we need to send a signal that we expect honesty throughout our country. And then the country wasn't Government wasn't the economy wasn't growing like we wanted, and so I called Congress back into action one more time on tax relief, historic tax relief. We passed tax relief. It's based upon this theory When somebody has more money in their pocket, they're more likely to demand a good or a service. And in our society, when you demand a good or a service, somebody is going to produce the good or a service. And when somebody meets that demand with production, it means somebody is more likely to be able to find a job. The tax relief we passed, letting people keep more of their own money, is an essential ingredient to making sure people can find work in America. So we expanded the child credit from 600 to 1,000 per child and worked with Congress to get that extra 400 per child paid out to families this summer. The check was in the mail, and it actually got to you, I hope. We reduced the effects of the marriage penalty. What kind of Tax Code is it that discourages marriage? It's a Tax Code that needed to be changed. We cut the taxes on dividends and capital gains to help encourage investment and savings. This action particularly helped many seniors, because a lot of seniors rely upon investment income to live on. And as a positive effect, it also helped with capital formation. We reduced the taxes on everybody who pays taxes. We didn't pick or choose. Everybody who pays taxes will get a reduction. This is an important part of the tax relief plan, what I just described, the reduction of taxes on everybody who pays, because it has a incredibly positive effect on small businesses. Cutting the individual tax rates has got an effect on small businesses, because most small businesses are Subchapter S corporations or sole proprietorships, which means they pay tax at the individual tax rate. It's very important for our countrymen to understand that part of the tax relief plan. Two thirds of those who pay the top rate in our Tax Code, individual Tax Code, are small business owners. Seventy percent of new jobs in America are created by small businesses. It seems to make sense, if you're trying to create new jobs, to allow small businesses to keep more of their own money. If 70 percent of the new jobs in America are created by small business, and by reducing all tax rates puts money into small business' pockets, it seems to make sense that people ought to be supporting the tax cuts all across America. The tax relief plan meant more capital in the pockets of the small business owners, which means somebody is more likely to find a job, and that's what we're here talking about. We care about our fellow citizens. We want to make sure somebody who is hurting has a chance to succeed in life by working. We also encouraged investment to small businesses by increasing the annual expense deduction of investments from 25,000 to 100,000. See, that encourages people to buy a piece of equipment, for example. Today I met with three businessowners here from the Milwaukee area. I met with Al Hentzen. Al has got a what he calls a general industrial business. It provides paints and coatings for industry. He's been in business 80 years. He explained to me that the tax relief plan that we passed encouraged him and helped him add 12 new employees this year. Now, you see, there's a lot of Als all across America. If the plan helped Al, there's no telling how many other people made the same decision Al did. You add 12 here you add 12 there you add 50 here and all of a sudden, people are finding work. Small businesses create 70 percent of the new jobs. The tax plan we passed encouraged Al, Al Hentzen, to add 12 new employees this year, and he's optimistic about adding more next year. Al Hentzen says, "We're not putting tax relief back into our pockets." This is what the leader of this small business or me dium size business says "It goes right back into the company, whether in new people or in machinery." And you see, when Al and his company decides to buy a machine, somebody has got to make the machine. And that means somebody in the machine making company is more likely to find a job as well. When Al makes a decision, he increases demand for a product. That demand for that product will be met in our marketplace. The more demand there is for a product, the more likely one of our citizens is going to find work. I talked to John Stollenwerk today. He runs Allen Edmonds. I happen to have one of his products on my feet. Laughter You probably think this is a gross pander laughter but I wear John Stollenwerk's products nearly every day, except when I'm running. Laughter He makes a great product, one of the world's finest shoes. He bought the company 20 years ago. He made the conscious decision to fix it up to make the right decisions so he could keep people working here in Wisconsin. He says, "Not only am I successful because of the products we make, but I'm successful because of the people that work with him." I appreciate that attitude. See, there's a company CEO that focuses on his employees and understands that without good employees, he's not going anywhere. He bought a million dollars' worth of equipment because of the incentives we put into the tax package. That's a million dollars of purchases in the marketplace. Somebody is meeting the demand for that million dollars' worth of equipment. He says, "I will take the money and invest it." This is the money that he has saved from the tax relief plan. He's a Subchapter S corporation. They pay taxes at the individual rates. When we cut the individual rates, he ends up with more cashflow, plus the incentives on the investment side. He says, "I will take that money and invest it and spend it, and I will do it more efficiently than the Federal Government could." Big John Weise is with us today. I say "Big John" because he's a big guy. Laughter His business is called F. Barkow, Inc. He helps get glass windows safely to factories and construction sites. This company has been doing this for 125 years. They have gone from horse drawn carriages to now make products for trucks to move glass. He told me that as a result of the tax plan passed by the Congress, now in effect, that he is going to purchase a turret press to replace the one that his company has had in place since 1971. Somebody is going to make that turret press for him. There's somebody who's getting a job because John has decided to make an additional purchase because of the tax relief plan. As well the new turret press a 1971 press may be a good press, but it's not going to be as good as one manufactured 34 years later or 33 years later. See, technology is changing. When he gets the new press, it's going to make him more productive. And as a more productive company, it means he can compete better. So not only is the decision he made good for the turret manufacturer, it's good to making sure his company can stay competitive, so he can compete. We have a competitive marketplace. New investment helps our owners and our companies compete. That's what we want. We want open competition. It's good for consumers. It's good for America that we compete. This tax relief helped him a lot, and it helped him make a lot of good decisions. He wants a new forklift, two new welding machines, a metal cutter. In other words, the tax relief increased demand. It's helping him make his company more productive. But the people who are making the products for John's company are also likely to find work. No, the tax relief we passed was necessary for economic vitality. If you're interested in job creation, you need to support this tax relief that we passed. You wonder why I say, "Support it," because I'm going to tell you a little later on, it's fixing to go away unless we do something about it. But in the meantime, I do want to share with you the fact that there is some positive signs that we're growing. Inflation is low. After tax incomes are rising. Homeowner ship is near record highs. That's great, by the way. We want people owning things in our society. You know, America is better off when we're an ownership society. If you own something, you have a stake in the future of our country. We want people from all walks of life owning a home. We have a minority home ownership gap in America, and we've got to do something about it. And I've submitted a good, solid plan to the United States Congress, and I hope they act on it. We want more people owning things in America. Productivity is high. In other words, our workers are incredibly efficient. We've got the best workers in the world, and our productivity is high. Today there was a report on unemployment which shows that we added 57,000 new jobs in America. It's the first time that's happened in 7 months. Things are getting better. But there's still work to do. A lot of Wisconsin manufacturers hurt. It's tough sledding, tough times, and I understand that. We've got manufacturers in a lot of parts of our country that are lagging the rest of economic vitality. It's a slow sector. And what I'm about to describe to you is what more we can do to not only help our small businesses but help our manufacturing sectors to create the conditions so the manufacturing sector can compete and survive and succeed. First, Washington must put good forth good policies forth that will help small businesses deal with health care costs. Health care costs are on the rise. It affects a lot of small businesses. It makes it tougher to cashflow and to be positive and optimistic. One of the things I think we need to do, and I think it would make a big difference, is to allow small businesses to band together and to pool their risks, called associated health care plans, so that they can have the same purchasing power as big companies have. One way to help small businesses control costs is for Congress to pass the associated health care plans. I strongly support them. I think they're necessary. And as well in order to help control costs, we need medical liability reform. I have analyzed, or had analyzed for me, what all these lawsuits laughter I delegate. Laughter Let me start over. Laughter People on my staff laughter looked at the cost of preventative medicine. Laughter You see, there's a lot of lawsuits flying around which caused some docs to quit practicing medicine, which makes medicine less available, and some docs to practice preventative medicine so that if and when they get sued, they can say they did everything possible in order to protect themselves from lawsuit. That drives up the cost of medicine. It costs our Federal Government billions of dollars. The practice of practicing preventative medicine costs the Government billions, which drives up the cost of Medicaid and Medicare and veterans health costs. Therefore, I've concluded that medical liability is a national problem that requires a national solution. I've submitted a good plan to the Congress. I want to thank the three Members here who supported medical liability reform in the House. It is stuck in the Senate. These Senators must under stand that are holding up this bill that medical liability reform is necessary. It's good for our small business sector, which will be good for job creation. It is good for American consumers. No one's ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. We need to do something about class action lawsuits as well. We've got a system today where people are able to shop a class action lawsuit for a sympathetic jury in the State courts, even though this is Federal in nature. In other words, they cross jurisdictional boundaries. They're shopping it, who can find the best jury. And then the lawyers get all the money, and the people damaged don't. It's a system that needs reform. There's a good bill that has passed the House of Representatives. It is stuck in the Senate. It's action that would allow class action and mass tort actions to be tried in the Federal courts. And the other reform is to let the people who have been harmed to get the money and not the lawyers. We need class action reform, for the sake of job creation. We need tort reform at the State level, for the sake of job creation as well. We need a national energy policy. The manufacturing sector needs a reliable supply of energy. The uncertainty that comes with an antiquated electricity grid is difficult on the manufacturing sector. The manufacturing sector consumes a lot of energy, and therefore this Nation needs a national energy plan. We need to use our technologies to conserve better. We need to use our technologies to help develop new sources of energy. I mean, I'd like to be growing our way out of an energy crisis. We need ethanol. We need biofuels. But we also need to make sure we emphasize clean coal technology. We've got a lot of coal. We've got technological know how. We've got to make sure that the Congress passes a national energy strategy that utilizes the resources at hand. What I'm telling you is, for the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, we need a national energy strategy so we become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Fourthly, we need less regulation on small businesses. And regulation ties up all kinds of time that could be used for productive uses for meeting demand. We're working on it at the Federal level. I've streamlined tax reporting requirements recently for America's small businesses. The way we calculate it is, is this year, 2.6 million small business owners will save 61 million hours as a result of tax simplification. That's 61 million more hours that will go to help the company compete. Some regulations are necessary over regulating is not necessary. And it puts enormous strain, particularly on the small business sector in America. Fifth, we've got to have free trade policy that includes fair trade. See, I believe if you're good at something, you ought to promote it. I want Wisconsin's farmers selling their product overseas. Allen Edmonds sells 25 percent of their goods overseas. We need to be knocking down trade barriers so we can sell our products to other people. We also have got to make sure other people treat us fairly. Our manufacturing sector needs to be fair treated fairly. So we've been talking to countries about currency policy to make sure that the currency policies of a government don't disadvantage America. Fair trade means currency policies is fair. The manufacturing sector is concerned about the playing field being level. This administration will work to level that playing field. We can compete with anybody. We just expect the rules to treat us fairly. Finally, this tax relief plan I described to you needs to be permanent. You say, "Why isn't it permanent?" Well, that's Washington. Laughter You see, in order to get it out of one of the bodies there, they had to make the tax relief temporary. We got rid of the death tax, it looked like, which is important for small business owners and Wisconsin's farmers and because we see, we don't believe it's fair to tax a person's assets twice. If you're working all your life to build up your small business and you want to leave it to whoever you want to leave it to, they shouldn't that asset shouldn't be taxed twice, shouldn't tax your income when you're making money, and shouldn't tax it when you pass it on to your son, daughter, whoever you want to pass it on to. It doesn't make we're working with the Congress to get rid of it. It's nearly got rid of, but because of a quirk in the rules in the Senate, it will come back in 2011. It's kind of hard to plan, isn't it? Laughter You kind of phase it out, and it pops back up. The child credit, which has gone from 600 to 1,000, falls back to 700 in 2005. The Government giveth laughter and Government taketh away. Marriage penalty begins to scale back up. A family of four making 40,000 income will go up 922 in the year 2005. My point to the Congress is that people who invest capital in the small business sector need certainty in the Tax Code. People who are planning for the future need to know what the rules are going to be in the future. And the idea of passing tax relief which is here one day and gone tomorrow is not good for economic recovery. For the sake of job creation, we need to put certainty in the Tax Code. All the tax relief we passed must be permanent. You will hear all kinds of reasons to raise taxes. One of them will be the deficit. Yes, we have a deficit. Half the deficit is caused by the fact that our country went into recession. When you go into recession, there's less revenues coming into the Treasury. About a quarter of our deficit was caused by the fact that we're at war. And when we put our troops into harm's way, when we ask a lot of our young men and women to sacrifice for our freedom and our security, they must have the best pay, the best equipment, and the best possible training. We will spend what it takes to support our troops, and we will spend what it takes to defend the homeland. About a quarter of the deficit came because we passed back taxes to the people, actually passed back your own money. And that was necessary to get the economy going. If half the deficit was caused because we lost revenues, it seems to make sense that we want to crank up the economy so we get those revenues back, the revenues come back in the Treasury. No, one quarter of the deficit was caused by the tax relief necessary to stimulate economic growth, the tax relief that also was necessary to make sure the recession was not so deep, that it didn't hurt people. So we have a deficit. The best way to solve the deficit and I have submitted a budget to the Congress which will cut the deficit in half for 5 years is to keep in place the economic vitality package and to hold the line on unnecessary spending in Washington, DC, is to bring much needed fiscal discipline to our Nation's Capital. Now, we've been tested. This country has been tested. Two and a half years, a lot of circumstances has tested our resolve and our character, and we met that test. This is a strong nation. We're not going to be intimidated by thugs and killers. They don't understand our Nation. Those who attacked us thought we'd fold tent and kind of file a lawsuit. Laughter They just don't understand the resolve. They don't understand the courage of our military. They don't understand our will to do our duty, which is to protect the American people. We're a strong nation. The entrepreneurial spirit in this country is really strong. We've got people who put that sign out there, say, "The American Dream is meant for you, that if you want to own your own business, get after it." Government's role is not to create wealth but the conditions in which the entrepreneurial spirit can flourish. You're welcome to the American Dream, no matter who you are or where you're from. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong, and that's what's going to lead this recovery. The people are going to be able to find work because the small business owners of America are risktakers, bold thinkers, and love their country, and are willing to expand the job base. No, the spirit of America is strong. There are thousands of our citizens who, when they see somebody who hurts, are loving them, like I said earlier. There are people, when they see the hunger hungry, provide the food, when they know somebody is homeless, provide the shelter. There are people who are helping little children understand what is necessary to learn to read. There are drug addicts who suffer. Yet there are great faith based programs in America who are helping to heal hearts first and then change habits. The faith of this country applause . We're a strong country because of our values. We believe in justice, we believe in human dignity, and we believe in freedom. And it is such an honor to represent this great land. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. Thank you all. October 02, 2003 The President. Listen, thanks. Just a couple of thoughts and then I'll answer your questions. I'm really looking forward to welcoming President Kibaki here to Washington for a state dinner. It's quite a dramatic event. I think the President will really enjoy the ceremony we have. My first hope is that the weather accommodates the arrival, because it is impressive. And it's a way for us to send a strong message, not only to the President but to the people of Kenya, that one, we respect the friendship, two, we like the cooperation that we have, particularly on counterterrorism, three, we respect democracy in our country, and we like leaders who uphold the democratic traditions. The President has done that. It was a good, clean election. He won overwhelmingly. He is following through on some of his campaign pledges, which is an important part of democracy. One of the campaign pledges, as you know, is he's interested in fighting corruption, and he's taking action. Our visit is a chance to signal clearly that our strategy on the continent of Africa to work with nations to help solve regional disputes and, particularly in this case, the Sudan, where the Kenyan Government has been most helpful and very constructive. So this is an important visit for us. It comes on the heels of my trip to the continent. It was an impressive trip for me. I remember it and will remember it for a long time. There are issues on the continent that are important for America, and there are opportunities on the continent that are important for the people on the continent and the world. And Kenya is a key player and a leader in east Africa. So that's why he's coming, and I look forward to it. It's going to be a grand day. Let me answer a couple of questions. We'll go around and save Charlie until the last here. Martin. Arrest of Kenyan Journalists Q. Mr. President, it's a pleasure to be here. Overall The President. Please don't take it personally, Charlie. Laughter Q. Overall, how does Kenya rank on your scorecard, since a new government took over in January? And in that light, how do you what would you say about recent events where three journalists were arrested and intimidated into talking about, you know, where they got a source. Kenya has a leak issue of its own. Laughter That kind of seemed to The President. Yes. I'm against leaks, Martin. Laughter And I would suggest all governments get to the bottom of every leak of classified information. Laughter And by the way, if you know anything, Martin, would you please bring it forward and help solve the problem? Laughter Q. In this particular case, it's actually the method with which they went around dealing with it. That kind of, like, sent a chilling message. The President. No, I understand. First, the fact that Kenya is coming the President is coming for a state dinner, as I say, is a sign of our respect for the President and for the importance of Kenya and meeting common goals and common objectives. Our country believes in a free press, a free, unfettered press. And we believe that part of having a society which is able to battle corruption is a society in which the press flourishes. And I must say, I don't know all the particulars, so it's hard for me to comment about this particular incident, but I will make the case that a free press is essential to a democratic and free and honest government. The press, you know, has got the capability, a very powerful capability of holding people to account, and I respect that element in the press. So, again, I don't know the particulars, but the President will hear me talk about all aspects of democracy. Kevin. Travel to Kenya Terrorism Q. Yes. Mr. President, thank you very much for inviting me. I appreciate it very much. You mentioned in your opening remarks about Kenya's cooperation with the United States on counterterrorism matters. You're no doubt well aware too that Kenya has been harmed, economically harmed by the many travel advisories, both by the United States and Britain, that have been issued, no doubt for warranted reasons. But at the same time, is there a way that the United States can be helpful to Kenya in this respect? The President. Well, first of all, a lot of Americans love to travel to Kenya. It is a spectacular destination spot. We have an obligation as a government to call it as we see it, though, when it comes to security matters. It's very important for us as a government to maintain our credibility with the American people and to say you know, to make assessments. And we have made the assessment that at the moment, Kenya is a place where our citizens should be wary of traveling. And the bombing of Mombasa is clearly an example of what we're talking about. However, we also believe it's important to work with Kenya to relieve the situation. It's not only for our own national interests it's for Kenya's interest that we mutually deal with terrorists. That's why we put forth the 100 million on the East African Counterterrorism Initiative. Kenya will be a key player in that. Kenya has been very cooperative on intel we're sharing intelligence. The intent of the terrorists, of course, is to spread fear. That's one of their weapons, in that they're willing to kill innocent people, in that they're willing to murder anybody who is convenient to murder. They then are able to spread fear, and one of the consequences of terrorist activity is to create an environment of fear. We're working with Kenya to relieve the environment. And you know, we had a restriction on our families at the Embassy that has been changed. So in other words, things are improving. And at some point in time, hopefully soon, we'll be able to make a declaration about Kenya. But we will do so, you know, by keeping, kind of, the real situation in mind. And I do want to emphasize, though, that obviously we don't believe that the situation is permanent. Otherwise, we wouldn't be dealing with the President like we are, in kind of a very public way. And we believe that together we can change circumstances. We have seen circumstances change from lack of security to security, a place where it was hard to travel to a place where it's easy to recommend travel. And I believe that can happen here in Kenya. But I understand fully the concerns of people who make a living as a result of U.S. citizens and citizens from Great Britain traveling. Q. Right, right. And if I may, I mean, the Government the Kenyan Government obviously looks to the United States to be supportive and helpful. And the advisories have had the opposite effect. I recognize that you're trying to do what you can The President. No, actually, I'm sure the President will bring this up. I hope he does bring this up, because we will be able to explore ways to work to create the conditions so that the advisories can come off. And we just want but we err on the side of caution when it comes to issuing advisories. You know, we'd all like to we certainly don't want to damage our friend, unnecessarily damage our friend. On the other hand, we have an obligation to be frank and honest with the American people. So we'll work through it. Q. Thank you. The President. Thank you, Kevin. Esther. Global HIV AIDS Initiative Q. Thank you, Mr. President, for this opportunity to talk to you this morning. Looking back, Mr. President, you've talked about your trip in Africa. And I'm wondering whether there's anything that you look back and say the U.S. did not involve itself with Africa and which you would like to do now, when you're in the office? The President. Well, I felt like we needed to expand the AIDS initiative. But I felt that way before I went. And so when I went, I was, one, delivering the message that we will help. We will help to the tune of 15 billion over 5 years. There's been, you know, debate about whether or not I meant 15 billion over 5. I do mean it. But some have suggested, well, maybe the best way to spend that money is divide 15 billion by 5, and it will be 3 billion a year. We think there's a better way to do it, and we're working with Congress to get the appropriations out as we speak. The judgment from the administration's perspective and listening to the experts is it's best to ramp up, start slower and end up with more in the end, in order to make sure the dollars are spent efficiently and that help is delivered in a way that saves lives. And that's what we're working through with the Congress right now, through the appropriations process. But my message was, is that we're very sincere about this program and that the United States must expand its efforts. I also was really, as best as I could, calibrating the delivery systems in some of the countries we went to. In other words, it's one thing to provide the aid and the money and the medicines. The other question is, can they actually get to the people that need help? The vibrancy of the faith based programs or the charities or the NGOs how strong are they in these receptive countries? How receptive is the Government to receive the help? Will the Government be counterproductive to our efforts? And you know, look, admittedly, I didn't go to every single country that's going to receive help from this emergency AIDS initiative. But it gave me a sense to then be able to listen to others who had been to the countries and to calibrate and to get a sense of what the infrastructures look like. Kenya is a part of this initiative. And I look forward to talking to the President about this initiative. It is a vital initiative. Slavery in West Africa Q. Mr. President, I'm wondering about the 58th session of the U.N. General Assembly, where you talked about illegal trade of human trafficking, which is rampant in west Africa, like Togo, Benin, and Burkina Faso. And I'm wondering what the U.S. Government is doing in collaboration with the African governments to eradicate this problem, which also comes about because of poverty, some parents willing to give out their children to go and work as sex slaves or do cheap labor, because they have no money. The President. Well, no, I appreciate that. It's hard to believe a parent would be willing to send their daughter into sex slavery, willingly. But in yes, I mean, as a dad, it's just hard for me to fathom. Q. They probably won't know what happens to their children, but they give them for money. The President. Well, yes, they're not specifically that's what I thought. I mean, I doubt that they would you know, I don't know. Look, first, it's to improve the economic of the continent by trade. AGOA is a real opportunity, and we're sincere about AGOA. And we believe in AGOA, and we're leading the way on AGOA. And that will help, hopefully, alleviate the poverty that sends people into such desperate straits that they're willing to sell their child in essence, is what you're saying. Secondly, in terms of the role of the United States in terms of sex slavery, it is very essential for the United States to start with the big megaphone, which is what I did. And I called upon the Security Council, kind of the collection of nations, to speak with one voice. And then we can start working bilaterally. It's not just in western Africa where there's an issue. There's an issue in parts of Europe. There's an issue in parts of the Far East. And I intend to bring this issue up as I meet with leaders, particularly in affected areas. I've met with gosh, I don't know how many leaders of African nations I have met with. I would say a lot. African Affairs Senior Director Jendayi Frazer. Over 26. The President. My only point is, is that I'm constantly meeting with leaders, which will give me an opportunity to bring this issue up. In order to solve the problem, it's not only the need to address poverty it's also the need for governments to deal with those who are the slave traders or the slave masters, however you want to call them. We've dealt with this issue once in our civilized history. Unfortunately, as I mentioned, we need to deal with it again. So this is an effort where it's going to take a collective effort around the world. The United States alone cannot change. We can do our part about sending signals. We can do our part about helping alleviate poverty. We can do our part about and by the way, we've got a program, one of the most active programs we're the active nation in the world when it comes to helping alleviate hunger, for example. Maybe that's part of the root cause of I know it's part of the root cause of desperation as well as disease. But we also pass laws and hold people to account. In other words, it's one thing to call for action, but then we must do it ourselves. And we've got the laws on the books to do so and will. Charlie, it's about time. Laughter Situation in Zimbabwe Q. Yes, sir. On your trip to Africa, after your meeting with President Mbeki in South Africa, we felt that your attitude or stance was that you would let President Mbeki and the regional leaders in southern Africa take the lead on Zimbabwe. The President. Zimbabwe, yes. Q. Yes. Zimbabwe, if anything, has gotten worse. Are you satisfied with the kind of pressures that Mbeki has President Mbeki has placed or the countries of the neighborhood has placed on Zimbabwe, some additional pressures? The President. Let me review the history of this. I did speak very clearly to President Mbeki about Zimbabwe. I said, "You and the neighborhood must deal with this man. You're sending a bad signal to the world." Along with Prime Minister Blair, we've been the two most outspoken leaders on this issue. And then our Secretary of State has followed up consistently. I know there was an impression at the press conference, where I publicly said, "Mr. Mbeki assures me he'll deal with this issue," in essence is what I said. But no, our Government has not changed our opinion about the need for the region to deal with Zimbabwe and the leadership there. In order for there to be a country, a prosperous country, it is this is a country which was a food exporter, in a region that needs food. It's a country where the economy has fallen apart as the result of bad governance. And we're constantly making the point to leadership that comes in. I made the point in New York to the leader of Mozambique, who is in the neighborhood. Q. Oops, my tape don't worry. The President. I'm just getting cranking up, Charlie. Laughter Q. I will remember. Laughter The President. No, you won't remember. It's impossible to remember eloquence. Laughter You must capture it. Laughter No, nobody should read any look, we are pressing the issue regularly. Q. Are you satisfied, though, with what Mr. Mbeki and the other people are doing? The President. The only time that this Government and I, personally, will be satisfied is when there is an honest government, reformed government, in Zimbabwe. That's our goal. That's the definition of satisfaction. And that hasn't happened yet. Therefore, we're not satisfied. Q. With Mr. Mugabe or Mr. Mbeki? The President. With the process. Well, certainly not with Mr. Mugabe. And when President Mbeki says they are working on it, to achieve this goal, I take him for his word. And I am going to remind all parties that the goal is a reformed and fair government. And that hasn't been achieved yet. And we'll continue to press the issue, both privately and publicly, which I just did. Q. Mr. President, can I ask about The President. Not yet. Laughter We're having an orderly discussion. It reminds me of an American press conference. When I ask the journalists, please ask one question, and they ask four or five at the same time in the same breath. It's hard to believe there's a tremendous lack of discipline in the U.S. press corps. Laughter Like the other day, I was embarrassed when the AP a fantastic organization, a wonderful reporter was able to ask four questions in one breath laughter setting a terrible precedent for the Russian press that followed up. Q. I have four today, sir. Laughter The President. I'm sure you do. You've already asked one "How's the knee?" Q. Three, then. Laughter African Growth and Opportunity Act Millennium Challenge Accounts Q. Mr. President, you mentioned AGOA and how it's anticipated that it will help alleviate poverty in Africa. However, most countries in Africa are still struggling just to begin to export products and don't seem to have the capacity to fully exploit what AGOA promises. And that seems to be an ongoing issue. If it's textiles, there's no capacity to reach the maximum quotas reserved for Africa. And by extension The President. So far. Q. Right. And AGOA seems to be Africa's stepping stone to globalization. Now, just recently, the World Trade Organization meeting collapsed, and that seemed to symbolize a growing frustration among most developing countries, and particularly in Africa, that globalization and AGOA in the same is not really fair. It's not a level playing field. Does this whole process need to be rethought to try to give them a little more capacity, to probably go in and try and build structures so that they can compete? The President. Yes, listen, here we've got a full scale strategy on dealing with economic opportunity. First, let me talk about the Millennium Challenge Account, which is a central part of the strategy, which basically says we're willing to add aid if countries develop the habits necessary to be able to develop a just and honorable society transparency, anti corruption, focus on the people, a market orientation to their economy. Secondly, AGOA creates opportunity. It's up to the nations to seize the opportunity. Our aid will help. We're more than willing to work with nations to help develop an entrepreneurial class that is able to seize the moment. And AGOA treats African nations fairly when it comes to our markets. And so our strategy is to help African nations develop the infrastructure necessary to achieve the markets. And it starts with good governance, in our judgment. That's the best thing we can affect and fight corruption, going to insist upon transparency, insist upon education practices that will help, and we provide help for this. On a wide range of areas, we help nations help themselves develop the economy necessary to take advantage of trade. I believe that trade is the only way to help nations grow out of poverty. And so we've been open with our markets. The bilateral relationship between the United States and the continent of Africa is a strong relationship. I was sorry to see that there was a setback at the World Trade Organization, because I think that global trade will benefit the African Continent as well. It's important to open up markets, and that will provide opportunity for the African business sector. And there's been good progress in many countries, by the way, as a result of AGOA. The amount of trade that is coming to the United States from the continent is dramatic. I can't cite the statistic exactly right this second. If I'm not mistaken, the trade from Kenya to the United States is upward of 400 million. Q. Yes, it's up substantially. The President. That's substantial. Martin, that's good progress. I think expectations ought to be realistic that market oriented economies aren't going to happen instantly. It takes there's a process that will help, but the fact that trade is up 400 million in Kenya is very positive. It means there's more activity, more jobs, more hope, more opportunity, all of which can be fostered by good, honest government, by the way, or it can be squandered by corrupt government. And that's one of the reasons why the Millennium Challenge Account is part of our strategy on the continent, is to promote the habits of good and honest, decent government. Kevin. Kenya's Role in Africa Q. Yes, thank you, Mr. President. You mentioned Sudan at the outset and the importance of Kenya and moving negotiations forward. Kenya has often seen itself as an island of stability surrounded by countries that have had serious conflicts and continue to have. Is the United States going to be discussing that with Mr. Kibaki and perhaps offering some specific assistance as Kenya tries to bring peace to Somalia, Sudan, and the Great Lakes region? The President. Yes, interesting. Absolutely, we'll be talking about this, because I view that the best role the United States can play is be supportive of regional leaders and or the capacity, for example, of African peacekeeping forces to carry the task of dealing with civil dispute. And Kenya is playing a vital role in the Sudan, along with former Senator Jack Danforth. They work closely together. It's a vital role to play. And we will be encouraging President Kibaki to continue on being a regional leader. We will discuss it. If he has got suggestions about how our State Department and AID programs can help him do a better job as a regional leader, we're interested in listening. We also believe that we ought to continue training forces such as ECOWAS, as an example, to be prepared to take on peacekeeping missions on the continent. Liberia is another am I answering your question, Charlie? Laughter Q. No, I've got it in my head here. Laughter The President. I'll save it. That way I won't force you to have to think of another question. Laughter You might have to slip into the baseball playoffs. Laughter Anyway, yes, we will talk about that. It's a key role. You see, I believe that Africa is plenty capable African nations are plenty capable of dealing with dispute. I believe there are very capable leaders on the continent who are good, strong leaders. And the role of the United States is not to supplant them as problemsolvers, but to help them solve problems. And one of the reasons why I think AGOA is such a strong statement by the United States is it says we have faith in the capacity of the people to take advantage of this opportunity. I talked about the potential of the African Continent. It's way beyond oftentimes people talk about the potential of Africa as resource potential. I view it as people potential. And so this country takes a supportive role in dealing with the leadership and recognizing that there are some strong leaders that are capable of handling the problems, as opposed to supplanting them. Q. Thank you. The President. Esther. Developing Civil Society in Africa Q. Mr. President, I'm wondering, as Africa joins the rest of the world in fighting terrorism, whether there are any plans to involve not only the governments but also the civil society and religious leaders who reach the common man? The President. Yes. You know, the answer is, of course. And let me put it this way to you and I say this a lot, Esther, as I explain to the American people why we make the decisions we make. Free societies are societies which will not support terror. Free societies are societies which aren't at war with their neighbors. I mean, freedom has the capacity to change the behavior of the people. So, you bet. I mean, a free society is a society which, in itself, recognizes the value of civil society. Free societies are societies in which the civil society is the strength of the society. And to the extent that there are religious leaders preaching hatred that go beyond the scope of free speech and free religion, we try to work with leaders to work with their religious counterparts not to preach hatred and violence. But the United States is committed to the overall spread of free, honest, open government. That's the heart of the Millennium Challenge Account. The Millennium Challenge Account again, this is I'm trying to share with you as much of my philosophy about dealing with the continent as anything else. I believe obviously, I believe that people are plenty capable of developing honest government and transparent government and focusing resources where they need to be focused. That's why we have laid out the initiative. That's why we've created this entirely new approach to foreign aid on the continent and elsewhere, by the way. It essentially says I believe in the inherent goodness of men and women and their capacity to govern themselves. And therefore, we want to work with governments that make that choice. I recognize not everybody is going to make that choice, and I recognize sometimes the path of least resistance is corruption. And it's very tempting to take you know, the head of a government to be corrupt, as Kenya has learned. And you've got a leader now who is willing to stand up and fight corruption. You've got an anti corruption czar in Kenya, which is a positive development. Now the person must do their work. You've got anti corruption legislation, which is positive development. And so one of the key messages from this visit is, "Mr. Kibaki, you're proving our point. You're leading. You're showing what is possible." And to the extent that we work with civil that in itself spurs a civil society which is vibrant and strong. A civil society kind of the underpinnings of a free society as opposed to a centralized government. And the habits of freedom change the attitudes of people. Now, look, I readily concede there must be economic vitality and growth along with that in order to alleviate poverty. And part of the central component of our AIDS initiative is recognizing that a pandemic that sweeps through a continent will destroy the hopes of people. It's incredibly debilitating to the spirit when kids grow up as orphans after their parents have died a tough death. And this pandemic is wiping out a generation. And that's why I feel so passionate about leading the world. Not just the United States but the world must step up and help in a way that actually works, in a way that changes the attitudes toward AIDS and save lives. Charles. Liberia Q. Yes. The President. They ever call you "Charles"? Q. I had a schoolteacher once call me Charles. Laughter The President. I'll join the crowd. Charles, what's on your mind? Q. I'm open to learning. Laughter I do, indeed, have a Liberia question. The President. Thank you, sir. I was hoping you would bring it up. This isn't the first time you've asked me about Liberia. Q. No, nor the last. The President. Nor the last, yes, I was about to say. Laughter Q. There was gunplay in Monrovia, I guess, yesterday. The President. There was. Q. There's deep suspicion of this process in the sense that among Liberians that these rebel groups aren't much better than Charles Taylor. And without getting some significant control of the country, independent, if you will, anything free and fair seems remote. And there's puzzlement which is my question to you, at the well, what one Liberian characterized as the aloofness of this administration toward the Liberian situation in terms of concrete people on the ground. There's puzzlement over this. How do you respond? The President. Yes, I respond this way, Charles. Q. Go ahead. The President. Got the tape cranked up, will you? Q. Yes, I want to get The President. Once again, this will be a laughter . Q. Yes. The President. I made it very clear from the beginning, our strategy in Liberia. Now, remember, I have just told you that I believe on the continent of Africa is African nations are plenty capable of dealing with issues such of civil unrest, like in Liberia. And I believe it's very important for our Government to be consistent in our message, that we will help, we will help train troops. And I said from day one, Charlie, that we would provide help to ECOWAS by the way, a group of folks we helped train in the past and we would provide enough presence to enable ECOWAS to come in and do their job. And we moved a Marine group of troops in, secured the port. Remember the first issue was the port? Would the United States act to secure the airport and port? Yes, we did. Would we create the conditions necessary for ECOWAS to move in, and then eventually blue helmet the operation, which happened yesterday, and that encouraged others to participate along with the United Nations? You bet we did. Now, we've kept a presence there. We've kept a presence there to help ECOWAS. So we've done everything we said we would do. And the strategy has worked. I recognize there was sporadic fire, or however you want to describe it, yesterday. And I suspect that that may happen on an infrequent basis. But the process is working. The United Nations will move in. They will help supervise the elections. Hopefully, they will be free and fair. This is a good role for the United Nations. And in the meantime, more troops will be coming in. We worked collaboratively with the United Nations to help sign up nations to blue helmet to be blue helmeted. And so I'm pleased with the progress we have made in Liberia. We have kept our word. We have done exactly what we said we would do. Q. Just not exactly what you were asked to do. The President. Well, sometimes, Charlie, we don't do exactly what everybody asks us to do. We get a lot of requests. And in this case, it fit the strategy was a part of a larger strategy on the continent to help people help, in this case, the regional situation to resolve it. ECOWAS has done a very good job. President Obasanjo gets a lot of credit for responding and moving Nigerian troops in and providing the command structure along with our help. I think the situation has turned out a lot better than people assumed it was going to, and there's progress still to be done. And the United Nations is now in charge of the process, but we're keeping people there to help with our Nigerian friends. Q. Thank you, Mr. President. The President. Thank you all, yes. I guess it's over. Laughter October 02, 2003 Thank you very much. Sientese. Sientese, Embajador. Thank you for coming. Bienvenidos. Mi casa es su casa. I want to thank you all for coming to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. You know, this Nation is blessed by the talents and the hard work of Hispanic Americans, and we're really blessed by the values of familia y fe that strengthen our Nation on a daily basis. It is fitting we honor Hispanic Americans in our country. It's part of our country an incredibly important part of our country. I also think it's fitting that the way to honor Hispanic Americans is to revel in the vitality of the Hispanic culture that was displayed today, the music that honors the roots, the rhythm, the life of the Latino. I appreciate my Ambassador to Mexico, Tony Garza. He's been a long time friend. He was the secretary of state in the State of Texas. It gave him a chance to learn diplomacy. Laughter He's a great man and a great friend. I have asked people from Hispanic heritage to join my administration Hans Hertell, who is the Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, is with us. Hans brought his family with him. Laughter I've got a Cabinet Secretary de Cuba, who is Mel Martinez. I don't know if you know Mel's story. This speaks volumes about our Nation and about Mel's upbringing. In the early sixties, Cuban parents were worried about their sons growing, their daughters growing up in tyranny. They were afraid about what it would be like for a child to grow up in a world in which terror reigned and there was no freedom. And so Mel's parents put him on an airplane destined for the United States of America. Imagine the choice of a parent I would daresay there's really only one country, though, that a parent would be feeling comfortable of sending their child to, and that's America, because of what we stand for. Mel is Pedro Pan. He is now in the Cabinet of the President of the United States, which speaks volumes about you, Mel, and volumes about our country as well. Hector Barreto is with us today, runs the SBA. Where are you, Hector? Donde esta? Thank you, Hector. Everybody needs to have a good abogado. Laughter I've got a really good one. Laughter Al Gonzales is my lawyer and close friend. Eduardo Aguirre is the Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services. Welcome, Eduardo. Gaddi Vasquez donde esta, Gaddi? Where is he? Peace Corps, running the Peace Corps. He's out recruiting new members. Laughter Adonde? Oh, yes, there he is. Gaddi got here a little late. Laughter I want to thank these folks for serving our administration so well. We've got ambassadors from around the world here with us today. I am honored that Embajador Jose Juan Jose Bremer de Mexico esta aqui. Good to see you, Jose. Hugo Guiliani de el Dominican Republic. Senor Embajador. Luis Alberto Moreno Mejia de Colombia. Embajador Rene Leon from El Salvador, good to see you, sir. Francisco Javier Ruperez de Espana. Murilo Gabrielli, who is the Deputy Chief of Mission from Brazil, thank you for coming, Murilo. I'm so honored that Members of the United States Congress are here with us today. The Senator from the great State of Texas I emphasize "the great State of Texas" John Cornyn. The chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Conference, Ileana Ros Lehtinen from Florida. Mario Diaz Balart from Florida is with us. Devin Nunes from California donde esta Devin? It's an old trick here in Washington, get your name on the roster, but don't show up. Laughter At least you get mentioned. Laughter Bob Beauprez of Colorado is with us. Jon Porter is with us, from the great State of Nevada. Thank you, Jon. Jerry Weller is with us. From Arizona, Rick Renzi is with us. And finally, from New Mexico, Steve Pearce. Thank you for coming. I want to thank you all for being here. It's a good sign that Members of the Congress take an interest in the Hispanic Heritage Month. And I appreciate you coming. I also want to thank Brian Sandoval, who is the attorney general from the State of Nevada. It's awfully kind for him to come all the way over here. Brian, thank you, sir. I am so pleased that my friend Emilio Estefan is here. Emilio helps put this event on. Emilio puts this event on or helps us put this event on every year. And it's awfully kind of you to do this. It's good to see you. I am also honored that Lisa Guerrero is with us. Lisa, thank you very much for serving as the emcee. I appreciate you being on TV on Monday nights too. Laughter Carlos Ponce thank you for coming, Carlos. I appreciate you, Carlos. It's good to see you again. It's good to see you on Monday night as well. I'm so honored that Father Cutie is here. Thank you very much for leading us in the blessing. Bacilos, thank you, guys, for being the young stars. The Ambassador turned to me and said, "These are the young dudes, the young stars of the music scene." Laughter I can see why. Congratulations. Thank you for your leadership. Alexandre, thank you very much. Fantastic. You know, Alexandre, I love your spirit. It's clear to see your heart and soul, and thank you very much. You were good tambien, mi amigo de Puerto Rico. What a voice. Thank you very much. I am let me see. I'm probably going to leave somebody out here as we get moving through here. Victor, thank you. Awesome job. I appreciate you coming. Obviously, the person who invited the guest list here knows I love baseball. We've got a lot of the baseball stars here. I do love baseball. One of my favorite baseball players of all time is a person who's going to be in the Hall of Fame, and that's Rafael Palmeiro of the Texas Rangers. I want to thank you for coming. And Lynne is here. Thank you for coming, Lynne. I'm glad you brought your manager with you. He's not exactly a Latino ballplayer, but he's a fine guy, and that's Buck Showalter. Thank you for coming, Buck, and thank you for bringing your family. It's good to see you all. Magglio Ordonez of the Chicago White Sox is with us. Where are you, Magglio? Yes, thank you, buddy. Congratulations. Great season, yes. We're watching you. We've got the dish upstairs. Laughter Bartolo Colon donde esta Bartolo? I can see why you can throw it hard. Laughter Fuerte. Carlos Beltran of the Kansas City Royals Carlos, good job. Donde esta Jose Lima? There he is Jose. Yes. You're back. Laughter Congratulations on having a great year. Tino Martinez, Saint Louis Cardinals Nelson Figueroa of the Pirates. Where's Nelson? Yes, thank you, Nelson. Are you sure you're old enough to qualify? Laughter Vladimir Guerrero yes, Vladimir. Glad you're here, Vladimir. Thanks for coming. I also know your general manager really well. He's a really good guy, isn't he? Omar Minaya, mi amigo. Thank you for coming, Omar. And congratulations. I knew you'd make it all along. You're probably wondering why I didn't make you general manager of the Rangers, but nevertheless laughter Omar is the general manager of the Montreal Expos. He really does a great job, and I've known Omar a long time. He's a great baseball guy. More important, he's a good person. I'm really proud to have you here. Just to show you that we're multisport people here, it is my honor to welcome Carlos Arroyo. Carlos, I want to thank you very much for coming. He's the basketball player for the Utah Jazz. Carlos. Katie, thank you very much for leading us in the anthem. You've got a beautiful voice. You've got a lot of poise and a lot of talent, and we're honored that you're here with us today. Thanks for coming. We're really glad you're here. And thanks for bringing your little brother. I hope he's nice to you all the time. Laughter The contributions of the Hispanic community have made this country stronger and better. Today we honor the contributions with the entertainment we had here in the East Room. I don't know if you know this, but this is a common occurrence for the Bush administration, to honor men and women of Hispanic descent, to honor their presence and listen to their talents. But this has happened throughout the years in the White House. There's been some interesting moments here. Pablo Casals was a Spanish born cellist. He lived in Puerto Rico. He performed for two Presidents catch this the first was Theodore Roosevelt in 1904 and the second was John Kennedy in 1961 57 years in between his first and second visit. Nevertheless, he graced this room and this house. We've also had Jose Limon. He's a modern dancer Edward Villella to my family's friend Gloria Estefan. You should have brought her. Laughter One Hispanic entertainer we remember in a special way today is the Queen of Salsa, Celia Cruz. She was an unforgettable performer who fled Cuba in 1960. She became a U.S. citizen and spent the rest of her life sharing the rhythms of her homeland with people all around the world. Celia Cruz passed away 3 months ago. We miss her, and we honor today to welcome her husband, Pedro. Bienvenidos. We are not only blessed with the culture of the Hispanic in America we're also blessed by the fact that our country is strengthened because of the spirit of hard work and enterprise. It's part of the Latino culture. We see the spirit in thousands of small businesses and the careers of business people all across our country. One of the most vibrant parts of our economy is the small business sector, and one of the vibrant parts of the small business sector is the Latinos who own small businesses, really one of the great success stories of America. Tell you a story about Lou Sobh, who is with us today. In 1960, he left Mexico, no money, and he couldn't speak the language. He came to America. He didn't he couldn't speak the language at all, so he worked, and he taught himself English. He ended up becoming a janitor in a department store, a hard worker. He had a dream, and he was working toward his dream. He served in the United States Army. He got out of the Army, and he had a dream to open up his own car dealership. Today, he owns 14 not one car dealership but 14 car dealerships. He employs 800 people. He's got three car franchises in Mexico. He's living proof of the American Dream an incredibly important part of our Nation, the Latino spirit of hard work and drive and enterprise. And Lou, I want to congratulate you for being a success and setting an example. Thank you for coming, sir. Today, as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we also must take pride in the generations of Hispanic Americans who have served in America's Armed Forces, served to protect and defend a nation they love. Forty two Hispanic Americans 42 cuarenta y dos have earned the highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor. That's a lot. Today, men and women of Hispanic heritage continue to serve and sacrifice in the defense of freedom. They have our respect, and they have our gratitude. Earlier this year, at the National Naval Medical Center, I had an amazing experience. Eduardo was there. I had the chance and privilege of meeting a patriot, Master Gunnery Sergeant Guadalupe Denogean. Sergeant Denogean is an immigrant from Mexico. He has served in the Marine Corps for 25 years. Last spring, he was wounded in combat in Basra, Iraq, and he was sent back for treatment. They asked Sergeant Denogean, did he have any requests? He said he had two. He wanted a promotion for the corporal who helped rescue him, and the second request is he wanted to be an American citizen. I was there the day Sergeant Denogean took his oath of citizenship. Eduardo administered the oath. In a hospital where he was recovering, this son of Mexico raised his right hand and pledged to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. What made that moment amazing to me is that he had kept that oath for decades before he took it. I'm proud of the sergeant. I'm proud to call him citizen. I'm proud to call him fellow citizen to America. Through the lives of people like Sergeant Denogean and Lou and Celia Cruz, it is clear that the American Dream belongs to todos. It's for everybody, not just a few. And that's the greatness of our country. It's the spirit of America. And it's important that this generation and future generations keep that dream alive. We've got to make sure that hard work is a place that is respected and rewarded. We must make sure that our entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs from all walks of life have the opportunity to dream and work hard and realize their ambitions. We must make sure that the dream of homeownership is available for every citizen in our country. We must make sure that every child gets educated, that the public schools educate every single child, those whose parents may speak English, those whose parents may not yet speak English. Education belongs to everybody. High standards belongs to everybody. We must challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations in American public schools. We're proud of our country. We're a strong country. We're militarily strong, and I'll keep us that way. But our wealth isn't really found in our military or our pocketbooks. The true strength of America is found in the character of the American people, in the courage of the people, the creativity of our people, and in the compassion of our people. As Governor, and now as President, I've seen the character of America and the character of millions of Hispanic Americans who make our Nation a better place. The warmth and the vitality of the Hispanic culture, the energy and faith of Hispanic men and women are great gifts to America. I want to thank you all for coming to celebrate those gifts. Que Dios los bendiga a todos, y que Dios bendiga a los Estados Unidos. Thank you for coming. October 01, 2003 President Bush. Listen, Mr. Prime Minister, thank you. It's my honor to welcome you to the Oval Office. I look forward to our discussions. We will have discussions here in the Oval Office. Then we'll go to have lunch. And over lunch we'll discuss a wide range of issues Our mutual desire to fight terror our keen desire to bring stability and peace throughout the world look forward to discussions about our bilateral relations in regards to commerce and opportunities to enhance the livelihood of our fellow citizens. There's a lot of Pakistani Americans who are pleased you are here today, sir. And on their behalf, I welcome you to the Oval Office. And it gives me a chance to say publicly how much we appreciate the friendship of Pakistan. Prime Minister Jamali. Thank you, Mr. President. President Bush. You're welcome. Prime Minister Jamali. Well, I can see you're pleased. I'm sure that the Pakistan community is pleased that I'm here. And Pakistan is helping as a partner is a partner as far as the fight against terrorism is concerned, as far as our bilateral relations are concerned. We want a long, lasting friendship with the United States, and that is why I'm here, to bring a message of the new democratic setup which I set in Pakistan the last 10 months. And in short, we intend getting that through of course, with a pat on the back as far as President Bush is concerned. Laughter Will that be all right? Thank you very much. President Bush. Thank you, sir. Glad you're here. October 01, 2003 Thank you for the warm welcome. Please be seated, unless you don't have a seat. Laughter I'm proud to be with the men and women of the newest agency of our Government. And today I'm honored to sign the first appropriations bill for this Department. Many of you have served your country for years, in agencies with proud histories and honored traditions. Some of you are new to the Federal service. All of us share a great responsibility. Our job is to secure the American homeland, to protect the American people. And we're meeting that duty together. On September the 11th, 2001, enemies of freedom made our country a battleground. Their method is the mass murder of the innocent, and their goal is to make all Americans live in fear. Yet our Nation refuses to live in fear. And the best way to overcome fear and to frustrate the plans of our enemies is to be prepared and resolute at home and to take the offensive abroad. The danger to America gives all of you an essential role in the war on terror. You've done fine work under difficult and urgent circumstances, and on behalf of a grateful nation, I thank you all for what you do for the security and safety of our fellow citizens. I appreciate Tom Ridge agreeing to lead this important Department. I'm honored to call him friend, and I'm proud of the job he is doing. I appreciate General John Gordon, who is the Homeland Security Adviser in the White House. I want to thank the very capable Department of Homeland Security leadership who are with us today. I'm also honored to share this bill signing with Members of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representative who did an excellent job of getting this bill through. I appreciate so very much the Senator from Mississippi, Thad Cochran, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security. I'm also honored that three Members of the House are up here to join in the bill signing ceremony, starting with the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Bill Young of Florida Hal Rogers of Kentucky, the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security Congressman Martin Sabo from Minnesota, the ranking member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security. I want to thank you all for a job well done. I'm also so pleased that Members in the Senate and the House of both political parties are with us today. The stage wasn't big enough to hold you. Thank you for coming. Thanks for your hard work, and thanks for working together to do what's right for America. This time 2 years ago, America was still in the midst of a national emergency. Smoke was rising from Ground Zero recovery teams were carefully sifting through debris and chaplains were comforting families and blessing the dead. Our Nation does not live in the past yet we do not forget the past and the grief of that time. We do not forget the men and women and children who were lost that day. We do not forget the enemies who rejoiced as America suffered or those who seek to inflict more pain and grief on our country. September the 11th, America accepted a great mission, and that mission continues to this hour. We will do everything in our power to prevent another attack on the American people. And wherever America's enemies plot and plan, we'll find them, and we will bring them to justice. The war on terror has set urgent priorities for America abroad. We are not waiting while dangers gather. Along with fine allies, we are waging a global campaign against terrorist networks, disrupting their operations, cutting off their funding, and we are hunting down their leaders one by one. We're enforcing a clear doctrine If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you support a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists, and you can expect to share their fate. We're determined to prevent terror networks from gaining weapons of mass destruction. We're committed to spreading democracy and tolerance. As we hunt down the terrorists, we're committed to spending spreading freedom in all parts of the world, including the Middle East. By removing the tyrants in Iraq and Afghanistan who supported terror and by ending the hopelessness that feeds terror, we're helping the people of that region, and we're strengthening the security of America. The war on terror has also set urgent priorities here at home. Oceans no longer protect us from danger. And we're taking unprecedented measures to prevent terrorist attacks, reduce our vulnerabilities, and to prepare for any emergency. That's what you're doing. Each of you plays a vital role in this strategy to better secure America. Agencies that once worked separately to safeguard our country are now working together in a single Department, and that's good for America. You have the authority to quickly put the right people in place as we respond to danger. You've got good leadership. Every member of this Department has an important calling, and you need to know, when you come to work every day, your fellow citizens are counting on you. Those in Customs and Immigration are performing essential work in controlling our borders and, at the same time, in reducing the backlog of immigrant applicants as we move toward a standard of 6 month processing time for all applications. At the Transportation Security Administration and the Coast Guard, you protect the vast road, rail, and sea and air networks that are critical to the American economy. DHS scientists and engineers work to detect deadly chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. DHS experts help the public and private sectors to identify and address vulnerabilities in our power grids, chemical plants, communications systems, and transportation networks. At FEMA, you joined forces with State and local authorities to respond quickly and effectively to any emergency. All of you have been given a hard job, and you're rising to the challenge. The American people understand the importance of your work, and so does the United States Congress. The Homeland Security bill I will sign today commits 31 billion to securing our Nation, over 14 billion more than pre September 11th levels. The bill increases funding for the key responsibilities at the Department of Homeland Security and supports important new initiatives across the Department. We're providing 5.6 billion over the next decade to fund Project BioShield. Under this program, DHS will work with the Department of Health and Human Services to accelerate the development and procurement of advanced vaccines and treatments to protect Americans against biological or chemical or radiological threats. We're providing 4 billion in grants for our Nation's first responders. We're focusing 725 million on major urban areas where it is most needed. We're also providing 40 million for Citizen Corps Councils through which volunteers work with first responders to prepare their communities for emergencies. We're ensuring that America's firefighters and police officers and emergency medical personnel have the best possible training and equipment and help they need to do their job. We're better securing our borders and transportation systems while facilitating the flow of legitimate commerce. Our Container Security Initiative will allow for the screening of high risk cargo at the world's largest ports and intercept dangerous materials before they reach our shores, supporting the efforts to strengthen our air cargo security system for passenger aircraft, to expand research on cargo screening technologies. We're making sure the Coast Guard has the resources to deploy additional maritime safety and security teams and patrol boats and sea marshals to protect our ports and waterways. More than 900 million in this bill will go to science and technology projects, including a major effort to anticipate and counter the use of biological weapons. With more than 800 million, we will assess the vulnerabilities in our critical infrastructures we'll take action to protect them. We're doing a lot here. And we're expecting a lot of you. When the terrorist enemies came into our country and took thousands of innocent lives, we made a decision in this country We will not wait for enemies to strike again. We'll take action to stop them. We're not going to stand by while terrorists and their state sponsors plot, plan, and grow in strength. By the actions that we continue to take abroad, we are going to remove grave threats to America and the world. History has given us that charge, and that is a charge we will keep. We have been charged to protect our homeland as well. And that's why we're taking actions to strengthen our defenses and to make our Nation more secure. This bill is a major step forward in our ongoing effort, and I'm pleased to sign into law the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2004. May God bless you all. September 30, 2003 Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming. Please be seated. Thanks for the warm welcome. I always love coming to the great city of Chicago. It's really one of the great cities in our country. I was here last summer, and I'm really happy the baseball season is still going on. It's exciting for the citizens of this city to know that the Cubs are still alive and kicking. I wish you all the best. Thanks for your help. And what we're doing today is laying the groundwork, putting down the foundation for what is going to be a great national victory in November of 2004. I appreciate your generosity. I want to thank you for your hard work. I thank you for your contributions, but I'm going to call on you to do more. I'm going to ask you to go to your coffee shops, drug stores, community centers and remind the people that this administration has got a message that is positive and hopeful and optimistic for every single American. I'm getting ready, and I'm loosening up. But there's a time for politics. This political season will come in its own time. Right now I'm focused on doing the people's business. I've got a job to do, and there's a lot on the agenda. I will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of every American by keeping this Nation strong and secure, prosperous, and free. I want to thank Pat Ryan and all those who worked hard to put this event on. It is a fantastic turnout, and I understand how much work goes into a successful lunch like today, and I really thank you a lot. I appreciate your leadership, Pat. I'm also honored to be introduced by the great Speaker of the House, Denny Hastert. He's truly one of the greats. I really do enjoy working with Denny. He's a no nonsense kind of fellow. He looks you in the eye and tells you what he believes. And that's refreshing in Washington, DC, by the way. He cares a lot about the people of his district, the people of this State, and he loves his country. And like me, he married above himself. Laughter And I'm glad Jean is here with us today as well. Speaking about wives, I notice Laura was doing a little diplomacy today. Laughter I'm really proud of her. She is a fabulous woman, a great mom, a great wife, and a terrific First Lady for the people of this country. I'm honored as well that members of the Illinois congressional delegation are here. I want to thank them for their hard work on behalf of this State and for helping out at this fundraiser today. Mark Kirk Phil Crane Congressman Crane is with us. Judy Biggert is with us. Dan Manzullo is with us. John Shimkus is with us. I appreciate you all coming, and I'm honored to call you friend. We had a member a meeting of the former Governors club behind the stage here. And I'm a member. It was good to see two other members. That would be Jim Edgar and Jim Thompson, and I'm honored they're here. I'm proud to call them friend. I want to thank Bob Kjellander, who is the national committeeman from this State, and Mary Jo Arndt, who is the national committeewoman. I want to thank all the grassroots activists. I'm glad to know Mary Jo brought her family with her. Laughter I want to thank my friend Mercer Reynolds, who is a Cincinnati businessman who is my national finance chairman. But most of all, I want to thank you all for coming. The last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems and not pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities and not let them slip away. This administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many of the key leaders of the Al Qaida network that orchestrated the attacks on America on September the 11th, 2001. And the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those ultimatums chose to those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And then our country was attacked, and we began a march to war. We found out some of our corporate citizens forgot to tell the truth all of which affected the confidence of our country. But we acted. We passed tough laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going, we have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. Here's what the Speaker and I know We know that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. We understand whose money we spend in Washington, DC. We do not spend the Government's money. We spend the people's money. And so we're returning more money to American families to help them meet their needs. We're reducing the taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We give small businesses incentives to expand and hire new people. With all these actions, we're laying the foundations for greater prosperity and economic vitality and more jobs across America, so that every single one of our citizens is able to realize the great promise of America. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We're bringing high standards and strong accountability to every public school in America. See, we believe every child can learn the basics of reading and math. That's what we believe. And we expect every school to teach the basics of reading and math. We are challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. In return for Federal money, we expect results. The days of ex cuse making are over. We want every child to learn to read and write and add and subtract, so that not one single child is left behind in America. We reorganized the Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to safeguard our borders and ports and to make the American people more secure. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Illinois' ranchers and farmers and manufacturers and entrepreneurs. We passed budget agreements and Mr. Speaker, thank you for working on those to bring much needed spending discipline to Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle. We have kept our word, and we have made progress for the American people. We have done a lot, and the Congress deserves a lot of the credit. We have set out goals. We have met those goals, thanks in large part to the leadership of Speaker Denny Hastert. He and Senator Bill Frist are great leaders of the United States Congress. They work closely with the administration. They've got one thing in mind. They want to work with us to get rid of this needless partisan bickering that dominates the Washington, DC, landscape and the zero sum politics of Washington. And we can do that by not only working to change the tone in Washington but by focusing on results, by saying, "Here's what we're going to do," and then go out and do it. Speaker Hastert, you are a great leader of the House of Representatives of the United States. I've asked good people to join my administration, people who are as well working to change the tone in Washington, good, solid citizens who are there to serve something greater than themselves, good people like Don Rumsfeld, who was educated right here in this part of the of our country. Now, I've got a strong team, solid Americans from all walks of life. Our country has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a different opinion. Laughter Now, we've done a lot in 2 1 2 years. We've come far, but our work is only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion, so that every citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and to realize the American Dream. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home, and we are freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom, those who hate America, are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest. We will not tire, and we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We're confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking coalition forces and aid workers and innocent Iraqis. They know that the advance of freedom in Iraq would be a major defeat in the cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of America and the civilized world. But America will not be intimidated. Aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, we're defeating them there so we don't have to face them in our own country. We call on other nations to help build a free Iraq. We stand with the Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move towards self government. These aren't easy tasks, but they are essential tasks. We will finish what we have begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror. Yet our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. Free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And I believe that freedom is the right of every person and that freedom is the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world. And when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power, the healing power of medicine, to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. This great land, this great strong and compassionate Nation, is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges at home as well. The Speaker knows that, and I know it. And our actions will prove equal to those tasks. So long as anybody in America who wants to work is looking for a job, I will work hard to make the conditions for economic growth positive and strong. I want our people working in America. We have other duties as well. We have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. Congress took historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and the Senate have passed reforms to increase the choices for our seniors and to provide coverage for prescription drugs. The next step is for both Houses to reconcile their differences, to iron out the details, and get a bill to my desk. The sooner they finish the job, the sooner we can say we have done our duty to America's seniors. And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. Yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for rich settlements. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, and therefore, they affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. And so I proposed a good bill, and I worked with the Speaker on it. We passed a good bill out of the House of Representatives, but the bill is stuck in the Senate. And the Senate must act on behalf of the American people. Those Senators must understand that no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. I have a responsibility to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I've nominated superb men and women for our Federal courts, people who interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some of the Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. The Speaker knows this, and Mr. Speaker, I appreciate your leadership on this issue. As we learned a while ago, we need to modernize our electricity grid. Laughter We need to bring it up to the standards of the 21st century. We need to make sure that the delivery of electricity is not a voluntary act. It's a requires mandatory reliability standards. We need to make sure we do a better job of using our technologies to conserve more energy. We need to develop alternative sources to foreign oil. We need clean coal technology. One of the things we need to do is, for economic security and national security, to become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, applying the most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. There are millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on government, become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act," so more Americans can serve their communities and their country. And both Houses should finally reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion which exist all around our country, that are mentoring our children, that are caring for the homeless, that offer hope to addicted. This great Nation should not fear faith, should not fear those who rely upon faith as their motivation to provide help to those who hurt. We need to welcome faith in our society. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. See, this administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their own home. We want people owning and managing their health care accounts. We want people owning and managing their own retirement accounts. We want more people owning a small business, because we understand that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make. We're changing the culture of America from one that has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child. If you're concerned about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in the new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourselves. We can see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us here in America. You know, I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need, and the response has been really strong. People want to serve. People want to be involved in their community. Our faith based and charities are strong, providing the much needed healing to those who need help. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right Nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us, and we welcome it. And we know that for our country and for our cause, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you all. September 27, 2003 President Bush. Thank you all for coming. I'm proud to welcome my friend Vladimir Putin to Camp David. President Putin has visited the White House he's visited our ranch in Crawford and now he visits Camp David. I'm honored to have him here, and I appreciate the great dialog we've had last night and today. For decades, when the leaders of our two countries met, they talked mainly of missiles and warheads, because the only common ground we shared was the desire to avoid catastrophic conflict. In recent years, the United States and Russia have made great progress in building a new relationship. Today, our relationship is broad, and it is strong. Russia and the United States are allies in the war on terror. Both of our nations have suffered at the hands of terrorists, and both of our Governments are taking actions to stop them. No cause justifies terror. Terrorists must be opposed wherever they spread chaos and destruction, including Chechnya. A lasting solution to that conflict will require an end to terror, respect for human rights, and a political settlement that leads to free and fair elections. President Putin and I talked about expanding our cooperation in Iraq and in Afghanistan. The President and I agree that America, Russia, and the entire world will benefit from the advance of stability and freedom in these nations, because free and stable nations do not breed ideologies of murder or threaten people of other lands. I was encouraged that it is clear that our Governments will continue to work together on this very important matter, a matter of freedom and peace. The President and I also discussed ways to broaden Russian American military cooperation. We're determined to improve our joint ability to fight terror, to keep peace in troubled regions, and stop the spread of weapons of mass destruction. We strongly urge North Korea to completely, verifiably, and irreversibly end its nuclear programs. We strongly urge Iran to comply fully with all of its obligations under the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty. We're seeking to intensify our missile defense cooperation, because both of our countries are threatened by outlaw regimes that could be armed with deadly weapons. We welcome the growing economic relationship between our two countries. We will continue to work together to expand cooperation in the energy sector. We recognize lower trade barriers and mutual investment will benefit both our nations. American and Russian officials are meeting more often and discussing broad range of issues. Old suspicions are giving way to new understanding and respect. Our goal is to bring the U.S. Russian relationship to a new level of partnership. I respect President Putin's vision for Russia, a country at peace within its borders, with its neighbors, and with the world, a country in which democracy and freedom and rule of law thrive. Because of the President's vision and his desires, I'm confident that we'll have a strong relationship which will improve the lives of our fellow citizens as well as help make the world more peaceful. Mr. President, welcome. President Putin. Thank you very much. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. First of all, I would like to cordially thank the President of the United States of America, Mr. Bush, for his invitation. Our host has created, beginning yesterday, a very relaxed and tranquil atmosphere conducive to having a calm and open, very frank talk on the major problems and on the broader picture of relations between Russia and the United States. Our talks today have once again confirmed that our relations are based on a clear vision and a clear understanding of special responsibility of Russia and the United States for ensuring international security and strengthening strategic stability. We have convinced we have proven once again that our partnership is not subject to political dealmaking. Despite all the difficulties that we have to overcome, the spirit and the basic principles of our relationship have remained the same, mutual confidence, openness, predictability, and consideration, and respect of interests of each other. We value very much the level of relationship that we have reached with the United States. According to already established tradition, President Bush and I have focused on specific issues. And fight against terrorism continues to be among priorities of our cooperation. I agree with the assessment that the President of the United States has just given. In this sphere, we act not only as strategic partners but as allies. Our agencies are conducting an open and professional dialog on the entire range of questions in this sphere, including attempts by terrorist organizations to commit new terrorists' acts and to gain access to weapons of mass destruction. We have also discussed today about the implementation of provisions of the Treaty on Strategic Offensive Reductions. After the ratification of the treaty, its implementation, in our assessment, is going successfully. We intend to take this work under our control in the future as well. Russia and the United States intend to pursue close cooperation for strengthening international regimes and nonproliferation mechanisms. We discussed in detail the situation around nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea. In our it is our conviction that we shall now give a clear but respectful signal to Iran about the necessity to continue and expand its cooperation with IAEA. As to the North Korean nuclear problem, I believe that the primary the priority now is to unblock the conflict situation around the Korean Peninsula to create a favorable climate, favorable atmosphere for a constructive dialog. And Russia believes that ensuring nuclear nonproliferation regime should be accompanied by extending to North Korea guarantees in this sphere of security. We intend to continue our joint work with the United States in resolving this issue. I would like to stress separately the situation around Iraq. Our countries, just like the entire international community, have a common task, to ensure the speediest possible settlement and normalization of the situation in Iraq. We want to see Iraq a free, democratic, and united state. We believe that in solving the very difficult problems that the people of Iraq are facing today, an important role shall be played by the provisional Governing Council of Iraq, along with the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations. We also talked about the situation in the Middle East. And we believe that there is no reasonable alternative to consistent implementation of the roadmap. Significant attention during the negotiation was paid to Russian American cooperation in trade and economic sphere. I would like to remind you that in the first 6 months of 2003, the volume of Russian American mutual trade has increased more than by one third. It's a good platform for future progress. There is also good grounds for future cooperation in energy sphere. We are also improving cooperation in the sphere of information and communication technologies and in the exploration of space. And in conclusion, I would like to draw the primary result of our negotiations. We have succeeded in reaching substantial progress on the way of forming the relations of real and mutually respectful partnership between Russia and the United States. I would like to thank President Bush for his constructive approach and for his interest in the discussion of all the questions, of all the issues that we have touched upon. This was a very useful meeting. President Bush. Thanks. We'll take a couple of questions here, two per side. Iran and the IAEA Russian Stance on Iraq Press Secretary Scott McClellan. Jennifer Jennifer Loven, Associated Press , with the AP. Q. Yes, sir. You mentioned that you talked about Iran. Did you receive any specific commitments from President Putin that Russia would stop selling nuclear technology to Iran? And to Mr. Putin, did you are you ready to make any commitments now to contribute either troops or resources in Iraq? And if not, what will help you to get there? President Bush. We share a goal, and that is to make sure Iran doesn't have a nuclear weapon or a nuclear weapons program. We also understand that we need to work together to convince Iran to abandon any ambition she may have, ambitions toward the development of a nuclear weapon. What's important is we understand it's in our national interest that Iran doesn't develop a nuclear weapon. So the most important thing that came out of these meetings was a reaffirmation of our desire to work together to convince Iran to abandon her ambitions, as well as to work with other nations so that there is a common voice on this issue. You heard the President say that the IAEA process must go forward. We firmly agree. I found this part of our discussions to be very satisfactory, from the U.S. point of view. President Putin. We indeed paid much attention to this issue. I would like to reiterate that Russia has no desire and no plans to contribute in any way to the creation of weapons of mass destructions, either in Iran or in any other spot, region in the world. I would like to reiterate that we comply firmly with the provisions of the Non Proliferation Treaty, because this course is in our national interest. As to the joint work, we are ready to proceed. As to our possible participation in the normalization of the in the settlement in Iraq, in the normalization of life in Iraq, Russia is interested in seeing it occurring as soon as possible. At the same time, we understand that this is a very complicated process that should be based on a solid legal and administrative base and should go ahead stage by stage. The degree and the extent and level of Russia's participation in the restoration of Iraq will be determined after we know the parameters of the resolution of the new resolution on Iraq. Russia U.S. Relations U.S. Visa Policy Q. First question, addressed to both Presidents. There is an opinion that Russian American relations have, nevertheless, a declarative character. Have you given any specific instructions to your Governments the as you discussed it in your communique? President Bush. Yes. Da. Q. And the second question President Bush. No, we only got one question, please. You've already asked two, one to me and one to him. Now you want to ask four, two to me and no, forget it. Q. Two parts President Bush. Oh, two parts of the same question? Q. Because my colleague asked two questions, on Iraq and Iran laughter inaudible . President Bush. Yes, okay. Laughter I knew she set a bad precedent. Laughter Q. So the next question is for you, Mr. President Bush. Sir, the question is, as you know, as you probably do know, Mr. President, that visa practices implemented by your embassies abroad, including by your Embassy in Russia, with respect to those people who would like to travel to the United States, and that does not add sympathies to does not add sympathies. And do you know that even journalists who came here to cover your visit had to undergo a special interview at the Embassy in Moscow? And do you expect any changes to take place in these practices? And as a followup question, does my question will my President Bush. No wonder you got interviewed. Laughter Q. And as a followup question, can I be assured that my question will not lead to a denial of visa for me, personally? Laughter President Bush. That's right. No. Nyet. Laughter No, the President raised the issue of visas. He expressed concern that our visa policy was cumbersome and didn't expedite the travel of legitimate journalists and business people and artists and educators. Our intention is not to slow down visits. Our intention is to make sure that visitors who come are reasonable people. What is happening is, is that policy visa policy changed after September the 11th, 2001, and we're trying to make it as modern and as efficient as possible. And we've got some work to do. And it was so long that you asked your first question, I'll try to remember what it was. Oh, yes. Yes, we've got a checklist of things we need to work through. In other words, we understand that it's one thing to set a strategic vision for our relationship, but there must be practical consequences of the relationship. We're tasking different agencies and agencies' heads with discussions and action plans that we will be able to monitor. President Putin. Regarding declarative character of the relations between Russia and the United States, where do, as we say in Russia, legs grow where do such questions come from? This happens because people expect from us constantly some kind of revolutions. Now, just positive development in the relationship is no longer sufficient for them. I would like to point your attention that due to rapprochement between Russia and the United States, we manage to establish and to create in the world an atmosphere and trust of trust and strategic stability. This had very practical results, including in such sensitive areas as combating terrorism. I have never said this in public. I'm going to do it today. When counterterrorist operation began in Afghanistan, we were approached by people through several channels we were approached by people who intended to fight against Americans in Afghanistan. And if by that time President Bush and I had not formed appropriate relationship, as we have so no one knows what turn would the developments in Afghanistan had taken. You know what was the Russia's position, and it helped to a great extent to achieve further results that we have achieved in Afghanistan and was for a very good purpose. I have just said that in only 6 first months of this year, the volume of our mutual trade has increased by more than one third. We are talking about Russia's balanced policy in the world energy sphere. We conduct a very high level energy dialog with the United States, including at the very top level. And it's difficult to say what prices would be now how high prices for fuel in international energy markets would be now, if we had not had such dialog. We continue to pursue cooperation in such sensitive areas as space. And it is indeed so that upon the results of today's meeting, we have compiled a checklist of different issues on which we have given instructions to specific agencies in our Government. That is why our cooperation is not declarative but extremely concrete and pragmatic. President Bush. The next questioner will ask one question, in defiance to the precedent setting by the AP reporter. Press Secretary McClellan. Caren Caren Bohan , with Reuters. Support for Iraqi Reconstruction Q. Mr. President, are you disappointed that more countries have not come forward with pledges of aid for Iraq's reconstruction? President Bush. I am pleased with the amount of cooperation we're receiving, a coalition of nations inside of Iraq working hard to bring security to that country as well as to help rebuild a country. I recognize that some countries are inhibited from participation because of the lack of a U.N. resolution. We are working to get a satisfactory resolution out of the U.N. We spent some time discussing that today. As well there will be donor conference a donor conference that we will be attending and look forward to getting more participants. It is in the national interest of free nations that Iraq be free and peaceful. And one of the things that interested me about Vladimir's comments was that he recognizes that we cannot allow power vacuums to exist into which rogue nations will enhance their capacity to hurt free nations. So our message is twofold On the one hand, it's in the interest of nations to work for a secure and peaceful Iraq and secondly, it's in our moral interest to help the Iraqi people get back on their feet after living under such tyranny. Remember, we discovered torture chambers, rape rooms, and mass graves where children and women as well as men had been brutalized and buried. Russia U.S. Relations Q. The question is for both Presidents. Now we can state that despite differences over Iraq, these differences have not led to the worsening of relations either between you, personally, or between our two countries. How can it be explained? Due to what reasons did it actually happen? President Bush. Trust. Listen, I Vladimir and I had some very frank discussions about Iraq. I understood his position. He understood mine. But because we've got a trustworthy relationship, we're able to move beyond any disagreement over a single issue. Plus, I like him. He's a good fellow to spend quality time with. President Putin. Thank you, George, for your warm words. I would like to confirm everything that has been said by the President and to send him a response. I would like to add just one thing. There are two reasons why such problems between our states and between us, personally, have not emerged. We had differences over Iraq in terms of practical ways how to resolve this problem, but we had understanding on the essence of this problem. And the second and the most important point, fundamental interests of our two countries are much more solid, are much stronger than the developments that you have just mentioned. And in our actions, we wish to be guided by these strategic interests of our two countries without excessive emotions or ambitions. Thank you. President Bush. Good job. Thank you. September 27, 2003 Good morning. Earlier this week, I spoke to the United Nations, which has become, like our country, a target of terrorism. In the past month, terrorists have made two bombing attacks on the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad, killing Iraqi citizens, U.N. officials, and international aid workers. On Tuesday, I conveyed the sympathy of our country for the losses of the U.N. and the gratitude of our country for the relief efforts of the U.N. in Iraq. I also expressed America's determination to fight and win the war on terror for the safety of our own people and for the benefit of all mankind. The world is safer today because, in Afghanistan, our broad coalition destroyed the training camps of terrorists and removed the brutal regime that sponsored terror. The world is safer today because we continue to hunt down Al Qaida and its terrorist allies and have captured or killed nearly two thirds of Al Qaida's known leaders and key facilitators. The world is safer today because, in Iraq, our coalition ended a regime that cultivated ties to terror while it built weapons of mass destruction. And for the safety of the people of Iraq and of all free nations, our forces are now conducting a systematic campaign to defeat holdouts of the old regime and other terrorists who have joined them. In the struggle between terrorist killers and peaceful nations, there is no neutral ground. All nations must join in confronting this threat where it arises, before the terrorists can inflict even greater harm and suffering. And all nations should stand with the people of Afghanistan and Iraq as they build a future based on freedom and democracy. Our coalition is helping the Iraqi people to build a secure, hopeful, and self governing nation which will stand as an example of freedom to all the Middle East. We are rebuilding more than a thousand schools, supplying and reopening hospitals, rehabilitating powerplants, water and sanitation facilities, bridges, and airports. We are training Iraqi police, border guards, and a new army, so that the Iraqi people can assume full responsibility for their own security. Iraq now has its own Governing Council, has appointed interim government ministries, and is moving toward elections. Iraq's new leaders are showing the openness and tolerance that democracy requires, and also the courage. Yet every young democracy needs the help of friends. America is providing that help to Iraq, and all nations of good will should do their part as well. Our goal is a free Iraq, where the Iraqi people are responsible for their own affairs. We want Iraq's governmental institutions to be strong and to stand the test of time, so I called on the United Nations to take up vital responsibilities in this effort. America is now working with friends and allies on a new Security Council resolution which will expand the U.N.'s role in Iraq. As in the aftermath of other conflicts, the United Nations should assist in developing a constitution, training civil servants, and conducting free and fair elections. Many U.N. members, from the Philippines to Poland and now Germany, have expressed their commitment to helping build a democratic and stable Iraq. The stakes in Iraq are high, for the Middle East and beyond. If freedom and progress falter in the Middle East, that region will continue to export violence that takes lives in America and around the world. If democracy and tolerance and peace advance in that region, it will undermine the bitterness and resentment that feed terrorism. The terrorists understand this, so they have chosen to fight against order and liberty in Iraq. They must and they will be defeated. And I am confident that more nations will rally to the side of the Iraqi people and help them to build a free and peaceful nation. Thank you for listening. September 23, 2003 Mr. Secretary General distinguished members of the United Nations community excellencies ladies and gentlemen America is honored that you all are here. Since the founding of the U.N. more than 50 years ago, my country has been proud to host this organization. I'm pleased to join you in opening the 58th session of the U.N. General Assembly. Mr. Secretary General, I am grateful for your leadership, and I'm proud to call you friend. The United Nations has suffered great loss in the cause of peace. The terrorist attack against the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad took the lives of 22 servants of peace, including Sergio de Mello, a man who dedicated his life to promoting human rights throughout the world. The people of my country mourn with you. We share your resolve to continue this important work. We gather in this city, at this Assembly, to meet urgent challenges of our time. We will work together to promote peace and human dignity. Mr. Secretary General, with admiration for you and with confidence in the future of this organization, I offer a toast to your leadership and to the United Nations. September 23, 2003 Mr. Secretary General Mr. President distinguished delegates ladies and gentlemen Twenty four months ago and yesterday in the memory of America the center of New York City became a battlefield and a graveyard and the symbol of an unfinished war. Since that day, terrorists have struck in Bali, Mombasa, in Casablanca, in Riyadh, in Jakarta, in Jerusalem, measuring the advance of their cause in the chaos and innocent suffering they leave behind. Last month, terrorists brought their war to the United Nations itself. The U.N. headquarters in Baghdad stood for order and compassion, and for that reason, the terrorists decided it must be destroyed. Among the 22 people who were murdered was Sergio Vieira de Mello. Over the decades, this good and brave man from Brazil gave help to the afflicted in Bangladesh, Cypress, Mozambique, Lebanon, Cambodia, Central Africa, Kosovo, and East Timor, and was aiding the people of Iraq in their time of need. America joins you, his colleagues, in honoring the memory of Senor Vieira de Mello and the memory of all who died with him in the service to the United Nations. By the victims they choose and by the means they use, the terrorists have clarified the struggle we are in. Those who target relief workers for death have set themselves against all humanity. Those who incite murder and celebrate suicide reveal their contempt for life itself. They have no place in any religious faith. They have no claim on the world's sympathy, and they should have no friend in this chamber. Events during the past 2 years have set before us the clearest of divides, between those who seek order and those who spread chaos, between those who work for peaceful change and those who adopt the methods of gangsters, between those who honor the rights of man and those who deliberately take the lives of men and women and children without mercy or shame. Between these alternatives, there is no neutral ground. All governments that support terror are complicit in a war against civilization. No government should ignore the threat of terror, because to look the other way gives terrorists the chance to regroup and recruit and prepare. And all nations that fight terror as if the lives of their own people depend on it will earn the favorable judgment of history. The former regimes of Afghanistan and Iraq knew these alternatives and made their choices. The Taliban was a sponsor and servant of terrorism. When confronted, that regime chose defiance, and that regime is no more. Afghanistan's President, who is here today, now represents a free people who are building a decent and just society. They're building a nation fully joined in the war against terror. The regime of Saddam Hussein cultivated ties to terror while it built weapons of mass destruction. It used those weapons in acts of mass murder and refused to account for them when confronted by the world. The Security Council was right to be alarmed. The Security Council was right to demand that Iraq destroy its illegal weapons and prove that it had done so. The Security Council was right to vow serious consequences if Iraq refused to comply. And because there were consequences, because a coalition of nations acted to defend the peace and the credibility of the United Nations, Iraq is free, and today we are joined by representatives of a liberated country. Saddam Hussein's monuments have been removed, and not only his statues. The true monuments of his rule and his character the torture chambers and the rape rooms and the prison cells for innocent children are closed. And as we discover the killing fields and mass graves of Iraq, the true scale of Saddam's cruelty is being revealed. The Iraqi people are meeting hardships and challenges, like every nation that has set out on the path of democracy. Yet their future promises lives of dignity and freedom, and that is a world away from the squalid, vicious tyranny they have known. Across Iraq, life is being improved by liberty. Across the Middle East, people are safer because an unstable aggressor has been removed from power. Across the world, nations are more secure because an ally of terror has fallen. Our actions in Afghanistan and Iraq were supported by many governments, and America is grateful to each one. I also recognize that some of the sovereign nations of this Assembly disagreed with our actions. Yet there was and there remains unity among us on the fundamental principles and objectives of the United Nations. We are dedicated to the defense of our collective security and to the advance of human rights. These permanent commitments call us to great work in the world, work we must do together. So let us move forward. First, we must stand with the people of Afghanistan and Iraq as they build free and stable countries. The terrorists and their allies fear and fight this progress above all, because free people embrace hope over resentment and choose peace over violence. The United Nations has been a friend of the Afghan people, distributing food and medicine, helping refugees return home, advising on a new constitution, and helping to prepare the way for nationwide elections. NATO has taken over the U.N. mandated security force in Kabul. American and coalition forces continue to track and defeat Al Qaida terrorists and remnants of the Taliban. Our efforts to rebuild that country go on. I have recently proposed to spend an additional 1.2 billion for the Afghan reconstruction effort, and I urge other nations to continue contributing to this important cause. In the nation of Iraq, the United Nations is carrying out vital and effective work every day. By the end of 2004, more than 90 percent of Iraqi children under age 5 will have been immunized against preventable diseases such as polio, tuberculosis, and measles, thanks to the hard work and high ideals of UNICEF. Iraq's food distribution system is operational, delivering nearly a half million tons of food per month, thanks to the skill and expertise of the World Food Program. Our international coalition in Iraq is meeting it responsibilities. We are conducting precision raids against terrorists and holdouts of the former regime. These killers are at war with the Iraqi people. They have made Iraq the central front in the war on terror, and they will be defeated. Our coalition has made sure that Iraq's former dictator will never again use weapons of mass destruction. We are interviewing Iraqi citizens and analyzing records of the old regime to reveal the full extent of its weapons programs and its long campaign of deception. We're training Iraqi police and border guards and a new army, so the Iraqi people can assume full responsibility for their own security. And at the same time, our coalition is helping to improve the daily lives of the Iraqi people. The old regime built palaces while letting schools decay, so we are rebuilding more than a thousand schools. The old regime starved hospitals of resources, so we have helped to supply and reopen hospitals across Iraq. The old regime built up armies and weapons while allowing the nation's infrastructure to crumble, so we are rehabilitating powerplants, water and sanitation facilities, bridges, and airports. I proposed to Congress that the United States provide additional funding for our work in Iraq, the greatest financial commitment of its kind since the Marshall plan. Having helped to liberate Iraq, we will honor our pledges to Iraq, and by helping the Iraqi people build a stable and peaceful country, we will make our own countries more secure. The primary goal of our coalition in Iraq is self government for the people of Iraq, reached by orderly and democratic process. This process must unfold according to the needs of Iraqis, neither hurried nor delayed by the wishes of other parties. And the United Nations can contribute greatly to the cause of Iraq self government. America is working with friends and allies on a new Security Council resolution which will expand the U.N.'s role in Iraq. As in the aftermath of other conflicts, the United Nations should assist in developing a constitution, in training civil servants, and conducting free and fair elections. Iraq now has a Governing Council, the first truly representative institution in that country. Iraq's new leaders are showing the openness and tolerance that democracy requires, and they're also showing courage. Yet every young democracy needs the help of friends. Now the nation of Iraq needs and deserves our aid, and all nations of good will should step forward and provide that support. The success of a free Iraq will be watched and noted throughout the region. Millions will see that freedom, equality, and material progress are possible at the heart of the Middle East. Leaders in the region will face the clearest evidence that free institutions and open societies are the only path to long term national success and dignity. And a transformed Middle East would benefit the entire world by undermining the ideologies that export violence to other lands. Iraq as a dictatorship had great power to destabilize the Middle East. Iraq as a democracy will have great power to inspire the Middle East. The advance of democratic institutions in Iraq is setting an example that others, including the Palestinian people, would be wise to follow. The Palestinian cause is betrayed by leaders who cling to power by feeding old hatreds and destroying the good work of others. The Palestinian people deserve their own state, and they will gain that state by embracing new leaders committed to reform, to fighting terror, and to building peace. All parties in the Middle East must meet their responsibilities and carry out the commitments they made at Aqaba. Israel must work to create the conditions that will allow a peaceful Palestinian state to emerge. And Arab nations must cut off funding and other support for terrorist organizations. America will work with every nation in the region that acts boldly for the sake of peace. A second challenge we must confront together is the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Outlaw regimes that possess nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons and the means to deliver them would be able to use blackmail and create chaos in entire regions. These weapons could be used by terrorists to bring sudden disaster and suffering on a scale we can scarcely imagine. The deadly combination of outlaw regimes and terror networks and weapons of mass murder is a peril that cannot be ignored or wished away. If such a danger is allowed to fully materialize, all words, all protests, will come too late. Nations of the world must have the wisdom and the will to stop grave threats before they arrive. One crucial step is to secure the most dangerous materials at their source. For more than a decade, the United States has worked with Russia and other states of the former Soviet Union to dismantle, destroy, or secure weapons and dangerous materials left over from another era. Last year in Canada, the G 8 nations agreed to provide up to 20 billion, half of it from the United States, to fight this proliferation risk over the next 10 years. Since then, six additional countries have joined the effort. More are needed, and I urge other nations to help us meet this danger. We're also improving our capability to interdict lethal materials in transit. Through our Proliferation Security Initiative, 11 nations are preparing to search planes and ships, trains, and trucks carrying suspect cargo and to seize weapons or missile shipments that raise proliferation concerns. These nations have agreed on a set of interdiction principles consistent with legal current legal authorities. And we're working to expand the Proliferation Security Initiative to other countries. We're determined to keep the world's most destructive weapons away from all our shores and out of the hands of our common enemies. Because proliferators will use any route or channel that is open to them, we need the broadest possible cooperation to stop them. Today I ask the U.N. Security Council to adopt a new antiproliferation resolution. This resolution should call on all members of the U.N. to criminalize the proliferation of weapons weapons of mass destruction, to enact strict export controls consistent with international standards, and to secure any and all sensitive materials within their own borders. The United States stands ready to help any nation draft these new laws and to assist in their enforcement. A third challenge we share is a challenge to our conscience. We must act decisively to meet the humanitarian crises of our time. The United States has begun to carry out the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, aimed at preventing AIDS on a massive scale and treating millions who have the disease already. We have pledged 15 billion over 5 years to fight AIDS around the world. My country is acting to save lives from famine as well, providing more than 1.4 billion in global emergency food aid. And I've asked our United States Congress for 200 million for a new famine fund, so we can act quickly when the first signs of famine appear. Every nation on every continent should generously add their resources to the fight against disease and desperate hunger. There's another humanitarian crisis spreading, yet hidden from view. Each year, an estimated 800,000 to 900,000 human beings are bought, sold, or forced across the world's borders. Among them are hundreds of thousands of teenage girls and others as young as 5 who fall victim to the sex trade. This commerce in human life generates billions of dollars each year, much of which is used to finance organized crime. There's a special evil in the abuse and exploitation of the most innocent and vulnerable. The victims of sex trade see little of life before they see the very worst of life, an underground of brutality and lonely fear. Those who create these victims and profit from their suffering must be severely punished. Those who patronize this industry debase themselves and deepen the misery of others. And governments that tolerate this trade are tolerating a form of slavery. This problem has appeared in my own country, and we are working to stop it. The PROTECT Act, which I signed into law this year, makes it a crime for any person to enter the United States or for any citizen to travel abroad for the purpose of sex tourism involving children. The Department of Justice is actively investigating sex tour operators and patrons, who can face up to 30 years in prison. Under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, the United States is using sanctions against governments to discourage human trafficking. The victims of this industry also need help from members of the United Nations, and this begins with clear standards and the certainty of punishment under the laws of every country. Today, some nations make it a crime to sexually abuse children abroad. Such conduct should be a crime in all nations. Governments should inform travelers of the harm this industry does and the severe punishments that will fall on its patrons. The American Government is committing 50 million to support the good work of organizations that are rescuing women and children from exploitation and giving them shelter and medical treatment and the hope of a new life. I urge other governments to do their part. We must show new energy in fighting back an old evil. Nearly two centuries after the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade and more than a century after slavery was officially ended in its last strongholds, the trade in human beings for any purpose must not be allowed to thrive in our time. All the challenges I have spoken of this morning require urgent attention and moral clarity. Helping Afghanistan and Iraq to succeed as free nations in a transformed region, cutting off the avenues of proliferation, abolishing modern forms of slavery these are the kind of great tasks for which the United Nations was founded. In each case, careful discussion is needed and also decisive action. Our good intentions will be credited only if we achieve good outcomes. As an original signer of the U.N. Charter, the United States of America is committed to the United Nations. And we show that commitment by working to fulfill the U.N.'s stated purposes and giving meaning to its ideals. The founding documents of the United Nations and the founding documents of America stand in the same tradition. Both assert that human beings should never be reduced to objects of power or commerce, because their dignity is inherent. Both require both recognize a moral law that stands above men and nations, which must be defended and enforced by men and nations. And both point the way to peace, the peace that comes when all are free. We secure that peace with our courage, and we must show that courage together. May God bless you all. September 23, 2003 The President. Thank you all very much. Please be seated. Laughter Audience member. Not everyone has a seat. The President. Unless you don't have a chair. Laughter For the sake of world harmony, I will give a short speech laughter and then we can all go to bed. Laughter First, I want to thank the American Museum of Natural History for their wonderful hospitality. We've got trustees here and the leadership of this fantastic place. It's such a wonderful opportunity for Laura and me and our delegation to show off one of the really fantastic landmarks of New York City. So on behalf of our delegation, thanks for your wonderful hospitality. It's a beautiful place to have a wonderful reception. Laura and I and the Secretary are honored to welcome the Presidents and Prime Ministers and Foreign Ministers and U.N. Ambassadors and anybody else who managed to sneak in tonight. Laughter We're glad you're here. It's been a fantastic reception for us, and thank you for coming. I really want to say quickly a word about Kofi Annan. I admire his decency and his vision and his compassion for our fellow human beings. He's a great leader of the United Nations, and we're proud to call him friend. Somebody whispered in my ear that Mayor Bloomberg is here. He is the mayor of New York City. Michael is the mayor of a great city. On September the 11th, this Nation saw the remarkable spirit of the people who live in this city. We'll always remember how our fellow citizens who happen to be New Yorkers instantly rallied to help their neighbors in need. New York's famous skyline was wounded, but its spirit remained steadfast. In pursuing the terrorists, we honor the memory of the fallen, and we defend civilization itself. I want all the world leaders to remember that. In working to alleviate poverty, disease, and human suffering, we spread hope to millions, and we undermine the ideologies of resentment and hate and terror. The United Nations plays a vital role in all these efforts, and all our nations have a duty to advance its founding principles of tolerance and freedom and human rights. A wing of this building is named for Theodore Roosevelt. He was one of my predecessors. He was a warrior for peace who faced the world without illusions, and I want to quote what he said. He said, "If we are to be a really great people, we must strive in good faith to play a great part in the world. We cannot avoid meeting great issues. All that we can determine for ourselves is whether we shall meet them well or ill." He was speaking for Americans, but his words are true of every people in the world today. We're meeting great issues of security and compassion, and we must and we will meet them well. Welcome to New York. May God bless you all. September 18, 2003 President Bush. Thanks for coming. His Majesty and I will answer some questions after a couple of statements. First, I'm so pleased to welcome my friend King Abdullah and Queen Rania to Camp David. I want to thank them so very much for rearranging their schedules to get up here ahead of Hurricane Isabel. Laura and I look forward to spending some quality time with two really fine people. We're going to have some serious discussions today. Then we'll have a nice lunch, and then we'll batten down the hatches and spend a good evening with our friend. The King is a good friend, and I say with certainty he is a fine man. He's a reformer who's working to build a country that is tolerant and modern and prosperous. He cares deeply for the people of Jordan. I know firsthand. I have seen his passion for the people in that important country. He suffers when people suffer. He exults when people succeed. He's a leader who takes risk for peace. He's a peaceful man. King Abdullah and I last met more than 3 months ago in Aqaba, Jordan. He hosted a very important meeting. It was a moment of great hope for the people of the Middle East. At that meeting, Prime Minister Abbas former Prime Minister Abbas strongly condemned terror. Prime Minister Sharon committed Israel to supporting the emergence of a viable Palestinian state. The King affirmed the commitment of his country to help forge a lasting peace. In the weeks that followed, there was good progress. Israel withdrew from Gaza City and Bethlehem and turned responsibility for security in there over to the Palestinian Authority. Hundreds of prisoners were released. Checkpoints were removed. Some unauthorized outposts were taken down. And on the Palestinian side, Prime Minister Abbas made a good faith effort to meet the commitments made at Aqaba. Yet, at every turn, he was undercut by the old order. I remain committed, solidly committed, to the vision of two states living side by side in peace and security. Yet, that would only happen with new Palestinian leadership committed to fighting terror, not compromised by terror. I look forward to discussing with His Majesty how we can encourage Palestinian reform, how we can work together to fight off the terrorists who want to destroy the hopes of many, and how we can move forward to peace, peace in a region that needs peace. I appreciate the King's cooperation in the critical efforts to build a stable Iraq. The hearts of the American people go out to the people of Jordan for the ruthless attack on the Embassy in Baghdad. That attack just once again shows the nature of terror, indiscriminate killing of innocent people, all trying to intimidate and create fear. I look forward to hearing His Majesty discuss his efforts to continue to work for long lasting jobs for the Jordanian people, how we can work together to expand trade, what we can do together to enhance our friendship that has endured across the generations. Today, as the United States works to bring helps to work to bring peace and hope to the Middle East, we can rely on Jordan as a vital partner. And that's why Laura and I are so honored to welcome you, sir, to Camp David, and thank you for coming. King Abdullah. Thank you very much, Mr. President, for those very kind words of welcome. And I'm particularly delighted, myself and my wife, Rania, and our delegation, to really be able to visit with you again and discuss many of the issues that are facing both our countries. I'm also particularly honored by the strong, genuine dedication that you have shown in trying to make our part of the world a better place. It took a lot of courage to come to the Middle East, to meet in Sharm el Sheikh with Arab leaders, and then again to come to Aqaba and give hopes to the Israelis and Palestinians to move forward. And as you rightly said, we did see progress. Unfortunately, there is a lull at the moment. But again, your dedication to really reach out to the overwhelming majority of Israelis and Palestinians that have been suffering for so many years and put your heart behind making their future far more hopeful. And this is what I believe this weekend is all about. The President has always been committed to solving the problems of the Middle East. And I've seen, from personal experience, his outward dedication to make a hope for Israelis and Palestinians equally so, your dedication and your desire for Iraqis to have a new dawn. And we're extremely appreciative of the time that you are spending with us over the weekend to see what we can do together to face the challenges ahead of us. So a warm thanks from myself and my delegation for your dedication, your continued friendship, and really, your genuine desire to make life for all of us in the Middle East a much better place. Thank you very much. President Bush. Thank you, sir. Thanks. Terry Terence Hunt, Associated Press . Reform of the Palestinian Authority Q. Mr. President, you have refused to talk with Yasser Arafat. And Israel says that it's going to remove him. Yet, he is picking ministers for the new Prime Minister and is in virtual control of the Government. How are you going to deal with the Arafat situation in terms of Middle East peace? And is it possible to continue to go around him? President Bush. Mr. Arafat has failed as a leader. And as I mentioned, Prime Minister Abbas was undermined at all turns by the old order that meant Mr. Arafat. And the people of the Palestinian territory must understand if they want peace, they must have leadership who is absolutely 100 percent committed to fighting off terror. I believed Prime Minister Abbas when he told me at Sharm el Sheikh, then at Aqaba, then in the Oval Office, he would do everything in his power to fight terror, that he would work to consolidate the security forces so that he could fight terror. And his efforts were undermined, and that's why we're now stalled. I'm still committed to peace, because I believe the vast majority of people want peace. I'm committed to the roadmap. But I'll remind those who focus on the roadmap that the first thing the roadmap said was that there must be security in order for peace to advance, that there must be a collective effort to fight off terror. Mr. Arafat has failed in that efforts. And hopefully, at some point in time, a leadership of the Palestinian Authority will emerge which will then commit itself 100 percent to fighting off terror. And then we'll be able to consolidate the power necessary to fight off terror. And when that happens, the world will come together to provide the conditions for hope. The world will come together to help an economy grow so that the Palestinian people can have a hopeful future. The first thing that must happen is an absolute condemnation and defeat of those forces who will kill innocent people in order to stop a peace process from going forward. Your Majesty, do you want to call on somebody? Terrorism and the Roadmap for Peace Q. Your Majesty, the roadmap provides a monitoring system to ensure that Israelis and Palestinians are fulfilling their obligations, and the U.S. has its own envoy in the region to monitor the process. What about enforcing stricter monitoring mechanism involving the Quartet and the international community? King Abdullah. Well, I think these are some of the issues that we can discuss. I think it's more important now to see how we can move the process back on track. I'm sure monitoring and other issues out there can be discussed at a later date. We're talking now about the principle of getting the movement forward again and Israelis and Palestinians engaging positively in the right direction. President Bush. Let me remind I gave a speech on June 24, 2002, which laid out a vision for how to achieve peace. And I said, "Everybody has got responsibilities." His Majesty has assumed his responsibility. He's a leader. He has stood up and said, "Look, we will work for a peaceful solution." Other leaders in the region must do the same. We must cut off money to terrorist organizations. We must work together. Israel has got responsibilities. But let me remind you that it is very difficult to stay on a road to peace when there are terrorists bombing and killing people. And that's what must be stopped. In order for there to be a peace, we must stop terror, and it requires a collective effort. All people are responsible. And the speech I gave on June 24th still stands as at least the U.S. view of how to achieve what we want, which is peace and a Palestinian state. I think a Palestinian state is one of the most hopeful things for a for the Palestinian people and for the Israelis, for that matter. But first things first, defeat those who want to stop this from happening. And make no mistake about it, the terrorists who are bombing and killing aren't interested in a peaceful Palestinian state. They don't share our mutual vision, a peaceful vision and a hopeful vision. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . European Support in Iraq Q. Thank you. Do you think you can count on Europeans to provide financial contributions for Iraq? And what happens if they don't? President Bush. Do I think that we can count on the Europeans to provide? Yes, I think we're getting help, and I would remind you that there is a two multinational divisions led by one led by Britain, one led by Poland full of other European countries. And I that's help. In terms of reconstruction, A, we're getting help, and because Colin Powell will continue to ask for help. One of the things I must do and will continue to do is make the case that a peaceful and secure Iraq is not only in the interests of the neighborhood certainly in Jordan's interest that there be a nation that is peaceful and prosperous but it's in Europe's interest as well, and the Americans' interest. You see, freedom in Iraq will change the nature of the neighborhood in a positive way. A free Iraq will mean this good man will have a partner in peace, somebody with whom he can work to not only establish good trade but to work for additional peace. And it's in Europe's interest that that happen. And so we will continue to make the case that reconstruction aid is necessary. And we'll also remind our European friends that we're making good progress there, that businesses are beginning to flourish hospitals are open pregnant women are receiving medicines young children are getting vaccinated. I mean, there's case after case after case where life is improving for the average Iraqi citizen. And we would hope that they would participate in this momentum that is taking place on a daily basis. It is and I can't we'll see. I will have a much better feel for attitude after next week. As you know, I'll be at the United Nations General Assembly. We'll be giving an address there Tuesday morning, and then we'll be meeting with a variety of world leaders. His Majesty and I, he will be giving me a report on what he knows. He's got pretty good antennae. He's well plugged in, and he knows what's going on in the world, and he also is he has got good friends in Europe and he will part of our discussions will center on how best to broaden the coalition of participants. Yes. U.N. Resolution on Iraq Hurricane Isabel Q. Do you expect you'll have a U.N. resolution by the time you get to New York? President Bush. Probably not. We're still working it. The question was, will we have a U.N. resolution by the time I get to New York? No, I don't think so, but it could be. We'll continue to work it, though. And the whole purpose, of course, is to make sure that the nations feel if they need a U.N. resolution, they'll have one, in order to justify participation. And the other thing, of course, is that the U.N. resolution must promote an orderly transfer of sovereignty to what will be a freely elected government based upon a constitution. So in other words, we must have the constitution must be written, and there will be free elections, and then sovereignty will occur once the Iraqi people are able to express their opinions. And so we'll be working on that as well. Listen, thank you all for coming. We appreciate you all as well adjusting your schedules. I know this was supposed to take place at a different time, but we wanted to get this over with, so that you didn't have to float down the hill, if you know what I mean. And by the way, we're very well prepared for Hurricane Isabel. I met this morning by SVTS that's video conferencing with Tom Ridge and John Gordon of the NSC staff, fully briefed on the path of the storm. I'm assured that the Homeland Security Department is in close contact with the States' emergency preparedness offices. We've got prepositioned equipment in place. Proper warnings have gone out, and the communications systems are up and running, so that when the storm hits, the response for the citizens will be an effective response. And we'll of course, I'll be monitoring the situation. I'll be in close contact with the emergency management people. All right, get going before it starts raining. Thank you all very much. September 17, 2003 The President. I want to thank Members from both political parties for coming down here today to discuss the energy bill that's in conference. I really do appreciate the commitment of all the parties here at the table to work together to get an energy bill on behalf of the American people, a comprehensive energy plan that will address supply and conservation, help us modernize our electricity grid. It's a compelling issue, and there was a good spirit here. Obviously, there's not 100 percent agreement, but there is agreement that we need to get something done. And I want to thank the Members. I want to thank the chairman and the ranking members for taking time to come. And I'm pleased with the commitment by Senator Domenici and Congressman Tauzin to see if they can't get a bill down here by mid October I believe is what he told me Billy and to my desk. And we look forward to working with them. I think the American people are know we need to have a national energy policy. And it's a chance to get it done, into law. Thanks for coming. I'll answer a couple of questions. Terry Terence Hunt, Associated Press , do you want to start? U.N. Resolution on Iraq Q. Mr. President, how is the administration recasting the proposed U.N. resolution on Iraq to meet the objections of some countries? The President. We're still talking about it, Terry. I mean, we are had some discussions this morning on it. The key is to make sure that the political situation in Iraq evolves in a way that will lead to a free and a free society. The Iraqis need to develop a constitution and then have free elections. Then we can and then we deal with the sovereignty issue. And so therefore, we're talking amongst ourselves. King John King, Cable News Network . Saddam Hussein and the Attacks of September 11 Q. Mr. President, Dr. Rice and Secretary Rumsfeld both said yesterday that they have seen no evidence that Iraq had anything to do with September 11th. Yet, on "Meet the Press," Sunday, the Vice President said Iraq was a geographic base for the terrorists, and he also said, "I don't know, or we don't know," when asked if there was any involvement. Your critics say that this is some effort deliberate effort to blur the line and confuse people. How would you answer that? The President. No, we've had no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with the September the 11th. What the Vice President said was, is that he has been involved with Al Qaida. And Al Zarqawi, Al Qaida operative, was in Baghdad. He's the guy that ordered the killing of a U.S. diplomat. He's a man who is still running loose, involved with the poisons network, involved with Ansar Al Islam. There's no question that Saddam Hussein had Al Qaida ties. Caren Caren Bohan , Reuters. Energy Legislation Q. Thank you, Mr. President. The President. Step forth and speak. Q. I know that the ANWR drilling provision is very important to you, but are you willing to sacrifice it to get a broader bill? The President. One thing I've learned, Caren, is not to negotiate with myself, particularly in front of cameras. The conferees will work as hard as they can to come up with a good bill that can pass both bodies. And we look forward to working with them. I think it's very important for our country to recognize that we need to become less dependent on foreign sources of crude and, therefore, find ways to do that. We had a good discussion. That's certainly a contentious issue, and you'll find strong opinions around the table about this. And the job of the conferees is to work through these issues, and we look forward to helping them. Yes, final question. Funding for Domestic Priorities and Iraqi Reconstruction Q. Mr. President, how do you respond The President. Identify yourself, please. Q. Pam Fessler from NPR. The President. Oh, Pam, of course inaudible . How do I respond? Q. How do you respond to criticism that you are asking for 20 billion in aid to reconstruct Iraq at a time when a lot of domestic work, such as the No Child Left Behind and the Help America Vote Act are not being fully funded? The President. Well, I will start with by responding this way The No Child Left Behind funding is the largest increase in elementary and secondary school funding in a long time. And the Title I part of the Elementary and Secondary School Act funding is a large increase as well historic increases. Secondly, that it is vital that we succeed in Iraq, that a free Iraq will make America more secure. A free Iraq will change the dynamics of the Middle East, which will be important for peace. And I appreciate the support of Congress and the understanding of Congress that we will succeed in Iraq. And so the 20 billion is to help rehabilitate that country, so that the people of that country can live a free and hopeful life. Listen, thank you all for coming. September 15, 2003 The President. Thanks for your warm welcome. Thanks for coming out tonight. I'm honored so many showed up. Thanks for coming. Thanks for your friendship, and thanks for your strong support. I appreciate the generous contributions you have made. The truth of the matter is, what we're doing is we're laying the groundwork for what is going to be a great nationwide victory in November of 2004. I'm going to count on you for more than just contributions. I need your help. I need you to put up the signs, to mail out the brochures. When you go to the coffee shop, you look them in the eye, and you tell them this administration has got a hopeful and optimistic vision for every single American. There's a lot of talk in the air, a lot of political talk, and the truth of the matter is, I'm loosening up. Laughter I'm getting ready. But the political season will come in its own time. I've got a job to do. I'm focused on the people's business in Washington, DC. I've got a lot on the agenda, and I will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of all Americans by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. Most of you probably wish you were at the fundraiser a month ago when Laura was the keynote speaker. Laughter If so, you've got great judgment. She's a fabulous First Lady. Audience member. So was your Mom! Laughter The President. I'm sorry she's not here tonight. And speaking about my mother, I'm still listening to her, by the way. Laughter I want to thank my friend David for being a fine chairman. He's been a longtime friend. I've called upon him time and time again to help, and he's never let me down. David, thank you, and the great team you put together, for applause . I've got two great campaign cochairmen for the State of Pennsylvania, two fine United States Senators, men with whom I work closely on key issues, Senator Santorum and Senator Specter. Thank you all for your applause . Like me, Arlen married above himself. Laughter And I'm proud that Joan is with us today as well. Thank you for coming, Joan. I'm also honored that members of the Pennsylvania congressional delegation are with us today, Congressman Gerlach, Congressman Weldon, Congressman Greenwood. Congressman Sherwood is with us. It's good that you brought your family, Don. From the great State of New Jersey, Congressman Jim Saxton is with us as well. I'm also pleased that Attorney General Mike Fisher is with us today. General, thank you for coming. We've got another attorney general with us, from the State of Delaware, Jane Brady. Thank you for being here, Jane. I'm so pleased to be able to say hello to Bill Scranton. He's one of the great Pennsylvania political families. I'm honored you're here, Bill. Thank you for coming. Finally, I have the pleasure of saying hello to a fantastic lady and her two children, Connie Katz. Connie is here. She is representing her husband, who is running a spirited campaign for the mayor of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. And we're proud you're here. I want to thank the grassroots activists who are here. I particularly want to thank Bob Asher, a national committeeman from Pennsylvania, and Alan Novak, who is the chairman. I thank my friend Mercer Reynolds, who is the national chairman of this campaign. He's from Cincinnati, Ohio, and he's taken a lot of time out of his life to help gather the resources necessary to wage a strong campaign in '04. Finally, I want to thank Bill Kay, who is the owner of this establishment. I want to thank Bill and all the good folks who have worked hard to put on this event. Most of all, thank you all. In the last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. This administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And then the attacks came upon our country, as well as corporate scandals and the march to war, all of which affected the confidence of the American people. But we acted. We passed new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. I believe and I know that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. This administration also understands whose money we spend in Washington. It's not the Government's money. It's the people's money. We are passing more of the people's money so they can help raise their families. We're reducing the taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage savings and investment. Small businesses now have new incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, we're laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs, so that every single citizen of this country can realize the great promise of America. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called upon and Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We now bring high standards and strong accountability measures to every public school in America. We believe every child can learn the basics of reading and math, and we expect every school to teach the basics of reading and math. This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse making are over. We expect results in every single classroom, so that not one child is left behind. We reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to safeguard the borders and ports and to make America more secure. I picked a good man to run that Department. Tom Ridge is doing a great job. You trained him well. Laughter We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Pennsylvania's entrepreneurs and farmers and manufacturers. We passed much needed budget agreements to bring spending discipline to Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. The Congress gets a lot of credit. I appreciate working with Members of the Congress. Got a great relationship with the majority leader, Bill Frist, and Speaker Denny Hastert. We're going to continue to work together to try to change the tone of Washington, DC, to get rid of the needless bickering and endless politics and to focus on the people's business by focusing on results. Those are the kind of people I've asked to serve in my administration. I've put together a great team on behalf of America, good, honest, honorable citizens to serve the people of this country. Our country has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a different opinion. Laughter In 2 1 2 years, we've done a lot. We have come far, but our work is only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace, not only for our own security but for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion, so that every citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and to realize the American Dream. It's clear that the future of peace and freedom depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home. We are freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw that country into chaos by attacking coalition forces and aid workers and innocent Iraqis. They know that the advance of freedom in Iraq would be a major defeat for the cause of terror. This collection of killers is trying to shake the will of America and the civilized world. But America will not be intimidated. We're aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them so we will not have to face them in our own country. We're calling on other nations to help to build a free Iraq, which will make them more secure. And we're standing with the Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward self government. These aren't easy tasks, but they're essential tasks. We will finish what we have begun. We will win this essential victory in the war on terror. Our greatest security, however, comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations don't support terror. Free nations don't attack their neighbors. Free nations do not develop weapons of mass terror to blackmail the world. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And I believe that freedom is the right of every person, and I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We've duties in the world, and when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children suffering with AIDS. This great, strong, compassionate Nation is leading the world in this important work of human rescue. We face challenges here at home, and our actions will prove that we're equal to those challenges. So long as anybody who wants to work is looking for a job, means that I'll continue to work for an environment that encourages the entrepreneurial spirit to flourish, working hard to make sure the environment is such that jobs grow so people can find work. We have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. The Congress took historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and the Senate have passed reforms to increase choices for our seniors and to provide coverage for prescription drugs. It is now time for both bodies to iron out their differences to get a good bill to my desk. It is time for the Congress to fulfill the promise of our seniors today and those of us who are going to be seniors tomorrow. For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. Yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, and therefore, they affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. I appreciate working with Congressman Greenwood. The House passed a good bill to reform the system. The bill is stuck in the United States Senate. Senators must realize that no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit in America. Not these people. I have a responsibility as President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for our Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Members of some Members of the United States Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. The lessons of last summer ought to be an indication that we need to modernize our electricity grid. You all know it well here. I have submitted such a plan that will make the reliability standards mandatory, not voluntary, that will encourage new investment so we can say as we head into the 21st century, "We're doing everything we can to make sure power is available to the American citizens." We need to use our technology to promote conservation. We need to be able to explore for energy in environmentally friendly ways. We need an energy plan. For the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, this Nation needs to be less dependent on foreign sources of oil. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, applying the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens who hurt. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. Congress must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. They should complete the "Citizen Service Act," so more Americans can serve their communities and their country. And both Houses should reach agreement on the Faith Based Initiative, to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring our children and caring for the homeless and offering hope for the addicted. It's in our churches and synagogues and mosques, it's where we find Hindus and Jews and Christians and Muslims, that we find decency and compassion. This country should not fear faith in the important works of saving lives. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more of our citizens owning their own home. We have a minority homeownership gap in America. I have submitted plans to the Congress to close that gap. We want more citizens owning and managing their own health care plans. We want our citizens owning and managing their own retirement accounts. We want more people owning their own business, because we understand that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of America. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make. We're changing the culture of America from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul. If you're worried about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in a responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving a neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourselves. We can see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us here in America. I started the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need. And the response has been strong. Charities are strong. Our grassroots faith based organizations are strong all across America. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear this Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift up whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of this country. This is the work that history has set before us, and we welcome it. And we know that for our country and for our cause, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you all. Thank you all. September 15, 2003 Thank you all. Please be seated, unless you don't have a seat. Laughter Thanks for the warm welcome. I appreciate the chance to come to this vital facility to meet the workers who make it go, meet the planners who keep it modern, and meet some of the people who benefit from the electricity that's generated out of here. I come knowing our Nation faces some great challenges. The biggest challenge we face is the security of our people. We've got to make sure that America is secure from the enemies which hate us. And we've got to make America secure by having an economy that grows so people can find work. On the first front, to make sure America is secure, we're making good progress. The 2 years from September the 11th we got hit. We got hit by people who cannot stand what America believes in. We love freedom, and we're not going to change. And they probably won't either. Therapy won't work with this bunch. Laughter So we will bring people to justice. It doesn't matter how long it takes. America and many of our friends will find those who would harm the American people and bring them to justice. The only way to win the war on terror is to stay on the offensive. We can do a lot of things here at home. We can support our first responders. We can make sure our law enforcement agencies talk to each other. We can make sure our ports are more secure, our borders are reasonable about understanding who is coming in and why they're coming in. But the best way to make sure the homeland is secure is to hunt these killers down one by one and bring them to justice, which the United States of America will do. As part of making sure America is secure, I laid out a doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists. To provide money to terrorists, you're guilty. And we will hold you account." And the Taliban found out what we meant. We gave an ultimatum to Mr. Saddam Hussein. We said, "Get rid of your weapons." He ignored not only the United States but the civilized world. That regime is no more. And one thing is for certain No terrorist organization will ever get a weapon of mass destruction from Mr. Sad dam Hussein. Our Nation is more secure. The world is becoming more free and, therefore, more peaceful. This Nation yearns for peace, but we understand the nature of the enemy. For those of you who have got relatives in the United States military, I want to thank you, for a grateful nation. And you thank them, on behalf of the Commander in Chief and the people of this country, for the sacrifices they are willing to make on behalf of the rest of us. Economic security is on my mind. I'm sure the numbers are beginning to look better, but there's still people looking for work. My attitude is, so long as somebody is looking for work, then we've got to continue to try to create the conditions necessary for job growth. We want our people working. We want the moms and dads to be able to make a living, to be able to put food on the table for their children. National security means economic security for every single citizen. And one of the lessons we learned a while ago was that a reliable, affordable electrical power is essential for economic growth in America. It's an essential part of an economic plan. If you're interested in creating jobs, you'd better have energy. You're not going to have an economy grow without reliable sources of energy. Lights went out last month you know that. Laughter It might have been good for candle sales, but it certainly wasn't good for job growth. It recognizes that we've got an issue with our electricity grid, and we need to modernize it. We need to make sure it works in the future. The first thing we're going to do is find out what went wrong and address the problem. Secretary of Energy Spence Abraham, right here, from the State of Michigan, is leading that investigation. We want the facts. We'll put the spotlight of truth on the facts, and then we'll deal with it. But also, it's clear that the power grid needs an overhaul. It needs to be modernized. As we go into an exciting new period of American history, we want the most modern electricity grid for our people. When I first got in in Washington, I put out a plan, a national energy strategy. I felt like we needed an energy strategy for the country. If energy is an issue, first of all you need a strategy and a plan. And we laid one out. And part of that plan modernizes called for the modernization of the electricity grid. We need more investment. We need research and development to make sure we're as we invest new technologies, they're the latest and best for the people of this country. We also want to make sure voluntary reliability standards for utilities are now mandatory reliability standards. When somebody says they're going to be reliable, we don't want it to be maybe reliable or perhaps reliable. We want mandatory reliability standards, so people can count on the deliver to have their electricity delivered. This is part of the plan I announced, as well as we've got to make sure that the energy we use, we have the best technologies to make sure we burn it as clean as we can. That's why I have a strong initiative for clean coal technology. We want to make sure we encourage conservation. But the truth of the matter is, we need to become less dependent on foreign sources of energy, For the sake of economic security. We lead the world in new technologies when it comes to energy, and we not only can find new ways of producing energy and make sure we do so in an efficient way, we can make sure we do so in a clean way. You know right here what I'm talking about, at this plant. We lead the world in technologies to make the production of energy cleaner. And so therefore, I'm confident in predicting to the American people, not only can we promote job security and increase jobs, but we can do so in way that protects our environment. And I believe we have a duty to do so. I believe a responsible nation is one that protects the environment. Yet the Government sometimes doesn't help. And that's what I'm here to discuss laughter those moments when the Government doesn't help, when the Government stands in the way. For example, powerplants are discouraged from doing routine maintenance because of Government regulations. And by "routine maintenance," I mean replacing wornout boiler tubes or boiler fans. And all that does is, it makes the plant less reliable, less efficient, and not as environmentally friendly as it should be. So I changed those regulations my administration did. And I'm here to explain why we did, in a way that I hope the American people can understand. Before I begin, I do want to thank Tony Earley for that introduction. I just had a great tour of your facility, Tony, by Paul Paul Fessler. He said to make sure I didn't bring up the Michigan Notre Dame game. Laughter So I won't bring it up. Laughter I'm traveling today with Marianne Horinko, who is the Acting Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. She's a good, commonsense lady. She's smart. She's capable. She understands that we can grow our economy and protect the environment at the same time. It's not one or the other it's both. When we talk about environmental policy in this Bush administration, we not only talk about clean air we talk about jobs. And I believe we can do both, and so does Marianne. I want to thank you for your service. I thank Paul for the tour, and I was joined on the tour by Mike Smith, who is a senior union committeeman, Local 223. I appreciate Mike taking me around and introducing me to some of the fellow workers in the plants. At least the ones I met, morale seemed high. People enjoy working here. You're providing a service. For all the workers who work here, I want you to know you're providing an important service. You're creating the conditions so people can find a job. You're working hard to make sure somebody can turn on a light switch, and they can realize the comforts of modern life. Thanks for what you do. I'm also traveling today with Members of the United States Congress, Congresswoman Candice Miller and Congressman Fred Upton. I want to thank you all for coming. I appreciate you being here. We've got the secretary of state, Terri Lynn Land, with us, the attorney general, Mike Cox, the speaker of the house, Rick Johnson, members of the all working hard at the State level. I'm glad they are here too. And finally, Mayor Al is with us, the mayor of Monroe. Al Cappuccilli is here. Thank you, Mayor, for being with us. You must be filling the potholes laughter picking up the garbage laughter that's the way to go. Today when I landed, I met Claire Jennings. Let me describe right quick applause it sounds like they know you, Claire. Laughter One of the things I try to do when I come to communities is to herald those folks who are volunteering their own time to make the world a better place. It's amazing the people I've been able to meet in our country. We've got all kinds of people from all walks of life taking time out to mentor a child or to take care of a somebody who is lonely, to help heal a broken heart, surround somebody who hurts with love. It's really the strength of our country. I'm proud of our military. I intend to keep our military strong. But the strength of the country is the heart and souls of our citizens. It's the willingness of people to lend a helping hand. What Claire has done is, she decided to enhance the wildlife growth around this plant. She decided to make this important facility a wildlife refuge as well. And it worked. It's a beautiful setting. It's a wonderful she's done a wonderful job, as have coworkers, in making sure the 800 acres here at the Monroe plant is spectacular to look at. And it will leave behind something like a legacy for future generations. So Claire, I want to thank you for setting a good example. I'm glad you brought your daughter too. I said as plainly as I could that I believe we can grow our economy and protect the quality of our air at the same time. And we made progress doing just that. Let me give you a statistic or two. Our economy has grown 164 percent in three decades. That's pretty good growth. And yet, according to a report that the EPA is releasing today, air pollution from six major pollutants is down by 48 percent during that period of time. So you nearly double your economy, and yet pollution is down by nearly 50 percent. That should say to people that we can grow our economy, that we can work to create the conditions for job growth, and that we can be good stewards of the air that we breathe. And this plant is a good example of that achievement. Since 1974, the power generated from here has increased by 22 percent. You've created more power so more people can live a decent life. And yet, the particulate matter emissions have fallen by 80 81 percent. You're good stewards of the quality of the air as well. You work hard in this plant to put energy on the grid, and at the same time, you're protecting the environment. There's reason for this progress, and it's because our Nation made a commitment. Starting in the Clean Air Act of 1970, we set high goals. We said, "This is a national priority. Let's work together to achieve these priorities." And we are working together. This administration, my administration strongly supports the Clean Air Act, and I believe that by combining the ethic of good stewardship in other words, convince people that it's an important goal and the spirit of innovation, we will improve the quality of our air even further, and, at the same time, make sure people can find a job. There is more to do, and so I want to talk about three ideas that three commonsense steps that I put out to help us meet the new air quality standards and further improve quality of life. I hope you find that they make sense. They certainly do to me. They're commonsense ways to deal with our environment. First, we're going after the pollution that comes from diesel vehicles. We worked with the energy companies and the agricultural concerns and the manufacturers we worked with environment groups we worked with union groups to come up with a commonsense policy. And we did. We developed one, and it's now being implemented. Oil companies will lower the sulphur in diesel fuel. We'll enforce new emission limits on diesel truck engines. And we're going to put forward new rules that will control pollution from off road vehicles like heavy construction equipment. The stakeholders came we developed good policy. Everybody is on board, and now we're headed toward a cleaner cleaner quality air for all Americans. Secondly, I proposed what's called Clear Skies legislation. Again, you heard the CEO talk about this legislation. Clear Skies legislation will help cut powerplant emissions without affecting job growth and or jobs at this plant. We're interested in reducing the nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide in mercury, coming out of the powerplants around America. We've put forth a plan we brought people in a room we discussed it with them. The stakeholders agreed union workers union leaders have agreed utilities have agreed manufacturing companies have agreed to a plan that will reduce those three key pollutants by 70 percent over a reasonable period of time. We've got an interesting approach. It's been tried in the past. It's a cap and trade system. We put mandatory caps on emissions. It's a little different look than maybe you're used to. Instead of the Government telling utilities where and how to cut pollution, we will work with them to create a cap, how much to cut and when we expect it cut by, but you figure out how. You're a lot better in figuring out the how than people in Washington, DC. Each year, each facility will need a permit for each ton of pollution it emits. Companies that are able to reduce their pollution below the amount can sell the surplus to others that need more time to meet the national goal and the national standard. In other words, there's an incentive system built into it. The system makes it worthwhile for companies to invest earlier in controls and therefore pollute less. It ensures that high standards are met in a commonsense way that is cost effective and saves jobs. And under the legislation, communities that have had trouble meeting air quality standards will finally have a clear and a more effective method to get them help. I'm going to be talking about this tomorrow at the White House. I'll be doing it in Washington because I expect Congress to act. Instead of playing politics with environmental legislation, we need to come together and do what's right for American workers and American families. Clear Skies is good, sound legislation and needs to be passed. Finally, I want to speak to one other matter. It's called New Source Review. We need to fix those and have we're in the process of fixing what they call New Source Review regulations. After I explain it, I think it will make sense as to why we're doing it. The old regulations, let me start off by telling you, undermined our goals for protecting the environment and growing the economy. The old regulations on the book made it difficult to either protect the economy or protect the environment or grow the economy. Therefore, I wanted to get rid of them. I'm interested in job creation and clean air, and I believe we can do both. One of the things we've got to do is encourage companies to invest in new technologies, convince utilities to modernize their equipment, so they can produce more energy and pollute less. In other words, as technologies come on, we want to encourage companies to make investment in those technologies. Yet old regulations, the ones we're changing, actually discourage companies from even making routine repairs and replacing old equipment. That's the reality. Regulations intended to enhance air quality made it really difficult for companies to do that which is necessary to not only produce more energy but to do it in a cleaner way. Powerplants and companies wanted to make one change they could afford. The regulators could come in and order them to change everything, making every change a massive multiyear battle. That's the reality here at Monroe plant. The people who are trying to modernize this plant and do their job on behalf of the people of Michigan found out that the regulations were so complex that they could be interpreted any different way. And that's what happened. And when you have complex regulations that are open for interpretation, guess what happens? The lawyers come in. Laughter And then you have litigation, and then things grind to a standstill. So a lot of planners and people who were charged with providing electricity and to protect the air decided not to do anything. They didn't want to have to fight through the bureaucracy or fight through the endless lawsuits. And when that happens, fewer powerplants are upgraded. They become old and tired, which means people start losing their jobs, which means our economy is not robust so people can find work if they're looking for work, which means some cases, energy costs are higher than they should be. And so we decided to do something about it I did. It's been in the process for a while, and I decided to move, particularly when I heard stories like this one here at Monroe. In 1999, Detroit Edison made a decision to upgrade the turbine steam generators here. That's a vital decision. For the men and women who work at that plant, you understand, when I say "vital decision," that it is a vital decision. The company wanted to give more efficient wanted this plant to have new, efficient blades on the turbines, which will allow more electricity to be generated with the same amount of coal without causing emission increases. It seems like a commonsense policy. If I were running this plant, I would want to modernize it so we could produce more energy for the same amount of input and continue doing a good job of protecting the quality of the air. That's the kind of corporate behavior that I appreciate. Yet when the company took the plan to the EPA, the first thing that happened is they had to wait a year for an answer. Laughter They said, "We've got a good way to do something, but please tell us if we can move forward." And the answer wasn't forthcoming. And when the answer did come back, it was so complicated, because the rules are so complicated, that Detroit Edison decided to delay part of the project until its experts could decipher the details of the ruling. On the one hand, the rules are so complex that the answer coming back was even more complex, evidently, because nothing happened for a while. Now, finally, the project is going to be complete. Detroit Edison decided to move forward, 5 years after it decided to begin. That's inefficient. That doesn't make any sense. The quicker we put modern equipment into our powerplants, the quicker people are going to get more reliable electricity. If we're interested in job creation in America, we'd better have the most modern facilities to make sure that electricity is available so people can expand their job base. And yet the rules didn't let that happen. The rules created too many hurdles, and that hurts the working people. And so, as I said, we decided to do something about it. We began to review the old rules and regulations. And we wanted to do so in a careful way. The EPA held five public meetings. More than 100 groups were represented, citizens and industry and local officials. There were thousands of comments. In other words, we said, "If you've got a problem with the change, please bring them forward. Or you support the change, bring them forward." We wanted to hear from people, and the EPA did a good job of collecting data. In December, we issued the first set of rules to clarify and simplify regulations for manufacturers to do projects in an energy efficient way and to promote policy that would discourage pollution. And now we've issued new rules that will allow utility companies like this one right here to make routine repairs and upgrades without enormous costs and endless disputes. We simplified the rules. We made them easy to understand. We trust the people in this plant to make the right decisions. There is a lot of debate about New Source Review the change of New Source Review. It makes sense to change these regulations. It makes sense for the workplace environment. It makes sense for the protection of our air. Not only do I believe that, but union leaders believe that. Manufacturers believe that. The utilities believe that. A bipartisan coalition in Congress believes it. We have done the right thing. Monroe plant is a living example of why we acted. The people at this plant wanted to put the most modern equipment, use the most modern technology to make sure the people of Michigan got energy at a reasonable and affordable price and at the same time protect the environment. Government policy prevented them from doing so. We have changed the Government policy for good of the people of this country. I mentioned the challenges we face, but I'm an optimist, because I understand America. It's been my privilege to see the character of the American people. We are resolute. We're plenty tough when we have to be tough. We're also compassionate. Ours is a resourceful nation. We set goals, and we work together to achieve those goals. Ours is a nation that, when we hear that somebody is looking for work and can't find work, cares about that person. I want to make sure this environment, economic environment of ours is as healthy as it can be. The American people have got to understand, a healthy economic environment means we'd better have energy. We'd better be producing that energy. There's electricity so people can expand their manufacturing facilities. If you've got an issue with the manufacturing base, you'd better make sure you've got a reliable supply of energy for the manufacturers, like they've got right here in Michigan. We can overcome problems. We're smart and resourceful people. We're also a compassionate people, people who are willing to love a neighbor just like we love ourselves. That's what I love most about America. I love the fact that there are people who hurt I love the fact that when somebody is hurting in your neighborhood, you're likely to walk across the street and say, "What can I do to help?" It's a fabulous country we have. Oh yes, we've got problems, but there's no doubt in my mind, because of the character of the American people, we can overcome any problem that's in our way. I want to thank you all for coming out today. May God bless you, and may God continue to bless America. September 13, 2003 Good morning. Two years ago this week, America suffered a brutal attack. We will never forget the burning towers and the smoke over Arlington Cemetery and the passengers who rushed the hijackers. Yet history asks for more than memory. On September the 11th, 2001, we began a war on global terror that continues to this hour. In the decades before that terrible day, the terrorists conducted a series of bolder and bolder attacks in the Middle East and beyond. They became convinced that free nations were decadent and weak and would never offer a sustained and serious response. They now know otherwise. Together with a coalition of nations, we have struck back against terror worldwide, capturing and killing terrorists and breaking cells and freezing assets. In Afghanistan, we removed the Taliban regime that harbored Al Qaida. In Iraq, we defeated a regime that sponsored terror, possessed and used weapons of mass destruction, and defied the United Nations Security Council for 12 years. We have helped to liberate people from oppression and fear. Today, with our help, the people of Iraq are working to create a free, functioning, and prosperous society. The terrorists know that if these efforts are successful, their ideology of hate will suffer a grave defeat. So they are attacking our forces, international aid workers, and innocent civilians. Their goal is to drive us out of Iraq before our work is done. They are mistaken, and they will fail. We will do what is necessary to win this victory in the war on terror. We are following a clear strategy with three objectives Destroy the terrorists enlist international support for a free Iraq and quickly transfer authority to the Iraqi people. Through a series of ongoing operations, our military is taking direct action against Saddam loyalists and foreign terrorists. One major effort underway right now, called Operation Longstreet, is seeking and finding our enemies wherever they hide and plot. Already, this operation has yielded hundreds of detainees and seized hundreds of weapons, and we will remain on the offensive against the terrorists. We are expanding international cooperation in rebuilding Iraq. Today in Geneva, Secretary of State Powell is meeting with Secretary General of the United Nations and representatives of the five permanent members of the Security Council. They are discussing ideas for a new resolution to encourage wider participation in this vital task. And we're moving forward on a specific plan to return sovereignty and authority to the Iraqi people. We have created a Governing Council made up of Iraqi citizens. The Council has selected a committee that is developing a process through which Iraqis will draft a new constitution for their country. Day to day operations of many government tasks have been turned over to ministers appointed by the Governing Council. And when a constitution has been drafted and ratified by the Iraqi people, Iraq will enjoy free and fair elections, and the coalition will yield its remaining authority to a free and sovereign Iraqi Government. We have a strategy in Iraq and a mission. We will fight and defeat the terrorists there so we don't have to face them in America. And we will help transform Iraq into a example of progress and democracy and freedom that can inspire change and hope throughout the Middle East. Thank you for listening. September 12, 2003 Thank you all. Please be seated. Thanks for coming. I'm glad to be back in Mississippi. I thank the warm welcome for a former Texas Governor who's proud to be on stage with the future Mississippi Governor. I'm here to remind the good people of this State Republican, Democrat, or independent if they're interested in good government, if they want somebody to call upon the best of Mississippi, if they're interested in every person being able to achieve their dreams in this State, they need to elect Haley Barbour as the Governor of Mississippi. I like his slogan Mississippi can do better. It says when he's your Governor, he'll have an optimistic outlook for all the people of this State. He believes in high standards and raising that bar. He believes in the vast human potential of Mississippi. There's no doubt in my mind that when you elect Haley Barbour as Governor of Mississippi, Mississippi will do better. And I know him. This isn't just your typical hot air. Laughter I know him well. He recounted some of our history. We've been friends for a long time. So when I say, for example, he believes in personal responsibility, I know he believes that way. And when he says he's going to focus on education to make sure no child is left behind in Mississippi, I know he believes that. Haley has served at the highest levels of Government, but let me assure you of one thing Whether it was in my conversations with him in Washington, DC, or in Austin, Texas, he always talked about Yazoo City. Laughter It is safe to say he never forgot his roots. No, there's no doubt in my mind this good man can do the job. If the people of this State give him a chance, they're going to realize that he's going to call upon the best of Mississippi. He and I share something else in common. We both married above ourselves. Laughter I'm proud to be on stage with Marsha, had a chance to say hello to Sterling and Reeves. My only advice to those boys was, listen to your mother. Laughter I'm still listening to mine. Laura sends her love. She sends her love not only to Haley and Marsha she sends her very best to many of our friends out here today. She is a fabulous wife, by the way, and a great First Lady for America. Speaking about a guy who married well, Senator Lott is with us. Laughter Tricia and Trent are really good friends of Laura and mine. We both love our country, and we both love Scottish terriers. Laughter Let me tell you something about Trent Mississippi is really, really lucky to have him as a United States Senator. You've got some pretty good Congressmen, too. I'm proud to call Roger Wicker and Chip Pickering friends. These guys are doing a great job on behalf of this State. It's great to see Chip and his beautiful wife today. I do want you to do me a favor, if you don't mind, a little personal privilege from the President. I hope you give your dad my best, Judge Charles Pickering. I nominated him to a higher court because I believe in his character. I trust his judicial philosophy. He's a man who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Senators are playing politics with American justice. They did this man and this country a disservice. It is time for some on the Senate floor to stop playing politics with people like Charles Pickering's good name. There's a lot of people here hoping Haley runs good at the top of the ticket, starting with the Lieutenant Governor, Amy Tuck. I'm proud to have welcomed her to the Oval Office the other day. It is along with Travis Little they were up there to, oh, get a picture or two taken. Laughter But it was good to talk to Amy again. I had the honor of welcoming her to the Republican Party. I appreciate the courage of your decision, Amy, and I appreciate your willingness to lead. Thank you for being here. Of course, I did meet Senator Little. I also want to thank State auditor Phil Bryant for being here. I want to thank the thank you, Phil. I appreciate Mike Retzer, my long time friend, for working hard for the Bush Cheney campaign. There is another election around the corner one of these days. We'll be back. Laughter I also know you've got some candidates here running, and I always like to mention candidates who have decided to take on the task of a statewide race, because it's not an easy job. It's not easy to ask your family to run have to ask your family to join you in running. But we've got Julio Del Castillo here, who's the candidate for secretary of state. We've got Scott Newton, the candidate for attorney general. We've got Max Phillips, the candidate for agriculture commissioner. And we've got Tate Reeves, the candidate for treasurer. Thank you all for running, I hope you help them. It's good to see your former Governor, Kirk Fordice, here today. Kirk, good to see you, sir. I want to thank Jim Herring, the chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party, for his hard work. And I want to thank all the folks involved with grassroots politics here in Mississippi. I want to thank Cindy Phillips, who is the national committeewoman, as well. Finally, there is a special fellow here that my family has known for a long time. He's a really great American, great fellow from Mississippi. Laura and I occasionally slide across the street there in Washington, DC, to go to church at the little St. John's Church in Lafayette Square. One of our favorite things when we get to church is to shake hands and to say hello to one of the special Americans, and that's my friend Sonny Montgomery. It looks like they still remember you here, Sonny. Laughter I first want to thank you for your generosity but remind you that there is more to do in the campaign for an important race like Governor. You've got to turn out the vote. You've got to go to your coffee shops and tell the people that may not be quite as interested in politics as you are that there's a lot at stake for Mississippi. When they're just about to sip that coffee, you tell them that Haley Barbour has got a clear vision for the future of this State. He's not going to win it on his looks alone. Laughter He's going to win it because he cares about people. See, when he hears somebody is looking for a job, it bothers him. If somebody is looking for a job and can't find work, it means you've got a problem here in Mississippi. That's the way I feel about the Nation. He and I share a philosophy The role of Government is not to create wealth the role of Government is to create an environment in which entrepreneurship can flourish, in which small businesses can grow to be big businesses. And that's why, for example, in Washington, I worked with the Congress to pass tax relief. When the economy goes slow, if you let people have more of their own money, they're likely to demand a good or a service. Haley understands that. He understands whose money we spend in Government. We're not spending the Government's money we're spending the people's money. And you better have you a Governor who understands that when he gets you elected to represent this great State. This economy is beginning to pick up a little steam, but there are still some citizens who hurt. So long as they're hurting, we've got to keep creating an environment for economic growth. It will be important to have a Governor in Mississippi who understands that fiscal discipline is necessary at the State capital. If you're interested in job creation, Government has got to be fiscally disciplined. If you're interested in job creation, you've got to put policy in place that encourages small business growth. After all, most small businesses most new jobs are created by small businesses in America. Haley has got a plan. He's got good ideas. He comes with the right philosophy, and he's got a plan to create jobs here in Mississippi. For the people in Mississippi who are interested in job creation, the right man for the job is Haley Barbour. By the way, one way to make sure this is a good State in which to create jobs is to have a Governor who's willing to take off the take on the plaintiffs' attorneys and fight for real, meaningful litigation reform. You don't want it said that the fastest growth industry in your State is the plaintiffs' bar. That's not good for attracting industry and creating jobs. You don't want the greatest wealth accumulation in any State to be in the hands of plaintiffs' attorneys. You need to get you a Governor who understands that, who's tough enough to stand up to the special interests that oftentimes dominate State politics, is willing to look those in the eye who are trying to ruin the condition for job creation, who are running your doctors out of your State, look them in the eye and say, "I demand that we have reasonable tort reform in the State of Mississippi." And that man is Haley Barbour. Last time I came to your beautiful State, I was here because I was worried about docs getting run out of Mississippi. I'll never forget meeting with the guy from the Delta. It was a fellow he came down from the North. He heard a call. He's what you might call a faith based doctor, practicing real medicine, but he was motivated by faith to help people who hurt, a fantastic person. The guy never grew up in Mississippi but heard there was a need for health care in this State, so he came here. He wanted to give of his time and talents so somebody might live a better life. And he told me the stories about what it's like to live in a State where the system isn't fair anymore, where the lawyers have pushed too far. And he left your State of Mississippi because the premiums went up too high. You lost a good heart in your State because the system is awry. You need you a Governor who understands that health care must be accessible and affordable, a Governor that when he says he's going to get you medical liability reform, will get you real medical liability reform, not only for the sake of the docs but, more importantly, for the sake of the people who need good health care. Haley Barbour is that Governor. In order for this State to reach its full potential, you need to have a Governor who understands the number one priority of any State is the education of the children of that State. Haley understands that. We passed good law in Washington, DC. It's an interesting change of attitude for the Nation's Capital. It used to be we just passed out money in Washington. And we're pretty good at that, by the way. But now we've said, if you're going to receive money for education purposes and elementary and secondary act money and Title I money within that title, is now we expect to see whether or not the children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. See, the State of Mississippi needs a Governor, just like our country needed a President, that was willing to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. When you lower the bar, you get bad results. If you believe certain children can't learn, you'll have a system that just shuffles the kids through. If you believe it's impossible to teach a certain type of child, guess what's going to happen? That type of child will never learn. I believe every child can learn. I believe it's in the reach with every State and every school to teach the basics. And therefore, in return for Federal money, I expect the basics to be taught. And I want to thank Senator Lott and the Congressman here who stood with me on that important initiative. Now, in return for Federal money, States must show people whether or not our children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. If you believe they can learn, then you want to know. If you believe that the best can happen, then we want to see. We don't want somebody to theorize whether it's happening. We want concrete proof. And if it's not happening, we will use the measurement systems not as a way to punish the good teachers, but to correct the situation. Haley Barbour agrees with that philosophy. He believes about raising the bar. He believes, support the teachers. But most of all, he knows that we must correct problems early, before they're too late, to make sure that not one single child gets left behind in the State of Mississippi. I appreciate the fact that Haley understands that there are people who hurt in Mississippi there are people who are lonely and addicted, people who are homeless, and people who are hungry. He also understands what I know, that the Government can hand out money, but it cannot put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That's done when a loving soul puts their arm around somebody who hurts and says, "I love you. What can I do to help you?" The true strength of this country is the hearts and souls of the American people. That's our strength. And the job of people in positions of responsibility is to rally that spirit. That's why the Faith Based Initiative that I proposed in Washington is so vital. It's an initiative that Haley fully understands. It's an initiative that he wants to get started here. Listen, there are great programs that come out of Government, and sometimes they work, and sometimes they don't. But we ought to use all avenues, all our strengths, to achieve the common goal that everybody feels the great hope of America. When we find somebody who's lonely and addicted on drugs, we ought not to fear a faith based program's involvement with that person. You see, sometimes it takes a change of heart to change a habit. And when we find effective programs based upon faith, Government at the Federal level and State level should not fear faith, we should welcome faith into the important delivery of human services to people who hurt. I had a chance to talk to Haley on Air Force One coming down. He came over to Fort Stewart, and I thought it might be okay if I shared some thoughts on the war on terror. So I think I will. I was in Fort Stewart it's the home of the 3d Infantry Division. They're the troops who took it up the west side, from the south of Iraq to free Baghdad. What an honor it is to stand up in front of fantastically brave troops and to thank them on behalf of a grateful nation. It's important for me to continue to do this because this Nation still remains at war. It's a different kind of war. You saw how different it was on September the 11th, 2001. Instead of armies marching across plains or Air Forces bombing Pearl Harbor, we were attacked by coldblooded killers who took our own assets and flew them into the buildings without regard to the nature of the victim. These people didn't care if they were young kids, women, men no such thing in their mind as innocent or guilt. They're interested in one thing, death. On that day, this country decided that no matter how long it took, we would find those who would inflict harm upon America and bring them to justice. I will never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001, so long as I am your President. I have a solemn duty to protect America, and we're making progress. We're slowly but surely bringing the Al Qaida killers to justice. I remind people that over two thirds of the known operatives and leaders are either dead or captured. And I can assure you, we're after the rest of them. No matter how long it takes, no matter what the cost, we will bring those who harmed America and want to harm America to justice. We owe it to future generations of Americans. We owe it to the peace and security of the world to use our strength to find the killers. Therapy will not work with these kind of people. Treaties make no sense. There's only one thing Get them before they get us, to stay on the offensive. Right after September the 11th, I laid out a new American doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you house a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists." And the Taliban found out what the United States of America meant. Not only were we able to destroy terrorist training camps and cut off support for these killers when we routed the Taliban out of Afghanistan, but we did something even as important Young girls now go to school for the first time, because the Taliban is no more. Girls go to school, thanks to the might of the United States of America. And that's important, because we believe everybody matters. We believe every life is precious. We believe and know that freedom is not America's gift to the world it is the Almighty's gift to every individual in the world. And we've brought freedom to the people of Iraq in a military operation that was one of the swiftest and most humane military operations in history. We rid the world of Saddam Hussein, and we freed millions of people in Iraq. There are no more torture chambers in Iraq. There will be no more mass graves in Iraq. Schools are the hospitals are now opened. Schools are flourishing. And one thing is for certain Terrorist groups will no longer find support in Iraq, and terrorist groups will not ever be able to get weapons of mass destruction in Iraq because Saddam Hussein is no more. But I understand this, that in order to make sure America is secure in the long run and the world is more peaceful, we must spread freedom. Free people don't attack their neighbors. Free people don't develop weapons of mass destruction. The truth of the matter is, the greatest security for America in the long term is the spread of liberty. And that's why it's so important in the heart of the Middle East that we establish a free society in Iraq. It is so important that we succeed. And that's why I went to the Nation the other night and asked for a significant amount of money from the United States Congress to fund the efforts necessary to make Iraq secure and free and peaceful. The money we spend today to achieve this incredibly important objective will be money that others don't have to spend in future years. We would rather win our war against terror in Iraq than to fight them here on the streets of America. And we must succeed in making sure that freedom takes hold in that important part of the world. There is no doubt in my mind America will prevail. See, I understand the country pretty well. I know the people of America. We are resolved, and we are strong, and we're plenty tough when we have to be tough. The truth of the matter is, this is a country as well that's got a great heart, great generosity. Not only are we going to work hard here in Mississippi and other places to make sure promise is available and hope is available for everybody, ours is a nation that is willing to lead the world in the incredibly important work of human rescue. We're going to provide medicine to millions of men and women and children suffering from AIDS on the continent of Africa. See, that's the spirit of the country. That's the country we are. We believe in freedom for everybody. We believe in hope. We believe in opportunity. And when we see suffering, we will not turn our back. I believe that when you find somebody good and honorable, you give him a chance to represent you. In this State, you've found a man that's good and honorable. The guy has got the experience to do the job, a fellow that when he picks up the phone, the President might just go ahead and answer it. Laughter It's a man who will represent you with class. He'll call upon the best of this State. This is a man who is serving for the right reason He believes in serving something greater than himself in life. And that man is your next Governor, Mr. Haley Barbour. Thank you for supporting him. God bless, and God bless America. September 12, 2003 The President. Thank you all very much. Thanks for the warm welcome. It's a fine day here in Georgia. Of course, the Governor told me every day is a fine day in Georgia. Audience members. Hooah! The President. It's a great day to visit the soldiers and the families of the 3d Infantry Division and to visit Fort Stewart. When I came here in February of 2001, it was my first one of my first official trips, my first visit to an Army post as Commander in Chief, and my first chance as President to say Hooah! Audience members. Hooah! The President. Since we last met, soldiers of the 3d Infantry Division have fought in Afghanistan and have hunted terrorists in Pakistan you've launched the coalition offensive into Iraq, defeated the enemy in Najaf you took the Saddam Hussein International Airport and seized his palaces and you led the fighting into Baghdad the day the statue of the dictator was pulled down. Audience members. Hooah! The President. Following that day of liberation, 3d ID soldiers have helped the Iraqi people to recover from years of oppression, to begin the work of building a free Iraq. Two months ago, the Sergeant Major of the Army, Jack Tilley, spoke to the 3d ID troops in Fallujah. He said this he said, "Be proud of who you are. Stand up straight. You made history." As Commander in Chief, I second those words. You made history. You've made our Nation proud. And you have earned the Presidential Unit Citation. After a long deployment, the 3d ID is now home. America is grateful for your devoted service in hard conditions. America is grateful to the men and women right here on this base who supported your mission. And we're especially grateful to our military families. I know it has been a tough 9 months for Fort Stewart families. But you've been loyal and patient, and you've looked out for one another. I want to thank you for the support you've given to your loved ones. Thank you for the love of your country. Our Nation is grateful. I want to thank General Blount for inviting me here today. I told him, I said he's a pretty eloquent speaker for a good warrior. Laughter I appreciate General Ellis, good to see him again today, the commander of U.S. Forces Command. I'm honored to be traveling with two fine United States Senators, Senator Zell Miller and Senator Saxby Chambliss of the great State of Georgia, strong supporters of the United States military. As well, we traveled down with Jack Kingston and Max Burns, two fine Members of the House of Representatives. As well, they are strong supporters of the United States military. Of course, I already mentioned the Governor once. He said, "Every day is a beautiful day in Georgia." I'm proud to be with him. He's a good friend, solid American. I also am pleased to be here with Brigadier General Joe Riojas, assistant division commander Bob Caslen Colonel Caslen, assistant division commander Colonel Larry Burch Colonel John Kidd Sergeant Major Kellman and Captain Vern Tubbs. I want to thank you all very much for bringing me here today. It's an honor to be here. Two and a half years ago or 2 years ago, this Nation came under enemy attack. Two years ago yesterday we were attacked. On a single morning, we suffered the highest casualties on our own soil since the Civil War. America saw the face of a new adversary, an enemy that plots in secret, an enemy that rejects the rules of war, an enemy that rejoices in the murder of the innocent. We made a pledge that day, and we have kept it We are bringing the guilty to justice we are taking the fight to the enemy. In this new kind of war, America has followed a new strategy. We are not waiting for further attacks on our citizens. We are striking our enemies before they can strike us again. As all of you know, wars are fought on the offensive. The war on terror will be won on the offensive, and America and our friends are staying on the offensive. We're rolling back the terrorist threat not on the fringes of its influence but at the heart of its power. In Afghanistan, America and our broad coalition acted against a regime that harbored Al Qaida and ruled by terror. We've sent a message that is now understood throughout the world If you harbor a terrorist, if you support a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists. And the Taliban found out what we meant. Thanks to our men and women in uniform, Afghanistan is no longer a haven for terror, and as a result, the people of America are safer from attack. We are hunting the Al Qaida terrorists wherever they still hide, from Pakistan to the Philippines to the Horn of Africa. And we're making good progress. Nearly two thirds of Al Qaida's known leaders have been captured or killed. The rest of them are dangerous, but the rest of them can be certain we're on their trail. Our resolve is firm. The resolve of this Nation is clear No matter how long it takes, we will bring justice to those who plot against America. And we have pursued the war on terror in Iraq. Our coalition enforced the demands of the U.N. Security Council in one of the swiftest and most humane military campaigns in history. Because of our military, catastrophic weapons will no longer be in the hands of a reckless dictator. Because of our military, Middle Eastern countries no longer fear subversion and attack by Saddam Hussein. Because of our military, the torture chambers in Iraq are closed, and people who speak their minds need not fear execution. Because of our military, the people of Iraq are free. Now we're working with the Iraqi people to build a decent and democratic society, a country that is an example of peace, not an exporter of violence. This undertaking is difficult, and it is costly. Yet it is worthy of our country, and it is critical to our security. You've seen how Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately, desperately trying to undermine Iraq's progress and to throw that country into chaos. You know, they understand that a free Iraq will be free of them, free of assassins and torturers and secret police. As democracy and freedom rise in Iraq, their ambitions will fall just like the statues of Saddam Hussein. The terrorists have a strategic goal. They want America to leave Iraq before our work is done. You see, they believe their attacks on our people and on innocent people will shake the will of the United States and the civilized world. They believe America will run from a challenge. They don't know us very well. Audience members. Hooah! The President. They're mistaken. Iraq is now the central front in the war on terror. This Nation will complete our work, and we will win this essential victory. The people of our military have faced many hardships in Iraq, and you faced them with courage. You know the names of some who fought for our country and didn't come home, who died in the line of duty. You remember them as comrades and friends. This Nation will remember them for their unselfish courage, for their sacrifice in a time of danger to America. We honor their memory. We pray for God's comfort on their family and loved ones. All who serve understand what this fight is about. Our military is confronting terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan and in other places, so that our people will not have to confront terrorist violence in our own cities. Our strategy in Iraq has three objectives. First, we are destroying the terrorists by swift and decisive action. We continue to launch raids against these enemies. We're rounding them up. We're seizing their weapons. And as for the leaders of the former regime, we're working our way through the famous deck of cards. The Iraqi people are helping with critical leads, and with each new capture the word gets out. In a letter home this summer, an American soldier described the following scene in Baghdad after two of those cards were dealt with. He wrote "The whole city was erupting in gunfire. There were tracer rounds flying through the air all over. Everyone was hyped to the max. Then we got the call over the radio. It was celebration fire because we caught Saddam's sons." Altogether, 42 of the 55 most wanted former Iraqi leaders have been captured or killed. It's a matter of time for the rest of them. Our second objective is to bring in other nations to help Iraq build a free country that'll make the world more secure. Already two multinational divisions perhaps you saw brothers and sisters in combat when you were in Iraq divisions led by the Brits and the Poles, they're sharing responsibilities with us. And we thank all the nations who have contributed. It's time for others to join us. Tomorrow Secretary Powell will be in Geneva, consulting with friends and allies and the officials of the United Nations. He'll carry a message No free nation can be neutral in the fight between civilization and chaos. Terrorists in Iraq have attacked representatives of the civilized world, and opposing them and defeating them must be the cause of the civilized world. Our third goal is to encourage the orderly transfer of sovereignty and authority to the Iraqi people. We're helping to train Iraqi civil defense forces and police and border guards. In these and other roles, some 60,000 Iraqis are now helping to secure their country. Iraq's new Governing Council represents the nation's diverse groups. Ninety percent of the communities have local councils. In Baghdad, a new city council is at work, chosen by all the neighborhoods in the cities. In the months ahead, the Iraqis will be drafting a new constitution, and this will prepare the way for elections. With our help, and with the great strength of its own people, Iraq is getting rid of the days of dictatorship and terror and is moving toward a future of stability and freedom. And life is returning to normal for a lot of the citizens in Iraq. The day the regime fell, only 30 percent of the hospitals in Iraq were functioning. Now almost every hospital in Iraq is open. America and our coalition have provided more than 22 million doses of vaccine to over 4 million children and a million pregnant women. We're refurbishing more than 1,000 schools in Iraq. One school in Baghdad is called the Hiba School. It was founded by a woman named Sarahiah, for children with Down syndrome. The old regime gave the Hiba School no help. You see, Down syndrome children were viewed as hopeless and useless. By now a unit of American soldiers has but now a unit of American soldiers has taken the Hiba School under its wing. They've been collecting donations from home to pay for supplies and clothing for the children and salaries for the teachers. The effort has been led by Lieutenant Colonel Bowyer of the 1st Armored Division. He's got a special interest. You see, his own son, Samuel, has Down syndrome. Sarahiah calls Colonel Bowyer "our first friend and our best friend." And in the Hiba School, the Iraqi children have put up a picture of Sam Bowyer on the wall to thank him to thank his dad, to thank our country. See, the Iraqi people are coming to know the kind of men and women we've sent to liberate their country. In your courage and in your compassion, the people of our Armed Forces represent the best of American character. When I addressed the Nation a few nights ago from the White House, I read a letter I'd received from an Army captain serving in Baghdad. Some of you know him. You gave him a pretty good seat here today Captain Vern Tubbs. He wrote about his pride in serving a just cause and about the deep desire for Iraqis for liberty. "I see it," he said, "in the eyes of a hungry people every day here. They're starved for freedom and opportunity." Captain Tubbs and all of you have helped put Iraq on the path to freedom and opportunity. And every man, woman, and child in Iraq can be certain of this The old regime is gone, and the regime is never coming back. As America carries out its strategy for security and reconstruction, we need the resources to do the job in Iraq. Soon I will send Congress a request for additional money we need to keep our commitments. In this time of challenge of America, as we ask so much of our military, we in Government have a solemn responsibility to give you every tool you need to achieve victory. This base and all of you serving here are critical to the defense of the United States. You've shown that, once again, by enduring a long deployment and performing brilliantly every day under difficult and dangerous circumstances, that you're worthy of the task, and you're worthy of our trust. Our whole Nation has been reminded that we can never take our military for granted. I will keep our military strong. This was the message of another President, John F. Kennedy, when he visited Fort Stewart in 1962 and spoke to the troops on Donovan Field. President Kennedy said this "Regardless of how persistent our diplomacy may be in activities stretching all around the globe, in the final analysis it rests upon the power of the United States, and that power rests upon the will and courage of our citizens and upon you in this field." Soldiers and families of Fort Stewart, those words are still true today. Peace and America's security depends on you. In meeting the dangers of a new era, the world looks to America for leadership. And America counts on the men and women who have stepped forward as volunteers in the cause of freedom. I want to thank you all for your good service. Thank you for the credit and honor you bring to our country every day. May God bless you. May God bless your families, and may God continue to bless America. September 11, 2003 The President. This morning, we had a chance to go to a church service to remember the victims and pray for their families, the victims of 9 11 2001. Today this afternoon, Laura and I are here to thank the brave souls who got wounded in the war on terror, people who were willing to sacrifice in order to make sure that attacks such as September the 11th don't happen again. I want to thank the staff of Walter Reed, the docs and the nurses and the caregivers, the people who look after the families, for enabling me to say to our fellow citizens that when somebody gets hurt, somebody who wears our uniform gets injured, they get the absolute best care as quickly as possible. I was able to pin the Purple Heart on a number of people upstairs. I was able to hug their parents and thank them. I'm just so grateful that our country has got people who are willing to serve in a cause greater than themselves. I'll answer a couple of questions, and then I've got to go. Usama bin Laden Tape Q. Sir, does this new bin Laden tape concern you at all? The President. First of all, they're analyzing it. Secondly, his tape reminds us that the war on terror goes on. As well, his rhetoric is trying to intimidate and, you know, create fear. And he's not going to intimidate America. We are at war because of what he and his fellow killers decided to do 2 years ago today. And we will stay at war until we have achieved our objective, the dismantlement of terrorist organizations. And it just reminds us of the duty we have got to do. And I say "we," my administration and all who serve our country, our duty is to protect our fellow citizens from people like bin Laden. War on Terror Q. Mr. President, people are reminded of what happened 2 years ago think about what's happened in the past 2 years. What can you say to them to make them feel like this won't happen again, that there won't be another The President. Yes. Well, I can just tell them people that, first of all, we have we're slowly but surely dismantling Al Qaida. We are not only destroying terrorist training camps, cutting off their money we're either killing or capturing a lot of their leadership. And as I told the American people right after September the 11th, 2001, this would be a different kind of war, and this would be a long war. And we're fighting this war on a lot of fronts, the major front of which is now in Iraq. And we're making steady progress toward achieving our objective, and we will continue to make progress. You can't negotiate with these people. You can't try to talk sense to these people. The only way to deal with them is to find them and bring them to justice, and that's what the United States and a lot of other countries working with the United States will continue to do. U.N. Resolution on Iraq Q. Sir, are we any closer to getting a U.N. resolution? The President. Colin is going to be overseas starting tomorrow and over the weekend, and we'll see when he comes back.But the key thing for the United Nations resolution is that it will hopefully encourage other nations to participate. And I think other nations have an obligation to participate. A free Iraq will be in their Nation's benefit. It will make the world more peaceful and more secure. And a free Iraq in the heart of the Middle East will make it more easy for us to not only secure America and other free nations but will make it easier for there to be peace in the long run. And therefore, I would hope that nations would participate, and to the extent that some nations need an additional United Nations resolution, this could be helpful in encouraging international participation. But Colin is sitting down with other foreign ministers from the Perm 5 as well as Kofi Annan, starting tomorrow. Okay, well, thank you all. September 10, 2003 The President. A couple of questions. First, we'll have a couple of statements. It's my honor and honor of senior members of my administration to welcome you, sir, to the Oval Office. Kuwait is a steady and strong friend of the United States. I thank you for your friendship. This country led a vast coalition to make the world more secure and more peaceful, and Kuwait was steadfast in your support of our common desire to respect human life, to promote peace, and I want to thank you for that very much. We called upon you to make some difficult choices, and you made those choices, and the world is better off as a result of the decisions your Government made. So it's my honor to welcome you here, sir, today. Prime Minister Sabah. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the President, and thank you, Mr. President, for this invitation and for asking us to come here. I believe that the discussions that I had with you were frank discussions, and they were discussions between friends, people who are friends and allies together. I would like to assure you that this friendship and the alliance between our two countries and our two peoples will continue. And it will not be limited to the official Government levels, but it will be also, and continue to be, between the people. This relationship will continue to exist because we strongly believe that it's in the interest of the peoples in both countries as well as the region. Once again, Mr. President, thank you, sir, for this invitation. The President. Mr. Prime Minister. Terry Terence Hunt, Associated Press . PLO Prime Minister Designate Ahmed Korei Q. Mr. President, what's your evaluation of the new Palestinian Prime Minister? Do you think he's someone that you'll be able to work with as well as you were able to work with Mr. Mahmoud Abbas? The President. Well, time will tell. I still believe strongly that two states living side by side in peace is a hopeful vision for the future of the Middle East. The road map is still there. The fundamental question is whether or not people, peaceful people, will be on the road. And one of the essential tenets of the roadmap is that people are responsible, parties need to be responsible for creating the conditions necessary for peace to prevail. Probably the most the most important condition for peace to prevail is for all parties to fight off terror, to dismantle organizations whose intent is to destroy the vision of peace. And the Prime Minister designee I understand he accepted the position minutes ago the question is, will he be confirmed by his Parliament? And his job is, if he's interested in a two state solution, is to consolidate power within his administration, to get the security forces under control all security forces and then to unleash those security forces against killers. And we can make progress if that's the case. But the Prime Minister and I discussed this subject. He made a very interesting point, that nations need to cut off funding to terrorist groups. And I appreciated that very much. In other words, that's part of the responsibility. Israel, of course, has got responsibility not only to protect her people but to create the conditions necessary for those in the Palestinian Authority who do believe in peace, who do believe in the vision, to prevail. And so it's tough times there now, and we mourn the loss of innocent life. But the vision is still there, because I strongly believe it's in the interest of everybody that two states live side by side in peace. Would you care to call on somebody from the press? Kuwait Q. Mr. President, what do you expect from Kuwait, to play a role in the future in peace and the future of Iraq? And how do you view this visit and Kuwait as an ally to the United States? The President. Well, this is a very important visit, because it gives me a chance to publicly offer my sincere thanks to an important leader in the Oval Office. Secondly, we did discuss our mutual responsibilities to promote peace. I assured the Prime Minister that this country would stay in Iraq to fulfill our promise to Iraqi citizens who are desperate for peace and for the chance to succeed. The Prime Minister said that he appreciated our commitment. He was glad to be reassured that we will finish the job and said he'd be willing to help. And I appreciate that. Our friendship is one where we're able to have mutual but frank discussions, and we will continue our discussions over lunch. And I am grateful for his presence and his willingness to talk frankly about issues that relate to our future. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . New U.N. Resolution on Iraq Q. Given the French and German opposition, how are you going to get a new U.N. resolution on Iraq? Are you willing to concede any control to the U.N.? The President. Oh, I think that we're hopeful we can get a good resolution. We're in consultations now. I think it's in everybody's interest that Iraq be free and be peaceful. And we will continue to work through issues. I don't think they're opposed to the resolution. I think you're putting words in their mouth that they may want to fine tune a resolution, and we're listen, we're open for suggestions. But what is necessary is, however, to trust the Iraqi people to the Governing Council to come up with a timetable for elections. They're making good progress there now. They've got ministers in charge of key parts of the country. They are beginning to put in place the timetable necessary for the writing of a constitution. And there will be free elections. And that ought to be decided by the Governing Council. These are people who know full well how best to move Iraq forward. And we'll work with all parties involved. My call, however, to nations is, is that let us not get caught up in past bickering. Let us move forward. A free Iraq is in everybody's interest. A peaceful Iraq is in the world's interest. And I'm confident we can work together to achieve that. The Secretary of State will be going around the world urging people to make serious contributions, and I will, once again, make that plea. We expect and hope that our friends contribute to the reconstruction of Iraq. It is in your interest that you do so. Final question, Dick Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . Funding for Iraq and Domestic Programs Q. Mr. President, the 87 billion you say will be needed for peacekeeping in Iraq accounts for roughly a fifth of the domestic discretionary spending next year. Realistically, sir, how can you do that and hold the line on domestic programs without gutting those programs? Can you really have one The President. Of course, we can do first of all, the 87 billion, it's important to spend that money. It's in our national interest that we spend it. A free and peaceful Iraq will save this country money in the long term. It's important to get it done now. And yes, I also believe the 4 percent discretionary increase in discretionary spending number I sent up to Congress makes sense. Somebody I heard somebody say, "Well, what we need to do is have a tax increase to pay for this." That's an absurd notion. You don't raise taxes when an economy is recovering. Matter of fact, lower taxes will help enhance economic recovery. We want our people going back to work. We've got good momentum now in our economy. We don't want to destroy that momentum. But the 87 billion is worth it. And I look forward to working with Congress to get that number completed and get the job done. Thank you all. September 10, 2003 The President. Thanks a lot. Please be seated. Thanks for the warm welcome. I'm proud to visit the FBI Academy here at Quantico, where so much hard and essential work in the war on terror goes on. The FBI Academy, new agents who risk their lives to keep America safe learn their craft. In forensics lab, experts examine vital evidence that leads to victory against terror. In the engineering research facility, specialists apply the latest technology to fight crime and terror. You do a terrific job for the American people, and I'm here to tell you our Nation is grateful. Quantico is also known as the "crossroad of the Corps" Audience members. Hooah! The President. since so many Marines pass through the Marine Corps University here. I'm sure it's just a coincidence that Quantico, population 561 fine souls, is said to have the highest number of barber shops laughter per capita than any town in the Nation. What strikes me, it looks like all those barbers specialize in one kind of haircut. Laughter I appreciate the men and women who wear our Nation's uniform. The Marines make us proud. I appreciate the men and women from the Department of Homeland Security who are with us today. You've been given a great responsibility, and you're carrying it out with focus and professionalism. I want to thank the DEA agents who are with us today. By working to keep drug money from financing terror, you're playing an important part of this war. I also thank the first responders from the nearby communities who are with us today. You're the ones Americans count on in times of emergency, and you do not let us down. The lives of every person here were changed by the events of September the 11th, 2001. You felt the anger and the sense of loss that day. You stood ready to serve your country in a time of need. And each of you now has a part in protecting America against the threats of a new era. For 2 years, this Nation has been on the offensive against global terror networks, overseas and at home. We've taken unprecedented, effective measures to protect this homeland. Yet, our Nation has more to do. We will never be complacent. We will defend our people, and we will win this war. I appreciate the Attorney General being here today. I picked a good man, who's doing a fine job on behalf of all Americans, when I picked John Ashcroft to be the Attorney General of the United States. I appreciate my friend Tom Ridge. See, we were both Governors at one time, so I got to know him as the Governor of a relatively small State laughter Pennsylvania. He did a great job as Governor. He's been given an enormous task to reorganize our Government. I'm proud that he's taken on the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. I'm proud of the job he's doing on behalf of America. I'm also honored to be up here with Bob Mueller, who is the head of the FBI. He was just recounting what it was like to go to the Marine Corps University a couple of decades ago. Laughter A proud Marine then, he's now proud to run the FBI. He knows what I know Our Nation is fortunate to have such fine men and women work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I appreciate John Gordon being up here. He's the Homeland Security Adviser, works right there in the White House. I meet with him every single day. He's got good, sound judgment and good advice. I'm honored that Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis is with us today. Congresswoman, we're glad you're here. Thank you for coming today. I appreciate Dwight Adams, who is the Director of the FBI Laboratory. He just gave me a fine tour. It's pretty sophisticated facilities. I appreciate the chance to see it. Tomorrow, America will mark a sad anniversary. The memories of September 11th will never leave us. We will not forget the burning towers and the last phone calls and the smoke over Arlington. We will not forget the rescuers who ran toward danger and the passengers who rushed the hijackers. We will not forget the men and women who went to work on a typical day and never came home. We will not forget the death of schoolchildren who were on a school trip. And we will never forget the servants of evil who plotted the attacks. And we will never forget those who rejoiced at our grief and our mourning. America honors and remembers the names of all victims. And tomorrow, some families will be thinking of one name in particular, a person they still love and deeply miss. The prayers of our whole Nation are with the families of the lost who feel a grief that does not end. Tomorrow's anniversary is a time for remembrance. Yet history asked more than memory. The attacks on this Nation revealed the intentions of a determined and ruthless enemy that still plots against our people. The forces of global terror cannot be appeased, and they cannot be ignored. They must be hunted they must be found and they will be defeated. We will not wait for further attacks on innocent Americans. The best way to protect the American people is to stay on the offensive, to stay on the offensive at home and to stay on the offensive overseas. And that is what this country is doing. We've undertaken a global campaign against terrorist networks. We're going after the terrorists wherever they hide and wherever they plan. We will keep them on the run. We'll bring them to justice. We have made clear the doctrine that says, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists." We're holding regimes accountable for harboring and supporting terror. We're determined to prevent terrorist networks from gaining weapons of mass destruction. We're committed to spreading democracy and tolerance and freedom in the Middle East, to replace the hatred and bitterness with progress and hope and peace. These 24 months have been a time of progress against the enemy. Terrorists have lost their training camps in Afghanistan. They lost the protection of the Taliban. Al Qaida has lost nearly two thirds of its known leaders. They've either been captured or they've been killed. Terror networks have lost access to some 200 million, which we have frozen or seized in more than 1,400 terrorist accounts around the world. The terrorists have lost a sponsor in Iraq. And no terrorist networks will ever gain weapons of mass destruction from Sad dam Hussein's regime. That regime is no more. Now we are engaged in other essential missions in the war on terrorism. We're helping the Afghan people to build free institutions after years of oppression. We're working with the Iraqi people to build a new home for freedom and democracy at the heart of the Middle East. The spread of freedom is one of the keys to the victory against terror. The Middle East will either be a place of increasing hope or a place of a bitterness and violence that exports terrorism exports terrorism to America or other Nations. By removing the tyrants who support terror and by ending the hopelessness that feeds terror, we are helping the people of the Middle East, and we're strengthening the security of America. The terrorists understand what is at stake. They understand that the advance of freedom will discredit their cause, and they know that the advance of freedom will isolate them from sources of support. That is why Saddam holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking our forces, by killing aid workers, by destroying innocent Iraqis. This collection of killers is desperately trying to shake the will of the civilized world, but America will not be intimidated. We are following a clear strategy with three objectives We're going to destroy the terrorists we'll enlist the support for a free Iraq international support for a free Iraq and we'll quickly transfer authority to the Iraqi people. We're aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq with great troops. We're using better intelligence, because we know when we defeat them there, we won't have to face them in our own country. We're calling on other nations to help Iraqis build a free nation, which will make us all more secure. We're helping the Iraqi people assume more of their own defense and move toward self government. I recognize these are not easy tasks, but they're essential tasks. And this country will do what is ever necessary to win this victory in the war on terror. As we wage this war abroad, we must remember where it began, here on our homeland. In this new kind of war, the enemy's objective is to strike us on our own territory and make our people live in fear. This danger places all of you, every person here and the people you work with, on the frontlines of the war on terror. Our methods for fighting this war at home are very different from those we use abroad. Yet our strategy is the same We're on the offensive against terror we're determined to stop the enemy before they can strike our people. Every morning I am briefed from the latest information on the threats to our country, and those threats are real. The enemy is wounded but still resourceful and actively recruiting and still dangerous. We cannot afford a moment of complacency. Yet, as you know, we've taken extraordinary measures these past 2 years to protect America. And we're making progress. There are solid results that we can report to the American people. We have shut down phony charities that serve as fronts for terrorists. We've thwarted terrorists in Buffalo and Seattle, in Portland, Detroit, North Carolina, and Tampa, Florida. More than 260 suspected terrorists have been charged in United States courts more than 140 have already been convicted. We're making progress because we have got skilled professionals on the job, and we've got a clear strategy. We reorganized our Government to enhance our strategy, and we set three national objectives for homeland security One, to prevent attacks on America to reduce our vulnerabilities and to prepare for any attack that might come. Under Director Mueller, the FBI is transforming itself to face the new threats of our time. Instead of just investigating past crimes, the agency is now dedicated to preventing future attacks. Since September the 11th, the share of FBI resources dedicating to fighting terror has more than doubled. The agency remains fully committed to its traditional law enforcement duties. Yet now the FBI is better at analyzing threats and sharing more information with other agencies at every level of Government. The FBI, much to the chagrin of the enemy, is fully engaged on the war on terror. America is proud of your efforts. To make our antiterror efforts more effective, we established the Terrorism Threat Integration Center to merge and analyze in a single place all the vital intelligence on global terror from across our Government. We're doing a better job of talking to each other. The left hand now knows what the right hand is doing. We're gathering intelligence and preparing the homeland and the people in charge of protecting the homeland with the best information we can possibly find. We also have merged 22 Federal agencies into the Department of Homeland Security. Employees of DHS go to work every day with a single overriding responsibility, to make America more secure. Secretary Ridge and his team have done a fine job in getting the difficult work of organizing the Department, and we appreciate your service to America as well. DHS has spearheaded a massive overhaul of security at America's airports. Some 48,000 professional screeners, employed and supervised by the Transportation Security Administration, are now on the job across America. With new equipment, we're now screening every bag that goes to every airplane. The cockpit doors of every large passenger airplane that flies in the United States have been hardened. Thousands of Federal air marshals are flying on commercial flights. We're determined to protect Americans who travel by plane and to prevent those planes from being used as weapons against the American people. The Department of Homeland Security is focused on making the border more secure. Our Smart Border strategy uses technology and background checks to allow law abiding travelers to cross the border, while officials concentrate on possible threats. We've improved the entry process. People coming into the United States will soon be met by a single uniformed officer, rather than the separate officials from Customs, Agricultural, and Immigration. Working with the State Department, DHS is doing a better job of screening visa applicants and keeping track of short term visitors while they're in our country. America will remain a welcoming society. We welcome families and tourists, students and business people from other countries. But our border must be closed to criminals and terrorists. Since September the 11th, 2001, America has made the largest commitment to securing our seaports since World War II. In these 2 years, the Coast Guard, which is now part of the Department of Homeland Security, has conducted more than 124,000 port security patrols, more than 13,300 air patrols, and has boarded more than 92,000 vessels. DHS now requires electronic advance cargo manifests from ships 24 hours before containers are loaded onto ships, giving officials time to check for potential dangers. We're enforcing tough rules that require ports and vessels and facilities to upgrade their security. This Nation is determined to protect our ports from all the threats around the world. We're determined as well to reduce the vulnerabilities of our Nation's infrastructure. The Department of Homeland Security is working closely with State and local governments to identify key vulnerabilities in our communications systems, our power grids, and our transportation networks, and we're taking action to protect them. DHS has established a National Cyber Security Division to examine cybersecurity incidents, to track attacks, and to coordinate nationwide responses. DHS is also helping the operators of chemical facilities improve security. We're working on Congress with Congress on new legislation that establishes uniform standards for security of chemical sites. Even with all these measures, there is no such thing as perfect security in a vast and free country. So all levels of government must be prepared to respond quickly and effectively to any emergency. In responding to most incidents, local officials such as firefighters will be the first on the scene. America's first responders need to be well equipped, and they need to be well trained. The Federal Government has a responsibility to help, and we're meeting that responsibility. We've committed nearly 8 billion over the past 2 years to better equip and train our State and local first responders and hospitals and laboratories. I proposed more than 5 billion more for the coming fiscal year. We're spending this money wisely, I want you to know. We're targeting resources where they're needed, where they'll do the most good. An effective response system requires effective communications. You know that. First responders know what I'm talking about. So we're upgrading communication systems all across the country to make sure that people from all agencies, at all levels of government, can talk to one another in crisis. We're making a special effort to prepare for the possibility of a biological or chemical attack. We've improved our ability to quickly detect such attacks if they occur. We've enlarged the strategic national stockpile of drugs and vaccines and medical supplies. We now have on hand, for instance, enough smallpox vaccine to immunize every American in the case of an emergency. Earlier this year, I proposed Project Bio Shield which will speed the development of new vaccines and treatments for biological agents that could be used in a terrorist attack. The Senate needs to act on this important measure. The House has acted, and I appreciate their action. For the sake of national security, the Senate needs to pass Project BioShield. Since September the 11th, this Nation has been unrelenting in the work on protecting the homeland. And we'll stay that way. That's our duty. That's our job. We accept the responsibility. Across our Government, there's a new spirit, sense of mission. In our country, Americans are volunteering to help, and I want to thank them for that. For example, they're volunteering their expertise in the Citizen Corps efforts to help local communities prepare for emergencies. And I appreciate the bipartisan efforts in Congress to prepare our country and to give law enforcement officials the tools they need. Almost 2 years ago, I signed the USA Patriot Act. That essential law, supported by a large bipartisan majority in the Congress, tore down the walls that blocked America's intelligence and law enforcement officials from sharing intelligence. It enabled our team to talk to each other, to better prepare against an enemy which hates us because of what we love freedom. The Patriot Act imposed tough new penalties on terrorists and those who support them. But as the fight against terrorists progressed, we have found areas where more help is required. Under current Federal law, there are unreasonable obstacles to investigating and prosecuting terrorism, obstacles that don't exist when law enforcement officials are going after embezzlers or drug traffickers. For the sake of the American people, Congress should change the law and give law enforcement officials the same tools they have to fight terror that they have to fight other crime. Here's some examples. Administrative subpoenas, which enable law enforcement officials to obtain certain records quickly, are critical to many investigations. They're used in a wide range of criminal and civil matters, including health care fraud and child abuse cases. Yet, incredibly enough, in terrorism cases, where speed is often of the essence, officials lack the authority to use administrative subpoenas. If we can use these subpoenas to catch crooked doctors, the Congress should allow law enforcement officials to use them in catching terrorists. Today, people charged with certain crimes, including some drug offenses, are not eligible for bail. But terrorist related crimes are not on that list. Suspected terrorists could be released, free to leave the country or worse, before the trial. This disparity in the law makes no sense. If dangerous drug dealers can be held without bail in this way, Congress should allow for the same treatment for accused terrorists. Let me give you another example. Under existing law, the death penalty applies to many serious crimes that result in death, including sexual abuse and certain drug related offenses. Some terrorist crimes that result in death do not qualify for capital punishment. Sabotaging a defense installation or a nuclear facility in a way that takes innocent life does not carry the Federal death penalty. This kind of technicality should never protect terrorists from the ultimate justice. These and other measures have long been on the books for other crimes. They have been tested by time, affirmed by the court, and what we are proposing, they are fully consistent with the United States Constitution. Members of the Congress agree that we need to close the loopholes not every Member, but a lot of them agree with that. People in law enforcement are counting on Congress to follow through. We're asking a lot of these folks out here. You need to have every tool at your disposal to be able to do your job on behalf of the American people. The House and the Senate have a responsibility to act quickly on these matters. Untie the hands of our law enforcement officials so they can fight and win the war against terror. Two years ago, this Nation saw the face of a new enemy. We discovered that there is no safety behind vast oceans. For our own safety, we resolve to take the battle to the enemy. America is making progress on every front every front in this war. For that progress, we know who to thank. We thank the men and women who wear our Nation's uniform. We thank their families. We thank our intelligence officers. We thank every branch of law enforcement. We thank our first responders. All of you may serve on different fronts, but you're serving in the same war. I don't know how long this war will go on, but I do know this However long it takes, this Nation will prevail. May God bless you all. Thank you all very much. September 09, 2003 Thanks for coming. Great to be back in beautiful Fort Lauderdale. I appreciate so many folks showing up tonight, and I'm honored to be introduced by a great Governor. I'm not surprised he's so successful. We both share the same political consult ant laughter Mother. Laughter This is a fantastic turnout, and I'm so honored you're here. What we're doing is laying the framework and the foundation for what will be a great victory in November of 2004. I appreciate your contributions, but Jeb is right. We're going to count on you to energize the grassroots, to make the phone calls, and to put up the signs. And when you go to the coffee shop, you tell them that this administration is committed to making sure that our country is positive and hopeful and optimistic for every single citizen who lives in America. There's a lot of politics in the air, it seems like. And I'm loosening up, and I'm getting ready. The truth of the matter is, the political season will come in its own time. I've got a job to do. I've got a job to do on behalf of the American people, and there's a lot on the agenda. But I will assure you, my administration will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of all Americans by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. I am sorry Laura didn't travel with me today, not as sorry as you, probably. Laughter But I am really proud of Laura. She's a fabulous wife, great mom, and a terrific First Lady for the United States of America. I want to thank this cast of characters who is on the stage with me tonight my great friend Al Hoffman, who is the honorary State finance chair Tom Petway, who is the State finance cochair Zach Zachariah, the State finance cochair and my friend Jim Blosser, who is the event chairman tonight. I want to thank you guys for your hard work. Thank you all. Also, I want to thank my friend Mercer Reynolds, the national finance chairman, from Cincinnati, Ohio, who is taking a lot of time off to make sure that this campaign is well funded. I appreciate members of the statehouse who are here. Johnny Byrd, the speaker of the house, is with us today. Other members of the statehouse, State senators are with us. I want to thank you all for coming. Make sure you do what Brother says to do laughter most of the time. Laughter I'm honored that our attorney general, Charlie Crist, is with us today. I know we've got local officials with us. I particularly want to say thanks to the mayor, Jim Naugle of Fort Lauderdale, and Oliver Parker, mayor of Lauderdale by the Sea. But most of all, I want to thank you all for coming. This is a big turnout. It makes me feel pretty spunky to see this many people out there. In the last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems and not pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. This administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists, coldblooded killers, declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many key leaders of Al Qaida, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Think about this 50 million people who once lived under tyranny in those two countries now live in freedom, thanks to the United States of America and our friends and allies. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense budgets to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And then the attacks came on our country, and we had scandals in corporate America, and war. All affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief. I know that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or to invest, the whole economy grows and people are more likely to find a job. I also know whose money we spend in Washington, DC. We do not spend the Government's money we spend the people's money. We're returning the money to the people so they can better raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand and, therefore, to hire new workers. With all these actions, we are laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs so that everybody in America has a chance to realize the great promise of our country. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called upon the Congress to pass the No Child Left Behind Act. And with a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We bring high standards and strong accountability to every public school in America. We are challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations, because we believe every child can learn the basics of reading and math, and we insist that every school teach the basics of reading and math. In return for Federal money, we're now asking schools to show us whether or not children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. We're providing extra resources to make sure that not one single child is left behind in America. We reorganized our Government to create the Department of Homeland Security to better guard our ports and borders and to protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Florida's ranchers and farmers and entrepreneurs and manufacturers. We passed budget agreements to so that we have much needed spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle. We have kept our word, and we have made progress for the American people. The Congress gets a lot of credit. I'm happy to work with Speaker Hastert and Senator Frist. We're working hard to change the tone in Washington, to get rid of all the needless politics, to elevate the discourse, to focus on results, so the people know we went to the Nation's Capital to serve our country. And those are the kind of people who I've attracted to my administration. I have put together a fabulous team on behalf of the American people, good, honorable, hard working, decent Americans. Our country has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion. Laughter In 2 1 2 years 2 1 2 years, we've done a lot. We have come far, but our work is only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace, not only for our own security but for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every single citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and realize the American Dream. It is clear that the future of peace and freedom depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home. This Nation is freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest. We will not tire. We will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam Hussein holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking coalition forces, aid workers, and innocent Iraqis. They know that the advance of freedom in Iraq would be a major defeat for their cause of terror. The collection of killers is trying to shake the will of the United States of America and the civilized world. This country will not be intimidated. We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq. By defeating them there, we will not have to face them on our own streets. We're calling other nations to help Iraq build a free country, which will make us all more secure. We're standing with the Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward self government. These are not easy tasks, but they are essential tasks. We will finish what we have begun, and we will win this essential victory in the war on terror. Yet I understand that our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. And free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart, and I believe that freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation, including nations like Cuba. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world. And when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, this great, strong, compassionate Nation is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. This great land is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges at home as well. And our actions will prove that we are equal to those challenges. So long as anybody who wants to work cannot find a job, I will continue to work to create an environment that emphasizes job growth. As well, we must keep our duty and commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. Congress took historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and the Senate have passed reforms to increase choices for our seniors and to provide coverage for prescription drugs. It is now time for the House and the Senate to iron out their differences, to modernize Medicare, not only for the seniors who are depending upon Medicare today but for those of us who will be depending upon Medicare tomorrow. We have an obligation to the future of this country. For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. I appreciate Jeb's leadership on this issue here in the State of Florida. Listen, people who have been harmed by a bad doctor of course deserve their day in court. The system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for rich settlements. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, they affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. I have put out a good reform plan for medical liability. The House acted. It is stuck in the Senate. Senators must understand, we need to change the system. No one has ever been healed in America because of a frivolous lawsuit. I have a responsibility as President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women to the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the United States Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the floor of the United States Senate. It is time for some Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. Our Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. It should be clear to the Congress that we need to modernize our electricity grid. Laughter We have put forth a plan to do so. We must promote energy efficiency and more conservation. We must use our technologies to discover new sources of energy. We must use technology to find more energy here at home in environmentally friendly ways. For the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, this Nation must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism. We will apply the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens who hurt. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and, therefore, dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so that more Americans can serve their communities and their country. And the Congress should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion, Christian, Jew, Hindu, and Muslim, all of whom are serving our country by mentoring children, by caring for the homeless, and by offering hope to the addicted. Our Nation should not fear faith. We should welcome faith into the compassionate delivery of those who hurt. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and the dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their own home. We have a minority home ownership gap in America, and I have submitted plans to the United States Congress to close that gap. We want more Americans owning and managing their own health care accounts. We want more Americans owning and managing their own retirement accounts. We want more Americans starting their own small business, because we understand in the Bush administration that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another, and they take responsibility for the decisions they make. We're changing the culture of America from one that has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands that we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're lucky enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul. If you're concerned about the quality of the education in your community, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you are responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in this new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. We can see the culture of service and the culture of responsibility growing around us here in America. It was right after 9 11 2001 I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need. And the response has been great. Our faith based organizations are vibrant and strong. Our charities are doing well here in America. People understand the call to serve something greater than yourself in life, just like our policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. And in these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use our strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals better than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift up whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for our country and for our cause, the best days lie ahead. Thank you for coming. May God bless. September 09, 2003 Thank you all very much. Glad you're here. Thanks for coming. It's great to be in Florida. It's great to be with a great Governor. Laughter I'm not surprised he has been so successful we both share the same political consultant laughter Mother. Laughter Thanks for coming. This is a huge crowd, and it's a good sign. Today we're laying the groundwork for what is going to be a great national victory in November of 2004. Jeb is right I'm going to need your help. I'm going to need your help in putting up the signs. I'm going to need your help when you go to those coffee shops to talk it up, put out the mailers. I want you to remind people that the vision I have for America is optimistic and hopeful for every single citizen who lives in this country. The politics season you know, there's a lot of talk about politics these days. And I'm loosening up. Laughter I'm getting ready. The truth of the matter is, the political season will come in its own time, because I've got a job to do. I've got to do the people's work, people's business. And there's a lot on the agenda. And I want you to know, as friends and supporters, I will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of all Americans by keeping this Nation strong and secure and prosperous and free. I regret that Laura is not traveling with me today. She is a fabulous First Lady. I was a lucky man when she said, "Yes, I agree to marry you." I love her dearly, and I'm proud of the job she's doing on behalf of all Americans. Just like I love my brother. He's a courageous man. He's a strong man. He stands on principle, and nothing can shake him. I appreciate my friends Al Hoffman and Tom Petway and Johnny Rood and Zach Zachariah, and you all for making this a spectacular event. I want to thank my friend Mercer Reynolds from Cincinnati, Ohio, who is the national finance chairman. There's this fellow who has taken time out of his life to go help us raise the monies necessary to wage a viable campaign in 2004. I appreciate the fact that we've got elected officials with us today. The Lieutenant Governor, Toni Jennings, is with us. The attorney general is with us, Charlie Crist. I appreciate the speaker, Johnnie Byrd, being here today. I want to thank Jim King, the senate president. I had a chance to ride in the limousine with the mayor of this great city, John Peyton. It didn't seem like traffic was a problem for to me. Laughter I want to thank Carole Jean Jordan, who is the chairwoman of the Republican Party, for being here. You know, we're here at a I appreciate so very much a really fine, strong man, a man of great character, Jack Del Rio, who is the head coach of the Jaguars, for joining us today. I'm real proud he came. And I'm honored that the quarterback and his wife, Mark Brunell, came with us. I want to tell you something about him. He didn't say to me, "Can you still run a fly pattern?" He didn't say, "How are you on the down and out?" He said, "Mr. President, my family prays for you." I'm proud that both have come. Before I begin, I do want to make mention of former Congressman Charles Bennett, a man who served his country and this community, longstanding United States Congressman from this part of the country, who is an honest, honorable, decent man who loved America. Today I know that he's being buried, and our thoughts and prayers go to his family during this tough moment. And we thank Congressman Bennett for being such a great American. In the last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems instead of passing them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. This administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many key leaders of Al Qaida. And I can assure you, we're on the trail of the rest of them. In Afghanistan, in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and today they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. We increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era, and today no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And then the attacks came on our country, and we had corporate scandals, and we began to march to war, which all affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And I twice led the United States Congress to historic tax relief to get our economy going again. I understand this, that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, to invest, the whole economy grows, and someone is more likely to be able to find a job. I also understand whose money we spend in Washington, DC. It's not the Government's money it's the people's money. So we're returning more money to Americans to help them raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand so they can hire new people. With all these actions, this administration has taken bold steps to lay the foundation for greater prosperity and for more jobs across America, so that every one of our citizens can realize the American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act, and we passed it with a solid bipartisan majority. And by doing so, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms at the Federal level in a generation. We're bringing high standards, strong accountability measures to every public school in America. We're bringing to the country what Governor Jeb Bush has brought to Florida, the belief that every single child can learn, the belief that every school must be challenged to make sure that they teach the basics of reading and math. Just like your Governor is doing here, we're doing nationwide. We are challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse making are over. In return for Federal money, we expect results in every classroom all across America, so that not one single child is left behind. During that 2 1 2 year period, we reorganized the Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our ports and borders and better protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Florida's farmers and ranchers and manufacturers and entrepreneurs. We passed much needed budget agreements to bring spending discipline to Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle. We've kept our word, and we've made progress on behalf of the American people. The United States Congress shares in these great achievements, and I want to thank the members of the Florida congressional delegation for working closely with the administration some members of the Florida congressional delegation. Laughter I've got a great relationship with Leader Bill Frist and Speaker Denny Hastert. We're working hard to change the tone of Washington, DC, to end all the needless partisan bickering, to elevate the discourse, to focus on results so the people know that we're doing their business. And those are the kind of people I've attracted to my administration. I have put together a great team of honorable, decent people to serve the American people. Our country has had no finer Vice President than Vice President Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion. Laughter In 2 1 2 years in 2 1 2 years, we have done a lot, and we've come far. But our work is only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion, so that every citizen every single citizen has a chance to work and succeed and realize the great promise of our country. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home. This Nation is freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. We are confronting that danger in Iraq, where Saddam Hussein's holdouts and foreign terrorists are desperately trying to throw Iraq into chaos by attacking coalition forces and aid workers and innocent Iraqis. And there's a reason. They know that the advance of freedom in Iraq will be a major cause of defeat for terror. This collection of killers is trying to shape the will of the civilized world. They're challenging the resolve of the United States of America. This country will not be intimidated. We are aggressively striking the terrorists in Iraq, defeating them there so we will not have to face them in our own country. We're calling on other nations to help Iraq build a free country which will make us all more secure. We're standing with the Iraqi people as they assume more of their own defense and move toward self government. These aren't easy tasks, but they're essential tasks. And we will finish what we have begun. We will win this essential victory in the war on terror. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. Free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and the deepest hope of every human heart. And I believe that freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world. And when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. This great land, this compassionate people, is leading the world in the incredibly important work of human rescue. We've got challenges here at home, and there's no doubt our actions will prove that we're equal to those challenges. I'm going to continue to work to create an environment that is strong for the entrepreneur and creates the conditions for economic growth. Just so long as somebody is looking for a job who wants to work and can't find one, says to me we've got a problem. Economic vitality, to me, means Americans will be able to find a job. We have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. The United States Congress took historic action in both bodies to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and the Senate have passed reforms to increase choices for our seniors and to provide coverage for prescription drugs. They are now back from vacation. It is time for the House and the Senate to reconcile their differences, to keep our promises to not only the seniors of today but those of us who are fixing to be seniors tomorrow, and modernize the Medicare system. For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. And I appreciate the leadership of Governor Jeb Bush on this issue here in the State of Florida. Listen, people who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court, no question about it. Yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, they affect the Federal budget. And therefore, medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. I submitted a good plan to the Congress. The House of Representative acted the Senate hasn't. Senators must understand that no one in America has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. We need medical liability reform now. I have a responsibility as President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have named superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Yet, some Members of the Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. This country needs a comprehensive energy plan. I have proposed a comprehensive energy plan, and the Congress needs to complete its work on a plan. Listen, we need to modernize the electricity grid. We need to encourage new investment into the electricity grids all across America, and we need to make sure that the reliability standards are mandatory, not voluntary. We need new sources of energy. We need to use our technology to find alternative sources of energy. We need to use our technologies to encourage conservation. We need to use our technologies so that we can explore for environmentally friendly ways for new energy. What this country needs for economic security and national security is to become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism. We will apply the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens who hurt. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on the Government and become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so that more Americans will serve their communities and their country. And both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative, which will support the armies of compassion that are mentoring our children, that are caring for the homeless, that are offering hope to the addicted. This Nation should not fear faith. We ought to welcome faith into the compassionate delivery of help to those who suffer. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the dignity that comes from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society all across America. We want more of our citizens owning their own home. Today in America, we have a minority homeownership gap. I have proposed plans to the United States Congress to reduce that gap, and they must act. We want more people owning and controlling their own health care plans. We want Americans being able to own and control their own retirement accounts. We want more people owning their own small business, because I understand and this administration understands that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of the United States of America. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make. The culture of this country is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a new culture in which each of us understands that we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul. If you're worried about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you are responsible for telling the truth to your employees and your shareholders. And in a responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. The culture of service and responsibility is growing around us in America. I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps, an opportunity for people to serve in their communities. And the response has been strong. Our faith based community is strong. Charitable programs are vibrant. Americans are hearing the call to serve something greater than themselves. After all, our policemen, firefighters, people who wear the Nation's uniform are reminding us on a daily basis what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I have been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right Nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole Nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of our country. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for our country and our cause, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless America. Thank you all. September 08, 2003 Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming. Lamar puts it a little less delicately "Without Tennessee, there would be no Texas." Laughter Without Tennessee, there would be no President George W. Bush. I want to thank you all for coming tonight. I really appreciate your support and your friendship and your prayers. Tonight is the beginning of what is going to be a successful campaign here. We're laying the groundwork not only for a victory here in Tennessee, but we're laying the groundwork for what is going to be a victory in November of 2004. I appreciate your contributions, but I will remind you there are other contributions to make. Going to need you to put your signs in the yard, need you to put out the mailers. When you go to the coffee shop, make sure you talk it up. Laughter And remind them that this administration has a vision which is positive and hopeful and optimistic for every single American. The political season will come in its own time. I'm loosening up. Laughter And I'm getting ready. But I've got a job to do, and right now I'm focused on the people's business. We will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of every American by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. I have only one regret tonight, and that is that the First Lady didn't come with me. I am one lucky man that Laura Bush said yes. We're there on bended knee, I said, "Would you marry me?" She is a fabulous First Lady, a great wife. I'm proud to have been introduced by a fabulous United States Senator, Senator Bill Frist. He is doing a great job, not only for Tennessee but for our Nation. He's a steady hand. He's a good man to deal with. He's got our country's interests at heart, and I'm proud, like you are, to call him friend. I'm also proud to call Lamar Alexander friend. He too is doing a fabulous job in the United States Senate. We've got two Members from the House of Representatives with us tonight. One of the event's vice chairmen, Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn I'm honored that Marsha is with us. I want to thank you for coming, Marsha. And Congressman Zach Wamp is with us as well. I appreciate all those who put this event together. My great friend from Cincinnati, Ohio, who is our national finance chairman, Mercer Reynolds. I want to thank Mercer for being here. I want to thank Jim Haslam, our State finance chair, for his hard work. I want to thank all who put this event together. I particularly want to thank Beth Harwell, the State party chairman. I want to thank Gracie Rosenberger for performing the anthem. You know, when you come to Nashville, you hope to see some of your favorite entertainers. Fortunately, some of them showed up tonight, starting with Michael W. Smith, my good friend, and Debbie. I'm also so pleased that Ricky Skaggs came tonight. He's a that boy can sing. Steve Wariner is with us tonight. Brad Paisley flew in from California to be with us tonight. I want to thank them all for coming. There's less road rage at NASCAR now because Darrell Waltrip is retired, but I'm still glad to call him I'm glad he's here. But most of all, I really want to thank you all for being here. It means an awful lot. In the last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems instead of passing them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. This administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many key leaders of Al Qaida, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people 50 million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the strength, the skill, and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And then our country was attacked, and we began a march to war. And there were some corporate scandals, all of which affected the confidence of the American people. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. Here is what I know, that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy will grow, and people are more likely to find a job. We also understand whose money we spend in Washington. We don't spend the Government's money we spend the people's money. We are returning more money to the people to help them raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, this administration is laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America so every one of our citizens can realize the great promise of our country. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We're bringing high standards and strong accountability measures to every public school in America. You see, we believe that every child can learn the basics of reading and math, and we expect every school in America to teach the basics of reading and math. In return for Federal money, we now expect results. I went to Kirkpatrick Elementary School today, and they're achieving results. They're using the accountability system to focus efforts on children who need help. I saw private tutoring lessons being taking place because of the No Child Left Behind Act. The days of excuse making are over. We expect every child to learn. We want to make sure in this country that not one single child is left behind. The last 2 1 2 years, we reorganized the Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better guard our borders and our ports and to better protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Tennessee's farmers and ranchers and entrepreneurs and manufacturers. We passed budget agreements to bring much needed spending discipline to Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle. We have kept our word, and we have made good progress on behalf of the American people. And the United States Congress shares in these great achievements. I appreciate working with Bill Frist and Speaker Denny Hastert. We've got a great relationship. We will continue to work to change the tone of Washington, DC, to elevate the discourse, to focus on the people's business by focusing on results. And those are the kind of people I have attracted to my administration. I have put together a fantastic team to serve the American people, good, honorable, decent Americans from all walks of life who are in Washington, DC, for one reason, to serve the country they love. Our Nation has had no finer Vice President than Vice President Dick Cheney. Mother may have a different opinion. Laughter In 2 1 2 years, we have come far, but our work is only beginning. I've set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every single citizen has a chance to work, to succeed and realize the American Dream. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither is America. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. Yet, our national interest involves more than eliminating aggressive threats to our security. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. Free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass destruction. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And I believe that freedom is the right of every person and that freedom is the future of every nation. This country also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world. And when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. This great land, this compassionate Nation, is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We also face challenges at home, and our actions will prove worthy of those challenges. So long as anybody is looking for a job and can't find work, I will continue to try and foster an environment that encourages the entrepreneurial spirit, that encourages job creation in the private sector so people can find work. We have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. Congress took historic action both the House and the Senate took historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and Senate has passed reforms to increase choices for seniors and to provide coverage for prescription drugs. It is now time for both bodies to iron out their differences, to keep our commitment to America's seniors today and seniors to be tomorrow and modernize the Medicare system. For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doctor deserve their day in court. Yet, the system should not reward lawyers who are fishing for rich settlements. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, they affect the Federal budget. Therefore, medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. I have proposed medical liability reform. It has passed the House. It is stuck in the Senate. Senator Frist is working hard to get that bill off the floor. Nobody has been healed by a frivolous lawsuit in America. I have a responsibility as President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the floor of the Senate. It is time for some Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. We need to modernize our electricity grid. We need to encourage more investment and to make sure reliability standards are mandatory, not voluntary. We need to explore for new sources of energy in environmentally friendly ways. We need to use technology to come up with alternative sources of energy. We need to encourage conservation. What we really need to do, for the sake of national security and economic security, is to become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism. We will apply the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens who hurt. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so that more Americans can serve their communities and their country. And both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to encourage the armies of compassion to love those who hurt, to mentor our children, to care for the homeless, to offer hope to the addicted. This great Nation should not fear the works of faith. We should welcome faith into the community of help. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society all throughout America. We want more people owning their home. I have put forth policies to decrease the minority homeownership gap in America. We want people owning and managing their own health care accounts. We want people owning and controlling their own retirement accounts. We want more people owning their own small business, because when a person owns something in America, he or she has a vital stake in the future of this country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make. We're changing the culture of this country from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mother or father, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul. If you're concerned about the quality of education in your community, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in the new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourselves. We can see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us. I started the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need, and the response has been fantastic. Faith based programs and charitable programs are strong and vibrant all across America. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear the Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I have been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right Nation. We're a strong country, and we use our strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift up whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for our country and for our cause, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you all. Thank you very much. September 07, 2003 Good evening. I have asked for this time to keep you informed of America's actions in the war on terror. Nearly 2 years ago, following deadly attacks on our country, we began a systematic campaign against terrorism. These months have been a time of new responsibilities and sacrifice and national resolve and great progress. America and a broad coalition acted first in Afghanistan, by destroying the training camps of terror and removing the regime that harbored Al Qaida. In a series of raids and actions around the world, nearly two thirds of Al Qaida's known leaders have been captured or killed, and we continue on Al Qaida's trail. We have exposed terrorist front groups, seized terrorist accounts, taken new measures to protect our homeland, and uncovered sleeper cells inside the United States. And we acted in Iraq, where the former regime sponsored terror, possessed and used weapons of mass destruction, and for 12 years defied the clear demands of the United Nations Security Council. Our coalition enforced these international demands in one of the swiftest and most humane military campaigns in history. For a generation, leading up to September the 11th, 2001, terrorists and their radical allies attacked innocent people in the Middle East and beyond, without facing a sustained and serious response. The terrorists became convinced that free nations were decadent and weak. And they grew bolder, believing that history was on their side. Since America put out the fires of September the 11th and mourned our dead and went to war, history has taken a different turn. We have carried the fight to the enemy. We are rolling back the terrorist threat to civilization, not on the fringes of its influence but at the heart of its power. This work continues. In Iraq, we are helping the long suffering people of that country to build a decent and democratic society at the center of the Middle East. Together we are transforming a place of torture chambers and mass graves into a nation of laws and free institutions. This undertaking is difficult and costly, yet worthy of our country and critical to our security. The Middle East will either become a place of progress and peace, or it will be an exporter of violence and terror that takes more lives in America and in other free nations. The triumph of democracy and tolerance in Iraq, in Afghanistan, and beyond would be a grave setback for international terrorism. The terrorists thrive on the support of tyrants and the resentments of oppressed peoples. When tyrants fall and resentment gives way to hope, men and women in every culture reject the ideologies of terror and turn to the pursuits of peace. Everywhere that freedom takes hold, terror will retreat. Our enemies understand this. They know that a free Iraq will be free of them free of assassins and torturers and secret police. They know that as democracy rises in Iraq, all of their hateful ambitions will fall like the statues of the former dictator. And that is why, 5 months after we liberated Iraq, a collection of killers is desperately trying to undermine Iraq's progress and throw the country into chaos. Some of the attackers are members of the old Saddam regime who fled the battlefield and now fight in the shadows. Some of the attackers are foreign terrorists who have come to Iraq to pursue their war on America and other free nations. We cannot be certain to what extent these groups work together. We do know they have a common goal reclaiming Iraq for tyranny. Most but not all of these killers operate in one area of the country. The attacks you have heard and read about in the last few weeks have occurred predominantly in the central region of Iraq, between Baghdad and Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's former stronghold. The north of Iraq is generally stable and is moving forward with reconstruction and self government. The same trends are evident in the south, despite recent attacks by terrorist groups. Though their attacks are localized, the terrorists and Saddam loyalists have done great harm. They have ambushed American and British service members, who stand for freedom and order. They have killed civilian aid workers of the United Nations, who represent the compassion and generosity of the world. They have bombed the Jordanian Embassy, the symbol of a peaceful Arab country. And last week, they murdered a respected cleric and over a hundred Muslims at prayer, bombing a holy shrine and a symbol of Islam's peaceful teachings. This violence is directed not only against our coalition but against anyone in Iraq who stands for decency and freedom and progress. There is more at work in these attacks than blind rage. The terrorists have a strategic goal. They want us to leave Iraq before our work is done. They want to shake the will of the civilized world. In the past, the terrorists have cited the examples of Beirut and Somalia, claiming that if you inflict harm on Americans, we will run from a challenge. In this, they are mistaken. Two years ago, I told the Congress and the country that the war on terror would be a lengthy war, a different kind of war, fought on many fronts in many places. Iraq is now the central front. Enemies of freedom are making a desperate stand there, and there they must be defeated. This will take time and require sacrifice. Yet we will do what is necessary we will spend what is necessary, to achieve this essential victory in the war on terror, to promote freedom, and to make our own Nation more secure. America has done this kind of work before. Following World War II, we lifted up the defeated nations of Japan and Germany and stood with them as they built representative governments. We committed years and resources to this cause. And that effort has been repaid many times over in three generations of friendship and peace. America today accepts the challenge of helping Iraq in the same spirit, for their sake and our own. Our strategy in Iraq has three objectives destroying the terrorists enlisting the support of other nations for a free Iraq and helping Iraqis assume responsibility for their own defense and their own future. First, we are taking direct action against the terrorists in the Iraqi theater, which is the surest way to prevent future attacks on coalition forces and the Iraqi people. We are staying on the offensive with a series of precise strikes against enemy targets increasingly guided by intelligence given to us by Iraqi citizens. Since the end of major combat operations, we have conducted raids seizing many caches of enemy weapons and massive amounts of ammunition, and we have captured or killed hundreds of Saddam loyalists and terrorists. So far, of the 55 most wanted former Iraqi leaders, 42 are dead or in custody. We are sending a clear message Anyone who seeks to harm our soldiers can know that our soldiers are hunting for them. Second, we are committed to expanding international cooperation in the reconstruction and security of Iraq, just as we are in Afghanistan. Our military commanders in Iraq advise me that the current number of American troops, nearly 130,000, is appropriate to their mission. They are joined by over 20,000 service members from 29 other countries. Two multinational divisions led by the British and the Poles are serving alongside our forces, and in order to share the burden more broadly, our commanders have requested a third multinational division to serve in Iraq. Some countries have requested an explicit authorization of the United Nations Security Council before committing troops to Iraq. I have directed Secretary of State Colin Powell to introduce a new Security Council resolution which would authorize the creation of a multinational force in Iraq, to be led by America. I recognize that not all of our friends agreed with our decision to enforce the Security Council resolutions and remove Saddam Hussein from power. Yet we cannot let past differences interfere with present duties. Terrorists in Iraq have attacked representatives of the civilized world, and opposing them must be the cause of the civilized world. Members of the United Nations now have an opportunity and the responsibility to assume a broader role in assuring that Iraq becomes a free and democratic nation. Third, we are encouraging the orderly transfer of sovereignty and authority to the Iraqi people. Our coalition came to Iraq as liberators, and we will depart as liberators. Right now, Iraq has its own Governing Council, comprised of 25 leaders representing Iraq's diverse people. The Governing Council recently appointed cabinet ministers to run Government departments. Already more than 90 percent of towns and cities have functioning local governments, which are restoring basic services. We're helping to train civil defense forces to keep order and an Iraqi police service to enforce the law, a facilities protection service, Iraqi border guards to help secure the borders, and a new Iraqi army. In all these roles, there are now some 60,000 Iraqi citizens under arms, defending the security of their own country, and we are accelerating the training of more. Iraq is ready to take the next steps toward self government. The Security Council resolution we introduce will encourage Iraq's Governing Council to submit a plan and a timetable for the drafting of a constitution and for free elections. From the outset, I have expressed confidence in the ability of the Iraqi people to govern themselves. Now they must rise to the responsibilities of a free people and secure the blessings of their own liberty. Our strategy in Iraq will require new resources. We have conducted a thorough assessment of our military and reconstruction needs in Iraq and also in Afghanistan. I will soon submit to Congress a request for 87 billion. The request will cover ongoing military and intelligence operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, which we expect will cost 66 billion over the next year. This budget request will also support our commitment to helping the Iraqi and Afghan people rebuild their own nations after decades of oppression and mismanagement. We will provide funds to help them improve security, and we will help them to restore basic services such as electricity and water and to build new schools, roads, and medical clinics. This effort is essential to the stability of those nations and, therefore, to our own security. Now and in the future, we will support our troops, and we will keep our word to the more than 50 million people of Afghanistan and Iraq. Later this month, Secretary Powell will meet with representatives of many nations to discuss their financial contributions to the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Next month, he will hold a similar funding conference for the reconstruction of Iraq. Europe, Japan, and states in the Middle East all will benefit from the success of freedom in these two countries, and they should contribute to that success. The people of Iraq are emerging from a long trial. For them, there will be no going back to the days of the dictator, to the miseries of humiliation he inflicted on that good country. For the Middle East and the world, there will be no going back to the days of fear when a brutal and aggressive tyrant possessed terrible weapons. And for America, there will be no going back to the era before September the 11th, 2001, to false comfort in a dangerous world. We have learned that terrorist attacks are not caused by the use of strength. They are invited by the perception of weakness. And the surest way to avoid attacks on our own people is to engage the enemy where he lives and plans. We are fighting that enemy in Iraq and Afghanistan today so that we do not meet him again on our own streets, in our own cities. The heaviest burdens in our war on terror fall, as always, on the men and women of our Armed Forces and our intelligence services. They have removed gathering threats to America and our friends, and this Nation takes great pride in their incredible achievements. We are grateful for their skill and courage and for their acts of decency, which have shown America's character to the world. We honor the sacrifice of their families. And we mourn every American who has died so bravely, so far from home. The Americans who assume great risk overseas understand the great cause they are in. Not long ago, I received a letter from a captain in the 3d Infantry Division in Baghdad. He wrote about his pride in serving a just cause and about the deep desire of Iraqis for liberty. "I see it," he said, "in the eyes of a hungry people every day here. They are starved for freedom and opportunity." And he concluded, "I just thought you'd like a note from the frontlines of freedom." That Army captain and all of our men and women serving in the war on terror are on the frontlines of freedom. And I want each of them to know, your country thanks you, and your country supports you. Fellow citizens, we've been tested these past 24 months, and the dangers have not passed. Yet Americans are responding with courage and confidence. We accept the duties of our generation. We are active and resolute in our own defense. We are serving in freedom's cause, and that is the cause of all mankind. Thank you, and may God continue to bless America. September 05, 2003 Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Thanks. Thank you all. Please be seated. Thanks for the warm welcome. It's great to be back in the great State of Indiana. It's such a beautiful part of America. You know, Vice President Cheney and I did pretty well in the year 2000 in this State. Laughter The next time around we should do even better, riding on the coattails of my man Mitch. I want to thank you all for coming tonight. It's a spectacular turnout. What we're doing is laying the groundwork for a strong foundation for what will become a great victory in November of 2004. I'm going to count on you for energizing the grassroots, for putting up the signs and mailing out the mailers and making the phone calls, for going to the coffee shops and reminding your fellow citizens that ours is a vision that includes everybody. Ours is a hopeful and optimistic vision for everybody who lives in the United States of America. The political season is coming pretty soon, and I'm loosening up. I'm getting ready, but right now I've got a job to do. And my job is to work on behalf of the people of America. I'm going to continue to work hard to earn the confidence of every American, keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. I appreciate so very much my friend Al Hubbard. I didn't realize he was so articulate. Laughter Maybe he wasn't. Laughter But he's a great friend. I want to thank his leadership. My regret tonight is that the First Lady is not traveling with me. I married above myself. Laura is a remarkable person. I love her dearly. She's doing a great job on behalf of the American people. I want to thank Bob Graham for his work on this event. I, too, want to thank all the table captains and people who have worked hard to make this an enormous success. I appreciate my friend Mercer Reynolds from Cincinnati, Ohio, who is the national chairman of the Bush Cheney campaign. He's a business guy who's taking time out of his life to help us collect enough money to wage a viable campaign in 2004. I'm honored that members of the congressional delegation are with us. I'm particularly pleased that the chairman is with us, a fine American, a great friend, a person whose counsel and advice I take seriously, Senator Dick Lugar a person with whom I've played golf and don't intend to play again since he took money from me laughter Congressman Dan Burton and another star of the congressional delegation is with us, and that's Congressman Mike Pence. I'm so pleased we've got State officials with us, Todd Rokita, who is the secretary of state Mr. Secretary, I'm glad you're here the State auditor, Connie Nass, is with us the Republican house leader, Brian Bosma, is with us today, as is State Representative Mike Murphy. I'm so honored you all are taking time out of your day to be here. All politics is local. You have to work to prepare the groundwork for a new Governor who's coming soon, Mitch Daniels. Speaking about my man Mitch, I noticed a gracious move by David McIntosh in today's newspaper, a move of party unity, a move of serving something greater than himself. David, I appreciate your class act. I'm proud to call you friend, and I'm glad you're here tonight. Thank you for coming. There are people who have worked in my administration who are here. But one of the more famous Indianapolis citizens is with us tonight, who is serving our country with distinction, a man who understands the Faith Based Initiative about as well as anybody in the country, and that's my friend Stephen Goldsmith. Thank you for coming, Stephen. Finally, I'd like to thank Jim Kittle, who is the chairman of the Indiana Republican Party. Get your uniform on, Jim. We're ready to roll. But I appreciate your service. Thank you all again for coming. It's a huge turnout. In the last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. I believe this administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan, in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people 50 million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. We increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And then the attacks came on our country, and we had scandals in corporate America, and war. All affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. Here is what I know, and here's what I believe, that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or to invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. We understand whose money we spend in Washington, DC. It is not the Government's money we spend it's the people's money. We're returning more money to people to help them raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, we're laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America so every single person in this country has a chance to realize the American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I acted. I called for and Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We're bringing high standards, and in return for Federal money, strong accountability measures to every public school in America. We believe that every child can learn the basics of reading and math, and we believe every school must teach the basics. This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse making are over when it comes to education. We now expect results in every classroom so that not one child in America is left behind. During these 2 1 2 years, we reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our borders and ports and to protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Indiana's farmers and ranchers and entrepreneurs and manufacturers. We passed budget agreements to help maintain much needed spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. The U.S. Congress has shared in these great achievements. I've got a great working relationship with Speaker Hastert and Leader Frist, and I intend to keep it that way. I look forward to working with Members of Congress to change the tone in Washington, DC, to get rid of the needless partisan bickering, and to focus on results, so the people know we have done our job. And those are the kind of people I've attracted to my administration. I've put together a fantastic administration to serve the American people, good, honorable, decent people. Our Nation has had no finer Vice President than Vice President Dick Cheney. Mother may have a different opinion. Laughter In 2 1 2 years in 2 1 2 years' time, we have come far, but our work is only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every citizen every single citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and realize the great promise of our land. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home, and we are freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest. We will not tire. We will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. Yet our national interest involves more than eliminating aggressive threats to our safety. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. Free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And I believe that freedom is the right of every person. And I believe that freedom is the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world, and when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. I've called upon a fine citizen of Indianapolis to lead an incredibly important mission of human rescue. I want to thank Randy Tobias for his willingness to serve in a great cause. We face challenges at home as well, and our actions will prove that we're equal to those challenges. The economy is getting better. But so long as people who want to work are looking for a job, I will continue to work to make the conditions for capital investment for the entrepreneurial spirit to remain strong. I care when I hear that people are not working. As well, we have a duty to make a commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. A few weeks ago, the Congress took historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and Senate passed reforms to increase choices for our seniors and to provide coverage for prescription drugs. Now that the Congress is back from their August break, it is time for the House and the Senate to iron out their differences and to get a bill to my desk. The sooner they get the job done, the sooner American seniors will get the health care they need. And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doctor deserve their day in court, yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for rich settlements. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, they affect the Federal budget. And therefore, medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. I have proposed a good plan to the Congress. The House of Representatives responded with a good bill. The bill is now stuck in the United States Senate. Senators must realize that no one in America has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. I have a responsibility as your President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the floor of the United States Senate. It is time for some Members of the Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. In order to make sure we have economic vitality, the Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. Our Nation must realize that our electricity grid needs to be modernized. I have proposed a modernization plan to the Congress. We need to promote alternative sources of energy like ethanol. We need to use our technologies to be able to explore for energy here at home in environmentally friendly ways. We need clean coal technology. For the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, this Nation must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Both the Senate and House have passed an energy bill. They need to get together and get a bill to my desk. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism. We will apply the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. Congress must work with us to build on the success of welfare reform, to bring work and dignity into more of in the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so that more Americans can serve their community and their country. And both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring our children, that are caring for the homeless, that are offering hope to the addicted. Our Nation should not fear faith. We should welcome faith into the lives and to help heal our fellow citizens who hurt. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning a home. We will continue to promote policies which will close the minority homeowner ship gap in America. We want people controlling their own health care plans. We want people in control of their own retirement accounts. And we want more people owning a small business, because we understand in this administration, when an American owns something, he or she has a piece of the future, a vital stake in the future of our country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make. The old culture of America is changing. The old culture used to say, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." It's changing to a new day in which each of us understands that we're responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul. If you're worried about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in the new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. The culture of service and the culture of responsibility is growing around us. I started what we call the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to neighbors in need, and the response has been strong. People have heard the call to serve our country. Our charities are strong. Our faith based efforts are vibrant. People are being healed because fellow Americans are serving our Nation by loving somebody. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are constantly reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world is seeing the resolve and the courage of America, and I have been privileged to see the compassion and character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for our country and for our cause, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you all. Thank you all. September 05, 2003 Thank you all. Thanks for coming. It's such an honor to be here with the Langham family and the employees of this incredibly vibrant company. I want to thank the CEO for such a fine introduction. I am honored that Cathy would invite me here and give me a chance to talk about some of the challenges which face our Nation, the challenge of making sure this Nation is secure and the challenge to make sure people can find work. I know you all have been through some challenges here in the State of Indiana because of some recent flooding. Today I had the privilege of telling your Governor when I landed that I recently signed a disaster declaration that will provide Federal funds to help the folks who suffered as a result of the disaster that took place in many parts of your State. There are a lot of Americans looking for work, and we need to do something about that in Washington, DC. We've taken steps to get our economy growing again, and there are some very hopeful signs that progress is being made. I'm optimistic about the future of this country. Yet today's unemployment report shows we've got more to do, and I'm not going to be satisfied until every American who's looking for a job can find a job. I have laid out a comprehensive plan for job creation all across America. And for the sake of our fellow citizens, I look forward to working with the United States Congress to get this comprehensive plan passed. And one Member who will help get this plan passed, and a man who represents Indiana with such distinction and class, a man who is a person with whom my administration works closely, the chairman, Dick Lugar. I want to thank John and Margaret Langham, as well as Cathy, for allowing my entourage to laughter which is quite large these days laughter to invade this beautiful facility. I want to thank the employees for welcoming us. I know it's not easy to have your day disrupted by a Presidential trip, but I'm honored to be here. Laughter And I want to thank you for your hard work. One thing is for certain, that you've earned the respect of the Langham family. Walking in here, Cathy was telling me how proud she is of the 55 fellow workers, people who make this small business grow and become vibrant. So I want to congratulate you for your productivity and your hard work as well. You know, one of the great things about America is that we've got the best workforce in the world. We've got the finest workers and finest employees. I also know that the attorney general of the great State of Indiana is with us today, Steve Carter, and I appreciate Steve being here. I want to thank Zionsville High School for being here today. I appreciate you all singing. I'm sorry I didn't get to hear you. I want to thank the Kobes for leading the Pledge. I appreciate Brenda Williams coming. Today when I landed there at the airport, I also not only spoke to the Governor and the attorney general, but I spoke to a lady named Joyce Irwin. You probably don't know who Joyce is. She is I will tell you, though. She is a soldier in the army of compassion. She's one of the thousands of people all across our country who have heard a call to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. There's great talk about the might of America, and we're mighty. And I intend to keep it that way. We've got great military might, economic might. But the truth of the matter is, the great strength of America is the heart and soul of the American people. The great strength of our country is the fact that there are millions of our fellow citizens like Joyce Irwin who are willing to lend a hand to a neighbor in need. The great strength of America is the fact that on a daily basis, there are millions of acts of kindness and mercy that helps change America to a more hopeful place, one heart, one soul at a time. Joyce Irwin is a volunteer. She's active with the Little Red Door Cancer Agency, the Fairbanks Hospital, the Meridian Street United Methodist Church. She helps round up donations of clothing to those who need to be clothed, food for those who need to be fed. But most important, she dedicates her time to those who need to be loved. My call to our fellow Americans is love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. Thank you, Joyce. I mentioned the fact that our Nation is facing big challenges. One of the big challenges, of course, is for me, my administration, and those of us who have been honored to serve the American people, to do our solemn duty and protect the security of the American people. We must never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001, a sobering reminder that oceans no longer can protect us from forces of evil who can't stand what America stands for. There are people in this world who hate the thought that we believe in free societies, we believe people should worship freely, speak their mind freely. And since we're not going to change, since we're not going to change our attitude about freedom, we've still got an issue with these terrorists. And we're doing everything we can to protect the homeland. We've got better coordination amongst law enforcement agencies. We're monitoring our ports and points of entry in ways we never have before. We've got emergency preparedness teams in place. But the best way to secure the homeland, the best way to do our duty to provide security for the American people and future generations of American people, is to hunt the terrorists down, one by one, and bring them to justice. Not only must we stay on the offensive against those who would do us harm, and not only we must must we continue to disrupt terrorist training camps to deal with dictatorial regimes who would threaten us and or arm terrorists to threaten us, but we also must continue to promote freedom. Free societies are likely to be peaceful societies. Free societies are societies which won't threaten their neighbors or use weapons of mass destruction. America believes that freedom is not America's gift to the world, that freedom is God's gift to every individual who lives in this world. And at home, we must recognize that while the signs are pretty good about our economy, there's still people looking for work. And we've got to do something about that. I said I was optimistic about our economy, and I am, for good reason. We have been through a lot. And yet, we're still strong. Let me remind you of what we've been through. The attacks on America cost us about 80 billion. That's a lot of money. The attacks hurt our economy at a time when we were beginning to recover from a recession. In March of 2000, the stock market started to decline. Investors began to realize, well maybe this economy wasn't quite as strong as it had been in the past. And we were in recession in the first quarters of 2001. We had negative growth. People were beginning to look for work. Things weren't good. But the economy began to come back because we actually passed a really good tax bill out of the Congress. And then the enemy hit us, and it hurt. It hurt economically. It hurt the Nation's psyche to think that we were vulnerable to coldblooded killers that could come and in one day take the lives of thousands of innocent people. But we began to recover. We took some actions in Washington. For example, we passed terrorism insurance plan to help encourage building of large construction projects, keep those hardhats working. We dealt with the airline industry for the short term. I mean, we took action, and we started getting better. And then a third thing happened. We had some of our fellow citizens forget to forgot what it means to be a responsible citizen. We had some corporate CEOs who didn't tell the truth to their employees and to their shareholders. And that affected the confidence of the people, affected the confidence of people that were thinking about investing. So we took action there, by the way. We passed tough laws. The message is clear If you don't tell the truth, there's going to be serious consequences. In spite of these challenges, the economy is growing. I think one of the main reasons it's growing is because of the tax cuts we passed. I believe that when somebody has more money in their pocket, they will demand an additional good or a service. And when they demand additional good or a service, in our society somebody will produce that good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or a service, it means somebody is likely to find work. The tax relief plan we passed that let you keep more of your own money came at the right time. We cut rates on everybody who pays income taxes. We didn't try to pick or choose winners. We said, "If we're going to have tax relief, if you pay tax, you ought to get relief." We increased the child credit from 600 per child to 1,000 per child. We want to help our moms and dads with the responsibility of raising their children. And by the way, because of the '03 bill, we put the check in the mail in July of this year. We reduced the effects of the marriage penalty. It doesn't make any sense to penalize marriage in the Tax Code. We wanted to help those who own stock directly or indirectly. Many of you own stocks through your pension plans. Many of you own stocks and bonds directly. So we cut taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. And that particularly helps our seniors. Many of our seniors rely upon dividend income, and they're retirement age, and that helps our seniors realize have good be able to have more money in their pocket as they get in their retirement years. And all in all, we began to affect people's pocketbooks in a positive way. If you're a family of four making 40,000, your tax bill went from 1,978 to 45, thanks to the tax bill we passed. We always talk about numbers in Washington. And that's okay. It helps us try to understand where we're going. But what I like to do is try to relate what this tax plan means for our fellow citizens. The Bakers are with us, Doug and Mindy. I had a chance, by the way, to visit with some of our fellow citizens earlier. And I got to listen to what this tax bill these tax bills meant for them. And the Bakers are with us, Doug and Mindy. They've got three children, by the way, all of them 5 years or younger. Amazing thing is, is that Mindy Baker doesn't have gray hair yet. Laughter But they got their check in the mail for the increase in the child credit. It was 800. The reason they didn't get 1,200 is because the littlest one, Josiah, wasn't born in time. But I want to tell you what they told me. They said, that tax relief means peace of mind their words, not mine. He said, "I'm taking care of my family. We're now prepared to take care of unexpected things." The 800 mattered to the Baker family, just like it mattered to the Biby family they're with us, the proud mom and dad of Jacob and James. They saved about 1,900 as a result of the tax relief. He told me, Kevin Biby told me, he said, "You know, I'm going to use that money to help repair my car." That means the guy who repairs the car, he's getting a little extra work. That means he's going to be able to have a little money in his pocket as well. Sharon Okey is with us here. Sharon has got the toughest job in America she's a single mom of five kids. She's got a college junior. She got that check in the mail for the child credit. She told me, she said, it helped Jennifer, her oldest, go to college. It mattered. It matters when people take that money, for example, and go buy school supplies. Somebody's got to produce the school supplies. Somebody's got to sell the school supplies. It affects economic vitality and growth when people are spending money. The more money people have in their pockets when times are slow, the more likely it is our economy is going to recover. And that's why I fought for and Congress passed tax relief on behalf of the working people of America. Greg and Cathy Habegger are with us today Habeggers are with us, and they've got Jack and Ben, so they got a check in the mail too, plus the rate reductions. They're saving about 1,700 a year. He said it helped pay for some paint and furniture for their house. Well, when they went out and bought the furniture, it means somebody who's making furniture has got more job security. And maybe if that furniture manufacturing company was full, maybe they're at capacity, that extra piece of furniture could cause somebody else to find work. If you see what I'm saying in other words, when we put money in circulation by the way, it's your money, not the Government's money when it's your got your money to spend, and you're circulating it around, it has an effect on the economy. So not only are we helping people do their jobs as moms and dads, and not only are we providing financial relief when times are tough so families can breathe a little easier, we're also helping somebody who's looking for work. Money in circulation through increased demand means somebody is going to likely find work when they produce the product to meet that demand. And let me tell you what else the tax relief did. It helped the small businesses all across America, small businesses just like this. And that's important because small businesses create most of the new jobs in America. If your small business sector is vibrant and healthy, somebody is likely to find a job. Now, what's interesting about tax relief that a lot of people didn't understand is that most small businesses are what they call sole proprietorships or Subchapter S corporations, just like this one. It's a Sub chapter S corporation, which means that the business pays taxes at the individual income tax rates. So when you reduce individual income taxes, the sole proprietorship or the Subchapter S really receives tax relief. The tax cuts help small businesses because it gave them more money, more money in their coffers to expand their job base. You just heard Cathy say, as a result of the tax relief, she now feels comfortable about adding five new employees. Tax relief means new jobs for Americans. Part of the plan to stimulate growth amongst the small businesses was to allow small businesses to deduct up to 100,000 of new equipment, investment in new equipment and technologies. It used to be only 25,000. So you see, when you increase the capacity for somebody to deduct more, you provide an incentive for people to make bigger purchases. And so the Langhams have told me that they're thinking about buying some new computer software that will make the employees of this company more productive, will make the company more competitive, and will also help somebody who is making the computer software. That's how the economy works. When the Langhams spend money, not only does it help their own employees, not only will it help the five folks that they're fixing to hire, but it helps the people providing products for this company. Tax relief is stimulating growth and tax relief is stimulating job creation all across the country. But as I mentioned to you, we've got more work to do, and I want to talk about some things that can be done. There are still people looking for work. The economy is growing. Homebuilding is strong. People are getting more confident. The purchases of factory orders for heavy machinery is good, and it's up. But people are still looking for work. One of the reasons why is that when you're coming out of slow times, job creation is the last thing to arrive on the scene. A lot of employers are saying, "Well, I want to make sure the economy is as good as it sounds like before I put on a new worker." Another reason why is because our workers are so productive. Productivity we've got the highest productivity, the most productive workers, in the world. And when productivity goes up, it means that a worker can have more output per hour. And therefore, in order for job creation to grow, the economy must grow faster than productivity gains. In other words, if a worker can do more per hour, in order for a new worker to be hired, the demand must be increased by as much, if not greater than, productivity increases. And so, we've got a short term problem. Long term, it's good that we're more productive. It means higher wages for the American worker. It means we're more competitive overseas. Short term, this economy needs to crank up faster than productivity increases in order for somebody to find a job. And so, that's what I want to talk to you about, how best to encourage continued growth, how to make sure this economy continues to grow. Well, first of all, we need to deal with our health care issue. We want to make sure health care is available and health care is affordable. One way to make sure health care is affordable for small businesses like the Langhams' is to allow for the creation of what we call association health plans, which will allow small businesses to come together to pool risk and to have bargaining power just like big businesses can. Another way we can work on health care costs and to make sure health care is available for our citizens is to deal with this issue of medical liability. There's too many frivolous lawsuits which are driving up the cost of medicine. If you're a doctor and you're afraid you're going to get sued, you practice unnecessary medicine in order to cover yourself in a court of law. That drives up your cost of medicine. It drives up the Langhams' cost for health care. Preventative medicine, because of litigation, is running up your bill. Now, I believe if you've been harmed by a doc, you ought to have your day in court, and you ought to recover full economic damages. And I think that's only fair in America. I do think there ought to be a cap at 250,000 on noneconomic damages. And I think there ought to be reasonable punitive damages. There ought to be reasonable punitive damages. And because high cost of health care run up the cost of the Federal budget you see, when health care goes up, Medicaid budgets go up, and Medicare budgets go up, and the Veterans Health Administration budgets go up. Because it affects our budget, I believe medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. The House of Representatives act. The Senate must pass good medical liability reform on behalf of economic vitality and on behalf of the workers all across the country. Some other things we can do We can get a class action reform out of the United States Senate. And one thing we can do is make sure these lawyers aren't able to shop all around the country for a favorable jury, by moving class action suits into the Federal court. And we need to reform the system so that when there is a verdict, the lawyers don't get the money, but the people who have been harmed get the money. We need to continue to work for regulatory relief on small and large businesses, so that instead of filing needless paperwork, you're working to make your workforce more productive and to meet the needs of your customers. We need to make sure we have an energy policy. If we want this economy to continue to grow we're interested in economic growth. This is a State that relies upon the manufacturing sector a lot, in Indiana. You need to have reliable sources of energy if you want your economy to grow. We need an energy policy. I've been talking to Congress about this for 2 years. It doesn't make any sense to have haphazard policy. We need energy policy to make sure our electricity grid is brought up to date and is more modern. We need energy policy that encourages alternative sources of energy, like those grown right here in the fields of Indiana, called corn, converted to ethanol. We need to make sure we develop environmentally friendly ways to explore for more energy. We need clean coal technology. We need, for the sake of national security and economic security, to be less dependent on foreign sources of energy. I believe when you see the label "Made in the U.S.A.," it's the stamp of quality. And therefore, one way to encourage job growth is to open up markets and to level the playing field for U.S. products. Just give us a level playing field, and we can compete with anybody, anyplace, anytime. And finally, in order for there to be economic vitality and job creation and growth, there needs to be certainty in the Tax Code. In other words, people who are making investments must understand what the rules are going to be. The problem is, is that all the tax relief I've discussed with you, because of quirks in the rules, start fading out in 2005. The child credit, at some point in time, will go back down. The marriage penalty will go up. In other words, what I described to you goes away. If Congress is really interested in job creation, they will make every one of the tax relief measures we passed permanent. You will hear talk about the deficit. We have a deficit. We have a deficit in part because of the recession. When you have a recession, you get less money into your treasury. When the economy slows, there's less revenue coming to Washington, DC. About half of the deficit is caused by the recession that we're trying to get out of. A quarter of the deficit is caused by the fact that we're spending money to defend America. My attitude is, anytime we put one of our troops in harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. This Nation will spend what it takes to win the war on terror and to protect the American people. About a quarter of the deficit was caused by the tax relief. But the tax relief is helping us recover from the recession. It was needed. It was needed to make this economy grow. And as the economy grows, more revenues come into the Treasury. The best way to cut down the deficit and I've got a plan to reduce it in half in 5 years is for Congress to set priorities and not overspend. Discretionary spending prior to my arrival was increasing at 8.7 percent. Working with fine Senators like Dick Lugar, we've got discretionary spending down during this budget cycle to 4 percent. There is no question that we've been challenged. But those challenges came to the right people. I have been so proud of our country. We are a country that is determined and strong and tough when we need to be tough and compassionate when we need to be compassionate. We've overcome a lot. We've overcome war, attacks on our country, recessions, corporate scandals. And yet we're still strong. We're vibrant. We're a great nation. We're a great nation because of our ideals and our beliefs. We believe in human dignity. We believe everybody has worth. We believe in freedom and the promise of freedom. Ours is a nation dedicated to a world of peace, and we will use our strength to achieve peace. And ours is a nation dedication to uplifting every citizen who lives in this country by giving every person a chance to realize the great promise, the American Dream. Thank you all for coming. May God bless you, and may God bless America. September 04, 2003 Thank you very much. Please be seated. I appreciate the warm welcome. It's nice to be back here in Kansas City. I feel comfortable here. After all, it's a place of good baseball, pretty good football, and really good barbecue. I have come to this important city, right here in the heart of America, to speak about the future of our Nation's economy. I want to talk about jobs and job creation. Kansas City in many ways symbolizes the incredible energy and ingenuity and flexibility of our economy. It wasn't all that long ago that Kansas City was known for rail lines and stockyards. Now, the economy is a more modern economy because of the spirit of enterprise that exists here and because of the willingness for the people to work hard, because of the optimism of the people in this part of the world. And I share your optimism about the future of this Nation. America's economy today is showing signs of promise. We're emerging from a period of national challenge and economic uncertainty. The hard work of our people and the good policies of our Government are paying off. Our economy is starting to grow again. Americans are feeling more confident. I am determined to work with the United States Congress to turn these hopeful signs into lasting growth and greater prosperity and more jobs. I want to thank Terry Dunn for his kind introduction. I like a good, short introduction. Laughter I appreciate Pete Levi, the president of the Greater Chamber. I flew from Washington here today with two fine Americans Senator Jim Talent, who's doing a great job for the people of Missouri, and Congressman Sam Graves. On the plane ride down, Sam told me that his mother was going to be here today. And I said, "I hope you're still listening to your mother." Laughter I'm still listening to mine laughter most of the time. Laughter I want to thank Paul Rodriguez and CiCi Rojas from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for applause . I also want to thank the board of directors and the members of the chamber for allowing me to come to discuss with you the future of this country. Before I do so, though, I had the honor of meeting Tom Holcom. He's a Missouri native who was out there at Air Force One when at the airport when we landed, to greet me at Air Force One. He started Angel Flight Central. He is a it's a nonprofit organization that provides free air transportation to those in need due to a crisis. The reason I bring this up is that I know the great strength of America is the heart and soul of the American people. And everywhere I go, I like to herald those quiet heroes who are making a difference in people's lives by volunteering time. I like to tell people that it's important for this Nation to usher in a period of personal responsibility. And part of a responsibility society is to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. I want to thank Tom for using his time and talent to help somebody in need. I want to thank you all, if you're a member of the army of compassion in this United States of America, for serving your community by helping somebody who hurts, by reaching out a hand to a neighbor in need. No, Government can help. We can pass out money. But Government cannot put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That is done when a kind soul puts their arm around a brother and sister in need and says, "I love you. What can I do to help?" Events of the last few years have revealed the amazing resilience of our Nation's economy. In our country's history, recessions have typically resulted from single, unexpected shocks such as spikes in energy prices or sudden shifts in markets. Since 2000, our economy has been dealt not just one shock, but three a set of challenges with few parallels in American history. First, the stock market began a steady decline in March 2000, as investors realized that the economy was not healthy. Businesses faced overcapacity during that period of time and cut their budgets for new investment in technology or equipment. And by early 2001, this economy was in recession. And secondly, we were attacked on a fateful day, September the 11th, 2001. An enemy which hates America attacked us and killed a lot of our citizens. It brought our Nation great grief and shock, and it disrupted our economy. The stock market shut down for days. Commercial airlines were devastated. Travel and tourism industry has struggled since, and the costs of higher security are still being paid. The economic impact of those attacks is estimated at 80 billion in economic damage and lost output, which is nearly equivalent to wiping out the entire economy of Kansas for one year. The economic impact of September the 11th continued because of the uncertainty from the war on terror from operations in Afghanistan or war on terror in Iraq or relentless hunt for the killers. In times of conflict, decisionmakers are hesitant to make major purchases, businesses are hesitant to hire new people. The march to war is not conducive for hopeful investment. Our military campaigns in the war on terror have cost our Treasury and our economy. Yet, they have prevented greater costs. We will protect this Nation from further attack and, therefore, protecting our economy from major disruption. The safety of our people, the security of the American people is of paramount concern to me. With a broad coalition, we are taking and will continue to take action around the globe. We will remain on the offensive against terrorist killers. We will stay on the offensive, and this Nation will prevail. Applause Thank you. As we fought this war, our Nation's economy was dealt a third major blow. We discovered corporate malfeasance in boardrooms across America. The scandals corporate scandals erased savings of Americans of some Americans. It forced the layoffs of thousands, and it undermined the confidence of investors. But we took action. I signed tough new laws. In an era of personal responsibility, if you're a CEO in corporate America, we expect you to tell the truth to your shareholders and employees alike. And if you don't, there's going to be serious consequence. In each case, this administration did not stand by and hope that the problem would solve itself. We acted with a strong belief in the spirit of the American people and in free markets. We acted to keep the entrepreneurial spirit of America alive and well. I based decisions on a fundamental principle When our economy is struggling, the best thing that Government can do to stimulate growth is to let people keep more of their own money. So I asked for and the Congress passed major reductions in Federal taxes. We lowered taxes of every American who pays taxes. We raised the child credit to 1,000 per child. We reduced the marriage penalty. Seems like to me the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not discourage marriage. These actions have brought substantial savings to the taxpayers and have been critical in fighting the effects of recession. Under the tax relief we passed in 2001 and 2003, a married couple with two children and a household income of 40,000 have seen their Federal income tax bill fall this year from 1,978 to 45. Thanks in part to the reductions we passed, real disposable personal income that which is left in paychecks and other income after taxes are taken out has increased at 3.4 percent rate in the first 2 1 2 years of my administration. That's a faster increase than the pace set in the 1990s. People are keeping more of their own money. That tax relief is taking pressure off of families and is adding momentum to economic growth. Tax relief came at the exact right time. I say that because during the first year of a typical recession, consumer spending rises only at 0.3 percent. That's a typical recession. In the most recent recession, thanks in part to the tax cuts, consumer spending rose by nearly 10 times that rate. When people have more money in their pocket, consumer spending will stay strong, and that spending has continued. Throughout this recession, consumers have shown a belief in America's future by buying homes. In the typical recession, housing investment falls by 10 percent and doesn't recover for nearly 2 years. Thanks to tax relief and low interest rates, housing investment dropped by only one percent in this recession and then began to rise above prerecession levels within only one year. This July, housing starts reached their highest level since 1986. Homeownership in America is now at 68 percent, one of the highest levels ever recorded. And many Americans have refinanced their homes, saving themselves billions of dollars. And that helps our economy grow as well. As Americans grow more confident and make more purchases, small and large businesses around the country are seeing the benefits. Purchasing managers have reported rising new orders for both goods and services in each month since May. Orders for high tech equipment have been declining had been declining since 2000. They have risen steadily since April. Investors are showing greater confidence in the stock market. Thanks to our efforts to reduce taxes on stock dividends, dozens of major companies have announced plans to either increase their existing dividend payout or pay dividends for the first time, which will put billions of dollars in cash into the pockets of American shareholders. And that is good for our economy. For small businesses and I know we've got some small business owners here today the outlook is improving. I found it interesting that Americans are starting sole proprietorships at a faster rate than they did in the 1990s. The tax relief we passed helps small businesses. Most small businesses are either sole proprietorships or Subchapter S corporations, which means they pay tax at the individual income tax level. And therefore, when you reduce individual income taxes, you're providing much needed capital for small businesses all across America. Since small businesses create most of the new jobs in America, we recognized we needed to do more. And so, we gave further encouragement to small businesses by raising the annual expense deduction from 25,000 to 100,000. By helping small businesses, by creating the environment for capital accumulation and capital investment at the small business level, not only are we sustaining the entrepreneurial spirit in America, but we're helping Americans find work. The recession was hard on a lot of Americans. Over the past 2 1 2 years, I've met with dozens of our fellow citizens, families who have struggled to meet emergency bills, seniors who saw their savings hurt by stock market declines, small business owners who had to put in a lot of work just to keep their dream alive. These Americans were helped by tax relief. Had we not taken action, this economy would have been in a deeper recession. It would have been longer, and as many as 1.5 million Americans who went to work this morning would have been out of a job. Instead, because we did act, the recession was one of the shallowest in modern economic history. Some critics, who opposed tax relief to start with, are still opposing it. They argue we should return to the way things were in 2001. What they're really saying is they want to raise taxes. Higher taxes will not create one job in America. Raising taxes would hurt economic growth. Tax relief is putting this Nation on the path to prosperity, and I intend to keep it on the path to prosperity. I was told of a story of the Nebraska Furniture Mart. It's an interesting American story. It's a story of a family that started this company in Omaha, Nebraska, and they wanted to build a store right here in Kansas City, Kansas. It wasn't the best time to open up a store, but the people running the company thought it was a good risk, a good market. They planned on bringing or hiring 550 new workers for their new store, because the tax relief we passed put more money in people's pockets, and the demand for the goods they sold in that store was greater than they expected. So Furniture Mart hired 1,000 people instead of 550. Robert Batt and his family they run the company he said this he said, "We just believe in America, and we do what we excel at, selling furniture. The customers are out there. We've never had a layoff in 67 years." Not only have they not had a layoff in 67 years, they had enough confidence and the policies of the administration were working such that they were able to provide work for 1,000 of our fellow citizens. Even as this economy is looking up, it's hard to feel confidence if you're somebody looking for a job. People who have been hit hard in the manufacturing sector know what I'm talking about. Parts of this country are not doing as well as they should, regions like the Pacific Northwest and parts of the Midwest. Part of the current problem is that job creation lags behind improvements in the overall economy. Of course, it takes a while for job creation to catch up. Usually, when the economy comes out of a recession, jobs are the last thing to arrive. Employers tend to rely on overtime until they're sure it makes sense to hire another worker. Yet, there's another basic reason for lagging employment, and that is increases in worker productivity. Over the long term, higher productivity lifts workers' wages and standards of living, and it helps the economy. We've got the most productive workers in the world right here in America. And that's good for the long term economic prospects. You see, higher levels of productivity means that we'll see better paying jobs for the American worker. But there is a downside in the short term. When a business can produce more per employee in other words, productivity has gone up per person it does not hire new people right away to meet rising demand. So therefore, the agenda that I've got and I'm going to describe to you, to build on what we have done already, has one thing in mind, and that is, our economy must grow faster than productivity increases to make sure that people can find a job. I'm interested in Americans going to work. That's what I'm interested in. And we will continue to help individuals get through the tough times and to prepare for better times. My administration supported the extensions of the unemployment benefits so that people that have been laid off get the help they need. Our economy demands new and different skills. We are a changing economy. And therefore, we must constantly educate workers to be able to fill the jobs of the 21st century. And so therefore, I went to Congress and asked for increased funding for Pell grants for higher education scholarships. Now, more than 1.9 million community college students receive those grants. Community colleges are great places for people to learn new skills so they can fill the new jobs of the 21st century. And that's why the Department of Labor has begun a high tech job training initiative to create partnerships between employers those people who know what kind of jobs are needed community colleges, and career centers so that those looking for work can match education and the skills they learn with the jobs that actually exist. And for those who are having the hardest time finding work, I proposed to the Congress a new idea called Reemployment Accounts. These accounts will provide a job seeker with up to 3,000 to pay for training, daycare, transportation, relocation expenses, whatever it takes to find a new job. And if they find a job quicker than the allotted time for the 3,000, they get to keep the difference between what they've spent and the 3,000 as a reemployment bonus. These accounts, if Congress will act, will help more than 1 million of our fellow citizens receive the training necessary to become employable, to meet the to be able to fill the new jobs of the 21st century. What's interesting is, right now, is that as the economy is getting a little better, employers are now beginning to decide whether to hire more workers. Hiring is a big decision, especially big for a small company. After all, when you take on a new employee, you not only show confidence in the person you've got to have confidence in your company's future. And there are six specific actions we can take to help build that confidence, so that people can find a job. First, people are more likely to find work if health care costs are reasonable and predictable. Adding an employee often requires more than paying a wage. You know that. It means providing benefits such as health insurance. But company costs for health benefits have been rising nearly 10 percent a year since 2000. These increases cut the capacity to create jobs, and we've got to deal with them. We've got to take this issue straight on. We can help small businesses by allowing them to join together to shop for health insurance, allowing them to pool their risks in what's called associated health care plans. It makes sense to give small businesses the same bargaining power that big companies enjoy, so they can reduce their health care costs. The House of Representatives has passed a good bill. It is time for the Senate to act. I thank Senator Talent for his support and leadership. In order to address another cost of rising health care, we must fix the problem of frivolous lawsuits against our doctors and hospitals. Litigation or the fear of litigation is causing doctors to quit the practice of medicine. Medicine is becoming less accessible because of the frivolous lawsuits. And the doctors that continue to practice who fear a lawsuit will try to protect themselves from the lawsuit by overprescribing, by covering themselves, by practicing defensive medicine, which drives up the cost of health care for everybody. And it drives up the cost of health care to the Federal budget. Frivolous lawsuits increase the cost to the Federal budget because of increases in Medicaid costs and Medicare costs and veterans' costs. Therefore, medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. I proposed to the United States Congress a reasonable reform for medical liability. Any patient that has been harmed should recover all economic damages. We should have a cap of 250,000 on noneconomic damages. If harm is caused by serious misconduct, we ought to have reasonable punitive damages. The House passed the bill it is stuck in the Senate. It is time for the United States Senate to pass medical liability reform, for the sake of job creation in America. Secondly, we ought to take action on a lawsuit culture that affects the workers in every business, not just the docs. Industry estimates show that litigation is a 200 billion a year burden on the U.S. economy. Obviously, when big money goes to trial lawyers, it doesn't go to workers. So I proposed and the House has approved, and it's stuck in the Senate an idea to help relieve the cost of lawsuits. And that is class action reform. We ought to make it easier to move class action and mass tort lawsuits into the Federal courts so that trial lawyers won't be able to shop around our country to find a favorable court. And as we are reforming class action, it also makes sense to make sure that when a verdict is handed down, that the money actually goes to the people who have been harmed. Thirdly, a growing economy depends on steady, affordable, reliable supplies of energy. And yet, as we've seen recently, businesses have had to cope with constant uncertainty, uncertainty because of shortages and energy price spikes or blackouts. It is hard to be able to plan for the future when you're worried about energy supply. And this is especially true for manufacturing companies, which use about a third of the Nation's energy. And so we needed a comprehensive national energy plan, one that seeks to upgrade the electricity grid, that makes reliability standards by those who deliver electricity mandatory, not voluntary. We need to promote new technologies and alternative sources of energy. Someday we may just be growing our energy right here in the State of Missouri. But in the meantime, we've got to find more sources of energy here at home in an environmentally friendly way. I've been calling for Congress to pass a comprehensive energy plan for 2 years. For the sake of national security, for the sake of economic security, we need to be less reliant on foreign sources of energy. People are more likely to find work if the resources of businesses are not spent complying with endless and unreasonable Government regulation from Washington, DC. We will meet our duty to enforce laws, whether it be environmental protection laws or worker safety laws. But we want to simplify regulations in this administration. And we're working hard to do so. I'll just give you one example. We streamlined tax reporting requirements for small businesses, helping 2.6 million small businesses save what is estimated to be 61 million hours of unproductive work. By streamlining regulations, by making regulations more simple, the small businesses that were affected by this change have now got more money to invest in their businesses, which means it's more likely they will hire somebody. Easing the burden of excessive regulation on all businesses is important for job creation all across our country. Fifth, people are more likely to find work if we continue to expand trading opportunities for our goods and services. My administration is opening up new markets around the world for products that carry the international mark of quality, a label that says, made or produced in America. Yesterday I signed legislation creating free trade agreements with Singapore and Chile. These agreements will lower tariffs on American made goods and make our goods more competitive abroad. Let me give you an example of what I'm talking about. American made heavy machinery, such as motor grader, costs 11,200 more when sold in Chile because of extra tariffs. If that machinery were made in Canada or the European Union, it would carry no tariff. Therefore, an American product, because of the tariffs that existed, were priced out of the reach of the buyer in Chile. Because of what the bill I signed because of my desire to make sure the playing field is level around the world, manufacturers will be able to compete on a level playing field. And there's no doubt in my mind that when the playing field is level, American workers can compete with anybody in the world. Finally, people are more likely to find work if businesses and their workers can be certain that the lower tax rates of the last years will stay in place. Today, you don't have that confidence they'll stay in place, and there's a good reason because under the laws that were passed, tax relief is set to expire. The death tax, which is being phased out and will disappear in 2010 but comes back to life because of a quirk in Senate rules, will be revived in 2011. That doesn't make any sense to say to the small business owner or the farmer or the rancher, "We're going to phase out the death tax, which is a bad tax to begin with, and then let it pop back to life." But that's reality. Or how about this The capital gains tax reductions, a vital part of encouraging capital formation, will rise by a third in 2008. The incentives for small businesses will vanish in 2006. At midnight on December 31, 2004, the 1,000 child credit is set to fall back to 700 per child. The marriage penalty will take a bigger bite. That's the way the Congress did it. What Congress needs to do is to get this message When we threw out the old taxes, Americans didn't expect to see them sneaking in through the back door. For the sake of growth for the sake of economic growth, for the sake of job creation, the United States Congress must make these tax cuts permanent. I know there's talk about the deficit. The deficit is caused when less revenues come into the Treasury relative to expenditures. And when you have a recession, less revenues come into the Treasury. But also remember, that time we're at war. My attitude is, any time we put one of our soldiers in harm's way, we're going to spend what is ever necessary to make sure they have the best training, the best support, and the best possible equipment. And the tax relief, which is stimulating economic growth, is a part of the deficit. It's about a quarter of the deficit. But this economy, as it grows, will yield more money to the Treasury. And I've laid out a 5 year plan to reduce the deficit in half. That assumes I have a willing partner in the Congress. Congress must hold the line on unnecessary spending. I have proposed a 4 percent increase in discretionary spending for this year's budget. It's about equal to the increase of the average family budget. If it's good enough for American families, it ought to be good enough for the appetite of some of the Congressmen. They need to stick with that agreement. They need to understand that in order to cut the deficits in half, we must have spending discipline in Washington, DC. And I will insist upon spending discipline in Washington, DC. There's a lot we can do now that the Congress is back in town. And I look forward to working with both Republicans and Democrats to set the framework for continued economic prosperity and growth. I mentioned earlier, I'm optimistic about our future in this country. If you've seen what I've seen, you'd be optimistic too. I've seen the great spirit of the country. I know the attitude of the American people. I know the determination and will, the willingness to work hard, the willingness to place family above self, the willingness to serve something greater than yourself that's the American spirit. And it is strong, and it is alive, and it is great. I have confidence in the future of America. I have confidence in our economy, because I have great confidence in the creativity and the enterprise of the American people. Thank you for coming. May God bless you, and may continue to bless America. September 01, 2003 Thank you all. I don't know about you, but we needed a little rain in Crawford. Laughter Send it that way, if you don't mind. Laughter Thank you so much for coming out on Labor Day. I appreciate so many folks enduring the rain to say hello to the President. I am thrilled you are here, and I'm thrilled I'm here. The working people of this country deserve a day off, and it looks like you're enjoying it. Laughter I want you to know that I know the strength of the American economy comes from hard working men and women. This country prospers because of people who give their best effort every day to support their families, to go to work, to make America a better place. One man who traveled with me today, who understands this, and who loves his country, is Mr. Frank Hanley. I'm proud to be traveling with him, and I know you're proud to have him as your president. You know, it's interesting that it was union leaders who first suggested a day to honor America's workers. And I'm glad we do. And I'm proud to be here in Ohio with Ohio families celebrating Labor Day. I'm grateful to the Operating Engineers for hosting us today. This union represents men and women of great skill and great professional pride. I want you to think back to that fateful day, September the 11th, and what happened afterwards. It was then that the whole world saw the skill and commitment and incredible work of the Operating Engineers who manned the heavy equipment to clear Ground Zero. You overcame unimaginable challenges you removed the rubble in record time. You are now working to make sure America is prepared for any emergency, and this Nation is grateful for your skill and your sacrifice. We're also grateful to some other hard working Americans who don't have the day off, the people of the United States military who are winning the war against terror. The war against terror goes on. It goes on because we love freedom, and we're not going to change, and our enemies hate freedom. It goes on because there are cold blooded killers who have hijacked a religion. It goes on because we refuse to relent. And the best way to protect our homeland, the best way to make sure that we listen to the lessons of September the 11th, 2001, the best way to do our solemn duty to the American people is to chase the killers down, one by one, and bring them to justice. And so on this Labor Day, when many have the day off, we thank our men and women who wear our uniform. We thank them and their families. We thank their sacrifice, and we want all to know, you make our Nation proud. I appreciate our Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao, for her hard work and her outreach to labor leaders all across the country. I want to thank Jim Gardner, the general vice president and business manager of Local 18 for he's the host of this event. I want to thank Jim for setting up this beautiful site and for the weather. Laughter I traveled today as well with Chuck Canterbury. He's the president of the Fraternal Order of Police. I appreciate you coming, Chuck. I want to thank those who wear our Nation's uniform when it comes to providing police protection and fire protection. We appreciate your service. I like to remind people that a culture of responsibility is coming in America. One of the reasons why is that we see every day people who are willing to serve something greater than themself in life. Our children see heroes again, because they see police men and women and firefighters and emergency teams and military personnel who sacrifice for something greater than themselves in life. And for all the officers who are with us today, I thank you for your line of service for America. I want to thank Governor Bob Taft for greeting me at the airport today. I appreciate so very much two United States the two United States Senators from the State of Ohio who are with me today, and I suspect may be looking for a ride back to Washington laughter Senator George Voinovich and Senator Mike DeWine. Steve LaTourette and Ralph Regula, Members of the House of Representatives, are with us today as well, and I appreciate them coming. I mentioned Governor Taft, and Jennette Bradley, the Lieutenant Governor, is with us. Jim Trakas is with us, who is the Ohio State house majority leader. I want to thank all the local officials for coming out to say hello. Today I want to talk about our economy. I want people to understand that when somebody wants to work and can't find a job, it says we've got a problem in America that we're going to deal with. We want everybody in this country working. We want people to be able to realize their personal dreams by finding a job. And we've got a lot of strengths in this economy. One of the greatest strengths, of course, is the workforce. We've got the best workers in the world. We're the most productive workers in the entire world. Productivity is up. What productivity means is that we've got a lot of hard work, and we're using new technologies to make people more effective when it comes to the job, and that's important. You see, in 1979, it took more than 40 hours of labor to make a car, and now it takes 18 hours. We're productive. Our workers are really productive in America. Higher productivity not only means we can produce better products, but it means our people are better off. The more productive you are, the better off our workers are. You see, it's better to operate a backhoe than it is a shovel. That's what we mean by productivity. Higher productivity means that workers earn more, and it means it takes less time for workers to earn the money to buy the things they need. In 1908, the average factory worker had to labor for more than 2 years to buy a Model T more than 2 years of work to buy a car. Today, you can buy a family vehicle for about 7 months of salary. The higher the productivity rates, the better it is for American workers. We're a productive nation because of the good, hard working Americans, and that's what we're here to celebrate today. You know, I also want you to focus on what we have overcome. I mean, we're a strong nation. We've got great foundations for growth, and we've overcome a lot as a country over the last couple of years. In early 2000, the stock market started to decline. That affects you. It affects your savings. It affects your pension accounts. It was a forerunner of the recession that came. First quarter of 2001, we were in recession, but we acted to come out of that recession. We acted with tax relief, and it created big noise and big debate in Washington. But here's what I believe, and here's what I know When you've got more money in your pocket, it means you're going to spend or save and invest. And when you spend and save or invest, somebody is going to produce a product for you to be able to spend your money on. When somebody produces a product, it's more likely somebody is going to be able to find a job. Tax relief was needed to stem the recession. They tell me it was a shallow recession. It was a shallow recession because of the tax relief. Some say, "Well, maybe the recession should have been deeper." That bothers me when people say that. You see, a deeper recession would have meant more families would have been out of work. I'm interested in solving problems quickly. I want more people working. No, we did the right thing with tax relief, and we were beginning to pull out when the terrorists hit us. And they struck us hard. Cost our American economy about 80 billion. The attack of September the 11th had a high price tag to it. That's the equivalent of wiping out about one fifth of Ohio's economy. But we acted. Not only did we go on the offensive with a mighty and skilled military we did some things to keep our people back at work. And one of the things that the Operating Engineers know we did and I want to thank Frank for working with us is that we fought for terrorism reinsurance to make sure big construction projects stayed on schedule. We worked to preserve thousands of jobs for America's construction workers, because we want people working in America. We want people to put food on the table. We want moms and dads to be able to do their duty as a mom or a dad. And so we began to recover from the terrorist attacks, and then we found out some of the citizens, some of the corporate CEOs, forgot what it means to be a responsible American. They forgot to do their duty. They didn't tell the truth to their shareholders and their employees. So we acted. We passed two new tough laws. And now the message is clear If you don't tell the truth, there is going to be serious consequences. We expect the best out of corporate America. Yet the economy was still bumping along. We hadn't recovered from all the challenges, and so we passed tax relief again. I called upon Congress to pass the jobs and growth package, and we lowered taxes once again to create jobs. When you reduce taxes, people have more money. And I'm going to remind you of what we did. If you're a mom or a dad, we increased the child credit to 1,000 per child, and we put the checks in the mail, 400 additional per child for American families, so you get to decide to do with with the money. It's your choice. You see, after all, in Washington, we don't spend the Government's money we spend your money. We reduced the marriage penalty. What kind of Tax Code is it that discourages marriage? Laughter We want to encourage marriage. We gave incentives to small businesses so that they can hire more people. We reduced taxes on capital gains and dividends to protect your savings accounts. We want the pension plans strong. We want the 401(k)s doing well. We reduced all taxes. We thought it was fairer not to try to pick and choose winners. If you pay taxes, you deserve relief. Three million people are now off the tax rolls 3.9 million households received tax relief. No, we're making a difference. And the economy is beginning to grow, and that's what I'm interested in. I come with an optimistic message. I believe there are better days ahead for people who are working and looking for work. Economic output is rising faster than expected. Low interest rates mean that families can save billions by refinancing their homes. I bet some of you have refinanced your homes, put a little extra money into your pocket. Consumer spending is on the rise. Companies are seeing more orders, especially orders for heavy equipment. No, things are getting better. But there are some things we've got to do to make sure the economy continues to grow. I want you to understand that I understand that Ohio manufacturers are hurting, that there's a problem with the manufacturing sector. And I understand for a full recovery, to make sure people can find work, that manufacturing must do better. And we've lost thousands of jobs in manufacturing, some of it because of productivity gains in other words, people can have the same output with fewer people but some of it because production moved overseas. So I told Secretary Don Evans of the Commerce Department, I want him to appoint an Assistant Secretary to focus on the needs of manufacturers, to make sure our manufacturing job base is strong and vibrant. In other words, any part of a good recovery for the State of Ohio and other manufacturing States has got to be for the manufacturing sector to come around. One way to make sure that we the manufacturing sector does well is to send a message overseas, say, "Look, we expect there to be a fair playing field when it comes to trade." See, we in America believe we can compete with anybody just so long as the rules are fair, and we intend to keep the rules fair. We have a responsibility that when somebody hurts, Government has got to move. And that's why we've signed extensions to the unemployment insurance, so people can get their feet back on the ground. Elaine's Department, the Department of Labor, passes out emergency grants for people who are hurting to cover health care costs and child care costs and other critical needs. And that's a useful role for the Government. I proposed to Congress a new idea to help people get back to work, particularly those that are have the hardest time finding work. We call them reemployment accounts. I proposed spending 3.6 billion to help a million Americans find work. We'd write put some money aside for somebody to use for daycare or retraining, to be able to move. If they're able to find a job in a prescribed period of time, they'd be able to keep the difference between what we gave them to begin with and what was unspent, in other words, a reemployment bonus. It's a novel approach to help a million Americans who are having a tough time finding work to find work. Reemployment accounts make sense. Congress needs to act. We've also got to make sure that our people get the right skills. Listen, technology changes. I understand that. You know that. We want our people to be trained, to keep up with new technology, just like they do right here. I want to thank the Operating Engineers. I want to thank Frank for his leadership. I want to thank the local leaders for their leadership and understanding that in order for a man or woman to stay up, there needs to be retraining opportunities. As our economy changes, people need to be retrained. The Operating Engineers do a great job right here of helping people. That's all the worker wants, is to be helped, be given the skills necessary to realize his or her dreams. The high growth job training initiative in this administration is aiming just to do that. It's a collaborative effort with community colleges to help team up people with the jobs that are needed, to make sure that the changes in our economy don't leave people behind. And education can help a lot, and we're going to continue to stay focused on education in this administration. We not only want our little ones to be able to read and write and add and subtract we want to make sure the older ones have a chance to realize the opportunities of tomorrow as well. And we will. And finally, I want to talk about another issue right quick or two other issues right quick. One of them is, this country needs an energy policy. If you rely upon a manufacturing base for job employment, you need energy. We need a policy. I've been talking about this for a couple of years. Congress needs to get me an energy bill. You learned firsthand what it means to have a what it means to modernize the electricity grid, if you know what I mean. Laughter The grid needs to be modernized. First, we need to find out and will find out what went wrong, why you had your electricity shut down out here. But we ought to use this as an opportunity to modernize the system. They used to have in the law they had, you know, said these electricity deliverers could have voluntary reliability standards. We don't need voluntary reliability standards. We need mandatory reliability standards. We want to make sure there's incentives for people to put new poles in the ground and invest. The energy sector has been hamstrung by old laws. We need new laws. And I've been calling on Congress to do this. And when they get back, they need to stop politicking and get a good energy plan, so that we can make sure the economy continues to grow. I'll tell you what else we need to do. We need to use our technologies to be able to explore for energy in environmentally friendly ways. For the sake of national security, for the sake of economic security, we need to become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. A sound energy policy makes sense. And so does good highway policy. We proposed some increases over the last 6 years. These highway bills come in 6 year increments. I proposed 30 billion more spending on highways over the next 6 than the last 6. We not only want to make sure our people can find jobs and work, like the people who are pushing these big equipment around, but we want people driving on better roads. We want to be able to deal with congestion so we can get our people moving around. There's a lot we can do. We've done a lot to lay the foundation for economic growth. And there's a lot we can do when Congress gets back to make sure that this economic recovery continues so people can find work. On Labor Day, we're committed to helping those who have got a job keep a job and committed to those who are looking for work to find a job. That's the commitment of this Labor Day. We're also committed to our freedom and to peace, and we will stay on the offensive to protect our freedom. And we will stay with the notion that the more free societies are, the more peaceful they become. See, we love freedom and we love peace in America, and we intend to make the world a more peaceful place. This country will lead the world to peace. I really enjoy coming out and seeing people bring their kids out. I want to thank you for bringing them. It reminds me of one of the things that's happening in our country. It's a new spirit in America. There's a cultural change taking place, it seems like to me, and that is, we're getting away from the era that said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to an era in which each of understands we're responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're a mom or a dad, if you're lucky enough to be a parent, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul. That's your job. If you're worried about the quality of education in the neighborhood in which you live, then you're responsible for doing something about it. As I mentioned, if you happen to be a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth. You're responsible for treating your employees with respect. If you're an American in the responsibility era, you're responsible for loving a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. I want to thank those of you who reach out to somebody who hurts, somebody in need. You see, the great strength of the country is not our military might or economic prowess the great strength of the country is the heart and soul of the American people. Millions of acts of kindness and decency go on on a daily basis. Millions of acts of decency and kindness help define the true worth and the true strength of this great American country. And so on Labor Day, a day in which we honor the worker, let us honor those who work to make our society and country a more compassionate place by helping a neighbor in need, by doing your job as a citizen of the country, by being a patriotic person, which means more than just putting your hand over your heart. It means serving your country in ways large and small, all aimed at lifting up this Nation, all aimed at keeping us the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless America. Thank you all. August 26, 2003 Thanks for the warm welcome. It's such an honor to be here in the great State of Missouri. I am here because I believe Kit Bond is the right man for the United States Senate. And I want to thank you for his for your strong support for this fine Senator. Looks like you've got a few friends here in Missouri, Senator. Laughter Actually, I wasn't his first choice to come tonight. Laughter Laura is stuck on the ranch. Laughter But she sends her very best to Kit and to Linda. Just as a kind of step back, I am really fortunate that Laura Bush said yes when I asked her to marry me. She is a great First Lady and a fabulous wife. I appreciate you know, Senator Bond and I both married above ourselves. Laughter And it's great to see Linda. She's done a lot for him. She shortened his speeches and shortened his waistline. Laughter He's getting in fighting form for the '04 elections. I'm also honored to be here with former Senator Jack Danforth. What a distinguished citizen of your State he is. He's working hard to bring peace to the Sudan. It's about as tough as an assignment as somebody can be given. But because of his steady demeanor and patience and his faith in freedom and peace, I think we'll achieve peace in the Sudan, and Jack Dan forth will deserve a lot of credit. I'm also honored to be here with the junior Senator from the great State of Missouri, a man who's doing a fabulous job on your behalf, Senator Jim Talent. Speaking about Missouri citizens doing a fine job, John Ashcroft is a very good Attorney General. I am proud of the job he is doing. You trained him well. Laughter Also traveling with me today is another member of my Cabinet, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, a friend of the veterans, Tony Principi. Thank you for coming, Mr. Secretary. He and I were at the American Legion Convention today and had a chance to talk about our foreign policy. And I'll speak a little bit about that later on. I appreciate Congressman Todd Akin and Congressman Kenny Hulshof as well from the mighty delegation from the State of Missouri. These are two strong allies and good friends, and I appreciate their service. I know that Secretary of State Matt Blunt is with us, and his wife, Melanie. I know that Catherine Hanaway, the speaker of the house, is with us, and I know that State Senator Peter Kinder are here. And I appreciate the members of the State delegation from Missouri for coming as well. Ann Wagner is the cochair of the Republican National Committee, and I'm really proud of her service to the Republican Party not only here in Missouri but across the Nation. Annie, thank you very much for your hard work. And finally, I want to thank the State chairman for Bush Cheney 2004. Everybody's got to have a good uncle laughter and I've got a great uncle. The reason I'm here is because Kit Bond understands the challenges which face our Nation, and he's willing to join in constructive ways to do something about it. I think the best types of people who go to Washington are those who can recognize a problem and then have the courage and will to do something about it. And that's what I appreciate about Kit Bond. He and I share this value, that the future of freedom and peace depends upon the actions of America. We believe that this Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We believe that everybody yearns for freedom and that every nation should be free. This is history has given this country a charge to keep, and we're keeping it. You know, this Nation was pretty secure for a while, secure that oceans could protect us. And then 9 11, 2001, came upon us. It was an historic moment because we realized that we weren't safe from an enemy which hates what we stand for. Because we love freedom and human dignity, because we love the fact that people can worship freely and speak freely, there's an enemy in the world which hates us. And since we're not going to change, in order to do our jobs, we must find them before they hurt America again. Kit Bond understands that the best way to secure the homeland of America is to find the enemies of freedom one by one and bring them to justice. And I appreciate his support in making this world more free, making America more secure, and making the world more peaceful. We're after Al Qaida. Slowly but surely, we're dismantling the terrorist network which has hijacked a great religion, which murders in the name of Islam. One by one, we're bringing them to justice. We've captured or killed over two thirds of the Al Qaida operative network. Just a while ago, we got this guy Hambali, who we think was the instigator of the bombing in Bali. One by one, Al Qaida is meeting its demise. It doesn't matter where they hide, it doesn't matter where they cringe, the United States of America will find them and bring them to justice. Part of the war on terror is to prevent hostile regimes from teaming up with terrorist networks. And that's why we went into Afghanistan. I sent a clear message If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist. And the Taliban in Afghanistan understand exactly what we mean. And I appreciate Senator Bond's understanding of the need for the United States to uphold doctrine. When we say something in this country, we better do it, for the credibility of the world. We've got a lot of work to do in Afghanistan, and we're doing it. We're training an Afghan army so they can best protect themselves. NATO is now involved in Afghanistan. And I want to thank our German friends for taking an active role in making Afghanistan more secure. We're building roads we're opening up hospitals and many young girls go to school for the first time, thanks to the United States of America. We gave a clear ultimatum to Saddam Hussein that he must disarm. He chose defiance, and Saddam Hussein is no more. He will not be able to threaten anybody with weapons of mass destruction. He will not be able to provide money for suicide bombers that were killing Israelis. Saddam Hussein will no longer have torture chambers. He is a man who is not in power, thanks to the United States of America and our friends and allies. And we've got a lot of work to do in Iraq. You see, terrorists can't stand the thought of a free society in the Middle East. People who hate freedom are revolted at the fact that there may be a society that honors human rights and dignity, that treats men and women equally. Terrorists can't stand the thought of success in Iraq. We're at a crucial point in history in Iraq. And I look forward to working with Senator Bond and Senator Talent and Members of the House to provide the resources necessary to make sure that Iraq is not only secure but that Iraq is free and peaceful. A peaceful Iraq is in the long term interest of the United States of America. And we're making progress there. You see, if you've been tortured and remember, this is a country where we discovered thousands of people who had been executed and placed in mass graves, men, women, and children executed by Saddam Hussein. It's a country which had been terrorized and brutalized. It's a country which couldn't comprehend freedom. So it's going to take awhile for people to develop the habits necessary for a free society to emerge. But I'm absolutely confident, when we stay the course, a strong ally of the United States and any country which loves freedom will emerge. And that will have a positive effect on Israel and a Palestinian state. It will have a positive effect in a region which is harbored and educated and grew terrorists. The long term interests of the United States of America depend on this country doing what's right. And I'm proud to have Senators who understand that and are willing to stand with this administration to make sure we keep our word to the people of Iraq, that we hear the ambitions of those who love freedom in Iran, that we stand strong against the terrorists who would like to destroy the Middle East peace process. This country is leading the world to freedom and peace. It's inherent in our values. We understand that freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is God's gift to every individual in the world. I appreciate Senator Bond's support of a policy which says that when this country sees hopelessness and despair around the world, we will not turn our back. I'm proud to be leading a nation which is leading the world in the fight against AIDS on the continent of Africa. I recently traveled to Africa. I'll never forget going to Uganda, a country which is beginning to show what is possible in arresting that terrible pandemic. We went to a clinic, and we saw young mothers ravished by AIDS, the desperate look in their eyes. I could tell when they looked at the President of the United States, they saw hope. I remember seeing the children's choir these are children of orphans who sang hymns to us. It's a sad moment for me because I realized their moms and dads were gone. It was a joyous moment, though, to realize that people of faith had come to surround them with love. They too look at the United States for hope. I want to thank Senator Bond for his support on the AIDS initiative. The United States is leading the world in an incredibly important work of human rescue. I believe our foreign policy is compassionate when it needs to be compassionate and tough when it needs to be tough. But it's based upon a strong belief that freedom is universal and the strong knowledge that free societies will be peaceful societies. When I came to Washington, DC, our military was underfunded, and morale was beginning to suffer. I proposed defense budgets to prepare our military for threats of a new era. Senator Bond was a strong supporter of those defense budgets, and no one in the world today can question the skill, the honor, the sacrifice, the utility of the United States military. When we came into office, the country was in recession, and we started getting better. The economy was getting a little better then the enemy hit us. And then we had some corporate scandals we had some people in our society who forgot what it means to be a responsible citizen. They didn't tell the truth to their shareholders and their employees, and that affected the people's confidence. And then on your TV screens you saw the words "march to war," which is not a very conducive phrase for economic development. But we acted. We passed tough laws to hold corporate criminals to account, and I want to thank Senator Bond's support on that. And in order to get our economy growing, I called upon the Congress. Senator Bond and Senator Talent and others were strong supporters of historic tax relief. We understand that when people have more money in their pocket, they will save, spend, invest. And when they do so, somebody is more likely to find a job. I appreciate Senator Bond's willingness to join the administration and insisting that Congress hold the line on spending. We understand whose money we spend in Washington. It is not the Government's money it is the people's money. And he is a good steward of the people's money. When Congress returns, we'll be debating a crucial issue, and that is Medicare. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, we have a chance to reform the system that needs to be reformed. Inherent in both plans out of the House and the Senate is the idea that we will trust seniors to make the choices that they need in order to develop their health care plans and health care needs. And inherent in both plans is the knowledge and understanding that we need to have prescription drug coverage for our seniors. I want to thank Senator Bond for his willingness to stand up and join us in modernizing Medicare. We owe our seniors a modern Medicare system. There are a lot of issues that relate to health that will be before our Congress. A significant issue is the issue of frivolous lawsuits. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care. Frivolous and junk lawsuits drive up the cost of Medicare, Medicaid, veterans health benefits. Medical liability reform, therefore, is a national issue which requires a national solution. We got a good bill out of the House of Representatives. It is stuck in the United States Senate. Kit Bond is one of the Senators, if it does get unstuck, will be responsible for passing good medical liability reform out of the United States Senate. This country needs an energy bill. We need to have a national energy strategy. The blackouts on the east coast should make it clear to the skeptics in Congress that we need to modernize the electricity grid. We need mandatory reliability law. We need to encourage more investment into the transmission of electricity. We need to conserve more. We need more efficiency. But for the sake of economic security and for the sake of energy security and national security, we need to become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. I appreciate working with Senator Bond on commonsense environmental policy. We both disagree with the judge's decision about the waterflows into the Missouri River. And we both agree that we must do a better job of preserving one of the most important assets we have in America, which is our national forests. We need a commonsense, reasonable forest policy to prevent the raging forest fires from destroying this incredibly valuable asset. I have an obligation to fill the judiciary with capable, honest, decent people. I have fulfilled that obligation. I have nominated superb women and men to the Federal bench, people who will interpret the law, not use the bench from which to legislate. And Senator Bond has been a strong supporter of my judicial nominees. But we have a problem in the United States Senate. There are some Senators who refuse to give my nominees an up or down vote. It is time for some of those Senators to stop playing politics with American justice. I have an obligation to set great goals for this country. One of the goals I've set is to spread peace and freedom. Another great goal is to spread compassion throughout our land. I want our society to be an ownership society. See, I believe if you own something, you have a vital stake in the future. I believe if you own something in America, it helps with dignity and independence of life. We want more people owning their home. We have a minority homeownership gap in America. I look forward to working with Senator Bond to help narrow that gap. We want people owning and managing their own health care plans. We want people owning and managing their own retirement plans. Kit Bond is a strong believer in the small business owner of Missouri and America. We want more people owning their own small business. I look forward to working with Senator Bond to promote the ownership society of America. Finally, I look forward to working with Senator Bond to get a faith based initiative out of the United States Senate. I believe strongly that this Government should not fear faith but should welcome faith based givers, neighborhood healers and helpers, when we see somebody who hurts. We all asked a question in Washington, DC "Is the program effective that's helping save life? Is the Christian program or the Jewish program or the Muslim program effective at changing lives and saving lives?" That's the question we ought to be asking in Washington. The truth of the matter is, the great strength of America lies in the hearts and souls of the American people. We have people who hurt in our country. We have children who need to be mentored. We've got people who are hopelessly addicted to drugs. We need to welcome the armies of compassion, no matter what their faith, into the compassionate delivery of help and succor to those of our citizens who hurt. Kit Bond will be a valuable ally in the passage of a much needed faith based initiative that allows for faith based programs to access Federal money, all in the aim of loving a neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. You just heard some of the reasons you need to send him back up there. Perhaps the greatest reason is he believes like I do, that both of us are fortunate to represent great people, that we're fortunate to be in positions of responsibility to represent the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. I want to thank you for helping this good man. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless America. August 26, 2003 Thanks for the warm welcome. I appreciate such a huge response for our invitation to come for a little light meal. Laughter It's an honor to be back in the beautiful State of Minnesota and two such vibrant cities. The temperature differential is nice too, I might add. Laughter I came up from Crawford today. What I really want to do is thank you for your support and your friendship and to let you know that today we're laying the groundwork for what is going to be a great national victory in November of 2004. I appreciate the fact that you have contributed, but I want you to know I'm going to count on you to contribute more. I need you to tell your neighbors, and for those of you who go to coffee shops, you be telling them in the coffee shops that this President and this administration will continue to work for a positive and hopeful vision for every single American. I'm loosening up, and I'm getting ready for the campaign. Laughter But there's going to be plenty of time for politics, because I've got a job to do. I'm focused on the people's business, and we have a lot on our agenda in Washington, DC. Until the political season starts for me, I will continue to work to earn the confidence of every American by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. My big regret today is that the First Lady is not traveling with me. She's in Crawford with Barney. Laughter But I want you to know that it is a great comfort to live in the White House with Laura Bush. She is a great First Lady, a fabulous wife. I love her dearly, and she sends her best. I want to thank Ben Whitney for his willingness to lead this campaign here in the State of Minnesota. I appreciate my friend Rudy Boschwitz for taking a leadership role for this event today and for the remaining events. I want to thank all the State cochairmen, starting with a fine man and a guy who is doing a good job as your Governor, Tim Pawlenty. Tim, thank you for coming today. I'll never forget the rally that I attended here in 2002 for United States Senator Norm Coleman. I'm sorry Norm can't be here, but it's a joy to work with him in the United States Senate. He is doing a fine job on behalf of the citizens of Minnesota. I thank Congressman Gil Gutknecht for coming today. I appreciate his hard work, and it's been a joy to work with him and others of the Minnesota delegation. I want to thank your State auditor for coming. I appreciate the leadership of the legislature for being here, the speaker of the house as well as the Minnesota minority leader in the State senate. I'm honored you all have taken time out of your day to come to say hello. I appreciate my friend Mercer Reynolds, who is the national fundraising chairman for Bush Cheney. He's from Cincinnati, Ohio. He's a businessperson. He's taking time out of his life to work hard to see that we raise the monies necessary to wage a viable and strong campaign. I want to thank Rob Eibensteiner, who is the chairman of the Republican Party of Minnesota. I want to thank former Governor Al Quie for coming. But most of all, I want to thank you all for your loyal and strong support. You know, in the last 2 1 2 years, this Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to the office of President of the United States to solve problems instead of passing them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. We are meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. We increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And then our country was attacked, and scandals broke out in corporate America, and we were headed to war, which all affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief to get our economy moving again. Here's what I believe, and here's what I know, that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows and people are more likely to find a job. I also understand whose money we spend in Washington, DC. It is not the Government's money it is the people's money that we spend in our Nation's Capital. We're returning more money for people to help them raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives that are needed to hire new people. With all these actions, we're laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across our country so that every single person has a chance to realize the American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We're bringing high standards and strong accountability measures to every public school in America. See, we believe that every child can learn the basics of reading and math. We believe every school must teach the basics of reading and math. This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse making are over. In return for Federal money, we expect results in every single classroom so that not one child in America is left behind. We reorganized the Government, the largest reorganization since the Defense Department was reorganized in the late forties and early fifties. And we did so to create the Department of Homeland Security to safeguard our borders and ports and to better protect the American people. We passed a trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Minnesota's farmers and ranchers and entrepreneurs and manufacturers. We passed budget agreements that is helping to maintain much needed spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. The United States Congress has shared in these great achievements. I particularly enjoy working with Speaker of the House Hastert and Majority Leader Frist. I'm proud of Norm Coleman and the members of the congressional delegation that you've sent to Washington from the State of Minnesota. I will continue to work with these leaders to change the tone in Washington, DC, to get rid of the needless partisan bickering and to focus on the people's business and to concentrate on results. And that's the nature of the men and women I've asked to join my administration, results oriented people. I have put together a fantastic administration on behalf of the American people. There has been no greater Vice President of the United States than Richard B. Cheney. Mother may disagree. Laughter In 2 1 2 years, we have come far we've done a lot we've taken on a lot of problems. But our work is only beginning. We have great goals worthy of this great Nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every citizen has a chance to work and succeed and realize the great promise of our country. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we're keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire and we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. Yet, our national interest involves more than eliminating aggressive threats to our security. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. Free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And I believe that freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world. When we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, this great Nation is committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. Our great country is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges at home as well. We've got big challenges here at home, and no doubt, our actions will prove that we're equal to those challenges. First, I'm concerned about people not being able to find a job. I want our people working. And therefore, we'll continue to work to create the environment necessary to have a strong entrepreneurial spirit, to make sure capital flows, to make sure the workforce expands so that anybody in the State of Minnesota or elsewhere who wants to work and can't find a job will be able to do so. We have a chance to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. A few weeks ago, the Congress took historic action to improve the lives of our older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and the Senate have passed reforms to increase the choices for seniors and to provide coverage for prescription drugs. The recess is almost over. It is now time for both Houses to come together to iron out their differences and to get a bill to my desk. The sooner they finish the job, the sooner America's seniors and those of us who will be seniors soon will have a modern Medicare plan. We owe it to our seniors. For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doctor deserve their day in court. Yet, the system should not reward lawyers who are fishing for rich settlements. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, they affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. I have proposed a plan applause I proposed a good plan to reform medical liability. The House of Representatives passed a good bill. It is stuck in the Senate. It is time for the United States Senate to realize that no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. I have a responsibility as President to make sure the judicial system runs well. And I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for Members of the Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. I came to your great State to lay out my vision for a comprehensive energy plan. And now it's time for the Congress to act. And the recent breakdown of the deliverability of electricity on the east coast should send a clear signal to the United States Congress that we need a comprehensive energy plan, that we need to modernize our system, that we need mandatory reliability standards, and we need incentives to encourage investment. This country also must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. For economic security and for national security, we must use our technology to explore in environmentally safe ways to increase the energy supply of the United States of America. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism by applying the best and most innovative ideas to helping our fellow citizens in need. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on the Government and become independent through hard work. We must work to build on the welfare reform successes of the immediate past to bring work into the lives of more of our citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so that more Americans will serve their communities and their country. And both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion, to support the Christians and Jewish people and Muslims, all who've heard the universal call to help a neighbor in need, to encourage the mentoring of children and caring for the homeless and offering hope to the addicted. A compassionate society must also promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more citizens owning their own home. We want people to own and manage their own retirement accounts. We want people to have control over their own medical accounts. We want there to be more ownership of small businesses in America because we understand when America an American owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and they take responsibility for the decisions they make. We're changing the culture of America from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands that we're responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mother or father, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul. If you're concerned about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your employees and your shareholders. And in a responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. We can see the culture of responsibility and the culture of service growing around us, particularly since 9 11, 2001. You know, I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need, and the response has been significant. Our charities and our faith based organizations are vibrant and strong all across America. And policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America, and I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use our strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of our country. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for our country and for our cause, the best days lie ahead. Thank you for coming, and may God bless. August 26, 2003 The President. Thank you all. Thanks for that warm welcome. It is great to be here in St. Louis, Missouri, at the 85th annual convention of the American Legion. I wonder if I'm the only member here today from Post 77 in Houston, Texas. Audience member. No. Laughter The President. Seems like they'd have given you a better seat. Laughter It is always an honor to be with people who have served America and who love America. When the American Legion held its first caucus in this city back in 1919, Legionnaires dedicated this organization to the service of God and country. Times change, but those are still the right priorities. On behalf of your fellow citizens, I thank the American Legion and the Ladies Auxiliary for your idealism and for your faithful service to God and country. I'm honored to be traveling today with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Tony Principi. He served in Vietnam, and he serves his comrades in my Cabinet. He's a tireless advocate for our Nation's veterans. I want you to understand the facts of this good man's leadership. The budget for Veterans Affairs has gone up by 15 billion since I took office, a 30 percent increase. And my budget for fiscal year 2004 includes the largest discretionary increase for the Department of Veterans Affairs ever requested by a President. The Department, under Tony's lead, has made major progress in reducing the backlog of veterans' disability claims and the number of veterans waiting for health care. And we will continue to work to make sure those backlogs are eliminated. I want to thank Ron Conley, the national commander of the American Legion, for his kind introduction and for his leadership of this distinguished group of citizens. I appreciate Senator Jim Talent and Congressman Todd Akin from the State of Missouri, who are here with us today. I thank Elsie Bailey, American Legion's lady auxiliary national president. I'm honored to be on the stage with Major General Patrick Brady, Medal of Honor recipient. I know in the audience somewhere is my friend Arlene Howard. There she is. Arlene, thank you. I don't know if you remember the speech I gave in front of the Congress right after the attacks of September the 11th, but I held up the badge of one of the brave who were killed. It was the badge of Arlene's son. I'm honored you're here, Arlene. I appreciate you coming. I can't wait to give you a hug. I want to thank the board of directors for the invitation. And I want to thank you all for being such great Americans. The American Legion is an effective and respected voice for the veteran, and you speak with authority. In the years following the First World War, leaders of this organization helped to establish the U.S. Veterans Bureau. Following World War II, you helped secure passage of the GI bill. You've supported the memorials to those who fought in World War II and Korea and Vietnam, so the sacrifices of those wars are always remembered. For two generations, you have demanded a full accounting of Americans whose fate is undetermined. And my administration will not rest until that accounting is complete. And having fought under the American flag and seen it folded and given to families of your friends, you are committed, as am I, to protecting the dignity of the flag in the Constitution of the United States. In the 20th century, the American flag and the American uniform stood for something unique in history. This Nation gained great power, and we used that power in the service of human freedom. Americans liberated continents and concentration camps. America's Armed Forces humbled tyrants and raised up and befriended nations that once fought against us. Our Nation led a great alliance against a Communist empire until that empire was gone and its captives were free. America's veterans have all been a part of this great story of perseverance and courage, and people and nations across the world are better off because of your service. On Memorial Day last year, I visited the military cemetery at Normandy and saw the grave of one of the founders of the American Legion, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. When Roosevelt landed with the first wave of his unit on D day, he and his men found themselves in a different part of Utah Beach from the point they expected. Roosevelt quickly sized up the situation and called in a whole division to the new sector. Turning a challenge into an advantage, he declared, "We'll start the war from here." Well, a great challenge came to America on September the 11th, 2001. Enemies who plotted for years in secret carried out missions of murder on our own soil. It was a day of suffering and sorrow. It was also a day of decision for our country. As a united and resolute people, America declared, "We'll start the war from here." In this first war of the 21st century, America and all free nations are facing a new threat and fighting a new enemy, a global network of terror supported by outlaw regimes. We've seen the hand of the terrorist enemy in the attacks on our country. We've seen the deadly work of the terrorists in Bali, in Mombasa, in Riyadh, in Jakarta, in Casablanca. On a single day last week, we saw the true nature of the terrorists once again. In Baghdad, they attacked a symbol of the civilized world, the United Nations headquarters, and killed men and women who were there to bring humanitarian help to the Iraqi people. They killed a respected U.N. Special Representative, Sergio Vieira de Mello from Brazil. And on the same day in Jerusalem, a terrorist murdered 21 innocent people who were riding a bus, including little children and 5 Americans. The terrorists' aim is to spread chaos and fear by killing on an ever widening scale. They serve their cause by sacrificing the innocent. They celebrate the murder of women and children. They attacked the civilized world because they bear a deep hatred for the values of the civilized world. They hate freedom and religious tolerance and democracy and equality for women. They hate Christians and Jews and every Muslim who does not share their narrow and violent vision. No nation can be neutral in the struggle between civilization and chaos. Every nation that stands on the side of freedom and the value of human life must condemn terrorism and act against the few who would destroy the hopes of the many. Because America stands for freedom and tolerance and the rights of all, the terrorists have targeted our country. During the last few decades, the terrorists grew bolder, believing if they hit America hard, America would retreat and back down. Five years ago, one of the terrorists said that an attack could make America run in less than 24 hours. They're learning something different today. The terrorists have not seen America running they've seen America marching. They've seen the armies of liberation. They have seen the armies of liberation marching into Kabul and to Baghdad. The terrorists have seen speeding tank convoys and roaring jets and Special Forces arriving in midnight raids. And sometimes justice has found them before they could see anything coming at all. We've adopted a new strategy for a new kind of war. We will not wait for known enemies to strike us again. We will strike them in their camps or caves or wherever they hide before they hit more of our cities and kill more of our citizens. We will do everything in our power to deny terrorists weapons of mass destruction before they can commit murder on an unimaginable scale. The security of this Nation and our friends requires decisive action. And with a broad coalition, we're taking that action around the globe. We are on the offensive against terror, and we will stay on the offensive against terror. In Afghanistan, we acted against the Taliban regime that harbored Al Qaida and ruled by terror. The Taliban felt pretty strong when they were whipping women in the streets and executing them in soccer fields. When our coalition moved in, the Taliban ran quickly for the caves. But the caves could not hide these killers from justice. We've sent a message that is understood throughout the world If you harbor a terrorist, if you support a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists. And the Taliban found out what we meant. Afghanistan today is a friend of the United States of America. Because we acted, that country is not a haven for terrorists and the people of America are safer from attack. That nation still faces challenges, and our coalition forces there still face dangers. Yet we're working every day to make sure that Afghanistan finds its future as a free and stable and peaceful nation. America and the new Afghan Army are working together in a major operation called Warrior Sweep, which is hunting down terrorists one by one. NATO is now taking a leading role in keeping Afghanistan secure. New roads are being built, medical clinics are opening, and many young girls are going to school for the first time, thanks to our coalition and the United States of America. The Al Qaida terrorists lost a base in Afghanistan, but they operate in many other places. We're on their trail, from Pakistan to the Philippines to the Horn of Africa. Earlier this month, we captured a major terrorist named Hambali. He's a known killer and was a close associate of September the 11th mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Hambali was one of the world's most lethal terrorists and is suspected of planning the attack on Bali and other recent acts of terror. We're making steady progress. Nearly two thirds of known senior Al Qaida leaders, operational managers, and key facilitators have either been captured or killed. Now Al Qaida is wounded, yet not destroyed. It remains a grave danger to the American people. Terrorist networks are still finding recruits and still plotting attacks and still intending to strike our country. Yet our resolve is firm, and it is clear No matter how long it takes, we will bring to justice those who plot against America. We've also pursued the war on terror in Iraq. America and our coalition removed a regime that built, possessed, and used weapons of mass destruction, a regime that sponsored terror, and a regime that persecuted its people. Our military coalition destroyed the Iraqi regime while taking extraordinary measures to spare innocent life. The battle of Iraq was conducted with the skill and honor of a great military, the United States Armed Forces. Because of our military, catastrophic weapons will no longer be in the hands of a reckless, unstable dictator. Because of our military, Middle Eastern countries no longer fear subversion and attack by Sad dam Hussein. Because of our military, Iraq will no longer be a source of funding for suicide bombers in the Middle East. Because of our men and women in uniform, the torture chambers in Iraq are closed, the prison cells for children are empty, and the people who speak their minds need not fear execution. In all the debates over Iraq, we must never forget the brutal nature of the regime of Saddam Hussein. Mass grave sites, literally thousands of people buried in mass grave sites, were recently discovered by our troops. They contain the remains not only of executed men and women but of executed children as well. Our people in uniform, joined by fine allies, ended this nightmare in Iraq, removed a threat to the world, and they have made our Nation proud. The work of our coalition in Iraq goes on because that country is now a point of testing in the war on terror. The remnants of Saddam's regime are still dangerous, and terrorists are gathering in Iraq to undermine the advance of freedom. Al Qaida and the other global terror networks recognize that the defeat of Saddam Hussein's regime is a defeat for them. They know that a democratic Iraq in the heart of the Middle East would be a further defeat for their ideology of terror. They know that the spread of peace and hope in the Middle East would undermine the appeal of bitterness, resentment, and violence. And the more progress we make in Iraq, the more desperate the terrorists will become. Freedom is a threat to their way of life. They have sabotaged water mains and oil pipelines and attacked local police. Last week, they killed aid workers bringing food and medicine to the country. The terrorists have killed innocent Iraqis and Americans and U.N. officials from many nations. They have declared war on the entire civilized world, and the civilized world will not be intimidated. Retreat in the face of terror would only invite further and bolder attacks. There will be no retreat. We are on the offensive against the Sad dam loyalists, the foreign fighters, and the criminal gangs that are attacking Iraqis and coalition forces. We're receiving more and more vital intelligence from Iraqi citizens, information that we're putting to good use. Our recent military operations have included almost 200 raids netting more than 1,100 detainees. Since the end of major combat operations, we have seized more than 8,200 tons of ammunition, thousands of AK 47s, and rocket propelled grenades and other weapons. And as we help the Iraqi people establish security, we are working through that famous deck of cards. So far, of the 55 most wanted Iraqi leaders, 42 have been captured or killed. The brutal, vicious sons of the dictator are gone. Recently, we captured the former Vice President of Iraq. He was one of Saddam Hussein's most feared enforcers. And recently, as well, we captured the man known as "Chemical Ali." He earned his nickname by ordering chemical weapon attacks on whole Iraqi villages, killing thousands of citizens. "Chemical Ali's" savage career is over. The search goes on for other former leaders of Iraq, and we will find them. After decades of smothering fear, the Iraqi people can be certain The regime of Saddam Hussein is gone, and it is never coming back. Ultimately, the security of Iraq will be won by the Iraqi people themselves. They must reject terror, and they must join in their own defense. And they're stepping forward. More than 38,000 Iraqis have been hired as police officers. Iraqi police and border guards and security forces are increasingly taking on critical duties. Over 1,400 Iraqi civil defense corps volunteers are being trained to work closely with coalition forces. Twelve thousand Iraqis will be trained in the next year for the country's new army. At the same time, 31 countries have contributed 21,000 forces to build security in Iraq. I will continue to challenge other countries to join in this important mission. In most of Iraq today, there's steady progress toward reconstruction and civil order. Iraq's Governing Council, representing the nation's diverse groups, is steadily assuming greater responsibility over the country. The coalition provisional authority led by Ambassador Paul Bremer is implementing a comprehensive plan to ensure a successful, democratic Iraq and a better future for the Iraqi people. Building a free and peaceful Iraq will require a substantial commitment of time and resources, and it will yield a substantially safer and more secure America and the world. I'll work with the Congress to make sure we provide the resources to do the work of freedom and security. Iraq's progress toward self determination and democracy brings hope to other oppressed people in the region and throughout the world. It is the rise of democracy that tyrants fear and terrorists seek to undermine. The people who yearn for liberty and opportunity in countries like Iran and throughout the Middle East are watching, and they are praying for our success in Iraq. More progress will come in Iraq, and it will require hard and sustained efforts. As many of you saw firsthand in Germany and Japan after World War II, the transition from dictatorship to democracy is a massive undertaking. It's not an easy task. In the aftermath of World War II, that task took years, not months, to complete. And yet the effort was repaid many times over as former enemies became friends and allies and partners in keeping the peace. Likewise, the work we do today is essential to the peace of the world and for the security of our country. America is a nation that understands its responsibilities and keeps its word. And we will honor our word to the people of Iraq and those in the Middle East who yearn for freedom. Murderers will not determine the future of Iraq, and they will not determine the future of the Middle East. In Jerusalem as in Baghdad, terrorists are trying to undermine the hopes of peace with acts of violence. Their desperation also grows as the parties move closer to a just settlement. But terrorists do not speak for the Palestinian people. They do not serve the Palestinian cause. And a Palestinian state will never be built on the foundation of violence. Now is the time for every true friend of the Palestinian people, every leader in the Middle East, and the Palestinian people themselves to cut off all money and support for terrorists and actively fight terror on all fronts. Only then can Israel be secure and the flag rise over an independent Palestine. And to bring that day closer, America will be a consistent friend of all who work for peace. For nearly 2 years, on many fronts, the United States and our friends have conducted a global campaign against terror. We met the enemy on desert sands and mountain passes, wherever they choose to gather and fight. We've had successes, yet our mission continues. The stakes could not be greater for the American people. All of us who have taken an oath to defend this Nation will do our duty. Our military forces in the war on terror are showing the definition of "duty." In hostile conditions and remote parts of the Earth, brave Americans are sacrificing for freedom and the security of others. Some have been wounded, and some have been killed. The veterans in this hall understand the loss and sadness that have come to military families. This Nation is grateful to every man and woman who serves, and we honor the memory of all who have fallen. We also remember what this fight is about. Our military is confronting terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan and in other places so our people will not have to confront terrorist violence in New York or St. Louis or Los Angeles. Our Armed Forces are doing the work they are called to do. They're taking the fight to the enemy so that America and our friends can live in peace. The war on terror is a test of our strength. It is a test of our perseverance, our patience, and our will. This Nation has been tested before. By the character of men and women like you, we've come through every trial. And so it is today. Our course is set. Our purpose is firm. No act of terrorists will weaken our resolve or alter their fate. Our only goal, our only option, is total victory in the war on terror. And this Nation will press on to victory. Thank you for having me. May God bless you, and may God continue to bless America. August 23, 2003 Good morning. Earlier this week, terrorists struck the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad. The U.N. personnel and Iraqi citizens killed in the bombings were engaged in a purely humanitarian mission. Men and women in the building were working on reconstruction, medical care for Iraqis, and the distribution of food. Among the dead was Sergio Vieira de Mello, the U.N. Representative for Iraq, a good man serving an important cause. On the same day, a terrorist in Jerusalem murdered 20 innocent people riding a bus, including 5 Americans. The killer had concealed under his clothing a bomb filled with metal fragments, designed to kill and injure the greatest number of people possible. Among the 110 people hurt were 40 children. These two bombings reveal once again the nature of the terrorists and why they must be defeated. In their malicious view of the world, no one is innocent. Relief workers and infants alike are targeted for murder. Terrorism may use religion as a disguise, but terrorism violates every religion and every standard of decency and morality. The terrorists have declared war on every free nation and all our citizens. Their goals are clear They want more governments to resemble the oppressive Taliban that once ruled Afghanistan. Terrorists commit atrocities because they want the civilized world to flinch and retreat so they can impose their totalitarian vision. There will be no flinching in this war on terror, and there will be no retreat. From Afghanistan to Iraq to the Philippines and elsewhere, we are waging a campaign against the terrorists and their allies wherever they gather, wherever they plan, and wherever they act. This campaign requires sacrifice, determination, and resolve, and we will see it through. Iraq is an essential front in this war. Now we're fighting terrorists and remnants of that regime who have everything to lose from the advance of freedom in the heart of the Middle East. In most of Iraq, there is steady movement toward reconstruction and a stable, self governing society. This progress makes the remaining terrorists even more desperate and willing to lash out against symbols of order and hope like coalition forces and U.N. personnel. The world will not be intimidated. A violent few will not determine the future of Iraq, and there will be no return to the days of Saddam Hussein's torture chambers and mass graves. Working with Iraqis, coalition forces are on the offensive against these killers. Aided by increasing flow of intelligence from ordinary Iraqis, we are stepping up raids, seizing enemy weapons, and capturing enemy leaders. The United States, the United Nations, and the civilized world will continue to stand with the people of Iraq as they reclaim their nation and their future. We're determined as well not to let murderers decide the future of the Middle East. A Palestinian state will never be built on a foundation of violence. The hopes of that state and the security of Israel both depend on an unrelenting campaign against terror, waged by all parties in the region. In the Middle East, true peace has deadly enemies. Yet America will be a consistent friend of every leader who works for peace by actively opposing violence. All nations of the world face a challenge and a choice. In continued acts of murder and destruction, terrorists are testing our will, hoping we will weaken and withdraw. Yet across the world, they are finding that our will cannot be shaken. Whatever the hardships, we will persevere. We will continue this war on terror until all the killers are brought to justice, and we will prevail. Thank you for listening. August 22, 2003 The President. It's a pleasure to be here in beautiful Seattle. I just met with members of the congressional delegation and also members of the business community, both large and small businesses, to talk about the fact that this economy here in Washington State is not as strong as it should be. I'm fully aware that the unemployment numbers here are some of the highest in the country, and that's of concern. This is a resource based State with a significant high tech component. Both of those sectors have been hit very hard by the economic downturn. And so we talked about ways to stimulate growth. The first thing I talked about was the fact that the tax plan that the Congress passed and I signed, the most recent tax plan, is now kicking in. People are getting their child tax credits, which will be positive. It will be positive for the people of this State. People are getting more money back, and the more money they have, the more money they'll have to spend. And that's good news. I talked about trade policy which will help the high tech industry here in the State of Washington. We talked about the Healthy Forests Initiative, which is a commonsense plan to make sure that we save our forests before they get destroyed by catastrophic fire. Yesterday I choppered over the fire in Oregon and saw the effects of a backward forest policy, a policy that has allowed for undergrowth to develop and provide the kindling necessary for explosive fires. I saw some interesting signs said, "Save our mature large trees." I agree. I also saw the fires destroy the mature stands of large trees. It's unbelievable how powerful these fires raged throughout. And we've got to do something about it. A healthy forests initiative will help protect the resources of a resource based economy. I talked today we talked today about energy. The good folks in the State of Washington, or the capital people who spend money on capital investment know that we need to have an energy policy. Today I talked about something that made eminent sense to me, and that is when you've got good, clean sources of energy like hydropower, you don't destroy those sources, particularly with the Nation short of energy. And so we had a very good discussion about ways to create the conditions of economic vitality and growth. The Federal Government can help, and the State of Washington has got to also set the conditions necessary for people to want to be here. I mean, one of the things we can do at the Federal level is pass medical liability reform. It's a national issue. I mean, it makes sense for us to have medical liability reform. If the State of Washington needs to send a message that this would be a good place to do business, they may ought to have the legislature pass liability reform or workers' compensation reform. There's a lot of things the State of Washington can do as well. And we had a very vital discussion. And the reason why I wanted to have this discussion is I'm concerned about the size of the unemployment rate here in this important State. I'll answer a couple of questions, then I've got to go to another event. Jennifer Jennifer Loven, Associated Press . Situation in the Middle East Q. Thank you, sir. I want to ask you about the Middle East. The President. Middle East, yes. Q. Palestinians militants have promised more suicide bombings. Israel itself has talked about more pinpoint strikes on militant chiefs. What can you do to make sure that the progress in the recent months doesn't get destroyed? The President. Yes, well, we'll just keep working the issue, of course, hard and reminding people of this important fact, that if people want there to be peace in the Middle East, if the Palestinians want to see their own state, they've got to dismantle the terrorist networks. You just opened your question by saying that some in the Palestinian territories have announced there's going to be more suicide bombings. Suicide bombings are acts of terror. Suicide bombings kill innocent people. Children, women they don't care they're indiscriminate. They just kill for the sake of killing. Those people who conduct suicide bombings are not interested in the vision that I have outlined, and that is a Palestinian state living side by side with Israel in peace. What the United States will continue to do is to remind those who love peace and yearn for freedom in that part of the world to join together and to battle those few who want to destroy the ambitions of many. I will continue to work with leaders in the neighborhood to encourage them to cut off the money and the aid and the help that goes to these terrorist organizations, all of which aim to destroy any hope for peace. I am and will continue to work the issue. I think it's important for us to for the United States to stay very much engaged, and I will. Randy Randy Mikkelsen, Reuters . Iraq War on Terror Q. Mr. President, it seems like the conflict in Iraq is becoming more of a guerrilla war directed against the West or international institutions. How important is it that more countries contribute troops to Iraq? And are you willing to give more political authority to the United Nations to achieve that goal? The President. Yes, well, look, that's a very interesting question. It's the way I view this is that Iraq is turning out to be a continuing battle in the war on terror. You know, it's one thing to remove the Saddam Hussein regime from power in order to protect America and our friends and allies, which we did. And then there are we found resistance from former Ba'athist officials. These people decided that, well, they'd rather fight than work for peaceful reconstruction in Iraq because they weren't going to be in power anymore. I also believe there's a foreign element that is moving into Iraq, and these will be Al Qaida type fighters. They want to fight us there because they can't stand the thought of a free society in the Middle East. They hate freedom. They hate the thought of a democracy emerging. And therefore, they want to violently prevent that from happening. And it's hard to characterize what kind of movement it is since this is the this is one of the major battles of the first war of the 21st century. As I told the American people after 9 11, one, I would never forget 9 11 and the lessons learned about protecting the security of this country, but also that we were facing a different kind of war. And having said that, we do need and welcome more foreign troops into Iraq, and there will be more foreign troops into Iraq. And what that will do is that will enable many of those troops to guard the infrastructure. If you notice what's happening, of course, is as the life of the average Iraqi begins to improve, those who hate freedom destroy the infrastructures that we've been improving. It's part of their strategy. So we'll get more people guarding that. And in the meantime and that will help free up our hunter teams. We're getting better human intelligence. Every day that goes by, we're getting more solid evidence from Iraqi citizens about the whereabouts of certain former thugs or current thugs of a former regime, is a better way to put it, like "Chemical Ali." And we're winning. And it's we've been there for 120 days since major operations, or something like that. We've haven't been there a long time. And these people let me finish. Just getting warmed up. Laughter These people have been subjugated for years and years and years. Torture chambers were prevalent throughout the Iraqi society. Mass graves discovered mass graves of innocent people whose lives were slaughtered because they didn't agree with Saddam Hussein. And you can imagine the psychology of a country that has been through a life under Saddam. Slowly but surely, people are now beginning to develop the habits necessary for a free society to emerge. But we're going to stay the course. Now, your other question was the United Nations. Well, I've always said the United Nations ought to have a vital role, and they were playing a vital role in Iraq, such a vital role that the killers decided to destroy the very people that were providing food for the hungry and medicine for the afflicted. Now, what kind of mindset is that? That's it is that type of mentality that we must defeat if we expect the world to be secure and peaceful. And so yes, there will be a vital role for the U.N. As a matter of fact, we're discussing regulation I mean, resolutions now about how to encourage other nations to participate in the process. And let me one more. Ryan Ryan Donmoyer, Bloomberg News . Q. Thank you, sir. The President. Fine, Ryan. That's a short question? If it is a short question, I can call on Bennett Bennett Roth, Houston Chronicle . If it's not a short question, he gets filibustered. National Economy Q. Sir, three tax cuts, two wars, and now a new military role in Liberia, and your administration is now projecting deficits up near a trillion dollars this year and next. Meanwhile, a major jobless recovery, as you've just mentioned here today in Washington, and Wall Street is becoming more and more nervous about the effect of these deficits in the long term economy. Can this economy sustain long term deficits? The President. We'll have the deficit in half over a 5 year period of time if Congress holds the line on discretionary spending. And one of my jobs is to make sure they do. I proposed reasonable budgets on discretionary spending, and I expect Congress to join me on those budgets. Let me remind the people that to whom you're writing this erudite article what caused the deficit. It was caused by the lack of revenues coming into the Treasury because of a recession. Half of the deficit was because of the recession that took place in the first quarter first three quarters of 2001. And remember, the stock market started to decline in March of 2000. That caused a lack of revenue coming into the Treasury. Then the country went into recession. And recession by its very nature means less business activity, less money in circulation, less monies coming into the Treasury. And then we were at war, and I decided to request from Congress enough money to fight and win the war. That's what the American people expect. They expect a Commander in Chief to support the troops. And that's what I did and will continue to do. Part of the deficit is also caused by the fact that Congress passed the tax relief I asked for. But the reason I asked for the tax relief is to stimulate economic growth. And so the those who are worried about the deficit must first worry I hope would worry first about people being able to find work, like in Washington State. I am more concerned about somebody finding a job than I am about numbers on paper. But having said that, I want to repeat that we've got a plan to reduce the deficit in half in 5 years. Final question, Bennett of the Houston Chronicle. I've known him for a long time. For those of you who don't know him, he's a fine lad. Laughter Space Shuttle Columbia Accident Report Q. And it's sort of a Texas related question. Mr. President, next week there's going to be a report issued on the Space Shuttle Columbia that's expected to be highly critical of NASA. Do you support the resumption of manned space flights? Do you think the program should be better funded and restructured? Where do you see the future? The President. Let me first I've been a strong supporter of NASA. I want to look at the report before I comment. You may have seen the report I haven't, in which case I want to look at it. I do believe that a space program is important for a country that is trying to stay on the leading edge of technological change. But let me look and first see what the report says, how critical it is, what it says, what it means. And I'll answer try to answer that very question after I've had a chance to enrich my knowledge about a pending report. Thank you all. Birthday of Jennifer Loven Q. It's her birthday. The President. Today is your birthday? Q. No. Laughter Q. Yes, it is. The President. You shouldn't be so shy in front of national cameras. Laughter Q. I'd rather it not be a topic, thank you. Laughter The President. Would you like for your compadres to break out in a "Happy Birthday" here on TV? Q. They've already done that, thank you. The President. They have? Should we have the business community sing? Laughter Happy birthday. Thank you all. August 22, 2003 Thank you all very much. I appreciate you coming out to say hello. Thank you. Be seated, please. Thanks for coming out to say hello. It's a little different view from the views we have in Crawford. Laughter The temperature is a little cooler, too, I want you to know. But thanks for coming. It's such an honor to be here at the Ice Harbor Lock and Dam. I found it interesting that another Texan came to dedicate the dam. Vice President Lyndon Johnson dedicated this unbelievable facility in 1962. He said it's "an asset of astounding importance to the region and to America." He was right in 1962, and when I tell you it's an asset of astounding importance to this region of America in 2003, I'm right as well. We just had a great tour, seeing this facility and its technological wonders. This work has added to the strength of your State, and it's added to the prosperity of the people. It's really important that we remember that when we're talking about national assets. After all, people's money built this facility, and we want the facility to help the people. The facility has been a crucial part of the past in this region, and I'm here to tell you it's going to be a crucial part of the future as well. I was pleased to see the incredible care that goes into protecting the salmon that journey up the river. It's an important message to send to people, it seems like to me, that a flourishing salmon population is a vital part of the vibrancy of this incredibly beautiful part of our country. I appreciate the commitment that we are making as a country and that you're making as a community for salmon restoration. What I saw was and what you know firsthand is that we can have good, clean hydroelectric power and salmon restoration going on at the same time. And that's what I want to spend some time talking about. We have a responsibility to work together to make sure the human condition is strong and to make sure that the salmon flourish. And we'll meet that challenge. I thank Gale Norton for her leadership. She is the Secretary of the Department of the Interior. She is a lady from the West. She understands land management. She knows what I know, that the folks who live closest to the land are those that care most about the land. And we appreciate that attitude. I'm traveling in some pretty darn good company too, when it comes to the congressional delegation. Old Doc Hastings has made a pretty good hand applause . He informed me first thing, before he even said hello, that he was a grandfather again today. So congratulations, Doc. I wouldn't take too much credit for it, Doc, if I were you. Laughter I appreciate so very much traveling with George Nethercutt as well. Both Doc and George are always telling me about how important eastern Washington is. Every time I talk to them, they're reminding me not only that the folks here are just fine, fine, down to earth, hard working people, but our Nation is blessed to have the resources that are coming from this part of your beautiful State. The western part of your State is beautiful as well, and it's well represented parts of it are well represented by my close friend Jennifer Dunn. I'm glad you're here, Jennifer. The Acting Secretary of the Army, Les Brownlee, is with us today. I appreciate you coming, Les. Thank you for being here. We've got a lot of folks from the Corps of Engineers that are with us, people who are making this dam work, and I want to thank them for their service to our country. I appreciate so very much the National Marine Fisheries Service, through the Commerce Department, the representatives that are here as well. I thank all the mayors that have come out, the State and local officials. I like to tease the mayors and tell them they've got a pretty darn tough job. After all, if the pothole isn't filled, they're going to hear from somebody firsthand at the coffee shop. Laughter That doesn't happen to the President much. Laughter I thank the mayors for coming. Just keep the garbage picked up. Laughter I appreciate so much the tribal chiefs that are here with us today, distinguished leaders that are here to make sure that the heritage of the salmon is protected and honored and revered, Chief Burke and Blackwolf, Sockzehigh, Seyler. I'm honored you all are here, and thank you for coming as well, for taking time. One of the things I've learned about Washington, DC, there's a lot of experts on the environment there. Laughter At least they think they are. They're constantly trying to tell people what to do. My judgment is, they those who think they know what they're doing in Washington, DC, ought to come out and visit with the folks that are actually protecting the environment, people such as yourself. I have been to your State enough to know that the people of this great State are never very far away from some of nature's most beautiful sights. And the people who appreciate those beautiful sights the most are those who live close to the sights. They understand best of all what it means to be a good steward of land and water. The Washington way of life depends and always will depend on the wise protection of the natural environment. It's been a part of your past it's going to be an important part of the future of this State and our country, for that matter. And a vital part of the natural environment is the Pacific salmon. Lewis and Clark, as Doc was made sure to point it out, where Lewis and Clark stayed where he thought they stayed. Laughter But he did say that they stayed in this part of the world a long time. I can see why. The weather's nice, and the scenery is beautiful. But think about what it was like when those rivers in 1805 timeframe were just full of salmon. It must have been an unbelievable sight for them, particularly if they were hungry. Laughter Today, there are a lot fewer salmon in the waters. And the mission has got to be to fight the decline. The mission has got to be to make sure that we understand that without the salmon in the Columbia and Snake Rivers, that this would be a huge loss to this part of the world. That's part of what the focus of my short discussion is today, is to let you know that we understand in this administration that we want to work with the local folks to revitalize the salmon runs. The good news is that salmon runs are up. And that's really positive. And we just need to make sure we keep that momentum. I want to talk about some ways we're going to do it. Gale mentioned one thing is that we can spend that money in Washington, and we're writing a pretty good size check in '04. It helps keep the commitment about what I said when I ran for President. I said, look, we are concerned about the fish. We're also concerned about the citizens of Washington State who depend upon the dams for electricity and the water to water their land so we can have the crops necessary to eat in America. But the economy of this part of the world has relied upon the steady supply of hydropower. And we've got an energy problem in America. We don't need to be breaching any dams that are producing electricity. And we won't. Part of a national energy policy has got to make sure that we increase supply and maintain supply. And I saw the six generators that are able to capture a steady flow of water that produces that power that enables people to live. We want the salmon to live we want the quality of life in this part of the world to be strong as well. You know something, I talk about people closest to the land care about the land more than most. Every day is Earth Day if you're a farmer. Farmers depend upon the quality of the land and the quality of the water. And I understand that. And I understand that this dam and the dams along this river have a got a lot to do with the ability for people to farm the land. You know, one of the great things about our national security is that we don't have to worry about food from some other country. We produce enough to eat here in America, and that's good for our national security. I can't say the same for energy, by the way. We're reliant upon foreign sources of energy. That is a problem for national security. We're not reliant upon foreign sources of food, and that's important. This dam helps us become so that we don't get reliant upon foreign sources of food. Our farmers depend upon the dams on this river. People who run the barges need the dams. The dams accommodate in other words, commerce happens, people can make a living, people have food on the table so they can feed their families. At the same time, the salmon are getting more plentiful. And it's a positive story, and it's a story we've got to continue to make sure this stays positive. We have shown the world that we can have good quality of life and, at the same time, save salmon. And that's exactly what this administration will continue to do. I understand we can't do it alone, but we can help. We can make a difference. As Gale mentioned, the budgets are increasing. We're helping on technology. I just saw some technology that enables the young salmon and steelhead to pass through the dam near the surface of the dam at lower speeds and lower pressures. That will help the young salmon runs. The technology is employed at the Lower Granite Dam. It will be installed soon here at Ice Harbor. In other words, the Federal Government is doing its part by gathering the technologies that will make the salmon runs stronger and better over time. I bet in '62 there wasn't that much concern about salmon runs, when Vice President Lyndon Johnson was here. I haven't reviewed his entire speech I don't know how much time he spent talking about technologies necessary to save salmon. But in 2003, we can say we're developing good, strong technologies to save salmon. We're getting better at it. And that's what applause . And I appreciate so much the hard work of the Federal employees that are doing what we pay them to do. I also know my friend Donnie Evans, who is the Secretary of Commerce, has got conservation plans that are now being developed and implemented in Chelan and Douglas County public utility districts. It's a good, creative use of Federal money, it seems like to me, to create these conservation plans and habitat restoration programs, to be smart about how we develop the strategies necessary to encourage salmon runs to increase. The plan will minimize the impact of dams, improving fish bypass systems and hatchery programs. And we'll continue to work to fund local habitat restoration programs. In other words, there's a lot going on. But the truth of the matter is, in order to make this strategy work, we're going to have to work with the local folks. That's the reality of the situation. I know that I saw some of the irrigation systems, spray systems they look pretty darn modern to me. I suspect some of the oldtime farmers here will tell you that there's been a lot of technological advancement when it comes to conservation of water. The more water our farmers conserve by using efficient sprinkler systems, obviously the less operating costs they have. But also it helps the salmon. And so for the farmers who are here, I want to thank you for doing your part not only feeding America but being good stewards of the water you use. There's a group called Fish First. I met a fellow named Gary Loomis. And I appreciate Gary coming today. Gary is a guy who cares about restoring salmon runs, salmon habitat. So he and a group of volunteers have come together to work on the salmon projects around the State of Washington. They're installing culverts to accommodate the fish. They're creating side channels and ponds. They're getting their money through private donations. There's a lot of people who care about salmon runs, and they ought to be helping by contributing money. And they're using volunteers and some public grants. As I understand that Gary Loomis' group is going to add another 4,900 foot of stream channel, mainly through volunteer work. And I appreciate what you're doing, Gary. I want to why don't you stand up and give people a chance to look at you and let you know the applause . I want to thank you for what you're doing. This will give me a chance to tell the people of the great State of Washington and Oregon that if you're interested in salmon runs, if you want to do your part about conserving this great legacy, volunteer with groups like Gary Loomis' group. There's a lot of good conservation groups that have a good commonsense view about making sure that the quality of human life is strong and the quality of fish life is vibrant and healthy as well. Volunteer help makes a difference. I appreciate the positive attitude that people have here in this part of the world, the can do attitude "Here is a problem let's go solve it together." And that's what we're here to confirm. It makes a it's a lot better than what happens a lot of times when it comes to conservation issues. And that is, people just file lawsuit after lawsuit after lawsuit, just kind of tie everything up in endless litigation, and nothing gets better. We've got that issue, by the way, with our forests. I was in Oregon yesterday, saw the devastating forest fires that are taking place. It's just sad to see national assets just go up in tremendous flames because we have not done a good job of thinning out our forests and protecting our forests. And a lot of the reason why is because people just file lawsuits, and we get stuck in the court, and nothing happens. The forests don't benefit. People in the communities close to the forest are have their lives endangered because of the kindling that has piled up. We need to cut through all this business and get solving the national problems. And so the good news about what's happening here is it looks like you've been able to bypass all the endless litigation, come up with solutions to the problem so that the people can say, you know, "Job well done." Generations future generations can say these folks had a chance and they responded. And I want to thank you for what you do to make sure that this part of the world is as vibrant and healthy, the heritage of the salmon remains strong. There's no doubt in my mind you will accomplish the objective, no doubt in my mind we will help. We want to be helpers, not hinderers, coming out of Washington, DC. You know, the amazing thing about this country is when we put our mind to something, we can do a lot. We can do a lot. My mind is still focused on protecting America, by the way. We're going to hunt the terrorists down wherever they are and bring them to justice. And we're making progress. See, in America we know that freedom free countries will be peaceful countries. We also know that freedom is not America's gift to the world it is the Almighty's gift to every human being. Abroad, this great Nation will lead the world to more peaceful times. We'll promote freedom. We worry about the human condition when people are enslaved by tyranny. And at home, we'll protect our assets. We'll conserve our beautiful environment, and at the same time, we'll work to make sure that people can make a living, that people can work hard, put money on the table they can do their duty as a mom or a dad for to feed their families. Listen, America is a fabulous country, fabulous not only because of the values we hold dear but fabulous because of the nature of the people, who are the American people. Thank you for coming. May God bless you. August 21, 2003 Thank you all. Thanks for coming. Please be seated. Thanks for the warm welcome and the cool day. It seems the temperature is a little better here than it is in Crawford. Laughter But I want to thank you all for coming. I am so honored that we have set a record today, a record fundraiser, which indicates the depth of support here in Oregon, for which I am most grateful. I want to thank you for what you have done I want to thank you for what you're going to do, which is to energize the grassroots all across this important State, to put up the signs and to mail out the mailers, but most importantly, to remind people that I have a vision that includes everybody, a vision that is hopeful and optimistic, a vision that believes in the best of America. I want you to know that I'm getting ready for the coming campaign. I'm loosening up. Laughter But there's going to be ample time for politics, because I've got a job to do. I got a lot on the agenda. But I want you to know that I will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of every American by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. My main regret for coming here is the fact that I'm not traveling with the First Lady. She is a great First Lady. I love her dearly. I'm proud to call her wife, and I already miss her. But she's in San Antonio, Texas, today. She's honoring a friend of ours, and she's working on a library event. But I'll be with her on the ranch Friday night and continuing our period of relaxation before we get back to the Nation's Capital. But it's a great comfort to have her by my side. I'm also proud to call Gordon Smith friend. He's a great United States Senator. And I appreciate so much working with my friend Congressman Greg Walden as well. After this event here, we're going to a different part of your beautiful State to talk about a Healthy Forest Initiative, a commonsense policy to do everything we can to thin out the forest beds so that we can prevent the catastrophic forest fires that seem to be occurring all over the West. I'm proud to have two commonsense conservatives with whom I can work to bring some sense to the forest policy of the United States of America. I thank my friend Mercer Reynolds from Cincinnati, Ohio, who is with us today. He's the national finance chairman for this campaign. I appreciate Bill McCormick, who is the Oregon State chairman for the Bush Cheney 2004 campaign. Sorry we're not using your restaurant. I appreciate Kevin Mannix, who is the chairman of the Republican Party here in the State of Oregon. It was such an honor to be able to shake hands once again with a fine American, a great Oregonian, Senator Mark Hatfield. I appreciate you coming, Senator. I want to thank so very much the leadership of the University of Portland for opening up this beautiful campus. But most of all, I want to thank you all for coming. I'm proud to have you as supporters. I'm proud that we're on the same team, working hard to do what's right for America. See, I ran for office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I'm serving to seize opportunities, and that's what we're doing. I believe you can tell your neighbor that this administration is meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Thanks to the United States of America and friends, 50 million people in those 2 countries once lived under tyranny, and today they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. We increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, as Gordon mentioned, we inherited an economy in recession. And then we had attacks on our country and scandals in corporate America as well as a war, which affected all affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We took action. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. Here's what I believe, and here's what I know, that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, to invest, the whole economy will grow, and people are more likely to find a job. I also understand whose money we spend in Washington, DC. It's not the Government's money. It's the people's money. We're returning more money to the people to help them raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, we are laying the foundations for greater prosperity and more jobs across America so that every single person in this country every person has a chance to realize the American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action in Washington, DC, so I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reform in a generation. We're bringing high standards and strong accountability measures to every public school in America. In return for Federal dollars, we now expect every school to teach the basics of reading and math. This administration is finally challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse making are over. We now expect results in every classroom so that not one single child in America is left behind. We reorganized the Government and created a Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our borders and ports and to protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open new markets for Oregon's farmers and ranchers and entrepreneurs and manufacturers. We passed budget agreements that is helping to maintain much needed spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. And the United States Congress shares in this credit. I've got a great relationship with Speaker Denny Hastert and Majority Leader Bill Frist. I appreciate being able to work with them and, as I mentioned, Greg and Gordon. We'll continue to work hard to try to change the tone in Washington, DC, to focus on results, not petty politics. And those are the kind of people I've attracted to my administration. I have assembled a great team of people to serve the American people. People in my administration are results oriented people. They asked the question, what's best for the American people? And they're doing a great job. There has been no finer Vice President of the United States than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a different opinion. Laughter In 2 1 2 years, we've come far. In 2 1 2 years, we've done a lot. But the work is only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion, so that every citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and to realize the great promise of this country. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender, and we welcome we welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. Yet our national interest involves more than eliminating aggressive threats to our safety. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors, and free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And we believe that freedom is the right of every person, and we believe that freedom is the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world. When we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, this great, strong, and compassionate Nation is bringing the healing power to medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. This great land, America, is leading the world in the incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges at home as well, and our actions will prove that we're equal to those challenges. I understand there's a lot of people hurting in the State of Oregon. Your unemployment rate is too high. I will continue to try to create the conditions necessary for job creation, so long as there's anybody who's looking for work. And we have a duty as well to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. The Congress took historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time for the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and the Senate have passed reforms to make the system work better, to give our seniors more choices, and to provide coverage of prescription drugs. It's now time for both Houses to iron out their differences and to get a bill to my desk as soon as possible, so that we can say to our seniors of today and those of us who are going to be seniors tomorrow, we have kept our commitment in Washington, DC. And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doctor deserve their day in court, yet the system should not reward lawyers who are fishing for rich settlements. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, they affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform, therefore, is a national issue that requires a national solution. The House of Representatives have passed a good piece of legislation. The bill is stuck in the United States Senate. The Senate must act on behalf of the people. They must understand that no one has ever been healed by a frivolous or junk lawsuit. If Gordon has his way, he would unstick it in the Senate. I have a responsibility as your President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Yet, some Members of the United States Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some of the Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. We had a good bill pass the House, bill pass the Senate. They need to come together and get an energy plan, an energy bill to my desk as soon as possible, an energy bill which will encourage the modernization of the electricity infrastructure of America. I have proposed such a plan. We need an energy bill that will encourage energy efficiency and promote conservation, an energy bill which will encourage the use of technologies to help us explore for energy in environmentally sensitive ways. For the sake of economic security, for the sake of national security, this Nation must become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, which means we'll apply the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens who hurt or fellow citizens in need. There are still millions of men and women in our country who want to end their dependence on Government and to become independent through work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" to encourage more Americans to serve their communities and their country. Both Houses should finally reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring our children, who are caring for the homeless, that offer hope to the addicted. This Nation of ours should not be fearful of faith. We ought to welcome faith to help solve many of the Nation's seemingly intractable problems. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. My administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society all across America. We want more people owning a home. We have a minority home ownership gap in America. I have laid before Congress a plan to solve it. We want people owning their own health care plan. We want people owning and managing their own retirement accounts. And we want more people owning a small business because, you see, we understand that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of the United States of America. In a compassionate society, people respect one another, and they take responsibility for the decisions they make. You know, it seems like to me, I'm confident not just seems like, I am confident that we're changing the culture of America from one that has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands that we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul. If you're concerned about the quality of the education in your community, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in this new responsibility society, each of us are responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourselves. We can see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us, particularly after September the 11th, 2001. Shortly after September the 11th, I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to somebody who hurts. And the response has been terrific. Our faith based groups and our charities are vibrant and strong, because people understand it's important to serve something greater than yourself in life. After all, that's what policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform remind us on a daily basis. Our children once again believe in heroes because they see them every day in America. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of this country. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for our country and for our cause, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you all. August 19, 2003 Proposed Energy Legislation Power Blackout The President. Good morning, everybody. How are you? Last night I talked to Pete Domenici and Billy Tauzin. Pete is the chairman of the Senate committee dealing with energy and Billy is the chairman of the House committee dealing with energy. Pete believes they can get the conference up and running in 20 days to deal with this very important energy bill. Both Members are very optimistic about reaching agreement, obviously, on infrastructure modernization but, as importantly, other issues related to energy. One thing is for certain. There is very confident they'll have mandatory reliability standards in the energy bill. What that means is that companies transmitting energy will have to have strong reliability measures in place otherwise, there will be a consequence for them. There will be incentives in the new bill to encourage investment in energy infrastructure. So I'm very pleased with the attitude of the two Members, their desire to get a bill done quickly and get it to my desk. I have been calling for an energy bill for a long time. And now is the time for the Congress to move and get something done. I also talked to Energy Secretary Abraham. Tomorrow the joint inquiry with the Canadians will begin. I don't know how long it's going to take to find out what went wrong, but I know it's not going to take long to get the meeting started to determine what went wrong. I'll answer a couple of questions then I've got to get moving. Former Vice President Taha Yasin Ramadan of Iraq Q. They've just captured Saddam's Vice President. Does that give you hope that we're closer to catching Saddam? The President. Well, I don't know the facts of where he was, what was going on. I'm really pleased that we've captured the Vice President. Slowly but surely, we'll find who we need to find. It's just a matter of time. Listen, we've got a lot of brave people doing a lot of hard work in Iraq. And it's because Iraq was terrorized and dominated by a dictator, it's going to take a while to get this country to understand what's necessary to be a free country. But we'll find him, and we'll bring him to justice. Stevenson Richard Stevenson, New York Times . Proposed Energy Legislation Q. Sir, I realize it's early to find out what went on with the blackout, but do you know enough at this point to be able to say whether there's anything new or different that you would like in the energy bill beyond what you proposed The President. Well, listen, I thought the energy bill was very comprehensive. We particularly liked the House a lot of the House bill. The Senate, as you know, in order to get out of town, expedited a piece of legislation. The House bill is a very comprehensive bill. And I'm confident the two bodies can work out differences. If they do what's in the if they do what's in the House bill, for example, and what's in the a lot in the Senate bill, we'll get us a good bill. Situation in the Middle East Q. Sir, the cease fire by the Palestinians runs out in a few weeks. Do you think it should be extended, and why? The President. Well, you know, look, here's my view on cease fires and I'm happy there's calm, and I think that's important. But the most important thing is to for the parties that care for their for peace to dismantle terrorist organizations that want to kill. That's how we're going to achieve a peaceful settlement in the Middle East. Calm is good. The fact that people aren't dying is good. But the ultimate solution and this can happen quickly, in my judgment is to find those who would who believe killing is the best approach to dealing with the very difficult problems in the Middle East. Q. Sir, Israel has kind of eased off of their request for actual dismantling the terrorists, and they're putting their faith in the Palestinian Authority to contain these guys. Do you have The President. I don't want to put words in the Israelis' mouth, but I can assure you that they're interested in dismantling organizations such as Hamas. Q. But do you think that the Palestinian Authority right now can contain these The President. I think that the Palestinian Authority needs to continue to work with the United States and others who are interested in dismantling terrorist organizations and ask for the help necessary so they can go and do what they need to do, which is dismantle and destroy organizations which are interested in killing innocent lives in order to prevent a peace process from going forward. Tax Cuts National Economy Q. Mr. President, your budget director gave an interview to the Wall Street Journal suggesting that there won't be any corporate tax cuts to deal with this World Trade Organization trade dispute about 100 billion in tax cuts making its way through Congress. Are we done with tax cuts for the foreseeable future? The President. Well, we'll see. As I said the other day, as we stand right now, I believe the tax relief packages we have in place are doing their job. But I'm a flexible person. I want to make sure that the conditions for economic growth and vitality are strong. But we'll take a look and see. I'm pleased the markets have responded. I'm pleased that there's economic vitality and growth. But until everybody finds a job who wants one today and can't find one, is able to work, then I'm going to continue working on the economy. Coalition Operations in Iraq Q. Sir, given the decreasing likelihood of there being another United Nations resolution on Iraq, should the American people be prepared for a longer and larger deployment of American forces there? The President. Well, one of the things that's happening is that international forces are now coming into Iraq. There's a significant reconstruction effort going on in which other nations besides the United States and our initial coalition partners are participating. In other words, there is an international effort going on that will help Iraq reconstruct itself and help Iraq develop into a peaceful, democratic country. And that's in our country's interest, that Iraq become a peaceful, free, democratic country. Part of the war on terror is to promote freedom in the Middle East. I like to remind people that a free Iraq will no longer serve as a haven for terrorists or as a place for terrorists to get money or arms. A free Iraq will make the Middle East a more peaceful place, and a peaceful Middle East is important to the security of the United States. Listen, I've got to go. Thank you. I hope you all have a wonderful morning. First Lady Laura Bush President's Vacation Q. How's the First Lady? The President. She's great. Thanks. She actually suggested maybe bringing the press corps out to the ranch. Her idea. Q. Good idea. The President. What? Q. Good idea. The President. Well Q. What is she keeping busy with? The President. You know, she's you'll see, if you ever get out there, that she's got a lot of wildflowers. And she's restoring a lot of the area around the house, the native grasses. By the way, we've got quail back bobwhite quail has now returned around our house. It wasn't there when we first bought the place. And because the grasses have been restored, we've got a nice little family of bobwhites. It's a fantastic experience to hear them call in the morning. My friend Blossman caught about a 6 pound bass yesterday. So the bass are growing, and they're getting healthy. Life out there at the ranch is just fine. It gets a little toasty about 3 00 p.m. in the afternoon, though. Thank you all. August 19, 2003 Today in Baghdad, terrorists turned their violence against the United Nations. The U.N. personnel and Iraqi citizens killed in the bombing were in that country on a purely humanitarian mission. Men and women in the targeted building were working on reconstruction, medical care for Iraqis. They were there to help with the distribution of food. A number have been killed or injured. And to those who suffer, I extend the sympathy of the American people. A short time ago, I spoke with Ambassador Bremer and directed him to provide all possible assistance to the rescue and recovery effort at the United Nations headquarters. I also spoke to Secretary General Kofi Annan about the personal loss the U.N. has suffered, about the assistance my country has offered, and about the vital work in Iraq that continues. The terrorists who struck today have again shown their contempt for the innocent. They showed their fear of progress and their hatred of peace. They are the enemies of the Iraqi people. They are the enemies of every nation that seeks to help the Iraqi people. By their tactics and their targets, these murderers reveal themselves once more as enemies of the civilized world. Every sign of progress in Iraq adds to the desperation of the terrorists and the remnants of Saddam's brutal regime. The civilized world will not be intimidated, and these killers will not determine the future of Iraq. The Iraqi people have been liberated from a dictator. Iraq is on a irreversible course toward self government and peace. And America and our friends in the United Nations will stand with the Iraqi people as they reclaim their Nation and their future. Iraqi people face a challenge, and they face a choice. The terrorists want to return to the days of torture chambers and mass graves. The Iraqis who want peace and freedom must reject them and fight terror. And the United States and many in the world will be there to help them. All nations of the world face a challenge and a choice. By attempting to spread chaos and fear, terrorists are testing our will. Across the world, they are finding that our will cannot be shaken. We will persevere through every hardship. We will continue this war on terror until the killers are brought to justice, and we will prevail. May God bless the souls who have been harmed in Iraq. Thank you very much. August 15, 2003 Thank you very much. Thanks for the warm welcome. Thanks for the friendship. It's great to be back in the great State of California, and it's wonderful to see so many friends from Orange County. I'm honored you all are here. I appreciate the strong financial support you've given. I want to thank those who have worked so hard to make this a major success. Really what we're doing is, we're laying the foundation for next year's campaign, putting the process in place and the foundation in place for what's going to be a great victory in November of '04. And I need to count on you, particularly when it comes to energizing the vote, to making sure the grassroots gets our message. I want you to remind your Republican friends, your Democrat friends, your independent friends that this administration is one that is serving all the people of the United States of America. I'm getting ready laughter and I'm loosening up. Laughter But the political season will come in its own time. See, I've got a job to do, and right now I'm focused on the people's business. We'll continue to work hard to earn the confidence of the American people by keeping this Nation strong and secure and prosperous and free. I regret that our First Lady is not with us. I just talked to Laura. She's in Midland visiting her mother, and I'm going to see her tonight for dinner. But she sends her love, and I tell you, I love her a lot. She is a great lady. I appreciate my friends Brad Freeman and Gerry Parsky and Mercer Reynolds for working so hard to organize what is going to be a great nationwide effort in terms of collecting the resources necessary to run a viable campaign. I want to thank Duf Sundheim, the party chairman of the State of California, for his leadership. I'm honored that members of the mighty California congressional delegation are with us, friends of mine, people who work hard on behalf of the citizens of California Congressmen David Dreier and Ed Royce and Ken Calvert and Congressman Chris Cox. I want to thank them for coming. I appreciate John Campbell and Bob Pacheco, State reps, people who represented their districts well and who were strong supporters of mine in 2000. But most of all, I thank you all for coming. In the last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future presidents or future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. We are meeting the test of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many key leaders of Al Qaida, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. We increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And then our country was attacked, and we found out that there were some CEOs in America who forgot to tell the truth. We had corporate scandals. War affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. I believe that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and someone is more likely to find a job. And I understand whose money we spend in Washington. It is not the Government's money it is the people's money. We're returning more money to people to help them raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're providing small businesses with incentives to expand so they can hire people. With all these actions, we are laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America so that every single citizen in this country can realize the great promise of America. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reform in a generation. We're bringing high standards and strong accountability measures to every public school in America. We believe every child can learn the basics of reading and math, and we expect every school in America to teach the basics of reading and math. This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse making are over. We expect results in return for Federal money in every classroom in America so that not one child is left behind. We reorganized our Government to create the Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our borders and ports and to protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for California manufacturers and farmers and ranchers and entrepreneurs. We passed budget agreements to help maintain much needed spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. The United States Congress has shared in these great achievements, and I appreciate their hard work. I've got a great relationship with Speaker Hastert and Leader Frist. I'll continue to work with them to change the tone in Washington, DC, and to focus on results as opposed to process and politics. And those are the kind of people I've assembled in my administration. I have put together a great administration on behalf of the American people. We have no finer Vice President in our Nation's history than Dick Cheney. Mother might have a second opinion. Laughter In 2 1 2 years, we've come far, but our work is only beginning. I've set great goals worthy of this great Nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every single citizen, regardless of their background, regardless of their religion, regardless of their status, has a chance to work and to succeed and realize the great promise of our land. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we're keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. Yet, our national interest involves more than eliminating aggressive threats to our security. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty. Free nations do not support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. And free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And we believe that freedom is the right of every person. And we believe that freedom is the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world. And when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. I'm so proud of our great land. We're leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges at home, and our actions are equal to those challenges. I will continue to work to lay the foundation for economic growth, to make sure the entrepreneurial spirit is strong, to encourage job creation so that anybody who wants to work today and can't find a job will be able to do so. And we have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. A few weeks ago, the Congress took historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and Senate have passed reforms to increase the choices for our seniors and to provide coverage for prescription drugs. The next step is for both bodies to get together and iron out some details and get a bill to my desk. The sooner they finish the job, the sooner Americans will get a modernized Medicare system. And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. Yet, the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, they affect the Federal budget they affect the Medicare budget, the Medicaid budget, the veterans health care budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. The House of Representatives passed a good bill to reform the Senate the system. It is stuck in the Senate. It is now time for the United States Senate to act on behalf of the patients of America. No one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. I have a responsibility as President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. In California, I nominated Carolyn Kuhl to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She is a tremendous bipartisan support. She's respected as a State judge. Yet, some Senators are distorting her record they're threatening to block an up or down vote. Unfortunately, she's not alone. They're doing that to too many of my nominees, and that is wrong. All judicial nominees deserve a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan that, among other things, will help us modernize our infrastructure around America. We must promote energy efficiency and conservation, develop cleaner develop technology to help us explore for energy in environmentally sensitive ways. But for the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, we need to become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism. We will apply the best and most innovative and effective ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" to encourage more Americans to serve their communities and their country. And both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative so that we can support the armies of compassion which are mentoring children, caring for the homeless, and offering hope to the addicted. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for every citizen, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their own home. We have a minority homeownership gap in America, and I've got a plan to close that gap. We want people owning their own retirement systems and managing their own retirement systems. We want people controlling their own health care systems. We want more people owning and operating their own small business in America, because we understand that when somebody owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future in the United States of America. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make. We're changing the culture of America from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're fortunate enough to be a mother or a father, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul. If you're concerned about the quality of education in your community, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in America, you have the responsibility to tell the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in the responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. And we can see the culture of responsibility and service growing around us here in America. I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need, and the response has been strong. People from all walks of life are signing up to figure out how to help and do their duty as an American citizen. Charities are strong and the faith based organizations are vibrant, bringing hope and healing to citizens who hurt. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself in life. Once again the children believe in heroes, because they see them every day in America. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We are a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for our country and for our cause, the best days lie ahead. May God bless America. August 14, 2003 The President. Thanks for the warm welcome. It's really great to be back in San Diego, California. What a fabulous city. I want to thank you for your help. You all have done a tremendous job of helping us get started in the campaign. The way I look at it is, you're laying the groundwork for what will be a great nationwide victory in November of '04. I appreciate your generosity. But I'm going to warn you, I need your help in energizing the grassroots, for putting up the signs and making the phone calls and telling your fellow citizens Republican, Democrat, independent, could care less that ours is a message that is hopeful for every single person who lives in this country. I'm loosening up laughter and I'm getting ready. But the political season will come in its own time, because I have a job to do for the American people. I'm focused on the people's business. We have a lot on our agenda, and over the next months I will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of our fellow Americans by making sure America is secure and strong and prosperous and free. My only regret is that First Lady Laura Bush isn't here tonight too. She is visiting her mother in Midland, Texas. Audience member. Inaudible The President. You're right. Laughter I am really proud of her. She is a fabulous First Lady. But most important, she's a great mother and a great wife, and I love her dearly. I want to thank my friend Brad Freeman. I thought for a minute he was going to announce for Governor, he spoke so long. Laughter He's been a longtime friend, just as has Gerry Parsky. Both of these friends are working hard in '04, just like they did for the '04 election, just like they did in 2000. I'm proud to stand with them. I also want to thank my friend Mercer Reynolds. Mercer is from Cincinnati, Ohio. He's dedicating a lot of time to make sure our national finance effort is as strong as I know it's going to be. I appreciate you, Mercer. We've got members of the congressional delegation here today from the mighty State of California, Duncan Hunter and "Duke" Cunningham and Darrell Issa. I'm honored they're here. I appreciate the Mayor, Dick Murphy, for greeting me. Mr. Mayor, thank you for your strong support. I want to thank the event cochairmen here from San Diego. You all have done a fantastic job. I'm proud to call you friends, and I thank you for your support. In the last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and to future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away, and we are meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. We increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession, and then our country was attacked. And scandals in corporate America became evident, and war began to affect the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. Here is what I believe and here is what we know When Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and people are then more likely to find a job. I also understand whose money we spend in Washington. It's not the Government's money it's the people's money. We're returning more money to people to help them raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand and hire new people. With all these actions, we've laid the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America, so that every single person in this country can realize the great American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I called for and Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We bring high standards and strong accountability measures to every public school in America. See, we believe every child can learn the basics of reading and math, and we expect every school to teach the basics of reading and math. This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse making are over. We expect results in every classroom all across America so that not one single child is left behind. We reorganized the Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to safeguard our borders and ports and to protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for California's manufacturers and entrepreneurs and ranchers and farmers. We passed a budget agreement that is helping to maintain spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. The United States Congress has shared these great achievements, and I appreciate the hard work of the Members of Congress. I enjoy a great relationship with Speaker Denny Hastert and Majority Leader Bill Frist. We're going to continue to work together to change the tone of Washington and focus on the people's business by focusing on results. And those are the kind of people I've asked to serve in my administration. I have put together a fantastic team of Americans to serve the American people. We've got no finer Vice President in our history than Dick Cheney. Mother might have a different view. Laughter In 2 1 2 years, we have come far, but our work is only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion, so that every citizen has a chance to work and succeed and to realize the great promise of our country. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depends on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we're keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest. We will not tire, and we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. Yet, our national interest involves more than eliminating aggressive threats to our safety. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, and free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. We believe that freedom is the right of every person. And we believe that freedom is the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world. When we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. In the continent of Africa, this great, compassionate, strong Nation is committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. This great land is taking the lead. We are leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges at home, and our actions will prove that we're equal to those challenges. I will continue to work to create a favorable condition for economic growth and vitality, until everybody who wants to work and can't find a job today will be able to find a job. And we have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. A few weeks ago, Congress took historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and the Senate have passed reforms to increase the choices for our seniors and to provide coverage for prescription drugs. The next step is for both Houses to come together to iron out some details and to get a bill to my desk. We have an obligation to the seniors of America to modernize the Medicare system. And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on frivolous lawsuits, which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a doctor deserve their day in court. Yet, the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for rich settlements. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, they affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. The House of Representatives has passed a good bill to reform the system. The bill is stuck in the Senate. The Senate must act on behalf of the American people. They must realize that nobody in America has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. I have a responsibility as President to make sure the judicial system runs well. And I've met that duty. I have nominated superb women and men for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. In California, I've nominated Carolyn Kuhl to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She has tremendous bipartisan support. She's respected as a State judge. Yet, some Senators are distorting Judge Kuhl's record, and they're threatening to block an up or down vote. And this is happening to too many of the judges I've nominated, and it is wrong. All the judicial nominees deserve a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The United States Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. Our Nation must promote energy efficiency and conservation. We must work to develop cleaner technology to help us explore for energy in an environmentally sensitive way. Yet, for the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, we must be less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism by applying the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping fellow citizens in need. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so more Americans can serve their communities and their country. And both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring children, that are caring for the homeless, and that are offering hope to the addicted. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration is firmly committed and will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their home. We have a minority home ownership gap in America, and I have put forth a plan to solve it. We want more people to manage and own their own health care accounts. We want people to own and manage their own retirement accounts. We want more people to own and operate their own small business, because, you see, we understand that when a person owns something in America, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make. We're changing the culture of America from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul. If you're concerned about the quality of education in your community, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you are a CEO in America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in this new responsibility, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. Things are changing in America to the better. We can see a culture of service and responsibility growing around us. I started what we call the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to neighbors in need. And the response has been fantastic. People are signing up. People want to serve something greater than themselves. Our charities and our faith based institutions are strong and they're vibrant, bringing important help to people who hurt. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. And at home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us, and we welcome it. And we know that for our country and for our cause, the best days lie ahead. Thank you for coming. May God bless. August 14, 2003 Liberia Q. Thank you for joining us today. We really appreciate you being here and taking time out to talk with us. I'd like to start out with a topic that's in the news this morning, and that's Liberia. Two weeks ago, you authorized Secretary Rumsfeld to send a small contingency into that war torn country to help out. And now this morning, we hear that a couple of hundred more U.S. forces are there to help out. What's the status there? Do you see this as a long term deployment for our troops? Or do you think this is more short term? The President. No, I know it's short term. Here's what I said. I said, look, we have a special obligation in Liberia to help with humanitarian aid, and therefore, we will. And I said, secondly, we will have a limited mission of limited duration and limited scope and that we will help what's called ECOMIL, which is the western African nations' militaries, go in and provide the conditions necessary for humanitarian aid to move. We have yet to deploy anybody, really. Today you mentioned 200 troops. Those 200 troops will be the first really deployed, other than assessment teams, and their job is to help secure an airport and a port so food can be offloaded and the delivery process begun to help people in Monrovia. We'll be out of there by October the 1st. We've got U.N. blue helmeted troops ready to replace our limited number of troops. But our mission there is to help ECOWAS help ECOMIL provide humanitarian aid. Coalition Operations in Iraq Q. I'd like to turn to Iraq now. The President. Yes. Q. On May 1st, you flew aboard the Abraham Lincoln, and you addressed the Nation, and you announced the end of combat operations. The President. Actually, major military operations. Q. Okay, I stand corrected. The President. Because we still have combat operations going on. Q. We do, sir you're right. But as you say, duty there continues to be tough, dangerous work. But ironically, more of our troops have died since May 1st than during the main hostility. What do your advisers tell you about the security threat in Iraq today? Is it getting better? Is it worse? Where do we stand? The President. Well, it's certainly getting better on a day by day basis. And the reason why is because we're routing out former Ba'athists and some foreign terrorists from the country. These are people who can't stand the thought of a free Iraq. Really, the way I'd like for your viewers to understand the Iraq theater is that the Iraq is an integral part on the war on terror. See, Saddam Hussein was funding terrorist activities. He was providing money. Who knows what kind of armament he was providing. We know he had illegal weapons, and those weapons in the hands of terrorists would be very dangerous to the United States. Iraq is in the middle of a part of the region that has produced terror and terrorists. And therefore, a free Iraq is an integral part of winning the war on terror, because a free Iraq is going to be one that will help will have an amazingly positive effect on its neighborhood. A free Iraq will no longer be a threat to the United States and our friends and allies. And so what you're seeing now is a continuation on the battle for Iraq it's just a different kind of battle. The first wave of military operations was to get rid of the first major goal of military operations was to get rid of Saddam Hussein and his regime, and we have done that. And now it is to make the country secure enough for democracy to flourish. And it's a different kind of combat mission, but nevertheless, it's combat just ask the kids that are over there killing and being shot at. Listen, as Commander in Chief, I grieve for any loss of life. And I stand in I send my deepest sympathies to the loved ones who grieve over the loss of a soldier, a loved one. But the cause is a good cause, because we will never forget the lessons of 9 11. This is part of the war on terror. And the effect of what we have done in Iraq and what we're doing in Iraq will be a very positive effect on future generations of Americans, and that's very important for people to understand. Q. You talked about a democracy in Iraq. August 8th was the 100th day since the end of combat operations there. But we've got a lot of forces that are still there. I guess my question to you is, will U.S. forces continue to bear the brunt of the responsibility there? I believe down in Crawford you told the press that America was committed to staying in Iraq until they were free. The President. Right. Q. But will that responsibility continue to fall on U.S. forces, or will our coalition partners step up and give us some relief? The President. Yes, I think what you'll find is, is that there will be a variety of different elements that will give relief to U.S. forces. First of all, we will stay there until the job is done. If America pulls out, there's no telling what'll happen. It'll certainly embolden terrorists to think that we are going to a mission and don't complete it. But think about the following dynamics. First of all, Britain is still there. Polish troops are now moving in and will be in, I think, by September 4th of this year, which is in 2 weeks. That's a major Polish contingent. There will be other nations going in to support not only the Polish contingent but the British contingent. We're developing an Iraq police force as well as an Iraqi army. And the idea is at some point in time, the Iraqi army is able to secure the powerlines and prevent the looting. See, what's happening there is there's a handful of people, an element of people who are willing to destroy the power grid as we rebuild it, in order to try to terrorize people. It would be helpful if other patrolled the power grid, other than our U.S. hunter killer teams. And that's what's happening now. And this fall you'll see a lot of protective load, kind of the guarding role, being taken off the shoulders of U.S. troops and shared by coalition forces. But you know, you mentioned 100 days. I want to put this in perspective. Saddam Hussein had 12 years or so, or more, to hide weapons and to fool the world. I say "12 years" because that's really the time frame from '91, the last U.S. incursion, until today, but no telling what he was doing prior to '91. He has had years to terrorize people. This is the guy, if you disagreed with him, you're liable to be dead and your family would be tortured as well or killed as well. And so we're dealing with a mindset and kind of a condition, an environment that has been in place for a long time, and yet we've only been there for 100 days. But we've done a lot in 100. In other words, my expectations aren't the democracy will flourish after 100 days. Of course, my expectations were that I wasn't certain how long it was going to take for us to do an incredibly difficult, complex military operation. I knew that we had a good plan, because General Franks told me we had a good plan. But it happened a lot quicker than I thought. So I don't my point is, I don't tend to put time, artificial timelines I try to be realistic, however, about how long it takes to accomplish a complex mission. Afghanistan War on Terror Q. Mr. President, I'd like to talk about Afghanistan for a moment, formerly a hotbed of terrorist activity, and the first country to feel America's wrath and compassion in the war on terrorism after 9 11. But today, significant numbers of U.S. troops are still there helping to rebuild that country. My question for you is, is there a timetable for when U.S. forces will start to come home from there? Or is Afghanistan tied to Iraq? The President. Well, listen, we've got about 10,000 troops there, which is down from, obviously, major combat operations. And they're there to provide security, and they're there to provide reconstruction help. But both those functions are being gradually replaced by other troops. Germany, for example, is now providing the troops for ISAF, which is the security force for Afghanistan under NATO control. In other words, more and more coalition forces and friends are beginning to carry a lot of the burden in Afghanistan. We'll still have hunter killer teams there to chase down remnants of Taliban and Al Qaida, because we want, of course, Afghanistan to be a secure and democratic country. And we want to use now that we're locked and loaded, as they say in the military, we want to chase down those who could eventually come back and harm America. In other words, Afghanistan and Iraq they're linked. They're linked because they're both integral theaters in the war on terror. And a free Afghanistan and a free Iraq will make America more secure, and that's, after all, the mission that we're after. Nine eleven taught us a lesson, that we're vulnerable, and 9 11 reminded me that my obligation as the Commander in Chief is to hunt down an enemy and bring them to justice before they would ever harm America again. And that's what we're going to do, so long as I am the President. North Korea Q. I'd like to go to the other side of the world for a moment, if I could, to North Korea. The President. Yes. Q. What is the status on their weapons of mass destruction and their ability to use them? And most specifically, how concerned should U.S. forces in the Pacific theater be South Korea, Japan that North Korea would use nuclear weapons against them? The President. Well, you know, we believe he has got a warhead. We know he's got rockets. And we know he's a dangerous man, and that's why we take his threats seriously. You know, the best thing to do, in my judgment, is to convince others to join us to convince Kim Chong il to change his behavior. In other words, we tried the bilateral approach, and it didn't work because he didn't tell the truth. And so now our strategy is to get the Chinese involved, which they are, and to get the Russians involved and the Japanese involved and the South Koreans involved, all of us involved to tell Kim Chong il that we expect him to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula for the sake of peace. And that's where we're headed. I'd like to solve this diplomatically, and I believe we can. It's going to take a lot of persuasion by countries besides the United States to convince him. He loves the idea of, you know, making people nervous and rattling sabers and getting the world all anxious. And my job is to tell others that let's speak with one voice and convince this man that developing a nuclear weapon on the Korean Peninsula is not in his interests. Military Pay and Benefits Military Families Q. I'd like to talk about people for a minute. You've talked about them earlier, and nobody knows better than you the sacrifices that our servicemembers are making day in and day out on the war on terrorism, whether it's Iraq, Afghanistan, here at home. What can servicemembers look for in the way of benefits, pay, housing, health care, that kind of thing, to repay them for their unselfish sacrifice to the Nation? The President. When I first came in, I made the commitment that help was on the way. I said that during the campaign to the military, help was on the way, and I've lived up to that commitment. Pay is going up. I think if you talk to the servicemen, they do feel the pay increases that we've that I proposed and Congress has passed. And when you couple that with two significant tax cuts, our servicemen have got more money in their pocket than before. I ask the question all the time to troops. I don't know if I got I hope I get the straight answer. You don't know it must be a little awesome for a sergeant to talk to the Commander in Chief. Q. It's very awesome, sir. Laughter The President. And I turn to the guy and say, "Can you feel your pay raise?" And to a person, the answer is yes, they feel their pay raise, which is good. And that's what I want. The other thing is that when you and I first met at Fort Stewart, Georgia, I was given a tour of substandard housing. And I went back and talked to Don Rumsfeld about that and said, "We've got to do something about that." Pay is one thing, and housing is another. And both of them are compatible both of them are important for families in the military. And I think you'll find that we have we're living up to our commitment to have a full scale housing program ongoing for our troops. And the housing issue is getting a lot the housing condition is improving, compared to the way it was in the past, and so I'm mindful of it. And health care is good for our troops. I think, again, if you ask the troops that's who I ask, and they tell me they're pleased with the health care. And so the key is to continue the progress that we've made about making sure that the human condition in the military is excellent. Q. One final question, Mr. President. The families of America's fighting forces, they make huge sacrifices in the name of freedom, just like the servicemembers. You touched on it earlier. You touched on it in your speech today. For months at a time, they give up their servicemembers. They don't know where they are. They don't hear from them. They don't know if they're safe. They don't know if they're dead or alive. What message do you have for the families today? The President. Well, my message is that what your loved one is doing is the right thing for the country. We are called upon to defend the United States of America. I take that oath, and every soldier takes that oath. And on 9 11, our world changed, and we realized this country is vulnerable and we better do something about it. And the best way to secure the homeland is to get the enemy before he gets us. At least, that's my attitude. And so, I first of all, the commitment that their loved ones have made, the families of the service ones have made, is in line with this business about winning and fighting war. Every person is a volunteer in our military. They've chosen to defend the United States of America. And therefore, they need to get the best if that's their attitude, and they made up their mind that's what they want to do, then my job is to get them the best equipment, the best pay, the best training possible, so that if we ever have to send them in, they'll be able to do the job. And I hope their loved ones understand that, that this is a volunteer army and it requires sacrifice. Look, I understand what it must mean for the moms and dads and sons and daughters to wonder about their loved one. It must be a nerve wracking experience. On the other hand, it's for a good cause. I would tell you as well, as I think our military does is I'm going to tell you two things I think the military does really well that will hopefully give comfort to people. One, there is a lot of communication that takes place with troops overseas and their loved ones at home. There are there's e mail efforts that go on, a lot of e mail efforts. In other words, there's a capacity to communicate from afar, the likes of which our military has never had. Secondly, I have visited our wounded. One of my jobs as the Commander in Chief is to try to comfort those who grieve and to comfort those who are wounded those who grieve as a result of loss of life, and those and to comfort those who have been wounded, and I do. I'm responsible for putting them into combat, and I know that. And so I go to hospitals on occasion, Walter Reed or Bethesda. Ours is a country that can take a young, wounded soldier off the battlefield and have him in the best care in a number of days. I met many a troop that was wounded in Iraq and 3 days later was at Bethesda Naval Hospital getting the best possible treatment. And to me that speaks volumes about the commitment of our country to take care of our fighters and our soldiers and marines and sailors and airmen. If somebody gets hurt far from home, we will deliver the best care in the world in a rapid time. And I understand that doesn't replace an injured limb for a loved one, but it certainly should say loud and clear that this country cares deeply about those who are willing to sacrifice on its behalf. Q. As you say, sir, freedom isn't free. The President. That's right. Q. Thank you, Mr. President, very much. I really appreciate the time. The President. You bet. Thank you, sir. Good job. August 14, 2003 The President. Today our country a major portion of our country was affected by rolling blackout. Canada was affected over 10 million people in Canada were affected as well. And I have been working with Federal officials to make sure the response to this situation was quick and thorough, and I believe it has been. We're focused on two major things right now. One is to work with State and local authorities to manage the consequences of this rolling blackout. In my judgment, the Governors and mayors of the affected States and cities have responded very well. We've offered all the help they need to help people cope with this blackout. And they've to this moment have said they've got the resources necessary to handle it. The emergency preparedness teams at the local level and the State level are responding very well. I also want to thank the people in the affected cities and States for their calm response to this emergency situation. It has been remarkable to watch on television how resolved the people are about dealing with this situation, and it's I'm grateful for that. And I know their neighbors are grateful as well for the proper and calm response. The other thing, of course, we're working on is to get electricity up and running as quickly as possible. And Federal officials are working with State and local officials to get the electricity grid up and running. Our goal, of course, is to do this as quickly as possible. Obviously, the sooner we can get electricity up, the more normal people's lives will become. One thing I think I can say for certain is that this was not a terrorist act. I've heard reports about a lightning strike in Niagara Falls, New York, and we're Federal officials, of course, are investigating the veracity of that. We'll find out here what caused the blackout. But most importantly, what we now need to do is fix the problem and to get electricity up and running as quickly as possible. I was pleased to hear that many of the airports up East are beginning to have flights leave, and that's good. So in other words, slowly but surely, we're coping with this massive national problem. Millions of people's lives are affected. I fully understand that their lives will not be normal for the short run and hope that they continue to cope with this in a manner that they have done so far. I'm confident we can get things up and running as quickly as possible, and people's lives will go back to normal. Yes. Security of the Power Grid Q. Mr. President, does this suggest that, even with all the attention paid to homeland security, that the electrical grid is still vulnerable, should it have been a terrorist attack? The President. Well, I think, you know, one of the things we'll have to do, of course, is take an assessment of why the cascade was so significant, why it was able to ripple so significantly throughout our system up East. And that'll be a very important part of the investigation once we deal with the immediate and the immediate, of course, is to take care of people. You know, for example, in New York City, Mayor Bloomberg has ordered out thousands of police officers on the street to help bring calm. Firefighters are working overtime. Emergency crews are out working well. My focus is to work with State and local authorities to help deal with the immediate problem. Of course, we'll have time to look at it and determine whether or not our grid needs to be modernized. I happen to think it does and have said so all along. But this will be this is going to be an interesting lesson for our country, and we'll have to respond to it. Cause of the Blackout Q. Mr. President. The President. Yes. Q. Do we know why this happened? The President. Well, as I say, I saw a preliminary report. But we'll find out why, and we'll deal with the problem. Federal State Local Cooperation Q. Mr. President, you said that the State and locals had said they have all the resources they need. Can you talk about what the Federal Government might do or might already be doing to help them out? The President. Well, one thing, of course, we're doing is we're getting the airlines running. The FAA is as I understand, has cleared flights out of LaGuardia and Newark, for example. The organization of Homeland Security is aimed at quick communications with State and local authorities, and I think that that communication was quick and thorough. I talked to Secretary Ridge several times. Governors have been notified, and mayors have been notified, and we're prepared to do anything that we can upon request. Q. But it doesn't sound like they've asked you yet to do very The President. Not much, because they're well prepared. I mean, the first thing that I think Americans ought to be pleased about is the fact that we're better organized today than we were 2 1 2 years ago to deal with an emergency, and the system responded well. Secretary Ridge was telling me 30 minutes ago how quickly the local authorities responded and how good the communications were between the Federal Government, the State government, the local government. It's a serious situation, but the people whose lives have been affected need to know there's a lot of people working to enable them to get on about their lives in a normal way. And hopefully, electricity will be restored soon. I can't tell you exactly when, but I know a lot of people are working overtime to get it done. Thank you all. August 14, 2003 Thank you all. Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming out to say hello. It's getting a little quiet on the ranch laughter so I decided to pay a visit to the "devil dogs." I'm honored to be in the presence of the men and women who wear our Nation's uniform. I'm proud of you, and I want to thank you for your service to our great country. Each of you serves in a crucial time in our Nation's history. And this Nation is grateful for the sacrifice and service you make. Many of you have recently returned from Iraq, and it seems like you're happy to be home. More than 70,000 men and women from bases in southern California were deployed in Iraq. You served with honor you served with skill and you were successful. Before you went in, Iraqis were an oppressed people, and the dictator threatened his neighbors, the Middle East, and the world. Today, the Iraqis are liberated people the former regime is gone and our Nation and the world is more secure. This Nation is at war with people who hate what we stand for. We love freedom, and we're not going to change. Our country depends on you to protect our freedom, and every day, you depend on your families. This has been a challenging time for military families I know that. During the last year, our families and our military have met hardships and met them together. You've supported and looked out for one another. You've been strong and faithful to the people you love. Military families make tremendous sacrifices for America, and our Nation is grateful for your service to our country. I appreciate General Conway. This isn't the first time I met him. He looks you right in the eye. He's the kind of commander I'd like to serve under it's just that, he just serves under me. Laughter I appreciate General Amos, General Gallinetti. I appreciate all those who are in command of forces here. I want to thank you for what you do. We've got members of the California congressional delegation here. These are stalwarts when it comes to understanding the need to provide you the resources necessary to do your job. There's no finer Congressman when it comes to military affairs than Congressman Duncan Hunter. With him, the Congressman from southern California as well I call him "The Ace," because he was an ace in Vietnam, a great fighter pilot, Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Two other members of the delegation are here who are friends of mine, people who serve with distinction, Congressman Ed Royce and Congressman Darrell Issa. I'm honored you all are here. Thank you for coming. The Marine Corps Air Station and the military bases of southern California have long, long been crucial to the defense of this country. We intend to keep it that way. Generations of marines and sailors and pilots have trained and served here. And for the veterans who are with us today, I thank you for your service to our country. Now you have been called. This group of marines and sailors have been called to serve in the first war of the 21st century. The war began almost 2 years ago, on September the 11th, 2001, when this Nation was brutally attacked and thousands of our fellow citizens died. We were awakened to new dangers on that day. On that morning, the threats that had gathered far across the world appeared suddenly in our own cities. The world changed on that day. The enemies of the United States showed the harm they can do and the evil they intend. Since that September morning, our enemies have also seen something They have seen the will and the might of the United States military, and they are meeting the fate they chose for themselves. Our Nation is waging a broad and unrelenting campaign against the global terror network, and we're winning. Wherever Al Qaida terrorists try to hide from the caves and mountains of central Asia to the islands of the Philippines to the cities in Pakistan we are finding them, and we are bringing them to justice. In the last 2 days, we captured a major terrorist named Hambali. He's a known killer who was a close associate of September the 11th mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Hambali was one of the world's most lethal terrorists, who is suspected of planning major terrorist operations, including that which occurred in Bali, Indonesia, and other recent attacks. He is no longer a problem to those of us who love freedom, and neither are nearly two thirds of known senior Al Qaida leaders, operational managers, and key facilitators who have been captured or have been killed. Now, we're making progress. Slowly but surely, we're doing our duty to our fellow citizens. Now, Al Qaida is still active, and they're still recruiting, and they're still a threat because we won't cower. Its leaders and foot soldiers continue to plot against the American people. But every terrorist can be certain of this Wherever they are, we will hunt them down one by one until they are no longer a threat to the people who live in the United States of America. Many of you served in Operation Enduring Freedom, and we thank you for your service. You can be proud of help to liberate the good people of Afghanistan from the thugs who turned that country into a training camp for Al Qaida terrorists. You enforced the doctrine which said, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists." And the Taliban found out what we meant. Afghanistan today is a friend of the United States of America. It is not a haven for America's terrorist enemies. As NATO assumes a leading role in keeping Afghanistan secure, we're helping with the reconstruction and the founding of a democratic government. We're making steady progress in Afghanistan. New roads are being built. Medical clinics are opening. There are new schools in Afghanistan where many young girls are now going to school for the first time, thanks to the United States of America. We've also helped to build an Afghan national army. We want the Afghan people to defend themselves at some point in time. This army launched its first major operation, called Warrior Sweep, which are hunting down the terrorists along with the help of the United States of America. Now, thanks to the United States and our fine allies, Afghanistan is no longer a haven for terror. The Taliban is history, and the Afghan people are free. The war on terror also continues in Iraq. Make no mistake about it Iraq is part of the war on terror. Our coalition forces are still engaged in an essential mission. We met the major combat objectives in Operation Iraqi Freedom by removing a regime that persecuted Iraqis, that supported terrorists, and that was armed to threaten the peace of the world. All the world is now seeing just how badly the Iraqi people suffered under this brutal dictator. The Iraqi people themselves are seeing a new day, thanks to the brave men and women who came to liberate them. Thanks to our military, Iraqi citizens do not have to fear a secret police, arbitrary arrests, or loved ones lost forever in mass graves. Thanks to our military, the torture chambers of a dictator are closed the prison cells for children are empty. Thanks to our military, Saddam Hussein will never threaten anybody with a weapon of mass destruction. Many members of the former regime challenged our military and had their day of reckoning, and the other ones still in there have a lot to worry about. Parts of Iraq are still dangerous because freedom has enemies inside of Iraq. Men loyal to the fallen regime, some joined by foreign terrorists, are trying to prevent order and stability. We're on the offensive against these killers. We're going after them. We'll raid their hiding places, and we'll find them. The brave Americans who carry out these missions can know they will have every tool and every resource they need to defend themselves and to do the job they were sent to do. The terrorists will meet their end, and in the meantime, the Iraqi people are making steady progress in building a stable society and beginning to form a democratic government. Iraq's new Governing Council represents the Nation's diverse groups. In the months ahead, Iraqis will begin drafting a new constitution, and this will prepare the way for elections. America and our coalition are training Iraqi civil defense and police forces so they can patrol their own cities and their own villages. We're training a new army, an army that defends the people instead of terrorizes them. Life is returning to normal for a lot of citizens in Iraq. Hospitals and universities have opened. In many places, water and other utility services are reaching pre war levels. For the first time, a free press is operating in Iraq. Across Iraq, nearly all schoolchildren have completed their exams. And now those children are receiving a real education without the hateful propaganda of Saddam Hussein. By the hard efforts of our military, we are keeping our word to the world and to the Iraqi people. The illegal weapons hidden by the former regime will be found. The free and representative government Iraqis are building is there to stay. A free and peaceful Iraq is an important part of winning the war on terror. A free Iraq will no longer be a training ground for terrorists, will no longer supply them with money or weapons. A free Iraq will help to rid the Middle East of resentment and violence and radicalism. A free Iraq will show all nations of the region that human freedom brings progress and prosperity. By working for peace and stability in the Middle East, we're making America and future generations of Americans more secure. Our actions in Iraq are part of a duty we have accepted across the world. We're keeping our resolve, and we will stay focused on the war on terror. The United States will not stand by and wait for another attack. We will not trust the restraint or good intentions of evil people. We will oppose terrorists and all who support them. We will not permit any terrorist group or outlaw regime to threaten us with weapons of mass destruction. And when necessary, we will act decisively to protect the lives of our fellow citizens. As our Nation confronts great challenges, we rely, as always, on the goodness and courage of the men and women of our military. Like all our men and women who continue to serve in Iraq, you've done hard duty far from home and family, and I know you'll never forget the people who fought at your side. As a major from Miramar said of his fellow marines who served in Iraq, "They are my brothers and sisters." Each of you recalls especially the ones who gave their lives for freedom of others. The United States will always honor their memory. And today we ask the Almighty's blessings on those who grieve here on Earth for their loved ones. I know you're proud to wear the same uniform they wore. Each of you has chosen you have made the choice to fill a great calling, to live by a code of honor, in service to your Nation, for the safety and security of your fellow citizens. You and I have taken an oath to defend America. We're meeting that duty together, and I am proud to be the Commander in Chief of such a fabulous group of men and women who wear our uniform. May God bless you. May God bless you and your families. May God continue to bless the United States of America. Semper fi. August 13, 2003 The President. Good morning. As you can see, my economic team came down. We've had some great briefings. Let me summarize by saying that this administration is optimistic about job creation. We believe strongly that the tax relief plan that was approved by Congress in '01 and most recently in '03 is going to have a very positive effect on economic growth and vitality. We believe it is more likely in the upcoming year that people are going to be able to find a job, and that's exactly what where we focused our policy. But I also know there's more that can be done. I think one thing is certain, and we've spent a lot of time discussing this There needs to be a strong message to Congress not to overspend, set priorities, and hold the line on the priorities. As well, we need an energy policy, and we need good tort reform. And I appreciate the fact that the House has passed a good energy bill and the Senate passed an energy bill. Now is the time to get together and reconcile their differences and get a bill to my desk. I also appreciate the fact that the House passed good class action reform, and the Senate now needs to follow suit. And I also look forward to working with the Congress to get associated health care plans passed, which will make it easier for small businesses to be able to write affordable health care for their employees. So there's some things we can do to make sure that the economy continues to grow and so people can find work. If you'll remember, the tax relief plan that was passed was called the jobs plan, the growth and jobs creation plan. That's what we're interested in. We're interested in people being able to work in America, and we're upbeat about the chances for our fellow citizens who are looking for work to be able to find a job. I'll answer some questions, starting with Scott Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press . Liberia Former President Charles Taylor Q. Thanks, Mr. President. President Taylor has met your demand to leave Liberia. You've got a west African peacekeeping force in there. Is the time right to send in those 4,500 marines and sailors? And should Nigeria turn President Taylor over to the war crimes tribunal? The President. They can work that out with how they deal with Taylor. One, I'm glad he's gone. But my focus now is on making sure that humanitarian relief gets to the people who are suffering in Liberia. And one of the things I have said all along was that we are there to help ECOMIL do its job by providing the conditions necessary for the arrival of relief. And that's why we've got an assessment team on the ground that's dealing with the Nigerian who's in charge of ECOMIL, to determine what is necessary to help ECOMIL do its job. They are in the lead, and we are there to support and help. Obviously, one place we've got to make sure is secure and open is the port. And so we're working with ECOMIL, and I will again take recommendations from the Defense Department as to what is necessary to fulfill the mission. Q. What's your timetable, if I may? The President. My timetable of listening Q. Making a decision on whether to send those 4,500 in. The President. Well, I've already made the decision, Scott. And I said this from day one. The decision is for us to help ECOMIL do its job of getting humanitarian relief to the people in Liberia. I've made that decision, and nothing's changed. Yes. Hemant Lakhani Homeland Security Q. Yesterday there was a sting operation that netted a Brit believed to be trying to sell surface to air missiles to someone they believed who was Al Qaida, highlighting the danger to airlines. Also yesterday, there were three lost fisherman who came onshore to JFK Airport, breaching security. Your Democratic opponents are trying to use homeland security as an issue in the campaign, saying that the administration is not doing enough to protect the American people. What is your assessment in light of what happened yesterday? The President. My assessment is people are going to say the darnedest thing when they run for office, in terms of just the politics. The American people know the difference between politics and reality, and the reality is we're doing everything we can to protect the homeland. And the fact that we were able to sting this guy is a pretty good example of what we're doing in order to protect the American people. And our homeland security is focused on airport security. And today, the airports are much more secure than they were prior to September the 11th. America is a safe place for people to fly, precisely because we're working hard to make sure that our homeland security is strong. The other way to make sure the homeland stays strong is to hunt terrorists down before they come to America. And that's why we're on the global hunt. That's why we've got troops around in places like Afghanistan and Iraq dealing with potential terrorists, bringing them to justice, finding them before they hurt us. Yes, Elisabeth Elisabeth Bumiller, New York Times . Tax Policy Q. Are you going to go for a new round of tax cuts this fall? The President. Elisabeth, we are discussing a lot of things. And we believe that the tax relief plan we have in place is robust enough to encourage job growth. Q. So is that a "no"? The President. Well, as of this moment you see, things change in the economy, as you know but as of this moment, we feel like the plans we have in place are robust enough to create jobs. Q. Is there any discussion The President. Please. The other thing that's necessary is to make sure we've got spending discipline in Washington, to make sure that Congress doesn't overspend. And that will because that will affect the psychology of those who are risk capital in order to create the job base. You had a followup, I take it. Q. Yes, I was just going to ask you The discussions in the administration, maybe not at the White House level, about a perhaps a business tax credit, that you would get a tax credit if you hired somebody to sort of The President. Well, thus far, we in the discussions today, we feel like the tax relief plans that we have passed will be robust enough to create the conditions necessary for economic growth, and therefore, people will find a job. If we change our opinion, we will let you know. You may not be the first to know, but you'll be one of the first to know. Yes, sir. North Korea Q. Thank you. Russia has proposed a multilateral security pact to end the standoff with North Korea. Are you willing to offer incentives before North Korea dismantles its nuclear weapons program? The President. Here's what we're going to do. We're going to continue the dialog with North Korea, to make it clear to them that not only does the United States feel strongly that the Peninsula ought to be nuclear free, but other countries which live in the neighborhood feel the same way. And remember, the policy has evolved from one of bilateral you know, pressure to negotiate bilaterally with the North Koreans. That's what we did in the past, and that policy unfortunately failed because the North Koreans didn't keep their word about whether or not they would enrich uranium. And so now we've taken another tact, which is to first of all, to convince the Chinese to be an active participant in a dialog to make sure that the Korean Peninsula is nuclear free. By the way, the first stage of that happened right here in Crawford when Jiang Zemin came to visit, and he stated clearly after that visit that it was in China's interest that the Korean Peninsula be nuclear weapons free. And we're just continuing that policy. It's very helpful that the Russians are involved with the dialog with the North Koreans. It is also very helpful that the South Koreans and the Japanese will be involved. And I think we can deal with this issue in a peaceful way, and we're making good progress. Carl Carl Cannon, National Journal . National Economy Q. Mr. President, you said that candidates say the darnedest things when they're running for office. One of the things they're saying is that there are fewer jobs now than when you took office. The President. Yes. Q. A year from now, you are going to be standing for reelection yourself. Do you think there will be as many jobs as when you took office? And when will we start to see a significant decrease in the unemployment rate? The President. Right. Let me remind the listeners here about what our country has gone through. We the stock market started to change in March of 2000. And there was a precipitous decline in March of 2000. And that began to affect savings and money and attitude. And then the country went into a recession. The first three quarters of 2001 was a recession. And we dealt with that by passing tax relief, which made the recession one of the shallowest in history. Now, people said, "Well, maybe you shouldn't have done that. Maybe you shouldn't have had tax relief. Maybe you should have let the recession run its course." But my attitude about that is, is that a deep recession would have caused more people to lose work. And I'm more worried about families finding a job and putting food on the table than I am about economic theory and economic numbers, and so the recession was shallow. And as the economy was beginning to recover, the enemy hit us on September the 11th, and that affected our economy in a big way. And then we had corporate scandals which we've dealt with. And then, of course, you remember the march to war. I've reminded people I think this isn't the first time I've said this that some would put on their TV screens that we were "marching to war." As a matter of fact, it was a year ago we began the march to war. During the August vacation, as I recall, there was the march to war. It's hard to have a upbeat view of the world when you're marching to war. I mean, war is not exactly a positive thought, particularly when it comes to people willing to take risk, and consumer confidence. But nevertheless, we dealt with that issue. And so now the economy is having overcome those obstacles, is beginning to recover. And yes, I think people are going to go back to work, and I firmly believe that what we have done was the absolute right course of action in order to help people find a job. Mark Mark Knoller, CBS Radio , you've got a question? Q. I do. The President. I'm being very generous today, as you can see. Q. Yes, you are. Thank you, sir. The President. My pleasure. Federal Deficit Q. If a Democrat were President and running for The President. Wait a minute. Let me stop you there. Q. Yes. The President. They say the silliest things during the political season. And sometimes people ask the silliest questions. Q. Inaudible try not to do that, sir. The President. Now, be careful. Be careful. Laughter Q. With that in mind, if a Democrat were President The President. Are you adjusting? Laughter Q. and were running a 455 billion deficit, as are you, all other things being equal, wouldn't you be upset about it? The President. Let me tell you something, the deficit was caused by a recession which we inherited and did something about. The deficit was caused because we spent more money on fighting a war, and the American people expect a President to do what is necessary to win a war. And so I look forward to taking this debate on. I really do. We did the right thing when it came to tax relief. We inherited a tough situation. But most importantly, the American people know that I'm not afraid to lead and to make a tough decision. And I made a tough decision, a series of tough decisions, one, to make America more secure, a tough decision to make the world more peaceful, and I made tough decisions when it comes to making sure our economy grows. And I believe that we've laid the foundation for good economic growth and vitality. I think people are going to be more likely to find a job in the upcoming year. Thank you all for coming. California Gubernatorial Candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger Q. Are you going to do anything for Arnold? You say he'll be a good Governor. You're spending 2 days in California. The President. I'm going to campaign for George W., as you know. Q. Will he get a plug in the speech, a mention? The President. I think I've answered the question, and yes, he would be a good Governor, as would others running for Governor of California. And like you, I'm most interested in seeing how the process evolves. It's a fascinating bit of political drama evolving in the State in the country's largest State. Q. It's also the biggest political story in the country. Is it hard to go in there and say nothing about it? The President. It is the biggest political story in the country? That's interesting. That says a lot. That speaks volumes. Q. You don't agree? The President. It's up to I don't get to decide the biggest political story. You decide the biggest political story. But I find it interesting that that is the biggest political story in the country, as you just said. Q. You don't think it should be? The President. Oh, I think there's maybe other political stories. Isn't there, like, a Presidential race coming up? Laughter Maybe that says something. It speaks volumes, if you know what I mean. But yes, it's an interesting story it really is. And I'm looking forward, like you are, to seeing the outcome of the interesting story. But no, I'm going to go, I'm going to talk about now that you've asked, are you going on the trip? Q. Yes, sir. The President. Good. Well, you'll see me speak to marines and their families, thanking them for their service to our country, reminding them that what's taking place in Iraq is essential to U.S. security. Then I'm going to go to a national park, talking about the fact that we believe parks ought to be revitalized and talk about the initiatives that I've laid out to do that. And then, of course, I'll be doing a little spadework for the '04 campaign. One of the most important political stories laughter . Have a great day. Thank you all. August 11, 2003 The President. Thank you all very much. I appreciate you coming. Thanks for the warm welcome. There is nothing like heading west. I spent a little time on our ranch in Crawford get to see more cows than I do the press corps. Laughter Seems like the cows are handling the heat a little better too. Laughter But I want to thank you all very much for your help. I appreciate your strong support. I want to thank all those who made this fundraiser a record setting fundraiser. I appreciate what you're doing. You're laying the foundation for what is going to be a great victory in November of '04. I'm here to not only thank you I'm here to tell you I'm going to need your support in energizing the grassroots of the great State of Colorado. I need your help in putting up signs. I need you to make the phone calls. I need you to mail the letters. I need you to remind people of this State Republican, Democrat, independent, don't care that our message is one that is hopeful for every single citizen who lives in this State. I'm loosening up. I'm getting ready laughter cutting a lot of cedar laughter running a lot of miles, getting ready for the contest. But the political season will come in its own time. For me, now is not the time for politics. You see, I've got a job to do. I'm staying focused on the people's business. I'm doing what you expect me to do in Washington, DC, and I'll continue to work to earn the confidence of every American by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. I want to thank my friend the Governor of the great State of Colorado. He is he's done a fabulous job as your Governor. He does what he says he's going to do, which is nice, to have somebody in public office laughter who says something and means it. And like me, he married above himself. I'm honored to be here with the First Lady of the State of Colorado as well. I just called Laura and said that I'm fixing to go see a lot of our friends from the State of Colorado. I said, "How's what's it like down there?" She said, "It's only 103." Laughter I said, "Well, if that's the case, it feels like winter here." Laughter I can't tell you how great it is to be married to such a fine woman as Laura Bush. She is a great First Lady for our country. I appreciate the two Senators from the State of Colorado. Senator Wayne Allard, who's turns out to be my State cochair, along with working with the Governor here. He's a great Senator, and so is Ben Nighthorse Campbell. I'm going to tell you, it's important to put this man back into the United States Senate. And if you've got a little something left in the wallet after tonight laughter and looking for a good man to help, somebody who can use your help, it's Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell. He's a fine representative of the great State of Colorado, and I'm proud to call him friend. Two members of the U.S. congressional delegation are with us. First, Bob Beauprez Congressman Beauprez, thank you for coming. We didn't exactly landslide them last time laughter but neither did I. Laughter I know you're back home working hard in your district to tell the people of that district they made the right choice in putting Bob Beauprez in the U.S. Congress. He's a fine man. And I appreciate Tom Tancredo being here as well. Thank you, Congressman, for coming. I'm honored you're here. I want to thank the Lieutenant Governor, Jane Norton, for being here tonight. I want to thank the treasurer for the great State of Colorado, Mike Coffman, for being here tonight. I appreciate the president of the State senate and the speaker of the house, Senator John Andrews and Lola Spradley, for coming as well. Governor, I know it's a pretty good deal to be working with a Republican speaker and a senate leader. I kind of like it myself. Laughter I want to thank very much our party chairman, Ted Halaby. I want to thank Bruce Benson for putting this event on and for being the finance chairman. I want to thank all those who helped raise the money. I thank my friend Mercer Reynolds, who is the national finance chairman. But most of all, I want to thank you all for your friendship, for your prayers, for your support, for getting ready to get to work on behalf of this reelection campaign. You know, in the last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. We are meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We've captured or killed many of the leaders of Al Qaida, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people 50 million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. And the world is better off for it. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. We increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. Then the attacks happened on our country, and scandals in corporate America, as well as the war it all affected the people's confidence. People began to lose confidence, but we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. To get the economy going, I have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. Here's what I believe, and here's what we know, that when Americans have more take home money to spend or to save, to invest, the whole economy begins to grow, and people are more likely to find a job. And I understand whose money we spend in Washington, DC. It is not the Government's money we spend in Washington it is the people's money. Now we're returning more money to the American people to help them raise their families, reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses proper incentives to encourage them to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, we're laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America so every one of our citizens can realize the great promise of our country. I want you to remember, 2 1 2 years ago there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action in Washington, DC. So I called for and our Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We're bringing high standards and strong accountability measures to every public school in America. See, we believe every child can learn the basics of reading and math. And we expect every school to teach the basics of reading and math. I am challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse making are over. In return for Federal money, we expect results so that not one single child in America is left behind. We've done a lot in 2 1 2 years. We reorganized the Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to better strengthen our borders to protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for Colorado's entrepreneurs and farmers and ranchers. We passed budget agreements that helps maintain spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, I want you to remind the skeptics and the undecideds that this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress on behalf of all the American people. Of course, we didn't do this alone. A lot of the credit goes to Members of the United States Congress. We've got a fabulous Speaker of the House, Denny Hastert, a great majority leader of the United States Senate, Bill Frist. I appreciate so very much working with them and the folks from the great State of Colorado. And the difference now in Washington is, is that we're focusing on results, not process. We're working to change the tone in Washington so we can get the people's business done. And by the way, those are the kind of people I've asked to serve in my administration. I put together a strong team to work on behalf of the American people. Our country has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a second opinion. Laughter Audience member. I agree with you. Laughter The President. Thank you. In 2 1 2 years, we have come far, but you know, we're only just beginning. We've great goals worthy of this great Nation. The job of the President is to set our sights high. A great nation requires great goals. And here are the goals I've set First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world and secondly, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every citizen every single citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and realize the American Dream. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home it is freedom's defender. And this Nation welcomes this charge of history, and we are keeping this charge of history. The war on terror continues. See, the enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest. We will not tire, and we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. Yet, our national interest involves more than eliminating aggressive threats to our safety. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. Free nations do not develop weapons of mass terror. Our country believes that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And we believe that freedom is the right of every person. And we believe that freedom is the future of every single nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world. When we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, this great Nation is committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children who are now suffering with AIDS. This great land, this land for which I am so proud, is leading the world in the incredibly important work of human rescue. We face big challenges abroad, and we won't shirk from those challenges. And we face big challenges here at home. I will continue to work on our economy. I'll continue to make sure the entrepreneurial spirit is strong. I will continue to try to lay the conditions for capital formation, so that anybody who wants to work and can't find a job today will be able to do so. I will continue to work to make sure we meet our commitments to America's seniors by modernizing Medicare. A few weeks ago, the United States Congress took historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. I want you to remember this For the first time first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and Senate have passed reforms to modernize the system, to give seniors more choices, and to provide coverage for prescription drugs for our seniors. The next step is for both bodies to iron out their differences and to get a bill to my desk so I can sign it on behalf of the elderly of the United States of America. We have a solemn obligation, an obligation which I will continue to call upon the Congress to keep. For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine all across our country. I fully understand that people who have been harmed by a bad doctor deserve their day in court. Yet, the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for rich settlements. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, they affect the Federal budget. They affect the Medicare budget, the Medicaid budget, the veterans budgets. I view medical liability reform as a national issue which requires a national solution. The House of Representatives passed a good bill to reform medical liability. It's stuck in the Senate. The Senate must act. No one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. We need medical liability reform now. I have a responsibility as President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women to the Federal bench, people who interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Yet, some Members of the United States Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some of the Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The Congress needs to complete work on a comprehensive energy plan. Our Nation has got to promote energy conservation and efficiency and develop cleaner technology so we can explore in more environmentally sensitive areas. Yet, for the sake of our economic security and for the sake of our national security, we must be less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance the agenda of compassionate conservatism, which really means applying the best and most innovative ideas to helping our fellow citizens who hurt and who are in need. See, there are still millions of men and women in this land who want the independence and dignity that come from work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work to the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress ought to complete the "Citizen Service Act" so more Americans can serve their community and their country. Both Houses should finally reach agreement on the Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring our children and caring for the homeless, healing hearts, and helping the addicted. A compassionate society must also be a society which promotes opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people to own their homes. I'm troubled by the fact we have a minority home ownership gap in America, and I put forth policies constructive, smart policies to encourage more homeownership all across America. We want people to own and manage their own health care plan. We want people to own and manage their own retirement accounts. We want the entrepreneurial spirit to be strong in America so that people feel confident in investing in their own small business. Now, I understand an ownership society is one in which people have more hope for the future. In a compassionate society, people respect one another, and they take responsibility for the decisions they make in life. We're changing the culture of America, slowly but surely, from one that has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands that we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're fortunate enough to be a mother or father, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul. If you're concerned about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you happen to be a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your employees and your shareholders. And in the new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. We can see that culture of respect, the culture of change and service growing around us here in America today. You know, I started what they call the USA Freedom Corps. It's an opportunity for Americans to help neighbors in need, and the response has been fantastic. Got people signing up for all kinds of ways to help in their community, and I'm grateful. Our faith based charities are strong, and they're vibrant, which is important to bring hope to those who hurt. Our policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than themselves in life sacrifice for peace, sacrifice for freedom, sacrifice for safe streets. And once again, the children of America believe in heroes because they see them every day in America. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. The tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift up whole nations by spreading freedom. And at home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of our country. This is the work that history has set before us, and we welcome it. And we know that for our country and for our cause, the best days lie ahead. Thank you for coming. May God bless. Thank you all. August 09, 2003 Good morning. Friday of this week was the 100th day since the end of major combat operations in Iraq. For America and our coalition partners, these have been 100 days of steady progress and decisive action against the last holdouts of the former regime. And for the people of Iraq, this has been a period like none other in the country's history, a time of change and rising hopes after decades of tyranny. Every day, we are working to make Iraq more secure. Coalition forces remain on the offensive against the Ba'ath Party loyalists and foreign terrorists who are trying to prevent order and stability. More and more Iraqis are coming forward with specific information as to the whereabouts of these violent thugs, enabling us to carry out raids to round them up and seize stockpiles of weapons. We are working with Iraqis to establish a new Iraqi army and a new civil defense corps. In the city of Baghdad, 6,000 Iraqi police are patrolling the streets and protecting citizens. More than 20,000 more police are on duty in other towns and cities across Iraq. Every day, Iraq is making progress in rebuilding its economy. In Baghdad, the banks have opened, and other banks will open across the country in the coming months. This fall, new banknotes will be issued, replacing the old ones bearing the former dictator's image. And Iraq's energy industry is once again serving the interests of the Iraqi people. More than a million barrels of crude oil and over 2 million gallons of gasoline are being produced daily. Every day, Iraq draws closer to the free and functioning society its people were long denied. We're recovering hundreds of millions of dollars from the old regime and are using those funds to pay civil servants. Teachers, health care workers, police, and others performing essential services are also receiving salaries from our coalition. In fact, teacher pay is four times higher than under the old regime. Life is returning to normal for the Iraqi people. Hospitals and universities have opened, and in many places, water and other utility services are reaching pre war levels. Across Iraq, nearly all schoolchildren have completed their exams. And for the first time in many years, a free press is at work in Iraq. Across that country today, more than 150 newspapers are publishing regularly. Most important of all, the Iraqi people are taking daily steps toward democratic government. The Iraqi Governing Council, whose 25 members represent all of that diverse country, is meeting regularly, naming ministers, and drawing up a budget for the country. Soon, representatives of the people will begin drafting a new constitution, and free elections will follow. At the local level, all major Iraqi cities and most towns have municipal councils. Freedom is taking hold in that country as people gain confidence that the former regime is never coming back. One hundred days is not enough time to undo the terrible legacy of Saddam Hussein. There is difficult and dangerous work ahead that requires time and patience. Yet all Americans can be proud of what our military and provisional authorities have achieved in Iraq. Our country and the nations of the Middle East are now safer. We're keeping our word to the Iraqi people by helping them to make their country an example of democracy and prosperity throughout the region. This long term undertaking is vital to peace in that region and to the security of the United States. Our coalition and the people of Iraq have made remarkable progress in a short time, and we will complete the great work we have begun. Thank you for listening. but was embargoed for release until the August 08, 2003 The President. We've had a fascinating discussion on a variety of subjects with Secretary Rumsfeld and Chairman Dick Myers. Of course, the Vice President is here. As an aside, the Vice President and I went fishing we threw our first lure at about 6 20 a.m. this morning. Looks like turns out the fish like cooler weather than hot weather probably the press corps feels the same way. Turns out this is our 100th day since major military operations have ended, ended in Iraq. And since then, we've made good progress. Iraq is more secure. The economy of Iraq is beginning to improve. I was interested to note that banks are now opening up and the infrastructure is improving. In a lot of places, the infrastructure is as good as it was at pre war levels, which is satisfactory, but it's not the ultimate aim. The ultimate aim is for the infrastructure to be the best in the region. And the political process is moving toward democracy, which is a major shift of system in that part of the world. And we're pleased with the progress, but we know we've got a lot more work to do. And the Secretary was briefing me on the ongoing security operations and the status of our forces. But I can say and I think he can say progress is being made not only in Iraq but in Afghanistan as well. And then we spent time making sure that our military is configured in such a way as to represent the modern era, which means it will be more likely that the world will be peaceful. A modern, strong, light, active military will make it easier to keep the peace, and after all, that's the objective of the administration, is to promote freedom and peace. And the Secretary and his team are doing a really good job for the American people. Welcome back to the ranch, Mr. Secretary. We're thrilled you're here. Secretary Rumsfeld. Thank you, sir. The President. We'll be glad to answer a few questions. Let's start with the wires, of course. Iraq Q. Thanks, Mr. President. You talked about progress, but there's some unfinished business in Iraq also. The President. Yes Q. No Saddam The President. that's what I also said, we've got more to do. Q. To be specific No Saddam no weapons 56 soldiers have died in this 100 days The President. Right. Q. including one last night. What can you tell the American people about how many more soldiers will die? And also, your commander in Iraq said yesterday, "Two years, absolute minimum." Is that an assessment you share? The President. Well, first of all, we suffer when we lose life. I mean, our country is a country that grieves with those who sacrifice, and our heartfelt sympathies and appreciation go to the loved ones of any soldier who's willing to defend the security of the United States, and that's what they're doing in Iraq. It's very important to people to understand that this is a part of the war on terror, that we're dealing with terrorists today. We learned a lesson on September the 11th, and that is, our Nation is vulnerable to attack. And we're doing everything we can to protect the homeland by making the Homeland Defense Department effective in securing the borders. But the best way to secure America is to get the enemy before they get us, and that's what's happening in Iraq. And we're grateful for the sacrifices of our soldiers. I said, Scott Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press , right after September the 11th, that this war on terror is a different kind of war, and it's going to take a while to win the war on terror. However long it takes to win the war on terror, this administration is committed to doing that, because our most solemn obligation is the protection of the American people. And as I said, the Secretary and I discussed what's happening inside of Iraq, and we've got a lot of brave soldiers slowly but surely demolishing the elements of the Ba'athist regime, those foreign terrorists who feel like they can use Iraq as a place to arm up and inflict casualty or perhaps gain strength to come and attack Americans elsewhere. We've been there 100 days. We've made a lot of progress in 100 days, and I am pleased with the progress we've made but fully recognize we've got a lot more work to do. Do you want to add to that, Mr. Secretary? Secretary Rumsfeld. No, sir. Laughter Q. Should the American people expect 2 more years, at least? The President. The American people should suspect that this administration will do what is necessary to win the war on terror. That's my pledge to the American people. They have got to understand that I will not forget the lessons of September the 11th. And those lessons are loud and clear that there are people who want to inflict harm on the American people. We lost 3,000 plus on that fateful day. And you know, I made the pledge to the American people and the families and those who grieved that we will hunt down the terrorists wherever they are and bring them to justice. And that's what we're going to do. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . California Gubernatorial Candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger Q. What do you think of Arnold Schwarzenegger, and would you consider campaigning for him? The President. I will never arm wrestle Arnold Schwarzenegger. Laughter No matter how hard I try, I'll never lift as much weight as he does. I think it's interesting. You know, I'm a follower of American politics. I find what's going on in the State of California very interesting, and I'm confident the citizens of California will sort all this out for the good of the citizenry. Q. Would he be a good Governor? The President. As I say, I'm interested in the process. It's fascinating to see who's in and who's out, and yes, I think he'd be a good Governor. Israeli Security Fence Q. Mr. President, there are reports today that Israel is willing, perhaps, to reroute the security fence it's been building. Is that enough of a concession by the Israelis, or should they abandon construction of the fence altogether? The President. Well, Dick Richard Keil, Bloomberg News , let me put the fence and these issues into a larger perspective, if I might. In order for a Palestinian state to emerge, a couple of things must happen. First, the Palestinians, the people in the neighborhood, must deal with terror, must rout out those who would like to destroy the process. The fence, by the way, is a reaction to days when there were terror. I've said the fence is a problem because the fence is, you know, kind of meanders around the West Bank, which makes it awfully hard to develop a contiguous state over time. And so I've said we'd talk to the Israelis, and we are, about the fence. But we must have the fence in the context of the larger issue, and the larger issue is, will the conditions be such that a state can emerge? It's important for a Palestinian state to emerge, in our judgment, because the world will be more peaceful. Israel will be more secure, and more or as importantly, the Palestinians will have hope. But all parties must work against those who would make it very difficult to achieve the vision. Q. Are you regarding it as a step forward, a sign of progress? The President. Well, as I said look, the Israelis are willing to work with us. They've said, "We'd consult." We're consulting. In order for there to be the progress that needs to be made, there needs to be security. The fence was a reaction to in some ways, a reaction to the days of the intifada. And the more secure Israel feels, the more likely there will be a peaceful state. The more secure the region is, the more likely institutions necessary for the development of a Palestinian state will emerge. And so on all these issues, we'll deal, of course, with both parties. We're staying very active. Ambassador Wolf is doing a fine job there. But it's important to put all these issues in the larger context of what is necessary to achieve what we think what I think will be great for the region That is a peaceful Palestinian state. Larry Larry McQuillan, USA Today . Iraq Q. Mr. President, you've given us an update on Iraq and progress in stabilization there. At this point, are you able to give us even a ballpark estimate of what it may cost, say, in the next fiscal year? And will Americans be the ones who bear most of the cost of that? The President. Two points there One, we generally don't do our estimates on the back of an envelope. In other words, by that I mean the commanders in the field will be dealing with the Secretary of Defense. Jerry Bremer will be bringing recommendations. And of course, we'll go to the Congress in order to fund any requests, and the requests will be well thought out, based upon some variables. And one of the key variables is how much money we can get other nations to contribute to the reconstruction efforts of Iraq or how many other nations are willing to contribute forces. So therefore, this is a you know, the budgeting process is one that's ongoing. It's an iterative process, I guess is the best way to put it. "Iterative" is the right word, do you think? Secretary Rumsfeld. Yes. The President. In other words Q. Is it too fluid, then? I mean, you're saying, because until we know how many people are going to help The President. No, at some point in time, Larry no, it's fluid up to a point, but obviously we're going to have to make a request. And when we do, it will be a request based upon sound judgment. It will be a well thought out request. It will be one where the Congress will be able to ask legitimate questions like you're asking and will be answered. And they're now in the process of coming up with a the basis for a request to the United States Congress. You know, I remember, by the way, the initial stages of the war in Iraq. And the questions were, "How long is it going to take?" I think it kind of echoes the question that Scott asked "How long will you be there? How long will it take?" And I can remember saying, "As long as necessary." Remember? I don't know if you remember the offensive stage of the war. You were doing an interesting job of trying to get us to make absolute predictions. And what is necessary is to achieve an overall strategy, and whatever it takes to achieve the strategy, this administration is committed to. Q. But you know, going into that, sir, you actually gave a pretty accurate prediction of what that would cost. The President. Well, going into it, right, and we'll give you an accurate projection of what it's going to cost next year at the appropriate time. But also going into it, there was the timetable question, which also relates to spending. And that is, "Why won't you tell us how long it's going to take?" My answer was, "How long? However necessary is how long it will take." And that's the way we feel now. And we are working hard to bring other nations to bear responsibility in Iraq. I want to say something about Afghanistan. Germany has taken a very active role in Afghanistan, and we're very thankful for that. As NATO steps forward, Germany has assumed a big responsibility. And we really appreciate the German participation. And the reason I bring that up is, is that that's a change from 6 months ago. And not only is Germany's participation important, it's robust, more robust than we would have anticipated. I look forward to thanking Chancellor Schroeder for that. And Larry, the point there is, is that things do change. And we will have a budget that is as accurate as it can possibly be when we go to the Congress, because we understand the questions our planners and operators will receive. And they will come with good, sound data. Dana Dana Bash, Cable News Network , and then Mark Mark Knoller, CBS Radio . We've got to get in before we have a heat stroke laughter before you have a heat stroke, excuse me. Laughter Iran Q. Mr. President, for you and for Secretary Rumsfeld, please. Secretary Rumsfeld, did you authorize Pentagon officials to hold some secret talks with Iran contra figure Manucher Ghorbanifar in order to push for a regime change in Iran? And Mr. President, do you think that's a good idea, and is the new policy official policy regime change in Iran? Secretary Rumsfeld. I had not had a chance to see these articles or an article that I guess exists. I did get briefed by Condi and Larry DiRita here a minute ago. And my understanding is that some one or two Pentagon people were approached by some people who had information about Iranians that wanted to provide information to the United States Government, that a meeting did take place this is more than a year ago that such a meeting did take place and the information was moved around the interagency process to all the departments and agencies. And it's dropped. That is to say, the as I understand it, there wasn't anything there that was of substance or of value that needed to be pursued further. Q. But it's your understanding that this wasn't intended to sort of go around any other talks that have been going on these are unofficial talks with the Iranians? Secretary Rumsfeld. Oh, absolutely not. I mean, everyone on the interagency process, I'm told, was apprised of it, and it went nowhere. It was just this happens, of course, frequently. People come in offering suggestions or information or possible contacts, and sometimes they are pursued. Obviously, if it looks as though something might be interesting, it's pursued. If it isn't, it isn't. The President. Well, we support the aspirations of those who desire freedom in Iran. Mark. Democratic Presidential Candidates Iraq Q. Mr. President, what's your response to the Democrats, including Al Gore yesterday and some of the Democratic Presidential candidates, who say that the American people were misled in advance of the war about the reasons for going to war that you said disarming Iraq was the main purpose, but since then, no weapons of mass destruction have been found? The President. I say it's pure politics. Listen, thank you all. Have a beautiful day. Q. Do you want to say more than that? The President. No, it's just pure politics. We've got a lot of people running for President, and it's pure politics. The American people know that we laid out the facts. We based the decision on sound intelligence, and they also know we've only been there for 100 days. And we're making progress. A free Iraq is necessary for a is an integral part of the war on terror. And as far as all this political noise, it's going to get worse as time goes on, and I fully understand that. And that's just the nature of democracy. Sometimes pure politics enters into the rhetoric. Thank you all. European Union U.S. Relations Q. One on Germany? Do you think that signals a shift that Europe might be coming around to helping out in Iraq now? The President. Oh, I think that we're getting I mean, look, Great Britain has been helping out in Iraq for a long period of time. Poland has been helping out in Iraq. I mean, we've got a lot of people helping out in Iraq. And I thought that the German decision in Afghanistan was an important decision, and we're grateful for that. Listen, thank you all. U.S. Troop Strength Q. Would you mind if I just asked about the meeting you had? The President. Sure, go ahead and ask about the meeting. Q. I mean, I know that's unusual, but The President. Beautiful meeting. Laughter Q. But you know, are you now satisfied that maybe after reviewing our force strength that American forces are not stretched too thin by the war on terrorism or maybe potentially could be down the road? The President. I'm satisfied. Secretary Rumsfeld. We discussed that in the meeting, and it's a fair question. Needless to say, when you have a spike in activity, a crisis in Iraq, it is important to review those questions. Dick Myers and his folks in the military review them continuously. We have found there are literally two or three well, about two dozen things we can do that we reduce stress on the force, and the cost of adding end strength is significant. The time it takes to bring them in, recruit them, train them, equip them means there is a significant lag. So it's not something one does quickly. And as a result, we've got a major effort going on to take advantage of all the things we can do to increase the kinds of ways we can relieve that stress on the force. And it looks to me like we're going to be able to do that. And on the other hand, our country can afford to pay for forces at the level that can help defend and protect us. And to the extent at any point it looks as though an end strength increase is appropriate, we obviously would recommend it, but we certainly don't see the evidence of that at the present time. The President. Thank you. President's Vacation Q. Any new 100 degree club members? The President. Yesterday we added one. Q. Do we know him? The President. A Secret Service agent. Q. Are you going running today? The President. No, I'm not. Q. Did Dick Cheney catch anything? The President. Dick Cheney he's a great fly fisherman. Laughter July 30, 2003 The President. Thank you. Good morning. I was hoping it would be a little hotter here to prepare the traveling team for the Crawford experience this August. But thank you for coming. I'm looking forward to going down to Texas, and I know the Members will be going back to their districts. As I travel around the country from Crawford, I'm going to be focused on two vital concerns for our country first, the safety of the American people, and the economic security of the American people. On national security front, it has been 90 days since the end of the major combat operations in Iraq. The nation has been liberated from tyranny and is on the path to self government and peace. The Iraqi Governing Council is meeting regularly. Local police forces are now being trained. And citizens are being recruited into a new Iraqi military, a military that will protect the Iraqi people instead of intimidating them. Soon, representatives of the people will begin drafting a new constitution, and free elections will follow. After decades of oppression, the people of Iraq are reclaiming their country and are reclaiming their future. Conditions in most of Iraq are growing more peaceful. Some areas, however, the violent remnants of Saddam Hussein's regime, joined by terrorists and criminals, are making a last attempt to frighten the Iraqi people and to undermine the resolve of our coalition. They will fail. Our coalition forces are taking the fight to the enemy in an unrelenting campaign that is bringing daily results. Saddam Hussein's sons did not escape the raids, and neither will other members of that despicable regime. By taking the offensive against desperate killers, Americans in uniform are assuming great risks for our country. The American people are proud of our Armed Forces, and we are grateful for their sacrifice and their service in fighting the war on terror. We also appreciate the military families who share in the hardship and uncertainties of this essential mission. The rise of a free and peaceful Iraq is critical to the stability of the Middle East, and a stable Middle East is critical to the security of the American people. As the blanket of fear is lifted, as Iraqis gain confidence that the former regime is gone forever, we will gain more cooperation in our search for the truth in Iraq. We know that Saddam Hussein produced and possessed chemical and biological weapons and has used chemical weapons. We know that. He also spent years hiding his weapons of mass destruction programs from the world. We now have teams of investigators who are hard at work to uncover the truth. The success of a free Iraq will also demonstrate to other countries in that region that national prosperity and dignity are found in representative government and free institutions. They are not found in tyranny, resentment, and for support of terrorism. As freedom advances in the Middle East, those societies will be less likely to produce ideologies of hatred and produce recruits for terror. The United States and our allies will complete our mission in Iraq, and we'll complete our mission in Afghanistan. We'll keep our word to the peoples of those nations. We'll wage the war on terror against every enemy who plots against our forces and our people. I will never assume the restraint and good will of dangerous enemies when lives of our American citizens are at risk. My administration is also acting to ensure the economic security of the American people. Paychecks are already reflecting the reduction in income tax rates, which is providing relief to millions of taxpayers and small businesses. American families have begun to receive checks from a 400 per child increase in the child tax credit. This time, when we say the check's in the mail, we mean it. Through our higher expense deduction, small businesses have an incentive to speed up purchases of new equipment. We're beginning to see hopeful signs of faster growth in the economy, which over time will yield new jobs. Yet the unemployment rate is still too high. And we will not rest until Americans looking for work can find a job. To strengthen the economic security of the people, Congress needs to pass a sound energy bill to make sure that our households and businesses have a reliable, affordable supply of energy. Congress needs to pass legal reforms to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits that provide a drag to our economy. Congress needs to approve reemployment accounts to help citizens who have the toughest time finding work. Congress needs to make sure that the child credit is refundable for lower income families. We must continue pursuing an aggressive, progrowth strategy that creates jobs throughout our economy. Economic security for America's seniors is threatened by the rising cost of prescription drugs. I'm pleased that both Houses of Congress have responded by passing separate bills providing prescription drug coverage under Medicare. It's absolutely essential that the House and the Senate resolve their differences and enact a piece of legislation I can sign. The lack of coverage for prescription drugs and many preventative treatments is a major gap in Medicare that denies some of our seniors the latest and best medicine. We must keep the promise of Medicare by giving our seniors better coverage and better choices. I congratulate the House and the Senate on a productive legislative session so far. I also look forward to working with the Members this coming fall on the priorities for the American people. And now I'll be glad to answer some questions. Tom Tom Raum, Associated Press , and we'll work our way around. There's no need for any unrestrained yelling. Laughter Military Operations in Iraq Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, now with the deaths of the sons of Saddam Hussein and the capture of his chief bodyguard, what can you tell us about how close we might be to actually capturing or killing Saddam himself? And how important would that be to ending the war and stopping the violence against American troops? And what do you say to those troops who fought long and hard and now are eager to come home, given the fact that it's hard to find other countries to send in troops that could serve as replacements? The President. Okay. Tom, I'm getting a little older, so when you ask four or five questions, it's hard for me to remember every question. First, we do have a good rotation plan in place now for our troops. The 3d ID, which has conducted a lot of the major military operations at the beginning of the war, has now got a definite time in which they are coming home. And that in itself is a positive development. There was some concern amongst family members of the 3d ID that they were getting mixed signals, and I understand that. And now it's clear as to their rotation plan. And by the way, as we rotate, we'll be changing the nature of the military configuration to be more of a to have more of a the capacity to move very quickly and to strike quickly, because our intelligence is getting better on the ground as we're able to pick targets, able to enrich targets and move quickly on the targets. What other aspects of the I told you I warned you, I'm getting older. Deaths of Uday and Qusay Hussein Q. I asked you how close we are to catching The President. Catching Saddam Hussein, that's right. Yes. Q. and how important it is to The President. Listen right, thank you. Of course, it's important that the that Saddam's sons were brought to justice. It changes attitudes in Iraq. People didn't believe that the Ba'athist regime was going to be gone forever. They felt like they you would hear reports of Ba'athists, former Ba'athist officials saying to Iraqi citizens, "Listen, the Americans will grow stale and tired. They'll leave and, by the way, we'll come back. And when we come back, we'll come back with a vengeance if you help in the reconstruction of the country." So, needless to say, when two of the most despicable henchmen of the Saddam Hussein regime met their fate, the Ba'athist claim that at least these two will come back and haunt the citizen is rings hollow. I don't know how close we are to getting Saddam Hussein. You know, I it's closer than we were yesterday, I guess. All I know is we're on the hunt. It's like if you had asked me right before we got his sons how close we were to get his sons, I'd say I don't know, but we're on the hunt. And so we're making progress. It's slowly but surely making progress of bringing the those who terrorize their fellow citizens to justice and making progress about convincing the Iraqi people that freedom is real. And as they become more convinced that freedom is real, they'll begin to assume more responsibilities that are required in a free society. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . War on Terror Possible Terrorist Attacks Q. Thank you, sir. Homeland Security is warning against possible hijackings this summer. How serious is this threat, and what can you do about it? How can Americans feel safe? The President. Yes. Well, first of all, the war on terror goes on, as I continually remind people. In other words, there are still Al Qaida remnants that have designs on America. The good news is that we are, one, dismantling the Al Qaida organization, and two, we're learning more information about their plans as we capture more people. And the threat is a real threat. It's a threat that where we obviously don't have specific data we don't know when, where, what. But we do know a couple of things. We do know that Al Qaida tends to use the methodologies that worked in the past. That's kind of their mindset. And we have got some data that indicates that they would like to use flights, international flights, for example. Now, what we can do is we can be obviously, at home, continue to be diligent on the inspection process of baggage as well as making sure those who board aircraft are properly screened. And obviously, we're talking to foreign governments and foreign airlines to indicate to them the reality of the threat. We're conscious of folks flying getting lists of people flying into our country and matching them now with a much improved database. International flights coming into America must have hardened cockpit doors, which is a positive development. Being on alert means that we contact all who are responsible, who have got positions of responsibility. And so we're focusing on the airline industry right now. And we've got reason to do so. And I'm confident we will thwart the attempts. You know, let me talk about Al Qaida just for a second. I made the statement that we're dismantling senior management, and we are. Our people have done a really good job of hauling in a lot of the key operators Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Abu Zubaydah, Ramzi Ramzi al Shibh or whatever the guy's name was laughter sorry, Ramzi, if I got it wrong laughter bin al Shibh, excuse me. "Swift Sword" is dead, thanks to the Saudis. Abu Bakr is now captured by the Saudis. We're dismantling the operating decisionmakers. We've got more to do. And the American people need to know we're not stopping. We've got better intelligence gathering, better intelligence sharing, and we're on the hunt. And we will stay on the hunt. The threat that you asked about, Steve, reminds us that we need to be on the hunt, and because the war on terror goes on. John John King, Cable News Network . Report of the Joint Inquiry Into the September 11, 2001, Terrorist Attacks Q. Mr. President, thank you. You met yesterday with the Saudi Foreign Minister, who wants the administration to declassify these 27 or 28 pages about his Government in this report on 9 11. Many Members of Congress, including several Republicans, say they see nothing or at least most of the materials, in their view, could be made public. Can you tell us, is there any compromise in sight on this, and could you at least summarize the material in that classified document? Is there, as some Members of Congress say, material that you could read and have an incriminating view of the Saudi Government when it comes to 9 11? The President. John, the Foreign Minister did come and speak to me. And I told him this I said we have an ongoing investigation about what may or may not have taken place prior to September the 11th. And therefore, it is important for us to hold this information close so that those who are being investigated aren't alerted. I also told him, in the document, that if we were to reveal the content of the document by the way, 29 pages of a near 900 page report it would reveal sources and methods. By that I mean it would show people how we collect information and on whom we're collecting information, which, in my judgment and in the judgment of senior law enforcement officials in my administration, would be harmful on the war against terror. I just described to you that there is a threat to the United States. And I also said, we're doing a better job of sharing intelligence and collecting data so we're able to find able to anticipate. And what we really don't want to do, it doesn't make sense to me doesn't seem like to me, is to reveal those sources and methods. Now, at some point in time, as we make progress on the investigation and as a threat to our national security diminishes, perhaps we can put out the document. But in my judgment, now is not the time to do so. And I made that clear to him. And I will be glad I'm making it clear to Members of Congress. I want to remind you that sure, some have spoken out, but others have agreed with my position, like the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. So there's a different point of view. My point of view, however, since I'm in charge of fighting the war on terror, is that we won't reveal sources and methods that will compromise our efforts to succeed. Campbell Campbell Brown, NBC News . Saddam Hussein's Links to Al Qaida Q. Saddam Hussein's alleged ties to Al Qaida were a key part of your justification for war. Yet, your own intelligence report, the NIE, defined it as, quote, "low confidence that Saddam would give weapons to Al Qaida." Were those links exaggerated to justify war? Or can you finally offer us some definitive evidence that Saddam was working with Al Qaida terrorists? The President. Yes. I think, first of all, remember, I just said we've been there for 90 days since the cessation of major military operations. Now, I know in our world where news comes and goes and there's this kind of instant news, and you must have done this, you must do this yesterday, that there's a level of frustration by some in the media. I'm not suggesting you're frustrated. You don't look frustrated to me at all. But it's going to take time for us to gather the evidence, the analyze the mounds of evidence, literally, the miles of documents that we have uncovered. David Kay came to see me yesterday. He's going to testify in closed hearing tomorrow, which in Washington may not be so closed, as you know. And he was telling me the process that they were going through to analyze all the documentation. And that's not only to analyze the documentation on the weapons programs that Saddam Hussein had but also the documentation as to terrorist links. And it's just going to take a while, and I'm confident the truth will come out. And there is no doubt in my mind, Campbell, that Saddam Hussein was a threat to the United States security and a threat to peace in the region. And there's no doubt in my mind that a free Iraq is important. It's got strategic consequences for not only achieving peace in the Middle East, but a free Iraq will help change the habits of other nations in the region who will make it which will make America much more secure. John John Roberts, CBS News . Decision To Go to War in Iraq Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Building sort of on that idea, it's impossible to deny that the world is a better place in the region, certainly a better place without Sad dam Hussein. But there's a sense here in this country and a feeling around the world that the U.S. has lost credibility by building the case for Iraq upon sometimes flimsy or, some people have complained, nonexistent evidence. I'm just wondering, sir, why did you choose to take the world to war in that way? The President. Yes. You know, look, in my line of work, it's always best to produce results, and I understand that. The for a while the questions were, "Could you conceivably achieve a military victory in Iraq? You know, the dust storms have slowed you down." And I was a patient man, because I realized that we would be successful in achieving our military objective. Now, of course, the question is, will Iraq ever be free, and will it be peaceful? And I believe it will. I remind some of my friends that it took us a while to go from the Articles of Confederation to the United States Constitution. Even our own experiment with democracy didn't happen overnight. I never have expected Thomas Jefferson to emerge in Iraq in a 90 day period. And so this is going to take time. And the world will see what I mean when I say a free Iraq will help peace in the Middle East, and a free Iraq will be important for changing the attitudes of the people in the Middle East. A free Iraq will show what is possible in a world that needs freedom, in a part of the world that needs freedom. Let me finish for a minute, John, please. Just getting warmed up. I'm kind of finding my feet. Laughter Saddam Hussein was a threat. The United Nations viewed him as a threat. That's why they passed 12 resolutions. Predecessors of mine viewed him as a threat. We gathered a lot of intelligence. That intelligence was good, sound intelligence on which I made a decision. And in order to placate the critics and the cynics about intentions of the United States, we need to produce evidence. And I fully understand that. And I'm confident that our search will yield that which I strongly believe, that Saddam had a weapons program. I want to remind you, he actually used his weapons program on his own people at one point in time, which is pretty tangible evidence. But I'm confident history will prove the decision we made to be the right decision. Q. Inaudible The President. Hold on for a second. You're through, John. Homosexuality Definition of Marriage Q. Thank you, sir. Mr. President, many of your supporters believe that homosexuality is immoral. They believe that it's been given too much acceptance in policy terms and culturally. As someone who's spoken out in strongly moral terms, what's your view on homosexuality? The President. Yes. I am mindful that we're all sinners, and I caution those who may try to take a speck out of their neighbor's eye when they got a log in their own. I think it's very important for our society to respect each individual, to welcome those with good hearts, to be a welcoming country. On the other hand, that does not mean that somebody like me needs to compromise on an issue such as marriage. And that's really where the issue is headed here in Washington, and that is the definition of marriage. I believe in the sanctity of marriage. I believe a marriage is between a man and a woman. And I think we ought to codify that one way or the other. And we've got lawyers looking at the best way to do that. Stevenson Richard Stevenson, New York Times . Tax Cuts National Economy Q. Thank you, sir. Since taking office, you've signed into law three major tax cuts, two of which have had plenty of time to take effect, the third of which, as you pointed out earlier, is taking effect now. Yet, the unemployment rate has continued rising. We now have more evidence of a massive budget deficit that taxpayers are going to be paying off for years or decades to come. The economy continues to shed jobs. What evidence can you point to that tax cuts, at least of the variety that you have supported, are really working to help this economy? And do you need to be thinking about some other approach? The President. Yes. No, to answer the last part of your question. First of all, let me just a quick history, recent history. The stock market started to decline in March of 2000. Then the first quarter of 2001 was a recession. And then we got attacked in 9 11. And then corporate scandals started to bubble up to the surface, which created a lack of confidence in the system. And then we had the drumbeat to war. Remember on our TV screens I'm not suggesting which network did this but it said, "march to war" every day from last summer until the spring "march to war, march to war." That's not a very conducive environment for people to take risk, when they hear "march to war" all the time. And yet our economy is growing. In other words, what I'm telling you is, is that we had a lot of obstacles to overcome. The '01 tax cuts affected the recession this way It was a shallow recession. That's positive, because I care about people being able to find a job. Someone said, "Well, maybe the recession should have been deeper in order for the rebound to be quicker." My attitude is, a deeper recession means more people would have been hurt. And I view the actions we've taken as a jobs program, job creation program. Secondly, there are hopeful signs. I mean, most economists believe that over the next 18 months we'll see positive economic growth. Interest rates are low. Housing starts are strong. Manufacturing indexes are improving. There are other things we can do in Washington. As I said, we need an energy bill. We certainly need tort reform. I think the class action reform that's moved out of the House and into the Senate is something that can be done, and it ought to be done quickly. In other words, what I'm saying to you is, is that there's still work to do. But I'm optimistic about the future, and I believe you'll see more jobs created, and that's going to be good for the country. Yes. Jim Rosen James Rosen, FOX News . North Korea Q. Thank you, sir. You just explained that your approach to your job is to try to produce results. It has been roughly a year since North Korea apprised the United States Government that it is seeking to reactivate its nuclear weapons program. In that year, you and your aides have repeatedly said that you seek a diplomatic approach to that problem. And yet, over that year, all we've seen from the North Koreans are more bellicose statements and more steps taken to add to their stockpile of nuclear weapons that they already have. What can you point to in the record over the last year by your administration for Americans to look at and say this President has produced results? The President. Yes. I think that one of the things that is important to understand in North Korea is that the past policy of trying to engage bilaterally didn't work. In other words, the North Koreans were ready to engage, but they didn't keep their word on their engagement. And that ought to be a clear signal to policymakers of what to expect with North Korea. Secondly, in my judgment, the best way to convince the North Koreans to change their attitude about a nuclear weapon program is to have others in the neighborhood assume responsibility alongside the United States. So this morning, interesting enough I'm glad you asked that question, because I can tell you that I talked to Hu Jintao this morning not anticipation of your question, but as part of an ongoing process to encourage him to stay involved in the process of discussions with Mr. Kim Chong il, all attempting to say to him that it is a it is not in his nation's interest to continue developing these weapons and we would like to see him dismantle those weapons programs. As well as I told President Hu that I think it's very important for us to get Japan and South Korea and Russia involved as well. So the progress that is being made is, we're actually beginning to make serious progress about sharing responsibility on this issue in such a way that I believe will lead to an attitudinal change by Kim Chong il, which will be very positive for peace in the region. State of the Union Address Q. Thank you, Mr. President The President. Kate Kate Snow, ABC News . Q. That's right. Thank you, Mr. President. The President. How long have you been how long have you been in the press corps? You look like you just came. Q. Last week was my first week. The President. Yes, congratulations. Q. Thank you. The President. Be careful whose company you're keeping, though. Laughter Q. Mr. President, you often speak about the need for accountability in many areas. I wonder then, why is Dr. Condoleezza Rice not being held accountable for the statement that your own White House has acknowledged was a mistake in your State of the Union Address regarding Iraq's attempts to purchase uranium? And also, do you take personal responsibility for that inaccuracy? The President. I take personal responsibility for everything I say, of course. Absolutely. I also take responsibility for making decisions on war and peace. And I analyzed a thorough body of intelligence good, solid, sound intelligence that led me to come to the conclusion that it was necessary to remove Saddam Hussein from power. We gave the world a chance to do it. We had remember there's again, I don't want to get repetitive here, but it's important to remind everybody that there was 12 resolutions that came out of the United Nations because others recognized the threat of Saddam Hussein. Twelve times the United Nations Security Council passed resolutions in recognition of the threat that he posed. And the difference was, is that some were not willing to act on those resolutions. We were, along with a lot of other countries, because he posed a threat. Dr. Condoleezza Rice is an honest, fabulous person, and America is lucky to have her service. Period. Michael Allen Washington Post . 2004 Campaign Q. Mr. President, with no opponent, how can you spend 170 million or more on your primary campaign? The President. Just watch. Laughter Keep going. Q. Yes, sir. And with 15 fundraisers scheduled between for the summer months, do you worry about the perception that you're unduly attentive to the interests of people who can afford to spend 2,000 to see you? The President. Michael, I think American people, now that they've realized I'm going to seek reelection, expect me to seek reelection. They expect me to actually do what candidates do. And so, you're right, I'll be spending some time going out and asking the American people to support me. But most of my time, as I say in my speeches as I'm sure you've been bored to tears listening to is that there is a time for politics, and that's going to be later on. I've got a lot to do. And I will continue doing my job, and my job will be to work to make America more secure. Steve asked a question about this Al Qaida possible attack. Every day I am reminded that our Nation is still vulnerable. Every day I'm reminded about what 9 11 means to America. That's a lesson, by the way, I'll never forget, the lesson of 9 11, because and I remember right after 9 11 saying that this will be a different kind of war, but it's a war, and sometimes there will be action, and sometimes there won't, but we're still threatened. And I see that almost every day, Mike. And therefore, that is a major part of my job. And the other part of my job that I talked about is the economic security of the American people. And I spend a lot of time on the economy, going out and talking to the American people about the economy, and will continue to do so. But no, listen, since I've made the decision to run, of course I'm going to do what candidates do. And we're having pretty good success, which is it's kind of an interesting barometer, early barometer, about the support we're garnering. Keil Richard Keil, Bloomberg News , Jeanne Jeanne Cummings, Wall Street Journal , and then Larry Larry McQuillan, USA Today . Keil. Stretch. Super Stretch. Federal Deficit National Economy Q. Thank you, Mr. President. As you said just a few moments ago and say frequently in your speeches, the deficit was caused variously by the war, by recession, by corporate scandals, the 9 11 attacks. But just a couple of weeks ago, on July 15th, the Office of Management and Budget put out a report saying that without the tax cuts that Congress passed, the budget would be back in surplus by 2008, but with those tax cuts factored in, we have deficits that year and further years out of at least 200 billion, to use the phrase, as far as the eye can see. Aren't tax cuts in part responsible for the deficits, and does that fact concern you? Are we now in a period where we have deficits as far as the eye can see? The President. We would have had deficits with or without tax cuts, for this reason The slowdown in the economy, the decline in the stock market starting March of 2000, plus the recession, reduced the amount of revenues coming into the Federal Treasury. Secondly, we spent money on the war, and we spent money on homeland security. My attitude is, if we're going to put our troops into harm's way, they must have the very best. And there's no doubt we increased our budgets on defense and homeland security. So there would be recessions. And so, given the I mean, there would be deficits. So given the fact that we're in a recession, which had it gone on longer than it did could have caused even more revenues to be lost to the Treasury, I had a policy decision to make. And I made the decision to address the recession by a tax cut. And so part of the deficit, no question, was caused by taxes about 25 percent of the deficit, the other 75 50 percent caused by lack of revenues, and 25 percent caused by additional spending on the war on terror. Now, we have laid out a plan which shows that the deficit will be cut in half over the next 5 years. And that's good progress toward deficit reduction. That's assuming Congress holds the line on spending. I presented them with a 4 percent increase in the discretionary budget to help them hold the line on spending. They passed the budget. Now they've got to meet the budget in their appropriations process. My first concern, Dick, was for those folks who couldn't find a job. And I addressed unemployment and addressed economic stagnancy with a tax cut that affected growth or the lack of growth in a positive way. And I'm optimistic about our economy. But I'm not going to stop working until people can find a job who are looking for work. Jeanne. Workforce and Technology Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Staying with that theme, although there are some signs of improvement in the economy, there are sectors in the workforce who feel like they're being left behind. They're concerned about jobs going overseas, that technology is taking over jobs. And these people are finding difficulty finding work. And although you're recommitted yourself to your tax cut policy, do you have any ideas or any plans within the administration of what you might do for these people who feel like there are fundamental changes happening in the workforce and in the economy? The President. Sure. Listen, I fully understand what you're saying. In other words, as technology races through the economy, a lot of times worker skills don't keep up with technological change. And that's a significant issue that we've got to address in the country. I think my idea of reemployment accounts makes a lot of sense. In essence, it says that you get 3,000 from the Federal Government to help you with training, daycare, transportation, perhaps moving to another city. And if, within a period of time, you're able to find a job, you keep the balance as a reemployment bonus. I know the community colleges provide a very important role in worker training, worker retraining. I look forward to working with our community colleges through the Department of Education, coordinate closely with States, particularly in those States in which technology is changing the nature of the job force. I've always found the community college and this is from my days as the Governor of Texas found the community college to be a very appropriate place for job training programs because they're more adaptable their curriculums are easier to change they're accessible. Community colleges are all over the place. And but you're right. I mean, I think we need to make sure that people get the training necessary to keep up with the nature of the jobs as jobs change. Laurence, USA Today. Middle East Peace Process Q. Mr. President, you've been involved now in the Mideast peace process and have certainly learned firsthand how developments like creation of a fence can complicate progress. Based on that, when you stood there about a year ago and proposed your roadmap, you spoke about a Palestinian state in 2005. I mean, do you think that goal is still realistic, or is it likely to slide just because it's so hard to make headway? The President. I do think it's realistic. I also know when we start sliding goals, it makes progress less realistic. Absolutely, I think it's realistic, and I think we're making pretty good progress in a short period of time. I'm impressed by Prime Minister Abbas' vision of a peaceful Palestinian state. I believe him when he says that we must rout out terror in order for a Palestinian state to exist. I believe he's true. I think Mr. Dahlan, his security chief, also recognizes that. And we've got to help those two leaders in a couple of ways to realize that vision of a peaceful Palestinian state. One is to provide help and strategy to Mr. Dahlan so that he can lead Palestinian security forces to the dismantlement of bomb making factories, rocket making factories inside Gaza and the West Bank. That's going to be a very important part of earning the confidence of the world, for that matter. We've also got to recognize that there are things that can happen on the ground that will strengthen Mr. Abbas' hand, relative to the competition, moving for example, movement throughout the country. So I spent time talking to Prime Minister Sharon yesterday about checkpoints. We discussed the difference between a checkpoint for security purposes and a checkpoint that might be there that's that isn't there for inconvenience purposes, let me put it to you that way. We talked about all the thorny issues. But the most important thing is that we now have an interlocutor in Mr. Abbas who is committed to peace and who believes in the aspirations of the Palestinian people. One of the most interesting visits I've had on this issue took place in the Oval Office there with the Finance Minister of the Palestinian Authority. I was pleased to discover that he I think he received a degree from the University of Texas, which gave me even more confidence when he spoke. But he is a he talked about how a free state, free country, will flourish when the Palestinians are just given a chance. See, he believes in the Palestinian people to the point where he's willing to take risks for peace. As I understand it, he's put the Palestinian budget on the web page. That's that's what we call transparency in the diplomatic world. It means that he's willing to show the finances to make it clear they're not stealing money is another way to put it. That's a positive development, Larry. So I what I first look at is attitudes. I also believe Prime Minister Sharon is committed to a peaceful Palestinian state. He's committed because he understands that I will in no way compromise the security of the Israeli people or the Palestinian people, for that matter to terror, that he knows when I say we're willing to fight terror, we mean it, because we proved it. I thought it was interesting yesterday, by the way, that he spoke clearly about Iraq and the importance of Iraq in terms of Middle Eastern peace as well. And I believe he's right on that. I believe that a free Iraq will make it easier to achieve peace in that part of the world. I also know that we've got to get others in the neighborhood to continue to remind certain countries that it will be frowned upon if they destabilize the process. The stated objective of Iran is the destruction of Israel, for example. And we've got to work in a collective way with other nations to remind Iran that they shouldn't develop a nuclear weapon. It's going to require more than one voice saying that, however. It's going to require a collective effort of the Europeans, for example, to recognize the true threat of an armed Iran to achieving peace in the Middle East. And but I'm pleased by the attitudes. You know, when I was in Aqaba, I don't know if you remember, but I asked Prime Minister Sharon and Prime Minister Abbas to go outside. I wanted to watch the body language, first and foremost, just to make sure we weren't fooling ourselves, that when leaders commit to being able to work with each other, you can get a pretty good sense of that commitment. What was also interesting on the outside meeting I mean, it was a very cordial discussion, and there was the desire for these leaders to talk. And they have talked since the Aqaba meeting, and that's a positive development. But what was also interesting, as Condi reported to me later, to watch the discussions between the different both Cabinets. And we were watching carefully to determine if there's the will for peace. We have found a person who has got the will to work for peace, and that's Prime Minister Abbas. We'll work through the issues that are nettlesome. And there will be some big issues that come along. But the first thing that has to happen is, the Palestinian people have got to realize there's hope in a free society. And if they choose the leader that is most likely to choose to back the leader that is most likely to deliver that hope. Carl Carl Cannon, National Journal . HIV AIDS Initiative Q. I want to ask you about something else in your State of the Union. The President. Okay. Q. You spoke and got great applause from both sides of the aisle about a new initiative in Africa for AIDS and mentioned the figure, 15 billion over 3 years. When the AIDS community and some of the activists got into the budget, they said when they saw your budget, they said it was really a little less than that. And these conversations have gone back and forth, and they said, really more like 10 billion in new money. And then somebody told me it was really more like 400 million for the first year. I want to ask you here, in the Rose Garden, will you reiterate that 15 billion figure and make sure, personally, that it's really delivered to Africa? The President. Yes, I will, Carl, absolutely, 15 billion. Now, that's not new money. The person who said it's 15 billion on top of that which we're already 10 billion on top of that which we're already spending equals the 15 billion. Secondly, there is some discussion about the first year budget. In other words, we didn't send up a budget 15 billion over 5 we didn't send up 3 billion. We sent up something less than 3 billion, because we didn't think the program could ramp up fast enough to absorb that amount of money early. So it's not people then say, "Well, wait a minute. He doesn't believe what he said." Well, that's just simply not true. As a matter of fact, after my trip to Africa, I know we're doing the right thing, even more. But the OMB came up with a plan that allows for a smaller amount in the beginning. I think it's about a little less than 2.5 billion initially, and it ramps up more in the out years as the program is capable of absorbing a lot of money. You know, one of the things we looked for over there in Africa was whether or not countries could absorb money. In other words, whether for example, was the distribution system for antiretrovirals in place? It doesn't make any sense to load up on antiretrovirals if the distribution system won't get them out. In other words, there's some things some countries have to do to prepare for the arrival of a lot of money, and we recognize that, Carl. The commitment is there, absolutely. And a matter of fact, we're doing the right thing in Africa. The American people have got to understand that we're a blessed country, and when we find the kind of suffering that exists in Africa, we will help. And we are. Liberia Q. Liberia question? The President. You want to ask a Liberian question? Please do. Q. Thank you. Do you expect American troops to be landing in any large force in Liberia soon? And how far can the U.S. go in other international conflicts? When are we stretched too thin? The President. Yes, very good question. First of all, the conditions that I laid out for the Liberian rescue mission still exist. Charles Taylor must go the cease fire must be in place and we will be there to help ECOWAS. And so we're working to get those conditions in place. And we will continue working to get them in place until they are in place, at which point we will then take the necessary steps to get ECOWAS in place so that we can deliver aid and help to suffering Liberians. I also want to remind you, I also said the troop strength will be limited and the timeframe will be limited. And we're working on that. The idea, of course, is to go in, stabilize the situation, get the NGOs moving back in to to their positions to be able to help deliver aid, and then work immediately with the United Nations to provide blue helmets maybe blue helmets, some of the ECOWAS forces in place, provide other blue helmets, and that the United Nations would then take up the peacekeeping mission as well as the political mission in order to provide the framework for a transition to democracy. And hopefully, that will help stabilize the situation. I think it will. Hutch Ron Hutcheson, Knight Ridder . Iran Q. I wanted to ask you about Iran, one of your other countries in the axis of evil. One of the things we learned from that march to war is that when you start warning countries, they better pay attention. Are we now in the early stages of a march to war in Iran? Or are they more like in the category of North Korea? The President. No, I look, Hutch, I remember right after Iraq the first thing that happened out of out of some writers' pens was that, "Oh, no, they're getting ready to attack either Syria or Iran." You know, the march to war is a campaign that's just going to march everywhere. I all options remain on the table. I believe that the best way to deal with the Iranians at this point in time is to convince others to join us in a clear declaration that the development of a nuclear weapon is not in their interests. I believe a free Iraq will affect the lives of Iranians. I want to thank the diaspora here in the United States, particularly in L.A. which reminds me, my last question is going to Ed Ed Chen, Los Angeles Times . And so you can prepare for it, Ed. We've got a lot of our fellow citizens who are in e mail contact, phone contact with people who live throughout Iran. And I want to thank them for that. Interestingly enough, there's a TV station that I think has been people have read about that is broadcast out of L.A. by one of our citizens. He's he or she has footed the bill. It's widely watched. The people of Iran are interested in freedom, and we stand by their side. We stand on the side of those who are desperate for freedom in Iran. We understand their frustrations in living in a society that is totalitarian in nature. And now is the time for the world to come together, Ron, to send a clear message. And so I spent time with Prime Minister Berlusconi on the ranch, and I talked to him about the need for the EU to send a very clear message, along with the United States. As you know some of you have been on the trips with me to Russia, and you remember me talking with my friend Vladimir Putin about the need to be mindful of the Iranians' desire to have a nuclear weapon. We're making progress there. I really believe that we can solve this issue peacefully, but this is an issue that's going to require a concerted effort by nations around the world to work with the United States, particularly in Europe, to speak clearly to the Iranian administration. The other thing that's interesting about Iran is that they do have Al Qaida. They've admitted they got Al Qaida. Now, that's positive, that the Al Qaida is not talking to anybody. I mean, I would rather them be held somewhere other than out moving around, plotting and planning. And I would just hope the Iranians would listen to the request of countries in their neighborhood to turn them over. In other words, some of the countries of origin for these Al Qaida operatives have asked for those Al Qaida detainees to be sent back to the country of origin. It would be very helpful for the Iranians to make that decision. Ed, last question. Q. Mr. President The President. Hold on for a minute, please. Ed. California Recall Campaign Q. Good morning, Mr. President. Since California is on your mind, I'd like to ask you about the recall campaign. Since you're not only the leader of this country, but as someone who came into office under extraordinarily partisan circumstances, do you view this recall, which was funded almost entirely by one wealthy Republican who would like to be Governor, as a legitimate, democratic exercise? And do you have a candidate in this fight, since one of the potential successors is somebody you've backed before? The President. Ed, let me tell you how I view it. I've got a lot of things on my mind, and I view it like a interested political observer would view it. You know, it's kind of a we're not used to recalls in Texas, for example, thankfully. I think that I think the most important opinion is not mine, but it's the people of California. Their opinion is what matters on a recall. It's their decision to decide whether or not there will be a recall, which they decided. Now they get to decide who the Governor is going to be. And that's really my only comment I've got. Listen, thank you all very much for giving me a chance to come and answer some of your questions. For those of you who are traveling to Crawford, gosh, did you luck out. And we look forward to seeing you there. Laughter Thank you. July 29, 2003 President Bush. Good day. I'm pleased to welcome Prime Minister Ariel Sharon back to the White House. I think you said this is our eighth meeting Prime Minister Sharon. Eighth meeting here. President Bush. Eighth meeting in Washington. That should indicate to everybody that our nations have a deep and abiding friendship. America is firmly committed to the security of Israel as a Jewish state, and we are firmly committed to the safety of the Israeli people. We have now a tremendous opportunity to add to Israeli security and safety and add to the hopes of the average Palestinian citizen by making tangible progress towards two states living side by side in peace. Last month's Red Sea Summits in Egypt and Jordan gave momentum to that progress. I'm encouraged by the positive steps that Israel has taken since then to further the cause of peace, including prisoner releases. Prime Minister Sharon is now meeting regularly with Prime Minister Abbas, and that's positive. Israeli and Palestinian cabinet and security officials are meeting as well. Israel has recently taken steps to make it easier for Palestinians to work in Israel and to travel to their jobs and schools and families, and I thank the Prime Minister for these important actions. Much hard work remains to be done by Israelis and Palestinians and by their neighbors. If we are ever to reach our common goal of two states living side by side in peace and security, leaders must assume responsibility. The Prime Minister is assuming responsibility. All parties agree that a fundamental obstacle to peace is terrorism, which can never be justified by any cause. Last month in Aqaba, Prime Minister Abbas committed to a complete end to violence and terrorism. The Palestinian Authority must undertake sustained, targeted, and effective operations to confront those engaged in terror and to dismantle terrorist capabilities and infrastructure. We're determined to help Prime Minister Abbas as he works to end terror and establish the rule of law that will protect Israelis and Palestinians alike. Today I urge Arab states to follow through on the pledges made in Sharm el Sheikh to actively contribute to these efforts and to reject the culture of extremism and violence from whatever source or place. The rise of a peaceful Palestinian state and the long term security of the Israeli people both depend on defeating the threat of terrorist groups and ending incitement and hatred. In our discussions, I encouraged the Prime Minister to take further steps to improve the daily conditions faced by Palestinians. Israelis and Palestinians deserve the same chance to live normal lives, free from fear, free from hatred and violence, and free from harassment. I also urged the Prime Minister to carefully consider all the consequences of Israel's actions as we move forward on the road to peace. The United States of America will continue to act in the interests of peace. We will continue to be a firm warrior against terrorism wherever it is found. We will encourage all parties to keep their promises and monitor the progress that is made. We will also help the parties find solutions to legitimate concerns. As we head down the road to peace, my commitment to the security of Israel is unshakable, as is the enduring friendship of our countries. I want to thank Ariel for all he's done to contribute to that friendship, for his leadership, and his willing to make tough decisions in the cause of peace. Mr. Prime Minister. Prime Minister Sharon. Mr. President, it is a great privilege for me to be here at the White House for the eighth time. I am always pleased to visit and feel that I am among friends, true friends of the state and the people of Israel. Mr. President, I congratulate you on the impressive victory in the Iraqi campaign and for removing Saddam Hussein from power, one of the most ruthless and tyrannical leaders in history. For 30 years, the free world has witnessed the recklessness and brutality of this dictator. Only you, Mr. President, have shown the courage, determination, and leadership needed to spearhead the successful campaign to oust this ruthless, merciless despot, his dynasty, and evil regime. For the first time since World War II, the freedom and peace seeking democratic world had the wisdom to go after murderers and evil rulers and bring them to justice. I have no doubt, Mr. President, that thanks to you, any villain in any corner of the world knows that the long arm of justice will reach them. So many will owe their lives to you and the great nation of America. I'm confident, Mr. President, that the lessons learned by the nations of the world and the region on the courageous action of the United States in Iraq will serve to advance the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians and the entire Arab world. Your latest statement regarding the threats emanating from Syria and Iran prove once again the seriousness of your intentions to continue leading the fight against terror. It must be made clear to these countries that their evil deeds cannot continue. There can be no compromise with terror and evil. The people of Israel, Mr. President, are greatly thankful and appreciative of your activity, unrelenting commitment to Israel's security and the safety of its citizens, and your determination to advance the peace process between us and the Palestinians. We are currently at an important juncture in our relations with our Palestinian neighbors. While relative quiet currently prevails in Israel, terror has not yet completely ceased. This relative calm was achieved, first and foremost, through the uncompromising activity of the Israeli security forces and as a result of your personal effort and the actions taken by the United States among Arab and European countries. We are thankful for every hour of increased quiet and less terrorism and for every drop of blood that is spared. At the same time, we are concerned that this welcome quiet will be shattered any minute as a result of the continued existence of terror organizations which the Palestinian Authority is doing nothing to eliminate or dismantle. Mr. President, I am confident that you, as the leader of the free world in this war against terror, will act to ensure that the Palestinians put a complete stop to the threat of Palestinian terrorism so that it will never rear its head again. I wish to move forward with a political process with our Palestinian neighbors. And the right way to do that is only after a complete cessation of terror, violence, and incitement, full dismantlement of terror organizations, and completion of the reform process in the Palestinian Authority. We had a useful talk today, where we examined ways to advance the peace process between us and our Palestinian neighbors. In this context, a number of issues came up the security fence which we are forced to construct in order to defend our citizens against terror activities the removal of unauthorized outposts and the freezing of settlements in Judea and Samaria. I listened to your statement on this subject and assured you, Mr. President, that I would address them. The security President Bush. It's stuck. Prime Minister Sharon. As you can see, we need your help. Laughter The security fence will continue to be built with every effort to minimize the infringement on the daily life of the Palestinian population. Unauthorized outposts will be removed, as required in a law abiding country. We'll continue to discuss all these issues both directly and through our bureaus, which maintain close contact. Mr. President, we also discussed a series of issues which could serve to promote the peace process. In a statement published on my behalf last Friday, we listed a long series of steps to accommodate the Palestinians. If calm prevails and we witness the dismantlement of terror organizations, Israel will be able to take additional steps. I wish to thank you again, George, for your friendship and understanding toward the state and people of Israel and for your contribution and personal involvement in the effort to turn the Middle East into a place where the peoples of the region can live in peace and security and guarantee a better life for our children and generations to come. Thank you, George. Q. Mr. President President Bush. Hold on a second, please. I'll call upon two members of our press corps. We'll alternate. First, Barry Barry Schweid, Associated Press . Report of the Joint Inquiry Into the September 11, 2001, Terrorist Attacks Q. Mr. President, will the decision to not declassify the entire 9 11 report affect relations with Saudi Arabia, do you think? Might it have an impact on what they are doing to counter terrorism? Do you have any qualms? President Bush. About not declassifying? No, absolutely have no qualms at all, because there's an ongoing investigation into the 9 11 attacks, and we don't want to compromise that investigation. If people are being investigated, it doesn't make sense for us to let them know who they are. Secondly, we have an ongoing war against Al Qaida and terrorists, and the de classification of that part of a 900 page document would reveal sources and methods that will make it harder for us to win the war on terror. Now, perhaps at some point in time down the road, after the investigations are fully complete and if it doesn't jeopardize our national security, perhaps we can declassify the 27 of the hundreds of pages in the document. But it makes no sense to declassify when we've got an ongoing investigation that could jeopardize that investigation. And it made no sense to declassify during the war on terror because it would help the enemy if they knew our sources and methods. Israeli Security Fence Q. Mr. President, what do you accept Israel to do in practical terms in regarding the separation fence that you call the wall? Due to the fact that this is one of the most effective measure against terrorism, can you clarify what do you oppose, the concept of the separation fence or only its roots? And with your permission At this point, the reporter asked a second question in Hebrew, and no translation was provided. President Bush. an international problem. Laughter The reporter continued in Hebrew. President Bush. Me? Okay. First, the most effective way to fight terror is to dismantle terrorist organizations. I fully recognize that. And we will continue to work with all parties to do just that. I mean, I fully understand that the most effective campaign to enhance the security of Israel, as well as the security of peace loving people in the Palestinian territories, is to get after organizations such as Hamas, the terrorist organizations that create the conditions where peace won't exist. And therefore, I would hope in the long term a fence would be irrelevant. But look, the fence is a sensitive issue, I understand. And the Prime Minister made it very clear to me that it was a sensitive issue. And my promise to him is, we'll continue to discuss and to dialog how best to make sure that the fence sends the right signal that not only is security important, but the ability for the Palestinians to live a normal life is important as well. Q. Why do you criticize, Mr. President President Bush. No, no, no. Hold on. Not you. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Maybe some other time, but not now. Q. All right. Thank you. Ending Terrorism in the Middle East Q. Thanks, sir. How are both of you going to get the Palestinian militants to extend the cease fire? President Bush. Do what now? Q. How are both of you going to get the Palestinian militants to extend the cease fire? President Bush. Let me look, the important message that should have come out of the meeting with Prime Minister Abbas and, of course, with Prime Minister Sharon, is that the those who want to destroy the peace process through terrorist activities must be dealt with. There will be no peace if terrorism flourishes. There's no peace. It's a contradiction in terms. Terrorists are against peace. Terrorists kill innocent life to prevent peace from happening. The way to make sure peace happens is for all of us to work to dismantle those who would like to kill. Those are called terrorists. And the positive news is that Prime Minister Abbas made a public declaration that we would work together to dismantle terrorist organizations. And that's exactly what's going to happen. For those who want peace I mean, all around the world have got to understand very clearly, if you're interested in peace in the Middle East, then all of us must work together to dismantle terrorist organizations, to cut off money to terrorist organizations, to prevent the few from damaging the aspirations of the many. Q. Mr. President President Bush. Answer his question first, though. We don't want to hurt your feelings. Prime Minister Sharon answered the question in Hebrew, and no translation was provided. President Bush. Okay. Palestinian Prisoners Q. Mr. President, why do you expect Israeli Government to set free Palestinian prisoners, while you don't order to set free the Israeli civilian Jonathan Pollard? President Bush. Yes, well, I said very clearly at the press conference with Prime Minister Abbas, I don't expect anybody to release somebody from prison who will go kill somebody. That doesn't make any sense. I mean, if we're trying to fight off terror and we're interested in a peaceful settlement, it doesn't make any sense to release somebody who is going to get out of prison and start killing. I do hope that the Prime Minister continues to work with the Palestinian Authority to release those prisoners that won't create the conditions of terror. And I believe that Prime Minister Abbas wants peace. I know that the his cabinet is interested in developing the institutions necessary for a Palestinian state to emerge in a peaceful way. I've been impressed by the Finance Minister of the Palestinian Authority, who's willing to put the Palestinian budget up on the web page. In other words, he believes in transparency. And the reason I bring that up is that I also know that those same Palestinians who are working for the institutions necessary for a peaceful state to evolve know that terrorists would like to derail those plans and, therefore, are willing to work to rout out terrorist organizations. And look, we don't want to put people back into society that will make that task more complicated. Listen, thank you all very much. Q. Mr. President, Senator Shelby says 95 percent of the redaction has nothing to do with sources and methods, sir. Is he wrong? President Bush. Sorry. A reporter asked a final question in Hebrew, and Prime Minister Sharon answered in Hebrew, and no translation was provided. President Bush. Let's go have lunch. July 28, 2003 Thanks for the warm welcome. Thanks for your kind invitation. But most importantly, thanks for your service to your fellow Americans. The Urban League has always stood for justice and hope and healing. It's stood for opportunity for all our citizens. I'm honored to be at such an organization. I appreciate the chance as well to come to Pittsburgh. It's a city that's rich in civil rights, the history of civil rights. In the 1800s, the Underground Railroad here delivered thousands out of slavery and into freedom. In the 1930s and 1940s, Pittsburgh's Urban League led successful protests against schools and department stores that refused to hire African Americans. And today in this city, community leaders are showing what good people can accomplish by working together. I now know why they call it the Renaissance City, and I want to thank you for your hospitality. The work of the National Urban League represents one of the basic commitments of this country. See, we believe in opportunity for all, a society where every person can dream and work and realize his or her potential. We're dedicated to bringing economic hope to every neighborhood, a good education to every child, and comfort and compassion to the afflicted. And our Nation has come a long way, and we have a long way to go. And we will not stop, we will not tire until we extend the great promise of America to every neighborhood in America. And that's what I want to talk about today. I want to thank Mr. President, President Marc Morial, for his kind invitation and his willingness to lead this important American institution. He replaces a good man in Hugh Price, who has ably led the Urban League for nearly a decade. And there's no doubt in my mind that Marc Morial will do a great job on behalf of America. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. As he said, we grew up right around the corner from each other. And I know what he was what New Orleans was like when he was the mayor of that important city. Bourbon Street was never more alive when laughter never mind. Laughter I'm honored that the Secretary of Education is with us today, Rod Paige. He is a good friend and a good man. I appreciate so very much Michael Critelli, who is the chairman of the board of the National Urban League, a businessman that understands corporate responsibility. It means you've got to help somebody else as well as watching the bottom line. Mike, thank you for being here. I'm honored that members from the Pennsylvania congressional delegation are with us today, Senators Specter and Santorum and Congressman Tim Murphy. I appreciate them coming. A couple of them jumped on Air Force One. Laughter I'm not suggesting that's why they came. Laughter There's not a lot of air raids on Air Force One. Laughter But I'm glad to have them. I see Reverend Jackson is with us today. Jesse Jackson, it's good to see you. Congressman Cummings I'm honored to see you, Congressman. Thank you for being here. I appreciate so very much my friend Mayor Jim Garner, who's the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, who is with us today. Mr. Mayor, thank you for coming. I know that Mike Fisher, the State attorney general, is with us today. And the Allegheny County chief executive, Jim Roddey, is with us today. And I'm honored that they have come. I want to thank all the elected officials. I want to thank the board of the National Urban League. And I want to thank the delegates for giving me a chance to come by and say hello. Today I had the honor, when I landed at the airport, of meeting a board member of the Urban League of Pittsburgh, a fellow named Xavier Williams. He came to see me because one of the things I try to do is herald the great strength of the country, which happens to be the heart and soul of our citizens. You see, Xavier works for a it's called INROADS. It's a nonprofit organization which matches minority youth with successful businesses and corporations to try to help them have the skills necessary to realize the entrepreneurial spirit of America. Xavier knows what I know, that the best way to serve your country is to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. And I appreciate the example that Xavier Williams sets for not only the good folks here in Pittsburgh but for people all around the country. Thank you, Xavier, for your service to our country. Every generation of Americans must rise to its own challenges, and this generation is rising to meet ours. We will never forget the lessons of September the 11th, 2001. Great oceans no longer protect us from dangers that gather far from home. And the other lesson is that there are people who can't stand what America stands for and desire to conflict great harm on the American people. In the 22 months since that day, we have put those who hate America on notice Wherever they plot, wherever they plan, they will find no place to hide from American justice. The Al Qaida terrorists still threaten our country, but they're on the run. The regime in Afghanistan, the Taliban regime, inflicted great harm on the citizens of that country and protected the terrorists. But that regime is no more. Afghanistan is now free. And our current mission in Iraq is essential to the broader war on terror it's essential to the security of the American people. You see, a free, democratic, peaceful Iraq will not threaten America or our friends with weapons. A free Iraq will not be a training ground for terrorists or a funnel of money to terrorists or provide weapons to terrorists who would willingly use them to strike our country. A free Iraq will not destabilize the Middle East. A free Iraq can set a hopeful example to the entire region and lead other nations to choose freedom. And as the pursuits of freedom replace hatred and resentment and terror in the Middle East, the American people will be more secure. Our men and women in uniform are serving our Nation and the cause of security and peace. We're proud of them. We appreciate their progress. We appreciate their dedication to the country called America. This Nation has got another great challenge. While we stand for freedom and opportunity abroad, we must make those same values real in the lives of all Americans. This Nation has got work to do. There are citizens who can't find jobs. There are citizens looking for homes for their families. There are students who go to school that are letting them down every day and don't seem to improve. There are children who need mentors in their lives, people struggling with addiction who need to know they don't face that struggle alone. To make the promise of America real for everyone, we need active citizens who help their neighbors we need active churches and active communities and we need active government. We can make a difference in people's lives with creative, innovative policies that focus on results. Greater opportunity and hope begins with a growing economy. The stock market started to decline in March of 2000. And then we had recession in the first quarter of 2001. So we acted. We provided historic tax relief for families. And then as the economy was beginning to come back, we found out some of our citizens, corporate CEOs, forgot what it means to be a responsible citizen, and they did not tell the truth to shareholder and employee alike. So we acted, and we're now holding corporate criminals to account. Last year, we saw too many Americans were still struggling to find a job, so we acted again. We brought the marriage penalty down. It doesn't make any sense, by the way, to penalize marriage in the Tax Code. It seems like the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not penalize it. We reduced income tax rates. We expanded the child credit from 600 to 1,000 per child, and we made the change retroactive to January 1st of this year, so the checks are in the mail. And as a matter of fairness, Congress should make the child credit refundable low income families need help as well during these economic slow times. To add more jobs to the economy, we're also focusing a lot on small businesses, because small businesses create the most new jobs in an economy. Most small businesses are sole proprietorships or Subchapter S's, so when you reduce the income tax rates, you help small businesses. They pay tax at the individual rates. We're also allowing higher expense deduction for small businesses, which will make it easier for small businesses to buy new equipment and to hire new people. We're working through the Small Business Administration and Minority Business Development Agency to ensure that minority businesses get access to Federal contracting and financing and technical assistance for startups, because we understand small businesses are the path to the American Dream, and this path must be more open to all our citizens. You hear a lot of talk about tax relief. Let me tell you my belief. When a person has got more money in his or her pocket, he or she is likely to demand an additional good or a service. And when somebody demands a good or a service in our society, somebody is going to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or a service, it means somebody is more likely find a job. The tax relief we packaged is good for helping people find work in America. Now, we've been through a lot recession, war, emergencies, and corporate scandals. But I'm optimistic about the future. I'm optimistic about the future, because I see hopeful signs. Home sales are strong, and people are refinancing their mortgages to put more money in their pockets. Inflation is low. Retail sales have begun to show growth. Productivity is high. And the good news is, a lot of the economists are beginning to forecast a better tomorrow, which is important for making sure that people have hope in our society. No, we're dealing with the economy. We saw a problem, and we dealt with it straight up. And as the economy expands, we've got to help Americans who find the greatest difficulty finding work. So I proposed what we call reemployment accounts. The job seeker would have an account up to 3,000 for job training or child care or transportation or relocating to get a new job in a new city. If a worker finds a new job quickly, within 13 weeks, he or she gets to keep the balance of the cash as a reemployment account. Congress needs to put this plan in effect. Congress needs to help those who are having trouble finding work. Congress also needs to understand, we need a sound energy policy in America. We need to cut down on frivolous litigation, which inhibits economic growth. We need a trade policy that opens up new markets for American products. We also need good housing policy. A good way to make sure this economy remains strong is a housing policy which closes the minority homeownership gap in America. We need greater tax incentives for people to build homes in inner cities. I believe our Government should provide downpayment assistance to people who want to buy a home but need a little extra help. I understand there's a lot of fine print when it comes to mortgages, so we need to help people understand what's in the fine print. We need grant programs to help counsel low and moderate income folks across our country, to teach them what it means to buy a home and to make sure that the fine print is understood by all. No, we've got a goal in America of helping 5 1 2 million more minority citizens become homeowners by the end of this decade. The truth of the matter is, the future of our economy and our country depend upon good schools in all our neighborhoods. Equal education is one of the most pressing civil rights of our day. Nearly half a century after Brown v. Board of Education, there's still an achievement gap in America. On the most recent National Assessment of Educational Progress, on the reading test, 41 percent of white fourth graders were proficient and better readers, but only 12 percent of African Americans met that standard. That means we've got a problem. Both numbers are too low. I think too many of our schools are leaving too many of our children unprepared. And so we acted. I worked with Congress to pass what we call the No Child Left Behind Act. It says every child can learn we must have high standards for every child and we must hold people to account to make sure children do learn. We must challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations, and you know what I'm talking about. And as Rod Paige will brief you, States are beginning to respond. We said, "In return for record levels of education spending at the Federal level, we expect results." You see, if you believe every child can learn, then you ought to be asking the question to those who are spending our money, "Are you teaching the child?" That's what we ought to be asking all across America. And now there's accountability plans being put in place in 50 States plus Puerto Rico and the District. I know people are concerned about testing. I've heard this debate a lot. They say it's discriminatory to measure and compare results. I say it is discriminatory not to measure. I think it's important to know whether or not our schools are succeeding. We simply have got to stop shuffling our children from grade to grade without asking the question, have they been taught to learn to read and write and add and subtract? I believe it is those who believe certain children can't learn that are willing to shuffle them through. And the No Child Left Behind Act ends that. In return for record levels of money, you've got to show us whether or not the children can read and write and add and subtract. And when schools don't measure up, parents must have more options. It's one thing to measure, but there has to be consequences for failing schools. So in that act, parents are able to send their children to a different public school or a charter school or get special tutorial help. I also believe it makes sense to explore private school choices, so I'm working with the leadership in Washington, DC. This isn't a Democrat issue or Republican issue. This is an issue that focuses on children. I know setting high standards works. I know measuring and using the measurement system as a way to diagnose problems so you can focus on the problems works. In my State, 73 percent of the white students passed the math test in 1994, while only 38 percent of the African American students passed it. So we made that the point of reference. We had people focused on the results for the first time not process but results. And because teachers rose to the challenge, because the problem became clear, that gap has now closed to 10 points. Because every child can learn, you've just got to focus the attention and the resources when necessary. Accountability tells you what's going right, and it tells you what's going wrong, and it shows you where the emphasis needs to be. We're having the same results in North Carolina. In States that measure, you'll find that the achievement gap is closing dramatically. Our opportunity society must also be a compassionate society. As Americans, when we see hopelessness and suffering and injustice, we will not turn our backs. And one of the best ways to build hope is to recognize where some of the great works of compassion are done. You see, Government can hand out money sometimes we do a pretty good job of it but what it can't do is put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That happens when people who have been called to love a neighbor interface with a neighbor in need. See, every day across America, faith based and community groups are touching people's lives in profound ways give shelter to the homeless and provide safety for battered women they bring compassion to lonely seniors. America's neighborhood healers have long experience and deep understanding of the problems that many face, and many of them have something extra besides experience. They have inspiration, as they carry God's love to people in need. I like to call the neighborhood healers America's social entrepreneurs. And they need the support of foundation America and corporate America. They need the support of individuals and, of course, congregations. And when appropriate, they deserve the support of the Government. Government has no business endorsing a religious creed or directly funding religious worship. But for too long, Government treated people of faith like second class citizens in the grantmaking process. Government can and should support effective social services provided by religious people, as long as those services go to anyone in need. And when Government gives that support, faith based institutions should not be forced to change the character of their service or compromise their principles. Neighborhood healers have not been treated well by the Federal Government, so I signed an Executive order banning discrimination against faith based charities by Federal agencies. I created special offices in my key Cabinet departments to speak up for faith based groups and to help them access Government funding. I've asked the departments to report to me on a regular basis to make sure the old days are gone, to make sure we challenge and harness the great strength of the country, the heart and soul of our citizens. We're changing the focus of Government from process to results. Instead of asking the question, "Is this a faith based program," we're now asking the question, "Does the program work," and if so, it deserves our support. And the support is making a difference. Here in Pittsburgh, the North Hills Community Outreach, an interfaith human services agency, uses about 76,000 from the Department of Health and Human Services to help people get through tough times. In other words, we're using taxpayers' money to help support programs that use the faith component to help change lives and save lives. A fellow named Royal Patterson went to this program. He was a painter for 27 years, and then he was unable to climb up a ladder. So he goes to North Hills. They gave him food. They gave him bus passes. They helped him to get a new job. But what he said was most important he said, "It was so uplifting. You figure nobody cares, but they care." There's a lot of programs around based on faith that care for people, and our Government must recognize their potential in our society if we want to heal lives all across America. I've asked Congress to fund 100 million for the Compassionate Capital Fund. That's a fancy word for providing money for organizations like the Urban League to teach some of these small faith programs how to apply for grants, how to help manage and train their staffs. In other words, I fully recognize that some of the programs in some of the neighborhoods need management help. They need guidance. And I would hope that Marc would take advantage of this program to help some faith programs all around the country be fully prepared to do what they're called to do, which is love somebody in need. I've asked Congress for 600 million over 3 years to extend drug and alcohol treatment to 300,000 Americans and that faith based providers must be allowed to compete for these funds. Sometimes when a person changes their heart, they change their habits. And our Congress must recognize that and provide opportunity for faith based programs such as the Sojourner House, named after Sojourner Truth, right here in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This is a program which helps mothers with drug and alcohol problems. A child can live in a loving environment while a mom works to break free from addiction. They help the people get on their feet. They help people see themselves as a worthy child of God. That may not sound like your average Government program. But we're no longer asking, "Is it a faith based program?" We're asking, "Does it work?" The Sojourner House works, and this country of ours ought to support programs like the Sojourner House. It's important for our Nation to recognize that too many young people are growing up without enough caring adults in their lives. Too many people wonder whether anybody loves them. We need more mentors, committed adults to serve as role models to help shepherd children through the early years of their life. Congress I called upon Congress to spend 450 million over 3 years to bring more mentors to more than a million disadvantaged children. We've got a goal, mentors for a million children junior high children who are making life decisions, as well as the children of prisoners who face so many problems through no fault of their own, and they need somebody to surround them with some love. Faith communities are a great source for mentors, and we must make sure that faith based groups have a chance to participate in this program as well. More Americans volunteer through their houses of worship than any other organization, and Congress must recognize that. Our Government should not fear faith we ought to welcome it as an equal partner in helping people who need help. Now, we believe in the value and possibility of every life. And we'll help those who need help here at home, and we must help those who need help abroad as well. I have recently seen for myself the great possibilities of Africa and the great needs of Africa. That continent's economic future depends upon trade. We'll continue to help African countries become full partners in trade and prosperity. Many African people struggle with hunger. You need to know your Government and your country is the most generous country in the world for providing aid and help for those who are hungry. America's progress Africa's progress is threatened by terrorism and civil wars, and so we're working with African governments to rid that continent of regional conflict and terrorist violence. They're suffering in Liberia today. I directed the Secretary of Defense to position appropriate military capabilities off the coast of Liberia in order to support the deployment of an ECOWAS force. We're committed to working with ECOWAS to create the conditions in which lives can be saved and aid can be delivered. We're also helping Africa overcome one of the deadliest enemies it has ever faced, the spread of HIV AIDS. Over the next 5 years, the United States has pledged 15 billion to fight AIDS around the world, with special focus on nations in Africa and the Caribbean. We are working with governments and private groups and faith based organizations to help with prevention and to provide much needed antiretroviral drugs for treatment. We are determined to turn the tide against AIDS in Africa. Recently, on my trip to Africa, I visited Goree Island in Senegal, where for centuries men and women were delivered and sorted and branded and shipped. It's a haunting place, a reminder of mankind's capacity for cruelty and injustice. Yet Goree Island is also a reminder of the strength of the human spirit and the capacity for good to overcome evil. The men and women who boarded slave ships on that island and wound up in America endured the separation of their families, the brutality of their oppressors, and the indifference of laws that regarded them only as articles of commerce. Still, the spirit of Africans in America did not break. All the generations of oppression under the laws of man could not crush the hope of freedom. And by a plan only known to providence, the stolen sons and daughters of Africa helped to awake the conscience of America. The very people traded into slavery helped to set America free. The moral vision of African Americans and of groups like the Urban League caused Americans to examine our hearts, to correct our Constitution, and to teach our children the dignity and equality of every person of every race. Our journey toward justice has not been easy, and it is not over. Yet I am confident that we will reach our destination. We have been called to great work in our time, and we will answer that call. We will defend our freedom, and we will lead the world toward peace. And we will unite America behind the great goals of opportunity for all and for compassion for those in need. I want to thank each of you for serving this cause in your own lives. May God bless your work, may God bless the Urban League, and may God continue to bless the United States of America. July 25, 2003 President Bush. Good day. I'm honored to welcome Prime Minister Abbas to the White House. It is such an honor to have you here, sir. Prime Minister Abbas. Thank you. President Bush. To break through old hatreds and barriers to peace, the Middle East needs leaders of vision and courage and a determination to serve the interest of their people. Mr. Abbas is the first Palestinian Prime Minister, and he is proving to be such a leader. We had a good meeting today about the way forward on the roadmap to Middle Eastern peace. Prime Minister Abbas and I share a common goal, peace in the Holy Land between two free and secure states, Palestine and Israel. Reaching this goal will require all sides to meet their responsibilities. We made a good progress last month at the Red Sea Summit in Aqaba. The Government of Israel recognized that Israel's own interests would be served when the Palestinians govern themselves in their own state, a peaceful, democratic state where the forces of terror have been replaced by the rule of law. Prime Minister Abbas committed to a complete end to violence and terrorism, and he recognized that terror against Israelis, wherever they might be, is a dangerous obstacle to the achievement of a Palestinian state. I committed to both sides that the United States will strive to see that promises are kept and monitor the parties' progress on this difficult journey. To meet the goal we have set, we must improve the daily lives of ordinary Palestinians. For just this purpose, I recently approved a grant of 20 million directly to the Palestinian Authority. Today I'm also pleased to announce that the United States and Palestinian Authority will establish a joint Palestine Economic Development Group. This group of American and Palestinian officials will meet regularly and be charged with finding practical ways to bring jobs and growth and investment to the Palestinian economy. In addition, I'm sending Treasury Secretary John Snow and Commerce Secretary Don Evans to the region early this fall. I'll ask them to report back to me on the steps we need to take to build a solid economic foundation for a free and sovereign Palestinian state. In our talks this morning, Prime Minister Abbas and I covered a range of issues. We discussed the impact on the Palestinian people of the limits on their freedom of movement and the need to reduce the network of checkpoints and barriers. Prime Minister Abbas shared his concerns about Israeli settlements, confiscation of land, and the building of a security fence. He also expressed his strong desire to see the release of many more Palestinian prisoners. We will continue to address these issues. We will address them carefully and seriously with Palestinian and Israeli officials. We will work to seek solutions. We've seen important progress towards peace over the last 13 months, and we see even more progress today, here in Washington and in the region as well. Today the Government of Israel announced that it will be taking down more of the checkpoints that are making it difficult for Palestinians to travel to their jobs and schools. In addition, Israel will consider ways to reduce the impact of the security fence on the lives of the Palestinian people. And Israel has helped has also pledged to transfer to the Palestinian Authority security responsibility for two additional cities in the West Bank and to make further progress in removing settlement outposts. Like Prime Minister Abbas, Prime Minister Sharon is demonstrating that he's a partner committed to reaching a peace settlement. I welcome these announcements from Israel, and I look forward to seeing Prime Minister Sharon on his visit to Washington next week. Together, these leaders can bring a bright future to both their people. This is the time of possibility in the Middle East. And the people of the region are counting on the leaders to seize opportunities for peace and progress. Too many years and lives have been squandered by resentment and violence. The Palestinian people, like people everywhere, deserve freedom. They deserve an honest government, and they deserve peace. I thank Prime Minister Abbas for his hard work. I thank him for his service to his people and for carrying their cause here to Washington, DC. Welcome, Mr. Prime Minister. Prime Minister Abbas. Thank you. Thank you very much. Mr. President, allow me to start by thanking you to your invitation and for the fruitful meeting we have just had and for the bilateral support we have received from you. We are particularly grateful for the 20 million of direct assistance to Palestinian Authority. And we hope that this assistance increases and is, in turn, in legislation. Allow me to also express my appreciation to you for your relentless efforts in pursuit of peace and your intensive engagement in resolving the conflict between us and the Israelis. Mr. President, we remain committed to the roadmap, and we are implementing our security and reform obligations. Security for all Palestinians and Israelis is an essential element in progress, and we will achieve security based on the rule of law. We have succeeded significantly where Israel, with its military might, has failed in reducing violence, and we will continue. Reform and institution building are an internal Palestinian priority. We do not merely seek a state, but we seek for a state that is built on the solid foundations of the modern constitution, democracy, transparency, the rule of law, and the market economy. We continue to negotiate with Israel on the implementation of its obligations. Some progress has been made, but movement needs to be made in terms of freeing prisoners, lifting the siege on President Arafat, Israeli withdrawal from Palestinian areas, and easing up freedom of movement to Palestinians. A transformation in the human conditions on the ground must occur. As you have said many times, Mr. President, attacks on the dignity of the Palestinians must end. Palestinians must be able to move, go to their jobs and schools, and conduct a normal life. Palestinians must not be afraid for their lives, property, or livelihood. Some steps have been taken by Israel so far, but these steps remain hesitant. The new era of peace requires the courageous logic of peace, not the suspicious logic of conflict. The outcome must correspond with your vision, Mr. President, achieving a peace that will end the occupation that started in 1967 the establishment of a sovereign, independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital and a just, agreed solution of the refugee question on the basis of the U.N. Resolution 194. This vision cannot be realized if Israel continues to grab Palestinian land. If the settlement activities in Palestinian land and construction of the so called "separation wall" on confiscated Palestinian land continue, we might soon find ourselves at a situation where the foundation of peace, a free Palestine state living side by side in peace and security in Israel, is a factual impossibility. Nothing less than a full settlement freeze will do, because nothing less than a full settlement freeze will work. For the sake of peace and for the sake of future Palestinian and Israeli generations, all settlement activities must be stopped now, and the wall must come down. Mr. President, in conclusion, allow me to thank you again for all your efforts, to reiterate our commitment to peace and security for all, and to express my hope for a solid, fruitful relations between our Governments and our peoples. Thank you. President Bush. Good job, Mr. Prime Minister. Prime Minister Abbas. Thank you very much. Q. Mr. President President Bush. Hold on for a second, please. We'll have two questions a side, alternating, starting first with Barry of AP Barry Schweid, Associated Press . Liberia Q. Thank you, Mr. President. On Liberia, if I may. President Bush. Liberia, yes. Q. How many U.S. troops will be going in? What is their role? How long might they stay? President Bush. As the statement says that we put out, that U.S. troops will be there to help ECOWAS go in and serve as peacekeepers, necessary to create the conditions so that humanitarian aid can go in and help the people in Liberia. We're deeply concerned that the condition of the Liberian people is getting worse and worse and worse. Aid can't get to the people. We're worried about the outbreak of disease. And so our commitment is to enable ECOWAS to go in, and the Pentagon will make it clear over time what that means. Secondly, it is very important for Charles Taylor to leave the country. Third, we want to in order to expedite aid and help, in order to make the conditions such that NGOs can do what they want to do, which is to help people from suffering, that the cease fire must be in place. And finally, we're working very closely with the United Nations. They will be responsible for developing a political solution, and they will be responsible for relieving the U.S. troops in short order. And so we're working all these pieces right now. But today I did order for our military in limited numbers to head into the area, to help prepare ECOWAS' arrival to relieve human suffering. Palestinian Prisoners Settlements War on Terror Q. Mr. President, how do you perceive the settlements as obstacle to your vision, to implementation of your vision? Thank you. President Bush. Yes Q. And to the Prime Minister President Bush. Okay, good, yes. This is the old two question trick. It's an international trick, I see. Laughter Very good job, yes. You learned from the guy to your left. Both of them from your left are pros at that too, I might add. Laughter Q. Various officials in the administration yesterday indicated that they are having difficulties understanding the Palestinian situation when it comes to the issue of prisoners. In your meeting today with the President, did you discuss that, and did any progress happen on the U.S. understanding? Prime Minister Abbas. We always raise this issue, that it is basically an important and sensitive issue for us. This is the issue of prisoners. We look at the prisoners as the true constituency for peace. And we have raised this issue. We believe that they will support the peace process. Today we did discuss this issue, and we see understanding coming from the administration about this humanitarian and fair issue. President Bush. As to the settlements, I've constantly spoken out for the need to end the settlements. I and we'll continue to work with both sides on this very sensitive issue. Let me make something let me say this this is necessary. It is necessary for this good man to continue to fight off the terrorist activity that creates the conditions of insecurity for not only Israel but for the peaceful Palestinian people. In order for us to be able to make progress on a lot of difficult issues, there has to be a firm and continued commitment to fight terror. One reason I'm willing to stand with the Prime Minister is because I believe that he has that commitment. He understands what I understand, that terrorists, every time, every place, will thwart the desires of those who want peace and freedom. And the commitment to fight terror and the results in fighting terror will make it a lot easier to deal with difficult issues, including the settlement issue. Steve Steve Holland . That would be Steve of Reuters. Palestinian Prisoners Israeli Security Fence Q. Would you like to see Israel release the political prisoners, and would you like to see them stop building this barrier wall? President Bush. I think first of all, on the wall. Let me talk about the wall. I think the wall is a problem, and I discussed this with Ariel Sharon. It is very difficult to develop confidence between the Palestinians and the Israel Israel with a wall snaking through the West Bank. And I will continue to discuss this issue very clearly with the Prime Minister. As I said in my statement today, he has issued a statement saying he is willing to come and discuss that with us. And I appreciate the willing to discuss it. On the prisoners, I think it's very important to have a frank discussion on the prisoners. We ought to look at the prisoner issue on a case by case basis. Surely nobody wants to let a coldblooded killer out of prison that would help derail the process. I mean, after all, it doesn't make any sense if you've got somebody who is bent upon destroying lives and killing people in prison to if you were to let him out, it would make it harder to achieve the peace we all want. And so I think it's very important to analyze the prisoner situation on a case by case basis. I fully understand the Prime Minister's desire. I fully understand his request. And I have and therefore, we'll talk to continue to talk to both sides on this issue. But I would never ask anybody in any society to let a prisoner out who would then commit terrorist actions. And I think that's logical and clear. And so but these are all difficult issues. By the way, we're discussing them now in a frank way, which is progress unto itself. These are issues where there had been no discussion before. And now we're putting them on the table, and we're making progress. And as people get more con fidence listen, I'm gaining confidence in the Palestinian Prime Minister and in his great cabinet. I had the Finance Minister in to discuss issues with me. He told me he would put the budget of the Palestinian Authority on the web page. And he did, which means he's a man of his word. The Security Chief, Dahlan, and I have had some discussions. He's a good, solid leader. And so I gain confidence in them, because they're people who do what they say. And the more confidence we gain, the more easy it's going to be to tackle these very difficult issues. Final question from the Palestinians. Terrorism and Resolution of Issues Q. Mr. President, Mr. President Q. Mr. President, Mr. President President Bush. Wait, wait, wait. It's best if we only have one question at a time. Q. Mr. President, do you think that Q. Do you think that President Bush. Ladies first. Prime Minister Abbas. Ladies first, okay. Laughter Q. When you speak to Palestinians, they're saying that the biggest problems they have now are the 160 Israel checkpoints that are suffocating the Palestinian community. Did you get any guarantees from Mr. President that he will pressure Israel in removing these checkpoints? And Mr. President, you said the settlements are an obstacle for peace. Will you pressure Israel to stop the settlement activity? When and how? President Bush. Well, let me start, and then you can end. Prime Minister Abbas. Please. President Bush. We'll let my guest end. I just told you that we brought this issue up. I've constantly spoken out about the end of settlements. I have done so consistently. It's very important for us to continue to earn the confidence of each other. And I'm going to tell you pointblank that we must make sure that any terrorist activity is rooted out in order for us to be able to deal with these big issues. Nobody is going to accept a situation in which they become less secure, whether it be the Palestinian people or the Israeli people. Security is the essential roadblock to achieving the roadmap to peace. And the reason I'm confident that we can achieve substantial progress and achieve the vision of two states living by side by side in peace is because I believe that the Prime Minister and his team is interested in routing out terror. And so to answer your question, the more progress there's made on terror, the more progress there will be made on difficult issues. Prime Minister Abbas. The issue of the checkpoints between various Palestinian towns and villages was one of the issues that basically was discussed with the President. As he mentioned, we discussed a wide variety of issues. We discussed issues of settlements, the issue of the wall, the issue of prisoners, and others, including the checkpoints. We feel that the President is paying attention to all these issues, and we believe that he will raise those issues with the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Sharon. President Bush. Thank you all very much. Q. We need three questions we're making a news conference. President Bush. Thank you very much. That's Bill Plante of CBS, an old veteran, constantly willing to express his opinion. Thank you for your opinion. July 24, 2003 The President. Thank you all very much. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. Thank you. I accept. Thank you for the warm welcome. I want to thank Betsy DeVos for her leadership and for her friendship and for her kind words. I appreciate all she's done for the children of this great State of Michigan. She's a fine soul, fine person. I want to thank you all for coming tonight. You see, you're laying the groundwork for what will be a great victory in November of 2004. I appreciate so very much your coming tonight. I want you to know that I'm going to count on you during the course of the election. I'm going to count on you to energize the grassroots, to talk to your neighbors, to put signs in the yard, to mail the letters, and to remind people that our message is one that is hopeful and optimistic for every citizen who lives in this country. I'm getting ready laughter and I'm loosening up. Laughter But the political season will come in its own time. Right now I'm focused on the people's business in Washington, DC. We have a lot on the agenda, and I will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of all America by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. My only regret tonight is that Laura is not with me. I know, you drew the short straw. Laughter She is a fabulous First Lady, a great wife, and I love her dearly. I want to thank all those who helped. I want to thank Michael Kojaian and the entire team who has put together this fantastic fundraiser. I appreciate so very much my very close friend Mercer Reynolds, who is the national finance chairman for this campaign. I want to thank Terri Lynn Land, who is the secretary of state, and Michael Cox, the State attorney general, for being here tonight. I particularly want to thank Eric Childress, the student from the Cornerstone School. I visited the Cornerstone in May of 2000. I saw the good works of the teachers there and the administrators, all the hard work that goes to prepare the students for success in high school and beyond. I appreciate so very much the high standards set in that school. And I want to thank Eric for coming. But most of all, I want to thank you all for your friendship and your support. It means an awful lot. You know, in the last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away, and we are meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many key leaders of Al Qaida, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people 50 million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. We increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. Then the attacks on our country came. We had scandals in corporate America and war all affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed up new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, we have twice led the Congress in to pass historic tax relief on behalf of the American people. We know this, that when people have more money in their pockets, when they have more take home pay to spend, to save, or to invest, the whole economy grows and people are more likely to find a job. I understand whose money we spend in Washington, DC. It is not the Government's money. It is the people's money. We're returning more money to people to help them raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, we're laying the foundations for greater prosperity and more jobs across America, so that every single person in this country has a chance to realize the great American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I called for and Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reform in a generation. We bring high standards and strong accountability measures to every public school in America. We believe that every child can learn the basics of reading and math, and we expect every school to teach the basics of reading and math. We are challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse making are over. We expect results in every single classroom across America, so that not one single child is left behind. We reorganized the Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to safeguard our borders and ports and to protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for America's entrepreneurs and manufacturers and farmers and ranchers. We passed a budget agreement that is helping to maintain much needed spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. The United States Congress has shared in these great achievements. I appreciate the leadership of Speaker Hastert and Leader Frist. I will continue to work with Members of the Congress to change the tone in Washington, DC, by focusing on the people's business and by focusing on results. That's the kind of person I've attracted to my administration. I have put together a fantastic team of great Americans to serve the American people. We have had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a different opinion. Laughter In 2 1 2 years, we have come far, but our work is only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of this great Nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace, not only for our own security but for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion, so that every citizen has a chance to work and succeed and to realize the promise of our country. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depends on the actions of America. The Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. Yet our national interest involves more than eliminating aggressive threats to our security. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And we believe that freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world. And when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. This great land is leading the world in the incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges at home, and our actions prove that we are equal to those challenges. I will continue to work on our economy until everybody who wants to work and who cannot find a job today will be able to find a job. We have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. Recently, the Congress took historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and the Senate have passed reforms to increase the choices for our seniors and to provide coverage for prescription drugs. It is now time for both Houses to come together and to get a good bill to my desk as soon as possible. For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. Yet the system should not reward lawyers who are fishing for rich settlements. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, they affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national response. No one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. I have a responsibility as President to make sure the judicial system runs well. And I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Yet some Members of the United States Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Here in Michigan, for example, I have nominated four outstanding individuals to serve on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Yet all four have been waiting more than a year for a vote. These kinds of delays create judicial vacancies that harm our legal system. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some of the Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The Congress needs to pass a comprehensive energy plan. Our Nation must promote energy efficiency and conservation and develop cleaner technologies to help us explore for more energy in an environmentally friendly way. Yet, for the sake of our economic security and for the sake of our national security, we must be less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, applying the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. There's still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so more Americans can serve their communities and their country. And both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring our children, that are caring for the homeless, and that are offering hope to the addicted. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more citizens owning their own home. We want our citizens owning and controlling their health care plans. We want our citizens owning and controlling their retirement plans. We want more people to own their own small business, because I understand that when people own something, they own a stake in the future of this great country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make. We're changing the culture of America from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else" laughter to a culture in which each of us understands that we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mother or a father, you're responsible for loving your child. If you are concerned about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in America, you have the responsibility to tell the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in the new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. We can see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us. I started the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need, and the response has been great. I also know that our faith based programs and our charities are strong and vibrant all across America. We have neighborhood healers who are performing miracles on a daily basis by helping people change their hearts and their lives. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I have been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift up whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for our country and for our cause, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. Thank you all. July 24, 2003 Thank you all. Please be seated. Thank you all very much for allowing us to come. John, thanks for your leadership. He's doing a fabulous job as the Secretary of Treasury, and I'm so glad he decided to join my administration. I want to thank you for the warm welcome, and I want to thank you all for helping us keep a commitment to the American people. We promised tax reductions for the good of American families and for the good of our economy. And we delivered on that promise. And soon the mail carrier will be delivering the checks that we promised to the American people. Twelve billion dollars in tax relief is on its way to more than 25 million American families. And this is an appropriate place to come and talk about checks being mailed to American families, here at the Financial Management Service. The reason why is because here and at other facilities, these checks are being printed, and the checks will be mailed. And I want to thank you all very much for working as hard as you are to make sure that the promise that the Government has made is being kept. I know a lot of you are putting in weekend shifts. I know a lot of you are working really hard. And I am grateful, but more importantly, the American people should be grateful for the work you do right here. Thank on behalf of applause . I have traveled today with two really fine men and great United States Senators, Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum. I want to thank you all for coming. I want to thank you for I want to thank Mike Colarusso and Bob Mange for leading this fine group of folks. Thank you all for your hospitality. I want to thank those good workers who allowed me and the press corps to come and see you doing your job. It's not easy to do your job with a distraction, and I must confess that sometimes the Presidential entourage can be distracting. Laughter But we want to thank you all for your hospitality and, most of all, thank you for being such great Americans and working so hard on behalf of the American people. Today when I landed in Philadelphia, I met a lady named Valerie Christy. She's what we call USA there's Valerie, right there. I'm sure you don't know who Valerie is, but you're about to, because Valerie is a person who has taken time out of her life to make somebody else's life better. She is a volunteer. One of the things she's done is she has participated in the Philadelphia Cares Day, which helps to paint and repair public schools in Philadelphia. She also volunteers twice a month in what they call Partners in Technology to help seniors and other special needs residents learn to use the technological change learn to adapt to the technological changes of our society. In other words, and the reason I bring this up is, much has been made about the great strength and might of America, and we are strong, and we are mighty, and we'll remain that way. But the true strength of our country is the heart and soul of our citizens, and Valerie represents that. She represents those who have heard the call to love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. And the reason I bring this up is I want to continue to remind our fellow citizens that the way to change America for the better, and the way to make sure the great promise of our country exists for every single citizen, is that when we see somebody in need, we must act. If you're worried about children not being able to read, mentor a child. If you have a shut in in your neighborhood who is lonely, provide comfort and love to that person. See, each of us can make a difference in America. America changes one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. And each of us must be that some person trying to help make that change when we find somebody who hurts. Valerie, thank you for the example you set for our fellow citizens. You know, this country has faced a lot of challenges in the past few years. And I believe those challenges have brought out the best in America. On September the 11th, 2001, a date I will not forget so long as I'm on this Earth, America's enemies declared war on this country. That's what happened on that day. It was a declaration of war by people who hate what America stands for, and war is what they got. We are dismantling the Al Qaida network leader by leader. We are finding these killers one by one, and they will be brought to justice. We also acted in decisive ways to uphold doctrine. One of the doctrines said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist." And so in Afghanistan, we recognized that there was a cruel and oppressive regime that had turned a nation into training camps. And so we removed that regime, and the people of Afghanistan are free. In Iraq, a dictator was arming to threaten the peace, and he defied the demands of the world. He didn't defy just the demands of the United States he defied the demands of the United Nations Security Council, not once but many times. And so for peace and for the security of the free world, we removed that regime, and the Iraqi people are now free. Our military is still facing danger from elements of the fallen regime and other extremists. These folks hate the thought of Iraq being free. And we're finding those people, and we're bringing them to justice. Two days ago in the city of Mosul, the careers of two of the regime's chief henchmen came to an end. Saddam Hussein's sons were responsible for torture, for maiming innocent citizens, and for the murder of countless Iraqis. And now, more than ever, the Iraqis can know that the former regime is gone and is not coming back. Our people in uniform, our brave soldiers, are doing essential work in the war on terror. What they're doing in Iraq is an integral part on winning the war on terror. You see, a free and democratic and peaceful Iraq will not threaten America or our friends with illegal weapons. A free Iraq will not provide weapons to terrorists or money to terrorists who threaten the American people. A free Iraq will not destabilize the Middle East. A free Iraq can set a hopeful example for the entire region. And so the pursuits of freedom and as the pursuits of freedom replace hatred and terror in the Middle East, America and our friends will be more secure. Our Nation is incredibly grateful for the men and women who defend us, for the men and women who serve the cause of peace and security, and we are incredibly proud of those who wear our Nation's uniform. We have risen to challenges abroad, and we are rising to challenges at home as well. When I took office, when my administration came into office, the stock market had been falling for months and the economy was sliding into recession. And so we acted, and we passed tax relief, which made the recession one of the most shallow in history. We found that we had some of our corporate executives we found they weren't telling the truth. Laughter They were being dishonest, not only to their shareholders but their employees, and we acted. We'll punish those who violate the law, and we're working together with Congress and we worked together with Congress, and I signed the most historic corporate's governors reforms in a long period of time. Last year, we saw that our economy was still not growing fast enough or creating jobs we need. So we acted. We passed meaningful, real tax relief. We expanded the child credit from 600 to 1,000 per child. We made that change retroactive to January 1st of this year, which is why the checks are going out of this facility soon. In other words, we said, "If we've got a problem, let's get the money to the people as quickly as possible." In the Jobs and Growth Act that was the tax relief act all aimed at increasing the capacity for our fellow citizens to find work. We brought down the marriage penalty. You see, we believe we ought to encourage marriage, not discourage marriage in the Tax Code. We reduced all tax rates so our fellow citizens have got more take home pay. That's good for the economy when people have more take home pay. You see, by cutting individual tax relief, we passed tax relief as well for millions of small businesses, because most small businesses are what they call a sole proprietorship or Sub chapter S, which means they pay taxes at the individual income tax rates. So in other words, the tax relief not only helped our families and our citizens, but it also helped the small business sector of our economy. And the benefits for this tax relief will be spread throughout all the economy. That's what's important for people to know it's widespread benefits. You see, because when people have more of their own money, more money in their pocket, they will demand a good or a service. And when somebody demands a good or a service in our system, somebody will produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or a service, it means it's much more likely, as demand increases, that somebody will be able to find a job. And that's what we're interested in. We're interested in creating jobs so our fellow citizens can find work. More than a million Pennsylvania families will benefit from the increased child tax credit. And earlier I had a chance to talk with some of the families who have joined us today. See, I think it's very important for our fellow citizens to understand, we're not just talking theory. When people get checks, it changes it helps them with their lives. The Lonabergers are with us. Barry says he wants to start saving more for his retirement and for the college education of his two sons, Kyle and Brandon, who are with us today. Where's Kyle? There they are, back there. He will get 800 soon, because of the increased child credit. His tax burden will drop by be cut by 29 percent because of the tax relief. He so what does Barry say? He said, "Look, I'm interested in saving for my kids." He also said, "This extra money will help on a summer vacation." And he wants to renovate the kitchen in his home. So and he told me he's going on a vacation. See, that makes it more likely that somebody is going to find a job at the motel in the place where he's going. Laughter And I'm sure he's going to eat when he gets there. So he'll take some of the money, and he'll buy food. And that's good for the person who owns the restaurant and for the people that serve the food or cook the food. And when he renovates his kitchen, he's going to have to buy some equipment to help renovate it, which means somebody is going to have to manufacture the equipment that he buys to help renovate his or the paint, for that matter. In other words, it has an effect throughout our economy. Increasing the child credit helps Barry. But it also is going to help those who deliver the goods and services that he now demands as a result of having extra money in his pocket. Brian Peffley is here today. Brian and his wife, Heather, have three sons, Caleb, Joshua, Noah. And they have got to make sacrifices. Every family makes sacrifices. And one of the things he wants to do is to obviously have more money for back to school expenses. People are beginning to think about what it means to send their child back to school. One of the sacrifices he was going to make in order to make sure he could he and his family could purchase back to school expenses was he was going to delay taking a course he needed to get his bachelor's degree. And so what this means is, when he gets his check for 1,200, it will mean that he now can do both. And that's important. First of all, purchasing school supplies means the school supply manufacturer or school supply salesman has got a little extra business. But also, one of the things that's important in our workforce is for people to continually upgrade their education, so that they can be more productive and find a better job that pays better pay. One of the things we want to encourage is additional education, and I appreciate the fact that Brian wants to go back to school. Here's what he said. He said, "This tax relief has eased the burden on us, and it will continue to allow us to achieve our goals and dreams." And that's what we want. We want people to have dreams in America and make it easier for them to realize their dreams. Jeanette Luna is with us today. She, by the way, has the hardest job in America. She is a single mom. Adley is with us today. Eric is not here. But she earns a modest salary, and thanks to the tax relief, her refund will go from 600 to more than 1,100. And that will help pay for the school supplies. She's made the decision to send her child to a Catholic school, and that will help with tuition payments, which is important. It will help her buy clothes. One of the things that's important is that tax relief helps people from all walks of life. And one of the things I've asked Congress to do, by the way, is to help low income families like Jeanette's by making more of the child credit refundable. The benefits of the Jobs and Growth Act should be as broad as possible, should be widespread throughout our society. The House and the Senate have passed different versions of extending the child credit. They've got to resolve their differences and get it to my desk as quickly as possible, so people can get additional help. Now, as John mentioned, the benefits of tax relief are positive. Economists a lot of economists expect growth to pick up over the next 18 months. In other words, we've overcome a lot, and we've laid the foundation for growth. And I'll tell you why they believe that. First of all, home sales are rising, and that's positive. We want, by the way, more people owning their own home. That's one of a grand objective for our economy. We've got a downpayment plan to help people do that. We're trying to simplify the contracts so people don't get discouraged by the fine print. But the best thing that's happening is, is that low mortgage rates have encouraged people to buy a home. And when you couple that with rising after tax incomes, that's a positive foundation for home growth. The other thing is people have refinanced their homes. In other words, lower mortgages mean that you can refinance and put a little extra money in your pocket for savings or needed purchases. Inflation is low, and that's positive. That's part of the foundation for economic vitality. Retail sales are rising, and that's good. Productivity amongst our workers is the highest it's been in a long while, and that's positive. We're a more productive society. Investors are showing more confidence. The stock market seems to be trending upwards. That's a positive sign. Since we're an ownership society, more and more people have got different retirement plans, and they count on the markets as part of their assets for retirement. We've reduced taxes on stock dividends, and now companies have announced plans to increase their dividend payout. And some companies are going to pay dividends for the first time. And that's positive for our economy because billions of dollars in cash will now go directly to shareholders and back into the economy. And so we're making progress. The other thing we've done is, as I mentioned, small businesses get relief from tax relief, which is vital. And what's really important for to invigorate small business growth is, most new jobs are created by small businesses in America, and therefore, it makes sense to have a policy that enhances the entrepreneurial spirit of America. And so we did not only reduce taxes, but we also allowed for certain expensing of new equipment to encourage people to purchase new equipment. In other words, if there's an incentive for some small business to purchase a new piece of equipment, and they do, somebody's got to make the equipment. And when somebody makes the equipment, it is all part of making sure that there's job stability and job growth throughout our economy. And so we've there are hopeful signs, good progress. But there is more to do. And one of the things we've got to do is to make sure that you know, we've got lawsuit reform. Listen, businesses are fighting a lot of frivolous litigation, and it's costly to our economy. And the House has taken up the reform of class action the class action system, and the Senate has not. In my judgment, in order to enhance economic vitality, the Senate must act on fair and balanced tort reform legislation, starting with class action lawsuits. We need a comprehensive energy bill. We've got to have a policy, a comprehensive energy policy if we want our economy to grow. I'm concerned about the costs of natural gas. The demand is strong for natural gas, and supplies are not as plentiful for natural gas, which means there's price pressure. The House has acted on this important piece of legislation the Senate hasn't. We need an energy bill that promotes conservation, that applies new and cleaner technologies, but one that improves national security by making us less dependent on foreign sources of energy. We need to expand trade so our farmers and ranchers and manufacturers have got new markets. Listen, if you're good at something, you want to be able to sell what you're good at all around the world. And we're really good at a lot of things, and we ought to be encouraging markets to open up for United States products. That's important for job creation. The other thing is that as we create new job opportunities, we've got to help the people be prepared to fill those job vacancies. And so I proposed what we call reemployment accounts. It gives Americans a chance, particularly those who are having the greatest difficulty finding work, to realize their dream of work. People get 3,000 to use in their job search. Now, that 3,000 should be used according to the needs of the people, not according to what the Government thinks the needs are. So if a person needs child care, they ought to be able to use that money. If a person needs transportation, they ought to be able to use that money. If a person needs extra training, they ought to be able to use that money. If a person finds a job in another part of the State, they ought to be able to use that money to help them move. In other words, this is focus money, called reemployment accounts, to help people get ahead. If we want to expand this economy, we've got to recognize that some people need training and help to enter in that workforce. And the other thing I said, if a worker believes a worker can find work within 13 weeks, and there's still money left over of the 3,000, they can put it in their pocket as a reemployment bonus. Congress needs to look at this idea, need to act. They've got to understand that as we expand the economy, some of our citizens need some focus and some help. And one of the things you hear talk about is the deficit, and we've got a deficit. We've got a deficit because revenues to the Treasury have dropped as a result of recession. And we've got a deficit as well because I'm spending the money necessary to win the war. My attitude is, when we put our troops in harm's way, they deserve the best. When we've got people overseas defending us applause . I also firmly believe that as the economy I know as the economy grows, there's going to be more revenue coming into the Treasury. And the tax relief, as I've described to you, will help the economy grow. The best, surest way to make sure we deal with the deficit is to make sure we don't overspend in Washington, is we have a reasonable increase in discretionary spending. And I proposed Congress stay within a 4 percent increase of discretionary spending. It's about the same amount that the average American household budget will increase this year. It seems to make sense to me. If it's good enough for American families, it ought to be good enough for the appetite of the Congress. The good news is they voted for that number, and now we expect them to hold the line. And I believe with economic growth and spending discipline, we can cut the deficit in half over the next 5 years, and that's progress. What I hope you come away with is that I believe in the future of this Nation, and I believe the economy is strengthening, is going to be strong, because I know the character of the American people. In 22 months think about this in 22 months, our Nation has been tested by a national emergency, by corporate scandals, by a recession, and by war. And time after time, this country has responded effectively to each challenge we've faced. Time after time, we have shown firm resolve and unshakable faith in our country. And the basis of the Jobs and Growth Act, the kind of fundamental principle of the Jobs and Growth Act, is that I've got faith in the American people, in the strength and the enterprise and the creativity of the American people. And I believe with hard work and determination, this economy is going to be strong. We're headed in the right direction. Better days are ahead for our citizens. Listen, thank you for letting me come. May God bless. Thank you all. July 24, 2003 Thank you for the warm welcome. Thanks for letting me come by to say hello. First, let me just say I appreciate the hard working folks here at Beaver Aerospace for making sure that Air Force One functions properly. Laughter Otherwise, it might have been a long flight. Laughter I appreciate what you do for America's defense. I appreciate your hard work. I appreciate your talent. I appreciate you helping make this country strong. I want to thank Bill Phillips and his family for inviting me. You know, one of the great things about America is the entrepreneurial spirit of our country, and Mr. Phillips is an entrepreneur. And one of the things we've got to do in America is keep that entrepreneurial spirit alive and well. And Mr. Phillips knows what I know You can be an entrepreneur, but without good workers, good, dedicated, hard working people willing to run the machines and show up on time and work hard, the entrepreneurial spirit is kind of empty. And so, first of all, I want to not only thank the Phillips folks, I want to thank the people who work here in this facility. Thanks for making America go. And I am interested in making sure every one of our fellow citizens who wants to work can find a job, and that's what I want to talk about today. I want to talk about how to make sure this economy is strong and vibrant so our citizens can work and families can be hopeful for the future. First, I want to thank the Secretary of Commerce, Don Evans, my long time friend. I appreciate his service. He's part of my economic team that is staying focused on economic vitality and growth. I appreciate so very much Jack Kirksey. He's the mayor here. Mr. Mayor, you've got a tougher job than I do. Laughter You've got to empty the garbage and fill the potholes. Laughter I appreciate the State attorney general, Mike Cox, for joining us today. He's right here from Livonia. I want to thank members of the legislative body, Senator Laura Toy and John Pastor, who have joined us today. I want to thank the chief of police, who's with us. I want to thank the president of the city council that's with us. I want to thank you all for coming. We've got quite a distinguished group. I want to share the name of one person you've probably never heard of. It's a fellow I just met when I landed at the airport, and his name is Walter Piper. Walter is right there. Walter has been an active member of what they call SCORE, which is Service Corps of Retired Executives. That should tell you two things or three things about Walter One, he is retired laughter two, he was an executive, and three, he is in service. And what he has done is he's decided to provide counsel and advice to people who want to start their own small business. He is volunteering his time to try to make the community in which he lives a better place. The reason I bring that up is there's a lot made about how strong we are militarily. And we are strong militarily, and we will remain strong militarily. But the true strength of America is found in the hearts and souls of our fellow citizens. The true strength of our country is found in those hearts and souls that have heard the universal call to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. No, the strength of our country is the compassion of our fellow citizens, people like Walter who are willing to dedicate their time and talents to make somebody else's life better. My call to you is when you see a neighbor in need, when you see somebody who's hurt, don't turn your back but love them just like you'd like to be loved yourself. This country of ours has faced many challenges over the last couple of years, and I believe those challenges have brought out the best in America. Terrorists declared war on us. On September the 11th, a date we will not forget, people who hated our country, hate it for what we stand for, hated the fact that we love freedom, declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We are hunting down the killers one at a time. We are slowly but surely dismantling the Al Qaida network, and we will continue to find them and to bring them to justice. We owe that to this generation of Americans and future generations to come. In Afghanistan, a cruel regime, a brutal regime, had turned that country into a training camp for terrorists. I declared as clearly as I could, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists." So we removed the Taliban from power and freed people from the clutches of a barbaric regime. In Iraq, a brutal dictator was arming to threaten the peace. This brutal dictator defied the demands of the free world. For years, he thumbed his nose at the United Nations Security Council, time and time again. We gave him plenty of time to disclose and disarm. He chose defiance, and the regime of Saddam Hussein is no more. Our brave troops still face danger in Iraq because there are people there who hate the thought of a free society. They can't stand freedom, and they're dangerous. But we're finding these terrorists as well, and we're bringing them to justice. As you know, earlier this week, two of the favorite henchmen of Saddam Hussein were brought to justice. They were discovered, and their violent careers ended in justice. These two sons of Saddam Hussein were responsible for hundreds and hundreds of people being tortured and maimed and murdered. And now the Iraqi people have seen clearly the intent of the United States to make sure that they are free and to make sure that the Saddam regime never returns again to Iraq. Our brave men and women serving to free make sure Iraq is free are serving as well in the war on terror. A free and democratic and peaceful Iraq will not threaten America and our friends with illegal weapons. A free Iraq will not provide harbor and money to terrorist organizations which would like to hurt America. A free Iraq will not destabilize the Middle East. A free Iraq can set a hopeful example for the entire region. And as the pursuits of freedom replace hatred and resentment and terror in the Middle East, the American people will be more secure, and the world will be more peaceful. We owe a significant debt of gratitude to the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States of America. Our Nation has responded to challenges here at home as well. Think about what we've been through. As I was showing up into office, the stock market had been falling for nearly a year, and the country was headed into recession. And then after the recession came the attacks of September the 11th, a significant attack on our homeland. It caused the economy to sputter. It significantly affected our capacity to generate jobs. And then we found out that some of our fellow citizens forgot what it means to assume responsibility. They didn't tell the truth. Corporate CEOs around this country didn't tell the truth to their shareholders and their employees, and that shook the confidence of America. And then, of course, the drumbeat of war shook the began to affect the ability for this economy to grow strong. We've overcome a lot because we acted. First and foremost, in 2001, I worked with Congress to pass tax relief, and history will show that the recession we're in is one of the shallowest recessions our country has had. We passed tough laws that say to a corporate criminal, if you lie, cheat, or steal, you will be held to account. Last year, when it looked like the economy was still sputtering and wasn't strong enough, when we realized too many Americans were still struggling to find work and too many families were having trouble meeting their monthly bills or saving for their child's education, we acted again, and I convinced the Congress to pass the Jobs and Growth Act. And that's a significant development in terms of economic vitality, because the more money people have in their pockets, the more they will demand a good or a service. And when somebody demands a good or a service, in this economy of ours, somebody will produce a good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or a service, it means somebody is more likely to find work. The jobs and growth plan came at the exact right time in our history. Part of that jobs and growth plan is to increase the child credit from 600 to 1,000 per child. But I thought it was necessary to act quickly, so I asked Congress to make it retroactive to January 1st of this year, and they agreed. Today I went to Philadelphia. I saw firsthand the checks that are being printed, that are fixing to be sent to the people who have got children who qualify for the child credit. That is, 13 billion is going out the door to be in the pockets of our fellow citizens 13 billion for more money for people to save or to spend but to do with it which you want to do with it. After all, we're talking about your money, not the Government's money. Part of the Jobs and Growth Act continue to bring down the marriage penalty. Seems like to me that the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not discourage marriage. I don't know why you want to penalize marriage. But part of the Jobs and Growth Act also reduced the overall tax rates people pay. It cut the individual tax rates across the board. You're going to have more money in your pocket. That's what we want. That's part of the economic jobs and growth plan. The interesting thing about reducing taxes as well, it helped a lot of small businesses. And the cornerstone of any good jobs plan is to encourage small business growth. A lot of small businesses pay tax at the individual tax rate. They're Sub chapter S's, or they're what they call sole proprietorships. And so when you hear us talking about rate reduction, I also want you to think about your neighbor who is a small business owner. And their taxes are going down, and that will have a positive effect on economic vitality and growth. We also changed the policy on taxes on dividends and capital gains. And let me talk about what that means. It means many companies have now decided to pay a dividend to the people who own the company, the thousands of shareholders all across our country. Many others have increased their dividend. And as a result, there are billions of dollars of cash now going into the economy, to the people, to the shareholders, large and small, and that will encourage savings and investment and spending. Now, let me talk about the jobs act in terms of small business. Not only will it affect small businesses by reducing the income taxes on small businesses, we allowed small businesses to deduct more money up front when they buy new equipment. And that's important. We want people to buy more equipment. You know why? Because somebody has got to make the equipment. When there's an incentive for small businesses across the country to buy a new piece of machinery to make their business more productive, it means somebody has got to make that machine. And when somebody makes that machine, it means somebody is going to be working, making the machine. Here at Beaver, you're going to save about 70,000 on taxes, and that means more money that goes into research to develop new products. And that's important. If I were a worker here, I'd want to be on the cutting edge of new products. I'd want the people who run this company being thinking about how best can I use my talent and my skills to build a new product to stay competitive. As Bill Phillips said, "It gives us the money to do some research." But he also said, "It gives us some money to build new products." He's already hired 14 workers this year. He says to me, the tax relief will enable him to hire 10 more workers. That's 10 more people working. There are small businesses see, we're not talking about just this company here. There are companies all across the country like this company. And if you have 10 hired here and 10 hired there and 10 hired over there, and all of a sudden those 10 start adding up and our fellow citizens are getting back to work. And that's what we're here to talk about, how to get Americans back to work. Mike Gendich is here with us. I had a chance to visit with Mike. He owns a company called Metalmite. He makes parts for Beaver Aerospace. He had a backlog of orders of only 2 1 2 weeks over the past 3 years. His orders are picking up. That's a good sign. See, when the small business guy's orders begin to pick up, he begins to get a little confidence, a little bounce in his step. And the backlog is now 2 1 2 months. He's added three workers in the last 2 months. And now, with 22,000 of tax relief, he's decided he can afford a vertical milling machine to keep those three workers busy, to make sure they're more productive. But somebody has got to build that vertical milling machine. And so there's some person out there whose job is more secure, or perhaps a new job, thanks to the fact that Mike is taking advantage of the tax relief. And that's what's important for our fellow citizens to know. There's a ripple effect throughout our economy. And as people make decisions, whether you're a consumer or whether you're a small business owner trying to buy a machine, it affects economic vitality and growth. It affects more than just one life. And that's the whole purpose of the tax plan, was to have a ripple effect throughout the economy that's positive and far reaching. Nevin Groce is with us. He's from Grand Rapids. He owns L G Industrial Products. He said times are a little slow. But all of a sudden, he's beginning to see action being taken, and he sees a better future for his company. He's going to save 20,000 under the 2003 tax relief act. He says that what he's thinking about doing is buying a large industrial saw. In other words, here's a guy whose business isn't quite the way he wants it to be, but he's getting optimistic because he's got a little more money in his pocket more than a little money, 20,000, which is a lot of money for a small business. And so he's thinking positively. He's thinking about making new investments. Dennis Orlewicz is here. He's a small business owner, Magnum Manufacturing. He's an S corp. That means he pays taxes at the individual income tax rate. We've reduced the taxes on his business by 3,500. It will save him 8,000 individually and then 8,000 in his business, excuse me. He's thinking about buying a 250,000 machine. His quote is, "Tax relief makes investment more enticing." Here's what I'm telling you. We've got to focus on small businesses, first and foremost. Most new jobs in America are created by entrepreneurs and small business people. The plan I'm describing to you creates incentive for people to make investments to make their small business more competitive, to make their workers more productive. And when they make investment, it helps somebody else who has to make the machine in the first place. The jobs and growth bill is important for economic vitality in America. I want to make sure the jobs and growth bill extend to all our citizens. The child credit must be given to low income Americans as well. They passed a bill in the Senate. They passed a bill in the House. They need to get the differences resolved and to my desk. I want the benefits of tax relief all across the spectrum of our society. Economists were saying this economy is picking up. They're feeling positive about America and its economic future. They know what I know We've been through a lot, and we're strong. Interest rates are down. That makes it easier for a person to buy their house. If you got your house and interest rates are down, it means it makes it profitable to refinance your house, put a little extra money in your pocket. Inflation is low, which is positive. Productivity is up. No, signs after sign after sign says we're poised for growth so people can find work. But there is more to do. I want to share some other thoughts with you. First, we need an energy policy in America. We need a policy that recognizes we can do a better job of conservation, that we can do a better job of developing technologies that will enable us to develop energy sources in a cleaner way. But I'm worried about natural gas. See, the demand for natural gas is going up but the supply isn't, which means it's going to start affecting people's pocketbooks. We've got to do something about that. We need an energy plan. We need to be less dependent on foreign sources of energy. The House passed a bill the Senate is stuck in the Senate. They need to get moving and get a bill to my desk. We need to make sure that we have diminish the number of frivolous lawsuits in our society pushing hard for class action reform. The House passed a bill. The Senate has got to act. It's junk lawsuits that are affecting the cost of your health care. Listen, if you got hurt by a bad doc, you've got to have your day in court. But what we don't need is lawyers fishing for a rich settlement all across the country, which means you're either driving up the cost of health care or you're driving the docs out of business. One of the things we ought to make sure in America is health care is affordable and accessible. When you're good at something, you ought to make the environment such that you can move product. If you're good at manufacturing, you want to sell it all around the world. If you're good at growing crops, we want to be able to sell our crops around the world. If you're good at growing cows, we ought to be selling our cows around the world. One way to make sure that we can increase jobs is to get some of these countries to open up their markets to United States' products. We're competitive. We've got the best workers in the world. Well, these are some of the things we can do to make sure this economy grows. I'm interested in helping people find work. I want it so that everybody in America who wants to work and can't find a job today can work. I also know that we've got to help people who are trying to find work. Sometimes technology races ahead of the workforce. Sometimes people can't find work, even though they want to. So what I proposed to the Congress is they create what they call unemployment accounts for people that are seeking jobs that are hard to find a job. This basically says that you get 3,000 to help yourself find a to help find a job. If you need and you can use the money the way you see fit. For example, if you need child care, it will help you pay for the child care or if you need extra job training or if you need to move to a community in which there's a job. And part of the incentive in there is that if you can find a job within 13 months, you get to keep the balance of the money from what you've spent to help yourself find a job and the 3,000 as a reemployment bonus. We've got to help our workers be ready to work and find work. Now, I know you've heard talk about the deficit in Washington, DC. Yes, we've got a deficit. We've got a deficit for a couple of reasons. The main reason is, is that when you're in a recession, less money is coming into the Treasury. When the economy slows down, there's less tax revenue coming into the U.S. Treasury, and we've been going through slow economic times. Another reason we've got a deficit, because I asked Congress to spend enough money to make sure our troops had the best equipment necessary to fight and win war. Any time this Nation puts one of our youngsters into harm's way, we'd better and we will make sure they get the best training, the best equipment, the best possible support. And so we got a deficit. But I've got a plan to cut the deficit in half over the next 5 years. It starts with making sure this economy grows. First thing you want to do in trimming the deficit is to make sure you get more revenues into the Treasury. The best way to get more revenues in the Treasury is not raise taxes, slowing down the economy it's cut taxes to create more economic growth. That's how you get more money into the U.S. Treasury. And the other way is you make sure Washington doesn't overspend, that there be fiscal discipline. I got the Congress to support a 4 percent increase in discretionary spending. That's about the size of the average household budget will increase this year. If it's good enough for the households in America, it ought to be good enough for the House of Representatives. They agreed to the budget of a 4 percent increase in discretionary spending, and now we intend to make them hold them to their word. There's going to be budget discipline in Washington. That's how you deal with the deficit. The main my main focus is making sure our citizens can find a job, and I believe it's going to happen. See, I believe in the future of the country in all aspects because I know the character of our people. This country has been through emergencies and scandals and war and recession, and we have responded. We're a strong country because we're full of strong people. We've got people of character. We've got determined people. We've got people who understand values. We've got people who understand service to something greater than yourself. This is a fabulous land, and I am so honored to be the President of the greatest country on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming. Thank you for giving me a chance. May God bless. Thank you all. July 23, 2003 It is my pleasure to welcome Ambassador Paul Bremer back to the White House. I'm also pleased to be joined by Secretary Rumsfeld and General Myers. Thank you all for coming. Ambassador Bremer is doing a fine job in an essential cause. The nations in our coalition are determined to help the Iraqi people recover from years of tyranny. And we are determined to help build a free and sovereign and democratic nation. The coalition provisional authority, led by Ambassador Bremer, has a comprehensive strategy to move Iraq toward a future that is secure and prosperous. We are carrying out that strategy for the good of Iraq, for the peace of the region, and for the security of the United States and our friends. Saddam Hussein's regime spent more than three decades oppressing Iraq's people, attacking Iraq's neighbors, and threatening the world's peace. The regime tortured at home, promoted terror abroad, and armed in secret. Now, with the regime of Saddam Hussein gone forever, a few remaining holdouts are trying to prevent the advance of order and freedom. They are targeting our success in rebuilding Iraq they're killing new police graduates they're shooting at people that are guarding the universities and powerplants and oil facilities. These killers are the enemies of Iraq's people. They operate mainly in a few areas of the country. And wherever they operate, they are being hunted, and they will be defeated. Our military forces are on the offensive. They're working with the newly free Iraqi people to destroy the remnants of the old regime and their terrorist allies. Yesterday, in the city of Mosul, the careers of two of the regime's chief henchmen came to an end. Saddam Hussein's sons were responsible for torture, maiming, and murder of countless Iraqis. Now more than ever, all Iraqis can know that the former regime is gone and will not be coming back. As our work continues, we know that our coalition forces are serving under difficult circumstances. Our Nation will give those who wear its uniform all the tools and support they need to complete their mission. We are eternally grateful for the bravery of our troops, for their sacrifice, and for the sacrifices of their families. The families of our service men and women can take comfort in knowing that their sons and daughters and moms and dads are serving a cause that is noble and just and vital to the security of the United States. A free, democratic, peaceful Iraq will not threaten America or our friends with illegal weapons. A free Iraq will not be a training ground for terrorists or a funnel of money to terrorists or provide weapons to terrorists who would willingly use them to strike our country or our allies. A free Iraq will not destabilize the Middle East. A free Iraq can set a hopeful example to the entire region and lead other nations to choose freedom. And as the pursuits of freedom replace hatred and resentment and terror in the Middle East, the American people will be more secure. America has assumed great responsibilities for Iraq's future. Yet, we do not bear these responsibilities alone. Nineteen nations are providing more than 13,000 troops to help stabilize Iraq, and additional forces will soon arise arrive. More than two dozen nations have pledged funds that will go directly towards relief and reconstruction efforts. Every day, we are renovating schools for the new school year. We're restoring the damaged water, electrical, and communication systems. And when we introduce a new Iraqi currency later this year, it will be the first time in 12 years that the whole country is using the same currency. Our greatest ally in the vital work of stabilizing and rebuilding a democratic and prosperous Iraq is the Iraqi people themselves. Our goal is to turn over authority to Iraqis as quickly as possible. Coalition authorities are training Iraqi police forces to help patrol Iraqi cities and villages. Ambassador Bremer and General Abizaid are working to establish as quickly as possible a new Iraqi civilian defense force to help protect supply convoys and powerplants and ammunition depots. Offices have been established in major Iraqi cities to recruit soldiers for a new Iraqi army that will defend the people of Iraq instead of terrorizing them. Most importantly, 10 days ago, Iraqis formed a new Governing Council. The Council represents all of Iraq's diverse groups, and it has given responsible positions to religious authorities and to women. The Council is naming ministers to establish control over Iraq's ministries, and the Council is drawing up a new budget. The process of drafting a constitution will soon be underway, and this will prepare the way for elections. Yesterday in New York, members of Iraq's Governing Council participated in a meeting of the United Nations Security Council. They heard a report from U.N. Secretary General Annan which welcomed the establishment of the Iraqi Governing Council as a broadly representative Iraqi partner with whom the U.N. and the international community can engage to build Iraq's future. Now that we have reached this important milestone, I urge the nations of the world to contribute militarily and financially towards fulfilling Security Council Resolution 1483's vision of a free and secure Iraq. The U.N. report also urges a swift return to full Iraqi sovereignty. And this morning, Ambassador Bremer briefed me on our strategy to accelerate progress toward this goal. He outlined a comprehensive plan for action for bringing greater security, essential services, economic development, and democracy to the Iraqi people. The plan sets out ambitious timetables and clear benchmarks to measure progress and practical methods for achieving results. Rebuilding Iraq will require a sustained commitment. America and our partners kept our promise to remove the dictator and the threat he posed not only to the Iraqi people but to the world. We also keep our promise to destroy every remnant of that regime and to help the people of Iraq to govern themselves in freedom. In the 83 days since I announced the end of major combat operations in Iraq, we have made progress, steady progress, in restoring hope in a nation beaten down by decades of tyranny. Ambassador Bremer is showing great skill and resourcefulness and is demonstrating fine leadership and the great values of our country. Mr. Ambassador, thank you for what you're doing for America. I appreciate you. July 21, 2003 President Bush. Thank you for coming. I'm honored to host my friend the Prime Minister of Italy, Silvio Berlusconi. It's such an honor for us to welcome I say "us" Laura welcomes him as well as I to our ranch. We welcome the Prime Minister as a good friend, and he represents a country which is a strong ally to America. Welcome. Prime Minister Berlusconi. Thank you. President Bush. I want to thank him for being such a gracious host during our trips overseas, and we're really pleased to return the hospitality. Last year, on America's Memorial Day, Prime Minister Berlusconi visited a American military cemetery in Italy to honor our service members who gave their lives defending freedom in Europe. His actions touched me personally. He understands the history and the values that our two countries share. The people of the United States and Italy love freedom, and we know that freedom must be defended. We also understand that defending freedom requires costs and sacrifice. And the United States is grateful for Italy's willingness to bear the burdens with us. Italy and America stood together through nearly a half a century of cold war. Over the past decade, we have stood together against oppression and hatred in the Balkans. And in the months since September the 11th, 2001, Italy and America have stood side by side against tyranny and global terror. The war on terror continues. We will see it through to victory. Global terrorist networks are a threat to America, to Italy, and to all peaceful nations. And we are disrupting and destroying those networks. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction is a threat to America, to Italy, and to all peaceful nations. We will persevere until that threat is removed. Radicalism and ideologies of hatred are a threat to America, to Italy, and to all peaceful nations. And we are determined to spread liberty and progress and hope. My country is especially grateful to the Italian troops and police who are serving with skill and courage in Afghanistan and Iraq. Our efforts to work for freedom and stability in these countries and throughout the entire region are an integral part of the war on terror. And we will make both our nations safer and advance the peace of the world. The Prime Minister and I are both encouraged by signs of progress toward a great goal in the Middle East two states, Palestine and Israel, living side by side in peace and security. Both Prime Minister Abbas and Prime Minister Sharon are showing leadership and courage. Now it is time for governments across the Middle East to support the efforts of these two men by fighting terror in all its forms. This includes the Governments of Syria and Iran. This behavior is today, Syria and Iran continue to harbor and assist terrorists. This behavior is completely unacceptable, and states that support terror will be held accountable. Supporting and harboring terrorists undermines the prospects for peace in the Middle East and betrays the true interests of the Palestinian people. Terrorism is the greatest obstacle to the emergence of a Palestinian state, and all leaders who seek this goal have an obligation to back up their words in real actions against terror. And leaders who are interested in a peaceful solution in the Middle East must support the efforts of Prime Minister Abbas to build a democratic Palestine and ease the hardships faced by the Palestinian people. The Prime Minister and I are in complete agreement that Europe and America are both more secure and more effective when we act together. I'm pleased that Prime Minister Berlusconi is now serving as the President of the European Union. And I'm confident that under his leadership of the EU, Europe and America will continue to meet the great challenges before us. Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for your leadership, your wise counsel, and your friendship, and welcome to Crawford, Texas. Prime Minister Berlusconi. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for hosting me, and thank you for inviting me here to visit a country which I love very much to talk about our common concerns that is, freedom, democracy, and justice and development. Thank you very much for welcoming me in your home, making me feel as a member of your family. Please let me say so, this is again a chance for me to talk to you and tell you about the gratitude I have, the gratitude I personally have, my country has for you, for a country which allowed us to enjoy our freedom and our welfare and well being and to enjoy all of this. This morning I attended one of your meetings, work meetings, and I was strongly impressed by the burden of responsibilities that you take on yourself and on your country. And I really thought that it was extremely important for the citizens in the West to know with what attention and care and with what spirit of sacrifice and generosity the United States and its President follow the developments all over the world which might bring about danger and threat and hurt any country in the world. He already mentioned the subjects we discussed in our meeting and already said that we have a common vision on all of these issues, with no exception. I'll go back to Italy and Europe with a belief which I already had but which was strengthened by my visit here. My belief is that we really need to support and develop the culture of union and cohesion and certainly not nurture the culture of division. Selfishness, narcissism, and division shall never win. We need to revive the huge strength of cohesion. And this has to be a vital force, able to plan and build something. And this is the message which I'm going to bring back to my European allies as President of the European Union. Once again, thank you, Mr. President, for the friendship of your people to my country and for your personal friendship and esteem. President Bush. Thank you, sir. Before the Prime Minister and I take a tour of the ranch, we'll answer a couple of questions. Deb, AP Deb Riechmann, Associated Press . Liberia Q. Mr. President, a mortar shell has hit the U.S. Embassy in Liberia. The U.S. has sent a contingent of Marines there to protect its interests. What about the civilians being killed? There were some civilians dragged in front of the Embassy this morning. Sir, my question is, can the U.S. stand by and watch the violence spiral out of control, and what about sending U.S. peacekeepers? President Bush. Well, you're right, we just sent a group of troops in to protect our interests, and we're concerned about our people in Liberia. We'll continue to monitor the situation very closely. We're working with the United Nations to effect policy necessary to get the cease fire back in place. We are working with ECOWAS to determine when they will be prepared to move in the peacekeeper troops that I have said we'd be willing to help move into Liberia. We're monitoring the situation very carefully. You call on somebody. Prime Minister Berlusconi. Inaudible President Bush. No, you get to call on somebody. Prime Minister Berlusconi. Si, si. Prego. Iraq Q. The question, if possible, could be answered by both of you that is, the situation in Iraq. Did you discuss the possibility of having Italian troops taking over and replacing the taking over the peacekeeping operations and taking over from the U.S. military? And did you talk about reconstruction of Iraq? And did you also mention the possibility that countries which did not participate in the coalition can have the same role and the same share in the reconstruction of Iraq? President Bush. No, we didn't talk about Italy replacing the United States as peacekeepers. Yes, we did discuss how to broaden the coalition to bring more security to Iraq. It's very important for our citizens of both countries to understand that this extension of hostility is really a part of the war to liberate Iraq. There are people in Iraq who hate the thought of freedom. There are Saddam apologists who want to try to stay in power through terrorist activity. And I explained to the Prime Minister, we're patient, we're strong, we're resolute, and we will see this matter through. And obviously, the more help we can get, the more we appreciate it. And we are continuing to work with other nations to ask their help and advice. And we appreciate the leadership of the Prime Minister. Secondly, the answer to your question about reconstruction efforts, the answer is, who can do the best job for the Iraqi people? The reconstruction effort shouldn't be viewed as a political exercise. It shouldn't be viewed as an international grab bag. It shouldn't be viewed as a special opportunity. The answer to your question is, how best to improve the lives of the Iraqi people, how best to quickly establish electricity and clean water and hospitals and schools, all the things necessary for a free society to develop. And so if that can be if that question can be answered positively by somebody who didn't necessarily agree with the decision, that's fine. We're interested mostly interested in the Iraqi people. Okay, Adam Adam Entous, Reuters . Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Prime Minister Berlusconi. I share President Bush. You want to answer that? Sure. Prime Minister Berlusconi. No, no, I completely share what the President just said. President Bush. Then why don't you ask the Prime Minister a question so he can answer a question. Q. Mr. President. President Bush. Yes, Adam. North Korea Q. New evidence suggests North Korea may have built a second, secret site to process plutonium. How concerned are you? Are you going to let this stand? Also, are you still hopeful of making progress in talks through the Chinese? President Bush. Well, I appreciate you bringing up the latter, because I do believe we can solve this issue diplomatically by encouraging the neighborhood the Chinese, the South Koreans, and the Japanese to join us with a single voice that says to Mr. Kim Chong il, "A decision to develop a nuclear arsenal is one that will alienate you from the rest of the world." The desire by the North Koreans to convince the world that they're in the process of developing a nuclear arsenal is nothing new. We've known that for a while. And therefore, we must continue to work with the neighborhood to convince Kim Chong il that his decision is an unwise decision. And we will do just that. Iraq Q. Under what condition would you accept a new United Nation resolution about Iraq? You know that some countries are asking. President Bush. Well, we're in close consultation with the U.N. We believe that 1483 empowers countries to make a proper decision to get involved in Iraq. Let me talk about the U.N. in relations to Iraq in general. Mr. de Mello is doing a very fine job. He is working very closely with Bremer. They've got a fine relationship, and that bodes well for future discussions. Fourteen eighty three is a very strong resolution and a very adequate resolution. But we're constantly in touch with U.N. officials. And Kofi Annan was in my office the other day, discussing a lot of different issues, and one of the issues was Iraq. The more people involved in Iraq, the better off we will be. And that's exactly what our intention is, to encourage people to participate in the making Iraq more secure and more free. A free Iraq is a crucial part of winning the war on terror. And now I'm going to go see to it that the Prime Minister is well fed. We're going to feed him some chicken. Thank you, sir. I appreciate it very much. Thank you all. July 19, 2003 Thank you all very much. It's such an honor to be here. Laura and I are glad to be home. First, let me say it's great to see so many familiar faces. A couple of them scolded me when I was a kid. I see old inaudible over there. Laughter A lot of the people in this room worked hard to see to it that I became the Governor, and I want to thank you all for your continued friendship and your support. I want to thank you for your loyalty to our country. I want to thank you for coming tonight. This is the first time we've been back to Texas since our trip to Africa. You may recall, we went to a park in Botswana. It's where I learned a lot about our party's mascot. Laughter I want to thank you for all your help. You see, you're laying the groundwork for what is going to be a great national victory in November of 2004. And we're going to need your help. We're going to need your help at the grassroots level. We're going to need you to talk to your neighbors and send out the flyers and put up the signs and turn out the vote and remind people that this message the message of this administration is hopeful for every single person who lives in this country. And I'm getting ready, and I'm loosening up. Laughter But the truth of the matter is, there's plenty of time for politics. Right now, I'm focused on the people's business in Washington, DC. We have a lot on the agenda. We will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of all Americans by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. And I'm glad Laura is here tonight. In my book, she's a fabulous First Lady. And I love her a lot, and I hope she loves me a lot for dragging her out of Texas. I'm also honored to be introduced by Rick Perry. He is the right guy to be Governor of Texas. They had a good session, because he watched the people's money very closely. He's a good Governor, and I'm proud to call him friend. And I appreciate you, Rick. I want to thank Fred Meyer, the Texas State finance chairman, and Jeanne Johnson Phillips and Nancy Kinder for putting on this party tonight. You all did a fantastic job. I want to thank all who helped. This is a fantastic turnout, and I know it requires a lot of effort to get people to come, particularly on a Saturday night. Laughter So I want to thank all those who worked hard, and I really appreciate your support. I want to thank my friend Tom DeLay for being here. Congressman DeLay is a leader in the House of Representatives. I'm pleased that our Lieutenant Governor, David Dewhurst, is here thank you, David, for your leadership and the speaker of the house, from Midland, Texas, Tommy Craddick. Thanks, Tom. And I know we've got two State senators with us, Teel Bivins and Kyle Janek, and State Representative Joe Nixon. I appreciate you all coming. And finally, I want to thank the Houston Children's Chorus for lending their beautiful voices to this event. In the last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities, instead of letting them slip away. We are meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many key leaders of Al Qaida, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny. Today, they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. We increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And then the attacks on our country and scandals in corporate America and war affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, we have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. We know that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or to invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. We understand whose money we spend in Washington, DC. It is not the Government's money. It is the people's money. We are returning more money to the people to help them raise their families. We are reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand and hire new people. With all these actions, we are laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America, so that every single person in this country can realize the American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I called for and Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We're bringing high standards and strong accountability measures to every single public school in America. We believe that every child can learn the basics of reading and math, and we expect every school to teach the basics of reading and math. We are challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse making are over. We expect results in every classroom, so that not one single child in America is left behind. We reorganized the Government and created a Department of Homeland Security to safeguard our borders and ports and to better protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open new markets for America's entrepreneurs and farmers and ranchers. We passed a budget agreement that is helping to maintain spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. The United States Congress has shared in these great achievements, and I appreciate the hard work of the Members of the Congress. I appreciate being able to work with Speaker Hastert and Leader DeLay and Senator Frist. And we will continue to work together to change the tone in Washington, DC, by focusing on the people's business and by focusing on results. And that's the nature of the men and women I have asked to serve in my administration. I have put together a really fine administration on behalf of the American people. Our country has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney. Mother may have a different thought. Laughter In 2 1 2 years we have come far, but our work is only beginning. We have great goals worthy of this Nation. First, America is committed to extending the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion, so that every citizen has a chance to work and succeed and realize the great promise of our country. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire and we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. Yet, our national interest involves more than eliminating aggressive threats to our security. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart, and we believe that freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world, and when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. This great land is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges at home as well. And our actions will prove that we are equal to those challenges. I will continue to work on our economy until everybody who wants to work and who cannot find a job today is able to do so. We have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. Recently, the Congress took historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and the Senate have passed reforms to increase choices for our seniors and to provide coverage for prescription drugs. The next step is for both Houses to work out their differences and to get a good bill to my desk as soon as possible. For the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. I appreciate the very fine work of the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor and the speaker for passing real, meaningful medical liability reform here in the State of Texas. The State Representative Nixon, who is here with us today, was the author of that bill, and I appreciate your hard work, Joe. Look, we understand a person who has been harmed by a bad doctor deserves his or her day in court. Yet, the system should not reward lawyers who are fishing for rich settlements. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, they affect the Federal budget. Therefore, medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. The House of Representatives has passed a fine bill. It is stuck in the United States Senate. The Senate must act on behalf of the American citizens. I have a responsibility as President to make sure the judicial system runs well. And I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women like Priscilla Owen to the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote in the Senate floor. It is time for some of those Members in the Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The Congress needs to pass a comprehensive energy plan. Our Nation must promote energy efficiency and conservation and continue to develop technology so we can explore in a more environmentally friendly way. But for the sake of our economic security and for the sake of our national security, we must be less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, applying the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" to encourage more Americans to serve their communities and their country. And both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring our children and caring for the homeless and offering hope to the addicted. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. My administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their own home. We want our fellow citizens to own and manage their own health care plan and to own and manage their own retirement accounts. We want more of our citizens, our entrepreneurs, to own their own small business. We understand that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibilities for the decisions they make. We're changing the culture of America from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to one in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are a mom or a dad, if you're fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, it is you who is responsible for loving your child. If you're concerned about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in America, you have the responsibility to tell the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in this new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving a neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. We can see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us. I started the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to neighbors in need, and the response has been fantastic. As I travel our country, I also see the vibrancy of many of the faith based organizations, the neighborhood healers that are concerned about saving lives. I also know that policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us once again what it means to sacrifice for something greater than ourselves. Our children believe in heroes because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America, and I've been privileged to see the compassion and character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We are a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for our country and for our cause, the best days lie ahead. May God bless America. Thank you all. July 18, 2003 Thank you all very much. Laura and I are thrilled to be here. It is great to be home. It's really fun for us to see a lot of our old buddies some of our young buddies too. Laughter This is our first trip back to Texas since I got back from Africa. You may remember we were over there, and we went to a park in Botswana. That's where we learned a lot about our party's mascot. Laughter I want to thank you all for your help. Thanks a lot. It means a lot to Laura and me. We love Texas, and we love our friends, and we want to thank our friends for helping us. You're laying the foundation for what is going to be a great victory in November of 2004. I'm getting ready, loosening up. Laughter But I'm going to have to count on you to energize the grassroots and to make the phone calls and to put up the signs and to address the envelopes and remind everybody that our message is so positive and hopeful for every citizen of this State and this country. The political season will come in its own time. But right now, I'm focused on the people's business in our Nation's Capital. I have a job to do, and we have a lot on our agenda. And I will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of all America by keeping this Nation strong and secure, free, and prosperous. I am thrilled that Laura's here. She is a fabulous First Lady, and I love her dearly. She is just a steady rock and has been a great comforter for a lot of Americans during some of our difficult times. I appreciate our Governor. I want to thank him for his introduction. I thank him for his introduction more importantly, I thank him for his great leadership for the State of Texas. He is Governor during some tough times for this State, and he has led with courage and vision. And the State of Texas is better off with Rick Perry as the Governor. I know we've got quite a few of the mighty Texas congressional delegation with us today. And I'm going to tell you something It's really good to have steady support in the House of Representatives from our fellow Texans, Texans like Joe Barton and Michael Burgess and Kay Granger and Jeb Hensarling and Sam Johnson. I want to thank all of them for their service to our State and to our Nation. I know our able Lieutenant Governor is here, and I want to thank David Dewhurst for his service to the State of Texas, and the speaker of the house, my fellow Midland, Texan, citizen Tommy Craddick I want to thank Tom for his service. Thank you, Tom and Nadine. I saw Marchant and Branch out there, two fine members of the Texas House. It's good to see you all. I appreciate so very much my close personal friend Mercer Reynolds. He's the national finance chairman for the Bush Cheney '04 campaign. I want to thank Mercer for his hard work. I want to thank my close friend Fred Meyer for being the Texas State finance chairman. I thank Jeanne Johnson Phillips and Roger Williams for being the finance vice chairmen for our campaign here. I want to thank all of you who worked hard to raise this money. I appreciate your help. Finally, I want to thank the Gatlin boys for bringing their mother. Laughter In the last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities, instead of letting them slip away. We are meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many leaders of Al Qaida, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live under freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. We increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And then the attacks happened on our country, and there were corporate scandals and war. All affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, we have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the people of this country. We know that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or to invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find a job. We understand whose money we spend in Washington, DC. It is not the Government's money. It is the people's money. We're returning more money to people to help them raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We are giving small businesses incentives to expand and to hire people. With all these actions, we have laid the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs, so that every single American in our country can realize the great hope of the American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I called for and Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We're bringing high standards and strong accountability measures to every public school in America. We believe and strongly believe that every child can learn the basics of reading and math, and we expect every school to teach the basics of reading and math. We are challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse making are over. We expect results in every classroom, so that not one single child in America is left behind. We reorganized the Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to safeguard our borders and ports and to better protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for our entrepreneurs and farmers and ranchers and manufacturers. We passed a budget agreement that is helping to maintain spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress on behalf of the American people. The United States Congress has shared in these great achievements. I appreciate the leadership of Speaker Hastert and Leader Frist. I want to thank the hard work of many Members of the Congress. We're going to continue to work together to change the tone in Washington, DC, and to focus on results. And those are the kind of the nature of the men and women I have asked to serve in my administration. I have put together a fantastic team on behalf of America. These are people who understand their job is to serve all Americans. Our country has had no finer Vice President than Dick Cheney although Mother may have a different opinion. Laughter In 2 1 2 years, we have come far, but we're only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of this great Nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion, so that every citizen has a chance to work, to succeed, and to realize the promise of our country. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend upon the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. Yet, our national interest involves more than eliminating aggressive threats to our safety. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and the deepest hope of every human heart, and we believe that freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world, and when we see disease and starvation and hopelessness, we will not turn away. Laura and I just came from Africa. America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children who suffer with AIDS. This great, strong, compassionate Nation is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges here at home, and our actions will prove that we are equal to those challenges. I will continue to work on our economy until everybody who wants to work and is not working today can find a job. We have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. Recently, the Congress took historic action to improve the lives of our older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and the Senate have passed reforms to increase choices for seniors and to provide prescription drug coverage. The next step is for both Houses to come together to iron out the details and to get a good bill to my desk. And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. I want to thank Governor Perry and the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker for passing meaningful, real medical liability reform. People who have been harmed by a bad doctor deserve their day in court. Yet, the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for rich settlements. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care at the national level, medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. The House of Representatives has passed a good bill. It is stalled in the Senate. For the sake of a good health care system, the United States Senate must act. I have a responsibility as the President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women like Priscilla Owen for our Federal courts, good people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Yet, some Members of the Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. This Congress needs to pass a comprehensive energy plan. Our Nation must promote energy efficiency and conservation. We must develop cleaner technology. We must explore in environmentally friendly ways. Yet, for the sake of economic security and national security, we need to become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, applying the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so that more Americans can serve their communities and their country. And both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring children, that are caring for the homeless, that are offering hope to the addicted. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more of our citizens owning their own home. We want people to own and manage their own health care account and their own retirement account. We want more people to own their small business, because we understand when an American owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make. We're changing the culture of America from one that says, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're fortunate to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for your child. If you're concerned about the quality of the education in your community, you are responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in America, you are responsible to tell the truth to your employees and your shareholders. And in this new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. We can see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us. I started the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to neighbors in need, and the response has been very strong. Our charities and our faith based institutions are strong and vibrant all across our country. They're helping people who cry out for help. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America, and I have been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We are a strong country, and we use our strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it, and we know that for our country and for our cause, better days lie ahead. Thank you for coming. May God bless. July 17, 2003 President Bush. Good afternoon. It is, once again, a pleasure to welcome the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and Cherie Blair to the White House. Mr. Prime Minister, fabulous speech. Congratulations. In his address to Congress this afternoon, Prime Minister Blair once again showed the qualities that have marked his entire career. Tony Blair is a leader of conviction, of passion, of moral clarity, and eloquence. He is a true friend of the American people. The United Kingdom has produced some of the world's most distinguished statesmen, and I'm proud to be standing with one of them today. The close partnership between the United States and Great Britain has been and remains essential to the peace and security of all nations. For more than 40 years of the cold war, we stood together to ensure that the conflicts of Europe did not once again destroy the peace of the world. The duties we accepted were demanding, as we found during the Berlin blockade and other crises. Yet British and American leaders held firm, and our cause prevailed. Now we are joined in another great and difficult mission. On September the 11th, 2001, America, Britain, and all free nations saw how the ideologies of hatred and terror in a distant part of the world could bring violence and grief to our own citizens. We resolved to fight these threats actively, wherever they gather, before they reach our shores. And we resolved to oppose these threats by promoting freedom and democracy in the Middle East, a region that has known so much bitterness and resentment. From the outset, the Prime Minister and I have understood that we are allies in this war, a war requiring great effort and patience and fortitude. The British and American peoples will hold firm once again, and we will prevail. The United States and Great Britain have conducted a steady offensive against terrorist networks and terror regimes. We're dismantling the Al Qaida network, leader by leader, and we're hunting down the terrorist killers, one by one. In Afghanistan, we removed the cruel and oppressive regime that had turned that country into a training camp for Al Qaida, and now we are helping the Afghan people to restore their nation and regain self government. In Iraq, the United States, Britain, and other nations confronted a violent regime that armed to threaten the peace, that cultivated ties to terror and defied the clear demands of the United Nations Security Council. Saddam Hussein produced and possessed chemical and biological weapons and was trying to reconstitute his nuclear weapons program. He used chemical weapons in acts of murder against his own people. The U.N. Security Council, acting on information it had acquired over many years, passed more than a dozen resolutions demanding that the dictator reveal and destroy all of his prohibited weapons. A final Security Council resolution promised serious consequences if he continued his defiance. The former dictator of Iraq chose his course of action, and for the sake of peace and security, we chose ours. The Prime Minister and I have no greater responsibility than to protect the lives and security of the people we serve. The regime of Saddam Hussein was a grave and growing threat. Given Saddam's history of violence and aggression, it would have been reckless to place our trust in his sanity or his restraint. As long as I hold this office, I will never risk the lives of American citizens by assuming the good will of dangerous enemies. Acting together, the United States, Great Britain, and our coalition partners enforced the demands of the world. We ended the threat from Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction. We rid the Middle East of an aggressive, destabilizing regime. We liberated nearly 25 million people from decades of oppression, and we are now helping the Iraqi people to build a free nation. In Iraq as elsewhere, freedom and self government are hated and opposed by a radical and ruthless few. American, British, and other forces are facing remnants of a fallen regime and other extremists. Their attacks follow a pattern. They target progress and success. They strike at Iraqi police officers who have been trained to enforce order. They sabotage Iraqi power grids that we're rebuilding. They are the enemies of the Iraqi people. Defeating these terrorists is an essential commitment on the war on terror. This is a duty we accept. This is a fight we will win. We are being tested in Iraq. Our enemies are looking for signs of hesitation. They're looking for weakness. They will find none. Instead, our forces in Iraq are finding these killers and bringing them to justice. And we will finish the task of helping Iraqis make the challenging transition to democracy. Iraq's governing council is now meeting regularly. Soon the council will nominate ministers and propose a budget. After decades of tyranny, the institutions of democracy will take time to create. America and Britain will help the Iraqi people as long as necessary. Prime Minister Blair and I have the same goal The Government and the future of Iraq will be in the hands of the people of Iraq. The creation of a strong and stable Iraqi democracy is not easy, but it's an essential part on the war against terror. A free Iraq will be an example to the entire Middle East, and the advance of liberty in the Middle East will undermine the ideologies of terror and hatred. It will help strengthen the security of America and Britain and many other nations. By helping to build and secure a free Iraq, by accepting the risks and sacrifice, our men and women in uniform are protecting our own countries, and they're giving essential service in the war on terror. This is the work history has given us, and we will complete it. We're seeing movement toward reform and freedom in other parts of the Middle East. The leadership and courage of Prime Minister Abbas and Prime Minister Sharon are giving their peoples new hope for progress. Other nations can add to the momentum of peace by fighting terror in all its forms. A Palestinian state will be built upon hope and reform, not built upon violence. Terrorists are the chief enemies of Palestinian aspirations. The sooner terrorism is rooted out by all the governments in the region, the sooner the Palestinian flag will rise over a peaceful Palestinian state. The spread of liberty in Afghanistan and Iraq and across the Middle East will mark a hopeful turn in the history of our time. Great Britain and America will achieve this goal together. And one of the reasons I'm confident in our success is because the character and the leadership of Prime Minister Tony Blair. Mr. Prime Minister. Prime Minister Blair. Thank you, Mr. President. And first of all, as I did a short time ago, I would like to pay tribute to your leadership in these difficult times, because ever since September the 11th, the task of leadership has been an arduous one, and I believe that you have fulfilled it with tremendous conviction, determination, and courage. President Bush. Thank you, sir. Prime Minister Blair. And I think it's as well that we understand how this has all come about. It came about because we realized that there was a new source of threat and insecurity in our world that we had to counter. And as I was saying in my speech to Congress, this threat is sometimes hard for people to understand, because it's of such a different nature than the threats we have faced before, but September the 11th taught us it was real. And when you lead countries, as we both do, and you see the potential for this threat of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction to come together, I really don't believe that any responsible leader could ignore the evidence that we see or the threat that we face. And that's why we've taken the action that we have, first in Afghanistan and now in Iraq. And in Afghanistan, we acted to remove the Taliban, and we still pursue the Al Qaida terrorist network there and in other parts of the world. But there is no doubt at all that but for that action, Al Qaida would have retained its central place of command and control which now is denied to it. And in respect to Iraq, we should not forget Resolution 1441 that was passed in the United Nations, in which the entire international community accepted the threat that Iraq constituted. I think it's just worth pointing out, in these last few days, Iraq has had a governing council established, with the help of the United Nations representative, Sergio de Mello, and in the last 2 weeks, the United Nations has spoken about the numbers of missing people and mass graves. And that number, just on the present count, is round about 300,000 people. So let us be clear We have been dealing with a situation in which the threat was very clear and the person, Saddam Hussein, wielding that threat, someone of total brutality and ruthlessness, with no compunction about killing his own people or those of another nation. And of course, it's difficult to reconstruct Iraq. It's going to be a hard task. We never expected otherwise. But as the President has said to you a moment or two ago, the benefit of that reconstruction will be felt far beyond the territory of Iraq. It is, as I said earlier today, an indispensable part of bringing about a new settlement in the whole of the Middle East. And I would also pay tribute to the President's leadership in the Middle East and in rekindling the prospect of the Middle East peace process. If I can remind people, I think many people were cynical as to whether this could ever be rekindled. Many people doubted whether the commitment was there, to fairness for Palestinian people as well as to the state of Israel. And yet the President has stated very clearly the goal of a two state solution. And now we actually have the first steps, albeit tentative, towards achieving that. And when I met Prime Minister Sharon in London a few nights ago, I was more than ever convinced that if we could provide the right framework within which these tentative steps are made, then we do genuinely have the prospect of making progress there. And then, again, as I was saying earlier, the commitment that America has now given, that the President has given, in respect of Africa, in tackling some of the poorest parts of our world, is again a sign of hope. And all these things are changing our world. And however difficult the change may be, I genuinely believe it is change for the better. So I am honored once again to be here in the White House with you, Mr. President. As I said earlier, we are allies, and we are friends. And I believe that the work that we are embarked upon is difficult but is essential, and so far as we are concerned, we shall hold to it, ride the way through. President Bush. We'll take a couple of questions. Tom Tom Raum, Associated Press . Responsibility for the War on Terror Coalition in Iraq Q. Mr. President, others in your administration have said your words on Iraq and Africa did not belong in your State of the Union Address. Will you take personal responsibility for those words? And the both of you, how is it that two major world leaders such as yourselves have had such a hard time persuading other major powers to help stabilize Iraq? President Bush. First, I take responsibility for putting our troops into action. And I made that decision because Saddam Hussein was a threat to our security and a threat to the security of other nations. I take responsibility for making the decision, the tough decision, to put together a coalition to remove Saddam Hussein because the intelligence, not only our intelligence but the intelligence of this great country, made a clear and compelling case that Saddam Hussein was a threat to security and peace. I say that because he possessed chemical weapons and biological weapons. I strongly believe he was trying to reconstitute his nuclear weapons program. And I will remind the skeptics that in 1991, it became clear that Saddam Hussein was much closer to developing a nuclear weapon than anybody ever imagined. He was a threat. I take responsibility for dealing with that threat. We are in a war against terror, and we will continue to fight that war against terror. We're after Al Qaida, as the Prime Minister accurately noted, and we're dismantling Al Qaida. The removal of Saddam Hussein is an integral part of winning the war against terror. A free Iraq will make it much less likely that we'll find violence in that immediate neighborhood. A free Iraq will make it more likely we'll get a Middle Eastern peace. A free Iraq will have incredible influence on the states that could potentially unleash terrorist activities on us. And yes, I take responsibility for making the decisions I made. Q. Mr. President President Bush. Hold on for a second, please. Prime Minister Blair. Sorry. First of all, before I answer the question you put to me about other countries helping us, let me just say this on the issue to do with Africa and uranium. The British intelligence that we had we believe is genuine. We stand by that intelligence. And one interesting fact I think people don't generally know, in case people should think that the whole idea of a link between Iraq and Niger was some invention, in the 1980s we know for sure that Iraq purchased round about 270 tons of uranium from Niger. So I think we should just factor that into our thinking there. As for other countries, actually, other countries are coming in. We have with us now round about nine other countries who will be contributing or are contributing literally thousands of troops. I think I'm right in saying the Poles in their sector have somewhere in the region of 20 different countries offering support. And I have no doubt at all we will have international support in this. Indeed, to be fair, even to those countries that opposed the action, I think they recognize the huge importance of reconstructing Iraq. And it's an interesting thing, I was at a European meeting just a couple of weeks ago, where, as you know, there were big differences between people over the issue of Iraq. And yet, I was struck by the absolutely unanimous view that whatever people felt about the conflict, it was obviously good that Saddam was out, and most people now recognize that the important thing is that we all work together to reconstruct Iraq for the better so that it is a free and stable country. Adam Adam Boulton, Sky News . Guantanamo Bay Detainees Andrew Gilligan Q. I wonder if I could ask you both about one aspect of Iraq and freedom and justice which, as you know, is causing a great deal of concern in Britain and the British Parliament, that is what happens now in Guantanamo Bay to the people detained there, particularly whether there's any chance that the President will return the British citizens to face British justice, as John Walker Lindh faced regular American justice? And just on a quick point, could the Prime Minister react to the decision of the Foreign Affairs Committee tonight that the BBC reporter Andrew Gilligan is a "unsatisfactory witness?" President Bush. You probably ought to comment on that one. Laughter Prime Minister Blair. Can I just say to you on the first point, obviously, this is an issue that we will discuss when we begin our talks tonight, and we will put out a statement on that tomorrow for you. President Bush. We will work with the Blair Government on this issue. And we're about to after we finish answering your questions, we're going to go upstairs and discuss the issue. Q. Do you have concerns they're not getting justice, the people detained there? President Bush. No, the only thing I know for certain is that these are bad people, and we look forward to working closely with the Blair Government to deal with the issue. Prime Minister Blair. On your other point, Adam, the issue here is very, very simple. The whole debate for weeks revolved around a claim that either I or a member of my staff had effectively inserted intelligence into the dossier we put before the British people against the wishes of the intelligence services. Now, that is a serious charge. It never was true. Everybody now knows that that charge is untrue. And all we are saying is, those who made that charge should simply accept that it is untrue. It's as simple as that. President Bush. Patsy Patricia Wilson , Reuters. Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction Q. In his speech to Congress, the Prime Minister opened the door to the possibility that you may be proved wrong about the threat from Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. President Bush. Yes. Q. Do you agree, and does it matter whether or not you find these weapons? President Bush. Well, you might ask the Prime Minister that. We won't be proven wrong Prime Minister Blair. No. President Bush. I believe that we will find the truth. And the truth is, he was developing a program for weapons of mass destruction. Now, you say, why didn't it happen all of a sudden? Well, there was a lot of chaos in the country, one two, Saddam Hussein has spent over a decade hiding weapons and hiding materials three, we're getting we're just beginning to get some cooperation from some of the high level officials in that administration or that regime. But we will bring the weapons, and of course we will bring the information forward on the weapons when they find them. And that will end up end all this speculation. I understand there has been a lot of speculation over in Great Britain we've got a little bit of it here about whether or not the whether or not the actions were based upon valid information. We can debate that all day long until the truth shows up, and that's what's going to happen. And we based our decisions on good, sound intelligence. And the our people are going to find out the truth, and the truth will say that this intelligence was good intelligence. There's no doubt in my mind. Prime Minister Blair. And yes, if I can just correct you on one thing. I certainly did not say that I would be proved wrong. On the contrary, I said with every fiber of instinct and conviction, I believe that we are right. And let me just say this one other thing to you, because sometimes, again, in the debate in the past few weeks, it's as if, prior to the early part of this year, the issue of Saddam Hussein and weapons of mass destruction were some sort of unknown quantity, and on the basis of some speculative intelligence, we go off and take action. The history of Saddam Hussein and weapons of mass destruction is a 12 year history and is a history of him using the weapons, developing the weapons, and concealing the weapons and not complying with the United Nations inspectors who were trying to shut down his programs. And I simply say, which is why I totally agree with the President, it's important we wait for the Iraq Survey Group to complete their work. Because the proposition that actually he was not developing such weapons and such programs rests on this rather extraordinary proposition that, having for years obstructed the United Nations inspectors and concealed his programs, having finally effectively got rid of them in December '98, he then took all the problems and sanctions and action upon himself, voluntarily destroyed them, but just didn't tell anyone. I don't think that's very likely as a proposition. I really don't. Right, Nick. Guantanamo Bay Detainees Q. Nick Robinson, ITV News. Mr. President, do you realize that many people hearing you say that we know these are "bad people" in Guantanamo Bay will merely fuel their doubts that the United States regards them as innocent until proven guilty and due a fair, free, and open trial? President Bush. Well, yes let me just say these were illegal combatants. They were picked up off the battlefield aiding and abetting the Taliban. I'm not trying to try them in front of your cameras or in your newspaper. But we will talk with the Prime Minister about this issue. He's asked. Prior to his arrival, he said, "I want to talk about this in a serious way. Can we work with you?" And the answer is, absolutely. I understand the issue. And we will. We'll have a very good discussion about it, right after he finishes answering this aspect of your question. Prime Minister Blair. I just think you should realize I mean, of course, as I said a moment or two ago, we will discuss this together, and we'll put out a statement for you tomorrow. But I think, again, it's important just to realize the context in which all this arises, without saying anything about any specific case at all. And the context was a situation in which the Al Qaida and the Taliban were operating together in Afghanistan against American and British forces. So, as I say, we will discuss this issue. We will come back to it. You will have a statement tomorrow. But I want to say just in concluding, once again, that the conviction that this threat of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction is the security threat our world faces has never left me. It's with me now, and I believe it to be the threat that we have to take on and defeat. I really do. President Bush. Good job. Thank you. I appreciate your coming. Inaudible Thank you all. July 12, 2003 President Obasanjo. Mr. President President Bush. Here, I'll stand up with you. President Obasanjo. Is that what you want? President Bush. Oh, absolutely. I want to be over here. Laughter President Obasanjo. It is, indeed, a matter of general honor and pleasure for me to welcome you, Mr. President, to our country, Nigeria. On behalf of all the people of Nigeria, I sincerely extend to you our warmest greetings on this historic visit to our continent of Africa in general and to Nigeria in particular. President has generally acknowledged that much has changed in the world since the end of the cold war. There's no doubt there is an emerging new world order, with new realities of nations and people throughout the world their international outlooks, seek new friends and confirm old realities in the bid to find fresh places for global peace, harmony, and security. In this imagined new world order, Mr. President, the rest of the world acknowledges that the United States of America will remain a key player politically, economically, and militarily. Thus we appreciate your visit to our continent as indication that Africa is to be reckoned with in the emerging world order. We salute your visit to so many African countries four of them and now Nigeria, in particular, as an expression that Africa should not be sidelined or even detached from the of the emerging world order. We in Africa realize the extent to which we are ultimately responsible for our own development and that we are the architects of our fortune or misfortune. Nevertheless, this is also generally true that hardly any country has transformed its fortunes without external support from friends and well wishers. That is why we acknowledge with deepest appreciation the role that the United States has played and continues to play, particularly within the G 8, in supporting the vision of the New Partnership for African Development, NEPAD. As you are well aware, Mr. President, NEPAD is our vision as well as our blueprint for making our continent great. Through the NEPAD, African leaders have made a commitment to the African peoples and to the world to work together in developing the continent by consolidating democracy, good governance, and implementing such general social, economic development programs. Implicit in the NEPAD program are all the universal values, such as democracy, human rights, rule of law, eradication of corruption, conflict resolution, and fight against terrorism. We are hopeful that NEPAD will strengthen Africa's position in the emerging world order. Here in Nigeria, we are making bold strides to consolidate democracy and reform our Government structures as well as the national economy. We also have continuing and new regional responsibilities, especially in the area of maintaining security. These areas require global understanding, cooperation, and substantial financial support. You will agree with me that sustainable national reforms are central to regional and global transformation and for development. Thank you, Mr. President. President Bush. Thank you, friend. It's my honor, Mr. President, to be here as your guest. Gosh, we've met three or four times already. You keep telling me to come to your country finally made it. And I'm glad we're here. It's been a it's an honor. Listen, Nigeria is a very important country on the continent of Africa. And because of your forthrightness and your style and your commitment, you're a very important leader on this continent, and I'm honored to be here with you. I appreciate very much your commitment to trade and markets, and we look forward to being an active trading partner with Nigeria. I appreciate your commitment to regional peace, and we will work with Nigeria and ECOWAS on issues such as Liberia. I appreciate very much your focus on education, and the United States stands ready to help. But most of all, Mr. President, I appreciate your honesty and openness and forthrightness when it comes to battling the pandemic of AIDS. You're truly an international leader on this issue. And the United States of America, when Congress acts, will stand side by side with leaders such as yourself to fight the pandemic of AIDS to save lives. So Mr. President, it's an honor to be here. I've been looking forward to this visit for a long time. I appreciate your leadership, and I appreciate your friendship. Thank you very much. Director of Central Intelligence State of the Union Address Q. Mr. President, do you have faith in your CIA Director? President Bush. Yes, I do, absolutely. I've got confidence in George Tenet. I've got confidence in the men and women who work at the CIA, and I continue to I look forward to working with them and as we win this war on terror. Q. Mr. President Assistant Press Secretary Reed Dickens. Thank you all. Thank you. Q. Is the matter over then? Q. Mr. Bush, what about Q. Do you consider the matter over, sir, that President Bush. I do. Liberia Q. What about Liberia? Is America sending troops to Liberia? President Bush. The President and I just talked about Liberia, and we are our assessment teams are still in place. We need to know exactly what is necessary to achieve our objectives. The first objective, of course, is for Mr. Taylor to leave the country, which he said he is do. And I want to thank the President for his leadership on that issue. It's been a tough issue, but he's led. And the world is grateful for that. Secondly, we've got a commitment to the cease fire. And therefore, we need to know exactly what it means to keep the cease fire in place. Thirdly, we got a commitment to relieve human suffering, and we need to know what that has required. And so, we're still in the process of assessing. And I told the President we would be active. And the definition of that will be made known when we're when we understand all the parameters. Q. See a decision next week, sir? Assistant Press Secretary Dickens. Thank you all very much. Thank you President Bush. I'm not sure yet when, Randy Randall Mikkelsen, Reuters . Assistant Press Secretary Dickens. Pool, let's go. Q. Thank you, sir. President Bush. Thank you. July 12, 2003 Good morning. I've spent this week visiting Africa, a continent of great challenge and promise. Throughout this journey and in meetings with leaders of more than 10 countries, I have reaffirmed America's strong commitment to a more peaceful and prosperous future for all the peoples of Africa. America supports democratic and economic reforms in Africa because we know the power of freedom to lift whole nations and bring new opportunities to millions. And in a time of growing commerce across the globe, we are working to ensure that the nations of Africa are full partners in the trade and prosperity of the world. Progress in Africa depends on peace and stability, so America is standing with friends and allies to help end regional wars. And against the murderous ambitions of terrorists, the United States and African countries are working in common purpose. We will not permit terrorists to threaten African peoples or to use Africa as a base to threaten the world. The United States is also committed to helping African peoples overcome one of the gravest dangers they have ever faced, the spread of HIV AIDS. And the need is urgent. Across the continent today, nearly 30 million people are living with HIV AIDS, including 3 million children under the age of 15. In Botswana alone, where I visited on Thursday, nearly 40 percent of the adult population has HIV. People in Africa are waging a courageous fight against this disease. In another nation on my trip, Uganda, urban and rural clinics are providing vital medical care, counseling, sound and honest information on AIDS prevention. Thanks to caring people and wise government policies, Uganda has dramatically reduced its infection rate. More Ugandan children are growing up with mothers and fathers, and Uganda is reclaiming its future. The tremendous progress in Uganda is showing that AIDS can be defeated across Africa. Yet current efforts to oppose the disease are simply not equal to the need. More than 4 million people require immediate drug treatment, but just 1 percent of them are receiving the medicine they require. Africa has the will to fight AIDS, but it needs the resources as well. Over the next 5 years, the United States Congress has authorized 15 billion to fight AIDS around the world, with a special focus on 14 nations in Africa and the Caribbean. Working with governments and private groups and faith based organizations, we will build on the progress in Uganda by establishing a comprehensive system to prevent, diagnose, and treat AIDS. We will support abstinence based education for young people and provide comprehensive services to prevent millions of new infections. We will provide HIV testing and purchase antiretroviral medications and other drugs that are needed to extend lives. We will help establish broad and efficient networks to deliver drugs. We will help build, renovate, and equip clinics and laboratories. We'll prepare doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals to treat AIDS more effectively. And the resources America provides will also help to hire and train childcare workers to look after orphans and provide care at home to many AIDS patients. This week, a committee of the House of Representatives took an important step to fund the first year of this effort. I ask the Senate to move quickly as well. And I urge the entire Congress to fully fund my request for the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief so that America can help turn the tide against AIDS in Africa. All of our actions in Africa from fighting AIDS to promoting security and prosperity across the continent represent the ideals that have always guided America in the world. The United States is committed to the success of Africa, because the peoples of Africa deserve to live in freedom and dignity and to share in the progress of our times. Thank you for listening. July 12, 2003 Thank you all. Thank you very much. Thanks a lot. Please be seated please. J.C., thank you for that warm introduction. I thought you might have lost your touch laughter as a retired Member of Congress, but you didn't. I'm proud to be introduced by my friend. And I want to thank you all very much for such a warm welcome. This the last day of our journey through Africa. And each of us is drawn to this summit by the vision of the late Leon Sullivan. And I'm so honored to be in the presence of Mrs. Grace Sullivan. It's great to see you again, Mrs. Sullivan. We believe that relationship between America and Africa will benefit both our people. Work of the summit to promote commerce and understanding across the Atlantic is important work, and I'm determined that the American Government will do its part. We will help nations on this continent to achieve greater health and education and trade with the world. Working together, we can help make this a decade of rising prosperity and expanding peace across Africa. We've got a great visit here, thanks to the hospitality of the President, my friend. Mr. President, thank you for your friendship. Thank you for your leadership. I appreciate the President's leadership on crucial issues. I particularly appreciate the fact that he's willing to confront the HIV AIDS epidemic head on, with an honest approach. Madam First Lady, thank you very much for your hospitality as well. Laura and I have enjoyed getting to be with you. I thank the Vice President and all the members of the Government who are here. I'm particularly pleased to be traveling with such good company in Colin Powell and Condi Rice and Andy Card and other members of my administration. I want to thank Congressman William Jefferson from the State of Louisiana for being here. And I understand that Rodney Slater is here as well. Rodney, thank you for coming. Rodney, good to see you. I appreciate so much the Sullivan Summit leadership Hope Sullivan and Carl Masters and, of course, one the great public servants in America America's history, Andy Young. Thank you all. Dave O'Reilly understands the definition of corporate responsibility, and I appreciate the leadership of Dave and Chevron. Their job is not only to make a return for their shareholders their job is to show compassion as well. And I appreciate your leadership, Dave. I'm especially thankful to all the citizens of Nigeria for such a warm welcome, such gracious hospitality. Nigeria is a nation of great diversity and great promise. My country deeply appreciates the friendship of Nigeria. This has been a wonderful week for Laura and me. We have seen the rich culture and resources of Africa as well as the continuing challenges of Africa. We have met really fine people. I have confidence in Africa's future because I believe in the goodness and the compassion and the enterprise of the men and women on this continent. With greater opportunity, the peoples of Africa will build their own future of hope. And the United States will help this vast continent of possibilities to reach its full potential. I began my trip in Senegal, where I met with President Wade and seven other leaders of West Africa. These leaders are committed to the spread of democratic institution and democratic values throughout Africa. Yet those institutions and values are threatened in some parts of Africa by terrorism and chaos and civil war. To extend liberty on this continent, we must build security and peace on this continent. Several African governments face particular dangers from terrorists, and the United States is working closely with those nations to fight terror, and we will do more. I proposed a new 100 million initiative to help those governments in east Africa protect their people and to fight terrorist networks. The United States is also supporting the efforts of good friends all across this continent, friends such as Mauritania. We will not allow terrorists to threaten African peoples or to use Africa as a base to threaten the world. America is also committed to helping end Africa's regional wars, including those in Sudan and Congo, the Ivory Coast, and Liberia. In Liberia, the United States strongly supports the cease fire that was signed last month. President Taylor needs to leave Liberia so that his country can be spared further grief and bloodshed. In Dakar this week, I met with President Kufuor of Ghana. He also leads ECOWAS. I assured him the United States will work closely and in concert with the United Nations and ECOWAS to maintain the cease fire and to allow a peaceful transfer of power. This week, I've also seen the dedicated efforts of Africans who are fighting hunger and famine, illiteracy, and a deadly preventable disease. At the TASO clinic in Entebbe and here at the National Hospital, I saw the heroic efforts of African doctors and nurses and volunteers who are devoted to saving and extending lives. I also heard from men and women who are living with AIDS and continue to lead productive and hopeful lives. The progress we are already seeing in parts of Africa is proof that AIDS can be defeated in Africa. The people of Africa are fighting HIV AIDS with courage. And I'm here to say, you will not be alone in your fight. In May, I signed a bill that authorizes 15 billion for the global fight on AIDS. This week, a committee of the House of Representatives took an important step to fund the first year of the authorization bill, and the Senate is beginning to take up debate. The House of Representatives and the United States Senate must fully fund this initiative for the good of the people on this continent of Africa. On this journey, I've also seen the economic potential of Africa. Botswana is a model of economic reform and has one of the highest sustained economic growth rates in the world. Yet, far too many Africans still live in poverty. And providing effective and promoting providing effective aid, promoting free markets and the rule of law, and encouraging greater trade, we will help millions of Africans find more opportunity and a chance for better life. To be effective, development aid requires progrowth policies and strong reforms in the nations that receive the aid. The Millennium Challenge Account I have proposed would direct resources to countries with governments that rule justly, root out corruption, encourage entrepreneurship, and invest in the health and education of their people. Countries making these changes will gain more help from America. They will gain more foreign investment, more trade, and more jobs. And I call upon the United States Congress to finalize the MCA legislation and to fully fund the first year of this initiative. One specific obstacle to development in many countries is the lack of access to capital. Many Africans find it impossible to get a loan for a business or a home, and this makes it far difficult for people to build equity or to borrow money to start a business. The United States has some of the most effective mortgage markets in the world. We understand the flow of capital, and we want to share this knowledge with the nations of Africa. So I've asked Secretary of the Treasury John Snow to work with experts in America and Africa and with financial institutions like Fannie Mae and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation to help strengthen and broaden capital markets on this continent. With the ability to borrow money to buy homes and start businesses, more Africans will have the tools to achieve their dreams. My travels this week underscore the critical importance of trade to the economic future of Africa. Open trade has proven its ability to increase the standards of living and to create new jobs and to encourage the habits of freedom and enterprise. In Botswana, I visited one of our new Hubs for Global Competitiveness that is helping African businesses sell their products into the United States and on global markets. I have seen and I know you have seen how the African Growth and Opportunity Act, AGOA, is bringing jobs and investment and opportunity to sub Sahara Africa. And to help give businesses the confidence to make long term investments in Africa, Congress must extend AGOA beyond 2008. Our Nation will work to complete a free trade agreement with the nations of the Southern African Customs Union to create new opportunities for farmers and workers and entrepreneurs all across Africa. To achieve our goals of a more peaceful, hopeful, and prosperous Africa, we need a partnership of our governments. We also need partnerships among our people, our businessmen and doctors and bankers and teachers and clergy. These are the kinds of bridges that Leon Sullivan dedicated his life to building. And you're continuing that good work, and I thank you for that. Eight years ago at the Sullivan Summit, delegates launched the MedHelp Foundation, which is training and equipping physicians in Senegal. This foundation has also assembled a team of American medical professionals in Senegal that has conducted more than 150 operations, including 88 open heart surgeries. Another group established by Reverend Sullivan is the International Foundation For Education and Self Help. Over the past 10 years, the foundation has helped build more than 182 rural schools in Africa, placed 820 American teachers in African schools. Today I'm pleased to announce that the United States Agency for International Development will give a new 5 million grant to the foundation, resources that will help send 90 American teachers to Africa to train more than 14,000 African educators. In these and many other ways, you are doing more than fulfilling the dreams of one man you're helping to unlock the potential of an entire continent. At Goree Island earlier this week, I spoke of how the struggles of African Americans against the injustices of slavery and segregation helped to redeem the promise of America's founding. Today, you are carrying the same passion for liberty and justice from America to Africa. Americans believe that people in every culture and in every land have the right to live in freedom and deserve the chance to improve their lives. And we know that the people of Africa, when given their rights and given their chance, will achieve great things on this continent of possibilities. May God bless Africa, and may God continue to bless America. July 10, 2003 President Mogae. Ladies and gentlemen of the press, honorable Ministers, you are probably wondering what we have been talking between the President and I. And I was just thanking him for, first of all, visiting us, but above all, for the generous assistance we have been receiving. As you know, we are the country in southern Africa that is most seriously affected by HIV AIDS, and we are receiving generous assistance from the United States Government, who are helping us with the testing and counseling centers and in which we are spending about 8 million U.S. a year, which is about 40 million pula in our own currency. They have also responded to a request for human resources assistance, and they have restored the Peace Corps program. We are collaborating with our own private sector, the foundations in the United States the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Merck Corporation Foundation for providing us with antiretrovirals and also with assistance for mounting of our prevention campaign. That program is going very well. I mention that it is the most important but also we are very grateful for AGOA, on behalf of ourselves, on behalf of Africa as a whole, because most African countries have benefited by AGOA. I was telling the President that in my view, AGOA is perhaps the most significant thing that United States has done for sub Saharan Africa in recent decades. As some of us some of you will know, initially Namibia and us and Botswana were left out of AGOA I, as a result of the level of our inaudible and we have since been included under AGOA II. And so the only issue is that the dispensation, that concession should be maintained, therefore, as long as AGOA remains, because like the President, we believe in trade. Of course, we believe in aid too laughter so both aid and trade and cooperation. So that's what we have been talking about of course, other things. But of course, there are a whole range of issues on which we consulted, reaching across the region, performance of our economy but the region of the south of southern Africa and then sub Saharan Africa as a whole. President Bush. Mr. President, thanks. Listen, we're so honored that you invited us here. We're thrilled to be here. You have been a very strong leader. First, I want to commend you for your leadership. I appreciate your commitment to democracy and freedom, to rule of law and transparency. I want to congratulate you for serving your country so very well. We did talk a lot of issues. We talked about the regional issues. We talked about the war on terror. We've got a great friend in the war on terror. We both understand that we must work together to share intelligence, to cut off money, to forever deny terrorists a chance to plot and plan and hurt those of us who love freedom. I talked spent some time on the HIV AIDS issue. Botswana, as a result of the President's leadership, has really been on the forefront of dealing with this serious problem by, first and foremost, admitting that there is a problem and then by working to put a strategy in place to prevent and treat and to provide help for those who suffer. And Mr. President, the United States of America stands squarely with you President Mogae. Thank you. President Bush. with you and your Health Minister and your administration to help put together a strategy that will save lives. We talked about the shortage of food in parts of Africa. We had a wide ranging discussion. And President Mogae is a strong, visionary leader who I'm proud to call friend. So thank you, Mr. President, for your hospitality. We'll be glad to answer a couple of questions. If you'd like to call on somebody from your press corps first President Mogae. Does anyone want to ask President Bush. That's not the way we do it in laughter . Zimbabwe Q. To the U.S. President, yesterday when you met President Mbeki of South Africa, the MDC leader in Zimbabwe was not very excited about that. He feels you were misled. What are your views on that? Did you have any plans for Zimbabwe, and did you shelve them because of what you heard yesterday or are you still going to go ahead with them? President Bush. Well, thank you very much. I made it very clear publicly, the position of this administration, and that is that we expect there to be democracy in Zimbabwe in order for the people of that country to advance. We did speak about Zimbabwe here. I explained why the Secretary of State and myself have been very outspoken on the subject. And we had a frank discussion with President Mbeki on Zimbabwe as well. It is it's a shame that that economy has gotten so weak and soft it's a shame for Botswana it's a shame for southern Africa and that the weakness in the economy is directly attributable to bad governance. And therefore, we will continue to speak out for democracy in Zimbabwe. Ryan of Bloomberg Ryan Donmoyer, Bloomberg News . There he is. Hi, Ryan. How are you? Agricultural Subsidies Q. Mr. President, in Evian you and the Europeans talked about maybe reducing agricultural subsidies. Is this something that has come up in your meeting today? And what assurances can you give to your African counterparts that this is something that the U.S. is serious about? President Bush. Yes, that's a very good question. Absolutely, the subject of agricultural subsidies came up here today it came up yesterday. I suspect and it came up in Senegal. It will come up in every country we come to, because African leaders are worried that subsidies, agricultural subsidies, are undermining their capacity to become self sufficient in food. That's part of the problem. The other part of the problem is the lack of technological development in agriculture. And we talked about the need for genetically modified crops throughout the continent of Africa. I told them the reality of the situation, that we have proposed a very strong reduction in agricultural subsidies. However, in order to make that come to be, there needs to be reciprocation from Europe and Japan in order to make the policy effective. We're committed to a world that trades in freedom, and we will work toward that through the Doha Round of the World Trade Organization. African Growth and Opportunity Act Q. To President Festus Mogae President Mogae. Yes, yes. Okay. President Bush. This is a bad precedent, where the same person gets to ask two questions. Laughter Q. There was a sentiment that Your Honor was going to ask the U.S. President if AGOA, the lifespan of AGOA, could be extended. Was that done today? President Mogae. You bet. Laughter President Bush. In plain English. President Mogae. Yes. Q. And for how long? President Bush. Well, I've asked Congress to extend AGOA to '08, 2008. And the President, of course, said, "Well, fine, if that extension takes place, make sure we're a part of it." And he made his case very explicitly. Everybody in the delegation heard him clearly. And my response was, "We will work closely with you to see if that can't happen." Tamara Tamara Lipper , Newsweek. Iraq HIV AIDS Initiative Q. Thank you, Mr. President. I'm going to try for two questions as well. President Bush. No, no, please don't do that. It may be the last question you get if you try. Laughter Go ahead. Q. On this trip you've highlighted a lot of different success stories in Africa, the countries that have been successful in fighting AIDS or on trade. What do you hope Americans who are watching you take from your trip here? And then secondly, on Iraq, given the sort of day to day challenges facing American soldiers there, how important or is it increasingly important to find Saddam Hussein, and any updates on a hunt for him to really convince people he might be gone for good? President Bush. Well, let me start with Iraq. Having talked to Jerry Bremer, the man in charge of the civilian operations there, he believes that the vast majority of Iraqi citizens are thrilled that Saddam Hussein is no longer in power. Secondly, there's no question we've got a security issue in Iraq, and we're just going to have to deal with person by person. We're going to have to remain tough. Now, part of the issue that we've got to make clear is that any terrorist acts on infrastructure by former Ba'athists, for example, really are attacks on the Iraqi people. And therefore, the more involved the Iraqi citizens become in securing their own infrastructure and the more involved Iraqi citizens are in the transitional government, the more likely it is the average citizen will understand that once again the apologists for Saddam Hussein are bringing misery on their country. The world will see eventually as freedom spreads that what Saddam Hussein did to the mentality of the Iraqi people. I mean, we've discovered torture chambers where people, citizens, were tortured just based upon their beliefs. We've discovered mass graves, graves for not only men and women but graves for children. We discovered a prison for children all aimed at for Sad dam Hussein to intimidate the people of Iraq. And slowly but surely, the people of Iraq are learning the responsibility that comes with being a free society. We haven't been there long, I mean, relatively speaking. We've been there for 90 to 100 days I don't have the exact number. But I will tell you, it's going to take more than 90 to 100 days for people to recognize the great joys of freedom and the responsibilities that come with freedom. We're making steady progress. A free Iraq will mean a peaceful world. And it's very important for us to stay the course, and we will stay the course. The first question was about what I want Americans to know. The first thing I wanted the leadership in Africa to know is the American people care deeply about the pandemic that sweeps across this continent, the pandemic of HIV AIDS, that we're not only a powerful nation, we're also a compassionate nation. You know, I laid out a very strong initiative on helping countries in the continent of Africa deal with AIDS. It's a to me, it's an expression of the great, good heart of the American people. It doesn't matter what political party or what the ideology of the American citizen, the average citizen cares deeply about the fact that people are dying in record numbers because of HIV AIDS. We cry for the orphan. We care for the mom who is alone. We are concerned about the plight and, therefore, will respond as generously as we can. That's really the story that I want the people of Africa to hear. And I want the people of America to know that I'm willing to take that story to this continent and talk about the goodness of our country. And I believe we'll be successful, when it's all said and done, of making our intentions well known. Listen, thank you all. July 09, 2003 President Mbeki. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome. I'm very pleased indeed to welcome President Bush and his delegation, Mrs. Bush, and young Barbara. We are very pleased indeed, Mr. President, that you were able to come. It's very important for us because of the importance of the United States to our future and the United States to the future of our continent. We've had very good discussions with the President, able to cover quite a wide field. We're very pleased with the development of the bilateral relations, strong economic links, growing all the time. Continued attention by the U.S. corporate world on South Africa is very critically important for us. AGOA has had a very big impact in terms of the development of our economy, and we continue to work on all of these matters. It also gave us a chance to convey our thanks to the President for the support with regards to meeting the African continental challenges. That includes questions of peace and security, the NEPAD processes, again, very important for the future of our continent. That, of course, also gave an opportunity to discuss some of the specific areas of conflict around the continent. I must say, President, that at the end of these discussions, we, all of us, feel enormously strengthened by your very, very firm and clear commitment to assist us to meet the challenges that we've got to meet domestically and on the African Continent. And therefore, President, thank you very much indeed for coming. We the visit will certainly result in strengthened bilateral relations and strengthened cooperation to meet these other challenges that we face together. But welcome, President. President Bush. Mr. President, thanks. Gosh, we're honored to be here. Thank you for your wonderful hospitality. Thank Mrs. Mbeki as well for her gracious hospitality. It's a pleasure to be in South Africa. Your Nation's recent history is a great story of courage and persistence in the pursuit of justice. This is a country that threw off oppression and is now the force of freedom and stability and a force for progress throughout the continent of Africa. I appreciate our strong relationship, and it is a vital relationship. And Mr. President, I want to thank you very much for working hard to make it a vital and strong relationship. We've met quite a few times in the recent past, and every time we've met, I've I feel refreshed and appreciate very much your advice and counsel and your leadership. I appreciate the President's dedication to openness and accountability. He is advancing these principles in the New Partnership for African Development, the leader in that effort. The President and I believe that the partnership can help extend democracy and free markets and transparency across the continent of Africa. President Mbeki has shown great leadership in this initiative, and our country will support the leaders who accept the principles of reform, and we'll work with them. So thank you, Mr. President. South Africa is playing a critical role in promoting regional security in Africa, and we discussed the President's leadership, for example, in Burundi. South Africa has helped achieve the peaceful inauguration of a new President. Or in the Congo, South Africa brokered an agreement on the creation of a transitional government. And in Zimbabwe, I've encouraged President Mbeki and his Government to continue to work for the return of democracy in that important country. I also discussed with the President the importance of the continued cooperation in the global war on terror. The United States and South Africa are working together to strengthen this nation's border security and law enforcement. And we're devoting 100 million to help countries in eastern Africa increase their counterterror efforts. We are determined to fight and to join our friends to fight terrorists throughout this continent, throughout the world. We're also committed to helping African nations achieve peace. In Liberia, the United States strongly supports the cease fire agreement signed last month. President Taylor needs to leave Liberia so that his country can be spared further grief and bloodshed. Yesterday, I talked with President Kufuor of Ghana, who leads ECOWAS. I shared with the President our conversation. I assured him the United States will work closely with ECOWAS and the United Nations to maintain the cease fire and to enable a peaceful transfer of power. We're also pressing forward to help end Africa's long running civil war in Sudan. My Special Envoy, Senator Jack Danforth, is returning to the region. We're making progress there. And his message is that there's only one option, and that's going to be peace. And his efforts are making good progress. The President also discussed our action to combat HIV AIDS. South Africa has recently increased its budget to fight the disease, and we noticed and we appreciate that. America is now undertaking a major new effort to help governments and private groups combat AIDS. Over the next 5 years, we will spend 15 billion in the global fight against AIDS. People across Africa had the will to fight this disease but often not the resources, and the United States of America is willing to put up the resources to help in the fight. We're committed to helping the people of Africa defeat hunger. We provided more than 500,000 metric tons of food aid to southern Africa over the past 18 months. This year we'll provide nearly 1 billion to address food emergencies. We care when we see people who are hungry. We look forward to working with Mr. President to alleviate suffering. We're also working to expand trade, which I believe is the key to Africa's economic future. The African Growth and Opportunity Act is creating jobs and stimulating investment across the continent. Right here in South Africa, exports to the United States under AGOA have increased by 45 percent in the last year alone significant progress. We're working with five nations of the Southern African Customs Union on a free trade agreement to help expand the circle of prosperity even wider. Mr. President, our countries have many common interests. We also share a fundamental commitment to the spread of peace and human rights and liberty. By working in close partnership, we're serving both the interests of the people of South Africa and the United States. I want to thank you for your friendship, appreciate the hospitality. It's been a great honor to be in your country. President Mbeki. Thank you very much, President. I understand that two U.S. journalists and two South African journalists will pose some questions. HIV AIDS Initiative Q. Thank you, Mr. President. I'd like to direct the question to both Presidents, and it does concern the issue of HIV AIDS and the 15 billion grant. Did you manage to reach some kind of understanding or consensus on the issue of how South Africa will access that money, on what terms South Africa will be able to access that money? And President Bush, did you give any undertakings in terms of using your influence to ensure that there will be cheaper access access to cheaper drugs and medicines? And to President Mbeki, sir, did you President Mbeki. How many questions President Bush. Yes, I was going to say laughter . Q. This is the last part. President Bush. This is the ultimate five part question. Laughter Q. Did you give any undertaking in terms of the running out of the national treatment plan? Thank you. President Mbeki. Well, as the President had indicated, we did indeed discuss this. The situation is that we received a request from the U.S. Government to say, can we make proposals as to how to access the fund, for what purposes a program, a program that we would present. So we are working on that. We want to respond to that request from the United States Government as quickly as is possible. We will do that and convey it. So it will be out of that process of discussion that will result, out of that proposal between the U.S. Government and ourselves, that then will come a program, a particular concrete kind of action, with the necessary costing when we get to that stage. So that's where we are. So the matter will be discussed in that way. And President Bush had indicated in our discussions that of course the U.S. Government is taking a comprehensive approach to this, which would, therefore, include questions of awareness, questions of health infrastructure, questions of treatment, and so on. So we will look at the totality of those and in the proposal that we would make. President Bush. We just named Tobias to be the Ambassador, nominated him to be the Ambassador, and he's upon confirmation will be working with the countries such as South Africa to develop a strategy is what we need. We need a commonsense strategy to make sure that the money is well spent. And the definition of "well spent" means lives are saved, which means good treatment programs, good prevention programs, good programs to develop health infrastructures in remote parts of different countries so that we can actually get antiretroviral drugs to those who need help. The cost of antiretroviral drugs has dropped substantially. But we did talk about the pharmaceutical union in a broader context. As you may know, the United States supported a moratorium on the enforcement of patent laws concerning those drugs related to diseases that were causing pandemics. And we will continue to work with South Africa as well as other countries to see if we can't reach a commonsense policy that, on the one hand, protects intellectual property rights and, on the other hand, makes, you know, lifesaving drugs or treatment drugs for, in some cases, lifesaving, in some cases that are proper for treatment, more widely available at reasonable costs. But one reason I felt emboldened to ask the Congress for a substantial amount of new money for the AIDS Initiative was because of the cost of antiretrovirals, and it's significantly lower than it was a couple of years ago. So we're making good progress. And I look forward to working with the President on putting together a sound strategy that saves lives. That's what our country is interested in. We're interested in dealing with this pandemic in a practical way. Tom Tom Raum, Associated Press . But whatever you do, don't fall into that bad habit of asking both of us three or four questions. Laughter How about keeping it to one. Liberia Deployment of U.S. Troops Worldwide Q. Mr. President, you have an assessment team in Liberia now to help you decide whether to send in U.S. troops as part of a peacekeeping effort. President Bush. Right. Q. U.S. troops are getting shot at increasingly in Iraq every day. We have troops in Kosovo, Bosnia, Afghanistan, Korea. What do you say to critics who suggest that our forces may be spread too thinly now to engage in further initiatives? And to President Mbeki, do you think that the United States should play a more active role in peacekeeping, specifically in Liberia? President Bush. Well, first, my answer to people is that we won't overextend our troops, period. Secondly, we have made a commitment that we will work closely with the United Nations and ECOWAS to enforce the cease fire, see to it that Mr. Taylor leaves office, so that there can be a peaceful transition in Liberia. We've made that commitment. I've said it clearly more than one time, like yesterday in Senegal, for example. So nothing has changed from about 12 hours ago on that question. We do have assessment teams there to assess what is necessary to help with the transition. And the President brought up the question, and he can answer it his own way. But he asked whether or not we'd be involved, and I said, "Yes, we'll be involved." And we're now determining the extent of our involvement. President Mbeki. Yes, certainly, we discussed this question with the President many years ago and agreed that it's critically important that we as Africans should, indeed, take responsibility for the future of peace and stability on the continent. So that is a principal obligation that falls on us as Africans. So as you would know, the West African states, ECOWAS, have agreed to send in troops into Liberia. And they are trying to move that process forward as quickly as is possible. We appreciate very much the point that was made by the President of the commitment of the United States to lend sup port the assessment teams are there to assess that to lend support to those processes, processes of restoration of peace, making sure people don't starve, making sure that there's a restoration of democracy in Liberia. So the U.S. will cooperate with the African troops that will go there. So it's not we're not saying that this is a burden that just falls on the United States. It really ought to principally fall on us as Africans. Of course, we need a lot of support, logistics wise and so on, to do that, but the will is there. President Bush. Just one quick followup on that violating of the one answer policy. Laughter I think our money has helped train seven battalions of peacekeepers amongst African troops. And it's a sensible policy for us to continue that training mission, so that we never do get overextended. And so one of the things you'll see us do is invigorate this reinvigorate the strategy of helping people help themselves by providing training opportunities. I think we've trained five Nigerian battalions, if I'm not mistaken, one Senegalese. So we've got but it's in our interest that we continue that strategy, Tom, so that we don't ever get overextended. President Mbeki. Thanks. Zimbabwe Q. During the past week, the two Presidents or the Governments of the Government of the U.S. and South Africa have expressed sharp differences about the best way to deal with the Zimbabwean question. President Bush. Yes. Q. And having met this morning, I wonder if the two Presidents have found the best approach or have agreed about the best approach to deal with Zimbabwe. I see that it has come up. Can we get from the smiles that you now have a formula to deal best with Zimbabwe? Laughter President Mbeki. I didn't know, President, that we'd expressed sharp differences. President Bush. That's right. Laughter President Mbeki. No. We are absolutely of one mind, the two Governments and President Bush and myself are absolutely of one mind about the urgent need to address the political and economic challenges of Zimbabwe. It's necessary to resolve this matter as quickly as is possible. We have said, as you would know, for a long time that the principle is rooted principal responsibility for the resolution of these problems rests with the people of Zimbabwe and, therefore, have urged them both the ruling party and the opposition, the Government and the opposition to get together and seriously tackle all of these issues. I did tell the President that, indeed, the Government ZANU PF and the MDC are indeed discussing. They are engaged in discussions on all of the matters that would be relevant to the resolution of these political and economic problems. So that process is going on. We have communicated the message to both sides that indeed, as we agreed with the President that it is very, very important that they should move forward with urgency to find a resolution to these questions. Of course, again, as the President was saying, that apart from these important political issues about democrats and so on, you actually have ordinary people who are hungry in an economy which can't cope with them, and you can't allow that kind of situation to go on forever. So they are discussing. We had discussed this matter earlier, sometime back, with the U.S. Government that we have to find we've got to find a way of getting a political solution, and we would indeed count very much on such economic, financial support as would come from the United States afterwards, in order to address the urgent challenges that face Zimbabwe. So we didn't fight about any of what I've just said. Laughter President Bush. We were smiling because we were certain a clever reporter would try to use the Zimbabwe issue as a way to maybe create tensions which don't exist. Look, Zimbabwe is an important country for the economic health of Africa. A free, peaceful Zimbabwe has got the capacity to deliver a lot of goods and services which are needed on this continent in order to help relieve suffering. And it's a very sad situation that's taken place in that country. Look, we share the same objective. The President is the person most involved. He represents a mighty country in the neighborhood who's, because of his position and his responsibility, is working the issue. And I'm not not any intention of second guessing his tactics. We share the same outcome. And I think it's important for the United States, whether it be me or my Secretary of State, to speak out when we see a situation where somebody's freedoms have been taken away from them and they're suffering. And that's what we're going to continue to do. The President is the point man on this important subject. He is working it very hard. He's in touch with the parties involved. He is he's making he believes, making good progress. And the United States supports him in this effort. Last question. Randy Randall Mikkelsen, Reuters . Intelligence on Iraq Zimbabwe Q. Yes, Mr. President. Do you regret that your State of the Union accusation that Iraq was trying to buy nuclear materials in Africa is now fueling charges that you and Prime Minister Blair misled the public? And then, secondly, following up on Zimbabwe, are you willing to have a representative meet with a representative of the Zimbabwe opposition leader, who sent a delegation here and complained that he did not think Mr. Mbeki could be an honest broker in the process? President Bush. Well, I think Mr. Mbeki can be an honest broker, to answer the second question. The first question is look, there is no doubt in my mind that Saddam Hussein was a threat to the world peace. And there's no doubt in my mind the United States, along with allies and friends, did the right thing in removing him from power. And there's no doubt in my mind, when it's all said and done, the facts will show the world the truth. There's absolutely no doubt in my mind. And so there's going to be a lot of, you know, attempts to try to rewrite history, and I can understand that. But I am absolutely confident in the decision I made. Q. Do you still believe they were trying to buy nuclear materials in Africa? President Bush. Right now? Q. No, were they? I mean, the statement you made President Bush. One thing is for certain, he's not trying to buy anything right now. If he's alive, he's on the run. And that's to the benefit of the Iraqi people. But look, I am confident that Saddam Hussein had a weapons of mass destruction program. In 1991, I will remind you, we underestimated how close he was to having a nuclear weapon. Imagine a world in which this tyrant had a nuclear weapon. In 1998, my predecessor raided Iraq based upon the very same intelligence. And in 2003, after the world had demanded he disarm, we decided to disarm him. And I'm convinced the world is a much more peaceful and secure place as a result of the actions. Thank you all very much. President Mbeki. Thanks a lot. July 08, 2003 Mr. President and Madam First Lady, distinguished guests and residents of Goree Island, citizens of Senegal, I'm honored to begin my visit to Africa in your beautiful country. For hundreds of years on this island, peoples of different continents met in fear and cruelty. Today we gather in respect and friendship, mindful of past wrongs and dedicated to the advance of human liberty. At this place, liberty and life were stolen and sold. Human beings were delivered and sorted and weighed and branded with the marks of commercial enterprises and loaded as cargo on a voyage without return. One of the largest migrations of history was also one of the greatest crimes of history. Below the decks, the Middle Passage was a hot, narrow, sunless nightmare, weeks and months of confinement and abuse and confusion on a strange and lonely sea. Some refused to eat, preferring death to any future their captors might prepare for them. Some who were sick were thrown over the side. Some rose up in violent rebellion, delivering the closest thing to justice on a slave ship. Many acts of defiance and bravery are recorded countless others, we will never know. Those who lived to see land again were displayed, examined, and sold at auctions across nations in the Western Hemisphere. They entered societies indifferent to their anguish and made prosperous by their unpaid labor. There was a time in my country's history when one in every seven human beings was the property of another. In law, they were regarded only as articles of commerce, having no right to travel or to marry or to own possessions. Because families were often separated, many were denied even the comfort of suffering together. For 250 years, the captives endured an assault on their culture and their dignity. The spirit of Africans in America did not break yet, the spirit of their captors was corrupted. Small men took on the powers and airs of tyrants and masters. Years of unpunished brutality and bullying and rape produced a dullness and hardness of conscience. Christian men and women became blind to the clearest commands of their faith and added hypocrisy to injustice. A republic founded on equality for all became a prison for millions. And yet in the words of the African proverb, "No fist is big enough to hide the sky." All the generations of oppression under the laws of man could not crush the hope of freedom and defeat the purposes of God. In America, enslaved Africans learned the story of the Exodus from Egypt and set their own hearts on a promised land of freedom. Enslaved Africans discovered a suffering Saviour and found He was more like themselves than their masters. Enslaved Africans heard the ringing promises of the Declaration of Independence and asked the self evident question, "Then why not me?" In the year of America's founding, a man named Olaudah Equiano was taken in bondage to the New World. He witnessed all of slavery's cruelties, the ruthless and the petty. He also saw beyond the slave holding piety of the time to a higher standard of humanity. "God tells us," wrote Equiano, "that the oppressor and the oppressed are both in His hands. And if these are not the poor, the brokenhearted, the blind, the captive, the bruised which our Saviour speaks of, who are they?" Down through the years, African Americans have upheld the ideals of America by exposing laws and habits contradicting those ideals. The rights of African Americans were not the gift of those in authority. Those rights were granted by the Author of Life and regained by the persistence and courage of African Americans, themselves. Among those Americans was Phyllis Wheatley, who was dragged from her home here in West Africa in 1761, at the age of 7. In my country, she became a poet and the first noted black author in our Nation's history. Phyllis Wheatley said, "In every human breast, God has implanted a principle which we call love of freedom. It is impatient of oppression and pants for deliverance." That deliverance was demanded by escaped slaves named Frederick Douglass and Sojourner Truth, educators named Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. Du Bois, and ministers of the Gospel named Leon Sullivan and Martin Luther King, Jr. At every turn, the struggle for equality was resisted by many of the powerful. And some have said we should not judge their failures by the standards of a later time. Yet in every time, there were men and women who clearly saw this sin and called it by name. We can fairly judge the past by the standards of President John Adams, who called slavery "an evil of colossal magnitude." We can discern eternal standards in the deeds of William Wilberforce and John Quincy Adams and Harriet Beecher Stowe and Abraham Lincoln. These men and women, black and white, burned with a zeal for freedom, and they left behind a different and better nation. Their moral vision caused Americans to examine our hearts, to correct our Constitution, and to teach our children the dignity and equality of every person of every race. By a plan known only to Providence, the stolen sons and daughters of Africa helped to awaken the conscience of America. The very people traded into slavery helped to set America free. My Nation's journey toward justice has not been easy, and it is not over. The racial bigotry fed by slavery did not end with slavery or with segregation. And many of the issues that still trouble America have roots in the bitter experience of other times. But however long the journey, our destination is set liberty and justice for all. In the struggle of the centuries, America learned that freedom is not the possession of one race. We know with equal certainty that freedom is not the possession of one nation. This belief in the natural rights of man, this conviction that justice should reach wherever the Sun passes, leads America into the world. With the power and resources given to us, the United States seeks to bring peace where there is conflict, hope where there is suffering, and liberty where there is tyranny. And these commitments bring me and other distinguished leaders of my Government across the Atlantic to Africa. African peoples are now writing your own story of liberty. Africans have overcome the arrogance of colonial powers, overturned the cruelties of apartheid, and made it clear that dictatorship is not the future of any nation on this continent. In the process, Africa has produced heroes of liberation, leaders like Mandela, Senghor, Nkrumah, Kenyatta, Selassie, and Sadat. And many visionary African leaders, such as my friend, have grasped the power of economic and political freedom to lift whole nations and put forth bold plans for Africa's development. Because Africans and Americans share a belief in the values of liberty and dignity, we must share in the labor of advancing those values. In a time of growing commerce across the globe, we will ensure that the nations of Africa are full partners in the trade and prosperity of the world. Against the waste and violence of civil war, we will stand together for peace. Against the merciless terrorists who threaten every nation, we will wage an unrelenting campaign of justice. Confronted with desperate hunger, we will answer with human compassion and the tools of human technology. In the face of spreading disease, we will join with you in turning the tide against AIDS in Africa. We know that these challenges can be overcome, because history moves in the direction of justice. The evils of slavery were accepted and unchanged for centuries. Yet eventually, the human heart would not abide them. There is a voice of conscience and hope in every man and woman that will not be silenced, what Martin Luther King called "a certain kind of fire that no water could put out." That flame could not be extinguished at the Birmingham jail. It could not be stamped out at Robben Island prison. It was seen in the darkness here at Goree Island, where no chain could bind the soul. This untamed fire of justice continues to burn in the affairs of man, and it lights the way before us. May God bless you all. July 05, 2003 Good morning. Every Fourth of July, we take special pride in the first generation of Americans, the men and women who waged a desperate fight to overcome tyranny and live in freedom. Centuries later, it is hard to imagine the Revolutionary War coming out any other way. Yet victory was far from certain and came at great cost. Six years passed from the fighting at Concord Bridge to the victory at Yorktown, 6 years of struggle and hardship for American patriots. By their courage and perseverance, the Colonies became a country. That land of 13 States and fewer than 4 million people grew and prospered. And today, all who live in tyranny and all who yearn for freedom place their hopes in the United States of America. For more than two centuries, Americans have been called to serve and sacrifice for the ideals of our founding, and the men and women of our military have never failed us. They have left many monuments along the way, an undivided Union, a liberated Europe, the rise of democracy in Asia, and the fall of an evil empire. Millions across the world are free today because of the unselfish courage of America's veterans. The current generation of our military is meeting the threats of a new era and fighting new battles in the war on terror. People in every branch of the service and thousands of Guard and Reserve members called to active duty have carried out their missions with all the skill and honor we expect of them. This Nation is grateful to our men and women in uniform. On this Fourth of July weekend, we also remember the brave Americans we've lost in Afghanistan and Iraq. We honor each one for their courage and sacrifice. We think of the families who miss them so much. And we are thankful that this Nation produces such fine men and women who are willing to defend us all. At this hour, many are still serving, sacrificing, and facing danger in distant places. Many military families are still separated. Our people in uniform do not have easy duty, and much depends on their success. Without America's active involvement in the world, the ambitions of tyrants would go unopposed, and millions would live at the mercy of terrorists. With America's active involvement in the world, tyrants have learned to fear, and terrorists are on the run. This Nation is acting to defend our security, yet our mission in the world is broader. The Declaration of Independence holds a promise for all mankind. Because Americans believe that freedom is an unalienable right, we value the freedom of every nation. Because we are committed to the God given worth of every life, we work for human dignity in every land. We protect our friends and raise up former enemies to be our friends. We bring food and disaster relief to the nations of the world in times of crisis. And in Africa, where I will go next week, the United States of America is leading the effort to fight AIDS and save millions of lives with the healing power of medicine. Just as our enemies are going to know the strong will of America, people across this Earth are seeing the good and generous heart of America. As citizens of this good Nation, we can be proud of our heritage and confident in our future. The ideals of July 4th, 1776, still speak to all humanity, and the Revolution declared that day goes on. As we celebrate our independence in 2003, we still place our trust in divine providence. We still pledge our lives and honor to freedom's defense. And we will always believe that freedom is the hope and the future of every land. May God continue to bless the United States of America. Thank you for listening. July 04, 2003 The President. Thank you all very much. Thanks for the warm welcome. Want to be seated? Be seated. Laughter It's kind of a long speech. Laughter Thanks for coming. It's great to be in the great State of Ohio. I am proud to be at Wright Patt, the birthplace, the home, and the future of aerospace. I had the honor of meeting Amanda Wright Lane and Steve Wright, descendants of the Wright brothers. They were quick to remind me that Dayton is where the Wright brothers first drew up the plans for their flying machine. I wonder what Wilbur and Orville would have thought if they'd have seen that flying machine that I came in on today. Laughter I'm truly honored to join you in celebrating the 227th anniversary of our Nation's independence. The Fourth of July, 2003, finds our country facing many challenges, and we're rising to meet them. Today and every day, the people of this land are grateful for our freedom, and we are proud to call ourselves citizens of the United States of America. I want to thank Governor Bob Taft and the First Lady of Ohio for their friendship and their leadership for the State of Ohio. I appreciate so very much my friends Senator George Voinovich and Senator Mike DeWine for coming out to greet with me today and to be here with you all. They're great United States Senators. I want to thank Congressman Michael Turner, Congressman David Hobson, and Congressman John Boehner for their service to the State of Ohio. I was so honored that a great American, former Senator John Glenn, and his wife, Annie, came out to say hello at the airport, and I'm honored they are here today. I want to thank them for coming. I appreciate members of the State government The Lieutenant Governor, Jennette Bradley, is with us today Treasurer Joe Deters and Doug White, the senate president. I want to thank the mayor of the city of Dayton, Mayor McLin, for coming today as well and all those involved with city government. I appreciate the generals on this base that make this fantastic base function so well, starting with Les Lyles, the commander. I want to thank Brad Tillson, who is the chairman of Inventing Flight Commission, and John Barry, who is chairman of the Air Force Museum Foundation. Today when I landed, I had the opportunity to meet a fellow citizen named Becky Lundy. Audience member. Yeah! The President. Somebody has heard of her. Laughter Becky Lundy is the spouse of a active duty Air Force member. What makes her unique is she's a volunteer at the Family Support Center at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. She takes time out of her day to comfort those who need comfort. She understands that service to our country means helping somebody in need. Listen, we're a strong and powerful nation because we've got a great military. But we're also strong because we're a nation of fine hearts. If those of you are looking for some way to serve your country, go to usafreedomcorps.gov on your Internet. Look up a place to help a neighbor in need. Join the armies of compassion, just as Becky Lundy does. We are changing America one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time, and we need your help. But most of all, I want to thank you all for coming today. I appreciate the families from this base and citizens from all across the State of Ohio who have come to celebrate our Independence Day. During the last year, people at this base have met hardships together. You looked out for each other. You've given strength and support to our men and women in uniform. Like military communities across the country, you have played a vital part in our Nation's cause, and America is grateful. Every year on this date, we take special pride in the founding generation, the men and women who waged a desperate fight to overcome tyranny and live in freedom. Centuries later, it is hard to imagine the Revolutionary War coming out any way other than it how it came out. Yet victory was far from certain and came at great cost. Those brave men and women were certain only of the cause they served, the belief that freedom is the gift of God and the right of all mankind. Six years passed from the fighting at Concord Bridge to the victory at Yorktown, 6 years of struggle and hardship for American patriots. By their courage and perseverance, the Colonies became a country. The land of 13 States and fewer than 4 million people grew and prospered. And today, all who live in tyranny and all who yearn for freedom place their hopes in the United States of America. For more than two centuries, Americans have been called to serve and sacrifice for the ideals of our founding, and the men and women of our military have never failed us. They have left many monuments along the way, an undivided Union, a liberated Europe, the rise of democracy in Asia, and the fall of an evil empire. Millions across the world are free today because of the unselfish courage of American veterans. And today we honor our veterans. And today we honor the current generation of our military, which is answering the call to defend our freedom and to bring freedom to others. The 23,000 men and women of Wright Patt, military and civilian, have been crucial to our victories in Afghanistan and in Iraq. Research done at this base has helped give America the finest Air Force in history. The Predator drone, which is serving us so well overseas, was developed right here. Doctors and specialists from this base cared for wounded soldiers and for wounded prisoners. Many critical medical evacuations were carried out by the skillful pilots and crews of the mighty 445th Wing of Wright Patt. C 141s from this base transported troops and equipment to serve in both Operation Enduring Freedom and in Operation Iraqi Freedom. And B 1 bombers supported from this base made their presence known in Baghdad, striking the dictator's regime until the regime was no more. Our United States military is meeting the threats of a new era. People in every branch of the service and thousands of Guard and Reserve members called to active duty have carried out their missions with all the skill and the honor we expect of them. This Nation is grateful to the men and women who wear our Nation's uniform. And on this Fourth of July, we also remember the brave Americans we have lost. We honor each one for their courage and for their sacrifice. We think of the families who miss them so much. And we are thankful that this Nation produces such fine men and women who are willing to defend us all. May God rest their souls. Our Nation is still at war. The enemies of America plot against us, and many of our fellow citizens are still serving and sacrificing and facing danger in distant places. Many military families are separated. Our people in uniform do not have easy duty, and much depends on their success. Without America's active involvement in the world, the ambitions of tyrants would go unopposed, and millions would live at the mercy of terrorists. With Americans' active involvement in the world, tyrants learn to fear, and terrorists are on the run. By killing innocent Americans, our enemies made their intentions clear to us. And since that September day, we have made our own intentions clear to them. The United States will not stand by and wait for another attack or trust in the restraint and good intentions of evil men. We are on the offensive against terrorists and all who support them. We will not permit any terrorist group or outlaw regime to threaten us with weapons of mass murder. We will act whenever it is necessary to protect the lives and the liberty of the American people. America's work in the world does not end with the removal of grave threats. The Declaration of Independence holds a promise for all mankind. Because Americans believe that freedom is an unalienable right, we value the freedom of every nation. Because we are committed to the God given worth of every life, we work for human dignity. We protect our friends, and we raise up former enemies to be our friends. We bring food and disaster relief to the nations of the world in times of crisis. And in Africa, where I'll go next week, the United States is leading the effort to fight AIDS and save millions of lives with the healing power of medicine. Just as our enemies are coming to know the strong will of America, people across the Earth are seeing the good and generous heart of America. Americans are a generous people because we realize how much we have been given. On the Fourth of July, we can be grateful for the unity of our country in meeting great challenges, for the renewal of patriotism that adversity has brought, and for the valor we have seen in those who defend the United States. In recent events, we have learned the names of some exceptional young men and women who have shown the strength and character of America. At a hospital in Washington, I met Master Gunnery Sergeant Guadalupe Denogean, an immigrant from Mexico who has served in the Marine Corps for 25 years. In March, he was wounded in combat in Basra and sent back to America for treatment. When I asked if he had any requests, the Master Gunnery Sergeant had just two. He wanted a promotion for the colonel who rescued him, and he wanted to be an American citizen. I was there the day that Guadalupe Denogean took the oath of citizenship. From the hospital where he was recovering, this son of Mexico raised his right hand and pledged to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. He had kept that oath for decades before he took it. I'm proud to call him a fellow American. To be an American, whether by birth or choice, is a high privilege. As citizens of this good Nation, we can all be proud of our heritage and confident in our future. The ideals of July 4th, 1776, still speak to all humanity. And the Revolution declared that day goes on. On July the 4th, 2003, we still placed our trust in divine providence. We still pledge our lives and honor to freedom's defense. And we will always believe that freedom is the hope and the future of every land. May God continue to bless the United States of America. July 03, 2003 Liberia Vincent Makori. Mr. President, if the U.S. was to send a peacekeeping force to Liberia, what role will it play and what limitations will you have? The President. I haven't made up my mind, Vincent, whether we are going to send a so called peacekeeping force. I have made up my mind there needs to be stability in Liberia, and one of the conditions for a peaceful and stable Liberia is for Mr. Charles Taylor to leave the country. And so we're working the issue now. And I say "we," it's my of course, the Secretary of State, the very capable Colin Powell, is working with Kofi Annan, who is also working with others on the continent to facilitate that type of move. As well, there was a meeting today with ECOWAS leadership as to what the nature of a so called peacekeeping force might look like. And that's very important information for me, the decisionmaker on this issue, to understand what the recommendations might be. I have yet to get those recommendations, but I expect I will in the next couple of days. Mr. Makori. Mr. President, you have asked Mr. Charles Taylor to step down for the sake of peace. What will be your response to him if he does not heed your advice? The President. Oh, I think we'll have to wait, Vincent, on that. You know, I suspect he will, and so therefore, I'm an optimistic person. I'm not going to take "no" for an answer. My hope is it's not only my voice. It's the voice of a lot of others saying the same thing, and I think it's very important for us to be positive about having a good outcome. Mr. Makori. And given the historical ties between the United States and Liberia, does the U.S. have a moral obligation to intervene in Liberia? The President. Well, there's no question there is a it is a unique relationship between Liberia and the United States, and I suspect that's why we're I don't suspect I know that's why we're very much engaged in the discussions about how to bring a peaceful and secure Liberia to be. I mean, it's yes, there is a unique history between the United States and Liberia. Democracy in Africa Mr. Makori. Mr. President, because all this boils down to leadership, what is the best thing the U.S. can do to discourage despotic and dictatorial rulerships in Africa and promote democracy, true democracy? The President. Well, I appreciate that question. One thing is, we can help deal with the AIDS pandemic. A society which is ravished by AIDS is a society which is likely to be unstable. And therefore, if we can bring good health care to the millions who suffer and love to the orphans whose parents might have died from AIDS, it makes it easier to have a stable platform for growth. Secondly, trade I'm a big backer of what they call AGOA, which is trade agreements between African countries and the United States. Trade is more likely to make societies prosperous. Our aid program needs to promote the habits necessary for the evolution of a free society. In other words, we're not going to give money to corrupt rulers, and we're not going to give money to nontransparent societies. The American taxpayer and this American President believes that in return for aid and we've got a generous amount of aid available we expect people to take care of their people by educating them and creating good health care. We expect there to be market oriented economies growing. And we expect the rulers to be thoughtful and mindful of who they represent, and that is the people of their country, not themselves or their ruling elite. War on Terror in Africa Mr. Makori. Mr. President, on the area of terrorism, which parts of Africa do you consider the hotspots for terrorism, and what role is the U.S. playing, especially with the regional leaders, to ensure that you are achieving the desired result? The President. Well, unfortunately, a hotspot now is your country, Kenya. And we're very closely working with the Government there. And I will tell you, the Kenyan Government is very strong when it comes to fighting terror. The best thing we can do is share intelligence, is to work closely with the intelligence services of a particular country and then, when we find information, provide that information and encourage the Government to act. And Kenya has done a good job of working with the United States to protect Kenya. And that's what we want. We want people to be able to defend themselves against terror. And unfortunately, some terrorists have been and this has all come to light recently obviously, there was a bombing in Kenya, and now it looks like there may be some action there as well. But the Government is making some very strong moves. Mr. Makori. Thank you very much, Mr. President. The President. Vincent, thank you, sir. July 03, 2003 The President. Thank you all for coming. What I thought I would do is make a couple of opening comments about the upcoming trip and answer some questions, maybe go around the horn a couple of times and give everybody a chance to fire away. First, I'm really looking forward to the trip. I have been to the continent of Africa twice, but I've never been as President, nor have I been on as extensive a tour as the one we are going on. I'll be carrying a message to the African people that, first, America cares about the future of Africa. It's in our national interests that Africa become a prosperous place. It's in our interest that people will continue to fight terror together. It's in our interest that when we find suffering, we deal with it. I've laid out some initiatives that I'll be further describing to the African people and African nations an AIDS initiative the Millennium Challenge Account our education initiative, where we'll be spending now 600 million over a 5 year period of time a 100 million to fight terrorism in east Africa. In other words, just a series of specific initiatives behind a well intentioned administration. And it's important for the leaders to understand precisely what I mean when I talk about these different initiatives. And so when we go to Senegal, we'll be talking to not only my friend President Wade but other leaders from western Africa. When I go to South Africa, of course, it'll be a significant platform from which to speak to leaders in the southern region of Africa. I'll be going to Botswana as well and then up to Nigeria and, finally, Uganda and then home. So it's an extensive trip, and it's an important trip, and I'm very much looking forward to it. And I'll be glad to answer any questions. Why don't we start with you, Mr. Babou. President's Upcoming Visit to Senegal Q. Thank you very much. Mr. President, when will you be going to Senegal and how long will you stay? The President. We're leaving Monday night from here, flying all night long and arriving in Senegal in the morning, and we'll be there for about a half a day. I'll be meeting with President Wade in a bilateral meeting, and then we'll be meeting with I'm not sure how many western African leaders have RSVP'd yet maybe Jendayi knows. African Affairs Senior Director Jendayi Frazer. Seven. The President. Seven other leaders. And then we'll be going to Goree Island, where I'll be giving a speech about race, race in the world, race as it relates to Africa and America. And we're in the process of writing it. I can't give you any highlights of the speech yet because I, frankly, haven't seen it. But I'll be fine tuning the speech. It's an important speech for me to give, and it's one I'm looking forward to giving. I look forward to seeing President Wade on his home turf, because I admire him. I admire his leadership. He is a man who believes in the same principles I believe in. He believes in the dignity of each life. He believes in democracy. He believes in open markets. He understands trade. And in our discussions and we've had quite a few discussions with President Wade he has constantly talked about the need for infrastructure development to link markets. So he's got a he cares deeply about the people of Senegal, but he's also got a regional vision that makes sense. He is a leader, he is one of the leaders of every time we meet at, like, the G 8, President Wade is one of the representatives of the African nations, because he believes in the principles of NEPAD, and he is a good fellow. I'm looking forward to seeing him at home. Yes, sir. Situation in Zimbabwe Q. Thank you, sir. On Zimbabwe, Mr. President, in recent days there has been several references from yourself and Secretary Powell to Zimbabwe once again. The President. Yes, there has been. Q. Now, beyond President Mbeki and President Obasanjo's efforts in the past to get Mugabe and Tsvangirai to sit down together, which has not been very successful, what more do you think they should do? Or what more The President. Well, that's a good question I appreciate that. Yes, we have been outspoken on the subject because we believe that a democracy in Zimbabwe will improve the lives of all the citizens of that important country. Listen, one of the things that we must this country cares about is the plight of each human. And when we see and hear about suffering because of lack of food in sub Saharan Africa, part of our attention is focused on places where there's political instability. And there's no reason why Zimbabwe is not capable of feeding not only herself but others in the region. And the reason why now is because of political instability created by a lack of adherence to the principles of democracy. So when you hear me speak out or when you hear Colin speak out, we're speaking out for principles. And the answer to what more can be done, the world needs to speak with common voice in insisting that the principles of democracy are adhered to by the ruling party in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe the economy of Zimbabwe at one time was a powerful economy for the region. It was a successful economy. People grew food in plentiful supply. Now the people of that country are starving. This country is putting up a billion dollars of money to help people who are starving. Then we're also I'm asking Congress to put up what they call a 200 million fast reaction or a fund for fast reaction to confront famine. We need that so that the flexibility sometimes the appropriators like to put strings on appropriations, so it makes it hard for the executive branch to move with speed. I would like to have more capacity to move with speed when it comes to dealing with emergencies. The reason I bring that up is that it would be incredibly helpful for the continent of Africa to have its countries that are able to feed people prosperous and whole. The other issue I want to bring up, now that I brought up the issue of food, is genetically modified crops. I think it is essential that throughout the continent of Africa, nations be encouraged to develop use the technologies that have been developed to deal with pestilence and drought. And I have been very outspoken on that subject as well, not to be putting thoughts in your mind that you didn't want to hear about, but I've got the mike. Laughter But I do want to emphasize, and I will emphasize on the continent of Africa, the need for our agricultural economies on the continent of Africa to adjust with modern technology so that in places where there is drought or likelihood of drought, there can be drought resistance crops being given a chance to succeed. Where there's pests that some agriculture economy has not been able to deal with, we use pest resistant crop, and they're available. The problem, of course, we have is that much of the enthusiasm for what we believe is scientifically proven safe crops have been condemned by the refusal of some countries and or accumulation of countries to accept exports into their markets from countries that use genetically modified crop. That's a very long answer to a short question. Yes, sir. Q. Mr. President, sir The President. Where is The Guardian based? Q. In Nigeria. The President. Very good. U.S. Policy Toward Africa Q. I'd like to know what's your reaction to people who say that the major driving force for your interest in Africa is oil and that, you know, what you are trying to do, essentially, is to shift the focus from Saudi with first your relationship between Saudi and U.S. now to Africa. Now, how much of that The President. Saudi Arabia? Q. Yes. So I'd like to know how much of that is actually for instance, in your interest in Africa? The President. Well, conspiracy theorists about everywhere, I guess. That's one of the most amazing conspiracies I've heard. Heck, no one has ever made that connection, and so I would say well, first, look, I have been talking about Africa since I was sworn in as President. I've met with 22, I believe it is, heads of state here. And I have met with President Obasanjo, gosh, I would say I better be careful, because every number I put out there, people scrutinize a lot, maybe five times Dr. Frazer. Five times, yes, sir. The President. President Wade, several times in the Oval Office, several times in overseas meetings, President Mbeki, quite a few. In other words, Africa has been on the we've been thinking about Africa ever since I've been sworn in. Secondly, the initiatives I've laid out are bold initiatives. The Millennium Challenge Account is a very bold initiative. We're going to increase our basic developmental aid by 50 percent, with a new approach which basically says we'll reward those countries which make correct choices on behalf of the people of the countries, countries which are not corrupt, countries which focus on the health and education of the people, countries which adopt market oriented policies which will enable a country to more likely grow in a prosperous fashion, which would then benefit the people. I spoke out early on free trade with Africa. Certainly, the AGOA initiative was not my administration's initiative. I readily understand that. But we built on the AGOA initiative because I believe in free trade and, as a matter of fact, took the free trade argument to the Halls of Congress and got trade promotion authority, which was not an easy vote, by the way. It was a tough vote. There's a protectionist element in our country that works beneath the political surface. But I feel strongly that trade is an engine of opportunity for developing countries. These are all initiatives I spoke about prior to during the war on terror, I guess. I wasn't in office very long before the war on terror became evident here in America. We've got good relations with Saudi. I gave a speech just to put it in context, I gave a speech I swore in some folks the other day to reenlist in our military. I pointed out that the relationship with Saudi Arabia, when it comes to tracking down terrorists, is strong. I reminded our citizens that Abu Bakr, who is a key operative, and "Swift Sword" are no longer issues for America and Saudi Arabia because of the cooperation that is an ongoing cooperation inside the Kingdom. And anyway, no, listen, let me speak specifically to Nigeria. I have got good relations with President Obasanjo. Every time we have visited, it has been a very cordial, up front way. I appreciate his cooperation on the U.S.' desire to work with countries such as Nigeria to train troops necessary to be able to handle some of the difficult situations on the continent. As a matter of fact, I believe the United States in working with Nigeria has trained five battalions of Nigerian troops, preparing them for issues such as Liberia or other areas on the continent. And we will continue that relationship with the President of Nigeria. And I appreciate his leadership on that issue. Mr. Cobb. Uganda Liberia Q. Yes, sir. You're going at least in two of the regions of Africa. You're going to West Africa and well, Uganda being next door to the Congo. The President. Right. Q. There's a fair amount of tumult in those regions. First, I have two specific questions related to that and your trip. Will you make a decision about U.S. troops in Liberia before you go? Or will you be bringing some message about these U.S. troops in Liberia when you visit in Senegal? Secondly, what will you tell Mr. Museveni, whom I know you admire in terms of his work with HIV AIDS and his economic policy, with regard to the role of militias that he created and are responsible for much of the violence in eastern Congo? The President. Right, let me start with that. I also talked to him about ongoing democracy in Uganda. We talked about transfer of power. We talked about the fact that he's been a remarkably good leader on many fronts and that we would hope that he would adhere to the concept of having any democracy with a peaceful transfer of power at the appropriate time. We did talk about that part of the region. I spoke very clearly about the need for all countries to recognize the peace agreements that we have been involved with we're not the lead country on, but we're very much supportive of the peace agreements. And he listened very carefully to our admonition that we expect for people to honor the agreements that are being forged. And I will continue to discuss that with him when I go to Uganda. As well as Uganda, it's important to one reason why one would go to Uganda is to make sure that people around the world, and particularly on the continent of Africa, understand that dealing with HIV AIDS is possible. In other words, you can deal with it in a positive way, and it's a remarkable record of Mr. Museveni and his Government in dealing with the pandemic of AIDS. It's essential that we're fixing to spend 15 billion I believe Congress will respond and keep the pressure on as, you know and that this trip will also help create an awareness of the issue in America. And it's important for our fellow citizens to realize that while we live a relative luxurious life throughout our society, there is a pandemic taking place that's destroying a lot of people, ruining families. You know, the idea of a 14 year old little girl raising three brothers and sisters without parents is something that's just it's sad. It is tragic. It needs to be dealt with. And I want to use this trip to say Here's an example of what is possible, and let's make sure we follow our hearts as a society. In terms of Liberia, I am in the process of gathering the information necessary to make a rational decision as to how to bring a how to enforce the cease fire, keep the cease fire in place. I said yesterday I said a while back and I said it again yesterday, "Mr. Taylor must go." A condition for any progress in Liberia is his removal, in removing himself. And that's the message Colin has taken to the United Nations and to Kofi Annan. Secondly, that today there is a meeting with ECOWAS, and we had a representative at the you probably knew this before I did, Mr. Cobb but we had a meeting there with our military thinkers to determine feasibility, to look at different options. And they have yet to report back to the White House. Maybe the information has gone to the Pentagon at this point in time. So I'm gathering information in order to make a decision that will achieve a that will allow me to make a proper decision as to how to bring stability to that country. Look, I recognize the United States has got a has had a, you know, unique history with Liberia. And therefore, it's created a certain sense of expectations. But I also want to make sure that there are certain expectations met as well. And one expectation is Mr. Taylor has got to leave. And that message is clear, and I can't make it any more clear. As to whether or not look, once the strategy is in place, I will let people know whether or not I'm airborne or not. In other words, I'm not trying to make any I don't need to dramatize the decision. It's getting plenty of attention here at home. But we've got and look, I'm just gathering enough information to be rational in what we do. You know, you read all kinds of things, of course, in American newspapers it's sport here. I'm sure it is elsewhere as well. The gathering of the speculator, the leaker, the whatever what do you call them? The source laughter people speaking out loud, "The President has done this. The President is thinking this." And what I am thinking about is how to bring some stability to the country in a way that will be effective. And there's no question, step one of any effective policy, whether we are involved or not, is for Charles Taylor to leave. Yes, sir. Around the horn again. We call it going around the horn. Temporary Protective Status for Senegalese Q. We understand that many African countries, like many countries in the world, get a lot of help from their immigrants living in the United States. The President. Yes. Q. And in the South America, at one point there were some special programs for immigrants, illegal immigrants, living here from Nicaragua, from El Salvador. Will you consider supporting a special program for countries that are fighting for a democracy for the The President. Temporary protective status, we call that TPS. We analyze that on a case by case basis. TPS generally is granted for those who are fleeing a very difficult political situation. In Senegal's case, the situation doesn't look very it looks the opposite of difficult political situation. It's a very stable political situation. But we'll analyze any TPS requests. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. remittances. The President. Are you talking about remittances, people sending money from here to there? Q. No, what I'm saying is like a TPS, to support democracy in countries because they can't on that the Senegalese here sent about 80 million a year to their country. The President. So it's a combination of status and money being remitted, yes. Well, we look at that. Of course, you know TPS recognizes that, first of all, illegal immigration is an issue that we've got to deal with. And nobody wants anything illegal happening. But we recognize people come to our country not legally and that sometimes they come for political reasons. And that's why we have the TPS exceptions. And we'll look at it case by case. Yes, sir. South Africa Q. Mr. President, you mentioned in the efforts of Americans to support peacekeeping in countries like Nigeria. What about South Africa The President. Same. Q. presently engaged in the Congo and Burundi? The President. No, very much so. I should have I brought it up only in the context of Nigeria. I feel the very same way about I will not count this as a question, because I should have mentioned South Africa. You're absolutely right. South Africa has been a leader. President Mbeki is a leader. When you think about the continent of Africa, you think about leadership, you think about President Mbeki. He's taking strong positions along with President Obasanjo, and providing troops the South African. I will be visiting, by the way, a training base there in South Africa. I look forward to doing so. The South African Army is a very sophisticated, well trained army. And President Mbeki has been a leader in peace. And so now you get a question. U.S. Support for African Peacekeeping Forces Q. Along the same lines, do you foresee increased aid from the United States for peacekeeping, like training, equipment? The President. Yes, I do. I do. We've been active in training up to now. We've trained seven battalions for potential peacekeeping missions. I think this is a very important use of U.S. assets. I think the American people would understand and support the notion of training others to take care of their business in their own neighborhood. And that is a I say, take care of their business, bring peace is what I mean by that. And yes, I do see continued activity on that front. Yes, sir. President's Upcoming Visit to Nigeria Q. Currently, there is a nationwide strike going on in Nigeria. Does that put a do you have any how does that affect your planned trip? The President. It does not affect it at all. And I've been briefed on the strike. I obviously hope it gets settled in a peaceful way. If I have to, I'll make my own bed at the hotel. Laughter But I'm going. Laughter I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be a very interesting trip. It's a local issue, one that when I go to different countries, sometimes there's local issues that pop up, not because of my trip, just because of the normal course of business. And this happens to be what's happening in the country. So I'm not changing my mind. Yes, sir. War on Terror in Africa Q. I'm curious, how big a factor are you concerned about international terrorism on this trip? We've seen the numbers drop very sharply in terms of sympathy towards the United States. In the aftermath of the Iraq war, there were the strains between the United States and South Africa over this issue, and a Pew report, in fact, that said that 44 percent of Nigerians believe that they serve a believe that Usama bin Laden would do the right thing in world affairs. The President. Well, I would have to say obviously there needs to be an education program, because Usama bin Laden is nothing but a killer who has hijacked a great religion. And he doesn't care about innocent life. And so I would be glad to have that debate with anybody, anywhere. And I would be glad to take those who believe that he is of some kind of remedial value, to his point of view, to the World Trade Center and introduce them to families who lost life for no reason other than the fact that he is a killer. Secondly, parts of Africa are they've got ongoing terrorist threats. And the good news is we are working closely with those governments to deal with those threats. We've got very good intelligence sharing. We are the law enforcement officials of these countries where there is a direct threat are moving rapidly upon the when we enrich the intelligence, when we calibrate the intelligence. Kenya is a great country, and it has been a place where there's been threats. Everybody knows that. Not only threats, there's been an attack in the past. And the Government of Kenya has been very responsive. And we are we are helping them. We're helping other countries in Africa. Djibouti comes to mind. There is country after country after country where we're working with their governments when we or they they ask for help, and or we provide information that we have been able to pick up. Did you ask whether or not the threats are going down? Q. No, I was saying that the admiration of the United States in surveys has dropped in the aftermath of the Iraq war, particularly in Nigeria. The President. No, I got what you're saying. Yes, yes, I beg your pardon. Well, look, it depends upon what the people are being told sometimes. I mean, if there's a constant effort to describe America as a non caring country, then the people are going to have a bad attitude about us. But when they know the truth, when the truth comes out, which is that we care deeply about the plight of the African citizen, that we're not only trading partners and by the way, most nations, I think, would really like to trade with America that we not only care deeply about the pandemic of AIDS but that we hear the cries of those who are sick and tired of corruption on the continent of Africa. And therefore, we are we've got a new approach to foreign aid. I think people, when they know the facts, will say, "Well, this is a great country." And the other thing is that no one likes war, and what you heard there was kind of attachment to the word "America" with war. What they're going to find out, the word "freedom" and "America" are synonymous. That's what we believe. We believe in freedom. And we believe everybody desires freedom. And that when it's all said and done in Iraq, the world will wake up and say, "Now we understand what a free Iraq means to peace and stability." And so I if I conducted our foreign policy based upon polls and focus groups, we would be stumbling all over ourselves. That's not the way I do things. I base our foreign policy based upon deep seated principles. And this is a peroration to what's been a very, hopefully, constructive dialog for you. It has been for me. My message to the African people is, we come as a nation that believes in the future of Africa. We believe that people want to be free. We will work with those who embrace the habits of freedom, that when this Nation sees suffering, we will not turn away. There is tremendous suffering on the continent of Africa. And we will put a strategy in place that effectively spends 15 billion over 5 years to help ease the suffering from HIV AIDS. When we see starvation, we don't turn our back. We act. We care about the people of the continent. And there are we've got great relations with leaders and countries on the continent of Africa, relations which will not only make help enable people to realize their dreams but also make the world more safe. And that is my message. And I am proud to carry the message on behalf of a great nation to a very important, great continent. Thank you all for your time. July 02, 2003 The President. Thank you all. Please be seated. I appreciate very much our Secretary of State for joining us, and Tommy Thompson, the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary. I want to thank Andrew Natsios, who's the Administrator of USAID. I want to thank Joe O'Neill, who is the Office of National AIDS Policy, for joining us. I want to thank Elias Zerhouni, who is the Director of the NIH. Where are you, Elias? There you are. Thank you for coming, Doctor. And Tony Fauci is here as well. Honored you're here, Tony. It's good to see Richard Lee Armitage, who is the Deputy Secretary of the Department of State. Thank you for coming, Rich. I appreciate the Tobias family for joining us. Marianne, thanks for coming, and Paige and Tim and Todd and Amy, I'm honored you all are here as well. Five weeks ago I signed into law the Emergency Action Plan for AIDS Relief. It's one of the largest humanitarian undertakings in our history. The plan will provide 15 billion over the next 5 years to fight AIDS abroad. Millions of lives depend on the success of this effort, and we are determined to succeed. To direct this mission, I have chosen a superb leader who knows a great deal about lifesaving medicines and who knows how to get results. I'm pleased to announce my nomination of Randall Tobias to serve as the Global AIDS Coordinator. Randy is one of America's most talented and respected executives. He was vice chairman of AT T and chairman of ATT International, guiding the firm through immense organizational challenges. He went to head Eli Lilly and Company, one of our Nation's largest and most innovative pharmaceutical companies. He is a highly regarded civic leader and philanthropist in his home State of Indiana. Throughout his career, Randy has shown the ability to manage complex organizations and to navigate government bureaucracies. He has earned a reputation as an executive of great energy, resourcefulness, good judgment, and integrity. As Global AIDS Coordinator, Randy will have the rank of Ambassador and will report directly to Secretary of State Powell. He will coordinate all of our international HIV AIDS activities for all of our Government departments and agencies. He will oversee all resources of this program. And he will work with the faith based and community groups to get the job done. He will report regularly to Congress on the progress and effectiveness of our efforts. Randy Tobias has a mandate directly from me to get our AIDS initiative up and running as soon as possible. We'll work quickly to get help to the people who need it most, by purchasing low cost antiretroviral medications and other drugs that are needed to save lives. We will set up a broad and efficient network to deliver drugs to the farthest reaches of Africa, even by motorcycle or bicycle. We will train doctors and nurses and other health care professionals so they can treat HIV AIDS patients. Our efforts will ensure that clinics and laboratories will be built or renovated and then equipped. Childcare workers will be hired and trained to care for AIDS orphans, and people living with AIDS will get home based care to ease their suffering. Throughout all regions of the targeted countries, we will provide HIV testing. We will support abstinence based prevention education. Faith based and community organizations will have our help as they provide treatment and prevention and support services in communities affected by HIV AIDS. And we're developing a system to monitor and evaluate this entire program, so we can be sure we're getting the job done. Next week I will go to Africa to meet with leaders of African countries and with some of the heroic men and women who are caring for the sick and are saving lives. They deserve our praise. They deserve our help without delay, and they will have our help. When I visit Africa, I will reaffirm our Nation's commitment to helping Africans fight this disease. America makes this commitment for a clear reason directly rooted at our founding We believe in the value and dignity of every human life. We're putting that belief into practice. We have a lot of work ahead of us, and we're eager to get started. I'm hopeful that the Senate will act quickly to confirm Randall Tobias as our Global AIDS Coordinator and that the United States Congress will fully fund my request for this lifesaving initiative. I'm also hopeful that other nations of the world will join us to combat the AIDS pandemic. I want to thank you very much for coming. May God bless our work, and may God bless the work of Randy Tobias. At this point, Mr. Tobias made brief remarks. The President. Thank you, Randy. Good job. I'll answer a couple of questions here today. Let me start off with Deb Deb Riechmann, Associated Press . Multinational Forces for Iraq Q. Mr. President, a posse of small nations like the Ukraine and Poland are materializing to help keep the peace in Iraq. But with the attacks on U.S. forces and the casualty rates rising, what is the administration doing to get larger powers like France and Germany and Russia to join the American occupation there? The President. Well, first of all, we'll put together a force structure to meets the threats on the ground. And we've got a lot of forces there ourselves. And as I said yesterday, anybody who wants to harm American troops will be found and brought to justice. There are some who feel like that if they attack us, that we may decide to leave prematurely. They don't understand what they're talking about, if that's the case. Let me finish. There are some who feel like that the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is Bring them on. We've got the force necessary to deal with the security situation. Of course we want other countries to help us. Great Britain is there. Poland is there. Ukraine is there, you mentioned. Anybody who wants to help, we'll welcome the help. But we've got plenty tough force there right now to make sure the situation is secure. We always welcome help. We're always glad to include others in. But make no mistake about it and the enemy shouldn't make any mistake about it we will deal with them harshly if they continue to try to bring harm to the Iraqi people. I also said yesterday an important point, that those who blow up the electricity lines really aren't hurting America. They're hurting the Iraq citizens. Their own fellow citizens are being hurt. But we will deal with them harshly as well. Holland Steve Holland, Reuters . Liberia Q. Sir, Liberians are hopeful the U.S. will send peacekeepers. What's the likelihood of that, and how soon will you decide? The President. Yes. Q. And is there a danger of U.S. forces being stretched too thin? The President. Well, look, we're looking at all options. I've tasked the Secretary of State to talk to Kofi Annan on how best to deal with Liberia. And we're concerned when we see suffering there's people who are suffering there. They've got the the political instability is such that people are panicking. But the good news is, there's a cease fire in place now. And one of the things that Colin is going to do is to work closely with the United Nations to see how best to keep the cease fire in place. We're exploring all options as to how to keep the situation peaceful and stable. One thing has to happen Mr. Taylor needs to leave the country. And Colin has made that a I made it clear publicly. I've just made it clear again. He made it clear to Kofi Annan. In order for there to be peace and stability in Liberia, Charles Taylor needs to leave now. And but we're looking at all options, Steve, and but Colin has got the diplomatic initiative taking place. Dick Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . Conversation With President Putin Q. Mr. President, we understand you talked with President Putin this morning. The President. I did. He wished me a happy birthday. Laughter Q. It was a birthday phone call? The President. I expect you to do the same thing. Laughter Q. Happy birthday to you, a few days early. The President. Thank you, sir. It's not until the 6th, however. Laughter Q. You can never be too early with these things. The President. That's right. Laughter Q. But did you discuss the situation in Iran The President. Yes, we did. Q. and did you discuss the situation in Liberia? The President. No, we did not discuss the situation in Liberia. We did discuss the situation in Iran. I thanked him for keeping the pressure on the Iranian Government to dismantle any notions they might have of building a nuclear weapon. And we're making progress on that front. Not only does Vladimir Putin understand our concerns and shares the concerns the EU, for example, has sent out a very strong statement to the Iranians that the world expects them to conform with the IAEA, to cooperate with the IAEA, and to get rid of any plans to develop a nuclear weapon. We also talked about North Korea. And I appreciate his understanding that the best way to deal with North Korea is to do so in a multinational forum, where the United States and China and South Korea and Japan and, hopefully, Russia all sit down with the North Koreans and make it clear that the world expects them to dismantle a nuclear weapons program and, at the same time, will be willing to help the starving North Korean people. We're making progress on both fronts, and it's helpful to be able to cooperate with Russia in dealing with matters of international security. Yes, Terry Terry Moran, ABC News . Definition of Marriage Q. Mr. President, do you support or do you oppose a Federal constitutional amendment that would define marriage as a union between a man and a woman? The President. I don't know if it's necessary yet. Let's let the lawyers look at the full ramifications of the recent Supreme Court hearing. What I do support is the notion that marriage is between a man and a woman. Any other questions? I'm willing to exhaust questions today. I feel like I'm on a roll. Laughter Q. I've got The President. Yes, Steve. Middle East Peace Process Q. There's been some recent good news out of the Middle East. Would you like to comment on that? What do you expect the parties to do now, the Palestinians and Israelis? The President. Well, we're pleased with Q. And when is Prime Minister Abbas coming? The President. I don't know that yet. Q. Okay. The President. We are pleased with the progress in the Middle East. I want to thank the parties in the Middle East for willing to take a risk for peace. I am pleased with the hard work that our Secretary of State has done, along with Ambassador Wolf, who has been shuttling back and forth between parties, reminding people of the commitments they made to our Government me personally the commitments they made to me personally in Jordan. I am optimistic, but I also recognize the nature of the Middle East. I mean, there are people there who still hate. They hate Israel. They hate the idea of peace. They can't stand the thought of a peaceful state existing side by side with Israel. And they are willing to may be willing to attack. And what we must continue to do is to reject that kind of thought. That's why we spoke out clearly. I spoke out, the Secretary of State has spoken out, on Hamas. Hamas is not a peaceful organization when they're willing to blow people up and destroy innocent life. And so we are making progress, but the progress will be ultimately made when the world, particularly that part of the world, firmly and finally rejects terrorist activities. The other thing that needs to happen, Steve, is that institutions that will enable a Palestinian state to emerge need to be continue to be fostered and put in place. There needs to be a constitution. There needs to be a capable security force. There needs to be economic hope. The Palestinian people must know that by accepting a peaceful government, by embracing the Prime Ministership of Abu Mazen, that there is a better day ahead for them when it comes to making a living. And so we will work with all parties to promote economic development in a secure environment. And so we're making progress. I'm pleased. I think we're all the best way to describe it is, we're really happy with what we've seen so far. But we're realists in this administration. We understand that there has been years of hatred and distrust. And we'll continue to keep the process moving forward. I talked to President Mubarak and King Abdullah of Jordan today. I praised them for their efforts. I continue to I urged them to continue to stay involved in the process, that we all must continue to reject terror, that we must call terrorists what they by their real name. We must condemn terror in all instances. We must cut off money to terrorist organizations in order to keep this progress moving. Yes, Terry. Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction Q. On weapons of mass destruction, is it fair to say now, after 2 months of looking for them, that there is a discrepancy between what the intelligence community and you and your top officials described as the threat from Saddam Hussein, and what was actually there on the ground? The President. No, Saddam Hussein had a weapons program. Remember, he used them. He used chemical weapons on his own people. Saddam Hussein is no longer a threat to the United States, because we removed him. But he was a threat, such a threat that my predecessor, using the same intelligence, in 1998 ordered a bombing of Iraq. I mean, so, no, he was a threat. He's not a threat now. And the world is more peaceful by virtue of the fact that he is not in power. See, we've been there, what, how many days? You're counting the days since we've been there? Because I'm not. Eighty, ninety? Frankly, it wasn't all that long ago that we started military operations. And we got rid of him much faster than a lot of people thought. And so we're bringing some order to the country, and we're beginning to learn the truth. But he played his hand, Terry he, Saddam Hussein when he used chemical weapons. And then he played his hand by not letting people come in and inspect for the weapons. He had them, and it's just a matter of time. It's a matter of time. The man was a threat to America. He's not a threat today. But what we're really finding out as well is the threat he posed to the Iraqi people. I mean, we have uncovered some unbelievable scenes. I have not seen them myself. They've been described to me, what it means to see mass graves opened up, with the remains of men and women and children murdered by that regime. Yes, he was a threat to America. He was a threat to freedom loving countries. He was a threat in the Middle East. But what we're finding out is the nature of this man when it came to how he dealt with the Iraqi people as well. And it was it's unbelievable what he did. And I when it comes to like the AIDS initiative, we believe in human dignity we also believe that everybody ought to live in free societies too. And so we'll stay the course in Iraq. You know, as I said, there's people there that would like to run us out of there, create the conditions where we get nervous and decide to leave. We're not going to get nervous, and we're not leaving until we accomplish the task. And that task is going to be a free country run by the Iraqi people. And that in turn will help the peace in the Middle East. That in turn will bring stability in a part of the world that needs stability. And I am I'm optimistic about achieving this objective because I believe that people want to be free. I believe it's in the nature of the individual to love freedom and embrace freedom. And so it has been a great honor to lead our Nation in not only the cause of humanitarian relief through an AIDS initiative but also to lead our Nation to free people from the clutches of what history will show was an incredibly barbaric regime. Thank you all very much. July 01, 2003 Please be seated. Welcome. Thank you all very much. Welcome to the White House. We're joined today by 30 men and women who have chosen to reenlist in the United States Armed Forces. Each of them decided years ago to serve and defend our country. Today they reaffirm their commitment and take the oath again. Like many thousands of other soldiers, sailors, airmen, coast guardsmen, and marines who will reenlist this year, these men and women are answering the highest call of citizenship. They have stood between the American people and the dangers of the world, and we are glad they are staying on duty. I want to thank Paul Wolfowitz, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, for joining us, and members of the defense team. I want to thank Richard Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and Pete Pace, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. I want to thank James Roche, the Secretary of the Air Force, Les Brownlee, the Acting Secretary of the Army, H.T. Johnson, the Acting Secretary of the Navy, for being with us today. I appreciate Admiral Vernon Clark, the Chief of Naval Operations, for being here General Michael W. Hagee, the Commandant of the Marine Corps General John M. Keane, Acting Chief of Staff for the Army. I appreciate Terry D. Scott, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, for being with us today, John L. Estrada, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Frank A. Welch, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, members of the Armed Forces, and our fellow Americans. Before the draft ended on July 1st, 1973, generations of men entered military service by the decision of others. And during two World Wars and in Korea and in Vietnam, they served nobly, and they served well. Yet in the past 30 years, we have seen the great advantages of a military in which all serve by their own decision. Our country's all volunteer force attracts idealistic and committed young Americans. They stay in service longer because they have chosen the military life. The result is a military with the highest levels of training, experience, motivation, and professionalism. The military life is rewarding. Yet, even at its best, that life is difficult, often involving separation and danger. Those who willingly make these sacrifices and the families who share their hardships have the respect and the gratitude of their fellow Americans. All in our military are serving in one of history's critical hours. Less than 2 years ago, determined enemies of America entered our country, committed acts of murder against our people, and made clear their intentions to strike again. As long as terrorists and their allies plot to harm America, America is at war. We did not choose this war. Yet, with the safety of the American people at stake, we will continue to wage this war with all our might. From the beginning, we have known the effort would be long and difficult and that our resolve would be tested. We know that sacrifice is unavoidable. We have seen victories in the decisive defeat of two terror regimes and in the relentless pursuit of a global terror network. Yet the war on terror goes on. We will not be distracted, and we will prevail. Of those directly involved in organizing the September the 11th attacks, almost all are now in custody or confirmed dead. Of the senior Al Qaida leaders, operational managers, and key facilitators we have been tracking, 65 percent have been captured or killed. Still, we recognize that Al Qaida has trained thousands of foot soldiers in many nations and that new leaders may emerge. And we suspect that some Al Qaida deserters will attach themselves to other terrorist groups in order to strike American targets. Terrorists that remain can be certain of this We will hunt them by day and by night in every corner of the world until they are no longer a threat to America and our friends. At this moment, American and allied forces continue the work of fighting terrorists and establishing order in Afghanistan. When we removed the Taliban from power, surviving Al Qaida members fled from most of that country. However, many terrorists sought sanctuary along the Afghanistan Pakistan border, and some are still hiding there. These Al Qaida and Taliban holdouts have attacked allied bases with unguided rockets, conducted ambushes, and fired upon border posts. In close cooperation with the Afghan and Pakistani Governments, America is engaged in operations to find and destroy these terrorists. Since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom, it is important for our fellow citizens to know that Pakistan has apprehended more than 500 terrorists, including hundreds of members of Al Qaida and the Taliban. As this fight continues, the people of Afghanistan are moving forward with the reconstruction of their country and the founding of a democratic government. They have selected a President. They're building a national army, and they are now in the final stages of drafting a new constitution. America and other countries continue to provide humanitarian aid and assistance in building clinics and schools and roads. Joined by other nations, we are deploying the first group of provincial reconstruction teams to various cities in Afghanistan, groups of experts who are working with local officials to improve public safety, promote reconstruction, and solidify the authority of elected governments. Afghanistan still has many challenges, but that country is making progress, and its people are a world away from the nightmare they endured under the Taliban. Pakistan and Afghanistan are among many governments that understand the threat of terror and are determined to root it out. After the terrible attacks in Riyadh on May the 12th, the Government of Saudi Arabia has intensified its longstanding efforts against the Al Qaida network. Recently, Saudi's security services apprehended Abu Bakr, believed to be a central figure in the Riyadh bombing, and killed a major Al Qaida operational planner and fundraiser, a man known in terrorist circles as "Swift Sword." Saudi authorities have also uncovered terrorist operations in the holy city of Mecca, demonstrating once again that terrorists hold nothing sacred and have no home in any religion. America and Saudi Arabia face a common terrorist threat, and we appreciate the strong, continuing efforts of the Saudi Government in fighting that threat. The war on terror also continues in Iraq, where coalition forces are engaging remnants of the former regime as well as members of terrorist groups. We met the major combat objectives in Operation Iraqi Freedom. We ended a regime that possessed weapons of mass destruction, harbored and supported terrorists, suppressed human rights, and defied the just demands of the United Nations and the world. The true monuments of Saddam Hussein's rule have been brought to light, the mass graves, the torture chambers, the jail cells for children. And now we are moving forward with the reconstruction of that country by restoring basic services, maintaining order, searching for the hidden weapons, and helping Iraqis to establish a representative government. The rise of Iraq as an example of moderation and democracy and prosperity is a massive and long term undertaking. And the restoration of that country is critical to the defeat of terror and radicalism throughout the Middle East. With so much in the balance, it comes as no surprise that freedom has enemies inside of Iraq. The looting and random violence that began in the immediate aftermath of war remains a challenge in some areas. A greater challenge comes from former Ba'ath Party and security officials who will stop at nothing to regain their power and their privilege. But there will be no return to tyranny in Iraq. And those who threaten the order and stability of that country will face ruin, just as surely as the regime they once served. Also present in Iraq are terrorist groups seeking to spread chaos and to attack American and coalition forces. Among these terrorists are members of Ansar Al Islam, which operated in Iraq before the war and is now active in the Sunni heartland of the country. We suspect that the remnants of a group tied to Al Qaida associate Al Zarqawi are still in Iraq, waiting for an opportunity to strike. We're also beginning to see foreign fighters enter Iraq. These scattered groups of terrorists, extremists, and Saddam loyalists are especially active to the north and west of Baghdad, where they have destroyed electricity lines and towers, set off explosions at gas pipelines, and ignited sulfur fires. They have attacked coalition forces, and they're trying to intimidate Iraqi citizens. These groups believe they have found an opportunity to harm America, to shake our resolve in the war on terror, and to cause us to leave Iraq before freedom is fully established. They are wrong, and they will not succeed. Those who try to undermine the reconstruction of Iraq are not only attacking our coalition they are attacking the Iraqi people. And we will stand with the Iraqi people strongly as they build a hopeful future. Having liberated Iraq as promised, we will help that country to found a just and representative government as promised. Our goal is a swift transition to Iraqi control of their own affairs. People of Iraq will be secure, and the people of Iraq will run their own country. At present, 230,000 Americans are serving inside or near Iraq. Our whole Nation, especially their families, recognizes that our people in uniform face continuing danger. We appreciate their service under difficult circumstances and their willingness to fight for American security and Iraqi freedom. As Commander in Chief, I assure them, we will stay on the offensive against the enemy. And all who attack our troops will be met with direct and decisive force. As America fights our war against terror, we will continue to depend on the skill and the courage of our volunteer military. In these last 22 months, our Armed Forces have been tested and tested again. In every case, in every mission, America's service men and women have brought credit to the uniform, to our flag, and to our country. We have needed you, and you have never let us down. I want to thank you for keeping your pledge of duty to America and thank you for renewing that demanding pledge today. And now, General Myers will administer the oath of enlistment in the Armed Forces of the United States. May God bless you. June 30, 2003 The President. Thank you all for coming. It's a big deal to be introduced by your brother laughter especially one who's been so successful as the Governor of the State of Florida. I'm proud of him. I'm not surprised. We both share the same political consultant laughter our mother. Laughter Her fees are low, but her opinion is plentiful. Laughter But it's been a successful event. We've raised a lot of money, and I want to thank you for that. We're laying the groundwork for what is going to be a victory in November of 2004. I'm getting ready. I'm loosening up for the task ahead. But I just need to remind you that I'm going to need your help, continued help. I believe our message is best for the country. It is a message that speaks to everybody. It's a message of hope and peace and freedom. And you're going to need to tell your friends and neighbors. We need a grass roots effort. There will be plenty of time for politics. Right now I'm focused on the people's business in Washington, DC. We've got a lot on the agenda, and I'm going to work hard to continue to earn the confidence of each American by making sure this country is safe and secure and prosperous and free. I just flew in from Crawford. I said good bye to the First Lady. She sends her best. I'm sorry she is not with me. She is, by far, the best thing I've got going. I'm really proud of Laura. I'm proud of her steadiness and her calm in the face of storm. I love her dearly. She is a great First Lady for our country. I'm honored that Members of the United States Congress are here. Congressman Foley and the two Diaz Balart boys are with us as well. I'm proud to call them friends. I'm proud to work with them. They love Florida. They love America. And they're fine United States Congressmen. Thank you all for coming today. I too want to thank Zach and Tom Petway for putting this event on. I want to thank them for serving in a big capacity for me in the Florida campaign. I want to thank Al Hoffman as well, as well as Mercer Reynolds, my longtime friend who is the national chairman. I want to thank the party chairman who is here, Al Cardenas. But most of all, I want to thank you all. I'm honored that you've given of your money and your time and your efforts. I appreciate your love for our country. I appreciate your willingness to participate in the process. You know, we've been through a lot in 2 1 2 years. We really have, but our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. We are meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many leaders of Al Qaida, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. So we increased the defense budget to prepare for threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. Then the attacks came on our country, and we had scandals in corporate America, and we were at war. And all this affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, we have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. We believe that when Americans have more money in their pocket to spend, to save, or invest, the whole country benefits, and someone is more likely to find a job. We understand whose money we spend in Washington, DC. We do not spend the Government's money. We spend the people's money. It's your money to begin with. And so we're returning more money to people to help them raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses proper incentives to expand and to hire people. With all these actions, we are laying the foundations for greater prosperity and more jobs across America, so that every single person in this country has a chance to realize the American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reform in a generation. We're bringing high standards and strong accountability measures to every public school in America. We believe every child can learn the basics of reading and math, and we expect every school in America to teach those basics. We are challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse making are over. And now we expect results in every single classroom, so that not one single child is left behind. We reorganized the Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to safeguard our borders and ports and to better protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open new markets for America's entrepreneurs and manufacturers and farmers and ranchers. We passed a budget agreement that is helping to maintain spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle we have kept its word and we have made progress on behalf of the American people. The United States Congress deserves credit, and I will continue to work with the Congress. I'll work with them to help change the tone in Washington, DC, to focus on results. And that's the nature of the people that I've surrounded myself with. I've put together a fantastic administration of hard working, decent Americans, there to serve the American people. Dick Cheney is a great Vice President of the United States, the greatest Vice President. I say the "greatest" Mother might have a different opinion. Laughter Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida. I was wondering about that. Laughter The President. In 2 1 2 years, we've come far. We really have. But our work is only beginning. We have great goals, worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace, for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and realize the great promise of our country. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home, and we are freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. The war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire and we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. Yet our national interest involves more than eliminating aggressive threats to our safety. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, and free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart, including those who live on the island of Cuba. And we believe that freedom is the right of every person, and we believe that freedom is the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world, and when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, which I'll be visiting next week, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering from AIDS. This great land is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges here at home, and our actions prove that we're equal to those challenges. I will continue to work on our economy until everybody who wants to work and can't find a job is able to find a job. We have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. Last week the Congress took historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and Senate have passed reforms to increase the choices of seniors and provide coverage of prescription drugs. The next step is for both Houses to come together to iron out some details and to get a bill to my desk. And for the sake of a strong health care system for all Americans, we need to cut down and end the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. Yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for rich settlements. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the health the cost of health care, they affect the Medicaid budget they affect the Medicare budget they affect the cost to our veterans. It is a they affect the Federal budget, is what I'm telling you. Medical liability reform is a Federal issue. It requires a Federal solution. No one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. This country needs medical liability reform now. I have a responsibility as President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have submitted I have nominated superb men and women for our Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. But some Members of the United States Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The Congress needs to pass a comprehensive energy plan. Our Nation must promote energy efficiency and conservation. We must develop cleaner technology. We must use our technologies to help us explore for more energy at home. For the sake of our economic security and for the sake of our national security, we must be less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism by applying the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow Americans. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act," so that more Americans can serve their communities and their country. Both Houses should reach a settlement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring children, that are caring for the homeless, and offering hope to the addicted. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that comes from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society. We want more people owning their own home. We want people to own and manage their own health care plan. We want more people to own and manage their own retirement accounts. We want more small business owners in America, because we understand that when a person owns something, they have a vital stake in the future of America. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make in life. We're changing the culture of America from one that has said, "If it feels good do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to one to a culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mother or a father, you're responsible for loving your child. If you're worried about the quality of education in your neighborhood, you're worried about doing something you're responsible for doing something about it. If you are a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in a responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. We can see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us. I started what we call the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to neighbors in need. And I'm pleased to report the response has been strong. Our faith based charities from all denominations are vibrant and strong, as people who have heard the call to serve something greater than themselves in life are doing so by helping somebody who hurts. We've got policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform reminding us on a daily basis what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself in life. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it, and we know that for our country and for our cause, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you. And may God continue to bless America. Thank you all. June 30, 2003 Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming out. I appreciate the warm welcome on a warm day. Laughter I'm so honored to be here with my brother. You know, he and I share the same political consultant laughter our mother. Laughter She doesn't charge very much for her advice, but she gives plenty of it, I can assure you. Laughter But I appreciate Jeb talk about swamping somebody he knows the definition of ''swamp'' when it comes to political campaigns. I want to thank you all so very much for your help today. We're laying the groundwork for a national campaign a national campaign that I believe will result in a great victory in November 2004. I'm going to count on you not only for help such as the help you've given tonight, but I'm going to count on you to energize the grassroots, to talk to your neighbors, talk to people who are making up their minds, to put the signs in the yard, and to help spread our message, which is a message that's optimistic and hopeful, a message that speaks to all Americans. There's plenty of time for politics, and I'm loosening up, and I'm getting ready. But in the meantime, I'm focused on the people's business in Washington, DC. I've got a job to do. I will do my job, and I will continue to work, work hard, to earn the confidence of our fellow citizens by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. I regret that Laura didn't travel from Crawford to Florida today. She had some business in Washington, DC. But if she were here, I probably wouldn't be able to lavish the praise on her that I feel like lavishing tonight. She is a fabulous First Lady, a great wife. I love her dearly. I appreciate all the folks that have shown up, the elected officials. I'm glad the Lieutenant Governor, Toni Jennings, is with us today. I appreciate a man I call "Red" that's Congressman Adam Putnam. He's done a heck of a good job for the folks here in Florida. I want to thank your attorney general, Charlie Crist, for coming. Charlie, it's good to see you. Tom Gallagher, the chief financial officer for the State of Florida, is here. I want to thank the cochairmen of the finance campaign for the State of Florida, Zach Zachariah and Tom Petway from Jacksonville, Florida. I want to thank my friend Al Hoffman for his hard work and thank my friend Al Austin from right here in Tampa. I want to thank all the cochairmen who've worked hard. And I'm really here to thank you all. I appreciate your confidence. I appreciate your care, and I appreciate your concern about the future of this country. In the last 2 1 2 years, this Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. We are meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many key Al Qaida leaders, and the rest of them know we're hot on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. We increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era, and today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. Then the attacks came on our country, and scandals in corporate America and war affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, we have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. We know that when Americans have more take home pay to spend, save, or invest, the whole economy grows, and people are more likely to find work. We understand whose money we spend in Washington. It is not the Government's money. It is the people's money. And so money is being returned to hard working families. We're reducing the taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses proper incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, we are laying the foundation for greater prosperity so that every single person in our country can realize the American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform in Washington, but there wasn't much action, so I called for and Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We're bringing high standards and strong accountability measures to every public school in America. We believe every child can learn the basics of reading and math. And we expect every school to teach the basics of reading and math. We are challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse making are over. And now we expect results in every classroom so that not one child is left behind. We reorganized the Government and created a Department of Homeland Security to better safeguard our borders and ports and to protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for America's farmers and ranchers and entrepreneurs. We passed a budget agreement to help maintain spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration acts on principle, keeps its word, and makes progress on behalf of the American people. The United States Congress shares in these great achievements, and I appreciate their hard work. And we will continue to work together to change the tone in Washington, DC, and to focus on results on behalf of all the American people. And that's the nature of the folks I've asked to serve in my administration. I have put together a great team on behalf of America. We got a fine group of folks who work on behalf of the American people. We've had no finer Vice President in the Nation's history than Dick Cheney although Mother may have a different opinion. Laughter In 2 1 2 years, we have come far, but our work is only beginning. I set great goals worthy of this great Nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace, not only for our own security but for the benefit of the entire world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every citizen has a chance to work and succeed and realize the great promise of our country. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we're keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire and we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. Yet, our national interest involves more than eliminating aggressive threats to our safety. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, and free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And we believe that freedom is the right of every person. And we believe that freedom is the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world, and when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, which Laura and I will be visiting next week, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children who are now suffering with AIDS. This great land is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges abroad, and we face them at home. And our actions prove that we're equal to those challenges as well. I will continue to work on our economy until everybody who wants to work and is not working today can find a job. And we have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. Last week, the United States Congress took historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and Senate have passed reforms to increase choices to our seniors and to provide coverage for prescription drugs. The next step is for both Houses to come together, to iron out details, and get a bill to my desk. The sooner they finish the job, the sooner America's seniors will get the health care they need. And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. Yet, the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for rich settlements. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, they affect the Federal budget. And therefore, medical liability reform is a national issue which requires a national solution. I ask you to contact your United States Senators to make your voices heard. No one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. This Nation needs medical liability reform now, and so does the State of Florida. I have a responsibility as President to make sure the judicial system runs well. And I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the United States Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the floor of the Senate. It is time for Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. Congress needs to pass a comprehensive energy plan. Our Nation must promote energy efficiency, new conservation techniques and develop technologies that will make exploration for natural gas more safe and more green. But for the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, we need to be less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must be a compassionate nation. We'll continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, applying the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. There's still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so that more Americans can serve their communities and their country. Both Houses should reach an agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring children or caring for the homeless and offering hope to the addicted. A compassionate society must also promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more of our citizens owning their own home. We want people to own and manage their own health care plan. We want people to own and manage their own retirement accounts. We want more small business owners in America. We understand that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of our country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make in life. We're changing the culture of America from one that said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands that we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mother or father, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you're concerned about the quality of education in your community, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in a responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourselves. We can see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us. I started what we call the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to neighbors in need. And the response has been strong. All across our country, the faith based institutions and charities are vibrant, bringing hope to people who suffer. And policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of our country. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for our country and for our cause, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you, and may God continue to bless America. Thank you all very much. June 27, 2003 Thanks for such a warm welcome, and it's great to be here in southern California. I'm honored that so many showed up. I appreciate their record setting event. I'm grateful that you're laying the groundwork for what will be a great national victory in 2004. I'm getting ready. Laughter I'm loosening up. Laughter But I want to remind you, in order for us to win I'm going to need your help to energize the grassroots, to talk to your neighbors, to put signs in the yard, and to remind people that my vision is for a vision that's hopeful for all Americans. The political season is going to come in its own time there will be plenty of time for politics. Right now I'm focused on the people's business in our Nation's Capital. We have a lot on the agenda. And I'm going to continue to work hard to earn the confidence of our fellow Americans by making sure that this country is secure and strong and prosperous and free. I'd like to stay for dinner, but I'm off to Crawford. Laughter I just talked to Laura on the phone, and she sends her very best. She is a fabulous First Lady for America. I want to thank my friend Brad Freeman for his friendship, his not so short introduction laughter and his hard work. I want to thank all the cochair for this event. I appreciate so very much your hard work to make this such a success. I'm honored that Governor Linda Lingle from Hawaii is with us today. She is a she's a breath of fresh air for the State of Hawaii. I know we've got at least one Members of the United States Congress Darrell Issa is with us today. Thank you, Congressman, for being here. I appreciate it. I, too, want to thank the campaign team here, led by Gerry Parsky. I'm honored to call him a friend as well. I spent an amazing couple of hours with Dennis Miller. Laughter He keeps you on your toes. I was also honored to meet his wife, Carolyn. Like me, he married above himself. Laughter It may not be all that hard, in his case. Laughter But I'm proud to have his help. I'm also proud of my friend Kelsey Grammer. I appreciate him being here. If only I could have heard Johnny Mathis sing, then I would have wished Laura were here again. Laughter Thank you all for coming. This is a big night. I'm really honored you're here. You know, in the last 2 1 2 years, this Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to the office of the President to solve problems instead of passing them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. And I believe we are meeting the test of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many of the key leaders of Al Qaida, and the rest of them know we're hot on their trail. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. We increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era, and today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. And then the attacks came on our country, and we had scandals in corporate America, and war all of which affected the Nation's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get our economy going again, we have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the people of America. Here's what we believe and here's what we know When Americans have more take home pay to spend, save, or invest, the whole economy benefits, and people are more likely to find a job. This administration also knows this When we spend money in Washington, it is not the Government's money. It is the people's money. We're returning more money to the people so they can raise their families easier. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand and hire new people. With all these actions, we are laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America, so that every single person in our country has a chance to realize the American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I called for and Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We're bringing high standards and strong accountability to every public school in America. We believe every child can learn the basics of reading and math, and we expect every school in America to teach those basics. We are challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse making are over, and we expect results in every classroom so that not one single child in America is left behind. We reorganized the Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to safeguard our borders and ports and protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to create new markets for America's entrepreneurs and farmers and ranchers and manufacturers. We passed a budget agreement that is helping to maintain spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. The United States Congress has shared in these achievements, and I appreciate the hard work of Members of the Congress. We will continue to work together to change the tone in Washington, DC, by focusing on the people's business and by focusing on results. And those are the kind of people I've asked to serve our Government in my administration. I have put together a fantastic team of solid American citizens. I'm proud of their service. I'm proud of the work. We have got no finer Vice President in our Nation's history than Dick Cheney. Mother might have a second opinion. Laughter In 2 1 2 years, we have come far, but our work is only beginning. I have set great goals worthy of this great Nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace, freedom and peace not only for our own security but for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every citizen has a chance to work and succeed and realize the great promise of our country. It is clear that the future of freedom and the future of peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. Yet, our national interest involves more than eliminating aggressive threats to our safety. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And we believe that freedom is the right of every person and freedom is the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world. And when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, which I'll be visiting in 10 days, America is now committed to bringing healing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. This great land is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges at home as well, of course. And our actions prove that we're equal to those challenges. I will continue to work on our economy until everybody who wants to work and who is not working today can find a job. We have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. Last night, the Congress took historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and Senate passed reforms to increase choices for our seniors and to provide coverage of prescription drugs. The next step is for both Houses to come together, iron out the final details, and get a bill to my desk. And for the sake of health care, we need to cut down on the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doc deserve their day in court. Yet, the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of medicine, and therefore they affect the Federal budget. Medical liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution, and the Congress must act. I have a responsibility as President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I've nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The Congress needs to pass a comprehensive energy plan. We need to use our technologies to help us conserve more, to find alternative sources of energy, but we need to use our technologies to help us explore in environmentally sensitive ways for more energy here at home. For the sake of our national security, for the sake of our economic security, we need to be less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, applying the best and most innovative ideas to the task to helping our fellow citizens in need. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity to more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete a "Citizen Service Act" so more Americans can serve their communities and their country. And both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring children, caring for the homeless, and offering hope to the addicted. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their homes. We want people to own and manage their own health care. We want people to own and manage their own retirement accounts. We want people to own their own small business. We understand that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of America. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make. We're changing the culture of America from one that has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it if you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mother or a father, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart. If you are concerned about the quality of education in your community, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you are a CEO in America, you are responsible for telling the truth to your employees and your shareholders. And in the new responsibility era, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourselves. We can see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us. I started what's called the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need. And the response has been incredibly strong. And our faith based charities all across our country are vibrant and strong and hearing the call to help somebody who hurts. Policemen and firefighters and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right Nation. We see we are a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of our country. This is the work that history has set before us, and we welcome it. And we know that for our country and for our cause, the best days lie ahead. I'm honored you're here. May God continue to bless America. Thank you all. June 27, 2003 Thank you all very much. Thanks for the warm welcome. Thanks for coming. It's great to be back in the bay area. Bradley, if that is a short introduction, I hate to see a long one. Laughter But I appreciate your friendship, and I appreciate your leadership. I want to thank you all very much for supporting our efforts. I want to thank you for coming and giving of your hard earned dollars. You are laying the foundation for a nationwide victory next year. I'm getting ready. I'm loosening up. Laughter And I'm going to need your help. I'll need your help not only financially but also to pass our positive, inclusive message around the bay area. I want you to remind your citizens, fellow citizens, that our vision is one that is hopeful and optimistic. Listen, there's going to be plenty of time for politics. The political season will come in its own time. Right now, I'm focused on the people's business in Washington, DC. And we have a lot on the agenda. And what I want to tell you is that I will continue to earn the confidence of all Americans, regardless of their political party, by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. I've just come from Washington to here, obviously. I'm going down to LA. I wish I came with my wife. I wish she were with me. She has done a fabulous job. I will see her tonight in Crawford, Texas. Well, she'll be the lump in the bed next to me, since I get in at 1 30 in the morning. Laughter But you drew the short straw. Had she come and spoken, you would have had the long straw. She is a she's a remarkable person. She has been calm and steady in the face of significant crisis. She can smile she can listen. She is a fabulous First Lady for the United States of America. I do want to thank Brad and Gerry Parsky and the people that put on this dinner and worked hard to raise the money. I'm so honored that for your help. I also appreciate Dennis Miller. Obviously, after your one liners, Brad, he doesn't have anything to fear for his job. Laughter We've been through some remarkable times in America during the last 2 1 2 years. This Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to office to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. We are meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many of the leaders of Al Qaida. And the rest of them know we're hot on their trail. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. We increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill, the strength, and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. Then the attacks on our country and scandals in corporate America and war affected the confidence of the people. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, we have twice led the Congress to historic tax relief for the American people. Here is what we believe and what we know. When Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or to invest, the whole economy grows, and someone is more likely to find a job. We understand as well whose money we spend in Washington, DC. The money we spend in Washington is not the Government's money. It is the people's money. And we're returning more money to the people to help them raise their families, and we're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand and hire new people. With all those actions, we are laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America, so that every single person in this country has a chance to realize the American Dream. Two and a half years later 2 1 2 years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I called for and Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We're bringing high standards and strong accountability measures to every public school in America. We believe that every child can learn the basics of reading and math, and we expect every school in America to teach those basics. This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse making are over. We expect results in every classroom all across America so that not one single child is left behind. We reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to safeguard our borders and ports and to protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for our entrepreneurs and farmers and ranchers. We passed a budget agreement to help maintain spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and is making progress on behalf of the American people. The United States Congress shares in these great achievements, and I appreciate the hard work of the Members of Congress. We will continue to work together to change the tone in Washington, DC, by focusing on the people's business and by focusing on results. And that's the nature of the men and women I asked to serve our country in my administration. I have put together a really good team of people. And the reason, they understand, is our jobs are to represent something greater than ourselves, and that is the great country called America. And I'm proud of our Vice President. Dick Cheney is the best Vice President this Nation has ever had, although my mother may not agree. Laughter In 2 1 2 years, we have come far. We've come far in 2 1 2 years. We've accomplished a lot. But our work is only beginning. We have great goals worthy of this great Nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace, for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every citizen has a chance to work and succeed and realize the great promise of this country. It is clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire and we will not stop until this threat to civilization is removed. Yet our national interest involves more than eliminating aggressive threats to our safety. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror, free nations do not attack their neighbors, free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And we believe that freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world. And when we see disease and starvation and hopelessness, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, a continent I'll be visiting in 10 days, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. This great land is leading the world in this incredibly important work of human rescue. We face challenges at home as well, and our actions will be equal to those challenges. I will continue to work on economic prosperity until anybody who wants to work and is not working today can find a job. And we have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare. Last night or actually, this morning or last night here this morning in Washington laughter the Congress took historic action to improve the lives of older Americans. For the first time since the creation of Medicare, the House and Senate have passed reforms to increase the choices of seniors and provide coverage for prescription drugs. The next step is for both Houses to come together, iron out some details, and get the bill to my desk. The sooner the job is done, the sooner Americans will get the health care they deserve. And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doctor deserve their day in court. Yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, at the Federal level, the medical liability issue is a Federal problem that requires a Federal solution. No one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. Laughter We need Federal medical liability reform now. I also have a responsibility as President to make sure the judicial system runs well. And I have met that duty. I've nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the United States Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. This Nation needs a comprehensive energy plan. We need more natural gas for California's electric plants. We need to promote new technologies. We need to promote new conservation techniques. We need to explore in environmentally friendly ways. For the sake of our national security and for the sake of our economic security, we need to become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and compassionate Nation must also be a prosperous and, at the same time, compassionate place for all. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, applying the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so that more Americans can serve their communities and their country. And both Houses should reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring children, that are caring for the homeless, that are offering hope to the addicted. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. My administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more of our citizens owning their own home. We want people to own and manage their own health care plan, their own retirement plan. We want more people owning their own small business. We understand that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake into the future of this country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make. We're changing the culture of America from one that has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to one in which each of us understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are fortunate enough to be a mother or a father, you are responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul. If you are a concerned about the quality of the education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you're responsible for telling the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in the new responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving a neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourselves. We can see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us. I started what we call the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to neighbors in need, and the response has been strong. And our faith based charities are strong and vibrant all across America. Policemen and firemen and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again, the children of America believe in heroes because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I've been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right Nation. We're a strong country, and we use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner in America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it, and we know that for our country and for our cause, better days lie ahead. May God continue to bless America. Thank you very much. June 26, 2003 Please be seated. Thanks for the warm welcome. It is my honor to be here with the entrepreneurs and scholars who are committed to building a hopeful future for Africa. I'm honored to be with so many distinguished African leaders who know that market reforms and open trade can lift every nation on every continent. All of us here today share some basic beliefs. We believe that growth and prosperity in Africa will contribute to the growth and prosperity of the world. We believe that human suffering in Africa creates moral responsibilities for people everywhere. We believe that this can be a decade of unprecedented advancement for freedom and hope and healing and peace across the African Continent. That's what we believe. In 11 days, I leave for Africa, and I will carry this message The United States believes in the great potential of Africa. We also understand the problems of Africa, and this Nation is fully engaged in a broad, concerted effort to help Africans find peace, to fight disease, to build prosperity, and to improve their own lives. I want to thank Stephen for his invitation. And I want to thank those involved with the Corporate Council on Africa. I appreciate so very much Frank Fountain, the chairman Anita Henri, the vice president. I want to thank all the board members who are here. I want to thank you and your if you're not a CEO, thank your CEOs of the companies you represent for not only serving our Nation by helping to create jobs but serving our Nation by helping creating more compassionate and hopeful countries in the continent of Africa. I want to thank very much Ambassador Robert Perry, who is a special adviser to the President on these matters. I want to thank the senior African government officials here, but I particularly want to welcome the African heads of state and the heads of government who are with us today. It was my honor to have the traditional photo op. But besides smiling for the cameras, I was smiling to see people who I had known before, and I was so appreciative that you all took time to fly here to our country. And our country extends a warm welcome, and we hope you have a great stay. I'm honored that President Chissano of Mozambique is here. After all, he is the incoming President of the African Union. And I'm pleased to see President Mogae of Botswana. The reason so is that he has graciously extended me and my delegation an invitation to visit his country, an invitation I have accepted. Botswana is a stable democracy, was one of the strongest economies of all of Africa. And I look forward to my trip. I'll go to Senegal and see west Africa's longest standing democracy, a country with a vibrant civil society and a growing independent media. I look forward to going to South Africa, where I'll meet with elected leaders who are firmly committed to economic reforms in a nation that has become a major force for regional peace and stability. I'm looking forward to my trip to Uganda, where the Government's visionary policies have brought about the most dramatic decline in the rate of HIV infection of any country in the world. And finally, I'll be going to Nigeria, a multiethnic society that is consolidating civilian rule, is developing its vast resources, and is helping its African neighbors keep the peace. My trip should signal that I am optimistic about the future of the continent of Africa. After all, there's a generation of leaders who now understand the power of economic liberty and the necessity for global commerce. And I also understand that freedom and prosperity are not achieved overnight. Yet the 48 nations of sub Saharan Africa have an historic opportunity to grow in trade and to grow in freedom and stability and, most importantly, to grow in hope. On the path to freedom and with the friendship of the United States and other nations, Africa will rise, and Africa will prosper. This is a long term commitment, and I know there are serious obstacles to overcome. Introducing democracy is hard in any society. It's much harder in a society torn by war or held back by corruption. The promise of free markets means little when millions are illiterate and hungry or dying from a preventable disease. It is Africans who will overcome these problems. Yet the United States of America and other nations will stand beside them. We will work as partners in advancing the security and the health and the prosperity of the African peoples. The first great goal in our partnership with Africa is to help establish peace and security across the continent. Many thousands of African men and women and children are killed every year in regional wars. These wars are often encouraged by regimes that give weapons and refuge to rebel groups fighting in neighboring countries. The cycle of attack and escalation is reckless. It is destructive, and it must be ended. In Congo, nine countries took part in a 5 year war that brought death to millions. Now the parties to the conflict are moving to form a government of national unity, holding out the real possibility of peace. President Mbeki of South Africa deserves credit for his efforts to broker a peace agreement. All the Congo's neighbors have officially withdrawn their forces. Now I urge these Governments to actively support the creation of an integrated national army and the establishment, by June 30th, of a transitional government. The United States is working with the Congo and its neighbors to ensure the security and integrity of their borders. To encourage progress across all of Africa, we must build peace at the heart of Africa. In Liberia, the United States strongly supports the cease fire signed earlier this month. President Taylor needs to step down so that his country can be spared further bloodshed. All the parties in Liberia must pursue a comprehensive peace agreement. And the United States is working with regional governments to support those negotiations and to map out a secure transition to elections. We are determined to help the people of Liberia find the path to peace. The United States is also pressing forward to help end Africa's longest running civil war in Sudan, which has claimed an estimated 2 million lives over 20 years. Progress over this past year, aided by the leadership of Kenya, has brought us to the edge of peace. Now the north and south must finalize a just and comprehensive peace agreement, and the world must support it. I've asked my Special Envoy for Peace in Sudan, former Senator John Danforth, to return to the region in 2 weeks. He will make clear that the only option on the table is peace. Both sides must now make their final commitment to peace and human rights and end the suffering of Sudan. The United States supports efforts by African governments to build effective peacekeeping forces. America is providing resources and logistical support to African Union peacekeeping forces in Burundi and ECOWAS forces in the Ivory Coast. During my visit to South Africa, U.S. military forces will participate in a joint humanitarian and disaster relief training exercise with South African defense forces. Skilled and well equipped peacekeeping forces are essential, because in the long run, Africans will keep the peace in Africa. The United States is also working with African nations to fight terrorists wherever they are found. Africans from Casablanca to Nairobi to Dar es Salaam have experienced firsthand the pain and the evil of terror. Kenya and other nations of eastern Africa are suffering under a particularly serious threat, and we're working closely with those nations to end this threat. Today I announced that the United States will devote 100 million over the next 15 months to help countries in the region increase their own counterterror efforts. We will work with Kenya and Ethiopia and Djibouti and Uganda and Tanzania to improve capabilities such as air and seaport security, coastal and border patrols, computer databases to track terrorists, intelligence sharing, and the means necessary to cut off terrorist financing. Many African governments have the will to fight the war on terror, and we are thankful for that will. We will give them the tool and the resources to win the war on terror. The second great goal of our partnership with Africa is to make the advantages of health and literacy widely available across the continent. And that work begins with the struggle against AIDS, which already affects nearly 30 million Africans. As former President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia has said, "We have conquered slavery, colonialism, and apartheid. We must now fight HIV AIDS, the most deadly enemy we have ever faced." And he is right. And many others are fighting against this enemy. Yet my message today and my message when I go to the continent is, you are not alone in the fight. Under the law I signed last month, the United States Congress has authorized 15 billion over the next 5 years to fight AIDS abroad. That money will be used to support the Global AIDS Fund as well as specially focusing on 14 African and Caribbean countries where the crisis is most severe. Overall, this expansion of Americans' efforts will prevent 7 million new HIV infections, treat at least 2 million people with life extending drugs, and provide humane care for 10 million HIV infected individuals and AIDS orphans. This is one of the largest public health projects in history. America is proud to be a part of this cause, and we are absolutely determined to see it through until we have turned the tide against AIDS in Africa. My administration is ready to start this vital work. Now the Congress must appropriate the money it promised. In 2004, this effort will require 2 billion, including 200 million for the Global Fund for AIDS and other infectious diseases. Having passed the Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief, Congress must now fully fund this lifesaving initiative. The health of Africa also depends on the defeat of hunger. Forty million Africans are now at risk of starvation. They face severe food shortages or lack of clean drinking water. This year the United States will provide more than 800 million to address food emergencies in Africa. I've also asked Congress to provide 200 million new dollars for a Famine Fund, so that when the first signs of famine appear we can move quickly and save lives. Yet the problem of hunger requires more than emergency measures. To help Africa become more self sufficient in the production of food, I have proposed the Initiative to End Hunger in Africa. This initiative will help African countries to use new high yield biotech crops and unleash the power of markets to dramatically increase agricultural productivity. But there's a problem. There's a problem. At present, some governments are blocking the import of crops grown with biotechnology, which discourages African countries from producing and exporting these crops. The ban of these countries is unfounded it is unscientific it is undermining the agricultural future of Africa. And I urge them to stop this ban. Nigeria's former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Hassan Adamu speaks for many in Africa. He speaks the truth. Here's what he says "To deny desperate, hungry people the means to control their futures by presuming to know what is best for them is not only paternalistic, it is morally wrong." Africa's progress also depends on the education of Africa's children. Forty two million boys and girls across sub Saharan Africa are not even enrolled in schools. If Africa is to meet its full potential, these children must have the chance to study and learn. My administration is committing 200 million new dollars over 5 years to train more than 420,000 teachers in Africa, to provide scholarships for 250,000 African girls, and to partner with Historically Black Colleges and Universities in America in bringing more than 4 million textbooks to African children. Every country, every business, every private organization that cares about this continent must unite to give Africa's children the literacy and skills they need to build Africa's future. The third great goal of our partnership with Africa is to help African nations develop vibrant, free economies through aid and trade. Wealthy nations have a responsibility to provide foreign aid. We have an equal duty to make sure that aid is effective by rewarding countries that embrace reform and freedom. Too often in the past, development assistance has been squandered or used to prop up corrupt regimes. The world needs a new approach to foreign aid, and America is leading the way with the Millennium Challenge Account. Under my proposal, money will go to developing nations whose governments are committed to three broad strategies. First, they must rule justly. Second, they must invest in the health and education of their people. And third, they must have policies that encourage economic freedom. To fund this account, I've proposed a 50 percent increase in America's core development assistance over the next 3 years. And I urge the United States Congress to give full support to the Millennium Challenge Account. Corrupt regimes that give nothing to their people deserve nothing from us. Governments that serve their people deserve our help, and we will provide that help. Many African leaders are currently pledged to the path of political and economic reform. That shared commitment is expressed in the standards of NEPAD, the New Partnership for Africa's Development. Yet those standards are mocked by some on the continent, such as the leader of Zimbabwe, where the freedom and dignity of the nation is under assault. I urge all nations, including the nations of Africa, to encourage a return to democracy in Zimbabwe. We can add to the prosperity of Africa through development assistance that encourages your reform. Yet aid alone is not enough. President Museveni of Uganda has put it well. "By itself," he says, "aid cannot transform societies. Only trade can foster the sustained economic growth necessary for such a transformation." He's right. The powerful combination of trade and open markets is history's proven method to defeat poverty on a large scale, to vastly improve health and education, to build a modern infrastructure while safeguarding the environment, and to spread the habits of liberty and enterprise that lead to self government. Trade is the great engine of economic progress, the great engine of human progress. Yet sub Sahara Africa, with 11 percent of world's population, has less than 2 percent of the world's trade. The peoples of Africa have been left out long enough. The United States is committed to making the transforming power of trade available to all Africans. Three years ago, Congress passed the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which gave greater access to American markets for African products. AGOA is proving the power of trade. Even with a weak global economy, AGOA countries' duty free exports to the United States in 2002 were 9 billion. That's a 10 percent increase from 2001. From countries all across the continent of Africa, AGOA is helping to reform old economies, creating new jobs is attracting new investment most importantly, is offering hope to millions of Africans. We must build on AGOA's success. Today I call on the United States Congress to extend AGOA beyond 2008. We must extend AGOA beyond 2008 to give businesses the confidence to make long term investments in Africa. At America's urging, the World Bank will provide more than 200 million over the next 3 years to support loans to small businesses in 10 African countries. These loans will give African entrepreneurs the capital they need to achieve their dreams. Here's what we believe in America, and it's true elsewhere Ownership and independence are the hopes of men and women in every land. To expand commerce between America and Africa, we're working towards a free trade agreement with the Southern African Customs Union. And in the global trade negotiations, we are pushing to open agricultural markets, reduce farm subsidies in wealthy nations, and to create new opportunities for African farmers. I also urge African nations to lower their own trade barriers against each other's products. Just as America can do more to open its markets, so can the nations of Africa. Together we can ensure that all our citizens have access to the opportunities of markets around the globe. The measures I've outlined today actions on security and health, education, hunger, foreign aid, and global trade constitute a major focus of American foreign policy. America is committed to the success of Africa because we recognize a moral duty to bring hope where there is despair and relief where there's suffering. America is committed to the success of Africa because we understand failed states spread instability and terror that threatens us all. America is committed to the success of Africa because the peoples of Africa have every right to live in freedom and dignity and to share in the progress of our times. The responsibilities we have accepted in Africa are consistent with the ideals that have always guided America and the world. Our Nation has more than a set of interests I believe we have a calling. For a century, America has acted to defend the peace, to liberate the oppressed, and to offer all mankind the promise of freedom and a better life. And today, as America fights the latest enemies of freedom, we will strive to expand the realm of freedom for the benefit of all nations. The members of this council, with your energy and optimism, are bringing new opportunities to millions. I want to thank you for your efforts. I want to thank you for your heart. I want to thank you for your vision. May God bless the people on the continent of Africa. And may God continue to bless the United States of America. Thank you. June 25, 2003 President Bush. Thank you all for coming. We'll have opening statements each of us will answer one question apiece. It's my pleasure to welcome Prime Minister Simitis and President Prodi here to the White House. We've had constructive discussions. We had a nice lunch. Since the end of World War II, the United States has strongly supported European unity as the best path to European peace and prosperity. We believe as well that strong ties between America and Europe are essential to peace and the prosperity of the world. Both the United States and the EU are threatened by global terror, and we are determined to defeat it. Today we have signed new agreements to increase our legal cooperation in the war on terror and to speed the extradition of terrorists. Under these agreements, we will form joint investigative teams and share information on suspect bank accounts and expand the range of offenses that qualify for extradition. Today the United States and the EU have also taken new steps to help stop the gravest threat to our security, the proliferation of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. We have signed we have agreed to work together and with others to strengthen export controls on dangerous materials. We also seek new methods, including active interdiction, to stop illicit trade in weapons of mass destruction. The United States and the EU are working closely to meet the proliferation challenges posed by North Korea and Iran. The recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency clearly describes Iran's failure to meet its obligations to the world and to provide access for agency officials. America and the EU agree that Iran must cooperate fully with the IAEA. We agree that Iran must sign and comply with an additional protocol giving the IAEA new tools to investigate clandestine nuclear weapons activities. Iran has pledged not to develop nuclear weapons, and the entire international community must hold that regime to its commitments. The United States and the EU are determined to make the world not only safer but also better. We will work together to help the people of Iraq build a future of security, prosperity, and freedom. We'll work together to confront global poverty, disease, and oppression. And Europe and America will stand together for a Middle East so that will have a just and comprehensive peace. We'll work together to achieve the two state solution endorsed by the parties earlier this month at the Red Sea Summit. Progress toward this goal will only be possible if all sides do all in their power to defeat the determined enemies of peace, such as Hamas and other terrorist groups. Nearly every hopeful moment in the region, nearly every sign of progress toward peace is followed by more murders in the guise of martyrdom, as those who oppose peace do all they can to destroy the hopes and aspirations of those who desire to live in peace. I urge the leaders in Europe and around the world to take swift, decisive action against terror groups such as Hamas, to cut off their funding and to support cut funding and support, as the United States has done. We also had a good discussion today about the vital trade relationship that brings growth and job creation to America and to all the nations of the EU and to the world. Today we are launching negotiations on a comprehensive air services agreement, better known as Open Skies, that will benefit our consumers, our airlines, and our communities. We've also agreed to accelerate the commercial use of clean and abundant hydrogen energy. We're working toward a multilateral agreement to ban market distorting steel subsidies. And we agree on the importance of making the upcoming World Trade Organization meeting of trade ministers in Cancun a success, so that we can energize the global trade negotiations. We meet at an important moment, a time when the EU is taking in new members and writing a new constitution and a time when both Europe and America are facing new challenges in the world's peace and prosperity. We are united in common values, and we will seek common solutions to our shared challenges. We've had a great meeting. Mr. Prime Minister, welcome. President Simitis. Thank you, Mr. President. We had a very fruitful, very friendly meeting with President Bush. This is our first meeting after the crisis in Iraq. I want to stress, because many people said that there was a serious period of strain, that the transatlantic relationship does work. It produces results, and it is important for both of us. It's been of fundamental importance, I would say. The economic interdependence between Europe and the United States is inescapable and is of vital importance vital importance to jobs and economic growth on both sides of the Atlantic and for the global economy. Our economic relationship sustains our security and prosperity. Cooperation with the United States in the security and defense field is unavoidable as it is desirable. A solid and productive transatlantic relationship is essential for international order. Europe and America share a common attachment to the fundamental values of freedom and democracy and the rights of man, though they sometimes differ in their appreciation as how to best implement the principles. As President Bush said, we discussed how to strengthen our relationship. We identified issues which we have common objectives, shared interests, and where we can both contribute. The Middle East and the application of the roadmap remains at the top of the list. We have the same interest that there is peace in the Middle East. Counterterrorism is certainly a common issue, and that's why we also agreed on a declaration on nonproliferation on weapons of mass destruction. The development issues in Africa and elsewhere are ripe for a more detailed dialog. Economic affairs and the justice and home affairs agenda are also subjects that can be pursued in the mutual benefit of both of us and the wider international community. From the agreements and declarations that we agreed today, I want to mention the mutual legal assistance and extradition agreement is the first agreement on legal cooperation in the fight against crime that the European Union signs with a third country. The United States and the European Union cannot possibly have and share on foreign policy or trade interests in all areas the same opinions. There will be issues and times where we will differ. But friendship presupposes that we will have to agree to differ, to accept to differ. And friendship presupposes that we must be disciplined and manage our differences. We should always act on the basis that what unites us will always outweigh any issue that divide us. I think that meeting today was a very good meeting because it allowed us to discuss matters where we differ, trade matters, matters where we agree, and matters where we can cooperate in order to have a common result I think, a common result that will be good for not only Europe and the United States but for all those that are interested in peace, security, and growth. Thank you. President Bush. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. Romano. President Prodi. I have not to add that it was a very good meeting, because it was a very good meeting atmosphere. We concentrated on concrete decisions because we have not to waste our energy in talking about difference, because we shouldn't get nowhere and the difference are shrinking. So we are growing together. And we have, first of all, launched the talks for the creation of a transatlantic open aviation area. This will change the industry of transport aviation transport and will provide better service, lower price, and more choice for the 11 million people who cross the Atlantic every year and even more in the future. Second, and this is a joint we are starting a major joint research effort on hydrogen energy. And this is important for the future and show that we can work together even on issue where that touch there on the border of other issue which we have disagreement, like Kyoto. Third, we have decided to have a joint responsibility making the Doha development round a success. And without close cooperation between Europe and U.S., there will be no success. And we cannot afford to fail because a trade war will be heavy, heavy damage. On this aspect, we also exchanged our views on the reform of the big, big, big reform of the common agricultural product that Europe is trying to do, and that are discussed in this hour when we are here, you know? And I hope that we can arrive to Doha with really a new picture of our agriculture. And you know, therefore, I fully agree with the President when he recently declared it important that when Europe and the U.S. are united, no problem and no enemy can stand against us. This is the real lesson. I would only add that if we fail to unite, every problem may become a crisis and every enemy a gigantic monster. I say to end this with this brief analogy Many people have said that Europe is too old. Maybe, but the old age helps us to understand our strength and our weakness and the reality of the world. And so, I say that we if we stay alone, President, Europe is too old and the United States too young laughter to be able to bring peace in this world. And it is our duty to stick together to bring peace to the world. Thank you. President Bush. Well, thank you, Romano. You're looking pretty young these days. Laughter President Prodi. I am not. Laughter President Bush. Here's what we'll do. We'll call upon each of us will call upon a member of the press. We ask you to limit your questions to one question, to one person. Dana Bash, CNN. Hamas Q. Mr. President, thank you. There are reports that there is a cease fire agreement among Hamas and a few other Palestinian organizations, that they've promised to stop the violence for at least 3 months. What do you know about that? And what if true, what do you expect to happen next from both sides, both Israelis and Palestinians? President Bush. As I was walking in, somebody told me about the report. I'll believe it when I see it, knowing the history of the terrorists in the Middle East. But the true test for Hamas and terrorist organizations is the complete dismantlement of their terrorist networks, their capacity to blow up the peace process. That's the true test. It's one thing to make a verbal agreement. But in order for there to be peace in the Middle East, we must see organizations such as Hamas dismantled, and then we'll have peace. Then we'll have a chance for peace. I like to remind people that there are three parties involved directly in the territories there. There's the Israeli Government. I believe the Israeli people want peace, and I believe their Government when they say they want a peaceful state, living side by side Israel. Secondly, there are the people of the Palestinian world who are tired of failed leadership, tired of terrorism destroying their hopes, tired of living in poverty, and they too want a peaceful state. And then there are the terrorists, like Hamas, who do not want a peaceful state, and they're willing to use terrorist means to destroy it. In order for there to be peace, Hamas must be dismantled. European Union Defense and Security Policy President Simitis. Inaudible Q. Mr. Prime Minister, in the last few weeks and months, we heard from both sides of the Atlantic some opinions, some politicians expressing concern about the European community policy on defense and security. Did you they say, for example, that it is going to undermine the NATO, generally speaking, that it's going to be a kind of threat to the United States, be worse in other things. Did you discuss this kind of thing today, and may I have your opinion of this? And I would really like to hear the President's opinion. President Bush. You're trying to violate the one question per person rule. Laughter It's okay. Nice try, though. President Simitis. We discussed with President Bush this is not a subject of discussion. I explained what we are doing in the European Union, why this is necessary, and, I think, why it's in the interest of both of us. Europe should be capable to deal with security problems at its borders or elsewhere in the world. And we have a very good example now There is a European force in FYROM, and this European force took the place of a NATO force. And we discussed about having a European force also in Bosnia Herzegovina, and instead of a NATO force. This will be also positive for the Balkans. I think it's a big mistake to believe that the development of a European and security policy takes place in adversity with the United States. I think that both the United States and us have an interest to have a strong defense, because a strong defense in our case will help the United States and a strong defense of the United States helps us also. And a good example again I'll bring is Afghanistan. We discussed about Afghanistan. As you know, there is there are German soldiers in Afghanistan. There are United States soldiers in Afghanistan. We have a common policy in order to have more peace and security in Afghanistan. And also the question that this security policy is a threat to anybody, I think it's ridiculous because we have a very clear policy in these questions. If there is a confrontation, then international law must be applied. And the United Nations Security Council has to decide on differences. As for example, Greece has always said, concerning the problem of the continental shelf, it's a with Turkey, that the international court of justice has to decide. So the European development in concern with defense cannot be a threat to anyone. It's, I would say, a decisive step for peace. President Bush. Romano. Iran's Clandestine Nuclear Weapons Activities Q. Mr. Prodi, when you discussed Iran with President Bush, did you raise the question of what would happen if Iran does not comply to sign up to enhanced inspections? President Prodi. We discussed deeply about Iran, but I didn't ask him what he would do, you know. I tell my opinion. Laughter President Bush. Iran must comply. It's the free world expects Iran to comply. Just leave it at that. They can Q. And if it doesn't? President Bush. We expect them to. See, you're assuming they won't. We believe they will when the free world comes together. President Prodi. I tell you that the dialog is President Bush. And if they don't, we'll deal with that when they don't. President Prodi. The dialog with Iran is going on daily and deeply. And we push that they accept all the inspections, even the non let's say, planned inspections because we have to be sure that doesn't constitute a danger to future peace. We have to be absolutely sure. President Bush. Yes. If the world speaks together, they'll comply. Thank you all very much for coming. We enjoyed it. June 24, 2003 President Bush. Good day, Mr. President. Thank you so much for coming. Laura and I are honored that you and Mrs. Musharraf are joining us here at Camp David. President Musharraf is a courageous leader and a friend of the United States. America has a strong relationship with Pakistan, and we have benefited from the industry and the talents of Pakistani Americans. Today, our two nations are working together closely on common challenges. Both the United States and Pakistan are threatened by global terror, and we're determined to defeat it. Pakistan's support was essential in our campaign against the Taliban. Since September the 11th attacks, Pakistan has apprehended more than 500 Al Qaida and Taliban terrorists, thanks to the effective border security measures and law enforcement cooperation throughout the country, and thanks to the leadership of President Musharraf. Today, both our countries are working with the Afghan Government to build a stable, democratic Afghanistan with secure border regions that are free from terror and free from extremism. Pakistan and the United States also share a determination to bring the security the benefits of security and freedom to the people of Iraq. And I look forward to working with President Musharraf on this critical goal. The friendship between the United States and Pakistan is vital to the security and stability of South Asia. I'm encouraged by the progress President Musharraf and Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee may have made in easing tensions between Pakistan and India. I'm hopeful that the two countries will deepen their engagement on all issues, including Kashmir. In our meeting, we discussed the need to address extremism and cross border infiltration, and I assured the President that the United States will do all we can to promote peace. President Musharraf has set out on an important mission. He's working to build a modern Pakistan that is tolerant and prosperous. Achieving this vision of moderation and progress will require movement toward democracy in Pakistan. The United States currently provides over 31 million for initiatives in Pakistan aimed at broadening political participation and expanding educational opportunities, especially for women and girls. Greater economic development is also critical to fulfilling the hopes of the Pakistani people. Since we met last year, the United States has canceled 1 billion of debt Pakistan owed our country. And today I'm pleased to announce that our nations are signing a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, which creates a formal structure for expanding our economic partnership. In addition, I will work with the United States Congress on a 3 billion assistance package to help advance security and economic opportunity for Pakistan's citizens. For more than 50 years, the United States and Pakistan have worked together for the security and prosperity of South Asia. Today we reaffirm a friendship that has brought great benefits to our people. Mr. President, I'm honored you are here. President Musharraf. Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. President. I am extremely grateful to President Bush for his gracious invitation to me to visit the United States. I am particularly honored and touched by his special gesture in arranging our meeting in Camp David. This is my fourth visit to the United States, and as always, the United States' hospitality has been warm and exemplary. This special gesture by the President to come to Camp David and invite me here on a Tuesday is certainly a typical example of his warmth and cordiality towards me as a person and towards Pakistan. We had wide ranging and extensive discussions with President Bush in a congenial and most informal ambiance. These discussions have been highly productive, reflective of the very close and, indeed, special relationship that Pakistan today enjoys with the United States. We have talked not only about our bilateral ties and the immediate situation prevailing in our region in South Asia but have also reflected upon and shared ideas of our common vision of a peaceful and prosperous world. We have reviewed in depth with President Bush how to strengthen and expand the Pakistan U.S. bilateral relationship and to give it greater depth and meaning. Both sides have reaffirmed that our ties should be made more broadbased and multifaceted and placed on a long term and predictable basis. The United States has accordingly agreed on a multiyear economic and defense related package for Pakistan. This exemplifies the U.S. commitment to remain involved with us for a long term. We look forward to diverse programs of cooperation in the economic, commercial, political, and the defense sectors. We also expect greater people to people contacts and close interaction between the parliaments of the two countries to promote the cause of democracy. As a result of this commitment, two important agreements will be signed during my visit to the United States. One relates to the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, the TIFA, which would help move towards an eventual Free Trade Agreement, the FTA. The other relates to an agreement on cooperation in the field of science and technology, which would provide impetus to growth and development. Our two countries have many common bonds and linkages. Our relationship is of longstanding and in the interest of the people of our two countries. We have cooperated closely in the global fight against terrorism, and we stand determined to rid the world of this menace. We abhor terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. There is no cause that can be justified or promoted through terrorist acts, and Pakistan is moving against terrorism in its own national interest. We also believe that our relations with the United States are a factor of stability in South Asia. We are grateful to the United States for its constructive engagement in our region and for its untiring efforts in diffusing tension and bringing about a dialog process between Pakistan and India aimed at the resolution of all outstanding issues, including the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir. President Bush has assured me that he personally, and the United States, would remain firmly engaged in South Asia towards the end of bringing peace and harmony in the region. We also reviewed the situation prevailing in Afghanistan. We reiterated our firm support to the Bonn process and to the Government of President Karzai, which needs to be strengthened. It is important that the world community remains engaged in Afghanistan and lives up to its commitment towards the reconstruction and development of this devastated country. We also discussed a number of other important issues, such as the situation in Iraq and the Middle East peace process. I have I would like to, in front of this gathering, extend a very warm invitation to the President and Mrs. Laura Bush, may I say, to visit Pakistan and do us this honor and give us this opportunity of reciprocating the warmth and the cordiality that myself and my wife always receive very well when we visit United States. President Bush. Thank you, Mr. President. President Musharraf. Thank you very much. President Bush. We will take two questions from each side, and we'll start with Tom Raum Associated Press . War on Terror Q. For both Presidents, the war on terror that you're both engaged in, there are two principals that are still at large. Could you tell us anything about the whereabouts of Usama bin Laden? Is he back in business in Pakistan? And what about Saddam Hussein? Is he back in Iraq? President Bush. Well, let me start off. There's more than two principals at large. There are terrorists who are still have designs on destabilizing the Pakistan Government and are destroying innocent life. You've named two. There are others around too, and we're just on the hunt. And we'll find them. It's a matter of time. Thanks to President Musharraf's leadership, on the Al Qaida front we've dismantled the chief operators of Al Qaida. If Usama bin Laden is alive and the President can comment on that if he cares to but the people reporting to him, the chief operators, people like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, are no longer a threat to the United States or Pakistan for that matter. As I said in my opening remarks, thanks to the leadership of this man and his Government, over 500 Al Qaida and Taliban terrorists are detained. They're no longer a problem. So slowly but surely, we're dismantling the networks, and we'll continue on the hunt. It doesn't matter how long it takes. It could take a day, or it could take a month. It could take years. It doesn't matter how long it takes, Mr. President, we will stay on the hunt, and we want to thank you for your cooperation. President Musharraf. Thank you very much. All that I would like to say is that in search of all the Al Qaida operatives who are non Afghan, non Pakistani, pretty easy to identify, we have entered on the Pakistani side an area known as the FATA, the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, areas where the Government never entered for over a century. This is the first time that the Pakistan army and our civil armed forces have entered this region. And we are in the process of opening up this region. Now, if at all any Al Qaida operative is hiding in this region, we are after them. Now, whether Usama bin Laden is here or across the border, your guess, sir, will be as good as mine. So I wouldn't like to venture into a guess. But the possibility of his, maybe, shifting sides on the border is very much there. But as I said, we are fully inside the areas where which are treacherous areas. We have an ingress there. And there is no doubt in my mind that the military, with every passage of time, will be able to locate any Al Qaida members hiding in this area. President Bush. Do you want to call on somebody from your press? President Musharraf. Yes, indeed. I think I'll take inaudible . India Pakistan Relations Q. Mr. President Bush, it's a very positive statement for bringing peace into South Asia, which is already nuclearized, but during the 20 years of honeymoon period of India with Soviet Union, India is the one who launched nuclear program, and insecure and a smaller Pakistan, in search of its security, did the same thing. Now, when you are starting a stable relationship with India, what kind of security concerns you are going to address about the territorial integrity of Pakistan and security concerns, because Pakistan is much smaller in the conventional weapons, and that's why they have gone nuclear? President Bush. I think look, we've spent a lot of time on this subject, not only today but during previous meetings. I assured President Musharraf that the United States wants to help toward achieving a peaceful solution. What you've just described is the reason why there needs to be a peaceful solution on this issue and other issues. Our role will be to be a to aid the process forward. The decision makers will be the Pakistani Government and the Indian Government. Those are the Governments that have to decide how to resolve this issue, which is a which has been a thorn in both people's sides. One thing is for certain, that we all must work together to fight off terrorists who would like to prevent a peaceful solution. There needs to be a 100 percent effort on all parties' side every party involved with this issue must focus on not allowing a few to undermine the hopes of many. And the President knows that I will remain engaged. I have stand by, ready to help. But the truth of the matter is, for there to be a final agreement, it's going to require leadership from both the Pakistani Government and the Indian Government. Q. May I have one more question? President Bush. No, you can't. Thank you. Democracy in Pakistan Q. Mr. President, you mentioned you'd like to see a movement toward democracy in President Bush. What now? Q. You mentioned that you would like to see a movement toward democracy in Pakistan. What would you like to see happen? There's a report that he might dissolve the Parliament there. President Bush. Well, the President and I talked about the reforms that he's putting in place and the democracy to which he is committed. One of the things that he has done that is most impressive for the long term stability of Pakistan is to address education reform. A good education system is one that is going to mean more likely for any country, including ourselves, to be a freer country and a more democratic country. And he is taking on the issue in a way that is visionary and strong. He's dealing with the Madrassahs in a way that is productive and constructive. He is working on a national curriculum that will focus on basic education. I'll let him describe his vision. But this country is committed to democracy, and we're committed to freedom. We're also committed to working with our partner to fight off the influences of terrorism. And we've had no better partner in our fight on terror than President Musharraf. President Musharraf. Thank you, Mr. President. I would like to say a word on the previous question, also, before I address your answer your question. Pakistan very clearly, obviously, is concerned any country is concerned about its security. Pakistan follows a strategy of minimum deterrence. We are not into any arms race, but we do maintain forces to ensure this strategy of minimum deterrence. And that is what we will keep doing to guard our honor and dignity. We have, as far as India is concerned, our sovereign equality to guard vis a vis India. And this is what we pursue whenever we are talking of any defense related issues. Coming to your question, sir, about democracy, let me assure you it may sound rather odd that I, being a military man, am talking of democracy. But let me assure you that I am extremely concerned about introducing sustainable democracy in Pakistan. Over the last 50 years, five decades, we have had dysfunctional democracy in Pakistan. And what I am doing, really, is to introduce sustainable democracy. Let me assure you, all the constitution changes, all the political restructuring that we have done, is in line with ensuring sustainable democracy in Pakistan. We will continue with this process to ensure that democracy is never derailed in Pakistan. This is my assurance. President Bush. Final question, that you'd like to call? President Musharraf. Inaudible yes, please. F 16 Sales to Pakistan Q. This is to President Bush. During the Indian Deputy Prime Minister Advani's visit last week, there were press reports of his claiming to have received assurances from your administration that Pakistan will not be provided with F 16s. This contrasts sharply with the positive relationship that Pakistan currently enjoys with the United States. The Pakistani public sets great score by the F 16s. So, Mr. President, should the Pakistani public believe Mr. Advani? President Bush. Well, the President Musharraf. You are never going to escape this. President Bush. No, I know. Laughter Let me just say first, let me say, the President is not afraid to bring up the issue of F 16s. He has been a strong advocate for the sale of F 16s to Pakistan. In the package that we discussed, the 5 year, 3 billion package, half of that money goes for defense matters, of which the F 16 won't be a part. Nevertheless, we want to work closely with our friend to make sure that the package meets the needs of the Pakistan people. Thank you very much, Mr. President. We're honored you're here. President Musharraf. Thank you. President Bush. It's been a great meeting. President Musharraf. Thank you, Mr. President. June 23, 2003 Thank you all very much. It's nice to be back in this great city of New York City. Thank you for your warm hospitality. I'm going to come back. Laughter And I look forward to having the Republican Convention right here in the great city of New York. Thank you all so very much for your help in the campaign. You're laying the foundation for what will be a national victory come November of 2004. I'm getting loosened up. Laughter I'm getting ready. Laughter But I'm going to need your help. I'm going to need your help not only to lay the foundation at the grassroots, but I need your help to pass our message, our inclusive, positive, hopeful message for all American citizens. I say I'm ready the political season will come in its own time. There will be plenty of time for politics. Right now I'm focused on the people's business in Washington, DC. We have a lot on the agenda, and we will continue to work hard to earn the confidence of our fellow citizens by keeping this Nation secure, keeping this Nation strong, keeping this Nation prosperous, and keeping this Nation free. My only regret tonight is that First Lady Laura Bush didn't come. I know, you drew the you drew the short straw. Laughter I'm proud of her. I love her. She is a fabulous First Lady for America. I want to thank Governor George Pataki for not only being a friend but being a great Governor for the State of New York. I appreciate so very much that my Secretary of Commerce, Don Evans, is with us tonight. I appreciate him coming. I had a chance to visit with the mayor. I want to thank Michael Bloomberg for the job he's doing on behalf of the citizens of this great city, and I want to thank him for his friendship as well. He probably said he's going out to throw a first pitch out at the minor league park. I know something about throwing out pitches. Laughter And I would suggest he goes with a fastball, not his slider. Laughter I want to thank Congressman Vito Fossella for coming as well. He's part of that New York delegation that's making a difference. I want to thank people from the statehouse who are here. The Lieutenant Governor, Mary Donohue, is with us today. Mary, thank you for coming. Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno and Assembly Minority Leader Charlie Nesbitt are with us as well. Thank you for coming. I'm proud that my friend Mayor Jim Garner from Hempstead, New York, who is the new president of the U.S. Conference on Mayors, is with us. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I want to thank my friend Rudy Giuliani for being the cochairman of this applause . Rudy and I and his new bride traveled from the helicopter pad together, and it's clear, like me, he married above himself. Laughter It's good to see former Senator Alphonse D'Amato here. Thank you for coming, Alphonse. I appreciate Mr. Chairman, Sandy Treadwell, for being here. Sandy, thank you for your leadership and your help. And the chairman of the New York Conservative Party, Mike Long, is with us as well. Michael, thanks for coming. Most importantly, thank you all for being here. It means a lot. I really appreciate your help and your support. In the last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to the office of the Presidency to solve problems, not to pass them on to future Presidents and future generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away, and we are meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many key leaders of Al Qaida, and the rest of them know we're hot on their trail. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. We increased the defense budget to prepare for threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. Then the attacks on our country and scandals in corporate America and the war affected our people's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get our economy going again, we have twice led the Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. Here is what we believe and here is what we know When Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, or to invest, the whole economy grows, so people can find work. We understand whose money we spend in Washington, DC. It is not the Government's money. It is the people's money. We're returning more money to the people who are raising their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand and hire new people. With all these actions we are laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs across America, so every single person in this country has a chance to realize the American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I called for and the Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We're bringing high standards and strong accountability measures to every public school in America. We believe every child can learn the basics of reading and math, and we believe that every school in America must teach those basics. We are challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse making are over, and now we expect results in every classroom in America so that not one single child is left behind. We reorganized the Government and created a Department of Homeland Security to safeguard the borders and ports and to protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open new markets for America's farmers and ranchers and manufacturers. We passed a budget agreement that is helping to maintain spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress on behalf of the American people. The United States Congress has shared in these great achievements. And I do want to thank the Members of the Congress who have worked hard on behalf of the people. We'll continue to work together, work together to change the tone in Washington, DC, by focusing on results. That's been the nature of the folks that I've asked to serve the United States of America. I've assembled a fantastic Cabinet and an administration, people who understand their job is to represent all of America. There has been no greater Vice President for the United States of America than Dick Cheney. Mother might have a second opinion. Laughter In 2 1 2 years, we have come far, but our work is only beginning. We have great goals worthy of this great Nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace. And secondly, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every citizen has a chance to work and succeed and realize the great promise of America. It is clear that the future of peace and freedom depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. Our war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire and we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. Yet, our national interests involves more than eliminating aggressive threats to our safety. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors, and free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And we believe that freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. When we have we have duties in this world. And when we see disease and starvation and hopelessness and poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering from AIDS. This great land is leading the world in the important work of human rescue. We face challenges at home, and our actions prove that we're equal to those challenges. I will continue to work hard on our economy until everybody who wants to work and can't find a job today can find work. We have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare so they have more choices and better access to prescription drugs. The time has arrived for Congress to pass Medicare reform, and that reform must give seniors good options that meet their needs. Members of Congress and their staffs get a choice of health plans. Seniors ought to have the same kind of choices, including the choice to keep their Medicare coverage the way it is. If choice is good enough for Members of the United States Congress, it is good enough for the seniors in America. And for the sake of our health care system, we need to stop the frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a bad doctor deserve their day in court. Yet, the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for rich settlements. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, at the Federal level, liability reform is a national issue that requires a national solution. Our fellow citizens must understand that no one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. We need medical liability reform today. I have a responsibility as President to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women for the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some Members of the Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The United States Congress needs to pass a comprehensive energy plan. Our Nation must promote energy efficiency and conservation and develop cleaner technologies. But for the sake of our national security, we must produce more energy at home. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate Nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, applying the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so more Americans can serve their communities and their country. And both Houses should finally reach agreement on a Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring children, caring for the homeless, and offering hope to the addicted. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to produce an ownership society in America. We want more people to own their own homes. We want more people to own and control their retirement accounts. We want more small business owners in America, and we want people to own and manage their own health care plan. We understand that when somebody owns something, he or she has a vital stake a vital stake in the future of this country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make. We're changing the culture of America from one that said, "If it feels good, do it, and if you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands that we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're fortunate enough to be a mother or father, you are responsible for the well being of your child. If you're concerned about the quality of education in your community, you are responsible for doing something about it. If you are a CEO in America, you have a responsibility to tell the truth to your shareholders and your employees. And in a responsibility society, each of us is responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourselves. We can see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us here in America. I started the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need. And the response has been strong. Our faith based charities all across the country are strong and vibrant, and bringing hope and healing to our fellow citizens. Policemen and firemen and people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. Once again the children of America believe in heroes, because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and the courage of America. And I have been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right Nation. We're a strong country, and we use our strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of our country. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know for our country and for our cause, better days lie ahead. Thank you for coming. May God bless you. And may God bless America. June 23, 2003 Thanks a lot. Welcome to the Nation's Capital, and thanks for having me drop by. I knew Tommy was here when I saw his Harley Davidson parked out front. Laughter So I just put my Segway right next to it. Laughter It is a pleasure to be with so many leaders in such a vital industry. Each of you is carrying on the incredible work began some 50 years ago by Doctors Watson and Crick. Since then, biotechnology is advancing knowledge and relieving suffering. In the years to come, the contributions of your industry will help us to win the war on terror, will help us fight hunger around the world, and will help us to save countless lives with new medicines. My administration is committed to working with your industry so that the great powers of biotechnology can serve the true interests of our Nation and mankind. Tommy Thompson is the Secretary of Health and Human Services. He is the point man for this administration on biotechnology and other matters of national health. And he is doing a fantastic job for America. Thank you, buddy. I want to thank Carl Feldbaum for inviting me and inviting you. I want to thank the and welcome the Premiers and Ministers and Ambassadors and distinguished guests from around the world who are here today. I want to thank the Members of Congress who are here. Some of our Nation's Governors have joined us today. I understand the Mayor is here. I always like to see the Mayor and remind him that potholes in front of the White House need to be repaired on a regular basis. Laughter I appreciate my Commissioner, the man I named to head the Food and Drug Administration, Mark McClellan, for his service to the country. The biotechnology industry finds itself on the frontlines of some of the great challenges of our time. The first challenge is the need to fight terror. All of us know the great possibilities of modern science when it is guided by good and humane purposes. We understand as well the terrible harm that science can do in the hands of evil people. On September the 11th, 2001, the world saw what terrorists could do with commercial airliners turned into weapons of mass murder. We know that our enemies have ambitions to acquire and use biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons. We will not sit idly by as these threats gather, and we will continue to act before dangers are upon us. The most direct way, the best way of removing threats to our country, is to eliminate them at their source. And that's what the United States of America has done and we will do by waging a focused, relentless effort to hunt down any terrorist that would harm the United States of America and our citizens. And we're making progress. We have captured or killed many key leaders of Al Qaida, and the other one knows we're hot on their trail. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. As we take the battle to the enemy, we must always remember where the battle began here in our own country. So we've reorganized Government to defend the homeland, with greater security at our borders and ports, with more screeners at airports, and the Nation's first environmental sensors, a network of labs to quickly detect a biological attack. A key part of our all out effort to prepare for the threat of bioterror is what this administration has called Project BioShield. I have proposed that our Government spend nearly 6 billion over the next 10 years to speed the research, production, and availability of effective vaccines and treatments against smallpox and anthrax, botulinum toxin, Ebola, plague, and other possible agents of bioterror. Under Project BioShield, the Government will have the spending authority to ensure that the most advanced vaccines and treatments are available to our people. Project BioShield will give our scientific leaders greater authority and more flexibility in decisions that may affect our national security. Our labs will be able to hire the right experts, to buy the right equipment, and to speed the construction of the right facilities to accelerate urgently needed discoveries. Like other great scientific efforts, Project BioShield will have applications beyond its immediate goals. As scientists work to defeat the weapons of bioterror, I know they will gain new insights into the workings of other diseases. And this will also break new ground for the search for treatments and cures. And this, in turn, can provide great benefits for all humanity, especially in developing countries, where infectious diseases often go uncontrolled. Your industry must stay involved with this issue. If you're interested in seeing more flexibility and more research dollars for the sake of national security, I need your help in lobbying the Members of the United States Congress. And the message is clear For the sake of our national security, the United States Congress must pass the BioShield legislation as soon as possible. Your industry is also helping this country and the world to meet a second great challenge, sparing millions of people from starvation. America and other wealthy nations have a special responsibility to combat hunger and disease in desperate lands. We meet that responsibility with emergency food in times of crisis. Next year, the United States will devote more than a billion dollars, providing food and aid to the hungry. But for the long term, we must help troubled nations to avert famine by sharing with them the most advanced methods of crop production. Through the work of scientists in your field, many farmers in developed nations are now able to grow crops with high resistance to drought and pests and disease enable farmers to produce far greater yields per acre. In our own country, we see the benefits of biotech every day with food prices and good land conservation practices. Yet, the great advantages of biotechnology have yet to reach developing nations in Africa and other lands where these innovations are now most needed. Acting on unfounded, unscientific fears, many European Governments have blocked the import of all new biotech crops. Because of these artificial obstacles, many African nations avoid investing in biotechnology, worried that their products will be shut out of important European markets. For the sake of a continent threatened by famine, I urge the European Governments to end their opposition to biotechnology. We should encourage the spread of safe, effective biotechnology to win the fight against global hunger. Finally, your industry is in the forefront of improving health care for all Americans, and we are grateful. Thanks to biotechnology, we may soon be able to grow life saving therapies and useful chemicals in plants. Biotechnology might allow scientists to produce large amounts of monoclonal antibodies, which target specific, disease causing molecules without attacking healthy cells. We're closing in on the ability to protect and fight against a range of illnesses, including cancer and HIV and heart disease. In coming years, we will see further innovations, like insulin that can be inhaled rather than administered by a needle. Men and women in your field are at work on synthetic blood that is free from infections and capable of being administered to all blood types. New therapies are nearing which will enable doctors to look at diseases for genetic markers and then give patients individualized treatments. The future of medicine in the United States of America is incredibly bright because of your work and your skill and your research. Our biotechnology industry is the strongest in the world, and we need to keep it that way. And now we have a challenge to make sure that many of the advances you have made in making sure our health care system can be world class is extended to all Americans, especially our senior citizens. The Medicare system has served seniors well for nearly four decades. Yet, while medicine has dramatically advanced, Medicare hasn't. The program was designed at a time when hospital stays were common and drug therapies were rare. Thanks to your efforts, there are drugs and other treatments that can dramatically reduce hospital stays which, in turn, improves quality of care and quality of life. We have a responsibility to improve and strengthen Medicare by making modern medicine an integral part of the Medicare system, and that includes prescription drugs for all our seniors. This is a goal you have supported for several years. And if we finally put aside partisan politics and focus on what's right for American seniors, I believe we can achieve the goal this year. The debate is on in the United States Congress, and I've submitted a framework for reforms that insists that our seniors have choices under Medicare so that affordable health care plans compete for their business and give them the coverage they need, not the coverage that a Washington bureaucrat thinks they need. The principle of choice, of trusting people to make their own health care decisions, is behind the health plan enjoyed by every person on the Federal payroll, including the Members of the United States Congress. All Federal employees get to choose their health care plan. Health care plans compete for their business. Members of Congress have got excellent choices. If the choice idea is good enough for the lawmakers, it ought to be good enough for the seniors of the United States of America. Seniors who want to stay in the current Medicare system should have that option, plus a new prescription drug benefit. Seniors who want enhanced benefits, such as more coverage for their preventative care and other services, should have that choice as well. Seniors who like the affordability of managed care plans should be able to enroll in them. And low income seniors should receive extra help, so that all seniors will have the ability to choose a Medicare option that includes prescription drug benefits. As we pursue Medicare reform, we must make sure that whatever system evolves does not undermine America's biotechnology industry. We need to keep rewarding innovation and protecting competition without unnecessary intervention by the Government. When the Government determines which drugs are covered by health insurance and which illnesses are treated, patients face delays and inflexible limits on coverage. That is a fact. Medicine works best when doctors and their patients decide what treatments to pursue. We're making progress on this important issue. The House committee has marked up legislation. The Senate is now actively debating the issue on the floor. We have a chance to finally modernize Medicare, and I ask for your help. Please contact your Senators and Members of the United States House of Representatives. Ask them to take a tough vote, if need be, to modernize a system which needs to be saved. And as you make your voices heard on necessary reform for Medicare, make sure you make your voices heard on making sure that we have legal reform in America as well. We sue each other too much in the United States of America. We passed a medical liability reform bill and a class action reform bill out of the House of Representatives. These bills are stuck in the United States Senate. For the sake of a balanced legal system, we need tort reform in Washington, DC. And I call upon the United States Senate to act, to pass meaningful liability and class action suit reforms now. These are times of great challenge for this country. Our country must continue to meet the grave dangers of bioterrorism. We've got to continue to work to help relieve suffering around the world. And we've got to continue to seek cures to terrible diseases. In all of this, we're relying on the skill and conscience of scientists in the field of biotechnology. As men and women of science, you have accepted a moral calling to improve lives and to save lives. That calling also requires a deep respect for the value of every life because even the most noble ends do not justify any means. This Nation is counting on you to serve the true interests of all humanity. You face great challenges, yet you're an industry who welcomes challenge. Your hard work and inspiration have produced incredible successes. You have made us all proud. After all, millions of people are in your debt. The American people are grateful for your many achievements, and we look forward to the many achievements yet to come. May God bless your work, and may God continue to bless America. June 21, 2003 Good morning. Ten weeks have passed since the fall of the Iraqi regime. Since that time, our work in Iraq has focused on two goals. First, we are working to make Iraq secure for its citizens and our military. Second, we are working to improve the lives of the Iraqi people after three decades of tyranny and oppression. Making Iraq secure is vitally important for both Iraqi citizens and our own forces. The men and women of our military face a continuing risk of danger and sacrifice in Iraq. Dangerous pockets of the old regime remain loyal to it, and they, along with their terrorist allies, are behind deadly attacks designed to kill and intimidate coalition forces and innocent Iraqis. Our military is acting decisively against these threats. In Operation Peninsula Strike and Operation Desert Scorpion, our forces have targeted Ba'ath party loyalists and terrorist organizations. In Baghdad, more than 28,000 American combat forces and military police are enforcing the law and arresting criminals. We are also training Iraqis to begin policing their own cities. As we establish order and justice in Iraq, we also continue to pursue Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction. Military and intelligence officials are interviewing scientists with knowledge of Saddam Hussein's weapons programs and are poring over hundreds of thousands of documents. For more than a decade, Saddam Hussein went to great lengths to hide his weapons from the world. And in the regime's final days, documents and suspected weapons sites were looted and burned. Yet all who know the dictator's history agree that he possessed chemical and biological weapons and that he used chemical weapons in the past. The intelligence services of many nations concluded that he had illegal weapons, and the regime refused to provide evidence they had been destroyed. We are determined to discover the true extent of Saddam Hussein's weapons programs, no matter how long it takes. To date, the United States has provided Iraq with more than 700 million in humanitarian and reconstruction assistance. This month, the World Food Program is distributing food rations to about 25 million Iraqis. America and our partners are also repairing water treatment plants to provide more clean water. Each week, through our efforts, more electricity is made available to more people throughout the country. And after years of neglect, Iraq's 4.2 million children under the age of 5 are receiving vaccinations against diseases such as polio, measles, and tuberculosis. Iraq's long term success also depends on economic development. Our administrator in Iraq has announced a 100 million fund to pay Iraqis to repair buildings and utilities. Billions of dollars taken from Iraqis by a corrupt regime have been recovered and will be spent on reconstruction projects. Iraq is already in the process of selling oil on world markets, which will bring in much needed revenue to help the Iraqi people. This week, the port at Umm Qasr opened to commercial traffic, and Baghdad International Airport is expected to reopen next month. For the first time in over a decade, Iraq will soon be open to the world. And the influence of progress in Iraq will be felt throughout the Middle East. Over time, a free Government in Iraq will demonstrate that liberty can flourish in that region. American servicemembers continue to risk their lives to ensure the liberation of Iraq. I'm grateful for their service, and so are the Iraqi people. Many Iraqis are experiencing the joys and responsibilities of freedom for the first time in their lives. And they are unafraid. As one Iraqi man said, "We are ready to rebuild our country." For the people of free Iraq, the road ahead holds great challenges. Yet at every turn, they will have friendship and support from the United States of America. Thank you for listening. June 20, 2003 The President. Thank you all very much. Thanks a lot for coming out tonight. So I'm walking up on the stage, and Saxby says, "If you keep it short, we might be able to get a round of golf in." Laughter I want to thank you all for being here. I came without my wife, unfortunately. Audience members. Aw w w. The President. I know it. There's a lot of good, discerning people out here in the crowd who understand who the real star of our family is. She was in Chattanooga today working. You drew the short straw. Laughter But I can't tell you how proud I am of the job she is doing. She is a fabulous First Lady for our country, and she sends her best and her thanks. Standing up on the stage here with Sonny and Saxby reminded me about what it means to offer a hopeful and optimistic vision, because that's precisely what we did last fall. In this State, we said, "If you elect these good people, you'll get good government for everybody." And thanks to your hard work and your efforts, you elected the first Republican Governor in 130 years. And he's doing the job you expect him to do. He's a straight shooter. He does in office what he said he would do. And that's the same with Saxby. I've got no stronger ally in the United States Senate than Saxby Chambliss, and I want to thank you And thanks to your help, starting tonight, we're going to build on what you did last fall and deliver a strong nationwide victory next fall. And I'm getting loosened up. Laughter I'm getting ready, but I'm going to have to count on you all to energize the grassroots, to make the phone calls, to put the signs in the yard, and to spread our message, which is a positive and hopeful message for every single citizen who lives in this country. The political season will come in its own time. But right now, I am focused on the people's business in Washington, DC. We've got a lot on the agenda. We've got a lot to do before the political season. But I can assure you that we will keep earning the confidence of Americans by keeping this Nation secure and strong and prosperous and free. Along with Sonny, there's a lot of State officials here, and I want to thank you all for coming. And along with Saxby came a members of one of the finest congressional delegations in Washington, DC Congressmen Jack Kingston, Johnny Isakson, Mac Collins, Charlie Norwood, Max Burns, and John Linder, and I want to thank you all for coming. I appreciate you being here. I want to thank my close friend Mercer Reynolds for agreeing to be the national finance chairman of the Bush Cheney campaign. I want to thank Jamie that would be Jamie Reynolds for hosting this event tonight. I want to thank all the cochairmen who have helped. I want to thank Harold Reynolds. I want to thank my friend Fred Cooper. But most of all, I want to thank you all. You put the wind at my back. You give me a lot of confidence to take on the task ahead. And I appreciate you coming. In the last 2 1 2 years, our Nation has acted decisively to confront great challenges. I came to the office of the Presidency to solve problems instead of passing them on to other Presidents or other generations. I came to seize opportunities instead of letting them slip away. We are meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States of America, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many key Al Qaida leaders, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan and in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources it needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. We've increased the defense budget to prepare for the threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and the strength and the spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. Then the attacks on our country occurred, and then scandals in corporate America and war affected the people's confidence. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. And to get the economy going again, we have twice led the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief for the American people. Here's what we believe, and here's what we know When Americans have more take home pay to spend, to save, and to invest, the whole economy goes, and people can find work. We understand whose money we spend in Washington, DC. It's not the Government's money. It is the people's money. And we're returning more money to people who are trying to raise their families. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, we are laying the foundation for greater prosperity and more jobs all across America so every person, every single person in this country, can have the chance to live the American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform, but there wasn't much action. So I called for and Congress passed the No Child Left Behind Act. With a solid bipartisan majority, we delivered the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We're bringing high standards and strong accountability measures to every public school in America. Every child can learn the basics of reading and math. And we believe every school should teach those basics. We are challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations in American schools. The days of excuse making are over. And now we can expect results in every single classroom so that not one child in America is left behind. We reorganized the Government and created the Department of Homeland Security to safeguard the borders and ports and to protect the American people. We passed trade promotion authority to open up new markets for America's farmers and ranchers and manufacturers. We passed a budget agreement that is helping to maintain spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue, this administration has acted on principle, has kept its word, and has made progress for the American people. And the United States Congress has shared in these achievements, and I appreciate the hard work of the Members of the United States Congress. We will continue to work together. We will continue to work to change the tone in Washington, DC, by focusing on the people's business, by focusing on results. And that's the nature of the people I've asked to serve America in my administration, people who are willing to set aside all the partisan bickering, people who are willing to serve the American people. I've put together a fabulous team. We've had no greater Vice President in the United States than Richard B. Cheney, although my mother may have a different view. Laughter In 2 1 2 years, we have come far 2 1 2 years, we've come a long way. But our work is only beginning. We have great goals worthy of a great nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every citizen has a chance to work and to succeed and to realize the great promise of America. It has never been more clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it. On the war on terror, continues the war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest we will not tire and we will not stop until this danger to civilization is removed. Yet our national interest involves more than eliminating aggressive threats to our safety. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror free nations do not attack their neighbors free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass terror. Americans believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart, and we believe that freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world. And when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. This great land is leading the world in important work of human rescue. I will continue to work on our economy until anybody who wants to work and is not working today can find a job. And we have a duty at home to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare so that they have more choices and better access to prescription drugs. The time has arrived for the United States Congress to pass Medicare reform. And that reform must give our seniors good options that meet their needs. Members of Congress and their staffs currently get choice of health care plans. And seniors ought to have the same kind of choices, including the choice to keep their Medicare coverage the way it is. If choice is good for the Members of the United States Congress, it is good for America's seniors. And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine. People who have been harmed by a doctor deserve their day in court. Yet the system should not reward lawyers who are simply fishing for a rich settlement. Because frivolous lawsuits drive up the cost of health care, medical liability is a national problem, and it requires a national solution. No one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. We need medical liability reform now. I have a responsibility to make sure the judicial system runs well, and I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women to the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the United States Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the Senate floor. It is time for some of the Members of the United States Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The Congress needs to pass a comprehensive energy plan. Our Nation must promote energy efficiency and conservation, develop cleaner technology. But we need to produce more energy at home. We need to produce more natural gas. For the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, we must make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, applying the best and most innovative ideas to the tasks of helping our fellow citizens in need. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependency on Government and become independent through hard work. We must build on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity into the lives of more of our fellow citizens. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so that more Americans can serve their communities and their country. And both Houses should finally reach agreement on my Faith Based Initiative to support the armies of compassion that are mentoring children and caring for the homeless and offering hope to the addicted. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. This administration will constantly strive to promote an ownership society in America. We want more people owning their home. We want people to own their own retirement accounts. We want more small business owners in America. We want people to have control and own their own health care plan. We understand that when a person owns something, he or she has a vital stake in the future of this country. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make. We're changing the culture of America from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understand we're responsible for the decisions we make in life that each of us are responsible, that if you're fortunate enough to be a mother or father, you're responsible for the well being of that child. And if you're griping about the quality of education in the community in which you live, you're responsible for doing something about it. A responsibility society says to CEO America, loud and clear, "You're responsible to your shareholders, and you're responsible to your employees." And in our responsibility society, each of us are responsible for loving our neighbor, just like we'd like to be loved ourselves. We can see the culture of service and responsibility growing around us. I started what I call the USA Freedom Corps to encourage Americans to extend a compassionate hand to a neighbor in need, and the response has been strong, just like the response is strong in America for faith based charities that bring hope and healing to a fellow citizen. Policemen and firefighters, people who wear our country's uniform, are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. And once again, the children of America believe in heroes because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen the resolve and courage of America. And I've been privileged to see the compassion and character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we use our strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country, confident in ourselves and in ideals bigger than ourselves. Abroad, we seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. At home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner of America. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it. And we know that for our country and for our cause, the best days lie ahead. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. Thank you. June 19, 2003 Thank you all very much. Forget the Spam I like coming to Minnesota because of the people. Laughter Thanks for coming today, and I appreciate the warm welcome. Speaking about sports teams, I had the honor of hosting some sports teams there in the White House this week, two of which happened to be from the great State of Minnesota. It seems like the folks up here know how to play hockey. I welcomed the men's and women's hockey national champs from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and University of Minnesota Duluth. And I've got to tell you, I was impressed by the character of the people on those teams. I know you're proud of them. It's an honor to have met them. They told me I'm going to see them next year, so laughter just like I saw them last year. Laughter But it's great to be here. I also want to thank the Hamiltons, Harold and Eleanor, for opening up their business to applause . Harold told me that he started his business at the kitchen table. It's really what America is all about, when you think about it. Thirty years ago, Harold and Eleanor sat down at the kitchen table it might have been before lunch or after lunch, I don't know which one but they said, "Why don't we see if we can't create an opportunity for not only our family but for others, an opportunity to work." That's what we call the entrepreneurial spirit. That's the spirit that enables Americans to realize if they work hard, they can achieve a dream. Good government recognizes the importance of the entrepreneurial spirit, and good government creates an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish. And that's why I worked with the United States Congress to cut the taxes not only on the working people but on the entrepreneurs of America, so they can better realize their dreams. I want to thank Governor Tim Pawlenty for doing in office what he told you he was going to do. I appreciate your State auditor. She, along with Tim, traveled from the airport. There was no road rage today. Laughter If you got caught if you got caught in the motorcade, I'm sorry. Laughter But we made it in record time from the airport. Laughter I appreciate other State leaders the Lieutenant Governor is here the speaker is here the majority leader of the State house is here. Thank you all for coming. I'm honored you're here. I just had a chance to not only visit with the owner of this fine company, but I had a chance to visit with other entrepreneurs some of whom I'll mention in my address and some of the good folks who work for the companies, good, hard working Minnesota folks who are going to receive significant tax benefit, significant tax relief. See, one of the things that I understand is, in Washington, DC, when we talk about money, we are not talking about the Government's money. We're talking about the people's money. And I had a chance to visit with some of the people whose money we're talking about, and what they intend to do with it. The message I heard over and over again from moms and dads was that they intend to save it for their children's future, and that's really important. It means people in this part of the world understand that a responsible society is one in which moms and dads understand their most important responsibility is to love their children with all your heart and all their soul. I met Deborah Simonet. She's an application developer for 3M. She's a single mom. That's the hardest job in America, being a single mom. And she is saving for her son's college education. She gets pretty good tax relief, over 1,000 worth of tax relief, money that she gets to decide how to use, money she can allocate according to her needs. I met the Steins, Jennifer and Terry. They've got five kids. They're a young family. He's working three jobs. She works a job at home, so she can not only put a little extra money on the table but take care of her kids as well. They're going to get good, substantial tax relief. For the sake of their children, they will have additional money. They get to decide to do with the money. It's their money, after all, to begin with. And this tax relief plan that I worked with Congress to pass recognizes that when you've got an economic issue, you've got a people issue. And the more money people have in their pocket, the more likely this economy is going to grow. There's been a lot made about the military might of the United States of America, and we're plenty tough. And we're plenty tough and plenty strong because we have a job to do, and that job is to protect America from the designs of terrorists who hate what we stand for. That is a charge we have been given. Protecting America is a charge we have been given, and it is a charge we will keep. And we have made it clear to people If you harbor a terrorist, if you provide aid for a terrorist, you're just as guilty as any terrorist, and the United States of America will hold you to account. We're bringing Al Qaida to justice. And for those we haven't brought to justice yet, we're hot on their trail. We're close by. We've got them on the run, and we'll keep them on the run. We sent a clear message to the Taliban in Afghanistan "If you harbor and train terrorists, you will be held to account." The Taliban is no more, and the people of Afghanistan are free, thanks to America and our friends and allies. We sent a clear message to Saddam Hussein "Disarm. The world has asked you to disarm for 12 solid years, and now is the time, for the security of America and our friends and for peace in the world, for you to disarm." And we gave him plenty chance to do so, and he chose to defy the United States and our friends and allies. The regime of Saddam Hussein is no more. America is more secure the world is more peaceful and the long suffering people of Iraq are now free. This Nation is plenty strong militarily, but it's not the true strength of America. The true strength of America is the fact that we've got millions of fellow citizens who are willing to love a neighbor just like they would like to be loved themselves. That's the real strength of this country, because we're a deep and compassionate nation. When we see suffering, whether it be here at home or abroad, we care. So today when I landed, I met a fellow named Ron Strauss. He is a works for Cargill Cares Volunteer Council. He's just one of thousands of people here in the State of Minnesota that understand their job is to help somebody who hurts. He volunteers time to make a difference in somebody's life. He is willing to serve his country and his community by helping mentor a child, or by starting a Boys or Girls Club, or being a Scout leader amongst young kids, setting a good example, teaching somebody to read. There's all kinds of ways in which you can help serve your Nation by loving somebody like you would like to be loved yourself. I want to thank Ron for coming. And I want to thank all who are volunteering to make Minnesota a compassionate State. And if you're interested in serving, just go to USA Freedom Corps on the computer, pull it up on the Internet, and there's all kinds of ways for you to serve our Nation. No, this country is militarily strong, but our true strength is the heart of our fellow citizens. We have faced challenge in this Nation. We faced challenges to our security we faced challenges to our economic security as well. I mean, starting in early '01, this Nation was in recession, which is three quarters of negative growth, a recession which affected the Treasury of the United States of America but, more significantly, a recession which affected the pocketbooks of our American citizens. Too many people who wanted to work couldn't find a job. And things started to get kind of righted, a little better. Then all of a sudden the terrorists hit us, and the attacks of September the 11th, 2001, affected the economy of the United States. It hurt our economy. But we were strong, and we were resilient. And then we found out some of our fellow citizens were not responsible citizens because they cooked the books. They had a responsibility to shareholder and employee, and they didn't tell the truth. They had positions of responsibility as CEOs in corporate America, and they didn't assume those positions responsibly. And the corporate scandals affected the psychology of the country, kind of shook our confidence a little bit. And then we had war. And when you hear about war all the time on your TV screens, the speculation of war and the discussion of war, it's not conducive to a confident tomorrow. But we acted. We acted by holding corporate scoundrels to account. We said loud and clear, if you cheat the shareholder and your employees, you will be held responsible for those decisions. The world is now more peaceful because we acted. But we also acted in concert with many in the United States Congress by passing two significant tax relief packages. You see, we understand that when things are slow in the economy, you've got to increase demands for good and services. And the best way to increase demand for good and services, so that somebody will produce a good or a service and when somebody produces a good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work is to let people keep more of their own money. That tax relief package we passed 2 years ago helped make the recession one of the shallowest in our Nation's history. And then I just finished signing another tax relief package, and that package is going to be good for a lot of folks. And I believe it's going to put wind at our back as this economy recovers from what has been a very tough period of time. Right here in Minnesota, companies are adjusting withholding tables so that the working folks of this State will see more take home pay. Tax relief not only means more take home pay, but if you happen to be a mom or a dad with young children, you'll see the child credit go up from 600 a child to 1,000 a child. And a lot of those checks are going to be in the mail to you for the differential this July. As some of them like to say in Washington, the check's in the mail. Laughter In this case, it better be laughter or somebody's going to be looking for work. Laughter As well, Congress is debating further relief for a family with children, further extension of the child credit. I urge them to complete the work on this legislation soon and get it to my desk. As well, tax relief means a reduced marriage penalty. You see, we want the Tax Code to encourage marriage, not discourage marriage. Tax relief means lower rates on dividends and capital gains, now at 15 percent, to help more than a half a million Minnesota savers. Tax relief means a lot for small business. You hear all the rhetoric coming out of Washington, DC, kind of class warfare rhetoric. But let me tell you why this tax relief is really good for American economy, besides encouraging more consumer spending and better consumer confidence because most small businesses pay tax at the individual income tax rate. If you're a Sub chapter S or a sole proprietorship, you pay tax based upon what the individual pays. And so therefore, when I talk about tax relief, really what I'm talking about is more money into the treasuries of small businesses. And after all, that's important because 75 percent of the new jobs in America are created by small businesses all across this country. This tax relief package allowed for higher expense deduction for small businesses, from 25,000 a year to 100,000 a year. And if a small firm invests more than 100,000, it will then qualify for a 50 percent bonus depreciation. Let me tell you what all that means. It means people are more likely to buy equipment. If there's an incentive for capital expenditure and confidence is coming back, people are more likely to make that expenditure. Just ask the Hamiltons. Here at Micro Control, they've got 140 employees up from 2, 30 years ago. And so the fundamental question is, can those folks stay working, or can he add jobs? One of the ways you add jobs is to make the workforce more productive. And one of the ways you make the workforce more productive is you add equipment, which makes your workers more productive. And so I asked Harold, I said, "You've seen the tax bill you've seen what I'm sure you've looked at the consequences of what this means for your company." He said, "Yes, it means it's more likely we're going to hire a mechanical shaker." I didn't know what it meant. Laughter But I do know this, somebody is going to have to manufacture the mechanical shaker, which means somebody in some other plant is likely to find a job. He assures me the mechanical shaker makes his workforce more productive, which means not only the workers here are going to be likely to stay at work, but it may just mean he has to hire additional people to make that machine work. The Tax Code, the tax relief plan, has encouraged Harold and his wife to make additional investment, which is good for the economy. I met Brian Dahl. He and his business partners purchased Capital Wood Products 12 years ago, and they moved it to St. Paul in the year 2000. What he wants to do to stay competitive is to purchase additional software. The tax bill that I signed provides incentives for Brian to purchase software so that his company is more productive. As he purchases the software, somebody has got to make it and sell it to him, and that somebody means that they're more likely to stay at work. You see, when you provide incentives to the Tax Code and people make rational decisions because of those incentives, it has an effect beyond the wall of the company just making the decisions. It ripples throughout the economy. If you're interested in job creation, which is what I'm interested in, I want to see good public policy that encourages jobs to be created in the private sector. And that's exactly what we have done. Tim Rashleger is with us, with Milltronics Manufacturing. I met a couple of his employees. He wants them to keep working that's what he wants. He's a little worried about his company's future. He analyzed the tax bill and said in his words, not mine he said, "This could save our company." And not only that, he's going to make additional investments this year I think he told me 250,000 worth of additional investments. The tax bill saves his company 26,000. That's a lot for Tim. It's good news for his employees. But there's a lot of Tims across the country, just not the Tim right here in this building. There are Tims all across America who are the entrepreneurs of this country, the job creators of this country, who are more likely going to expand their job base. Listen, I'm interested in one thing. I'm interested in helping people find work. I want people who want to work to be able to find a job. The tax bill we passed understands the significance of small business in our society. The tax bill we passed is really good for the American economy and will make it more likely somebody is going to find a job. In order to make sure this country is hopeful and the economy expands and people feel secure, we need to deal with health care. We're on the verge of doing something really important for our seniors. We're going to make Medicare a modern system. And it's been hard to do in the past. But in the year 2003, it can be done. I believe it can be done. I met yesterday with a group of United States Senators from both political parties. The spirit is good there. The issue used to be called "Medi scare" because people were afraid to talk about the issue because of the political ramifications. I hope we've put all that needless party politics aside and focused on doing what we want to do for our seniors and to have a health care system that is modern, a health care system which includes prescription drugs, and a health care system which gives seniors different choices so they can tailor their health care plans after their own needs. After all, Members of the Congress and their staffs have got the capacity to have choice in their health care systems. And my attitude is, if choice is good enough for the Members of the United States Congress, it's good enough for the seniors of the United States of America. The other issue regarding health care is whether or not health care is affordable and available, and one reason it's not in certain communities is because there's too many lawsuits. We've got too many junk lawsuits that are running up the cost of health care. Listen, we want to make sure anybody who is honestly injured ought to have their day in court, of course. And bad doctors ought to be held to account. But medical liability is like a lottery, and they're filing lawsuit after lawsuit after lawsuit, which causes premiums to go up, which means your bills go up. And it means many doctors in hospitals practice preventative medicine, which means they prescribe more than is necessary in order to make sure they cover themselves in case of a lawsuit, which causes your costs to go up. And in a lot of places, docs just quit practicing, which is not good for America. Medical liability is a national issue it drives the Medicaid budget it drives the Medicare budget it drives the veterans budget and it requires a national solution. We've got a good bill out of the United States House of Representatives. We need to get it out of the United States Senate. And I would urge you to contact your United States Senators, one of whom I think is a pretty good vote on this issue. We're worried about regulation on small business in Washington, DC. We understand what regulation does to our small businesses. I believe in associated health care plans for small businesses, to allow small businesses to pool risk across jurisdictional lines so as to reduce the cost to small businesses and their employees. The House is taking this bill up today timely subject. I hope they pass it. And when they do, the United States Senate must act for the sake of affordable health care for the employees of small businesses all across this country. And finally, we've got another issue, and that's the issue of energy. For the sake of this economy, we need an energy plan. Listen, I came to this good State and laid out an energy plan for Congress to consider. It was a plan that said we can do a better job of conservation, and we need to do that. We need to unleash new technologies. But we've got a we've got a problem with natural gas here in America. The demand for natural gas is going up, but the supply isn't. And any time the demand for a product is going up and the supply is not going up, the price goes up. And our policy thus far on exploration for natural gas has not been very consumer friendly. There's been a lot of false science put out about what exploration for natural gas would do to certain parts of our country. We're a technologically capable nation. We can explore for natural gas and protect our environment. We need a energy policy. We need an energy policy that not only helps the economic security of the United States we need an energy policy that helps our national security, an energy policy which makes us less reliant on foreign sources of energy. And we've got a lot ahead of us to do, but I'm anxious to do the job that you want me to do. And I believe we can get that done. I believe it. Listen, I've seen this great spirit of this country. I've seen the determination of the American people, the fierce courage of those who wear our uniform, the love and compassion of those who are neighborhood healers and helpers. Now, we're lucky people to live in America. There is no challenge that we can't overcome. There's nothing we can't do when we put our mind to it. And I firmly believe because of the character of the American people, this world will be more peaceful America will be more secure and the people that live in this country will be more hopeful. I want to thank you all for coming today. May God bless you, and may God continue to bless the United States. June 18, 2003 Medicare Reform The President. I want to thank the Members of the United States Senate for coming to discuss the issue of Medicare. I want to congratulate Leader Frist as well as Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Baucus for really fine work on the Finance Committee to get a important piece of legislation moving. We're committed to reforming the Medicare system so America's seniors get the health care they need. These Senators around the table have worked together to see that we get a good plan. I asked them to come so I can figure out ways that our administration can continue to help the process move forward. The work has been really strong thus far. And I want to congratulate you all for fine leadership. Welcome to the White House. I'll answer a couple of questions. Scott Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press . United Kingdom Prime Minister Tony Blair Q. Mr. President, Tony Blair is in a bit of trouble at home. He's got a couple of ex Cabinet officials contending he may have exaggerated information on weapons of mass destruction. He stood by you. Do you plan on saying anything to back him up at home? The President. Yes, I'll say something right now He operated on very sound intelligence, and those accusations are simply not true. Iran Q. Mr. President? The President. Yes. Q. Are you hoping the protesters in Iran will topple the Iranian Government? And now that the IAEA report is out, how are you going to stop them from getting a nuclear weapon? The President. Well, the international community must come together to make it very clear to Iran that we will not tolerate the construction of a nuclear weapon. Iran would be dangerous if they have a nuclear weapon. I brought this subject up in the G 8 we had a good discussion on the subject with near universal agreement that we all must work together to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. And secondly, I appreciate those courageous souls who speak out for freedom in Iran. They need to know America stands squarely by their side. And I would urge the Iranian administration to treat them with the utmost of respect. Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . Middle East Peace Process Q. Mr. President, do you plan to send Dr. Rice to the Middle East soon, particularly given the situation The President. I'll let you know when we decide to do so. We, of course, have got Ambassador Wolf in the region now, and he's working hard with both parties. And I called President Mubarak today to ask him to work with the Palestinian Authority to consolidate their security forces under Prime Minister Abbas so that the Prime Minister can achieve the goals that he set out, which is for the dismantlement of terror and what hopefully will be a peaceful Palestinian state. Thank you all. Q. You do anticipate sending The President. I said, I'll let you know when we send her. June 17, 2003 Thank you all. I would say take a seat, but laughter Thanks for coming. There's nothing like having a few friends over for a cocktail or two. Laughter I appreciate you all being here. I had an uneventful ride over from the White House nobody got hurt, and my Segway is parked outside. Laughter I do want to thank you all for coming. Your support is laying the groundwork for a strong nationwide effort next year. Your support is going to help us achieve a strong nationwide victory. I want to thank you for your help tonight. I want to thank you for what you're going to do as well. I want to thank you for helping to invigorate the grassroots all across this country. I want to thank you for the phone calls you'll make, for the signs you'll put up in the yard, and for helping spread the positive message of this administration. The political season will come in its own time. Right now, this administration is focused on the people's business. We've got a lot on the agenda. We will continue to earn the confidence of the American people by keeping this Nation prosperous, strong, and secure. I want to thank Marv and Doro for reading the introductions just like I wrote them. Laughter I really am sorry that one member of our family is not here, the great First Lady of the United States. She sends her best. Now that she's not here, I can tell you I am incredibly proud of the job she is doing. She is a strong, steady, gracious First Lady. And I say, "Now that she's not here" she'd probably be angry with me for bragging on her. I want to thank the chairman of our cam paign to be, Marc Racicot. I want to appreciate Marc for his service to our country. I appreciate so very much my friend Mercer Reynolds' willingness to be the chairman of the Bush Cheney National Finance Committee. This is our first event, as Marv and Doro indicated. It also happens to be Mercer's 58th birthday. He doesn't look a year older than 58. Laughter I want to thank Julie Finley, Shelly Kamins, Jim and Sandy Langdon, Dwight and Martha Schar, and Dick Hug for being the cochairmen of this event. I want to thank all the folks who worked hard to put it on. Mostly, I want to thank you all for your generous contributions. You know, in the last 2 1 2 years, our great Nation has faced some great challenges. And we have acted decisively to confront them. I came to this office to solve problems, not to pass them on to other Presidents and other generations. I came to seize opportunities and not let them slip away. We are meeting the tests of our time. Terrorists declared war on the United States, and war is what they got. We have captured or killed many key leaders of the Al Qaida network, and the rest of them know we're on their trail. In Afghanistan, in Iraq, we gave ultimatums to terror regimes. Those regimes chose defiance, and those regimes are no more. Fifty million people in those two countries once lived under tyranny, and now they live in freedom. Two and a half years ago, our military was not receiving the resources as needed, and morale was beginning to suffer. We increased the defense budget to prepare for threats of a new era. And today, no one in the world can question the skill and strength and spirit of the United States military. Two and a half years ago, we inherited an economy in recession. Then the attacks on our country, scandals in corporate America, and war affected the people's confidence, and that hurt our economy. But we acted. We passed tough new laws to hold corporate criminals to account. We got the economy going again because we worked with the United States Congress to pass historic tax relief, not once but twice. This administration stood on principled ground. We understand that when Americans have more take home pay to spend or invest, the economy grows and people are more likely to find a job. We're returning more money to American families to help pay their bills. We're reducing taxes on dividends and capital gains to encourage investment. We're giving small businesses incentives to expand and to hire new people. With all these actions, we have laid the foundation for greater prosperity and, more importantly, more jobs all across America so our fellow citizens have a chance to live the American Dream. Two and a half years ago, there was a lot of talk about education reform but not much action. So I called for and Congress passed the No Child Left Behind legislation with a solid bipartisan majority, delivering the most dramatic education reforms in a generation. We're bringing high standards and accountability to every public school in America. Every child can learn the basics of reading and math, and every school must teach those basics. This administration is challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. The days of excuse making are over. We now expect results in every classroom so not one single child in America will be left behind. We have reorganized the Government and created a Department of Homeland Security to safeguard the borders and ports of America and to protect our people. We passed trade promotion authority to open new markets for America's farmers and ranchers and manufacturers. We passed a budget agreement that is helping to maintain spending discipline in Washington, DC. On issue after issue we acted on principle. We kept our word, and we made progress for the American people. And I want to thank the United States Congress for joining in these achievements. We will continue to work together to change the tone in Washington, DC, by showing good will and by focusing on results. One of the reasons this administration has been successful is because I have surrounded myself with really fine men and women who serve the people of America. They're task oriented people. They know their job is to get results on behalf of the people. There is no finer member of my administration then our Vice President, Dick Cheney. He's a great friend, a great adviser, a steady hand. He is the finest Vice President our Nation has ever had, even though Mother may not agree. Laughter The Vice President and the members of the Cabinet and all who work in this administration have formed a great team of true public servants who put the interests of the American people first. In 2 1 2 years, we've come far, yet our work is only beginning. We have great goals worthy of this great Nation. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country, we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion so that every citizen has a chance to work and succeed and realize the promise of America. Across this world, it has never been more clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we will keep this charge of history. The war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. The country will not rest we will not tire and we will not stop until the danger to the free world is removed. Yet, our national interest involves more than eliminating aggressive threats to our safety. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. Free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass destruction. As Americans, we believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And we believe that freedom is the right of every person. And we believe that freedom is the future of every nation. I also understand that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world, and when we see disease and starvation and hopeless poverty, we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children now suffering with AIDS. We will lead the world in this great work of rescue. We face challenges at home, and our actions prove that we are equal to those challenges. We have a duty to keep our commitment to America's seniors by strengthening and modernizing Medicare so they have more choices and better access to prescription drugs. The time has arrived for Congress to pass Medicare reform, and that reform must give seniors good options that meet their needs. Members of Congress and their staffs currently get a choice of health care plans, and seniors ought to have the same kind of choices, including the choice to keep their Medicare coverage the way it is. If choice is good for Members of the United States Congress, it is good for America's seniors. And for the sake of our health care system, we need to cut down on frivolous lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine, lawsuits which increase the cost of medicine and force good doctors to shut down their practices. People who have been harmed by doctors deserve their day in court. Yet, the system should not reward lawyers who are fishing for a good settlement. The medical liability issue is a national problem that requires a national solution. No one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. The health care system needs Federal liability reform now. And we have other measures to do to make sure our legal system is fair. I strongly support the class action reform bill passed by the House of Representatives last week, a bill which will ensure more settlement money goes to real victims, not to trial lawyers. Speaking about legal matters, I have a responsibility as President to make sure the judicial system runs well. And I have met that duty. I have nominated superb men and women to the Federal courts, people who will interpret the law, not legislate from the bench. Some Members of the Senate are trying to keep my nominees off the bench by blocking up or down votes. Every judicial nominee deserves a fair hearing and an up or down vote on the floor of the United States Senate. It is time for Members of the Senate to stop playing politics with American justice. The Congress needs to pass the comprehensive energy plan I submitted. This Nation must promote energy efficiency and conservation. We must work to develop cleaner technology. And we need to produce more natural gas here at home. We've got a problem with supply of natural gas. And sure, conservation will help with that problem. But we've got the technology necessary to explore for natural gas without damaging the environment. For the sake of economic security and for the sake of our national security, we must make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our strong and prosperous Nation must also be a compassionate nation. I will continue to advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism, applying the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. There are still millions of men and women who want to end their dependence on Government and become independent through work, so we must build the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity to the lives of more Americans. Congress should complete the "Citizen Service Act" so more Americans can serve their communities and our country. And both Houses should reach agreement on the faith based bill to support the armies of compassion that who are mentoring to our children, caring for the homeless, and offering help to the addicted. A compassionate society must promote opportunity for all of us, including the independence and dignity that come from ownership. I believe strongly in promoting an ownership society. We want more families to own their own home. We want people to have a own a piece of their retirement. We want Americans to own their own health care plan. And we want people to be able to start their own business. As Republicans, we understand that when somebody owns something, they have a vital stake in the future. An ownership society is a hopeful society in America. In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make in life. My hope is to change the culture from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it if you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to one in which every single American understands that he or she are responsible for the decisions that you make. You're responsible for loving your children with all your heart and all your soul. You're responsible for being involved with the quality of the education of your children. You're responsible for making sure the community in which you live is safe. You're responsible for loving your neighbor just like you would like to be loved yourself. I will continue to work to see that the responsibility era arrives in America. And we can see it beginning to happen, as a result of the culture of service that is arising around us. I proposed and started the USA Freedom Corps to encourage people from all walks of life, all across America, to extend a compassionate hand to neighbors in need. And the response has been strong. Our faith based charities across America are also strong, and they're vibrant, bringing hope and healing to our fellow Americans. Policemen and firefighters, people who wear our Nation's uniform are reminding us what it means to sacrifice for something greater than yourself. And once again, the children of America believe in heroes because they see them every day. In these challenging times, the world has seen America's resolve and courage. And I have been privileged to see the compassion and the character of the American people. All the tests of the last 2 1 2 years have come to the right nation. We're a strong country, and we will use that strength to defend the peace. We're an optimistic country. We're confident in ourselves, and we're confident in ideals bigger than ourselves. We seek to lift whole nations by spreading freedom. And at home, we seek to lift up lives by spreading opportunity to every corner, to every person of this great country. This is the work that history has set before us. We welcome it, and we know that for our country, better days lie ahead. May God bless you, and may God continue to bless America. Thank you all. June 17, 2003 Thanks for the warm welcome. It's a pleasure to be here at Northern Virginia Community College. I am not the first person named Bush to come to this place, at least not the first person from my family named Bush to come to this place. It turns out my dad was here. President Templin was describing to me that he signed an important piece of legislation here on this stage. And then the Northern Virginia Community College wised up and invited my mother laughter who gave the graduation speech here. And as I explained to the President, they're now working their way down the food chain. Laughter But thanks for having me. I appreciate the opportunity to come and talk about the fantastic opportunities that people can find in our community college system across the country about the idea of the need to have flexibility to make sure that training programs actually work to help people for jobs that exist to thank the teachers not only here at this community college but around our country for being a part of a necessary and fine profession to tell the students there are better days ahead when it comes for finding work. And to thank the Congress Congressman Tom Davis is with us and to thank Members of the Congress for coming together to pass a piece of legislation which will encourage job growth in our economy. As Elaine said, that I am concerned when I hear that anybody who wants to work can't find a job. And therefore, it was incumbent upon us, because too many of our fellow citizens were looking for work, to figure out ways to create an environment in which people would be willing to risk capital and expand the job base. And we did that by passing a really important piece of legislation. The jobs and growth bill will pass back money to the people who sent the money to Washington in the first place. And it will help with a it helps because when people have more money in their pocket, they're going to demand an additional good or a service. And we need an increased demand in a sluggish economy. And when somebody demands an additional good or a service in our economy, somebody's going to produce that good or a service. And when that happens, someone is likely to find work. The jobs and growth bill came at the right time, and I want to thank the Congress for passing that bill. And as we expand the number of jobs in our economy, we better make sure that we have retrained people or trained people to fill those jobs. And that's what I want to talk about today. And that's why I'm grateful for President Templin for opening up this hall for me to speak, because it's here at our community colleges that people are likely to find the skills necessary to fill the jobs of the 21st century. I want to thank Elaine Chao for her service to our country. She is a member of my Cabinet. And she's doing a really fine job on behalf of the American people. And I want to thank you, Elaine, for your service. I want to thank the attorney general of the State of Virginia for joining with us. General Jerry Kilgore is with us. I appreciate your concern and I appreciate your interest and thank you for coming. I've already mentioned Tom Davis, and now I've mentioned him twice. We just had our discussion with people that people who are either helping people find work, or people who needed to find work and have found work, or people still looking to find work. And I want to thank those roundtable participants. Yvonne Golden is with us. She is a lady who is working, got laid off, didn't quit, and is now an independent bookkeeper. I appreciate your willingness to never give up hope and to be willing to retrain so that the skills that you have are honed to find to find the work which exists. Connie Mitchell is with us. She used to work at the postal service. She left, struggled for a while, went to is now a wants to become a nurse. It turns out, as Elaine said, there's a lot of people that are looking for nurses, a lot of institutions looking for nurses around America. Connie and Andrea Weeks, who is with us as well that's her little squirt making some noise over there. Laughter She's a single mom, which means she's got the toughest job in America, being a single mom. Yet she hasn't given up hope. She's here at Northern Virginia Community College. She wants to be a nurse. To the extent possible, the community college is providing courses for would be nurses. The president explained to me there is a bottleneck when it comes to the training programs. We need to do something about it. We need to make sure that when there's demand for talent, people willing to acquire the skills necessary to meet that demand, that there is a smooth transition. And evidently there's a bottleneck in our community college system, which I've asked Elaine to look into and Congress must address when it comes to providing flexibility for worker trainer money worker training money. Ralph Orlandella is with us. He was gainfully employed. September the 11th of 2001 affected his employment picture he was laid off shortly thereafter. He went to a One Stop program run by Dai Nguyen who is with us he's the program manager of the Falls Church SkillSource Center. He walked in the place he found help from one of Dai's fellow workers. He's now a teacher at Hayfield Secondary School. He didn't give up. He went for help help was available the system worked. And now he's practicing a noble profession. And I want to thank you very much for doing that. And I want to thank Dai and his fellow coworkers for making the One Stop worker training center effective. After all, that's what we're interested in, is effective programming and effective use of taxpayers' money to help willing worker find a job and to have relevant skills for the 21st century. We faced challenges. The biggest challenge we faced in order to get this economy going was for people to have confidence in the future. And there had been some uncertainty. September the 11th created a lot of uncertainty in America. After all, it changed how we our strategic outlook. Oceans could no longer protect us from an enemy which hates what we stand for. And we made a determination as a country that no matter how long it took, we would hunt down those who hate freedom, the terrorists, and bring them to justice, which is precisely what this country has done and will continue to do. We have engaged in two major battles in the war on terror, one in Afghanistan, where we made it clear that if you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist. And the Taliban paid a price for harboring and training Al Qaida. And as a result of the actions of the United States and our coalition, the people of Afghanistan are now free from the clutches of a barbaric regime. And many young girls now go to school for the first time, thanks to the United States of America. And we acted in Iraq as well. We made it clear to the dictator of Iraq that he must disarm. We asked other nations to join us in seeing to it that he would disarm. And he chose not to do so, so we disarmed him. And I know there's a lot of revisionist history now going on, but one thing is certain He is no longer a threat to the free world, and the people of Iraq are free. The world is still a dangerous place, but America will rise to the challenge. The security of our country is of paramount importance. And no matter how long it takes, no matter what the sacrifices may be, that the United States of America will fight for freedom and will defend the security of our people. It is a charge that we have been given, and it is a charge that we will keep. We've also got a challenge here at home with our economy. As I mentioned to you, anytime anybody is looking for work, we've got an issue. And the tax relief plan is going to have a positive effect on the outlook of the American investor and the American consumer. After all, starting in July, there will be checks sent to American families with children reflecting the difference between the 600 child credit today and the 1,000 child credit that the Congress passed into law, which I signed. As we say in America, the check is in the mail laughter soon. The point is, people will have more money in their pocket. And that's important. After all, it's not the Government's money we're talking about. It's your money. It's the people's money. And the Congress did the right thing in passing back the people's money. And in so doing and reducing individual rates, we also provided impetus for growth in the small business sector of America. After all, most small businesses are sole proprietorships or Subchapter S corporations, which means they pay tax at the individual income tax rate. And when you reduce all rates on people who pay taxes, you're providing capital infusion into the small business sector of America. And when you couple that with the increasing the amount of money that can be deducted for capital expenditures in the year of expenses from 25,000 to 100,000, there is tremendous incentive for small business growth. And that's vital, because 75 percent of new jobs are created by the small businesses of America. And the bill I signed is going to be positive for job growth. And that's the whole focus of the legislation, is how do we create the number of jobs around our country so people can find work. And if one of those jobs are created, we must have a system which trains people for the jobs which actually exist. We invest 15 billion each year on job training and employment services, which Americans can now access through the more than 1,900 One Stop Career Centers around the country. And that's positive. That's a consumer oriented system where we take the opportunities to people in 1,900 different places for people to go and get help. People can check job listings there. They can get help to prepare a resume. And equally important, they can sign up for job training programs. And we're taking other measures to improve people's chances of finding work. First, we're working to train Americans for jobs that exist I've said that twice. That's not the way it used to be. It used to be, "Are you training people?" And it didn't matter what you were training people for the question was, "Are you training people?" Now we're asking the question, "Are you training people for jobs that exist, so we can actually help the people we're trying to help?" In this current economy, in spite of slow times, there are industries such as health care and high technology manufacturing that are looking for well trained employees. That's a fact. The Department of Labor has got a program called High Growth Job Training Initiative. What that means is we're forming partnerships with businesses to train unemployed workers in the skills that are in demand. Connie Mitchell is a person who is involved in one such program. As I mentioned to you, she lost her job. She was at Dulles Airport. And this year she applied to a job training program funded by the Hospital Corporation of America, which is working in concert with the Department of Labor. If anybody here is from HCA, I want to thank you for being a good corporate citizen in America. I know you're working in your self interests to find people to fill the slots you're looking for, but it's also helpful to team up with the Department of Labor to provide a partnership to help people find work you're pointing at that thank you. The program is paying for Connie's classes at Northern Virginia Community College. She will have a job with HCA when she graduates with her nursing degree. And she said she will have a career with really good training and a really good income. And that's important. We want Connies all across the country to have the same experience that she has had. The administration is combining Federal resources with private funding to support these kinds of job training partnerships, and we intend to expand them into new areas. Right now, Secretary Chao is developing partnerships with companies in biotechnology and information technology. And these industries are growing rapidly, and as they do so, they need well trained workers. And that's our mission, is to help more Americans to get the training necessary to qualify for the new jobs. The second way we're helping people build careers is to direct aid for education at schools like this school right here. Community colleges make it possible for people to brush up on skills or to develop new skills. I mean, this is a place where you can get can take your talents and convert them to meet the jobs of the 21st century. And so, therefore, helping students attend community colleges like Northern Virginia Community College is good for the students it's good for the colleges and it's good for the economy. More than 1.8 million community college students rely on Pell Grants to help pay for their education and training. Pell Grants are very important for the future of this country. And therefore, I have asked for more than 12.7 billion of Pell Grants in for the '04 budget. This is a 45 percent increase in funding since I took office. I've asked for that increase so more benefit students can benefit from the opportunities made possible by Pell Grants. Third, I'm asking Congress to establish what we call Personal Reemployment Accounts for unemployed Americans. Americans who face the greatest difficulty finding work under this vision will receive up to 3,000 to use in their job search. Different workers have different needs, so the concept is to provide flexibility to help those workers meet those needs. A person will be able to use the account for job training or for child care or for transportation or money to help relocate to a city where there is a job. If a worker finds a new job quickly, within 3 week 13 week period, he or she will be able to keep the balance in the account as a reemployment bonus. The idea is to empower the person, not the system. The idea is to focus money on each individual and to give that individual the opportunity to use additional monies to help meet needs. Yvonne Golden, who I just talked about, is a person who could have benefitted from such a program. She had 20 years of experience in banking and accounting. She wanted to get extra training quickly to qualify for additional jobs. She knew what she wanted to do, yet she had to wait a long time. The Personal Reemployment Account would have given her monies to meet certain needs in order to get into the job market a lot quicker, in order to get the training necessary to achieve her dream, which was to work and to get her own business going. Now, these accounts are important accounts. I hope Congress takes them up soon. It is a way to help those who are supposedly tough to employ develop the skills necessary and to give them the flexibility necessary to meet their dreams. The idea of trusting people and giving people flexibility to become better prepared for a in a complex society makes eminent sense. That's why I've asked Congress to provide 3.6 billion for this initiative. The money would go to the States, and the States would be able to set the criteria for those who could qualify. And we believe that more than a million unemployed men and women across America would be helped by this amount of money. Congress needs to pass the proposal right away, because we've got people looking for work who need help. The other thing is that Elaine and I are working with Congress to make sure that the monies we actually spend are used effectively. Right now the Federal Government funds adult employment and training programs through three different sources, all of which have got different rules and regulations. These funding sources ought to be streamlined into one source and one set of rules and regulations. And the States ought to be given flexibility to expand services for people looking for work. In other words, the system needs to be simplified and focused on the consumer, who happens to be the person we're trying to help find a job. A complex system makes it much harder for people to succeed. A complex system makes it hard to get results, the results we want, which is an educated workforce, people educated to meet the needs of the 21st century. The House of Representatives and Davis was very much involved in this passed a bill that includes the reforms I'm talking about. And the Senate must act so that we can better get unemployed people back to work in America, so that we can make sure as our economy changes, the workforce changes with it. Technologies race through our economy, and as they do so, the workforce can become much more productive. But the problem is, is that unless there is a concerted, focused effort to help our citizens stay up with technological change, people will be left behind. And that's not what we want in America. We want an educated workforce to keep this country the most productive in the world. And with the right focus and the right policies out of the United States Congress, this is an objective that I'm confident we can achieve, because I believe this country can achieve everything anything we set our mind to. I believe in the greatness of America. And our greatness is not just our military might. We're great at that, by the way, but that's not our greatness. Our greatness is the ability for the American people to rise to any challenge. That is our greatness. Look what we've been through. We've been through a terrorist attack and a national emergency we've been through a recession we've been through corporate scandals where CEOs forgot what it means to be a responsible citizen. People didn't tell the truth. They were not responsible to their shareholders and employees. They will be held to account for their irresponsible behavior. And that was a shock to our system. We've been through war. And yet we're a strong nation and we're a confident nation, because we're a nation full of people who are hard working and dedicated, people who love freedom, people who love our country, people who are responsible citizens. But most importantly, we're a nation that is made up of compassionate people who care deeply when one of us hurts. There's a lot of people in this Nation who want to help those who are looking for work. The Federal Government has a role. The people who are involved in education have a role. Employers have a role. But the thing that gives me most heart is that the nature of the American person the American people is such that when we face a challenge, we will rise to that challenge on an individual basis and a collective basis. This is a fabulous country called America, and I'm proud to be your President. Thank you. June 16, 2003 Thanks for the warm New Jersey welcome. Thanks for giving me a chance to come by and share some thoughts with you about the challenges that this country faces. First, I'll tell you it was good to be with my dad over Father's Day. I hope you all had a good Father's Day as well. Spent a lot of time fishing together and caught a few fish. Laughter But thanks for letting me come by. I just came from Orange, New Jersey, and went by the Andrea Foods pasta factory. That's you. The Savignanos and the Wilkinsons were there, Rose Marie and Michael. They're the sons and daughters of Andrea and Dora, who started the business. It's so refreshing to see the American Dream alive and well, just like it is at Andrea Foods. I was struck by the diversity of Orange, New Jersey. I saw a lot of different nationalities as I drove through. It reminded me of a couple of things about our country, one, that we are the land of opportunity and the land of hope, and we will keep it that way. We're also a part of being a land of opportunity means that we must continue to foster what I call the ownership society, to encourage value and honor, owning people owning their own business or owning their own home, maybe someday owning their own pension plan in the Social Security system, having the right to make choices in the health care sector. This thing that makes America strong and unique is not only are we a hopeful land and a diverse land, but we're a land that honors ownership. Today I want to talk about the importance of small businesses. I want to herald the entrepreneurs. I want to say thanks to those who have taken risk. And I want to remind our fellow citizens that in order for our economy to recover, we must remember the strength and the importance of the small business owner in America. So I want to thank all the small business owners who are here today. Thank you for taking risk. Thank you for employing a lot of our fellow Americans. I want to thank the associations who helped put this event together. I want to thank Hector Barreto, who is the Administrator of the Small Business Administration. I want to thank him for his kind introduction. I want to thank him for his work in helping to create an environment in which people from all walks of life are willing to risk capital to own their own business. I want to thank the mayors who are joining us today. I want to thank the folks that I had a chance to visit with at Andrea Foods. I visited with entrepreneurs, visited with taxpayers I mentioned Michael and Rose Marie. I also talked to John Cicero and the Harveys, Paul and Lisa. These are people who will benefit from the tax relief plan because they're married, because they pay taxes, and because they have children. And I met the Memmelaars, father and son, of Royal Master Grinder, a small business company right here in this part of the world. I met Pat Mulhern of Mulhern Belting Company. We sat around the table, and I listened to the concerns of both taxpayer employee as well as small business owner. And the concerns are great, but the concerns can be solved. Probably the greatest concern about making sure that that our country is confident and optimistic is to make sure the country is secure. People want to have a secure environment in which to risk capital. And therefore, our biggest challenge, or one of the biggest challenges, is to make sure that we continue to fight and win the war on terror. In Washington, DC, and at the State level and at the local level, we all have what I call a charge to keep, which is to do everything we can to protect the American homeland. And that only not only means making sure that we cooperate better at the Federal, State, and local level and do a better job with our borders and our ports to communicate better, but it also means that we've got to stay on the offensive. The best way to protect the homeland is to hunt the killers down, one at a time, and bring them to justice, which is what America will do. On September the 11th, our country was shocked this part of the world was particularly shocked at the violence, the sudden violence done. We were shocked into recognizing that oceans can no longer protect us from harm, and therefore we have the serious charge to keep. And we acted. This Nation acted because this Nation will not be intimidated. This Nation will not be blackmailed by terror. This Nation will do what it takes to defend something we hold dear to our hearts, and that is our freedom. And we acted. We acted on a doctrine that says, "We will bring you to justice because of what you did to the American citizens. And if, by the way, if you harbor a killer, if you feed a killer, if you hide a killer, you're just as guilty as the killer." We acted, and the Taliban no longer is in power in Afghanistan, which is not only good for the security of the free world it is incredibly good for the people who suffered in Afghanistan under barbaric rule. This Nation acted to a threat from the dictator of Iraq. Now, there are some who would like to rewrite history revisionist historians is what I like to call them. Saddam Hussein was a threat to America and the free world in '91, in '98, in 2003. He continually ignored the demands of the free world, so the United States and friends and allies acted. And one thing is for certain and this is for certain Saddam Hussein is no longer a threat to the United States and our friends and allies. We've got a lot of brave troops still on the move, still looking for terrorists. We're cooperating with our friends and allies. We're sharing intelligence. We're running down their money trails. But one thing is certain for the American people to know, that this Government will use whatever technologies and skill is necessary to secure America by hunting down those who would harm us, one person at a time. It is a charge we have been given, and it is a charge we will keep. We also had to deal with an economy which was not as strong as it was that we wanted it to be. My attitude is, if somebody is looking for work and they can't find a job, we got an issue. And therefore, we acted. I went in front of the United States Congress when I first got elected and said, "This Nation is looks like it's in recession. We need to let people have more of their own money in order to stall off the recession." You see, when the economy is grinding down, when it's not as strong as it should be, when demand is lax, the best way to deal with an economic slowdown is to let people have more of their own money, is let people spend their own money, increase demand for goods and services, which is exactly what we did. And we had one of the shallowest recessions in our Nation's history as a result of the tax relief plan. But then the terrorists hit us. September the 11th was a shock not only to our national conscious it hurt our economy. And we began to get our bearings and get our feet on the ground, and then another shock happened to America. We discovered that some of our corporate citizens forgot what it meant to be a responsible leader. Some of our corporate leaders didn't tell the truth, tried to fudge the facts, weren't honest with the shareholders and their employees. And that hurt the confidence of our economy. By the way, they will pay a price for not telling the truth. But we needed more action, so I went in front of the Congress this year and I said, "Let's come together. Let's set aside all the party politics and partisan bickering and remember why we're in Washington in the first place. We're there to do what's right for the American people. We must care about how to help somebody find work. That's what we ought to be focused on, not partisanship but what's right for the American people." And thankfully, enough of us got together and passed a tax relief plan that will allow the American people to have more money in their pocket, that will encourage businesses to make more investment, and that says to investors, "We want you to invest more." The tax relief proposal was based on a simple principle. It starts with, the money we spend in Washington is not the Government's money it's the people's money. And when you've got additional money in your pocket, you're going to demand a good or a service. And when you demand a good or a service in this economy, somebody is going to meet that demand. Somebody will produce the good or a service. And when that happens, somebody is more likely to find work. That's the basis of the tax relief plan, the jobs and growth package that I proposed and that was passed. And here's what was accomplished. We've lowered taxes all across the board, so that people have more take home pay. And that's important, not only for the individual consumer and the taxpayer, but that's equally important for small businesses. And the reason it's important for small business is most small businesses are Subchapter S or sole proprietorships, which means they pay taxes at the individual level. So when you hear me talk about reducing individual tax rates, the American people have got to understand that means capital infusion into the small businesses of America, which means somebody is more likely to find work when small businesses have more money to invest and more money to spend. The child tax credit has been expanded from 1,000 to 1,000 from 600, and the 400 differential will be in the mail by July. I was going to say, "Check's in the mail." Laughter Better be in the mail. Laughter Somebody might be looking for work in Washington. Laughter We reduced the marriage penalty, which helps a million New Jersey couples. We have cut the top rate of taxes of dividends and capital gains to 15 percent. Small businesses under the bill that I signed can deduct up to 100,000 up from 25,000 in new equipment from their taxes. And if they invest more than 100,000, they qualify for a 50 percent bonus depreciation that further reduces the cost of investment. These are important incentives for economic vitality and growth. These are so important that people like Andrea Foods is now contemplating new capital investment. They're contemplating buying new machines that will make their business more productive. Productivity is an important part of any small business. It enables you to better compete. It means it's more likely you'll have a stable workforce. It means you can get a better return on dollars spent. These good folks at Andrea make 1,200 pounds of pasta every minute. I saw a lot of calories grinding through. Laughter Yet, Rose Marie and Michael are not satisfied with the production level of their company. They want to expand. They want to make more jobs available in the neighborhood in which they work. They want to be able to compete better. And so they're now contemplating a new buying a new pasta cooker and a new flash freezer, which will expand their production by 50 percent. They took a look at the tax relief plan they calculated the benefits they said, "It makes sense for us to buy new machinery so that we can expand." And that's really important. It's not only important for their business. It's likely that if this if all goes well, they'll add 20 more employees. But it's pretty darn important for the person who's going to manufacture their machine and sell it to them. In other words, their decision has more to has much more to do than just inside their own business. Their decision affects other people as well, and that's why this part of the law is so important. And so when Michael turns around and orders a pasta cooker, he may talk to John at MBC Food and Machinery in Hackensack, New Jersey. After all, they've been doing business with each other for quite a while. At least their dads have been doing business with each other for quite a while. They've had a history of working together. But would John has seven employees busy on the would keep seven more employees busy if this machine order comes in. And he's excited about it, obviously. He's hoping Michael makes the right decision. Laughter Maybe we can arrange a contract right here. Laughter But it all happened as a result for Congress coming together and asking the fundamental questions, "How do we get this economy going again? What can we do that's wise enough to encourage investment, particularly at the small business level?" The ability to expense capital dollars more quickly for small businesses and in greater amounts for small businesses is an incredibly important part of economic growth because small businesses provide most of the new jobs created in America. And that was the common story I heard this morning by the small business owners, "We intend to take advantage of the smart things you did in the Tax Code in order to increase employment and to make sure our businesses are more productive." We've also got other problems that we need to deal with here in America to make sure our small businesses grow. One of those problems is too many lawsuits. People are getting sued too often. We've had some abuse in the class action lawsuits, which make life more expensive here in America. And I appreciate very much the House of Representatives dealing with this issue. And I strongly support the measures they took, the reform on class action, which makes the easier for class action suits to end up in Federal court. This has got better restraint on the excesses that sometimes take place as a result of class action lawsuits. In other words, in order if you get into Federal court, it makes it easier to stop lawyers from shopping around the country looking for a favorable court. Because generally what happens is, in a class action suit, the people who are suing get very little and the lawyers filing the suit get a whole lot. And that doesn't seem fair to the Congress, and it doesn't seem fair to me, and the Senate needs to act. I'm concerned and mindful about what paperwork and regulations do to small businesses. So I put out an Executive order that requires all Federal regulatory agencies to minimize the burden on our small businesses. And I expect Hector to make sure that the burden is minimized on the small businesses. If you've got an issue, e mail him. I'm concerned about the fact that we don't have a national energy policy. You know, this country has made a wise decision to protect our air and water, and that's good. In order to protect our air, many of the powerplants have switched to natural gas. Natural gas is a clean burning fuel. The problem is, we don't have a policy that encourages the exploration for natural gas. So demand is going up for natural gas, and supply isn't. And that's why you're seeing the price rise. We need commonsense energy policy in America. We need an energy policy that makes us less dependent on foreign sources of energy, and we need an energy policy that uses our technologies in such a way that we can explore, in environmentally safe ways, for additional supplies of natural gas. When demand for a product goes up and supply doesn't follow that demand, prices will rise. The Congress must act. I have proposed commonsense, reasonable energy policy for America. The House has passed a bill. The Senate is debating the bill. For the sake of American consumers and small businesses, we need a national energy policy. I understand the cost of health insurance to small businesses. I understand the need for us to put good policy in place that doesn't nationalize health care, that doesn't make the Federal Government the end all for health care, but a policy that addresses concerns. For example, health clinics for the poor all across America are necessary to take the strain off of small businesses as well as community hospitals. We need to have associate health care plans to allow small businesses to come together and pool risk, which will take the pressure of rising premiums. We need to help our docs. If one of the things we need is accessible and affordable health care, it makes sense to push for medical liability reform. We got too many junk lawsuits that cause docs in a litigious society, particularly for doctors, doctors and hospitals will practice what's called preventative medicine. They will do tests ask for tests, perform tests, just to protect themselves in a court of law. And that's expensive, and that becomes expensive for consumers. And then, of course, these lawsuits will cause doctors' premiums to go up, and that causes the consumers to have to pay more. Or in some cases, it causes doctors not to practice medicine. It drives them out of business. If you're interested in having a health care system that is provides affordable and accessible health care, you ought to join the efforts to have medical liability reform. Now, when I came to Washington, DC, I took a look at the issue, and I said, well you know, having been a Governor, I said, "Well, maybe these issues ought to be solved at the State level." Then I looked at the impact on our budgets. Preventative medicine and the high cost of litigation drives up the cost of Medicaid, drives up the cost of Medicare, drives up the cost of providing veterans with health care. I've come to the conclusion that all these lawsuits are a national issue and therefore require a national solution, and I've sent up an idea to the United States Congress that says that people ought to have their day in court bad docs certainly ought to be punished people ought to recover economic damages, but there ought to be a hard cap on noneconomic damages and there ought to be a reasonable cap on punitive damages. In order to be able to get a handle on the cost rising cost of health care, we ought to let our docs practice medicine without fear of a junk and frivolous lawsuit. Finally, when I get back to Washington here in an hour, I'm going to start again working on the Medicare reform package. I believe that this Nation can set aside the old style politics and come together and make sure our seniors have got a health care system that is modern, that includes prescription drugs, and that allows our seniors the same opportunity that Federal employees have, which is the ability to choose a plan that best meets their needs. Listen, if choice in health care is good enough for Members of the United States Congress and their employees, it ought to be good enough for the seniors of the United States of America. We've got issues, but we're going to deal with them. We've got challenges, but there's no doubt in my mind we can overcome them. There's been a lot of talk around the world about the muscle of the United States of America, and we're pretty strong. But our military muscle is not the true strength of America. I mean, there's no question about it, we've got the capacity to fight and win war and therefore make the world more peaceful. There's no question about it, because of our technologies and the skill and bravery of our troops, we can now target the guilty and protect the innocent. But those who focus only on that don't really understand America. The strength of America is the heart of the American people. The strength of this country is the great compassion of the people who live here. Today when I got off the Air Force One, I met Marisa Fountainhas. You probably never heard of Marisa. She is a graduate of New Jersey Institute of Technology. But the reason I bring her up is because she volunteered at the St. John's soup kitchen. She decided that a patriotic American is somebody who does more than just put their hand over their heart and pay taxes or hopefully less taxes now laughter but somebody who is willing to serve something greater than themselves. At the same time, Scott Stevens was there. You probably heard of old Scott. He just happened to win the Stanley Cup. The reason the two go together is because Marisa was recognized by the New Jersey Devils Foundation for her desire to make a difference in somebody's life and, therefore, was awarded a college scholarship. Marisa, thank you for coming. I'm glad you're here. But Scott volunteers as well. He's knocking heads on the ice, and then he's trying to save lives off the ice. Laughter He volunteers at the School Assembly Program. In other words, he's using his position to make a difference in somebody's life. There are people who hurt in America, people who wonder whether or not the American Dream is meant for them, people who hear the word "entrepreneurship" and not sure what the heck that means. Our attitude or my attitude is, so long as one of us hurt, we all hurt. And therefore, we have a responsibility as Americans to put our arms around somebody who hurts. And each of us can make a difference. The true strength of this country is the fact that there are millions of Marisas all across America, who without a Government law or without the President picking up the phone and saying, "Would you help somebody in need," are doing it on their own. And as a result, this society is and can and will continue to change, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time, so that the bright lights of hope of this great country will be able to shine in every neighborhood, in every part of our land. No, listen, we're tough, which will make the world a more peaceful place and a more free place. But the true strength of the country, the true strength of America, happens when a neighbor loves a neighbor just like they'd like to be loved themselves, and it happens every day in America. Thank you all for coming. May God bless you, and may God continue to bless America. June 15, 2003 The President. Good morning. Q. How are you? The President. Good. Q. Do you want to visit a bit? The President. Sure. Situation in the Middle East Q. What's your assessment of things in the Middle East? The President. My assessment is, is that there are people that want peace to go forward, and there are people that don't. And for those of us who want peace to go forward, we must combine our efforts to prevent people like Hamas from sabotaging peace. I'm confident we can achieve peace. It's going to be a tough road, but I am determined to continue to lend the weight of this Government to advance peace. Q. Sir, why haven't you called Prime Minister Sharon and Abbas? The President. We're in touch with the Governments. We're in contact with the Israeli Government as well as the Palestinian Authority. The message is clear Prime Minister Abbas wants peace Prime Minister Sharon wants peace America wants peace the European Union wants peace. But there are clearly killers who don't. And for those of us who are interested in moving the process forward, we must combine our efforts to cut off all money, support for anybody who tries to sabotage the peace process. Q. Will you send Dr. Rice to the region? The President. I'll let you know if we decide to. Of course, we just got out Ambassador Wolf is there now, and he's working the process. Q. Are you willing to give money or arms to the Palestinian Authority to help them out with Hamas The President. We would like for the Palestinian Authority to set up a security force under Mr. Dahlan that will do the job that Prime Minister Abbas assured me that they're interested in doing, which is to defeat those terrorists who will do everything they can to deny the establishment of a peaceful Palestinian state. And a peaceful Palestinian state is in the interests of the Palestinian people. Q. Inaudible have enough arms, enough money? The President. We are in the process of helping them implement a strategy which is was described to us in Aqaba as to how the Palestinian Authority want to reconstitute a security force in order to make sure the terrorists, the haters of peace, those who can't stand freedom, do not have their way in the Middle East. I believe peace is possible, and I believe we've got a lot of work to do to get there. Q. Do see a break in the violence right not, in the last several days? The President. It seems like it, but you know but until these people are brought to justice, those who are killing people in order to deny the establishment of a Palestinian state, there will be violence. And so the mission of the free world, those who care for peace, is to deny the people like Hamas the ability to destroy and to kill. And I believe that the agents of peace, the people who love, those who care about a decent future for the suffering Palestinian people, and those who live in Israel, will prevail. But it's going to take a lot of work. Listen, have a wonderful Father's Day. Iran Q. think of the unrest in Iran? The President. I think that freedom is a powerful incentive. And I am I believe that someday freedom will prevail everywhere, because freedom is a powerful drive for people to and it's the beginnings of people expressing themselves toward a free Iran, which I think is positive. Hamas Q. Sir, have the Israelis been justified in going after Hamas The President. Wait for us to succeed peace. Wait for us to have two states, side by side is for everybody coming together to deny the killers the opportunity to destroy. And that's what they want to do. There are people in the Middle East who hate the thought of a peaceful Palestinian state. That's what they can't stand. And the objective of this Government and my objective as the President is to move the process forward so a state is established. It will be a peaceful state, a free state, a prosperous state, so people have hope. And in the meantime, before that state is established, it is clear that the free world, those who love freedom and peace, must deal harshly with Hamas and the killers. And that's just the way it is in the Middle East. But we've laid out the way forward, and I intend to keep the process moving. And I believe we can have a peaceful Palestinian state living side by side with the Israelis. Have a great Father's Day. We'll be out there catching fish. June 14, 2003 Good morning. June 14th is Flag Day, which commemorates the date in 1777 when the Continental Congress officially made the Stars and Stripes the symbol of America. The Founders declared that the 13 stars gracing the original flag represented "a new constellation," just as America represented a new hope and a new light for mankind. Over the past 226 years, our flag has been a symbol of freedom wherever it flies. It inspires hope in people suffering under tyranny or terror. It welcomes immigrants from every land searching for a better life, and it rallies our Nation in times of conflict and crisis. Whenever the flag is raised, Americans are reminded of our unity in the great cause of liberty and justice for all. Our Nation's flag is hung proudly in homes and schools, honored in parades and stadiums, flown on the field of battle, and folded at the graves of heroes. When Francis Scott Key saw the Stars and Stripes flying over Fort McHenry in 1814, he knew that liberty would persevere. That same faith was affirmed by marines who planted the flag at Iwo Jima and by the heroes of 9 11 who raised and saluted the flag at Ground Zero. By showing respect for our flag, we show reverence for the ideals that guide our Nation. And we show appreciation for the men and women who have served and sacrificed in defense of those ideals, from the early patriots of the Continental Congress to the members of our military defending freedom around the world today. This weekend, in communities across the Nation, Americans will have the opportunity to honor the flag and to thank the men and women who serve our country in uniform. As they continue to fight the war on terror in lands far from home, our troops rely on the support of their fellow citizens. I urge all Americans to participate in Flag Day celebrations honoring American Armed Forces and recognizing our veterans. Our Nation is strengthened every time a citizen steps forward to serve a cause greater than self interest. And each of us can serve and strengthen America by reaching out to neighbors in need. There are so many ways to improve the lives of fellow Americans, by answering the call to feed the hungry or caring for the elderly or teaching a child to read or joining with neighbors to support the police, fire fighters, and medics who respond to emergencies. Every action you take will strengthen the bonds of community that unite all Americans and extend the promise of American life to another citizen. Between now and the Fourth of July, Americans will reflect often on the foundations of our freedom. Our country's founding generation established liberty and justice on this continent more than two centuries ago, and every generation is expected to protect and defend those ideals. Our duty as Americans is to serve our country, to defend the cause of liberty, and to extend the realm of freedom across the Earth. Our generation can proudly say that we are answering that call. Thank you for listening. June 11, 2003 Today there was a terrible bombing in Jerusalem. I send my heartfelt condolences to those who suffered and lost life. It is clear there are people in the Middle East who hate peace. There are people who want to kill in order to make sure that the desires of Israel to live in secure and peace don't happen, who kill to make sure the desires of the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority and others of a peaceful state living side by side with Israel do not happen. To the people in the world who want to see peace in the Middle East, I strongly urge all of you to fight off terror, to cut off money to organizations such as Hamas, to isolate those who hate so much that they're willing to kill to stop peace from going forward. I strongly condemn the killings, and I urge and call upon all of the free world, nations which love peace, to not only condemn the killings but to use every ounce of their power to prevent them from happening in the future. Thank you. June 11, 2003 Thanks for the warm welcome. It's good to be back in the Windy City. I'll try not to be too windy. Laughter The last time I was here, which was in January, I talked about big objectives of my administration and big responsibilities we share, and I talked about the need to continue to fight the war on terror. I reminded our citizens that this country would uphold the just demands of the world and confront the real threat posed to the free world by Saddam Hussein. Since I was here, thanks to the bravery of our military and to friends and allies, the regime of Saddam Hussein is no more the world is peaceful and free. Thanks to their bravery and their sacrifice, the world is more peaceful, America is more secure, and the Iraqi people are now free. We have a lot more work to do in Iraq, and we'll stay the course. And we've got a lot more work to do to make sure our country is secure, because the war on terror goes on. There are still terrorist networks which hate America because of what we love. They hate us because we love our freedoms. And since we're not going to change, we're going to have to deal with them. We will be strong we will be diligent and we will win. I also talked about economic security when I was here last. I laid out a plan, what I called a growth and jobs plan, that recognized that so long as any of our fellow citizens are looking for work, that we've got to be concerned about the fact they can't find a job. We need a I reminded the country that we needed to grow our economy so people could find work. The crux of the plan I laid out said that if a person has more money in their pocket, they're likely to demand an additional good or a service. In our type of economy, when you demand a good or a service, somebody is going to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or a service, it's more likely a fellow citizen will find work. And the Congress acted, and they passed substantial tax relief, which will give more Americans their own money. Today I've returned to Chicago to discuss another issue relating to our security, and that's the need for us to improve the health security of the American citizens. We have an unprecedented opportunity to give America's seniors an up to date Medicare system that includes more choices and better benefits like prescription drug coverage. And for the sake of health care for all Americans, we must reform the medical liability system. For years, leaders of both political parties have talked about these reforms. Now is the time to get the job done. I am very grateful for the Illinois State Medical Society for hosting me today. This distinguished organization was founded in 1840 in Springfield, the same time that Abraham Lincoln was practicing law in that city on North 5th Street. Lincoln was a lawyer who believed in discouraging unnecessary litigation. I want to thank Dr. Ron Ruecker for his hospitality, his introduction. I want to thank Tommy Thompson. Tommy used to be in this neighborhood. Laughter But he's doing a fantastic job as our Secretary of Health and Human Services. When we talk about tort reform in this administration, Tommy is the point man up on Capitol Hill, working hard with Senators and Members of the United States Congress, some of whom traveled with us today. Senator Peter Fitzgerald is with us today, and I want to thank the Senator for joining us. Congressmen Bobby Rush and Luis Gutierrez, Rahm Emanuel, Danny Davis, Phil Crane, Mark Kirk, and Congresswoman Judy Biggert also traveled, and I want to thank the Members of Congress for your interest and for joining us. We have just had a roundtable discussion with fellow citizens, some docs, some people on Medicare. I want to thank them for joining me today and sharing their stories and their concerns about the future of health care in our country. One thing is for certain about health care in our country, is that we've got the best health care system in the world, and we need to keep it that way. We've got great docs in America. We're really good at research. We're developing technologies and medicines which are extending lives not only in our country but all across the world. To make sure we've got a good health care system today and tomorrow, we've got to make sure that no policy of the Federal Government will undermine the system of private care in America. As folks who deliver that care, you know that we've got challenges in our system. We must address the challenges while not undermining the strengths of American medicine. There are some hard working folks in our country who do not qualify for Medicaid and cannot afford to buy health insurance. So I sent a proposal to Congress for refundable tax credits to help low income people purchase their own insurance. There are too many needy Americans who use emergency rooms as their main source of health care. So I worked with Congress, and I want to thank Congress for increased funding, for more community and migrant health care centers all across America. And we've got another challenge that we're now dealing with in America, and that's Medicare. It's an essential commitment of this Government, yet the system is not keeping pace. The system is not adjusting to the advances of modern medicine. This year we have an opportunity to seize and strengthen and to strengthen and improve Medicare for the sake of all our seniors. I'm here to urge Congress not to miss the opportunity. I'm here to ask for your help in making sure that Congress does not miss the opportunity. Four decades over four decades, the Government has made some improvements in Medicare. Notice I said "the Government" has made improvements in Medicare. Therein lies part of the problem. Laughter We've expanded the program to cover persons with disabilities, to cover kidney dialysis, to cover more home based services to the bedridden, to cover some cancer screenings and vaccines. Yet, health care moves faster than bureaucracy. Health care is being transformed by drug therapies and active prevention. These are an increasingly important part of how docs treat their patients, yet seniors with Medicare must pay for those treatments out of their own pocket or go without them. Medicine is changing Medicare is not. As many as one third of seniors on Medicare have no drug coverage at all. It's about 900,000 90,000 seniors in Chicago without any drug coverage. Because seniors don't have drug coverage for prescription drugs and preventative care, we are creating a health care system that is more expensive and less effective. Let me give you two examples. Prolonged hospital stays for ulcers can cost up to 28,000, which Medicare pays. But Medicare does not pay the annual bill of 500 for drugs that can eliminate the cause of most ulcers. Medicare would pay many of the costs to treat a serious stroke, including bills from the hospital and the rehab center, doctors, home health aides, and outpatient care. And those costs can total upwards of 100,000. Medicare will not pay for a year's worth of treatment with blood thinning drugs that can prevent stroke, drugs which cost less than 1,000. Time and time again, Medicare's failure to pay for drugs means our seniors risk serious illnesses, disease, and injuries, all of which Medicare would pay to treat after the fact. America's seniors deserve a modern system of health care, instead of a bureaucracy that covers the latest medical treatments slowly and sporadically. Our seniors should have choices under Medicare, so that affordable health care plans compete for their business and, at the same time, give them the coverage they need. This principle of choice, of trusting people to make their own health care decisions, is behind the health plan enjoyed by every person on the Federal payroll, including every Member of Congress. All Federal employees get to choose their health care plan. Health plans compete for their business by offering good services and better choices at lower costs. It seems logical to me that if Members of Congress and staffs get good choices and good service, so should the seniors of America. Here are the principles of the plan that I have submitted to Congress. Seniors who want to stay in the current Medicare system should have that option plus a prescription drug benefit. Seniors who want enhanced benefits, such as more coverage for preventative care and other services, should have that choice as well. Seniors who like managed care plans should have that option as well. And all low income seniors should receive extra help, so that all seniors will have the ability to choose a Medicare option that includes a prescription drug benefit. That's what we discussed at our roundtable, the need for seniors to have a prescription drug benefit. Dan and Barbara Lee are with us today. He has leukemia, which is now under control, but he's worried about the future. He has affordable prescription drug coverage through a previous employer, but he knows he's eventually going to lose it. And then he will have a monthly prescription drug bill of more than 300, and the current Medicare system will not help him. Dan describes Medicare this way "There isn't a lot of choice, and I think people ought to have choice." Congress needs to listen to Dan. We also heard from Gene Preston. He and his wife, Dorothy, live on a tight budget and do not have prescription drug coverage. To the Prestons, a full drug benefit would help a lot because they now spend 300 a month on drugs. He says, "Everything is going up in price. Before, we could save a couple of bucks at the end of the month. But right now, we're just holding even, if not going below even." Gene says it's important to have good health care coverage, and he's right. And that's exactly what the plan I submitted to Congress will provide to Gene and his wife and a lot of seniors around our country that need help. The need for Medicare reform is absolutely clear to me, and the opportunity for Medicare reform is real. We've got a chance to get it done. We have set aside the necessary resources to make reform work. The budget I proposed, which Congress passed, provides 400 billion additional dollars to modernize Medicare and provide a prescription drug benefit 400 billion. We've also got a growing consensus in both Houses of Congress and in both political parties, a consensus that our seniors need more choices and better benefits including prescription drugs. And the time is right to make progress. The House of Representatives will take up this issue in the coming weeks under the leadership of a man from Illinois, a guy who I've got a lot of respect from, Speaker Denny Hastert. And I appreciate the leadership of Chairman Bill Thomas and Chairman Billy Tauzin. And in the Senate, Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Democrat Senator Max Baucus of Montana are working closely to add momentum for Medicare reform. With the right spirit, I am confident that both the House and the Senate can act on historic Medicare improvements before the Fourth of July recess. In a strengthened and modernized Medicare system, every senior in America would enjoy better benefits than they have today, no matter what plan they choose. And all seniors would continue to benefit from the most fundamental choice of all, the ability to choose your own doctor. It is that relationship between patient and doctor which is the significant strength of American health care. Everything we do to improve Medicare should honor this relationship. And that relationship is being hurt by junk lawsuits filed against many doctors. It is important for our fellow citizens to understand the effects of junk lawsuits. It means that doctors and their insurance companies must fight every single case, regardless of how frivolous. And therefore, liability premiums go up, and that's got two effects. One, it causes price to patients to go up, and in some cases, drives docs out of business. If one of the goals of health care is to have affordable and available health care, it makes no sense to have a system because of junk lawsuits which drives up the costs and, in many States, makes health care less available. As well, it's important for our fellow citizens to understand that because of the threat of lawsuit, docs practice defensive medicine, ordering more tests, doing more procedures than are necessary, in order to avoid a lawsuit or in order to prepare a case for a potential lawsuit. And that causes costs to go up in America as well. Both higher premiums and defensive medicine drives up the cost to patients all across America, in every State. And both are hurting health care in this country, and we need to do something about it now. Dr. Andrew Roth is with us today. Our citizens must listen to the story of Andrew Roth because it's a unfortunately, it's a typical story all around America. He went to high school at Hinsdale Central High. He stayed in Chicago for college and medical school. He and his practice deliver about 200 babies a year. His insurance premiums are going up 50 percent next month, to 170,000. And next January, he expects another 40 percent increase. The interesting thing about his career is that he has never spent a day in court as a defendant in a liability case, and he has never settled a case. But because this State has no medical liability reform, the cost of him staying as a baby doc is getting out of sight. And he is now considering leaving this vital State. And that hurts the patients in this State, and it must hurt him as well. He was raised here, educated here, loves the Cubs. Laughter And yet, a flawed system is not only making it hard for him to practice medicine it's making it hard for him to stay in an area he loves. He said, "We're all at the breaking point. Liability premiums are keeping us from doing what we love or forcing us to leave our homes." We have got a problem in America that we must deal with. And this is not only a local problem, but because lawsuits and premium increases and preventative medicine drive up the cost in Medicaid and Medicare and veterans health benefits, medical liability is a national issue that requires a national solution. Every person with a legitimate claim deserves a day in court. Junk lawsuits make it hard to get into court. And bad doctors must be held to account. I'm confident that's what the Illinois Medical Society believes as well. Yet, for the sake of affordable and available health care, we need a cap on non economic damages, of 250,000. Punitive damages should be limited to reasonable limits. This health care system needs liability reform now. No one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. This past March, the House of Representatives passed medical liability reform. The Senate has not acted. I urge all of you to talk to your Senators. I know one of them is okay. You can make a difference. Not only should the people of Illinois who care about medical liability reform get involved, people all over this country if you want a health care system that is available and affordable need to get involved. You need to let your Senators know how you feel on this key issue. I'll be right there with you getting involved. I want to sign this into law. I want to sign Medicare reform into law, and I want to sign medical liability reform into law, so that we can look the American people in the eye and say, "We have done our job we saw a problem and we fixed it." There are challenges in the health care system. We understand that in Washington. And we can answer those challenges with practical, sensible, compassionate reforms. That is the charge before us, and that is the charge we must keep on behalf of the American people. May God bless your work, and may God continue to bless America. June 10, 2003 President Bush. It's my honor to welcome President Museveni back to the White House. Mr. President, you have shown extraordinary leadership on a lot of issues, but the one issue that's really captured the imagination and the hearts of the American people is your extraordinary leadership on HIV AIDS in your country. You've shown the world what is possible, and I want to congratulate you for that leadership. I also want to thank you for your steadfast support on the war against terror. And I'm glad you're here. Before we begin our discussions I do want to say something on the Middle East. I am troubled by the recent Israeli helicopter gunship attacks. I regret the loss of innocent life. I'm concerned that the attacks will make it more difficult for the Palestinian leadership to fight off terrorist attacks. I also don't believe the attacks help Israeli security. We have been in touch with all parties in the region. I am determined to keep the process on the road to peace. And I believe, with responsible leadership by all parties, we can bring peace to the region. And I emphasize, all parties must behave responsibly to achieve that objective. So, Mr. President, I'm glad you're here. Welcome. I'd like for you to make a few comments, please, sir. President Museveni. Thank you so much. I'm very glad that I'm here. First of all, I congratulate President Bush for his leadership in fighting terrorism. Terrorism is a very irresponsible way of expressing one's dissatisfaction. It uses indiscriminate violence. They don't discriminate between combatants and noncombatants. That's why we oppose terrorism. We fought with guns for the freedom of our countries. I fought for many years, but I've never used terrorist means. Freedom fighting is not the same thing as terrorism. If you must use violence, you should assure that violence is targeted at the combatants, not at the noncombatants. Secondly, I salute President Bush for his decision a few years ago to open American markets to African value added products. You hear so much of poverty in Africa, but in fact, Africa is a very rich continent. The only problem with that, we must inaudible lose value to the outside. We export only raw materials we don't export value added products. So I'm very glad that President Bush opened the American market for our goods. I'm also glad that he set up the Millennium Challenge Account. That money should be used to aid trade. I don't believe in aid as an end in itself. I believe in trade. Trade is the one that can lead to mutual benefits for all countries in the world. Therefore, aid should head up trade should aid in order to trade. And finally, I thank him for the money set up for the AIDS fund, the 15 billion. So I really am glad I'm here. We shall discuss more in our private discussion. President Bush. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for coming. President Museveni. Thank you. June 09, 2003 The President. I just met with my Cabinet, had the opportunity to brief them about my trip overseas. I talked about the visit to Poland and to Russia, where we've got good friends in both those countries, at least in terms of their leaders. And then I went to the G 8 in Evian, France. The message there was, is that America and Europe can do a lot together. We can make the world more peaceful. We can make the world more free. We can work together to help fight the pandemic of AIDS in Africa. There's a lot we can do together. We need to put our differences in the past and combine our efforts. We can do trade together so our people can find work. And I left feeling very good about our relations in Europe. Then I went to the Middle East and started the started the march to peace. And I'm optimistic about our chances to bring a peaceful, free Palestinian state in existence, to live side by side with a secure Israel. We've got a lot of work to do, but I was pleased with the response of Prime Minister Sharon. He's a courageous leader, dedicated to the security of the Israeli people, as are we, but also recognizing that life can be better for the Palestinians. And I appreciate the leadership of Prime Minister Abbas, the new Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, who spoke eloquently and clearly about the need for the free world to fight off terror in order for a Palestinian state to emerge. And then I went over to Qatar, had a very good visit with Ambassador Bremer and General Tommy Franks, and we talked about the need for our coalition to continue to make steadfast progress in Iraq so that the people of Iraq will be able to eventually run themselves. And we are making steadfast progress. Finally, we talked about domestic matters. Secretary Snow briefed us on the economy. And we're optimistic about our economy, but we won't rest until we're certain that people who are looking for work and who want to work can find a job. The jobs and growth package passed by the Congress can be very beneficial to those who look for work. We also talked about the possibilities of Congress getting a good Medicare bill out. I will spend time this week discussing Medicare with the American people. Secretary Thompson briefed us on the progress being made by the Congress, and I want to thank the congressional leadership for showing the determination that's going to be necessary to get a good Medicare package out for America's seniors. I'm proud of my Cabinet. I want to thank them for their good work and really proud of the team we have put together here. I'll answer a few questions. Tom Tom Raum, Associated Press , and then Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters . Middle East Peace Process Q. Mr. President, since you left the Middle East, there's been a new outbreak of violence three main Palestinian militant groups have claimed responsibility for it. Prime Minister Abbas says he will not use force to control these groups, and Prime Minister Sharon has been criticized by rightwing members of his own party. Why are you so optimistic? The President. I'm optimistic because I was able to listen to the Prime Ministers of Israel and the Palestinian Authority talk about the need for peace and for a state. Listen, I recognize there's going to be extremes, particularly in the Palestinian territories, that want to blow up peace. But I think people are sick of it. The average Palestinian must understand that their lives will improve with the vision of Prime Minister Abbas. And the Arab neighborhood understands that violence will lead to nothing except misery and the lack of hope. And so I'm optimistic that responsible leaders have now got the message that we must combine to work to fight off the terror attacks so that a peaceful Palestinian state can emerge. And I understand there's going to be a lot of work to do, but I'm prepared to lead. And we're sending a team in place. Ambassador Wolf will be on the ground soon, holding people to account and working to strengthen Prime Minister Abbas so that he can deliver on his promise, a promise he made not only to me personally but a promise he made to the Israeli officials. And the promise was, is that he will work as hard as he can to fight off those elements within the territories that want to use violence to destroy any hope for peace and, therefore, use violence to destroy the hopes of the Palestinian people. Patsy. Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction Q. Sir, is U.S. credibility on the line over weapons of mass destruction in Iraq? The President. I'm not exactly sure what that means. I mean, Iraq had a weapons program. Intelligence throughout the decade showed they had a weapons program. I am absolutely convinced with time we'll find out that they did have a weapons program. The credibility of this country is based upon our strong desire to make the world more peaceful and the world is now more peaceful after our decision the strong desire to make sure free nations are more secure our free nations are now more secure and the strong desire to spread freedom. And the Iraqi people are now free and are learning the habits of freedom and the responsibilities that come with freedom. I read a report that somehow, you know, that there is no Al Qaida presence in Baghdad. I guess the people who wrote that article forgot about Al Zarqawi's network inside of Baghdad that ordered the killing of a U.S. citizen named Foley. And history will show, history time will prove that the United States made the absolute right decision in freeing the people of Iraq from the clutches of Saddam Hussein. Keil Richard Keil, Bloomberg News , last question. Strength of the Dollar Q. Sir, do you have anything for us on the dollar? It continues to slide. The President. Yes. Q. The rhetoric continues to be that we favor a strong dollar policy, but there doesn't seem to be much of anything helping to prop it up. The President. The policy of this Government is a strong dollar policy. I spent time talking about the our dollar policy at the G 8. And I reminded our G 8 partners that there is a difference in interest rates, particularly between Europe and the United States, and that interest rate differential has caused people to sell dollars to buy euros to get a higher return on investment. And that's why you're seeing pressure on the dollar. And of course, the European Union is like the United States, has got an independent organization that sets monetary policy. But you'll see a you'll see different behavior as interest rate spreads begin to narrow between Europe and the United States. But I'll repeat as clearly as I can, the policy of the United States Government is a strong dollar policy. Thank you all. June 05, 2003 Thanks for coming out to say hello. Thanks for your introduction, Tommy. I appreciate this warm welcome. I have a question for you Can you hear me now? Applause I've been on the road for a while, and I hope you didn't mind us stopping by. We've seen a lot of fine sights, but there's no finer sight than to see the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States of America. I am happy to see you, and so are the long suffering people of Iraq. America sent you on a mission to remove a grave threat and to liberate an oppressed people, and that mission has been accomplished. Each one of you is a credit to the uniform you wear, and I bring a message from home Your families are proud of you, and so is America. I want to thank Tommy for his leadership. I don't know if you know this, but First Lady Laura Bush and Tommy Franks went to high school together, Midland Lee High School. She didn't think he'd amount to much. Laughter He has done a fantastic job. I'm also honored to be traveling with a fantastic Secretary of State. I want to thank the allied forces. I want to thank the Brits, the Australians, and I want to thank our friends from Poland for your service to your countries and to the cause of freedom and for your courage. I want to thank the members of the Armed Forces of Qatar, and I want to thank the Amir of Qatar, with whom I just met, for his hospitality and for his friendship to the United States of America. But most of all, I'm here to thank you. We are in a war on global terror, and because of you, we're winning the war on global terror. When we've sent you into combat, you've performed brilliantly. In Afghanistan, forces directed from here from Qatar and headquartered in Tampa, you delivered decisive blows against the Taliban and against Al Qaida. And now the people of Afghanistan are free. We have made it clear that we'll hunt the terrorists down. There's no place they can hide from the justice of the United States of America and our friends. And right now we've got we're on the hunt in the Horn of Africa. And of course, in the battle of Iraq, you set an example of skill and daring that will stand for all time. The very first strike in the liberation of Iraq started from right here, and many others followed. Missions of mercy are directed from here. Our actions sent along clear message that our Nation is strong and our Nation is compassionate. And we also sent another clear message Dictators can no longer shield themselves behind innocent people. Those who threaten the security of others now need to worry about their own. As you know, in the battle of Iraq, we had some fine, fine soldiers at our side. Great Britain, Poland, and Australia sent some of their finest to work with ours. America will always remember their service and their important role in our victory, and we're grateful. Neighbors in this neighborhood nations in this neighborhood also gave critical assistance to this coalition, for which we're grateful Of course, Qatar, the host to CENTCOM, a great friend to the United States, and Kuwait always said yes when we asked. They also kept their oil flowing when it looked like there wasn't going to be enough. Our friends in Bahrain and the UAE and the rest of the Gulf contributed valuable assistance to our cause, for which we're thankful. It was from this place that our commanders executed one of the most innovative war plans in the history of armed conflict. And the man who designed those plans was Tommy Franks. I want to thank Tommy and his staff. I also want to thank Command Sergeant Major Dwight Brown. I was going to say, "and his staff," but you're his staff. Under Tommy's leadership, CENTCOM forces have shown the true might of America, the strength of our country. You've also shown the humanity and decency of your country as well. You see, this country, our country, does not seek the expansion of territory. We're not interested in more territory. Our goal is to enlarge the realm of liberty. We believe that liberty is God's gift to every individual on the face of the Earth. We believe people have the right to think and speak and worship in freedom. That's what we believe in America, and that's what you showed the world. No, our military fights for the security of American people, and we fight for freedom. And we sacrifice for freedom, and we have lost some of our finest. And this Nation will never forget and will always honor their memories for the sacrifices they made. And it's not only serving our Nation but serving a cause greater than themselves. May God rest their souls. Not only does the war on terror go on, but we've got a lot of work to do in Iraq. And we're going to stay the course until the job gets done. We will stand with them as they build a stable democracy and a peaceful future. Our forces are taking aggressive steps to increase order throughout the country. We are moving those Ba'athist officials that are trying to hang onto power. There are still pockets of criminality. Remember, the former leader of Iraq emptied the jail cells of common criminals right before the action took place, and they haven't changed their habits and their ways. They like to rob, like to loot. We'll find them. Criminal courts are now reopening. Day by day, the United States and our coalition partners are making the streets safer for the Iraqi citizens. We also understand that a more just political system will develop when people have food in their stomachs and their lights work and they can turn on a faucet and they can find some clean water, things that Saddam Hussein did not do for them. See, he spent more time building luxurious palaces than he did in building an infrastructure to take care of the Iraqi citizens. And the United States and our friends and allies will first take care of the Iraqi citizens. And they'll have some money to help themselves. After all, oil is now flowing, but this time the revenues are not going to be used and skimmed off by greedy gangsters. It's going to be used in a special account on behalf of the people who own the oil, the citizens of Iraq. One thing else we've done is we made sure that Iraq's not going to serve as an arsenal for terrorist for terrorist groups. We recently found two mobile biological weapons facilities which were capable of producing biological agents. This is a man who spent decades hiding tools of mass murder. He knew the inspectors were looking for them. You know better than me he's got a big country in which to hide them. We're on the look. We'll reveal the truth. But one thing is certain No terrorist network will gain weapons of mass destruction from the Iraqi regime, because the Iraqi regime is no more. As people who liberated Iraq, I know you're proud of what you have done. You see, the world is now learning what many of you have seen. They're learning about the mass graves, thousands of people just summarily executed. They're learning about the torture chambers. Because of you, a great evil has been ended. Because of you, the dignity of a great nation is being restored. Because of you, America and our friends and allies, those of us who love freedom are now more secure. You have justified the confidence that your country has placed in you. You've served your country well. Your Commander in Chief is grateful. And as importantly, more importantly, millions of American citizens are grateful for what you have done. You believe in America, and America believes in you. It is our tremendous honor to be here today with you. Keep doing what you're doing. You're making a huge difference in the peace and security and freedom in this world. May God bless you. May God bless your families, and may God continue to bless America. Thank you. June 04, 2003 The President. First of all, it's progress. Great success happens when there's two states, living side by side in peace. And this is progress. I thought I would since this is an historic trip, I thought I would just have you up and share thoughts and answer questions. We'll go around for a while. First, I'm pleased with what happened yesterday and today. The first signs of peace happen when people make up their mind to work toward peace. And that's what you saw. You heard some pretty firm statements yesterday. The statements yesterday by the Arab leaders were very strong in public, and they were strong in private. One of the things that we have made clear to all parties is that there are terrorists who have to blow up the process you all know that it's been an historic fact and that these countries in the neighborhood have the capacity to work to cut off money to the terrorist groups and access and arms deals. And they committed themselves to do that, which was a positive sign. It was also important for Prime Minister Abbas to hear that. This is a man who is a newly elected Prime Minister, new to office. He gets sworn in, and the roadmap gets released. All of a sudden now he finds himself in a serious effort, the creation of a Palestinian state, which puts enormous responsibilities on him. And one of the things we're saying is, you're now responsible. But it helped a lot to have the Arab leaders support him, and not only support him but to support him through pledges of activity and action. The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia was particularly strong yesterday in private about the need to chase down terrorists. They've had some recent experience with terrorism. And I was really pleased with the strong commitment and the strong desire to not only deal with terrorists inside his country but to work to prevent arms being smuggled from out of Iraq and into the territories. We also spent a lot of time talking about Syria and the mutual concern about Syria and the desire to convince Syria to shut down terrorist offices inside in Damascus. So there was a very helpful discussion. I think it was very helpful for Prime Minister Abbas to hear that. Then we come to today. The way the day worked is that I met with the King of Jordan. He is a wonderful man. He is obviously desirous of Palestinian statehood, which would be very helpful to him. We talked about bilateral relations, economic matters of economic development, and it was a good conversation. And then I sat down with Prime Minister Sharon. I assured him that security was at the top of our agenda, like security is at the top of his agenda. One, we're in a war against terror, or a war against terror on the homefront we're chasing down these people around. But we also recognize that there are some who would like to blow up the process and that we want to work to create the conditions for a Palestinian state to emerge, which means jointly working with all parties to work on the security issue. I also told him, though, he's got responsibilities. The fact that he showed up meant that he believes Prime Minister Abbas can deliver. And therefore, we've got to work together to help the Prime Minister achieve his stated objectives, which, one, he had a very clear statement on terror. The other thing that was very interesting was his statement on incitement. And it was a fact statement, for those who follow the process. He needs time to get his security forces set up. And I reminded the Prime Minister I also reminded him that I wasn't caught by surprise by his statement on the outposts, the issue of the outposts. He said he would dismantle them we expect him now to dismantle them. People say, "Well, what's the first step?" Well, you just heard the first step today in the speeches. And the you also heard me say that we would help the Palestinian Authority develop a security force. Minister Dahlan will be in charge of that security force. We intend to work with them. We assured the Israelis we intend to work with them. We want this man to be successful. The Prime Minister absolutely rejected terror. In order for him to be effective in rejecting terror, he's got to have an effective security force. And so that's what we discussed. And then we met, all of us together, our delegations. It was good. We had a the discussion was very interesting is the Prime Minister asked members of his Knesset to speak, Minister of Defense, the Deputy Prime Minister, the equivalent of the Attorney General, Minister of Justice. And then Prime Minister Abbas spoke I spoke. And then I suggested that the three of us just go outside and visit, rather than having the formal settings of the old roundtable discussion. And so we went out and sat on the lawn there for about 30 minutes and discussed a lot of matters. What I wanted to do is to observe the interplay between the two did they have the capacity to relax in each other's presence, for starters? And I felt they did. In other words, it was the body language was positive. There wasn't a lot of hostility or suspicion. There was a it seemed like to me, from the conversation, that there was a mutual desire to work toward the vision. And obviously I'm not going to betray confidences, but it was a very interesting and positive conversation, is the best way to say it. I didn't need, for example, to be Mr. Chatty you know, kind of, "Hey, fellows." Laughter There was a natural tendency to want to talk about common matters and common desires. And then after that, we gave our speeches, and here we sit. I will tell you that I'm pleased with the last 2 days. We have made a good beginning. And I emphasize beginning, because there's a lot of work to do. Let me just review some of the work that must take place. Obviously, there needs there needs to be a focused, complete, 100 percent effort to fight off the terrorists. I believe the Palestinian I know the Palestinian leadership wants that, has got that desire. And so, he must help them put the institutions in place to do that. On the Palestinian side, there needs to be an emergence of a state, the institutions of which are larger than the participants. And that is essential. I assured the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority and this was when we were sitting out on the lawn that there is plenty of help coming. At the G 8 meeting in Evian, there was a lot of discussion about how we can help, "What can we do?" I said, "Well, when the time is right, there's going to be need for money and commercial development and enhancement of the entrepreneurial spirit." There's just a lot of things to be done better education systems. Israel has got to recognize that Prime Minister Abbas is desirous for peace and, without compromising security, must make decisions necessary to help the Palestinian people. And they're doing that. Money is more money is now in circulation. They collect revenues, Israel does, and now they're they've got great trust in the Finance Minister of the Palestinian Authority, a guy who went to the University of Texas, by the way, for a while. He came to Washington as an intermediary on behalf of Prime Minister Abbas, and Condi and I met with him in the Oval Office. I spent a lot of the time on Palestinian finances, cashflow matters, making sure that aid and money actually end up helping the people and not either bank accounts of individuals that where it doesn't belong. I'm absolutely convinced he's an honest and upright man who believes in the future of the Palestinian people, believes that a democratic Palestinian state is possible. It's important for Prime Minister Sharon to recognize that. I think he does. I'm confident he recognizes that. The 100 million that had been held in arrears was released, and the process of talking about more money going through, which 25,000 workers now that were not allowed in Israel now allowed in Israel. In other words, what I'm telling you is, is that it's important for the life of the Palestinians to improve in measurable ways. And as confidence is built, as institutions are in place, I assured Prime Minister Abbas and this was important for Prime Minister Sharon to hear as well that there is going to be a lot of help, financial help, from around the world. People want this effort to succeed. And so it's it's a bit of 2 good days, but there's a lot to happen. Let me just go around the table. President's Cautious Optimism Q. You sound cautious still. The President. I am cautious, because and I'm cautious because history tells you to be cautious. I don't know where you were in 2000. I guess it was they were close. There are killers lurking in the neighborhood. There are people who have declared their openly declared their hostility to Israel and their desire to destroy Israeli citizens. There are people that, you know, would rather have chaos than a state. And so long as you know they're there, you've got to be cautious. And on the other hand, we've now got a partner in peace, Prime Minister Abbas, who is wants the tools necessary to chase them down. It's going to be one of the accountability measures, by the way. That's one of reasons why we put Wolf. The news today, of course, from our side was, besides having the meeting, was Ambassador John Wolf and his team. It's not just Wolf. It is not Wolf and one administrative assistant. It's Wolf and a team of people that the Secretary will be glad to explain to you. We have a security team there to help the Dahlan. Their job is to find out what's needed and to also hold people to account, both sides to account, reminding people of promises made in meetings and insisting them that in order for progress to be made, people have got to deliver it. And so, yes, I've cautious, but optimistic. Perhaps we should say, cautiously optimistic. Laughter Prospects for Peace War on Terror Q. Mr. President, previous efforts at making peace in the Middle East did not succeed. You believe you now have a chance. Did you and you also mentioned that it's historic this was an historic meeting. Could you try to put this in history? What do you think has changed since you took office, and how did we get to this point? The President. I think a couple of things have changed. One, I think there is I think Prime Minister Abbas is willing to make the necessary decisions and take the necessary steps to fight terror and to develop institutions necessary for a state to emerge, a genuine effort. I believe he is, and that's a change. Secondly, there is a universal recognition that the war on terror is just that, a war on terror and not empty words, that September the 11th or bombings in Riyadh or the terror that has plagued Israel, these are terrorist acts that must be defeated, and they must be defeated at its source as well. So there's a different frankly, a different attitude toward terrorism. It's no longer isolated terrorism, it is terrorism that is beginning to affect a lot of people and can affect a lot of people. So in other words, the meeting yesterday, for example, with the Arab nations, it seemed like to me the new reality was reflected in their statements, which will make it easier for a Palestinian state to emerge. There's a vested interest to fight terror. It's people's self interest now. And so I think that's been one of the changes. I'm sure this is other Presidents have said this other leaders have but there is now battle fatigue. People are sick and tired of it. People are sick and tired of the death, suffering, of the humiliation. In other words, there's hopefully history will show whether or not I'm right, but hopefully we have reached the point where a lot of good people have begun to realize that the immediate past will lead to nothing but more suffering and humiliation and death. And people are beginning to change their attitudes on the ground. Q. Do you think September 11th had an impact in the region, as well, in help ing did it just galvanize American views about terrorism, or did it also carry through into The President. I think it the terror attacks shocked the world. And it frightened a lot of people, because they realized that if America can be hit, they could be hit. And then terror began to I just said, the attacks in Riyadh or the attacks in Indonesia, Bali, a nice secure resort community. The next thing is, people wake up the next day and realize around the world realize that there's no such thing as a nice, secure resort when we have terrorists willing to kill innocent lives in the numbers they did. So not just September the 11th. September the 11th made the world aware of the new war. And then the other acts of terror that have taken place since made the issue come even closer to home for many countries. And then the combination of that plus the terrorist activities in the Palestinian territories and in Israel made people realize the effects of terror. It kind of brought it all home, I think. So, yes, I think September the 11th mattered, but it wasn't the only event that was helped galvanize thought. People are frightened about terror in the Middle East, not just in Israel. And they've got to get after it. And we're going to help them get after it. It's a part of this war. One of the hardest things I knew that I would have to do as the President is to remind the American people, and for that matter, people around the world, the nature of the war in which we find ourselves. And it's different. There's a couple battlefronts that are noticeable, Afghanistan and Iraq, but this war goes on. I mean, today, as we speak, we've got intelligence sharing going on, we've got people on the hunt trying to find them, one at a time. It's that same effort that will take place in the Palestinian territories, but it requires the desire by all leaders to want to fight it. I think that's changed some. I think it's changed a lot mentality. President's Personal Diplomacy Q. Mr. President, you seem to value and even enjoy the spontaneity and informality that you brought in your meetings with these leaders. Could you dwell for a moment on your personal style of diplomacy and how you see it working? The President. I try to tell the truth, put it right out there on the table for everybody to understand what's expected. I do I like people. You know, I remember, I think it was Ron Fournier Associated Press asked me the question, "Do you trust Vladimir Putin?" It was one of the really interesting questions, to fire up the President standing next to Vladimir Putin. Well, the answer is yes, I didn't hesitate, because during my meeting with him, I had developed an interesting rapport. My instincts were such that, this is a guy I can trust. History will prove me right. It doesn't necessarily mean he has to agree with everything that I say, but trust his word. I've spent enough time with Ariel Sharon to know he's the kind of guy when he says something, he means it. I'm getting the same sense about Prime Minister Abbas. And therefore much of the conversations, particularly as I get to know somebody, is to figure out whether or not you can whether or not, when they say something, they mean it. You can tell that, pretty much, during a conversation, which means trying to get people off their script, and as you discuss things, make it as informal as possible, because I think people in an informal setting tend to show their heart and or their conscience in a lot better way. I'm not a very formal guy to begin with. Condi and the Secretary of State, Colin, can give you a better sense of what my style is like. I'm also not very analytical. You know I don't spend a lot of time thinking about myself, about why I do things. The meetings are informal they're kind of relaxed. I think one of my styles is trying to relax people. National Security Adviser Rice. Direct, I would say. The President. Yes, I am a direct person. I mean, there's no we don't have a lot of time, and therefore I like to get to the point. I like to ask people I can challenge people. I believe I can do so in a way that's not offensive to them. It's about as encouraging as it was discouraging. And I hope they sense my sense of optimism. I mean, I'm an enthusiastic person when I believe that something is possible. I believe peace is possible. I know it's going to be hard, but I think the fact that I'm representing a great country and am willing to sit down with these leaders and give them a sense, "We're all in this together," is helpful. The best way to do that is in a more informal type setting where there's not a lot of prepared notes. I've been in meetings where people read speeches. It's not as productive as a meeting in which people can sit down and actually one of my jobs is to try to help relax people in a setting. I hope I'm pretty good at that. How do you feel? Do you feel relaxed right now? Q. More relaxed than I should. The President. It worked. Meeting With Arab Leaders Q. Is that what happened when you were in the the anteroom with the Arab leaders, you just decided that it was a more relaxed setting and that you prefer to keep talking The President. Exactly, yes. Q. Could you tell us a little bit about that meeting and what went on in that meeting? The President. Sure, I'd love to. First of all, I understand that there was a little bit of hard feelings. I was told last night about certain press wasn't in. We had no idea. I'm available for any photo op. Laughter But it was not an intention, if that's that's the meeting I think you're talking about, the informal meeting. Q. Multilateral. But we'd like to know what happened in the private meeting that you had with the heads of state before you came out. The President. Before we came out, the thing that was not supposed to be on TV, that one. It was just a roundtable discussion about let me make sure I get it right here. I told them, I said, look all four of those leaders, except for Prime Minister Abbas, were Prime Minister Abbas was there. The other four leaders are leaders who I obviously talked to during the Iraq war. Before the Iraq war and after the Iraq war, I assured them that I was going to be involved in moving the Middle East peace process forward, particularly after the emergence of the Prime Minister, Abbas. This was my chance to go around the table and look him in the eye and say, "I'm here to make it happen, but I need your help." The first thing was to is to let them know about the intent of this administration. I shared with them well, you know Colin's involvement and Condi's involvement. I didn't share with them the Wolf I knew they would read about it today. There wasn't any great secret. On the other hand, you occasionally try to hold back some news you've probably learned it before I did, anyway. And then we listened to them, and Crown Prince Abdullah. And they had a lot of interesting thoughts about different issues. Oh, and by the way, it wasn't just the discussion wasn't just on the Middle East peace process. The other thing I told them, I asked them, was to help Prime Minister Abbas. I directly said, "We need your help on this fellow. If he is to succeed, if peace is to succeed, he needs your help." And they were willing they expressed their desire to help. And I went to Iraq and talked about what was happening there. Then I encouraged them to continue on their paths to reform and about how that would make a significant difference in the lives of their citizens. So it was more than and they commented on all that, different aspects. I'm not going to tell you what they told me. If they want to tell you what if they want to say what is theirs, they'll put it in their own press. It was a long discussion. It took a lot longer than we thought. And part of it had to do because a lot of it needed to be translated. Therefore, a normal conversation all of it had to be translated. The Crown Prince does not speak English very well, so therefore every word that was spoken had to volleyed. And so that's we had a good conversation, again, not structured. People said what they felt like, and there was no it wasn't just, "Okay, you speak you speak you speak, and then we're through." There was a lot of interchange. That's positive. And I met bilaterally with them as well. I met with Colin and Condi and I went over to President Mubarak's house that night. We had a bilateral with him in the morning, and afterwards we ate. I had a bilateral with the Crown Prince at the hotel after the sauna bath. It was very hot outside when I spoke. Laughter Thank you for clarification. It was hot. I'm sweating. I was really hot. Q. I know, I know there was one place where you were talking about it, figuratively The President. Figuratively, that's right. Just to see if you were paying attention. And it's very useful to have those kind of conversations. Palestinian Authority Leadership Q. Mr. President, a big part of why you were here, and you made clear, is because Mahmoud Abbas is the person who is Palestinian Prime Minister, and Yasser Arafat is not the person who you chose to negotiate. But Palestinian leaders, some of their senior officials, made clear that they still think Yasser Arafat they made clear that they still think Yasser Arafat is somebody who needs to be dealt with, who needs to negotiate. I'm wondering what kinds of conversations you had with the Arab leaders and maybe with Mahmoud Abbas about Arafat's role? The President. Well, it's clear that I'm going to deal with Prime Minister Abbas, so there wasn't much conversation. Q. Do you think it will come up? The President. Not really. The Secretary of State is Secretary Powell. It didn't come up in any of the conversations with the President that I'm aware of. And they know our views on this. Q. Do you have any concern that he might be a hindrance to the process at all? The President. Not if he has the Palestinian people's interests at heart. We'll see. I certainly hope not. Secretary Powell. Can I just The President. Yes, please. Secretary Powell. In conversations with the Arab leaders, particularly the Foreign Ministers, we made it clear to them that one of the things we expected them to help with was to make sure that Mr. Arafat does not become an obstacle to the execution of the roadmap. Q. Did they seem to say that they were willing to do that? Secretary Powell. They understood. They will help. The President. I think they understand. Secretary Powell's Role Q. Inaudible The President. It really didn't I mean, he's handled most of that. It did not come up during my conversations with the Arab leaders. What came up was, how do we help Prime Minister Abbas? Now, Colin may have had different with the Foreign Ministers, since they have some frank discussions. A lot of times you'll find out that the underbrush has been cleared by the and by the time the President arrives, everybody kind of understands. And one of his jobs is to clear out underbrush. That's an old ranch term. Laughter In other words I don't know what he told the Foreign Ministers, but I just heard what he told the Foreign Ministers. Q. He's watching the calluses on his hands. The President. Yes, that's it. Laughter Q. Can I ask you, just a followup? The President. Sure. Red Sea Summit Q. What do you consider sort of the importance of the role of the President in this kind of process? For example, this is the first time it's been 2 1 2 years since you've been President. It's the first time you've had this kind of summit, where some of your predecessors had multiple summits by this time. The President. Well, you know, first of all, we've had a lot of meetings but not summits. I've had a lot of discussions with every one of the parties that have been around the table, with the exception of Prime Minister Abbas, and he's just showed up. He just emerged as a leader. I called him immediately upon I think immediately or soon after he became Prime Minister. I mean, so let me just because we haven't had the summit doesn't mean this administration hasn't been working toward achieving the conditions necessary to move forward. And that's really an important there has to be I can remember saying this to the press corps early on in my administration. People want to have to peace, want peace. In order to move the process forward requires a there's no need to spend capital and energy and time if there is not a commitment to peace. And the conditions are such now that there is a commitment to peace by a lot of people that are ready to see if we can't make it happen. That's what's changed. And therefore the timing of this summit was really based upon the attitudes of the decisionmakers. We're not the decision maker. Oh, the American President or the American Secretary of State is I wish we were the decisionmakers. You know, "Okay, this is it." That's not the way it works. There's terrorists to deal with. If we could, we'd say, "All the terrorists, put down your arms and become useful citizens, peaceful citizens." But that's not, unfortunately, reality. Banding together, though, we can deal with the ticket you know, build up the will necessary to deal with the terrorists. And so what the role of the United States is, is to lay out the vision, encourage people to accept the vision, and then help implement the vision. In this case, we call it a roadmap to achieve the vision. And that's exactly what we're going to do. We can be stewards of accountability. And we can say to somebody, "You said you'd do this. You haven't done it. You say you want to do this, and what do you need to get it done?" So today we asked Dahlan, "What is it you need? How can we help you? This is a security matter. What exactly can we do to help?" Secretary Powell. Mr. President, can I give four data points to show the President's involvement? Just a couple of quick data points to show you how we got here and how the President caused us to be here. Twenty four June speech you're very familiar with. On the 18th of July, the President had Arab Foreign Ministers in the Oval Office Muasher of Jordan, Saud of Saudi Arabia, Maher of Egypt. And at that meeting, the President said to them, we will now structure a way to go from my vision to reality. And that was the beginning of the work on the roadmap. Work went on all summer, all fall. And then on the 20th of December, the European the Quartet came together to finalize it. The President met with the Quartet, finalized it, and then we waited for the Israeli elections to be over, which were just about finished at that time, and then we said, with the appointment of new leadership in the Palestinian Authority, the President is ready to act, and he did. Q. Mr. President, in the events of the last 2 days, have they exceeded what you expected coming over here? The President. That's a good question. I'm supposed to say that's an interesting question. Laughter Q. You're supposed to say what you think. The President. I'm the master of low expectations. I think they we did what we wanted to I think we we accomplished what I hoped we would accomplish, but I don't think we necessarily exceeded expectations. I think "met expectations" is a better way to put it. I was hoping to have honest dialogs. The statements that came out I think when you analyze the statements, you'll find them to be historic, I guess is the right word to use. Amazing things were said. The Palestinian the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority talked about the suffering of Jewish people. It's a strong statement. The Prime Minister of Israel talked about a Palestinian state which was free. The statements were strong. It's hard to answer, exceeded expectations. I had a little bit of an understanding of what might take place, because we worked hard. These trips, obviously, don't just happen. The statement just doesn't show up out of the blue. It requires laughter National Security Adviser Rice. Oh, no, they just appeared magically. The President. I'm a great delegator I'm a great delegator. And so they met expectations. However, the cordial atmosphere I'll tell you what else was interesting, that I would say met expectations or was pleasing to see, was the interface between the Palestinian Cabinet and the Israeli Cabinet. When we went out to sit on the grounds and I witnessed some of it but not all of it since I was actually on the grounds Colin and Condi told me that there was very interesting discussions and dialog going on. There was people were frank with each other. They were able to joke with each other. They were able to kind of bring up a little history with each other. But the main thing that came out of it, at least to our delegation, appeared to be the desire to work together. You two witnesses, maybe you want to National Security Adviser Rice. That's absolutely the case. Preparations for the Red Sea Summit Q. If I could follow up, Mr. President, were there any time going into this that you were hearing things, that you were thinking to yourself, uh oh The President. Look, I wasn't going if we weren't going to make progress. I mean, there's no need to go and stand up there by myself and say, "Let's work for peace," and look around, and nobody would be there with you. So I was I think there were some times where we've had some in the runup to the process, there was some there was a lot of work, let me put it to you that way, and a lot of frank discussion and a lot of convincing of parties that we need to get on this path, and we need to work hard, and we need to make commitments. The speeches that there were some commitments made in those speeches which now put people on the record, not only on the record, all across the world. I mean, a lot of people were watching this today. And I guess it was live in America. So you had these leaders stand up and say, "I commit" not just commit to I mean, the Prime Minister of Israel saying, "I commit to knock down or get rid of illegal outposts." That is a strong commitment. So the process was really to work hard to get people to make commitments toward peace. And Condi's staff and Colin's staff worked very closely together. And Colin went out to the region, as you may remember. Part of what you saw today was his hard work. They always look at the President, but the truth of the matter is that there have been a lot of people working hard to work with all parties to get to where we got today. I just happen to attract more cameras than most of them. So I stand up there, and everybody watches. National Security Adviser Rice. We actually had a team in the region for almost a week, Bill Burns and Elliot Abrams for almost a week. The President. Elliot Abrams is her staff. Bill, of course, is an Under Secretary. Secretary Powell. Assistant Secretary. The President. Runs the NEA, is very capable. And then of course we we had to make the decision on the man who is going to run the deal on the ground and how his team was going to be formed. Again, the Secretary had to move him in his Department and had to come up with the right structure and the right people so that when the Palestinians and Israelis see who was sitting out there and what they represent, they realize that it's serious business. All that took a while to get to where we are. To answer your question, I'm pleased with the start, is the best way to put it. I mean, this we are going to go through a tough process, because we're dealing with a lot of history. And you're right, a lot of Presidents have tried. Every President should try. We ought to use the prestige of America to try for peace. I fault no President of the United States for trying to achieve peace. Maybe history is such that now we can achieve it. I'm optimistic. Israeli Security War on Terror Q. You were pretty blunt yesterday that Israel must deal with the settlements. The President. Yes. Q. Sharon made I don't think we were supposed to hear that. Sharon made his pledge today. If there's a suicide bombing, does he reserve the right to move back into those settlements? The President. Look, I think the operative statement from the Israeli Prime Minister, not necessarily in this speech but recently, was he wants to see a complete effort to fight off terror. In other words, he wants an equal partner. He wants a partner in the battle on terror, not somebody who will say they're going to fight terror and then turn a blind eye to terror, somebody who wants to join him. And that's one of the things that came clear. It should have been clear in my speech, too, that we will fight terror. And security is we'll never compromise on Israel's security. That's one of the reasons why I believe the Israeli Knesset members over there, the Prime Minister, wants to follow us, work with us, because they know I will never compromise Israel's security. And I've made that clear. As Condi said, one of the things about our discussions, they're frank. There's no question in the Palestinian Authority's mind, either, I can assure you. Now having so therefore what the Prime Minister of Israel has said is, he expects to see a complete effort by the Palestinian Authority to fight off terror. Prime Minister Abbas said today in his statement, there is no place for terror. And he is going to put together a security forces necessary fight off the terrorists, because he knows that there will be no state if terror prevails. And he knows his people will suffer. The terrorists think they're hurting Israel, and they are when they kill Israelis. But they're also hurting their own people, and Prime Minister Abbas understands that. Plus the people in the region know what terror now means. They've lived with terror in the region, but they've now begun to put it in context. And that's I'm trying to put it as clearly as I can. The context of terror now has changed. The death hasn't changed, but it's now it's easier for everybody to see how it fits into a larger scheme of things. And the larger scheme of things is the war on terror, because it's beginning to strike in lethal ways in unexpected places, which therefore means that your place could be next, I guess is one way to put it. President's Role in the Peace Process Q. What's your role? What do you do? You talked about giving the Secretary and Dr. Rice specific obligations. What's your obligation? The President. I show up when they need me to call people to account, to praise, or to say, "Wait a minute. You told me in Jordan that you would do this. You haven't done it, why? How come? What is it?" It's to keep the thing moving, keep the processes moving. They've got the man on the ground that is going to he's just going to I used the expression "ride herd." I don't know if anybody understood the meaning. It's a little informal in diplomatic terms. I said, "We're going to put a guy on the ground to ride herd on the process." See them all scratching their heads. Q. Meanwhile, in Arabic and Hebrew, exactly how does that translate? The President. Listen, I've got to make a phone call, but I want to thank you all for your interest. It's been a great trip. Have a good day tomorrow, and then we'll get to go home. I'm looking forward to it, looking forward to getting to see my family. Summit Photograph Q. What happened when you the three of you walked out for the photograph, and did you hear the Israeli photographer screaming, "Are you going to shake hands?" Did you hear that? The President. No. Where was it? Q. It was the photographer screaming The President. Oh, yes. How do you shake hands with three people? I couldn't understand first of all, I had a little trouble hearing. My hearing is not as good as it used to be, and then sometimes I don't want to hear anything to begin with, like the questions you yell. Laughter Q. Well, it was a pleasure to talk to you. The President. Yes, thanks for coming over. June 04, 2003 King Abdullah II of Jordan. President Bush, Prime Minister Sharon, Prime Minister Abbas, distinguished guests We gather today in Aqaba, this small city that symbolizes the immeasurable potential of bringing different peoples together. Not far from here, Jordan and Israel signed a peace treaty in 1994. Nine years later, what brings us here is the same dream, the dream of peace, prosperity, coexistence, and reconciliation. But dreams alone cannot fulfill hopes. It is thanks to the efforts of President Bush and the commitments of Prime Minister Sharon and Prime Minister Abbas that we meet here today to transform these dreams into real achievements on the ground. Mr. President, Prime Ministers, let us have ambitions, ambitions to move beyond the violence and occupation to the day when two states, Palestine and Israel, can live together side by side in peace and security. And in our hands today we hold the mechanism that can translate these ambitions into realities on the ground. It is a plan, the roadmap, that addresses the needs of both Palestinians and Israelis. To the Israelis, this plan offers collective security guarantees by all Arabs, a peace treaty, and normal relations with Arab states, and an end to the conflict. To the Palestinians, it offers an end to the occupation, a viable state, and the promise to live as a free and prosperous people. To be sure, the road to realizing this vision will not be straightforward or without obstacles. I'm aware that many in our region and around the world view our gathering today through a lens marred with skepticism and suspicion. The failures and frustrations of the past have left many disbelievers in their wake. Today we have an opportunity and obligation to reinstate faith in the process and to reinvigorate hopes for a better tomorrow. We simply cannot afford the alternative. The road to confrontation has shown its consequences loss of innocent lives, destruction, and fear. Most costly, however, was the loss of hope. The most precious gift that you can present to your peoples over the coming weeks is renewed hope born out of tangible progress on the ground. And it's not only your people who will be watching and waiting. The eyes of the entire world will be upon you. The nature of our new borderless world means that we all have a stake in what happens here today. Jordanians, Americans, Europeans, and many around the world stand ready and willing to lend all their support to ensure your success. But at the end of the day, it is you, the Palestinians and the Israelis, who have to come together to resolve the many outstanding issues that divide you. Many will view the compromises that will be made during your negotiations as painful concessions. But why not view them as peace offerings, ones that will provide in return the priceless gifts of hope, security, and freedom for our children and our children's children. It is only by putting yourselves in each other's shoes that we can hope to achieve real progress. Thus, we reaffirm today our strong position against violence in any form and from whatever source. Blowing up buses will not induce the Israelis to move forward, and neither will the killing of Palestinians or the demolition of their homes and their future. All this needs to stop. And we pledge that Jordan will do its utmost to help achieve it. Mr. President, you have stayed the course. Your presence here today to witness the two leaders meeting together, agreeing on common grounds to solve this conflict, provides a great impetus to move forward and a clear answer to all the skeptics. I thank you, sir, for your leadership and your courage. Prime Minister Sharon, Prime Minister Abbas, I urge you today to end the designs of those who seek destruction, annihilation, and occupation. And I urge you to have the will and the courage to begin to realize our dreams of peace, prosperity, and coexistence. And remember that in the pursuit of these noble goals, Jordan will always remain a true friend. Thank you very much. And it is with great pleasure, if I may introduce Prime Minister Abbas to say a few words. Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority. I would like to thank King Abdullah for hosting our meeting here today. I would like also to thank President Mubarak and King Abdullah, King Hamad, and Crown Prince Abdullah, who met in Egypt yesterday. I thank them for their statements supporting our efforts. I also would like to thank the Israeli Prime Minister Sharon for joining us here in Jordan. And many thanks especially to President Bush, who took the longest journey for peace of all of us. As we all realize, this is an important moment. A new opportunity for peace exists, an opportunity based upon President Bush's vision and the Quartet's roadmap, which we have accepted without any reservations. Our goal is two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. The process is the one of direct negotiations to end the Israeli Palestinian conflict and to resolve all the permanent status issues and end the occupation that began in 1967, under which Palestinians have suffered so much. At the same time, we do not ignore the suffering of the Jews throughout history. It is time to bring all this suffering to an end. Just as Israel must meet its responsibilities, we, the Palestinians, will fulfill our obligations for this endeavor to succeed. We are ready to do our part. Let me be very clear There will be no military solution to this conflict, so we repeat our denunciation and renunciation of terrorism against the Israelis, wherever they might be. Such methods are inconsistent with our religious and moral traditions and are dangerous obstacles to the achievement of an independent sovereign state we seek. These methods also conflict with the kinds of state we wish to build, based on human rights and the rule of law. We will exert all of our efforts, using all our resources, to end the militarization of the intifada, and we will succeed. The armed intifada must end, and we must use and resort to peaceful means in our quest to end the occupation and the suffering of Palestinians and Israelis. And to establish the Palestinian state, we emphasize our determination to implement our pledges which we have made for our people and the international community. And that is a rule of law, single political authority, weapons only in the hands of those who are in charge of upholding the law and order, and political diversity within the framework of democracy. Our goal is clear, and we will implement it firmly and without compromise a complete end to violence and terrorism. And we will be full partners in the international war against occupation and terrorism. And we will call upon our partners in this war to prevent financial and military assistance to those who oppose this position. We do this as a part of our commitment to the interests of the Palestinian people and as members of the large family of humanity. We will also act vigorously against incitement and violence and hatred, whatever their form or forum may be. We will take measures to ensure that there is no incite ment inaudible from Palestinian institutions. We must also reactivate and invigorate the U.S. Palestinian Israeli Anti Incitement Committee. We will continue our work to establish the rule of law and to consolidate government authority in accountable Palestinian institutions. We seek to build the kind of a democratic state that will be a qualitative addition to the international community. All the PA security forces will be part of these efforts and will work together toward the achievement of these goals. Our national future is at stake, and no one will be allowed to jeopardize it. We are committed to these steps because they are in our national interest. In order to succeed, there must be a clear improvement in the lives of Palestinians. Palestinians must live in dignity. Palestinians must be able to move, go to their jobs and schools, visit their families, and conduct a normal life. Palestinians must not be afraid for their lives, property, or livelihood. We welcome and stress the need for the assistance of the international community and, in particular, the Arab states to help us. And we also welcome and stress the need for a U.S. led monitoring mechanism. Together, we can achieve the goal of an independent Palestinian state, sovereign, viable, in the framework of good neighbors with all states in the region, including Israel. Thank you very much. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel. Thank you. I would like to thank His Majesty King Abdullah for arranging this meeting and express Israel's appreciation to President Bush for coming here to be with Prime Minister Abbas and me. Thank you. As the Prime Minister of Israel, the land which is the cradle of the Jewish people, my paramount responsibility is the security of the people of Israel and of the state of Israel. There can be no compromise with terror. And Israel, together with all free nations, will continue fighting terrorism until its final defeat. Ultimately, permanent security requires peace, and permanent peace can only be obtained through security. And there is now hope of a new opportunity for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Israel, like others, has lent its strong support for President Bush's vision expressed on June 24, 2002, of two states, Israel and a Palestinian state, living side by side in peace and security. The Government and people of Israel welcome the opportunity to renew direct negotiations according to the steps of the roadmap, as adopted by the Israeli Government, to achieve this vision. It is in Israel's interest not to govern the Palestinians but for the Palestinians to govern themselves in their own state. A democratic Palestinian state fully at peace with Israel will promote the long term security and well being of Israel as the Jewish state. There can be no peace, however, without the abandonment and elimination of terrorism, violence, and incitement. We will work alongside the Palestinians and other states to fight terrorism, violence, and incitement of all kinds. As all parties perform their obligations, we will seek to restore normal Palestinian life, improve the humanitarian situation, rebuild trust, and promote progress toward the President's vision. We will act in a manner that respects the dignity as well as the human rights of all people. We can also reassure our Palestinian partners that we understand the importance of territorial contiguity in the West Bank for a viable Palestinian state. Israeli policy in the territories that are subject to direct negotiations with the Palestinians will reflect this fact. We accept the principle that no unilateral actions by any party can prejudge the outcome of our negotiations. In regard to the unauthorized outposts, I want to reiterate that Israel is a society governed by the rule of law. Thus, we will immediately begin to remove unauthorized outposts. Israel seeks peace with all its Arab neighbors. Israel is prepared to negotiate in good faith wherever there are partners. As normal relations are established, I am confident that they will find in Israel a neighbor and a people committed to comprehensive peace and prosperity for all the peoples of the region. Thank you all. President Bush. King Abdullah, thank you for hosting this event. Her Majesty, thank you for your hospitality. It is fitting that we gather today in Jordan. King Abdullah is a leader on behalf of peace and is carrying forward the tradition of his father, King Hussein. I'm pleased to be here with Prime Minister Sharon. The friendship between our countries began at the time of Israel's creation. Today, America is strongly committed, and I am strongly committed, to Israel's security as a vibrant Jewish state. I'm also pleased to be with Prime Minister Abbas. He represents the cause of freedom and statehood for the Palestinian people. I strongly support that cause as well. Each of us is here because we understand that all people have the right to live in peace. We believe that with hard work and good faith and courage, it is possible to bring peace to the Middle East. And today we mark important progress toward that goal. Great and hopeful change is coming to the Middle East. In Iraq, a dictator who funded terror and sowed conflict has been removed, and a more just and democratic society is emerging. Prime Minister Abbas now leads the Palestinian Cabinet. By his strong leadership, by building the institutions of Palestinian democracy, and by rejecting terror, he is serving the deepest hopes of his people. All here today now share a goal The Holy Land must be shared between the state of Palestine and the state of Israel, living at peace with each other and with every nation of the Middle East. All sides will benefit from this achievement, and all sides have responsibilities to meet. As the roadmap accepted by the party makes clear, both must make tangible, immediate steps toward this two state vision. I welcome Prime Minister Sharon's pledge to improve the humanitarian situation in the Palestinian areas and to begin removing unauthorized outposts immediately. I appreciate his gestures of reconciliation on behalf of prisoners and their families and his frank statements about the need for territorial contiguity. As I said yesterday, the issue of settlements must be addressed for peace to be achieved. In addition, Prime Minister Sharon has stated that no unilateral actions by either side can or should prejudge the outcome of future negotiations. The Prime Minister also recognizes that it is in Israel's own interest for Palestinians to govern themselves in their own state. These are meaningful signs of respect for the rights of the Palestinians and their hopes for a viable, democratic, peaceful Palestinian state. Prime Minister Abbas recognizes that terrorist crimes are a dangerous obstacle to the independent state his people seek. He agrees that the process for achieving that state is through peaceful negotiations. He has pledged to consolidate Palestinian institutions, including the security forces, and to make them more accountable and more democratic. He has promised his full efforts and resources to end the armed intifada. He has promised to work without compromise for a complete end of violence and terror. In all these efforts, the Prime Minister is demonstrating his leadership and commitment to building a better future for the Palestinian people. Both Prime Ministers here agree that progress toward peace also requires an end to violence and the elimination of all forms of hatred and prejudice and official incitement in schoolbooks, in broadcasts, and in the words used by political leaders. Both leaders understand that a future of peace cannot be founded on hatred and falsehood and bitterness. Yet, these two leaders cannot bring about peace if they must act alone. True peace requires the support of other nations in the region. Yesterday, in Sharm el Sheikh, we made a strong beginning. Arab leaders stated that they share our goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and in security. And they have promised to cut off assistance and the flow of money and weapons to terrorist groups and to help Prime Minister Abbas rid Palestinian areas of terrorism. All sides have made important commitments, and the United States will strive to see these commitments fulfilled. My Government will provide training and support for a new, restructured Palestinian security service. And we'll place a mission on the ground, led by Ambassador John Wolf. This mission will be charged with helping the parties to move towards peace, monitoring their progress, and stating clearly who was fulfilling their responsibilities. And we expect both parties to keep their promises. I've also asked Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice to make this cause a matter of the highest priority. Secretary Powell and Dr. Rice, as my personal representative, will work closely with the parties, helping them move toward true peace as quickly as possible. The journey we're taking is difficult, but there is no other choice. No leader of conscience can accept more months and years of humiliation, killing, and mourning. And these leaders of conscience have made their declarations today in the cause of peace. The United States is committed to that cause. If all sides fulfill their obligation, I know that peace can finally come. Thank you very much, and may God bless our work. June 03, 2003 President Mubarak. Today we have met with the President of the United States, President George Bush, to affirm our common commitment to seize this historic moment to advance the peace cause forward. President Bush gave impetus to the peace process by his vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living in peace and security. This vision means that, alongside the existing state of Israel, a new state for the Palestinians will emerge. We welcome the roadmap rising from this vision and adopted by the Quartet, especially since it has been accepted by both the Israeli and Palestinian Governments. We particularly express our appreciation for President Bush's strong personal commitment for its full implementation. The roadmap provides for ending the occupation that began in 1967 and resolving the Israeli Palestinian conflict by 2005, through fulfillment of all sides to their own obligations. Peace obligations are built on the foundations of the Madrid Conference, the principles of land for peace, and U.N. Security Council Resolutions 242, 338, and 1397, and the initiative of Saudi Crown Prince Saud Abdullah bin Abd al Aziz, which was unanimously endorsed by the Arab League Summit in Beirut. We support the determination of the Palestinian Authority to fulfill its responsibility to end violence and to maintain law and order, as announced by Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas. We will continue to support the Palestinian Authority's efforts to uphold these commitments in order to allow it to consolidate its authority in democratic and accountable institutions. We will ensure that our assistance to the Palestinians goes solely to the Palestinian Authority, and we will continue to support efforts to improve the quality of life of the Palestinian people. We call on Israel to simultaneously fulfill its own responsibilities to rebuild trust and restore normal Palestinian life and to carry out its other obligations under the road map, thus promoting progress toward the President's vision. We affirm our position again against terror and violence. We will continue to fight the scourge of terrorism against humanity and reject the culture of extremism and violence in any form or shape, from whatever source or place, regardless of justifications or motives, being fully aware of their danger as a plague that threatens the peace and stability of the whole world. We will use all the power of the law to prevent support reaching illegal organizations, including terrorist groups. We reiterate our support for the Iraqi people as they rebuild their country. We affirm our commitment once more, the independence and the territorial integrity of Iraq under a Government that represents the Iraqi people and emanating from its free will, where Iraqi people living in peace and harmony with its neighbors. And in this regard, we consider U.N. Security Council Resolution 1483 as a useful means to achieve these goals. As the countries of this region continue their important endeavors to promote political, economic, and social reforms, we welcome the initiative by the United States to open new economic opportunities for all the people in the Middle East. We shall continue to work for a Middle East that is free of strife and violence, living in harmony, without the threat of terrorism or dangers of weapons of mass destruction. Thank you. President Bush. Thank you, Hosni. Very good job. Mr. President, thank you for your hospitality and for the invitation to this spectacular location. We meet in Sinai at a moment of promise for the cause of peace in the Middle East. We see the potential for unity against terror. We see the potential for the birth of a new and Palestinian state. We see the potential for broader peace among the peoples of this region. Achieving these goals will require courage and moral vision on every side, from every leader. America is committed and I am committed to helping all the parties to reach the hard and heroic decisions that will lead to peace. I want to thank Crown Prince Abdullah, King Hamad, King Abdullah, Prime Minister Abbas for joining us today. I particularly want to thank President Mubarak. The United States values its strong ties with Egypt. By hosting this gathering, President Mubarak is acting in Egypt's best traditions. His predecessor, Anwar Sadat, was a leader for peace who had the vision to see opportunities and the bold heart to seize them. And this spirit, we need today. Last year on June 24th, I put forth a proposal for two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace. I called on Israel to respect the rights of Palestinians, including the right to live in dignity in a free and peaceful Palestine. I urged the Palestinian people to embrace new leaders who stand for reform, democracy, and for fighting terror. I also said that progress toward peace would require the active commitment and support of neighboring states. And today I'm pleased to stand with leaders of the Arab world who are committed to these principles. All progress towards peace requires the rejection of terror. The leaders here today have declared their firm rejection of terror, regardless of its justifications or motives. They've also committed to practical actions to use all means to cut off assistance, including arms and financing, to any terror group and to aid the Palestinian Authority in their own fight against terror. Terror threatens my Nation. Terror threatens Arab states. Terror threatens the state of Israel. Terror threatens the emergence of a Palestinian state. Terror must be opposed, and it must be defeated. Tomorrow I will go to Aqaba for a meeting with Prime Minister Sharon, Prime Minister Abbas to discuss the responsibilities of the Israelis and the Palestinians. And if all sides fulfill their obligations, we can make steady progress on the road towards Palestinian statehood, a secure Israel, and a just and comprehensive peace. We seek true peace, not just a pause between more wars and intifadas but a permanent reconciliation among the peoples of the Middle East. In our meeting today we also discussed the future of Iraq. I reaffirmed America's commitment to helping the Iraqi people achieve freedom and democracy in a unified country, its borders intact, a country free of weapons of mass destruction and at peace with its neighbors and the world. America is fully committed to restoring security to Iraqi cities and helping the Iraqi people rebuild their nation after decades of cruel and corrupt dictatorship. I welcome the support of all the nations represented here for these important goals and hope they will contribute to helping the good people of Iraq. There's a hopeful direction to recent events in the Middle East. In Iraq, a tyrant in support of terror has been removed. Reform is taking hold in many societies that are eager to join in the progress and prosperity of our times. I urge nations throughout the region to open their markets, to seek broader trade in the world, and to join us in creating a U.S. Middle East free trade area within a decade. The leaders here today recognize the importance of representative, democratic institutions to fulfilling the hopes of the Iraqi and Palestinian people. And free institutions are critical to the hopes of people everywhere. Allowing peaceful avenues for the expression of different views and broader political participation will unleash the talents of each nation. All Middle East countries that travel this challenging path will have the support and the friendship of the United States. In this meeting we've made progress on a broad agenda, and we're determined to keep moving forward. I thank all the leaders here today, and may God bless our important work. Thank you very much, Mr. President. June 03, 2003 Well, Mr. President, thank you very much for hosting this important meeting. I want to thank the leaders for coming, Your Majesties and His Royal Highness. Prime Minister Abbas, I want to thank you and your delegation for coming as well. I'm the kind of person who, when I say something, I mean it. I mean that the world needs to have a Palestinian state that is free and at peace. And therefore, my Government will work with all parties concerned to achieve that vision. I believe now is the time to work to achieve the vision. All of us have responsibilities to achieve the vision. You, sir, have got a responsibility, and you've assumed it. I want to work with you, as do the other leaders here. We must not allow few people, a few killers, a few terrorists to destroy the dreams and the hopes of the many. Israel has got responsibilities. Israel must deal with the settlements. Israel must make sure there's a contiguous territory that the Palestinians can call home. The leaders at the table have got a responsibility. The biggest responsibility that they have, it seems like to me, is to fight off any source of funding to terror, is to prevent the terrorists from gaining a foothold. I know that is the commitment of the leaders here I have talked to them about that. It's in their own self interests to fight off terror. It's in their own self interests to enable the Palestinian state to emerge. So this is an historic meeting. It's the beginning of a long process and a tough process. But no matter how difficult it is, you have my commitment that I will expend the energy and effort necessary to move the process forward. I believe that, as I told the Crown Prince, the Almighty God has endowed each individual on the face of the Earth with that expects each person to be treated with dignity. This is a universal call. It's the call of all religions, that each person must be free and treated with respect. And it is with that call that I feel passionate about the need to move forward, so that the world can be more peaceful, more free, and more hopeful. Mr. President, thank you for convening this meeting. Tomorrow we've got important meetings as well. This is the beginning of a process where all of us must not allow the few to destroy the hopes of the many. May God bless our work. June 02, 2003 President Bush. First of all, I want to thank Jacques Chirac for his warm hospitality. We've had a really good meeting. This morning we talked about our common desires to grow our economies. I thought it was a very interesting and fantastic meeting I really did. Today I'm going to meet with Jacques here in a little bit and ask his advice on the Middle East. He's a man who knows a lot about the Middle East. He has got good judgment about the Middle East, and we will spend some time discussing that. I know there's a lot of people in both our countries wondering whether or not we could actually sit down and have a comfortable conversation. And the answer is Absolutely. We can have disagreements, but that doesn't mean we have to be disagreeable to each other. And so I'm very glad I came and would say absolutely that this has been a very helpful and a positive meeting. So thank you, sir, for your hospitality. At this point, President Chirac spoke in French, and no translation was provided. President Bush. We've agreed to take one question apiece. Terry Terry Moran, ABC News , do you want to ask a question? President's Upcoming Visit to Egypt Q. Mr. President, can you tell us your expectations for the summit in Sharm el Sheikh? And what are you hearing from the region? President Bush. Well, first let me talk about my expectations for the G 8. They have been met. I was hoping to come to Europe and to say that a united Europe working with America can do a lot of good. We can do a lot of good on issues such as fighting terror or working on matters such as proliferation. We can do a lot of good to help those who suffer in the world. And so the expectations, at least as far as I'm concerned, have been met here. My expectations in the Middle East are to call all the respective parties to their responsibility to achieve peace, and to make it very clear that my country and I will put in as much time as necessary to achieve the vision of two states living side by side in peace. I fully understand this is going to be a difficult process. I fully understand we need to work with our friends, such as France, to achieve the process. I know we won't make progress unless people assume their responsibilities. The first message is, I will dedicate the time and energy to move the process forward. And I think we'll make some progress. I know we're making progress. A question was asked and answered in French, and no translation was provided. Iraq and France U.S. Relations President Bush. Yes, and I want to thank President Chirac's support in the latest resolution in the United Nations. Listen, we must be frank, we went through a difficult period. I understand his position. He made it very clear to me in the very beginning. There was no question where Jacques Chirac stood, and I made it clear where I stood. And that's why I can say we've got good relations, because we're able to be very honest with each other. But when it came time to focus on a free Iraq, a healthy Iraq, a prosperous Iraq, we're in agreement, and we will move together to ensure that the Iraqi people have now got the capacity to run their own country. It's going to take them time to get there. It's a difficult situation in Iraq. But we are committed to a free Iraq, and together we can make that happen more quickly than if we were still at odds on the issue. Thank you, Jacques, appreciate it. June 01, 2003 President Putin. We've just signed and exchanged instruments of ratification of the Russian U.S. treaty on strategic reductions. The treaty has come into force. Yet again, we've demonstrated that the United States and Russia are true champions of the mutually advantageous cooperation on the basis of partnership, openness, and transparency. Such a declaration is also conducive to greater strategic stability and international security. Having committed themselves to reduce their strategic capabilities by a factor of three, our two countries reiterated that they continue on the course of strategic reduction and improvement of stability. The strategic reduction treaty also improves the regime of nonproliferation. And this is all the more appropriate in the context of the fight against international terrorism, the terrorists who are trying to acquire all kinds of weapons security, including weapons of mass destruction, to pursue their goals. We now must work on the implementation of that treaty. The bilateral implementation commission will be established. The already existing bilateral mechanism between Russia and the United States will continue their work on the widest possible agenda of interaction, including strategic weapons, nonproliferation, and missile defense. The relevant instructions have been made to our experts of the two countries in accordance with the joint statements reached between the two countries on new and continued strategic partnership. Our meeting between the President of the United States and myself is taking place at a very crucial juncture of the development of the world, where very dangerous and complex events develop. This current summit meeting yet again confirmed the fact that there is no alternative for the cooperation between Russia and the United States, both in terms of ensuring our domestic national agendas and in terms of cooperation for the sake of enhanced international strategic stability. We agreed with the President to continue our efforts in terms of enhancing international stability, fight against terrorism, and ensuring better strategic stability. We also agreed to continue our bilateral cooperation in the area of economy and other fields. Of course, we are aware of the questions being raised as to whether the relations between the United States and Russia will withstand the test of time. Today we reiterated, together with President Bush, our resolve to continue with our strategic partnership for the benefit of our nations and the entire world. I must say that the fundamentals of the relations between the United States and Russia turned out to be stronger than the forces and events that tested it. President Bush and I formulated instructions that cover the specific and practical aspects of furtherance of the dialog in all areas of our comprehensive agenda. We agreed to expand our communication channels, including through our Presidential administrations and other agencies. We also discussed economic issues. Our experts are in contact while discussing these issues, and we will facilitate such contacts and discussions. The task here is quite clear. What we want is to create a solid economic basis for the continued political dialog and cooperation. We discussed the need to improve and establish an appropriate investment climate and improve our cooperation in the international organizations, including economic organizations. Space remains the vital part of our cooperation, and we have confirmed this fact in our joint statement. Summing up, I would like to stress that the relations between the United States and Russia is not an isolated but global political event and phenomenon. It is important that this cooperation serves bringing together the world community in the face of global threats. And in conclusion, I would like to say that the nature of our conversation was quite frank and quite informative and comprehensive. I would like to thank President Bush for coming to Russia and to St. Petersburg, especially in these festive days in St. Petersburg. For me personally, this is a special sign, and I am very appreciative of that. Thank you. President Bush. I'm honored to be here, Mr. President. I'm honored to be with my good friend Vladimir Putin. This is the third time I've been to this beautiful city, and I want to congratulate you on a successful 300th anniversary celebration. Last night's celebrations were fantastic. It was a beautiful evening. Today we mark an important achievement in the relations between the United States and Russia. President Putin and I have just exchanged instruments of the ratification for the Treaty of Moscow, which will reduce both our nuclear arsenals to the lowest level in decades. This treaty reflects the new strategic relationship that is emerging between our nations. This treaty was founded on mutual respect and a common commitment to a more secure world. We are working closely to confront the challenges of our time. Both of our countries have suffered greatly at the hands of terror, and our Governments are taking action against this threat. We are going to win the war on terror by cooperation as well as providing security and hope for innocent people. That's why I support the goals of ending the fighting and suffering in Chechnya and reaching a lasting political settlement in that region. The United States and Russia are also determined to meet the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them. We strongly urge North Korea to visibly, verifiably, and irreversibly dismantle its nuclear weapons program. We are concerned about Iran's advanced nuclear program and urge Iran to comply in full with its obligations under the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty. President Putin and I intend to strengthen our own cooperation on missile defense, which is essential to the security of both our nations. The United States appreciates Russia's recent support for lifting U.N. sanctions on Iraq, and we both agreed that the United Nations must play a vital role in Iraq's reconstruction. We discussed ways we can work together to help build a better future for the people of Iraq. President Putin and I also discussed the growing economic relationship between our countries. And these ties will expand significantly as Russia opens to the world economy and qualifies for membership in the World Trade Organization. I assured the President that I will continue to work with Congress and firmly committed to remove Russia from the provisions of the Jackson Vanik amendment. The United States and Russia are working together to ensure that Russia's energy sector can fulfill its potential in world energy markets. Our relationship is broad. We greatly appreciate Russia's support of the International Space Station following the loss of our Space Shuttle Columbia. We are committed to continue to work together for the good of the world. President Putin and I have agreed to expand and strengthen high level contacts and communications between our two Governments. I invited the President to come to the United States for a visit in September, to visit at Camp David. In a recent address to the Russian Duma, President Putin committed to working for a sustainable democracy in Russia where human, political, and civil rights will be fully ensured. That is the vision of a strong leader. With that vision, there's no question in my mind that Russia will fulfill its potential for greatness. And as you do so, Mr. President, you'll have the friendship of the United States. Thank you. Moderator. Two questions on each side. The first question goes to the U.S. side. Moderator. Terry Hunt of the Associated Press. Iraq Q. Thank you. Mr. President, are there any new developments in the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq? Have any actual weapons been found? And to both of you leaders, can you say, do you see eye to eye on Iraq now and its oil? President Bush. The first part of your question is that is whether or not the weapons of mass destruction question. Here's what we've discovered a weapons system, biological labs, that Iraq denied she had, and labs that were prohibited under the U.N. resolutions. Vladimir can speak to the issue of the future of Iraq, at least his opinion of the future. But my opinion is, is that we must work together to improve the lives of the Iraqi citizens, that we must cooperate closely to make sure that the Iraqi infrastructure is in place so that the Iraqi citizens can live decently. And as to the energy sector, the Iraqi people will make the decision which is in their best interest. Russia has had a long history of involvement in Iraq, and the Iraqi authorities, when they are firmly in place, will make the decision based upon that experience and based upon their country's best interests. President Putin. As you are aware, Russia has voted in favor of the latest U.N. resolution on Iraq. It didn't abstain. It didn't vote against it. We view it as a serious step forward in working in practical terms on these issues, including within the United Nations and also, of course, together with the United States. I must admit, our experts worked quite well and arrived at a solution acceptable to all. I do believe that the cooperation will continue to expand and develop, including in the area of disarmament. But we also believe that we must go on in our relationship. And we must also continue thinking in these terms, also including as regards Iraq. I am in absolute solidarity with what President Bush has said in terms of letting the people of Iraq decide their own destiny and assisting them in achieving better and more honorable conditions of living. Incidentally, the resolution also contains language devoted to the future development within Iraq. Indeed, Russian companies have a wealth of experience operating in Iraq. And we intend to continue our cooperation in this area with Iraq and in Iraq, and including with international community, making available to the international community all our expertise, experience, and resources. We cannot exclude that our companies will be operational in Iraq it will all depend on its internal development, including within the framework of oil for food program. As for the future and the future development of investment projects, well, indeed, this is a matter for the future and for our future cooperation with all the international community, with our U.S. friends, and of course, with the future authorities in Iraq. Russia U.S. Relations Q. First question is for two Presidents. Did the difference between Russia and United States weaken the relationship and cooperation between the two countries? And the question to President Bush is whether the United States will continue to act in such a manner as it acted in Iraq, by going around the United Nations? President Bush. Well, first of all, I don't think we went around the United Nations. I remind you we had what's called Resolution 1441. We worked through the United Nations. As a matter of fact, I think this experience will make our relationship stronger, not weaker. As we go forward, we will show the world that friends can disagree, move beyond disagreement, and work in a very constructive and important way to maintain the peace. President Putin. Strange as it may sound, but during despite all the differences between our two countries around Iraq, we did not only manage to preserve and maintain our personal relationship but also to preserve our mutual cooperation and interaction between our two countries and even strengthen it. Given all the difficulty of the situation, we were trying to tread very carefully and to cherish and preserve both international aspect to our cooperation and personal aspect to our interaction and contacts. I saw it done by President Bush in a very extremely professional manner, with great respect of the opinion of the others and of myself. I was trying to do the same. And today's meeting is a proof of the fact that we have succeeded in that. Moderator. Steve Holland, Reuters. Iran Q. Mr. President, you mentioned the Iranian nuclear program. Were you able to persuade President Putin to stop assistance to Iran's nuclear program, and how big a threat is Iran? President Bush. Russia and the United States have mutual concerns about the advanced Iranian nuclear program. We understand the consequences of Iran having a nuclear weapon. And therefore, we want to work together as well as with the IAEA to insist that they not have a nuclear weapon. And I appreciate Vladimir Putin's understanding of the issue and his willingness to work with me and others to solve this potential problem. President Putin. I'll add a few words if I may. President Bush. Sure. President Putin. The positions of Russia and the United States on the issue are much closer than they seem. We need no convincing about the fact that the weapons of mass destruction proliferation should be checked and prevented throughout the world. It is true not only with regard to Iran but also with regard to other regions of the world. We have full understanding on this with President Bush, similar to our mutual understanding of many other international development problems. We have many points of coincidence of our views on many issues. And it is precisely these things that enable me to call President Bush my friend, not only personally because personally I do like him a lot but as my counterpart and the President of a friendly nation. To repeat, we have many points on which we see eye to eye on many aspects of international development. As for Iran and I repeated that during today's meeting and discussion we are against using the pretext of nuclear weapon program of Iran as a leverage in as an instrument of unfair competition against us. And we will continue working together with all, including the United States, with the view to preventing proliferation of the weapons of mass destruction anywhere in the world, including of course in Iran. Moderator. And the final question. War on Terrorism Q. First of all, this is a question directed to President Putin. Do you believe that there are any questions that remain that are irresolvable? And what can we do more together, more cooperatively, in international way, to combat terrorism? President Putin. I don't even think that we have ever had any insurmountable problems that cannot be overcome. There are always problems. They become more or less visible or obvious much depends on us as to how do we address those problems and issues. The most important thing is the presence or absence of a will to address those. President Bush and I do have such a will. And we will do our best to achieve such a state where the points of coincidence would grow in number, and we will have fewer points of divergence and problems and issues of content. And this trend will become even more efficient and effective should we have assistance and a helping hand from the mass media. Laughter Thank you. May 31, 2003 Good morning. This weekend I am beginning a journey to Europe and the Middle East. My first stop is Poland, the home of a proud people who have known both the horror of tyranny and the hope of liberty. On a visit to Warsaw 2 years ago, I affirmed our Nation's commitment to a united Europe, bound to America by close ties of history, commerce, and friendship. Today, we are striving for a world in which men and women can live in freedom and peace instead of in fear and chaos, and every civilized nation has a stake in the outcome. Poland and America are proud members of NATO, and our military Alliance must be prepared to meet the challenges of our time. Our common security requires European Governments to invest in modern military capabilities so our forces can move quickly with a precision that can strike the guilty and spare the innocent. NATO must show resolve and foresight to act beyond Europe, and it has begun to do so. NATO has agreed to lead security forces in Afghanistan and to support Polish Allies in Iraq. A strong NATO Alliance, with a broad vision of its role, will serve our security and the cause of peace. In the last 20 months, the world has seen the determination of our Nation and many others to fight the forces of terror. Yet armed force is always a last resort, and Americans know that terrorism is not defeated by military power alone. We believe that the ultimate answer to hatred is hope. The ideology of terror takes hold in an atmosphere of resentment and despair, so we help men and women around the world to build lives of purpose and dignity. In Africa and elsewhere, America is committed to a comprehensive, 15 billion effort to prevent and treat AIDS and provide humane care for its victims. I urge our partners in Europe to make a similar commitment, so we can work together in turning the tide against AIDS in Africa. My administration has proposed an emergency famine fund, so we can rush help to countries where the first signs of famine appear. The nations of Europe can greatly help in this effort with emergency funds of their own. I urge European Governments to reconsider policies that discourage African farmers from using safe biotechnology to feed their own people. I have also proposed a 50 percent increase in America's core development assistance to help spur economic growth and alleviate poverty. This aid will go where it will do the most good, not to corrupt elites but to nations with leaders that respect the rule of law, invest in the health and education of their people, and encourage economic freedom. If European Governments will adopt these same standards, we can work side by side in providing the kind of development aid that helps transform entire societies. America and Europe are called to advance the cause of freedom and peace. Next week in the Middle East, I will meet with the Palestinian and Israeli Prime Ministers and other leaders in the region. The work ahead will require difficult decisions and leadership, but there is no other choice. No leader of conscience can accept more months and years of humiliation and killing and mourning. For peace to prevail, terrorism must end. All concerned must shake off the old arguments and the old ways and act in the cause of peace. And I will do all I can to help the parties reach an agreement and to see that agreement is enforced. This is America's agenda in the world. From the defeat of terror to the alleviation of disease and hunger to the spread of human liberty, we welcome and we need the help, advice, and wisdom of friends and allies. When Europe and America are united, no problem and no enemy can stand against us. Thank you for listening. May 31, 2003 My friend, Mr. President, it's really good to be with you again and, of course, the First Lady. Mr. Prime Minister, Your Eminence, distinguished guests, citizens of Poland. I'm honored to be in the city of Krakow, where so many landmarks give witness to Poland's history and Poland's faith. From this castle, Polish kings ruled for centuries in a tradition of tolerance. Below this hill lies the market square where Kosciuszko swore loyalty to the first democratic constitution of Europe. And at Wawel Cathedral in 1978, a Polish cardinal began his journey to a conclave in Rome and entered history as Pope John Paul II, one of the greatest moral leaders of our time. In all the tests and hardship Poland has known, the soul of the Polish people has always been strong. Mrs. Bush and I are pleased to make our second visit to this beautiful country, and we bring with us the friendship and the good wishes of the American people. In Warsaw 2 years ago, I affirmed the commitment of my country to a united Europe, bound to America by close ties of history, of commerce, and of friendship. I said that Europe must finally overturn the bitter legacy of Yalta and remove the false boundaries and spheres of influence that divided this continent for too long. We have acted on this commitment. Poland, the United States, and our Allies have agreed to extend NATO eastward and southward, bringing the peace and security of our Alliance to the young democracies of Europe. As the Atlantic Alliance has expanded, it has also been tested. America and European countries have been called to confront the threat of global terror. Each nation has faced difficult decisions about the use of military force to keep the peace. We have seen unity and common purpose. We have also seen debate, some of it healthy, some of it divisive. I have come to Krakow to state the intentions of my country. The United States is committed to a strong Atlantic Alliance to ensure our security, to advance human freedom, and to keep peace in the world. Poland struggled for decades to gain freedom and to fully participate in life in Europe, and soon you will be a member of the European Union. You also struggled to become a full member of the Atlantic Alliance, yet you have not come all this way, through occupations and tyranny and brave uprisings, only to be told that you must now choose between Europe and America. Poland is a good citizen of Europe, and Poland is a close friend of America, and there is no conflict between the two. America owes our moral heritage of democracy and tolerance and freedom to Europe. We have sacrificed for those ideals together, in the great struggles of the past. In the Second World War, the forces of freedom came together to defeat nazism. In the cold war, our transatlantic Alliance opposed imperial communism. And today, our alliance of freedom faces a new enemy, a lethal combination of terrorist groups, outlaw states seeking weapons of mass destruction, and an ideology of power and domination that targets the innocent and justifies any crime. This is a time for all of us to unite in the defense of liberty and to step up to the shared duties of free nations. This is no time to stir up divisions in a great Alliance. For America, our resolve to fight terror was firmly set on a single day of violence and sorrow. The attacks of September the 11th, 2001, changed my country. On that morning, the American people saw the hatred of our enemies and the future of grief they intend for us. The American Government accepted a mission to strike and defeat the terror network and to hold accountable all who harbor it and all who support it. For my country, the events of September the 11th were as decisive as the attack on Pearl Harbor and the treachery of another September, in 1939. And the lesson of all those events is the same Aggression and evil intent must not be ignored or appeased they must be opposed early and decisively. We are striving for a world in which men and women can live in freedom and peace, instead of fear and chaos. And every civilized nation has a stake in the outcome. By waging this fight together, we will speed the day of final victory. One of the main fronts in this war is right here in Europe, where Al Qaida used the cities as staging areas for their attacks. Europe's capable police forces and intelligence services are playing essential roles in hunting the terrorists. And Poland has led the effort to increase antiterror cooperation amongst Central and Eastern European nations, and America is grateful. Some challenges of terrorism, however, cannot be met with law enforcement alone. They must be met with direct military action. The Taliban regime in Afghanistan chose to support and harbor Al Qaida terrorists, and so that regime is no more. The dictator in Iraq pursued weapons of mass murder, cultivated ties to terror, and defied the demands of the United Nations, so his regime has been ended. In the battles of Afghanistan and Iraq, Polish forces served with skill and honor. America will not forget that Poland rose to the moment. Again you have lived out the words of the Polish motto "For your freedom and ours." In order to win the war on terror, our Alliances must be strong. Poland and America are proud members of NATO, and NATO must be prepared to meet the challenges of our time. This is a matter of capability and a matter of will. Our common security requires European Governments to invest in modern military capabilities, so our forces can move quickly with a precision that can strike the guilty and spare the innocent. NATO must show resolve and foresight to act beyond Europe, and it has begun to do so. NATO has agreed to lead security forces in Afghanistan and to support our Polish Allies in Iraq. A strong NATO Alliance, with a broad vision of its role, will serve our security and the cause of peace. The greatest threat to peace is the spread of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons, and we must work together to stop proliferation. The countries of the G 8 committed last year to aiding Russia and others in securing and eliminating deadly weapons that remain from the Soviet era. I welcome Poland's decision to join this effort. And I call on America's G 8 partners to follow through on their financial commitments so that we can stop proliferation at one of its sources. When weapons of mass destruction or their components are in transit, we must have the means and authority to seize them. So today I announce a new effort to fight proliferation called the Proliferation Security Initiative. The United States and a number of our close allies, including Poland, have begun working on new agreements to search planes and ships carrying suspect cargo and to seize illegal weapons or missile technologies. Over time, we will extend this partnership as broadly as possible to keep the world's most destructive weapons away from our shores and out of the hands of our common enemies. In the last 20 months, the world has seen the determination of my country and many others to fight terror. Yet, armed force is always the last resort. And Americans know that terrorism is not defeated by military power alone. We believe that the ultimate answer to hatred is hope. And as we fight the forces of terror, we must also change the conditions in which terror can take root. Terrorism is often bred in failing states, so we must help nations in crisis to build a civil society of free institutions. The ideology of terror takes hold in an atmosphere of resentment and hopelessness, so we must help men and women around the world to build lives of purpose and dignity. In the long term, we add to our security by helping to spread freedom and alleviate suffering. And this sets a broad agenda for nations on both sides of the Atlantic. In Africa, the spread of HIV AIDS threatens millions and the stability of an entire continent. The United States has undertaken a comprehensive, 15 billion effort to prevent AIDS and to treat AIDS and provide humane care for its victims. I urge our partners in Europe to make a similar commitment, so we can work together in turning the tide against AIDS. Global hunger is a chronic challenge, and we have a crisis in Africa. The United States is establishing an emergency fund so we can rush help to countries where the first signs of famine appear. The nations of Europe can greatly help in this effort with emergency funds of their own. I hope European Governments will reconsider policies that discourage farmers in developing countries from using safe biotechnology to feed their own people. Wealthy nations have the responsibility to help the developing world and to make certain our help is effective. Through the Millennium Challenge Account, I have proposed a 50 percent increase in America's core development assistance. This aid will go to where it will do the most good, not to corrupt elites but to nations that are ruled justly, nations that invest in the health and education of their people, and nations that encourage economic freedom. If European Governments will adopt the same standards, we can work side by side in providing the kind of development aid that helps transform entire societies. One of the greatest sources of development and growth in any society is trade. America and Europe should lead the effort to bring down global trade barriers. A world that trades in freedom can bring millions of people into a growing circle of prosperity. And America and Europe must work closely to develop and apply new technologies that will improve our air and water quality and protect the health of the world's people. America and Europe are called to advance the cause of freedom and peace, and these two commitments are inseparable. It is human rights and private property, the rule of law and free trade and political openness that undermine the appeal of extremism and create the stable environment that peace requires. We are determined to demonstrate the power of these ideals in the reconstruction of Afghanistan and Iraq. And these ideals will provide the foundation for a reformed and peaceful and independent Palestinian state. Today in the Middle East, the emergence of new Palestinian leadership which has condemned terror is a hopeful sign that the parties can agree to two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. Early next week, I will go to the Middle East to meet with the Palestinian and Israeli Prime Ministers and other leaders in the region. I will remind them that the work ahead will require difficult decisions. I will remind them that for peace to prevail, all leaders must fight terrorism and shake off old arguments and old ways. No leader of conscience can accept more months and years of humiliation and killing and mourning. I will do all that I can to help the parties reach an agreement and then to see that that agreement is enforced. To meet these goals of security and peace and a hopeful future for the developing world, we welcome, we need the help, the advice, and the wisdom of our European friends and allies. New theories of rivalry should not be permitted to undermine the great principles and obligations that we share. The enemies of freedom have always preferred a divided Alliance because when Europe and America are united, no problem and no enemy can stand against us. Within an hour's journey of this castle lies a monument to the darkest impulses of man. Today I saw Auschwitz, the sites of the Holocaust and Polish martyrdom, a place where evil found its willing servants and its innocent victims. One boy imprisoned there was branded with the number A70713. Returning to Auschwitz a lifetime later, Elie Wiesel recalled his first night in the camp "I asked myself, God, is this the end of your people, the end of mankind, the end of the world?"' With every murder, a world was ended. And the death camps still bear witness. They remind us that evil is real and must be called by name and must be opposed. All the good that has come to this continent, all the progress, the prosperity, the peace, came because beyond the barbed wire, there were people willing to take up arms against evil. And history asks more than memory, because hatred and aggression and murderous ambitions are still alive in the world. Having seen the works of evil firsthand on this continent, we must never lose the courage to oppose it everywhere. Through the years of the Second World War, another legacy of the 20th century was unfolding here in this city of Krakow. A young seminarian, Karol Wojtyla, saw the swastika flag flying over the ramparts of Wawel Castle. He shared the suffering of his people and was put into forced labor. From this priest's experience and faith came a vision, that every person must be treated with dignity, because every person is known and loved by God. In time, this man's vision and this man's courage would bring fear to tyrants and freedom to his beloved country and liberation to half a continent. To this very hour, Pope John Paul II speaks for the dignity of every life and expresses the highest aspirations of the culture we share. Europe and America will always be joined by more than our interests. Ours is a union of ideals and convictions. We believe in human rights and justice under law and self government and economic freedom tempered by compassion. We do not own these beliefs, but we have carried them through the centuries. We will advance them further, and we will defend them together. Thank you for your hospitality. Thank you for your friendship. May God bless this great nation, and may God bless the Polish people. May 29, 2003 The President. I've got a couple of opening comments, and we'll go around the table a couple of times and answer your questions. First, I'm really looking forward to my trip. We're involved with a lot of interesting initiatives that will help the world grow toward peace and freedom, and this trip will be an opportunity to not only to talk about American values but to talk with friends, allies, important parties about how working together we can achieve grand goals, the goals of peace, the goals of freedom, the goals of hope and prosperity. I start off in Poland. It's my second trip to Poland since I've been the President. I'm going to Krakow I'm going to Auschwitz. I'm going to give a speech, which I'm still working on right now, but it's a speech that reminds us that together we can achieve the big objective. It's a speech, really, to Europe that says that our common values are strong and that we welcome the emergence of countries like free countries like Poland, and as well as we must be reminded of the lessons of the past. I'm going to Auschwitz to see firsthand one of the greatest lessons of the past, that there's evil in this world and that the only way to deal with the evil is together. And we did so in the past, and now there's you know, terrorism and killing of innocent people is evil, and we've got to work together to achieve the same objectives that were achieved in the past, and that is peace and freedom. And then I go on to St. Petersburg to not only honor the great city of St. Petersburg, their 300th anniversary, but also to have an important dialog with Vladimir Putin. It'll be a dialog that will really show the world that in spite of our disagreements over what happened in Iraq, that our relationship is strong and that we can move together in positive ways. Then I go to the G 8. I know the press corps is going to be you know, they'll be observing the G 8 as a great you know, will this turn into a meeting a confrontational meeting? The answer is absolutely not. It's an opportunity to talk with some who agreed with us on Iraq and some who didn't, about how we move forward. And I've laid the groundwork for the trip by talking about some great goals that wealthy nations can achieve. One, of course, is to fight AIDS in Africa. Another which is to enhance trade, so that people have a chance to rise out of poverty, and others address famine as well as to continue to keep our focus on dealing with those terrorists who would like to hold the world blackmail the world as well as to kill innocents, take innocent life. I then go from there to the Middle East. It's going to be a significant visit. One, it says that I am committed to the peace process that I look forward to working with the new Palestinian leadership as well as Ariel Sharon to make it clear to the world that we have as leaders, we have the intention of working together to achieve peace, that there's a commitment, a personal commitment, not just by me but a personal commitment by Prime Minister Abbas as well was Prime Minister Sharon, to work together to achieve peace and that there are responsibilities that all of us have as leaders, not only responsibility to the new Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, not only the responsibility of the Israeli Prime Minister, but a responsibility for the leadership in the Arab world to fight terror, prevent killers from stopping the process from going forward. And so the first stop will be in Sharm el Sheikh, in Egypt. I'm really looking forward to the visit. President Mubarak has urged me, consistently urged me to come to Sharm el Sheikh, and this is my chance to see this spectacular part of Egypt. And that's where I'm going to meet with the Arab leaders, some of the Arab leaders, to talk about shared responsibility. I want them to hear from me firsthand the commitment of the United States of America to move toward peace in the Middle East. And I want them also to hear from me firsthand that I expect them to be partners in the process. And then I'm going to go to Jordan. Of course, I'll see the King of Jordan. I believe the King is going to be in Sharm el Sheikh as well. And then I'll have a bilateral meeting with the King. It will give me a chance to thank him for his strong support on the liberation of Iraq. I'm sure he'll want to talk about matters of trade with the United States, and I'll be fully prepared to do so. And then I'll meet with the Prime Minister of both the Palestinian Authority and of Israel, and I'm looking forward to these meetings. I believe in the possibilities of peace. I trust the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority when he condemns terror. I believe that provides an opening for the United States and others to expend the necessary energies to move the process forward. I will remind them that I was the first President ever to stand up and say I am for two states, living side by side in peace. And I did so at the United Nations. I still have that vision. I believe it's possible. So I will talk to these two leaders about our mutual desire to move the process forward. And then I go to Qatar, where I'll meet with General Franks and Jerry Bremer to talk about the reconstruction of Iraq. I'll also meet with Amir of Qatar and then speak to our troops, and head home. And this is a trip I'm looking forward to. Let me answer some questions. Why don't we start here? Issues of Trust in the Middle East Peace Process Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, obviously your vision and your principles are quite commendable. The trouble is that so many people still have suspicions they are afraid. Why do you think people remain suspicious and afraid of either your staying power, sir, or whether, you know well, please go ahead and then I'll ask my The President. No, I understand your question. Oftentimes, we live in a processed world you know, people focus on the process and not results. What I'm going to say to people who are suspicious of our motives Let's work together to achieve positive results. And I fully understand, for example, the Middle East it's a suspicious world. There are suspicions of motives. And until people see the emergence of a Palestinian state, there will be suspicions until I can prove for the average Palestinian citizen, there will be suspicions. And so I fully understand the skepticism. I mean, after all, we're dealing in a world where there's a lot of heartbreak, a lot of death, a lot of sorrow, a lack of hope. And until there is noticeable change, there is going to be suspicions. I've got great confidence in what America stands for. I have said to our country and to the world many times that in order for there to be peace, there must be freedom. And I believe that a free Palestinian Authority and a free Palestinian people will yield to peace in that part of the world. Therefore, we're striving toward the development of such a state. And until people begin to see, however, the results of that vision, people will be skeptical. And the only thing I can do is to continue to speak out as clearly as I can about the values which motivate our foreign policy and motivate me personally and work hard to achieve results, tangible results. And when people see results, when the people see that the Iraqi people are more free and that their economy begins to develop, when people see that the Iraqi people have control of their own oil for the benefit of the Iraqi people, then some of the suspicions will be turned aside. I'll never win the hearts of the terrorists, nor am I trying to, because the terrorists have got one thing in mind, murder to stop peace. And it stands in stark contrast to what I believe, which is freedom to bring peace. So, you know, there are some I would never try to win their hearts and minds over that are absolutely bent upon stopping not only what the United States is trying to do but a lot of other nations as well. So my answer to your question is I understand skepticism I understand the attitudes of some but I refuse to be stopped in my desire to rally the world toward achieving positive results for each individual. I have said many times that freedom and human dignity is not America's gift to the world it is the Almighty God's gift to each and every individual. And I firmly believe that. And it's that principle which motivates my desire to see to it that the Palestinian mother or father can raise their child in a comfortable environment, knowing that their child can have a good education and the possibility of a peaceful life. And I feel the same way about the Israeli citizen who grows up, a child who grows up in an environment where they can go to the market with their mother or father and get blown away. We must stop that kind of violence and provide hope for people. Palestinian State Israeli Settlements Q. Mr. President, a followup on the skepticism. Of course there is a lot of concern in the area, over and above the hope, because of your strong commitment. So what do you think will happen if the rush for the settlements continue? And how would it affect your vision of having a Palestinian state with borders and with land, a viable Palestinian state? The President. Well, I believe that's important that there be a viable Palestinian state. I mean, it is the vision. I believe a viable Palestinian state with the institutions necessary for democracy and freedom to prevail, the institutions bigger than the occupants of the offices which they hold, is very important to gain the confidence not only of the neighborhood, the confidence of the Israelis, the confidence of other Arab nations, but the confidence of the free world as well. So I believe the emergence of a Palestinian state is very important. I have consistently said that the Israelis are going to have to deal with the settlement issue and that there is a part of the process is going to be a focus on the settlements. I fully understand that settlement expansion is not in concert with the development of a state. And we will deal with that. And I will also remind everybody, however, that the process in order for the process to go forward, in order for there to be confidence of all parties, there must be an absolute determined effort to fight off terror, to not allow the few to destroy the process. I believe we can make progress, otherwise I wouldn't be going. France U.S. Relations Q. Yes. Well, since I'm French, I'll ask you a French question. The President. In French or in American? Laughter Q. Well, I'll try to do it in American. Laughter A number of American high officials have repeatedly said that France would have to pay the price for its opposition to your policy in Iraq. So far, we didn't see much as far as reprisals are concerned. Have you forgiven France? The President. I look forward to working with France to achieve common objectives. Listen, let me be realistic. There is a sense of frustration and disappointment amongst the American people toward the French decision. That's realistic. People didn't understand the decisions by the French leadership to thwart the desire for the American the American desire and the desire of others to work on security and freedom, security for our countries and freedom in Iraq. However, that's not going to influence my policy. My decision is to go and to say the French Government Let us work together for a Europe which is whole, free, and at peace, a Europe in which countries are allowed to be friends of the United States and at the same time participate in institutions such as the European Union that rivalry will end up weakening our efforts to jointly deal with issues like security and peace and AIDS and trade. So, no, I will have a good discussion with Jacques Chirac, and I'm looking forward to going to the G 8, not only talking to Jacques Chirac I'll talk with others who have not necessarily agreed with our Iraq policy. We've got a lot of work to do. And I've got work to do to convince the skeptics in France that the intentions of the United States are positive. And the French leadership has got work to do to convince the American people that they are concerned about the security of our country. And I will look forward to conducting that work with Jacques Chirac. Russia U.S. Relations Q. Mr. President, please allow me in genuine Texan style to grab the bull by the horns. The President. Okay. Laughter Q. It's quite obvious that your personal relations with Mr. Putin are much more developed, much more warm than the relations between Russia and the United States. The President. That's interesting. Q. At least there is no Jackson Vanik amendment between George and Vladimir. The President. That's right. Laughter Q. And this situation The President. We need to get rid of the Jackson Vanik amendment, I want you to know. Make sure the Russian people know that. Q. And this difference between your personal relations and the relations between our countries creates negative feelings in the Russian public opinion and among Russian elites. And that's why I think it somehow hinders President Bush for his in his quest for further democratization and westernization of Russia. My question is, what do you want to undertake to upgrade the Russian American relations to the same level as your personal relations with Mr. Putin, including, of course, the Jackson Vanik amendment, which became in Russia, unfortunately, the litmus paper of our relations? The President. Right. Q. And by the way, our Russian Jews are a little bit indignant that they are replaced by the American chicken. And instead of, "Let my people go," now they say, "Let our chicken come." Laughter And we don't understand in Russia how the genuine American eagle can defeat an artificial American chicken. Laughter The President. Well, first of all, at least we're arguing about chickens and not about whether or not we've got enough missiles pointed at each other. Q. Yes. Laughter By the way, Mr. President, before you start answering my question, you can already do something in improving our relations. I brought two books. If you sign them, you will improve the relations. It is for my The President. Okay. I'm certainly not going to try to influence your story. Laughter Q. Oh, no, no laughter for my Presidential library, which has all the signed books and pictures of all American Presidents, beginning with Eisenhower and, of course, your highly esteemed father. The President. You don't look that old. Laughter Q. Well, I'm 75. The President. Okay, well, you're a young 75. Thank you, sir, for your question. First of all, Vladimir Putin and I do have a good relationship. And that is an important beginning in order to make sure the relationship is positive throughout our respective Governments. If we had a poisonous relationship, it would be awfully difficult to convince others in our Governments to work closely together. And so that's a positive beginning. Secondly, I did take note that the Moscow Treaty was overwhelmingly approved by both Houses in the Duma. That's a positive sign. As a matter of fact, if you think back, people if you put this in historical context, this treaty is pretty darn good progress early in our respective administrations. I mean, it happened quickly, which is a positive sign. In other words, Vladimir and I made the decision that we'll work together to create better conditions and make the world a more peaceful place. One way to enhance relations between our Governments is to have a meaningful and real strategic dialog throughout our entire Government on key matters, so that the participants in both our Governments recognize that we are willing to not only share information but to deal with issues before they become problems and to work together in a collaborative way to show the world that we can handle and deal with some of the large issues, such as proliferation, for example. So therefore, we've got Spence Abraham, our Secretary of Energy, working very closely with his counterpart. Secretary Veneman has got a task force set up to work very Agriculture Secretary to work very closely with her counterpart not only on chickens, but on other issues dealing with our farm communities. This dialog, this kind of strategic framework was initiated at my request and I think at Vladimir's request as well. But Condi, when she went over to Russia, began the setting in place this capacity for our two Governments to relate on a variety of issues in a consistent way. Now, I agree with Vladimir, we need to get rid of Jackson Vanik, and have talked to our some of the folks on the Hill to deal with this issue. And I would like to get rid of Jackson Vanik. I think it's an important symbol to say to the Russian people, "The past is over. Now we move forward in a positive relationship." Yes, sir. Roles of NATO and the United Nations Q. Mr. President, a very quick question. What role, if any, you foresee for international organizations like the U.N. or NATO in the future, for instance, in the war against terrorism and any other international conflict? The President. Yes, good question. NATO I see a robust role for NATO, which says that NATO must reform herself. NATO has got to be a military collaboration that is modern, that can move quickly, that's got the newest weapons. I will speak to NATO when I go to Poland. It's part of my speech in Krakow. And it's I'm a strong advocate of NATO. As you know, I, with Warsaw, talked about the expansion of NATO, which, thankfully, came to fruition and had been ratified the expansion has been ratified in our United States Senate, overwhelmingly so. NATO is now its vision is beyond the old days of when the Soviet Union posed a threat to Europe. NATO is now willing to take on new assignments, all aimed at creating the same conditions of the past, in other words, a peaceful and free world. And that's why NATO is now in Afghanistan. I welcome that. NATO will play a supportive role for Poland in Iraq. I want to thank the Polish people for their and the Government for sending, I believe, 8,000 or 9,000 troops to run a sector in Iraq. And NATO has agreed to help in that sector, help the Polish troops. I think that my point to you is NATO is becoming more modern, and a more modern NATO is going to be very useful for dealing with the true threats that we face in the 21st century. In terms of the United Nations, it's going to be important for all of us to work to keep the United Nations a strong and viable institution. And I think a useful dialog at some point in time will be how to make sure the United Nations has adapted to the threats we face. Obviously, it was a frustrating experience to have gone to the United Nations and spent a lot of time and a lot of debate on whether or not United Nations resolutions should be upheld. I believe they should. I believe in this world, when you say something, you'd better mean it. And I gave the speech, as you might remember, on September the 12th, 2002, in the United Nations, the day after the anniversary of the attacks on our country. And I said to the United Nations, "You have passed resolution after resolution after resolution" I think is said it 12 times and my point was, "Do you mean it?" And my answer in a rhetorical if that's a rhetorical question, my answer to you is, I hope they mean it, because I want the United Nations to be an effective body. However, its effectiveness is undermined when they say something and nothing happens. And therefore, we've got to, all of us who care about the United Nations, must figure out how to make it effective in the future. Q. Mr. President, if you would permit me a couple of detailed questions. The President. Sure. Do I need to write these down, because my memory is getting somewhat laughter . Iraq Q. I'm getting that too. Laughter Sir, on the issue of Iraq, it looks like a messy situation. Security is not established. Are you worried about a lengthy American British occupation of Iraq? And on the Palestinian issue The President. Let me answer that one first. Q. Then will you permit me the Palestinian question? The President. Yes. And that you admitted you've got a flawed memory like I do. Laughter First of all, you made a broad statement, "the security situation," as if all of Iraq is there's lawlessness in all of Iraq. That's simply not the case. A lot of Iraq is improving from the pre war conditions, and that's important to know. Now, there's no question that there's lawlessness inside of Baghdad, for example, and regions north of Baghdad. And we are dealing with that. And we will deal with that for the sake of the Iraqi people, who want most first and foremost, to have a secure life, food on the table, lights in their house, running water, sewage that works. They want the conditions of life that everybody yearns for, which is a comfortable lifestyle so their families can be secure. They want to work. And we're making progress on all fronts. I fully understand the degree of difficulty, and it's created by the fact that these people have been enslaved by a torturous ruler for many, many years. And therefore, I don't expect the conditions to improve automatically after 70 days. And it's going to take a while. And therefore, to answer your question I don't view it as an occupation, by the way. I view it as a group of nations. You said "British and Americans." There are many, many nations who are involved in the contribution of help so that the Iraqi people are able to establish their own Government and have comfortable lives and can be a free society. And it's going to take a while. And I remind you that it's like the writing of the Constitution. America, after our revolution, did not write its Constitution overnight. As a matter of fact, it probably took, what, 11 years or so. From the Articles of Confederation to the United States Constitution took 11 years. We live in a world now where everything has to happen yesterday. Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. Thirteen. The President. What? Press Secretary Fleischer. Thirteen. The President. Thirteen years. My man corrected I'm sorry. He won't be correcting me much longer. Laughter He'll be a pundit. Laughter Don't worry, he will be correcting me, but on TV. Get him on your TV show. Laughter Anyway, 13 years, as my man corrected me. The process will take a while. I am in touch with Jerry Bremer. I mentioned to you that I will see him when I go over to Qatar. We get a report all the time. And we are making progress, slowly but surely. And that's and it makes sense, given the conditions. And it's important we succeed. And so, therefore, our coalition of a lot of countries will stay the course, until such time as the Iraqi people the life is improved and the Iraqi people would be in a position to, you know, run themselves. Freedom is going to be a beautiful thing in this part of the world. It's a very powerful sentiment that I believe all people feel. And therefore, one of our ambitions and one of our values is to create the conditions necessary for the Iraqi people to run their own Government. And you'll see over time here that they'll be getting a group of people will be coming together to write a constitution. And you know, it'll be a constitution written by the Iraqis, for the Iraqis, and of the Iraqis. And we believe that's possible. Now, look, I recognize there are some in the world who say Iraq can't run themselves. I refuse to condemn people. I mean, "They need a dictatorship in order for the country to survive." Forget it. I don't believe that. It's just not in my makeup. That's just not what I think. I think people I think the Iraqi people are plenty competent about running themselves. It's just going to take a while to go from a society in which one person dominated and killed and murdered people in order to stay in power. I mean, we've discovered an unbelievable amount of graves. And by the way, we've discovered weapons manufacturing facilities that were condemned by the United Nations biological laboratories described by our Secretary of State to the whole world, that were not supposed to be there, in direct violation of the U.N. resolution, have been discovered. Q. Thank you, sir. The President. Thanks for giving me a chance to say that, so the American press, in particular, could hear it off the record, of course. Laughter Palestinian Authority Middle East Terrorists Q. Sir, on the Palestinian issue, what if the government of Mr. Abbas really becomes unable no matter how much it puts up an effort to produce eliminating these operations, the suicide bombings what if he fails? Is this a failure of the peace process, of the roadmap? Would you then give it up? And then can you afford, really, sir, to pressure Mr. Ariel Sharon in a pre reelection stage? Can you really do that? The President. Of course I can. I don't know about listen, if I were afraid of making the decisions necessary, for political reasons, to move the process forward, I wouldn't be going. I believe peace is possible, and I believe that I have a responsibilities, now that the conditions are such, to move the process forward. And what are those conditions? Well, there's a new Palestinian leader who is openly, firmly committed to fighting terror. And I believe he can be successful, particularly when the Arab world helps him. I believe the conditions are such that people are so sick and tired of a hopeless situation in that part of the world that together we can defeat the forces of terror and dismantle the forces of terror. That's not to say that a suicider could slip through, and it's possible, but we will not allow the evil designs of a few to stop the process that can provide such hope for a lot of people. So I believe, with the right effort and the right focus and the leadership, not only of the United States and Israel and the Palestinian Authority but the leadership of Egypt and Saudi Arabia and other nations of concern, Jordan, that we can defeat terror, the forces of terror that would like to stop the process. Yes, ma'am. Egypt U.S. Relations Cooperation With Arab Governments Q. Okay. Mr. President, you mentioned today that you want to have commitment from the parties about the peace process. Do you want to have, like, concrete steps? Are you going to ask them for concrete steps, like what? The President. Well Q. And The President. Pardon me, sorry to interrupt you. Go ahead. Q. Yes. And then in Sharm el Sheikh, what do you want what do you look to get from the Arabs? And you are meeting with President Mubarak also. Would it include something bilateral or The President. Sure. Q. And what kind? The President. Well, listen, President Mubarak and I have had a lot of meetings and a lot of conversations. And I'm confident that he will bring up bilateral relations. As you know, we've got a very strong commitment to Egypt, particularly a funding commitment. And we want to look forward to a I will talk to him about economic reforms. And there's no telling what he'll talk to me about. We've got such a good relationship that he doesn't need to pre clear it with anybody. He can say what's on his mind. I'll be glad to visit with him about it. Yes, I mean, first of all, we have a road map which talks about specific things people need to do. The most constructive thing that the Arab nations can do is to stop funding terrorism to the extent that is to stop the funding of terrorism, make sure you get that right is the work to cut off monies to terrorists whose design it is to stop any peace process. And that's important. To me, that's the most fundamental task. Secondly, as conditions improve, it would be very helpful if those in the neighborhood provide financial resources to help the economy of a new Palestinian state begin to grow. It's going to be very difficult for a Palestinian state to emerge unless there's economic activity. I recently met with the finance minister of the Palestinian Authority, was very impressed by his grasp of finances, by the fact that he believes that in order for there to be confidence amongst the Palestinians and confidence in the world that they've got to fight corruption. Listen, stories used to emerge out of the in the old days, of the Palestinian Authority that much of the aid went to enhance a few, as opposed to the people. And I don't stand for that, at least from American perspective. We're not going to let corrupt elites take aid that's supposed to go help the people. And so when the institutions evolve and confidence emerges that the develop aid will go to help the Palestinian people, which I want it to do, that will be a useful role for the Arab world. And I look forward to working with them on it. But the main thing is for them to see me and my commitment to the process. And it's one thing to read about it in stories it's another thing to look a person in the eye and tell them, "Let's work together." And that's what I'm looking forward to doing. I've got very good relations with President Mubarak and Crown Prince Abdullah and the King of Jordan, Gulf Coast countries. I've worked very closely with them. And a lot of them ask me, "Well, are you going to move forward now that there's a new Palestinian Authority, a leader of the Palestinian Authority, somebody that" you see, the old leader of the Palestinian Authority is somebody who had a chance to lead and didn't. He has been in power a long time, and the life of the Palestinian people have gotten worse, not better. I remember what happened at Camp David during the tenure of my predecessor. It was a good lesson. So I've always said, we need to be able to work with somebody who is committed to peace. And I believe the new Prime Minister is committed to peace. And therefore, I want to share that with the leaders. Israeli Security Conditions for the Peace Process Q. Sir, can you assure that the other party is committed without reservations? The President. The Israelis? Yes, I believe Q. Without reservations. It's a big problem to the Palestinians now. The President. Well, there's a reservation, and there should be a reservation of all parties, and that is the reservation of security. In other words, people aren't going to go forward with a process unless there is a full commitment to enhance the security of all people. And remember, terrorist killers not only affect the security of the Israelis they affect the security of the Palestinian people. You can't have a Palestinian state if people continue to blow up the process. And therefore, it's in all our interest to work together on security. And I'm convinced that as the area becomes more secure, as the institutions necessary for a democracy to emerge, that we'll have a positive partner in Israel. I believe that. I believe they want peace. Most Israelis understand two states, side by side in peace, is in their national interest. And so I think the ingredients for peace are very possible. But you say, "Are there conditions?" You bet. There's conditions, of course. And the conditions are to work together to stop the killers from stopping the process, and I share that condition too. And I suspect a lot of the Arab leaders share that condition as well, because they fully understand the consequences of terrorist groups of taking innocent life. Yes, sir. Press Secretary Fleischer. Make this the last question. The President. I'll answer shorter. Q. All right. So, 30 years ago The President. Somebody very important, very important is waiting. Group of Eight Q. Okay. Thirty years ago, the G 7 or G 8 The President. Oh, it's only Condi. Well, I take it back. Laughter Dr. Rice. Your TV people. The President. That's later. Later. Q. Thirty years ago, the G 7 or G 8 summit was set up to coordinate the big powers The President. It wasn't 30 years ago, was it? Twenty Q. Twenty five or The President. Whatever. Q. He'll know. Laughter Press Secretary Fleischer. Twenty seven point two. Laughter Q. Well done. They were set up to coordinate the big powers, the economic strategists. The President. Yes. Q. Given the risk of deflation, will there be such a concerted plan in Evian? Or will it be everyone for himself, with the U.S. capitalizing on the slide of the dollar? The President. Yes, that's a great question. It is very important that we do spend time talking about our respective economies. It is essential that the G 8 meeting remember why it was first started, because much of it many of the grand goals that we have, together, are very difficult to achieve if the economies, our respective economies, aren't strong. You just heard me talk about a hopeful Palestinian state will require trade and commerce. And if the wealthier nations aren't generating cashflow and the capacity to be able to trade with other countries, then it's going to be difficult to achieve our goals. And so, absolutely, I will tell them that here at home we are have got sound monetary and fiscal policies. After all, I just signed a tax bill yesterday that will cut the taxes by 350 billion, which will help energize growth here in America. I will reiterate our strong dollar policy. I will talk to listen to their plans and initiatives to reform their economies. I had a very good discussion with Prime Minister Koizumi of Japan about economic matters. We want the Japanese economy to be strong. As a matter of fact, we want the European economies to be strong. We want there to be vibrant growth. It is more likely somebody in America will be able to find a job if our closest trading partners have got vibrant economies. So we need to spend a lot of time on this subject. And I will remind them that we have a great opportunity on the next round of the World Trade Organization to advance a free trade agenda, which I believe will make it more likely people in our respective countries can work. But it will make it more likely that nations will be able to rise out of poverty. And so, yes, it's a very good question. And we will focus on the economy. France U.S. Relations Q. Just a followup, if I may. The President. Yes Q. You got rid of the policy that The President. I'm a patient man. Laughter Q. reprises against the French The President. My whole family laughed when they heard that. Laughter Go ahead. Q. You didn't exactly answer the question. The President. Especially my daughters. Laughter I answered the question. I look forward to Q. The reprisals on the French. The President. No, I answered it. You see what do you mean, didn't exactly answer the question? You've got my answer on your tape machine. Q. So were reprisals? The President. No, you've got my answer on the tape machine. It's an old trick they use in the American press corps too, "You didn't answer my question." What are you talking about? I spent 15 minutes answering your question. You might not like the answer but, nevertheless, I did answer it, absolutely answered it. And I loved the question. Laughter I look forward to working with the French. Russia, NATO, and the World Trade Organization Q. Mr. President, do you visualize Russia as a member of the World Trade Organization, and in the future, the member of the NATO? The President. I think that the question on NATO is a question that will be answered over time, but first things first. Let's deal with the framework we've now set up, which is a great advance and a tribute to Vladimir Putin's leadership and our NATO leader's desire to have a unique relationship with Russia. In terms of the WTO, it is in our national interest that Russia join the WTO. And Russia is going to have to make some internal decisions as to whether or not they're willing to conform to the guidelines of the WTO. But we I strongly support Russia's admission in the WTO. Final question. Religious Tolerance Q. Yes, sir. Thank you. Do you see the issue of restitution of Jewish property as a problem in Polish American relations? And will you talk about this in The President. You know, it has not made it to it hasn't made it to my desk. And so, therefore, if it is a problem, it is a problem that hasn't been brought to my attention. In other words, a lot of Polish Americans have yet to express themselves to the point where it has become an issue here in the White House. I think it's very important let me speak to the broader issue of Jewish relations around the world. It is very important for all of us to reject anti Semitism wherever it is found, just like it's very important for us to reject those who condemn Islam. Our Nation is one that believes in freedom of religion, and we respect and tolerate people's religious faiths, no matter what their faith. And so my greater concern about Judaism and Europe is that society resist and thwart a culture which would tolerate any kind of antireligious fervor, anti Semitism, or an anti Islamic bent. In other words, one of the things I did I thought was most important was right after September 11th, went to a Islamic center here. I wanted to send a signal that the evil people who hijacked a great religion should not condemn that religion. In other words, Americans shouldn't hold Islam accountable for the deaths. And so one of the things we believe here in America is religious tolerance. And I will continue to speak out on religious tolerances in a clear fashion. As I said, I'm going to Auschwitz for a reason. I want to go I want to see Auschwitz. I've studied a lot of history. I've been told it's a powerful experience. But I also want to send a clear signal that all of us must work together to make sure that kind of evil never happens again to anybody. At any rate, I'm looking forward to going. I want to thank you all for your interest. Very good interview. Pass those books over here. 22d Amendment Q. Mr. President? The President. Yes. Q. What do you think about a third presidential term in the United States? The President. Against it. Laughter I'm only supportive of a second term these days. Laughter May 29, 2003 Upcoming Meeting With Arab Leaders Q. Thanks again. We really appreciate it, Mr. President. Sir, you will be discussing with the Arab leaders in Egypt their responsibilities toward the peace process. What are your expectations, practically speaking, from leaders such as President Mubarak and Crown Prince Abdullah? The President. Well, first of all, one, the willingness to join with the United States and other nations to cut off funding to terrorist organizations that can't stand the thought of peace. In other words, we all have got to work together to make security real, not only for Israel but for the Palestinian people. And that's my expectations from them. What I hope to achieve is to be able to look at these leaders in the eye and say, "I believe peace is possible, and I'm going to work to peace." And this isn't just a visit in which you won't hear from me again. I believe peace is necessary and possible. I told a lot of the leaders that after the Iraq situation, that I would work toward peace in the Middle East. I'm the kind of person who does what he says he's going to do, and now I'm working to achieve that. And I think it's possible. Upcoming Meeting With Israeli and Palestinian Authority Leaders Q. Sir, you are known for your straight talk some could even say, blunt talk. Laughter Are you going to use that approach in Aqaba with Prime Minister Abbas and Prime Minister Sharon? Are you going to hold them accountable for their commitments? And how far are you willing to go in this regard? The President. I am going to hold people accountable for their commitments. And the good news is, is that Prime Minister Sharon knows that. I have had very straightforward conversations with him. I think it's in Israel's best interests that there be two states living side by side in peace. He too has embraced that idea. And I don't think there's going to be any need for me to hold him to account, but he's agreed to that vision. I have not met Prime Minister Abbas yet. I look forward to it. And he will I did meet his Finance Minister, a man who impressed me. And I will assure him that we will work together. But I'll also assure him that security is essential to achieve what we want, which is a viable Palestinian state. Iraq Q. Sir, you have held the removal of President Saddam Hussein's regime from power as a harbinger for a new dawn in the Middle East. Yet, the day after in Iraq has been marred, unfortunately, by chaos, some bloodshed, uncertainty. What is that going to do to your vision of a broader, different, more liberal political landscape in the Middle East? You've talked about it several times. The President. Absolutely. Well, first of all, we're just starting in Iraq. And a lot of Iraq is stable, and the life of the Iraqi people are better now than it was prior to the war. I readily concede Baghdad is still a relatively dangerous place. And therefore, first things first, which is to bring security to Baghdad. But along with security, we're bringing better electricity, more food, more medicine. And it's not just America, by the way the world is now involved with the reconstruction of Iraq. I remind people that, for example, in the United States it took 13 years for us to finally settle on a Constitution. And I guess some expect us to do it in 13 days in Iraq, and it's going it's just going to take longer. And I talked to Jerry Bremer, and again, will see him when I go to the region and will remind him that we're patient here in America, that we you know, it wasn't until March 19th that we actually began operations. So there hasn't been much time yet. I'm not surprised that there's still some pessimism and people are unsettled. After all, they have lived under a brutal regime for a long time. But I'm confident we'll achieve our objective, and I'm confident the Iraqi people will be better off. Iran and Syria Q. Sir, you've used tough language vis a vis Iran and Syria in the last few weeks. Is the United States on a collision course with Tehran? And what is the state of play with Syria, following Secretary Powell's visit to Damascus? The President. Well, first, Secretary Powell had a good visit to Damascus. And yes, we used some tough rhetoric, because it looked like Ba'athists were trying to escape into Syria, and obviously, we didn't want that to happen. And the Syrian Government pledged that that wouldn't be the case. We take people for their word until proven otherwise. In Iran, obviously, we're nervous about the reporting now out that there's some Al Qaida inside of Iran. We just want the Iranians to understand that if there are Al Qaida loose in Iran, we expect them to be detained. If there are Al Qaida in Iran and they plot against the United States, that obviously we're going to be displeased with that. My hope, of course, is that the Iranians respond. And they've heard our message loud and clear, and I suspect they will. Q. I have one more question, sir. The President. Sure. Arab Allies in the War on Terrorism Q. Who are your Arab allies in the war on terrorism? Sometimes we hear conflicting reports, for instance, on Saudi Arabia The President. Yes. Q. sometimes they cooperate, we are told sometimes they don't cooperate. What is the state of play? The President. That's a good question. Crown Prince Abdullah is a strong ally in the war on terror. There's no doubt in my mind that he is moving within the Kingdom to bring the killers to justice and to prevent other killing. King Abdullah is a strong ally in the war on terror. President Mubarak is a strong ally in the war on terror. I know this not only from my conversations with these men, but also because of the cooperation between our intelligence services. The Gulf Coast countries have been strong supporters in the war on terror, and I'm grateful for that support. Q. Mr. President, we really appreciate it. Thanks again. There are so many questions, so little time. Laughter The President. Well, I'm sorry. May 29, 2003 Upcoming Visit to Egypt Meeting With Arab Leaders Q. Mr. President, thank you very much for talking to Egyptian television. Mr. President, you're coming to Egypt next week, and you are meeting with President Mubarak and a number of other Arab leaders. What are you going to tell them? What role do you see the Arab countries playing in the coming stage? The President. First, I want to thank President Mubarak for his hospitality. He has been telling me about the beauty of Sharm el Sheikh for a long time, and now I'm going to get to see it firsthand. Q. You will love it. The President. I am looking forward to it. The first thing I want to do is to make it very clear to the leaders in the neighborhood that I am intent upon working toward a two state solution in the Middle East two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace. In other words, I want them to look me in the eye so they can see that I am determined to work to make this happen. I'm also going to remind them the United States cannot do this alone. We obviously need Israeli support. We obviously need the new Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority's work and help. And we need countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia and Jordan and others to work together to cut off funding for terrorist groups, to prevent the killers from moving around, to help provide security, and as a Palestinian state emerges, to support Prime Minister Abbas' regime with not only advice but, when necessary, development aid so an economy can start to grow in a Palestinian state. President's Commitment to Peace Process Q. Mr. President, let me follow up on that. You said you are determined to bring peace, you are committed, personally committed to the roadmap, and you are personally involved in the roadmap. That has sort of a different approach from the approach that the administration had adopted at the beginning, which was a hands off approach, the peace process. The question is, how long would that commitment and involvement, personal involvement, last and how deep is it? The President. Well, first of all, I think it's not a fair characterization to say we were hands off quite the contrary. I took an assessment of what was possible and realized that it was impossible to achieve peace with Chairman Arafat. He's failed the Palestinian people in the past. My predecessor tried hard, and I watched very carefully what was tried at Camp David. Now, having said that, I also was working with the parties to try to set the conditions necessary for the emergence of a Palestinian government with whom we could work, so we wouldn't waste time, so that actually some progress could be made. So the people have got to know when I say something, I mean it. Hopefully by now people have learned that, that when George W. commits America to a project, we mean that, we don't have idle chit chat, that we're serious about our intentions. Q. So the Arabs, or the people in the region shouldn't really be worrying about voices within your administration who are opposed to serious efforts by the United States The President. Yes, they don't have to worry about that, because I'm going to put the effort forward. Q. So you don't listen to them? The President. Well, it sounds like they don't listen to me, because when I say something, I mean it. And I think President Mubarak knows that. And I'm going to refresh their memories about the kind of administration I try to run. When I say something, we actually go do it. And when I say that I'm going to be involved in the peace process, I mean I'm going to be involved in the peace process. Now, I understand it's going to be tough and difficult, but I believe it can happen. And I want to work toward achieving two states, so that the Palestinian suffering and humiliation ends. Egypt U.S. Relations Q. And Mr. President, how do you see the future of the Egyptian American relations, the strategical relations that binded those two countries over the past two decades? The President. Strong, I think, a good future. Listen, we have counted on Egypt, and Egypt counts on America. It's a mutually beneficial relationship. Throughout my Government, people deal with the Egyptian authorities, and I think it's in our interests, our national interest to keep a strong relationship with Egypt, and I intend to do so. Q. Right. We are looking forward to seeing you, Mr. President, in Sharm el Sheikh. Thank you very much for your time. The President. It's going to be an exciting trip, and I look forward to the hospitality of the Egyptian people. And I want to assure the people of Egypt that the relationship is an important relationship between Egypt and the United States. And I want to assure your listeners that when I come to the region, I come with peace in mind and the possibilities of peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis is real in my mind, and I'm going to work toward that objective. May 29, 2003 France U.S. Relations Q. Mr. President, are you going to forgive the French attitude on Iraq? What are you going to tell President Chirac when you're going to see him face to face? The President. Sure. Q. Are you still mad at him? Are you going to take sanctions against France? The President. No, no. No sanctions. I'm not mad. I mean, I'm disappointed, and the American people are disappointed. But now is the time to move forward, and there's a lot of issues that we can work together on. I know that Jacques Chirac feels strongly about Africa, and so do I. And therefore, we can work together, for example, on the AIDS pandemic in Africa. I laid out a bit initiative here for the American people, and the Congress passed a 15 billion, 5 year plan to work on HIV AIDS in Africa. And there would be an opportunity, for example, for America and the French to work together to solve some big problems. And I'm going to remind him, just like I'm going to remind a lot of people, that we can do a heck of a lot more together than we can arguing with each other. And I can understand why some didn't agree with our policy in Iraq, but it's now time to move forward. Middle East Peace Process Q. Considering the roadmap, peace in Middle East you are going to meet most of the protagonists next week how do you plan concretely to succeed where your predecessors failed? The President. Yes. Well, first of all, I appreciate the understanding of Jacques Chirac and the administration about me leaving a little early from Evian to go to the Middle East, where I will first meet with our Arab friends, some of the leaders in the neighborhood, and remind them they have a responsibility to the process. In other words, if they're interested in the achievement of peace, that they must cut off funding, for example, or work to cut off the financing of money to terrorist groups that would like to destroy the process. Secondly, I believe that the Palestinian Authority the new Prime Minister is firmly committed to the defeat of terror and the advancement of a state and the institutions necessary to make a state viable. And so I'm very encouraged by his emergence. And thirdly, I believe Israel recognizes it's in their self interest to support the notion of two states living side by side in peace. I'm the first President to have ever proposed that. I did so at the United Nations, and I take that vision into the Middle East knowing that the process is going to be difficult. But I believe that people now see the necessity of achieving that end result. Iraq Q. Mr. President, what do you answer to the American press that are trying to say that you have not released yet the proof of the existence of arms of massive destructions in Iraq? What do you answer to them? The President. Well, they must not be paying attention, is what I answer, because we've discovered mobile biological laboratories, the very same laboratories that Colin Powell talked about at the United Nations, the very same laboratories that were banned by the resolutions of the United Nations. Q. The situation in Iraq is far from being stabilized. We have seen some American soldiers killed. Do you fear the rise of Muslim fundamentalism in this region against the occidental world, against United States? And do you fear at the same time the risk of creation of an Islamic republic backed by neighboring Iran? The President. No, I don't fear that. I think the Iraqi people want to run their own state. They don't need to have an Iranian backed regime. I think the Iraqi people are plenty capable of managing their own affairs. Secondly, I fully recognize that democracy didn't flourish overnight. But I didn't expect it to. This is a country which has been ravished by a brutal dictator who murdered and tortured to stay in power. And it wasn't all that long ago that they were liberated from Saddam Hussein. So it's going to take a while. And therefore, I've told Jerry Bremer that our Government, my Government, will be patient, as he makes progress toward improving the lives of the Iraqi people. And I say "he," it's not only Jerry Bremer and the United States there's a lot of people that are involved with the reconstruction of Iraq. And as life returns back to normal and as we get a hold of the situation particularly in Baghdad of the killers and people that are wreaking havoc in other words, as we bring security to the neighborhoods, you'll see a good, democratic government emerge. Iran Q. Is Iran a preoccupation for you the ayatollahs with Al Qaida, which might be in that country attacking the United States? The President. Well, we are concerned we are concerned that there's Al Qaida inside of Iran and have made our concerns very clearly. And this will give me a chance to do so again. To the extent that they have got Al Qaida in their country, we expect them to detain them and eventually hand them over to their countries of origin. There's no preoccupation. Our main focus right now is to find Al Qaida wherever they exist and bring them to justice, and we will do that. We'll continue to do that, and we expect others to join us. And I want to compliment the French for joining in this fight against Al Qaida. The French intelligence service have been very good to work with, and we've shared intelligence which has made France more secure and America more secure. And for that I'm grateful. Q. Mr. President, I want to thank you very much, and I definitely wish you all the best and great success for the future. The President. Thank you, sir. Thanks for coming. May 29, 2003 Upcoming Visit to Poland Q. Mr. President, in a few hours you begin your quite unexpected visit to Poland. Are you going to Krakow just to thank us for our support and participation in the war in Iraq? The President. That's one reason I'm going to Krakow. I think it's very important for the Polish people to understand how deeply Americans appreciate their sacrifice and their courage and their willingness to work with us in Iraq and in Afghanistan. I'm also going to Auschwitz to remind people that we must confront evil when we find it, and there's no better place to remind people that there has been evil in the world than at Auschwitz. I'm also going to talk about the great spirit of the Polish people, and I'm looking forward to it. I will have been to Poland now twice since in my Presidency, and there's a reason, because I have a special fondness for Poland. European Response to Poland's Role in Iraq Q. Mr. President, as you probably know, we've been strongly criticized for our support to America. President Chirac started by telling us that we lost our chance to sit quietly. German press called us American trojan donkey in Europe not even a horse, American trojan donkey. How do you perceive these opinions from American perspective? The President. I think it's unfortunate that some of the countries in Europe will try to bully Poland for standing up for what you think what they think is right. And I'm going to say in my speech, Poland needs to be in the EU and Poland can be a friend of the United States and the two are not in conflict. I'm also going to remind the countries of Europe that we must work together. We don't need divides between us. We need to work together to achieve big objectives, which is to fight terror, to fight global poverty, to fight AIDS, and to promote freedom. Q. But Mr. President, aren't you afraid that, for our support to America, we might be isolated in the future united Europe, which we are about to enter? The President. No, I don't think you will be isolated. I think Poland is too important a country to be isolated. I think the days of harsh lecturing are over with. I think Poland is going to be such an important member of the EU that people will welcome Poland's entry with open arms. No, I don't think so. I think that was a heated rhetoric of the moment. Q. But thanks to your decision we are going to run one of the zones in Iraq. And of course our EU partners do not want to be there with us. They say that we're new, we're unexperienced, and we simply do not deserve getting what we got. And aren't you afraid that we may fail in Iraq, or are you absolutely sure that you made the right decision? The President. I'm absolutely sure I made the right decision. Q. Why? The President. Because I've seen the Polish troops in action. And I know President Kwasniewski, and I know the spirit of the Polish people. And there's no doubt in my mind that Poland will be able to accomplish the objectives we set out together. And it was also the critics need to watch very carefully what's happening. NATO is going to support the Polish efforts inside of Iraq. Poland will not be alone. Poland will have plenty of support. Poland is a member of this coalition of the willing, who stood up for freedom and stood up for peace and stood up for security. And Poland also recognizes that there's more work to do. And I'm also I'm going to Poland to thank the Polish people for caring about freedom in other parts of the world. Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction Q. But still, those countries who didn't support the Iraqi Freedom operation use the same argument, weapons of mass destruction haven't been found. So what argument will you use now to justify this war? The President. We found the weapons of mass destruction. We found biological laboratories. You remember when Colin Powell stood up in front of the world, and he said, "Iraq has got laboratories, mobile labs to build biological weapons." They're illegal. They're against the United Nations resolutions, and we've so far discovered two. And we'll find more weapons as time goes on. But for those who say we haven't found the banned manufacturing devices or banned weapons, they're wrong. We found them. Poland U.S. Relations Q. Mr. President, the last question. Coming back to your trip to Warsaw. Two years ago you quoted a very popular song in Poland, "On that wheat field I'm going to build my San Francisco, over the molehill, I'm going to build my bank." And there are such places in Poland in which people believe they could build a little San Francisco, if, for example, they have American military base in their neighborhood. What would you tell these people today, Mr. President? The President. Well, I'm telling them that we're looking at all options, of course. I make no promises, but we will remember who our friends are. And the Polish people have been strong friends of the United States. And for that, we are very grateful. Q. Thank you very much, Mr. President, and here's something for you. They couldn't come for a concert to play for you, the the songs that you quoted, and they wrote it here "To Mr. President Bush, fond greetings from the mountains, and hope you enjoy it." The President. Oh, thank you so very much. I'm honored. I look forward to listening to this. I've got just the CD player to use, right upstairs in the residence here. Q. That's great. It's number three on that CD. The President. Well, thanks. Q. Thank you. May 24, 2003 Good morning. This week Congress took vital action to create jobs in America. Following the outlines of a jobs and growth package I announced in January, Members of the House and Senate reached agreement on a bill to strengthen our Nation's economy by reducing income tax rates, lowering the marriage penalty, increasing the child credit from 600 to 1,000, increasing the expensing allowance for small business investment, and significantly reducing taxes on dividends. These tax cuts will go into effect immediately and some retroactively. About 25 million families with children will see their child credit increase and will receive checks of up to 400 per child. And 136 million Americans who pay income taxes, including 23 million small business owners who pay taxes at the individual rate, will see their taxes lowered. By leaving American families with more to spend, more to save, and more to invest, these reforms will help boost the Nation's economy and create jobs. When people have extra take home pay, there's greater demand for goods and services, and employers will need more workers to meet that demand. A higher expensing allowance will help small firms, including farms and ranches, to buy new equipment so they can become more productive and expand their operations. They will also have more money to add new employees. And reducing the tax rate on dividends will help shareholders across America, from teachers invested in 401(k) accounts to seniors who depend on dividends for their financial well being. I appreciate the leadership of Congressman Bill Thomas of California and Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who worked with their colleagues to hammer out a final agreement. This achievement is a victory for every family struggling to pay the bills, every entrepreneur hoping to expand the business and create new jobs, and every American looking for work. I look forward to signing this jobs and growth legislation in the coming week. I will also work with Congress to bring down the budget deficit that has resulted from war, recession, and terrorist attacks. Faster growth in the economy will bring more revenues into the Federal Treasury. Yet moving toward a balanced budget also requires that we hold Federal spending to a responsible level. Spending discipline is crucial to my economic program. I urge the Congress to set priorities and stick to the responsible budget plan they passed back in April. By that measure, discretionary Federal spending will rise by 4 percent, about the same as the increase in the average American family's income. Governments should not grow faster than workers' paychecks. Governments should follow the example of American families by setting priorities and staying with them. Our citizens and our economy have endured great challenges over the last 2 1 2 years. Yet this Nation's workers and entrepreneurs, who remain the most productive in the world, are rising to meet every challenge. Our economy continues to grow, and inflation and interest rates remain low. With new relief for the taxpayers, we have laid the foundation for even stronger growth in the years ahead and more jobs for American workers. Thank you for listening. May 23, 2003 President Bush. Welcome. I'm honored to welcome my very good friend the Prime Minister of Japan to Crawford. He was a gracious host when I visited Japan, and Laura and I are pleased to return the hospitality. We have met nine times during my Presidency. I know the Prime Minister well. I trust his judgment. I deeply respect his leadership. Our meeting today affirms the close and unique relationship between our two nations. For the past half century, America has been committed to the security of Japan and to the stability and prosperity of the entire Asia Pacific region. Japan and the United States have a global alliance, a partnership based on shared interests and a shared belief in the cause of freedom. The Japanese Government demonstrated its commitment to peace and freedom, along with America, that Saddam Hussein's regime live up to its international obligations. I appreciate the Prime Minister's strong leadership on Iraq as well as Japan's diplomatic and financial support for key regional states affected by the conflict. Today Japan is committed to playing a leading role in Iraq's long term reconstruction, will also provide immediate assistance for schools, medical supplies, and sanitation. Japanese forces will provide logistical support for humanitarian and reconstruction activities. I thank the Prime Minister for his leadership. Around the globe, Japan and America are addressing threats to our common security and meeting our common responsibilities. We are partners in the war on terror. In Afghanistan, Japanese naval ships helped refuel coalition vessels in the fight against the Taliban. Today we're working together to complete a major highway that will help unify Afghanistan, strengthen that country's economy, and weaken the grip of the warlords. Our two nations are committed to the fight against global poverty, hunger, and disease. We are committed to completing the WTO global trade negotiations, so we can advance prosperity around the world. The Prime Minister and I also discussed his policies for reinvigorating the Japanese economy, including his plans for encouraging investment, corporate restructuring, and banking reform. I support the Prime Minister's efforts, and I support the Prime Minister's reforms. A vibrant, dynamic Japanese economy is in America's interest, and it is in the world's interest. Our two countries are also determined to confront the threat from weapons of mass destruction and the missiles used to deliver them. The Prime Minister and I agree that we will deepen and accelerate our cooperation on missile defenses. On the threat from North Korea's nuclear program, the Prime Minister and I see the problem exactly the same way. We will not tolerate nuclear weapons in North Korea. We will not give into blackmail. We will not settle for anything less than the complete, verifiable, and irreversible elimination of North Korea's nuclear weapons program. We discussed the fact that China has started to play an important role in our efforts to address this challenge. At talks held in Beijing last month, China called on North Korea to renounce nuclear weapons and live up to its agreements. The Prime Minister and I agreed that we must broaden these talks to include Japan and South Korea and, at sometime later, perhaps others. We are confident that our diplomatic approach will bring a peaceful solution. Yet we agreed that further escalation of the situation by North Korea will require tougher measures from the intelligence community. Finally, I assured the Prime Minister that the United States will stand squarely with Japan until all Japanese citizens kidnaped by North Korea are fully accounted for. I strongly condemn the kidnaping of Japanese citizens by the North Koreans. Nearly 150 years have passed since the United States and Japan opened up diplomatic relations. Since then, we have gone from strangers to adversaries to the very best of friends. I look forward to building on our strong relationship to meet the challenge of our times. Mr. Prime Minister. Prime Minister Koizumi. I'd like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the President and the First Lady for their heartwarming welcome and hospitality. We were able to have in depth and very candid discussions in a warm and friendly atmosphere. In the 150 years since the arrival of Commodore Perry to the shores of Japan, we have developed into strong allies, and we've been able to confirm those strong relations between our two countries, not just in the context of a bilateral relationship but also in the global context. The Japan U.S. security arrangements are a pillar that supports our alliance. We decided to further promote consultations between our Governments and to make our cooperation in the security area even stronger. Ballistic missile defense is an important agenda in Japan's defense policy, and Japan will further accelerate its consideration. In addition, we concurred on the importance of reducing the burden on the people of Okinawa. Now, the other pillar is the economy. The Japanese and U.S. gross domestic products together would account for 40 percent of global GDP. So it is vital for the world economy, not just the Japanese and U.S. economies but for the world economy, that the Japanese and or rather, it is vital for our two countries as well as for the entire world economy that the Japanese and U.S. economies are healthy. And the most important mission of my Cabinet is to revitalize the Japanese economy. And I have the support of President Bush in my efforts to further accelerate structural reforms. And to achieve that goal, I'll tackle deflation. I shall never allow a financial crisis to occur. So, not just in the security area but also in the economic area, and others as well, I would like to promote further cooperation between our two countries on various issues, from the perspective of Japan U.S. alliance in a global context. We are determined in the pursuit of our fight against terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Now, of course, we have different roles and different means to play out those roles. But to root out terrorism, Japan and the United States should continue with firm determination to join their forces. Now, on Iraq, the President made a difficult and brave decision for a just cause, and I supported this, and our decision was right. With Memorial Day coming up, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the brave U.S. men and women in uniform who sacrificed their lives for the cause as well as to their families. I welcome the adoption of Security Council Resolution 1483. And I saw eye to eye with President Bush that we shall continue to cooperate with each other in order to build up international cooperation. Japan will actively support Iraq's nation building. And I believe that taking advantage of this cessation of combat in Iraq, and through the reconstruction of Iraq, we should the world, as a whole, should cooperate together in order to bring about peace and stability in the Middle East. And I would like to express my respect for the active efforts the President has been making in the Middle East. I shall be visiting Egypt and Saudi Arabia on this trip, and together with the Arab countries, I would like to engage in efforts to reconstruct Iraq. The issue of North Korea's nuclear weapons is a grave challenge to the entire world. We will not at all tolerate the possession, the development, or the transfer of nuclear weapons by North Korea. North Korea must promptly and completely dismantle all nuclear weapons development programs in a verifiable manner, and we agreed that we would resolve this issue peacefully. Coordination among Japan, the United States, and the Republic of Korea is crucial to that end. Continuation of the multilateral talks is important, and participation by Japan and the Republic of Korea is essential. Further escalation of the situation by North Korea would require tougher measures. In any event, Japan will crack down more rigorously on illegal activities, and the North Koreans will have to understand that threats and intimations will have no meaning whatsoever. It is extremely important for Japan to comprehensively resolve the various issues, including nuclear weapons, missiles, and abduction, based on the Pyongyang Declaration. And without the resolution of these issues, normalization of relations will not occur. And I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the President for his strong support on the abduction issue. In any case, I would like to take this occasion to express my heartfelt respect to the President for the strong leadership he has exerted since the 9 11 terror attacks the year before last as well as the strong determination he showed in addressing as a wartime President. And I would like to say that Japan will, as much as possible, strive with the United States for world peace and stability. Yesterday and today I spent many hours and I've never spent so many hours discussing various issues with a head of state or head of government. And we discussed all sorts of issues very candidly and in depth. I learned from the President that the word "Texas" also means "friend." So, my appreciation, my heartfelt appreciation goes to the President and Mrs. Bush for their very warm hospitality and to the personal friendship that the President has shown. President Bush. Absolutely. Listen, we'll answer two questions a side, alternating. Please address so don't one of these things where you ask me and ask the Prime Minister or vice versa. Let's just ask one question to one of us as we rotate back and forth, if you don't mind. Scott Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press , will you please set the example. Middle East Peace Process Q. Thank you, Mr. President. I just have one question, and that's that Sharon embraced the roadmap today. How significant is that? Where do we go from here? And will you meet with him and Abbas in Egypt or Europe? President Bush. Prime Minister Sharon accepted the roadmap, and that's progress. He accepted it because I assured him that the United States is committed to Israel's security and that, since we're committed to Israel's security, as we move forward we will address any concerns that might arise regarding Israel's security. I'm exploring the opportunities as to whether or not I should meet with Prime Minister Abu Mazen, as well as Prime Minister Sharon. If a meeting advances progress toward two states living side by side in peace, I will strongly consider such a meeting. I'm committed to working toward peace in the Middle East. Last week I talked to the Prime Minister of Israel as well as to the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, and I met with the Finance Minister of the Palestinian Authority. I understand it's going to be difficult to achieve peace, but I believe it can happen. Do you want to call on a member of the Japanese press? Japan's Role in Iraqi Reconstruction Q. I'd like to ask questions relating to the Japanese self defense forces in connection with the assistance for Iraq's reconstruction. First question for President Bush. Would you expect Japanese contributions to the extent that the Japanese self defense forces would go into Iraq on the ground for supporting Iraq's reconstruction? And a question for Prime Minister. Would you consider legislating new law to enable that? President Bush. Let me answer first. I expect Japan to participate to the extent that the Prime Minister deems is necessary to fulfill the commitment. He tells me he's going to help in the reconstruction of Iraq. I believe him. Prime Minister Koizumi. Well, this question related to the dispatch of Japanese self defense forces. We are already considering the dispatch of self defense force airlift capabilities in the countries neighboring Iraq for humanitarian purposes. More specifically, with regard to the question of sending self defense forces into Iraq for aiding Iraq's reconstruction, now that the U.N. resolution has passed, upon return to Japan we shall study in detail what Japan can do for the reconstruction of Iraq. At any rate, the question of what Japan can do for helping Iraq reconstruction is a matter for Japan to decide. I also believe it is important that Japan make contributions for Iraq's reconstruction in a prudent manner, in view of Japan's own strength. And we shall cooperate with the United States we shall cooperate with the United Nations for the reconstruction of Iraq. So we shall consider what Japan can do as an initiative taking country for the reconstruction of Iraq. President Bush. Randy Randall Mikkelsen, Reuters . North Korea Q. Mr. President, you said today that an escalation by North Korea of its nuclear activities will require tougher measures. But right now they possess nuclear weapons you say you won't tolerate. So at what point would you need to increase pressure if they simply do nothing? President Bush. Well, the first step was to convince China to participate in the process of saying to North Korea that acceptance by the international community and potential help will come when they change their behavior and their attitude toward nuclear weapons. This message has been delivered, and the North Koreans are thinking about it. Should they choose to move forward, which we hope they do, then we will have the Japanese and South Koreans join the dialog so that there's now five of us sitting around the table, all discussing how to see that the Korean Peninsula is nuclear weapons free. And the importance of this meeting today should say to the world that Japan and the United States stand shoulder to shoulder on the issue of North Korea's nuclear weaponry. I believe that we can solve this peacefully. I believe that diplomacy can work. And as importantly, Japan and the United States will not be blackmailed by North Korean threats, and that's important for the North Korean leadership to know. Q. I'd like to ask this question of to both leaders. On this I understand that in your meeting today you reconfirmed that you'll seek peaceful resolution of this North Korean nuclear issue. The question is, do you think that North Korea, that regime under the leadership of Kim Chong il can really be a counterpart in negotiations for a peaceful resolution of the problem? Prime Minister Koizumi. On this point let me first say that President Bush was stating very clearly that our response to North Korea would be different from that to Iraq. Now, the U.S. position, I understand, is that all options will remain available, but the United States, or President Bush was saying that he was confident that a peaceful resolution can be achieved. Japan certainly will also seek a peaceful resolution. And I would like to engage in various ways to appeal to the North Koreans and make them understand that instead of becoming isolated from the international community, it is most important for them to become a responsible member of the community of nations, and that is most important not just for North Korea itself but for the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and for the entire world. President Bush. Thank you very much. Annika Sorenstam Q. A golf question, sir? President Bush. Golf? Q. What do you think about Annika Sorenstam? President Bush. I'm impressed by Annika Sorenstam. I hope she makes the cut. I'm pulling for her, and I hope I'll be watching her on Saturday and Sunday. Thank you all. May 21, 2003 Thank you very much. Thanks for the warm welcome. Admiral Collins and Admiral Olsen, Secretary Ridge, Lieutenant Governor Rell, Mr. President I'm glad you're here thank you for coming, sir Congressman Simmons, the fine professors of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, distinguished guests, proud family members, and the graduates, thank you for your welcome, and thank you for the honor of speaking to the newest officers of the United States Coast Guard. You know, I was born in this State, just down the road. Laughter I've still got relatives living here. Laughter And it looks like some of them were up late last night painting Pride Rock. Laughter This is a proud day for the Class of 2003. I know you've worked hard to get here. You've persevered through the rigors of Swab Summer. You've faced difficult trials in the classroom, aboard Eagle. And now, with silver dollars in your pockets, you're ready to become officers in our Nation's oldest continuous seagoing service. You have shown each day that you "revere honor" and that you "honor duty." You have made your families, your professors, and your country proud. On behalf of the American people, thank you for choosing a life of service, and congratulations on a great achievement. I bring with me a small graduation present. Pursuant to the longstanding tradition, I hereby grant amnesty to all cadets on restriction for minor conduct offenses. Laughter I leave it up to Admiral Olsen to determine the definition of "minor." Laughter Coast Guard Academy life is demanding, and it should be because you are entrusted with solemn responsibilities in peace and in war. America counts on the Coast Guard to enforce maritime law, to secure our waterways and ports, to rescue those in distress, and to intercept illegal drugs. In this new century, we will count on you even more. The men and women of this class are the first ever to graduate into the Department of Homeland Security, which is charged with protecting the American people against terrorist attacks. You are bringing a long tradition of duty to this new and urgent tasks. Terrorists who seek to harm our country now face your "Shield of Freedom." Every citizen can be grateful that the Coast Guard stands watch for America. The Coast Guard is also playing a vital role in America's strategy to confront terror before it comes to our shores. In the Iraqi theater, Coast Guard cutters and patrol boats and buoy tenders and over a thousand of your finest active duty and reserve members protected key ports and oil platforms, detained Iraqi prisoners of war, and helped speed the delivery of relief supplies to the Iraqi people. Many have returned safely to port, and many remain on duty in the Persian Gulf. All have helped to liberate a great people, and all have brought a great credit to the uniform of the United States Coast Guard. In Iraq, America's military and our allies carried out every mission and exceeded every expectation. Heavy units of armor and infantry moved with speed and agility that kept the enemy in a state of constant surprise and deadly confusion. Airstrikes and cruise missiles destroyed the power centers and meeting places of the regime, while targets were carefully examined to protect the innocent from harm. Our forces confronted an enemy that rejected every rule of warfare and morality, but our men and women in uniform showed their decency and kept their honor. In a month of battle, American armed services set an example of skill and daring that will stand for all time. America will not relent in the war against global terror. We will hunt the terrorists in every dark corner of the Earth, and we're making good progress. Nearly one half of Al Qaida senior operatives have been captured or killed. We will deny the terrorists the sanctuary and bases they need to plan and strike, as we have done in the battle of Afghanistan. We will not permit terror networks or terror states to threaten or blackmail the world with weapons of mass destruction, as we have shown in the battle of Iraq. Our country has been attacked by treachery in our own cities, and that treachery continues in places like Riyadh and Casablanca. We have seen the ruthless intentions of our enemies. And they are seeing our intentions We will press on until this danger to our country and to the world is ended. Yet, the national interest of America involves more than eliminating aggressive threats to our safety. We also stand for the values that defeat violence and the hope that overcomes hatred. We find our greatest security in the advance of human freedom. Free societies look to the possibilities of the future, instead of feeding old resentments and bitterness. Free countries build wealth and prosperity for their people in an atmosphere of stability and order, instead of seeking weapons of mass murder and attacking their neighbors. Because America loves peace, America will always work and sacrifice for the expansion of freedom. The advance of freedom is more than an interest we pursue. It is a calling we follow. Our country was created in the name and cause of freedom. And if the self evident truths of our founding are true for us, they are true for all. As a people dedicated to civil rights, we are driven to defend the human rights of others. We are the nation that liberated continents and concentration camps. We are the nation of the Marshall plan, the Berlin airlift, and the Peace Corps. We are the nation that ended the oppression of Afghan women, and we are the nation that closed the torture chambers of Iraq. America's national ambition is the spread of free markets, free trade, and free societies. These goals are not achieved at the expense of other nations they are achieved for the benefit of all nations. America seeks to expand not the borders of our country but the realm of liberty. Our vision is opposed by terrorists and tyrants who attack a world they can never inspire. This vision is also threatened by the faceless enemies of human dignity, plague, starvation, and hopeless poverty. And America is at war with these enemies as well. The advance of freedom and hope is challenged by the spread of AIDS. Today, on the continent of Africa, nearly 30 million people are afflicted with HIV AIDS, including 3 million children under the age of 15. The African Continent has lost 7 million agricultural workers. In some countries, almost a third of the teachers are HIV positive. A 15 year old boy living in Botswana has an 80 percent chance of dying of AIDS. It is a desperate struggle for any person or any nation to build a better future in the shadow of death. Yet, this shadow can be lifted. AIDS can be prevented, and AIDS can be treated. Lives can be saved, and others extended by many years. In my State of the Union Address in January, I put forward an Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief directing 15 billion over the next 5 years to fight AIDS abroad. And we will especially focus our efforts on 14 African and Caribbean nations where HIV AIDS is heavily concentrated. I'm pleased that both Houses of Congress have now passed a bill authorizing these funds. I look forward to signing the bill next week. The Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is the largest single upfront commitment in history for an international public health initiative involving a specific disease. With this dramatic expansion of America's efforts, we will prevent 7 million new HIV infections, treat at least 2 million people with life extending drugs, and provide humane care for 10 million HIV infected individuals and AIDS orphans. When I travel to Europe next week, I will challenge our allies to make a similar commitment which will save even more lives. I will remind them that the clock is ticking, that every single day 8,000 more people will die from AIDS in Africa there will be 14,000 more infections. I will urge our European partners and Japan and Canada to join a great mission of rescue and to match their good intentions with real resources. The advance of freedom and hope in the world is also challenged by an ancient enemy, famine. Our world produces more than enough food to feed its 6 billion people. Yet tens of millions are at risk of starvation, and millions more lack water fit for drinking. This crisis also is concentrated in Africa. We have the ability to confront this suffering, and we accept the duty as old as the Scriptures to comfort the afflicted and to feed the hungry. America is already the largest provider in the world of food relief, giving more than 1.4 billion in global emergency food aid and one half of all contributions to the World Food Program. And we are determined to do more. I've committed to a nearly 1 billion initiative to provide clean drinking water to 50 million people in the developing world. I've also asked Congress to provide 200 million for a new famine fund, which will give us the flexibility to act quickly when the first signs of famine appear. I call on other nations to follow our lead by establishing their own emergency funds. By saving time in responding to crisis, we will save lives. We can also greatly reduce the long term problem of hunger in Africa by applying the latest developments of science. I have proposed an Initiative to End Hunger in Africa. By widening the use of new high yield biocrops and unleashing the power of markets, we can dramatically increase agricultural productivity and feed more people across the continent. Yet, our partners in Europe are impeding this effort. They have blocked all new biocrops because of unfounded, unscientific fears. This has caused many African nations to avoid investing in biotechnologies, for fear that their products will be shut out of European markets. European governments should join, not hinder, the great cause of ending hunger in Africa. We must also give farmers in Africa, Latin America, and Asia and elsewhere a fair chance to compete in world markets. When wealthy nations subsidize their agricultural exports, it prevents poor countries from developing their own agricultural sectors. So I propose that all developed nations, including our partners in Europe, immediately eliminate subsidies on agricultural exports to developing countries so that they can produce more food to export and more food to feed their own people. The advance of freedom is also undermined by persistent poverty and despair. Half the human population lives on less than 2 a day. Billions of men and women can scarcely imagine the benefits of modern life because they have never experienced them. For decades, many governments around the world have made sincere and generous efforts to support global development. Far too often, these funds have only enriched corrupt rulers and made little or no difference in the lives of the poor. It's time for governments of developed nations to stop asking the simplistic question How much money are we transferring from nations that are rich? The only question that matters is How much good are we doing to help the people that are poor? The only standard worth setting and meeting is the standard of results. The lesson of our time is clear When nations embrace free markets, the rule of law, and open trade, they prosper, and millions of lives are lifted out of poverty and despair. So I have proposed the creation of a new Millennium Challenge Account, an entirely new approach to development aid. This money will go to developing nations whose government are committed to three broad standards They must rule justly they must invest in the health and education of their people and they must have policies that encourage economic freedom. To fund this account, I have proposed a 50 percent increase in America's core development assistance over the next 3 years. Under this proposal, our annual development assistance eventually will be 5 billion greater than it is today. I urge the Congress to give its full support to the Millennium Challenge Account. And when I'm in Europe, I will call on America's partners to join us in moving beyond the broken development policies of the past and encourage the freedom and reform that lead to prosperity. These goals advancing against disease, hunger, and poverty will bring greater security to our country. They are also the moral purpose of American influence. They set an agenda for our Government, and they give idealistic citizens a great cause to serve. President Woodrow Wilson said, "America has a spiritual energy in her which no other nation can contribute to the liberation of mankind." In this new century, we must apply that energy to the good of people everywhere. For more than four decades, the volunteers of the Peace Corps have carried the good will of America into many parts of the world. Interest in this program is greater than ever before. I'm determined to double the size of the Peace Corps over the next 5 years. Today I would like to announce a new USA Freedom Corps initiative called Volunteers for Prosperity, which will give America's highly skilled professionals new opportunities to serve abroad. The program will enlist American doctors and nurses and teachers and engineers and economists and computer specialists and others to work on specific development initiatives, including those that I have discussed today. These volunteers will serve in the countries of their choice for however long their project takes. Like generations before us, this generation of citizens will show the world the energy and idealism of the United States of America. I see that idealism in the faces of our soldiers and sailors and airmen and marines. I see that idealism in the faces of this Academy class. The men and women of the Coast Guard are "always ready" to defend the security of this Nation. You are "always ready" to rescue those in trouble. These two commitments define your mission, and they define America's role in history. We understand that strength is necessary to confound the designs of evil men. And we know that the compassion and generosity of this land can aid the suffering and inspire the world. We will use the great power of America to serve the great ideals of America. And by these efforts we will build a lasting, democratic peace for ourselves and for all humanity. Congratulations. May God bless the Class of 2003. May God continue to bless the United States of America. Semper paratus. May 21, 2003 Thank you all. Thanks for the warm welcome. It's always nice to have a nice quiet dinner with a few friends. Laughter Can't tell you how much we appreciate you coming, though. First I want to thank my friend George Allen for putting together this fine event. I want to thank all those who've helped. I particularly want to thank all of you all for coming from all across the great country. Thank you for your support. It makes a huge difference to our "Grand Party." Your participation in the process makes a great difference to our great country. All of us who serve this country have important responsibilities. You've got responsibilities at home to love your children with all your heart and all your soul. You've got responsibilities in your communities to love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you're a CEO in corporate America, you have a responsibility to tell the truth to your employees and shareholders. And we have responsibilities here in Washington, DC, to work together to keep this Nation strong and secure and prosperous and hopeful, and we accept that responsibility. I appreciate so very much the Speaker of the House, Denny Hastert. He is such a good Speaker. We want to keep him as the Speaker. And the same goes for the majority leader in the United States Senate, Senator Bill Frist. It is a joy to work with these two fabulous Americans. I'm also honored to be on the sharing the stage with the Senate dinner chairman, Senator Orrin Hatch from Utah the chairman of the National Republican Campaign Committee, from the State of New York, Congressman Tom Reynolds the House dinner chairman, Congressman Dave Camp from Michigan. I want to thank all the Senators and Members of the House of Representatives who are here. America is fortunate to have you your service on behalf of all of us. I want to thank the members of the Cabinet who are here. I want to thank the Oak Ridge Boys for sharing their beautiful voices. Most of all, I want to thank you all for supporting us and what we're doing for the country. For the last 2 1 2 years, this country has faced incredible challenges, and those challenges brought out the best in America. The testing of America has revealed the spirit of America. The world has seen that we are courageous, resolute, tough when we have to be, and a compassionate people. The world has seen the strength and the idealism of the United States military. Thanks to the skill and courage of our troops and the technology of our military, the world has seen that the guilty have more to fear from the United States of America. Thanks to the skill and bravery of our troops and coalition forces, because the guilty can no longer hide behind the innocent, the world will be a more peaceful place. The terrorists will have fewer places to hide. Tyrants will no longer be free to enslave their people. Freedom has arrived in far corners of the Earth. Every friend of this country and every enemy of this country can be certain America will always work to keep the peace, and we will always keep our word. We're working hard to change the tone in Washington, DC, and I believe we have. We've raised the debate to focus on results and progress, and we're achieving great results for the American people. One reason we're able to do so is because I put together a fabulous team. To the Cabinet members here, I want to thank you for your service. But I do want to mention one member of my team that is not with us tonight but is doing a fabulous job for America, and that's the finest Vice President our Nation has ever known, Vice President Dick Cheney. Now, my mother may have a different point of view laughter but I got the mike. Laughter The Vice President and members of the Cabinet and everybody else who works for me is resolved to keep the vow we made to restore honor and dignity to the office of the President of the United States. And I'm proud of the United States Congress. The Congress is focused on results, and they have delivered tremendous results for the American people Major tax cuts so the working people can keep more of their own money education reform Homeland Security Department to better secure America trade legislation. No, this Congress, instead of endless bickering and needless partisanship, has focused on what's doing right for the American people. And I'm proud of what you all have done. We've come a long way in 2 1 2 years, but we've got a lot more work to do. We've got a lot to do. First, America is committed to expanding the realm of freedom and peace for our own security and for the benefit of the world. And second, in our own country we must work for a society of prosperity and compassion, so that every citizen has a chance to work and succeed and realize the great promise of the United States of America. Across the world it has never been more clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of the United States. This Nation is freedom's home and defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we will keep it. As we saw again last week in Saudi Arabia and in Morocco, the war on terror continues. Our work is not done. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. This country will not rest. We will not tire. We will not stop until the danger to civilization is removed. Our national interest involves more than eliminating aggressive threats to our safety. Our greatest security comes from the advance of human liberty, because free nations do not support terror. Free nations do not attack their neighbors. Free nations do not threaten the world with weapons of mass murder. As Americans, we believe that freedom is the deepest need and hope of every human heart. And we believe that freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation. America also understands that unprecedented influence brings tremendous responsibilities. We have duties in the world. When we see disease, starvation, and hopeless poverty, we cannot and we will not turn away. On the continent of Africa, America is now committed to bringing the healing power of medicine to millions of men and women and children who suffer from AIDS. I want to thank the United States Congress. I want to thank the House, once again, for voting for the package today to make sure that the great compassion of America is felt in some of the most hopeless corners of the world. I want to thank Henry Hyde and Dick Lugar and Bill Frist, who guided this important legislation through both Houses, a piece of legislation which I look so forward to signing next week before I go overseas. And when I go overseas, I will remind our partners in Europe about our great heart, our great compassion, and call upon them to join us in this great work. We have challenges at home, and there's not doubt in my mind we are equal to those challenges. Our most urgent mission in the months ahead is to strengthen this economy, to create the conditions for job growth, and to provide economic security and opportunity for all our American citizens. Prosperity is the result of hard work and the dreams of the American people. The role of Government is not to create wealth but the environment in which work and entrepreneurship pay off. Republican Members of the House and Senate understand that. Each body has now passed additional tax relief to leave more money into the hands of the American people. See, we understand this The money we talk about in Washington, DC, is not the Government's money. The money we talk about in Washington, DC, is the people's money. Chairman Thomas in the House and Chairman Grassley in the Senate are working hard to reconcile any differences, and I'm confident they'll be able to do so and get a package to my desk that I can sign into law. The Members of the House and the Senate are results oriented people. When they see a problem, they act. We want everybody in America who wants to work to be able to find a job. Economic security also depends on a good education for every child. I came to Washington with a deep desire to pass fundamental reforms in education, to bring high standards, accountability, regular testing to every public school in America. With a solid bipartisan majority, we passed the No Child Left Behind Act. This is a good start, but it's only a start. And now we're working with Governors and chief school officers of every State to make reform a reality. Every child can learn the basics of reading and math, and every school must teach those basics. The days of excuse making are over, and now we expect results in every classroom, so that not one single child in America is left behind. We can use our past success as a model for meeting other priorities currently before the Congress. Members of the Congress are working with us now to strengthen and modernize Medicare, to give seniors more health care choices and access to prescription drugs. All of us on the Federal payroll get a choice in health care plans. Seniors ought to have the same choices. If choice is good enough for Federal workers, it is good enough for the seniors in America. Together, we've been working to cut down on frivolous lawsuits and pass meaningful medical liability reform. People who have been mistreated by doctors deserve a day in court. Yet the system should not reward lawyers fishing for large settlements. The medical liability issue is a national problem that requires a national solution. The House has passed a good bill, and the Senate should follow suit. I also continue to work with the Congress to pass a comprehensive energy plan to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. We must also advance our agenda of compassionate conservatism. We have a responsibility to apply the best, most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need. We must continue to work for meaningful, real welfare reform, to bring work and dignity into the lives of more and more Americans. The Congress should finish work on a faith based bill to support the armies of compassion, for mentoring children and caring for the homeless and offering hope to the addicted. I appreciate the hard work of Orrin Hatch and Bill Frist to make sure that our judiciary functions properly. I have submitted superb nominations to our Federal courts. The confirmation process in the United States Senate should be about justice, not about empty politics. We have a full agenda for America, and a clear and optimistic vision for our future. We believe in an ownership society. We want Americans to own their own health plan. We want Americans to be able to start their own businesses. We want more families to own homes. We want people to be owning a piece of their retirement, so that every person has the dignity and independence that come from ownership, assets and property that they can call their own. We also have a vision for a responsibility society. We're changing the culture in this country, from one that has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." The culture is shifting to one in which people know they're accountable for what they do, they're responsible for the children they bring into the world a culture which says, "You have a responsibility to help a neighbor in need." We can see the culture of service and responsibility is rising around us in America. We started what's called the USA Freedom Corps. The response has been fantastic. Our fellow citizens from all walks of life, all political parties, have joined in making sure that people who hurt receive the love and affection they need. Our faith based charities are strong and vibrant in America. We've got people who are willing to sacrifice on behalf of others, those who wear the uniform, the police and the firefighters. We've got people who are now serving in their communities and being held up as examples positive examples so that children can learn the meaning, the real meaning of hero. No, America's culture is changing and changing to the better. It is such an honor to be the President of a great country. Our Nation has faced mighty challenges over 2 1 2 years. We've endured terrorist attacks, yet we have grown stronger. We've led the world in the fight against terrorism. We freed a great people from a ruthless dictator and eliminated the threat posed to world peace. We met every challenge, and we will meet every challenge that comes, because this is the greatest country on the face of the Earth. And the reason it is, is because of the great strength and compassion of the American people. It is such an honor to be here. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. May 19, 2003 President Bush. Thank you all very much. Please be seated. Welcome. We'll have some opening statements. The President and I will answer some questions, two apiece per side. We'll alternate. It is my honor to welcome President Arroyo back to the White House. We took office on the same day over 2 years ago, and we have worked closely ever since. President Arroyo is a friend of America and a friend of freedom. I appreciate her strength. I appreciate her courage. And I appreciate you being here today, Madam President. The relationship between the Philippines and the United States is stronger today than at any time in our recent history. Our alliance helps ensure the security of both our countries. This is a vital alliance. And I was pleased to inform President Arroyo that the United States plans to designate the Philippines as a major non NATO ally. This step will allow our countries to work together on military research and development and give the Philippines greater access to American defense equipment and supplies. The President and I also discussed developments in Iraq. I appreciate her strong support for the disarmament and liberation of that country. I'm also grateful that the Philippine Government plans to commit military police and medical personnel to assist in the reconstruction of Iraq. The Philippines and the United States are strong allies in the war on terror. The murder of citizens from both our countries last week in Saudi Arabia reminds us that this war is far from over. The Philippine Government is strongly committed to defeating terrorists operating in its own part of the world, such as the Abu Sayyaf group. The United States is committed to helping when asked. President Arroyo and I reviewed last year's highly successful deployment of U.S. troops to the southern Philippines, and we agreed to a similar deployment in the near term, in which U.S. forces would support Philippine led antiterror operations. The President and I also reviewed the developments with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, MLIF. That group must abandon the path of violence. If it does so and addresses its grievances through peaceful negotiations, then the United States will provide diplomatic and financial support to a renewed peace process. My country welcomes President Arroyo's commitment to improve the capacity of the Philippine Armed Forces, and we are prepared to help. We have agreed to launch a comprehensive review of Philippine security requirements and how the United States can best support Philippine military modernization and reform. In addition, we are prepared to help Philippine forces address their most pressing needs, such as mobility, equipment, and spare parts. Our countries have a strong economic relationship, and America supports President Arroyo's program of economic reform. We agreed to launch an initiative to make it easier and less costly for Filipino workers in America to send remittances back to the Philippines. I also informed President Arroyo that the United States will be extending new benefits to World War II veterans from the Philippines who fought side by side with American forces to defend freedom. Finally, I'm honored to accept President Arroyo's generous invitation to visit the Philippines this fall, when I intend to travel to Southeast Asia for the APEC leaders meeting. In the meantime, to keep our relationship moving forward, we'll be sending other senior officers to Manila, starting with our Energy Secretary, Spence Abraham. The Philippines and America are old friends who are tackling a lot of new challenges. Our relationship is strong our relationship is growing stronger. Madam President. President Macapagal Arroyo. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you once again for inviting me on this state visit. As I said earlier, this shows how warm is the relationship within our two countries. We've become closer because of the war on terror, but our closeness is certainly rooted in our deep and long shared history. We became closer with the war on terror because the Philippines is one of the first countries to join this war on terror. And the reason why we did it is that we in the Philippines know what it is to suffer from the hands of terrorism. We know the pain of terrorism. And we are with you in your leadership against terrorism, wherever it may be found. There may be others who might feel tainted or hostile about U.S. leadership in the war against terrorism. We believe that the U.S. leadership and engagement with the U.S. makes the world a safer place for all of us to live in. But this trip is not just about terrorism, it's about fighting poverty. Poverty and terrorism are twin evils that we must fight. For the Philippines, we consider the U.S. a strategic partner not only in security matters but also in the economy, in the fight against poverty. I appreciate the support President Bush has announced with regard to our security assistance and also with regard to our economic assistance and economic cooperation with each other. And in other meetings that we will be having with American officials, with multilateral agencies that are based in Washington, DC, and with the U.S. private sector, there will be other developments related to this visit that I'm sure will enhance our relationship with each other even more. There's been a lot of work in preparation for this state visit. I was supposed to come earlier. I was supposed to be here last March. President Bush. Right. President Macapagal Arroyo. And we've been working on what we can have together in this state visit. But because we postponed it and we didn't know the date of the state visit, because we didn't know the timetable for the war, there were many things that America already helped us with in preparation for this state visit, even without a date. So we I'd like to thank you, President Bush, for what we have been able to achieve before the state visit, what we are achieving in this state visit, and what we will be achieving afterwards, because of the deeper relationship that we have entered into, culminated in this wonderful visit of ours to your country. President Bush. Madam President, thank you. We'll start off with Tom Tom Raum, Associated Press . War on Terror Q. For both Presidents, do the recent suicide the recent terror bombings, including the ones in Morocco and Saudi Arabia, suggest that Al Qaida is regrouping and back in business? And if so, is there a chance that we overestimated the damage that we did to the organization? President Bush. First of all, I have said this is going to be always said this is going to be a long war, that not only a long war, a new kind of war. We're trying to chase down people who hide and move around in the dark corners of the world, and they plot, and they plan, and then they pop up and kill. They don't care about innocent life. And we're making progress. I mean, we are, slowly but surely, dismantling the Al Qaida operational network. But we've got a lot of work to do, which means we've got to continue to work together to share information, cut off money, share intelligence, and hunt these people down and get them before they get us. And that's why I appreciate President Arroyo's leadership. She's tough when it comes to terror. She fully understands that in the face of terror you've got to be strong, not weak. She knows, like I know, that the only way to deal with these people is to bring them to justice. You can't talk to them. You can't negotiate with them. You must find them, and that's precisely what our alliance is continuing to do. And so I'm pleased with progress we've made, but I will continue to warn the American people, like I've been doing for a long time, that this is still a dangerous world we live in. Clearly, the attacks in Saudi Arabia mean that we've got to be on alert here at home, that we've got to be diligent, that we've got to understand there's an Al Qaida group still actively plotting to kill. We're working on the clues out of Morocco to determine whether there's a direct connection between that Al Qaida operation and what happened in Morocco. Time will tell. But the world is dangerous, which means that we've got to continue to renew these alliances and these friendships to make sure that we make the world more secure. President Macapagal Arroyo. Well, there's been great progress in the war on terror. But certainly, it is not yet over. The Al Qaida and its sister terrorist organizations are finding their way not only in Africa, not only in the Middle East but also in Southeast Asia. And as we have seen, therefore, terrorism knows no borders. And that's why, while each country must take greater responsibility for its own economic and political security, it is also important that we enhance our regional and international cooperation in this war against terrorism. Filipino U.S. Relations Q. Just to get direct quotes from both Presidents, I'd like to know exactly how the war against terrorism has affected the U.S. Philippine relations, and how you intend to nurture this relationship beyond what is military and for a more prolonged and sustained period. President Macapagal Arroyo. Well, as I said earlier, it's made the U.S. and the Philippines closer to each other. And for me, because in the beginning of my term, of my tenure, we were fighting a lonely fight against the terrorists in southwestern Philippines, I felt that when we formed the global coalition against terrorism, then we were no longer alone. The world came to know how bad terrorism is, something we have known for a long time. And the world came to help us, because in the international coalition, we started to help one another. I welcome the support of the world, and I welcome the support of the U.S. in our war against terrorism. President Bush. Yes, I remember right after September the 11th, President Arroyo called me, and there was no doubt in my mind where she stood. It was more than the condolence call. It was a let's get after them call. And I knew that we had I had a strong ally and friend when it came to chasing these people down, which is precisely what we have to do. And she knows that, and that's the strategy she's employed. And so you asked a question about what this war on terror has meant for our relationship. First and foremost, it meant that I've got a great deal of respect for your President and her courage and her willingness to fight for security of the Philippine people and to defend freedom. And she is a great example of leadership in a part of the world that is a dangerous part of the world. As President Arroyo mentioned, not only are there, obviously, actions around the Middle East and not only do we have to make sure our own homeland is secure, but Southeast Asia is a dangerous part of the world too. And the Philippines have witnessed this danger firsthand, and we'll continue to work, at her request, along the guidelines that are necessary in your Constitution, to work for freedom and security. Tom I mean Holland, Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Excuse me. Middle East Peace Process Q. Are you going to put the Middle East roadmap on hold in the wake of the latest bombings? Do you still have confidence in Prime Minister Abbas President Bush. Yes, I've got confidence we can move the peace process forward. But the bombings, the recent bombings I mean, Prime Minister Sharon is fixing to come over here, and of course, there are terrorists who want to disrupt the visit by bombing and killing. It's clear there are people there that still cannot stand the thought of peace. And therefore, it reminds it gives me a chance to remind people in the region, if you're interested in moving the peace process, join us in fighting terror. And I still believe that we need to not only believe, I will move the process forward. But it is clear that the process is not going to be smooth so long as terrorists kill. And it's a stark reminder that there are killers who can't stand the thought of peace. And it's sad, and it's pathetic. But and therefore, we must all work together and I say "we," those of us who care for peace. People in the Palestinian Authority who care for peace must work with us to fight off terror. People in Israel who care for peace will work with us to fight terror. The countries in the region that long for a peace process must understand that what's more important than process is results, and that we've got to work together to cut off the funding and the support and activity of the terrorist killers who can't stand peace. Europe must work with us to do everything we can to discourage the terrorist activities that derail a process toward peace. No, the roadmap still stands. The vision of two states existing side by side in peace is a real vision and one that I will work toward. But we've got a lot of work to do to convince all of us who care about peace to step up and fight off terror, to cut off the money and to find these people and bring them to justice. No, we're still on the road to peace. It's just going to be a bumpy road. And I'm not going to get off the road until we achieve the vision. President Macapagal Arroyo. Well, the road to peace is really very difficult, but it's very important that we cooperate. And in Southeast Asia, I would like to say that, in addition, that if we are going to fight terrorism successfully and achieve peace, what is important is that we work on it together and we have a comprehensive approach, because terrorism will spread like a contagion. It will spread like SARS if we don't address the poverty that represents the breeding grounds for terrorism. In the Philippines, terrorism thrives and gets its recruits, not coincidentally, in the provinces that are the poorest, in the region that is the poorest in our country. That is why I appreciate the support of President Bush not only for the security assistance in the war against terrorism but also in the efforts to fight poverty and the socioeconomic ills that plague southern Philippines especially. That is our roadmap to peace. Every region has its specific roadmap to peace. We have some roadmaps in common we have some that are specific to us. But for our region, it is a comprehensive approach. And I appreciate President Bush for understanding the comprehensive approach and helping us through it. President Bush. Final question. Do you care to call on somebody, Madam President? Q. I was about to ask about the economic side of it President Macapagal Arroyo. Yes. Filipino U.S. Relations Q. but both of you have already spelled it out in details. Anyway, Mr. President Bush mentioned, and please comment on this, Mrs. President, about the non NATO designate the Philippines as a non NATO status President Bush. Right. Q. and about the MILF your offer of assistance in the MILF problem, because we have poverty problem there now. President Bush. Well, my offer of assistance, it depends upon the MLIF choosing peace as a peaceful reconciliation of issues. If they continue to want to use terror and force, we will be involved to the extent that the President invites us to be involved, within the Constitution of the Philippine Government. And the other part of the question? Q. Non NATO status. President Bush. Non NATO status, yes. That puts the Philippines right up there with Australia, Egypt, Israel. These are major non NATO allies, which means it will be easier for us to answer requests on military equipment, to provide parts and equipment to make sure that the defense capabilities of the Philippine military are modern and the choppers fly, choppers are maintained, choppers move, when the President orders up a strike, it happens quickly. All this does is facilitate the capacity to interact with each other on a better basis, on a priority basis. Secondly, the other thing I talked about was a comprehensive review of and that just means our military is going to be involved with your military, the Philippine military, in such a way as to determine needs and assess whether or not we've got the capacity to help meet those needs. Q. And the poverty problem? President Bush. And the poverty problem listen, this Nation is committed to dealing with poverty. First, let me make it very clear, poor people aren't necessarily killers. Just because you happen to be not rich doesn't mean you're willing to kill. And so it's important to understand people are susceptible to the recruitment by these extremists, but I refuse to put a put killers into a demographic category based upon income. After all, a lot of the top Al Qaida people were comfortable middle class citizens. And so one of the things you've got to do is to make sure we distinguish between hate and poverty. Secondly, trade is an important aspect of helping to create the conditions necessary for people to rise out of poverty. And we talked about our trade relationship. An aspect of poverty is food, and we talked about our Agricultural Departments working together for the Food for Peace program and the interchange along that. In other words, all up and down energy we talked about all up and down the different aspects of our society, we had meaningful discussions. Not only in the Cabinet Room but prior to this and after this day, our Secretaries, respective Secretaries, will continue to interface to create the conditions necessary for prosperity to reign. The other thing that's important is the Philippine Government must also assume their responsibilities. And I was very impressed by the discussions on tax reform. The President put out a bold initiative. I was most pleased that the Speaker and the head of the Senate were here in Washington, DC, and they were very receptive, it seemed like to me, to some of the tax proposals that the President laid out, to make sure that the budget of the Philippine Government is more efficient in collecting the revenues due to the Government. And so, in other words, it's a comprehensive approach, and it's one we spent a lot of time discussing. President Macapagal Arroyo. With regard to poverty, I don't see poverty only as a means to fight terrorism. Fighting poverty is an end in itself. So I agree with President Bush. It's not poverty that causes terrorism. Terrorism breeds on poverty, and poverty breeds on terrorism. They reinforce each other, and that's why we must fight them together. And I came to Washington not just about terrorism but fighting poverty for its own for the sake of the fight. And I believe that many of the things that we have worked on together are things that fight poverty and, incidentally, fight terrorism. But even if there were no terrorism, they certainly fight poverty and are do the better for our country. For instance, the GSP privileges that we've been able to enjoy. Since my last visit with President Bush, we've been able to have we've been able to enjoy about a billion dollars a year, and again, reinforced now, in GSP privileges. And if we get to include things like carrageenan in the GSP list, as we are negotiating now, that's going to give a lot of work to all those people in the coastal areas of Mindanao, especially the areas which I said are the poorest provinces in our country. And then another example of getting together in the fight against poverty is working also on investments. And one of the things that we talked about is and one of the things that we'll be getting together on would be more insurance, OPIC insurance for U.S. investments in the Philippines. So that's going to create more jobs. And President Bush talked about the remittances of our OFWs. I hope that in 3 to 6 months a study can be done and our OFWs can be our overseas Filipinos can begin to send the remittances with these reduced costs. And based on the Mexican experience, the costs can go down by as much as 300 million a year. And that's going to provide a lot of income to the Filipinos back home, and the commensurate jobs that they can provide. So all of these things are important in themselves. And incidentally, they also help us to fight poverty poverty and terrorism at the same time. President Bush. Thank you all very much. May 19, 2003 Welcome. Madam President, Attorney Arroyo, it is a high honor for Laura and me to welcome you and host you at the White House. Madam President, I know you attended college here in Washington, so perhaps I ought to say welcome back or, as they say at Georgetown, Hoya Saxa. Laughter With your visit, the Philippines and the United States affirm our strong friendship, our common commitment to fighting terror, and our shared determination to promote freedom. Our nations are natural partners. We are connected by an ocean, united by a shared history, and sustained by the bonds of family and culture. More than 2 million Americans have family ties to the Philippines. And some are with us tonight, and you're welcome. Filipino Americans strengthen America's culture, our economy, and our Government. And we are privileged that they call this country their home. The United States and the Philippines are also joined by common values, especially the value of human freedom. And when freedom comes under attack, our countries respond. Madam President, you've been a fierce fighter of terrorism in your own country. You've earned the respect of the American people for your resolve. And after September the 11th, you were one of the first leaders to contact me and express your strong support for the war against terror, and you have not wavered. The President was also a strong and persuasive voice on the need to disarm Saddam Hussein and to liberate the Iraqi people. Madam President, for your leadership and for your friendship, I thank you. Seventeen years ago, the Filipino people restored their nation's democratic tradition and inspired lovers of freedom across the globe. In the years since, the Philippines has emerged as a stronger and more confident nation. The Philippines is building its prosperity on the foundation of markets and building its future on a foundation of democracy. These commitments are opening new opportunities for the Filipino people and setting a hopeful example for other nations traveling the road to freedom. President Arroyo is playing a large role in her nation's success. Her bold and determined leadership has opened a new chapter in the friendship between our countries and is responsible for revitalizing our strong alliance. In his last poem, Jose Rizal, one of the founders of the Filipino independence, referred to his native land as the "Pearl of the Orient Seas." More than a century later, this "pearl" is admired the world over for its beauty, its progress, and its wonderful people. Madam President, it will be my pleasure to visit the Philippines later this year, with you as my host. And Laura and I and the American people are honored to have you and your husband as our guests here tonight. Would you please join me in a toast to the enduring friendship between the Philippines and the United States. May 19, 2003 President Bush. Madam President, Attorney Arroyo, members of the Philippine delegation, Members of Congress, and distinguished guests On behalf of the American people, Laura and I welcome you to the United States. This is the first state visit by the leader of an Asian country during my administration. You honor the American people with your visit, because our two nations share special ties of history and friendship and family. And we share a commitment to the defense of democracy and the advance of freedom. Just over a century ago, Americans and Filipinos worked side by side to liberate the Philippines. Nearly half a century later, in a World War, our soldiers fought and died together in places like Bataan and Corregidor. And on this foundation of common sacrifice, America and the Philippines built an alliance that remains strong, an alliance that is essential to the peace of the Pacific. In this new century, both our nations are threatened by terrorism, and we are determined to fight that threat until it is defeated. Our diplomats and law enforcement and intelligence officers are working arm in arm to disrupt terror plots, to cut off terrorist financing, and to bring the terrorists to justice. President Arroyo has welcomed American troops to train and advise their Philippine counterparts in Philippine led antiterror operations. And she has been a leader in building broader cooperation against terror throughout the Asian Pacific region. Madam President, for all you have done to make our world safer, America thanks you. Last week's terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia that killed innocent civilians from the United States, the Philippines, and many other nations remind us that the war on terror continues. The world's free nations have the courage and the determination to fight this war, and together we will defeat the forces of global terror. President Arroyo also recognizes the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction. And she spoke with strength and conviction of the need to disarm the Iraqi dictator and to liberate the Iraqi people. Now the Philippines is helping Iraq take its place among free nations by sending military police and medical personnel. The President and I both recognize that a free and secure Iraq is good for the Philippines, is good for America, and is good for the world. We share great goals in the world. We are committed to opening markets in Asia and around the world to bring more people into an expanding circle of development and prosperity. And we are committed to adding the moral and material resources of our countries to the global fight against poverty and hunger and disease. Partnership between our nations is sustained by the friendship between our peoples. More than 2 million Americans trace their ancestry back to the Philippines, and they enrich our national life. Many Filipino Americans serve in our military, and I'm proud to recognize one of them today. Army Lieutenant General Edward Soriano is one of the highest ranking Filipino Americans in the history of America's military. He brings pride to both our countries, and we honor his service in the cause of freedom. The Philippines was the first democracy in Asia and has a proud tradition of democratic values, love of family, and faith in God. President Arroyo, you are carrying this tradition forward, and I'm proud to call you friend. Today the First Lady and I are honored to welcome you and Attorney Arroyo to America and to the White House. Mabuhay! May 17, 2003 Good morning. May 17th is Armed Forces Day, when America honors the men and women who serve in every branch of the service. Here in the Oval Office, I'm joined by some distinguished Americans, eight members of the military who fought bravely during the battle of Iraq. All of them were wounded in battle and are recovering from their injuries. All of them have earned the respect and the gratitude of our Nation. Americans are proud of every man and woman who has faced the risks of war in the cause of freedom. Many still face dangerous duty in Iraq and Afghanistan as they provide order and stability in liberated countries. Many are fighting on other fronts in the war against terror, and some brave Americans have given their lives to protect our country and to keep the peace. Our whole Nation honors their memory, and our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones they left behind. The world has seen the tremendous capabilities of the United States military. With fine allies at their side, American soldiers and sailors, airmen, and marines used advanced technology to gain historic victories in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unmanned Predator aircraft carried out bombing missions deep behind enemy lines, keeping more of our pilots out of harm's way. Satellites high above the Earth, at any time of day or night, provided detailed images of individual targets and whole battlefields. At least two thirds of the bombs used by coalition forces in Iraq were precision guided by lasers or global positioning satellites, compared with just 13 percent of the bombs we used in the 1991 Gulf war. For all the contributions of technology, however, the battles of Iraq and Afghanistan were won by the skill and courage of well trained, highly motivated men and women. In the recent fighting, marines and soldiers charged to Baghdad across 350 miles of hostile ground in one of the swiftest advances of heavy arms in history. Pilots flew through blinding sandstorms soldiers and marines ran into the face of gunfire, at times ignoring their own injuries to save wounded comrades. Special Operations forces conducted daring raids to seize airfields and missile launch sites. Every branch of the service worked in united purpose and displayed the highest standards of professionalism and honor. With the liberation of Iraq and Afghanistan, we have removed allies of Al Qaida, cut off sources of terrorist funding, and made certain that no terrorist network will gain weapons of mass destruction from Saddam Hussein's regime. These two battles were important victories in the larger war on terror. Yet the terrorist attacks this week in Saudi Arabia, which killed innocent civilians from more than half a dozen countries, including our own, provide a stark reminder that the war on terror continues. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. Our Government is taking unprecedented measures to defend the homeland. And from Pakistan to the Philippines to the Horn of Africa, we are hunting down Al Qaida killers. So far, nearly one half of Al Qaida's senior operatives have been captured or killed. And we will remain on the hunt until they are all brought to justice. This Nation accepts the responsibilities of keeping the peace. And the best way to keep the peace is to make sure that our military remains second to none. On this Armed Forces Day, we are grateful to all who serve and sacrifice as members of the United States Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Marines. Thank you for listening. May 16, 2003 The President. Coach, how are you? Coach Fisher DeBerry. Sir. The President. Sit down, please. Coach DeBerry. Thank you, sir. Honored to be here. The President. Thanks. Getting to be a habit. Laughter It's my honor to welcome back to the White House the Air Force Academy Falcons, who have now won the Commander in Chief's Trophy for their 6th consecutive year and 16th time overall. The football rivalry amongst our academies is our military academies is one of the great traditions in our Nation, and I want to congratulate the Air Force Fighting Falcons for supremacy on the football field. I particularly want to say something about Fisher DeBerry. He's obviously a unique guy who has got the unbelievable ability to motivate people in a good way. So Coach, I congratulate you. We're proud of you, and the school and the men you coach are better off for your presence. I want to thank the Members of the Congress who are here. For some reason it seems like the Colorado Congressmen have taken an interest for being here. Laughter Senator Allard, thanks for coming, and Congressman Hefley, as well as Congressman Dicks from the State of Washington and Congressman Sam Johnson from the State of Texas. Thank you all for coming. I appreciate you guys being here. Now, Sam is an old fighter pilot well, not an old fighter pilot laughter was a great fighter pilot laughter who one time dead sticked a Cessna onto the Dal las the Dallas Tollway at night. Laughter That's how he got to be elected to the Congress. Laughter Jim Roche is with us, the Secretary of the Air Force. Thank you for coming, Mr. Secretary. The Acting Superintendent of the Air Force, General Weida, is with us as well. I'm glad you're here. I want to thank you all for coming as well, the folks that not only the players but the folks that make sure the players get the helmet and the water and the tape on their ankles and the people who support Air Force football. The academies are really important for a lot of reasons. Obviously, what you learn on the football field is even more important since we're still at war. And it's the qualities of that you learn on the football field that will serve our Nation in good stead after you graduate. Some of your fellow football players saw war in Iraq. And as a result of their bravery and their skill, the country is now more secure the United States people are more secure the world is going to be more peaceful and the Iraqi people are now free from the clutches of an incredibly brutal dictatorship. What you the character you displayed in your drive to be the best will serve our Nation well, because we're still at war. We learned that lesson in Saudi Arabia the other day. An Al Qaida a group we think is Al Qaida killed innocent life just for the sake of killing them. And we'll do everything we can to protect our homeland. We'll do the best we can with the Transportation Security Agency. We'll do a better job on the borders. But the surest way to protect our homeland is to find these killers and bring them to justice, which is what the United States of America is going to do. The skills you have learned on the football field and at the Air Force Academy are going to be necessary skills to protect the American people from the true threats of the 21st century. So I'm proud to welcome you all here as football stars and champions, but I'm more proud to be able to reassure our fellow Americans that people of high caliber and high quality and high skill will serve in our Nation's defense during a dangerous time, which will allow me to boldly predict the United States of America will win the war on terror. And so it was an honor to bring a you call it a six pack when you win 6 years in a row? Laughter Six peat. A great coach and a great American. Welcome. May 16, 2003 The President. We had a good day yesterday in the United States Senate as the Senate passed a bill that will make it more likely people looking for work will find a job. I'm pleased with the progress. I look forward to working with House and Senate leadership to reconcile any differences they have and get a bill to my desk as soon as possible. I'm optimistic about our economy and its future. I'm even more optimistic now that the Senate has acted. I'm also so pleased that the Senate passed a bill to help ease the suffering on the African Continent as well as in some Caribbean nations. We've got a HIV AIDS initiative that will help say to the world that the United States is a compassionate country we care deeply about the suffering that takes place in the world. Again, I want to thank the Senate for as well as the House for passing a good piece of legislation. It looks like that bill can get done pretty quickly, and I'll be able to sign it and take it to Europe with me as a symbol of the great depth of compassion that our country holds for those who suffer. I'll ask answer a few. Tom Tom Raum, Associated Press . Tax Cut Legislation Q. Mr. President, can you live with a tax cut like the one the Senate passed that goes away after 3 years? The President. Here's the thing about the tax cut. The tax cut must be strong and robust so people will be able to find work. That's what I'm focused on. I'm interested in jobs and job creation. And the more bold the tax relief package, the more likely it is a fellow American will be able to find work. Saudi Arabia Terrorism Q. Mr. President, in terms of combating terrorism at home, do you think the Saudis have gotten the message this time around? The President. Well, Saudi Arabia is our friend, John John Roberts, CBS News , and we're working closely with them to track down the killers of American citizens and British citizens and citizens from Saudi Arabia as well as other countries. The best way to defend the homeland, the best way to secure the future of the American people is to find the killers before they strike us. And that's exactly what we're doing now inside of Saudi Arabia. Obviously, we mourn the loss of life. It is a it is certainly a wake up call to many that the war on terror continues, that we've still got a big task to protect the American people and others who love freedom from the designs of and the will of these purveyors of hate. And we'll find them. We'll bring them to justice. Q. But sir, is the message coming from this administration to the Saudis that you've got a problem, you have to deal with it The President. The message Q. and you have to wake up to the fact that you have to deal with it? The President. Yes, here's the message. The message is the war on terror goes on, that there are killers on the loose obviously, killers on the loose inside of Saudi Arabia in this example. And we want to work with them and find them, find those killers, and bring them to justice. And we are still in a it's dangerous in the world. And it's dangerous inside Saudi Arabia, and it's dangerous so long as Al Qaida continues to operate. And so we'll chase them down. We're doing everything we can to secure the homeland. The best way to secure the homeland is to work with countries like Saudi Arabia and to find the killers and get them before they get us. And that's what this country will do. Woodward Bob Woodward, Washington Post . Q. Sir. The President. How are you? Q. Very well. The President. Yes, Mark Mark Knoller, CBS Radio . 2004 Election Q. Mr. President, you filed with the FEC today. How does it feel to be a candidate? And how do you assess your chances? The President. The American people will decide whether or not I deserve a second term. In the meantime, I am focusing my attention today on finding helping people find work. And that's where I'm going to be for a while. I want this economy to be robust and strong so that our fellow Americans who are looking for a job can find a job. We've also got a lot of work to do on the security front. As John clearly pointed out, we've got an issue. We're dealing with countries from around the world to make sure that they know that the war on terror continues. No one should be complacent in the 21st century, the early stages of the 21st century, so long as Al Qaida moves. I've told the country that we've brought to justice about half of the Al Qaida network operatives, key operatives. And so the other half still lives. And we'll find them, one at a time. Listen, have a great weekend. Thank you all. You're looking good, John, from the war zone. Q. Thank you, sir. I call it the Iraq kins Diet. Laughter May 15, 2003 Thank you all very much for that warm welcome, and thank you for the privilege of joining you all for this memorial service. Today Americans join in tribute to a great profession and remember good men and women who have fallen in the line of duty. We recall their stories. We offer our heartfelt sympathy to their families and their colleagues, and we honor their distinguished service to the cause of justice and peace. I appreciate Chuck Canterbury's leadership. I appreciate his candor. I appreciate the fact that he cares deeply about the men and women who wear the uniforms all across our country. The Fraternal Order of Peace has got a good man in Chuck Canterbury, leading this fine organization. He also replaced a good man, a man that I could call friend, in Steve Young. I know Denise and his son Steven are with us today, and our prayers are with you, Denise and Steven, as you continue to cope with the life without your good husband and good dad. I appreciate so very much members of my Cabinet being here today. John Ashcroft stands strong for law and order in our country. I'm honored that Gale Norton and Elaine Chao will join us as well. The Director of the FBI, Bob Mueller, is doing a fantastic job in converting the FBI into a agency which is going to be on the frontline of making sure terrorists do not harm our American citizens, and I appreciate your leadership, Director Mueller. I want to thank the Members of Congress who are here. I know Duke Cunningham is here. I see Mac Collins. I know there are other Members from the United States Congress who are here. Thank you for coming to join us. I want to thank Aliza Clark for her continued leadership Jim Pasco. It's good to see Ray Kelly. I want to thank Marc Anthony and Jamie McCarthy for joining for lending their talents to this solemn service. I appreciate you all coming. I want to thank all the law enforcement officers who have come here today to honor the fallen. But I want to thank you as well for what you do every day to make sure our country is a secure country. I particularly want to say to the families, there is a lot of love and compassion in this Nation of ours. A lot of people pray for you, and my hope is that their prayers will give you the strength necessary to move on. This year, 377 names are added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial, including 148 who were killed in the line of duty in 2002. The death of a peace officer is a reminder that peace can be fragile and safety will always need defenders. Law enforcement officers know that evil is real, and evil has servants of its own, criminals and terrorists who live by violence and make victims of the innocent. And law enforcement officers know that evil must always be opposed. Justice and order and safety in every time are the achievements of bravery. More than 700,000 of our fellow Americans show that bravery as sworn officers of the law, and this Nation is grateful to your service. The risks of law enforcement come in difficult assignments and even in routine calls. Officers train and prepare for many threats. Yet preparation will never take the danger away from a hard profession. Mary Ann Collura, an 18 year vet from Fair Lawn, New Jersey, Police Department, was killed while confronting an armed man after a high speed chase. A fellow officer later said, "You know, there are probably a hundred cops like this who did everything right and still have their names on the wall. You put your fate in the hands of God every day when you go out there." For an officer's loved ones, daily life is also an act of faith. Family members share the uncertainties and worries of service. America recognizes and honors the sacrifice of our law enforcement families. We thank you for your service to our country as well. And every May 15th, we think especially of those who have received the sudden and terrible news, many of whom are here today. Your sadness and loss are deep and so is your pride. Long before tragedy came, you knew this person you loved was brave and good, and your country knows it, too. Last October, Virginia State Trooper C. Mark Cosslett was killed while racing to a scene. He had spent the morning at a pre school, comforting children who were frightened by the sniper attacks here in Washington in the Washington area. One of the parents later said, "I never met Mark Cosslett and wouldn't have known his name but for his fatal accident. I do know one thing, and I knew it before he was gone At a time when my family was looking for a hero, there he was." In times of challenge and uncertainty, we see more clearly who has really earned our admiration. At a memorial service for Chicago Patrolman Benjamin Perez, the police chaplain said this "Heroes are not found on basketball courts or in rock bands. They're found on the backs of engines and the front seats of squad cars." Over the past 20 months, Americans have rediscovered how much we owe the men and women who repeat an oath and carry a badge. They have not only taken a job, they have accepted a mission. When they are called for help, they answer it. You see danger they will confront it. All of us rely, every day, on their high standards of conduct, their skill, and your sense of duty. In the spring of last year, Sheriff's Deputy David March of Los Angeles County pulled over a stolen car and was shot and killed by the driver. His colleagues remember him as a good street cop. It's one of the most perilous and essential jobs in America. His boss, Sheriff Lee Baca, said, "an honest man who had no fear, a man of faith who believed in others." About a week before his death, Deputy March sent an e mail to his station commander, and here's what he said. "My goals are simple. I will always be painfully honest, work as hard as I can, learn as much as I can, and make a difference in people's lives." These are the values we expect of every sworn law enforcement officer, honesty and hard work and devoted service. These are the values Americans see every day in the officers of law who patrol the streets and highways, investigate crimes, and arrest the accused. And every time such a man or woman is taken from us, our Nation has lost one of its finest citizens, a community has lost a friend and protector, and a family has lost an example of character and courage who they will love and respect forever. Today, in their memory, the flag of the United States of America flies at halfstaff. We pray God's blessings on those who grieve. Our Nation honors each name. We are grateful for each life. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless the United States of America. May 13, 2003 The President. This is this man's business. They built their business last year. They had a family restaurant. They had a family restaurant. The children worked in it. And their lives got turned upside down in one minute. This whole town, this whole street got wiped out. The tornado just came straight down the street. And the only thing I can tell a man who has lost it all and a lady who has lost it all in one moment is, is that a lot of people are praying for them, and our Government is going to try to do our best. But if you look in his eyes, you can see that the devastation that took place, when you lose something all you own overnight. The good news is his family is still standing, and he's strong. God bless you. God bless you. Q. What's your name? Scott Rector. Scott Rector. This is my wife, Lynette. The President. Rector 2002 is when he realized his dream. Mr. Rector. It's going to say "again in 2003" here in about 5, 6 months. Laughter The President. Yes. Oh, Mike Mike Allen, Washington Post , okay. We'll get you in a minute. Any questions or anything? Terrorist Attack in Saudi Arabia Q. Sir, do you think that the bombing in Saudi Arabia was the fault of Al Qaida? The President. Well, there's a lot of suspicion it is Al Qaida. Al Qaida is a group of people that they don't care about taking innocent life. And obviously, these killers didn't care about innocent life. And we'll find out. We'll find out. We're going to find out. Q. Sir, are you satisfied with the cooperation the Saudis have given you? And do you believe they did all they could to prevent this? The President. Well, we'll let the facts we'll sort the facts out and find out what the facts are. Colin Powell is over there now, and I'm confident, when I get back to Washington tomorrow, that George Tenet of the CIA will give me a full briefing of what we know. And we'll just find out. Let me get back to Washington and sort through the facts. Q. Are you going to pull more Americans out of Saudi Arabia? The President. Let me get back to Washington, find out the facts. We'll assess all the threats. We'll take the necessary precautions. But one thing is for certain The people that killed the Americans and other innocent life will be tracked down, and they will be brought to justice. It doesn't matter how long it takes. The war on terror goes on. And this incident in Saudi Arabia shows the country that we still have got a war to fight. And we will fight it, and we will win it. Just like the people of this city are going to rebuild this city, this country is going to defend our security and fight these terrorists. Q. This bombing looked like it was pretty well planned. The President. It was very well planned, yes. Q. So these guys have a little bit of money, they have some infrastructure The President. It doesn't take much money to put a car bomb together. It takes hatred. It takes hatred in your heart. It takes an absolute disregard for innocent life. And that's the nature of Al Qaida. I can't say for certain it was Al Qaida yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was. Q. Do you think Iran The President. Iraq? Q. Iran. Tornado Damage in Pierce City The President. Oh, I have no idea. Look, it's way too early. Let me get back to Washington and get the facts, and we'll work on it. In the meantime, my heart is right here in Pierce City, Missouri, with the people whose lives were destroyed as a result of a tornado that swept down this street. And let me say one thing about what I saw at the church. I saw not only a determined group of citizens, but I saw a group of volunteers from all over this State, and even some from Texas, I want you to know, that they want to help them. And for that, I'm grateful, and I know their Nation is as well. There's a lot of love in this country. Q. There were so many storms, all of a sudden, unlike anything you've seen before. The President. That's what happens sometimes. You know? That's just what happens sometimes. Weather patterns change. And you know, I'm from Texas, where we had the Jarrell tornado came and just wiped out the city of Jarrell. They hadn't had a tornado in that part of the State in a long time, and lo and behold, one shows up, and people lost their life. Q. Do you think the Government is doing enough? The President. Well, that's what I'm here to ask. And I want to make sure FEMA responds quickly. I've been told by the Governor he's satisfied. The mayor has told me that he believes we're moving fast enough. But I'm moving out of the councils of government. I'm trying to get directly to the people to find out. And there's a lot of people are content, and some people are frustrated. Yes, ma'am. Q. So many people here didn't have insurance The President. That's right, and we're going to have to deal with that. Q. Is there money available that's not a loan for these people? The President. Well, we have we'll just have to figure it out, take a look and see. But you're right, there's a lot a lot of the homes were insured, and a lot of the businesses weren't. And as you can see, this street right here, all the commerce in this entire town was wiped out. The mayor was talking about what it means to be trying to run a city that has got no sales tax revenue because nobody can buy anything because the businesses are destroyed. And this is devastation complete devastation here in Pierce City, and that's what we're here to listen. We've got the people from the Federal Government all over it. The people from the State government are listening to people's complaints. And we'll just see the best we can do. I am not going to make a promise to these good people that won't be fulfilled. So I'm here to listen, first of all. Terrorist Attack in Saudi Arabia Q. Were you surprised at this attack could take place a year and a half after a year and a half of The President. No, I'm not surprised. Al Qaida until Al Qaida is completely brought to justice, they want to hurt Americans and our friends and allies. And so we'll do everything we can to secure the homeland, and we'll do the best we can to make sure people can't come into our country and hurt us. But the best way to secure the homeland is to chase these killers down, one at a time, and bring them to justice, which is the policy of the Bush administration and will be the policy of the Bush administration for a long hopefully, a long time. I know so long as I'm the President, we will deal with these people. That's the only way to secure the country. And so these they'll hit and run, and they'll try to hide. We're going to get them. Texas Legislature Q. Sir, you mentioned Texas. Have you been following what's going on in the Texas Legislature? The President. I have not. Q. Democrats leaving the State to avoid a vote The President. No, I haven't laughter but I'm confident my friend that Governor Perry will be able to deal with it. Why don't we get out of the rain? Thank you all. May 13, 2003 Thanks a lot for the warm welcome. I'm so grateful so many of my fellow citizens have shown up this morning. Thanks for coming. I'm here to discuss some of the challenges that this Nation faces and to let you know I'm optimistic we can overcome anything in our path. We have a challenge to make sure that we have economic security here at home. That's one of the challenges we face, and I will discuss that challenge. We also have a challenge to protect our fellow citizens from terrorism. Today's attacks in Saudi Arabia, the ruthless murder of American citizens and other citizens, remind us that the war on terror continues. My thoughts and prayers and those of our fellow citizens are with the families of the victims of yesterday's murder in Saudi Arabia. We pray for them. We mourn the loss of life. These despicable acts were committed by killers whose only faith is hate. And the United States will find the killers, and they will learn the meaning of American justice. I want to thank the chairman, Dick Lugar, for his service to our country and for his friendship. He's a fine, fine man. A member of my Cabinet has joined us here today, my man Mitch. Mitch Daniels has been a good friend, a close adviser, and I'm going to miss him. Washington's loss, however, will be the gain of the people of Indiana. He's a fine fellow. I appreciate very much that Governor O'Bannon has joined us today. Mr. Governor, thank you for coming. I'm honored you are here. And I'm appreciative that Indiana's other Senator, Senator Evan Bayh, has joined us as well. Senator, thanks for coming. I appreciate you coming. I'm proud that members of the Indiana congressional delegation have joined us as well. Chris Chocola from up north has come to be with us today. Steven Buyer, Congressman Buyer is with us today. Congressman Dan Burton is with us today. Congressman Mike Pence is with us today, and I'm also very pleased that Congresswoman Julia Carson is with us today as well. We've got members of the statehouse who are with us. The State attorney general is with us, and other members of the statehouse. Thanks for coming. Mr. Mayor of Indianapolis, I'm honored you are here, that Mayor Peterson has taken time out of his day to greet me. I just had the honor of talking to some of your citizens about what tax relief will mean to them. I'm going to talk about some of them a little later on. But I want to thank you all so very much for taking time out of your day to kind of tell me what life's all about here. Laughter Last night when I landed, I met a lady named Elizabeth Hamilton. She is the reason I bring up Elizabeth is because I want you to understand that the true strength of America is not our military or our ability to bomb people. The great strength of our country is the fact that we love each other. The great strength of America is that we're a compassionate nation. There's been a lot of talk about our military, but I want you to remember that the thing that makes this Nation strong is the fact that we have citizens like Elizabeth Hamilton who are willing to love somebody just like they'd like to be loved themself. You see, Elizabeth is a reading tutor. She's willing to take time out of her life to help a child learn to read. She understands a society a hopeful society is one in which we work hard to save lives, one person at a time. She not only that, but she works at the Christamore House, which is a house a center aiming to serve people in need, to help people who hurt. Elizabeth, thank you for coming. I'm honored you're here. Please stand up. And for any of you who want to follow the path of Elizabeth Hamilton, we've got what's called the USA Freedom Corps. You can look it up on the Internet if you're interested in helping somebody in need. If you really want to make this country a strong country, volunteer. Help somebody who hurts. Love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. This Nation has been tested. For 20 months, we have waged a relentless campaign against global terror. You see, the enemy hit us, and they didn't realize the nature of this country. They probably thought we would just fold our tents and go home. They don't understand America. They don't understand how much we love freedom. They don't understand how much we cherish applause . They probably thought we would forget, but anytime anybody attacks our homeland, anybody anytime anybody attacks our fellow citizens, we'll be on the hunt, and we'll find them, and they will be brought to justice. Just ask the Taliban. Laughter We went into Afghanistan, not all that long ago when you think about it, to uphold a doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist, and you'll be held to account." So we, along with a vast coalition, went into Afghanistan to bring people to justice but also to free people from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in modern history. And now, thanks to the United States of America and a lot of our friends, young girls go to school for the first time. I'm proud of this country and what we stand for. I figured we've destroyed about one half of Al Qaida, the top operators of Al Qaida. And that's good. But we've got more work to do. And the other half are going to get on the run, and we will find them. In order to protect this homeland, the best way to protect the homeland is to hunt down anybody who would do harm to Americans and bring them to justice, and precisely what we're going to do in America. We will be patient, and we'll be relentless, because that is our obligation to future generations of Americans, an obligation which says that we must work hard to make sure people can grow up in freedom and peace in this country. We also waged another battle in the war against terror when we liberated the people of Iraq from the brutal regime of Saddam Hussein. Thanks to our United States military and coalition forces, America is now more secure the world will be more peaceful and the Iraqi people are free. America is proud of our military. We are proud of their skill. We're proud of their courage. We're proud of people like Army Corporal Damien Luten, who went to high school right here in Indianapolis. On March 23d, he was in a supply convoy in Iraq that came under attack. He was wounded. He was taken prisoner, and thank God he was rescued. He now has the Purple Heart. But more importantly, he, like everybody else who wears our uniform, has the gratitude of the United States of America. And I know our troops are grateful for the support they found in places like Indianapolis. At the public library on Washington Street, a group of grandmothers got together and knitted scarves for our soldiers to keep the desert sand out of their eyes. What struck me was what 72 year old Tillie Caldwell had to say. And here's what she said her words, not mine "What else are a bunch of old ladies going to do?" Laughter "If I could, I would be the first on the frontline with a rifle." Whoever knows Tillie, tell her I'm glad we're on the same side. Laughter We moved into Iraq. We removed the dictator, but we've got work to do. First, we're going to help rebuild the country, make sure the people have got food on the table, make sure the children can go to school, make sure those who need medical supply can find medical supply. We're going to turn the lights on all around the country so that life can return back to normal. And then we'll work with the Iraqi people to have a Government of, by, and for Iraqi citizens. We'll work to make sure that democracy takes hold, because we believe people everywhere love freedom. And then we're coming home. A free Iraq will make the world more peaceful, because you see, when people are free, they're less likely to promote terrorism. When people are free, they're more likely to work to realize their aspirations in a positive way. Freedom around the world will bring peace, and that's why America stands so strong for free people everywhere across this globe. We will work hard to make sure the homeland is secure and freedom prevails. And likewise, we'll work home to make sure everybody can find work in America. I saw the other day that the unemployment rate went to 6 percent. That should be a clear signal to reluctant Members of the United States Congress that we need an aggressive economic growth plan so people can find work. People can say they say, "Well, if the unemployment rate is going up, how can you be optimistic?" And my answer is, because we've overcome a lot, and we're still growing. I want to remember what this Nation has been through. First of all, in March of 2000, the stock market started going down. That affected a lot of people because we're an ownership society. Now, over 50 percent of our fellow citizens have got an interest in the stock market. You either own stock directly or your pension plan owns stock. If you're a police officer and thank you for serving your community, by the way you've got interest in the stock market because of your pension plans. If you're a retired teacher, you've got interest. If you're a retired citizen, you've probably got some interest in the market. And the market started going down in March of 2000. And then our Nation went into a recession starting January 1st of 2001. That means three quarters of negative growth, three quarters of going backwards. And then, just as it looked like things were kind of getting better, the enemy hit us. And that affected America. It affected us deeply. It hurt our economy in a lot of ways. And we started getting settled down after that. And then it became clear, over the past years, some of our citizens forgot what it meant to be a responsible citizen. Some CEOs around our country forgot what it meant to be responsible in their jobs. They didn't tell the truth to employees and shareholders alike. They will learn a lesson, that we expect people to be responsible in positions of authority. They will be held to account, and this should serve as a lesson for people in positions of responsibility. It should serve as a lesson for other chief executive officers of corporate America that we expect there to be open accounting and fair compensation packages. We expect there to be responsible behavior in America's corporate boardrooms. Now, we've been working our way through problems. And in spite of those problems, we're growing. As a matter of fact, we're growing more than most other countries in the industrialized world. And that's positive news. What isn't positive is the fact that too many of our fellow citizens are looking for work. What's not positive is some of your fellow citizens are saying, "What can I do to put food on the table for my family?" And when people are looking for work, it says we've got a problem, and we need to do something about it. And so I went to the United States Congress and said, "Here's my plan. Here's what I want you to consider. I want you to consider how to make this economy grow. I want there to be one thing in your mind when it comes to debating what's right or wrong, and it's not politics. It's helping people find a job in the United States of America." And I've put a plan out that recognizes our strengths. First of all, the entrepreneurial spirit is strong in America. This is a country where if you've got a dream and are willing to work for it, you can achieve that dream. And we've got to keep that entrepreneurial spirit strong in this great country. Interest rates are low. That's a strength that helps the homeowner either buy a home or refinance a home. We want people owning their homes in America. And interest rates low interest rates help people own a precious asset like a home. Inflation is down, which is positive. But the best thing we've got going for us is we're the most productive workforce in the world. Our workers are the best in the world. That's good news, and it can be bad news. And one of the reasons it's bad news is, the more productive the workforce in other words, each worker can produce more goods and services per hour it means you'd better increase the demand for goods and services if you want to increase employment. The more productive we are, the more the economy has to grow in order for somebody to find work. The best way to encourage increase demand for goods and services is to let people keep more of their own money. You see, when somebody has more of their own money, they're likely to make a decision on a good or a service. They say, "I want more of this," or, "I need an additional good," in which case somebody is likely in our system to produce it. And when somebody meets that demand by additional production, somebody is more likely to find a job. And we're here to talk about one thing, jobs. That's what we're here to talk about. So I submitted a plan to the United States Congress that focuses on jobs. First of all, one of the key parts of this plan is that it understands whose money we're talking about. Sometimes in Washington, you hear the rhetoric, "Well, we're spending the Government's money." Now, you don't spend the Government's money in Washington. We're spending your money. It's your money we're talking about. And so I said, "Let's let the people keep more of their own money." In 2001, the Congress responded. It cuts rates on everybody. That's fair. If you're going to cut the rates, you cut them on everybody. Government shouldn't pick and choose winners when it comes to tax relief. Secondly, it said the marriage penalty is not a good thing. We ought to encourage marriage, not discourage marriage. And the third aspect of the plan, I said we ought to increase the child credit from 600 to 1,000 per child. And so, Congress listened in 2001 and passed the plan, except they phased it in over a period of years. And my attitude is this If the economy is hurting today, if we've got some of our fellow citizens looking for work, instead of waiting 5 years, let's do it today. The person looking for a job doesn't care what happens 5 years from now. The person looking for a job wants the economy to grow today. For the sake of economic vitality, Congress has got to act and act boldly on this plan to get more of your own money back to you. And people, you'll hear all the time in Washington, they'll say, "Well, this is only for a certain class of people." That's the old, tired, stale class warfare argument. A family of four making 40,000 a year would see their Federal tax bill go down from 1,178 a year to 45. That's a family of four making 40,000. And that's 1,000 not just for one year but for years. And it gives that family a chance to plan. It basically says that family can use their money the way they see fit. After all, it's your money to begin with. This plan is important for the small business growth. It's important to kind of keep that entrepreneurial spirit strong in America, and I'll tell you why. Most small businesses pay tax at the individual income tax rate level. Most small businesses are limited liability corporations, and therefore, they pay tax at the individual rate or Sub chapter S corporations or sole proprietorships. Your mom and pop small business is more likely to pay tax at the individual income tax rate. And therefore, when you lower those rates, when you lower all rates, what you're really doing is injecting capital into the treasuries of American small businesses. And the reason that's important is most new jobs are created by small businesses in America. So when you hear the debate about reducing all tax rates, I want you to remember that a crucial part of this plan focuses on the American entrepreneur and the small businesses. And part of the plan says we're going to raise the amount of money that a small business can deduct on a capital expenditure. In other words, if you buy new equipment right now, you can only deduct up to 25,000. So we're saying you ought to be able to deduct up to 75,000. Yesterday I it is clear we've got some small business owners with us who understand the limitations placed on investment. Well, if that's the case, you're some of the 497,000 small businesses right here in the State of Indiana. It seems like to me you're a good place to be a small business owner, which is exciting. I was yesterday started in Albuquerque and met a fellow who started his own garage. And he started with two employees now he's got I forgot how many he said a couple of dozen, which is incredibly positive. He said to me, "With the increase on the ability to write off more of my capital investment, I'm going to increase my garage space," which means somebody has got to provide the concrete to pour the foundation somebody has got to figure out where to buy the metal somebody has got to make the metal. Then he's going to need some extra employees to make sure the garage space isn't empty. In other words, what I'm telling you is, is that by encouraging small businesses to invest capital, really what we're doing is we're increasing the ability for somebody to find work. The more people are buying goods and products in our society, the more production there will be of those goods and products, and the more likely is one of your fellow citizens who's looking for work will be able to find a job. This is all about jobs. And the final aspect of the jobs and growth package is to get rid of the double taxation on dividends. And there are a lot of reasons why we should. First of all, it's fair to tax corporate profits. If a company makes money, it is fair that we collect a tax from that company. It doesn't seem fair to me, however, that if the company distributes a share of those profits to the owners, small and large alike, that we ought to tax the profit again. That's not fair. As a result of the double taxation, shareholders who receive a dividend keep as little as 40 cents on the dollar earned, which raises the cost of capital. It makes raising capital more expensive, and that's not good for society which is interested in creating more jobs. It doesn't make sense to tax anything twice. It certainly doesn't make any sense to tax anything twice and, therefore, make it harder for somebody to raise capital necessary to expand their business so somebody can find work. It is very important, also, to realize the reform aspects of encouraging companies to pay dividends. If you get rid of the double taxation of dividends, more companies will pay dividends. We just went through a period of time when some of our corporate citizens said, "Invest in my company because I've got an interesting story." I would call that the pie in the sky economic period, you know, "Bet on us. Even though we don't have any cash, we've still got an interesting tale to tell," you know, the new economy. The problem is, the new economy was affected by old accounting practices. And when companies didn't have any money, eventually they went out of business. Well, if you have a dividend paying society, you can tell an interesting story, but you also better have enough cash to back your story up. A dividend society is one that says, "We've got a good story, but we also have got enough success where we can distribute cash to the owners on a quarterly basis." A good corporate reform will be to encourage companies to back up their performance with cash distribution to the owners. And who are the owners? The owners are from all walks of life. I've just told you we're an ownership society. If you have a pension plan, you're a you own stock. If you have a if you're a retired teacher, you're interested. There's 177,000 seniors in this State who rely upon dividends to meet their financial needs. Oh, I've heard the rhetoric coming out of Washington "This is only for rich people. That's why he's doing it." Well, Janet Herke I met today. She has six grandchildren. Every month she sets aside 100 to help her children eventually pay for her grandchildren's education. She is a responsible citizen. She's retired. She relies upon dividend income. Getting rid of the double taxation of dividends will save this good lady 1,800 a year, for the out years as well. And the savings mean this to her this is what she said, "I want to pass along what I've invested and save for my kids and grandkids, because they are the most important things in my life." Now, you tell Janet that this getting rid of the double taxation of dividends is only for rich people. I met with Wilbur and Doris Richards. I met with the Richards. Wilbur is an Army veteran. He helped liberate World War II Europe in World War II. Doris worked in local schools here. They worked hard. The proposal would cut their taxes by 70 percent, and at 800 more a year, which would help them pay for health insurance, it certainly eases the pressures that now exist on their life. Wilbur says he gets the most out of every buck. And my tax relief plan would give him and seniors like him more bucks to work with his words, not mine. Dena Kerhoulas is here with us. She's the lady who's got the same hairstyle as my mother laughter and sounds just about as feisty. Laughter Right after September the 11th, here's what she did September the 11th, 2001, she bought more stocks, because, she said, "I wanted to show them they don't have us whipped." She has stocks that pay dividends, like a lot of seniors do. These aren't overly rich people. They're rich in spirit, but they're what we call average in wealth. She'd save 2,000 a year, money she could use, money that when she spends will help somebody find work. I met the Grubbs family and the Knights same story over and over again all across America. Getting rid of the double taxation of dividends will help our senior citizens, and that's good policy. I proposed an aggressive plan, because I want more people working. I proposed a plan where the some economists say will add a million new jobs by the end of 2004. We don't need tepid steps in Washington, DC. We need plans that will get this economy growing strong so our fellow citizens can find a job. There's all kinds of reasons why people don't want to support a strong plan. One of the most one of the ones you hear the most about is that it will cause a deficit. Let me discuss that with you right quick, if you don't mind. Sure, we're in deficit. We're in deficit. We're in deficit because we went through a recession. I explained to you what the country had been through. The stock market went down starting in March of 2000. That means less revenues coming into our Treasury when people sold their stocks. We went through a recession, which means the economy slowed down to the point where there's less revenue coming into the Treasury. Yes, we're in deficit because we've got less money coming in. We're also in deficit because I made a promise to the people who wear the uniform of the United States military, "If we put you in harm's way, we will spend what is ever necessary to make sure we win." We will deal with the deficit. There's a couple ways to deal with it. One way is to raise your taxes, and that's not going to happen. The other way is to do two things. One is to control spending. It's to be responsible with your money. It's to set clear priorities and say to the Congress, "Here are the guidelines. Here's what we expect you to honor," and that is, in this case, no more than 4 percent increase in discretionary spending. In other words, there needs to be fiscal sanity in Washington, DC, and at the same time, have policies which grow the economy so we can get more revenues coming into the Treasury. If you're interested in the deficit, you ought to be supporting fiscal discipline on the one hand and aggressive policies to make sure people can find work on the other hand. I'm optimistic we're going to make good progress in Washington. I want to thank the House of Representatives for voting on a good plan. It's a good start. And now it's up to the Senate to follow suit. I believe the Senate, when they hear from you, will follow suit. I believe the people in the elected office need to hear from our citizens. I look forward to signing a good bill, one that will help people get back to work. I look forward to signing a good piece of legislation which will rekindle the entrepreneurial spirit of this country. I look forward to signing a bill that will help America remain strong. And there's no doubt in my mind we will. I'm confident that the future that lies ahead is a positive future for all our citizens. I'm confident that because of the United States of America, the world will be more free. I'm confident that if we remain strong like I know we will, the world will be more secure. And I'm confident, thanks to the strength and the compassion of our country, the world will be more peaceful. And the reason I'm so confident is I realize that I'm the President of the greatest nation on the face of the world. Thank you all for coming. God bless, and God bless America. May 12, 2003 The President. Thank you all very much. Claudine, thanks for those wonderful words. It is let me just put it this way, we've had a great weekend here in the Land of the Enchanted. I want to thank the good folks of Santa Fe for their warm hospitality. I particularly want to thank Governor Bill Richardson, not only for being here but for being so kind to my wife Laura at a fantastic reception Friday night in Santa Fe. Thank you very much, Governor, for doing that. I'm sure the New Mexican people are going to thank you for cutting their taxes too. You know, we had a great weekend. I'm here in Albuquerque today to talk about a big decision which is now before the United States Congress and the fact that you can help them make the right decision. I'm here to remind not only you all but our fellow Americans that when you raise your voices, the people in Washington tend to listen. And I hope you'll join me in raising your voices to make sure that Congress enacts an economic stimulus plan big enough to help people who are looking for work, a plan big enough to encourage economic growth. You see, the reason we're here at this small business is most new jobs in America are created by small businesses. And so the plan I've submitted understands that. A significant part of any good economic stimulus plan must focus on the entrepreneur in America. In order to make sure people can find work in this country, Congress must pass a plan which invigorates the small business owner and the small business dreams of America. I want to thank the Martinez family for their hospitality and their invitation. I also want to thank the dad for not only being such a good dad but for having a dream and working hard to achieve the dream. We're standing in the midst of what we call the American Dream. The Martinez family is living that dream. They own their own business. And when you own something in America, it means you have a stake in the future. What we want to do is promote the ownership society around America by encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit to remain strong in this country. I'm proud to be here with Senator Pete Domenici. Senator Domenici is one of the giants of the United States Senate. I'm also proud to be here with Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce, two fine Members of the Congress. I want to thank all the other State officials who are here along with the Governor. I appreciate the local officials who are here. I want to thank you for your warm hospitality. I appreciate Hector Barreto, who's the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, for joining us today. Thank you for coming, Hector. It just so happens the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy is here, Kyle McSlarrow. I appreciate his service to our country. And recently, I nominated a fine New Mexican citizen to become the Secretary of the Navy, and that would be Colin McMillan. I appreciate you coming, Colin, and thank you for your service to your country. I want to thank the chamber of commerce members who are here. I want to thank small business owners who are here. I want to thank the MCT employees and family members who are here as well. Thank you for letting me come by to say hello. And finally, I met a fellow named William O'Leary. Let me tell you what William does he works with individuals to help them find loans and financial support they need. In other words, he is a volunteer to be a part of a program to help people realize their dreams. You know, there's been a lot said about the might of our country, and we are a strong country. We're strong militarily. But our greatest strength is the heart and soul of our individual citizens. The greatest strength is the fact that we're a compassionate country who care deeply about neighbors. And when you William works with people here, and if somebody's got an idea and they want to learn how to advance that idea, he's willing to help. And if you find a neighbor in need or somebody needs help, I urge you to do so. The compassion of America sets us apart in many ways. We're strong because a lot of people in this country have heard that universal call to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. Many of you in this audience have heard that call. We thank you for your compassion, and we thank you for your decency. This has been a time of testing for America. It's been a time of interesting testing. Audience members. Inaudible The President. But we have the strength and we have the confidence to meet every single challenge. For 20 months for 20 months we have waged a relentless campaign against global terror. An enemy struck us because they hate what we stand for. They hate the fact that we have freedom of speech in America. They hate the fact that we have freedom of religion in America. They hate the fact that we love freedom, and so they attacked us. And they thought we had quit. Audience members. No o o! The President. They thought we were soft. Audience members. No o o! The President. But we love our freedoms. Audience members. Yes! The President. Our biggest job is to make sure the American homeland is secure. We've done a lot here to protect the American homeland by creating a Department of Homeland Security. But the best way to secure the homeland is to hunt the killers down one by one and bring them to justice, which is what we'll do. In bringing people to justice, we freed the people of Afghanistan from one of the most brutal regimes in the history of mankind. Thanks to the United States of America, young girls now go to school for the first time in their lives. We've got more work to do to make sure that's a free society. We will stay in Afghanistan to help the people of Afghanistan help themselves. We've hunted down and found Al Qaida members in places other than Afghanistan. They just need to know that so long as they want to hurt our country, there is no cave deep enough for them to hide. We're working with many nations around the world to cut off their money and disrupt their finances, to share intelligence to make sure that we can protect our people. And as part of the war on terror, we liberated the people of Iraq from a brutal dictator. We made America more secure by making sure he does not use weapons of mass destruction. Two weeks ago, on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, I shook hands with Navy Petty Officer Damian Lopez. Damian lives 50 miles from here. Sailors and officers of the Abraham Lincoln represent the best of our country. These folks, like many others, sacrificed on behalf of their Nation. Here's what he said. He said, "When we needed to be serious about our job, everybody did their part. I had a part in freeing a nation and serving my country." Our Nation is grateful to this young man from New Mexico, and we're grateful to all the people who've sacrificed on our country's behalf, the people who wear the uniform of the United States military. We have a lot of work to do in Iraq. We have a lot of work to do in Iraq. Haven't been there very long, by the way less than 60 days ago that we started our mission. And in that period of time, not only did we remove a regime which threatened our security and held the American people hostage, not only did we remove a regime that brutalized their own people, but we will stay to make sure that the Iraqi people have got the security necessary, the food necessary, the medicines necessary, the conditions necessary to have an Iraq of we will stay as long as necessary to make sure that the Iraqi people have a Government of, by, and for the Iraqi people, and then we'll come home. We have faced big challenges in this country. But because of the actions we have taken and the sacrifices many have made, America is more secure, the world is more peaceful, and many people are more free. And as we make sure that America is secure, we've also got to make sure we have job security in America. Too many of our people here aren't working. The inflation I mean, the unemployment rate hit 6 percent. That should serve as a warning signal for the reluctant Members of the United States Congress that we need to hear the voices of those who are looking for work. And so we've got challenges here at home. I'm optimistic we can meet those challenges. After all, we've been through a lot here in this country, and yet we're still growing. I want to review the history right quick. In March of 2000, the stock market started to decline. In January of 2001, we were in a recession, which meant three quarters of negative growth, and then it looked like we were kind of starting to come out. And then the enemy hit us. And they killed thousands of our citizens, and it affected the psychology of this country. We weren't used to being attacked. The people are resolved and strong, and we overcame that. And then we found out some of our citizens forgot what it means to be a responsible citizen. They cooked the books. They didn't tell the truth to their employees and shareholders alike. They're now being taken to account and held to account. We expect honest bookkeeping in America. And it's important for CEOs of big, publicly held corporations to understand that we expect them to learn the lessons of the past that shareholders, that employees, that Americans will insist they be held to account if they ever lie, cheat, and steal. We're overcoming that. We've overcome those obstacles. And yet, too many of our people aren't working. We're growing, but we're not growing fast enough. We're growing. Inflation is low, which is good. We're growing because interest rates are low. Energy prices are coming down, which is kind of like tax relief. Laughter But the greatest asset we have in America is the productivity of our workforce. We've got the finest workers in the world here in America. But in spite of the good news, people are looking for work. And as long as our fellow citizens are looking for work, we must act. So long as families are struggling to pay the bills, we must act here in America. So long as small businesses are hesitant to expand and to create new jobs, we must act. And the "we" in this case is the United States Congress. I have made my proposal, strongly supported by Senator Domenici, strongly supported by Congressman Wilson and Congressman Pearce. And my proposal is based upon this principle If your economy is too slow, you need to increase demand for goods and services. And the best way to create demand for good and services is let the people keep more of their own money. When you got more money in your pocket, it means you're likely to demand a good or a service. And in our society, when somebody demands a good or a service, somebody is going to produce that good or a service, and when somebody produces the good or a service, it means somebody is more likely to find work. The best way to stimulate this economy is to have robust tax relief for the American people. And the thing I like about Pete and Heather and Steve is, they know what I know. When we're up there in Washington, we're not talking about the Government's money. If you listen closely to some of the rhetoric from some of the elected officials, they say, "Well, we're going to do this with the Government's money, or we're going to do that with the Government's money." Folks, we're not talking about the Government's money in Washington. We're talking about your money. One of the central elements of this plan is to accelerate the tax rate reductions which Congress has already passed. You see, in 2001, I went in front of the Congress, said, "We've got an economic issue. Let's have tax relief for the American people." And they passed substantial tax relief, but the problem was the tax relief plan was phased in over 3, 5, or 7 years. We don't need it phased in over 3, 5, or 7 years. We've got people looking for work today. We want to help people today. We want to expand that economy today. If tax relief is good enough 7 years from now, it's good enough today. This plan will reduce all taxes immediately. It will reduce the marriage penalty immediately. After all, we want the Tax Code to encourage marriage and not discourage marriage. As well, it will increase the child credit from 600 to 1,000 per child, retroactive to January of this year. I just met Leanne Montoya. She's a hardworking lady. She's got two kids sons who are here. Right? They're somewhere here. Laughter There they are. They're little guys. She her husband died unexpectedly. She's got the toughest job in America, being a single mom, raising two little guys that she loves dearly. This plan will let her keep 800 of her own money per year. Now, that may not sound like a lot to some of the folks in Washington, but it's darn sure a lot for her and her two boys. And it's not 800 for 1 year it's 800 every year. And it gives her a chance. Pam and Robert Lucero are with us. And by the way, these good folks shared with me some of their stories. And the reason they're here is I want the American people to understand we're not talking about theory we're not talking about numbers we're talking about what the tax relief plan does to help our citizens survive these difficult period of time. Pam and Robert, they've got two little kids they'll save 1,100 a year. It means a lot to them, because it's 1,100 for every year. And all of a sudden now, it means they've got more of their own money to decide what to do for their families. They get to decide, not the Government. They get to decide what to do with the 1,100. Oh, you'll hear the talk about how this plan, you know, only helps the rich people. That's just typical Washington, DC, political rhetoric, is what that is. That's just empty rhetoric. This plan for a family of four making 40,000 a year would see their tax bill go from 1,178 a year to 45 a year. This is a good plan because it makes a difference to all kinds of people, people who could use that extra money. And this economy could use the fact that people have got a little extra money, and that's important for our fellow citizens to understand. The cornerstone of the plan, however, focuses on small business. It's an important part of the plan. It's an integral part of the plan. I told you earlier, most new jobs are in America are created by small business owners, which makes it see, if you're interested in expanding the job base and you go to the origin of job creation, it seems like to me and the origin of job creation is a small business owner. Now what's interesting about America is most small business owners pay business tax at the individual income tax rate. And the reason why is they're a limited liability corporation or an S corp or a sole proprietorship. And therefore, when you reduce the individual tax rates, you're really pumping capital into the treasuries of the small business owners across America. It is important for Congress to know, a robust relief plan helps the entrepreneur in this country. There is today a limitation on what a small business can deduct when they invest in new equipment, and that limitation is at 25,000. In other words, it puts a cap on investment, so to speak, because of the tax plan tax incentives or the lack thereof. This plan that Congress is now looking at, strongly supported by your Senator and the two Congresspersons here, would raise the cap from 25,000 to 75,000 a year. And here's why that's important. Phil Archuletta is here with us today. Audience member. Yeah! The President. Phil and his one friend. Laughter He started P M Signs with his sister in 1991. He went from 1 employee, or maybe 2, to 19. He told me that he is going to expand. He told me that if this new cap goes in, he's more likely to invest in plant and equipment so he can expand his business. The plan makes incensed Phil to make the decision to make a capital investment. And if he makes that decision, it means somebody is going to have to make the machinery that he purchases. It means that when he purchases the machinery, his employees become more productive. In other words, the effect of creating incentives is that jobs will more likely be created from the supplier to Phil's business, and as Phil's business becomes more productive, it is more likely somebody is going to find employment from his business. You see and it's not just Phil who will be making a decision. Jay Walton of Jay Walton Automotive is here. Perhaps you've had your tires aligned there. Well, he started 29 years ago with three employees. He's kind of like the Martinezes here in Albuquerque. They start small, but they grow big. He's got 24 people. That's a big increase. That means people are working because of Jay's vision. He is a Subchapter S. So when you hear them talking about tax relief, it means the taxes on his business are going down. But as well, he's interested in expanding. He wants more space for his shop. He wants to add on to his facility. He wants to be able to accommodate consumer demand by expanding his plant and facility. And when he does, it means somebody is going to have to build the plant, which means there's an additional job there. He might buy a hydraulic pump. That means somebody is going to have to manufacture the additional hydraulic pump. Somebody is going to work somewhere else. The point I'm making to you is, is that when Phil makes the decision he makes and Jay makes the decision to expand their businesses, there are thousands like them all around America. And it's those cumulative acts of increased capital expenditure which makes it more likely one of our fellow citizens, or additional citizens, are going to be able to find work. The final aspect of the plan says that we ought to get rid of the double taxation of dividends in America. First of all, there's just a simple fairness issue on the double taxation of dividends. Listen, we should be taxing corporate profits, and we do. But in this country, not only do we tax corporate profits when part of those profits are distributed to the owners of the companies, small and large alike, it gets taxed again. And who are those owners? Well, 50 percent Audience members. Inaudible The President. Yes, you're right. Laughter We are becoming an ownership society when it comes to stock ownership. Thousands of people own their own they own equities directly. But thousands as well own equities through their pension plans. If you're a teacher, you own equities. If you're a policeman, you own equities. A lot of people in this country own equities. And therefore, the more the plan focus or any plan focuses on helping the market, the more we're helping our average citizens realize wealth. And that's what we want. We want our citizens to be wealthier, not poorer. Any plan has got to say, how do we help our citizens have more wealth in their pockets? It doesn't make any sense, in a country that is trying to attract capital to increase the job base, to have a shareholder receive about 40 cents on every dollar of profit on his or her investment. That doesn't make any sense. That provides a disincentive from people investing. And we need investment. I've told you the effect of capital investment in our society. The easier it is for companies to attract capital, the more likely it is somebody is going to be able to find work. I want to talk about two other aspects of the dividend plan. Thirty one thousand seniors here in New Mexico rely upon dividends to meet their financial needs. We get rid of the double taxation of dividends, that means 31,000 seniors in this good State are to have more money in their pocket. And that's good public policy, it seems like to me. The other thing that's important to know is we just went through a period of time in American corporate history where folks said, "Would you invest in my company because, you know, the sky is the limit. I may not have any cashflow, but I've got a heck of a good tale." Laughter "Nobody seems to be buying my product, but I've got a good story. After all, we're in a new economy." The problem is the new economy was fine, but old accounting practices still mattered. And when you ran out of cash, you're broke. Well, in a dividend society, in a dividend paying society, the pie in the sky pronouncements no longer hold water. Because if your competitor is paying a dividend, you can only pay dividends when you make cash, when you generate enough cash to send to the owners. A good corporate reform would be to have a dividend paying society, so that the investors, shareholders, small and large alike, will know whether the company is real or not, on whether they get that check every month or every quarter, whether that dividend is coming in. Dividend getting rid of the double taxation of dividends will encourage more companies to pay dividends, will encourage more ownership, will help ease the cost of capital, and will serve as good and positive corporate reform in America. Congress needs to get rid of the double taxation of dividends. So this is the plan. And we're making progress. I want to thank the House of Representatives for passing a plan to the tune of 550 billion. And as the Senate debates this plan, they've got to remember what drives this economy. The small business owner drives this economy. Investment drives this economy. And as the Senate talks about this plan, I hope they hear the voices of those looking for work. The more robust the plan, the more likely it is somebody is going to find a job here in America. Now, you're going to hear a lot of talk about the deficit as an excuse not to cut taxes. And I am concerned about the deficit. But let me explain to you why we have a deficit. We have got a deficit because this economy went into a recession, which means less revenues were coming into our Treasury. The country slowed down, and as a result, there was less taxes coming into Washington, DC. We have got a recession because we went to war, and I told the American people, "If we're going to commit our troops into harm's way, we're going to spend whatever money is necessary to make sure we win." Yes, we've got a deficit, but we can deal with that two ways. One is to make sure Congress does not overspend. And I want to thank Pete and Heather and Steve for joining with me on a budget which restricts discretionary spending to 4 percent. In other words and I will continue to do my part, I assure you, to make sure Congress does not overspend on the expense side. I fully recognize that some people up there, when they hear have the word "appropriator" by their name, appropriate. Laughter My job is to encourage them to appropriate but in a wise way, and I will continue to do so. But if we hold down spending, the way to deal with the deficit is to encourage revenue growth in the Treasury, and the way to deal with encourage revenue growth is to stimulate this economy. The best way to deal with the recession is to have an economic growth plan that will cause economic vitality. Yes, I'm worried about the deficit. I'm worried about the deficit, but I'm more worried about the fellow looking for work. I'm worried about the deficit, but I'm more worried about the single mom who's worried about putting food on the table for her children, so she could find work. And that's where the focus of this administration is going to be. There's no doubt in my mind this Nation will rise to the challenges which we face. There's absolutely no doubt in my mind that the world is going to be more peaceful because of the actions taken by the United States of America and our friends. There are no doubt in my mind this Nation is going to be more secure because of the resolve and will of the American people. And there is no doubt in my mind with the right policy out of Washington, DC, that the entrepreneurial spirit of this country is going to remain strong, the productivity of our workers is going to be high, and this economy is going to come back so our fellow citizens can find work. And there's no doubt in my mind I feel that way, because I'm a fortunate man. I'm the President of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. Thank you all for coming. God bless, and God bless America. May 12, 2003 The President. Thank you all very much. Thank you all for coming. It is I'm so glad to be back in Nebraska. Thanks for coming by to say hello. It's an honor to be here. Brad, I want to thank you very much for opening up your fine facility to the entourage that travels with me and all these fine folks. I appreciate the entrepreneurial spirit of Airlite Plastics. I want to thank all the good, hard working folks that work here to make this company a going concern. I appreciate your hospitality, and I want to congratulate you on your new building. It's a beautiful facility. I'm here to talk about some important matters facing this country. But before I do, I want to remind you about something in this administration One half of the ticket was born right here in Nebraska. Our great Vice President, Dick Cheney, was born in Nebraska. No wonder he's given me such good advice. Thanks for coming out. I'm really proud to be introduced by Chuck Hagel. He's a fine United States Senator and a good friend. I appreciate him. He mentioned the Governor. I'm proud to call Mike Johanns my friend, and I'm glad he's here. And I appreciate the first lady of the State of Nebraska joining us here today too. It's good to see you all. Thanks for coming. I also appreciate so very much Ben Nelson for coming, and his wife, Diane. I'm honored you all are here. I'm pleased to have you here. Thanks for coming. You've done a pretty good job about selecting Congressmen well, better than a pretty good job. You've done a great job here in Nebraska. I'm proud that Doug Bereuter is here and Lee Terry and Tom Osborne all of them fine Members, and all of them good to work with. And you know what else you let a man come across the border today to come here. And that would be Congressman Steve King from right across the way in Iowa. I'm honored the Lieutenant Governor is here. I'm honored the secretary of state is here. I'm honored the attorney general is here. I'm honored the State treasurer is here. I'm honored the State auditor is here. And I'm honored you all are here too. Thanks for coming. Before we talk about the issue facing this country and our responsibilities and how we're going to assume those responsibilities, I do want to talk about a lady I met at the airport today, a woman named Anne Carroll. Audience member. Woo hoo! The President. Well, somebody's heard of her. That's good. Laughter You're probably wondering why I would even mention Anne Carroll. Well, let me tell you why. You see, there's a lot of talk across our country and around the world about America's muscle. They talk about our military might. They talk about our strength, but they overlook the true strength of the country. The true strength of the country is the heart and soul of the individuals in this country. Anne Carroll volunteers her time. She's very actively involved in the Habitat for Humanity and the International Meals on Wheels. She's involved with helping make somebody else's life better. You know, the great strength of America happens when a neighbor loves a neighbor in need. The great strength of this country is the hearts and souls of the American people. Don't ever let them tell you the great strength is the military strength. No, that's good. That helps. Laughter But we're a loving nation and a compassionate nation and a decent nation. And I want to thank Anne Carroll, and I want to thank all of you all who work hard to help a neighbor in need. And keep doing it. The best way to have a compassionate tomorrow for all our citizens is to put your arm around somebody who hurts and say, "I love you. What can I do to help?" Now, we've been tested. This Nation has been tested. As Chuck reminded you, I was here on that fateful day. The enemy hit us. They thought we were going to fold our tent. They thought we were weak. They thought we were afraid. But what they've seen in the last 20 months is a relentless campaign against global terror, because we love our freedoms. What they have seen is a nation which stands strong when it comes to doing our duty and assuming our responsibilities to fight terror and to make our people more secure. It wasn't all that long ago that we sent our troops into Afghanistan in order to uphold the doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists," to uphold that doctrine that says, "If you feed or hide a terrorist, we will hold you to account just like we're going to hold the terrorists to account." And the Taliban found out what we meant. As a result of the skill and bravery of the United States and our coalition friends and allies, we have freed the people of Afghanistan from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. And now, as a result of our decisions and actions, many young girls go to school for the first time in Afghanistan. And we're still on the hunt. There's still Al Qaida operatives moving around. And we're going to stay on the hunt until we bring them to justice. We have a duty in this country to defend our freedoms. We have a responsibility to future generations of America to uphold our responsibility to make this country secure. And we assume those duties, and we accept that responsibility. And so today, as I speak, there are Special Forces teams on the hunt, on the prowl. We're running down leads. We're cutting off their money. We're working with a vast coalition of nations which love freedom, and we'll stay on the hunt until we have totally dismantled the Al Qaida network to make this world more free. And part of the war on terror was dealing with the dictator in Iraq. Part of making this country more secure and the world more peaceful was going into Iraq and removing a dictator who had defied resolution after resolution after resolution from the international community, a dictator with known terrorist connections, a dictator who had weapons of mass destruction. No, we sent in some of the bravest of the brave. And as a result of their courage and sacrifice, America is more secure the neighborhood is more peaceful the world is more peaceful and the Iraqi people are free. I want to thank very much the folks from Offutt Air Force Base who went over to the theater the 55th, Fighting 55th went. About 1,500 of them participated in making sure the Al Faw Peninsula was secure, helped hunt down enemy Scud missiles, helped the recovery of seven POWs in northern Iraq. I'm proud to call them fellow Americans. For those of you who have got a loved one wearing this Nation's uniform, you thank them, and you tell them the Commander in Chief is incredibly proud. We haven't been at this long. It wasn't all that long ago that I gave Secretary Rumsfeld the orders to move in less than 2 months ago that our military, along with others, started to liberate Iraq, but we're making progress toward achieving our objective. Our objective is to make the world more peaceful, and the best way to make the world more peaceful is to promote freedom. In America, we believe a free society is a society which is less likely to create terror activities. A free society is one in which people are more likely to channel their God given talents in a constructive and positive way. No, we're in Iraq until Iraq is free, completely free. We will help rebuild that country. People with food on the table and with their lights on in their house and people that can move around freely without fear of a gang attacking them, these are people that are more likely to develop a society which is a free society. So first things first. And it doesn't matter how long it takes. The United States will put the conditions right, along with our allies, create the conditions necessary for Iraq to be run by the Iraqis, an Iraq of, for, and by the Iraqi people, and then we'll come home. There is no doubt in my mind, as a result of the actions that this country has taken to defend ourselves, the world is a more peaceful place. And there is no doubt in my mind, as a result of the actions this Nation has taken to defend ourselves, freedom has a better chance to take hold all across the world. I'm proud of this country. I'm proud of the decisions and actions we have taken, and I'm proud of the values we hold dear to our hearts. And while we continue to work on the homeland security, we've got to remember that part of a secure nation is one in which people have job security, in which people can find a job if they're looking for work. And I'm concerned about that. That interest unemployment rate hit 6 percent the other day. And that ought to be a wake up call to Members of the United States Congress that we've got an issue here in this country, and we need policies that will get people back to work. I'm optimistic about our future because, like you, I have seen what we have overcome. Let me review the history right quick. The stock market started to decline in March of 2000. And since this is now an ownership society, it affected a lot of people. A lot of people count on their stocks as part of their retirement package. If you're a teacher, you care about the stock market. If you're a policeman, you care about the stock market. If you're an average citizen, it's likely you care about the stock market, because your pension plans or your 401(k)s are invested. And so the market started going down in March of 2000, and then we went into a recession. That's three quarters of negative growth. From January of 2001, for the three quarters ending starting January 2001, we were negative. That meant we were going backwards, meant the economy was going down. It meant people were beginning to hurt. And we started getting our feet underneath us and started making some progress then the enemy hit us. They attacked us, and it affected us. Obviously, took a lot of lives, and we mourn for those lives, and we mourn for those families who still suffer as a result of that attack. But it also affected the psychology of the country. You see, we thought oceans could protect us forever. And we realized we were vulnerable under the in this new era in which we live. But the country came back together. We rallied, and then, all of a sudden, some of our fellow citizens we discovered that some of our citizens forgot what it was like to be a responsible citizen and they cooked the books. They were CEOs of corporate America, and they forgot they have a responsibility to shareholders and employees to tell the truth. They got a bad case of big shot itis. Laughter But they're now learning that they're going to be held to account if they don't tell the truth. So we overcame corporate scandal, and we're still overcoming those scandals. We've been through a lot, when you think about it. And yet, we're growing. The economy is still moving forward. As a matter of fact, we're one of the best economies amongst the industrialized world. And that's positive. But we're not growing fast enough. We're not growing fast enough because too many of our citizens are looking for work. And so long as somebody's looking for work that wants to work, says to me we've got a problem. And therefore, I laid out a plan to deal with it. And it starts based on this principle. It says, if you're worried about people finding work in other words, one of the problems we have is we're such a productive economy. We've got the best workers in the world, by the way the productivity rates are way up in America. But the more productive you are, it means there's better output per worker, which means you better increase demand if you're trying to create new jobs. In other words, if one worker can do more work, you've got to create the need for more work in order to make a job available for somebody looking for work. And the best way to do that is to stimulate a demand for good and services, and the only way to stimulate a demand for good and services in our economy is to let people keep more of their own money. And notice I said, "more of their own money." Sometimes in the Washington debate I noticed Senator Hagel emphasized that as well. See, he knows what I know Sometimes in Washington, people forget whose money we're talking about. You hear them say, "Well, the Government's money well, we're going to spend the Government's money here," or "We'll do this with the Government's money." We're not talking about the Government's money. We're talking about the people's money. It's your money. And the more of your own money you have, the more likely it is our economy is going to grow. See, the more money you have in your pocket, it increases demand for goods and services. And when there's an increased demand for goods or increased demand for services in our society, in our marketplace, somebody is going to produce the good or a service. And as somebody produces that additional good or a service, it means somebody is more likely to find a job. And we're here talking about one thing, jobs for the American people. That's what we're here talking about. So here is what I have proposed. Here's what I've proposed. First of all, you've got to recognize we did cut the taxes on everybody who paid taxes in 2001. And that made sense. We reduced the penalty in the marriage penalty. We increased the child credit. But the problem was, is that in 2001, it seemed okay to phase those tax relief, those tax cuts in over a 3 to 5 to 7 year period. Well, we know you need that tax relief right now. If you're a person looking for a job, you're not interested in tax relief in 7 years. If you're out there looking for work, you want it today. And so I submitted to the United States Congress, strongly supported by the people here, that let's just make it happen now. Let's not wait. Let's get tax relief to the American people as quickly as possible. And so that's what we've done. That's part of the plan. A significant part of the plan is to accelerate the tax relief in place for everybody who pays taxes. You'll hear all kinds of rhetoric out of Washington. They'll say, "This plan only benefits the rich. I can't be for this, because only the rich people benefit." Well, it's interesting they would say that. I just met with a bunch of your fellow citizens who disagree with that concept. I had the honor of having a roundtable discussion prior to coming into this hall, and I met with some good, hard working folks from this part of the world. The Madrigals are with us today, and so is their extended family laughter Kim and Greg. They've got a son, Noah, and a daughter, Marina. They're hard working people. They're worried about their future. This tax relief will provide them 900 in tax relief a year. That's not 900 for 1 year that's 900 for a series of years. That's 900 this year, next year, next and all of a sudden, it gives them 900 to start planning for their future. They get to decide what to do with their own money. It's their money. They ought to decide what to do with it. They're going to talk about making sure that they started a college savings account for their children. All of a sudden, the idea of sending their children to college is a little less onerous, because there's tax relief. They save that money. They said, "We both had to work through college. We never had anything set aside for us" this is what Kim says "so it's important that we provide something for our kids so they don't have to do all the struggling we had to do." That's a fantastic parent who believes that way. They understand their most important responsibility is to love their children with all their heart. This tax relief helps them. Jenny Theisen's with us. Her husband is a staff sergeant out at Offutt. They've got children. They want to put money aside for their kids' saving. They maybe want to do a little remodeling. Now, you see, when somebody makes the decision to get a little extra money in their pocket, they decide to remodel, somebody's got to show up to the house to do the remodeling. Somebody's got to bring the hammer and the saw over and the paint. Somebody's got to go buy the paint. And all of a sudden, you start having a positive effect on the economy when the Jenny Theisens of this world start making decisions about changing the nature of her home. It's not just Jenny. There's going to be thousands of people like her who make the decision with her own money to remodel their homes. And all of a sudden, the remodeling industry gets a shot in the arm, and somebody is more likely to find work. When you leave money in somebody's pockets and they decide to spend it, it's going to have a positive effect all throughout the economy. I met with Julie and Tom Belt from Council Bluffs. They've got three young boys. They're going to save 1,375 a year. That's real money. That's money that's going to go into the pockets of good, solid, middle class citizens who will make decisions with that money, and it will begin to circulate through our economy. And I met the Bullers. Applause They're going to use some of that money to pay their cheering section. Laughter They're going to save 1,000 a month a year, for the out years. My point to you is, is that tax relief will have an incredibly positive effect on the hard working people of this country, people who are working hard to get ahead, people who are struggling with the bills they got today and are worried about their future. Tax relief is good for American families. Tax relief is important and is needed for our economy. And let me tell you what else reducing the individual rates will do. It will serve as a stimulus for small business. Now, you see, most small businesses pay tax at the sole proprietorship, as a result of being a sole proprietorship or what they call a limited liability corporation or a Subchapter S. And that means they pay taxes at the individual income tax rate. So if you're the traditional mom and pop business, you will pay it's more likely you'll be paying taxes at the individual income tax rate. When you hear people talk about me talk about reducing income taxes on the individual, I want you to remember that it's also cutting taxes on the small businesses of America. And let me tell you why that's important. Most new jobs in America are created by small businesses. And if you're interested in job creation, you've got to do something about helping the small businesses of this country. And part of that package is to allow small businesses to deduct 75,000 a year on equipment purchases, as opposed to the current limitations of 25,000 a year. And so today I was down there in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and I was talking to some entrepreneurs and talking to a guy who owned his own garage. I can't remember how long I think he's owned his business for 20 years. He started off with two people. He's now up to maybe a couple of you know, 20 people. Anyway, he's growing. And he told me, he said, "If I'm allowed to expense more than 25,000, I'm likely to add on to my garage. And when I add on to my garage, it's going to mean I need somebody else to work in the garage" because it can't sit empty. And then somebody is going to have to come and build the garage. What we've got to do in our society is increase the vitality of our small businesses and encourage small businesses to invest. When somebody invests, it means somebody has to provide the product. And when somebody has to provide a product, somebody is more likely to find work. The tax relief plan I submitted to the United States Congress has got one thing in mind, helping people find work. And the final aspect of the plan I want to talk to you about is the policy I've submitted to the Congress that will get rid of the double taxation of dividends. Some people say, "Well, the double taxation of dividends isn't going to help anybody except the rich." Well, they don't understand the nature of our society, evidently. More and more and more people now own stocks. More people have got a stake in the future of the stock market because of retirement plans, for example. And therefore, it doesn't make any sense to penalize companies if you're a stockholding society, it doesn't make any sense to penalize companies which distribute cash to the owners. That's a dividend. If you're an owner of the company, it seems like to me you want to maybe get a little something out of it besides the appreciation of the stock. You'd like to get a dividend. But we penalize that kind of behavior in America because we not only tax the company's profits we then tax the distribution of the profits to the shareholders. We tax the same dollar twice, and that is not fair. It's not fair policy. It is not fair to tax the profits twice of our senior citizens. Sixty four thousand seniors in Nebraska rely on dividends to meet their financial needs. If you're worried about the senior citizen being able to live a comfortable life upon retirement, then you need to join us in getting rid of the double taxation of dividends. A lot of seniors count on dividend income in order to survive, and the double taxation of dividends penalizes those seniors. The double taxation of dividends will be good corporate reform. You see, we went through a period of time, as you might remember, where people said, "Invest in my company. I've got a good story, but I don't have any cashflow. But give us a shot." Kind of the pie in the sky theory of market investing. "Go ahead and invest. I've got a good tale to tell, but no one seems to be buying my product." The new economy also was tagged with reality by old economics. That is, if you run out of money, you're not going to be in business. If a dividend society is one which says in order to justify your story, in order to justify your existence, you've got to keep up a steady stream of dividends you can't say pie in the sky if you've promised the investor and the shareholder that they're going to get a dividend. You've got to perform. And so getting rid of the double taxation of dividends will cause more businesses to pay a dividend. It helps incent them to pay a dividend. And therefore, fancy footwork isn't going to work. The only thing that will work is making sure people have got a steady stream of dividends. And finally, getting rid of dividend the double taxation of dividends will lower the cost of capital, will make it easier for people to raise money. And remember, when people have money to invest, it means somebody is more likely to find work. We estimate that getting rid of the double taxation of dividends will add 400,000 new jobs by the end of 2004. I want Congress to take this proposition seriously. It's good for America. And we're making progress. We're making progress. I want to thank you for your interest in this issue. I ask you to continue working with the members of the Nebraska delegation, to let them know your feelings on this very important issue. Now, you'll hear people say, "Well, we can't do this because there's a deficit" if I just take a quick second and just tell you my views on that. I'm concerned about the deficit. You're concerned about the deficit, I know. But let me remind you why we have a deficit. We have a deficit because the economy slowed down, is why we have a deficit. When the economy goes into recession, it means less revenues are coming into the Treasury. Secondly, we have a deficit because I told the American people, "If we ever put our soldiers in harm's way, we're going to pay whatever is necessary to win, to protect them, give them the best." And that's what we did. It's exactly what we did. Now, there's two ways to deal with that. One, you can raise the taxes in order to make up the deficit, which doesn't make any sense to me. It'll hurt the economy. If giving people more of their money means more jobs, taking away their money means less jobs. Or you can do our plan, which is hold the line on spending in Washington, DC, which is being realistic with the people's money. And I want to thank the Members up here that voted for that budget I submitted that holds discretionary spending to 4 percent. So you hold the line on the expense side, and you increase the revenues coming into the Treasury by increasing jobs, by increasing economic vitality. Yes, I'm concerned about the deficit, but I'm more concerned about the person looking for a job today. And this plan we've got not only will deal with the deficit in the long term but in the short term says, we care about the man or a woman looking for a place to work in America. I'm confident about our economic outlook, particularly confident when Congress does the right thing and lets you have more of your own money. We don't need to be little bitty in this deal. We need to be robust to get people back to work. We don't need to be afraid of the politics or afraid of the rhetoric. We need to be strong in our desire to do what is right for this economy. And what is right is a robust plan. And what is right is a strong plan which will get money in people's pockets, so you can decide what to do with it. And when you decide to do positive things with it, somebody's likely to find a job. No, there's no doubt in my mind that this country can overcome the obstacles that have been put in our way. There's no doubt in my mind that when we remain strong and diligent and we will America will be more secure. There's no doubt in my mind, as we continue to work hard for the values we believe, people will realize the beauty of freedom and the benefits of freedom. And therefore, the world will be more peaceful. There's no doubt in my mind that this economy is going to be strong, because the entrepreneurial spirit is strong and the people of this country are strong. We've got great workers. We've got a great system. There's no doubt in my mind we'll succeed, because there's no doubt in my mind we're the greatest nation on the face of the Earth because of the American people. Thank you for coming. May God bless, and may God bless America. May 09, 2003 Thank you all very much. Thank you all. President Sorensen and Governor Sanford, members of the South Carolina congressional delegation and State officials, members of the faculty, trustees, the families, distinguished guests, and members of the Class 2003, thank you for the warm welcome to this great State and to this fine university. I'm honored to be with you on graduation day as you all become proud alumni of the University of South Carolina. I work every day with a distinguished graduate of USC, and I brought him along this afternoon, White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card of the Class of 1971. Andy is a superb public servant and an honorable man. His loyalty to this university runs deep, and sometimes he gets carried away. Laughter I don't mind the chicken finger Wednesdays at the White House. Laughter I don't even mind his shag dancing in the West Wing. Laughter But it's a little much when Andy shows up on the day of the Clemson game dressed as "Cocky." Laughter I am so thankful for the invitation to be the speaker this afternoon. When I arrived, I heard an old boy standing outside. He said, "We're honored to have the President speaking with us today. It's almost as good as last year when Lou Holtz was the speaker." Laughter Today marks a great achievement for this graduating class. You've put your talents to good use you're seeing the rewards of your hard work. Congratulations to each one of you. I also congratulate the men and women who gave their best to this and every class, the fine professors of the University of South Carolina. And I join the graduates in thanking the people whose love and sacrifice made this day possible, the parents of the graduates of the Class of 2003. Forty six years ago, Senator John F. Kennedy came to this campus to address the graduating class of 1957. He spoke of the great problems of that time, including, he said, "untangling the strife ridden, hate ridden Middle East." In the decades since, that strife and hate sometimes seemed like a distant tragedy having little to do with America. After September the 11th, 2001, your generation and our whole country knows better. In an age of global terror and weapons of mass destruction, what happens in the Middle East greatly matters to America. The bitterness of that region can bring violence and suffering to our own cities. The advance of freedom and peace in the Middle East would drain this bitterness and increase our own security. So today I want to discuss with you a great goal for this Nation. We will use our influence and idealism to replace old hatreds with new hopes across the Middle East. A time of historic opportunity has arrived. A dictator in Iraq has been removed from power. The terrorists of that region are now seeing their fate the short, unhappy life of the fugitive. Reformers in the Middle East are gaining influence, and the momentum of freedom is growing. We have reached a moment of tremendous promise, and the United States will seize this moment for the sake of peace. The future of peace requires the defeat of terror. So America and a large coalition of nations are waging a global and unrelenting war against the terrorists, and we are winning. In the battle of Afghanistan, we destroyed one of the most oppressive regimes on Earth, and we destroyed many of the terrorists it harbored. Across six continents, America and our friends and allies have been hunting down the terrorists one by one and bringing them to justice. And in the battle of Iraq, we faced a regime that aided terrorists, armed itself with weapons of mass destruction to threaten the peace, and persecuted its own people. And today, that regime is no more. During these 20 months, the world has seen the resolve of the American people. And the world has seen the power and the skill and the bravery of American Armed Forces. Our men and women in uniform have acted with courage and decency, in the proudest traditions of this Nation. And our Nation is grateful. And for those of you who are going into the ROTC, you will be entering a military that will remain second to none. Our Nation is strong. Our greatest strength is that we serve the cause of liberty. We support the advance of freedom in the Middle East because it is our founding principle and because it is in our national interest. The hateful ideology of terrorism is shaped and nurtured and protected by oppressive regimes. Free nations, in contrast, encourage creativity and tolerance and enterprise. And in those free nations, the appeal of extremism withers away. Free governments do not build weapons of mass destruction for the purpose of mass terror. Over time, the expansion of liberty throughout the world is the best guarantee of security throughout the world. Freedom is the way to peace. Some believe that democracy in the Middle East is unlikely, if not impossible. They argue that the people of the Middle East have little desire for freedom or self government. These same arguments have been heard before in other times, about other people. After World War II, many doubted that Germany and Japan, with their histories of autocratic rule and aggressive armies, could ever function as free and peaceful societies. In the cold war we were told that imperial communism was permanent and the Iron Curtain was there to stay. In each of these cases in Germany, in Japan, in Eastern Europe, and in Russia the skeptics doubted then history replied. Every milestone of liberty over the last 60 years was declared impossible until the very moment it happened. The history of the modern world offers a lesson for the skeptics Do not bet against the success of freedom. Freedom has advanced because the desire for liberty and justice is found in every human heart. And the men and women of the Muslim world, one fifth of all humanity, share this hope of liberty. Freedom has advanced because it is a way to lift millions out of poverty and improve their lives. Where freedom is denied, people live in isolation and stagnation. Where freedom is welcome, people in every culture can flourish. And freedom is advanced in our time because at crucial moments brave men and women have worked and sacrificed for it. And the United States has taken their side. This is how dissidents and political prisoners became the leaders of newly free countries. And this is how former enemies became loyal friends of the United States. The Middle East presents many obstacles to the advance of freedom. And I understand that this transformation will be difficult. Recently, a group of 30 Arab scholars issued a report describing a freedom deficit in Arab countries, citing in particular a lack of human rights and poor education. They also identified the social oppression of women as a major barrier to progress. And they are correct. No society can succeed and prosper while denying basic rights and opportunities to the women of their country. For all the challenges, we also see hopeful signs of change. About half of all the Muslim people live under democratic rule in nations from Turkey to Indonesia. The Governments of Bahrain and Morocco have held recent and free elections. And Jordan will hold elections next month. The people of Qatar have approved a new constitution guaranteeing basic freedoms. Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has proposed a new Arab charter calling for internal reform and enhanced political participation in nations of that region. And in Iran, the desire for freedom is stirring. In the face of harsh repression, Iranians are courageously speaking out for democracy and the rule of law and human rights. And the United States strongly supports their aspirations for freedom. Those who feed hatred want to create a faultline between East and West. Yet in the growing desire for freedom throughout the Muslim world, there is no clash of civilizations. When terrorists and tyrants resist and attack freedom, they are resisting and attacking the hopes of Muslims everywhere. When terrorists go on missions of suicide and murder, they defile the high ethical teachings of Islam itself. Their true ambition is to dominate and control and remake whole societies in their own cruel image. Repression of the kind practiced by Saddam Hussein and the Taliban is not the wave of the future. Free people, not tyrants or murderers, will set the course of history. Freedom is taking hold in Afghanistan and Iraq, countries of more than 50 million newly liberated people, countries building for themselves the institutions of self government. And our Nation has special responsibilities to these countries, responsibilities we will keep. In Afghanistan, America and our allies are helping to build roads and train police and rebuild schools. This summer, at townhall meetings across the country, Afghans will discuss the working draft of a new constitution. And in the fall, a national assembly will convene to ratify the constitution of a free and democratic Afghanistan. The Afghan people face continued struggles in rebuilding their Government and the nation, but the days when women were beaten in the streets and executed on soccer fields are over. In Iraq, we are restoring electricity and water and providing medicines and supplies and removing the thugs who threaten the peace and order of the country. Iraqi citizens have conducted two major conferences to discuss their country's future and place themselves to the path of self government. Soon, Iraqis from every ethnic group will choose members of an interim authority. The people of Iraq are building a free society from the ground up, and they are able to do so because the dictator and his regime are no more. America is working with governments and reformers throughout the Middle East. We are strengthening ties through our Middle East partnership initiative. As a further step, Secretary Powell and Trade Representative Zoellick will meet with regional leaders in Jordan next month to discuss an agenda of economic and political and social progress. Progress will require increased trade, the engine of economic development. The combined GDP of all Arab countries is smaller than that of Spain. Their peoples have less access to the Internet than the people of sub Sahara Africa. The Arab world has a great cultural tradition, but is largely missing out on the economic progress of our time. Across the globe, free markets and trade have helped defeat poverty and taught men and women the habits of liberty. So I propose the establishment of a U.S. Middle East free trade area within a decade, to bring the Middle East into an expanding circle of opportunity, to provide hope for the people who live in that region. We will work with our partners to ensure that small and mid sized businesses have access to capital and support efforts in the region to develop central laws on property rights and good business practices. By replacing corruption and self dealing with free markets and fair laws, the people of the Middle East will grow in prosperity and freedom. Making the most of economic opportunities will require broader and better education, especially among women who have faced the greatest disadvantages. We will work to improve literacy among girls and women, building on similar efforts in Afghanistan and Morocco and Yemen. We'll provide resources for the translation of early reading books into Arabic and donate those books to primary schools in the region. And ultimately, both economic success and human dignity depend on the rule of law and honest administration of justice. So America will sponsor, with the Government of Bahrain, a regional forum to discuss judicial reforms. And I'm pleased that Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has agreed to help lead this effort. As trade expands and knowledge spreads to the Middle East, as women gain a place of equality and respect, as the rule of law takes hold, all peoples of that region will see a new day of justice and a new day of prosperity. For generations, one of the most tragic problems in the Middle East has been the conflict in the Holy Land. Yet now with a liberated Iraq, with new leadership for the Palestinian people, with efforts of leaders like President Mubarak and Crown Prince Abdullah, the hope of peace is renewed. If the Palestinian people take concrete steps to crack down on terror, continue on a path of peace, reform, and democracy, they and all the world will see the flag of Palestine raised over a free and independent nation. All sides of this conflict have duties. Israel must take tangible steps now to ease the suffering of Palestinians and to show respect for their dignity. And as progress is made toward peace, Israel must stop settlement activity in the occupied territories. Arab nations must fight terror in all forms and recognize and state the obvious once and for all Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state at peace with its neighbors. The way forward in the Middle East is not a mystery it is a matter of will and vision and action. The way forward depends on serving the interests of the living instead of settling the accounts of the past. To seize this moment, I am sending Secretary Powell to the Middle East to call all the parties to their responsibilities. Secretary Powell leaves on this mission tonight. He carries with him my personal commitment America will work without tiring to achieve two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in security and prosperity and in peace. You are living in an historic time for our country. When America was attacked 20 months ago, many thought that an age of fear and terror had arrived. Yet the world has seen something very different. America is fighting against grave threats wherever they may gather. We're determined to help build a Middle East that grows in hope instead of resentment. Because of the ideals and resolve of this Nation, you and I will not live in an age of terror. We will live in an age of liberty. I wish each of you well in the careers and lives that await you. I thank you for the invitation, for the honorary degree, and for the privilege of sharing this proud day with the University of South Carolina Class of 2003. May God bless you, and may God continue to bless America. Thank you very much. May 08, 2003 President Bush. It's my honor to welcome the Amir of Qatar to the Oval Office. The Amir has shown great leadership. He has led his country to join in a vast coalition to make the world more peaceful, to make the world more free. Mr. Amir, you made some promises to America, and you kept your promises. We're honored to call you friend. We appreciate your steadfast support. The Amir also has served as a strong example of what is possible in his part of the world. He is a reformer. He's promoted a new constitution which allows women to vote. He's promoted women into his cabinet. He is a strong leader. He believes strongly in education an educated populace is one more likely to realize their dreams. So, Your Highness, it's such an honor to have you here, and I welcome you, and I want to thank you for your friendship. Amir Hamad. I would like to thank the President very much for his gracious invitation for me to come and meet with him here at the White House. We in Qatar are very keen to have a very unique and strong and distinct relationship with the United States, a relationship that it is transparent. Our military relationship is very good. We are very committed with the United States regarding every agreement that we have signed to fulfill our part. We are also so grateful for the United States, because it is helping Qatar in the areas of education and economics and economic development. And in Qatar we welcome all American corporations who are willing to come and invest in Qatar. President Bush. Thank you, sir. Keil Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . Iranian Nuclear Weapons Program Q. Mr. President, there are reports this morning that Iran may be pursuing or accelerating its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Is this of a concern to you, particularly as you are also trying to deal with a similar situation in North Korea? President Bush. Well, I've always expressed my concerns, that of the Iranians may be developing a nuclear program. I have done so publicly. I have done so privately. As you may recall, I expressed those concerns to Vladimir Putin when I went to Russia. And as I understand, the IAEA is coming out with a report in June, and we'll wait and see what it says. But one of the things we must do is work together to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. It is a major issue that faces the world, and it's an issue in which the United States will still lead. Stretch you're not Stretch Bill Sammon, Washington Times . Women in Combat Q. Mr. President, I know you support our women in the military, but sometimes female prisoners of war are treated worse than males. Is it time to review the Clinton era rule change that puts women into combat situations? President Bush. I will take guidance from the United States military our commanders will make those decisions. I will tell you this When I was on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, I met two women pilots. I would have just have been happy to have one of those pilots fly me on that carrier as the guy, as "Loose" flew me on the carrier. But in terms of whether or not, you know, the configuration of our force and who ought to be fighting where, that's going to be up to the generals. That's how we run our business here in the White House. We set the strategy, and we rely upon our military to make the judgments necessary to achieve the strategy. Scott Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press . Tax Cut on Dividends Q. Mr. President, can you live with a scaled back tax cut on dividends the Senate is talking about now? President Bush. Well, first of all, the question is, will the Congress respond in a bold enough way to help people who are looking for work find a job? That's the fundamental question Congress ought to ask. Q. What do you think of this compromise President Bush. And I continually remind people that I want something strong enough so people can work. And I will continue reminding Congress that they have a responsibility to listen to the voices of those who are unemployed. I certainly have heard those voices, and you'll see me next week continuing to take that message out to the country. Holland Steve Holland, Reuters and the last question. Secretary Powell's Upcoming Visit to the Middle East Roadmap for Peace Q. Secretary Powell is going to the Middle East this weekend. Are you seeing any progress at all on the roadmap? The violence seems to be going President Bush. That was supposed to be a dramatic announcement for my speech tomorrow at the University of South Carolina I hereby send Secretary Powell to the Middle East. It doesn't sound like it's that dramatic anymore. Laughter You've jumped the gun on me. Q. Sorry, sir. Laughter President Bush. That's all right. It's your job. That's your job. Q. Have you seen any President Bush. Yes, of course we're going to make progress. Yes, we'll make progress, absolutely. And the reason why we'll make progress is that the Palestinian Authority has now got a leader in the Prime Minister who has renounced violence. And he said he wants to work with us to make the area more secure. He understands what we know, that a peace process will proceed if and when there is a concerted effort to fight violence. So one of the things I'll be talking to His Highness about who, by the way, is very active in this process is how do we work with the Arab world to encourage the Arab world to assume its responsibilities of stopping the funding of terror and to working with the Palestinian Authority to encourage the habits of democracy and freedom with the Palestinian Authority. So I'm very optimistic. That's why I'm sending Secretary Powell there a secret which is no longer a secret. Laughter Thank you all. Very good work, Holland. May 08, 2003 Thank you all very much, and welcome to the White House. We're glad you're here. Interestingly enough, it was here, 58 years ago today, that President Harry Truman announced the end of the war in Europe. And the people of America and Europe celebrated that victory together. This year on V E Day we mark another kind of victory in Europe. Just hours ago, the United States Senate voted unanimously to support NATO admission for Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia. These heroic nations have survived tyranny. They have won their liberty and earned their place among free nations. America has always considered them friends, and we will always be proud to call them allies. I appreciate the Foreign Ministers of the NATO nations or the nations who will soon be joining NATO who are with us today. We just had a great discussion in the Roosevelt Room in the White House complex. I appreciate so very much the Secretary of State, Colin Powell, who has been a strong and tireless advocate for the expansion of NATO. I want to thank the Members of the United States Senate who have joined us here today. I appreciate Majority Leader Bill Frist of Tennessee for coming. I particularly want to thank Chairman Dick Lugar and ranking member Joe Biden for their strong leadership in getting the Senate to vote unanimously for the admission of these nations into NATO. Great job, Senators. I also am honored to welcome George Voinovich, the Senator from Ohio and, more importantly, Janet Voinovich, his wife laughter and Senator Carl Levin from Michigan. Welcome. I'm glad you all are here, and thanks for coming. I want to welcome the chairmen and chairwomen of the Parliamentary foreign affairs committees who are here. I appreciate the Ambassadors from our current and future allied nations who are joining us today. I want to thank General Richard Myers for joining us today, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. And I want to thank all of our distinguished guests for coming. The defeat of Nazi Germany brought an end to the armed conflict in Europe, but that victory did not bring true peace and unity to the Continent. For millions, tyranny remained in a different uniform. The freedom of Bulgaria and Romania and Slovakia and Slovenia was subverted by Communist dictators. And Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were wiped off the map as independent countries. As the Iron Curtain fell across Europe and walls and barbed wire were raised, the free nations of Europe and the United States gathered their will and courage and formed the greatest alliance of liberty. Through 40 winters of cold war, NATO defended the security of the western world and held in trust the ideal of freedom for all the peoples of Europe. This division, this great standoff, did not end in military conflict. It ended when the peoples of Central and Eastern Europe took history into their own hands and took back their rights and their freedom. From that moment, it was clear that the old lines dividing Europe between East and West, the lines of Yalta, were entirely irrelevant to the future. Nearly 2 years ago, in Warsaw, I urged the enlargement of NATO to all of Europe's democracies, from the Baltic to the Black Sea and all that lie between, so that peoples in those countries would have the same chance for security and freedom enjoyed by Europe's older democracies. I called upon all the NATO Allies to renew our mission and to meet the great challenges and opportunities of the world beyond Europe. And these challenges arrived quickly. Following the terrorist attacks of September the 11th, NATO invoked its commitment to the collective defense for the first time in its history. Our friends in Central and Eastern Europe responded as well, providing resources of law enforcement and intelligence to help break up terrorist cells, to disrupt terrorist plots, and to cut off terrorist funding. In the battle of Afghanistan, nations from Central and Eastern Europe supplied soldiers and special forces and peacekeepers to help defeat the Taliban, to help destroy the terrorists, and to bring freedom to the Afghan people. In the battle of Iraq, Central and Eastern European countries have stood with America and our coalition to end a grave threat to peace and to rid Iraq of a brutal, brutal regime. The peoples of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia have a fresh memory of tyranny. And they know the consequences of complacency in the face of danger. Time and again, they have demonstrated their desire and ability to defend freedom against its enemies. They have proven themselves to be allies by their action, and now it is time to make them allies by treaty. This morning's vote in the Senate brings that day closer. I urge all the current members of NATO to welcome these new members as quickly as possible. These nations will make NATO stronger, and we need that strength for all the work that lies ahead. We must continue to fight global terror and strongly oppose the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. NATO itself must develop new military capabilities to meet the emerging dangers of a new era. We must help the people of the Balkans to become full partners in the progress of Europe. We welcome the commitment of Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia to the values and principles of NATO. And we will help them as they move forward with reform. We have work ahead in bringing order and security to Iraq, so the Iraqi people can build the institutions of freedom and provide an example of democracy to other Arab nations. And just as NATO has stood for the freedom of all of Europe, we must stand with people everywhere who strive for greater freedom and tolerance and development and health and opportunity, including those in the Middle East and Africa. This day was a long time in coming, yet there was never any doubt. Through decades of crisis and division, Europe's peoples shared with people everywhere the same need and hope for freedom. This hope overcame the designs of tyrants, and this hope overcame the tragedies of war. The nations of Central and Eastern Europe are one of history's great examples of the power and appeal of liberty. And we believe that example will be followed and multiplied throughout the world. Thank you all for coming. May God bless your nations. May 07, 2003 President Bush. Welcome. It's also my honor to welcome an important friend of America, President Jose Maria Aznar. I welcome you back to the Casa Blanca. It's good to see you again. Jose Maria is a man of principle and a man of courage. Under his leadership, Spain has been a strong partner in the war against terror and has stood with a coalition to liberate the people of Iraq. He believes in freedom, freedom for all. Together, Spain and America will continue to meet the responsibilities of free nations for the peace and security of the world. We last met in March at the Atlantic Summit in the Azores. The 8 weeks since have been a momentous chapter in the history of freedom. We liberated the people of Iraq from a brutal dictatorship. We brought greater security to people of all nations. I want to thank the President for Spain's diplomatic support before the conflict and for the use of Spanish airspace and bases as the war grew closer. I also offer my condolences to the family and friends of the two members of the Spanish media who lost their lives while covering the hostilities. Both Spain and the United States are committed to a stable, democratic, and peaceful future for the people of Iraq. Spain has shown that commitment by sending medical and engineering units to help the Iraqi people, and I thank you for that help. Today I moved to ease sanctions imposed by the United States against Iraq's old Government. First, based on the authority recently given to me by Congress, I am suspending the Iraq Sanctions Act, which restricts the export of certain equipment necessary for Iraq's reconstruction. Secondly, I am directing Treasury Secretary Snow to relax administrative sanctions on American companies and citizens conducting business in Iraq that contributes to humanitarian relief and reconstruction. Soon, at the U.N. Security Council, the United States, Great Britain, and Spain will introduce a new resolution to lift the sanctions imposed by the United Nations. The regime that the sanctions were directed against no longer rules Iraq. And no country in good conscience can support using sanctions to hold back the hopes of the Iraqi people. Across the globe, Spain and America will continue as strong allies in the war against terror. Today the United States took steps to cut off financing for the Batasuna organization, because of its ties to the ETA. We believe that the people of Spain, like everywhere, have a right to live free from terror. We'll also work for a better world beyond the war on terror. We are committed to expanding trade, which builds prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic. We'll work together to address global poverty and the terrible diseases such as HIV AIDS. Spain and the United States will stand on the side of people everywhere who are striving for greater freedom, tolerance, and opportunity. We are determined to help build peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Last week's confirmation of Abu Mazen and his cabinet permitted the release of the roadmap for peace, developed with Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations. Spain and the United States are determined to take advantage of this moment of opportunity for peace. I'm grateful for the wise counsel and for the friendship of Jose Maria Aznar. Bienvenidos. President Aznar. Good afternoon, everyone. I would, firstly, like to thank President George Bush and thank him because of his kind invitation. And I want to thank the President personally because, upon his initiative, the U.S. Government has taken an extremely important decision in the antiterrorist struggle by illegalizing Batasuna, that has supported considering it a terrorist organization, as part of the terrorist organization that has made so many victims in Spain. I want to recall here in the White House precisely that in July 2001 that is to say, before 9 11 President Bush committed himself very firmly in Madrid to solve and help to fight terrorism. So we're speaking of deep convictions that unite us. So I want you all to know that President Bush has scrupulously met his commitment. And today, in a very fundamental support in the struggle against terrorism, and I, as President of the Government of Spain, as a Spaniard and as a friend, would like to thank him most especially. The second thing I wanted to say is that the relationship between Spain and the United States is extremely solid, strong. It's firm, and we want it to be that way not only now but also in the future. And I think that it is based on a shared vision and on shared values, on many things given one clear example, the most serious risk, perhaps, to us all, terrorism. But this relationship is based on firm belief in shared values and in principles that we defend and that we proclaim and that we assume. And it's also based on something that is very important, in that commitments are met. And that's something these days is worth remembering, and that's the value of giving your word. When you give your word and you keep it, then that gives rise to trust and that, in turn, friendship. And that, I believe, is what serious countries and serious governments must do. With regard to Iraq, that we've spoken about, I very much appreciate all the information that the President shared with me. Well, we've done, very simply, very normally, what we had to do. But today, we confront the future with optimism from a founded hope for the Iraqi people in freedom. Having won freedom for the Iraqis is the best hope we can sow for Iraq's future. And we want a democratic Iraq in which the Iraqis may decide their own future, they can be have their own future in their own hands, and naturally, that they can live in freedom. That is something that Spain is committed to, to Iraq's reconstruction. And we will, naturally, cosponsor with our friends and partners, the United States, Great Britain, the new resolution that the Security Council may take on sanctions. Yesterday, I told Secretary General Kofi Annan that sanctions had to be lifted. And I believe it should be done as quickly as possible, because they've lost their reason to exist. And with that resolution we will also be meeting one of the commitments of the Azores, and that is defining the central role of the United Nations in the process. One last consideration regarding the Middle East, Israelis, Palestinians, the starting out of the roadmap is the expression of a firm political commitment of all of us and the expression of President Bush's firm political commitment. That opens up possibilities because after the situation in Iraq, now many possibilities opened up but it also opens up responsibilities. Everyone has to meet their responsibilities, and we very highly value the steps taken by the Palestinian Authority. We wish Abu Mazen success. And we will actively cooperate so as to sow the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians with coexistence, peace, and hope. Thank you very much, Mr. President. President Bush. Dos preguntas por lado. Tom Tom Raum, Associated Press . U.S. Action on Iraqi Reconstruction Q. Thank you, Mr. President. How are you doing in getting a resolution put together to win the support of some of the critics on the Security Council, namely Russia and France? And is the United States prepared to ignore the sanctions if the June 3d deadline comes and it's necessary? And to Mr. President Aznar, what will you be able to do to help win the speedy vote you talked about? And do you find that public opinion at home is making it harder for you to make such a case? President Bush. You want to translate? He managed to violate a rule. He asked two questions instead of one question. But that's okay. He's been around a long time. Yes, listen, we have we discussed the resolution today. We believe there is a mood to work together to achieve a resolution that will expedite the reconstruction of Iraq. The read from at least our diplomats at the United Nations is that the kind of the atmosphere that existed prior to the war has changed and that people now want to work together for the good of the Iraqi people. I think Jose Maria shares that sentiment. President Aznar. Absolutely. I hope it's true. For our part, the position I've maintained is a clear one, and everyone needs to contribute to it within the Security Council. And it's all about the Iraqi people, so I hope we're successful. Death of Spanish Journalists in Iraq Q. Well, President Bush, you have expressed your condolences because of the death of the two Spanish journalists in Iraq. My question would be, do you think this was a mistake, firing against the Palestine Hotel, under which fire Jose Couso died? And if so, would you apologize, do you think it's necessary to apologize before the Spanish Government and the family of these journalists? President Bush. I think war is a dangerous place, and I think that nobody would kill a journalist intentionally. President Aznar. Well, the U.S. Government has already said that this was a mistake, and we believe this. I am truly, fully convinced that no one would intentionally fire against innocent victims, and in this case, the journalists who died. And that's all that's it. The President has often expressed the pain that this produces and his condolences because of this. And I think that's clear enough. President Bush. Steven Steve Holland, Reuters . President's Visit to the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln Q. Mr. President, do you have any reaction to Senator Byrd's criticism of your aircraft carrier landing? President Bush. Exactly the fact that it was on the fourth hook? Q. I guess that's it. No, I think the words were "flamboyant showmanship." President Bush. Yes. No, listen, it was an honor for me to go on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln. I appreciate the chance to thank our troops. It was an unbelievably positive experience. And not only was I able to thank our troops I was able to speak to the country and talk about not only their courage but the courage of a lot of other men and women who wear our country's uniform. I'm glad I did it. It was also a really good landing. U.S. Relations With Chile and Mexico Q. The criticism is that the criticism was made of Chile and Mexico that they would not support the resolution in the U.N. Security Council, the war against Iraq. What is your opinion of this? President Bush. They're friends of ours, period. We've got great relations with Mexico, and we'll continue to have great relations with Mexico. We've got an important free trade agreement with Chile that we're going to move forward with. President Aznar. For my part, I have to say that in addition to being our friends, they're family. President Bush. Thank you all. May 06, 2003 Thank you. Good afternoon, and welcome to the White House. I'm honored to host Prime Minister Goh as we sign an historic free trade agreement between the United States and Singapore. Our two countries have a proud history of friendship and cooperation. We're working together to meet the threats of a new era, and we share a belief in the power of free enterprise and free trade to improve lives. The U.S. Singapore Free Trade Agreement marks a crucial step forward for both our countries. And with the approval of the Congress, this agreement will help generate well paying jobs and opportunities for people in Singapore and in the United States. The Prime Minister is a man with whom I enjoy good conversations. He's got good advice, and I'm proud to call him friend. I appreciate so very much our members of my Cabinet who are here the Secretary of State Secretary of Commerce Trade Minister Robert Zoellick, Ambassador Zoellick. I want to thank very much the Singaporean delegation for coming. Madame Ambassador, it's good to see you again. I appreciate our Ambassador, Frank Lavin, for being here, and I appreciate his service to our country. I'm so grateful for the Members of Congress for being here. Thank you all for coming strong free traders, people who believe in the possibility of trade, in the hope of trade. I want to thank members of our business community who are here. Mr. Prime Minister, you've drawn quite a crowd. Laughter America supports free trade because it creates new opportunities for millions of people, new wealth for entire nations, and benefits that are widely shared. NAFTA and the Uruguay Round, for example, show us what free trade can accomplish. They've created more choices and lower prices for consumers, raising living standards for a typical American family of four by at least 2,000 a year. Free trade has a direct benefit for our citizens. In NAFTA's first 6 years, more than half of Mexico's new manufacturing jobs were connected to trade. Trade helps people in our neighborhood. It helps people find work. A prosperous neighborhood is in the interest of the United States of America. Trade helps people emerge from poverty. Trade helps people realize their hopes and ambitions. Trade is an important part of improving the lives of people around the globe. And that's why this administration strongly stands for free trade. From the first days of this administration, we have been working to extend the benefits of trade to every region of the world. We're a leader in the negotiations of the WTO. We've advanced bold proposals to open up global markets. We seek to build on the success of NAFTA with the Free Trade Area of the Americas. We're also encouraging the free flow of trade and investment in the Pacific, among our partners in APEC and ASEAN. America has implemented a free trade agreement with Jordan, our first ever with an Arab nation. And we're finalizing our pact with Chile. Similar negotiations are underway with Australia, Morocco, and five nations in the Central American region. And soon we'll beginning negotiations with the Southern African Customs Union to bring new opportunities to a part of the world where the need is great. The agreement that the Prime Minister and I sign today is the first of its kind between the United States and an Asian Pacific country. The 4 million people of Singapore have built a strong and vibrant economy. Singapore has long set an example for its neighbors in the world of the transforming power of economic freedom and open markets. Singapore is already America's 12th largest trading partner and buys a full range of American products, everything from machine parts and computers to agricultural products. This free trade agreement will increase access to Singapore's dynamic markets for American exporters, service providers, and investors. The agreement contains state of the art protections for Internet commerce and intellectual property that will help drive growth and innovation in our dynamic technology sectors. The agreement also safeguards the right of workers and protections for our environment. It's a modern agreement. And it's a good agreement for both countries. By granting free trade by granting trade promotion authority last year, Congress showed support for an agenda of free and open trade. And I want to thank them for that. I hope the Congress will act in this same spirit and quickly give final approval to this agreement, and I'm sure they will. Singapore is a nation that is small in size but large in influence. With this agreement, Singapore becomes an even more valued economic partner of the United States. Mr. Prime Minister, your nation has also been a vital and steadfast friend in the fight against global terror. Singapore has made determined and successful efforts to break up terror plots before they can take innocent lives. As a member of the U.N. Security Council, Singapore worked hard to secure the passage of Resolution 1441, requiring Iraq to live up to its international obligations. And now with Iraq's liberation, Singapore will send police and health care workers to help with Iraq's reconstruction. Mr. Prime Minister, I appreciate your nation's contribution as we overcome great dangers and defend the peace. I'm grateful as well for your commitment to a world that trades in freedom and for all the hard work on both sides that have made this agreement possible. We take great pride in the strong relationship between our countries. Welcome to Washington, Mr. Prime Minister. May 06, 2003 Thank you all. Good to see you. Thanks for coming. Thank you all. Thanks for coming. I heard you were in the neighborhood laughter so I decided to drop by and say hello. Thanks for your interest in your country. Thanks for your concern about the future. Thanks for worrying about somebody who is wondering whether he or she are going to be able to put food on the table, to find work. And that's what we're here to talk about. The Tax Relief Coalition is a broad group, united by the commitment to the spirit of risktaking. You understand that free enterprise makes this economy go. You understand the role of Government is not to create wealth but an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish. You understand that our duty here in Washington is to set pro growth policies in place that reward and respect Americans who work hard and take risks. That's what you understand. I appreciate your understanding, and I'm glad you're here because you're here at just the right time. Laughter You see, Congress is now considering what to do. Congress is debating the package. They're trying to figure out what course to take. And I'm glad you're bringing your voices to the Halls of Congress and can be a loud voice, as both the Secretary and I understand, and that's going to be important in the Halls of Congress. Laughter Last Friday, we received some troubling economic news. The unemployment rate is now at 6 percent. The news ought to serve as a clear signal to Members of the United States Congress that we need a bold economic recovery plan. Congress will hear from me. Congress will hear from the Secretary. Congress needs to hear from you. We need tax relief that creates the greatest number of jobs. The goal is to create a million new jobs by the end of next year. I've submitted a good, strong plan that will help meet that goal. The United States Congress must not only listen to your voice but must listen to the voice of somebody looking for work. We need aggressive action out of the United States Congress now. I want to thank our Secretary of Treasury, John Snow. He's experienced. He's capable. He's able. He just as he could easily have looked me in the eye and said, "No, I don't want to serve my country. I think I'm kind of happy where I am in the private sector." But no, he said, "Mr. President, I want to serve the country." And our country is better off because John Snow said yes. Mr. Secretary, thank you. I want to thank my friend Dirk Van Dongen, who's been a tireless advocate for policies that help people looking for work. He's the president of the Tax Relief Coalition. I want to thank all the members of the Tax Relief Coalition who are here, who have joined us, who realize that democracy can work if you work at it. And I appreciate you coming. I want to thank Tom Donohue, who is the president and CEO of the Chamber, for lending this fantastic hall and this beautiful building for lending us this for the purposes of making a statement to the country about our mutual desire to help people find a job. I want to thank all the entrepreneurs who are with us today, the risktakers, the really, truly the engine of growth for the American economy. We've got the Brindley boys here from Vienna, Virginia. I'm going to say something about them a little later on. They started what they call Jammin' Java. Laughter The good news is, Jammin' Java is succeeding. I had a chance to visit with them before we came in, as I did with the Rickards as well, who have got their own business. I'm going to say something about them a little later on. The reason I point them out is, there are people in this audience who own their own business, who are part of the ownership society in America, who are creating new jobs. So, for all the entrepreneurs who are here with us and all across America, thank you thank you for working hard to realize your dreams. America is a strong and confident nation, and those qualities are seeing us through some challenging times. For nearly 20 months, we have waged a relentless campaign against global terror. For 20 months, we have done what the American people expect, and that is to hunt down the killers, one at a time, so that America is more secure. We are winning the war on terror. And as a part of the war against terror, we removed Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq. Thanks to the skill and courage of our military and other coalition forces, America is more secure, the world is more peaceful, and the Iraqi people are now free. We will continue to meet our responsibilities to secure America. We will continue to dismantle the Al Qaida network. We will continue to promote the peace. We will continue to promote freedom, because we know a free society is one that is more likely to be a peaceful society. We assumed those responsibilities. We'll follow through on our responsibilities. And here at home, we have responsibilities. As we press forward on national security, we must promote job security here in America. Our goal is a vibrant and growing economy that's our goal in which the entrepreneur can find new opportunities, in which every person who wants to work can find a job. That's the stated goal of this administration. It's, I know, a goal that you share as well. The American economy has faced one challenge after another over the past several years. The stock markets peaked in early 2000. The economy began to slow in the summer of that year. In early 2001, our economy was in recession. And then we got attacked by the terrorists, and that affected our capacity to grow. And we've endured the uncertainty of war. We've seen failures in corporate responsibility across America. Unfortunately, some of our citizens forgot what it means to be a responsible citizen of this country. They didn't tell the truth. They didn't tell the truth to their employees and their shareholders. They self enriched at the expense of small investors and public interests. In every case, we've taken action to confront these challenges. Our economy is growing. We've got many strengths in our economy. First, the economy is growing because interest rates are low. I mean, I want you to know that in spite of all the hurdles and the challenges we faced, we're still growing faster than nearly all the industrialized countries. And interest rate low interest rates help because it helps Americans buy a home or refinance or remodel a home. And that helps. That helps create employment opportunity. Inflation is low, and that helps. Energy prices are now falling. That's like tax relief on a daily basis when you go to the pumps. We've got two great strengths even better than the statistics I just cited One, the entrepreneurial spirit is strong and secondly, we've got the best workers in the world in America. Last year, productivity growth in America was about 4.8 percent. That's the best annual increase since 1950. When you're talking about productivity increases, you're really talking about technology and, more importantly, the human capacity of the workforce. Our workers are great, the best in the world. But even with the strengths I just outlined, it's important for Members of Congress to hear from you that we've got more work to do, that there's unmet potential in this economy. It's not growing fast enough. In spite of the strengths, there's still people looking for work, and we've got to do more. And that's the message I want you to take to the Halls of the United States Congress. This isn't the first time I've been talking about this subject. Laughter Four months ago, I sent a jobs and growth package to the Congress. That was 4 months ago. And we've seen some progress since then, and that's good news. First of all, both parties in both Houses of Congress now recognize that tax relief helps create jobs. That's important, that both Houses understand that when somebody keeps more money, they're likely to demand a good or a service, when they have more of their own money to spend. By the way, when you're up there, remind them something that you and I know is true The money we talk about in Washington, DC, is not the Government's money it is the people's money. And so, the debate is not if there is going to be tax relief the debate now is how much tax relief. And when they ask you, "How much do you think, citizen?" what you ought to say is, "Enough to make sure that we create a million new jobs by the end of 2004." That's the definition of the right amount. The definition of the right amount is not some theory is based upon theory. It's based upon the practical application of tax cuts, and it ought to be based in human terms. The right answer for how big the tax cut ought to be is a million new jobs. That's the right answer, and that's the package I submitted to the United States Congress. The good news is, many in this room have already been through the tax relief exercise in recent history. Many of you in this room were involved in the spring of 2001 to convince Congress to pass tax relief. And it's a good thing you were involved, and it's a good thing they did, because the tax relief helped make the 2001 recession one of the shortest and shallowest in American history. The issue we now face results from the fact that Congress phased in tax relief over 10 years. In other words, they passed tax relief, but it was going to be incremental. My proposal would get the tax relief into effect this year. Our motto is this If tax relief is good for Americans years from now, it is even better when the American economy needs it today. Instead of lowering all tax rates little by little, the Congress needs to do it all at once and needs to do it now. Instead of gradually reducing the marriage penalty, we should do it now. Instead of slowly raising the child credit from 600 to 1,000, we ought to do it now. And we should send the extra 400 per child to American families this year. You'll hear all kinds of rhetoric about how this plan is not fair. Well, let me just describe to you what it means to the family of four making 40,000 a year. It means their taxes would go from 1,178 a year to 45 a year. That's what that means. That sounds fair to me. And it will sound really fair to the family making 40,000 a year. You see, that's 1,000 not just one year, but for every year. It's 1,000 of that family's own money coming back into their personal treasury, so they get to decide what to do with the money. They get to decide whether to save for a college tuition. They get to decide whether to prepare for retirement. They get to decide how to make their family stronger with their own money. It's also important for your message to understand it's important for your message to understand that this tax relief will help 23 million small businesses create new jobs. Any good tax relief plan must understand the role of the small business in American economy. This plan says loud and clear to the Congress We understand the role of the entrepreneur we understand most new jobs are created by small business owners. And this plan directly affects small business, because most small businesses pay taxes at the individual tax rates. You know why? Because they're either a sole proprietorship or a limited partnership or a Subchapter S corporation. All three of those entities pay tax at the individual tax rates. So when we reduce individual tax rates, we help the bottom line of every mom and pop business in America. When we accelerate the tax rate reduction, it really means we're putting capital into the treasuries of the small businesses all across America. More capital means more investment. More investment means more jobs. If Congress is interested in job creation, if you want to join us in creating a million new jobs, cut the tax rates on the small businesses all across the country. Our Tax Code should also support small business owners who want to invest in the future. So today, a small business can deduct 25,000 for investment in new equipment. The proposal that you're advocating there in the Halls of Congress, the proposal I have submitted, says that we would triple the amount of expensing in new equipment from 25,000 to 75,000 per year and index that to inflation. I mentioned the Brindley boys were with us today, from Vienna. They let me talk about they help define the entrepreneurial spirit in America. They started their business right after September the 11th, 2001. Those are confident people. Laughter Those are people that said, "We're not going to allow a terrorist attack to diminish our dreams to have our own business." I appreciate not only the courage, but I appreciate this, that they have gone from 5 employees to 25 employees. Here's what Luke says. Luke says, "Buying equipment is something we need to do in order to grow the business, in order to stay up with competition. Any break we get obviously encourages us to hire more people and buy equipment." In other words, tax relief will be used by the Brindleys to buy new equipment. And when they buy new equipment, it means their workforce becomes more productive. It means they can compete better in the marketplace. It also means that somebody has got to make that equipment. And when somebody makes the equipment, somebody is finding work. In other words, good tax policy ripples throughout our economy. And Randy and Harriet Rickard are with us. I cite these examples because Congress must understand that behind the numbers is just people that are taking risk for the sake of creating jobs. The Rickards are here. They started their own business 3 years ago. It's a home remodeling business. Randy runs a tight ship. He's got four employees, and he's one of them. He comprises 25 percent of his workforce. Laughter But that's the nature of most small businesses, people who are working hard, people who are expanding, people who are providing a good or a service. This proposal that we've proposed will save him nearly 2,400 every year. That's enough to help pay health insurance for employees, or it's enough to add a new truck, to make sure his business is competitive. He says anything is helpful. "If the economy does well, I do well." Well, Randy, this plan is all aimed at making sure the economy does well, so you can do well. And when you do well, somebody is going to work. That's the whole basis of the plan. The jobs and growth plan would encourage investment by ending the double taxation on dividends. Taxing profits at the corporate level is fair. That's fair. Somebody makes a profit, that profit ought to be taxed. However, when the profits get distributed to the shareholders and it gets taxed again, that's unfair. It's counterproductive. Ending the practice makes the Tax Code fair. It makes it fair especially for our seniors, who receive more than half of all taxable dividend income. Economists say that this move will boost the stock market. That's what the economists say not all but a lot of the smart ones say that. Laughter In other words, there's a wealth effect that will take place. An increasing stock market means a lot for many of our fellow citizens, because we are becoming an ownership society. Many people own stocks directly. Many people own stocks through their pension plans. Many people will be directly affected by an increasing stock market. And so getting rid of the double taxation of dividends will help an ownership society realize more wealth. Getting rid of the double taxation of dividends will be good corporate reform. We went through a period where people said, "Invest in my company because I happen to have a good story. I may not have any cashflow, but I've got a good tale to tell." Laughter The problem the new economics sometimes overlooked old accounting. And that is, when you run out of cash, it doesn't matter what the story is like. Laughter A dividend paying society is one that says, "I've got a good story, and oh, by the way, part of my story is I'm going to distribute, on a regular basis, cash out of my treasury in the form of a dividend." Getting rid of the double taxation of dividends will be good corporate reform. It will make our balance sheets more reliable. It will be better for small investors. It will also help create new jobs. We estimate that 400,000 new jobs will be created when we get rid of the double taxation of dividends. So when you hear people say the proposal only helps, you know, a certain investor class, they're not telling the whole story. Ending the double taxation of dividends will help 400,000 people find work by the end of next year. The House of Representatives is considering a proposal that would include all the elements of the growth plan which I just described to you. It would also significantly reduce the double taxation on dividends. It's a positive step. And they're making progress. I'm going to continue to work with both the House and the Senate, with the goal of making sure as many people can find work as possible. But the more the Members of Congress hear from you, the more likely it is that this plan is going to pass. What you need to do is tell them what tax relief will do for our country if you own your company, how much it will help your company grow, how many jobs that you'll be able to create with tax relief. That's what you need to tell them. You'll also hear talk about the deficit. And yes, we've got a deficit because we went through a recession. You see, a recession means you get less money coming into your treasury. When the economy goes down, there's less tax revenues coming to the Treasury. Secondly, we've got a deficit because we're at war. And one thing is for certain about this Commander in Chief We will spend whatever is necessary to win the war. We owe it to every soldier in the American military to make sure they've got the best pay, best equipment, best possible training. We owe it to the families of the military to make sure that they're as well protected as possible. So our expenditures went up because of the emergency in war and revenues went down. That's the ingredients for what they call a deficit. And there's two ways to deal with that deficit, in my judgment. One is to hold the line on spending. I submitted a bill to the I submitted a budget to the United States Congress which holds the discretionary spending to 4 percent. That's a reasonable level. We, of course, will work with Congress to make sure they stick to that budget control spending on the one hand, and on the other hand, in order to get rid of the deficit, you boost revenues coming into the Treasury by encouraging economic growth and vitality. I'm concerned about the deficit but not as concerned about the deficit as I am about people trying to find work. I'm more worried about the person looking for work. And therefore, we've got a plan that is robust and strong, that encourages economic vitality and growth, so our fellow citizen can get to work and get to work soon. You all can make a difference in this debate. Not only the people present in this room can make a difference, but people who are listening across the country can make a difference. That's why they've got e mails laughter or telephones or, in some cases, buses. People on the Hill are responsive to the voice of their fellow citizens. So thanks for coming, to be a part of a process that distinguishes that really distinguishes us in many ways from many parts of the world, a process in which the citizen can make a difference, part of the process that says democracy is by far the fairest way for people to live. And that's what we believe. We believe strongly in certain principles. We believe in the dignity of every single human being. That's why we want to make sure that's why we care when we hear somebody can't find a work. That's why we grieve when a fellow citizen who wants to work can't find a job, and that's why we've put policies out there that promote growth and economic vitality. But we not only believe in the dignity of every American we believe in the dignity of every person. See, we believe that freedom is the Almighty God's gift to each and every person on this who lives on this globe. That's what we believe. You're representing the best of a free society. The willingness to speak out really does speak to the great freedoms of America, and we hold those freedoms dear. We believe in freedom not only for our own people, but we believe in freedom for those who are enslaved. We believe so strongly in freedom that we're willing sometimes to take risk for not only our own freedoms but the freedoms of others. That's the great thing about our country. We're a strong country. We're a confident country, but we're also a compassionate country that believes in values and principles that will endure the test of time. Thank you for coming to Washington to exercise your freedom. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. May 05, 2003 Thank you so very much. So I'm on my way back from Crawford to Washington, and what the heck, I thought I'd stop into Arkansas. Laughter It's great to be back in Arkansas, a land full of really decent people. And it's as you know, I was honored to be the Governor of the great State of Texas, and some of my best trips were into the State of Arkansas when I was down there. And I'm glad to be back. And thank you all for coming. Before we begin, I do want to say how I express my sincerest condolences to the victims of the tornadoes that ripped through Arkansas and Kansas and Missouri, Tennessee, Nebraska, and South Dakota. Our prayers and I hope your prayers are with those who loved ones who lost life or those who lost their home. The Federal Government the local State and local authorities need to know the Federal Government will be moving as quickly as we possibly can to provide help where help is needed and where help is justified. Nature is awfully tough at times. And the best thing we can do right now is to pray for those who have suffered. I had a good time on our ranch. One of the guests that we had down there was the Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, and his wife. The reason why we welcomed them there is because Australia is an important ally of ours. Australia is a strong friend of the United States of America. The Australians fought beside our forces in Iraq. They were a part of our coalition, a coalition that believes in peace and security, a coalition which believes every person ought to be free. They rose to their responsibilities as a free nation. Because of their hard work and because of the bravery and skill of our military and because of the bravery and skill of our coalition, America is more secure the world is more peaceful and the Iraqi people are free. When I get back to Washington, Congress has got important business to finish. I want to talk about some of that business here today. Four months ago, I sent the United States Congress a jobs and growth package that would provide tax relief to American workers and families. Last Friday, we got some troubling economic news. The unemployment rate is now at 6 percent. This news ought to serve as a clear signal to the United States Congress that we need a bold economic recovery plan, so people in America who want to work can find a job. And part of a good economic plan must understand the importance of small business. And that's why I went to a roundtable discussion that Richard talked about, so I could hear from small business owners and employees of small businesses, the entrepreneurs of America that make this economy go. By far, the vast majority of new jobs in America are created by small business owners, so we spent time listening to small business owners here in the State of Arkansas. And I want to thank you all very much for sharing your stories and talking about your hopes and your aspirations and your dreams for your companies. I also want to thank Hector Barreto, who is the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, for joining us here today. Hector, I'm glad you're here. You're doing a fine job of making sure the ownership society spreads its roots throughout all of society in America, that the entrepreneurial spirit is strong not only in traditional parts of our society but for anybody who wants to start their own business, they get a opportunity to do so here in America. And the SBA helps provide those opportunities for people. I also want to thank your Lieutenant Governor, Win Rockefeller, for joining us. Win understands entrepreneurship doing a fine job as Lieutenant Governor of the State of Arkansas, and I'm glad he's here. Congressman John Boozman is here from he's from the northern part of the State. Glad you all let him into Little Rock for this event, since he's going to get on Air Force One and fly back with me. But I appreciate John. I appreciate his steady leadership. All he wants to do is talk about Arkansas football when I'm around him. Laughter I thought so. Laughter I appreciate very much the mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas, being here. Mr. Mayor, thank you for coming. I'm honored you're here, and I want to I appreciate the local officials and the State officials who have joined us as well. It's my honor to be with you today. I also had the honor of meeting David Shapiro. There's David right there. David is a retired businessman who works for a program called SCORE, which is a volunteer program that's associated with the SBA to help match aspiring new businessowners with experienced volunteer counselors who can help the entrepreneur, the new entrepreneur, realize the opportunities and pitfalls of owning your own business. David's spirit reminds me of the true strength of the country. Oh, we're a great military might will remain that way, but our real might is our people. The real might of America is the heart of the American people, and so when somebody like David says, "Well, I'm going to help somebody help themselves," it reminds me of the true strength of our country. The best way for America to be a hopeful place, the best way for America to be the land of opportunity we want it to be, is for neighbor to love neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. It is that spirit of community. I want to thank you, David. I want to thank you very much. I want to thank each and every one of you who are helping somebody in need in your community or in your neighborhood. It's the millions of acts of kindness and generosity which define the true spirit of the American experience. This has been a time of testing for this country. It really has been. But I'm absolutely confident we've got the strength to meet every test that's put in our way. For 20 months, we've been fighting a war against terror. For 20 months, this Nation has been at war against people who hate freedom, and they hate America because of what we stand for. And we are winning that war against terror. We routed the Taliban in Afghanistan. That was the Government that was so barbaric and backwards, they wouldn't let young girls go to school. And now, thanks to the United States of America and our coalition, young girls go to school in Afghanistan. Society is a better place because of the American troops. Al Qaida is on the run. That group of terrorists who attacked our country is slowly but surely being decimated. Right now, about half of all the top Al Qaida operatives are either jailed or dead. In either case, they're not a problem anymore. And we'll stay on the hunt. To make sure America is a secure country, the Al Qaida terrorists have got to understand it doesn't matter how long it's going to take, they will be brought to justice. We're doing a lot to secure our homeland. We've got a lot of good people working hard to make sure the new Department of Homeland Security works well. We're working with local officials in a much more close manner. We're working with State officials more closely. But the best way to secure America is to get the enemy before they get us, and that's exactly what's going to happen. America is more secure as a result of the liberation of Iraq. Saddam Hussein is no more. The terrorists can no longer find a source of funding in the Saddam Hussein regime. They won't be able to find weapons of mass destruction from Saddam Hussein regime because that regime is gone forever. I had the honor of being on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln. It was an unusual arrival laughter but it was such an honor to be with our sailors and pilots, people from all walks of life, all parts of our country, that had been on a very long deployment. Morale was high. Their spirits were strong. They couldn't wait to get home to see their loved ones. I told them all in my speech there on the deck, I said, "You wait and see what's going to happen. America welcomes you home. We're proud of your service, and we're proud of your bravery." And for those of you with a loved one in our service, for those of you with a loved one overseas, I want to thank you very much for your sacrifices. When you talk to them, tell them the Commander in Chief really appreciates the job they're doing. So do the Iraqi people, by the way. Not all our troops are coming home immediately. We've got a job to do in Iraq. We've got to make sure the quality of life improves, and we're working on that right now, the quality of life for all Iraqis. Got to make sure that the elements of the old Ba'athist Party that still wants to create havoc there is brought to justice. We'll do that. We're going to stay there to make sure that the environment is such that a democratic government emerges. See, we believe that the Iraqi people are plenty competent of running their own Government. We believe that the habits of democracy and freedom are how you fight hatred in the world, that a free society is one in which people have got positive aspirations for the future, a free society is one in which will be a more likely a peaceful partner in a troubled neighborhood. We'll stay to help the Iraqi form a government of, by, and for the Iraqi people, and then we're coming home. You see, here's what America and Americans believe, that freedom is not America's gift to the world, that freedom is the Almighty's gift to each and every individual who lives in the world. We have got challenges to make the world more peaceful and America more secure, and we'll meet the challenges. There's just no doubt in my mind. We've got challenges here at home, to make sure that our economy is strong enough so people can find work. The proposal I outlined 4 months ago was designed to address specific weaknesses in our economy and to remove obstacles that keep companies from hiring workers. Those obstacles still exist. Congress needs to move. But let me take a step back, though, and tell you why I'm optimistic about our economic growth potential here in America. We've been through a lot. Just think what we've been through. We've been through a recession. The first three quarters of the year 2001 were recessionary they were negative growth. We've been through an attack on America, an attack that affected us it just did. In a lot of ways it affected us. It certainly focused our resolve. But it also affected our economy. And then, just as we were recovering from the attack, when we got on the offensive against the enemy, some of our citizens it was revealed that some of our citizens forgot what it meant to be a responsible citizen, and they didn't tell the truth to their employees and shareholders. There were corporate scandals which affected this Nation. And by the way, they will be dealt with as well. We passed a new law, the most important reforms CEOs in America must understand, with certainty, there will be consequences if they're not responsible citizens. If they're not responsible to their employees and responsible to their shareholders, there will be consequences in America. Capitalism must have honesty in the boardrooms of American corporations. We've just been through the uncertainties of war. There were just a lot of things affecting economic growth. But think about this Interest rates are low, which helps the home buyer inflation is low, which helps those who those on fixed incomes, for example, that worry about high prices of the necessities in order to live. The housing market is strong. The energy prices are declining. There's a lot of positives in our economy. The greatest strength in our economy is the fact that we're a productive nation. Productivity of the American workforce just last year, for example, rose by 4.8 percent, the highest since 1950. When you hear somebody say that it's a productive nation, that means we've got the best workforce in the world. That's what that says to me. We have one of the strongest economies in the industrialized world. Things aren't going as good as they can, but nevertheless, we're making progress. We've got some positives on which we can build. But one of the problems with being a productive economy is that a worker can one worker puts out there's better output per worker, let me put it to you that way. And therefore, in order for the job market to increase, you need to increase demand for goods and services. If one worker can produce more goods or more services than before, you need more goods and services to be able to hire the additional worker. In other words, we've got to have policy which stimulates demand. And the best way to stimulate demand is to let people keep more of their own money. Notice I said "keep more of their own money." The money we're talking about in Washington is not the Government's money. It's your money. The best way to get this economy growing is to let you have more of your own money so you can spend on a good or a service. And when you do, it's going to make it more likely somebody is going to find work. The good news is that the debate has shifted from "no tax relief" to "how much tax relief." And I've got an idea. We need robust tax relief. We don't need a small tax relief package. We need a tax relief package that meets the needs of our workers. We need a tax relief package that stimulates the entrepreneurial spirit. We need robust tax relief in order to make sure those who are looking for work can find a job. Now, let me tell you the ingredients of the package that I've outlined. And I'd like to at the end of this, I'm going to ask your help to maybe contact your elected Representatives to let them know how you feel, if you like this. First of all, one of the cornerstones of the tax policy is to speed up the tax relief which has already been passed. In the year 2001, we cut the tax rates on everybody who pays taxes. Congress phased it in over a 5 3 , 5 , or 7 year period of time, phased that tax relief in. Well, we need the tax relief now. I mean, the economy needs the stimulation today, not 3, 5, or 7 years from now. Congress needs to accelerate the tax relief. We need an immediate reduction of the marriage penalty. And we need the child credit we need to increase the child credit from 600 per child to 1,000 per child, retroactive to January 1st of this year. This plan would cut the taxes on 705,000 individuals and households in the State of Arkansas. That's how you stimulate demand. You let people keep more of their own money. But the other thing that's interesting about this plan that's important for the people of Arkansas and America to understand, when you cut individual income tax rates, you help small business grow. And here is why Most small businesses pay tax at the individual income tax rate. Most small businesses are taxed at the individual income tax rates because they're either a sole proprietorship, a limited partnership, or an S corp. Those entities pay individual income tax rates. So when you're talking about cutting individual income tax, you're really talking about providing more capital for the small businesses of the State of Arkansas. I just had the honor of talking to Maura Lozano Yancy. She is a small business owner here in the State of Arkansas. She specializes in serving the Spanish speaking community. She has owned her business for 4 years. First of all, welcome to this ownership society, Maura. One of the things that we want, we want more people owning their own business or their own home. There's nothing better than having a society of owners helping to affect the public policy in a positive way, by the way. Maura has been at it for 4 years. She knows that it is it's tough to make it as a small business owner. But she's making it. How do I know? She's got four full time employees and nine part time employees. She's making it because not only is her business thriving, but she's employing people. And so we talked about this proposal which would save her more than 2,000 on her taxes. You see, she's a limited liability corporation, limited partnership, which pays tax rates at the individual income tax level. So when you're reducing the individual tax rates, you're providing this entrepreneur with more money so that she can either buy equipment or hire somebody new more money to invest. And it's not just a one time shot. We're talking 2,000 a year until we lower taxes again. I mean we're talking 2,000 a year out in the out years. Here's what Maura says she says, "Buying equipment is something we always wanted to do, but sometimes it gets put back." Two thousand dollars would make a difference in her calculations as to whether or not she makes an investment. And that's what we want to encourage. We want to encourage investment. That's why the plan I've submitted to the Congress will raise the small business expense deduction from 25,000 a year to 75,000 a year. We have the Petersons with us today. They're owners of a packaging company. They are a C corp. In other words, when you cut individual tax rates, they don't get a tax cut. However, when they buy equipment under this plan, they will get a tax relief they'll get tax relief. Pete says, "We don't mind spending money to make money, but you got to have money in the first place." That's pretty sound economics. Laughter But this plan, when they make investment, would save them money over time. It provides an incentive for them to invest. Just like Richard Derickson, who is an S corp. He not only gets to save money as a result of the income tax rate he and his daddy started the business his father started the business in '47. It's a manufacturing company which makes panels for household appliances. Richard says he wants to expand. He's thinking about expanding. He wants to buy a sheet washer that would improve the company productivity. This plan would help him buy that. See, the deal costs 250,000 to purchase one of these. But if you can expense up to 75,000, it makes it more likely somebody like Richard will make that investment. And I want you to know what happens when somebody buys a piece of equipment. First, somebody has got to make the equipment. When somebody provides when there's an incentive to go out and buy an extra piece of equipment, somebody is more likely to find work on an assembly line which is making that equipment. And then he purchases the equipment somebody has got to operate the equipment. So we got a new employee there. And then the company becomes more productive, which means it's more likely to have a better bottom line over time. And when you have a better bottom line over time, it means you're likely to stay in business, so that the people you've hired today are going to have work tomorrow. This proposal will save Richard 13,500 in taxes. Not only will he save 7,000 from the increased expensing, but he'll have 6,500 in his company treasury from cutting the taxes. My point to you is, is that the Richards of the world, the Mauras of the world are all making decisions about whether to expand or not. They're making decisions all across America. Tax policy needs to encourage positive decisionmaking in the small business sector because small businesses are the lifeblood for new employment. If we're interested in a healthy economy, any good plan has got to focus on small business, and the plan I submitted to Congress does just that. Gordon Whitbeck was telling me he wants to buy an HBLC machine. I had to get him to explain it to me. Laughter He's got his own laboratories. This piece of equipment will make his laboratories more competitive. He said he's more likely to make that purchase when you increase expensing up to 75,000. The Congress needs to hear from the people of Arkansas. Congress needs to hear from the small business owners all across America and understand. And when they do, they must listen to the importance of the small business owner as well as to why this plan is good for small business growth and job creation. As well, I've talked about the need to treat our investors fairly. The Tax Code ought to be fair, and it's fair to tax corporate profits once. It is not fair to tax the owners of the corporate profits, the shareholders, again. That's not fair. The double taxation of dividends is not fair. And I ask Congress to get rid of the double taxation of dividends. And let me explain some reasons why it makes sense to do that. First of all, there are 62,000 seniors in the State of Arkansas who pay taxes on dividend income. A lot of seniors rely upon their dividend income in order to live the out years, their remaining years. It's good public policy. It makes sense to let the seniors keep more of their own money by getting rid of the double taxation of dividends. A while ago in the stock markets, it used to be kind of the bestselling tool to say, "Invest in my company. I've got a pretty good story to tell." I would call that the pie in the sky period of American investment. "We may not have any cashflow," the owner of the company would say, "but I've got a great story. Go ahead and invest with me." And a lot of people did, and the market corrected, because good old fashioned economics eventually sets in. If your out go is greater than your in flow, no matter how good your story is, you're bust. Laughter A company which pays dividends says, "Invest in me. I'm going to pay a dividend." In other words, there is no pie in the sky dividends come out of cash. "In order to earn your confidence, I'll pay you a dividend on a regular basis." And when the dividend is met, it is pretty clear the company is achieving its objectives. If the company has to cut the dividend, it sends a warning signal up to the investors. The best a good let me just say, a good corporate reform will be conservative accounting practices. If you get rid of the double taxation of dividends, more companies are likely to pay dividends, as opposed to relying upon pie in the sky statements. As well, we've got a lot of I was talking about the ownership society a lot of people own stocks in America. Now, some of them directly own their stock directly, and some of them through their pension plans. But by getting rid of the double taxation of dividends, a lot of economists talk about what they call the "wealth effect," that the markets will go up. This will help the American public at this point during our economic history. The more people feel they've got wealth in their portfolios, the more likely it is they're willing to spend. And so getting rid of the double taxation of dividends will create an environment in which capital moves more freely. As a matter of fact, getting rid of the double taxation of dividends will reduce the cost of capital. It's good economic policy to get rid of the double taxation of dividends. Jim Davis is a fellow from right here in Arkansas. He owns his own insurance company in Little Rock. He started 28 years ago. He's 65 years old, and he reminded me right off the bat that he's not retired. He said, "An entrepreneur never retires. Once you've got the entrepreneurial spirit, you never shake it." And he was reminding me that by getting rid of the double taxation of dividends, he would save 5,700, money which, by the way, that he would seriously consider putting back into his insurance company. He'd like to hire two additional employees. The double taxation getting rid of the double taxation of dividends would make it more likely two people would find work in Jim's business. The package I outlined is fair. It addresses weaknesses in our economy. Congress needs to move. They need to move boldly. We don't need, as I mentioned the other day, a little bitty tax relief plan. We need one that is strong and robust for the American worker. You'll hear them talking about the deficit in Washington. I'm concerned about the deficit, but let me remind you about how we got into deficit. We got into deficit because the economy went into the recession, is how we got into deficit. When the economy slowed down, the revenues to the Treasury slowed down. When the market corrected, the revenues to the Treasury slowed down. That's how you get into a recession. You get less revenues coming in, unless you're willing to cut expenses. Secondly, we got a deficit because we committed or I committed our troops into combat. And I told the Congress, "I don't care how much we have to spend. When we put somebody in harm's way, they deserve the best." And so in order to deal with the deficit, you've got to deal with both sides of the equation, starting with the spending side. A Congress which overspends is one which is not that concerned about the deficit, evidently. I mean, we need to set our priorities, fund those priorities, always remember whose money we're spending in Washington, DC, and keep in mind the deficit. The surest way never to get out of deficit is to overspend in Washington, DC. The best way to deal with the deficit is to hold down discretionary spending to a reasonable level. The budget I submitted to the United States Congress says discretionary spending ought to be at 4 percent. That's about as much as an average family's income is expected to grow this year. If it's good enough for the average family, if 4 percent is good enough for the average family, it's darn sure good enough for the United States Congress. On the one hand, you control the spending. On the other hand, you stimulate revenue growth. In order to offset any deficit, you've got to have more revenues. The best way to have more revenues is to encourage economic growth. The more economic growth there is, the more people who are working, the more likely it is you're going to get more revenues into the Treasury of the United States. I'm concerned about the deficit, but I'm first and foremost concerned about that person looking for a job, and so should the United States Congress be worried about people looking for work. It's time for them to move. The debate has started in Washington, DC. The message I hope you send is, the more tax relief, the more work is going to be available for your fellow citizens. I would hope you'd call the members of your congressional delegation to let them know what you think, to let them know your opinion. Democracy can work, particularly when a lot of people get on the phone or by e mail and just let them know what's on your mind. You need to let them know you're concerned, just like the President's concerned about your fellow Arkansas citizen who's anxious to put food on the table but can't find a job. And remind them the best way to find a job the best way to help somebody find a job is to stimulate the private sector, is to stimulate small business growth, to let people keep more of their own money. And you might just remind them that we know whose money it is we're talking about in Washington, DC. It's the people's money in the State of Arkansas. And I want to thank you all for giving me the chance to come by and say hello. It's been an unbelievable experience to be your President. It's an unimaginable honor to be the President of such a fabulous country. I say "fabulous country" because there is no doubt in my mind we can achieve anything we put our mind to. There's no doubt in my mind that we can have a strong economy. And there's no doubt in my mind that the world is going to be more peaceful and more free because of the United States of America. You see, we hold values dear to our heart. We believe in human dignity. We believe every individual has worth. We believe in respect. We believe in tolerance. But the thing we hold most dear to our heart is we believe in the power of freedom. Thank you all for coming. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. May 03, 2003 President Bush. Thank you all for coming. This has been an honor for Laura and me to welcome Prime Minister Howard and Mrs. Howard to our ranch. We love coming here. It's a place for Laura and me to really spend some private time and spend time with a friend is makes it even more special. And John Howard has been a great friend. The Australian Government has been a great friend to the American people. The Australian people are great friends with the American people as well. The Prime Minister is a man of courage. He is a clear thinker. He understands the responsibilities of freedom. America is really grateful for the sacrifices of the Australian people and for the leadership of Prime Minister John Howard. On September the 10th, 2001, Prime Minister Howard and I stood together at the Washington Naval Yard to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the ANZUS Treaty. The next day, Australia and America began writing a new chapter in the history of our alliance. On September the 14th, just 3 days after the terrorist attacks, Australia invoked the ANZUS Treaty's mutual defense provisions. Australia came to America's aid in our time of need, and we won't forget that. In nearly 20 months since September the 11th, Australian and American intelligence and law enforcement officials have worked very closely together. Our relationship has never been stronger, and that's good, because together we've broken up terrorist cells, we've disrupted terrorist plots, we've cut off terrorist financing. We brought a lot of terrorists to justice. And in Iraq, Australian and American forces have stood together once again. We ended the rule of one of history's worst tyrants, and in so doing, we not only freed the American people, we made our own people more secure. By getting rid of Saddam Hussein, we ended the suffering of a lot of people in Iraq. And at the same time, we made peace more possible in the world. All Australians are justifiably proud of the superb performance and I mean superb performance of the Australian Air Force, Navy, and Special Forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom. As you may know, I was on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln 2 days ago. I met with Admiral Kelly. He was our highest ranking official in charge of joint operations. I said, "I'm getting ready to see the Prime Minister in Crawford." I said, "What can I tell him about the performance and the bravery of the Australian troops?" He said, "They are the best in the world." And for that, Mr. Prime Minister, we're grateful. We want to thank the Australian servicemen for their service and particularly want to say thanks to their loved ones, who I'm sure agonized over the fate of their husband or son or daughter, and tell them that we appreciate their sacrifice as well. We're committed to defeating the threat of terror because we have both felt terror's effects. We remember the sympathy of the people of Australia on September the 11th, and we shared the same sympathy with the people of Australia after the horrible bombings of Bali. The Prime Minister showed he's not only a man of steel, he showed the world he's a man of heart as well as he dealt with the great tragedy that affected the Australian people. We won't tire in our attempts to fight terror. Nothing will deter us. We understand the effects of terror. We also are committed to a world that is more peaceful and more free. We're committed to a stable and democratic Iraq. We fully believe the people of Iraq are capable of running their own country. We will work to provide the conditions necessary for security, repair the infrastructure, make sure that the life of the average Iraqi citizen is back to normal, and then encourage the Iraqi people to decide their own fate and run their own Government. We agree the U.N. Security Council should move swiftly to lift the economic sanctions on Iraq. We'll continue to work together to make the world more safe and free. Today we discussed the Korean Peninsula. We discussed my commitment to move the Middle Eastern peace process forward. We discussed a lot of key issues. I was comfortable in so doing because I value the advice of John Howard. I trust his judgment, and I appreciate his friendship. Mr. Prime Minister. Prime Minister Howard. Well, thank you very much, Mr. President. Can I first, for Janette and myself, thank George and Laura very much for inviting us to a piece of American soil that I know has a special place in the President's heart. To come to the United States is always an experience and an opportunity as Prime Minister to renew the links and the friendship and the affection between our two nations and our two peoples. But to come to the heart of Texas and to be a guest of the President and his wife in this wonderful hideaway although it doesn't appear to be very well hidden away with this large gathering today is a special opportunity. Can I thank the President for the kind words that he's expressed about the Australian military participation in Iraq. We too in Australia are immensely proud of the way in which the men and women of the Australian Defence Force discharged their duties. But can I, Mr. President, congratulate you on the leadership that you gave to the world, at times under very great criticism, at times fighting very great obstruction. But you had a resolute, clear view of what had to be done, and we were very pleased and very proud and very determined when the final decision was taken to be part of that. I think what was achieved in Iraq was quite extraordinary from a military point of view. I think the military textbooks will be replete with the experiences of Operation Iraqi Freedom for many years to come. And the leadership of the United States, with the support of its coalition partners, Great Britain, Australia, Holland, and others, I think has sent a very important message not only to the region but also to the rest of the world. I welcome very much the personal commitment that you have given to the securing of a peaceful outcome in the long running and bloody saga of relations between Israel and the Palestinians. As the leader of a nation which has been a staunch and unapologetic friend of Israel ever since its foundation, we also support very strongly the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. And we see progress on this issue as being very important to consolidating what has been achieved in Iraq and building on the message of freedom that came out of the operation in Iraq. Our bilateral relationship is very close indeed, in so many ways. There is a strategic and political closeness. But more important than that, there is a very deep affection between our two nations. We have shared a lot of experiences. You recalled that very emotional moment at the naval dockyard on the 10th of September, the first time we met, and the next day, of course, the world changed so dramatically. And I can remember returning by courtesy of the United States Air Force from Andrews Air Force Base to Hawaii and discussing with our Foreign Minister Alexander Downer the invoking of the ANZUS Treaty, in consequence of what had occurred the day before in New York and Washington. Australia and America are close friends because, above all, we have similar values. In the end, the thing that binds nations together more than anything else is the commonality of their values. And we have a view of the world that puts freedom and individual liberty, a belief in market outcomes, where appropriate, at the center of the activities of both our nations. Mr. President, I'm very honored to be here. Janette and I have greatly enjoyed your hospitality. We wish you well. We respect very much the leadership that you, personally, and your administration brings to the affairs of the world. We think the world is a safer, more optimistic place as a result of our joint efforts in Iraq, and we think that is a message which is resonating around the world. And we too have one aspiration for the Iraqi people, that they can live in freedom, and they can run their own affairs, and they can benefit from the great civilization and the great resources which, unhindered, are at their disposal. President Bush. Good. Thank you, John. We will answer a couple of questions, two per side. Barney, do you have a question? Laughter He doesn't have one? Then we'll start with Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters . Patsy is a fine Australian, as you know. Tomorrow is her birthday. Laughter Go ahead and ask a soft question, then, now that I've set it up. Laughter Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction Q. Sir, in honor of your guest, I'll ask it in Australian, if that's all right. Laughter Is there a possibility that you may never find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq? And how would that square with your rationale for going to war? President Bush. Yes the question is about weapons of mass destruction. Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. The United States United Nations Security Council voted 1441, which made the declaration it had weapons of mass destruction. It's well known it had weapons of mass destruction, and we've also got to recognize that he spent 14 years hiding weapons of mass destruction. I mean, he spent an entire decade making sure that inspectors would never find them. Iraq's the size of the State of California. It's got tunnels, caves, all kinds of complexes. We'll find them, and it's just going to be a matter of time to do so. Australia U.S. Free Trade Agreement Q. Mr. President, if I could ask, the Prime Minister has also said that Australian American ties have never been stronger than at the moment. What impact will that have on Congress when it considers an FTA for Australia? And what sort of timeline are you thinking of for an FTA? President Bush. Right. Well, I appreciate you asking that. I'm firmly committed to an FTA with Australia. I am hopeful that the Congress feels the same way I feel. We discussed the matter. I asked the Prime Minister, are we making, from the U.S. side, a strong enough effort to move the process along? Is Ambassador Zoellick doing what he's supposed to be doing in terms of getting this trade agreement done? And the Prime Minister assured me that was the case. And so that made me feel good. The idea is to try to get this thing done by the end of the year and then, of course, get it to our Congress in '04. It's I believe we can get it done, and I think it's an important will be an important step in our relationship. Prime Minister Howard. Amen to that. Iraq's 55 Most Wanted Saddam Hussein's Regime Q. Sir, you guys now have in custody 18 of the 55 most wanted President Bush. Yes. Q. including several senior members, Tariq Aziz and others. What are you learning about where Saddam might be President Bush. Right. Q. what his status is, or also about weapons? President Bush. The question is about you know, we've captured 18 of the 55, I think you said. And we're still looking for Baghdad Bob, I want you to know. Laughter Anyway what are we learning? Well, we're learning that, for example, that Tariq Aziz still doesn't know how to tell the truth. He didn't know how to tell the truth when he was in office. He doesn't know to tell the truth when he's been as a captive. And the but we will find out a lot about the nature of the Hussein regime as time goes on because, you know, more and more people will come forward. It may not be the Aces, Kings, and Queens, and Jacks that do the talking. It may be those who were doing the carrying the water for the Aces, Kings, Queens, and Jacks that do the talking. And we will learn a lot when the Iraqi people as the Iraqi people continue to come forth. And when we feel like sharing the information with you, we will. It's you'll probably learn it before I will in certain cases. But what we're going the world will find is, the man had a program to develop weapons of mass destruction, that he had terrorist connections, and that he was by far one of the most brutal dictators in the history of the world. People in Australia and America can't imagine what when John and I say how brutal this guy is. This is a guy that cut the tongues out of dissidents and let them bleed in town squares. That's just that's beyond the imagination of the Australian people to think that could possibly happen. It happened. And more and more people will find out the nature of this regime as time goes on. I don't know whether the Aces will talk. I don't know whether the Kings will talk. But many Iraqi citizens will talk, and the more we learn, the more the world will find out about the true nature of the Iraqi regime. Prime Minister Howard's Visit Prime Minister Howard. Leigh. Leigh Sales and ABC Australian Broadcasting Corporation . Q. President Bush, can you give us an idea of the sorts of things that you and the Prime Minister did at the ranch last night and this morning? And when do you plan to visit Australia? President Bush. Yes, as soon as possible. I don't know what that means, though. So it's kind of what we that's called a "dodge." Laughter I'd love to come to Australia. We so I get out a coffee of course, got Laura some coffee first thing in the morning. And I look out my window, and there's the Prime Minister ready to go for a stroll. So I hustled and got dressed, and we went for a good walk. And I'll tell you something, the guy I'm a pretty good athlete he walks a good clip. I was breathing hard, and Barney was breathing harder. Laughter We had trouble keeping up with him. But one of my favorite things to do is to show this place to friends. And so the Prime Minister and Mrs. Howard and Laura and I went traveled the ranch. And I took him to my favorite spot, which is this canyon, and there's a waterfall. It rained a couple of days ago actually last night so the water was moving pretty good. And it's just a special part of the ranch. We've got a lot of different variety of hardwood on this ranch. It's hard to tell it from this spot, but north of here, and there's a creek and intersection to a river, and there's some just fantastic trees in these bottoms. And John and I went and spent some time down there. We visited a lot about our mutual interests. He's obviously very knowledgeable about a lot of the world. And we spent a lot of time talking about Indonesia and the threats that emanate out of Indonesia and what the Australian Government is doing to work with the Indonesian Government to make Australian people and America, for that matter more secure. We had a pretty good dinner last night a little beef. And fortunately, the Prime Minister wanted to go to bed early, because I did too. Laughter And we had a great visit. We'll go and have a lunch one more tour of the ranch and have a lunch. The one thing I regret is he didn't go fishing with me yesterday afternoon. He wanted a little rest, but I love having him here. I can't tell you what a comfort it is to talk to him on the phone. He's steady. You know, times get tough when you make tough decisions, and we both made a tough decision, but there was never any doubt in his mind. He was steady under fire. He stood his ground when he needed to stood his ground, because he understands the difference between right and wrong. And he knows the difference between slavery and freedom. And I'm honored to call him friend, and really am glad he's here. Thank you all very much. Hope you enjoy your stay in this part of the world. By the way, they tell me Australia and Texas, they've got a lot in common. Having to watch this man perform, I agree. Laughter The biggest compliment you can pay to somebody, at least in this part of the world, is you're kind of like a Texan. Laughter Thank you. Prime Minister Howard. Thank you. President Bush. Okay, Barney, come on. Quit showing off. Laughter May 03, 2003 Good morning. On Thursday, I visited the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, now headed home after the longest carrier deployment in recent history. I delivered good news to the men and women who fought in the cause of freedom Their mission is complete, and major combat operations in Iraq have ended. Our coalition is now engaged in securing and reconstructing that country. The United States and our allies have prevailed. Operation Iraqi Freedom was carried out with a combination of precision, speed, and boldness the enemy did not expect and the world had not seen before. From distant bases or ships at sea, we sent planes and missiles that could destroy an enemy division or strike a single building or bunker. Marines and soldiers charged to Baghdad across 350 miles of hostile ground in one of the swiftest mass advances of heavy arms in history. The world has seen the might of the American Armed Forces. In this victory, America received valuable help from our allies. This weekend, I am hosting Australian Prime Minister John Howard at my ranch in Crawford, Texas. Prime Minister Howard has been a strong ally in the war on terror, and Australian forces have played an important role in the liberation of Iraq. Australian Special Forces entered Iraq with their American and British counterparts at the very beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. They helped to secure sites in western Iraq that could have been used to launch Scud missiles. And they disrupted Iraqi troop movements and command posts, paving the way for Army and Marine units making their way to Baghdad. Australia FA 18 fighters carried out deep bombing runs in Iraq. The Australian Navy worked with British forces to take control of the Faw Peninsula. Australian Navy divers cleared mines in the port of Umm Qasr, opening sea lanes to deliver humanitarian assistance. And Australian transport planes delivered emergency supplies and equipment for Iraqi hospitals. All told, about 2,000 Australian service members contributed to the destruction of Saddam Hussein's regime and the liberation of the Iraqi people. All Australians can be justly proud of the superb performance of Australians' air, naval, and Special Forces in Operation Iraqi Freedom. America is deeply grateful for their important contributions. Our coalition still has much work to do in Iraq. We are bringing order to parts of that country that remain dangerous. We are pursuing and finding leaders of the old regime who will be held to account for their crimes. We have begun the search for hidden chemical and biological weapons at hundreds of locations. We are helping to rebuild Iraq, where the dictator built palaces for himself instead of hospitals and schools for the people. And we will stand with the new leaders of Iraq as they establish a government of, by, and for the Iraqi people. The transition from dictatorship to democracy is hard and will take time, but it is worth every effort. Our coalition will stay until our work is done. Then we will leave, and we will leave behind a free Iraq. The battle of Iraq is one victory in a war on terror that still goes on. Al Qaida is wounded, not destroyed. The scattered cells of the terrorist network still operate in many nations. And we know from daily intelligence that they continue to plot against free people. The proliferation of deadly weapons remains a serious danger. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. Our Government has taken unprecedented measures to defend our homeland, and more importantly, we will continue to hunt the enemy down before he can strike. No act of terrorists will change our purpose or weaken our resolve or alter their fate. Their cause is lost. Free nations will press on to victory. Thank you for listening. May 02, 2003 Thank you all very much. Thanks for the warm welcome. It's been a heck of a trip out here to California. Laughter I'm honored to be here with the good folks at United Defense. I'm here to thank you for your contribution to making the world a more peaceful and free place. Yesterday I had the honor of speaking to the American people from the deck of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln. I made this declaration, that major combat operations in Iraq have ended, the United States and our allies have prevailed. I spent the night one night. Laughter Most of the crew had been on there for 9 1 2 months. I was so proud to be with those men and women who wear our Nation's uniform. Their morale is high. They have served our Nation well, and this country is proud of them. We are proud of everybody who wears the Nation's uniform, and we are proud of those who have contributed to the defense of the country, just like the people right here at United Defense have done. The technologies and products developed here at United Defense have made our military second to none. So I'm here to thank the folks who work for this fine company, on behalf of the American people, for your contribution to the security of your Nation and for the peace of the world. I'm also here for another reason. I'm here to talk about the state of our economy. Today we saw some new statistics on employment. The unemployment number is now at 6 percent, which should serve as a clear signal to the United States Congress we need a bold economic recovery package so people can find work. That 6 percent number should say loud and clear to members of both political parties in the United States Congress, we need robust tax relief so our fellow citizens can find a job. I want to thank Tom for his kind introduction, and I want to thank Elmer for the tour. Laughter You all are doing some amazing stuff here. I'm really proud proud of the workers, proud of the engineers, proud of the people who are keeping this country on the cutting edge. I want to thank the mayor of Santa Clara for coming. Madam Mayor, I appreciate you coming. I want to thank all the local officials. I particularly want to thank Richard Pombo, the Congressman from the great State of California, for being here as well. I had the honor of meeting a fellow named Steve Houck today. Where are you, Steve? Somewhere around here. Where?There he is. Hi, Steve. Laughter They gave Steve a great seat laughter at least a great view. Laughter Here's why I want to mention Steve. You see, Steve works for salesforce.com, a company which encourages voluntarism amongst its employees. Not only does the company encourage voluntarism amongst employees, Steve leads the effort one of the leaders of the effort. He takes the time that the company allows him and volunteers to help make somebody's life better. We've spent a lot of time in this country over the recent weeks talking about the great military might of America. The truth of the matter is, the greatest strength of our country is the compassion of our fellow citizens to one another. The great strength of America can be found in the hearts of our fellow citizens. My call to you is to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you're worried and interested about the future of this country, find somebody who hurts. Find somebody who needs love. Put your arm around them and say, "The great American experience belongs to you just as much as it belongs to me." Steve, thank you for your leadership. On September the 11th, 2001, America learned that vast oceans no longer protect us from the threats of a new era. On that day, 19 months ago, we also began a relentless worldwide campaign against terrorists, those who hate freedom, in order to secure our homeland and to make the world a more peaceful place. And we're making great progress. In the battle of Afghanistan, we destroyed one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind a regime so barbaric, they would not allow young girls to go to school a regime so barbaric, they were willing to house Al Qaida. That regime no longer exists. Many Al Qaida leaders no longer exist, and the training camps no longer exist. In the war on terror, we're making good progress. As I said last night, nearly one half of all Al Qaida's senior operatives are no longer a threat to the United States of America. And we're still on the hunt. We will flush them out of their caves. We'll get them on the run, and we will bring them to justice. As a result of the bravery and skill of our Armed Forces and coalition forces, the war on terror is much longer down the road because of what happened in Iraq. You see, the Al Qaida no longer have a ally in the regime in Iraq. Terrorists no longer have a funding source in the regime of Iraq. One thing is for certain Terrorists will no longer have a source of weapons of mass destruction in the regime that used to be in Iraq, because the regime that used to be in Iraq is no longer. We have an obligation to future generations of Americans to make sure this country is secure, and we will keep that obligation. We have made progress, but there is more to do. In all these efforts, our men and women in uniform have performed brilliantly. By their courage, our Nation is more secure. By their skill and sacrifice, Iraq and Afghanistan are now free. The people who serve our country deserve our gratitude, and they deserve the finest equipment we can provide. The new technologies of war help to protect our soldiers and, as importantly, help protect innocent life. You see, new technologies allow us to redefine war on our terms, which makes it more likely the world will be more free and more peaceful. You do a lot to keep the American Armed Forces on the leading edge of technological change here at United Defense, and I want to thank you for that. You not only help save lives, but you're an agent for peace. And that's important for you to know that. The better we can redefine how war is wars are fought and won, the more likely it is that peace will prevail because this is a peaceful nation. This is a nation that wants nothing more than the world to be more free and more peaceful. I want to thank you for what you've done, what you're going to do, and I want to thank you for the product you put out in the field. In the Iraqi theater, the M4 Command and Control vehicles that you help produce gave our commanders unprecedented control over the battlefields. The Bradley Fighting Vehicles were responsible for a lot of tank kills. Some of the first Army units sent to take control of the Baghdad Airport were traveling in Bradleys. The world witnessed one of the swiftest advances of heavy arms in the history of warfare, a 350 mile charge from south to north in Iraq, through hostile enemy territory. We were able to do so not only because of the good strategy, great courage, and skill, but because of the Bradleys and Abrams with which our soldiers were equipped. You're making a good product here. One of the things that people learned about your company as well is how useful the HERCULES tank recovery system can be. The guy with the sledgehammer on the statue needed a little help. Laughter Thankfully, there was a HERCULES close by laughter a HERCULES which pulled that statue of Saddam Hussein to the ground. That meant more to the Iraqi people than you can possibly imagine. It was a symbol of their future, a future based upon something that we hold dear to our hearts, a future based upon something that is not America's gift to the world but the Almighty God's gift to each and every individual, a future based upon freedom. I also appreciate so very much that 35 of your fellow workers are in theater. Some were in Kuwait. Many are in Iraq, working on the products that you helped develop, working through those sandstorms and those long hauls across hostile territory. They're still in the region. They and their families need to know America is grateful for their service and their sacrifices, just as we are grateful for the service and sacrifice of many of the families whose loved ones have been and still are in theater. Perhaps some of you have got a relative over there, kind of like Ron Pinkney, who is an engineer here at United Defense. His son, Jason, is serving in the 101st Airborne Division. Ron, I appreciate your sacrifice for your country by being a loving dad. But you tell Jason, and you tell Jason to tell his buddies, the Commander in Chief and the people of Santa Clara, California, are really proud of his service. Major combat operations are over. Yet we have got commitments to keep in Iraq. Parts of that country are still dangerous, and we will provide security. We will establish order in the parts of Iraq that are dangerous. We will chase down the leaders of the old regime, and they will be held to account for the atrocious crimes they committed on the Iraqi people. We've got hundreds of sites to exploit, looking for the chemical and biological weapons that we know Saddam Hussein had prior to our entrance into Iraq. Listen, this guy has spent years and years and years of hiding weapons from weapons inspectors. It's going to take time, but the world will see the truth. We'll restore the hospitals, rebuild the schools, provide needed infrastructure in a country that didn't have as many hospitals as it needed or schools as it needed or needed infrastructure as was required, because Saddam Hussein was willing to spend money on luxurious palaces, not on the people of Iraq. We will stand with the new leaders of Iraq as they build a Government of, by, and for the Iraqi people. This is going to take time. The efforts to restore security and infrastructure is going to take time, and it's not going to be easy work. But we will stay the course. We will stay as long as necessary to get the job done, and then we will leave. And when we leave, we will leave behind a free Iraq. We believe in the peace, in keeping the peace. And the best way to make the world more peaceful and the best way to fight hatred, the hateful ideologies oftentimes found in corners of the world, is to promote freedom. Free people are less likely to hate. Free people are more likely to focus on a hopeful future. We love freedom in America. It's ingrained in our soul. We also understand the habits of freedom are more likely to make the world a more peaceful and hopeful place. We will stay in Iraq until it is free, and we will stay to make sure the foundations for freedom are real and solid. Now, here at home, we've got other we've got challenges to face. I talked about a statistic, but behind every statistic is somebody's life, when it comes to employment statistics. Listen, the goal of this country is to have an economy vibrant enough, strong enough so that somebody who's looking for work can find a job. We're making progress. You've just got to know that. We're a growing economy. Matter of fact, we're the of all the industrialized economies, we're one of the strongest. That's not good enough for me, and I know it's not good enough for you. We've come through some hard times. Remember, we've overcome a recession. We've overcome an attack on our soil. We have been in two major battles in the war against terror, one in Afghanistan, one in Iraq. We had some of our fellow citizens forget what it means to be a responsible citizen, some CEOs of corporations in America who felt it would be okay to fudge the numbers, to not tell the truth. Their irresponsible behavior affected the psychology of the country. We'll take care of them. It would be helpful if many CEOs in corporate America took care of business before we had to take care of them. I call upon the CEOs of this company to treat their employees and shareholders with the utmost of respect. Despite these obstacles, we're growing, but there is untapped potential in this economy. You know it better than anybody, right here in this part of the world. The foundations for growth are good. We got low inflation, which is positive, low interest rates, which are really good for people who either own a home or want to buy a home or refinancing a home in order to remodel a home. The greatest strength well, let me gas prices are coming down, which, by the way, is positive for the American consumer, American people. The greatest strength we have is the productivity of the American worker. That's our greatest strength. Last year, productivity growth in America was 4.8 percent. It's the best annual increase since 1950. Let me tell you what that means here at United Defense incredibly productive workforce that you have here. It took 4 years for United Defense's engineers to develop a working prototype of the Bradley. It took only 8 months to do the same for the Future Combat System vehicle. Productivity increases like that means that we are more competitive, that people are likely to find better jobs, that consumers will benefit. Now, productivity increase is an incredibly important part of the future of this country. And I want to thank the workers here and the engineers here for being on the leading edge of the productivity increases in our country. But the economy is not growing fast enough, and you know it as well as anybody here. So I've been working with the Congress on a jobs package, a pro growth jobs package. See, in order to help people looking for work, we need to figure out how best to encourage economic growth. That ought to be the cornerstone of any good jobs package. You see, if the economy grows, somebody is more likely to find work. Therefore, we ought to be asking the question How do we create economic growth? In my judgment and the judgment of a lot of economists and the truth of the matter is, it's now become kind of the common wisdom in Washington, DC the best way to create growth is to let people keep more of their own money. The more money you have in your pocket, the more likely it is you're going to demand a good or a service. The more goods and services demanded, the more likely it is somebody is going to find work in America. And therefore, I proposed a robust tax package to the United States Congress of at least 550 billion. The reason I did so is because economists have taken a look at that package and say that when it passes, one million new jobs will be created by the year 2004. If you're interested in job creation, if you want to make sure that your neighbor can find work, support a job package that is robust and strong and is hopeful for the American worker. We're making good progress. I mean, it makes sense that we should make progress. After all, most of the tax relief package I proposed has already been passed by the Congress. See, I said we ought to reduce all rates. They've already agreed to that. We ought to reduce the effect of the marriage penalty. They agreed to that. We ought to raise the child credit from 600 to 1,000 per child. They agreed to that. The problem is that they weren't going to let you keep your own money for 3, 5, or 7 years from now. Well, listen, our economy needs a shot in the arm now, not 3, 5, or 7 years from now. If you're somebody that's looking for work, you're not interested in what's going to take place 3, 5, or 7 years from now. If you're somebody looking for work, you want your Government to act now. For the sake of job creation, the United States Congress must enact all the tax reforms they passed in 2001. When I get back to Washington, DC, I want to see a bill on my desk that recognizes well, that may be a little fast. How about in a couple of weeks after I get back to Washington? Laughter For the sake of job growth, let's put those tax cuts we've already got in place, in place today so people can find work. Oh, you hear all kinds of talk in Washington about, "This plan is not fair." You know, "This plan is going to reward only certain people." Let me tell you the effects of this plan on a family of four making 40,000 a year. Their tax bite will go from 1,178 a year to 45 a year. Now, perhaps for some in Washington, DC, that 1,000 a year for every year doesn't sound like a lot. But for a family of four making 40,000 a year, it means a lot. It means a lot not only to the family for their capacity to save or invest in their children it means a lot for our economy to have people with an additional 1,000 in their pocket. Congress needs to get this passed and get it passed soon. Any good economic jobs package has got to understand the role of small business in our society. Most new jobs are created by small businesses. When small businesses are strong, when small business flourishes, people are more likely to find work. Cutting the tax rates and accelerating the tax rates cuts is important for small business growth for this reason Most small businesses pay tax at the individual income tax rates. Most small businesses are either a sole proprietorship or a limited partnership or a Subchapter S and, therefore, pay tax like an individual does. So that when you hear us talk about cutting individual tax rates and accelerating the tax rate cuts, you've got to understand the impact it is going to have on the American entrepreneur. It will mean more capital in the coffers of the small business company. More capital in the coffers of the small business company means more investment. More investment means more work for the American people. Twenty three small business owners will see their taxes cut 23 million small business owners will be more likely candidates to hire somebody. As well, there is a limit on what a small business can deduct on capital purchases, at 25,000. Congress ought to raise that limit to 75,000 per year for small businesses, to allow small business to exempt capital purchases of that amount. It ought to index it to inflation. Listen, when somebody goes out and buys a new computer or a new program, it not only benefits the small business because the small business becomes more productive it benefits the computer programmer who has designed the program or the computer manufacturer who made the computer. The best way to encourage economic growth is to encourage investment, is to stimulate supply and demand. The Congress needs to be bold, and the Congress needs to act, and the Congress needs to recognize the importance of small business in our society. I also believe we ought to end the double taxation on dividends. It makes sense to tax a company's profits. What doesn't make sense is to tax the company's profits and then tax the owners of the company after they pay tax. It's not fair to tax something twice in our society. Who are the owners of the companies? The owners of the companies are the shareholders. Millions of Americans own stock either directly or through pension plans, 401(k)s. Listen, if you're an owner of a company, small or large, you ought to be worried about your company your investment being taxed twice by the Federal Government. The double taxation of dividends is not fair. It is not fair to seniors, who oftentimes rely upon dividend income. It's not fair to the workers whose pension plans rely upon dividend income. It is not fair for the Federal Government to tax something twice, and we need to get rid of the double taxation of dividends in America. Getting rid of the double taxation of dividends will make it easier for businesses to raise capital. It will reduce the cost of capital. The more capital there is in circulation, the more jobs there will be for American workers. Getting rid of the double taxation of dividends will encourage companies to pay dividends. We have just gone through a period in American economic history where people invested based upon what I would call, maybe, pie in the sky projections that, "Don't worry. We don't have any cashflow, but nevertheless, we've got a nice story." Laughter The problem is, that story kind of ran out of steam because there wasn't any cashflow. To me, it's a great reform to encourage people to pay dividends on stocks, because you can't put out a pie in the sky projection if you're a dividend paying company. If you say you're going to pay a dividend, you better pay the dividend, and the only way you can pay a dividend is to have actual cashflow available for the investors. Getting rid of the double taxation of dividends will be good for job creation. It will be good for capital formation. It will be good for the pension holders of America, and it will be good corporate reform in a system that needed reform. I know there's people hurting here in Silicon Valley. I know there are people who are worried about their future. I know this incredibly vibrant part of the American economy over the past year is not meeting its full potential. The plan I just outlined is one that will boost the economy in the Silicon Valley. It's a plan that is bold because we need a bold plan. It's a plan that is thoughtful because we need a thoughtful plan. Most importantly, it's a plan that will invigorate the entrepreneurial spirit, which has been so strong here, and make it more likely somebody who's looking for a job will be able to find one. I urge the United States Congress to look at the unemployment numbers that came out today and pass a tax relief plan that will matter, a tax relief plan robust enough so that the people of this country who are looking for work can find a job. I know you'll hear talk about the deficit, and we've got a deficit because we went through a recession. A recession means the economy has slowed down to the extent where we're losing revenues to the Federal Treasury. We got a recession because we went to war, and I said to our troops, "If we're going to commit you into harm's way, you deserve the best equipment, the best training, the best possible pay. It doesn't matter what it costs we're going to pay what it costs in order to win the war." We had an emergency. These all cost our Government money. So with the combination of the loss of revenue as a result of the recession, which was official in January of 2001, and the expenditures in order to win a war and deal with an emergency and deal with the new issues of homeland security, we've got a deficit. And there's two ways to deal with that. One is you control the expense side of the ledger. You make sure the Federal Government spends your money on that which is absolutely necessary. You focus them on doing certain things and doing them well. You must have fiscal discipline in Washington, DC, in order to deal with the deficit. And the other way to deal with the deficit is to put policies in place that increase the revenues coming into the Treasury. And the best way to encourage revenues coming into the Treasury is to promote policy which encourages economic growth and vitality. A growing economy is going to produce more revenues for the Federal Treasury. The way to deal with the deficit is not to be timid on the growth package. The way to deal with the deficit is to have a robust enough growth package so we get more revenues coming into the Federal Treasury and then follow my lead and make sure we don't overspend the people's money in Washington, DC. I'm incredibly proud of this country, and I know you are as well. We have been through a lot as a nation. Our resolve has been tested. But we have shown the world our greatest resources and our greatest strength, which is our national character that we hold certain values to be true, that we've got tremendous compassion as a nation, that we're an optimistic people and we're a resolved people, we are resolved to defend the peace of the world, that we are resolved to bring freedom to corners of the world that haven't seen freedom in generations, that we're determined to build the prosperity of our own country. This is a unique moment in our country's history it truly is and the American people are rising to meet it. I want to thank each of you for what you've done to make this country more secure and the world more peaceful and the world more free. I want to thank you for coming out today. It's such an honor to be here. May God bless you and your families, and may God continue to bless America. May 01, 2003 Thank you all very much. Admiral Kelly, Captain Card, officers and sailors of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, my fellow Americans Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed. And now our coalition is engaged in securing and reconstructing that country. In this battle, we have fought for the cause of liberty and for the peace of the world. Our Nation and our coalition are proud of this accomplishment yet it is you, the members of the United States military, who achieved it. Your courage, your willingness to face danger for your country and for each other, made this day possible. Because of you, our Nation is more secure. Because of you, the tyrant has fallen, and Iraq is free. Operation Iraqi Freedom was carried out with a combination of precision and speed and boldness the enemy did not expect and the world had not seen before. From distant bases or ships at sea, we sent planes and missiles that could destroy an enemy division or strike a single bunker. Marines and soldiers charged to Baghdad across 350 miles of hostile ground, in one of the swiftest advances of heavy arms in history. You have shown the world the skill and the might of the American Armed Forces. This Nation thanks all the members of our coalition who joined in a noble cause. We thank the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom, Australia, and Poland, who shared in the hardships of war. We thank all the citizens of Iraq who welcomed our troops and joined in the liberation of their own country. And tonight I have a special word for Secretary Rumsfeld, for General Franks, and for all the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States America is grateful for a job well done. The character of our military through history the daring of Normandy, the fierce courage of Iwo Jima, the decency and idealism that turned enemies into allies is fully present in this generation. When Iraqi civilians looked into the faces of our service men and women, they saw strength and kindness and good will. When I look at the members of the United States military, I see the best of our country, and I'm honored to be your Commander in Chief. In the images of fallen statues, we have witnessed the arrival of a new era. For a hundred of years of war, culminating in the nuclear age, military technology was designed and deployed to inflict casualties on an ever growing scale. In defeating Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, Allied forces destroyed entire cities, while enemy leaders who started the conflict were safe until the final days. Military power was used to end a regime by breaking a nation. Today, we have the greater power to free a nation by breaking a dangerous and aggressive regime. With new tactics and precision weapons, we can achieve military objectives without directing violence against civilians. No device of man can remove the tragedy from war yet it is a great advance when the guilty have far more to fear from war than the innocent. In the images of celebrating Iraqis, we have also seen the ageless appeal of human freedom. Decades of lies and intimidation could not make the Iraqi people love their oppressors or desire their own enslavement. Men and women in every culture need liberty like they need food and water and air. Everywhere that freedom arrives, humanity rejoices, and everywhere that freedom stirs, let tyrants fear. We have difficult work to do in Iraq. We're bringing order to parts of that country that remain dangerous. We're pursuing and finding leaders of the old regime, who will be held to account for their crimes. We've begun the search for hidden chemical and biological weapons and already know of hundreds of sites that will be investigated. We're helping to rebuild Iraq, where the dictator built palaces for himself instead of hospitals and schools. And we will stand with the new leaders of Iraq as they establish a Government of, by, and for the Iraqi people. The transition from dictatorship to democracy will take time, but it is worth every effort. Our coalition will stay until our work is done. And then we will leave, and we will leave behind a free Iraq. The battle of Iraq is one victory in a war on terror that began on September the 11th, 2001, and still goes on. That terrible morning, 19 evil men, the shock troops of a hateful ideology, gave America and the civilized world a glimpse of their ambitions. They imagined, in the words of one terrorist, that September the 11th would be the "beginning of the end of America." By seeking to turn our cities into killing fields, terrorists and their allies believed that they could destroy this Nation's resolve and force our retreat from the world. They have failed. In the battle of Afghanistan, we destroyed the Taliban, many terrorists, and the camps where they trained. We continue to help the Afghan people lay roads, restore hospitals, and educate all of their children. Yet we also have dangerous work to complete. As I speak, a Special Operations task force, led by the 82d Airborne, is on the trail of the terrorists and those who seek to undermine the free Government of Afghanistan. America and our coalition will finish what we have begun. From Pakistan to the Philippines to the Horn of Africa, we are hunting down Al Qaida killers. Nineteen months ago, I pledged that the terrorists would not escape the patient justice of the United States. And as of tonight, nearly one half of Al Qaida's senior operatives have been captured or killed. The liberation of Iraq is a crucial advance in the campaign against terror. We've removed an ally of Al Qaida and cut off a source of terrorist funding. And this much is certain No terrorist network will gain weapons of mass destruction from the Iraqi regime, because the regime is no more. In these 19 months that changed the world, our actions have been focused and deliberate and proportionate to the offense. We have not forgotten the victims of September the 11th the last phone calls, the cold murder of children, the searches in the rubble. With those attacks, the terrorists and their supporters declared war on the United States, and war is what they got. Our war against terror is proceeding according to the principles that I have made clear to all Any person involved in committing or planning terrorist attacks against the American people becomes an enemy of this country and a target of American justice any person, organization, or government that supports, protects, or harbors terrorists is complicit in the murder of the innocent and equally guilty of terrorist crimes any outlaw regime that has ties to terrorist groups and seeks or possesses weapons of mass destruction is a grave danger to the civilized world and will be confronted and anyone in the world, including the Arab world, who works and sacrifices for freedom has a loyal friend in the United States of America. Our commitment to liberty is America's tradition, declared at our founding, affirmed in Franklin Roosevelt's Four Freedoms, asserted in the Truman Doctrine and in Ronald Reagan's challenge to an evil empire. We are committed to freedom in Afghanistan, in Iraq, and in a peaceful Palestine. The advance of freedom is the surest strategy to undermine the appeal of terror in the world. Where freedom takes hold, hatred gives way to hope. When freedom takes hold, men and women turn to the peaceful pursuit of a better life. American values and American interests lead in the same direction We stand for human liberty. The United States upholds these principles of security and freedom in many ways, with all the tools of diplomacy, law enforcement, intelligence, and finance. We're working with a broad coalition of nations that understand the threat and our shared responsibility to meet it. The use of force has been and remains our last resort. Yet all can know, friend and foe alike, that our Nation has a mission We will answer threats to our security, and we will defend the peace. Our mission continues. Al Qaida is wounded, not destroyed. The scattered cells of the terrorist network still operate in many nations, and we know from daily intelligence that they continue to plot against free people. The proliferation of deadly weapons remains a serious danger. The enemies of freedom are not idle, and neither are we. Our Government has taken unprecedented measures to defend the homeland, and we will continue to hunt down the enemy before he can strike. The war on terror is not over, yet it is not endless. We do not know the day of final victory, but we have seen the turning of the tide. No act of the terrorists will change our purpose or weaken our resolve or alter their fate. Their cause is lost. Free nations will press on to victory. Other nations in history have fought in foreign lands and remained to occupy and exploit. Americans, following a battle, want nothing more than to return home. And that is your direction tonight. After service in the Afghan and Iraqi theaters of war, after 100,000 miles on the longest carrier deployment in recent history, you are homeward bound. Some of you will see new family members for the first time 150 babies were born while their fathers were on the Lincoln. Your families are proud of you, and your Nation will welcome you. We are mindful as well that some good men and women are not making the journey home. One of those who fell, Corporal Jason Mileo, spoke to his parents 5 days before his death. Jason's father said, "He called us from the center of Baghdad, not to brag but to tell us he loved us. Our son was a soldier." Every name, every life, is a loss to our military, to our Nation, and to the loved ones who grieve. There's no homecoming for these families. Yet we pray, in God's time, their reunion will come. Those we lost were last seen on duty. Their final act on this Earth was to fight a great evil and bring liberty to others. All of you all in this generation of our military have taken up the highest calling of history. You're defending your country and protecting the innocent from harm. And wherever you go, you carry a message of hope, a message that is ancient and ever new. In the words of the prophet Isaiah, "To the captives, come out,' and to those in darkness, be free."' Thank you for serving our country and our cause. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless America. April 30, 2003 President Bush. It's my honor to welcome to the Oval Office a friend and courageous person, the President of Colombia. He is determined to fight terror. He is determined to fight the flow of narcotics to America. We appreciate his determination. We appreciate his strength. And so it's my honor to welcome you, Mr. President. Before I ask you to speak and before we answer two questions a side, I do want to say that today we issued the roadmap. The roadmap is the beginning of a long process to achieve peace in the Middle East. In order for there to be a peace in the Middle East, it is important for all parties to assume the necessary responsibilities to achieve the conditions so that peace can happen. That starts with fighting off terror, to prevent killers from disrupting that which most citizens want in the Middle East, and that is a peaceful, hopeful world. I strongly condemn the killings that take place in the Middle East in the last couple of days. I applaud the words of Abu Mazen, the new Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, who renounced that terror. I look forward to spending time and energies to move the process forward. And finally, Mr. President, you're here on a day in which our country has achieved another notable success in the war against terror. The Pakistan authorities have detained Waleed bin Attash. He's a killer. He was one of the top Al Qaida operatives, and he was right below Khalid Sheikh Mohammed on the organizational chart of Al Qaida. He is one less person that people who love freedom have to worry about. I want to thank our friends in Pakistan. I want to thank the Agency, the CIA, for working hard to continue to win the war against terror. And make no mistake about it, Mr. President, we will win the war against terror. Thank you for your courageous fight in the war against terror, and welcome to the Oval Office. President Uribe. Thank you, Mr. President, for your warm welcome. This is very important for my country. Colombia has suffered terrorism for a long time. Thus, Colombia understands the need to fight terrorism in our country and in other in any other country. And your Government, your people, your country, they are our best allies for us to succeed in our fight. Thank you again, Mr. President. President Bush. Thank you. We'll have one we'll alternate questions between the American side and the Colombian side. Tom Tom Raum, Associated Press . Middle East Peace Process Q. Mr. President, even as the new Palestinian Cabinet was sworn in, there was a terror attack, and the suicide bomber was linked to Mr. Abbas' own party. How much confidence do you have that the new Prime Minister can control, can rein in these people? President Bush. Well, for certain, in order for there to be peace, we must all join together to fight off terror. Abu Mazen has publicly declared that he will fight terror. He understands that in order for the Palestinian lives to improve, terror must be battled. Listen, he's a man I can work with. And I look forward to working with him and will work with him, for the sake of peace and for the sake of security. Do you want to call on one of your reporters? President Uribe. Half of my Cabinet are made of women. President Bush. No, I'm very impressed by that. Laughter Not only that, but they're very smart women. Q. Inaudible Mr. President. President Bush. Thank you. Colombia U.S. Trade Agreement Q. Mr. President, people in Colombia, we want to know how difficult is to sign a bilateral trade agreement with Colombia. Is that going to be done? President Bush. Well, we've got a lot of work to do. The President and I look forward to discussing trade. One thing that is for certain is we've started down the road on a free trade agreement through the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas, which I'm absolutely confident will boost the capacity of the Colombian economy to grow. And so we'll work we'll talk about all aspects of trade, including the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas, which, in my judgment, is the most hopeful trade agreement there is. We've got all kinds of different opportunities to work together, whether it be in trade or counternarcotics or fighting terror. And we will stand as a strong friend and supporter of the Colombian people as they take on difficult tasks. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Middle East Peace Process Q. Sir, previous Middle East peace initiatives haven't been all that successful. What's different about this time? President Bush. Well, just because history has proven to be unsuccessful doesn't mean that we're not going to try, for starters. I'm an optimist. I believe now that we have a interlocutor from the Palestinian Authority that has spoken clearly about the need to fight terror, that we have a good opportunity to advance the peace process. And I will seize the opportunity. Secondly, the war on Iraq has made it absolutely clear that those who harbor terrorists, fund terrorists, or harbor weapons of mass destruction will be held to account. That, in itself, helps create the conditions to move peace forward. And by the way, in order for peace to occur, all parties must assume their responsibilities. That includes the Arab nations which surround Israel and the potential Palestinian state. They must cut off funding to terrorists. They must create the conditions necessary for peace. Israel is going to have to make some sacrifices in order to move the peace process forward. But no sacrifice should be made that will allow and encourage terror to continue and reign. Colombian Terrorists Q. Mr. Bush, more than 500 terrorists from the FARC have handed themselves inaudible . We're wondering if the United States Government would be willing at some point to help reinsert into society these terrorists that have now handed themselves inaudible . President Bush. To help in what fashion? I didn't get your question. Q. Inaudible to reinsert to the civil society President Bush. To bring what to the civil society? I'm sorry. Q. To reinsert themselves, to go back to civil President Bush. Oh, to help them go back into civil society? Q. Yes. President Bush. Well, some terrorists are just plain coldblooded killers. They're hard to retrain, somebody who is a killer. And we it's going to be the President is going to have to make that decision, what's best for his country. All I know is, the man is absolutely committed to fighting terror. For that, I appreciate it. He has got a straightforward, strong vision about what has to happen to people who are willing to kill innocent people. And that is, they must be dealt with severely. And it's interesting, we share the same strategy. When Al Qaida came and killed Americans, there's only one way to deal with them. That was to hunt them down, find them, and bring them to justice. And as I mentioned, today we found one of the Al Qaida leaders. It was a major, significant find, his detention. And the war goes on. It takes a while. We must be patient and strong and diligent and focused. And the President of Colombia is diligent, strong, and focused. He knows what he must do to make Colombia, a great nation, more safe and more secure against people who, in my opinion, are nothing but terrorists. President Uribe. Regarding this point, we have only one determination, to defeat terrorists in Colombia. When you look at the people in the terror organizations, you find the ringleaders, you find professional killers, and you find young people mistakenly led by professional killers. Therefore, we have the obligation to defeat terrorists and the duty, the obligation, to give those young people the opportunity to come to live under our Constitution again. We are telling them, "You have the opportunity to follow the ringleaders of the terror organizations, or you have the opportunity to come to live in our community with the respect of our Constitution." For those who make who choose this option, we are ready to give them a new opportunity. President Bush. Thank you. Q. Inaudible President Bush. Never can tell what's going to kick in the urge. Laughter April 30, 2003 Thanks a lot for the warm welcome, and welcome to the Rose Garden and the White House. What a beautiful day. I'm glad you all are here, and I'm pleased that you could join us on a day a vital piece of legislation becomes the law of the land. I appreciate the hard work of the Congress. I want to thank the Members of the Congress, the Senate, who are here and the Members of the House of Representatives who are here. I want to thank you all for your very hard work in getting this bill to my desk as quickly as you did. This law, the PROTECT Act of 2003, will greatly assist law enforcement in tracking criminals who would harm our children and will greatly help in rescuing the youngest victims of crime. With my signature, this new law will formally establish the Federal Government's role in the Amber Alert system and will make punishment for Federal crimes against children more severe. This law carries forward a fundamental responsibility of public officials at every level of government to do everything we can to protect the most vulnerable citizens from dangerous offenders who prey on them. I want to thank our Attorney General, John Ashcroft, for his leadership on this issue. He is strong. He is steady, and he will see to it that this law is executed in its fullest. I appreciate so very much Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, who worked hard to make sure this bill encompassed a lot, that it fulfilled a lot, that it met the aspirations of those who are anxious to make sure our children are protected. Chairman, you did fine work. Thank you very much. I appreciate the members of your committee who are here today. And I appreciate the fact that chairman Senator Orrin Hatch is with us as well, who shepherded the bill through the United States Senate in record time. Mr. Chairman, thank you for your hard work as well. I appreciate my friend, the Governor of Connecticut, Johnny Rowland, being with us today. Johnny, thank you. Thank you for your concerns about the children of the State of Ohio of Connecticut. The attorney general, Jerry Kilgore, is here from the Commonwealth of Virginia. Attorney General, thanks for coming. Of course it's always good to see the Mayor the Mayor of Washington, DC, Anthony Williams. There are no potholes in front of the White House today. Laughter It's good to see you, Mr. Mayor. Also with us today are some families who understand better than most the need for this law. In your great suffering and loss, you have found the courage to come to the defense of all children. Because of you, this critical measure is now becoming law. Because of you, children and parents you may never meet will be spared from the harm and anguish your families have known. We are honored to have you all here today. When a child is reported missing, that case becomes the matter of the most intensive and focused efforts by law enforcement. Entire communities join in the search, and through unrelenting efforts, many children have been saved. Amber Alerts have become an increasingly important tool in rescuing kidnaped children, by quickly getting key information about the missing child and information about the suspect out into the public through radio broadcasts or highway signs or other means. An Amber Alert adds thousands of citizens to the search in the crucial early hours. At present, statewide Amber Alert systems exist in 41 States. The bill I will sign this afternoon authorizes matching grants to those and other States to help ensure that we have effective Amber Alerts wherever they are needed. Last year, at my direction, Attorney General John Ashcroft appointed an Amber Alert coordinator to oversee this nationwide effort. This new law formally establishes that position and empowers the coordinator to set clear and uniform voluntary standards for the use of Amber Alerts across our country. It is important to expand the Amber Alert systems so police and sheriffs' departments gain thousands or even millions of allies in the search for missing children. Every person who would think of abducting a child can know that a wide net will be cast. They may be found by a police cruiser or by the car right next to them on a highway. These criminals can know that any driver they pass could be the one that spots them and brings them to justice. This is exactly what happened last summer in California when several drivers heard an Amber Alert over the radio and soon passed a vehicle meeting the description they heard. Within hours, two teenage girls were rescued and their abductor cornered by the police. We're so happy these two young ladies are healthy and with us today, Tamara Brooks and Jacqueline Marris. Tamara's brother is somewhere around here. He showed me guess what happened to him today? One, he brings his little sister to the White House, and secondly, today he was accepted to West Point. He's following in the footsteps of two older sisters. The new law also confronts an evil that is too often a cause of child abuse and abduction in America, the evil of child pornography. In the past, prosecutors have been hindered by not having all the tools needed to prosecute criminals who create child pornography. Under the PROTECT Act, we've seen images of children, even those created with computer technology, will now be illegal, giving prosecutors an important new tool. Obscene images of children, no matter how they are made, incite abuse, raise the dangers to children, and will not be tolerated in America. The new law will also strengthen Federal penalties for child kidnaping and other crimes against the young. Judges will now have the authority to require longer supervision of sex offenders who are released from prison. And certain repeat sex offenders in our society will now face life behind bars, so they can never do harm again. In addition, this law creates important pilot programs to help nonprofit organizations which deal with children to obtain quick and complete criminal background information on volunteers. Listen, mentoring programs are essential for our country, and we must make sure they are safe for the children they serve. Amber Hagerman, whose mom is with us today a good Texan, I might add was 9 years old when she was taken away from her parents. We are acting today in her memory and in the memory of so many other girls and boys who lost their lives and innocence in acts of cruelty. No child should ever have to experience the terror of abduction or worse. No family should ever have to endure the nightmare of losing a child. Our Nation grieves with every family that has suffered unbearable loss. And our Nation will fight threats against our children. This law marks important progress in the protection of America's children. And now it is my honor to sign the PROTECT Act of 2003. April 26, 2003 Good morning. As America continues to fight and win the war on terror, our Government is also focused on another national priority, growing our economy and creating jobs. America's economy has been through a lot. We experienced the shock of a terrorist attack. We have endured a recession. We had to deal with some major corporate scandals. We faced the uncertainty of war, and we have seen a slowdown in the global economy, which weakens demand for American goods and services. In spite of all of this, the American economy is growing and growing faster than most of the industrialized world. There are great strengths in this economy. Lower interest rates have helped more Americans buy their own homes. Gas and other energy prices are coming down, and consumers are getting the savings immediately. Inflation is low, and America's families are seeing their incomes on the rise. The entrepreneurial spirit is healthy in America, as small business men and women put their ideas and dreams into action every day. And America's greatest economic strength is the pride, the skill, and the productivity of American workers. Yet, we know that America's economy is not meeting its full potential. We know our economy can grow faster and create new jobs at a faster rate. We also know that the right policies in Washington can unleash the great strengths of this economy and create the conditions for growth and prosperity. On Monday, Members of Congress return from recess, and they will face some important decisions on the future of our economy. I have proposed a series of specific measures to create jobs by removing obstacles to economic growth. My jobs and growth plan would reduce tax rates for everyone who pays income tax, provide relief for families and small businesses, and help millions of seniors in retirement by eliminating the double taxation of dividends. With a robust package of at least 550 billion in across the board tax relief, we will help create more than a million new jobs by the end of 2004. Some Members of Congress support tax relief but say my proposal is too big. Since they already agree that tax relief creates jobs, it doesn't make sense to provide less tax relief and, therefore, create fewer jobs. I believe we should enact more tax relief so that we can create more jobs and more Americans can find work and provide for their families. Americans understand the need for action. This week in Ohio, I met Mike Kovach, whose business is in Youngstown, Ohio. Mike started and runs a growing company, wants to hire new people, and would benefit from lower taxes. Mike says, "Anytime you can improve the bottom line of Main Street business, it's good for the city it's good for the State and it's great for the Nation. It all trickles up, instead of trickling down." I urge Congress to listen to the common sense of people like Mike Kovach. He and tens of millions of Americans like him need our help in building the prosperity of our country. Tax relief is good for families and good for our entire economy. The jobs and growth plan I have proposed is fair it is responsible it is urgent. And Congress should pass it in full. Thank you for listening. April 24, 2003 Preemptive Strike Against Saddam Hussein Mr. Brokaw. Mr. President, there's no tougher decision any President makes than to commit the Nation to war. Let's talk about that first night, when you surprised us all by launching the preemptive strike against the residence of Saddam Hussein. The President. Well, they started in the Situation Room, and we had Tommy Franks on the screen with a commander I think out of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait City and out of and a CENTCOM commander out of Tampa Bay, along with their British and Australian counterparts. And then we had the national security team aligned on the table there, and I went around to each of the commanders and said, "Are you happy with the strategy? Do you have what it takes to win the war?" They all answered affirmatively. I then gave the instructions to Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld that Operation Iraqi Freedom would commence at a time of Tommy Franks' choosing, told Tommy, you know, for the sake of peace and security and the freedom of the Iraqi people that he's got the orders to proceed. I asked God's blessing on him and the troops. He saluted. I saluted back and left the room. It was a it was an emotional moment for me because I had obviously made up my mind that if we needed to, we would use troops to get rid of weapons of mass destruction to free the Iraqi people. But the actual moment of making that decision was a heavy moment. I then went outside and walked around the grounds, just to get a little air and collect my thoughts. And I thought I was pretty well through with the day until 3 40 that afternoon, when I got a call from Secretary Rumsfeld that said, "Mr. President, the plans have changed." He said, "I would like to change the plans. I need your permission to change the plans. Can I come over?" He didn't say the plans had changed, but I knew what he'd told me on the phone, it would mean the plans would have changed. And that is, we had a shot at Saddam Hussein, they thought. So I assembled the national security team of the Vice President, Colin Powell, Rumsfeld, Myers, CIA Tenet, Condi Rice, Andy Card, and some other CIA agents there some guys I hadn't seen before came in the Oval. And the reason why they were there is they had a source on the ground that was convinced that not only would Saddam Hussein be in the complex, but Uday and Qusay, his two sons, would be there as well. And they explained why this was the case. And basically they were asking permission from me to launch an air strike. I was hesitant at first, to be frank with you, because I was worried that the first pictures coming out of Iraq would be a wounded grandchild of Saddam Hussein but Saddam Hussein, who was not there at the time we started making the decision, would never show up that the first images of the American attack would be death to young children. And this is an interesting moment, because as time went on during the day, that evening, the intelligence got richer and richer. In other words, the guy on the ground was calling in to the CENTCOM headquarters, who was immediately calling in to the White House more and more information. For example, he discovered that there was a bunker 100 feet away from one of the houses, a bunker that had so much concrete and was likely to house Saddam when he arrived and his kids, his boys. And as the intelligence got richer, I got more confidence with the notion that Saddam would, in fact, be there. And at 7 15 that evening, I gave the order for Tommy to proceed with an attack on the farms, but changed they had an ordnance package of 30 cruise missiles. But because of the bunker, they had to change the timing of the attack so that the stealth bomber went in first, unloaded his ordnance, and then the TLAMs or the cruise missiles would follow in behind, which means they had to reprogram all these missiles. And they didn't have much time to do it because the flight time of the missiles from their particular launch sites was about 2 hours. This other thing that bothered me during the decisionmaking was that the stealth would go in unescorted. There would have been no air suppression on enemy defenses prior to him going in, in order to keep the element of surprise alive. So the day changed, and it was a dramatic several hours because we really changed the battle plan. Mr. Brokaw. Did you watch that on television, when the bombs began to land? The President. Yes, I did. I did. Actually, they began to hit, and then I went in and shortly thereafter addressed the Nation so I was getting makeup and talking about the you know, figuring out the words in the speech. I did. And it was about 9 30 p.m., as I recall, and then I spoke to the country about 10 15 p.m. But what was interesting, Tom I don't think many people know this is that the game plan was to move Special Ops forces early, at noon that day. And we would have explained to the country, as kind of creating the conditions for the battlefield, so that when our troops moved significantly, their conditions would be ripe for success. At Friday, at noon, I was going to address the Nation about the air campaign, and the ground campaign would follow shortly thereafter. Turns out that because we conducted the air raid, I had to speak that night to the country. And then Tommy said he was going to move the ground force movement up early to secure oilfields and to move as quickly as possible into Iraq, which really says that he had the ability and the authority and the flexibility necessary to change a war plan to meet the needs on the ground. Mr. Brokaw. That human intelligence that we had on the ground, did you hear back from him, I presume? The President. We did. Mr. Brokaw. And did he The President. He felt like we got Saddam. Mr. Brokaw. He did? The President. He felt like that, yes. And we're trying, of course, to verify. And before there's any declaration, of course, there will be a lot of evidence. Mr. Brokaw. Did you see that famous television video of Saddam the next day, in the glasses, reading awkwardly from the notepad and so on? The President. Well, yes. I was amused by that, almost as amused by that as I was his PR man it was one of the classics probably helping NBC Saturday Night Live out mightily, but through his it was just unbelievable what he was saying. But you know, the people that wonder if Saddam Hussein is dead or not, there's some evidence that says that he suggests he might be. We would never make that declaration until we were more certain. But the person that helped direct the attacks believes that Saddam, at the very minimum, was severely wounded. Mr. Brokaw. That night? The President. That night, yes. And it explains again, there will be a lot of speculation until the truth is known, but it explains why, for example, one reason why dams weren't blown up or oilfields weren't destroyed, even though we found them to be wired with potentially to be blown up. Shock and Awe Iraqi Resistance Mr. Brokaw. Now, the air campaign is underway, and troops are moving across the border The President. That would be a day and a half later. Mr. Brokaw. A day and a half later. The President. But troops were moving across the border earlier. Mr. Brokaw. "Shock and awe" was the phrase that was heard so much before it all began. It didn't have exactly the effect I think that a lot of people expected, because resistance down south was from the militia, at least a little tougher than a lot of people anticipated. The President. Yes, I think it's true. I think that's an accurate look back. "Shock and awe" said to many people that all we've got to do is unleash some might and people will crumble. It turns out the fighters were a lot fiercer than we thought. Because, for example, we didn't come north from Turkey, Saddam Hussein was able to move a lot of special Republican Guard units and fighters from north to south. So the resistance for our troops moving south and north was significant resistance. On the other hand, our troops handled it we handled that resistance quite well. President's National Security Team Mr. Brokaw. Did that give you a pause for a while? The President. Well, first of all, I had confidence in the plan, because I've got confidence in my national security team. Remember, my advisers are people such as Dick Cheney, who had been through the war before as the Secretary of Defense Colin Powell, who's not only an Army general but also had been through a war before Don Rumsfeld, who's a very successful man in the private sector but also has got great judgment when it comes to the military Tommy Franks I really trust Tommy we speak the same language after all, Tommy went to Midland Lee High School, graduated in 1963, one year ahead of Laura Condi, and I mean, I get good, solid advice from people who analyzed this war plan, analyzed the strategy, looked at it in depth, had looked at it for quite a bit of time and convinced me that it would lead to victory. So I've never doubted the plan. Obviously, I was concerned when we lost life, or concerned that day when some of our prisoners, the people were captured. But I had confidence in the plan because I had confidence in the team. U.S. Prisoners of War Mr. Brokaw. Let me ask you about that day that the prisoners were captured. Everything played out on television. There's been probably no more televised event in the history of mankind. Suddenly you look on the screen, and from Iraqi television there are five American prisoners of war, including a woman who was a cook, Shoshana Johnson. The President. Well, I believe that was a Sunday. And it was a tough day. It was a tough day for America. It was a tough day for the Commander in Chief, who committed these young soldiers into battle in the first place, which made their release even more joyous. But war is it's tough. Mr. Brokaw. Did you make some calls? The President. No, I didn't. I've written a lot of letters, but I didn't call any parents then. I prayed for them, but I didn't call. Mr. Brokaw. Did you talk to Laura about it? The President. I did. I talked to Laura a lot during this period of time. She's been a steady source of strength and inspiration and love. And you know, there's any time there's war and a lot of action, a lot of movement of troops and equipment, people are there's going to be death. And it's the hardest aspect of this job, frankly, is to know that those lives were lost because of orders I gave. On the other hand, I firmly believe, and history will prove, that decisions that I made and the actions that our country took will make the world more peaceful, will help secure the United States, and as importantly, give the Iraqi people freedom, let them be free, free from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. Rescue of Jessica Lynch Mr. Brokaw. The flip side of all that was the rescue of Jessica Lynch. The President. It was. Mr. Brokaw. Did you get advance notice that that operation was going down? The President. I did. I did. Secretary Rumsfeld told me that not to get my hopes up, but there was going to be a very sensitive operation into a hospital where he thought that there would be an American POW. And that's all he said. He was very circumspect, as he should be, to a lot of people, because he didn't want any information to get out that might have jeopardized the operation. But he gave me a heads up. And then when we heard that she had been rescued, it was a joyous moment. Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction Mr. Brokaw. Let me ask you about some of the larger policy questions. Before we went to war against Iraq, one of the reasons that you justified this war was that he posed a real threat to the United States. If he couldn't defend his own country and we have not yet been able to find the weapons of mass destruction, which were not even launched in defense of Iraq was that threat overstated? The President. No, not at all. As a matter of fact, I think time and investigation will prove a couple of points One, that he did have terrorist connections and secondly, that he had a weapons of mass destruction program. We know he had a weapons of mass destruction program. We now know he's not going to use them. So we've accomplished one objective, and that is that Saddam Hussein will not hurt the United States or friends or our allies with weapons of mass destruction. Secondly, we are learning more as we interrogate or have discussions with Iraqi scientists and people within the Iraqi structure, that perhaps he destroyed some, perhaps he dispersed some. We also know there are hundreds and hundreds of sites available for hiding the weapons, which he did effectively for 10 years from the over 10 years from the United Nations, and that we've only looked at about 90 of those sites so far I mean, literally hundreds of sites. And so we will find them. It's going to take time to find them. And the best way to find them is to continue to collect information from the humans, the Iraqis who were involved with hiding them. Mr. Brokaw. As you know, there's still a lot of skepticism around the world about American motives in Iraq. The President. Right. Mr. Brokaw. Why not fold in some of the U.N. inspectors to this effort, not turn it over to them but make them a part of it? Would that help with the credibility, do you think? The President. I think there's going to be skepticism until people find out there was, in fact, a weapons of mass destruction program. One thing there can't be skepticism about is the fact that this guy was torturous and brutal on the Iraqi people. I mean, he brutalized them he tortured them he destroyed them he cut out their tongues when they dissented. And now the people are beginning to see what freedom means within Iraq. Look at the Shi'a marches or the Shi'a pilgrimages that are taking place. The world will see that the United States is interested in peace, is interested in security, and interested in freedom. Mr. Brokaw. But it is important to find the weapons of mass destruction, or the evidence that he had a massive program underway, isn't it? The President. Yes. I think we will. I'm pretty confident we will. Postwar Iraq New Iraqi Regime Mr. Brokaw. Your old family friend Brent Scowcroft, who had some differences with the policies here, says one of the things that he's worried about is that there's no tradition of democracy there, that people will just seize power wherever they can.It seems to a lot of people that that is playing out in the south, especially where the Shi'a are saying, "Look, we're going to run things here. We'd like to have an Islamic government." Isn't that a serious concern? The President. Well, first of all, we just started. The country isn't secure yet. I mean, the first things that we're worried about is making sure that the militia units of the old Fedayeen Saddam aren't out killing people. So our troops are working with coalition forces to make the country more secure. Secondly, we're worried about making sure there are you know, there's the presence of a police force in these different cities to maintain order. We are just beginning to move our teams in place to help the Iraqi bureaucracies get up and running. I was pleased to see that the Doctors Without Borders organization said that they went into Iraq and found no grave humanitarian crisis. In other words, the food is getting to the people medicines are getting to the people. They did say there is a shortage of personnel, professionally not a shortage of medicine but a shortage of professionals necessary to deliver the aid, and we'll help the Iraqi people address that problem. My point to you is that we have an orderly process to bring stability and food and health to the Iraqi people so life can begin to return to normal. And then I'm confident that a government will emerge. I dismiss the critics who say that democracy can't flourish in Iraq. It may not look like America. You know, Thomas Jefferson may not emerge. But nevertheless, I do believe there can be a representative government and all factions can be represented. Mr. Brokaw. But if it becomes an Islamic government with a 60 percent Shiite majority, it could very well become that would that be acceptable to you? The President. What I would like to see is a government where church and state are separated. And I believe there's enough people within Iraq that would like that kind of there may be a nationalist government, a government that really honors the Iraqi history and the Iraqi traditions and Iraq, itself. But it must be a government that is going to, you know, represents all the people, and I believe that can happen. Looting by Iraqi Citizens Mr. Brokaw. Were you surprised by the degree of looting that occurred almost instantly? The President. No, I wasn't surprised at all. Mr. Brokaw. You were not? Why? The President. I mean, these were people that hated the regime under which they lived. Mr. Brokaw. But they went after hospitals and museums and The President. I don't like that part. And that was the you know, the hospitals and museum were the absolute worst part. The good news is, is that the hospitals are now up and running. They've got enough medical supplies to take care of the people that need help. That museum was a terrible incident. I couldn't agree more with people who say we're sorry that happened. We are, by the way, helping find treasure, restore treasure, and we'll provide all the expertise and help they need to get that museum up and running again. But I wasn't surprised. It was vengeance, because it's like uncorking a bottle of frustration. These are people whose relatives were beaten, tortured, shocked, killed because they spoke out, because they disagreed with Saddam Hussein. And history is going to show how brutal this man and his sons and his regime really, really was. And therefore, it did not surprise me when people took vengeance on police stations or took, you know, went out into Government buildings and destroyed them. I'm also pleased by the fact that that level of those riots or whatever you want to call them, released some steam, and now life is returning to normal. Things have settled down inside the country. Mr. Brokaw. There's still a lot of nationalism, though. I mean, it's a very strong strain there, and in fact, some people are taking control of their neighborhoods or whole sectors of Baghdad The President. Yes, like the guy, the self proclaimed mayor. Mr. Brokaw. Right. The President. This is all a reasonable government will evolve. We just started. It wasn't but 2 weeks ago yesterday that the statue fell down. There have been 20 plus years of tyranny. And it's hard to believe that in 20 days democracy will emerge. But the point we're making is, is that the foundation for democracy is now being laid. And by the way, there's nothing wrong with nationalism within Iraq. People say the United States should leave, and we want to leave, as soon as we've accomplished our mission. Timing of U.S. Withdrawal Mr. Brokaw. How long will that take? The President. Somebody asked me the other day, how long is it going to take to get rid of Saddam Hussein's regime? My answer is, as long as necessary. Mr. Brokaw. But it may take as long as 2 years The President. It could. It could, or less. Who knows? But the point I'm making is, is that we are there to promote security, to make sure life returns back to normal, and to help the Iraqi people establish a government, because we believe that democracy can work within Iraq. And nationalism, by the way, you know, means it's more likely that a government will evolve that is focused on Iraq, its traditions, and its history, as opposed to focusing on a particular religion. Iran Syria Mr. Brokaw. Is Iran trying to take root in southern Iraq, in your judgment? The President. Well, you know, you hear a lot of reports about the vacuums being filled by Iranian agents. We certainly hope that Iraq Iran will allow Iraq to develop into a stable and peaceful society. We have sent the word to the Iranians that that's what we expect. I talk to Tony Blair and Jose Maria Aznar on a regular basis talked to them yesterday and this subject came up. And both of them have got contacts with the Iranian Government, and they will send the same message, similar to what we did to Syria, that we expect there to be cooperation and Mr. Brokaw. And if there is not, is Iran next? The President. No, we just expect them to cooperate, and we will work with the world to encourage them to cooperate. We have no military plans. Just like I said about Syria. I mean, listen, the world, a lot of the frankly, the left wing critics of our policy have said, "You know, these people are so militaristic, they're getting ready to invade Syria." That was the line of the day. We made it clear to the Syrians we expect them to cooperate. Mr. Brokaw. And are they responding? The President. Yes, I think they are. They're doing a better job. The borders look like they're tighter. As we find people that have escaped into Syria, we're giving the Syrian Government the names of the people, and they appear to want to be helpful. United Nations Mr. Brokaw. Let me ask you about the future of some other relationships that we have, with the United Nations, for example. There are two people who admire you very much and are powerful pundits in Washington. George Will and Bill Kristol have said of the U.N., George Will saying, "If it's not the end as we know it, it should be." And Bill Kristol has said, "The U.N. I used to think was just useless, now I think is harmful." The President. Well, I would hope that the U.N. would be useful. I would hope that the U.N. would be an effective body at helping deal with the new threats of the 21st century, dealing with terror and terrorist states and proliferation of weapons. And I can understand why some are frustrated with the United Nations, because the United Nations looked like it was not willing to join in the cause of freedom. And it was frustrating to Americans that it looked like the United Nations might hold up U.S. foreign policy that was being conducted in the name of peace and security. On the other hand, I was the person that went to the United Nations in the first place. It was my decision to go give the speech on September 12, 2002, that called the United Nations to account. The United Nations will have a useful role in the reconstruction of Iraq, for example, because a lot of nations won't be able give reconstruction money without a U.N. conduit. And there is a role in this case for the United Nations. I hope as threats emerge, the United Nations will be more responsive to those threats. Visit by Australian Prime Minister John Howard Mr. Brokaw. Are you going to invite French President Chirac to the ranch in Crawford? The President. Well, my first guest will be John Howard well, first guest from this moment forward will be John Howard, and he's coming Mr. Brokaw. The Prime Minister of Australia. The President. The Prime Minister of Australia, he's a great friend and a wonderful ally, will be coming a week from Friday. French President Jacques Chirac NATO Mr. Brokaw. Well, what about President Chirac, though? The President. You really you're really trying to get me to comment. I doubt he'll be coming to the ranch any time soon. On the other hand, you know, there are some strains in the relationship, obviously, because of it appeared to some in our administration and our country that the French position was anti American. And my concern about the French position is it would weaken the position they took could weaken the NATO Alliance. NATO is a very important alliance. It's something that we've not only worked to modernize I've worked to expand NATO, and it's very important that Europe not become fractured to the point where the United States won't have relations with a united Europe whole, free, and at peace. And hopefully, the past tensions will subside, and the French won't be using their position within Europe to create alliances against the United States or Britain or Spain or any of the new countries that are the new democracies in Europe. Bush Doctrine Mr. Brokaw. We've talked about this before. Now that the war in Iraq is effectively over, have you thought about a Bush doctrine that is a comprehensive structure of some kind, on a global basis, for dealing with weapons of mass destruction and the need, even, of preemptive strikes against rogue nations? The President. Well, the Bush doctrine is actually being defined by action, as opposed to by words. Although, I think if you compile a lot of the speeches I've given, you could come up with the Bush doctrine. The way I view the post Saddam Iraq opportunities are these one, that we can deal more effectively with weapons of mass destruction, that we made it clear that people who harbor weapons of mass destruction will be dealt with. Hopefully, most of it can be done diplomatically. And you'll see us see me as well as members of my administration begin to push for new international protocols that will make international organizations more effective at stopping the spread of weapons of mass destruction. I also believe that reform in the Middle East as well as Middle East peace is an initiative that we will continue to that I will push and push, particularly in the Middle East peace process. I will work hard to achieve the two state solution. And we have a good opportunity to do so. There are other parts of the Bush doctrine, if you want to call it that, that are equally important. One, the AIDS initiative in Africa is an incredibly important initiative, and I intend to call upon Europe, particularly the wealthier nations in Europe, to join us in providing the medicines, the anti retroviral drugs, and the strategies necessary to start saving lives, more lives on the continent of Africa. There's a lot of things where we can work together, is my point, to overcome any differences that might have existed on the Iraq policy. Arab U.S. Relations Mr. Brokaw. Before the war began, we were told by any number of people in your administration that a lot of the leaders of the Middle East were privately saying, "We hope that you get rid of Saddam Hussein." But once the war was over, they did not go public with praise for the United States Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, our best friends in that region while on the Arab street, there continued to be very strong criticism to what we were doing. The President. Yes, I can understand that. I mean, these guys first of all, the thing that was important with those countries is they provided us help when we asked for help. We needed basing help in certain countries, and they provided it. That was one of the reasons why we were successful against Saddam Hussein. We asked, and they delivered. Part of the frustrations that exist in the Middle East and I recognize this is the fact that there is no movement toward peace with the Palestinians. Part of the frustration in the Middle East is also the fact that some of these governments need to enact reforms, and that's why both reform and working on the Middle Eastern peace will be priorities of mine. Middle East Peace Process Mr. Brokaw. Is the Middle East peace process going to accelerate greatly now that Arafat has accepted a Prime Minister? And has Arafat been removed effectively from the equation? The President. I think it will accelerate and, hopefully, greatly. I'm not so sure what that exactly means, but it will certainly accelerate from where we are today. The selection of Abu Mazen as the Prime Minister is very positive, primarily because Abu Mazen has stated publicly that he is against terror and will use whatever powers he has to fight off the terrorist activities that have really prevented peace from moving forward. In my June 24th speech I laid out Mr. Brokaw. Will you have him to the White House without Arafat, example? The President. I will one of these days, yes. Mr. Brokaw. Without Arafat? The President. Yes, absolutely. Listen, I always felt first of all, I looked at the history of Mr. Arafat. Now, I saw what he did to President Clinton. There was no need to spend capital, unless you had an interlocutor who could deliver the Palestinian people toward peace. And I believe Abu Mazen is a man dedicated to peace, and I look forward to working with him for the two state solution. My view is, is that the only way for there to be peace and for the survival of Israel and for the hope of the Palestinian people is for two states living side by side in peace. And I've laid out a plan to achieve that, a plan that calls upon actions by the Israelis, by the Palestinians, as well as by the Arab nations surrounding that troubled part of the world. Military Speed and Flexibility Embedded Journalists Mr. Brokaw. There used to be an American doctrine about when we go to war it's overwhelming force. Now it's speed and flexibility, based on Iraq, and instant communication, not only behind the scenes, but everybody gets to look in on the battlefield. The President. Well, the instant communications part was one of the reasons why I was comfortable in giving Tommy Franks and the commanders in the field the go ahead to take the shot at Saddam Hussein on the first day. Because there in the Oval Office, we were getting near instant feedback from eyes on the ground, what he was seeing, what he felt the conditions were like. It was an amazing moment to think that a person risking his life, viewing the farms, watching the entries, seeing, observing what was taking place inside one of Saddam's most guarded facilities, was able to pick up a device, call CENTCOM, and CENTCOM would call us in near real time. The ability to communicate has changed the nature of warfare. It allows for more interoperability, more ability for the Navy and the Air Force and the Special Ops and the Army and the Marines to work side by side in a coordinated basis, which makes it easier to fight a war with flexibility and speed and precision. So the doctrine really has changed. As well, it's an amazing concept when you think about real time TV focusing on war. And by the way, I express Laura and I express our deepest sympathies to David Bloom's wife and his family. I knew him well during the campaign. He was a great journalist and really a good fellow, loved his family a lot. But you know, to think that David was there Mr. Brokaw. Rocketing across the desert. The President. rocketing across the desert. It's an amazing feeling. Mr. Brokaw. I don't want you to give up sources and methods, but the guy who called in the first time still with us? The President. Yes, he is. He is with us. Thank God. A brave soul. Mr. Brokaw. That's great. At this point, the first part of the interview concluded. The interview resumed at 2 45 p.m. in Lima, OH, after the President and Mr. Brokaw left Air Force One. Economic Stimulus Plan Mr. Brokaw. Listen, now that the war in Iraq is over, the whole country is turning its attention back to the economy, and there's on the Hill, in your own party, there's a lot of skepticism about whether or not the tax cuts can get the job done. You started at 750 billion. You've now been talking about 550 billion. The Senate is talking about 350 billion. Would you take 350 billion? The President. Well, I think it ought to be actually, I think it ought to be more robust, and the reason why is because a lot of economists have told me that the tax cut needs to be sizable enough to affect demand job creation. And that's why I'm pushing what I'm pushing, and I'm not going to quit pushing until they end up voting. I believe it's the right thing. The American people need to know that last January I put out a job plan, and the Congress has been debating it, talking about it. And it was important in January. It's important now, and I expect them to get a good jobs bill out. Mr. Brokaw. The Congressional Budget Office, however, says, you know, they've looked at it with three or four different models, and it's just going to be too small in terms of the impact on the overall economy. The President. Well, I disagree with that. I would like I would hope that they would argue the case on the floor of the Senate and the floor of the House, but the skeptics said it needs to be bigger. One of the things they also said was it's very important to hold the line on spending that's another thing, that we accomplished something in the budget, discretionary spending is being held to about 4 percent. On the spending side, we've got restraint. We just need to make sure the package is robust enough to create new jobs so people can find work. Mr. Brokaw. It's tough to come out here to Ohio, though. You've got a Republican Governor who went in at a very high number, and now he's down to around 42 percent in terms of approval rating. He's having to raise taxes, cut services. Wouldn't it be better to defer a little bit, get him off the hook? And these are important services that he's talking about. It's about Medicaid and The President. No, not at all. Actually, what's important is and this is the reason to come to Ohio. It's a place where people are looking for work. And I feel so strongly that my job package will work, I'm willing to come to a place where people need work and say, let's get this done in the Congress. And this is the perfect place to bring a message of job creation, because there are people here that in the manufacturing sector, in particular that are looking for work. Energy Policy Mr. Brokaw. Mr. President, I've been struck by the fact that you now have the country's attention, and there's been almost no discussion about the need for conservation on energy and finding renewable sources and making that the highest of the high priorities. I think the country is ready to make a sacrifice, to do something. The President. Well, actually, there's been a significant discussion about new sources of energy. I was the guy that stood in front of Congress and asked Congress to appropriate 1.2 billion to advance the hydrogen automobile. In other words as well as ask Congress to appropriate monies to explore the opportunities for nuclear fusion. And I believe that instead of getting mired in this talk about command and control and lawsuits and regulations, that we ought to use our technological capabilities to leapfrog the status quo and lead the world to a more energy efficient society. Mr. Brokaw. But should we also assume that we can burn at the same rate that we have been? And you know, there's just no question about it, we've been on an energy consumption binge. The President. Yes, that's right. And I think that that's why we need new technologies to help us go from one era, a hydrocarbon era, to a technologically driven era. And I believe we can get there. We've got energy for, you know, a decade or two, without the consumer suffering badly. But now is the time to move on new technologies. This is precisely the initiative I laid out for Congress. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Mr. Brokaw. You're not going to get the Arctic Wildlife Refuge this time, though, do you think? The President. Well, it's foolish not to, in my judgment. There's a lot of natural gas up there. And the reason we need natural gas here in America is so places like California built a lot of electrical plants that run on natural gas. We've got to get it from somewhere, and I believe we can explore in the Arctic Wildlife in an environmentally sensitive way and so do a lot of other people. But it's become such a political issue. Washington, you know, is a town that you know this better than me, I mean Mr. Brokaw. No, I don't know it better than you. You're in the cockpit. Laughter The President. Well, you've been there longer than me. You're much older than I am. Laughter But they take an issue and turn it into such high politics. Really, the Arctic Wildlife Refuge is a classic example of an issue that's been over politicized, where the science never is allowed to emerge. We can drill for natural gas, which we need to do, in an environmentally safe way. President's Spirituality and Decisionmaking Mr. Brokaw. Let me ask you about the war and your attitudes about it. It's well known that you're a man of very strong faith. You have political and national security responsibilities as well. Was there a time when it was difficult to reconcile those two roles, your political and national security responsibility and your own spiritual obligation? The President. Well, listen, any time you think about committing someone into combat is an emotional moment. You can't be detached from the human life involved with war. And I genuinely feel that the decision I made will make America more secure. And I felt like the risks of doing nothing, the risk of taking no action far exceeded the risks of combat, particularly since I knew our plan was geared toward minimizing life minimizing loss of life not only minimizing loss of life on our side but on the side of the innocent Iraqis. I don't bring God into my life to be a political person. I ask God for strength and guidance. I ask God to help me be a better person. But the decision about war and peace was a decision I made based upon what I thought were the best interests of the American people. I was able to step back from religion, because I have a job to do. And I, on bended knee to the good Lord, asked Him to help me to do my job in a way that that's wise. Casualties of War Mr. Brokaw. I had a difficult moment on the air when the mother of a marine who got killed called in and wanted to talk about her son and said, "You know, I like what the networks are doing, but all those graphics and all that fancy coverage, for those of us who are out here with children in harm's way, it's murderous, Mr. Brokaw." And it put it all in perspective. Did you have a moment like that? The President. Oh, I think, yes, maybe about the day the prisoners, the people took the wrong turn, the kids, the cooks, and the people like that from El Paso, Fort Bliss, went the wrong way. That was a tough day. And it's got to be listen, I went down to Camp Lejeune and met with family of who've lost their lives. I met a young lieutenant's wife with a young baby, and it's tough. The amazing thing is, of course I shouldn't say "of course" but the amazing thing about meeting those people is they gave me great strength. They were proud of their loved ones' sacrifice. They understood why we were there, and they were strong, really strong. Mr. Brokaw. There was a young marine who was killed, whose father in Baltimore held up his picture and said, "I want the President to see this. It's my only son, and I want the President to see this picture." He was opposed to the war. Did you see it? The President. No, I didn't see that, but I'm sure I can understand why a dad would feel that way. I would feel the same way if I were a dad about how miserable I felt if I lost my son. Politics of War Mr. Brokaw. Can you imagine being FDR and running World War II all those years Truman, Korea? All the years that Vietnam went on, and 57,000 lives were lost. The President. I know. Mr. Brokaw. Now that you've had your own The President. One month. Mr. Brokaw. one month, but your own time on the crucible, to know what the country would go through? The President. It's a very interesting question, because yes, I know, I can't imagine what it would be like to have been through the Vietnam war as the President of the United States. I hope I would have done it differently. I hope I would have had a clearer mission and given the militaries the tools and their strategy necessary to achieve a mission, as opposed to politicizing the war the way they did. But you're right, it's a strain on the country. On the other hand, the coverage was a little different. Mr. Brokaw. It was. The President. The perpetual moves 24 hours a day. Mr. Brokaw. And part of that was, by the way, that it became very emotional very quickly. One of the things that you said was that you wanted to liberate the Iraqi people so they could speak their minds. But in this country, when some people spoke their minds and it happened to be in opposition of the war, they got jumped on by a lot of folks. The President. Oh, I don't think so. Mr. Brokaw. Well, the Dixie Chicks, for example. Would you have them come to the White House? The President. I mean, the Dixie Chicks are free to speak their mind. They can say what they want to say. And just because they shouldn't have their feelings hurt just because some people don't want to buy their records when they speak out. You know, freedom is a two way street. But I have don't really care what the Dixie Chicks said. I want to do what I think is right for the American people, and if some singers or Hollywood stars feel like speaking out, that's fine. That's the great thing about America. It stands in stark contrast to Iraq, by the way. First Lady's Role Mr. Brokaw. What did you and Laura talk about at the end of the day? During Usama bin Laden, she was counseling you on your language laughter saying The President. It wasn't so every day. Laughter Mr. Brokaw. "Georgie, you don't have to say "wanted dead or alive."' The President. Well, she counsels me on a lot of things. Most of the time it's but who's going to listen. She understood all along why I was making decisions I was making. She understood the threat that Iraq posed. She understood that Iraq was a part of the war on terror. And she doesn't she's like a lot of people she was nervous about war. Former President Bush Mr. Brokaw. So was your dad, by the way. The President. I'm sure he was. Nobody likes wars. Mr. Brokaw. Did your dad talk to you every day? The President. No. I check in with him on occasion, but now we don't talk every day. Mr. Brokaw. How about Barbara? What does she have to say, your mother? The President. She's as feisty as ever. She's doing well. She doesn't follow everything in the news and the opinion like Dad does. He's an every word man. Mr. Brokaw. Do you seek his counsel? It's a little tricky. Here's your father, somebody that you revered and love, and he's been there before. But at the same time, you're now the President. How do you work that out? The President. Well, I really don't spend a lot of time hashing over policy with him. He knows that I am much better informed than he could possibly be. He gives me our relationship is more of and our conversations are more along the line of a dad and a son, a dad conveying to his son how much he loves him, which is important. Even at the age of 56 years old, it's important. Toppling the Baghdad Statue Mr. Brokaw. Did you call him the day the statue came down of Saddam Hussein? The President. I can't remember. Mr. Brokaw. Because that was a memorable day. The President. It was. It was. Mr. Brokaw. Did you watch all that? The President. I watched some of it. As you know, I've got a schedule to keep. I don't have time to sit around watching TV all day long. But somebody I think the Ashley or Blake said, "The statue, they're about to get it down." They had a guy hammering on it for a while, and I watched the hammering Mr. Brokaw. It took a while to pull it down. The President. I watched them hammer. And then they said, "They're hooking it up, and they've got the crane out there." And I said, "Well, let me know." They said, "Well, it's about to come down." So I hustled and then watched it. Iraqi Information Minister Mr. Brokaw. What about the Iraqi information minister, who to the very end laughter The President. He's my man. He was great. Laughter Somebody accused us of hiring him and putting him there. He was a classic. Mr. Brokaw. Al Sahhaf. The President. Al Sahhaf. Mr. Brokaw. He said, "We are repulsing them at the airport. This war is just about over." Laughter The President. He was great. Laughter Mr. Brokaw. Did you watch him actually? Laughter The President. I did watch some of his clips. You know, a lot of the stuff I get, people come in and report to me did you hear what so and so said, or, did you see that? So I get a lot of things secondhand. But in the case of the statue or Sahhaf, somebody would say, "He's getting ready to speak," and I'd pop out of a meeting or turn and watch the TV. Saddam Hussein Mr. Brokaw. And did they tell you when Saddam made those bizarre video appearances very late in the war, when he was said to be walking around the neighborhood The President. Yes, I saw some of that. Like, Condi will come in and say I'll pick up the phone I've got direct link now I'll say, "Well, Condi, what is this business about, what does the Agency say about this latest videotape?" She'll pop in and say, "You know, I talked to Tenet, and Tenet says our analysts can't imagine that the guy could possibly be alive, walking around Baghdad the same day the statue came down." You know, as I told you, we had some evidence early on that strikes from the first day may have gotten him. I say "may" because we don't have the DNA in hand to prove, and people really don't want to be in a position, Tom, where you make broadcasting success and then all of a sudden Saddam Hussein shows up somewhere. According to this one eyewitness, he's not going to show up anywhere. Al Qaida and North Korea Mr. Brokaw. Final question. You still have two big issues out there on the horizon, Al Qaida and North Korea. North Korea today saying that it's reprocessed 8,000 plutonium rods, and if you don't start talking to them, they're willing to sell them. The President. Yes. See, they're back to the old blackmail game. One of our goals and objectives must be to strengthen the nonproliferation regimes and get the whole world focused on the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction or the materials for weapons of mass destruction. And North Korea is making my case that we've got to come together. And we started that process in the North Korean Peninsula that is coming together. The Chinese now, for the first time, are partners at the table. I look forward to hearing what the Chinese say about being rebuffed by the North Koreans because they, too, believe that the Peninsula ought to be nuclear weapons free. This will give us an opportunity to say to the North Koreans and the world, we're not going to be threatened. On the other hand we, the world, must come together to make sure institutions like the IAEA are effective at stopping proliferation. It's another reason, by the way, for us to also advance the missile defense systems, because the missile defense system will make it less likely that a nuclear country could blackmail us or Japan or any one of our friends. Mr. Brokaw. And Al Qaida? The President. Yes, we're on the hunt on Al Qaida. Mr. Brokaw. Has it diminished 50 percent, 70 percent? The President. I can't give you a number, but it's certainly diminished. And Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's arrest, right before the Iraqi war, was a blow to the Al Qaida network. They're still moving around. And we're watching. And we're moving. We're cutting off money. There are some parts of Afghanistan where we think some are hiding, and we've got we're on their trail. The other day, for example, in the Situation Room, we had Tommy up, and he gave us a briefing on Iraq. He's the CENTCOM commander, as you know, also responsible for Afghanistan, and then the general in place in Afghanistan came up. So we split the briefing between Iraq and Afghanistan. And it was an important briefing because he was telling us troop strength and troop strategies as well as how well the country is beginning to get on its feet. But the point I'm trying to make is, is that we are constantly moving against Al Qaida in Afghanistan as we speak or as we conduct the Iraq theater. Mr. Brokaw. Mr. President, thank you very much for your time today. We really appreciate it. The President. I enjoyed it. April 24, 2003 Thanks for the warm welcome. I appreciate you letting me come by to say hello. Laughter I'm honored to be in Canton, and I'm honored to be here at the Timken Company. Tim was telling me that you all have been in business since 1899. Turns out that's when William McKinley of Canton slept in the same room I'm sleeping in. Laughter Tim told me that this is a company they say, "We are a roll up your sleeves company," a can it is a can do environment, which is one of the reasons I've got so much optimism about the future of our economy because of the roll up your sleeves attitude by thousands of our fellow Americans, because of the business sense of "we can do whatever it takes to overcome the obstacles in our way." I know you're optimistic about the future of this company. I'm optimistic about the future of our country. It's important that Washington, however, respond to some of the problems we face. One of the problems we face is not enough of our fellow Americans can find work. There's too much economic uncertainty today. And so 3 months ago, I sent Congress a package that would promote job growth and economic vitality. For the sake of our country, for the sake of the workers of America, Congress needs to pass this jobs growth package soon. And that's why I thank you for letting me come and talk to you about some of the problems that we face here in America. I appreciate the Timken family for their leadership, their concern about their fellow associates. They're working hard to make sure the future of this company is bright, and therefore, the future of employment is bright for the families that work here, that work to put food on the table for their children. I appreciate so very much Jim Griffith, the CEO of the company, for setting up this wonderful setting for a speech. I want to thank you all for taking time out of your work to come and let me share some thoughts with you. I want to thank you for loving your country. I appreciate Hector Barreto, who is the Administrator of the Small Business Association. He's traveling with me today. And I named a good man to run what they call the General Services Administration, a fellow named Steve Perry, who learned how to be a he's making sure that we spend your money wisely. And he cut his teeth right here in the Timken Company, and he's really a good man. He's doing a fine job. I appreciate the Governor of the State of Ohio for joining us today. Governor Taft, I'm honored you're here with us. And we've got Senator Mike DeWine with us as well. Mike, thank you for coming Congressman LaTourette, Steve LaTourette, and Ralph Regula as well, from the Ohio delegation. We got members of the State senate. We got members of the State house. We got members of the city council. We got the mayor. We got a lot of people showing up today. Laughter And I'm glad they're here. Thank you all for taking time out of your schedules to come. I've just come from an interesting discussion with some of our fellow citizens who have joined me on the stage, the Freelands, who are retired citizens. They are anxious about their future. They want to make sure they got enough money to live out their final years. We talked about some of the tax relief package and what it means to their lives. Extra money in their pocket means that they're likely to have retirement security, which is something we're all concerned about. I met with Brenda James from Stockport, Ohio. She told me Stockport had 500 people, counting all the cats. Laughter And I said, "Well, that's 200 less than Crawford laughter counting all the cows." Laughter But Brenda is a owns her own insurance company. She is a small business owner. She is a representative of thousands and thousands of people who own their own business, part of the small business sector, which is an incredibly important part of our economy. As well, Mike Kovach is here. He's from Youngstown, Ohio. Mike started his own business. It grew from 2 people to 70 employees. A small business owner is an integral part of the backbone of the U.S. economy. If you're interested in jobs and job creation, you better be worried about the small business sector of America, and the plan I'm about to talk about addresses the needs of the small business owner. We got Charles Parker and his wife here, Linda. Charles is a farmer that's a small business owner. Linda works right here for the Timken Company, as does Pat Williams. I'll talk about Pat a little bit later and what this plan means for her and her family. Finally, Bryan Rice, of Rice's Nursery, right here in Canton. If you're interested in buying a plant, as the weather gets better and you want to improve your garden, Bryan said he's got some for sale. Laughter Today I had the honor of meeting Anson Park. Anson, you need to step out here so people can see you. Come over here. Anson is not hard to miss. Laughter I want to tell you why I want to introduce Anson. You know a lot of focus on America these days is on our military, how strong we are, how mighty we are, how powerful we are. And that's it's been helpful to be mighty and powerful. But in the midst of the discussion of our military might, oftentimes we overlook the true strength of our country. And the true strength of America is the hearts of our fellow citizens. That's the strength of America, the compassion of neighbor loving neighbor. Anson Park is an employee of Enterprise. He's a volunteer in what they call the ASSET program with Akron Urban League, which is a mentoring program, a program designed to make sure that every child has a chance to succeed in America, a program that understands that if you're a fortunate soul, if you're somebody with talents to give, you're called upon to lend those talents to help somebody in need. Whether you become involved in mentoring or in your church or synagogue, in helping somebody in need, the definition of patriotism is to help somebody. And my call to our fellow Americans is, our might is more than our military our might is our compassion for our fellow citizens. And I want to thank you, Anson, and thank thousands across America and the hundreds in this room who are serving your country by teaching a child to read or making sure a shut in gets loved or helping a boy or a girl at a Boys and Girls Clubs. The strength of America is the compassion of America, and I'm honored you're here, Anson. Thank you. In January of this year, I defined two great priorities for this Nation, priorities for my administration. First, we will confront and defeat threats to America wherever they gather. We have made very clear that we would hunt down terrorists who hate us and who want to harm us. And we made very clear that we would deal with the growing danger of Saddam Hussein and his brutal regime. The world now knows we keep our word. Our men in uniform have made us all proud the women in uniform have made us all proud because they've showed incredible skill and bravery and decency. They have fought the enemy with fierce courage. They treated the innocent with compassion and respect, and they are working to make sure the Iraqi people are free. You see, the values of America understand and say clearly that freedom is not America's gift to the world. Freedom is God's gift to each and every person of the world, no matter where they live. And it was with that value that our soldiers are now acting in Iraq. And we're working to make sure America is more secure, but we're also making sure that the Iraqi people can be free, can run their own country, can decide their own fate. I know that some of you here today have a loved one serving in the Armed Forces. You tell them the United States of America is proud of your loved one's service. We learned a good lesson on September the 11th, 2001 I say a good lesson. It better be a good lesson. It was a sad day, but we learned a lesson, and that is that oceans will no longer protect us from the threats of a new era. We must have a there's a new reality in the world today. We learned that lesson, but the world has also learned that this Nation is resolute, that we're determined. And the terrorists are learning that they are not safe anywhere on this Earth from the justice of the United States of America. Our coalition of 90 nations is still intact. We're still working hard. We're waging the war on terror every single day, and we're winning. And here at home, we have another great priority. We will work for a vigorous and healthy and growing economy so that every American who wants to work can find a job. This Nation and this economy has been through a lot. We have come through a recession. The first three quarters of the year 2001 were recessionary. They were negative growth. We had to deal with some major corporate scandals. Some of our citizens forgot to tell the truth. They thought they could cook the books. It affected the psychology that their behavior affected the psychology of this country. They will be dealt with. Americans now know that if you try to lie, cheat, or steal from employees or shareholders, you will be dealt with. We've also seen a slowdown in the global economy. Other countries around the world aren't growing. We've been attacked. We fought a war in Afghanistan, and now we have finished a war in the process of finishing a war in Iraq. And yet, in spite of those obstacles and difficulties, this economy is growing. As a matter of fact, we are growing faster than most of the industrialized world. In other words, we've overcome some obstacles because there are great strengths in this economy. Interest rates are low, and that helps people, for example, who are trying to buy a home or refinance a home. Inflation is low. Oil and gas prices are coming down, which helps the consumer. It puts more money in your pocket. The entrepreneurial spirit in America is healthy. It's a great strength of our country. If you feel like you've got what it takes to start a business, if you want to go out on your own, you think you've got a good product, this country says, "We welcome you to do so." This is an entrepreneurial heaven here in America, and that's positive for our country. But the greatest strength of the American economy is found right here, right in this room, found in the pride and skill of the American workforce. Last year, productivity growth in America was 4.8 percent. That is the best annual increase since 1980. Here at Timken last year, productivity rose 10 percent. Which means that America can compete with any nation in the world because we got the finest workers in the world. The high productivity that comes from steady innovation and skilled workers gives our economy a tremendous edge. In the mid 1980s, it took Timken an average of 14 worker hours to produce a ton of alloy steel. Today it takes less than 4 hours. Over the long run, this kind of productivity makes American products more competitive, and it raises the standard of living for the American people. The true strength of the country is the fact that we're a productive nation. And as a result of the strengths, we're growing. But this economy has got unmet potential. We know this economy can grow faster, and as it grows faster, it will create more jobs. And we also know that the right policies coming out of Washington can unleash the great strengths of the economy and create the right conditions for growth and prosperity. And that's what I want to talk to you today about, what Washington can do. Sometimes when you hear, "Don't worry, we're from the Federal Government we're here to help," it makes people a little nervous. Laughter The role of Government is to create an environment in which capital moves freely, in which the entrepreneurial spirit is strong, create the conditions so that people feel comfortable about investing and, therefore, create the conditions for job growth. We're making some progress in Washington. We've got a consensus on an important principle Members of both political parties now support tax relief. Both sides agree. Both sides understand that if people have more money in their pocket, they will likely spend it or invest it, which is good for job growth. They also understand that the money we're talking about in Washington is not the Government's money. It's your money. It's the people's money. And when you have more of it, it drives up demand for goods and services. And that's important, given the productivity increases of today. You see, there's pressure on employment. The more productive the workforce becomes if productivity arises rises like it's doing now, it means a worker can produce more. And unless there are folks willing to buy more goods and services, a company is not likely to hire. Productivity increases mean you can get by with less workers. And so the only way to create the conditions necessary for additional job expansion is to increase demand for goods and services. And the best way to create demand for goods and services is to let people have more of their own money. And that's why tax relief is important in the year 2003. The debate over whether we ought to have tax relief is over. That's positive. Now we're talking about how big the package ought to be and what it ought to look like. And I've got some ideas about how big it ought to be and what it ought to look like. The package ought to be least 550 billion in size over a 10 year period in order to make sure that the economy grows. The package needs to be robust, so that we can create more than a million new jobs by the end of 2004. That's not my projection. That's the projection of a lot of smart economists who've analyzed the package. They believe that if the package is implemented by the United States Congress, of at least 550 billion, more than a million new jobs will be created by the end of '04. And that's good for the American worker. And that's what the whole purpose of the package is, to create the conditions for job growth, so people can find work. Some in Congress say the plan is too big. Well, it seems like to me they might have some explaining to do. If they agree that tax relief creates jobs, then why are they for a little bitty tax relief package? If they believe tax relief is important for job creation, they ought to join us and join this administration and join many in Congress and have a robust package that creates enough work for the American people. When I was campaigning and first got into office, the country's economy was slowing down. And then, as I say, the minute I got sworn in, we were in a recession. And that's why I went to Congress for a tax package. I said, "We got to get the people more money so that we keep demand alive." And Congress responded, but the problem is they responded with a phased in program. They said tax relief was important, and tax relief should be robust, but they phased it in over a period of years, 3 years in some cases, 5 years in others, and 7 years. Listen, all I'm asking Congress to do is to take the tax relief package they've already passed, accelerate it to this year so that we can get this economy started and people can find work. If the economy needs help now, why wait? Instead of slowly raising the child credit from 600 to 1,000 per child, let's do it this year and send the 400 for every child to the American family now. Instead of gradually reducing the marriage penalty, we ought to do it now. Congress ought to respond to the conditions of the day. They shouldn't play politics with job creation. So I hear a lot of talk in Washington about what this means. I'll just tell you let me just give you the facts, and you can decide whether this plan is fair. If you're a family of four making 40,000 a year, this tax plan will reduce your taxes from 1,178 to 45 a family of four, 40,000. Pat Williams works right here for the Timken Company. She's a single mom. She's got the toughest job in America, being a single mom. Laughter She's got two children. Sheree is in college Danielle is in high school. Under the plan I've just described and submitted to the United States Congress, her yearly tax bill would fall by nearly 1,000 every year. It's not 1,000 just this year. It's 1,000 every year. It's a thousand more dollars of her own money in her pocket. She says this "This will give me a little more breathing room so that I can assist my children as they go off and do better and bigger things." It's a beautiful statement by a mom who is working hard for her children. There are Pats all over this country who will benefit from the tax plan, people who are struggling to make sure their kids can go to college, people who want to save, people who that thousand dollars a year will mean a lot. Tax relief is good for the average citizen. An economic plan that makes sense also must focus on small businesses. Small businesses create most of the new jobs in America. If you're interested in economic vitality like I am and like you are, there needs to a vibrant component of any tax plan that affects small business. A majority of small firms pay business taxes at the individual tax rate. Most small businesses pay individual tax rates. A lot of people assume, "Well, they pay corporate rates." That's just not true. Most small businesses are sole proprietorships, limited partnerships, or Subchapter S's. So when you hear me talk about reducing income tax rates, you're really hearing me talk about more capital in the hands of small business owners. Reducing income tax rates is money injected into the small business sector of the American economy, that sector which creates most of the new jobs in America. Under this plan, 23 million small businesses will see their revenues increase because of tax relief, which means more money for investment, more money for growth, and more money for jobs. That's what that means. And the Tax Code ought to encourage small business investment. Today, a small business can deduct a maximum of only 25,000 in the year in which they buy equipment. The proposal I submitted to the United States Congress says we need to triple that amount to 75,000 a year and index that amount to inflation. When a small business buys new machinery, not only does it help that small business become more productive and more competitive and more likely to hire somebody, it also means that the person who built the machine is more likely to hire somebody. It will have a ripple effect. The purchase of a machine has a ripple effect throughout our economy. It makes sense to encourage investment, particularly in the small business sector. Mike Kovach knows that. He's from Youngstown, Ohio. He runs City Machine Technologies. I told you he started his business in 1985, and he had two employees, and now there's 70. That's a pretty good record. He not only survived he thrived. And as a result, 68 more people work, have got jobs. He pays taxes on his business at the individual rate level. And he wants to make new investments. The proposal I've just outlined to you will save this good man's company 15,000 a year. And he says let me tell you what he says the tax relief will mean. He says, "That extra money helps put an entry level man on my shop floor." And the horizons for this fella are limitless, is what he says. That's Mike's words, not mine. That's what he thinks. And since he's a decisionmaker, I take him for his word. The 15,000 a year means that Mike is more likely to hire one extra person. And if that happens all across the country, we've taken a big step toward making sure that people who are looking for work can find a job. He also understands better than some of us in Washington do about how this economy grows. "Any time you can improve the bottom line of Main Street business" this is Mike's words "it's good for the city it's good for the State it's great for the Nation. It all trickles up, instead of trickling down." Now, he may not have a Ph.D. in economics, but he's got a Ph.D. in commonsense economics. And this tax plan helps people like Mike, and it's needed. And Congress needs to move. We can also promote economic growth and job creation by treating investors fairly. Stock dividends are often the mark of a solid and respectable firm and where you know the profits are real because you see them in cash. If you pay a dividend, the check actually shows up in somebody's mailbox. It means you're not a pie in the sky company. You're not making hopeful projections, and maybe they happen, and maybe they don't. If you pay a dividend and you tell people you're going to pay a dividend, you got to deliver the dividend. Timken is a dividend paying company. I say it's a dividend paying company after all, Timken has paid a dividend for the last 324 consecutive quarters. That's a solid record. It says to me the people who run Timken care a lot about their shareholders and the employees. After all, there are 44,000 Timken shareholders, employees, retirees, teacher retirement funds, college endowments, a lot of ordinary investors here in Canton who take great pride in owning stock in a local company. Right now, dividends are taxed twice. When the company makes a profit, the dividend the profits are taxed, and that's good. That's the way it should be. However, when the shareholder receives his or her part of the profits, it's taxed again, and that doesn't make sense to me. Taxing something twice is not good public policy, particularly when you're worried about investment and job creation and when you're worried about shareholders and their ability to save and invest, and when you worry about retirement citizens who rely upon dividend income. The double taxation of dividends is bad for the citizens of this country, and we need to eliminate it. Ending the double taxation of dividends, according to many economists, will help the stock market. It'll create value in the stock market. And that's positive. After all, we're becoming an ownership society. Whether it be in your pension plan or directly, you own stock. And when the market's strong, it creates a sense of optimism. It gives you a sense of security. If getting rid of the double taxation of dividends increases the markets, it'll be good for millions of investors all across America. It'll be good for our economy, and it will reduce the cost of capital, which means companies like Timken have got a better capacity to expand, which means jobs. Ending the double taxation of dividends would be good for our seniors who receive half of all taxable dividend income. And that's important. The Freelands here I mentioned they're retired they receive dividend income. It would be helpful to the Freelands in their retirement to not have their dividends taxed twice. Ending the double taxation of dividends will be good for Timken workers. And that's important for you to understand. Last year, this company paid out more than 30 million in dividends, and a lot of that went to Timken employees. So when you hear politicians say the tax cut is only for the rich, they're talking about you. When you have more money to save and invest, it's good for your future. It's good for this economy. Economists estimate that ending the double taxation of dividend would create more than 400,000 new jobs by the end of the year 2004. And sooner the Congress gets this done, the sooner we'll see new jobs for the American people. When we put the job and growth package together, I didn't set arbitrary limits on tax relief. Instead, I asked, "What does the economy need? How do we stimulate work? What do we need to do for small businesses? What will create the most jobs?" And I concluded that of all the proposals that I laid out, lower taxes for families, lower taxes for small businesses, ending the double taxation of dividends to the tune of at least 550 billion, is the best way to make sure this economy grows. Now, you hear talk about deficits, and I'm concerned about deficits. I'm sure you are as well. But this Nation has got a deficit because we have been through a war. And I told the American people we would spend what is necessary to win the war. We weren't going to hold back so our soldiers were didn't have the right equipment and the best training and the best possible pay. And we had an emergency and a recession, which affected the revenue growth of the U.S. Treasury. I mean, the stock market went down. Some of the pie in the sky projections didn't make it, and the investors said, "Oops. The numbers weren't real." The investors said, "Well, it looks like the days of everything is going up may end." And so people started selling, and the markets went down. That affected the revenues coming into the U.S. Treasury. Recession, negative growth means less revenues. And so, of course, we've got a deficit, but I know we can grow out of the deficit with wise policy. And the best way to deal with the deficit is to address the two things that affect the deficit. First, increase revenues to the Treasury through economic growth and vitality. And that's what we discussed here today. And second, make sure Congress does not overspend your money. Make sure it focuses on the things that we need and doesn't spend beyond the things that we need. The best way to solve the deficit is to grow the revenues coming into the Treasury through economic vitality and have fiscal sanity in Washington, DC. And with people looking for work here in America, we have a responsibility to help those people find jobs. So I've asked the Congress to help create what we call Personal Reemployment Accounts. It's an innovative way to make sure that workers are helped, that they can help themselves. Under this program, Americans who face the greatest difficulties in finding work will receive up to 3,000 to use in their job search. And they would have flexibility in how to use that money. A person with a reemployment account would be able to decide whether to use the funds for job training or childcare or transportation or to cover the costs of moving to another city. If the job is attained quickly, within 13 weeks, the worker would be able to keep the cash balance that exists in the reemployment account. To strengthen the economy, you not only need good tax policy, but we need to help American workers find work and the dignity that comes with holding a job. The last few months have been a time of challenge for this country, no question about it. The resolve of this Nation has been tested, yet we have great resources of national character and national strength to overcome any challenge that we face. Our confidence and our optimism have never wavered. We're defending the peace of this world. We love peace. We use our might to make the world more peaceful. We're bringing freedom to corners of the world that haven't seen freedom in generations. We stand strong on the principle that freedom belongs to everybody, no matter the color of their skin, no matter what their religion, no matter where they live. We're building prosperity for this country. It's a unique moment in our history, and you're living through it. And as importantly, the American people are rising to meet it. I want to thank each of you for your strength. I want to thank you for your love of your country. I want to thank you for the work you do every day. Thanks for letting me come. May God bless you, and may God bless America. April 24, 2003 Thank you for the warm welcome. It's great to be in Lima. It is great to be with the hardworking people, the incredibly skilled workers of the Lima Army Tank Plant. I want to thank you for greeting me. I want to thank you for giving me a chance to come and talk to you about two things that are on my mind. The first thing I want to talk about is making sure that people in this country who want to work can find a job. We've been through some tough times here in America. We've had a recession, and then we had an enemy attack us. Then we attacked back. There's been the uncertainty, uncertainty of war hanging over our heads. Then we had some of our corporate citizens forget what it means to be a responsible citizen, and they didn't tell the truth to employees and shareholders. And we had to deal with the corporate scandals that rocked the confidence of America. But in spite of that, our economy is growing. In spite of that, we're the best economy in the industrialized world. But we're not growing fast enough. I don't like it when I hear stories about our fellow Americans looking for work and can't find a job. And therefore, I sent the Congress a package that will encourage economic vitality and job growth, a package that starts with this concept, that we need more demand for goods and services so our people can find work. And the best way to encourage demand for goods and services is, let the people keep their hard earned money in the first place. I put out a plan that says that a family of four making 40,000 a year will have their taxes reduced from about 1,100 to 50. That's 1,000 more dollars in their pocket every year, so they can spend they can save they can invest the way they see fit. I start with understanding whose money we're talking about. We're not talking about the Government's money in Washington, DC, we're talking about your money. And the best way to get this economy started, the best way to make sure people can find work is have an economic stimulus package that focuses on jobs. And that's what I've sent to Congress. And for the sake of the American workers, Congress, when they get back from that Easter break, needs to pass a robust jobs creation program. But I've also come here to talk about peace and security and freedom. And this is a good place to talk about it. This is a fine place, right here in Ohio, to talk about peace and security, because after all, it is in this facility that has provided the American military with the most effective armored vehicle in the history of warfare, the mighty Abrams tank. I'm here to thank you all for your service to our country and thank you for the vital contribution you have made to peace and freedom. You see, we're determined in this country to overcome the threat to our country, wherever they may gather. And each of you have had a part in this mission. Each of you are a part to making sure this country is strong enough to keep the peace. In the liberation of Iraq, we've applied powerful weapons, like the tank you build here, to strike our enemy with speed and precision. In the use of the Abrams tank, we have got a vehicle that is the most safe vehicle for our fighting personnel, precise enough to protect innocent life. Work is not done. There's still dangers and challenges to remain. But one thing is certain Saddam Hussein is no longer in power. And thanks to the courage and might of our military, America is more secure today. And thanks to the courage and might of our military, the Iraqi people are free. I appreciate Lieutenant Colonel Walsh for letting me come. Laughter He didn't have any choice. Laughter I want to thank General Thompson. I want to thank your plant manager, Gary King. I want to thank the UAW local president, Jeff Monroe. I want to thank all the workers who are here. I want to thank you for bringing your families. I thank you for showing your families what you have done to help make history, to help make the world more peaceful. You tell your children, when they see the images of war on their TV sets, that we take the action we take and you build the products you build because we believe in peace in America. We understand we have an obligation to keep our nation secure. You build the weapons you build here because we love freedom in this country. I want to thank some elected officials who have come, your Governor and your Senator DeWine and Congressman Oxley. Remember I talked about how we had some citizens who forgot to be responsible citizens when it came to whether or not they told the truth on the books. We passed a bill called Sarbanes Oxley that said, if you cook the books, you're going to be held to account. The Oxley of Sarbanes Oxley is with us today. And I want to thank Mike Oxley for his good work on behalf of honest government. And Congressman Turner is with us and Congressman Gillmor and your mayor your mayor, as well as local officials. Thank you all for coming. I'm honored to be here. You see, it's a chance for me to remind the people of this country that we're witnessing historic days in the cause of freedom. This is an historic moment. Just over a month ago, not all that long ago, a cruel dictator ruled a country, ruled Iraq by torture and fear. His regime was allied with terrorists, and the regime was armed with weapons of mass destruction. Today, that regime is no more. We have applied our might in the name of peace and in the name of freedom. That's why we applied our might. We gave our word that the threat from Iraq would be ended. And with the support of allies and because of the bravery of our Armed Forces, we have kept our word. Last year, one of the first preparations for possible war, one of the first parts of our planning for war, came when General Tommy Franks from Midland, Texas, I want you to know went to the same high school as First Lady Laura Bush did who, by the way, sends her love and her best. Tommy Franks asked one of the first requests in preparation for possible war was that we send 1,200 Abrams tanks to the theater. That was one of the first decisions that Tommy made. And when the war came, in the initial stages of that war, units equipped with Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles led the charge, were first in as we crossed into Iraq to free the people of that country. When our coalition met fierce resistance in An Nasiriyah and on the way up, south to north, our armored forces answered decisively. The tanks built right here in Lima, Ohio, charged through elements of the dictator's Republican Guards, led the forces of a liberation into the heart of Iraq, and rolled all the way into downtown Baghdad. Throughout the campaign, our enemy learned that when Abrams tanks are on the battlefield, America means business. Our edge in warfare comes, in part, from the American spirit of enterprise no question about that from great companies and great workers like you all. During the fighting in Iraq, tank commanders sent word that they needed better ways to protect the Abrams exhaust systems from enemy fire. During the battle, word came back from Iraq, right here to Lima. And so engineers and machinists, pipefitters and welders and packers and transportation specialists of this plant went straight to work. Within a week, you had a new part designed and manufactured, and the first kits to deal with that problem shipped to Iraq. When our soldiers and marines needed you most, when the pressure was on, you came through, and America is grateful. I understand that one welder here, Mark Springer, had a especially strong interest in completing the project, to making sure the Abrams were able to fulfill their mission. You see, his son Joshua is serving in Iraq as an Abrams tank commander. I thank Mark for his service. And the next time, Mark, you communicate with Josh, you tell him the Commander in Chief came to Lima to say how proud I am of his service and the others' service to our country. I've seen buttons with pictures of troops on the shirts of moms and dads and loved ones. I want to thank you all for your prayers for the safety of our troops. I want to thank you for your love of your children. They need to know, over there in combat, that people here at home love them. I want to thank you for your patience and just let you know they'll be home when the mission is complete. The mission is not complete. Our forces still face danger in Iraq. Our enemy is scattered, but they're still capable of doing harm. But we're not going to lose our focus. We're going to press on until the mission is complete. In any conflict, America's greatest single asset is the character of the men and women who wear our uniform. In Iraq, they have shown us once again that powerful weapons are a great advantage in modern warfare, but courage is still decisive. Some of the bravest have been lost to us and to their families. Some of the best have not returned home, and we will never forget their sacrifice. In Iraq, we are defending this Nation's security. After the attacks of September the 11th, 2001, we will not allow grave threats to go unopposed. We are now working to locate and destroy Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Iraqis with firsthand knowledge of these programs, including several top officials who have come forward recently, some voluntarily laughter others not laughter are beginning to cooperate, are beginning to let us know what the facts were on the ground. And that's important because the regime of Saddam Hussein spent years hiding and disguising his weapons. He tried to fool the United Nations, and did for 12 years, by hiding these weapons. And so it's going to take time to find them. But we know he had them. And whether he destroyed them, moved them, or hid them, we're going to find out the truth. And one thing is for certain Saddam Hussein no longer threatens America with weapons of mass destruction. We're not only in Iraq to protect our security we're also showing that we value the lives and the liberty of the Iraqi people. We're pressing forward with the critical work of relief and reconstruction in that country. And the work will be difficult. You see, Iraq is recovering not just from weeks of conflict but from decades of totalitarian rule. The dictator built palaces in a country that needed hospitals. He spent money on illegal weapons, not on the education of the Iraqi children or food for the Iraqi people. Statues of the man have been pulled down, but the fear and suspicion he instilled in the people will take longer to pass away. Yet I have faith in the Iraqi people. They have the resources, the talent, and the desire to live in peace and freedom. And in the hard work of building a free Iraq, they will have a consistent friend in the United States of America. We have sent teams of people over to Iraq to make sure that they have adequate food. We're restoring electricity. We're making sure the hospitals are full of medicine and staffed with people to help the people of that country. I've sent a good man to help the Iraqi people, retired General Jay Garner sent him to Iraq, and he arrived in Baghdad just this week. You see, it wasn't all that long ago that our tanks were in Baghdad. It may seem like a lot of time there's a lot on our TV screens but it wasn't all that long ago that the people got the first whiff of freedom. And now we've followed up with a team of people, headed by this man Garner who's got one overriding goal, to leave a free nation in the hands of a free people. That is our goal in Iraq. Our mission besides removing the regime that threatened us, besides ending a place where the terrorists could find a friend, besides getting rid of weapons of mass destruction our mission has been to bring a humanitarian aid and restore basic services and put this country Iraq on the road to self government. And we'll stay as long as it takes to complete our mission. And then all our forces are going to leave Iraq and come home. And we're making progress. There's tangible, visible progress on the ground there in Iraq. Step by step, the citizens of that country are reclaiming their own country. They're identifying former officials who are guilty of crimes. That deck of cards seems to be getting complete over time. Laughter They're volunteering for citizens patrols to provide security in the cities. They're beginning to understand that they need to step up and be responsible citizens if they want to live in peace and a free society. Many Iraqis are now reviving religious rituals which were forbidden by the old regime. See, a free society honors religion. A free society is a society which believes in the freedom of religion. And many Iraqis are now speaking their mind in public. That's a good sign. Laughter That means a new day has come in Iraq. When Saddam was the dictator and you spoke your mind, he would cut out your tongue and leave you to bleed to death in a town square. No fooling. That's how he dealt with dissidents. Today in Iraq, there's discussion, debate, protest, all the hallmarks of liberty. Laughter The path to freedom may not always be neat and orderly, but it is the right of every person and every nation. This country believes that freedom is God's gift to every individual on the face of the Earth. Last week there was an historic gathering that occurred in the city of Al Nasiriyah, where Iraqis met openly and freely to discuss the future of their country. And out of that meeting came this declaration by the Iraqis that were there Iraq must be democratic. And that's the goal, the commitment of the United States and our coalition partners Iraq must be democratic. And as new Iraqi leaders begin to emerge, we'll work with them. One thing is certain We will not impose a government on Iraq. We will help that nation build a government of, by, and for the Iraqi people. Our country and our good allies are working to create the conditions for lasting peace. We're aiding the advance of peace by seeking the advance of freedom. Free societies do not nurture bitterness or the ideologies of terror and murder. Free societies are founded on the belief that every life has equal value. Free societies free societies turn creative gifts of men and women toward progress and the betterment of their own lives. American interests and American founding beliefs lead in the same direction. We stand for human liberty. This past month has been a time of testing for our country. And the American people have responded with resolve and strength and optimism. Whatever challenges may come, we can be confident our Nation is strong our purpose is firm and our cause is just. Thank you for coming. May God bless you, and may God bless America. April 16, 2003 Thank you all very much. Be seated, please. So I'm on my way to Crawford laughter part of the real world, I want you to know and I decided to stop here in St. Louis, Missouri, to say thanks to some of the finest workers we have in America. And it's a perfect time to do so. The successes of our military begin right here on the factory floors. The quality of the workmanship that goes into the aircrafts that you build here is one of the main reasons why we were successful in making the world a more peaceful place. Our Nation thanks you for your efforts and your work. Seeing all the good workers here reminds me of one of the big tasks we have in America, and that is to make sure anybody who's looking for a job can find one. Too many of our fellow Americans are looking for work, and that bothers me. So I sent some suggestions up to the United States Congress about how to stimulate job growth, and it starts with letting you keep more of your own money. I have sent to the Congress a jobs and growth package that will reduce the burden on our taxpayers, that will give you more of your money in your pockets so you get to decide how to save or invest and spend. In order for all Americans who are looking for work to find work, the Congress must pass this jobs package as soon as they come back from their recess. And the other big task for this Nation is to overcome any threats to our country, wherever they gather. Each of you has had a part of preparing this Nation to meet the dangers of our time. Today, half a world away, America is leading this great coalition of free nations to end a brutal regime and to remove a threat to our society. We've applied the new powers of technology like the F 18s to strike an enemy force with speed and incredible precision. Our work is not done. The difficulties have not passed, but the regime of Saddam Hussein has passed into history. Thanks to the courage and the might of our military, the American people are more secure. Thanks to the courage and might of our military, the Iraqi people are now free. I want to thank management and worker alike for inviting me here today. It's truly an honor to be here. I want to thank Phil Condit and Jim Albaugh and Rick Smith for the invitation. It gives me a chance to come and say firsthand how much we all appreciate what you do on behalf of the security of this country. I appreciate Senator Bond and Senator Talent for their leadership. It's good to work with these two men to make sure this Nation remains strong. I appreciate Matt Blunt, representing the State government, for being here. Today I had the honor of meeting John Sant. He was so anxious to see me at the foot of the stairs of Air Force One, he was standing in the rain. And I'm grateful for that. But I'm grateful to share his story with you. Here's a man who decides to take time out of his busy life to volunteer to help children become more literate, volunteers to help the AmeriCorps program to make sure that the public education system of St. Louis, Missouri, fulfills its promise that no child should be left behind in any community in America. It is appropriate that we talk about the compassion of our fellow Americans at the same time as we talk about the might of our great country. I asked John to come and to stand because one of my calls to our fellow Americans is to love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. When you see somebody who hurts, put your arm around them and tell them you love them and make sure that applause . And also standing out there at the stairs was Adrian Fakes, private first class, United States Marine Corps, St. Louis native, wounded in An Nasiriyah, soon to recover, anxious to get back to his unit. He represents the finest of the fine those of our country who wear the uniform. Thank you for coming, Adrian. You and I and all the world are witnessing historic days in the cause of freedom. One month ago just one month ago the forces of our coalition stood at the borders of Iraq with orders to advance hundreds of miles through hostile territory against a ruthless enemy. Today, organized military resistance has virtually ended the major cities of Iraq have been liberated. Two weeks ago, the Iraqi regime operated a gulag for dissidents and, incredibly enough, a prison for young children. Now the gates to that prison have been thrown wide open, and we are putting the dictator's political prisons and torture chambers out of business. One week ago, Baghdad was filled with statues and giant pictures of the dictator. They're kind of hard to find today. Laughter The fall of that statue in Baghdad marked the end of a nightmare for the Iraqi people, and it marked the start of a new day of freedom. Four days ago, seven American soldiers, six men and one woman, were held captive by forces still loyal to the fallen regime. Today, those brave Americans are with their fellow comrades and are headed home to their loved ones. American and coalition forces still face serious risks in Iraq. Scattered enemy is still capable of doing harm to our forces and to the innocent. But we'll stay focused. We will finish what we've begun. We will press on until our mission is finished and victory is complete. On September the 11th, 2001, America found that we are not immune to the threats that gather for years across the oceans, threats that can arrive in sudden tragedy. Since September the 11th, we've been engaged in a global war against terror, a war being waged on many fronts. That war continues, and we are winning. In Afghanistan, we and our allies ended the rule of the Taliban and closed down camps where terrorists plotted and trained to attack us. In Iraq, our coalition has now removed an ally of terrorists and a producer of weapons of mass destruction. In other nations, we're hunting and capturing members of Al Qaida, disrupting their plans before they can strike. Across the world, terrorists and tyrants are learning this, that America and our friends and our allies will act in our own defense. Instead of drifting toward tragedy, we will protect our security, and we will promote the peace in the world. We are fighting terror with all the tools we have at our disposal, diplomacy and law enforcement, intelligence and homeland security. As a last resort, we have turned to our military. And the skill and the heroism of American Armed Forces are making this country proud. From Kabul to Baghdad, American forces and our fine allies have conducted some of the most successful military campaigns in history. By a combination of creative strategies and advanced technologies, we are redefining war on our terms. Even before the fighting began in Iraq, Special Operations forces were inside the country, moving in to protect key infrastructure, protect the oilfields owned by the Iraqi people, to secure vital bridges. Overwhelmingly yet carefully targeted airstrikes left entire enemy divisions without armor and without organization. Precision guided weapons fatally disrupted the regime's system of command and control. Every armed conflict brings sacrifice and grief. That's why the use of our military is our last option. Yet, more than ever before, the precision of our technology is protecting the lives of our soldiers and the lives of innocent civilians. The overwhelming majority of the munitions dropped in the Iraqi campaign were precision guided. In this new era of warfare, we can target a regime, not a nation. Our aim is to track and strike the guilty. Terrorists and tyrants have now been put on notice they can no longer feel safe hiding behind innocent lives. Our military is strong and our military is ready, and we intend to keep it that way. Our Armed Forces must have every resource they need to carry out and complete the missions we give them. This morning at the White House, I signed a 79 billion wartime supplemental to cover the needs directly arising from Operation Iraqi Freedom and the reconstruction of Iraq. People who serve in the military are giving their best to America, and I want to thank the Members of Congress for acting quickly to give our men and women in arms the support they need. For the sake of the security of this country and for the sake of peace in this world, the United States must maintain every advantage in weaponry and technology and intelligence. Our edge in warfare comes, in part, because of the American spirit of enterprise, great companies such as Boeing, great workers such as yourselves. In any conflict, however, this Nation's greatest single asset is the kind of men and women who put on the uniform of the United States. The methods of war have changed, but the need for courage has not. And we've seen once again the courage of the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States of America. These are young Americans who engaged in furious battles, then carried wounded enemies to medical treatment. These are young Americans willing to accept any danger to rescue one of their own. These are the kind of people who, when they are wounded themselves, ask to rejoin their comrades in battle. Some of our soldiers and marines will never be returning to their families, and these are the men and women who our Nation will honor forever. The character of our military reflects the character of our country. America uses its might in the service of principle. As we defend our security, we value the lives and the liberty of the Iraqi people. Having rid Iraq of an oppressive regime, we are committed to helping Iraq build a future of freedom and dignity and peace. By swift and effective military action, we avoided the massive flow of refugees that many had expected. By delivering food and water and medicine to the Iraqi people, even as coalition units engaged the enemy, we have helped to avert a humanitarian crisis. Emergency supplies are now moving freely to Iraq from many countries. Now that Iraq is liberated, the United Nations should lift economic sanctions on that country. We're also addressing Iraq's urgent medical problems, problems left by a regime that built palaces in a country that needed hospitals. Right now, hundreds of Iraqis are being treated at U.S. and British military facilities. Governments from Europe and the Middle East are moving field hospitals to Iraq. Coalition members and the United Nations and other international organizations are sending much needed medical supplies. The Red Cross is working to keep water and electricity flowing to hospitals. And very soon our coalition will be making direct emergency payments to Iraqi doctors and nurses who will be providing desperately needed care to their fellow citizens. With all the hardships of this transition, the lives of the Iraqi people will be better than anything they have known for generations. The journey from a totalitarian, brutal dictatorship to a free society is not easy. It will take time to build the institutions of democracy and the habits of freedom. Today, civil order is being restored in communities throughout Iraq, and Iraqis themselves are helping in the effort. Iraqis are leading coalition forces to caches of weapons and volunteering for citizen patrols to provide security. In Basra, British forces and Iraqis have formed joint patrols to maintain order. Just days after the fall of the dictator, just days after the people of Iraq realized they were free from the clutches of his terror, the Iraqi people are reclaiming their own streets, their own country, and their own future. Yesterday an historic gathering occurred in the city of An Nasiriyah, where Iraqis met openly and freely to discuss the future of the country. They even had some protesters outside the meeting, a sure sign of freedom. Laughter Many more of these meetings will take place in the weeks and months to come. In An Nasiriyah, the Iraqi people have made a good start. And out of that meeting came this declaration Iraq must be democratic. And the nations of our coalition share that commitment. We also share this commitment We will not impose any form of government on Iraq. We will help Iraq to build a government of, by, and for the Iraqi people. In Iraq, the world is witnessing something dramatic and something important. We're seeing the deep and universal desire of men and women to live in freedom. As Americans, this shouldn't surprise us. We believe that no force, no threat, can make human beings love tyranny. We believe that the appeal of liberty will, in time, overcome any coercive power on Earth. We believe that people across the Middle East and across the world are weary of poverty, weary of oppression, and yearn to be free. And all who know that hope, all who will work and sacrifice for freedom, have a friend in the United States of America. Our country and our good allies are united by a great goal. We're working to create the conditions for peace. We're confronting the threats to peace from terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. And we're aiding the advance of peace by seeking the advance of freedom. Free societies do not nurture bitterness or the ideologies of terror and murder. Free societies are founded on the belief that every life has equal value. Free societies turn the creative gifts of men and women toward progress and the betterment of their own lives. American interests and American founding beliefs lead in the same direction We stand for human liberty. This past month has been a time of testing and uncertainty for our country. The American people have responded with resolve and with optimism. Whatever challenges may come, we can be confident. Our Nation is strong our purpose is firm and our cause is just. God bless you all. April 15, 2003 Christine, thanks for the kind words. Thank you for being a entrepreneur who was encouraging to your fellow workers to serve their country. You represent a lot of bosses across this country who encouraged the reservist or the guard, who made sure there was a job available when they came home and, at the same time, supported their family. And I want to thank you very much for that. I want to welcome you all to the Rose Garden. It is a beautiful day. It's a beautiful day for our country too. We've got troops still fighting in Iraq, and our Nation takes great pride in the men and women who wear our country's uniform and who sacrifice for security and peace. The world has seen their skill and their courage and their humanity. They bring security to our country and, at the same time, bring freedom to the Iraqi people. I appreciate the chance to meet with small business leaders from around our country to discuss the challenges facing our economy. The small business folks in America, the entrepreneurs, represent one of the great strengths of this country, the spirit of free enterprise, the willingness to take risk, the hard work required to move this economy forward. Small business owners and employees understand that this economy has a great deal of unmet potential. The American people have all the talent to meet that potential, and that's why I'm so optimistic about the future for our economy. The Nation needs quick action by our Congress on a progrowth economic package. We need tax relief totaling at least 550 billion to make sure our economy grows. And American workers and American businesses need every bit of that relief now so that people who want to find a job can find one, so that people looking for work are able to put food on the table for their families. I want to thank Christine for coming. I appreciate the fact that she is the CEO of her own business. We just had a roundtable discussion in the Roosevelt Room, and one of the things I love told the folks there I loved about America was the fact that somebody can own their own business, that ours is an ownership society. I think that's one of the things that makes America so unique, is the entrepreneurial spirit and the drive by people from all walks of life to start their own business, succeed with their own business. And at the same time, it's that drive that makes it likely somebody is going to find work. I appreciate Karla Aaron, who's with us as well, Hialeah Metal Spinning from South Florida. And I want to thank Tim Barrett, who is the owner of Wood World. Tim said he's got he's about as small a business unit as you can get. He's got four employees. I said, "Well, it's four times bigger than the smallest." Laughter And I appreciate Frank Fillmore as the president of The Fillmore Group. Thank you all for standing up here as well. Steve Anderson was with us today, who is the head of the National Restaurant Association. His association represents all kinds of entrepreneurs. The restaurant industry is a great place for people to get their start in achieving the American Dream. Sal Gomez was here representing the Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. The most interesting statistics about the entrepreneurial spirit is the number of Hispanic small businesses that are flourishing in our country. It's one of the great tributes to America and our open society. I appreciate so very much Tom Donohue, who is the head of the U.S. Chamber, for joining us today. Jerry Jasinowski is the head of the National Association of Manufacturers, is with us. Karen Kerrigan is the Small Business Survival Committee that's a pretty good name. Laughter Tom Musser is the National Federation of Independent Businesses, NFIB. And Terry Neese is Women Impacting Public Policy, joined us at our discussion in the Roosevelt Room Bill Parsley of Carswell Distributing Company Dirk Van Dongen, who is my good buddy, who represents the National Association of Wholesaler Distributors and Melanie Sabelhaus, who represents the Small Business Administration. We had a great discussion. I want to thank you all for joining us there, and I appreciate everybody else coming today as well. On the first day of the new Congress more than 3 months ago, I spoke to the business leaders in Chicago, Illinois. I described two great and immediate tasks facing our country first, to meet the dangers to America wherever they gather and secondly, to achieve a vigorous and growing economy. Those remain the highest priorities of my administration, and there's no doubt we're going to meet those priorities. This Government is acting to protect the American people from the threats of a new era. In Iraq, the regime of Saddam Hussein is no more. A month ago one month ago that country was a prison to its people, a haven for terrorists, an arsenal of weapons that endangered the world. Today, the world is safer. The terrorists have lost an ally. The Iraqi people are regaining control of their own destiny. These are good days in the history of freedom. Our victory in Iraq is certain, but it is not complete. Centralized power of the dictator has ended. Yet, in parts of Iraq, desperate and dangerous elements remain. Forces of our coalition will engage these enemies until they surrender or until they're destroyed. We have waged this war with determination and with clarity of purpose, and we will see it through until the job is done. As we press on to liberate every corner of Iraq, we are beginning the difficult work of helping Iraqis to build a free and stable country. The immediate tasks involve establishing order as well as delivering food and water and medicines. We'll help Iraqis to restore electrical power and other basic services. We'll help destroy the former regime's weapons of mass destruction. We'll help the Iraqi people to establish a just and representative government which respects human rights and adheres to the rule of law. These tasks will take effort, and these tasks will take time. But I have faith in the Iraqi people, and I believe that a free Iraq can be an example of reform and progress to all the Middle East. Our victory in Iraq will be a crucial advance in the war against terror. Yet, the war on terror continues. Our Nation is still threatened by determined and resourceful enemies. The proliferation of weapons of mass destruction remains a danger to the civilized world. Yet from the very day our country was attacked, we have sent a clear message to all who would threaten us and our friends and our allies The United States of America and our coalition will defend ourselves. When we make a pledge, we mean it. We keep our word, and what we begin, we will finish. Another great priority of the Government is to encourage prosperity and the creation of jobs for all who seek them. Here in Washington, we're now determining the size and the shape of a package to promote growth in jobs. It's not "if" we have a package it's, "How big will the package be?" The "if" is over with. In this debate, the goal is not to set arbitrary numbers for that package. The goal is to determine what our economy needs, what small businesses need, what workers need, and then to take actions necessary to meet those needs. The proposals I announced 3 months ago were designed to address specific weaknesses slowing down our economy and keeping companies from hiring new workers. Those weaknesses remain today. All of you know that economic and job growth will come when consumers buy more goods and services from businesses such as your own. And the best and fairest way to make sure Americans can do that is to grant them immediate tax relief so they have more of their own money to spend or save. In 2001, the Congress passed broad tax reductions in income taxes and promised much of this tax relief for future years. With the economy as it is, the American people need that relief right away. The tax cuts are good enough for the American taxpayers 3 or 5 or 7 years from now they are even better today. Instead of lowering taxes little by little, the Congress should do it all at once and give our economy the boost it needs. Instead of gradually reducing the marriage penalty, we should do it now. Instead of slowly raising the child credit from 600 to 1,000, we should do it now. And we should send the extra 400 per child to American families this year, 2003. All together, these tax reductions will help 92 million Americans. And a significant part of the benefit to our economy will come within the first 2 years of the plan. A family of four with an income of 40,000 would receive a 96 percent reduction in Federal income taxes. Instead of paying 1,178 per year, the family would pay 45 a year. That means extra money in the family budget, year after year. That money can cover a lot of bills. That money can help families with purchases they have been delaying. That money will be in circulation, which will be good for our economy. And this plan will help our small business sector. The benefits of the growth plan will come from increased consumer spending and, as importantly, from lower income tax rates on the small businesses themselves. It is important for our fellow citizens to understand that most small businesses pay their business taxes at the individual rates. Most small businesses are sole proprietorships or limited partnerships or Subchapter S's. And therefore, when you reduce individual tax rates, you benefit small business formation. As a matter of fact, under this plan, some 23 million small business owners will see their taxes cut, which leaves more money for investment, more money for growth, more money for job creation. A growing economy also needs small business investment, and our Tax Code should encourage investment. Today, a small business can deduct a maximum of 25,000 in the year in which they buy equipment. We need to triple the amount that can be deducted in the year in which they buy equipment. So I proposed to Congress that they ought to limit the limit ought to be increased to 75,000, and that limit ought to be indexed to inflation. By doing so, we promote greater investment in machinery, and when a small business buys a machine, it enhances their company's productivity. As well, it means the machinery manufacturer is likely to have more work available. More investment equals jobs, and what we're interested in in this administration is helping people who look for work find a job. We can also promote economic growth and job creation by removing the double tax on dividends. Taxing corporate income once is fair. It is not fair for the Federal Government to tax the same money twice. The burden of double taxation falls on the millions of individuals who receive dividends. It falls especially hard on seniors, who receive half of all dividend income. The removal of double taxation would put more money into the hands of investors it would encourage more investment in American businesses. Economists say that this plan will help our stock markets. And since half of American families own stock, the reform will help them save and help our economy grow. Now, these measures were presented to the Congress in the first week of this year. The progrowth package was urgent in January. It's even more urgent today. It is important for you all to understand and for our fellow Americans to understand, the tax relief I have proposed and will push for until enacted will create 1.4 million new jobs by the end of 2004. In 2 years' time, this Nation has experienced war, a recession, and a national emergency, which has caused our Government to run a deficit. The best way to reduce the deficit is with more growth in our economy, which means more revenues to our Treasury and less spending in Washington, DC. I am pleased that both the House and the Senate have passed budget resolutions that show real spending restraint. And now the Congress must focus on a robust and effective growth package. We need at least 550 billion in that package because the more tax relief that goes to the American people, the more jobs we will create in this economy. The last few months have been a time of challenge for America. Our resolve has been tested. Yet, we have the great resources of national strength and national character to overcome every challenge we face. Our confidence and our optimism have never wavered. We are defending the peace of the world. We're bringing freedom to corners of the world that haven't seen freedom in years. We're also building the prosperity of our country. This is a unique moment in our history, and the American people are rising to meet it. I want to thank each of you for your hard work. I want to thank each of you for the faith you have shown in this country's future. May God bless you, and may God continue to bless America. Thank you all. April 12, 2003 Good morning. Over the last several days, the world has watched as the regime of Saddam Hussein began passing into history. We will always remember the first images of a nation released from decades of tyranny and fear. The conflict continues in Iraq, and our military may still face hard fighting. Yet the statues of the dictator and all the works of his terror regime are falling away. From the beginning and to this very hour, members of the American and coalition forces have conducted themselves with all the skill and honor we expect of them. Our enemies have seen their valor. The people of Iraq are seeing their compassion as our military provides food, water, and medical treatment to all in need, including captured Iraqi soldiers. As Army Master Sergeant Howard Kutcher of Delaware said of his service in the Middle East, "I am not here to conquer. I am here to help." In one city, American soldiers encountered a crowd of Iraqi citizens who thought our troops were about to storm a nearby mosque. Just then, Lieutenant Colonel Chris Hughes ordered his men to get down on one knee and point their weapons to the ground. This gesture of respect helped defuse a dangerous situation and made our peaceful intentions clear. Coalition forces have also come upon scenes that explain why fear runs so deep among the Iraqi people. In Baghdad on Tuesday, U.S. marines helped to free more than 100 children who, according to one report, had been jailed for refusing to join the dictator's Ba'ath Party youth organization. Malnourished and wearing rags, the children were overjoyed to see their parents and our liberating forces. In the words of Lieutenant Colonel Fred Padilla, commander of the 1st Battalion 5th Marines, "The children just streamed out of the gates, and their parents just started to embrace us." "Hundreds of kids," he said, "were swarming us and kissing us." As Saddam's regime of fear is brought to an end, the people of Iraq are revealing the true hopes they have always held. It should surprise no one that Iraqis, like all people, resent oppression and welcome their own freedom. It should surprise no one that in every nation and every culture, the human heart desires the same good things, dignity, liberty, and a chance to build a better life. As people throughout Iraq celebrate the arrival of freedom, America celebrates with them. We know that freedom is the gift of God to all mankind, and we rejoice when others can share it. On Wednesday in central Baghdad, one of the Iraqi men who took a sledgehammer to the pedestal of the giant statue of Saddam had this to say "I'm 49, but I never lived a single day. Only now will I start living." Millions of Iraqis feel the same as their country is finally returned to them. The nightmare of Saddam Hussein's rule in Iraq is ending. Soon, the good and gifted people of Iraq will be free to choose their leaders who respect their rights and reflect their character. In all that is to come, they will have the good will of the entire world. And they will have the friendship of the people of the United States. Thanks for listening. April 11, 2003 The President. Laura and I just had an extraordinary experience here at Bethesda and at initially at Walter Reed, to thank our troops who've been overseas in Iraq for their dedication and courage and their service to the country. Because of troops like them, because of coalition troops, we've had an historic week. I don't think I'll ever forget I'm sure a lot of other people will never forget the statue of Saddam Hussein falling in Baghdad, and then seeing the jubilation on the faces of ordinary Iraqis as they realized that the grip of fear that had them by the throat had been released the first signs of freedom. I came today to thank the troops and their families and their loved ones for their sacrifice. I also want to thank the staffs of these hospitals, the leadership, the doctors and the nurses, the people who care for those who have been hurt, for their extraordinary service to their fellow Americans. Ours is an amazing country where a young soldier can be wounded on the battlefield and 4 days later be receiving the best health care possible. This country is dedicated to our military. We try to provide the very best we can. And here at Be thesda, at Walter Reed, our troops get the very best there is. So Laura and I were here not only to thank our soldiers but also to thank those in the medical profession who dedicate their lives to healing the hurt and to helping the families. And that's exactly what's happening for our soldiers here in these two fine facilities. I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions. Yes. POWs and MIAs Saddam Hussein Q. Mr. President, what progress are we making in determining the whereabouts and well being of American POWs and MIAs in Iraq? And the same goes for Saddam Hussein. And which do you see as the greater priority right now? The President. The priority of this campaign is to rid the Iraqi people of any vestiges of Saddam Hussein and his regime so we can not only free the people but clear that country of weapons of mass destruction. I don't know the whereabouts of Saddam Hussein. I don't know if he's dead or alive. I do know he's no longer in power. In terms of POWs, we will use every resource we have to find any POWs that are alive. And we pray that they are alive, because if they are, we'll find them. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Victory Declaration Media Coverage Q. Why shouldn't we say that the war is over except for pockets of resistance, sir? And do you feel any certain sense of vindication after all those people questioned the war plan? The President. I don't take anything personally. I committed our troops because I believe that Saddam Hussein and his regime posed a threat to the American people, posed a threat to anybody who loves freedom. We will achieve that objective. And at the same time, we will free the Iraqi people. And that's an important objective as well. We believe in freedom. We believe freedom is universal. We believe freedom is a gift from the Almighty God for every person, regardless of their race or their religion. This war will end when our commanders in the field tell me that the objective has been achieved. And Tommy Franks put together a great strategy. The wonderful thing about free speech and a lot of TV stations is you get a lot of opinions. Some of them were right, and some of them were really wrong. But that's okay. That's what we that's what we believe. We believe in free speech. We believe people ought to be able to express their opinion. Q. Sir, can you tell us, though, what you think specifically needs to happen for you to feel comfortable with the recommendation from General Franks that the war is over and victory has been achieved? Does Tikrit need to fall, the weapons of mass destruction The President. Hold on, I can't hear you. There's something beeping here. We've got a major beeper violation right here at Bethesda. Laughter Say it again, I'm Q. What are some of the specific things that you want to see? The weapons of mass destruction found and secured? Tikrit falling? Saddam found? The President. The specific thing I want to hear is that our commanders say we've achieved the clear objective I set out. And that's when we will say this is over. This is a campaign that has been run on the frontlines by General Tommy Franks. And that's the way it's going to continue to be, that Tommy gets the Tommy tells us what is necessary to achieve the objective. We gave Tommy the tools necessary to win. We agreed with his strategy, and he's running this war. And when Tommy says we've achieved our objective, that's when we've achieved our objective. I'm here in Washington, DC. He's there in Qatar, and he's got commanders in Baghdad. He's better to judge whether we've achieved the objective than I have. Go ahead. Q. Do you need to see the weapons of mass destruction found and secured? The President. The war will end when Tommy Franks says we've achieved our objective. Syria Q. Inaudible for Syria's failure to heed U.S. warnings? The President. Syria just needs to know we expect full cooperation, and that we strongly urge them not to allow for Ba'ath Party members or Saddam's families or generals on the run to seek safe haven and find safe haven there. We expect them to do everything they can to prevent people who should be held to account from escaping in their country. And if they are in their country, we expect the Syrian authorities to turn them over to the proper folks. President's Agenda Q. As the war does come to an end, what domestic or foreign priorities are you going to turn your focus to quickly? The President. That's a very speculative question about foreign priority. My priority right now is to win the war on terror. And that means we've got ongoing operations in Afghanistan. The Iraqi theater was a part of the war on terror, and we continue to fight the war on terror. So that's a major priority. Beyond that, obviously, is the promotion of the health and well being of citizens around the world. I'm very serious about the AIDS initiative for Africa. But we will continue to deal with it, and we will continue to deal with issues like proliferation. At home, obviously I'm spending a lot of time on economic growth and working with Members of the United States Congress to encourage them to pass a stimulus package that will affect the economy so people can find work. I want to make sure Medicare gets done that is, the reform of Medicare so that seniors are able to receive the health care that they've been promised. I mean, there's a lot on my agenda. Visits With Wounded Troops Q. Were there any conversations, either here or at Walter Reed, that stood out to you? And what was their effect on you and Mrs. Bush? The President. Conversations? Q. Here or at Walter Reed that stood out. The President. Well, I think the thing that stood out the most to me was seeing two wounded soldiers swear in as citizens of the United States, one man from Mexico, one man from the Philippines people who had gone overseas, people who had risked their lives for peace and security and freedom they wore the uniform of the United States military. And Laura and I got to see them sworn in as citizens. It was a very profound moment. We were both honored to witness this. You know, we've got an amazing country, where it's so powerful, values we believe, that people would be willing to risk their own life and become a citizen after being wounded. It's an amazing moment. I'm really proud of them. Yes, ma'am. Q. How was the morale of the marines and sailors? The President. It's good. The Marines are a tough group a tough group as you know. And a lot of the troops wanted to get healed quickly so they could go back with their units. It's an amazing thing when you see a person wounded, sitting there in a wheelchair or bound up in bandages or these different looking metal things sticking out of them to hold them together a young man look you in the eye and say, "I can't wait to get back to my unit. I hope I'm healed fast enough to get back to Iraq." It's a brave lot here in Bethesda, people who are willing to sacrifice for something greater than themselves. And I feel lucky as an American to be a part of a country where citizens are willing to do that. I reminded them and their families that the war in Iraq is it's really about peace, trying to make the world more peaceful. This victory in Iraq, when it happens, will make the world more peaceful. I reminded them that their sacrifices really had to do with the security of our country, that Saddam Hussein and his terrorist allies are threats to America, threats to our people because of what we believe in. I also reminded them that their courageous sacrifice will help young Iraqis grow up in a free society, that out of the chaos that takes place there now and after the fear of a Saddam Hussein and his thugs, that the Iraqi people will run their own country, make their own decisions, choose their own leaders, and will become a country at peace with others in the neighborhood. And so their sacrifices, as I told them, were worthwhile. And it's an honor to have spoken to them and to have been with them and their families today. Thank you all very much. April 08, 2003 Prime Minister Blair. Good morning, everyone. First of all, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to President Bush to Northern Ireland. America has long been a friend of Northern Ireland and a friend to us in this important period for the peace process. So it's both significant and welcome that the President is here in person to give once more his support and to join with me and, later today, with the Irish Taoiseach in urging the parties to take the final steps towards a lasting peace here in Northern Ireland. It's also perhaps fitting that here in Northern Ireland a good part of our discussion focused on the Middle East. It's not so many years ago that it would have been said that the peace process here was in far worse shape than the process out in the Middle East. Yet, here we are, for all the difficulties in Northern Ireland, able to point back to real improvements in the security and the standard of living of people here and to point forward to turning progress into lasting change, lasting security, and lasting peace, which is what people want to see here. And we've made that progress because of patience and perseverance and because friends like those in the United States of America have helped us get there. So to those who can sometimes say that the process in the Middle East is hopeless, I say we can look at Northern Ireland and take some hope from that. I want to thank the President also for the impetus he has given to the two state solution in the Middle East that he outlined last June, a secure Israel and a viable Palestinian state, and for his decision that the roadmap be published, which as you know, depends upon the foundation of Abu Mazen's cabinet. Of course, our discussions have naturally continued to focus upon Iraq, upon the continuing military campaign, where, once again, our forces have performed superbly. And I want to pay tribute to the U.S., UK, and other coalition forces. In all parts of the country, our power is strengthening the regime is weakening the Iraqi people are turning towards us. I'd like to pay tribute to the professionalism and the compassion that they continue to show and to express my condolences to the families of those that have lost their lives in this conflict, most recently, the three brave soldiers who lost their lives fighting to liberate Basra. I think anyone who has seen the joy on the faces of people in Basra as they realize that the regime that they detest is finally collapsing knows very well that this was, indeed, a war of liberation and not of conquest. On weapons of mass destruction, we know that the regime has them. We know that as the regime collapses, we will be led to them. We pledged to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, and we will keep that commitment. On Saddam, his grip on power has been prized away. He has ruled by fear. But as the knowledge sinks in that we will get the job done, the people realize there's not going to be a repeat of 1991 there's not going to be a repeat of the past. The power of Saddam is ending. And our enemy in this conflict has always been Saddam and his regime, not the Iraqi people. We are the friends of the Iraqi people. So much of our discussion today has focused on how we continue to get vital supplies of food, water, and medicines to them and how we help the process of transition to the day when Iraq is governed by the Iraqi people for the Iraqi people. As we said, our forces will not stay in Iraq a day longer than is necessary. We will take on the legal and moral obligations that will fall to us as the forces on the ground to stabilize the country, to keep basic services going, to protect civilian life. Then we will help Iraq move as swiftly as possible to an Interim Authority run by Iraqis. And that, in turn, is designed to pave the way for a truly representative government which respects human rights and the rule of law, which spends Iraq's wealth not on palaces and weapons of mass destruction but on the well being, prosperity of the people of Iraq. And this new Iraq that will emerge is not to be run either by us or, indeed, by the U.N. That is a false choice. It will be run by the Iraqi people. All of us will do what we can to help in that process of transition. We are, of course, agreed, as we say in our joint statement, that there will be a vital role for the United Nations in the reconstruction of Iraq. But the key is that Iraq, in the end, should be governed by the Iraqi people. Once again, let me thank President Bush for coming here. Let me say, as well as our own pride in our own forces during the course of this conflict, we have watched with immense admiration the skill and tenacity and professionalism of the American forces. This is a strong alliance. We're strong allies. And I think, day by day, the proof of the wisdom of that alliance grows. Thank you. President Bush. Thank you very much, Tony. It's an honor to be with you again. It's I'm really pleased to be here in Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister is a man of his word. He is a man of great ability, deep conviction, and steady courage. He has my admiration, and he has the admiration of the American people. Our two countries are joined in large tasks because we share fundamental convictions. We believe that free nations have the responsibility to confront terrorism. We believe free nations must oppose the spread of weapons of mass destruction. And we believe that free nations must advance human rights and dignity across the world. We believe that the just demands of the international community must be enforced, not ignored. We believe this so strongly that we are acting on our convictions. America and Britain have been partners in Afghanistan, where a terrorist regime has been replaced by a government committed to justice and to peace. At this moment, our military forces are fighting side by side in Iraq to defend our security and to free that nation from oppression. Our Governments are working to help bring about a settlement in the Middle East that protects the rights of Israelis and Palestinians, that promotes the peace, that promotes security, that promotes human dignity. In Northern Ireland, the Prime Minister and I are committed to helping the parties take the final steps toward a lasting peace. Later this week, Prime Minister Blair and the Taoiseach will release a plan setting out the remaining actions that must be taken to realize the promise of the Good Friday agreement. I support and my Government strongly supports their efforts. At the meeting this afternoon, I will urge Northern Ireland's political leaders to adopt this plan as their own. This is an historic moment, and I ask all the communities of Northern Ireland to seize this opportunity for peace. Prime Minister Blair and I are also reviewing the course of the battle in Iraq. We're spending a lot of time talking about that country's future beyond war and beyond tyranny. As the Prime Minister mentioned, our armed services are conducting themselves with great courage and, at the same time, great humanity. I'm proud of our forces. I'm proud of the British forces. We're both proud of the Australian forces. We share sacrifices. We share grief. We pray for those families who mourn the loss of life, American families, British families. And as this war has progressed, the world has witnessed the brutal desperation, the true character of the Iraqi regime. The world is also witnessing the liberation and humanitarian aid our coalition is bringing to that country as a new day begins in Iraq. In fighting this war, we're taking every precaution to protect innocent life. We're showing respect for the Iraqi people, respect for their culture. There will be difficult fighting ahead, yet the outcome is not in doubt Iraq will be free. After the current regime is removed, our coalition will work to restore electricity and water supplies, medical care, and other essential services in Iraq. We'll move as quickly as possible to place governmental responsibilities under the control of an Interim Authority composed of Iraqis from both inside and outside the country. The Interim Authority will serve until a permanent government can be chosen by the Iraqi people. The rebuilding of Iraq will require the support and expertise of the international community. We're committed to working with international institutions, including the United Nations, which will have a vital role to play in this task. This work when the war is finished will not be easy, but we're going to see it through. A free Iraq will be ruled by laws, not by a dictator. A free Iraq will be peaceful and not a friend to terrorists or a menace to its neighbors. A free Iraq will give up all its weapons of mass destruction. A free Iraq will set itself on the path to democracy. The end of Saddam's regime will also remove a source of violence and instability in the Middle East. Prime Minister Blair and I are determined to move toward our vision of broader peace in that region. We're committed to implementing the roadmap toward peace, to bring closer the day when two states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace and stability. Peace in the Middle East will require overcoming deep divisions of history and religion. Yet we know this is possible it is happening in Northern Ireland. We are proving that old patterns of bitterness and violence, the habits of hatred and retribution, can be broken when one generation makes the choice to break those habits. And now this process of healing must be carried forward. The United States and the United Kingdom accept our responsibilities accept our responsibilities for peace. We accept our responsibilities for security. Across the world, we are meeting these responsibilities together. America has no finer ally than the United Kingdom and no finer friend than the Prime Minister. And I'm grateful for his leadership in these crucial days. Prime Minister Blair. Right. Adam Adam Boulton, Sky News . Northern Ireland Peace Process Q. Mr. President, welcome to Northern Ireland. I wonder if I could ask you how you feel about meeting the leaders of the Republican movement, bearing in mind that unlike Saddam Hussein, they have directly targeted British civilians, British politicians, members of the British military and the police, and also, of course, that they oppose the war. So you're welcoming Gerry Adams, apparently, and yet, you're not going to see someone like the Democratic Unionists who are a constitutional party opposed to terrorism. President Bush. Right. This isn't my first time I've met Mr. Adams or any of the other parties who have committed to the Good Friday agreement as a matter of fact, I welcomed to the Oval Office, around Saint Patrick's Day of this year and last year and the year before. I am honored to have been asked to be here to help move the process along. These are men who have committed to an agreement that the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach worked a long time to achieve. They've signed on to a process that will yield peace. They have agreed to put hatreds in the past. They have agreed to say the history is just that history and they look forward to a future in which young generations of Northern Irelanders can grow up in peace. That's what they've committed themselves to. And as a result of making that commitment, I am perfectly comfortable about urging them to see the process through. There is such hope here in Northern Ireland that the past can be broken. And the Prime Minister is right when he says that when the peace process is successful here, it will send a really important signal to other parts of the world. It'll confirm the fact that people who have a vision for peace can see that vision become a reality. It's the same vision we need to have in the Middle East. It's a hopeful time in the Middle East, as far as I'm concerned. I believe we can make substantial progress. I'm pleased with the new leader of the Palestinian Authority. I look forward to him finally putting his cabinet in place so we can release the roadmap. I believe peace is possible. Being here in Northern Ireland even makes me even more firm in my belief that peace is possible. I've talked at length with the Prime Minister about how hard he had to work to bring the process this far. I'm willing to expend the same amount of energy in the Middle East. And so I hope these leaders hear me when I say that achieve the agreement, because it will have an effect beyond Northern Ireland. And I think it will. Yes, Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Regime Change in Iraq Postwar Plans Q. Mr. President, how reliable was the intelligence that put Saddam Hussein at the site of last night's attack? Did he survive? And given the incursions in Baghdad recently, is the war nearly over? President Bush. You know, I don't know whether he survived. The only thing I know is he's losing power. I know that because the Royal Marines in Basra worked so hard that the people of Basra are beginning to understand that a couple of things One, when we said we would come and stay to achieve their liberty, we meant it that in Basra, for example, the Royal Marine the presence of the Royal Marines is providing enough comfort for people to begin to express their own opinions. They're beginning to realize freedom is real. These are people in the south of Iraq that had been betrayed, tortured, had been told they were going to be free, took a risk in the past, and then were absolutely hammered by the Iraqi regime. They were skeptical. They were cynical. They were doubtful. Now they believe. They're beginning to understand we're real and true, and it's happening elsewhere. Freedom is spreading south to north. So the only thing I can tell you is, is that that grip I used to describe that Saddam had around the throats of the Iraqi people are loosening. I can't tell you if all 10 fingers are off the throat, but finger by finger, it's coming off. And the people are beginning to realize that. It's important for the Iraqi people to continue to hear this message We will not stop until they are free Saddam Hussein will be gone. It might have been yesterday. I don't know. But he'll be gone, and they just need to know that, because we're not leaving. And not only that, they need to hear the message that we're not leaving after he's gone until they are ready to run their own government. I hear a lot of talk here about how we're going to impose this leader or that leader. Forget it. From day one, we have said the Iraqi people are capable of running their own country. That's what we believe. The position of the United States of America is, the Iraqis are plenty capable of running Iraq, and that's precisely what is going to happen. Prime Minister Blair. Andy. United Nations Role in Postwar Iraq Q. Andrew Marr, BBC News. Picking up if I could, just on that last point for both of you, have you agreed whether the United Nations will have any role in selecting the Interim Iraqi Authority? Or will that be entirely for the coalition? President Bush. Yes. I mean, when we say "vital role for the United Nations," we mean vital role for the United Nations in all aspects of the issue, whether it be humanitarian aid or whether it be helping to stand up a Interim Authority. The Iraqi people will decide who's on the Iraqi the Interim Authority. The Interim Authority is a transition quasi government until the real Government shows up, until the conditions are right for the people to elect their own leadership. And the United Nations will have a vital role. When we say "vital role," that's precisely what we mean, that they will be involved, along with the coalition, in helping to stand up an Interim Authority. But the Iraqi people are responsible for who's on that Authority. And Tony can describe what's happening in Basra. He might describe some of the meetings that are taking place as leadership begins to emerge. It is a cynical world that says it's impossible for the Iraqis to run themselves. It is a cynical world which condemns Iraq to failure. We refuse to accept that. We believe that the Iraqi people are capable, talented, and will be successful in running their own Government. Prime Minister Blair. I agree with all that, as you would expect. And can I just make this further point to you, the one thing that is interesting is that as people in Iraq realize that Saddam and his regime are going, as they realize that, they are coming out. And it's not that they're welcoming us because they're welcoming foreign troops. They're welcoming the fact of their liberation from a regime the more we know about it, the more brutal, repressive, tyrannical we see its character. And therefore, these people, given a chance, already now they're in discussion with our people inside Basra people coming forward, people talking about those who have got support within the local community. Iraq it's not just that it's right that Iraq is run by Iraqi people they want the chance to run their own country. They haven't wanted to be under the yoke of tyranny for all these decades. The reason you have this incredibly tyrannical, repressive security apparatus was in order to suppress the proper feelings of the people there. Now, of course, we're going to work with everyone. We'll work with the U.N. We'll work with everyone in order to bring this about. But if I can just make this point to your point, the important thing is not to get into some battle about words of the precise role here or there, but let's all work together internationally the coalition forces, the international community together to do what we really should be doing, which is making sure that that will of the Iraqi people is properly expressed in institutions that in the end they own, not any outside power or authority. And I think if we keep that vision in our minds, then we'll get this right. And rather than having a sort of, you know, endless diplomatic wrangles over it, let's all just agree that the basic things that the Iraqi people want is they want to have a country where they are able to exploit their own wealth for their own prosperity, where they have basic protection of human rights, and where they have a Government genuinely representative of Iraqi people of the full diversity of Iraqi people. And I think what the President's just said there is so true, that I can't tell you how many times people have said to me in these situations, "Well, the outside world doesn't really understand. Somehow these people who are living under these types of tyrannies, really, that's the way they live." It's not the way they want to live. It's the way they're forced to live. Give them a chance to live freely, and they will live freely. President Bush. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Q. Mr. President, what is what exactly is the vital role for the U.N. that you both mentioned? How do you explain what is a vital role? And are we going to see the same U.N. debate over postwar Iraq that we saw before the war? President Bush. Well, I view a vital role as a agent to help people live freely. That's a vital role. That means food that means medicine that means aid that means a place where people can give their contributions that means suggesting people for the IIA that means being a party to the progress being made in Iraq. That's what that means. And I want to thank Kofi Annan for naming a personal representative to the process yesterday. It is a positive step. We have said all along there needs to be a role for the United Nations. We said so in the Azores. We will keep repeating it. And evidently there's some skepticism here in Europe about whether or not I mean what I say. Saddam Hussein clearly now knows I mean what I say. And when, you know, we and people in Iraq will know we mean what we say when we talk about freedom. And a vital role for the United Nations means a vital role for the United Nations. Prime Minister Blair. Absolutely. And there is no reason whatever why we need to go back into the wrangles we had over, you know, the so called second resolution. If people keep in mind the key objective, which is the well being of the Iraqi people whatever is the past is the past. But this country is in the process of being liberated. If they keep in mind the well being of the Iraqi people, then I think we all then share a responsibility to make that objective be fulfilled in terms of what the Iraqi people want, in terms of their democratic rights, in terms of their prosperity, in terms of their freedom. And with good will and common sense, I'm sure it can be done. President Bush. Thank you. I appreciate you. April 05, 2003 Good morning. American and coalition forces are steadily advancing against the regime of Saddam Hussein. With each new village they liberate, our forces are learning more about the atrocities of that regime and the deep fear the dictator has instilled in the Iraqi people. Yet no crime of this dying regime will divert us from our mission. We will not stop until Iraq is free. This week, coalition forces have been clearing southern cities and towns of Saddam's death squads and enforcers. Our special forces and Army paratroopers, working with Kurdish militia, have opened a northern front against the enemy. In the town of An Najaf, members of our 101st Airborne Division have been welcomed as liberators. At An Nasiriyah, marines continue to eliminate the enemy while other Army and Marine units have closed in on Baghdad. From the skies above, coalition aircraft and cruise missiles are removing hundreds of military targets from the map. As the vise tightens on the Iraqi regime, some of our enemies have chosen to fill their final days with acts of cowardice and murder. In combat, Saddam's thugs shield themselves with women and children. They have killed Iraqi citizens who welcome coalition troops, and they have forced other Iraqis into battle by threatening to torture or kill their families. They have executed prisoners of war, waged attacks under the white flag of truce, and concealed combat forces in civilian neighborhoods, schools, hospitals, and mosques. In this war, the Iraqi regime is terrorizing its own citizens, doing everything possible to maximize Iraqi civilian casualties and then to exploit the deaths they have caused for propaganda. These are war criminals, and they'll be treated as war criminals. In stark contrast, the citizens of Iraq are coming to know what kind of people we have sent to liberate them. American forces and our allies are treating innocent civilians with kindness and showing proper respect to the soldiers who surrender. The people of the United States are proud of the honorable conduct of our military. And I am proud to lead such brave and decent Americans. In recent days, we have also brought food and water and medicine to the Iraqi people. We're delivering emergency rations to the hungry. Right now, cargo ships are bound for Iraq, carrying wheat from Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas enough to feed 4.5 million Iraqis for 1 month. Additional food, supplied by the World Food Program, is moving by truck convoy across the Turkish border into northern Iraq. We are bringing aid to the long suffering people of Iraq, and we are bringing something more. We are bringing hope. One Iraqi, when the coalition troops arrived, described the emotions of his village. "They were waiting for you," he said, "and all the people believe that America and Britain have come to liberate them, not to conquer." Village by village, city by city, liberation is coming. The people of Iraq have my pledge Our fighting forces will press on until their oppressors are gone and their whole country is free. By our actions in this war, we serve a great and just cause. Free nations will not sit and wait, leaving enemies free to plot another September the 11th this time perhaps with chemical, biological, or nuclear terror. We'll remove weapons of mass destruction from the hands of mass murderers. And by defending our own security, we are ridding the people of Iraq from one of the cruelest regimes on Earth. The United States and our allies pledged to act if the dictator did not disarm. The regime in Iraq is now learning that we keep our word. Thank you for listening. April 03, 2003 The President. Thank you all very much. Thank you all so very much for that warm welcome. It's such an honor to be here especially pleased to be traveling today with a great First Lady, Laura Bush. We really appreciate your welcome, and we're proud to be with the marines and sailors and families of Camp Lejeune. There's no finer sight no finer sight than to see 12,000 United States marines and corpsmen, unless you happen to be a member of the Iraqi Republican Guard. For more than 60 years, marines have gone forth from Camp Lejeune to fight our country's battles. Now America has entered a fierce struggle to protect the world from a grave danger and to bring freedom to an oppressed people. As the forces of our coalition advance, we learn more about the atrocities of the Iraqi regime and the deep fear that Saddam Hussein has instilled in the Iraqi people. Yet, no scheme of this enemy, no crime of a dying regime will divert us from our mission. We will not stop until Iraq is free. Audience member. We love you, President Bush! The President. When freedom needs defending, America turns to our military. And as they do their job, our men and women in uniform count on their families, like you all here today. This is a time of hardship for many military families. Some of you have been separated from your loved ones for quite a while because of long deployments. All of America is grateful for your sacrifice, and Laura and I are here to thank each one of you. We're here to thank the Marines. I also want to thank the men and women of the Marine Forces Reserve who are serving here and abroad. Hundreds of reserve units across America have been activated in this time of war, and our country thanks these fine citizens and their employers for putting duty first. I want to thank Major General David Mize for his hospitality and his leadership. I want to thank Major General John Castellaw, commanding general of the 2d Marine Expeditionary Force, for his leadership and strength. I appreciate so very much Members of the North Carolina congressional delegation who traveled with Laura and me today. Senators Edwards and Dole, from the great State of North Carolina, thank you for coming. I appreciate Members of the United States House of Representatives, Congressmen Ballance, Jones, and McIntyre, for traveling with us. These five are five Members of the Congress are strong supporters of the marines and the United States military. I met the mayor, and I want to thank Madam Mayor and members of the county commission for being so supportive of the families and the personnel here at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. I want to thank very much those veterans who are here, and retired military members. I want to thank Lonestar. We kind of like that name. Laughter I very much want to say a little something about a person that Laura and I met at Marine One when it landed, Laura Kay Brett. Audience member. Yeah! The President. You may know Laura somebody knows Laura Kay out there. Laughter But you need to know her story. You see, Laura Kay is director of Volunteer Services at the YMCA Camp Lejeune. She represents hundreds, thousands of people who volunteer to make somebody's life better. She runs a mom to mom program to help people who may need help. Laura Kay represents the best of America, somebody who is willing to love a neighbor just like she'd like to be loved herself. I want to thank Laura Kay. I want to thank the thousands of you who are here who understand we can save somebody's life by showing them love. We can help somebody who hurts by hugging a neighbor in need. All around Camp Lejeune are monuments to the heroic achievements of the United States Marines. In the 14 days since the major ground war began, the Marine Corps has added new achievements to its great story. On the first day of the campaign, marine units were ordered to secure 600 Iraqi oil wells and prevent environmental disaster, and that mission was accomplished. U.S. marines and our Royal Marine allies were sent in to take the Al Faw Peninsula and clear a path for humanitarian aid, and that job was done. In the tough fighting at Al Nasiriyah, marines continue to push back the enemy and are showing the unrelenting courage worthy of the name Task Force Tarawa. Two nights ago, marines and special operations forces set out on a daring rescue mission, and thanks to their skill and courage, a brave young soldier is now free. These missions are difficult and they are dangerous, but no one becomes a marine because it's easy. Now our coalition moves forward. Marines are in the thick of the battle. And what we have begun, we will finish. The United States and our allies pledged to act if the dictator did not disarm. The regime in Iraq is now learning that we keep our word. By our actions, we serve a great and just cause We will remove weapons of mass destruction from the hands of mass murderers. Free nations will not sit and wait, leaving enemies free to plot another September the 11th, this time perhaps with chemical or biological or nuclear terror. And by defending our own security, we are freeing the people of Iraq from one of the cruelest regimes on Earth. At this hour, coalition forces are clearing southern cities and towns of the dictator's death squads and enforcers. Our special forces and Army paratroopers, working with Kurdish militia, have opened a northern front against the enemy. Army and Marine divisions are engaging the enemy and advancing to the outskirts of Baghdad. From the skies above, coalition aircraft and cruise missiles are removing hundreds of military targets from Iraq. A vise is closing, and the days of a brutal regime are coming to an end. Some servants of the regime have chosen to fill their final days with acts of cowardice and murder. In combat, Saddam's thugs shield themselves with women and children. They have killed Iraqi citizens who welcome coalition troops. They force other Iraqis into battle by threatening to torture or kill their families. They've executed prisoners of war. They've waged attacks under the white flag of truce. They concealed combat forces in civilian neighborhoods and schools and hospitals and mosques. In this war, the Iraqi regime is doing is terrorizing its own citizens, doing everything possible to maximize Iraqi civilian casualties and then to exploit the deaths they've caused for propaganda. These are war criminals, and they will be treated like war criminals. In stark contrast, the citizens of Iraq are coming to know what kind of people we have sent to liberate them. American forces and our allies are treating innocent civilians with kindness and showing proper respect to soldiers who surrender. Many Americans have seen the picture of Marine Lance Corporal Marcco Ware carrying a wounded Iraqi soldier on his shoulders to safety for medical treatment. That's the picture of the strength and goodness of the U.S. Marines. That is a picture of America. People in the United States are proud of the honorable conduct of our military, and I'm proud to lead such brave and decent Americans. I'm also proud that coalition victories are bringing food and water and medicine to the Iraqi people. Our coalition partners have constructed a pipeline to bring clean water to Umm Qasr. We're delivering emergency rations to the hungry. Right now, ships carrying enough American grain to feed millions are bound for Iraq. We're bringing aid, and we're bringing something more. We're bringing hope. A man in one Iraqi village said this to one of our soldiers "I want my freedom. I don't want food or water. I just want my freedom." America hears that man. We hear all Iraqis who yearn for liberty. And the people of Iraq have my pledge Our fighting forces will press on until your entire country is free. The Iraqi people deserve to live in peace under leaders they have chosen. They deserve a government that respects the rights of every citizen and ethnic group. They deserve a country that is united, that's independent, and that is released from years of sanctions and sorrow. Our coalition has one goal for the future of Iraq, to return that great country to its own people. Building a free and prosperous Iraq after the regime is gone will require will be the work of the Iraqi people for years to come. And they will have our help. Today the goal is to remove the Iraqi regime and to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, and that is the task of the United States military and our coalition. All who serve in this mission can know this Your fellow citizens are behind you, and our Government will give you every tool you need for victory. People of this country take pride in your victories, and we share in your losses. Camp Lejeune has lost some good marines. Every person who dies in the line of duty leaves a family that lives in grief. Every marine who dies in the line of duty leaves comrades who mourn their loss. There is a tradition in the corps that no one who falls will be left behind on the battlefield. Our country has a tradition as well. No one who falls will be forgotten by this grateful Nation. We honor their service to America, and we pray their families will receive God's comfort and God's grace. These are sacrifices in a high calling, the defense of our Nation and the peace of the world. Overcoming evil is the noblest cause and the hardest work. And the liberation of millions is the fulfillment of America's founding promise. The objectives we've set in this war are worthy of America, worthy of all the acts of heroism and generosity that have come before. Once again, we are applying the power of our country to ensure our security and to serve the cause of justice. And we will prevail. Our armed services have performed brilliantly in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Moving a massive force over 200 miles of enemy territory in a matter of days is a superb achievement. Yet there is work ahead for our coalition, for the American Armed Forces, and for the United States Marines. Having traveled hundreds of miles, we will now go the last 200 yards. The course is set. We're on the advance. Our destination is Baghdad, and we will accept nothing less than complete and final victory. May God bless our country and all who defend her. Semper fi. March 31, 2003 Thank you very much for that warm welcome. It is an honor to be here at one of our Nation's busiest ports and one of our country's greatest cities. Philadelphia and its port shows the hardworking spirit of this country. It speaks to our economic might. Most importantly, Philadelphia talks about a proud history. After all, it was in this place that we first declared our dedication to liberty. We still believe that all men are created equal and have the right to be free. And that is true for Americans, and that is true for men and women in Iraq. We know that liberty must be defended by every generation. Today, in the Middle East and on other fronts in the war on terror, this generation of Americans is fighting bravely in the cause of freedom. And that includes the good people of the United States Coast Guard. The men and women of our Coast Guard are showing once again that you are "always ready." You're always ready to serve with courage and excellence. You are always ready to place your country's safety above your own. You shield your fellow Americans from the danger of this world, and America is grateful. It's my honor to be here with Tom Ridge, the first Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. People of Pennsylvania trained him well. Laughter He's doing a fabulous job, and I appreciate his service. I'm honored to be with the leadership of the United States Coast Guard Admiral Tom Collins Vice Admiral Jim Hull. Most importantly, I'm glad to be with the men and women who proudly wear the uniform of the United States Coast Guard. I appreciate the Members of the United States Congress who have joined us here Senator Arlen Specter thank you for coming, Senator Specter Members of Congress Robert Brady and Jim Gerlach, Jim Greenwood, Don Sherwood, and Joe Hoeffel. Thank you all very much for being here. I appreciate you coming. Members from the statehouse, the State government, are here the Lieutenant Governor Knoll, Attorney General Fisher are with us today. Thank you both for coming. And the mayor came, Mayor Street. Thank you, I'm honored you're here, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate you coming. I also want to thank employees of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection for being here, as well as my Federal employees, Federal workers of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs. I'm honored to have you here. I want to thank you for your dedication and hard work for our Government. Today I had the honor of meeting John Susanin. John is a volunteer for the American Red Cross. He, like thousands of our fellow citizens all across the country, are willing to dedicate time to help in this cause of making sure our homeland is secure. The Red Cross, American Red Cross, plays a vital role. And I want to thank John for his service to our community. There's a lot of room for opportunity for our fellow citizens, people who want to do something for America. You can volunteer. You can volunteer to help watch neighborhoods. You can volunteer to help neighborhoods become better prepared. You can volunteer for the Red Cross. You could love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. It's happening all across America. And John, thank you for coming. And I also want to thank Manny Greenwald for being here as well. Manny is of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. I was briefed today by Admiral Hull, who told me there's auxiliarists all across the country who are helping the Coast Guard achieve their vital mission. I want to thank all the Mannys across America who are helping our Coast Guard do its job. Manny's only 92 years old laughter and he's still working hard. This is a time of great consequence for our country. Right now, men and women from every part of America, supported by a strong coalition, are fighting to disarm a dangerous regime and to liberate an oppressed people. It has been 11 days since the major ground war began. In this short time, our troops have performed brilliantly, with skill and with bravery. They make us proud. In 11 days, coalition forces have taken control of most of western and southern Iraq. In 11 days, we've seized key bridges, opened a northern front, achieved nearly achieved complete air superiority, and are delivering tons of humanitarian aid. By quick and decisive action, our troops are preventing Saddam Hussein from destroying the Iraqi people's oilfields. Our forces moved into Iraqi missile launch areas that threatened neighboring countries. Many dangers lie ahead, but day by day, we are moving closer to Baghdad. Day by day, we are moving closer to victory. Our victory will mean the end of a tyrant who rules by fear and torture. Our victory will remove a sponsor of terror armed with weapons of terror. Our victory will uphold the just demands of the United Nations and the civilized world. And when victory comes, it will be shared by the long suffering people of Iraq, who deserve freedom and dignity. The dictator's regime has ruled by fear and continues to use fear as a tool of domination to the end. Many Iraqis have been ordered to fight or die by Saddam's death squads. Others are pressed into service by threats against their children. Iraqi civilians attempting to flee to liberated areas have been shot and shelled from behind by Saddam's thugs. Schools and hospitals have been used to store military equipment. They serve as bases for military operations. Iraqis who show friendship toward coalition troops are murdered in cold blood by the regime's enforcers. The people of Iraq have lived in this nightmare world for more than two decades. It is understandable that fear and distrust run deep. Yet, here in the city where America itself gained freedom, I give this pledge to the citizens of Iraq We're coming with a mighty force to end the reign of your oppressors. We are coming to bring you food and medicine and a better life. And we are coming, and we will not stop. We will not relent until your country is free. In Operation Iraqi Freedom, our Coast Guard is playing a critical role. We have sent many Coast Guard cutters and over 1,000 of our finest active duty and reserve members to the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters. Coast Guard personnel are protecting key ports and Iraqi oil platforms. They're detaining prisoners of war. Members of the Coast Guard are performing their duties with bravery and excellence, and America appreciates your fine service. In this time of war, the Coast Guard's service in America's waters is more important than ever. We still count on you to rescue fishermen and others at sea. We still count on you to enforce maritime law and to fight drug smuggling. Yet now, as part of the Department of Homeland Security, you have taken on a new and vital mission, a mission as important as any in your 213 year history, the mission of defending our country against terrorist attack. In the finest traditions of the Coast Guard, you are rising to the challenge. This is a vital task and a massive undertaking. More than 90 percent of our combat materials and our trade moves by sea. At this port alone, thousands of cargo containers arrive every day. Your job of protecting our Nation's port is essential to our economic security and to our national security. The appropriations bill I signed into law earlier this year increased Coast Guard funding to over 6 billion, the highest level ever. We're directing new resources to pay for better intelligence capabilities, new technologies to monitor and safeguard our ports, a more modern fleet of Coast Guard cutters and aircraft, and up to 700 new smaller, faster response boats that will further protect America's shorelines. By giving the Coast Guard new resources, we are supporting the men and women who defend us all. All Americans understand that we face a continuing threat of terrorism. We know that our enemies are desperate. We know that they're dangerous. The dying regime in Iraq may try to bring terror to our shores. Other parts of the global terror network may view this as a moment to strike, thinking that we're distracted. They're wrong. We are meeting threats and acting to prevent dangers. The United States and allied troops are shattering the Al Qaida network. We're hunting them down, one at a time. We're finding them. We're interrogating them, and we're bringing them to justice. We will end the Iraqi regime, an ally of terrorist groups and a producer of weapons of mass destruction. And here at home, we're acting. Shortly before we began the liberation of Iraq, we launched Operation Liberty Shield to implement additional measures to defend the American homeland against terrorist attacks. This nationwide effort is focused on five specific areas. First, we are taking even greater security measures at our borders and ports. We have relocated hundreds of security personnel on our borders. We've added additional reconnaissance aircraft patrols at our borders. And the Coast Guard is monitoring ports for suspicious activity. This Nation is determined Friends and immigrants will always be welcome in this land. Yet we will use all our power to keep out the terrorists and the criminals so they can't hurt our citizens. Second, we are strengthening protections throughout our national transportation system. We're enforcing temporary flight restrictions over some of our major cities. We've stepped up surveillance of hazardous material shipments within our country and taken measures to keep them away from places where large numbers of people gather. This Nation is determined We will do all in our power to make sure our skies and rails and roads are safe from terror. Third, we've increased surveillance of suspected terrorists. Certain individuals with ties to Iraqi intelligence services have been ordered out of this country. We're interviewing Iraqi born individuals on a voluntary basis for two reasons, to gain information on possible terrorist plans and to make sure they've not experienced discrimination or hate crimes. This Nation is determined Iraqi Americans will be protected, and enemy agents will be stopped. Fourth, under Operation Liberty Shield, we are guarding our Nation's most important infrastructure with greater vigilance. Under the direction of our Governors, thousands of National Guardsmen and State police officers are protecting chemical facilities and nuclear power sites, key electrical grids, and other potential targets. This country is determined We will keep up our guard and do all we can to protect our fellow citizens. And finally, we're strengthening the preparedness of our public health system. The Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services have increased field inspections of livestock and crops. Public health officials have increased medical surveillance in major cities. This Nation is determined We will stand watch against the dangers of the new era. After our Nation was attacked on September the 11th, 2001, America made a decision We will not wait for our enemies to strike before we act against them. We're not going to permit terrorists and terror states to plot and plan and grow in strength while we do nothing. The actions we're taking in Operation Liberty Shield are making this Nation more secure. And the actions we're taking abroad against a terror network and against the regime in Iraq are removing a grave danger to all free nations. In every case, by acting today, we are saving countless lives in the future. America has many advantages in this war on terror. We have resolute citizens. We're vigilant and know that freedom must be defended. We have a just cause to guide us, and we have the strength and character of the men and women who serve our country. You in the Coast Guard take rightful pride in the uniform you wear and the mission you have accepted. You and all who serve in our military are ready for any challenge. And by your skill and by your courage, we will prevail. May God bless you, and may God bless America. March 29, 2003 Good morning. This week I welcomed Prime Minister Tony Blair to Camp David, where we discussed the progress being made in the war to disarm Iraq, end the dictatorship, and liberate the Iraqi people. Thanks to our fighting forces, the regime that once terrorized all of Iraq now controls a small portion of that country. American and coalition troops have continued a steady advance and are now less than 50 miles from Baghdad. In recent days, we have cleared mines from the water and taken control of a key port city, to allow humanitarian aid to begin flowing into the country. We have secured more than 600 oil wells and have begun putting out the few oil well fires set by the enemy. Our efforts to protect the wealth that belongs to the Iraqi people are paying off. And we have prevented the dictator from launching missiles from key sites in western Iraq. We are now fighting the most desperate units of the dictator's army. The fighting is fierce, and we do not know its duration. Yet we know the outcome of this battle The Iraqi regime will be disarmed and removed from power Iraq will be free. In the last week, the world has seen firsthand the cruel nature of a dying regime. In areas still under its control, the regime continues its rule by terror. Prisoners of war have been brutalized and executed. Iraqis who refuse to fight for the regime are being murdered. An Iraqi woman was hanged for waving at coalition troops. Some in the Iraqi military have pretended to surrender, then opened fire on coalition forces that showed them mercy. Given the nature of this regime, we expect such war crimes, but we will not excuse them. War criminals will be hunted relentlessly and judged severely. In the last week, the world has also seen the nature of the young men and women who fight on our behalf. They are showing kindness and respect to the Iraqi people. They are going to extraordinary lengths to spare the lives of the innocent. Our forces are delivering food and water to grateful Iraqi citizens in Safwan and Umm Qasr. The contrast could not be greater between the honorable conduct of our liberating force and the criminal acts of the enemy. Every atrocity has confirmed the justice and urgency of our cause. Against this enemy, we will accept no outcome but complete and final victory. To meet this objective, we must give our armed services the support and resources they require. I have asked Congress for a nearly 75 billion wartime supplemental appropriations bill. This funding would provide fuel for ships, aircraft, and tanks, supplies for our troops in the theater of operations, and new high tech munitions to replace the ones we have used in the war. The supplemental would also provide funds to assist in the reconstruction of Iraq and to help protect the American homeland in this time of high alert. I hope the Congress will act quickly to pass this essential measure. The people who serve in the military are giving their best to this country. We have the responsibility to give them our full support as they fight for the liberty of an oppressed people, for the security of the United States, and for the peace of the world. Thank you for listening. March 28, 2003 Good afternoon. Thanks for coming, and welcome to the people's house. It is my honor to welcome distinguished veterans to the White House. I'm especially pleased to have met with leaders from the veterans organizations at this crucial time for our country. The men and women who have worn the Nation's uniform set an example of service and an example of sacrifice for future generations. And the current generation of our military is not letting us down. Today's Armed Forces are upholding the finest traditions of our country and of our military. They are making great progress in the war in Iraq. They are showing great courage, and they are making this country proud. I'm honored that Tony Principi introduced me. I'm proud of his service to our country, not only as a Vietnam vet but now as the head of the Veterans Affairs Department of Veterans Affairs. He's doing a really good job. I want to thank the national commanders and presidents of our national veterans service organizations for coming. I want to thank you all for your service to your fellow Americans. I appreciate your members being here with us. I'm particularly pleased that Brian Thacker, a Medal of Honor recipient, is with us as well. I want to thank all our vets I want to thank all the vets who are here. You're here at a time when our coalition, the United States and our partners, are acting together in a noble purpose. We're out to keep the peace, to make the world more peaceful, to make our Nation and other nations more secure, and we're going to free the people of Iraq from the clutches of Saddam Hussein and his murderous allies. We are sending a clear signal to the world that we will not submit to a future in which dictators and terrorists can arm and threaten the peace without consequence. We are enforcing the demands of the United Nations, and we refuse to leave the Iraqi people in slavery under Saddam Hussein. When the war in Iraq is won, all who have joined this cause will be able to say to the Iraqi people, "We were proud to fight for your freedom." The regime that once terrorized all of Iraq now controls a small portion of that country. Coalition troops continue their steady advance and are drawing nearer to Baghdad. We're inflicting severe damage on enemy forces. We are now fighting the most desperate units of the dictator's army. The fierce fighting currently underway will demand further courage and further sacrifice. Yet we know the outcome of this battle The Iraqi regime will be disarmed the Iraqi regime will be removed from power Iraq will be free. In the last week, we have seen the brutal and cruel nature of a dying regime. In areas still under its control, the regime continues its rule by terror. Prisoners of war have been brutalized and executed. Iraqis who refuse to fight for the regime are being murdered. Some in the Iraqi military have pretended to surrender and then opened fire on coalition forces that were willing to show them mercy. Given the nature of this regime, we expect such war crimes, but we will not excuse them. War criminals will be hunted relentlessly and judged severely. In the last week, we have also seen the nature of the young men and women who fight on our behalf. Coalition forces have begun delivering food and water to liberated parts of Iraq. I was pleased to hear today that the United Nations Security Council acted to resume food and medical supplies under the existing U.N. program, which will bring urgent relief to millions of Iraqis. We care about the human condition of the people who have suffered under Saddam Hussein. We provided 60 million to the World Food Program to help get this humanitarian effort up and running. We're shipping hundreds of thousands of metric tons of food to Iraq. In every possible way, coalition forces are showing kindness and respect to the Iraqi people. They're going to extraordinary lengths to spare the lives of the innocent. We treat wounded Iraqi soldiers. The contrast could not be greater between the honorable conduct of our forces and the criminal acts of the enemy. Every Iraqi atrocity has confirmed the justice and the urgency of our cause. Against this enemy we will accept no outcome except complete victory. To meet this outcome, we must give our armed services the support and the resources they require. As veterans, all of you understand the importance of a well supplied and well trained fighting force. I've asked Congress for a nearly 75 billion wartime supplemental appropriations bill. This funding would provide fuel for ships and aircraft and tanks, supplies for our troops in the theater of operations, new high tech munitions to replace the ones we have used in this war. The supplemental would also provide funds to assist in the reconstruction of Iraq and to help protect the American homeland in this time of high alert. I want to thank the veterans groups for their strong support, unwavering support, for this wartime supplemental, and I call upon the United States Congress to pass the supplemental as quickly as possible. I also appreciate all the veterans are doing for America's military families in time of hardship. I appreciate your compassion. Across our country, local chapters of the American Legion, for example, are stepping forward to help those families in practical ways, from making household repairs to helping with child care. Members of the VFW and Auxiliary are sending care packages with baby supplies to military families. Operation Uplink program is helping thousands of service members keep in touch with their loved ones. Both the American Legion and the VFW are working with the USA Freedom Corps on a project called "On The Home Front." This effort will match Americans who want to volunteer their times and skills with the military families who need help. Because of all this generosity, our men and women serving overseas will know that their loved ones are not facing this time alone. I want to thank the veterans groups for understanding the compassion needed to help those who are here, wondering and worrying about their loved ones overseas. The people who serve in the military are giving their best to this country, and we have the responsibility to give them our full support, our full support not only here in Washington, DC, but our support all across the country. I want to thank each veteran here today and across our land for the lifetime of service you have given our Nation. I thank you for standing behind the men and women of today's Armed Forces as they fight for the liberty of an oppressed people, for the security of the United States and our friends and allies, and for the peace of the world. May God bless our troops. March 27, 2003 President Bush. Thank you all. It's my honor to welcome my friend and Prime Minister of Great Britain Tony Blair back to Camp David. America has learned a lot about Tony Blair over the last weeks. We've learned that he's a man of his word. We've learned that he's a man of courage, that he's a man of vision. And we're proud to have him as a friend. The United States and United Kingdom are acting together in a noble purpose. We're working together to make the world more peaceful. We're working together to make our respective nations and all the free nations of the world more secure, and we're working to free the Iraqi people. British, American, Australian, Polish, and other coalition troops are sharing the duties of this war, and we're sharing the sacrifices of this war. Together, coalition forces are advancing day by day, in steady progress, against the enemy. Slowly but surely, the grip of terror around the throats of the Iraqi people is being loosened. We appreciate the bravery, the professionalism of the British troops and all coalition troops. Together we have lost people, and the American people offer their prayers to the loved ones of the British fallen, just as we offer our prayers to the loved ones of our own troops who have fallen. We're now engaging the dictator's most hardened and most desperate units. The campaign ahead will demand further courage and require further sacrifice. Yet we know the outcome Iraq will be disarmed the Iraqi regime will be ended and the long suffering Iraqi people will be free. In decades of oppression, the Iraqi regime has sought to instill the habits of fear in the daily lives of millions. Yet, soon, the Iraqis will have the confidence of a free people. Our coalition will stand with the citizens of Iraq in the challenges ahead. We are prepared to deliver humanitarian aid on a large scale and, as a matter of fact, are beginning to do so as we speak. Today the Prime Minister and I also urge the United Nations to immediately resume the oil for food program. More than half the Iraqi people depend on this program as their sole source of food. This urgent humanitarian issue must not be politicized, and the Security Council should give Secretary General Annan the authority to start getting food supplies to those most in need of assistance. As we address the immediate suffering of the Iraqi people, we're also committed to helping them over the long term. Iraq's greatest long term need is a representative government that protects the rights of all Iraqis. The form of this government will be chosen by the Iraqi people, not imposed by outsiders. And the Prime Minister and I are confident that a free Iraq will be a successful nation. History requires more of our coalition than the defeat of a terrible danger. I see an opportunity, as does Prime Minister Blair, to bring renewed hope and progress to the entire Middle East. Last June 24th, I outlined a vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. Soon, we'll release the roadmap that is designed to help turn that vision into reality, and both America and Great Britain are strongly committed to implementing that roadmap. For nearly a century, the United States and Great Britain have been allies in the defense of liberty. We've opposed all the great threats to peace and security in the world. We shared in the costly and heroic struggle against Nazism. We shared the resolve and moral purpose of the cold war. In every challenge, we've applied the combined power of our nations to the cause of justice, and we're doing the same today. Our alliance is strong our resolve is firm and our mission will be achieved. Mr. Prime Minister. Prime Minister Blair. Thank you, Mr. President, and thank you for your welcome. Thank you for your strength and for your leadership at this time. And I believe the alliance between the United States and Great Britain has never been in better or stronger shape. Can I also offer the American people, on behalf of the British people, our condolences, our sympathy, our prayers for the lives of those who have fallen in this conflict, just as we have offered the condolence, the sympathy, and the prayers to the families of our own British servicemen. Just under a week into this conflict, let me restate our complete and total resolve. Saddam Hussein and his hateful regime will be removed from power. Iraq will be disarmed of weapons of mass destruction, and the Iraqi people will be free. That is our commitment that is our determination and we will see it done. We had this morning a presentation of the latest military situation, which shows already the progress that has been made. It's worth just recapping it, I think, for a moment. In less than a week, we have secured the southern oilfields and facilities and so protected that resource and wealth for the Iraqi people and avoided ecological disaster. We've disabled Iraq's ability to launch external aggression from the west. Our forces are now within 50 miles of Baghdad. They've surrounded Basra. They've secured the key port of Umm Qasr. They've paved the way for humanitarian aid to flow into the country. And they brought real damage on Iraq's command and control. So we can be confident that the goals that we have set ourselves will be met. I would like to pay tribute to the professionalism and integrity of our forces and those of the United States of America, our other coalition allies, and to say how their professionalism, as well as their skill and their bravery, stands in sharp contrast to the brutality of Saddam's regime. Day by day, we have seen the reality of Saddam's regime His thugs prepared to kill their own people the parading of prisoners of war and now, the release of those pictures of executed British soldiers. If anyone needed any further evidence of the depravity of Saddam's regime, this atrocity provides it. It is yet one more flagrant breach of all the proper conventions of war. More than that, to the families of the soldiers involved, it is an act of cruelty beyond comprehension. Indeed, it is beyond the comprehension of anyone with an ounce of humanity in their souls. On behalf of the British Government, I would like to offer my condolences particularly to the family and the friends of those two brave young men who died in the service of their country and to the ordinary Iraqi people, to whom we are determined to bring a better future. The future of the Iraqi people is one reason why much of our discussion has focused on humanitarian issues. Again, here we have the ship, the Sir Galahad, loaded with tons of supplies destined for the people of Iraq. The other immediate humanitarian priority is to restart the U.N. oil for food program, which the President and I discussed and which I will be discussing with Kofi Annan later this evening, and this is urgent. We also discussed the postconflict issues. Contrary to a lot of the comment on this, the position is exactly as the President and I set out in the Azores, namely, that we will work with the U.N., our allies and partners and bilateral donors. We will seek new U.N. Security Council resolutions to affirm Iraq's territorial integrity, to ensure rapid delivery of humanitarian relief, and endorse an appropriate postconflict administration for Iraq. But let me emphasize once again that our primary focus now is and must be the military victory, which we will prosecute with the utmost vigor. And the immediate priority for the United Nations is, as the President was indicating a moment or two ago, the oil for food program. In addition, as has just been said to you, we had an excellent discussion of the Middle East, and we both share a complete determination to move this forward. It is, indeed, often overlooked that President Bush is the first U.S. President publicly to commit himself to a two state solution, an Israel confident of its security and a viable Palestinian state. And I welcome the decision announced recently to publish the roadmap as soon as the confirmation of the new Palestinian Prime Minister is properly administered. Finally, I would just like to say this I think it is important that we recognize at this time that the goals that we are fighting for are just goals. Whatever the difficulty of war, let us just remember this is a regime that has brutalized its people for well over two decades. Of course, there will be people fiercely loyal to that regime who will fight all the way they have no option. But I have no doubt at all that the vast majority of ordinary Iraqi people are desperate for a better and different future, for Iraq to be free, for its government to be representative of its people, for the human rights of the people to be cared for. And that is why, though of course our aim is to rid Iraq of weapons of mass destruction and make our world more secure, the justice of our cause lies in the liberation of the Iraqi people. And to them we say, we will liberate you. The day of your freedom draws near. President Bush. We'll take two questions a side. We would hope that you would respect asking one question per question. Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Q. That, of course, means I can ask each leader one question. President Bush. No, it does not mean that. Of course, you will anyway, but Duration of Operation Iraqi Freedom U.N. Role in Postwar Iraq Q. Yes, sir. First you, Mr. Prime Minister. Briefly, Secretary Powell said yesterday that the U.N. should have a role in postwar Iraq but that the United States should have a significant, dominating control of post Saddam Iraq. How will that kind of talk play in Europe? And Mr. President, can you help me understand the timing of this war? You talked yesterday that it will be we're far from over. Today you said it's going slowly but surely we're working our way to our end goal. Given that the resistance is as strong as it's been in the south and that we have what you call the most hardened, most desperate forces still around Baghdad, are we to assume that this is going to last could last months and not weeks and not days? President Bush. I'll answer that question very quickly and then get to his. However long it takes to win. That's Q. take months? President Bush. However long it takes to achieve our objective. And that's important for you to know, the American people to know, our allies to know, and the Iraqi people to know. Q. It could be months? President Bush. However long it takes. That's the answer to your question, and that's what you've got to know. It isn't a matter of timetable it's a matter of victory. And the Iraqi people have got to know that, see. They've got to know that they will be liberated and Saddam Hussein will be removed, no matter how long it takes. Go ahead. Prime Minister Blair. In relation to the United Nations, there's no doubt at all that the United Nations has got to be closely involved in this process. That's not just right it's in everyone's interest that it happens. All I'm saying to people is, the focus the immediate focus has got to be on the oil for food program, because that is the thing we need to get sorted out with the United Nations literally in the next few days. Now, after that is the issue of the postconflict administration, where, as we said in our Azores statement, it's important there, again, that the U.N. is involved and that any postconflict administration in Iraq is endorsed by it. But there are huge numbers of details to be discussed with our allies as to exactly how that is going to work. And also, the conflict is not yet over we are still in the conflict. So we will carry on discussing that with the U.N., with other allies. But I think that is best done in those discussions without trying to do it by discussion through the press conference or through megaphone diplomacy. But about the role of the U.N. and the basis of the principles we set out in the Azores Summit, there is simply no difference at all there. But there are a huge amount of details as to exactly how that is to be implemented that have to be a matter of discussion, and also, a matter of a reflection of the reality that we will face when we get to the point of postconflict. Andy. Q. Andrew Marr from the BBC. For both leaders, if I may. We've, all of us, noted quite a shift in emphasis over the last few days from a hope that this could be over very, very quickly, to the military in both countries briefing about months. My question is really, why do you think that shift has taken place? Did we underestimate the scale of Iraqi resistance? Has it been the weather? Has it been poor advice at the beginning of the campaign, or is it a military question? Prime Minister Blair. Well, you know, in the previous two campaigns in which I've been involved, Kosovo and Afghanistan, you reach this particular point where people start asking ask us to speculate on exactly how much time it takes to get the job done. The important thing is the job will be done. There is no point in entering into a speculation of how long it takes except to say we have been, I think, just under a week into this conflict. Now, because of the way it's reported you've got this constant 24 hours a day media it may seem to people that it's a lot longer than just under a week. But actually, it's just under a week. And in just under a week, there is a massive amount that has already been achieved. I mean, after all, coalition forces are within 50 miles of Baghdad the southern oilfields are secured the west is protected from external aggression we've got forces going into the north. Now, we will carry on until the job is done. But there is absolutely no point, in my view, of trying to set a time limit or speculate on it, because it's not set by time it's set by the nature of the job. All I would do, though, is point out to you that within those 6 or 7 days, actually an enormous amount has already been achieved. I think it's also important just to make one other point, which is we have very deliberately wanted to do this in a way that protects the future of the Iraqi people too. And that's one reason why we went immediately in to secure the oil installations in the south. If we weren't able to do that, then the prospects of the Iraqi people for the future would be blighted. That's why the air campaign has targeted very, very specifically, as specifically as we possibly can, military command and control, the aspects of Saddam's regime, not the civilian population. So we're doing this in the way that we set it out to achieve our objectives. We will achieve our objectives. President Bush. I have nothing more to add to that. Randy Randall Mikkelsen, Reuters . War Crimes Weapons of Mass Destruction Q. Mr. President, you've raised the possibility of holding Iraqis accountable for war crimes. I'm wondering if now if you could describe what war crimes you think they've committed to date. And secondly, sir, should the Iraqis be prepared for U.S. retaliation with nuclear weapons if they were to attack coalition forces with weapons of mass destruction? President Bush. You heard the Prime Minister eloquently talk about the loss of British life. They were murdered, unarmed soldiers executed. I mean, that's a war crime. But you know, I'm not surprised. This man Saddam Hussein has tortured and brutalized his people for a long, long time. We had reports the other day of a dissident who had his tongue cut out and was tied to the stake in the town square, and he bled to death. That's how Saddam Hussein retains power. His sons are brutal, brutal people. They're barbaric in nature. So I'm not surprised he's committing crimes against our soldiers. I'm not surprised to hear stories about his thugs killing their own citizens and trying to blame it on coalition forces. I'm not surprised to know that regular army forces are trying to desert but get blown away by fellow Iraqi citizens. I'm not surprised, because the nature of the man who has run the country for a long period of time. If he uses weapons of mass destruction, that will just prove our case. And we will deal with it. We've got one objective in mind. That's victory, and we'll achieve victory. Q. Inaudible . President Bush. Well, they've been sent a message in this war, too, in that if you launch a weapon of mass destruction, you'll be tried as a war criminal. And I urge those Iraqi generals who have any doubt of our word to be careful, because we'll keep our word. We're going to keep our word to the Iraqi people, and we'll keep our word to those war criminals in Iraq. Prime Minister Blair. Adam Adam Boulton, Sky News . Nature of the Coalition Execution of British Soldiers Q. I'd like to break the rule, because I don't think we know the details of why you're using this word "executed" about the British servicemen. I would like if you could explain that. But could I ask you both you both went into the history, the justness of the cause that you believe that this war is. Why is it then, that if you go back to that history, if you go back over the last century or, indeed, recent conflicts in your political careers, you have not got the support of people who have been firm allies, like the French, like the Germans, like the Turkish? Why haven't you got their support? President Bush. We've got a huge coalition. As a matter of fact, the coalition that we've assembled today is larger than one assembled in 1991 in terms of the number of nations participating. I'm very pleased with the size of our coalition. I was down yesterday at CENTCOM and met with many of the generals from the countries represented in our coalition, and they're proud to be side by side with our allies. This is a vast coalition that believes in our cause, and I'm proud of their participation. Q. They're not Western allies. Why not? President Bush. We have plenty of Western allies. We've got I mean, we can give you the list. Ally after ally after ally has stood with us and continues to stand with us, and we are extremely proud of their participation. Prime Minister Blair. Can I in relation to our soldiers, the reason I used the language I did was because of the circumstances that we know. And the reason why I think it is important to recognize the strength of our alliance yes, there are countries that disagree with what we are doing. I mean, there's no point in hiding it. There's been a division. And you obviously have to take and go and ask those other countries why they're not with us, and they will give you the reasons why they disagree. But I think what is important is to bear in mind two things. First of all, there are an immense number of countries that do agree with us. I mean, I hear people constantly say to me, "Europe is against what you're doing." That is not true. There is a part of Europe that is against what we are doing. There are many existing members of the European Union and virtually all the new members of the European Union that strongly support what we are doing. So there is a division, but we have many allies. And the second point I'd make is this, that I understand why people hesitate before committing to conflict and to war. War is a brutal and a bloody business. But we are faced with the situation where Saddam Hussein has been given 12 years to disarm voluntarily of weapons of mass destruction that the whole of the international community accepts is a threat, and he has not done so. Instead, what we have had is 12 years in which he has remained in power with these weapons intact and brutalized his own people. Now, we felt we had come to the point where if we wanted to take a stand against what I believe to be the dominant security threat of our time, which is the combination of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of unstable, repressive states and terrorist groups, if we wanted to take a stand, then we had to act. And we went through the diplomatic process. We tried to make the diplomatic process work, but we weren't able to do so. And the other reason why I think it is important that we act and why, indeed, we have many, many allies, is because people do know that this is a brutal regime. That is not the reason for us initiating this action that is in relation to weapons of mass destruction. But it is a reason why, if we do so, as we are doing, we do so in the full knowledge that we are, indeed, going to bring a better future for the Iraqi people. And if you just want one statistic although statistics, I'm afraid, never have the same emotional appeal as pictures, but we don't see these pictures of what has happened in Iraq in the past but just one statistic Over the past 5 years, 400,000 Iraqi children under the age of 5 died of malnutrition and disease, preventively, but died because of the nature of the regime under which they are living. Now, that is why we're acting. And yes, there are divisions in the international community. There are many people on our side there are those that oppose us. But that is for us, I'm afraid Q. why do they Prime Minister Blair. Well, I'm afraid, Adam, that is a question to ask to other people as well as to us. All I can tell you is why we are acting and why we believe our cause to be just. And yes, at the end of this whole process, we need to go back over it and ask why this has happened. But I simply say to you that if the world walks away from the security threat facing us and if we back down and take no action against Saddam, think of the signal that would have sent right across the world to every brutal dictator, to every terrorist group. Now, we believe that we had to act. Others have disagreed. As I say, at some point, we will have to come back, and we'll have to discuss how the disagreement arose. But I have no doubt that we're doing the right thing. I have no doubt that our cause is just, and I have no doubt that were we to walk away from this conflict at this time, we would be doing a huge disservice to future generations. President Bush. Thank you all. March 26, 2003 The President. Thank you all. Thank you all. Thank you all very much. General DeLong, thanks for such a kind introduction. Laura and I are really proud to be here with the good men and women of CENTCOM and MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. We are pleased to see so many family members who are here. We want to we thank you for coming. And I want you to know your Nation appreciates your commitment and your sacrifice in the cause of peace and freedom. We're also proud to be here today with our friends and allies, representative of the 48 nations across the world who have joined America in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Over the last week, the world has witnessed the skill and honor and resolve of our military in the course of battle. We have seen the character of this new generation of American Armed Forces. We've seen their daring against ruthless enemies and their decency to an oppressed people. Millions of Americans are proud of our military, and so am I. I am honored to be the Commander in Chief. I appreciate very much General Peter Pace, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who has joined us from Washington, DC, today. He is representative of the caliber of our generals. He's one of the finest people I know. I'm proud you're here, General Pace. Thank you for representing the Marine Corps so well, and all the fighting men and women. I'm proud, also, to be here with Charles Holland, commander of SOCOM the wing commander of MacDill Air Force Base, Colonel Tanker Snyder. He told me that was his given name, Tanker. Laughter That's a heck of a name, Tanker. Laughter Of course, I'm really proud of your Governor. Audience members. God bless you, sir! Laughter The President. I want to thank members of the Florida congressional delegation who flew down with us today on Air Force One, starting with the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, a Floridian committed to making sure our military has what it takes to win war and, therefore, be able to keep the peace the chairman, Bill Young. As well, Congressman Jim Davis, Mike Bilirakis, Adam Putnam, and Katherine Harris came down today. I know we've got some of the mayors from the local area here Rick Baker, Brian Aungst, and my old buddy Dick Greco, the mayor of Tampa, Florida for being here. I want to thank everybody in uniform who is here today. Thank you for your service, your sacrifice, and your love of America. I appreciate the members of the United States Coast Guard who are here today. Our Coast Guard is deployed in the Middle East at the same time, it protects this homeland of ours. And you're doing a fine job on behalf of the American people, all up and down the coastlines of this great country. I want to thank members of the Florida Army National Guard who are here. And I suspect we might have a few veterans as well as retired members of our military. I want to thank you all for your service, for setting such a clear example for future generations of those who wear our uniform. I think you'll agree that our military is not letting you down when it comes to upholding the great tradition of peace through strength. One of the problems with being the President is you always end up being the last guy here. Laughter So I'm sorry I didn't get to hear Toby Keith and Darryl Worley. But I want to thank you all for coming and providing your talents today in support of our efforts to make the world a more peaceful place. I also want to thank Chaplain Stone. I appreciate your words of prayer for our men and women in uniform, especially for your prayers for the loved ones of American and British troops whose lives were lost. People across this country are praying. They are praying that they hope those families and loved ones will find comfort and grace in their sorrow. We pray that God will bless and receive each of the fallen, and we thank God that liberty found such brave defenders. At MacDill Air Force Base, I know you're proud of a certain Army general who couldn't be with us today on the account of some pressing business. Laughter Tommy Franks has my respect, the respect of our military, and the thanks of the United States of America. MacDill is the command center of our Special Operations Forces, the silent warriors who were first on the ground there in Iraq. And here at CENTCOM, you coordinate the work of a grand coalition that is disarming a dangerous enemy and freeing a proud people. Every nation in our coalition understands the terrible threat we face from weapons of mass destruction. Every nation represented here refuses to live in a future of fear, at the mercy of terrorists and tyrants. And every nation here today shares the same resolve We will be relentless in our pursuit of victory. Our military is making good progress in Iraq yet this war is far from over. As they approach Baghdad, our fighting units are facing the most desperate elements of a doomed regime. We cannot know the duration of this war, but we are prepared for the battle ahead. We cannot predict the final day of the Iraqi regime, but I can assure you, and I assure the long suffering people of Iraq, there will be a day of reckoning for the Iraqi regime, and that day is drawing near. Many of you here today were also involved in the liberation of Afghanistan. The military demands are very different in Iraq. Yet our coalition is showing the same spirit, the same resolve that spirit and resolve that destroyed the Al Qaida terror camps, that routed the Taliban and freed the people of Afghanistan. In Iraq today, our military is focused and unwavering. We have an effective plan of battle and the flexibility to meet every challenge. Nothing nothing will divert us from our clear mission. We will press on through every hardship. We will overcome every danger, and we will prevail. It has been 6 days since the major ground war began. It's been 5 days since the major air war began. And every day has brought us closer to our objective. At the opening of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Special Forces helped to secure airfields and bridges and oilfields, to clear the way for our forces and to prevent sabotage and environmental catastrophe. Our pilots and cruise missiles have struck vital military targets with lethal precision. We've destroyed the base of a terrorist group in northern Iraq that sought to attack America and Europe with deadly poisons. We have moved over 200 miles to the north, toward Iraq's capital, in the last 3 days. And the dictator's major Republican Guard units are now under direct and intense attack. Day by day, Saddam Hussein is losing his grip on Iraq. Day by day, the Iraqi people are closer to freedom. We are also taking every action we can to prevent the Iraqi regime from using its hidden weapons of mass destruction. We are attacking the command structure that could order the use of those weapons. Coalition troops have taken control of hundreds of square miles of territory to prevent the launch of missiles and chemical or biological weapons. Every victory in this campaign and every sacrifice serves the purpose of defending innocent lives, in America and across the world, from the weapons of terror. We will not wait to meet this danger with firefighters and police and doctors on the streets of our own cities. Instead, we are meeting the danger today with our Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marines. All the nations in our coalition are contributing to our steady progress. British ground forces have seized strategic towns and ports. The Royal Air Force is striking targets throughout Iraq. The Royal Navy is taking command of coastal waters. The Australian military is providing naval gunfire support and Special Forces and fighter aircraft on missions deep in Iraq. Polish military forces have secured an Iraqi oil platform in the Persian Gulf. A Danish submarine is monitoring Iraqi intelligence, providing early warning. Czech, Slovak, Polish, and Romanian forces, soon to be joined by Ukrainian and Bulgarian forces, are forward deployed in the region, prepared to respond in the event of an attack of weapons of mass destruction anywhere in the region. Spain is providing important logistical and humanitarian support. Coalition forces are skilled and courageous, and we are honored to have them by our side. In the early stages of this war, the world is getting a clearer view of the Iraqi regime and the evil at its heart. In the ranks of that regime are men whose idea of courage is to brutalize unarmed prisoners. They wage attacks while posing as civilians. They use real civilians as human shields. They pretend to surrender, then fire upon those who show them mercy. This band of war criminals has been put on notice The day of Iraq's liberation will also be a day of justice. And in the early stages of this war, we have also seen the honor of the American military and our coalition. Protecting innocent civilians is a central commitment of our war plan. Our enemy in this war is the Iraqi regime, not the people who have suffered under it. As we bring justice to a dictator, today we started bringing humanitarian aid in large amounts to an oppressed land. We are treating Iraqi prisoners of war according to the highest standards of law and decency. Coalition doctors are working to save the lives of the wounded, including Iraqi soldiers. One of our servicemen said this about the injured Iraqis he treated "We can't blame them for the mistreatment that their Government is doing to our soldiers. I'm all for treating them. That's what we do. That's our job." Our entire coalition has a job to do, and it will not end with the liberation of Iraq. We will help the Iraqi people to find the benefits and assume the duties of self government. The form of those institutions will arise from Iraq's own culture and its own choices. Yet, this much is certain The 24 million people of Iraq have lived too long under a violent criminal gang calling itself a government. Iraqis are a good and gifted people. They deserve better than a life spent bowing before a dictator. The people of Iraq deserve to stand on their feet as free men and women, the citizens of a free country. This goal of a free and peaceful Iraq unites our coalition. And this goal comes from the deepest convictions of America. The freedom you defend is the right of every person and the future of every nation. The liberty we prize is not American's gift to the world it is God's gift to humanity. The Army Special Forces define their mission in a motto "To Liberate the Oppressed." Generations of men and women in uniform have served and sacrificed in this cause. Now the call of history has come once again to all in our military and to all in our coalition. We are answering that call. We have no ambition in Iraq except the liberation of its people. We ask no reward except a durable peace. And we will accept no outcome short of complete and final success. The path we are taking is not easy, and it may be long. Yet we know our destination. We will stay on the path, mile by mile, all the way to Baghdad and all the way to victory. Thank you all. And may God bless America. March 25, 2003 Thank you all. Please be seated. Well, good morning. Thanks for coming. I've just met with our leaders here at the Pentagon, who are monitoring the course of our battle to free Iraq and rid that country of weapons of mass destruction. Our coalition is on a steady advance. We're making good progress. We're fighting an enemy that knows no rules of law, that will wear civilian uniforms, that is willing to kill in order to continue the reign of fear of Saddam Hussein. But we're fighting with bravery and courage. We cannot know the duration of this war. Yet we know its outcome We will prevail. The Iraqi regime will be disarmed. The Iraqi regime will be ended. The Iraqi people will be free, and our world will be more secure and peaceful. The people of our military and their families are showing great courage, and some have suffered great loss. America is grateful to all those who have sacrificed in our cause. Our coalition is strong. It's bound together by the principle of protecting not only this Nation but all nations from a brutal regime that is armed with weapons that could kill thousands of innocent people. America has more than 200,000 men and women engaged in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Our troops also continue to fight bravely in other fronts of this war on terror. In Afghanistan last week, coalition forces launched Operation Valiant Strike against terrorists and their allies in the southern mountains of Afghanistan. Of course, we have troops standing watch in other parts of the world to protect and maintain the peace. All the members of the military, abroad, at home, or here in this important building, are bound together by a great cause, to defend the American people and advance the universal hope of freedom. America has accepted this responsibility. We also accept the cost of supporting our military and the missions we give it. Today I'm sending the Congress a wartime supplemental appropriations request of 74.7 billion, to fund needs directly arising from the Iraqi conflict and our global war against terror. My request to Congress will pay for the massive task of transporting a fully equipped military force, both active duty and reserve, to a region halfway around the world. This money will cover the current cost of fueling our ships and aircraft and tanks and of airlifting tons of supplies into the theater of operations. The supplemental will also allow us to replace the high tech munitions we are now directing against Saddam Hussein's regime. My request includes funds for relief and reconstruction in a free Iraq. This Nation and our coalition partners are committed to making sure that the Iraqi citizens who have suffered under a brutal tyrant have got the food and medicine needed as soon as possible. Tommy Franks briefed us this morning about coalition efforts to demine the harbors the harbor to make sure that our humanitarian relief can be delivered safely to the Iraqi people. Coalition forces are working hard to make sure that when the food and medicine begins to move, it does so in a safe way. And soon, the Iraqi people will see the great compassion of not only the United States but other nations around the world who care deeply about the human condition inside that country. Our campaign in Iraq involves assistance of coalition partners and friends in the Middle East. The funding request to Congress will help reduce the economic burdens these countries have experienced in supporting our efforts. Also included are funds essential to waging and helping our partners wage the broader war on terror, which continues in Afghanistan, in the Philippines, and elsewhere. We continue to fight the war on terror by protecting our homeland. At the Federal level, I'm requesting more resources for the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, to deal with this period of uncertainty. We'll provide resources for patrolling and safeguarding our borders, funds to help the FBI investigate domestic threats in this time of war, additional funding for the Coast Guard for port security in the United States and in the Middle East. In this time of heightened security, we are expecting States and communities to take on greater responsibilities to protect critical infrastructure. And so I'm seeking additional resources to help States and cities make these preparations for the protection of our citizens. Yesterday I informed the leaders of Congress of these spending requests. The situation in any war is fluid. I reminded them of that fact, and so I'm asking Congress for flexibility in how these funds can be allocated. They heard that message. They also heard the message that the need is urgent. The wartime supplemental is directly related to winning this war and to securing the peace that will follow this war. I ask Congress to act quickly and responsibly. One thing is for certain Business as usual on Capitol Hill can't go on during this time of war. And by that I mean the supplemental should not be viewed as an opportunity to add spending that is unrelated, unwise, and unnecessary. Every dollar we spend must serve the interest of our Nation, and the interest of our Nation in this supplemental is to win this war and to be able to keep the peace. Eighteen months ago, this building came under attack. From that day to this, we have been engaged in a new kind of war, and we are winning. We will not leave our future to be decided by terrorist groups or terrorist regimes. At every turn in this conflict, Americans can be confident in the people who wear our Nation's uniform. We support them. We are thankful for their service in places of great danger, in this hour of great need. May God continue to look out after those who defend the peace and freedom. And may God continue to bless America. Thank you. March 22, 2003 Good morning. American and coalition forces have begun a concerted campaign against the regime of Saddam Hussein. In this war, our coalition is broad, more than 40 countries from across the globe. Our cause is just The security of the nations we serve and the peace of the world. And our mission is clear To disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction to end Saddam Hussein's support for terrorism and to free the Iraqi people. The future of peace and the hopes of the Iraqi people now depend on our fighting forces in the Middle East. They are conducting themselves in the highest traditions of the American military. They are doing their job with skill and bravery and with the finest of allies beside them. At every stage of this conflict, the world will see both the power of our military and the honorable and decent spirit of the men and women who serve. In this conflict, American and coalition forces face enemies who have no regard for the conventions of war or rules of morality. Iraqi officials have placed troops and equipment in civilian areas, attempting to use innocent men, women, and children as shields for the dictator's army. I want Americans and all the world to know that coalition forces will make every effort to spare innocent civilians from harm. A campaign on harsh terrain in a vast country could be longer and more difficult than some have predicted. And helping Iraqis achieve a united, stable, and free country will require our sustained commitment. Yet, whatever is required of us, we will carry out all the duties we have accepted. Across America this weekend, the families of our military are praying that our men and women will return safely and soon. Millions of Americans are praying with them for the safety of their loved ones and for the protection of all the innocent. Our entire Nation appreciates the sacrifices made by military families, and many citizens who live near military families are showing their support in practical ways, such as by helping with child care or home repairs. All families with loved ones serving in this war can know this Our forces will be coming home as soon as their work is done. Our Nation entered this conflict reluctantly, yet with a clear and firm purpose. The people of the United States and our friends and allies will not live at the mercy of an outlaw regime that threatens the peace with weapons of mass murder. Now that conflict has come, the only way to limit its duration is to apply decisive force. This will not be a campaign of half measures. It is a fight for the security of our Nation and the peace of the world, and we will accept no outcome but victory. Thank you for listening. March 17, 2003 My fellow citizens, events in Iraq have now reached the final days of decision. For more than a decade, the United States and other nations have pursued patient and honorable efforts to disarm the Iraqi regime without war. That regime pledged to reveal and destroy all its weapons of mass destruction as a condition for ending the Persian Gulf war in 1991. Since then, the world has engaged in 12 years of diplomacy. We have passed more than a dozen resolutions in the United Nations Security Council. We have sent hundreds of weapons inspectors to oversee the disarmament of Iraq. Our good faith has not been returned. The Iraqi regime has used diplomacy as a ploy to gain time and advantage. It has uniformly defied Security Council resolutions demanding full disarmament. Over the years, U.N. weapon inspectors have been threatened by Iraqi officials, electronically bugged, and systematically deceived. Peaceful efforts to disarm the Iraqi regime have failed again and again because we are not dealing with peaceful men. Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised. This regime has already used weapons of mass destruction against Iraq's neighbors and against Iraq's people. The regime has a history of reckless aggression in the Middle East. It has a deep hatred of America and our friends. And it has aided, trained, and harbored terrorists, including operatives of Al Qaida. The danger is clear Using chemical, biological or, one day, nuclear weapons obtained with the help of Iraq, the terrorists could fulfill their stated ambitions and kill thousands or hundreds of thousands of innocent people in our country or any other. The United States and other nations did nothing to deserve or invite this threat. But we will do everything to defeat it. Instead of drifting along toward tragedy, we will set a course toward safety. Before the day of horror can come, before it is too late to act, this danger will be removed. The United States of America has the sovereign authority to use force in assuring its own national security. That duty falls to me as Commander in Chief, by the oath I have sworn, by the oath I will keep. Recognizing the threat to our country, the United States Congress voted overwhelmingly last year to support the use of force against Iraq. America tried to work with the United Nations to address this threat because we wanted to resolve the issue peacefully. We believe in the mission of the United Nations. One reason theU.N. was founded after the Second World War was to confront aggressive dictators actively and early, before they can attack the innocent and destroy the peace. In the case of Iraq, the Security Council did act in the early 1990s. Under Resolutions 678 and 687, both still in effect, the United States and our allies are authorized to use force in ridding Iraq of weapons of mass destruction. This is not a question of authority. It is a question of will. Last September, I went to the U.N. General Assembly and urged the nations of the world to unite and bring an end to this danger. On November 8th, the Security Council unanimously passed Resolution 1441, finding Iraq in material breach of its obligations and vowing serious consequences if Iraq did not fully and immediately disarm. Today, no nation can possibly claim that Iraq has disarmed, and it will not disarm so long as Saddam Hussein holds power. For the last 4 1 2 months, the United States and our allies have worked within the Security Council to enforce that Council's long standing demands. Yet, some permanent members of the Security Council have publicly announced they will veto any resolution that compels the disarmament of Iraq. These governments share our assessment of the danger but not our resolve to meet it. Many nations, however, do have the resolve and fortitude to act against this threat to peace, and a broad coalition is now gathering to enforce the just demands of the world. The United Nations Security Council has not lived up to its responsibilities, so we will rise to ours. In recent days, some governments in the Middle East have been doing their part. They have delivered public and private messages urging the dictator to leave Iraq, so that disarmament can proceed peacefully. He has thus far refused. All the decades of deceit and cruelty have now reached an end. Saddam Hussein and his sons must leave Iraq within 48 hours. Their refusal to do so will result in military conflict, commenced at a time of our choosing. For their own safety, all foreign nationals, including journalists and inspectors, should leave Iraq immediately. Many Iraqis can hear me tonight in a translated radio broadcast, and I have a message for them If we must begin a military campaign, it will be directed against the lawless men who rule your country and not against you. As our coalition takes away their power, we will deliver the food and medicine you need. We will tear down the apparatus of terror, and we will help you to build a new Iraq that is prosperous and free. In a free Iraq, there will be no more wars of aggression against your neighbors, no more poison factories, no more executions of dissidents, no more torture chambers and rape rooms. The tyrant will soon be gone. The day of your liberation is near. It is too late for Saddam Hussein to remain in power. It is not too late for the Iraqi military to act with honor and protect your country by permitting the peaceful entry of coalition forces to eliminate weapons of mass destruction. Our forces will give Iraqi military units clear instructions on actions they can take to avoid being attacked and destroyed. I urge every member of the Iraqi military and intelligence services If war comes, do not fight for a dying regime that is not worth your own life. And all Iraqi military and civilian personnel should listen carefully to this warning In any conflict, your fate will depend on your actions. Do not destroy oil wells, a source of wealth that belongs to the Iraqi people. Do not obey any command to use weapons of mass destruction against anyone, including the Iraqi people. War crimes will be prosecuted. War criminals will be punished. And it will be no defense to say, "I was just following orders." Should Saddam Hussein choose confrontation, the American people can know that every measure has been taken to avoid war and every measure will be taken to win it. Americans understand the costs of conflict because we have paid them in the past. War has no certainty, except the certainty of sacrifice. Yet, the only way to reduce the harm and duration of war is to apply the full force and might of our military, and we are prepared to do so. If Saddam Hussein attempts to cling to power, he will remain a deadly foe until the end. In desperation, he and terrorists groups might try to conduct terrorist operations against the American people and our friends. These attacks are not inevitable. They are, however, possible. And this very fact underscores the reason we cannot live under the threat of blackmail. The terrorist threat to America and the world will be diminished the moment that Saddam Hussein is disarmed. Our Government is on heightened watch against these dangers. Just as we are preparing to ensure victory in Iraq, we are taking further actions to protect our homeland. In recent days, American authorities have expelled from the country certain individuals with ties to Iraqi intelligence services. Among other measures, I have directed additional security of our airports and increased Coast Guard patrols of major seaports. The Department of Homeland Security is working closely with the Nation's Governors to increase armed security at critical facilities across America. Should enemies strike our country, they would be attempting to shift our attention with panic and weaken our morale with fear. In this, they would fail. No act of theirs can alter the course or shake the resolve of this country. We are a peaceful people. Yet we're not a fragile people, and we will not be intimidated by thugs and killers. If our enemies dare to strike us, they and all who have aided them will face fearful consequences. We are now acting because the risks of inaction would be far greater. In 1 year, or 5 years, the power of Iraq to inflict harm on all free nations would be multiplied many times over. With these capabilities, Saddam Hussein and his terrorist allies could choose the moment of deadly conflict when they are strongest. We choose to meet that threat now, where it arises, before it can appear suddenly in our skies and cities. The cause of peace requires all free nations to recognize new and undeniable realities. In the 20th century, some chose to appease murderous dictators, whose threats were allowed to grow into genocide and global war. In this century, when evil men plot chemical, biological, and nuclear terror, a policy of appeasement could bring destruction of a kind never before seen on this Earth. Terrorists and terror states do not reveal these threats with fair notice, in formal declarations. And responding to such enemies only after they have struck first is not self defense it is suicide. The security of the world requires disarming Saddam Hussein now. As we enforce the just demands of the world, we will also honor the deepest commitments of our country. Unlike Saddam Hussein, we believe the Iraqi people are deserving and capable of human liberty. And when the dictator has departed, they can set an example to all the Middle East of a vital and peaceful and self governing nation. The United States, with other countries, will work to advance liberty and peace in that region. Our goal will not be achieved overnight, but it can come over time. The power and appeal of human liberty is felt in every life and every land. And the greatest power of freedom is to overcome hatred and violence and turn the creative gifts of men and women to the pursuits of peace. That is the future we choose. Free nations have a duty to defend our people by uniting against the violent. And tonight, as we have done before, America and our allies accept that responsibility. Good night, and may God continue to bless America. March 16, 2003 Prime Minister Durao Barroso. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I am very pleased to welcome here in the Azores the leaders of three friends and allied countries, the United States, Spain, and United Kingdom President Bush, Prime Minister Aznar, and Prime Minister Tony Blair. This meeting in the Azores also shows the importance of transatlantic relations and also shows the solidarity among our countries. Actually, these agreements have approved two statements, one statement on transatlantic relations and a statement on Iraq. We have joined this initiative and we organized it here in the Azores because we thought this was the last opportunity for a political solution. And this is how we see it This is the last possibility for a political solution to the problem. Maybe it's a small chance, a small possibility, but even if it's one in one million, it's always worthwhile fighting for a political solution. And I think this is the message that we can get from this Atlantic summit. As I was saying, for my English speaking guests, I'll speak English now. First of all, let me say, welcome, George Bush, to Europe. I think it's important that we meet here, in a European country, in Portugal, but in this territory of Azores that is halfway between the continent of Europe and the continent of America. I think it's not only logistically convenient it has a special political meaning, the political meaning of our friendship and our commitment to our shared values. So welcome to all of you. Welcome to you. And I now give the floor to President George Bush. President Bush. Jose, thank you very much for your hospitality. You've done a great job on such short notice. And I'm honored to be standing here with you and two other friends as we work toward a great cause, and that is peace and security in this world. We've had a really good discussion. We've been doing a lot of phone talking, and it was good to get together and to visit and to talk. And we concluded that tomorrow is a moment of truth for the world. Many nations have voiced a commitment to peace and security. And now they must demonstrate that commitment to peace and security in the only effective way, by supporting the immediate and unconditional disarmament of Saddam Hussein. The dictator of Iraq and his weapons of mass destruction are a threat to the security of free nations. He is a danger to his neighbors. He's a sponsor of terrorism. He's an obstacle to progress in the Middle East. For decades, he has been the cruel, cruel oppressor of the Iraq people. On this very day 15 years ago, Saddam Hussein launched a chemical weapons attack on the Iraqi village of Halabja. With a single order, the Iraqi regime killed thousands of men and women and children, without mercy or without shame. Saddam Hussein has proven he is capable of any crime. We must not permit his crimes to reach across the world. Saddam Hussein has a history of mass murder. He possesses the weapons of mass murder. He agrees he agreed to disarm Iraq of these weapons as a condition for ending the Gulf war over a decade ago. The United Nations Security Council in Resolution 1441 has declared Iraq in material breach of its longstanding obligations, demanded once again Iraq's full and immediate disarmament, and promised serious consequences if the regime refused to comply. That resolution was passed unanimously, and its logic is inescapable The Iraqi regime will disarm itself, or the Iraqi regime will be disarmed by force. And the regime has not disarmed itself. Action to remove the threat from Iraq would also allow the Iraqi people to build a better future for their society. And Iraq's liberation would be the beginning, not the end, of our commitment to its people. We will supply humanitarian relief, bring economic sanctions to a swift close, and work for the long term recovery of Iraq's economy. We'll make sure that Iraq's natural resources are used for the benefit of their owners, the Iraqi people. Iraq has the potential to be a great nation. Iraq's people are skilled and educated. We'll push as quickly as possible for an Iraqi interim authority to draw upon the talents of Iraq's people to rebuild their nation. We're committed to the goal of a unified Iraq, with democratic institutions of which members of all ethnic and religious groups are treated with dignity and respect. To achieve this vision, we will work closely with the international community, including the United Nations and our coalition partners. If military force is required, we'll quickly seek new Security Council resolutions to encourage broad participation in the process of helping the Iraqi people to build a free Iraq. Crucial days lie ahead for the world. I want to thank the leaders here today and many others for stepping forward and taking leadership and showing their resolve in the cause of peace and the cause of security. Jose Maria. President Aznar. Good evening, everyone. I would firstly like to thank the Prime Minister, Jose Manuel Durao, for his hospitality and welcome, which I particularly am grateful for. And I'm very pleased to be in the Azores once again. I have short remarks on our debates on this situation and on the documents we've agreed on during today's meeting. I'd first like to refer to our document on Atlantic solidarity. We have renewed Atlantic commitment on our common values and principles, in favor of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. We understand that the expression of this commitment is essential, by way of guarantee of peace, security, and international freedom. And I honestly believe that there is no other alternative to the expression of the Atlantic commitment in terms of security. We are committed on a day to day fight against new threats, such as terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, and tyrannic regimes that do not comply with international law. They threaten all of us, and we must all act, consequently. This transatlantic link, this transatlantic solidarity, has always been, is, and should continue to be, in my opinion, a great European commitment, and as such, amongst other things, we express it this way Without this commitment, today's Europe could not be understood and without that commitment, it would be very difficult to picture the Europe of tomorrow. So I would like to invite our friends, our allies, to leave aside any circumstantial differences and to work together seriously for that commitment of democracy, freedom, and peace, so that this becomes a commitment of us all. We've agreed on launching on boosting the Middle East peace process and on our vision that that peace process has to accommodate with all necessary security guarantees and putting an end to terrorism. And this should end with the peaceful coexistence of two states, an independent Palestinian state and the Israeli state. In view of the situation created by Iraq, with their continued noncompliance of international law, I would like to remind you that we all said before we came here that we were not coming to the Azores to make a declaration of war, that we were coming after having made every possible effort, after having made this effort, continuing to make this effort, to working to achieve the greatest possible agreement, and for international law to be respected and for U.N. resolutions to be respected. And we would like to say that we are aware of the fact that this is the last opportunity the last opportunity expressed in Resolution 1441, adopted unanimously by the Security Council, and that, being aware that this is the last opportunity, we are also making the last effort. And we are ready to make this last effort of the very many efforts we've been making throughout these last weeks and months. We are well aware of the international world public opinion, of its concern. And we are also very well aware of our responsibilities and obligations. If Saddam Hussein wants to disarm and avoid the serious consequences which he has been warned about by the United Nations, he can do so. And nothing in our document nor in our statement can prevent him from doing so if he wants to. So his is the sole responsibility. Tony. Prime Minister Blair. Thank you, Jose Maria. Thank you, Jose, for hosting us today. And I think it's worth just returning to the key point, which is our responsibility to uphold the will of the United Nations set out in Resolution 1441 last November. And for 4 1 2 months now, we've worked hard to get Saddam to cooperate fully, unconditionally, as that resolution demanded. Even some days ago we were prepared to set out clear tests that allowed us to conclude whether he was cooperating fully or not, with a clear ultimatum to him if he refused to do so. And the reason we approached it in that way is that that is what we agreed in Resolution 1441. This was his final opportunity. He had to disarm unconditionally. Serious consequences would follow if he failed to do so. And this is really the impasse that we have, because some say there should be no ultimatum, no authorization of force in any new U.N. resolution instead, more discussion in the event of noncompliance. But the truth is that without a credible ultimatum authorizing force in the event of noncompliance, then more discussion is just more delay, with Saddam remaining armed with weapons of mass destruction and continuing a brutal, murderous regime in Iraq. And this game that he is playing is, frankly, a game that he has played over the last 12 years. Disarmament never happens. But instead, the international community is drawn into some perpetual negotiation, gestures designed to divide the international community but never real and concrete cooperation leading to disarmament. And there's not a single person on the Security Council that doubts the fact he is not fully cooperating today. Nobody, even those who disagree with the position that we have outlined, is prepared to say there is full cooperation as 1441 demanded. Not a single interview has taken place outside of Iraq, even though 1441 provided for it. Still, no proper production or evidence of the destruction, or for example just to take one example, the 10,000 liters of anthrax that the inspectors just a week ago said was unaccounted for. And that is why it is so important that the international community at this time gives a strong and unified message. And I have to say that I really believe that hadn't we given that strong message some time ago, Saddam might have realized that the games had to stop. So now we have reached the point of decision, and we make a final appeal for there to be that strong, unified message on behalf of the international community that lays down a clear ultimatum to Saddam, that authorizes force if he continues to defy the will of the whole of the international community set out in 1441. We will do all we can in the short time that remains to make a final round of contacts, to see whether there is a way through this impasse. But we are in the final stages, because after 12 years of failing to disarm him, now is the time when we have to decide. Two other points, briefly, on the documents that we've put before you. The first, as President Aznar was just saying to you a moment or two ago, on the transatlantic alliance is, I think, very important. Some of you will have heard me say this before, but let me just repeat it. I believe that Europe and America should stand together on the big issues of the day. I think it is a tragedy when we don't. And that transatlantic alliance is strong, and we need to strengthen it still further. And secondly, we've set out for you that should it come to conflict, we make a pledge to the people of Iraq. As President Bush was just saying to you a moment or two ago, it is the people of Iraq who are the primary victims of Saddam the thousands of children that die needlessly every year the people locked up in his prisons or executed simply for showing disagreement with the regime a country that is potentially prosperous reduced to poverty 60 percent of the population reliant on food aid. And what we say is that we will protect Iraq's territorial integrity we will support representative government that unites Iraq on the democratic basis of human rights and the rule of law that we will help Iraq rebuild and not rebuild because of the problems of conflict, where if it comes to that, we will do everything we can to minimize the suffering of the Iraqi people, but rebuild Iraq because of the appalling legacy that the rule of Saddam has left the Iraqi people and then in particular, Iraq's natural resources remain the property of the people of Iraq. And that wealth should be used for the Iraqi people. It is theirs and will remain so, administered by the U.N. in the way we set out. Finally, on the Middle East peace process, I welcome very much the statement that President Bush made the other day. I think it's important now. He said he wanted a partner on the Palestinian side. I think the coming appointment of Abu Mazen is so important there. It allows us to take this process forward. The roadmap gives us the way forward. The appointment of Abu Mazen gives us the right partner to take this forward. And I believe that that will demonstrate and it's important to demonstrate, in particular at this time that our approach to people in the Middle East, in that troubled region, is indeed evenhanded. And all of us will work to make sure that that vision of a Middle East two states, Israel confident of its security, a Palestinian state that is viable comes about and is made reality. Thank you. Summit Results Portugal's Role in the Coalition Q. Inaudible President Bush. They couldn't hear the question. Q. I was asking the Portuguese Prime Minister, how does he see the result of this summit? Does the Prime Minister think that starting now, Portugal has more responsibilities with this war that seems to be inevitable? Prime Minister Durao Barroso. The results of this summit, as I described them and as all the other heads of state and government said it, too, this summit is this is the last opportunity for a political solution to this very serious problem for the international community. This has been said here. It's been said here that tomorrow we'll start with these last initiatives towards a political solution. And for that reason I am very, very happy with the results of this summit. Now, coming to our responsibility in case there is a conflict, I must say that the responsibility falls entirely on the dictator Saddam Hussein. He bears the entire responsibility because he has not respected for all of these years international law and consistently violated the U.N. resolutions. And in that case, if there is a conflict, I want to repeat it once more, Portugal will be next side by side with his allies. And the fact that we are here today in the Azores with the United States, with Spain, and with the UK, this is very significant. As it's been said here before, the transatlantic relationship is very, very important, not only for Europe and for the U.S., but it's very important for the whole world. I remember a few days ago, Kofi Annan in the European conference in Brussels said the same thing. He said this is very important. It's very important for Europe and the U.S. to remain united and not separate, because the world needs the U.S. and Europe working together towards the same direction, in the same sense not only about the security but also fighting underdevelopment and all the other tasks that fall to the international community. President Bush. Ron Fournier Associated Press . Last Effort at Diplomacy Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Before I ask my question I just want to nail down one thing so there's no confusion. When you talk about tomorrow being the moment of truth, are you saying that is the President Bush. Just a question, or are you trying to work in two questions? Q. Yes, sir. Laughter Because there's one thing we need to make clear. When you say tomorrow is the moment of truth, does that mean tomorrow is the last day that the resolution can be voted up or down, and at the end of the day tomorrow, one way or another the diplomatic window has closed? President Bush. That's what I'm saying. Q. Thank you, sir. And now for the question President Bush. And now for your question? Q. That being the case, regardless President Bush. That being my answer Q. Regardless of whether the resolution goes up or down or gets withdrawn, it seems to me you're going to be facing a moment of truth. And given that you've already said you don't think there's very much chance Saddam Hussein is going to disarm, and given that you say you don't think there's very much chance he's going to go into exile, aren't we going to war here? President Bush. Tomorrow is the day that we will determine whether or not diplomacy can work. And we sat and visited about this issue, about how best to spend our time between now and tomorrow. And as Prime Minister Blair said, we'll be working the phones and talking to our partners and talking to those who may not clearly understand the objective, and we'll see how it goes tomorrow. Saddam Hussein can leave the country, if he's interested in peace. You see, the decision is his to make. And it's been his to make all along as to whether or not there's the use of the military. He got to decide whether he was going to disarm, and he didn't. He can decide whether he wants to leave the country. These are his decisions to make, and thus far he has made bad decisions. Role of the United Nations Q. I understand that if tomorrow is the day for taking the final decision, that means that you consider that there's no possible way out through the United Nations because a majority does not support a war action. I would like to know, Mr. Blair, Mr. Bush, whether in that military offensive you count on many countries, whether it's going to be the UK and the U.S. carrying out the military offensive? I understand from what Mr. Blair has said that you're counting on the U.N. for the reconstruction. Are you going to look for other countries through the United Nations? And for Mr. Aznar, what is Spain's participation in that military offensive, in addition to your political support? President Bush. Inaudible Resolution 1441, which was unanimously approved, that says Saddam Hussein would unconditionally disarm, and if he didn't, there would be serious consequences. The United Nations Security Council looked at the issue 4 1 2 months ago and voted unanimously to say Disarm immediately and unconditionally, and if you don't, there are going to be serious consequences. The world has spoken. And it did in a unified voice. Sorry. Prime Minister Blair. The issue is very simply this, that we cannot have a situation where what happens through the United Nations, having agreed 1441, having said there would be serious consequences if he doesn't cooperate fully and unconditionally, what we cannot have is a situation where we simply go back for endless discussion. Now, we have provided the right diplomatic way through this, which is to lay down a clear ultimatum to Saddam Cooperate or face disarmament by force. And that is entirely within the logic, the letter, the spirit of 1441. And that is why you know, all the way through we have tried to provide a diplomatic solution. After over 4 1 2 months since we passed Resolution 1441, we're now, what, 3 months on from the declaration that Saddam made on the 8th of December that not a single person in the international community not one believes was an honest declaration of what he had. And yet, 1441 said the first step of cooperation was to make an honest declaration. So when people say haven't we exhausted all the diplomatic avenues, we've tried exhausting them. But understand from our perspective and from the perspective of the security of the world, we cannot simply go back to the Security Council for this discussion to be superseded by that discussion, to be superseded by another discussion. That's what's happened for 12 years. That's why he's still got the weapons of mass destruction. We have to come to the point of decision. And that really is what the next period of time is going to be about. President Aznar. Well, I would like to say that this statement we're making today, as we've all said, it's a last chance, one last attempt to reach the greatest possible consensus amongst ourselves. And I can assure all of you that we've made we have all made enormous efforts, and we're going to continue making these efforts in order to try to reach an agreement, to reach a solution. We have our own worry, our own responsibility to make U.N. resolutions be abided by. If the Security Council unanimously adopts a resolution Resolution 1441 giving one last opportunity to disarm to someone who has weapons of mass destruction, and we know he has used them, the Security Council cannot, one year after the other, wait for its resolutions to be implemented. That would be the best way to do away with it altogether. And it could do away with all the United Nations' credibility, and we honestly don't want that to happen. To me, there is no you cannot have the same distance between illegality and impunity. And neither Saddam Hussein nor any other tyrant with weapons of mass destruction can set the rules for international law and the international community. Q. Andrew Marr, from the BBC. Can I ask, first of all, Prime Minister Blair you said that you want a second resolution to be put down and voted on. Could we be clear? Is that what's going to happen tomorrow, under all circumstances? And either way also, if I may, for President Bush if you don't get that second resolution, what is the future for the United Nations? You've talked about Saddam Hussein dividing world community. Surely, he succeeded. Prime Minister Blair. Well, on your last point, I think this is one of the things that is tragic about this situation, that Saddam plays these games, and we carry on allowing him to play them. Now, we will do, in the next period of time, in respect to the resolution, what we believe to be in the interest of the U.N. But I want to say why I think it is so important that even now, at this late stage, we try to get the United Nations to be the route of resolving this, because the threat is there and everyone accepts it, the threat of weapons of mass destruction, the threat of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of terrorists who will cause maximum damage to our people. Everybody accepts the disarmament of Saddam has to happen. Everybody accepts that he was supposed to cooperate fully with the inspectors. Everybody accepts that he is not doing so. So, whatever the tactics within the U.N. and that's something we can de cide whatever those tactics, the key point of principle is this, that when we came together last November and laid down Resolution 1441, now is the moment when we decide whether we meant it and it was his final opportunity to disarm or face serious consequences, or whether, alternatively, we're simply going to drag out the diplomatic process forever. And that's why I say it's the point of decision. Q. Vote or not? President Bush. I was the guy that said they ought to vote. And one country voted. They showed their cards, I believe. It's an old Texas expression, "Show your cards," when you're playing poker. France showed their cards. After I said what I said, they said they were going to veto anything that held Saddam to account. So cards have been played, and we'll just have to take an assessment after tomorrow to determine what that card meant. Let me say something about the U.N. It's a very important organization. That's why I went there on September the 12th, 2002, to give the speech, the speech that called the U.N. into account, that said if you're going to pass resolutions, let's make sure your words mean something. Because I understand the wars of the 21st century are going to require incredible international cooperation. We're going to have to cooperate to cut off the money of the terrorists and the ability for nations, dictators who have weapons of mass destruction, to provide training and perhaps weapons to terrorist organizations. We need to cooperate, and we are. Our countries up here are cooperating incredibly well. And the U.N. must mean something. Remember Rwanda, or Kosovo. The U.N. didn't do its job. And we hope tomorrow the U.N. will do its job. If not, all of us need to step back and try to figure out how to make the U.N. work better as we head into the 21st century. Perhaps one way will be, if we use military force, in the post Saddam Iraq the U.N. will definitely need to have a role. And that way it can begin to get its legs legs of responsibility back. But it's important for the U.N. to be able to function well if we're going to keep the peace. And I will work hard to see to it that, at least from our perspective, that the U.N. is able to be a responsible body, and when it says something, it means it, for the sake of peace and for the sake of the security, for the capacity to win the war of the first war of the 21st century, which is the war against terrorism and weapons of mass destruction in the hands of dictators. Thank you all. Prime Minister Durao Barroso. Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. This is the end of the conference. Have a good trip. March 15, 2003 Good morning. This weekend marks a bitter anniversary for the people of Iraq. Fifteen years ago, Saddam Hussein's regime ordered a chemical weapons attack on a village in Iraq called Halabja. With that single order, the regime killed thousands of Iraq's Kurdish citizens. Whole families died while trying to flee clouds of nerve and mustard agents descending from the sky. Many who managed to survive still suffer from cancer, blindness, respiratory diseases, miscarriages, and severe birth defects among their children. The chemical attack on Halabja, just one of 40 targeted at Iraq's own people, provided a glimpse of the crimes Saddam Hussein is willing to commit and the kind of threat he now presents to the entire world. He is among history's cruelest dictators, and he is arming himself with the world's most terrible weapons. Recognizing this threat, the United Nations Security Council demanded that Saddam Hussein give up all his weapons of mass destruction as a condition for ending the Gulf war 12 years ago. The Security Council has repeated this demand numerous times and warned that Iraq faces serious consequences if it fails to comply. Iraq has responded with defiance, delay, and deception. The United States, Great Britain, and Spain continue to work with fellow members of the U.N. Security Council to confront this common danger. We have seen far too many instances in the past decade, from Bosnia to Rwanda to Kosovo, where the failure of the Security Council to act decisively has led to tragedy. And we must recognize that some threats are so grave and their potential consequences so terrible that they must be removed, even if it requires military force. As diplomatic efforts continue, we must never lose sight of the basic facts about the regime of Baghdad. We know from recent history that Saddam Hussein is a reckless dictator who has twice invaded his neighbors without provocation, wars that led to death and suffering on a massive scale. We know from human rights groups that dissidents in Iraq are tortured, imprisoned, and sometimes just disappear their hands, feet, and tongues are cut off their eyes are gouged out and female relatives are raped in their presence. As the Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel said this week, "We have a moral obligation to intervene where evil is in control. Today, that place is Iraq." We know from prior weapons inspections that Saddam has failed to account for vast quantities of biological and chemical agents, including mustard agent, botulinum toxin, and sarin, capable of killing millions of people. We know the Iraqi regime finances and sponsors terror. And we know the regime has plans to place innocent people around military installations to act as human shields. There is little reason to hope that Saddam Hussein will disarm. If force is required to disarm him, the American people can know that our Armed Forces have been given every tool and every resource to achieve victory. The people of Iraq can know that every effort will be made to spare innocent life and to help Iraq recover from three decades of totalitarian rule. And plans are in place to provide Iraqis with massive amounts of food, as well as medicine and other essential supplies, in the event of hostilities. Crucial days lie ahead for the free nations of the world. Governments are now showing whether their stated commitments to liberty and security are words alone or convictions they're prepared to act upon. And for the Government of the United States and the coalition we lead, there is no doubt We will confront a growing danger, to protect ourselves, to remove a patron and protector of terror, and to keep the peace of the world. Thank you for listening. March 14, 2003 Good morning. We have reached a hopeful moment for progress toward the vision of Middle Eastern peace that I outlined last June. I spoke of a day when two states, Israel and Palestine, will live side by side in peace and security. I called upon all parties in the Middle East to abandon old hatreds and to meet their responsibilities for peace. The Palestinian state must be a reformed and peaceful and democratic state that abandons forever the use of terror. The Government of Israel, as the terror threat is removed and security improves, must take concrete steps to support the emergence of a viable and credible Palestinian state and to work as quickly as possible toward a final status agreement. As progress is made toward peace, settlement activity in the occupied territories must end. And the Arab states must oppose terrorism, support the emergence of a peaceful and democratic Palestine, and state clearly that they will live in peace with Israel. This moment offers a new opportunity to meet these objectives. After its recent elections, the nation of Israel has a new Government. And the Palestinian Authority has created the new position of Prime Minister. Israeli and Palestinian leaders and other governments in the region now have a chance to move forward with determination and with good faith. To be a credible and responsible partner, the new Palestinian Prime Minister must hold a position of real authority. We expect that such a Palestinian Prime Minister will be confirmed soon. Immediately upon confirmation, the roadmap for peace will be given to the Palestinians and the Israelis. This roadmap will set forth a sequence of steps toward the goals I set out on June 24th, 2002, goals shared by all the parties. The United States has developed this plan over the last several months in close cooperation with Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations. Once this roadmap is delivered, we will expect and welcome contributions from Israel and the Palestinians to this document that will advance true peace. We will urge them to discuss the roadmap with one another. The time has come to move beyond entrenched positions and to take concrete actions to achieve peace. America is committed, and I am personally committed, to implementing our road map toward peace. Our efforts are guided by clear principles We believe that all people in the Middle East, Arab and Israeli alike, deserve to live in dignity under free and honest governments. We believe that people who live in freedom are more likely to reject bitterness, blind hatred, and terror, and are far more likely to turn their energy toward reconciliation, reform, and development. There can be no peace for either side in the Middle East unless there is freedom for both. Reaching that destination will not be easy, but we can see the way forward. Now the parties must take that way, step by step, and America will be the active partner of every party that seeks true peace. Thank you very much. March 13, 2003 Thank you very much, Taoiseach, and welcome back to the White House. Laura and I are honored you came and really glad you're here. On behalf of the American people, I thank you for the bowl of shamrocks and the good fortune they promise. This annual gift symbolizes the deep and enduring friendship between our two countries. The strong ties between Ireland and the United States reach back centuries. These strong ties have been affirmed at critical moments in our country's history. It is said that during the Revolutionary War, an Irish American woman, Lydia Darragh, provided valuable intelligence to George Washington's troops, helping prevent a planned British offensive. During the Civil War, the famed Irish Brigade fought valiantly on the Union side in terrible battles, some not far from where we stand. And throughout America's history, we have benefited from the industry and the talents and the ideals of millions of Ireland's sons and daughters. Today, our two countries share a deep commitment to building a world of peace and security and prosperity and freedom. We've stood together in Afghanistan, in Kosovo, in Bosnia, and beyond, to stop aggression and to alleviate suffering. Ireland is a valued member of the coalition against global terror. And we thank you, sir. The American people appreciate Ireland's work on U.N. Security Council to help secure passage of the Resolution 1441. That resolution demanded that Iraq disarm itself of all weapons of mass destruction. We appreciate Ireland's support for ensuring that the just demands of the world are enforced. The responsibilities of freedom are not always easy to bear, but Ireland and America are joined by a common commitment to freedom's defense against tyranny and terror. Our two countries also stand together in another cause, working to achieve lasting peace in Northern Ireland. Recent years have seen historic progress thanks to the tireless efforts of Prime Minister Ahern and Blair and many other people who long for peace. Now all parties can and must build on this progress so that the people of Northern Ireland can replace old resentments with new cooperation and new hope. America has long supported this vital work, and today that support endures and continues. We will help where we can. Saint Patrick's Day reminds us of the close ties of family and friendship between our countries, but everyday every day of the year, America is proud to call Ireland a friend. Taoiseach, may good fortune be yours, may your joys never end, may good luck be with you wherever you go, and your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow. Welcome. March 08, 2003 Good morning. This has been an important week on two fronts of our war against terror. First, American and Pakistani authorities captured the mastermind of the September the 11th attacks against our country, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. This is a landmark achievement in disrupting the Al Qaida network, and we believe it will help us prevent future acts of terror. We are currently working with over 90 countries and have dealt with over 3,000 terrorists who have been detained, arrested, or otherwise will not be a problem for the United States. Second, the chief United Nations weapons inspector reported yesterday to the Security Council on his efforts to verify Saddam Hussein's compliance with Resolution 1441. This resolution requires Iraq to fully and unconditionally disarm itself of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons materials, as well as the prohibited missiles that could be used to deliver them. Unfortunately, it is clear that Saddam Hussein is still violating the demands of the United Nations by refusing to disarm. Iraqi's dictator has made a public show of producing and destroying a few prohibited missiles. Yet, our intelligence shows that even as he is destroying these few missiles, he has ordered the continued production of the very same type of missiles. Iraqi operatives continue to play a shell game with inspectors, moving suspected prohibited materials to different locations every 12 to 24 hours. And Iraqi weapons scientists continue to be threatened with harm should they cooperate in interviews with U.N. inspectors. These are not the actions of a regime that is disarming. These are the actions of a regime engaged in a willful charade. If the Iraqi regime were disarming, we would know it because we would see it. Iraq's weapons would be presented to inspectors and destroyed. Inspection teams do not need more time or more personnel. All they need is what they have never received, the full cooperation of the Iraqi regime. The only acceptable outcome is the outcome already demanded by a unanimous vote of the Security Council, total disarmament. Saddam Hussein has a long history of reckless aggression and terrible crimes. He possesses weapons of terror. He provides funding and training and safe haven to terrorists who would willingly deliver weapons of mass destruction against America and other peace loving countries. The attacks of September the 11th, 2001, showed what the enemies of America did with four airplanes. We will not wait to see what terrorists or terror states could do with weapons of mass destruction. We are determined to confront threats wherever they arise. And as a last resort, we must be willing to use military force. We are doing everything we can to avoid war in Iraq. But if Saddam Hussein does not disarm peacefully, he will be disarmed by force. Across the world and in every part of America, people of good will are hoping and praying for peace. Our goal is peace for our own Nation, for our friends, for our allies, and for all the peoples of the Middle East. People of good will must also recognize that allowing a dangerous dictator to defy the world and build an arsenal for conquest and mass murder is not peace at all it is pretense. The cause of peace will be advanced only when the terrorists lose a wealthy patron and protector and when the dictator is fully and finally disarmed. Thank you for listening. March 06, 2003 The President. Good evening. I'm pleased to take your questions tonight and to discuss with the American people the serious matters facing our country and the world. This has been an important week on two fronts on our war against terror. First, thanks to the hard work of American and Pakistani officials, we captured the mastermind of the September the 11th attacks against our Nation. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed conceived and planned the hijackings and directed the actions of the hijackers. We believe his capture will further disrupt the terror network and their planning for additional attacks. Second, we have arrived at an important moment in confronting the threat posed to our Nation and to peace by Saddam Hussein and his weapons of terror. In New York tomorrow, the United Nations Security Council will receive an update from the chief weapons inspector. The world needs him to answer a single question Has the Iraqi regime fully and unconditionally disarmed, as required by Resolution 1441, or has it not? Iraq's dictator has made a public show of producing and destroying a few missiles missiles that violate the restrictions set out more than 10 years ago. Yet our intelligence shows that, even as he is destroying these few missiles, he has ordered the continued production of the very same type of missiles. Iraqi operatives continue to hide biological and chemical agents to avoid detection by inspectors. In some cases, these materials have been moved to different locations every 12 to 24 hours or placed in vehicles that are in residential neighborhoods. We know from multiple intelligence sources that Iraqi weapons scientists continue to be threatened with harm should they cooperate with U.N. inspectors. Scientists are required by Iraqi intelligence to wear concealed recording devices during interviews, and hotels where interviews take place are bugged by the regime. These are not the actions of a regime that is disarming. These are the actions of a regime engaged in a willful charade. These are the actions of a regime that systematically and deliberately is defying the world. If the Iraqi regime were disarming, we would know it because we would see it. Iraq's weapons would be presented to inspectors, and the world would witness their destruction. Instead, with the world demanding disarmament and more than 200,000 troops positioned near his country, Saddam Hussein's response is to produce a few weapons for show, while he hides the rest and builds even more. Inspection teams do not need more time or more personnel. All they need is what they have never received, the full cooperation of the Iraqi regime. Token gestures are not acceptable. The only acceptable outcome is the one already defined by a unanimous vote of the Security Council total disarmament. Great Britain, Spain, and the United States have introduced a new resolution stating that Iraq has failed to meet the requirements of Resolution 1441. Saddam Hussein is not disarming. This is a fact. It cannot be denied. Saddam Hussein has a long history of reckless aggression and terrible crimes. He possesses weapons of terror. He provides funding and training and safe haven to terrorists terrorists who would willingly use weapons of mass destruction against America and other peace loving countries. Saddam Hussein and his weapons are a direct threat to this country, to our people, and to all free people. If the world fails to confront the threat posed by the Iraqi regime, refusing to use force even as a last resort, free nations would assume immense and unacceptable risks. The attacks of September the 11th, 2001, showed what the enemies of America did with four airplanes. We will not wait to see what terrorists or terrorist states could do with weapons of mass destruction. We are determined to confront threats wherever they arise. I will not leave the American people at the mercy of the Iraqi dictator and his weapons. In the event of conflict, America also accepts our responsibility to protect innocent lives in every way possible. We'll bring food and medicine to the Iraqi people. We'll help that nation to build a just government, after decades of brutal dictatorship. The form and leadership of that government is for the Iraqi people to choose. Anything they choose will be better than the misery and torture and murder they have known under Saddam Hussein. Across the world and in every part of America, people of good will are hoping and praying for peace. Our goal is peace for our Nation, for our friends and allies, for the people of the Middle East. People of good will must also recognize that allowing a dangerous dictator to defy the world and harbor weapons of mass murder and terror is not peace at all. It is pretense. The cause of peace will be advanced only when the terrorists lose a wealthy patron and protector and when the dictator is fully and finally disarmed. Tonight I thank the men and women of our armed services and their families. I know their deployment so far from home is causing hardship for many military families. Our Nation is deeply grateful to all who serve in uniform. We appreciate your commitment, your idealism, and your sacrifice. We support you, and we know that if peace must be defended, you are ready. Ron Fournier Associated Press . United Nations and Iraqi Disarmament Q. Let me see if I can further if you could further define what you just called this important moment we're in, since you've made it clear just now that you don't think Saddam has disarmed, and we have a quarter million troops in the Persian Gulf, and now that you've called on the world to be ready to use force as a last resort. Are we just days away from the point of which you decide whether or not we go to war? And what harm would it do to give Saddam a final ultimatum, a 2 or 3 day deadline to disarm or face force? The President. Well, we're still in the final stages of diplomacy. I'm spending a lot of time on the phone, talking to fellow leaders about the need for the United Nations Security Council to state the facts, which is Saddam Hussein hasn't disarmed. Fourteen forty one, the Security Council resolution passed unanimously last fall, said clearly that Saddam Hussein has one last chance to disarm. He hasn't disarmed, and so we're working with Security Council members to resolve this issue at the Security Council. This is not only an important moment for the security of our Nation I believe it's an important moment for the Security Council, itself. And the reason I say that is because this issue has been before the Security Council the issue of disarmament of Iraq for 12 long years. And the fundamental question facing the Security Council is, will its words mean anything? When the Security Council speaks, will the words have merit and weight? I think it's important for those words to have merit and weight, because I understand that in order to win the war against terror there must be a united effort to do so. We must work together to defeat terror. Iraq is a part of the war on terror. Iraq is a country that has got terrorist ties. It's a country with wealth. It's a country that trains terrorists, a country that could arm terrorists. And our fellow Americans must understand, in this new war against terror, that we not only must chase down Al Qaida terrorists, we must deal with weapons of mass destruction as well. That's what the United Nations Security Council has been talking about for 12 long years. It's now time for this issue to come to a head at the Security Council, and it will. As far as ultimatums and all the speculation about what may or may not happen, after next week, we'll just wait and see. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Q. Are we days away? The President. Well, we're days away from resolving this issue at the Security Council. North Korea Q. Thank you. Another hot spot is North Korea. If North Korea restarts their plutonium plant, will that change your thinking about how to handle this crisis, or are you resigned to North Korea becoming a nuclear power? The President. This is a regional issue. I say a regional issue because there's a lot of countries that have got a direct stake into whether or not North Korea has nuclear weapons. We've got a stake as to whether North Korea has a nuclear weapon. China clearly has a stake as to whether or not North Korea has a nuclear weapon. South Korea, of course, has a stake. Japan has got a significant stake as to whether or not North Korea has a nuclear weapon. Russia has a stake. So therefore, I think the best way to deal with this is in multilateral fashion, by convincing those nations that they must stand up to their responsibility, along with the United States, to convince Kim Chong il that the development of a nuclear arsenal is not in his nation's interest and that should he want help in easing the suffering of the North Korean people, the best way to achieve that help is to not proceed forward. We've tried bilateral negotiations with North Korea. My predecessor, in a good faith effort, entered into a framework agreement. The United States honored its side of the agreement North Korea didn't. While we felt the agreement was in force, North Korea was enriching uranium. In my judgment, the best way to deal with North Korea is to convince parties to assume their responsibility. I was heartened by the fact that Jiang Zemin, when he came to Crawford, Texas, made it very clear to me, and publicly as well, that a nuclear weapons free peninsula was in China's interest. And so we're working with China and the other nations I mentioned to bring a multilateral pressure and to convince Kim Chong il that the development of a nuclear arsenal is not in his interests. Dick Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . Iraqi Disarmament War on Terror Q. Mr. President, you have, and your top advisers, notably Secretary of State Powell, have repeatedly said that we have shared with our allies all the current, up to date intelligence information that proves the imminence of the threat we face from Saddam Hussein and that they have been sharing their intelligence with us as well. If all these nations, all of them our normal allies, have access to the same intelligence information, why is it that they are reluctant to think that the threat is so real, so imminent that we need to move to the brink of war now? And in relation to that, today, the British Foreign Minister, Jack Straw, suggested at the U.N. that it might be time to look at amending the resolution, perhaps with an eye towards a timetable like that proposed by the Canadians some 2 weeks ago, that would set a firm deadline to give Saddam Hussein a little bit of time to come clean. And also, obviously, that would give you a little bit of a chance to build more support within the members of the Security Council. Is that something that the governments should be pursuing at the U.N. right now? The President. We, of course, are consulting with our allies at the United Nations. But I meant what I said This is the last phase of diplomacy. A little bit more time? Saddam Hussein has had 12 years to disarm. He is deceiving people. That's what's important for our fellow citizens to realize, that if he really intended to disarm, like the world has asked him to do, we would know whether he was disarming. He's trying to buy time. I can understand why. He's been successful with these tactics for 12 years. Saddam Hussein is a threat to our Nation. September the 11th changed the strategic thinking, at least as far as I was concerned, for how to protect our country. My job is to protect the American people. It used to be that we could think that you could contain a person like Saddam Hussein, that oceans would protect us from his type of terror. September the 11th should say to the American people that we're now a battlefield, that weapons of mass destruction in the hands of a terrorist organization could be deployed here at home. So therefore, I think the threat is real, and so do a lot of other people in my Government. And since I believe the threat is real, and since my most important job is to protect the security of the American people, that's precisely what we'll do. Our demands are that Saddam Hussein disarm. We hope he does. We have worked with the international community to convince him to disarm. If he doesn't disarm, we'll disarm him. You asked about sharing of intelligence, and I appreciate that, because we do share a lot of intelligence with nations which may or may not agree with us in the Security Council as to how to deal with Saddam Hussein and his threats. We have got roughly 90 countries engaged in Operation Enduring Freedom, chasing down the terrorists. We do communicate a lot, and we will continue to communicate a lot. We must communicate. We must share intelligence. We must share we must cut off money together. We must smoke these Al Qaida types out one at a time. It's in our national interest as well that we deal with Saddam Hussein. But America is not alone in this sentiment. There are a lot of countries who fully understand the threat of Saddam Hussein, a lot of countries realize that the credibility of the Security Council is at stake, a lot of countries, like America, who hope that he would have disarmed, and a lot of countries which realize that it may require force may require force to disarm him. Jim Angle FOX News . Antiwar Demonstrations Iraqi Disarmament Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Sir, if you haven't already made the choice to go to war, can you tell us what you are waiting to hear or see before you do make that decision? And if I may, during the recent demonstrations, many of the protesters suggested that the U.S. was a threat to peace, which prompted you to wonder out loud why they didn't see Saddam Hussein as a threat to peace. I wonder why you think so many people around the world take a different view of the threat that Saddam Hussein poses than you and your allies? The President. Well, first, I I appreciate societies in which people can express their opinion. That society free speech stands in stark contrast to Iraq. Secondly, I've seen all kinds of protests since I've been the President. I remember the protests against trade. A lot of people didn't feel like free trade was good for the world. I completely disagree. I think free trade is good for both wealthy and impoverished nations. But that didn't change my opinion about trade. As a matter of fact, I went to the Congress to get trade promotion authority out. I recognize there are people who don't like war. I don't like war. I wish that Saddam Hussein had listened to the demands of the world and disarmed. That was my hope. That's why I first went to the United Nations to begin with, on September the 12th, 2002, to address this issue as forthrightly as I knew how. That's why, months later, we went to the Security Council to get another resolution, called 1441, which was unanimously approved by the Security Council, demanding that Saddam Hussein disarm. I'm hopeful that he does disarm. But in the name of peace and the security of our people, if he won't do so voluntarily, we will disarm him. And other nations will join him join us in disarming him. And that creates a certain sense of anxiety. I understand that. Nobody likes war. The only thing I can do is assure the loved ones of those who wear our uniform that if we have to go to war, if war is upon us because Saddam Hussein has made that choice, we will have the best equipment available for our troops, the best plan available for victory, and we will respect innocent life in Iraq. The risk of doing nothing, the risk of hoping that Saddam Hussein changes his mind and becomes a gentle soul, the risk that somehow that inaction will make the world safer, is a risk I'm not willing to take for the American people. We'll be there in a minute. King, John King Cable News Network . This is a scripted laughter Q. Thank you, Mr. President. How would sir, how would you answer your critics who say that they think this is somehow personal? As Senator Kennedy put it tonight, he said your fixation with Saddam Hussein is making the world a more dangerous place. And as you prepare the American people for the possibility of military conflict, could you share with us any of the scenarios your advisers have shared with you about worst case scenarios, in terms of the potential cost of American lives, the potential cost to the American economy, and the potential risks of retaliatory terrorist strikes here at home? The President. My job is to protect America, and that's exactly what I'm going to do. People can ascribe all kinds of intentions. I swore to protect and defend the Constitution. That's what I swore to do. I put my hand on the Bible and took that oath, and that's exactly what I am going to do. I believe Saddam Hussein is a threat to the American people. I believe he's a threat to the neighborhood in which he lives, and I've got a good evidence to believe that. He has weapons of mass destruction, and he has used weapons of mass destruction in his neighborhood and on his own people. He's invaded countries in his neighborhood. He tortures his own people. He's a murderer. He has trained and financed Al Qaida type organizations before, Al Qaida and other terrorist organizations. I take the threat seriously, and I'll deal with the threat. I hope it can be done peacefully. The rest of your six point question? Price of Inaction Q. The potential price in terms of lives and the economy, terrorism. The President. Oh, yes. The price of doing nothing exceeds the price of taking action if we have to. We'll do everything we can to minimize the loss of life. The price of the attacks on America, the cost of the attacks on America on September the 11th were enormous. They were significant, and I am not willing to take that chance again, John. Terry Moran ABC News . International Reaction Stakes of Iraq Policy Q. Thank you, sir. May I follow up on Jim Angle's question? In the past several weeks, your policy on Iraq has generated opposition from the governments of France, Russia, China, Germany, Turkey, the Arab League, and many other countries opened a rift at NATO and at the U.N. and drawn millions of ordinary citizens around the world into the streets in antiwar protests. May I ask, what went wrong that so many governments and peoples around the world now not only disagree with you very strongly but see the U.S. under your leadership as an arrogant power? The President. I think if you remember back prior to the resolution coming out of the United Nations last fall, I suspect you might have asked a question along those lines How come you can't get anybody to support your resolution? If I remember correctly, there was a lot of doubt as to whether or not we were even going to get any votes, much well, we'd get our own, of course. The vote came out 15 to nothing, Terry. And I think you'll see when it's all said and done, if we have to use force, a lot of nations will be with us. You clearly named some that France and Germany expressed their opinions. We have a disagreement over how best to deal with Saddam Hussein. I understand that. Having said that, they're still our friends, and we will deal with them as friends. We've got a lot of common interests. Our transatlantic relationships are very important. While they may disagree with how we deal with Saddam Hussein and his weapons of mass destruction, there's no disagreement when it came time to vote on 1441, at least as far as France was concerned. They joined us. They said Saddam Hussein has one last chance of disarming. If they think more time will cause him to disarm, I disagree with that. He's a master at deception. He has no intention of disarming. Otherwise, we would have known. There's a lot of talk about inspectors. It really would have taken a handful of inspectors to determine whether he was disarming. They could have showed up at a parking lot and he could have brought his weapons and destroyed them. That's not what he chose to do. Secondly, I make my decisions based upon the oath I took, the one I just described to you. I believe Saddam Hussein is a threat is a threat to the American people. He's a threat to people in his neighborhood. He's also a threat to the Iraqi people. One of the things we love in America is freedom. If I may, I'd like to remind you what I said at the State of the Union Liberty is not America's gift to the world it is God's gift to each and every person. And that's what I believe. I believe that when we see totalitarianism, that we must deal with it. We don't have to do it always militarily, but this is a unique circumstance, because of 12 years of denial and defiance, because of terrorist connections, because of past history. I'm convinced that a liberated Iraq will be important for that troubled part of the world. The Iraqi people are plenty capable of governing themselves. Iraq is a sophisticated society. Iraq's got money. Iraq will provide a place where people can see that the Shi'a and the Sunni and the Kurds can get along in a federation. Iraq will serve as a catalyst for change, positive change. So there's a lot more at stake than just American security and the security of people close by Saddam Hussein. Freedom is at stake as well, and I take that very seriously. Gregory David Gregory, NBC News . Regime Change in Iraq Q. Mr. President, good evening. If you order war, can any military operation be considered a success if the United States does not capture Saddam Hussein, as you once said, dead or alive? The President. Well, I hope we don't have to go to war, but if we go to war, we will disarm Iraq. And if we go to war, there will be a regime change. And replacing this cancer inside of Iraq will be a Government that represents the rights of all the people, a Government which represents the voices of the Shi'a and Sunni and the Kurds. We care about the suffering of the Iraqi people. I mentioned in my opening comments that there's a lot of food ready to go in. There's something like 55,000 oil for food distribution points in Iraq. We know where they are. We fully intend to make sure that they're got ample food. We know where their hospitals are we want to make sure they've got ample medical supplies. The life of the Iraqi citizen is going to dramatically improve. Q. Sir, I'm sorry, is success contingent upon capturing or killing Saddam Hussein, in your mind? The President. We will be changing the regime of Iraq, for the good of the Iraqi people. Bill Plante CBS News . Public Support Nature of Iraqi Threat Q. Mr. President, to a lot of people, it seems that war is probably inevitable, because many people doubt most people, I would guess that Saddam Hussein will ever do what we are demanding that he do, which is disarm. And if war is inevitable, there are a lot of people in this country as much as half, by polling stand ards who agree that he should be disarmed, who listen to you say that you have the evidence but who feel they haven't seen it, and who still wonder why blood has to be shed if he hasn't attacked us. The President. Well, Bill, if they believe he should be disarmed, and he's not going to disarm, there's only one way to disarm him. And that happens to be my last choice, the use of force. Secondly, the American people know that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction. By the way, he declared he didn't have any 1441 insisted that he have a complete declaration of his weapons he said he didn't have any weapons. Secondly, he's used these weapons before. I mean, this is we're not speculating about the nature of the man. We know the nature of the man. Colin Powell, in an eloquent address to the United Nations, described some of the information we were at liberty of talking about. He mentioned a man named Al Zarqawi, who was in charge of the poison network. He's a man who was wounded in Afghanistan, received aid in Baghdad, ordered the killing of a U.S. citizen, USAID employee, was harbored in Iraq. There is a poison plant in northeast Iraq. To assume that Saddam Hussein knew none of this was going on is not to really understand the nature of the Iraqi society. There's a lot of facts which make it clear to me and many others that Saddam is a threat. And we're not going to wait until he does attack. We're not going to hope that he changes his attitude. We're not going to assume that he's a different kind of person than he has been. So, in the name of security and peace, if we have to if we have to we'll disarm him. I hope he disarms. Or perhaps, I hope he leaves the country. I hear a lot of talk from different nations around where Saddam Hussein might be exiled. That would be fine with me, just so long as Iraq disarms after he's exiled. Let's see here. Elisabeth Elisabeth Bumiller, New York Times . U.N. Security Council Resolution on Iraq Q. Thank you, Mr. President. As you said, the Security Council faces a vote next week on a resolution implicitly authorizing an attack on Iraq. Will you call for a vote on that resolution, even if you aren't sure you have the vote? The President. Yes. Well, first, I don't think it basically says that he's in defiance of 1441. That's what the resolution says, and it's hard to believe anybody is saying he isn't in defiance of 1441, because 1441 said he must disarm. And yes, we'll call for a vote. Q. No matter what? The President. No matter what the whip count is, we're calling for the vote. We want to see people stand up and say what their opinion is about Saddam Hussein and the utility of the United Nations Security Council. And so, you bet. It's time for people to show their cards, to let the world know where they stand when it comes to Saddam. Mark Knoller CBS Radio . United Nations Military Action Against Iraq Q. Mr. President, are you worried that the United States might be viewed as defiant of the United Nations if you went ahead with military action without specific and explicit authorization from the U.N.? The President. No, I'm not worried about that. As a matter of fact, it's hard to say the United States is defiant about the United Nations, when I was the person that took the issue to the United Nations, September the 12th, 2002. We've been working with the United Nations. We've been working through the United Nations. Secondly, I'm confident the American people understand that when it comes to our security, if we need to act, we will act, and we really don't need United Nations approval to do so. I want to work I want the United Nations to be effective. It's important for it to be a robust, capable body. It's important for its words to mean what they say. And as we head into the 21st century, Mark, when it comes to our security, we really don't need anybody's permission. Bill Bill Sammon, Washington Times . Turkey U.S. Relations Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Even though our military can certainly prevail without a northern front, isn't Turkey making it at least slightly more challenging for us and, therefore, at least slightly more likely that American lives will be lost? And if they don't reverse course, would you stop backing their entry into the European Union? The President. The answer to your second question is, I support Turkey going into the E.U. Turkey's a friend. They're a NATO Ally. We will continue to work with Turkey. We've got contingencies in place that, should our troops not come through Turkey not be allowed to come through Turkey. And no, that won't cause any more hardship for our troops. I'm confident of that. April April Ryan, American Urban Radio Networks . Did you have a question, or did I call upon you cold? Q. I have a question. Laughter The President. Okay. I'm sure you do have a question. Lessons of September 11 President's Faith Q. Mr. President, as the Nation is at odds over war, with many organizations like the Congressional Black Caucus pushing for continued diplomacy through the U.N., how is your faith guiding you? And what should you tell America well, what should America do, collectively, as you instructed before 9 11? Should it be "pray," because you're saying, let's continue the war on terror. The President. I appreciate that question a lot. First, for those who urge more diplomacy, I would simply say that diplomacy hasn't worked. We've tried diplomacy for 12 years. Saddam Hussein hasn't disarmed he's armed. And we live in a dangerous world. We live in new circumstances in our country. And I hope people remember the I know they remember the tragedy of September the 11th, but I hope they understand the lesson of September the 11th. The lesson is, is that we're vulnerable to attack, wherever it may occur, and we must take threats which gather overseas very seriously. We don't have to deal with them all militarily. But we must deal with them, and in the case of Iraq, it is now time for him to disarm. For the sake of peace, if we have to use our troops, we will. My faith sustains me because I pray daily. I pray for guidance and wisdom and strength. If we were to commit our troops if we were to commit our troops I would pray for their safety, and I would pray for the safety of innocent Iraqi lives as well. One thing that's really great about our country, April, is there are thousands of people who pray for me who I'll never see and be able to thank. But it's a humbling experience to think that people I will never have met have lifted me and my family up in prayer. And for that I'm grateful. That's it's been it's been a comforting feeling to know that it's true. I pray for peace, April. I pray for peace. Hutch Ron Hutcheson, Knight Ridder . Military Action Against Iraq Q. Thank you, Mr. President. As you know, not everyone shares your optimistic vision of how this might play out. Do you ever worry, maybe in the wee, small hours, that you might be wrong, and they might be right in thinking that this could lead to more terrorism, more anti American sentiment, more instability in the Middle East? The President. Hutch, I think, first of all, it's hard to envision more terror on America than September the 11th, 2001. We did nothing to provoke that terrorist attack. It came upon us because there's an enemy which hates America. They hate what we stand for. We love freedom, and we're not changing. And therefore, so long as there's a terrorist network like Al Qaida and others willing to fund them, finance them, equip them, we're at war. And so I you know, obviously, I've thought long and hard about the use of troops. I think about it all the time. It is my responsibility to commit the troops. I believe we'll prevail. I know we'll prevail. And out of that disarmament of Saddam will come a better world, particularly for the people who live in Iraq. This is a society, Ron, who which has been decimated by his murderous ways, his torture. He doesn't allow dissent. He doesn't believe in the values we believe in. I believe this society, the Iraqi society, can develop in a much better way. I think of the risks, calculated the cost of inaction versus the cost of action. And I'm firmly convinced, if we have to, we will act, in the name of peace and in the name of freedom. Ann Ann Compton, ABC News . Q. Mr. President, if you decide to go ahead with military action, there are inspectors on the ground in Baghdad. Will you give them time to leave the country, or the humanitarian workers on the ground or the journalists? Will you be able to do that and still mount an effective attack on Iraq? The President. Of course. We will give people a chance to leave. And we don't want anybody in harm's way who shouldn't be in harm's way. The journalists who are there should leave. If you're going, and we start action, leave. The inspectors we don't want people in harm's way. And our intention we have no quarrel with anybody other than Saddam and his group of killers who have destroyed a society. And we will do everything we can, as I mentioned and I mean this to protect innocent life. I've not made up our mind about military action. Hopefully, this can be done peacefully. Hopefully, that as a result of the pressure that we have placed and others have placed that Saddam will disarm and or leave the country. Ed Ed Chen, Los Angeles Times . Q. Mr. President, good evening. Sir, you've talked a lot about trusting the American people when it comes to making decisions about their own lives, about how to spend their own money. When it comes to the financial costs of the war, sir, it would seem that the administration, surely, has costed out various scenarios. If that's the case, why not present some of them to the American people so they know what to expect, sir? The President. Ed, we will. We'll present it in the form of a supplemental to the spenders. We don't get to spend the money, as you know. We have to request the expenditure of money from the Congress, and at the appropriate time, we'll request a supplemental. We're obviously analyzing all aspects. We hope we don't go to war, but if we should, we will present a supplemental. But I want to remind you what I said before. There is a huge cost when we get attacked. There was a significant cost to our society. First of all, there was the cost of lives. It's an immeasurable cost. Three thousand people died. A significant cost to our economy opportunity loss is an immeasurable cost, besides the cost of repairing buildings and costs to our airlines. And so the cost of an attack is significant. If I thought we were safe from attack, I would be thinking differently. But I see a gathering threat. I mean, this is a true, real threat to America. And therefore, we will deal with it. And at the appropriate time, Ed, we will ask for a supplemental. And that will be the moment where you and others will be able to recognize what we think the dollar cost of a conflict will be. You know, the benefits of such a effort, if, in fact, we go forward and are successful, are also immeasurable. How do you measure the benefit of freedom in Iraq? I guess if you're an Iraqi citizen, you can measure it by being able to express your mind and vote. How do you measure the consequence of taking a dictator out of power who has tried to invade Kuwait or somebody who may some day decide to lob a weapon of mass destruction on Israel? How would you weigh the cost of that? Those are immeasurable costs. And I weigh those very seriously, Ed. In terms of the dollar amount, well, we'll let you know here pretty soon. George Condon Copley News Service . North Korea Q. Thank you, Mr. President. If I can follow on Steve's question on North Korea. Do you believe it is essential for the security of the United States and its allies that North Korea be prevented from developing nuclear weapons? And are you in any way growing frustrated with the pace of the diplomacy there? The President. Well, I think it's yes, I think it's an issue. Obviously, I'm concerned about North Korea developing nuclear weapons, not only for their own use but for perhaps they might choose to proliferate them, sell them. They may end up in the hands of dictators, people who are not afraid of using weapons of mass destruction, people who try to impose their will on the world or blackmail free nations. I'm concerned about it. We are working hard to bring a diplomatic solution. And we've made some progress. After all, the IAEA asked that the Security Council take up the North Korean issue. It's now in the Security Council constantly talking with the Chinese and the Russians and the Japanese and the South Koreans. Colin Powell just went overseas and spent some time in China, went to the inauguration of President Roh in South Korea, spent time in China. We're working the issue hard, and I'm optimistic that we'll come up with a diplomatic solution. I certainly hope so. Bob Bob Deans, Cox Newspapers . Military Action Against Iraq Q. Thank you, sir. Mr. President, millions of Americans can recall a time when leaders from both parties set this country on a mission of regime change in Vietnam. Fifty thousand Americans died. The regime is still there in Hanoi, and it hasn't harmed or threatened a single American in the 30 years since the war ended. What can you say tonight, sir, to the sons and the daughters of the Americans who served in Vietnam to assure them that you will not lead this country down a similar path in Iraq? The President. That's a great question. Our mission is clear in Iraq. Should we have to go in, our mission is very clear disarmament. In order to disarm, it will mean regime change. I'm confident we'll be able to achieve that objective in a way that minimizes the loss of life. No doubt there's risks in any military operation I know that. But it's very clear what we intend to do. And our mission won't change. Our mission is precisely what I just stated. We have got a plan that will achieve that mission, should we need to send forces in. Last question. Let's see who needs one. Jeanne Jeanne Cummings, Wall Street Journal . U.N. Security Council Resolution on Iraq Q. Thank you, Mr. President. In the coming days, the American people are going to hear a lot of debate about this British proposal of a possible deadline being added to the resolution, or not. And I know you don't want to tip your hand this is a great diplomatic moment but from the administration's perspective and your own perspective, can you share for the American public what you view as the pros and cons associated with that proposal? The President. You're right, I'm not going to tip my hand. Laughter Q. But can you help us sort out the The President. Thank you for thank you. Anything that's debated must have resolution to this issue. It makes no sense to allow this issue to continue on and on in the hopes that Saddam Hussein disarms. The whole purpose of the debate is for Saddam to disarm. We gave him a chance. As a matter of fact, we gave him 12 years of chances. But recently we gave him a chance, starting last fall. And it said, last chance to disarm. The resolution said that. And had he chosen to do so, it'd would be evident that he's disarmed. So more time, more inspectors, more process, in our judgment, is not going to affect the peace of the world. So whatever is resolved is going to have some finality to it, so that Saddam Hussein will take us seriously. I want to remind you that it's his choice to make as to whether or not we go to war. It's Saddam's choice. He's the person that can make the choice of war and peace. Thus far, he's made the wrong choice. If we have to, for the sake of the security of the American people, for the sake of peace in the world, and for freedom to the Iraqi people, we will disarm Saddam Hussein. And by "we," it's more than America. A lot of nations will join us. Thank you for your questions. Good night. March 04, 2003 Thanks for such a warm welcome. I appreciate the invitation. I'm honored to be with so many of our Nation's fine physicians and their loved ones. You've come to our Capital when this Government faces many critical issues. You're here at an historic time. We have got a lot of responsibilities here in Washington. We have the responsibility to defend the American people against the threats of a new era. We have a responsibility to win the first war of the 21st century, and we're working hard to win that war. Over the weekend, American and Pakistani authorities struck a serious blow to Al Qaida by arresting Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the top operational planner, the top killer of the Al Qaida network. The man who masterminded the September the 11th attacks is no longer a problem to the United States of America. It's a different kind of war than we're used to in America. It's a war that requires patience and focus. It's a war in which we will hunt down those who hate America, one person at a time. The terrorists are learning there is no place safe for them in this world. They're discovering that justice can arrive by different means, at any hour of the day or night. They're discovering the meaning of American resolve, our deep desire to defend our freedom and to keep the peace. It is important for our fellow citizens to recognize life changed on September the 11th, 2001. Obviously, it changed in a tragic way for those who lost loved ones as a result of the coldblooded attacks on our people. But we learned a harsh lesson, and that is, oceans can no longer protect us from those who hate America and what we stand for. And therefore, it's important for the United States to take every threat which may gather overseas seriously, that we can no longer pick or choose whether a threat requires our involvement. If wesee gathering threats which can harm the American people, we must deal with them. We're dealing with Iraq because the dictator of Iraq has got weapons of mass destruction. He's used weapons of mass destruction on his own people. He can't stand America. He can't stand our friends. He can't stand our allies. He's got connections to terrorist networks. The first war of the 21st century requires the United States to work with international bodies to deal with these threats, and we will continue to do so. I went to the United Nations to remind them that that body has a responsibility to make sure its words means something. I reminded them that for 12 long years the United Nations has asked Saddam to disarm because he's dangerous. We went and got another resolution almost 4 months ago, unanimously approved by the Security Council, which said clearly, "Saddam, you must disarm." The choice is Saddam Hussein's to make. It is his choice to determine whether there's war or peace. It is his choice to decide whether to listen to the demands of the free world. But no matter what his choice may be, for the sake of peace, for the sake of freedom, for the sake of security of our people, Saddam Hussein will be disarmed. We have a responsibility to create jobs and increase the momentum of our economy. The role of Government is not to create wealth but an environment in which the entrepreneurial spirit of America can flourish. That's why I'm working with Congress to accelerate tax relief which they've already passed, to get rid of the double taxation of dividends, to encourage investment. The more money people have in their pockets, the more likely it is they'll demand a good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service, in the marketplace somebody will provide that good or a service. And when they do, somebody in America is more likely to find work. And today I've come to discuss another responsibility, which is to improve the health care in America. Our vision, our goal is a system in which all Americans have got a good insurance policy, in which all Americans can choose their own doctor, in which seniors and low income citizens receive the help they need, in which the system is one in which the patient doctor relationship is the center of good medical care. This vision stands in stark contrast to the Government run health care ideas, the ideas in which the Federal Government decides care, the Federal Government rations care, the Federal Government dictates coverage, a vision which, in my judgment, will stifle innovation, stifle quality, and run up the costs on the patients of America. We have a lot of work to do on this important issue, but I believe the job can get done. That's why I've advanced this agenda. Speaker of the House Denny Hastert is committed to working toward positive reforms. In the United States Senate, there's a new majority leader. He knows a few things about doctors and patients and their relationships. I'm here to ask for your help and let you know that we're going to seize the moment and work with people in both parties to achieve meaningful reform that meets the vision that will make health care positive and optimistic and hopeful for all our citizens. And so, I want to thank you for letting me come. I appreciate Yank Coble. They told me a guy from Jacksonville, Florida, named Yank was going to introduce me. Laughter I asked him, "Why Yank?" He said he didn't have enough time to explain it. Laughter I'm honored that Tommy Thompson is here. Tommy's doing a fine job. Today we've got a Member of Congress with us from the State of Pennsylvania, and that's Congressman Jim Greenwood. I'm honored you're here, Jim. I appreciate your dogged determination to pass medical liability reform. I want to thank Mike Maves and Ed Hill, all the members of the American Medical Association Board of Trustees, and thank you all for coming. Americans are proud of their doctors and proud of their nurses, proud of the medical professionals in our country. Our Nation has the finest medical professionals in the world. You are more than members of a profession you are each living out a great calling. You show your concern for patients through years of training and lifetimes of commitment to the well being of others. I appreciate the work you do. And I want to thank you for your skill, your talent, and your compassion. America has the best health care system in the world. We have outstanding medical schools, great hospitals, brilliant researchers. We're on the leading edge of new technologies. We're closing in on cures to some of the most feared diseases of mankind. I'm optimistic about our future. That's why I worked with Congress to make sure that the National Institutes of Health received record level amounts of funding, so that we can be on the leading edge of change, so that we can deal with problems that years ago seemed insurmountable, so that people can live better lives. Yet amidst the optimism, it's important for us to recognize there are serious challenges that we have in health care, and we must confront them now and not wait. Too many of our citizens go without health care. I propose refundable tax credits to help low income people purchase their own health insurance. Too many of our citizens use expensive emergency rooms as their main source of health care because they have no other options. We need to make sure those folks have preventative care and treatment before they go to the emergency room. And that's why I proposed and Congress passed increased funding for community and migrant health centers all across the country. The cost of health care is rising at the fastest rate in more than a decade. There are reasons why there are rising costs. Research is costly. New technologies are expensive, and they're worth the expense. When you save lives with technologies, it's worth the expense. But other rising costs are unnecessary. And the problem doesn't start in the waiting room or in the operating room. It starts in the courtroom. We have a problem in America. There are too many frivolous lawsuits against good doctors, and the patients are paying the price. Even the most frivolous of lawsuits can be expensive. A doctor and his or her insurance company must spend money to fight the frivolous lawsuit or, in many cases, settle it to get rid of it. Either way, premiums go up. Either way, the patient pays. When liability premiums get too expensive, some docs stop seeing patients. If one of the goals of a good health care system is for it to be affordable and accessible, and if lawsuits are running up the cost of medicine and or driving docs out of business because the practicing of medicine is too expensive, we've got to do something about it. We've got to make sure that the stories I hear about are remedied with good law. I was in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and met Debra DeAngelo, a fine lady. She's got a great safety record in her pain management clinic. She loved living in Scranton because that's where she was raised. She wanted to practice her talents with the people with whom she was raised. Her liability insurance became so expensive that she couldn't practice medicine in Scranton, Pennsylvania, anymore, and she shut down her clinic, which employed 10 and served 2,000 patients. In describing her story, she was heartbroken that she couldn't practice where she wanted to practice. She wasn't heartbroken for herself she was heartbroken for the patients for whom she had great concern and great care. She and her family moved to Hershey, where she's working for a hospital which is covering her insurance needs. Scranton, Pennsylvania, lost a fine person because liability insurance drove her out of town. No good doctor should be forced to leave a community they know and serve simply because of the costs of insurance. Many doctors serve their fellow humans in some of the most compassionate ways. I went down to Mississippi, met a man who had moved to Mississippi to provide health care for some of our most neediest citizens, health care in the Delta region of Mississippi, part of our country where we need docs people need help. And he told me about what it was like to try to practice medicine in a compassionate way. He had heard a calling, and he went to serve his fellow humans. But liability insurance drove this Good Samaritan out of the State. He's now, I think, practicing up in North Dakota or Minnesota. There are some people who hurt who are lucky to have this good doctor in their midst. There's a story about the lady and this happens all the time in Nevada named Ruth Valentine. She's pregnant. She called more than 50 local doctors, and she couldn't find anybody in Nevada to serve her. So she went to Utah, where she's staying with friends until she has her baby. No family in America should face this kind of stress or worry during one of life's most vulnerable moments. These are just a handful of the stories, which are true and real and happening all across our country. Twenty percent of the hospitals in America have had to cut down on certain services, delivering babies or neurosurgery or orthopedic surgery, because a handful of lawyers have targeted these procedures for frivolous lawsuits. At the same time, doctors in hospitals are overusing certain tests and treatments as defensive measures to avoid litigation. A recent survey of doctors showed the extent of defensive medicine in America. Eight out of ten doctors say they have ordered more tests then they need to. Three of four refer patients to specialists more often than they believe is medically necessary. Four out of ten prescribe antibiotics more often then they think is needed. All of this defensive medicine is rising costs for patients, for States, and for the Federal Government. The direct cost of liability insurance and the indirect cost from defensive medicine raise the Federal Government's health care costs by more than 28 billion a year. When the Federal Government gets hit by higher medical costs, the taxpayers foot the bill. This is a national problem something which affects our budget so significantly requires a national solution. We want our legal system to work for our patients. We want people to have a day in court. Anyone who is harmed at the hands of a doctor should have a hearing. That's what we want for the justice system. They should be able to recover the full cost of their care and other economic losses. If harmed by a doc, they ought to be able to recover their economic costs, economic losses. They should be able to recover noneconomic damages as well. But for the sake of the system, noneconomic damages should be capped at 250,000. If harm is caused by serious misconduct, patients should also be able to seek reasonable punitive damages. Without fair and reasonable limits, the legal system looks more and more like a lottery. And with the trial lawyers getting as much as 40 percent of the awards and settlements, it's pretty clear who's holding the winning ticket. American courts should not be serving the self interest of personal injury lawyers they should be serving the cause of justice and the needs of Americans' patients. Last year, thanks to Jim Greenwood and other Members of Congress, the House of Representatives passed good medical liability reforms, but the Senate failed to act. Since then, the problem has only gotten worse. We need to pass medical liability reform through both Houses. You need to contact your Senators. It doesn't matter what political party they're in you need to contact them. You need to explain the problem in clear terms. I want to sign good medical liability reform this year. Our legal system must address medical errors as well. One of the best ways to serve patients is to avoid errors and prevent complications before they become injuries. Doctors and hospitals are constantly looking for ways to improve patient safety. Patient safety is improved when doctors and nurses exchange information about problems and solutions. Yet, in the litigious society in which we live, many doctors are afraid to discuss these efforts openly because they're afraid of getting sued. Doctors don't want to put anything on paper to improve health care quality because it might be given to a lawyer who is fishing around for a lawsuit. I'm going to ask Congress to pass a law to make sure that information developed for the safety and care of patients is not used by lawyers against doctors and hospitals. Patient safety also improves when doctors can have access to health records without delay. When a patient has a medical emergency far from home, the attending physician should have quick access to that person's medical records. Yet the health care industry, while progressing in many areas, has lagged in information technology. Right now, as you all know better than most, health care records are kept in different formats believe it or not, a lot of times on paper laughter in files laughter that can get lost. Laughter In the budget for next year I propose an increase of 53 percent for funding to help hospitals use information technology to keep better records, to share that information with doctors so we can continue to improve patient safety. Tommy Thompson and his Department are leading the way, and they're making good use of information technology. For example, they're using information technology for an online comparative guide to nursing homes. It's a good use of the Internet. It's a good way to speak directly to the consumers of America. Families are now able to compare nursing homes to one another. That makes sense. There's nothing like enhancing quality by holding people to account. They're able to compare on measures such as infection rates or how well patients are progressing in getting on their feet. It's the practical way to use the information technology. And that's important, particularly for nursing homes, because our Nation has accepted a special responsibility for the health of senior citizens, to make sure that the years of retirement are not years of hardship, needless hardship. Our Medicare system is a binding commitment of a caring society. We must renew that commitment by providing the seniors of today and tomorrow with preventative care and the new medicines that are transforming health care in our country. When President Lyndon Johnson signed Medicare into law 38 years ago, he promised a system that would bring the healing miracle of modern medicine to senior citizens. In 1965, modern medicine almost always meant physician care inside a hospital. Now modern medicine offers much more drug therapies, new medical devices, disease screening, and preventative care. All seniors and disabled citizens on Medicare should have access to these advantages. They do not. Compared to people with private health plans, Medicare patients have limited choices. Medicare will pay a doctor to perform a heart bypass operation but will not pay for drugs that could prevent the need for surgery. Medicare will pay for an amputation but not for the insulin that could help diabetes patients avoid losing their limbs. Medicare will pay for chemotherapy and cancer surgery, but after private insurers made annual mammograms a standard benefit, it took 10 years for Medicare to do the same and then only because the United States Congress passed a law. Seniors should not have to wait for an act of Congress to get effective, modern health care. Medicare does not protect our seniors from overwhelming hospital bills. If you have to go to a hospital, Medicare charges you an 840 deductible. After 2 months, you are charged 210 a day. After 3 months, Medicare charges 420 a day. And after 5 months, Medicare leaves you with the whole bill. By comparison, a standard plan for Members of the United States Congress and other Federal employees charges a copayment of 100 when you enter the hospital and not a dollar more, no matter how long you have to stay. Medicare is supposed to protect the savings of our seniors. In many cases, it doesn't. I recently went out to Grand Rapids, Michigan, and met Pat Wahl. She suffers from rheumatoid arthritis. That requires expensive medicine. She lost her husband in the year 2000. She lost his health coverage. She had to depend entirely on Medicare. Soon her medical bills began to exceed her income, and she was forced to sell her house. This is an incredibly sad story, when you think about it certainly sad listening to Pat in Grand Rapids. They're unnecessary stories. We can and we must improve Medicare and protect our seniors from runaway health care costs. Medicare reform is a large and complicated task. People have strong opinions on this matter, and we will need broad cooperation to move forward. We're working closely I say "we" my administration and Tommy and members of my staff and members of his staff are working closely with good and serious minded leaders in both Houses, leaders such as Senators Frist and Grassley and Breaux, Speaker Hastert, and Congressmen Thomas and Tauzin. We share a basic commitment to get something done, and we share a commitment to these goals of reform. A modern Medicare system must offer more choices and better benefits to every senior all seniors. All seniors should have help in buying prescription drugs. Those who can least afford them should have extra help. Seniors should be protected from out of control premium increases. And all seniors should be able to chose the health care plan that best fits their needs without being forced into an HMO. The element of choice is essential. When a bureaucracy is in charge of granting benefits, new benefits usually come slowly and grudgingly, if at all. When insurance providers compete for a patient's business, they offer new treatments and services quickly. If they don't, the patient the customer will look for better services elsewhere. Because it is in the best interests of providers to have healthy customers, patients will get the quality care they need. The framework for Medicare reform I'm releasing today would give seniors the freedom to select one of three broad opportunities. First, seniors who are happy with the current Medicare system should be able to stay in the system and receive help for prescription drugs. To reform the current system, I propose we issue a discount card that will reduce the cost of prescription drugs for every senior by 10 to 25 percent. We will provide an annual 600 subsidy to low income seniors to pay for prescription drugs. And we will set annual limits on the amount seniors will have to spend out of pocket on drugs at no additional premium. Second, seniors who want more coverage will be able to choose an enhanced form of Medicare. This option will include full coverage for preventative care, a comprehensive prescription drug benefit, protection against high out of pocket costs, and extra help for low income seniors to be able to get the drug benefit. Seniors will be able to choose their specialists, their hospitals, and their primary doctors. The fee for service arrangement would offer seniors similar kinds of choices now enjoyed by the Members of Congress, who are given a broad choice among competing health care plans. What is good for the public servants, including Members of the House and Senate, is good for America's seniors. Third, seniors who want the kind of benefits available in managed care plans, including prescription drug coverage, will have that choice as well. This option would place seniors in an affordable network of doctors, provide drug coverage, and allow seniors to keep their out of pocket costs to a minimum. Moving toward this system will take time, and as we make these changes, all American seniors will receive a prescription drug discount card to use right away. And low income seniors will be eligible immediately for the annual 600 Medicare prescription benefit. Leaders of both political parties have talked for years about this issue, about adding a prescription drug benefit to Medicare. And the time for action is now. The budget I submitted will commit an additional 400 billion over that which we have already committed to, over the next decade to implement this vision of a stronger Medicare system. We are committed to reform we are committed to funding the reforms. We have a responsibility the docs, those of us in elected office, America's seniors to work together to make sure Medicare fulfills its promise for this generation and for generations to come. Our Medicare system depends on the skill and dedication of physicians. You know that. And that dedication should be fairly compensated. As Yank mentioned, we work with Congress to protect doctors from deep cuts in Medicare disbursements. Effective this past Saturday, instead of a 4.4 percent reduction in Medicare payments, docs will receive a 1.6 percent increase. This increase is a sign of confidence in our doctors, and I hope that all of you will show your confidence in Medicare by staying in the system. Medicare needs you. Our seniors need you. Whether the issue is reforming Medicare, enhancing patient safety, or correcting abuses in the legal system, the stakes are high. We must make sure that the choices of patients and the judgment of doctors are at the center of American health care. We must preserve the great innovation and quality of private medicine. We must keep our commitments to the elderly, and help bring the healing miracle of modern medicine to the people who need it in our time. All of you as members of the medical profession exercise that healing power and uphold a great trust. I appreciate the work you do. You have my respect. And in the days ahead, I look forward to working with you on these needed reforms. May God bless your work. And may God continue to bless America. March 01, 2003 Good morning. America is determined to enforce the demands of the United Nations Security Council by confronting the grave and growing danger of Saddam Hussein and his weapons of mass destruction. This dictator will not be allowed to intimidate and blackmail the civilized world or to supply his terrible weapons to terrorist groups who would not hesitate to use them against us. The safety of the American people depends on ending this threat. But America's cause is always larger than America's security. We also stand for the advance of freedom and opportunity and hope. The lives and freedom of the Iraqi people matter little to Saddam Hussein, but they matter greatly to us. Saddam Hussein has a long history of brutal crimes, especially in time of war even against his own citizens. If conflict comes, he could target civilians or place them inside military facilities. He could encourage ethnic violence. He could destroy natural resources, or worst of all, he could use his weapons of mass destruction. In order to minimize the suffering of Iraq's people, the United States and our coalition partners stand ready to provide vital help. We will deliver medicine to the sick and make sure that Iraq's 55,000 food distribution sites, operating with supplies from the oil for food program, are stocked and open as soon a possible. We are stockpiling relief supplies, such as blankets and water containers, for 1 million people. We are moving into place nearly 3 million emergency rations to feed the hungry. The United States and Great Britain are providing tens of millions of dollars to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and to such groups as the World Food Program and UNICEF, so they will be ready to provide emergency aid to the Iraqi people. We will also lead in carrying out the urgent and dangerous work of destroying chemical and biological weapons. We will provide security against those who try to spread chaos or settle scores or threaten the territorial integrity of Iraq. And we will seek to protect Iraq's natural resources from sabotage by a dying regime and ensure they are used for the benefit of Iraq's own people. The United States has no intention of determining the precise form of Iraq's new Government. That choice belongs to the Iraqi people. Yet we will ensure that one brutal dictator is not replaced by another. All Iraqis must have a voice in the new Government, and all citizens must have their rights protected. Rebuilding Iraq will require a sustained commitment from many nations, including our own. We will remain in Iraq as long as necessary and not a day more. America has made and kept this kind of commitment before, in the peace that followed World War II. After defeating enemies, we did not leave behind occupying armies we left constitutions and parliaments. We did not leave behind permanent foes we found new friends and allies. There was a time when many said that the cultures of Japan and Germany were incapable of sustaining democratic values. They were wrong. Some say the same of Iraq today. They too are mistaken. The nation of Iraq, with its proud heritage, abundant resources, and skilled and educated people, is fully capable of moving toward democracy and living in freedom. It will be difficult to help freedom take hold in a country that has known three decades of dictatorship, secret police, internal divisions, and war. Yet the security of our Nation and the hopes of millions depends on us, and Americans do not turn away from duties because they are hard. We have met great tests in other times, and we will meet the tests of our time. Thank you for listening. February 28, 2003 Thanks for the warm welcome. It is an honor for me to speak to the men and women who go to work every day and every night to protect our great country. Since the day this Nation was attacked, you have been on the frontlines on the war against terror. You've worked hard under urgent and sometimes incredibly difficult circumstances. America is really grateful. Tomorrow marks an historic day for our Government and for our country. Around 170,000 people from more than 20 Federal agencies will officially join the new Department of Homeland Security, creating a more effective, organized, and united defense of our homeland. Every member of this new Department accepts an essential mission to prevent another terrorist attack. Yours is a vital and important step in reorganizing our Government to meet the threats of a new era as we continue the work of securing this country. I picked a good man to be the first Cabinet Secretary of this new Department, a man who's got courage to lead, a man who speaks clearly about our goals, a man who understands accountability, and I appreciate my friend Tom Ridge for serving in this capacity. I want to thank other members of my Cabinet who are here for this historic announcement Attorney General John Ashcroft Mr. General, thank you for coming. Ann Veneman of the Department of Agriculture is with us today. Norm Mi neta Norm just got out of the hospital. Norm did an incredible job on the Transportation Security Agency. He was given a task that a lot of people thought would the Department of Transportation could never accomplish. And thanks to his leadership and his team, he did a fabulous job. You're looking pretty darn good to me, by the way. Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, honored she is with us today. I appreciate so very much Sam Bodman, the Deputy Secretary of Commerce, being with us. Admiral James Loy, who is the Under Secretary of the Department of Transportation, is with us. Thank you for coming. Janet Hale, the Under Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Mike Brown, the Under Secretary designee at the Department of Homeland Security Dr. Charles McQueary, the Under Secretary designee, Department of Homeland Security, who I'll talk about a little bit later. Commandant Tom Collins of the Coast Guard is with us today. I appreciate so very much Robert Mueller, who is the head of the FBI as well. Robert Bonner runs the Customs Service Ralph Basham, head of the Secret Service. I really like the head of the Secret Service laughter if you know what I mean. Laughter Michael Garcia, INS Chief Gus de la Vina, who is the Border Patrol. The men and women on this stage, who represent thousands of our fellow citizens, who care a lot about our country, the people in the audience, thank you for giving me a chance to come. The world changed on September the 11th, 2001. We learned that a threat that gathers on the other side of the Earth can strike our own cities and kill our own citizens. It's an important lesson, one we must never forget. Oceans no longer protect America from the dangers of this world. We're protected by daily vigilance at home. And we will be protected by resolute and decisive action against threats abroad. We're tracking down terrorists who hate America, one by one. We're on the hunt. We got them on the run. And it's a matter of time before they learn the meaning of American justice. We're opposing terror regimes that are arming with weapons of mass destruction to threaten the peace and freedom of this world. And we're taking unprecedented measures to defend the homeland with the largest reorganization of our Government in more than a half a century. The agencies that join the Department of Homeland Security tomorrow will retain their longstanding responsibilities. And of course, the individuals who join the Department will retain their rights as Federal workers. Each agency, with its own proud and honored tradition, will also gain a new mandate and must adopt a new mindset. We created this Cabinet Department in a time of war. And every professional in the Department of Homeland Security plays a valuable role in winning the first war of the 21st century. For a vast and free nation, there is no such thing as perfect security, no such thing as a 100 percent guarantee that we're protected against the hidden network of coldblooded killers. Yet, we're determined to do everything in our power to defeat this enemy and to defend our people while upholding the great Constitution of the United States of America. We've taken some critical steps to increase homeland security, and there's more work for this Department to do. The Department of Homeland Security is charged with analyzing the vulnerabilities of our Nation's critical infrastructure, from dams to banks to seaports. And when our intelligence agency learn of new threats, the Department will move quickly to take protective action. In meeting this responsibility, the Department will be a full partner in the new Terrorism Threat Integration Center, which will integrate and analyze all threat information collected domestically and abroad in a single location. When the Center is fully operational, it will fully house a database of known and suspected terrorists that officials across this country will be able to access and to act upon. In these and other efforts, the FBI and the CIA are communicating and cooperating as never before. The FBI has made preventing terrorism its top priority and increased agents assigned to counterterror efforts by nearly 40 percent. I want to thank the leadership of Bob Mueller. He and the agents who work for the FBI are doing a fantastic job on behalf of the American people. The Department of Homeland Security is also charged with strengthening our defenses against cyberterrorism and the even greater dangers of biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons. We've established a Science and Technology Directorate within the Department so we can apply some of our Nation's best minds to the task of protecting our people. I've nominated a good man, Dr. Charles McQueary, to head up this effort. His team is engaged in a major effort to develop and deploy the technologies for detecting weapons of mass destruction. As these technologies are deployed, border inspectors will have better tools to intercept dangerous materials before they enter our country. Emergency services personnel will be able to identify biological or chemical weapons and agents so they can use the most effective decontamination methods available. And as part of the BioWatch Initiative, we are deploying early warning sensors around the country to help detect potential biological attacks. This week, I sent to Congress my proposal for Project BioShield, a major research and production effort to guard our people against bioterrorism. I've requested nearly 6 billion for this project to quickly make available effective vaccines and treatments against agents like anthrax, botulinum toxin, Ebola, and plague. We must assume that our enemies would use these diseases as weapons, and we must act before the dangers are upon us. I urge the Congress to pass this legislation as soon as possible. The Department of Homeland Security is charged with promoting cooperation between Washington and State and local governments. Our enemies can strike anywhere in America, and we must be ready to respond in a coordinated way. Through the Homeland Security Advisory System, we have created a unified process for alerting government officials and the public of current threats. We're also providing more information about suspected terrorists to State and local law enforcement agencies. And with this new Department, State and local officials will now have a single point of contact to help them address the needs of the local area. The Department of Homeland Security is charged with safeguarding our border and transportation systems. September the 11th taught us that terrorists will try to use the openness of our country against us. We must understand and correct our vulnerabilities. And we need to know who's coming in and who's going out of our country. We're working with our good friends, Canada and Mexico, to strengthen our law enforcement at the borders. The Transportation Security Administration has assigned thousands of air marshals to commercial flights and deployed more than 50,000 newly trained airport screeners. TSA is also screening all checked luggage at our airports, up from 5 percent before September the 11th, 2001. Starting tomorrow, four different organizations that patrol and enforce laws at our borders will be integrated into a new Bureau of Customs and Border Protection. This bureau will unify border inspection and enforcement functions, so that legitimate visitors and goods can enter the United States, while giving us better tools to help deny entry to terrorists, drug traffickers, and dangerous materials. Inspectors will be posted at more than 20 ports around the world to examine high risk cargo before it sets sail to our country. The new Department is charged with responding to any terror attack that may come. We are moving forward on essential preparations here in America. Over the past 18 months, we have significantly enhanced our national stockpile of critical drugs, vaccines, and other medical supplies. Supplies from this stockpile can be delivered wherever they are needed, anywhere in this country, within 12 hours. We've provided more than 900 million in support to help State and local responders and emergency managers prepare for terrorist attacks. And we've supported the training of more than 100,000 first responders since September the 11th, 2001. I proposed record funding for the first responders, 3.5 billion in the current budget. I've also requested another 3.5 billion in the 2004 budget. Unfortunately, the Congress was late in passing the appropriations bill of 2003. They reduced my total request for State and local enforcement and emergency personnel by 1 billion and designated part of the funding to go to other priorities. I signed the appropriations bill to make sure that we can finally begin to distribute funding to the States. The leaders in the House and Senate are aware of my concerns, and they share them. These leaders know that I will continue to do everything in my power to direct as much of this funding as possible toward training and equipping police, firefighters, and EMTs to prepare and respond to potential terrorist attacks. Beginning tomorrow, the Department of Homeland Security will be responsible for coordinating our national response to terrorist attacks. Secretary Ridge has already created 24 7 Homeland Security Center, ready to act at the first sign of any emergency. And I'll be issuing a directive ordering the establishment of a unified National Incident Management System. The system will provide Government agencies with common procedures and standards for preparing and responding to emergencies. Our Nation has great challenges in securing our homeland, but we've got even greater advantages. We've got people like you all who serve with skill and, frankly, don't get enough credit for the work you do. Of course, you're not here to get the credit you're here to do your job. We've got brave and honorable men and women serving in our military, including the Coast Guard, ready to accomplish any mission they are given. And they will do so with courage and skill and honor. Above all, we have the courage and character of the American people, who are resolved to prevent further attacks on our homeland. March 1st marks an important day for our Government and for our country. The work ahead won't always be easy. You've accepted a difficult mission. But I'm confident in the success of our efforts, because I'm confident in you. I want to thank each of you for your service in freedom's cause. There is no doubt in my mind that this Nation will prevail in this war against terror, because we're the greatest nation, full of the finest people, on the face of this Earth. May God bless your work, and may God continue to bless America. February 27, 2003 President Bush. A couple of opening statements we'll answer questions today. Mr. President, welcome back to the Oval Office. The President has just brought me and members of my administration up to date on the progress being made in Afghanistan. I guess the best way to summarize the discussion is that I'm welcoming a courageous leader, who's got a clear vision about the future of a country he loves, back to the Oval Office. I was deeply impressed by some of the statistics that he talked about. Over 2 million refugees have returned back to Afghanistan since he was last here in the Oval Office. As the President pointed out, those are people who are expressing their opinion about the future of Afghanistan by making a decision to return home. He also told me that there are now 3 million children going to school in Afghanistan. Right after and during the period of the Taliban and right after the war, the number of children going to school was negligible. This is tremendous progress, and I want the American people to know that we're proud of the progress which is being made. I want to continue to thank the American people for their support of the of Afghanistan and our desire for the human life to improve there. And Mr. President, we appreciate your leadership, your determination. And we continue to look forward to working with you to bring not only peace to that part of the world but a hopeful future for the citizens. So welcome back to the Oval Office. President Karzai. Well, thank you very much, Mr. President. It's an honor for me to be here with you in the White House. The United States and yourself have helped tremendously in the past year to rebuild Afghanistan, to help us in all aspects of life, including the 3 million children that now go to school have been receiving help from the United States. You have helped us with the roads, with the building of the National Army of Afghanistan. I'm here to thank you and the American people. And I'm also here to ask you to do more for us in making the life of the Afghan people better, more stable, more peaceful. I'm also here to tell you that the war against terrorism is going on. We have defeated them, but some elements are still there. And we should go on strong and tough to get them all and free the world from that menace. President Bush. Thank you, sir. President Karzai. Thank you. President Bush. Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Iraq Q. Mr. President, following up on your speech last night, if the United States had expanded its mission beyond the liberation of Kuwait and removed Saddam Hussein from power in the 1990s, would the Middle East be more peaceful now? President Bush. The mission in early 1990s was to liberate Kuwait, and the United States achieved that mission. The mission now is to disarm Saddam Hussein, in the name of peace. And we will disarm Saddam Hussein. I noticed today there is some talk about the illegal rockets in Iraq. He this is part of his the discussion about these rockets is part of his campaign of deception. See, he'll say, "I'm not going to destroy the rockets," and then he'll have a change of mind this weekend and destroy the rockets and say, "I've disarmed." The rockets are just the tip of the iceberg. The only question at hand is total, complete disarmament, which he is refusing to do. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Q. If I could just follow up, though, on your rationale from yesterday. If we could have peace in the Middle East by removing Saddam now, couldn't we have had it if we had removed him 10 years ago? Or is that a President Bush. The mission just remember what the mission was. When you commit troops to war, you must have a clear mission. Should we be forced to commit our troops because of his failure to disarm, the mission will be complete disarmament, which will mean regime change. That was not the mission in 1991. Situation in the Middle East Q. You talked last night about the Middle East roadmap. What's holding that up? When can we see that? President Bush. We have been working on the Middle East every day. We will continue to work to bring peace to the Middle East. And my fervent desire is for the is to achieve peace and to improve the plight of the Palestinian citizen and, at the same time, improve the security for not only the Palestinians but the Israelis. We work the peace issue constantly. National Economy Q. Mr. President, consumer confidence numbers hit their lowest levels in, I think, 9 years yesterday. And many of those surveyed say that they're more concerned about the economy than they are about Iraq. Money managers on Wall Street say that even when the uncertainty over what is happening in Iraq is resolved, there remain many obstacles of a purely business nature that leave them less than confident looking forward. Are you frustrated by the sense that perhaps perception could become reality here, that the lack of confidence seems to be becoming more entrenched? President Bush. I've got confidence in the future of our economy. There's strong signals that this economy will improve. But I understand we need to have a stimulus package to make sure that the forecasts and the predictions become true. A lot of the experts are projecting growth at 3.3 percent. Inherent in their projections is that Congress pass a stimulus package, fiscal stimulus package. I proposed the one that I think will work. And so that is one of the reasons why you're seeing this administration on a regular basis pursue a stimulus package that will have a positive effect for job creation, a stimulus package directed to small business owners in America, a stimulus package which will encourage investment, a stimulus package which will ultimately help seniors because their dividends might be taxed twice. So this is a stimulus package that is very positive. But I'm very optimistic about the future of this country the economic future, and I'm optimistic about our chances to achieve peace. Thank you all. February 26, 2003 Bienvenidos. I want to thank mi abogado and my close friend for his leadership and his participation in our Government. Everybody has got to have a good lawyer laughter especially in my line of work. Laughter And I've got a great one with Al Gonzales. I'm proud to call him friend. And I also want to thank the members of the Latino Coalition who are here today. I want to thank you for your work in obviously, on political issues. But really I want to thank you for what you're doing in your own community, showing people that through hard work there's opportunity and hope, that if you're an entrepreneur thanks for setting such a great example. Truly, one of the greatest things about the Nation is that somebody who's got a dream and who works hard can own their own business, realize their own potential. So thanks for setting the example for a lot of our fellow citizens. I'm honored that Mel Martinez is here with us, and Hector Barreto, serving my administration. Both men are doing a fine job in important positions. I want to thank Ambassador Hans Hertell from the Dominican Republic for coming. Applause I see you brought an entourage with you. Laughter Rosario Marin, who's the Treasurer, is here. Rosario, great to see you. Josefina Carbonell, who is the Assistant Secretary for Aging, Health and Human Services, is with us. I want to thank very much the Robert de Posada, who is the president of the Latino Coalition. I also want to thank Jane Delgado as well for your leadership and for working for what you think is right for the country. El Gobernador del Estado de Hidalgo is with us today. Gobernador, bienvenidos. Glad you're here. I see my friend Alfredo Phillips. One of the great honors when I was the Governor of Texas was to work closely with our Mexican counterparts. Senor Phillips was a man who came to Austin quite frequently to talk about NADBank and mutual development programs. I'm honored you're here. I appreciate your delegation coming. This Nation is committed to making sure we've got great relations with Mexico. The cornerstone of good foreign policy starts with making sure the neighborhood is prosperous and peaceful. I look forward to continuing to work with Vicente Fox on advancing a common agenda for the good of both nations. And so I welcome you all here. You come to America today during times of great challenges. There are some challenges which face us, but there's no hurdle big enough for the American people not to cross. This is we've got some mighty challenges to make sure the country is more prosperous and more hopeful and the world more peaceful. But sin duda, we're going to achieve what we need to achieve, porque este pais es un gran pais, with great values and great hope and great strength. The first challenge we have is to make sure people can find work. We want everybody working who wants to find a job. The challenge was created, really, because of a recession and an attack on America and the fact that some of our fellow citizens didn't realize that they needed to tell the truth all the time when it came to the numbers on their balance sheets. All three of those circumstances has created a challenge for the country. And the challenge is how to make sure the entrepreneurial environment is strong and steady, so that people are confident in taking risk, that small businesses are willing to take risk to expand. And so I put out an economic plan that addresses the challenges that we face. First, I want to remind you we responded to the recession by tax relief. We believe that if a person has more money in their pockets, they're likely to demand a good or a service. And when they do so in the marketplace, somebody is likely to produce the good or a service. And when that happens, somebody is more likely to find work. That's the premise of the economic policy we laid out in '01. I worked with the Republicans and Democrats to get the tax plan through. We responded to the attacks on September the 11th, 2001. We had terrorism insurance bill passed to encourage construction programs to go forward. We dealt with the airline issue. We got the stock market opened up quickly. And of course, then we liberated Afghanistan as we sought to bring justice to the killers of the thousands of Americans and others. We dealt with the corporate scandals by passing the law that clearly says that if you lie, cheat, or steal, that if you defraud a shareholder or an employee, there is going to be certain consequences. And so we made progress. But the economy still needs more work as far as we're concerned. And so I've gone to Congress, and I want to share with you quite quickly, quite briefly what I am asking Congress to do. First of all, I think it's very important for us to focus on small business growth. We're interested in job creation. The first thing the first fact that Congress has got to understand is most small most jobs are created by small businesses, most new jobs. And so, therefore, any package ought to be focused on small business in America. And this package is. It basically says, we're we've asked Congress to cut rates. They did, but they phased in the tax rate cuts over 3, 5, or 7 years. Well, if the economy is not doing as well as it should today, and if Congress has one time seen the wisdom of letting people keep more of their own money, then step one is they ought to accelerate the tax relief plan to this year. All tax cuts in the future ought to be accelerated to this year. If they're good enough 5 years from now, they're good enough today. Most small businesses are sole proprietorships or limited partnerships or Sub chapter S corporations, which means that they pay tax at the individual income tax rate. And so therefore, when you accelerate rate cuts, you're really accelerating capital to be invested by small businesses. And that's what Congress must understand. The rate reduction package is good for the small business sector of the American economy. As well, we believe we ought to increase the amount of expensing available to small businesses from the current limitation of 25,000 to 75,000 a year. This will encourage capital expenditure. It will provide incentive for people to expand their businesses. Capital expenditure equals jobs, and the more capital accumulation and capital expenditure we can encourage, the more likely it is somebody is going to find work. And so this plan focuses on boosting the amount of money consumers have to spend, strengthening demand for products. But it also focuses on capital accumulation, capital formation, particularly at the small business sector of the American economy. Furthermore, I believe we ought to eliminate the double taxation on dividends, and I will tell you why. If capital equals jobs, the double taxation of dividends means there is less capital in the private markets for investment. It's fair to tax a company's profits. It is unfair to tax that profit again when it's distributed to one of the shareholders. And so our plan encourages capital formation. Our plan addresses the needs of the 10 million seniors who have dividend income. It is beneficial for those seniors not to have to pay a tax on their dividends. As a matter of fact, it will help them in the later years of their lives. The dividend plan also is going to have a positive effect on our accounting process. I mean, after all, we went through a period of time when people said, "Invest in my company. Even though I may not have any earnings, I've got a good idea. So let's invest" let's invest in something that may or may not happen. A society which is focused on dividends says, you know, cash is really what matters. You can't if you say, "Invest in my company. I'm going to pay you a dividend," it's not based upon some pie in the sky projection. It's based on the reality of cash. The dividend policy, if more companies pay dividends, will have a positive effect when it comes to the balance sheets of America. It will have a reform effect, because you can't project what may be. When you're promising dividends, you've got to project what is. And that's going to be good for investors, and it's going to be good for accountability when it comes to the corporate sector of America. So this is the plan I'm asking Congress to look at. It's a reasonable plan it's a stimulative plan it's a plan that makes sense. And I'm asking for your help. I'd like for you to contact your Congressman or your Senator and let him know that this plan makes sense for the economic vitality of this country. We continue to face a hurdle with our schools. If you want America to be a hopeful place, we better make sure the public school system of America works. And so I want to continue I say we face a problem because not every school is working the way we want it to. I proposed reform which the Senate and the House passed in my first year as the President. The reform said, if you spend money, then it makes sense to demand results. We spend money at the Federal level. Therefore we ought to ask, what are the results? We're asking the simple question, "If you receive money, can the children read and write and add and subtract?" That's what we want to know. It's really important for Latino parents to have that question asked. It's essential to ask that question if you want the future of this country to be bright, because oftentimes the Latino child just gets passed through the system without asking the fundamental question of whether or not that child can read and write and add and subtract. You see, it's oftentimes easy to walk into a classroom full of the so called "hard to educate" and say, "We're moving you through." It's what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. I told the American people when I was running for office, "I will challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations, because I believe every child can learn, regardless of the status of their parents." And we have done that. We have done that. We've increased Federal education spending by 50 percent from the time I got here. But more importantly, we're demanding accountability because we believe in the value of every child, and we don't want one child left behind here in America. We look forward to working with you on health care matters. We want the Medicare system to function well. We want to make sure that there is a capacity for people to get primary care through community health centers. It's an initiative which I strongly support and I'm pushing Congress to fund to its fullest. We want to make sure that there is a health tax credits to help the working uninsured. And we want to make sure there's medical liability reform to make sure that health care is not only affordable but available. In other words, we don't want our docs sued to the point where they're leaving the profession, where people can't find good medical care. There's a lot we can work with you on, and intend to do associated health care plans, incredibly important part of making sure small business owners can provide affordable health care to their employees. I also want to work with continue to work with you all in America on making sure that our welfare system is complete. I say complete because the best welfare programs oftentimes are those found in our iglesias, our churches and synagogues and mosques. And our Government must not fear the power of faith in our society but must welcome faith based programs which exist to heal hearts and provide hope for broken lives. The great strength of this country lies in the hearts of our fellow citizens. The great power of transformation in neighborhoods can take place because thousands of citizens have heard the universal call to love a neighbor like they would like to be loved themself. And so you'll see us continue to work with our neighborhood helpers and healers at the Federal level to encourage faith based programs to flourish and exist. I recognize that one person can't solve all of our society's problems, but one person can help save one life. And it's that accumulative effect, what I call the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness which take place on a daily basis, which literally can transform this country, one heart and one soul at a time. I also want to talk to you about how to make sure our judiciary works well. It starts with me naming good people to serve on the bench, good, solid, honest, decent Americans who are willing to forgo the private practice of law, the comforts of private life, and serve on the Federal bench. And that's exactly what I've done. I've named some incredibly fine Americans to serve in this important part of our Government, and no finer American as Miguel Estrada. He is a man I have named, nominated for the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. When confirmed, he'll be the first Hispanic to serve on what they call the second most important court in America. His story is the American story. His story it's what makes this country so profound and so hopeful and so promising. After all, he came to the country from Honduras. He could barely speak English. He came as a teenage boy, had trouble with our native language, and yet ends up shortly thereafter in Harvard Law School as one of the top students. It speaks about a man who has a dream and works hard to achieve that dream, understands the value of education, overcame difficulties, and became one of the top law students out of Harvard. He has argued 15 cases before the Supreme Court. He has taken his knowledge and capacity and argued before the highest court of our land. He has served in the Justice Department under Presidents from both political parties. He is a incredibly bright mind. Yet, his nomination is being delayed and stalled by Democratic Senators. His nomination has been stalled for 2 years. They're blocking the vote on this good man for purely political reasons. The Senators are applying a double standard to Miguel Estrada by requiring him to answer questions that other judicial nominees over time have not been forced to answer. And that is not right, and that is not fair. By blocking a vote on Miguel Estrada, some Democrats in the Senate are flaunting the intention of the United States Constitution and the tradition of the United States Senate itself. Alexander Hamilton wrote that the purpose of the Senate confirmation was to prevent the appointment of unfit characters. No one can possibly call Miguel Estrada "unfit." The American Bar Association has given him its highest ratings highest ratings. And he has the qualifications and the experience and the temperament to make an outstanding judge. The partisans in the Senate are subjecting Miguel Estrada to an unfair double standard. Failing to allow an up or down vote a vote which will pass on Miguel Estrada's nomination is a travesty, an injustice being carried out by those responsible for helping to uphold justice in this country. I want to thank you for your work on Miguel's nomination. I will stand by that man's side until he is sworn in as a judge. And finally, we have been called to defend America and to keep the peace. We face a significant challenge, and that is to protect the homeland of the American people. Prior to September the 11th, 2001, we thought oceans would protect the homeland of the American people. We thought that history would continue to repeat itself, that this Nation was safe and secure, that if there was a gathering threat overseas, we could deal with it if we felt like dealing with it, but it was not a problem for the home people. Yet, on September the 11th, the world changed. It changed dramatically and sadly for thousands of citizens. It also changed for how this country must view our position in the world. The strategic vision of the country shifted. We're doing everything we can here at home to secure the homeland. We've got agencies working overtime, people sharing information. Our borders are becoming more efficient. We want people, commerce to move freely, but we don't want terrorists to move freely. So we're doing as good a job as we possibly can to protect you. But the best way to secure the homeland is to find killers before they kill us and bring them to justice. And that's what we're going to do. So we're on the hunt, on Al Qaida. This is a different kind of war. It's a war which requires a good intelligence sharing, and it requires cutting off money. It requires specially skilled troops to smoke these people out of their caves and to bring them to justice. And that's what we're doing, one by one. Sometimes you'll see success, and sometimes you won't. You've just got to know the mighty United States, along with 89 other countries in our coalition for Enduring Freedom, are doing everything we can to protect you and protect other people who love freedom. There's also a threat gathering in Iraq. It's been gathering for a long period of time. The danger with Iraq is that he can strike in the neighborhood. And the danger with Iraq is that he has got the willingness and capacity to train Al Qaida type organizations and provide them with equipment to hurt America. The world has waited a long time for Mr. Saddam Hussein to disarm. They've waited a long time. He is a master of disguise and delay. He'll say, "Oh, I'm disarming," after he said he has no arms. We will continue to work with our friends, people who understand the value of freedom. We will insist that the United Nation Resolution 1441 be adhered to in its fullest. After all, we want the United Nations to be a legitimate, effective body. But for the safety of the American people and for peace in the world, Saddam Hussein will be disarmed one way or the other. And this Nation does so for the sake of peace. The use of our military is the absolute last option. It is the last alternative for the President. But the risk of doing nothing, the risk of assuming that Saddam Hussein will change, the risk of thinking and hoping for the best for the American people, far outweighs the risk of committing troops if we have to. The choice is Saddam Hussein's to make. It's been his to make all along. He gets to choose between peace and war. And the other thing that is an inherent part of our view of Iraq is how I started the discussion here. See, we believe everybody matters everybody counts. It doesn't matter your background, where you're from everybody has worth. As I said in my State of the Union Address, liberty is not America's gift to the world liberty is God's gift to human to the human mankind. And that's what we believe. So in the days ahead, as we deal with this challenge facing our country, you need to know that the value of freedom and liberty will be at the forefront of a policy designed to make the world more peaceful and a policy designed to protect the American people. Thank you for your interest. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. February 26, 2003 Thank you all very much. Thanks for the warm welcome. I'm proud to be with the scholars and the friends and the supporters of the American Enterprise Institute. I want to thank you for overlooking my dress code violation. Laughter They were about to stop me at the door, but Irving Kristol said, "I know this guy. Let him in." Laughter Chris, thank you for your very kind introduction, and thank you for your leadership. I see many distinguished guests here tonight, members of my Cabinet, Members of Congress, Justice Scalia, Justice Thomas, and so many respected writers and policy experts. I'm always happy to see your senior fellow, Dr. Lynne Cheney. Lynne is a wise and thoughtful commentator on history and culture and a dear friend to Laura and me. I'm also familiar with the good work of her husband. Laughter You may remember him, the former director of my Vice Presidential search committee. Laughter Thank God Dick Cheney said yes. Thanks for fitting me into the program tonight. I know I'm not the featured speaker. I'm just a warmup act for Allan Meltzer. But I want to congratulate Dr. Meltzer for a lifetime of achievement and for tonight's well deserved honor. Congratulations, Dr. Meltzer. At the American Enterprise Institute, some of the finest minds in our Nation are at work on some of the greatest challenges to our Nation. You do such good work that my administration has borrowed 20 such minds. I want to thank them for their service, but I also want to remind people that for 60 years, AEI scholars have made vital contributions to our country and to our Government, and we are grateful for those contributions. We meet here during a crucial period in the history of our Nation and of the civilized world. Part of that history was written by others the rest will be written by us. On a September morning, threats that had gathered for years, in secret and far away, led to murder in our country on a massive scale. As a result, we must look at security in a new way, because our country is a battlefield in the first war of the 21st century. We learned a lesson The dangers of our time must be confronted actively and forcefully, before we see them again in our skies and in our cities. And we set a goal We will not allow the triumph of hatred and violence in the affairs of men. Our coalition of more than 90 countries is pursuing the networks of terror with every tool of law enforcement and with military power. We have arrested or otherwise dealt with many key commanders of Al Qaida. Across the world, we are hunting down the killers one by one. We are winning. And we're showing them the definition of American justice. And we are opposing the greatest danger in the war on terror, outlaw regimes arming with weapons of mass destruction. In Iraq, a dictator is building and hiding weapons that could enable him to dominate the Middle East and intimidate the civilized world, and we will not allow it. This same tyrant has close ties to terrorist organizations and could supply them with the terrible means to strike this country, and America will not permit it. The danger posed by Saddam Hussein and his weapons cannot be ignored or wished away. The danger must be confronted. We hope that the Iraqi regime will meet the demands of the United Nations and disarm, fully and peacefully. If it does not, we are prepared to disarm Iraq by force. Either way, this danger will be removed. The safety of the American people depends on ending this direct and growing threat. Acting against the danger will also contribute greatly to the long term safety and stability of our world. The current Iraqi regime has shown the power of tyranny to spread discord and violence in the Middle East. A liberated Iraq can show the power of freedom to transform that vital region, by bringing hope and progress into the lives of millions. America's interests in security and America's belief in liberty both lead in the same direction, to a free and peaceful Iraq. The first to benefit from a free Iraq would be the Iraqi people themselves. Today they live in scarcity and fear under a dictator who has brought them nothing but war and misery and torture. Their lives and their freedom matter little to Saddam Hussein, but Iraqi lives and freedom matter greatly to us. Bringing stability and unity to a free Iraq will not be easy. Yet that is no excuse to leave the Iraqi regime's torture chambers and poison labs in operation. Any future the Iraqi people choose for themselves will be better than the nightmare world that Saddam Hussein has chosen for them. If we must use force, the United States and our coalition stand ready to help the citizens of a liberated Iraq. We will deliver medicine to the sick, and we are now moving into place nearly 3 million emergency rations to feed the hungry. We'll make sure that Iraq's 55,000 food distribution sites, operating under the oil for food program, are stocked and open as soon as possible. The United States and Great Britain are providing tens of millions of dollars to the U.N. High Commission on Refugees and to such groups as the World Food Program and UNICEF to provide emergency aid to the Iraqi people. We will also lead in carrying out the urgent and dangerous work of destroying chemical and biological weapons. We will provide security against those who try to spread chaos or settle scores or threaten the territorial integrity of Iraq. We will seek to protect Iraq's natural resources from sabotage by a dying regime and ensure those resources are used for the benefit of the owners, the Iraqi people. The United States has no intention of determining the precise form of Iraq's new Government. That choice belongs to the Iraqi people. Yet, we will ensure that one brutal dictator is not replaced by another. All Iraqis must have a voice in the new Government, and all citizens must have their rights protected. Rebuilding Iraq will require a sustained commitment from many nations, including our own. We will remain in Iraq as long as necessary and not a day more. America has made and kept this kind of commitment before, in the peace that followed a World War. After defeating enemies, we did not leave behind occupying armies we left constitutions and parliaments. We established an atmosphere of safety, in which responsible, reform minded local leaders could build lasting institutions of freedom. In societies that once bred fascism and militarism, liberty found a permanent home. There was a time when many said that the cultures of Japan and Germany were incapable of sustaining democratic values. Well, they were wrong. Some say the same of Iraq today. They are mistaken. The nation of Iraq, with its proud heritage, abundant resources, and skilled and educated people, is fully capable of moving toward democracy and living in freedom. The world has a clear interest in the spread of democratic values, because stable and free nations do not breed the ideologies of murder. They encourage the peaceful pursuit of a better life. And there are hopeful signs of a desire for freedom in the Middle East. Arab intellectuals have called on Arab governments to address the "freedom gap" so their peoples can fully share in the progress of our times. Leaders in the region speak of a new Arab charter that champions internal reform, greater political participation, economic openness, and free trade. And from Morocco to Bahrain and beyond, nations are taking genuine steps toward political reform. A new regime in Iraq would serve as a dramatic and inspiring example of freedom for other nations in the region. It is presumptuous and insulting to suggest that a whole region of the world, or the one fifth of humanity that is Muslim, is somehow untouched by the most basic aspirations of life. Human cultures can be vastly different, yet the human heart desires the same good things everywhere on Earth. In our desire to be safe from brutal and bullying oppression, human beings are the same. In our desire to care for our children and give them a better life, we are the same. For these fundamental reasons, freedom and democracy will always and everywhere have greater appeal than the slogans of hatred and the tactics of terror. Success in Iraq could also begin a new stage for Middle Eastern peace and set in motion progress towards a truly democratic Palestinian state. The passing of Saddam Hussein's regime will deprive terrorist networks of a wealthy patron that pays for terrorist training and offers rewards to families of suicide bombers. And other regimes will be given a clear warning that support for terror will not be tolerated. Without this outside support for terrorism, Palestinians who are working for reform and long for democracy will be in a better position to choose new leaders, true leaders who strive for peace, true leaders who faithfully serve the people. A Palestinian state must be a reformed and peaceful state that abandons forever the use of terror. For its part, the new Government of Israel, as the terror threat is removed and security improves, will be expected to support the creation of a viable Palestinian state and to work as quickly as possible toward a final status agreement. As progress is made toward peace, settlement activity in the occupied territories must end. And the Arab states will be expected to meet their responsibilities to oppose terrorism, to support the emergence of a peaceful and democratic Palestine, and state clearly they will live in peace with Israel. The United States and other nations are working on a roadmap for peace. We are setting out the necessary conditions for progress toward the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. It is the commitment of our Government and my personal commitment to implement the roadmap and to reach that goal. Old patterns of conflict in the Middle East can be broken, if all concerned will let go of bitterness and hatred and violence and get on with the serious work of economic development and political reform and reconciliation. America will seize every opportunity in pursuit of peace. And the end of the present regime in Iraq would create such an opportunity. In confronting Iraq, the United States is also showing our commitment to effective international institutions. We are a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. We helped to create the Security Council. We believe in the Security Council so much that we want its words to have meaning. The global threat of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction cannot be confronted by one nation alone. The world needs today and will need tomorrow international bodies with the authority and the will to stop the spread of terror and chemical and biological and nuclear weapons. A threat to all must be answered by all. High minded pronouncements against proliferation mean little unless the strongest nations are willing to stand behind them and use force if necessary. After all, the United Nations was created, as Winston Churchill said, to "make sure that the force of right will, in the ultimate issue, be protected by the right of force." Another resolution is now before the Security Council. If the Council responds to Iraq's defiance with more excuses and delays, if all its authority proves to be empty, the United Nations will be severely weakened as a source of stability and order. If the members rise to this moment, then the Council will fulfill its founding purpose. I've listened carefully as people and leaders around the world have made known their desire for peace. All of us want peace. The threat to peace does not come from those who seek to enforce the just demands of the civilized world. The threat to peace comes from those who flout those demands. If we have to act, we will act to restrain the violent and defend the cause of peace. And by acting, we will signal to outlaw regimes that in this new century, the boundaries of civilized behavior will be respected. Protecting those boundaries carries a cost. If war is forced upon us by Iraq's refusal to disarm, we will meet an enemy who hides his military forces behind civilians, who has terrible weapons, who is capable of any crime. The dangers are real, as our soldiers and sailors, airmen and marines fully understand. Yet, no military has ever been better prepared to meet these challenges. Members of our Armed Forces also understand why they may be called to fight. They know that retreat before a dictator guarantees even greater sacrifices in the future. They know that America's cause is right and just, liberty for an oppressed people and security for the American people. And I know something about these men and women who wear our uniform They will complete every mission they are given with skill and honor and courage. Much is asked of America in this year 2003. The work ahead is demanding. It will be difficult to help freedom take hold in a country that has known three decades of dictatorship, secret police, internal divisions, and war. It will be difficult to cultivate liberty and peace in the Middle East, after so many generations of strife. Yet the security of our Nation and the hope of millions depend on us, and Americans do not turn away from duties because they are hard. We have met great tests in other times, and we will meet the tests of our time. We go forward with confidence, because we trust in the power of human freedom to change lives and nations. By the resolve and purpose of America and of our friends and allies, we will make this an age of progress and liberty. Free people will set the course of history, and free people will keep the peace of the world. Thank you all very much. February 25, 2003 The President. Thank you all for coming. I'm meeting with my National Economic Council, key members of my administration who have been traveling the country, listening to the voices of small business people, entrepreneurs, workers, listening to their concerns about our future. And at the same time explaining to them how we address the economic issues of our country. This administration is firmly committed to the principle that if people have more of their own money, they're likely to spend it on a good or a service, which means somebody is more likely to be able to find work. We're committed to the notion that investment of capital equals jobs. And so therefore, our policies are aimed at encouraging investment and job creation, as well as consumer confidence and spending. And we are confident that when the Congress listens to the people, that they will support this plan. It's an important economic plan, and it's one that we look forward to vigorously working with Congress to get it done here. I'll be glad to take some questions. Let me start off with Angle Jim Angle, FOX News . Iraqi Disarmament Risks of War Q. Mr. President, what would it take at this point to avoid a war with Iraq? The President. Full disarmament. Q. Could you expand on that, sir? I mean, what The President. Well, there's only one thing. There's full disarmament. The man has been told to disarm. For the sake of peace, he must completely disarm. I suspect we'll see him playing games, that he will the world will say disarm, and he will all of a sudden find a weapon that he claimed he didn't have. Q. Happened this morning, as a matter of fact. The President. I suspect that he will try to fool the world one more time. After all, he has had a history of doing that for 12 years. He's been successful at gaming the system, and our attitude is, it's now time for him to fully disarm. And we expect the Security Council to honor its word by insisting that Saddam disarm. Now is the time. David David Jackson, Dallas Morning News . Q. Mr. President, one of the uncertainties about the economy is the possibility of a war. Do you have any idea how much a war might cost and how it might affect our economy here at home? The President. David, there is all kinds of estimates about the cost of war. But the risk of doing nothing, the risk of the security of this country being jeopardized at the hands of a madman with weapons of mass destruction, far exceeds the risks of any action we may be forced to take. There are people who worry about the future. I understand that, and I worry about the future. I worry about a future in which Saddam Hussein gets to blackmail and or attack. I worry about a future in which terrorist organizations are fueled and funded by a Saddam Hussein. And that's why we're bringing this issue to a head. Heidi Heidi Pryzbyla, Bloomberg News . Q. Will the outcome of any U.N. Security Council vote have any effect on whether or not we go to war in Iraq? The President. Obviously, we'd like to have a positive vote. That's why we've submitted a Security Council resolution, along with Great Britain and Spain. But as I said all along, it would be helpful and useful, but I don't believe we need a second resolution. Saddam Hussein hasn't disarmed. He may play like he's going to disarm, but he hasn't disarmed. And for the sake of peace and the security of the American people, he must disarm. Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Q. Sir, how big and exactly what kind of sacrifices will be asked of the U.S. troops, their families, the American public, should you decide to go to war? The President. Well, any time you put a troop into harm's way, that in itself is a sacrifice. First of all and that's why war is my last choice. That's why I've said all along I would hope that the world would come together to convince Saddam to make the decision to disarm. Perhaps the biggest risk in the theater, if we were to commit our troops, is Saddam himself. He shows no regard for human life in his own country. After all, he's gassed them he's used the weapons of mass destruction on his own people that he now claims he doesn't have. He tortures people. He brutalizes them. He could care less about human condition inside of Iraq. And so I think one of the biggest dangers we face, if we go to war, is how he treats innocent life. And it is important for Iraqi leadership and Iraqi generals to clearly understand that if they take innocent life, if they destroy infrastructure, they will be held to account as war criminals. February 24, 2003 Thank you very much. Thanks for coming back. I hope you enjoyed our dinner last night as much as I did. It was really a lot of fun. Applause Thank you. Obviously, we take your business seriously. I've asked my Cabinet to show up to visit with you about ways that we can work together. What I thought I'd do is share some things that are on my mind right now and then answer any questions you have. What's on my mind is to make sure this country is strong and safe. One way to make it strong is to do everything we can to encourage job growth. My attitude is I'm sure you share the same attitude is that if somebody is looking for work and can't find a job, it means we've got a problem. And therefore, to the extent that government influences job creation, we've got to do everything we can to create an environment for the entrepreneur to flourish. I believe strongly in the notion that if a person has more money in their pocket, I know they're likely to demand a good or a service, and when they do so, in a market oriented economy, somebody is likely to produce that good or a service, which means somebody is more likely to find work. That's the whole principle behind that which I laid out for the country in '01. It's a principle which the Congress listened to and passed meaningful tax relief, because we were in a recession at the time. I worked we worked with Congress in '01, and they phased in this tax reduction plan over a period of years. My attitude is, since the economy is not as good as we like it to be, we ought to accelerate the tax relief which they've already planned. That will put about 70 billion immediately into our economy, since I intend to ask for this plan to be made retroactive to January 1st of this year. It's got a lot of positive effects in it. First of all, you know, I'm always startled to talk about the marriage penalty in the Tax Code. I don't know why we penalize marriage in the Tax Code. It doesn't make sense. It seems like we ought to encourage marriages. We ought to accelerate that aspect of the tax relief. We've increased the child credit to 1,000. It ought to be done this year and not in the out years. And as importantly, when you reduce the tax rates at the individual level, you also provide capital for small business growth. See, most companies are most small businesses are sole proprietorships or limited partnerships or Subchapter S's. And therefore, that entity pays tax at the individual tax rate. And so the reduction of all rates, not just a selected few but the reduction of all rates, provides needed capital in the small business sector of our economy. Secondly, I'm asking Congress to allow for the deduction of up to 75,000 worth of capital expenditure for small businesses, which will have a stimulative effect on our economy. And thirdly, I believe we ought to get rid of the double taxation of dividends. It's bad for when you tax something twice, it's unfair tax policy. It's fair to tax corporate profits. It's unfair to tax the senior who receives the dividend from the corporation you've already taxed. I think getting rid of the double taxation of dividends will not only help our seniors I know it will help our seniors it will be stimulative in the sense that it gets 20 billion into our economy this year. But more importantly, it helps capital formation, in a society which if jobs equal capital, we ought to be working on policy to encourage more capital formation. It's a positive it'll also have the positive effect of corporate reform. After all, we went through a period of time when people said, "Invest in my company because the sky is the limit, see. We may not have any cashflow, but our story is a good one. You know, we may not be able to show tangible assets, but we've got a wonderful story, so buy on us." When you have a dividend oriented policy, the only thing you can distribute is cash, not false promises. And so the elimination of the double taxation of dividends will, in itself, serve as a corporate reform measure, which is important. So this is the plan that I'm asking Congress to pass, and I believe we're going to get a lot of it passed. And I believe it's going to encourage growth. As a matter of fact, you know, these economists predicted in the blue chip forecast that the economy would grow at 3.3 percent if Congress responded to a stimulative package if it responded. And so you just need to know that jobs are on my mind, and I'm going to work hard to get Congress to pass the package. And I'm optimistic about it. In this town, you hear a lot of early noise which sometimes fades when a Chief Executive starts taking the message to the people. And that's what I intend to do. And I know you do the same things, when you sell your packages at home. It's got a good effect, and I'm just beginning to make the case. Secondly, I understand we've got an issue with our own budget, and you've got issues with your budgets. We can talk about that. Our budget is in a deficit. It's because we went through a recession, and we're at war. So I'm going to do everything I can to mitigate the deficit by encouraging, on the one hand, more revenues coming into our Treasury through economic growth but also limiting the spending to reasonable amounts. And I thought a 4 percent discretionary spending increase was the right amount. And I look forward to working with Congress. As you know, appropriators are appropriators. They live up to their name, whether they be Republicans or Democrats. They like to appropriate, and our jobs as chief executives is to make sure they appropriate within reasonable levels. And I intend to work hard to encourage them to spend within reasonable levels and set priorities. One of the interesting things about the '04 budget I've submitted is that there's 400 billion worth of grants to States. That's a 9 percent increase. As a matter of fact, the grants to States have been growing by 9 percent since I've been the President of the United States. We can discuss whether that, in your mind, is enough or not. I suspect I may know the answer. But nevertheless, it put things in perspective. Of the 4 percent increase in discretionary spending, 400 billion, or a 9 percent increase, goes directly to the States. That's a bigger increase than 4 percent, I guess is the point I'm trying to make to you. I look forward to working with you on health care matters, on Medicare. Look, Medicare is an issue that is a vital issue for our country. It is a Medicare is an old system. It's hidebound with rules, and it really doesn't address the needs of many seniors because of its age. I like to put it this way Medicine's changed Medicare hasn't. And we've got to deal with it. And we will deal with it. And Medicaid is also an issue that we will discuss with you, and work with you. Tommy I don't know if you've had the Tommy briefing yet or not. Well, he's got a good vision, a good idea. We'll work with Congress. We got the bill out of the House already. The welfare reform bill is out of the House, and we hope we can get it out of the Senate this time. This is a matter of making sure that there are proper incentives, particularly for people to find work. We believe, in this administration, work and dignity go hand in hand. We want to encourage work and training for work. And at the same time, I want you to know that I'm feel just as strongly about the Faith Based Initiative today as when I first came into office because I understand a modern welfare system must understand the power of our faith based institutions and their ability to change lives and help people who need. I don't talk about a particular faith. I talk about all faiths. Some of you have done some great things. I know that Virginia and, I think, Jersey I've gone there Florida, I hope anyway, have done good things with the faith based offices. I encourage you to take advantage of this initiative. I encourage you to go into your inner cities and find some of these neighborhood helpers and healers and empower them. Tell them that if they decide to help a neighbor in need, government is not going to make them take the cross off the wall or the Star of David off their wall. Encourage their faith based initiative to go forward. It is an integral part of saving lives in America. I had a little Congress, they balked a little bit on the Faith Based Initiative. So I put out an Executive order that said there will be a level playing field for any faith based program with Federal agencies. If you've got a housing initiative based upon a faith based initiative, HUD will treat you fairly. They're not going to fund you if it's a lousy deal, but you'll be treated fairly coming in. And I just urge you to do this. I'm absolutely confident well, I know one of the great strengths of the country is the heart and soul of the American people. And there are thousands of our fellow citizens who will answer a call to love a neighbor in need. I want to work with you on education. It's a subject I spent a lot of time on as the Governor of Texas. It is the most important thing a State does, as far as I'm concerned. Today I look forward, if you've got any questions on the No Child Left Behind bill, I'll be glad to answer your questions. But you're going to hear a guy who is not going to relent when it comes to making sure we measure whether every child can read and write and add and subtract, because you can't cure unless you measure. And there are too many of our children who cannot read and write and add and subtract, and we better figure out how to not only figure out who can't read and write but how to cure it now, before it's too late. Margaret tells me we've talked about the Head Start initiative to help you better coordinate the early childhood development programs. I firmly believe that those children can be taught the basics for reading now and should be, and people ought to be held to account as to whether or not they are being taught the basics of reading now. I look forward to working with you on our homeland security initiatives. I was disappointed that the Congress did not respond to the 3.5 billion we asked for. They not only reduced the budget that we asked for they earmarked a lot of the money. That's a disappointment, a disappointment when the executive branch gets micromanaged by the legislative branch. You may have had that experience yourself. Laughter But we'll do everything we can to not only get that money out quickly but figure out ways to get as much of the money to you in ways that will help you respond to the threats this country faces. I want to thank you very much for working on these Joint Terrorism Task Forces. They're effective tools to help prevent attack. The culture of the FBI has changed from one that said, "We're going to find criminals and arrest them," to one, "We're going to do everything we can to" let me start over. That's still an important function of the FBI. But it's now its primary function is now to prevent attack. I say that because America is still a battlefield. You know, after September the 11th, our perspective had to change about the world. I remind your constituents when I travel around the country that prior to September the 11th, oceans would protect us. That's what we thought, at least that we were safe. September the 11th, we learned that we're vulnerable to attack. It's just the nature of the world we live in. As leaders, our job is to remind the American people that of the reality of the dangers we face and do everything we can to prevent attack. So we're doing everything here at home. I hope you feel the level of coordination is good. If it's not, we need to hear about it, so we can continue to button up the homeland to the best of our ability. The best way to protect America is find the killers before they kill us. And that's what we're going to do. That's why this war the budget I asked for Congress had a lot of defense spending in it, because we're on the hunt, and we're going to stay on the hunt until we bring terrorist networks to justice. That's what we owe the American people. As we speak today, we are not only providing help to the people of Afghanistan we're hunting down the remnants of Al Qaida. And they're on the run. And it doesn't matter how long it takes, they will be brought to justice. The war on terror is more than just chasing down shadowy terrorist networks. The war on terror is recognizing that weapons of mass destruction in the hands of brutal dictators also threatens the American people. I've come to the conclusion that the risk of doing nothing far exceeds the risk of working with the world to disarm Saddam Hussein. I came to that conclusion because of the new realities we all face as American citizens who love freedom and who aren't going to change. Today we're going to submit a resolution to the U.N. Security Council that spells out what the world has witnessed the last months. The Iraqi regime is not disarming. The Iraqi regime is not disarming as required by last fall's unanimous vote of the Security Council. Saddam Hussein's refusal to comply with the demands of the civilized world is a threat to peace, and it's a threat to stability. It's a threat to the security of our country. It's a threat to the security of peace loving people everywhere. We're going to work with the members of the Security Council in the days ahead to make it clear to Saddam that the demands of the world and the United Nations will be enforced. It's an interesting moment for the Security Council and the United Nations. It's a moment to determine for this body, that we hope succeeds, to determine whether or not it is going to be relevant as the world confronts the threats to the 21st century. Is it going to be a body that means what it says? We certainly hope it does. But one way or the other, Saddam Hussein, for the sake of peace and for the security of the American people, will be disarmed. We face common challenges. I look forward to working with you all to meet those challenges. The country expects leaders to lead. And that's exactly what we all are going to do for the good of mankind, for the good of the American people. Thank you very much. February 22, 2003 President Bush. I welcome my good friend President Jose Maria Aznar to Crawford. We're especially pleased that Ana is with him as well. I visited his ranch on my first visit to Europe as the President. I'm very pleased to return the hospitality. Spain is a strong and trusted ally. Our two nations have drawn closer than ever before in fighting terrorism across Europe and beyond. Spain has apprehended members of Al Qaida and continues to share vital information, intelligence information. President Aznar is a strong fighter in the war against terror, and I value his advice. I respect and appreciate his leadership in the U.N., the EU, and NATO, to meet the new threats of this new century. For the Spanish people and for their leader, the cause of liberty is more than a phrase it is a fundamental commitment expressed in resolute action. President Aznar and I agree that the future of peace depends on the disarmament of Iraq. We agree that Saddam Hussein continues to be in violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441. We agree that the terms of that resolution must be fully respected. By Resolution 1441, the Security Council has taken a clear stand, and it now faces a clear choice. With all the world watching, the Council will now show whether it means what it says. Early next week, working with our friends and allies, we will introduce an additional Security Council resolution that will set out in clear and simple terms that Iraq is not complying with Resolution 1441. For the record, this would not be a second resolution on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction it would only be the latest in a long series of resolutions going back 12 years. We will discuss this resolution with members of the Security Council, and we will hear again from Chief Inspector Blix. During these final deliberations, there is but one question for the Council to address Is Saddam Hussein complying with Resolution 1441? That resolution did not ask for hints of progress or minor concessions. It demanded full and immediate disarmament. That and that alone is the issue before the Council. We will not allow the Iraqi dictator, with a history of aggression and close ties to terrorist groups, to continue to possess or produce weapons of mass destruction. Our coalition draws its strength from the courage and moral clarities of leaders like President Aznar. In times of testing, we discover who is willing to stand up for the security of free peoples and the rights of mankind. Mr. President, you are clearly a man willing to take this stand. I thank you for your leadership. I thank you for your friendship. President Aznar. Well, good morning, good day to everyone. I would firstly like to thank, on behalf of my wife and for myself, I would like to thank Laura Bush and George Bush for their invitation to visit the ranch. And this is a time to work, to rest, to talk in truly marvelous surroundings. Spain is an EU member and a nonpermanent member of the U.N. Security Council. Spain is very clearly in favor of the strength of the transatlantic link. In these three extremely important dimensions, Spain is committed with an active role in contributing to an appropriate response to the threat that Saddam Hussein's regime entails for international peace and security. We've worked very hard and with good results to forge consensus within the European Union that it is necessary to maintain. We share the efforts and the needs within the Security Council that the international community has to maintain to guarantee peace and security in the world. Precisely, it is in the Security Council that the international community has laid the responsibility of maintaining world peace and security. Our responsibility is precisely to work so that the Security Council can exercise its responsibilities, working in order to achieve in agreement the firm compliance of international legality. I cannot but underline the importance of that relationship in our struggle against terrorism. We free societies are the targets of terrorists, and they must be fought unconditionally, with no reservations and not being allowed to be blackmailed by them. And we cannot be kidnaped by this fear that we cannot be the hostages of the terrorists, and we will not be. And allow me to say two things in this regard. Cooperation between the United States and Spain against terrorism is total. And I would like to thank President Bush for his resolve and his commitment in this regard. And secondly, I would like to express how satisfied I am in the again having arrested important terrorists today in Spain, people who only think of murdering and committing crimes. Spain is a democratic and European voice, and we know that there cannot be peace without law, and that peace cannot be separate from security. And in these international law and the disarmament obligations that Saddam Hussein has been subject to for the last 12 years must be implemented. And this has to be based on the will and everyone's commitment and our capacity to do so. We have expressly reaffirmed Resolution 1441 and the usefulness of the military capabilities deployed in order to achieve Saddam's disarmament. We are committed to peace, and peace is our horizon. But if we are unable to combat aggressive dictators, tyrannic regimes, this is something that endangers the very existence of international peace and harmony. And if we are incapable of guaranteeing this peace, international peace would become senseless rhetoric. And we honestly do not want to get into rhetoric when we're speaking of international order, weapons of mass destruction, terrorist groups, lives in danger, or threats that we have to confront. Thus, my position in my talks with President Bush can be summarized as follows. Expressly, we are ready to fight together against weapons of mass destruction and terrorism that is, for a world in peace and for a safe world. And we are working in order that the U.N. Security Council, in its role based on the U.N. Charter, may work towards peace and security in the world through a new resolution that has the greatest support and majority support. Our aim is for Iraq to disarm and for Saddam to comply with his obligations. And international legality has to be credible, and we have to strengthen our efforts. We have to continue with our pressure on Saddam Hussein and do all this in unity and in agreement within the framework of the Security Council. Of course, time is not indefinite. We don't have much time. And lastly, as I already talked about with President Bush, we have to work towards peace and security in the region. And this requires quick action on our part to solve the Palestinian Israeli conflict. In that scenario, we are also ready and willing to work jointly. President Bush. Thank you. We'll answer two questions a side, starting with Tom Tom Raum, Associated Press . New U.N. Security Council Resolution on Iraq Q. Mr. President, you need nine votes in the Security Council and no vetoes. And yet, as of this point, only four countries have spoken out in favor of moving forward, and no minds seem to have been changed. Are you ready to move ahead now with this new resolution, even if you don't have the votes to pass it? And to the Prime Minister President Aznar, you've been making many calls yourself to world leaders and members of the Security Council. Have you been able to change anyone's mind? And if not, why not? President Bush. There's not even a resolution put on the table yet. There will be one soon. And so the people will be able to see what they're asked to vote on. We just got off a phone call with Tony Blair and Silvio Berlusconi. It was a four way conversation to talk about the resolution and the strategy. This discussion sounds vaguely familiar. I think I remember getting asked the same questions prior to the last resolution, the Resolution 1441 that passed 15 to 0, where the Security Council said with a unanimous voice, Saddam must disarm. He hasn't disarmed. And so the clarity of vision that took place 4 months ago I'm confident will be in place after the Security Council takes a good look at the facts. And so we're just beginning, is my point. President Aznar. I hear many messages on unilateral actions. But what I must say is that President Bush, the U.S. Government, and all the allies are all working together in the framework of the United Nations. And that's how Resolution 1441 came out. And that's how the new resolution we're working on has to come out. It's difficult to ask for an agreement on something that doesn't exist yet. We'll ask for people's agreement when it does exist. We hope it's soon. We hope it's good. And we hope it assembles the greatest possible supporters, because what we cannot forget is that our aim is disarmament and to avoid the threat that weapons of mass destruction, a possible use by Saddam Hussein, the threat that this poses to the world. Q. My question is for the Spanish President of the Government. Regarding this new proposal for a new resolution, we know it will bear the seal of the United States and of Great Britain. But will it also bear the Spanish seal? Will Spain be considered or will it be a coauthor of that resolution? President Aznar. Well, we're working on it, and we devoted some time last night and this morning to precisely that. And we want to be as clear as possible in that it has as many possible supporters in the Security Council. And as I said, our commitment is a very active commitment, and it's also very active in supporting this resolution. We know very much and very well what we're handling here and what's at stake. And what we want for the world is peace and security, and that's what we're working for with our best will, in order not to be submitted to blackmail of any kind. We're not thinking of our comfort but of our responsibility. We want peace, freedom, and prosperity for all. President Bush. Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters . Relevance of U.N. Security Council Q. It took almost 2 months to get Resolution 1441 out of the Security Council. Are you willing to wait that long this time, and is this the really last chance for the United Nations to prove its relevancy? President Bush. Yes. Si. Last chance. Q. Are you going to wait that long? President Bush. No. As the President said, time is short. Tiempo es corte. And this is a chance for the Security Council to show its relevance. And I believe the Security Council will show its relevance, because Saddam Hussein has not disarmed. President Aznar. What I want to say is that if Resolution 1441 states that it's Saddam's last opportunity, that means that time cannot be long, because the last opportunity has already been given to him. What we have to verify now is whether he has disarmed or not. If we now said that time was infinite, it would be a laugh. It would be very difficult for anyone to take us seriously, beginning with the United Nations. That would be the worst possible message we could send for peace. New U.N. Security Council Resolution on Iraq Q. My question is addressed to both Presidents. I would like to know whether in your proposed resolution you are going to be talking about the al Samoud long range missiles and whether you are going to be because Iraq has today mentioned that it was ready to start destroying them and whether in your resolution you're going to be speaking about an ultimatum, a deadline, or a threat for the use of force. What do you think this is going to be what are you going to contain? President Bush. We're in the process of discussing the language. If Iraq decides to destroy the weapons that were long range weapons, that's just the tip of the iceberg. My question is, why don't they destroy every weapon illegal weapon? Saddam Hussein wants time. And after all, he thinks he will get time, because he has done so he has deceived the world for 12 years. He'll play like he's going to disarm. He has no intention of disarming. Otherwise, he would have done so. He'll say words that encourage that sound encouraging. He's done so for 12 years. And so the idea of destroying a rocket or two rockets or however many he's going to destroy says to me that he's got a lot more weapons to destroy, and why hasn't he destroyed them yet? In terms of language, that's exactly why we've that's exactly why Jose Maria and I are talking. And we'll let you know what's in the resolution when we put it down. President Aznar. Well, what I want to say is that we cannot designate Saddam Hussein as the manager of international peace and security. We've been with this item on the agenda for 12 years. And what we cannot do is play this game in which you have inspectors are handed over something, everything is going well, but if it isn't, well, that means they're hiding weapons. So the world can make these mistakes, but the mistake we cannot make is to let Saddam Hussein being the one managing peace and a threat. And that's why we're working so intensely towards a new resolution. And that's why I'm convinced, and that's why we're all working towards these common aspirations of peace, security, and freedom for the world. President Bush. Good job. Thank you very much. Very good job. Thank you all. February 20, 2003 Thank you all very much. Thanks a lot. So, I'm on my way down to Crawford, and I thought it would be wise to stop in Cobb County. And I'm glad I did. Thank you for that incredibly warm welcome. It is wonderful to be here at Harrison High. I'm honored to be in the presence of the principal, Donnie Griggers. I want to thank he and his staff he and his fine staff for putting up with the entourage. Laughter I appreciate all the teachers here at Harrison High. I want to thank you for teaching. Yours is a noble profession, an important profession, and all of us who care about our children and our children's future thank you for teaching and sharing your wisdom and your love for our children. I appreciate the Harrison High students who are here. Listen to your teacher and your mother, by the way. I'm still listening to mine. Laughter But I'm honored the students are here, and thank you for sharing your facility with us. I've come to your school to talk about the need for this Nation to assume responsibilities, that we have a responsibility to keep the peace and to protect the homeland, that we have a responsibility to make sure this economy is strong so people can find work. We have a responsibility to nourish the entrepreneurial spirit of America. We have that responsibility. And I want to talk to you about the need for all of us to assume our responsibilities as we go through life. If you're fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving that child with all your heart and all your soul. If you're a citizen of democracy, you're responsible for participating in the political process. If you're a leader, you're responsible for doing what you think is right on behalf of all of the citizens. And that's why I'm so honored applause . Those of us in office have the responsibility to reject partisan politics which divides our Nation, that ugly politics, which says, if so and so wins, such and such has got to lose the zero sum politics that oftentimes enters the discourse of Washington, DC. We have a responsibility to lift up issues beyond the mud pit of politics. And that's why I'm so honored to be standing here with Democrat Senator Zell Miller, American first. He is the kind of fellow that tells you exactly what he thinks. If he agrees with you, he tells you he agrees with you. If he doesn't agree with you, he'll tell you that, too. Laughter One thing you can be certain of, he puts his country ahead of the political party. I'm proud to call him friend. I listen to him. And I'm proud of the fact that he is going to sponsor the tax relief plan I'm going to tell you about in a minute. I'm also proud to be traveling with Saxby Chambliss, newly elected Senator from Georgia. These two Senators make a fine combination on behalf of all the people. Your State is really well represented in the Halls of the United States Senate. I'm proud to be with the man who's got one of the greatest jobs in America, the Governor of the State of Georgia. It's interesting we're here with Sonny in a school, because I understand his passion for public education. He understands that's the number one priority of any State. And I believe a result of his leadership and working with the teachers and principals and administrators and parents, education in this great State is going to flourish for every single child. No child is going to be left behind in the State of Georgia. We've got the members of the mighty Georgia congressional delegation with us. I say "mighty" because they're mighty strong. And I'm mighty proud to call them all friends. The Congressman from this district, Johnny Isakson, is with us today. Newly elected Phil Gingrey is with us as well. And John Linder from the Atlanta region is with us. And some of the country boys from the delegation arrived with us today laughter Charlie Norwood, Mac Collins, and Max Burns, all fine Members. Thank you all for coming. I am proud to be in the presence of State and local leaders. Thank you all for being here. Recently I had a recently like 15 minutes ago, I had a chance to laughter really recently laughter I had a chance to visit with some of our fellow citizens. I'm going to talk about them a little later on. I think it's very important for our fellow Americans to know that when I talk about tax relief and talk about the entrepreneurial spirit, that it can relate directly to people in your neighborhoods and your communities. I want to thank you all for coming today. I also want to recognize a fellow named Bob Langley. Where are you, Bob? Right there. Thank you for coming. The reason I mentioned Bob is he came out to Air Force One to greet me. He represents thousands of our fellow citizens who have heard a call to help somebody in need. He is a volunteer for Hospice Atlanta and the American Cancer Society. He is a citizen, like many of you here and many around the country, who know that each of us has a responsibility to make our communities better by following our hearts and helping people in need. See, the greatest strength of America, the greatest strength of our country, lies in the hearts and souls of our fellow citizens. And my call my call to particularly the students here is that in a responsible society, not only do you have a responsibility to make right choices, but you've got a responsibility to help somebody who hurts, to make somebody's life a little brighter, to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. Here's a living example of a member of the army of compassion. Bob, I thank you for your example. I thank you for what you do in the city of Atlanta to help somebody in need. Welcome. We've got an amazing country. Just look what we have been through the last couple of years, starting with the economic challenges that this country has faced. First the stock market peaked in March of 2000, people feeling pretty good about the stock market, and then it started heading down. And then the economy went into three quarters of negative growth, which is the definition of a recession. In other words, we weren't we were going backwards for three solid quarters. That affects a lot of people's lives when that happens. It means people are can't find work. It means that instead of being optimistic about the future, many of our citizens were pessimistic about their future. And so we did something about it. I want to thank Zell for his leadership in the Halls of the Senate. We passed tax relief, which helped this economy begin to grow again. And this as the economy was beginning to grow, then the terrorists, the killers, hit us. And that affected the economic vitality of the country. There's no question about it the shock to a system, the damage that the attacks did on our financial markets as well as the airline industry, for example. But we acted. We came together as a country. We responded. The people responded with great strength and courage. The Congress responded by passing terrorism insurance. The administration responded by getting the financial markets opened quickly. We responded by helping airlines, such as Delta Airlines, to get flying again. The Nation responded. And then we suffered another shock to the system, and that is we found out some corporate citizens were not responsible citizens, because they thought they could not tell the truth and get away with it. And that caused a lot of Americans to take a step back and reflect about what they were hearing when it came to somebody's balance sheet. In other words, if they were an investor, they got a little nervous about the numbers they were looking at. So the country responded. And I had the honor of signing the most sweeping corporate accountability reforms, supported by both Republicans and Democrats, since Franklin Roosevelt was the President of the United States. And now we're sending a clear message that in a responsible society, if you don't tell the truth, there's going to be a consequence. We're going to find you and hold you to account if you don't tell the truth to shareholders and employees alike. So it's been an amazing period for this Nation and our economy to have overcome those obstacles. But there's still too many people looking for work. There's still too many people who wonder whether or not their future is bright enough. And I think we need to continue to move forward with good, positive legislation that will turn this recovery into lasting prosperity. It's to make sure that the economic growth we're seeing now lasts, so that the great American hope and American Dream can spread its can spread throughout all our society. And so you ask the question, "If things aren't going as well as they should, what should we do?" Well, I agree with Zell, with this economic theory, that when a person has more money in their pocket, they're likely to demand somebody to produce them a good or a service. In other words, you get money in your pocket, you say, "Well, I think I'd like this product, or I'd like this service." And when you make that demand in a market oriented society like ours, somebody is going to produce it. And when somebody produces a good or a service to meet your demand, it means somebody is more likely to find work. And therefore, the cornerstone of good economic policy recognizes that the money in Washington, DC, is not the Government's money. It's the people's money. And the more of it you have in your pocket, the more likely somebody is going to find a job. And that is the principle of the plan I'm going to describe to you, that I described to Congress, a plan that will be introduced by Zell and supported by the Members here, a plan that both members of both parties recognize that makes sense. It starts with reducing the rates of people who pay taxes. Everybody who pays taxes, in my judgment, ought to get rate relief. We ought not try to pick and choose. I don't think your Government wants to decide, "Well, you qualify for rate relief, and you don't." If you pay taxes and there's going to be tax reduction, everybody who pays taxes ought to get relief. It's only fair that it be done that way. You don't want your Government picking winners and losers when it comes to tax policy. Secondly, we have what's called a marriage penalty in the Tax Code. That's backwards. We ought not to penalize marriage in America. So therefore, we must phase out the effects of the marriage penalty. We've got in our Tax Code a child credit, and we think we ought to raise the child credit from 600 a child to 1,000 a child. That policy will not only help moms and dads, it will it sends the right signal in our society. It's good policy to do that. It's got the right social policy with it as well, it seems like to us. And so I've asked Congress to pass rate reductions and increase the child credit, do away with start the process of getting rid of the marriage penalty. But the interesting thing is we've already passed this, see. In 2001, the Congress decided along with a little urging from the White House, I might add laughter to reduce all rates on people who pay taxes, to get rid of the to phase out, to the extent possible, the marriage penalty, to raise the child credit to 1,000. It's been approved. But instead of approving it and having it all in one year, Congress decided in 2001 that they would phase it in over a period of years. And so I'm going to the United States Congress and say, "Wait a minute. If these tax relief is good enough 3 or 5 or 7 years from now, and the economy is not as strong as it should be, if you thought tax relief would help economic growth, let's accelerate the tax relief. You've already passed it once. Let's make it effective this year." And I'm also going to ask Congress to make sure that we make the tax relief effective as of January 1st so that it has an immediate effect on our economy. So I look forward to working with Members of the House and the Senate to get this passed, to make it effective January 1st, so that the hard working citizens of America will see this in their paychecks as soon as possible. That's how you stimulate the economy. That's how you make sure people who are looking for work can find work. I'm optimistic about our future because I'm optimistic about Americans. I'm optimistic about the entrepreneurial spirit of this country. There's a blue chip survey from leading economists that predict growth this year of 3.3 percent. And that's positive. But I want to remind the Members of Congress who are going to be studying whether or not there needs to be tax relief that a part of the fine print of this prediction is this The economists are basing this prediction on Congress passing tax relief this year. In other words, inherent in the 3.3 percent prediction of economic growth is that Congress acts in a positive way. If Congress doesn't act, there's a risk we won't have economic vitality the likes of which we all support. My point to you is that this plan makes sense. It makes sense from not only what sounds a commonsensical perspective, but it makes sense when analyzed by the economists behind the blue chip forecasts. And I'm going to remind Congress I don't need to remind these Members of Congress, but I want to remind other Members of Con gress laughter that without the stimulus, without tax reductions, we could jeopardize the recovery that we long for. I also want you to know this plan is fair, and it is balanced. One of the things that's important about any stimulative plan or tax relief plan, it's got to be fair. Under this plan, 92 million Americans receive an average tax cut of 1,083. That's fair. Nearly 2.5 million taxpayers in your State of Georgia will see lower income tax bills. That's widespread. What's interesting about tax relief, though, is how it affects our small businesses. And it's very important for our fellow citizens to know that many small business owners organize their businesses in such a way as that they pay tax at the individual tax rates. A Subchapter S corporation will pay tax at the individual tax rates. A limited partnership pays tax at the individual tax rates. A sole proprietorship pays tax at the individual tax rates. Most small businesses are one of those three are organized in one of those three fashions. So when you hear me talk about individual tax rate cuts, I want you to think about its effect on small business Georgia or small business America. In this State, 614,000 small business owners will have more money in their coffers as a result of reducing the individual tax rates. And that's important. That's important because most job growth new jobs in America are created by our small businesses, by the entrepreneurs of America. We estimate that 23 million small business owners across America will receive average income tax rate cut of 2,042. That matters. You'll hear in a minute what people do with extra money in their pockets. You know what they do? They invest, or they hire. And it's the cumulative effect of 23 million small business owners making the decision to make an investment in equipment or to hire somebody else, which will have an incredibly positive effect on this economy. We believe the tax relief plan will create 1.4 million new jobs by the end of 2004. We also believe the Tax Code ought to be used to encourage people to make wise decisions in their businesses right now. A small business can only deduct up to 25,000 in the year in which they make a capital purchase 25,000. And so we believe that in order to encourage more investment, to encourage small business owners to buy more machines, for example, that make their business grow faster or more productive, we ought to raise that limit to 75,000. If you raise the limit to 75,000 and somebody is only buying 25,000 worth of equipment because of the Tax Code, there's an additional 50,000 of purchases in a year. Somebody goes out and buys a piece of equipment, it means somebody's got to make the piece of equipment, which means somebody is likely more likely to find a job in the equipment manufacturing company. And if somebody buys that equipment, it makes their company more productive, which increases wages over time. It's really important that our fellow citizens understand the stimulative effects of good economic policy when you encourage people to make wise investments, and they have more money in their pocket to make those investments. I also want to make this Tax Code more fair. It's important that the Tax Code be fair. It's fair to tax corporate profits. That's fair. What's not fair, it seems to me, is that when a corporation distributes those profits to the shareholders in the form of what they call a dividend, that you tax it again. It doesn't make economic sense to keep taxing the same dollar over time. If part of a healthy economic society is one in which money is circulating in the private sector this causes fewer dollars to circulate it means less investment when you stand in between the owner of the company, the shareholder, and the distribution of once taxed profits of that company. And so I've asked for the Congress to join me in getting rid of the double taxation of dividends. Let me describe why I think this makes sense. First, obviously, people will have more money to invest. If an investor pays less in taxes because the double taxation of dividends is gone, that person has got more money to invest. And secondly, dividend paying stocks become more attractive to the investor. If you don't pay tax on the dividends, it's more likely you'll purchase a stock that pays dividends, and that's positive news. In other words, the benefits Americans would get more money to save and more money to invest. And that means that more capital will be available for companies, large and small, to use for expansion. The more money in circulation through investment, the more capital available. And capital equals jobs, and that's what's important to know. The greater the number of people who are willing to invest or who want to invest also helps the stock market. The markets will benefit. And that's important because America is now an ownership society. It used to be in our history that only a few would own stocks. I bet there's a lot of people in Georgia in the old days who would look up at Wall Street and say, "You know, they own stocks. What is that all about?" Well, those days have changed. There are millions of our fellow citizens who own stocks directly or through pension plans. America is an ownership society, by the way, and that is fantastic news for the future of this country. And as an ownership society, we've got to understand what it means to reduce taxes on dividends. It means there will be 20 billion this year more dollars in circulation for investment. It means that 10 million seniors, nearly one in four who receive dividend income, will get relief. Now, that's important. Ten million seniors rely upon dividend income as a way to make sure the quality of their life is strong in their retirement years 10 million of them. They rely and getting rid of the double taxation on dividends is a incredibly positive thing for the quality of life of our seniors. Nine hundred thousand of your citizens will benefit right away from getting rid of the double taxation of dividends 60 percent of them made 75,000 or less in the year 2000. That's a fair plan. There's also an old expression in economics that says, "Profit is an opinion, but cash is a fact." Laughter When a company pays a dividend, you know the profits are real. You get that check. Dividends encourage open and honest accounting. Good business practices shouldn't be punished in this Tax Code. I know there's some concern about overstating of numbers, you know, "Invest in my company because the sky's the limit. We may not be cashflowing much, but the sky's the limit." Well, when you pay dividends, that "sky's the limit" business doesn't hunt. What only matters is whether or not they can distribute that cash they say they're going to distribute. It leads to conservative business practices. It leads to being people more businesses being responsible with your money. After all, you're the owner of the company. And so this dividend policy makes sense from a senior's perspective. It makes sense to encourage investment, and it makes sense to make sure the balance sheets of America are treated with respect. And so I urge the United States Congress to listen to the citizens who will benefit from this plan and get rid of the double taxation of dividends, for the good of the American economy. And so, as I said, I recently met with some of your fellow citizens, starting with the Kings. The Kings started their own business right here, in 1996. You know, I don't know the moment it happened, but it had to have been an exciting moment for somebody to say, "I'm starting" or in this case, "we are starting our own business, something I can we can call our own." They've always invested in the profits of their firm. They believe in growing their firm, and their firm now has 60 people 60 employees, 60 people working with them. He is what I described as a Sub chapter S. The Kings pay individual tax rates for their corporation. If you're interested in the Kings expanding their business, which I am they certainly are it makes sense to reduce the tax rates they pay. And by cutting the individual tax rates, the Kings will have more cashflow. They also told me that it's important for them to have the best computers possible, that they got to got upgrade their equipment to make sure that the 60 smart folks they've got working for them have got the best ability to compete in the marketplace and that equipment purchases are important to enhance the productivity, the ability for a worker to increase their output per hour. And therefore, when we raise the exemption by 75 the ability to expense up to 75,000 of equipment purchases, they have told me they're going to invest in new equipment. The person that manufactures the equipment the Kings purchase also will have a will benefit from the tax rate reduction because it's more likely they're going to need somebody to help build that equipment. In other words, good tax policy has an effect throughout the economy. We want the Kings to continue to expand their business. I said, "Are you optimistic?" They said, "You bet we're optimistic." We want to make them a little more optimistic by letting them have more of their own money. Lee Pickard he's the pretty one in the back row or at least his mother thinks so. Laughter Anyway, he runs Mid State RV Sales and Rentals. It's his own business. He's a Subchapter S. In other words, he pays taxes at the individual tax rate, too. When you hear the rhetoric about cutting taxes on individuals, it's important for our fellow citizens to also understand how many small businesses are affected. That's why the Kings and Lee are here. They represent hundreds and thousands of the companies that pay tax at the individual rate. When we talk about income tax reductions, we're affecting his ability to save money his ability he, too, wants to increase the amount of capital expenditure he's going to make as a result of increasing the limit to 75,000. I said, "What does this mean to you?" He says, "Three more employees for next year." Three more employees from this man's good business, 3 more employees from the guy across the street, 3 more employees and 10 over here, how many for the Kings it adds up. If you're interested in job security, growth in jobs in America, the Congress must understand that this plan directly benefits the entrepreneurs of this country and will make a huge difference in the ability to find people work. It also helps individuals. Stirlyn Harris works for Stanley King. He and his wife Billie Jeanne both work, and you're doing what you'd expect them to do as the parents of two children They're saving. They're saving through the 401(k) plan, a stock purchase plan, a credit union account. They are saving. This tax relief plan will mean 1,300 extra for them. I asked them, "What does that mean, 1,300? You going to play the lottery?" Laughter He said he didn't think so. He thinks Timothy and Travis need to have as good an education as possible throughout their life. He's putting aside that money, he and his wife, Billie Jean, putting aside that money for their children's future. That extra money in their pocket will help them be responsible parents, will help them save. And you put 1,300 aside for two children who are young and let it accumulate and grow, those children are going to say, "We were blessed to have such a good mother and daddy." Tax relief has positive effects on the families of America. Carolyn Galvin is with us. She owns Storeel Corporation. Carolyn, thank you for coming. She's got a couple of things in mind. One, she wants to make sure her business grows, and she wants to leave it to her children. That's noble, and that's great. As a matter of fact, anybody who builds up their own assets ought to be able to leave it to whoever they want to. The problem is, the Government stands in between that through the death tax. For the good of the entrepreneurial spirit in America, we need to get rid of that death tax forever. Part of the 2001 tax relief package, we put the death tax on its way to extinction. But it's hard to explain what I'm about to tell you. It really doesn't go away forever, because of some of the quirky rules of the United States Senate. And we need the Senate needs to join with Zell and Saxby, who agree with me that it's important to have certainty in our society. If people need to plan for their families, it's you don't want the Tax Code saying, "Well, it may be this way it may not be this way." The tax relief plan, including getting rid of the death tax, needs to be made permanent. Carolyn says that as a result of allowing for more expensing, she's going to quadruple the investments that her company will make this year. That's important. As she makes additional investments, somebody is more likely to find work. It has a positive effect. Her decision, one of millions of decisions that will be made, will have an incredibly positive effect on a person looking for work. There is a connection between her decision and jobs, and there is a connection between how she makes a decision and good tax policy. I also want you to know that her tax bill will fall by about 5,500 this year alone, mainly because we're getting rid of the double taxation of dividends. It is likely I'm not going to tell her what to do, but it is likely she will, being the optimistic soul that she is laughter will invest that, is make a decision that, "Well, you know, things are going to get better. I think I'll buy a stock or two or save it." And it's that act, that decision, that circulates more capital in the private sector which helps this economy recover. No, the people that we have talked to today Chris Mitchell and Pamela Talley Pamela, by the way, is a single mom. She's got the toughest job in America. It's a hard job. She can use a little extra money of her own money, by the way. She told me that she wants to save for her 3 year old child's education as well. See, these are real life stories that will affect this economy. The whole premise of the jobs and growth package is to trust people with their own money, based upon the idea that more money in your pocket will mean more consumption and more investment. More consumption and more investment means somebody is more likely to find work. Not only do we need to deal with this economy and we'll spend a lot of time on it in Washington and, I'm confident, pass good legislation but we'll continue to make sure this homeland is secure. In order to make sure the homeland was more secure, we're obviously spending money on our military and on homeland security. And when you couple that with a recession, which means less money coming to Government, we've got us a deficit. First of all, you've got to know, when it comes to the deficit, I'm I believe the best way to get out of it is to grow the economy so more revenues come in and then make sure Congress doesn't overspend. But as we insist that Congress be wise with your money, we're going to make sure we spend enough to win this war. And by spending enough to win a war, we may not have a war at all. We've got to spend enough to protect this homeland too. But the money the budget I submitted holds growth setting a priority our military, setting as a priority our homeland security it holds growth to 4 percent on discretionary spending. That's about as much as the average America's family's income is expected to grow this year. To me, it's a good benchmark for the year 2003. Congress needs to make sure that it holds discretionary spending to 4 percent. If it's good enough for the American family's income, it's good enough for the spending habits of the United States Congress. This great country is equal to every challenge we face here at home, and it's equal to every challenge we face abroad, and we've got some challenges. As we move to strengthen this economy, we're going to protect the American people and this homeland against ruthless killers. The terrorists who struck the United States are still determined to harm this country. It's the cold reality of the 21st century, but we are even more determined to hunt them down one by one, to disrupt their plans, and to bring them to justice. It's important it's very important for our citizens to understand the significant change that took place on September the 11th, 2001. Obviously, it changed a lot of people's lives, and we still mourn for the families who lost life. But it used to be that oceans we thought oceans could protect us, that we were guarded by the oceans, and that if there was a threat overseas, as a result of the protection from the oceans, we could decide whether to be involved or not. It might affect us overseas, but it couldn't affect us at home. And therefore, we have the luxury of kind of picking and choosing gathering threats. That changed on September the 11th, 2001, because the stark reality of 2001 is that America is now a battlefield, that the war has come home. And therefore, this Nation must also confront not only shadowy terrorist networks but the gravest danger in the war on terror outlaw regimes arming to threaten the peace with weapons of mass destruction. After Secretary of State Powell's presentation to the United Nations Security Council, the world knows that Saddam Hussein has weapons of mass destruction, even though he said he didn't, and that he is not complying with the United Nations demands to destroy them. He is actively deceiving the inspectors. He is actively hiding the weapons. And so the Security Council, earlier on, gave Saddam Hussein one final chance to disarm, and he's throwing that chance away. If military force becomes necessary to disarm Iraq, this Nation, joined by others, will act decisively in a just cause, and we will prevail. Military action is this Nation's last option. And let me tell you what's not an option. Trusting in the sanity and restraint of Saddam Hussein is not an option denial and endless delay in the face of growing danger is not an option leaving the lives and the security of the American people at the mercy of this dictator and his weapons of mass destruction, not an option. America and our allies are called once again to defend the peace against an aggressive tyrant, and we accept this responsibility. We defend the security of our country, but our cause is broader. If war is forced upon us, we will liberate the people of Iraq from a cruel and violent dictator. The Iraqi people today are not treated with dignity, but they have the right to live in dignity. The Iraqi people today are not allowed to speak out for freedom, but they have a right to live in freedom. We don't believe freedom and liberty are America's gift to the world we believe they are the Almighty's gift to mankind. And for the oppressed people of Iraq, people whose lives we care about, the day of freedom is drawing near. A free Iraq can be a source of hope for all the Middle East. Instead of threatening its neighbors and harboring terrorists, Iraq can be an example of progress and prosperity in a region that needs both. If we liberate the Iraqi people, they can rest assure that we will help them build a country that is disarmed and peaceful and united and free. The disarmament of Iraq will also demonstrate that free nations have the will and resolve to defend the peace. By defeating this threat, we will show other dictators that the path of aggression will lead to their own ruin. By defeating the threat of Iraq, we will show the world we will show that the world is able and prepared to meet future dangers wherever they arise. Our goal is peace, and achieving peace requires resolve and action by free nations. In a more peaceful world, the American people will not live in fear, and the Iraqi people will not live in oppression. The United States of America, joined by many nations by many nations is committed to building a world at peace and bringing a better day. There is no question in my mind no question in my mind that because of the strength of this country, the heart and soul of the American people, the courage of the American people, the determination of the American people, and the values of the American people, that we can have a more peaceful world, a more just society, and a more hopeful America. May God bless you all. February 18, 2003 The President. Darn right. Bill, welcome, and Jane, thanks for coming. It's my honor to welcome your family here to the Roosevelt Room. And I'm proud to welcome Bill Donaldson as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Bill will be a strong leader of the SEC and a forceful advocate for the interests of investors. He's the right man at the right time. We're so honored you've agreed to accept this challenge, really appreciate it. Bill Donaldson spent a career preparing for this challenge. He has served as a founder of a leading investment banking firm, chairman of the New York Stock Exchange, the founding dean of the Yale School of Management. He has set high standards throughout his entire career. He will lead an active and energetic agency. This agency has been working hard. They've last year filed a record number of actions for financial reporting and disclosure violations, sought the removal of more than 100 corporate officers and directors on the grounds of misconduct, and ordered corporations and executives to return to investors hundreds of million dollars in improper gains. This administration is committed to the enforcement of the security laws. We're committed to creating a climate of confidence in our markets. There's no better person to help achieve that commitment than Bill Donaldson. In the 2004 budget, I'm asking Congress to increase SEC funding by 73 percent over the year 2002. We want to make sure the SEC has the tools necessary to pursue its important mission. This Nation is increasingly a nation of stockholders, who invest for their families and for their futures. Americans should be confident in the information they use in order to make investment decisions. All investors deserve to be treated fairly in the Tax Code as well. Investors should not be punished for saving and investing in America's future. Investors should not be should be rewarded for taking risk in the marketplace. The Tax Code ought to treat these people fairly, and so that's why I've proposed that Congress end the unfair and unwise double taxation of dividends. This measure could improve corporate governance in America as well. Companies across America attract investors in a number of ways. One such way is to promise rapid growth, is to say, "Even though we may not have cashflow, the future of our company is magnificent. Therefore, invest with us." Another way, of course, is to promise a steady source of income in the form of dividends. Eliminating double taxation of dividends would give more companies a reason to distribute their profits through direct cash to investors in the form of dividends. With dividends serving as a stronger foundation for long term value, companies that pay them will have less motive to artificially inflate profits just to cause temporary increases in stocks. Our law should not discriminate against those companies that focus on stable, long term growth. Eliminating the double taxation of dividends is good for American investors it's good for American seniors it's good for corporate reform. I'm glad Bill Donaldson has agreed to take charge of an agency with the vital purpose of showing the American investor that they're can rely upon the data on which they use to evaluate investments, to really say to the markets loud and clear that we expect there to be corporate integrity throughout our system. This is a man who has not only set high standards but has achieved them. He's got a lot of talent and a lot of drive, a lot of wisdom, and a lot of integrity. Mr. Chairman. At this point, Chairman Donaldson made brief remarks. The President. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good job. Chairman Donaldson. Thanks. The President. Thank you. Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press . I'll answer a couple of questions here. Protests and Action Against Iraq Q. Thank you, Mr. President. What do you make of the fact that millions of people across the globe have taken to the streets to protest your approach to Iraq? And if you decide to go to war, how do you wage a campaign in the face of such stiff opposition? The President. Two points One is that democracy is a beautiful thing and that people are allowed to express their opinion. I welcome people's right to say what they believe. Secondly, evidently some of the world don't view Saddam Hussein as a risk to peace. I respectfully disagree. Saddam Hussein has gassed his own people. Saddam Hussein has got weapons of mass destruction. Saddam Hussein has made has defied the United Nations. Saddam Hussein is providing links to terrorists. Saddam Hussein is a threat to America, and we will deal with him. You know, I war is my last choice. But the risk of doing nothing is even a worst option, as far as I'm concerned. I owe it to the American people to secure this country. I will do so. Q. Have you decided how to do so yet? The President. Pardon me? Q. Have you decided how you're going to deal with him yet? The President. Hopefully, Saddam Hussein will disarm. Q. Mr. President The President. If he chooses not to disarm, as I have been saying for a long time, Ron, we'll lead a coalition of the willing to disarm him. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . U.N. Security Council Resolutions on Iraq Q. Should a second resolution on Iraq include a deadline? And how are you going to get around the opposition from France, Russia, and China? The President. We're working with our friends. As I said, a second resolution would be useful. We don't need a second resolution. It's clear this guy could even care less about the first resolution. He's in total defiance of 1441. But we want to work with our friends and allies to see if we can get a second resolution. That's what we're doing right now. Q. With a deadline? The President. We're working with our friends and allies right now to how best to get a resolution out of the United Nations. As I say, it would be helpful to get one out. It's not necessary, as far as I'm concerned. Turkey Q. Mr. President, are you any closer to an aid package for Turkey, particularly given the continued problems with NATO regarding any defense of Turkey? The President. Well, first of all, as you know, NATO did express their desire to help Turkey, and I appreciate the NATO Allies. I also appreciate the EU statement yesterday that Saddam Hussein needs to fully disarm. I thought those were positive developments. We're working closely with the Turks. And you know, we've got great respect for the Turkish Government. They've got had no better friend than the American Government. And hopefully we can come up with an agreement that's satisfactory to both parties. We're still working it. Yes, Bill Bill Plante, CBS News . Iraq United Nations Q. Mr. President, would it be easier to win the peace after the war in Iraq if there is one if you had the allies with you going in? And what about the idea of an ultimatum for Saddam, another last chance? The President. Well, you mean another, another, another last chance? Well, he knows my feelings, and that is he needs to disarm completely, totally disarm. Listen, he's a fellow that likes to buy time through deception and delay. He believes time is on his side. After all, he was quoted in an Egyptian newspaper as saying all he's got to do is stall and defy the world, and, you know, coalitions will fall apart. I am determined to keep the peace. I'm determined to hold this man to account. And there's two reasons why One, we have the obligation, I have the obligation, this administration has the obligation to do everything we can to protect the American people secondly, I think it's very important for the United Nations to be useful as we go out into the future. And there's nothing less useful than issuing a resolution and then not upholding the resolution. And, after all, I want to remind the people that this man has been in defiance of resolution after resolution after resolution after resolution for 12 long years. And I think unless the United Nations shows some backbone and courage, it will render the it could render the Security Council irrelevant. And that's a danger, in dealing with the new threats that the civilized world faces. We face terrorism. We face the idea of people having nuclear arms. We face people who have got weapons of mass destruction. We face these deadly terrorist networks teaming up with countries with weapons of mass destruction who could attack anytime. Those are the threats of the 21st century. The best way to deal with those threats is to have international organizations which are effective. And if the United Nations can't enforce its own resolutions a resolution which, by the way, has been around for 12 years it says something about its utility as we head into the future. I want the United Nations to be effective body. I think it's in our country's interest that it be effective. And we'll see whether or not it's got the capacity to be effective. Yes, Anne Anne Kornblut, Boston Globe . Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom Q. Given the size of the protests in England over the weekend, do you have any concerns that Tony Blair might pay a serious political price for supporting you on Iraq? The President. I think anytime somebody shows courage, when it comes to peace, that the people will eventually understand that. First of all, you know, size of protest, it's like deciding, well, I'm going to decide policy based upon a focus group. The role of a leader is to decide policy based upon the security in this case, the security of the people. Tony Blair understands that Saddam Hussein is a risk. Tony Blair sees that, you know, a weakened United Nations is not good for world peace. And he is a courageous leader, and I'm proud to call him friend. Another courageous leader is coming to the ranch this weekend, Jose Maria Aznar. I'm looking forward to having a good meeting with him. These are men of vision. They see the task at hand. And I'm proud to call them allies. We'll work together for the sake of peace. Listen, thank you all very much. February 15, 2003 Good morning. Last week the national terrorist threat level was raised to "high." This is primarily a signal to Federal, State, and local law enforcement to take additional precautions and increase security measures against potential terrorist attacks. Raising the threat level also informs the general public to be more alert to their surroundings and prepared for possible emergencies in the event of an attack. Americans should go about their lives. And for those seeking specific guidance on how to be more vigilant, I encourage you to visit the Department of Homeland Security web site at dhs.gov. These recent threats are a stark reminder that our country remains engaged in a war on terror. Our enemies are still determined to attack America, and there is no such thing as perfect security against a hidden network of killers. Yet, I assure you that our government at every level is responding to this threat, working to track down every lead and standing watch 24 hours a day against terrorism. This past week, Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge issued strategic plans to protect our critical infrastructure. These plans will guide local officials in securing our Nation's dams and powerplants, electrical grids, computer networks, and communications systems. Our effort to safeguard the homeland includes tighter security at the borders and ports of entry. We have posted more than 50,000 newly trained Federal screeners at airports. We have begun inoculating troops and first responders against smallpox. We are deploying the Nation's first early warning network of sensors to detect biological attack. And we are moving to better coordinate the efforts of law enforcement. This week at FBI headquarters, I spoke to some of the fine men and women who are leading our antiterrorism efforts in law enforcement and intelligence. The FBI, CIA, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Defense are working together as never before to assemble and analyze the threat information so we can act before our enemies can strike us. We are gathering the best information possible and using it to make sure the right people are in the right places to protect our citizens. Throughout the country, Joint Terrorism Task Forces are bringing together Federal, State, and local officials to fight terrorism. The FBI is expanding its terrorist identification system so that 18,000 State and local law enforcement agencies will be able to identify known or suspected terrorists almost immediately. Local police will be able to access Federal terrorist information from their squad cars to determine whether individuals they have pulled over or detained have terrorist links. I've also asked Congress to fill a critical need in our defense against bioterror by committing almost 6 billion to quickly make available effective vaccines and treatments against agents like smallpox, anthrax, botulinum toxin, Ebola, and plague. Our Nation is preparing for a variety of threats we hope never will arrive. Many of these dangers are unfamiliar and unsettling. Yet the best way to fight these dangers is to anticipate them and act against them with focus and determination. This vigilance is a fundamental responsibility of your Government, and we are fulfilling that duty in every way we can. In the fight against terror, the American people are resolute. We will persevere, and we will prevail. Thank you for listening. February 14, 2003 Thanks for the warm welcome. It's nice to be back to the FBI again. The last time I was here was 14 months ago, and our country had just realized we were at war. We had just learned that America was a battlefield. Since the morning this country was attacked on September the 11th, folks in law enforcement all around the country have been working under urgent and difficult circumstances. And the first thing I want to tell you all is that this Nation is grateful for your hard work. Across the world we are tracking and confronting and defeating international terror. Within our own country, we're taking unprecedented measures to protect the American people against a serious and continuing danger. There is no such thing as perfect security against a hidden network of coldblooded killers. Yet, abroad and at home, we're not going to wait until the worst dangers are upon us. We continue to be in a state of war, but we're making progress. And today I want to talk about the Terrorist Threat Integration Center, which will help us meet the challenges of war, will help us do everything we can to say clearly to the American people, "We're working overtime to protect you. We're doing everything in our power to make sure the homeland is secure." The officials who are present here represent thousands of patriotic Americans who know that we've been called into action, that this is a new era. One of the reasons I express such confidence in the country is because I understand the character of the people who have been called into action. And there's no doubt in my mind we will prevail. I want to thank Attorney General John Ashcroft for doing such a fabulous job at the Department of Justice. He's assembled a fantastic team which is representing our country with distinction. I want to thank Tom Ridge for becoming the first Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. I want to thank Wolfowitz and Armitage, who are up here with us two of the prettiest members of my administration. Laughter They're doing a fabulous job. Paul works with the Secretary of Defense, Don Rumsfeld. Dick works with the Secretary of State, Colin Powell. Both these men are incredibly important members of a team that is doing everything in our power to protect freedom and security and peace. I appreciate their hard work. I want to thank Bob Mueller, who's transforming the FBI. He's got all my confidence. And so does the Director of the CIA, George Tenet. Both these men head incredibly important agencies in our war against terror. Both of them have responded to the call. America is better off for their service to our country. I want to thank the Members of Congress who are here. I see Senator George Allen is here, Chris Cox, Frank Wolf, Jim Turner, and Jane Harman, Members of the Congress the House, the last four representing both political parties. I want to thank you for your dedication to the country. It's been a joy to work with you all to better secure our homeland, to join together to do everything we can to protect America. I also want to thank Chief Ramsey, who is here, and Chief Moose and Jim Pasco. I appreciate you all and all the other local law enforcement officials who have come today. You play an integral role in the defense of our country. You're on the frontline, and for that the American people are grateful. When you get back home, I hope you tell the troops how much I respect them and what they do, how much America counts on them, and how grateful we are for their sacrifices on behalf of the safety and security of the American people. Before September the 11th if you can remember that far back we all thought oceans could protect us from attack. The Nation thought we were secure from any gathering danger that might be occurring somewhere else. After all, our history pretty well predicted that we would be safe. But everything changed on that morning, and it's important for our fellow citizens to understand that everything did change, that we must do everything in our power to stop an enemy from coming here to hurt us that's our first task. Last week's decision to raise our national terrorist threat is a stark reminder of the new era we're in, that we're at war and the war goes on. We've got agencies at every level meeting threats. We've got people standing watch 24 hours a day. Perseverance is power in this war. Determination is essential in this war. We will persevere, and it doesn't matter how long it takes. See, that's the nature of the country that we live in. We owe it to our citizens to protect us within the Constitution that we're all sworn to uphold, and we will do that. We're not only doing everything here at home, but we're doing everything we can abroad. Let me first tell you this We're winning the war on terror. We've hauled in thousands of terrorists. They're captured. They're off the street. They're not a problem. Like number were not as lucky, and they're not a problem, either. We're dismantling Al Qaida one person at time. There used to be a kind of a brain trust of these people, and slowly but surely, we're bringing them to justice. We're at war in a different kind of war. It's a war that requires us to be on an international manhunt. We're on the hunt. It's a war that causes us to need to get the enemy on the run. We got them on the run. And it's just a matter of time before we bring them to justice. This war requires us to understand that terror is broader than one international network, that these terrorist networks have got connections, in some cases, to countries run by outlaw dictators. And that's the issue with Iraq. When I speak about the war on terror, I not only talk about Al Qaida. I talk about Iraq, because, after all, Saddam Hussein has got weapons of mass destruction, and he's used them. Saddam Hussein is used to deceiving the world, and he continues to do so. Saddam Hussein has got ties to terrorist networks. Saddam Hussein is a danger, and that's why he will be disarmed one way or the other. All our successes in the war on terror depend on the ability of our intelligence and law enforcement agencies to work in common purpose. In order to better protect our homeland, our intelligence agencies must coexist like they never have before. In order to hunt the terrorists down, one by one, our intelligence agencies must cooperate fully with agencies overseas. Under the leadership of Director Tenet and Mueller, the CIA and the FBI have improved their communications and cooperation. These agencies are now quicker to share intelligence with each other. And we've enhanced an overseas coordination as well. When you read in the newspapers that a European country has hauled in parts of a poison network, it's important to understand that the reason they were able to do so is because we shared intelligence, that we're cooperating, that this vast network of freedom loving countries is intact and real. And the message is, either you're with us or with the terrorists, and it still stands. The increased cooperation of the CIA and FBI counterterrorism operations is proving to be one of the greatest advantages in this war on terror. Under the leadership of Bob Mueller, the FBI has been transforming itself since September the 11th. It has no greater priority than preventing terrorist attacks against America. The Bureau has assigned more than 1,800 agents to counterterrorism. That's a 40 percent increase than prior to September the 11th. In other words, this agency now understands that we're at war and the first responsibility of an incredibly important agency, the FBI, is to prevent the enemy from hitting us and hurting us. The agents that are out working in the field are gathering an evaluation evaluating information all the time, which helps us deal with any terrorist threat. We're also strengthening the counterterrorism efforts by forming partnerships across all levels of the government. It's important for our fellow citizens to know that there is great cooperation between the Federal Government and the State government and the local governments. We've formed what's called joint terrorism task forces throughout our country, which bring together dedicated officials at all levels of government. Not only is the cooperation better between the CIA and the FBI, not only is the cooperation better between intelligence gathering services all around the world, but our cooperation at the Federal, State, and local level is unprecedented. And it needs to be, because we fight a ruthless enemy. The FBI is expanding the terrorist identification system so that 18,000 State and local law enforcement agencies will be better able to identify known or suspected terrorists in near real time. Local police officers will be able to access Federal terrorism information from their squad cars. In other words, a guy in Crawford pulls somebody over, he's able to call up whether or not the person is on a terrorist list, whether or not the person is a suspect. All across our country we'll be able to tie our terrorist information to local information banks so that the frontline of defeating terror becomes activated and real, and those are the local law enforcement officials. We expect them to be a part of our effort we must give them the tools necessary so they can do their job. We will continue to work with Congress to make sure that the budgets reflect the new reality of the 21st century. That's why I requested 500 million for additional money for training preparedness equipment, technical assistance for State and local law enforcement. The Terrorist Threat Integration Center marks another crucial advance in meeting the threats of this time. This joint effort across many Departments of our Government will integrate and analyze all terrorist threat information, collected domestically and abroad, in a single location. And that's an important advance. The goal is to develop a comprehensive picture of terrorist activity. When the center is fully operational, it will fully house a database of known and suspected terrorists that officials across the country will be able to access and act upon. I'm pleased that Bob George Tenet and Bob Mueller will take the next important steps in assembling their counterterrorism resources, both operational and analytical, and locate them in a single facility with the Terrorist Threat Integration Center. The new Department of Homeland Security will be a full partner in this center. The Department will act to identify and reduce our vulnerabilities to terrorism and coordinate with the FBI to ensure the threat information is quickly disseminated. All of these efforts will formalize a new spirit of cooperation that began 15 months ago. The American people need to know that we're collecting a lot of information and we're going to share it in a way that enables us to do our jobs that you expect us to do, that we're going to use the best information technologies available to not only make sure information flows freely at the Federal level but flows from this databank of information to local law enforcement officials. It will enable us to make sure that we do everything we can to win the war on terror at home, just like we're going to do everything we can by unleashing one of the greatest militaries the greatest military ever assembled abroad. We've got fabulous men and women in uniform who are on the hunt. The finest, bravest soldiers ever known to mankind are helping us track them down, one by one. And if we have to send them into Iraq to make sure that that regime is disarmed, we'll use every ounce of our ingenuity and technology to protect innocent life of the Iraqi people, at the same time achieve an objective of achieving world peace. One of the things this country stands for is freedom. That's what we believe. For years the freedom of our people were really never in doubt because no one ever thought that the terrorists or anybody could come and hurt America. But that changed. As a matter of fact, the more threatened we are here at home, the more we love freedom. The more there's a chance that somebody might think they can take it away from us, the more stubborn we are in our demand for freedom universally. As I said in my State of the Union, liberty is not America's gift to the world it is God's gift to each and every human being. So as we pursue peace, we also pursue liberty. We care about those who suffer under the hands of a dictator in Iraq. We care deeply about those who dissent and then are tortured, about those who express an opinion other than what the dictator thinks and are raped and mutilated. The condition of the Iraqi citizen is on our mind and in our hearts. As we work to secure the peace, we'll always hold those values of freedom dear to our heart. There's no question in my mind that the challenges we face will be overcome, because our Nation is full of decent and honorable and strong people, many of whom are in this room. Thank you for caring about your country. May God bless your work. And may God continue to bless America. February 13, 2003 The President. Thank you all. Thanks for the warm welcome. I'm sure glad I came. Laughter It's I want to talk about some of the challenges which face our country. A little later on, I'm going to go speak to those souls who wear the uniform of the United States military and thank them for their service to the country and tell them we've got all the confidence in their capacity to help us keep the peace and promote freedom. It's clear we have challenges abroad, particularly the challenge to keep the peace, to secure our homeland, to adjust our way of thinking to make sure that we do everything we can to say with complete confidence that we'll protect America. We'll protect this generation of Americans, and we'll secure the homeland and make the world more peaceful, so that future generations of Americans can grow up in peace. That's a big challenge. And equally as big a challenge is to make sure our economy is strong so that America is a hopeful place, that our economy is strong enough to make sure the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well and today we're going to talk to some entrepreneurs who are living the American Dream that our economy is strong enough to make sure moms and dads have got the capacity to save and invest for their children if that's what they choose to do, that our economy is strong enough so that people who are looking for work can find a job. And that's also a challenge we face. Today you'll hear me talk about the plan that I have asked Congress to approve. I want the folks on the stage up here to share with me and with you and others listening what that plan means for their lives. In Washington, we spend a lot of time talking about numbers. I like to remind people that behind each number is somebody's life and why the plan that I've described to the Congress is such an optimistic, hopeful plan for every American. Before I begin, I want to thank Broth er that would be your Governor. So he had his 50th birthday on the 11th of February. I called him and said, "Happy birthday. Fifty is not quite as old as it seemed to be, is it?" Laughter But we're proud of him, and we love him. Actually, I had coffee with Mother and Dad this morning. And Mother said to make sure I told Jeb she loved him still, so laughter she still loves you. Laughter I want to thank Hector Barreto for being here as well. Hector is the head of the Small Business Administration. One of the commitments of this administration is to promote the entrepreneurial spirit throughout all our country. We want anybody from any walk of life to realize if they have a dream and work hard, they can realize their dreams. That's the greatness of America. And I'm honored that Joe, Joe Dagher, would invite us into his facility. He had a dream. He realized his dream. He owns his own business. He can call it his own. And we're proud of you, Joe, and thanks for letting us come. So here's my attitude about economic growth and vitality. It's based upon the principle that if people have more money in their pocket, they're likely to demand a good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service, somebody in the marketplace is going to produce a good or a service. And when somebody meets that demand with production, somebody is more likely to find work. And so when you couple that with the understanding that the role of Government is not to create wealth but an environment in which the entrepreneur is willing to take risks, it yields this kind of plan. I believe we ought to cut the rates on everybody who pays taxes, and I believe that we ought to reduce the income tax rates. But you know what's interesting is Congress has already agreed with that plan. In the year 2001, in the face of a recession, we convinced both Republicans and Democrats to support a rate reduction. It helped make our recession more shallow. People did get more money in their pockets, and they did spend that money. What's interesting about the rate reduction plan that we've proposed is that it is scheduled to phase in over time. It takes 5 years to get the rates down. It takes years to get the child credit up to 1,000 per child. It takes years to get the marriage penalty reduced to where we want it to be reduced to. Now, if the economy is still not as strong as it should be and if Congress has already recognized that tax rate reduction helps economic growth, my message to the United States Congress is Speed up the growth. If it's good enough 5 years from now, it is good enough today. This economy needs immediate help, so I will ask Congress, when they pass the bill, to make it retroactive to January 1st, which means workers will get money in their pockets immediately, will mean small businesses will get money to invest immediately. It will have an immediate effect on today's economy, something I think we need, something a lot of Americans understand we need, as we coming out of recession and recovering from a terrorist attack and as we're finally getting washing out of the system those who thought they could lie and cheat when it came to their balance sheets. We're recovering from three shocks to the system, and we need a little further wind at the back of this economy. Now, that means 92 million Americans will receive an average income tax relief package of 1,083. And that's good. And we'll hear from some of our fellow citizens up here about how much relief this means for them. And if they feel like it, they may share with us what they intend to do with it. Laughter But one thing is for certain, I will assure them, is at least I understand the money we're talking about up in Washington is not the Government's money. See, it's their money and your money. It's the people's money we're talking about. Now, one of the things reasons we came to Joe's business is, I wanted to make it very clear to the American people that tax rate reductions have got an incredibly positive effect on small businesses. Most small businesses are what they call a sole proprietorship or a limited partnership or a Subchapter S corporation. If you happen to be one of those three entities, you pay tax at your business, on your business profits, at the individual income tax rates. And so therefore, by reducing income tax rates, you're really affecting small business growth, and because over half the jobs in America are created by small businesses, it makes sense to stimulate that aspect of our economy. Twenty three million businesses will receive over 2,000 in income tax relief. Now, that means a lot when you start thinking about the implications. I mean, you've got a one man shop 2,000 may mean the capacity to buy a machine, leverage the money to buy a machine, which means another job. One of the things we understand in America, though, is investments equals jobs, and therefore, one of the things we're going to try to do is encourage more investment. And so I want to right now, small businesses are limited to the deduction of only 25,000 for a capital expenditure. We want to raise it to 75,000, to encourage small businesses to buy more equipment. And so those are two aspects of this plan that makes sense. One is how to encourage people to have how do we encourage Congress to let people have more money in their pocket, for the good of economic growth and jobs, and what do we do about stimulating small business activity and growth. The third aspect of the plan is really to make the Tax Code more fair. We tried to address that earlier, by the way. It is unfair to tax a person's assets twice. That's why I've called upon Congress to get rid of the death tax. See, really what we want is, we want our small business owners to work hard, to keep their vision, to build up their assets, so they can leave it to whoever they want to leave it to, without the Government standing in between. Congress passed it. They need to make that aspect of the tax relief permanent, like they need to make all aspects of tax relief permanent. But today I want to talk to you about another unfair aspect of the Tax Code, and that is the double taxation of dividends. It's fair to tax a company's profits. What's not fair is when you take the company takes those profits and distributes them to one of the owners of the company, the shareholder, and that person then has to pay tax on it. It means Government is really interfering with capital. It means there's less capital in the system for investment. And if investment means jobs, by nature, getting rid of the double taxation of dividends will make it easier for capital to accumulate, make it more likely people will find work. Secondly, the double taxation of dividends hurts our senior citizens. It's particularly acute here in the State of Florida. There's over 10 million seniors rely upon dividend income during their retirement years. Why would we want to have something unfair in the Tax Code which also penalizes those who we really need to help after their retirement? The double taxation of dividends will also put a premium on good accounting. In other words, if you're distributing dividends, your whole growth portfolio, your whole growth agenda will be based upon yield, as opposed to pie in the sky projections. Of course, people will say, "Well, gosh, I'm going to invest in this company because I want a share of their cashflow or share of their profits." And therefore, the company ownership must base its projections on how they treat the shareholder, as opposed to some pie in the sky prognostication about what may or may not occur. Growth will occur based upon the certainty of the dividend being distributed. It will be a really important corporate reform in America, in my judgment. So this is what I've asked the Congress to approve. There's a lot of talk about whether or not this is what they call stimulative, whether or not it will affect the economy. Of course it will, because over the next 15 months we'll have pumped in 100 billion of additional money into the private sector. That money will circulate. As that money circulates, it's more likely somebody is going to be able to find work. And so I'm here not only to share the details of the plan with you I'm here to ask you to contact your Senators and your Members of Congress, remind them of whose money we're talking about, and remind them of the philosophy I've just outlined to you as how best to create jobs. The role of Government is to create an environment in which people are willing to risk and take risks and to go to work and work hard, and tax relief encourages that kind of environment. So we're going to first start off and hear from Sue Butts. Sue is a entrepreneur. She owns her own business. She owns Supreme Janitorial. She has owned it since 1968. Is that right? Ms. Butts. Ninety two. The President. Ninety two. Okay. Laughter Ms. Butts. It's been in existence since '68. The President. You bought it in '92. Ms. Butts. Ninety two. The President. I will just tell you that she will receive a 3,300 tax reduction if Congress when Congress passes this plan. I'm optimistic, by the way, that Congress is going to get the message. Why don't you tell us? Give us your thoughts. At this point, the discussion proceeded. The President. Yes, I think it's important for our fellow citizens to know that there are ways for Government to incent people to invest, and this is a good way. I mean, here's a classic example of somebody who has limited the amount she is going to invest based upon tax policy. And the idea of raising the limit to 75,000, in this case, it sounds like, could encourage more investment. Now, what that means is somebody is going to be tasked with building the machine she purchases or the equipment she purchases, and that person will be working. And then, of course, the people who she hires will have more equipment. And it may mean that she needs an extra person to deal with the equipment she purchases. Economies grow with the circulation of money. And this is a classic example of how tax policy will encourage investment and the circulation of money. And so, thanks for sharing that with us. Congratulations on being a successful entrepreneur, by the way. Ms. Butts. Thank you, Mr. President. The President. James is a installation supervisor. He is a taxpayer. He is a man who has got a daughter that he cares a lot about. And he's a guy who is going to have his taxes fall by 20 percent when this plan goes through. You see, there's a lot of rhetoric in Washington about the rich this, rich that, class warfare. This is the kind of guy I'm worried about, and this is what this tax plan the tax plan speaks to people like James Thomas. Welcome. The discussion continued. The President. You've got more to say than that. Here's your chance. Laughter Mr. Thomas. I'm going to let it rest at that. The President. See, here's the thing about you know, a dad puts aside money for the daughter. The daughter invests it. It rolls over. There is a compounding effect when it comes to investments. Money saved and invested will keep rolling over and rolling over. So the 2,100, by the time she goes to college 8 years from now, will be significantly larger than that. And I appreciate you thinking about that. It's very important for people to make the sacrifices for their children. It's hard to raise kids. Tax relief will make it easier for people to make sacrifices. It will help people meet the priorities they've set. And I want to thank you, James, for that. Zim is an entrepreneur. He Zim, tell us about your business. You've got some of your employees here, too. The discussion continued. The President. We're in Joe's house, Joe's business. Joe, tell us what you do. Tell us when you started this company, why you started the company. And thanks for letting us come by. The discussion continued. The President. This country must never forget what Joe just said. This is a welcoming society, based upon allowing people to realize their dreams. I love to be in the presence of somebody who is realizing their dreams. We love freedom in America. We love the fact that people are free. And I want to remind you what I said, Joe, and I believe this as sure as I'm sitting here Liberty is not America's gift to the world liberty is the Almighty God's gift to mankind. We just have a chance here in America to protect liberty and freedom. And I want to thank you for sharing that with us. Another man who is living the American experience is Joey Gonzalez, a hard working man. You recommend him, don't you? He works for Zim. Laughter Joey, thanks for coming. The discussion continued. The President. What you just said you said, your most important job is not working for Zim, necessarily your most important job is to be a loving dad. And I appreciate that example. The discussion continued. The President. Jodie also works with Zim. And Jodie, we're proud you're here. She's married. She's got a little girl who is 9. The discussion continued. The President. Well, I appreciate you sharing that with us. Thanks. You're right, some of those pennies are going to the Government, and they should. I mean, as a matter of fact, I'm now going over to the base, and we're sending people into harm's way. They deserve the best pay, the best equipment, the best possible training. And that requires there are legitimate uses of Government. But what we're talking about today is really setting priorities, funding those priorities, but remembering how to increase revenues. Revenues increase with economic vitality and fiscal discipline in Washington, DC. Revenues increase by empowering people and entrepreneurs and small businesses to grow and, at the same time, saying to Congress, "Let us focus on important priorities." Remember whose money it is we're talking about. We're talking about your money. And I want to thank you all for coming today to give us give me a chance to talk about our vision for economic vitality and growth, for letting people understand that behind every number there is a life that will benefit, and when individuals benefit or small businesses benefit, we all benefit. It's the cumulative effect of millions of acts decisionmakers in the marketplace, which affects job creation. This administration is committed to job growth. I want to repeat to you, so long as any American who wants to work can't find a job, we will be committed to job growth. And so I want to thank you for giving me a chance to come and share this plan with you. This is a realistic plan. It is a hopeful plan. It is a plan based upon sound principle. It's a plan which will work. It's a plan that your Members of Congress Ander is all right. Don't worry about him Crenshaw is with us. John Mica is with us. I don't worry about those two. But there are some who haven't gotten the message yet, and they need to hear from you. And you can start right here in the State of Florida, contacting your elected Representatives and letting them know how you feel. I want to thank you for coming. I want you to know that we're citizens of the greatest country on the face of the Earth. God bless. February 13, 2003 Thank you all very much. Admiral, thank you for that for those kind words, and thanks for the warm welcome. I'm honored to be with the service men and women and families of the Jacksonville naval community. I'm proud to be at Naval Station Mayport. Last August, the sailors and pilots of the "Big John" returned from 4 months in the North Arabian Sea, where you served in Operation Enduring Freedom. With your outstanding performance, you proved that "Jack is back." Laughter Some of you here have served in the U.S.S. Enterprise battlegroup. You were among the first American ships in the Afghan theater. And when it came time to strike the terrorists in Afghanistan, you were ready on arrival. Together, the "Big John" and the "Big E" launched thousands of sorties from their decks, supporting coalition forces on the ground. You helped liberate the Afghan people. You defended the American people, and each and every one of you here has made America proud. The United States Navy carries the might and the mission of America to the farthest parts of this world. In this challenging period for our country, great tasks lie ahead for the Navy and for our entire military. And I know we can depend on you, because this United States military is second to none. I appreciate Admiral Natter for his leadership. I want to thank the Governor of Florida for his leadership too. Laughter He's doing everything just like his mother told him to. Laughter I'm listening to the same mother, I want you to know. Laughter I want to thank the members from the congressional delegation. Ander Crenshaw, who represents this district, I know he's a strong supporter of the military families living here in Jacksonville, and I appreciate John Mica coming as well. These are two Members of the United States Congress that I know I can count on when it comes to making sure this United States military is strong and ready. I want to thank State Senator Jim King and his wife, Linda, for being here today. I appreciate all the leadership from different battlegroups here based here. Today when I landed on Air Force One, I met a fellow named Arden Battle. He is a machinist mate, senior chief, U.S. Navy. Let me tell you something. He represents the spirit of this military that makes me proud. Not only are we tough and good fighters, he leads hundreds of your fellow sailors into volunteering in the community in Jacksonville, Florida. He and others like him serve as a role model for young kids. He mentors. He and his group teach children how to read. He not only serves this country to keep the peace, he serves this country to be more compassionate for all of our citizens. My call to you is, a lot of people look up to you because you wear the uniform. Do your duty. Not only work hard to be a good soldier and sailor, but also love somebody like you'd like to be loved yourself. I want to thank Arden and all those of you who have heard a call to become involved in your neighborhoods and your communities to help somebody who hurts. America is a better place for your compassion and your love. I want to thank the other community leaders who are here. I want to thank those of you who support our military, but I'm particularly grateful to all the military families who are here with us today. Family members serve and sacrifice for our Nation. Each one of you knows that Navy life is rewarding, but it can be dangerous. It can be difficult. Every day our military families are putting America's interests first, and America thanks you. Across this great land, I hear it all the time The people of this country admire our men and women in uniform. They're praying for you. They're concerned about you and your families. Our people in uniform and families deserve our gratitude, and you deserve our support. Last year I signed the largest increase in defense spending in a generation. Last week I sent a budget to Congress with another significant increase in defense spending. Those who wear our uniform and their families deserve the best possible housing, the best possible pay, and the best possible training. With the support of this Congress, I will make sure that our military has every resource, every weapon, everything you need to defend America and to keep the peace. Across six decades, ever since World War II, Mayport has been providing the "Finest Service to the Finest Fleet." This port has been home to generations of sailors who fought America's battles with distinction and courage. Now you're called to defend our freedom and to defend the security of America against a new kind of enemy. This enemy reaches across oceans. It targets the innocent. There are no rules of war for these coldblooded killers. They seek biological and chemical and nuclear weapons to commit murder on a massive scale. This enemy will not be restrained by mercy or by conscience. This enemy will be stopped, and it will be stopped by the might and will of the United States and our friends and our allies. The terrorists brought this war to us, and now we're taking it back to them. We're on their trail. We're smoking them out. We've got them on the run. We're hunting them down one by one, all across the world. With our allies, we've arrested or otherwise dealt with laughter many of the key commanders of Al Qaida. And that includes the terrorists who planned the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole. So far, more than 3,000 suspected terrorists have been arrested in many countries. Just about that number met a different kind of fate. They're not a problem anymore. The world changed on September the 11th, 2001. You see, we learned that oceans no longer protect us, that a threat that gathers on the other side of the Earth can strike our own cities, can kill our own people. That's what we learned. And I'm not going to forget that lesson. You see, we saw what terrorists could do with four airplanes as weapons. We're not going to wait and see what they can do with even deadlier weapons. Today, the gravest danger in the war on terror, the gravest danger facing America and the world, is outlaw regimes that seek and possess nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. These regimes could use such weapons for blackmail, terror, mass murder. They could also give or sell those weapons to terrorist allies who would use them without the least bit of hesitation. That's the reality of the world we live in, and that's what we're going to use every ounce of our power to defeat. We have an obligation to protect America and the Americans. We understand our responsibility, and jointly we'll do just that. We'll protect America and our friends and allies from these thugs. The civilized world has awakened to the growing danger posed by the Iraqi regime. Twelve years ago, Saddam Hussein agreed to disarm as a condition of suspending the Gulf war. Three months ago, the United Nations Security Council gave him a final chance to meet that obligation. Saddam Hussein is not disarming. He's deceiving. America has laid out the facts for the world to see. Saddam Hussein has chemical weapons programs and the means to use them. Saddam Hussein has biological weapons program and the means to deliver those weapons. He has secretly attempted to obtain materials needed to produce nuclear weapons. Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists, including members of Al Qaida. He harbors a senior Al Qaida leader who ordered the assassination of an American diplomat, the same man who plotted against Spain and Italy and the Republic of Georgia and Russia and Great Britain and France and Germany. The Iraqi regime is engaged in a massive campaign to conceal its weapons of mass destruction and its ties to terrorists, and that deception continues today. At any moment during the last 97 days and during the last 12 years Saddam Hussein could have completely and immediately disarmed himself. Instead, he's used all this time to build and to hide weapons. He must be hoping that by stalling he'll buy himself another 12 years. He's wrong. This country will not accept a serious and mounting threat to our Nation, our people, and our friends and allies. Military force is always this Nation's last option. Yet if force becomes necessary to disarm Iraq and enforce the will of the United Nations, if force becomes necessary to secure our country and to keep the peace, America will act deliberately America will act decisively and America will act victoriously with the world's greatest military. America will also be acting with friends and allies. An overwhelming majority of NATO members oppose the threat of Iraq and understand that tough choices may be necessary to keep the peace. Many nations have offered to provide forces or other support to disarm the Iraqi regime. Every nation of the Gulf Cooperation Council has agreed to help defend and protect Kuwait. And now the world's most important multilateral body faces a decision. The decision is this for the United Nations When you say something, does it mean anything? You've got to decide, if you lay down a resolution, does it mean anything? The United Nations Security Council can now decide whether or not it has the resolve to enforce its resolutions. I'm optimistic that the U.N. Security Council will rise to its responsibilities and this time ensure enforcement of what it told Saddam Hussein he must do. See, I believe, when it's all said and done, free nations will not allow the United Nations to fade into history as an ineffective, irrelevant debating society. I'm optimistic that free nations will show backbone and courage in the face of true threats to peace and freedom. If there is a conflict, American forces will act in the honorable traditions of our military and in the highest moral traditions of this country. Our military will be fighting the oppressors of Iraq, not the people of Iraq. America's military fights not to conquer but to liberate. In case of conflict, this great Nation is already putting plans and supplies into place so that food and other humanitarian relief will flow quickly to the Iraqi people. You see, we seek more than the defeat of terror we seek an advance of freedom and a world at peace. That is the charge that history has given us, and that is a charge we will keep. In crucial hours, the success of our cause will depend on the men and women of our military. You serve this Nation's ideals, and you live out those ideals in your code and in your character. I've seen your love of country and your devotion to a cause larger than yourself. I've seen your discipline, your idealism, and your sense of honor. I know that every mission you are given will be carried out with skill and unselfish courage. The first time the U.S.S. Enterprise was ever deployed in a crisis was October 1962, when President John F. Kennedy ordered it to quarantine Cuba, which was arming itself with nuclear missiles aimed at our Nation. President Kennedy understood that dangers to freedom had to be confronted early and decisively. He said of the cold war, "These are extraordinary times. We face an extraordinary challenge. Our strength as well as our convictions have imposed upon this Nation the role of leader in freedom's cause." Today, at the dawn of a new century, America is still the leader in freedom's cause. And our generation is called to a central role in this Nation's history. As Americans, we can be confident The American people are strong and resolute. The American Armed Forces are brave and ready, and in freedom's cause, we will prevail. May God bless you all. May God bless our family your families and may God continue to bless the United States of America. February 12, 2003 Thank you all for coming. Thanks for your interest in this country and its future. We've got some big challenges ahead of us. We've got an opportunity to make the world a more peaceful place and a freer place. And I believe, as a result of the resolve of the United States of America, the world will be more peaceful, and the world will be more free. And here at home, we've got a challenge with our economy. I mean, frankly, it's not strong enough. It is not robust enough. Anytime somebody is looking for a job and can't find one means we've got to work together to create jobs. Now, the role of Government is not to create wealth. The role of Government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneurial spirit can flourish, in which people are encouraged to invest and save, in which there's confidence in the future of the country. And that's what we're here to discuss today. I want to thank John Snow for agreeing to serve in our administration. He came at a pretty tough time. Laughter Some people would have said, "Well, I don't think I want to take on the job unless everything is precooked and the markets will be surging." But he realized that this country needed all of us pulling together. So I asked him I said, "Would you be willing to leave the private sector to serve America?" And he said yes, and I'm thankful for that. I'm glad to have him on my team. His job is to talk about our program all around the country and particularly in the Halls of Congress and convince them about the wisdom of what we're proposing. Speaking about Halls of Congress, John mentioned George Allen, the Senator from Virginia. I'm glad that George is here. And Don Manzullo from Illinois is here, too. I'm honored both you guys came. I appreciate your interest. I look forward to working with you and your colleagues, both Republicans and Democrats, to do what's right for the American people. I want to thank Chuck Schwab, as well, for coming. He's a he is a leading entrepreneur in the country, built his own business. Tomorrow, when I go down to Florida, I'm going to talk about the dreams for small businesses that grow to be big businesses. This is a guy that took a small business and grew it into a big business. It's really what America is all about, is to have unlimited horizons for people to take risk so they can achieve dreams, no matter what their status in life may be. And the Schwab Company certainly is represents the great entrepreneurial spirit of our country. I also want to thank Susan Meisinger and David Hutchins, who run the Society for Human Resource Management. Thank you for opening up your hall. It's awfully thoughtful of you to let us come in here. I fully recognize it's not easy to host a Presidential entourage laughter but you did it. And thanks for giving us a chance to come and talk about how we're going to address some of the big challenges here at home. My attitude about the economy is that, first, we've done a pretty remarkable job here in America of overcoming some difficulties. The first three quarters of the year 2000 were recessionary. They were negative growth. Fortunately, we passed tax relief, which based upon the principle, if people have more of their own money, they're likely to spend it. And when they spend it, somebody's likely to provide a good or a service. And when somebody provides a good or a service, somebody's more likely to find work. And I think most economists would tell you that the recession most objective economists would tell you that the recession was shallower as a result of the initial tax relief package that both Republicans and Democrats voted for. Then the terrorists hit us. And people of Virginia know full well the impact of the terrorist attack on the Pentagon and this part of the world. Of course, the people in the great city of New York understood the effect that it had, the terrorist attack had, on the New York economy. But it affected our whole economy. The airline industry became had difficult times. We couldn't get projects started real estate, big building projects going because of the lack of terrorism insurance. We actually dealt with that issue in the Halls of Congress, and hopefully big construction projects which will put our hardhats back to work will get going. The country was resilient, though, and strong, determined to defeat terror and determined to go about our life, no matter what the threat may be. And we began to recover. And then it then we found out some of our fellow citizens, a few of the many executives which run our companies, thought they could lie and cheat. And that created a lot of small investors and large investors, for that matter began to wonder whether or not the numbers they were reading were accurate. There was a loss of confidence in the markets because of the corporate scandals. And we dealt with that, and we're dealing with that. Pretty soon, a good man named Bill Donaldson will become the Chairman of the SEC. He knows what his charge is. His charge is to make sure that when an investor, a member of an investor club opens up his or her portfolio or the balance sheet of a company they've invested in, they know they're reading true numbers, so we can regain confidence. Our economy is growing, in spite of all of what I've just described, but it's not growing strong enough. And so I went back to the Congress and proposed a plan that is an aggressive plan, no question about it. But the principle of the plan says, we trust people in this administration. We trust the people to make wise investments. We trust the people with their own money. We trust the moms and dads to be able to save for their children. It's really the crux of the economic plan. It says it's the people of America it's the ingenuity and hard work and wise investment capabilities of the American people that make this economy strong and different. And therefore, the plan is a plan that puts trust in people. It's a well thought out plan. As a matter of fact, over 200 economists today enthusiastically embraced it, said it's a good idea. The first part of the plan has to do with your income tax levels. It says everybody who pays taxes ought to get relief. The role of the Government is not to try to pick and choose who the good taxpayers are and who the bad taxpayers are. If you pay taxes, you ought to get relief. Of course, that was already passed in the year 2001. We also are phasing we're increasing the child credit to 1,000 over a period of time, reducing the marriage penalty over a period of time, reducing the bottom rate from 15 percent to 10 percent. So what we've said to the Congress is, "You've already passed all this. You've already accepted the major principle involved in tax relief, which is, trust American people with their money. You've already seen the effects of what a tax relief plan can do. Just accelerate what you've already got on the books. Take that which you have passed, and instead of phasing it in over 3 or 5 years, let's move it this year. If the economy needs a little extra oomph, if more money needs to go into the pockets of our people, so as to encourage economic vitality, why wait? You've been through the debate. You've already talked about the principles involved. Move it up." This will affect 92 million Americans who will receive, on average, a tax relief of 1,083. Now, some in Washington may say, "Well, that's paltry. That's not enough." Uh uh, 1,083 is a lot of money for people, particularly when you think about the effect it will have on our economy when millions of Americans take that and invest it or buy things with it. It will have an effect that will increase the economic vitality of America. You hear a lot of talk about stimulative what's stimulative, what's not stimulative. We anticipate that this plan this aspect of the plan is over 50 billion in the economy this year. You see, I plan to not only get them to accelerate the tax relief I'm going to ask Congress to make it retroactive to January 1st, so it will have an immediate effect on the economy. That's what's needed. The timing of tax relief is important, just as important as tax relief is. And so I'm optimistic that Congress was wise once, and they'll be wise again on the same plan. This also will have an effect on small businesses. Tomorrow I'm going to Florida to talk to small business owners and entrepreneurs, and what Americans and Congress must understand I know George Allen understands this Don understands this is that most small businesses pay tax at the individual tax rate. When you hear somebody say, "I'm a sole proprietorship," that means you're paying individual income taxes. If you're a Subchapter S or a limited partnership, that means you're paying individual income taxes. And so when you reduce income taxes, you're really putting capital in the hands of small business owners, and capital, extra money, gives that person a more like ly a chance to expand. And expansion means jobs. And by far, the vast majority of new jobs in America are created by small business owners. And so this tax plan not only helps our fellow Americans save, it also helps small business owners with additional capital. It's like a huge capital infusion into the small business sector of America. On top of that, I'm asking Congress to allow small firms to write up up to 75,000 worth of equipment in the year in which they spend it, as opposed to limiting the deductions to 25,000. And that means a lot for small businesses. When a person can deduct an additional 50,000 of capital investment, it means you may have the small business person invest in one extra machine. But when that's multiplied all across the country, all throughout America, it means the machine manufacturer is more likely to be able to provide jobs. It means the business that buys the machine becomes more efficient. It means somebody is probably needed to operate the machine so that there's extra employment there. It will have a ripple effect throughout our economy, which is very important for our fellow Americans to understand. The other thing I want to talk to you about is the dividend proposal. In America today we tax corporate income profits, which is fine. We should. It makes sense. But then we take that profit and distribute it to a shareholder in the form of a dividend, one of the owners of the company. And then he gets taxed again, and that doesn't make sense. You don't want to keep taxing capital. If capital equals jobs, you really don't want to tax it but one time, seems like to me. It makes sense. So when people in America hear us talk about the elimination of the double taxation of dividends, they've got to understand we're doing so with two things in mind How do we improve the lot of our fellow Americans, and what do we do to increase jobs? If somebody is looking for work out there, and capital equal jobs, therefore, the more capital available for investment, the more likely it is he's going to find work or she's going to find work. And that's what we're here to talk about today. The idea of allowing people to keep more of their own money is particularly important for many of our retired citizens. You've got a person who's worked all their life, and they've got medical bills, maybe, piling up, particularly since Medicare isn't all that effective these days for some. Or you're worried about your grandkids' education. But really what you're worried about is you want to make sure that you have got a comfortable existence. Ten million senior Americans receive some sort of dividend income. It certainly makes sense to me that if part of good policy is to encourage job creation with more capital, it's a nice dividend, so to speak, to allow our seniors to have more money as well. So this relief plan will immediately give seniors 800 on average a year more money, which is vital for their retirement. It's a plan which affects people's lives in a positive way. Secondly, this is a nation of investors. It used to be when you talk about stocks and bonds it probably wasn't all that long ago you'd say, "Well, gosh, how's your portfolio?" And that would probably pertain to a handful of people that lived knew something about Wall Street. There probably weren't a lot of them in Crawford, Texas, all that long ago, saying, "Hey, my portfolio's good. How's yours?" But now, America's becoming a nation of owners and investors. We're a much more sophisticated country when it comes to stocks and bonds. Eighty four million Americans own a stock directly and or through a pension plan. And so, therefore, policy, public policy which affects stock ownership, public policy which affects those who own equities and those public policy which encourages ownership, makes sense. I mean, after all, we want 100 percent of our people to be a part of the ownership society. The more somebody owns, the more somebody is going to have a stake in the future of the country. We want everybody to have their own home. We want everybody to have their own balance sheet, their own savings, their own plans. And excluding the double taxation of dividends rewards small investors. It encourages stock ownership. It also will have a positive effect when it comes to our corporate America. And a lot of corporate America said, "Invest in me. The sky's the limit, a fantastic growth potential." They say, you know, "We may not be making any money, but, hey, give me a shot." And that works in some cases. But it also makes sense to have people say, "Invest in me because you're going to get a steady source of the cashflow of my company. I'm going to share it with you. We're proud that you took risk in us, and in return we're going to give you a steady flow of the cash coming into the company through the form of a dividend." Eliminating the double taxation of dividends will encourage more of corporate America to distribute profits and cashflow to their investors through dividends. And that's good that's a good corporate reform. It's also good for encouraging the ownership society, and it's good for enhancing the lifestyle of millions of Americans all across the country. The getting rid of the double taxation of dividends is good economic policy for the short term for America it is good economic policy for the long term of America. And I urge the Congress to eliminate the double taxation of dividends. One of the things we did before coming over here is we had a roundtable discussion, sitting around a square table. Laughter I like I appreciate Chuck providing the square table laughter but I'm more appreciative of the members of the roundtable who came to talk. Now, we talked to Joan Hanover. She and her husband, George, were visiting with us. They are near retirement retiring in the process of retiring, meaning they're very smart, active, capable people who are retirement age and are retiring. They receive 1,700 additional dollars a year when we get rid of the double taxation of dividends. That is a significant amount of money for the Hanovers. It's additional money that they can choose to do with what they they can do with their own money. Part of the dialog, by the way the money we're talking about today is not the Government's money. See, that's the other important thing to remember. It's an important principle when it comes to tax relief. It's your money we're talking about. And the Hanovers are having more money to invest. Joe Kemper will have an additional 1,600, he shared with us. The whole tax relief will actually give him 3,500 additional money in his own pocket, of which 1,600 will be from getting rid of the double taxation of dividends. I hope you didn't mind me saying that, Joe. But the point is, is that I think Joe will tell you, he's not one of these superrich in America. He's a guy who served his country. He worked hard all his life 3,500 means something to him. When you hear the debate about this kind of class warfare, rhetoric about, "Oh, this is for the rich, only for the rich," I want you to think about the Joe Kempers of the world. I certainly will a fellow who worked for our Government and now a fellow who we trust with that 3,500, because it's his money. And when he invests it, it's going to have a positive effect. All the Joe Kempers of the world taking that extra money and investing it will mean somebody else is likely to find a job, and that's important for our fellow Americans to understand. We met with Tim Roberts and the Lanes, Brian and Wendy Lane. They were they are younger parents. The tax relief plan will mean they will have more money to invest for their children. When they set aside the some of the money that they get in a child's education trust, for example, and that compounds over time, it means it's more likely that that child is going to have a pretty good nest egg. The more money they have, the more likely it is they'll be able to save for their children's future. If we get rid of the double taxation of dividends, it means that one of the good investment vehicles for a child who is young today will be a dividend paying stock, because not only will the person be able to get the yield, the person will get the appreciation of the company in which they invest. These good couples work hard for their children. They make sacrifices for their children. And it makes sense for our tax policy to reward them for their sacrifices. The plan we've laid out is good for job creation. The plan we've laid out also speaks to the aspirations of many of our citizens. And that's very important for Congress to understand when they debate this plan. It speaks for the aspirations of the senior citizen to have a comfortable lifestyle when they retire. It speaks to the aspirations of the moms and dads to be able to invest for their children. It speaks to the aspirations of a person looking for work today. It really speaks to the hopes of our country that we want our economy to be as strong as it possibly can be, as we take on some of the great challenges which this country has ever faced. This country will accomplish anything we set our mind to. We will achieve peace in the world. We will work for freedom, not only here in America, a free and just society. We believe in freedom around the world because everybody has got worth. See, one of the great principles of America is everybody has dignity. Everybody counts. Everybody matters. As I said in my State of the Union, liberty is not America's gift to the world. It is God's gift to human mankind, and that's what I believe. And as we think about how to have a better society and a more peaceful world, we've got to trust in the wisdom and strength of the American people. After all, the American people is this country's greatest asset. I boldly predict that with good policy this economy will be strong. I boldly predict that with wise diplomatic policy the world will be more peaceful. And I can predict that, because we happen to live in the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. Thank you all for coming. And may God bless America. February 10, 2003 President Bush. I'm going to make some welcoming comments. The Prime Minister is going to say some things. We'll then take some questions two from the American side and two from the Australian side. Prime Minister Howard is a close, personal friend of mine, a person whose judgment I count on, a person with whom I speak quite frequently. I believe he's a man of clear vision. He sees the threats that the free world faces as we go into the 21st century. I'm proud to work with him on behalf of a peaceful world and a freer society. He's a man grounded in good values, and I respect him a lot, and I'm glad he's back here in the Oval Office. Welcome. Prime Minister Howard. Well, thank you very much, Mr. President. I'm delighted to be back in the United States. We've talked naturally about Iraq and other related matters. I want to say that from the very beginning, the President has shown very strong leadership on a difficult issue. He's been prepared to go out and argue a very strong case. It's not been an issue that's been free of criticism for any of those who've advocated a particular point of view. Australia's position concerning Iraq is very clear. We believe a world in which weapons of mass destruction are in the hands of rogue states, with the potential threat of them falling into the hands of terrorists, is not a world that Australia, if we can possibly avoid it, wants to be part of. And that is the fundamental reason why Australia has taken the position she has. And it's the fundamental reason why we believe the goals that the United States set of disarming Iraq are proper goals, and they are goals that the entire world should pursue. We all hope that there might despite the apparent unlikelihood, we all hope that there might be a peaceful solution. The one real chance of a peaceful solution is the whole world saying the same thing to Iraq. And that's why we believe the closest possible cooperation and unity of objective and unity of advocacy is very important. President Bush. Thanks, John. Don't worry, malfunctioning light. There it is. Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters and then Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Were you from Australia? Q. Yes. Do I get two questions? One from each side? Laughter President Bush. Knowing Ron's habit, you probably will, I guess. Iraqi Regime Concessions Q. Iraq has agreed to allow U 2 flights and also private interviews with some scientists. Does this make it harder for you to argue that Saddam Hussein is not is not cooperating? President Bush. Iraq needs to disarm. And the reason why we even need to fly U 2 flights is because they're not disarming. We know what a disarmed country looks like, and Iraq doesn't look like that. This is a man who is trying to stall for time, trying to play a diplomatic game. He's been successful at it for 12 years. But no, the question is, will he disarm? I notice somebody said the other day, "Well, we need more inspectors." Well, a disarmed a country which is disarming really needs one or two inspectors to verify the fact that they're disarming. We're not playing hide and seek. That's what he wants to continue to play. And so, you know, Saddam's got to disarm. If he doesn't, we'll disarm him. Australia and the Coalition Q. Sir, can I ask an Australian question? President Bush. Please. Q. Could you tell us whether you count Australia as part of the coalition of the willing? President Bush. Yes, I do. You know, what that means is up to John to decide. But I certainly count him as somebody who understands that the world changed on September the 11th, 2001. Ironically enough, John Howard was in America that day, in Washington, DC, the day the enemy hit. In our country it used to be that oceans could protect us. At least we thought so. There was wars on other continents, but we were safe. And so we could decide whether or not we addressed the threat on our own time. If there was a threat gathering from afar, we could say, "Well, let's see it may be in our interest to get involved, or it may not be." We had the luxury. September the 11th, that changed. America is now a battleground in the war on terror. Secondly, the Secretary of State made it very clear that there are connections between Saddam Hussein and terrorist networks. And therefore, it is incumbent upon all of us who love freedom to understand the new world in which we live. John Howard understands that. Ron. France U.S. Relations NATO Unity Q. In addition to being among the some people who are calling for inspections, the French today blocked NATO from helping Turkey. And President Chirac said nothing today justifies a war. President Bush. Yes. Q. Given what Americans and the French went through in the last century, are you upset by their attitude now? President Bush. No, I wouldn't "upset" isn't the proper word. I am disappointed that France would block NATO from helping a country like Turkey prepare. I don't understand that decision. It affects the Alliance in a negative way. Q. You think it does? President Bush. I think it affects the Alliance in a negative way, when you're not able to make a statement of mutual defense. I had a good talk with Jacques Chirac recently. I assured him that, you know, that we would continue to try to work with France as best we can. France has been a long time friend of the United States. We've got a lot in common. But I think the decision on NATO is shortsighted in my judgment. Hopefully, they'll reconsider. Reasons for Action Against Iraqi Regime Q. Mr. President, there are many Australians there are many Australians and others who are still not convinced that they should be going with you to war. At this late stage, what's your personal message to them? President Bush. My personal message is that I want to keep the peace and make the world more peaceful. I understand why people don't like to commit the military to action. I can understand that. I'm the person in this country that hugs the mothers and the widows if their son or husband dies. I know people would like to avoid armed conflict, and so would I. But the risks of doing nothing far outweigh the risks of whatever it takes to disarm Saddam Hussein. I've thought long and hard about this issue. My job is to protect the American people from further harm. I believe that Saddam Hussein is a threat to the American people. I also know he's a threat to our friends and allies. The second thing my message is, and I started speaking about this today, I also have got great compassion and concern for the Iraqi people. These are people who have been tortured and brutalized, people who have been raped because they may disagree with Saddam Hussein. He's a brutal dictator. In this country and in Australia, people believe that everybody has got worth, everybody counts, that everybody is equal in the eyes of the Almighty. So the issue is not only peace, the issue is freedom and liberty. I made it clear in my State of the Union and the people of Australia must understand this I don't believe liberty is America's gift to the world. I believe it is God's gift to humanity. Thank you all. February 10, 2003 Thank you so much for that warm welcome. I'm honored to be here. I want to thank Glenn Plummer for his kind introduction. I want to thank those who put on the convention for letting some of my fellow Texans in the hall. Laughter I see Evans. I see Gramm. It's good to see friendly faces. It's good to see people with whom I've spent a lot of quality time. Thanks for letting me come. And I'm honored to be with so many of you all who have dedicated your lives to sharing the good news. Before I came in this hall, I had the opportunity to have what they call a roundtable discussion with members of the faith community here in Nashville, Tennessee, people who are changing Nashville through their love and compassion and decency. I met folks from the Campus for Human Development. It's an extraordinary testament to social entrepreneurship based upon faith. And I want to thank all the roundtable participants for sharing with me your stories. I particularly want to thank the four folks who have recovered from homelessness, addiction to alcohol and drugs, for your courage to share your story with the President. It's so inspirational to see your courage as well as to see the great works of our Lord in your heart. I also landed today and met an extraordinary woman from Nashville named Sherry Jean Williams. She is sitting right over here. Sherry Jean, you mind standing up just for a second? Applause Thank you for coming. You'll hear me talk about the armies of compassion in America she is a soldier in the armies of compassion. Sherry Jean mentors children whose mom or dad may be in prison. She volunteers to help grandparents who are raising their children. She is one of millions of people who are helping people in need. My call to our fellow Americans is, while one person can't do everything, one person can do something to make our society a more compassionate and decent place. And I want to thank you, Sherry Jean, for representing all the decent people, whether they be foster moms or dads and by the way, being a foster parent is an incredibly important part of our society or whether being a mentor or whether being somebody volunteering their time for after school programs to help save lives, particularly the lives of our children. It's also great to be here in Opryland. It's an unbelievable complex. Laughter You need a roadmap to get around here. Laughter Either that, or a good Secret Service driver. Laughter But I'm honored to be back, and I appreciate the warm hospitality. Opryland has a way of bringing out hidden talents of politicians. You may recall, in 1974, Richard Nixon came to Opryland and played the piano and serenaded his wife. In 1998, Ashcroft, the great Attorney General of the United States, came and sang a duet with Ray Stevens. Laughter So I was just thinking laughter but that's as far as it got. Laughter I think I'll leave the talent to my great friend Michael W. Smith and Sara Paulson Brummett. It's good to see Michael W. I like a man whose middle name is W. Laughter He and Debbie joined Laura and me at the White House a couple of nights ago. It was good to be in his presence. And one of the remarkable things about the evening is Michael agreed to play the piano for us. He had to sing for his dinner. Thankfully, he did laughter but what a joy. For more than 80 years, America's religious broadcasters have been sharing the gospel on the airways. You bring words of truth and comfort and encouragement into millions of homes. Broadcasting is more than a job for you. It is a great commission. You serve with all your heart and soul, and America is grateful. Each one of you knows that the power of faith can transform a life. People of faith and goodness and idealism also have the power to transform our neighborhoods and our Nation. I've set a great goal for America We must apply the great compassion of our people to the deepest problems of this country. This country is blessed with virtually millions of good hearted volunteers who work daily miracles in the lives of their fellow citizens. And today I ask our religious broadcasters, those who reach into every corner of America, to rally the armies of compassion so that we can change America one heart, one soul at a time. The American people have deep and diverse religious beliefs, truly one of the great strengths of our country. And the faith of our citizens is seeing us through some demanding times. We're being challenged. We're meeting those challenges because of our faith. After we were attacked on September the 11th, we carried our grief to the Lord Almighty in prayer. Last week, our Nation lost seven brave Americans brave souls, six Americans and one Israeli citizen, aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. Laura and I went to Houston. We were so honored to meet the families. There's no question in my mind they are finding strength and comfort because of your prayers and because of the Almighty God. In times of tragedy, faith assures us that death and suffering are not the final word, that love and hope are eternal. Religious faith not only comforts it challenges. Faith teaches that every person is equal in God's sight and must be treated with equal dignity here on Earth. This idea of human dignity forces us to constantly examine our own country and our own hearts. And this ideal has inspired some of the great reforms in American history. People of faith led the struggle against slavery. People of faith fought against child labor. People of faith worked for women's equality, and people of faith worked for civil rights. And in America today, people of faith are doing the work of compassion. So many good people are serving their neighbors because they love their God. The spirit of service is vital because the need in America is great. There are pockets of despair and loneliness and hopelessness in America. We do not accept as a fact of life that some Americans must endure permanent poverty or bigotry or a childhood without love and guidance. Our work as Americans is not complete until we build a single nation of justice and a nation of opportunity. Government, of course, must be involved and will be involved. We just reformed our welfare in America, and we've helped a lot of people. Yet, even as we work to improve the welfare laws, we know that welfare policy will not solve the deepest problems of the spirit. I first heard an interesting reminder of that fact from Tony Evans. He doesn't remember, but I do. We were in Greenville, Texas. He tells a story about the guy who owns the house and there's a crack running up the wall in the house. So he hires the best painter he can find, and the guy covers the crack and everything is fine, until the crack reappears. And so he hires another painter and he covers the crack. And Tony Evans reminded me and the audience, he said, "You don't fix the crack on the wall until you first fix the foundation." This economy of ours is growing okay. It can be better. As a matter of fact, we've got plans in place to encourage job growth, ways to stimulate the entrepreneurial spirit of the country, encourage small business expansion so that people can find work. Yet, there are some needs that prosperity can never meet. We've arrested and we convict criminals. Yet, building more prisons will not substitute for responsibility and order in our souls. The role of Government is limited, because Government cannot put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That happens when someone puts an arm around a neighbor and says, "God loves you. I love you, and you can count on us both." And it is that spirit which defines some of the most effective social programs in America. It is that spirit of love and compassion which makes healing lives work. Yet, for too long, some in Government thought there was no room for faith based groups to provide social services. I have a different point of view. I believe Government should welcome faith based groups as allies in the great work of renewing America. I welcome faith. I welcome faith to help solve the Nation's deepest problems. I understand there's a that Government must not and will not endorse a religious creed or directly fund religious worship. That's obviously not a role of Government, and that's not what we're talking about here. But governments can and should support effective social services provided by religious people, so long as they work and as long as those services go to anyone in need, regardless of their faith. And when Government gives that support, it is equally important that faith based institutions should not be forced to change the character or compromise their prophetic role. If a charity's helping the needy, it should not matter if there is a rabbi on the board, or a cross on the wall, or crescent on the wall, or religious commitment in the charter. I need to ask, does it work? If an earthquake or hurricane damages a Christian or Jewish or Muslim school, that school should not be denied Federal disaster assistance because of its religious character. What I'm saying is, the days of discriminating against religious groups just because they're religious are coming to an end. Applause Thank you. I have issued an Executive order banning discrimination against faith based charities in social service grants by Federal agencies. I continue to work with members of Congress of both political parties to enact faith based legislation to encourage more charitable giving, so we're more likely able to rally the armies of compassion. We created faith based offices in key Cabinet departments to ensure that faith based groups get equal treatment and fair access to Government funds. I recognize some people around our country asking, "What does this Faith Based Initiative mean? And is it a threat to my very program?" And so we're holding meetings across the country to help faith based groups to understand how they can qualify for Government grants without compromising their mission. We're on an education campaign. We're reaching out to find the social entrepreneurs who exist all across this Nation. I went to Congress at my State of the Union and spoke about two needs I want to share with you today. I have concerns I know you do as well about children whose mom or dad may be in prison. Imagine what life must be like for those children. Imagine how they wonder about their future, whether or not this great country holds out hope for them. I know by calling upon the compassionate hearts of our fellow citizens, we can help save those lives by mentoring programs, by putting the child in touch with somebody like Sherry Jean Williams, who realizes somebody does care about them during these tough and difficult times. Now, I asked Congress to support a mentoring proposal which will bring caring adults into the lives of more than a million children, disadvantaged children, including the children whose mom or dad may be in prison. There's no question in my mind that if this Nation puts our mind to it, we can surround those little ones with love and provide a better hope for them. As well, I am concerned about those who are addicted to drugs, who fight for their very lives and survival against addiction. I believe that we can take an approach that focuses on the addict, give that person a voucher to be redeemed at any program that he or she chooses, especially those programs that have got the capacity to change heart and, therefore, change habit. Congress needs to hear this call and work with us to facilitate the mentoring and the healing of those who hurt. America's religious broadcasters can really play an important role in this work, and I want to discuss what I think that role can be and make a few suggestions today. Laughter Christian media outlets like yours reach 141 million people every year. That's a huge audience, and it's a responsibility that I know you take seriously. This Nation has got a lot of wealthy and caring congregations, and we've got a lot of churches in low income areas that need help too. Your voices reach them all. You can communicate with them, rich and poor alike, suburban church and urban church alike. And you can help bring them together to serve those who hurt, so we can achieve a more just and generous society. It's been said that 11 a.m. on Sunday is the most segregated hour in America. We all have a responsibility to break down the barriers that divide us. In Scripture, God commands us to reach out to those who are different, to reconcile with each other, to lay down our lives in service to others. And He promises that the fruits of faith and fellowship, service and reconciliation will far surpass the struggles we go through to achieve them. Suburban churches are often just a short drive away from brothers and sisters who are facing great need and doing God's work. There's an opportunity here to end artificial divisions and join together in fellowship and service. There's also an obligation. The poor and suffering are the responsibility of the whole church, even when they're not members of any church. When a suburban church and an urban church become full partners, great things can happen. Both churches benefit. The Chicago Christ Church of Oak Brook and Lawndale Community Church are working together to serve the sick in Lawndale's health care clinic for the poor. In Boston, Wellesley Congregational Church and the historic Charles Street AME Church are creating a new center to boost the reading and computer skills of Roxbury residents. Right here on the outskirts of Nashville, Tennessee, in Franklin, Tennessee, a conversion between an associate pastor of Christ Community Church and the pastor of First Missionary Baptist Church began a fellowship that now includes nearly 60 pastors and church members of all different races and denominations. I know that to be a fact because I heard them both talk today. Their churches work together to support a medical clinic for poor children, a legal office that gives free advice, a New Hope Academy, a faith based school where children from different backgrounds study together, learn the classics together. The inspiration for the church told me that her hope was to provide a vision for the children, a vision that was positive and optimistic and clear. She said it's one thing to teach a child to read, but she wants the literate child to see a better day. At first, Pastor Denny Denson of the First Missionary Baptist Denny is with us, by the way was a little wary about how these very different churches would work together. And here's what he says. He says, "There's some walls still there, but they're down low enough that we can just step over them." And then he said this, he said, "We are committed to each other to the end." And the Nashville area is better off for it. In all these partnerships, lives are lifted up. We see unity and racial reconciliation. We see faith renewed by its works. So today I ask you to challenge your listeners to love somebody just like they'd like to be loved themselves, to remind them that one person can make a difference in somebody's life, to encourage them to mentor, to encourage them to start a ministry which will find the children of those who are incarcerated and love them. I ask you to challenge your listeners to encourage your congregations to work together for the good of this Nation, to work hard to break down the barriers that have divided the children of God for too long. There is no question that we can rid this Nation of hopelessness and despair, because the greatest strength of America is the character of the American people. We are a compassionate country, and we are generous toward our fellow citizens. And we are a courageous country, ready when necessary to defend the peace. And today, peace is threatened. We face a continuing threat of terrorist networks that hate the very thought of people being able to live in freedom. They hate the thought of the fact that in this great country, we can worship the Almighty God the way we see fit. And probably what makes them even angrier is, we're not going to change. Laughter We face an outlaw regime in Iraq that hates our country, a regime that aids and harbors terrorists and is armed with weapons of mass murder. Before September the 11th, 2001, there's a lot of good folks who believed that Saddam Hussein could be contained. Before September the 11th, 2001, we thought oceans would protect us forever, that if we saw a gathering threat somewhere else in the world, we could respond to it if we chose so chose to do so. But that all changed on that fateful day. Chemical agents, lethal viruses, and shadowy terrorist networks are not easily contained. Secretly, without fingerprints, Saddam Hussein could provide one of his hidden weapons to terrorists or help them develop their own. Saddam Hussein is a threat. He's a threat to the United States of America. He's a threat to some of our closest friends and allies. We don't accept this threat. As a matter of fact, the world saw this as a threat 12 years ago. Twelve years ago, Saddam Hussein was told to disarm for a reason He's a dangerous man. And he hasn't disarmed. We've tried economic sanctions. He hasn't changed. Over the years, we've tried limited strikes against military facilities. It didn't work. We've offered Iraq the path of voluntary disarmament and inspections. The Iraqi regime is rejecting it. Saddam Hussein has broken every promise to disarm. He has shown complete contempt for the international community. Last fall the international community spoke with united voice. It said, "This is your last chance, Mr. Saddam Hussein, to do what you said you would do, which is, in the name of peace, disarm. Destroy your weapons of mass destruction." The role of the inspectors is not to play hide and seek, in a country the size of California, with 104 people. The role of inspectors is to verify whether or not Mr. Saddam Hussein is keeping his word, whether or not he's showing up with his weapons and destroying them the weapons, by the way, he says he doesn't have. My attitude is that we owe it to future generations of Americans and citizens in freedom loving countries to see to it that Mr. Saddam Hussein is disarmed. It's his choice to make as to how he will be disarmed. He can either do so which it doesn't look like he's going to. For the sake of peace, we will lead a coalition of willing countries and disarm Saddam Hussein. If war is forced upon us and I say "forced upon us" because use of the military is not my first choice. I hug the mothers and the widows of those who may have lost their life in the name of peace and freedom. I take my responsibilities incredibly seriously about the commitment of troops. But should we need to use troops, for the sake of future generations of Americans, American troops will act in the honorable traditions of our military and in the highest moral traditions of our country. We will try in every way we can to spare innocent life. The people of Iraq are not our enemies. The true enemy of the Iraqi people, Saddam Hussein, has a different strategy. In violation of the Geneva Conventions, Saddam Hussein is positioning his military forces within civilian populations in order to shield his military and blame coalition forces for civilian casualties that he has caused. Saddam Hussein regards the Iraqi people as human shields, entirely expendable when their suffering serves his purposes. America views the Iraqi people as human beings who have suffered long enough under this tyrant. And the Iraqi people can be certain of this The United States is committed to helping them build a better future. If conflict occurs, we'll bring Iraq food and medicine and supplies and, most importantly, freedom. As I said in my State of the Union, liberty is not America's gift to the world. Liberty is God's gift to every human being in the world. America has great challenges, challenges at home and challenges abroad. We're called to extend the promise of this country into the lives of every citizen who lives here. We're called to defend our Nation and to lead the world to peace, and we will meet both challenges with courage and with confidence. There's an old saying, "Let us not pray for tasks equal to our strength. Let us pray for strength equal to our tasks." And that is our prayer today, for the strength in every task we face. I want to thank each of you for your prayers. I want to thank you for your faithfulness. I want to thank you for your good work. And I want to thank you for loving your country. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. February 09, 2003 Thank you. Please be seated. Nothing like about an hour's speech for a Sunday lunch laughter trying to loosen up my vocal cords for the week. Thanks for having me. And thanks for serving our country. First, I want to tell the family members who are here, I appreciate your sacrifice. I know it's hard to leave a district and a State that you love. I know your spouse is working incredibly long hours, and I want you to know that I feel that you're just as an important part of your spouse's mission. So on behalf of a grateful nation, thank you all very much for the sacrifices you make. I want to thank the Speaker and I want to thank Senator Frist for their leadership. I'm confident in their abilities. I know we can work together. And I'm proud to call them friends. I want to thank DeLay for serving in the capacity he does. He brings a lot of Texas wisdom into the House of Representatives. Laughter Texas tough, and I'm proud to call him friend as well. I've known Tom a long time, and I'm confident by working together we can get a lot done. I want to thank Santorum Rick Santorum, that is and I want to thank Deborah for putting on this event. Where are you, Santorum? There you are. I know it's not easy to herd cats. It's a lot easier when you do it in a beautiful place like the Greenbrier though. Laughter I want to thank Roy Blunt for being a good vote counter, and we're counting on you to count. And I appreciate and Jon Kyl. Thank you, Jon. I'm honored you're up here with us today. So we've got some big challenges facing us. I don't exaggerate when I say this is a significant year for our country. I truly believe that. My attitude It doesn't matter how high the hurdle is we'll cross it. It doesn't matter how big the obstacle is we'll deal with it, because we represent the greatest country on the face of the Earth. I know there's a lot of people paying attention to what's happening overseas, and so am I. But I want to begin by reminding us that we've got a domestic agenda that is positive and strong and hopeful and optimistic. We believe strongly that if somebody is looking for work and can't find a job, then we've got to do everything we can to grow our economy. Our whole philosophy is based upon growth of the economy. We equate jobs and growth. And we know the role of Government is not to create wealth but an environment in which the entrepreneurial spirit flourishes, in which small businesses can grow to be big businesses. And that is why I am passionate about my plan to give people more money. The more money they have in their pockets, the more likely it is that somebody will find work. It is also important for us never to forget that we represent the entrepreneurs of America and that when you reduce the individual income tax rates, you're putting money into the pockets of the sole proprietorship or the limited partnership or the subchapter S. The tax reduction plan that I want you to pass and I want to sign will put more money into the pockets of the entrepreneurs of America, which is good for those who are looking for work. We've already passed it once. We had a pretty good battle. I see some of the soldiers in the tax cut fight of 2001 sitting out there. I repeat what I said earlier If the tax relief is good 2 or 4 or 5 years from now, with an economy that is not as strong as we want it to be, it is good enough today. Let us get the tax relief plan passed. And while we're doing it, it makes sense to help our seniors and to make the Tax Code more fair. The double taxation of dividends is unfair. It is unfair to tax profits and the distribution of those profits. And therefore, for the sake of capital formation and for the sake of the lifestyle of the 10 million seniors who receive dividend income, let us end the double taxation of dividends. I want to appreciate those who are involved with appropriations for working hard to get an appropriations bill to my desk as soon as possible. It would be nice to get the 2003 issue out of the way, as we start to deal with the 2004 budget and appropriations process. I am serious about holding the line on Federal spending. I submitted a budget to you which sets clear priorities, meets those priorities, and will enable us to say to the American taxpayer, "We are wise with your money." And therefore, I look forward to working with you to pass a budget which is realistic and a budget which is responsible. We will address the Medicare issue in a way which enables us to say as a country, "We've fulfilled our promise to senior citizens." Medicine is becoming modern. Medicare isn't, and we have an obligation to the future of this country to modernize the Medicare system, to fulfill the promise to thousands of seniors, a system which includes more choice, more options, and prescription drugs for the senior citizens of this country. We need an energy bill in America, a bill which encourages conservation and exploration. We need a Clear Skies legislation so that we can say our party has led to reasonable, sane environmental policy. And we need a forest policy in America, a Healthy Forest Initiative which enables us to maintain the vast treasures, particularly of forest land in the West, and at the same time be wise about how we clear underbrush so that we don't encourage forest fires that some of the devastating forest fires that took place in the West this year. I look forward to working with the Senate to get my judges confirmed. I have named some really honorable people to the bench. I want to thank Senator Hatch and other members of the Senate Judiciary Committee for kind of putting aside all that political the politics that so dominated the discourse. The first test, of course, is Miguel Estrada. Fabulous story. He's a great, great jurist a lawyer who will be a great jurist. And I expect that he be given a fair hearing on the floor of the Senate. I expect the people of the Senate not to hold him up, not to try to talk his nomination into the ground, because Miguel Estrada not only represents the American Dream but will do us proud on the bench. I want to thank the Senators for standing strong for this good nominee. And when the vote comes up, this guy is going to be confirmed, and America the bench and America will be better for it. I look forward to working with you on a compassion agenda, one that recognizes that in our plenty there are people who hurt, there are people who need love and compassion, there are people who wonder whether or not the American experience is meant for them. I look forward to working to get the Faith Based Initiative out of the House and the Senate. I look forward to getting the "Citizen Service Act" a reformed "Citizen Service Act" passed as well. I'm going to Nashville tomorrow to talk about the compassion agenda. We've got a role in Washington, but the biggest role, of course, takes place in the neighborhoods of our country, when people hear the call to love somebody like they'd like to be loved themselves, when people fully understand that one person can make a significant difference in the life of somebody who hurts. I'm going to reiterate my call for a mentoring initiative, aimed particularly at junior high students as well as children whose mom or dad may be in a prison. I'm going to call for a focus on those who are addicted to drugs. Listen, we will work hard to continue to drive the demand for drugs down and interdict supply, but there are sad souls in our society who are hooked on drugs. And I look forward to working with the Congress to empower programs which work, particularly faith based programs which work, to help save Americans one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. And as we show our compassion here at home, I feel strongly about our need to show our compassion abroad as well. Some of you have been to Africa and have seen the suffering. Some of you know firsthand the stories about thousands of abandoned children who are in orphanages, crowded orphanages, because their mom or dad and dad and or dad have died because of AIDS. Some of you know the startling statistics that the people of the continent face. It's a pandemic. It is destruction of human life, the likes of which the modern world hasn't seen, and we need to do something about it. In my strong judgment, this Nation needs to stand up and show our compassion when a fellow human being suffers. See, if we say every life matters, if we believe that every life has worth, that the Almighty God believes in the worth of every individual, if we believe that, then it makes sense for us to help save lives when we can. I want to work with you to get the AIDS initiative passed out of the Senate and the House as quickly as possible. It is a plan that is a plan of mercy. It's an important initiative. It's a vital initiative, because we're talking about saving human life. We're talking about showing the world the great strength and compassion of the United States of America. There is no doubt that when you pass this initiative, when our time in Washington, DC, is past and we go home and sitting around the ranch in Crawford or the front porch in Plano or in Woodlands, that we'll say we heard the call, the cry of people who suffer, and we responded, and the world is a better place because of the actions we took. And I believe the world will be a better place because of the actions we take when it comes to fighting terror. First, I thank you all for your hard work to get us a homeland security bill late last year. We'll work with the Congress to implement that so that we can all say that we're doing everything we can to protect the homeland. We've got other initiatives. The BioShield initiative is an important initiative, and we look forward to working with the respective committees and, of course, the House and the Senate to get that passed. The best way to secure the homeland is to continue to hunt the killers down one at a time. The best way to deal with the threat we face is to find them and bring them to justice, which is precisely what our military is doing right now. We are sharing intelligence the likes of which we've never done before. We're cutting off money. We've got some of our best units chasing these people down, and one by one, we are dismantling their network. The other day the Italians hauled some in. The Brits hauled some in. Anytime one of these people is arrested, whether we do it or not, we're making progress against the shadowy killer network of Al Qaida. Slowly but surely, we're bringing them to justice, and we're not quitting until the American people are secure and safe. The issue facing our Nation and the world is the extension of the war on terror to places like Iraq. Prior to September the 11th, there was apparently no connection between a place like Iraq and terror. Oh, sure, he had run some terrorist networks out of his country, and that was of concern to us. But it was very difficult to link a terrorist network and Saddam Hussein to the American soil. As a matter of fact, it was very difficult to link any attack on the American soil, because prior to September the 11th, we were confident that two oceans could protect us from harm. The world changed on September the 11th. Obviously, it changed for thousands of people's lives for whom we still mourn. But it changed for America, and it's very important that the American people understand the change. We are now a battleground. We are vulnerable. Therefore, we cannot ignore gathering threats across the ocean. It used to be that we could pick or choose whether or not we would become involved. If we saw a threat, it may be a threat to a friend, in which case we would be involved, but never did we realize the threat could be directed at the American people. And that changed. And therefore, when we hear of stories about weapons of mass destruction in the hands of a brutal dictator who hates America, we need to take that seriously, and we are. And when we find out there's links between Baghdad and a killer who actually ordered the killing of one of our fellow citizens, we've got to realize the what that means to our future. And that's why this administration and this country is holding the U.N. Security Council and the world to its demands that Saddam Hussein disarm. It is important for the country to realize that Saddam Hussein has fooled the world for 12 years, is used to fooling the world, is confident he can fool the world. He is wants the world to think that hide and seek is a game that we should play. And it's over. You see, our country recognizes, and a lot of other countries now recognize as well, the role of the inspector is to show up and verify whether Saddam Hussein is disarming. That's the role of the inspector. The role of inspectors there's 104 of them the role of the inspector is not to go into a state the size of a country the size of California and try to figure out where this guy has hid things over a 12 year period of time. And the inspectors have gone to Iraq, and it is clear that not only is Saddam Hussein deceiving, it is clear he's not disarming. And so you'll see us, over the next short period of time, working with friends and allies and the United Nations to bring that body along. And it's a moment of truth for the United Nations. The United Nations gets to decide shortly whether or not it is going to be relevant in terms of keeping the peace, whether or not its words mean anything. But one thing is certain For the sake of peace and for the sake of security, the United States and our friends and allies, we will disarm Saddam Hussein if he will not disarm himself. And so we've got a lot to do we've got a lot to do to leave behind a safer country and a better country and a safer and better world. But I'm glad history has called this country into action at this point in time, because there's no doubt in my mind, when we make our mind up, we can achieve a lot. And there's no doubt in my mind, when the United States acts abroad and home, we do so based upon values, particularly the value that we hold dear to our hearts, and that is, everybody ought to be free. I want to repeat what I said during my State of the Union to you Liberty is not America's gift to the world. What we believe strongly and what we hold dear is, liberty is God's gift to mankind. And we hold that value precious, and we believe it is true. And as we work to make the world a safer place, we'll also work to make the world a freer place. And as we work to make America a freer place, we'll work to make it a more compassionate place. Big obstacles have been placed in our way. Working together, we will achieve what we need to achieve to cross those obstacles. Thank you all for your interest. May God bless you, and may God bless America. February 08, 2003 Good morning. On Wednesday, Secretary of State Powell briefed the United Nations Security Council on Iraq's illegal weapons programs, its attempts to hide those weapons, and its links to terrorist groups. The Iraqi regime's violations of Security Council resolutions are evident. They are dangerous to America and the world, and they continue to this hour. The regime has never accounted for a vast arsenal of deadly biological and chemical weapons. To the contrary, the regime is pursuing an elaborate campaign to conceal its weapons materials and to hide or intimidate key experts and scientists. This effort of deception is directed from the highest levels of the Iraqi regime, including Saddam Hussein, his son, Iraq's Vice President, and the very official responsible for cooperating with inspectors. The Iraqi regime has actively and secretly attempted to obtain equipment needed to produce chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. Firsthand witnesses have informed us that Iraq has at least seven mobile factories for the production of biological agents, equipment mounted on trucks and rails to evade discovery. The Iraqi regime has acquired and tested the means to deliver weapons of mass destruction. It has never accounted for thousands of bombs and shells capable of delivering chemical weapons. It is actively pursuing components for prohibited ballistic missiles. And we have sources that tell us that Saddam Hussein recently authorized Iraqi field commanders to use chemical weapons, the very weapons the dictator tells us he does not have. One of the greatest dangers we face is that weapons of mass destruction might be passed to terrorists who would not hesitate to use those weapons. Saddam Hussein has longstanding, direct, and continuing ties to terrorist networks. Senior members of Iraqi intelligence and Al Qaida have met at least 8 times since the early 1990s. Iraq has sent bombmaking and document forgery experts to work with Al Qaida. Iraq has also provided Al Qaida with chemical and biological weapons training. And an Al Qaida operative was sent to Iraq several times in the late 1990s for help in acquiring poisons and gases. We also know that Iraq is harboring a terrorist network headed by a senior Al Qaida terrorist planner. This network runs a poison and explosives training camp in northeast Iraq, and many of its leaders are known to be in Baghdad. This is the situation as we find it 12 years after Saddam Hussein agreed to disarm and more than 90 days after the Security Council passed Resolution 1441 by a unanimous vote, Saddam Hussein was required to make a full declaration of his weapons programs. He has not done so. Saddam Hussein was required to fully cooperate in the disarmament of his regime. He has not done so. Saddam Hussein was given a final chance. He is throwing away that chance. Having made its demands, the Security Council must not back down when those demands are defied and mocked by a dictator. The United States would welcome and support a new resolution making clear that the Security Council stands behinds its previous demands. Yet, resolutions mean little without resolve, and the United States, along with a growing coalition of nations, will take whatever action is necessary to defend ourselves and disarm the Iraqi regime. Thank you for listening. February 07, 2003 Listen, thank you all for coming, and good morning. Today we welcome John Snow as the 73d Secretary of the Treasury. In this position John Snow will be a key adviser on the economy, will be an advocate for my administration's agenda of faster growth, more new jobs, and wider trade. John has had a distinguished career, both in the private sector and the public sector. And I am so pleased to have him join in my Cabinet. And I am grateful for his willingness to serve our Nation once again. I want to thank Judge Wilkinson for swearing in his good buddy. Laughter Thank you for coming, Judge. I'm honored you and your wife are here. I'm also so pleased that the Snows are with us Carolyn and all the Snows are up here with us. Laughter Thank you all for coming. I want to thank Donnie Evans, who is the Secretary of Commerce, for being here Ken Dam, the Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, who serves so well in that position other distinguished guests who are here to witness this swearing in. I want to thank all of those who work in the Department of the Treasury for joining us today as well. Secretary Snow takes office at a time of challenge for this country. The American economy is in its second consecutive year of growth yet it is not growing fast enough. The economy is not strong enough. Many family budgets are strained in America today. Too many small businesses are struggling just to stay afloat. The Nation's rate of unemployment was 5.7 percent last month, down from the prior months. But we will not be satisfied until this economy grows fast enough to employ every man and woman who seeks a job. We will work with the United States Congress to address these challenges. And John Snow will be on point and working with the Congress. I proposed a plan to boost the economy with tax relief for every American who pays Federal income taxes. Here's what we believe By leaving more money in the hands that earned it, we will stimulate consumer spending and encourage investment, so that businesses large and small can expand and employ more people. We know the role of Government is not to create wealth, but an environment in which the entrepreneurial spirit flourishes. We know that businesses hire when they grow, and they grow when they invest. And so our proposal will promote capital formation. It is important for Congress to remember that most small businesses are sole proprietorships or limited partnerships. And when we cut individual tax rates, we are stimulating capital formation in the small business sector of America. Our proposal will promote capital formation and investment by ending the unfair double taxation on dividends. Not only will this proposal help when it comes for job creation it will help all investors, including nearly 10 million seniors who receive dividend income. The Secretary of Treasury has been to Capitol Hill a lot already. Laughter And he went up there recently to talk about the budget I submitted to the Congress. This budget calls for spending discipline in Washington, DC. We believe the best way to deal with our deficits is to encourage economic growth and encourage spending discipline in Washington, DC. In addition to his work as economic adviser and economic spokesman for the country and for this administration, Secretary Snow will lead one of the oldest, largest, and most important departments of our Government. The Department of Treasury bears responsibility for a wide range of important tasks, from minting our Nation's currency to stopping the flow of money to terrorist groups. I appreciate the good work of the dedicated men and women throughout this Department. And you can rest assured that your new boss is a superb executive and a fine man, with a good heart. John will be an active advocate for policies that encourage economic growth. And he'll be a good steward of the taxpayers' dollars. And that is fitting, because very soon each one of those dollars will bear the signature of Secretary John Snow. Congratulations. February 06, 2003 Thank you all for that warm welcome. Great introduction laughter especially since you mentioned Laura. Laughter I want to thank the Speaker and Leader Pelosi. Ray, I want to thank you very much for being the chairman of the National Prayer Breakfast. I was wondering why the Grace Singers from Peoria managed to get here laughter but I'm sure glad they did. Thank you all for coming. It might have been the best decision you made, Mr. Chairman. Laughter I want to welcome Michael W. Smith and his wife here. Michael W. is going to have dinner at the White House tonight. We look forward to seeing you both. They've been great friends of Laura and me and my family. It is a treat to have him here, to lend his God given talents to this important breakfast. I appreciate the fact that Tenet and Myers will be up here at the head table. It is fitting that in the midst of tough times, that these two leaders are sharing with Scripture and prayer with the country. I appreciate all the Members of Congress here. I pray for your wisdom on a daily basis. Laughter I want to thank all the members of my Cabinet who are here. I really appreciate leaders from around the globe who have come to share in prayer with us today. It reminds me that the Almighty God is a God to everybody, every person. I really am so honored that Dr. Condoleezza Rice is going to share some comments with you. I know this, that the Reverend John W. Rice, Jr., would be incredibly proud of his wise and gracious daughter. It is fitting that we have a National Prayer Breakfast. It is the right thing to do, because this is a nation of prayer. I know from firsthand knowledge that this is a nation of prayer. See, I work the ropelines a lot, and I hear all kinds of things on the ropelines. But the thing I hear the most, the comment I hear the most from our fellow citizens, regardless of their political party or philosophy, is, "Mr. President, I pray for you and your family, and so does my family." That's what I hear. I turn to them without hesitation and say, "It is the greatest gift you can give anybody, is to pray on their behalf." I especially feel that because I believe in prayer. I pray. I pray for strength. I pray for guidance. I pray for forgiveness, and I pray to offer my thanks for a kind and generous Almighty God. As Dick mentioned, we mourn the loss of seven brave souls. We learned a lot about them over the last couple of days. And Laura and I learned a lot about their families in Houston, because we met with them. My impressions of the meeting was that there was that Almighty God was present in their hearts. There was such incredible strength in the room of those who were grieving that it was overwhelming, to be with those who just lost their husband or wife or dad or mom and to feel the presence of the Almighty. I attribute it to the fact that they, themselves, are in prayer. And our country prays for their strength, and we must continue to pray for those who suffer and those who grieve. This is a testing time for our country. At this hour we have troops that are assembling in the Middle East. There's oppressive regimes that seek terrible weapons. We face an ongoing threat of terror. One thing is for certain We didn't ask for these challenges, but we will meet them. I say that with certainty, because this Nation has strong foundations that won't be shaken. As America passes through this decisive period, there are things we can count on. We can be confident in the character of the American people. The months since September the 11th, 2001, have not brought fear and fatigue or rash anger. Instead we've witnessed courage and resolve and calm purpose. We've seen that a new generation of Americans is strong and steadfast in the face of danger, and our confidence will not be shaken. We can be confident in America's cause in the world. Our Nation is dedicated to the equal and undeniable worth of every person. We don't own the ideals of freedom and human dignity, and sometimes we haven't always lived up to them. But we do stand for those ideals, and we will defend them. We believe, as Franklin Roosevelt said, that men and women born to freedom in the image of God will not forever suffer the oppressor's sword. We are confident that people in every part of the world wish for freedom, not tyranny, prefer peace to terror and violence. And our confidence will not be shaken. We can also be confident in the ways of providence, even when they are far from our understanding. Events aren't moved by blind change and chance. Behind all of life and all of history, there's a dedication and purpose, set by the hand of a just and faithful God. And that hope will never be shaken. In this hour of our country's history, we stand in the need of prayer. We pray for the families that have known recent loss. We pray for the men and women who serve around the world to defend our freedom. We pray for their families. We pray for wisdom to know and do what is right. And we pray for God's peace in the affairs of men. May God bless you all. February 06, 2003 The Secretary of State has now briefed the United Nations Security Council on Iraq's illegal weapons programs, its attempts to hide those weapons, and its links to terrorist groups. I want to thank Secretary Powell for his careful and powerful presentation of the facts. The information in the Secretary's briefing and other information in our possession was obtained through great skill and often at personal risk. Uncovering secret information in a totalitarian society is one of the most difficult intelligence challenges. Those who accept that challenge, both in our intelligence services and in those of our friends and allies, perform a great service to all free nations, and I'm grateful for their good work. The Iraqi regime's violations of Security Council resolutions are evident, and they continue to this hour. The regime has never accounted for a vast arsenal of deadly biological and chemical weapons. To the contrary, the regime is pursuing an elaborate campaign to conceal its weapons materiels and to hide or intimidate key experts and scientists, all in direct defiance of Security Council 1441. This deception is directed from the highest levels of the Iraqi regime, including Saddam Hussein, his son, the Vice President, and the very official responsible for cooperating with inspectors. In intercepted conversations, we have heard orders to conceal materiels from the U.N. inspectors. And we have seen through satellite images concealment activity at close to 30 sites, including movement of equipment before inspectors arrive. The Iraqi regime has actively and secretly attempted to obtain equipment needed to produce chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. Firsthand witnesses have informed us that Iraq has at least seven mobile factories for the production of biological agents, equipment mounted on trucks and rails to evade discovery. Using these factories, Iraq could produce within just months hundreds of pounds of biological poisons. The Iraqi regime has acquired and tested the means to deliver weapons of mass destruction. All the world has now seen the footage of an Iraqi Mirage aircraft with a fuel tank modified to spray biological agents over wide areas. Iraq has developed spray devices that could be used on unmanned aerial vehicles with ranges far beyond what is permitted by the Security Council. A UAV launched from a vessel off the American coast could reach hundreds of miles inland. Iraq has never accounted for thousands of bombs and shells capable of delivering chemical weapons. The regime is actively pursuing components for prohibited ballistic missiles. And we have sources that tell us that Saddam Hussein recently authorized Iraqi field commanders to use chemical weapons, the very weapons the dictator tells the world he does not have. One of the greatest dangers we face is that weapons of mass destruction might be passed to terrorists, who would not hesitate to use those weapons. Saddam Hussein has longstanding, direct, and continuing ties to terrorist networks. Senior members of Iraqi intelligence and Al Qaida have met at least eight times since the early 1990s. Iraq has sent bomb making and document forgery experts to work with Al Qaida. Iraq has also provided Al Qaida with chemical and biological weapons training. We also know that Iraq is harboring a terrorist network headed by a senior Al Qaida terrorist planner. The network runs a poison and explosive training center in northeast Iraq, and many of its leaders are known to be in Baghdad. The head of this network traveled to Baghdad for medical treatment and stayed for months. Nearly two dozen associates joined him there and have been operating in Baghdad for more than 8 months. The same terrorist network operating out of Iraq is responsible for the murder, the recent murder, of an American citizen, an American diplomat, Laurence Foley. The same network has plotted terrorism against France, Spain, Italy, Germany, the Republic of Georgia, and Russia, and was caught producing poisons in London. The danger Saddam Hussein poses reaches across the world. This is the situation as we find it. Twelve years after Saddam Hussein agreed to disarm and 90 days after the Security Council passed Resolution 1441 by a unanimous vote, Saddam Hussein was required to make a full declaration of his weapons programs. He has not done so. Saddam Hussein was required to fully cooperate in the disarmament of his regime. He has not done so. Saddam Hussein was given a final chance. He is throwing that chance away. The dictator of Iraq is making his choice. Now the nations of the Security Council must make their own. On November 8, by demanding the immediate disarmament of Iraq, the United Nations Security Council spoke with clarity and authority. Now the Security Council will show whether its words have any meaning. Having made its demands, the Security Council must not back down when those demands are defied and mocked by a dictator. The United States would welcome and support a new resolution which makes clear that the Security Council stands behind its previous demands. Yet resolutions mean little without resolve. And the United States, along with a growing coalition of nations, is resolved to take whatever action is necessary to defend ourselves and disarm the Iraqi regime. On September the 11th, 2001, the American people saw what terrorists could do by turning four airplanes into weapons. We will not wait to see what terrorists or terrorist states could do with chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons. Saddam Hussein can now be expected to begin another round of empty concessions, transparently false denials. No doubt, he will play a last minute game of deception. The game is over. All the world can rise to this moment. The community of free nations can show that it is strong and confident and determined to keep the peace. The United Nations can renew its purpose and be a source of stability and security in the world. The Security Council can affirm that it is able and prepared to meet future challenges and other dangers. And we can give the Iraqi people their chance to live in freedom and choose their own government. Saddam Hussein has made Iraq into a prison, a poison factory, and a torture chamber for patriots and dissidents. Saddam Hussein has the motive and the means and the recklessness and the hatred to threaten the American people. Saddam Hussein will be stopped. Thank you. February 03, 2003 Thanks for that warm welcome. It's a delight to be here at the National Institutes of Health, a center of excellence, a center of the brilliance of the American people. It is a place where so many good people do work every day to help save lives, and we're thankful for that. America is really proud of what you do here. NIH is a great credit to America. Two days ago, America was yet reminded again of the sacrifices made in the name of scientific discovery. The seven brave men and women from the Columbia will be remembered for their achievements, their heroism, and their sense of wonder. Our prayers are with their families and their loved ones. Their 16 day mission held the promise of answering scientific problems that elude us here on Earth. Columbia carried in its payload classroom experiments from some of our students in America. I hope these children, our future scientists, will continue to ask questions, continue to explore, continue to discover. And while we grieve the loss of these astronauts, the cause of which they died will continue. America's journey into space will go on. The spirit of modern science embodied in our space program can be found here at NIH, where each day you make enormous progress against disease and suffering these achievements that come about through the great ingenuity and determination and the serious moral purpose of America's scientific community. Now our scientists have been called to meet a different kind of challenge, man's efforts to use diseases as weapons of war and terror. This threat has placed research scientists at the center of our mission to defend the American people. It has put NIH squarely in the midst of our war to defend America and to defeat international terrorism. With focus and determination and necessary resources, this Government will act before dangers are upon us. I want to thank Tommy Thompson for his leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services. And I want to thank my friend Tom Ridge for taking on the Department of Homeland Security, the new agency designed to coordinate Federal assets over State and local assets in order to protect better protect America. I'm honored that Members of the United States Congress have joined us. Senator Ted Kennedy from Massachusetts is with us thank you, Senator Kennedy and Chris Cox of California, Jim Turner of Texas, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. I want to thank Dr. Elias Zerhouni, who is the Director of the Institute the National Institutes of Health for his fine, fine leadership of this really important institution. He really is doing a fine job. You know, when I picked him, I thought he would do okay. Laughter He's far exceeded my expectations. He's really, really a good man who is honoring our country with his leadership. Tony Fauci, of course, I've known him for a long time. He is a distinguished Director of the National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, one of the generals in the war against HIV AIDS, for which we are really grateful, Tony, for your dedication. I want to thank Mark McClellan is here with us, the Director of the Food and Drug Administration. I appreciate your leadership, Mark, on this incredibly important agency. Gary Nabel is with us. He is the Director of the Vaccine Research Center, who just took us on a really interesting tour. I asked him if this is the best in the world, and he said, "You bet. Not only do we have the best equipment in the world, Mr. President, we've got the best people in the world working there." And I want to thank you for your leadership, Gary. And I want to thank all of the hard working employees from the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services and the new Department of Homeland Security who are here today. Thank you for your dedication to our country. Thank you for working long hours, that enable me to go out to the countryside and say to the American people there's a lot of good folks working long, hard hours to protect you, do the best we can do to make sure America is safe and secure. Today I sent to the United States Congress my budget for fiscal year 2004. The budget keeps the fundamental commitments of our Government, including our commitments to be good stewards with taxpayers' money. I propose that discretionary Federal spending increase by no more than 4 percent this year. That's about as much of family income is expected to grow. It seems like a reasonable benchmark for the Federal budget. Within that limit we can fund essential priorities at home and abroad, and meet the responsibility to show spending discipline in Washington, DC. The first responsibility of our Government is to defend our Nation. The attacks of September the 11th, 2001, awakened America to the dangers of a new era. We face a different kind of threat than we were used to. On that morning, we saw the face of an enemy that will use any means to strike America, no matter how much destruction it causes, no matter how many innocent lives were lost. The kind of men who would seize planes filled with innocent people and crash them into buildings would not hesitate to use biological or chemical or nuclear weapons. They wouldn't hesitate at all. They don't value life, like we value life in America. They don't see every life as precious, like we see every life as precious in America. We have every reason to believe that terrorists and outlaw regimes would turn these weapons on the United States. We've been warned. On September the 11th, 2001, they clearly showed what they think about our country. And we will heed the lessons of 2001 September the 11th, 2001. We know that our enemies have been working to acquire weapons of mass destruction. That is a fact. If their ambitions were ever realized, they would set out to inflict catastrophic harm on the United States, with many times the casualties of September the 11th. So we're going to do everything in our power to protect the people and to prevent that day from ever happening. Across the world, we're making a determined effort with a lot of friends to round up terrorists wherever they hide, whatever cave they may be in, and bring them to justice. It doesn't matter how long it's going to take. One by one, we are going to dismantle their networks, so that America and our friends and allies are safe from harm. We're working with international authorities to track and control nuclear weapons. We seek to strengthen global agreements banning the production and shipment of missile technologies and weapons of mass destruction. We're working with others in the world to face the new threat. And in Iraq, where a brutal regime is arming to threaten the world the peace of the world, we have made our intentions very clear. If the dictator does not disarm, if he doesn't get rid of his weapons of mass destruction, then the United States will lead a coalition to disarm him. And we will do so in the name of peace, and we will do so for the security of the American people. Also, as we confront dangers abroad, we're taking unprecedented action to protect the homeland. We've stepped up security at our borders and ports, posted Federal screeners in airports, begun vaccinating troops and first responders against smallpox. And we have stockpiled enough vaccine to inoculate the entire population. We are proposing billions of dollars to help first responders and hospitals increase their effectiveness. The Congress needs to finish the appropriations process as soon as possible, so we can get that money to the local governments. We're putting in place a national system of air sensors to detect biological attack. These are responsible and essential measures to protect our homeland and our people. And in the years to come, we must broaden our defenses against the use of diseases as a weapon. In my State of the Union Address, I asked Congress to approve a comprehensive plan for research and production of needed drugs and vaccines, a plan that we call Project BioShield. My budget requests almost 6 billion to quickly make available safer and more effective vaccines and treatments against agents like smallpox, anthrax, botulinum toxin, Ebola, and plague. We already have the knowledge and ability to manufacture some of the vaccines and drugs we need. Yet, we have had little reason to do so up until now, because the natural occurrence of these diseases in our country is so rare. But the world changed on September the 11th, 2001, and we've got to respond to that change. In light of the new threats, we must now develop and stockpile these vaccines and these treatments. Right now, America must go beyond our borders to find companies willing to make vaccines to combat biological weapons. Two main drug therapies used to treat anthrax are produced overseas. We must rebuild America's capacity to produce vaccines by committing the Federal Government to the purchase of medicines that combat bioterror. Under Project BioShield, the Government will have the spending authority to purchase these vaccines in huge amounts, sufficient to meet any emergency that may come. Project BioShield will give our scientific leaders greater authority and flexibility in decisions that may affect our security. Our labs will be able to hire the experts, get more funding quickly, and build the best facilities to accelerate urgently needed discoveries. We'll have a better and safer smallpox vaccine, antibodies to treat botox, sophisticated devices that can confirm a case of anthrax infection almost instantly. We will ensure that promising medicines are available for use in an emergency. Like other great scientific efforts, Project BioShield will have many applications beyond its immediate goals. As scientists work to defeat the weapons of bioterror, they will gain new insights into the workings of many other diseases. This will also break new ground in the search for treatments and cures for other illnesses. This could bring great benefits for all of humanity, especially in developing countries where infectious diseases often go uncontrolled. America's war on terror has tested this Nation, has tested our resolve, our will, our determination, and I'm confident that we can call upon our resources and strengths to prevail. There is no doubt in my mind, the men and women of our scientific community are among this country's greatest strengths. HIV AIDS once meant only terrible suffering and certain death. Now in America, there are life extending treatments for AIDS, treatments we are going to share across the world. This great and strong and mighty Nation will not only work to keep the peace, we will work to make sure society is a more compassionate place. We weep for those who suffer on the continent of Africa, and we intend to do something about it. Our scientists have made significant gains in curing some forms of cancer. And we're going to continue to work hard to make sure that we make progress to curing all of cancer. Illnesses that haunted other generations, such as polio and measles, are now part of the past because of the vision and ingenuity of the men and women who work here in NIH. This new century brings an urgent need to apply this vision and ingenuity to the defense of this Nation, and you are up for the task. I look forward to working with the United States Congress to get Project Bio Shield out of its committees, onto the floor, onto my desk, so you all can work on behalf of the American people, so you can use your God given talents, your fantastic brains, your clear vision to better protect America. This is the right course of action. This is what we owe the American people. And this is what we will deliver. It is such an honor to be here a place of healing and hope, a place of genius and vision. Again, I want to thank you all very much for your hard and tireless work, on behalf of a grateful nation. May God bless what you do, and may God continue to bless the United States of America. February 01, 2003 Good morning. Earlier this week, I reported to the American people on the state of our Union. I asked Congress to join me in meeting the great challenges that confront our Nation with the courage and resolve our times require. Working together, we'll strengthen our economy and lay the foundation for sustained growth so that every person who wants to work can find a job. We will modernize Medicare to make sure that seniors can choose the coverage that fits them best, including coverage for prescription drugs. We will reform America's medical liability system to cut down on excessive lawsuits that are driving up the cost of health care. We will make America less dependent on foreign sources of energy by speeding up development of pollution free cars that run on hydrogen. We will renew the hope of welfare reform and support the faith based and community groups who bring hope and healing to children who need mentors and men and women who struggle with drug addiction. The qualities of courage and compassion that we strive for in America also determine our conduct abroad. Across the world, we are meeting the threat of terrorism to make the world safer and confronting the grave dangers posed by outlaw regimes. At the same time, America can also make this world better by bringing the merciful powers of modern medicine to people in great need. Today in Africa, nearly 30 million people have the AIDS virus, including 3 million children under the age of 15. To meet this growing crisis, I am proposing the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. This comprehensive plan will prevent 7 million new AIDS infections, treat at least 2 million people with life extending drugs, and provide humane care for millions of people suffering from AIDS and for children orphaned by AIDS. Facilities across Africa will have the medicine to treat AIDS because it will be purchased with funds provided by the United States. I'm asking the Congress to commit 15 billion to fight AIDS overseas for the next 5 years, beginning with 2 billion in 2004. This plan, coupled with our ongoing efforts, will nearly triple our current annual spending on the global fight against AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. Our efforts to combat AIDS in Africa are made more difficult by severe food shortage sweeping that continent a crisis that affects up to 30 million people in southern Africa and the Horn of Africa, particularly Ethiopia. Hunger, sickness, and grief have left people across the continent even more vulnerable to the effects of AIDS. Across the Earth, America is feeding the hungry. More than 60 percent of international emergency food aid comes as a gift from the people of the United States. Building on this commitment, my budget for 2004 calls for more than 1 billion to meet emergency food needs worldwide. Today I announced a new proposal for a 200 million famine fund to bring immediate assistance to Africa and other regions facing starvation. Money from the fund will be available to purchase food supplies directly or to support farmers in food production. We will encourage friends around the world to set up similar funds and leverage our combined resources to provide the most help to famine stricken lands. Through all our efforts to fight disease and hunger, we can spare people in many nations from untold suffering, and Africa especially. Millions are facing great affliction, but with our help, they will not face it alone. America has a special calling to come to their aid, and we will do so with the compassion and generosity that have always defined the United States. Thank you for listening. January 31, 2003 President Bush. It's my honor to welcome Tony Blair back to the White House. We just had a wide ranging discussion on a lot of issues. I appreciate my friend's commitment to peace and security. I appreciate his vision. I appreciate his willingness to lead. Most importantly, I appreciate his understanding that after September the 11th, 2001, the world changed, that we face a common enemy, terrorists willing to kill innocent lives, that we now recognize that threats which gather in remote regions of the world must be dealt with before others lose their lives. Tony Blair is a friend. He's a friend of the American people. He's a friend of mine. I trust his judgment, and I appreciate his wisdom. Welcome. Prime Minister Blair. First of all, can I say how delighted I am to be back in the White House and to see President Bush. And as he's just described to you, we had an excellent discussion, covering all the key issues of the day. And I would like to praise his leadership in the world since September the 11th, particularly on what I think are the two key issues that face our world today, which are issues of international terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. And I think both of those issues come together because they threaten the peace and the order and the stability of the world. And what is essential is that in every respect, in every way that we can, we mobilize international support and the international community in order to make sure that these twin threats that the world faces are dealt with. And I have no doubt at all that we can deal with them. But we should realize those two threats, terrorism, weapons of mass destruction, are not different they're linked. And dealing with both of them is essential for the future peace and security and prosperity of the world. Thank you. President Bush. Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Here's what we're going to do. I will call upon a reporter. The Prime Minister will call upon a reporter. And we'll do this three different times. Start with you. Timetable for Action U.N. Resolution 1441 Q. Thank you, sir. First, quickly to the Prime Minister, did you ask President Bush to secure a second U.N. resolution and to give the inspectors more time? And President Bush, the U.N. says the U.N. inspectors say Saddam is not complying you say Saddam is not complying. Why wait a matter of weeks? What's why hold up on the decision? President Bush. First of all, you violated the two question rule as usual. He's had a bad habit of this. I'll start. Saddam Hussein is not disarming. He is a danger to the world. He must disarm. And that's why I have constantly said and the Prime Minister has constantly said this issue will come to a head in a matter of weeks, not months. Prime Minister Blair. The whole point about the present situation is that when President Bush made his speech to the United Nations, when we went down the United Nations route, we passed Resolution 1441. And I think it really repays reading that, because we said very clearly that Saddam had what we said was a final opportunity to disarm and that he had to cooperate fully in every respect with the U.N. weapons inspectors. As Dr. Blix said in his report to the Security Council earlier this week, he's not doing that. And therefore, what is important is that the international community comes together again and makes it absolutely clear that this is unacceptable. And the reason why I believe that it will do that is precisely because in the original Resolution 1441, we made it clear that failure to disarm would lead to serious consequences. So this is a test for the international community. It's not just a test for the United States or for Britain. It's a test for the international community, too. And the judgment has to be, at the present time, that Saddam Hussein is not cooperating with the inspectors and, therefore, is in breach of the U.N. resolution. And that's why time is running out. Andy. Q. Andrew Marr, from the BBC. A question for the President, if I may. What is the status, in your view, of any second resolution? Is it something that you think it's worth spending time and energy trying to assemble and, if so, why? President Bush. First, let me reiterate what I just said. This is a matter of weeks, not months. Any attempt to drag the process on for months will be resisted by the United States. And as I understand the Prime Minister I'm loath to put words in his mouth but he's also said weeks, not months. Secondly, I want to remind you, I was the guy that went to the United Nations in the first place. I said, "Why don't we come together as a world to resolve this issue, once and for all? Why doesn't the United Nations stand up as a body and show the world that it has got the capacity to keep the peace?" So, first of all, in answer to one part of your question, is this needs to be resolved quickly. Should the United Nations decide to pass a second resolution, it would be welcomed if it is yet another signal that we're intent upon disarming Saddam Hussein. But 1441 gives us the authority to move without any second resolution. And Saddam Hussein must understand that if he does not disarm, for the sake of peace, we, along with others, will go disarm Saddam Hussein. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Secretary Powell's Upcoming U.N. Visit Q. Thank you, sir. Mr. President, is Secretary Powell going to provide the undeniable proof of Iraq's guilt that so many critics are calling for? President Bush. Well, all due in modesty, I thought I did a pretty good job myself of making it clear that he's not disarming and why he should disarm. Secretary Powell will make a strong case about the danger of an armed Saddam Hussein. He will make it clear that Saddam Hussein is fooling the world or trying to fool the world. He will make it clear that Saddam is a menace to peace in his own neighborhood. He will also talk about Al Qaida links, links that really do portend a danger for America and for Great Britain anybody else who loves freedom. As the Prime Minister says, the war on terror is not confined to just a shadowy terrorist network. The war on terror includes people who are willing to train and to equip organizations such as Al Qaida. See, the strategic view of America changed after September the 11th. We must deal with threats before they hurt the American people again. And as I have said repeatedly, Saddam Hussein would like nothing more than to use a terrorist network to attack and to kill and leave no fingerprints behind. Colin Powell will continue making that case to the American people and the world at the United Nations. Prime Minister Blair. Adam. Iraq and Terrorists Q. Adam Boulton, Sky News. One question for you both. Do you believe that there is a link between Saddam Hussein, a direct link, and the men who attacked on September the 11th? President Bush. I can't make that claim. Prime Minister Blair. That answers your question. The one thing I would say, however, is I've absolutely no doubt at all that unless we deal with both of these threats, they will come together in a deadly form. Because, you know, what do we know after September the 11th? We know that these terrorist networks would use any means they can to cause maximum death and destruction. And we know also that they will do whatever they can to acquire the most deadly weaponry they can. And that's why it's important to deal with these issues together. President Bush. Jim Jim Angle, FOX News . Role of U.N. Inspectors Q. Mr. President and Prime Minister, if I could, sir, the arms inspectors made their report on Monday this week. You've both made clear that it's a question of weeks, not months. And here we are at the end of the week and the Iraqis are suddenly inviting the arms inspectors back to Baghdad for further consultations. Could I ask both of you what you make of that? President Bush. Let's see if I can be polite. Saddam Hussein has had 12 years to learn how to deceive, and I would view this as more deception on his part. He expects to be able to convince 108 inspectors that he is openminded. The only way that he can show that he is truly a peaceful man is to not negotiate with inspectors, is not to string the inspectors along, but to disarm in front of inspectors. We know what a disarmed regime looks like. We know what it means to disarm. There's no negotiations. The idea of calling inspectors in to negotiate is a charade. If he is going to disarm, he must start disarming. That's the only thing he needs to talk to the inspectors about, is, "Here. I'm disarming." Prime Minister Blair. That's absolutely right. If you look back at the history of this, for 12 years, he's played these games. And that's why it's so important to realize what the U.N. inspectors were put back in to do. The U.N. inspectors and this is the crucial point, because it's on this basis that the whole issue of the U.N. authority rests the U.N. inspectors did not go back into Iraq to play a game of hide and seek with Saddam. They didn't go back in as a detective agency. They went back in under an authority that said that they had to cooperate fully, in every respect The interview of witnesses, not just access to sites honest, transparent declarations in the material they had. They're not doing that. Now, why are they calling back the inspectors? I think it's fairly obvious. It's because as the pressure grows, they want to play the same games as they've been playing all the way through. That's why it's important we hold to the path that we've set out. They have to disarm. They have to cooperate with the inspectors. They're not doing it. If they don't do it through the U.N. route, then they will have to be disarmed by force. Nick. Impact of September 11 Q. Nick Robinson, ITV News. Mr. President, an account of the White House after 9 11 says that you ordered invasion plans for Iraq 6 days after September the 11th Bob Woodward's account. Isn't it the case that you have always intended war on Iraq, and that international diplomacy is a charade in this case? President Bush. Actually, prior to September the 11th, we were discussing smart sanctions. We were trying to fashion a sanction regime that would make it more likely to be able to contain somebody like Saddam Hussein. After September the 11th, the doctrine of containment just doesn't hold any water, as far as I'm concerned. I've told you the strategic vision of our country shifted dramatically, and it shifted dramatically because we now recognize that oceans no longer protect us, that we're vulnerable to attack. And the worst form of attack could come from somebody acquiring weapons of mass destruction and using them on the American people, or the worst kind of attack could come when somebody uses weapons of mass destruction on our friends in Great Britain. Recently, Tony Blair's government routed out a poison plot. It should say to the people of Great Britain There is a present danger that weapons of mass destruction are a danger to people who love freedom. I want to congratulate you on your fabulous job of using your intelligence and your law enforcement to protect the people of Great Britain. Today Italy rounded up yet another cell of people who are willing to use weapons of mass destruction on those of us who love freedom. And so, no, quite the contrary. My vision shifted dramatically after September the 11th, because I now realize the stakes. I realize the world has changed. My most important obligation is to protect the American people from further harm. And I will do that. Thank you all very much. January 30, 2003 President Bush. I will make an opening statement Silvio will make an opening statement we'll have one question from the Americans, one question from the Italians. We're running a little late. We'd like to spend hours answering your questions, but the problem is we've got other matters to work on. First, it's my honor to welcome Silvio Berlusconi back. He is a personal friend. Italy is a great friend of America America is a great friend of Italy. The Prime Minister and I will of course be talking about a lot of matters, the most significant matter will be how to keep the peace, how to make the world a peaceful place. I am most grateful that the Prime Minister signed a letter, along with other leaders of European countries, which clarified the issue that we're dealing with, and that is that Saddam Hussein is a clear threat to peace. It was a strong statement. It also was a statement of solidarity with the United States, and I appreciated that very much. Prime Minister Berlusconi. Thank you. President Bush. I appreciate your friendship. I welcome you back to the Oval Office and look forward to having a long and fruitful discussion. Prime Minister Berlusconi. We are here for good work, for a just cause, and for everybody, I think. And I am here with a friend, with a country, that is the best friend of my country. President Bush. Well, thank you. And your English is very good. Prime Minister Berlusconi. No, no. I have never the time. We have so much to do in Italy, I have not the time to President Bush. Not the time to practice? Prime Minister Berlusconi. to learn better English. President Bush. Well, thank you for that kind comment. Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press . President Saddam Hussein of Iraq Q. Sir, are you open to giving Saddam a final deadline, and are you willing to let him slip into exile this, a man who recently said he wants to break the neck of our country? President Bush. First, let me echo the comments of my National Security Adviser, who the other day in commenting about this process said this is a matter of weeks, not months. In other words, for the sake of peace, this issue must be resolved. Hopefully, it can be done peacefully. Hopefully, the pressure of the free world will convince Mr. Saddam Hussein to relinquish power. And should he choose to leave the country, along with a lot of the other henchmen who have tortured the Iraqi people, we would welcome that, of course. I will tell my friend Silvio that the use of military troops is my last choice, not my first. The commitment of young men and Americans into battle is a difficult decision, because I understand the cost of war. But I also understand the cost of inaction. There is a high price to be paid for the civilized world by not enforcing the opinion of the world, which was for Saddam Hussein to disarm. There's a reason why leaders around the world believe he ought to disarm. There's a reason why the Security Council of the United Nations voted 15 to nothing to say to Saddam, disarm and that's because he's dangerous. Would you care to call on somebody from the Italian press? Prime Minister Berlusconi. In Italy, I already said it. I had the opportunity to say that we have always been the faithful ally country of United States we are close friends of the United States, also in this case. I believe that the moment has arrived to find out where all the weapons of mass destruction that Saddam Hussein said he had, where they ended up. We really fear that after the series of terrorist attacks which culminated with the attacks on September 11th, there is the intention of the terrorists is to really come to a terrible disaster. And to do so, they have to avail themselves of the biological, chemical weapons that we know were available as Saddam Hussein. Therefore, on the basis of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441, Saddam Hussein has to reveal and account for the weapons that we know he has. So the decision on peace rests in his hands. We all want peace. And I'm here today to help my friend President Bush to convince everybody that this is in the interest of everybody. And if we are all united, the European Union, the United States, the Federation of Russia, everybody, all the other states under the United Nations, then Saddam Hussein will understand that he will have no other option but to reveal the arms and to destroy them. President Bush. Along those lines, let me make one clarification on my statement. I think that no matter how Mr. Saddam is dealt with, the goal of disarming Iraq still stays the same, regardless of who is in charge of the Government. And that's very important for the Iraqi people to know. And I also want to assure Silvio that should we require military action, shortly after our troops go in will go food and medicine and supplies to the Iraqi people. We will, of course, win militarily, if we have to. But we'll also want to make sure that we win the peace as well. Would you care to call on somebody in the Italian press? Italy U.S. Relations Q. Mr. Prime Minister, I just had a question. You expressed your sentiment to friendship for the United States, and loyalty. Now, will you be ready to commit Italy to go along with the United States should the United States put together a coalition of the willing, as the President has said? And to you, Mr. President, do you expect Mr. Berlusconi Assistant Press Secretary Reed Dickens. Only one question. President Bush. I would have answered it, but they said no. Laughter But I don't even know the question. Go ahead. Prime Minister Berlusconi. We will never forget that we owe our freedom our freedom, our wealth to the United States of America, and our democracy. And we also will never forget that there have been many American young lives that were lost and sacrifice themselves for us. So for us, the United States is not only our friend, but they are the guarantee of our democracy and our freedom. And I already had the opportunity to say this to President Bush Every time I see the U.S. flag, I don't see the flag only representative of a country, but I see it as a symbol of democracy and of freedom. President Bush. Thank you, sir. Thanks. January 29, 2003 Thank you all. I'm anxious to get started. Laughter So I woke up this morning, and Laura said, "Where are you going?" I said, "Grand Rapids, thankfully." And she said, "Home of a great American, Gerald Ford" and home to many great Americans. I want to thank you for your hospitality. She said, "I've got a suggestion for you Shorten your speech." Laughter I want to share some of my thoughts about that speech I gave last night. It's important for me to come to parts of our country and explain why I said what I said, so that you and others around our country clearly understand some things about the country and the problems we face. First thing I want you to know is that there's no doubt in my mind that we can accomplish our objectives, because we're the finest nation, full of the greatest people on the face of this Earth. Thanks for coming. I also want to thank my friend Tommy Thompson, who is the Secretary of Health and Human Services, for leaving a comfortable life and serving our Nation. You may remember, he was the Governor of Wisconsin. Don't hold it against him, here in Michigan. Laughter He's a great Governor, and he's a great Secretary of Health and Human Services. And I'm honored Tommy is serving with me. And I want to thank your Governor and attorney general and secretary of state for joining us today. I'm honored you all are here. Thanks for taking time out of your schedules to come and greet the President and hear what I have to say. I travel today from Washington with members of the mighty Michigan congressional delegation Your Congressman, Vern Ehlers neighboring Congressman Peter Hoekstra Dave Camp and Nick Smith, also of the congressional delegation. I appreciate these Members traveling with me. I was honored to speak in their Chamber last night. I talked about things that matter to the future of this country. Today, before I came here, I had the honor of going to Spectrum Hospital, where I visited with docs and hospital administrators and Medicare folks on Medicare, people who hurt, and heard their stories. I will share some of that with you, because I believe part of making sure that we've got a great country is we've got a great health care system that addresses the needs of all our citizens. Our biggest need at home, seems like to me, is to make sure that anybody who wants a job and can't find one and if they can't find a job, we've got a problem. We've got to make sure this economy is as strong as it possibly can be. My philosophy is, the role of Government is not to create wealth but an environment in which the small business owner can grow to be a big business owner, in which the entrepreneur feels confident about the future, in which people are willing to take risk and invest, which will equal jobs. And that's why I feel so strongly about making sure that people get to keep more of their own money. We've come out of a recession. We've withstood terrorist attacks. We had some of our fellow citizens think they could fudge the books, and we're routing them out and bringing them to justice, because we believe in honesty in America. And our economy is still kind of nudging along, in spite of those setbacks. But there's more we need to do. When a fellow American has more money in his or her pocket, they're more likely to demand a good or a service. And in the marketplace which we have in America, when somebody demands a good or a service, somebody is more likely willing to produce that good or a service. And when somebody produces the good or a service, it means somebody is more likely to find work. That's why tax relief is such an important component about creating the environment for economic growth. It is important for the people of Michigan and America to know that when I talk about tax relief, it equals jobs. You hear a lot of rhetoric in Washington, DC, about tax relief. You hear a lot of rhetoric about tax relief in Washington, DC, the old rhetoric of class warfare. My attitude is, if you pay taxes, you ought to get relief the Government ought not to try to pick and choose. Seventy percent of new jobs in America are created by small business owners. It makes sense to try to create an environment in which the small business owner feels confident about the future, is willing to take risk and expand jobs. It just so happens that most small businesses in America pay taxes at the income tax level because they're sole proprietorships or limited partnerships or Subchapter S's. So when you hear me talk about tax relief, I want you to know that that will help stimulate small business growth in America. More money in the pockets of our small business owners means it's more likely somebody in western Michigan is able to find work. We're trying to get rid of the effects of the marriage penalty. It doesn't make any sense to me that we tax marriage. Laughter It seems like we ought to encourage marriage in America. We ought to accelerate the increase of the child credit from 600 to 1,000 as quickly as possible. We ought to drop that lowest rate from 15 percent to 10 percent. All these measures have been passed. You see, what I'm talking about today is what I argued for to Congress 2 years ago. They're all law. Congress decided these were good measures. It's just that they phased them in over 3 or 5 or 7 years. We need some life in this economy. We've got people looking for jobs who can't find them. If the tax relief is good 5 years from now, it makes a lot of sense to put the tax relief in today. For the sake of our economic vitality, Congress must act. Ten million seniors receive dividends. It's part of their retirement package. It's a part of making sure the quality of life is high. A dividend is a part of a dollar that has gone through our system that has been taxed twice. A company first pays taxes on profits, and that's right. And then they distribute the money out to a shareholder, somebody who has invested in that company, and then the shareholder gets to pay it again. The double taxation of dividends is not fair it hurts our seniors. Congress needs to end the double taxation of dividends, for the sake of capital formation and for the sake of the quality of life for the seniors in America. These measures will help our economy grow, and that's important for the Federal budget. It's important for State budgets. If you're worried about budgets, which we should be worried about budgets, the first question you ask is, how do you create growth in the economy? The more growth there is, the more likely it is you'll have tax revenues. Policies that stimulate growth ought to be the centerplace of public policy, not policies which discourage growth. And the growth packages I talk about will encourage economic vitality, means more tax revenues at the Federal level. But there's two equations when it comes to deficits and balanced budgets. There's the revenue side, and then there's the spending side. I call upon the United States Congress to set clear and important priorities and not overspend the people's money. And we have some important priorities that's reflected in my budget, not only the budget this year but the budget the last couple of years. A significant, important, vital priority is education. Our Federal Government has substantially increased the amount of Federal money we have spent on education, particularly over the last 2 years. We've increased it by another 6 percent in the budget I've submitted to Congress. Spending money is important for education, but so is making sure that every child gets educated. It's important to spend money on priorities. It is essential that we set high standards for our children, that we challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations, that we insist that States measure so we can determine whether programs are working, so we know whether or not children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. And equally important, it is essential that, when we find children trapped in schools which will not teach and will not change, we give parents different opportunities for their children. Yesterday I talked about an immeasurable part of America's strength, and that is our hearts. Compassion in this country runs deep. It's one of the really great blessings to be the President of a country where people love their neighbor like they'd like to be loved themselves, and it doesn't even require a Government program. Laughter I do think there's a role of Government, though, when it comes to helping people in need. The Government ought to help people who cannot help themselves. And we need to recognize in Washington that there are pockets of despair and hopelessness all around our country, that in this land of plenty there are those who hurt, there are neighborhoods where the concept of the American Dream just doesn't exist, there are people who need love and affection and direction, there are people who are hopelessly addicted to drugs. Government can spend money and should. But Government cannot put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That happens when a fellow neighbor puts their arm around somebody who hurts and says, "I love you. Can I help you? What can I do to help you? Young lady or young man, understand that this country belongs to you and its future if you make the right decisions, and I'm here to help you make those right decisions." Yesterday I talked about the need to rally the great compassion of America to focus on those who hurt. Think about what it must be to be a child whose mother or dad is in prison. Imagine what kind of life that would be, growing up in this society. I have hope for those citizens because I know there is somebody there in our society who can provide the love and direction and guidance to make sure that child has a chance to succeed. Today I came out when I landed here at Ford Airport, I had the honor of meeting Jerry Nienhuis. He works for Kids Hope USA. I want my fellow hi, Jerry. This program, as Vern Ehlers was telling me, is an inspiration to many here in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I think Vern said it started right here. It shows the great social entrepreneurial spirit of our country. It's a faith based program. It's a program a call went out to churches in the area. They said, "If you truly love the Almighty, help somebody who hurts. Mentor a child. Mentor a child." I said last night that we can save our society one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. Each of us can be somebody helping. I urge you to mentor, just like Jerry has done. I urge those who are addicted to find a program that will help heal your heart. People care about you in our society. A better America is a compassionate America, where we save our country, one person at a time, and I'm confident it will happen. A better America is one in which our health care systems work. One of the commitments we have made to our seniors is that they get good health care. This system is called Medicare. Medicare has been used as a political football, however. It's old. It's important, but it hadn't changed. I like to remind people, medicine has changed, and Medicare hadn't. It's stuck in the past. It requires all kinds of bureaucracies to allow new medicines to come forth so our seniors can take advantage of the technologies and changes in medicine. I urged the Congress last night to put aside all the politics and to make sure the Medicare system fulfills its promise to our seniors. I believe that seniors, if they're happy with the current Medicare system, should stay on the current Medicare system. That makes sense. If you like the way things are, you shouldn't change. However, Medicare must be more flexible. Medicare must include prescription drugs. Medicare must be available to seniors in a variety of forms. The Congress has got a good health care system for themselves and their employees and other Federal employees, which is fine. It's based upon trusting each Member of Congress to make decisions for his or her family. There's a variety of plans from which to choose. I believe it's very important for seniors to be given the same opportunities that Members of the Congress, Members of the Senate have. They ought to be able to choose their own health care plan, including fee for service plans. If it's good enough for the Congress, it's good enough for the senior citizens of America. Any good plan provides options, and any good plan makes sure seniors who cannot afford help receive help from the Federal Government. I proposed a budget where discretionary spending grew at 4 percent. Within that budget I proposed last night is a substantial increase in Medicare funding of 400 billion on top of what we already spend, over the next 10 years. This is a commitment that America must make to our seniors. A reformed and strengthened Medicare system, plus a healthy dosage of Medicare spending in the budget, will make us say firmly, "We fulfilled our promise to the seniors of America." We want health care to be affordable and accessible for our all our citizens, of course. One of the problems we have in our society is we've got too many junk lawsuits, too many lawsuits against docs and hospitals, too many frivolous lawsuits which cause people to practice preventative medicine, procedure after procedure, just in case they get sued. Too many people being forced to settle out of court just to get rid of the lawsuits, which drives up your cost and drives doctors and nurses out of the practice of medicine. And it's a problem. I visited States where it's a real problem, where I've had docs come and see me and say, "I can't practice medicine anymore." I remember a baby doc that came to see me when I was in Pennsylvania. She had tears in her eyes. She said, "I love to deliver babies. I can't do it anymore. I'm being sued so much, my premiums are out of sight." It is essential it is essential that Congress understand what excessive litigation is doing to patients. It's driving up the cost. It makes it hard for people to get access to care, because there's fewer providers. I've come to the conclusion that this is a Federal issue, because excessive lawsuits are driving up the cost of health care at the Federal level. Medicare costs more Medicaid costs more veterans benefits cost more. We need a national, Federal medical liability policy. We can get one, but I need your help. The trial lawyers are powerful. They don't see the problem the way we see it. You need to write your Senators and make it clear to them that you, like me, expect people who have had injury to be able to have their day in court. And that's what we want. We want a judicial system that works. If somebody is hurt, they ought to have their day in court, but we need reasonable caps. We need to make sure that this lottery, this lawsuit lottery doesn't ruin the health care for citizens all across our country. It's an important piece of legislation, to help get control of costs that are running out of sight here in the medical industry today. Domestic policy is incredibly important, and I'll spend a lot of time on it. But there's nothing more important than protecting the American people from harm. I knew one of my challenges was going to be to make sure people understood that distance between September the 11th, 2001, did not necessarily mean war had ended and your Government can relax. War has not ended. The war that people brought to our soil still goes on. We're doing everything we can in Washington to protect our soil. We've got a new Department of Homeland Security that will be up and running here pretty quickly. It's a better way to coordinate all the assets at our disposal, to protect our borders and protect our airports, protect our infrastructure if need be, respond in an efficient way on your behalf. Our intelligence services, FBI, are working a lot better than ever before. The FBI's whole culture has changed from one that, "We will haul you in," to one that says, "We'll prevent a danger from happening in the first place as best we can." In other words, we're on alert. We know that there is still an enemy which lurks, and there is there is. And they're nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers, by the way. You know, they just don't value life like we do. The great thing about America is we say, "Every life is precious. Everybody counts. Everybody has worth." And they just don't view it that way. They kill in the name of a false ideology based upon hatred. And as I told the Congress last night, and the country, we're winning this war. We're chasing them down, one by one, and bringing them to justice. Make no mistake about it, we are slowly but surely dismantling their organization. Yesterday some of them bunched up in parts of Afghanistan. They, unfortunately, met the United States military head on unfortunately for them. Laughter The reason I bring that up is our troops are still in Afghanistan, and they're doing a great job. The country needs our presence and will have our presence needs our presence to help make sure that those remnants of Al Qaida that still lurk around the area are brought to justice. And they will be they will be. Our coalition is still strong. The doctrine that says that either you're with us, or you're with the enemy that still exists. And there are a lot of good people working hard all across the world to bring these people to justice. The Brits hauled in a bunch the other day. You'll see the Spaniards. We're sharing intelligence, and we're watching them. And when they pop their heads up, we're getting them, one by one. And it doesn't matter how long it's going to take. It just doesn't matter. Slowly but surely, we will bring them to justice. Because this country understands and this generation understands, we have an obligation to protect our land. That's our most important thing we do. And by the way, in Afghanistan, we're not leaving for another reason. We didn't go into Afghanistan as conquerors we went in as liberators. We liberated people from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes imaginable, and we're helping to build schools and health care centers. Tommy was telling me they're fixing to open one up in a couple of months in Afghanistan. And we're building highways. We're helping these good people get back on their feet. That's the great compassion about our country We're strong in our might we're compassionate in our vision. Everybody matters. Everybody has worth in the eyes of the American people. It doesn't matter where you're from, the nature of your religion. Everybody counts, including the millions who suffer from AIDS in Africa. This is a moral nation. We're a great nation. We have a chance to use our wealth and our abilities to help cure that epidemic that plagues a group of people. I call upon the generosity of the American people, at this time of tragedy, where thousands are dying, where thousands of children are being orphaned, to join in a great cause, a great humanitarian cause, a cause beyond all imaginable a cause to solve unimaginable problems, to help the people who are needlessly dying. We can make a huge difference, a significant difference in the lives of thousands of our fellow human beings. I want people to step back at some point in time and say, "Thank God for America and our generosity," as lives were saved. My point is, our presence in the world is more than just our might, but our might is needed in the world right now to make the world a more peaceful place. The war on terror is not confined strictly to the Al Qaida that we're chasing. The war on terror extends beyond just a shadowy terrorist network. The war on terror involves Saddam Hussein because of the nature of Saddam Hussein, the history of Saddam Hussein and his willingness to terrorize, himself. Saddam Hussein has terrorized his own people. He's terrorized his own neighborhood. He is a danger not only to countries in the region, but as I explained last night, because of Al Qaida connections, because of his history, he's a danger to the American people. And we've got to deal with him. We've got to deal with him before it is too late. Before September the 11th, during a period when a lot of us thought oceans would protect us forever from gathering threats far from our land, the thought of containing somebody like Saddam Hussein made sense so we could step back in America and say, "Gosh. Well, don't worry. He's only a threat to somebody in the neighborhood, and we might pick or choose whether or not we're going to help in the neighborhood." But see, our fellow citizens must understand that September the 11th, 2001, changed the equation. It's changed the strategic outlook of this country, because we're not protected by oceans. The battlefield is here, and therefore, we must address threats today as they gather, before they become acute. There's a reason why the world asked Saddam Hussein to disarm for 12 years. Laughter And the reason why is because he's dangerous. He's used them. He tortures his own people. He's gassed his own people. He's attacked people in the neighborhood. What's changed for America, besides the fact that he's still dangerous and can create havoc with friends in the neighborhood, is that there's now a shadowy terrorist network which he could use as a forward army, attacking his worst enemy and never leave a fingerprint behind, with deadly, deadly weapons. And that's what's changed. We're having an honest debate in this country, and we should, about peace and how to achieve the peace. It should be clear to you now, though, that in my judgment you don't contain Saddam Hussein. You don't hope that therapy will somehow change his evil mind laughter that you deal with Saddam Hussein. I hope we can do this peacefully. I went to the United Nations for a reason. One, I want the United Nations to be something other than an empty debating society. I wanted it to address this threat. By a 15 to 0 vote in the Security Council, they said, "Yes, it's a problem and he must disarm." But the fundamental question is, when? There's a lot of focus on the inspectors, and we wish them well. But the role of the inspectors is not to play hide and seek with Saddam Hussein in a country the size of California. There's 108 inspectors running around a country trying to stumble into something, 108 people who are being misled by a person who's made a history of fooling inspectors. See, the role of the inspectors are not to play "gotcha." He's better at playing "gotcha," obviously for 12 years he's played "gotcha." The role of the inspectors are to watch Iraq disarm. That's the role of the inspectors. They're to report back and say, "Gosh, he's started getting rid of all his mustard gas or sarin gas. He started getting rid of these weapons of mass destruction. He's now getting rid of the biological laboratories." That's the role of the inspectors. And it's clear he's not disarming. I'm convinced that this still can be done peacefully. I certainly hope so. The idea of committing troops is my last option, not my first. I understand the terrible price of war. I understand what it means to put somebody into combat. I know what it means to hug mothers and wives. But I've got to tell you something. I've thought long and hard about this. The risks of doing nothing, the risk of assuming the best from Saddam Hussein, it's just not a risk worth taking. So I call upon the world to come together and insist that this dangerous man disarm. But should they choose not to continue to pressure Saddam and should he continue to defy the world, for the sake of our peace, for the sake of the security, this country will lead a coalition of other willing nations, and we will disarm Saddam Hussein. If need be, if war is brought upon us like I said last night, I want to assure you, particularly those who wear the uniform and those who have a loved one in the military, we will commit the full force and might of the United States military, and for the name of peace, we will prevail. And when we do, we will free people. This great, powerful Nation is motivated not by power for power's sake but because of our values. If everybody matters, if every life counts, then we should hope everybody has the great God's gift of freedom. We go into Iraq to disarm the country. We will also go in to make sure that those who are hungry are fed, those who need health care will have health care, those youngsters who need education will get education. But most of all, we will uphold our values. And the biggest value we hold dear is the value of freedom. As I said last night, freedom and liberty, they are not America's gifts to the world. They are God's gift to humanity. We hold that thought dear to our hearts. This is a great nation. America is a strong nation. America is a nation full of people who are compassionate. America is a nation that is willing to serve causes greater than ourselves. There's no question we face challenges ahead of us, challenges at home, challenges abroad. But as I said last night, history has called the right nation into action. History has called the United States into action, and we will not let history down. Thank you all for coming. May God bless. January 28, 2003 Mr. Speaker, Vice President Cheney, Members of Congress, distinguished citizens and fellow citizens Every year, by law and by custom, we meet here to consider the state of the Union. This year, we gather in this Chamber deeply aware of decisive days that lie ahead. You and I serve our country in a time of great consequence. During this session of Congress, we have the duty to reform domestic programs vital to our country. We have the opportunity to save millions of lives abroad from a terrible disease. We will work for a prosperity that is broadly shared, and we will answer every danger and every enemy that threatens the American people. In all these days of promise and days of reckoning, we can be confident. In a whirlwind of change and hope and peril, our faith is sure our resolve is firm and our Union is strong. This country has many challenges. We will not deny, we will not ignore, we will not pass along our problems to other Congresses, to other Presidents, and other generations. We will confront them with focus and clarity and courage. During the last 2 years, we have seen what can be accomplished when we work together. To lift the standards of our public schools, we achieved historic education reform, which must now be carried out in every school and in every classroom so that every child in America can read and learn and succeed in life. To protect our country, we reorganized our Government and created the Department of Homeland Security, which is mobilizing against the threats of a new era. To bring our economy out of recession, we delivered the largest tax relief in a generation. To insist on integrity in American business, we passed tough reforms, and we are holding corporate criminals to account. Some might call this a good record. I call it a good start. Tonight I ask the House and the Senate to join me in the next bold steps to serve our fellow citizens. Our first goal is clear We must have an economy that grows fast enough to employ every man and woman who seeks a job. After recession, terrorist attacks, corporate scandals, and stock market declines, our economy is recovering. Yet, it's not growing fast enough or strongly enough. With unemployment rising, our Nation needs more small businesses to open, more companies to invest and expand, more employers to put up the sign that says "Help Wanted." Jobs are created when the economy grows. The economy grows when Americans have more money to spend and invest, and the best and fairest way to make sure Americans have that money is not to tax it away in the first place. I am proposing that all the income tax reductions set for 2004 and 2006 be made permanent and effective this year. And under my plan, as soon as I've signed the bill, this extra money will start showing up in workers' paychecks. Instead of gradually reducing the marriage penalty, we should do it now. Instead of slowly raising the child credit to 1,000, we should send the checks to American families now. The tax relief is for everyone who pays income taxes, and it will help our economy immediately. Ninety two million Americans will keep, this year, an average of almost 1,100 more of their own money. A family of four with an income of 40,000 would see their Federal income taxes fall from 1,178 to 45 per year. Our plan will improve the bottom line for more than 23 million small businesses. You, the Congress, have already passed all these reductions and promised them for future years. If this tax relief is good for Americans 3 or 5 or 7 years from now, it is even better for Americans today. We should also strengthen the economy by treating investors equally in our tax laws. It's fair to tax a company's profits. It is not fair to again tax the shareholder on the same profits. To boost investor confidence and to help the nearly 10 million seniors who receive dividend income, I ask you to end the unfair double taxation of dividends. Lower taxes and greater investment will help this economy expand. More jobs mean more taxpayers and higher revenues to our Government. The best way to address the deficit and move toward a balanced budget is to encourage economic growth and to show some spending discipline in Washington, DC. We must work together to fund only our most important priorities. I will send you a budget that increases discretionary spending by 4 percent next year, about as much as the average family's income is expected to grow. And that is a good benchmark for us. Federal spending should not rise any faster than the paychecks of American families. A growing economy and a focus on essential priorities will be crucial to the future of Social Security. As we continue to work together to keep Social Security sound and reliable, we must offer younger workers a chance to invest in retirement accounts that they will control and they will own. Our second goal is high quality, affordable health for all Americans. The American system of medicine is a model of skill and innovation, with a pace of discovery that is adding good years to our lives. Yet for many people, medical care costs too much, and many have no health coverage at all. These problems will not be solved with a nationalized health care system that dictates coverage and rations care. Instead, we must work toward a system in which all Americans have a good insurance policy, choose their own doctors, and seniors and low income Americans receive the help they need. Instead of bureaucrats and trial lawyers and HMOs, we must put doctors and nurses and patients back in charge of American medicine. Health care reform must begin with Medicare. Medicare is the binding commitment of a caring society. We must renew that commitment by giving seniors access to preventive medicine and new drugs that are transforming health care in America. Seniors happy with the current Medicare system should be able to keep their coverage just the way it is. And just like you, the Members of Congress, and your staffs and other Federal employees, all seniors should have the choice of a health care plan that provides prescription drugs. My budget will commit an additional 400 billion over the next decade to reform and strengthen Medicare. Leaders of both political parties have talked for years about strengthening Medicare. I urge the Members of this new Congress to act this year. To improve our health care system, we must address one of the prime causes of higher cost, the constant threat that physicians and hospitals will be unfairly sued. Because of excessive litigation, everybody pays more for health care, and many parts of America are losing fine doctors. No one has ever been healed by a frivolous lawsuit. I urge the Congress to pass medical liability reform. Our third goal is to promote energy independence for our country while dramatically improving the environment. I have sent you a comprehensive energy plan to promote energy efficiency and conservation, to develop cleaner technology, and to produce more energy at home. I have sent you Clear Skies legislation that mandates a 70 percent cut in air pollution from powerplants over the next 15 years. I have sent you a Healthy Forests Initiative, to help prevent the catastrophic fires that devastate communities, kill wildlife, and burn away millions of acres of treasured forests. I urge you to pass these measures, for the good of both our environment and our economy. Even more, I ask you to take a crucial step and protect our environment in ways that generations before us could not have imagined. In this century, the greatest environmental progress will come about not through endless lawsuits or command and control regulations but through technology and innovation. Tonight I'm proposing 1.2 billion in research funding so that America can lead the world in developing clean, hydrogen powered automobiles. A simple chemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen generates energy which can be used to power a car, producing only water, not exhaust fumes. With a new national commitment, our scientists and engineers will overcome obstacles to taking these cars from laboratory to showroom, so that the first car driven by a child born today could be powered by hydrogen and pollution free. Join me in this important innovation to make our air significantly cleaner and our country much less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Our fourth goal is to apply the compassion of America to the deepest problems of America. For so many in our country, the homeless and the fatherless, the addicted, the need is great. Yet there's power, wonder working power, in the goodness and idealism and faith of the American people. Americans are doing the work of compassion every day, visiting prisoners, providing shelter for battered women, bringing companionship to lonely seniors. These good works deserve our praise. They deserve our personal support, and when appropriate, they deserve the assistance of the Federal Government. I urge you to pass both my Faith Based Initiative and the "Citizen Service Act," to encourage acts of compassion that can transform America, one heart and one soul at a time. Last year, I called on my fellow citizens to participate in the USA Freedom Corps, which is enlisting tens of thousands of new volunteers across America. Tonight I ask Congress and the American people to focus the spirit of service and the resources of Government on the needs of some of our most vulnerable citizens, boys and girls trying to grow up without guidance and attention and children who have to go through a prison gate to be hugged by their mom or dad. I propose a 450 million initiative to bring mentors to more than a million disadvantaged junior high students and children of prisoners. Government will support the training and recruiting of mentors. Yet it is the men and women of America who will fill the need. One mentor, one person, can change a life forever, and I urge you to be that one person. Another cause of hopelessness is addiction to drugs. Addiction crowds out friendship, ambition, moral conviction and reduces all the richness of life to a single destructive desire. As a government, we are fighting illegal drugs by cutting off supplies and reducing demand through antidrug education programs. Yet for those already addicted, the fight against drugs is a fight for their own lives. Too many Americans in search of treatment cannot get it. So tonight I propose a new 600 million program to help an additional 300,000 Americans receive treatment over the next 3 years. Our Nation is blessed with recovery programs that do amazing work. One of them is found at the Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A man in the program said, "God does miracles in people's lives, and you never think it could be you." Tonight let us bring to all Americans who struggle with drug addiction this message of hope The miracle of recovery is possible, and it could be you. By caring for children who need mentors and for addicted men and women who need treatment, we are building a more welcoming society, a culture that values every life. And in this work, we must not overlook the weakest among us. I ask you to protect infants at the very hour of their birth and end the practice of partial birth abortion. And because no human life should be started or ended as the object of an experiment, I ask you to set a high standard for humanity and pass a law against all human cloning. The qualities of courage and compassion that we strive for in America also determine our conduct abroad. The American flag stands for more than our power and our interests. Our Founders dedicated this country to the cause of human dignity, the rights of every person, and the possibilities of every life. This conviction leads us into the world to help the afflicted and defend the peace and confound the designs of evil men. In Afghanistan, we helped to liberate an oppressed people. And we will continue helping them secure their country, rebuild their society, and educate all their children, boys and girls. In the Middle East, we will continue to seek peace between a secure Israel and a democratic Palestine. Across the Earth, America is feeding the hungry. More than 60 percent of international food aid comes as a gift from the people of the United States. As our Nation moves troops and builds alliances to make our world safer, we must also remember our calling as a blessed country is to make the world better. Today, on the continent of Africa, nearly 30 million people have the AIDS virus, including 3 million children under the age 15. There are whole countries in Africa where more than one third of the adult population carries the infection. More than 4 million require immediate drug treatment. Yet across that continent, only 50,000 AIDS victims only 50,000 are receiving the medicine they need. Because the AIDS diagnosis is considered a death sentence, many do not seek treatment. Almost all who do are turned away. A doctor in rural South Africa describes his frustration. He says, "We have no medicines. Many hospitals tell people, You've got AIDS. We can't help you. Go home and die."' In an age of miraculous medicines, no person should have to hear those words. AIDS can be prevented. Antiretroviral drugs can extend life for many years. And the cost of those drugs has dropped from 12,000 a year to under 300 a year, which places a tremendous possibility within our grasp. Ladies and gentlemen, seldom has history offered a greater opportunity to do so much for so many. We have confronted and will continue to confront HIV AIDS in our own country. And to meet a severe and urgent crisis abroad, tonight I propose the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, a work of mercy beyond all current international efforts to help the people of Africa. This comprehensive plan will prevent 7 million new AIDS infections, treat at least 2 million people with life extending drugs, and provide humane care for millions of people suffering from AIDS and for children orphaned by AIDS. I ask the Congress to commit 15 billion over the next 5 years, including nearly 10 billion in new money, to turn the tide against AIDS in the most afflicted nations of Africa and the Caribbean. This Nation can lead the world in sparing innocent people from a plague of nature. And this Nation is leading the world in confronting and defeating the manmade evil of international terrorism. There are days when our fellow citizens do not hear news about the war on terror. There's never a day when I do not learn of another threat or receive reports of operations in progress or give an order in this global war against a scattered network of killers. The war goes on, and we are winning. To date, we've arrested or otherwise dealt with many key commanders of Al Qaida. They include a man who directed logistics and funding for the September the 11th attacks, the chief of Al Qaida operations in the Persian Gulf who planned the bombings of our embassies in east Africa and the U.S.S. Cole, an Al Qaida operations chief from Southeast Asia, a former director of Al Qaida's training camps in Afghanistan, a key Al Qaida operative in Europe, a major Al Qaida leader in Yemen. All told, more than 3,000 suspected terrorists have been arrested in many countries. Many others have met a different fate. Let's put it this way They are no longer a problem to the United States and our friends and allies. We are working closely with other nations to prevent further attacks. America and coalition countries have uncovered and stopped terrorist conspiracies targeting the Embassy in Yemen, the American Embassy in Singapore, a Saudi military base, ships in the Straits of Hormuz and the Straits of Gibraltar. We've broken Al Qaida cells in Hamburg, Milan, Madrid, London, Paris, as well as Buffalo, New York. We have the terrorists on the run. We're keeping them on the run. One by one, the terrorists are learning the meaning of American justice. As we fight this war, we will remember where it began Here, in our own country. This Government is taking unprecedented measures to protect our people and defend our homeland. We've intensified security at the borders and ports of entry, posted more than 50,000 newly trained Federal screeners in airports, begun inoculating troops and first responders against smallpox, and are deploying the Nation's first early warning network of sensors to detect biological attack. And this year, for the first time, we are beginning to field a defense to protect this Nation against ballistic missiles. I thank the Congress for supporting these measures. I ask you tonight to add to our future security with a major research and production effort to guard our people against bioterrorism, called Project Bio Shield. The budget I send you will propose almost 6 billion to quickly make available effective vaccines and treatments against agents like anthrax, botulinum toxin, Ebola, and plague. We must assume that our enemies would use these diseases as weapons, and we must act before the dangers are upon us. Since September the 11th, our intelligence and law enforcement agencies have worked more closely than ever to track and disrupt the terrorists. The FBI is improving its ability to analyze intelligence and is transforming itself to meet new threats. Tonight I am instructing the leaders of the FBI, the CIA, the Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense to develop a Terrorist Threat Integration Center, to merge and analyze all threat information in a single location. Our Government must have the very best information possible, and we will use it to make sure the right people are in the right places to protect all our citizens. Our war against terror is a contest of will in which perseverance is power. In the ruins of two towers, at the western wall of the Pentagon, on a field in Pennsylvania, this Nation made a pledge, and we renew that pledge tonight Whatever the duration of this struggle and whatever the difficulties, we will not permit the triumph of violence in the affairs of men free people will set the course of history. Today, the gravest danger in the war on terror, the gravest danger facing America and the world, is outlaw regimes that seek and possess nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. These regimes could use such weapons for blackmail, terror, and mass murder. They could also give or sell those weapons to terrorist allies, who would use them without the least hesitation. This threat is new. America's duty is familiar. Throughout the 20th century, small groups of men seized control of great nations, built armies and arsenals, and set out to dominate the weak and intimidate the world. In each case, their ambitions of cruelty and murder had no limit. In each case, the ambitions of Hitlerism, militarism, and communism were defeated by the will of free peoples, by the strength of great alliances, and by the might of the United States of America. Now, in this century, the ideology of power and domination has appeared again and seeks to gain the ultimate weapons of terror. Once again, this Nation and all our friends are all that stand between a world at peace and a world of chaos and constant alarm. Once again, we are called to defend the safety of our people and the hopes of all mankind. And we accept this responsibility. America is making a broad and determined effort to confront these dangers. We have called on the United Nations to fulfill its charter and stand by its demand that Iraq disarm. We're strongly supporting the International Atomic Energy Agency in its mission to track and control nuclear materials around the world. We're working with other governments to secure nuclear materials in the former Soviet Union and to strengthen global treaties banning the production and shipment of missile technologies and weapons of mass destruction. In all these efforts, however, America's purpose is more than to follow a process it is to achieve a result, the end of terrible threats to the civilized world. All free nations have a stake in preventing sudden and catastrophic attacks. And we're asking them to join us, and many are doing so. Yet the course of this Nation does not depend on the decisions of others. Whatever action is required, whenever action is necessary, I will defend the freedom and security of the American people. Different threats require different strategies. In Iran, we continue to see a Government that represses its people, pursues weapons of mass destruction, and supports terror. We also see Iranian citizens risking intimidation and death as they speak out for liberty and human rights and democracy. Iranians, like all people, have a right to choose their own Government and determine their own destiny, and the United States supports their aspirations to live in freedom. On the Korean Peninsula, an oppressive regime rules a people living in fear and starvation. Throughout the 1990s, the United States relied on a negotiated framework to keep North Korea from gaining nuclear weapons. We now know that that regime was deceiving the world and developing those weapons all along. And today, the North Korean regime is using its nuclear program to incite fear and seek concessions. America and the world will not be blackmailed. America is working with the countries of the region, South Korea, Japan, China, and Russia, to find a peaceful solution and to show the North Korean Government that nuclear weapons will bring only isolation, economic stagnation, and continued hardship. The North Korean regime will find respect in the world and revival for its people only when it turns away from its nuclear ambitions. Our Nation and the world must learn the lessons of the Korean Peninsula and not allow an even greater threat to rise up in Iraq. A brutal dictator, with a history of reckless aggression, with ties to terrorism, with great potential wealth, will not be permitted to dominate a vital region and threaten the United States. Twelve years ago, Saddam Hussein faced the prospect of being the last casualty in a war he had started and lost. To spare himself, he agreed to disarm of all weapons of mass destruction. For the next 12 years, he systematically violated that agreement. He pursued chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons, even while inspectors were in his country. Nothing to date has restrained him from his pursuit of these weapons, not economic sanctions, not isolation from the civilized world, not even cruise missile strikes on his military facilities. Almost 3 months ago, the United Nations Security Council gave Saddam Hussein his final chance to disarm. He has shown instead utter contempt for the United Nations and for the opinion of the world. The 108 U.N. inspectors were sent to conduct were not sent to conduct a scavenger hunt for hidden materials across a country the size of California. The job of the inspectors is to verify that Iraq's regime is disarming. It is up to Iraq to show exactly where it is hiding its banned weapons, lay those weapons out for the world to see, and destroy them as directed. Nothing like this has happened. The United Nations concluded in 1999 that Saddam Hussein had biological weapons sufficient to produce over 25,000 liters of anthrax, enough doses to kill several million people. He hasn't accounted for that material. He's given no evidence that he has destroyed it. The United Nations concluded that Saddam Hussein had materials sufficient to produce more than 38,000 liters of botulinum toxin, enough to subject millions of people to death by respiratory failure. He hasn't accounted for that material. He's given no evidence that he has destroyed it. Our intelligence officials estimate that Saddam Hussein had the materials to produce as much as 500 tons of sarin, mustard, and VX nerve agent. In such quantities, these chemical agents could also kill untold thousands. He's not accounted for these materials. He has given no evidence that he has destroyed them. U.S. intelligence indicates that Saddam Hussein had upwards of 30,000 munitions capable of delivering chemical agents. Inspectors recently turned up 16 of them, despite Iraq's recent declaration denying their existence. Saddam Hussein has not accounted for the remaining 29,984 of these prohibited munitions. He's given no evidence that he has destroyed them. From three Iraqi defectors we know that Iraq, in the late 1990s, had several mobile biological weapons labs. These are designed to produce germ warfare agents and can be moved from place to a place to evade inspectors. Saddam Hussein has not disclosed these facilities. He's given no evidence that he has destroyed them. The International Atomic Energy Agency confirmed in the 1990s that Saddam Hussein had an advanced nuclear weapons development program, had a design for a nuclear weapon, and was working on five different methods of enriching uranium for a bomb. The British Government has learned that Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from Africa. Our intelligence sources tell us that he has attempted to purchase high strength aluminum tubes suitable for nuclear weapons production. Saddam Hussein has not credibly explained these activities. He clearly has much to hide. The dictator of Iraq is not disarming. To the contrary, he is deceiving. From intelligence sources we know, for instance, that thousands of Iraqi security personnel are at work hiding documents and materials from the U.N. inspectors, sanitizing inspection sites, and monitoring the inspectors themselves. Iraqi officials accompany the inspectors in order to intimidate witnesses. Iraq is blocking U 2 surveillance flights requested by the United Nations. Iraqi intelligence officers are posing as the scientists inspectors are supposed to interview. Real scientists have been coached by Iraqi officials on what to say. Intelligence sources indicate that Saddam Hussein has ordered that scientists who cooperate with U.N. inspectors in disarming Iraq will be killed, along with their families. Year after year, Saddam Hussein has gone to elaborate lengths, spent enormous sums, taken great risks to build and keep weapons of mass destruction. But why? The only possible explanation, the only possible use he could have for those weapons, is to dominate, intimidate, or attack. With nuclear arms or a full arsenal of chemical and biological weapons, Saddam Hussein could resume his ambitions of conquest in the Middle East and create deadly havoc in that region. And this Congress and the American people must recognize another threat. Evidence from intelligence sources, secret communications, and statements by people now in custody reveal that Saddam Hussein aids and protects terrorists, including members of Al Qaida. Secretly and without fingerprints, he could provide one of his hidden weapons to terrorists or help them develop their own. Before September the 11th, many in the world believed that Saddam Hussein could be contained. But chemical agents, lethal viruses, and shadowy terrorist networks are not easily contained. Imagine those 19 hijackers with other weapons and other plans, this time armed by Saddam Hussein. It would take one vial, one canister, one crate slipped into this country to bring a day of horror like none we have ever known. We will do everything in our power to make sure that that day never comes. Some have said we must not act until the threat is imminent. Since when have terrorists and tyrants announced their intentions, politely putting us on notice before they strike? If this threat is permitted to fully and suddenly emerge, all actions, all words, and all recriminations would come too late. Trusting in the sanity and restraint of Saddam Hussein is not a strategy, and it is not an option. The dictator who is assembling the world's most dangerous weapons has already used them on whole villages, leaving thousands of his own citizens dead, blind, or disfigured. Iraqi refugees tell us how forced confessions are obtained, by torturing children while their parents are made to watch. International human rights groups have cataloged other methods used in the torture chambers of Iraq electric shock, burning with hot irons, dripping acid on the skin, mutilation with electric drills, cutting out tongues, and rape. If this is not evil, then evil has no meaning. And tonight I have a message for the brave and oppressed people of Iraq Your enemy is not surrounding your country your enemy is ruling your country. And the day he and his regime are removed from power will be the day of your liberation. The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. America will not accept a serious and mounting threat to our country and our friends and our allies. The United States will ask the U.N. Security Council to convene on February the 5th to consider the facts of Iraq's ongoing defiance of the world. Secretary of State Powell will present information and intelligence about Iraqi's legal Iraq's illegal weapons programs, its attempt to hide those weapons from inspectors, and its links to terrorist groups. We will consult. But let there be no misunderstanding If Saddam Hussein does not fully disarm, for the safety of our people and for the peace of the world, we will lead a coalition to disarm him. Tonight I have a message for the men and women who will keep the peace, members of the American Armed Forces Many of you are assembling in or near the Middle East, and some crucial hours may lay ahead. In those hours, the success of our cause will depend on you. Your training has prepared you. Your honor will guide you. You believe in America, and America believes in you. Sending Americans into battle is the most profound decision a President can make. The technologies of war have changed the risks and suffering of war have not. For the brave Americans who bear the risk, no victory is free from sorrow. This Nation fights reluctantly, because we know the cost and we dread the days of mourning that always come. We seek peace. We strive for peace. And sometimes peace must be defended. A future lived at the mercy of terrible threats is no peace at all. If war is forced upon us, we will fight in a just cause and by just means, sparing, in every way we can, the innocent. And if war is forced upon us, we will fight with the full force and might of the United States military, and we will prevail. And as we and our coalition partners are doing in Afghanistan, we will bring to the Iraqi people food and medicines and supplies and freedom. Many challenges, abroad and at home, have arrived in a single season. In 2 years, America has gone from a sense of invulnerability to an awareness of peril, from bitter division in small matters to calm unity in great causes. And we go forward with confidence, because this call of history has come to the right country. Americans are a resolute people who have risen to every test of our time. Adversity has revealed the character of our country, to the world and to ourselves. America is a strong nation and honorable in the use of our strength. We exercise power without conquest, and we sacrifice for the liberty of strangers. Americans are a free people who know that freedom is the right of every person and the future of every nation. The liberty we prize is not America's gift to the world it is God's gift to humanity. We Americans have faith in ourselves, but not in ourselves alone. We do not know we do not claim to know all the ways of providence, yet we can trust in them, placing our confidence in the loving God behind all of life and all of history. May He guide us now. And may God continue to bless the United States of America. January 25, 2003 Good morning. This coming Tuesday, I will deliver the State of the Union Address to Congress and the American people. Our Nation faces many great challenges all at once. We will meet all of them with courage and steady purpose. In 2003, we must work to strengthen our economy, improve access to affordable, high quality health care for all our seniors, encourage compassion at home and abroad, and defend our Nation against the threats of a new era. The war on terror is an ongoing priority for our Nation. We will take every measure that is necessary to protect the American people from terrorist groups and outlaw regimes. The world depends on America's strength and purpose, and we will meet our responsibilities for peace. Today I want to speak to you about a few key domestic priorities. When I address Congress, I will urge them to pass my plan to strengthen our economy and help more Americans find jobs. The tax relief already planned for later in this decade should be made effective this year, including income tax reduction, marriage penalty relief, and an increase in the child tax credit. When Congress acts, I will direct the Treasury to return this money to taxpayers right away, which will provide immediate help to our economy. We can also lay the foundation for future prosperity by encouraging investment and helping Americans to prepare for the new jobs a growing economy will bring. I will ask Congress to eliminate the unfair double taxation of dividends and raise the deduction limit for small businesses that invest in new machinery and equipment. And to help unemployed workers find a job as soon as possible, I propose new reemployment accounts. These accounts will assist with the cost of finding work, including training and child care and moving expenses, and provide a cash bonus to workers who find a job quickly. Strengthening and improving Medicare is also a priority for my administration in the coming year. I will urge Congress to join me in keeping our commitment to America's seniors by working to modernize Medicare and include a prescription drug benefit to help seniors who are squeezed by rising drug prices. As a prosperous nation, we have an obligation to help Americans who are struggling to build better lives for themselves. So I will propose new initiatives to bring the work of faith based and community groups to the needs of our fellow citizens. All of these priorities will be reflected in the budget I submit to Congress in early February. As we fund important priorities, however, we must also practice spending discipline in Washington. Spending restraint is important to economic growth and job creation. And it is critical to reducing the deficit caused by war and national emergency and recession. Under my budget, discretionary Federal spending will rise by 4 percent, about the same as the increase in family incomes. Government should not grow faster than workers' paychecks. Government should follow the example of American families by setting priorities and staying with them. In this session of Congress, we must work to make our Nation safer, more prosperous, and more compassionate. I look forward to working with the Republicans and Democrats in this important year for America and the world. Thank you for listening. January 24, 2003 The President. Good afternoon. Thank you all for coming. Welcome to the White House, and welcome to this historic moment. As of today, the law creating the United States Department of Homeland Security comes into effect. And now this Department has its first Secretary, Thomas Joseph Ridge. Homeland Security becomes the 15th executive department of my Cabinet. It begins a vital mission in the defense of our country. We've learned that vast oceans no longer protect us from the dangers of a new era. This Government has a responsibility to confront the threat of terror wherever it is found. And that is why we're taking the battle to America's enemies, disrupting their networks we're destroying their camps. We've got them on the run, and we're going to keep them on the run. And at home, we are taking every measure to protect the American people against a serious and ongoing threat. The Department of Homeland Security will lead a comprehensive and unified effort to defend this Nation. The Department will analyze threats, guard our borders and airports, safeguard critical infrastructure, and coordinate the response of our Nation to future emergencies. Under the leadership of Tom Ridge, more than 170,000 dedicated Americans, dedicated professionals, will have the overriding mission of protecting their fellow Americans. In October of 2001, when I established the office the White House Office of Homeland Security, I knew immediately that Tom was the right man for the assignment. He's a decisive, clear thinking executive who knows how to solve problems. He's a person of integrity and a person of good judgment. At the White House, he has done an outstanding job, and he's earned the gratitude of the American people. This week he earned an unanimous vote of confirmation. And I want to thank the United States Senate for its swift action. This new Department will face many challenges in the year to come. The American people can be certain that the mission of homeland security will be carried out with focus and resolve, with the resources the task requires. And the American people can know as well that the Department is under the command of a superb leader who has my confidence. Congratulations, Tom, and thank you for serving our country. Secretary Ridge. Thank you, Mr. President. The President. Thank you all. January 22, 2003 Thanks for the warm welcome laughter more inside than outside, I might add. Laughter But thank you all very much for giving me a chance to come and share some thoughts about this great land and some of the challenges that face us. I'm particularly thrilled to be in a place where the entrepreneurial spirit is strong, and that is JS Logistics. It is strong because of the spirit of the guys who run the company, John and Greg, and the people that work with them to provide good service and product. It's important for our fellow Americans to understand that the strength of our country, the strength of our economy really depends upon the strength of the small business community all across America. And that's why I'm here today in this small business, to remind people about the importance of small business. I brought Hector Barreto, who is the Administrator of the Small Business Administration. Thank you for coming, Hector. I know there's a lot of other small business owners here from around the State of Missouri. I'm honored you came. Thank you for lending your support to what I am going to describe today as a way to make sure people can find work in America. I want to thank the employees of this good company for putting up with the small entourage I travel with. Laughter I want to thank the folks that came to the roundtable today. Not only were some employees of JS, but there's some folks who are running their own businesses and companies. We heard from single moms, newly married couples, people that are working hard to make sure the three person company stays afloat. It was a good discussion, and I'm going to share some of the stories from that discussion with you in a minute. I want you to know that this country has got some big challenges ahead of us. There's no question in my mind that we're going to meet every challenge. One of the challenges we have is to make sure that every American, from every walk of life, has a chance to succeed in this country. That's an important challenge, where I spend a lot of time talking about education, to make sure every child is educated, to make sure we insist upon high standards for our schools, to make sure that we measure to understand whether those standards are being met, and to make sure we solve problems early, before it's too late. No child in America should be left behind in this country. Today I had the honor of meeting Dezzie Houston, who came out to Air Force One to say hello. She is a volunteer with the Missouri Mentoring Partnership. Where are you, Dezzie? Oh, there you are. Thanks for coming. The reason I bring this up is, part of making sure people aren't left behind in our society, we've got to recognize in our plenty there are people who hurt, and there are some who wonder whether or not the so called American Dream is meant for them. And so long as any of us hurt, we all hurt. And one way to help heal hurt and encourage hope is to mentor somebody in need. You see, I like to remind people, Government can hand out money, but it can't put love into people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That happens when some caring individual finds somebody in need and says, "Can I help you? What can I do to help you make a better life?" And this society of ours is filled with all kinds of heroes, American citizens doing their duty. And Dezzie is one such person. She told me that she has mentored three people, three teens, encouraging them to either go to college or how to find a job. I'm told, recently one of your mentorees graduated from college. It must have made you feel incredibly proud to know that you had a hand in encouraging that person to reach for the best in America, you had a hand in encouraging that person to realize that his or her God given talents should be used to the fullest on the short time we have on Earth. I want to congratulate you for being a mentor. I call upon any American who is concerned about the future of our society to find somebody who needs a hand and surround that person with your love and your talents. Thank you for being here, Dezzie. A big challenge we face is how to make sure that this world is a peaceful world and make sure our country is a secure country. I still remember September the 11th, 2001. It was a time in which history changed for America. When I was coming up in Texas, it used to be that oceans could protect us. We wouldn't have to worry about gathering threats abroad. We could pick and choose problems as they arose because we felt we were safe and secure. We felt that our history was such that the future would be secure and safe. But that's not what happened. September the 11th changed the stakes for America. It changed the attitude we must have if we're going to make sure our children can grow up in a safe and secure world. Even though September the 11th is appears to be distant in our rearview mirror, our country is still under threat. We're under threat because of terrorists who don't value life like we value life in America. See, in this country, we say, "Everybody is precious. Everybody counts. Everybody has got values." The enemy we face doesn't feel that way. They don't care about innocent life. They don't believe every life has value. They only believe the lives that have values are those who bow to their sick ideologies. And so we're still on guard here in America. And we're running these terrorists down, one by one. It's a different kind of war that we fight. It's a war in which the enemy hides in the recesses of the world. It's a war in which they try to get inside caves in remote regions of the world. But you need to know that America is on the hunt. There is a cave there's no cave deep enough or corner of the world dark enough for them to hide from the long arm of justice of the United States of America. We're making progress. Sometimes you'll see about it sometimes you won't. And progress comes in different kinds of ways. Our friends in Great Britain have recently uncovered and have arrested a group of Al Qaida that they think were intending to poison the British people. Slowly but surely, we're rounding them up. That coalition of freedom loving people still stands Either you're with us and those of us who love freedom, or you're with the enemy. We've got an obligation to our children to hunt these people down. We've also got an obligation to our children to address problems before they come back to America, and in my judgment, in my considered judgment, there is a real risk to America and our friends and allies in Iraq. The dictator of Iraq has got weapons of mass destruction. He has used weapons of mass destruction. He can't stand America and what we stand for. He can't stand our friends and allies. He's a dangerous, dangerous man with dangerous, dangerous weapons. And that's why the world came together at the United Nations Security Council and said Mr. Saddam Hussein must disarm. The message was as clear as can possibly be delivered Mr. Saddam Hussein must disarm. And the first step of that disarmament was for him to make a declaration of his weapons. Twelve thousand pages of deceit and deception were placed at the U.N. Security Council. We know what it means to disarm. We know what a disarmed regime does. We know how a disarmed regime accounts for weapons of mass destruction. Saddam Hussein is not disarming, like the world has told him he must do. He's a dangerous man with dangerous weapons. He's a danger to America and our friends and allies. And that's why the world has said, "Disarm." But Saddam Hussein has learned lessons from the past. See, the first time he was told to disarm was 11 years ago. He is adept at deception and delays and denying. He asked for more time so he can give the so called inspectors more runaround. He's interested in playing hide and seek in a huge country. He's not interested in disarming. I hope the world has learned the lessons from the past, just like Saddam Hussein has learned the lessons from the past but in a different way. It's time for us to hold the world to account and for Saddam to be held to account. We must not be fooled by the ways of the past. After all, we just discovered undeclared chemical warheads in Iraq. It's incredibly troubling and disturbing for a man that is evidence of a man not disarming. He wants to play a game. For the sake of peace, we must not let him play a game. And so the resolutions of the Security Council will be enforced. My hope is that Saddam Hussein will disarm voluntarily. That's my hope. I take seriously the commitment of any troop into combat. I desire peace. But in the name of peace, in the name of securing our future, if Saddam Hussein will not disarm, the United States of America and friends of freedom will disarm Saddam Hussein. And should that path be forced upon us, there will be serious consequences. There will be serious consequences for the dictator in Iraq, and there will be serious consequences for any Iraqi general or soldier who were to use weapons of mass destruction on our troops or on innocent lives within Iraq. Should any Iraqi officer or soldier receive an order from Saddam Hussein or his sons or any of the killers who occupy the high levels of their Government, my advice is, don't follow that order. Because if you choose to do so, when Iraq is liberated, you will be treated, tried, and persecuted as a war criminal. And there will be serious consequences should we be forced into action, there will be serious consequences for the Iraqi people, and that's freedom, freedom from oppression freedom from oppression, freedom from torture, freedom from murder, freedom to realize your God given talents. And so we've got a lot of challenges when it comes to keeping the peace. But this great, mighty Nation, this kind, generous, compassionate Nation will lead the world to peace, so that not only our children but children in the far reaches of our globe can grow up in a peaceful society. And here at home, we've got economic challenges. Think about what this economy of ours has been through. In a short time, we've had a recession. I first three quarters of my Presidency were negative growth. That's the definition of a recession. And then before we could get our head above water, the enemy hit us and hurt us. It took thousands of innocent lives and, at the same time, hurt our economy. And we acted. We acted on the recession by letting you have more of your own money. We enacted the largest tax cut in a generation, and it helped. It helped bottom out that recession. You see, when people have more of their own money, they tend to spend it. And when they spend it, it means somebody is going to produce the product or the service in which they're spending their money, which means, then, somebody is likely to find work. We acted after the enemy hit us. We made sure our airlines got moving, and we passed a terrorism insurance bill to encourage large construction projects to move forward, so our hardhats could find work here in America. We got the stock markets up and running. We acted. And then the confidence of our country was affected when it turned out some of our corporate leaders didn't tell the truth, that they fudged the books, that they thought in this they thought it was okay to deceive their employees and shareholders. And they found out that it's not okay. We're going to find them and prosecute those who don't tell the truth. We've taken action, but there is more to do, because there's still people looking for work. There's still uncertainty about the economic future of this country. Anytime somebody is looking for work and can't find a job says to me, we've got a problem. And so today I want to talk to you about how I think it's best to address the problem, what Congress can do to make sure that the environment for job growth is strong in America. And it starts with accelerating the tax relief plan we've already passed. The tax plan that passed doesn't take effect until finally take effect until years from now. The rates in 2006 dropping the lower rate from 15 percent to 10 percent in out years, getting rid of parts of the marriage penalty, raising the child credit from 600 to 1,000, all these plans have been approved by the Congress. And yet our economy is still bumping along. For the sake of economic vitality and growth, the Congress needs to accelerate the tax plans. If the tax relief is good enough 3 years from now, surely it's good enough today. And when they act because I'm confident they'll hear the voices of the people and when they act, we will then make sure that the tax relief takes effect of January of this year, to immediately get money in your pockets and into the economy. You hear a lot of talk about fairness, and there ought to be fairness in our society. That's one of the great things about America We try to be fair. A family of four with an income of 40,000 will receive a 96 percent tax cut. That's fair, and it's good for the economy. It's the right thing to do. Ninety two million Americans will keep an average of 1,083 more of their own money when this tax plan goes through, and that's good for the economy. But there is a difference of opinion about who best to spend your money in Washington, DC. Sometimes they forget whose money you're spending. Listen to the rhetoric, you know. "The Government's money," they say. The money in Washington is not the Government's money. It's your money, and you can spend it just as good or better than the Government can. In order to make sure people can find work, we've got to strengthen our small business environment. And one of the things that gets lost in this debate about tax relief is the effect of tax rate reductions on our small businesses. Oh, sure, you hear the typical class warfare rhetoric, trying to pit one group of people against another. But lost in all the rhetoric is the fact that a significant number of small businesses pay taxes at the individual income tax rate, starting right here with JS Logistics. They are organized such that they pay taxes on the company profits at the individual tax rate. So therefore, when you reduce all rates on the income tax code, you're affecting small business, like JS. The best way to encourage job growth is to let companies like JS keep more of their own money so they can invest in their business and make it easier for somebody to find work. Twenty three million small business owners will receive an average tax cut of 2,042 under this plan. Now, some will say, you know, in Washington, of course, "That's not much money." It's a lot of money to somebody who has got two employees. It's a lot of money to somebody making a decision whether or not to expand a business. It's a lot of money. And when you multiply the effects of that money throughout our society, with all the individual decisions that are being made to strengthen these small businesses, it is going to have an incredibly positive effect on job growth in America. And to make sure that job growth at the small business level is even more significant, we ought to allow small firms to write off as expenses up to 75,000 a year, instead of the limit of 25,000 a year. So I met a guy today named Joe. He runs Software To Go. He's got three employees. He said, "I looked at your plan." Where are you, Joe? There you are. He said, "I looked at your plan." He said, "By allowing businesses to expense up to 75,000, it means somebody is more likely to buy a copying machine," or in this case, an architectural fancy machine. Laughter But the point is, is that he then has more business opportunity, even though this tax relief doesn't affect him directly. It affects his customers. It makes his customers more likely to buy a product. And when Joe's customers are more likely to buy a product, he's more likely to be able to employ people. It is important for Congress to understand that the revitalization of the small business sector is incredibly important to the job growth of the United States of America. One aspect of the tax relief plan that I haven't mentioned yet, which is important to small business owners, is the elimination of the death tax. A lot of people work all their lives to build up their business or their farm or their ranch. And after they're gone, their heirs are unable to keep their assets because of the death tax. It's unfair. It taxes a person's assets twice. It means that family farms leave the family sooner than the owners of the farms would have liked. It means small business owners like Joe may have problems passing their business off to a child or somebody they choose to pass their business off of. We put it on its way to extinction. Unfortunately, the law the rules of the Senate are such that after 10 years from the time of the passage of the bill, they could conceivably come back. For the sake of certainty, for the sake of fairness, the Congress needs to make all the tax reliefs not only happen now but to make sure the tax relief is permanent. I also believe we ought to end the double taxation on dividends in America as well. Dividends are important for our seniors. Many seniors rely upon dividends to help them in their later years. Ending the double taxation on dividends will encourage capital to flow into our markets. Capital equals jobs. Ending the double taxation on dividends makes the Tax Code more fair. Let me talk to you about one aspect of what I mean when I talk about helping seniors. More than 40 percent of the people who receive dividends make under 50,000 a year. Many of them are seniors. Three fourths of the people in America who receive dividends make less than 100,000 a year. Dividends help our fellow citizens deal with their retirement years. Dividends are a part of the savings of America. Double taxation of dividends deprives people of needed money. It has bad effects. The average savings for somebody 65 years and older, if we get rid of the double taxation on dividends, will be 936 per year per tax return in America. Getting rid of the double taxation of dividends helps Americans from all walks of life. When this tax plan is passed and I expect Congress to hear from the American people and pass it we will be putting 70 billion in the economy over the next 16 months. That's how to make sure this economy is growing jobs so people can work. That's important. It's called stimulative effect. The Council on Economic Advisers said these proposals over the next 3 years will create 2.1 million jobs, and that's important. This is a commonsense plan that trusts the people with their own money, that recognizes that that there are ways and things we've got to do to make sure this economy is growing. Part of making sure our economy is strong is more money in your pockets. Part of making sure the deficits don't balloon is for Congress to hold the line on spending, and I expect them to be wise with your money. I mentioned early on that I recognize there are hurdles, and we're going to achieve those hurdles. There's no doubt in my mind we will, because of the nature of this country. The entrepreneurial spirit in America is strong. Look right around you, right here in JS. It's one of the things that makes us a great nation. There are thousands of Americans from all walks of life who are realizing their dream of owning their own business, and that's incredibly positive. And the Government can help create an environment where that makes is more possible. There are thousands of our fellow citizens who are loving their neighbor just like they'd like to be loved themselves. That doesn't require a Government program. It requires answering a higher calling. The compassion of this country runs deep in our soul, and there are thousands of Americans who are willing to serve overseas in the name of peace and liberty. If you've got a relative in the United States military, the Commander in Chief is proud of their skills, proud of their service, and proud of their commitment to peace and freedom. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. January 15, 2003 Thank you very much. And thank you, Ambassador Zoellick, for leading the United States delegation to this historic gathering. And thanks to the other U.S. Government officials, including Sam Bodman, Andrew Natsios, and others, for attending this forum. I also thank you all for the honor of addressing this important meeting. I'm disappointed I'm not able to join you in person. I still look forward to visiting Africa later this year. I'm grateful to Prime Minister Jugnauth for hosting this forum. And to all the ministers and delegates and guests from our fellow AGOA nations, I extend the good wishes of the American people. All of us share a common vision for the future of Africa. We look to the day when prosperity for Africa is built through trade and markets. We see a continent at peace, where the people of Africa obtain education and medical care and live in freedom. And we're making great progress, as shown by last month's free elections in Kenya. Yet fulfilling this vision is the work of many years. It will require hard effort and true leadership and a rejection of some old ways. And in this great work, you will always have a partner in the United States. Every nation that seeks peace faces a common enemy today in global terror. The recent attacks in Mombasa remind us that Africa is on the frontlines of the war against terror. All our citizens know the awful price of terror, and we will not rest until we have defeated terrorism in all its forms. In this struggle, my country is grateful for the crucial support and friendship we have received from the nations of Africa. You've stood with us against a deadly threat. And we will stand with you to help bring an end to the terrible regional conflicts that bring so much suffering to innocent Africans, from Congo to Sudan to the Ivory Coast. Safety from violence is the most basic condition of better lives for the people of Africa. And now and in years to come, we will continue working to expand trade between America and the African Continent. AGOA shows the power of trade to lift people out of poverty. Exports from AGOA nations to the United States are rising dramatically, and the benefits are felt throughout the region. From Mauritius to Mali, AGOA is helping to reform old economies, creating new incentives for good governance and offering new hope for millions of Africans. America is committed to building on the great success of AGOA. One important way we can do this is to give business the confidence to invest in Africa, knowing the law's benefits will continue long into the future. Therefore, I'm pleased to announce that I will ask the United States Congress to extend AGOA beyond 2008. My administration strongly supported the AGOA II improvements, which are now helping African companies to sharply increase exports to the United States. As promised at the last AGOA meeting in Washington, the United States has opened offices in Botswana and Kenya and Ghana to ensure that African businesses can take advantage of new opportunities to sell goods abroad. Entrepreneurs in Africa often face difficulty complying with trade regulations and standards, and these offices are there to provide help. To assist African farmers in selling abroad, soon we will assign U.S. agricultural officials to each of these regional offices. America is also working toward a free trade agreement with the Southern African Customs Union. Reaching that agreement involves complex and costly negotiations. To speed up those negotiations, my country will provide technical assistance to members of the Southern African Customs Union. Wider trade is essential to economic growth, but our work does not end there. Many countries also need assistance to help spare their peoples from the extremes of poverty and disease. We are sending 1 million metric tons of food to help feed the 30 million people in southern Africa and the Horn facing starvation, and we are urging other nations to join us in meeting this urgent need. The United States will also continue to lead the world in providing the resources to defeat HIV AIDS. In addition, we have pledged to help poor countries get access to the emergency life saving drugs they need to fight HIV AIDS and other infectious epidemics. The AIDS pandemic has caused extraordinary loss and suffering across your continent and the world, and all governments have a moral obligation to confront it. To help promote economic progress in Africa and elsewhere, the next budget I submit to Congress will include a 50 percent increase in our development assistance over the next 3 years. Money from our new Millennium Challenge Account will be directed to nations that encourage economic freedom, root out corruption, and respect the rights of their people. Through the New Partnership for African Development, many leaders across the continent have pledged their governments to these fundamental principles. America has also created a special African Millennium Fund, administered by the Overseas Private Investment Corporation. Through this fund, we will support the construction of roads and bridges, canals, and other basic infrastructure that help make economic growth possible. Africa's future depends as well on good teachers and schools and a chance for every child to study and learn, so America is devoting an additional 200 million over 5 years to improve basic education and teacher training in Africa. Thanks to the leadership of Andrew Natsios, Administrator of our Agency of International Development, we have also created the Books for a Better Tomorrow program. This public private effort will, in the weeks to come, deliver 30 million worth of books and other school supplies to Africa. For many years, America and the world looked to the continent of Africa and saw only its problems. That era has passed. In this new century, the world is beginning to see the great potential of Africa and the goodness of its people. Many of you gathered this week in Mauritius have helped to bring about this change. I share your confidence in Africa's future and in Africa's new generation of leaders. I pledge to you the friendship and support of the United States of America. Thank you very much, and may God bless you all. January 14, 2003 President Bush. What we're going to do here is have a couple of opening statements, two questions from the American press, two questions from the Polish press. Let me first start by saying how much I'm honored that my friend the President of Poland is back in Washington. We're thrilled you're here. My only regret is that you didn't bring your beautiful wife with you, the First Lady of Poland. But we're here to have a substantive talk on a lot of issues, issues ranging from the war on terror to the recent decision by the Polish Government on the purchase of U.S. made aircraft, how best to implement that decision, to let the Polish people benefit so the decision is not only good for the defense ministry of Poland, but it's good for the people of Poland. And the President cares deeply about the people of Poland, and we'll have a good discussion along those lines. I've got no better friend in Europe today than Poland. One of the reasons why is because this man has made a commitment to work together, as equal partners, in the war on terror, on the desire to lift the find freedom for people who live in misery. And so Mr. President, we're so glad you're back, and welcome back to the Oval Office. President Kwasniewski. Thank you. President Bush. I appreciate you. President Kwasniewski. Mr. President, dear friends, so after very short time because I paid official visit to the United States July last year I am again in Oval Office, in White House in Washington, and I think this is a good sign that our cooperation, our relations are very active and very friendly. Now we'll have consultations. We will discuss all the problems concerning war against terror, at the national situation. And I think today is the best time to discuss, because before action, before last decisions, it's necessary to exchange opinions, of experiences, of some ideas. And that is very substantial element of my trip to Washington now. Second, what President Bush mentioned, Poland decided to have your fighter F 16. It was very transparent, very open, and very well prepared tender, and I think we have a chance not only to have good place for Polish army, not only to have a good contribution to our NATO membership, but we have a chance to open new chapter in the economic relations between Poland and United States, and this is the next reason of my visit and of our discussion. America has unique chance to accelerate economic activities, investment activities in Poland. We are open, we are prepared, we have good practice, we have specialists. And what is my satisfaction, America wants to do it. That's what is good news, good message for all of us here in the United States and Poland as well. President Bush. Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press . North Korea Q. Thank you, sir. Jack Kelly has very publicly promised North Korea energy aid in exchange for Pyongyang giving up its nuclear program. Isn't that rewarding North Korea for bad behavior, something you promised never to do? President Bush. First of all, there's a big concern here in our country about North Korea, and I'm absolutely convinced this issue will be solved in a peaceful way. I want to remind the American people that prior to North Korea making the decision it made, that I had instructed our Secretary of State to approach North Korea about a bold initiative, an initiative which would talk about energy and food, because we care deeply about the suffering of the North Korean people. And then the North Koreans made a decision. And the decision they made was to ignore international norm, ignore treaties that they had agreements that they had reached and start building potential nuclear weapons, enriching uranium. And now they have expelled are in the process of kicking out IAEA people. I view this as an opportunity to bind together nations in the neighborhood and around the world to make it clear to the North Koreans that we expect this issue to be resolved peacefully, and we expect them to disarm. We expect them not to develop nuclear weapons. And if they so choose to do so their choice then I will reconsider whether or not we will start the bold initiative that I talked to Secretary Powell about. People say, "Well, are you willing to talk to North Korea?" Of course we are. But what this Nation won't do is be blackmailed. And what this Nation will do is use this as an opportunity to bring the Chinese and the Russians and South Koreans and the Japanese to the table to solve this problem peacefully. President Kwasniewski. I agree. I think in the Korean case absolutely not to compare with Iraq's case. And we have a chance to discuss about North Korea with very serious partners which are thinking the same way I mean Japan, Russia, China, South Korea. We have a chance to propose something very positive to North Korea, maybe not for regime because when I read some information about this regime, it's not so easy to propose something something special. But absolutely, I am sure that we have enough possibilities to propose positive solution for this case, but with all international partners. President Bush. Would you care to call on somebody from Poland, Polish press? War on Terror Q. Can the war of terror be decisively won? This is a question for both Presidents. And what would be Poland's role in the war of terror on terror? President Bush. Let me start. You bet the war on terror can be won. And not only can it be won we're going to win it. And the way you win it is you work together. You share intelligence. You complement each other's efforts. If we find somebody thinking about doing something to our friends in Poland, we'll share the information with this Government and vice versa. We will work together to cut off money. And we will hunt the killers down, one at a time. And that's exactly what we are doing and exactly what we are going to do. We're going to find them. They think they can hide in a cave in the outer reaches of Afghanistan. We will go in the cave and find them. And one by one, we are dismantling this terrorist network. It requires a lot of communication. It requires a lot of cooperation. And it requires a lot of patience. And this Government has got all three. Polish American Community Q. Mr. President, there are 10 million of the Polish Americans in the United States. What is your perception about the Polish Americans? President Bush. I think that one of the greatest contributions to Poland to our country is Polish Americans, people who are enterprising, hard working, God fearing, family loving people. One of the great strengths of our country is our diversity, and part of our diversity is the fact that a lot of our citizens were born in Poland and or their fathers and mothers were born in Poland or their grandparents were born in Poland. Truly, one of the great blessings and gifts from Poland to this country is the Polish heritage. Scott. Q. Sir, Mr. President, the U.N. weapons inspectors say they need until President Bush. I mean Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Is your name Steve or Scott? U.N. Weapons Inspectors Q. The weapons inspectors say they need until March, maybe 6 months, maybe a year. Is this what you had in mind when you went to the U.N. back in September? President Bush. What I have in mind for Saddam Hussein is to disarm. The United Nations spoke with one voice. We said, "We expect Saddam Hussein, for the sake of peace, to disarm." That's the question Is Saddam Hussein disarming? He's been given 11 years to disarm. And so the world came together, and we have given him one last chance to disarm. So far, I haven't seen any evidence that he is disarming. Time is running out on Saddam Hussein. He must disarm. I'm sick and tired of games and deception. And that's my view of timetables. Thank you all very much. January 09, 2003 Thanks for having me, Al. First, we just had a really good discussion about how to make sure America is as promising as possible, how do we grow our economy, what's the role of Government, who do we trust when it comes to the people's money. And I want to thank Al for assembling the group and providing this opportunity for me to come and speak to you all and to the country about America. First, the great thing about America, it's represented by guys like Al. He owns his own business. It's his. He's realizing his dream. The true strength of America is the entrepreneurial spirit of America, is the fact that Al, who had gone from firefighter to CEO it can happen and not only CEO but CEO of a thriving business. And I know Al's wife and daughter are really proud of him for taking a risk. But by taking risk, he is not only realizing a dream, he's also helping other people find work. The backbone of the U.S. economy is the small business. And to be able to talk about economic vitality and growth in a small business is a joy for me. So thanks for having me. Thanks for what you do. Thanks for making all those flags that fly on the limousines. Laughter I'm proud to be traveling behind your flag. Laughter I want to thank Hector Barreto, who is the Administrator of the Small Business Administration, for being with us. I'm proud that our Senator from the State of Virginia is with us, George Allen. I'm honored George is here. He's a good fellow. If you've got any complaints about things, just take them to George. Laughter But I'm proud to call him friend. I want to thank the vice mayor of Alexandria who's here. Where are you? Thank you, sir. Mr. Mayor, thanks for coming. I'm honored you're here. My little brother is a resident of Alexandria, so go light on his property taxes. Laughter I'm going to try to go light on his income taxes. Laughter I appreciate so very much the folks that joined us to talk about their own individual circumstances and the policies that I've articulated. I am oftentimes asked, "How is the economy doing?" And it's doing pretty darn well, given the fact that we've been through a recession, which is three quarters of negative growth. We've been through an attack on America, which many folks in this neighborhood, obviously, witnessed the consequences of firsthand. That caused our economy to slow down. It caused people not to get on airplanes and go to hotels. It was a shock to our economy. And then we had some of our citizens not tell the truth, that they thought that they could fudge the numbers to get ahead. And that created a lack of confidence. And we've dealt with all three of these things, and our economy is growing. In spite of the fact that we had three major effects, the economy is showing positive growth. Matter of fact, we're the strongest, most resilient economy in the entire world, which should say something. So we're pretty darn good, but we're not good enough. And that's what I'm concerned about. I say we're not good enough because there are some in the corporate world that don't have the confidence to expand like they should be expanding, and too many of our citizens are looking for work. Too many people who want to work can't find a job, and that concerns me. And so one of my jobs is to deal with problems. If you see a problem, instead of hoping it goes away, just be forthright and lay out a plan to deal with it. And that's what I'm doing. That's what I did in Chicago, and that's what I'm going to do again today, to talk about why I've why I said what I think is important. First, in order to deal with the recession, in June of 2001 I signed a law that allowed people to keep more of their own money. In other words, it was tax relief for all citizens. We've reduced the tax rates for everybody who pays taxes. And it was phased in over a period of years for the sake of economic vitality. I mean, it was good enough in January of '01, the theory that if you let people have more of their own money, it would help the economy. That same theory still holds. See, if Congress thought it was good enough in '01 to let people keep more money, they ought to think about it's good enough in '03 to let people keep more of their own money. And the phase in is in '04 and '06. And all we're asking Congress to do is take the law they've already passed and accelerate the tax relief to today. As a matter of fact, when they pass that, I'll then get the Treasury to make it retroactive. And if we make it retroactive, the Treasury will then account for that retroactivity so that you get immediate money into the economy. You'll notice the effects of the tax relief quickly. All people who pay taxes should get tax relief. The tax relief is already in place. If tax relief is good enough 3 years from now for the American people, given the circumstances today, it's good enough today. And Congress needs to hear that. The plan is fair. And the other thing we're going to do is accelerate aspects. Not only the tax rate reductions but the marriage penalty ought to be accelerated. The benefits of the marriage of reducing the marriage penalty ought to be accelerated. It's a little odd that we have a marriage penalty to begin with. Laughter It seems like we ought to not penalize marriage we ought to encourage marriage. We ought to speed up the increase in the child credit. If you're a mom or a dad, you ought to get an increase in your child credit. And we ought to accelerate the reduction of the lowest tax rate from 15 percent to 10 percent. And these are all items that allow me to tell you that 92 million Americans benefit from this. You hear a lot of talk in Washington, of course, about this benefits so and so, or this benefits this, the kind of the class warfare of politics. Let me just give you the facts that, under this plan, a family of four with an income of 40,000 will receive a 96 percent reduction in Federal income taxes. Now, that may not mean a lot of money to some of the big shots. It means a lot of money for the family of four making 40,000. The income taxes would drop from 1,178 a year to 45 a year. That's real significant money for this family. It's money that family would have to save, invest, to help with the credit card squeeze. It's money that the family would have to make decisions on their behalf. Somebody asked me earlier, "Why can't Congress see the wisdom of this?" And one of the answers is, is that some in Congress would rather spend the money themselves as opposed to trusting you to spend your own money, at least that's how I view the debate. This tax relief is real, and it's significant. I was with Wayne and Candi I was with Wayne. They're going to save 2,500 a year. The folks at the so called roundtable it happened to be square, by the way. Laughter Wayne was with us. We were talking about his family. Joe and Kristen, two hard working Americans that have got two children, they'll have a yearly savings of 900, an 18 percent reduction in what they pay to the Federal Government. This is a fair plan. It is an important plan. And it's a plan that will help people find work, because it will help keep this economy growing. Secondly, one of the things in the plan is how do we affect the small business owner. If 70 percent of the new jobs in America are created by small business, then we ought to be figuring out how to create incentives for small business to grow. That makes sense. The first thing is that most small businesses pay file their small business income on their personal income tax returns. Most are small businesses or limited partnerships most small businesses are limited partnerships or sole proprietorships. Al is not. He's a C corp, so he pays at the corporate level, but many small businesses are. So when you reduce the rates on everybody who pays taxes, you're reducing the taxes on small business owners, which gives that small business owner more money to invest in the growth of the business, which means it's more likely he or she will be able to hire somebody additionally. When you reduce the income tax rates on Americans, you're affecting small business, and that's important for people to know. It's a fact, and it's a real fact. As well, I've asked the Congress to raise the deduction from 25,000 to 75,000 in other words, the amount that a business can deduct from the investment of equipment. And this makes sense for a company like the National Flag Company. See, it is a capital intensive business. It requires sophisticated machinery to run this business, as the folks who work here know. It's pretty darn sophisticated, isn't it? Laughter If this plan were to go through, the company, Al tells me, since he is the company, or part of the company, or the decision maker in the company, says that he would buy two more machines, which would create more job opportunities for people. In other words, this is a plan that says that if you are willing to take risk and invest more, that there's a benefit for doing so. It's an incentive for small business to increase. It's aimed at small business it makes sense for small business. And if Al makes the decision to buy more equipment and to hire more people, imagine all the different Als around the country that are making the same decision. It's the cumulative effect of his decision as well as millions of others that will enable me to predict that more jobs will be created, more opportunities for growth. The people making the machines will have more opportunity. And it will have a positive effect throughout our entire economy. The third aspect of this plan is on dividends. A dividend is money that a company gives back to investors out of their profits. Right now this country taxes dividends twice or income twice, in the sense. In other words, you tax the profit at the corporate level, and that's good. Profits should be taxed. And when the profit is distributed to an investor, it gets taxed. I don't think it's fair to tax that dollar twice. And I think the Congress ought to abolish the double taxation on dividends. That's a fair principle. And it will have other effects as well. Fifty percent or half of all the dividend income 50 percent of all the dividend income in America goes to our seniors. There's a way that seniors have been many seniors have invested and use the dividend income as part of their retirement. If you get rid of the double taxation of dividends, you help seniors in their retirement, and that makes sense. That's good public policy, it seems like to me. The average tax savings for taxpayers 65 and older who receive dividends will be 936 per year, per tax return. That's that will help. That will help people. Abolishing the double taxation will increase the return on responsible investing, which will draw more money into the markets, which will make it easier for people to have capital to build plant and equipment, which means more people will find work. I mean, this is a plan to encourage growth, focusing on jobs. And the Council of Economic Advisers has predicted that these proposals will create 2.1 million new jobs over the next 3 years. That's good for the American people. It's good for our economy. See, I want people who need to put bread food on the table to be able to do so, more people working. They're looking for work and can't find work. That's that's sad. I signed a bill yesterday, by the way, to extend unemployment benefits. I want to thank both Republicans and Democrats, Senator Allen and others, for getting that done. See, they showed yesterday that when they get their mind to something and forget politics and focus on the good of the American people, we can get some things done. And I signed the bill yesterday. They hadn't been in town but 2 days and got the bill to my desk, and that's good. They need to be thinking the same way about this jobs package. They need to understand that the proposal I made will put 59 billion out the door in 2003 alone, which is short term stimulus. They need to understand that we've got to be thinking long term for the United States of America, that the role of Government is not to create wealth but to create an environment in which the small business can grow to be a big business, in which people are comfortable about investing, in which people have the ultimate confidence in our system. We got a lot of big problems ahead of us here in America. We're fighting a war, and the war goes on. I knew that the farther we got away from September the 11th, the more likely it would be that I would continue to have to convince people that we live in a dangerous world, and we do. And this year, the year '03, we're going to do like we did last year we're just going to keep hunting them down, one at a time. It doesn't matter where they try to hide. We'll find them and bring them to justice. We'll be dealing with weapons of mass destruction in order to make the world more peaceful. And here at home, we've got some obstacles to overcome as well. And one of those obstacles is to make sure people can find work, make sure this economy is strong and vibrant and hopeful, that the future is optimistic for every single citizen. But there's no doubt in my mind we'll overcome these obstacles. There's no doubt in my mind that the world is going to be a more peaceful place because of the United States of America. There's no doubt in my mind that we'll prevail in the war on terror, no matter how long it takes. And there's no doubt in my mind, when Congress does the right thing, that more of our Americans will have a more hopeful future, because they'll be able to find work. Thank you, Al, for giving me a chance to come by. May God bless you and your families, and may God continue to bless the greatest nation on the face of the Earth, the United States of America. January 07, 2003 Thank you all very much. It's a windy day out there, which is laughter a good day for a windy speaker. Laughter I'm honored to be your guest here at the Economic Club of Chicago. I want to thank Michael for the invitation. I like a short introduction. He didn't let me down. Laughter For 75 years, the business leaders and the entrepreneurs in the club have helped make Chicago a prosperous and energetic city. You understand the concerns facing American workers and employers, and you believe, as I do, that we must address those concerns honestly and aggressively. Today in Washington, a new Congress convenes, and I will ask members of both parties to work with me to secure our economic future. We cannot be satisfied until every part of our economy is healthy and vigorous. We will not rest until every business has a chance to grow and every person who wants to find work can find a job. So today I'm announcing a growth and jobs plan to strengthen America's economy, specific proposals to increase the momentum of our economic recovery. And this is a good city to give it in. This is one of America's great cities. And one of the reasons why is because you have a great mayor in Richard Daley. We're from different political parties, but we have some things in common We both married above ourselves. Laughter It is good to see the first lady of Chicago here. Thank you for coming. We both have famous and influential brothers. Laughter Our dads spent a little time in politics. Laughter And we love our country more than we love our political parties. The thing I like most about the mayor is he gets the job done for the people of Chicago. And Mr. Mayor, I'm proud to call you friend. And I want to thank another proud son of Chicago, Rod Blagojevich, for being with us today as well. He's soon to have the second best job in America, being a Governor. I congratulate him on his election. I look forward to working with him for the good of Illinois and for the good of our country. Thank you for coming, Governor elect. I appreciate you being here. I flew in today with the Senator from Illinois, Peter Fitzgerald. I appreciate his leadership. I appreciate his friendship. And as we speak, the Senate is debating the Fitzgerald bill which will extend unemployment benefits to those who are looking for work in America. And Peter, I want to thank you for your leadership on this important issue. And on that very same airplane was traveling with me Steve Friedman, who is the new Director of the National Economic Council. I'm honored that such a respected economic leader has agreed to join my administration. I appreciate the fact that he's willing to take time away from a comfortable private life to serve our country. He is a strong addition to a great economic team, and I want to thank him for his willingness to serve America. Thank you for coming, Steve. I've also named two other good people to join this team. John Snow is my nominee to serve as the Secretary of Treasury. Bill Donaldson is my nominee to be the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. They will fill essential positions in my administration, and I urge the Congress to confirm them quickly. As the new Congress meets today, our duties to this Nation are clear. We have a responsibility to meet great dangers to our country, wherever they gather. We will continue to hunt down the terrorists all across the world. Cell by cell, we are disrupting their plans. One by one, we're showing these merciless killers the meaning of justice. We're also confronting the outlaw regime in Iraq that lives by violence and deception and is arming to threaten the civilized world. The world's demands are clear For the sake of peace, Saddam Hussein must disarm himself of all weapons of mass destruction and prove that he has done so. Should he choose the other course, in the name of peace, the United States will lead a coalition of the willing to disarm the Iraqi regime of weapons of mass destruction and free the Iraqi people. And we're dealing with North Korea as well. It's a regime that has expelled international inspectors and is attempting to defy the world through its nuclear weapons program. The United States and other nations will confront this threat as well. In this case, I believe that by working with countries in the region, diplomacy will work. We have no aggressive intent, no argument with the North Korean people. We're interested in peace on the Korean Peninsula. As we deal with the dangers of our time, different circumstances require different strategies. Yet our resolve in each case will be clear We will not permit any regime to threaten the freedom and security of the American people or our allies and friends around the world. Even as we confront these dangers, you need to know I know we have needs here at home, especially the need for a vigorous and growing economy. Too many Americans today are wondering about our economy. They're asking, "How is the economy really doing?" Well, the American economy is the strongest and most resilient economy in the world. In spite of the terrible shocks that our Nation has received, our economy is growing, and the entrepreneurial spirit in America is strong. We've made great progress these past 2 years. Remember, in the summer of 2000, during the Presidential campaign, the market had started on a steady decline. Job growth started to dwindle. The economy had begun to slow. When I took office, the signs of recession were real. So I worked with the United States Congress to reduce income taxes for everyone who pays them. More than 100 million individuals, families, and sole proprietorships received tax relief. This tax relief was the largest in a generation, and it gave the economy a boost just at the right time, ensuring that the recession was one of the shortest and shallowest in modern American history. Americans should be able to count on those tax cuts as they plan their financial futures. So I will continue to press the Congress to make these tax cuts, including the end of the death tax, permanent. We know that the tax cuts worked, and Americans deserve to know their tax cuts will not be taken away. We faced a second test with the attacks of September the 11th, 2001. These attacks caused terrible suffering and a massive disruption of the economy. Flights were canceled. Many hotels and stores were empty. Stock trading was halted for nearly a week. So we acted We reopened the markets we helped the people of New York City recover we assisted the airlines we provided tax incentives for business investment and we passed terrorism insurance so building and real estate projects could go forward. And then our economy was tested a third time, when Americans discovered serious abuses of trust by some corporate leaders. So we passed historic reforms to assure corporate integrity, to punish wrongdoers, and defend the interests of workers and investors. Corporate greed and malfeasance cause innocent people to lose their jobs, their savings, and often their confidence in the American system. For the sake of justice, and for the sake of every honest business in America, I have made this commitment Corporate misdeeds will be investigated they will be prosecuted and they will be punished. We have met the tests before us because the American people have worked hard through difficult times. And now our country has entered its second year of economic growth. Our trade with other nations is expanding, bringing lower prices that come from imports and better jobs that come from exports. More Americans are buying and building houses, a central part of the American Dream. The homeownership rate is now 68 percent, close to the highest ever. Low interest rates have allowed Americans to tap the rising value of their homes. In 2002, refinancings added more than 100 billion to American pocketbooks, money that helped renovate homes or pay off debt or cover tuition or purchase other goods. The most important indicator of our economic strength is the growing skill and efficiency of the American worker. The productivity of American workers went up by 5.6 percent over the last four quarters for which we have data, the best increase since 1973. As productivity rises, so do wages and our standard of living. Nationwide, incomes are rising faster than inflation. We have the most productive, creative, and promising economic system the world has ever seen. America sets the standard for scientific research, engineering skill, and medical innovation. Our companies and universities attract talent from every single continent. Investors from around the world know America is the safest place to put their money. People around the world who search for a better life still dream of working and living in the United States of America. All these conditions create a platform for long term growth and prosperity. Yet, in spite of successes, we have more work to do, because too many of our citizens who want to work cannot find a job and many employers lack the confidence to invest and create new jobs. We can help assure greater success tomorrow with the policies we choose today. Now, these policies must recognize that our 10 trillion economy is sustained by the labor and enterprise of the American people. Government spends a lot of money, but it doesn't build factories. It doesn't invest in companies or do the work that makes the economy go. The role of Government is not to manage or control the economy from Washington, DC, but to remove obstacles standing in the way for faster economic growth. That's our role. And those obstacles are clear. Many jobs are lost in America because Government imposes unreasonable regulations, and many jobs are lost because the lawsuit culture of this country imposes unreasonable costs. I will continue to press for legal and regulatory reform. But today today I want to talk about these concerns Americans carry a heavy burden of taxes and debt that could slow consumer spending. I'm troubled by that. I'm also troubled by the fact that our tax system unfairly penalizes some productive investments. And I worry about people who are out of work. They need our help, both in short term benefits and long term opportunity. By directly confronting each of these challenges, we can preserve the hard won gains our economy has made and advance toward greater prosperity. Our first challenge is to allow Americans to keep more of their money so they can spend and save and invest the millions of individual decisions that support the market, that support business, and help create jobs. Consumer spending accounts for about 70 percent of our economy. It has been the driving force of our recovery. Yet there are warning signs I won't ignore, and I hope the Congress doesn't ignore either. Many Americans live in constant and increasing personal debt, with credit card bills so heavy they often cannot pay much more than the monthly minimum. Millions of citizens spend their entire adult lives living paycheck to paycheck, never getting a chance to save for their children's education or their own retirement. Americans today are paying about a third of their income in taxes. All of this puts pressure on family budget and therefore clouds our economic future. Americans facing these struggles are due to receive additional tax relief in 2004 and again in 2006. Republicans and Democrats in Congress already approved these tax rate reductions. And the time to deliver the tax rate reductions is now, when they can do the most good for the American businesses. For the sake of economic vitality, I'm asking Congress to make all the tax rate reductions effective this year. The tax cuts should be retroactive to January 1st. Upon passage, I'll order the Treasury Department to immediately adjust the amount of money withheld for income taxes, so that Americans will keep more of their paychecks right away. By speeding up the income tax cuts, we will speed economic recovery and the pace of job creation. If tax relief is good enough for Americans 3 years from now, it is good enough for Americans today. An additional beneficiary of this tax cut will be small businesses. About 30 million Americans include small business income when they file their individual tax returns with the IRS. Faster tax relief will help these businesses to expand sooner, to hire new people faster, and to build a stronger foundation for the recovery. We also know that middle income families need additional relief. So today I'm asking Congress to speed up three other tax reductions promised in 2001, tax reductions that will help our middle income families. Instead of slowly reducing the marriage penalty until 2009, we should do it now, to help 35 million married couples. Instead of waiting until 2008 to move more taxpayers from the 15 percent bracket to the lowest bracket of 10 percent, we should make that change now and help 2 million working Americans. And instead of gradually raising the child tax credit from 600 to 1,000 per child by the year of 2010, for the benefit of 26 million families, we should raise it now. These tax reductions will bring real and immediate benefits to middle income Americans. Ninety two million Americans will keep an average of 1,083 more of their own money. A family of four with two earners and 39,000 in income will receive more than 1,100 in tax relief, real money to help pay the bills and push the economy forward. And the sooner Congress acts, the sooner the help will come. Taken together, these income tax cuts will put an additional 70 billion to work in the private economy over the next 18 months. And there's no better way to help our economy grow than to leave more money in the hands of the men and women who earned it. Our second challenge is to encourage greater investment by individuals and small businesses, the kind of investing that builds personal wealth and helps company expand and creates new jobs. We are increasingly a nation of owners, who invest for retirement and the other financial challenges of life. One half of American households own stock, either directly or through pension funds. And we have an obligation to make sure, now more than ever, that American investors are treated fairly. We can begin by treating investors fairly and equally in our tax laws. As it is now, many investments are taxed not once but twice. First, the IRS taxes a company on its profit. Then it taxes the investors who receive the profits as dividends. The result of this double taxation is that for all the profit a company earns, shareholders who receive dividends keep as little as 40 cents on the dollar. Double taxation is bad for our economy. Double taxation is wrong. Double taxation falls especially hard on retired people. About half of all dividend income goes to America's seniors, and they often rely on those checks for a steady source of income in their retirement. It's fair to tax a company's profits. It's not fair to double tax by taxing the shareholder on the same profits. So today, for the good of our senior citizens and to support capital formation across the land, I'm asking the United States Congress to abolish the double taxation of dividends. The benefits of this tax relief will be felt throughout the economy. Abolishing double taxation of dividends will leave nearly 35 million Americans with more of their own money to spend and invest, which will promote savings and return as much as 20 billion this year to the private economy. By ending this investment penalty, we will strengthen investor confidence. See, by ending double taxation of dividends, we will increase the return on investing, which will draw more money into the markets to provide capital to build factories, to buy equipment, hire more people. We must also encourage the investments that help turn small businesses into larger ones. Small businesses create the majority of new jobs in America, and they account for half the output of the economy. Currently, tax law permits small firms to write off as expenses up to 25,000 worth of equipment, like computers or machinery that they need. I'm asking the Congress to raise that limit to 75,000 and index that number for inflation. This change, together with the faster rate reductions, will benefit more than 23 million small business owners. My view is this economy can thrive only if our small businesses thrive. And we will provide them every incentive to grow and create more jobs. A third challenge facing our country is the need to help unemployed workers and prepare them for the new jobs of a growing economy. The unemployment rate today is 6 percent. That's low for an economy coming out of recession. It's higher than it should be, and the unemployment rate is projected to rise even further in the short run. This hardship is concentrated in certain regions and in certain industries. Manufacturing jobs have declined for 28 months in a row. You know what I'm talking about here in the Midwest. You're showing signs of recovery here yet many people here and across this country are still looking for work. A woman in Arkansas tells a typical story. She talked about the fact that her husband was laid off from his job at a local steel mill. And both she and the husband have been looking for a job for quite a while. Here's what she said "There's just nothing for me to find. We're trying to save up what little money we have and move to another community and look for jobs there." Got to be worried about those kind of stories here in America. As we encourage long term growth, we will not forget the men and women who are struggling today. Close to 70,000 workers each week exhaust their unemployment benefits, and we have an obligation to help our fellow citizens. So I'm asking this new Congress to extend unemployment benefits that expired on December the 28th. And the benefits Congress approves should be retroactive, like the Fitzgerald bill, so that people who lost their benefits last month can receive their benefits in full. Helping America's unemployed workers should be a first order of business in the new Congress, and it looks like it's going to be. We must be more creative when we help those who have the hardest time finding work. To encourage innovation and more choices and to help those who are out of work find the dignity of a new job, today I'm unveiling a new approach to helping unemployed Americans through Personal Reemployment Accounts. Under this new program, Americans who face the greatest difficulties in finding work will receive up to 3,000 to use in their job search. They will have great flexibility in how they use that money. A person with a Reemployment Account will be able to decide whether to use the funds for job training or child care or transportation or even to cover the costs of relocating to another city for a new job. If the job is obtained quickly within 13 weeks the worker will be able to keep the cash balance as a "reemployment bonus." As we see new economic growth, we will need well trained workers to fill new jobs. So I'm going to ask the Congress to provide 3.6 billion to the States to pay for the Reemployment Accounts, enough money to help more than a million unemployed men and women across America. In order to strengthen this economy in the future, we must help these Americans today. The jobs and growth proposals I've outlined today are a focused plan to encourage consumer spending, to promote small business growth, to boost confidence in our markets, and to give critical help to unemployed citizens. Overall, this growth package will reduce the tax burden of Americans by 98 billion this year and 670 billion over the next decade. I proposed a bold plan because the need for this plan is urgent, and I urge the Congress to act swiftly and pass this bill. Our Nation has seen 2 years of serious and steady challenges. The recession and the decline in the stock market slowed earnings and cut into tax revenues and created a budget deficit. And in this time of war, I can assure you this Government is spending what is necessary to win the war. But the Congress must also understand this The American people deserve and expect spending discipline in Washington, DC. With spending discipline and with progrowth policies, we will expand the economy and help bring down this deficit. This growth and jobs package is essential in the short run it's an immediate boost to the economy. And these proposals will help stimulate investment and put more people back to work, is what we want to have happen. They are essential for the long run as well, to lay the groundwork for future growth and future prosperity. That growth will bring the added benefit of higher revenues for the Government, revenues that will keep tax rates low while fulfilling key obligations and protecting programs such as Medicare and Social Security. We're meeting the challenges to America. We're strengthening our economy, and we're taking a battle to our enemies. And we're not going to leave our work half finished. In the months ahead, we'll confront every threat to the safety and security of the American people. We'll press on to turn our recovery into lasting growth and opportunity that reaches every corner of America. By the courage and by the enterprise of the American people, this great Nation will prosper, and there's no doubt in my mind this great Nation will prevail. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. January 06, 2003 The President. I have an opening statement here, and I'll answer a couple of questions. I want to thank my Cabinet for coming. This is the 15th Cabinet meeting we've had since we were sworn in, and I appreciate each of you working so hard on behalf of the American people. Today we talked about the issues facing our country. The war on terror continues. We will hunt down the terrorists wherever they hide. We'll do everything we can to secure the homeland. We heard a briefing today from Tom Ridge about how the reorganization of the Homeland Security Department is going. It's very important for Congress and the Senate to confirm Tom as quickly as possible and to confirm his team, so they can get doing the work of the American people. Here at home, I hope the Congress will extend the unemployment benefits for for the American workers who don't have a job soon, as quickly as possible. As well, it's important for Congress to pass the '03 appropriations bills. We're living under continuing resolutions. The agency heads here are want to have their budgets finalized so that they can have certainty in the appropriations with which they have to work. Congress has got work to do. Tomorrow I'm going to talk about how to continue the economic growth that we have, to ensure our economy is as robust as possible. I look forward to the speech in Chicago, because it is a plan that speaks directly to the American citizen that we'll do everything we can to revitalize the small business sector, to make sure it remains strong so people can find work. We've put together a fine economic team. I hope the Congress the Senate acts quickly to confirm John Snow and Bill Donaldson. They need to move quickly. I look forward to working with the leadership in the House and the Senate. Doesn't matter who's in charge, we'll work with them. Obviously, we're pleased that Senator Frist will be leading the Senate. We'll work with him. We'll continue to work with Senator Daschle, and we'll work with Speaker Hastert, Leader DeLay, and Congressman Pelosi as well. We have got a job to do for the American people, and we'll do that job, to make sure the country is secure, to win the war on terror, and make sure people can find work. Let me answer some questions. Sandra Sandra Sobieraj, Associated Press , this is your last day, I understand, and therefore, you get to ask the only question I mean, you get to ask laughter . President's Economic Plan Q. The first question to the last? You said that your economic plan will speak directly to the American citizen. The Democrats say that it speaks most directly to the richest American taxpayers. How do you answer that criticism and the charge that you're just going to lead to deeper deficits? The President. Well, the critics hadn't seen the plan. This is a plan that provides tax relief to the working citizens. It's a plan that is a very fair plan. It's a plan that recognizes, when somebody has more of their own money, they're likely to spend it, which creates more jobs. Our administration is concerned about deficits, and the way they deal with deficits is you, one, control spending. And I hope Congress lives up to their words. When they talk about deficits, they can join us in making sure we don't overspend. They can join us and make sure that the appropriations process is focused on those issues that those items that are absolutely necessary for the American people. I'm pleased that Members of the Congress are talking about deficits. It means they understand their obligations not to overspend the people's money. And the second way to deal with deficits is to encourage revenue growth. And the way to encourage revenue growth is to encourage the private sector to grow. And tomorrow I'll be talking about ways to encourage the growth of the private sector. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Iraq Q. Sir, with 3 weeks to go until the U.N. inspectors report back, are you seeing any signs of compliance by Iraq? Saddam says it's carrying out intelligence work. The President. Well, I thought that was an interesting statement on his part. When you combine that with the fact that his declaration was clearly deficient, it is discouraging news for those of us who want to resolve this issue peacefully. He has the obligation to disarm. For the sake of peace, he must disarm. The United Nations has clearly said that. It is in our Nation's interest that he disarm. He is a threat to the American people. He's a threat to our friends and neighbors in the Middle East. He is a person who has used weapons of mass destruction. And so, therefore, the world has said to Saddam, "You won't have any weapons of mass destruction. Get rid of them." And thus far, it looks like he hasn't complied. But he's got time, and we continue to call upon Saddam Hussein to listen to what the world is saying. Not just the United States but the entire world expects Saddam Hussein to disarm. Dick Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . President's Economic Plan Q. Mr. President, changing the taxation on stock dividends a lot of analysts say that, in and of itself, would not have a particularly stimulative effect for the economy. Do you disagree with that? And if in the end you get a benefit yourself, is it money that you would then direct to be reinvested, or is it money that you might spend? The President. If it I didn't hear the second part of your question. If it the hypothetical part of the question, which I'm probably not going to answer. Laughter Q. If Congress does your bidding and you get benefits from dividends that aren't being taxed, would you use that money to reinvest or would you spend it on consumer goods or consumer items? The President. Me, personally? Q. You, personally. The President. My money is in a blind trust, Stretch, so I don't know if I've got any dividends. Q. If you did. The President. Oh, if I did. Laughter Q. Not many of us have dividends these days, but The President. Well, it's interesting you asked that question. A lot of people get dividends, see. And that's one of the reasons why we're analyzing this issue of taxing things twice, particularly dividends. Most seniors over 50 percent of the seniors receive dividends. First of all, it's unfair to tax money twice. There's a principle involved. The Government ought to be content with taxing revenue streams or profits one time, not twice. And in dividends, we tax the corporate profit, and then we tax the money being sent to the shareholder. And that doesn't make any sense. That's unfair. That's bad public policy. Many of the shareholders that pay the taxes are senior citizens. These are senior citizens who have retired and senior citizens who can use that money. Thirdly, the reduction in taxes on dividends will encourage capital flows into the marketplace. It will encourage investment, and that's what we want. We want to encourage investment activity. Investment means jobs. And so I'm not going to specifically tell you what's in the speech tomorrow, though it looks like some others might have already done that. I do encourage you to listen to it. But I encourage you to look at the entire package. It's a package that's shaped for economic vitality and growth. Listen, we're doing fine. Tomorrow you'll hear me say this economy is one of the strongest in the world. But what we believe is that we can be stronger. And we also know that when somebody is looking for work who wants to work means we've got to continue to try to stimulate job growth. Now, we don't believe it's the role of Government to manage the economy. We've got great faith in the private sector. And so we're going to create the environment for the private sector to be stronger. That's the policy of this administration. Sandra, good luck to you. Thanks. Q. Thank you, sir. North Korea Q. Mr. President, on North Korea, sir? The President. I'll answer one on North Korea, yes, real quick. Q. Yes, sir. What would it take for the U.S. or any other nation to have direct talks with North Korea? And they claim to believe that the U.S. is a threat to them. The President. Yes. Q. What can you say? The President. Well, first of all, I went to Korea and clearly said that the United States has no intention of invading North Korea. I said that right there in South Korea. And in Kim Chong il's neighborhood, I spoke as clearly, as I said and said, "We won't invade you." And I'll repeat that We have no intention of invading North Korea. We expect North Korea to adhere to her obligations. She's in an agreement with the United States and said that she would not develop nuclear weapons, and we expect people to keep their word. We will have dialog we've had dialog with North Korea. The Secretary of State visited with the Deputy Foreign Minister Secretary of State Colin L. Powell. The Foreign Minister. The President. the Foreign Minister, excuse me. And talking is one thing, but we expect people to honor obligations. And for Kim Chong il to be a credible member of the world community, he's got to understand that he's got to do what he says he's going to do. I believe this will be resolved peacefully, and I believe it can be resolved diplomatically. Thank you. Q. Thank you, sir. Q. What were you laughing at before we came in, sir? Laughter The President. I'm not telling. Laughter I won't tell, but somebody will leak it. Laughter January 03, 2003 The President. Thank you very much. Thank you all. Thank you all very much. General, thanks a lot for that kind introduction. I always like a short introduction. Laughter Thank you for your warm welcome, and thank you for this jacket. Audience members. Hooah! The President. I'm proud to wear it. Audience members. Hooah! The President. And I'm proud to wear it in my home State of Texas. Laura and I are honored to kick off the new year with the soldiers and families of Fort Hood. Audience members. Hooah! The President. All Texans are proud that our State is the home to so many fine military units, including the great 1st Cavalry Division Audience members. Hooah! The President. and the mighty 4th Infantry Division Audience members. Hooah! The President. the key ingredients to the home of America's hammer. Audience members. Hooah! The President. On Christmas Eve I had the honor of calling some of our troops who are around the world, service members, men and women from many bases, including Fort Hood. I thanked them for serving America so far from home and far away from their families. Today it's my honor to come here to Fort Hood to thank each and every one of you for the work you do to make sure that our United States Army is second to none. Audience members. Hooah! The President. We've got more than 1,300 troops from Fort Hood that are serving abroad and defending our country and keeping the peace, from Cuba to Kuwait to Korea. Another 1,600 are preparing to deploy abroad. In the months ahead, more soldiers from Fort Hood may be giving given other essential missions. But wherever you serve or wherever you may be sent, you can know that America is grateful and your Commander in Chief is confident in your abilities and proud of your service. Audience members. Hooah! The President. I want to thank General Wilson and his wife, Lynn, for receiving Laura and me. I want to thank Larry Ellis and Jean General Ellis. I appreciate so much General Joe Peterson. I want to thank Sergeant Major Gravens and his wife, Deborah, for joining us here today. I appreciate my friend, the Governor of the great State of Texas, Rick Perry, for joining us today. I want to thank members of the congressional delegation who are here, Joe Barton, Congressman Chet Edwards. I appreciate you all coming. I want to thank some of the State and local officials. I know my friend Dianne White Delisi is here. I want to thank Suzanna Hupp and Sid Miller as well. I want to thank the mayor of Killeen haven't seen the mayor in a while. It's good to be in your presence, Mayor. Appreciate all the local officials, my fellow Texans, military families, veterans, and all the community leaders who have come out today. Thanks for being here. I know we've got some of the many veterans who live in this area with us today. The men and women of Fort Hood follow in the great traditions that you passed on to them. You each wear a proud title, veteran of the United States military, and I want to thank you for the example you have set and the service you gave to our country. Audience members. Hooah! The President. And I appreciate and America appreciates the sacrifices of our military families. I signed the largest increase in defense spending in a generation. Audience members. Hooah! The President. I wanted to make sure that our soldiers had the best possible pay Audience members. Hooah! The President. the best possible training Audience members. Hooah! The President. and to make sure the housing was the best possible for our families, military families. That's the least we owe the husbands and wives of those who wear the uniform. Each one of you knows that Army life can be rewarding, and you know it can be dangerous and difficult. Every day, our military families are putting America's interests first, and America thanks you as well as those who wear the uniform. Fort Hood and the units that call it home have a special place in our country's military history. For decades, soldiers from the First Team and the Iron Horse Division and from other units have fought America's battles with distinction and courage. Now you're called again into action, to defend America and the cause of freedom in the first war of the 21st century. For this country and for our friends around the world who love freedom like we do, the stakes are great. The terrorists have shown what they intend for us, and we're not going to forget. We're not going to forget the fact that they kill without regard for the rules of war. They don't value innocent life like we do. In America, we say everybody is precious. Everybody counts. Everybody is equal in the eyes of the Almighty. That's not the way the enemy thinks. They don't value innocent life. They're nothing but a bunch of cold blooded killers, and that's the way we're going to treat them. Audience members. Hooah! The President. They reach across oceans to target the innocent. They seek weapons of mass murder on a massive scale. The terrorists will not be stopped by mercy or by conscience, but they will be stopped. Audience members. Hooah! The President. And they will be stopped by the will and the might of the United States of America. Audience members. Hooah! The President. Our country is in a great contest of will and purpose. We're being tested. In times of crisis, we will act decisively. And in times of calm, we'll be focused and patient and relentless in our pursuit of the enemy. That's what we owe the American people. We're not waiting for another attack. We can't wait for another attack to employ the full power of America in this cause. We're acting now to protect the American people and to shape a future of peace. This war, like others, is not going to be won on the defensive. So we're going to take this fight to the enemy. Audience members. Hooah! The President. And we're making good progress. We're making good progress. Working with our friends and allies, we have freed the people of Afghanistan from one of the most brutal regimes in the history of mankind. We enforced a clear doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists," and the Taliban knows what we meant. Audience members. Hooah! The President. We've destroyed camps where terrorists train. There used to be camps. The United States military showed up. There are not any camps in Afghanistan. Audience members. Hooah! The President. We've emptied caves where they hid. See, they used to think they could hide. But you can't hide from the United States of America. You may hide for a brief period of time, but pretty soon we're going to put the spotlight on you, and we'll bring you to justice. We've cut off millions of dollars that the enemy was using to fund operations. We're working with friends and allies around the world, and we're hauling them in, one by one. Some have met their fate by sudden justice. Some are now answering questions at Guantanamo Bay. In either case, they're no longer a problem to the United States of America and our friends. Audience members. Hooah! The President. We do not yet have all the terrorists, but they're all on the run. And if they listen carefully, they will hear behind them the mighty footsteps of the United States of America. Audience members. Hooah! The President. And we're not quitting. We'll fight this war on many fronts, with many tools. Our intelligence operations are tracking the terrorists. We're sharing intelligence with other countries that share our desire for peace. Our allies are keeping the peace and helping us keep the peace in Afghanistan. We're hunting the terrorists on every continent. See, they're in over 60 different countries. We've got a vast coalition of people bound by this principle Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy either you're with those who love freedom, or you're with those who hate innocent life. Our coalition is strong, and we're keeping it strong. And we're on the hunt. We're chasing them down one by one. And as well, we're confronting the threat of outlaw regimes who seek weapons of mass destruction. Different circumstances require different strategies, from the pressure of diplomacy to the prospect of force. Yet in every case, the resolve of our Nation is the same We must and we will protect the American people and our friends and allies from catastrophic violence, wherever the source, whatever the threat. In the case of North Korea, the world must continue to speak with one voice, to turn that regime away from its nuclear ambitions. In the case of Iraq, the world has already spoken with one voice. The Iraqi regime has a duty under Security Council resolutions to declare and destroy all of its weapons of mass destruction. That's what the world has said. That's what the United States expects from Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi regime is a grave threat to the United States. The Iraqi regime is a threat to any American and to threats who are friends of America. Why do I say that?Well, first of all, the leader in Iraq has publicly proclaimed his hatred for our country and what we stand for. The Iraqi regime has a record a record of torturing their own people, a brutal record, and a record of reckless aggression against those in their neighborhood. The Iraqi regime has used weapons of mass destruction. They not only had weapons of mass destruction they used weapons of mass destruction. They used weapons of mass destruction on people in other countries they have used weapons of mass destruction on their own people. That's why I say Iraq is a threat, a real threat. Four years ago, U.N. inspectors concluded that Iraq had failed to amount account for large stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons, weapons capable of killing millions. In last month's declaration, Iraq again failed to account for those weapons. The Iraqi dictator did not even attempt to submit a credible declaration. We can now be certain that he holds the United Nations and the U.N. Security Council and its resolutions in contempt. He really doesn't care about the opinion of mankind. Saddam Hussein was given a path to peace. Thus far, he has chosen the path of defiance. The fate of the Iraqi regime is being determined by its own decisions. Saddam Hussein knows precisely what he can and must do to avoid conflict. We have made that clear. The world has spoken with one voice. And even now, he could end his defiance and dramatically change directions. He has that choice to make. We certainly prefer voluntary compliance by Iraq. You see, the use of military force is this Nation's last option, its last choice. Yet, if force becomes necessary to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction and enforce the will of the United Nations, if force becomes necessary to secure our country and to keep the peace, America will act deliberately, America will act decisively, and America will prevail because we've got the finest military in the world. Audience members. Hooah! The President. We are ready. We're prepared. And should the United States be compelled to act, our troops will be acting in the finest traditions of America should we be forced to act. Should Saddam Hussein seals his fate by refusing to disarm, by ignoring the opinion of the world, you will be fighting not to conquer anybody but to liberate people. See, we believe in freedom. No matter what their oppressors may say, the people of Iraq have no love for tyranny. Like all human beings, they desire and they deserve to live in liberty and to live in dignity. America seeks more than the defeat of terror. We seek the advance of human freedom in a world at peace. That is the charge history has given us, and that is the charge we will keep. In crucial hours, the success of our cause will depend upon you. As members of our military, you serve this Nation's ideals, and you demonstrate those ideals in your code and in your character. As Commander in Chief, I have come to know the men and women who wear America's uniform. I have seen your love of country and your devotion to a cause larger than yourself. I have seen your discipline, your idealism, and your sense of honor. I know that every order I give can bring a cost. I also know without a doubt that every order I give will be carried out with skill and unselfish courage. Some crucial hours may lie ahead. We know the challenges and the dangers we face. If this generation of Americans is ready, we accept the burden of leadership. We act in the cause of peace and freedom, and in that cause, we will prevail. Thank you for your service. May God bless you. May God bless your families, and may God bless America. January 02, 2003 2004 Election President's Agenda Q. Sir, there's another Democrat has thrown his hat into the ring today, John Edwards. What do you think of the Democrat strategy to essentially say that you're not keeping America safe enough? You've heard some of that from some of the speeches. The President. Oh, you know, I understand politics, and I'm not paying attention to politics. I'm going to continue doing the job the American people expect, which is to safeguard America and Americans. We've got a war on our hands. There is a terrorist network that still is interested in harming Americans, and we will hunt them down. There are countries which are developing weapons of mass destruction, and we will deal with them appropriately. One country is Iraq. Obviously, we expect them to live up to the U.N. Security resolutions and disarm. And if they won't, we'll lead a coalition to disarm them. Another country is North Korea. And we are working with friends and allies in the region to explain clearly to North Korea it's not in their nation's interest to develop and proliferate weapons of mass destruction. It was right here at this spot where Jiang Zemin, the leader of China, and myself got together, and we put out a joint declaration that we expect for the Korean Peninsula to be nuclear weapons free. That was a serious statement. I believe the situation with North Korea will be resolved peacefully. As I said, it's a diplomatic issue, not a military issue, and we're working all fronts. North Korea Q. Can I follow that up? You said it could be resolved diplomatically. You were quoted not long ago saying that you loathe Kim Chong il. How can you The President. Well, what I worry about with a leader like Kim Chong il is somebody who starves his people. The United States of America is the largest one of the largest, if not the largest donor of food to the North Korean people. And one of the reasons why the people are starving is because the leader of North Korea hasn't seen to it that their economy is strong or that they be fed. We've got a great heart, but I have no heart for somebody who starves his folks. National Economy Q. Mr. President, when you look forward and think about economic stimulus we're beginning a new year and the stock market people nursing some losses, what are your views about that? And secondly, are you sensitive to the idea that a stimulus is too weighted toward helping the wealthiest Americans, and are you making choices based on that, to help the middle income The President. Well, what I'm worried about is job creation. And I'm worried about those who are unemployed. I am concerned about those who are looking for work but can't find work. And so next week when I talk about an economic stimulus package, I will talk about how to create jobs, how best to create jobs, as well as how to take care of those who don't have a job. I'm concerned about all the people. And I don't view the politics of you know, I understand the politics of economic stimulus that some would like to turn this into class warfare. That's not how I think. I think about the overall economy and how best to help those folks who are looking for work. Q. Do you will you propose new tax cuts? Do you think they're necessary now for the economy? The President. I'm looking at all options. And of course, if I knew the answer, I probably wouldn't tell you now, because I'd like for you to come and pay attention to the speech. Q. I'll do that. The President. I know you'll do that. North Korea Q. Can I go back to Korea? The President. Sure. Q. You're talking about a diplomatic solution, and you believe that there is one. How do you think you can bring some of the other countries in the region that are reluctant right now The President. Well, I don't think the countries are reluctant to Q. reluctant to put pressure on. The President. They may be putting pressure on, and you just don't know about it. But I know that they're not reluctant when it comes to the idea of nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula. And we are in constant contact with the Japanese and the South Koreans and the Chinese and the Russians. As I said and the decision to cut off fuel oil was a joint decision. It was not a U.S. decision it was jointly made with the South Koreans and the Japanese and the European Union, for that matter. It's important for the American people to remember the history of Kim Chong il. He created some international tension, and the United States of America went and signed an agreement with him. And the agreement was that we'd provide along with others, we'd provide fuel oil and help, and in return, he would not enrich uranium. But it turns out he was enriching uranium. And we blew the whistle on the fact that he was in violation of the '94 agreement. And the parties to that agreement came together and said, "Well, in return for him making that decision, in terms of him abrogating the agreement, there will be a consequence." And that's where we stand right now. So the parties have come together. There has been a joint declaration of intent. And we will continue working to resolve the situation. Yes, Holly Holly Rosenkrantz, Bloomberg News . Iraq National Economy Q. Thank you, sir. The President. I'm tired of these people calling you Heidi. Q. I appreciate you The President. And I will correct them laughter particularly on camera. Q. If we do have to go to war and The President. With which country? Q. With Iraq. And if and with our economy stagnating, what makes you confident that we can afford The President. First of all, you know, I'm hopeful we won't have to go war, and let's leave it at that. Q. But if we do, though, what The President. Until Saddam Hussein makes up his mind to disarm see, it's his choice to make. See, you need to ask him that question, not me. Q. But the White House is drawing up plans to pay for the war, if we come to that. So why The President. Well, let's leave it at "if," for a while then, until it happens. Q. So you don't want to talk about whether our economy could sustain it, if that's a possibility? The President. I thought that was the question I answered yesterday, so we'll go back to that question, Heidi. I mean, Holly. Q. Thank you, sir. 2004 Election Q. How do you size up the Democrats who are in line to oppose you? What do you think of Senator The President. Not paying attention to it yet, not paying attention to the race yet. I've got a lot on my agenda and a lot on my platter. And I understand politics. I know there's going to be a lot of verbiage and a lot of noise and a lot of posturing and a lot of elbowing. To me, that's just going to be background noise. My job is to protect the American people and work to create confidence in our economy so that people can find work. Q. On some level, were you getting ready for a rematch and hoping for a rematch with Al Gore? The President. Really wasn't paying much attention to it, Stretch David Gregory, NBC News . I seriously was I've got my mind on the peace and security of the American people. And politics will sort itself out. And one of these days, somebody will emerge, and we'll tee it up and see who the American people want to lead. And until that happens, I'm going to be doing my job. National Economy Q. One more thing, any thoughts for the American investor going into this new year? The President. Well, hopefully the American investor realizes that the this economy is pretty darn strong, given the fact that we have been through a recession and a terrorist attack, a breach of corporate confidence because of some malfeasance. And yet the economy still grows. That's very positive. Now, I recognize that there are some uncertainties. But one thing is certain, that the economy of the United States is strong and resilient. And we must put policies in place to enhance that resiliency and enhance that strength. Border and Homeland Security Q. Sir, you asked or you talked the other day about authorizing an APB for those five people that were wanted by the FBI for coming into this country. Today one guy from Pakistan says that he is one of those people on those pictures, and he has never been to the United States. The President. Well, we need to follow up on forged passports and people trying to come into our country illegally. The American people need to know that anytime we get a hint that somebody might be coming into our country to cause harm, we'll follow up on it. And you know, if we think there's a smuggling ring that's willing to smuggle people in that might harm America, we'll deal with it. And there's you know, and if this fellow is one of them and I think they're trying to check that out right now. And as I recall, the story I haven't fully read it all but as I recall, it said he had a false passport. I'm kind of curious to know why he needs a false passport. We like things aboveboard here in America. We want people coming to our country that wants to take that wants to either visit this great country or study in this great country or see relatives in this great country and do so in a peaceful and lawful way. And people have a feeling like they've got to travel here with false passports sends a pretty alarming signal to those of us who are involved with the security of the country. Q. Do you have the suspicion that there is a smuggling ring that may not have specific terrorist ties, but that there's a ring of The President. I'm not sure what the you know, how to detail. All I can tell you is that we were concerned and alerted to the fact that somebody might be coming into the country. There are having said that, there are a lot of smuggling rings that we're dealing with. The INS needs to deal with that. And the new Homeland Security Department will be dealing with smuggling rings, like the "coyotes" right south of here that are smuggling people across and treating those poor people stuffing them into these trailers and abusing them. They need to be dealt with as well. Most of the smuggling rings are not terrorist related, but if we get a hint, a whiff that some of them are, we'll deal with them. All right, let's go get some coffee. Situation in Iraq Q. One more. Are you satisfied that the inspectors are getting to Saddam's weapon scientists? The President. He is a man who likes to play games and charades. The question is, will Saddam Hussein disarm? The world has asked him to disarm from weapons of mass destruction. The first indication isn't very positive that he will voluntarily disarm. After all, he put out a declaration that the world realized was false. And the inspectors are there to verify whether or not he is disarming. You hear these reports about Iraqi scientists being interviewed, but there's a "minder" in the room. You know, Saddam Hussein hopefully he realizes we're serious, and hopefully he disarms peacefully. He's a danger to the American people. He's a danger to our friends and allies. For 11 long years, the world has dealt with him. And now he's got to understand, his day of reckoning is coming. And therefore, he must disarm voluntarily. I hope he does. All right, let's go get a coffee. December 31, 2002 The President. Hi, guys. Happy New Year to everybody. Laura and I wish all our fellow Americans a prosperous and peaceful and a happy new year. We are really happy to be spending New Year here in Crawford, Texas. We'll be having our New Year's hamburger here in a minute. Laughter I'll be glad to answer a few questions Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press and Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters and Mike Mike Allen, Washington Post . Situation in North Korea Q. Sir, I'd like to ask you if I could, why are you not considering military action against a defiant, unstable, unpredictable, nuclear armed North Korea? The President. I view the North Korean situation as one that can be resolved peacefully, through diplomacy. The international community, particularly those countries close to North Korea, understand the stakes involved. I had a very good visit with President elect Roh of South Korea. I've obviously talked to Jiang Zemin right here in Crawford about a nuclear weapons free Peninsula. There is strong consensus, not only amongst the nations in the neighborhood and our friends but also with international organizations such as the IAEA, that North Korea ought to comply with international regulations. I believe this can be done peacefully, through diplomacy, and we will continue to work that way. I take all options, of course, are always on the table for any President, but by working with these countries, we can resolve this. Q. So you're not currently contemplating military action? The President. Well, Ron, I believe this is not a military showdown this is a diplomatic showdown. And we can resolve this peacefully and intend Q. Sir, you The President. Hold on for a second, please. Q. Sorry, excuse me. The President. And intend to work to resolve it peacefully. We've got good progress in talking to our friends. And I look forward to the fact that President elect Roh is sending some people over here, and then he, himself, will come after he's been inaugurated. Patsy, then John John Roberts, CBS News . North Korea Iraq Q. Sir, why should we be more worried about Saddam Hussein, who has no nuclear weapons, than Kim Chong il, who is unstable and does have nuclear weapons? The President. Well, first of all, I think it's important to remember that Saddam Hussein was close to having a nuclear weapon. We don't know whether or not he has a nuclear weapon. We do expect him to disarm his weapons of mass destruction that's what we expect. Secondly, the international community has been trying to resolve the situation in Iraq through diplomacy for 11 years. And for 11 years, Saddam Hussein has defied the international community. And now we've brought the world together to send a clear signal We expect him to disarm, to get rid of his weapons of mass destruction. The first step in determining whether or not he would do that was discouraging. His declaration was short, and the international community recognized that, that he wasn't forthcoming. Again, I hope this Iraq situation will be resolved peacefully. One of my New Year's resolutions is to work to deal with these situations in a way so that they're resolved peacefully. But thus far, it appears that, on first look, that Saddam Hussein hasn't heard the message. Q. Sir, can I ask a followup? The President. Yes. National Economy and War With Iraq Q. Your budget directors put the possible cost of a war with Iraq at in line with the first Gulf war. Why shouldn't Americans view this possible war as possibly crippling our economy, that's already very slow? The President. An attack from Saddam Hussein or a surrogate of Saddam Hussein would cripple our economy. My biggest job and most important job is to protect the security of the American people, and I am going to do that. And I have made the case and will continue to make the case that Saddam Hussein a Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is a threat to the security of the American people. Q. But can this economy afford to fight a war? The President. This economy cannot afford to stand an attack. And I'm going to protect the American people. The economy is strong it's resilient. Obviously, so long as somebody is looking for work, we've got to continue to make it strong and resilient. My most important job is to protect America and Americans, and I take that job seriously. And that's exactly what this administration is going to do. John. FBI Persons of Interest Q. Sir, are you concerned about the report that five people have come across the Canadian border illegally? Are you concerned that there are any new threats to the American security right now, as we go into this new year? The President. I am I have authorized the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, to put out an all points bulletin for five individuals who we believe have been smuggled into the country. We need to know why they have been smuggled into the country, what they're doing in the country. And if anybody has any information about the five, I would hope they would contact their local authorities. John, we don't have any idea of what their intentions may be, but we are mindful that there are still some out there who would try to harm America and harm Americans. And so, therefore, we take every threat seriously and every piece of evidence seriously. And the American people need to know there's a lot of good people working hard, whether it be on New Year's Eve or any other time, to protect the American people. Mike, you got anything? Republican Party and Minorities Q. Yes. Good afternoon, Mr. President. The President. Thank you. Q. What effect do you think that The President. That's plenty. No. Laughter Q. What effect do you think that the attention to Senator Lott's comment has had on the image of the Republican Party across the country? And what do you plan to do to repair any damage? The President. Well, first of all, I think that most people understand that their Republican Party cares deeply about each individual, regardless of the color of their skin or their religion. And I will continue to promote policies that enable the American individual to achieve his or her dreams. I believe in equal access to the greatness of America. And this administration is committed to that and will continue to work toward that goal. Yes. I'll show you how generous I am. Laughter Domestic Safety in 2003 Q. Mr. President, looking ahead here, with a possible war with Iraq looming, North Korea nuclear conflict, as well as Usama bin Laden still at large, is the world safer as we look ahead to 2003? The President. Yes, it's a lot safer today than it was a year ago, and it's going to be safer after this year than it was this year, because the United States of America will continue to lead a vast coalition of freedom loving countries to disrupt terrorist activities, to hold dictators accountable, particularly those who ignore international norm and international rule. And the American this Government will continue lead the world toward more peace. And the American people need to be mindful of the fact that our Government is committed to peace and committed to freedom. And we hope to resolve all the situations in which we find ourselves in a peaceful way. And so that's my commitment, to try to do so peacefully. But I want to remind people that Saddam Hussein the choice is his to make as to whether or not the Iraqi situation is resolved peacefully. You said we're headed to war in Iraq. I don't know why you say that. I hope we're not headed to war in Iraq. I'm the person who gets to decide, not you, and I hope this can be done peacefully. We've got a military presence there to remind Saddam Hussein, however, that when I say we will lead a coalition of the willing to disarm him if he chooses not to disarm, I mean it. And we will continue to work to resolve the situation on the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful way. And it was right here in Crawford, Texas, where I had a meaningful and good discussions with Jiang Zemin. Heck, it wasn't all that long ago that a U.S. leader never spoke to the Chinese leader. And right here in Crawford, we had a dialog where we both committed ourselves to working in a way to convince Kim Chong il that it's not in his country's interests to arm up with nuclear weapons. And I believe that can be resolved peacefully. Listen, thank you all. I'm thinking about a little nature walk in a couple of days. Anybody interested? Q. How far is it? How long is it? The President. About 4 miles. I know you're interested. Q. I have a question for you. The President. Yes, Patsy. Sorry. New Year's Resolution Q. Did you keep last year's resolution to eat less cheeseburgers? The President. A matter of fact, it's an interesting question she asked Did I keep last year's resolution to eat less cheeseburgers? Laughter And the answer is yes, to the extent that I'm now comfortable in having a cheeseburger today. Laughter I hope you all are enjoying yourself here. The First Lady. Happy New Year, everybody. The President. Thank you. Good luck to you. See you. December 28, 2002 Good morning. Two thousand two brought great challenges to America, and we had many successes at home and abroad. In 2002, our economy was still recovering from the attacks of September the 11th, 2001, and it was pulling out of a recession that began before I took office. Our Government came together to pass an economic growth bill to jump start the economy. We extended unemployment benefits for workers who lost their jobs after the terrorist attacks. Congress passed trade promotion authority, which gave me a stronger hand to help America's farmers and businesses sell their products abroad. And we worked together to enact terrorism insurance legislation, so our construction workers could get back on the job. As a result of these actions, the United States economy is growing again. Our Nation learned of scandalous abuses by some corporate leaders, and so I signed the most sweeping corporate reforms in more than a half a century. We are strictly enforcing the laws against fraud and deception in corporate America because workers and investors must have confidence in America's businesses and business leaders. America in 2002 continued our efforts to confront the danger of terrorism. We increased the security of our ports and coasts and airlines and created a new Department of Homeland Security. This Department will unite dozens of Federal agencies behind a single mission, protecting the American people. I hope the Senate will act quickly in the new session to confirm Governor Tom Ridge to serve as America's first Secretary of Homeland Security. In 2002, the war on terror that began with the liberation of Afghanistan continued on many fronts. Working with our allies around the world, we captured top Al Qaida leaders, destroyed terror training camps, and froze millions of dollars in terrorist assets. In the new year, we will prosecute the war on terror with patience and focus and determination. With the help of a broad coalition, we will make certain that terrorists and their supporters are not safe in any cave or corner of the world. The war on terror also requires us to confront the danger of catastrophic violence posed by Iraq and its weapons of mass destruction. The United Nations Security Council has unanimously affirmed that Saddam Hussein is a danger to his neighbors and to the peace of the world. The burden now is on Iraq's dictator to disclose and destroy his arsenal of weapons. If he refuses, then for the sake of peace, the United States will lead a coalition to disarm the Iraqi regime and free the Iraqi people. Also in the new year, we will press on in the effort to turn our economic recovery into sustained economic growth. This economy is strong, and it can be stronger. I will work with Congress on a jobs and growth package to add momentum to the recovery and to put people back to work. And one of my first priorities for the new Congress will be an extension of unemployment benefits for Americans who need them. We will also work to ensure that all Americans have access to high quality, affordable health care. We will keep our commitment to America's seniors by working to reform and modernize Medicare and include a prescription drug benefit to help seniors who are squeezed by rising drug prices. We will tackle the crisis of frivolous lawsuits that drive up the cost of health care. We will continue to carry out the comprehensive education reforms signed into law last January, so no child in America is left behind. My administration will work to continue to remove barriers that hinder the good work of faith based and community groups. And we will work to reauthorize the historic welfare reform law that has improved so many lives. Our successes in the past year have prepared the way for great progress in 2003. Working together, we can make America more prosperous and keep the peace in the world. Thank you for listening, and Happy New Year. December 20, 2002 President Bush. The Vice President and I are honored to welcome the Quartet principals to the Oval Office. I want to thank you all for coming. I appreciate so very much your working with us to move the Israeli Palestinian issue forward to a peaceful resolution of what has been a long standing conflict. I am strongly committed to the vision that I outlined on June the 24th. I believe it is in everybody's best interests that there be two states living side by side in peace. And this Government will work hard to achieve that. And I want to thank you all for joining us in working toward that important vision. There are some keys to moving forward. All of us must work hard to fight against terror so that a few cannot deny the dreams of the many that we must encourage the development of Palestinian institutions which are transparent, which promote freedom and democracy that we must work together to ease the humanitarian situation. There's too many Palestinian moms and dads grieve over the future for their children because of hunger and poverty, lack of health care. I appreciate the fact that the Quartet is working on what we call a roadmap. I view the roadmap as a part of the vision that I described. It is a way forward. It sets conditions. It's a results oriented document. It is a way to bring people together so that they share their responsibilities. We're assuming our responsibilities. The people in the neighborhood must assume their responsibilities. All nations must be committed to peace in order for us to achieve peace, must be committed to the vision of two states side by side in order to achieve the vision of living side by side. The roadmap is not complete yet, but the United States is committed to its completion. We are committed to its implementation in the name of peace. I want to thank you all for coming. We're on our holiday season. It is the season of peace on Earth. We confirmed that today in this meeting. Kofi. Secretary General Annan. Thank you very much, Mr. President. We've had a very good meeting this morning, and we are very close to finalizing the roadmap. And we believe that this is a roadmap that can help bring about the vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side. It will require sacrifices from both sides, and it will demand parallel steps by both states for us to be able to move forward. The Quartet has indicated that this road map and the approach of the parties has to be performance driven they have to perform. But it also has to be hope driven. And I believe that this vision of two states living in peace and security will be the dream that will keep that hope alive. And all of us, working with our friends in the region, will work hard to ensure that we achieve this day within the 3 year period that we have set ourselves. And Mr. President, we want to thank you for your support. And I think working together we can all be able to achieve this objective. Our intention is to release the roadmap and give it to the parties as soon as possible. And I think the communique we'll be putting out will say clearly what we intend to do next. So I will pause here. Thank you very much. President Bush. Mr. Prime Minister, welcome. Good to see you, sir. Q. Mr. President President Bush. Hold on a second, please. Some of our guests will be speaking. Foreign Minister Moller. Thank you very much, Mr. President. I'm very glad that you're so dedicated to the peace process in the Middle East. Your vision of the two states is very important. It's very important for the European Union that the people in the area know they will get two states which have to live quietly, peacefully, side by side. What we are trying to do is to pave the way to the two states. And that's why we have endorsed this roadmap and worked with this roadmap, because it's good thing with a vision, but you must know how to go there. And that is what we have been working at. And it has been a very good cooperation the United States, Russia, the United Nations, and the European Union. And I think it's very important that Israel knows it will live there forever in security. But they can only have that security if they give a political solution to the Palestinians, that the Palestinians know that their day will come where they get the state, which make them sure of their future. They both have a future, and we have to help them with a future. Thank you, Mr. President. President Bush. Igor. In Ingles? Laughter Foreign Minister Ivanov. Thank you for receiving us, first thing. President Bush. Thank you, sir. Foreign Minister Ivanov. The second thing, before we had a lot of interest, good documents, but we couldn't implement. Now we have good document, and the most important thing is to implement. This is our main objective now. Thank you. President Bush. Thank you, sir. Very good. Sandra Sandra Sobieraj, Associated Press , quick question. Iraq Q. Mr. President, your administration concluded yesterday that Saddam Hussein pretty much blew his last chance to come clean on his weapons of mass destruction. Are we now on a path to war? President Bush. One thing is for certain We will fulfill the terms and conditions of 1441. The world spoke clearly that we expect Mr. Saddam Hussein to disarm. Yesterday's document was not encouraging. We expected him to show that he would disarm. And as the Secretary of State said, it's it's a long way from there. And we're serious about keeping the peace. We're serious about working with our friends in the United Nations so that this body, ably led by Kofi Annan, has got relevance as we go into the 21st century. And yesterday was a disappointing day for those who have longed for peace. Listen, I want to thank you all for coming. Q. Trent Lott question? President Bush. I would have, but we ran out of time. Laughter We ran out of time. They eat up your time. We had only so much time available. They ate up your time. I'm sorry. Laughter Q. You can drop by later. President Bush. We could do that you're right. But we're due at Christmas parties. December 18, 2002 President Bush. Welcome. I'll make a statement the President will make a statement. That will be all we'll be doing today. It is my great honor to welcome my good personal friend and a friend of the United States Jose Maria Aznar to the Casa Blanca. He is one of the world's strongest leaders when it comes to our mutual concerns about keeping the peace and fighting terror. He understands the first he understands firsthand the consequences of terror activity. And today, Mr. President, we join you in the mourning of loss of life for a policeman in your country who was killed. I also want to take a moment to express our deepest sympathy for the people of Galicia. We understand the concern and the heartfelt worry about the effects of the oil spill. President Aznar said, "Nunca mas," and I believe him. And I want to thank him for his leadership. And I'm glad he's back here. Bienvenidos. President Aznar. I begin by thanking President Bush very warmly for his very kind invitation once again. I'd also like to thank President Bush for his solidarity and particularly for the cooperation shown to Spain by all levels of the U.S. administration in the light of the environmental disaster caused by the sunken oil tanker off the coast of Spain. And can I say that in all the meetings I've had with representatives of your administration, we have received offers of unconditional support in helping cope with that disaster, and that support is ongoing and will continue. And I'd like to thank President Bush for the personal impetus that he has given in that cooperation. Spain and the United States are working together within a framework of very solid and close cooperation and confidence. And I am determined that this will continue to be the case in the future in the fight against terrorism, in the fight against weapons of mass destruction, and in this overriding objective of defending a world of freedom, justice, and stability. Gracias, senor. President Bush. Vamos a verles. Q. Why shouldn't Senator Lott resign, sir? President Bush. Vamos a verles en la fiesta en la noche. Q. No comprende. President Bush. I said, I'll see you at the party tonight. Q. I thought that meant questions. President Bush. See you at the party tonight. December 13, 2002 Good afternoon. Since our country was attacked 15 months ago, Americans have been forced to prepare for a variety of threats we hope will never come. We have stepped up security at our ports and borders. We've expanded our ability to detect chemical and biological threats. We've increased support for first responders. We made public made our public health care system better able to track and treat disease. By preparing at home and by pursuing enemies abroad, we're adding to the security of our Nation. I thank the members of my team who are here who are adding to the security of our Nation. One potential danger to America is the use of the smallpox virus as a weapon of terror. Smallpox is a deadly but preventable disease. Most Americans who are 34 or older had a smallpox vaccination when they were children. By 1972, the risk of smallpox was so remote that routine vaccinations were discontinued in the United States. In 1980, the World Health Organization declared that smallpox had been completely eradicated, and since then, there has not been a single natural case of the disease anywhere in the world. We know, however, that the smallpox virus still exists in laboratories, and we believe that regimes hostile to the United States may possess this dangerous virus. To protect our citizens in the aftermath of September the 11th, we are evaluating old threats in a new light. Our Government has no information that a smallpox attack is imminent. Yet it is prudent to prepare for the possibility that terrorists would kill indiscriminately who kill indiscriminately would use diseases as a weapon. Our public health agencies began preparations more than a year ago. Today, through the hard work of our Department of Health and Human Services, ably led by Tommy Thompson, and State and local officials, America has stockpiled enough vaccine and is now prepared to inoculate our entire population in the event of a smallpox attack. Americans and anyone who would think of harming Americans can be certain that this Nation is ready to respond quickly and effectively to a smallpox emergency or an increase in the level of threat. Today I am directing additional steps to protect the health of our Nation. I'm ordering that the military and other personnel who serve America in high risk parts of the world receive the smallpox vaccine. Men and women who could be on the frontlines of a biological attack must be protected. This particular vaccine does involve a small risk of serious health considerations. As Commander in Chief, I do not believe I can ask others to accept this risk unless I am willing to do the same. Therefore I will receive the vaccine along with our military. These vaccinations are a precaution only and not a response to any information concerning imminent danger. Given the current level of threat and the inherent health risks of the vaccine, we have decided not to initiate a broader vaccination program for all Americans at this time. Neither my family nor my staff will be receiving the vaccine, because our health and national security experts do not believe vaccination is necessary for the general public. At present, the responsible course is to make careful and thorough preparations in case a broader vaccination program should become necessary in the future. There may be some citizens, however, who insist on being vaccinated now. Our public health agencies will work to accommodate them, but that is not our recommendation at this time. We do recommend vaccinations for one other group of Americans that could be on the frontlines of a biological attack. We will make the vaccine available on a voluntary basis to medical professionals and emergency personnel and response teams that would be the first on the scene in a smallpox emergency. These teams would immediately provide vaccine and treatment to Americans in a crisis, and to do this job effectively, members of these teams should be protected against the disease. I understand that many first responders will have questions before deciding whether to be vaccinated. We will make sure they have the medical advice they need to make an informed decision. Smallpox is a serious disease, and we know that our enemies are trying to inflict serious harm. Yet there's no evidence that smallpox imminently threatens this country. We will continue taking every essential step to guard against the threats to our Nation, and I deeply appreciate the good efforts of State and local health officials who are facing difficult challenges with great skill. The actions we are taking together will help safeguard the health of our people in a measured and responsible way. Thank you all. December 12, 2002 The President. Thanks a lot for the warm welcome. It's a pleasure to be back in Philadelphia, a city known for the history that was made here and the spirit of compassion which is found here. I'm honored to spend the time with you all. I thank you for your interest in our country. You love God with all your heart and all your soul and all your strength. You love your neighbor. And by the works that come from your faith, you are building a more just and generous nation. And we are grateful for your efforts. I appreciate the tremendous turnout for this White House Conference on Faith Based and Community Initiatives. I think it's a really important conference. Many faiths and many traditions are represented here. Yet we share the same belief that every person in need is a worthy child of God. And we share the same goal We must bring the hope and healing of faith based services to more and more Americans. Government has often been slow to recognize the importance of faith based and community efforts. That's changing, and more changes are needed. So today I'm announcing a series of actions to stop the unfair treatment of religious charities by the Federal Government. If a charity is helping the needy, it should not matter if there is a rabbi on the board or a cross or a crescent on the wall or a religious commitment in the charter. The days of discriminating against religious groups just because they are religious are coming to an end. And I want to thank the members of my Cabinet who have traveled here today, Mel Martinez and Ann Veneman. I appreciate the fact that two fine United States Senators from Pennsylvania are here, Rick Santorum and Arlen Specter. I'm honored they have traveled with me to this fine event. I see Congressman Greenwood is with us as well. Thank you for coming. Anybody else from the Congress? They'll get the message. I want to thank Mike Brown, who's the Deputy Director of FEMA, who is here. Of course, I want to thank your mayor, John Street. I appreciate the fact I appreciate the very fact that the mayor understands the importance of encouraging faith based programs to change the neighborhoods and the lives of the good people of Philadelphia. I want to thank Cardinal Bevilacqua for coming. Your Eminence, it's good to see you, sir. I want to thank Franklin Graham. I want to thank all the leaders, the generals, the soldiers in the armies of compassion who are here with us today. Today I landed Air Force One one of the things I try to do is herald the heroes of our society. I met Gary Hobbs, the USA Freedom Corps greeter, the former NFL player for, of course, the Eagles, who volunteers as a mentor for disadvantaged children. I want to thank Gary for his support and his service. Every generation of Americans must rise to its own challenges, and the challenges facing this generation are very clear. We must overcome great dangers to our country, wherever they gather. We're waging a war we're waging an unrelenting effort in this war to dismantle a terrorist network which has attacked America. I have no greater obligation than to protect our country and to defend our freedoms. We will confront outlaw regimes which hate our country and arm to threaten civilization, itself. We have that obligation, to recognize the world changed for America on September the 11th, 2001. Before that date, it seemed like we could use the oceans to protect us from gathering dangers. We could be confident that nobody could possibly hurt America hurt Americans on American soil, and that changed. And therefore, our Government and your leadership must have a realistic assessment of the dangers we have faced and we will face. We have acted, and we will act again, to protect the American people and to keep the peace. We must also rise to a second challenge facing our country. This great and prosperous land must become a single nation of justice and opportunity. We must continue our advance toward full equality for every citizen, which demands the guarantee of civil rights for all. Any suggestion that the segregated past was acceptable or positive is offensive, and it is wrong. Recent comments by Senator Lott do not reflect the spirit of our country. He has apologized, and rightly so. Every day our Nation was segregated was a day that America was unfaithful to our founding ideals. And the founding ideals of our Nation and, in fact, the founding ideals of the political party I represent was and remains today the equal dignity and equal rights of every American. And so the and this is the principle that guides my administration. We will not, and we must not, rest until every person of every race believes in the promise of America because they see it in their own eyes, with their own eyes, and they live it and feel it in their own lives. We have work to do. We must be honest about it. We have got a lot of work to do in this country, because there are pockets of despair in America. There are men and women who doubt the American Dream is meant for them. There are people who face the struggles of illness and old age with no one to help them or pray with them. There are men and women who fight every minute of the day against terrible addictions. There are boys with no family but a gang and teenage moms who are abandoned and alone. And then there are the children who wonder if anybody loves them. We've reformed welfare in America to help many, yet welfare policy will not solve the deepest problems of the spirit. Our economy is growing, yet there are some needs that prosperity can never fill. We arrest and convict dangerous criminals, yet building more prisons is no substitute for responsibility and order in our souls. No Government policy can put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That is done when someone, some good soul, puts an arm around a neighbor and says, "God loves you, and I love, and you can count on us both." And we find that powerful spirit of compassion in faith based and community groups across our Nation, people giving shelter to the homeless, providing safety for battered women, giving care and comfort to AIDS victims, bringing companionship to lonely seniors. I saw that spirit of compassion earlier today when I visited adults and children involved in a program called Amachi at the Bright Hope Baptist Church right here in Philadelphia. In the Amachi program, good people from more than 50 churches in this area serve as mentors to the children of prisoners. They share their time and attention. They just serve as a friend. Most of us find it difficult to imagine the life of a child who has to go through a prison gate to be hugged by their mom or dad. Yet this is the reality for almost a million and a half American boys and girls. They face terrible challenges that no child deserves to face. Without guidance, they have a higher risk of failing in school and committing crimes themselves. The volunteers of Amachi, who are with us here today with the children they are loving, are such wonderful givers of guidance and love. I'm told that "amachi" is a Western African word that means, "Who knows what God has brought us through this child." That attitude is the inspiration of a good mentoring program. No child is a problem or a burden. Every child is a priority and a blessing. That is the message of the Almighty God who cares for these, and that is the message carried to the city by the volunteers of Amachi. And I want thank them for being here today. And I want to thank them for their love. And I want to thank them for their example for other Americans to follow. Faith based charities work daily miracles because they have idealistic volunteers. They're guided by moral principles. They know the problems of their own communities, and above all, they recognize the dignity of every citizen and the possibilities of every life. These groups and many good charities that are not specifically religious have the heart to serve others. Yet many lack the resources they need to meet the needs around them. They deserve the support of the rest of us. They deserve the support of foundations. They deserve the support of corporate America. They deserve the support of individual donors, of church congregations, of synagogues and mosques, and they deserve, when appropriate, the support of the Federal Government. Faith based groups will never replace Government when it comes to helping those in need. Yet Government must recognize the power and unique contribution of faith based groups in every part of our country. And when the Federal Government gives contracts to private groups to provide social services, religious groups should have an equal chance to compete. When decisions are made on public funding, we should not focus on the religion you practice we should focus on the results you deliver. The Amachi program receives 38 percent of its funding from the Federal Government. My administration has been working for nearly 2 years to encourage this kind of support to good faith based programs. And we're making some progress. The Department of Housing and Urban Development, run by Mel we've changes regulations in eight programs which cover over 8 billion in grants to encourage competition that includes faith based groups. We've opened up more than 1 billion in after school programs to competition, including faith based groups. We're reaching out to grassroots community groups and helping them learn the complicated process of grantmaking. I see a lot of heads nodding when it comes to complicated process. Laughter Yet there's a lot to do. In Government, we're still fighting old attitudes, habits, and rules that discriminate against religious groups for no good purpose. In Iowa, for example, the Victory Center Rescue Mission was told to return grant money to the Government because the mission's board of directors was not secular enough. The St. Francis House Homeless Shelter in South Dakota was denied a grant because voluntary prayers were offered before meals. A few years ago in New York, the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty was discouraged from even applying for Federal funds because it had the word "Jewish" in its name. These are examples of a larger pattern, a pattern of discrimination. And this discrimination shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the law. I recognize that Government has no business endorsing a religious creed or directly funding religious worship or religious teaching. That is not the business of the Government. Yet Government can and should support social services provided by religious people, as long as those services go to anyone in need, regardless of their faith. And when Government gives that support, charities and faith based programs should not be forced to change their character or compromise their mission. And I don't intend to compromise either. I have worked for a Faith Based Initiative to rally and encourage the armies of compassion. I will continue to work with Congress on this agenda. But the needs of our country are urgent, and as President, I have an authority I intend to use. Many acts of discrimination against faith based groups are committed by executive branch agencies. And as the leader of the executive branch, I'm going to make some changes, effective today. First, in a few minutes you'll be happy to hear laughter I am going to sign an Executive order directing all Federal agencies to follow the principle of equal treatment in rewarding social service grants. Every person in every Government agency will know where the President stands, and every person will have the responsibility to ensure a level playing field for faith based organizations in Federal programs. No funds will be used to directly support inherently religious activities yet no organization that qualifies for funds will ever be forced to change its identity. And secondly, I have directed specific action in several Federal agencies with a history of discrimination against faith based groups. FEMA will revise its policy on emergency relief so that religious nonprofit groups can qualify for assistance after disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes. HUD and HHS, who provide so much grant money to communities across America, will revise their regulations to reflect the principle of nondiscrimination. In addition, we're issuing a guidebook which you've received. The book explains in plain English laughter how faith based groups can qualify for Government grants. It gives guidance on what you can and cannot do with taxpayers' money. We're going to distribute this guidebook widely. We will continue to hold regional conferences like this one all around the United States of America. The rules for dealing with the Government are clear, and we want more and more faith based charities to become partners in our efforts, our unyielding efforts to change America one heart, one conscience, one soul at a time. Through all these actions, I hope that every faith based group in America, the social entrepreneurs of America, understand that this Government respects your work, and we respect the motivation behind your work. We do not want you to become carbon copies of public programs. We want you to follow your heart. We want you to follow the Word. We want you to do the works of kindness and mercy you are called upon to do. Applause Thank you. For too long for too long, some in Government believed there was no room for faith in the public square. Audience members. Preach on, brother! The President. I guess they've forgotten the history of this great country. People of faith led the struggle against slavery. People of faith fought against child labor. People of faith worked for women's equality and civil rights. Every expansion of justice in American history received inspiration from men and women of moral conviction and religious belief. And in America today, people of faith are waging a determined campaign against need and suffering. When Government discriminates against religious groups, it is not the groups that suffer most. The loss comes to the hungry who don't get fed, to the addicts who don't get help, to the children who drift toward self destruction. For the sake of so many brothers and sisters in needs, we must and we will support the armies of compassion in America. The steps we take today will help clear away a legacy of discrimination against faith based charities. In the new year, I will announce further initiatives to help community groups that serve their neighbors. Our Nation needs more mentors, particularly mentors for children whose mom or dad is in prison. Our Nation needs more centers to treat addiction. Our Nation must recognize that if we can change a heart, we're more than likely to change someone's habits and addiction on drugs and alcohol. Instead of building towering bureaucracies, Government should be finding new and creative ways to support local efforts. I call this approach compassionate conservatism. And in my State of the Union Message, I will ask members of both political parties to move forward with me on this vision. By promoting the compassion of our people, by promoting the great strength of America, we will bring new hope to neighborhoods all across this land. You know something about America? We meet every challenge that faces our country. That's why I'm so optimistic about our future. And we will answer the call of our times. We will defend our freedoms, and we will lead the world toward peace. And we will unite America behind the great goals of justice and compassion. In the work of compassion, it is not the people in Government who are the experts the people in this room are the experts. The people in this room are helping lead America to a better day. You just need to know that. And you need to know that I am incredibly grateful for what you do. There is a saying Nobody can teach you how to be a good servant of God you have to learn it on the job. And you are doing that job so incredibly well. Audience member. And you are, too! The President. I appreciate your commitment I appreciate your commitment. I appreciate your service. I appreciate your love. And now I'm proud to sign this Executive order providing equal treatment for faith based charities all across the greatest land on the face of the Earth, the United States of America. May God bless you all. December 10, 2002 Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming today. Thanks for your warm welcome. Thanks to the leaders here who represent industry and compassion, for your important commitment to promote an ethic of service in our Nation, to encourage your employees to serve something greater than themselves. You know, this is a really, really strong nation we have. We're strong militarily, but that's not our greatest strength. The greatest strength of America is the people of America. The people of America have got enormous hearts, great desire to help others. The enemy struck us on September the 11th, 2001. They obviously didn't know who they were striking. They struck the greatest nation on the face of the Earth and, in so doing, inspired a spirit of America that is alive and well. And those of us in positions of responsibility must capture that spirit, for the good of the American people. In our plenty, there are people who hurt. And the wealthiest nation on the face of the Earth, we've got to remember there are some who doubt the promise of America. There are people who are hungry, people who don't have places to live, people who are adrift. The great challenge of the 21st century is not only to keep the peace, but the great challenge of the 21st century is, turn the evil done to America into an incredible good by making sure that people all across our land realize the hope of the American experience. There is no question in my mind America can achieve that goal. There is no doubt. And today we're to talk about how one step to achieving that goal. As you know, I've been setting up a different economic team to make sure we continue on the good works of the previous economic team to grow our economy. That's our focus. We want people working jobs. We're encouraging the expansion of good jobs. But our purpose today is to make sure that as we focus on good jobs, we also focus on good works, to make sure that the American spirit is alive and well in every part of our community. I want to thank our Secretary of Commerce, my great, longtime friend Don Evans, for not only his service to our country but his understanding about the compassion agenda that our country must embrace. I want to thank the chief operating officers of the components of the USA Freedom Corps who are here Les Lenkowsky, who runs AmeriCorps and SeniorCorps Mike Brown, the Deputy Director of FEMA, who is in charge of the Citizen Corps component and Gaddi Vasquez, who is in charge of our Peace Corps all obviously Corps members. Laughter I want to thank the members of the Business Strengthening America steering committee who organized this event and today's events. If we want to usher in a period of responsible behavior in America, people must behave responsibly. And part of behaving responsibly is to understand the responsibilities that come with being a CEO. It's not only the responsibility to tell the truth it's the responsibility to use your position to encourage compassion. And I'm proud of this organization. And today we're going to expand the vision and goals of this organization. I appreciate the U.S. Chamber, the Center for Corporate Citizenship for working on these initiatives. After September the 11th, a lot of our fellow citizens found a deeper appreciation for our freedom. That's a fact. A lot of people began to take a look at their lives and realize that values of service are really important values of faith and values of family and values of service to their country. They realize that serving something greater than themselves is a part of being a patriotic American, that patriotism was being redefined in a positive way. And millions are now responding to the call to service in all kinds of ways Volunteering in the soup kitchen. Something dear to my heart and Laura's heart is the mentoring of children to not only teach them how to read but make sure that they understand that there is love in our society. People are working in schools and libraries and police departments and hospitals. We've got great hearts in America, but a lot of folks don't have the time to serve, and that's what we're here to discuss today. They would like to be spending more time helping people in need, but they've got a job to do. They've got to show up for work, so they can put money on the table. And when companies support volunteer service it's important for the CEOs and the COOs and the board of directors to understand, when you support volunteer service and provide time, you really unleash the heart of America. And the firms represented here are doing just that, and I want to thank you for that. I want to thank you a lot. The Business Strengthening America is led by corporate leaders who understand the need to encourage volunteer service. Companies that are part of the Business Strengthening America are making fundamental and institutional changes to support service to our country. Businesses are offering paid leave for employees who volunteer in their communities. I want to thank you for that. You're setting a great example for others. They're giving a percentage of employee time or donating products, like software, or making outright financial contributions in order to do your part to be a sound citizen of this country. You're placing senior executives on boards to make sure that accounting practices or legal practices are sound and wise. You enlist customers and clients to mentor or tutor. There's all kinds of things happening in America today, all aimed at making sure the American experience is alive and well for every single citizen. I appreciate you including information about the USA Freedom Corps on your web sites, on bank statements, on grocery bags all throughout America. We have a competitive workplace, a marketplace here in America, and that's healthy and strong. The more competition, the better it is for Americans. But in this endeavor, there is no competition there's collaboration to figure out the best way to make sure America is a compassionate country. Last June, the Business Strengthening America was formed with 18 members. Eighteen brave souls stepped forward and said, "I want to help. I want to make a difference." In less than 6 months, the group has grown to 100 members. It represents 2 million employees. That is a major division in the army of compassion. Today the Business Strengthening America is launching an effort to increase the membership to more than 500 companies by next June. We're going to do so to encourage membership, starting today. I hope the CEOs of America the CEOs of America's companies, both large and small, hear the call to join this group, to be a part of the 500 by next June. It is essential that you understand the call to service extends to you as well. We're going to have regional conferences in cities across our country to continue the momentum of a cultural shift to service. The amazing thing is, I think, when a company representative talks to these leaders who have been involved in this project, you'll find that when you show concern, it helps your customer base. It helps employee morale. It says sends messages into the community in which you exist that you're more than just a capitalistic enterprise you're a capitalistic enterprise with a strong conscience. You'll find that employees walk a little better down the halls of your companies when you've encouraged them to help a neighbor in need. There's nothing like giving a little bit of yourself to enrich your life. And when the person's life is enriched, so is the company as a whole. A lot of people talk about building loyalty in the consumer base, your customer base. It's amazing what happens when you serve something, you serve something in need, in terms of building loyalty. There's nothing like building loyalty by helping somebody in need. Acts of service are supported by businesses, yet they're obviously performed by people. People must lead. And today I was pleased to see that after this meeting, folks in this room will set an example by going to build a playground in Washington, DC. Take your muffler. Laughter Donnie Evans and members of my staff did the exact same thing. We have all of us have a responsibility to do more than just talk it up. We've got a responsibility to actually perform and do the deed itself. And I encourage members of my administration to do just that. And our Secretary of Commerce set the example for members of my Cabinet. The Business Strengthening America is a part of a new culture of service. USA Freedom Corps is providing information to millions. John Bridgeland, who runs our office, has done a fabulous job of using modern technologies to spread the word, technologies that say, "If you want to volunteer, get on the web page, and here are the opportunities close to your house." We've really got thousands of opportunities for people, for the individual to show up. And people are responding. Nearly 118,000 individuals have contacted the Peace Corps for applications since I put out the call. That's a lot. We not only encourage service at home, obviously through the Peace Corps initiative, we encourage service abroad as well. You see, the interesting thing about this country which sets us apart from the terrorists, for example, is we say, "Every life matters. Everybody counts. Everybody has worth." Contrast to Al Qaida type killers. They don't say, "Everybody has worth." They believe only a few matter. But America says everybody counts, no matter if you live in America or elsewhere. And Peace Corps is going to spread that gospel and spread that message and make sure that people have got the benefits of freedom available for them, just like we have it here at home. The Senior Corps and the AmeriCorps are expanding mightily under Les' leadership. They're doing a lot to work to mentor and clean parks and take care of the elderly. Listen, part of making sure America is a compassionate place means acts as simple as walking into a shut in's home and saying, "I love you," on a regular basis. We're not talking about great acts of courage in order to change America we're talking about simple acts of love. Two hundred and forty six Senior Corps councils have been formed, outlets for people to express their concern about the future of our country. These happen to be formed to respond to a disaster of any kind, including a terrorist attack. But it's healthy for a community to provide outlets for folks to show up and say, "I want to be a part of a disaster response team." Doctors and nurses are joining what we now call the Medical Reserve Corps to help communities with major emergencies. Volunteers are at police and fire departments now. In other words, the call is being responded to. And I want to thank the American people. Each of the activities that we talk about at the USA Freedom Corps or this organization will touch a life and strengthen the country. And the important thing that we're doing today, I hope, and I know you all hope, will send a clear signal to our young that serving something greater than themselves in life is a part of the American experience. I hope that people who are interested in serving America log on to the usafreedomcorps.gov web site or call 1 877 USA CORPS. It will give you a chance to be a part of the army of compassion. You can find ways in which you can serve this great Nation. You can be a part of making sure the American experience is strong and alive and well all across the greatest country on the face of the Earth. Thank you all for your compassion. Thank you for your care. Thank you for your leadership. May God bless your works, and may God continue to bless America. Thanks for coming. December 07, 2002 Good morning. This weekend is the deadline for the Iraqi regime to fully disclose to the U.N. Security Council all of its weapons of mass destruction. Disarming that regime is a central commitment of the war on terror. We must and we will prevent terrorist groups and outlaw regimes from threatening the American people with catastrophic harm. Saddam Hussein has been under a duty to disarm for more than a decade, yet he has consistently and systematically violated that obligation and undermined U.N. inspections. And he only admitted to a massive biological weapons program after being confronted with the evidence. Now the U.N. Security Council and the United States have told Saddam Hussein The game is over. Saddam Hussein will fully disarm himself of weapons of mass destruction, and if he does not, America will lead a coalition to disarm him. As the new inspections process proceeds, the United States will be making only one judgment Has Saddam Hussein changed his behavior of the last 11 years and decided to cooperate willingly and comply completely, or has he not? Inspections will work only if Iraq complies fully and in good faith. Inspectors do not have the duty or the ability to uncover terrible weapons hidden in a vast country. The responsibility of inspectors is simply to confirm evidence of voluntary and total disarmament. Saddam Hussein has the responsibility to provide that evidence, as directed and in full. The world expects more than Iraq's cooperation with inspectors. The world expects and requires Iraq's complete, willing, and prompt disarmament. It is not enough for Iraq to merely open doors for inspectors. Compliance means bringing all requested information and evidence out into full view to show that Iraq has abandoned the deceptions of the last decade. Any act of delay or defiance will prove that Saddam Hussein has not adopted the path of compliance and has rejected the path of peace. Thus far we are not seeing the fundamental shift in practice and attitude that the world is demanding. Iraq's letters to the U.N. regarding inspections show that their attitude is grudging and conditional. And in recent days, Iraq has fired on American and British pilots enforcing the U.N.'s no fly zone. Iraq is now required by the United Nations to provide a full and accurate declaration of its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. We will judge the declaration's honesty and completeness only after we have thoroughly examined it, and that will take some time. The declaration must be credible and accurate and complete, or the Iraqi dictator will have demonstrated to the world once again that he has chosen not to change his behavior. Americans seek peace in the world. War is the last option for confronting threats, yet the temporary peace of denial and looking away from danger would only be a prelude to a broader war and greater horror. America will confront gathering dangers early. By showing our resolve today, we are building a future of peace. Thank you for listening. December 05, 2002 President Bush. Here's what we're going to do. I'm going to welcome our friends to the Cabinet Room in the White House. Each leader will make a statement. We'll then have one question from an American, one question from a Kenyan, and one question from an Ethiopian. The President and the Prime Minister will decide who gets the questions, as will I. First, it's an honor to welcome President Moi and Prime Minister Meles to the this is where we do our work, the Cabinet Room. We welcome two strong friends of America here, two leaders of countries which have joined us in the to fight the global war on terror, two steadfast allies, two people that the American people can count on when it comes to winning the first war of the 21st century. And I'm so pleased that the President and the Prime Minister have agreed to come and have a substantive visit. I thank their delegations for coming with them, and I look forward to a good and open discussion about how we can advance our respective interests. So Mr. President, welcome. President Moi is a strong leader of Kenya. He is leading the country to a transition period through open elections. And Mr. President, you have distinguished yourself by your service to your country, and I appreciate that, and we welcome you. President Moi. Thank you very much indeed. I'm delighted to have my last visit to the United States as President of the Republic of Kenya. We are I am here to discuss a wide range of issues. The most important issue is the security within the Horn of Africa and particularly my own country, Kenya. These are important issues which will enable us to handle and manage terrorism in that part of the world. And so I am delighted to be in Washington today. President Bush. Mr. President, thank you. And of course, I want to reiterate what I have said before, and that is, our country mourns the loss of life in Kenya, the tragedy that befell your country as a result of killers trying to terrorize freedom loving people. And I appreciate your leadership on that issue. Mr. Prime Minister, I'm so honored that you're here. Welcome. Prime Minister Meles. Thank you, Mr. President. We are all here very glad that we've been welcomed to Washington. A moment ago you said that we are engaged in the first war of the 21st century. We believe that the war against terrorism is a war against people who have not caught up with the 21st century, who have values and ideals that are contrary to the values of the 21st century. And in that context, it's a fight not between the United States and some groups it's a fight between those who want to catch up with the 21st century and those who want to remain where they are. So I want to assure you that we are all with you against forces of terror and inaudible and I appreciate your support and leadership. Thank you very much for welcoming us President Bush. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. We'll have one question from each side here. Jackson David Jackson, Dallas Morning News . Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's Decision To Disarm Q. Mr. President, I've been out in the country on vacation, and a lot of people have asked me, "What are the chances that we're actually going to war with Iraq?" I mean, how likely is war, and what would trigger it? President Bush. Right. That's the question that you should ask to Saddam Hussein. Laughter It's his choice to make. And Saddam Hussein must disarm. The international community has come together through the United Nations Security Council and voted 15 to nothing for Saddam Hussein to disarm. We recently got back from NATO, where our NATO Allies voted overwhelmingly to send the same message. So David, to answer your question, the question is whether or not he chooses to disarm, and we hope he does. For the sake of peace, he must disarm. There are inspectors inside the country now, and the inspectors are there not to play a game of hide and seek, but they're there to verify whether or not Mr. Saddam Hussein is going to disarm. And we hope he does. Q. But at what point would you make that decision? President Bush. We hope he does. You'll see. Mr. President, would you care to call from somebody from the Kenyan press? You don't have to if you don't want to. Laughter I thought it would be hospitable. Q. I'm here from Ethiopia. President Bush. Well, we'll get you next, sir. Laughter Is the Kenyan reporter here? Oh, there. War on Terror U.S. Assistance to Kenya and Ethiopia Q. I would like to know, since Kenya has been a victim of terrorism, what has the U.S. Government put into place, what measures have you put into place to assist Kenya President Bush. Yes. Well, that's what we're going to talk about, of course. And part of the reason the President has come is to discuss ways that we can continue our aid program and continue our work together. The other thing we must remember is that the war on terror is global in nature and that if the terrorists could strike in Kenya, they could strike in Ethiopia they could strike in Europe and that we must continue this war, to hunt these killers down one at a time, to bring them to justice, which means information sharing. We're pleased with the information sharing we're getting from our allies here. It means cutting off the money, and it means bringing to justice like the Kenyan authorities will be doing to those who kill and take innocent life. Would you care to call on somebody from your press corps? Q. I'm going to repeat the same question the Kenyan reporter asked of you. What could be exactly the role of the United States in assisting those African countries, particularly who are the victims of terrorism? President Bush. Yes. Well, information sharing, for example we've got a good intelligence gathering network, made stronger by the fact that we share information between countries. But if we get wind that somebody is thinking about doing something to Ethiopia, we're prepared to work with the Ethiopian Government to disrupt any plans. The best thing we can do to help secure your countries is to chase the killers down, and we're making good progress. Slowly but surely, we're dismantling an Al Qaida network. And that inures to the benefit of all the countries of the world. We, of course, will be talking to about issues such as drought as well. We'll be talking about other issues, economic vitality. I'll be thanking these leaders for their work in bringing stability and peace to their part of the continent of Africa. These are leaders these are men who have stepped forward and have shown vision and leadership, and we're grateful for that. Thank you all for coming. December 04, 2002 The President. Good morning. Thank you. Please be seated. Thank you for coming. Legislation I sign today will create a new place on the Internet that is safe for our children to learn and to play and to explore. Dot Kids will be part of the U.S. country domain on the Internet. It will function much like the children's section of a library, where parents feel comfortable allowing their children to browse. It will be a safe place for children to go. This bill is a wise and necessary step to safeguard our children while they use computers and discover the great possibilities of the Internet. Every site designated ".kids" will be a safe zone for children. The sites will be monitored for content, for safety, and all objectionable material will be removed. Online chat rooms and instant messaging will be prohibited, unless they can be certified as safe. The web sites under this new domain will not connect a child to other online sites outside the child friendly zone. I want to thank the supporters of this good piece of legislation. I want to thank them for their hard work Representatives Shimkus, Upton, and Markey, as well as Senators Ensign, Dorgan and Fitzgerald. I want to thank them for coming. I am going to ask them to come up in just a second as I sign this piece of legislation. All of us here today share the same goals We must give our Nation's children every opportunity to grow in knowledge without undermining their character. We must give parents effective tools to help their children learn. And we must be on the side of our parents as they work hard to raise their children. We must give our parents the peace of mind knowing their children are learning in safety. This act of Congress helps us meet these goals. I appreciate you all coming today. It's my honor now to sign the Dot Kids Implementation and Efficiency Act. Would the Members join me. At this point, the President signed the bill. The President. I'll answer a few questions. Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press , I may answer a few questions. You're stuck in a mini press conference here. Yes? U.N. Inspections in Iraq Q. Sir, can you tell me specifically what the inspectors have or haven't been able to do, what they've uncovered, or what they haven't uncovered that leads you to believe that the signs are not encouraging that they're doing their job? The President. Yes. Well, I can tell you this This isn't about inspectors. The issue is whether Saddam Hussein will disarm. Will he disarm in the name of peace? And we expect him to fully comply. And you know, one of my concerns is that in the past he has shot at our airplanes. Anybody who shoots at U.S. airplanes or British airplanes is not somebody who looks like he's interested in complying with disarmament. He wrote letters, stinging rebukes to what the U.N. did. He was very critical of the U.S. and Britain. That doesn't appear to be somebody who was that anxious to comply. But we've just started the process. And one of the things that I want to continue to remind Americans, this is not a game that we're playing of hide and seek. This is our attempt to work with the world community to create peace. And the best way for peace is for Mr. Saddam Hussein to disarm. It's up to him to make his decision. Yes. Q. Kofi Annan said Iraq is cooperating. Is there some daylight between you and The President. We've been at this what 5 days. This is after 11 years of deceit and defiance. And the issue, again, is not hide and seek the issue is whether or not Saddam Hussein will disarm. And soon he'll be making a declaration of whether he has any weapons. For years he said he didn't have any weapons. And now we'll see whether or not he does. And if he does, we expect them to be completely destroyed and a full accounting. And I remind our citizens that the U.N. Security Council voted overwhelmingly, 15 to nothing, for this approach we've taken. Our NATO Allies have joined us, and we all expect Saddam Hussein to disarm. Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . Q. To follow on what Steve Steve Holland, Reuters just asked you, do you disagree with the Secretary General's relatively optimistic take on things? The President. What I agree with is that we've been doing this for 5 days, after 11 years of deception and deceit. The process is just beginning. And the world will determine soon whether or not Saddam Hussein is going to do what we've asked, which is, in the name of peace, fully disarm. This is not a game anymore of, "Well, I'll say one thing and do another." We expect him to disarm. And now it's up to him to do so. And time will tell whether or not he is willing to do so. Yes. Situation in Israel Q. A 95 year old woman was killed on the West Bank yesterday, and aid groups say that malnutrition among Palestinian children is reaching crisis proportions. What are you doing to alleviate that suffering? And are you concerned that the desperation of the Palestinian community is driving them into the arms of Al Qaida? The President. I am concerned that terrorists have disrupted the ability for peace loving people to move a process forward. I am concerned about that. And our country will continue to fight terror and join our allies in fighting terror wherever it exists. And so I fully understand the Israeli Government's attempt to stamp out terror, because we'll never have peace so long as terrorists are able to disrupt. I'm also concerned about the plight of the Palestinian people. I'm concerned about suffering that has taken place as a result of the activities of terrorists. We're working with the Sharon government to allow for tax receipts to be redistributed amongst the Palestinian people. And there are a lot of nongovernmental organizations doing work within the Palestinian territory to make sure that people don't starve. But the net effect of terrorism is to not only stop the peace process but is to cause suffering amongst all the people of the region. And that's why our war against terror must must remain steadfast and strong, wherever terror exists. Yes, Terry Terry Moran, ABC News . Oh, you just asked a question. Q. I'll ask another one The President. No, that's fine. That's plenty. Laughter You did a wonderful job. It was such a great question, I already forgot it. Next. Laughter Al Qaida Q. Are you concerned about Al Qaida on the West Bank? The President. I am concerned about Al Qaida anywhere. I believe that Al Qaida was involved in the African bombings, in Kenya. I believe Al Qaida hates freedom. I believe Al Qaida will strike anywhere they can in order to disrupt a civil society, and that's why we're on the hunt. And we're making progress. Slowly but surely, we're dismantling the Al Qaida network. It doesn't matter how long it takes to find them we'll find them. And we're going to bring them to justice. And the good news is, is that the free world is recognizes the threats that we all face, and therefore, we're more bound together than we've ever been, in cutting off money, in sharing intelligence, and bringing people to justice. And it's a dangerous world we live in, because there's still terrorists on the loose. And this is the great charge we have. This is the first war of the 21st century, and it's a different kind of war. It's a different kind of war than our fathers and grandfathers fought. It requires the same amount of courage and the same amount of focus. And this Government will continue to provide that focus. U.S. Relations With the Muslim World Q. Sir, there's a report out today that shows a sharp deterioration in public attitudes abroad about this country, particularly among Muslim nations and key allies like Turkey and Pakistan. Are you concerned, sir, that your message that this is that the anti terror campaign is not a war against Islam is somehow not getting to those people? The President. Well, I haven't seen the report. As you know, I remain skeptical about polls. I don't run my administration based upon polls and focus groups. I'm running this war against terror based upon freedom and doing my obligation to make sure our children can grow up in a free and safe society. I hope the message that we fight not a religion but a group of fanatics which have hijacked a religion is getting through. I understand the propaganda machines are cranked up in the international community that paints our country in a bad light. We'll do everything we can to remind people that we've never been a nation of conquerors we're a nation of liberators. And I would ask the skeptics to look at Afghanistan, where not only did this country rout the Taliban, which was one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind, but thanks to our strength and our compassion, many young girls now go to school for the first time. General McNeill, who is our general in Afghanistan, was in today, in the Situation Room, and gave me a briefing about the human condition in Afghanistan. It's improving dramatically. There are projects after projects after projects of going forward where the United States and other NGOs are involved to improve the human condition. The Muslim world will eventually realize, if they don't now, that we believe in freedom and we respect all individuals. Unlike the killers, we value each life in America. Everybody is precious. Everybody counts. And to the extent that we need to continue to make that message work, we will try to do so. But the best thing we can do is to show results from our activities and be able to point to the fact that not only did we liberate Afghanistan from the Taliban, we remain in place, with a lot of aid and a lot of help. And the suffering of the the human condition is improving, and suffering is less because of the United States of America. Thank you all. Thanks for coming. December 04, 2002 Welcome. This is the sixth night of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. This holiday marks the victory of Jewish patriots over oppression more than two millennia ago. The menorah represents an ancient miracle, in which a lamp with only enough oil for one day burned eight. Each year, Hanukkah brings a message of hope that light will overcome darkness, that goodness will overcome evil, and that faith can accomplish miracles. Today, the spirit of those early patriots lives in the lives of the state of Israel and throughout the Jewish community and among all brave people who fight violence and terror. We pray that this season of light will also be a season of peace for the Jewish people. We are joined this evening by the members of the Ramaz Chamber Choir. Ramaz is a modern orthodox Jewish day school in Manhattan, and we're grateful to the students for making the trip to join us today. I also want to thank Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia for the use of this beautiful menorah. Founded in 1795, Rodeph Shalom was the first Ashkenazic congregation established in the Western Hemisphere. Lighting the menorah will be Daniella and Alexandra Wald from New York City. We welcome the girls here, and the honor is yours. December 03, 2002 Nice to be back in New Orleans, home of a new basketball team, home of a winning football team, and in the State of the next United States Senator, Suzie Terrell. I'm thrilled to be here amongst a lot of our friends. It seems I've been coming to New Orleans for a long time. Laughter What a fabulous town. I'm honored to be here on behalf of a great candidate, somebody who represents the values of Louisiana, somebody who has got a record of accomplishment, somebody who is not afraid to speak her mind to the President of the United States laughter but somebody who I know will do a great job on behalf of all of Louisiana. I'm here to thank you for your support. I'm here to remind the good folks of Louisiana they have a duty to go to the polls on Saturday. In the land of the free, you have an obligation to defend freedom by being a part of our democracy. I don't care whether you're Republican or Democrat or don't give a hoot about a political party you have an obligation in this country to vote. But I've got a suggestion. Laughter For the good of Louisiana and for the good of America, Suzie Terrell needs to be the next United States Senator. She's got a lot going for her. First of all, she's a mother of three fabulous young girls. There they are Julie, Bebe, and Chrissy. Anybody who can raise three teenage girls laughter you know what I mean. Laughter I appreciate her willingness to serve the people, willingness to take the path that a lot of people won't take, and that is offer herself up for office. And she's done a great job in the office that she held. After all, you might remember that the election commissioner's office needed a little housecleaning, needed to have the integrity restored, and Suzie Terrell did it. She saves the taxpayers money. I need an ally up there who understands, when it comes to spending what they call the Government's money, the Government doesn't own that money. It's not the Government's money that we spend. It's the people's money. And she's going to have some good hands to work with in the United States Congress from the great State of Louisiana, starting with the chairman, Billy Tauzin. I love working with Billy. He brings good common sense to the Halls of the United States Congress. And I like working with David Vitter from right here in the New Orleans area. David, thank you for being here. And Jim McCrery is with us today, and I appreciate your hard work, Jim. Thanks for coming. And Richard Baker is with us. Where are you, Richard? Baton Rouge. Good to see you, Richard. I so very much appreciate being here with your Governor. He too gives the President an earful. Laughter He's not the prettiest Governor in America. Laughter But he's one of the most effective. He's done a heck of a job for the people of Louisiana. And I know we've got another Governor here with us celebrating the Louisiana Purchase, which I'm sure the people of Louisiana agree with me, is a heck of a deal. Laughter But Frank Keating from Oklahoma is here today as well. Frank, I appreciate you coming. Yes, sir. He probably wants to talk about the OU Texas game. Laughter I'm honored to be up here with Pat Brister and Boysie Bollinger, both of whom are good friends, and both of whom represent the grassroots activists in the State of Louisiana. I'm here to remind you all that I want to thank you for what you have done and what you are going to do over the next couple of days, and that is to gather up your buddies and get them to vote, is to man the phones and put up the signs and grab people by the wrists and say, "You owe it to Louisiana to vote for Suzie Terrell for the United States Senate." I like Suzie's attitude and her tone, the way she wants to go to Washington to get some things done. And we need more of that in Washington, DC. Sometimes, Washington is one of these towns where the person people who think they've got the sharp elbow is the most effective person, kind of zero sum politics in Washington "I win. You lose." That's not the right attitude for the American people. We need a United States Senator from Louisiana whose mission it is to improve the lives, as best we can, of all our citizens. And we're making some progress in Washington. Slowly but surely, we're changing the tone and getting things done on behalf of the American people. This week, last couple of weeks, I signed some important legislation. I signed the Department of Homeland Security, which will better enable our Federal Government to plan and to protect the American people from further attack. And I want to thank the Members of the Senate and the House who finally came together to get that legislation done. And I signed a bill on terrorism insurance. It's a bill that will get our hardhats back to working again, a bill that should make it easier for big construction projects to get started so that a lot of hard working Americans can find work by the way, a bill which is more favorable to the hardhats than to the trial lawyers in America. It's a good piece of legislation that shows what can happen when people come together to get the people's business done. Yesterday at the Pentagon, I signed the defense authorization bill, fulfilling a promise that I made Dick Cheney and I made that said that we're going to do everything we can to make sure we've got the strongest military in the world. A strong military makes it more likely the world is going to be peaceful. We not only had pay raises for our folks I can say to those whose families serve in the service, "You're going to have the best training and the best possible equipment when you put on the uniform of the U.S. military." We're making good progress, but there's a lot of work to be done. And I look forward to working with Senator Terrell. We did some good things in education, but there's more to do. So long as any child can't read, we've got a problem in America. As a matter of fact, the new civil right is to make sure every child can read in America. I look forward to working with a Senator Terrell to make sure we maintain the highest of high standards, to challenge what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. I look forward to working with Senator Terrell to make sure that we continually pass power out of Washington, DC, because we believe in local control of schools. I look forward to working with Senator Terrell to make sure that in return for Federal money, that we know whether or not our children can read and write and add and subtract. In order to make sure no child gets left behind, we must challenge schools which will not teach and will not change. And I'm confident I have an ally in Senator Suzie Terrell. We need a Senator who can help break logjams in the United States Senate, particularly when it comes to getting us a good energy bill. I see Billy nodding his head. He's been working on an energy bill. He agrees with me, in this world we need an energy strategy. I mean, face it we import a lot of energy from overseas. Some of the people we import from don't exactly like us. Laughter We need an energy plan that encourages conservation and new technologies. We need an energy plan that encourages the development of safe nuclear power. We need an energy plan that encourages clean coal technologies. We need an energy plan that encourages environmentally safe exploration for hydrocarbons in the United States of America. I look forward to working with Senator Terrell to modernize Medicare. Medicare is an aged system which is not adapting to the times. Medicine has changed, but Medicare hasn't. Medicine is modern. There's all kinds of new technologies and prescription drugs which can save lives. But Medicare is stuck in the past. I want to work with Senator Terrell to see to it that we modernize Medicare, making sure we fulfill our promises to our seniors. And a modern Medicare system means prescription drug coverage for our seniors. I look forward to working with Senator Terrell to make sure the environment for the entrepreneurial spirit is strong. We understand the role of Government is not to create wealth the role of Government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish, in which small businesses can grow to be big businesses. And one way the Federal Government can affect job growth is to let people keep more of their own money, is through tax relief. Tax relief is not a political slogan it's good economic policy. If a person has more of their own money, they're likely to demand an additional good or a service. And in the marketplace, when somebody demands a good or a service, somebody is likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces the good or a service, somebody in Louisiana or elsewhere in America is going to be able to find work. We passed tax relief at the right time in American economic history, and now I need a Senator to join me in making sure that tax relief is permanent. And there is no question where Suzie Terrell stands on tax relief. And I need somebody to work with me to make sure that we've got a good judiciary. It's amazing what an election will do. Laughter For a long period of time, I couldn't get my judges even to have hearings. There's a vacancy gap on our Federal bench benches and that's a problem. It's a problem for people who need to have a hearing. It's a problem for people who want justice. And I couldn't get my judges through the Senate because they were playing politics with the people I put up, good, honorable, decent people, people whose job it is not to try to write legislation from the bench, people whose job it is to strictly interpret the United States Constitution. Those are the kind of people I put on the bench. And Louisiana needs a Senator who will vote for Louisiana values when it comes to the judiciary. And there's no question in my mind that when it comes to having a good, sound judiciary, the right United States Senator is Suzie Terrell from the State of Louisiana. No, there's a lot of issues we'll be working on, but there's no bigger issue than to win this war against the terrorists. I talked about the homeland security bill I signed, and you just need to know there's a lot of good folks working overtime to protect the American homeland. But the best way to secure the homeland is to chase the killers down, one at a time, and bring them to justice. And that's what we're going to do. It's a different kind of war. In the old days, you could destroy tanks and ships and airplanes, and say you're making progress. This is a different kind of enemy. It's an enemy that hides in caves and sends youngsters to their suicidal deaths. These people do not value innocent life. In America, we say every life is precious everybody has value everybody counts. Our enemy we face today murders in the name of a great religion, and they could care less who dies. They're nothing but coldblooded killers, and we're going to treat them that way. It doesn't matter how long it takes it doesn't matter how deep the cave, the United States of America and our friends and allies will hunt them down one by one, in the name of freedom. I cannot imagine what was going through their mind when they hit America. They must have thought we were so soft, so weak, so fragile that after 9 11 2001, we might file a lawsuit or two. Laughter But they're learning something about America that I know, that when it comes to our freedoms, when it comes to the values we hold dear, this United States of America is plenty tough. And that's the way we got to be in this new war of the 21st century. And we're making progress. You just need to know we're making good progress. After all, this great Nation and our friends liberated a country from one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind by routing the Taliban. We went into Afghanistan not to conquer anybody but to liberate people. And now, thanks to our great country and our great soldiers and our wonderful friends, young girls many young girls go to school for the first time in a country that has been liberated by the American people. And we've got more work to do there. And we'll stay there until we rout them out. See, they think they can kind of hide in the countryside there in Afghanistan, and they may be able to hide for a day or two. They may be able to hide for a year. But it doesn't matter how long. See, that's what you just have to know. It just doesn't matter how long we're going to stay on the hunt. These people are scattered in 60 different countries. They're scattered around, and slowly but surely, we're dismantling their terrorist network slowly but surely. The guy who led the U.S.S. the bombing mastermind, the bombing on the U.S.S. Cole, he was the Al Qaida general for the Gulf states. He's not a problem anymore. Laughter One by one, we're bringing them to justice. That's what we've been called to do. History has put this big spotlight on us, and we're not going to let future generations of Americans down. And that's why I was so proud to sign this defense appropriation authorization bill. The big increases in defense spending sent a clear message to the world We're in this deal for the long pull. And we've also got to recognize here in America times have changed. See, when a lot of us were growing up, we could feel pretty secure by the fact that we had two oceans surrounding us and protecting us from dangers that might be gathering abroad. September the 11th, 2001, completely changed the strategic calculations of this country. The battlefield is here. And therefore, it's incumbent upon the President and the Congress to work together to anticipate gathering dangers before they become acute, before the situation becomes so dire that drastic measures might be needed. It's very important for us to recognize threats when we see them and deal with them appropriately. After all, the threat gathering in a distant land turns out to be a threat directly on the American people. We've got to be wise about how we view the world and make sure that the new arrangements, the new alliances, aren't allowed to develop, an alliance, for example, where a nation that has weapons of mass destruction uses a shadowy terrorist network as a forward army, perhaps encouraging them to attack America without leaving any fingerprints. You've got to worry about disrupting training facilities. And that's why I started talking about Iraq and Saddam Hussein, not only starting a debate in the Halls of the United States Congress, which overwhelmingly supported any means necessary to deal with the threat to the United States, but also took the debate to the United Nations and a couple of weeks ago to NATO. It's important for our fellow Americans to understand that, when we're talking about Saddam Hussein, we're talking about a man who said he has had no weapons of mass destruction, yet we believe has weapons of mass destruction a man who has not only had weapons of mass destruction, but he's used weapons of mass destruction. He used weapons of mass destruction on his neighbors, and he used weapons of mass destruction on his own citizens. He's a man who has professed hate to America as well as our friends and allies. He's a man who has got terrorist ties, a man who helps train terrorists. He's a threat, and he's a danger. I went to the United Nations because I felt like, in a world that required cooperation in this new war of the 21st century, that it was important the United Nations show some backbone, that the United Nations be something other than an empty debating society, that when they issue a resolution, they mean it. And on a 15 0 vote, the United Nations recognized the threat of Saddam Hussein and demanded that he disarm. I then went to our close Allies in NATO and said the same thing. I said, "This man's a threat. He's a threat to us. He's a threat to you. He too must disarm." And now, as you've seen in your newspapers, inspectors are inside of Iraq. Inspectors are there not to play hide and seek with Mr. Saddam Hussein. Inspectors are there to verify the will of the world. And the will of the world says clearly, "Disarm." Saddam Hussein, for the sake of peace, must disarm. And if he refuses to disarm, if he tries to deceive his way out of disarmament, this Nation, along with other willing nations, will disarm Saddam Hussein. I say that because I believe in peace. I believe this is how you achieve peace, by being strong and resolute, by fighting terrorism and all forms of terror, by not allowing those who hate to try to dictate to those of us who love freedom. See, I believe out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good. Part of the good done to this part of the evil done to this country is going to help lead the world to peace. Oh, I know some don't believe that, but I do. I believe that if we remain steadfast and strong, if we remain true to our values, we'll achieve peace, not only peace for ourselves but because we believe every life is precious, everybody matters, everybody has worth. We can achieve peace in parts of the world where they've quit on peace, where people have given up hope. I also believe here at home we can be a more compassionate country. See, there's people who are hurting in America. Amongst our plenty, there are pockets of despair, of loneliness and hopelessness. There are people when you say, "American Dream," they wonder what the heck does that mean, American Dream? They have no idea about the promise of this country. And my attitude is, so long as some hurt, we all hurt. And I also recognize the limitations of Government. Government can hand out money, and frankly, we do a pretty good job of it sometimes. But what it can't do is put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That's done when a neighbor puts their arm around somebody who hurts and says, "I love you. What can I do to help?" See, I strongly believe that America is going to change one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time, because the spirit of this country, a selfless spirit, is alive and well. There are thousands of people all across New Orleans and Louisiana and all across America who understand the responsibility of being an American. It's more than just making a living. The responsibility of a true patriot is somebody who's willing to serve something greater than themselves, serve their country. And one way to best serve your country is to love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. No, there was tremendous evil done to America, but out of the evil is a new spirit, a vitality of the American spirit, perhaps best represented by the folks on Flight 93. The story, in my judgment, is going to be one of the profound stories of the September the 11th, 2001, tragedy. It captures what I know is the strength of our country. People were flying across the land, and they heard the airplane they were on was going to be a weapon. Imagine what went through their minds. They eventually got their thoughts together. They called their loved ones and said goodbye and "I love you." History will show that a prayer was said. One guy said, "Let's roll." These citizens took the plane into the ground to save lives, to serve something greater than themselves. That spirit of America is so strong and so alive, it allows me to boldly predict that out of the evil done to this country is going to come incredible good, not only a peaceful world but a more compassionate and hopeful and decent America for every citizen who's lucky enough to live in this country. And I can make that prediction with absolute certainty, because I know America. This is the greatest country, full of the most decent people on the face of this Earth. I'm honored you're here. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. December 03, 2002 Thank you all very much. I'm glad I came. Thank you all. Please be seated unless you don't have a chair. Laughter It's an honor to be here in Shreveport. I'm so thrilled that you all came out. It's kind of getting close to home, if you know what I mean. I'm proud to be in the great State of Louisiana. The last time I was in Shreveport was on September the 11th, 2001. I went to Barksdale Air Force Base. Since that time, the world has seen the resolve of the United States of America. I thank the men and women who wore our uniform then at Barksdale, and I know you join me today in thanking them to make sure America is free. We're grateful for our freedom here in America. We love our freedoms. Nobody is going to take freedom away from this country. But part of living in a free society means we have responsibilities as citizens. We have the obligation as a citizen of America to do our duty, and one of the duties we have is when it comes to election time, one of the duties is to go vote. So I'm here in the great State of Louisiana urging all the citizens, Republicans and Democrats and folks who could care less about political party, to go to the polls this Saturday. But I've got a suggestion. Laughter For the good of Louisiana, for the good of everybody in Louisiana, Suzie Terrell needs to be the next United States Senator. I'm proud of the race she's running. She talks about what she believes in. She sets the right kind of tone. She's the kind of person with whom I can work to get something done for Louisiana and the people of Louisiana. No doubt in my mind, she's the right choice for everybody who lives in this State. And I want to thank you for coming to show your support for Suzie. I want to thank you for your activity at the grassroots level. You need, over the next couple of days, to go to your coffee shops, your community centers and tell the people that you've got a good one running for the United States Senate. You've got somebody who can do the job for all the people of this State. She's counting on you, and I'm counting on you to do everything you can to turn out a big vote and send this good woman to the United States Senate. And we need to have Lee Fletcher in the House of Representatives too. I look forward to working with Lee. I look forward to having Lee a part of a fine delegation from the great State of Louisiana. He'll fit in just right with people like Billy Tauzin, who's doing a fabulous job for our country, Jim McCrery and David Vitter all of them fine Members of Congress. So when you get in that booth, make sure you not only vote for Suzie, but if you live in Lee Fletcher's district, pull the Fletcher lever, too. I appreciate so very much the Governor showing up. Yes, he's a good man. Foster is a good man. He's my kind of guy. He's down to earth. He speaks his mind. But most importantly, he's done in office what he said he would do. He's been a great Governor for the people of Louisiana. One of these days, he's going to invite me to come hunting again. I regret that the first team of our family isn't here today. She's helping decorate the White House. But I am proud of Laura. She is a fabulous First Lady for America. And she sends her best to Suzie and Suzie's family. And like me, she urges you all to get to those polls come Saturday. Show up. Do your duty. Send a good, strong message that Louisiana is wise when it comes to electing candidates. It makes sense to have one in one party and a Senator in the majority party if you want to get something done. And one thing about Suzie is, she's got a good record. She's proven herself to be a competent soul, somebody who can get the job done. You might remember the election commissioner's office it needed a house cleansing. She cleaned house. There's now integrity in that office. People can be proud of that office, thanks to Suzie Haik Terrell. She told the people of Louisiana she would do the job, and she has done that job. She understands who she's accountable to. She's accountable to the people. She understands she works for the people of Louisiana. She saved 20 million for the taxpayers of Louisiana. She's got an awesome responsibility, and she saved money, because she understands what I know When you spend the Government's money, you don't spend it's not the Government's money you're spending it's the people's money. No, she's got a can do spirit. See, we need people to go to Washington to set aside all the political bickering that tends to dominate the discourse, to get things done on behalf of the American people. That's what we need. We need an attitude of cooperation. Oh, I expect there to be independent voices in Washington, DC, and no question about her, she's an independent voice. She kind of tells you what's on her mind. But it's an attitude that's important. We need an attitude in the Senate to bring people together so we can say that we're doing the people's business and we're making a difference in people's lives. And we're making some progress. I was proud to sign the Department of Homeland Security bill. It made sense. It now means we're going to reorganize our Government so we can do our job, and that is to protect the American people from further attack. We want people all focused in the same direction. We want cultures to change, if need be, to make sure that we can do everything we can to say to the American people, "We're working overtime to protect you." We need to know who's coming in the country, what they're bringing into the country, if they're leaving the country when they're supposed to be leaving the country, so America is protected. We're making progress about bringing people together to get things done. I'm convinced Suzie's election will continue that progress. I went to the Pentagon yesterday and fulfilled a campaign pledge, signed the most significant increase in the authorization of defense spending since the President Ronald Reagan was the President. I was able to sign a piece of legislation that will get our hardhats back to work. I signed a terrorism insurance bill that will enable construction projects that have been on hold to go forward. I'm worried about the fact that some people are looking for work and can't find work in America. I want our hardhats working. I want our welders welding. I want the construction people back to work. I want to reward the hardhats, not the trial lawyers of America. We're making progress up there. Suzie's election will help us make more progress. We've got work to do on education. Listen, anytime any child can't read means we've got to stay on education. I appreciate the Governor's hard work of joining in setting high standards. We need somebody in the Senate who will join me in making sure we've got local control of our schools in America. Last year, we spent 847 million of Federal money on Louisiana schools, and that's good. But now we're starting to ask the question that Mike's been asking and I know Suzie will ask "Are we getting our money's worth?" See, you've got to ask that question if you don't want any child left behind. You know, are the dollars we're spending making a difference in the lives of our children? Can our children read and write and add and subtract? And when we find they can, we'll praise the teachers. And for those of you who are teachers, thanks for what you do. But what's important is that when we find children in schools which won't teach and won't change, that we challenge the status quo. No child should be left behind in America. And speaking about schools, I want to thank the Byrd High School Band and the Parkway High School Band for coming. I'm glad you all came. I'm sorry you had to miss school to come. Laughter Just put my name on the excuse slip. And if you're 18, make sure you vote. We've got more work to do. We've got to make sure this economy continues to grow. I'm for a growth agenda want to do things in Washington, DC, that helps create jobs. The role of Government and Suzie understands this the role of Government is not to create wealth but an environment in which the small business can grow to be a big business, in which the entrepreneurial spirit flourishes. And the best way to help people who are looking for work, the best way to stimulate economic vitality is to make the tax cuts we passed permanent. See, when that economy started slowing down, I decided to fulfill what I said I was going to do and urge that the Government let people keep more of their own money. See, when you have more of your own money, it means you're likely to demand an additional good or a service. And when you demand additional good or a service, somebody is likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces the good or a service, it means somebody in Louisiana or Texas or anywhere else is likely to be able to find a job. The tax relief plan came at the right time. And now, in order to make sure our economy is strong and vibrant, we better make sure the tax cuts are permanent. And there's one person in this Senate race who's willing to stand up and say she will join the President in listening to the people and making tax cuts permanent, and that is Suzie Terrell. No, we've got more work to do. We've got more work to do. I need somebody in the Senate with whom I can work and Billy can work to make sure we get us an energy bill. We got a problem when it comes to energy. We get too much of our energy from countries that may not like us. That's a problem. We can do a better job of conserving. We can do a better job of promoting technologies that will make us less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. But we've got to do a better job here at home of finding more hydrocarbons in the United States of America. An energy bill is good for our job base. It's good for economic security, and it's good for national security. I want to thank Billy Tauzin for working hard to get an energy bill. That new Senate may make it easier for us to get a bill done on behalf of the American people. We've got more work to do, and I look forward to working with Suzie to make sure that we modernize Medicare. See, medicine has changed, and the Medicare system hasn't changed. Medicine is modern, but Medicare is stuck in the past. For the sake of our seniors, we need to fulfill our national promise and modernize Medicare, which means prescription drugs for our seniors. I look forward to working with Suzie on behalf of the citizens of Louisiana. I also look forward to working with Suzie to make sure that our judiciary represents the values of Louisiana. Amazing what an election did kind of changed the attitude in Washington. Up until recently, I couldn't get a lot of my judges through the Senate. They were playing politics with the judges. I had named some very fine people from around the country, good, honest people, and we couldn't get them through because they wanted to play politics. You need somebody from Louisiana who will join with this President to make sure the judges I name reflect the values of Louisiana. We don't need any more people legislating. We don't want our judges legislating. We want our judges interpreting the Constitution. Those are the kind of judges I'll name, and I can count on Suzie's vote to make sure they get confirmed. But the biggest job we have for a while is to protect this country. That's the biggest job we've got. Our most awesome responsibility is to make this homeland secure. And the best way to do it is to chase the killers down one at a time and bring them to justice. That's the biggest job facing this administration and the next Congress and administrations and Congresses to come. This is a long haul to get them. Laughter I guess they didn't realize who they were hitting. They probably thought the national religion was materialism and that we were so selfish that we all might file a lawsuit or two. Laughter They didn't understand America. They don't understand that when it comes to defending our freedoms, it doesn't matter how long it takes. We will defend freedom no matter what the cost. And we're making progress. We're making progress. It's a different kind of war. You've just got to know it's a different kind of war. In the old days, we could destroy tanks and airplanes and ships, and people say, "Well, they're making progress." It's a different kind of war because we're fighting people who are they send youngsters to their suicidal deaths, and they try to find a dark cave. They're kind of lurching around in the dark corners of some cities around the world. They're in over 60 countries. And slowly but surely, we're dismantling the terrorist network which hates us because of what we love. See, they hate the fact that we love freedom. They can't stand the fact that in this country people can worship the Almighty God any way he or she sees fit. Thanks to our military, thanks to our fantastic military, we won the first battle of the first war of the 21st century. And we won it when we got rid of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. But in so doing, it's important for you to remind your youngsters that this great country never went in to conquer anybody. We went in to liberate. Thanks to America and our friends, many young girls go to school for the first time in Afghanistan. Not only did we rout the Taliban and many of the killers they harbor, but we freed people to realize their dreams. And we're not leaving. We're going to stay there to make sure this good country is secure and the good country can flourish and that the hope we want for our own children is the hope that mothers and dads in Afghanistan can realize for their children. We're making progress on this war against terror. Sometimes you'll see the progress, and sometimes you won't. It's a different kind of war. The other day, we hauled a guy in named al Nashiri. That's not a household name here in America. Laughter I can understand why some go blank when they hear his name. But he was the Al Qaida commander in the Gulf states. Let me just put it to you this way He no longer has the capacity to do what he did in the past, which was to mastermind the U.S.S. Cole that killed the plot on the Cole that killed American soldiers. He's out of action, for the good of the world. Sometimes you'll see it, and sometimes you won't. But you've got to know that in this war against terror, the doctrine stands that says, "Either you're with us, or you're with the terrorists." And a lot of nations have heard that message, and they're with us. We're cutting off their money. We're sharing intelligence. We're hunting down the killers one at a time. It doesn't matter how long it takes. This country will stay the course until Al Qaida is completely demolished. But September the 11th brought home a new reality, and it's important for all our citizens to understand that reality. See, a lot of us, when we were raised, never really worried about the homeland. We all believed that two oceans would forever separate us from harm's way and that if there was a threat gathering overseas, we could pick and choose whether or not we wanted to be involved in dealing with that threat. September the 11th delivered a chilling message to our country, and that is, oceans no longer protect us. And therefore, it is my obligation to make sure that we address gathering threats overseas before they could do harm to the American people. And that's why I elevated the issue of Iraq. That's why I took our message of peace and freedom to countries around the world. I want them to understand the nature of the man who runs Iraq is the nature of a man who doesn't tell the truth. He says he won't have weapons of mass destruction. He's got them. He's not only got them he's used them. And he's not only used them in his neighborhood he's used them on his own people. That's the nature of the man with whom we deal. For 11 long years, he has deceived and denied. So I went to the United Nations. I said, "When is enough enough?" They voted 15 to nothing to say, "Now enough is enough." The members of the Security Council had a chance, and they accepted the challenge to make sure that this United Nations became an effective body when it comes to keeping the peace, not an empty debating society. Then I went to NATO strong Allies in NATO and overwhelmingly the message was, "Enough is enough." And now there's inspectors inside this country. But I want to tell you, the issue is not the inspectors. The issue is whether or not Mr. Saddam Hussein will disarm like he said he would. We're not interested in hide and seek inside Iraq. The fundamental question is, in the name of peace, in the name of security, not only for America and the American people, in the name of security for our friends in the neighborhood, in the name of freedom, will this man disarm? The choice is his. And if he does not disarm, the United States of America will lead a coalition and disarm him in the name of peace. We have an obligation to our children and our children's children to do everything we can to make sure the homeland is secure. And we'll meet the obligation. We'll meet that obligation together. You know, the amazing thing about America is that I can predict boldly predict and certainly predict that out of the evil done to our country will come incredible good. Because of the nature of our country, I can say that. By being tough and strong and united in the face of danger, we can bring peace to the world. I believe that. I believe that by doing what we need to do to secure the world from terrorist attack, to rid tyrants of weapons of mass destruction, to make sure that somebody like Saddam Hussein doesn't serve as a training base or a provider of weapons of mass destruction to terrorist networks by doing our job, that the world will be more peaceful, by standing strong for what we believe, by remembering that freedom is not America's gift to the world, but God's gift to each and every human being, that we can achieve peace. I want you to tell your kids and your grandkids that amidst all the speculation about war and military, that our drive and our vision is for a peaceful world in which everybody can realize their potential and live in peace. And here at home we have a chance to achieve some incredible good out of the evil done to our country. September the 11th shook our soul. I think it has helped awaken a spirit in the country, a spirit that understands that serving something greater than ourself in life is part of the American creed, that the American spirit is bigger than just any selfish ambition. Today when I landed at the airport, I met Mary Anne Blanchard Selber and Jean Sayres. These ladies have started the Providence House here in Shreveport. This is a it's a home to provide shelter to the homeless. They follow their hearts. The reason I bring up this example is because they represent the true strength of our country. The true strength of our country lay in the hearts and souls of our fellow citizens. You see, out of the evil done to America can come a more compassionate America. We've got to understand that amidst our plenty, there are people who hurt. There's addiction and hopelessness. There are people who wonder whether or not the American Dream is meant for them. So long as any of us hurt, we all hurt. Yet we can solve the problems in our society by loving a neighbor just like we like to be loved ourselves. We can solve America's problems by putting our arm around the lonely and the hopeless and say, "I care for you. I love you." America can change, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. And the Providence House is one example of what I'm talking about. They represent the true strength of our country, people who love people, people who care for those who hurt, people who understand that Government's role is limited. We can hand out money, but we can't put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That's why I'm so strong for the Faith Based Initiative. I understand the power of faith in the lives of our citizens around this country. No, if you want to join the war on terror, if you want to show the world the true worth of America, love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. See what you can do to help mentor a child. Go see a shut in. It's the small acts of kindness and decency which define the true victory in the war against terror, which will show the world what this country is all about. Perhaps best defined for me and, I suspect, others, as they come up in America the spirit was defined best on Flight 93. Remember that when people were flying across our country, they thought they were on an average business trip, or they thought they might be just taking an average trip to go see a loved one, and they found out the plane they were on was being used as a weapon. And they told their loved ones over the telephone, "I love you," and "Goodbye." They said a prayer. A guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane into the ground to serve something greater than themselves. No, the spirit of America is strong today. I can boldly predict that out of the evil done to America will come great good, because this is the greatest nation, full of the finest people on the face of the Earth. May God bless you, and may God bless America. December 02, 2002 Thank you, Mr. Secretary. And thank you for your leadership. Thank you for your candor. Thank you you're doing a fabulous job on behalf of the American people. It's an honor for me to be here today with the leaders of our military, the good folks who are serving our country, to sign the 2003 defense authorization bill. We're a nation at war. America must understand we're at war. But those who wear the uniform must understand how proud all of America is for your service to our great country. On behalf of a grateful nation, I'm here to thank you. Our military is making good progress in this war. We've liberated an oppressed and friendless people. We're hunting down the terrorists all across the globe. We're performing our missions with speed and skill. You have the strong, united support of this great land, and this bill should reflect the strong and united support of the United States Congress. And I want to thank the Members of the Congress who are here on stage, Senator Warner and Congressman Duncan Hunter. And Members of the Senate and the Congress who are with us, I want to thank you for your good work on this important legislation. I appreciate so very much all those who work in the Secretary's office who worked hard on this bill. I want to thank the Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs who are here and the Vice Chairmen are with us and those who represent the enlisted personnel of our military. Most of all, I want to say a word about Bob Stump, Chairman Stump, who couldn't be with us today, distinguished chairman of the Armed Services Committee, who has served our Nation well. He's a dedicated public servant who has decided to retire. And as the Secretary said, this bill is appropriately named for this fine American. We will miss him, and we wish Bob and his family all the very best. I want to thank the service Secretaries who are here with us. And I want to thank you all for coming. The legislation I sign this afternoon was passed by Congress in a remarkable spirit of unity. It sets priorities of our Defense Department in a critical, critical period for our country. Our country has unprecedented challenges, and we're facing them with unmatched technology, careful planning, and the finest traditions of valor. We're rewarding the service and sacrifice of our military families with higher pay, improved facilities, and better housing. We're procuring the best weapons we possibly can and the best equipment, while adding funds for operations and maintenance as well. We're investing in missile defenses and all new technologies we need to gain every advantage every advantage in the battlefields of the future. And since intelligence is playing a critical role in our ability to achieve military victory, this new law creates a new high level position within the Department of Defense called the Under Secretary for Intelligence. This generation of Armed Forces has been given two difficult tasks, fighting and winning a war and, at the same time, transforming our military to win the new kind of war. In the first stages of our fight against terror, we've already seen the future face of warfare, forces that are more agile and mobile and lethal, along with weapons that are smarter and tactics that are more inventive. These priorities are reflected in this year's budget. You'll see them reflected in every military budget I submit and sign as your President. America's military is strong. And that's the way it should be. Our Nation and the world are safer that way. Now and in the future, we will maintain a military that is second to none. And the greatest strength of America's military is the cause we all serve. That cause is freedom in a world at peace. Today, that cause is being challenged by determined enemies. And we will not rest, and we will not relent until our freedom is secure. Our troops in Afghanistan remain engaged in a difficult and dangerous mission. We're hunting down trained killers. And that's all they are, nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers. We're destroying their weapons. The Secretary reports to me in the White House that, day after day, we're finding giant caches of weapons which we're destroying. And while we hunt them down hunt the killers down, we'll continue to help the Afghan people as they work to build lives of dignity and lives of security. Afghanistan is no longer a safe haven for hijackers and bombmakers and assassins. Thanks to the United States military, the terrorist training camps are closed. Many terrorists have met their fate in the caves and mountains of Afghanistan. Others are now in custody. Yet we know that many terrorists are still at large. They hide and they plot in over 60 different countries. We face an enemy that's attacked cities in America, embassies and airplanes in Africa, ships in the Gulf, tourists in Bali. This enemy lives like a parasite. They plot in shadows. They prey on failed states. And they ally themselves with outlaw regimes. Defeating this enemy requires fighting a different kind of war, what we call the first war of the 21st century. We're pursuing the terrorists wherever they dwell. It doesn't matter where they hide we're after them, one by one. We follow them wherever they run. They think they can run they can't run far enough from the long arm of justice of the United States. We're freezing their finances. We're disrupting their plots. We're killing them or capturing them, one person at a time. That's how you win the first war of the 21st century, a war we are going to win. Some of the successes in this war will make headlines, and sometimes you won't even know about it. But all the terrorists can be certain of this Their hour of justice will come. And that hour has already arrived for an increasing number of field generals of the terrorist army. Recently, we took a guy named al Nashiri into custody. Until last month he was the top Al Qaida operative, the top Al Qaida leader in the Gulf region. He was plotting and planning. But today this much is certain He won't be executing any more attacks against the United States and our friends like the attack he masterminded against the U.S.S. Cole. Success in the war on terror will only come by taking every measure to protect innocent people from sudden and catastrophic violence. And we must oppose the threat of such violence from any source. We oppose the terror network and all who harbor and support the terrorists. And we oppose a uniquely dangerous regime that possesses the weapons of mass murder, has used those weapons, and could supply those weapons to terrorist networks. Saddam Hussein's regime has a long history of aggression against his neighbors and hostility towards America. It has a long history of ties to terrorists. The dictator has a long history of seeking biological and chemical and nuclear weapons, even while U.N. inspectors were present in his country. Now the world has told him the game is over. The U.N. Security Council, the NATO Alliance, and the United States are united. Saddam Hussein will fully disarm himself of weapons of mass destruction, and if he does not, the United States will lead a coalition to disarm him. As the U.N. weapons inspections process gets underway, we must remember that inspections will not will only work will only work if Iraq fully complies. You see, the inspectors are not in Iraq to play hideand seek with Mr. Saddam Hussein. Inspectors do not have the duty or the ability to uncover terrible weapons hidden in a vast country. The responsibility of inspectors is simply to confirm the evidence of voluntary and total disarmament. It is Saddam Hussein who has the responsibility to provide that evidence as directed and in full. Any act of delay, deception, or defiance will prove that Saddam Hussein has not adopted the path of compliance and has rejected the path of peace. In the inspections process, the United States will be making one judgment Has Saddam Hussein changed his behavior of the last 11 years? Has he decided to cooperate willingly and comply completely, or has he not? So far the signs are not encouraging. A regime that fires upon American and British pilots is not taking the path of compliance. A regime that sends letters filled with protests and falsehoods is not taking the path of compliance. On or before the 8th of December, Iraq must provide a full and accurate declaration of its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. That declaration must be credible and complete, or the Iraqi dictator will have demonstrated to the world once again that he has chosen not to change his behavior. Americans seek peace in this world. We're a peaceful nation. War is the last option for confronting threats. Yet the temporary peace of denial and looking away from danger would only be a prelude to broader war and greater horror. America will confront gathering dangers early, before our options become limited and desperate. By showing our resolve today, we are building a future of peace. In the decisions and missions to come, our military will carry the values of America and the hopes of the world. The people of Iraq, like all human beings, deserve their freedom. And the people of Afghanistan, with the help of the United States Armed Forces, have gained their freedom. One guardsman from Florida tells of meeting a member of the new Afghan national army. This Afghan soldier said he enlisted to honor the memory of his brother who was killed by the Taliban and to ensure that his own son would live in freedom. The Florida guardsman wrote home that "being here makes me realize that people are giving up their lives to have a fraction of the freedoms we take for granted." He said, "Talking to one soldier made me realize how lucky I am to have been born in the United States of America. I'm honored to have met an Afghan patriot," he wrote. Every time I visit this building or any American base around the world, I'm honored to meet American patriots. The men and women of our military bring credit to our flag and security to our country. On behalf of the American people, I thank you for all you've done, for all you will do in the cause of freedom and the cause of peace. And now I'm pleased to sign the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003. November 27, 2002 Thank you all for coming. Please be seated. Today I sign an act of Congress authorizing intelligence programs vital to our security and creating a national commission to investigate the events of September the 11th, 2001, and the years that led up to that event. This commission will help me and future Presidents to understand the methods of America's enemies and the nature of the threats we face. Today I'm pleased to announce my choice for commission Chairman, Dr. Henry Kissinger. Dr. Kissinger is one of our Nation's most accomplished and respected public servants. He worked here at the White House as National Security Adviser, represented America abroad as the Secretary of State for two Presidents. He is a distinguished author, academic, Army veteran, and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. He's also spent much of his life in New York, feels deeply the loss that came to that city and to our country. Dr. Kissinger will bring broad experience, clear thinking, and careful judgment to this important task. Mr. Secretary, thank you for returning to the service of your Nation. Dr. Kissinger and I share the same commitments. His investigation should carefully examine all the evidence and follow all the facts, wherever they lead. We must uncover every detail and learn every lesson of September the 11th. My administration will continue to act on the lessons we've learned so far to better protect the people of this country. It's our most solemn duty. I want to thank the congressional leaders for their work on this commission and on the broader legislation as well. The law I sign today directs new funds and new focus to the task of collecting vital intelligence on terrorist threats and on weapons of mass production weapons proliferation. In a period of rapidly changing dangers, we will continue to work with the Congress to get the resources we need to gather information so we can better defend America. I want to thank the Members of Congress who are with us today, who worked hard to make this commission a reality Senator Joe Lieberman thank you, Senator Congressman Porter Goss Tim Roemer Chris Shays and Chris Smith all distinguished Members of the United States Congress, all who join thousands of Americans who refuse to forget that which took place on September the 11th, 2001. Above all, I want to thank the family members of the people who were killed on September the 11th, family members who are here today and others around the country. In working for this commission, you have been motivated by a noble goal You want to spare other Americans the kind of suffering you faced. I appreciate that sentiment. America is grateful. The Nation's families gather during holidays. You need to know that there's a lot of people who continue to pray for you. There's a lot of people that you've never seen before you don't have any ideas of what their names are they share your grief. I hope that provides some comfort. September the 11th marked a dividing line in the life of our Nation. The events of a single morning dramatically demonstrated America's vulnerability to the threats of a new era. Oceans that separated us from other continents no longer separate us from danger. America's enemies are still determined to inflict great harm. We have a duty a solemn duty to do everything we can to protect this country. We've acted to reduce the Nation's vulnerabilities. We're stepping up security and transportation systems at port of entries and on our borders. We've made important reforms in Federal law enforcement, ensuring that the FBI's primary focus now is the prevention of future attack. We're doing a better job of sharing information among agencies. By legislation I signed this week, we've created a Department of Homeland Security to involve the largest reorganization of the Federal Government in more than a half a century, with the goal of protecting America. And overseas we're chasing the killers down, one person at a time one at a time. Slowly but surely, we're dismantling the Al Qaida network. There is no cave dark enough or deep enough to hide from the justice of the United States of America. And it doesn't matter how long it takes this Nation will stay on course to find them, to bring them to justice, to make sure America's homeland is secure. These essential steps do not complete our work, and that's important for America to know. In the war against terror, our goal is to take every measure that is necessary, to gather all information that is available and gain every advantage that is possible. An aggressive investigation into September the 11th, with a responsible concern for sensitive information that will allow us to win the war on terror, will contribute to the security of this country. This commission's findings may show a need for further reform in intelligence gathering and other areas. I'm confident that under Dr. Kissinger's leadership, the commission's work will be thorough. The recommendations will be helpful and useful. I also hope that the commission will act quickly and issue its report prior to the 18 month deadline embodied in the legislation. After all, if there's changes that need to be made, we need to know them as soon as possible, for the security of our country. The sooner we have the commission's conclusions, the sooner this administration will act on them. And as a people, Americans are always looking forward. As a nation, we're working every day to build a future that is peaceful and secure. To reach this goal we must learn all about the past that we can. So with this commission we have formed today, America will learn more about the evil that was done to us, and the understanding we will gain will serve us for years to come. This commission is not only important for this administration this commission will be important for future administrations, until the world is secure from the evildoers that hate what we stand for. I ask the Members of Congress that are here today to please come up and join me as I sign this important legislation. May God bless the families of those who suffered on September the 11th. May God bless you today. May God bless you for long days to come, and may God continue to bless America. November 26, 2002 Thank you all. Please be seated. Thank you. Good morning, and welcome to the White House. Today we're taking action to strengthen America's economy, to build confidence with America's investors, and to create jobs for America's workers. The Terrorism Risk Insurance Act will provide coverage for catastrophic losses from potential terrorist attacks. Should terrorists strike America again, we have a system in place to address financial losses and get our economy back on its feet as quickly as possible. With this new law, builders and investors can begin construction in real estate projects that have been stalled for too long and get our hardhats back to work. I appreciate members of my Cabinet who are here who worked on this bill, Paul O'Neill and Don Evans and Elaine Chao. Thank you all for coming. I appreciate the Members of Congress who are here, particularly those on the stage with me who worked hard to get the bill passed Chairman Paul Sarbanes Chris Dodd from Connecticut, who did a lot of work to get the bill done Senator Harry Reid worked hard on this piece of legislation as well. I appreciate Chairman Mike Oxley from the House, who also worked, along with Senator Dodd, to get this important piece of legislation passed. Mike, thank you for your leadership on this issue. As well, we're joined by other key players from the House of Representatives, Sue Kelly, Chris Shays, John LaFalce, and Ken Bentsen. These Members of Congress put the interests of the country ahead of partisanship, and as a result of their hard work, I'm able to sign the bill today. I want to thank you for your leadership. I also want to thank the union leaders who are here today, people with whom we've worked hard to get this done, leaders who put the interest of their membership right on the line. Doug McCarron appreciate your leadership, Doug. He's the general president of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. Frank Hanley is the general president of the International Union of Operating Engineers, is with us today. Joe Hunt is the general president of the Ironworkers International union Ed Sullivan, who is the president of the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AF of L CIO Terry O'Sullivan, who is the general president of the Laborers International Union of North America. I appreciate the workers from the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and Ironworkers and the Building and Construction Trade Department of the AFL CIO, who are with us today representing thousands of people who are going to go back to work, thanks to this piece of legislation. Thanks for your leadership, and thanks for your presence. The attacks of September the 11th, 2001, devastated lives, leveled buildings, and seriously, seriously disrupted our economy. Businesses suffered. The stock market halted trading. Many insurance companies stopped covering builders and real estate owners against the risk of attack. Premiums skyrocketed protections were diminished. Across America, hospitals and office buildings and malls and museums and construction jobs and many transportation companies have had difficulty finding terrorism insurance. More than 15 billion in real estate transactions have been canceled or put on hold because owners and investors could not obtain the insurance protection they need. Commercial construction is at a 6year low, and thousands of hardhat workers have been kept off the job. Commercial mortgage backed securities have seen their bond ratings lowered, hurting many Americans invested in the bond market, including teachers and police officers and firefighters, who have lost money in their pension plans. By helping to ensure that terrorism insurance is affordable and available, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act will permit many construction projects to move forward and to help this economy grow. Billions of dollars in investments will be more secure. The Nation's hardhats will get back to work, being able to put food on the table for their families. Investors in markets will have greater confidence that our economy is strong enough to withstand a future attack, and that's important. This new law will also help the economy in the legal system by discouraging abusive lawsuits. Civil cases resulting from a terrorist attack will be combined in a single Federal court. Lawyers will be prevented from shopping for courts with a reputation for outrageous awards. Judgments and rulings will be more consistent. It's important for our taxpayers to understand that taxpayer dollars will not be used to pay punitive damages. I'm grateful to the Members of Congress who put the interest of the workers and taxpayers ahead of lawyers. I look forward to working with the new Congress on stronger measures to prevent abusive lawsuits. And today I'm taking steps to ensure that no taxpayer dollar will be spent on legal settlements without the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury. The Secretary will work to ensure that settlements are fair to victims, not windfalls for the legal class of America. The act of Congress I sign today will encourage greater competition in the insurance market and add strength to our economy. But there's more to do. I'll work with Democrats and Republicans in the next Congress to pass a growth and jobs package early next year. My Administration is determined to make America safer, to make our economy stronger, and we're making progress on both fronts. America has entered a new kind of war, requiring aggressive action abroad and active defense at home. Yesterday I signed into law the new Department of Homeland Security, to organize our Government for the long term challenge of protecting America. Today, with terrorism insurance, we're defending America by making our economy more secure. Both these achievements show the unity of our Nation in a time of testing and our resolve to lead America to a better day. I'm now pleased to sign the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002. November 25, 2002 Thanks for coming. Thanks for the warm welcome, and welcome to the White House. Today we are taking historic action to defend the United States and protect our citizens against the dangers of a new era. With my signature, this act of Congress will create a new Department of Homeland Security, ensuring that our efforts to defend this country are comprehensive and united. The new Department will analyze threats, will guard our borders and airports, protect our critical infrastructure, and coordinate the response of our Nation to future emergencies. The Department of Homeland Security will focus the full resources of the American Government on the safety of the American people. This essential reform was carefully considered by Congress and enacted with strong bipartisan majorities. I want to thank Tom Ridge, the Homeland Security Adviser, for his hard work on this initiative. I want to thank all the members of my Cabinet who are here for their work. I want to thank the Members of Congress who are with us today, particularly those Members of Congress who were essential to the passage, many of whom stand up here on the stage with me. One Member not with us is our mutual friend from Texas, Phil Gramm. I appreciate his hard work. I thank the work of Senator Fred Thompson and Senator Joe Lieberman. I appreciate Zell Miller and Don Nickles' hard work as well. We've got a lot of Members from the House here, and I want to thank you all for coming. I particularly want to pay homage to Dick Armey, who shepherded the bill to the floor of the House of Representatives. I'll miss him. I'm not so sure everybody will. Laughter But I appreciate your time here. I thank Tom DeLay for making sure the bill got passed. I thank Rob Portman for his hard work. And I want to thank Ellen Tauscher as well for her leadership on this issue. I appreciate Kay James of the Office of Personnel Management, who worked so hard to make sure this effort was understood by everybody in our Government. And I want to thank the other administration officials who are here, many of whom are going to be responsible for seeing to it this new Department functions well. I want to thank all the local and State officials who are here with us today I see Governors and county judges, mayors for coming. My own mayor, the Mayor of Washington, DC, I appreciate you coming, Mr. Mayor. I want to thank the local and State law enforcement officials who are here, the chiefs of police and fire chiefs who are with us today. I see the chief of my city now is here as well. Thank you, Mr. Chief, for coming. I want to thank the union representatives who are here. We look forward to working with you to make sure that your people are treated fairly in this new Department. I want to thank the Federal workers who are here. You're charged with being on the front line of protecting America. I understand your job. We look forward to working with you to make sure you get your job done. I want to thank the President's Homeland Security Advisory Council as well, and thank you all for coming. From the morning of September the 11th, 2001, to this hour, America has been engaged in an unprecedented effort to defend our freedom and our security. We're fighting a war against terror with all our resources, and we're determined to win. With the help of many nations, with the help of 90 nations, we're tracking terrorist activity we're freezing terrorist finances we're disrupting terrorist plots we're shutting down terrorist camps we're on the hunt, one person at a time. Many terrorists are now being interrogated. Many terrorists have been killed. We've liberated a country. We recognize our greatest security is found in the relentless pursuit of these coldblooded killers. Yet, because terrorists are targeting America, the front of the new war is here in America. Our life changed and changed in dramatic fashion on September the 11th, 2001. In the last 14 months, every level of our Government has taken steps to be better prepared against a terrorist attack. We understand the nature of the enemy. We understand they hate us because of what we love. We're doing everything we can to enhance security at our airports and power plants and border crossings. We've deployed detection equipment to look for weapons of mass destruction. We've given law enforcement better tools to detect and disrupt terrorist cells which might be hiding in our own country. And through separate legislation I signed earlier today, we will strengthen security at our Nation's 361 seaports, adding port security agents, requiring ships to provide more information about the cargo, crew, and passengers they carry. And I want to thank the Members of Congress for working hard on this important piece of legislation as well. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 takes the next critical steps in defending our country. The continuing threat of terrorism, the threat of mass murder on our own soil, will be met with a unified, effective response. Dozens of agencies charged with homeland security will now be located within one Cabinet Department with the mandate and legal authority to protect our people. America will be better able to respond to any future attacks, to reduce our vulnerability and, most important, prevent the terrorists from taking innocent American lives. The Department of Homeland Security will have nearly 170,000 employees, dedicated professionals who will wake up each morning with the overriding duty of protecting their fellow citizens. As Federal workers, they have rights, and those rights will be fully protected. And I'm grateful that the Congress listened to my concerns and retained the authority of the President to put the right people in the right place at the right time in the defense of our country. I've great confidence in the men and women who will serve in this Department and in the man I've asked to lead it. As I prepare to sign this bill into law, I am pleased to announce that I will nominate Governor Tom Ridge as our Nation's first Secretary of Homeland Security. Americans know Tom as an experienced public servant and as the leader of our homeland security efforts since last year. Tom accepted that assignment in urgent circumstances, resigning as the Governor of Pennsylvania to organize the White House Office of Homeland Security and to develop a comprehensive strategy to protect the American people. He's done a superb job. He's the right man for this new and great responsibility. We're going to put together a fine team to work with Tom. The Secretary of the Navy, Gordon England, will be nominated for the post of Deputy Secretary. And Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, now the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, will be nominated to serve as Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security. The Secretary designate and his team have an immense task ahead of them. Setting up the Department of Homeland Security will involve the most extensive reorganization of the Federal Government since Harry Truman signed the National Security Act. To succeed in their mission, leaders of the new Department must change the culture of many diverse agencies, directing all of them toward the principal objective of protecting the American people. The effort will take time and focus and steady resolve. It will also require full support from both the administration and the Congress. Adjustments will be needed along the way. Yet this is pressing business, and the hard work of building a new Department begins today. When the Department of Homeland Security is fully operational, it will enhance the safety of our people in very practical ways. First, this new Department will analyze intelligence information on terror threats collected by the CIA, the FBI, the National Security Agency, and others. The Department will match this intelligence against the Nation's vulnerabilities and work with other agencies and the private sector and State and local governments to harden America's defenses against terror. Second, the Department will gather and focus all our efforts to face the challenge of cyberterrorism and the even worse danger of nuclear, chemical, and biological terrorism. This Department will be charged with encouraging research on new technologies that can detect these threats in time to prevent an attack. Third, State and local governments will be able to turn for help and information to one Federal domestic security agency, instead of more than 20 agencies that currently divide these responsibilities. This will help our local governments work in concert with the Federal Government for the sake of all the people of America. Fourth, the new Department will bring together the agencies responsible for border, coastline, and transportation security. There will be a coordinated effort to safeguard our transportation systems and to secure the border so that we're better able to protect our citizens and welcome our friends. Fifth, the Department will work with State and local officials to prepare our response to any future terrorist attack that may come. We have found that the first hours and even the first minutes after the attack can be crucial in saving lives, and our first responders need the carefully planned and drilled strategies that will make their work effective. The Department of Homeland Security will also end a great deal of duplication and overlapping responsibilities. Our objective is to spend less on administrators in offices and more on working agents in the field, less on overhead and more on protecting our neighborhoods and borders and waters and skies from terrorists. With a vast nation to defend, we can neither predict nor prevent every conceivable attack. And in a free and open society, no Department of Government can completely guarantee our safety against ruthless killers who move and plot in shadows. Yet our Government will take every possible measure to safeguard our country and our people. We're fighting a new kind of war against determined enemies. And public servants long into the future will bear the responsibility to defend Americans against terror. This administration and this Congress have the duty of putting that system into place. We will fulfill that duty. With the Homeland Security Act, we're doing everything we can to protect America. We're showing the resolve of this great Nation to defend our freedom, our security, and our way of life. It's now my privilege to sign the Homeland Security Act of 2002. November 23, 2002 Salut! Thank you all. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for being out here in the rain. Thank you for such a warm welcome. Laura and I are honored to be in this great country. As we started speaking, a rainbow appeared. God is smiling on us today. I'm proud to stand in this great square and to bring the good wishes of the American people. Today we reaffirm the friendship between your country and mine. I'm honored to carry a message to the people of Romania We proudly invite you to join NATO, the great alliance of freedom. All around us are reminders of Romania's history and the culture we share. Close by is a church, three centuries old, a symbol of the faith that overcomes all oppression. In this square we see monuments of Romanian patriots who lost their lives in liberty for the liberty of your nation. And here, in December of 1989, you broke the silence of your captivity. From that balcony, the dictator heard your voices and faltered and fled. Two generations of bitter tyranny ended, and all the world witnessed the courage of Romania, the courage that set you free. Since those days of liberation, Romania has made an historic journey. Instead of hatred, you have chosen tolerance. Instead of destructive rivalry with your neighbors, you have chosen reconciliation. Instead of state control, you have chosen free markets and rule of law. And instead of dictatorship, you have built a proud and working democracy. The path of freedom you've chosen is not easy, but it's the only path worth taking. I know that your hardship did not end with your oppression. America respects your labor, your patience, your daily determination to find a better life. Your effort has been recognized by an offer to NATO membership. We welcome Romania into NATO. NATO's invitation to join was also a vote of confidence that you will continue the hard work of political, economic, and military reform. And as you do, you will have partners in all the nations of NATO. The promises of our Alliance are sacred, and we will keep our pledges to all the nations that join us. Should any danger threaten Romania should any nation threaten Romania, the United States of America and NATO will be by your side. As a NATO Ally, you can have this confidence No one will be able to take away the freedom of your country. NATO membership will make Romania more secure, and Romania will add to the strength of the NATO Alliance as we face unprecedented new dangers. Already, our troops are serving side by side in Afghanistan. Already, Romania has joined the global coalition against terror. And we thank you very much. The world has suffered enough from fanatics who seek to impose their will through fear and murder. The NATO Alliance and the civilized world are confronting the new enemies of freedom, and we will prevail. Your country also brings moral clarity to our NATO Alliance. You value freedom because you have lived without it. You know the difference between good and evil because you have seen evil's face. The people of Romania understand that aggressive dictators cannot be appeased or ignored they must always be opposed. An aggressive dictator now rules in Iraq. By his search for terrible weapons, by his ties to terror groups, by his development of prohibited ballistic missiles, the dictator of Iraq threatens the security of every free nation, including the free nations of Europe. The United Nations Security Council and now NATO have spoken with one voice The Iraqi regime will completely disarm itself of weapons of mass murder, or we, the United States, will lead a coalition of willing nations and disarm that regime in the name of peace. Every nation must confront danger. Every free nation has a responsibility to play its full and responsible role. And together, Mr. President, we will preserve our freedoms, and we will work together to keep the peace. In the peaceful future we're building, Romania will strengthen our lives in another way, as a bridge to a new Russia. For centuries, Romania's geography was a source of danger. Now, you can help our Alliance to extend a hand of cooperation across the Black Sea. Russia has nothing to fear from the growth of NATO, because Russia needs peaceful, stable neighbors like Romania. As I told President Putin yesterday, a Russia that is fully part of Europe needs no buffer zone separating it from Europe. America and Romania are friends to the Russian people, and so is the NATO Alliance. Mr. President, citizens of Romania, Laura and my visit to your beautiful country has been short, but the friendship and soon the Alliance between our countries will endure. On this historic square, among the monuments to Romania's greatness, there's also a building left in ruins, the former offices of the secret police. It is a fitting reminder of all the cruelties done there and the justice that rose up against oppression. That grim monument also recalls the many brave Romanians who did not live to see this day. Our prayers are for them and their families. Yet, today, their hopes are being fulfilled. The nation they love is rising. Romania has won its freedom. Romania is resolute in difficulty and moving toward greater prosperity. And Romania is finding its place in the greatest history's greatest alliance for freedom. I have come to tell you that the world and my country knows the character of the people of this great country. We respect your country. We love the fact that you love freedom. May God bless you and your families. May God bless Romania. And may God bless America. Thank you all. November 23, 2002 Good morning. I'm speaking to you from Europe, where this week I am meeting with NATO Allies and friends to discuss terrorism and other threats to our shared security. It has also been an important week at home on Capitol Hill. After 2 years of achievements, which included tax relief and education reform, the last days of this session of Congress brought additional historic progress. Soon after I return from Europe, I will sign several important new laws that help secure the homeland and create jobs. Republicans and Democrats approved a Department of Homeland Security that will unite dozens of Federal agencies and nearly 170,000 Federal workers behind a single, overriding mission, keeping Americans safe. This new Department will coordinate our response to any future emergency. It will help us know who's coming into our country and who's going out. This new Department will bring together the best intelligence information about our vulnerabilities to terrorist attack so that we can act quickly to protect America. I appreciate the Congress listening to my concerns and retaining the authority of the President to put the right people in the right place at the right time in defense of our country. Congress also acted to protect the Nation's ports and coasts by passing port security legislation. With this law, we will add port security agents, restrict access to sensitive areas, and require ships to provide more information about the cargo, crew, and passengers they carry. These measures will help keep terrorists and their weapons out of America. In addition, Congress passed terrorism insurance legislation to help protect our economy from any future terrorist attack. This new important law will lower insurance premiums and get many real estate and construction projects that had been put on hold moving again, creating thousands of hardhat jobs. On my trip this week here in Europe, I'm consulting with our friends and NATO Allies about the new threats to freedom that we face together. Today, the United States is joined by more than 90 nations in a global coalition against terrorism, sharing intelligence, cutting off terrorist finance, and pursuing the terrorists where they plot and train. The world is also uniting to answer the unique and urgent threat posed by Iraq, whose dictator has already used weapons of mass destruction to kill thousands. We must not and will not permit either terrorists or tyrants to blackmail freedom loving nations. Our NATO Allies are making important contributions. Sixteen NATO countries have sent military forces to the fight against terror in Afghanistan, and at this week's summit, NATO committed to build a new military response force with strong, ready forces that are prepared to deploy on short notice wherever they are needed. NATO members also voted to invite seven of Europe's newest democracies to join our Alliance. The addition of Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia will increase NATO's military strength. These nations will also bring greater clarity to NATO's purposes because they know, from the hard experience of the 20th century, that threats to freedom must be opposed, not ignored or appeased. This week, we saw the historic expansion of NATO and historic progress by Congress. Both will make America more secure. Thank you for listening. November 23, 2002 Mr. President, thank you so much for this honor. I accept the Star of Romania on behalf of my country, and I appreciate the spirit of friendship that this award represents. I want to thank the Prime Minister and members of your Government for such fine hospitality. Laura and I are honored to be here, and so is my Cabinet members of my Cabinet, as well as senior members of my staff. We're here because America and the nations of the world have seen the courage and character of the Romanian people. You have liberated yourselves from tyranny. You're building a vibrant democracy. And you're preparing to join NATO. In all these events of history, America has been your friend, and we'll be proud to call you Ally. Mr. President, Romania and America share common values and common challenges. We will join together to open markets, to build a new relationship with Russia, to confront global terrorism, and to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Europe and America face unprecedented dangers to our security, and we will face these dangers together. The Romanian people have made a great effort to meet the standards of NATO membership. That effort is succeeding. America respects all that you have done and all that you will do in the cause of freedom. And America will be your partner in continuing the work of reform. On behalf of the American people, I proudly affirm the close relationship between our countries, and I thank you for the honor of this award. May God bless Romania. November 23, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you for your friendship, and thank you for your leadership. I'm also honored to be here with the Presidents of Latvia and Estonia. I want to thank them for coming as well. Laura and I are honored to be here with you. Thank you for coming out to say hello. This is a great day in the history of Lithuania, in the history of the Baltics, in the history of NATO, and in the history of freedom. The countries of NATO have opened the doors of our Alliance to Lithuania and six other European democracies. And I have the honor of sharing this message with you We proudly invite Lithuania to join us in NATO, the great Atlantic Alliance. Many doubted that freedom would come to this country, but the United States always recognized an independent Lithuania. We knew that this continent would not remain divided. We knew that arbitrary lines drawn by dictators would be erased, and those lines are now gone. No more Munichs. No more Yaltas. The long night of fear, uncertainty, and loneliness is over. You're joining the strong and growing family of NATO. Our Alliance has made a solemn pledge of protection, and anyone who would choose Lithuania as an enemy has also made an enemy of the United States of America. In the face of aggression, the brave people of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia will never again stand alone. Audience members. Aciu! Aciu! Aciu! The President. You're welcome. Laughter You are needed in the NATO Alliance. You will contribute to our common security. Yet the strength of NATO does not only depend on the might of armies but on the character of men and women. We must be willing to stand in the face of evil, to have the courage to always face danger. The people of the Baltic states have shown these qualities to the world. You have known cruel oppression and withstood it. You were held captive by an empire, and you outlived it. And because you have paid its cost, you know the value of human freedom. Lithuania today is true to its best traditions of democracy and tolerance and religious liberty, and you have earned the respect of my Nation and all nations. Our Alliance of freedom is being tested again by new and terrible dangers. Like the Nazis and the Communists before them, the terrorists seek to end lives and control all life. And like the Nazis and the Communists before them, they will be opposed by free nations, and the terrorists will be defeated. Over a decade ago, hundreds of thousands of Lithuanians, Latvians, and Estonians joined hands, from Tallinn to Vilnius, to show your love for freedom. Near Cathedral Square is a stone commemorating that struggle. Inscribed on that stone is one word, "Miracle." The recent history of the Baltic states truly is a miracle. You've gained your freedom. You have won your independence. You now join a great Alliance, and your miracle goes on. Today, on this great day, may God bless the memory of Lithuanian patriots and freedom fighters who did not live to see this moment. And may God always bless the brave and the free people of Lithuania. Thank you for coming today. May God bless freedom. November 22, 2002 President Putin. Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. In your presence may I once again cordially welcome the President of the United States and his team to Russia. We are very pleased that Mr. President accepted our invitation. And let me say that our conversations and this is exactly the way I'd like to quote this meeting our conversation on the whole range of our bilateral issues and our cooperation in the international arena have been very productive and very, very frank. And we discussed practically everything between the sky and the Earth. We discussed our cooperation in the energy sector, our energy dialog. We discussed our cooperation in the high technology sector. We also inaudible the problem of NATO expansion and the development of relations between Russia and NATO. And of course, we also addressed the problem of terrorism. And of course, we also discussed the prospects for our cooperation on the matters of strategic stability. I think that Mr. President will agree with me and he'll have an opportunity to say what he thinks on this but I think he'll agree with me that our meeting, in this point a very frank meeting, without prepared statements, has been very productive and has been very fruitful. President Bush. Yes, it has. I consider Vladimir Putin one of my good friends. Are you going to translate? Like other good friends I've had throughout my life, we don't agree 100 percent of the time. But we always agree to discuss things in a frank and in a frank way. Every time I come to St. Petersburg, he keeps showing me more and more beautiful rooms. So I'm coming back next May. I always enjoy our conversations. I have just come from NATO. My visit with Vladimir was my first stop after Prague. The mood of the NATO countries is this Russia is our friend we've got a lot of interests together we must continue our cooperation in the war on terror and the expansion of NATO should be welcomed by the Russian people. After all, there are new nations on our border that are members of nations that are new members of NATO but nations pledged to peace and pledged to freedom. But the President was right, we had a we discussed a lot of issues. And I would define our bilateral relations as very good. We might answer a couple of questions. Q. This is a question to both Presidents. President Bush. Okay, fine. Fire away. Russia U.S. Relations NATO At this point, a question was asked in Russian, and no translation was provided. President Putin. As regards partnership, it is on a very high level. And it is very pleasant for me to note that we not only have lost nothing of what has been generated, has been produced by the previous generations of politicians, but we keep going on further. We keep achieving new results, and we are moving ahead very expeditiously and very productively. And I'd like to stress and this is a very important point that the interests of Russia and the United States coincide not only in many economic fields but they are also identical in many strategic areas. As regards our relations with NATO, let me say the following As regards the expansion, you know our position well. We do not believe that this has been necessitated by the existing pact, but we take note of the position taken by the President of the United States, and we hope to have positive development of our relations with all NATO countries. As regards our relationship with the Alliance as a whole, as the Alliance keeps transforming and this is something that Mr. President talked about recently we do not rule out the possibility of deepening our relations with the Alliance. Of course, in the case if the activities of the Alliance are in accord with Russia's national security interests. At least within the Group of 20, we are interacting, are cooperating in a very well way, in a very good way. President Bush. Yes, the Russian NATO Council is very important. But the strategy of NATO is going to be based upon the fact that the cold war is over Russia is a friend Russia is not an enemy. And I told the President, as I was leaving the NATO summit, a lot of leaders came up and asked me to send their personal regards to him. And in terms of our bilateral relations, we'll continue to work to make them as strong as they can possibly be, and there's a lot of areas in trade, in commerce, in energy that we're working together to make progress. I think it's only fair we ask one American. Jim Jim Angle, FOX News . Jim's his name. Abd al Rahim al Nashiri Iraq Q. Thank you, Mr. President. The public now knows that the U.S. has in its custody a terrorist who has the blood of many Americans on his hands, Mr. al Nashiri. How significant is his arrest? And since we see President Putin so rarely, Mr. President, I hope you won't object if I ask President Putin a question as well. And that is, sir, has the U.S. asked you to participate or contribute to any military action in Iraq if it becomes necessary, and what is your view on that? President Bush. A couple of points. First, I want to thank Vladimir and his foreign policy team for working together to pass a strong resolution out of the United Nations on Iraq. Secondly, we did bring to justice a killer. And the message is, we're making war on the we're making progress on the war against terrorists, that we're going to hunt them down one at a time, that it doesn't matter where they hide. As we work with our friends, we will find them and bring them to justice. And America and Russia and people who love freedom are one person safer as a result of us finding this guy. President Putin. I'm very pleased to see the mood the President of the United States is in. It is what we needed. Let me assure you that we will work together, and our work will be effective. Now there is something I would like to draw your attention to. And we ultimately discussed this matter with our U.S. colleagues. We should not give a chance to anyone who is either engaged in terror or is supporting terror. As I understood the second part of your question, concern was has to do with Iraq. We should not forget about those who finance terrorism. Of the 19 terrorists who committed the main attacks on September 11th against the United States, 16 are citizens of Saudi Arabia, and we should not forget about that. Now, where has Usama bin Laden taken refuge? They say that somewhere between Afghanistan and Pakistan. We know what Mr. Musharraf is doing to achieve stability in his country, and we are supporting him. But what can happen with armies armed with weapons that exist in Pakistan, including weapons of mass destruction we are not sure on that aspect, and we should not forget about that. And we agree with the President of the United States and his colleagues who say that we have to make sure that Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction in its possession. Diplomats have carried out a very difficult, a very complex work. And we do believe that we have to stay within the framework of the work being carried out by the Security Council of the United Nations. And we do believe that, together with the United States, we can achieve a positive result. As you know, our recent past gives us we have a example of that kind, and the level achieved in our bilateral relations between Russia and the United States gives us hope that we can achieve such results. President Bush. Thank you all. We've got a plane to catch. Don't keep us waiting. Thank you all. Thank you very much. November 21, 2002 President Bush. I'm really looking forward to visiting with the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Tony Blair. He's a friend he's a strong leader. He and I are bound by the strong conviction that freedom belongs to everybody and that we're going to work together to make the world a more peaceful place. I'm greatly disturbed by the news from the Middle East today. There's been yet another suicide bombing. It is clear that those who want to use terror to stop any process for peace are still active. In order to achieve peace, all countries in that region must be responsible for take responsibility, do their best to fight off terror. And I know the Prime Minister joins me as we mourn the loss of life. But we are going to continue to work toward peace in the Middle East. Two states living side by side in peace is the vision. And we will continue to work with those who share that vision for the sake of the Israeli people and for the sake of the Palestinians. Mr. Prime Minister. Prime Minister Blair. Mr. President, first of all, we're pleased to see you again and exchange views on a range of issues that confront us at the moment. And I entirely agree with what you said a moment or two ago. Our thoughts are obviously with the victims of the latest terrorist outrage in Israel. And the two things that are so clear is that, first of all, we need the action on security and action against terrorism, and secondly, to make progress in building a lasting peace in that region, based, as you say, on the two state solution. It's an issue that I think what is interesting is that the whole world wants to see us now, having take this very firm stand against terrorism, against issues of weapons of mass destruction, but also try and make sure that we can provide a secure future with lasting peace in the Middle East. And I think those issues are all very much linked together. President Bush. We'll take a question apiece. Greg David Gregory, NBC News . Germany U.S. Relations Q. Mr. President, can you tell us if you've had a chance this week to speak with German Chancellor Schroeder yet? President Bush. I did. I had a cordial meeting at that meeting last night. We greeted each other cordially. Q. Can you give us an assessment of the state of U.S. German relations in light of the recent election? President Bush. It's a Germany is an important friend of the United States. And we've got a relationship to maintain, and we will maintain it. Iraq Q. Mr. President, you put a formal request to Britain and other countries to supply troops President Bush. Have we? Q. for a possible conflict in Iraq. President Bush. Is that a question, have we, or an asserted statement? Q. I understood you had President Bush. Oh, I see. Q. and I wonder what your expectation was of what Britain might do. President Bush. Well, my expectation is, is that we can do this peacefully, if Saddam Hussein disarms. That's my expectation. Saddam Hussein has got a decision to make Will he uphold the agreement that he has made? And if he chooses to do so by disarming peacefully, the world will be better off for it. If he chooses not to disarm, we will work with our close friends, the closest of which is Great Britain, and we will disarm him. But our first choice is not to use the military option. Our first choice is for Mr. Saddam Hussein to disarm. And that's where we'll be devoting a lot of our energies. Q. And Prime Minister, you have this request now. You also seem to have a prospect of another fire strike as well. Do you believe that many British troops and reserves are going to have to prepare for a Christmas away from their family celebration in either fighting fires or fighting Saddam Hussein? Prime Minister Blair. We will do what's necessary, both to secure ourselves at home and to make sure that the will of the United Nations is enforced abroad. And I think what you will find here at this NATO summit is a totally united determination on behalf of the international community, reflected in the unanimous United Nations resolution, that Saddam Hussein has to disarm himself of all weapons of mass destruction. And how that happens is a choice for him. We hope and want it to happen through the United Nations inspectors mandated by the whole of the international community. But if he fails to cooperate with them, if he fails to do all he can and it is within his power to help that process of disarmament through the United Nations, then he will be disarmed by force. And that is the clear will of the international community. And I think you will find now that there is a consensus for that position virtually right across the civilized world. Q. Thank you all very much. President Bush. Sure. I'm glad to answer your every request. Laughter Q. How about our every question? President Bush. I don't want you to get used to asking too many questions. I've been answering them all the whole time I've been here, question after question after question. If you were to ask a question, Stretch, what would it have been, so I can think about it for tomorrow? I won't answer it now. Usama bin Laden Q. What's your reaction to the confirmation of bin Laden being alive on the tape? President Bush. Thank you. I've got a formulated answer. Laughter November 20, 2002 President Havel. I am very grateful to President Bush for coming to the present NATO summit one day earlier in order to pay some kind of a working visit to the Czech Republic. He is the third President of the United States who has come to visit us in the 13 years since the collapse of the Iron Curtain, and I believe that this is a telling feature of the quality of our relationship. In our first conversation that has just ended, we have touched upon several issues, although, of course, not on all the issues that we would like to discuss. President Bush explained the position of the United States on Iraq, and I made it clear that I believe that if this issue is discussed within the NATO deliberations, as it obviously will be, that I would deem it desirable if the outcome of this discussion was reflected in some way in the final documents. We also raised the subject of transformation of the North Atlantic Alliance, and I believe that there was full agreement between us on this matter. I have made every effort to extend a truly cordial welcome to President Bush, and I will extend an equally cordial reception to all of the prominent guests coming for this summit. Perhaps the heart that is now shining above Prague Castle may represent a sign of this cordiality with which the Czech Republic and me, personally, receive the distinguished guests coming to the summit meeting. President Bush. Mr. President, thank you for your hospitality. I want to thank you, and I want to thank the Czech people for welcoming not only me and our delegation but welcoming many of the leaders of the world to a city which is recovering from devastating floods. The fact that you were able to host us in such fine fashion speaks to the great character of the Czech people. And speaking about character, your life has shown that a person who dedicates himself to freedom can literally change the course of a nation and change the course of history. And I'm honored to be in your presence again. The people of the Czech Republic must understand that your President is greatly admired in America. I'm proud to call you friend. Before I make a few comments, I do want to say something for domestic consumption, if that's all right with you. Yesterday, the United States Senate voted overwhelmingly to better protect America and voted overwhelmingly to help people find work. And I want to thank the Members of the United States Senate for working with this administration to do the right thing for the American people. And tomorrow we vote on whether or not to expand NATO. I strongly support a Europe which is whole, free, and at peace. I welcome the idea of countries joining NATO whose history has taught them the need to protect freedom at all costs, countries whose admission to NATO will invigorate our Alliance. The admission of these countries will not only help us militarily achieve peace, but the admission of these countries will affect the soul of this most important Alliance. We did talk about Iraq. There is universal recognition that Saddam Hussein is a threat to world peace. There's clear understanding that he must disarm in the name of peace. And we hope he chooses to do so. Tomorrow we'll discuss the issue. We'll consider what happens if he chooses not to disarm. But one thing is certain He'll be disarmed, one way or the other, in the name of peace. We also talked about NATO capabilities. We recognize it's a hard task to change the military strategy of this important Alliance. As I explained to the President, I've tried eliminating some weapons systems in the United States. It is a difficult job. But it is a necessary job to transform our strategy, our military strategy, to meet the true threats we face. The enemy is not Russia. The enemy is global terrorists who hate freedom. And together we can work to defeat that enemy, in the name of freedom. Mr. President, thank you for having us. This is an historic meeting, an historic city, an historic country, led by an historic figure. We'll answer some questions. Czech U.S. Relations Iraq Moderator. The first one. Czech Radio. Q. I have one question for President Bush, and a second question for President Havel. President Bush, you have said some lofty words here. The Czech Republic President Bush. I said some what? Q. Lofty words. Laughter President Bush. No one has ever accused me of being a poet before, but thank you. Laughter Q. The Czech Republic has been a member of NATO for 3 years now. For 3 years, we have been an ally of the United States. Are we, to your mind, a good ally, and do you count on us in a war with Iraq? And the question for President Havel, 12 years ago you met in these halls with the father of the President of the United States, President George Bush, the elder. Now you are meeting with his son. The situation both in the Czech Republic and in the United States has changed fairly substantially in those 12 years. Have the relations between the two countries changed as well? President Bush. Well, first, the Czech Republic is not only a good ally it's a great ally. I can say that with confidence because I have heard the President speak about this country's commitment to freedom and peace. And the first test of that friendship came right after September the 11th. The world for our country changed on September the 11th, and the Czech Republic responded quickly. Secondly, as to Iraq, it's very important for our nations, as well as all free nations, to work collectively to see to it that Saddam Hussein disarms. If the collective will of the world is strong, we can achieve disarmament peacefully. However, should he choose not to disarm, the United States will lead a coalition of the willing to disarm him. And at that point in time, all our nations we will consult with our friends, and all nations will be able to choose whether or not they want to participate. President Havel. President Bush, the elder, and I met during very dramatic times, and we have forged a lasting bond of friendship. In fact, I twice visited him at Kennebunkport after he left office. And I trust that after I leave office, which will be quite soon, my friendship with George Bush, the younger, will continue just as well. As for the relationship between our two states, I believe that they have not only been gradually improved and have grown stronger, but they have developed into something that is actually taken for granted now, especially by the younger generation. And I believe that we do share a great deal of mutual confidence. NATO Iraq Germany President Bush. Ron. Moderator. Ron Fournier of the Associated Press. Q. Mr. President, you just talked about the collective will of the world, and I'm wondering inaudible you said you hope NATO comes along President Bush. You hope what? Q. You said that you hope NATO comes along with you and Saddam Hussein will disarm one way or another. And yet, I don't hear any discussion about NATO collectively taking up arms against Iraq should war be necessary. Why is that? Why settle for just niche contributions from individual allies? And also, what role do you see Germany President Bush. What role do I see Q. What role do you see Germany taking in a war against Iraq? President Bush. Well, first, thank you for the "if we should go to war against Iraq." War is my last choice, my last option. I hope we can do this peacefully. It is possible that Saddam Hussein gets the message that we're serious about disarmament and he should fully disarm. That's possible. The possibility becomes more real if he understands that there is a true consequence for his failure to disarm. And there is a true consequence. There's a serious consequence, as the U.N. resolution addresses. Now, you asked about two different parts of NATO. First, by "niche" I mean that in order for there to be an effective NATO, some countries can specialize and provide excellence. And the classic example is the Czech Republic's ability to deal with biological weapons, the aftermath of a biological weapon attack. The Czech Republic is one of the very best in the world at a chemical and biological response capability. And that's what I was referring to when I talked about the capacity of each country to contribute a part of an effective strategy, a military strategy, as we head into the 21st century. It's a vision which is yet to be implemented, but it's a vision which will be discussed here in Prague. Of course, the key reason we're here is to talk about NATO expansion and the benefits of NATO expansion, not only to encourage the spread of freedom in Europe but also to be able to deal with the true threats we face in order to defend our freedoms. And my answer, as far as Iraq goes, is exactly what I've said previously If the decision is made to use military force, we will consult with our friends, and we hope that our friends will join us. And as to Germany's role, it's a decision Germany will make, just like it's a decision the Czech Republic will make, just like it's a decision Great Britain will make. It's a decision that each country must decide as to how, if, and when they want to participate and how they choose to participate. The point is, is that we will have plenty of consultations with our friends. Future of NATO Iraq Moderator. Inaudible Q. Again, one question for President Bush the next question for President Havel. President Bush, what do you expect will change after the Prague NATO summit in the Euro Atlantic relationship? What will be the United States expecting from NATO? And on the other hand, what do you think that the NATO Allies will expect from the United States? And a question for President Havel. Do you think that a clear commitment to take an action against Iraq will be expressed at this NATO summit? And will you support such as that? President Bush. Well, first, I think our NATO partners should expect a continued positive and active presence in this most importance Alliance from the United States. Our country is committed to NATO. A strong and vibrant NATO is in the best interest of America, so we'll be active and good partners. And we expect the same from our NATO friends. But it's very important for us to recognize that in order for NATO to be relevant as we go into the future, the military capacities of NATO must be altered to meet the true threats we face. NATO must transition from an organization that was formed to meet the threats from a Warsaw Pact to a military organization meant structured to meet the threats from global terrorists. And the people of the Czech Republic should understand that the threat from global terrorists is real. These people hate freedom. They are coldblooded killers who will take innocent life in the name of a hijacked religion. Ours is a war not against a religion, not against the Muslim faith, but ours is a war against individuals who absolutely hate what America stands for and hate the freedom of the Czech Republic. And therefore, we must work together to defend ourselves. And by remaining strong and united and tough, we'll prevail. President Havel. I share the opinion of President Bush, and of all reasonable people, that it would be better to achieve Iraq's disarmament without using force. If, however, the need to use force does arise, I believe that NATO should give an honest and speedy consideration to its engagement as an alliance. Let us realize that it is not the United States but the European part of the Alliance that directly borders on that country, and I believe that this kind of a test of its attitude, of its capability to reach agreement, and of its operative capabilities might be, at the same time, a test of its new identity and of its meaning in the world of today. Moderator. Final question. Steve Holland, Reuters. Q. Mr. President, you've said that you have a zero tolerance attitude toward Iraqi violations. Secretary Rumsfeld and Kofi Annan say they're looking for a pattern of behavior over time. Which is right? How do you reconcile these two? President Bush. Well, I think there is we were talking about whether or not Saddam Hussein, you know, shooting at our airplanes, what that means we'll deal with that. The United States will take appropriate action. The thing that's important to for people to understand is, what we want to see is whether or not he's going to cooperate, whether or not he's heard what the world has said whether or not he's heard what the world has said through the U.N. Security Council resolution. See, what happens is, people tend to focus on the inspectors as if the inspectors are the end. The final the thing that's important, the final point of determination is whether or not he is disarmed. So, what we're going to be looking for, and I hope the world joins us, is whether or not this man is cooperating with the will of the world. See, the world has recognized many members of NATO have recognized that a Saddam Hussein and Iraq which possesses weapons of mass destruction is dangerous. Imagine a Saddam Hussein with a nuclear weapon. It's important for the Czech people to understand this is guy who has poisoned his own people. He's got such hate in his heart, he's willing to use a weapon of mass destruction not only on his neighborhood but on the people of his country. He is a danger. And so, therefore, what we're looking for is to determine whether or not he is willing to cooperate, whether or not he has got the message that he must disarm. The United Nations has said 16 different times, "You must disarm." And 16 times, he's said, "Oh, of course, I will," but never did. And so, the game's over with. We're through with that. And now he's going to disarm, one way or the other. In the name of peace, he will be disarmed. Thank you all. November 20, 2002 Thank you all very much for that warm welcome. It's an honor to be here in Prague, home to so much of Europe's history and culture and the scene of so much courage in the service of freedom. After the recent floods, I know it's been tough on the citizens of the Czech Republic to not only recover, but to host this important gathering. So, on behalf of all the American delegation and all the Americans who are here, I express our gratitude for the fantastic hospitality we received. We thank the Czech people and their leadership for working hard to make sure this summit is a successful summit, and we wish them all the very best. I want to thank Jimmy for his kind words. Really proud of Jimmy, and we're proud to have him at West Point. He's a credit to the Academy he's a credit to the people of Lithuania. And we wish him all the very best. I want to thank Alan Lee Williams, Antonio Borges Carvalho, for their tremendous work at the Atlantic Treaty Association. I'm grateful to Christopher Makins, who's the president of the Atlantic Council of the United States, for organizing this event. I want to thank Tom Dine, president of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, for joining us. I want to thank all the good folks who work there for joining us as well. I appreciate your service. Dwight Eisenhower said this of Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty "The simplest and clearest charter in the world is what you have, which is to tell the truth." And for more than 50 years, the charter has been faithfully executed, and it's the truth that sets this continent free. I'm honored to be traveling with members of my senior staff the Secretary of State of the United States Colin Powell, who's done such a fantastic job for our country and for world peace Condoleezza Rice, who's my National Security Advisor, is here Chief of Staff Andy Card, Ambassador Nick Burns to NATO a few others who I don't particularly want to recognize for fear of damaging my reputation laughter but all of them doing a great job. Thank you all for coming. I also want to recognize Members of the Congress who are here. I'm thrilled to see Members of the Senate. I thought you were voting. Laughter But Senators Frist and Voinovich and their wives are with us. I see Lantos yes Gallegly Elton, good to see you, buddy, from California. Who else? That's it, two Members of the House, two Members of the Senate. Thank you all for coming. I'm honored you're here. This NATO summit that convenes tomorrow will be the first ever held at the capital of a Warsaw Pact. The days of the Warsaw Pact seem distant they must seem to you. After all, the Warsaw Pact ended a half a lifetime ago for you. It was a dark and distant era. The years since have brought great challenge and great hope to all of the countries on this continent. And tomorrow in Prague we will have reached a decisive moment, an historic moment, for tomorrow we will invite new members into our Alliance. It's a bold decision, to guarantee the freedom of millions of people. At the summit, we'll make the most significant reforms in NATO since 1949, reforms which will allow our Alliance to effectively confront new dangers. And in the years to come, all of the nations of Europe will determine their place in world events. They will take up global responsibilities or choose to live in isolation from the challenges of our time. As for America, we made our choice. We are committed to work toward world peace, and we're committed to a close and permanent partnership with the nations of Europe. The Atlantic Alliance is America's most important global relationship. We're tied to Europe by history. We are tied to Europe by the wars of liberty we have fought and won together. We're joined by broad ties of trade. And America is bound to Europe by the deepest convictions of our common culture, our belief in the dignity of every life and our belief in the power of conscience to move history. In this city and town squares across the Czech Republic are monuments to Jan Hus who said this "Stand in the truth you have learned, for it conquers all and is mighty to eternity." That ideal has given life to the Czech Republic, and it is shared by the Republic I lead. America believes that a strong, confident Europe is good for the world. We welcome the economic integration of Europe. We believe that integration will extend prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic. We welcome a democratic Russia as part of this new Europe, because a free and peaceful Russia will add to the security of this continent. We welcome the growing unity of Europe in commerce and currency and military cooperation, which is closing a long history of rivalry and violence. This continent, wounded by nazism and communism, is becoming peaceful and secure and democratic for the first time. And now that the countries of Europe are united in freedom, they will no longer fight each other and bring war to the rest of the world. Because America supports a more united Europe, we strongly support the enlargement of NATO, now and in the future. Every European democracy that seeks NATO membership and is ready to share in NATO's responsibilities should be welcome in our Alliance. The enlargement of NATO is good for all who join us. The standards for membership are high, and they encourage the hard work of political and economic and military reform. And nations in the family of NATO, old or new, know this Anyone who would choose you for an enemy also chooses us for an enemy. Never again in the face of aggression will you stand alone. A larger NATO is good for Russia as well. Later this week I will visit St. Petersburg. I will tell my friend Vladimir Putin and the Russian people that they too will gain from the security and stability of nations to Russia's west. Russia does not require a buffer zone of protection. It needs peaceful and prosperous neighbors who are also friends. We need a strong and democratic Russia as our friend and partner to face the next century's new challenges. Through the NATO Russia Council we must increase our cooperation with Russia for the security of all of us. Expansion of NATO also brings many advantages to the Alliance, itself. Every new member contributes military capabilities that add to our common security. We see this already in Afghanistan, for forces from Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and others have joined with 16 NATO Allies to help defeat global terror. And every new member of our Alliance makes a contribution of character. Tomorrow NATO grows larger. Tomorrow the soul of Europe grows stronger. Members recently added to NATO and those invited to join bring greater clarity to purposes of our Alliance, because they understand the lessons of the last century. Those with fresh memories of tyranny know the value of freedom. Those who have lived through a struggle of good against evil are never neutral between them. Czechs and Slovaks learned through the harsh experience of 1938 that when great democracies fail to confront danger, greater dangers follow. And the people of the Baltics learned that aggression left unchecked by the great democracies can rob millions of their liberty and their lives. In Central and Eastern Europe the courage and moral vision of prisoners and exiles and priests and playwrights caused tyrants to fall. This spirit now sustains these nations through difficult reforms. And this spirit is needed in the councils of a new Europe. Our NATO Alliance faces dangers very different from those it was formed to confront, yet never has our need for collective defense been more urgent. The Soviet Union is gone, but freedom still has enemies. We're threatened by terrorism. Bred within failed states, it's present within our own cities. We're threatened by the spread of chemical and biological and nuclear weapons which are produced by outlaw regimes and could be delivered either by missile or terrorist cell. For terrorists and terrorist states, every free nation every free nation is a potential target, including the free nations of Europe. We're making progress on this, the first war of the 21st century. Today, more than 90 nations are joined in a global coalition to defeat terror. We're sharing intelligence. We're freezing the assets of terror groups. We're pursuing the terrorists wherever they plot and train. And we're finding them and bringing them to justice, one person at a time. Today, the world is also uniting to answer the unique and urgent threat posed by Iraq. A dictator who has used weapons of mass destruction on his own people must not be allowed to produce or possess those weapons. We will not permit Saddam Hussein to blackmail and or terrorize nations which love freedom. Last week Saddam Hussein accepted U.N. inspectors. We've heard those pledges before and seen them violated time and time again. We now call an end to that game of deception and deceit and denial. Saddam Hussein has been given a very short time to declare completely and truthfully his arsenal of terror. Should he again deny that this arsenal exists, he will have entered his final stage with a lie. And deception this time will not be tolerated. Delay and defiance will invite the severest of consequences. America's goal, the world's goal is more than the return of inspectors to Iraq. Our goal is to secure the peace through the comprehensive and verified disarmament of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction. Voluntary or by force, that goal will be achieved. To meet all of this century's emerging threats, from terror camps in remote regions to hidden laboratories of outlaw regimes, NATO must develop new military capabilities. NATO forces must become better able to fight side by side. Those forces must be more mobile and more swiftly deployed. The Allies need more special operations forces, better precision strike capabilities, and more modern command structures. Few NATO members will have state ofthe art capabilities in all of these areas. I recognize that. But every nation should develop some. Ours is a military alliance, and every member must make a military contribution to that alliance. For some Allies, this will require higher defense spending. For all of us, it will require more effective defense spending, with each nation adding the tools and technologies to fight and win a new kind of war. And because many threats to the NATO members come from outside of Europe, NATO forces must be organized to operate outside of Europe. When forces were needed quickly in Afghanistan, NATO's options were limited. We must build new capabilities, and we must strengthen our will to use those capabilities. The United States proposes the creation of a NATO response force that will bring together well equipped, highly ready air, ground, and sea forces from NATO Allies, old and new. This force will be prepared to deploy on short notice wherever it is needed. A NATO response force will take time to create, and we should begin that effort here in Prague. Yet, security against new threats requires more than just new capabilities. Free nations must accept our shared obligations to keep the peace. The world needs the nations of this continent to be active in the defense of freedom, not inward looking or isolated by indifference. Ignoring dangers or excusing aggression may temporarily avert conflict, but they don't bring true peace. International stability must be actively defended, and all nations that benefit from that stability have a duty to help. In this noble work, America and the strong democracies of Europe need each other, each playing our full and responsible role. The good we can do together is far greater than the good we can do apart. Great evil is stirring in the world. Many of the young here are coming up in a different world, different era, a different time, a different series of threats. We face perils we've never thought about, perils we've never seen before. But they're dangerous. They're just as dangerous as those perils that your fathers and mothers and grandfathers and grandmothers faced. The hopes of all mankind depend on the courage and the unity of great democracies. In this hour of challenge, NATO will do what it has done before We will stand firm against the enemies of freedom, and we'll prevail. The transatlantic ties of Europe and America have met every test of history, and we intend to again. U boats could not divide us. The threats and standoffs of the cold war did not make us weary. The commitment of my Nation to Europe is found in the carefully tended graves of young Americans who died for this continent's freedom. That commitment is shown by the thousands in uniforms still serving here, from the Balkans to Bavaria, still willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for this continent's future. For 100 years, place names of Europe have often stood for conflict and tragedy and loss. Single words evoke sad and bitter experience Verdun, Munich, Stalingrad, Dresden, Nuremberg, and Yalta. We have no power to rewrite history. We do have the power to write a different story for our time. When future generations look back at this moment and speak of Prague and what we did here, that name will stand for hope. In Prague, young democracies will gain new security a grand alliance will gather its strength and find new purpose. And America and Europe will renew the historic friendship that still keeps the peace of the world. Thank you for your interest. May God bless you all. November 19, 2002 Senator Trent Lott. Inaudible The President. Well, I appreciate that, Trent. And I want to thank you all for working hard. We're making great progress in the war on terror. Part of that progress will be the ability for us to protect the American people at home. This is a very important piece of legislation. It is landmark in its scope, and it ends a session which has been 2 years' worth of legislative work, which has been very productive for the American people. Senator Lott. Inaudible The President. Well, I want to thank you all. It is an honor to be representing the greatest country on the face of the Earth over in Europe. And we're going to have an historic day on Thursday when we go to expand NATO. The people of Europe appreciate America. They appreciate our strength, and most importantly, they appreciate our compassion and our love for freedom. And I know you all share that side of America with me. Again, I want to thank all the Senators in the room there for your hard work and look forward to seeing you when I get back. Senator Lott. Inaudible The President. All right, well thank Senator Lott. Inaudible The President. I think that's important. Trent, that piece of legislation will help put hardhats back to work, and that's going to be good, and I appreciate you working on that as well. Senator Lott. Inaudible The President. I need to hear a Texas voice. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. Inaudible Senator Don Nickles. Inaudible The President. Oh, that's good news. Well, thanks. Thanks for your good work, and I certainly appreciate it all. Senator Lott. Inaudible The President. Okay, sir. Thank you all very much. Bye bye. November 18, 2002 Chechnya Q. Mr. President, did the October hostage crisis in Moscow change the U.S. position on Chechnya? The President. No, our position on Chechnya is, we hope this can get solved peacefully, that this is an issue within Russia, and that I will continue to work with Vladimir Putin as best as I can to encourage him for there to be a peaceful resolution with the Chechnyan issue, the larger issue. On the other hand, I recognize that anytime terrorists come to take life, a leader must step forward. And the fact that 800 citizens could have been killed by terrorists put my friend Vladimir Putin in a very difficult situation. And he handled it as best he could. He did what he had to do to save life. And people I heard somebody the other day blame Russia. No, the people to blame are the terrorists. They need to be held account. I believe you can do both. I believe you can hold terrorists to account, killers to account, and at the same time solve difficult situations in a peaceful way. Former President Aslan Maskhadov of Chechnya Q. Mr. President, you say the leader has to come forward. So President Putin said that the leader of the Chechen group that took hostages, he was linked with former President Maskhadov of Chechnya, and that actually Maskhadov was aware of it. And therefore, President Putin said Maskhadov is an international terrorist. The President. Well, I haven't had a chance to talk to Vladimir Putin about these connections. But I am aware of the fact that there are killers moving around the world interested in holding people hostage, Governments hostage, and that we must work together to bring people to justice. It's one of the reasons why I'm working very closely with the Georgians, and I'm pleased to see Vladimir Putin is working with Mr. Shevardnadze to come up with a common strategy to route out the killers, the Al Qaida type killers, which may be hiding in the Pankisi Gorge with one thing in mind, to bring instability to Russia. And so we're working together as best as we possibly can to bring people to justice. Q. But in the West people very often, in the United States in particular, say that one of the partners is Mr. Maskhadov in that political solution. After the October crisis, is that still an issue? The President. Well, I haven't had a chance to talk to Vladimir and see the facts that he's talking about. He obviously knows you know, has got some information that we can talk about in St. Petersburg, and I look forward to discussing it with him. Pankisi Gorge Terrorists Russia U.S. Cooperation in the War on Terror Q. Well, Mr. President, you mentioned Georgia. President Putin immediately after the October crisis said that from now on, Russia is going to hit every terrorist target wherever it is that means even abroad. Is that all right? The President. Well, it depends on what you mean by "hit every target" depending abroad. I mean, you know, I think what he's saying is, we're going to redouble our efforts to work together to bring people to justice. And that's what we're doing in Georgia. I have told Mr. Shevardnadze that if you know, it's very important for him to be collaborative and to be prepared to bring people to justice if there are killers hiding in the Pankisi Gorge with the intent upon bringing wreaking havoc in Russia or anywhere else, for that matter. They must be brought to justice. And slowly but surely, we're finding these people around the world. This is a different kind of war, see that's what's unique. In the old days, we would fight armies that had tanks and airplanes and ships. These people are the kind of people that hide in caves and send people to their suicidal deaths. And so it requires a different kind of effort. It requires sharing of intelligence, cutting off money, having specially trained troops to go into dark caves or the dark corners of the world and bring these people to justice. You speak in the language of the old war. This is a war that requires a precise understanding of where these people hide, and the willingness to discuss intelligence like we've never discussed before to hunt them down. And that's what we're doing with Russia. I mean, our intelligence sharing is much better than it ever has been before. And it's going to be good for both our peoples. And I keep reminding the American people that Russia is our friend and we're working in collaboration to hunt down those who would kind of hide in the shadowy corners and bring them to justice. Russian Interests in Iraq Q. Mr. President, one question on Iraq The President. Sure. Q. which is now very sort of hot issue. If push comes to shove and a military solution is necessary, and if the current regime, Saddam Hussein's regime, is going to be toppled, are Russian economic interests going to be considered? The President. Well, first, I hope that all the ifs don't happen. I mean, I hope that Mr. Saddam Hussein disarms, like he said he would do. But the problem is, he said he would do it for 11 years, and he hasn't done anything for 11 years. I mean, in the name of peace he should disarm. And so we're working with Russia and other members of the United Nations Security Council to send a clear message to Mr. Saddam Hussein that we expect you to disarm. If he doesn't disarm, then we'll disarm him in the name of peace. And of course, we'll be interested in all interests. We have no desire to run the show, to run the country. We will work to encourage the development of new leadership, should this happen, that will recognize the rights of all citizens that live in this country, that will keep the territorial integrity of Iraq intact. And we understand Russia has got interests there, as do other countries. And of course, those interests will be honored. Q. Thank you very much, Mr. President. The President. I'm glad you're here. November 18, 2002 The President. So here's what we're going to do. I'll say a few comments, and we'll kind of do the loop until we run out of time. First, I'm really looking forward to this trip. I think it's going to be historic. You'll ask me who I'm voting for, for expansion I'm not going to tell you. You'll find out on Thursday. I say that because that's what we've all agreed to. But if you're interested in knowing my philosophy toward the Prague summit, then you need only look as far as the speech I gave in Warsaw, Poland, that talked about a Europe whole, free, and at peace. I believe NATO expansion and in that speech, you'd see that I talked about NATO expansion as good for America, because a Europe whole, free, and at peace is good for America. I am believe in the spirit of the countries that we're talking about. I believe in their spirit. These are countries that have lived under totalitarianism, and they understand the value of freedom. And they love freedom, and I love that spirit. I think that's going to be a very important part of invigorating the Alliance. The Alliance is a crucial alliance. It's a strong alliance. We're going into a new period. And the idea of having members that are willing to shoulder their share of the burden of keeping the peace with the new threats is good, but and this spirit of understanding what totalitarianism can mean and understanding the responsibilities of being free nations that come with being a free nation is very important at this summit. So I'm really looking forward to it. It's I'm excited to go to countries that have invited me to come. I look forward to the events. And so, with that, I'll answer some questions. Why don't we start here? You are from? President's Upcoming Visit to Romania Q. Yes, sir. I am from Romania. The President. That's good. Q. Sir, the Romanian people waited for the Americans after the World War II. We've waited for you almost 60 years. You know, the farmers were raising the corn in such a way that the American planes could land. That happened in '45 and the fifties. Now, for my parents, it might be a little bit late, but for my 11 years daughter, it might have a chance. You're coming to Bucharest next Saturday. This time are the Americans really coming to Romania? The President. Great question. No more Munichs. No more Yaltas. America I come to your country because I believe that Romania is an important part of a Europe which is whole and free and at peace. The story of Romania is a powerful story, of people taking charge of their own lives, of At this point, a tape recorder stopped. The President. We had a click here, in case anybody is interested. This one right here. Poor planning? Laughter Nobody claims it? Shouldn't have said poor planning. This is nobody's? Q. Might be mine. The President. It's yours? Q. Yes. If it's out, it's out. That's okay. Laughter The President. You don't want if you've got to, turn it over. Getting quite articulate there. Laughter A lot of us watched the story of your country ridding yourselves of a totalitarian dictator, and it was a powerful story. But the story didn't end there. The story ended with a desire for freedom and democracy and open markets. And the answer to your question is, absolutely. That's what the whole Prague summit is about All for one, and one for all. We remember here in our country when, after the attacks of September the 11th, NATO stood up and said, "An attack on the United States is an attack on us." I will say the same thing about Romania and Lithuania and the Czech Republic and anybody else that might be a member of NATO. And that's what I feel. I appreciate that question. That's your question is one of the reasons I look so forward to going to Romania Q. Thank you, sir. The President. to be able to provide that assurance in what is going to be a, as I understand it, magnificent event where, on the one hand, I will be able to point to statues of heroic liberators, people who believed in freedom, that freedom was ingrained in their soul, and on the other hand, point to a balcony where the dictator had his he realized reality. It's as a matter of fact, I was looking at my speech last night. End of the Cold War Q. I'm from Lithuania, and Lithuania was recognized 11 years ago by your father, President Bush The President. Forty one, we call him. Q. who took an active role in managing the collapse of the Soviet Union. How do you recall these times? The President. Yes. Well, first, I want I remember that, in terms of the Baltic states, that our country always viewed the Baltics as independent. During the Soviet era, we viewed the Baltics as independent. Secondly, I recall the times leading up to the collapse of the Soviet leadership, not only with my dad's actions as President but those of Ronald Reagan as well, where there was clarity of thought, that there was no equivocation when it came to issues such as freedom. And I keep saying that word because it is an issue that we face collectively today in other parts of the world. Freedom is essentially a human condition. It's not an American gift. It is God's gift to the world. I believe that. I believe that everybody the Almighty recognizes, through His mercy and grace, that people are the freedom of each individual. Everybody counts. Everybody is precious. It was exciting times for Americans to watch the change in the Soviet Union, because it meant that the days of significant animosity could be ending. A lot of us grew up when the two big countries were fierce enemies, and the rest of the world watched to see whether or not there would be war and watched many times in horror as to whether or not there would be war, because the consequences of war between the Soviet Union and America would have been devastating for a lot of people. It looked like that, to us, that the collapse of the Soviet Union would provide an opportunity for peace. That's the most significant that's the most exciting thing for me, that the relationship would be changed. I'm honored to be in a position to help further the change of the relationship. I'll answer the Russian journalist's question in a minute I'm not going to anticipate it but I am going, after Prague, immediately to Russia for a reason. And anyway, it was exciting times for us. But the exciting the true excitement is going to come when the people of the Baltics realize the world has changed dramatically, and it finally has changed dramatically in many ways, that Russia is not an enemy, that the United States is not an enemy of Russia, that the United States is still a friend of the Baltics. But most importantly, the Baltic people have got an opportunity now to realize their full potential. And that was what was 11 years ago we first saw, and it's an honor to be a continuing part of that history. Yes, sir. Chechnya War on Terror Q. Mr. President, I would like to ask you a question regarding Chechnya. The President. Sure. Q. I guess it will be one of the topics you will discuss with Mr. Putin The President. Absolutely. Q. Do you believe that after the latest events mainly, after hostage in Moscow and after the statements made by Usama bin Laden raising the terrorist acts in Bali and Moscow, do you believe, Mr. President, that you can understand better this red terrorists pose to Russia? And would you agree would you agree with President Putin, who says that the Chechen kind of terrorism vis a vis Russia is of the same nature as the Al Qaida terrorism to the United States? The President. Right. You didn't ask the question I thought you were going to ask. I'm going to Russia to make it clear to the Russians and to Vladimir Putin, they have nothing to fear from NATO expansion, that a Baltic the Baltics in NATO are positive for Russia. Now, my answer to your question I thought you were going to ask why I'm going to St. Petersburg. Anyway laughter and I'm going I didn't hesitate when Vladimir and I talked about my trip to St. Petersburg, that it was very important for me to go there. And it was important for me say explain why I think it's a positive development. Terrorism first of all, I've got a good friend in the fight against terrorism in Vladimir Putin. He understands the stakes,MDNM and so do I. He understands that as you embrace freedom and embrace change and that there will be people who resent that and want to impose their will. Secondly, I thought that at the theater that he was confronted with a very difficult situation. Eight hundred people were were going to lose their lives. Clearly, these people were killers, just like the killers that came to America. There's a common a common thread, that anytime anybody is willing to take innocent life for a so called cause, they must be dealt with. And he made some very tough decisions. And people tried to blame Vladimir they ought to blame the terrorists. They're the ones who caused the situation, not President Putin. Thirdly, I believe Chechnya can I hope that Chechnya can be solved peacefully, that there's ways to discuss the political dialog in such a way that this issue can be solved peacefully. Thirdly, to the extent that there are Al Qaida members infiltrating Russia, they need to be dealt with they need to be brought to justice. And I you know, when Usama, praising these the Muslim attacks in Chechnya, it's clear that there is an Al Qaida interest. That's why we're working so hard in Georgia with the Georgians to, one, encourage a dialog between Shevardnadze and President Putin, and two, develop a joint strategy to deal with the Al Qaida members which may be in the Pankisi Gorge. And so but I will continue to talk to Vladimir about the need to protect and recognize the rights of minorities within any country and at the same time deal with terrorism. And I hope he can find that balance. I think he can. Czech Republic and NATO Q. Mr. President, how do you assess the performance of the Czech Republic in NATO in preparation for this summit? The President. Yes, well, first of all, they've been valuable members of NATO. I was able to express that to your President in his recent visit who, by the way, is an outstanding human being and is highly respected and highly regarded in all of America. NATO has been I mean, the Czech Republic has been a was unhesitating in its support of Article 5 in NATO, for which I am grateful. Every conversation I've had with the President, he has been nothing more than anxious for the Czech Republic to perform its role within NATO. The interesting thing let me give you kind of a broader statement about what you'll see at the Prague summit is that everybody has got something to contribute in the military capacities of NATO to deal with the new threats. And the Czech Republic certainly is such a country. There's going to be I guess, the best word will be specialization there needs to be a specialization as we develop the military capacity to deal with the true threat. Russia is not a threat, and therefore, the military strategies of NATO need to be changed to recognize that new reality. Russia is Russia is a friend, not an enemy. NATO was formed because of the Warsaw Pact. The Warsaw Pact doesn't exist and, therefore, now but there is a threat to all of us. And that is the threat in the form of international and global terrorism, which we must be able to deal with. The Czech Republic understands that. They're willing to help specialize. And it's up to the Czech Republic to determine that along with Lord Robertson and his strategy to determine how best to meet with the threats we face. Obviously, we've had good relations with the intelligence service of the Czech Republic, which is one of the key ingredients in order to fight terror. If you know somebody is thinking about doing something to us or we know somebody is thinking about doing something to you, we share intelligence. We've got good intelligence sharing with Russia, by the way, now, because of the joint threat of global terror. It's a key ingredient in order to make sure we're able to find the new enemy. The enemy doesn't travel in army formations. They're killers. They take theaters. They crash airplanes into buildings. They bomb resorts. And we must know as much about their whereabouts and their plans as possible, in order to find them and bring them to justice. And therefore, there needs to be a different attitude about the threats we face. In terms of the Prague summit, I am mindful of what happens when the U.S. President shows up at times. I mean, it is you know, there is going to be a lot of noise and clamor. But I'm actually confident that the Czech Republic will do a fine job. It is a big deal that this city of Prague hosts this, and nations from all over Europe coming and plus the Canadians and ourselves. I'm sure there's going to be people who are willing to express their voices, that maybe perhaps think NATO something about NATO is not the way they like it, or whatever it may be. We believe in free speech. Hopefully, they'll have an opportunity to speak freely in a way that's not that doesn't promote violence. But the thing that impresses me most about the Czech Republic and its Government is, in spite of the terrible flood, devastating floods, that this Government and these people are anxious to host this meeting and will be able to do so in a great way. And it shows the great character of the people, to rise above the devastation to be able to host this summit. So I'm really looking forward to it. I can't wait to get there and will be there soon. Romania and NATO Q. Mr. President, what symbol would you associate to Romania on the new NATO map? I mean, where is the place of Romania in this new NATO map? The President. How do you mean, what's the place? What do you mean well, first of all, you're getting me caught if these countries get in laughter . But the fact that I'm going to your country I guess says something. Laughter Q. We hope so. The President. Right now I'm off the record. Anyway laughter first of all, the map is more than just countries on a piece of paper the map is an attitude. It's an attitude that says that we want to work toward open markets and open societies and transparency and fight corruption. We want to participate in the global war against terror in a way that we're capable of doing so. Physically, of course, Romania will be the leading edge of Europe extending its reach into Eastern Europe. And it's a significant reach. It is today, it's interesting, the Vice President and I were being briefed on an issue, and we looked at the map, and the Vice President said, "I have trouble adjusting to the actual map of NATO." In other words, the point was that NATO now NATO's reach is far east. And Romania represents that eastern reach. So physically it's a significant statement of the power of an alliance and the willingness of a people to adopt the habits necessary to have a free society. It's I think that's probably the most significant thing about the NATO map. It's an attitude. It's the soul of NATO, like I described earlier. But it's the presence of Romania really recognizes the change. And it's a significant change. It's an historic this will be an historic day, our meeting on one day Thursday, I think is the day in which the decision will be actually announced. Lithuania Q. Although Mr. President, although, yes recognize the annexation and occupation of Lithuanian, to most Americans our country was unknown territory for a long time. And can you recall, when did you first and what hear about Lithuania? And what did you think of Lithuania at that time? And what do you think now? The President. Well, there's a lot of Lithuanian Americans who kept the hope alive of a free and independent Lithuania in America, not so much in my home State of Texas, mainly in the Midwest. And I think a lot of people took pity on the people of Lithuania, given the circumstances. And the Government took its position. But there was a patience by our leadership that eventually freedom would prevail. Lithuania is kind of a it's got kind of a all the Baltics, for that matter have got an interesting kind of romance because it's a small country. It's totally overwhelmed, divided up. It's kind of handed out as pieces of a pieces of a settlement that saddened a lot of Americans. But nobody ever gave up hope, I think. Most Americans never gave up hope that the Baltics would some day be able to realize their vast potential. I'm going to tell you an interesting story. This is from another Baltic country. It's from the Prime Minister of Estonia, came to see me. I'm very hesitant to put words into another leader's mouth. They tend to do it to me, and I don't like it. So I would paraphrase, loosely paraphrase. He was there at the time when and one of the things I do is welcome a lot of leaders to America it's an interesting experience. I have done so with the Lithuanian leadership as well. And I said this is the day where I told our Congress we were going to encourage a national debate and dialog on Iraq. And I started to give him my rationale as to why I was thinking about Iraq. He said, "You don't need to talk to me" this is paraphrasing now about Iraq. He said, "Our country has watched democracies go soft in the face of totalitarianism, and we lived in slavery for 50 years." Now, that's a paraphrase for the American press. But the point I want to make to you is that he was clear about obligations we have. That's what I think about the Baltics. The spirit and Romania, for that matter, and the Czech Republic, as embodied in the works and thoughts of Vaclav Havel. That's what I think about your country. You know, I firmly believe that again, I keep repeating myself, but it's on my mind because this is exactly what we're dealing with at the NATO expansion. And this is the concept of how precious freedom is for people. It is a and it has a lot to do, frankly, with my thinking about Iraq too. The fact that people are tortured and subjugated, aren't free to realize their potential, really bothers me. I think we have an obligation to work to free people. There's all kinds of ways to do it, but we have that obligation. It doesn't happen as quickly sometimes as we would like. But that's an obligation of all of us who have got who live in free countries. You have that obligation. But there's no doubt you'll recognize that obligation because you're freshly free from subjugation. And that's what I was talking about, about the invigoration of the soul of NATO. That's what I think about when I think about the Baltics. United Nations Resolution on Iraq Q. Mr. President, you mentioned Iraq. The President. Yes. Q. Do you think do you believe that Russian support of the U.N. resolution on Iraq has promoted any kind of reconciliation between the position of Russia and America on this matter? And what would you like to tell to President Putin in regard to The President. Oh, yes. Well, first, I appreciate them working together with us on the resolution. The U.N. Security Council sent a clear signal to Iraq and the world. We expect them to disarm, is what the signal said. And actually, the U.N. Security Council sent a signal about themselves, that they want to be relevant. You see, if you send out 16 resolutions and all 16 resolutions were ignored, at some point in time, somebody has got to tell the truth and say, "You're not relevant. Why pass a resolution unless you really mean it?" And so we got together, and we said, "Fine, let's pass this significant resolution." And the Russians were helpful and voted for it. And now the word is out, that the U.N. Security Council will be a relevant body. In other words, we intend to enforce the serious consequences if there's not disarmament, and that we're able to work with our friends. I thought that was a very positive thing. And I will tell this to Vladimir Putin. It's probably better for me to tell him, but not through your newspapers, but I'll try anyway. The issue is not inspectors. The issue is disarmament. That's the issue. And the question is, will Saddam Hussein disarm? That's what the U.N. Security Council has said, once again, with Russian support, along with other a lot of other countries. And so he must show us whether or not he'll disarm, for the sake of peace. And if he doesn't, then we, of course, will consult, like we said we would do we'd hold a meeting. But the interesting thing about the U.N. Security Council resolution is, all countries are free to act. And that was explained to Vladimir what my sentiments I'm very strong about. This is not a this isn't a free pass for Saddam, now that the resolution has been passed. Quite the contrary. We expect him to disarm. And we expect him to do everything he can to disarm. And we expect him to be cooperating in his disarmament for the sake of peace. And that's what the U.N. Security Council said to me, that people now have finally come to the conclusion that it's time now to deal with the issue. Hopefully, this can get done peacefully. But it's up to Mr. Saddam Hussein, and we'll see. It's time for him to declare if he's got any weapons. And we'll proceed from there. NATO and Iraq Q. Mr. President, will you ask the allies in Prague to contribute to military action if such action becomes necessary? The President. I will first of all, I believe that the NATO Alliance understands the issue. The countries there would like to see a disarmed Saddam Hussein. They a peaceful country, they believe in peace, just like I believe in peace. And a Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is particularly since he's used them in the past, and he clearly can't stand America and many of our friends would mean it would be likely for us not to have peace. Imagine a Saddam Hussein with a nuclear weapon. It's certainly not an ingredient for peace, quite the contrary. And so the NATO countries understand that. And if, in fact, military action is needed, we'll consult with them, and everybody will be able to make a decision that they're comfortable with. But I wouldn't preclude a peaceful settlement. I hope it happens peacefully. But if it doesn't, just people will know that our intent is to lead a coalition of like minded, freedom loving countries, a coalition of the willing to disarm Saddam Hussein. And one way or the other, he's going to be disarmed, and it's in everybody's interest that that be the case. So we'll talk about that. All right? Thank you for your time. Now, are you going on these trips? You're going to go to the NATO summit? That's going to be exciting. How many journalists will be there? NATO Summit in Prague Q. Two thousand seven hundred that was the last figure I note from Prague before I came here. The President. Two thousand seven hundred. Q. Including TV crews. The President. Wow. Well, I can't wait for my press conference. I'm going to have about a 2 hour press conference there in front of 2,700. Laughter Q. Two days. The President. Two days. Laughter Just kidding, Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Q. Can't wait for that. The President. You're going? Q. Yes, sir. The President. It's going to be exciting. It's going to be a very exciting time. And so you have just come from Prague? Q. Yes. The President. So you tell me what the feeling is like there in the city. Q. Well, the city is almost evacuated, in expecting the summit, because The President. The city is evacuated? Q. No, I'm joking, but the area around the conference center is almost evacuated. And the kids, they have holiday, and the shops are going to be closed, and the center of the city, Wenceslas Square where the demonstrations usually take place, is under police surveillance. So Prague is getting ready, so everyone is expecting how to get to work in they are making arrangements. The President. Yes. And how many people are coming, just total? Do they have an estimate? From outside the Czech Republic. Q. More than 2,000 people I mean, delegations and The President. Oh, it's got to be way more than that. Q. with the staff and everything. The President. Well, the press is 2,700 alone. I bet there's our mighty delegation laughter . Q. But only two hotels were affected by the floods. Only two of the number of the hotels that are ready for to accommodate the delegations and The President. They're ready? Q. only two hotels were badly affected by the floods. Otherwise The President. How is the recovery from the floods? Q. It was bad. It was tough, and now it's getting better. There are some neighborhoods in Prague where people cannot return to their homes because of the The President. Still? Q. and it's not only Prague. It's the whole country, going into Germany. The President. So sad. Q. So it's very bad. No chronicle no person ever remembers such a disaster. The President. It's a 500 year flood. Q. A thousand. The President. A 1,000 year flood. Wow, that's too bad. Q. But as we say, Charles did it from the 14th century. Laughter President's Visits to Europe The President. Well, I'm glad the country is recovering. We're really looking forward to it and looking forward to our trips, too. They're going to be magnificent. Q. We expect more people than for the Pope in 1999. The President. Really? It's going to be exciting. I'm looking forward to it. I better make sure my speech is I think they'll like it. All right. We'll see you there. Thanks. Thanks for coming. I'm looking forward to going to St. Petersburg again. Q. Yes, sure. Thank you very much. The President. The second time in one year. Maybe a third time. Q. Did you like it? The President. Yes, it was spectacular. Remember, we went out on the boat, Vladimir, myself, Sergey Ivanov, floated a White Nights. Fantastic. It won't be White Nights this time, though. Will be white days, right, snowing? Q. Yes, snowing. Laughter The President. We'll see you all there. Thank you. November 18, 2002 NATO's Role in the 21st Century Q. Mr. President, this week in Prague, NATO will invite seven countries to join the Alliance. But there are other topics on the agenda, and the future of NATO is one of them. What do you see NATO will be doing in the 21st century? What is its role? The President. Well, I think first of all, I'm excited about going to Prague, and I want to thank the citizens of that important city and the great country for their hard work in recovering from the floods and preparing Prague for our arrival. This is going to be a historic meeting because, as you said, we're expanding NATO. The most important alliance America has is NATO, and the expansion of NATO is something that I think is very important. The role of NATO is different as we go into the 21st century. NATO used to be a way to defend Europe from the Warsaw Pact. But the Warsaw Pact no longer exists. Russia is not an enemy. And we face new threats, and the new threats are global terror. And so one way to make sure NATO is relevant is to focus on the true threats to freedom, address those threats, and figure out ways that we can work together to accomplish what we want, which is a peaceful world, which means better intelligence sharing, the capacity to cut off money, and a military operation that reflects the nature of the wars we'll be fighting. And that's going to be one of the most important discussions we face there in Prague. Cooperation in the War on Terror Q. Well, there are really big gaps between the war fighting capabilities of NATO of the United States, on one hand, and the European countries, on the other hand. And Lord Robertson is saying that the Americans are not always willing to share the technology necessary for NATO. Are you ready to participate on organization of European forces? The President. Well, I think what has to happen is there first be a strategy that recognizes that the Czech Republic can provide a certain contribution or the French or the British not the French but the Germans or the British can provide certain kind of capabilities and that we dovetail each capability to an overall strategy. In which case, of course, America is willing to work with our friends and allies to make sure the NATO Alliance works properly. In other words, everybody can contribute something. But it all has got to be done within the strategy of the true threats we face in the 21st century, which is global terrorism. That's the biggest threat to freedom right now. NATO and Iraq Q. You will certainly talk about Iraq. Will the United States, if it decides to go to war with Iraq, seek the support of NATO as an alliance? The President. Well, first, I hope we don't have to go to war with Iraq. I mean, my first choice is not to commit our troops to regime change. I hope that Saddam Hussein does what he said he would do, and that is disarm. For the sake of peace, he must disarm. Most nations understand that most nations in NATO understand that. They want Saddam to disarm. The U.N. Security Council has spoken and says he must disarm. So it's his choice to make. If he refuses to disarm, then we will lead a coalition of the willing and disarm him. And of course, I hope our NATO friends come with us. I think they will realize it's in the interest of peace and stability that that happen. But we're not close to that decision point yet because we're just beginning the process of allowing Saddam the chance to show the world whether or not he will disarm. And that's an important distinction the people of the Czech Republic must know. It's not up to me. It's up to him. He said he would disarm, and the inspectors are not the issue. The inspectors are simply a means to determine his willingness. And we'll see. He's had a bad history. He's had 11 years of lying and deceiving, and now it's time to bring him to account, one way or the other. NATO U.S. Shared Values Q. Some critics now see NATO as a toolbox, and the United States just goes and picks whatever it needs when it needs it. Do you agree? The President. No, of course not. I mean, I think we view this as an alliance of nations with whom we share common values, the common values of freedom and individual rights and democracy. This is an opportunity for us to combine our values with our deep desire to have a peaceful world. And we will work in concert with each other, not in opposition to each other. And by working in concert we can really address those threats. See, that's the interesting thing that people have got to know. There's threats to your freedom. If you embrace freedom and love freedom and willing to stand strong against global terrorism, you will be threatened. And we can't let that happen. It's just a different type of threat that we face, but it's a true threat. We face it here in America today. There's still an enemy that wants to hit us. There's still an enemy that wants to hit our friends. And the NATO Charter says, "If you attack one, you attack us all." And that's a very important alliance, a very important statement of commonality to keep the peace. I think NATO is a good thing, and I look forward to working with our friends in NATO. Q. Mr. President, thank you very much for the interview. The President. Thank you. I'm so looking forward to going to Prague. It's going to be an exciting time for Laura and me to go. Thank you. Good job. November 18, 2002 Q. So, first of all, may I remark, sir, that you are the first President of the United States who grants an interview to the public television. And I thank you very much for that. The President. Well, I'm honored. Thank you. And I'm so looking forward to coming to Romania. It's going to be an exciting trip for Laura and me. Romania's Role in NATO Q. To what extent, sir, Romania's candidacy has helped to implement your vision of a broad, robust NATO expansion? The President. Well, first of all, I believe in the concept of Europe, free, whole, and at peace. And I think the fact that Romania will be a part of NATO recognizes that vision. Secondly, Romania will be an active participate in the war against terror. And as we change the NATO strategy to reflect the true threats we face, Romania will work alongside the United States and other nations to make the world more peaceful. Thirdly, I think it's very important for us to recognize that new countries that admitted countries which had lived under a totalitarian state will bring a breath of fresh air, a vigor to the relationship because you remember the difference between freedom and a nonfree state. You remember the difference between you've seen the difference between good and evil. And that spirit, that strong determination for freedom is important in this Alliance. Romanian Popular Support for NATO Q. Sir, more than 80 percent of Romania's population supports NATO membership of my country. How important is this popular support in promoting America's policy towards a world of freedom and prosperity? The President. Well, first of all, you've got to understand some of my view on freedom. It's not American's gift to the world. See, freedom is God is God given. And but we believe so strongly in freedom that we believe that when people have a taste of freedom, they will demand the institutions necessary to make sure freedom lasts. And the Romanian people want to be free. People everywhere want to be free if they've seen the other side. And so the fact that Romania is a strong supporter of NATO really reflects more about Romania than it does reflect about us. What we want to do is we want to have an Alliance that is strong enough and capable enough to meet the true threats that we all face. And global terror is a threat. Believe me, it is a threat. It is a threat not only to the United States, but it's a threat to any country which embraces freedom. No one is immune from global terror. And therefore but we're more likely to succeed if we work together, which means work to cut off money, work to cut off access, work to share intelligence, and if need be, work together in the military way to defeat terror. Romanian Economy Q. What are the challenges facing the common people, the taxpayers, once Romania is a part of NATO? The President. Well, the biggest problem that is going to face the taxpayers is to make sure the economy grows. But that's the problem we all face. I mean, we want to make sure people work. The most important criterion for success of any country, NATO or otherwise, is Can people find a job? Will the economies flourish? Will open markets be able to yield the fruits of the labor for the common person? And the answer is yes. Romania is on its way to reform. We've got to be patient with Romania because Romania has come from a history of state dominated state dominated industry, which failed, and it failed to provide for the people. And so the reforms to the marketplace are going to take time. But the reforms will yield will yield great prosperity, in my judgment. And it's a matter of time for that to happen. Expectations of New NATO Members Q. What do the United States expect from their new Allies, from Romania and the others? The President. Well, we expect friendship. We expect that concept that says, if one of us is attacked, we're all attacked. That works both ways. If Romania is attacked, the Alliance comes to Romania's defense. If another country is attacked, we all go to that country's defense. That common defense will help make the world more peaceful. Secondly, as we develop a new strategy as to how to face the new threats of the 21st century, a new military strategy, Romania will be called upon to do its part, as will the United States. And together, the sum of our parts will be significant in terms of keeping the peace. President's Upcoming Visit to Romania Q. What is going to be the message you will deliver to the Romanian people when you meet some of the inhabitants in the city of Bucharest? The President. The message is For a long time you struggled you're now free. And you've got a great friend in the United States of America. Q. Mr. President, it's been a great honor and privilege to interview you. Thank you very much for sharing your views with our public. The President. Well, I am so looking forward to coming. It's going to be an honor to be there. I have I'm working on my speech to the Romanian people. It's going to be a powerful moment for me and my wife, to see the people and to be in the famous square and to look at the statues of people who represent freedom. And it's going to be one of the highlights of my Presidency. Q. You'll be most welcome, sir. The President. Thank you, sir. Q. Thank you. The President. Good to meet you. Q. Good to meet you, sir, and I hope you'll have a very good and successful trip. The President. Thank you, sir. November 18, 2002 President's Upcoming Visit to Lithuania Q. Mr. President, you are the first President of the United States to visit Lithuania. What is your message to Lithuania's people? The President. Well, first, I'm honored to be invited. Secondly, I'm really looking forward to it. And my message is You're free. Freedom is precious, and we welcome our friends the Lithuanians into the as a free nation into the brotherhood of nations. I'll also say to the world that the Baltic countries know what it means to live under fear and the lack of freedom, and to have these countries be allied with the United States and other nations is important to our soul. It's important to have that sense of freedom as a source of vigor and strength, and a very important alliance. That's what I want to say. War on Terror Q. What are America and Lithuania going to do after the Prague, together? The President. Well, we're going to work to fight terror. That's the new threat we face. It's most evident here in America because we've been under attack, and we're still under attack. People still want to hurt us because of what we stand for. But countries which love freedom are not immune from these people. These are coldblooded killers, and we've got a charge to keep for a long time coming. And the best way to do that is work together. So the NATO mission is one of defending freedom by fighting against those who would try to defeat freedom, which means we've got to share intelligence, work together militarily in a way that complements everybody, cut off the money of the terrorists. I mean, there's a lot to do. But that's the true threat that we face. Russia is no longer a threat. After Prague, I'm going to Russia. And I'm going to say to the Russian people, "You shouldn't fear expansion of NATO to your border. These are peace loving people. These are freedom loving people that are now on your border. You ought to welcome them. It should help Russian security" that the cold war is over, that the United States doesn't view Russia as a threat and neither does NATO. So we've got to address our sights to the new threats. Russia U.S. Relations Q. Relationship between Western democracies and Russia seems to be very friendly. But do you really trust President Putin? The President. Sure, of course. I press any leader that doesn't believe 100 percent in freedom, and of course I do I'm freedom of the press or Chechnya or issues that indicate that there might not be a whole hearted commitment to freedom of the people. I do it in a way that's a friendly way. I believe the best way to work together is to do it in a spirit of cooperation. I believe the best way to make sure we've got good relations is to make it clear that there's no animosity. But of course I do. I work very closely with him. Russia is an important country. And we want Russia to be a country based upon the values which we share, because we believe those values are the best values for the human condition of everybody. I like to tell people, freedom is not an American gift freedom is a gift from the almighty God. And I firmly believe that. And freedom is important in any country in the world. Lithuania Q. Some people wonder why the United States, the superpower of the world, pays so much attention to the small Baltic state Lithuania. What could you tell those people? The President. Well, I can tell those people everybody matters. See, our country believes in the worth of every individual. We believe everybody is precious everybody counts and that we are rooted, our whole history and our very being is rooted, on the notion of people being able to realize their dreams. And that's what we believe. That's why we never recognized the Soviet domination of the Baltics. We called Lithuania independent for all those years. And now we can say, Lithuania is independent, and Lithuania is forever free. And that's our commitment. Future of NATO Q. How do you imagine the future of NATO Alliance after new members will join? The President. Better better because the NATO will have this new spirit. Listen, if you lived under slavery and subjugation and you're free, there's a spirit. There's a strength of purpose. There's a remembrance of what it's like. There's no gray areas between good and evil. That's an important spirit in NATO. Lithuania brings a wonderful spirit of strength of purpose, of endurance. Secondly, as we change the military strategy to reflect the new threat see, Russia is not a threat militarily. The threats that we now face come from a global terror network. And we'll change our military capabilities to meet the strategies necessary to defeat terrorism. And Lithuania will have an important contribution to make, as will all countries in NATO. So the expansion of NATO will make it easier for us to defend the peace. Q. Mr. President, thank you very much, indeed. It was a great pleasure to talk to you. President's Upcoming Visit to Lithuania The President. We'll see you in Vilnius. Q. Thank you. The President. It's going to be exciting for me. Q. For us, too. We're waiting for that. The President. I can't wait. Thanks. Make sure the weather is good, will you? Laughter Q. Yes, we'll do our best. Thank you. November 18, 2002 Coalition Against Iraq Q. Mr. President, this week NATO will be celebrating an historic expansion as well as focusing on transforming the Alliance to meet new threats, such as Iraq. You have spoken about the possibility of leading a coalition of the willing against Iraq. Why not speak about using NATO forces against Iraq, since under NATO's charter all members are supposed to come to the aid of any member under direct threat? The President. Well, first of all, I hope we can do this peacefully. And by doing it peacefully, that means I hope Saddam Hussein disarms. Of course, we've hoped that for 11 years. We've hoped that for 16 resolutions. We now have a 17th resolution, and this time I intend to work with nations that love freedom and peace, make sure the resolution stands. And if he doesn't disarm, you're right, I'll lead a coalition of the willing to disarm him. And there's all kinds of ways for that coalition to be formed. It could be formed with NATO, if they choose. I have said to the U.N. Security Council, "We'll go back and discuss the matter with you." But Mr. Saddam Hussein must understand he'll be disarmed one way or the other. I hope it's done peacefully. NATO and the War on Terror Q. The new members of NATO are quite small. Do you see them as contributing something significant militarily to the Alliance? The President. I was hoping you'd ask, do I see them contributing something to the Alliance, so I'm going to answer it that way. First, I'll answer it militarily, because I do believe they can contribute something really important, and that is, they can contribute their love for freedom. These are countries which have lived in totalitarian states. They haven't been free. And now they've seen freedom and they love freedom, just like America loves freedom. And that's going to be a really important it will add some vigor to the relationship in NATO that's healthy and wholesome. And I think they will. The key is to I think they will help militarily but the key is to change the military strategy of NATO. Lord Robertson understands this. It starts with the understanding that Russia is not our enemy. NATO doesn't need to be constructed to prevent the Warsaw Pact from invading Europe. After all, the Warsaw Pact doesn't exist. As a matter of fact, the Warsaw Pact is becoming NATO, slowly but surely. We don't need that type of mentality, and we've got to have a military strategy that addresses the true threats. The threats we face are global terrorist attacks. That's the threat. And the more you love freedom, the more likely it is you'll be attacked. And therefore, the Article 5 that you referred to for NATO becomes very relevant in this war against terror. The war against terror will not only be defeated the terrorists will not only be defeated militarily, but the terrorists will be defeated as we share intelligence and as we cut off money and as we deny access and as we stiffen up border requirements in order to make sure that people can't go from one spot to another with plots and or messages to attack. And so it's a different kind of war. And it's going to be an interesting meeting, because not only is the meeting going to expand, but the meeting is going to address how best to achieve this common objective. I'm absolutely convinced that the so called military gap between America and all countries can be addressed with a good strategy. And that will be interesting for observers to watch. I think it's going to happen. I know that Lord Robertson, who runs NATO, is committed to developing a relevant strategy and one that will work. Chechnya War on Terror Q. Russian President Vladimir Putin has equated his war in Chechnya with the U.S. war on terrorism. Do you agree with that equation, or do you still feel, as was stated during your election campaign, that Russian forces are committing brutalities against innocent Chechen civilians? The President. I think that Russia should be able to or hope that Russia should be able to solve their issue with Chechnya peacefully. That's not to say that Vladimir shouldn't do what it takes to protect his people from individual terrorist attacks. But this is a different kind of war that we face. This is a war where we're dealing with people who hide in caves and kind of shadowy corners of the world and send people to their suicidal deaths. It's a war that I believe can lend itself both to chasing those people down and, at the same time, solving issues in a peaceful way, with respect for the human rights of minorities within countries. I said that in the campaign. I also say it to Mr. Putin every time I see him. NATO Russia Partnership Q. Do you envision Russia ever becoming a full fledged member of NATO? The President. I think the partnership between NATO and Russia is going to be a very constructive partnership. We'll see. Time will tell. The key thing is to make sure the relationship works the way it should, which really says to Russia that a expanded NATO on your border is not a threat to you or your future. As a matter of fact, it should enable you to grow peacefully. I'm going from Prague to St. Petersburg precisely to deliver that message to the Russian people, that even though NATO will have been expanded on your border, particularly in sensitive areas like the Baltics, you should not fear expansion, you should welcome expansion, because you've now got a neighborhood that is much more peaceful for you to in which to realize your vast potential. And that's important for Russia to hear. Q. Russia now has a special council with NATO The President. Are we getting the hook already? Q. Does that mean we're running out of time? Let me ask you another question The President. It's hard to see on radio. Freedom and the War on Terror Q. Central Asia we broadcast to Central Asia. And many experts say that the authoritarian regimes in that region are actually fueling terrorism because their people feel helpless and unable to effect change. Do you think there are any dangers in the U.S. allying itself closely with those governments that are The President. I think anytime the United States allies itself with a government, that we never forget the basic premises of our existence, and that is Freedom is important the human condition for all are important we value every life everybody counts. And in my judgment, the more people relate to the United States and work with the United States, the more likely it is they will work to improve the human condition. And that's what we spend a lot of time doing. That's one of the great things about our country is that we embrace freedom, first and foremost. It's one of my concerns about Iraq. Listen, we've got people living in Iraq that are tortured and brutalized in order to keep this man in power. I weep for those who suffer. And so the great cause of the United States is freedom. I tell these countries they talk about freedom I say, "Freedom isn't America's gift to the world. It's God given. Everybody counts." And it is with that spirit of recognizing the values of freedom I think will help improve people, no matter where. And you're right, there's some leaders there that need work with, and we're prepared to work with them. But I will tell you, people poverty is a tool for recruitment amongst these global terrorists. It's a way for them to recruit, perhaps. But poverty doesn't cause killers to exist. And it's an important distinction to make. These global terrorists are some of them are rich, monetarily. They're obviously poor in spirit. They have no regard for human life. They claim they're religious, and they kill in the name of religion. And there are some breeding grounds, no question about it. And therefore, we hope that prosperity spreads out from central government to help people. But I hope people don't confuse the mentality of the terrorist leaders and economic plight, because these people are plenty comfortable. They just kill. And we're going to get them before they get us. And that's what the world needs to know about the United States. Usama bin Laden Q. Usama bin Laden still seems to be alive. Are you The President. Could be. Q. worried that he's plotting another major attack on the United States? The President. Whether it's him or somebody else, they're plotting an attack, no question about it. That's why we've got to get them. But this issue is bigger than one person. If the war on terror is a group of fanatics. They hate America because of what we stand for. They hate us because we love freedom. And that's why we're on the hunt. And slowly but surely, we're dismantling them. I told the people of this country it's going to take a while. I said it's going to be patient the farther we get away from September the 11th, 2001, the more people are going to tend to forget what took place in this country. And it's normal reaction for people to just kind of try to settle back and hope that something doesn't exist. But my job is to remind people of the threats we face, based upon facts, and to find these killers. And that's exactly what we're going to do. As I tell people in America, there's no cave dark enough to hide from the justice of America and our friends. And my speech I'm going to give in Prague to the youngsters there, I'm going to remind them there is a coalition of the willing in place right now, chasing down terror. We've got 90 nations 90 different nations all teamed up, doing everything we can to bring these people to justice. And we'll prevail. Make no mistake about it. We'll prevail. Thank you, sir. Q. Thank you, sir. The President. Is there any doubt in your mind we'll prevail? Q. Not anymore. Laughter November 16, 2002 Good morning. This was a productive week in the war against terror, both at home and abroad. Congress returned to Washington with renewed energy and a commitment to make progress on key issues. Members of the House and Senate reached a crucial agreement to create a new Department of Homeland Security. With Congress' vote on the final legislation, America will have a single agency with the full time duty of protecting our people against attack. This new Department will focus and unify responsibilities that are now spread among dozens of Government agencies. The Customs Service, the INS, the Coast Guard, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Transportation Security Administration, and many others will report to the new Secretary of Homeland Security. The Department will significantly improve our ability to protect our borders, our coasts, and our communities. It will pool together the best intelligence information and coordinate our response. The new Department will help develop the technology America needs to detect and defeat chemical, biological, and nuclear threats. And under the agreement reached this week, I will have the authority and flexibility to move people and resources to where they are needed without bureaucratic rules and lengthy labor negotiations. This compromise is the result of months of hard work and negotiation, and it will take additional time to put the agreement into place. The threat of terror will be with us for years to come, and we remain resolved to see this conflict through to its end. In the Department of Homeland Security, we'll have good people, well organized and well equipped, working day and night to oppose the serious dangers of our time. Now that we have reached broad agreement on a homeland security bill, I look forward to signing it into law as soon as possible. We're committed to defending the Nation. Yet wars are not won on the defensive. The best way to keep America safe from terrorism is to go after terrorists where they plan and hide. And that work goes on around the world. The United States is working with more than 90 countries to disrupt and defeat terror networks. So far we have frozen more than 113 million in terrorist assets, denying them the means to finance their murder. We've cracked down on charities that were exploiting American compassion to fund terrorists. We have captured and interrogated thousands of terrorists, while others have met their fate in caves and mountains in Afghanistan. We've deployed troops to train forces in the Philippines and Yemen, the former Soviet Republic of Georgia, and other nations where terrorists have gathered. We're sending a clear message to the enemies of freedom No terrorist will escape the patient justice of America. To win the war on terror, we're also opposing the growing threat of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of outlaw regimes. This week, the dictator of Iraq told the U.N. he would give weapons inspectors unrestricted access to his country. We've heard such pledges before, and they have been uniformly betrayed. America and the world are now watching Saddam Hussein closely. Any act of defiance or delay will indicate that he is taking the path of deception once again, and this time the consequences would be severe. Our goal is not merely the return of inspectors to Iraq our goal is the disarmament of Iraq. The dictator of Iraq will give up his weapons of mass destruction, or the United States will lead a coalition to disarm him. Our war against terrorists and their supporters is advancing on all fronts. We're moving aggressively to protect our people and to oppose a great threat to the peace of the world. Thank you for listening. November 13, 2002 President Bush. The Secretary General and I are going to have some opening statements, only statements. First, I do want to welcome the Secretary General here. I'm grateful for your leadership at the United Nations. A while ago, the United Nations Security Council made a very strong statement that we, the world, expects Saddam Hussein to disarm for the sake of peace. And the U.N. stepped up to its responsibilities, and I want to thank you for that, Mr. Secretary General. I appreciate your leadership. I'm looking forward to our discussion. Of course, I'll remind the Secretary General that our war against terror is a war against individuals whose hearts are full of hate. We do not fight a religion. As a matter of fact, by far the vast majority of American citizens respect the Islamic people and the Muslim faith. After all, there are millions of peaceful, loving Muslim Americans. Some of the comments that have been uttered about Islam do not reflect the sentiments of my Government or the sentiments of most Americans. Islam, as practiced by the vast majority of people, is a peaceful religion, a religion that respects others. Ours is a country based upon tolerance, Mr. Secretary General, and we respect the faith, and we welcome people of all faiths in America. And we're not going to let the war on terror or terrorists cause us to change our values. And so, Mr. Secretary General, I'm honored that you're here at the Oval Office. I'm proud to call you friend, and welcome. Secretary General Annan. Thank you very much, Mr. President. If I may comment on the last point you raised, I share your view entirely that every region and people of every faith have also been victims of terrorists. This is a scourge that affects all of us, regardless of region or religion. And we need to stand together to defeat terrorism. And this is where the work of the United Nations and effective implementation of this Resolution 1373 is absolutely crucial. We need to work to deprive terrorists of the opportunities by not giving them haven, by not giving them financial and logistical support. And I think the Counter Terrorism Committee of the Security Council is doing a good job in trying to make sure we all work together on that. With regards to the Iraq decision, I want to thank you, Mr. President, for working with the United Nations and the Council and working through the Council. And I remember when you came to the U.N. on the 12th of September, nobody knew which way you were going to go. And in my own speech before yours, I was pleading that we go the multilateral route. And I think we were all relieved that we did you did. And I would want to say that the Council decision, which was unanimous, sent a powerful message that the entire international community would like to see the Security Council resolutions implemented. Today I received a letter from the Iraqi Government accepting the resolution, saying that they would work with the resolution. And Mr. Blix and his team will go back. We expect them to get there on the 18th and actively begin their work. This is a Chapter 7 resolution, and it must be implemented. President Bush. Thank you, sir. Thank you all. November 13, 2002 The President. We just had a very productive Cabinet meeting. I want to thank all those who serve in my Cabinet for their service to the country. We talked about issues facing the country. We talked about the need to secure the homeland. We talked about our economy. We talked about making sure that we lead, particularly when it comes to being wise with the taxpayers' money. We have a responsibility to spend people's money wisely. And so we had a little budget session here, to make sure that, as we come back to deal with the '03 budget as well as the '04 budget, we do so in a way that resists the temptation in Washington to overspend. We feel strongly that we can meet our Nation's priorities and be wise with the people's money at the same time. I'll be glad to answer some questions. Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Usama bin Laden Radio Message Q. Sir, is bin Laden alive? And whether or not he is, does the recording signal the potential for an imminent terrorist attack? The President. We are looking at this latest tape. Our experts are analyzing the voice content, and we'll let them speak about whether it's him or not. Nevertheless, the contents of the tape the message is a serious message. And it reminds should remind all of America and remind our friends and allies that there is an active enemy that continues to hate, is willing to use murder as a way to achieve their goals. Whoever put this tape out has put the world on notice yet again that we're at war and that we need to take these messages very seriously. And we will. We'll take them seriously here at home by working with the appropriate authorities to deal with threats. And we'll take them seriously abroad by continuing our hunt. We'll chase these people down, one at a time. It doesn't matter how long it takes, we'll find them and bring them to justice. Q. Shouldn't we have found him sooner though, looking back on Tora Bora? The President. We're making great progress in the war on terror. Slowly but surely, we are dismantling the terrorist network. We're finding their sanctuaries. We're holding people to account. Our coalition of freedom loving nations is up to 90 now. There is an international manhunt on. I warned the American people that this is going to take time, to achieve our objective. We're in a different kind of war. It's a war that requires international cooperation. We've got to cut off their money. We've got to share intelligence. And we're on a manhunt, and we're not quitting. Slowly but surely, we're achieving our objective. Holland Steve Holland, Reuters . Iraqi Response to U.N. Resolution Q. Sir, what happens on Friday if Iraq fails to say it will comply? Do you go back to the U.N. or immediately move into a military posture? The President. I have told the United Nations we'll be glad to consult with them. But the resolution does not prevent us from doing what needs to be done, which is to hold Saddam Hussein into account. We hope that he disarms. We hope that he will listen to the world. The world has spoken. A diverse group of nations in the Security Council spoke with one voice. The United States Congress spoke with one voice. And that is, in the name of peace, he must disarm. If he chooses not to disarm, we will disarm him. That should be clear to Saddam Hussein and everybody else. And if he chooses not to disarm, we will have a coalition of the willing with us. A lot of nations understand that in order to keep the peace, Saddam Hussein must be disarmed decisions he makes. There's no negotiations with Mr. Saddam Hussein. Those days are long gone. And so are the days of deceit and denial. And now it's up to him. And I want to remind you all that inspectors are there to determine whether or not Saddam Hussein is willing to disarm. It's his choice to make. And should he choose not to disarm, we will disarm him. Dick Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . Q. Mr. President, following on that, could you give us in as plain words as possible what you believe will constitute a material breach of his obligations? The President. Zero tolerance that's about as plain as I can make it. We will not tolerate any deception, denial, or deceit, period. Gregory David Gregory, NBC News . Q. Sir, good morning. The President. You're looking beautiful today, by the way. Laughter Q. Why, thank you. So are you. Laughter The President. You don't qualify. Laughter National Economy Terrorism Insurance Legislation Q. Sir, Alan Greenspan said today that the economy has hit a soft patch. He also said that households have become more cautious in their purchases while business spending is not showing substantial vigor. What do you plan to do about this? Do you think this is an indictment of your tax cut, or do you take this as a call that a new round of such tax relief is necessary? The President. I think that, first of all, I appreciate the wisdom of Chairman Greenspan. He uses the word "soft spot." I use the words "bumping along." Both of us understand that our economy is not nearly as strong as it's going to be. And our job here in Washington is to create the environment necessary for people to feel confident about risking capital and to create an environment amongst our consumers where they're confident about the future. And one way that we have addressed this problem up to now is to insist that Congress allow people to keep more of their own money. And it seemed to have worked well during the first three quarters of this year. And to the extent that we need to continue doing that, I'm willing to listen to ideas. And I want to work with Congress. I sent a signal to Congress that I believe that we need to have further discussions how to best stimulate the economy, and I'm very serious about that. And so when the Congress comes back from the when the new Congress comes back, we will have some ideas to discuss with them. We've always in Washington, we've got to be constantly on alert about people not being able to find jobs. And we've got to be working together to put the environment in place so they can find jobs. Like the Chairman, I am not satisfied with the economic growth of the country. Like the Chairman, I am worried when people can't find work. And we've been active in the past on economic vitality. We will continue to be. One way Congress can help immediately, in terms of the job picture, is to pass a terrorism insurance bill so that the hardhats can find work. People complain about the cost of a terrorism insurance bill. There is no cost if there's no terrorist attack, and if there's a terrorist attack, a terrorism insurance bill will mitigate the damage of a terrorist attack. It makes eminent sense from a to have a terrorism insurance bill. And I hope the Congress can get it done before they go home. Q. But what about the deficit though, in this context? The President. Well, we have a deficit because tax revenues are down. Make no mistake about it, the tax relief package that we passed that should be permanent, by the way has helped the economy and that the deficit would have been bigger without the tax relief package. The deficit is caused by the fact that revenues have not come in. And there's two things we can do about it One, stimulate the economy to create more revenues and two, hold down spending. And today we spent time here at the Cabinet talking about how we hold down spending. And we hope the Congress gets that message as well. Thank you all. November 12, 2002 Thanks a lot. I want you to note, the Mayor said I made him a senior adviser. Laughter Mr. Mayor, you're doing a great job for the city of Washington, DC. I'm honored that I'm living in your neighborhood. And as I told a lot of the folks who I had the honor of meeting just a while ago at the Emergency Operations Center, I feel safe living here. And so does my family. And so do a lot of families, thanks to the dedication and hard work of people on the frontline of making sure that this city is buttoned up, dealing with the threats we face. I'm here to thank you all for your hard work. I'm here as well to tell all the first responders across the District as well as around the country how much our country is grateful for your service, your dedication, and remind you that we have not only a duty to prepare for emergencies, we have a duty in this country to prevent them from happening in the first place. It's a new charge. It's a new charge because we learned on that fateful day that America is now a battlefield. It used to be that oceans would protect us. We didn't have to take certain threats seriously. We could say, "Well, we can deal if we want to deal with them." But we learned a tough lesson, that the old ways are gone, that the enemy can strike us here at home, and we all have new responsibilities. And I'm confident we can meet those responsibilities because I understand the nature of the people who wear the uniform all across America, fine, dedicated, honorable public servants who are willing to serve something greater than themselves. So, thank you for what you do. And the Federal Government has got a job as well. Our job our Government's greatest responsibility is to protect the American people. That's our most important job, and this requires Congress to create a new Department of Homeland Security so we can better do our job. I think this work can be done soon. The Congress is coming back for a brief period of time, and in that period of time, they can get the job done. If they put their mind to it, they can get a job done on behalf of the American people. And I urge them to do so. I'm honored to be here with Eleanor Holmes Norton. Thank you for coming, Madam Congresswoman. I appreciate your service. I appreciate being up here with Tom Ridge, my buddy who was a Governor. I said, "Look, we've got a new issue we've got to deal with here in America. We've got to do everything we can to protect the homeland, so you need to leave Pennsylvania and come and join us." And fortunately, he did, and he is doing a fabulous job inside the White House of laying the groundwork for what I hope will soon be a Department of Homeland Security. And I appreciate you coming, Tom. Mr. Mayor, thanks again. Margret Kellems, it's good to have met you. It's an honor to be in the presence of the Deputy Mayor, as well. I'm impressed with Chief Ramsey. I don't know if this helps you or hurts you, Chief. Laughter He does a fine job. I got to know him at the inauguration, and I've been watching him ever since. This is a city with a lot of complex issues. It's a city where a lot of people come to exercise their right as Americans, and we appreciate that. And I'm proud that this city is able to allow people to express themselves and, at the same time, maintain order. Mr. Chief, you and your troops do a fabulous job here. I want to thank Chief Adrian Thompson for coming as well. I appreciate you being here, Chief. This is the fire and emergency teams have got just as an important role to play as our police officers do. I want to thank Peter LaPorte, who is the director of the Washington, DC, Emergency Management Agency, for coming. I appreciate Jim Buford, who is the acting director of the Washington, DC, Department of Health. I want to thank Linda Cropp for coming as well. On September the 11th, 2001, our Nation was confronted by a new kind of war. See, we're at war. This is a war. This isn't a single isolated incident. We are now in the first war of the 21st century, and it's a different kind of war than we're used to. I explained part of the difference is the fact that the battlefield is now here at home. It's also a war where the enemy doesn't show up with airplanes that they own or tanks or ships. These are suiciders. These are coldblooded killers. That's all they are. The new kind of war has now placed our police and firefighters and rescue workers on the frontlines. You're already on the frontlines. Now you got another line. There's another front to do our duty to the American people. For the courageous individuals on September the 11th, it was a day of great loss. But it was also a grave day of great great honor. It reminded the American people of the sacrifices that the people who wear the uniform go through on a daily basis and the risks that you take every day. We still weep and mourn for those who lost lives to save others. But we also recognize there's a renewal in America of appreciation for what you do. The entire Nation appreciated the calm determination, the steady hand, the ability to respond under severe circumstances. And like our military, which is also on the front line of the war against terror, you deserve all the tools and resources to do your work. This country is going to support you because we now understand the stakes. Since September the 11th, every level of government has taken important steps to better prepare against terrorism. We've now been notified. We understand that history has called us into action. There should be no doubt in anybody's mind the nature of the enemy. There should be no doubt in anybody's mind that we must do everything we can to protect the homeland. For the first time ever, customs agents are now at overseas ports inspecting containers before they come close to the United States. In other words, we're adjusting to the new world we're in. We've put more marshals now on airplanes. Everybody's aware of that. We've stepped up security at our powerplants and our ports and, as importantly, at our border crossings. We need to know who's coming into the country, what they're bringing into the country, and if they're leaving when they say they're going to leave. We need to know that for the sake of the homeland. We've deployed detection equipment to look for weapons of mass destruction. Whoever would have thought that this country needed to use technologies to prevent people from smuggling in weapons of mass destruction? But we needed to have that technology in place, so we can better protect the American people. There's a real threat that somebody might smuggle in one of these weapons that would create incredible havoc here at home. So we're on alert. We're stockpiling enough small pox vaccine for every man, woman, and child in America. The U.S. PATRIOT Act has helped us detect and disrupt terrorist activity in this country. What I'm telling you there is, anytime we get a hint that somebody is thinking about doing something to America, we're moving on it. Anytime we get an inkling that somebody is planning to hurt the American people, to take innocent life, we're using every tool we can to disrupt and deny. And we're doing that at the local level and at the State level and at the Federal level. That's what the American people expect, and that's what's going to happen. We act decisively in the clearest areas of vulnerability. We're moving. And this is only the beginning of our effort to protect our country from a global threat. The threats to the homeland are growing threats. These people aren't going away anytime soon. And so the need for action is important. And one of my jobs is to make sure nobody gets complacent. One of my jobs is to remind people of the stark realities that we face. See, every morning I go into that great Oval Office and read threats to our country every morning. As a matter of fact, there hasn't a morning that hasn't gone by that I haven't saw seen or read threats. Some of them are blowhards, but we take every one of them seriously. It's the new reality. The Congress is in session today, and the House and the Senate have pressing responsibilities to work with us for our security. And I'm confident they'll meet those responsibilities. And the single most important business before Congress is the creation of a Department of Homeland Security. Certain Members of the Senate and the House have got all kinds of agendas they'd like to discuss the single most important one is to get this bill done. The importance of the Homeland Security means that we'll be able to better coordinate and organize and that there be clear lines of authority. One reason this department works so well and one reason the center we just saw works well is, there's great coordination with clear lines of authority. And that's important. That's what you do here in Washington, and that's what we ought to do at the Federal level as well, in this new Department. The responsibility for protecting the homeland here in Washington, at least at the Federal level, is spread out among more than 100 different organizations, and not one organization has the primary responsibility. Each agency operates separately, sometimes completely unaware of what others are doing. The result is duplication that we cannot afford and inefficiencies which create problems. So I set out to do something about it, for the good of the country. And that is to call for a single Cabinet level Department of Government, staffed by dedicated professionals who wake up every single day with one overriding duty, to protect the American people. That's their duty. That's their most important responsibility. The new Department will work, of course, with our State and local authorities to avert attacks, to plan for emergencies, and to respond. That's the functions of the new Department. We've got to make sure our first responders are well equipped and trained and organized for their duties. You do a fine job here in Washington. There are some places that need help, and the new Department will help first responders. The new Department will control our borders. I mentioned the border we need to know who's coming in, we need but there's three agencies on the border right now, and they're all full of fine people. They wear different uniforms. They have different strategies. Sometimes they talk sometimes they don't. There is a better way to enforce our border here in America. It will bring together scientists who develop technologies that detect biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons and discover drugs and treatments to protect our citizens. So there will be a scientific component in this new Department. For the first time in our history, information on the threats to America will be gathered and analyzed, together with information on our vulnerabilities, in one place. We've got a lot of good people working hard to collect intelligence. This new agency will analyze the intelligence to address vulnerabilities here in America. Establishing the new Department will require the latest reorganization of the Fed eral the largest reorganization of the Federal Government since 1940. In other words, it's not going to be easy. But I think Congress understands the need to do that. And I think Congress is willing to take the task. I want to thank very much the House of Representatives for passing a good bill, one that gives me the authority and the flexibility to work hard to defend America. The Senate it got stuck in the Senate. But it looks like it's going to come out of the Senate, I hope. And we're working hard to bring it forth in a way that will enable this President and future Presidents to meet the needs of the United States. To meet the threats, I must be able and future Presidents must be able to move people and resources where they're needed and to do it quickly, without being forced to comply with a thick book of rules. The enemy moves quickly, and America must move quickly. We cannot have bureaucratic rules preventing this President and future Presidents from meeting the needs of the American people. To meet the threats to our country, a President must have the authority, as every President since John F. Kennedy has had, to waive certain rights for national security purposes. It makes no sense in a time of war to diminish the capacity of the President to be able to put the right people at the right time at the right place. This debate is often misunderstood. The rights of Federal workers should be and will fully be protected in the Department of Homeland Security. Every employee will be treated fairly and protected from discrimination. The men and women who work in that Department will need and want leadership that can act quickly and decisively, without getting bogged down in endless disputes. When the Department is created, we've got to do it right. It is our chance to do it right. And I will not give up national security authority at the price for creating a Department we badly need to secure America. Fortunately, I'm encouraged by the ongoing discussions. I believe we can get this done. I believe Congress can show the country that they can finish their work on a high note of achievement. That's what the people want. The people want us to come together and work together and do what's right. And I think Congress can show that's possible to do. Securing our homeland means not only a great a new Department of Homeland Security, it means hunting these killers down one at a time. It means staying on task. It means holding make sure that the doctrines still exist. And there's one out there that says, "If you you're either with us or with the enemy." That was true right after September the 11th, and it's very true today. We're calling on all these nations that love freedom to join us in an international manhunt. There's no cave deep enough for these people to hide in, as far as I'm concerned. There's no shadow of the world dark enough for them to kind of slither around in. We're after them, and it's going to take a while. It can take a while. We're after them one person at a time. We owe that to the American people. We owe that to our children. I can't imagine what was going through their mind when they hit us. They must have thought we'd just file a lawsuit. They just don't understand America, do they? They don't understand our love for freedom. They don't understand that when it comes to our freedoms, it doesn't matter how long it takes, nor the cost, we will do our duty. The world's going to be more peaceful as a result of America being strong and resolved. Peace is going to happen. You see, the enemy hit us, and out of the evil done to this country is going to come some incredible good, a more secure America, a more peaceful world. People will look back your kids and your grandkids will look back and say, "You know, my dad or my mother was involved, actively involved in one of the most dramatic periods in our country's history." And I'm confident they'll look back and say, "I'm proud of their service because America became a better place as a result of their sacrifices." I'm honored you had me here. May God bless you and your families. May God bless your work. And may God continue to bless America. Thank you. November 11, 2002 Good morning, and welcome to the White House. Thank you for joining us in observing Veterans Day. On this holiday, the 11th day of the 11th month, Americans reflect on the great sacrifices of military service. And we honor every man and every woman who has accepted those sacrifices. In Veterans Day gatherings across America, we think first of those who fell and never lived to be called veterans. We remember those whose fate is still undetermined. We look around us to all the veterans and retired members of the military with admiration and with respect. Especially in this time of war, we see in our veterans an example of courage and selfless sacrifice and service that inspires a new generation and will lead this country to victory. I want to thank Tony Principi and Elizabeth for their service to our country. Our veterans have had no better friend and no more able administrator than Tony Principi as the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs. I want to thank the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs for joining us, General Richard Myers. Thank you. I appreciate members of the mighty Virginia delegation for being here laughter anchored by two incredibly able United States Senators, John Warner and George Allen the chairman. I appreciate Congressman Jim Moran for joining us as well. Thank you for being here, Jim. We're honored you're here. Congressman Chris Smith from New Jersey is with us as well. Thank you for coming, Chris. I want to thank our Secretary of the Navy, Gordon England, for joining us. Mr. Secretary, we're honored you're here. Leo Mackay, who is the Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs, is with us today. I thank you for coming, Leo appreciate you being here. Members of our Joint Chiefs are here, General John Jumper and General Eric Shinseki. Thank you all for coming. Major General James Jackson, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, is here with his wife. Thank you for coming. I want to thank the sergeant majors who are here, representing the fine enlisted folks all around our country. Thank you guys for coming. I appreciate the Medal of Honor recipients who are with us today, Nick Bacon and David Dolby, Wesley Fox and Howard V. Lee. We're honored you're here. Thank you all for coming. I want to thank the leadership of the national veterans service organizations who are with us today. I appreciate your hard work and concern for our veterans all across the country. Thank you for coming. I'm honored so honored to welcome to the White House World War II Allied forces veterans from one of our strongest friends, Great Britain. I'm honored you guys are here. Thank you for coming. We've got veterans from the United States who are in this fantastic room as well as veterans from Great Britain. And we're honored you all are here. It's my pleasure to welcome you to the people's house. The veterans in this room are among 25 million living men and women who have served this country in uniform. Certain experiences bind veterans from every branch of the service. All have known the life of answering to superiors, following orders, and observing a code. From the hour you repeated the oath to the day of your honorable discharge, your time belonged to America and your country came before all else. There are still veterans among us who marched to the orders of General Pershing, served in the army of Eisenhower, sailed in the fleet of Nimitz. Many more served with honor during the conflicts in Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and throughout the vigil of the cold war. For some veterans, service in the military fulfilled a dream. For others, military service was an unexpected honor. For most veterans will tell you that it was the defining experience in their lives. A veteran named Jim Shenton writes, returning home from service in Europe at the age of 20 here's what he had to write. He'd been in the army for nearly 3 years, and he saw action from Normandy to the liberation of Buchenwald. When he arrived home, he said, "It has been a long journey home. I was a thousand years older." Many war veterans share in that experience. You carry memories of great heroism and great suffering. You've seen the worst that men can do to one another and the best that men can do for one another. And whether their service came abroad or at home, every veteran has shared the responsibility of keeping America strong. On Veterans Day, the American people take pride in every citizen who has defended America, in times of calm and in times of danger. We live today in a time of danger. War has come once again to America. Our Nation is called to meet great challenges, and our military is called to the defense of our people and to the defense of our freedoms. The enemies of America have killed thousands of our citizens, and they desire to kill thousands more. They're discovering, as others before them, the fierce resolve of this great Nation. We will not forget the harm that was done to us. We will not be distracted from the task before us. No enemy that threatens our security or endangers our people will escape the patient justice and the overwhelming power of the United States of America. That justice and that power have been demonstrated in Afghanistan. And our work in that country goes on. More than a year after the campaign began, our troops remain engaged in a difficult and dangerous mission. We must not permit Afghanistan ever again to become a base for the training of terrorists and for the export of murder. The people of Afghanistan still face many hardships. Yet they are free from tyranny. And as a result, more than 2 million Afghan refugees have returned home to a free land. The Afghan people, with a new Government, are building a future of hope, and they have a committed friend in the American people. We are helping to build roads and bridges, sharing the methods of modern agriculture. We're providing textbooks for classrooms. We're building clinics and bringing medicine to the sick. Recently, Afghan children were dying of whooping cough. Yet they were in a region so remote that the vaccine would lose potency before it could arrive by horse. So the United States acted. We sent helicopters to deliver those vaccines and, as a result, save more than 100 children every week. Defeating our enemy and defending our freedoms is the best tradition of our military, and so is helping the innocent. We're making good progress in this, the first war of the 21st century. For years, the terrorists trained in the camps of Afghanistan. Those camps no longer exist. Some of the terrorists met their fate in caves and mountains of that country. Others were a little luckier, and they're now in custody, answering questions. Yet many trained killers are still scattered amongst 60 nations. And ridding the world of this threat requires a different kind of strategy. We're in a different kind of war. The global terrorist threat is not met on a single conventional battlefield. The terrorists find allies in outlaw regimes but themselves have no land or capital or standing army to defend. They send other people's children on missions of suicide and murder. That's how they operate. They accept no rule of morality or law of war. But we now know the nature of this enemy. We know what they're all about. And they will be pursued, and they will be found, and they will be defeated, no matter where they hide. Shortly after September the 11th, 2001, I announced a doctrine that said, "Either you're with the United States and those of us who love freedom, or you're with the enemy." And that doctrine still stands today. And today, more than 90 other Governments are actively cooperating with us in the war on terrorism. Justice has been brought to terrorists in countries from Spain to the Philippines to Pakistan to Indonesia, and we're still on the hunt. Sometimes you'll see successes, and sometimes you won't. But one thing is certain, an enemy that conspires in the shadows will not be safe in the shadows. Terrorists who plot to kill Americans and our friends should know this No matter how long it takes, their day of justice will come. Success in the war on terror is measured in the safety of innocent people from sudden and catastrophic violence. And we must oppose the threat of such violence from any source. We oppose the terror network and all who harbor and support terrorists. And we oppose a uniquely dangerous regime that possesses the weapons of mass murder, has used the weapons of mass murder, and could supply those weapons to terror groups. The dictator in Iraq has had a long history of aggression and a deep hatred of America. The United States Government, and once again the United Nations Security Council, share a determination The Iraqi regime must not produce or possess chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons. Iraq pledged to disarm more than a decade ago. It's been a decade of systematic deception, unmet obligations, unpunished violations. Those games are now over. Saddam Hussein will fully disarm and prove that he has done so, or America will lead a coalition to disarm him. This is an urgent task for America and the world, because the events of September the 11th clearly demonstrate that a threat that gathers on the other side of the Earth can bring suffering to the American homeland. The danger from Iraq is clear, and it's multiplied a thousand times over by the possibility of a chemical or biological or nuclear attack. The time to confront this threat is before it arrives, not the day after. I have no greater responsibility than protecting the American people. Should military action become necessary for our own security, I will commit the full force and might of the United States military, and we will prevail. In whatever lies ahead, the United States will remain a friend to the Iraqi people. They have suffered years of brutal repression, years of domestic terror from their own rulers. A new regime would bring deliverance for them. Iraqi resources are abundant its culture is rich its citizens are talent talented. And given a chance, there is no limit to what the Iraqi people can achieve. Their hopes are the same as all people in every land, to lead lives of dignity in a nation at peace. And America will help them. As many veterans have seen in countries around the world, captive people have greeted American soldiers as liberators, and there is good reason. We have no territorial ambitions. We don't seek an empire. Our Nation is committed to freedom for ourselves and for others. We and our allies have fought evil regimes and left in their place self governing and prosperous nations. And in every conflict, the character of our Nation has been demonstrated in the conduct of the United States military. Where they have served, America's veterans are remembered by civilians with affection, not fear. One veteran recalls the closing days of the Second World War. In the spring of 1945, he said, "Around the world, the sight of a 12 man squad of teenage boys, armed, in uniform, brought terror to people's hearts. But there was an exception, a squad of GIs, a sight that brought the biggest smiles you ever saw to people's lips and joy to their hearts. GIs meant candy and cigarettes, C rations and freedom." "America," he said, "has sent the best of her young men around the world, not to conquer but to liberate, not to terrorize but to help." As the Commander in Chief of Veterans Day, 2002, I see that same spirit in our military. These men and women are still the best of America. They are prepared for every mission we give them, and they are worthy of the standards set for them by America's veterans. Our veterans from every era are the finest of citizens. We owe them the life we know today. They command the respect of the American people, and they have our everlasting gratitude. May God bless America's veterans. November 11, 2002 Thank you very much. Thank you for that warm welcome. Mr. Secretary, thank you for your leadership. Members of my Cabinet who are here, distinguished Members of Congress, members of the United States military, Joe Burns, veterans organizations which are represented here, our veterans, my fellow Americans, thank you for coming. We gather this morning to show our gratitude to the veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Here and across the Nation, Americans are marking this day with expressions of respect for all who have worn the uniform of our country. This is a day of honor. Yet every day in this National Cemetery, family members visit the graves of loved ones, and veterans come to honor their lost friends. And nearly every day, in solemn ceremony, another veteran is laid to rest at Arlington. This is a place of national mourning and national memory. We remember those who served America by fighting and dying on the field of battle, and we remember those veterans who lived on for many decades to serve America in many ways. Not every marker in this cemetery bears a name. Near us are the graves of Americans from three wars, men known only to God but honored by their country and by the guards who stand watch. If you're a veteran, you also stand watch over the memory of great events and of brave young Americans. You're witnesses to what was gained in our wars and what was lost. You carry the fine traditions and values of our military, and you share them by example. You have a special place in the life of America, and America is proud of you. One veteran, a company commander in the Normandy invasion, returned many decades later to the cemetery overlooking Omaha Beach. He said, "Standing there in appreciation and sadness and long postponed grief, I could only wonder, why not me?" Millions of veterans have asked themselves that same question, and it has helped to shape the course of their lives. Veterans do not take life for granted. They know that duty and sacrifice are more than words. And they love America deeply because they know the cost of freedom, and they know the names and faces of men and women who paid for it. The term "veteran" conveys more than a rank held in the past. Military service forms priorities and commitments that last for a lifetime. Every person who has put on the uniform, whether in time of war or in time of peace, has also felt a new sense of responsibility. Dwight Eisenhower once recalled the day he began his military career. "The feeling came over me," he said, "that the expression the United States of America' would now and henceforth mean something different than it had ever before. From here on, it would be the Nation I would be serving, not myself." Long after their honorable discharge, our veterans still symbolize what it means to be a citizen. Go to any community in this country, and you will find veterans in positions of service and leadership. In so many ways, veterans live out the meaning of patriotism and idealism and concern for others. Those of us who are the children and grandchildren of veterans have seen those qualities up close. Each of us is better because of the influence of a veteran, and so is America. America must and will keep its word to those men and women who have given us so much. Veterans have been promised good health care when they are sick and disabled. They must be treated with fairness and respect. And to families across this land with loved ones whose fate is still undetermined, America owes the fullest possible accounting of our prisoners of war and those missing in action. Every veteran once stood ready to give all for our country, and they know that a true soldier never welcomes war. This Nation loves peace. We work and sacrifice for peace. Yet America must always be prepared to confront and defeat the enemies of human freedom. And when war is forced upon us, we will see it through to victory. At this hour, members of our military are serving on the scattered battlefields of a new kind of war. In Afghanistan and beyond, they're on the trail of killers who brought death to the innocent and war to our country. That mission will go on until the terrorists who struck America are fully and finally defeated. This new kind of war also requires us to confront outlaw regimes that seek and possess the tools of mass murder. We will not permit a dictator who has used weapons of mass destruction to threaten America with chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons. This great Nation will not live at the mercy of any foreign plot or power. The dictator of Iraq will fully disarm, or the United States will lead a coalition and disarm him. Over the generations, Americans in uniform have defended this Nation without seeking to dominate any nation. American troops do not come as conquerors but as liberators. We believe in self government for every land, and we believe that freedom is the hope of people of all cultures. By standing for freedom today, our military follows in a great tradition of courage and faithful service. Free nations are in debt to the long, distinguished line of American veterans, and all Americans owe our veterans our liberty. On this Veterans Day, we honor veterans, and we honor their families, and we offer the thanks of a grateful nation. May God bless our veterans, and may God continue to bless the United States of America. November 09, 2002 Good morning. This was an important week for our country and for the world. The United Nations Security Council voted for a resolution requiring the Iraqi regime to declare and destroy all weapons of mass destruction or face the consequences. Here at home, our citizens voted in an election I believe will strengthen our ability to get things done for the American people. With the United Nations Security Council resolution passed yesterday, the world has now come together to say that the outlaw regime in Iraq will not be permitted to build or possess chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons. That is the judgment of the United Nations Security Council. That is the judgment of the United States Congress. And my administration will see to it that the world's judgment is enforced. The resolution presents the Iraqi regime with a test, a final test. Iraq must now, without delay or negotiations, give up its weapons of mass destruction, welcome full inspections, and fundamentally change the approach it has taken for more than a decade. The regime must allow immediate and unrestricted access to every site, every document, and every person identified by inspectors. Iraq can be certain that the old game of cheat and retreat, tolerated at other times, will no longer be tolerated. Any act of delay or defiance will be an additional breach of Iraq's international obligations and a clear signal that the Iraqi regime has once again abandoned the path of voluntary compliance. If Iraq fails to fully comply with the U.N. resolution, the United States, in coalition with other nations, will disarm Saddam Hussein. Republicans and Democrats in Congress are strongly supporting our war against terror. As the current Congress returns to Washington this week, I hope we can act in the same spirit of unity to complete some unfinished business. The single most important item of unfinished business on Capitol Hill is to create a unified Department of Homeland Security that will vastly improve our ability to protect our borders, our coasts, and our communities. The Senate must pass a bill that will strengthen our ability to protect the American people and preserve the authority every President since John Kennedy has had to act in the interests of national security. Congress needs to send me a bill I can sign before it adjourns this year. We also have a responsibility to strengthen the economy so that people can find jobs. One immediate thing Congress can do to help put people to work is to pass legislation so that construction projects can get insurance against terrorism at a reasonable price. This will spur construction and create thousands of good hardhat jobs that are now on hold because projects without insurance cannot be built. Congress must also show fiscal discipline as it passes the appropriations bills. At a time when we're at war, at a time when we need to strengthen our economy, Congress must control wasteful spending while funding the Nation's priorities. American workers deserve action on these important economic issues. Our economy has come out of a recession and is growing. But I'm not satisfied, because I know we can do better. I want the economy to grow at a faster and stronger pace, so more Americans can find jobs. So I will work with our new Congress to pass a growth and jobs package early next year. Our Nation has important challenges ahead, at home and abroad. And we're determined to build the security and prosperity of America. Thank you for listening. November 08, 2002 Good morning. With the resolution just passed, the United Nations Security Council has met important responsibilities, upheld its principles, and given clear and fair notice that Saddam Hussein must fully disclose and destroy his weapons of mass destruction. He must submit to any and all methods to verify his compliance. His cooperation must be prompt and unconditional, or he will face the severest consequences. The world has now come together to say that the outlaw regime in Iraq will not be permitted to build or possess chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons. That is the judgment of the United States Congress. That is the judgment of the United Nations Security Council. Now the world must insist that that judgment be enforced. Iraq's obligation to disarm is not new or even recent. To end the Persian Gulf war and ensure its own survival, Iraq's regime agreed to disarm in April of 1991. For over a decade the Iraqi regime has treated its own pledge with contempt. As today's resolution states, Iraq is already in material breach of past U.N. demands. Iraq has aggressively pursued weapons of mass destruction, even while inspectors were inside the country. Iraq has undermined the effectiveness of weapons inspectors with ploys, delays, and threats, making their work impossible and leading to 4 years of no inspections at all. The world has learned from this experience an essential lesson Inspections will not result in a disarmed Iraq unless the Iraqi regime fully cooperates. Inspectors do not have the power to disarm an unwilling regime. They can only confirm that a government has decided to disarm itself. History has shown that when Iraq's leaders stall inspections and impede the progress, it means they have something to hide. The resolution approved today presents the Iraqi regime with a test, a final test. Iraq must now, without delay or negotiations, fully disarm, welcome full inspections, and fundamentally change the approach it has taken for more than a decade. The regime must allow immediate and unrestricted access to every site, every document, and every person identified by inspectors. Iraq can be certain that the old game of cheat and retreat, tolerated at other times, will no longer be tolerated. Any act of delay or defiance will be an additional breach of Iraq's international obligations and a clear signal that the Iraqi regime has once again abandoned the path of voluntary compliance. With the passage of this resolution, the world must not lapse into unproductive debates over whether specific instances of Iraqi noncompliance are serious. Any Iraqi noncompliance is serious because such bad faith will show that Iraq has no intention of disarming. If we're to avert war, all nations must continue to pressure Saddam Hussein to accept this resolution and to comply with its obligations and his obligations. America will be making only one determination Is Iraq meeting the terms of the Security Council resolution or not? The United States has agreed to discuss any material breach with the Security Council, but without jeopardizing our freedom of action to defend our country. If Iraq fails to fully comply, the United States and other nations will disarm Saddam Hussein. I've already met with the head of the U.N. inspections program and the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, which has responsibility for nuclear matters. I've assured them that the United States will fully support their efforts, including a request for information that can help identify illegal activities and materials in Iraq. I encourage every member of the United Nations to strongly support the inspection teams. And now the inspectors have an important responsibility to make full use of the tools we have given them in this resolution. All patriotic Iraqis should embrace this resolution as an opportunity for Iraq to avoid war and end its isolation. Saddam Hussein cannot hide his weapons of mass destruction from international inspectors without the cooperation of hundreds and thousands of Iraqis, those who work in the weapons program and those who are responsible for concealing the weapons. We call on those Iraqis to convey whatever information they have to inspectors, the United States, or other countries, in whatever manner they can. By helping the process of disarmament, they help their country. Americans recognize what is at stake. In fighting a war on terror, we are determined to oppose every source of catastrophic harm that threatens our country, our friends, and our allies. We are actively pursuing dangerous terror networks across the world. And we oppose a uniquely dangerous regime, a regime that has harbored terrorists and can supply terrorists with weapons of mass destruction, a regime that has built such terrible weapons and has used them to kill thousands, a brutal regime with a history of both reckless ambition and reckless miscalculation. The United States of America will not live at the mercy of any group or regime that has the motive and seeks the power to murder Americans on a massive scale. The threat to America also threatens peace and security in the Middle East and far beyond. If Iraq's dictator is permitted to acquire nuclear weapons, he could resume his pattern of intimidation and conquest and dictate the future of a vital region. In confronting this threat, America seeks the support of the world. If action becomes necessary, we will act in the interests of the world. And America expects Iraqi compliance with all U.N. resolutions. The time has come for the Iraqi people to escape oppression, find freedom, and live in hope. I want to thank the Secretary of State, Colin Powell, for his leadership, his good work, and his determination over the past 2 months. He's worked tirelessly and successfully for a resolution that recognizes important concerns of our Security Council partners and makes Iraq's responsibilities clear. I also thank our Ambassador to the United Nations, John Negroponte, and his team at our U.N. mission in New York for their hard work and outstanding service to our country. Secretary of State Powell's team has done a fine job. The American people are grateful to the Security Council for passing this historic resolution. Members of the Council acted with courage and took a principled stand. The United Nations has shown the kind of international leadership promised by its charter and required by our times. Now comes the hard part. The Security Council must maintain its unity and sense of purpose so that the Iraq regime cannot revert to the strategies of obstruction and deception it used so successfully in the past. The outcome of the current crisis is already determined The full disarmament of weapons of mass destruction by Iraq will occur. The only question for the Iraqi regime is to decide how. The United States prefers that Iraq meet its obligations voluntarily, yet we are prepared for the alternative. In either case, the just demands of the world will be met. Thank you all. November 07, 2002 The President. Thank you. Good afternoon. Thanks for coming. This is an important week for our country and for the world. The United Nations will vote tomorrow on a resolution bringing the civilized world together to disarm Saddam Hussein. Here at home, our citizens have voted in an election that I believe will strengthen our ability to make progress for all the American people. I congratulate the men and women, Republicans and Democrats, who were elected this week to public office all across America. I appreciate their willingness to leave their private lives and to serve their communities and to serve our Nation. I also commend the millions of voters across America and across the political spectrum who went to the polls. At a time when our freedoms are under attack, it is more important than ever that our citizens exercise the rights and responsibilities of our democracy. Now that the voters have spoken, I urge the members of both political parties to come together to get things done for the American people. I've talked to leaders of both parties and assured them I want to work with them. I talked to Senator Daschle yesterday and said that, although the Republican Party now leads the Senate, I still want to work with him to get things done for the American people. I talked to Leader Gephardt as well. I look forward to working with Members of the Congress and the newly elected Governors to make America's families safer in their homes and their communities, to make our economy stronger so people can find work, to make our country a better and more compassionate place. Members of the new Congress will take office in January, and they'll have a full agenda. The current Congress, however, will return in just a few days to take up some unfinished business. We have a responsibility to protect the American people against threats from any source. I'm grateful to the Members of the Congress, both Republicans and Democrats, that came together to support the war against terror and authorize, if need be, the use of force to disarm Iraq. We must bring the same spirit of bipartisan cooperation to the urgent task of protecting our country from the ongoing threat of terrorist attack. The single most important item of unfinished business on Capitol Hill is to create a unified Department of Homeland Security that will vastly improve our ability to protect our coasts and our borders and our communities. The election may be over, but a terrorist threat is still real. The Senate must pass a bill that will strengthen our ability to protect the American people. And they must pass a bill that preserves the authority every President since John Kennedy has had to act in the interest of national security. It's imperative that the Congress send me a bill that I can sign before the 107th Congress ends. We have a responsibility to strengthen the economy so people can find work. We're working to keep this economy moving. And one immediate thing Congress should do to help people put back to work is to pass legislation so that construction projects can get insurance against terrorism. This will spur construction and create thousands of good hardhat jobs that are currently on hold because projects without insurance cannot be built. Although it's late in the process, Congress must show fiscal discipline. At a time when we're at war and a time when we need to strengthen our economy, Congress must be wise with the people's money, fund the Nation's priorities, and control wasteful spending. The workers of America deserve our action on these important issues which have been stalled, yet when approved, will strengthen our economy. Many of the fundamental economic indicators are good. Interest rates are low, so Americans can buy more homes. Inflation is low, so paychecks go further in buying groceries and gas. The productivity of our workers is high. The economy has come out of a recession and is growing, but I'm not satisfied because I know we can do better. We must have an economy to grow at a faster and stronger pace so Americans can find a job. And so I'll work with new Congress to pass new growth and jobs packages early next year. I look forward to welcoming a new Congress, and I look forward to working with the current Congress to finish some very important work. And now it's my privilege to take some of your questions, starting with Sandra Sandra Sobieraj, Associated Press . 2002 Elections Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Do you believe that Tuesday's election gave you, personally, a mandate? And now that you have the Republican Congress, what will you do specifically, beyond terrorism insurance and Government spending restraints, to address the real anxieties inaudible of everyday Americans inaudible ? The President. Yes. First, I think candidates win elections because they're good candidates, not because they may happen to have the President as a friend or a foe, for that matter. Races that were won were won because people were able to convince the voters they could trust their judgment, convince the voters they care deeply about their circumstances. I believe if there is a mandate in any election, at least in this one, it's that people want something to get done. They want people to work together in Washington, DC, to pass meaningful legislation which will improve their lives. The best way to win an election is to is to earn the trust of the voters, and that's what happened in State after State after State. We had some really good candidates who overcame some pretty tough odds. They were running against incumbents in a lot of cases, and they ran great races. And they were reassuring people. And I really attribute the successes to the nature of their candidacies and the hard working people that turned out the vote. There were some really effective voter turnout organizations around the country. And I think the way to look at this election is to say, the people want something done. They see the risks are high, the risk of being able to find a job or the risk of keeping the homeland secure. And they want people to come together to work on it, and that's what I intend to do. Holland Steve Holland, Reuters . Legislative Agenda Q. The specifics of your The President. Oh, sorry, yes. Well, I'll let you know at the right time. For right now, we've got to get through a lameduck session. A lameduck session, for people who don't know what that means, it means the Senate is coming and the House is coming back between now and Christmas, and they've got a few days to get some big things done. And the most important thing to get done, I want to emphasize, is get a Department of Homeland Security finished. Some rumor is moving around that we may not be too keen on getting that done. I want it done. It is a priority. We got a good bill out of the House, and they need to get a bill out of the Senate and to conference and to my desk. I don't know how much time that's going to take, but having watched the debate prior to the election, it may take some time. But it doesn't matter how long it takes, they need to get it done. Secondly, they need to get a budget done. We need to get the bills, the appropriation bills, done. And I mentioned, they've got to get the terrorism insurance bill done. Now, given the amount of time they're likely to be here, that's a pretty big agenda. And in terms of afterwards, I'll let you know. But there are some issues, of course, that I intend to work with the Congress on, and one of them is to get prescription drug benefits to our seniors. That's an important issue. It's an issue that I talked about at every speech. The candidates, I'm sure both political parties, talked about it. And that's something that we need to get done. But let's get this get out of this lame duck session first. Steve. United Nations Resolution on Iraq Q. Mr. President, how confident are you that the Security Council will approve the tough new resolution on Iraq? And if that happens, what happens next? What's the next step? Is war inevitable? The President. Well, first of all, the resolution we put down is a tough new resolution. It talks about material breach and inspections and serious consequences if Saddam Hussein continues to defy the world and not disarm. So, one, I'm pleased with the resolution we put down. Otherwise, we wouldn't have put it down. I just talked to Jacques Chirac, and earlier today I talked to Vladimir Putin. I characterize our conversation I'm loathe to put words in somebody else's mouth. That's, evidently, not the case with a lot of people in Washington, but nevertheless, I am. And I'm optimistic we'll get the resolution vote tomorrow, let me put it to you that way. And Steve, the resolution is a disarmament resolution that's what it is. It's a statement of intent to, once and for all, disarm Saddam Hussein. He's a threat. He's a threat to the country. He's a threat to people in his neighborhood. He's a real threat, and it's now time for the world to come together and disarm him. And when this resolution passes, I will we'll be able to say that the United Nations has recognized the threat, and now we're going to work together to disarm him. And he must be cooperative in the disarmament. So the job of inspectors is to determine his level of cooperation, see. He has got to be the agent of disarming. He's got to agree that what we're doing is what he said he would do, and just like the United Nations has agreed that it is important to disarm him, for the sake of peace. And so the next step will be to put an inspection regime in there to after all the declarations and after all the preamble to inspections, that he's got to show the world he's disarming. And that's where we'll be next. Let's see here. Helen Helen Thomas, Hearst Newspapers . Q. I have a followup The President. Yes, I have a list. Laughter I don't want to be so discriminatory that people will say that I haven't thought this through. After all, the new arrange ment and by the way, we're here in honor of Ari Fleischer. Otherwise, we'd be in his house. But since he's getting married this weekend, I thought it appropriate to leave the podium that he occupies empty, in honor of the fact that he's getting married. I hope you all have sent your gifts to him. Laughter Ari, I did what you asked me to do. Laughter I'm sure he's on C SPAN right now. Helen. Iraq and North Korea Q. Mr. President, what is the logic of your insistence on invading Iraq at some point, which may someday have nuclear weapons, and not laying a glove on North Korea, which may have them or may produce them both of which, of course, would be against international law. And I have a followup. Laughter The President. Well, I may decide to let you have that followup or not, depending upon laughter depending on whether I like my answer. Laughter I am insistent upon one thing about Iraq, and that is that Saddam Hussein disarm. That's what I'm insistent on. He agreed to do that, by the way. Saddam Hussein said he would disarm, and he hasn't. And for the Q. And you don't The President. Is that the followup? Laughter Okay, that is the followup. I do care about North Korea. And as I said from the beginning of this new war in the 21st century, we'll deal with each threat differently. Each threat requires a different type of response. You've heard my strategy on dealing with Iraq. I've been very clear on the strategy all along, and tomorrow it looks like part of that strategy is coming to fruition. With North Korea, we're taking a different strategy, initially, and it's this, that we're going to work with countries in the neighborhood to convince North Korea that it is not in the world's interests that they develop a nuclear weapon through highly enriched uranium. We know they've got the capacity through plutonium. We have IAEA inspectors there watching carefully their plutonium stockpile. And then we discovered that, contrary to an agreement they had with the United States, they're enriching uranium, with the desire of developing a weapon. They admitted to this. And so, therefore, we have worked with our Japanese friends and South Korean friends, with the leadership in China I will talk with Vladimir Putin about this after my trip to the NATO summit to remind North Korea that if they expect to be a welcomed into this family of peaceful nations, that they should not enrich uranium. I thought it was a very interesting statement that Jiang Zemin made in Crawford, where he declared very clearly that he wants a nuclear weapons free Korean Peninsula. That was, in my judgment, an important clarification of Chinese policy that I hope the North Koreans listen to. I believe we can achieve this objective, Helen, by working closely with this consortium of nations which have got a valid interest in seeing to it that North Korea does not have nuclear weapons. Terry Terry Moran, ABC News . Q. Mr. President, can I have a followup The President. Of course, you can. Yes, it's fine. Laughter If the elections had gone a different way, I might not be so generous. Laughter Q. You are leaving the impression that Iraqi lives, the human cost, doesn't mean anything The President. Say that again? Q. You are leaving the impression that you wouldn't mind if you go to war against Iraq, but you deal with another nation which may have weapons in a different way. But there are two other impressions around one, that you have an obsession with going after Saddam Hussein at any cost and also that you covet the oil fields. The President. Yes. Well, I'm some people have the right impressions and some people have the wrong impressions. Q. Can you The President. Well, those are the wrong impressions. Q. Okay. The President. I have a deep desire for peace. That's what I have a desire for, and freedom for the Iraqi people. See, I don't like a system where people are repressed through torture and murder in order to keep a dictator in place. It troubles me deeply. And so the Iraqi people must hear this loud and clear, that this country never has any intention to conquer anybody. That's not the intention of the American people or our Government. We believe in freedom, and we believe in peace. And we believe the Iraqi dictator is a threat to peace. And so that's why I made the decisions I made, in terms of Iraq. Now, Terry Moran. Risk Assessment Regarding Iraq Q. Thank you, sir. On Iraq, you've said many times that if Saddam Hussein does not disarm, he will be disarmed militarily, if necessary, by the U.N. or the U.S. and others. There's a school of thought that says that going to war against Iraq would be a dangerous and misguided idea because it would generate a tremendous amount of anger and hatred at the United States, and out of that you'd essentially be creating many new terrorists who would want to kill Americans. What's wrong with that analysis? The President. Well, that's like saying we should not go after Al Qaida because we might irritate somebody, and that would create a danger to Americans. My attitude is, you've got to deal with terrorism in a firm way. And if they see threats, you deal with them in all different kinds of ways. The only way, in my judgment, to deal with Saddam Hussein is to bring the international community together to convince him to disarm. But if he's not going to disarm, we'll disarm him, in order to make the world a more peaceful place. And some people aren't going to like that I understand. But some people won't like it if he ends up with a nuclear weapon and uses it. We have an obligation to lead. And I intend to assume that obligation to make the world more peaceful. Terry, listen, there's risk in all action we take, but the risk of inaction is not a choice, as far as I'm concerned. The inaction creates more risk than doing our duty to make the world more peaceful. And obviously, I weighed all the consequences about all the differences. Hopefully, we can do this peacefully don't get me wrong. And if the world were to collectively come together to do so, and to put pressure on Saddam Hussein and convince him to disarm, there's a chance he may decide to do that. And war is not my first choice, don't it's my last choice. But nevertheless, it is a it is an option in order to make the world a more peaceful place. Let's see here. King. John King Cable News Network , that is. Legislative Agenda Q. Sir, in response to the elections, you're being quite humble about the results and your role. But many conservative lawmakers and many more conservative groups are saying, "Seize the moment." They say early in the new Congress, you should push your plan to partially privatize Social Security you should push for new restrictions on abortion you should push and renominate the judges that were rejected by the Senate and that you should push a total overhaul of the Tax Code. What are your views on that? The President. Well, I appreciate all the advice I'm getting. Laughter One of the things about this job, if you listen carefully, you get a lot of advice. And I it's important for a President to set priorities, and the two biggest priorities are the protection of the American people that's why I wanted to get this Homeland Security Department done and the other one is people being able to find jobs. And we'll work on those. And tax relief or tax reform, however you want to describe it, is part of, in my judgment, of creating economic vitality. But there are other things we can work on. Obviously, I'd like to see some of my judges get a good a fair hearing and get approved. And Medicare, prescription drugs is a very important issue, needs to get done. Terrorism insurance is an important issue. Energy bill is an important issue. I mean, there's a lot of things we can do and should do when they come back. And I can't remember the litany of things. Listen, there's going to be a huge laundry list of things people want to get done, and my job is to set priorities and get them done. And job creation and economic security job creation and economic security, as well as homeland security, are the two most important priorities we face. Q. Social Security and any new restrictions The President. No, I think the Social Security debate is an incredibly important debate. And we call them personal savings accounts, John, so that people have the option, at their choice, to manage their own money. That would be younger workers. Obviously, we've got to assure older workers that the promises we have made will be kept. And the danger, really, is for young workers. That's the threat, as to whether Social Security will be around for young workers without some massive tax increase. And I still strongly believe that the best way to achieve security in Social Security for younger workers is to give them the option of managing their own money through a personal savings account. Yes, it's an important issue as well. Listen, there's a lot of important issues. The budget is an important issue. The budget is an important issue coming out of the lameduck session. And the budget, as you know you're an old hand around here is always an important issue in the next session. So that's always an issue, too. There are some practical matters as well that will occupy time here in Washington, DC. Roberts. John Roberts CBS News , that is. Securities and Exchange Commission Economic Team Q. I'm wondering, sir, is Harvey Pitt, the Chairman of the SEC, just the first member of your economic team to go? And a separate question Will you ask William Webster to resign? The President. Well, let's see, let me start with Pitt. Harvey Pitt did some very good things at the SEC, and it's important for the American people to know that. Right after 9 11, he did a lot to get the markets opened. He really was he played a major role in that and received good credit for that. And I want to thank Harvey Pitt for that, and the American people should as well. He has done a lot to make it clear to corporate Americans that think they can don't have to be responsible in their positions a lot of enforcement, more so than ever in the history. He's enforced the corporate responsibility ethos. He has disbarred more people more money has been disgorged, as a result of illegal activity. And that's positive, that Harvey has done as well. And under his watch, CEOs now must verify their returns, and that's good. All that's positive. He made the decision himself that he thought that he couldn't be as effective as he needed to be. I received his letter. I appreciate his service. William Webster, the there's a IG investigation going on there at the SEC. We'll see what that says. But I will tell you, William Webster is a fine man. He is a decent, honorable public servant who has served our country well. Q. with respect to The President. Is this a three part question? Q. No. I'm just kind of reiterating the first. He is just the first member of your economic team to go? The implication is do you have The President. Listen, my economic team came in during very difficult times. There was a recession there was a terrorist attack there were corporate scandals. We have done a lot to return confidence and to provide a provide stimulus through tax cuts. My economic team developed a tax cut package, sold the tax cut package, is implementing the tax cut package. And for that, they deserve a lot of credit. They made good we're making good progress on the economy. There's still work to do. And I appreciate the hard work of the economic team. Campbell Campbell Brown, NBC News . 2002 Elections Q. Thank you, Mr. President. You were very gracious earlier, giving credit in this last election to the individual candidates. But a lot of those candidates say they have you to thank. Given the fact that your own election for President was so close it had to be decided by the Supreme Court, do you now feel personally reassured that these midterm elections validated your Presidency? The President. Thank you for that loaded question. Laughter Look, sometimes you win them, and sometimes you lose elections. That's just the way it is. And I was pleased with the results. I was more particularly pleased for the candidates who worked so hard, and their families and their workers. That's how I feel about it. I really don't put this in personal terms. I know people in Washington like to do that. You know, "George Bush won." "George Bush lost." That's the way they do it here. It's zero sum in Washington, and I know that. But if you're really interested in what I think, I think the fact that Norm Coleman ran a very difficult race in difficult circumstances and won speaks volumes about Norm Coleman. The fact that John Thune ran a difficult race against difficult circumstances, and at this point is still short, nevertheless speaks volumes about his desire and his intention to serve the country. There's case after case of people who have put their reputations on the line, who spent a lot of time away from their homes and their families, shaking a lot of hands and putting their hearts and souls in both parties. They deserve the credit. Thank you for trying to give it to me, but they deserve the credit. I know what it's like to run for office. I know the strains it puts on families. I know the tired the endless hours you spend campaigning and all the wonderful questions you have to answer as part of a campaign. I know all that, and these candidates deserve all the credit. And I was proud to help some of them the best I could. But the way you win a race is, you convince the people of your State or your district that they can trust your judgment and they can trust your character and they can trust your values. And it takes a lot of work to do that, and these candidates get the credit. And I I appreciate you pointing out that some people have given me credit. The credit belongs to people in the field. Yes, sir, Wendell Wendell Goler, Fox News . Iraqi Compliance With U.N. Resolution Q. Mr. President, thank you very much. You have put a lot of effort toward getting the United Nations to rally the world to disarm Saddam Hussein. And yet you and your aides have expressed a great deal of skepticism about whether Saddam Hussein will actually comply. Can you give us an idea, sir, how long you think it might take for the world to know whether Saddam Hussein actually intends to go along with the call of the world to disarm? Will it be a matter of days or weeks, months, or perhaps a year, sir? The President. Well, Wendell, this much we know It's so far taken him 11 years and 16 resolutions to do nothing. And so we've got some kind of history as to the man's behavior. We know he likes to try to deceive and deny, and that's why this inspection regime has got to be new and tough and different. The status quo is unacceptable you know, kind of send a few people in there and hope maybe he's nice to them and open up the baby milk factory it's unacceptable. And so that's why you'll see us with a different inspection regime, one that works to see to it that Saddam Hussein disarms. It's his responsibility to disarm. I don't put timetables on anything. But for the sake of peace sooner, better. And we'll see. But you must know that I am serious so are a lot of other countries serious about holding the man to account. I was serious about holding the U.N. to account. And when they pass this resolution, which I hope they do tomorrow, it shows that the U.N. is beginning to assume its responsibilities to make sure that 11 years of defiance does not go unanswered. It's very important that the U.N. be a successful international body because the threats that we face now require more cooperation than ever. And we're still cooperating with a lot of nations. We're still sharing intelligence and cutting off money the best we can. And there's still law enforcement efforts taking place all around the world. And that's why the international this international body called the U.N. is an important body for keeping the peace. And it's very important that they're effective. And we'll see tomorrow starting tomorrow. And then the key on the resolution, I want to remind you, is that there are serious consequences. And that's one of the key elements to make sure that everybody gets the picture that we are serious about a process of disarming him in the name of peace. Hopefully, he'll choose to do so himself. Sammons, Super Stretch Bill Sammon, Washington Times . Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Laughter The President. You and I are eye to eye. Well, actually laughter 2004 Election Q. Now that the 2004 Presidential campaign has unofficially begun, can you tell us whether Vice President Cheney will be your running mate again? Or will you, instead, choose someone who might harbor greater Presidential ambitions to, perhaps, succeed you one day? The President. Well, first of all, I'm still recovering from the '02 elections. Laughter And we got plenty of time to deal with this issue. But should I decide to run, Vice President Cheney will be my running mate. He's done an excellent job. I appreciate his advice. I appreciate his counsel. I appreciate his friendship. He is a superb Vice President, and there's no reason for me to change. I also want to thank him for all his hard work during the campaign. He was out there toiling along, working hard and turning out the vote, and I want to thank him for the hours he put out there as well. Please, yes. Q. If I may follow? Last time you had The President. Thank you for not standing up. You block the cameras. Laughter Q. Last time you had to kind of convince him to take the job. Have you talked to him this time, whether he is interested in serving another term? The President. I'm confident that he will serve another term. Judy Judy Keen, USA Today . United Nations Resolution on Iraq Q. Thank you, Mr. President. You said this afternoon that the U.N. Security Council vote tomorrow would bring the civilized world together against Iraq. But broad opposition remains all over the world to your policy. Will you continue to try to build support? If so, how will you do that? Or do you think that a Security Council vote would be all the mandate you need? The President. First of all, broad opposition around the world not in support of my policy on Iraq? Q. Yes, sir. The President. Well, I think most people around the world realize that Saddam Hussein is a threat. And they no one likes war, but they also don't like the idea of Saddam Hussein having a nuclear weapon. Imagine what would happen. And by the way, we don't know how close he is to a nuclear weapon right now. We know he wants one. But we don't know. We know he was close to one at one point in time. We have no idea today. Imagine Saddam Hussein with a nuclear weapon. Imagine how the Israeli citizens would feel. Imagine how the citizens in Saudi Arabia would feel. Imagine how the world would change, how he could alter diplomacy by the very presence of a nuclear weapon. And so a lot of people serious people around the world are beginning to think about that consideration. I think about it a lot. I think about it particularly in the regard of making the world a more peaceful place. And so it's very important for people to realize the consequences of us not taking the case to the U.N. Security Council. People need to think about what would happen if the United States had remained silent on this issue and just hoped for a change of his attitude or maybe hoped that he would not invade somebody again or just hoped that he wouldn't use gas on his own people when pressure at home began to mount. I'm not willing to take those kind of risks. People understand that. I think a lot of people are saying, you know, "Gosh, we hope we don't have war." I feel the same way. I hope we don't have war. I hope this can be done peacefully. It's up to Saddam Hussein, however, to make that choice. I also want to remind you that, should we have to use troops, should it become a necessity in order to disarm him, the United States, with friends, will move swiftly with force to do the job. You don't have to worry about that. We will do we will do we will do what it takes militarily to succeed. I also want to say something else to people of Iraq, that the generals in Iraq must understand clearly there will be consequences for their behavior. Should they choose, if force is necessary, to behave in a way that endangers the lives of their own citizens, as well as citizens in the neighborhood, there will be a consequence. They will be held to account. And as to the Iraqi people, what I said before the Iraqi people can have a better life than the one they have now. They can have a there are other alternatives to somebody who is willing to rape and mutilate and murder in order to stay in power. There's just a better life than the one they have to live now. I think the people of the world understand that too, Judy. I don't take I don't take I don't spend a lot of time taking polls around the world to tell me what I think is the right way to act. I've just got to know how I feel. I feel strongly about freedom. I feel strongly about liberty. And I feel strongly about the obligation to make the world a more peaceful place. And I take those responsibilities really seriously. Elisabeth Elisabeth Bumiller, New York Times . President's Leadership Q. Thank you, sir. You just said you've reached out to Democrats. Does this mean that you will be governing more from the center and taking fewer cues from the conservative arm of your party? The President. I don't take cues from anybody. I just do what I think is right. That's just the way I lead. And what's right is to work to stimulate the economy. I strongly believe the tax relief was the right thing to do. If people are really interested in job creation, they ought to join me in my call to make the tax cuts permanent. It's an important part of sending a signal that there is certainty in the Tax Code, that all the benefits from tax relief don't go away after 10 years. As I like to say you might have heard me once or 10 times or 100 times the Senate giveth, and the Senate taketh away. That means there's uncertainty when that happens. And you've got to have certainty in a system that requires risk. And making the tax cuts permanent is an essential part. I mean and so that is a commonsense drive to create jobs. I will just tell people what I think about how to solve the problems we face. And I ran on a political philosophy I'm not changing my political philosophy. I am who I am prior the same guy after the election that I was prior to the election. That's just who I am and how I intend to lead this country. Jean Cummings Wall Street Journal . I'm having such a good time. Laughter Jean Cummings there she is, yes. Securities and Exchange Commission Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Getting back to the question of Harvey Pitt. The President. Pitt, yes. Q. What kind of person are you looking for to fill that position now? And how quickly do you want to move on that? And then also, as much as you said that Mr. Webster is a well respected and quality person, do you think that the Chairman, whoever that new Chairman is, should have a chance to select their own person and have a fresh start? The President. Well, I think that's kind of the double whammy hypothetical there, Jean. I think that the on Webster, first, let's find out what the facts are so that everybody knows. That's why they're doing this investigation. And it's one fact is irrefutable He's a decent man he's served the country well. And I know he can do that job. Secondly, as soon as possible, for the SEC nominee and somebody who is going to continue to fulfill the obligation that of holding people to account. In other words, holding wrongdoers to account and making sure the numbers are fair and open and transparent and everybody understands the facts when it comes to to accounting, so that we continue to regain confidence in our system that people, when they invest based upon the numbers of a particular stock, are confident in that which they read. And that's an essential part of the SEC job, and I'm confident we can find somebody soon to be able to do that. Hutch Ron Hutcheson, Knight Ridder . Risk Assessment Regarding Iraq Q. Thank you. I wanted to go back to your earlier point about the risk of an action versus the risk of inaction. The President. Where would that be, in the Congress or at the U.N.? Q. With Iraq. The President. Oh, okay. Q. Your CIA Director told Congress just last month that it appears that Saddam Hussein "now appears to be drawing a line short of conducting terrorist attacks against the United States." But if we attacked him he would "probably become much less constrained." Is he wrong about that? The President. No. I think that I think that if you would read the full I'm sure he said other sentences. Let me just put it to you I know George Tenet well I meet with him every single day he sees Saddam Hussein as a threat. I don't know what the context of that quote is. I'm telling you, the guy knows what I know, that he is a problem and we must deal with him. And you know, it's like people say, "Oh, we must leave Saddam alone. Otherwise, if we did something against him, he might attack us." Well, if we don't do something, he might attack us, and he might attack us with a more serious weapon. The man is a threat, Hutch, I'm telling you. He's a threat not only with what he has he's a threat with what he's done. He's a threat because he is dealing with Al Qaida. In my Cincinnati speech, I reminded the American people, a true threat facing our country is that an Al Qaida type network trained and armed by Saddam could attack America and leave not one fingerprint. That is a threat. And we're going to deal with it. The debate about whether we're going to deal with Saddam Hussein is over. And now the question is, how do we deal with him? I made the decision to go to the United Nations because I want to try to do this peacefully. I want Saddam to disarm. The best way to convince him to disarm is to get the nations to come together through the U.N. and try to convince him to disarm. We're going to work on that. We've been spending a lot of time I wouldn't exactly call it gnashing of teeth, but working hard on the U.N. resolution. It took a while, but we've been grinding it out, trying to bring a consensus, trying to get people together, so that we can say to the world the international community has spoken through the Security Council of the United Nations, and now, once again, we expect Saddam to disarm. This would be the 17th time that we expect Saddam to disarm. This time we mean it. See, that's the difference I guess. This time it's for real. And I say it must not have been for real the last 16 times because nothing happened when he didn't. This time something happens. He knows he's got to understand that. The members of the U.N. Security Council understand that. Saddam has got to understand it so he so in the name of peace, for a peaceful resolution of this, we hope he disarms. Jackson David Jackson, Dallas Morning News , from Texas. You got anything a Texas question? Judicial Confirmation Process Q. As a matter of fact, I do. Laughter The President. Thank you. Q. Do you intend to resuscitate the nomination of Priscilla Owen and Charles Pickering? And also, how bloody do you think the next Supreme Court nomination will be? The President. Well, first, I want the new chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee to understand that I am very serious about the reforms that I suggested in the East Room, about how to get this process of nominating judges and approving judges on the right course, not only for this administration but future administrations, not only for this Senate but future Senates. And so step one on the judiciary process, I believe there needs to be reform. I would be glad to reprise the reforms if you can't remember them. Q. Owen and Pickering, are they going to The President. I'll be there in a minute. Laughter I'm using this as an opportunity to make a point on judicial reform. And that is that if a judge thinks he's going to retire, give us a year's notice, if possible. And then we will act "we," the administrative branch, will nominate somebody and clear them within 180 days. And then the Senate judiciary has got 90 days to go through the process and then get the person's name to the floor and 180 days for an up or down vote. To me, that would be a needed and necessary reform. So step one on the nomination process is to work with Senator Hatch and Senator Leahy to put these reforms in place, is to convince Members of the Senate we're serious about a process that will get rid of the old bitterness of the judicial process. This is probably not to your liking, by the way. You love those court fights. I'm confident it makes great covering and great stories. I also said at the time of Priscilla Owen's being not being put to the floor of the Senate that I would hope that the Judiciary Committee would let her name out to the Senate floor at some point in time. We don't have to recommit them. They never they're there. Pickering and Owen are still there at the committee level. They just weren't ever their names were never let to the floor for a vote. By the way, if they had been let to the floor for a vote, we believe they would have won the vote perhaps the reason why they were never let to the floor for a vote. But so, I hope that judiciary committee will let their names out and they get a fair hearing. I thought you were going to talk about the Texas elections. But that's okay. Laughter April April Ryan, American Urban Radio Networks , last question. Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you. Ryan Tyler James The President. How's your child, April? Q. She's wonderful. The President. Georgia W? Laughter Q. My husband is watching, and the name is Ryan Tyler James. Laughter The President. You might as well turn to the camera when you say that. Laughter Haitian Immigrants Immigration Policy Q. Well, Mr. President, some critics contend there is a racial disparity in how immigrants are handled here, and speaking of the Haitians versus immigrants, the other immigrants. Do you support the current law on the books about Haiti, and why, either way? The President. April, first of all, the immigration laws ought to be the same for Haitians and everybody else, except for Cubans. And the difference, of course, is that we don't send people back to Cuba because they're going to be persecuted. And that's why we've got the special law on the books as regards to Cubans. But Haitians and everybody else ought to be treated the same way. And we're in the process of making sure that happens. It's been an enjoyable experience. November 07, 2002 Good evening. Thank you all for coming. I'm honored to welcome such a distinguished group of Ambassadors and American citizens to the White House to help usher in the holy month of Ramadan. Islam is a religion that brings hope and comfort to more than a billion people around the world. It has made brothers and sisters of every race. It has given birth to a rich culture of learning and literature and science. Tonight we honor the traditions of a great faith by hosting this Iftaar at the White House. I'm honored that our great Secretary of State is with us today. Mr. Secretary, thank you for being here. I appreciate Your Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Zayid of the United Arab Emirates for coming. I want to thank members of my administration who are here, in particular, Dr. Elias Zerhouni, who's the Director of the National Institute of Health. I want to thank all the Ambassadors who are here. It's good to see you all again the other representatives from the Organization of Islamic Conference. I appreciate so very much my fellow Americans here, many from the Muslim community. Ramadan is a special time of prayer and fasting, contemplation of God's greatness, and service to those in need. According to Muslim teachings, this season commemorates the revelation of God's word in the Holy Koran to the prophet Muhammad. Today, this word inspires faithful Muslims to lead lives of honesty and integrity and compassion. In hosting tonight's Iftaar, I send a message to all the nations represented by their Ambassadors here tonight America treasures your friendship America honors your faith. We see in Islam a religion that traces its origins back to God's call on Abraham. We share your belief in God's justice and your insistence on man's moral responsibility. We thank the many Muslim nations who stand with us against terror, nations that are often victims of terror, themselves. Tonight's Iftaar also sends a message to all Americans Our Nation is waging a war on a radical network of terrorists, not on a religion and not on a civilization. If we wage this war to defend our principles, we must live up to those principles, ourselves. And one of the deepest commitments of America is tolerance. No one should be treated unkindly because of the color of their skin or the content of their creed. No one should be unfairly judged by appearance or ethnic background or religious faith. We must uphold these values of progress and pluralism and tolerance. George Washington said that America "gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance." This was our policy at our Nation's founding this is our policy today. America rejects all forms of religious intolerance. America grieves with all the victims of religious bigotry. And America opposes all who commit evil in God's name. Ramadan and the upcoming holiday seasons are a good time to remember the ties of friendship and respect that bind us together. Learning from each other, we can build bridges of mutual trust and understanding. Working together, we can create a better future for people of all faiths. I thank you for coming to the White House this evening. I wish you all a blessed Ramadan. God bless. November 04, 2002 The President. Thanks for coming. And Laura and I are sure glad we came. We're wandering our way back to Texas. See, tomorrow is election day, and we intend to vote. And we're not undecided. Laughter And I'm not undecided who ought to be the next United States Senator from Missouri, and that ought to be Jim Talent. It's good to be here in St. Charles County, and to be with a lot of our friends from the St. Louis area. We appreciate you taking this election seriously. See, that's part of the American spirit. It's the spirit which is strong today. It's the spirit that says, no matter what the cost, we'll defend our freedoms. It's the spirit that says part of being a patriot is to serve something greater than yourself in life. It's the spirit that says, if you love freedom, then you have an obligation as a citizen of this country to participate in the elections. If you believe in freedom, then you have a responsibility to maintain that democratic system by doing your duty. And so I'm here in the State of Missouri to urge all folks, Republicans and Democrats and independents, to go to the polls. And when you get in that box, I've got a suggestion For the good of Missouri and for the good of the United States of America, Jim Talent is the man for Senate. Laura and I are really proud of the campaign he has run, and we're really proud of the fact that he and Brenda hold family values dear to their heart. I'm also proud to be up here with a Senator who's done a fine job on behalf of all the citizens of Missouri, a man I'm proud to call friend, and that's Senator Kit Bond. I know we've got some Members of Congress here Todd Akin and Jo Ann Emerson and Kenny Hulshof. They're fine members of the United States congressional delegation. I'm proud to call them friends. I'm proud to call them ally. See, that's what I'm looking for, some allies, somebody who we can count on to do the right thing for America, somebody whose vote we can count on to do the right thing to make sure this country is strong and safe and a better place. I want to thank John Lewis for running for the State senate. I wish John all the best. Particularly proud to have met Carole Buck, the wife of the great voice of the Cardinals, Jack Buck, a fine man and a fine American. Thrilled to know that our family friend is here, the man who can really sing. I wish I'd have been here to hear him sing. I'm a country and western fan, and one of my favorites is Randy Travis. I'm proud that Randy is here, and Elizabeth is here Randy is here, and Elizabeth, and a friend, Jay Shields, is with them. I'm honored they're here. I appreciate them coming to support this good man. But most of all, I want to thank you all for coming, the grassroots activists. I want to thank you for what you have done in the past, but more importantly, I want to thank you for what you're going to do today and tomorrow, and that is to turn out the vote. This man has been working hard all over this State, putting out a positive message, and now he needs your help to gather up Republicans and discerning Democrats laughter like minded independents and get them to the polls. Tell them they have an obligation. They have an obligation to vote, and they have the obligation to support the best candidate. And that best candidate, without a doubt, for the sake of the future of this country, is Jim Talent. He's shown on this campaign that he can bring dignity to a process that needs dignity, that he's not going to fall prey to the same old, tired politics of tearing somebody down to get ahead. He's treated his opponent with respect because he believes strongly in what he stands for. He stands on solid ground with ideology and principle. And therefore, he doesn't need to resort to the old style politics. He is a breath of fresh air, and believe me, we need some breaths of fresh air in Washington, DC. And he's got a record. He's an accomplished man. He served in the Congress, and when he did, he was the leader about promoting small business. And we need people up there who understand how jobs are created. The role of Government is not to create wealth it's to create an environment in which a small business can grow to be a big business, in which the entrepreneurial spirit can flourish. And Jim Talent understands that. He understands the importance of entrepreneurship in our society. And we need that kind of understanding in Washington because we got some problems with our economy. It's not strong like it should be. I like to say it's just bumping along. And therefore, there are too many people looking for a job who can't find work. I need to have allies in the United States Senate who understand growth and job creation. And one way to help people find work is to let people keep more of their own money. See, when you've got more of your own money in your pocket, you're likely to demand an additional good or a service. And when you demand a good or a service, somebody is likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces a good or a service, guess what happens? Somebody is more likely to find work. The best thing we did to help job creation was to cut your taxes. And we need to have a United States Senator from Missouri who will join Kit Bond in making the tax cuts permanent. Jim's got a record on important legislation. He wrote the welfare reform bill, and that's an important piece of legislation. It's a great accomplishment because it helped a lot of people move from dependency upon Government to independence, moved people from being dependent upon the Government check to realizing their own worth because they were able to earn their own check. The core ingredient to successful welfare that he saw then and I need his help to make sure we continue to see it in Washington is to help people find work, is to train them for work, find work, and encourage them to work. And that's the best way to have welfare dependency reduced in America. I look forward to working with Jim on some a couple of other keys issues. On education I have a passion for education, and he shares that passion. We've raised the standards in America. See, that's what we need to do. We've raised the bar because we want to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. We believe every child can learn in America. We understand that if you have low standards and lousy low standards are going to get lousy results. If you have low expectations, that's what you're going to get. And so we passed an education reform bill that sets the highest of high standards. Inherent in that bill is the great trust in the citizens of Missouri. See, we believe in local control of schools. The people who care more about the children of Missouri are the citizens of Missouri, not bureaucrats in Washington, DC. But what's important in this bill is that we're sending a lot of money back home, but we expect results for that money. For the first time we started asking the fundamental question, can our children read and write and add and subtract finally asking that question. If we believe they can, then it would make sense to ask the question. And when we find children in schools that are doing well, we're going to praise the teachers and the principals and the parents. But we need allies in Washington who are not so beholden to special interests that when we find children trapped in schools that won't teach and won't change, that we do not accept the status quo. No child should be left behind in the State of Missouri. I look forward to working with Jim Talent and Kit Bond to make sure our health care system works better. We've got too many lawsuits, too many junk lawsuits that are clogging our courts, so that if you've got a legitimate claim, you can't get in front of a judge. But those junk lawsuits are also running up the cost of medicine for you, and they're driving good docs out of business. We need medical liability reform in Washington, DC. We need to make sure Medicare works. We made a promise to our seniors, and we need to keep that promise. Medicine has changed. It's modern. Technologies have changed. There's new discoveries which have made medicine more effective. Yet Medicare is stuck in the past. It's been used as a political football. We need to get people in the Senate with whom I can work to modernize Medicare, which means prescription drugs for every senior in the State of Missouri. And I'll tell you another big issue and another big difference in this campaign, and that has to do with our Federal judiciary. I have a responsibility to name good people to the bench. I've named a lot of really good people to the bench, but the bunch running the Senate has done a lousy job on my nominees. You need to know the facts. The facts are, we've got too many vacancies on our Federal bench because they're playing politics. And sometimes they're distorting the record of these good people I've named. We need to get rid of all that stuff, for the sake of our solid judiciary. I've been naming good, honorable, honest people, but they don't like the fact that the people I named will not use the bench from which to legislate they will use the bench to strictly interpret the United States Constitution. And I know I'll be able the count on Senator Jim Talent's support for putting up judges that you'll be proud of, judges whose philosophy the vast majority of the people of this State of Missouri support. But the biggest issue we'll be working on together is going to be to protect you from further attack. That's the biggest issue we face in America. And we face it because we haven't finished bringing the terrorists to justice. They're still out there, and they still hate. They hate because of what we love. They're motivated by hate. We're motivated by the love of freedom. We love our freedoms. We love the fact that people can worship freely in America. We love the fact that people can speak their mind freely. We love a free press. We love every aspect of freedom, and we're not going to change. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. So long as there's an active enemy out there, we've got to be on alert here at home. Listen, we got notified they put us on notice. And so, therefore, there's a lot of good people working on your behalf to protect you people at the Federal level, the State level, people at the local level a lot of really fine, fine American people doing everything they can to run down any hint, any piece of evidence that somebody is thinking about doing something to America, we're moving on it. We're disrupting. We're denying. We're doing everything we can. But I went to Congress because I think there's a better way to even further our ability to protect the homeland, and that is to set up a Department of Homeland Security. I went there because I understand in Washington there's over 100 agencies involved with your protection, the protection of America. I felt, since this is the number one priority of our Government, that they ought to be under one agency to help set priority and, if need be, to change culture so people get the message that we're still under threat and we have to do everything we can to help you. The House of Representatives responded quickly with a really good piece of legislation, which I can tell you will enable this President and future Presidents to better do a job of protecting America. But the bill is stuck in the Senate. And I need Senators like Kit Bond and Jim Talent who will work with me to have a Department of Homeland Security which will meet your expectations. The reason the bill is stuck in the Senate is because some of the Senators there want to take away power that every President has had for the last 40 years, which will allow a President to suspend certain collective bargaining rules in any Department of the Federal Government when our national security is at stake. In other words, if there are work rules that stand in the way of our capacity to deal with an enemy which is trying to hit us, then I ought to be able to suspend those work rules. I ought to be able to do what is necessary to protect the American people. Unfortunately, they some in the Senate have been captured by special interests. The main interest I have in mind is the security of the American people. I am not going to accept a lousy bill from the United States Senate. And one way to make sure I don't get a lousy bill is to send a man up there who understands what I'm talking about, and that man is Jim Talent. But the best way to protect America, short term and long term, is to find these killers, no matter where they hide, and bring them to justice. And that is what we're doing. And that's what sometimes you'll see, and sometimes you won't. But you just got to know that the United States is on the hunt. And we're on the hunt after an enemy which is a little different from any enemy we've ever faced. See, in the old days, you would get their tanks and their airplanes, and you knew you were making progress. These folks hide in caves. They hide in kind of the dark corners of cities around the world, and then they send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. There's a difference of attitude, of course, because in America we value every life. We say, "Everybody is precious. Every life counts." And the enemy we face, they've hijacked a great religion. And they don't care about life. They murder. And they're tough, but they're not as tough as the United States of America. And I know I'll be able to count on Jim's support, just like I could count on Kit's and the Members' of Congress support, to make sure that our military has the best training, the best pay, and the best possible equipment. I signed the biggest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President for that reason. But there's another reason why. I wanted to send a message to friend and foe alike that we're in this deal for the long haul. There's not a calendar on my desk in the Oval Office that says, by suchand such a date, you've got to quit. That's not the way we think in America. It doesn't matter how long it takes. When it comes to the defense of our freedoms, we will stay the course. And we're working with other nations. The doctrine that says, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy," still stands. That doctrine still is relevant. And so there's a lot of folks joining in this hunt. And we got them on the run, and we're going to keep them on the run until we bring them to justice. That's what we owe this generation of Americans. That's what we owe future generations of Americans. But as we're thinking about Al Qaida, we've also got to look at all threats. See, the world changed on September 11th this way. It used to be oceans could protect us, or at least we thought so if we saw a gathering threat overseas, that we could pick and choose whether or not we wanted to deal with that threat because there was two oceans. By geography, America was safe, we assumed. The battlefields would be elsewhere. Sometimes we decided to deal with the threat to freedom and democracy sometimes we didn't. But we were comfortable. It's important, after September 11th, to realize that oceans no longer protect us. Therefore, every threat matters. And we've got to assess every threat. We've got to be cold eyed realists about the world. We must have people in Congress and in Washington who see the world exactly the way it is, not the way we would hope it would be. If we're if our number one priority is to protect you, then we've got to take every threat seriously. And that's why I started the dialog on Saddam Hussein. He's a threat. He's a threat to our country because of his the nature of his regime and the nature of the man, himself. He's a man who said he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction, but he's denied and deceived the world for 11 years. A while ago we discovered that he was close to having a nuclear weapon. We don't know how close he is today, but a Saddam Hussein with a nuclear weapon is a true threat to America and our friends and allies. He said he wouldn't have chemical weapons. He's got them, but even more amazingly, he's used them. And he's used them not only on his neighbors, but he's used them on his own people. This is a person who is willing to gas his own citizens. This is a man who can't stand America and what we believe in. This is a man who hates some of our closest allies. This is a man who has had Al Qaida connections. I want you to think about a scenario in which he becomes the arsenal and the training grounds for shadowy terrorists so that he can attack somebody he hates and not leave any fingerprints behind. He is a threat. He's also a threat to whether or not an international body can perform its duty to keep the peace. I went to the United Nations, and I said to the United Nations, "We want you to succeed. It will make it easier to keep the peace when nations are bound together. It will make it much easier for us to defend freedom if we need to, with the new threats we face in the 21st century. But for 16 resolutions, this man has defied you. Not one resolution, not five resolutions but resolution after resolution after resolution, he has defied you." I said to the United Nations, and I'm saying it today, "You have a choice. You have a choice to show the world whether you have the capacity to work together to disarm Saddam Hussein for the sake of peace, whether you'll be an effective United Nations, or whether you'll be like one of your forerunners, the League of Nations, an empty debating society." It's their choice to make. And Saddam Hussein has a choice to make For the sake of peace, he must disarm like he said he would do. But my fellow Americans, just as the Congress spoke the other day about my attitude, I want to share it with you For the sake of our freedoms, for the sake of doing our duty to address serious threats in a serious way, and for the sake of world peace and I mean that for the sake of world peace, if the United Nations will not act, and if Saddam Hussein will not disarm, the United States will lead a coalition of nations to disarm him. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. I can't imagine what was going through the mind of the enemy when they hit us. They must have thought that materialism was our national religion, that people were so self absorbed and selfish in America, that after 9 11 2001, we might file a lawsuit or two laughter but that's about all we had in us, that's all we they don't understand us. They don't realize what I know, that out of the evil they have done to America is going to come some good. Out of the evil done to this great country is going to come some good. And one of the good things that's going to happen, if we stay the course, if we're strong, if we speak clearly, if we're decisive, if we understand that freedom is not America's gift to the world but is God's gift to the world if we understand those values, if we stay true to our beliefs and true to our responsibilities, we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace not only for our country we can achieve peace for parts of the world that have quit on peace. I believe that. I believe that history has given us a chance, and this great country is going to seize the moment. And here at home, it's important to realize that we have a chance to make America a better place, that while we work to make America a safer and stronger place, we can work to make America a better place as well. And Government can help. We can pass law or we can work to make the public school systems work better or the welfare laws work better, make sure the health care systems function. But there's a lot of people that that's not going to matter to because they're hopeless, they're addicted, they're lost. You say "American Dream," they have no idea what you're talking about. Amongst our plenty, there are pockets of loneliness and despair. And if any of us hurts, we all hurt, as far as I'm concerned. And the best way to deal with those folks, the best way to help them is to remember that Government cannot put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. The best way to help them is to rally the true strength of America, the heart of America, and encourage people to put their arm around somebody who hurts and say, "I love you. What can I do to help you? How can I make your life a better life?" And that's part of the American spirit that is so strong and alive today, the fact that people all across this country understand that serving something greater than yourself is part of being an American patriot. Today I met Tim Mosier from the USA Freedom Corps. He has been a law enforcement guy, been involved in emergency management. And he takes time now to volunteer, teaching citizens in Pettis County emergency response and preparedness skills. That's one way somebody can help, and we can help all kinds of ways. You can mentor a child, run a Boy Scout troop or a Girl Scout troop. You can feed the hungry. You can find shelter for the homeless. There's all kinds of ways to help change America, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. No, the spirit of America is alive and well in this country. People have taken a step back and have assessed their life, and they realize that service to a country, service to a cause, service to something greater than yourselves is part of that American experience. I want the youngsters here to remember the story of Flight 93, one of most profound parts of this entire history of the recent history we've been through, profound because it's a story of the American spirit. People flying across the country on an airplane, they learned that the plane was going to be used as a weapon. They were on the phones to their loved ones, said, "Goodbye. I love you." Somebody said a prayer. A guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane into the ground to save lives, to serve something greater than themselves. No, the enemy hit us. When the enemy hit us, they had no idea they had no idea who they were hitting. Out of the evil done to America is going to come a peaceful world. And I will boldly predict to you, out of the evil done to America will come a better country for all of us, because this is the greatest country, full of the finest people on the face of this Earth. I'm honored you're here. Thanks for helping Jim. May God bless you, and may God bless America. November 04, 2002 The President. Thank you all. It's nice to be home. I want to thank you all for coming. Laura and I are working our way across the country to get back to Texas so we can vote, and I want to tell you, we're not undecided. Laughter For the sake of Texas and for the sake of America, vote John Cornyn for the United States Senate. And for the sake of the taxpayers of Texas and for the sake of the schoolchildren of Texas, elect Rick Perry as the Governor of Texas. No, we're looking forward to getting into that voting booth tomorrow morning, and I hope you are as well. I hope all of Texas takes their responsibility serious. You see, we live in a land of freedom, and therefore, we have an obligation to participate as free citizens. If you're eligible to vote, you should vote. I don't care whether you're a Democrat or Republican, independent, or could care less about a political party, you have an obligation in a free society. You know, Laura went to SMU. They didn't have a course on how to be a First Lady when she went here. Laughter But if they had, she'd have gotten an A plus. I'm really proud of the job she's done. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. I'm proud to be up here with some fine public servants really proud of the job that Senator Kay Hutchison is doing on behalf of all of Texas. She's a strong leader in the United States Senate. She's a strong leader. She's doing a fabulous job. I'm proud to call her friend, and I'm also Audience member. Inaudible . The President. I'm also here to honor Senator Phil Gramm, who has done a great job on behalf of Texas. I appreciate so very much Congressman Henry Bonilla's hard work in the Texas Victory committee. That's the committee that is going to turn out the vote. See, that's what we're here to talk about. We're here to talk about how to turn out the vote, how to get people to the polls. I want to thank you all for what you have done. I want to thank you for what you're going to do, which is to find good Texans and get them to vote, turn them out to vote, and get them to vote for this ticket. These are candidates we can be proud of. These are people that you can have confidence in. So work hard. And by the way, I'm pretty familiar with Texas politics. You know, there's a lot of discerning Democrats who are going to support this ticket. Don't be afraid to talk to those good Democrats. Don't be afraid to talk to independents. Our candidates can reach across party line, because they've got a positive vision for the future of this State and for the future of our country. I'm proud to be up here with a great statewide ticket. I know them all well. I can vouch for their integrity and their talents the next Lieutenant Governor, David Dewhurst the next attorney general, Greg Abbott a lady who has two sons working in my administration, that would be Carole Keeton Rylander Jerry Patterson and Susan Combs and Michael Williams all great candidates, all people you can trust. I want to appreciate the Members of the United States Congress who are here today. We've got a great congressional delegation from the State of Texas, Sam Johnson and Pete Sessions, Joe Barton and Kay Granger. I'm proud to call them friends. I appreciate working with them. Anytime there's any doubt about my stance on some of these Texas Congressmen, if they're voting with me, I'm for them. Laughter And they're voting with me. They're solid friends. And we need Jeb Hensarling and the rest of the people running for the United States Congress in Washington, DC, too. I want to thank the bands who are here tonight, the Waxahachie High School band. Is the courthouse still standing? That's good. Lake Highlands High School band, I appreciate you all coming. If you're 18, you've got to vote now. If you're 18, you've got to vote. The SMU band is here. I appreciate them coming. I know you're 18. Laughter Eric Orson Band, I appreciate them coming as well. I'm sorry we weren't here in time to hear the music. We had to stop in Arkansas on the way down. They're fixing to reelect a Governor, and you're fixing to elect a good man to Governor of Texas. That man is Rick Perry. He knows what he's doing. He knows how to manage the budget. He understands public schools. He understands jobs. He is the absolute right man for the job of Governor of Texas. And like me, he married well. Laughter Anita is a great first lady for Texas. I can't be any stronger for John Cornyn than this It is the right thing to do for America, to put John Cornyn in the United States Senate. I know him. I trust him. And we can work together on some big issues on behalf of all of Texas and all of America. And there are some big hurdles facing this country. First of all, this economy isn't doing as good as it should be doing. It's bumping along. And therefore, there are some people looking for work who can't find work. And anytime somebody is looking for work who can't find work, says to me that we've got to figure out how to continue to increase the job base of America. But there's a fundamental difference of opinion in Washington, DC, as to how to do that. The page of the economic textbook that we've read from says that if you let a person keep more of their own money, they're more than likely to demand an additional good or a service. They're likely to demand a good or a service, and when they do that, somebody is likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces the good or a service, it's more likely somebody is going to be able to find a job. And therefore, the tax cuts we pass in Washington came at the exact right time in economic history. And I need a Senator who will stand strong on this issue. I need a Senator with whom we can work to make the tax cuts permanent, and that Senator is John Cornyn. I look forward to working with John on a lot of issues, on education and on Medicare. Listen, medicine has changed, and Medicare hasn't. Medicine has become modern. Technologies have changed. There's new discoveries. But Medicare is stuck in the past. I need to work with Kay Hutchison and John Cornyn and Members of the Congress to modernize Medicare, which means prescription drug benefits for our seniors. And we've got another problem with health care. There's too many lawsuits. There's too many junk lawsuits that are running up the cost of medicine. They're filing suits all over this country, which means good, honest people who have got a claim can't get to the judges, can't get into the courthouse. It means that people aren't going to have accessible and affordable health care. Excessive lawsuits run up the cost of medicine, and they're driving docs out of the practice of medicine. We need a Senate who will join me in passing Federal medical liability reform. And I need a Senator from Texas with whom I can work to help fulfill one of my most serious responsibilities, and that is to put good people on the Federal bench. There is a vacancy on our benches. There is vacancies all around the country because the bunch that's running the Senate right now won't give my nominees a fair hearing. And when they do give them a hearing, some of them have their records distorted. I need a United States Senator who will stand strong for what most Texans want, and that is a judiciary full of honest and honorable people who will not use their bench from which to legislate but to interpret the Constitution of the United States. You may remember what happened to one of our finest Texans, Priscilla Owen. I picked Priscilla to serve on one of our top benches. I did so because she's a brilliant lady. She's an honest person. She finished tops in her law school. She was ranked by the ABA as one of the top picks. She is backed by Republicans and Democrats from the State of Texas. She ran statewide and was overwhelmingly elected. I put her up there. Because these people are playing politics, petty politics, with the nominees I've picked, her record was distorted, and she was denied a seat. She was grossly treated. I can assure you that with John Cornyn in the Senate, he would be a strong supporter of Priscilla Owen and my judges. There's a big difference in this race between the two running for the United States Senate. And that Priscilla Owen case is a clear example of what I'm talking about. There's going to be a lot of issues we'll work on together. The biggest issue we've got is to protect America, to protect you from further attack, to do everything we can to prevent an enemy from hitting this country again. It's still a problem for us because there's an enemy lurking out there which hates us, and they hate us because of what we love. We love our freedom. We love the fact that people can worship freely in America. We love the fact that people can speak their mind in this country. We love a free press. We love every aspect of our freedom, and we're not going to change. So long as we take that stand, they're going to try to hurt us. And therefore, we've got to do everything we can to protect you. And there's a lot of good people doing that. I mean, listen, we're on notice. We remember we remember, remember what happened. And therefore, there's a lot of good people working overtime to run down every hint, any idea, any suggestion that somebody is fixing to or thinking about doing something to America. We're moving on it. It is our most solemn obligation. I think we can do a better job of protecting you, and that's why I went to the United States Congress, to join me in the creation of a Department of Homeland Security. It needs to be a Department that brings agencies together to focus their attention, to change culture if need be, so that people who are working hard on your behalf get the message that this is our number one job and number one priority. And the House of Representatives responded. And I want to thank the House Members who are here. But the bill got stuck in the Senate. Here we are with an enemy lurking out there, and the bill got stuck in the Senate because some Senators want to take away power from the Presidency. They want to take away what every President since John F. Kennedy has had, and that is the capacity to suspend certain collective bargaining rules for the sake of national security. In other words, if there's some rules that prevent me from putting the right place people at the right place at the right time, to protect you, I ought to be able to suspend those rules. But not according to these people. No, the special interests have grabbed them up there. They want to micromanage the process. I need John Cornyn in the Senate to make sure we get us a good homeland security bill. But the best way to protect the homeland is to hunt these killers down, one at a time, and bring them to justice. That's what we have to do. And that is what we're going to do. And that is why I went to the Congress and asked for a substantial increase in defense spending, as a matter of fact, the largest increase since Ronald Reagan was the President. And I want to thank Senator Hutchinson, and I want to thank the Members of Congress for backing me on that request. And there's two messages in that bill that I want to share with you. One, anytime this country puts any of our youngsters into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. And the second message is equally important. And that is, we're in this deal for the long haul. See, when it comes to the defense of our freedoms, it doesn't matter how long it takes. We're going to do the job. We're going to defend freedom. We're going to do a responsibility so future generations of Americans will know we answered the call. It just doesn't matter how long it takes. There's not a calendar on my desk in that wonderful Oval Office that says, on such and such a date, haul them home. That's not the way I think. And we're making progress in this different kind of war. In the old days, if you knocked down an airplane or sunk a ship, you could say you're making progress. This group we fight now hides in caves or kind of slithers around the dark corners of the world, and they send their youngsters to their suicidal deaths. We value life in America. We say everybody is precious. These folks have hijacked a great religion and don't care who they kill. And that's the nature of the enemy. They're tough. We're tougher. Slowly but surely, we're dismantling the terrorist network. It's important for us to be realistic here in America about the threats we face. It's essential we see the world the way it is, not the way we hope it would be, because the stakes changed dramatically after September the 11th, 2001. Prior to that date, we had oceans that we thought protected us, that if there was a gathering threat somewhere around the world, we could either deal with that threat or ignore it, because we were safe at home. Geography kept us safe. After September the 11th, 2001, geography doesn't keep us safe. And therefore, in my judgment, we've got to be cold eyed realists about threats as they emerge and deal with each one of them according to the level of threat. There is a threat to the United States, and our close friends and allies, in Iraq. The leader of Iraq is a man who for 11 years has deceived the world. He said he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction. He has weapons of mass destruction. At one time we know for certain he was close to having a nuclear weapon. Imagine Saddam Hussein with a nuclear weapon. Not only has he got chemical weapons, but I want you to remember, he's used chemical weapons. He's used weapons on people in his neighborhood. He's used weapons on people in his own country. This is a man who cannot stand America. He cannot stand what we stand for. He can't stand some of our closest friends and allies. This is a man who has got connections with Al Qaida. Imagine a terrorist network with Iraq as an arsenal and as a training ground, so that a Saddam Hussein could use his shadowy group of people to attack his enemy and leave no fingerprint behind. He's a threat. I went to the United Nations to make clear a couple of things One, he's a threat and secondly, that this august body has a chance to keep the peace. And yet for 16 resolutions, resolution after resolution after resolution, Saddam Hussein has defied the United Nations. It is now time for the United Nations to choose whether it's going to be an effective peacekeeping organization or whether it's going to be like one of its predecessors, the League of Nations, an empty debating society. It is their choice to make. It is Saddam Hussein's choice to make. He's told the world he would not have weapons of mass destruction, and in the name of peace, we expect him to honor that commitment. Should he choose not to honor the commitment, the U.N. is incapable of acting, the United States in the name of peace, in the name of freedom, will lead a coalition and disarm Saddam Hussein. I say, "in the name of peace," because that's what's going to happen, in my judgment. See, out of the evil done to America is going to come some good. I don't know what got into the minds of the terrorists when they hit us. I guess they assumed our national religion was materialism, that we were so selfish, self absorbed, that after 9 11 2001 we might take a step back and file a lawsuit or two. Laughter They don't understand the nature of this great country. They don't understand the depth of our passion for freedom. If we stay tough when we need to be tough, stay strong when we need to be strong, speak clearly about good and evil, if we remember that freedom is not America's gift to the world but God's gift to the world, we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace here at home we can achieve peace here at home. We can achieve peace in parts of the world which have quit on peace. I believe it. I believe out of the evil done to America is going to come good abroad, in the form of peace. And I believe it's going to make America a better place. I believe I know a lot of our citizens have taken a step back and taken an assessment about that which is important in their lives. A lot of people have asked that question, "How can I help?" Well, I've got some ideas for you. First, it's important to remember that in the land of plenty, there are people who hurt. There's pockets of despair and hopelessness and addiction. People, when you say "the American Dream," they have absolutely no idea what you're talking about. We've got to remember in this country, when some of us hurt, we all hurt. And therefore, we've got to try to make a difference to improve the lot of everybody's lives. And Government can help. We'll work on Medicare, and we'll work on education. And Government can pass out money. But I want you to remember, what Government cannot do is to put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. People's lives change when somebody puts their arm around them and says, "I love you. Can I help you? What can I do to make your life a better life?" And that's happening all across America. I'm sure there's mentors here, people who are saving one child's life at a time. I know there are people here who feed the hungry, provide housing for the homeless, or run a Boy Scouts troop or a Girl Scouts troop, or Big Brothers and Big Sisters. There's all kinds of ways that you can help change America, one heart, one conscience, one soul at a time. No, the spirit of America is strong. It's alive and well. It's a spirit that says, when it comes to the defense of our freedom, it doesn't matter how long it takes we'll defend freedom. It also says that a true American is somebody who serves a cause greater than themselves. I want the high school students and youngsters here to always remember the story of Flight 93. These are people flying across the country, what they thought was going to be just an average trip. They learned that the airplane they were on was going to be used as a weapon. They told their loved ones goodbye. They said a prayer, asking for guidance from the Almighty. One guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane into the ground to save lives and to serve something greater than themselves. The enemy hit us the enemy hit us. They had no earthly idea who they were hitting. They didn't have any idea that the spirit of this country is strong and alive and vibrant, which allows me to boldly predict that out of the evil done to America is going to come a more peaceful world, and out of the evil done to America will come a more hopeful America, where the great sunshine of hope of this country shines its light into every corner of this land. And I can say that with confidence, because this is the greatest country, full of the most decent and honorable people on the face of the Earth. Thanks for coming. May God bless. November 04, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much. Thank you all. So I couldn't think of a better place to roll over in my bed and laughter and say to Laura, "Happy birthday." Cedar Rapids, Iowa, is a great place. I want to thank you all for coming. Old Jim Leach said, "If you come by, we may be able to get a couple of our friends over early in the morning before election day." I said, "All right, I'll come." Laughter He's always understated things. Laughter I really do appreciate coming out so early in the morning. It shows your concern for our democracy. Laura and I are working our way home. I'll be voting in Crawford, Texas, tomorrow morning, and so will she. I'm not undecided. Laughter And I'm not undecided about what's best for Iowa, either. I'm here to urge the good folks of Iowa from all political parties to vote. See,we have a duty as Americans to support our democracy. We have an obligation as citizens of this free land to exercise our right to express ourselves in the voting booths. We have that obligation. I don't care whether you're a Republican or a Democrat or could care less about political party, you have an obligation to America. Part of the American spirit is the participation by our citizens. But when you get in that voting booth here in Iowa, I've got some suggestions for you. Jim Leach is the right man for the United States Congress. Doug Gross is the right man to be your Governor. Greg Ganske is the right man to represent you in the United States Senate. We've got two other candidates three other candidates here today, running for Congress, a good man named Jim Nussle, Tom Latham and Stan Thompson. They're all running, and they're good folks, good, honorable folks. So I want to thank you all for coming. I particularly want to say thanks to the senior Senator from Iowa, Mr. Chuck Grassley. I remember traveling the State with Chuck. He knows everybody. Laughter We're driving along, he says, "That's where the old Jones house is." He said, "I shook their hand 10 years ago." Laughter He not only does a great job here in Iowa he does a fantastic job in Washington, DC. And it makes sense to send another Senator up there with whom he can work and with whom I can work, and that Senator is Greg Ganske. Ganske is leading a lot of issues. He's leading on these medical issues that are going to make a big difference in people's lives. He's for Patients' Bill of Rights. He's for modernizing Medicare. He wants to make sure the Iowa seniors are treated fairly. He's a doctor. He's a compassionate soul. He's the kind of person with whom I can work. And there's a lot of issues I need to work on in the United States Senate. Perhaps one of the most crucial issues is the judiciary. It's a defining issue, as far as I'm concerned. It's a fundamental issue, and we've got a problem because the leadership in the Senate has done a lousy job with my nominees. And the problem is, there's a vacancy gap in America. There's a problem on the bench. We can't get our nominees through the Senate. They're playing needless politics with them. And in some cases, they're distorting their records. They don't like my nominees because I'm putting good, honorable people up there who will not use the bench from which to legislate but will use the bench to strictly interpret the United States Constitution. I know I can count on Greg, just like I've been counting on Chuck Grassley's support. I hope you send him to the Senate. It's in the best interest of this State it's in the best interest of our country that Greg Ganske represent us in Washington, DC. Congressional District 1 is represented by Jim Nussle. He's the chairman of the Budget Committee. I can't imagine anybody in their right mind getting rid of a chairman. It doesn't make any sense. Maybe I'm missing something when some Iowa citizens say it makes sense to get rid of powerful chairmen. That's not the politics I remember. It seems like to me that when you've got somebody in an important position that could help their district and help their State, you want to keep them there, particularly somebody like Nussle, who is doing a fantastic job. See, Jim and I understand this. We're not spending the Government's money in Washington, DC. As the chairman of the Budget Committee, it's important to have somebody who understands, it's the people's money we spend. And we better have people watch the people's money. Nussle is a good man who deserves to be reelected to the United States Congress. And then there's Tom Latham, out of the Fourth Congressional District. I know him well. I've worked closely with him on a lot key issues related to the citizens of Iowa. He's been strong about making sure our communities are drug free and are safe. He understands that, like the other Members up here, we got to work together to keep the commitments of Social Security. He's the right man for Congressional District 4. He's done a fantastic job in the past. There's no doubt in my mind he'll continue that tradition of excellence. Tom Latham deserves to be reelected to the United States Congress. Stan Thompson is running from the Third. He's with us today. Stan is a good, young, bright star of the Republican Party. He's got him an uphill climb. He's got a tough race. I walked on the stage he looked me right in the eye and he said, "Mr. President, if we turn out the vote, I'm going to the United States Congress." And I appreciate you being here, Stan. I'm honored that you're here. I appreciate the fact that you're running. And I'm going to take you for your word for it. I look forward to working with you. And then from the Fifth Congressional District is Steve King, State Senator Steve King. Nothing you can't take anything for granted in politics, but I'll bet well, I shouldn't bet anything. Laughter I'm looking forward let me put it to you this way I'm looking forward to working with the man in the United States Congress. He's run a great campaign. I appreciate him coming. One thing I certainly know something about is what it takes to be a good Governor. I understand the role of Governor in a State. The Governor must set some priorities. You can't try to be all things to all people can't try to promise everybody everything with the people's money otherwise, you can't control your budget. You got to have the courage to set priority. Doug Gross knows how to do that. He understands how to set clear priorities so that your money isn't wasted, so that your money is focused, so you don't have these kind of endless budget crises that you try to blame on somebody else. You need somebody who can manage the budget as your Governor. You also got to have somebody who will set education as the number one priority. Iowa's got a good reputation in its schools. Better make sure you got a Governor who keeps that reputation strong by challenging the status quo when it needs to be challenged, by praising teachers when you find excellence. But demanding excellence for every single child in Iowa is absolutely essential with your next Governor. You've got to have a Governor who is not beholden to the special interests that tend to capture the statehouses. You've got to have a Governor, when it comes to education, who's got one interest in mind. And that's the schoolchildren and their parents of the State of Iowa. And that person is Doug Gross. He'll make you a fine Governor for the State of Iowa. I look forward to working with him. No, I appreciate all the grassroots activists who are here, the party chairman, Chuck, and all the people who are working hard to turn out the vote, all the people who are manning the phones and putting up the signs. See, these elections, they're kind of tight. And a tight election means you can have a tremendous influence on who wins. So Laura and I are here today to thank you for what you have done, and more importantly, thank you for what you're going to do, today and tomorrow, to get people to the polls, to turn them out, to not only encourage them to vote but encourage them to vote for the right person. And don't be afraid to talking to Democrats. There's some discerning Democrats who know the difference between lousy Government and good Government, and they want good Government. Make sure you find those independent souls who are looking for good, honorable people. And there's nobody more honorable in this race than Jim Leach. He's a breath of fresh air in Washington, DC. He's so honest, he squeaks. Laughter He's an independent thinker. But when he thinks, he's profound in thought. He's not the typical person that you think would be in politics. I can't imagine anybody in their right mind in Congressional District 2 putting this man out of office. I don't understand the thinking. Not only do I not understand the thinking about why you would turn back somebody who is full of integrity and decency and courage of his convictions but also turn back another chairman. This man has worked hard in the Congress to build up put himself in a position where he can influence policy in a positive way. He's the kind of man you want representing you in Congress because you can turn to your kids and say, "I'm proud of Jim Leach. I'm proud of how he handles himself." And so I hope you go turn out that vote in this Congressional District 2. It's important. And when he wins, you can take great satisfaction in knowing you had a big hand in influencing the outcome of this election. And there's some reasons why I'm here. I want some allies in Congress to work with on key issues. Not only am I here because I understand the character of the people that are represented on this stage, but we've got some key issues ahead of us. Of course, we've got a our economy is kind of bumping along. It's not as strong as it should be. It's bumping and bumping. And therefore, some people can't find work, and when they can't find work, it says to me we got a problem. The best way to help people find work and this is a fundamental difference of philosophy is to let people keep more of their own money. See, when you have more money in your pocket, when more of your own money I want you to remember this fundamental economic fact, that when you've got more money in your own pocket, you're likely to demand a good or a service. And when you demand a good or a service, somebody is likely to produce that good or a service. And when somebody produces the good or a service, somebody in Iowa or somebody around America is more likely to find work. The best way to encourage job growth is to let you keep your own money. And therefore, I need people in the Senate and the House of Representatives who will make the tax cuts permanent. I don't know what they're saying here in these campaigns, but I'm beginning to hear that echo around the country that says, "Well, we might ought to revisit the tax relief." That's code word that's Washington, DC, speak for, "I'm fixing to get back into your pocket." The worst thing for economic vitality and jobs is to increase your taxes. And these Members up here on the stage are going to work with me to make sure that the tax relief is permanent and real, and you can plan on it. Good economic policy means good farm policy. And I look forward to working with these Members on good farm policy. We took a step toward good farm policy by opening up markets for Iowa growers. Iowa farmers are the best in the world. They're the most productive in the world. And if you're the best in the world, you want to have a chance to sell your product all around the world. And I want to thank these Members up here, all the Members of Congress and Ganske, soon to be in the Senate of course, Chuck Grassley for joining together to grant the President the capacity to open up markets for Iowa farmers. It's important to do that. It's also important to continue to promote ethanol, which I will do, and work with these Members to promote ethanol. And there's another cutting edge issue when it comes to farmers, people who own the land, and that's the death tax. See, people talking about the family farm a lot of people have to give up their farms prematurely in order to pay the Government twice. First pay them if they ever make any money. Then they pay them on the value of their assets when they die. It's bad for farmers. It's bad for the agriculture community. The death tax is running too many people off their farms too early. The death tax is bad for small business owners who want to leave their assets to somebody they choose, not to the Federal Government. A key issue in this campaign is, are we going to get rid of the death tax once and for all? I'm for it. These Members are for it, and you should be for it. I'm looking forward to working with these folks on good education policy. Thanks to the Members up here, we're sending a record amount of Federal money back to Iowa schools. And I want to thank them for that help. I want to thank Leach and Nussle and Latham and Greg Ganske and Chuck Grassley for working hard on behalf of the citizens of this State. But I want you to remember, for the first time in our State's history our country's history and your State's history we're saying, "We want something in return for the money." See, we're going to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. We believe every child can learn. We're going to set high standards. We believe in local control of schools. But in return for excess additional Federal money, we want us to we want you to show us and to show everybody else whether or not every child in this State is learning. And when they are, we'll praise the teachers. But we refuse to accept schools which won't teach and won't change. No child should be left behind in the State of Iowa. I look forward to working with these Members for good health policy. Make no mistake about it, they're leading the charge in the House of Representatives and in the Senate to make sure that the Medicare system works. Oh, the others talk a good game, but they haven't delivered. The House of Representatives, controlled led by Denny Hastert, passed a prescription drug benefit, and yet it can't get out of the Senate. There's a lot of good talkers in Washington. We need doers. The Medicare issue is an important issue. It's an important issue for Iowa for two reasons One, the formulas need to be fair for the Iowa citizens, and these Members are working to make the formulas fair and secondly, medicine has changed. Medicine is modern. Things have changed in the medical world. Technology has changed. There's new discoveries which make it easier for people to become healthy. And yet, Medicare is stuck in the past. Medicare hasn't changed. It's been so politically driven, nothing can get done. These Members can get it unstuck. They can help me modernize Medicare, which means prescription drug benefits for our senior citizens. And finally, I look forward to working with these Members, and it's up there on the biggest issue we face, which is your protection. See, that's the number one issue. So long as there's an enemy out there lurking around, our biggest responsibility is to protect our homeland it's to do everything we can to protect innocent life from nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers, people who hate us because of what we love. See, we love freedom. We love the idea that people can worship freely in America. We love the fact people can speak their mind. We love a free press. We love every aspect about freedom, and we're not changing. They're out there, and they're out there moving around. But we got the message, and therefore, there's a lot of good people working hard to protect you. Anytime we get any lead, any hint of evidence that somebody might be thinking about doing something, we're moving on it. We're disrupting. We're denying. We're working long hours to protect the American people. And that's the way it should be. But we can do a better job. That's why I asked the Congress to join me in the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, where we can get all the bunch up these people that are involved with your protection into one agency, so there's one culture, one priority, and that's your protection so that the good people at the Federal level understand what the new rules are the rules of the game in our world. And the rules are, we got to do everything we can to protect you. It's changed. The nature of our life has changed, and we've got to change with it. The House of Representatives, thanks to the Members up here, voted a good piece of legislation out, which I can say will give me the capacity to be able to manage this organization and protect you. The bill is stuck in the Senate because the Senate wants me to give up power that Presidents have had for 40 years. And that power is the capacity for a President to suspend some collective bargaining rules for the sake of national security. In other words, if there are rules involved that prevent me from putting the right people at the right place at the right time for your protection, I ought to be able to suspend those rules. I ought to be able to do what it takes to protect you. But the Senate has a lousy version. They're more interested in special interests, which dominate the dialog in Washington, DC, than they are in protecting the American people. I refuse to accept a lousy bill, and I need Senators like Grassley and Ganske to support the creation of a Department of Homeland Security which will work. Now, there's a good, honest debate on this issue. But we can't have a big, thick of bureaucratic rules preventing this President and future Presidents from doing whatever it takes to keep the homeland secure. The best way to secure this homeland is to stay on the hunt, to get this enemy on the run, and to bring them to justice, which is exactly what this country is going to do. You got to understand, it's a different kind of war. In the old days, we blew up tanks and airplanes, and everybody said, "Well, they're making progress." These folks we're after hide in caves. They send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. They don't value life like we do. See, in this country, we say, "Everybody matters. Everybody is precious. Everybody counts. Every life counts." These people are willing to take innocent life in the name of a great religion. Not only do I want you to remember September the 11th, but I want you to think about Indonesia and the attack on our marines in Kuwait, the attack on a French freighter. I mean, they're out there. And the only way to deal with them and by the way, I've come to the conclusion, and I hope you have, that therapy is not going to work. Laughter So we're chasing them down. We're chasing them down. We're making good progress. Slowly but surely, we're dismantling that terrorist network. I went to the Congress and asked for the biggest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was President. I want to thank the Members up here for their support. No question where they stand. No question where they they believe that I believe that anytime we put our troops into harm's way, these youngsters deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. And also, our message is real firm to friend and foe, alike It doesn't matter how long it takes to defend freedom we're going to defend freedom. It just doesn't matter. There's not a calendar on my desk in the Oval Office that says, such and such a date, we're quitting. That's not how I think. That's not how these Members think. See, history has called us into action. We have an obligation to future generations of Americans, and we're not going to forsake that obligation. And it doesn't matter how long it takes. It doesn't matter how deep the cave. The United States of America, with a great United States military and a strong alliance for freedom, will work hard all of the time to protect the homeland and protect our freedoms. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. It's important it is important for us to be realistic about the threats to our country. Times have changed. Used to be, oceans could protect us, and therefore, we could see a gathering threat and maybe deal with it or maybe not. Used to be, we could be quite confident in our capacity to protect our homeland because we never thought an enemy could make it to our shore. And we learned a tough lesson. We did. And therefore, it's important for all of us in elective office to be clear eyed about the threats we face, to see the world exactly the way it is, not the way we wish it would be. In order to protect America from current threats and future threats, we've got to be cold eyed realists, and that's why I brought up the issue of Saddam Hussein. See, I view him as a serious threat to America. I see him as a threat to our country because I understand his hatred toward America and, equally important, his hatred toward our friends in the Middle East. This is a man who has deceived the world for 11 long years. He said he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction. He's got them. We know for a fact he was close to having a nuclear weapon at one time. We don't know how close he is today because he has stiff armed the United Nations. We not only know he's got chemical weapons, but incredibly enough he's used chemical weapons. He's used them in his neighborhood he's used them on his own people. This is a man who has got terrorist connections, who would like nothing more than to provide be the arsenal and the training grounds for these coldblooded killers. And they could attack us, and he would leave no fingerprints behind. He's a threat. I went to the United Nations, I want to assure you, because I want the United Nations to be effective. I want it to work. I want this collection of body this body of countries to work together to make the country free, to promote the peace. The United Nations can be effective. But for 11 years and 16 resolutions, this man has defied the United Nations. It's an historic moment, as far as I'm concerned, for the U.N. They can show the world whether or not they can work together to keep the peace, whether they be the United Nations, or whether they'll be the League of Nations, an ineffective debating society. And the choice is theirs. And the choice is Saddam Hussein's as well. For the sake of peace, he must disarm. He said he would disarm. But if he doesn't disarm, and if the United Nations cannot find the backbone necessary to assume its responsibilities, for the sake of peace, for the sake of freedom, for the sake of doing our obligations to our children, the United States will lead a coalition of nations to disarm Saddam Hussein. I believe out of the evil done to America is going to come some great good. I believe that. I can't imagine what was going through the mind of the enemy when they hit us. They said this country must have a religion called materialism, that we were so selfish, so self absorbed, probably looking at ourselves in the mirror all the time, that all we would do after 9 11 2001 is step back and maybe file a lawsuit. That's what they thought. They don't understand the determination and drive. They don't understand the American spirit. I believe if we're remain strong and firm in our conviction and clear in our thinking, if we don't forget our roots and remember that freedom is not America's gift to the world, it is God's gift to the world, if we stand true to our beliefs, we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace. That's the vision of this Government, is to achieve peace not only at home but in parts of the world. See, every life matters to Americans. Everybody counts. Everybody is precious, not just a few everyone. And we want peace for people all around the world, and we can achieve it. By staying the course and remaining strong, we can have peace not only for America but for the Middle East and South Asia. It is possible. As a matter of fact, I believe it's going to happen. And I know what's going to happen here at home. We'll be a better society as a result of what's happened. A lot of people have taken a step back and kind of taken an assessment, an inventory of their lives, and realized that the American spirit says we've got to serve something greater than ourself in life. Government can help we'll help people in need. Listen, there are people who hurt in Iowa, and they hurt all around America. There's addiction and loneliness and hopelessness in this country. And if any of us hurt, we all hurt. And we've got to do something about it. And Government will help. We'll all work together to try to help. But Government is limited in its capacity. And that's what we know up here on this stage. Government can't put hope in people's hearts or love in people's lives. No, the best way to help bring light where there's darkness, to help people see a better tomorrow, is for the strength of the country to step forward. And the strength of the country is the heart and soul of American people. People are stepping around coming around. They're saying, "What can I do to help?" And they're putting their arm around somebody who hurts and says, "I love you." There are mentors in this audience who are making a difference. There are Boy Scout leaders and Girl Scout leaders who are making a difference, and Boys and Girls Club leaders people who are working hard to change America one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. No, the enemy hit us. But out of the evil done to America is going to come some great good. There's going to be peace in the world, and we'll have a better tomorrow, a hope more hopeful America, an America where everybody understands the great promise of this country belongs to them just as much as to their neighbor. You know, the American spirit means not only should we participate in the process, the democratic process the American spirit says that when we're threatened, we respond. We defend our freedoms. We have an obligation to future generations. But the American spirit also says that we must serve something greater than ourself. It was personified vividly to me I want the youngsters here to remember the story of Flight 93, people flying across the country that fateful day. They heard the airplane they were on was going to be used as a weapon. They told their loved ones goodbye. They said a prayer. A guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane into the ground to serve something greater than themselves. The spirit of this country is strong and alive and well, and it allows me to boldly predict that we'll have a more peaceful world, and a more better America. Thanks for coming. May God bless you. November 03, 2002 The President. Thank you for that warm welcome. It just seems like the other day I was here in South Dakota. Laughter You know, your Governor is a good buddy of mine. He's got pretty good judgment. He said, "If you think it was good in Aberdeen, if you think the crowd was great in Aberdeen, if you think the enthusiasm was high in Aberdeen, wait until you get to Sioux Falls." We did have a great crowd in Aberdeen about 300 or 400 people couldn't get in the hall. Laughter A lot of them came down from Aberdeen tonight to be at this rally, and I want to thank you all for coming down. I want to thank you for your work. And right after I finish speaking, you get home and turn out the vote. Laura and I are here because the people of this important State have got some big decisions to make. You've got some decisions to make that will affect not only your State but our Nation. You've got some decisions that will make the future of this State and the future of our Nation different. And we've got some suggestions on what you ought to do when you get inside that voting booth. We believe it's in the best interests of South Dakota and the best interests of America to elect John Thune to the United States Senate. Audience members. John Thune! John Thune! John Thune! The President. John is a wise man. He had Laura campaigning with him all day. And so the second reason I've come here is because I thought it would be wise to hook up with Laura the day before her birthday. At this point, the audience sang "Happy Birthday." The President. Honey, that's your birthday gift. I'm also here because I'm seeking some allies, some people I can count on, some people who represent the good folks of this State. You've got a man running for the United States Congress who I call friend, because he is one, a man who understands this State well, a man who's served with distinction as your Governor, a man who will be a great United States Congressman. I hope you work hard and put Bill Janklow in the House of Representatives. Audience members. We want Bill! We want Bill! We want Bill! The President. I one time in this State described him as a "piece of work" laughter but he's your piece of work. I'm also proud to be here with a man who will be good for the South Dakota taxpayers, the South Dakota schoolchildren, a man who's going to do a great job as your Governor, Mr. Mike Rounds. Audience members. We like Mike! We like Mike! We like Mike! The President. I'm also here to thank you for what you have done on behalf of these candidates but, more importantly, what you're going to do. See, over the next 2 days, they're counting on you to turn out the vote. They're counting on you starting tomorrow morning when you go to your coffee shops and they've got some coffee shops here in South Dakota, I'm certain of that laughter sit around those tables and remind the people they have a duty in America to vote. You have an obligation as a citizen of this country to go to the polls. And as grassroots activists and as concerned citizens, remind them that with Thune and Janklow and Rounds, you've got some fine, fine people, that it's in the interests of this State and just don't talk to Republicans, either. Run across an independent, they care about low taxes and good Government. And so do discerning Democrats. No, they're counting on you. They've worked hard to earn your respect and your support, and you can make a difference come Tuesday. You can make a difference by getting people to the polls. You can make a difference by getting on those telephones. Everybody counts in this election, and we're counting on you to pull them across the finish line. No, we're here because we want to, for this good State, to send people to Washington with whom I can work, people whose vote I can count on for the good of the country. But I'm also here because I believe in John Thune, the person. I believe in those South Dakota values which are deeply ingrained in his heart. I know how he was raised. He was raised by folks who loved him, and they brought some common sense to him. Most importantly, he's never forgot where he came from. See, he was raised to believe in the value of family. He understands the importance of family. He's got a great family, Kimberley and Brittany and Larissa. When they came up to the White House to talk about making this race, John talked about his family with passion. See, he's not one of these types that puts politics ahead of his family. He keeps his priorities straight. I like that in the future United States Senator. He was raised with that important South Dakota value that says education is important. You believe that in this State, and he does in his heart. Thanks to his hard work, he helped secure 185 million coming to the Federal schools this year Federal money coming to your schools this year. But also thanks to his hard work and his belief in education, we worked together to pass a really fine piece of reform, education reform. It says everybody can learn. It says we've got to raise the standards and raise the bar. It says we trust the people of South Dakota to chart the path for excellence for the children who live in South Dakota we believe in local control of schools. But it also says for the first time, in return for that money, show us whether or not our children can read and write and add and subtract. If you believe every child can read and write and add and subtract, you need to ask that question. And when you find children in schools that are learning, we'll praise the teachers. But when you find children trapped in schools which will not teach and will not change, you need to demand something other than the status quo. No child should be left behind in the State of South Dakota. John Thune understands and was raised with the value that you're supposed to keep your word. And we've given our word to the seniors in America that Medicare will work. And yet it's not working, because medicine has changed, and Medicare hasn't. Medicine is modern. Medicare is stuck in the past. I look forward to working with soon to be Senator John Thune to modernize Medicare, which means prescription drugs for our seniors. John Thune was raised to understand the value of the land. He understands farmers. He understands ranchers. He understands for the farmer and rancher, every day is Earth Day. He understands he was raised on the value of hard work and that if you work hard, you should be able to get ahead in life. And that's why he was one of the strong supporters of mine in the United States Congress to reduce the taxes on the working people. He knows what I know. He knows what I know, if people are having trouble finding work, the best way to increase jobs in America is to cut the taxes on the people who pay the bills. The more money you have in your pocket, the more you're going to demand something. And when you demand it, somebody is going to provide it, and when somebody provides it, somebody is more likely to find work. The tax relief came at the right time. And you better have you a United States Senator who is willing to join President Bush and make the tax cuts permanent. John also was raised by folks who said a person gets has a grievance, they ought to have a fair chance in the courts, that justice is important in America. But the Senate is doing a lousy job with my Federal judicial nominees, to the point where there is a vacancy problem in America. Too many of our benches are have got vacancies. Not enough of my Federal judges are getting through the United States Senate. They're playing politics with the nominees. In some cases, they're distorting the records. They don't like the fact that I'm naming good, honorable people whose job it is not to write law but to strictly interpret the United States Constitution. There's no question in my mind that when it comes to making sure our benches are full of good and decent people, I can count on the support of Senator John Thune. And there should be no question in your mind, the judges I name will represent the values of the majority of citizens from South Dakota. And finally, one of the values that I know John holds dear to his heart is the value that his World War II fighter pilot daddy taught him. And that is, sometimes you have to sacrifice for freedom sometimes it's important to serve something greater than yourself to secure the freedom. And that means in the 21st century that we've got to sacrifice here in America to protect ourselves. The most important responsibility John and I will have will be to work together to protect the homeland, to protect you from further attack, to prevent an enemy which hates America because we love freedom from hurting innocent life ever again. There's a lot of good people working for you right now the Federal level and the State level and the local level, a lot of really decent people are running down any hint. Anytime anybody kind of whispers that they may be thinking about doing something to America, you need to know we're moving on it. We're going to disrupt them and deny them any chance they have to hurt the American people. But in order to make our job go better and, by the way, this isn't just something that's going to take place next year. We've been protecting the homeland for awhile. They're out there, and it's going to take awhile for us to rout them out. And therefore, I thought that it would be best to have a Department of Homeland Security so we could better coordinate the agencies involved with your protection, so we could change cultures if need be, so people got the message, their number one job in Washington is to protect you. And I got a good bill out of the House of Representatives, thanks to John Thune. However, it is stuck in the United States Senate. And let me describe to you why it's stuck in the Senate. Because some Senators Audience member. Tom Daschle. The President. Some Senators laughter because some Senators are trying to take power away from the President a power that every President has had since John F. Kennedy was the President. And that is the capacity to suspend collective bargaining rules in any Department of the Federal Government when national security is at stake. In other words, if there are some work rules that stand in the way of us being able to protect the American people, for the sake of national security, I now have the right to suspend those rules for your protection. But because of special interests in Washington, some Senators are trying to take away this power. And I'm not going to let them. I refuse to stand for a lousy bill. But the best way to secure our homeland is to chase these killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice. It's a different kind of war we fight. It's important for you to understand that. John understands that. You see, in the old days, if you destroyed tanks and airplanes, you knew you were making progress. These killers are hiding in caves. They send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. The only way to deal with them is to treat them like they are, international criminals, and hunt them down, one person at a time. I went to the Congress and said, "Why don't you give me a defense bill that shows our mettle, that speaks clearly about our intentions?" Thankfully, they did. They passed the largest increase since Ronald Reagan was the President. And here's the message, the message that John Thune was taught by his daddy Anytime you put our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. And the other message is this It doesn't matter how long it takes to secure our freedom it doesn't matter how long it takes to secure the homeland, we're staying the course. There's no quit in America. There's not a calendar on my desk that says on such and such a date, bring them home. That's not how we think. That's not the lesson that John Thune learned from his dad or I learned from my dad or any of us learned from previous generations of people who sacrificed for our freedom. No, we've been called into action, and we're making progress. Slowly but surely, we're dismantling the terrorist network which attacked America. Slowly but surely, we're hauling them in. See, that doctrine that says, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy," it still stands. And there's a lot of people joining us in this international manhunt to bring them to justice. What's important for us as we work to secure the homeland is to remember the stakes have changed. After September the 11th, the world changed. It changed for a lot of reasons. Perhaps the most profound reason, from a foreign policy perspective or from a homeland security perspective, is that we're no longer protected by two big oceans. Used to be if there was a threat overseas, we could deal with it if we chose to do so, but we didn't have to worry about something happening here at home. It used to be oceans could protect us from conflict and from threats. But that's changed, and it's important to have people in the Senate who are clear eyed realists. It's important to have people who see the world the way it is, not the way we hope it is. And the world is a dangerous place, particularly with people like Saddam Hussein in power. Saddam Hussein is a man who told the world he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction, but he's got them. He's a man a while ago who was close to having a nuclear weapon. Imagine if this madman had a nuclear weapon. It's a man who not only has chemical weapons, but he's used chemical weapons. He's used chemical weapons against some of his neighbors. He used chemical weapons, incredibly enough, against his own people. He can't stand America. He can't stand some of our closest friends. And not only that, he is would like nothing better than to hook up with one of these shadowy terrorist networks like Al Qaida, provide some weapons and training to them, let them come and do his dirty work, and we wouldn't be able to see his fingerprints on his action. No, he's a threat. And that's why I went to the United Nations. I went to the United Nations because I said to that august body, "You need to hold this man to account. For 11 years, in resolution after resolution after resolution, he's defied you. For the sake of keeping the peace, we want you to be effective. For the sake of keeping the world free, we want you to be an effective body. It's up to you, however. You can show the world whether you've got the backbone necessary to enforce your edicts or whether you're going to turn out to be just like the League of Nations your choice to make." And my message to Saddam Hussein is that, for the sake of peace, for the sake of freedom, you must disarm like you said you would do. But my message to you all and to the country is this For the sake of our future freedoms and for the sake of world peace, if the United Nations can't act and if Saddam Hussein won't act, the United States will lead a coalition of nations to disarm Saddam Hussein. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. And that's the lesson John learned from his daddy, that this country sometimes must act and act decisively in the name of freedom and peace in order to keep the peace, that when we see a gathering threat, we shouldn't shirk our duty and responsibility, but we must deal with it. I want you to know that out of the evil done to America is going to come some great good. I truly believe that. I believe by being firm and strong, we can keep the peace. I know that if we remember our values, remember that freedom is not America's gift to the world freedom is a God given gift to the world if we remember that values we remember our uniqueness and the values we hold dear, we can bring peace, and that's going to happen. And here at home, we'll have a better America too a better America. Out of the evil done to this country is going to come a society which is more hopeful. See, you and I know that amongst our plenty, there are people who hurt. There are people who are hopeless, addicted, people who wonder if there is such a thing as love, people when you say, "Gosh, the American Dream applies to you," they don't have any idea what you're talking about. My attitude is and I know John shares this with me anytime any of hurt, we all hurt. Anytime somebody suffers, society suffers. And Government can help. We'll work on Medicare and health issues and education issues. But we've got to remember the limitations of Government. While Government can hand out money, it can't put hope in people's hearts it can't put a sense of purpose in people's lives. The best way to help people who hurt is to encourage our fellow American to put their arm around somebody in need and say, "I love you, brother. I love you, sister." We can help in all kinds of ways. Today Rick Huffman came out to the airport. Rick, stand up. I know applause . I appreciate you coming. Let me tell you why I'm introducing Rick, because he understands society can change one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. See, Rick is a mentor with Big Brothers and Big Sisters right here in Sioux Falls. Rick is doing his part. Rick is and there's his little brother. Yes, sir. There is a young man who is headed for college. I can see it, as sure as I'm standing here. Rick is going to help him work hard, and he's going to go to college and realize the greatness of this country. And Rick is what I'm talking about. See, all of us can be a soldier in the army of compassion here in America. Many of you are, and I want to thank you for what you're doing. No, out of the evil done to this country is going to come some great good. And the American spirit is strong and alive. It's a spirit that says, when it comes to the defense of our freedoms, we'll defend them. It also says that being a patriot means you serve something greater than yourself. Flight 93 comes to mind when I'm thinking about the American spirit. Citizens were flying across the country on that fateful day. They heard the airplane was going to be used as a weapon. They realized this plane was going to crash into the ground and kill. They told their loved ones goodbye. They said a prayer. A guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane into the ground to serve something greater than themselves in life. The American spirit is strong and alive in America today. It is alive and well because of values such as those South Dakota values. It is alive and well. It allows me to boldly predict that out of the evil done to America will come peace in the world and a better, more hopeful America here at home. And I can say that with certainty, because this is the greatest nation, full of the finest people on the face of this Earth. I'm honored you'd be here tonight. Thank you for supporting John. May God bless you, and may God bless America. November 03, 2002 The President. Thank you all for coming today. It's such an honor to be here, and I'm glad I came. Jim said, "If you come over, you might be able to say hello to a few of my friends." Laughter I do have the portrait of Abraham Lincoln on the wall of the Oval Office. I do so because I think he was our country's greatest President. I think he was our country's greatest President because he understood that a united country is one that can achieve big things. He had great faith in the American people. He was willing to stand by principle. He understood his duty to future generations of Americans. And that's what I'm here to talk about today, the American spirit. The American spirit is alive and well in America. It's the spirit that says we're willing to defend our freedom no matter what the cost. The American spirit says that we must serve something greater than ourselves. The American spirit says that if you love democracy, you've got to go to the polls. The American spirit says that there's obligations to our citizens by our citizens to our country. And one of the most solemn obligations is to exercise your right as a citizen in the United States to vote. I'm coming to Illinois to make sure that all people hear this message, Republicans and Democrats, people who could care less about political parties. But when you get in that poll, I've got a suggestion for you. Laughter For the sake of Illinois, for the sake of this congressional district, for the sake of the country, put John Shimkus back in the United States Congress. I appreciate Karen and the Shimkus family I appreciate their hard work on John's behalf. You drew the short straw today, speaking about wives. Pretty soon after a couple of stops, I'll be joining up with Laura in South Dakota. Shimkus really did want Laura as the speaker. Laughter Wise man. Laughter But she sends her best. She sends our love to our friends here in Illinois. Like me, she urges you to support this good man for the United States Congress. And while you're in that voting booth, support a good man for Governor. His name is Jim Ryan. He's got a record you can be proud of. You've seen him in action. You know he can do the job. A lot of folks around this State have written him off. I think they spoke a little too soon, don't you? And I'm proud to say I'm for Jim Durkin for the United States Senate. There's a lot of reasons why we need Jim in the Senate, but let me give you one good reason. I need somebody to help me fulfill one of my most awesome responsibilities, which is to pick good judges for our Federal benches. The current Senate has done a lousy job on the judges. We've got a vacancy crisis in America, which means Americans aren't getting justice, and that's not right. We have a vacancy crisis because they won't give a lot of my nominees a fair hearing. They won't give them a vote. They don't like the fact that I'm naming good, honorable people who will not use the bench from which to legislate, but will use the bench to strictly interpret the Constitution of the United States. I'm also proud to be up here with Joe Birkett, who's running for the attorney general Kristine Cohn for secretary of state Thomas Ramsdell for comptroller and Judy Topinka to be reelected for your treasurer. I want to thank my friends Jim and Brenda Edgar for coming today. They're a class act. I'm proud to call him friend. I've known him for quite a while. I was going to say, "my old friend," but might offend him. Laughter I also appreciate the Springfield High Marching Jazz Band for being here today, and the Debby Ross Band for coming, too. If you're 18 years old, you've got to vote. You make sure you go vote. And take my advice when you're in there. Laughter I want to thank you all very much for I want to thank you so much for being involved in the political process. See, grass roots politics decides who wins and who loses. I believe that. So much of this stuff is done on TV, and that's part of the process, but the person who's going to win, particularly in this race, is the one who can get their friends to the polls. So my call to you today is, take time out of your day tomorrow, this afternoon, and on election day, and get somebody to go to the polls with you. If you voted absentee, get somebody to go to the polls on election day on your behalf. Laughter Don't be afraid of getting of talking to Democrats. Democrats know a good Congressman when they see one. John Shimkus has done a good job as the United States Congress. Make sure you don't forget to talk to independents. They care about good government. My point to you is, is that turn out to vote. Do whatever it takes. Get on the phones. Grab your neighbor. Do whatever it takes to get people to the polls, because we're supporting a good slate of candidates for the different offices for which they're running. These are good people, and they need our help, and they deserve our support. Let me talk about John a little bit. First of all, he's done in office what he said he would do. That's refreshing. He's a good, honest man. He's a hard working fellow. He's represented this district with class and distinction. He's an ally of mine. I can count on him. I don't need somebody from this district where I have to look over my shoulder, wondering where they're standing. I don't need somebody having to run a focus group, decide whether or not the President's agenda makes any sense for the American people. Not only has John done the job, not only do I call him friend, but it seems like it makes sense to me to send him back to the Congress so that the Speaker of the House of Representatives is from the State of Illinois. It makes practical sense to me. Laughter It seems like it should make sense to people who live in this district to understand that Denny Hastert is not only good for Illinois, he's really good for the country, and his leadership has made an important difference. I need John up there because we've got some big hurdles to cross here in America. We've got some issues that we've got to work together on, got some problems to solve. One of the biggest problems we've got is, there's some people in this country that can't find work, and that troubles me. Our economy is kind of bouncing along it's not as good as it should be. It needs to be stronger, because anytime somebody is looking for work and can't find a job means we've got a problem. I want people to be able to put food on the table. That's why it's so important to have Members of Congress who understand the role of Government. It's not to create wealth but an environment in which the small business can grow to be a big business, in which the entrepreneurial spirit of America can flourish. John understands that one way to create an environment in which there's job growth is to understand how important taxes are in the equation for creating jobs. See, if you let people keep more of their own money, they're likely to demand a good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service, somebody is likely to produce that good or a service. And when somebody produces the good or a service, somebody is more likely to find a job in America. Tax relief is good for small businesses. It's good for consumers, and it's good for job creation in America. Over the next 10 years, if these tax cuts are permanent, you'll get 81 billion of your own money to spend. That means jobs for the American people that's what that means. And I want you to be wary. I've learned to decode some of the talk in Washington, DC. They say, "Let's revisit the tax relief." That means they're fixing to get in your pocket. That's what that means. Laughter John Shimkus and I understand, for the sake of jobs, for the sake of small business growth, we need to make the tax cuts permanent. I appreciated his help on getting a trade bill through the Congress. Trade is good for this part of the State. Trade means people are going to be able to find work. Trade means, when we're selling those farm implement products overseas, somebody is going to be likely to have a job in this part of the world. Trade is good for job creation in America, and John Shimkus understands that. Somebody told me Ray LaHood is here. I hope he is. He's a fine Congressman from up the next district over. Where is Big Ray? There he is. He knows what I'm talking about. He understands what trade means. It also is good for your farmers and your ranchers. When you're good at something, you want to be able to sell it. We're really good at growing crops. We're really good at raising cows and hogs and chickens, and we need to be selling our food all across the world. And that's what the trade bill will enable us to do. No, there's a lot of things we can do together. One thing John did was join me in helping solve we had a confidence problem. See, we were in recession, and then the enemy hit us, and that hurt. And then we had some of our citizens forget what it means to be responsible. They thought they could fudge the numbers on these corporate ledgers. They thought they could hide the truth. They thought it was okay not to you know, not to be responsible in their positions of authority. I proposed a bill John supported me strongly on it that now says to those kinds of people in America, "We're going to hold you responsible you need to be responsible to your employees and your shareholders." No, there's a lot of work we can do to make sure people get back to work. I'm not going to pay attention to the numbers what I'm going to pay attention to is whether or not the human being is working. That's what I care about. And so long as somebody is struggling for a job, you can rest assured we're going to be doing everything we can to grow our economy. John and I have worked together on some other key issues, one of which is to make sure every child gets educated. We passed a really good piece of legislation. I want to describe it to you right quick because it shows you his mind, his philosophy. It says, we believe every child can learn. See, we believe we want to set high standards and high expectations. We're going to challenge what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. And we also believe that the best way to achieve excellence for every child is to pass power out of Washington and trust the local folks. We believe in local control of schools. But thanks to John's hard work, among others, we were able to get 1.7 billion of Federal money for the Illinois schools, and that's important. But also what's important is, for the first time, we're asking the question whether or not the money is being well spent. It's a fundamental change in attitude coming out of Washington, DC. See, we now believe every child can learn. Therefore, we want to know if every child is learning to read and write and add and subtract. For the first time, we're saying, "Why don't you show us whether or not the schools are working? We want every child to learn. We can believe every child can learn, so show us." And when we find success, we'll praise the teachers. And I bet there are some teachers here, and we want to thank you for your hard work. But when we find children trapped in schools which won't teach and which won't change, for the good of Illinois, for the good of America, we're going to demand something else happens, because no child should be left behind in America. There's a lot of issues we can work on together. One of the big issues that we need to work on is to make sure the Medicare system works. Medicine has changed. Medicine is becoming modern. Technology is changing medicine. New discoveries are changing how we cure people. But Medicare is stuck in the past. See, medicine is changing for the better, and Medicare won't change at all. Therefore, I need somebody in Congress like John Shimkus who will join me in modernizing Medicare, which means prescription drug benefits for our seniors. There's a lot of things we can do, working together, to make sure that America is a better place for everybody. But I need him in the Congress as well to work on the biggest issue which we face, which is to protect you. Homeland security is the biggest issue that this next Congress and Presidents down the road will face. And the reason why I say that is because there's still an enemy out there which hates America. They just are. They can't stand they cannot stand what we believe in. They hate the fact that we love freedom. We love the fact that in this great country you can worship an Almighty any way you see fit. We love that. We love the fact we have free elections, we have a free press. We love every single aspect of freedom, and we're not going to change. And so long as that enemy is out there threatening the homeland, we need to protect you. And we've got a lot of good people working overtime to do so. We've got people at the Federal level and at the State level and at the local level, doing everything we can to run down any hint, any idea that somebody is thinking about hurting America we're chasing it down. We're denying. We're disrupting. But I think we can do a better job on your behalf. And that's why I went to the United States Congress and asked them to join me in the creation of a new Department of Homeland Security, so we can better coordinate all the activities that are taking place at the Federal level, so we can change culture, if need be, so that people know that the number one priority is your protection, so there's no doubt in anybody's mind who are working on your behalf that this is the most important job we have. Thanks to John and Members of the United States House of Representatives, we got a good bill. The problem is, it's stuck in the United States Senate. It's stuck because they want to take away power from the President, and here's the power they want to take away. Presidents have had the ability, since John F. Kennedy was the President, to suspend collective bargaining rules in any Department of Government to make sure that when the national security is at stake to make sure that we're able to do our job. See, I need to be able to move the right people to the right place at the right time to protect you. Certain work rules prevent that from happening, and the Senate wants to keep those work rules in place. To show you how shortsighted they are, as far as I'm concerned, I would have the ability to suspend certain rules in the Department of Agriculture. Yet at a time of war, I would not have that ability for the Homeland Security Department, and that doesn't make sense. And I'm here to tell you, I'm not going to accept a lousy bill out of the United States Senate. We can't let the special interests of Washington prevent us from doing what is necessary to protect the biggest interest we have, which is the American people. But the best way to secure the homeland is to chase these killers down one at a time and bring them to justice. And therapy won't work. Laughter And we're making progress. See, I asked our Congress to support me on the biggest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. I did so because anytime we put our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best training, the best pay, and the best possible equipment. We're also sending an important message to friend and foe alike We're in this deal for the long haul. There's no quit in America when it comes to the defense of our freedom. We understand our obligations. We understand our duty to future generations of Americans. No matter how long it takes, no matter how long the how much the cost, we will defend the freedoms of the United States of America. We're making some pretty good progress. Slowly but surely, we're hauling them in. See, this is a different kind of battle we face. In the old days, you could destroy airplanes and ships and tanks, and you know you're making progress. These people don't have that kind of equipment. They hide in caves. They send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. Therefore, it's important to make sure that doctrine that says, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy," still stands. And the doctrine still stands. We've hauled in a couple of thousand of them, and like number weren't as lucky. In either case, in either category, they're not a problem to the American people. We're doing our job. It's important for us to be realistic about the threats we face. Some would like to see the world the way they would hope it would be. You can't have that in your President or elected Members of Congress. You've got to see the world the way it really is. And after September the 11th, 2001 after September the 11th, 2001, the world changed. It used to be that oceans could protect us from harm. We're in a different world now. There's a new reality that we have to deal with. Some may not like it, but you've got to deal with it in order to do the most solemn job you have, which is to protect the American people. The reason I brought up the threat from Iraq is because I understand the new realities. I see the world the way it is. Saddam Hussein is a threat to America. He's a threat to our friends. He's a man who said he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction, yet he has them. He's a man that not only has weapons of mass destruction he's used them. He's used them in his neighborhood he's used them on his own people. He can't stand America. He can't stand our friends and allies. At this point, there was a disruption in the audience. The President. He is a man who would likely team up with Al Qaida. He could provide the arsenal for one of these shadowy terrorist networks. He would love to use somebody else to attack us and not leave fingerprints behind. So I went to the United Nations to say to that august body, "Why don't we join together and hold this man to account? Why don't we hold him to his word? Why don't you, instead of letting him defy you 16 times, why don't you hold Saddam Hussein to account and disarm him?" The United Nations can show us whether it's the United Nations or the League of Nations their choice to make. And Saddam Hussein now has a choice to make. He said he would disarm. He said he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction. Now the time is coming close where he must do what he says he should do is going to do. But I'm going to tell you all something. And the Congress spoke with one voice, loud and clear, that if the United Nations cannot fulfill its duty, if it doesn't have the backbone necessary to work together to keep the peace, and if Saddam Hussein will not disarm, in the name of peace and in the name of freedom, the United States will lead a coalition and disarm Saddam Hussein. I don't know what was going through the mind of the enemy when they hit us. They must have thought the national religion of America was materialism. They must have thought we were so self centered and so shallow and so self absorbed that after the attacks of September the 11th, we might take a step back and file a lawsuit or two. Laughter They don't understand our character. They don't understand the nature of this country. They don't understand the fact that when somebody attacks us, when somebody tries to take away our freedom, that we're going to react, that we'll be strong and diligent and focused. They don't understand that out of the evil done to America can come some great good because of the nature of our country. I want you to understand that my vision is one of peace. I want the world to be peaceful, and I strongly believe that by being tough when we need to be tough, compassionate when we need to be compassionate, strong when we need to be strong, that we can not only make America a more peaceful place, we can bring peace to the world. And here at home, we can be a better America. And that's important, that while we work hard to make our country more secure and more safe, that we can be a better country. You've got to understand in this world, in America, people hurt people are lonely people are addicted people need help. John Shimkus and I and others in Congress will work to pass laws to help. But you've got to remember that Government can hand out money, but it can't put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. Hurt can be healed when a loving America puts their arm around somebody and says, "I love you. What can I do to help you?" If you want to join the war against evil, love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. You can help in any kind of way. You can mentor a child. You can make sure your school system works well. You can feed the hungry. You can run a Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop. There's all kinds of ways you can help. Today when I landed at your airport, I met the Swartz family, Larry, Linda, and Eric. They're involved with the Special Olympics. Eric is an athlete, and he's a spokesman for the Special Olympics. Larry volunteers as an assistant swim coach. Linda helps with the bowling tournaments. There are all kinds of ways. And they're here, by the way, with us. Where are the Swartzes? There they are. I'm honored you all are here. Thank you for coming. There's all kinds of ways to help. You see, the spirit of America says that in order to be an American, you've got to serve something greater than yourself in life. Perhaps the best example came on Flight 93. These are average citizens flying across the country. They learned the airplane they were on was going to be used as a weapon. They said goodbye to their loved ones. They said a prayer. A guy said, "Let's roll." And they took the plane into the ground to serve something greater than themselves in life. The American spirit is strong and alive. The enemy had no idea who they were hitting. Out of the evil done to America, I promise you is going to happen, will be a more peaceful world. And out of the evil done to America will be a better country, a more hopeful country, a more optimistic country for every citizen who lives here, because this is the greatest nation, full of the most decent people on the face of the Earth. I'm honored you're here. Thank you for coming. May God bless, and may God bless America. November 03, 2002 The President. Thank you all. Glad I came. Norm said, "If you come back, we might have a few of my friends over to say hello." Laughter I want you to know I understand that Minnesota is going through a traumatic time. After all, just 9 days ago, you lost a principled Senator, along with his wife and daughter and five other fellow Americans. Paul Wellstone was respected by all who worked with him. He'll be missed by all who knew him. Now a vote is coming on, in the middle of a State that is mourning. And even though your State is still in mourning, I'm here to remind people from all political parties that you have a duty to vote. In spite of the fact that people still mourn, Republicans and Democrats, independents, people who could care less about political parties, have an obligation in the land of the free to go to the polls and exercise your right as an American. Now, once you get in that voting booth, I've got a suggestion. Laughter The best candidate for the future of Minnesota is your next United States Senator, Norm Coleman. The best choice for Governor of Minnesota, the best choice for the taxpayers and the schoolchildren, is Tim Pawlenty. And the best choice in a contested race in this part of the world, the best choice for United States Congress, is Mr. John Kline. It's great for great to be able to see Laurie Coleman today. She is working hard, along with Norm and their entire family. Proud to meet Mr. and Mrs. Coleman, too. Ms. Coleman said she's a little nervous. Laughter I said, "Well, you watch and see what happens next Tuesday." Norm married above himself, and so did I. Laughter Yesterday Laura was here. I want to thank you for such a warm reception she received. I don't blame Norman for bringing her in coming down the stretch. After all, she's done a fabulous job as our country's First Lady. I'm proud to be up here with three fine Members of the United States Congress Gil Gutknecht, Mark Kennedy, and Jim Ramstad. I appreciate their service to our country. I appreciate the fact that they're friends. I appreciate the fact they're willing to run. Most of all, I'm here to thank you all for what you have done and what you're going to do. Many of you have been working hard over the last months, weeks, and days to support the Coleman candidacy. You've been putting up signs. You've been dialing the phones. You've been sending the brochures in the mail. Don't stop. I will promise you this, when you go to your coffee shops or your community centers and urge your fellow Minnesota citizens to go to the polls, you can make a huge impact on this election. You can decide who your next United States Senator and Governor and Members of Congress will be. And when you go to those coffee shops and community centers, make sure you reach out to discerning Democrats and independent voters. There are a lot of good people who may not call themselves Republicans, who've been impressed, like I have, with the nature of the campaign that Norm Coleman has run. There's a lot of people who may not be Republicans, who've been impressed by the quality of service he gave to the citizens of St. Paul as the mayor of St. Paul. They know him like I know him, somebody who's willing to get rid of the stale, old, tired name calling in politics, somebody who's not interested in pitting one group of people against another to get ahead, somebody who's willing to work hard to bring people together for the common good. That's the Norm Coleman I know. When he held office, he showed what he could do. He performed. He's the kind of fellow who does in office what he says he's going to do. That's refreshing. After all, we are in the house that Norm built. He kept taxes down. He brought more than 3 billion of new development into St. Paul. He performed in office. He did so with class. He did so with the one thing in mind how to benefit all the people of St. Paul. He understands that in order to create opportunity for all the citizens of this State, that the small business owner and the entrepreneurs, the backbone of creativity and job growth, no matter where they are in this country applause . Pat Boemer owns McGovern's Pub and Restaurant just down the street from here. He knows firsthand how Norm worked with small business owners to cut the regulations that oftentimes make it hard for people to expand and or exist. Norm understands the role of small businesses. Because of Norm's help, Pat was able to expand his restaurant, a project that employed 30 people during the expansion and added 35 new permanent jobs. Pat let me tell you what Pat said about Norm Coleman. I want you to hear what one of your citizens said about this man. He said, "He's a breath of fresh air." And that's the kind of fresh air we need in the United States Senate. Believe me when I say, we need fresh air in the United States Senate. The future of Minnesota rests with Norm Coleman. Not only do I like to promote somebody who is a good, honorable person I'm looking for an ally. Laughter I want somebody from this great State with whom I can work, somebody with whom we can work to help all the people. We've got some problems here in this country. See, our economy is kind of bumping along. It's not as strong as it should be. Anytime somebody is looking for a job and they can't find work means we've got a problem. And I'm not going to rest until people can find work, until people who want to put food on the table are able to do so. But it's important to have somebody from this State who understands the role of Government is not to create wealth, but the role of Government is to create an environment in which small businesses can grow to be big businesses, in which this entrepreneurial spirit is strong. There's a fundamental difference of attitudes in this race. See, Norm and I understand this, that when a person has more money in their pocket, they're likely to demand an additional good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service in the marketplace, somebody is likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces the good or a service, somebody is more likely to be able to find work. I need the United States Senator from Minnesota who not only supports tax relief, but is willing to stand with me to make tax relief permanent. Norm and I understand in Washington, when you hear them talking about the Government's money, they don't understand. See, we're not talking about the Government's money in Washington. It's important to have a Senator understand whose money it is. It's your money. It's the people's money. I look forward to working with Norm on a lot of issues. We need to get a terrorism insurance bill out that gets our hard hats working again. The terrorists hit us, and as a result, a lot of projects aren't going forward because they can't find insurance. And therefore, a lot of hardhats aren't working. We need to get somebody in the Senate with whom I can work to make sure we get us a terrorism insurance bill that rewards the hardhats of America, not the trial lawyers of America. I look forward to working with a Norm Coleman to make sure that Medicare works. See, we made a solemn promise to our seniors. The problem is, medicine has changed. It's becoming modern. Medicare is stuck in the past. There's a lot of new technologies that have helped health care become modern, new discoveries that have changed the nature of health care. But Medicare hasn't changed. I look forward to working with Senator Norm Coleman to modernize Medicare, which means prescription drugs for our seniors. And let me give you another reason I need to work with him in the Senate. One of my most solemn obligations is to name good people to Federal benches. The Senate has done a lousy job. There are too many of my nominees that have been stalled, and therefore, we have a vacancy crisis on the Federal benches in America. And that hurts you. It hurts our citizens who need to have access to justice. You see, they don't like my judges. They don't like the fact that I named good, honorable people who will not use the bench from which to legislate but will use the bench to strictly interpret the Constitution. Norm and I understand we've got too many legislators in Washington. Let me say to you, we've got enough legislators in Washington. We need good, sound judges. I know I can count on his support when it comes to making sure the judiciary is strong and capable and not have any vacancies. The biggest issue that Senator Coleman and I will be working on over the years is to protect you, is to protect the homeland, is to keep America safe from an enemy which still lurks out there, an enemy which hates because of what we love. We love freedom. We love the idea that people can worship freely in America. We love the idea that people can speak their minds. We love a free press, and we're not going to change. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. It's important to be cold eyed realists about the world in which we live. We're on alert now in America. We understand the battlefield has come home. There's a lot of good people working on your behalf to deny the enemy. Anytime we get a hint, a scintilla of evidence, we're moving on it. That's our most important obligation. We're doing it within the confines of the United States Constitution, but we're moving. We're disrupting. We're making sure people cannot get to the American people. We're doing everything we can. But I went to Congress because I think we can do more. And I asked them to join me in the creation of a Department of Homeland Security. I want a Department where I've got the ability to be able to turn to the American people and say, "I've got the tools necessary to protect you." There's over 100 agencies involved with homeland security. It seemed like to me they need to be coordinated better. They need to be under one umbrella so we can set priority and, if need be, change culture. And the House of Representatives, thanks to the Members up here, passed a good bill. It takes two Chambers to get the bill to my desk, however. The bill is stuck in the Senate. I want to explain to you why it's stuck in the Senate. It's stuck in the Senate because some Senators are trying to extract too high a price from the President. For 40 years, ever since John Kennedy has been the President, the President has had the ability to suspend collective bargaining rules in any Department of the Federal Government when the national security is at stake. Let me tell you what that means. If a rule stands in the way of being able to better protect the homeland, I should be able to suspend that rule for national security purposes. The Senate, because of special interests in Washington, DC, refuses to or are trying to strip me of that power. And if they were able to do so, I would have the ability to suspend some rules in, say, the Agricultural Department but not the Department of Homeland Security. We're threat we're under threats from an enemy which hates us, and yet they're trying to prevent me and future Presidents from being able to do the job. I need a Senator who will support me on homeland security. I refuse to accept a lousy bill from the U.S. Senate. But the fact is the fact of the matter is, we're going to do everything we can at home. But the best way to assure your freedom is to hunt these killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice. We're making progress. First, I want to thank the Senate and the House for passing the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. I asked for that increase because I believe strongly, just like Norm Coleman believes strongly, that anytime we put our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. And the other reason I asked for that increase is because I wanted to send a signal to friend and foe alike, that when it comes to the defense of our freedom and the defense of our homeland, we're in this deal for the long haul. There's not a calendar on my desk that says, by such andsuch a date, we're quitting. That's not how I think. That's not how I know you think. You see, we understand our obligations to future generations. That's why I'm continuing to insist to people around the world Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy. And we're making progress. We're making progress, slowly but surely. We're finding them. We're hunting them down. It's a different kind of war, and it's important for you to know that. In the old days, you'd knock out a couple of tanks or shoot down an airplane or two, you're making progress. See, these folks, that's not the way they are. They hide in caves or in dark corners of the world and send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. And so it's a different kind of war. It requires this network of people moving around, getting them on the run. Fortunately, we've got the finest military in the history of the world, and we've got them on the run, and we're going to keep them on the run. Norm knows what I know It doesn't matter how long it takes we have an obligation. It's important for us to be cold eyed realists about the world. It's important to have a Senator and a President and people in Washington, DC, who see the world really the way it is, not the way we wish it would be. And the world is changed after September the 11th. It's changed because we're no longer safe from potential threats overseas. It used to be that oceans could protect us. It used to be that we could sit back and say, "Well, we're a protected continent because of two vast oceans." We learned a tough lesson on September the 11th. We've got to remember that lesson as we go down the road. We must take every threat to the United States seriously. We must take threats to our friends seriously. And there's a threat which looms in the form of Saddam Hussein. I want to remind you all that this is a man who for 11 years has said he wouldn't have any weapons of mass destruction, and for 11 years, he's deceived the world. Audience member. Liar! The President. And we found out that a while ago that he was close to having a nuclear weapon. We don't know how close he is today. This is a man who not only has got chemical weapons I want you to remind your friends and neighbors that he has used chemical weapons. He has used them in his neighborhood, and incredibly enough, he has used them on his own people. This is a man who can't stand America. He can't stand what we believe in. This is a man who hates some of our closest friends in the Middle East. This is a man who has had contacts with Al Qaida. This is a man who poses a serious threat in many forms, but catch this form He's the kind of guy that would love nothing more than to train terrorists and provide arms to terrorists so they could attack his worst enemy and leave no fingerprints. This guy is a threat to the world. I went to the United Nations because I wanted to tell this body, this august body, that I expect you to do your duty. For 16 resolutions, he's defied you. I went and said, "In the name of peace, show yourself to be effective. We want you to be an effective United Nations, not an ineffective organization like the League of Nations." My message was to that body, I said, "Show some backbone. Disarm Saddam Hussein, just like he said he would do." But for the sake of peace and for the sake of freedom, the sake of fulfilling our obligations to future generations, if the United Nations can't act and won't act and if Saddam Hussein won't do what he said he would do, which is disarm, we will lead a coalition of nations to disarm Saddam Hussein. I appreciate Norm Coleman's position. I appreciate the fact that he's a cold eyed realist. I appreciate the fact that he sees the world the way it is, not the way we would hope it would be. I want you to know this about America, that if we stay tough, we stay strong, we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace, not only for ourselves, but we can achieve peace in parts of the world which have quit on peace. We're determined. We speak clearly. If we remember our values and remember that freedom is not an America's gift to the world, it is a God gift to the world, we can achieve peace. I don't know what was going through the mind of the enemy. They must have thought the national religion of America was materialism. Therefore, we're selfish and self absorbed. We'd take a couple of steps back after September the 11th, 2001. They probably said, "Oh, they'd file a lawsuit or two." Laughter They don't understand the nature of America. They don't understand the American spirit. They don't understand our soul. You see, out of the evil done to America is going to come some good. And part of that good is peace overseas, and part of that good here at home is a better tomorrow, a better America. We must remember and Norm understands this that's why I'm passionate on his candidacy he knows what I know, that amongst our plenty are people who hurt. There are people who are lonely, people addicted, people, when you say, "American Dream," they say, "What does that mean? I have no idea what the American Dream means," they say. Our attitude is, so long as any of us hurt, we all hurt, and therefore, Government must do everything it can to help. But Government is limited. See, it can hand out money, but it can't put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That help that happens when a fellow American puts their arm around somebody who's crying and says, "I love you, brother. I love you, sister. What can I do to make your life a better life?" I met a guy today named John Ernston. He's volunteered 13,000 hours for the Hennepin County sheriff. He's been on what they call water patrol. He is a person trying to make a difference in somebody's life. He's volunteering his time to make his community a better place. Talk about the American spirit, the American spirit says we'll be tough when it comes to the defense of our freedom. But the American spirit also says the new patriotism for our country means we'll serve something greater than ourself. The call to you so far as I'm concerned is Help somebody in need mentor a child feed the hungry love the homeless. And you watch what happens when the great compassion of America comes forth. We can change this country one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. No, the American spirit is alive and well in this country. The enemy hit us they didn't know who they were hitting. I'm reminded of the story of Flight 93. Flight 93 was on that fateful day, we had citizens flying across the country. They learned the plane they were on was going to be used as a weapon. They said goodbye to their loved ones. History will show they said a prayer. A guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane into the ground to serve something greater than themselves. The spirit of this country is alive and well and strong. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. I believe I believe firmly that out of the evil done to America is going to come some great good. I will boldly predict that we can achieve the peace, and we can achieve a more hopeful tomorrow for every citizen who lives in this country, because I understand America. We're the finest nation, full of the greatest people on the face of this entire Earth. I'm honored you're here. Work hard for Norm. May God bless you, and may God bless America. November 02, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much. Thank you all. Glad I came. So you're probably wondering what Sonny I mean, what Saxby said. He said, "Keep it short. The Bulldogs are playing." Really what he was saying is, "It's time to quit the sermons and start passing the plate." That means it's time to turn out the vote. I'm here in the great State of Georgia because I want all the citizens of this State to understand that we have a responsibility, as Americans in a land of freedom, to vote. See, we have a responsibility. If you believe in democracy, if you love freedom, then you have a responsibility to go to the polls next Tuesday. And I'm not talking about just a handful of Georgia citizens I mean everybody. Republicans and Democrats and people who could care less about political parties need to do their duty. But when you get inside that box, I've got some suggestions For the good of Georgia and for the good of the country, Saxby Chambliss needs to be the U.S. Senator. For the good of the 11th, Phil Gingrey needs to be the U.S. Congressman. And for the good of the schoolchildren of Georgia and the taxpayers of Georgia, Sonny Perdue ought to be the next Governor. I appreciate Sonny. I appreciate him being straightforward, down to earth, tells it like it is. That's why he's going to be a fine Governor. I appreciate the fact that he set education as a priority. That's why he's going to be a fine Governor. I appreciate the fact that he has actually met a payroll before. Laughter That's why he's going to be a fine Governor. No, I appreciate Sonny being here. And I appreciate the members of the mighty Georgia congressional delegation for being here as well, Mac Collins and Johnny Isakson and John Linder and Bob Barr. I appreciate their friendship, and I appreciate their service to our country. I want to thank all the candidates who are here. I want to thank the grassroots activists who have come. And I want to thank you for accepting the fact that you drew the short straw today. Laura is inanother State. Laughter Audience members. Inaudible The President. I understand. Yes, she was here yesterday he's right. You got stuck with me. But I can't tell you how proud I am of her. She is a big backer of Saxby and Sonny, everybody else running here in Georgia. She understands good government. How you get good government is, you put good people in place. She sends her best. She sends her love. And I'm telling you, she's doing a great job as the First Lady of America. I want to thank the grassroots activists who have worked so hard in the past for what you're about to do. Today and tomorrow and Monday and Tuesday, you need to do everything you can to turn out the vote. You need to go to your coffee shops and tell people they've got to vote and talk up these good candidates. You need to go to your houses of worship, remind people they have an obligation to vote. And don't be afraid of taking this message to discerning Democrats. They want good government. They want the best candidates. And when they hear of the stories of these three candidates up there, they're going to support them. And don't be afraid of taking your message to independents. Take the message, work hard, turn out the vote, and when you do, we'll realize victory on November the 5th. And there are reasons why and there are important reasons why these good candidates need to win. We've got some hurdles to cross here in America. We've got some big challenges ahead of us. One of the biggest challenges we have is the fact that our economy is just kind of bumping along. It's not as strong as it should be. There are people looking for work, and they can't find a job, which means we've got a problem. People want to put food on the table, and they're unable to find work, which means we've got to have people in the Senate and in the United States Congress who understand the role of Government is not to create wealth but to create an environment in which the small business can grow to be a big business. Here's the page of the textbook we read from the economics textbook, that is. We strongly believe that if you let a person keep more of their own money, they're likely to demand a good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service, somebody is likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or a service, somebody in Georgia and around America is more likely to find work. The best way to make sure people can find work is to let people keep more of their own money. And the best way to do that is to make the tax cuts permanent. The thing I like about Saxby and about Phil is, they understand up in Washington we're not spending the Government's money. We're not giving you back the Government's money. It's the people's money. No, there are some things we can do to work together to make the job base increase. We need to have us a terrorism insurance bill. That bill says that terrorists attack we understand we need the Government to underwrite insurance so that big construction projects can get going forward, so our hardhats can get back to work, so those hard working Americans all across the country are able to put food on the table. I look forward to working with them and the Congress to get a good bill out, one by the way that rewards the hardhats and not America's trial lawyers. So long as this economy is bumping along and so long as people can't find work, you've just got to know we're going to be doing everything we can to create jobs. And I need people up in the United States Congress who will work with me to do just that. And the two best people to do just that is Saxby Chambliss for the Senate and Phil Gingrey for the United States House of Representatives. We need people up there we can work together to make sure our education system is strong. I want to thank Saxby for his strong support, unwavering support for an education bill which is going to really help the schoolchildren of the State of Georgia. He, along with the other Members up here on the stage, worked with me to get 1.2 billion of Federal money for the schools of Georgia. That's a good sum of money for the people of Georgia. But for the first time, we've got a new frame of mind when it comes to children, a frame of mind which shows that Saxby is an optimistic person about our future. See, it says, every child can learn. That's what we believe. Every child can learn. We believe in high standards and high expectations. We believe strongly in challenging what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. We understand if you lower the bar, you're going to get lousy results. In that bill we also understand that the people who care more about the children in Georgia are Georgian citizens, not bureaucrats in Washington, DC, so we passed power out of Washington. We believe in local control of schools. But also in this bill, we finally started asking the question, when we spend that 1.2 billion here, are we getting our money's worth? If you believe every child can learn, then you want to know if every child is learning. If you believe every child can read, then you want to know. And that's why, for the first time in our Nation's history, we're seeing a return for this money "Why don't you show us. Show us whether or not the children are learning to read and write and add and subtract." And when we see they are, I promise you, we'll praise the teachers. And for those of you who are teachers out there, thank you for being involved in such a noble, important profession. But it's also important to understand that if things aren't working, when we find children trapped in schools which won't teach and won't change, it's important to have people elected who are willing to challenge the status quo. No child, not one single child, should be left behind in the State of Georgia. I appreciate Saxby's strong support for the education bill and his clear vision for how to improve education for every child, not just a few but for every single child who lives in the great State of Georgia. I also look forward to working with Saxby and Phil on the health issue. We've got a problem in health. One of the problems is, there's too many junk lawsuits, too many frivolous lawsuits which make it hard for people to have access to the courts. If you've got junk lawsuits clogging up the courts, you can't get access to the courts. But as importantly, these frivolous lawsuits are running up the cost of medicine, and they're driving doctors out of the practice of medicine, which makes it harder for people to be able to find a professional help they need. For the sake of good health care, for the sake of affordable and accessible health care, we need medical liability reform at the Federal level. And we need a Medicare system which works. Medicine is modern it's evolving. Technology is changing medicine. New discoveries are changing medicine. But Medicare is not changing. It's stuck in the past. For the sake of fulfilling our promises to our seniors, we need a Medicare system which is modernized, and that means prescription drugs for every senior in America. And Saxby Chambliss and Phil Gingrey will help me deliver that promise to the seniors. There's one other a lot of issues that are going to be important, and I need an ally there in the Senate. Saxby is an ally. Make no mistake about it, in this race, if you're interested in sending an ally to the President, that ally is Saxby Chambliss. It doesn't matter what they're putting on the TV screens. I know the definition of "ally." I need an ally in the Senate on judges. We've got a problem with our Federal judges. The Senate has done a lousy job in confirming my judges. They have done such a lousy job that there are too many vacancies around the country. Vacancies on the Federal benches mean people are denied justice, and that's not right. Part of the problem is, there's just too much bickering, too much ugly politics. Part of the problem is, they don't like the nature of the people I'm nominating. See, the kind of people I've put up there are honest, honorable people, who will not use the bench from which to legislate but will use the bench from which to strictly interpret the Constitution. If the people of Georgia are interested in a sound judiciary, they need to send Saxby Chambliss to the United States Senate. There's a lot of issues we'll work on together, but no bigger issue than protecting the American people from attack. That's still an issue because there's still an enemy lurking around which hates America, and they hate us for what we love. We love freedom, and we're not changing. We love the fact that people can worship an almighty God freely in America. We love every aspect about freedom. And as long as we hold freedom dear, there's an enemy lurking around out there which will try to cause further harm on the American people. That's just the way it is. That's the clear reality we face. So we have an awesome responsibility to do everything we can to protect you. You need to know there's a lot of really good people at the Federal, State, and local level working hard to protect you, running down every hint, every idea. Anytime we get a whisper that somebody is thinking about doing something or talking about doing something to the American people, we're moving on it we're disrupting we're denying. We understand the stakes. But we can do a better job of protecting the American people. We can do a better job by creating a Department of Homeland Security, one which needs to be set up correctly so that it can function properly on behalf of the American people. As I was beginning to set up the Department of Homeland Security, I knew one person I could turn to for good advice, somebody whose judgment I could trust, somebody from the State of Georgia who has a good vision, somebody who was put in a position as the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security, and that person I turned to advice was Saxby Chambliss. And we got a good bill out of the House of Representatives, but they can't get it out of the Senate. It's stuck in the Senate. Here we are with a threat to the United States people, and we can't get us a homeland security bill. And the reason why is, some in the Senate wanted to extract too high a price from this President and future Presidents. They asked me to give up a power Presidents have had for 40 years, since John Kennedy was the President, and that is the ability to suspend collective bargaining rules in any Department in the Federal Government when national security is at stake. In other words, I need to be able to suspend rules that prevents us from doing everything in our power to protect you. If some of the Senators had their way, these rules would apply to the Department of Agriculture but not to the Homeland Security Department. These rules would be okay for a Department that deals with farmers but not with a Department dealing with your national security. I need to have the ability to put the right people at the right place at the right time to protect the American people, and Saxby Chambliss understands that. I sure would like to have a Senator Chambliss. I wouldn't have to be worried about his vote. I wouldn't have to be worried about him being captured by special interests in Washington, DC. The only interest he has in mind is the interest I have in mind, which is the protection of the American people. And the best way to protect the American people is to chase these killers down, one at a time, and bring them to justice, which is what we're going to do. Therapy isn't going to work on them. Laughter I asked the Congress to join me in passing the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President, and they did. And it sends two messages, two messages I want to share with you today. One, anytime we put our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. And secondly, we're in this deal for the long haul. That increase in defense spending should say to friend and foe alike, there's no quit in the American people. When it comes to the defense of our freedom, there's no artificial time there's no calendar on my desk that says, well, time's up. Time isn't up until the United States is secure and we have done our duty to future generations of Americans by defeating the agents of terror. This is a different kind of war. In the old days you used to say, "Well, you destroyed so many tanks or airplanes. We're making progress." That's not the way this war is conducted. They don't have tanks. They've got caves, and they've got suiciders. And they're willing to send youngsters to their suicidal death. These people hijacked a great religion to murder in the name of that religion. So we've just got to hunt them down. There's no cave dark enough, deep enough. There's no corner of the world shady enough for the long arm of justice of the United States and our friends and allies. You've got to understand, the doctrine which says, "Either you're with us or with the enemy," it still stands. Slowly but surely, we're dismantling them. We've got them on the run, and we're going to keep them on the run. This is a different kind of world we live in. September the 11th, 2001, changed the stakes, and it's important for all of us in America to understand that. It's important for us to see the world the way it is, not the way we hope it would be. It used to be that oceans could protect us from threats, that two vast oceans could protect the American people from a threat which was gathering abroad. And we really had the luxury, if you think about it, for picking and choosing if we were to be involved or not. September 11th changed that. All of a sudden, the battlefield is here at home. And therefore, we must deal with each threat seriously. We must see threats as they are. And that's why I brought up the cause to Congress and the American people and the international community to fully debate the issue of Saddam Hussein. He's a threat to America. He's a threat to our close friends and allies. He's a man who has said he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction, but he's got them. He's a man who at one time, we know for certain, was close to having a nuclear weapon. We don't know how close he is today, because he shut down his country. You know, not only does he have weapons of mass destruction, but incredibly enough, he has used weapons of mass destruction. And he's used weapons of mass destruction not only against people in his neighborhood, but he's used them against his own people. He hates America. He can't stand what we stand for. He's had connections with shadowy terrorist networks like Al Qaida. He would like nothing more than to use an Al Qaida type network, if not Al Qaida itself, to be the advanced army to utilize his training and his arsenal of weapons of mass destruction on his most hated enemy, the American people. Therefore, I felt it was important for us to understand the nature of the threat, to realize the changing circumstances of the American vulnerability requires us to be steadfast and strong when it comes to dealing with potential threats to the American people. It's my most important job. I went to the United Nations because I wanted to make it clear to the United Nations that, one, we want them to succeed we want them to be an effective organization in helping us keep the peace we want them to have backbone. We want them to have the capacity to say to somebody who 16 times has defied resolution after resolution after resolution, "Enough is enough." The message to that august body is Be effective be the United Nations, not the League of Nations. The Congress spoke with one voice, and here's what we said to the world If the United Nations does not have the backbone to disarm Saddam Hussein like they said he should do, and if Saddam Hussein will not disarm like he said he would, for the sake of peace, for the sake of freedom, for the sake of a secure future, the United States will lead a coalition to disarm Saddam Hussein. We have an obligation, all of us elected to office have an obligation to protect the American people. But you know what I believe? I believe out of the evil done to America is going to come some great good, because we're a great country. I can't imagine what was going through the minds of the enemy when they hit us. They probably assumed that materialism was the national religion, that we were so materialistic, that we were self absorbed and selfish that after the attacks America would take a step back and maybe file a lawsuit or two. Laughter They don't understand the country like we do. I believe that by being steadfast and strong, by remembering that this Nation never conquers but we liberate, by remembering that example of Afghanistan when our troops went in to liberate people that young girls for the first time went to school, thanks to the United States and our friends and allies by being diligent in our pursuit of terror, the pursuit of the terrorists, and remembering that freedom is not an American gift to the world, it is God given, holding those values dear, that we can achieve peace, that we can achieve peace not only for America and Americans, but we can achieve peace in parts of the world which have quit on peace. No, I believe out of the evil done to America is going to come a peaceful world. And I know out of the evil done here at home can come a better world for all Americans. Anytime anybody hurts, we all hurt. And we've got to remember, amongst the plenty, there are pockets of despair and loneliness. Some communities, you say "American Dream," and people go, "What the heck are you talking about? American Dream,' I don't understand that." And therefore, we must do everything we can at the Government level to pass laws necessary to help people help themselves, to make society work better. I talked about some today, education and health. But we've got to remember that Government can pass out money, but it can't put hope in people's hearts. It can't put a sense of purpose in people's lives. It can't heal the hurt that we find in many of our neighborhoods. A better America happens when we save souls, one person at a time. And that happens when an American puts their arm around somebody who needs help, and says, "I love you. What can I do to help you?" If you want to fight evil, love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourselves. No, the spirit of America is strong. It's alive, and it's well. The spirit talks about making sure that democracy flourishes by going to do your duty. It talks about the willingness to defend freedom, no matter the cost. It also talks about serving something greater than yourself to make America the greatest country it can possibly be. Today I met Frances Grove, of the Literacy Volunteers of America. She came out to Air Force One to say hello, probably because she's a part of my mother's army to fight illiteracy. But nevertheless, she's an example of what I'm talking about. See, each of us can make a difference to make sure that the evil done to America is doesn't stand. Each of us can help, by helping people in need. It doesn't matter whether you work with Frances Grove or mentor a child or run a Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop. It doesn't matter whether you feed the homeless or make sure people who are people are people who have hurt find love. That's what matters in life, and that's what's happening. Perhaps the most vivid example of the strength of the American spirit, of what I'm talking about, took place on Flight 93. You remember that horrible day, when the people were flying across the country. They learned the plane they were on was going to be used as a weapon. They told their loved ones goodbye. History will show they said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane into the ground to serve something greater than themselves. They represented the absolute strength of the American spirit. I'm going to tell you this Out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good. I can say that with certainty. It's going to be a peaceful world, a better world. I say it with certainty because I understand the American spirit is alive and well. And I also understand that this country is the greatest country, full of the finest, most decent, compassionate people on the face of the Earth. I want to thank you for being a part of this great country. Thank you for doing your duty. May God bless you, and may God bless America. November 02, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much. Thanks a lot. Thank you all. Jeb and I are sure glad we came. You're lifting his spirits, and I appreciate that more than you know. I want to thank you all for coming. I'm traveling the country, reminding people about the American spirit, the fact that no matter what the cost, we'll defend our freedom this American spirit that says to be a patriot, you've got to serve something greater than yourself a spirit of America that says we love freedom, and if you love freedom, you have a duty to vote. If you love our country, it doesn't matter what your political party is you have an obligation to participate in democracy. I've come into this important State to urge people from all walks of life, from all political parties, to do your duty next Tuesday. But when you get in that voting booth, I've got a good suggestion for you. Laughter For the sake of the Florida taxpayers, for the sake of the Florida schoolchildren, for the sake of dignity and integrity in the office of Governor, send Jeb Bush back to Tallahassee. And you might as well send Frank Brogan back with him. They make a great team, on behalf of all the citizens of this State. One of the things Jeb and I share in common, besides a fine mother who's still telling us what to do on a regular basis laughter is, we both married above ourselves. We both have got great wives. I'm honored to be here with the great first lady for Florida, Columba Bush, and of course, a University of Texas law school student Hollywood handsome, I might add a great man, George P. Bush. You drew the short straw tonight. You got me instead of Laura. Laughter She's campaigning up north, and you got stuck with the President. But she sends her love. She sends her love to Jeb and Columba. She sends her best to all our friends in Florida. And like me, she reminds you Go to the polls, and take some friends to the polls so this good man can serve you for 4 more years. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. And that's another reason I've come today, is because I want to urge you to help Jeb. See, I want you to go to your houses of worship tomorrow, go to your coffee shops on Monday go to your coffee shops, go to your community centers. Tell anybody who will listen what a good man you've got in your Governor. I want to remind you, make sure you don't ignore Democrats. See, they don't want their taxes raised a lot of them don't. Democrats in Florida know the difference between somebody who tells it like it is and somebody who just tells it any way he sees fit. Laughter Democrats in this State want good government. They want somebody to do what he says he's going to do in office. Independents want the same thing. So starting tomorrow, round up people and tell them to go to the polls on Tuesday. Jeb's counting on your help, and so am I. And you won't be wasting your time. You watch and see what happens next Tuesday, thanks to your hard work, thanks to his good message, thanks to his great record. Not only are Republicans going to turn out in droves, but this man is going to get independent vote, discerning Democrat vote wise Democrats are going to come his way. And you're going to have 4 more years of a great Governor in Jeb Bush. I want to thank a couple of Members of Congress who are here. I know Bill Young is here. I call him "the Chairman." See, he runs the Appropriations Committee in the House of Representatives. Not only do I call him "the Chairman " I call him "sir." Laughter He's a powerful Member from Florida, and he's a great Member from Florida. I'm proud to call him friend, and I'm proud he's here. Mike Bilirakis is here as well, a fine Member of the United States Congress. These are two of the good ones, and you've got a fine person running for Congress as well. Her name is Ginny Brown Waite. We need to send her to the United States Congress. So when you're out there rounding up the votes for Jeb, don't forget Ginny. I'm also proud to be up here with a member of my Cabinet. I wanted somebody to work with me to close the housing gap in America. Too many of them are minorities don't own their house. Too many of them don't own a home. We're going to close that gap. It makes sense to encourage people to own something in the great country called America. We want all people applause there's nothing more there's nothing better than owning your own home. Too many of our African Americans don't own a home. Too many Hispanics in this country don't own a home. And so I called upon a Floridian to help me close that homeownership gap. I picked a solid American, a man of great success, a man who represents the best of the country. After all, his parents, when he was a little boy, put him on the boat to escape the clutches of Fidel Castro, so he could grow up in freedom, and now he's a member of the President's Cabinet, Mel Martinez. I'm also proud to be up here with the great General Norman Schwarzkopf, the man who set the example. Finally, I want to thank the good folks here at the University of South Florida, particularly President Judy Genshaft for her hospitality, and all the good folks who put up with us today. It's a great place to celebrate the candidacy and the soon to be victory of Jeb Bush. We thank you for your hospitality. The thing you've got to remember about this good man who's your Governor is, he did in office what he said he would do. See, that's important. We've got too many in the political process who just say things, just kind of float something out there and hope it sounds good, hope somebody might bite on it, hope it convinces people, but have no intentions or capabilities of getting it done. That's the exact opposite of your Governor. He said he was going to work to improve education for every child in the State of Florida, and he has fulfilled that promise. See, he's got the right mindset. He believes every child can learn that's what he believes. And therefore, he's willing to ask the question Can every child read can every child write can every child add and subtract? And if not, he's willing to challenge the status quo. You have a Governor who will not be captured by special interests. You have a Governor with one interest in mind, to make sure that no child in the State of Florida is left behind. We're going through some tough economic times in America. We're kind of bumping along, is how I describe it, just bumping. And that's not good enough for this country. Anytime somebody who wants to work and can't find a job, it says we've got a problem. But there are some bright spots in this Nation about job creation. And the brightest of all bright spots is right here in the State of Florida. This man, he just doesn't talk about jobs. You're creating them here. He and I understand this The role of Government is not to create wealth but an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish, in which the small business can grow to be big businesses. No, you've got the right man if you're worried about the economic vitality of your State. You've got the right man if you're worried about job creation. That man is Jeb Bush. Been tough budget times for a lot of States. It's tough economic times. Remember, we went through a recession. And then the enemy hit us. Then we had a little problem with some of our corporate executives. Laughter They forgot what it would mean to be a responsible leader. They forgot what it means to tell the truth. Some of them thought they could fudge the books, shade the numbers. Those days are over with. Thanks to Members of Congress here, I had the ability to sign the toughest law, the corporate reform law, since Franklin Roosevelt. There's not going to be any more easy money, just hard time when we catch you fudging the numbers and not doing your responsibility. But as a result of these tough times, revenues have dwindled in States, and it's been hard for some Governors to manage the budget not the Governor of Florida. This man managed the budget during tough economic times. He took on the tough tasks to make sure your money was spent properly. He understands what I know When you're talking about money in Tallahassee or money in Washington, it's not the Government's money it's your money. And Jeb Bush is a good steward of your money. It should be clear to the people of Florida from all political parties that the man knows what he's doing, that the man is a plain speaker, that the man cares deeply about the citizens of this State. When he hears of hurt, he doesn't go around and say, "Well, if you're hurting, I'll only try to help you if you're a Republican." He cries when anybody hurts. He's got deep compassion for the citizens of Florida, an honest man, who's brought integrity and dignity to the office. He's the kind of guy that will make you proud. He's the kind of guy that you need to send back to Tallahassee as a reelected Governor of Florida. Audience members. Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! The President. Jeb has handled tough problems in Tallahassee, and we're going to handle tough problems in Washington on your behalf. I talked about the economy. I'm worried about people not being able to find work. We'll do everything we can to make sure job creation is strong. And the best way to do that is to let you keep more of your own money. Those tax cuts we passed came at the right time in American history. Now, when you hear them talking about in Washington up there, "Oh, we better revisit the tax cuts" Audience members. Boo o o! The President. that just means they're fixing to try to get in your pocket. For the sake of economic vitality, for the sake of growth, and for the sake of jobs, we need to make the tax cuts permanent. No, there's a lot of issues we'll be working on. We'll be working on health care issues, of course. We've got to make sure Medicare works. Medicine has changed. Medicine is modern. Technology has changed medicine. New discoveries have changed medicine. But Medicare is stuck in the past. It hasn't changed. For the sake of fulfilling our promise to seniors, I need to have people in Washington, DC, with whom I can work to modernize Medicare, which means prescription drugs for the seniors of the State of Florida. No, there's a lot of issues we need to work on. But the biggest issue of all is to protect you. You see, there's still an enemy out there that lurks around. They hate us. They hate us because of what we love. We love the freedom to worship. We love the freedom to speak our mind. We love every aspect about freedom, and we're not changing. And so long as we love, they hate. And so we've got a task ahead, and that is to protect you. That's why I went to Congress and said, in spite of the fact that a lot of good people are working hard you see, anytime we get a hint, any piece of evidence that somebody is thinking about doing something to America, we're moving on them. We're disrupting them. We're denying them. But the threat is real. And therefore I went to Congress and said, "Give us a Homeland Security Department, so we can better coordinate the agencies involved with protecting you. Give us something to make sure that we can change cultures, so that people get the message that our number one responsibility in Washington, DC, is to protect the American people from further attack." The Members of the House responded, but it's stuck in the United States Senate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Yes, and it's stuck in the United States Senate, and you need to know why it's stuck in the United States Senate, and you might let some of your Senators know why it's stuck. It's because they want me to give up power that Presidents have had since John F. Kennedy. See, Presidents since John F. Kennedy have had the capacity to suspend some collective bargaining rules, in any Department of the Federal Government, for the sake of national security. In other words, I'll have the capacity I do have the capacity today, unless the Senate has its way, for me to take some rules and set them aside so we can better protect you. And that's the issue, and I'm not giving up that power, for the sake of the American people. But the best way to protect you is to hunt these killers down, one at a time, and bring them to justice. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. Therapy won't work. Laughter I asked Congress for a big increase in defense spending. I want to thank Chairman Young for leading the way. I had the honor of signing a defense appropriations bill, which increased defense spending, the largest increase since Ronald Reagan was the President, and there's two reasons why. I want you to hear the reasons. One, anytime we put our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. And secondly, you need to know and our friends need to know and our enemy needs to know, we're in this deal for the long haul. There's not a calendar on my desk in the Oval Office that says on suchand such a date, we're pulling them in. No matter how long it takes, no matter what the cost is, we will defend freedom. History has called us into action, and we're not going to tire. We're not going to quit until we have defeated the agents of terror and until America is safe and our friends are safe. And we're making progress. This is a different kind of war. In the old days, you know, if you destroyed an enemy's tanks or sunk his ships or knocked down airplanes, you knew you were making progress. A lot of these folks don't have tanks. They hide in caves. They send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. So therefore, the doctrine that says, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy," is just as important today as it was a year ago, and it still stands. Slowly but surely, we're hunting them down. It's going to take awhile. You just have got to know it's going to take awhile. But the stakes are high. And they're really high, particularly on what happened on September the 11th. You see, a cold reality came my job, by the way, is to see the world the way it is, not the way we hope hope it is. And there's a cold reality. Oceans no longer protect us from threats. Oceans no longer protect us from gathering dangers across the in other parts of the world. It used to be, we could pick or choose. We learned a lesson that the battlefield is here at home, and we've got to be realistic about that. And that's why I started the debate on Iraq. You see, I view the man as a serious threat to America and our friends and allies. He's a man who has told the world he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction, yet he does. We know a while ago that he was close to having a nuclear weapon. We have no idea today how close he is. If he has a nuclear weapon, it's a serious problem for America and our friends and allies. We know he's got chemical weapons. He said he wouldn't have them, but we know he's got them. Not only does he have them, he used them. He used them in his neighborhood. He used them on his own people. We know that he's had connections with Al Qaida. There would be nothing more pleasing to him to be able to use one of these shadowy terrorist networks. He could serve as the armory and the training grounds. They could be the deliverer of weapons, and we would never see his fingerprints. We know he's a danger. And that's why I went to the United Nations, to take my explanation there. See, I want the United Nations to succeed. I think it's important in the new threats facing America that we have an international body that has got the backbone necessary to hold people to account. For 11 years, however, this guy has defied the United Nations. Not once, not twice, but 16 times he has said, "Forget it." And therefore, I have said to the United Nations, "Show us whether you can be an effective body at keeping the peace or whether or not you'll be the League of Nations. Show us whether or not you'll be an effective ability to hold people to account, or whether you're going to be an empty debating society" their choice to make. And Mr. Saddam Hussein has got a choice to make as well. He has said he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction. We expect him not to have weapons of mass destruction. But the Congress spoke with a voice that I hear, and I believe that, if they do not disarm Saddam Hussein, if the United Nations can't act and he himself will not disarm, for the sake of peace and for the sake of freedom, the United States will lead a coalition to disarm him. I don't know what was going through the mind of the enemy. I can't imagine what the enemy was thinking when they hit us. They probably thought the national religion of America was materialism, that we were so materialistic and caught up in money that we were selfish and self absorbed and shallow. Oh, they probably thought that after September the 11th, 2001, we'd file a lawsuit or two. Laughter You see, they know something they don't know something I know, that the spirit of America is strong, the American spirit is alive and well, that this great Nation, if we stay the course, if we remain strong, if we speak clearly, if we remember that freedom is not an American gift to the world, it is a God given gift to the world, if we remain true to our principles and values, we can achieve peace. And that's the dream, to achieve peace. And that's one of the good that's going to come out of the incredible evil done to America. And you know what else is going to happen in America? America is going to be a better country as a result of what happened to us. We still weep for the victims. We still mourn for those who lost life. But out of the evil done to America is going to come some great good. It's because you've got people like Jeb Bush, who understand the true strength of the country lies not in the halls of Government but in the hearts and souls of our fellow citizens. He and I know that Government can hand out money, and we will do everything we can to try to help people help themselves and reform programs and make sure education works. But Government cannot put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That does when that happens when people put their arm around somebody who hurts and says, "I love you. What can I do to help you? Can I mentor you? Can I be the head of a Boy Scout troop or a Girl Scout troop or run a Boys or Girls Club?" No, you see, the important thing to remember is that if you want to make a difference in America, you can help change this country one heart, one hurting soul, one conscience at a time. And although one of us can't do everything, each of us can do something to make an enormous difference. No, the enemy hit us. They had no idea who they were hitting. Out of the evil done to America is going to come a peaceful world. And out of the evil done to America is going to come a more hopeful and compassionate tomorrow, because the American spirit is alive and well. It is strong it is vibrant. I want to thank you all for coming tonight. I want to thank you for supporting my brother, Jeb. May God bless you. And may God bless America. November 02, 2002 Thank you all. You all go ahead and be seated. So Saxby says to me, he says, "Thanks for coming. Thanks for speaking, but don't go on too long. There's a football game on pretty soon." I want to thank you all for coming today. I'm here to remind you and our fellow citizens from Georgia and America that we have a duty. If you love freedom like I know you do, you have a duty to vote. If you're interested in making sure democracy is strong, you have a duty and an obligation as an American to go to the polls. And I'm not just talking about those who call themselves Republicans or Democrats. I'm talking about citizens who could care less about political parties. We all have a responsibility. But I've got some suggestions for you when you get inside the box. Laughter What's best for Georgia and what is best for America is to send Saxby Chambliss to the U.S. Senate. What's best for Georgiaand what's best for this district put Max Burns in the U.S. Congress. And what is best for the State of Georgia, for your budget, for your public schools, is to put Sonny Perdue in as Governor of the State of Georgia. Sonny is a down to earth fellow. You don't have to worry about him getting any fancy airs when he becomes your Governor. He's a fellow who's met a payroll. It seems to make sense to me to have somebody as Governor who knows what it's like to meet a payroll, particularly if you're interested about people finding jobs. He's a person that understands the importance of infrastructure in Georgia, not only infrastructure for the big cities but roads for those of you who live in rural and smalltown Georgia. He's a man who understands the most important priority for a State is the education of our children. There's no doubt in my mind Sonny Perdue is going to make a great Governor for the people of Georgia. I appreciate the members of the congressional delegation who are here. Charlie Norwood is here with us today, and Charlie, thank you for your leadership and your friendship. And Congressman Jack Kingston is with us as well. I met Jack's mother at the airport. She was down there at the foot of the stairs just as I came off the plane here. And I said, "Well, is Jack listening to you?" She said, "About half the time" laughter kind of like me and my mother. Laughter Speaking about females with the last name of Bush, you drew the short straw today. See, I wasn't Saxby's first choice. He wanted Laura to be here, but she sends her best. She sends her best to the people of Georgia. Like me, she's urging you to go to the polls. Like me, she knows what's best for Georgia is that Saxby become the United States Senator. She's out there campaigning today. She's campaigning hard. I believe she's in Minnesota, and I know I'm going to meet her tomorrow in South Dakota. It's pretty ironic that she is the lead campaigner for my family. After all, when I married her, she was a public school librarian. That in itself doesn't say much, except the truth is, she didn't like politics, and she certainly didn't like politicians. But thankfully, she said yes when I asked her to marry me. And the American people now know why I did. She's calm and steady during crisis. She's got a fabulous smile, a great heart. She's got a vision where every child can learn to read in America. And she's doing a wonderful job as our First Lady. I'm here as well because I want to make sure that Denny Hastert remains the Speaker of the House of Representatives. It's in our and so, therefore, I'm a strong supporter of Max Burns, and I urge you to support Max come Tuesday. He'll make you a fine United States Congressman. He's a proven leader, and he spent 20 years of his life in the classroom. That makes a lot of sense to have somebody in the Congress who's had the practical experience of being a teacher. I bet there's some good teachers here today. Teaching is a noble profession. It's an important profession. Why don't you send yourself a teacher up to Washington, DC, to represent you in the United States Congress. We've got another fellow here who's seeking the vote that I hope wins, and that's Calder Clay. Calder Clay is running a good campaign, and if you're living in his district, give him all your support. Today I'm proud to be up here with Nancy Coverdell, the widow of our great friend Paul Coverdell. She is a she's cool. Laughter She's a great person. And with us as well is former Senator Mack Mat tingly. And I'm honored that both of them have joined today to do what we need to do, which is to work hard to turn out the vote. I'm here not only to urge you to vote I'm here to urge you to urge others to vote. If you're the grassroots types, people that understand politics, you know that turning to your neighbor and saying, "Let's go out and vote," is an important way to help these people get elected. You understand what I understand Coffee shop chatter is just as effective as all those endless ads you see on TV. So when you go to your coffee shops or your houses of worship over the next couple of days or your community centers, tell your neighbors it's not only important to vote but tell them to support these good candidates up here on the stage. And don't be afraid to talk to Democrats, by the way. There are a lot of Democrats in this part of the world that know the difference between a balanced budget and not. There are a lot of Democrats in this part of the world who want somebody who can stand strong for homeland security. There are a lot of good Democrats who understand that this President needs good support in Washington, DC. And so over the next couple of days, I urge you to man the phones, to turn out the vote, to energize the grass roots, to get people to do their duty, to support these good candidates. You can make a difference come Tuesday with your active energy. And there are some reasons. We've got some big hurdles to cross here in America. We've got some big challenges ahead of us. I need people with whom I can work in the Senate and Congress to meet those challenges. One of the big challenges we have is to make sure people can find work in America. Our economy is bumping along. Our economy isn't good enough, as far as I'm concerned. Oh, there's some positive signs, but too many people can't find work in America. That's how I gauge whether or not we're doing fine in the economy. Anybody who wants to put food on the table and can't find a job, says to me we've got a problem. And therefore, we need people in the United States Congress who will work with me to expand the job base. And one of the best ways to expand the job base is understand how jobs are created. Small business creates 70 percent of the new jobs in America. Small business owners we've got to have plans and policies that encourage the growth of small business, but we've also got to understand this If you let a person keep more of their own money, they're likely to demand an additional good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service, in the marketplace, somebody is likely to produce that good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work. That's why the tax relief plan that Saxby Chambliss supported came at the right time in American history. That tax relief plan, if it's permanent, means 39 billion in your pocket over the next 10 years. After all, it's your money to begin with. It's not the Government's money. It's your money. But there's an issue of whether or not that tax relief is going to go away. See, it's not permanent. I need people in the United States Congress, like the candidates up here on this stage, who will join me in making the tax cuts permanent. For the sake of jobs, for the sake of people finding work, we need to make the tax cuts permanent. And let me give you fair warning let me help you break the code of Washington, DC. When you hear them say, "Oh, we might need to revisit the tax cuts," that means they're fixing to get in your pocket. That's what that means. We don't need people from this part of the State or this part of the country who are going to get back in your pocket. We need people who understand the role of Government is to create an environment in which small businesses can grow to big businesses, in which people can find work because of growth. No, there's a lot of issues we're going to be working on. We need to continue working on education. We passed a good bill, and Saxby Chambliss was involved in the passage of that bill. You tell your neighbors that when it comes to passing good education reform legislation out of Washington, Saxby Chambliss took an active role. It says we trust the people of Georgia to chart the path for excellence for every child. See, we believe in local control of schools. It says we're going to have high standards for every child, all across the country. It says we believe every child can learn. It says we're going to spend some substantial money out of Washington, but in return for the money, we want to know whether or not every child is learning. We don't want children trapped in schools which won't teach and won't change. We want to make sure no child in the State of Georgia gets left behind. I look forward to working with these Members to make sure that health care works, particularly Medicare. Our medicine has changed for the better. New technologies, new discoveries have made medicine modern. Medicare isn't modern. Medicare is stuck in the past. Medicare has become a political football. We need people in Congress who will work with us to make sure Medicare is modern. And a modern Medicare system means prescription drug benefits for our seniors. I need people in the Senate with whom I can work to make sure our judiciary is full of judges who are honest and will not applause . Bunch up there running the Senate right now has done a lousy job when it comes to my nominees for the Federal bench. I say "lousy job" because we've got a vacancy problem on our benches. All across America there's too many vacancies, which means you don't get the justice you deserve. They're playing politics with the judges. They don't like the kind of people I'm nominating. You see, I'm putting the ones up there that not only can do the job, but they're not going to use the bench from which to legislate. They're going to use the bench from which to strictly interpret the U.S. Constitution. And make no mistake about it in this race, if you're interested in a judiciary which is going to work and represent your views, Saxby Chambliss is the right United States Senator. No, there's a lot of issues we can work on together. But there's no more important issue than your protection. That's the biggest issue we face in Washington, DC, is to protect innocent life, is to protect you from an enemy which still lurks out there. And you've just got to know, they're there, and they hate us because of what we love. And we love freedom. We love the fact that people can pray to an Almighty any way he or she sees fit. We love the freedom to speak our mind. We love a free press. We love every aspect of our freedom, and we're not going to change. And that enemy has put us on alert. See, we now understand. And therefore, there's a lot of good people doing everything they can to protect you, at all levels of government, the Federal level and the State level and the local level. We've got people running down any hint. Anytime we get any idea that somebody is thinking about doing something to America, we're moving on it. We're disrupting. We're denying. We're doing everything we can. But I think we can do a better job of protecting you. That's why I suggested to the Congress that we come together to form a Department of Homeland Security, one that will allow the agencies involved with securing the homeland, like port security right over here, to be able to better coordinate, to be able to better prioritize, and if need be, change cultures so that you've got everybody in the Federal Government and the State government and the local government working together. And the House of Representatives responded. As a matter of fact, when it came time to create this Department, and the ideas about the Department, I turned to the man from Georgia, Saxby Chambliss, for ideas, because he understands the issue. After all, he is the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security. Not only do I trust his judgment, but Members of the Congress trust his judgment. And so we got us a good bill out of the House. But it's stuck in the Senate. The Senate couldn't get the job done, and here's why. They wanted me to forfeit power which every President since John F. Kennedy has had. See, every President since Kennedy has had the capacity to suspend collective bargaining rules in any Department of the Federal Government when our national security is at stake. In other words, if there's some work rules that prevent the Homeland Security Department from doing its job, I would have the capacity, for the sake of national security, to suspend those rules. And some Senators say, "You can't have that power." See, there's too much special interest in Washington, trying to make the decisions on behalf of the American people. Let me give you what would happen if this went through. I would have the capacity to suspend work rules in the Department of Agriculture for the sake of national security, but not in the Department that is being created to secure you. It just doesn't make any sense. And therefore, I need a guy like Saxby Chambliss in the Senate who won't crater to the special interests in Washington, and join me in protecting the interests of the American people. But the best way to protect America is to hunt these killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what we're going to do. We have no choice, see. History has called us into action. We love our freedoms, and we're not going to give in to these terrorists. We owe it to our children and our children's children. That's why I went to the United States Congress and asked them for the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was President. And I want to thank the Members of Congress for agreeing to that request. And the message is loud and clear First, anytime we put our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best training, the best pay, and the best possible equipment. And secondly, here's the message to friend and foe alike with this defense bill We're in this deal for the long haul. There's no quit in America. There's not a calendar in the Oval Office that says, by such and such a date, haul them in, Mr. President. That's not the way we think, and that's certainly not the way I think. It doesn't matter how long it takes to hunt these killers down we have an obligation to our future to secure freedom and to secure the country. And we're making progress. This is a different kind of war. The old days you use to could measure the number of tanks destroyed or airplanes shot down or ships sunk, and you'd say, "Gosh, you're making progress." These people don't have tanks. They don't have airplanes. They're cold blooded killers who hide in caves and send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. That's the way they think, and that's the way they fight, which means we've got to keep that coalition together. So I'm here to tell you today, the doctrine which says, "Either you're with us or with the enemy," it still stands. We're on an international manhunt, one at a time. A couple of thousand have been hauled in a couple of thousand met their fate a different way. They're not a problem. A lot of them met their fate a different way because they dared challenge the United States and the greatest military in the history of the world. Slowly but surely, we're bringing them to justice. It's going to take a while, but this country understands the stakes. See, it all changed on September the 11th, 2001. It used to be that oceans could protect us. It used to be that if there was a threat somewhere overseas, that we could determine whether or not we would deal with that threat, because we were pretty secure here at home. You just got to understand it's a different era. That's why it's essential we think about the world the way it is, not the way we would hope the world would be. My job is to be as realistic about the threats as possible and to deal with them. It's the job of Senators and Congressmen to be as realistic about the true threats we face and deal with them. And therefore, I asked the country to debate an important issue, and that is Iraq and Saddam Hussein. I wanted there to be a honest and open debate in our Congress, reflecting the concerns of the American people. I wanted there to be a debate in international bodies, because I understand that Saddam Hussein is a threat to the American people he's a threat to our friends he's a threat to our allies. He said he would not have weapons of mass destruction. And after 11 years of deceit, he has them. He was close at one time to having a nuclear weapon. We don't know how close he is today, but a Saddam Hussein with a nuclear weapon is a grave, grave threat to America and our friends and allies. He said he wouldn't have chemical weapons. He has them. But not only has he got them I want you all to remember, he used them. He not only possesses he has had a history of using them. And he's used them not only on his neighbors, but he's used them on his own people. This man is coldblooded. He can't stand America. He can't stand our friends. He can't stand freedom. And so I went to the United Nations, and I reminded them, for 16 resolutions, resolution after resolution after resolution, Saddam Hussein has defied this international organization. And my point to the U.N. was, we want you to be effective. We want to be able to work with you to help keep the peace. We want you to be the United Nations, not the League of Nations. But if you're unable to act, if you're unable to have the backbone necessary to help us keep the peace by disarming Saddam Hussein, if you can't do it and if Saddam Hussein refuses to do it, then the United States, in the name of peace and in the name of freedom, will lead a coalition and disarm Saddam Hussein. I say that because I want the world to be peaceful. I want there to be peace here at home. I want there to be peace around the world. See, the evil ones hit us, and they've given us an opportunity to do some good. Out of the evil done to America, we'll do good, because we're a great nation full of decent and honorable people. I truly believe that if we hold the line, that if we stay steadfast in routing out terror, that if we're diligent and are willing to lead, that if we remember our values and that freedom isn't an American given value, it is a God given value for everybody, if we remember those values that make us unique, we're going to achieve peace. We can accomplish some real good out of the evil done to this country, not only abroad but here at home as well. One of the things I believe is going to happen is that we will be a better America. Out of the evil done to America will come a more compassionate country. We've got to remember, in this land of plenty, there's a lot of people who hurt. People wonder whether or not the American Dream is meant for them. There's addiction and hopelessness and loneliness. And Government can help solve those problems, and we're going to try to do so. But you've got to remember this Even though Government can hand out money, it can't put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. The best way to help heal America, the best way to make sure good comes out of evil, is for our fellow Americans to put their arms around somebody who hurts and says, "I love you, brother," or, "I love you, sister." And that's what's happening all across America. See, the American spirit is alive and well. It's the spirit that says when it comes to the defense of our freedom, we're plenty tough. It's also a spirit that says we're going to serve something greater than ourself in life, that part of being a patriot is to recognize service to your community is an integral part of being an American. Today when I landed, I met Sharon Seng, who represents the Girl Scouts. I didn't realize it I now know it the Girl Scouts were founded right here in Savannah, Georgia. That's part of the soldiers in the armies of compassion. She is, and so are you. If you mentor a child, you're part of the army of compassion. If you feed the hungry or the homeless, you're a member of the army of compassion. If you help a shut in, if you're a Boy Scout leader, if you go over to the Boys and Girls Clubs, if you help change America, one heart, one soul at a time, you're a part of this great movement to make America a more compassionate place. No, the American spirit is alive and well, best exemplified by what took place on the fateful day that changed our history, and that was on Flight 93. Citizens were flying across the country. They learned the plane they were on was going to be used as a weapon. They told their loved ones goodbye over modern devices, cell phones. They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane into the ground to save lives. The enemy didn't understand who they were hitting. They don't understand the country. The American spirit is strong. It's alive all throughout our land. People understand that serving this country by helping people in need is a part of the new patriotism, which allows me to boldly predict this Out of the evil done to America is going to come a more peaceful world. Out of the evil done to America is going to come a more hopeful America, because this is the greatest nation, full of the finest, most compassionate people on the face of this Earth. Thank you for coming today. May God bless you, and may God bless America. November 02, 2002 Thank you all. Thanks for coming. I'm honored to be here in East Tennessee. I've got a fond spot in my heart for Tennessee, if you know what I mean. I've got a good feeling about the people in this State, and I want to thank you for coming this morning. I'm your Congressman, Bill Jenkins, is doing a fine job, by the way. He said, "You know, it's time to quit sermonizing, and it's time to pass the plate." Laughter I think what he meant was, it's close to voting time, and it's time for you all to go out and vote for the next Governor of Tennessee, Van Hilleary. See, we have a duty in this country to support our freedoms. And one of the ways we support freedom is to vote. We have an obligation as American citizens to vote. So as we're approaching election day, I'm traveling the country, reminding Republicans and Democrats and people who don't give a hoot about politics to do their duty and go to the polls. But I've got some suggestions once they get in the box. Laughter For the good of Tennessee, for the good of the taxpayers of Tennessee, for the goodof the schoolchildren in Tennessee, vote Van Hilleary as your Governor. And for the sake of making sure the United States Senate and its important seat stays in the hands of a good, honest, capable Senator, vote for Lamar Alexander. I appreciate Meredith Hilleary working so hard with her husband. She's going to be a great first lady on behalf of the people of Tennessee. I'm pretty good about understanding great First Ladies. The American people are beginning to see why I asked Laura to marry me. She's calm and steady under fire. She's got great, great vision about making sure every child gets educated. She's got a wonderful heart. A lot of people are wondering why she said yes. Laughter But she sends her best to the Hillearys and the Alexanders and the good people of Tennessee. She's doing a fabulous job as our First Lady, and I'm really proud of her. I'm proud to be up here with two fine United States Senators. First, we're going to miss Fred Thompson. He's been a good friend, solid Senator. But we're not going to miss him nearly half enough when half as much when Lamar Alexander takes his place. I know you join me in sending our best to Fred and expressing our deep appreciation for his great service to the country. And you sent another good one up there, too, and that's Frist. He's a good man, a good, solid citizen. Both of these men are allies. Both of them are doing a great job for all the people of Tennessee. Bill Jenkins is doing a great job for this congressional district, too. He's a reliable voice who cares deeply about the people of East Tennessee. You ought to be proud of his service to you as well. I want to thank all the grassroots activists who are here. I want to thank you for what you have done, and I want to thank you for what you're going to do, what you're going to do for candidates such as Janice Bowling, who's going to get elected in the congressional district right next door to here. I appreciate Janice. She's a strong voice. She's a solid soul. She'll make a great Congresswoman. I also want to thank my friend Darrell Waltrip. There he is. Laughter I've known him for quite a while. He's looking younger, and I'm looking older. Laughter He's asking me whether or not he can drive the Presidential limousine. Laughter No. Laughter He's a good, solid man. One of the reasons Hilleary is going to win is because he's going to win the NASCAR vote. I also appreciate Law and Grace and the Singing Sheriffs group for being here. I'm sorry I didn't get here in time to hear you. Just leave your CD at the door. Laughter But I really want to thank you all and remind you that not only do you have a duty to vote, but if you care about the quality of government in Nashville and in Washington, turn out to vote. Go to your houses of worship. Go to your coffee shops. When you get there Monday morning, instead of sitting around worrying about the weather, worry about who the next Governor is going to be. Worry about who the next Senator is going to be. Talk it up with people who may not pay attention to the politics as much as we do. And don't be afraid to talk up the story of Lamar and Van to Democrats. There's some discerning Democrats out there. They want good government, just like we do. They don't want higher taxes, just like we do. Find those independents that are open minded and convince them that when you've got good ones, like Van and Lamar, we have a duty in America to support these good people. We're going to win this election, come Tuesday, because of good, hard working folks such as yourself, and I'm here to thank you for what you're going to do. No, there's some reasons you know, old Van, he's not what we call a show horse he's a work horse. He can get the job done. He's a plain spoken fellow. The good thing about him is, he doesn't need a poll or a focus group to tell him what to think. He's well grounded in East Tennessee. He has those values of faith and family, the kind of man you can count on. He's not going to be swayed by the special interests. He's going to do what he thinks is right for all the people of Tennessee. And that's important. We share a vision about the children of Tennessee too. It says that every child can learn. You've got to have you a Governor who believes every child can learn, somebody who's willing to set high standards and high expectations, somebody who is willing to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. See, when you have you a Governor who believes in not setting high standards, you're going to get lousy results. Van Hilleary worked with me and Members of the United States Congress to make sure that the Federal bill we passed did two things provided plenty of money for Tennessee. There's 760 million in Federal education money coming your way, thanks to the hard work of your Senators and Van Hilleary. But that bill that he worked on said two other things One, we trust the people of Tennessee to chart the path for excellence for every child. We believe in local control of schools, and that's the way he'll be as your Governor. And secondly, in return for the money spent, we expect results, don't we. You see, we believe every child can learn. Therefore, we expect every child to learn. And therefore, we're going to use accountability to make sure your money is being spent wisely. We use accountability to praise those schools that are meeting expectations, so we can thank our teachers. We will use accountability, though, to make sure that no child, not one single child, gets trapped in a school which will not teach and will not change. Van Hilleary will work with us to make sure no child is left behind in the State of Tennessee. Our economy is bumping along. It's not doing as well as it should. After all, we're coming out of a recession then the enemy hit us. That created a problem which we're overcoming. Then we had another problem Some of our citizens thought they could fudge the numbers, thought it's okay, if they're in positions of responsibility, to not tell the truth. I want to thank the Senators I want to thank Van Hilleary I want to thank Bill Jenkins for joining me to pass the most comprehensive corporate reform law since Franklin Roosevelt was the President. See, our message today my message today is Those who aren't responsible to shareholder and employee no easy money in America, just hard time. I want to thank these Members for understanding that confidence in our economy depends upon us holding people to account if they're not honest with the people. That's the kind of leadership you need in Nashville, and that's the kind of leadership you've got in Washington. But we need to do more work on our economy. We need to understand, if somebody is looking for work and they can't find a job, we've got a problem. Anybody is looking for work and wants to put food on the table, and they can't find work, we need to make sure we've got people in the Federal office and the State office who understand job creation. The role of Government is not to create wealth. The role of Government is to create an environment in which the small business person can grow to be a big business person. That's why it's important you have somebody in Nashville who understands the role of the small business owner. Seventy percent of new jobs in America are created by small businesses, the entrepreneurs. And you better get you somebody as the Governor who understands that, who understands policy ought to be to encourage the growth of small business. And one way to do that is to let small business owners and taxpayers keep more of your own money. That tax relief bill we passed is going to give Tennessee people 27 billion over the next 10 years. That's your money to begin with, by the way. That's not the Government's money. It's your money. And when you've got it in your pocket, you're going to demand a good or a service. If you demand a good or a service, somebody is going to produce that good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work. You see, if you listen to that other bunch, they're going to say we need to revisit the tax relief. That's Washington, DC, code for, "We're going to get back in your pocket." Laughter Tax relief was good for our economy. It's going to be good for our economy. It's going to be good for the working people, and we need to make tax relief permanent. No, I look forward to working with Van to do a lot of things to help Tennessee make sure that welfare system works. Part of the welfare reform that worked and something that needs to go forward is to have a Governor work with the Congress to help people find work. See, when you work, you find dignity. If you want to help people get off welfare, if you want to help them help themselves, you help them have the skills necessary to work. Work needs to be the central core of any good welfare policy. And Van Hilleary understands that. No, when you put Van Hilleary in office, you're going to be putting a good man in office, a man who's going to work hard to represent all the people of Tennessee, a man who will make you proud as Governor, a man with whom I can work, and a man who will represent that office, that high office, with class and dignity. I'm here to urge the good people of East Tennessee to turn out to vote next Tuesday and put Van Hilleary in as Governor of the great State. And I need Lamar up there in Washington too, and so do you. He's got a great record for Tennessee. People know that he is what we call a class act. When given the responsibilities, he handled his business well. More importantly, he cares deeply about the all the citizens of this State. Lamar is going to make a great United States Senator. And there's a lot of things we can work together on, whether it be education of course, he's an expert on that subject or whether it would be making sure our economy grows. I know we'll have a strong ally, and the people will have a strong ally in Lamar Alexander. Oh, there's some things we need to work on, like making sure the health care system works. We need his vote up there to make sure that you've got affordable and accessible health care. We need his vote up there to make sure the Medicare system works. There are too many lawsuits these days which are driving up the cost of medicine and driving doctors out of the practice of medicine. We want the system to work. We want our people to have access to the courts, of course, but these frivolous and junk lawsuits are running these docs out of business, running up your price of medicine. We need to have medical liability reform at the Federal level, and Lamar Alexander will vote that way. And we've got to make sure Medicare works. Medicine is becoming modern. Technology is changing medicine. New discoveries have changed medicine. But Medicare isn't modern. It's stuck in the past. Just ask our seniors. We need Lamar Alexander in the United States Senate to work to modernize Medicare, which means prescription drug benefits for our senior citizens. And I need him up there, along with Senator Frist, to make sure that our judiciary works properly. We can't get our judges through the United States Senate. There is a vacancy problem in our Federal courts. Too many of our benches have got vacancies, which means you can't get access to the courts. They're playing politics with the judges in Washington, DC. They don't like the fact that I'm naming good, honorable, decent people who will not use the bench from which to legislate but from which to interpret the United States Constitution. No, there's a lot of issues we can work on to make America better for everybody. The biggest issue we'll work together on is to secure our homeland, prevent the American people from coming under attack again by a bunch of coldblooded killers. These people hate us because of what we love. And we love freedom, and we're not going to change. I asked Congress to join me in a creation of a Department of Homeland Security. I did so because I want all the agencies involved with protecting you to be under to have as their priority protection of the American people, and if need be, change cultures so people get it in their head that there's still an enemy out there which lurks around, so we can coordinate better. The House of Representatives, thanks to Van and Jenkins, supported me on a good bill. The bill is stuck in the Senate. This bill is stuck in the Senate, in spite of the good efforts of Fred Thompson and Bill Frist. And the reason it is was because the Senate wants me to give up a power that Presidents since John Kennedy has had, which is the capacity to suspend certain work rules, certain collective bargaining rules, in the name of national security. I won't accept a lousy bill out of the Senate. I need a bill to put the right people at the right place at the right time to protect the American people. Under some Senators' vision, I would have the capacity to make national security decisions in Agriculture Department but not in the Department of Homeland Security. That don't make any sense to me, and I know it doesn't make any sense to you. We need Lamar Alexander, and we need to change the United States Senate. But the best way to secure the homeland is to chase the killers down, one at a time, and bring them to justice, what America is going to do. We've got them on the run, and we're going to keep them on the run. And one of the reasons we've got them on the run is, we've got a fantastic military. I signed a good defense bill, thanks to the Senators and thanks to Van and Bill Jenkins, a good defense bill that pays our people, equips our people, and trains our people the way you want them. We've got to get them the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. We owe that to the loved ones. We owe that to our troops. But we're also sending a clear signal to friend and foe that we're in this deal for the long haul. We love freedom. It doesn't matter how long it takes to defend America and to protect our freedoms we're going after them, one at a time. And we're making progress. Sometimes you'll read about it, and sometimes you won't. Sometimes you'll see the fact that somebody got hauled in, and sometimes it's just not going to make it on to your radar screen. But make no mistake about it, there's no cave deep enough, no corner of the world dark enough to prevent the long arm of justice from the United States to reach them around the world. And the reason I feel so strong about it is that I recognize we're living in a different world today than we were last prior to September the 11th. It's a different world because no longer can we be content with the fact that two oceans protect us from danger. It used to be that we don't have to worry about some potential threat overseas because oceans protected us. It used to be we could pick or choose whether or not we wanted to be involved. But at home we were confident we were okay because of oceans, because of our geography. And that changed on that fateful day. Therefore, it's very important for you to elect people to office who are clear eyed realists, people who see the world the way it is, not the way we would hope it to be. And that's the reason why I started the debate in our Congress and amongst the American people, in fact, in the world community, about the threat to America and threat to our friends and allies from Mr. Saddam Hussein. He's a dangerous man. He told the world he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction 11 years ago he said that. He's got them. We found out a while ago that he was close to having a nuclear weapon. We dismantled that when he used to let inspectors in. We don't know where he stands today, but we know what's in his mind. We know the implications of him having a nuclear weapon. We know that this is a man who has chemical weapons, and we know he's used them. See, he's used them. He hasn't stockpiled them. He's used them in his neighborhood, and he's used them on his own people. We know he can't stand America. We know he can't stand some of our closest friends. We know that he has had contacts with terrorist networks like Al Qaida. And we know, clearly, that one of the dangers we face is him serving as a training ground and an arsenal for one of these shadowy terrorist networks, which could come home, could come home here. And so he's a danger. I went to the United Nations because I want that body to be effective to help us keep the peace. I said to the United Nations, "This man has defied you 16 times. How long is it going to take for you to show some backbone so we can work together to keep the peace? You have a choice to be the United Nations, which is an effective body to keep the peace, or the League of Nations. That's your choice to make." And Saddam Hussein has a choice. He can disarm like he said. He can get rid of his weapons of mass destruction. But if the United Nations won't act and if Saddam Hussein won't disarm, this country, in the name of peace and in the name of freedom, will lead a coalition to disarm Saddam Hussein. I say that as a man who longs for peace. I say that as a man who knows the stakes. I say that as a man who's not going to forget September the 11th, 2001, or the attack on a French vessel recently or the attack in Bali, Indonesia. I say this as a man who is briefed on a daily basis about the threats we face in America. I say this as a man who is absolutely confident that out of the evil done to America can come some good, because I understand the nature of this country. I believe if we remain the course and stay strong and diligent and focused and remember that freedom is not America's gift to the world, it is God's gift to the world, that we can achieve peace, that we can have a peaceful world. I believe out of the evil done to America, we can achieve peace if we're strong and diligent and focused, not only here at home but because we value each life everybody counts in parts of the world which have quit on peace. I believe peace is possible if we're tough and strong in the Middle East. I believe peace is possible in South Asia. And I know at home, out of the evil done to America can come a more compassionate and better country. See, Government can help, and we will. We'll all work on laws to make things better. But what Government cannot do is put love in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. And amongst our plenty we've got to remember there are some who hurt, some who are lonely, some who are addicted, some who are wondering whether the American Dream is meant for them. I'm optimistic that out of the evil done to this country can come a better day where everybody understands the great promise of this country, because I know the strength of America, and the strength of America is in the hearts and souls of our fellow citizens. If you want to fight evil, if you want to be a patriot, love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourselves. Today I met Kathy Henderson. She's an active volunteer at Central Heights Elementary School. She decided she wanted to be part of the army of compassion she wanted to make a difference in somebody's life. So she's helping young children learn to read. There's all kinds of ways where we can change America for the better, whether it be Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts or Boys and Girls Clubs or mentoring like Kathy. She asked me to say she needs volunteers, by the way, on the Read Along With Me program. You can do it by just telling somebody you love them, a shut in, that you love them. You can help feed the hungry you can house the homeless. There's all kinds of ways we can help. No, the enemy had no idea who they were hitting. Oh, they probably thought we'd file a lawsuit or two. Laughter They didn't realize America like we know. The spirit of America is alive and well. It's the spirit which says, when it comes to the defense of our country, we'll be plenty tough. But the spirit also says that a patriot is somebody who is willing to serve something greater than themselves. A patriot is willing to help somebody who hurts. No, I boldly predict to you that out of the evil done to America is going to come a more peaceful world. And out of the evil done to America will become a more hopeful America, because this is the greatest country, full of the finest people on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming today. May God bless, and God bless America. November 01, 2002 Thank you, all. Thanks a lot. I'm glad I came. Laughter Thank you. Thank you for such a warm welcome. Thanks for getting up early, too. The American spirit is obviously alive and well here in Pennsylvania. It's alive in our country, all across our country. It's a spirit that says we love freedom. It's a spirit that says that we're willing to serve something greater than ourself in life. It's a spirit that says, when you live in America, you have a responsibility, and one of the main responsibilities is to participate in the political process. You have an obligation in democracy to vote. So I'm here to urge the good folks of Pennsylvania to do your duty. It doesn't matter whether you're Republican or Democrat or could care less about political parties. You have an obligation as part of the citizenry of America to go to the polls and vote. And when you do, I've got a suggestion for you for Congress George W. Gekas. How about putting it this way Let's win one for George W. Laughter I'm talking about both George W's on the stage. Both George W's married well, by the way. Laughter I appreciate Vangie Gekas for coming today. I'm proud that she's working hard to see to it that the Congressman George W. goes back to the United States Congress. And Laura W. sends her best to George W. and Vangie Laura W. being the great First Lady of America. I'm proud that your Governor is here with us today. Mark Schweiker has done a fine job on behalf of the citizens of Pennsylvania. As you may remember, he went from being the Lieutenant Governor to Governor when I asked somebody you trained really well to join me in Washington, DC, and that's of course, your former Governor, and now my close adviser, my friend, a man who's doing a great job for the American people, Tom Ridge. Ridge came in a long line of fine Republican Governors, and you have a chance to make sure that lineage is continued. You have a chance this Tuesday to make sure you put the right man in the Governor's office. And, of course, that man is your current State attorney general, Mike Fisher. He'll do a fine job on behalf of all the citizens of Pennsylvania. He'll represent not just one section of the State but the entire State. He's got a good record. He's got a good record in office, and he's got a good record on the trail. I learned firsthand. After all, in the year 2000, he ran ahead of me by about half a million votes is all. Laughter This man can appeal to people from all walks of life. And so can the next Lieutenant Governor of the State of Pennsylvania, State Senator Jane Earll. I want to thank Senator Arlen Specter for being here. I want to thank him for his service to Pennsylvania. I want to thank him for working with me on a lot of big issues no bigger issue than to make sure the Federal judiciary is staffed and full of fine, fine people. The record of this Senate is a lousy record when it comes to the approval of judges that I name. We have a vacancy problem in America. We can't get our judges through the United States Senate because there's too much politics in Washington, DC. The current Senate distorts the record of good people I put up. I'm going to continue to name judges that are honorable and decent and honest, judges who recognize their job is to interpret the Constitution, not to try to write new law. And I want to thank Senator Specter for being one of the leaders in the Senate to work with the administration to make sure our good judges get approved on a timely basis. One way to make sure our judges get approved on a timely basis is to change the leadership in the United States Senate. You've got some fine United States Congressmen from Pennsylvania in Washington, all of whom I call friends and all of whom I work closely with on behalf of the American people. And I want to thank them for joining us today Jim Greenwood, Bill Shuster, Don Sherwood, and Todd Platts. I appreciate they're here to support their friend. They know both candidates in this race, and there's no question in their mind like there's no question in my mind that the right man for this congressional district and the right man for America is George W. Gekas. Not only am I here to urge you to vote, I'm here to urge you to get out the vote. See, there's a lot of grassroots activists here who have made a tremendous difference in campaigns past, and I want to thank you for what you have done. But I'm here to thank you for what you're going to do today and Saturday and Sunday and Monday and Tuesday. And that is to turn out the vote, to get your friends to vote, to go to your houses of worship, your community centers, the coffee shops and tell people they have an obligation to vote, and they have the obligation to support somebody who's honest and decent, somebody who's represented this district since 1982, somebody who stands squarely with the President on key issues, and that somebody is George W. Gekas. I also want to thank the Middletown High band for coming today. It looks like I provided you a convenient excuse to miss class. Laughter I'll try to keep my remarks short so you can get back to the library. Laughter George and I believe in the value of hard work and personal responsibility. We believe in service to our community is incredibly important. We share a passion for education. I want to thank George and the other Members of Congress up here for working hard on the education reform package we passed out of Washington, DC. First, this bill says that we're going to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations, because we believe every child can learn. And we must set high, high standards for every child in America. The bill says that we trust the people of Pennsylvania to chart the path to excellence in the public schools of Pennsylvania. People care more about the children who live in Pennsylvania than the bureaucrats in Washington, DC. So we strongly believe in local control of schools. Thanks to George's hard work, we're passing back 1.7 billion of Federal money to Pennsylvania schools to help every child learn. But for the first time, we're now asking for accountability for those dollars. We want to know whether or not our children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. I see some of the seniors here, glazing over, saying, "Oh, no. I hate tests." Well, too bad. Laughter We want to know whether or not the dollars are well spent. In order to make sure no child gets left behind in Pennsylvania, we must have strong accountability measures. I appreciate so very much the fact that George shares with me our concern about our economy. Today, it looks like some more Americans are looking for work, and that's a problem. Anytime somebody is looking for work and can't find work means we've got a problem in America. We want our people to be able to put food on the table, to support their families. The foundation for growth is strong. Interest rates are down. Inflation is low. Productivity is up. We've got the best workers in the world. We've got the best entrepreneurs in the world. We've got the best farmers and ranchers in the world. But we've got a problem when people can't find a job. We're kind of bumping along, and that's not good enough. I need people in Congress who understand the role of Government. And that's to create an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish, in which the small business can grow to be a big business, in which the engine for job growth, which is our small businesses, have a chance to survive and thrive in slow economic times. The best way to do so is to let people keep more of your own money. George and I know that if somebody has more money in their own pocket, they're likely to demand a good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service in our marketplace, somebody is likely to produce the good or a service. And somebody produces a good or service, it means somebody is more likely to find work. Be wary of those who say, "We must revisit the tax relief plan." That's Washington code word for, "We're fixing to get back in your pockets." Laughter During slow economic times, during times when we're worried about somebody finding work, the best economic stimulus is to let people keep more of their own money on a permanent basis. And George understands that. He also knows we need to get a terrorism insurance package out of Washington, DC, so the hardhats can go back to work. We've got too many construction programs on hold because they can't find insurance, because of what the terrorists did to us. It's a proper role for the Federal Government to underwrite the terrorism insurance. But this bill needs to keep the hardhats in mind. We need to make sure our hardhats get back to work and not reward the trial lawyers all around America. No, we've been through some tough times here in America. We had a recession for a while. And then the enemy hit us, and that hurt our economy. Then something else came up. There was a lack of confidence in the system, because there were some of our fellow Americans who decided they were going to fudge the numbers. And we're going to have the reveal the whole truth in the corporate accounting practices. They didn't understand that when you're running a corporation, you have a responsibility. You have a responsibility to shareholders. You have a responsibility to employees. I want to thank George Gekas and Arlen and the other Members of Congress for joining me to pass a law which I proudly signed, which is the toughest corporate reform since Franklin D. Roosevelt was the President. Our message to those who believe they can fudge the books is There is no easy money in America, only hard time if you don't do your responsibilities. You need to send George back to Congress. We've got a lot of work to do on behalf of the people of Pennsylvania. We've got to make sure our health care system works. We want our health care system to be accessible and affordable. One of the problems we have is, there's too many lawsuits these days, lawsuits which make it hard for people to take their true cases into courts, because the courts are clogged, lawsuits which are running up the cost of medicine, lawsuits which are driving docs out of business. If you're interested in accessible and affordable health care, you will join Representative Greenwood, Gekas, and me in demanding that Congress pass medical liability reform on behalf of America's patients. And you'll send somebody to Congress who understands we need to reform Medicare. Medicine has changed. Medicine is modern, and Medicare is stuck in the past. Medicare is old and tired, and it's not doing its job. A modern Medicare system will include prescription drugs for our seniors, and George Gekas understands that. No, there's a lot of issues we can work on. There's no more important issue, though, is to protect you. That's the most important issue, protect America, protect innocent life from the attacks of the killers. And they're nothing but a bunch of cold blooded killers. That's all they are. They hate freedom. They don't value life like we value life in America. You see, we think everybody is precious everybody counts everybody has got worth. That's not what the killers think. See, they hijacked a great religion and murder in the name of that religion. And so we've got to do everything we can to protect the homeland. We've got a man like George Gekas, who's the chairman of the House Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Control and Claims. Seems like to me it makes sense if your country is under attack to keep him in that important position. After all, one of his jobs is to make sure our border is secure, that we know who's coming in and who's going out and what they're bringing and whether or not what they're bringing could hurt the American people. No, this issue on homeland defense is incredibly important if you're a clear eyed realist. And I'm a clear eyed realist. I'm not forgetting the threats that we face. And therefore, I went to the Congress and said, "Let's work together to come up with a plan to better secure our homeland." There's a lot of good people working hard right now, a lot of people at the Federal level, the State level, and local level, a lot of good police officers and FBI agents, a lot of people running down every hint, every lead. Listen, if we think we've got something going on, we're going to do something about it. We're on alert. We understand the enemy. We understand their hatreds. We know they hate freedom. We know we love freedom, and we know we're not going to change in our love for freedom. I want to thank the Members of the House here who joined me in supporting a Department of Homeland Security which will work, which will make sense and works, so we can do our jobs, so we can enforce our borders, like George Gekas wants us to do. It got stuck in the Senate. Arlen Specter didn't cause it to get stuck, I want you to know. It got stuck because some Senators want me to give up a power that every President since John F. Kennedy has had. See, every President since Kennedy has had the capacity to suspend collective bargaining rules in the name of national security, to suspend rules that will inhibit us from doing our job, prevent us from putting the right people at the right place at the right time to protect the American people. I'm not going to accept a lousy bill out of the United States Senate. I owe it to the people of this country to put in place a Department of Homeland Security which will work and which will prevent the enemy from doing harm to the American people. I want to thank George Gekas for his support on putting forth a good homeland security bill. But the best way to secure our homeland, the best way to make sure you're safe, the best way to make sure one of the first high school graduating classes ever to have the battleground here at home to make sure that battleground is safe is to hunt these killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice. That's what we have to do. See, therapy isn't going to work. Laughter That's not going to convince them. The only way to convince them is to keep that large coalition of freedom country freedom loving countries intact. And by the way, the doctrine still stands Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy. And we'll continue to lead these coalitions this coalition and round them up one at a time. See, it's a different kind of war. It's a different kind of war we face. In the old days, you could destroy tanks or airplanes or boats and know you're making progress. These are the kind of people who hide in caves and send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. They don't care. Look at Bali, Indonesia. See, the world kind of said, "Well, maybe they're not that dangerous." And all of a sudden they go to Bali, Indonesia, and just over in a minute's time take innocent life after innocent life after innocent life. They don't care, and so we've got to get them. And that's exactly what we're doing. The other day one old guy popped his head up. He was going to be the 20th hijacker here in America. Thanks to our friends and allies and thanks to a great United States military, this guy is no longer a problem for America. And that's the way it is going. We've hauled in over a couple of thousand of them like number weren't as lucky. In either case, they're not a problem to the United States or our friends or allies. Slowly but surely, we're going hunt them down. It doesn't matter how long it takes. And that's why I went to the United States Congress George Gekas supported me the Members of the Congress up here supported me to ask for the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. There's two messages in that bill. One, anytime this country puts our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. And secondly, it doesn't matter how long it takes to win this war on terror and to secure our freedom we're staying the course. There's not a calendar on my desk that says, by such and such a time, Mr. President, you've got to haul it in. That's just not the way I think. Our friends need to understand that we're in this for the long haul. Our foes must understand we're in this for the long haul. We owe it to our future we owe it to our children to defend freedom no matter what the cost. And that's exactly what we're going to do. We also owe it to our future and our children to see the world the way it really is, not the way some would hope it to be. You see, the world changed on September the 11th, 2001. Not only is the battlefield come home, but two oceans no longer protect us from true threats. It used to be you could sit back, kind of relax, and say, "Well, there's a problem overseas, and we can decide to deal with it or be involved with it if we want to, but we're okay at home because the oceans protect us." I want the youngsters here to understand that change is a profound change, and U.S. policy needs to change with it if we're realistic and clear eyed. And that's why I've raised the issue on Iraq. That's why I asked the United States Congress to think about this issue. That's why I've asked the American people to think about this issue. That's why I went to the U.N. to talk about this issue Because in my judgment and the judgment of a lot of people, Saddam Hussein is a serious threat to America he's a threat to our friends he's a threat to our allies. This is a man who has told the world for 11 years he would not have weapons of mass destruction. This is a man who is close to having a nuclear weapon. This is a man who has deceived the world. This is a man who not only has weapons of mass destruction he has used weapons of mass destruction. He has used them on his neighbors, and incredibly enough, he has used weapons of mass destruction on his own citizens. This is a dangerous man who cannot stand America because of what we love. And so I went to the United Nations to remind this august body that they have a responsibility to help us keep the peace. I reminded them, for 11 years and 16 resolutions later, Saddam Hussein has defied every decree and every resolution. I went because I want the United Nations to be successful, to help us keep the peace. The more people involved with peace, the more likely it is we'll achieve peace. I went because I want the United Nations to be a strong body, not the League of Nations. I went to remind them that if their word is not kept, they will become nothing but a debating society, unable to keep the peace. And so my message and the message of our United States Congress, including George Gekas, that spoke with one voice to the world is this The United States will fulfill its obligations to peace Saddam Hussein will disarm if not, for the sake of peace, for the sake of securing the homeland, for the sake of protecting our friends and allies, the United States will lead a mighty coalition of freedom loving nations and disarm Saddam Hussein. See, I can't imagine what was going through the mind of this enemy when they hit us. They probably thought the national religion was materialism, that we were so selfish and so self absorbed that after 9 11 2001 this mighty nation would take a couple of steps back and file a lawsuit. Laughter They don't understand America. They don't understand the spirit of America. They don't understand that when it comes to the defense of our freedoms, it doesn't matter how long it takes it doesn't matter the cost. We will fulfill our obligations. This generation of Americans will do our duty to future generations of Americans by making the world a more peaceful place. Out of the evil done to America is going to come some great good. If we stay the course, if we remain plenty tough when we need to be tough, if we remember we go into countries never to conquer but only to liberate, like we did in Afghanistan and you've got to remember, many young girls go to school for the first time in their lives thanks to the United States of America. As we keep in mind the values that are so important, that freedom is not an American gift, freedom is God given for everybody in the world no, if we keep those principles close and steadfast in our purpose, we can achieve peace. I believe it. And not only can we achieve peace around the world we can achieve a better America here at home. Government can help. I talked about laws that we can pass, Medicare reform and education. But you've got to remember there are pockets of hopelessness and despair in this country. There are people who hurt. They hurt on a daily basis. Many of their problems can only be helped when a fellow American puts their arm around them and says, "I love you. What can I do to help? How can I make your day a better day?" So my call to America, if you want to join in the fight against evil, is to do some good, is to love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. We've got to remember that Government can help, and Government can hand out money, but it can't put love in people's hearts. It can't put a sense of purpose in people's lives. That's done when neighbor loves neighbor and neighbor helps neighbor. My call to the high school students here is, help somebody in need. You see, the American spirit is more than just being a patriot. It's more than just being strong when it comes to the defense of our country. The American spirit means serving something greater than yourself in life, is helping people in need, is working to save America one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. I met Nancy Fierer today. See, all of us can do something and be part of this great fabric and mosaic of compassion. Nancy Fierer came out to the airport today. She started the Susquehanna Service Dogs Program that provides service dogs and hearing dogs to children and adults who have physical disabilities. See, she decided upon herself to make a difference. It's the Nancy Fierers, and I'm confident many of you here, who are changing America for the better. I want you to remember the story of Flight 93. I particularly want the youngsters to remember that story. It's the most profound story of recent history about people who served something greater than themselves, who captured that American experience American spirit that I'm defining for you today. These guys were flying across the airplane, guys and girls flying across the airplane the country in an airplane. They heard the plane was going to be used as a weapon. Imagine. They were told on their cell phones by their loved ones. They made their determination that they must do something about it. They said goodbye, said, "I love you." They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." And they took the airplane into the ground to serve something greater than themselves. They embodied the greatness of the American spirit, people willing to serve something greater than themselves so that lives would be better. There's no question in my mind, and I will boldly predict that out of the evil done to America will come incredible good, because this is the finest nation, full of the most decent, compassionate people on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming today. May God bless you, and may God bless America. November 01, 2002 The President. Thank you all. Thank you all very much for coming tonight. I'm here to talk about the American spirit, and I'm here to remind the good folks of this part of the State of Kentucky that if you're interested in good Government, if you're interested in sending somebody to Congress who will represent all the people of the district, if you want somebody who can do the job, send Anne Northup back to the United States Congress. I love traveling America because it gives me a chance to see firsthand and to feel the fact that the American spirit is alive and well. That's the spirit that says, no matter what the cost, we'll defend our freedom. It's the spirit the American spirit says to me that we'll serve something greater than ourselves here in this country. The American spirit means that we love freedom. And if you love freedom, you have a duty to participate in the democratic process. I'm here to urge all the people of the great State of Kentucky to vote, Republican, Democrat, people who don't care about any kind of political party. You need to do your duty. But when you get in that poll, I've got a suggestion for you Anne Northup is the right choice. I wasn't Anne's first choice tonight. Laughter She wanted Laura. I saw on TV that Laura was campaigning with Elizabeth Dole. She got the long straw you got the short straw. But she sends her love. She sends her best. She's as strong for Anne as I am. I want to tell you how proud I am of Laura. When I married her, she was a public school librarian. Applause I didn't realize there were so many public school librarians here in Louisville. Audience member. Inaudible The President. That's good. When I said, "Would you marry me," her state of mind was this She didn't like politics, and she didn't care for politicians. Laughter And now she's doing a fabulous job as our First Lady. I appreciate Anne's family. I appreciate Woody and all of their kids. Heck, if they just get the kids to vote, it would be a landslide. Laughter I'm proud to be up here as well with a fine Kentucky couple, starting with a United States Senator who has done a fabulous job for the people of Kentucky, and that's Mitch McConnell. Like me, he married well so well I put Elaine in the Cabinet. Laughter She's doing a really good job on behalf of the American people. I'm proud of Elaine. I'm also honored to be up here with another great Senator from Kentucky, Jim Bunning. We need to make sure Mitch goes back to the Senate. We need him there for a lot of reasons. Some of the reasons I'll talk about later, but one of the key reasons why Senators McConnell and Bunning are important to our future is because they know what I know We've got a problem on our Federal judiciary. There's too many vacancies. And there's too many vacancies because the current leadership in the Senate has done a lousy job on letting my people have a fair hearing when I nominate them. They don't like the kind of judges I nominate. I put good, honest, honorable people who understand their job is to interpret the Constitution, not use the bench from which to legislate. We don't need any more legislators. We need good, honorable judges on the bench. I appreciate so very much Ernie Fletcher. Congressman Ernie Fletcher is with us today he's one of the fine Members of the United States Congress and Ron Lewis of the United States Congress, from Kentucky as well. These are two solid Members, Members with whom I can work for the good of everybody. Also on the stage today we've got Geoff Davis, who's a candidate for the United States Congress. And if you're living in Geoff's district, give him your vote and give him your word. And Mike Sodrel is here. Applause Sounds like old Mike's got something going. We want both these good men in the Congress. We've got a lot to do to work together. I'm here to thank the grassroots activists as well. I want to thank you for what you have done. I want to thank you for what you're fixing to do over the next couple of days. You need to go to your coffee shops and your houses of worship and your community centers and tell the people they need to go and vote, and tell the people that we've got some fine candidates. Tell the people that Anne Northup is as good as it gets in the United States Congress. Urge them to vote, and don't be afraid to talk about good, discerning Democrats to talk to good, discerning Democrats and wise independents. These people want good Government as well, just like we do. And the best person to represent good Government is Anne Northup. I know Anne well. I know her well. I respect her a lot. I value her advice. I appreciate the way she works hard in Washington to change the tone of politics. People who know Anne well know what I'm about to say. She's got a big heart. She cares for those who suffer. She doesn't need a poll or a focus group to tell her what to think. She bases her decisions on a deep seated philosophy. She's decency she's great. She needs to be back in the Congress. She's an effective person. She can get things done. She secured funding for the Ohio River bridges project. She worked hard to make sure transportation was effective in this part of the world. She worked closely with me on making sure that we could get a Faith Based Initiative out of the United States Congress. Anne feels passionately about that because, as a Congresswoman, she has reached across the community divides to bring people together. She knows what I know, that there are people who hurt and people who suffer. And one of the ways to heal the broken heart is to unleash the great faith and compassion of the American people. I've worked closely with Anne on issues like adoption. She and Woody are adoptive parents, which in my view is one of the greatest expressions of love. No, Anne Northup can get things done. She cares deeply about the citizens of this district. And she knows that we've got some hurdles to cross here in America, and I look forward to having her in Congress to work on working to cross those hurdles. One of the biggest problems we've got is our economy. It's just bumping along. It's not going like it should. There are too many people in America who want to work and cannot find a job. And so long as somebody is looking for work, that means we've got a problem. And I need people in the United States Congress who will join me in job creation. But we understand the role of Government. It is not to create wealth it's to create an environment in which the entrepreneurial spirit can flourish. It is to create an environment in which the small business can grow to be a big business. Anne and I understand that 70 percent of new jobs are created by small business owners. If you're worried about job creation like we are, then you must put forth policy that encourages small business growth. Most small businesses pay taxes at the individual income tax level. Most small businesses are sole proprietorships or limited partnerships. So when you open up your tax forms and see the individual rates, you've got to think of the fact that most small businesses pay those rates. And therefore, the tax relief plan that we passed was the best antidote to a slowing economy. If you're interested in creating jobs, you let small businesses as well as consumers keep more of their own money. You see, when people have more money in their pocket, they're more likely to demand a good or a service. And in the marketplace, when they demand a good or a service, somebody is likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces the good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work. The tax relief we plan came at passed came at the right time, and we need people in the United States Congress to make the tax cuts permanent. I look forward to working with Anne and other Members of the Congress and working with Mitch to see if we can't get us a terrorism insurance bill, to get construction programs started, projects started, and get the hardhats working. We want our good hardhats in America building those buildings and building those projects which are stalled because people can't find insurance because of the terrorist attacks. But we'd better get us a bill that rewards the hardhats, not the trial lawyers here in America. And we're going to work together to increase jobs so people can find work. I'm optimistic about our future when it comes to the economy. We've got interest rates are low inflation is low productivity is high. We're the best workers, best farmers, best ranchers, best entrepreneurs in the world. There's a lot going right, but we are not going to rest until people can find a job. And we're not going to rest until every child gets educated in this country, either. I worked closely with Anne. Anne Northup was a solid backer, strong advocate of the no child should be left behind legislation. To give you a sense of her perspective, let me tell you what that bill says. It says every child can learn in America. Everybody can learn. And therefore, we must set high standards. If you have low expectations and low standards, you're going to get lousy results. Anne understands that we must challenge what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations, must raise the bar. But at the same time, we've got to trust the people of Kentucky to chart the path for excellence for every child in Kentucky. We believe in local control of schools. Thanks to Anne's hard work and Mitch's and Jim's hard work and other Members of Congress' hard work, the great State of Kentucky is going to receive 650 million in Federal monies for schools this year. Those monies will be used to help disadvantaged children. Those monies will be applied to make sure every child can learn. But for the first time in our history, we've asked the question, is the money being well spent? Show us whether or not the children can read and write and add and subtract. If you believe every child can learn, then it makes sense to ask that question. Are we teaching our children? And if we are, we'll praise the teachers. But if we find children trapped in schools which will not teach and will not change, we will demand something different, because no child should be left behind in the State of Kentucky. I look forward to working with Anne to make sure our medical system works, to make sure that health care is available and affordable. We've got too many lawsuits here in America today, too many frivolous and junk lawsuits that are running up the cost of medicine and making it harder for our docs to practice medicine. We need medical liability reform, once and for all, so that medicine is affordable for the American consumers. I look forward to working with Anne and the other Members of Congress up here to fulfill our promises to our seniors. We're going to make sure Social Security system works. And we're also going to make sure Medicare fulfills its promise. Medicine has changed Medicare hasn't. Medicine is modern because of technologies and innovation. Medicare is stuck in the past. I'm going to work with Anne to make sure Medicare is modern, and that means prescription drug benefits for our seniors. No, there's a lot we can do to work together on behalf of all of the citizens of Kentucky and all of the citizens of America. But the biggest challenge we have, our most important responsibility, is to protect the homeland from further attack. That's our biggest job, because there's still an enemy out there that lurks, an enemy out there which hates America because of what we love. We love freedom. We love the fact that people can worship freely in America. We worship the fact that we have free elections. We love the fact that we have a free press. We love everything about freedom, and we're not going to change. And it's our fervent love of freedom, and the fact that we're not going to change, which really irritates the enemy. See, they don't like us. And there's something else that differentiates us between them, and that is, we value life. Everybody counts. Everybody is precious. Every life matters. And these people are nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers who have hijacked a great religion and could care less about taking innocent life. We've been warned. We've been warned. And now our most important job is to protect you. And there's a lot of good people doing this. We've got people at the Federal level and at the State level and the local level doing everything they can to disrupt and deny the enemy. I'm telling you, anytime we get any whisper, any hint, any idea that somebody is thinking about doing something to America, we're acting. We're going to do everything in our power to prevent the enemy from hitting us again. And that's why I went to the United States Congress and asked them to join with me in the creation of a Department of Homeland Security. There's over 100 agencies in Washington involved with protecting you. It seemed like, to me, it made sense to put them under one Department so that we could set clear priority, so that if need be, we could change cultures so that our Government was functioning in concert to do everything we could to protect the homeland. And the House of Representatives passed a good bill, and I'm honored that Anne and the other Members of the Congress supported that good bill. But it's stuck in the Senate. It couldn't get out of the Senate, because the Senate wanted to take powers away from the President of the United States. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And here's what they wanted to do. For 40 years, since John Kennedy was the President, Presidents have had the capacity, the ability to suspend collective bargaining rules in the name of national security. In other words, if there were certain rules which prevented the homeland security council department from doing its job, I couldn't suspend those rules. If the Senate had its way not Senator McConnell or Senator Bunning but other Senators if they had their way, I would have the capacity, the right to suspend certain rules at the Department of Agriculture but not at the Department of Homeland Security. I would have the flexibility necessary to do everything I could for the sake of national security at Agriculture, but not to protect you through the Department of Homeland Security. I need the capacity to be able to move the right people at the right time to the right place to protect the American people. Mitch McConnell understands that, and so does Jim Bunning, and so does Anne Northup. They understand that. They also understand what I'm about to tell you, that the best way to secure America, the best way to protect you, is to chase the killers down, one at a time, and bring them to justice. It's not an easy task. It's not an easy task, because this is a different kind of army that we face, a different kind of enemy. In the old days I see some guys who were probably involved with World War II or the Korean war. In the old days, if you knocked out a couple of tanks or knocked some airplanes out of the air or sunk a ship, you'd be able to determine whether or not you were making progress against the enemy. Those were the old days. Today, we're facing coldblooded killers who hide in caves and send youngsters to their suicidal deaths, and there is no cave deep enough for America. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. It's important to see the world the way it is, not to see the way that we hope it is. It's important to be cold eyed realists about the threats we face. And we're making progress on this war against terror. We've hauled in over a couple thousand of them, and a couple thousand weren't quite as lucky. Slowly but surely, we're protecting the American people and defending our freedom by dismantling the terrorist network that came and unmercifully murdered American citizens. And so long as I'm the President of the United States, we're going to continue to hunt them down. We owe that to our children. We owe that to our children's children. History has called us into action, and this great Nation is going to stay steady and resolute and determined. I asked the Congress to pass the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was President. And they did, and I want to thank the Members up here who voted with us on that bill. I did so for two reasons, two important reasons. One, anytime we send our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. And secondly, we just sent a signal to the world, to friend and foe alike, we're in this deal for the long haul. It doesn't matter how long it takes. It doesn't matter how long it costs. The United States of America will go after those terrorists and bring them to justice. No, it's important to be open eyed about the threats we face. After all, oceans no longer protect us. See, that's what's important for Americans to understand, that after September the 11th, the stakes changed. See, prior to September the 11th, we used to think that, if there was a conflict or a threat somewhere else in the world, we could pick and choose whether or not we wanted to deal with it, because oceans protected us. The homeland was secure by geography. We learned a tough lesson on September the 11th, which means that, as we see threats, we must be prepared to deal with them. And I see a significant threat to the security of the United States in Iraq. Saddam Hussein is a man who told the world he would not have weapons of mass destruction, but he does. He not only has them he's used them. He has used them against his neighbors, and incredibly enough, he's used them against his own people. This is a man who was close to having a nuclear weapon a decade ago. No telling how close he is now. I viewed him as a threat, not only to the American people, because he could become an arsenal to one of these shadow terrorist networks. He could use them as surrogates and not leave any fingerprints behind. No, he's a threat. He's not only a threat to us. He's a threat to our close friends in the Middle East. Saddam Hussein is a man who has defied the United Nations not once, not twice, not 3 times, but 16 times they passed resolutions. So I went to that august body, and I said, "The time has come for you to show the world whether or not you've got the capacity to keep the peace, to defend freedom. The time has come for you to show whether or not your resolutions mean anything." And I sent the same message to Saddam Hussein. "You said you would disarm. Disarm. For the sake of peace, disarm." I took the debate to the United States Congress and, thanks to the Members on this stage and many others, the United States now speaks with one voice. And here it is Either the United Nations will do its job, either the United Nations will show it is not the League of Nations, but a body with the capacity to keep the peace, and Saddam Hussein will disarm, or for the sake of peace, for the sake of freedom, the United States will lead a mighty coalition to disarm Saddam Hussein. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. I can't imagine what was going through the mind of the enemy when they hit us. They must have thought the national religion of the United States was materialism, that we were so selfish, so self absorbed, so shallow, that after September the 11th, 2001, we'd take a step back and maybe file a lawsuit or two. Laughter That's probably what they thought. But they found out they are dealing with a different bunch, that we love our freedom, that we care deeply about our future, that we love peace. The evil done to America has given this great nation to show the world that out of evil can come great good. I believe this. I believe that if we stay the course, if we're strong, if we fight terror, if we lead a coalition of freedom loving countries, we can achieve peace. I believe we can achieve peace if we remember that freedom is not bestowed on the world by the United States, but freedom is God given for everybody. I believe that if we're strong and resolute, with a clear vision, that we see reality the way it is, that we can achieve peace not only for America, but because we value all life everybody is precious that we can achieve peace in parts of the world who have quit on peace. I believe we can achieve peace in the Middle East. I believe we can achieve peace in South Asia. No, out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good, not only abroad but incredible good here at home. See, I believe that the evildoers renew the American spirit, that sense of serving something greater than yourself in life. Government can help. We'll work Members of Congress will work with the administration to pass laws that will help people help themselves and improve lives. But you've got to remember that while Government can pass out money, it can't put hope in people's hearts. It can't put a sense of purpose in people's lives. And at the same time, we've got to remember, amongst all the plenty here in America, there are people who hurt. There's loneliness and addiction and despair. And so long as any of us hurts, we all hurt. And the best way to solve many of the seemingly intractable problems here in America is for a fellow American to put their arm around somebody who's lonely, and somebody who suffers, and say, "I love you. What can I do to help you?" No, the true strength of America lies in the hearts and the souls of our fellow citizens. All across this country there are fine and decent people who are helping America change, one heart, one conscience, one soul at a time. And it's happening. They woke the great compassion of America when they attacked us. Perhaps the spirit is best reflected in small ways and large ways small ways like Ray Probus, who I met. He was at the airport today. He works with the Jefferson County police department's Volunteers in Police Service program. That's one way people can help. I'm sure there's mentors here. I know there are people who worry about feeding the hungry, who worry about the homeless and do something about it. I know there's people involved in Boy Scouts and Girl Scout troops that are sending values to our children. I know there are people involved in schools here to make sure every child can learn. All of us can help make America a hopeful place. Perhaps the biggest lesson of all of what I'm talking about, that great spirit of America, took place on Flight 93 that fateful day. We had people flying across the country. They heard the plane they were on was going to be used as a weapon to kill Americans. They said goodbye to their loved ones. They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." And they took the plane into the ground to serve something greater than themselves. To me, that epitomized the greatest of the American spirit, which is alive and well in America. No, the enemy hit us the enemy hit us. They didn't know who they were hitting. Out of the evil done to America is going to come peace. And out of the evil done to America is going to come a more hopeful tomorrow. I predict this. I know it's going to happen, because America is the greatest nation, full of the finest, most compassionate people on the face of the Earth. Thank you all for coming. May God bless. May God bless America. November 01, 2002 The President. Thank you all. Thanks for coming. Thanks for inviting me. Boy, am I glad I came. It's good to be back. It's good to be back with the good folks of New Hampshire. I see a lot of familiar faces amongst the crowd. There's one right there. Laughter We've got a lot of friends here. First of all, I've got to tell you, Laura you drew the short straw. You got me instead of Laura. Laughter She sends her best as well. She's doing fabulous. You may remember the story about her. She was a public school librarian when I asked her to marry me. She didn't like politics. She didn't like politicians. Laughter Thank goodness she said yes when I was there on bended knee. She has made a fabulous First Lady for America. She sends her best to all the candidates running for office, and she urges you to do what I'm here to urge you to do, which is get out the vote. I want you to know that the American spirit is alive and well in America. And that's the spirit that says it's important for us to serve something greater than ourself. It's the spirit that says, when it comes to the defense of our freedoms, we'll be plenty tough. But part of defending our freedom means our citizens must exercise their duty. And on election day, the duty is to vote. My call here in New Hampshire is for all the citizens Republicans and Democrats, people who don't give a hoot about political parties to do your duty and vote. I've got a strong suggestion If you want to do what's right for New Hampshire, if you want to do what's right for America, vote for John Sununu for the United States Senate. I've seen him in action in the Congress. I know what he can do. There's no doubt in my mind that he'd be the most effective voice for all the people of this State, for everybody who's fortunate enough to live in New Hampshire. See, he's the kind of fellow that doesn't require a focus group laughter or a poll to tell him what to think. If I remember my days from New Hampshire, that's what you expect here in New Hampshire, somebody who tells you what's on your mind, somebody who shares his philosophy, somebody who doesn't need to move around in the political winds depending upon what might be happening at a particular moment. No, the people of this State want down to earth, plain speaking Members representing them, and that is exactly what John Sununu is. And like me, he married well. Laughter And like me, he picked a pretty good pair of parents.parents It's good to see the old Governor behind stage. He's still looking pretty spry for an old fellow. Laughter Don't tell him I said that. Laughter I'm also honored to be here in strong support of the next United States Congressman from the First District, Jeb Bradley. Jeb is going to do a fine job. I look forward to working with him. I'm going to talk about some of the issues we need to work on. I don't need to be worrying about the votes from the First District up there in Washington. I need a steady hand who represents the way the people of this State think, and that's going to be Jeb Bradley. And in order to make sure the stage looked pretty, we invited the Congressman from the Second District here laughter Charlie Bass. I actually meant Lisa Bass. Laughter It's good to be up here with Kitty and Lisa and all the patient women supporting these candidates for office and standing by them. It's tough for a family to run for office. I understand that. But it requires good, strong women, in these guys' cases, to carry them through, and they married well. I'm real proud of them. I appreciate their hard work, just like I'm proud of the next first lady for New Hampshire the next first lady from New Hampshire, Denise Benson. I've known Craig for a while, and you're about to pick a good one to be your Governor, somebody who understands job creation, somebody who's going to bring integrity to the office, and somebody who isn't going to overburden you with a bunch of taxes, and that's Governor Craig Benson. And finally, I've got to mention my old buddy the senior Senator. That would be your Judd Gregg. He and Kathy are great friends of Laura and mine. We really like to be around them. He is a great United States Senator. And when we take over the Senate, we will be calling Judd Gregg "Mr. Chairman." Electing John Sununu will help us change the leadership in the Senate. The people of New Hampshire who haven't made up their mind yet must understand the practicalities involved in this election. There's something very practical about having Judd Gregg become the chairman of the Health and Education and Labor and Pension Committee. It doesn't matter whether you're a Republican or Democrat or independent it's in your interest. It's in your personal interest, and it's in your State interest that you have one of your own be the chairman of one of the most vital committees in the United States Senate. And the election of John Sununu could easily elevate Judd Gregg to that position. Audience member. Inaudible no war for oil Audience members. Boo o o! The President. What did he say? Audience members. We want Bush! We want Bush! We want Bush! The President. What did the guy say? We've got a lot of hurdles that we've got to cross here in America. But there's no question in my mind we can cross them. That's what I want to talk to you about. Part of it depends on who you elect to the Senate part of it elects upon the will and desire of the American people. One of the biggest hurdles we've got is to make sure people can find work. Anybody looking for a job can't find a job means we've got a problem in America. We want people to be able to put food on the table. We want somebody who wants to provide, to be able to do so. And yet our economy is bumping along. I'm optimistic about our economy because, one, I understand this country is one of the finest countries on the face of the Earth. We've got great productivity amongst our workers. Interest rates are low. Inflation is low. The foundation for growth is great. But so long as anybody is trying to find work and can't find it, we better have people in the Congress willing to work with the administration to increase the job base. One of the most important things we can do to increase the job base is to stimulate small business growth. And one way to do so is to let people keep more of their own money. This is a taxes are a cutting edge issue in this campaign. You see, it reflects the difference of philosophy. If you understand if people have more money in their pocket that they're going to demand a good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service, somebody's likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces the good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work. The tax relief plan that John Sununu joined me on was not only good for people in New Hampshire, the citizens of New Hampshire, it's good for the small business and entrepreneurs of New Hampshire, because most small businesses pay taxes at the individual income tax rates. The tax cut we passed came at the exact right time for America. Over the next 10 years, those tax cuts will mean 6.9 billion for the people of New Hampshire. That's 6.9 billion for you to decide what to do with your money. You hear these people saying, "Well, we better revisit the Tax Code tax cuts." Listen carefully for those words. That's Washington, DC speak for, "We're fixing to go back into your pocket." That's what that means. If you're interested in job creation, like I am and John is, if you're interested in making sure people can find work, send somebody to Washington who will join me in making the tax cuts permanent. We need to get us a terrorism insurance bill moving out of the Congress. We had these these attackers hurt us in many ways. They hurt our economy. And one way they hurt the economy there's a lot of big construction projects which aren't going forward. That's because people can't get insurance for terrorism. It means a lot of hardhats aren't finding work. Millions of thousands of people millions of dollars and thousands of people millions of dollars aren't being invested, and thousands of people aren't working. And so therefore, Congress needs to get this bill out, to my desk. I know I can count on John's support. He'll support a bill that I want and that you should want, that makes sure it rewards the hardhats of America, not the trial lawyers of America. No, we've been through some tough times in our economy, and we've still got a ways to go. Remember, we came out of a recession, and the enemy hit us. And it hurt our economy when they hit us, make no mistake about it. And we're recovering from that. Then we had another little problem not a little problem it's a big problem. We had some of our citizens think that they could fudge the numbers some of our citizens forgot their responsibilities when it comes to running a corporation. They forgot they were responsible to employees and to shareholders. They forgot their duty as Americans. And I want to thank John Sununu for supporting one of the most far reaching corporate reform bills since Franklin Roosevelt was the President. Our message, loud and clear, to the corporate wrongdoers is There isn't any easy money in America there's only jail time when we catch you fudging the books. No, we've got to work together to get this economy rolling. There's no question in my mind, he's the right person to send up to Washington to work with the administration to help the economy grow so people can find work. He's also the right man to send over there to work on vital matters, such as education and health care. Medicare is stuck in the past. Medicare medicine has changed Medicare hasn't. Medicine is becoming more modern through technologies and new discoveries. Medicare is stuck. It's not changing. Send John Sununu to the Senate so we can modernize Medicare, which means a prescription drug benefit for our seniors. I also want to thank John and, of course, Judd and Charlie for working on the education bill, which was a great education bill because it challenges the soft bigotry of low expectations. It raises the bar. It says we in America believe every child can learn. Inherent in that bill is a strong belief in local control of schools. We trust your future Governor and the people of New Hampshire to chart the path to excellence for every child in New Hampshire. We have sent 150 million of Federal money to the schools this year in New Hampshire. But in return for that money, for the first time, we expect results. And I appreciate John Sununu's advocacy of this important piece of legislation. I also know that when he becomes the Senator, I can count on him to make sure that our judiciary is full of judges who aren't there to write the law, but to strictly interpret the United States Constitution. There will be a lot of issues which we can work together on for the good of New Hampshire and the good of America but no more important issue than making sure our homeland is secure, that protecting the people of this country that's our most solemn duty now. And the reason why it's ongoing is because there's still an enemy that lurches around, which hates America. They hate America because of what we love. We love freedom, and we're not changing. It's important to be clear eyed about the threats we face, and we face a threat. We must see the world, and you must have people in Washington who see the world not the way we hope it would be but the way it is. We're now on notice that America is a battleground. And therefore, we've got to do everything we can to protect you. And a lot of good people are doing just that, a lot of people at the Federal level, the State level, and the local level running down any hint, any lead. Anytime somebody is thinking about something to do to America and we figure it out, we're going to move on them. We're going to absolutely do everything we can within the United States Constitution to protect the homeland of the American people. I felt we could do a better job of protecting the homeland by moving a lot of these agencies involved with your protection into one Cabinet office. So I went to Congress and said, "Would you join me in creating a Department of Homeland Security so that we can set as the number one priority for these agencies the protection of the homeland and, if need be, change cultures within agencies so that we can protect you." And that's what I asked them to do. I asked them quite a while ago. And the House of Representatives sanctioned the votes of Bass and Sununu, joined with the administration, and passed a really good bill. But it's stuck in the Senate. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. It's stuck in the Senate because some Senators, not Senator Gregg and future Senator Sununu but some Senators want to extract a price from this President that's way too high. See, they want me to give up an important authority that every President since John Kennedy has had. And that's the authority to suspend collective bargaining rules in certain cases for the sake of national security. See, I need that capacity to be able to respond to the threats we face. I need the ability to suspend some rules if the rules inhibit our capacity to protect you. Under the vision of some in the Senate, I would have that authority for the Agriculture Department, but not for the Homeland Security Department. We are at war. The President this President and future Presidents must have the ability to put the right people at the right place at the right time to protect America. And there's no doubt in my mind that soon to be Senator Sununu supports me on this issue. We'll do everything we can to protect you here at home, but the best way to protect our youngsters, the best way to defend our freedoms, is to find these killers no matter where they hide and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what America is going to do. We passed a good defense bill. It's the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. That bill should send two message. One is, anytime we put our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. And two, we're sending a clear message to friend and foe alike that we're in this deal for the long haul, that when it comes to the defense of our freedom, it doesn't matter how long it takes. When it comes to making sure we fulfill our obligations as a generation for future generations of Americans, there's no calendar on my desk that says by such and such a date we're pulling in. No. See, I don't know what got in the enemy's mind. They must have thought our national religion was materialism, that we were so selfish, so self absorbed, so interested only in ourselves that after 9 11 2001, oh, we might have filed a lawsuit or two. They don't know America like you and I know America. When it comes to the defense of our freedom, it doesn't matter how long it takes and how much it costs. And we're making progress. Slowly but surely, we're hauling them in. And we've got people still helping us. See, the doctrine that says, "Either you're with us or with the enemy" that still stands. I remind people of it all the time, because I understand the task ahead. In the old days, we destroyed tanks, airplanes, ships, and we made progress. These people don't have tanks. They don't have ships. They hide in caves. They send suiciders out. They're willing to send youngsters out, and they, themselves, hide. That's the kind of people we face. And so, therefore, we've got to be on them, got to get them on the run and keep them on the run. And we're making progress. We've hauled in about 2,000 or more. And that's good. And like number met their fate a different way like number aren't around. Slowly but surely, we're dismantling this terrorist network, thanks to one of the greatest militaries ever, the United States military. It's going to take a while. It's going to take a while to make America safe. It's going to take a while to do everything we can to fulfill our responsibilities and protect you. The American people understand that they understand it's a new kind of war. They also understand there's a new reality we face, and that's important. The new reality is, oceans no longer protect us. After September the 11th, 2001, every threat that might be emerging overseas we need to take seriously. In the old days we could sit back and say, "Well, there's something emerging over there, and these oceans protect us, and we're safe, and we can decide whether or not we want to be involved in that theater. We can decide if we really think it's in our national interest, because our people aren't threatened." We have a new day here in America. It's a sobering reality. It's one that you better make sure your elected officials are clear eyed about the threats that we face. And we face a threat in the form of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Saddam Hussein is a man who has told the world he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction, and yet he deceived the world. He's got them. Not only does he have them remember, this is a guy who was a short while away from having a nuclear weapon. Then they dismantled it. Then he started deceiving the world again, and no telling how close he is to having one now. We know he's got chemical weapons, probably has biological weapons. But more significantly, we know he uses them. He uses them not only on his neighbors he uses them on his own people. That's the nature of this man. We know he's got ties with Al Qaida. A nightmare scenario, of course, is that he becomes the arsenal for a terrorist network, where they could attack America, and he'd leave no fingerprints behind. He is a problem. I went to the United Nations a while ago because I wanted to remind them that they have a duty, it seems like to me, to bring the free nations together and call the man to account. After all, they passed resolution after resolution after resolution, 16 times that he's defied. See, we want the United Nations to be successful. I believe it's in our interests that freedom loving countries come together and help defeat the new threats of the 21st century. It's in our national interest they do so. It's in their interest they do so. So I went there and said, "Show us whether or not you can achieve what you're supposed to do. Show us whether or not you've got the backbone necessary to hold the man to account in the name of peace. Show us whether or not you're going to be the United Nations or the League of Nations." And my message to Saddam Hussein is just as clear You said you would not have weapons of mass destruction. In the name of peace, get rid of your weapons of mass destruction. But my message to America, and it's supported by Republicans and Democrats alike If the United Nations will not act, if Saddam Hussein will not disarm, in the name of peace and in the name of freedom, the United States of America will lead a coalition to disarm him. Out of the evil done to America is going to come some good. I believe that. I believe that because of the nature of our country. I believe that because of the American spirit. I know that we can achieve peace. I want you to assure your children that amongst all the talk that we can achieve a peaceful world. I believe it. If we remain strong and tough and determined, speak our mind clearly about good and evil, remember that freedom is not an American blessing, it's God given for everybody who lives in the world, if we remember that, we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace here at home. We can achieve peace in the Middle East. We have a chance to lead the world to peace. I can I see clearly a peaceful world. And I see a more compassionate tomorrow here at home. Out of the evil done to America, we can have a better America. You've got to remember, amongst our plenty are people who hurt, people who are lonely, people who are depressed, people who are addicted, people who say, "American Dream? What are you talking about? I don't know what you're talking about." So long as any of us hurt, we all hurt, as far as I'm concerned. I've mentioned and told you that John and I will work together to do what Government can do. But what Government can't do is put love in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That's done when our fellow Americans put their arm around somebody who hurts and says, "I love you. What can I do to help you? How can I make your life better? How can I do my part of being American?" I met a guy out there at the airport today, Zack Dietrich, a 23 year old fellow here in New Hampshire. He's a member of AmeriCorps. He's a guy who's working to help people find work by helping them with job training. He's a man who's helping save lives by helping people have dignity in their lives when it comes to work. He has decided, at the age of 23, to help a neighbor in need. He's decided to be a part of the army of compassion. He knows what I know, that through the great heart of America, we can change our country one soul, one person at a time. And that's what's happening. American spirit is more than just being a patriot. The American spirit is more than just being strong militarily so we can keep the peace and promote freedom. The American spirit understands that being a patriot in this country means serving something greater than yourself. And that spirit is alive and well today. It was certainly alive and well on Flight 93. People flying across our country realized that their plane was going to be used as a weapon. They said goodbye. They said, "I love you." They said a prayer, and ordinary citizens took the plane into the ground to serve something greater than themselves in life. They represented the absolute best of America. The American spirit is strong and alive today, which allows me to boldly predict that out of the evil done to America is going to come a more peaceful world. And out of the evil done to America is going to come a more hopeful tomorrow for everybody who lives in this country, because this is the finest country, full of the most decent, honorable, caring people on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming today. May God bless. October 31, 2002 The President. Thank you all. Thanks for coming. I'm glad I came. I'm glad I came back. The last time I was here, the Fighting Irish were 1 0. This time, they're 8 0. Seems like you ought to keep inviting me back. Laughter I know this for sure The next time I come back, with your help, Chris Chocola is going to be the next United States Congressman. I'm traveling this country, and I can tell you, the American spirit is alive and well, the spirit of people understanding that to be an American means you've got to serve something greater than yourself. The spirit of America says that we're willing to sacrifice for our freedoms. And the spirit of America says that you take nothing in democracy for granted. You see, if you're eligible to vote, you have an obligation to vote. That's what the spirit of America calls for. You have an obligation to our country you have an obligation to democracy itself. So I'm here to in South Bend to urge Republicans and Democrats and independents, people who don't care about political parties, to do your duty and to go to the polls, to assume your responsibility as an American and go to the polls. And by the way, I've got a suggestion when you get in there Chris Chocola is the right man for the job. I want to thank Congressman Steve Buyer for being here thanks for coming, Steve I want to thank Mark Souder for coming two of the fine Congressmen in the United States Congress for joining us. I want to thank those who are running statewide, the candidates who are up here with us who are out asking for your vote. I want to thank Todd Rokita, running for secretary of state. I want to thank Connie Nass, running for auditor. And I want to thank Tim Berry, who's running for State treasurer. I want to thank them for their dedication to the great State of Indiana, and I want to thank you for your service to your community. I want to say something about Sarah that would be the next Congressman's wife. I appreciate her taking on this task. I know something about what it takes to put a family through a political process. It requires a strong partner, somebody who believes in the country as much as the candidate does. And I'm here to tell you Sarah Chocola is going to be a great Congressman's wife. And speaking about great wives, Laura sends her love, and she sends her best. She's doing great. A lot of people in the country now understand why I asked her to marry me. A lot of them are still wondering why she said yes. Laughter But she's learned she can make a huge difference in the lives of our citizens. She cares deeply about the capacity of every child in America to read. She is a fabulous First Lady, and she is applause . I want to thank all the good folks here who are active in the political process. You call them grassroots activists. Those are the people who are willing to put up the signs, the people willing to make the phone calls, the people who can really determine the outcome of an election. I want to thank you for what you have done, and I want to thank you for what you're going to do Friday and Saturday and Sunday and Monday, and that is find the good folks in this community who want good government and get them to vote for Chris Chocola next Tuesday. You can make a difference in the campaign. You can actually determine the outcome. So when you go to your houses of worship or your coffee shops or your community centers, put out the word. And remember there are some discerning Democrats who live up here, people who know the difference between a shrill voice and a solid voice. There are good independents up here, people who want somebody to represent them who will bring honor and dignity to the office. There are people who understand it makes sense to have somebody who has been an entrepreneur serving in the United States Congress, somebody who has actually met a payroll, somebody who knows what it means to put people to work and to take risks. So when you're putting out the word, don't just keep it narrowed to just a few. Put out the good word that you've got a good man running for the United States Congress. And if it helps, you tell them the President wants him standing by his side in Washington, DC, too. I need somebody from this district whose vote I can count on. I don't need to be worrying about somebody who's running a focus group or a poll. I need a solid United States Congressman up there, who will support me in making America a stronger and safer and better place for every citizen. In order to make sure America is a better place, we need to do something about our economy. We had some good news today we had some good news today. The third quarter was showed positive growth. And that's positive. That's good news. We're making progress. But so long as somebody's looking for work and can't find a job, says to me we've got a problem. And I need people in the Congress who understand how to create jobs. The role of Government is not to create wealth. The role of Government is to create an environment in which the small business can grow to be the big business, in which the entrepreneur can flourish. And part of creating that environment means to understand how the Tax Code works. If you want your small business person to flourish, you let them keep more of their own money. If 70 percent of new jobs are created by small business owners, seems like it makes sense to me, if you're worried about job creation, to let the small business person have more money in their pocket so they can reinvest, so people can find work. Here's what we believe If you let a person have more of their own money, they're likely to demand a good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service in the marketplace, somebody is going to produce the good or service. And when somebody produces the good or service, somebody is more likely to find work. The tax relief plan we passed happened at the right time. I need a Congressman who will join me in making the tax cuts permanent. A good, strong America is an America that's got a good education system. I appreciate Chris' vision on education. We share the same vision. We want to have high standards for every child. We believe in local control of schools. We're going to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations, and we're going to hold people to account. See, if you believe every child can learn, like we do, then it makes sense to start asking the fundamental question, can every child read and write and add and subtract? And if so, I promise you we'll praise the teachers. And for the teachers out there, thanks for what you do. But you'd better have you a Congressman who understands that when you find children trapped in schools that won't teach and won't change, you've got to challenge the status quo. No child should be left behind in the State of Indiana. Chris understands that we must keep our commitments, must keep our commitments on Social Security and must keep our commitments on Medicare. See, medicine has changed it's modern. Medicare isn't. Medicare medicine is, with new technologies and new discoveries, is advancing. Medicare is stuck in the past. In order to modernize Medicare I look forward to working with Chris to do so, and a modern Medicare system includes prescription drugs for every senior. No, there's a lot we can do together. But the most important job we're going to have to do together is to make sure that our homeland is protected, is to secure the homeland from further enemy attacks. No, we'll work on the economy together, and we'll work to make sure every child is educated. We'll make sure the health care system is relevant. There's a lot we can do, but our number one priority will be to protect you, because there's an enemy out there which hates America. They hate what we stand for, and we're not changing what we stand for. We love freedom. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. And we've got to be realistic about it. We've got to be clear eyed. We need somebody from this district who will be realistic about the threats we face. See, we can't just hope for the best in the new world we live in. We can't see the world the way we would wish it would be. We've got to see the world the way it really is, and it's a dangerous world. There's still an enemy that lurks out there that they're killers. That's the only way I can describe them. They're nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers, and so we've got to do everything we can here at home to protect you. And we are. There's a lot of good folks at the Federal level and the State level and the local level working hard listen, anytime we understand the stakes now, and anytime somebody is thinking about doing something to America and somehow we're reading their thoughts or reading their mail, we're moving on them. We're disrupting them. We're denying them. We absolutely refuse to let these terrorists have their way. We're going to do everything we can to shut down to shut down their capacity to hurt us. And that's why I went to Congress and asked them to help join me in creating a Department of Homeland Security. It seemed like to me that when you've got over 100 agencies in Washington, DC, involved with the homeland security, that you ought to focus their attention with one agency so that we can set a clear priority and, if need be, change cultures within these agencies so that the direction is clear and the priorities are clear. And the United States House of Representatives joined in my quest to have a Department that would function well, but it's stuck in the Senate. See, it got stuck in the Senate before they went home to campaign. They couldn't get it out because they were trying to extract too high a price from me. They wanted me to give up a right that every President has had since John F. Kennedy, the right and the capacity to suspend certain work rules in the name of national security. In other words, if the Senate had their way, I would have the capacity to be able to I would have more flexibility with the Department of Agriculture to deal with national security concerns than I would with the new Department of Homeland Security. Here we are at war, and they want to take away the capacity for the President to be able to better protect the American people. I need to be able to move the right people to the right place at the right time to protect you, and I'm not going to accept a lousy bill out of the United Nations Senate. I'm here to tell you the best way to protect America is to hunt the killers down, one at a time, and bring them to justice. And that's what we're going to do. That's what we're going to do. I need somebody in Congress who is a cold eyed realist, who understands the stakes, somebody who understands that history has called our country into action. We've got to protect the future for our children. And therefore, the best way to do that is to get on the hunt and not tire, stay steady and strong. I went to the Congress and asked them to give me a good defense bill, and fortunately, they did. It's the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. There's two messages in that bill. There's two messages I want to send to the world One, anytime we put our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. We owe that to our troops, and we owe that to the loved ones of our troops. And by the way, for those of you who have got relatives in the military, you can tell them this I'm confident in their abilities I'm proud of their service and we're going to use them to win the war on terror. And the second message that we delivered with the defense bill is that we're in this deal for the long haul. See, there's not a calendar on my desk in the Oval Office that says, by such and such a date we're quitting. That's not America. When it comes to the defense of our freedom, when it comes from doing our duty to future generations of America, there is no quit in America. It doesn't matter how long it takes, my fellow Americans. It doesn't matter what the cost. We will defend the freedom of the United States of America. And we're making progress. Sometimes it's hard to tell we're making progress. Some of the old vets will tell you, in the old days, you could measure progress by the number of tanks you destroyed or the number of enemy aircraft that were shot down out of the sky. This bunch we're fighting, they don't have tanks. They're the kind who hide in caves, kind of move around the dark corners of some of the cities in the world, and then send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. That's the kind of people they are. See, there's a huge difference between us and them. They don't value life. We value life. We say, "Every life is precious. Everybody counts. Everybody in the whole world has got worth." But we're after them. It doesn't matter how dark the cave is or what corner of the world they're trying to hide in we're after them, one at a time. That's the way this war is going to be fought, and that's the way it's going to be won. We've got a lot of good folks working with us, because the doctrine still stands Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy. Slowly but surely, we're dismantling them. And it's going to take a while it just is going to take a while. We've probably hauled in a couple of thousand of them like number weren't as lucky. In either case, these groups are not threats to us. The other day a guy popped up, and he was going to be the 20th hijacker. He popped his head up. He's not a problem to the United States of America. Slowly but surely, we're hauling them in. It's important to be realistic about the threats we face. It's important to understand it's a dangerous world. It's also important to understand the stakes have changed since September the 11th. When I was a youngster kind of when I was an older guy too we thought oceans could protect us. That's what we thought. If there was a conflict or a threat overseas, we had the luxury, because of two great oceans, to pick and choose our fights. If we wanted to help, we would. If it was a direct threat, we could decide. If there was an indirect threat, we could decide to get involved, not but oceans protected us. That's changed. And America must understand that has changed. And therefore, threats that in the past may not have seemed overly significant all of a sudden become significant, like the threat to America in Iraq. Saddam Hussein is a threat to our country. He can't stand what we believe in. He doesn't like America. He doesn't like our friends. He's a man who told the world he would have no weapons of mass destruction, and yet, he does. And not only that, he's used weapons of mass destruction. He's used them against his neighbors, and he's used them against his own people. For 11 years, he's deceived and denied the world, and he's a threat. He's a threat. If he were to team up, like we think he's trying to do, with one of these terrorist networks, he would be able to use a weapon of mass destruction on America and leave no fingerprints behind. We've got to be clear eyed about our responsibilities and the threats we face. So I went to the United Nations. See, I hope that body can be effective to deal with the new threats that we face, that freedom loving people face. I told them that "For 16 resolutions this guy has ignored you, and we want you to be successful. We want you to be able to keep the peace, so do something about it." We also sent the message to Saddam Hussein I'm saying it again right now "You said you wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction. Disarm. Do what you said you would do." But if the United Nations won't act, won't fulfill their responsibilities to keep the peace, and if Saddam Hussein will not disarm their choices, by the way the United States of America, in the name of peace and in the name of freedom, will lead a coalition and disarm Saddam Hussein. And I believe, by remaining strong and tough and firm, that we can achieve peace. You've just got to know, amongst all the talk about getting them and war and all that, that my vision is for a peaceful world. And I believe we can achieve it. I do. It requires this country to be steady and resolved. It requires us to remember that freedom isn't an American gift it's God given. It's got to remember the values that we hold dear of being steady and resolved. The evil done to America, the evil done to this country, is going to yield some incredible good, I believe. Not only abroad can we achieve peace and I mean in parts of the world where they've quit on peace. Remember, we believe everybody has worth everybody counts everybody matters. We want children to grow up in a peaceful world. That's why, when we went into Afghanistan, we went in not as conquerors but as liberators. And thanks to the United States of America, many young girls now go to school for the first time. Those values we hold dear are important values. Everybody counts. And here at home we can have a better America as well. See, while we worked for our security and safety, we can also work to make sure this country is a better place for everybody. There are pockets of despair in America. Amongst our plenty, people hurt people are lonely people need help. And the role of Government is a limited role. We can hand out money which we do sometimes we're pretty good at it. We can repair systems when they're broken. But what Government cannot do is put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That happens when a fellow American puts their arm around somebody in need and says, "I love you. I love you." You know, I don't know what was going through the enemy's mind when they hit us. They probably thought that the national religion was materialism, that we were so self absorbed and selfish that after 9 11 we'd take a step back and maybe file a lawsuit or two. They just didn't understand. They didn't understand our strength, our resolve, that when it comes to freedom, we're plenty strong. But when it comes to compassion, we're really decent people. No, I believe out of the evil done to America can come a country in which the American Dream is known to everybody who lives here, in which people who hurt can find salvation and hope. Today I had the honor of meeting Dick McCloskey. He's a man who lost a daughter on 9 11 in New York. He's a man, and along with his family, has dedicated himself to work at the Center for the Homeless. He's a guy who knows what I know, that we can change America, one heart, one soul at a time and that each of us has a responsibility each of us has a responsibility as an American to help people in need. The American spirit is more than just keeping the peace and defending the homeland. The American spirit was embodied on Flight 93, that day when people were flying across the country. They heard the plane was going to be a weapon. They told their loved ones goodbye. They said a prayer. A guy said, "Let's roll." They drove the plane in the ground, to serve something greater than themselves in life. That's the American spirit, serving something greater than yourself. No, the enemy had no idea, when they attacked us, they attacked the greatest nation, full of the finest people, on the face of this Earth. Thank you for your concern about our country. Thank you for supporting Chris. May God bless you, and may God bless America. October 31, 2002 The President. Thank you all. Thanks a lot for coming. Thanks for having me here. The next time you get me to come back, let's go pheasant hunting. I can't go today. Laughter I've got to work. I'm traveling our country to remind people that the American spirit is alive and well today. That spirit is the spirit of a determined nation willing to defend our freedoms, no matter what the cost. That American spirit says loud and clear that we're willing to serve something greater than ourselves. We're willing to serve people in need, a community we love. And part of the American spirit is for our citizens to exercise their duty, and their duty is to cast a vote on November the 5th. You have a duty. You have a duty in this country. If you believe in freedom, if you believe in the values that make this country the finest nation on the face of the Earth, you have a duty to go to the polls. That's part of what it means to live in a free society. I want to thank you all who have voted. I want to thank you who are fixing to vote. And I've got some suggestions for you when you get inside the voting booth. Laughter For the sake of South Dakota, for the sake of our country, John Thune should be the next United States Senator. Audience members. Thune! Thune! Thune! The President. For the sake of South Dakota and for the sake of the country, Bill Janklow needs to be the next United States Congressman. And for the sake of South Dakota, particularly the sake for excellence in education, Mike Rounds needs to be the next Governor. I urge all the citizens of this State and around the country, Republican, Democrat, or independent alike, to go to the polls. But I believe when those discerning Democrats and those wise independents take a look at the candidates that I'm here to support, they're going to vote for them. It's in the best interests of their families. It's in the best interests of this State that these three men be elected to their offices. Not only have these three good men decided to put their hat in the ring, all of them married above themselves. Laughter Kimberley Thune is a great wife of John Thune. She is a wonderful lady. She'll bring a lot of class she has brought a lot of class to Washington. We're proud to call her friend. John is proud to call her wife, and her kids are proud to call her mother. I'm proud to be up here with Mary Dean Janklow, who's been a great first lady for the State of South Dakota. And Jean Rounds will be a great first lady for the State of South Dakota. I know something about First Ladies. One of them got stuck with me. Laughter Laura sends her love she sends her very best. She's coming to the State to campaign, which means you drew the short straw. Laughter Laura and I share the values of the people of South Dakota. After all, as John mentioned, we were raised in west Texas. It's good. Laughter Then you know what I'm talking about. Actually, when I married Laura, she was a public school librarian. She didn't like politics. She didn't care for politicians. Laughter Thank goodness she said yes when I was there on bended knee. America now knows why I asked her to marry me. She's smart. She's capable. She's calm. She is a great First Lady for this country. I want to thank Dr. Hilpert for opening up this beautiful facility for this rally. I want to thank the university staff for putting up with the President's entourage. I want to thank you for your hospitality. I want to thank the mayor of Aberdeen, Tom Hooper, for coming out to say hello today. I appreciate Tom Hopper. I appreciate very much his hospitality. I want to thank all my citizens for coming. I want to thank the grassroots activists who are here. I want to thank you for your activity in the democratic process. I want to thank you for turning out the vote. I want to thank you for what you have done in the past. I want to thank you for what you are going to do during the next couple of days, which is to man the phones, which is to go to your coffee shops and remind the people there that when you find good, honorable, decent, honest people, they ought to vote for them. When you go to your community centers, urge your neighbors to turn out to vote. Make sure that you do your duty not only to vote but, if you believe in the character and the vision of these candidates, turn out your neighbors to the polls come next Tuesday. Work hard. And you know what's going to happen on election day These three good people are going to get elected. And there is a reason why. Mike Rounds has got a vision for education for this State that says no child will be left behind, a vision which says every child can be educated. There's a reason why to vote for him, besides the fact that he's a good and honorable man. It's because he's got a vision that's positive for the future of this State. There's a reason to support Janklow, besides the fact he and I are good buddies. There's a reason to support him, besides the fact it will be a vote that I can count on to make sure that we go the right direction in this country, and that is, he's got a solid record of accomplishment in the State of South Dakota. And there's a reason why John Thune ought to be in the Senate. He's an independent fellow who works on behalf of the citizens of South Dakota with all his heart. He can work with both Democrats and Republicans. He doesn't get caught up in all the nasty rhetoric that tends to divide our Nation's Capital, that rhetoric which sends bad signals to many of our citizenry. He's a fellow who works hard on behalf of the schoolchildren of South Dakota. After all, with his help we were able to send 185 million in educational funding this year. John Thune was working hard to make sure that the schools of South Dakota were treated well. He's a man who is committed to our military, not just at election time, by the way. After all, his dad, Harold, was a World War II fighter pilot who taught John that peace comes through strength, that the stronger this Nation of ours is, the more peaceful the world will become. John also, like me, listens to his mother. Laughter She told him, she said, "You get up there, you better make sure Social Security is secure." And he has made that commitment. I look forward to working with John on key issues in the United States Senate, like Medicare. That's a key issue. This Nation has made a promise to our seniors, and we need to do something about the Medicare system. After all, medicine is modern Medicare isn't. Medicine has changed, but Medicare is stuck in the past. I need a Senator with whom I can work to modernize Medicare, and a modern Medicare system means prescription drugs for our seniors. I need somebody I can work with in the Senate to make sure that the crisis of our in our judiciary gets solved. There's too many vacancies in our on our Federal benches, which means the dockets are crowded. It means Americans aren't getting the justice they deserve. The Senate has done a lousy job with my nominees. I need a Senator with whom I can work to make sure that we stop playing petty partisan politics with the judicial nominations I've sent up, to make sure people's records aren't distorted, and to make sure we have a bench that is full of judges who aren't there to write the law but are there to strictly interpret the United States Constitution. And make no mistake about it That Senator is John Thune. Audience members. Thune! Thune! Thune! The President. I appreciate the fact that John understands the importance of agriculture in our economy and in our way of life. He tried to convince me of that one time. I said, "You don't have to convince me. I'm from the second largest agricultural State in the country." He said, "Yeah, but you're not from South Dakota." I said, "No, good point." Laughter He understands farmers and ranchers. We both know the values that are found on our farms and our ranches, those family values that are dear to the heart of America. He knows, if you're good at something, we ought to promote it. We're good at raising crops, and we ought to be selling them all around the world, for the sake of South Dakota farmers and South Dakota ranchers. He's a commonsense fellow. He understands good, practical policies can make a large difference. We need to change our forest policies. We need to change our forest policies for the sake of the people who live in this State. We need to change our forest policies so we can preserve our national treasure. It doesn't make any sense to have a forest policy that will not allow for thinning and clearing, a forest policy that is so backward that we allow kindling to build up in these forests, and then with an act of nature or with a sleight of hand by mankind, our national treasures burn to the ground. John Thune has got a commonsense vision for good forest policy. I look forward to working with him in the United States Senate to preserve these national heritages. I look forward to working with John to deal with some of the high hurdles we have to cross as a nation. One of the high hurdles is our economy. Anytime people are looking for work and they can't find work means we've got a problem in America. We've got some good news today. The third quarter growth was positive, and that's good. We're kind of moving our way toward a time when people can find work. But there's more to do. There's more to do, and Congress has a role to play. They need to get an antiterrorism insurance bill to my desk that will put hardhats back to work, that rewards hardhats and not America's trial lawyers. But one of the best things we can do is to make sure these tax relief plans that we package we passed is permanent. The Senate rules say that they last for only 10 years. That creates uncertainty. How can a small business owner plan for the future if the Tax Code is going to shift around on him or her? You can't. If you want to create jobs, there must be steadiness in our Tax Code. There has to be a permanency to the rules. And we passed a tax relief plan that over the next 10 years will yield 3.2 billion in tax relief to the South Dakota citizens. That means you have more money in your pocket. And when you have more money in your pocket, it means you're likely to demand a good or a service. And when you demand a good or a service, in the marketplace it means somebody is likely to produce that good or a service, which means somebody is more likely to find work. For the sake of jobs, for the sake of job creation, we need to make the tax relief permanent. Be wary of those folks who say we need to revisit the tax relief plan. That's Washington, DC, code for, "I'm fixing to raise your taxes." When the economy is bumping along, we don't need to be raising taxes we need to be reducing taxes. And we've got to also remember you need to have somebody in Washington that understands whose money we're talking about. That money is not the Government's money. We're talking about your money. So I look forward to working with Senator Thune and Congressman Janklow on the issues that relate to the our citizenry, issues like economic growth and good health systems and education. The biggest issue we'll be working on together is to protect the American people. That's the biggest issue. The biggest challenge we have in America is to protect our citizens from killers. They're nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers. These people have hijacked a great religion, and they kill innocent life. See, they don't like America they don't value life like we do. We say in our country, "Everybody matters. Everybody is precious in the sight of an Almighty. Everybody counts." That's not the ways these folks we're chasing down think. You just got to know that. But the Nation is we've been warned. We understand the stakes. We understand our life is changed. And so there's a lot of good folks doing everything they can to do our number one job, which is to protect you, a lot of good folks at the Federal level and the State level and the local level doing everything we can to disrupt and deny, to run down every hint, every lead. Anytime we've got any kind of inkling that somebody is thinking about doing something to an American and something to our homeland, you've just got to know we're moving on it, to protect the United States Constitution, and at the same time, we're protecting you. But we can do a better job. And that's why I went to the United States Congress and asked them to join me in the creation of a Department of Homeland Security, so we can get all of the agencies involved with protecting you to have as their number one focus your protection and, if need be, be able to change cultures within these agencies. The House of Representatives passed a good bill. I want to thank John Thune for his vote. This bill is stuck in the Senate. It's stuck in the Senate because some Senators are trying to extract a price from the President, and the price is, is that I will give up the capacity to suspend certain bargaining rules in the name of national security, the ability that every President since John F. Kennedy has had. Let me put it to you this way The work rules I wouldn't have the capacity to suspend some work rules for the Department of Homeland Security if I accepted their version, but I would for the Department of Agriculture. Here we are at war I have more flexibility in dealing with the work rules in the Department of Agriculture than I would in the Department charged with your protection. It doesn't make any sense. I need to be able to put the right people at the right place at the right time to protect the American people. John Thune will support me in advancing a homeland security bill that makes sense. But the best way to protect you is to find these killers, one at a time, and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what we're going to do. It doesn't matter how long it takes. It just doesn't matter how long it takes to defend our country and defend our freedoms. There's not a calendar on my desk that says, on such andsuch a date you'll be hauling them home, on such and such a date we quit. That's not an America I know, and that's not the America you're a part of. You see, when it comes to defending that which we hold dear, our freedoms, it doesn't matter what the cost it doesn't matter how long it takes. See, history has called us it's called this generation into action. And we are not going to let future generations of Americans down. We have an obligation to future generations to do whatever it takes to defend that which we hold dear, and we hold our freedoms dear. I signed the biggest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. I want to thank the Members of Congress and the Senate for getting that bill to me. The reason I asked for such a big increase is, there's two principles involved. One, anytime we put our troops into harm's way, anytime we put our youngsters into a zone in which there's danger, we owe it to them and we owe it to their loved ones to make sure they've got the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. And secondly, we're sending a clear signal to friend and foe alike that this is a determined nation. I'm determined to make sure that that doctrine that says, "Either you're with us or with the enemy," is still clear in everybody's mind around the world. It still stands, by the way. If you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist that doctrine still stands, too. And that defense bill shows we mean what we say. For those of you who have got loved ones in the military, you need to pass on this message The Commander in Chief has got all the confidence in the world, all the confidence that our military can achieve any objective. I'm proud of them, and I appreciate their sacrifices for our great Nation. And we're making progress. We're making progress. Sometimes you'll see it on your TV screens, and sometimes you won't. See, it's a different kind of war. In the old days, we'd destroy tanks and ships and airplanes and say, "Look, we're destroying the enemy's hardware, and we're making progress." This bunch we're fighting is people who hide in caves and send their youngsters to their suicidal deaths. It's a different kind of war. But we're still making progress, one at a time. We're hauling them in. We've got a coalition of people on the hunt. A couple of thousand of them have been hauled in, and they're no longer a problem. Like number met a different fate, and I can assure you they're not a problem. One of them popped his head up the other day, the guy who was going to be the 20th hijacker. He's not a problem to the United States either. We're slowly but surely rounding these killers up to make America a safe place. We've got to be clear eyed. We've got to understand the risk that our country faces. We've got to be realistic, particularly in Washington, DC, when it comes to setting priorities to defending our homeland. It's important that we not see the world the way we hope it is but we see the world the way it really is. The world changed on September the 11th, 2001. It used to be, when a lot of us were growing up, that oceans could protect us. Oh, if there was a conflict overseas, we could pick or choose if we wanted to be involved, but the threat wasn't really real to America. It might be real to some Americans who were overseas, but it wasn't real to our homeland. It was not a threat, but that all changed. And it's important for those of us who are responsible for your safety to be clear eyed about the threats, to see threats as they are, not as we hope they are. There is a threat in Iraq. And the threat exists because a leader there not only has denied and deceived the world about whether or not he's got weapons of mass destruction, but this is a guy who's used weapons of mass destruction. He not only has them he's used them. And he's not only used them in his neighborhood he's used them against his own people. This is a man who cannot stand what we stand for. He hates the fact, like Al Qaida does, that we love freedom. See, they can't stand that. This is a guy who has had connections with these shadowy terrorist networks. As I said in Cincinnati, Ohio, a while back, he's the kind of fellow who would love nothing more than to hurt America and not leave any fingerprints by using a surrogate army on his behalf. He's a problem. He's a true threat to America and our friends and allies. I went to the United Nations a while ago because I want the United Nations to be effective. It's a different kind of war we face we face different kind of threats. It makes sense for there to be an international body that has got the backbone and the capacity to help keep the peace. And so here is my message, a message, by the way, resoundingly supported by members of both political parties in the Senate and the House The message to the world is that we want the U.N. to succeed. We want those resolutions you pass to be listened to. You have told Saddam Hussein he must disarm. Do your job. And Saddam Hussein, you have said you'll disarm you need to do your job. But if the U.N. won't act, and if Saddam Hussein won't disarm, for the sake of peace, for the sake of a free future for our children, we will lead a coalition of nations and disarm Saddam Hussein. There's no doubt, there is no doubt that we have got a chance in this Nation to bring some great good to our country and to the world, out of the evil done to us. You know, I kind of wonder what was going through the enemy's mind when they attacked us. They probably thought we were so selfish and that our true religion was materialism, so self centered that after 9 11 2001, oh, we might file a lawsuit or two. I guess they've been watching too much TV. Laughter They don't understand the country. This country is tough, and it's strong, and it's determined. And by being tough and strong and determined, we can bring peace to the world. You got to know, amidst all the talk please tell your kids that amongst all the talk that you're hearing, the vision is peace. And I believe it's going to happen. I believe it's not only peace for Americans, but because we value every life everybody is important each person matters there can be peace in parts of the world that have given up on peace. I believe it's possible to have peace in the Middle East. I believe it's possible to have peace in South Asia. The enemy has given us a chance, after our grief, not only to be alert here at home but to work hard to keep the peace elsewhere. And we will. And here at home, we can be a better America, too. And that's important for you all to realize, that out of the evil done to America can come some incredible good. There are pockets of despair and hopelessness in America. There are people who hurt. There are people who wonder whether or not the American experience is meant for them, people whose lives are hopeless, people whose lives are addicted, people whose lives have no love. And while Government can help and pass laws, what Government cannot do is put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That's done when a fellow citizen takes it upon herself or himself to put their arm around a neighbor in need, a child, and say, "I love you. What can I do to help you?" And that's happening in this country, and that's happening in neighborhood after neighborhood after neighborhood. No, the American spirit is alive and well. Part of that spirit is serving something greater than yourself in life. Today when I came to the airport, I met Clay Crawford, father of four. He took it upon himself for the past couple of years to mentor at risk youths. I'm confident that amongst you there are hundreds of people who are doing the very same thing, being a part of that movement to make sure that the American experience is alive and well in every corner of our country. It doesn't matter whether you're going to see a shut in or running a Boy Scout troop or a Girl Scout troop. It doesn't matter whether you're a youngster wanting to be involved with the USA Freedom Corps. My call to you is, in order to fight evil, is to do some good. You see, it's the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and decency which define the true character of the greatest country on the face of the Earth. Thank you for representing the American spirit. Thank you for coming. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. October 31, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much. Audience member. We love you, George! The President. I'm glad I came. Thanks for your invitation, and thank you all for coming. Thanks for your interest in our great country. I'm here to tell you that the American spirit is alive and well in West Virginia, and it's alive and well all across the country. It's a spirit which says that we've got the fortitude to defend our freedoms, that we've got the compassion to help a neighbor in need. It's a spirit which says we understand the stakes ahead of us and we will do whatever it takes to defend our freedom. And part of the American spirit means that our citizens must do their duty. In a democracy, it depends upon the participation of our citizens. So I've come to this great State to urge all the citizens of West Virginia Republicans and Democrats, people who don't give a hoot about a political party to do your duty, to do your duty and to go to the polls next Tuesday. And I've got a strong suggestion. I've got an idea about how to make sure West Virginia remains a strong State. I've got an idea on how to make sure that West Virginia sends the best to the United States Congress, and that is to send Shelley Moore Capito back to the Congress. I want to thank all the candidates who are here. I want to thank the good folks who put their name on the ballot, who are working hard. I particularly want to pay homage to Jay Wolfe, the Republican candidate for the United States Senate. I want to thank all the grassroots activists who are here. You're the good people who work hard to get these candidates elected. You're the good folks who helped me win, and you're the good folks who are going to help Shelley Moore go back to the United States Congress. She can't win without you. So over the next couple of days, when you're going to your coffee shops or your houses of worship or your community centers, tell your fellow citizens they have an obligation to go to the polls. Don't worry about talking to some of these Democrats. There's plenty of Democrats in this State who understand Shelley Moore Capito has done a great job. Round up the vote. Round up the vote and work hard. She needs your help. And there's a good reason to send her back to the United States Congress. First of all, she's an independent person, representing an independent State. She's smart. She's capable. She brings class to the office. She loves her family. Audience member. I love you, George! The President. Thank you. I appreciate so very much her husband, Charlie his patience, his support of Shelley Moore. He is a really fine husband. She married well, and so did I. One of Laura's favorite Members of Congress is Shelley Moore Capito. She's got good judgment, Laura does most of the time. Laughter Some of her friends questioned her judgment when there I was on bended knee she said, "Yes, I'll marry you." Laughter Thank goodness she did say yes. She is a great First Lady for our country. Now, there's a lot of reasons besides Shelley Moore's character that we need her in the United States Congress. She's an effective person. She can get things done. She's a breath of fresh air. She doesn't her demeanor is such, she doesn't represent that stale, old, tired politics, where you get ahead by trashing somebody. See, she's got a vision. She knows what she wants to do, and she knows our great country has got some challenges. And I look forward to continuing to work with her to meet those challenges. One of the biggest challenges we have is to make sure people can find work in America. We had good news today on the quarterly growth. But so long as somebody is looking for work and can't find a job, we've got to continue to stress job creation. We've got to do what's right. We've got to do what's right by our people to make sure they can find a job. I want people being able to put food on the table. I'm optimistic. We've overcome some pretty steep hurdles already. After all, the economy has gone through a recession. We withstood some serious terrorist attacks. And yet we're still strong, and we're moving forward. But we won't rest. We won't rest until people can find work. Shelley Moore Capito and I understand the role of small business in our society. It's important to have somebody in Congress who understands that. She serves on the Committee for Small Business. See, we understand most new jobs are created by entrepreneurs and small business owners. Seventy percent of new job creation, it comes from the ingenuity and hard work of our small business sector. And therefore, growth policy ought to be directed toward small businesses. One thing to make sure small businesses grow is to make sure they have more money in their pocket. That's why the tax relief plan we passed makes eminent sense for job creation. That tax relief plan was good for small businesses and job creation, and it is good for West Virginia citizens as well. Over the next 10 years, that relief plan, if it stays intact, will provide you all 5.5 billion. Now, I want you to understand, Shelley and I understand, we're not talking about the Government's money. See, that's the difference of attitude with some of them in Washington. They say, "Oh, we're spending the Government's money, or we're giving the Government's money back to the people." It's your money to begin with. That tax relief plan was important because when you have more money in your pocket, you're more than likely to demand an additional good or a service. And when you demand a good or a service in the marketplace, somebody is going to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or service, somebody in West Virginia or around America is more likely to find work. I need people in the United States Congress who understand this and are willing to make the tax cuts permanent. And make no mistake about it, that somebody in West Virginia is Shelley Moore Capito. There are other things we can do in Congress to get people working. We need terrorism insurance. We want our hardhats working. We want the people who are wearing those hardhats building those buildings. And therefore, the Congress needs to work with the administration to make sure there's terrorism insurance to get billions of dollars of construction programs going again. And by the way, the bill must reward the hard working Americans, the hardhats, and not America's trial lawyers. I appreciate working with Shelley on a key issue for West Virginia and America, and that's an energy plan. It's about time this country had an energy plan. That's good for not only job security but national security. We need an energy plan which encourages conservation, works on renewables. We need an energy plan that's realistic. We need an energy plan that understands the importance of coal and clean coal technology. We need an energy plan that not only helps people find work, but an energy plan that makes us less reliant on foreign sources of crude oil. No, there are some things that Congress can do, and there's something Congress has done to help the economy. Not only did the terrorists attack us, which hurt the economy we had a slight problem more than a slight problem, a significant problem with some of the people running corporate America. See, they thought they could lie, fudge the numbers, and get away with it. We sure did we passed the best corporate reform bill since Franklin D. Roosevelt was the President. Shelley Moore Capito was by my side passing that law, and there's a new signal we're sending No more easy money in America, just hard time. We've got the foundation for growth, and we'll continue to work together to make sure people can find work. We also got to work together to make sure our health care systems work. Medicare is a key issue. The Speaker found one of the best there is and put her on as the vice chairman of the Speaker's prescription drug task force, and that's your Congresswoman. You see, medicine has changed. Medicine has changed because of technology and new discoveries. Medicare hasn't changed. Medicine is progressive. Medicare is stuck in the past. For the sake of a good future for our citizens, we must make sure Medicare is modern, and that means prescription drug benefits for our seniors. And Shelley Moore Capito led the way in the House of Representatives on this key issue. And there's another key issue facing health care. We want our citizens to be able to have affordable health care. And there must be doctors available. One of my big concerns is the medical liability situation around the country. Listen, we want our people to be able to get to the courts if they've got a claim. Everybody ought to be able to go to the courts if they have a claim. But the problem is, frivolous and junk lawsuits are driving doctors out of business and are running the price of medicine up. And Shelley Moore Capito understands the need for medical liability reform for the good of West Virginia patients, so health care is affordable and health care is accessible. And one other issue we worked on I'm real proud of her work and that is to make sure our schools are great. We passed one of the most meaningful education reform packages in a long, long time. Thanks to Shelley Moore's hard work, the West Virginia schools will receive 330 million of Federal money this year. But we did something else. We passed power out of Washington because we believe in local control of schools. But we also were willing to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. We've set high standards and high expectations. We expect the best for every single child who lives in America. We'll praise success. But when we find children trapped in schools which will not teach and will not change, we will demand that the status quo changes. No child shall be left behind in America. No, I appreciate working with Shelley Moore Capito on these key issues, and we'll continue working together for the good of the country and for the good of West Virginia. There's one big issue that we're going to work together on as well. Overriding all the concerns I've just outlined is one big issue, and that is to protect America. That's our most important job, is to protect you and your families from further attack. And there's still an enemy out there lurking around. Audience members. Go get 'em! The President. And they're motivated. They're motivated because they hate us, and they hate us because of what we love. We love freedom, and we're not going to change. And so, in order to make sure we do a good job and by the way, there's a lot of good people working on your behalf right now, at the Federal level and the State level and the local level. We got the message about this enemy. We're aware they're there. We're aware of their hatreds. We know that they're different from Americans because they don't value innocent life, and we say, "Every life is precious. Everybody counts. Everybody has worth." So we understand, and anytime we get a hint that somebody is thinking about doing something to America, we're moving on it. Anytime we get any evidence that somebody is trying to do something to this great country, we're going to move we're going to deny we're going to disrupt everything within our power and within the United States Constitution to do our solemn duty, which is to protect the American people. And that's why I went to the United States Congress and asked them to join with me in the creation of a Department of Homeland Security, so we can better protect the homeland, so we can get the agencies involved with homeland security to work together, to set as their priority your protection, and if need be, to work together to change cultures, so that the number one priority is in fact the protection of the homeland. Shelley Moore Capito supported my version of the bill in the House. It got stuck in the United States Senate. And let me tell you why Because the United States Senate wanted to take away a power every President has had since John F. Kennedy. Every President since Kennedy has had the capacity to suspend some work rules in order for the sake of national security. Presidents have had the capacity to say, "Well, this is in our Nation's interest. Therefore, certain work rules must be scrapped for the good of the country." Secondly, I need the flexibility and the ability to put the right people at the right time at the right I don't need a book this thick of bureaucratic rules written by special interests in Washington. I appreciate Shelley's support on this key issue. But I want you all to know that the best way to protect America, the best homeland protection, is to chase the killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice. And that's what we're going to do. I want to thank the Congress for sending a defense bill to my desk that was the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. I asked for that increase for two reasons, and I want to share them with you. I believe strongly that anytime we put one of our youngsters into harm's way, anytime our military goes into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. We owe that to our soldiers, and we owe that to the loved ones of our soldiers. And secondly, the message we sent with that defense bill is this and it's important for you to hear this it's important for our enemy to hear this and our friends to hear this it doesn't matter how long it takes to defend America we will defend our country. There's no calendar on my desk, in that great Oval Office there is no calendar on my desk that says, by such andsuch a date, we're hauling it in. That's just not the way I think, and I know it's not the way America thinks. We have a duty and an obligation to defend our freedoms. We have an obligation to the youngsters coming up to make sure our society is a free society. We have an obligation to defend the innocent. We have an obligation to bring justice to those who murder Americans. That's our obligation, and it's an obligation we will keep. Shelley understands, like I know, this is a different kind of war. Some great veterans here with us today, they remember the days when you could judge progress against an enemy by the number of tanks that you destroyed or the number of airplanes you shot down or the number of ships you sunk. This enemy doesn't have tanks. They don't have ships. They hide in caves. They live in they kind of ooch around laughter dark corners of the world and send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. They're fanatics. They're motivated out of hate. They only way to treat them is like they are, coldblooded killers, and run them down. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. It is important for our countrymen to understand, therapy won't work. Laughter And that's why we put together this coalition of freedom loving countries, to disrupt them, to cut off their money, and to put the spotlight on them in these caves. The doctrine that says, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy" still stands. And we're making good progress on this different kind of war. Sometimes you'll see it on your TV screens sometimes you're just not going to know about it. But slowly but surely, we're rounding them up. We've hauled in over a couple of thousand of them like number weren't as lucky. Either case, neither group is a threat. One of them popped his head up the other day, the 20th hijacker. He's not a problem to America anymore, either. It's important for us to be steady and determined to succeed, because, you see, the stakes have changed. I can see a lot of folks my age out there that remember the day when oceans protected us. If there was a conflict somewhere around the world, we felt pretty good at home, because the oceans were able to protect the homeland. But on September the 11th, on that tragic day, history changed. We now have got the battlefield here at home, and therefore, it's very important for us to be clear eyed and realistic. We can't look at the world the way we hope the world would be. We must look at the world the way it is. We must see threats for what they are. And there's a true threat to America and our friends and allies in Iraq. Saddam Hussein Saddam Hussein is a man who told the world that he would have no weapons of mass destruction. He deceived the world. For 11 long years, he has deceived and denied the truth. This is a man who not only has weapons of mass destruction, a man who was close to having a nuclear weapon at one time, a man who has used weapons of mass destruction on his own people and in his neighborhood. This is a man who hates America and hates our friends. This is a man who has defied the United Nations 16 times. Sixteen times the United Nations has said, "Disarm like you said you were going to," and 16 times he thumbs his nose. So I went to the United Nations. I said, "I want you to succeed as a body. It's important for you to succeed, it seems like to me, when we face new threats to freedom, new threats to countries such as America. We want you to succeed. We want you to be an effective body. We don't want you to be the League of Nations, an empty debating society." They have a choice to make as to whether or not they want the United Nations to be effective. We of course want them to be. Saddam Hussein has a choice to make. We've made it clear that nobody likes war nobody likes what could happen during war. But for the sake of peace, Mr. Hussein, get rid of your weapons. You said you wouldn't have them. Get rid of them. The other day the United States Congress stood strong and spoke with one voice. And here's our message If the United Nations is incapable of disarming Saddam Hussein and if Saddam Hussein will not disarm, then the United States, for the sake of peace, for the sake of freedom, the United States will lead a coalition of nations and disarm Saddam Hussein. We have a chance we have a chance because of what the enemy did to us to lead the world to peace. See, out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good, because this is a really strong nation. I don't know what went through their mind, what they were thinking about when they attacked America. They probably thought our national religion was materialism, that we were so self absorbed and selfish that after September the 11th we might file a lawsuit or two. Laughter But they learned they learned something about America, something you know and I know, that when it comes to the defense of our freedom, when it comes to fighting for things we hold dear, there's nothing stopping this great Nation. No, we're not only a great nation militarily we're a great nation, period. I want you to remind your youngsters that in the first theater of the first war of the 21st century, we went into an impoverished country, Afghanistan, not to conquer anybody but to liberate people. We believe every life counts everybody is precious. We understand freedom is not American given it is God given. And we believe in freedom for all people. I believe out of the evil done to America is going to come some great good, starting with peace. Amidst all the talk of war, I have a vision for peace. I want America to be at peace. I want there to be peace in parts of the world that have given up on peace peace in the Middle East and peace in South Asia. No, if we remain strong, diligent, and focused as we rout out terror and deal with some of the world's dictators that want to harm us or our friends with weapons of mass destruction, we can achieve peace and lasting peace. And here at home, we can have a better America. Here at home, we have a chance to take an assessment of what's important in life. A lot of people have done that. September the 11th was a shock to our systems. A lot of people took a step back and said, "What is life all about? What can I do to help? What can I do to help fight evil?" And my answer is, do some good. If you want to fight evil, love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. There are people who hurt in America. Amongst our plenty, there are people who hurt. There's addiction and loneliness and hopelessness. There are people, when you say "American Dream," they go, "I don't understand what you mean." So long as any of us hurt, we all hurt, as far as I'm concerned. But we've got to remember the limitations of Government. We've talked about ways Government can improve people's lives. Government can hand out money, but Government can never put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That happens when a fellow citizen finds somebody who hurts, somebody in need, and puts their arm around them and says, "I love you, brother" or "I love you, sister." Part of the American spirit is not only to defend our freedoms, but part of the American spirit is to work to eradicate the problems that face our society, one heart, one soul, one person at a time. And it's taking place here. Today I met John Wells, Jr., from right here from your right here from West Virginia. For 30 years he's been active in youth organizations. He's been involved in Boy Scouts. He worked for the YMCA. You see, if you want to change America, it doesn't take much. Oh, you can mentor a child, which is a way to change America. You can help a shut in. You can run a Girl Scout troop. You can do anything to help somebody realize their potential and that there's love and there's compassion in the world. The American spirit calls upon each of us to serve something greater than ourself in life. Perhaps the most vivid example of that spirit and why it's alive and how it's alive today happened on Flight 93. I'm sure you remember. People were flying across the country. They were told that their plane was being used as a weapon. They were on their cell phones. They told their loved ones they loved them and goodbye. They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." They drove the plane into the ground to save life. They served something greater than themselves. No, the American spirit is alive and well. It's strong, which allows me to boldly predict that out of the evil done to America is going to come a more peaceful world and a more hopeful America. And I say that with absolute certainty, because America is the greatest nation, full of the most decent people on the face of this Earth. Thank you for coming tonight. May God bless you, and may God bless America. October 30, 2002 Thank you all very much. Thank you, Al. He's everybody must have a good lawyer, and I got one in Al Gonzales. I want to welcome you all here to the White House. Thank you for coming. The Federal courts play a central role in American justice, protecting the innocent, punishing the guilty, resolving disputes, and upholding the rule of law. Yet, today, our Federal courts are in crisis. The judicial confirmation process does not work as it should. Nominees are too often mistreated votes are delayed hearings are denied. And dozens of Federal judgeships sit empty, and this endangers the quality of justice in America. Everyone knows these facts. Everyone knows the system isn't working. These concerns are not new, and we will not find a solution in an endless cycle of blame and bitterness. Today I'm proposing a clean start for the process of nominating and confirming Federal judges. We must have an evenhanded, predictable procedure from the day a vacancy is announced to the day a new judge is sworn in. This procedure should apply now and in the future, no matter who lives in this house or who controls the Senate. We must return fairness and dignity to the judicial confirmation process. I want to thank the Judge, Al Gonzales, for working on this initiative, and I want to thank his team for working hard. I appreciate John Ashcroft's service to our country. He is a great Attorney General, and I'm not saying that just because his wife and her twin sister are here. Laughter I'm so pleased that Ted Olson, the Solicitor General, is with us. I thank Fred Fielding, the former counsel to President Ronald Reagan. Boyd Gray is with us, former Counsel to Number 41. Dennis Archer is with us today, president elect of the American Bar Association and, of course, the former mayor of Detroit. Mr. Mayor, thank you for coming. Thomas Hayward, chair of the Committee of Federal Judicial Improvements for the American Bar Association, and all of you, thank you for your interest in this subject. Nearly 18 months ago, at an event right here in the East Room, I introduced my first 11 nominees to the court of appeals. I urged Senators of both parties to provide a fair hearing and a prompt vote to each nominee. Thus far, only 3 of these 11 nominations have been brought to a vote in the United States Senate. The eight who are stalled in the Judiciary Committee include people such as John Roberts. John Roberts has argued 38 cases before the Supreme Court. He has served as Deputy Solicitor General of the United States. He's widely regarded as one of the best Supreme Court lawyers in America. And they include Miguel Estrada, who has argued 15 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and has served in the Justice Department, under Presidents of both political parties, as a Federal prosecutor and as the Assistant to the Solicitor General. The Judiciary Committee has prevented full Senate action on people such as Priscilla Owen, who has served brilliantly on the Texas Supreme Court since 1995 and was overwhelmingly reelected by the people of Texas in the year 2000. Mr. Roberts, Mr. Estrada and Justice Owen have the highest ratings from the American Bar Association, which some Democrat Senators have called "the gold standard." They have broad support among lawyers in both political parties. Both Mr. Roberts and Mr. Estrada have the support of former President Clinton's Solicitor General. Justice Owen is supported by three former Democrat justices of the Texas Supreme Court. In all, I have sent to the Senate 32 nominees for the court of appeals. They are well qualified men and women with experience, intelligence, character, and bipartisan home State support. They represent the mainstream of American law and American values. Yet the Senate has confirmed only 14 of these 32 nominees, which is far below the pace of past Senates at the start of an administration. It's a lousy record. Not one of my nine pending nominees to fill vacancies on the Sixth and DC Circuit Courts has received a Senate vote not one. As of November, 15 of my appeals court nominees will have been forced to wait over a year for a hearing. That's more in this Presidency than under the previous nine Presidents combined. There's no good reason why any nominee should endure a year, a year and a half, or more without the courtesy of an upor down floor vote. There is not one good reason why. Whatever the explanation, we clearly have a poisoned and polarized atmosphere in which well qualified nominees are neither voted up or down they are just left in limbo. This is unfair to the nominees and their families. This process discourages good people from serving as judges. It's also unfair to the courts themselves, which are forced to handle a growing caseload without the judges they need. Nine percent of all Federal judgeships in America are now vacant 9 percent. Of the 12 regional courts of appeals, the courts right below the Supreme Court, there is a 17 percent vacancy rate. The Court of Appeals for the DC court, which rules on many significant Constitutional and regulatory issues, now operates with one third of its judgeships empty. And the Sixth Court of Appeals, which covers Kentucky and Ohio, Michigan and Tennessee, is nearly half empty, with 9 active judges doing the work of 16. Meanwhile, the number of Federal appeal court filings reached an all time high this year. Benches are empty the number of court filings has increased to an all time high. We can expect them to increase even further as a result of the war on terror, corporate fraud prosecutions, and issues arising out of the September the 11th attacks. If the judicial vacancies go unfulfilled, we will see more crowded dockets and longer delays. The Federal courts will be unable to act in a timely manner to protect constitutional rights, to resolve civil disputes, and enforce the criminal laws, the environmental laws, and the civil rights laws that affects the lives and liberties of every single American. Chief Justice Rehnquist has called this situation alarming. The American Bar Association's report has described the current status of the Federal judiciary as an emergency situation. The judicial crisis is the result of a broken system, and we have a duty to repair it. I want to work with the Senate to fashion a new approach to filling Federal court vacancies. We should leave behind the arguments and grievances of the past. We need to fix this problem together. That's why we've come to Washington, to fix problems, and each branch of Government can contribute, and must contribute, to a better system. So today I'm offering four specific proposals to break the logjam in Washington and bring the Federal courts of appeals and district courts to full strength. First, I call on Federal judges on the courts of appeals and district courts to notify the President of their intention to retire at least a year in advance, whenever this is possible. Because the nomination and confirmation of a Federal judge is a lengthy process under the best of circumstances, judges who retire without advance notice can unintentionally create a judicial vacancy that can last for many months. The request for one year advance notice builds on existing policy of the judiciary and will help us work toward a system in which a new Federal judge is ready to take the bench on a day the sitting judge retires. That's the goal. Second, I propose that Presidents submit a nomination to the Senate within 180 days of receiving notice of a Federal court vacancy or intended retirement. In other words, we have a responsibility as well to make sure the judiciary is sound and whole. This will speed up the sometimes time consuming process of obtaining recommendations and evaluations from home State Senators and Representatives and Governors and bar leaders, while leaving ample time for Presidents to vet and choose nominees of the highest quality. Third, I call on the Senate Judiciary Senate Judiciary Committee to commit to holding a hearing within 90 days of receiving a nomination. A strict deadline is the best way to ensure that judicial nominees are promptly and fairly considered, and 90 days is more than enough time for the committee to conduct necessary research before holding a hearing. That's plenty of time. Finally, I call on the full Senate to commit to an up or down floor vote on each nominee no later than 180 days after the nomination is submitted. This is a very generous period of time that will allow all the Senators to evaluate nominees and have their votes counted. Our proposals would not favor Democrats or Republicans. The plan would be fair and would apply to regardless of who the President is. It doesn't matter who the President is. What matters is a system which works. For the first time in years, the judicial confirmation process would work as it was intended to work. All Senators would have a chance to make their voices heard and their views known, and that's important. All nominees would have the certainty of an up or down Senate floor vote within a reasonable period of time, and that is important. All Presidents would know that their judicial nominations would be addressed promptly. All Americans would see a more dignified process and have their Federal courts fully staffed to protect their rights and their liberties. And the vacancy crisis would be resolved once and for all. I urge every Member of the Senate, in particular those serving on the Judiciary Committee, to carefully consider this new beginning for the judicial nomination process, to weigh their responsibilities, to look at the vacancy problem we have, to act in a responsible fashion. The failure of the judicial confirmation process is harming the administration of justice in America. That is a fact. The current state of affairs is not merely another round of political wrangling. It is a disturbing failure to meet our responsibilities under the Constitution. The Constitution has given us a shared duty, and we must meet that duty together. Thank you all for coming. October 28, 2002 The President. Thanks for coming. Thanks for such a warm welcome. It's nice to be in a part of the world where the cowboy hats outnumber the ties. I'm honored so many of you all came. Please be seated, unless you don't have a seat. Laughter I'm honored so many came out today. I've got some things on my mind that I'd like to share with you. One thing that's on my mind is that we have a duty to our country to participate in the political process. See, if you believe in freedom, you have a duty to exercise your right to vote to begin with. One of the reasons I'm coming to this big State is to encourage people to do their duty, to go to the polls. I want all people, no matter what their political party is or whether they even like a political party, to exercise their obligation to vote. Now, I've got some suggestions when you go laughter I've got some suggestions. For the sake of Colorado and for the sake of the country, Wayne Allard needs to be sent back to the United States Senate. Audience members. Six more years! Six more years! Six more years! The President. Whether he wins or not is going to depend upon many of you here. See, grassroots politics makes a big difference turning out that vote, getting on the telephones and putting up the signs, going to your coffee shops or your houses of worship or your community centers to put out the word that, when you've got a good one like Wayne, you've got to do everything you can to help him get back to Washington. You know, in Colorado, I'm sure you understand this. Around Crawford, we kind of know the difference between a show horse and a work horse. Laughter With Wayne, you've got somebody who's willing to work on your behalf. When he says something, he means it. And he does not need a focus group or a poll to tell him what to think. I'm proud to have traveled in with Joan today, too. Like me, he married well. He drew the short straw. If he'd have been smart, he'd have invited Laura to come and speak instead of me. Laughter And she's doing great, by the way. She's on her way from Crawford back to Washington. I don't know if you remember the story. I see my friend Ricky Griess here. He and I both went to San Jacinto Junior High with Laura. When I married her, when I asked her to marry me or asked her to marry me, she was a public school librarian, and she didn't like politics. Laughter And she didn't care for politicians, either. Laughter Thank goodness she said yes when I proposed. She is a fabulous First Lady for America, and she's for Wayne Al lard. And like me, she's also awfully fond of your Governor and first lady. Bill Owens Governor Bill Owens is one of the finest Governors in the United States. And you better make sure you put him back in, too. He's got a great record. He cares deeply about the citizens of this State, and he's proven that he's a Governor of everybody. The thing I like about Governor Owens, he campaigns proudly as a Republican, but he serves all the people of this State. And he's going to get a big vote from Republicans and Democrats and independents because of the job he has done. I'm not saying that just because he was born in Texas. Laughter I'm saying that because his record speaks loud and clear. And we love Frances, too. She's done a great job as the first lady of Colorado. I'm proud to be up here with another fine United States Senator. Ben Nighthorse Campbell is a class act and a good man. I'm honored to be here with two Members of the United States Congress, Bob Schaffer and Tom Tancredo. I appreciate them coming. And I'm here to make sure to encourage you to work hard, to make sure that Denny Hastert remains the Speaker of the House of Representatives. And if you're interested in joining me in doing that, you'll make sure Bob Beauprez gets elected to the United States Congress. I appreciate Bob. He represents the Colorado story, the Colorado story from a pioneering family. He's an entrepreneur. He's a hard worker. He's a God fearing man. He's a decent soul. For the sake of the country, it's important that Bob Beauprez become the United States Congressman from the Seventh District. You need to work hard to get out the vote in this close race. You need to turn out everybody you can find. And once you get through getting him elected, make sure you don't forget Marilyn Musgrave, who's going to be the Congresswoman from Colorado. Marilyn knows what she's doing. She doesn't need a bunch of on the job training in Washington. She'll be a good, steady hand from the get go. I also want to you to work hard for senator State senator Ken Chlouber. Ken's running Ken's running for the Congress. He too is a good, honest man, a good, decent fellow who will make a fine United States Congressman. No, it's important for the sake of our future that Denny Hastert remain the Speaker of the House. I can work with him. And we need to work together, because we've got some big projects ahead for America, we've got some big challenges for our country. But you've got to know you're looking at an optimist. There's nothing this country can't achieve when we put our mind to it. Some of the biggest challenges we face will require us being able to work together in the with the administrative branch and the legislative branch, in concert. We're doing what's right for America. Listen, I worry about the fact that some people can't find a job here in America. Anytime one's looking for work and can't find a job means we've got to do we've got to have a pro growth agenda. Anytime somebody wants to work and can't put food on the table means we've got a problem in America. Let me tell you what we think. People on this stage believe that the tax cuts we passed, the tax cuts that Congress enacted, was one of the best remedies for making sure people can find work. And the reason why is because when somebody has more of his own or her own money in their pocket, they're more than likely to demand an additional good or a service. And in the marketplace, when you demand a good or a service, somebody is likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces the good or a service, somebody in Colorado or elsewhere in the country is more likely to find work. The tax relief we passed came at exactly the right time in American economic history. And I want to thank Senator Allard for his support. I don't have to worry about his position on tax relief. Nor do I have to worry about Bob Beauprez's position on tax relief. And that's the kind of representation you need to have in Washington. It's still an issue, because the Senate rules are such that after 10 years, the tax relief we passed goes away. See, that creates a sense of uncertainty in the marketplace. It's hard to plan if the tax rules are going to change on you. The tax relief plan we passed made eminent sense for our small businesses. Seventy percent of the new jobs in America are created by small businesses. And when you reduce the rates, the individual tax rates, it affects small business growth because most small businesses are sole proprietorships or limited partnerships. For the sake of job creation, for the sake of enhancing the entrepreneurial spirit, for the sake of strengthening the small business sector in America, you need to send people to the Senate and the Congress who will make the tax relief permanent. I know there is concern about what they call urban sprawl here in Colorado. One of the reasons why urban sprawl can get out of hand is because farmers and ranchers are forced to sell their property before they want to because of the death tax. The tax relief plan we passed puts the death tax on its way to extinction. However, because of the Senate rules, it doesn't go away after 10 years. It kind of heads toward extinction, but doesn't die. It's like the Senate giveth, and then they taketh away. You better have you a United States Senator and Members of the United States Congress who will support the administration and make the repeal of the death tax permanent. We need Members of the United States Congress who will work with the administration to get an energy bill. We can't get an energy bill out of the Congress. That doesn't make any sense. Listen, we are dependent upon foreign sources of crude oil, and some of those sources of crude oil aren't really friendly to the United States of America. I wouldn't call them friends. For the sake of job security, for the sake of national security, we need people in Congress who will work with us to get an energy bill which encourages conservation, encourages renewable sources of energy but, at the same time, encourages exploration, environmentally friendly exploration, so we become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. I look forward to having people in the United States Congress with whom I can work, like Wayne and Bob, to make sure we've got reasonable forest policy. You all suffered a lot of burning here in the West because we've had lousy forest policy, forest policy that didn't make any sense, forest policy that just said, "Let's just ignore the forest. Let's just let this kindling build up. Let's create a dangerous situation." And then all of a sudden, lightening struck, or man may strike, and these forests that have been not tended to, forests that have been ignored, caught on fire and our heritage was destroyed. For the sake of good environmental policy, commonsense environmental policy, send these two people up there so they can join with us, so we can have a forest policy that protects our forest by thinning out the dead wood, by making sure kindling doesn't pile up, to prevent forest fires from happening in the first place through sound forest management practices. I look forward to working with these two men to make sure our Medicare system works. Medicine has changed, and Medicare hasn't. Medicine is modern, got all kinds of new technologies and drugs that will help save lives, and Medicare is stuck in the past. For the sake of honoring our commitments to our seniors, we need people in Congress with whom we can work to make sure Medicare is modern and our seniors have got a prescription drug benefit. No, there's a lot of things we can work on, a lot of things we can work on together to make America a stronger place and a better place. One way I can I believe I can influence America in a positive way is to make sure I get some good judges nominated for the Federal bench, the kind of judges who apply the law as it's written, not who go on the bench to write new laws of their own. And the Senate has got a lousy record on my judges. We need to change the Senate for a lot of reasons, and one reason is to make sure we've got a sound judiciary. There's no question where Wayne Allard stands when it comes to good, conservative judges. He's a vote on which I can count. There's a lot we can do together to make sure the economy is strong and the health care systems work, make sure environmental policy makes sense. These two menMembers of Congress up here on stage with me are running for office, are exactly the right answers for Colorado. We've also got to make sure that we are able to continue to do the most important job we have, and that's to protect the homeland. See, America is still under threat. Oh, we can play like we are aren't. We can play like there's not a threat out there, but that's just not the way I am. I think we need to have people in Congress and around the country who are realistic, see clearly the threats we face. We've got to do that. The most important job we have as Government is to protect innocent life. And the reason why the issue is still alive is because there's an enemy lurking around out there that is pretty tough. And they're resolute, and they're driven by hatred. They hate what we love. We love life. Everybody matters, as far as we're concerned. Everybody is precious. They have no regard for innocent life whatsoever. They hate the fact that we love freedom. We love our freedom of religion. We love our freedom of speech. We love every aspect of freedom, and we're not changing. We're not intimidated. As a matter of fact, the more they hate our freedoms the more we love our freedoms. And so we've got to do everything we can to protect the homeland. We've got to be realistic about the threats we face. See, after September the 11th, 2001, it should be evident to all Americans that these oceans no longer protect us. A while ago it would be easy to say there's a conflict somewhere, and we can pick and choose if we want to be involved, or there may be a threat emerging, but we really don't have to worry about it that much because we've got oceans to protect us. Now we realize that the battlefield is here at home. The battlefields used to be elsewhere. They're here at home now, which means the stakes are much higher. And when we see a threat, we've got to be realistic about the threat, and we've got to be firm in our resolve to deal with threats. And there's a true threat which exists in Iraq. Oh, we can hope the man changes, but I want you to remember that this is a person who has gassed his own people. It's a person who claims he has no weapons of mass destruction, in order to escape the dictums of the U.N. Security Council and the United Nations, but he's got them. See, he'll lie. He'll deceive us. And he'll use them. He can't stand America. He can't stand our friends and allies. For 11 years he's defied 16 resolutions out of the United Nations. You see, 11 years ago, he said he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction. He told the world, "Fine, I got whipped, and I'm not going to have weapons of mass destruction." And then he defied the U.N., resolution after resolution after resolution. He's a threat to America, and he's a threat to our friends. He's even more of a threat now that we've learned that he's anxious to have once again to develop a nuclear weapon. He's got connections with Al Qaida. And so I went to the United Nations to raise the issue. I went there for a couple of reasons. One, I want the United Nations to be effective. It seems like to me that, if the new war we fight requires intelligence sharing and cutting off the money, then we ought to have a group of nations working toward that end. I don't want the United Nations to be the League of Nations, but it's their choice to make. They have the choice to make, to free the leaders of the free world have got a choice to make as to whether or not Saddam is going to be allowed to defy their resolutions and weaken weaken their capacity to keep the peace their choice. And Saddam Hussein has got a choice to make too. He can do what he said he would do he can disarm. The Congress debated the issue, members from both parties stated their opinion. It was a good, healthy, open debate. And the Congress has now joined with the administration to speak with one voice, and here's our message. Our message from America is this If the United Nations does not have the will or the courage to disarm Saddam Hussein, and if Saddam Hussein will not disarm, for the sake of peace, for the sake of freedom, the United States will lead a coalition and disarm Saddam Hussein. No, we've got to be realistic. We must be realistic here in America. We can't hope for the best. Times have changed. The battlefield is here, as we learned so clearly on that fateful day. And they're still out there. The poor souls of in Indonesia who lost their lives are an example of what I'm talking about. These people are cold blooded killers. But you've got to know there's a lot of good people working hard here at home to protect you, people at the Federal level and at the State level, the local level, people working overtime to run down any hint or to chase down any lead so we can deny, disrupt any plans. We get a hint I'm telling you, we're moving on it. We're doing everything we can. See, we are on alert. We're now aware of the realities we face. But we can do a better job, and that's why I asked Congress to join me in the creation of a Department of Homeland Security, so we can better coordinate amongst the agencies involved with the with securing the homeland, so we can set the homeland security as the priority, if need be change cultures, so we've got people all headed in the same direction, which is your protection. And the House of Representatives passed a good bill. But it's stuck in the Senate. They couldn't get it out of the Senate. They're trying to extract too high a price from me. For 40 years, Presidents have had the ability to suspend collective bargaining rules in any Department when the national security is at stake. For 40 years, since John Kennedy, Presidents have had that power. And now the Senate, in a time of war, wants to take that power away from me. I'll have that power in the Agriculture Department but not in the Department of Homeland Security. And I'm not going to accept a lousy bill from the Senate. And I want to thank Wayne Allard for his support. I know where he stands. The best way, however, to secure our homeland, the best way to make sure we defend our freedoms and fulfill our obligations to our children is to hunt these killers down, one at a time, and bring them to justice, which is exactly what we're going to do. It's going to take a while. It's not an easy lift. It's going to take a while. This isn't one of these instant gratification deals. This is going to take a while to get it done. The Congress responded to my budget request for the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. I want to thank them for that. I signed that the other day in the Rose Garden. And we signed that I asked for that amount of money for two reasons. One, anytime this country commits our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. We owe that to our troops, and we owe that to the loved ones of our troops. And for all the loved ones of our troops out there, I want to thank you for your sacrifices, and you tell your son, daughter, grandson, granddaughter, however he or she is related to you, that the Commander in Chief is confident in their capacity and proud of their service to the United States of America. And the other message we're sending loud and clear, that defense bill sends this message loud and clear to friend and foe alike, that we're in this deal for the long haul. There is not a calendar on my desk in the Oval Office that says by such andsuch a date, you quit. That's just that's not the way I think. That's not the way most Americans think, because they understand freedom is precious and they understand the stakes. They can see clearly that the battleground has shifted, and we have an obligation and a duty for future generations of America to stay the course. And that's exactly what we're going to do. The doctrine that says, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy," it still stands too. And we're making progress at dismantling the terrorist organization. We've hauled in a couple of thousand. One by one, we're finding them and bringing them to justice like number were not as lucky. In either case, the sum total is, they're not a problem to the United States or our friends and allies anymore. The other day, one of them popped his head up. See, these are the kinds of people that hide in caves. They don't fly airplanes like the one I used to fly, the 102, or they don't sit in tanks. They hide in caves, and they send their youngsters to their suicidal deaths. And so you've got to treat this like a manhunt. One time, a guy the other day named bin al Shibh, who was going to be the twentieth hijacker, he popped his head up, and he's not a problem anymore. We've got a lot of good people chasing them down, a lot of good people. Sometimes you'll see about it, read about it, or see it on TV, and sometimes you're just not going to see it. But you've got to know the manhunt is on, and it doesn't matter how long it takes, doesn't matter how long it takes. I like our chances better than theirs. We've got a fabulous military, and we've got a great resolve. I can't imagine what was going through their mind. They must have thought our religion was materialism. They must have thought we were so self centered and so absorbed with our own kind of shallow materialism that all we would do after September the 11th was file a lawsuit. Laughter They just didn't understand, and they're going to pay a dear price for doing what they did to America. You see, this great country this country understands what's at stake. This country is strong. This country is resolved. And by being strong and by being resolved, there's going to be some incredible good come out of the evil done to America, starting with peace. Amidst all the talk you're hearing, you've got to understand my vision is for a peaceful world. Oh, I understand the stakes I see the risks. But the dream and it's an achievable dream is for the world to be peaceful, not only for Americans but for people in parts of the world that have quit on peace, parts of the world like the Middle East, where they just think peace doesn't have a chance. I believe we can achieve peace. I believe this Nation can lead the world to a peaceful world. We're going to have to be strong. We're going to have to be tough at times. And we've always got to remember the value we hold most dear, freedom, is not an American created value. It's a God given value that applies to everybody around the world. No, we can achieve a peaceful world, and also at home we can achieve a more compassionate world as well. The evil done to America caused a lot of good folks to take a step back, to kind of take an inventory of that which is important in their lives. A lot of good folks took a step back and said, "How can I best serve my country? What can I do? What can I do to help fight evil?" And the answer is, if you really want to help, love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. See, Government can hand out money, and we can do things. We'll work hard on education matters. We'll work hard to make sure the Medicare system works. And Government can pass money out. Sometimes we do a pretty good job of it. Laughter But what it cannot do is put hope in people's hearts or sense of purpose in people's lives. The best way to convert the evil done to America to some good is to recognize there's pockets of despair and hopelessness in America. There's loneliness. There's addiction. There are people who hurt in our midst. And so long as some of us hurt, we all hurt. And the best way to cure that loneliness and hurt is for a fellow American to put their arm around somebody in need and say, "I love you. What can I do to help you?" You see, the enemy had no idea who they were hitting. They didn't understand America like I do and you do. This is a country full of people that are decent and honorable, people who learned the lesson of Flight 93. That was the lesson of people who were flying across the country. They heard the plane was going to be used as a weapon. They told their loved ones goodbye. They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane into the ground to serve something greater than themselves. No, the American spirit of sacrifice and service and compassion and love is alive and strong. And therefore, I boldly predict that out of the evil done to America will not only come a more peaceful world, but out of the evil done to America will be a more compassionate America, where the great hope of this country, the great vibrancy of the American Dream, will be alive and well in every corner, in every neighborhood here in America. I'm an optimistic fellow because I understand that America is the greatest country, full of the finest people on the face of this Earth. Thank you for coming. May God bless you, and may God bless America. October 28, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much. Hola. Audience members. Hola. The President. Si. Thank you all for coming today. It's a beautiful day here. Of course, every day is a beautiful day in New Mexico. I love to come to a part of the country where the cowboy hat is the cowboy hat, instead of the tie, is a part of the work uniform. It kind of reminds me of home, right around the corner from here. They tell me I'm the first President ever to come to Alamogordo. For that, I'm honored. I'm honored, and I'm honored so many of my fellow Americans have comeout to say hello, to listen to what's on my mind. First of all, what's on my mind is that in order to be a good American, in my judgment, you've got to exercise your right. You've got to go to the polls. In order to do your job as an American, you can't take democracy for granted. You owe it to our society to go vote. Of course, I've got a few suggestions for you when you go to the polls. It doesn't matter to me whether you're a Republican, Democrat, or independent. You have an obligation. So I'm here to urge you all to do your duty and to go to your coffee shops and your houses of worship, community centers, and urge your fellow citizens to do their duty as well. And while you're asking them to do it, remind them, for the good of New Mexico and for the good of the country, Steve Pearce is the right man for the Congress. And I also want you to remind them that you've got a good man running for Governor, a man who can do the job, a man who represents the best of New Mexico. Tell them John Sanchez is the right man for the Governor of New Mexico. I'm proud to be here today with a member of my Cabinet. His name is Mel Martinez. I want to tell you about Mel's story right quick. He was a young boy, born in Cuba, but his mother and daddy realized the promise of America. They realized that the land of freedom was the right place to raise their child. And so they sent Mel by himself from the island of Cuba, from the island of Cuba to escape the clutches of Fidel Castro's repressive regime, to America. His mother and daddy decided America was so important and so promising that they made an incredibly difficult choice for a mother and dad, and that is, they said, "Son, we love you. We love you so much that we're sending you by yourself as a young boy to America." And here he is today, in the Cabinet of the President of the United States. He represents the best of America, the promise of America, and the hope of America. And that's the greatness of this country. And that's what we've all got to work together to achieve, to make sure the greatness of America and the promise of America shines brightly for everybody. I'm proud to be here today with my friend the Governor of New Mexico and the great first lady of New Mexico, Gary and Dee Johnson. And one thing for certain is, I'm not going to challenge him to a footrace laughter or a bike race, or a swimming race. Laughter I mention the first lady unfortunately, you drew the short straw today. If you really were smart, Steve would have invited Laura to come instead of me. I just talked to her on the phone. She's in Crawford. She's fixing to head up to Washington. She's doing great, by the way. I'm really proud of her. She was born and raised in Midland. When I met her, she was actually, we went to eighth grade together at San Jacinto Junior High. And then we got to know each other again, and when I met her, she was a public school librarian. Applause Oh, yeah. There's always one or two in every crowd. Laughter I don't know how you feel about politics, but I can tell you how she felt about politics. She didn't care for them. Laughter When I married her, she didn't like politicians. Yeah, I know. Laughter But fortunately, she said yes when I asked her to marry me, and she is a great First Lady for America. I think it has a lot to do with the part of the world that we're from, the part of the world she's from your part of the world, a place where values matter a lot, where family counts first, where faith is important. Today I'm sorry that one of the really finest United States Senators amongst the 100 is not with us. He's on his way to mourn the loss of a fellow Senator, Paul Wellstone. We all send our send our prayers and thoughts to his family. Pete Domenici is one of the fine ones. He's a really, really great American. He's a solid, solid citizen. And I hope, if all goes right next Tuesday, all around the country we're going to start calling him Mr. Chairman again, because we're going to change the United States Senate. No, I'm working hard to make sure that Denny Hastert remains the Speaker. That's why I want you to send this good man, Steve Pearce, to the Congress. I want to urge you to make sure that Pete Domenici goes back to the Senate. We're working hard so that we can say with certainty that in Washington we're working together to make America a better place. I appreciate so very much the fact that Joe Skeen has served New Mexico with distinction. Joe's a good man. I've known him for a long time. Of course, he's struggling right now with physical affliction, but his faith is strong his spirit is high. And we all owe him a debt of gratitude for serving this great part of the world with class. I want to thank the mayor of Alamogordo for coming here. I appreciate, Mr. Mayor, your good work for this important community. I want to thank all of you all who are involved with grassroots politics Republican grassroots politics, those of you who man the phones and put the signs in the yards and lick the envelopes. It's an essential part of democracy. It's an essential part of how people win. I want to thank you for what you have done. I want to thank you for what you're going to do, which is do everything you can to turn out a big vote for these good candidates. And there's a reason not just because they look pretty. Laughter Well laughter because they've got ideas on how to make New Mexico a better place and how to make the country a stronger place. John Sanchez understands that education is the most important priority for any State. That's what he knows. He knows what I know, that in order to be effective, in order to make sure people can learn, you've got to set high standards. You've got to believe every child can learn. You've got to challenge what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. If you lower the bar, you're going to get lousy results. If the system believes that certain children can't learn, you know what's going to happen? People are going to get left behind. You've got to have the highest of high standards. You've got to believe every child can learn, especially those children whose parents may not speak English as a first language. You've got to have a Governor in whose heart of hearts understands that high expectations is one of the keys to success. And then you've got to have a Governor who doesn't get captured by the special interests of any State capital or National Capital but a Governor who trusts the local people to chart the path to excellence for every child. Local control of schools is an incredibly important part of educational excellence. No, education is important. And if you believe every child can learn, then you want to have an accountability system which will show us whether every child is learning. See, if you believe every child can learn, then you better have yourself a Governor who's willing to ask that fundamental question, can our children read and write and add and subtract? Can we teach them early enough, before it's too late? You want to have a measuring system so that you're able to praise the teachers for their good work. And for all of you who are teachers, thank you from the bottom of our heart. But in order to make sure every child can learn, if you believe every child can learn, then you want to know. In order to make sure, you better have an accountability system that tells us whether or not our children are trapped in schools which will not teach and will not change. And then you have a better Governor who's got the courage and the willingness, for the sake of the children, to demand change. No child should be left behind in the State of New Mexico when John Sanchez is your Governor. If one of the concerns is jobs in New Mexico, then it seems like to me you better get you a Governor who knows how to create jobs. See, he's done that. He's an entrepreneur. He understands the role of small business in our society. Small businesses create 70 percent of the new jobs in America. So get you a Governor who knows that, and get you a Governor who also understands the role of Government is not to create wealth the role of Government is to create opportunity, opportunity for our small businesses to grow to be big businesses, opportunities for our farmers and ranchers to be able to make a living. John Sanchez is the right man for Governor. When you turn out the vote, make sure you back this good man. He's going to make you one you can be proud of. And I need Steve up in the United States Congress. I don't need to be worried about a vote from this part of New Mexico. I need somebody who's going to work with me on a solid way, somebody we can count on. And the reason I know I can count on him is because we share the same philosophy about life. We understand the role of Government, and we understand and are optimistic that we can accomplish anything put in this country's path. And we've got some big hurdles to cross. We've got some big steps to climb. There's no question in my mind we can do that. After all, this is the finest nation on the face of the Earth. One big hurdle we've got to cross is to make sure this economy keeps growing, make sure people can find work. Anytime one American who wants to work can't find a job, says to me we've got a problem. And therefore, in Washington, we've go to be promoting pro growth policies, pro growth in the sectors necessary to increase employment. One of the things I took on was the Tax Code. I told the people of New Mexico and the country that if you elected me as President, I was going to do everything I can to reduce the tax burden on the American people. And fortunately, it came at the right time. See, here's what I believe here's what Steve knows that if you let a man or a woman keep more of their own money, they're more than likely to demand an additional good or a service. And when somebody demands a good or a service in our society, in our marketplace, somebody is likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or a service, it means somebody is more likely to be able to find a job. The best thing we have done in Washington for our economy is to let the people of New Mexico and America keep more of your own money. And now we need to have us a Congressman who will join me in making sure that the tax relief is permanent, that it exists for the next decade, so you know you've got that money in your pocket, so you know no one is going to come and take that money back away from you. See, that's an important issue. It's an important issue. There's a fundamental difference among some of us in Washington. One of the things Steve and I understand is, when we're talking about the money up there, it's not the Government's money it's the people's money. We're working hard in Washington to make sure the country is a better place. And that means fulfilling some of our commitments that we made. One such commitment, of course, is Medicare. Medicine has changed Medicare hasn't. Medicine is becoming more and more modern with the new technologies and the new medicines Medicare is stuck in the past. For the sake of a better America, for the sake of an America fulfilling its promise, we need to modernize Medicare, including a prescription drug plan for our seniors. Steve understands that. Steve understands that. I look forward to working with him on issues important, whether it be education or Medicare or taxes or making sure Congress doesn't overspend. These are key issues we need to work on. But there's no more important issue than to make sure our homeland is secure. The most important obligation we have at all levels of government is to do everything we can to secure the homeland, is to protect innocent life, is to prevent an enemy which hates America from hurting any American. And that's an important job, because and it's an ongoing job, because you've just got to understand that an enemy lurks out there. They're dangerous. They're determined. They're based upon they base their sentiments upon hatred. They don't value innocent life. See, that stands in stark contrast to America and Americans. We value life. We say everybody is precious everybody counts. That's not how the enemy thinks. They've hijacked a great religion, and they murder in the name of that religion. They don't value life. They hate America because of what we love. We love freedom. We love the idea of people being able to worship an almighty God any way you see fit. We love our free society. We love the idea that people can come to America and realize their dreams. Freedom stands at the heart and soul of America, and we're not changing. And so long as we love freedom, they're going to hate us. The other thing that's important for our citizens to realize is that the stakes have changed. After September the 11th, we learned a hard lesson and a cold lesson, and that is, oceans no longer protect us from the hatred of our enemies. When a lot of us were coming up, we used to, could sit back and say, "Oceans protect us. Therefore, we have the luxury of picking or choosing what threat we deal with. We can take our time." If we chose not to be involved, we could just let a threat materialize, and we don't have to worry about it. We've got to be clear eyed about the new dangers we face. We've got to be realistic. If we're going to protect America, it's very important for all of us, particularly those of us in Washington, to not hope for the best but to see clearly the threats. And there is a real threat, in my judgment, a real and dangerous threat to America in Iraq, in the form of Saddam Hussein. I want to this is a man who told the world that he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction. He's got weapons of mass destruction. This is a man who has used weapons of mass destruction. He's used them against his neighbors. He's used them against his own people. This is a person who can't stand America. This is a person who has had contacts with Al Qaida. This is a person who has defied international bodies time and time again. This is a person who has made the United Nations look foolish. I went to the United Nations. I said to them as clearly as I could, in Western language laughter I said, "You can be an effective body to help us keep the peace. You can be an effective U.N., or you can be the League of Nations. That's your choice to make. You have the choice as to whether or not you will allow this dictator to continue to defy the United Nations and therefore weaken you. Or you can join with the United States and disarm him like he said he would do." I've also sent a message to Mr. Saddam Hussein After 11 years, you have defied the U.N. You have not done what you said you would do. And now it is the time for you to disarm. The United States Congress, both Republicans and Democrats, have debated this issue, and they spoke with one clear voice. And here is what the administration and now your elected Representatives are saying to the world Either the United Nations will do its duty to disarm Saddam Hussein, or Saddam Hussein will disarm himself. In either case, if they refuse to act, in the name of peace, in the name of a secure tomorrow, in the name of freedom, the United States will lead a coalition and disarm Saddam Hussein. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. No, we've got to be clear eyed and realistic about the threats we face. History has called us into action. This country loves peace, and we love freedom, and we must lead the world to a more peaceful world and a freer world. It's also important to be realistic about what could happen here at home. These people are lurking around. And so everybody you've got to know that we're working hard at all levels of government to run down any lead, to chase down any hint, to deter and defy and deny an enemy who still hates America. There's a lot of people working hard on your behalf. But I believe we can do a better job, and that's why I asked Congress to make sure that we bring all these agencies involved with protecting America under one Cabinet office, so that we can set a clear priority, and if need be, change cultures to make sure we're doing everything in our power to protect America. Let me give you some examples of what we need to have happen. On the border, it's important to know who's coming into the country, what they're bringing into the country, and whether or not they're leaving when they say they're going to leave. On our borders, we can be respectful to people and our neighbors and, at the same time, be tough on terror. But there's three Federal agencies full of good, decent people who are working hard on border. There's INS and Border Patrol and Customs, three really fine agencies, full of good people, but sometimes they don't share the same strategy. They've got different uniforms. Sometimes they don't work as closely as they should, because of rules, bureaucratic rules. And so I've asked the Congress, give me the power to, in the name of national security, to be able to effect those work rules, so that we can better say to the American people, "We're doing everything we can to protect you." The House heard the call. The Senate hasn't. The Senate hasn't moved another reason we need to change the leadership in the Senate so we can get a so we can have a Homeland Security Department where this President and future Presidents are able to put the right people at the right place with the right equipment at the right time, to protect the American people. I don't have to worry about old Steve Pearce's vote on that issue or Pete Domenici's. I want you to know that no matter how hard we work here at home and we'll work hard however long it takes, we'll work hard the most effective way to protect the homeland is to hunt these killers down, one at a time, and bring them to justice. That's the most effective thing, and we're doing it. Slowly but surely, we're hunting them down. Now, it's hard to tell progress sometimes because this is a different kind of war. I'm sure we've got some vets out there who remember the wars where, "Yes, we're making progress because we destroyed some tanks," or, "We're making progress because we shot some airplanes out of the sky." That's not the type of enemy we face now. These people are ones who hide in caves, kind of lurk in the dark corners of some of the cities in the world. Then they send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. It's a new kind of war, a different kind of army. But that doesn't mean we can't win. As a matter of fact, I'm confident we will win. And I know we're making progress. And part of my confidence rests in the fact that we've got the finest United States military in the world. And I just signed a new defense bill. It's the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. The message there's two messages in that bill it's important to hear. One, anytime this country puts our troops into harm's way, we owe it to the troops, and we owe it to the loved ones of the troops, to make sure they've got the best training, the best equipment, and the best possible pay. And the second message is that and this is a message to our friends and to our foes alike that we're in this deal for the long haul. It don't matter how long it takes. When it comes to the defense of our freedom, when it comes to the defending the American people, it doesn't matter how long it takes. There is not a calendar in the Oval Office which says, on this day, Mr. President, you haul them home. That just doesn't exist in my way of thinking. It doesn't exist in the way of thinking of most Americans. They understand what is at stake. They understand we have an obligation. They understand no matter how long it takes, no matter what the cost, we're going to do our duty, and that is to defend freedom and to defeat the enemy of terror, to defeat that enemy that loves terror as a weapon. We've hauled in a couple of thousand of them so far. I say "we" the doctrine still stands which says, "Either you're with us, or you're with the others." That doctrine still exists, and there is still a coalition of people working together. The other day we got a guy named bin al Shibh. He thought he was going to be the 20th hijacker. That's what he wanted to be. He popped his head up. He is no longer a problem to America. A couple of thousand of them have been hauled in by America and our friends, and we're still making progress, one at a time. We're putting that spotlight into caves, and we're hauling them out of there. We're finding them in the dark corners. A like number hasn't been so lucky, by the way. And they're not a problem, either. Slowly but surely it doesn't matter how long it takes. You know, I don't know what was going through the mind of the enemy. They probably took a look at America and said, you know, "These folks are shallow. They've got one religion called materialism. They're self absorbed." After they hit us, we'd probably take a step back and maybe file a lawsuit or two. Laughter No, they made a big, big mistake. They don't understand the character of the country. See, this country is strong it's steady. This country is determined. And so long as we remain strong and determined, so long as we remember that freedom is not created by America, freedom is God given for everybody around the world, so long as we hold our values dear, we can bring peace. I want you to tell your kids that amongst all the talk about war, there's a burning and deep desire to make the world peaceful, to make America peaceful not only to make America peaceful because we value each life, everybody counts, peace in other parts of the world, as well. I truly believe that out of the evil done to America can come some incredible good some incredible good. And that good is going to be a peaceful world. I also know here at home that we can be a better America. I've talked about ways for Government to help, but you've got to know that Government, even though it can hand out money, it can never put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. The best healing there is in America, the best way to eliminate pockets of despair and hopelessness which exist in this land, the best way to make sure that the American experience is for everybody, is for our fellow citizens to put their arm around somebody who hurts and say, "I love you. I love you." If you want I used to tell people right after September the 11th, if you want to join the war on terror, if you want to fight evil, do some good. Do some good. Do some good right here in Alamogordo, New Mexico. Help feed the hungry. Help mentor a child. If you really want to do some good, teach a child how to read. See, our society is going to change, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. The enemy hit us. They didn't know who they were hitting us. They didn't realize they were hitting not only a strong nation, a tough nation, but a compassionate nation as well. The great strength of America lies not in our halls of Government the great strength of our country lay in the hearts and souls of our fellow citizens. You know, one of the things that's happened after September the 11th is that a lot of Americans took a step back and said, "How best to live my life what can I do? How best to realize the American experience?" I think a lot of it had to do with what took place on Flight 93 that day, when our fellow citizens were flying across the country. They learned that the airplane they were on was going to be used as a weapon to destroy life. On their cell phones they told their loved ones goodbye. They told their loved ones they loved them. They said a prayer they prayed for guidance and strength. A guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane into the ground to serve something greater than themselves in life. The aftermath of the evil done to America has caused a lot of Americans to understand that a full life, a decent life, a complete life is to serve something greater than yourself in life. If you're a mom or a dad, remember your most important job will be to love your child with all your heart and all your soul. If you care about your community here in New Mexico, get involved with your schools. Help people in need. If you're running corporate America, you remember you have a responsibility to tell the truth and not lie and cheat employees and shareholders. No, the enemy hit us, but they hit a great nation, a nation which will work to keep the peace, and a nation which will respond in a way here at home, where that great hope of America, the great promise of our country, the spirit that caused Mel's mother and daddy to send him here to America, applies to everybody. There's no question in my mind, fellow citizens, that we've got hurdles ahead of us. No question in my mind we're going to leap those hurdles, because this is the finest nation, full of the most decent people on the face of the Earth. Thanks for coming. God bless you all. And God bless America. October 27, 2002 Thank you all. Governor, thanks for that kind introduction. You know, it wasn't all that long ago that a lot of people were saying, "Old Matt Salmon doesn't even have a chance." A lot of the pundits here in the State of Arizona had written this good man off, but it looks like to me they might have wasted a little ink. A lot of people were saying, "Well, he's just not going to get there." My fellow Americans and the good folks from Arizona, with your help, with your hard work, withyour turning out the vote, with your joining this good man and his good wife, Matt Salmon is going to be the next Governor of Arizona. And I am proud to be here as one of his strongest supporters. I'm not as strong a supporter as the next first lady from Arizona. I'm proud that Nancy is here. She's going to make a great first lady. Old Matt and I married above ourselves. Laughter Laura sends her best. She sends her best regards to the Salmons. She knows what it's like to be running for office. She knows what it's like to be a first lady of a State. She's got all the confidence in the world, as do I, in the Salmon family. They will represent you with dignity. They'll represent you with class. They'll do a great job for everybody who lives in the State of Arizona. I'm also proud to be up here supporting Rick Renzi for the United States Congress. I like a man who believes in family values all 12 of them. Laughter I had the privilege of campaigning with Rick in northern Arizona, the heart of his district. He's well liked there. People understand him. He's going to make a fine United States Congressman. No question in my mind, with your help, he is going to win. I want to thank one of my Cabinet Secretaries for joining us today, Mel Martinez from the Housing and Urban Development. Let me tell you about Mel. He's from Florida. There's another Governor's race over there I'm paying attention to, I might add. Laughter A long time ago when Mel was a little fellow, his parents made a difficult decision. They sent him to the United States from Cuba. They sent him, in what they call Operation Pedro Pan, from an island controlled by a dictator to the land of the free. They put their young lad let him go they stayed behind for a while, not certain if they could get out because of what America stood for. And here is that little man. That Pedro Pan, years later, is now in the Cabinet of the President of the United States, doing a fabulous job on behalf of America. The American Dream is alive and well, and Mel Martinez represents it all. I'm honored to be here with my good friend the Governor of Arizona I appreciate her service to your State, and I appreciate her friendship to Laura and me Jane Dee Hull. Thank you, Governor. I want to thank Cindy McCain for coming. She didn't bring John. She brought Jack. Laughter Senator McCain is out working hard to make sure that we change the leadership in the United States Senate. I appreciate John McCain and Jon Kyl's good work on behalf of the American people. And there's a lot of reasons why we need to change the Senate no more clear reason than to make sure the good, honest judges I put up for the Federal bench get a good hearing. We've got some of the members of the mighty Arizona congressional delegation who are here with us. One man not with us, but a man who's done a fabulous job on behalf of the people of Arizona and the people of the United States, is the chairman, Bob Stump. He served with distinction. He served with class. And of course, we all wish Bob all the very best. I'm so proud to be up here with John Shadegg and Jeff Flake and big J.D. Hayworth. I told J.D., those of us in the political world make a living by shaking hands, and I'm not shaking his anymore. Laughter I also want to thank Trent Franks, who's running for the United States Congress, for joining us today. For those of you in Trent's district, give this good man your hard work. Thanks for coming, Trent. I know we've got the mayor here, Skip Rimsza, from the city of Phoenix. I want to thank you for coming, Skip. I'm proud to I don't see you anywhere, but I'm proud that you're here. You're not Skip. Laughter You're not even old enough to vote. Laughter But if you're wise, you'll follow in his footsteps and serve your community, like he does. But thank you, Mr. Mayor, for coming today. I want to thank the Mountain View High School Band for being here on a Sunday afternoon thank you all. I appreciate you all coming. I'll try to keep my short my speech short, so you can go back and study. Laughter I want to thank all those of you who are involved in the political process for being here today. Obviously, you're interested otherwise, you wouldn't have come.But a lot of you are the folks at the grass roots level who make a tremendous difference as to whether or not a candidate has a chance of winning or not. For those of you who are at the grass roots, I want to thank you for what you're doing and going to do, which is to man the phones, put up the signs, send the letters, remind your friends and fellow Arizonans they have an obligation to America to vote. If you're living in this country, you have an obligation as a citizen to exercise this wonderful freedom. Go to your houses of worship and your community centers and your coffee shops and talk it up. Talk it up about Matt Salmon and your congressional candidates. Don't be afraid to talk to good Democrats, either. Listen, a good Democrat knows the difference between a tax raiser and a tax cutter. These candidates are going to win, and they're going to win because of you all. So thanks for coming, and thanks for your interest. The Governor's race of any State is really important. It's important to have somebody who's going to do in office what they say they're going to do, not somebody who kind of walks around taking a poll here and running a focus group there, trying to figure out what position to take, not somebody who will take a position one day, and then the butane gets turned up and changes their mind. That's not the kind of Governor you need. You need somebody who's steady, somebody who knows what he believes, somebody like Salmon that, when he went to the United States Congress, he said he was only going to serve three terms, and then did what he said. That's the kind of Governor you need, somebody whose word you can trust. You must have a Governor who's got the right priorities. Educating a child is the right priority, and that's Matt Salmon's priority. Education is to a State what national defense is to the Federal Government, by far the most important priority. And this Governor understands that. But a good Governor is someone who also has the right frame of mind when it comes to education. And that frame of mind starts with realizing every child can learn and believing that every child can learn, a frame of mind that is willing to set high standards and therefore challenge what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations somebody that understands that if you set the bar low, you're going to get bad results. It's that type of attitude, by the way, the people that set the bar low or those who are willing just to write off certain children who are hard to educate you see, it's much easier to walk into a classroom full of children whose parents may not speak English as a first language and say, "These kids can't learn. Let's just move them through." You've got to have a Governor who's willing to challenge the status quo, who's willing to say that it is unacceptable to socially promote children who may be hard to educate, a Governor whose vision for their State says every child can learn, not just those in good suburban districts but every single child can learn. You've got to have a Governor who also understands that bureaucracies don't set the path to excellence for every child, that you've got to have local control of schools, that one size doesn't fit all. And you've got to have a Governor who's willing to ask the fundamental question, is every child learning in Arizona? See, if you believe every child can learn, then you've got to ask the question. Show me. And therefore you must have accountability. And with Matt Salmon as the Governor, when he finds children in schools that are working, he'll praise the teachers, and we need to praise the teachers. But the thing I appreciate about this good man is, when he finds children trapped in schools that will not teach and schools that will not change, this is a man who will challenge the special interests of Arizona with one interest in mind, the children. He will challenge the status quo because he believes, like I believe, that no child should be left behind in the State of Arizona. I appreciate so very much that Matt understands the role of Government is not to create wealth. The role of Government is to create an environment in which the small business owner and the entrepreneur can flourish. Seventy percent of new jobs in America are created by small business owners, and you better have you a Governor who understands the role of small business in our society. And Matt Salmon understands that. When he says he's not raising taxes, book it. I look forward to working with Matt when we get a welfare reauthorization bill through the Congress, one that says that we're going to help people find work. The best welfare program is a program which incorporates work so that people have the dignity of being able to put food on their own table. I look forward to working with Matt to make sure our health care system works. And I look forward to working with Rick and the other Members of Congress and the two United States Senators to make sure our health care system works. Medicine has changed Medicare hasn't. Medicine is going modern. Medicare is stuck in the past. For the sake of our seniors, for the sake of the quality of life for those who depend upon the Federal Government when it comes to Medicare, we need to modernize Medicare, reform Medicare, and include a prescription drug benefit for Arizona's seniors. Now, there's a lot of issues that we can work on together. The people of Arizona will understand when Matt becomes the Governor that he's going to work to change the tone. He's going to elevate the discourse, that he's not politics as usual, that he's here to serve the good people of the State. He's not going to be one of these fellows that says, "Well, did you vote for me? I'm going to be your Governor. If you didn't vote for me, I'm not." His intention is to represent every single person in Arizona, and he will do so with distinction and with class. I keep talking about Renzi. One reason I'm anxious to get Renzi up there is because I want to make sure Denny Hastert remains the Speaker of the House. The leadership of the House of Representatives and the Members of the House of Representatives from the Republican Party have done a really good job on behalf of America. They've had a very strong agenda. They passed a lot of legislation that has been positive for our country. I can't say the same thing for the United States Senate. A lot of good legislation is stuck no more important piece of legislation than the homeland security bill. The reason why we need a homeland security bill is because there's an enemy out there which hates America enemy out there still lurking around enemy out there that hates us because of what we love. And we're not changing what we love. We love freedom. We love the idea of our fellow Americans being able to worship an almighty God any way you see fit. We love that. We love our democracy. We love our free press. We love every aspect of our freedom. And so long as we hold those freedoms dear to our heart, there's an enemy out there which is trying to hurt us. And so our biggest job now is to protect the American people. I take that seriously. It's a solemn obligation. Applause You all go ahead and sit down. It's even more solemn now that that we're no longer protected by two oceans. It used to be, of course, that we could depend upon our geography to protect us from hatred, that there might be a turmoil somewhere in the world or there might be a threat somewhere in the world, and we could contain that threat if we choose to do so, or we could be involved in the conflict if we chose to do so. But we felt pretty comfortable about our security because of our because of the two oceans which protected us. And we learned a rough lesson on September the 11th, 2001, that when there's hatred and people trying to hurt us, the battlefield can end up right here at home. And we've always got to remember that. I'm certainly going to remember that, that the stakes are different and that they're higher. In order to protect the American people, we must see clearly the threats we face. We can't have any fuzziness anymore, because the oceans aren't there. And there's a true threat that we face in the form of Saddam Hussein. It's a real threat it's not an imagined threat. It's a threat it's a threat because he's shown the world what he's like. He said he doesn't have any weapons of mass destruction, said he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction, and he does. He's not only got weapons of mass destruction he's used weapons of mass destruction. He's used them against his neighbors. He's used them against his own citizens. This is a man who can't stand America and what we believe in. Nor can he stand some of our friends and allies. He's a danger he's a threat. And so I went to the United Nations, and I said, "You've told this guy for 11 years in 16 different resolutions to disarm, and he hasn't done it. And for the sake of world peace, why don't you show us whether or not you're going to be a body which can act in the name of peace, or whether you're going to be something like the League of Nations. You have a choice to make," I said to them. "Show us whether or not you can be effective. We want you to be effective in the name of peace. We want you to have people listen to your word. If you say, Disarm,' we want people to disarm. If you come together as an organization that puts out a decree that the free world speaks, we want you to be effective." I think it's going to make the world a more peaceful place as we head into the 21st century, particularly as we face these new threats. It's their choice to make. And at the same time, we said the same thing to Saddam Hussein "You said you would disarm. Now disarm. The choice is yours." But my fellow Americans, for the sake of peace and security, for the sake of making sure the Middle East is peaceful, for the making sure that the true threats don't come to our shore in the form of a terrorist organization which may have obtained weapons of mass destruction from this man, I believe we owe it to our children and our children's children to lead a coalition. If the U.N. won't act, if Saddam Hussein will not act, if he continues to defy the world, the United States, in the name of peace, will lead a coalition to disarm Saddam Hussein. No, the threat is real. The threat is real. It's important to be clear eyed. It's also important to do everything we can here at home to protect you, and a lot of good people are working hard to do so. Anytime we find a hint, any kind of evidence of a plot, we're doing everything we can to disrupt or deter or deny. We've got a lot of good people at the Federal level and the State level and the local level working a lot of long hours. You see, we are on alert we're aware. We weren't aware prior to September the 11th about this enemy that how evil they are. But now we know they're out there. And we're doing good things here at home, but we can do better. And that's why I've asked the Congress to join me in creating this Department of Homeland Security, so that the agencies involved with protecting you have got the capacity to have as their number one priority and their number one focus and a culture which says protecting America is the most important thing we'll do. And the House of Representatives passed a good piece of legislation that enables this administration and future administrations to be able to have the management capacity to protect the homeland. The Senate is stuck. See, they want me to give up some power, power that has been in the Presidency since John Kennedy was the President, the ability to suspend work rules in the name of national security, the capacity to say it's in our national interests to suspend certain work rules so that you put the right people at the right place at the right time to protect the American people. And I'm not going to accept a lousy bill out of the United States Senate. And the reason why is, this is a task that we'll be involved with for a while. And so the best way to protect the homeland is to hunt these killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice, which is exactly what the United States of America is going to do. Last week I signed a defense bill which is the biggest increase in defense money since Ronald Reagan was the President. People ought to read two things in that defense bill. One, anytime we put our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. We owe that to our troops, and we owe that to the loved ones of the troops. And for those of you who have got a relative in the military, you've just got to know, this Commander in Chief has all the confidence in the world in the men and women who wear our uniform. It's a different kind of war oh, the second message that we're sending, by the way, is that we're in this deal for the long haul, that there's no time certain where we've got to quit. In other words, this isn't a defending freedom doesn't have anything to do with the calendar it has everything to do with success. And so we're going to stay the course until we defeat the agents of terror. The coalition is strong. The doctrine still stands that says, "Either you're with the United States and freedom loving people, or you're with the enemy." That doctrine still stands. And the message of that defense bill says it's going to stand for quite a while. And we're making progress we're making progress. It's a different kind of war we fight. So I like to spend time, whether it's in the midst of the campaign, or Governor Salmon's time, or any other speech, to help educate the American people about the nature of this war. The best way I like to describe it is, in the old days, you could determine whether or not you were making progress against the enemy by the number of tanks that you destroyed or the number of aircraft you shot out of the air or the number of ships you sunk. This bunch we fought, they don't have ships. They hide in caves and send youngsters to their suicidal death. These are the kind of people that have hijacked a great religion. They have no regard for innocent life, and they're nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers, and we're going to treat them like that. So we're after them. We're after them one at a time. And that's why intelligence sharing is incredibly important. That's why it's important to work with others to cut off their money. I just came up from Cabo San Lucas, where I was meeting with APEC nations. These are nations that border the Pacific. And yesterday the first agenda amongst the leaders was terrorism, counterterrorism. I was the first speaker. I reminded them that the war goes on. I reminded them they have an obligation to join with us. And when we find somebody that we know is a part of this terrorist network, they go get them, or we go get them. Either case, we're going to get them. The other day, one guy popped his head up. His name was bin al Shibh. He's not a problem anymore to America. He's now he was this is the person that was going to be the 20th hijacker, and he was in Pakistan, hiding. But we found him. See, there's no cave deep enough to hide. There's no corner of the world dark enough. Slowly but surely, America and others who love freedom are hunting them down. We've probably hauled in a couple of thousand of them so far. A like number wasn't as lucky. And it's going to take a while. It's going to take a while. We've got brave troops still on the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. They've got I was with I talked to the President of the Philippines, Gloria Arroyo, who has been such a strong supporter. I said, "We'll continue to provide you help, and thanks for going to get the head of the Abu Sayyaf," who was the person that led a group of killers that kidnaped Americans and just tried to wreak havoc they're terrorists. Slowly but surely, we're going to bring these people to justice. There's no doubt in my mind. See, the enemy didn't understand who they were hitting. They thought they were hitting somebody that somebody that was so selfish and materialistic and so self absorbed that, after September the 11th, 2001, we'd take a step back and file a lawsuit or two. Laughter That's what they thought. And they found out something differently. They found out the mighty United States of America loves freedom, and we're relentless when it comes to the pursuit of justice. And we're not backing down. I believe strongly that out of the evil done to America is going to come some good. I believe that because we're such a great nation and a strong nation and a compassionate nation, that out of the evil done to the country will come some good, starting with peace. You've got to understand, and I hope you tell your loved ones, that amidst all the talk about war is a deep, abiding desire for peace. I long for peace for our own country. But because this Nation says everybody matters in contrast to the enemy, this Nation believes every life counts everybody has worth. I long for peace around the world. I long for peace in places where people have quit on peace. And I believe we can achieve it. I believe by being strong and tough, by being true to our love of freedom and understanding that freedom isn't America's gift to the world, it is a God gift, and that freedom is universal, it is applied to everybody if we remain true and strong and diligent, we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace. And here at home we can achieve a better America, too, an America that that the great hope of America, the great bright light of America shines in every neighborhood. See, amongst our plenty, there are people who hurt. There are some who say, you say, "American Dream," and they don't even know what you're talking about. "American Dream, what is that?" And so long as one of us hurts, we all hurt, as far as I'm concerned. And we have a chance we really have a chance. The Government can help we can do things, of course, to make sure that people's lives are better. I talked about education. I talked about Medicare. Another thing Government can do to make sure lives are better is to make sure that tax cuts we passed are permanent. You see, when you let people have more money if you let people have more money in their pocket, it's going to encourage economic growth. And so long as somebody is looking for work, who wants to work and can't find a job, we've got a problem. And therefore, one of the things Government can do is be pro growth, is do everything we can to encourage the vitality of the economy to go forward. I'm optimistic about our economy. Interest rates are low. Inflation is low. Productivity is up. But in order to make sure small business flourishes and the entrepreneurial spirit is strong, Congress needs to make the tax cuts permanent. Congress needs to make sure we get rid of the death tax, once and for all another reason to make sure that we change the Senate and keep Denny Hastert as the Speaker. But one of the things we've got to remember is that Government can do certain things. Government can hand out money, for example. And sometimes we do a pretty good job of it. But what Government cannot do is put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. See, we can change America, one heart and one soul at a time, if all of us understands that we can make each of us can make a difference. When you put your arm around somebody who hurts and somebody in need who's in need, and say, "I love you," you're part of changing America. If you're a Boy Scout leader or a Girl Scout leader, you're changing America. If you work in a Boys or Girls Club, you're changing America. If you're involved in the quality of education in your neighborhood, you're changing America. If you just walk into a shut in's house and say, "I love you can I help you," you're changing America. No, the enemy hit us. They didn't know who they were hitting. They didn't understand America like I do. Not only are we strong, we are compassionate. Many of our fellow citizens have taken a step back, and they said, "What is life all about? What is the true definition of a patriot?" I think we're all beginning to understand, serving something greater than yourself in life, serving your Nation by helping a neighbor in need, is the definition of the American spirit that is alive and well. I want the youngsters here to realize that you live in the greatest land in the face of the Earth. It's a land that we can never take for granted. That's why voting is incredibly important. But as a citizen of this land, in order to make sure it continues to remain great, you have an obligation we all have an obligation to do what we can do, to do what Government cannot do, and that's to help people, one person at a time. Perhaps the most vivid reminder I think history will show this is a vivid reminder of what I'm talking about, the American spirit that is alive and well took place on Flight 93. People were flying across the country people were flying across the country that day. They weren't sure what was going on. They were on cell phones, using the modern technology to learn that the airplane they were on was being used as a weapon. Some of them didn't panic. Probably all of them didn't. They were on the phones to their loved ones. They said goodbye. I'm sure they said, "I love you." They used the word "love." They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." They took the airplane into the ground to serve something greater than themselves in life. That's the American spirit that is alive and well and strong. It is a spirit of sacrifice. It is a spirit of compassion. It is a spirit of decency. And it is the spirit that allows me to boldly predict that out of the evil done to America is going to come an America that is more hopeful, more decent for every single person who's fortunate enough to live in this country. No, you're looking at one of the greatest optimists ever to hold the office of the Presidency, because I understand America is the greatest nation, full of the most decent people on the face of the Earth. Thank you all for coming today. May God bless you, and may God bless America. October 25, 2002 President Bush. I want to welcome the President of China to our ranch and to Texas. I want to start off by saying how sad Laura and I are about the sudden and tragic death of United States Senator Paul Wellstone, his wife, and one of his children, as well as the death of others on that private airplane. Our prayers and heartfelt sympathy goes to their sons, their loved ones, their friends, and the people of Minnesota. Paul Wellstone was a man of deep convictions, a plain spoken fellow who did his best for his State and for his country. May the good Lord bless those who grieve. This is the third meeting of the President and me, and our personal relations and the relations between our two countries are strong. In our meeting, we discussed the threat posed by the Iraqi regime. China supports Iraq's strict compliance with U.N. Security Council resolutions. And today we discussed and I urged President Jiang to support a new Security Council resolution demanding Iraq fully disarm itself of weapons of mass destruction. The President and I also discussed and expressed concern about the acknowledgment of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea of a program to enrich uranium. We agreed that peace and stability in northeast Asia must be maintained. Both sides will continue to work towards a nuclear weapons free Korean Peninsula and a peaceful resolution of this issue. The United States and China are also allies in the fight against global terror, and our two countries are deepening our economic relations. It is inevitable that nations the size of the United States and China will have differences, but the President and I agree that we need to resolve our differences through mutual understanding and respect. On human rights, I emphasized that no nation's efforts to counter terrorism should be used to justify suppressing minorities or silencing peaceful dissent. I shared with the President my views on the importance of China freeing prisoners of conscience, giving fair treatment to peoples of faith, and preserving the rights of Hong Kong citizens. I also spoke of the importance of respecting human rights in Tibet and encouraged more dialog with Tibetan leaders. On proliferation, I expressed our continuing concerns about transfers of sensitive technologies. On Taiwan, I emphasized to the President that our "one China" policy, based on the three communiques in the Taiwan Relations Act, remains unchanged. stressed the need for dialog between China and Taiwan that leads to a peaceful resolution of their differences. The United States seeks and is building a relationship with China that is candid, constructive, and cooperative. We will continue building this relationship through contacts at many levels in months to come, including a new dialog on security issues. I'm pleased to announce that Vice President Cheney will visit China next spring. The United States and China believe that a strong relationship between our nations will help to build a more peaceful world. Thank you for coming, President Jiang. President Jiang. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, I just learned that one plane crashed. I would like to express my deep condolences for the loss of the Senate. And also I would like to express my condolences to the bereaved family. I'm very pleased to visit President Bush at his ranch. I would like to thank President Bush and Mrs. Bush for the warm hospitality accorded to us. President Bush and I had a very good conversation. We exchanged views on some important issues of mutual interest. The meeting has been constructive and productive. We all agree that China and the U.S. are two great nations sharing extensive and important common interests. The two sides should increase exchanges and cooperation in economic, trade, cultural, educational, and other fields. We should stepup dialog and coordination on major international and regional issues, and constantly move our constructive and cooperative relationship forward. We are satisfied with our counterterrorism cooperation of the past year. We agreed to strengthen such cooperation in a two way and mutually beneficial manner and work together against terrorism in all forms and manifestations. We have had a frank exchange of views on the Taiwan question, which is of concern to the Chinese side. I have elaborated my Government's basic policy of peaceful unification and one country, two systems, for the settlements of the Taiwan question. President Bush has reiterated his clear cut position that the U.S. Government abides by the "one China" policy. We did, indeed, discuss the nuclear issue concerning DPRK. I point out that China has all along been supporter of a nuclear free Korean Peninsula and wants peace and stability there. I agreed with President Bush that we will continue to consult on this issue and work together to ensure a peaceful resolution of the problem. We have also discussed human rights, religion, and other issues. I told President Bush that democracy and human rights are the common pursuits of mankind and that China's human rights situation is at its best time, characterized by constant improvement. Regarding our differences in these areas, the Chinese side stands ready to continue exchanging views with the U.S. side on basis of mutual respect and seeking common ground while shelving differences, with a view to deepening understanding and enhancing consensus. I'm confident that, so long as the two sides persist in viewing and handling their relations from a strategic height and with a long term perspective and keep expanding cooperation and enhancing mutual trust, China U.S. relations will be able to grow steadily and bring benefits to both peoples. Thank you. President Bush. Thank you, Mr. President. I told the President that we would asked him if we could take some questions. He said, "Sure." There will be two questions from each side. And I promised him I would do my very best to make sure that the questioners would only ask one question, if you know what I mean, Mr. Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Laughter President Jiang said he remembered a couple of the American reporters were quick to break the one question rule, and he asked if a fellow, Fournier, would be there. And I said, "Well, surely he won't do it this time." Mr. Fournier. Laughter Q. I understand that means I can ask each President one question? Laughter President Bush. That's exactly the problem. Laughter North Korean Nuclear Program Q. I'll be glad to I'll be glad to your question, President Bush, is, Are you willing to negotiate with North Korea, while North Korea maintains a nuclear weapons program? And, President Jiang, could you tell us, do you think North Korea's nuclear weapons program is a threat to your country, and, if so, how do you plan to stop it? President Bush. See, I told you he wouldn't abide by the one question rule. Laughter Our first step, to make sure we resolve this peacefully, is to work with our friends, is to remind our friends of the dangers of a nuclear regime on the Korean Peninsula. President Jiang made it clear that China, like the United States, believes in a Korean Peninsula without nuclear weapons. This is a chance for the United States and China to work very closely together to achieve that vision of a nuclear free nuclear weapons free peninsula. And so I've instructed Secretary Powell to work very closely with his counterpart, as well as with their counterparts in South Korea and Japan and Russia, to come up with a common strategy to convince Kim Chong il to disarm. And we look forward to working to that end. And so to complete our the important dialog of developing a strategy that will hold North Korea to account in terms of disarming, I'm going to be visiting with the Prime Minister of Japan and the leader of South Korea tomorrow in Mexico. President Jiang. I can answer your question in the most clear cut terms and most definitely that we Chinese always hold the position that the Korean Peninsula should be nuclear weapon free. We are completely in the dark as for the recent development. But today President Bush and I agreed that the problem should be resolved peacefully. Thank you. China U.S. Relations "One China" Policy Q. I'm from CCTV. My first question is for President Jiang. This is your third meeting with President Bush. How do you evaluate China U.S. relations in the past year, and how do you envisage the future of the relationship? And also a question for President Bush. Just now you President Bush. It's an international problem. Laughter Q. said that the United States supports a "one China" policy. What concrete step would you take to translate this commitment into reality? President Jiang. In the past year, China and the United States have expanded their cooperation and enhanced mutual understanding and trust. On the whole, the relationship has enjoyed a good momentum of growth. Facts have proven once again that, despite the profound changes in the international situation and despite the differences of one type or another between China and the U.S., our two countries have more, rather than less, common interest. And the prospect of cooperation between us has become broader, rather than narrower. President Bush. In terms of your question about the "one China" policy "one China" policy means that the issue ought to be resolved peacefully. We've got influence with some in the region. We intend to make sure that the issue is resolved peacefully, and that includes making it clear that we do not support independence. Holland Steve Holland, Reuters . U.N. Resolution on Iraq Q. Sir, do you feel like you've got China's support for a new resolution on Iraq? And are you willing to make any more concessions in the language of a U.N. resolution, now that Russia and France have offered a watered down resolution? President Bush. Thank you for asking one question. Laughter Now I'll try to answer it. I made it clear to the President of China that I am interested in seeing to it that the United Nations is effective effective in disarming Saddam Hussein. That's what the United Nations has said for 11 years, that Saddam ought to disarm. And therefore, any resolution that evolves must be one which does the job of holding Saddam Hussein to account. That includes a rigorous, new, and vibrant inspections regime, the purpose of which is disarmament, not inspections for the sake of inspections. And any resolution which will be effective must have there must be consequences. Let me put it bluntly There must be consequences in order to be effective. And therefore, in order for there to be consequences, we won't accept a resolution which prevents us from doing exactly what I have told the American people is going to happen. That is, if the U.N. won't act and if Saddam won't disarm, we will lead a coalition to disarm him. And we're working with all countries, particularly those on the Perm 5, to do just that. And that's what we'll accept, something that will enable us to do precisely what I have just described and what I describe almost every day that I'm out there talking to the American people. You tried to violate the rule, but I'm not going to let you. China U.S. Relations Q. I'm from Xinhua news agency. For some time, certain people inside the United States call for containment against China. These people believe that a rising China poses a growing threat to the United States. What is your comment? President Jiang. Given their different national conditions, it is only natural for China and the United States to disagree from time to time. Such a disagreement should be viewed and handled with a broad perspective. China has chosen a development path suited to its national conditions. It has enjoyed a rapid progress in economic growth, cultural development, and the building of democracy and rule of law, bringing tangible benefits to the Chinese people. Their quality of life and standard of living are improving. As the biggest developing country in the world, this road is still very long before China achieves full modernization. Our central task and long term goal remain one of economic development and improvement of people's living standards. The Chinese people have a tradition of peace loving. China has never engaged in expansion nor sought hegemony. We sincerely desire peace all over the world. Even when China becomes more developed in the future, it will not pose a threat to others. Threats have and will continue to prove that China is a staunch force for the maintenance of world and regional peace. Thank you. President Bush. Thank you all very much. October 24, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much. Well, thanks for coming out today. Audience member. I love Bush! The President. And I love South Carolina. Laughter We've got a lot of friends here. I want to thank you all for coming today. I want to talk about a couple of things. I want to talk about some of the challenges facing our country. We've got some steep hills to climb, but there's no doubt in my mind we can climb them. After all, we're the finest nation on the face of the Earth. I want to talk a little politics with you. You see, there's no question in my mind that if you're interested in the State of the South Carolina, and if you're interested in the future of this State, you need to have Mark Sanford as the next Governor. And there's also no question in my mind, one, that you've been really well represented by the great Strom Thurmond. I'm really proud to be able to serve with the Senator. As a matter of fact, he came by the other day. We were talking about an important issue, and he reminded me that early December is his 100th birthday. Laughter I couldn't tell if he was hinting or not, so I took the bait and invited him over to the White House for his 100th birthday party. Laughter So he's coming. So you've got to make sure you replace this good man with somebody who can do the job, somebody who will do what's right for South Carolina, and somebody who will make the strong stands for America. No question in my mind, the right man to take the place of Strom Thurmond is soon tobe United States Senator Lindsey Graham. I appreciate Jenny Sanford being here, your next first lady. She brought those four Sanford boys with her. Laughter Speaking about first ladies, you drew the short straw. See, if Graham and Sanford were smart, they'd have asked First Lady Laura Bush to come instead of me. But I he said he did. Laughter The reason she couldn't come, well, it rained in Crawford. Laughter And that's where she is, and she's sweeping the porch because the President of China is coming tomorrow. Laughter But she sends her love. You know, when I asked Laura to marry me, she was a public school librarian. That always gets one cheer. Laughter But you know what I'm talking about that's a job that requires a good heart and deep care about our children. Anyway, when I asked her to marry me, she was that, and she didn't particularly like politics laughter and she didn't like politicians. Laughter And now here she is, as a fabulous First Lady for America. I appreciate so very much Members of the United States Congress who joined us here. That would be Congressman Henry Brown and Congressman Joe Wilson. Some of the statehouse folks are here, and they're doing a fine job on behalf of the South Carolinians. That would be Bob Peeler, David Wilkins, and Charlie Condon and Jim Miles. I'm honored that they're here. You've got a great slate of candidates running with running with Mark. Let me tell you why I'm here. I want you all to understand, it's important to do your duties as Americans. It's important that you vote. It's important that you find good candidates. I've obviously got a few suggestions for you here. Laughter It's important that you go to your coffee shops and houses of worship and your community centers and remind your fellow South Carolinians they have a duty They've got a duty to this country they've got a duty to democracy to participate. It doesn't matter whether they're Republican, Democrat could care less about parties. They have a duty, and so you need to go out there and round up the vote. I want to thank you for what you have done in the political process. But as importantly now, I want to thank you for what you're going to do, which is to turn out that vote and make sure this good slate of candidates win on November the 5th. And there's a reason there's a reason here in South Carolina. You need a Governor who's willing to change the tone of this State. You know, there's just too much partisan bickering that goes on in the statehouse. You need somebody who is going to rise above it all, somebody who doesn't need a poll or a focus group to tell him how to think, somebody who stands on principle, somebody that's going to be the Governor of everybody when he wins. And that person is Mark Sanford. I appreciate his commitment to education. When I was the Governor of Texas, I used to tell them that education is to a State what national defense is to the Federal Government. It's by far the most important priority of any Governor that is, educating every child. Mark and I share a philosophy. It's a philosophy that's going to be good for South Carolina when he wins. It's a philosophy that starts with this concept Every child can learn. You see and I mean every child, not just those who live in nice suburban districts every child. If you believe that, it's historic for educational excellence for every single child. We've got to have you, a Governor who's willing to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. If you lower the bar, if you believe certain children can't learn, that's what's going to happen. And so you've got to start with a Governor who's optimistic and bold in his vision about every child being able to learn. That's how Mark thinks. But you've also got to have a Governor who's willing to challenge the bureaucracy and trust the local people to chart the path to excellence for every child. We believe in local control of schools. This year, we're going to be sending 600 million of Federal money to help South Carolina run its schools. But for the first time, thanks to the work of Lindsey Graham in the United States Congress and the other Congressmen here, Henry and Joe, we're starting to ask this question What are the results? See, if you believe every child can learn, then you want to know whether every child is learning. If you believe every child can learn to read, then it seems to make sense to ask the question, Is it happening? Are the schools in South Carolina meeting the objective to teach every single child, not just a few every child how to read? So you're asking the question for the first time. You've got to have a Governor who's willing to hold people to account, who's willing not to be captured by special interest. The only interest Mark cares about are the children. That's his special interest. You've got to be willing to have high standards, local control of schools, and you've got to know whether or not children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. And then once you know, you must have a Governor who's willing to praise those hardworking teachers for being successful. And for those of you who teach, thanks for what you're doing. But if you believe every child can learn and you find children trapped in schools which will not teach and will not change, for the good of South Carolina, you better have a Governor who's willing to challenge the status quo, and that Governor is going to be Mark Sanford. And I look forward to working with Mark when we continue to work on welfare reform. Welfare reform is an important issue, because if a person gets trapped in the Government's cycle, they won't be able to realize their human worth. People can find dignity through work. So one of the things I'm going to do when I'm the President, if they reauthorize welfare, is to work with Mark Sanford to make sure that there's training programs available, so a man or a woman can find work, can be able to see the dignity of work. He understands that. He understands that, if you're trapped in Government, it will sap your soul and drain your spirit. Everybody counts in the State of South Carolina. And so when we work on important issues that deal with the human condition, we've got to work in a way that understands human dignity is found by empowering each and every person. Mark Sanford understands that clearly. No, he's going to make you a good Governor. I urge you to as they're coming down the pike, to support this good candidate and his family with your vote, with your energy, with your enthusiasm, and sure enough, on election day, you will have Mark Sanford as your Governor. And I'm looking forward to working with Lindsey Graham. And I don't need a Senator from South Carolina where I've got to worry about where he lights on any issue. Laughter You don't need a Senator from your State that kind of is for one thing one day and the heat gets on and changes his position the next day. That's not going to serve your State well. It's certainly going to make it harder to get an agenda through that will make America safer, stronger, and better. And after all, that's what we need to do, to work together to make America a safer country and a stronger country and a better country. When it comes to making America a stronger country, that starts with making sure our economy continues to expand. My attitude is, anytime somebody who wants to work and can't find a job says we've got a problem. My attitude is, is that we want to help people put food on the table. If people are struggling to get ahead, we've got to do everything we can in Washington, DC, to expand the job base. And it starts with understanding how our economy works. The page of the textbook that we have read says this If you let a person keep more of their own money, they're likely to demand a good or a service. And in the marketplace, when somebody demands a good or a service, somebody is going to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces the good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work. The tax relief plan that Lindsey Graham supported came at the right time in American economic history. Over the next 10 years, that tax relief plan will put about 14.9 billion in the pockets of South Carolinian citizens. That's your money to begin with, by the way. Listen carefully to the rhetoric of these candidates when they start saying, "Oh, we're going to spend the Government's money." They seem to forget whose money they're spending in Washington, DC. You listen carefully to the rhetoric of the candidates. You want you a candidate who understands whose money we've got in Washington, DC. And when you have more of your own money, not the Government's money but your money, in your pocket, it means it's more likely somebody in South Carolina is going to find work. But we've got a problem. See, the Senate, on the one hand, giveth, and on the other hand, taketh away. And the tax relief we plan passed is not permanent. It's temporary, which means some in Washington, DC, want that 15 billion, more or less, of tax relief, of your money, to go to the Government coffers. And that would be bad for the economy, and that would be bad for South Carolina. The death tax is bad. The marriage penalty is bad. The child credit is good. Reducing income tax rates helps small business. For the sake of economic vitality, you need to have a United States Senator who will make the tax cuts permanent, and that's Lindsey Graham. He also understands the quality of life for our seniors is important. Medicine has changed Medicare hasn't. Medicine is modern, and Medicare is stuck. For the sake of our seniors, elect a Senator who will work with me to make sure Medicare is modern and our seniors have got a prescription drug plan. A stronger America is an America who's got a good Federal bench. One of my jobs is to nominate good, solid citizens, good lawyers, good jurists to our benches. It's a solemn obligation of the President. Yet, the way this Senate is structured, they have done a lousy job. The percentage of our judges which have been approved is the lowest in a long time. And when my judges have made it to the floor, they have been their records have been distorted because of petty politics, special interest politics in Washington, DC. I named a good man named Dennis Shedd to represent the fourth circuit court. He's a good jurist. For 17 months, he's still waiting for a vote. The two Senators from South Carolina supported him. Both Republican and Democrat Senators supported him. For 17 months, he's been able to get unable to get his hearing in the Senate, and we've got a vacancy problem. We've got a vacancy problem because the Senate is playing too much politics. We've got a vacancy problem because they don't like it that I'm nominating good people who are going to strictly interpret the Constitution and not use the bench from which to legislate. We've got a vacancy problem on the Federal court, and one way to solve that is to put Lindsey Graham into the United States Senate. We've got problems with our economy. It's not growing as robust. And I can promise you I'm going to work with Senator Graham to do everything to make sure people find work and work with Senator Graham to make sure the people have got a good health care system, work with Senator Graham to make sure the judiciary is strong. And I intend to work with Senator Graham on the most pressing problem facing us, and that's our security of our homeland. You've just got to understand there's an enemy out there that hates America because of what we love. We love freedom. We love the fact that people can worship freely in America. We love our free press. We love every aspect of our freedom, and we're not changing. We're not backing down, and the enemy can't stand that. The more we love, the more they hate. So our most important job is to protect the American people from further harm, from further attack. And they're out there. People in Australia, many of them grieve now because they're just not coldblooded killers hit them in Bali. You may remember that. That's all part of this campaign to terrorize the free world, to try to get us to retreat, forget what we're made out of. They don't understand America. They just don't understand us. They must have thought after September the 11th, 2001, we'd file a lawsuit or two. Laughter That's not us. See, when it comes to the defense of our freedom, when it comes to the defense of our people, when it comes to protecting innocent life, we value innocent life. Every life matters in America. To these killers, no life matters. When it comes to protecting this country, we'll be plenty tough. When it comes to protecting this country, we've also got to be realistic about the new world we're in. Prior to September the 11th, 2001, we used to think two oceans could protect us from harm. I remember thinking about conflicts and realizing our country could pick and choose whether or not we wanted to participate in the conflict but never really worried about whether or not the conflict would hurt us here at home. For a long time, our country felt like oceans could keep us immune from personal attack, and people wouldn't suffer here at home. We learned a horrible lesson, that in the new wars of the 21st century, we're the battleground we're one of the battlegrounds. And that's why I've asked our country to think seriously about Saddam Hussein in Iraq. Saddam Hussein is a man who said he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction. He made that promise to the world. He's hiding he's deceiving he's lying about whether he has them or not. Not only does he have them, he used them. He used them against people in his neighborhood. He used them against his own people. This is a man who has lied about whether or not he possesses weapons of mass destruction, a man who uses them, a man who hates America, a man who hates our friends. He's a threat to peace. The United Nations decided they were going to deal with Saddam a while ago. Sixteen resolutions have been passed in the United Nations, resolution after resolution after resolution, calling him to account. And he's ignored them. So I made a decision on behalf of our country that I would go to that body and, for the sake of peace, remind them they have an obligation to honor those resolutions, to do something about them. I made the case that you have a choice, United Nations, to keep the peace by showing some backbone. You can be the United Nations or the League of Nations. It's your choice. And my message to Saddam Hussein is clear as well You've said you would disarm. For the sake of peace, you said you would get rid of the weapons of mass destruction. It's your choice to make. And so we're working with the international community, reminding Saddam Hussein of his obligations. But I want you all to know, for the sake of peace, for the sake of the security of the United States and our friends and allies, if the United Nations won't deal with him, if he refuses to hear the call for peace, the United States will lead a coalition to disarm Saddam Hussein. As we're clear eyed about the threats we face overseas, we must be clear eyed about the threats at home as well. There's a lot of good people working hard to protect you. We're now on alert. We understand the new reality. There's people at the Federal level and the State level and the local level working a lot of long hours to chase down any lead, any hint. Anytime we think somebody is thinking about doing something to America, we're responding we're disrupting we're denying we're making sure we fulfill our solemn obligations to protect you. But there's more we can do. And so that's why I went to the United States Congress and asked them to pass a Department of Homeland Security. You see, there's over 100 agencies involved with securing our homeland. They're kind of scattered around up there in Washington. It seemed to make sense to me to put them under one umbrella organization, so that the priority can be set and, if need be, cultures can be changed, so we can get people focused on doing the most important job they've got. And we're making progress. Part of the progress was made because the House of Representatives Lindsey Graham was strong on this, and Joe and Henry voted with us was to create a Department of Homeland Security that would give an administration the capacity to manage the Department, to be able to protect you. It's stuck in the Senate. It's stuck in the Senate because the Senate wants to extract a price from the administration. Every President since John Kennedy has had the ability to act in a national security interest. He had the ability to suspend work rules if they got in the way of protecting the homeland or got in the way of national security, but the Senate wants to take that away. Here we are at war, and all of a sudden they decide I shouldn't have the same authority as every President since John F. Kennedy. I'd have that authority for the Department of Agriculture laughter but not for the Department of Homeland Security. Secondly, I need to be able to put the right people at the right place at the right time. We've got a border control issue. We need to know who's coming into our country. We need to know who's coming in and who's going out. We don't know what they're bringing in. Yet, on the border we've got good, hardworking people, fine people, working in three different agencies Border Patrol, INS, and Customs. Some sectors of the border they've got different strategies they wear different uniforms. But yet, the work rules prevent us from coordinating them. For the sake of the national security, I need a Senator who will join me in making sure that we can structure the agency so it works. But the best way to secure the homeland is to chase these killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice. And that's what we're going to do. That's what we're yesterday I signed a defense bill, right there in the Rose Garden. It's the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. The reason why was because anytime we put our troops into harm's way, we owe it to our troops and we owe it to the loved ones of the troops to make sure they've got the best training, the best possible pay, and the best equipment. And our troops are good they're really good. And the other message was, to our friend and foe, it doesn't matter how long it takes. It doesn't matter how long it takes to win this war on terror. There's no calendar on my desk, right there in the great Oval Office. There's not a calendar that says, you know, by such and such a date, we're hauling them home by such and such a date, we're going to forget our obligations to our future by such and such a date that we say, fine, let them sit out there. That's not the way America thinks. It doesn't matter how much it costs. It doesn't matter how long it takes. This great country will defend our freedoms and defend our people. And we're making some pretty good progress. Remember the doctrine that said, "Either you're with us, or you're with them." It still stands. And so we've got a lot of people working together to haul them in. See, this isn't the kind of war that some of the old vets here are used to You destroy a bunch of tanks, and you make progress. That's not the kind of war this is. See, we fight these killers who hide in caves and send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. It's a new kind of army. That's why we've got to do a better job of cutting off their money, of sharing intelligence, of finding where they hide, of finding these kind of putting the sunlight on these dark corners of the world where they kind of slither around. That's what we got to do. But we're making progress. And sometimes you'll see it, and sometimes you're just not going to see it. The other day one of them popped his head up, bin alShibh. He's no longer a problem. Laughter Slowly but surely, we're doing our duty to our country. Slowly but surely, we're hunting these killers down, one at a time. And that's what we've got to do. But you know how I feel about this, that by being tough and strong and clear, by remembering that freedom is not American blessed, it is God given, it's universal, remembering that freedom is a part of what we think about we remember those values that make us a great nation, we will keep the peace that the mission of this administration is to make the world more peaceful, that the reason we do what we do is because we believe in freedom and we believe in peace. And it's going to happen. See, the enemy hit us. They didn't know who they were hitting. They hit the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. They gave us a chance, a chance we will seize, to not only protect America and keep America peaceful, but because we value all life everybody counts, that we want there to be peace in parts of the world where people have quit on peace. We have a chance to achieve the peace in the Middle East. We have a chance to achieve the peace in South Asia. By being strong and determined and resolute in our mission, we can make the peace. And here at home, we can make America a better place, too. See, out of the evil done to America can come some incredible good incredible good. You just got to know and I know you know that there are pockets of despair and loneliness in our country. There are people who are hurt, people who are addicted, people who wonder when you say "American Dream," they don't understand what that means. My attitude is, so long as one of us hurts, we all hurt. It's an opportunity though, however, for us to deal with these pockets of despair. Government can help we will. We'll worry about education. We'll worry about making sure the welfare system works. We have a Faith Based Initiative to encourage people of faith to love their neighbor. But Government is limited in its capacity. It can hand out money, but it cannot put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That is done when a fellow American has heard the universal call to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself finds somebody who hurts, puts their arm around him, and says, "I love you. What can I do to help make your day?" Each of us each of us can help change America, one heart, one conscience, one soul at a time. Each of us can make a difference in making sure that the enemy hit us, but out of that evil and harm and hurt and tears can come a more compassionate and decent society. There's no question in my mind, no question in my mind, that this great country will lead the world to peace. And there's no question in my mind that this great country, the hope of this great country, the great promise of America can have can shine in every neighborhood and every home. And do you know why? Because we're the greatest nation, full of the finest people on the face of this Earth. Thank you for coming. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. Thank you. October 24, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much. You all go ahead and be seated. Thanks for coming. I have the honor of being the second United States President to ever visit Auburn University. The first was Franklin Delano Roosevelt. I don't know how he started his speech, but here's how I'm going to start mine War Eagle! Audience member. War Eagle, hey! The President. I want to thank all you War Eagles for being here. I particularly want to thank your president, President Walker. You did a fine thing when you picked a native Texan to run Auburn. Laughter And he's doing a fine job. And I also want to thank so very much Steven Renfroe, who's running the baseball program here. We'll leave behind some of my entourage to make sure the infield is smooth after we leave. Laughter I particularly thank you all for coming. It's a huge honor to be here. It's a great pleasure to be able to come and talk about some of the challenges which face our Nation, talk about why I'm so optimistic that we can face any challenge before us, to talk about your duty as citizens. You see, we're almost upon an election, and you have a responsibility as American citizens to exercise your right, to exercise your freedom to go to the polls. I think you have a duty to go to your coffee shops and your community centers and your houses of worship and ask others to go to the polls. It doesn't matter whether they're Republican or Democrat or don't give a hoot about politics. You ought to remind them of their duty. And I suggest when you go, if you're interested in your State and you're interested in your country, that you remind them to vote for Bob Riley as your next Governor. And as you're rounding up those votes, as you show your interest and concern for our country and our country's future, make sure you send to the United States Congress a man I can work with, and that man is Mr. Mike Rogers. There's a lot of reasons you ought to be for these two, but a real good reason is, they both married well. Laughter Like me, they married above themselves. I'm honored to be with Beth Rogers and the next first lady of Alabama, Patsy Riley. Speaking about First Ladies, Laura sends her very best. She campaigned for Riley the other day in Mobile. I told him he drew the short straw here. I just spoke to her. We're it's raining in Crawford, Texas, and that's where she is. She's on our place in Crawford. And tomorrow we are hosting the President of China, so she's sweeping the porch. Laughter But she sends her best. You know, when I asked Laura to marry me, she was a public school librarian. Applause There's always one in every crowd. Laughter And that one in every crowd, like Laura, has got to have a good heart, cares deeply about the school children. And by the way, for those of you who are going to Auburn and thinking about becoming school children a school teacher laughter or a public school librarian, I want to thank you for that. It's a really important profession it's a noble cause. You know, when I asked her to marry me, she wasn't interested in politics and didn't like politicians. Laughter Now she's the First Lady of the United States, and she is doing a fabulous job on behalf of America. I'm really proud of her. People now know why I asked her to marry me. A lot of them are wondering why she said yes. Laughter But she sends her best. I'm also honored to be here with a fabulous United States Senator named Jeff Sessions. I like working with Jeff. We work well together. We need more Senators like him. One of my most important responsibilities is to name good judges, is to find good people to serve the Federal bench. I can count on his support. The problem is, I can't count on a lot of Senators' support. They've been playing politics with my judges. I put good, honorable, honest people on there whose job isn't to try to rewrite law but to strictly interpret the United States Constitution. They've got a lousy record in the United States Senate. No, they don't like those kind of judges up there, so they play politics with them, petty politics. For the sake of a sound judiciary, we need to change the leadership in the United States Senate. I appreciate Congressman Terry Everett I appreciate Spence Bachus and Sonny Callahan three fine Members of the United States Congress. And I'm glad they are here today. And I'm also glad to be up here with Jo Bonner, who's going to take Sonny Callahan's place, and he'll do just as good a job in the United States Congress as Sonny did. But you've got some good ones. You've got some good ones from Alabama up in Washington, and I'm proud to work with them, and I'm proud to call them friends. You've also got a fine slate of people running for office here, good, honest, honorable Americans. I hope you get out and support them. It's important. You know, when it comes to talking about the Governor, I know something about being a Governor. I was one. And it seems like to me that, particularly when you look around the statehouses, you want you a Governor who's going to elevate the discourse, who won't play the same old, tired politics of name calling and slashing and burning. You've got to have a Governor who's willing to commit himself to change the tone in the statehouse, to bring people together to get something done on behalf of the citizens. You've got to have you a Governor who will be honorable and honest and full of integrity, and that next Governor is Mr. Bob Riley. He's got his priorities straight. Education is to a State what national defense is to the Federal Government. Therefore, you better elect yourself a Governor who makes education the number one priority, and that Governor has got to have the right attitude about public education. See, you've got to have a Governor like Bob Riley, who is willing to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations, somebody who believes every child can learn, somebody who's willing to set high standards, somebody who refuses to leave any child behind. No, you've got to have you a Governor who sets high standards but also understands that local control of schools is how you achieve excellence for every child in the State of Alabama. The Federal Government is going to send 700 million of your tax money out of Washington, DC, to help the schools here. And in return for that money, we're beginning to ask the fundamental question as to whether or not our children are learning, whether or not they're learning to read and write, add and subtract. See, that's a fundamental question that Riley is going to ask as Governor. You've got to ask that question. If you believe every child can learn, then it makes sense to want to know whether every child is learning. And when they are, we'll praise the teachers. But when we find children trapped in schools that will not teach and will not change, you better have you a Governor who's willing to challenge the status quo. No child should be left behind in the State of Alabama. I appreciate the fact that Bob Riley is an entrepreneur. He started his own business. If you're worried about jobs in the State of Alabama, it seems like you better have somebody who knows what it's like to create a job, somebody who's actually met a payroll, somebody who can empathize with the small business owners of the State of Alabama and that person is Mr. Bob Riley, your next Governor. And finally, I look forward to working with Bob when he's your Governor on one of the most important initiatives I'm trying to push in Washington, DC, and it's a Faith Based Initiative. It's an initiative that understands that Government can hand out money. Government can't solve a lot of the harms and hurts in our society. If you're really interested in saving people's lives, if you're interested in a society which is compassionate, decent, we must empower the houses of worship, the places of faith, to step in where Government has failed and to provide love and compassion. I'm not talking about one religion I'm talking about all religions. All religions have heard the universal call to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. Bob Riley and I look forward to unleashing the great strength of the country, and that's the compassionate hearts of our fellow citizens to solve some of the needs and hurts in our society. I'm also here to make it clear to you, as clear as I can for the people of this district You need to send Mike Rogers to the United States Congress. And there are a lot of reasons why. We've got some big hurdles in the country, and I need a man up there with whom I can work representing this great district. One of the hurdles I face is that our economy isn't as good as it should be. It's bumping along. Anytime somebody is trying to find work and can't find a job in America, I think we've got a problem. Anytime somebody wants to put food on the table and they can't find a job, we need to do something about it. Except our philosophy is different from some of them in Washington. The role of Government is not to create wealth. The role of Government is to create an environment in which the small business owner can grow to be a big business, in which people with the entrepreneurial spirit flourishes, in which job creation is strong and evident. And the best way to do that is to let people keep more of their own money. Here's the textbook we read from. It says that if you let a person have more of their own money, then they're more likely to demand a good or a service. And when somebody demands a good or a service in the marketplace, somebody is likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces the good or a service, somebody is more likely to be able to find a job. The tax cuts came at exactly the right time in U.S. economic history. And these tax cuts and that tax relief plan is good for small business owners. It's good for your ranchers. It's good for your farmers. It's good for working people. It's good for everybody. The tax relief plan did something on the marriage penalty. See, we believe the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not discourage marriage. The Tax Code is putting the death tax on its way to extinction. But there's a problem. See, the way the Senate voted it out, that after 10 years from the time of enactment, the tax relief goes away. And that's not right. It creates uncertainty in the Tax Code. It creates uncertainty for people wanting to plan their business, to create jobs. In order to make sure that our economy grows, in order to make sure the job base is strong, you need to have a Congressman who will join me in making sure the tax relief plan we passed is permanent and doesn't go away. I look forward to working with Mike to make sure the country is a stronger country. By the way, one way we need to make the country a stronger country is to make sure our health care system works, particularly for our elderly. Medicine has changed Medicare hasn't. Medicine is modern. Medicare is stuck in the past. For the sake of a stronger America, for the sake of our seniors, we must reform Medicare and provide prescription drugs for the elderly. No, there are a lot of issues that we can work on together, and I look forward to working with him. I'm not going to have to worry about his vote, and that's important. I know he stands solid and square with the people of this district, and that's important. But the biggest issue we're going to have to work on is protecting America. The biggest issue we face, the biggest issue my administration faces and future Congresses are going to face, is the protection of you. You see, there's an enemy out there which hates us. They hate us because of what we love. And we love freedom. We love freedom, and we're not going to change. We love freedom with every fiber in our body. We love the fact that people can worship an almighty God freely in this society. We appreciate people's right to express themselves. We love the freedom of a political process where people can vote. We love a free press. We love every single thing about freedom, and we're not changing. And as a result, the enemy hates us. I want you to know that not only does our love for freedom differentiate us from an enemy our value for life differentiates us from the enemy. You see, in our view, everybody is precious every life matters everybody counts. But the enemy we face is nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers who, on the one hand, hijack a great religion, and on the other hand, kill with impunity. And so we've got a big chore ahead of us. See, it used to be that oceans could protect America. I remember conflicts across the sea, and it didn't seem to bother us because oceans were there to guard us. After September the 11th, 2001, we've learned a new lesson, that if there's an enemy out there that hates us, the battlefield can come home. And it's a lesson we've got to remember it's a lesson I'll certainly remember which means that we not only have to be alert for the known enemy, the obvious enemy, the killers that bombed Bali Bali or continue to try to take innocent life. But we've got to worry about people who've been a problem for a while and are going to be a problem over time. And I'm talking about Saddam Hussein. He's a man who told the world he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction. He lied and deceived the world. He's a person who not only has weapons of mass destruction he has used weapons of mass destruction. He's used them in the neighborhood, and he's used them on his own people. This dictator has defied the world over and over and over again. He also can't stand America, can't stand our friends, can't stand our allies. He hates freedom. I decided to go to the United Nations and make the case that it's time to deal with this man. It's time to hold him to his word. It's time to disarm him. It's also time for the United Nations to show us whether or not they're going to be a body which can keep the peace, whether or not they're going to be the United Nations or whether or not they're going to be the League of Nations, an ineffective body. It's their choice to make. I hope they act. I hope they show the world that this body is capable of keeping the peace. I hope they show the world that after 16 resolutions which were defied by Mr. Saddam Hussein, that the United Nations finally acts in the name of a peaceful world. I hope that Saddam Hussein hears the call for freedom loving nations and does what he said he would do, which is disarm. But if he doesn't, for the sake of peace, for the sake of our children, for our children's children, if he doesn't act, the United Nations will not act, the United States will lead a coalition to disarm Mr. Saddam Hussein. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. I say that because I believe in peace. I say that because we must be clear eyed about the real world. I say that because I understand, after September the 11th, the world has changed for America. I say that because our most important obligation is to protect you, which is why I went to the United States Congress and asked them to join me in the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. See, there's over 100 agencies scattered about in Washington, involved with protecting you. They're all over the place up there, and it felt like to me that they ought to be under one organization, so that if the number one priority is to protect the homeland, it becomes the number one priority of scattered agencies. If protecting the homeland is important, it seems like to me that under one umbrella, a new Department, that it will be easier to change cultures. And we're making progress. By the way, you need to know a lot of good people are working on your behalf, at the Federal level, at the State level, at the local level. If we get any kind of hint, any evidence whatsoever that somebody might be thinking about doing something to America, we're moving. We're disrupting. We're denying. We're doing everything we can to protect the homeland. But we can do a better job. And that's why the House of Representatives acted, and I appreciate Bob Riley's vote and the other Congressmen here's vote to get that out of the House. But it's stuck in the United States Senate. The Senate actually wants me to give up some power in order to accept their version of the bill. They want me to give up a power that every President since John F. Kennedy has had, which is the capacity to suspend collective bargaining rules for the sake of national security. And I'm not going to accept that. I need to be able to move people to the right place at the right time to protect you. We've got a border issue. We need to know who's coming into America, what they're bringing into America, and are they leaving America. We've got three agencies on the border, INS and Customs and Border Patrol. They're full of fine people, really good, hard working Americans. But in some sectors, they've got different strategies they wear different uniforms. We need a seamless capacity to protect America. The Senate needs to give me the flexibility and the authority to put the right people at the right place at the right time to protect America. But the best way to protect America, the best way to secure the homeland, the best way to protect our families, is to hunt the killers down one by one and bring them to justice. And that is exactly what we are going to do. It's a different kind of war. In the old days, you could count the number of tanks destroyed or ships that were sunk or airplanes shot out of the air, and you say you're making progress. This is a war where the leaders hide in a cave, or they kind of hide in a dark corner of one of these cities around the world, and then they send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. They don't care about innocent life. They're cold blooded killers. And therefore, the best thing for us to do is to get them on the run, to hunt them down and to bring them to justice, which is exactly what is happening. I want you to know that therapy isn't going to work. Laughter The doctrine that says, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy" it still stands. And there's a lot of good folks hunting these people down. Sometimes you'll see us making progress, and sometimes you won't. We've probably hauled in a couple thousand of them so far, and like number weren't so lucky. The other day, a guy named bin al Shibh, he popped his head up. Laughter He is no longer a problem to the United States of America. No, we've got a lot of work to do. There's still a lot of heavy lifting. There's still a lot of killers on the loose. But I've unleashed one of the finest militaries in the history of mankind. Yesterday I signed the defense appropriations bill. It's the largest increase in defense spending since President Ronald Reagan was in office. I did so because I wanted to send two messages. One, anytime we put our troops, our youngsters, into harm's way, they deserve the best training, the best equipment, the best possible pay. We owe it to our soldiers, and we owe it to their loved ones. And I wanted to send a message to friend and foe alike that when it comes to the defense of our freedom, when it comes to answering history's call, we're in this deal for the long haul. There's not a calendar on my desk in the Oval Office that one day the date is going to pop up and say, it's time to pull them in. It's not the way I think. It's not the way America thinks. We've been called to action. Our generation has been given a charge to keep. We are responsible for this country's safety. We're responsible for our freedoms. And the message I sent by signing that defense bill, to the enemy You've got a big problem with America, is what you've got. I can't imagine what was going through their mind when they hit us. Laughter You know, they thought we were so materialistic, so selfish, so self absorbed, that after September the 11th, 2001 we might have filed a lawsuit or two. Laughter That's all we were going to do. No, they don't understand this country. They don't understand the courage of our people. They don't understand the depth of love we have for freedom. They don't understand that we're a nation full of responsible citizens who understand we have a duty to future generations of Americans. That's what they don't understand. And they're going to pay a serious price for misunderstanding America. I believe out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good. I believe that we can achieve peace if we are strong and focused and diligent, if we remember that freedom is not an American blessing it's a God given blessing for people all around the world. If we remain true to our beliefs, we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace for people here at home. We can achieve peace in parts of the world which have quit on peace. We can achieve peace in the Middle East, can achieve peace in South Asia. No, amidst this talk about going to get them and hauling them in, you've just got to know that I believe in peace. And I believe peace is going to come. I believe peace is going to come. And here at home, I know that out of the evil done to America can come a more compassionate country. See, amidst our plenty, there are pockets of despair and hopelessness. There are people, when they hear the word "American Dream," they don't know what you're talking about. They don't have a dream. They're lost souls. Government can hand out money, but it can't put hope in people's hearts. That happens when a fellow American puts their arms around somebody in need and says, "I love you. What can I do to help you, brother? How can I help you?" No, the best way to fight evil here in America is to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. See, it's the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and compassion which change our country. I met Shirley Rose Glisson today at Air Force One in Montgomery. She came out because she is a she's one of the soldiers in the armies of compassion right here in Auburn. She goes to Auburn United Methodist. She decided she was going to start a food pantry with members of her church. They now feed 30 hungry families. It's this act and thousands of acts like it which define the true character of our country. You know, it's interesting about what happened on September the 11th. A lot of our citizens have taken a step back. They wonder what life is all about. The most vivid example of the new American spirit took place on Flight 93, people flying across the country. They heard the plane was being used as a weapon. They were on their cell phones to their loved ones. They said goodbye. They said, "I love you." They said a prayer. A guy said, "Let's roll." And they drove the plane in the ground to serve something greater than themselves. You've got to understand that patriotism patriotism or the American spirit can be served all kinds of ways. It is more than just putting your hand over your heart. It is serving a great nation. And you can do so by helping somebody who hurts, somebody in need. No, the enemy hit us. They had no idea who they were hitting. There's no doubt in my mind that this great Nation can lead the world to peace. There's no doubt in my mind that we can have a more compassionate tomorrow for everybody who lives in this country because, my fellow Americans, we're citizens of the greatest country, full of the finest people on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming. May God bless you, and may God bless America. October 24, 2002 Thank you all for coming. I'm glad to be back in North Carolina, and thanks for such a warm welcome. I want to talk about some things that are important. I want to talk about the future of this great country. We've got some tough tasks ahead of us. No question in my mind, we can accomplish anything we set our mind to. We're the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. I want to talk to you about how to make our country safer, stronger, and better. And one way to do so is to send Elizabeth Dole to the United States Senate. There is no question in my mind, she is the right person for the job for North Carolina. The senior Senator from North Carolina is retiring after a lot of good years of service to our country. I admire his service no finer gentleman in the United States Senate. He represented North Carolina well. He's a credit to our country. And the right person to follow Senator Jesse Helms is soon to be Senator Elizabeth Dole. She married well, and so did I. The truth of the matter is, Senator Dole the male Senator Dole and I married above ourselves. Laura sends her best. I just talked to her on the phone. She's on our she wishes she could be here. She's on our ranch in Texas. It's been raining, so she needs to sweep the porch, because the President of China is coming tomorrow. Laughter But she's doing great. She sends her love to Elizabeth, her best to all the candidates. She sends her best to all the friends of ours in North Carolina. I'm really proud of the job she's done on behalf of the American people. I want to thank you all for coming, because it gives me a chance to thank you for what you have done and for what you're going to do. And what I hope you do, and I think you're going to do, is go to your coffee shops and your places of worship and your community centers and remind people that in America they have a duty to vote, that in this country there is a responsibility that comes with being a United States citizen. We expect you to vote. We expect you to do your duty. And by the way, when you're reminding them to vote, you might make a couple of suggestions. Laughter One suggestion is Elizabeth Dole. When you're getting on the telephone and when you're putting up the signs and when you're mailing the mailers, the grassroots that makes a difference in an election, make sure you do so if you're living in Robin Hayes's district to send Robin Hayes back to the United States Congress. I appreciate Robin. I appreciate talking to him. I appreciate his firm stands on national security, and he's kind of wearing me out when it comes to jobs in North Carolina. Laughter He cares deeply about the people in his district and the people of this State. He cares deeply about making sure people can find work. And I appreciate his deep concern. I appreciate working with him to make sure our economy continues to grow. With us today as well is Congressman Cass Ballenger. He's another friend. He's another good one you sent up to the United States Congress from the State of North Carolina. And I'm real proud of Sue Myrick. She's done a great job. She's a fine soul. She's got those North Carolina values etched in her heart, and she represents you well in the United States Congress. I want to wish Carolyn Grant all the best, and hope for the folks in her district realize she is the best candidate for the United States Congress. I'm thankful for the mayor being here. Mr. Mayor, thanks for your time. Applause You've got a a couple of your relatives showed up, Mayor. Laughter You've got a lot of great candidates running for your court, particularly the supreme court. And I hope, as you're getting out to work, you make sure you've got a bench that is strong, a bench where people aren't on there to legislate but to interpret the constitution of the State of North Carolina. And speaking about benches, another reason we need Elizabeth Dole in the Senate, besides the fact that she's going to do a great job for North Carolina, is I've got to have United States Senators who will work with me to make sure our Federal judiciary is strong. The record I'm picking good people to be judges good, solid, honorable people to be the judges on the Federal judiciary, people who will strictly interpret the Constitution of the United States, not people who will use the bench to write new legislation. And the record of this United States Senate is a lousy record. They have politicized the process. They have distorted the records of many of our good candidates we put forward. They're playing petty politics with the candidates that I put up there. We're not getting a hearing fast enough. The percentage of judges is the worst in modern history, percentage of judges approved, and that's not right. Let me tell you about one, Terry Boyle from North Carolina, I nominated for the fourth circuit court. I nominated him a long while ago. He can't even get a hearing. For the sake of a good, sound judiciary, we need to change the United States Senate, and you can start by electing Elizabeth Dole to the Senate. You got a good shot, if you go out and vote and you work hard, to capture the legislature. And that's important. So I'm here not only to tout the candidacies of some fine people, but I'm here to thank you thank you for getting to getting ready to get to work. We're coming down the stretch. Candidates can't win without you. So do your duty. Convince your neighbors to do their duty. And by the way, make sure you not only talk to Republicans but talk to some Democrats. Some of these Democrats understand the difference between good Government and bad Government. They know the difference between a good candidate and a bad candidate. They know the difference between plain talk and somebody who is going to cloud up the issues. And also find those who don't give a hoot about a political party and turn them out to vote. It's the right thing for America to do that. I appreciate so very much Elizabeth's focus on education. I share the same focus. We share the same philosophy. It starts with the belief that every child can learn. That's an important distinction. It's important to have that ingrained in your heart. If you believe every child can learn, it means you're going to insist upon high standards and high expectations. It means you're willing to challenge what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. If you lower the bar, if you believe certain children can't learn, if you believe certain inner city kids can't possibly learn, if you believe children whose parents may not speak English as a first language can't learn, then you're willing to have low standards and low expectations. And that's not right for America. Secondly, Elizabeth and I not only believe you ought to set high standards, we believe in local control of schools. We believe that you got to trust the local folks. Listen, the people who care more about the children of North Carolina are the people of North Carolina, not people living in Washington, DC. We're spending Federal money on education. As a matter of fact, North Carolina will receive 1 billion of Federal monies, and that's good. And it's monies targeted to people who need help. But for the first time, we're starting to ask the question, Are we getting a return on our dollars spent? See, for the first time the United States Congress has said, "For money spent, we expect every child to learn because we believe every child can learn. Therefore, you got to show us whether or not the children can read and write and add and subtract." And if not first of all, if so, we'll heap praise where it belongs, and that's on your teachers and your parents and your principals who are working hard to make sure there's a quality education for every child. But if the accountability system shows that there are children trapped in schools which will not teach and will not change, you better make sure you've got public representatives who are willing to challenge the status quo. No child should be left behind in America. I look forward to working with Elizabeth on education matters, based upon the philosophy I just outlined. I look forward to working with her to make sure medicine works. Listen, medicine has changed Medicare hasn't. Medicine is modern Medicare is stuck. And yet it's an incredibly important program. It's a promise which we have made to our seniors. It's a promise that we must keep for the sake of having a stronger America and a better America. I look forward to working with Elizabeth Dole to make sure that Medicare is modern, just like medicine, and the seniors have got a prescription drug plan. We share the same view that if somebody is looking for work in America and can't find a job, that we need to do everything we can to increase jobs in America, that we ought to be thinking about pro growth policies pro growth so people can find work, not pro growth so the Federal Government expands pro growth so that the person here in North Carolina who's looking for work is able to put food on the table. That's what we want. And one way to do that is to let people keep more of their own money. We read from the same textbook. It says, if a person has more money in their pocket, he or she is more likely to demand a good or a service. And when somebody demands a good or a service in our society, in the marketplace, somebody is more likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or a service, somebody in North Carolina, or elsewhere in America, is more likely to find work. The best way to invigorate a sluggish economy, the best way to make sure that people are able to find work, is to let people keep more of their own money. The tax cuts that Elizabeth Dole supports will provide the people of North Carolina, over the next 10 years, 28 billion in income tax and death tax relief, 4.5 billion in child credit relief, 1.8 billion in marriage penalty relief, billions of dollars over the next 10 years to be in your pocket so you can decide what to do with it, so you can help invigorate the economy by just doing what you normally do, which is, demand a good or a service. But the issue is alive and well because there are some in Washington that do not want to make the tax relief plan we put in place permanent. See, it's temporary. I need a United States Senator to join me with me to make sure that tax relief is permanent. How can you plan if tax relief is temporary? How can you run your small business if you're not sure what the tax rules are going to be? It doesn't make any sense to say, "On the one hand, we giveth on the other hand, we taketh away." We need a United States Senate that will make the tax relief permanent. I know it makes some of them nervous up there to hear us talking about that. But they've got to understand that small business is the engine of economic vitality for America. Seventy percent of new jobs are created by small businesses. We want the entrepreneurial spirit to flourish. We want small businesses to be able to grow to be big businesses. And one way you do so is, you let them keep more money in their pocket. That's how you encourage small business growth. And by cutting the individual tax rates, which most small businesses pay because they're sole proprietorships or limited partnerships, we are invigorating the small business sector of America. I believe this economy is going to be fine, because interest rates are low, inflation is low, and productivity is high. It's also going to be fine because the entrepreneurial spirit is strong in America. That dream is a big dream for people. Today we've got with us David and Helen Marie Berthold. They started their own business. It's called Ehren Haus Industries. It's a plastics and wire company. They had a dream. They wanted to own their own business. They wanted to make employment opportunities available in North Carolina. They worked hard to build up their own business, and they're pretty darn good about it, by the way. David and Marie won the 2001 Entrepreneurial Award from the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce. Marie is the National Association of Women Business Owners Woman of the Year. They know what they're doing. But let me tell you what they're worried about. They're worried about overregulation. They see reams of regulations coming out of these bureaucracies at the Federal and State level. I look forward to working with Elizabeth Dole to make it easier for small businesses to prosper, not harder for small businesses to prosper, by reducing unnecessary regulations. Let me tell you what else they're worried about and so am I. They're worried that they're not going to be able to leave their business to their family. If you're a farmer or you're a rancher or you're a small business owner, the death tax is an incredibly punitive tax. See, people work all their life to build up their small business, like David and Helen Marie have done. You've got farmers here in North Carolina, worked all their life to build up their farms and then want to leave it to their child. But the death tax oftentimes prevents people from doing that. It means a person's assets are taxed twice. It means the Federal Government gets in between the owner of the asset and the person they want to leave it to. You need to have a United States Senator who speaks plainly on how bad the death tax is to America and make sure that the death tax is repealed forever. Let me talk about one other issue right quick, about domestic policy. And I worry about the cost of health care, and I'm worried about the accessibility of health care. And one reason the cost of health care is up and one reason there's fewer doctors practicing medicine is because there's too many junk and frivolous lawsuits hurting our docs. We want people to have access to the courts, but you can't have access to the courts when you've got frivolous lawsuits filed all over the place. And you've got docs being run out of business. I was in Mississippi the other day, and I was talking to a young doctor who had moved down to the Delta. He followed his heart. He and his wife moved to the Delta from up North because they wanted to help people who couldn't help themselves with medicine. The lawsuits, the trial lawyers have made it so hard for this guy to practice compassionate medicine. He said, "I've had it. I'm moving back home." Listen, we can have a health care system that's responsive. We need a legal system that takes care of people who are injured. But we need a law at the Federal level, a medical liability reform law that prevents the plaintiff's attorneys of America from driving up health care costs and driving good people out of medicine. No, there's a lot of work we're going to do together to make sure that America is a stronger place, make sure the economy goes forward, make sure people get educated. We've also got to make sure America is a secure place, safer place. It's the biggest challenge we have right now in America, is to protect the homeland. You've just got to know that there's an enemy out there lurking around which hates America. They just do. And they hate us because of what we love. We love freedom, is what we love. We love to be able to worship an Almighty any way we see fit in America. We value our elections, although the candidates may be getting a little tired of it. We value open discourse. We value a free press. We value freedom. And so long as we love freedom, there's going to be an enemy out there which hates what we love. You've just got to understand that. We're in a new era. Oceans no longer protect us. After September 11th, 2001, we learned a harsh lesson here in America that reality has changed. It used to be, when we were coming up or when we were younger, that two oceans could protect us. And there would be a conflict overseas, and the United States had the luxury of picking and choosing whether or not we wanted to participate in the conflict. We had that luxury, but it's changed. And America must understand it has changed. No longer can we assume oceans will protect us as a matter of fact, quite the contrary. We must assume that the enemy is coming, and we've got to do everything we can to protect the homeland. That's why I started talking about the issue of Iraq. In the new reality, we must view all threats we must take all threats seriously. We must have a cold, hard look at every threat facing America. And the man over there in Iraq is a threat. After all, he has gassed his own people. He hates what we stand for. He hates what America believes in. He has not only gassed his own people he used weapons of mass destruction on his own people. He's used weapons of mass destruction on countries in his neighborhood. He has told the world he won't have weapons of mass destruction for 11 years he's lied. Time and time and time again, he has lied. Time and time and time again, the United Nations has passed resolutions telling him, "Disarm." He's totally ignored the resolutions. So here is our strategy. Our strategy is to make it clear to the United Nations We want you to be effective. We don't want you to be the League of Nations. We want you to be an effective United Nations. It's your choice to make. We're sending a clear message to Mr. Saddam Hussein We believe in peace in America. We want the world to be peaceful, not only for ourselves but for people in your neighborhood. And so you must disarm. You said you would disarm, and you must disarm. It's your choice to make. We have made the call to the international community and to Mr. Saddam Hussein, himself, to disarm. But my friends, if the United Nations won't act, if they're feeble in their responsibility, and if Saddam Hussein won't disarm, the United States will lead a coalition in the name of peace to disarm Saddam Hussein. That's our responsibility. That's my responsibility to see as clearly as I can see, to anticipate true threats to our homeland and deal with them deal with them in a way that enables me to tell you that I'm doing everything I can or we're doing everything we can to protect the people. That's our most important responsibility. There is a lot of good people working hard on your behalf, people at the Federal level, people at the State level, people at the local level, a lot of people. See, we're on alert. We understand the realities. We remember, and we're not forgetting what took place. We saw what happened in Indonesia. We understand the people we're dealing with. There's no therapy, by the way, that can heal these people. These are coldblooded killers that's all they are. And so, therefore, we got to do everything we can here at home to button up the homeland. That's why I asked the Congress to join me in setting up a Department of Homeland Security, a Department that's whose job it is to make sure that number one priority of agencies involved with the homeland security is just that is your protection. We need people under one agency, I felt, because in order to make sure that that becomes the number one priority, that some cultures within agencies need to change. And we could effect a cultural change better if there was one agency involved with your protection. We're making some progress. The House voted a good bill, and the Senate is stuck. The Senate hasn't gotten a homeland security bill. They're arguing over things. As a matter of fact, they said, "We'll get you one, Mr. President, but you got to pay a price." And here's the price they wanted me to pay They want to roll back an authority that every President since John F. Kennedy has had, which will allow me to suspend some work rules for the sake of national security. See, I need to have that capacity, like every President since John Kennedy has had, to say that it's in our national interest that certain work rules be suspended, not that we're going to suspend collective bargaining rights, not that people can't accumulate the way they see fit, but that certain rules which may get in the way of our ability to protect America need to be suspended. I'll give you an example. We thought it was important for customs agents to wear radiological detection devices. After all, if you're worried about weapons of mass destruction coming into America, you want your customs people to have a device that will help detect weapons of mass destruction. The union heads said, "Wait a minute. You can't make these people wear that. That's an issue over which we must have collective bargaining." See, because I had the power to suspend the rules, after 4 months' discussion, we got it done. But the Senate is stuck. They're more interested in some special interests up there, and I'm not going to stand for it. It's not right for America. I need to be able to put the right people at the right place at the right time to protect America, and Elizabeth Dole will be a strong ally. The best way to protect America, however, is to hunt the killers down, one at a time, and bring them to justice. And we're making progress. But it's a different kind of war. Used to, you could measure progress based upon the number of tanks that no were out of commission or number of airplanes you shot down. These people we fight are people who hide in caves or lurk around the dark corners of parts of the world and send youngsters to their suicidal death. See, that's the new kind of army we face, and they're tough. They're not as tough as we are, but they're tough. They hide. You got to understand when you explain this to your children it's important you do and or people who are questioning why this is going on, you've got explain to them that here in America we value life. Everybody counts. Everybody is a precious soul. But they, the enemy, they don't value life. They've hijacked a great religion, and they murder. Innocent life doesn't matter to them. It just doesn't count. It doesn't it's just not on their radar screen. And there's a difference. And therefore, we fight a determined enemy. But the only way to deal with them is to keep our coalition strong and to hunt them down. You know, I laid out a doctrine you just got to know it still stands. It said, "Either you're with us either you love freedom and with nations which embrace freedom, or you're with the enemy. There's no in between." And the doctrine still stands. Sometimes you'll see the progress on your TV screens, and sometimes you're not going to see the progress on your TV screens. It's a different kind of war. We're cutting off their money when we can find it. We're sharing intelligence, and we're hauling them in. The other day a guy popped his head up, named bin al Shibh. Laughter He's not a problem anymore. Laughter He was a significant character because he wanted to be the 20th hijacker. He was still out there plotting. Slowly but surely, this great country, with our friends and allies, are hunting them down and bringing them to justice. It doesn't matter how long it takes, by the way. Yesterday I signed a defense appropriations bill, right there in the Rose Garden. I said two things about it. One, anytime we put our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. And secondly, that was a message to friend and foe alike It doesn't matter how long it takes. The increase in defense spending, the largest since Ronald Reagan, sends a clear message We're in this deal for the long haul. See, we understand freedom. We understand responsibility. I don't know what the enemy was thinking when they hit us. I can't imagine. They must have thought we were so self absorbed, so selfish, so materialistic that after 2001 September 2001, oh, we might have filed a lawsuit or two. They didn't know. They don't understand America. They don't understand America like I understand America. When it comes to the defense of our freedom, when it comes to our obligations and duty for the future for our children, this country will remain strong, and this country will remain tough. For those of you who have got relatives in the United States military, you tell them their Commander in Chief has got all the confidence in the world in those good troops. I'm glad they're on my side. No, we got a lot of work to do, but I want you to know I firmly believe this that if we stay the course and do our duty, fulfill our obligation, we can achieve peace. That's my dream. My dream is not only for a peaceful America but to bring peace in parts of the world who have quit on peace. I believe it's possible that we can achieve peace in the Middle East. I have a clear vision on how we can get there going to have to renounce terror. We have to remain true to our principles. We have to remember that freedom is God given it's not United States given that freedom is a universal value, not an American value. No, out of the evil done to America can come some great good, starting with peace in the world. And here at home, we can be a better America. You just got to understand there are pockets of despair in this country. People hurt places where people are addicted or lost. People wonder whether or not the American experience, the so called American Dream, is meant for them. My attitude is, so long as one of us hurts, all of us hurt. But I believe we can eradicate those pockets of despair and hopelessness. I believe that not only by having a good education system, good health care, making sure that the welfare system is in place that encourages and helps people work I believe we can accomplish that. But we've got to understand the limitations of Government. Government can hand out money, but it can't put hope in people's hearts. It can't put a sense of purpose in people's lives. The way we can change America one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time is for each of us to understand people hurt and put our arm around them and tell them we love them. If you want to change America, love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. No, our vision Elizabeth's vision and my vision understands the great power of all faiths in our society. We understand a universal law of love. And we understand that America can change, that there are forces more powerful than addiction there are forces more power than powerful than hopelessness there are forces more powerful than loneliness. My call to our fellow Americans, if you want to join the fight against evil, is do some good. Mentor a child, just like your mayor does. Mentor a child. You can save Charlotte, North Carolina, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. Be a Boy Scout leader or a Girl Scout leader. Go to your Boys Clubs or Girls Clubs. Feed the hungry. Find housing for those who need a home. There's all kinds of ways you can help. One person can't do everything. I recognize that. But each of us can be that one person doing something to make sure that the enemy which hits us understands that they hit the greatest, most powerful, and yet, at the same time, most compassionate country on the face of the Earth. No, they hit us they didn't know who they were hitting. Out of the evil done to this great country is going to come a more peaceful world. And out of the evil done to this great country is going to come a more hopeful day. I want to thank you for your interest in our political process. I urge you to get out the vote. In the meantime, may God bless you all, and God bless America. October 23, 2002 Good morning. Please be seated. The security of the American people is the first commitment of the American Government. Our Nation faces grave new dangers, and our Nation must fully support the men and women of our military who confront these dangers on our behalf. The Department of Defense and the Military Construction Appropriations bills I sign today will make our country more secure, make our military forces more prepared, and reward military families for their sacrifice in service. These bills, passed with bipartisan support, send a message America is united America is strong and America will remain strong. I appreciate so very much Vice President Cheney joining me today. He is a great Vice President. I appreciate Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld joining me today. He's a great Secretary of Defense. I appreciate Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz coming. I want to thank Tom White, the Secretary of the Army. I want to thank the Members of the Congress who have joined us today, both Democrat and Republican Senator Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, Bill Young of Florida, Dave Hobson of Ohio, and Jim Moran of Virginia. I want to thank the service chiefs who are here. They've done such a good job for our country. I want to thank their senior enlisted advisers. I want to thank the friends of the United States military who are here in the Rose Garden today. I want to thank those who wear the uniform who are here. And I welcome my fellow Americans. Since September the 11th, Americans have been reminded that the safety of many depends on the courage and skill of a few. We've asked our military to bring justice to agents of terror. We've asked our military to liberate a captive people on the other side of the Earth. We've asked our military to prepare for conflict in Iraq, if it proves necessary. We're asking young Americans to serve in many places far from home and at great risk. We owe them every resource, every weapon, and every tool they need to fulfill their missions. The best military in the world must have every advantage required to defend the peace of the world. And the best military in the world is making good progress on this, the first war of the 21st century. It's a different kind of war. Our military knows it. After all, we're on an international manhunt. We're chasing coldblooded killers down, one killer at a time. And we're making good progress. We've hauled in or arrested, thanks to our military and our friends and allies, over a couple of thousand killers, and like number weren't as lucky. In either case, they're no longer a threat to the American people. Sometimes the American people will see the progress we're making, and sometimes they won't. They just need to know that the United States military is after them, one person at a time. The bill I sign today also sends a clear signal to friend and foe alike that it doesn't matter how long it takes to defend our freedom the United States of America will stay the course. There is no timetable in the Oval Office here behind me that says, at a certain period of time we no longer care deeply about our freedoms, and therefore we're going to quit. There's no such timetable. The bill today says America is determined and resolute to not only defend our freedom but defend freedom around the world, that we're determined and resolute to answer the call to history, and that we will defeat terror. This year's defense bill provides nearly 355 billion to protect our country, more than 37 billion increase from fiscal year 2002 for fiscal year 2002. We're matching increased funding with clear priorities. First, this legislation takes care of our men and women in uniform and their families. We provide the money for a pay increase of 4.1 percent for service members, provide for additional full time support personnel for the National Guard and Reserves, continue to reduce the out of pocket cost for housing for our service members and their families. The Military Construction Appropriations bill adds 10.5 billion for building and upgrading military installations and for military family housing. We're taking care of our people. We want the people who wear the uniform to know America appreciates their service. Secondly, this year's defense bill will ensure that our military is ready and well equipped. We increased funds for operations and maintenance by more than 5 billion, provide nearly 72 billion for weapon procurement, an 11 billion increase. Today's American forces are ready and able to deploy to any point in the globe to defeat any foe, and we're going to keep it that way. Third, this legislation begins developing the next generations of weaponry that will win battles in the future. We invest almost 58 billion in research and development. At the same time, the bill ends some weapons systems that aren't going to meet the needs of the future, and that's an important contribution to our military. To have the willingness to say, "This program works, and this one doesn't," is important. So we ended the Crusader artillery program, a program that was designed for a different era. Instead, we will fund new systems, systems that will enable our military to do a more effective job at defending America and our freedoms, systems such as the unmanned aerial vehicles like the Predator and the Global Hawk that we've used so effectively in Afghanistan. We fund efforts to adopt cold war systems like the Trident submarine to meet the new 21st century missions. We fund over 7 billion to protect America and our friends from the threat of ballistic missiles. I'm grateful that Congress completed its important work on defense and military construction appropriations bills. I want to thank them for working hard on these two important pieces of legislation. I appreciate the bipartisan spirit. There's still important work to complete. For example, Congress has yet to act on my proposal to nearly double overall funding for homeland defense, including my request for unprecedented funding levels for police and firefighters and emergency medical personnel who are on the frontlines of defending our citizens. In addition, our new homeland Department of Homeland Security is stalled in the Senate. The defense bill I will sign today funds our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines, all of which exist in a single Department. That Department was created by President Harry Truman when he reorganized our Nation's defense structure to meet the security threats of a new era. Today we are once again in a new era. Yet our homeland security activities are spread among more than 100 different Government agencies. America needs a single Department of Government dedicated to protecting our people and to protecting our homeland. We can't wait any longer. The threats to America are simply too great. Providing for the security of our country is a broader task than just keeping our military strong. I look forward to working with Congress on all the measures needed to build the strength and security of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. It is now my honor to sign the Department of Defense Appropriations Act and the Military Construction Appropriations Act. October 23, 2002 Thank you all for coming. Welcome to the White House. And thanks for the work that most of you do on behalf of protecting this country's children. Because children are so vulnerable, they need the constant protection of adults. And because children are so vulnerable, they're often the targets of cruel and ruthless criminals. I am deeply saddened by the recent tragedy that we've seen here in Washington. There is a ruthless person on the loose. I've ordered the full resources of the Federal Government to help local law enforcement officials in their efforts to capture this person. Laura and I join our fellow Americans in prayer as we pray for the families and friends who have lost loved ones, as we pray for the safety of our fellow citizens, as we pray for the quick end to this period of violence and fear. Protecting children from sexual exploitation is also a priority. It needs to be a priority and is a priority of this country. Earlier this month, I convened the first ever White House Conference on Missing, Exploited, and Runaway Children, and those efforts continue today. I've just met with law enforcement representatives from the Federal, State, and local level from several States who spend their time tracking down and prosecuting online predators. These officials are impressive people. They're the best of America. They're doing difficult and disturbing and essential work. And I thank them for coming here today. Our Nation has made this commitment Anyone who targets a child for harm will be a primary target of law enforcement. That's our commitment. Anyone who takes the life or innocence of a child will be punished to the full extent of the law. Today I want to discuss with you several aggressive steps we are taking to protect our children from exploitation and from danger on the Internet. I appreciate so very much Robert Mueller, the Director of the FBI, is here with us today. I thank you for your service, for your good work. I want to thank the Deputy Attorney General of the Department of Justice, Larry Thompson, for being here. Mr. Deputy, thanks for coming. Bob Bonners, the Commissioner of the U.S. Customs Service, is with us today. They play an integral role in helping to catch these predators overseas. Federal, State, and law enforcement officers and prosecutors who are here with us today, ranging from California to Alabama to Maryland from all around the country. I want to thank you all for being here to hear this progress and commitment that we share for our country. When a child's life or innocence is taken, a grave and unforgivable act has occurred. A parent's worst nightmare has become real. And you all here are on the frontlines of this great struggle to see to it that no parent has to live through the nightmare. That's what you're doing. The Internet is a remarkable technology. We've all learned that. It's revolutionized education, vastly increased the flow of information, increases our knowledge. We're now in closer touch with our family and friends. People are now connected across the globe. It's an exciting tool. But more than half of our Nation children now on line let me start over more than half of the Nation is now online, and 75 percent of the children are online. The flow of information is freer and broader. Yet the new freedom presents us with an unprecedented challenge, a technology that brings knowledge also brings obscenity and danger. Until recently, the worst kind of pornography was mainly limited to red light districts or restricted to adults or confined by geography, isolated by shame. With the Internet, pornography is now instantly available to any child who has a computer. And in the hands of the wrong people, in the hands of incredibly wicked people, the Internet is a tool that lures children into real danger. Sexual predators use the Internet to distribute child pornography and obscenity. They use the Internet to engage in sexually explicit conversations. They use the Internet to lure children out of the safety of their homes into harm's way. Every day, millions of children log on to the Internet, and every day we learn more about the evil of the world that has crept into it. In a single year, one in four children between the ages of 10 and 17 is voluntarily involuntarily exposed to pornography. That's one in four children. One in five children receives a sexual solicitation over the Internet. One in 17 children is threatened or harassed. We've got a widespread problem, and we're going to deal with it. We don't accept this kind of degrading. It's unacceptable to America. We don't accept offensive conduct like this in our schools, in the commercial establishments, and we can't accept it in our homes. We cannot allow this to happen to our children. The chief responsibility to protect America's children lies with their parents. You are responsible for the welfare of your child. It's your responsibility. There are several practical things parents can do to protect their children from the dangers of online predators. First of all, pay attention to your children. If you love your children, pay attention to them. Know what they're doing. Share your experience with your children. Make it clear to your children about the potential online dangers they face. Make it clear to them the kinds of web sites they need to avoid. Children need to be told to never provide personal information to anyone online. It seems like a simple parental responsibility. Mothers and dads all across America need to do their job and make it clear to their children there can be danger by providing personal information. Don't share any passwords that's a logical thing for a mom or a dad to do, tell their children not to share a password with a total stranger. Don't agree to meet with somebody they've never met. Don't agree to meet with somebody that chats them up on the Internet, unless the mom or dad is with them. Parents should keep computers in a central location and check up on what their kids are doing. They ought to not ignore what their children are doing. They ought to pay attention to their children. They have a responsibility. A mother or dad ought to pay just as much attention to their child when they're on the Internet as if they're in the playground or walking in the mall. Parents have the first and foremost responsibility. Yet we as a society share this duty as well, and that's what we were talking about today. Parents need allies in the upbringing of their children. Our Nation should make the essential work of mothers and fathers easier, not harder. Our Government, at every level, must take the side of responsible parents, and we will. We're waging an aggressive nationwide effort to prevent the use of the Internet to sexually exploit and endanger children. That's what we're doing. I want to share some of that with you today. Through an FBI program called Innocent Images, we identify, we investigate, and we prosecute sexual predators across the country. FBI agents are obtaining evidence of criminal Internet activity by conducting undercover operations, using fictitious screen names and entering into online chat rooms. I had the honor of listening to one such FBI agent today. She was telling us what it's like to deal with these sick minds. Interesting, afterwards I said, "It must be tough to do the job you do." She says, "I've got two children. I don't want it to ever happen to any child." I appreciate your dedication. Innocent Images prosecutions increased by more than 50 percent over the last 2 years. We're making progress. Just like we're hunting the terrorists down one at a time, we're hunting these predators down one at a time too. Based on the progress, I'm pleased to announce that we will expand this program and significantly increase the funding in the next fiscal year. We will also seek to almost double funding for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces, from 6.5 million in fiscal year 2002 to 12.5 million in fiscal 2003. These task forces help State and local authorities enforce laws against child pornography and exploitation. Since 1998, the task forces have helped train more than 1,500 prosecutors and 1,900 investigators. They've served 700 search warrants and 1,400 subpoenas. The task forces have provided direct, investigative assistance in more than 3,000 cases. They've arrested more than 1,400 suspects. These task forces are a great success. They're a great success because we've got a lot of good people working on these projects, a lot of dedicated Americans whose stomachs turn when they realize what's happening to our children, great Americans who decided to do something about it. This additional funding I've announced means that in we'll increase the number of regional task forces up to 40 around the country. Our efforts to fight Internet exploitation of children extend throughout this Government, throughout all levels of government. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service provides an important role in tracking sexual predators, because child pornographers often use the mail to purchase obscene materials off the Internet. In Operation Avalanche, postal inspectors created an undercover web site which they used to bring down what is to believe what is believed to be the largest commercial child pornography enterprise ever encountered by law enforcement authorities in the United States. It started in Texas. It ended in Texas because of the hard work of the postal inspectors, the good work of prosecutors, and the sentencing of one tough Federal judge. The Customs Service is conducting Operation Hamlet, which earlier this year dismantled an international ring of child molesters, an international ring of sick minds. Acting on a tip from European authorities, customs officers tracked down child molesters in the United States, many of whom were molesting their own children and distributing the images of these children on the Internet. Authorities have identified 25 individuals involved in this ring, 14 of whom were Americans. Through Operation Hamlet, 65 children have been rescued. We're taking aggressive steps to protect children from exploitation and victimization. And the United States Congress can help by passing the "Child Obscenity and Pornography Prevention Act." The House has passed this important bill, and I want to thank them for their good work. The House passed a bill which makes it illegal for child pornographers to disseminate obscene, computer generated images of children. It's an important piece of legislation. The Senate needs to act soon. The Senate needs to get moving and join the House in providing our prosecutors with the tools necessary to help shut down this obscenity, this crime these crimes against children. When a child's life or innocence is taken, a grave and unforgivable act has occurred. A parent's worst nightmare has come real. The people in this room are on the frontlines of a great struggle, determined to see that no parent is forced to live through a nightmare. I'm tremendously grateful for the good works. I want to thank you all for being true patriots. I want you to know, at the Federal level, we're joining in the fight. We'll go after them, one person at a time, to make America a promising place for everybody who lives here. May God bless your work, and may God bless America. Thank you all. October 22, 2002 The President. Thanks a lot for coming. Thank you all. Audience member. We love you, George! The President. I'm glad I came. Thank you. Congressman, thank you for that kind introduction. I'm here for a couple of reasons. One, I always like to come to Maine. Sometimes I come to get instructions from my mother. Laughter Every time I come, I've enjoyed being here. It's a beautiful place. I thank you for your hospitality. I thank you all for coming out. I thank you for your deep concern for our country, and thanks for your participation in the political process. I'm here because there's no question in my mind, Kevin Raye will make a great United States Congressman. I'm here because I have learned a lot about Susan Collins. There is no doubt in my mind, she is a great United States Senator. And for the sake of Maine and for the sake of the United States, you need to send her back to the Senate. I'm here because I firmly believe that Peter Cianchette will make a great Governor for Maine. I am here because I want to talk about how we can work together to make America a safer, a stronger, and a better country. I mean a safer and stronger and better country for Republicans, for Democrats, for people who don't give a hoot about politics. First, I want to apologize and tell you, you drew the short straw. Laura was tied up laughter so you got stuck with me. I want to tell you, she's doing great. Many of you have some of you have told me, I bet many of you feel this way, that you say prayers for Laura and me and the family. I want to thank you from the bottom of our heart for that. It means a lot. And we're doing well. You know, when I married Laura she was a public school librarian. Audience member. Oh, yeah! The President. There's always one in every crowd laughter a special breed, I might add. She didn't like politics, wasn't too keen on politicians either. Laughter Now here she is, the First Lady of the United States and a fabulous one at that. She's calm. She's steady. She's got a great smile. She cares deeply about our children. The people of the country now understand why I asked her to marry me. A lot of them are wondering why she said yes. Laughter But she sends her best, as do I, as do I to not only Susan Collins but to a really fine lady who represents Maine, a United States Senator who's got a lot of class, a lot of wisdom, a lot of power, somebody with whom I enjoy working, somebody who is making a difference for America, and that is Olympia Snowe. We've got a man up here who wants to be one of my mother and dad's Congressmen. He's got him one in Houston, and he's got one in Maine, and he hopes to have a new one. And the guy's name is Steven Joyce, running for the U.S. Congress. My only advice, Steven, is that when you win, you make sure you answer their mail. I'm so proud to be here with Kathy Watson, who is the chairman of the Republican Party for Maine Jan Staples, who is the national committeewoman for Maine. I want to thank our high school choir and high school band who are here today. But most of all, I want to thank you all for coming. I want to thank the grass roots activists who are here. I want to thank the people who take time, who work hard to make sure that the democracy is strong. I want to thank you very much for your efforts on behalf of all candidates. I want to thank you for what you have done. I want to thank you for what you're going to do, and that is to turn out the votes for these candidates on November the 5th. When I say that I understand Susan Collins, I do. I've worked closely with her. I've worked with her on key issues that face the country. There was no stronger supporter for the No Child Left Behind Act than Susan Collins. You see, we passed a meaningful piece of education reform. I want to describe to you right quick the key ingredients on this piece of legislation, and you'll understand why I'm so proud of the work that she did, along with Olympia. First of all, the bill challenges what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. You see, what we understand is, if you have low standards and low expectations, you're going to get lousy results in our schools. We must have a system that sets the highest of high standards. You must believe every child can learn. But also we believe you've got to trust the local people. See, we understand the people of Maine are more competent in charting the path for excellence than the people in Washington, DC, are for the Maine children. One of the key components of the No Child Left Behind legislation is what we call the Reading First Initiative. Susan Collins was instrumental in helping to write that part of the law. It tripled the amount of money available for reading programs. But as importantly, it said we must base our reading programs on what works, not what sounds good, that there is a science to teaching children how to read, and that all across the country we must dedicate ourselves to making sure that we challenge that soft bigotry of low expectations by insisting that every single child in America becomes a good reader. I thank Susan Collins for her leadership on that issue. Not only not only did we insist upon high standards and local control of schools, we increased the amount of money available for education, the largest expenditure of Federal dollars and education ever. There's 200 million of Federal monies coming to Maine this year. But we also said, "In return for receiving this new money, we expect you to deliver results. In return for money, we want to know whether or not our children are learning to read and write and add and subtract." And when we find out they are, we'll praise the teachers. And for those of you who are teachers out there, thank you, on behalf of our collective hearts. It's a noble profession. But the reason we have demanded accountability is because we want no child left behind. When we find our children trapped in schools which will not teach and schools which will not change, we better have the courage to challenge the status quo. Every child counts in America, and no child should be left behind. Now, I appreciate Susan a lot. She has delivered on behalf of Maine, and she has delivered on behalf of the country. I also appreciate her working on Medicare. You see, medicine has changed, and Medicare hasn't. Medicare is modern medicine is modern, and Medicare is stuck in the past. It needs to be changed. We need to make sure there is a prescription drug program for our seniors. Susan Collins can get the job done on behalf of Maine, people in Maine. I like to say when you find a good one, you've got to send them back to office, and you've found a good one in Susan Collins. I'm proud to call her friend, and I hope you're proud to call her United States Senator. I'm also proud to be here for Kevin Raye. He's going to make a fine Congressman if for no other reason than he worked for Olympia Snowe for all these years. I appreciate his strong principles. I appreciate his good judgment. I appreciate his independent spirit. I appreciate his common sense. I look forward to working with him on doing what's right for Maine and doing what's right for America. He knows what I know There's too much name calling in Washington, DC there's too much finger pointing there's too much zero sum politics. This is a man who's going to bring dignity to the office. He'll work with both Republicans and Democrats to get the job done. He's no nonsense. He's also clear eyed. He understands the threat the United States faces. He's not going to be one of these folks that is naive about the threats we face. I need somebody in Congress with whom I can work to make sure that we do the job of keeping America safe and strong, and that person is Congressman Kevin Raye. And finally, you'd better get you a Governor with whom we can work on this education reform, somebody who's got one special interest in mind, and that's the children somebody who cares deeply about the children of the State, and that Governor is going to be Peter Cianchette. He knows what I know Education is to a State what national defense is to the Federal Government. The number one priority of any Governor must be the education of every single child. I know he will challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. I know he'll work with the teachers. I know he believes in local control of schools. I know he'll work with parents. And most importantly, I know he'll challenge failure when he finds it. Every child matters to Peter, and no child will be left behind. No, I want to thank you all for coming today to give me a chance to tout these candidates. Again, I urge you to make sure you work hard to turn out the vote. They're counting on you. They're counting on you to go to the coffee shops. They're counting on you to go to the community centers. They're counting on you to talk it up, and make sure when you talk it up, just don't talk it up to Republicans. There's a lot of Democrats who are wise enough to vote for these candidates. And make sure you talk it up with independents and people who don't care. Turn them out to the polls. It's an important election, and we need these candidates to win. We've got some big challenges ahead of this country. That's why I've taken a keen interest in these elections. I look forward to having a Congress with which I can work to meet the challenges facing America. And we've got some big challenges. It doesn't matter how big they are, as far as I'm concerned, though. See, there's nothing we can't accomplish in this country. This is the greatest country on the finest country on the face of the Earth, no doubt in my mind. One of the challenges we have is to make sure people can find work. Anytime somebody is looking for a job and can't find work means we've got a problem. The foundations for growth are strong interest rates low inflation is low. We've got the highest productivity in the world amongst our workers and our farmers and our ranchers. No, we're strong in America. But still too many people can't find a job. So I look forward to working with Congress to expand jobs opportunities. And there's some things we can do, starting with making sure people have got more money in their pocket. See, here's the textbook I've read from. It says, if you let a man or woman have more of her own money or his own money, they're going to demand a good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service in the marketplace, somebody is going to produce the good or service. And when somebody produces that good or service, somebody is more likely to find work. That tax relief plan we passed was good for the American economy. As a matter of fact, over the next 10 years, that tax relief plan will mean over 5 billion for Maine residents. That's 5 billion additional dollars of your own money that you will be able to choose how to spend, 5 billion that you can use to invigorate the economy. But the problem is, some in Washington don't see it that way. Some in Washington want this tax relief plan not to be permanent. Some in Washington want this tax relief plan to go away. It doesn't make any sense. Either you trust the Government, or you trust the people we trust the people. I look forward to working with Congress to make sure we get a terrorism insurance package that rewards hardhats and not trial lawyers, that gets our construction people back to work. I look forward to having an energy bill which encourages alternative uses, renewables, increased conservation, but at the same time makes us less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. I look forward to working with people like Susan and Olympia and Kevin who understand that when they talk it up in Washington, they say, "The Government's spending the Government's money here, and the Government's spending the Government's money there," that we recognize we're not spending the Government's money. We're spending the people's money, and therefore we need to be fiscally sound with the people's money. Now, there's a lot of things we can do to work together to make this economy grow. And I look forward to working with Congress and won't rest until people who are looking for work can find work. We've got a big job as well to make sure we protect America. I was amazed when Kevin told me that in the course of a debate, he said one of the two in the race didn't believe we were still under a threat. That's just not the case. I wish it were true, but it's not true. There's still an enemy out there that's acting. There's still an enemy which hates America. They hate America because of what we love. We love freedom. We love the fact that people can worship an almighty God any way they see fit in America. We love the freedom for people to speak their mind. We love a free press. We love every aspect of our freedom, and we're not going to change. And therefore, there's an enemy out there which hates what we love. And so we've got to do everything we can to protect the homeland. My most important job is to protect American life, to protect innocent life. I mention that because you've got to know something about these people we fight. Unlike us, they don't value life. See, we think every life is precious. Everybody counts. Everybody matters. We face an enemy which has hijacked a great religion and are nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers, and therapy won't work. Laughter We learned a tough lesson on September the 11th. See, it used to be oceans could protect us, and if there was a war on another continent, we'd make the choice as to whether or not we would join that war, that we were safe and secure as a nation because oceans could keep us safe and secure. But the harsh reality of the 21st century came home. Oceans no longer protect us. Threats overseas are threats that we must recognize here at home and deal with them. That's why I asked the United States Congress to have a dialog on Iraq. That's why I asked the Congress to seriously consider, along with the administration, as to whether or not we should deal with a true threat to our country. I want to remind you that we're dealing with a man who has used weapons of mass destruction on his own people, on people in his neighborhood. This is a man who has defied the United Nations 16 times over an 11 year period. The world has said, "You must do what you said you would do, Saddam Hussein, and that is disarm." And 16 times the United Nations, over and over and over again, has written resolution after resolution, saying, "Mr. Saddam Hussein, you must disarm." And he has defied an international body. So I gave a speech, and I said to the world, "For the sake of peace, for the sake of peace at home, for the sake of peace in the Middle East, for the sake of determining whether or not that international body is going to be the League of Nations or the United Nations, Saddam Hussein must disarm, and we expect you, the world, to disarm him" for the sake of peace, for the sake of security for our country. It's his choice to make. "You said you would disarm, disarm. The United Nations has asked you to disarm." They need to work together to disarm. But my fellow Americans, if they won't act, and if Saddam Hussein won't act, for the sake of peace, for the sake of our security, we will lead a coalition to disarm that man. And so we face true threats at home. And I went to Congress to ask them to join me in the creation of a Department of Homeland Security. I did so because I wanted to take the agencies involved with securing our homeland and put them under one Cabinet Secretary, so we can set clear priorities, the priorities to protect you, the priorities to do everything we can to protect you. And therefore, I thought it would be wise for us to have a Department of Homeland Security so we could better coordinate, better facilitate, better prioritize, if need be, change cultures within agencies, so this becomes the primary focus of a lot of good people who are working on your behalf. And by the way, there are a lot of good people working on your behalf. We understand the stakes now. We see the reality clearly. We know there's an enemy lurking around. We're aware of Bali, Indonesia, where people just innocent lives were just destroyed as a result of these coldblooded killers. We know the stakes. People are working hard on your behalf. Anytime we're getting a hint, anytime we're getting a scintilla of evidence, anytime we think somebody is fixing to do something to the American people, we're moving we're disrupting we're denying. We're doing everything we can. But we can be more effective, and that's why I asked Congress to join me in the creation of a homeland defense, department of homeland defense. The House acted, and the United States Senate is stuck. And it's not because of the two U.S. Senators on this stage, I might add. They're struggling in the Senate because of special interests. They're struggling because they're trying to get me to pay a price for a homeland security bill. And I want to describe the price that they want me to pay. Every President since John Kennedy has had the ability to act in the interests of the country for national security purposes. Every President has had the capacity to suspend some labor rules if those rules get in the way of national security concerns. Listen, I strongly support the right for people to bargain collectively, if they choose to do so. But I also am going to hold dear to that right Presidents have had to be able to suspend some work rules for the sake of national security. I'll give you an example of what I'm talking about. After September the 11th, the Customs Service wanted to quickly assign its best, most qualified inspectors to the northern border. See, we were worried about our borders. We're still worried about our borders. We need to know who's coming into the country, what they're bringing into the country, and if they're leaving the country when they say they're going to leave the country. That's what we want to know. So we wanted to move the best inspectors up there. But the leaders representing this part of the workforce said, "No way. See, we're not going to let you do that. You have to bargain over these assignments." Now, that's not right. We asked inspectors to wear radiological detection devices so that they may be able to sniff out a weapon of mass destruction. They said, "No. No, we've got to have collective bargaining over that." It took us 4 months of negotiations with the head of the union to be able to get that done. Now, see, I need the right to be able to put the right people at the right place at the right time to protect America. And I'm not changing, because I understand what's at stake. What's at stake we've got to make sure we do it right, to make sure that this President and future Presidents can protect the homeland. And I say "future Presidents" because in my judgment, this deal isn't ending anytime soon that even though we're making progress, we still have got a long way to go. And I want to remind you all that the best way to protect the homeland is to hunt the killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice. And that's what this country is going to do. And we're making progress. In the old days, you know, you could measure progress based upon the number of tanks you destroyed, or whether or not somebody's navy had fewer ships, or whether or not the air force wasn't able to fly. But this is a different kind of war, see. We're facing these kind of people that hide in caves or move around in the dark corners of some of these cities in the world they send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. It's a different kind of war. But we're making progress. The doctrine that says, "Either you're with us or the enemy" it still stands. There's a lot of good people around the world working hard too. We've hauled in a couple of thousand like number weren't as lucky. None of them are a threat anymore. The other day, a guy named bin al Shibh popped his head up. You don't have to worry about him. He was the man who wanted to be the 20th hijacker. He was lurking around Pakistan, figuring out a way how to hurt America again. And we found him, and he's now in custody. Slowly but surely, we're dismantling the Al Qaida terrorist network slowly but surely. And as we do so, we're spreading freedom. I want you to remind your kids and any other child you come in contact with that amongst all this war talk, that this great country never has conquered anybody. We're liberators. Thanks to the United States and our friends and allies, many young girls go to school for the first time in Afghanistan. We will never be conquerors. We believe in freedom. See, when I say, "Every life counts everybody has worth every individual matters," I don't mean just Americans. I believe that way for everybody. I believe freedom is universal. It's just not an American ideal it's a God given ideal. It's a universal ideal, and we love freedom in America. Tomorrow I'm going to sign a defense appropriations bill. I want to thank Senator Snowe and Senator Collins for working on that bill and getting it to my desk. It's the largest increase in defense spending since President Reagan was the President. I'm going to tell you the two reasons why. Anytime the United States of America sends our youngsters into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. We owe that to our troops, and we owe that to the loved one of our troops you loved ones out there of your troops. I've got great confidence in the United States military. I have great confidence in the ability of our United States military. I'm incredibly proud of those who wear our uniforms. And the second reason the defense bill had the size it did, it sends a message to friend and foe alike It doesn't matter how long it takes to defend freedom we'll do it. There's no calendar on my desk that says, by such and such a date we're going to have to haul the troops home suchand such a date we're going to quit. That's not the way America thinks. That's certainly not the way I think. We love peace, and we love freedom, and it doesn't matter how long it takes to secure both. History has called us into action. History has called us to action. We have a duty to future generations of Americans to make this land secure. That's an obligation we have. It's an obligation we won't from which we will not shirk. I can't imagine what was going through the minds of the killers when they hit America. Oh, they must have thought we were so materialistic and selfish, so self absorbed that after September the 11th, we'd file a lawsuit or two. Laughter They didn't understand. They just didn't get it. They don't understand that this great Nation will defend that which we love. They don't understand that as a nation we see opportunity out of the midst of the terrible evil. See, I do believe this I believe the stronger we are, the more resolved we are, the more clear sighted we are, the more likely it is we'll not only achieve peace for ourselves, but we can achieve peace in the Middle East. We can achieve peace in South Asia. No, out of the evil done to this great country can come incredible good. I truly believe that staying the course, speaking clearly, fighting terror where it exists, spreading freedom in a humble way, we can achieve peace. And I also know here at home that we can achieve a better America, and Government can help. We talked about education initiatives and health initiatives. There's a lot of ways Government can help. But we've got to remember that Government can hand out money, but what it can't do is put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. In order to eradicate the pockets of despair and loneliness and hopelessness which exist in this great land, which has got to be a national cause, we want everybody in this country to recognize and realize the great promise of America. See, when one of us hurts, we all hurt. In order to eradicate those pockets of despair, we must love a neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourselves. Each of us can make a difference in making sure the American experience is available to all. Each of us can love a neighbor like we'd like to be loved ourselves. America can and will change one conscience, one heart, one soul at a time. Not one person can do everything, but each of you can be somebody doing that something to make America a better place. Mentor a child. Feed the hungry. Find shelter for the homeless. No, the enemy hit us, but they didn't know who they were hitting. The enemy hit us, and out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good. There's no doubt in my mind we will be a better society, a more decent society, a society in which we understand that being a patriot means more than just putting your hand over your heart. Being a patriot means helping somebody in need. Being a patriot means serving a cause greater than yourself. No, they hit us, and out of the evil done to America is going to come a more peaceful world, a more better America, no doubt in my mind, because this is the greatest country, full of the finest people on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. October 22, 2002 The President. Thank you all. Listen, thanks for coming out this morning. It's such an honor to be here. I appreciate I appreciate your interest in our country. I appreciate your interest in our democracy. I want to thank you for caring about Audience member. Viva Bush! The President. Gracias. Laughter As I was saying, I want to thank you for caring about the elections the upcoming elections. It's vitally important that citizens all across our country take their responsibilities seriously and to show up to the polls. Of course, I've got a few suggestions on who those citizens might support, starting with right here in Pennsylvania. It is in Pennsylvania's interests that Jim Gerlach become the next United States Congressman. I say that with confidence, because he is a good, honorable man who's got a good, strong record. People know he's the kind of fellow who does in office that which he says he's going to do. He's got a track record that inspires confidence from people of both political parties, people who don't care about political parties. No, he's the right man for this job, and I want to thank you for supporting him. I say "supporting him" thanks for showing up. But just showing up isn't good enough. See, I understand how you win elections, and that's when people such as yourself not only go to the polls, but you convince your neighbors to go to the polls. You go to your community centers, your houses of worship, your wherever you go to hang out laughter your coffee shops, and you tell your neighbors about their responsibility. And while you're doing that, you tell your neighbors about Jim and others running for office. And while you're telling them about Jim, you might as well tell them about your next Governor. When you're out rounding up the vote, make sure you round up the vote for Mike Fisher and Jane Earll. I know something about his track record in getting votes. In the year 2000, I was a pretty heavy lift for the ticket, I must confess, here in Pennsylvania. He outpolled me by not 1,000 votes, not tens of thousands of votes, but hundreds of thousands of votes. This is a man who can appeal to people of both parties, because people in Pennsylvania know he can get the job done. No, we're here to thank you for your care about America. I'm here to thank you for your participation in the political process. I'm here to ask you to turn out the vote. I'm here to ask you to do whatever it takes to make sure you crank up a good, healthy vote. It's important for our country. I'm also here to talk about how we can work together to make America a safer and stronger and better place. Before I do, I want to recognize a fine United States Senator, and that is Arlen Specter. I'm proud that Arlen is here with us today. And I'm sorry that old Rick Santorum isn't going to be here, but he's a good fellow. He's a good fellow, too. I appreciate these two Senators a lot. I'll tell you one reason I appreciate them, because they understand what it takes to have a good Federal judiciary. I've appointed good people to the bench good, solid citizens who are not only fine lawyers but people who understand their job is not to serve as a legislator but as a judge. We've got plenty of legislators what we need are good, solid, sound judges. And the record of the United States Senate is abysmal when it comes to confirming my judges it is a lousy record. If we had more Senators like Specter and Santorum, we would get the judges through. We would have a record for which the Senate could be proud. We need to change the Senate for a lot of reasons, and one of them is to make sure we've got a good, sound Federal judiciary. I appreciate Governor Schweiker for being here. I appreciate his service to the State of Pennsylvania. He has done a really fine job. He has done a good job, and I'm proud of his service, and I know he is as well. I appreciate Mark. He's a friend. I'm honored you're here today, Mark, and thanks for doing what you did for the good folks of Pennsylvania. I want to thank the members I want to thank the members here from the mighty Pennsylvania congressional delegation. That would be Greenwood, Platts, Pitts, and Sherwood. These fine Members of the United States Congress have been steady friends and strong allies, and they represent your State with class and distinction. Thank you all for coming. We've got another candidate on stage who we certainly hope she wins. That would be Melissa Brown, running for the United States Congress. Melissa is running on a lot of issues. One issue she holds dear to her heart, as do I, is medical liability reform. It is a key issue. And one of the things we've got to worry about is the affordability of health care and the accessibility of health care. We want to make sure our citizens have got access to health care at reasonable prices. One of the reasons why prices is rising is because of frivolous and junk lawsuits against our medical community. Everybody ought to have access to the courts, and that's vital. People ought to be able to take their claims to the court of law. But the problem is, the scales of justice have tipped way too far one direction. There are too many lawsuits which prevent good people from getting their cases heard. There are too many lawsuits which are driving up the cost of medicine. There are too many lawsuits which are driving good doctors out of the practice of medicine. We need medical liability reform. I appreciate you running, Melissa, and I wish you all the best. I want to thank Alan Novak and Bob Asher and all the good folks who are the grassroots activists here in Pennsylvania. I appreciate your care and your concern for our country. Today, unfortunately, you draw you drew the short straw. Laura is somewhere else. Laughter She sends her best. She's doing great, by the way. She is I'm really proud of her. Audience member. We love Laura! The President. Yes, so do I. Laughter Thanks for saying that. People now have figured out why I asked her to marry me. A lot of people are wondering why she said yes. Laughter But she's a great First Lady. I love her dearly. I'm proud of her. And I want to thank you for your concern for her too. I'm concerned about making America a stronger and safer and better place that's what I'm concerned about. I'm concerned about making sure that we meet some important goals. One of the most important goals of all is to make sure every child in America gets a good education. It's an incredibly important goal. That's one of the priorities of Jim Gerlach. He understands that's an important goal and priority if we want our country to be hopeful and strong. We passed good legislation. The legislation challenges what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. See, Jim understands this philosophy. These Members of Congress do as well, as does Arlen Specter. He knows that in order for us to have a hopeful society, we must as a society set high standards. We've got to believe every child can learn. It doesn't matter where they go to school. It doesn't matter if their parents speak English as a first language. It matters that we believe every child can learn. We believe in local control of schools. See, we trust the people in Pennsylvania more than we trust the folks in Washington, DC, to chart the path to excellence. We believe you ought to work with your Governors and your school boards to make sure that children get the right curriculum and the right basic education in order to succeed. That's why we believe you've got to trust parents and teachers. We believe in promoting the basics when it comes to subjects such as reading. That's what we believe. But we also believe this If every child can learn, therefore we want to know whether every child is learning, all across our country. So therefore, in return for the largest increase in Federal expenditures for education that was last year Pennsylvania received 1.7 billion from the Federal Government the largest amount of dollars spent, we're now, for the first time, asking the question, "Is the money being wisely spent?" For the first time, we're beginning to we're saying, "Show us whether or not the children of any State, children who are in the districts that receive this money, whether or not they can read and write and add and subtract." We want to know, because we believe every child can learn. We believe that every child in America has the potential, and we want to see whether or not they're learning. And if and if they are, if standards are being met, if our vision that every child can learn is successful, we'll praise the teachers. And for those of you who teach, thanks for taking on such a noble cause and working in a noble profession. But as a society, to make sure no child gets left behind, we must be willing to challenge failure, to challenge the status quo. When we find children in schools which won't teach and won't change, we must have the courage as a society to demand something different for our children. No child should be left behind in America. I look forward to welcoming yet another ally in this vision from the State of Pennsylvania, and that ally will be Jim Gerlach. I also know I will have an ally when it comes to dealing with your money. You know, one of the interesting things sometimes you hear in the debate in Washington they're talking about the Government's money "Well, the Government spent this money the Government spent that money." No, no it's not the Government's money it's the people's money. Anytime somebody is looking for a job and can't find work means we've got a problem. So long as there are people trying to put bread on the table for their families and they can't find work, we've got to do everything we can to increase the job base. Therefore, it's important to send people to Congress who understand jobs, understand the role of Government is not to create wealth but an environment in which the small business can grow to be a big business, in which the entrepreneurial flourish entrepreneurial spirit can flourish in America. When times are slow or when the economy is bumping along, one of the ways to make sure that the job base is invigorated is to let people keep more of their own money. See, when you keep more of your own money, you're likely to demand a good or a service. And when you demand a good or a service in this marketplace, somebody is likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces the good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work. The tax relief plan came at exactly the right time for our country's economy. Over the next 10 years, the tax relief plan means there will be 58 billion more in Pennsylvania citizens' pockets over 10 years. That's your money. You get to decide what to do with the money. You get to decide how to spend it. There will be 7 billion in child tax credit savings. There will be 3 billion as the marriage penalty begins to get reduced. By the way, the marriage penalty is a bad tax. The code ought to encourage marriage, not discourage marriage. That's a savings of 68 billion more money in your pockets if the tax cuts were permanent. But they're not permanent. Senate rules have it that the tax cuts won't be permanent. That's why this is an issue in this campaign. In order for small businesses to plan, in order to make sure a horrible tax, the death tax I say horrible it's bad on small businesses it's bad on farmers it's bad on ranchers. If you're worried about urban sprawl, you ought to be for the permanent repeal of the death tax, so people aren't forced to sell their properties because the Federal Government applause . For the good of our economy, for the good of job creation, for the good of a stimulative package we need to make sure the tax cuts are permanent. I mean, there's a lot of things we can work on together. We need an energy bill which encourages conservation and renewables but also makes us less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. We need a terrorism insurance package that will get our hardhats back to work. No, there's a lot Congress can do to make sure that the jobs picture improves for everybody, all across America. I look forward to working with Jim in the United States Congress to make sure that people who want to find work are able to do so, all across the country. And as we work to make America a stronger place economically, we've also got to work to make it a safer place. And I say that because so long as we love free dom and we love freedom there's going to be an enemy which hates America. It's hard to explain to your youngsters why somebody would hate us. But you've just got to tell them there are some who have hijacked a great religion. These people don't value life like we do in America. See, we say every life matters everybody's precious everybody counts. That's not how our enemy thinks. They're nothing but a bunch of cold blooded killers. They hate freedom they hate countries which embrace freedom and therefore, they hate us since we're the beacon for freedom. We love our freedoms, and we will not change. Times have changed in America. Times have changed after September the 11th. It used to be we thought oceans would protect us. A lot of us growing up said, "We don't have to really worry about some of the conflicts overseas. We may be involved, we may not be involved, because we're protected, we're isolated from the harsh realities of some of the killings that were taking place on different continents, so we could pick and choose." We don't have any choice in this new war, see. We learned that the enemy has taken the battlefield to our very own country. My most important job is to protect America. My most important job is to do everything we possibly can to protect innocent life from a group of killers. That's why I've started and stimulated a discussion on Iraq. I wanted the American people to know that there's a new reality which we face, a reality that oceans no longer protect us, the reality that this person in Iraq has killed his own people with weapons of mass destruction, a reality that he has invaded countries, the reality that he has stiffed the United Nations for 11 years. Sixteen different resolutions have been passed calling on this man to disarm. Sixteen times he's ignored world mandates. These are the realities we face, and we must deal with it. I appreciate the Members of the Senate I appreciate the Members of the House of Representatives for voting overwhelmingly to send with one voice this message that Saddam Hussein must disarm, that the world for the sake of peace, for the sake of peace here at home, for the sake of peace in the Middle East, for the sake of world peace Saddam Hussein must do what he promised. For the sake of having an international body which is effective, the United Nations must make the resolve, must be resolved to deal with this person, must resolve itself to be something more than the League of Nations, must resolve itself to be more than just a debating society, must resolve itself to help keep international peace. It's an important time in our history to determine whether or not we're going to be a nation which is willing to work with others to keep the peace. The answer is, you bet. But if they won't the United Nations can't make its mind up if Saddam Hussein won't disarm, we will lead a coalition to disarm him for the sake of peace. These are the new realities we face in America, the serious realities that we must deal with for the sake of our children, for the sake of our children's children. The new reality here at home is to do everything we can to protect the American people from a possible attack. I want to thank you for training a good man named Tom Ridge to be the first Adviser on Homeland Security. He's doing a very good job. I know you're proud of him, and so am I. Our friend has not let us down. One of the things he advised me, along with others in my administration, was that the best way to protect the American people in the long run is to set up a Department of Homeland Security. Let me explain to you why. First of all, you've got to know that there's a lot of good people working a lot of long hours to do everything we can to disrupt, deny any enemy. If we get a hint that somebody's thinking about doing something to us moving, trying to do something to us we are moving. We're absolutely on alert. We're doing everything we can to protect the American people. I appreciate that the House of Representatives moved incredibly quickly on a Department of Homeland Security. They passed a really good measure. It gives us a chance with the homeland security to take over 100 agencies involved with defending the homeland and putting many of their functions under one Department, so that the number one priority of these agencies and or the good people working in these agencies is your protection. One way to make sure we focus the attention of a scattered group of agencies is to have one agency, so that if need be, cultures can change if need be, there can be a direct focus. The Senate can't get the job done. They've yet to get the job done. I want to thank Senator Specter's leadership on this issue. He's deeply concerned about the protection of the homeland. He and I have had some quality discussions on this issue. But let me tell you what the problem is in the Senate, from my perspective that the Senate has said, "We will give you a Department of Homeland Security, but you've got to pay a price. And the price is, is that we'll roll back an important authority that every President since John F. Kennedy has had." And that authority says that I have the ability to suspend certain labor rules for the sake of national security. For the sake of security securing the country, we won't have labor rules get in the way of the President being able to do whatever it takes to protect America. We've got a border which we must enforce. We need to know who's coming into America, what they're bringing into America, and if they're leaving when they say they're going to leave America. It's an important function of the Federal Government. Except there's three different agencies down there three agencies full of really fine people. You've got your Customs, your INS, and your Border Patrol. Sometimes they have different strategies per sector along the border. They're wearing different uniforms. They've got different cultures. They all share in the responsibility of protecting our border. For the sake of homeland security, this administration and future administrations must have the ability to put the right people at the right place at the right time to protect America. We asked customs agents to wear a radiological detection device to determine whether or not weapons of mass destruction were coming into America. It made sense to us. If you're worried about weapons of mass destruction, wear one of these devices. The head of the working group there said, "No, we're not going to have this on a mandatory basis." For the sake of national security, that work rule ought to be suspended. Now, they got it finally resolved. It took 4 months of discussions to determine whether or not customs agents ought to be wearing a radiological detection device. Look, work rules are important. The right to people to organize is very important. But for the sake of national security, the Senate will not take away one of the most precious authorities Presidents since John F. Kennedy has had. I know this I wouldn't have to worry about Jim Gerlach's vote on this issue. I know where he would stand. The best way to secure America, however, is to hunt the enemy down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice. The best way to protect America is to find these killers where they try to hide and bring them to justice, which exactly is what the United States of America is going to do. And we're making good progress. We're making good progress. Sometimes it's hard to tell it, because this is not the kind of war that we're used to. You used to could count territories seized or tanks destroyed or airplanes knocked out of the sky and say, "Gosh, we're making progress. The fleet has been damaged therefore, we're making progress." These are killers who hide in caves and send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. That's who we're trying to find. They kind of ooch around the dark corners of the world and look out, peep out around the corner in the meantime, send these suicide squads. It doesn't require a lot of equipment. It doesn't require a lot of money, although we're doing everything we can to cut off their money. But we're making progress. One reason we're making progress is the doctrine that says, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy" it still stands. That doctrine is firm. Our coalition partners understand the stakes. This bombing in Indonesia reminded everybody how dangerous these people can be. They don't care about innocent life. They could care less. It doesn't bother them in the least that innocent citizens lose their life. What bothers them, though, is that the United States and our friends and allies are on the hunt. And we're going to stay on the hunt. We're going to get them running, and we're going to keep them running until we bring them to justice. Slowly but surely, we're finding them. Slowly but surely, we're hunting them down, one person at a time. We've probably hauled in or arrested, whatever you want to call it, a couple of thousand. Like number weren't as lucky. The point is, is that when you combine it all, we've made a fairly good size dent into the Al Qaida terrorist network. The other day a guy named bin al Shibh popped his head up. He's no longer a problem for the United States of America. It takes awhile. It's going to take awhile. It's just the realities of the 21st century. The new kind of war is going to require a patience and determination by this great Nation. See, we remember. We not only remember what took place we also understand the stakes. We understand our responsibilities. We understand our duty to not only people who live in this country, but because every life matters, we understand our duty elsewhere. And that is to defend freedom. Slowly but surely, we're going to defend, and we're going to defeat this enemy. And it doesn't matter how long it takes, my fellow Americans. It just doesn't matter, as far as I'm concerned. There is not a calendar on my desk that says, well, suchand such a date, it's time to haul them home it's time to quit. That's not how we think in America. Tomorrow I'm going to sign a defense appropriations bill, one of the largest increase the largest increase since Ronald Reagan was the President, for two reasons two reasons. I want to share with you why I asked for this increase. I want to thank the Senate I want to thank the House for passing that bill. We're going to send two messages. One, anytime we put our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. That's the very least we owe them and their loved ones. And for those of you who have got loved ones in the military, our military has my complete confidence. There's no finer group of men and women who wear the uniform than the uniform of the United States of America. And the second message we send, it doesn't matter how long it takes, this country is in for the long haul, that we believe in freedom, that we understand obligations, that we understand that some in the world may blink, but we're not blinking. We know that history has called us into action, and we're going to do everything we can to defend America and to defend the freedoms which we hold dear. There's no question in my mind we're going to succeed. I want you to know how I feel. I'm an optimist about the future. I'm an optimist because I know this that if we remain tough and if we're strong and we continue to speak clearly about that which matters in life, if we hold dear the values of freedom, if we fight terror we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace not only for America we can achieve peace in parts of the world where some have quit on peace. We can achieve peace in the Middle East, can achieve peace in South Asia. No, the United States has got an opportunity to lead the world toward peace. The enemy hit us. They didn't know who they were hitting. They probably thought we'd file a lawsuit or two. Laughter They don't understand America. They don't understand our people. They don't understand our courage. They don't understand our drive. They don't understand that we long for peace, but we're tough enough to achieve the peace if we have to be. That's what they don't know. And what they didn't also understand is that here at home, the evil done to us is going to lead to a better America is going to lead to a better America. Now, Government can help Government can help have a better America. We have a good education system. We're working hard to achieve that. We need to make sure our medical systems are modern. Listen, medicine has changed Medicare hasn't. Medicine has evolved Medicare is essentially stuck in the past. For the sake of our seniors, for the sake of a better life we need to modernize Medicare and make sure there's a prescription drug benefit for our seniors. We need to make sure, as we rewrite the welfare laws, as Jim can tell you, it's important to make sure that work is the cornerstone of welfare policy. People find dignity in work, and therefore we can make America a better life by helping people find work and be trained for work and be qualified for work. But Government is limited in its capacity to make America a better place. We can hand out money, but what Government cannot do is put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. This is done when a fellow American puts their arm around somebody in need and says "I love you." That's how that is done. America is going to be a better country after the evil done to us, because we understand that in order to change America, we can do so, one person, one soul, one conscience at a time, by loving somebody just like we'd like to be loved ourselves. Out of the evil done to America is going to come incredible good, because this Nation's strength lies not in the halls of our Government but in the hearts and souls of the American citizens. A lot of good folks took a step back after that fateful day and said, "What is my life all about?" Moms and dads say, "We're lucky enough to be a mother or a dad. I'm going to remind my child every single day I love them." A lot of good folks said, "I want to help the community in which I live be a better place." No, the enemy hit us, but in so doing, they aroused an American spirit that understands that being a patriot is somebody more than just putting your hand over your heart. Being a patriot is serving a cause greater than yourself. Being a patriot is helping those who hurt find solace, those who are hungry find food, those who yearn for love find love. No, the enemy hit us, but they didn't know who they were hitting. There's no question in my mind that we can achieve peace. There's no question in my mind that we will be a better country, because this is the finest country, full of the greatest people on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming. May God bless, and may God bless America. October 21, 2002 President Bush. It's my honor to welcome Lord Robertson back to the Oval Office. I think we've met, gosh, five four or five times since I've been the President. I've enjoyed every meeting. He does a great job at NATO. NATO is an incredibly important part of U.S. foreign policy. I appreciate the alliance. We are mainly discussing issues that we will confront and or deal with in Prague, including NATO expansion. He's soliciting the views of the administration. I told him that we would give him a definite answer about our views on expansion in a couple of weeks, and that timetable seemed satisfactory with him. But Lord Robertson, welcome back. I appreciate you being here. Thanks for your strong leadership. Lord Robertson. I'm delighted to be again in the Oval Office, Mr. President. And the President has shown, not just by meetings with me but in every other way possible, his and his administration's commitment to NATO and to the strength of this trans Atlantic alliance that has bound together these democratic and freedom loving states over all of the years. We're now a month to the day away from the Prague summit, probably the most important summit meeting in NATO's history, a transformation summit where NATO has to transform itself to deal with the threats and the challenges of the 21st century. And I believe we will have a good package on new members, a robust enlargement, new capabilities to deal with terrorism and to deal with the other challenges and nightmares that we may face ahead in the future, and new relationships with Russia, with Ukraine, with our partner countries, building the world's largest permanent alliance and one which the world can rely on. President Bush. Three questions. Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press . North Korea Q. Sir, is North Korea an imminent threat to the United States, and what consequences, if any, will it face for hiding its nuclear program from you? President Bush. One, we had a bit of troubling news when we discovered the fact that, contrary to what we had been led to believe, that they were enriching uranium with the idea of developing a nuclear weapon. I say "troubling news," obviously, because we felt like they had given their word they weren't going to do this. I view this as an opportunity to work with our friends in the region and work with other countries in the region to ally against proliferation of serious weapons and to convince Kim Chong il that he must disarm. To this end, I'm going to be talking to Jiang Zemin at Crawford. I look forward to a good discussion with the President of China about how we can work together to take our relationship to a new level in dealing with the true threats of the 21st century. I will see the leaders of Japan and South Korea and Russia the next day, in Mexico. I intend to make this an important topic of our discussions. This is a chance for people who love freedom and peace to work together to deal with a to deal with an emerging threat. I believe we can deal with this threat peacefully, particularly if we work together. So this is an opportunity to work together. Q. They're not an imminent threat, though? President Bush. You know, that's an operative word. We view this very seriously. It is a troubling discovery, and it's a discovery that we intend to work with our friends to deal with. I believe we can do it peacefully. I look forward to working with people to encourage them that we must convince Kim Chong il to disarm for the sake of peace. And the people who have got the most at stake, of course, in this posture are the people who are his neighbors. Arshad Arshad Mohammed, Reuters . Nature of Iraqi Threat Q. Mr. President, can you explain so the boys in Lubbock can understand President Bush. Crawford or Lubbock? Q. Lubbock or Crawford, both President Bush. Lubbock is a little more sophisticated than Crawford, Arshad. Laughter Q. Okay, let's do Crawford, then. President Bush. Or Scotland, for that matter. Q. Why President Bush. Yes, Arshad. Q. why you threaten military action against Iraq, but you believe that Korea's nuclear weapons program only merits diplomatic efforts? President Bush. Absolutely. Saddam Hussein is unique, in this sense He has thumbed his nose at the world for 11 years. The United Nations has passed 16 resolutions to deal with this man, and the resolutions are all aimed at disarmament, amongst other things. And for 11 years, he said, "No, I refuse to disarm." Now, what makes him even more unique is the fact he's actually gassed his own people. He has used weapons of mass destruction on neighboring countries, and he's used weapons of mass destruction on his own citizenry. He wants to have a nuclear weapon. He has made it very clear He hates the United States, and as importantly, he hates friends of ours. We've tried diplomacy. We're trying it one more time. I believe the free world, if we make up our mind to, can disarm this man peacefully. But if not, there's we have the will and the desire, as do other nations, to disarm Saddam. It's up to him to make that decision, and it's up to the United Nations. And we'll determine here soon whether the United Nations has got the will, and then it's up to Saddam to make the decision. Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . Regime Change in Iraq Q. Mr. President, again, for the good people of Crawford President Bush. Yes. It's been a big day for Crawford. Q. If you can explain this in a way that they and the rest of us will understand, there is some hints over the weekend, the possibility that taking weapons of mass destruction out of Iraq is our goal, raising the possibility or the implication that he could somehow remain in power. Can you say authoritatively and declaratively whether we can achieve you can achieve if you can achieve your aims there in a way that leaves him still in office? President Bush. The stated policy of the United States is regime change, because for 11 years MDNMSaddam Hussein has ignored the United Nations and the free world. For 11 years he has he said, "Look, you passed all these resolutions. I could care less what you passed." And that's why the stated policy of our Government, the previous administration and this administration, is regime change because we don't believe he is going to change. However, if he were to meet all the conditions of the United Nations, the conditions that I've described very clearly in terms that everybody can understand, that in itself will signal the regime has changed. October 19, 2002 This Sunday is a day of national mourning in Australia, a day in which our friends mourn the needless loss of life. You come together as a nation to grieve for the victims of those who were killed by the murderers in Indonesia. And our country grieves with you, and we suffer with you. And we send our prayers to the families who cry, and we send our prayers for a speedy recovery for the injured. Together we face an enemy which does not value innocent life, an enemy which tries to terrorize the free world into inaction. They will fail. Together we will hunt down the killers so that there's justice in the world. Together we will fight terror so as to keep the peace and to make the world more free. America and Australia are close friends. We value our friendship. We remember so well after September the 11th, 2001, your prayers, your sympathies, your strong support. And we will never forget it. On this sad day, on this day of mourning, America is with you in spirit. May God bless the victims and their families. May God heal the injured. And may God continue to bless Australia. October 18, 2002 Thank you all for coming. Yes, kind of sounds like the Metrodome in here. I appreciate so many good folks coming to say hello. You know, I'm aware of Rochester. After all, I still listen to my mother. Laughter She's a proud member of the board of Mayo Clinic. I thank you for coming today. I'm here to talk about some of the challenges we meet as a nation. I want you to know that I'm incredibly optimistic about this Nation's future. And I'm here to support a man for the United States Senate who shares my optimism about America. There's no doubt in my mind that what is best for Minnesota and what is best for America is that Norm Coleman become the next United States Senator. I'm here to support the ticket, and there's no question in my mind that you need to have Tim Pawlenty as the next Governor for Minnesota. I want to thank you all for your concern about our country. I want to thank you for your participation in the process. Thank you for taking your time to look the candidates over. Thank you for understanding that being a part of America is the obligation to participate in our process. I want to thank you for what you have done for America. I want to thank you for what you're going to do. And that is, man the phones go to your coffee shops go to your houses of worship remind the people of our community, whether they be Republicans or Democrats or couldn't care less laughter that when you find a good one, you ought to support him. And you found some good ones in these candidates here in Minnesota. I'm also glad to be in the breadbasket of America. We eat because of you. Laughter I love the values of this part of the world faith and family, love of country I love the values of this part of the world. Hard working, good, honest, decent people, people I'm proud to call friend, people neighbors are proud to call friend no, you're the strength of our great country. And nothing we can't overcome, because we're the finest country on the face of the Earth. I want to thank the good folks here at Rochester Community and Technical College for your hospitality. I particularly want to thank it's kind of hard to welcome a President, I know, but you've done a heck of a good job, plus you've got a Texan running the deal. Laughter I want to thank Don Supalla, who's the president, for his hospitality. I want to thank the Members of Congress who are with us Gil Gutknecht, who's a friend of mine. Thank you for coming, Gil. I appreciate you coming. I want to thank Congressman Mark Kennedy for being here as well. Mark's a fine one. You lowered your standards you let somebody from Missouri travel with me laughter but he's a fine Congressman named Roy Blunt. I appreciate Congressman Blunt being here with us today. I want to thank the people who are running for office. I want to thank Carol Molnau, who's running for the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Minnesota. I want to thank John Kline, who will make a fine United States Congressman. Clyde Billington is running for the Congress we need to help Clyde. And Dan Stevens is running for Congress. I want to thank these candidates for running. You drew the short straw today. You didn't get my mother, and you didn't get my wife. Laughter But Laura sends her best. She's doing great. She's doing really good. She's an amazing lady. You know, when I married her we were both raised in Midland, Texas, which is really not a pretty place to look at, but it's full of fine people. Laughter She was a public school librarian. By the way, her heart is still with our children. She desires for every child to learn how to read in America. But anyway, when I married her, or asked her to marry me, at least, the truth of the matter was, she didn't like politics laughter and didn't particularly care for politicians, either. Laughter Thank goodness she said yes. She's now a fabulous First Lady for our country. I know something about what it takes to be a Governor, and you've got a good man running for Governor here in Minnesota. He's a person who can get results. He's proven that already in the statehouse. He has worked to make sure that government stays within a budget, and that's not easy. Generally, when governments meet, everybody has got a great idea. They all cost billions of dollars. Laughter That's why you've got to have somebody who understands the money we spend in government is not the government's money. Tim understands that. He also understands the most important thing a State can do is to make sure you get it right when it comes to the schools. The most important issue for any Governor in any State is to make sure every single child in your State receives a quality education. What you've got to have in the statehouse is somebody like Tim who is willing to insist upon high standards and high expectations, somebody who is willing to challenge what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. You see, if you get you you've got to have a Governor who understands you must raise the bar and expect the best, who believes in his heart of hearts that every child can learn. You've got to believe that. And then you've got to and then you must have a Governor who trusts the local people, who trusts the local people to chart the path to excellence, who empowers the teachers and parents and principals to chart the path for excellence so every child can learn. And then you've got to have a Governor who's willing to ask the fundamental question, are we succeeding? You see, if you believe every child can learn, then you want to know whether every child in your State is learning. If you believe every child can read, then it makes sense to measure to determine whether or not every child is learning to read and write and add and subtract. And when they are, there will be plenty of praise for the teachers. But you better have you a Governor who's willing to challenge the schools that won't teach and won't change. No child should be left behind in Minnesota or anywhere else in America. No, I'm proud to support Tim, and I encourage you to go out and work on his behalf. He'll make you a good Governor. And I'm also proud to be here with Norm Coleman. I need him in the United States Senate, and let me tell you why. First, I'm confident he can do the job. He has proven himself as a leader. He was the mayor of St. Paul. He kept taxes down. He helped revitalize that city. He's got his priorities straight. You lost your hockey team, and he got you another one. He's not one of these polarizer type people, you know, pitting one group of people against another. Frankly, we've got too much of that in Washington, DC. There's too many voices up there that would rather call names than get things done, too many dividers. Norm Coleman is a uniter. He starts in the center, and he works with people to bring them together to do what's right for America. No doubt in my mind he can do the job, and like me, he married well. Laughter And I tell you, we've got some problems, and we do. The economy is not as good as we'd like it to be. There are too many people looking for work and can't find it. And anytime that's the case in this country, we need to do something about it. The foundation for growth is strong. Interest rates are low. Inflation is low. Listen, we've got the most productive people in the world. Our farmers are the most productive in the world. Our workers are the most productive in the world. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in America. Small business sector is vibrant. There's a lot right with what our country when it comes to our economy. But still, too many are looking for work. And so the fundamental question is what to do about it. The role of Government is not to create wealth. That's how some of the other folks in Washington think. The role of Government is to create an environment in which the small business can flourish, in which the producer can find markets, in which the entrepreneur can make a living. That's what the role of Government is. And that's why I feel so strongly about tax relief. You see, when your economy is bumping along, when your economy is not doing as well as we want it to do, one way to increase jobs is to let people keep more of their own money. Some folks in Washington don't understand that. They think when the economy is bumping along, it's better to take more money. Here's what we believe We believe that when a person has more money, they're more than likely to demand a good or a service. And in our society, when somebody demands a good or a service, somebody is more likely to produce the good or service. And when somebody produces that good or service, somebody is more likely to be able to find work. For the sake of job creation, for the sake of the working people in America, the tax relief came at the right time. If the tax relief were permanent, that would mean 33 billion of more money in your pocket over the next 10 years 33 billion as the result of the rates going down. It would mean 4 billion of tax relief over the next 10 years because of the child credit. It would mean 1.4 billion because we significantly slashed the marriage penalty. See, one of the things we believe is, the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not discourage marriage. That's a little bit over 38 billion if the tax cuts were permanent. Let me explain the problem with the issue and why you need to be asking the questions here in Minnesota about this issue. See, there's a quirk in the Senate rules that says, "Yes, you can have tax relief, but after 10 years it goes away." It's kind of like the Senate giveth, and the Senate taketh away. Laughter I have trouble explaining that in Crawford, Texas, I'll be honest with you. Laughter It's hard to explain a system where we say, "You bet, we're going to let people keep more of their own money, but then after a while, it goes away," like a significant tax increase. And so I've been asking the Congress to join me in making the tax relief permanent. It's essential for job creation. It's essential for job growth that you have a United States Senator who will join me in making tax relief a permanent part of the Tax Code. One of the worst taxes of all is the death tax. You just ask your farming families what I'm talking about. You see, it's a tax that taxes a person's assets twice. Once is plenty, as far as we're concerned. You can tax them once, but don't tax them twice. You know, for the sake of the family farmer or the rancher or the small business owner, we need to get rid of the death tax forever. You see, it ought to be right for somebody to be able to pass their assets on to whoever they want without the Federal Government getting in the way. And I hope the farmers of this part of the State ask the question of the two candidates Who's willing to make sure the death tax is forever gone from the Tax Code? That ought to be a question people all over Minnesota ought to be asking in this race. It's an important question. It's a question that shows whose philosophy and whose values are more in tune with the people who live in Minnesota. We can do more to make sure our economy is strong. Listen, we need to have an energy bill that includes ethanol. We need to have an energy bill that encourages conservation. If you're worried about jobs in America, we need to be less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. I look forward to working with Norm to make sure our medicine is the medical system is modern. Listen, Medicare is old, and medicine isn't. Medicine has changed. Medicine has evolved, and Medicare hasn't. A lot of talk in Washington, but they have yet to get it right when it comes to treating our elderly the right way. We need to modernize Medicare and include prescription drugs. We want our medicine to be affordable and accessible. We want people to have access to the health care, and we need it to be affordable. But we've got a problem, and that is, there's too many lawsuits. There's too many junk lawsuits suing our docs. It's one thing to hold a person to account it's another thing to fill our courts with frivolous lawsuits. It's running up the cost of medicine. These junk lawsuits are running people out of work, and it's making it harder for people to get health care. I was down in Mississippi. I met with a doctor. He and his wife were good missionary type folks, and they moved to the Delta. It's one of the poorest parts of our Nation. They wanted to practice medicine to help people. They were healers. They wanted to use their God given talent so somebody else could be healthy. The junk lawsuits ran them out of the State. Made me want to cry made me want to weep. The cost of medicine affects the Federal budget. It affects our Medicare. It affects VA hospitals. It affects Medicaid. For the sake of making sure our health care system works, we need to have Federal medical malpractice reform, and Norm Coleman will support me on that issue. There's a lot we can do to make sure we're wise about spending your money. There's a lot we can do together to make sure that people can find work. There's a lot we can sure do together to make sure that the promises made to certain of our citizens are kept. But the biggest job I've got and the biggest job we will have is to protect the American people from an enemy which hates America because of what we love. They hate us because we love freedom, and we're not changing. We love the fact that in this great country, people from all different kinds of walks can worship an almighty God any way he or she sees fit. That's what we love. We love the fact that people can speak their mind in America, can freely say what they want. We love the idea that there's a free press. We love every aspect of the freedoms. And so long as we hold those dear to our heart, there's going to be an enemy out there. And since we're not changing, we're going to have to do something about that enemy out there. We learned a terrible lesson on September the 11th, a lesson that we must adjust to as a nation. And that is, no longer can two oceans protect us. See, it used to be we could sit back and say, "Oh, there's an emerging threat, but two oceans can protect us, and we can take our time to decide whether or not we need to respond to that threat." We learned something else about us, and that is, we're a battlefield now. And therefore, as a nation, we've got to do everything we can to win the battle, protect the people here at home. I recently have been talking about an issue that's a grave issue of national concern, and that's Iraq. It's an issue that we've had a good debate in Congress it was an important debate. Congress is now speaking with one voice, along with me, and here's what we're saying Any man who murders his own people, any man who uses weapons of mass destruction on his own people, any man who invades two countries in his region, any man who has defied resolution after resolution after resolution, any man who said he would disarm and hasn't, is a man who is a threat. And therefore, we call upon Mr. Saddam Hussein to disarm, just like he said he would do. And we call upon the United Nations to show us whether or not this is a body that can effectively keep the peace, or it's like one its predecessors, the League of Nations. We call upon people to come together to disarm this man before he harms the United States or our friends and allies. In the name of peace in the name of peace, we call upon Saddam to disarm. So long as there's a threat out there, your Government will do everything we can to protect you. And we're making progress. There's a lot of good folks you've just got to know this there's a lot of good folks working a lot of long hours to run down any hint, any idea, any whisper that somebody might be thinking about doing something to America. We're moving on it. We're doing everything we can to share intelligence. And we're getting better at it, by the way. See, we're now on alert. We understand we know the risks. We understand the enemy better and better. We're going to protect our United States Constitution, and at the same time, we're going to follow every lead. That's our most solemn duty. And that's why I asked the United States Congress to join me in the creation of a Department of Homeland Security. This is an important issue. It's an important issue, and it's important we get it right. You see, this is an issue that is going to be that is going to haunt us, if we get it wrong, long after I'm the President. Presidents will be dealing with the homeland security for a while. So Congress must make sure their Department works and functions well, so this President and future Presidents can stand up in Rochester, Minnesota, and say, "We're doing everything in our power to protect you. We're doing everything we can." There's over 100 agencies in Washington that have something to do with the homeland, so I thought it made sense to put them all under one, so that if the number one priority is to protect the homeland, it becomes the priorities of all those scattered agencies. That way we're able to focus the attention and, if need be, change the culture of agencies and people who are whose job it is to protect you. And so the House of Representatives acted, and they passed a good bill, a bill I can live with. But it's stuck in the Senate. They can't get it out of the Senate, and let me tell you why. They said, "Well, you can have the homeland defense bill, but there is a price." They wanted to extract a price from me. And I say, "Well, what is that price?" Let me tell you what it is, and I think you'll share you'll understand the reason I said no. Every President since John F. Kennedy has the authority to act in the interests of national security. In other words, every President since John F. Kennedy has the capacity in the name of national security to suspend certain work rules, has the capacity to be able to move the right people to the right place at the right time, even though certain work rules would prevent that from happening. In the name of national security, the President has got to be able to respond quickly. The Senate wants to take away that authority. You see let me tell you what they want me to have that authority when it comes to the Agricultural Department but not that authority in the time of war when it comes to the Department of Homeland Security. This is a big issue in this campaign. There's no question where Norm Coleman will stand. He will stand with making sure that this President and future Presidents applause . Let me give you an example of what I'm talking about, so we can clarify this issue, so people understand why I'm being reasonable. The Customs Department wanted the customs agents to be able to carry a radiological detection device on their belt. Just in case somebody was trying to bring some weapon of mass destruction in, it made sense to have these people wearing these devices. The union head said, "Uh uh, that must be voluntary. It can't be mandatory, and therefore we must have a collective bargaining session which could take months to resolve whether or not our customs agents should be wearing radiological detection devices." That doesn't make any sense. You cannot allow a President to have work rules bind him in a time of national concern. The enemy moves fast, and so should we. We need to have the flexibility to make this work. But the best way to secure our homeland is to chase these killers down one person at a time and bring them to justice. I know the enemy, and therapy isn't going to work. Laughter I don't know what was going through their mind when they hit us. They probably thought America was so self absorbed, so materialistic, so incredibly selfish that after September 11th, 2001, we'd kind of shudder and maybe file a lawsuit or two. Laughter They met a different America. They met America an America that understands we have a duty. We have a duty to defend freedom. We have a duty to defend our fellow citizens. We have a duty to make sure our children grow up in a free and peaceful society. We're making progress on this different kind of war. In the old days, you could measure progress based upon the amount of tanks you destroyed or boats you sunk or airplanes that don't fly for the enemy. You could measure progress. You could see lines of infantry going across, you know, different countries and say, "Gosh, we're making progress. We're pushing the enemy back." These people that we fight hide in caves, send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. They're coldblooded killers. They don't value life like we do. See, we believe every life matters every life is precious everybody has worth. And they don't. And I must constantly remind our friends and allies of the stakes. And the stakes are high. That's why the doctrine that says, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy," still stands. That doctrine that says, "Either you're joining the United States in our quest for freedom and peace, or you're with the other team," it's still a viable doctrine. A lot of people still hear the message, and we're after them. The other day a guy named Abu Sayyaf I mean bin al Shibh, he popped his head up. He's no longer a threat to America and our friends. It is a significant, significant capture because he was the person that wanted to be the 20th hijacker. And he was still on the loose, and he was still plotting to hurt America. We've captured or hauled in, however you want to put it a couple of thousand. A like number weren't quite so lucky. So we're making progress, slowly but surely making and sometimes you'll see the progress on you TVs, and sometimes you won't. You've just got to know that we've got a fantastic United States military and a strong alliance, a fantastic military and a strong alliance that is on course. And when we find them lighting somewhere, we get them on the run, and we're going to keep them on the run until we whip terror once and for all. I asked the Congress for a significant increase in defense spending for two reasons. It's important for you to know this. I strongly believe that anytime we put one of our troops into harm's way, we owe it to the troops and we owe it to their loved ones to make sure they've got the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. And the second reason is, it's an important message to friend and foe alike that when it comes to the defense of our freedom, there is no calendar that says, you've got we're quitting. It doesn't matter how long it takes. It just doesn't matter how long it takes. However long it takes, this country of ours will stay the course. We will stay the course to protect America, and we will stay the course to promote the peace. You see, the enemy hit us. They didn't know who they were hitting. They didn't understand that out of the evil done to America can come some incredible good, because we're a great nation. And one of the goods and part of that good, part of that good is to achieve peace. If we're tough and we'll be tough if we speak plainly about terror which we'll do if we stay the course and remain strong, I believe that we can achieve peace. I truly believe it. I believe peace we can achieve peace for ourselves. I believe we can achieve peace in parts of the world that have quit on peace. I believe peace is possible in the Middle East. I believe peace is possible in South Asia. No, the United States can lead a coalition toward peace. I want you to know, that's my vision, and that's my hope, and that's what I believe is going to happen. And as we work hard, as we work hard with Senator Coleman to make sure the country is stronger and safer, we must always remember that we've got to work to make the country better, a better place. We can do that through good education policy, good health policy. But the truth of the matter is, the best way to make sure America addresses some of our deepest problems is to remember that if you want to do some good in the face of evil, love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. In our country, it's important to remember, amongst the plenty, there are people who hurt, people who are addicted, people who need love, people who are hopeless. And we can solve that problem, too. We can solve that problem. You can help solve that problem by putting your arm around somebody in need and saying, "I love you." You can solve that problem by mentoring a child. I saw the Scouts when I walked in. You can solve that problem by running a Boy Scout troop or a Girl Scout troop. You can solve that problem by going to your church or synagogue or mosque and listen to the call of the Almighty and feed the hungry and house the homeless. That's how we can solve the problems of America. Government can hand out money, but Government can't put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That's done when a fellow American understands there's a new patriotism in this country. It's more than just putting your hand over your heart. The new patriotism calls upon each of us to be that one person helping to change America, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. Today when I landed here in Rochester, I met a young fellow at the airport named Nick Reichel. Nick, where are you? Stand up. Fifteen years old, right? He doesn't look it. Laughter I'll tell you about Nick. See, he's heard the call. It didn't require any law passed. This young fellow has already volunteered 400 hours of community service, 400 hours as a part of the army of compassion, to help make his community as good a place as it can be. No, there's no question in my mind, out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good. I hope you can sense my optimism for our future. I hope you can see I see a brighter day for all of us, a day of peace, and a day in which the great promise of America shines its light into every corner in this country, the day in which we can proudly say that the American Dream is vivid and bright for every person who lives in my country. I feel optimistic about it, because I know America. I know America to be the greatest country, full of the finest people on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming today. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. October 18, 2002 Thanks for coming. Thanks for the warm welcome. I'm honored to be here at the on the campus of this fine university. I'm proud to be here in southwest Missouri. I love the values of the heartland represented in this part of our country, the values of faith, the values of family, the love of our country. I appreciate you coming out to say hello. These are the values which make Missouri a great State and make our Nation a great nation. I want to thank you for your friendship. I want to thank you for your prayers. I want to thank you for your concern about our political process. I appreciate your interest. I appreciate your willingness to take a stand. And I am here in the State of Missouri to take a stand The best person running for the United States Senate is Jim Talent. I need him in the Senate to work with him. We've got some big problems facing our country. But there's no doubt in my mind that we can achieve anything we put our mind to. There's no doubt in my mind that no matter how high the hurdle, the United States of America, when we put our mind to something, can cross that hurdle. Jim Talent shares my optimism about the future of this country because he knows what I know This country is blessed with the finest people on the face of the Earth, and that, by trusting the people and calling upon the best of America, we can achieve anything I mean anything we set our mind to. I appreciate Jim Talent's values. He's a family man. He's got his priorities straight. He's a man who doesn't need a focus group or a poll to tell him what to think. He's more than happy to stand on principle. He's more than happy to say, "This is what I believe, and I'm not changing." And I appreciate a man who's willing to take those values, the Missouri values, and the sense of purpose to Washington, DC. He's also got a record. See, he's already been up there once. He's shown us what he can do. And when he was up there, he wasn't afraid to take the lead. He is one of the key authors of one of the most important pieces of social legislation in the last decade, and that is the welfare reform bill that transformed millions of lives in America, because he knows what I know, that dignity is found when you find work, that work is the cornerstone of any life that has got dignity. I appreciate his understanding of small business. See, he is an advocate for small business in Washington, DC. We need that kind of attitude up there. See, after all, our economy is kind of bumping along. It's not as strong as it's going to be. So long as we keep working on it, it's going to get better. But one of the things we've got to understand is that most new jobs in America are created by small businesses. And therefore, we've got to have somebody in the United States Senate who understands that and is willing to work on an environment that encourages the growth of small businesses. Jim Talent's got a record, and he's got a good record. He also will work to change the tone in Washington. Listen, we're proud Republicans, but we've got to serve something bigger than political party in these times of stress on our country. It's important to put all this aside and focus on what's right for the American people. And Jim Talent understands that. I'm proud to stand by his side. And we share something else in common We both married above ourselves. Laughter He married Brenda. I married Laura. And by the way, the First Lady, she sends her love and her greetings. She's heading down to Texas today, so you drew the short straw. Laughter She's doing great, though. I want to remind you that when I married her, she was a public school librarian. Applause Public school librarians united for Laura. Laughter She didn't care for politics when I married her. She didn't particularly care for politicians when I married her. Laughter Thank goodness she said yes. People have got to see why I asked her to marry me. She's calm. She's steady. She cares deeply about our children. She loves education. It's our top priority. A lot of people are still wondering why she said yes. Laughter But nevertheless, she's doing great. I can't tell you how proud I am of her, and I love her dearly. I want to thank the senior Senator from Missouri for being here. He's done a fabulous job on behalf of the citizens of Missouri. He is a man whose judgment I trust, whose vote I can count on. He's a strong ally. He's got the right instincts. He's got a great voting record. And that is Senator Kit Bond. I appreciate so very much the fact that your Congressman has joined us today. Roy Blunt is effective. He's smart. He can count votes. I appreciate his support, and I appreciate his friendship. I appreciate the fact that former Congressman Mel Hancock is here. I want to thank Congressman Hancock for coming. You've got yourself a hot Senate race State senate race. This race matters. It matters a lot. You've got a good man running, a good, down to earth fellow who's going to tell you what he thinks. He's going to do in office what he said he's going to do. And that's Dan Clemens. I've got a great Cabinet. I've asked people from all across our country to serve our Government in my Cabinet. You trained one of the best ones in my Cabinet. Yesterday morning I met with the Attorney General. He said, "You make sure you remind my folks at home that I haven't forgot where I came from." John Ashcroft is doing a great job for America. And finally, I appreciate you letting some of my fellow Texans cross the State line. They must have not checked these boys' backgrounds before they came. Laughter I've known the Gatlin Brothers for a long time, and I really appreciate the three brothers coming. I'm Larry is my good buddy. He is a fine, fine, fine American, and Steve and Rudy are as well. I hope you're enjoying them as much as I've enjoyed knowing them. And I'm real proud their here. I want to thank the Gatlin boys for coming today. Now, I've got some things on my mind that I want to share with you. I've got some issues I want to discuss with you. I've got some reasons to be here besides just politics. I need somebody to help me deal with our economy. Now listen, the foundation for growth is strong. Interest rates are low. Inflation is low. We've got the best workers in the world. Productivity is high in America. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in this country. The foundations for growth are strong. But so long as somebody is looking for work can't find work, I think we have a problem. And so therefore, we need to put people in the United States Senate who wants to think about when it comes to the economy how to create jobs. The role of Government is not to create wealth. The role of Government is to create an environment in which small businesses can grow to be big businesses, in which the entrepreneur can flourish, in which anybody who's got a dream can work hard and realize that dream. Most jobs, as I mentioned, are created by small businesses. For the sake of economic vitality, for the sake of job creation, we've got to have people in the Senate who understand that when a person has more money in his or her pocket, it will serve as a stimulus to job growth. You see, here's the page of the textbook which we've read. It says that when a person has more money, he or she is likely to demand a good or a service. And when you demand a good or service in our economy, somebody is likely to produce that good or a service. And when somebody produces the good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work. For the sake of job creation, for the sake of making sure our people can find work, the tax relief came at the absolute right time in American history. But here's why we're still talking about it. Because of a quirk in the rules in the United States Senate, after a 10 year period, the tax relief plan we passed goes away, unless the Congress makes it permanent. And that's the issue. The tax relief plan over the next decade for the people of Missouri, if permanent, would mean there is 27 billion in income tax relief and death tax relief in your pockets. That's more money for you to have to make decisions about. It's your money to begin with, by the way. There's 4 billion additional money in your pocket because of the tax relief on the child credit. There's a 1.5 billion money in the Missouri people's pockets because we're doing something about the marriage penalty. See, what we think is that the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage. It's like the Senate giveth, and then the Senate taketh away. Laughter In this case, the Senate giveth, and the Senate taketh away over 32 billion that would help economic expansion and growth. There's no question in my mind that Jim Talent understands what I'm talking about, that in order to make sure our economy is strong so people can plan, so the entrepreneurial spirit remains strong in America, we need to make the tax cuts permanent. One of the worst taxes that we have on the books that we're trying to get rid of and won't get rid of unless we have a Senator and Senators who vote to make it permanent, is the death tax. This death tax hurts Missouri farmers. This death tax, it hurts small business owners. It's a bad tax. Don't take my word for it. Let me quote some of citizens in your neighborhood. There's a guy named Jim Staley. He's a fourth generation family farmer in Willard, Missouri. He wants to pass his farm on some day to his children. That makes sense. The guy's working the land. He's got some kids. He says, "I want my kids to be able to work the land, too. I want the family farm to survive." He remembers when his daddy died, he had trouble trying to make sure the farm stayed in the family and didn't go to the Government. He remembers those times. So he's worried about it. Here's what he says "It's a shame that Americans are taught that if you work hard all your life, you can pass it along to your family, and they can work to make it better. But when it comes down to it, the Government ends up taking it away." That's what the death tax does. It's a bad tax. It's a bad tax. It's a bad tax because it taxes assets twice. It's a bad tax because it prevents somebody who owns something from passing the asset on to whoever he or she chooses. Fellers Fixtures, right here in Springfield, Missouri, Carl Fellers, here's what he thinks. First of all, he says he thinks he pays enough taxes already. See, most small businesses pay tax at the individual income tax level, because you're a sole proprietorship or a limited partnership. When you reduce rates on people, you're also reducing rates on small businesses. But he doesn't believe that he ought to pay more taxes than he has already when he dies. And neither do his children. No, we need to make sure, for the sake of economic vitality, for the sake of job creation, that you elect you a United States Senator who makes sure the tax relief plan is permanent. Jim Talent will be a Senator who's committed to making sure we have an education system that we're proud of. I signed a great piece of education reform. It challenges the soft bigotry of low expectations. It holds people to a high standard. It says, in return for receiving Federal money and we cranked up the level of Federal money, by the way, for education spend ing but in return for receiving Federal money, you've got to show us. Just like you say in your State motto, "Show Me" whether or not the money is being well spent. Show me whether or not our children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. We ask that question because we want to make sure not one single child gets left behind in America. Jim Talent knows what I know, that medicine has changed, and Medicare hasn't, that medicine is modern, and Medicare is stuck in the old ways. We need a Senator up there who can work with people in both parties to make sure that we modernize Medicare for the sake of our seniors. Modernizing Medicare means that we've got to have a prescription drug plan for our seniors. One of my most important responsibilities is to put good people on the Federal bench. Our definition of good people obviously are people who are honest, who know the law, who are there to serve something other than themselves, who won't use the bench as a legislator might use the bench from which to write new law, but to strictly interpret the Constitution of the United States. And the Senate has got a lousy record when it comes to my judges. Look at the percentage that they've approved. It's the worst record in modern history. It's worse than how the Senate treated President Clinton, President Bush 41, President Reagan. They're holding up the nominees. And when they put some of my good nominees forward, they're not telling the truth about their records. They're distorting their records. They're playing shameless politics with the judges I put forward. You need to have a United States Senator like Jim Talent who will not play shameless politics with the judges I've put forward. No, there's a lot of things we can do. We're going to work together to make sure America is a strong country by having a good economy and making sure we fulfill our promises to our children and to our seniors. I know I can work with this man. I also will be working with the next Congress to protect America. We learned a sad lesson on September the 11th, 2001, and that is that we're no longer immune from attacks from an enemy which hates us, that oceans no longer protect us like we used to think they could. It's changed the dynamics. The battlefield is here at home. People must understand that there's still an enemy which lurks and desires to hurt. They do it because of what we love. They hate what we stand for. We love freedom. We love the fact that people can worship an almighty God any way he or she chooses. We love every aspect about our freedoms. We love our free press, and we love the discourse and a political discourse in a free society, and we hold those freedoms dearly. And we're not changing. No matter how they try to terrorize, how they try to threaten, we're not changing. And so long as we don't change, we have to do everything we can to protect America in the new realities we face. It's a dangerous world, but nobody's going to cause us to retreat from this world. Obviously, my job is not only to deal with threats that we find in these dark caves but also to anticipate threats. I want to thank the United States Congress for speaking with one voice about a tyrant and a dictator who has constantly defied the world, who refuses to disarm, who, in the new reality, serves as a true and real threat not only to the United States but a threat to our friends in the Middle East, a threat to other freedom loving countries. The world has been put on notice, Mr. Saddam Hussein is now on notice. We expect him to disarm. We expect him to live up to the obligations that he has told the world that he would meet. We expect the United Nations to be the United Nations, not the League of Nations. We expect them to join us in keeping the peace, by holding this dictator to account. That's what we expect. No, the threats are real. It's a different era. And this country will deal with these threats in an open way and a firm way and a resolved way, because we love our freedoms. We understand the biggest obligation we have, at least the biggest obligation I have, is to do everything I can to protect the homeland. There are a lot of good people working hard to protect the homeland. Anytime we find a hint about something that might be done to America, we're moving on it. Anytime we find any evidence that somebody might be thinking about harming our country, there are a lot of folks on the case. We're disrupting we're denying we're doing everything we can in our power and within the United States Constitution to protect the homeland. And that's why I went to the United States Congress and asked them to create a Department of Homeland Security, so I can tell the American people and future Presidents can tell the American people that we're doing everything we can to protect you everything we can. You see, there's over 100 agencies involved with the protection of our homeland. It means they're kind of scattered about. If the number one priority of America is to protect the homeland, it seems to make sense to me to put them under one agency, so we can make that the number one priority that everybody involved with homeland security must meet. And we're having a big debate up there about it. Sometimes in our Nation's Capital, they talk to much laughter and do too little. Sometimes they do too much when they should be talking. Laughter The House passed a good homeland security bill. The House heard my call to have a bipartisan approach to protecting the homeland. The House heard the call to put aside politics and not let interests be interested in special interests but to focus on the American people, not only today but down the road. And the House passed a bill. They're stuck in the Senate. The Senate can't get it done right now. It's stuck. And here's the issue. The Senate is saying, "Sure, Mr. President, you can have a homeland security bill, but there's going to be a price." And here's the price. They want to roll back an important authority that every President since John F. Kennedy has had, and that authority is this For 40 years, a President has had the capacity to suspend labor rules in every Department of Government when the national security is at stake. The President has had the capacity to be able to change rules in order to protect America. One example of what I'm talking about, just so you'll know clearly, is that customs agents, we thought, ought to be wearing radiological detection devices, just in case somebody tried to smuggle a weapon of mass destruction into America. We thought that made sense for them to wear these. The head of the union said, "Uh uh, that must be voluntary. You can't make anybody do that, and therefore, let's have a collective bargaining session over it," which might have taken a year's time. See, we don't have time for that kind of thing. The Senate wants to roll back my authority. The Senate wants to say, "You can have that authority, Mr. President, to suspend workers' rights or workers' rules in the case of a national emergency, in the Agriculture Department, but not for the Homeland Security." And that's not right. Jim Talent understands what I'm talking about. You put him in the Senate we'll get us a good homeland security bill, which will make it easier for Presidents to protect America. I need to be able to put the right people at the right place at the right time, and that's what the Senate must hear, loud and clear. And one way they can hear it is, they can hear it from the people. You can express yourselves, right in the ballot box. That's the way you can send a message loud and clear about the importance of having a Homeland Security Department that will work today, that will work tomorrow, and will work for decades to come, because this threat, folks, is real for a while. And that's why the best way to protect the American homeland is not to hope these fellows change their mind, not to hope that they go get therapy to make them think different, but it's to hunt them down one by one and bring them to jus tice what America is going to do. We are in a different kind of war, and we're still at war. We're in a war unlike the past. See, the past you used to say, "Well, we're making progress because we've blown up a couple of tanks or we sunk a ship or their Air Force isn't as strong anymore." These people hide in caves and send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. See, they don't appreciate the value of life like we do. In America, we believe every life is precious everybody has worth. These people don't value life, and they hijack a great religion and murder in the name of that religion. They just did that recently in Indonesia, and we'll be joining our friends in Australia in a day of mourning for the terrible tragedy that took place. We lost lives. They lost a lot of lives. Listen, these are killers, nothing but coldblooded killers, and we're going to treat them that way, and we're going to hunt them down, one person at a time. And we're making progress, thanks to a great United States military, and thanks to friends and allies. We're making progress. One reason we're making progress is because of the doctrine that says, "Either you're with us, or you're with them," still stands. It's still relevant. Our coalition is still rounding people up. It's a different kind of war. Sometimes you'll see progress, and sometimes you won't. The other day, a guy named bin al Shibh, he popped his head up. He's no longer a problem. He was significant because he was to have been the twentieth hijacker. And he was still plotting, and he was still planning. I bet you we've captured over a couple of thousand of them, maybe up to nearly 3,000 by now. Like number, they weren't as lucky. We're going to deny them sanctuary. We're going to find them. We're going to put them on the run. It doesn't matter how long it takes, my fellow Americans, when it comes to our freedom, it doesn't matter how many years it takes, the United States of America will stay the course, because we will defend America, no matter the cost. I'm going to sign a defense bill next week. The Congress has gotten it to my desk, and I appreciate that. That is the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President, for two reasons. I want to I asked for that request, one, anytime we put our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best training, the best possible pay, and the best equipment. We owe that to our troops, and we owe it to their loved ones. And the other message is, the other message to friend and foe alike is that we take our responsibilities seriously, that we love our freedoms. We love our country, and we're not quitting. There's not a calendar that says, well, gosh, it must be time to haul in it must be time to shut her down. That's just not the way I think, and that's not the way America thinks. I can't imagine what was going through the mind of the enemy. They must have thought that America was so selfish, so materialistic, so self absorbed that after 9 11 2001, we might have filed a lawsuit or two. Laughter That's not us. I want you to know that out of the evil done to America can come some incredible good, that that's what we believe as a nation. And one of the what's going to happen, I believe, by being strong and firm and being clear in our resolve, is that we can achieve peace. It's my dream, is to achieve peace. I want there to be peace for the American people. Since we value every life, and everybody counts, no matter where they live, we want there to be peace in parts of the region that have quit on peace. I believe it can happen. I do. I believe by being strong and resolved and standing on principle and understanding freedom belongs to everybody, not just a few, that we can have a peaceful and more hopeful world. And here at home, the evil done to America can help us deal with a serious problem. There are people in our country who hurt. There is loneliness and despair. Amidst our plenty, there are pockets of addiction there are people who aren't loved there are people who wonder whether the American experience is meant for them. So long as any of us hurt, we all hurt. We must step back from our materialism and ask the question, what can I do to help America? And the best way that you can help America is by loving a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. No, the enemy hit us. Today the enemy hit us, but today we're a stronger nation because we refuse to back down, but also because we've redefined patriotism as somebody who does more than put their hand over their heart. A patriot is somebody who is willing to put their arm around somebody who hurts, somebody in need somebody who says, "I love you." I want you to be one of those people. One of us can't do everything in society, but one of us can do something to help somebody who needs a hand, somebody who needs love, somebody somebody who knows or somebody who cares about them. Today we've got Erin Bryant, who goes right here to school here. She's an active member of the Student Community Action Team at Southwest Missouri State. She spends time volunteering to make somebody's life better. She's involved with people who want to feed those who are hungry and house those who are homeless. Be a Boy Scout leader. Be a Girl Scout leader. Do something. And it's the gathering momentum of the millions of acts of kindness and decency which will allow this great land to stand squarely in the face of evil. No, the enemy hit us. They didn't know who they were hitting. They hit the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. And we will show the world why. There's no question in my mind that even though there's hurdles ahead of us, we can achieve a lot. We can achieve peace, and we can make sure the light shines brightly, the light of hope, in every corner on this great land. I say that with confidence because this is the greatest nation, full of the finest people, on the face of the Earth. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. October 17, 2002 Thank you all for coming. I'm glad you all are here. Thanks for coming, and thanks for such a generous Georgia welcome. You know, coming down on the airplane today, we were visiting about the politics here in Georgia, and a couple of the citizens from this great State told me my picture seems to be on the TV screen a lot laughter that a lot of people are using my image during the campaign. Well, I'm here to clarify a few things. The voters shouldn't be confused. For the sake of Georgia, for the sake of the United States, Saxby Chambliss needs to be the next United States Senator. No, the voters shouldn't be confused. For the sake of Georgia and for the sake of a great public school system, Sonny Perdue needs to be the next Governor of Georgia. I appreciate you all coming. I want to thank you for what you're going to do. First, I want to thank you for what you have done, which is come today. Laughter And what you need to do is go to your coffee shops, your places of worship, the community centers, and let good people of Georgia understand that when you find two good ones, two good candidates like these two, they've got to work and vote on their behalf. Grassroots politics is going to win this election. And there's another secret weapon in the case of these two men's campaign, that's their wives. They both married well. Like me, they married above themselves. Laughter I'm so proud that Julianne Chambliss is with standing by Saxby's side. She's a great mom. She's going to be a fabulous Senate wife. And I've got to tell you, I'm real proud of Mary as well. Mom and grandmom she's going to be a great first lady for Georgia. You drew the short straw Laura's in Mobile, Alabama. Laughter But she sends her very best. She's doing great, by the way. You know, I like to remind people that when I married her, she was a public school librarian in Texas. She didn't like politics. She didn't care for politicians. Laughter Now she's the First Lady of the United States and doing a magnificent job. I appreciate members of the congressional delegation. All but one decided they wanted to fly on Air Force One, so I had coffee with them this morning. Laughter But it's a fine group of individuals representing Georgia in the United States Congress Congressman Jack Kingston, Mac Collins, Johnny Isakson, Bob Barr, Nathan Deal, Charlie Norwood, and John Linder. I'm proud of that delegation, and I hope and I feel like the good folks around Georgia will be wise to add to the delegation, starting with Phil Gingrey from the 11th Congressional District. Clay Cox is running for Congress. We need to get Clay in there. I'm real proud of the chairman of the Georgia Republican Party, my longtime friend Ralph Reed. I want to thank Ralph for his leadership. Alec Poitevint is the national committeeman. He also is a longtime friend. My friend Fred Cooper and Eric Tanenblatt all work hard to make sure our party is vibrant and alive and well, make sure our party not only is organized at the grassroots level but make sure our party sends out a message that all are welcomed. All who believe in the philosophy of personal responsibility, local control of your schools, limited Government, compassionate Government are welcome into our party. All are welcome to vote for these good candidates who are running. We don't care what party you have. We don't care whether you're a Republican, Democrat, or independent. What we care is, you support these good candidates because they're the right people at the right time for the State of Georgia. Sonny knows what I'm talking about. Sonny knows what I'm talking about. After all, he used to call himself a Democrat. Laughter And that's okay. I'm used to Texas politics. We had a lot of folks who called themselves one party label, but they we all felt the same about things. Sonny represents Georgian values. He is a down to earth fellow. He's a plain speaker. When he says something, he means it. He might not be the prettiest fellow to look at laughter but he can get the job done for all the people in Georgia. And that means having a school system that leaves no children behind. Sonny's got a good education plan. It's one that makes sense. It's one that's going to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. It's going to set high standards. Sonny is going to support the teachers of Georgia. Sonny isn't going to try to micromanage the process from centralized government. He believes in local control of schools. And Sonny is the kind of no nonsense fellow who will hold people to account. You see, he'll be willing to measure to determine whether or not each child is learning in Georgia. And when he finds children trapped in schools which won't teach and won't change, he won't be bound by special interests. The only interest he cares about is the children of the State of Georgia. He knows what I know The role of Government is not to create wealth but an environment in which the entrepreneur or small business owner can flourish. Seventy percent of new jobs in America are created by small businesses. And it seems like, if you're worried about your job base, that you want to have somebody who's been a small business person running your government, somebody who's actually done what a lot of others talk about. I think the fact that Sonny started his own business in the field of agriculture is one of the strongest reasons why the folks of Georgia ought to send him up to the capital. He also understands how important it is to have good roads and an efficient infrastructure. He's a practical man. He's a down to earth fellow who has asked the questions, how do you get the job done? He doesn't wait for a focus group. Laughter That's not his style. That's not how they raised them in south Georgia. If you're worried about your infrastructure, it seems like to me you want somebody who's licensed to fly a plane, who can drive a bus, or knows how to operate a truck. And that man is Sonny Perdue. And I'm proud to be here. I'm proud to say as loud and clear as I can, I'm for Sonny Perdue because he'll make a great Governor. And there's no doubt in my mind you've got to make sure that Saxby Chambliss is your United States Senator. Saxby is a leader. He's a leader. He can make things happen. I've watched him I've watched him closely. I worked with him on the education bill, a fine piece of education reform. He brings a deep compassion for education. He and I understand the role of the Federal Government is limited, but the role of the Federal Government must be active. It says this When we spend Federal money, we expect there to be good results. If you believe every child can learn, like we do, if you want to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations, that finally we've begun to ask the question, what's happening? With all that money we're spending, what's happening? Why don't you show us whether or not our children can read and write and add and subtract? Why don't you show us whether or not our children have got a bright future? And if so, I promise you, we'll praise the teachers. But if not, we expect a return on behalf of the taxpayers' dollars. This piece of reform was substantial reform. And Saxby Chambliss was one of the leaders in the House of Representatives to make sure this bill got passed. He understands what I know Medicine has changed, but Medicare hasn't. Medicine is modern Medicare is old and needs to be reformed. Saxby Chambliss is one of the leaders in the United States Congress to make sure that Medicare changes with medicine and that seniors have got prescription drug benefits. I'm for Saxby because he will help me make sure that the judges I nominate get a fair hearing and get confirmed. My job is to put good, honorable, hard working, intelligent, capable people on the Federal bench, people who will not use the bench to serve as a legislator but people who will sit on the bench to strictly interpret the United States Constitution. And the record of this Senate is a lousy record. If you look at the record, the percentage of my nominees who have been approved, and look at the reason why they haven't, you'll find that they're playing too much politics in Washington, DC. They're slow playing the process. And when some of my really good nominees got a hearing, they distorted their records. They listened to the small groups of special interests in Washington, DC. For the sake of a good, sound Federal judiciary, I need a United States Senator who will stand strong for my nominees, and that is Saxby Chambliss. We've got some challenges ahead of us. No question one of the challenges is to make sure people can find work in America, that we can build on the foundation of economic growth. I'm optimistic about our economy's future because I know when interest rates are low and inflation is low and the productivity of our great workforce is high, we can grow our economy. I believe strongly that the future is a bright future. But we've got a lot of work to do. Together, we've got a lot of work to do. And there are some clear cut things that the Congress can do. And one of them is to understand the significance of tax relief when it comes to economic vitality. Saxby and I read the page out of this economic textbook that says if you let a person keep more of their own money, they're likely to demand a good or a service. And when somebody demands a good or a service in the marketplace, somebody is likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or a service, somebody is more likely to be able to find work. And so we passed tax relief. Some people were enthusiastic about it. Some weren't quite so sure. And we got it passed. But the reason the issue is still alive is because there's a quirk in the Senate rules. This is a tough one for me to explain to you. It's like the Senate giveth, and the Senate taketh away. Laughter You see, after 10 years, the tax relief plan reverts back to where it was when we started relieving the taxes. So that creates uncertainty. It's hard, if you're a small business person, to plan with uncertainty. It's hard for an economy to be steady if there's an uncertain Tax Code. One of the big issues in this campaign is, who understands what I've just described, and who's willing to join the President in making sure the tax relief plan is permanent? And that person is Saxby Chambliss. No, I will continue to work on our economy, helping to make sure our workers can find work. There's a lot of things we can do. We need an energy bill. We need a terrorism insurance bill. We need to make sure Congress doesn't overspend. Listen, every idea sounds like a genius idea in Washington. Laughter The problem is, they all cost billions. I've got to make sure I've got Members of the House and Members of the Senate who understand we need to set priorities and make sure we don't overspend. For the sake of economic vitality, there needs to be fiscal restraint and fiscal sanity, which means you better have a United States Senator who understands that when we're spending money in Washington, we're not spending the Government's money we're spending the people's money. Economic issue is a big issue. There's no bigger issue, however, than protecting the homeland. I say that because there's an enemy that still lurks out there, a enemy which hates America. And they hate us because of what we love. They hate us because we love freedom. They hate us because we hold dear and deeply love the idea that anybody can worship an almighty God any way he or she sees fit. They hate the idea of a free press, free political discourse. That's what they hate. And so long as we love our freedoms, they will try to harm our country. We've got a new task ahead for America, and that is to do everything we can to protect the American people. It used to be that oceans could protect us. We used to be able to sit back here in America and feel safe and confident, because there's two vast oceans to protect us from potential enemies. But that has changed after September the 11th, 2001. And that's why it's essential for our country not only to deal with the threats we see today but to deal with threats we may see in the immediate tomorrow. That's why I called upon the United Nations and our United States Congress to deal with Iraq before it becomes a before we get hurt. Oceans no longer protect us. The threat is real. The threat's alive. I want to thank Saxby and other Members of the United States Congress for joining me in passing a strong resolution so that the United States speaks with one voice. It's now up for Mr. Saddam Hussein to do what he said he would do, to disarm. It's now up for the free nations of the world to show some courage and backbone and disarm him. There are real threats that we face, and therefore, our most important job is to do everything we can to protect the homeland. A lot of people are working hard to do just that they really are. We've got a lot of good agents at the CIA and FBI, and State police and local police, first responders, all of them working hard to do everything we can to protect the American people. When we get a hint, any bit of evidence, we're moving we're disrupting we're denying. We're aware of the threat. And so we're on we're on full game all the time. That's our job. We take it seriously. But I need the tools necessary to do the job better. And that's why I went to the United States Congress to work with me to develop a Office of Homeland Security, so that we could better coordinate amongst the many agencies involved with securing the homeland, so we could set clear priorities amongst the agencies involved with protecting the homeland, so if need be, we could change cultures, so that some point in time I'm more able to say and future Presidents are more able to say, "We're doing everything in our power at the Federal level to protect America." It's our most important and solemn duty. I laid the initiative out, and thanks to the strong leadership of Saxby he understands this issue really well thanks to his leadership amongst with others in the House of Representatives, the House responded quickly and passed a significant piece of legislation, an historic piece of legislation. The Senate hadn't acted yet, because in order to pass the Department of Homeland Security, there's got to be a price for it. And that price will be to roll back important authority that every President since John F. Kennedy has had to act in the interests of national security. For 40 years, Presidents have had the ability to suspend labor rules in every Department in the Federal Government when our national security is at stake. Now the Senate leadership wants to roll back that authority in a time of war for one Department, whose job it is will be to protect the American people during that war. If the Senate had its way, I would have the authority to suspend the work rules in the Department of Agriculture but not in the office of homeland security. The Senate Democrat leaders want to tie the hands of this Department as we determine who to hire, who to fire, and whether or not people can be moved. Any President must have the capacity to put the right people at the right time at the right place, in order to respond to threats to our homeland. The Senate debate revolves around whether or not there ought to be a thick book of rules micromanaging the process. I'll give you an example. Right after September the 11th, the Customs Service wanted to quickly assign its best, most qualified inspectors to the northern border. The union leaders objected. They said we had to bargain over these assignments we had to take time to hash it out, rather than moving our best to where we thought we needed to move them immediately. Now, I'm not going to accept a bill which will tie the hands of this President and future Presidents to be able to carry out one of our most solemn duties, which is to protect the homeland. There's no question in my mind, if Saxby Chambliss were in the Senate, I would not have to worry about his leadership or his vote on this important matter. The best way to secure the homeland, however, is to hunt the killers down, one person at a time, which is exactly what the United States of America is going to do. The war on terror is a different kind of war. The old World War II vets who are here and I want to thank you for your service will remember the days when we could measure progress based upon tanks destroyed or battleships sunk or aircraft shot down. This is a different kind of war. We're fighting coldblooded killers who hide in caves and send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. And they're willing to kill innocent people anywhere. See, there's a huge difference between us and them. We value life. We say everybody counts everybody is precious. They've hijacked a great religion and are willing to murder in the name of that religion. And that's the way they are. And there's only one way to deal with it. Therapy isn't going to work. And that's to find them that's to find them. That's why this coalition of freedom loving nations is incredibly important. That's why it's absolutely essential that we continue to remind people, either you're with us, or you're with the enemy. That's why it's essential that we continue to make sure that when we say something, we mean it, and the world knows we mean it. Next week, I'm going to be signing a defense appropriations bill. I want to thank the Members of Congress. I want to thank Saxby and others for getting this bill to my desk before they go home. It's important for us to send a message that we're going to make sure our troops have got the best pay, the best equipment, the best possible training. Anytime we put somebody in harm's way, we owe it to them and we owe it to their loved ones to support them. And that's exactly what this defense bill does. And the second message we're going to send when I sign that bill is to friend and foe alike It doesn't matter how long it takes we're staying the course. When it comes to the defense of our freedom, there is no timetable there is no calendar. When it comes to making sure our children can grow up in a free society, in a free country, this great land will do whatever it takes to secure our freedoms. No, we're making progress. We're hauling them in one at a time. We've got over a couple thousand of them, and maybe that like number wasn't quite so lucky. Sometimes you'll see us making progress, and sometimes you won't. Sometimes those people who chatter on the cables will be talking about it sometimes you're just not going to hear. It's a manhunt, one at a time. And at the same time, we're going to deny them sanctuary. If we find them lighting somewhere, we're going to ask the host country to move them on. Either you're with us, or you're with them. We're making good progress. I'm working hard to make sure America is a stronger place and a safer place, but we've all got to work together to make sure America is a better place too. And there's some things Government can do Make sure every child is educated make sure our health care systems work make sure people are treated with respect and dignity to make sure we change the tone in our National Capital and our State capital get rid of all this needless politics, bring people together, achieve big objectives. But a lot of what is going to make America continue to be the greatest country in the world depends upon you. If you want to fight evil, love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you're interested in doing some good, if you're interested in joining me and Sonny and Saxby in making sure that those pockets of despair and loneliness and hopelessness get eradicated, the surest way to do so is to put your arm around somebody in need and say, "I love you. I love you." Government can hand out money, but Government cannot put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That's why I'm such a strong believer in the Faith Based Initiative, an initiative which will empower people of all faiths in America to do what they've been called to do, to help a neighbor in need, to love somebody. See, it doesn't take much to help change America it really doesn't. Helping somebody who's hungry, mentoring a child, going to a shut in's house and saying, "What can I do to help," running a Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop it all adds up. It's those millions of acts of kindness and generosity that take place on a daily basis in America which truly defines the hopefulness of our country. See, the enemy hit us. They didn't know who they were hitting. Oh, they probably thought we'd file a lawsuit or two. Laughter But instead, they hit a country which is strong and tough, a country, by remaining strong and tough and always remembers what we love, and that is freedom, that we can achieve peace. I believe America will lead the world to peace. And at the same time, here at home we can make sure, by following our hearts, by being the compassionate country we are, to make sure this American experience shines brightly for every single citizen who lives in our country. No, they hit us. But out of the evil is going to come some incredible good, because this is the greatest nation, full of the finest people on the face of the Earth. May God bless you, and may God bless America. October 16, 2002 The President. So, here's what's going to happen. I'm going to have an opening statement the Prime Minister will make an opening statement. I will call on a person he will call the Press Secretary will call on a person. I will call another he will. And that's it, two questions a side. It's my honor to welcome the Prime Minister of our close friend to back to the White House. We've just had a good discussion about peace and security, about prosperity. I first want to say that I understand that what terror has done to economy. Terror has affected our economy. Terror has affected the Israeli economy, but we've got great confidence in the Israeli economy. We've got great confidence in the Israeli people. The greatest asset Israel has is the brainpower and ingenuity of her people. And I'm convinced that the economy will be strong. I appreciate so very much the fact that the Prime Minister is committed to working with his Cabinet to move some of the Palestinian money to the Palestinian people, that he cares about the human condition of the Palestinians, and that under a monitoring system to make sure that the money being sent back to the Palestinian people will not be used for terrorist activities, that he is willing to work with his Cabinet to do just that. I believe that's important. We talked about the framework for peace, the idea of working toward peace, the idea of two states living side by side in peace as a part of our vision. And to this end, Bill Burns, Ambassador from the State Department, is going back to the Middle East to continue to work on the process, continue to work toward achieving concrete, real, objective, and measurable reforms, so that there's a peaceful future for the region. So, Mr. Prime Minister, thanks for coming. It's good to welcome you. I appreciate you being here. Prime Minister Sharon. I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for having us again here. I would like to express our deep appreciation to your leadership facing the world terror. We regard terror as the most dangerous thing, and seeing the terror spread now, seeing that your leadership under your leadership, the world will be able to face the terror and contain terror and stop terror. We have been facing terror for over 120 years, and we still face terror. But we believe the day will come, and I hope it will be soon, that we'll be able to start peace negotiations. I believe that Jews and Arabs will be able to live together. And we, on one hand, are taking all the necessary steps against terror. And we will continue to defend our citizens. In the same time, we'll take all the necessary steps to move forward the political process. And I believe the day will come, and we'll have peace. We discussed we had interesting discussions here, very important. I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for the friendship and cooperation. And as far as I remember, as we look back towards many years now, I think that we never had such relations with any President of the United States as we have with you, and we never had such cooperation in everything as we have with the current administration. I would like to thank you for that, and we are looking forward for better future for all of us. The President. Thank you, sir. Barry Barry Schweid of AP. Situation in Iraq Q. Mr. President, are you asking the Prime Minister, have you asked the Prime Minister not to respond if Iraq attacks? And Mr. Prime Minister, have you any concrete offers of help from the administration to reduce the risk of an Iraqi attack? The President. Well, first of all, I have told the Prime Minister that my hope is, is that we could achieve a disarmament of the Iraqi regime peacefully. I haven't given up on the fact that we can achieve it peacefully. We have no plans to use our military until unless we need to. I explained to the Prime Minister, just like I explain to every citizen who is interested in this, the military is my last choice, not my first choice. So we talked about the desire to for the U.N. Security Council to be strong and for the nations that care about peace to see that Saddam is disarmed. And he's got to disarm himself. That's what we talked about. Q. If I could ask for the Prime Minister's response, please. The President. He's trying to do the two question thing. Laughter Q. Two leaders, two questions. The President. Wait a minute, Barry. He's an old pro. Q. Mr. President, I would like to complete my colleague's question. If an Iraqi missile lands in Tel Aviv, killing tens of people The President. You mean an unprovoked attack if tomorrow an Iraqi missile lands? Q. Theoretically, and it can be practically. The President. If Iraq were to attack Israel tomorrow, I'm sure there would be an appropriate response. Q. How should Israel respond? How should you respond The President. If Iraq attacks Israel tomorrow, I would assume the Prime Minister would respond. He's got he's got a desire to defend himself. Our hope is that the Iraqi regime will disarm peacefully. But I can't maybe maybe Saddam will attack tomorrow. He's certainly a dangerous man. And he's got to understand that the international community won't tolerate an unprovoked attack on Israel or anybody else, for that matter. Of course, he's done it in the past. That's what I've explained to the American people. He's attacked two nations. He's gassed his own people. He's a dangerous man. That's why he must be disarmed, and that's why the international community must work to disarm him. Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters . U.N. Resolution on Iraq Q. Thank you, sir. It's been more than a month since you said you expected the United Nations to act in days or weeks on a new Iraq resolution. How much longer are you prepared to wait, and why aren't you losing patience? The President. Because I'm a patient man. Laughter My mother and wife think that's hysterical when I say that, of course. Laughter Let's see, because it takes a while to get things done in the U.N., I guess is the answer. I mean, we will I've made the commitment to go to the U.N. I've asked the U.N. to act. We have got to deal with members of the Security Council. There are differing opinions on members of the Security Council. And we've got to work hard to reach a consensus, a resolution that will, on the one hand, do everything it can to disarm Saddam Hussein and also has got the capacity for there to be consequences should he not disarm. And therefore, we're working closely with the Perm Five as well as others on the Security Council to reach this resolution. I am a patient man. I think it's important. I made the decision to go to the U.N., and therefore, we're willing to work with the U.N. If the U.N. can't act, however, if they're unable to act, if once again after 11 years and 16 resolutions they cannot bring themselves together to disarm Saddam Hussein, then we will lead a coalition to do just that. But in the meantime, we're giving the U.N. time to listen to the arguments and to, hopefully, come together soon to get a resolution which will achieve the objectives. Q. Mr. President The President. Yes. The Prime Minister is looking for a question or two. Laughter Q. If you will allow me, I will ask him about The President. No, I'm sorry, strict guidelines. We must be disciplined. Possible Terrorist Attacks on Israel Q. Mr. President, the Hezbollah is threatening to escalate the situation in the Israeli northern border, and Israel has intelligence information that Palestinian terror organizations are also planning to escalate and have more terror attacks because the United States might attack Iraq to disarm Saddam Hussein. Is there any limitations on Israel to defend itself? Did you ask the Prime Minister not to do certain not to take certain measures if he's attacked by Hezbollah or by the terror organizations, the Palestinian terror organizations? The President. We certainly want to work with Israel, and we'll make it clear to Hezbollah, nations housing Hezbollah, whether in the context of Iraq or not, we expect there to be no attacks. This is terrorist activity, and we will fight terror wherever terror exists. I find it the doctrine that says "if you harbor a terrorist" still exists. And we ex pect again, apart from Iraq, we expect Hezbollah not to attack our friend. And so we will work with Israel and work with other nations, making it clear to them our position on harboring terrorist activities. Thank you all. October 16, 2002 Thank you all. Please be seated. Good morning. Welcome to the White House. I want to thank the members of my Cabinet who have joined us. I want to thank the Members of Congress who are here on the stage. I want to thank the Members of Congress who are here in the audience. I'm honored to have you here. The resolution I'm about to sign symbolizes the united purpose of our Nation, expresses the considered judgment of the Congress, and marks an important event in the life of America. The 107th Congress is one of the few called by history to authorize military action to defend our country and the cause of peace. This is among the most serious and difficult decisions a legislator can face. Members of both Houses, both political parties, have deliberated with care, and they have spoken with clarity on behalf of the American people. We will face our dangers squarely, and we will face them unafraid. With this resolution, Congress has now authorized the use of force. I have not ordered the use of force. I hope the use of force will not become necessary. Yet, confronting the threat posed by Iraq is necessary, by whatever means that requires. Either the Iraqi regime will give up its weapons of mass destruction, or for the sake of peace, the United States will lead a global coalition to disarm that regime. If any doubt our Nation's resolve, our determination, they would be unwise to test it. The Iraqi regime is a serious and growing threat to peace. On the commands of a dictator, the regime is armed with biological and chemical weapons, possesses ballistic missiles, promotes international terror, and seeks nuclear weapons. The same dictator has a history of mass murder, of striking other nations without warning, of intense hatred for America, and of contempt for the demands of the civilized world. If Iraq gains even greater destructive power, nations in the Middle East would face blackmail, intimidation, or attack. Chaos in that region would be felt in Europe and beyond. And Iraq's combination of weapons of mass destruction and ties to terrorist groups and ballistic missiles would threaten the peace and security of many nations. Those who choose to live in denial may eventually be forced to live in fear. Every nation that shares in the benefits of peace also shares in the duty of defending the peace. The time has arrived once again for the United Nations to live up to the purposes of its founding, to protect our common security. The time has arrived once again for free nations to face up to our global responsibilities and confront a gathering danger. In 1991, Iraq was given 15 days to fully disclose all weapons of mass destruction. The dictator has successfully defied that obligation for 4,199 days. The dictator has and during this 11 year period of his dictatorship, the regime has become highly skilled in the techniques of deception. It has blocked effective inspections of so called Presidential sites actually 12 square miles with hundreds of structures where sensitive materials could be hidden. The regime has forged documents, disabled surveillance cameras, and developed mobile weapons facilities to keep ahead of any inspector. The Iraqi regime has frustrated the work of international inspectors by firing warning shots, by tapping their telephones, confiscating their documents, blocking aerial inspection flights, and barring access to sites for hours while evidence is carried away. At one location, inspectors actually witnessed Iraqi guards moving files, burning documents, and then dumping the ashes in a river. Aboard U.N. helicopters, Iraqi escorts have physically struggled with inspectors to keep them from approaching certain areas. For Iraq, the old weapons inspection process was little more than a game in which cheating was never punished. And that game is over. The ploys and promises of the Iraqi regime no longer matter. The regime is free to continue saying whatever it chooses. Its fate depends entirely on what it actually does. Our goal is not merely to limit Iraq's violations of Security Council resolutions or to slow down its weapons program. Our goal is to fully and finally remove a real threat to world peace and to America. Hopefully, this can be done peacefully. Hopefully, we can do this without any military action. Yet, if Iraq is to avoid military action by the international community, it has the obligation to prove compliance with all the world's demands. It's the obligation of Iraq. Compliance will begin with a accurate and full and complete accounting for all chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons materials, as well as missiles and other means of delivery anywhere in Iraq. Failure to make such an accounting would be a further indication of the regime's bad faith and aggressive intent. Inspectors must have access to any site in Iraq at any time, without preclearance, without delay, without exceptions. Inspectors must be permitted to operate under new, effective rules. And the Iraqi regime must accept those rules without qualification or negotiation. To ensure that we learn the truth, the regime must allow witnesses to its illegal activities to be interviewed outside of the country. These witnesses must be free to bring their entire families with them, so they're beyond the reach of Saddam Hussein's terror, Saddam Hussein's torture, Saddam Hussein's murder. In addition to declaring and destroying all of its weapons of mass destruction, Iraq, in accordance with U.N. Security Council demands, must end its support for terrorism. As the U.N. demands, Iraq must cease the persecution of its civilian population. As the U.N. demands, Iraq must stop all illicit trade outside the oil for food program. Iraq must also release or account for all Gulf war personnel, including an American pilot whose fate is still unknown. The United States takes the resolutions of the Security Council seriously. We urge other nations to do the same. We're working to build the broadest possible coalition to enforce the demands of the world on the Iraqi regime. I've told all the members of the United Nations, America will play its historic role in defeating aggressive tyranny. I hope the good people of Iraq will remember our history and not pay attention to the hateful propaganda of their Government. America has never sought to dominate, has never sought to conquer. We've always sought to liberate and to free. Our desire is to help Iraqi citizens find the blessings of liberty within their own culture and their own traditions. The Iraqi people cannot flourish under a dictator that oppresses them and threatens them. Gifted people of Iraq will flourish if and when oppression is lifted. When Iraq has a government committed to the freedom and well being of its people, America, along with many other nations, will share a responsibility to help Iraq reform and prosper. And we will meet our responsibilities. That's our pledge to the Iraqi people. Like the Members of Congress here today, I've carefully weighed the human cost of every option before us. If we go into battle, as a last resort, we will confront an enemy capable of irrational miscalculations, capable of terrible deeds. As the Commander in Chief, I know the risks to our country. I'm fully responsible to the young men and women in uniform who may face these risks. Yet those risks only increase with time, and the costs could be immeasurably higher in years to come. To shrink from this threat would bring a false sense of temporary peace, leading to a future in which millions live or die at the discretion of a brutal dictator. That's not true peace, and we won't accept it. The terrorist attacks of last year put our country on notice. We're not immune from the dangers and hatreds of the world. In the events of September the 11th, we resolved as a nation to oppose every threat from any source that could bring sudden tragedy to the American people. This Nation will not live at the mercy of any foreign power or plot. Confronting grave dangers is the surest path to peace and security. This is the expectation of the American people and the decision of their elected representatives. I thank the Congress for a thorough debate and an overwhelming statement of support. The broad resolve of our Government is now clear to all, clear to everyone to see We will defend our Nation and lead others in defending the peace. May God bless your work. October 14, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much. Thanks for coming today. I want to thank you all for Audience member. We love you! We love you! We love you! The President. Glad I came. I want to thank you all for coming. I particularly want to thank you all for bringing if you have children, thanks for bringing them. I appreciate the chance to remind our youngsters what a great country we have. I appreciate the chance I appreciate the chance to remind them that although we've got some issues and we've got some challenges, there's no doubt in my mind this great Nation you call home can accomplish anything I mean anything we set our mind to. So thanks for coming. I appreciate your interest in your State and in the political process of your State. I've come back to Michigan because I know that Dick Posthumus will make a great Governor of Michigan, and I'm here to ask you to help him get elected. I'm here to ask you to go to your coffee shops or your houses of worship or your neighborhood community centers and talk it up about this good man, to tell the people in your community, whether they be Republican, Democrat, independent don't care that when it comes to running the State of Michigan, he's got what it takes. He's got the character he's got the leadership capacity. And just like me, he married well. I know that Pam Posthumus will be a fine first lady. Speaking about fine First La dies yes, she's doing fine. She sends her best to the good folks of Michigan. I saw her waving from the balcony when I choppered out of the White House grounds. She's doing just great. I can't tell you how proud I am of Laura. You might remember the story when I asked her to marry me, she was a public school librarian. Truth of the matter is, she didn't particularly care for politics laughter didn't like politicians. Laughter Now, here she is laughter the First Lady. What a fabulous job she's done. She's brought great dignity and calm and class to the White House. I love her a lot. I love her a lot, and she's doing just great. People now understand why I asked her to marry me. A lot of her friends are wondering why in the heck she said yes. Laughter But we're doing great. I want to thank many of you for your prayers. I appreciate that a lot. It's a huge honor to be the President of a country that prays for the President and the First Lady. We feel the prayers, and we appreciate them. I also want to urge you all to make sure that the United States Congress stays in friendly hands, that Denny Hastert is the Speaker, a Congress with which I can work. And that means sending Thaddeus McCotter to the United States Congress. It means sending Candice Miller to the United States Congress. It means making sure a fine sitting Congressman, Joe Knollenberg, gets sent back to the United States Congress. I appreciate Joe's leadership, and I know that Thaddeus and Candice will do a fine job on behalf of all the people of Michigan, not just a few but everybody. And that's what's important. When you're looking at these people running for office, you've got you've got to understand that our jobs are not to represent a small segment of society. We're to lay out our principles and our values and represent everybody. And that's what I like about these candidates. I'm also proud to be traveling with a former United States Senator, now a member of my Cabinet, and that would be Spence Abraham. Spence, thank you for coming. You know, it's a sad day when he lost for the Senate. It hurt Michigan it gave me a chance to put somebody good in the Cabinet. Laughter And he's doing a fine job working on an incredibly important issue, about which I'll speak in a second, and that's energy. But let me tell you one thing If we had him in the Senate, if we had people like Spence in the Senate, there would be no question today about my judges getting confirmed. The Senate is doing a lousy job on my judge nominations. They're treating this like it's politics, not what's good for the country. You see, we need judges who will serve, not to write legislation. We've got plenty of legislators. We need judges who will strictly interpret the Constitution of the United States sitting on our benches. No, I heard a lot of reasons why we need to change the Senate, but one of them is to make sure that the Federal bench represents the way you want them to serve their jobs. We need a Senate change, and that's why you've got to put Rocky in the United States Senate. Hey, Rocky, good luck to you. You should never count out a guy named Rocky. I also want to thank my friend Brooks Patterson. Brooksie is from been in politics quite a while. I got to know him in the 1988 campaign. I liked him then I still like him now. And I appreciate him coming to say hello. I want to thank all the grassroots activists, the people who are manning the phone banks, the people who do the jobs that nobody thanks you for doing. Well, I'm here to thank you. I appreciate your hard work, and I appreciate your love for your country. I want to thank those who are seeking office, like Loren Bennett and Terri Lynn Land and Mike Cox, all fine candidates, to make sure this Republican ticket applause . Let me tell you why it's important to have a Governor who knows what he's doing. I know something about being a Governor. The most important job for a Governor is to make sure every single child gets a good education. That's what Dick Posthumus understands. But it takes a certain kind of attitude to make sure every child gets a good education. It starts with understanding that every child can learn, and to have leadership willing to challenge what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. You see, if you believe certain kids can't learn and you have low standards, then you're going to get lousy results. You've got to understand every child can learn. You better make sure your Governor understands every child can learn. And then you'd better make sure the Governor trusts the local people, all around Michigan, to chart the path for excellence. One size doesn't fit all when it comes to running the Michigan schools. One of the things that's really important, if you believe every child can learn, then you want to ask the question, is every child learning? If you believe every child can learn to read and write and add and subtract, then you want to know that. And as a State, I hope you'll have a Governor who is willing to ask that question and holding the people account. You see, the worst thing that can happen is for people to believe every child can't learn, and they just shuffle them through the system. "Let's just move them on. Certain kids can't learn. Inner city kids," they say, "might be too tough to educate. We'll just move them along. Children whose parents don't speak English as a first language, they're tough to educate. We'll just move them along." We can't accept that in Michigan. We can't accept that anywhere in America. You must measure in this State. You must have strong accountability systems to test whether or not the curriculum is working, to test whether the teachers are teaching. You must understand that you've got to measure to make sure not one child gets left behind. And when you find children in schools that won't teach and won't change, you better have you a Governor who is willing to challenge the status quo, for the sake of the children. And that Governor is Dick Posthumus. Not only listen, we're worried about people who can't find work. At least I am, and I know Dick is as well. Anytime we've got anybody in Michigan or anywhere in America looking for work and can't find work, it's a problem, and we have to deal with it. And that makes sure that means you've got to make sure you've got a Governor who understands the role of Government is not to create wealth but an environment in which the small business can grow to be a big business, in which the entrepreneurs can find the entrepreneurial spirit. And that's why it's so important to have a Governor who is willing to hold the taxes down in order to make sure businesses can grow, so people can find work. No, you've got the right man in Dick Posthumus. He knows what he's doing. He's going to make a fine Governor for the State of Michigan. I want to share with you some of my concerns about our country. The character of our country doesn't concern me. The ability for our country to solve problems doesn't concern me. But I am concerned about an economy not doing as good as we want it to do. I am concerned about an economy that was in recession, that got affected by the terrorist attack. I am concerned about a society in which some of the members of our society thought it was okay to fudge the numbers, thought it was okay not to tell the truth when it came to profits and losses, thought it was okay to mistreat employee and shareholder alike. Those days are gone from America. Corporate malfeance has had an effect on our economy, and we need to do something about it. That's why I was honored to sign the most comprehensive corporate reform legislation since Franklin Roosevelt was the President. The message is clear now. The message is clear to people who should know better. If you think you're going to find easy money in this country, you're wrong. What you're going to find is hard time if you cheat the people. But there are some things Congress can do, before they go home, to help the working people of this country. See, they're fixing to go home. But they need to act. One of the things you'll find about Washington or at least I found about it there's a lot of good talkers laughter and not enough good doers. They're talking a good game up there. They're worried about the jobs, and so am I. So in order to make sure people can find work, there are some practical things Congress can do. And let me give you a couple of suggestions. One is, is that there's a lot of hardhats not working because the people can't find terrorism insurance. If you want to build a big project and you can't get insurance because of what the terrorists have done for America, you're going to put the project aside. There's over 15 billion of construction projects which are on hold, which aren't going forward, which means there's over 300,000 jobs that would be in place or soon to be in place that aren't in place. And so in my judgment, is what Congress ought to do is, they ought to pass legislation to serve as a backdrop for terrorist insurance. They ought to serve as a backstop. If the terrorists don't attack, it hasn't cost anybody anything. If the terrorists attack, it'll help our economy recover quicker. For the sake of jobs, however, they need to get moving. There's too much talk in Washington, DC. And one of the stumbling blocks is whether or not they care more about the hardhat or the trial lawyer. We stand on the side of the hardhats in America, the hard working people. And therefore, get me a terrorism insurance bill that recognizes their hard work and the need to get these people back to work. We need an energy bill in America. We need an energy bill. Spence has been working on one, a balanced, comprehensive approach that says, we need to do a better job of conserving energy we need to unleash new technologies to make sure that we become less dependent on foreign sources of crude but we need to explore in an environmentally friendly way here at home. Listen, the less energy we use from countries that may not like us, the more secure we are nationally. An energy bill will be good for jobs. An energy bill is important for our national security. They've been talking about that energy bill up there now for about a year. Before they go home, they need to get the energy bill to my desk. Let me tell you what else the Congress needs to do. The Congress needs to understand that when a person has more money in their pocket, they're likely to demand a good or service. And when they demand a good or a service, in this society, somebody is likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces a good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work. The tax relief plan which we passed through the United States Congress came at the right time in American economic history. When your economy is slow, you let people keep more of their own money. That's the opposite of what some of them think up there. You see, they have when they want to have a summit you know what the summit means to me? It means after the elections, they're going to figure out a way to raise your taxes that's what a summit means to me. And so, therefore, if Congress really wants to make sure the job base continues to expand, what they'll do is make the tax cuts permanent. Now, that's already you say, "Well, Mr. President, aren't they already permanent?" No. Here's what happened. In the United States Senate, they have a rule that says on the one hand, we giveth, and on the other hand, we taketh away. Laughter It's hard to explain, but that's just what happened. Which means that the tax relief plan we passed and it's phased in over 10 years after 10 years goes back to the way it was. It's hard to plan that way. If you're a small business owner, you need to have certainty in the Tax Code. If you're somebody who is going to risk capital, you need to have certainty in the Tax Code. For the sake of economic growth, for the sake of job creation, the United States Congress must make the tax cuts permanent. I made a decision the other day to help Michigan workers and help workers all across the country by invoking Taft Hartley to open up the ports on our west coast. They couldn't get together. Workers couldn't get together, and the shippers couldn't get together. And their ship they were locking down the ports. And that hurt manufacturers here in Michigan, and it hurt Michigan farmers, and it's going to hurt Michigan's consumers if it went on too long. For the sake of jobs, for the sake of job creation, I put the I said, "Get back to work for 80 days, and come together, for the sake of our country, during these tough economic times. We expect you to resolve your differences so people in other parts of the country won't suffer." Until I'm satisfied that people can find work, I'm going to stay on the economy. I'm going to keep working with Congress, if need be, working with the American people, to do everything we can to keep our economy going. We've got good we've got the foundation for growth, by the way. Interest rates are low. Inflation is low. We've got the best workers in the world. We've got the highest productivity in the world. The foundation for growth is strong. We've just got to keep working until we're satisfied that people can find work. And my biggest preoccupation, my biggest worry is that there's still an enemy out there which hates America, an enemy which still wants to take innocent life. Recently we've seen what I'm talking about, in Bali. There was a coldblooded attack. Innocent people, from all around the world, by the way an American, at least we know of one or two Americans, many Australians, English innocent people enjoying themselves at a resort, and a bunch of cold blooded killers decided to take life, to take innocent life, just like they did on September the 11th, 2001. It's a stark reminder that there's an enemy which hates freedom loving countries, an enemy which does not value human life like we value human life here in America. See, in this country, every life is precious everybody has got meaning everybody has got worth. No, the attack on the French boat which was, I believe, a terrorist attack the attack at the resort, the attack on our marines in Kuwait shows that there's still an enemy which is active out there. And therefore, my biggest worry is to make sure we do everything we can to continue to protect America, to save innocent life. And so therefore, I've asked Congress to join me in developing a Department of Homeland Security, a Department which will take the agencies involved with protecting the homeland security, putting them under one umbrella so that the focus will be your protection, so that the number one priority will be the protection of the American people. We made progress in the House, but we're stuck in the Senate. We're stuck in the Senate because some Senators want there to be a big, thick book of bureaucratic regulations to tell this administration and future administrations how to run the Department. I'll give you an example. On the border, we need to know who is coming in and what they're bringing when they come in and whether or not they're leaving when they say they're going to leave. And yet we've got three different agencies on the border, full of fine people, by the way. You've got your Customs and INS and the Border Patrol. Yet in some sectors, they've got different strategies. They wear different uniforms. They've got different tasks. For the sake of homeland security, any administration ought to have the flexibility to put the agencies together or to put the right people at the right place at the right time to protect the American people. The Senate version doesn't let me do that. People ought to be able to organize if they want to organize. There ought to be collective bargaining, and that's fine with me. But for the sake of national security, I ought to have the capacity, on a limited basis, to say our national security is more important than some collective bargaining rights. And I'll give you an example. Let me give you an example. Our Customs, they ought to be wearing radiation detection devices to determine whether somebody is trying to sneak a weapon of mass destruction into America. The leadership of that particular group of people said, "No way. We need to have a collective bargaining session over whether or not our people should be made to wear these devices." And that could take a long period of time. We don't have time, when it comes to an enemy. We need to have the flexibility to run this Department so I can assure you. But the best way to protect the homeland is to hunt these killers down, one at a time, and bring them to justice. And that's what we're going to do. That's exactly what we're going to do. You know, they I don't know what went through their minds when they hit us. They probably thought after September the 11th, 2001, we'd take a step back and file a lawsuit or two. Laughter See, they didn't understand about America. They don't understand that we love freedom. We don't embrace freedom we love freedom. And nobody is going to take our freedoms away from us. No, they probably thought that we were so selfish and self absorbed and materialistic that after they hit us, we would try to understand them laughter take a step back, and maybe get them some therapy. Laughter As we've seen this weekend, as we've seen in the past, there's only one therapy, and that's to bring them to justice, which is exactly what the United States is going to do. This is a different kind of war it's a different kind of war. In the old days, you could measure progress based upon the number of tanks destroyed or aircraft shot out of the sky or ships that were sunk. This is a different kind of war. We face a shadowy enemy. They're real. They're tough. They are determined. But their leaders will hide in caves and send their young warriors to their suicidal death. It's a different kind of enemy we face. And sometimes you'll see progress on your TV screens, and sometimes you're just not going to see what's happening. A different kind of battle we face. But you've got to know we're making progress. We're making steady progress. I bet you we have hauled in I say "we" by the way, the doctrine that says, "Either you're with them, or you're with us," still stands. Either you're with the United States of America, or you're with the enemy. And we're making progress. A couple of thousand have been hauled in. Slowly but surely, we're dismantling this terrorist network. Sure, they're still out there, but they're not nearly as strong as they were a year ago. Slowly but surely, we're hauling them in. And a like number weren't as lucky as those who were captured like number met their justice a different way. And we're still on them. We will continue to deny them training bases. We will continue to try to deny them sanctuary anywhere. We're going to keep getting them on the run. Slowly but surely, no matter how long it takes, my fellow Americans, we will do what it takes to make the homeland secure and to free the American people from terror. And that's why I sent to Congress a significant increase in our defense spending, and I want to explain why. Anytime we put one of our youngsters into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. We owe that to our soldiers. We owe that to the loved ones of our soldiers. And if there are any loved ones out there, I can't tell you how proud I am of our military, how confident I am of my military, and how good our military is. Thank you for coming. I also asked for a big increase in defense spending because I wanted to send a message to our friend and to our foe that we ain't quitting. We're just not going to quit when it comes to defending America. It doesn't matter how long it takes. We don't have a calendar on my desk there's not a calendar on my desk in the great Oval Office that flips to, you know, flip it one day and it says, oh, it's time to quit. That's just not the way we think in America. We understand the task. We understand it's a different kind of war. We understand it requires patience and to be steadfast in purpose, and that's exactly the way this Nation is going to remain. We will pursue the enemy no matter where he tries to hide, no matter what cave he's in, no matter what city he hides in, until justice is done. And the war on terror is just not Al Qaida. There are other terrorists around. There are other threats to our country with which we must deal. And that means and one place is Iraq. I want to let me share with you some thoughts, a serious, serious, subject. It's one that's got a lot of folks debating in the coffee shops or in the homes about Iraq. I want to remind you of a couple of things. First of all, 11 years ago this leader of Iraq, the dictator of Iraq, made a pledge that he would not have weapons of mass destruction. He promised the world after he got whipped that he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction. And the Security Council of the United Nations passed a resolution which said, "You won't have weapons of mass destruction." Since that time, he has lied he has deceived he has not listened to the U.N. Security Council resolutions. Since that time, we now recognize as a country that oceans no longer protect us like they used to. A new reality set in, in America. It used to be we could kind of sit back and look at a threat from afar and say, "Well, that may affect somebody else, but it doesn't affect us." Prior to September the 11th, we had the comfort of realizing or looking back in history and saying that we're pretty safe here in America. Others may be threatened after all, he attacked two in his neighborhood he gassed his own people but not us. September the 11th changed the equation, changed our thinking. It also changed our thinking when we began to realize that one of the most dangerous things that can happen in the modern era is for a deceiving dictator who has gassed his own people, who has weapons of mass destruction, to team up with an organization like Al Qaida. As I said I was a little more diplomatic in my speech, but we need to think about Saddam Hussein using Al Qaida to do his dirty work to not leave fingerprints behind. I went to the United Nations. I did so because I wanted to challenge that body. Sixteen resolutions, sixteen defiances They passed resolution after resolution after resolution, and 16 times Saddam Hussein has defied those resolutions. For the sake of keeping peace, it's important that there be an international body that has backbone, that can work to keep the peace in this new era we're in. And now is the time for choice. The United Nations can decide whether it's the League of Nations or whether or not it is a United Nations capable of keeping the peace. There is universal agreement that Saddam Hussein poses a serious threat. He's a threat to the neighborhood. He's a threat to our allies. There is universal understanding that right after the Gulf war he was close to having a nuclear weapon. He still wants to have a nuclear weapon. For the sake of peace, for the sake of our security, now is the time to make sure that Saddam says what he said he would do. He must disarm. It's his choice to make. He said he would disarm. He must disarm. The U.N. said he must disarm. They can disarm him. But for the sake of security of our country their choice to make I hope it's done peacefully. I hope we never use a military one military troop in Iraq. But for the sake of the peace and security of the United States, Saddam Hussein must disarm, or the United States, with friends and allies, will disarm him. I say that because I want there to be peace. I speak as a man who has a goal for the world, and that's peace. I believe out of the evil done to America can come a peaceful world. There'll be some tough times, no question about it. But if we remain strong and resolved, if we hold dear to the principles, the God given principles and values that we hold dear to our hearts the principle of freedom, that every life counts, that people should be free if we hold that dear and remain strong, we can achieve peace, and I hope we do. That's my goal. The enemy thinks that they can cause America to retreat from our obligations. We're not. They believe we'll cower in the face of their coldblooded murder. We won't. And out of the evil done to this great country and now out of the evil being done elsewhere, we can achieve peace. We've been given an opportunity to lead the world to peace. And at home, we can have a better America, too. We can have a better America. There are people who hurt in America. There are pockets of despair and loneliness, people who are addicted, people who wonder whether or not the American Dream is meant for them. So long as some of us hurt, we all hurt in this country. But I'm absolutely convinced that as a nation we can rise up, not only to keep the peace and make it secure but rise up to make America a better place, a more hopeful place, a place of love and compassion. If you want to help, if you want to help in the war against terror, if you want to fight evil, love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. There are things Government can do to help people, to empower people. Government needs to trust citizens. It starts with making sure everybody has a good education. We need to also make sure our medical systems are modern. Listen, Medicare is an incredibly important program. Medicine has changed Medicare hasn't. Medicine is modern Medicare isn't. For the sake of our seniors, for the sake of a better life in America, our seniors need to have a Medicare program that gives them choices and gives them prescription drug benefits. We need to make sure, as we authorize welfare, to understand the whole the reason welfare works, the reason welfare reform works is because we help people find work. Work is the backbone of the welfare system. It ought to remain the backbone of a good welfare system. People get dignity when they find work. They're less dependent on a Government that can sap their soul and drain their spirit. There are things Government can do to make America a better place but not nearly as importantly as what our fellow Americans can do to make America a better place. Government can hand out money, but what Government cannot do is put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That's up to our fellow Americans. Today we've got with us Lenny Compton. Lenny is in his second year right here, Lenny he's in his second year as AmeriCorps. Let me tell you about him. You know what he does? He mentors a child. He mentors kids in the first, second, and third grade. He understands one person can't do everything to change America, but one person can do something. One person can help change America, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. I want to thank you, Lenny. And that's what we need to do to show the enemy the true nature of America. Each of us can be that one person, helping somebody in need. It doesn't require a lot. Listen, walking across the street to a shut in, saying "I love you" on a regular basis, is what I'm talking about. Running a Boy Scout troop is what I'm talking about. Being involved with a Girl Girls Clubs and Boys Clubs, going to your church or your synagogue or your mosque and helping feed the hungry and find shelter for the homeless, it's all a part of the great fabric of America. In order to fight evil, do some good do some good. One of the things that's happening in America as a result of the attack by the enemy is that people are taking a good, hard look at what's important in life. We're beginning to have a cultural shift, it seems like to me. I want to be a part of that shift. It's a shift away from a culture that has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a new era that says, "Each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life." If you are a mom or a dad, if you're lucky enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving that child with all your heart and all your soul. If you're living in Oakland County, you're responsible for the quality of education. If you're dissatisfied with the quality of education, do something about it. If you're satisfied, go hug a teacher, and thank him or her for doing such an important job. No, I think it's happening. I think people are beginning to understand that being a patriot is more than just putting your hand over your heart. Being a patriot is working to make America a more compassionate and decent and hopeful place. No, I think it's happening. I remember and will never forget what took place on Flight 93. We had average citizens flying across the country. All of a sudden they became aware of the new reality, that America was under attack. They were on the phones to their loved ones. The word "love" was used a lot. They said goodbye. They said a prayer. They asked for blessing from an Almighty. A guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane into the ground to save life. These Americans understood that being a patriot was to serve something greater than yourself in life. No, the American spirit is strong and alive. There's no doubt in my mind, my friends and fellow Americans, no doubt in my mind that we can achieve peace, no doubt in my mind that we can secure our homeland. There is no doubt in my mind that we can educate our children and provide a hopeful future for everybody who is living here in America. And the reason I say that is because I say with the utmost of confidence that this is the finest nation, full of the finest people, on the face of the Earth. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. October 14, 2002 Thank you all. "Congressman," thank you. I appreciate you all coming. I'm here to help the Republican Party. I'm here to help Dick Posthumus get elected. I'm here to make it clear that Thaddeus McCotter needs to be the next Congressman from this district. Anybody who would name his son George laughter in this case, George T. I appreciate the chance to meet the family. I want to thank the McCotters for coming. He's got a great wife and three wonderful children. I appreciate a man who has got his priorities straight, and that is his faith and his family and his country. And I appreciate you all coming to help him. We had a big rally earlier today, and Thaddeus was there and so was the next Governor of the State of Michigan, Dick Posthumus. I told the folks in I mean, there was a couple of thousand people there, and I told them that it's important to do what they are good at doing, which is put signs in the ground and dial the phones and put out the mailers. We're getting close to grassroots politics time. For those of you who are involved in the grassroots of Michigan politics, I want to thank you for what you're going to do, not only what you have done but what's going to take place over the next couple of weeks, and that is to work hard to turn out a big vote. To turn out a vote for the next Governor, the next Congressman is really important. There's no doubt in my mind these two men are going to win, and they're only going to win with your help. So thanks for coming. Thanks for your care about your State and your country. I'm so grateful that my buddy the Governor of Michigan is here, John Engler. I appreciate his strong service to Michigan. We both did a very smart thing We both married girls from Texas. Laughter We both married above ourselves. Laughter And speaking about girls from Texas, Laura sends her love to many of you here that we got to know during the course of our campaign. She's doing great. She's strong, and she's calm when she needs to be calm. She's a fabulous wife, a great mother, and she's doing a wonderful job as our First Lady. I'm really proud of her. I want to thank the Members from the U.S. Congress who are here with us today. I particularly want to thank Mike Rogers for working hard to make sure this event was successful. Mike, thanks for your hard work. Thanks for your support. I think Peter Hoekstra is here somewhere. I don't know if they let people in from the western part of the State or not. Laughter Where are you, Peter? Good to see you, Congressman. Thanks for coming a fine U.S. Congressman. I know Vern Ehlers is here. Vern, I'm honored you're here. Thanks for coming. I appreciate good to see you, sir. I think Joe Knollenberg is still here. I hope he is. Hey, Joe, thanks. I appreciate you, Congressman. Dave Camp, Congressman Camp is with us today, I think. Oh, hi, Dave. Thanks for coming. I think that's all the members of the congressional team from Michigan that are here. I've got to tell you, they're fine Members of the Congress. I appreciate their friendship. I appreciate their strong support on key issues. We've had great success in the House of Representatives and a lot of it had to do with the leadership of the folks from Michigan. You're well represented. My call is to make sure they go back. My call is to make sure we continue to hold the House. My call is to remind you it's important to have a Speaker like Denny Hastert, who will make a huge difference for the people of Michigan and the people of our country. And one way to do it is to not only reelect those who have already won but to make sure Thad McCotter gets elected to the United States House as well and Candice Miller. I know the speaker of the house is here. I want to thank Rick Johnson for coming. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate your coming. In the limousine on the way here, the next Governor and I were talking about how the house races look great here in Michigan and that he looks forward to working with you, Mr. Speaker, and a good, solid Republican majority to do what's right for the people of Michigan. I'm also honored that Betsy DeVos is here. Betsy, I appreciate your tireless work on behalf of the Republican Party. I appreciate you coming. Michael Kojaian, he's a wonderful friend and a good man who has been a hard worker to make sure events such as these are successful. And Michael, I appreciate you coming. We've got a lot of work to do in Washington, DC. And that's why I'm so want to be involved with these House races. We've got to make sure the country is a stronger country and a safer country and a better country. And to make sure America is a stronger country, we've got to work to make sure that people can find a job. You know, anytime there's a place where somebody is looking for work and can't find work, it is a problem, and we've got to deal with it. But the best way to deal with it is to elect people to Congress who understand the role of Government. The role of Government is not to try to create wealth the role of Government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish, in which small businesses can grow to be big businesses, in which people feel comfortable risking capital. The people in the U.S. Congress from Michigan understand that. Thaddeus understands that. It's important to get him elected. You hear a lot of talk about tax relief. Here's the page of the textbook that we've been reading in Washington, at least those of us who agreed with the tax relief plan. It says this "If you let a person keep more of their own money, they're likely to demand a good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service in the marketplace, somebody is likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces the good or service, somebody is more likely to find work" if you're interested in jobs. The tax relief plan we passed in Washington came at the exactly the right time. The country was in recession. We needed to stimulate the economy. We needed to get the economics of the country on the right track. We needed people to be able to find work. Tax relief was vital. Not only was the tax relief plan good for the creation of small business and the enhancement of the entrepreneurial spirit, the tax relief plan also recognized that we want to encourage marriage in families through the Tax Code, not discourage it, and we slashed the marriage penalty in the tax relief. We also did one other thing that was helpful to the farmers of Michigan, the ranchers all across the country, the small business owners, the entrepreneurs, the first time capitalists, and that is, we put the death tax on the way to extinction. But we're still having to talk about the issue because the rules of the United States Senate are such that the tax relief plan that it lasts for 10 years. And after 10 years, it reverts to back to the way it was. And yes, 2001, it's like the Senate giveth, and the Senate taketh away. That's a hard one to explain in Crawford, Texas, or anywhere else, for that matter. And so the issue really is, and Thaddeus understands this, for the sake of job creation, we need certainty in the Tax Code. For the sake of an expanding economy, we need to make sure that our entrepreneurs understand what's happening. For the sake of families, we need permanency. For the sake of people being able to pass their assets on to whom they want, we need permanency. The Congress needs to make the tax cuts permanent. There are some other things that need to happen in Congress to make sure people can find work. We're debating a terrorism insurance bill. I'm not debating it I'm watching the debate. I'm amazed that the debate is still going on. There are 15 billion of construction projects which have been put on hold because people can't get terrorism insurance. The terrorists hit us they raised the price of insurance. They made it basically extinct. And what the Congress needs to do is serve as a backstop and serve as a guarantor for terrorism insurance to get these projects moving again. If the enemy doesn't attack, it doesn't cost anything. If the enemy does attack, it'll help keep order in our economy. It makes sense. There are 300,000 hardhats' jobs waiting to go forward. For the sake of job creation, for the sake of getting good people to work, we need a terrorism insurance bill. We need a bill that rewards the hardhats and not the trial lawyers of America. Traveling with me today is one of my finest Cabinet Secretaries perhaps it's because he cut his teeth in Michigan politics and that's Spence Abraham. I appreciate Spence coming. He's somewhere around. There he is, and Jane is with him, too, who's a fine, fine soul. Thanks for coming, Jane. The reason I bring up Spence is because, one, I want to brag on him, what a good job he's doing. But also, a job bill is an energy bill. A good energy bill will help with jobs. Spence has been working hard to get the Congress to come together to get an energy bill out that encourages conservation, encourages the use of renewables, that fires up new technologies necessary to achieve national objectives, which is less dependence on foreign sources of crude and cleaner air things we believe can happen. But he and I also agree we need to be explore for more energy at home. And yet, there's talk just like the terrorism insurance bill all they're doing is talking. They need to get the bill to my desk for the sake of jobs and for the sake of national security. We need to have an energy bill in America. And Spence, I want to thank you for your hard work. By the way, looking at Spence or just thinking about Spence looking at him too reminds me of why we need to take the Senate back. I've named really good people to the bench. One of my most awesome responsibilities and important responsibilities is to find good, honorable Americans who will serve as Federal judges, people who will use the bench to strictly interpret the Constitution, people who will not use the bench to rewrite law. We've got plenty of legislators in Washington. And this Senate has done a lousy job with my nominees. The percentage of people confirmed is way below those confirmed under President Clinton or President Bush or President Reagan. They're playing politics. I named good, strong people up there, and they distort their records. The American people deserve better. The nominees for the bench I've named deserve better. For the sake of a good, sound judiciary, we need to change the United States Senate. Congress is fixing to leave town, and the Senate doesn't have a budget. One of the things that can serve as an anchor to economic vitality is if the Congress overspends. They need to be mindful about whose money they spend in Washington. They're not spending the Government's money. They're spending your money. The Members of the House of Representatives who are with us tonight and Thaddeus understands that, that they spend the people's money, that we've got to set priorities, be wise about how we use the people's money. Listen, without a budget, there's no telling what's going to happen in Washington, DC. Every idea up there sounds like a brilliant idea. The problem is, every brilliant idea costs billions of dollars. For the sake of job creation, for the sake of economic security in this country, the United States Congress must be wise with the people's money. They must fund the priorities, and they must not overspend. I want you all to know, I look forward to working with the Congress to get some things done. I hope the Congress responds. They've got 4 days before they go home. They can help with the jobs. And I won't rest so long as people are looking for work. I'm an optimistic fellow because I know that the fundamentals are strong. Interest rates are low. Inflation is low. We've got the highest productivity rates in a long time. We've got great workers. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong. But there are people who hurt. And so long as people hurt, I'm going to be I'm going to be paying attention to the economy and doing anything I can to help people find work. We did make a great stride, by the way, toward increasing confidence in our economy. You know, we had a recession, and then we had the enemy attack. And then we had one other attack on the confidence of the American people. We had some citizens in our country who felt like they didn't need to tell the truth when it came to corporate numbers. We had some people who forgot the awesome responsibility of being a chief executive officer or a chief financial officer. I worked with Members of the House in both political parties. I had the honor of signing the most comprehensive corporate reform bill corporate reform legislation since Franklin Roosevelt was the President. And the message is pretty simple and very profound. If you find yourself in a position of responsibility, we expect you to tell the truth. We expect you to treat your employees and your shareholders with respect. If you think you're going to find easy money in the American system, all you're going to end up doing is finding hard time. The other thing I'm going to think about I think about a lot, constantly about, and that Thaddeus and I and other Members will be working on, is how to secure the homeland of America. The enemy is active, and they hate. The attacks in Indonesia that needlessly killed hundreds of people serve as a stark reminder that there's still an enemy which kills with impunity, an enemy which does not value innocent life. The attacks on the French vessel in Yemen shows there's an enemy willing to use any kind of device to attack those of us who love freedom. They're active. They're resilient, and they continue to hate. And they hate because of what we love. We love freedom. We love the fact that in this great country people can worship an almighty God any way they see fit. We love that. We love the fact that people can have honest, open political discourse in a free society. We love free press. We love everything about freedom, and we're not changing. And so long as we love freedom, as much as we love freedom, the enemy will try to hurt America and hurt our friends and hurt our allies. And so our biggest job is to secure the homeland. It's to do everything we can, to use every resource at our fingertips to protect the American people from potential harm. You need to know, there's a lot of really good folks at the Federal level who are doing just that, and good folks at the State and local level as well. I mean, anytime we're getting a hint, we're moving on it. Anytime we're getting a suggestion that somebody might be thinking about doing something to America, we're responding, within the U.S. Constitution. We hold that document sacred. But we're responding. We're disrupting. We're denying. We're sharing intelligence better than ever before. The doctrine that says, "You're either with the United States, or you're against us," still stands. It's a doctrine which is even more important today, perhaps, than right after September the 11th, because the attacks go on. We cannot do this war alone. We constantly remind other nations that if they love freedom like we love freedom, they'll be under attack. I went to the United States Congress to ask them to help me create a Department of Homeland Security. I did so because I want to be in a position where I can assure the American people, we're doing everything in our power to protect America. The House responded quickly. After a good, solid debate, the House came with a really good piece of legislation. The Senate is stuck. The Senate is stuck because some Members feel like it's the Senate duty to micromanage the process. They have passed a law that or they think they're going to pass a law they won't, but they're trying to pass the law it's why the President has a veto pen that will have a thick book of bureaucratic regulations and hamstringing the capacity of this administration and future administrations to respond to potential terrorist threats. I'll give you two examples of what I'm talking about, so you'll understand the debate. One, customs agents ought to be wearing radiological detection devices. They ought to wear those, so that if somebody is trying to sneak a weapons of mass destruction into the country, somebody on duty will have a device indicating that a weapon of mass destruction is coming in. We proposed that. The union representing the workers said, "No, we're not going to have that. You can't have mandatory use of a radiological detection device. It must be voluntary. Otherwise, we're going to take you to collective bargaining." We don't have time to bargain collectively over an issue like that. I believe in collective bargaining for people. I believe they ought to be able to go to unions if they want to. But for the sake of national security, some of these rules need to be put aside, some of the work rules that will make it difficult for us to be able to protect the American people. Every President since Jimmy Carter has the capacity to suspend collective bargaining for national security purposes. And yet, here we are at war, and the Senate is debating a bill, and they now want to take that power away from this President. And that's not right. I need to be able to put the right people at the right place with the right equipment at the right time to protect America. And the Senate must understand that. I hope we get a good bill. They're going home in 4 days. I expect there to be a bill. I look forward to continuing to work, but I want you to know that I'm not only speaking for this administration, I'm speaking for future administrations. It doesn't make any sense for the Department of Homeland Security not to have that for me to have the capacity to deal with the home the Department of Homeland Security in the same way that I can deal with the Department of Agriculture. And so I expect the Senate to finish the debate and get a bill. Hopefully, we can get it out of conference before you go home. It's important. The best way to protect the homeland is to find this enemy, wherever he hides, and bring him to justice, to hunt them down one by one. I say "hunt them down one by one" because that's the nature of the war we're in. In the old days, you'd go after platoons or battalions or aircraft or fleets. They don't have fleets. They don't have battalions. They've got coldblooded killers who hide in caves. They hijack a wonderful religion, and they send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. But you've got to know, there's not a cave deep enough for the justice of America. There's not a corner of the world in which we're not going to shine light, because we love our freedom, because we believe in the values, and we hold those of America, and hold them dear to our heart. We're making progress. We are. We've done a heck of a lot of work, made good progress at dismantling the Al Qaida terrorist network. After all, they used to run a country. We liberated that country. We freed a country from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. And thanks to the United States and our friends and allies and thanks to the United States and friends and allies, many young girls now go to school for the first time. I remind you of that because our country never has the intention of conquering anybody. We believe in freedom for all people. We believe in freeing people, if possible. So we're liberators in this case, and we'll always be liberators. Because our coalition is strong, I would say we've hauled in arrested or however you want to put it a couple of thousand of Al Qaida. Some of them are former leaders. Abu Zubaydah was one of the top three leaders in the organization. Like number weren't as lucky they met a different kind of fate. But they're no longer a problem. We're slowly but surely rounding them up. The other day we got this guy, bin al Shibh. He popped his head up. Laughter He's not a problem. Slowly but surely and I'm not giving up. There's not a calendar on my desk that says, okay, on this day you quit. That's just not the way I think. I understand the task. I know the threats. The threats should be vivid in everybody's mind when you see the pictures of the devastation, the size of the bomb crater, the absolute needless murder that took place in Indonesia. I asked Congress for a significant increase in defense spending. I appreciate that. I appreciate the fact that the House voted on it. The Senate voted on it. They need to get that to my desk. The House voted on the conference. The Senate needs to get it to my desk before they go home. And the reason I did is because I feel strongly about this. Anytime we put our kids into harm's way, they've got to have the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. I also wanted to send a message to friend and foe that we're in this deal for the long pull, that when it comes to defending our freedom, it doesn't matter how long it takes. When it comes to protecting America and innocent life, there is no timeline, friends, that there's just not a quitting date until I'm absolutely certain that America is secure. I believe the enemy, they just didn't know what they were up to when they hit us. They probably guys sitting there, saying, "They're so materialistic, so self absorbed, so selfish that they might file a lawsuit or two." Laughter They didn't understand America. They just don't understand what we're made out of. They don't understand our fiber. They don't understand our courage. They don't understand what we love. My job is not only to protect America today but to anticipate problems as well. And obviously I started a significant and important debate about Iraq. I did because I because I understand the threat of Iraq. This is a country that said he would have no weapons of mass destruction, and he does. This is a country that has defied the United Nations 11 straight years, 16 different resolutions. He's completely ignored the international body. This is a country who has made it clear, he'd like to have a nuclear weapon. And when our inspectors or the inspectors went into the country right after the Gulf war, it was estimated that they were months away from having a nuclear weapon. This is a country that hates America, hates the people in the neighborhood. This is a country which has invaded two countries, unprovoked. This is a country, the leadership of which has actually used weapons of mass destruction on its own people, on citizens who disagreed with him. This is a country who gassed its neighbors. This is a dangerous man. Prior to September the 11th, 2001, we thought two oceans would protect us. We thought we could kind of step back and say, "This may be somebody else's problem, in another part of the world, and we may or may not deal with it." After September the 11th, we've entered into a new era and a new war. This is a man that we know has had connections with Al Qaida. This is a man who, in my judgment, would like to use Al Qaida as a forward army. And this is a man that we must deal with for the sake of peace, for the sake of our children's peace. Military option is my last choice. It's not my it's the last thing I want to do, is commit our military. My first choice is for Saddam Hussein to do what he said he would do, and after 11 years, disarm. I doubt he's going to do that, but it's his choice to make. See, he gets to make the choice. The United Nations needs to make a choice, whether it will be the League of Nations or the United Nations, whether it will be an empty debating society or a group of countries who have got the capacity and the will and the backbone to help keep the peace their choice to make. I hope this happens peacefully. I hope he disarms. But for the sake of our future, for the sake of peace itself, if need be, the United States will lead a strong coalition of freedom loving nations and disarm Saddam Hussein. At the same time that we work to make America stronger and safer, we've got to make sure we work to make America better. We have an opportunity to challenge some of the problems that we face in our society. First, it starts with making sure every child gets educated. I appreciate Thaddeus' and your next Governor's focus on education. I mean every child, not just a few, not just a handful, not just those in nice districts every single child. I believe every child can learn. I hope you believe every child can learn. And then together we can challenge what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. See, when you lower the bar, when you think certain kids can't learn, you're going to get lousy results. I also strongly believe that in return for Federal money, you need to show us whether or not the children are learning. You need to show us whether a child can read and write and add and subtract. And if so, we'll praise the teachers and thank them. We need to thank our teachers. But when we find children trapped in schools which will not teach and schools which will not change, you better have you a President and a Governor who's willing to challenge the status quo. No child should be left behind in America. I want to work with Thaddeus to make sure that some of our promises are kept, particularly those to our seniors. Medicine is modern. Medicare is not modern. Medicine has changed. Medicare hasn't changed. And for the sake of our seniors, we need to change Medicare so it's modern and includes prescription drugs. And I look forward to working with the Members of the Congress. Oh, there's some things Congress can do to make America a better place, but the most powerful instrument for change, the best way to make America a better place, is to unleash the great strength of our country. And the great strength of America is the hearts and souls of the American people. If you want to fight evil in America, love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to help change the country, if you want to be a part of eliminating the pockets of despair and loneliness, put your arm around somebody who hurts, and say, "I love you." Today we welcomed a young kid, a 22year old boy there at the rally, who was a mentor. He is a part of the army of compassion in America. He is doing his part to change America one heart, one conscience, one soul at a time. You see, one of the things I appreciate about our political party is, we understand the limitations of Government. Government can hand out money, but Government cannot put hope in people's hearts. Government cannot put a sense of purpose in people's lives. That happens when loving soul interfaces with loving soul. The enemy hit us, but out of the evil done to America is coming a is coming the revival of an American spirit, which understands where we all understand serving something greater than ourself in life is a part of being an American, that being a patriot is more than just putting your hand over your heart, being a patriot is helping somebody in need. We can change America one soul at a time, we can, as our fellow Americans do their duty, to find the new patriotism. Perhaps the greatest example of what I'm talking about and the most vivid example and an example which I think will last through the ages, is what happened on Flight 93. The guy was on a plane ride, flying across the country. Their loved ones tell them the plane is being used as a weapon. They recognize what must happen. They told their loved ones goodbye. They said a prayer. A guy said, "Let's roll," and they drove the plane in the ground to serve something greater than themselves. No, the American spirit is alive, and it's strong. And as a result, we will overcome the evil done to America. No, the enemy hit us, but they didn't know who they were hitting. They hit a nation which is more committed to peace than ever before and a nation which is committed to making sure this country is hopeful and optimistic and bright for every citizen who is fortunate enough to live in this great land. I want to thank you all for coming. You just need to know this about me I believe there's any we can accomplish anything set before us, because I know this is the finest country, full of the greatest people on the face of the Earth. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. October 14, 2002 The President. Last night I called Prime Minister Howard of Australia to express our country's deepest sympathies to the citizens of that good country who lost their lives, to the families who mourn and cry. I send the same sympathies and prayers to the family of the U.S. citizen or citizens as well as citizens from around the world. The murder which took place in Bali reminds us that this war against terror continues. I've constantly told the American people that the struggle against terror is going to be a long and difficult struggle, that we're dealing with coldblooded killers, that the enemy does not value innocent life like we do, and that we must continue to pursue the enemy before they hurt us again. I believe that the attacks on the French vessel in Yemen is connected with this type of terror, that they're related. I believe that the attack on our marines in Kuwait reflect the international nature of these cells, these killer cells. We've got to continue to work together. Those of us who love freedom must work together to do everything we can to disrupt, deny, and bring to justice these people who have no soul, no conscience, people who hate freedom. I told the Prime Minister and I told Prime Minister Blair the Prime Minister of Australia and I told Prime Minister Blair this morning that I'm absolutely determined to continue to lead the coalition. They recognize the need for us to continue to work together. And it's a sad day for a lot of people around the world, and but it also is a day in which we've got to realize that we've got a long way to go to make the world more secure and more peaceful. I'll answer a couple of questions. Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press . War on Terror Al Qaida Q. Sir, how does this emphasize the risk that we have in this country The President. Yes Q. and does this improve your ability to put together a coalition and a resolution in the U.N.? The President. Well, I think that the free world is must recognize that no one is safe, that if you embrace freedom, you're not safe from terrorism. And clearly, the attacks in Bali I think we have to assume it's Al Qaida. We're beginning to hear some reports that's more definitive than that, but I wait for our own analysis. But clearly it's a deliberate attack on citizens who love freedom, citizens from countries which embrace freedom. They're trying to intimidate us, and we won't be intimidated. I'm concerned about our homeland. Obviously, if I knew of a specific piece of intelligence that would indicate a moment or a place in which the enemy would attack, we'd do a lot about it. But that's why we're still working with our authorities, the different taking the intelligence as we know it and responding. Here at home we're not immune from these kinds of attacks, and I'm concerned about it. Yes, Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Q. Mr. President, does this mean now that Al Qaida has reconstituted itself, and do you think how does this play on your policy on Iraq? The President. Yes. Well, first, I we're making great progress in the war against terror. But as I told our citizens, and have been repeatedly telling our citizens, this is a long war. And it's going to take a while to fully rout Al Qaida. We don't know whether bin Laden is alive or dead. You know, they keep floating supposed letters and or radio broadcasts. We do know that Al Qaida is still dangerous. And while we've made good progress, there's a lot more work to do. As I've repeatedly said, our thoughts about Iraq relate to the war on terror and that dealing with or getting Saddam Hussein to disarm is all part of making the world more peaceful. And it's all part of the war against terror. Yes, John John Roberts, CBS News . Q. Mr. President, do you on that point, on Usama bin Laden, do you have a response to the letter that was put out today, allegedly under his name, praising the killing of the American marine in Kuwait? And do you share the concerns of Senator Richard Shelby, who believes that this is, in fact, a new Al Qaida offensive? The President. Well, I first, I don't know whether bin Laden is alive or dead. I you know, I do know Al Qaida is extremely dangerous. I do know that there are still some of his top lieutenants roaming around and that we're doing everything we can to bring them to justice. John, I also know that the enemy still wants to hit us and that the as I mentioned earlier, that I believe the attack on the French vessel was a terrorist attack. Obviously, the attack on our marines in Kuwait was a terrorist attack. The attack in Bali appears to be an Al Qaida type terrorist definitely a terrorist attack, whether it's Al Qaida related or not I would assume it is. And therefore, it does look like a pattern of attacks that the enemy, albeit on the run, is trying to once again frighten and kill freedom loving people. And we've just got to understand, we are in a long struggle. And I am absolutely determined now, as I was a year ago, to continue to rout out these people, to find them, to use the best intelligence we can, and to bring them to justice. And we will continue to pursue. Travel by U.S. Citizens Q. With the alert that the State Department put out last week and now the decision to bring home American family Embassy families, and urging travelers to come home from Indonesia, does this appear to be a time in which Americans worldwide ought to stay closer to home, if this is part of a new wave of terrorism? The President. I think that all depends where, and I think they ought to take guidance from the State Department. But clearly, the State Department is reacting to this attack and reacted to some intelligence before. As you know, we're constantly putting out alerts when we get some kind of data that indicates our people overseas are at risk. Yes. Washington, DC, Area Sniper Attacks Q. What about concerns of the last inaudible sniper attack The President. The sniper attacks first of all, I'm just sick, sick to my stomach to think that there is a coldblooded killer at home taking innocent life. I weep for those who've lost their loved ones. I am the idea of moms taking their kids to school and sheltering them from a potential sniper attack is not the America I know. And therefore, we're lending all the resources of the Federal Government, all that have been required, to do everything we can to assist the local law authorities to find this whoever it is. Q. Inaudible The President. First of all, it is a form of terrorism. But in terms of the terrorism that we think of, we have no evidence one way or the other, obviously. But anytime anybody is randomly shooting, randomly killing, randomly taking life, it's cold blooded murder, and it's it's a sick mind who obviously loves terrorizing society. And we're doing everything we can to capture whoever that might be and bring them to justice. And the Federal Government I've been I get briefed on it every morning. Bob Mueller, the head of the FBI, was in this morning and gave me a full briefing on what the FBI knew, how we're helping, what we're doing. But it's obviously a terrible, terrible situation. And I pray for the I pray for the families who grieve and suffer. And I worry about a society where moms can't take their kids to school. And obviously, we're going to do everything we can to help the local authorities bring these people to justice. U.N. Resolution on Iraq Q. Mr. President, on the U.N. resolution could I have a second one, sir? The President. It's the new me. I'm answering all kinds of questions. Laughter Q. Are you prepared to meet the French halfway on their concerns on the trigger of the use of force? Specifically, are you willing to drop the language that specifies the use of any and all means to The President. John, I think what's important is that, first of all, we are working with all parties to get a resolution done. I talked about it again I talked to Tony Blair about that subject. What I'm interested in is making sure that Saddam Hussein is disarmed. He said he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction. It is in our national interest that he not have weapons of mass destruction. And anything we do must make it very clear that Saddam must disarm or there will be consequences. And how that language is worked out is up to the diplomats. But I am very firm in my desire to make sure that Saddam is disarmed. Hopefully, we can do this peacefully. The use of the military is my last choice, is my last desire. But doing nothing, allowing the status quo to go on, is unacceptable, particularly since we've got a new war on terror that we've that was launched on September the 11th, 2001, particularly since oceans no longer protect America from people who hate us. And so we'll see how it plays out. But I'm anxious to work with the international community. If I wasn't, I wouldn't have gone to the United Nations. Q. Are you willing to be a little more oblique about that particular part of the language? The President. Well, we'll just see how it comes. What I'm not what I want is a firm resolution that says, "You disarm," and an inspection regime that is there not for the sake of inspectors but is there to achieve the objective of disarming Mr. Saddam Hussein. It's his choice to make. And in order to make sure the resolution has got any kind of credence with Mr. Hussein, there has to be a consequence. Randy Randall Mikkelsen, Reuters . Indonesian Cooperation on Terrorism Q. Mr. President, are you satisfied with the cooperation you've gotten from Indonesia up until now in fighting terrorism? The President. I will speak to Ms. Megawati soon. She is in Bali right now, and she is obviously grieving for her citizens that lost their lives. And I'm going to make it clear to her that we need to work together to find those who murdered all those innocent people and bring them to justice. And I hope I hear the resolve of a leader that recognizes that anytime terrorists take hold in the country, it's going to weaken the country itself. And there has to be a firm and deliberate desire to find out find the killers before they kill somebody else. See, these are the kinds of people that, if they go unchallenged and don't feel like there's going to be any consequences, they will continue to kill. These are nothing but coldblooded killers. They do not value life the way we value life in the civilized world. They take no care for innocent life. They just blow up in the name of a religion which does not preach this kind of hatred or violence. And the war we fight is a different kind of war. There will be times in which people settle in and say, "Well, gosh, there's nothing going on in the war," and then something like this happens, and it's a reminder about how dangerous the world can be if these Al Qaida are free to roam. And so we're chasing them, and we're denying them sanctuary. We've made great progress in the war against terror. We've hauled in and or killed a bunch of their leaders. There are still more out there. There are the training camps that they have been using have been disrupted. We're doing a better job of cutting off their money. We've got them on the run, and we intend to keep them on the run. They are still lethal, and they are still dangerous. Legislative Agenda Q. Congress is about to go out, sir. What's the bare minimum you expect The President. When Congress goes out? Well, they there's a lot of talk about job creation, and there should be. So what they ought to do is pass some bills that will help with jobs, like the terrorism insurance bill. There has been a lot of talking here in Washington on issues such as terrorism insurance, which clearly will help create the job base, expand the job base. And yet, with a couple of days to go, it's hard to tell whether or not they're going to get a bill to my desk. The energy bill will be good for jobs. There ought to be an energy bill on my desk. And so I think I think before they go home, I hope they recognize they can make a difference in job creation. They've also got to make sure they don't overspend. They need to make sure we have fiscal discipline. On the way out of town, if they have to do a CR, it ought to be a clean CR, and then if they feel like they need to come back, they can come back and deal with the appropriations process. I'd also like to get the defense appropriations bill it passed the House it looks like it's going to pass the Senate soon, which is a very good sign. But you know, in 4 days time, no telling what's going to happen up here. Let's hope they get some constructive things done in terms of jobs. Listen, thank you all. Al Qaida President Saddam Hussein of Iraq Q. Sir, could we ask you one more question, sir? Senator Graham last week said that the number one threat to this Nation still remains Al Qaida and questioned the wisdom about going after Saddam Hussein while Al Qaida remains the number one threat. Based on what's happened for the last week in terms of Yemen, Kuwait, and Bali, does it suggest that that argument does hold some water? The President. I think they're both equally important, and they're both dangerous. And as I said in my speech in Cincinnati, we will fight, if need be, the war on terror on two fronts. We've got plenty of capacity to do so. And I also mentioned the fact that there is a connection between Al Qaida and Saddam Hussein. The war on terror Iraq is a part on the war on terror. And he must disarm. And so I I respect the opinion of a lot of people, and I respect his opinion. But if we don't deal with Saddam Hussein and disarm him hopefully, it will be done peacefully he becomes more and more dangerous. And someday we don't want to step back and say, "Where was the United States Government? How come we didn't act?" And we've got plenty of capacity to fight the war against Al Qaida, which is going to take a while. We just learned a lesson this weekend It's going to take a while to succeed. And at the same time, the United Nations hopefully will pass will show their strong desire to disarm Saddam, and we can get after it, get him disarmed before he hurts America. And I'm absolutely confident we can achieve both objectives, John. Listen, thank you all. Q. Does this constitute a press conference? The President. Absolutely. The difference between this news conference and the one in the East Room is, you didn't get to put makeup on. Laughter Q. You didn't The President. Of course I didn't. But that was an unnecessary cheap shot. I apologize. It's a Columbus Day cheap shot. Laughter See you all. October 12, 2002 Good morning. This week both the House and Senate passed strong bipartisan measures authorizing the use of force in Iraq if it becomes necessary. Our country and our Congress are now united in purpose. America is speaking with one voice Iraq must disarm and comply with all existing U.N. resolutions, or it will be forced to comply. Confronting Iraq is an urgent matter of national security. America's economic security, especially the creation of good jobs, is also an urgent matter requiring Presidential and congressional action. For that reason, I acted on Tuesday to reopen our Pacific coast ports which had been shut down for more than a week due to a labor dispute. The crisis in the western ports was costing our economy up to a billion dollars a day in lost business and lost jobs, hurting truckers and rail operators who transport goods across America, workers on assembly lines, cashiers in retail stores, and manufacturers and farmers who sell across the world. An auto plant in Fremont, California, was forced to shut down its assembly line for 2 days, keeping about 5,100 employees off the job after it ran out of parts. A company that manufactures televisions and VCRs had to stop production and lay off 150 workers in Vancouver, Washington. Produce from America's farms was stuck on docks, unable to be sold overseas. Retailers across the country were worried about having enough merchandise for the holiday season. The American people have been working hard to bring our economy back from recession. We simply cannot afford to have hundreds of billions of dollars a year in potential manufacturing and agricultural trade sitting idle. The action I took this week will help keep our economy moving and allow labor and management more time to resolve their differences. I expect the port operators and worker representatives to bargain in good faith and reach a final agreement as quickly as possible. Reopening the ports got people back to work. Another important step in putting America's hardhats back on the job is passing a terrorism insurance bill. Congress is close to a final agreement, and I look forward to signing this good piece of legislation if and when it gets to my desk. After September the 11th, many insurance companies stopped covering builders and real estate owners against the risk of terrorist attack. The lack of terrorism insurance has hurt the growth of this economy and cost American jobs. The lack of terrorism insurance has delayed or canceled more then 15 billion in real estate transactions. The 15 billion worth of delay has cost 300,000 jobs, jobs to carpenters and joiners, bricklayers, plumbers, and other hard working Americans. This terrorism insurance legislation will cost us nothing if we experience no further attacks. Yet it will mean thousands of new jobs for America's hardhats and billions in new investment. And if we do face another attack, we'll be able to compensate victims quickly and limit the economic damage to America. This week leaders of Congress put partisan differences aside to confront a grave danger to our country. Clearly, we're able to get things done in Washington when we focus on getting results, rather than scoring political points. For the good of the economy, for the good of workers who needs jobs, Senators should again put politics aside and take one last step to reach a final agreement on terrorism insurance. Congress is still in session next week. There's still time to reach an agreement. Our workers have waited a year. It's past time for Congress to finish the job. Thank you for listening. October 11, 2002 Welcome. Please be seated. Thanks for coming. Laura and I appreciate you coming today, and it's a chance to talk about our vision for our friends in Afghanistan. It was a year ago that American forces were just beginning the liberation of Afghanistan. And on this date last year, a year ago today, I asked the children of America to contribute one dollar to provide food and medical help to the children of Afghanistan. In a year's time after making that request, we've really accomplished a lot. We have. We have seen, of course, the tremendous skill and character of a United States military. We have seen the courage of our allies and our Afghan friends. We have seen the spirit of the Afghan people, who long for freedom. We've seen the great generosity of our fellow Americans extended to men, women, and children on the other side of the Earth. And yet today I want you all to know and our fellow citizens to know there's still a lot left to do. There's still a lot of work to do in Afghanistan to achieve our dreams and, more importantly, the dreams of the Afghan people. Today America affirms its full commitment to a future of progress and stability for the Afghan people. I appreciate so very much the Ambassador for being here. Mr. Ambassador, I want to thank you for your service. The Ambassador is a was an American citizen until recently. He decided he wanted to serve his country, the land of his birth, renounced his citizenship so he could become the official Ambassador from Afghanistan to the United States. And Ambassador Shahryar is a is a great man who serves a wonderful example of putting your country above yourself. And so, Mr. Ambassador, we're honored you're here. I want to thank you where is he? Oh, Ambassador, you'd think they'd have given you a better seat. Laughter I'm proud of you. I really am. I'm also proud of Andrew Natsios, who is our Administrator of USAID. I want to thank him. I'll talk about some of Andy's fellow employees here in a minute and what they're doing on behalf of the American people to help Afghanistan children. Sharif Faez is the Minister of Edu cation Higher Education. He too used to live in America. He's now serving his country. He shares our vision and understanding of the need to make sure the educational systems are strong and available, so that people can have hope in his country. Mr. Minister, thank you for your service, and I'm honored you're here with us. I appreciate the Members of the Congress being here. Dana, thanks for coming. Members of my national security team who are working hard on Afghan policy, whether it be Condi Rice, who's the boss, or Zal where are you, Zal? Thank you, Zal. He knows a lot about Afghanistan. After all, he was from there. Elliott Abrams, members of my team who care deeply about our policy to make sure that our policy is complete. The it's very important for our fellow Americans to remember that keep in mind about the Taliban. They were the most brutal and oppressive Governments one of the most brutal and oppressive Governments in modern times. It's hard for us to understand in America, but these are people who attempted to control every mind and every soul in the country. They obviously had a vast network of terrorist camps available to train extremists from around the world. Thanks to America and thanks to our friends, thanks to people who love freedom for everybody, the oppressive rule has been lifted. They're no longer in power. They're on the run along with a bunch of other ones over there, too. Afghanistan has entered a new era of hope. And we want to be a continued part of the new era of hope in Afghanistan. One of our dear values, one of the values we hold close to our heart, is the respect and beliefs of all peaceloving people, no matter what their faith may be. Islam is a vibrant faith. Millions of our fellow citizens are Muslim. We respect the faith. We honor its traditions. Our enemy does not. Our enemy don't follow the great traditions of Islam. They've hijacked a great religion. But it's important, as we lift that veil, to remember that they are nothing but a bunch of radical terrorists who distort history and the values of Islam. Islam is a faith that brings comfort to people. It inspires them to lead lives based on honesty and justice and compassion. We've also got a great tradition not only of recognizing freedom of religion and respecting religion we've got a great tradition of liberating people, not conquering them. It's very important for our citizens to remember that as we upheld that doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists," that we went into Afghanistan to free people, because we believe in freedom. We believe every life counts everybody has worth everybody matters, whether they live in America or in Afghanistan. And so we are helping the people to now recover from years of tyranny and oppression. We're helping Afghanistan to claim its democratic future, and we're helping that nation to establish public order and safety, even while the struggle against terror continues in some corners of that country. There's still Al Qaida killers roaming around Afghanistan. We're working closely with the Government to rout them out, not only to make sure that Afghanistan is more safe but also to make sure America is safe as well. A year ago, it was really hard to find security and safety anywhere in Afghanistan. Just ask the citizens who were there. Now, America is helping to form a new Afghan national army. We are committed to an Afghan national army. The idea is to train 18 battalions of over 10,000 soldiers and finish the task by the end of next year. I'm proud that Germany is helping as well to bring civil order by helping to build a police force. The International Security Assistance Force, what they call the ISAF, led by coalition countries, is helping to keep the streets safe in the city of Kabul.Security is a requirement for recovery and development can't have recovery and development unless there is a secure society. America and other nations will continue working with the Afghan Government to build security, so the Afghan people can live their lives without violence and without fear. A year ago, Afghans were living under history's first ever terrorist sponsored regime. These people had found a parasite. And in June of 2002, history will show that Afghanistan reversed its history by having a loya jirga and created the most broadly representative government in Afghanistan's history. There are two women serving in President Karzai's cabinet. The institutions of free debate and free press are taking hold. New commissions on human rights and the drafting of a new constitution will lay the groundwork for democracy and for the rule of law. The institutions necessary for the development of a peaceful, hopeful country are going to be put in place soon. We will stay the course to help that country develop in their image, not in ours. A year ago, millions of Afghans lived in fear of famine and disease. In the time since, America has delivered food and medicine to the Afghan people. We are committed to the health of the Afghan people. Over the last year, U.N. World Food Programme, with the support of the United States, has provided 575,000 metric tons of food to nearly 10 million Afghans. The United States has also provided seed and fertilizer in time for the spring planting season. The United States joined with other nations to support UNICEF's vaccination of more than 8 million children against measles. American health care officials are helping with other efforts to improve public health, including the fight against polio and malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis. These relief efforts have put hunger and disease on the retreat. We got the Taliban gone. We'd like to get disease and hunger gone as well. More than 2 million Afghan refugees have returned back to the country since November. That is a positive sign. It's a good sign that people are sensing their country is a better place to live and more secure, a better place to raise a family. One American bringing hope to Afghanistan is Sergeant First Class Victor Anderson. Victor is with us today. Sergeant Anderson spent 7 months traveling in Afghanistan. He visited hospitals and clinics, provided medical care from his car. He never turned down anybody who asked for help. He treated broken bones. He treated gunshot wounds. He treated cuts and diseases. He treated a small child who was bitten by a donkey. Laughter Sergeant Anderson, your service brings great credit to the Army and to America, and the Nation is really grateful for your work. A year ago, the children of Afghanistan were suffering greatly in a nation beset by war. It's not hard to imagine children suffering in a nation beset by war, and it's really sad. The children of America responded with great compassion. America's Fund for Afghan Children has collected more than 10 1 2 million. That's a dime at a time or a dollar at a time. That's a lot of kids working hard to collect money. It has allowed the Red Cross to deliver emergency medical supplies to help serve 60,000 people. This fund has helped provide winter clothes to 8,000 children, to help rehabilitate hospitals in Kabul. Today we've got representatives of the fund, twins, Sarah and Alexander Ahmad. Together, they've raised 12,000 12,000. That's a lot of money. Nearly 25 years ago, Sarah and Alexander's dad came to America from Afghanistan, from war torn Afghanistan. Today, the family is helping to give peace a chance in their ancestral home and, as importantly, showing the world the generous heart, the great heart, of the American people. I really appreciate the example you're setting, and thank you for joining us today. And by the way, the fund still exists. And I hope the American children understand there are still people in Afghanistan who hurt a lot. And if you've given once, it's okay to give again to make sure we continue to help the people in Afghanistan. America will continue to provide that country with essential short term relief. We also understand that Afghanistan needs long term economic reconstruction help, and we will meet this commitment as well. Starting with the Tokyo Conference last January, the United States and 60 other countries have pledged 4.5 billion over 5 years to work on reconstruction projects. America is delivering on our pledge. We're writing our checks. We're currently implementing more than 300 million worth of reconstruction and recovery projects. The nations who have made pledges, the other nations, they need to be good on their pledges. If you say you're going to help the Afghan people, do it. If you've made a pledge, write your check. It's important. America and our partners are helping rebuild roads and bridges and waterways and buildings. Last month, the United States and Japan and Saudi Arabia committed 180 million to rebuild the highway connecting Kabul, Kandahar, and Herat. It's an important project. President Karzai spoke to me about it in the Oval Office. He said, "It's important that we show the people that we're that we can work together to restore the historic link, to make sure that commerce and trade flow more freely and that people are able to find work." I want to thank the Saudi Arabians, the Japanese for joining us in this highly visible and highly important project. We're also helping to rebuild schools and hospitals and clinics. Some of the first rebuilding is being done by the U.S. Army Civil Affairs soldiers, who are working with relief agencies to rebuild dozens of schools. With us today is Captain Britton London, who enlisted friends, family members, church groups to supply Afghan students with thousands of pens and pencils and notebooks. Captain London is a man after my own heart. He started a he got the equipment necessary to start the first post Taliban baseball league. Laughter He brought me a ball two balls signed by the Eagles the Eagles, the Eagles, the mighty Eagles of Afghan baseball. Laughter And they practice they're practicing now, and the games are held once a week. Our soldiers wear the uniforms of warriors, but they are also compassionate people. And the Afghan people are really beginning to see the true strength of our country. I mean, routing out the Taliban was important, but building a school is equally important. Across Afghanistan, U.S. aid will help build and refurbish several hundred more schools over the next 2 years. We're also in the process of training hundreds of teachers. In March, many girls walked into a classroom for the first time. And our country has provided them, as well as the boys, with millions of new textbooks. It's hard to believe I know it's hard for some in America to believe that the Afghan people were living under a government that would not let girls go to school. It's just hard to imagine in America. But it's reality. And now we've got a lot of work to do to make up for lost time. Everybody counts. Everybody has worth. Everybody matters. Spearheading our back to school efforts are Lisa Hartenberger and Nitin Madhav. They work for USAID. They're a part of the they're a part of the new army in Afghanistan. These are army of compassionate souls who are on the frontlines of making sure that the Afghan people understand our commitment is real, that when we talk about freedom, we understand that freedom is more than just a word. Freedom is a chance for people to get a good education. Freedom is a chance for people to get good health care. Freedom is a chance for people to realize their dreams. And I want to thank I want to thank these two fine public servants that work for with Andy, for your service to the country in service of Afghanistan. Thank you, Lisa. Thank you, buddy. Last year, when the Taliban fell I know I remember it, and I'm sure a lot of our fellow Americans remember the images of celebration that took place in the streets. People came out to celebrate freedom. It reminded us that the whole world in the whole world there is a huge appetite for freedom. People love to be free. And it's important as we stay in Afghanistan, it will be important for other brave people, whether they live in Muslim countries or in the Middle East, people who stand for tolerance and the rule of law and equal rights and freedom of expression, to see our commitment to freedom that our commitment for freedom is complete, and it's real, and it's sincere. It's also important for people to know we never seek to impose our culture or our form of government. We just want to live under those universal values, God given values. We believe in the demands of human dignity that apply in every culture, in every nation. Human beings should have the right to free speech. Women deserve respect and opportunity. All people deserve equal justice, religious tolerance. This is true in America. This is true in Afghanistan. These rights are true everywhere. We've seen in Afghanistan that the road to freedom can be hard it's a hard struggle. We've also seen in Afghanistan that the road to freedom is the only one worth traveling. Any nation that sacrifices to build a future of liberty will have the respect, the support, and the friendship of the United States of America. May God bless the people of Afghanistan and of America. Thank you all for coming. October 09, 2002 Bienvenidos. It is such an honor to have you all here to the Casa Blanca, la casa de todos que viven en esta pais. As the Surgeon General mentioned, I'm just a temporary resident laughter but es un gran honor para mi familia de vivir aqui. I want to thank you all for coming. Hispanic Heritage Month is an important month for our country, particularly now that we're at a time of war. You see, Hispanic Heritage Month talks to the great diversity of our country and the fact that our country is a strong country because of our diversity. And this particular month we welcome the influence of the Hispano in our country. We welcome the great values that our Hispanic Americans bring to America, the values of faith y familia. Part of our entrepreneurial spirit is made stronger by the Hispanics who live in America. We're really proud of this heritage. We appreciate the hard work. We appreciate the determination. I love the stories of our Surgeon General, the success stories of families who have sought a better day and have worked hard, and Americans have been able to reap the benefit of the greatest country in the face of the Earth. So welcome to the White House. It's an honor for me to welcome you here. Obviously, we're celebrating one of the things we celebrate in Hispanic Heritage Month is the great talent of many Hispanos, and we saw some great talent today. And I want to thank Carlos Ponce for being the emcee. Carlos, I'm going to be watching the eBay auctions very carefully. Laughter Times get tough. Laughter I appreciate las Tejanas. I appreciate Jaci Velasquez y tambien Jennifer Pena. They're great talent. I'm proud to call them Texans. We've got some great talent in our State, and these are two of the best. And I really want to thank you all for coming. And make sure you tell everybody at home I might have changed addresses, but I haven't changed homes. Laughter And I also want to thank Gian Marco. Listen, if he's the first Peruvian here, we might as well have started with one of the best. Laughter And I'm honored you're here, Gian. Thank you for coming. I want to thank Johnny Delgado from the Baltimore Police Department for starting this, for reciting the Pledge. Johnny represents many of our Hispanic Americans who serve on the frontlines in the war against terror, our firefighters, our police officers, our EMS teams. And I'm so honored, Johnny, that you're here, and thanks for coming. On behalf of a grateful nation, I want to thank you and all the good folks who wear the uniform for the job you do. I want to thank Senator Orrin Hatch for coming. He's a great friend of he's a good buddy. I'm glad he's here. I'm glad he's in the Senate. Laughter One of my jobs is to put together an administration that is talented, an administration here to serve the country, not themselves, an administration that reflects the diversity of our country. And I'm doing just that. Obviously, you met our new Surgeon General, Rich Carmona. Rich is a he's a piece of work. Laughter He'll do a fabulous job in that incredibly important position. Gaddi Vasquez, who is Director of the Peace Corps, is here. Gaddi, thank you for coming. Hans Hertell is an Embajador de to the Dominican Republic, is with us today. Hans is from Puerto Rico, a good friend of mine. There's another Ambassador here who's not an American, but nevertheless he is the Embajador de Mexico, our close friends, Mexico. I appreciate Ambassador Bremer for coming. I'm honored you're here. Mira, y tambien un otro amigo de mio. He is the Gobernador, the Governor of Tamulipas, Tomas Yarrington. I appreciate you coming, Gobernador. I don't know if this helps or hurts him, but he is a rising star in Mexican politics. Laughter I've known him, obviously when I was the Governor of Texas and now as the President. He's a good fellow, and I'm proud to call him friend. Rosario Marin is here with us. Rosario is the Treasurer of the United States. Hector Barreto is the Small Business Administrator. I appreciate you coming, Hector. Eduardo Aguirre, who is the head of the Vice Chairman of the Export Import Bank. Eduardo, I'm glad you are here. Jose Fourquet, who is the United States Executive Director of the Inter American Development Bank Jose, thank you for coming. Where are you, Jose? Oh, there he is. These are people I've appointed. These are part of the diversity of our administration. I'm glad they're here so I can herald their their accomplishment and their service to the country. Everybody has got to have a good lawyer laughter particularly me. Mi abogado es un Tejano, Al Gonzalez, my good friend. Our military is the Hispanic population in our country has served disproportionately in our military. The Hispanic population steps up when the country says, we need service. And they do. They have throughout our history. Today we've got with us Major General Chris Cortez of the United States Marine Corps. I've got great confidence in our military. I've got confidence in our troops. I'll talk a little bit about that in a second. But General, thanks for coming. I appreciate my friend Emilio Estefan, who is the producer of this outfit. You want to talk about a cool guy. Laughter We happen to have Miss Universe with us today, from Panama. Thank you for coming, Miss Universe. And I see my friend Raul from Texas is sitting next to you. Laughter He's probably claiming he should have that seat because he's from Panama and a Texan. Laughter I suspect it's for other reasons, but nevertheless. Laughter As you probably know, as the Surgeon General mentioned, I'm a baseball fan. I love baseball. Some of the best years of my life were watching the mighty Rangers, and we've got a couple of mighty Rangers here with us. I saw one guy grow up from a 19 year old kid, who's one of the greats of all time, and that's Pudge Rodriguez. I want to thank you for coming, Pudge. And my daughters used to love to come to the game, and they fell in love early in life with Rafael Palmeiro. Laughter And I want to thank you all for bringing your families. Yes, mira, thanks for coming, guys. I appreciate you. Hi, Lynn. How are you doing? Rosa. I want to thank Nomar Garciaparra from the Red Sox for coming. Nomar, thanks for being here. Nomar, when we had the first tee ball game at the White House, was there. And one of the things we're trying to do is use our backyard to promote baseball. And we had these kids come, and Nomar was here to help kick that off. I'm so honored you came. I appreciate Octavio Dotel from the Houston Astros. Octavio, good to see you. Nelson Figueroa donde esta Nelson? Nelson, thank you for coming. These are the current players. These guys are stars and potential Hall of Famers. But we're also really fortunate to have some Hall of Famers with us, people who've actually done what these players are doing. It is such an honor to have four Hall of Famers, starting with Rod Carew. Man, that guy could hit. I appreciate you coming, Rod. Tony Perez, Luis Aparicio, yes, y por fin, Juan Marichal I'm really glad you all are here. You brighten my day. Laughter Thanks for coming. One of my jobs as well is to make sure our bench is strong. I've named a fantastic Hispanic American to the bench, a young guy named Miguel Estrada. I named him to one of the highest courts possible, to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. It's an incredibly important appointment. He's well qualified. He is very smart. He came to our country from El Salvador. He couldn't speak English. He's now been picked, amongst all the candidates, to take on this highest of high positions in the bench. He's having trouble in the United States Senate. There are some Senators certainly not Senator Hatch, who is one of his strongest advocates there are Senators who are playing politics with this good man's nomination. There are Senators who would rather not give him the benefit of the doubt, Senators looking for a reason to defeat him, as opposed to looking for a reason to herald his intelligence, his capabilities, his talent. I strongly object to the way this man is going to be treated in the Senate. I urge the Senate to confirm the nomination of Miguel Estrada. I talked about our military. The reason we're talking about our military these days is because we're at war, and we're at war for precisely the reason why we're here. We're at war because we love freedom. We love the fact that people are free in America, free to worship an Almighty any way you see fit, free to come to this country with a dream and realize the dream, free to express your opinion, free to if you happen to be in the press to write anything you want to write. That's freedom, and that's what we love. And it's hard to believe, but there's an enemy which hates freedom and hates us as a result of our embrace of freedom. And so therefore, we're at war. We're at war, and we're still at war. We're still at risk here in America. We're at risk because there's some enemies still lurking around out there. This is a different kind of war, as the General would tell you. In the old days, you could destroy the person's tanks or airplanes or ships and be making progress. But these people don't have tanks. They don't have ships. They hide in caves and send youngsters to their suicidal death. And see, so long as we embrace the diversity and freedom of our country, which we will always do, and so long as they're lurking out there, we're at war. But make no mistake, sin duda venceremos. There's no doubt about it. We will win because of what we love. We will win because we're determined and strong. We will win because we're a nation which holds values dear to our heart. And we refuse to be intimidated by anybody, at any place, at any time. We will win because we want to uphold our duty and obligation to leave America intact and free, so future generations of people, Hispanic or otherwise, can realize dreams, can succeed, can realize their God given talents. That's what this is all about. And so I want to thank you for coming to honor this month, but I want to assure you that this great Nation will lead the world to be more free. And we've got some difficult tasks at hand. Not only, we must chase down the Al Qaida, one by one, which we continue to do to this very day, but we've also got to deal with threats that are real. And I gave a speech to the Nation the other day to discuss those threats in sober terms, to talk about the realities of the world in which we live. It used to be in this great country we had two oceans protecting us, and if somebody had a problem across the sea, we might help them or we might not. Today, these oceans the fact that the oceans no longer protect us mean that the battleground is here. So this great country will be deliberate. We will rally other nations. We will give other people a chance to deal with Iraq, for example. The U.N., the United Nations now has a chance, Mr. Ambassador. As a member of the Security Council, I'm confident your nation will join us to to send a clear message that this man must disarm before he hurts America or anybody else. And he has to make a choice. We're a patient nation. He's got a choice to make. His choice is, he must do what he said he was going to do. He said he wasn't going to have weapons of mass destruction. That's what we expect. We take a man for his word. But if he doesn't disarm and if the United Nations won't act, for the sake of our freedom, we will lead other countries that love freedom as much as we do and disarm him. We owe it to our children. We love peace in this country, and when we see threats to peace, we will deal with them in a deliberate, calm, logical, and, if need be, forceful way. And as we work to make America a more secure place and a safer place, we've got to make it a better place too. And that means making sure everybody gets a good education in our country everybody. We passed a really good education bill. I want to share the spirit of the bill, because I believe it speaks to the month we're celebrating. It says that every child can learn. That's the first thing. See, it starts with the attitude that if if there are low expectations, if perhaps a school district or people think that because a parent doesn't speak English as a first language, therefore a certain child may not be able to learn, we're going to challenge that. See, when you have low standards, you're liable to get bad results. That's what I have called the soft bigotry of low expectations. We have challenged that soft bigotry. We say in this country, every child can learn every child not just some, not a select few, not those who may live in the nice suburban districts, but every child can learn. And then it says that in return for receiving Federal money, we want to know. You see, in return for receiving Federal money, we expect local districts and States to show us whether or not each child is learning. And when we find the fact that some children are not learning, we must correct problems early, before it's too late. Everybody counts in America. Each child matters in this country. To make sure we have a better America, no child not one single child needs be left behind. I believe this Nation is strong in its diversity. We love our freedom. It's an incredibly great nation. And out of the evil done to our country on September the 11th, 2001, will come incredible good. That's what you must know about our Nation. Out of the evil done to America can come some great good. If we stay tough and firm and strong, we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace for people here at home we can achieve peace in the world. And by being by loving your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself, we can achieve a better tomorrow. We can work together to eradicate the pockets of hopelessness, loneliness, and despair. People can fight evil by doing some good, by putting your arm around a lost soul and saying, "I love you. My fellow American, I love you." There is no question in my mind, because of our strength, diversity, because of the values we hold, that we will be a stronger and more compassionate and better nation. I want to thank you all for coming to celebrate this important month. It is an honor for me to welcome you to the White House. I appreciate so very much your contributions to our country. May God bless you all. October 08, 2002 The President. Thank you all for coming. Thanks for coming. It's an honor to be back in East Tennessee. If I was dragging coming on this day, this Tennessee band kind of livened my step. Laughter I'm honored to see you all again. I'm proud to be in your presence. You represent a great university and a great State, and I'm honored you're here. I want to thank you all for coming. I've got some things on my mind, and I want to share them with you. The first thing on my mind is this I know I know what it takes to be a good Governor. I know the characteristics necessary for someone to be able to assume that high office. Van Hilleary has what it takes to be a great Governor for Tennessee. I've also learned a lot about the United States Senate laughter and I know we need Lamar Alexander in the United States Senate. I appreciate so much Bill Frist. He's a distinguished citizen. He's a good friend, a good, honorable man who cares deeply about the citizens of this State, brings a lot of expertise to the Senate. He's kind of one of those fellows who can get something done in the United States Senate, and that's the kind of attitude we need in the United States Senate. And I appreciate Bill. I want to tell you how proud I am to be on the stage with Janice Bowling, who's going to be the next Congresswoman. I appreciate my friend the mayor, the honorable Victor Ashe, for being here. I've known Victor for a long, long time. We both proved that you don't have to graduate from with honors from college in order to hold higher office. I'm really proud to be with Victor's mother. I've known Mrs. Ashe for a long, long time. I'm proud to see you, Martha. Thanks for coming to say hello. I'm proud you're here. I want to talk about the future of your State and the future of our country. First, let me talk about your State. It's important you get a good soul to be your Governor, somebody who shares your values, the values of hard work and family, the values of service to others. It's important you get somebody who when they speak, they speak your language, who knows the soul of the citizens of the State. It's important to get somebody in there who doesn't need a poll or a focus group to tell them what to think, somebody who makes decisions based upon a philosophy, somebody who stands tall when sometimes the winds of public opinion may be drifting a different way, somebody you can count on, somebody, when they turn up the butane, the political butane, you know where they stand. That person, no doubt in my mind, is Van Hilleary. One of the things I like about him is he when the country called, he stepped up, and he served in Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Then he decided that he wanted to serve in Congress. He went to one of those districts where they said, "This is a district where a Republican can't possibly win." He went out and said, "Listen, I want to represent everybody. I'm not here just to appeal to a small segment of the district. I'm here to represent a philosophy and a way of life in a State I care deeply about." And he won where people didn't think he could win. And for a while, they didn't think he could win here in Tennessee. You watch what happens on election day. Van Hilleary is going to be the next Governor. He understands agriculture, and that's important for this State. He understands budgeting. That's important for this State. Laughter He's been dealing with the Washington budget. If you can figure out the Washington budget, I can assure you, you can figure out the Tennessee budget. But the thing I like most about Van is, he understands the most important priority of a State is to make sure that every single child gets educated. I like when I was the Governor of a State that started with the letter T and has a university that wears orange and called UT laughter I used to say that education is to a State what national defense is to the Federal Government. It's "the" priority. And I want to tell you all something, and you need to tell your friends at the coffee shops and at your community centers, that when it came to writing one of the most comprehensive pieces of education reform ever in the history of our country, Van Hilleary played a significant role. And let me share with you right quick the philosophy, because it's important to understand the philosophy behind educational excellence, at least our philosophy. He mentioned challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations in order to make sure every child learns in America. We must do that. We can never assign any child to failure. Every child can learn. If you believe every child can learn, then you must have a Governor who's willing to set high standards and high expectations. If you lower the bar, you see, if you believe certain kids can't learn "Let's just move them through to get them off our get them off the agenda" if you lower the bar, you're going to get bad results. Secondly, you've got to trust the local folks. See, one in one of the key parts of the bill says that one size doesn't fit all when it comes to education, that you've got to trust local people to chart the path to excellence. You've got to empower local people to make the decisions for the children in their district. The people that care more about the children in Tennessee aren't in Washington they're in Tennessee. And therefore, local control of schools is a fundamental part of education reform. But let me tell you one other part. And it's important for the citizens of Tennessee to pay attention to this part of the education debate. If you believe every child can learn, like we do see, if you believe that every child can learn, then you're willing to measure to determine if every child is learning. Those who don't believe every child can learn will say, "We don't need to measure," because if you don't believe they can learn, then why should you care? In order to make sure every child learns, it's essential that the good people of this State have a Governor who's willing to insist upon accountability. We need to know in society we need to know whether or not the curriculum is working. We need to know whether our teachers have the tools necessary to teach. We need to know whether or not schools are on the right track. We need to know whether or not each child in Tennessee can read and write and add and subtract. If you can if you can't find out, you'll never know. If you don't measure, you'll never know. In order to make sure no child gets left behind I don't mean any single child in this State you better have a Governor who is willing to hold people accountable for results. And when you find children trapped in schools that won't teach and won't change, you better have a Governor who's willing to challenge the status quo, and that man is Van Hilleary. And I'm proud to strongly endorse the candidacy of Lamar Alexander. There's no question in my mind, and there should be no doubt in the minds of your fellow citizens Republican, Democrat, or independent alike that this man has proven his worth in the public sector and will be another great United States Senator from the State of Tennessee. He knows education. He knows fiscal responsibility. But let me tell you another reason why we need him up there. One of the most serious parts of my job is to make sure that the Federal bench has got good judges on it good, honorable, decent people who are willing to serve their communities and their Nation on the Federal bench, people who won't use the bench to act like or serve like a legislator. See, we've got the legislative branch. We don't need our judges acting like legislators. We need our judges there to strictly interpret our United States Constitution. And I've named good judges. I named a lady the other day from the State of Texas, who I know well. She got elected several times statewide in my State, overwhelmingly so came out of the law school class one of the tops in her law school class was ranked by the American Bar Association with the highest of high ratings was embraced by both Republicans and Democrats alike. I put her nomination up there. They played politics with her nomination. They distorted Priscilla Owen's record. I need Senators like Lamar Alexander who will join me in making sure our Federal judiciary is strong and sensible and will not rewrite the Constitution from the bench. And I appreciate Janice Bowling, willing to run and serve in Washington, DC. It's very important that we make sure that Denny Hastert is the Speaker of the House, make sure that coming into the next session that we've got a Speaker with whom I can work. Janice stands for a lot of good things, stands for a lot of good issues, but the thing that I'm most impressed with is, she'll vote for Denny Hastert to be the Speaker of the House in Washington, DC. We've got a lot of work to do in Washington. We've got a lot of work to do to make America a stronger place and a safer place and a better place. Making sure America is a stronger place really means we've got to make sure people can find work if they can't find work people are able to find a job. We've got to do everything we can to make sure that the policies in Washington stress economic growth, to do things that stimulate that part of the economy which will grow jobs. See, I worry about it when people can't find work. If somebody is looking for a job and they can't find work, we've got a problem in America. We want our people to be able to put food on the table. Obviously, I'm concerned as well when the stock market is declining. But I want you to know, I'm optimistic about our future. Interest rates are low that's a good sign. Inflation is low that's a good sign. We've got the best workers in America. Our productivity is the highest in the world. Our entrepreneurial spirit is strong. The foundation for growth is good. But I'm going to work as hard as I possibly can to do everything we can do to make sure our economy grows. It starts with a the belief, the firm belief that when times are slow, we must let people keep more of their own money. When times are slow, the best way to encourage economic growth is not to increase the size of Government but to increase the size of money in our citizens' pockets. Here's what we believe, and this is a fundamental difference between some of the voices in Washington and what I believe and what others on this stage believe. By letting people keep more of their own money, they will then more likely demand a good or a service. They'll demand something. And in a marketplace economy, somebody is likely to produce that good or a service. If there's a demand for a good or a service, in our society somebody's going to produce it. And when somebody produces it, it means somebody is more likely to find work. The tax relief plan that Van supported and Senator Frist supported and many members of the Tennessee delegation supported came at the absolute right time. It was important that we cut the taxes on the people to provide wind to the economic growth and vitality. And there are some in Washington who want to get away with that get rid of that tax relief plan. There are some who don't believe it's a good, honest debate they don't believe in our philosophy. But for the sake of economic vitality, we must not let them raise your taxes. And for the sake of economic vitality, we must make the tax relief permanent. The House has got a budget, and I want to thank Van for working on the Budget Committee, and it's a good budget. It's a budget that says, we can get back to balance if we're realistic on how we spend your money. The Senate doesn't have a budget. And you can imagine what that could mean for your money. Without a budget, without kind of a go by, without constraints in a society or in an environment in which every program sounds like a brilliant program except they all cost billions of dollars it's likely that we could have some runaway Federal spending. And we can't have that, for the sake of economic vitality. We can fund our priorities listen, we've got plenty of money to fund the priorities. We can stay focused with your money on our priorities. But for the sake of job creation, the Congress must not overspend. For the sake of economic vitality, for the sake of the strength of the future of our economy, the Congress must remember whose money they're spending. It's not the Government's money it's your money. They need to be responsible with your money, in order to make sure the foundation for economic growth is strong. And before they go home, there's something else they can do. They can pass a terrorism insurance bill. See, there's 15 billion worth of construction projects which are on hold around America because people can't get insurance for the project. The enemy hit us, and it made it very difficult for people to be able to insure those projects. And so, therefore, I think it's a useful role for the Congress to serve as a backstop against a potential terrorist attack. This is a jobs program. This is a way to get our people back to work the right way, to encourage private sector jobs. There's over 300,000 jobs, good hardhat jobs that have been delayed because we can't get a terrorism insurance package out of the United States Congress. There's a lot of voices up there talking about the economy, and I'm glad they're talking about it. But they ought to stop talking, and they ought to start doing, by getting a terrorism insurance bill to my desk so we can get people back to work. And that terrorism insurance bill must remember who we're trying to help. We're not trying to help the trial lawyers. We're trying to help the hardhats of America. Now, I the economy is on my mind because I want our fellow countrymen working I want them to be able to put bread on the table. The safety of the country is on my mind, too. See, there's still an enemy which hates America, lurking around. And so long as that's the case, my most important job is to protect you. My most important job is to rally the assets of Government at all levels to do everything we can to deny the enemy, to prevent them from hitting America. People say, "Well, why" and I know a lot of kids are probably asking, "Well, why America?" And you've just got to understand that the enemy hates us because of what we love. We love freedom. We love the idea of people applause . We love the fact that, in this great country, people can worship an almighty God any way they see fit. That's what we love. We love free political we love the debates. We love free we love the discourse of free people. We love a free press. We love everything about our freedom, and we're not going to change. We're going to stand tall and stand strong. We also value life in America. Everybody counts. Everybody has worth. Everybody is a precious soul. And the enemy we the enemy doesn't regard life the way we do. You see, they hijack a great religion and kill innocent people. They don't care, but we do. And so long as we hold those values dear, which we will, the enemy will try to strike us. And so we've got a lot of good people you just need to know working hard to protect you, a lot of good folks. We're sharing information. I mean, we're running down every hint, every idea. Every piece of evidence we get, we're chasing it down so that we can say to the American people, "We're doing everything we can do." That's why I went to Congress and asked them to put together a Department of Homeland Security, to join me in creating a new Department, so we could better coordinate the over 100 agencies that are involved with protecting you. And we got a good bill out of the House, and it's stuck in the Senate. And the reason it's stuck in the Senate is because there is a disagreement over how best to manage the agency. On the one hand, they want us to have a thick book of rules to micromanage the decision making process. I'll give you one example. The customs agents should be wearing radio detection devices radiological detection devices on their belt so that, if when they're looking for weapons of mass destruction and they come close to one, it this device will send a signal. It ought to be a part of their job. But the thick book of rules says, "Well, that's up for collective bargaining before you can make a person do that." See, we've got that violates a rule, and therefore, we got to negotiate that out. Folks, we don't have time to negotiate a lot of these issues. We've got time to negotiate some issues. We've got time to negotiate some issues, of course. But we don't have time to sit around and negotiate the work rules necessary to protect you. The enemy doesn't sit around worrying about a thick book of regulations. And so, for the sake of our national security interests, the Congress, the Senate ought to give this President and future Presidents the ability to put the right people at the right place with the right equipment at the right time to protect America. But the best way to protect America for the short term and the long term is to hunt the killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice, and that's what we're going to do. I say one at a time, because that's the kind of war we're in. See, we're facing an enemy which hides in caves and sends youngsters to their death, suicidal deaths. They don't have tanks. They don't have big infantries. They don't have industrial complexes. They are coldblooded killers. And the only way to measure success against this part of the war against terror is to hunt them down one at a time. A man named bin al Shibh popped his head up the other day. He's no longer a problem to America. It's a different kind of war. You might think about it as an international manhunt, which means we've got to make sure that those of us that those hunting with us are strong and buoyed in their our mutual love for freedom. That's why the doctrine that says, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy," still stands it still holds. We've got a lot of people working with us to chase these people down. And I want you to know, the coalition that we put together is still strong, still viable, and still necessary. I bet you we've I say, "I bet you" I don't have an exact count, but we've hauled in a couple of thousand or more. And like number haven't been so lucky, thanks to the United States military, in large part. We're making progress. Slowly but surely, we're making progress. And that's the kind of war we fight. Sometimes you'll see it on TV, and sometimes you're just not going to see it on your TVs, as we make progress. I submitted a significant increase in defense spending to the Congress to because I want to send two messages. One, anytime we put one of our youngsters into harm's way, anytime we put our military into harm's way, they deserve the best training, the best equipment and the best possible pay. We owe that to those soldiers, and we owe it to their loved ones. I also want to send a clear message to friend and foe alike that the United States is in this for the long haul, that there is not a calendar that says, it's time to quit. See, when it comes to the defense of our freedoms, it doesn't matter how long it takes to defend our freedom. We love our freedoms, and we're not going to quit. We're not going to look at this kind of group of international killers and say, "Well, it's time to go home." That's not the way we think in America, and that's not the way we want the world to see us. See, we want the world to see us the way we are. We're determined, and we're after them. And we're going to stay after them until we're able to more secure the peace. And that's why the United States Congress needs to get the defense bill to my desk before they go home. They've been talking about this defense bill for quite a while. Before they go home, they ought to stop playing politics with the defense bill and let me sign it. It's important for the future of the country. Last night, I continued a dialog on the war on terror. I talked about a significant threat to our country, and that threat is Saddam Hussein and some of the folks in Iraq. Audience member. Chase 'em out! The President. I truly believe that, as you could tell from my discussion last night if you listened, that he is a threat. He is a threat to the United States. He's a threat to our friends in the region. He's a threat to anybody who holds freedom dear to his heart. People are concerned about Saddam, and I understand that. But a lot of Americans have understood that the dynamics have shifted since 11 years ago, because of what happened on September the 11th. No longer are we secure. No longer can we feel free because we've got two oceans separating us from from that part of the world, for example. And therefore, it's very important for us as a country to think about how best to protect us for the short run and the long run. We owe this to our children. This debate is an incredibly important debate for our country to have. I want to thank members of both political parties for taking a for realizing the seriousness of this issue. This week, you'll see the Congress debate this issue. As I said last night, this isn't an issue of committing our military one way or the other. It doesn't say this the resolution threat is imminent, nor does it say it's unavoidable. But it does send a clear signal to the world, and I mean not only the United Nations but the whole world, that we take this threat very seriously in America, that we'll be speaking with one voice, that we love our freedoms, and that if the United Nations is unable to deal with the problem and I certainly hope they can that the United States will lead and if Saddam Hussein chooses not to deal with it. See, he's the guy who said he would have no weapons of mass destruction. He's the person who told the world plainly, "I won't have chemical weapons or biological weapons," or, "I won't seek a nuclear weapon." He said that. He's the man who said, "I promise you I won't do this." Yet for 11 years, he's defied resolution after resolution after resolution. It's his choice to make. And the U.N. can show whether or not it's the United Nations or the League of Nations. They get that choice to make, too. It's their choice. But my message, and the message from the Congress, people of both political parties, will be, for the sake of peace and I emphasize, for the sake of peace if they won't deal with this man, the United States of America will lead a coalition to disarm him for the sake of peace. I take my responsibilities as the Commander in Chief very seriously. A military option is my last choice, the last choice. But should we commit our military, we'll be ready we'll be prepared we'll have a great plan. And make no mistake about it, we will prevail. And finally, as we work to make America stronger and safer, we've got to make work to make America a better place, too. Always got to remember that a better America is on the forefront of our agenda. That not only means a working America, but that means an educated America. That means making sure we've got a health care system that's modern and make sure we understand that medicine has changed and Medicare hasn't. We need prescription drugs for our seniors to make sure Medicare is a modern program that works. But there's something else we can do in this country. We can fight evil by doing acts of kindness and decency. We can fight evil by loving our neighbor like we'd like to be loved ourselves. In our society, in this great land, this great society and this wonderful country, there are pockets of despair and hopelessness. There are people who hurt in America, people who hurt because of addiction or loneliness, people who wonder whether or not the American Dream what that means. It's empty words for some. They just don't see any future. There is no hope. And we can change that in this country. We can change it. Listen, Government is limited in its scope. It can hand out money. But what Government cannot do is put a sense of purpose in people's lives or hope in people's lives. That happens when a neighbor says to a person in need, "I love you. What can I do to help you? What am I able to do to make your life more hopeful?" See, our society can change, and in my judgment will change, one heart, one soul at a time, because people are now understanding that after September the 11th, 2001, there is a new definition to patriotism. Patriotism is more than just putting your hand over your heart. Patriotism is serving your community by helping somebody in need. And that can happen all kinds of ways. See, if you mentor a child like Linda Clark does I met Linda, who's a she's a soldier in the army of compassion. She came out to the Air Force One to say hello. She started a mentoring program. She's involved with Project Grad. She understands one person can make a difference in somebody's life. I don't know where you are, Linda. Where are you? You've got a lousy seat. But anyway, Linda mentors a fifth grade child. She's making a huge difference in that child's life. You can go to a shut in's home and say, "I love you." That's part of what I'm talking about. Run a Boy Scout troop or a Girl Scout troop or a Boys or Girls Club. There's all kinds of ways that each of us can make a difference. We've got different talents we've got different views and each of us can use those talents and our views to make a difference in changing America for the better. Listen, the enemy hit us. They didn't know what they were thinking about. They probably thought we'd file a lawsuit or two. Laughter They didn't know America, did they? See, they didn't know this. They didn't know that this great Nation loves freedom and loves peace, and we will work hard to achieve and maintain both. They also didn't realize that we're also not only a tough nation, but a compassionate nation, a nation which is a nation full of people who are going to respond to this evil with helping a neighbor in need. You know, there's a period of personal responsibility, I think, coming into the country. Really important for our youngsters to understand that the culture which has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "You've got a problem, blame somebody else," is a culture that's moving on. It's being replaced. We're replacing it with a culture that says, "Each of us are responsible for our behavior and our decisions." If you're a mother or a dad if you're fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul. If you're lucky enough to live in Tennessee or Knoxville, Tennessee, you're responsible for the quality of education in a neighborhood. If you're running a corporation, you're responsible to tell the truth to your shareholders and employees. I feel it happening. I feel it happen, which allows me to boldly predict that, because we're the greatest nation on the face of the Earth, we will not only face down evil, but we can achieve peace in a country which is more hopeful, more decent, more optimistic for everybody who's lucky enough to be called an American. Listen, thanks for coming today. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. October 08, 2002 Thanks for coming. Thank you all very much. Please go ahead and be seated. Well, thank you for that kind introduction, "Governor." There's no doubt in my mind that Van Hilleary is the right man to be the Governor of Tennessee. And I want to thank you all for coming. I feel comfortable in a State where the university is UT, the colors are orange and white, and the political climate is friendly. Laughter I made a lot of friends here, and I'm proud to be amongst you all. Thanks for your prayers, and thanks for your support. My only regret is that Laura didn't come with me today. She sends her very best to Meredith and Van and sends her best to our buddies here in Tennessee. I don't know if you know this or not, but when I married Laura, she was a public school librarian. She didn't care for politics. She didn't like politicians. Laughter And now she's the First Lady of the United States, and she's doing a fabulous job. I'm really, really proud of her. And we're doing great we really are. And I want to thank, for those of you who came through the line here recently and said they pray for our family that's the kindest thing you can do for a President and his family. I believe strongly that the character of a person matters, and I believe Van Hilleary has the character necessary to be the kind of Governor that you can trust. He's a down to earth fellow that speaks his mind. He is the kind of person who does in office what he said he would do. He doesn't require focus groups or polls to tell him what to believe. And he can get the job done, and that's what you want in a Governor. See, I know what it takes to be a Governor, and he's got what it takes to be your Governor. And I had the privilege of meeting Meredith, the next first lady. She's a schoolteacher. I think it makes a lot of sense to have a schoolteacher as the first lady for the State of Tennessee. I think it makes sense that it's also good to meet Van's mom and dad. It kind of looks like he got saddled with the same kind of mom I've got, somebody who will tell you exactly what she thinks. Laughter But I love the fact that they've got a strong family, and they care for each other a lot. There's no doubt in my mind that Lamar Alexander will be a great United States Senator from Tennessee. And I'm not saying that just because he married a Texan. Laughter I'm saying that because he's got a great record and a great heart. And we need him, along with another great United States Senator, and that is Bill Frist. Tennessee has had a great history of sending important Senators to the Senate. You've sent really fine people, and you will continue that tradition with Lamar. I look forward to working with him. I look forward to having somebody in the Senate who I can count on when it comes to making sure the judges I name not only get a fair hearing but get appointed to the bench. We need people who will not we need people on our bench who won't legislate but will strictly interpret the Constitution. I've got to tell you, the way the Senate is now set up, they're playing politics with my good nominees. They're distorting their record. And for the sake of a good, sound Federal judiciary, I need Senators like Lamar Alexander in Washington, DC. I want to thank Janice Bowling for running for Congress and soon to be elected to the United States Congress. I appreciate her service and her willingness to run. I want to thank my old college class mate you used to call him Bulldog we call him Victor the mayor of Knoxville, Mayor Victor Ashe. I'm honored to call him friend. I appreciate his public service. And I appreciate Mike Ragsdale, who is a Knox County executive and Beth Harwell, who is the chairwoman of the Tennessee State Republican Party. I want to thank Jim Henry, who tossed his hat in the ring and has been so gracious about helping to unite behind the next Governor of your State. I want to appreciate all the grassroots activists who are here. Listen, I understand how politics works. You can't ever get elected unless you've got people who are willing to put up the signs and dial the phones and stuff the mailers. And on behalf of a grateful President and a grateful soon to be Governor, thanks for the hard work you have done, and more importantly, thanks for the hard work you're going to do. You see, we're about to the sprint phase of the campaign. And in order for Van to win, he needs you going to the coffee shops and the community centers and talking it up. See, my attitude is, when you find a good one, you've got to support him, and you've got a good one in Van Hilleary. And he's counting on you. And I want to thank you for the work you're going to do. A couple of points I want to make about Van's agenda, his platform. One, he's a he understands budgets. He's on the House Budget Committee. If he can figure out the Federal Government budget, you're darn sure he can figure out the Tennessee budget. Laughter But he understands you can't overspend. We share this common understanding of whose money we spend. You hear these people in Washington or probably in Nashville talk about, "Well, we're spending the Government's money." It's not the Government's money, you see it's the people's money. In order to have fiscal sanity, you've got to start with that attitude. He understands agriculture. He knows the importance of value added agriculture. The thing I love about his agenda, though, is his focus on education. It's by far the most important thing a Governor will do in any State. You see, educating the children of a State is really the most important priority of a State. Teaching a child to read is the new civil right. Teaching children to read is the beginnings of a hopeful tomorrow. And you better have you a Governor who's got the right philosophy. He talked about the No Child Left Behind legislation, which we passed in Washington. It is a significant piece of education reform. And I want to share the principles with you because, as this debate goes on here in Tennessee, about who best to handle the public school system of this State, you need to listen carefully to the words that these candidates are talking about. First, you need to have a Governor who is willing to challenge what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. See, if you lower the bar, if you believe that certain kids can't learn, if you believe the inner city children are too tough to educate and therefore we ought to have low standards, or you say a child whose parents does not speak English as a first language cannot be educated, you will have the soft bigotry of low expectations. You need to have a Governor who believes every child can learn and is willing to set the highest of high standards for every person in the State of Tennessee. It is important to understand one size does not fit all when it comes to educational excellence. You've got to have local control of schools. It's important. You can't have your schools controlled from Washington, DC. The crux of the one of the most important reforms in the bill is, we passed power out of Washington. We decentralized the process. We trust local people. The same thing goes for the State of Tennessee. You've got to trust the local folks. You've got to empower the local teachers and principals and parents to chart the path for excellence. But the key to reform as well is the measurement. And that's a fundamental difference, I suspect, in this campaign. If you believe every child can learn, if that's what you believe, in your heart of hearts believe that's the case, then you want to know whether every child is learning. If you believe that every child can read, then the next logical step is, "Show me, please. Show me whether or not the children of this State are learning how to read and write and add and subtract." The No Child Left Behind legislation had as its cornerstone it said this it said If you receive Federal money, for the first time in our Nation's history, prove to us that you're succeeding. And if you are, there will be plenty of praise for the hardworking teachers. But if we find children trapped in schools which won't teach and won't change, you better have yourself a Governor who's willing to challenge the status quo. If you don't measure, you don't know. If you don't measure, you're not able to enforce high standards. If you don't measure, you can't truthfully say to the people of Tennessee, "I will make sure that no child is left behind." And so Van Hilleary gets it, in my judgment. He understands. He understands there are no second rate children in Tennessee. And when he finds schools that will not change, you will have a Governor who will, for the sake of the children of this State, challenge the status quo. I look forward to working with Senator Frist and Senator Alexander and Governor Hilleary to make sure America is a safer, stronger, and better place. And I want you to know that I know we've got challenges. I live with them every day. One of the biggest challenges we face is to make sure our economy continues to grow. I'm an optimist about our economy because I know the foundations for growth are strong. Anytime that you've got interest rates that are low, inflation which is low, and productivity which is incredibly high, we've got the ingredients for growth. We've had a few things we've had to overcome. We've had a recession we've had to overcome. We've had some people in our society who thought they could lie to the American people, to shareholders and employees. I had the honor of signing one of the most comprehensive corporate responsibility bills since Franklin Roosevelt was the President I appreciate the support of the House Members and the Senate and here's what it said. It said There's not going to be any more easy money in America. We expect you to be a responsible citizen. We expect you to fully tell the truth, and if not, we're going to let you serve some time. The market is adjusting, and that's not good news for savers, which means we've got to do everything we can to make sure that people can find work. I took this page out of the economic textbook, and I think Van shares it with me When times are slow, when the economy is bumping along, one way to help create jobs is to let people keep more of their own money. And there's a big difference of opinion in Washington, DC, about that. And the difference is, is that do you increase the size of Government, or do you let people have more money in their pocket? In order to stimulate small business and the entrepreneurial spirit, it's important to let people keep more money so that they demand a good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service in the marketplace, somebody will produce that good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work. The tax cuts came at the exact right time in American economic history. It's hard to explain this. Maybe Senator Frist can explain it better than me, but the Senate agreed to the tax cuts, but they go away after 10 years. On the one hand, we giveth on the other hand, we taketh away. It sounds pretty typical of Washington. After 10 years the tax relief plan that we passed reverts back to where the tax rates revert back to where they were last year. The marriage penalty that we slashed goes back to where it was. The death tax, which is a terrible tax it's a terrible tax on farmers and ranchers and entrepreneurs and small business people is no longer repealed after 10 years. For the sake of economic growth, for the sake of job creation, and for the sake of giving our small businesses the chance to plan and for tax certainty, we need to make the tax cuts permanent. And we need to control spending in Washington, DC. There is a danger it's an election year, and there is no budget in the Senate. There is no constraint. I submitted a budget to the House to the Congress that the House passed, which shows us getting back to balance as quickly as possible if we're careful about spending the people's money, if we fund our priorities but not get excessive. Without a budget in the Senate, we have a potential problem. The Congress must understand, if they're interested in job creation and by the way, there's a lot of talk about that up there, and not much action yet. But if they're interested in job creation, if they're interested in making sure people can find work, they must not overspend the people's money. There needs to be fiscal sanity in Washington, DC. And there are other things we can do to strengthen the economy. And I'll give you one practical idea, and that is, we need terrorism insurance. There's 15 billion worth of projects that have been put on hold or canceled in America because the manager of the project can't get insurance. The terrorists struck, and they can't get the insurance necessary to cover for terror. And therefore, these projects are on hold. There's over 300,000 jobs which are going begging because these projects aren't going forward. And so I thought it made sense for the Congress to come together and write a law that would provide a backstop. It's a good jobs program. It's a way to immediately affect the lives of the good, hard working people who wear the hardhats in America. They've been talking about this issue now for a year. Before they go home, they need to get a good terrorism insurance bill. If they're interested in jobs, if they want people back to work, join me in getting a good terrorism insurance bill one, by the way, that rewards the hardhats of America, not the trial lawyers of America. Now, there's a lot we can do to work to keep this economy growing. And I just want you to know I'm not going to rest until people can find work. We're going to continue to build on the foundation of the of economic growth. But my most important job is to protect America. That's what's on my mind a lot, is how best to secure this homeland. I have to tell you that, because there's still an enemy out there which would like to strike us. They hate us because of what we love. We love our freedoms, and we're not changing. So long as we love freedom, they will hate us, which means they're going to hate us for a while, because we're not changing our attitude. And they're out there, and they're lurking around. It's a different kind of war. In the old days, you know, you'd measure infantries or air forces or flotillas, and you could tell how big the enemy was or where they were or whether or not you were making progress against them. This is a group of people, their leaders hide in a cave or the dark corners of a city somewhere, and they send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. They're nothing but a bunch of cold blooded killers. We value life. In this country, we say everybody's precious everybody counts. They don't value life. They've hijacked a great religion, and murder in the name of that religion. And so we've got to do everything we can to prevent the enemy from hitting us again. The Government's working long hours I say the Government the people in the Government are working long hours to run down every bit of evidence we get, every piece of intelligence. And we're better coordinated than we ever have been to really secure the homeland, to disrupt any cells that we think might exist, that we're doing everything we can to let the enemy know that we know they're there. And when we think they're there, we obviously respect our Constitution, but we're moving. And we're moving pretty darn good. But there's a way for me to better protect you and a way for future administrations to better protect you, and that is to take all the agencies involved with homeland defense and put them under one Cabinet officer. And it sounds simple, except when you start stepping on some bureaucratic toes. And the House passed a good bill, and the Senate is wrestling with it now, because some Senators really want to micromanage the managerial process. They want to pass a book of thick regulations that gets to make the managerial decisions for the Homeland Security Department. And that's not right. It just doesn't make any sense to tie the hands of the President and future Presidents when it comes to a matter of deep national concern. I'll give you a couple of examples, what I'm talking about. On our border, we need to know who's coming into the country, what they're bringing into the country, and whether or not they're leaving the country when they say they're going to leave it. And yet we've got three fine agencies on the border. We've got your Border Patrol, your INS, and your Customs. They wear different uniforms. Sometimes they have conflicting strategies. We need to be able to move people interagency. We need to be able to button it up. We need to make it seamless. We need to be able to put the right people at the right place at the right time. But you can't do that under the one of the versions coming out of the United States Senate. There's not the flexibility necessary to better enforce our borders. I'll give you another example. Customs people wear radiation detection devices they should. If you're interested in finding weapons of mass destruction, you've got to have the device on your belt necessary to do that. The union head said no, that in order to do that, it needs to go to collective bargaining. We don't have the time to argue about whether or not somebody ought to be wearing a device to better protect the homeland. Listen, I believe these hard working employees ought to be able to have collective bargaining. But I also know I need the capacity to manage the agency in a way so I can look the American people in the eye and say, "We're doing everything we can to protect you." The Senate must hear this. We will not accept a bill that does not give this administration and future administrations the capacity to protect the homeland. The best way to protect the homeland, however, is to take the fight to the enemy, to chase them down, one killer at a time, and bring them to justice, which is exactly what the United States of America is going to do. And we are making progress. The doctrine that says, "If you're with us either you're with us, or you're with the enemy," still stands. It's clear. It hasn't changed. And therefore, we still have this coalition of like minded people or friends that are joining us in hunting these people down. Now, this is a different kind of war, as I mentioned. Sometimes you will see progress on your TV screens or hear about it, and sometimes you're just not going to know. That's the nature of the war. Intelligence sharing is an integral part of being able to succeed against the enemy. Cutting off their money is an integral part of fighting the enemy. Arresting them or bringing them to justice is an integral part of fighting the enemy. The other day this bin al Shibh showed up or, as I like to say, popped his head up. He was the person that was going to be the 20th hijacker. And we got him in Pakistan, thanks to work with the Pakistan Government and our own Government. We ferreted him out, and he's no longer a problem. He's no longer a threat to the United States and any of our friends. That's the kind of war we are waging in this part of the battle. And I bet you we've hauled in a couple of thousand of these killers. They're detained. They're no longer a problem. And like number weren't as lucky, thanks to the United States military. And there's quite a few more to go there's quite a few more out there. It's going to take a while. And that's why I've submitted the largest increase in defense spending asked the Congress to increase defense spending the largest amount since Ronald Reagan was the President, because I want to make it clear, a couple of things clear. One, when we put our kids into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. We owe that to them, and we owe it to their parents. And I also want to send a message to our friends and our foes It doesn't matter how long it takes to defend our freedom we will defend freedom. There's no quit in America that we understand the stakes. The enemy made clear the stakes on September the 11th, 2001, and we're not going to forget. You can hide in any cave you want we're coming after you. It doesn't matter where you think you can hide, the long arm of justice of the United States of America will find you. And we've got some hills to climb. We've got some pretty tough stepping to do to get there, but the country is ready for it. And the Congress needs to get that bill the defense bill to my desk. We've been talking about it now for a while. And they're getting ready to go home. The leadership has got to understand that the country expects, and I expect, the defense bill in a time of war the defense bill to get to my desk. They need to stop playing politics with the defense bill of the United States. You need to tell your kids about America and our not only desire to answer history's call and to defend our freedom but also that anytime our Nation goes anywhere, we go not to conquer anybody but to liberate people. I think one of the great lessons of this of the first phase of this war was in Afghanistan. And we're still there, by the way, and there's still killers there. And we've still got troops there, and we're going to be there for a while. But we went there, not only to uphold the doctrine that says, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists," but we also went because we believe life matters not only in America but everywhere. We believe every child has worth. We believe every person has worth. And we believe in freedom. We believe in freedom not only for ourselves, but we believe freedom is God given. We believe freedom is a right that everybody should realize. And you need to tell your kids that this country liberated people from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in history. And thanks to the United States and thanks to our friends and allies, young girls many young girls go to school for the first time. It's an important lesson for our children that in the defense of our own freedoms, that this Nation will fight if we have to, to free others as well. I've got a problem, obviously, with Mr. Saddam Hussein, and so do you. And that is, he poses a threat. He poses a threat to America. He poses a threat to our friends, our Israeli friends, our friends in his own neighborhood. He is a threat, and we've started a debate in this country about how to deal with that threat. And it's a really important debate. I don't view this as a political discourse or a political debate. I view this as a debate about our future, the role of the United States and the world, about security and freedom. And I welcome the debate, and I look forward to watching the Congress debate this issue this week. I believe we're going to get a strong resolution, backed by both Republicans and Democrats. But it's their choice to make, just like it's Mr. Saddam Hussein's choice to make as to whether or not he will do what he told the world he would do which is to stop lying, stop deceiving, and disarm. He told the world that he would not have weapons of mass destruction, and yet for 11 years he has deceived the world. I went to the United Nations. I want to share with you why, because I really do want the United Nations to be effective. I don't want the United Nations to be the League of Nations. I want the United Nations to be an effective agent for peace. I want the United Nations to be able to help deal with the new issues we face. It's their choice to make as well. See, for 11 years they've passed resolution after resolution after resolution after resolution after resolution 16 resolutions, only to be defied by Saddam Hussein. And in the meantime, he has gotten stronger. And so the fundamental question facing the world is, do we deal with this guy or not? It's the world's choice to make. We'll see whether or not the United Nations has the desire, has the backbone necessary to uphold its own resolutions and help keep the peace. But if they're unable to act, and if Saddam Hussein can't do what he said he would do, which is disarm, this country will lead a coalition and disarm him, for the sake of peace. Committing our military into harm's way is my last choice. I say I talk about military options as the last option, not the first option, because I understand the consequences. But I want you to know that if we have to commit our military and we may not have to, but if we have to then we'll have the best plans. The full force and fury of the United States military will be unleashed, and make no mistake about it, we will prevail. History has put the spotlight on this great Nation. And I'm confident this country will show the world and history our character, our strength, our determination, our absolute love for freedom and the values which we hold dear. You know, the enemy hit us. I just can't imagine what was going through their mind. I suspect they thought we were so materialistic and so self absorbed, so selfish that all we would do after September the 11th was maybe file a lawsuit or two. They didn't understand. They really didn't understand, and they're going to pay a severe price for not understanding. See, this country, instead of stepping back and said, "Oh, gosh, we're going to be terrorized and so fearful we won't act," made the absolute, decided effort to act in the name of peace and freedom. Out of the evil done to the to our country is going to come some good. And one of the good is going to be peace. You need to tell your children, amidst all of the discussion and the debate they hear, there is a strong desire by this President and my administration and our country to achieve peace. I believe by remaining strong and focused and determined and unrelenting in our desire to wipe out terror, we can achieve peace for ourselves, and we can achieve peace in the Middle East, peace in South Asia. I believe it's possible. I believe the enemy has handed us an unbelievable opportunity to make the world a more peaceful place, an opportunity which I intend to seize. And at home, the enemy hit us. And instead of us falling down in self pity, we took a step back and made an assessment of that which is important and decided as a nation to fight evil by millions of acts of kindness and decency, that a lot of people in our country stepped back and realized that serving something greater than yourself in life was an incredibly important part of being a patriotic American. You know, as we fight to make work to make America a stronger place and safer place, we've also got to work to make it a better place. It's happening across our country now. People understand that to fight evil, all you've got to do is do some good. And it doesn't have to be majestic acts Mentoring a child is part of doing good going to a shut in's home and telling them you love them recognizing that, in our society, there are people who hurt, people who are addicted, people who wonder what the American Dream was all about and also recognizing that you can be a part of changing a person's attitude and outlook by loving them. See, Government can hand out money, but it can't put hope in people's hearts. It can't put a sense of purpose in people's lives. That's done when our fellow citizens take it upon themselves to be responsible for the society in which we live and love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. No, the enemy hit us. They didn't know who they were hitting. They've awakened a spirit of America here. The American spirit is strong, evidenced most clearly on that fateful day when people were flying across the country on Flight 93. They heard the plane was being used as a weapon. They realized America that vast oceans could no longer protect us, and we were a battleground. They told their loved ones goodbye. They used the word "love" a lot. They said a prayer. A guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane into ground to serve something greater than themselves in life. The American spirit is alive and strong. It's not only an entrepreneurial spirit it's a spirit of compassion and decency and kindness. There is no question in my mind that this country can overcome the obstacles in our way, and out of the evil done to America will come great good, peace around the world, and a hopeful, decent, compassionate America in which each of us who lives in this country understands the American Dream is meant for them. I want to thank you all for coming. May God bless you, and may God bless America. October 07, 2002 Thank you all. Thank you for that very gracious and warm Cincinnati welcome. I'm honored to be here tonight. I appreciate you all coming. Tonight I want to take a few minutes to discuss a grave threat to peace and America's determination to lead the world in confronting that threat. The threat comes from Iraq. It arises directly from the Iraqi regime's own actions its history of aggression and its drive toward an arsenal of terror. Eleven years ago, as a condition for ending the Persian Gulf war, the Iraqi regime was required to destroy its weapons of mass destruction, to cease all development of such weapons, and to stop all support for terrorist groups. The Iraqi regime has violated all of those obligations. It possesses and produces chemical and biological weapons. It is seeking nuclear weapons. It has given shelter and support to terrorism and practices terror against its own people. The entire world has witnessed Iraq's 11 year history of defiance, deception, and bad faith. We must also never forget the most vivid events of recent history. On September the 11th, 2001, America felt its vulnerability, even to threats that gather on the other side of the Earth. We resolved then and we are resolved today to confront every threat, from any source, that could bring sudden terror and suffering to America. Members of Congress of both political parties and members of the United Nations Security Council agree that Saddam Hussein is a threat to peace and must disarm. We agree that the Iraqi dictator must not be permitted to threaten America and the world with horrible poisons and diseases and gases and atomic weapons. Since we all agree on this goal, the issue is How can we best achieve it? Many Americans have raised legitimate questions about the nature of the threat, about the urgency of action why be concerned now about the link between Iraq developing weapons of terror and the wider war on terror. These are all issues we've discussed broadly and fully within my administration. And tonight I want to share those discussions with you. First, some ask why Iraq is different from other countries or regimes that also have terrible weapons. While there are many dangers in the world, the threat from Iraq stands alone because it gathers the most serious dangers of our age in one place. Iraq's weapons of mass destruction are controlled by a murderous tyrant who has already used chemical weapons to kill thousands of people. This same tyrant has tried to dominate the Middle East, has invaded and brutally occupied a small neighbor, has struck other nations without warning, and holds an unrelenting hostility toward the United States. By its past and present actions, by its technological capabilities, by the merciless nature of its regime, Iraq is unique. As a former chief weapons inspector of the U.N. has said, "The fundamental problem with Iraq remains the nature of the regime, itself. Saddam Hussein is a homicidal dictator who is addicted to weapons of mass destruction." Some ask how urgent this danger is to America and the world. The danger is already significant, and it only grows worse with time. If we know Saddam Hussein has dangerous weapons today and we do does it make any sense for the world to wait to confront him as he grows even stronger and develops even more dangerous weapons? In 1995, after several years of deceit by the Iraqi regime, the head of Iraq's military industries defected. It was then that the regime was forced to admit that it had produced more than 30,000 liters of anthrax and other deadly biological agents. The inspectors, however, concluded that Iraq had likely produced 2 to 4 times that amount. This is a massive stockpile of biological weapons that has never been accounted for and is capable of killing millions. We know that the regime has produced thousands of tons of chemical agents, including mustard gas, sarin nerve gas, VX nerve gas. Saddam Hussein also has experience in using chemical weapons. He has ordered chemical attacks on Iran and on more than 40 villages in his own country. These actions killed or injured at least 20,000 people, more than 6 times the number of people who died in the attacks of September the 11th. And surveillance photos reveal that the regime is rebuilding facilities that it had used to produce chemical and biological weapons. Every chemical and biological weapon that Iraq has or makes is a direct violation of the truce that ended the Persian Gulf war in 1991. Yet, Saddam Hussein has chosen to build and keep these weapons despite international sanctions, U.N. demands, and isolation from the civilized world. Iraq possesses ballistic missiles with a likely range of hundreds of miles far enough to strike Saudi Arabia, Israel, Turkey, and other nations in a region where more than 135,000 American civilians and service members live and work. We've also discovered through intelligence that Iraq has a growing fleet of manned and unmanned aerial vehicles that could be used to disperse chemical or biological weapons across broad areas. We're concerned that Iraq is exploring ways of using these UAVs for missions targeting the United States. And of course, sophisticated delivery systems aren't required for a chemical or biological attack all that might be required are a small container and one terrorist or Iraqi intelligence operative to deliver it. And that is the source of our urgent concern about Saddam Hussein's links to international terrorist groups. Over the years, Iraq has provided safe haven to terrorists such as Abu Nidal, whose terror organization carried out more than 90 terrorist attacks in 20 countries that killed or injured nearly 900 people, including 12 Americans. Iraq has also provided safe haven to Abu Abbas, who was responsible for seizing the Achille Lauro and killing an American passenger. And we know that Iraq is continuing to finance terror and gives assistance to groups that use terrorism to undermine Middle East peace. We know that Iraq and the Al Qaida terrorist network share a common enemy the United States of America. We know that Iraq and Al Qaida have had high level contacts that go back a decade. Some Al Qaida leaders who fled Afghanistan went to Iraq. These include one very senior Al Qaida leader who received medical treatment in Baghdad this year, and who has been associated with planning for chemical and biological attacks. We've learned that Iraq has trained Al Qaida members in bombmaking and poisons and deadly gases. And we know that after September the 11th, Saddam Hussein's regime gleefully celebrated the terrorist attacks on America. Iraq could decide on any given day to provide a biological or chemical weapon to a terrorist group or individual terrorists. Alliance with terrorists could allow the Iraqi regime to attack America without leaving any fingerprints. Some have argued that confronting the threat from Iraq could detract from the war against terror. To the contrary, confronting the threat posed by Iraq is crucial to winning the war on terror. When I spoke to Congress more than a year ago, I said that those who harbor terrorists are as guilty as the terrorists themselves. Saddam Hussein is harboring terrorists and the instruments of terror, the instruments of mass death and destruction. And he cannot be trusted. The risk is simply too great that he will use them or provide them to a terror network. Terror cells and outlaw regimes building weapons of mass destruction are different faces of the same evil. Our security requires that we confront both, and the United States military is capable of confronting both. Many people have asked how close Saddam Hussein is to developing a nuclear weapon. Well, we don't know exactly, and that's the problem. Before the Gulf war, the best intelligence indicated that Iraq was 8 to 10 years away from developing a nuclear weapon. After the war, international inspectors learned that the regime had been much closer the regime in Iraq would likely have possessed a nuclear weapon no later than 1993. The inspectors discovered that Iraq had an advanced nuclear weapons development program, had a design for a workable nuclear weapon, and was pursuing several different methods of enriching uranium for a bomb. Before being barred from Iraq in 1998, the International Atomic Energy Agency dismantled extensive nuclear weapons related facilities, including three uranium enrichment sites. That same year, information from a high ranking Iraqi nuclear engineer who had defected revealed that despite his public promises, Saddam Hussein had ordered his nuclear program to continue. The evidence indicates that Iraq is reconstituting its nuclear weapons program. Saddam Hussein has held numerous meetings with Iraqi nuclear scientists, a group he calls his "nuclear mujahideen," his nuclear holy warriors. Satellite photographs reveal that Iraq is rebuilding facilities at sites that have been part of its nuclear program in the past. Iraq has attempted to purchase high strength aluminum tubes and other equipment needed for gas centrifuges, which are used to enrich uranium for nuclear weapons. If the Iraqi regime is able to produce, buy, or steal an amount of highly enriched uranium a little larger than a single softball, it could have a nuclear weapon in less than a year. And if we allow that to happen, a terrible line would be crossed. Saddam Hussein would be in a position to blackmail anyone who opposes his aggression. He would be in a position to dominate the Middle East. He would be in a position to threaten America. And Saddam Hussein would be in a position to pass nuclear technology to terrorists. Some citizens wonder, after 11 years of living with this problem, why do we need to confront it now? And there's a reason. We've experienced the horror of September the 11th. We have seen that those who hate America are willing to crash airplanes into buildings full of innocent people. Our enemies would be no less willing in fact, they would be eager to use biological or chemical or a nuclear weapon. Knowing these realities, America must not ignore the threat gathering against us. Facing clear evidence of peril, we cannot wait for the final proof, the smoking gun, that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud. As President Kennedy said in October of 1962, "Neither the United States of America nor the world community of nations can tolerate deliberate deception and offensive threats on the part of any nation, large or small. We no longer live in a world," he said, "where only the actual firing of weapons represents a sufficient challenge to a nation's security to constitute maximum peril." Understanding the threats of our time, knowing the designs and deceptions of the Iraqi regime, we have every reason to assume the worst, and we have an urgent duty to prevent the worst from occurring. Some believe we can address this danger by simply resuming the old approach to inspections and applying diplomatic and economic pressure. Yet this is precisely what the world has tried to do since 1991. The U.N. inspections program was met with systematic deception. The Iraqi regime bugged hotel rooms and offices of inspectors to find where they were going next. They forged documents, destroyed evidence, and developed mobile weapons facilities to keep a step ahead of inspectors. Eight so called Presidential palaces were declared off limits to unfettered inspections. These sites actually encompass 12 square miles, with hundreds of structures, both above and below the ground, where sensitive materials could be hidden. The world has also tried economic sanctions and watched Iraq use billions of dollars in illegal oil revenues to fund more weapons purchases, rather than providing for the needs of the Iraqi people. The world has tried limited military strikes to destroy Iraq's weapons of mass destruction capabilities, only to see them openly rebuilt, while the regime again denies they even exist. The world has tried no fly zones to keep Saddam from terrorizing his own people, and in the last year alone, the Iraqi military has fired upon American and British pilots more than 750 times. After 11 years during which we have tried containment, sanctions, inspections, even selected military action, the end result is that Saddam Hussein still has chemical and biological weapons and is increasing his capabilities to make more. And he is moving ever closer to developing a nuclear weapon. Clearly, to actually work, any new inspections, sanctions, or enforcement mechanisms will have to be very different. America wants the U.N. to be an effective organization that helps keep the peace. And that is why we are urging the Security Council to adopt a new resolution setting out tough, immediate requirements. Among those requirements, the Iraqi regime must reveal and destroy, under U.N. supervision, all existing weapons of mass destruction. To ensure that we learn the truth, the regime must allow witnesses to its illegal activities to be interviewed outside the country, and these witnesses must be free to bring their families with them so they are all beyond the reach of Saddam Hussein's terror and murder. And inspectors must have access to any site, at any time, without preclearance, without delay, without exceptions. The time for denying, deceiving, and delaying has come to an end. Saddam Hussein must disarm himself, or for the sake of peace, we will lead a coalition to disarm him. Many nations are joining us in insisting that Saddam Hussein's regime be held accountable. They are committed to defending the international security that protects the lives of both our citizens and theirs. And that's why America is challenging all nations to take the resolutions of the U.N. Security Council seriously. And these resolutions are very clear. In addition to declaring and destroying all of its weapons of mass destruction, Iraq must end its support for terrorism. It must cease the persecution of its civilian population. It must stop all illicit trade outside the oilfor food program. It must release or account for all Gulf war personnel, including an American pilot whose fate is still unknown. By taking these steps and by only taking these steps, the Iraqi regime has an opportunity to avoid conflict. Taking these steps would also change the nature of the Iraqi regime, itself. America hopes the regime will make that choice. Unfortunately, at least so far, we have little reason to expect it. And that's why two administrations, mine and President Clinton's, have stated that regime change in Iraq is the only certain means of removing a great danger to our Nation. I hope this will not require military action, but it may. And military conflict could be difficult. An Iraqi regime faced with its own demise may attempt cruel and desperate measures. If Saddam Hussein orders such measures, his generals would be well advised to refuse those orders. If they do not refuse, they must understand that all war criminals will be pursued and punished. If we have to act, we will take every precaution that is possible. We will plan carefully. We will act with the full power of the United States military. We will act with allies at our side, and we will prevail. There is no easy or risk free course of action. Some have argued we should wait, and that's an option. In my view, it's the riskiest of all options, because the longer we wait, the stronger and bolder Saddam Hussein will become. We could wait and hope that Saddam does not give weapons to terrorists or develop a nuclear weapon to blackmail the world. But I'm convinced that is a hope against all evidence. As Americans, we want peace we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the will and whims of a ruthless and aggressive dictator. I'm not willing to stake one American life on trusting Saddam Hussein. Failure to act would embolden other tyrants, allow terrorists access to new weapons and new resources, and make blackmail a permanent feature of world events. The United Nations would betray the purpose of its founding and prove irrelevant to the problems of our time. And through its inaction, the United States would resign itself to a future of fear. That is not the America I know. That is not the America I serve. We refuse to live in fear. This Nation, in World War and in cold war, has never permitted the brutal and lawless to set history's course. Now as before, we will secure our Nation, protect our freedom, and help others to find freedom of their own. Some worry that a change of leadership in Iraq could create instability and make the situation worse. The situation could hardly get worse for world security and for the people of Iraq. The lives of Iraqi citizens would improve dramatically if Saddam Hussein were no longer in power, just as the lives of Afghanistan's citizens improved after the Taliban. The dictator of Iraq is a student of Stalin, using murder as a tool of terror and control, within his own cabinet, within his own army, and even within his own family. On Saddam Hussein's orders, opponents have been decapitated, wives and mothers of political opponents have been systematically raped as a method of intimidation, and political prisoners have been forced to watch their own children being tortured. America believes that all people are entitled to hope and human rights, to the nonnegotiable demands of human dignity. People everywhere prefer freedom to slavery, prosperity to squalor, self government to the rule of terror and torture. America is a friend to the people of Iraq. Our demands are directed only at the regime that enslaves them and threatens us. When these demands are met, the first and greatest benefit will come to Iraqi men, women, and children. The oppression of Kurds, Assyrians, Turkomans, Shi'a, Sunnis, and others will be lifted. The long captivity of Iraq will end, and an era of new hope will begin. Iraq is a land rich in culture and resources and talent. Freed from the weight of oppression, Iraq's people will be able to share in the progress and prosperity of our time. If military action is necessary, the United States and our allies will help the Iraqi people rebuild their economy and create the institutions of liberty in a unified Iraq at peace with its neighbors. Later this week, the United States Congress will vote on this matter. I have asked Congress to authorize the use of America's military, if it proves necessary, to enforce U.N. Security Council demands. Approving this resolution does not mean that military action is imminent or unavoidable. The resolution will tell the United Nations and all nations that America speaks with one voice and is determined to make the demands of the civilized world mean something. Congress will also be sending a message to the dictator in Iraq that his only chance his only choice is full compliance, and the time remaining for that choice is limited. Members of Congress are nearing an historic vote. I'm confident they will fully consider the facts and their duties. The attacks of September the 11th showed our country that vast oceans no longer protect us from danger. Before that tragic date, we had only hints of Al Qaida's plans and designs. Today in Iraq, we see a threat whose outlines are far more clearly defined and whose consequences could be far more deadly. Saddam Hussein's actions have put us on notice, and there is no refuge from our responsibilities. We did not ask for this present challenge, but we accept it. Like other generations of Americans, we will meet the responsibility of defending human liberty against violence and aggression. By our resolve, we will give strength to others. By our courage, we will give hope to others. And by our actions, we will secure the peace and lead the world to a better day. May God bless America. October 05, 2002 Thank you all for coming. Listen, it's good to be back. I had the honor of speaking in the Armory before, and it's the place where I cut my teeth in New Hampshire politics by flipping pancakes. Laughter But it was reminiscent of some really good times for Laura and me, and I recognize a lot of faces here, and I want to thank you all for coming. I'm here because I want to make it as plain as I can, John Sununu will be a great United States Senator for New Hampshire. It's in my interests. It's in New Hampshire's interests. It's in the country's interests that John Sununu be elected. I want to thank you all for working hard for his election. There's no doubt in my mind that we will be able to work together to do what's right for the country. I'm impressed by his record. First of all, I know something about what I'm about to speak. He and I share something in common We've both got mothers still telling us what to do. Laughter He assures me he's still listening to her laughter and I'm listening to mine laughter most of the time. We both married above ourselves. Laughter I want to thank Kitty Sununu, mother of three, for standing by John's side. It's tough to run for office. It's hard on a family. But if you've got a good marriage and if you prioritize your family, you can do anything. And I appreciate the Sununus' love for each other, and I appreciate their family values a lot. Laura sends her best. She made a lot of friends here in New Hampshire. She sends her love to her friends. She sends her best, of course, to the Sununus. She wishes she could be here. She is opening up a museum in Portland, Maine. You all drew the short straw. Laughter But she's doing great. She's doing great. I have been incredibly proud of her. The country has seen her grace and her strength and her calm when the pressure was on. People began to realize why I asked her to marry me, and some are a little confused as to say why she said yes, but nevertheless. Laughter I love her dearly. She is a fabulous First Lady for the country. I appreciate Judd Gregg. He's been a friend. He's a solid citizen. He's a really, really good United States Senator. He too married well. It's great that Kathy's here. But the Greggs are close friends of Laura and mine. We value their friendship, and I know you value his service to the great State of New Hampshire. I want to say a word about Bob Smith. Bob served well in the United States Senate. I was incredibly impressed by his graciousness on what had to have been a very difficult night for Bob and his family. He was gracious about John. He was strong in his support. New Hampshire has been well represented by Senator Bob Smith. I too am proud to call him friend. And I appreciate his service to the country. I'm also proud to serve in Washington, DC, with a fine United States Congressman, a fellow I got to know pretty well as I traveled on John's Winnebago all over the State of New Hampshire, and that's Charlie Bass. I appreciate you, Charlie. I also look forward to being joined in Washington by the Congressman Jeb Bradley. I appreciate the campaign Jeb is running. And I'm honored to be here with the next Governor of the State of New Hampshire, Craig Benson. I appreciate you, Craig. I know something about being a Governor, and I know what it takes to get elected. And I am impressed by the campaign that Craig is running. He takes nothing for granted. He's out there in those coffee shops and knocking on those doors. He is traveling this State. He has got a burning desire to do what's right for all the people of New Hampshire. I'm confident he's going to win, and I'm equally as confident that he'll do a great job as your Governor. But most of all, I want to thank the grassroots activists of the State of New Hampshire for coming. I want to thank you for what you have done and, more importantly now, what you're going to do. And I know what you can do in this State. You can turn out the vote. You can put up the signs. You can mail the mailers. You can get on the phones. John Sununu will be elected the United States Senator, not only because he's got a good message and a good heart, but because of your hard work and your dedication to turn out the vote. I want to thank the chairman of the party, John Dowd, and Tom Rath, the national committeeman, and Nancy Merrill, the national committeewoman, for leading an active, strong grassroots organization. You need to go to your coffee shops. You need to go to your churches or your synagogues or your mosques or any other place of worship. You need to go to your community centers. And you need to tell everybody in the State of New Hampshire, Republican, Democrat, or Independent, that you've got some fine candidates, that John Sununu needs to be the United States Senator. And we've got some tough tasks ahead of us. We must work together to make sure Americans can find work. The way I like to put it is, anytime anybody who wants to work can't find a job, we must do everything we can to seek to expand the job base. Now, the role of Government John and I know this is not to create wealth. The role of Government is to create an environment in which the small business can grow to be a big business, in which the entrepreneur, the spirit of America, can flourish, in which our producers have got a chance to make a living. And so therefore, I need somebody in the Senate who understands that, somebody who also understands the importance, when the economy is slow, of letting people keep more of their own money. New Hampshire citizens of all political stripes must understand that when the economy is slow, that you don't increase taxes on the American people, but you let people keep more of their own money. Because when they do, they demand a good or a service, and when they demand a good or a service, somebody in the marketplace is likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody makes that decision to produce a good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work. For the sake of jobs in New Hampshire, for the sake of economic vitality in this State, you need a United States Senator who will join me in making the tax cuts permanent. John Sununu was with me from the beginning. There was no question in my mind where he stood. He didn't need to take a poll or a focus group to make his decision about tax relief. He knew it was the right thing for the national economy. The problem we have and the reason we have to continue to talking about this issue is because of a quirk in the Senate rules. And I'm going to let old Judd after I leave back to go see my mother tell you how this happened. Let me just put it to you this way, in plain language. The Senate has got the kind of rule where you pass the tax cut, and in 10 years it goes back to where we were. The way I like to put it, if I can in plain English is, on the one hand, they taketh away, on the other hand, they giveth. On the one hand they give tax relief on the other hand, you don't get tax relief. It's hard to explain in Manchester, New Hampshire, and it's darn sure hard to explain in Crawford, Texas. But this isn't hard to explain That wouldn't happen if you had a United States Senate which would vote to make the tax cuts permanent, and that Senator would be John Sununu. A couple of other things that we need to do in Washington to make sure our folks can find work. Listen, we've got a lot of construction projects which are on hold because people can't get terrorism insurance. The enemy hit us, and they affected our economy. And one way they did was a lot of construction projects like 15 billion worth are not going forward because people can't get insurance, because of a potential terrorist attack. I think it is a legitimate use for Congress to kind of underwrite terrorism insurance. There is 300,000 jobs going begging, 300,000 hardhats not finding work because we can't get terrorism insurance. It doesn't cost the American people anything if there's not another attack. But it'll help the economy grow. It'll help make people it'll help people find work. John Sununu understands this. What we need to do is pass a terrorism insurance bill that does not reward trial lawyers but works to put our hardhats back to work in America. And finally, there's a lot of things we can do to make the environment for economic growth strong. But one thing we need to do for certain is to elect people who understand whose money we spend in Washington. You need to listen carefully to the debates that goes on in our Nation's Capital. You see, some of them are goes on with people trying to get to the Nation's Capital. Some of them, they talk about the Government's money. Folks, we don't spend the Government's money in Washington. We spend your money. And you better make sure you send somebody to Washington who is a fiscally responsible person. I know firsthand that John is. After all, he's on the he's vice chairman of the Budget Committee in the House. And by the way, the House Budget Committee passed my budget, so the House has a budget. It gets us back to balance quickly. It funds priorities. It gets us back to balance as quickly as possible. It says, let's be responsible with your money. We can't get a budget out of the United States Senate. And if you don't have a budget and because every idea in Washington sounds like a brilliant idea even though the price tag may run in the billions, we've got the danger of the Congress overspending. There's no question in my mind that John Sununu will be responsible with the people's money when he becomes the United States Senator. I think a lot about our economy. I'm going to do everything I can to increase the job base. I spend a lot of time on it. It's one way to make sure the country is stronger. Another way to make sure we've got a strong country is to make sure that our Federal bench is a bench full of judges that don't use their position from which to legislate. We've got plenty of legislators. We don't need our judges legislating, we need them strictly interpreting the Constitution. That's an issue in this campaign the bench is an issue in this campaign. I named a fabulous lady from Texas named Priscilla Owen. She'd been running statewide in our State several times, got elected overwhelmingly, had strong Republican support, strong Democrat support, number one in her law school class, or tops of her law school class. She's ranked the highest rating possible by the American Bar Association. She is a you know, she'll interpret the Constitution she's not going to try to rewrite it. And I sent her name up there and they they weren't fair with her record. They totally politicized the issue. They made this a huge political deal. For the sake of a solid judiciary, I need John Sununu in the United States Senate. I named a new man named Michael Estrada to one of our higher benches. It's a great American success story. He couldn't speak English when he came here. He's now being nominated by the President to one of the highest benches because he's a brilliant lawyer. He's got fantastic support from Democrats and Republicans. John Sununu will cast his vote with Michael. Judd Gregg would. I wonder if the other candidate in this race would stand up and support the judicial nominees of a President George W. Bush. For the sake of a strong judiciary, we need John Sununu in the United States Senate. I also appreciate his understanding that our most important priority is to protect the homeland. See, there's an enemy which still hates America lurking around. And so long as they lurk, we must do everything we can to protect America. That's our most important job, is to protect you. There's a lot of good folks working hard to do this. Listen, we're running down every lead, every hint every idea that somebody might hurt us, we're following up on. But in order to make sure I can do a better job, I ask the Congress to join me in the creating of a Department of Homeland Security. Listen, when I was campaigning here I didn't say, "Vote for me. I want your Government to be bigger." I did say, "I want your Government to work where it needs to work." And it needs to work in protecting the homeland. There's over 100 agencies scattered around Washington that have got something to do with the homeland. So for the sake of better managing the Department, for the sake of being able to get people to work together, I said, "Let's have it in one agency." The House heard it. Judd Gregg has heard it. Sununu supported it. But it's tied up in the Senate. And here's the issue Some Senators want there to be a thick book of managerial regulations which will prevent a President from putting the right people at the right place at the right time in order to respond to an enemy. Some people want there to be more bureaucracy than managerial flexibility. One example, just one of many We believe, and the Customs Service believes, that people ought to be wearing radiation detection devices when they inspect cargo, to determine whether or not a weapon of mass destruction is coming into the country. The union representing the customs agents said, "Wait a minute. You can't make people wear radiation detection devices. That's a matter for collective bargaining we need a collective bargain over that," which could have taken a year to do that. I need flexibility. I need a Senator who understands that this President and future Presidents applause . The best way to protect America, however, is to chase these killers down, one at a time, one person at a time. And that is precisely what we are going to do. And they're out there they just are. We're making progress. The doctrine that says, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy," still stands. It's just as important today as it was the day after the attacks on September the 11th. And so there's a lot of folks working with us. We've got good intelligence. We're sharing it better than ever before. We're cutting off their money. We're denying safe haven. If we can find them lighting somewhere, we get them on the run. And we pulled in a couple of thousand of them. And sometimes it makes news when we do it, and sometimes it doesn't. This is just a different kind of war. In the old days, you destroyed an enemy's tanks, and you say, "Well, we're making progress" sunk a couple of ships and "We're making progress." These folks don't have ships. They don't have tanks. They hide in caves, and they send youngsters to their suicidal death. That guy al Shibh, bin al Shibh popped up, and he's no longer a problem. Laughter We hauled him in. Slowly but surely, we are dismantling an Al Qaida terrorist network, and we've got a lot more work to do. By the way, we probably captured a couple of thousand of them, and just that many weren't as lucky, thanks to the United States military. By the way, that doctrine that says, "If you harbor one of those terrorists, you're just as guilty as the terrorists," it still stands, too. But I want you to remind you I want you to remind your kids, in all the midst of this talk about military this and that, that this great Nation did what it said it was going to do. And at the same time it upheld doctrine it liberated people. We didn't go to Afghanistan, nor will we ever go anywhere, to conquer anybody. See, we believe in freedom. That's why the enemy hates us. We believe in freedom, and we went into Afghanistan we freed people. Thanks to the United States, young girls now go to many young girls now go to school for the first time because of our belief in freedom. Everybody counts. Everybody has got worth. I sent a bill up there to increase defense spending, a big increase, for two reasons. I hope you appreciate the reasons why. One, anytime we put our troops in harm's way, we owe it to our troops we owe it to their loved ones, to make sure they've got the best training, the best pay, and the best possible equipment. And secondly, it's a clear signal that we're in this deal for the long haul, that there's not a artificial timeline that says Well, we've had enough we're kind of tired let's quit. See, we need to send a signal we know this here at home, but others need to know that when it comes to the defense of things which we hold dear, namely our free doms our freedom to worship the way we see fit, the freedom to debate political issues in an open forum, the freedom of the press when it comes to the defense of our freedoms, there is no timeframe. It doesn't matter how long it takes. It doesn't matter how difficult the task. The United States of America will defend our freedoms. I haven't seen that defense bill yet. Judd voted for it, and John voted for it. I haven't seen it yet. It's stuck in committee. They don't need to be playing politics with the defense bill right now. They need to get the bill done before they go home. They need to get the defense bill on my desk. I said we're in this deal for the long haul, and we are. We'll be chasing Al Qaida down. They think they can hide somewhere. They just cannot do that with America. The long arm of American and allied justice will seek them out. We've got some other tasks ahead as well to keep the peace and to make our country secure. And that of course is Iraq. There's now a national debate, one which I encourage, one which I think is helpful, a national debate on how best to keep the peace, how best to secure the homeland, whether or not we ought to deal with threats before they become so severe that we may never be able to deal with them. It's an important debate. Monday night I'll be giving a talk to the Nation about my take on the debate. I want to share some thought with you right quick, and it's this The facts and the history of Iraq are pretty clear to me. This is a man who told the world he would not have weapons of mass destruction, your chemical, your biological or nuclear weapons. For 11 years he has lied. On the one hand, he said he wouldn't have them he does. And remember, this is a guy who's used them. He not only has denied and deceived about possessing weapons he's actually used the weapons of mass destruction. He's used the weapons of mass destruction against neighbors. He has used weapons of mass destruction against his own people. He hates America. He hates many of our friends. He hates Israel. He's a man who continues to kill his own people who might dissent. When the inspectors were able to go into the country and have unfettered access, it was discovered that he was a short period away from owning a nuclear weapon. It's an important debate we're going to have here in America about how best to secure the homeland. I took the debate to the United Nations a while ago. One, I want the United Nations to be effective. I want there to be a body of freedom loving nations that, when they speak, something actually can happen. This is a man, as I reminded them, who has looked the United Nations in the eye for 11 long years and has defied them. Sixteen times the Security Council passed resolution after resolution after resolution after resolution, and 16 times he defied them. My message was, "We want you to be effective. We've got a new kind of war we fight. You need to be effective. We want you to work. But it's your choice. You can either be an effective United Nations, or you can be the League of Nations. You get to pick." I also have said as clearly as I can that this isn't an issue of inspectors. That's what the process oriented people want. This is an issue of disarmament. This is a man who has said he would disarm. The United Nations said he must 16 times. He said he would, but he hasn't. The choice is his to make as well. And those choices will be made over time here. But for the sake of our peace, for the sake of our children's future, if the United Nations will not act in strong fashion, if they continue to be ineffective, if Saddam Hussein makes the choice not to disarm, the United States and a lot of our friends will disarm him. For the sake of peace, for the sake of freedom, for the sake of our future and our children's future, we will disarm him. The use of our military is my last choice, not my first. I take my responsibilities very seriously as the Commander in Chief. The use of force is not my first choice it's my last. But my first choice as well is not to allow the world's worst leader to blackmail, to harm America with the world's worst weapons. The United States Congress will speak to this issue next week. It's a very, very important debate. This is not a partisan discussion it's a philosophical discussion. It's a discussion that's a weighty matter. I look forward to the debate. I actually encourage the debate. I was proud the other day when both Republicans and Democrats stood with me in the Rose Garden to announce their support for a clear statement of purpose You disarm, or we will. We owe it to our children to think about this issue. We owe it to the future. My belief is, is that the enemy hit us, and out of the evil can come some incredible good. And one of the good that can come is peace. The United States can lead the world to peace if we're clear and forthright and determined. If we speak clearly about terror and its threats, if we hold our values, God given values in the forefront and that is freedom we can achieve a peaceful world. And you know what else we can do here in America? We can achieve a better world for all of us too, a better world for each person who lives in this country. There are pockets of despair and loneliness in America. My attitude is, when our citizens hurt, we all hurt. I recognize the limitations of Government, I think John does as well. I mean, we can Government should educate, see that people are educated passed a good education bill. John talked about he was a strong stalwart, as was Judd, who actually was an author, of holding people accountable. It says every child can learn in America. We are going to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations in this country, and we're going to insist every child learns. Government can make sure the health systems are modern. Medicare is old. Medicine has changed Medicare hasn't. Medicine is modern. Medicare and a really incredibly important program has not changed with medicine. For the sake of our seniors, we need a prescription drug plan and a modern Medicare system. That's an important part of Government being involved with making our society better. But what Government cannot do is cause people to love one another. Government cannot put hope in people's hearts. That's up to us, our fellow citizens. My call to America has been and will continue to be to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to fight evil, do some good. Do some good. Help somebody in need. Mentor a child. Go to a Boy Scout or run a Boy Scout or a Girl Scout troop. Feed the hungry. Find shelter for the homeless. There are many ways to fight the evil that has been done to our country. You see, it's the millions of acts of kindness and decency by our fellow citizens that reflect the true nature and character of this country. No, the enemy hit us. They thought they thought, they probably thought that after September the 11th, 2001, we would file a lawsuit or two. Laughter What they didn't realize is, this country is plenty tough. And the world is beginning to see we're plenty we're plenty compassionate too, that in our that our strength is our will and our resolve and our dedication to values we hold dear, and our strength is our collective heart. You know, one reason I got into politics was because I wanted to be a part of a cultural shift, just a small part of a change. I think the enemy accelerated that cultural shift from one in which it said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understand we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are a mom or a dad, your most important responsibility is to love your child. If you're living in Manchester, New Hampshire, you have the responsibility for the quality of life. You have the responsibility to making sure the schools work. If you're running corporate America, you have a responsibility to tell the truth and to treat your shareholders and employees with dignity and respect. Perhaps the most vivid example about what I'm talking about, about serving something greater than yourself as part of a culture of personal responsibility, came on Flight 93. It's an important moment, in my judgment, about what took place on America on that terrible day. We had citizens flying across the country. They were told on the telephone that the airplane they were on was being used as a weapon. They told their loved ones goodbye. They said a prayer history will show they said a prayer. A guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane in the ground. They sent a clear signal to America that serving something greater than yourself in life is an incredibly important part about being the ultimate American, about serving our country. No, when the enemy hit us, they didn't know who they were hitting. See, out of the evil done to America is going to come incredible good. The world will be more peaceful. This country will be able to eliminate work to eliminate the pockets of despair. There's no question in my mind we face challenges as a nation. But there's no question in my mind we can overcome them. After all, this is the finest nation, the greatest nation, on the face of the Earth. Thanks for coming to help John. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. October 05, 2002 Good morning. This week leaders of the Congress agreed on a strong bipartisan resolution authorizing the use of force, if necessary, to disarm Saddam Hussein and to defend the peace. Now both the House and the Senate will have an important debate and an historic vote. Speaker Hastert and Leader Gephardt and Leader Lott did tremendous work in building bipartisan support on this vital issue. The danger to America from the Iraqi regime is grave and growing. The regime is guilty of beginning two wars. It has a horrible history of striking without warning. In defiance of pledges to the United Nations, Iraq has stockpiled biological and chemical weapons and is rebuilding the facilities used to make more of those weapons. Saddam Hussein has used these weapons of death against innocent Iraqi people, and we have every reason to believe he will use them again. Iraq has longstanding ties to terrorist groups, which are capable of and willing to deliver weapons of mass death. And Iraq is ruled by perhaps the world's most brutal dictator, who has already committed genocide with chemical weapons, ordered the torture of children, and instituted the systematic rape of the wives and daughters of his political opponents. We cannot leave the future of peace and the security of America in the hands of this cruel and dangerous man. This dictator must be disarmed, and all the United Nations resolutions against his brutality and support for terrorism must be enforced. The United States does not desire military conflict, because we know the awful nature of war. Our country values life, and we will never seek war unless it is essential to security and justice. We hope that Iraq complies with the world's demands. If, however, the Iraqi regime persists in its defiance, the use of force may become unavoidable. Delay, indecision, and inaction are not options for America, because they could lead to massive and sudden horror. Should force be required to bring Saddam to account, the United States will work with other nations to help the Iraqi people rebuild and form a just government. We have no quarrel with the Iraqi people. They are the daily victims of Saddam Hussein's oppression, and they will be the first to benefit when the world's demands are met. American security, the safety of our friends, and the values of our country lead us to confront this gathering threat. By supporting the resolution now before them, Members of Congress will send a clear message to Saddam His only choice is to fully comply with the demands of the world. And the time for that choice is limited. Supporting this resolution will also show the resolve of the United States and will help spur the United Nations to act. I urge Americans to call their Members of Congress to make sure your voice is heard. The decision before Congress cannot be more consequential. I'm confident that members of both political parties will choose wisely. Thank you for listening. October 05, 2002 Thank you all very much. Please be seated, except for those of you who don't have a chair. Laughter I've been here before. This was the site of the great pancake flip off. Laughter A lot of time has passed since I was flipping pancakes in this armory. Laughter And I want to thank you all for coming. I want to thank my fellow citizens for taking time out of your day to give me a chance to come and talk about issues that confront our country, and my strong desire to work with all who live in America to make America a safer, a stronger, and a better place. My dream is for this country to be a strong country, as importantly a safe country, and a country in which each of us who live here realizes the great American potential belongs to everybody. I want to thank you for bringing your families out to say hello. I want to thank you for sending some good people to Washington, DC. I'm proud to call Judd Gregg my friend. He's doing a great job as the United States Senator. I'm honored that Governor Shaheen is here today. I appreciate her taking time out of her schedule to come and pay her respects to the Presidency. I appreciate the mayor of Manchester. I appreciate members of the congressional delegation, Congressman Charlie Bass and Congressman John Sununu, for joining us as well. I'm glad I am glad that your mayor, the mayor of Manchester, Mayor Baines, is with us today. Mr. Mayor, thank you for coming as well. Ray Wieczorek is here, who is on the New Hampshire Executive Councilor. I appreciate Ray. But most of all, I appreciate my fellow citizens. I appreciate those of you who are here to work hard to make your community and New Hampshire a strong place. I want to tell you one of the things on my mind, and it's I worry about people being able to find work in America. Anytime anybody who wants to work and can't find a job says to me, we've got a problem, and we must do everything we can to grow our economy that all of us together must work to do that which we can to enable our environment, our economic environment, to prosper, so people can find work. I want Americans to be able to put food on the table. And we've got an issue here in the country, and we've got to work together to solve it. Now, you've got to know something I am optimistic about our economic future. First of all, I understand the American spirit. We've got the best workers in the world. We've got the best entrepreneurs in the world. Our productivity is the best there is. Interest rates are low. Inflation is low. The foundation for growth is solid. But it's not good going good enough. Yesterday we had a good report The unemployment rate dropped across the country. It's still not good enough, and we ought to continue to do that which is necessary to grow our economy. And I've got a couple of ideas, and Congress can help. I readily concede my vision of Government is not to create wealth but to create an environment in which the small business can grow to be a big business, in which the entrepreneur can realize his or her dreams, in which our producers can find markets. The job of Government is to create an environment in which growth is possible. That's why I am such a strong believer and strong advocate of letting people keep more of your own money. You see, it is when times are slow that you let people have money in their pocket. When somebody has more money in their pocket, they're more likely to demand a good or a service. And in the marketplace, when somebody demands a good or a service, somebody is likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces a good or a service, somebody is more likely able to find work. Tax relief came at the absolute right time. But the reason I'm still talking about it, the reason we have to talk about it is because there is a quirk in the Senate rules. On the one hand, they giveth on the other hand, they taketh away, because after 10 years the tax relief package ends. All the relief that had happened resorts back to the way it was prior to last year. I know that's hard to understand. That's one of those Washington things. But for the sake of economic vitality, Congress needs to make the tax cuts permanent. People need to be able to plan. Part of an environment which will encourage economic growth means people there's certainty. And there needs to be certainty in the Tax Code. You can't have a Tax Code that's one way for a while and reverts back that's not certainty. The tax relief plan is incredibly good for small businesses. Most small businesses are sole proprietorships. Most small businesses are limited partnerships, which means the small business pays taxes at the income tax rate personal income tax rates. And so therefore, when you reduce all rates, you inject needed capital into the small business sector. Seventy percent of new jobs in America are created by small business owners. For the sake of job creation, for the sake of certainty, for the sake of the growth of our small business sector, Congress needs to make the tax cuts permanent. A stronger America a stronger America is one in which people can find work. We have got a problem when it comes to construction projects in America. The terrorists hit us, and now lot of folks who want to put steel in the ground can't get insurance. We need the Congress to act on terrorism insurance. We need to have Congress act as a stopgap for those who want to put construction projects forward. There's over 15 billion of construction projects which are now on hold because we can't get terrorism insurance done. They've been talking about it, but we can't get it out of the can't get it out of what they call the conference committee. Fifteen billion dollars' worth of projects are stalled, which means 300,000 jobs. My call to Congress, before they go home, for the sake of jobs, for the sake of putting hardhats back to work, for the sake of letting people have a chance to put food on their table, we need a terrorism insurance package which does not reward trial lawyers but does reward the hardhats of America. Like you, I'm concerned about the fact that 401(k)s are being affected, that people's savings have been eroded. I'm concerned about that. We need to create an environment in Washington which promotes growth and certainty. One thing that will send a good message to markets and to our fellow Americans is if Washington can show some fiscal discipline. And that starts with understanding whose money we spend in Washington. We're not spending the Government's money. We're spending your money in Washington, DC. See, we need to set priorities. We need to set clear priorities Winning this war on terror and protecting the homeland, making sure our kids get educated. We ought to set priorities, but we ought not to spend beyond those priorities. And here's the danger There is no budget in the United States Senate. You see, if you don't have a budget, guess what can happen, particularly in an environment in which every idea sounds like a great idea? See, in Washington, every idea is sounds wonderful. The problem in that town is, is that the price tag usually runs in the billions. Without a budget, there is a danger that the Congress will overspend. I submitted a budget that shows us getting back to balance in a reasonable period of time if there's fiscal sanity in Washington. For the sake of job creation, for the sake of improving the economic environment here in America, the United States Congress must fund our priorities, must not try to get re elected with extraneous spending, and must remember whose money we spend in Washington and it is the people's money. I will continue to work to make America a stronger country by working hard to improve our economy, by working hard to help people find work, by working hard to bring confidence back into the American system. And by the way, that started with me having the honor of signing the most significant corporate reforms since Franklin Roosevelt was the President. Here's the message If you're running a corporation in America, we expect you to be open we expect you to be honest we expect you to treat your shareholders with respect we expect you to treat your employees with respect. If you break the law, we're going to come and get you you're going to spend hard time. And we're going to work hard to make sure America is a stronger place, but my most important job is to make America a safer place. I'm reminded of that every time I come and give a speech and see the little ones here. I'm also reminded, since some of them are going to sleep, to keep my speeches shorter. Laughter I want you to know that I say we have to work to make America a safer place because there is still an enemy out there who hates America. And they hate us because of what we love. They hate us because we love freedom in America. We love freedom to the point we will never back down and relinquish our freedoms. We love the idea of anybody in America being able to worship an almighty God any way he or she sees fit. We love the fact that in our society there is discourse about elections and politics. A free society has open debate. We love that. We love a free press. We love everything about our freedoms. And that's why the enemy hates us. It's hard for some youngsters to understand that. But you've just got to know there are people that don't value life, either. See, that's one of the things that differentiates us. America says, "Everybody counts. Everybody matters. Every life has worth. Everybody is precious in the eyes of the Almighty." And our enemy is willing to hijack a great religion and murder innocent life without caring. And so long as they're out there, we must do everything we can as a nation, as governments at the Federal, State, and local level, to protect the American people. It is our most important and solemn job, and I take it seriously. I want you to know there are a lot of good people working incredibly hard on your behalf. We're doing a much better job of sharing information than we had in the past. I mean, after all, we now know that America is a battlefield. Anytime we get a hint, anytime we get an idea that somebody might be trying to do something to some American somewhere, we are moving we're acting on it. We take every threat seriously. We are on alert as a nation. Times have changed, and you just need to know we have changed with the times. Now, I have asked Congress to join me on creating what I call a Department of Homeland Security, and I want to share right quickly why I did that. There's over 100 agencies in Washington involved with securing the homeland, or 100 agencies involved with some aspect of doing their job that I expect them to do. But the problem is, is that with so many agencies scattered around, it's hard to align authority and responsibility. It's hard to have accountability. It's hard to make sure the cultures of the agency are aligned properly. It's hard to make sure their number one job is to protect you. And so therefore, I said, "Let's create this Department so that we can say to the American people, we're doing everything we can to protect you." The House passed a good bill. The Senate is still debating it. And here's the issue. The issue is whether or not the Senate is going to micromanage the executive branch and future Presidents or whether or not this President and future Presidents and the Cabinet Secretaries will be able to move the right people to the right place at the right time to protect the American people. The question is this Are we going to have rules, civil servant rules, which will make the process so cumbersome that we can't respond? I'll give you an example. The Customs Service thought it appropriate that our inspectors wear radiation detection devices on their belts. That makes sense. If you're worried about weapons of mass destruction coming into America, you want your inspectors to have the tools necessary to do their job. The union said that they needed to have a negotiating session they needed to go to collective bargaining as to whether or not the inspectors ought to be told to wear this, whether or not it would be involuntary or voluntary. That would take a long time to settle. Nothing wrong with collective bargaining rights, I'm all for them. But what I'm not for is work rules that prohibit us from doing the job of protecting the American people. This is a chance for people of both parties to come together and leave behind a legacy, because this enemy isn't going away anytime soon. And protecting the homeland is going to be an important job of future Presidents. So for the sake of the security of our country, I ask the Senate to be reasonable, to be realistic, and to understand their job is to leave a legacy behind that will allow those of us who have gotten the position you've elected us to, to do the jobs you expect us to do. But the best way to secure the homeland in the short term and in the long term is to chase the killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice. And that is what we're going to continue to do. This is a different kind of war. We're not used to this kind of war we fight. In the old days, it used to be you could destroy an enemy's tanks or airplanes or ships, and you're making progress. The people we fight don't have tanks or airplanes. These are coldblooded killers who hide in caves or the dark recesses of certain cities and send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. That's why I say our job is to hunt them down, one at a time. The doctrine that says, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy," still stands. And as a result, there's still a coalition of freedom loving countries that are after the killers. And we're doing a good job. Sometimes you'll see the progress on your TVs, and sometimes you won't, in this new war. The other day, you saw progress when this fellow named bin al Shibh, he popped his head up. Laughter He's no longer a threat to the United States and our friends and allies. He was the man who thought he was wanted to be the 20th hijacker, bragged about the fact that he wanted to be one that was able to kill thousands of our citizens. We're calling them in one at a time. I bet you we've captured over a couple of thousand of them. And a like number haven't been as lucky, and like number weren't as lucky because we have got a fantastic United States military. I want you to know I have great confidence in the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States. I have great respect for the men and women who wear the uniform. For the loved ones of those who wear the uniform, I thank you as well for your sacrifice, along with theirs, on behalf of a grateful nation. I submitted to the United States Congress the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. I did so for two reasons One, anytime we send our youngsters into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. And secondly, I wanted to send a clear message to friend and foe alike that when it comes to the defense of our freedoms and values we hold dear, the United States is in for the long haul. There is no calendar on my desk that says, by such and such a date, we pretty well had it, time to quit. When it comes to the defense of that which we love, which is our country, when it comes to doing our duty, which is to protect the future for our children and our children's children, when it comes to the defense of the peace, the United States of America will stay the course. I have sent that bill to the Congress. It hasn't made it to my desk yet. We are at war. I expect to get the defense bill, the defense appropriations bill, on my desk before the Congress goes home. For the sake of sending the right message, Congress should not play politics with the defense appropriations bill. Our job is to keep the peace. Our job is to make the world a more peaceful place. And sometimes it's a pretty steep hill to get there. Sometimes we're going to have to cross some hurdles. Sometimes we're going to have to anticipate problems before they become so acute that it will be difficult to keep the peace. One such area, where the Nation is now beginning an important national discourse, is with Iraq. This is a country which, 11 years ago, promised the world they would have no weapons of mass destruction. And yet, for 11 years they have lied and deceived the world community. This is a country run by one of the most brutal dictators in modern history. On Monday night, I will make the case to the country on TV yet again, but I want to share some of my thoughts with you here. I want you to remember that this is a man who kills his opponents in cold blood. This is a person who suppressed people. This is a person who has used weapons of mass destruction on his own citizens. This is a person who has used weapons of mass destruction on people in his neighborhood. This is a person who hates America and yet still possesses weapons of mass destruction. At one time, inspectors had a free hand in Iraq, like they should have, and they determined that had this man not been checked in the early nineties, he would have had possession of a nuclear weapon. He still wants to have a nuclear weapon. This is a man who has used weapons of mass destruction. This is a man who hates so much, he's willing to kill his own people, much less Americans. This is a man who would be a tremendous threat to world peace and security if he ever were to have and possess a weapon of mass destruction as devastating as a nuclear weapon. I went to the United Nations the other day because I wanted to make it clear, a couple of things. One, I want the United Nations to be successful. We face a new threat for world peace. We're dealing with these treacherous terrorist organizations who have designs and desires to hook up with nations such as Iraq that have developed weapons of mass destruction. See, old Saddam might not have to show up, but he might get a surrogate who could do it for him. In order to deal with those new threats, in order to deal with the reality that America is no longer protected by two vast oceans, it seemed like sense to me that we should give the United Nations to be an effective peacekeeping body, somebody who would keep the peace, somebody who was strong enough. Well, I've told the United Nations, "Either you can be the United Nations, or you can be the League of Nations your choice." Sixteen different times the United Nations, an important world body, has said, "You must disarm." Sixteen times, and he's defied them all 16 times. He's lied, and he's deceived. And so now the choice is the United Nations to make. The choice is also Mr. Saddam Hussein's to make. See, there's no negotiations there's nothing to talk about. We don't want you to have weapons of mass destruction. You agreed to that you said you would agree to that. Now you've got to show the world you don't have them. It's up to you, Mr. Hussein. Nobody likes war in America. We're a peaceful nation. Nobody wants there to be war. On the other hand, a lot of folks Republicans and Democrats, people who could care less about political parties now are beginning to understand the true threat. In order to keep the peace, Mr. Hussein and the world community must work to disarm him. And if they won't, I will lead a coalition of nations, like minded nations to send the world that we long for peace send a message We long for peace in this world, and we will not let the world's worst leaders threaten, blackmail, hurt America, our friends and allies, with the world's worst weapons. We owe this to our children. We owe it to peace. We owe it for a peaceful world to deal with the threats we see. We cannot ignore history. We must not ignore reality. We must do everything we can to disarm this man before he hurts one single American. I am proud I was proud the other day to stand in the Rose Garden with members of both political parties who agreed that this man is a threat both political parties. We had the Speaker, and we had Dick Gephardt. From the Senate we had Trent Lott and Joe Lieberman and John McCain and Evan Bayh, Republicans and Democrats alike. We're working on a resolution so this country can speak with one voice when it comes to the defense of our freedoms and our desire for peace. This is not an issue of political parties. This is an issue of national concern. I look forward to hearing the debate. I welcome the voices on all sides. I understand the need for there to be a good and honest and open discourse on peace and security and freedom. And as we work to secure the peace and to make the country a stronger and safer place, we've always got to remember to make America a better place, too, a better place for every single citizen who lives in this country. That starts with making sure that every child in America gets an education not some but every child. I was honored to work with Judd and Ted Kennedy. Believe it or not laughter it's amazing what can happen when people put their minds to do what's right for America and cast aside all the nonsense of the politics and focus on what's right. I signed a really good education bill. I want to share it with you because it's your responsibility, by the way, to make sure the citizens in this community get educated. See, I believe in local control of schools that bill said that. But let me tell you two other things it said. It said two other things that are really important. It said, in America, we believe each child can learn. And therefore, we must set high standards and high expectations. As a nation, if we want America to be a better place, we must challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. And you see, if you believe every child can learn, if you believe that you've got to believe it you just can't say it you've got to believe it. You've got to believe our inner city kids can learn. You've got to believe that a child whose parents may not speak English as a first language can learn. You have to believe it. And if you do believe that, like I believe it, then you want to know. Then you want to know whether or not the children are learning. And therefore, in return for Federal money, we have said, "Show us, New Hampshire. You show us. You show us whether our children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. You chart the path to excellence, and you measure. In return for the biggest increase in education spending in a long, long time, we expect every child to be educated. And when you find children in schools which will not teach and will not change, in order to make sure no child is left behind, you've got to demand something different. You've got to demand excellence in your schools for every single child." A better America is one that says, we're going to help people in need, but we want them to work. Any good welfare reauthorization must have work as its central component. We'll help you, fine. We'll train you. But work leads to dignity. Work gives people a hopeful future. A better America is one that recognizes that medicine has changed, but Government programs like Medicare haven't. Medicine is modern Medicare isn't. For the sake of a better America, our seniors need to be treated with a Medicare program that includes prescription drugs and is a modern program. But see, one of the things that you've got to understand about Government Government can hand out money, but what Government cannot do is put love in a person's life. What Government cannot do is put hope in hearts. And that's why, in order to make sure that America is a better place, we've got to really unleash the great strength of America. And the great strength of this country is the people of this country. The great strength of America lay in the hearts and souls of our fellow Americans. Today we are honored and I was honored at the airport there to greet Bonnie Monahan and Patrick Fraser. They are two of our fellow citizens. Bonnie is the vice president of the Timberland Company, and Patrick works for the City Youth City Year Youth Service Corps. And the reason I bring them up is, there's two examples about what I'm talking about, about the great strength of the country. Timberland offers employees 40 hours of paid leave to volunteer in their communities. This good company, this company, which is doing their best to look at the bottom line, also understands the bottom line is more than just dollars and cents. The bottom line is being a good citizen. They provide paid leave for people to be involved with helping our community be a better place. They've got City Year Youth Service Corps, where Freedom Corps volunteers kids who understand we can save America, one heart and one soul at a time working in Timberland. I want to thank the City Corps, and I want to thank Timberland for coming. I want to thank you all for being here. See, it's an important signal that one person can't do everything, but one person can do something to be a part of changing America. People have often asked me, "What can I do to help in the war against terror?" You can join the war against terror and fight evil by loving your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. A better America is an America which understands that in the midst of our plenty, there are people who hurt. There are pockets of despair. There's loneliness. Some communities you say, "Hey, American Dream," and they go, "What does that mean? I don't know what you're talking about." If one of us hurts, we all hurt. And therefore, we must do everything we can to make this country a better place, a more optimistic place. And it starts with each of us. If you want to be a part of a change of America, all you've got to do is put your arm around a neighbor in need and say, "I love you." Mentor a child. Start a Boy and Girls Club. Feed the hungry. Help house the homeless. And it's happening in America. The amazing thing about September the 11th a day in which we still grieve as a nation we still send our prayers to those whose lives were completely disrupted. But this Nation is so strong and so confident and so good, instead of being cowed by the enemy, we rose up. Out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good. I don't know what was in the mind of the enemy. They must have thought we were so selfish and materialistic and self absorbed that when they attacked us, we might file a lawsuit or two. Laughter Instead, what they're finding out about this country is, we love our freedom. And if we remain strong and focused and tough when we need to, if we continue to speak clearly about right from wrong and defend the values, which are not American values but God given values, we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace in the world. We can achieve peace for our citizens. And here at home, if we remember the definition, a patriot is something more than just putting your hand over your heart the definition of a patriot in the face of the evil done to America is to serve something greater than yourself in life, is to help somebody in need, is to love a person, one at a time, as we remember that which I know we will. The enemy will have hit us, but America will be a stronger, more compassionate, better place for all of us. There's no question in my mind that we can meet our goals, that we can meet this challenge, because, my fellow Americans, this is the greatest nation, full of the finest people, on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. October 04, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much. Thank you all. Glad I came. Audience member. We are, too. The President. Thanks for coming. "Governor," thanks for those kind, kind remarks. I'm proud to be applause . I strongly stand with Mitt Romney because I believe he is the best person for the job of Governor of Massachusetts. I say that I know that because I know his values. He's got his priorities straight his faith, his family, and his State. And he's not going to waver from those priorities. They're etched in his heart. He's got a record. He's done things in life. He started his own businesses. He's an entrepreneur. He knows how to create jobs at a time when you need somebody in Massachusetts who knows job creation. He knows how to take a struggling organization and turn it around. He's done that recently. He's not one of these talkers that you find in the political arena. He's a doer. Just ask the folks just ask the folks who were wondering whether or not the Olympics were going to go bankrupt. Ask them what happened when Mitt Romney showed up and brought some managerial skills and some vision and the ability to set priorities and the know how how to set budgets and turned that organization around and made sure the Olympics in Salt Lake City were not only successful but profitable. It's the same kind of attitude you need here in your State budget in Massachusetts. No, you've got the right man for the job here. You've got the right person for the job. And I want to thank you for backing him. And I'm real proud of his wife, Ann. She'll be a great first lady for Massachusetts. She's a dedicated mom. She's looking forward to working hard with Mitt to do everything they can to help everybody in the State of Massachusetts, to help people get ahead in this State. Mitt and I married above ourselves laughter in my case, by a long shot. Laughter Yes, I know. Laura sends her best to the Romneys, sends her love to our friends here. She is I can't tell you how proud I am of her. You know, when I married her, she was a public school librarian in Texas. The truth of the matter is, she didn't like politics laughter nor did she like politicians. Laughter Now she's stuck with me. Laughter But the American people have gotten to see why I asked her to marry me. She is steady. She's calm. She's in my judgment, and I must confess it's not very objective she's a class act. A lot of her buddies in Texas are wondering why she said yes to my proposal. Laughter But she sends her best. I'm also honored to be here with the next Lieutenant Governor, Kerry Healey. I'm impressed by Kerry's know how, her knowledge. She's a smart, smart lady, and she's going to make a great Lieutenant Governor. You all have got a great team here, a great team to represent you. And so I want to thank you for coming. I want to thank those of you who are involved with grass roots politics here in Massachusetts for what you have done and, more importantly, what you're going to do. See, you can't win a race unless you've got citizens willing to go to the coffee shops and the community centers, the churches and synagogues and mosques, and talk up good people when you find them. You've got two good ones here. And you owe it to them, in my judgment, for the sake of the future of your State, to do everything you can between now and election day to turn out the vote. The votes are there. They need your help in turning them out. I appreciate the agenda of the next Governor and Lieutenant Governor. It starts with jobs. You've got to have you somebody in the Governor's office who can recruit, who knows the language of the entrepreneur, who understands how small businesses are created and function, in order to make sure that not only is the landscape here good for attracting jobs but he can recruit jobs. See, you need somebody who knows what they're talking about when it comes to making sure the people of this important State can find work. And there's no question in my mind Mitt Romney knows what he's talking about. He knows he knows capital. He knows entrepreneurship. He understands small business creation. The role of Government is not to create wealth. That's what other people might think. The role of Government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish, in which the small business can grow to be big business. That's why he also is focusing on infrastructure, to make sure your transportation system is efficient, cost effective, works well. Laughter It's an important part of making sure the environment for attracting jobs is competitive, and Mitt understands that. But what I like best about him is, they understand Mitt and Kerry understand the number one priority of any State is the education of the children of the State. See, I used to say I used to put it this way Education is to a State what national defense is to the Federal Government. It's the most important priority. And this team has got education as a priority. We share a philosophy. It's a philosophy incorporated in the No Child Left Behind bill that I had the honor of signing. It starts with the belief that every child can learn, a belief that there ought to be high standards and high expectations in our society. You've got to have a Governor who is willing to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. If you lower the bar, see, if you believe certain children can't learn inner city kids, kids whose parents may not speak English as a first language if you believe that, the systems will reflect that. They'll just shuffle the kids through. That's unacceptable anywhere in the United States of America. Part of what this next team, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, believe is, you've got to decentralize power you've got to trust local people to manage the path to excellence. If you have high standards and local control of schools, you're more likely to achieve educational excellence. But finally, the cornerstone of the new bill and a cornerstone of any good education policy is this If you take money, taxpayers' money, you need to show society whether or not the children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. You see, if you believe every child can learn, if you believe every child can learn, then you want to know if every child is learning, and therefore you measure. If you have no accountability, how do you know? If you have no accountability, you're more likely just to shuffle the kids through and, at the end of the process, you say, "Oops, they forgot to learn to read," and that's unacceptable. You need to have a Governor and a Lieutenant Governor who are willing to hold people accountable and are willing to praise success but willing to blow the whistle on failure when you find kids trapped in schools which will not teach and will not change. Now, they've got a good, positive agenda. They've got a good, positive agenda. When they get in there, they're going to represent everybody, not just those who voted for them, not just the 50 percent plus that voted for them. Laughter They're going to represent all the people. They believe in uniting people, not dividing people. They believe in rejecting old style politics. This team is going to be a breath of fresh air for the citizens of Massachusetts. I'm confident they'll make this State a safer, stronger, and better place. And that's what I want to do for our country. A stronger country a stronger country is one in which our citizens can find work that's a stronger country a country in which the job base is expanding, a country in which somebody who wants to put food on the table is able to do so. Too many of our citizens can't find work although we got some good news today, an indication that the economy has got the foundation for growth. The unemployment rate dropped, which is good news. But that's not good enough it's not good enough. There are still too many people who wonder whether or not they're going to be able to find employment. My job is to continue to insist upon growth, urge Congress to pass the necessary legislation to create the environment for growth. And we've got a good chance to do that before they go home to campaign, and that is to pass a terrorism insurance bill. Here's the problem we face in America Over 15 billion worth of construction projects have been put on hold or canceled because of the lack of terrorism insurance. See, after the enemy hit us on September the 11th, it distorted market. You can't find insurance you can't go forward with a project. And therefore, I think it's a useful tool of the Federal Government to provide to mitigate some of that risk. Congress has been talking about this, now, for a long time. The House of Representatives passed a bill. The Senate passed a bill. They're still talking about it. I'm convinced when they pass a good terrorism insurance bill that rewards hardhats and not trial lawyers, 300,000 additional Americans will find work. No, they get a bill to my desk they get a bill to my desk before they go home and help this economy. There's a lot of plumbers and bricklayers, ironworkers, good solid Americans who are going to more likely find work, 300,000 of them, if they can get these projects back. If Congress is worried about the economy like I am, they need to join us. They also need to make sure the tax cuts are permanent. Let me tell you my thoughts about tax relief. When your economy is kind of ooching along, it's important to let people have more of their own money. Here's the page out of the textbook here's the page out of the textbook that I believe is important. I know Romney feels the same way. If you let somebody keep more of their own money, they're likely to demand a good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service in this system, somebody is likely to produce that good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or a service, somebody is more likely to be able to find work. For the sake of job creation, for the sake of helping people put food on the table, the tax relief plan we passed came at the exact right time. And in that tax relief plan, we cut rates, which is good for small business creation. Most small businesses are sole proprietorships or limited partnerships. They pay their taxes at the income tax rate the personal income tax level. And so when you cut taxes, really what you're doing is, you're stimulating small business growth. Seventy percent of new jobs in America are created by small businesses. The tax cut was good for the small business owners. We slashed the marriage penalty. We want the Tax Code to encourage marriage and families, not discourage marriage. We did something really important for the entrepreneurs and new startups and farmers and ranchers. We put the death tax on its way to extinction. The death tax is bad it's a bad tax it's an unfair tax. But the reason I'm still having to talk about this issue is, because of a quirk in the law, how the rules in the Senate, that tax cut really doesn't go it doesn't stay permanent. It's like the Senate giveth with one hand and taketh away with the other. Laughter See, in 10 years' time, we revert back to where we were when the tax relief plan was passed. I know it doesn't make any sense, but that's just the way they operate over there. Laughter For the sake of job creation, for the sake of encouraging the entrepreneur to be able to plan, for the sake of making sure that our economy is strong and the foundation of growth is solid the United States Congress needs to make the tax cuts permanent. And they've got to do one other thing before they go out of town. They've got to remember whose money they're spending. Yes, it's not the Government's money it's the people's money. And I'm sad to report and I'm sad to report that the United States Senate could not pass a budget. That's a pretty scary thought. See, if you don't have a budget, if you don't have constraints in Washington, you're liable to get a little overspending, because, see, every idea sounds like a great idea there. Laughter Every idea is just fantastic. Laughter The problem is, they all come with billions of dollars' worth of price tags. If we overspend, it'll serve as a drag on economic growth and vitality. I submitted a budget that leads us toward getting back into balance. It sets priorities. For the sake of economic growth and jobs, the United States Congress must be fiscally responsible, must not overspend, must spend only on priorities and not that which they think will get them easily reelected. For the sake of job creation, we need fiscal sanity in Washington, DC. I am optimistic about our economy, but we've got more work to do. And I want you to know that I will spend a lot of time working to strengthen this economy in any way I can. Having said that, my number one priority is to make America a safer place, because I understand there's still an enemy out there which hates America. And I want to tell you why they hate us, at least my opinion about why they hate us. They hate us for what we love. They hate us because we love freedom. They hate us because we love the idea that people can worship an almighty God any way he or she sees fit. They hate us because we love political discourse in a free society. They hate us because of our free press. They hate everything about us because of our freedom. And there's another there are a lot of distinguishing features, but one of the most clear ones to me is this We value life in America. We say everybody is precious. Everybody counts. Every life has worth. Every life has dignity. They don't value life. They're willing to hijack a great religion and take innocent life in the name of that religion. And they're still out there. And so long as they're out there, the number one job of your Government is to protect innocent life, is to protect the enemy from hitting us again. You need to know there are a lot of good people working long hours to do everything in their power to disrupt, to find, to hunt down, to anything we can do, within the United States Constitution, to protect the American people. We're doing a better job of talking to each other. We're doing a better job of sharing information. We are on alert. We understand they're out there. There's a lot of fine folks at the Federal level, a lot of great police officers at the State and local level, a lot of people in the sheriff's department, a lot of emergency responders a lot of people working hard. But in order to make sure we do the job better, I have asked Congress to create what they call the Department of Homeland Security. And let me tell you why I asked them to do that. I asked them to do it because there's over a hundred agencies in Washington involved with homeland security. And they're scattered everywhere, and it seemed like to me, in order to make sure that we align authority and responsibility, they ought to be under one boss at least the functions for the homeland ought to be coordinated. If the number one priority of the Government is to protect you, we ought to have the ability to make sure that culture changes within agencies so it becomes the number one priority. And I asked Congress to join me. And the House passed a bill, and they still can't get it out of the Senate. They're fixing to go home, and they're still arguing over homeland security. And I'll tell you why There are some up there who believe that they ought to micromanage the process. And I'll give you an example. They want these work rules to make it difficult for the Secretary and the President and future Secretaries and Presidents to be able to move people to the right place at the right time in order to respond to an enemy. For example, if you're working for Customs, we thought it was a wise idea to have people wear radiation detection devices in order to be able to determine whether somebody is trying to smuggle weapons of mass destruction into America. The union wanted to take that to collective bargaining. It would have taken over a year to determine whether or not people could carry detection devices. That doesn't make any sense for me. We've got a border. We need to know who's coming in our country, what they're bringing in the country, why they're bringing what they're bringing into their country. We've got three different agencies on the border fine people, really good people working hard. I'm proud that I'm a Federal Federal employee with them. But we've got the Border Patrol and the INS and the Customs. They wear different uniforms. In some sectors, they may have different strategies. They need to be able to be knitted up. They need to be able to work in concert. They need to be able to do everything they can to make sure that we understand our borders are functioning properly. See, and I need the flexibility. We cannot leave a legacy behind of micromanagement and unnecessary work rules and inflexible inflexible rules on managers. I'm all for public employees being able to bargain collectively if that's what they choose to do. But I'm also for making sure the President, in the name of national security, has the capacity to put people at the right place at the right time to protect America. They need to get it done. They need to get something done up there. They need to get it to my desk before they go home. But the best way to protect our homeland, in the short run and in the long run, is to hunt the killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice. This is a different kind of war. I spent a lot of time talking to our fellow citizens about this, and it's important for America to understand. I think they do. This is a different kind of war. You don't measure progress in this war based upon the number of ships sunk or the numbers of tanks dismantled or the number of aircraft grounded. You measure progress in this war by the number of killers brought to justice, and that's why I say "hunting them down one person at a time," which is precisely the strategy we're employing. It starts with upholding doctrine. The doctrine which says, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy," still stands. We still got this coalition of freedom loving nations we're working together with. And we're hunting them down. The other day, one of them popped up popped his head up named bin al Shibh. He's no longer a problem. He would have been a problem he would have been a problem. This is the fellow that was bragging about the fact that, had he gotten a visa, he would have been one of the 20th he would have been the 20th killer that would have come to America and killed innocent lives. That's what he bragged about. Thanks to hard working the hard work of our intelligence folks and our United States military and our friends and allies, this guy is not a problem anymore, and neither are a couple of thousand of them just like him who have been detained. And about that many weren't as lucky. Slowly but surely, slowly but surely, we're dismantling the Al Qaida network. Sometimes you'll see it on your TV screens sometimes you won't. Sometimes I sent a significant increase in our defense spending, the largest since Ronald Reagan was the President, to the Congress for two reasons two reasons One, anytime we put our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment and secondly, I sent a message to friend and foe alike that, when it comes to the defense of our freedom, it comes to our desire to make the world more peaceful, there's no artificial deadline for America. There's no time when, all of a sudden, it says, well, we the calendar shows up, and it's time to quit. There's no quit in this country because we love freedom we love our peace. We owe it to our children and our children's children. I asked Congress to get the defense bill to my desk. The House passed it. The Senate passed it. But they haven't come to conclusion yet. They need to get it to my desk before they go home. I hope they will. I know there's a lot of good people from both parties working hard to get the bill done. But we're at war, and at the very minimum, they ought to get the defense bill passed in time of war and get it to my desk before they go home. I want to remind you all about what I said earlier. We value each life. Everybody counts. That is not just for American life that's every life, by the way. That's what America thinks. I want to remind you as well that when we upheld the doctrine that says, "If you harbor a terrorist and feed one of them, you're just as guilty as the terrorist" and when we upheld that doctrine in Afghanistan, we went in not to conquer anybody we went in to liberate people from the clutches of a barbaric regime. You need to tell your children you need to tell children who wonder about this war, about the nature of your country that we love peace, that we're going to secure our homeland, and that, thanks to the United States of America in the first theater of the first war of the 21st century, many young girls now go to school for the first time that this country loves freedom, and we value each and every life. We also must recognize threats when we see them, and deal with them. See, September 11th taught us a new lesson about our vulnerabilities. Prior to that, it used to be that we could be protected by two oceans. And unrest or what was going on in a different part of the world it might have been okay sometimes, because we were protected. No longer is that the case. We're now the battlefield, because of what we believe in and what we hold dear. And since we're never going to relinquish those freedoms or love for freedom, since we're never going to back down from the things we hold dear, we'll continue to be a battlefield until the world is more secure. We've got a true threat facing us, a threat that faces our very homeland. And that is Saddam Hussein. And I want to explain to you about Saddam Hussein, just quickly, if I might. This is a man who has used weapons of mass destruction. He used them on his own people. He used them on his neighbors. This is a man who said he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction, yet he does. This is a man who, 11 years ago, said he wouldn't harbor terrorists he wouldn't develop chemical or biological weapons. This is a man who said he would free prisoners. He has lied and deceived and denied for 11 long years. This is a man who continues to torture people in his own country who disagree with him. He's a coldblooded killer. This is a man who I believe strongly thinks he can use terrorist networks to foster his own ambitions. This is a man who, when they went into Iraq the first time, it was discovered that he was a short period away from developing a nuclear weapon. This is a man who has invaded two countries. This is a man who is a threat he's a threat to the United States he's a threat to Israel he's a threat to neighbors of his. He is a threat. My job is to protect the American people. My job is to anticipate. And so I went to the United Nations. I went to the United Nations because I want the United Nations to be effective. I went to the United Nations and to remind them that for 11 years, this man has defied 16 resolutions. Time and time and time again, he has ignored the United Nations. I basically said, "You can be an effective body to help us keep the peace, or you can be the League of Nations." It's up to them. It's up to them. We will continue to work with our friends in the United Nations for peace, to deal with threats, to not ignore reality. I want the United Nations to be effective. I want them to do their job of disarming Saddam Hussein. The choice is theirs, and the choice is also Mr. Saddam Hussein's choice. There are no negotiations. There's nothing to negotiate. He said he wouldn't have weapons of mass destruction, and that's what those of us who love peace expect. We expect him not to have weapons of mass destruction. But I want to tell you all, for the sake of our freedom, for the sake of peace, if the United Nations won't make the decision, if Saddam Hussein continues to lie and deceive, the United States will lead a coalition to disarm this man before he harms America and our friends. The military's not my first choice, but peace is peace is my first choice. And we're not what I just told you is a sentiment that's becoming more and more shared in Washington. I was honored this week to stand on the steps of the Rose Garden with Speaker Hastert, Minority Leader Gephardt, Leader Lott, Senator Lieberman, Senator McCain, Senator Bayh, just to name a few of both Republicans and Democrats who are coming together to speak with one voice, a voice out of concern for the future of our country and for the future of our friends. This country next week will be having a big debate on a really important, historic resolution. I welcome the debate. This is not a political debate. It's a debate about peace and security. I also think it's about a debate about responsibility for those of us who've been given high office. I believe we have a responsibility to speak clearly, to defend that which we hold dear, to be determined. And by doing so, we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace for America by speaking strongly against terror, by holding our line, the values we hold free of freedom. We can achieve peace in the Middle East. We can achieve peace in South Asia. I know the enemy hit us, but out of the evil done to America that day has a chance to come a more peaceful world. They also hit us, and out of the evil done to America that day can come a better world for America, too. You know, I don't know what was on their mind. They probably thought that, after September the 11th, 2001, somebody might file a lawsuit or two. Laughter They didn't know. They didn't know who they're dealing with. They're dealing with a great country, a country which can be tough but a country which also can be compassionate. See, in our midst of plenty, there are people who hurt in America, people who are addicted, people who are lost. When you say "American Dream," they go, "What the heck are you talking about American Dream?" They don't know. And when one of us hurts, we all got to realize all of us hurt in this country. We must do everything we can to eradicate those pockets of despair. And the best way to do so, in my judgment, is to unleash the character of our country. See, Government can hand out money, and sometimes we do a pretty darn good job of it. Laughter But what Government cannot do is put hope in people's hearts or sense of purpose in people's lives. That's done when a fellow American hears the universal call to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to fight evil here in America, do some good. You see, it's the millions of acts of kindness and compassion that really define the true character of our country and will enable us to defy the killers by making this country a more compassionate and decent place. Mentor a child. Help a shut in. Start a Boys Club or a Girls Club. Tell somebody you love them. These acts of kindness don't have to be huge they've just got to be significant enough to change America one person at a time. No, they hit us they hit us they didn't know what they were getting into. They had no idea what they were getting into. I truly believe that this country is going to be a stronger and better place, because I understand the nature of America. See, a lot of us took a step back after what happened to us that day and realized there's something more important in life than self, something more important in life than materialism, that being a patriot is somebody more than just puts their hand over their heart being a patriot is somebody who does love a neighbor. And that's going across all across this land. You know, I first got into politics because I believed that I could make a difference in helping change a culture, from one which said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." See, I was hoping to help usher in a period of personal responsibility, when each of us understands we're responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're responsible if you're a mother or dad, your most important responsibility is to love your child with all your heart and all your soul. If you're living if you're living in Boston, Massachusetts, you're responsible for helping people in need, not some faraway government. If you're running a corporation, you're responsible for telling the truth to your employees and your shareholders and the public. It's happening it's happening. Perhaps the most vivid example was Flight 93, people flying across the country. They heard from their loved ones that the plane was going to be used as a weapon. They said goodbye. They used the word "love" a lot. They said a prayer. A guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane into the ground to serve something greater than themselves in life. No, the enemy hit us. But see, they didn't know they didn't know the character of this great country. They didn't realize that this country is a country which will fight for peace, lead the world for peace. And this is a country which will make sure that everybody who lives here understands that the great American experience, the great hope of this country, is available for everybody. There's no doubt in my mind we can accomplish these objectives, because America is the greatest country, full of the finest people, on the face of the Earth. God bless. October 03, 2002 Thanks for coming today. We're talking about a serious subject, which is jobs the ability for people to find work in America. I spend a lot of my time worrying about the job security of our fellow citizens. And after last year's terrorist attacks that destroyed life and destroyed building, you've got to recognize they hurt our economy as well. We responded to those attacks with incredible unity, and I'm grateful. And the enemy is not. But we need to show the same unity and resolve to get our people back to work. Too many Americans are looking for work, and they can't find work. The economic signs are good they are. Interest rates are low. Inflation is low. Our workers are the most productive in the world. Our entrepreneurs are the most productive in the world. And that's incredibly positive. Yet, we can't be satisfied until anybody who is looking for work can find a job. That's what we've got to do here in America. And we can do more in Washington, DC. Before these folks go home, there is something they can do to help help America's hardhats get back to work on big construction projects. If there is concern, like I know there is, about our fellow citizens, concern here in Washington about people being able to find work, the Congress can help by passing a terrorism insurance bill now. We have been talking about this up here for a year. And our workers cannot wait any longer. And so my call on the Congress is to reach an agreement by tomorrow, so by the time they go home, I can sign a bill, a bill which will increase our job base by the thousands. I want to thank the business leaders who are here who see the crying need for a terrorism insurance bill. I want to thank the carpenter union members who stand behind me who are here to represent the fellow members of their unions who, if they're not working, want to work people that are putting bread on the table for their families. I want to thank the members of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers for coming here as well. We've been working with their leaders to try to convince Congress to move this important piece of legislation. This is a jobs bill. It's important for our country. After September the 11th, it's important for our fellow citizens to understand that many insurance companies stopped covering builders and real estate owners against the risk of terrorist attacks. One of the effects of the attack of September the 11th, 2001, was a lot of folks couldn't find insurance. Many of those who provide coverage provide only limited coverage at high rates, with too many restrictions to provide real security. Congress's inaction on terrorism is threatening our jobs. They can move and need to, to help the economy, because, you see, one recent survey shows that more than 15 billion in real estate transactions have been terminated or put on hold because the lack of terrorism insurance 15 billion of job creating projects are not moving forward. More than 300,000 jobs are on hold. That's a lot of folks. That's a lot of joiners and bricklayers and plumbers and other building professionals who can find good paying work. Construction jobs are at a 3year low, as nonresidential construction is down more than 15 percent from a year ago. The fact that there is no terrorism insurance is affecting commerce and job creation. Last week the bond raters at Moody's downgraded 4.5 billion worth of commercial mortgage backed securities because of the lack of available terrorism insurance. Congress has failed to act. Congress has got to act now, before they go home. They've got to get a bill to my desk tomorrow, for the sake of creditworthiness and jobs. One of the buildings affected, believe it or not, is Rockefeller Center, right there in Manhattan, which as of Tuesday has very little terrorism insurance. So Rockefeller Center will get a bad credit rating because we haven't acted here in Washington, DC. Lower security ratings affect people who have money in the bond market. That includes pension funds, including the funds of many public service employees, like teachers and police and firefighters. See, when the bond ratings go down, bond prices fall, and workers' retirement savings are threatened. That's one of the effects of the failure to have terrorism insurance here out of Washington, DC. The problem of finding terrorism insurance is widespread it's just not isolated to New York City. We're talking about 15 billion worth of projects on hold we're talking about 15 billion worth of projects all across America, not just where the terrorists hit. The Building and Owners Building Owners and Managers Association found that more than a quarter of the owners in their survey could not get terrorism insurance at any cost. Of the owners who could get insurance, 80 percent of them faced caps on their coverage, higher deductibles, quick cancellation clauses, exclusions for chemical and biological attacks, or premium increases that ranged from 20 to 200 percent. These costs, which are in the billions, get eventually passed on. We pay for them. Right now, hospitals and office buildings and malls and museums and many transportation companies are all having difficulty finding terrorism coverage. Without coverage, the economic impact of another terrorist attack would be incredibly serious. We could face a string of bankruptcies and loan defaults and layoffs that would intensify the economic effects of an attack. Enacting terrorism insurance will cost us nothing if we experience no further attacks. And you need to know your Federal Government is doing everything we possibly can do so that we experience no further attacks. We're tightening up the homeland security, and I want the Senate to give me a good bill on homeland security. And we're chasing these killers down, one person at a time, to protect the homeland. Yet, if there is an attack, without insurance it will be even more devastating than the last attack. It will mean tens of thousands of new jobs if we can get a terrorism insurance bill. It will mean billions in new investment. It will mean healthier pension and retirement systems. If we have terrorism insurance and, God forbid, we have another attack on America, we will be able to compensate our victims more quickly and limit the economic damage. That's a reality. Congress must get it done. I want to remind them that the House passed a terrorism insurance bill last November, and the Senate got one done in June. Under the legislation, private insurance would pay for damages up to a certain amount. The Federal Government would guarantee against catastrophic losses. I support that concept, for the reasons I've just described. Major construction programs will go forward if we can get a good piece of legislation. Their friends will be working. The country will be more confident if we can get a good bill. Our markets will be reassured. It's an incredibly important piece of legislation. I met with members of both parties in both Houses this week. I told them essentially what I've described to you the need to get something done. I believe they are close to an agreement. I know that they can come together. And they ought to resolve the issue of liability as well. My position, I think, reflects the position of most Americans, and it's this that we should prevent the victims of a terrorist attack from being held liable for punitive damages, which are damages over and above the amount needed to compensate the injured person. When an American business has been targeted for a terrorist attack, we should not further punish it and the people it employs, subjecting it to predatory lawsuits and punitive damages. Congress needs to hear that message. This provision was agreed to by a bipartisan group in the Senate last fall. They have come together on it before. It was prevented from going forward. That must not happen again, for the sake of our working people in America. The Members can decide at any moment to finalize the bill and send it to my desk. It's just not that far away. My call for getting it done tomorrow is realistic, if people could put their mind to it. I know the Members involved. I know they care deeply about the future of our country. See, this isn't a political issue this is a jobs issue. I know they care, and I know they can get it done. And for the sake of economic security, they must get it done. For the sake of good, hard working Americans, they need to resolve their differences quickly and get me to the desk. I want to thank you all for coming. I want to assure you that we are making progress on a lot of fronts, most notably on securing the homeland. Now that I've got you stuck here laughter I want you to understand this is a different kind of war that we fight. See, in the old days you could measure progress by saying, "Well, we've destroyed X tanks or Y airplanes or sunk several ships." That's not the kind of war this Nation now fights. We fight a war against coldblooded killers who hide in caves and send youngsters to their suicidal death. They do so because and they hate us because we love freedom. See, they hate for what we love. We love our freedoms, and we're not going to relinquish our freedoms. And the stronger we hold on to our freedoms, the more they hate us. And so we've got to button up our homeland. And I spoke to that earlier today. You'll hear the debate about homeland security. The Congress some in the Congress want to take away some of the powers that every President has had to be able to more securely affect, in this case, homeland security. I'm not going to let them do that. It just doesn't make any sense not to have managerial the managerial ability to move the right people to the right place at the right time to protect America. And I insist that that happen. But the best way to protect the homeland is to find these killers. And that's exactly what our country is doing, one person at a time. It's like an international manhunt. And we're making progress. The reason I want to talk to you real quick is because I want you to understand that we are making progress on making America more secure. We that is, a coalition of like minded nations have hauled in over a thousand, couple of thousand of these people. One fellow popped his head up the other day, bin al Shibh, and he's no longer a threat because he has been detained. See, the doctrine that says, "Either you're with us or with the enemy," still holds. It's an important doctrine. It's as important today as it was 13 months ago. And a like number of those folks aren't quite as lucky. They're not around to hurt us, either, but for different reasons. We're dismantling the terrorist network, which hates America, one person at a time. And if you've got a relative in the military, you need to know I've got a lot of confidence in our folks who wear the uniform. And I want to thank you for their sacrifice. I asked the Congress to pass a defense bill which says if our troops go into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. I have yet to see the defense bill. And not only do I want to see a terrorism insurance bill before they go home, I want to see a defense bill on my desk before they go home as well. We owe that to our soldiers. We owe it to the soldiers' families, and we owe it to the world for them to hear that no matter how long it takes, no matter how long it takes to defend our freedom and defend civilization, itself, the United States of America will stay the course. See, we love freedom, and we're not going to relinquish that love. And the war on terror extends beyond just a terrorist network. The war on terror extends to the world's worst leaders, which have and want to develop and hurt us and our friends and allies with the world's worst weapons. We must not allow these people this guy, Saddam Hussein to continue to defy the world. He has said he would disarm. I have called upon the United Nations to disarm him. I have given this body a chance to show the world whether they will be the United Nations, an effective body, or the League of Nations. And I don't believe we can afford to have a League of Nations again. And I want them to be effective I want it to work. There is a coalition of friends that are joining us to call upon accountability accountability with Mr. Saddam Hussein, who lies, kills his own people, poisons his own citizens with weapons of mass destruction, who hates America, hates Israel, hates our friends and allies. He must be held to account. The choice is his, and the choice is the United Nations to deal with this man, to hold him to account. And if they won't, for the sake of our freedoms and our securities, we cannot allow the world's worst leader to hold us hostage and to harm America with the world's worst weapons. We owe it to our children. The war on terror is more than just Al Qaida. And I believe we can achieve peace by speaking clearly, by delineating good and evil, by talking about terror and its effects, and by leading people who understand the stakes. And so out of the evil done to this country, I believe there's going to come some incredible good, and that's peace. I long for peace for America. I want to be able to say that history has called us to action, and we left the world more peaceful for our children. But I believe by remaining strong, we can leave a legacy of peace in other parts of the world too. I believe peace is possible in the Middle East, if we're tough and determined and delineate good from evil and fight terror at all costs. And I believe we can achieve peace in South Asia. No, the enemy hit us, but they didn't know who they were hitting. They probably thought we'd file a lawsuit or two. Laughter But instead, they found a nation which is strong and determined, a nation which will stick to our values, a nation which is a compassionate nation as well. Listen, thank you all for coming. I appreciate the chance to God bless. October 03, 2002 Thank you all for coming, and welcome to the White House compound. It's my honor to represent to welcome you all here, to thank you for serving your communities and thank you for serving your Nation. Some of you are seeking office for the first time, and I think you'll find this to be a fantastic experience. Some of you have sought and won, and I want to congratulate you for that, and thanks for serving. My job is, of course, to promote the diversity of America, to herald the fact that one of the great strengths of America is the fact that we're diverse and that we welcome diversity in this country. And we welcome diversity and celebrate diversity all kinds of ways, and one of the ways is that we've got Hispanic Heritage Month. And we recognize Hispanic Heritage Month here at the White House, and we do so in a variety of ways. One way, of course, is to remind people that I've picked some fabulous Americans who happen to be Hispanic to serve our country. Everybody has got to have a good lawyer. Laughter Mi abogado es magnifico. Laughter And I want to thank Al Gonzales for his friendship. There's no better advisor. He's a steady hand who knows the law, and he's doing a great, great job for the country. Ruben Barrales, who runs a very key department here in the White House I know you're going to hear from Ruben, if you haven't already. He's a good young star and a fine guy. Rosario Marin is the Treasurer of the United States. Rosario, thank you for coming. I appreciate you being here. If you're interested in finding good examples of people who have won and who have served with distinction, you need to look no farther than two from Florida and one from Texas laughter Congressman Henry Bonilla, who is a fine, fine applause and of course, Lincoln Diaz Balart y tambien Ileana Ros Lehtinen. I appreciate you all for coming. And I see you brought along Mario, tu hermano. Laughter Mario, it's good to see you again. Mario Diaz Balart is a State rep out of the State of Florida, a fine member of the delegation. He's a popular not only a popular candidate but a popular public servant. And he takes his instructions from his brother laughter actually, from his mother. Laughter Dora Irizarry is here. She is a candidate for the attorney general of the State of New York. Dora, good luck, buena suerte. Thanks for coming. We've got a lot of other great candidates none other than the next Governor of the State of New Mexico, Juan Sanchez. Thank you for coming, John. I would spend all my time heralding those of you in the legislative branch or in the executive branch, but I've got some other things on my mind. But before I do, I also want to make sure there is diversity in the judicial branch. I have named a really good man to the bench, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, named Miguel Estrada. And I expect the United States Senate to treat this man with respect. I don't want to see the same thing that happened to some of my other candidates, in that they distort his record. I don't want them to distort his record like they did Ms. Owen's or Mr. Pickering. For the sake of a good, strong Federal bench, for the sake of recognizing this man's intelligence and his capabilities, the Senate needs to confirm Miguel Estrada. Let me share some things that are on my mind, things that I've spent a lot of time thinking about. First is jobs. I think a lot I spend a lot of time thinking about jobs here in America. I want people to find work. I want people to be able to put bread on the table. I want this country to continue to promote policies that encourage job growth. That's what we ought to be asking here in Washington What can we do to encourage there to be job growth? The economy is not like it should be. There are some encouraging signs. Of course, interest rates are low inflation is low productivity amongst our workers and producers is the best in the world and that's incredibly positive. The foundation for growth is there. The foundation was somewhat troubled by the fact that we had some of our corporate citizens decide they weren't going to tell the truth. They fudged the numbers to deceive shareholder and employee alike. We're taking care of that. I've signed the most comprehensive corporate reform since Franklin Roosevelt was the President. You might have noticed yesterday, people are being brought to justice here in America. We expect there to be corporate responsibility in America, and we will enforce the law to make sure there is corporate responsibility in America. We're also dealing with things here in Congress to help people have more money. We believe very strongly that when a person has more money in his or her pocket, it is more likely to increase the job base, because if you have more money, you demand a good or a service. When you demand a good or a service, somebody will produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces a good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work. Tax relief was incredibly important at this moment in our American history. Tax relief will help stimulate job growth because it helps stimulate the growth of small businesses. There are a lot of Latino owned small businesses in America. One of the great success stories about our economy and about our Nation is the fact that a lot of people realize their dreams through owning their own business. One of the fastest growing sectors of small business in the country is Latino owned businesses. And the tax relief plan was really good for small businesses here in America. And the Congress needs to make them permanent. In order to make sure that we grow our economy, we've got to make sure Congress doesn't overspend. The Senate doesn't even have a budget. If you don't have a budget, it makes it hard to be fiscally sound with the people's money. Sometimes here in Washington, people forget whose money we spend. See, they think it's the Government's money it's not it's the people's money. And we've got to be sound when we spend the people's money. We ought to fund priorities, but as they head out of town, the Congress must not overspend. For the sake of job creation and job growth, they must be realistic with the people's money. I submitted a budget that will get us to balance a budget that if there's fiscal discipline, we can get back to balance. And Congress needs to not only remember whose money they spend, but Congress must not overspend on their as they're trying to get out of town. And finally, there are some things that we can do here to create jobs for working people. We need to have a terrorism insurance package. You see, there's a lot of folks that cannot get insurance, a lot of construction programs that aren't going forward because people can't get insurance, because of what the terrorists did. It's estimated there's over 300,000 hardhats that could be working, 300,000 hardhat jobs that are delayed. Those are our fellow Americans who aren't getting the chance to employ their skills. This afternoon, I'm going to be talking about this issue more. But if Congress truly is interested in joining with me to do everything we can to expand the job base, they need to get a terrorism insurance package before they go home. It's good for the hardhats of America. The security of the country is on my mind, too. See, there's an enemy which still hates America, and they want to hit us. It's just reality. And therefore, we've got to do everything we can to protect the homeland. I spend a lot of time worrying about the job security of the American people. I spend a lot of time worrying about the homeland security of the American people as well. It's my number one priority right now as the President, to protect our homeland. We must do everything we can to protect innocent life here at home. I'm sure people have have asked you, you know, why why would the enemy hate America? Your kids are probably saying, "Why would they hate America?" And you've got to tell them it's because they hate us for what we love. We love freedom. We love the freedom to worship the way we see fit. We love the freedom to speak our mind. We love the freedom to campaign. We love the freedom of the press. We love all our freedoms. We love our diversity. We love the fact that God has created people equal. We love that. We value life in America. Everybody is precious. Everybody has worth. Everybody counts. And we're not changing our mind about those values and our freedom. The enemy hates freedom they hate innocent life. They are willing to take innocent life and, at the same time, hijack a great religion. And so long as they are out there, we must do everything we can to defend the homeland which means I need the capacity here in Washington to assure the American people that the good folks at the Federal level are doing everything they can to protect you. There's over 100 agencies involved with homeland security, and so I decided, in order to make the protection of the homeland the number one priority, that we ought to bundle all those up to the extent possible and put them under one agency, so that there is authority and responsibility, so that we can set the legacy for future Presidents to be able to better protect the homeland. And we're having a pretty good debate here in Washington. The House of Representatives, thankfully, passed a bill that is a good bill. The Senate is still struggling with the bill. They need to get it done before they go home. The let me just tell you what the problem is, so you can get a sense of why I have some frustrations with what is taking place in the Senate. First of all, the frontline troops, the employees who are working on your behalf, are really good people good, honorable, hard working people. And they are people that the morale of which is going to be in the interest of any President or any Secretary of Homeland Security. In other words, we've got to make sure that morale is high in order for us to better do our jobs. So there should be no question in any employee's mind about the intentions of a President or a future President, that we want people to have job satisfaction in order to be able to do the job. But we also need to have the authority necessary to succeed in the critical mission. We've got to have the ability to put the right people at the right place at the right time in order to protect America. Many of you come from border communities or border States. You know full well that on our borders, there's three different agencies involved with protecting the border, agencies of good, hard working people, but sometimes agencies with different strategies and different approaches. And sometimes those different strategies and different approaches can promote gaps in security. And we've got to have the capacity to do everything we can to protect the American people from somebody who would want to bring a weapon into our country, for example. In other words, we've got to be able to let the hard working people in these agencies better do their job. We can't be constrained by work rules that prevent us from doing a better job, and that's the debate. The Senate and some Members of the Senate want to deny this President and future Presidents the authority of the ability to protect our national security, the ability in some cases to suspend collective bargaining for the sake of national security. That ability has been granted from Jimmy Carter on. President Kennedy had the authority Jimmy Carter was President when they codified it into law. It doesn't make any sense, in a time of war, to take away that part of the Presidential authority. It just doesn't make any sense to me. It's very important that the President have the capacity to determine that vital national security interests take priority over standard rules governing management and labor relations. What's really interesting is that if this authority is not applied to the Department of Homeland Security, it still will be applied to Departments such as the Department of Education or the Department of Agriculture. Those are vital Departments, but does it make sense to allow the authority to exist in the Department of Agriculture but not in the new Department of Homeland Security? Of course it doesn't make any sense. And that's why the Senate must be realistic and reasonable as it approaches this very important issue about how to leave a legacy of homeland security in place. I will not accept a rollback in the authority that other Presidents have had, and the Senate must understand that. The Senate must understand that I have a duty not only to protect the American people but a duty to protect the prerogatives of the President. If it's good enough for the Department of Agriculture, if this authority is good enough for the employees of the Department of Education or HHS, it certainly should be good enough for the Department of Homeland Security. We need flexibility to deal with emerging threats. The Customs Service, for example, decided to require inspectors at the Nation's 301 ports to wear radiation detection devices. The world changed. We are worried about weapons of mass destruction coming into our country, and so the Customs Service said "Why don't we have our folks wear radiation detection devices to be able to pick up any possible signal." The devices work, and they're an important part of somebody being able to do their job. Under the rules that some Senators support, the union that represents the Customs would be able to say, "You can't do that. That must be voluntary." For the that doesn't make any sense to me, that we not that we have to work through a process that would enable our hard working Customs officials to be able to do that which they think is necessary to protect America. And we can't afford sitting around for a year debating whether or not wearing devices ought to be voluntary or not. Collective bargaining is important. I support the idea of workers being able to have collective bargaining. But we need to be able to manage the new agency so that we can best protect the American people. And I call upon the Senate to understand the importance of what I just said. The best way to protect America is to hunt the killers down, one at a time. And that's what we're going to do. This is a different kind of war. It is a war which is not going to be measured in terms of territories gained or tanks destroyed or flotilla destroyed. It's a war in which we're going through an international manhunt, one killer at a time, and bringing people to justice which means it's essential we continue to uphold the doctrine that says, "Either you're with us, or you're with them." And that doctrine still stands, and there's a lot of really fine countries, with good leaders, working with us to find these killers and to bring them to justice. And we're just doing just that. Sometimes you'll read about it sometimes you won't read about it. That's the kind of war this is. Sometimes there's achievements that they'll be blasting out over the cables, and people will be talking about it forever, and sometimes you just won't know what's taking place. But you've got to know, we're making progress. We've hauled in over a couple of thousand of these we got a guy the other day, who popped his head up and is now no longer a threat to America. He's the one that was going to be the 20th hijacker, and he's no longer available for action with the enemy. It takes a lot of work it takes a lot of work. It takes a strong military. And for those of you who have got loved ones in the military, you've got to know, I've got great confidence in our troops. And I want to thank you for your service, and I want to thank you for their service. And the United States Congress must get a defense appropriations bill to my desk before they go home. I asked for the largest increase in defense spending since President Reagan was the President, because I want our troops to have the best pay, the best training, and best possible equipment. And I want to send a message to the world When it comes to the defense of our freedom, there's no artificial timeline. When it comes to defending America, civilization, the ability for our children to grow up in a free society it doesn't matter how long it takes. This great Nation will stay the course. So I expect there to be a defense bill on my desk. I know that Members of the House and Senate are working hard to reconcile their differences, and I appreciate that. There needs to be a bill on my desk before they go home. There's going to be an important message to determine important message we send to the world. And so we're making progress on that front of the war against terror. But there are other fronts on the war against terror that we must deal with. We must deal with countries run by people who are some of the world's worst leaders, who harbor, develop, want to hurt us with the world's worst weapons. That's a form of terror. The war on terror is more than just Al Qaida the war on terror is to deal with nations who have terrorized their own people and have intention to terrorize us. See, oceans no longer protect us. There's a new era in America. There's a new threat that faces us. And we've got to deal with these threats. I made the decision to deal with these the threat of Iraq in an international community. I've called upon other nations to join us, and there will be other nations joining us to help disarm Iraq. We'll determine whether or not the U.N. Security Council wants to live up to its obligations. After all, for 11 long years the dictator in Iraq, the man who has gassed his own people, gassed people in his neighborhood, the man who's expressly expressed his hatred for America and our friends and allies we'll see whether or not the United Nations will be the United Nations or the League of Nations when it comes to dealing with this man who for 11 years has thumbed his nose at resolution after resolution after resolution after resolution. My intent, of course, is for the United Nations to do its job. I think it'll make it easier for us to keep the peace. My intent is for the world to understand that the obligation is up to Saddam Hussein to disarm like he said he would do. My intent is to put together a vast coalition of countries who understand the threat of Saddam Hussein. The military option is my last choice, not my first it's my last choice. But Saddam has got to understand, the United Nations must know, that the will of this country is strong. Yesterday I had the honor of standing on the steps of the White House, at the Rose Garden, with the Republican leader and Democrat leader alike Speaker Hastert and Leader Gephardt, Trent Lott and Joe Lieberman, John McCain and Evan Bayh Member after Member who has committed to join with the administration to send a clear signal that when it comes to defending our freedom, the United States of America will stand united and stand strong. The choice is up to the United Nations to show its resolve. The choice is up to Saddam Hussein to fulfill its word his word. And if neither of them acts, the United States, in deliberate fashion, will lead a coalition to take away the world's worst weapons from one of the world's worst leaders. I say that because I have a deep desire for peace, peace in America, peace in the Middle East. I believe peace is possible. I believe that out of the evil done to America can come some really some good. And one of the good is international peace I believe that. And therefore, I will continue to speak clearly about good and evil, continue to renounce terrorism in any form, continue to lead the world toward peace, peace not only for ourselves but, because we value all human life, peace in parts of the world that have given up on peace. I know at home we can be a better country, too. The great country of ours must recognize there are pockets of despair and hopelessness in America. Amongst our plenty, there are people who hurt. So long as any of us hurt, we all should hurt. But I believe that this country can solve any problem put in its path, and one of those is to help inspire all Americans to understand the greatness of this country. One way to do so, to make a better country, is to make sure that everybody is educated. I passed a really good bill with the Congress and signed a really good bill. They passed it I signed it. Laughter I worked with them. And it says this Every child can learn. See, every child can learn. And this country will challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. This plan recognizes it's so easy to quit on children whose parents may not speak English as a first language. It's easy just to shuffle them through say, "You know, these kids can't learn move them through." We insist upon strong accountability. If you receive Federal money, you've got to measure, because we believe every child can learn. And therefore, we want to know we want to know. We must have the courage as citizens of the country to blow the whistle on failure when we find our children trapped in schools which will not teach and will not change. A better America is one that takes care of our seniors, with a good health care system. Medicine has changed Medicare hasn't. Medicine has changed, and yet the old system hasn't changed with it. And we've got to change Medicare. For the good of our seniors, we need prescription drug benefits for our seniors. We need a modern Medicare system. But the best way to change America is for America to really rely upon the true strength of the country, which is the people of the country. See, Government can hand out money, but it cannot put love in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That is done when one of our fellow citizens finds somebody who hurts and puts their arm around him or her, and says, "I love you. What can I do to help you? What can I do to make sure you understand the American Dream is meant for you?" That could be mentoring a child, teaching a child to read. That could be running a Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop, teaching a child values. That could be making sure somebody has got food if they're hungry. See, the great strength of America is the heart and soul of the people of this country. And so what's happened is, and it seems like to me, is that the evil ones hit us America took a step back and said, "In order to fight evil, we all must do some good." And my call to the fellow my fellow Americans is Love somebody just like you'd like to be loved yourself that if you're interested in fighting the evil done to us, it doesn't take much, just a small act of kindness and generosity on a daily basis. And it's that gathering momentum of the millions of acts of kindness and generosity and compassion which takes place in America that truly defines the character of this Nation. I want to thank you all for serving this Nation. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. October 02, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much. Thanks. The reason this is such a successful event is because people know that Bob Ehrlich will make a great Governor for Maryland. I believe it, and that's why I'm here. I believe that's the reason why Democrats and Republicans support this good man because he's honest, he's hard working, and he's got a positive vision for everybody who lives in the State of Maryland. I'm here because this man is somebody who wants to unite this State, not divide it. And I'm here because he married well. I appreciate Kendel, and I know Bob does as well. And I want you to know, I appreciate Laura, too. She's sorry she can't be here tonight. She is you know, when I married her, she was a public school librarian. She was living in Texas, and so was I. The truth of the matter is she didn't like politics then. Laughter And she wasn't too fond of politicians either. Laughter And here she is, married to me. Laughter But people, as they've gotten to know Laura, now know the reason why I asked her to marry me. She's really a fine, fine lady. A lot of her buddies are wondering why she said yes. Laughter But she does send her best and sends all her support to the Ehrlichs and wishes them all the best and joins me in urging the people of Maryland to give this good man a chance to be the Governor of this important State. I have known the next Lieutenant Governor for a while. He's a good, solid citizen of the State of Maryland. He'll work well with Bob. It is an honor to be on the podium with the next Lieutenant Governor of the State of Maryland, Michael Steele. And I had the honor of meeting his good wife, Andrea, and I appreciate Andrea standing by her man during this tough campaign here. Campaigns are hard. They're not easy on a family. But I appreciate I appreciate her joining Michael in this race. I'm honored to be back with former Congressman, soon to be Congresswoman Helen Bentley. I figure that when she wins, she'll be telling me what to do. Laughter And those of you know, who know Helen, know that I'd better listen. Laughter It's great to see Helen. I love her spirit. I know she's going to win. I'm also proud to be here with Ellen Sauerbrey, who's the national committeewoman. I want to thank Chairman Louis Pope of the Republican Party. I want to thank all the grassroots activists who are here. I want to thank you for Audience member. Inaudible Laughter The President. I didn't ask for any speeches I just said laughter . Okay, let me tell you what you're going to have to do then. Laughter I want to thank you for what you're going to do, which is to turn out the vote. Listen, a lot of you never get thanked enough. I'm thanking you. I'm thanking you for dialing the phones and putting up the signs and for mailing the letters. I'm thanking you for going to your community centers and your coffee shops. I'm thanking you for supporting this ticket ahead of time, because they need your help, and they want your work. You've got to talk it up between now and election day. And you've got to find those Ehrlich voters and make sure they go to the polls, and this man will be your next Governor. And there's some reasons why. You need somebody who can manage your government, somebody who knows how to balance the books without raising the taxes on the taxpayers that's what you need. You need somebody who can make a tough decision who doesn't need a poll or a focus group to tell him how to think, somebody who stands on principle, somebody who will do in office what he says he will do. And when he says he won't raise your taxes, he won't raise your taxes. I appreciate the fact that Governor Ehrlich will set education as the number one priority for this State. The way I used to put it when I was a Governor, I said, "Education is to a State what national defense is to the Federal Government." Education has got to be the number one priority of your Governor, and it will be Bob's number one priority. We share the same philosophy. It says, "Every child can learn." That's what we believe. See, that's important to have in your Governor's office, somebody who's willing to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. You see, if you lower standards, if you lower the bar, you're going go get lousy results. And that's not fair for the children. Governor Ehrlich will raise the standards. He'll trust the local people to manage their way to excellence. But he and I agree on this, and that is, we've got to know. See, as a society, we've got to measure to determine whether or not our children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. It is essential that you have a Governor who is strong on accountability. You see, if you believe every child can learn, then you're willing to measure. If you believe certain children can't learn, then you don't care, and you don't measure. But in order to make sure no child gets left behind in the State of Maryland, you must have a Governor who uses the accountability system to praise those teachers and principals who succeed on behalf of the children but also someone who is willing to challenge the schools which will not teach and will not change. Bob Ehrlich will be a Governor who will make sure that no child is left behind in the State of Maryland. The job of a Governor is to create an environment in which people can find work and the economy grows. That's why he is insistent upon infrastructure, to be wise about the use of taxpayers' money, to expand the asset base which will encourage private sector growth. I love his vision about the Port of Baltimore and the Baltimore Washington International Airport. He understands job creation. See, that's what he knows. And it's important to have somebody in the Governor's office who understands how jobs are created. The role of Government isn't to create wealth. The role of Government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneur can realize his or her dreams, in which small businesses can grow to be big businesses. That's the kind of Governor you need. He'll be effective. He's smart. He's compassionate, and his record speaks to his compassion. He worked for tax credits for parents who adopt children. He worked hard to make sure there's equal health insurance benefits for the mentally ill. He works to have increased access to individuals in the workplace who may be disabled. See, that's the kind of Governor you want. You want somebody who's tough when it comes to the budget, making sure that it's balanced but compassionate when it comes to helping people who need help. There's no question in my mind that this man, when elected, will make Maryland a safer and stronger and better place for every citizen who lives in this State. And my job as the President is to make sure America is a safer and stronger and better country. A strong country is one in which people can find work. Anytime somebody is looking for work and they can't find work in America, I think we have a problem. And we've got to do everything we can at the Federal level to make sure our economy grows. I worry about people who have lost value in their 401(k)s. I worry about people looking for work who can't find work. I worry about uncertainty. We're beginning to make progress because the foundations for growth are strong. Interest rates are low. Inflation is down. The productivity of the American worker is the highest and best in the world. We've got a lot of strong things going for us. For a while there was a kind of an overhang in our economy because we had some of our citizens who thought they could fudge the books, who forgot what it means to be a responsible citizen, who got caught up in money, not in responsibility. I had the honor of signing, and Bob voted for, the most significant corporate reform since Franklin Roosevelt was the President. Our message to corporate America, to those citizens who think they can cheat, is, "Those days are over with." When I first came in, I was aware that the economy was dragging. And that's why I worked with Congressman Ehrlich and others to pass a significant tax cut, because I took a page out of this economic textbook. The page said if you let a person keep more of their own money and notice I said more of their own money it's not the Government's money, it's your money if you keep more of your own money, if you have more money in your pocket, you're going to demand a good or a service. And when you demand a good or a service, in this marketplace economy, somebody's going to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces the good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work. If you're interested in creating more jobs, you let people keep more of their own money. The tax cuts came at the exact right time in American economic history. We slashed the marriage penalty. We believe that the Tax Code ought to encourage families and encourage marriage, not discourage families and marriage. And we did something else to help the entrepreneur and the farmer and the rancher, and that is we put the death tax on the way to extinction. But here's the problem here's the problem this is kind of hard to explain. The rules in the Senate are such that that tax relief plan that we all worked so hard to enact goes away after 10 years. So the Senate giveth, and the Senate taketh away. Laughter For the sake of job creation, for the sake of economic expansion, for the sake of those who want to find work the Congress needs to make the tax cuts permanent. I worry about hardhats trying to find work. I worry about that. And so I met, I guess it was yesterday time flies up there laughter but I met yesterday with Members of the House and Senate, both parties, to urge them to pass a terrorism insurance bill. There's over 15 billion worth of projects, construction projects, which are not going forward because people can't get terrorism insurance. And for the sake of economic vitality, for the sake of job creation, for the sake of hardhats they need to get together and get a bill a bill, by the way, which does not reward trial lawyers and does reward working people in America. I want to assure you, we will not rest until people can find work. And I look forward to working with ways to create the environment for economic expansion. I want to work to make America more confident about our future. One way to make sure that Americans are more confident about the future and availability of capital is to make sure Congress does not overspend. And we have a problem in Washington, right around the corner from here. Every idea sounds like a brilliant idea. Laughter The problem is, they've all got billions of dollars attached to them as price tags. There is no budget in the United States Senate. They couldn't pass a budget. You can imagine what that means. It means that there is the tendency to overspend. For the sake of economic vitality, for the sake of making sure people can find work, the Congress must fund our priorities and not overspend the people's money. We must be fiscally sound in Washington, DC, if we want our economy to grow. A stronger America is one in which people can find work. And while I'm optimistic about our future, while I understand the spirit of the the entrepreneurial spirit is strong, we've got work to do. We've got work to do on the economy. And we've also got work to do to make sure America is a safer place. Economic vitality and growth are a really important part of my job and what's on my mind, but nothing more on my mind than protecting the American people. That's my most important job now, is to make sure that the enemy doesn't hit us again. And they're still out there. They're out there because of what we love and what they hate. They're out there because we love freedom. We love the fact that our fellow citizens can worship an almighty God any way he or she sees fit. We love that, and we're never going to relinquish that freedom. We love our diversity. We love the fact that people can realize their dreams in America, regardless of where their mom or dad was born. That's what we love. We love the fact that this great country in this great country you can speak your mind freely. We love a free press. We love everything about our freedoms. And yet we face an enemy which hates freedom. They hate us because of what we love. We also value life in America. Everybody's precious. Everybody counts. Everybody has worth in this country. And the enemy is nothing but a bunch of cold blooded killers who are willing to take innocent life in the name of a hijacked religion. And that's who we fight. It's a new reality we face it just is. This is the first war of the 21st century, but it's a different kind of war. And therefore, I've spent a lot of time explaining to the American people how best we can keep the peace and what we must do to win this new war. It starts with making sure we do everything here at home to organize the agencies involved with the defense of the homeland. There's over 100 different agencies in Washington, DC, involved with your protection. Before September the 11th, none of them really had as their number one priority the protection of the homeland. Now they should. In order to make sure that we change culture and set priority, I've asked Congress to join me in the creation of a Department of Homeland Security. Listen, I readily concede my slogan wasn't, "Vote for George. He wants your Government to be bigger." That wasn't my slogan. My slogan laughter what I want to have happen is, I want the Government to work. I want to be able to better do the job you expect me to do. And there fore and therefore, I call upon the Senate to join the House in creating a Department of Homeland Security which enables this President and future Presidents to be able to move people to the right place at the right time in order to protect America. I need the ability to manage the process. I don't need rules and regulations. I don't need micromanagement by the legislative branch. The House passed a good bill, and now the Senate must do so. They must get after it before they go home. I need a good bill, and I won't accept anything less. See, this is a chance to leave for the Congress to leave a legacy for future people, future Presidents, future administrations, to deal with this real threat we face. But I want you to know, and you need to know, there are a lot of good folks working hard here in America to protect you there really are. And we're doing a better job. We've got great police and fire, lots of FBI agents and CIA agents working hard. Anytime we get any hint about something might happen, a scintilla of evidence, we're moving on it we are. We're more responsive. We're more alert. We're disrupting. We're making progress, all within the confines of the United States Constitution. But the best way to protect the homeland, short term and long term, is to chase the killers down, one at a time, and bring them to justice. This is the kind of war we don't face people who have got tanks and destroyers and bombers. That's a different kind of war. Those are wars of the past. This is a war in which we're fighting resourceful, determined people who hide in caves or the dark recesses of certain cities, and then send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. That's the kind of people we fight. They are they are haters, is what they are. And therefore, we're on an international manhunt. And we're making progress. That's just what you've got to know. Sometimes it's hard to tell it's hard to measure progress. If you're not destroying equipment, it's hard to tell. But we have captured over a couple of thousand of them. I say "we" the doctrine that says, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy," still stands. That doctrine is still a part of American foreign policy. And so there's a lot of countries working with us. We're sharing intelligence. We're disrupting their finances, and we're hauling them in. The other day we got the fellow I forgot the guy's name bin al Shibh, or whatever his name was. He thought he was going to be the 20th hijacker. Audience member. Moussaoui. The President. No, that wasn't Moussaoui. Bin al Shibh is the guy's name. Laughter And he popped his head up, and now he's no longer a problem. Laughter We're making progress. We're making progress. We're working with our friends. We've got a vast coalition of people who understand the stakes and understand the nature of the war. I said we hauled in a couple of thousand a like number weren't as lucky. Slowly but surely, we're dismantling this particular terrorist network. I want to thank those of you who have got loved ones in the United States military. I am proud of our military. They're making a huge difference. They're brave, brave troops. I sent the largest increase in defense spending to Capitol Hill since Ronald Reagan was the President up to Congress, because I wanted to send two messages One, anytime our troops go into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment and secondly, the defense spending should send a clear message to friend and foe alike that the United States of America is in this deal for the long haul, that when it comes to the defense of our freedom, when it comes to defending this country, there's no timeline until we get it right, that we are that we will stay the course, we will stay we owe that to our children. We owe it to our children and our children's children to defend freedom and to protect the homeland. It's a new era. We have new responsibilities in many ways the same responsibilities, I guess, but new challenges to uphold those responsibilities, because we learned a tough lesson, and that is, oceans no longer protect us. It's a different war, with a different battlefield. And therefore, we must deal with threats as we see them, threats which may in the past have not been so frightening, but now in the new era we've got to deal with them, it seems like to me. In order to do our duty as Americans and leaders, we've got to defend our country and our friends and allies against the real threats that we face. And there's a grave threat in Iraq. There just is. This is a man who has gassed his own people, used weapons of mass destruction on his own citizens. Imagine what his intentions will be about a country that loves freedom like we do. This is a man who has attacked and by the way, he used weapons of mass destruction in his own neighborhood, too, against countries on his border. This is a man who has attacked two countries in 22 years. This is a man who kills political dissenters in cold blood. This is a man who, 11 years ago, told the world that he would get rid of weapons of mass destruction, and yet, for 11 long years, he has defied resolution after resolution after resolution after resolution out of the United Nations. This is a man who would like nothing more than to team up with a terrorist network, a man who could use a terrorist network perhaps to use the weapons of mass destruction he's developed and lies about to harm countries that he can't stand America, Israel, countries in his own immediately around him. And therefore, I thought it was time for us to deal with him, for the sake of freedom. So I went to the United Nations. And my message to the United Nations was this We want you to succeed as a international body. The world is different. The threats are real. We can do a better job if we work together through the United Nations, and here's your chance to succeed. You have a choice, and the choice is whether you'll be an effective peacekeeping organization or whether you'll be like the League of Nations your choice. I also said to Mr. Saddam Hussein, "You said you would disarm your choice to disarm." Military option is my last choice it's not my first choice. This man should disarm, like he said. He should do what he said he would do. The United Nations should insist that he does what he said he would do. But for the sake of freedom and for the sake of peace, for the sake of a world that doesn't fear the world's worst leaders with the first world's weapons with the world's worst weapons, this country will be deliberate, we'll work with others, but we will lead a coalition to disarm Saddam Hussein. And today I was joined on the steps of the Rose Garden with Members of the House and Members of the Senate, Republicans and Democrats alike, who have joined with us to pass the desire to pass a strong statement to the world about the resolve and determination of the United States. We're going to have a very constructive debate in Congress, and there should be. I told them today, I thought the debate that was going on is going to be one of the most historic debates ever in the Hall of Congress. That sentiment was echoed by not only the Speaker but Richard Gephardt, who was there, not only Trent Lott but Joe Lieberman was there, not only John McCain but Democrat Evan Bayh was there. Democrat and Republican alike joined hand in hand to send a clear message to the world We love our peace we want the world to be a better and more peaceful place. If the United States remains strong and tough and focused, we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace here at home. If we speak clearly and renounce terrorism and fight terrorism, we can achieve peace in the Middle East we can achieve peace in South Asia. No, the enemy hit us. The enemy hit us. But they didn't realize who they hit. Oh, they probably thought we'd file a lawsuit or two. Laughter But they hit a country which loves freedom, a country based upon solid values, a country which, when we need to be strong, is strong. And we need to be compassionate. We can be compassionate. I believe, sincerely believe, that out of the evil done to America can come incredible good, starting with peace. And I know we can be a better country. I know we can be a better country. We can work hard to make sure every child is educated. We can make sure to work work hard to make sure our seniors get quality health care. Listen, medicine has changed Medicare hasn't. Medicare is medicine is modern. Medicare is ancient. For the sake of our seniors, let's modernize Medicare with prescription drugs. But we must remember, here in America, in spite of our plenty, there are pockets of despair there just are. And there's pockets of hopelessness. There's places people are addicted they're lonely. They wonder whether or not the American Dream means anything to them. And my attitude is and I know it's Bob's attitude so long as one hurt, we all hurt. And as a society, we must do everything we can to eradicate those pockets of despair. Now, listen Government can hand out money. We're pretty good at it at times. Laughter But what Government cannot do is put hope in people's hearts or love in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. Government can't do that. That is done when our fellow Americans have heard the universal call to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to fight evil, do some good. If you want to fight evil, if you want to join in the war against terror, if you want to show the world what we're made out of help somebody in need. See, our society will change one heart, one conscience, one soul at a time when a neighbor loves a neighbor in need. I look forward to working with Governor Ehrlich to unleash the true compassion of each society. I'm a strong proponent of the Faith Based Initiative. I want to unleash the power of love. I want people who go to church and synagogue and mosque, if they want to help a person in need, to be empowered by the Government to do so. Our Governments must not fear faith. We must welcome faith in our society. No, the enemy hit us, but they in doing so, they have awakened a great spirit, an American spirit. And I want you all to help move that spirit forward. I know many of you already do this but mentor a child, or help somebody in need. Continue doing the charitable works you do to help the communities in which you live. It will be a better place for all of us. One of the reasons I first ran for office is because I wanted to challenge the culture of our country, which has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." My dream was to usher in a period of personal responsibility, to be a part of a cultural shift in which each of understands we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are a mom or a dad, your most important responsibility is to love your child with all your heart. You're responsible for helping a neighbor in need. You're responsible for the quality of education in the community in which you live. If you're running corporate America, you're responsible to your employees and shareholders to tell the truth. And it's happening. The responsibility era is happening in America, probably most vividly displayed on Flight 93, when average citizens were flying across the country. They learned their plane was going to be used as a weapon imagine. They got on the phone with their loved ones they used the word "love" a lot. They said goodbye. They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane in the ground to serve something greater than themselves in life. I believe that is an important lesson for all of us to learn. Patriotism is more than putting your hand over your heart. Patriotism is serving your Nation. Patriotism is helping people in need. Patriotism is loving somebody just like you'd like to be loved yourself. No, the enemy hit us. But they didn't know who they were hitting. They hit the greatest nation on the face of the Earth, and out of the evil done to America is going to come a peaceful world. And out of the evil done to America is going to continue to be a hopeful, compassionate, decent country. I'm optimistic about our future, because I know America. We're the finest nation on the face of the Earth, because we're full of the finest people. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. October 02, 2002 The President. Thank you all for coming. Today I'm joined by leaders of the House and the Senate from both political parties to show our unity of purpose in confronting a gathering threat to the security of America and to the future of peace. I want to thank in particular Speaker Hastert and Leader Gephardt, Leader Lott, for the tremendous work in building bipartisan support on this vital issue. I also want to thank Senators Warner, Lieberman, McCain, and Bayh for introducing this resolution, which we've agreed to on the floor of the Senate this morning. The text of our bipartisan resolution is clear, and it is strong. The statement of support from the Congress will show to friend and enemy alike the resolve of the United States. In Baghdad, the regime will know that full compliance with all U.N. security demands is the only choice and that time remaining for that choice is limited. On its present course, the Iraqi regime is a threat of unique urgency. We know the treacherous history of the regime. It has waged a war against its neighbors. It has sponsored and sheltered terrorists. It has developed weapons of mass death. It has used them against innocent men, women, and children. We know the designs of the Iraqi regime. In defiance of pledges to the U.N., it has stockpiled biological and chemical weapons. It is rebuilding the facilities used to make those weapons. U.N. inspectors believe that Iraq could have produced enough biological and chemical agent to kill millions of people. The regime has the scientists and facilities to build nuclear weapons and is seeking the materials needed to do so. We know the methods of this regime. They buy time with hollow promises. They move incriminating evidence to stay ahead of inspectors. They concede just enough to escape to escape punishment and then violate every pledge when the attention of the world is turned away. We also know the nature of Iraq's dictator. On his orders, opponents have been decapitated and their heads displayed outside their homes. Women have been systematically raped as a method of intimidation. Political prisoners are made to watch their own children being tortured. The dictator is a student of Stalin, using murder as a tool of terror and control within his own cabinet, within his own army, even within his own family. We will not leave the future of peace and the security of America in the hands of this cruel and dangerous man. None of us here today desire to see military conflict, because we know the awful nature of war. Our country values life and never seeks war unless it is essential to security and to justice. America's leadership and willingness to use force, confirmed by the Congress, is the best way to ensure compliance and avoid conflict. Saddam must disarm period. If, however, he chooses to do otherwise, if he persists in his defiance, the use of force may become unavoidable. The course of action may bring many sacrifices. Yet delay, indecision, and inaction could lead to a massive and sudden horror. By timely and resolute action, we can defend ourselves and shape a peaceful future. Together with the Congress, I will do everything necessary to protect and defend our country. In accepting this responsibility, we also serve the interests and the hopes of the Iraqi people. They are a great and gifted people, with an ancient and admirable culture, and they would not choose to be ruled by violence and terror. The people of Iraq are the daily victims of Saddam Hussein's oppression. They will be the first to benefit when the world's demands are met. Americans believe all men and women deserve to be free. And as we saw in the fall of the Taliban, men and women celebrate freedom's arrival. The United States will work with other nations. We'll work with other nations to bring Saddam to account. We'll work with other nations to help the Iraqi people form a just government and a unified country. And should force be required, the United States will help rebuild a liberated Iraq. Countering Iraq's threat is also a central commitment on the war on terror. We know Saddam Hussein has longstanding and ongoing ties to international terrorists. With the support and shelter of a regime, terror groups become far more lethal. Aided by a terrorist network, an outlaw regime can launch attacks while concealing its involvement. Even a dictator is not suicidal, but he can make use of men who are. We must confront both terror cells and terror states, because they are different faces of the same evil. I brought this issue to the attention of the world, and many, many countries share our determination to confront this threat. We're not alone. The issue is now before the United States Congress. This debate will be closely watched by the American people, and this debate will be remembered in history. We didn't ask for this challenge as a country, but we will face it, and we will face it together. As the vote nears, I urge all Members of Congress to consider this resolution with the greatest of care. The choice before them could not be more consequential. I'm confident that members of both parties will choose wisely. I appreciate Members of Congress who are willing to address you all, starting with the Speaker of the House, Denny Hastert. At this point, Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, Representative Richard A. Gephardt, Senator John W. Warner, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, and Senator John McCain made brief remarks. The President. Thank you all for coming. October 01, 2002 The President. Thank you all for coming. All of us here around the table are concerned about jobs, concerned about our economy. We want people to be able to find work. And we had a very good discussion about how Congress and the administration can work together to get a terrorism insurance bill done before Congress goes home. I asked the Members to get a to work hard in the next couple of days and get an agreement by Friday. They're going to work hard to see if they can't come up with an agreement. There's over 15.5 billion worth of construction projects which aren't going forward because they can't get insurance on their projects, can't insure the buildings or the project. And therefore, there's 300,000 people who jobs aren't going forward. And this is a way for us to work together to put people back to work here in America. It's a really important piece of legislation. And I appreciate the spirit of both Republicans and Democrats, Senators and Congressmen, to get this thing done before they go home. I'll answer a couple of questions. Laidlaw Lindlaw Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press , excuse me. Laidlaw Lindlaw. Alternative Resolution on Iraq Q. Thank you, sir. There's a resolution being circulated by Senators Biden and Lugar, an alternative resolution on authorizing force in Iraq. What's wrong with that alternative? The President. Well, I first of all, I appreciate all the Members of Congress working to come up with a resolution. It sends a clear signal to the world that this country is determined to disarm Iraq and thereby bring peace to the world. Members of both parties are working to get a consensus. Secondly and we'll continue to work with the Members of Congress. But I don't want to get a resolution which ties my hands, a resolution which is weaker than that which was passed out of the Congress in 1998. The Congress in 1998 passed a very strong resolution. They wisely recognized that Saddam Hussein is a threat was a threat in '98, and he's more of a threat 4 years later. My question is, what's changed? Why would Congress want to weaken the resolution? This guy's had 4 years to lie, deceive, to arm up. He's had 4 years to thumb his nose at the world. He is stockpiling more weapons. So I'm not sure why Members would like to weaken the resolution. But we'll work with the Members, and I'm confident we can get something done. And we'll be speaking with one voice here in the country, and that's going to be important for the United Nations to hear that voice. It's going to be important for the world to hear that voice. All of us recognize a military option is not the first choice, but disarming this man is, because he faces a true threat to the United States. And we've just got to work together to get something done. Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters . No, not Patsy. Holland yes, sorry Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Longshoremen Labor Dispute Q. Sir, does the West Coast longshoremen dispute represent the kind of threat to the U.S. economy that might require a Taft Hartley injunction? The President. Steven, we're worried about it. We're closely monitoring it. This is a any strike's a tough situation, but this one happens to come at a or a lockout is a tough situation, or no work is a tough situation. This is coming at a bad time. And so we're watching it very closely. There's a Federal mediator on the ground, and I urge both parties to utilize the mediator. But we'll continue to pay attention to it. It's a problem, and it's something that we're just going to have to get these parties to work through and get back to work, open these ports up. It's important for our economy we do so. Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . National Economy Prospect of War With Iraq Q. Mr. President, increasingly, investment fund managers are saying that the prospect of war with Iraq has contributed to the third quarter performance this year, the worst since the crash in 1987. Are you concerned, first of all, about the shrinking investment and retirement portfolios for Americans? And do you think the U.S. economy is strong enough to withstand a war with Iraq, should we end up in war in that region? The President. Of course, I haven't made up my mind we're going to war with Iraq. I've made up my mind we need to disarm the man. Secondly, yes, I think the U.S. economy is strong. Obviously, there's some some rough spots in our economy. But we'll deal with them. Interest rates are low. Inflation's low. Productivity's high. This great country is going to recover. And yes, we're strong enough to handle the challenges ahead. Yes, John John Roberts, CBS News . French Proposal to the U.N. Security Council Q. Mr. President, the Permanent Five of the Security Council are meeting as you speak, and France is holding fast to its position of wanting a two stage resolution. Are you willing to modify your position, sir, and come in line with France's position, in the spirit of cooperation, to achieve a tough U.N. resolution? The President. What I won't accept is something that allows Saddam Hussein to continue to lie, deceive the world. He's been doing that for 11 years. For 11 years, he's told the United Nations Security Council, "Don't worry. I accept your resolution." Then he doesn't follow through. And we're just not going to accept something that is weak. It is not worth it. It's the United Nations must show its backbone. And we will work with members of the Security Council to put a little calcium there, put calcium in the backbone, so this organization is able to more likely keep the peace as we go down the road. Q. Are you suggesting the French proposal is weak? The President. I'm suggesting that the same old stuff isn't going to work, John. And we won't accept the status quo. There needs to be a strong new resolution in order for us to make it clear to the world and to Saddam Hussein, more importantly that you must disarm. And I look forward to looking at all their proposals. Just like we're dealing with everybody concerned, we will listen to points of view. But the final, bottom line has got to be a very strong resolution, so that we don't fall into the same trap we have done for the last 11 years, which is nothing happens. Saddam Hussein has thumbed his nose at the world. He's a threat to the neighborhood. He's a threat to Israel. He's a threat to the United States of America. And we're just going to have to deal with him. And the best way to deal with him is for the world to rise up and say, "You disarm, and we'll disarm you." And if not if at the very end of the day nothing happens, the United States, along with others, will act. September 28, 2002 Good morning. On Thursday, I met with Democratic and Republican Members of Congress to discuss the threat posed by the Iraqi regime. The security of our country is the commitment of both political parties and the responsibility of both the President and the Congress. We are united in our determination to confront this urgent threat to America. We're moving toward a strong resolution authorizing the use of force, if necessary, to defend our national security interests against the threat posed by Saddam Hussein. And by passing this resolution, we will send a clear message to the world community and to the Iraqi regime The demands of the United Nations Security Council must be followed the Iraqi dictator must be disarmed. These requirements will be met, or they will be enforced. The danger to our country is grave, and it is growing. The Iraqi regime possesses biological and chemical weapons, is rebuilding the facilities to make more and, according to the British Government, could launch a biological or chemical attack in as little as 45 minutes after the order is given. The regime has longstanding and continuing ties to terrorist groups, and there are Al Qaida terrorists inside Iraq. This regime is seeking a nuclear bomb and with fissile material could build one within a year. Iraq has already used weapons of mass death against another country and against its own citizens. The Iraqi regime practices the rape of women, as a method of intimidation, and the torture of dissenters and their children. And for more than a decade, that regime has answered Security Council resolutions with defiance and bad faith and deception. We know that the Iraqi regime is led by a dangerous and brutal man. We know he is actively seeking the destructive technologies to match his hatred. And we know that he must be stopped. The dangers we face will only worsen from month to month and year to year. To ignore these threats is to encourage them, and when they have fully materialized, it may be too late to protect ourselves and our allies. By then, the Iraqi dictator will have had the means to terrorize and dominate the region, and each passing day could be the one on which the Iraqi regime gives anthrax or VX nerve gas or, someday, a nuclear weapon to a terrorist group. We refuse to live in this future of fear. We are determined to build a future of security and peace for ourselves and for the world. The Members of Congress from both political parties with whom I met this week are committed to American leadership for the good of all nations. The resolution we are producing will be an instrument of that leadership. I appreciate the spirit in which Members of Congress are considering this vital issue. We're making progress. We are nearing agreement, and soon we will speak with one voice. Thank you for listening. September 27, 2002 The President. Thank you all for coming. It's such an honor to be here. Well, we're working on the drought. Laughter I love the rain. Thanks for standing out here. It's such an honor to be here. I appreciate you all enduring the weather. It is my honor to be here for the next Congressman from this district, Rick Renzi. He's a good fellow. He's a good man. He believes in family values. After all, he's got 12 kids. I want to thank Roberta for standing by him as he takes his message to the people, that he works hard to let the people know what's in his heart. And he's a good hearted man. He cares deeply about the people of this district. I'm here to endorse his candidacy because I think he'll be the right thing for Arizona, and I know he'll do the right thing for America. I appreciate very much also being here with the next Governor of the State of Arizona, Matt Salmon. Matt is a commonsense fellow. One thing he understands, that when it comes to spending money at the State level, he's not spending the Government's money, see he's spending the people's money. He's from the people. And I look forward to working with Matt when he becomes the Governor of this great State. I'm also honored to be traveling with Senator Jon Kyl. He's a stand up kind of guy. He is rock solid. He's strong on the defense of our country. And I look forward to continuing to work with him to make sure the judicial nominees I send up to the United States Senate get a fair hearing. I named the other day a great lady from Texas to the bench, named Priscilla Owen. But they played politics with her nomination. She got the highest ranking of the ABA. She was one of the top in her law school classes. But they didn't give her a fair hearing. They distorted her record. See, they want judges that use the bench from which to legislate. We want judges to strictly interpret the Constitution of the United States. I appreciate so very much working with Senator John McCain from the State of Arizona. John's a true patriot, a true patriot who's standing strong as we try to keep the peace here in the world. I appreciate very much being with my friend Jane Dee Hull. I used to be a Governor, and I got to know her as a Governor of Texas. I'm proud to call her friend. I'm proud of the job she's done for the State of Arizona. Thank you, Jane Dee, for being here. I want to thank all of you all who care about your community and all of you all who are in what we call grassroots politics the people who turn out the vote, the people who make the phone calls, the people who go to the coffee shops and tell people the truth about the candidates running for office. I want to thank you for your supporting this good ticket. And I want to thank you for loving your country. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. I look forward to working with Rick on some important issues that matter. One important issue that matters we've got to make sure we keep our people working. As we work hard to secure the homeland, we've also got to remember, a secure America is an America where people can find work. So long as somebody who is looking for a job can't find a job, I think we have a problem. And so we've always got to keep working to expand the job base. We want people being able to put food on the table here in America. We want people being able to make a living. And that starts with fighting off this slowdown with letting people keep more of their own money. See, here's the debate that takes place in Washington. The debate is, is that either you let people have more of their own money, or you don't. If the economy is slow and you let a person keep more of their own money, they're likely to spend it. And when they spend it, it means they're demanding something. They're demanding a good or a service. And when that demand is there, somebody is likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces a good or service, guess what's more likely to happen. Somebody is going to be able to find a job. The tax cuts were important for the American economy. They're important for small business. They're important for the entrepreneurs. They're important for job creation. We need to make the tax cuts permanent. You've got to remember that money we're spending up there in Washington isn't the Government's money like I said, it's the people's money. It's your money. We need to make sure we don't overspend. Listen, they don't have a budget in the United States Senate no fault of Senator Kyl. They don't have a budget. If you don't have a budget, guess what's likely to happen. Every idea sounds like a good idea up there. Laughter Those ideas run into the billions. If you don't have a budget, it's hard to hold people to account. We need fiscally responsible people in Washington, like Rick. We need people who will set priorities and make sure we don't overspend your money. A deficit will hurt economic vitality. I submitted a budget that shows how we can reduce the deficit, how we can get to surplus, but it's going to require fiscal sanity in Washington, DC. We need a commonsense policy in Washington. And the forest policy of the United States is not commonsensical. It doesn't make any sense to allow to not thin our forests. It doesn't make any sense to fight off the beetles. It doesn't make any sense not to thin them out. It doesn't make any sense to allow kindling to pile up underneath good wood. It doesn't make any sense. For the sake of a commonsense environmental policy, for the sake of making sure our forests remain healthy in the long term, let's get some people like Rick in Washington, DC, with whom I can work, to get good forest policy in America. I also appreciate being here on behalf of Matt Salmon. Matt's a good, solid man. He's a guy who keeps his word. See, he's one of these fellows that said, "I'm going to run for Congress. I'm only going to serve three terms." And then when his term came up, he said, "I'm going home." That doesn't happen a lot in politics. It should happen more, by the way, where people do what they say they're going to do, that when they look at the people, they're going to do what they say. That's why you can trust him as your Governor. When he says he's not going to raise your taxes, he means he's not going to raise your taxes. I also look forward to working with Matt to make sure that we help people who need help. We've got people on welfare in the State of Arizona who need help to learn how to work. See, we're getting ready to reauthorize the welfare law. And I urge Congress to make sure that as we do so, that we keep work as the cornerstone of good welfare policy. Helping a man learn to work, helping a lady find a job, helping people have the skills necessary to be able to provide for their family is a part of making sure somebody has got dignity in their life. And I look forward to working with Governor Matt Salmon to make sure that the welfare policy of Arizona is a compassionate yet conservative welfare policy. I want you to know that I am constantly thinking about our economy and trying to work with Congress to improve the job base. But my most important job is to protect America from another attack. That's my most important job, because there's still an enemy out there which hates America. And they hate us because of what we love. We love freedom. We love the idea that people can worship an almighty God any way they choose in America. We good we value the idea that people are free to express their opinions, that we have a free press. We love freedom in America. And so long as we love our freedoms, the enemy will hate us. But guess what We're never going to forget our freedoms. We're always going to hold those freedoms dear. And so long as we do, the enemy will be there. And so we've got to hunt them down, and we've got to protect the homeland. There's a lot of good people, a lot of good people working hard on your behalf to protect the homeland. Anytime we're getting a hint, anytime we get an idea, anytime we get a scintilla of evidence that somebody might be thinking about doing something to America we're moving on it. And I say, "We're moving on it" it's at the Federal level and the State level and the local level. Our biggest responsibility is to prevent the killers from coming to hurt America again. And that's why I went to Congress and asked them to join me in setting up what they call the Department of Homeland Security. Listen, there's over 100 agencies in Washington, DC, that have got something to do with protecting the homeland. That's 100 agencies full of good, hard working people. But they're scattered everywhere. It seemed to make sense to me to put them under one umbrella, so that the we could set priorities, so that we could change cultures, if necessary, within the agencies, to make the number one priority your protection. And we're making progress up there. The House of Representatives voted a good bill out, but it seems to be stuck in the Senate, because the Senate wants to micromanage the executive branch of Government. The Senate wants a thick book of rules on how to defend the homeland. And let me just give you some examples. The Customs Service, for example, wanted to require its inspectors at our Nation's 301 ports of entry to wear radiation detecting devices. See, that made sense. You wear a radiation detection device to make sure nobody is trying to bring a weapons of mass destruction into America. Yet, the union that represents the Customs workers objected. They sought to invoke collective bargaining, which would have taken at least a year to solve. See, we don't need those kind of rules that bind the executive branch from doing what you want us to do, which is to protect the homeland. Let me give you another example. Let me give you another example of what we're trying to cut out of the new Department this kind of stuff that doesn't make any sense. I know it doesn't make any sense to the people of Flagstaff. I can assure you it doesn't make any sense to the people of Crawford, Texas, either. Laughter In order to locate employees in cases of emergency, the Customs Service sought to have employees provide their home addresses and telephone numbers to the Customs Service. In other words, if we had an emergency, we want to know where to call. The union objected and said such a request would violate the privacy rights of the workers. Now, that doesn't make any sense. Listen, I strongly believe workers ought to be able to join a union if that's what they want to do. They ought to be able to have collective bargaining rights, if that's what they choose. But for the sake of our national security, this President and future Presidents needs the flexibility necessary to put the right people at the right place at the right time, to protect the American people. But the best way to defend the homeland is to hunt the killers down, one at a time, and bring them to justice. That's the best way to defend this homeland. It's a different kind of war we fight. It's important you know that it still goes on, though. It's a different kind of war. In the past, people would say, "Well, we're making progress. We destroyed the enemy's tanks," or, "We're making progress if he no longer has any ships." These people don't have tanks. They don't have ships. They've got hate. These leaders are the ones that hide in caves or the dark recesses of some cities, and they send youngsters to their suicidal death. These are the folks who hijacked a great religion and take innocent life without any hesitation. See, they don't value life like we do. In America, everybody counts. Every life has worth. Every life is precious. That's not the way the enemy thinks. The enemy doesn't care. They've got these designs on America, because we love freedom. And so we're going to look at every cave we can find. It don't matter how long it takes, my fellow Americans. It doesn't matter how long it takes we're going to hunt them down, one by one. We owe it to our children, and we owe it to our children's children. And we're making progress. The doctrine that says, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy," still stands. And there's a lot of good folks around the world who are working with us, working with us to hunt these killers down before they hit us again. We've hauled in over a couple thousand of them. As a matter of fact, one of them the other day who wanted to have been the 20th hijacker popped his head up, and he's no longer a threat to the United States of America or our friends and allies. There's a lot of good folks in a lot of nations around the world working with us to find these and to bring them to justice. We don't seek revenge. We seek justice. About like number hadn't been quite as lucky as the ones who have been detained or arrested. So we're making progress, slowly but surely slowly, surely, and methodically. This great Nation is doing everything we can to protect our people. That's why I've asked Congress for the largest increase in defense spending since President Reagan was the President. I did so for two reasons One, anytime we put our youngsters into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment and secondly, I wanted to send a message to friend and foe alike that we're in this deal for the long haul, that when it comes to talking about something we hold dear, our freedom, we're not going to quit until we succeed. When it comes to defending the homeland, this great Nation the will of this Nation has been aroused by an enemy which inflicted serious, serious damage on our people. No, they when they hit us, they thought we might file a lawsuit or two. Laughter But they realized they hit a mighty nation and a good nation and a decent nation and a nation that loves the values that we hold dear. It's going to be some rough sledding ahead at times it really is in order to defend ourselves. We're fighting a resourceful group of people. We're fighting people who know no fear. We've also got some other tasks, because there are some madmen in the world who have got weapons of mass destruction. We've got people who torture their own people. If there's dissent, they kill them. They've gassed their own people with weapons of mass destruction. The man in Iraq has attacked two countries. He lied to the world. He's deceived us. I went to the United Nations, and I said as clearly as I could "In order for you to be an effective organization, you must deal with him. If you don't, we will lead a coalition which will." We cannot allow the world's worst leaders applause . There's no negotiation. There's no discussion. This man must disarm like he said he would do. After 11 years of deceit, this man must disarm. For the sake of peace, for the sake of peace not only in our in his neighborhood but in ours, he must disarm. And if he does not, it's his choice to make. It's his and the United Nations choice to make. Our last choice is to commit our troops to harm's way. But if we have to, to defend our freedoms, if we have to, the United States will lead a coalition and do so. And there are a lot of good people, a lot of good people on both sides of the political aisle who understand the task ahead, a lot of good people who are working with the administration to come up with a common resolution to send a strong message to the world that this great Nation, this great Nation will not stand by and allow the world's worst leaders to threaten us with the world's worst weapons. I want you all to understand that as we work to peace as we work for peace and that's my goal we must also work to make America a better place, a better place for all of us, a better place for each person which lives in this country. That starts with making sure that every child is educated and not one child is left behind. I want you to know that it's important for all of us to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations, to understand that when you set the bar low, when you have such low standards, you're going to get lousy results, and children will be left behind. That's no longer acceptable in America. I'm told Rick was telling me Rick and the Governor to be were telling me you've got a great school district here in Flagstaff. That's because the citizens care about the schools. I want to thank the teachers who are here for being teachers. I want to thank the principals who are here. I want to thank the parents who are here who demand on high standards for every single child. A better America means we've got to have a health care system that's modern. Listen, Medicare is an incredibly important program. Medicine has changed Medicare hasn't. Laughter Medicine has changed because of technology and innovation. Medicare is the same program it was a while ago. In order to make sure Medicare works like we want it to for our seniors and for America to be a better place, our seniors need prescription drug coverage. And you know what else we need to do? We need to end the frivolous and junk lawsuits which drive up the cost of medicine, which makes it harder for folks to find health care. We've also got to make sure that we unleash the true strength of the country, and that is the hearts and souls of the American people. I believe strongly that we must have a Faith Based Initiative in America, an initiative which recognizes that in our churches and synagogues and mosques we find universal love. See, people have asked me, "What can I do to help on the war against terror?" What you can do is, you can love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to fight evil, do some good in America. No, the enemy hit us. The enemy hit us, but they didn't realize who they were hitting. They hit a nation which will fight for our security and freedom. But they also aroused a new spirit in the country, a spirit which says, it's more than a patriot who puts his hand on a heart it's a patriot who helps a neighbor in need. It's a patriot who understands that there are some pockets of despair and loneliness in America and that, while Government can hand out money, what Government cannot do is put hope in a person's heart or a sense of purpose in a person's life. That's done when somebody puts their arm around a neighbor in need and says, "I love you. What can I do to help you?" It's done when somebody mentors a child. It's done when somebody goes and feeds the hungry, provides shelter for those who don't have shelter. That's what it means. And that's happening in America. All across our country, people are understanding there is a new culture of responsibility emerging. See, out of the evil done to America is going to come some really incredible good, in my judgment, because I believe so strongly in the purpose of this great country. I'm reminded all the time, as I travel our country, about what happened on Flight 93. Flight 93 was a historic moment in our country. It's a sad, sad moment, but it was a time when average citizens were flying across the land. They knew the plane was going to be used as a weapon. They were on their phones, and they told their loved ones goodbye. They used the word "love." They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll," and they drove the plane into the ground to save somebody else's life. It's a powerful it is the most profound, profound example of the great American values that we understand in order to be the country of promise and hope that we're meant to be, that we've got to live our lives beyond just ourself, that we've got to serve something greater than ourself in life. There's no doubt in my mind, no doubt in my mind that we can achieve peace in the world if we remain strong and diligent and focused and tough when we need to. And there's no doubt in my mind we can be a more compassionate and decent and hopeful nation. And you know why? Because this, my fellow Americans, is the greatest nation on the face of the Earth, full of the most decent and loving and kind people. Thank you for coming. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. September 27, 2002 Thanks for that kind introduction, "Governor." First, I want to thank the host of the dinner for organizing an early dinner. Laughter It's good for Colangelo's ballpark. Laughter I guess tonight's the night for the D backs. I know this for certain, that this will be the only candidate I ever campaigned for who rides a Harley, speaks fluent Mandarin Chinese, and fronts an Elvis cover band. Laughter He's the candidate I'm campaigning for who's going to win. Matt's a breath of fresh air. See, he told the voters of his congressional district he'd only serve three terms. And when the third term finished, he didn't run again. He's the kind of person who does in office what he says he is going to do, which is vital for the statehouse and Arizona. The State faces real challenges, but with him you're going to get a straightforward fellow somebody who will tell you the truth, somebody who will give it his all to make Arizona the best State for everybody who lives here. It's my honor to be here. I'm proud to support him, and I thank you all for coming as well. I had the privilege of meeting Nancy. Both of us married above ourselves. Laughter Nancy and Matt are the proud parents of four kids, and they place their family above all else. And it gives me great comfort to know I'm working for somebody who has got his priorities straight. And I appreciate you mentioning Laura, Matt. She sends her best. She sends her best to our friends who are here. She sends her best to you and Nancy. She's over there in Crawford, waiting for me. One of the good things about coming out West is, I get to spend the night in Crawford and remember there are values other than Washington values that count in the Nation. It's good to come out West where the spirit of individualism still remains strong, to come out West where you can see a long way, to come out West where people understand helping neighbors is an important part of building a good State. So, thanks for having me. I'm sorry Laura's not here. She's doing great. And by the way, I'm really, really proud of the job she's doing as our First Lady. We went up to Flagstaff where we were working on the drought relief program. It was raining. Laughter But I was up there to help a fellow named Rick Renzi, who is going to be the next Congressman from northern Arizona. I want to thank Rick for putting his hat in the ring, and I want to thank you all for helping him. I'm also honored to be with two great United States Senators, a great patriot, a man who is speaking clearly about the need to defend America and defend our freedoms, and that's John McCain. And by the way, he married above himself too. Laughter And today I was traveling with Jon Kyl. One of the jobs of the President is to pick good judges, is to put people of sound judgment and great talent on our Federal benches. And the United States Senate has been, in some cases, not treating my nominees fairly. I named a great lady named Priscilla Owen to the bench. She'd run statewide in our State, had overwhelming votes, one of the top graduates of her law school. The lawyer group rated her one of the best, the highest ratings they could give. And yet the Senate distorted her record because she wouldn't be willing to legislate from the bench. Jon Kyl has remained strong on the Judiciary Committee to make sure my nominees get a fair hearing. We need to change the United States Senate so we can change the United States course. I want to thank Congressman Hayworth he's not here, but I'm going to thank him anyway and Shadegg and Flake and Kolbe for their support. Arizona has got a fine congressional delegation, and I'm proud to be able to work with these Members. I want to thank your Governor for coming today, my friend Jane Dee Hull. I want to thank the mayor of Phoenix for being here, Mayor Rimsza. And I also want to appreciate those of you who helped organize this dinner. I want to thank Chairman Fannin. But most of all, I want to thank the grassroot activists who are here, the people who put the signs in the yards, the people who do the phone calling, the people who do the mailers, those tireless souls who never get thanked. I want to thank you for what you have done, and as importantly, I thank you for what you're going to do, which is to turn out a big vote come November the 5th. I appreciate your next Governor's agenda. It starts with making sure that the State doesn't raise the taxes on the working people. I appreciate that promise. He's a man who keeps his word. It's one of these issues that will distinguish him from his opponent. If he says he's not going to raise your taxes, he means he's not going to raise your taxes. And that will be good for the economy of Arizona. He's focused on jobs. He briefed me on his WorkFair 2010 program. See, he and I understand the role of Government is not to create wealth but to create an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish, in which small businesses can grow to be big businesses. I appreciate his vision for job creation. I also appreciate his brand of compassionate conservatism which says, we're going to help people help themselves, that when it comes to welfare that job training is essential to help people find work. We understand that in work you find dignity, in work you find the chance to put food on the table, in work you have a chance to realize your own self worth. And so when it comes to helping people, your next Governor will make sure that work is an essential part of your welfare system here in the State of Arizona. I also appreciate his commonsense views on our forests. You've got a lot of vital land here. We're mismanaging our forests. We're doing a lousy job of protecting an important treasure for the country. We ought to be thinning our forests. We ought to be taking the burnt timber and making use of it. We ought to be clearing the timber out from underneath our trees. We ought to be saving our forests with commonsense forest policy. And I want to work with a Governor who understands that. No, I appreciate Matt. I appreciate him working hard to make this State a safer and stronger and better place. And that's what we've got to do for our country as well. A strong America is a country that works to make sure people can find work. I'm worried about the fact that some of our fellow Americans who want to work can't find a job. And we've got to do everything we can to increase our job base, to do everything we can to make sure our economy continues to grow. That's why it's absolutely essential, in my judgment, that we make the tax cuts we passed permanent, that we don't let them be temporary, that we get rid of that Senate rule that says, we're going to give on the one hand, we giveth on the other hand, we taketh away. See, we give you tax cuts, but because of a kind of a weird rule in the Senate, those go away after 10 years. For the sake of planning, for the sake of job creation, for the sake of growth, for the sake of small businesses the tax cuts need to be permanent. And that includes getting rid of the death tax forever. We need an energy bill out of Washington, DC. For the sake of job security and for the sake of national security, we need an energy bill. They've been talking too long up there. We need a bill which encourages conservation, promotes new technologies, promotes renewables, but a bill which will encourage increase of supply here in America. Listen we're too dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. And unfortunately, some of those people don't like us. For the sake of job security and national security, I need an energy bill, and I need it soon. There are some big projects that have been put on hold because construction folks can't get terrorism insurance. They estimate over 300,000 of our fellow citizens aren't working, 300,000 hardhats aren't working because people can't get insured because of the terrorist attacks. Congress needs to act. They need to get a terrorism insurance bill to my desk. For the sake of job creation, for the sake of helping people find work, for the sake of the 300,000 hardhats who would be working I need a terrorism insurance bill, a bill that does not reward the trial lawyers, but a bill that encourages construction workers to get back to work. There's a lot of things Congress can do to help, and I look forward to working with them to create the jobs. And I know the two Senators here and the Members of Congress are anxious to help to expand our economy. But one thing Congress must not do is overspend. See, one thing Congress has got to do is hold the line on spending if we want our economy to grow. Interest rates are low. Inflation is low. Productivity is some of the best in the world. The foundation for growth is there. But to make sure people can find work, it's important for Congress not to overspend. And there's a danger. See, every program in Washington sounds good. Everybody's idea is a brilliant idea. The problem is, is those brilliant ideas cost in the billions. Plus, the Senate doesn't have a budget. Senator McCain wants it to have a budget. Senator Kyl wants it to have a budget. It doesn't have a budget. The other side hasn't been able to get a budget. And when you don't have a budget, guess what the danger is that there's no fiscal responsibility with your money. There's no fiscal restraint. For the sake of job creation, the Congress must fund our priorities and hold the line on additional spending. And we'll work together, and we'll work hard together to make sure this country is a stronger country, to make sure people can find work. We've also got to make sure it's a safer country. I think our biggest job is to protect the homeland, and the reason we need to do so, there is still an enemy out there which hates America. They hate us because of what we love. We love freedom. We love the fact that people can worship an almighty God any way they see fit here in America. We love the fact that people can have honest discourse and political debate. We love a free press. We love everything about freedom, and we refuse to relinquish that love. And so long as we love freedom, there are people that want to hurt us. See, that's the problem we face. And the other difference is, we value life in America. Every life matters. Everybody counts. Everybody is precious not to the enemy. They have hijacked a great religion, and murdered murdered innocent people and could care less. And that's who we're fighting, and they're out there. So we've got to do everything we can to protect the homeland. You've got to know, there's a lot of good people working hard to protect you Conversations taking place that never took place before in Washington a lot of information sharing a lot of folks running down every hint, every lead, every idea that somebody might be thinking about doing something to America. We're moving on it within the confines of the United States Constitution, I might add. We're pursuing leads. We're disrupting. We're making sure, as best as we possibly can, that the enemy doesn't hit us again. And that's why I went to the United States Congress and asked the Congress to join me in the creation of a Homeland Security Department. I did so because there's over 100 agencies in Washington, DC, that have something to do with securing the homeland. They're everywhere, and it seems like to me that if the number one priority of the Government is to defend the homeland, they ought to be under one agency, so we can change the culture of these agencies, so we can insist on priority. And the House moved, and the Senate is stuck. And the Senate is stuck because they want to micromanage the process, not all Senators but some Senators. They want to have a thick book of rules that will tell the executive branch and this administration and future administrations how to deal with the securing our homeland. I appreciate these two Senators here, standing strong for doing what's right, for leaving a legacy behind so future Presidents can more likely deal with an enemy who could care less about rules and regulations, an enemy which is willing to move fast. Now, let me just tell you what I'm talking about, so you'll understand. After September the 11th, the Customs Service wanted to require its inspectors at our Nation's 301 ports of entry to wear radiation detection devices so they could these guys would have them on their belts, and if there was somebody was trying to smuggle a weapon of mass destruction into our country, we'd know about it somebody was trying to bring something in illegally, across the border, we would know about it, through the radiation detection device. The union that represents the Customs workers objected to this commonsense action they didn't like it. They sought to invoke collective bargaining, which would have taken a year to resolve. See, it's those kind of rules which bind the capacity of the executive branch to do the job you want us to do. In order to locate employees in cases of emergency, the Customs Service sought to have employees provide their home addresses and their telephone numbers to the Customs Service. That makes sense. If you've got somebody you think may be getting ready to hit us and you need to move one of your Customs employees into a spot of action, you need his phone number. The union objected to listing the phone numbers and said such a request would violate the privacy rights of workers. The union actually filed a grievance and sought to negotiate something as sensible as this request. We do not need rules and bureaucracy to entangle us in the job you want us to do. Protection of the homeland of the United States is more important than special interests in Washington, DC. In this State, you don't need to write your Senators. In this State, they've been strong in leaving a legacy behind, an important legacy, because this enemy isn't going away. And the best way, however, to secure the homeland, short term and long term, is to hunt the killers down, one person at a time, one at a time, and bring them to justice, which is what the United States of America is going to do. And we're making progress. We're making progress against the killers. That's all they are, by the way, nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers. And that's the way we're treating them. Sometimes it's hard to tell the progress this is a different kind of war, as you all know. I mean, in the old days you'd count the number of tanks you destroyed or the number of airplanes you destroyed and say, "We're making progress." These folks don't have tanks. They don't have airplanes. They hide in caves. They send youngsters to their suicidal death. That's the kind of people we're fighting. And they're resourceful, and they're determined, but they're not as resourceful and determined as the United States of America. I put out a doctrine that said, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy." That doctrine still stands today. And a lot of nations have joined us in rounding up these killers. We've captured over a couple thousand of them. We got one the other day in Karachi. He popped his head up, and he's no longer a threat to the United States or our friends. That's the kind of war we fight. It's not a glamorous war according to the old TV shows and stuff. It's just one person at a time, and we're relentless. And we're absolutely determined because we love freedom, and we owe it to our children to be relentless and determined. And that's why I asked the Congress to pass a defense bill that's the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. It sends two signals, as far as I'm concerned. One, anytime our youngsters are sent into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. We owe that to them, and we owe it to their loved ones. For those of you in the audience who have got a loved one in the military, I'm proud of them I've got great confidence in them and I want to thank you for your sacrifice as well. Secondly, the reason I requested the defense bill that I did is because I wanted to send a message to friend and foe alike that we're not quitting. There is no calendar on my desk that says, by such andsuch a date, we're leaving, that we're going to quit when by an artificial time. That's not the way we think in America. No matter how long it takes, we will defend our freedom. That's the message we sent. Now, the House passed the bill, and the Senate passed the bill, and it hasn't gotten to my desk yet. We're at war, and the defense bill hasn't made it. I'm calling upon the leaders of the Senate and the leaders of the House to reconcile any differences they have quickly and get the defense bill to my desk before you go home. Quit playing politics with the defense bill. In order to defend our freedoms, there's going to be some steep hills to climb, and we're going to have to climb them and climb them together. We've still got work to do against Al Qaida in Afghanistan. I want you to tell your children, if they ask you about all this war rhetoric, that your great country went into Afghanistan not to conquer anybody but to free people. We went in and freed people from the clutch es applause . It's really important for you to tell them that we value each life, no matter where that life lives. And we cried when we heard the stories about the Taliban not letting young girls go to school. It broke our heart, but it also made us joyous when we realized upholding the doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist," not only allowed the United States to keep its word, but we freed people. We freed people from the clutches of the barbaric Taliban regime. We've got work to do in Afghanistan, and we will continue to do the work in Afghanistan. You know, they're kind of sliding around the border regions, and we've got people looking for them. Sometimes they try to get into Pakistan, and we're teamed up with the Pakistan Government to find them. Sometimes we get them on the run, and then they think they can light in other countries. And so we're pressuring them in other countries. It doesn't matter where they think they can light we're after them. We've also got a big chore to make sure the world's worst leaders never threaten, blackmail, or harm America with the world's worst weapons. I went to the United Nations the other day. I did so because I wanted to make the case against a madman, a case against a man who has lied to the world, the case in front of this august body that for 11 long years he has stood in defiance of resolution after resolution, and at the same time built up his cache of chemical and biological weapons. This is a man who continues to murder his own people, a man who has gassed used gas on his own citizens, a man who has used chemical weapons on his neighbors, a man who has invaded two countries, a man which hates who hates America, a man who loves to link up with Al Qaida, a man who is a true threat to America, to Israel, to anybody in the neighborhood. And so I went to the United Nations, and I said to the United Nations, "You need to deal with him. You, a collective body of freedom loving countries, need to deal with him. For 11 years he's made fun of you. You can either be the United Nations and be effective, or you can be the League of Nations. Your choice." I hope they're the United Nations. I hope they're a robust United Nations. I hope they're capable of helping to keep the peace. That's their choice. Saddam Hussein has got a choice, and that is, he can disarm. There's no negotiations, by the way. There's nothing to negotiate with him. He told the world he would disarm 11 years ago, and he's lied to the world. It's their choice to make. He must disarm, just like he said he would do. And the United Nations, in order to be effective, must disarm him. But for the sake of our freedom, for the sake of our future, if nothing happens, the United States will lead a coalition to hold him to account and to disarm Saddam Hussein. We owe it to the world to do so. I want to thank members of both political parties in the Congress for working on a strong statement of resolve that the world will see. Members of both political parties have worked together with the with members of my staff, to develop a statement that shows our determination and our desire to keep the peace, to make the world a more peaceful place. I think you're going to see that our Government will be, shortly, speaking with one voice, and the world will take notice. History has called us into action, my fellow Americans it just has. We have a chance to blink, or we have a chance to lead. I intend to lead. As we make sure that we're a safer and stronger place, we've also got to work to make America a better place for all of us. I mean all of us. It starts with making sure the education systems work. I appreciate the idea of having a Governor who is willing to work to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations somebody who is willing to raise the standards, somebody who believes, like I believe, every child can learn, and somebody who is willing to measure to determine if every child is learning. You see, it's really important to measure. If you believe children can learn, then you want to know. And if you find children trapped in schools which won't teach and won't change, you'd better have you a Governor who won't stand for the status quo. There's no second rate children in Arizona. There's no second rate children in America. But a better America also understands that the true strength of our country is not our Government, but the true strength of the country is the people, the hearts and souls of the American people. See, that's what I think the strength of the country is. And we can change this country. You've got to understand that amongst the plenty, there are pockets of despair and hopelessness in this country. There just are. There are people who are addicted. There are people who are lonely. There are people who are lost. When you say "American Dream" to some of our fellow Americans, they go blank. And that's not right, and we need to deal with that. We need to address that part of our because when one of us hurts, all of us should hurt. And we can change that part of the American scene. And we've got to understand, as we do, the limitations of Government. Listen, Government can hand out money, and we do a pretty good job of it sometimes. But what Government can never do is put love in somebody's life can't put hope in a person's heart. That's going to happen because our fellow Americans decide to fight evil by doing some good. That will happen when our fellow Americans understand being a patriot is more than just putting your hand over your heart. Being a patriot is serving something greater than yourself. Being a patriot is somebody who mentors a child. Being a patriot is somebody who feeds the hungry. Being a patriot is somebody who starts a Boy or Boys or Girls Club. Being a patriot who does everything he or she can do to make the quality of life in your neighborhood as good as it can be. I don't know what's going through the mind of the enemy when they hit us. Oh, they probably thought after September the 11th, we might file a lawsuit or two. Laughter But they learned differently. They learned that this great country is plenty tough, and we'll defend our freedoms. They also learned that we're plenty compassionate and that we'll respond to their evil with decency. One person can't do everything in America, but one person can do something. And as you do that something, I want you to remember that you can change this country one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. I believe that we're in the midst of a cultural change in America I believe it. I believe we're shifting our culture from one which had said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." I believe that since the terrible attack on America took place, that we're ushering in a period of personal responsibility, where each of us must understand, if you're lucky enough to be a mom or a dad, your most important job is to love your child with all your heart and all your soul. The culture of responsibility says, "If you live in Phoenix, Arizona, you must do everything you can to support the quality of life in that community. Don't hope for some distant Government to do it." The culture of responsibility says, "If you run a corporation in America, you're responsible to be honest with the books and treat your employees and shareholders with respect." I believe it's happening. And perhaps the most vivid example about what I'm talking about, about serving something greater than yourself, took place on Flight 93. America must remember that tragic story, because it speaks volumes about the great spirit of the country people flying across the plain, 40 passengers and I think 4 crew members, I believe it was. They learned from their loved ones that something was taking place on the ground that no one could possibly imagine in America. They realized the plane they were on was going to be used as a weapon. They talked to their loved ones. They said the word "love" a lot. They said a prayer. They prayed for strength. One guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane into the ground. They served something greater than themselves. That's a powerful story because, to me, it speaks to the soul of our country, our worth. There is no question in my mind that if we remain strong and focused and tough, we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace for our country. We can achieve peace in the Middle East, peace in South Asia. There's no doubt we can do that, if we're tough and strong and determined to speak clearly and always defend freedom. And at home, we can eliminate those pockets of despair. We can help people with love. And the reason I'm optimistic is because I know America. America is full of the finest people on the face of the Earth. America is the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming. May God bless, and God bless America. September 27, 2002 Thank you all. Nice to be out West. Laughter Thank you all for coming today. And "Congressman," thank you for that kind introduction. Bob Beauprez is the right man to represent the State of Colorado. There is no question in my mind. I am proud to stand with him, and I hope the good folks of Colorado are wise enough to send him to Washington, DC. I'm honored to be up here with Claudia, mother of four. These two folks love their family they love their country. And Claudia, I appreciate you're willing to sacrifice. See, moving out of Colorado is a pretty good size sacrifice. Laughter But like Bob, I married above myself. Laughter And my good wife sends her love and her best to our friends who are here, and to the Beauprezes in their quest of this high office the Governor and the first lady of the State of Colorado. She sends her best, as do I. By the way, she's doing a fabulous job. She was down in Mexico representing the United States. She's winging her way back to Crawford. I'm going to see her tonight after my trip. Tomorrow we're going to spend a little quality time on the ranch, helping to make sure we maintain perspective, understanding that there's life outside of the Beltway, that the values of central Texas and the values of the West out here in Denver are important values to keep a part of our spirit. And so I'm honored to be here to campaign. She sends her love. By the way, she is doing a fabulous job. She is a great First Lady for America, and I'm really proud of her. Not bad for a west Texas girl who, when I married her, was a public school librarian who, frankly, didn't care for politics and wasn't too keen on politicians. Laughter She's a great lady. She sends her love. I also am honored to be here with your Governor. He is one of the Nation's best Governors. Unlike some of them, he can run on his record. Laughter And it's a record that's going to put him back in office. And that's good for Colorado. I'm honored Frances is here with him as well, a great first lady for the State of Colorado. I want to thank the grassroots activists who are here. I want to thank Chairman Benson. I've known him for a long time. He's a fine leader. I want to thank you for what you have done and what you're going to do, and that is, you're going to turn out the vote. You're going to man the precincts. You're going to do what you're really good at, which is grassroots politics. And a lot of times you don't get thanked enough. I'm here to thank you. I want to thank you for turning out the vote, not only to make sure the Governor wins and Bob wins but to make sure Wayne Allard goes back to the United States Senate. I want to thank Senator Campbell for being here and the rest of the congressional delegation. You've sent some fine folks to Washington, DC, and I've enjoyed working with all of them. And I want to thank the folks who have organized this dinner or lunch, however you want to call it. Laughter It's a big crowd. Bob, it's a good sign. See, the folks here know what I know that you're a man of principle, a man of character. I love the Beauprez story. It's an American story, really, when you think about it. It's a Colorado story. It embodies the values of the State of Colorado and the best of America. After all, his grandfather came here penniless in 1910, left a wife and child behind. He wasn't sure if he could make it in America. He came and worked hard. Had the honor of meeting Bob's mom and dad. One of them got out of the eighth grade. And the mom got a little farther in school she got out of the ninth grade. But they're truly the American story, that hard work and dreaming big dreams and loving one another and raising your family means you can get ahead in America. Those are the values of Bob Beauprez, and they're important values for America to understand, and they're good values for the United States Congress. I like to support a man who's made a living, who understands what it means to take risk, who's not only worked on a farm but has had a vision and saw that vision come to be. It's the kind of thinking we need in Washington, because we've got a problem with our economy. And here's the problem Anytime somebody who wants to work can't find work, that's a problem. And even though there is economic growth, we don't have enough growth. And even though interest rates are low and inflation is low, the foundation for a growing economy we need to do more. But here's our attitude about the economy. The role of Government is not to create wealth the role of Government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish, in which the producer can make a living, in which the small business can grow to be a big business. You're backing the right man for Congress. He understands how the economy works. He will join me and others in making sure the tax cuts which we passed are a permanent part of American life. There's an interesting debate in Washington about taxes there always is. There's some who want more of your taxes in Washington there are some who want less. I believe that when the economy slowed the way it was slowing when we came in, we needed to let people keep more of their own money. Here's the page of the textbook which we read. It says "If you have more money in your pocket, it means you're more likely to demand a good or a service. And if you demand a good or a service in the American system, somebody is going to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces the good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work." The tax cuts came at the right time in American history. The tax cuts stimulate economic growth. The tax cuts are good for small business creation. Small businesses create 70 percent of the new jobs in America. Most small businesses are not incorporated. Most small businesses are sole proprietorships or limited partnerships and, therefore, pay income taxes at the individual rates. And so when you drop the rates, you're encouraging capital creation in the small business sector of America. Those who oppose tax cuts do not understand job creation and what the small business community does for job creation. It's hard for me to explain why we need to make them permanent. It's kind of some of the things that happen in Washington On the one hand, they taketh away on the other hand, they giveth. In this case, we had tax reductions, but because of a rule in the United States Senate, those tax reductions cease after 10 years from the date of enactment. Congress gives, and then it takes away. And that's not right. What I need I need allies in Washington who will make those tax reductions permanent so people can plan and save, and the job will grow. And we did a good thing in that tax reduction plan. We sent the death tax on its way to extinction. The death tax is bad for Colorado ranchers. The death tax is bad for Colorado farmers. If you're interested in curtailing urban sprawl, you ought to eliminate the death tax, so people aren't forced to sell their farms and ranches when they don't want to, because of a bad tax. The death tax is bad for small businesses. The death tax is just plain bad. And this State and this district better send somebody to Washington who will vote to permanently repeal the death tax. Economic vitality and economic growth means that we've got to manage our resources wisely, and we're not managing our forest resources wisely in America. We're allowing our forests to grow up like giant piles of kindling and just hoping that something doesn't happen. We're backwards policy. We don't listen to the folks out West enough. We don't listen to the folks whose job it is to conserve our forests for future generations. The fires that have devastated the West should send a clear signal to not only the voters of this district but to the people in Washington, DC, that America, for the sake of our precious resources, and America, for the sake of future generations, must have forest policy based upon common sense. We must thin out our forests so that they're not giant piles of kindling for future national disasters. Bob's commonsense approach makes sense for Colorado. He understands as well, when you're good at something, you ought to promote it. We're good at high tech. We're good at growing crops. We're good at producing things, and we ought to be selling our products overseas. And so I appreciate that we're going to have a fellow free trader elected to the United States Congress from this district. Trade is good for jobs. Trade is good for Colorado. And trade is good for America. In order to create more jobs in America, Congress needs to act when it comes to terrorism insurance. There's some significant projects on hold because people can't get insurance because of what the terrorists did to us. It's estimated there's over 300,000 jobs that have been delayed, 300,000 hardhat, good, hard good paying jobs, because we can't get terrorism insurance. And Congress ought to act, and they need to move. The problem is well, here's the problem Some of them are more interested in rewarding the trial lawyers than they are the hardhats. We need a bill that focuses we need policy that focuses on the hardworking people, those people wearing the hardhats. We've got to get them back to work. I need somebody up there who will join me in putting good, commonsense policy in place people can find work in America. We want them working. And one other thing I want to share with you about how to make sure the economy grows We must be fiscally sound with your money we cannot allow Congress to overspend. And here's the danger. Every idea in Washington sounds like a good idea. Everybody's idea sounds brilliant. And the problem in Washington politics is, every one of those brilliant ideas has got a price tag on them in the billions. And it begins to add up. And the other danger is, there's no budget. Senator Armstrong remembers the days when the Senate had a budget. They don't have one now. And if you don't have a budget, guess what's likely to happen? People overspend. For the sake of job creation, for the sake of jobs, we need to make sure the United States Congress understands whose money they're spending. They're not spending the Government's money they're spending your money. And I need fiscal conservatives, people who will protect your pocketbook in Washington, DC. No, we're going to work together to make America a stronger place by making sure people can find work. Oh, I know there's a lot of talk about national security, and there should be, during these days. But part of making sure America is a secure place is that our economy is strong, and we continue to focus on job creation, which I'll do. But my most important job these days is to protect the homeland, is to protect America against nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers, protect our country against people who hate us because of what we love. They hate us because we love freedom. They hate us because we love the idea that people can worship an almighty God any way they see fit. They hate us because we speak our mind we allow public discourse and dissent. They hate us because we have a free press. And so long as we love freedom, they'll hate us. But we're never, ever going to relinquish our love of freedom in America. Let me tell you something else about the enemy They're resourceful they're slippery they're the ones who hide in caves and send youngsters to their suicidal death. These are folks that have hijacked a great religion and then take innocent life. And that's a huge difference between America. See, in America we value life. Everybody matters. Every person counts, not only in America but around the world. Human life is precious to the American people, part of our culture. The enemy doesn't think that way. And therefore, we've got to do everything we can to defend against them, to make sure they never hurt us again. And a lot of good people are working a lot of long hours to protect the American people just are you've got to know it. You've got to know that we're doing a better job now of coordinating between agencies in Washington. I mean once we've learned that oceans no longer protect us there's a new mentality in your Nation's Capital as well as your statehouse and at the local level as well. A lot of good people are sharing information, are running down leads. Anytime we get a hint something might be happening to America, we're going to react to it. We owe that to the American people. We will do so and protect the United States Constitution at the same time. We're making progress at home, but we need to make more progress. And one way to do so is to create a Department of Homeland Security. I remember when I first made the announcement, somebody said, "Well, all that's going to mean is bigger Government." I readily concede I didn't campaign on the slogan "Vote for me. I want your Government to be bigger." But I do want it to work. I want it to perform. There's over 100 agencies involved in the homeland defense. And if the number one priority is to protect the homeland, it seems like, to me, it makes sense to have them under one umbrella so that we can have a new culture in those agencies. It's not to say they won't do other functions, but we want them focused on your job, on your security, and on their job. That's what we want in America. And so I've asked Congress to respond. And the House acted quickly, and I appreciate the votes of the Members here from the House. The Senate is bogged down right now. They're bogged down over a dispute as to how best to run the agency. I want to thank Senator Campbell's strong support of my position, which I'm about to share with you. And it's this I don't need a giant and when I say "I," it's not only me, it's other Presidents don't need a thick book of regulations trying to micromanage the Department of Homeland Security. That's not what we need. We need flexibility. We need to be able to move quickly. We need to be able need to put the hard working people in the right place at the right time, to protect us from an enemy. Let me give you some examples of what I'm talking about. After September the 11th, the Customs Service wanted to require inspectors at the Nation's 301 ports of entry to wear radiation detection devices. That makes sense Put a radiation detection device on that will help to determine whether or not somebody is trying to struggle a weapons of mass destruction in the country eminent sense, logic that folks should want to do that. The union that represents the Customs workers objected. They didn't think that was right. They sought to invoke collective bargaining, which would have taken at least a year to resolve. We don't have a year to resolve issues like that. See, we need to be able to move quickly. We need to be able to respond. It's our job. In order to locate employees in cases of emergency, the Customs Service thought to have employees provide their home addresses or their telephone numbers to the Customs Service in other words, if there needed to be a quick response, we needed to have their numbers available. The union objected. They said such a request would violate the privacy rights of workers. We're in a different time here in America. In this case, a union filed a grievance and sought to negotiate something as sensible as this request. I'm for workers' rights. I believe people ought to be able to have collective bargaining if that's what they want. But in the name of national security, this administration, future administrations need this flexibility to put people the right place at the right time, in order to protect America from an enemy which still wants to hurt us. Hope we can get it right in the Senate an opportunity for the Senate, House to leave behind a legacy that America is more fully protected as time goes on. But the best way to protect America, short term and long term, is to hunt the killers down, one at a time, and to bring them to justice. And that's what we're doing. We're doing it in a variety of ways. First, you just need to know the doctrine that says, if you're you're either with us, or you're with them it still stands. There's a lot of people still with us. This is a different kind of war, and we need people with us. As I mentioned, these are folks that like to hide in caves or the dark recesses of cities around the world. They don't have tanks. They don't have airplanes. They don't have ships. We don't measure success based upon our capacity to destroy their ability to fight war. We measure success based upon how many we have hauled in or how many weren't so lucky. We've gotten over a couple of thousand of them so far. "We" not only means the United States but others with whom we work. And a like number have not been as lucky. We're slowly but surely dismantling the Al Qaida terrorist network. It's not a very glamorous war for some to cover. It's hard to get breathless over an arrest. Bin al Shibh popped his head up. He was the guy that thought he was going to be the 20th hijacker, or wanted to be. He's no longer a threat. He's no longer a threat to America. He's no longer a threat to our friends. It doesn't matter how long it takes, folks, the enemy has got to understand we're going to get them. It doesn't matter how long it takes we're going to pursue them. You see, we're fighting for our freedom. We're fighting for that which we hold dear. I sent up to Congress the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. I did it for two reasons. One, anytime we commit our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best equipment, and the best possible training. We owe that to our troops, and we owe it to their loved ones as well. And for those of you in the audience who have got a loved one in the military one, proud of your son or daughter two, I have got full confidence in your son or daughter and three, thank you for your sacrifice. And secondly, the reason I asked for a increase the size of which I did is because I wanted to send a message to friend and foe alike that when it comes to the defense of our freedoms, we're not quitting. There's no calendar on my desk that says, well, we've reached this time it's time to stop. That's not how I think. That's not how America thinks. We want our friends understanding that. We want the enemy to know it as well, that when it comes to the defense of our country, comes to defending the values we hold dear, it doesn't matter how much it costs it doesn't matter how long it takes The United States will be firm and resolved. We owe that to our children, and we owe it to our children's children. I've got a problem, however. The defense budget I submitted hasn't made it to my desk yet. Here we are trying to defend the homeland, and it's stuck. The House passed it. The Senate passed it. Now it's time for the leadership in Washington, DC, to get the defense bill to my desk before they go home. It's important for it's an important signal to send. And they ought to stop playing politics with defense appropriations at this time in American history. There's not going to be an easy road to secure our freedom. There is going to be there are some steep hills to climb. But we're ready to climb them as a nation, I think. There's a steep hill to climb in Iraq. I went to the United Nations the other day, and I want to share with you why I went. First, I wanted to make sure the world heard the case This man is a dictator who tortures and rapes women has women raped in order to make a point who kills, stifles dissent through murder the man who said he would get rid of weapons of mass destruction and still has them. And we need to fear the fact that he has weapons of mass destruction. He's used them before. He's used them on his own people before. He's invaded two countries. He's lied and deceived the world. The United States is no longer secure because we've got oceans. We're vulnerable to attack, as we learned so vividly. My job is to not only deal with problems people kind of run around and lurk my job is also to anticipate problems. My job is to be realistic about our future. My job is to make sure that the world's worst leader is not able to blackmail or hurt America or our friends and allies with the world's worst weapons. We've got to make sure that these dictators aren't able to team up with terrorist groups, use their weapons of mass destruction as a way to intimidate those of us who love freedom. So I went to the United Nations. My message was, "We want you to succeed as an organization. We remember what it was like when the collective body was the League of Nations, unable to stop totalitarianism, that in order to secure the freedom in the 21st century, it's important to have an effective body. But you've been ineffective," I said. "For 11 long years you have said one thing to the dictator in Iraq, and he has thumbed his nose. For 11 years you've allowed this man to be to lie and deceive about weapons of mass destruction, and you have not held him to account. And now is the time. For the sake of freedom, you have got a choice You can hold him to account. And for the sake of freedom, he has got a choice He can disarm." There's no negotiations, by the way, for Mr. Saddam Hussein. There's nothing to discuss. He either gets rid of his weapons and the United Nations gets rid of his weapons he can either get rid of his weapons and the United Nations can act, or the United States will lead a coalition to disarm this man. I'm willing to give peace a chance to work. I want the United Nations to work. I want him to do what he said he would do. But for the sake of our future, now's the time now's the time. For the sake of your children's future, we must make sure this madman never has the capacity to hurt us with a nuclear weapon or to use the stockpiles of anthrax that we know he has, or VX the biological weapons which he possesses. I appreciate both Republicans and Democrats in our country understanding this issue. The other day I was at greeted in the Cabinet Room members of both parties from the United States Congress, both parties, who understand the stakes members of both parties who understand the stakes, people who are willing to work with us to send a clear message to the world, a unified message, a strong resolution which defines our vision for peace. Soon I'll have a soon you'll see a resolution come forth supported by members of both parties not everybody, I can understand that. This is an important debate, a debate where people will speak their conscience. I'm absolutely convinced as we've laid out the facts, members from both parties understand the stakes, understand we're talking about freedom, and understand we cannot allow this madman to threaten us, to threaten others, to threaten our friends with the world's worst weapons. I want you to know that behind the rhetoric of war is a deep desire for peace, that I believe that by remaining strong and diligent that we can achieve peace, that we can achieve peace not only for America but peace around the world. I believe that by speaking clearly about terror, delineating good from evil, remaining forceful in our desire for freedom, we can achieve peace in the Middle East. I laid out a vision for peace. I'm going to stay on that vision. I believe so strongly it's possible. And I believe we can achieve peace in South Asia. I want you to tell your kids that when they hear the debate, listen to the rhetoric This administration has got a deep desire for a peaceful world. I also have a deep desire for a better world, too, a better country. As we work to keep the peace we've also got to work to make America a better place for all of us. I mean every single citizen. That means we've got to have an education system that is next to none. I believe strongly in setting high standards and challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations. I believe every child can learn. I know Bob shares that vision, and I know the Governor does as well. I'm proud to sign an important piece of education re form for the first time said that if you receive Federal money, why don't you show us whether or not your children are learning to read and write and add and subtract? See, if you believe every child can learn, if you're willing to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations, then just show us. And if they are, we'll praise the teachers and praise the superintendents. But when we find our children trapped in schools that won't teach and won't change, we must demand something different. No child should be left behind in America. A better America is one that has got a modern health care system. And I look forward to working with Bob to make sure that the Medicare system is modern. Medicine has changed Medicare hasn't. And it's time to keep the promise of Medicare with a modern system, starting with prescription drug benefits for our seniors. And by the way, I appreciated what the House did. I call upon the Senate to do the same thing that the House did the other day. In order to make sure medicine is affordable and accessible, we need medical liability reform at the Federal level. Let me just put it to you this way Too many lawsuits are driving docs out of business. Too many lawsuits are making health care hard to get for a lot of folks. Too many lawsuits, too many frivolous and junk lawsuits are driving up your cost for health care, and we need to do something about it, starting at the Federal level. The House acted. The Senate must show the same kind of courage, for the sake of the American people. There's a lot of things we can do in Washington, but the best way to make America a better place is to call upon our fellow citizens to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. See, Government can hand out money sometimes we do a pretty good job of it but what it cannot do is cause people to love one another. It can't put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That is done when a fellow citizen puts his arm around somebody who hurts, and says, "I love you." That's how that happens. That's done when a church or a synagogue or mosque decides to feed the hungry or find shelter for those who have no housing. It's done when somebody mentors a child. It's done when somebody runs a Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop. That's what happens, see. That's the true strength of the country, by the way. The true strength of the country is in the hearts and souls of our fellow citizens. You know, people have asked me, what can they do to help in the war against terror? My answer is, love a neighbor. If you want to fight evil, do some good. Try to make your community a better place in which somebody can live and realize their dreams. No, the enemy hit us the enemy hit us. They didn't know who they were hitting. They probably thought after 9 11 2001 that maybe a couple lawsuits would be filed against them. They didn't understand America. They didn't understand our view of freedom nor did they understand that this great Nation would rise up this Nation would take a step back and assess what was important and rise up. A lot of people now understand to be a patriot means more than just putting your hand over your heart. It means doing something to make your community a better place. A true patriot is somebody who helps eliminate those pockets of despair and hopelessness by loving somebody. I believe out of the evil done to America is going to come great good still mourn the loss of life, like we all do, but I know the culture is beginning to change from one that has said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a day in which each of us understand we're responsible for the decisions we make in life. We're responsible for loving our children, if you're lucky enough to be a mom or a dad. You're responsible for the quality of life in the community in which you live. You're responsible for loving your neighbor like you'd like to be self. If you're running corporate America, you're responsible to tell the truth to your employees and your shareholders. This great country is responding to the evil done. I'm an optimistic guy, because I believe America can achieve anything it sets its mind to, believe we can achieve peace. And I believe we can help eliminate the pockets of despair and make sure this country remains such a beacon of hope for everybody, for every citizen who is fortunate enough to live in this great land. The reason I believe that way is, I understand that America is the greatest nation, full of the finest people, on the face of our Earth. God bless you all, and may God bless America. September 26, 2002 The President. Thank you for coming. Thanks for being here. Thank you all. I am here because there's no doubt in my mind that John Cornyn needs to be the next United States Senator from Texas. And I want to thank you all for thank you all for coming to help him get there. It's important for Texas that he be elected. It's important for America that he be elected. He's the best man with whom I can work. He's a man who can help us get some things done to make America a safer and stronger and better place for all of us. It's an honor to be back home. Audience member. Welcome home. The President. Thank you. I might have changed addresses, but I haven't changed homes. Laughter And I'm so grateful you all came out. Actually, as we get closer to the election, I'm not only working on ways to strengthen the economy, also working on ways to keep our country peaceful I'm getting on the road. And it's nice to be in a State where I can actually vote for the candidate I'm campaigning for. Laughter I appreciate John a lot. I appreciate his willingness to run for Federal office. I appreciate his willingness to serve in Washington, DC, to take his great family to take Sandy and his two daughters to live in our Nation's Capital. It's a sacrifice to leave Texas. Laughter But it's important that he win. And I'm so proud of John. I'm proud of his character, proud of his dignity. I really appreciate Sandy. She's a fabulous wife and a great will be a great Senator's wife. As she stands strong by John's side, I'd like to remind people that both he and I married above ourselves. Laughter Speaking about the First Lady, she is she's in Mexico today representing our country. We will meet in Crawford tomorrow night Crawford, Texas, that is. Laughter She is a remarkable person. She's I know there's some Midlanders here she was born and raised in Midland. She was a public school librarian when I met her. The truth of the matter was is that she wasn't that interested in politics laughter or politicians. Laughter And now she's stuck with the President of the United States, and she's doing a fabulous job as the First Lady. I want to appreciate all the grassroot activists who are here. Of course, I know many of you because I asked for your help in '94 and '98. And another guy named Bush has been asking for your help a lot longer before that, and many of you provided it. And I want to thank you all for what you're going to do on behalf of John and Rick Perry and the rest of the candidates running, and that is to turn out the vote. It's essential that you continue to man the phones and put up the signs and energize the precincts like I know you can do, here in Harris County and in other counties. I know we've got some folks from Jefferson County here and Midland County. I know there's some folks from Travis County. I really urge you to continue to energize the people. This is an important election, and so when you go to your churches or your synagogues or your community centers, talk it up. Remind people they have a duty to go to the polls. And as you get them going to the polls, remind them that the best man running for the United States Senate is John Cornyn. We will face some challenges together in Washington. Of course, one of the biggest challenges is to make sure that our people can find work. My attitude is, anytime somebody who wants to work can't find a job, is we've got a problem in America. And so, we've got to always think about how to grow our economy. What can we do to create to encourage the private sector to create more jobs? See, John and I understand the role of Government is not to create wealth, but an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish or the small business can grow to be a big business. Seventy percent of new jobs in America are created by small business owners. And we've got to always encourage the entrepreneurial spirit. I started doing that when I first got up to Washington, by cutting the taxes on the people that work. We took a page out of this textbook It says that if you've got an economic slowdown and you let people keep more of their own money, they're going to demand a good or a service. With more money in their pocket, they're more likely to demand something additional. And when they do, somebody is going to produce the good and service. And when somebody produces the good or service, somebody is more likely to find work. The tax cuts came at exactly the right time. They were important. But the problem is that because of Senate rules, they go away. Now, that's a tough one to explain when you get outside of Washington, I readily concede. On the one hand, we giveth on the other hand, we taketh away. Laughter That's Washington. I need somebody in the Senate who understands the importance of tax cuts. I need somebody in the Senate who understands we need to repeal the death tax for the sake of our farmers and ranchers and small business owners. And that somebody is John Cornyn. Make no mistake about it, the candidate in this race who will support making the tax cuts permanent is John Cornyn. And that's important for economic vitality and economic growth. I want somebody up there with whom I can work to get an energy bill. We need an energy plan for America. We need a plan that not only gets people back to work but a plan that lessens our dependence upon foreign sources of crude oil. We import over we import easily over half of our energy, of our crude oil. And unfortunately, sometimes we get it from places that don't care for us. Laughter And so, for the sake of national security and for the sake of job security, we need an energy bill. And I want a Senator with whom I can work to get a good energy bill, on behalf of Texas and on behalf of America. And that man is John Cornyn. A stronger America is an America that constantly works to increase the job base. We need a terrorism insurance bill in Washington, DC. There's a lot of hardhats, good, hard working people who aren't working because big projects can't get going because they can't get insurance. The enemy hurt us when they hit us. They hurt our economy. And one of the ways they hurt us is, we can't insure big projects. And the Congress ought to step in. It's a useful role for the Congress. But we need an insurance bill a terrorism insurance bill that rewards the hardhats and not the trial lawyers. We need a good terrorism insurance bill. And I can assure you I can assure you, I know this man's record. I can assure you, John Cornyn cares more about hard working people. He cares more about the hardhats than the trial lawyers in America. We need people up there who understand that if Congress overspends, it will serve as an anchor to economic vitality and growth. It's dangerous up in Washington when it comes to your money. Every idea is a good idea. Every idea they float up there sounds like a good idea. The problem is, in Washington the price tags run into the billions. They don't have a budget out of the United States Senate. You can imagine what will happen without a budget if there's no fiscal discipline, if I don't enforce the fiscal discipline, and if others in the Senate aren't willing to stand up and enforce fiscal discipline. They can't get a budget. The House has got a budget, but the Senate was unable to get a budget in the expenditure of your money, which creates a problem. I need to have United States Senators who are willing to work with us to fund priorities but to not overspend, Senators who understand the money we spend up there is not the Government's money. The money we spend in Washington is the people's money. And that Senator is John Cornyn. A stronger America is one which constantly works to expand the job base so people can find work. And I will continue to do that. A stronger America is also one that's got a good bench, a good Federal bench. There was an interesting moment in this campaign. I nominated a fabulous woman, first rate woman, named Priscilla Owen top law student out of Baylor been elected statewide in Texas a couple of times, overwhelmingly once had the highest ranking of the ABA, the best rating you could possibly get. I knew she'd be a great judge. Good, solid Texas woman, somebody it would be good to have that attitude and her point of view on the bench. So I sent her nomination up there. It became political. They distorted her record. They didn't give her a fair chance. Shamefully, the Senate turned down her nomination. In so doing, that was not only bad for Texas it was bad for America, as far as I'm concerned. It's important for the voters of this State to listen to what was said by the two candidates running for the United States Senate about Priscilla Owen. There's only one candidate in this race that stood up strongly with me and strongly supported the ratification of her nomination, and that candidate was John Cornyn. We also have got to work to make America a safer place. I say that because there is an enemy which still hates America, lurking. It is an enemy which is different from other kinds of enemies we have taken on. See, this enemy you can't measure the enemy's strength based upon the number of tanks he has or the number of aircraft or the number of ship. This is an enemy that hides in dark corners of cities around the world. This is an enemy which hides in caves and sends youngsters to their suicidal death. That's the kind of people we fight. They hate us because we love things. We love freedom, for starters. We love the fact that we can worship freely in America. We love that, and we're never going to relinquish that freedom. We love the fact that we can have honest political discourse, there can be debate, that people can choose who they want to be the United States Senator. We love a free press in America. We love freedom they hate freedom. So long as we love freedom, they hate us, and they want to hurt us. That's just the facts of life, as we head into the 21st century. The other thing that distinguishes there's a lot of things that distinguishes, but one of the things clearly that distinguishes us In America we value each life. Life matters. Everybody counts. Everybody has got worth. That's not the way they think. They have hijacked a great religion, and they murder innocent lives in the name of a great religion. And so we've got to be aware of the facts and reality. I certainly am. My number one job and the number one job of future Senators and future Congresses is to protect the American people, to guard the homeland, to do everything we can to make sure that you're safe. And we're making progress. I mean, we're talking better now in Washington, DC. The FBI and the CIA share information. Anytime we get a lead, a hint, we're moving on it. We're awake to the realities of the 21st century. No longer are we protected by two vast oceans. And there's a lot of good people at the State level and the local level, great firefighters and policemen and EMS teams all prepared, and wonderful people at the Federal Government at the level of the Federal Government that are working hard to fulfill our number one priority, which is to protect you. So I went to Congress, and I asked them I said, "Look, if the number one priority is the defense of our homeland, let's have an organization so that the number one priority becomes reality to the different hundreds of agencies involved with the protection of America. Let's organize, in a way." Listen, I didn't run for office, I concede, and say, "Vote for George. I'm going to make the Government bigger." Laughter That's not my intention. I want it to work on your behalf. And so I sent up a bill or an idea, and the House passed a good bill. The Senate is struggling over it right now. The Senate is struggling over it because they want to try to micromanage the process. They want to tell the administrative the executive branch, this President and future Presidents, who can hire, who can fire, where to move them. See, that's what they want. They want there to be a lot of rules and regulations, and I'm not going to accept that. Let me give you some examples. To get a emergency phone number from customs employees in other words, it makes sense, if you've got a problem, you want an emergency phone number union leaders call that an invasion of privacy. See, that's not right. That's a work rule that doesn't make any sense in the new era. It might have made sense before we became subject to enemy attack, but that doesn't make any sense. Port inspectors refuse to carry radiation detectors. If you're worried about trying to find a potential weapon of mass destruction, you ought to strap on one of those radiation detectors to figure out whether they've got one. This is not a harmful device. The leaders of that group say, "They've got to be voluntary. You can't make a person carry a one of those detectors." That doesn't make any sense. This is true, what I'm telling you. Laughter Customs inspectors cannot be assigned to sensitive jobs unless they're most senior in other words, that you can only assign people based upon seniority, not based upon talent. That doesn't make any sense. You see, the enemy doesn't care about these rules. The Senate does, and it bothers me. Laughter Don't get me wrong, there's fine Senators from both parties who care deeply about our country. Senators from both parties are struggling with this issue. But it is essential for the sake of protecting America that we not allow special interests to drive the process. It is essential to give this President and future Presidents the ability to move people to the right place at the right time to protect America. I don't think I'd have any problem convincing John of the need to give the President flexibility. As a matter of fact, I know he'd be a strong ally. The best way to protect our homeland, however, is to hunt the killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice. That's the best way to protect the homeland. It's important for you to know the doctrine I laid out still stands You're either with us, or you're with the enemy. That's clear. I will continue to make that clear. Our coalition is strong. We're still getting a lot of cooperation. Remember, this is a different kind of war. It requires sharing of intelligence and cutting off money and communicating closely and hunting these people down. I mean, they hide in Karachi. We got the other guy the other day who thought he was going to be wanted to be the 20th hijacker. He popped his head up, and now he's in detention. Laughter He's no longer a threat to America and our friends and allies. He's no longer around. It's not a very glamorous war from the sense that the cables and all the air time can cover, but it's happening. We've detained over a couple of thousand people I want to say over 2,500 are no are off the streets, thanks to the United States and our friends and allies. I mean, we are hunting them down. And about equal that number weren't as lucky. They're not around at all, because we've got a fabulous military, by the way. We've got some brave soldiers who are applause . I submitted a significant increase in defense spending, the largest since Ronald Reagan was the President, because I wanted to send two messages. One, anytime this Nation sends our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. We owe it to the troops, and we owe it to their loved ones as well. I also wanted to send a clear message to friend and foe alike that the United States of America is in this deal for the long haul that when it comes to the defense of our freedom, when it comes to making sure our children can live in a free and civilized society, when it comes to defending that which we hold true, we're not quitting. We're not quitting. It doesn't matter how long it takes. It doesn't matter how long it takes to find the enemy. The United States will stay with it. We're a determined nation. We're a strong nation. We're a nation that loves freedom. And that defense budget sent that signal. The problem is, it hasn't made it to my desk yet. Laughter See, the House passed it, and the Senate passed it. And it hasn't gotten resolved in the conference committee. It's very important, before the Senate and the House go home, that they give me a defense bill. It's a defense bill that is necessary. It sends a important signal. It shows that we're resolved and serious. They ought to stop playing politics with the defense appropriations bill and get it to my desk. No, we'll stay with it. I also want to remind you that that doctrine that says, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed one of them, you're just as guilty as the killers." And I want you also to remind your youngsters about what this Nation did in Afghanistan. Not only did we do what we said we were going to do which is, I think, important in life but we sent our troops in not to conquer anybody but to liberate people. We freed a country from the clutches of barbaric tyrants. It's unbelievable how backward and brutal these were, particularly to women. I had the honor of hosting, in the Roosevelt Room, I believe it was 16 Afghan women who had flown over. And one of the things we promised the Government we would do is we would host training sessions for women to give them a chance to get be a part of the Government. That's what we want. That's how we that's what we think is important in life. We believe everybody matters, everybody has got worth, in America. And it was a touching moment to listen to the women and talk to the women and to realize that and it was a proud moment to realize that our country had a part of freeing them, of giving them a chance to realize their worth and their potential. You see, we love peace, and we love freedom. We don't say to people in Afghanistan, "You must have our form of Government. You know, the way America does it, you've got to do it." But what we do say is, "We want to free you. We want to give you a chance." And so we're going to stay in Afghanistan. We're going to stay in Afghanistan to hunt down the killers they still lurk around. They occasionally come in, and we'll find them. They kind of bunch up somewhere, and they're just they think they're elusive, and they think they're clever, but they've got the mighty United States on them. And we're going to stay on them. And we've also got some other tasks ahead of us as well. I went to the United Nations the other day to make a case about a true threat to freedom, a true threat to the United States, a threat to Israel, a threat to peace in the region. And that is Iraq. I made the decision to go to the United Nations because I want the United Nations to be effective. You see, in order to fight the new wars of the 21st century, we need to be able to have collaborative efforts to share intelligence, to share information, to arrest, to haul people in. And an effective United Nations will make it easier to keep the peace, in my judgment. But the United Nations, in the face of Saddam Hussein, has not been effective. For 11 long years he's defied them. He's wheedled out of agreements. He's deceived. He's lied. The question before the United Nations is, "Will you be the League of Nations, or will you be an effective body to keep the peace?" That's my challenge to them. I also challenged I also have made it clear that Saddam Hussein must disarm. There's no negotiations. Those ended a long time ago. There's no need for us to try to sit down at a table. There's no discussion to be had. He's got chemical weapons he needs to get rid of them, all of them. He's got biological weapons he needs to destroy all of them. There's no doubt in my mind he wants to have a nuclear weapon, and he's got some capacity. I'm not saying he's got one yet, but he's developing the capacity, as we learned right after Desert Storm. He needs to get rid of it no discussion, no debate, no negotiation. The burden of proof is on Saddam Hussein. And so now it's up to the United Nations and it's up to Saddam Hussein to determine whether or not there will be peace, to determine whether or not the world's worst leader and remember, this is a guy who continues to torture his people if they dissent. This is a man who's gassed his own people. This is a man who attacked two countries in the neighborhood. This is a man who used gas on a neighbor. This is a man who continually lies. This is a man who does not know the truth. This is a man who is a threat to peace. It's up to the United Nations and it's up to him to decide their fate. If the United Nations won't act, if he doesn't disarm, the United States will lead a coalition to make sure he does. I want to thank members of both parties, Republicans and Democrats, for joining to work with us to develop a strong statement of resolve. Today in the Rose Garden, right before I got on Air Force One, I had a public event with Democrats and Republicans, Members of the Congress who have joined with us to send a clear message to the world about America, our strength of purpose, our desire for peace, our unwillingness to accept 11 years of deceit. This is not a partisan issue, folks. This is an issue that is important for America. This is an American issue, a uniquely American issue. And it's as I reminded the Members, that I say uniquely American issue because I truly believe that now that the war has changed, now that we're a battlefield, this man poses a much graver threat than anybody could have possibly imagined. Other countries, of course, bear the same risk, but there's no doubt his hatred is mainly directed at us. There's no doubt he can't stand us. After all, this is a guy that tried to kill my dad at one time. I take my responsibility seriously as the Commander in Chief. I want you to know I understand the how serious it is to commit our troops. But I truly believe that history has called us, and we're going to have to act if he doesn't do what he's expected to do. And when we do, we'll be swift and strong. If we have to, we'll win. And the world is more likely to be at peace after it happens. I long for peace. Behind the rhetoric is a deep desire for peace, and I believe it's achievable. But we're going to have to remain strong and determined. We must continue to speak clearly about good and evil. We must be resolved in our determination to defend freedom and to free people around the world. And there's no doubt we can achieve the mission, no doubt in my mind. As we work to make America a stronger and safer place, we have always got to remember to make it a better place, too. And that's really important. I know John shares my passion for education. We passed a good education bill in Washington. I want to share with you, right quick, what it says. It says, "Every child can learn." I don't know if you remember, in the campaign I said, "I promise to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations." I know that when you lower standards, that people suffer, and generally when you lower standards, they're lowered for inner city kids or kids whose parents don't speak English as a first language. We believe in high standards, and we raised the bar. We trust local folks to manage the path to excellence. But for the first time, the Federal Government says, "When you receive Federal money, you show us whether or not the children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. If you receive a dime of Federal money, we expect you to perform. Every child can learn, and no child will be left behind in America." A better America is one that has got a health care system that is responsive to the people. John's got a strong record of holding HMOs accountable for bad decisions they make, and I appreciate that record, John. We need a prescription drug plan for seniors. Listen, Medicare is an incredibly important program. It is old. Medicine has changed Medicare hasn't. And we need to change Medicare with medicine, so seniors get the kind of coverage they need and deserve. And I look forward to working with John on that. And I'll tell you, one other thing we need to do in Washington you see, health care needs to be accessible and affordable. Lawsuits are driving docs out of business. Lawsuits are driving up the cost of medicine. We need Federal medical liability insurance. There's no doubt in my mind of the two candidates in this race, John will work with us on these issues no doubt. And as we work on these issues, I believe America will be a better place for it. You know, the enemy hit us. I can't imagine what was going through their mind. They probably thought America was so selfish and materialistic and self absorbed that after 9 11 2001, we might file a lawsuit or two. Laughter They don't understand us, do they? This Nation is a strong nation. It's a fabulous nation. Out of the evil done to America is going to come some good. You mark my words. If we remain strong and tough in our war against terror, we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace not only for America we can achieve peace in the Middle East we can achieve peace in South Asia. If we remain strong and principled and determined, we can have a peaceful world, and I believe it's going to happen. And at home, if we unleash the true strength of the country, we'll have a better America. You see, we've got to understand that in America there are pockets of despair and hopelessness and loneliness and addiction. There are people who hurt. There are people that when you say "the American Dream," they say, "I have no idea what you're talking about." But that can change, because the true strength of America is the people of America. The true strength of America is the fact that our country is full of loving and caring and decent people who have heard a new call. See, I think there is a new culture evolving one from, if it says, "If it feels good, do it," and "You've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture that says, "Each of us are responsible for decisions we make in life." That means if you're a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your children with all your heart. That's your most important responsibility. It means if you're living in a community in Texas, you're responsible for the quality of life, and you're responsible for loving your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. It says, if you're running a corporation in America, you're responsible to tell the truth to your shareholders and employees. As a result of this change of attitude, as a result of that, people now understand that a patriot is more than somebody who just puts his hand over his heart a patriot is somebody who cares for somebody who hurts. America is changing. The enemy hit us, but out of the evil will come some incredible good a more compassionate society. My call to our fellow Americans is to understand the limitations of Government. Listen, Government can hand out money. We can do that, and we do a pretty good job of it sometimes. But what we can't do is put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. Government is not capable of saying "I love you," to a child who hurts, or "What can I do?" to somebody who is shut in. That will happen when our fellow citizens recognize we can change America for the better, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. No, the enemy hit us, and it's been tough on America. But out of the evil is going to come a peaceful world and a more compassionate society, because this is the greatest nation, full of the finest people, on the face of the Earth. May God bless you all. September 26, 2002 Good morning. We've just concluded a really good meeting with both Democrats and Republicans Members of the United States Congress to discuss our national security and discuss how best to keep the peace. The security of our country is the commitment of both political parties and the responsibility of both elected branches of Government. We are engaged in a deliberate and civil and thorough discussion. We are moving toward a strong resolution. And all of us, and many others in Congress, are united in our determination to confront an urgent threat to America. And by passing this resolution, we'll send a clear message to the world and to the Iraqi regime The demands of the U.N. Security Council must be followed the Iraqi dictator must be disarmed. These requirements will be met, or they will be enforced. The danger to our country is grave. The danger to our country is growing. The Iraqi regime possesses biological and chemical weapons. The Iraqi regime is building the facilities necessary to make more biological and chemical weapons. And according to the British Government, the Iraqi regime could launch a biological or chemical attack in as little as 45 minutes after the order were given. The regime has longstanding and continuing ties to terrorist organizations, and there are Al Qaida terrorists inside Iraq. The regime is seeking a nuclear bomb and, with fissile material, could build one within a year. Iraq has already used weapons of mass death against against other countries and against her own citizens. The Iraqi regime practices the rape of women as a method of intimidation and the torture of dissenters and their children. For more than a decade, the regime has answered Security Council resolutions with defiance, bad faith, and deception. We know that the Iraqi regime is led by a dangerous and brutal man. We know he's actively seeking the destructive technologies to match his hatred. We know he must be stopped. The dangers we face will only worsen from month to month and from year to year. To ignore these threats is to encourage them. And when they have fully materialized, it may be too late to protect ourselves and our friends and our allies. By then the Iraqi dictator would have the means to terrorize and dominate the region. Each passing day could be the one on which the Iraqi regime gives anthrax or VX nerve gas or, someday, a nuclear weapon to a terrorist ally. We refuse to live in this future of fear. Democrats and Republicans refuse to live in a future of fear. We're determined to build a future of security. All of us long for peace, peace for ourselves, peace for the world. Members here this morning are committed to American leadership for the good of all nations. I appreciate their spirit. I appreciate their love for country. The resolution we are producing will be an instrument of that leadership. I appreciate the spirit in which Members of Congress are considering this vital issue. Congress will have an important debate, a meaningful debate, an historic debate. It will be conducted with all civility. It will be conducted in a manner that will make Americans proud and Americans to understand the threats to our future. We're making progress. We're near an agreement. And soon, we will speak with one voice. Thank you all for being here. God bless America. September 25, 2002 President Bush. Thank you. Welcome. Here's what we're going to do. I am going to give a statement President Uribe will give a statement. I will call upon an American journalist the President will call upon a Colombian journalist. I will then call upon another American journalist the President will call upon a Colombian journalist. And then you all will leave. Laughter Mr. President, welcome to the Oval Office. It is my honor to welcome this good man, this friend of freedom, to the Oval Office. I have been incredibly impressed by his vision for a peaceful Colombia and a prosperous Colombia. He's a man who told the people of his country that he would work to eradicate terrorism, narcotrafficking. The Colombian people believe him, and so do I. And today I want to affirm our country's strong desire to help the Colombian Government and the Colombian people prosper and to live in freedom. I appreciate his leadership. I appreciate his strength of character. I appreciate his clear vision. So, Mr. President, bienvenidos a la Oval Office, aqui en la Casa Blanca. President Uribe. Muchas gracias, Presidente. At this point, President Uribe continued in Spanish, and no translation was provided. President Bush. Thank you, sir. Would you like that translated into English? President Uribe. Thank you, Mr. President, for this warm welcome. We need the support of your country, the support of your Government, your personal support for my country to solve problems of violence, economic and social problems. You have set up a very effective example of the way we need to go on to fight and to defeat terrorism. We are in necessity to have allies such as you and your Government for Colombians to restore law and order, for Colombians to restore a way of creating employment, of improvement of our standard of living. Thank you, Mr. President. President Bush. Por nada. Laughter Patsy Wilson, Reuters. President Saddam Hussein of Iraq and Al Qaida Q. Mr. President, do you believe that Saddam Hussein is a bigger threat to the United States than Al Qaida? President Bush. That's a that is a interesting question. I'm trying to think of something humorous to say laughter but I can't when I think about Al Qaida and Saddam Hussein. They're both risks. They're both dangerous. The difference, of course, is that Al Qaida likes to hijack governments. Saddam Hussein is a dictator of a government. Al Qaida hides Saddam doesn't. But the danger is, is that they work in concert. The danger is, is that Al Qaida becomes an extension of Saddam's madness and his hatred and his capacity to extend weapons of mass destruction around the world. Both of them need to be dealt with. The war on terror you can't distinguish between Al Qaida and Saddam when you talk about the war on terror. And so it's a comparison that is I can't make because I can't distinguish between the two, because they're both equally as bad and equally as evil and equally as destructive. Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. Question for a Colombian reporter? Assistance to Colombia Q. Mr. President Bush, the Colombian Government is here asking for support from the U.S. Government, economic support, both with the Andean Trade Preference Act and also maybe from the Department of Treasury. Is the Government the U.S. Government willing to help the Colombian Government? President Bush. We're certainly willing to help the Government and the Colombian people realize a prosperous future. I've asked my Secretary of Treasury to be here today to listen to the dialog with the President. There will be further discussions. The Andean Trade Preference Act has been renewed and revitalized to the benefit of the Colombian economy. We had a big discussion here in America, and I got a favorable vote out of our Congress that I'm confident will benefit those who seek work in Colombia. We look forward to working with international institutions to help this good man and this good important country to grow and prosper. And so the purpose of this visit is to not only talk about prosperity and economic growth and vitality, but it's also to talk about how to fight terror. And I'm looking forward to a good and active discussion. Terry Moran ABC News . 2002 Elections and the War on Terrorism Q. Mr. President, are you politicizing the war? Do you think Americans should base their vote in November in part on where a candidate stands on the war? President Bush. I think the American people ought to understand that life has changed here in this country, that it used to be two oceans would separate us from danger, that we were quite comfortable in our shores knowing that it would take an unusual circumstance to be attacked. After September the 11th, we were attacked, and the American people understand that this country must deal with the true threats. I am as determined today as I was on September the 11th to pursue an enemy which still wants to hurt America. I am absolutely determined to make sure that 10 years from now we don't look back and say, "What happened? Why did America go soft? Why did we ignore true threats that face our people?" And I hope the American people understand that. I was concerned, of course, after September the 11th, that as time went by, some might forget, some might forget the true threats. Of course, I'm reminded of that every day when I come here to the Oval Office, that we face true threats. And Terry, my job is to protect the American people. It's my most important job, most important assignment I have. And I will continue to do that, regardless of the season. Q. So it's a legitimate political issue? President Bush. Legitimate national security concern is what it is. You may try to politicize it. I view it as my main obligation that is to protect the American people. It's the most important job this President will have, and it's the most important job future Presidents will have, because the nature of war has changed. We're vulnerable, and therefore, I expect the American people should expect me, and any President, to do everything we can to protect the homeland. And I will I'll do that. Carlos Costano International Criminal Court Q. Mr. President, a question for both. What are your reactions on the U.S. extradition request of Colombian paramilitary leader Carlos Costano? And if you would also answer, Colombia sent you a letter yesterday saying that there's no need to sign a bilateral agreement with the U.S. in terms of the ICC that you are seeking to sign with all other countries in the world. Do you think do you still like a bilateral agreement with Colombia and those President Bush. Yes, we want an Article 98 with all countries, absolutely. I strongly reject the ICC. I'm not going to accept an ICC. I'm not going to put ourselves in a position where our soldiers and diplomats get hauled into a court over which we have got the prosecutors whom we don't know, the judges I mean, we're not going to allow ourselves to do that. And our friends shouldn't want us to be put in that position. Therefore, we're seeking Article 98s from our friends. And we will hold people to account. If they're a terrorist, we're going to hold them to account. So the guy who got indicted yesterday made a decision to be a terrorist. We made a decision to hold him to account. And we will continue to do that. We believe that's part of our responsibility as freedom loving people. And I look forward to working with President Uribe to hold others to account, if they continue to terrorize the world. And terrorism terrorists attacked our country and hurt us. If they attack Colombia and hurt them, they're still equally as guilty, as far as we're concerned. It doesn't matter who the victim is. What matters is whether or not they're practicing terrorist activities. And we will continue to fight terror. It's our obligation, our duty. History has called us into action. Thank you all. September 25, 2002 Thank you all very much. Well, thanks for coming tonight. I appreciate so many of our fellow Americans being here. I'm here because I want to urge you to do everything you can to make sure that the United States Senate is a Republican Senate. In order to make real progress for America, I believe we need to have a change of leadership in the United States Senate. And together together we can work together to make America a stronger place, a safer place, and a better place for everybody who is fortunate enough to live in this country. I want to thank Bill Frist, who's the chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. I want to thank you for your kind words. I want to thank you for your leadership. I want to thank Karyn Frist for being a patient woman, standing by this guy. Frist and I married above ourselves. We both married Texas women. Laura is not here. I wish she were. She's on her way down to do a little diplomatic work in Mexico. She sends her best. She sends her love. And I can't tell you how proud I am of the job she's doing on behalf of America. They tell me this is a successful dinner. And I'm not surprised. After all, the chairman of the dinner is from Texas, a fine United States Senator, a close friend, Kay Bailey Hutchison. Kay, I want to thank you for your dedication and for your hard work. I also am honored to be in the presence of the next majority leader of the United States Senate, Trent Lott. I want to thank all the Senators who are here tonight. I appreciate your friendship. I appreciate the opportunity to work with you. One Senator not here tonight is Senator Strom Thurmond. Today he gave what is likely his farewell speech on the floor of a body he loves a lot. I join his colleagues and join you all in expressing our appreciation and deep admiration for Senator Strom Thurmond and his 48 years of service in the United States Senate. I also want to thank my friend Michael W. Smith and Debbie Smith for being here. You're in for a real treat when you hear him sing. He is one of the great voices in America. I love his spirit. I love his soul. I'm proud to call him friend. I wish I could stay for the songs, Michael, but my dinner might get cold. Laughter I want to work with all of us here in Washington to make America a stronger place. And that starts with making sure we do everything in our power to make our economy grow. See, if anybody who wants to work can't find a job, we've got a problem. And so we've got to continue to focus on economic growth and economic vitality. And we made great progress when we controlled the Senate by cutting the taxes on the American people. Well, I know I know some up here in Washington have read a different textbook from most of us. But here's a page we remember. It says, "If you let a person keep more of their own money, they're likely to demand a good or a service. And if they demand a good or a service, somebody in America is likely to produce that good or a service. And when somebody produces a good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work." The tax cuts came as our economy was slowing down. The tax cuts came at the right time in American history, and we need a Senate who makes the tax cuts permanent. Working together, we promoted a trade bill, which is good for American jobs. If you're a confident nation, like we must be, if you believe in the productivity of the American worker, if you believe in the strength of the American entrepreneur, you open up markets around the world. And thanks to the Senate, and thanks to many Senators here, I have now got trade promotion authority, which I will use for the good of the American worker. We began to lose some confidence in our system because some of our fellow Americans thought it was okay to fudge the books, to hide numbers. And so we came together, thanks to many in this room, and passed the most comprehensive corporate reform since Franklin Roosevelt was the President. We believe that those who run corporations in America have a responsibility. They have a responsibility to the shareholder. They have a responsibility to the employee. And if we catch somebody fudging the numbers, there's not going to be any more easy money in America there's just going to be hard time. And there's more we can do, and these Senators here in this audience understand it. We need an energy bill. We need an energy bill for the sake of job security, and we need an energy bill for the sake of national security. We need terrorism insurance. We want to put our hardhats back to work. We need a bill that helps get construction projects moving again. But we want a bill that rewards the hard working hardhats of America, not the trial lawyers of America. And as the Congress heads to home, it's very important to remember that to make sure job creation continues and to make sure our economy strengthens, we must not overspend in Washington, DC. It's very important that Members of the Congress understand whose money we're spending. See, it's not the Government's money. We're spending the people's money, and we've got to be wise about how we spend the people's money. Every idea up here sounds like a good idea. Except in Washington, when you start totaling up the bill, it runs into the billions. And so, for the sake of job creation, the Congress must not use a continuing resolution for pet projects. For the sake of fiscal sanity, we must fund our priorities and hold the line elsewhere in the budget. And I appreciate the Senators leading the charge in this audience, understanding the need for fiscal that fiscal responsibility equals jobs for the American people. And for a stronger America, we need good judges. We need people who will not write the law from the benches but people who strictly interpret the Constitution. I have been appalled at what has taken place in the United States Senate recently. I named two good judges, one from Mississippi and one from my home State of Texas, Charles Pickering, Priscilla Owen. Their records were distorted. I don't think they were given a fair hearing. Special interests got a hold of the committee. It is not right that these two fine, fine people were denied the bench. Soon the Senate will take up the nomination of Miguel Estrada. Miguel Estrada is an excellent lawyer. He's a fine man. He's an American success story. The Senate should not play politics with this nomination, for he will be an outstanding judge. One of the reasons to change the United States Senate is to make sure the good judges I nominate get a fair hearing, a swift vote, and approval. And as we work hard to make sure our economy grows so people can find work, we've also got to remember our number one priority, and that is to protect our homeland from further attack. There's an enemy which hates America lurking around. They hate us because we love freedom. They hate everything our country stands for. They can't stand the thought that in this great country, we worship an almighty God any way we see fit. They can't stand the thought that we have good, honest political discourse. They hate a free press. They hate everything we love. And there's something else which distinguishes us from the enemy. We value life in America. We say everybody has worth. Everybody is precious. They take innocent life, as they've hijacked a great religion.And because the enemy lurks and because we refuse to yield on our love for freedom, we must prepare the homeland for future attack. I asked the Congress to join me in creating a Department of Homeland Security. I did so because we must better coordinate our defenses. If homeland security is the number one priority of the Government, it ought to be the number one priority of every agency in Washington, DC. If protecting the homeland is the number one priority, we ought to be in a position where we can move people to protect our homeland. This President and future Presidents must have the ability to put the right people in the right place at the right time in order to protect America. Unfortunately, some Senators, not all Senators but some Senators, believe it is best to try to micromanage the process, believe the best way to secure the homeland is to have a thick book of regulations which will hamstring this administration and future administrations from dealing with an enemy that could care less about thick books of regulations. Unfortunately, some in the Senate, not all in the Senate, want to take away the power that all Presidents have had since Jimmy Carter. And I'm not going to stand for it. The Senate must hear this, because the American people understand it They should not respond to special interests in Washington, DC. They ought to respond to this interest protecting the American people from future attack. I see Senator Gramm from Texas here. I want to thank Senator Gramm, Republican, Senator Zell Miller, Democrat from Georgia, for proposing a good piece of legislation. I urge the Senate to support this legislation. It is right for America. You see, we have a chance to leave a legacy behind. And that legacy could be found in the Gramm Miller bill. I support it strongly. I urge all the Senate to support this good piece of legislation. The best way to secure the homeland of America, however, is to hunt the killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice, which America will do. It's a different kind of war. It used to be you could count progress against an enemy by the number of tanks he had or the number of airplanes he had or the number of ships he was able to float. We're fighting against people who hide in caves, people who kind of find dark corners and lurk around them, and at the same time, boldly send youngsters to their own suicidal death. Those are the kind of people we fight. They don't require much money. But if they're trying to get money, we're cutting it off. What it requires is a United States that is firm in our resolve, determined in our efforts, a United States who is willing which is willing to uphold doctrine. One doctrine is Either you're with us, or the enemy. And that doctrine still stands today. The other doctrine is If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists who murdered thousands of Americans. And we're making progress. We're making progress in this first war of the 21st century. Just ask the Taliban. Laughter I want you all to remind your children about the great strength and heart of this country. Not only do we do what we say we're going to do, but we went into Afghanistan not to conquer anybody but to liberate a nation from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. Thanks to the United States and our friends and allies, young girls now go to school for the first time in Afghanistan. And we're not leaving. There's more work to do. There are Al Qaida killers lurking around the neighborhood. But they must understand there is no cave deep enough, there is no corner dark enough for the long arm of justice of the United States and our friends and allies. We've arrested over a couple of thousand of them. Got one the other day, one of the ones kind of bragging about he thought he was going to be the 20th 20th killer on September the 11th. He poked his head up, and we found him. He's no longer a threat to freedom. And there's a lot of them like him. Slowly but surely, we're hunting them down. And we've got a lot of work to do. There's a lot more effort that's going to go into securing America and our friends and defending our freedom. And that's why I asked the Congress to pass the largest increase in defense appropriations since Ronald Reagan was the President. I did so because I firmly and strongly believe that anytime we send one of our youngsters into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. We owe it to them, and we owe it to their loved ones. It also will send a message this defense appropriation increase will send a message to friend and foe alike that the United States is not going to quit when it comes to our freedom, that no matter how long it takes, no matter how tough the task, this Nation will defend our freedoms. History has put the spotlight on us. And the world must understand that we're not going to blink we're not going to tire. We will do whatever it takes to make the homeland secure and to make freedom reign across the world. And so my call to Congress is to get the defense appropriations bill to my desk before you go home. For the sake of the national security, for the sake of sending the right messages around the world, we need to get the defense bill complete. Not only will we pursue Al Qaida one person at a time, not only will we resist terror wherever it lurks, we will also deal with madmen who harbor and develop and want to use weapons of mass destruction. I made a decision to call upon the international community to join us in holding Saddam Hussein to account. I did so at the United Nations because I want the United Nations to be an effective body. I remember what happened with the League of Nations. For the sake of security, for the sake of peace, the United Nations must not become the League of Nations. The United Nations must have backbone. The United Nations must be willing to uphold resolution. The United Nations must be strong enough to hold Saddam Hussein to account. After all, he's defied the United Nations for 11 years. He's thumbed his nose at the world. He must be laughing when he hears about the United Nations and its resolutions, and that's not good for the health of the world. He's a man who poisoned his own people. He's a man who invaded two countries twice two countries, once each time. He's a man who has got weapons of mass destruction, yet lies to the world. He's a man who needs to be brought to justice. And the choice is his to make, and the choice is the United Nations to make. He must destroy his weapons of mass destruction. He must stop his deceit. He must stop his lying. He must stop torturing his own citizens. And the United Nations must uphold its resolutions. The choice is theirs. But if they choose not to, for the sake of our future, for the sake of our freedom, we will not let the world's worst leader threaten us, blackmail us, or hurt us with the world's worst weapons. And I want to thank Members of Congress of both political parties for coming together to send a strong message to the world that this Nation loves freedom members of both parties coming together to send a clear word to friend and foe alike that the United States is united in our resolve to defend that which we hold dear, that when we see a problem, we will deal with it. We owe it to our children. We owe it to our children's children to defend freedom, to free people from the clutches of barbarism. We owe it to civilization, itself, to remain strong and focused and diligent. And as we work to make America a stronger and safer place, we've also got to remember to make it a better place too, a better place, for all our citizens. Many Senators here joined me in working on an education bill. It was the most constructive piece of education reform in a long time. See, we believe every child in America can learn. We're willing to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. We also trust the local people to chart the path to excellence in our public schools in America. And for the first time, thanks to Senator Gregg and others, we're starting to ask the question in America, "Can our children read and write and add and subtract?" You see, if you believe every child can learn, it's a legitimate question to ask. And we find our children trapped in schools which will not teach and will not change. We will demand we will demand something else happens. No child in America should be left behind. For a better America, Congress must remember that those on welfare want to work. Work ought to be the cornerstone of the welfare reauthorization. In work, people find dignity. In work, people find hope for the future. As we debate a welfare reauthorization bill, let us not forget the successes of the past, and let's make sure work is the cornerstone of a responsible tomorrow for every citizen in our country. A better tomorrow means a modern health care system for all, but particularly for our seniors. Medicine has changed Medicare hasn't. For the sake of a better tomorrow, we must have a prescription drug benefit and a modern Medicare system. And finally, a better tomorrow understands that in our faith based and charitable institutions, we find great compassion and hope and love. Washington, DC, should not fear faith based programs. We ought to welcome them in the lives of citizens who hurt. I say a better tomorrow depends upon programs that emanate from our churches and synagogues and mosques as well as charitable organizations, because I understand the true strength of the country. And the true strength of the country lies in the hearts and souls of our fellow citizens. Right after September the 11th, after we shed our tears and mourned, I was absolutely convinced that out of the evil done to America can come great good. And I still believe it today. I believe that if our country is steadfast and strong, we can achieve peace. You need to tell your youngsters that behind the rhetoric of war is a strong desire for a peaceful world that I long for peace, not just for Americans, but because our country values each life, everybody has importance. I long for peace around the world. I believe by being tough and strong and determined, that we can achieve peace in places in the world where people have quit on peace. I firmly believe peace is possible in the Middle East. I believe peace is possible in South Asia. No, out of the evil done to America can come incredible good if we stay the course and if we remain strong. And here at home, the evil done to America can yield some great good as well. We must remember there are pockets of despair and hopelessness and loneliness in America. The Government can hand out money, and we do a pretty good job of it here in Washington. But what Government cannot do is put hope in people's hearts. It can't put a sense of purpose in people's lives. Government can't say to a lonely child, "I love you." That happens when a fellow American chooses to be more than just a citizen a self serving citizen. It happens when people understand that the definition of a patriot today in America is somebody who's willing to serve something greater than yourself in life. That example came home most vividly on Flight 93. It's a story that I hope will remain etched in the minds of our fellow Americans and written in the history books of our country. I think it was a turning point of a culture which used to say, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." These citizens showed the strongest sense of personal responsibility you could possibly imagine. After all, they were on an airplane thinking they were flying across the country. They heard reports about what was taking place on the ground. They told their loved ones goodbye. They told them they loved them. History will record that they said a prayer. They asked for guidance. One guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane in the ground to serve something greater than self in life. It's a vivid example of what America must realize in order to fight evil. In order to fight evil, do some good. Love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. Mentor a child. Start a Boys or a Girls Club. Be involved with Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Feed the hungry. Find shelter for the homeless. And that's what's happening in this country. No, the enemy thought that we might file a lawsuit or two. But instead, they found a determined nation, a nation which longs for peace, and a nation which is willing to work to save America one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. There is no question in my mind that we will succeed as a country. After all, we're the greatest nation, the greatest nation on the face of the Earth, full of the most loving, hard working, decent people. Thank you all for coming tonight. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. September 24, 2002 Thank you all for coming. "Senator," thanks for that kind introduction. There should be no doubt where my allegiance is in South Dakota, and that's with John Thune, the next Senator from the State of South Dakota. There's a lot of reasons why I think John ought to be in the Senate, starting with the fact that he really married well. Laughter Probably some of you haven't had a chance to meet Kimberley, but you'll know it's true when I say he married above himself. Laughter They've got a fabulous family. Every time I've been to South Dakota, they've been there to greet me. And there's no doubt in my mind where his priorities lay, and that is with his family and his faith and his State and his country. He's a man of deep value, a good, honorable guy. He's a man who will bring credit to the United States Senate, and I'm proud to endorse him and to work as hard as I possibly can to see that he becomes the next Senator from South Dakota. Kimberley was wise enough to skip my speech, and so was Laura. Laughter She sends her affection to the Thunes and joins me in thanking you all for being here to support this good fellow. Laura is doing great, by the way. She was a, you know, public school librarian when I married her, and she didn't like politics and really didn't like politicians, if the truth be known. Laughter She liked a few of them, but she could never envision herself being involved in the political process. And thank goodness she said yes when I asked her to marry me. A lot of people are wondering why she did that. But she's doing a fabulous job as our First Lady. She sends her best. I want to thank some Senators here who are anxiously awaiting the arrival of John Thune. I know Trent Lott is here, soon to be majority leader of the Senate. I know Bill Frist is here, from Tennessee, in the back. Thank you for coming, Bill. I see my friend Larry Craig is here. I appreciate you coming, Larry. I know a lot of Members of Congress who are here because they know John and like him a lot. I want to thank all the supporters and organizers who have helped in the past and are helping this time again. I appreciate you all coming. It's good to be with friends and people who care deeply about the future of our country something we all have got to be concerned about, the future of our country. One of the things I like about John is that he's a fellow who can get things done on behalf of the citizens of South Dakota and the citizens of our country. As you know, a lot of folks are suffering out there as a result of a drought. And in Washington there's always a lot of talk about trying to get something done, and a lot of times something doesn't get done in this town. But thanks to his leadership, his willingness to represent the farmers and ranchers of South Dakota, he worked with Ann Veneman and my administration to get immediate relief to people who hurt. So while Washington was talking, John Thune was doing on behalf of the people of South Dakota. Not only is the drought the challenge, but so is our economy. We've got people who want to work and can't find work, and we've got to do something about it. And I want somebody in the Senate who understands the role of Government, and that's not to create wealth but an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish and in which small businesses can grow to be big businesses, an environment in which we understand the role of Government is to lay the foundation for growth. And that's what we have been doing here in Washington, much to the objections of some. I want you to remember back during the tax cut debate. I said and John agreed that we needed to let people keep more of their own money. When the economy began to slow, it was important to let people have more of their own money so they could spend, and when they would spend, somebody would produce a good or a service. And when somebody produced the good or service to meet their demand, somebody is more likely to find work. We got the tax cut passed. But because of the rules of the Senate and this one's a hard one to explain. It's a hard one to explain in South Dakota, and it's a hard one to explain in Crawford, Texas. But because of the rules of the Senate, that tax relief plan we passed goes away in 10 years 9 years from now. And that creates uncertainty in the economy. It's hard to plan when the Tax Code shifts around. It's hard to it's hard to envision a future that's stable. And people need a stable environment in order to create jobs. For the sake of economic vitality, for the sake of job creation, I need people in the Senate who will make the tax cuts permanent, a permanent part of our Tax Code. And that includes permanently repealing the death tax. That should be an issue in South Dakota. There's a lot of farmers and ranchers who are going to get run off their farms and ranches if we don't repeal the death tax forever. We don't need people playing games with the death tax to mask their desire to keep the death tax in place. When this man says he's going to support us to get rid of the death tax, he means it. It's an important voice to have in the Senate. As well, we've got a problem with fiscal sanity in Washington. Every idea is a good idea up here. The problem is, every idea costs billions of dollars. The Senate hasn't passed a budget. And when you don't have a budget, it is it's liable to encourage excessive spending. And if there's excessive spending, it's going to serve as a drag on job creation. If you're interested in job vitality, it's important for Washington, DC, to be fiscally sound with the people's money, to spend money on priorities and only spend money on priorities. And John Thune understands that. We need more fiscal sanity in the United States Senate, and he will bring that. We proposed my budget I proposed shows us a way to get back to balance after a difficult period of time, after an attack and an emergency and a recession. And some in the Senate hadn't heard that message. But John Thune will hear it. He understands what I understand The money we spend up here is not the Government's money. The money we spend up here is the taxpayers' money, and we need to watch it carefully. We need an energy bill, for the sake of job creation as well as for national security purposes. We need a terrorism insurance bill to get our hardhats working again and, by the way, a bill which will reward hard work but not reward trial lawyers. We need commonsense thinking when it comes to our national forests. John understands this. Larry understands this. We've allowed our forests to build up like giant piles of kindling, as a result of backward environmental policy. We need commonsense practices. We need commonsense thinking in the United States Senate. And that's the kind of thinking John will bring. And we also need to have people up there who understand the true challenge we face in America, and the challenge we face is the security of our homeland. My most important job, I believe the most important job of our Congress, is to work together to make the homeland secure, is to do everything we possibly can to prevent an enemy which hates America from attacking us again. Oh, I know some would wish the enemy would go away, but they're not. You see, they hate freedom, and we love freedom. They can't stand what we stand for. But we're going to stand for what we stand for forever. See, we love the fact that people can worship freely in America. We love the fact that people can come to our country and realize their dreams. We love the fact that people can debate freely. We love a free press. We love everything there is about freedom, and we also value each life in our country and around the world. Everybody matters. Everybody has worth. Everybody counts. But that's not the way the enemy thinks. They don't believe in every life matters. They're willing to take innocent life in the name of a hijacked religion. And so we've got a big task ahead of us today and tomorrow and down the road, and that is to defend our freedoms. And that's why I asked the Congress to respond to this notion of setting up a Department of Homeland Security. We've got to be able to better coordinate between our agencies the defense of our homeland. If the number one priority is homeland defense, it ought to be the number one priority of every agency involved with homeland defense. And the best way to ensure that happens is to put them under one umbrella and then give the President, this President and future Presidents, the ability and the flexibility to move people at the right place at the right time in order to defeat an enemy and to defend America. And yet right now in the Senate, the Senate feels like they want to micromanage the process not all Senators but some Senators. They want to have a pile of books this thick that will hamstring future administrations as to how best to protect our homeland, and I'm not going to stand for it. I appreciate John's vote on a good homeland security bill. And the Senate must hear this, because the American people understand it. They should not respond to special interests. They ought to respond to this interest Protecting the American people from a future attack. Finally, you all know this John understands this, and I hope you do as well the best way to defend our homeland is to hunt the killers down, one person at a time, and to bring them to justice. And that's what we're going to do. That's what this country is going to do. And that's why I asked the Congress to pass the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. I did so for two valid reasons. One, our people deserve the best pay. If you put the uniform on and you go into harm's way, you've got to have the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. And secondly, I asked for that bill because I wanted to send a clear signal to everybody that we're in this deal for the long pull, that there's not a moment in time where we say, "Well, gosh, we quit," that this country will do whatever it takes to defend our freedoms. And one of the things I just call upon the Congress to do before they go home is to get the defense bill to my desk. It passed the House. It passed the Senate. It's now clogged up in a conference committee. For the sake of sending the right signal, for the sake of doing what's right for our military, for the sake for doing what's right for planning, for prosecuting this war, I need a defense bill before they go home. Our job is to keep the peace. Our job is to leave a legacy of freedom for our children and our children's children. My job is to remain firm and to uphold the doctrine, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy." That still stands. The doctrine says, "If you harbor a terrorist and feed a terrorist, you're just as guilty as a terrorist." That still stands. It also stands that we must not allow leaders who develop the world's worst weapons to blackmail the United States or our friends and allies, to hold us hostage. I went to the United Nations because I want the United Nations to have heard not only the case about Saddam Hussein the fact that he has weapons of mass destruction, the fact that he gassed his own people, the fact that he terrorized his neighborhood, the fact that he has terrorized his own people much worse than Mr. Milosevic did. I also made it clear to the United Nations, we want, for the sake of peace, for the United Nations to be an effective body. We don't want it to be a League of Nations. We want it to be a body that can that has got the backbone necessary to keep the peace. I'm willing to work with nations in the United Nations to not only strengthen that institution but to hold Saddam Hussein to account. But if the United Nations won't act, if they won't disarm Saddam Hussein, if they won't expose this liar for what he is, then the United States and other friends of ours around the world will do just that. We owe it to our children, and we owe it to our children's children. And I want to thank Members of both parties in the United States Congress for working to develop a strong resolution and strong signal to the world that this Nation is determined. We love peace. Military is not our first choice. But nevertheless, we will not let the challenges that we face go unheeded. We understand the reality. We understand the nature of the man with which we deal. Everybody matters. Every life counts, including those who have been tortured and killed and suppressed in Iraq. See, we believe in freedom. We believe in freeing people while we free ourselves from threats. I understand the I understand that the world is some in the world are don't see it that way. But if we have to and when we succeed, the world will thank the United States and our friends and allies for making our world more secure and more peaceful. I appreciate the fact that people say to me, you know, "How are things going?" And my answer very quickly is, "Great, because we're the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. We are showing the world the true nature of our country, that we're tough when we have to be tough, and we're compassionate at the same time." I met with a group of Afghan women who are involved in their Government. I reminded them what I like to remind people all across our country, particularly the youngsters, that we went into their country to uphold doctrine. But we also went in to liberate people. Ours is a nation which does not conquer. We have no territorial designs or desires. But we love freedom. It made me feel so great to see 14 women, who had lived under the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind, sitting in the Roosevelt Room at the White House, talking about how to enhance education, asking us never to leave until they're secure which I promised them we wouldn't talking about peace, talking about a hopeful future, thanks to the resolve of the United States of America and her people. I also want you to know that not only will that kind of good come out of the evil done to us, but I passionately believe not only can we achieve peace in places in the world which have quit on peace, but we can address some of our own problems at home in a way we have never addressed them before. There are pockets of despair and hopelessness in this country there just are. There are people who hurt. There are people who are addicted. There are people who say, when somebody says "the American Dream," they don't know what they're talking about. See, they've given up on the American experience. But that can be overcome as our fellow citizens love a neighbor just like they'd like to be loved themselves. You see, the enemy hit us. But they didn't know who they were hitting. I like to say that they probably thought that after 9 11 2001, we would file a lawsuit or two. Laughter What they found is, they found they touched a nerve in this country, a nerve that says we'll defend our values at any cost. But also they touched a nerve where Americans have taken a step back and realize that being a patriot is more than putting your hand over your heart and saying the Pledge of Allegiance. Being a patriot is helping a fellow American who hurts, mentoring a child, starting a Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop, being involved with a church or synagogue and mosque program necessary to feed the hungry or to find shelter for those who have no place to live. That's the America that is now showing its face to the world. Out of the evil done to America will come incredible good, because our people are so good, and we are so great as a nation. I want to thank you for helping John. He'll be a great United States Senator. Thank you for coming, and may God bless you all. September 24, 2002 The President. Thanks for coming. We just had a very productive Cabinet meeting. We realize there's little time left in before the Senate and the House goes home, but we're optimistic a lot can get done between now and then. Congress must act now to pass a resolution which will hold Saddam Hussein to account for a decade of defiance. It's time to get a homeland security bill done, one which will allow this President and this administration, and future Presidents give us the tools necessary to protect the homeland. And we're working as hard as we can with Phil Gramm and Zell Miller to get this bill moving. It's a good bill. It's a bill that both Republicans and Democrats can and should support. My message, of course, is that to the Senators up here that are more interested in special interests you better pay attention to the overall interests of protecting the American people. We can get budget going. I need a defense bill. The Senate needs to get and the House needs to get their differences reconciled and get a defense bill to my desk before they go home. That's a very important signal to send. And at the same time, since there is no budget in the Senate, they've got to be mindful of overspending, very important for those up there who keep talking about budget balanced budget and all that to not overspend. If they're truly that concerned about the deficit, then one way they can help is to be fiscally sound with the people's money. We talked about the need to get pension reform and an energy bill, terrorism insurance. There's time to get all this done, and we look forward to working with the Members of Congress to get it done. I'll answer a couple of questions, starting with Fournier Ron Fournier of the AP. British Dossier on Iraq Al Gore Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Can I have your reaction to two recent assessments on the situation in Iraq? First, Tony Blair said today that Saddam has tried to acquire significant quantities of uranium and can quickly deploy chemical and biological weapons. But there seems to be little new information in the dossier. Secondly, former Vice President Al Gore The President. That might explain why. Q. Pardon me, sir? The President. Explain why he didn't put new information to protect sources. Go ahead. Q. If you could explain why, I'd appreciate it. And secondly, Vice President Al Gore The President. That's right, I forgot our different roles. Laughter Q. I couldn't even get on the ballot. Laughter The President. Did that have something to do with the background check? Laughter Q. When I have something on that, I'll let you know, sir. Laughter The Vice President yesterday said that you've managed to replace the world's sympathy on Iraq with fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. And you're using the issue to steer attention away from the inability to get Usama bin Laden. The President. I'm confident that a lot of Democrats here in Washington, DC, understand that Saddam is a true threat to America. And I look forward to working with them to get a strong resolution passed. Prime Minister Blair, first of all, is a very strong leader, and I admire his willingness to tell the truth and to lead. Secondly, he has continues to make the case, like we make the case, that Saddam Hussein is a threat to peace, that for 11 years he has deceived the world. For 11 years he's ignored the United Nations, and for 11 years he has stockpiled weapons. And we shouldn't deceive ourselves about this man. He has poisoned his people before. He has poisoned his neighborhood. He is willing to use weapons of mass destruction. And the Prime Minister continues to make the case, and so will I. And I again call for the United Nations to pass a strong resolution holding this man to account. And if they're unable to do so, the United States and our friends will act, because we believe in peace. We want to keep the peace. We don't trust this man, and that's what the Blair report showed today. The reason why it wasn't specific is because I understand why he's not going to reveal sources and methods of collection of sensitive information. Those sources and methods may be will be used later on, I'm confident, as we gather more information about how this man has deceived the world. Holland Steve Holland, Reuters . Yes. Sorry. Excuse me. Go ahead. Q. Sir, do you want to specifically respond, please, to Al Gore, instead of just generally about Democrats? What did you think about his The President. I just responded. I mean, there's a lot of Democrats in Washington, DC, who understand that Saddam Hussein is a true threat and that we must hold him to account. And I believe you'll see, as we work to get a strong resolution out of the Congress, that a lot of Democrats are willing to take the lead when it comes to keeping the peace. Situation in the Middle East Q. Sir, Arab leaders are warning the terrorism coalition and your efforts in Iraq are at risk because of the Arafat siege. Why didn't U.S. support last night's U.N. resolution, and what can you say to get Israel to end the siege? The President. What we do support is this, Steve and our abstention should have sent a message that we hope that all parties stay on the path to peace. And I laid out what the path to peace what the path to peace was here at the in the Rose Garden. First of all, we all have got to fight terror. But as we fight terror, particularly in the Middle East, they've got to build the institution necessary for a Palestinian state to emerge, that we've got to promote the leadership that is willing to condemn terror and, at the same time, work toward the embetterment of the lives of the Palestinian people. There are a lot of suffering people there, and we've got to help end the suffering. And I thought the actions the Israelis take the Israelis took were not helpful in terms of the establishment and development of the institutions necessary for a Palestinian state to emerge. We will continue to work with all parties in the region, Israel and everybody else who wants to fight off terror. We'll do that. In order for there to be peace, we must battle terror. But at the same time, we must have a hopeful response. And the most hopeful response of all for the Palestinian people is for to work for a state to emerge. And that is possible. I believe strongly it can happen. I believe it's I believe in peace in the Middle East. And I would urge all governments to work toward that peace. And we're making progress, and that's what's important for the world to know. We're making progress on the security front. We're making progress on the political reform front. We're making progress to make it clear that if there is to be a peaceful settlement, that the Palestinians must be given the opportunity to bring forth leadership which is willing to work toward peace. And it was not helpful what happened recently. Dick Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . National Economy Q. Mr. President, we haven't asked you about the economy in quite some time. Consumer confidence numbers out today not real good. Later this month, lots of Americans are going to receive their 401(k) statements, many of them probably cringing about what they're going to see in there. Do you feel like the economy is on the right track, that the stock market can mount any kind of a recovery in coming months? And if you are optimistic, what are your reasons for your optimism? The President. Yes. Well, I'm optimistic because, one, I'm optimistic about America in general. I mean, the American people are resilient they're strong. We've got the best workers in the world. Inflation is down. Interest rates are low. So when you combine the productivity of the American people with low interest rates and low inflation, those are the ingredients for growth. But there's more to do. That's why we need a terrorism insurance bill. We need to get our hardhats working again. We need to make the tax cuts permanent so that entrepreneurs and small businesses have got certainty in the Tax Code. We need to make sure Congress doesn't overspend. If Congress overspends, it will send a chilling signal to markets. And so there are things that Congress and the administration can do, working together to make sure people work. But I'm an optimist. I'm optimistic because this is America that's what makes me optimistic. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong, and we're really good at a lot of things we do. But no question that, you know, that things changed, I mean, from the boom days. The market started to decline in March of 2000. That's when it peaked. The sellers outnumbered the buyers starting in March of 2000. And then in the summer of 2000, the economy began to slow down, people began to see a serious slowdown. And then we came into office, and we had three quarters of negative growth. That's called a recession. And we're dealing with it. We're dealing with a sound fiscal policies, starting with letting people have more of their own money. See, the tax cut was actually necessary, a necessary part of economic recovery. And there are some up here in Washington, DC, who would like to raise the taxes on the people. And that's just that's bad economics that's bad policy. People up here want to stop the reduction in income taxes for the American people. That's bad policy in the face of an economic slowdown. So you bet I'm optimistic. But I understand we've got a lot of work to do. And we will we will continue to work hard to make sure that people can find work. Thank you all. September 23, 2002 The President. Thank you all. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. Thank you all very much. Thank you all. Well, thank you, "Senator." I appreciate those kind words. Laughter I believe it's in New Jersey's interests I believe it's in America's interests that Doug Forrester be the next United States Senator from this State. And I want to thank you all for helping him become that Senator. I want to thank you for being here today. I want to thank those of you who are involved in grassroots politics. I want to thank you for what you have done and what you're going to do. I want to thank you for going to your coffee shops, your community centers, your churches, and your synagogues and your mosques to talk about a good man who has decided to serve the people of New Jersey. I want to thank you for getting ready to stuff the envelopes and to dial the phones and to put up the signs and to turn out the vote for a good man, a man who didn't need to run for office, a man that had a nice, comfortable life. After all, he married well. Laughter He's got a fine family. He's a successful businessman. And yet, he decided to serve his State and his country, because he believes deeply in the future of the country. I like to put it this way When you find a good one, you've got to back him. Laughter You've got a good one in Doug Forrester. I'm honored to be standing beside a man who was an Eagle Scout as a youngster, who they tell me sold flags door to door. It makes him a patriot and an entrepreneur. Laughter I appreciate the fact that he moved to this State to attend the Princeton Theological Seminary. It's a man of faith, a man who is self made, a man who has got his priorities straight, a man who will be a breath of fresh air for New Jersey in the United States Senate. We both married above ourselves. Laughter And it didn't take me long to figure that out, having met Andrea and her children. My wife sends her best. I thought about her today. Actually, I thought about her more than once, since I delivered her her coffee this morning. Laughter Good lesson for you guys out there. Laughter Just trying to set the example for others. Laughter We met some fine folks who help the Red Cross here in New Jersey at Air Force One. And the lady said, she said, "You know, I'm a public school librarian, just like your wife." And I said, "Well, Laura was a public school librarian. When she married me, she wasn't interested in politics, didn't particularly care about politicians either." Laughter "And now she's First Lady of the United States, bringing great comfort to the people of this country." She sends her best to the Forresters. She looks forward to seeing Andrea when Doug wins. I want to thank members of the New Jersey congressional delegation being here. I see Chris Smith and Frank LoBiondo. Are you here, Franky? There he is. Appreciate you for coming, Frank. Jim Saxton is here, I know. I appreciate you coming, Jimmy. Thanks for being here. I want to thank Mike Ferguson for coming as well. Thank you, Mike. You've got two members two folks here who are running to become Members of Congress Scott Garrett, who's running in the fifth thank you for coming, Scott Buster Soaries, my friend who's running in the twelfth. Thank you, Buster. I know Donnie DiFrancesco is here. I appreciate you coming, Don. It's good to see you. Give your wife my best. I appreciate so very much the party chairman of the State of New Jersey, Joe Kyrillos. Joe, where are you? Thanks, Joe, Mr. Senator. I want to thank Bob Prunetti for coming back again a second day second event in one day. And finally, I want to thank the chairman of this campaign, a man who brought a lot of class to the Governor's office here in New Jersey, Tom Kean. Thank you, Tom, for being here. I ended with Tom because this is where Doug cut his teeth in politics. See, he worked for the good Governor. He was a part of his budget office and then ran his a director of pensions, ran the pension system as director of pensions, made sure that the people were taken care of. If you're interested in understanding his priorities, look at the job he did when he worked for this good man as the Governor. See, he cares a lot more about people than politics. He's going to keep his commitments when he he's the kind of fellow, when he says he's going to do something, that's what he's going to do. That's what you need from New Jersey. He's somebody who speaks plainly and just was running to get something done, as opposed to running just for the sake of holding the office. If he says he's going to protect seniors when it comes to Social Security, that's what he's going to do. He's going to work with me to modernize Medicare, to make sure our seniors have got prescription drug benefits. He understands what I know, that the role of Government is not to create wealth but an environment in which the entrepreneur and small business can grow. That's the role of Government. When we got up to Washington, DC, the country was headed into a recession. The market started correcting in March of 2000 that's when it peaked. And then the summer the economic growth started to slow. And so by the time the Vice President and I showed up in Washington, DC, we were in three quarters of recession. And we had to do something about it. See, my attitude is, anytime anybody wants to find work can't find a job, we've got a problem in America. I want our people working. So here's what I did and Doug understands this that's why I'm standing by his side. We took a page out of this textbook. It's a little different from what some of the other folks in Washington are trying to do. The page says that if you've got an economic slowdown, one way to help the economy recover is to let people keep their own money. We've got a lot of hardworking Americans, who, if you give them more of their own money, let them keep their own money, they're going to spend it on a good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service, somebody will provide. And when somebody provides for that good or service, somebody is more likely to find work. Now what's interesting about what happened in the tax relief plan is, thanks to a quirk in the Senate rules it's one of these deals where Washington gives tax relief and then takes it away after 10 years. I must confess that's hard to explain in Crawford laughter and probably in the fire stations and police stations here in Trenton. It's hard to tell people who work hard for a living that you've got tax relief, but then because of a quirk in the rules, it goes away. Listen, we need a Senator up there who agrees with me that we've got to make this tax relief permanent. We've got to provide relief for the working people. And I need somebody up there to work with me to make sure that the Senate does not overspend. See, I'm going to stay focused on our economy, because I understand it's part of how we make sure America is a stronger place. But if the Senate and the Congress overspends, it will serve as a drag to any economic recovery. It's one thing to fund priorities, and we will do that. But you've got to understand something about Washington Every idea is a brilliant idea. Laughter Everybody's program sounds like just a perfect program. And then when you add up all the perfect programs and all the good ideas, we're not talking millions we're talking billions of dollars. The second problem we have in Washington is, sometimes the spenders forget whose money they're spending. You'll hear, we're going to spend the Government is going to spend the Government money here, and the Government is going to spend the Government here. We're not spending the Government's money, folks. It's your money we're spending, and we need fiscal responsibility in Washington, DC. We need to set priorities and fund those priorities. You know, the Senate doesn't even have a budget. It couldn't get a budget passed. If you don't have a budget, guess what happens? You have the tendency to overspend. If you don't have a budget, there's no discipline or fiscal restraint. And so for the sake of fiscal sanity, we need Doug Forrester in the United States Senate. I say priorities I say priorities. The most important priority we have today and tomorrow is to protect the homeland. That's the most important priority in America. It's a priority because there are people who hate America still on the loose, see. They hate us because we love freedom. They hate and we love freedom. And we love the fact that people from all walks of life can worship freely in this country. That's what we love. We love the idea that people from all backgrounds can worship an almighty God the way he or she sees fit. The enemy hates that. They hate that idea. We love the idea that people can debate and speak their mind and holler and whoop about politics. They hate it. They hate free thought and free speech. We love a free press. They hate it. See, they hate freedom, and we love freedom. And for so long as we love freedom, which will be forever as far as I'm concerned, they're going to try to hurt us again. And so our number one priority should be reflected in our budget it is reflected in how I think and what I do is to make sure this great country is secure from a bunch of coldblooded killers. And that's all they are. There's a lot of good people there's a lot of good people, a lot of good people who wear the uniform at the local level, working hard to secure the homeland. A lot of good firefighters and EMS and police officers spend a lot of time, a lot of time worrying about you and your health. There are a lot of good people at the State level, a lot of fine people at the Federal Government level worrying about our security. We're running down every lead. You've got to just know, anytime we get a hint, a whiff, a suggestion that somebody might be trying to come back to America, we're moving. We'll protect our rights. Listen, I believe strongly in the United States Constitution. And I know we can protect that Constitution and at the same time make sure this homeland is secure. We've got the FBI and the CIA talking like they never have been before. We're sharing intelligence. We've got people around the world helping us. We've got freedom loving countries sharing information with us. No, we're moving hard. But to make sure that we even do a better job, I asked the Congress to join me in setting up a Department of Homeland Security. Listen, I didn't run for my slogan wasn't, "Vote for George. He wants Government to be bigger." But I do want it to work. I do want to be able to say to the American people we've left behind I do want it to be said we worked together. Republicans and Democrats worked together to leave behind a strategy and the ability for future Presidents to more adequately secure the homeland. And we're having a little problem in the Senate, see. The House passed a good bill. It allows me to move people anytime, any place, anywhere in order to best deal with an enemy which isn't going to be bound by bureaucratic rules or handbooks or volumes of micromanagement. That's not what they have to deal with. And I refuse to have future Presidents or this President deal with a Senate trying to tell me through micromanaging the process how best to secure the homeland. I'll give you one example. On our borders we need to know who's coming into America. We need to know what they're bringing. We need to know if they're bringing something in the country, and we need to know if they're going to leave when they say they're going to leave. That's logical, and that makes common sense. And yet, on our borders, we've got three different departments dealing with our border security. We've got the INS and the Border Patrol and the Customs, all full of fine people, staffed by really great Americans, all working hard to make sure that border security is a part of the homeland security. Except in cases now, they've got different uniforms, different cultures, different styles, perhaps different strategies. And for the sake of the country, I need to have the flexibility to meld those organizations together. I need to be able to say to the American people that we're working together. The Senate doesn't hear it yet, but the Senate is going to hear from me if they don't pass a good bill as this. And my message to the Senate is You need to worry less about special interest in Washington and more about the security of the American people. But the best homeland security strategy is to hunt the killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice, which is what we're going to do. It's a different kind of war, but folks, we're still at war. We're still at war. This is an enemy which it used to be you could count an enemy's tanks or the size of its fleet, the number of aircraft they had, and say, "Oh, gosh, we're making progress. They had a thousand airplanes. Now they've got 50. We're making progress." Laughter That's not the way this war works right now. See, that's not the way it works. You've got to remember, their commanders hide in caves or in the dark corners of certain cities around the world and then send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. Theirs is an army which doesn't take a lot to fund. They're resourceful, and they're tough, but they are not as tough as the United States of America. And we're making progress. It's hard to tell whether we're making progress or not, but we are. One person at a time, one person at a time Audience members. Inaudible . The President. thank you one person at a time. The other day, as you noticed, there was a fellow hiding in the dark caves or dark corners, not caves it was in the city, dark dark corners of a city in Pakistan. He was going to be the 20th hijacker, bin al Shibh. He wanted to come here to kill. He didn't make it, because we fortunately did not give him access. His brothers obviously made it. They're all now dead. And he thought he was going to come. And he thought he could hide, however. You can't hide from our justice. We finally got him. And it's typical of what's taken place. We're running them down one at a time. We've got them on the run. We're going to keep them on the run. There have been over a couple thousand of these killers who we have brought to justice. We have arrested them. It's either us or remember that doctrine, either you're with us by the way, a doctrine which still stands either you're with us, or you're with them. And we're rounding them up slowly but surely. And the other piece of news is, about like number weren't as lucky as bin al Shibh. They're off the face of the planet. They're no longer around. Slowly but surely, we're going to dismantle the Al Qaida terrorist network, so they can never hurt America and freedom again. I sent a defense bill that says and it's a big increase, because I strongly believe that anytime we send one of our troops into harm's way, he or she deserves the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. We owe it to the troops, and we owe it to their loved ones. And if you're anybody out there who has got a member of the United States military in your family, first of all, thanks. You thank them on behalf of the Commander in Chief. I'm confident and proud of our abilities. And secondly, I've asked for this increase in defense spending because I want to send a signal to the world, to both friend and foe alike, that when it comes to the defense of our freedoms, we're in this for the long pull. We're in it for the long haul. There's no calendar on my desk that says, because we're getting tired, we're going to quit. When it comes to freedoms, no matter how much the cost, no matter how long it takes, we will defend the freedoms of the United States of America. The Congress has got the defense bill in committee. They passed it out of the House, and I'm grateful. They passed it out of the Senate, and I'm grateful. But what I'm not grateful for is, they can't get it to my desk. They need to reconcile their differences, set this as a priority, get it to my desk. For the sake of our national security, I want to sign the defense bill before they go home. That's why we need people like Doug up there in the Senate. We don't need to play politics with the defense bill. We need to do what's right for the country. And we need to also send a message, and I sent a message the other day, right up the way here, to the United Nations. Here's the message I sent. I said, when we see a threat to our country, we want to work with others, of course. When we see a threat to freedom let me put it to you that way, not just to our country, but to freedom we'll work with others to make sure that threat doesn't materialize. See, we believe not only in dealing with the immediate. We want to make sure that we deal with problems before they become so acute that we look back and say, where were we where were we? And we're dealing with a man in Iraq who has done a couple of things that I remind you about. One, he gassed his own people with weapons of mass destruction. He has invaded two countries since 1980. He's a man who told the United Nations time and time and time again, "I will disarm. I don't have weapons." He lied or deceived. He has made that body look weak. For the sake of peace, the United Nations must make a decision as to whether or not it's going to be a debating society, like the League of Nations, or have the capacity to keep the peace. It's their choice to make. It is their choice to make. There are no negotiations with Saddam Hussein about what he should or should not do. He's already said what he would do. The negotiations the discussion is within the United Nations Security Council, and soon they will tell the world whether or not they're going to be relevant or whether or not they're going to be weak. For the sake of world peace, I hope they're relevant. However, for the sake of freedom and peace, if the United Nations will not deal with Saddam Hussein, the United States and our friends will. We owe it to our children to defend freedom. We owe it to our children and children elsewhere to keep the peace. I want you to know that behind the rhetoric is my strong desire for the world to be a to live in peace. And I believe it's possible. I believe it is possible that if we remain strong and focused, speak clearly about good and evil, speak clearly about the need for all of us to bind together to fight terror, to resist those who hate peace, that we can achieve peace. I recognize it might be a steep hill to climb. There's going to be some hurdles to cross. But by being resolved and determined, we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace not only here at home, but we can achieve peace in the Middle East. We can achieve peace in South Asia. By leading the world, we can achieve peace in places where people have quit dreaming about peace. See, the enemy hit us. They didn't know who they were hitting. They thought probably after September the 11th, 2001, we'd kind of take a hard look and then maybe file a lawsuit or two. Laughter They don't understand the character of this Nation. They don't understand our determination, nor do they understand our good heart and good will. I want you to remind your kids that when it came to enforcing the doctrine that said either the doctrine said, "If you harbor one of those killers, you're just as guilty as the killers," that we went into Afghani stan the first theater we went into, as a great country with friends, but we went in not to conquer anybody, not to conquer anybody. We went in to uphold doctrine and liberate people. There are young girls going to school in Afghanistan for the first time, thanks to the United States of America. That's the nature of our country. That's the kind of people we are. We love freedom. You see, one of the things that distinguishes us from the enemy is, everybody has worth, as far as we're concerned. Everybody counts. Everybody matters. Life is precious. That's what we believe in America. And it's not just American lives that are precious it's the life of every child, every citizen around the world. That's what they didn't understand about this country, and now they're learning the hard way. No, out of the evil done to America is going to come some great good, I believe. Here at home as well, we can achieve great good. See, there are pockets of despair here in America. There are places where people hurt. Sadly enough, there are some neighborhoods where people say, "The American Dream isn't meant for me. When you say American Dream, what are you talking about? It's not meant for me." There are places where people are addicted, people are lonely, people have just given up. And as long as they hurt, we hurt. And we have a chance to do something about it here in America. See, people have asked me, right after September the 11th, 2001, "What can I do to help?" I said, "What you can do to help is, you can love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to fight evil, do some good. If you want to fight evil, help somebody who hurts." No, some of the greatest welfare programs in America come out of our churches and synagogues and mosques, because you know why those institutions exist? To love somebody. There's a universal call, and that's what's happening in America. This country is going to change, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. It changes when you put your arm around a child and says, "Can I help you learn to read?" It changes when you walk into a shut in's house and say, "Can I love you," or, "Can I help you?" It changes when you run a Girl Scout or a Boy Scout troop. It changes when you care about the quality of education in your neighborhood. It changes when you become a responsible citizen. See, one of the reasons I first sought office down in Texas was because I wanted to work be a part of a cultural change, the change of culture from one which it said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." I wanted to be a part of a cultural shift that said, "Each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life, that if you're a mom or a dad, it's you who is responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul." If you're living in Trenton, New Jersey, you're responsible for the quality of life in Trenton. If you're running a corporation in America, you're responsible for telling the truth and treating your employees and shareholders with respect. No, the enemy hit us. The enemy hit us, but instead of weakening America, it strengthened America. We still grieve for those who lost their life, but the country is responding so magnificently. People do love a neighbor more. People are loving their children more. Perhaps the most vivid example of serving something greater than yourself, perhaps the most vivid example of being not self absorbed and materialistic that you don't understand the call, happened on Flight 93. It's a serious lesson for our youngsters to understand. It's a serious moment. It's a significant and serious moment in our Nation's history. After all, we had people flying across the country. They thought they were on a normal trip. They learned the airplane was going to be used as a weapon. They learned that America's oceans the oceans no longer protected America. They told their loved ones "Goodbye" or "I love you." They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane into the ground to save life, to serve something greater than yourself in life. These brave souls represented the true spirit and greatness of our country. You can probably tell I'm an optimistic person I am, and I have every reason to be. After all, the United States is the greatest country on the face of the Earth, full of the greatest people. I know Doug Forrester wants to keep it that way, and so do I. I'm honored you all came today. Thanks for supporting Doug. May God bless you, and may God bless America. September 23, 2002 Thanks a lot for coming out this morning. It is my honor to be back in New Jersey. I want to thank you all for coming out. I want to thank the people of the New Jersey Army and Air National Guard for your hospitality. I'm here to talk about how best to make America a stronger country, a safer country, and a better country for all of us. There is a old bridge over the Delaware River that says, "Trenton makes the world takes." It talks about the work ethic of the people of this part of our country. It talks about the creativity. It talks about the true strength of America. The true strength of America are our fellow citizens. The strength of our country is the people of America. And I'm honored to be with such hard working people. Congress can help. Congress needs to work hard before they go home. Congress needs to get some things done, which means a Homeland Security Department, a budget that reflects our priorities. They've got to make sure they don't overspend your money. They've got to remember, everything they do must go to make sure America is a stronger and safer and better place. I want to thank Brigadier General Glenn Rieth for opening up this hangar and for inviting me to this base. I want to thank all the Guard personnel who serve the United States of America. I want to thank you for your service. I want to thank you for your sacrifice. I want to thank your Governor for being here today. I appreciate Governor McGreevey being at the steps of Air Force One. I'm thankful for his hospitality. I appreciate him coming to say hello, and I'm honored he's here today to hear this speech. Governor, thank you for coming. I appreciate Members of the congressional delegation. Congressmen Ferguson, Saxton, and Smith from New Jersey, thank you all for being here. I want to thank Bob Prunetti, who is the Mercer County executive, for greeting me here as well. And I want to thank you all for coming. Here's what's on my mind I want our people to work here in America. Anytime somebody who wants to work can't find a job, it means we've got a problem in this country. And we will not rest until people can find work. A stronger America means a strong economy. A stronger country means that our good, hard working Americans are able to put food on the table for their families. Now, we're making progress. Listen, interest rates are low. Inflation is low. We've got the best workers in the world. We've got the best, hardest workers and smartest workers in the world. We've got the ingredients for growth. But what has taken place so far is not good enough for me, and I hope it's not good enough for the Congress. What's happening in the economy is not good enough for a stronger America, and Congress can help. Listen, I come from the school of thought that says, if you've got an economic problem and remember, for the first three quarters of my administration we were in negative growth. The stock market started to decline in March of 2000. Economic growth started to slow down in the summer of 2000. We were in recession in the first three quarters of 2001. In order to make sure the country was stronger, I pulled this page out of the economic textbook, the page that says, "If you let people keep more of their own money, they're going to spend it on a good or a service. If they spend it on a good or a service, somebody will produce the good and service. And if somebody produces a good or service, some American is more likely to find work." The tax relief came right at the right time for economic growth and jobs. And if Congress wants to help in job creation, they need to make the tax relief permanent. They need to make the tax relief permanent so our New Jersey small businesses and entrepreneurs can plan for the future. After all, most growth of new jobs comes from small businesses all across America. Congress also must understand they've got to pass an energy bill. You see, an energy bill will be good for jobs. An energy bill will be good for national security. We need an energy bill that encourages consumption, encourages new technologies so our cars are cleaner, encourages new renewable energy sources, but at the same time encourages increase of supply here at home, so we're less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. Congress needs to get some work done before they go home. And one of the most important things they can do is to pass an anti terrorism insurance bill. See, we need an insurance bill to cover potential terrorist acts, so that hardhats in America can get back to work. And I want a bill on my desk that says we care more about the working people and less about the trial lawyers. We want a bill that puts the hard hats back to work, not enriches the trial lawyers here in America. In order to make sure our country is stronger and our economy grows, Congress must be wise with your money. Notice I said "your money." When it comes time to budgeting and appropriations, which means spending, sometimes in Washington they forget whose money they're talking about. You hear them talking about the Government's money. No, the money in Washington is not the Government's money. The money in Washington is your money, and we better be careful about how we spend your money. And if Congress overspends, it's going to be a problem for making America's economy continue to grow. And so my message to Congress is Remember whose money you're spending. Now, one of the problems we have is that anytime you're worried about spending, you set a budget that's what you do. The Senate hasn't been able to do so. They don't have a budget, which means it's likely they're going to overspend. See, every idea in Washington is a good idea. Everybody's idea sounds good, except the price tag is generally in the billions. In order to make sure the country is stronger, we need fiscal responsibility in Washington, DC. We need to make sure that Congress does not overspend. Without a budget, they're likely to overspend. They set deadlines on you when it comes to paying your IRS, paying your taxes. There ought to be a deadline on them in order to get a budget passed and to get bills passed. Now, because they haven't been able to move, they're going to send to my desk soon what looks like what they call a temporary spending bill. And that temporary spending bill should not be an excuse for excessive Federal spending. The temporary spending bill ought to remember whose money they're spending. A temporary spending bill ought to be clean, so that we don't overspend as the economy is trying to continue to grow. What we need in Washington is fiscal responsibility, fiscal sanity. We need to set priorities with your money. And the most important priority I have is to defend the homeland is to defend the homeland from a bunch of killers who hate America. It's very important for the schoolchildren here to listen to what I'm about to say. You're probably wondering why America is under attack. And you need to know why. We're under attack because we love freedom, is why we're under attack. And our enemy hates freedom. They hate, and we love. They hate the thought that this country is a country in which people from all walks of life can worship an almighty God any way he or she sees fit. They hate the thought that we have honest and open discourse. They hate the thought that we're a beacon of liberty and freedom. We differ from our enemy because we love. We not only love our freedoms and love our values we love life, itself. In America, everybody matters everybody counts every human life is a life of dignity. And that's not the way our enemy thinks. Our enemy hates innocent life. They're willing to kill in the name of a great religion. And as long as we love freedom and love liberty and value every human life, they're going to try to hurt us. And so our most important job is to defend the freedom, defend the homeland is to make sure what happened on September the 11th doesn't happen again. We must do everything we can, everything in our power, to keep America safe. There are a lot of good people working hard to keep you safe. There are people at the Federal level and at the State level, a lot of fine folks here at the local level, doing everything we can to run down every lead. If we find any kind of hint, we're moving on it all within the confines and all within the structure of the United States Constitution. We're chasing down every possible lead because we understand there's an enemy out there which hates America. I asked the Congress to work with me to come up with a new Department of Homeland Security to make sure that not only can this administration function better but future administrations will be able to deal with the true threats we face as we get into the 21st century, a Homeland Security Department which takes over the 100 different agencies and brings them under one umbrella so that there's a single priority and a new culture, all aimed at dealing with the threats. I mean, after all, on our border we need to know who's coming into America, what they're bringing into America, are they leaving when they're supposed to be leaving America. Yet, when you look at the border, there are three different Federal agencies dealing with the border. There is Customs and INS and Border Patrol, and sometimes they work together and sometimes they don't they don't. They've got different work rules. They've got different customs. Sometimes they have different strategies, and that's not right. So I asked Congress to give me the flexibility necessary to be able to deal with the true threats of the 21st century by being able to move the right people to the right place at the right time, so we can better assure America we're doing everything possible. The House responded, but the Senate is more interested in special interests in Washington and not interested in the security of the American people. I will not accept a Department of Homeland Security that does not allow this President and future Presidents to better keep the American people secure. And people are working hard in Washington to get it right in Washington, both Republicans and Democrats. See, this isn't a partisan issue this is an American issue. This is an issue which is vital to our future. It'll help us determine how secure we'll be. Senator Gramm, a Republican, Senator Miller, a Democrat, are working hard to bring people together. And the Senate must listen to them. It's a good bill. It's a bill I can accept. It's a bill that will make America more secure. And anything less than that is a bill which I will not accept it's a bill which I will not saddle this administration and future administrations with, allowing the United States Senate to micromanage the process. The enemy is too quick for that. We must be flexible. We must be strong. We must be ready to take the enemy on anywhere he decides to hit us, whether it's America or anywhere else in the globe. But the best way to secure our homeland, the only sure way to make sure our children are free and our children's children are free, is to hunt the killers down wherever they hide, is to hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice. As far as I'm concerned, it doesn't matter how long it takes. See, we're talking about our freedom and our future. There's no cave deep enough, as far as I'm concerned, and there's no cave deep enough, as far as the United States military is concerned, either. I want you all to know, if you wear the uniform of our great country, I'm proud of you. I've got confidence in you. I believe that you can handle any mission. No, it's a different kind of war than our Nation has seen in the past. One thing that's different is, oceans no longer keep us safe. The second thing is, in the old days, you could measure progress by looking at how many tanks the enemy had one day and how many he had the next day, whether or not his airplanes were flying or whether or not his ships were floating on the seas. It's a different kind of war, and America has begun to adjust its thinking about this kind of war. See, this is the kind of war where the leaders of the enemy hide. They go into big cities or, as I mentioned, caves, and they send youngsters to their suicidal death. That's the kind of war we're having. It's not measured in equipment destroyed it's going to be measured in people brought to justice. And we're making progress. I had made it clear to the world that either you're with us or you're with the enemy, and that doctrine still stands. And as a result of the hard work by our United States military and the militaries and law enforcement officers of other countries, we've arrested or brought to justice a couple thousand or more. Slowly but surely, we're finding them where we think they can hide. We brought one of them in the other day. He thought he was going to be the 20th hijacker, or at least he was bragging that way. I don't know if he's bragging now. But see, he thought he was immune. He thought he was invisible. He thought he could hide from the long arm of justice. And like many about the like number haven't been so lucky as the 20th hijacker. They met their fate. We're getting them on the run, and we're keeping them on the run. They're going to be as part of our doctrine, we're going to make sure that there's no place for them to alight, no place for them to hide. These are haters, and they're killers. And we owe it to the American people and we owe it to our friends and allies to pursue them, no matter where they try to hide. And that's why I asked the Congress for the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. I did so because I firmly believe that anytime we commit our troops into harm's way, you deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. I also asked for a large increase because I wanted to send a clear signal to the rest of the world that we're in this for the long haul, that there is no calendar on my desk that says, by such and such a day we're going to quit, that by such and such a day we will all have grown weary we're too tired, and therefore we're coming home. That's not the way we think in America. See, we understand obligation and responsibility. We have a responsibility to our children to fight for freedom. We have a responsibility to our citizens to defend the homeland. And that only means not only means dealing with real, immediate threats it also means anticipating threats before they occur, before things happen. It means we've got to look out into the future and understand the new world in which we live and deal with threats before it's too late. And that's why I went into the United Nations the other day. And I said to the United Nations "We have a true threat that faces America, a threat that faces the world, and a threat which diminishes your capacity. And I'm talking about Iraq. That country has got a leader which has attacked two nations in the neighborhood a leader who has killed thousands of people a leader who is brutal" see, remember, we believe every life matters and every life is precious "a leader, if there is dissent, will kill the dissenter, a leader who told the United Nations and the world he would not develop weapons of mass destruction, and for 11 long years has stiffed the world." He looked at the United Nations and said, "This is a paper tiger. Their resolutions mean nothing." For 11 years he has deceived and denied. For 11 years he's claimed he has had no weapons and yet, we know he has. So I went to the United Nations and said, "Either you can become the League of Nations, either you can become an organization which is nothing but a debating society, or you can be an organization which is robust enough and strong enough to help keep the peace. Your choice." But I also told them that if they would not act, if they would not deal with this true threat we face in America if they would not recognize that America is no longer protected by oceans and that this man is the man who would use weapons of mass destruction at the drop of a hat, a man who would be willing to team up with terrorist organizations with weapons of mass destruction to threaten America and our allies if they wouldn't act, the United States will. We will not allow the world's worst leaders to threaten us with the world's worst weapons. I want to see strong resolutions coming out of that U.N., a resolution which says the old ways of deceit are gone, a resolution which will hold this man to account, a resolution which will allow freedom loving countries to disarm Saddam Hussein before he threatens his neighborhood, before he threatens freedom, before he threatens America, and before he threatens civilization. We owe it to our children, and we owe it to our grandchildren to keep this Nation strong and free. And as we work to make America a stronger place and a safer place, we always must remember that we've got to work to make America a better place too a better place. And that starts with making sure every single child in America gets a great education, make sure that every child make sure that we focus on each child, every child. It says we expect and believe our children can learn to read and write and add and subtract. As a society, we will challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. We believe every child can learn. Every child matters, and therefore we expect to be told whether or not the children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. And if we find they're not, if we find there are certain children who aren't learning and the systems are just shuffling through as if they don't matter, we must challenge the status quo. Failure is unacceptable in America. Every child matters, and no child should be left behind in this great country. A better America a better America is one which makes sure that our health care systems are responsive to the patient and makes sure our health care systems, particularly for the elderly, are modern. We need prescription drug benefits for elderly Americans. The Medicare system must be reformed, must be made to work so that we have a better tomorrow for all citizens in this country. A better America is one that understands as we're helping people go from dependency to freedom, from welfare, we must help them find work. A better America understands that when people work, there is dignity in their lives. A better America is America which understands the power of our faith based institutions in our country. It's in our churches and synagogues and mosques that we find universal love and universal compassion. You know what's really interesting about what's taking place in America is this The enemy hit us, but out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good, because of the nature of our soul, the nature of our being. On the one hand, I believe we can achieve peace. Oh, I know the kids hear all the war rhetoric and tough talk, and that's necessary to send a message to friend and foe alike that we're plenty tough, if you rouse this country, and we're not going to relent. But we're not going to relent because my desire is to achieve peace. I want there to be a peaceful world. I want children all across our globe to grow up in a peaceful society. Oh, I know the hurdles are going to be high to achieving that peace. There's going to be some tough decisions to make, some tough action for some to take. But it's all aimed at making America safe and secure and peaceful, but other places around the world too. I believe this I believe that if our country and it will remains strong and tough and we fight terror wherever terror exists, that we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace in the Middle East. We can achieve peace in South Asia. We can achieve peace. No, out of the evil done to America can come a peaceful world. And at home, out of the evil done to our country can come some incredible good as well. We've got to understand, in America there are pockets of despair and hopelessness, places where people hurt because they're not sure if America is meant for them, places where people are addicted. And Government can help eradicate these pockets by handing out money. But what Government cannot do is put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That's done when neighbor loves neighbor. That's done when this country hears the universal call to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. No, out of the evil done to America is coming some incredible good, because we've got citizens all across this land, whether they be a part of our faith based institutions or charitable institutions, citizens all across this land who have heard the call that if you want to fight evil, do some good. If you want to resist the evil done to America, love your neighbor mentor a child put your arm around an elderly citizen who is shut in and say, "I love you" start a Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop go to your Boys and Girls Clubs help somebody in need. No, this country, this country has heard the call. This country is a country full of such incredibly decent and warmhearted and compassionate citizens that there's people all across New Jersey and all across America who, without one Government act, without Government law, are in fact trying to make the communities in which they live a more responsive and compassionate and loving place. Today I met Bob and Chris Morgan, USA Freedom Corps greeters, who coordinate blood drives right here in New Jersey for the American Red Cross. Nobody told them they had to do that. There wasn't a law that said, "You will be a part of collecting blood." They decided to do it because they want to make America more able to address emergency and help people in need. Whether it's teaching a child to read, whether it's delivering food to the hungry or helping those who need housing, you can make a huge difference in the lives of our fellow Americans. See, societies change one heart, one conscience, one soul at a time. Everybody has worth, and everybody matters. No, out of the evil done to America is going to come a compassionate society. Now, this great country will show the world what we're made out of. This great country, by responding to the challenges we face, will leave behind a legacy of sacrifice, a legacy of compassion, a legacy of peace, a legacy of decency for future generations of people fortunate enough to be called an American. There's no question in my mind I hope you can tell, I'm an optimistic fellow about our future. I believe we can overcome any difficulty that's put in our path. I believe we can cross any hurdle, climb any mountain, because this is the greatest nation on the face of the Earth, full of the most decent, hard working, honorable citizens. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. Thank you all. September 21, 2002 Good morning. In the past week, U.S. officials in Pakistan took custody of five Al Qaida members, including a key strategist for the September the 11th attacks. And here in America, Federal agents arrested six men suspected of having trained at Al Qaida terrorist camps in Afghanistan. These arrests remind us that we are engaged in a new kind of war, fought on many fronts, including the homefront. The arrests also remind us that the enemy is still at large, threatening our safety and security. Defeating terrorism requires constant vigilance and preparation by our citizens and by our Government. One way for the Congress to protect the American people is to pass legislation creating a new Department of Homeland Security. This new Department must have a single, overriding responsibility to coordinate our homeland defense efforts, which are now scattered across the Government. After less than a week of debate, the House of Representatives passed a good bill, a bill that gives me the flexibility to confront emerging threats quickly and effectively. Yet after 3 weeks of debate, the Senate has still not passed a bill I can sign. The legislation the Senate is debating is deeply flawed. The Senate bill would force the new Department to fight against terror threats with one hand tied behind its back. The Department of Homeland Security must be able to move people and resources quickly, to respond to threats immediately without being forced to comply with a thick book of bureaucratic rules. Yet the current Senate approach keeps in place a cumbersome process that can take 5 months to hire a needed employee and 18 months to fire someone who is not doing his job. In the war on terror, this is time we do not have. Even worse, the Senate bill would weaken my existing authority to prohibit collective bargaining when national security is at stake. Every President since Jimmy Carter has had this very narrow authority throughout the Government, and I need this authority in the war on terror. As Democrat Senator Zell Miller said, "The daunting task of securing this country is almost incomprehensible. Let's not make it more difficult by tying this President's hands and the hands of every President who comes after him." In an effort to break the logjam in the Senate, Senator Miller and Republican Senator Phil Gramm have taken the lead in crafting a bipartisan alternative to the current flawed Senate bill. I commend them and support their approach. Their proposal would provide the new Secretary of Homeland Security much of the flexibility he needs to move people and resources to meet new threats. It will protect every employee of the new Department against illegal discrimination and build a culture in which Federal employees know they are keeping their fellow citizens safe through their service to America. I ask you to call your Senators and to urge them to vote for this bipartisan alternative. Senators Miller and Gramm, along with Senator Fred Thompson, have made great progress in putting the national interest ahead of partisan interest. I'm confident that every Senator, Republican and Democrat, wants to do what is best for America. Creating a new Department of Homeland Security will make America stronger and safer. It is time for the Senate to act. Thank you for listening. September 19, 2002 The President. Good morning. I appreciate our Secretary of State coming by to brief the Vice President and me and Condoleezza Rice about our progress in working with the United Nations, convincing the United Nations Security Council to firmly deal with a threat to world peace. Before we talk about that, I do want to express our condolences to those who lost their lives in Israel. It's been backto back suicide bombings. We strongly condemn terror. We strongly condemn violence. And we continue to send our message to the good people of that region that if you're interested in peace, that if you want people to be able to grow up in a peaceful world, all parties must do everything they can to reject and stop violence. At the United Nations Security Council, it is very important that the members understand that the credibility of the United Nations is at stake that the Security Council must be firm in its resolve to deal with a true threat to world peace, and that is Saddam Hussein that the United Nations Security Council must work with the United States and Britain and other concerned parties to send a clear message that we expect Saddam to disarm. And if the United Nations Security Council won't deal with the problem, the United States and some of our friends will. That's the message the Secretary of State has delivered forcefully. That's the message that he will continue to carry. And Mr. Secretary, I appreciate your hard work. You're doing a fine job. Secretary Powell. Thank you, Mr. President. The President. And we're proud of your efforts. Secretary Powell. Thank you, sir. The President. I'll be glad to answer a few calls answers, starting with Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Iraq and the United Nations Q. How many of our friends are willing to join the United States in this effort? The President. Ron, I think time will tell. I think you're going to see a lot of nations that a lot of nations love freedom. They understand the threat. They understand that the credibility of the United Nations is at stake. They heard me loud and clear when I said, "Either you can be the United Nations, a capable body, a body able to keep the peace, or you can be the League of Nations." And we're confident that people will follow our lead. Campbell Campbell Brown, NBC News . Q. Mr. President The President. Good to see you, Campbell, for starters. Glad you're here finally showed up. Laughter Q. The chief weapons inspector is going to be briefing the U.N. Security Council today, and there have already been some reports that, in his talks with the Iraqis, that they're limiting access to certain sites. Are those reports true? And do you think they're trying to The President. Well, I haven't gotten a report from what he intends to say. But let me give you just some general observations. First of all, there are no negotiations to be held with Iraq. They have nothing to negotiate. They're the people who said that they would not have weapons of mass destruction. The negotiations are over. It is up to the U.N. Security Council to lay out resolutions that confirms what Iraq has already agreed to, see. Secondly, I don't trust Iraq, and neither should the free world. For 11 years, they have deceived the world. They have said, "We'll conform to resolutions." They've never conformed to resolutions. They've never conformed to the agreement that they laid out 11 years ago. Sixteen times they've defied Security resolutions. And so, they the burden of proof is must be placed squarely on their shoulders. But there's no negotiations about whether or not they've been telling the truth or not. Let's see here Mark Mark Knoller, CBS Radio . Congressional Resolution on Iraq Q. Mr. President, are you going to send Congress your proposed resolution today? The President. I am. Q. And are you asking for a blank check, sir? The President. I am sending suggested language for a resolution. I want I've asked for Congress' support to enable the administration to keep the peace. And we look forward to a good, constructive debate in Congress. I appreciate the fact that the leadership recognizes we've got to move before the elections. I appreciate the strong support we're getting from both Republicans and Democrats and look forward to working with them. Q. Mr. President, how important is it that that resolution give you an authorization to use force? The President. That will be part of the resolution, the authorization to use force. If you want to keep the peace, you've got to have the authorization to use force. But it's this will be this is a chance for Congress to indicate support. It's a chance for Congress to say, "We support the administration's ability to keep the peace." That's what this is all about. Q. Will regime change be part of it? The President. Yes. That's the policy of the Government. Campbell, congratulations, you got two questions in one day. Q. Thank you, sir. The President. And it wasn't even a followup. That's a brilliant performance. September 19, 2002 The President. Well, thank you all very much. John, thank you very much. I appreciate the invitation to get out of the house. Laughter I'm honored to come to thank you all for supporting our Governors. I love our Governors. I know them well I was one. Laughter And these are fine, fine public servants who bring a lot of class and dignity to the office they hold. They put results ahead of process. These are people who put success ahead of excessive verbiage. They're on the frontlines of reform. They care deeply about our country. I'm honored to be in their presence. And I want to thank you for supporting their reelections. Governors get things done. And Governors can make a tremendous difference in people's lives. I knew that when I started forming my Cabinet. I knew that I needed to surround myself with people who not only would bring honor to the office to which I appointed them but also would work hard to get something done for the country. And that's why I named John Ashcroft, former Governor, Christie Todd Whitman, former Governor, Tommy Thompson, former Governor, and Tom Ridge, former Governor, to serve our country. I want to thank Johnny Rowland for his leadership of the Republican Governors Association and for his fine leadership for the State of Connecticut. Applause He got one peep. Laughter Bill Owens is the vice chairman, from the great State of Colorado, and I appreciate his leadership as well. I want to thank all the first ladies who are here. First ladies really define the Governor or first gentlemen define the Governor laughter just like our great First Lady has helped me a lot and defined me as a person. You know, people get to know a lot you can judge the nature of a man, in my case, by the person he marries. And I married above myself. Laughter People have gotten to know Laura. They now understand why I asked her to marry me. Lot of folks are still wondering why she said yes. Laughter She sends her love to our Governors and their wives. She sends her appreciation to you. And I can't tell you how proud I am of the job she's doing for America. I appreciate these Governors being on the frontline of making America a stronger place, a safer place, and a better place for all citizens, regardless of their party affiliation, regardless of where they live. That's the spirit of these can do people. And that's a job we all have in America, to make America a safer, stronger, and better place. And to make sure America is a strong place, we need to continue to work to make sure our fellow citizens can find work. A strong America is an America in which people who want to work and can't find a job are able to do so. A strong America is an America that recognizes the vibrancy of the entrepreneur in America. A strong America understands the role of Government is not to create wealth but an environment in which the small business owner can grow his or her business. A strong America is one that recognizes that in times of recession and I want you all to remember that when Dick Cheney and I got sworn in, the country was in a recession and a strong economy, a strong America, is one that recognizes that the engine to growth is the American people. And so when we let American people keep more of their own money, we sent a clear, strong signal to economic vitality. Some up here don't get it, see. They forget whose money we're talking about. They think we're talking about the Government's money. One thing we all understand is, when it comes to tax money, it's your money. And the tax cuts we passed in Washington came at the right time. And that's just one of the first things we have done here to make sure our economies grow, to make sure people can find work. I was the first President in a long time to get what they call trade promotion authority. My attitude is, if you're good at something, you ought to promote it. Laughter We're good at growing crops. We're good at raising cattle. We're good at the entrepreneurial spirit. We're good at high tech. We ought not to fear trade. We ought to welcome trade. And for the sake of jobs, I got the Congress to pass the trade promotion authority, so our people would be more likely to find work. For the sake of economic vitality, we sent a chilling signal to our fellow Americans who feel like they can fudge the books, who feel like they can get ahead by not telling the truth. Every one of these Governors understands the need for corporate responsibility in their States and all across America. I proudly signed the most comprehensive corporate reform since Franklin D. Roosevelt was the President of the United States. And for the sake of a stronger America, we sent this signal No more easy money, just hard time if you betray the trust of your employees and your shareholders in America. Now, we've got a foundation for economic vitality and growth that is strong. Interest rates are low. Inflation is low. The productivity of the American worker is the best in the world. But we're not going to rest until people find work. A stronger America requires a strong economy. And there are some things that Congress can do to help us in our desire to make America a stronger place. And I'll give you one example. There are over 300,000 jobs that don't exist because many developers and project managers cannot find terrorism insurance. The Congress ought to pass a law that provides a backstop for terrorism insurance, to get our hardhats working again. And by the way, it needs to be a law that does not reward trial lawyers but rewards the hard hats of America. We need an energy bill in America, an energy bill that fosters more conservation, an energy bill that enhances renewables like ethanol, but an energy bill that makes us less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. An energy bill is needed. There's too much talk in Washington and not enough action. And finally, to make this economy strong, to make sure people can find work, we've got to make sure Congress holds the line on spending. There's an enormous appetite for spending your money up here. Every project sounds wonderful in Washington, DC. Problem is, is that the price tags run in the billions. It is important for Congress to set priorities. It's hard to set priorities, however, when the Senate can't even pass a budget. The House passed a budget. The Senate can't pass a budget. My message to Congress, and I hope you help send the message, is we expect the appropriators to be wise with the people's money. We expect them to stay focused on national priorities. We expect them not to overspend. We expect them to be reasonable and sound. Because if we overspend, it will make it harder for people to find work. No, the grounds for economic growth are strong. After all, this is America. There's a lot of problems that we can overcome. But I just want to assure you, and I want to assure my friends who are the Governors, this administration will not rest we will stay focused on economic vitality, because we understand a strong America is an America in which people can find work. And we're working hard here in Washington, and we're working hard with our Governors to make sure we have a safer America. We need to work hard because there's still an enemy out there which hates our country. They hate America. They hate us because we love. We love freedom. We love the idea of our fellow citizens being able to worship an almighty God any way he or she sees fit. We love the idea of welcoming people to our country and letting them rise to their own level that talents will take them. We love the idea of being able to speak our minds, to have political discourse. We love a free press. We love freedom. But the enemy hates freedom. We also value each life in America. Everybody counts. Everybody has got worth. Everybody matters. But that's not the way our enemy thinks. They don't value life. They don't care about innocent life. And so long as we hold these values dear, which we will do, there will be an enemy trying to hurt America. And so, therefore, my most important job is to protect the American people from further harm, is to guard our homeland. You need to know a lot of good folks are working hard to do just that. I can testify for those here in the Federal Government that are spending hours upon hours chasing down every lead, running down every hint. We get a whiff of anything that might be happening or going to happen to America, we're moving on it and at the same time, I can proudly report, safeguarding the United States Constitution. And so are these Governors. They're working hard to protect their fellow citizens. They're working hard at the State level and working in coordination at the local level to prepare, to be ready, to be on alert. And I want to thank them for their service to our country. I asked Congress to work with me to make a to make the Government work better. I readily concede my slogan wasn't, don't "Vote for me. I'm going to make Government bigger." But I do want to make it work better. And that's why I called upon our Congress to set up a Department of Homeland Defense, so we can better coordinate amongst agencies, so we can have the protection of our homeland as our number one priority, so if need be, we can change cultures so that this President and administration and future Presidents and administrations can say to the American people, "We're doing everything in our power to protect you." And we're making some progress. Republicans and Democrats came together in the House of Representatives to pass a good homeland security bill. We're kind of bogged down in the Senate, however. You see, the Senate wants to take away some of the powers of the administrative branch. The Senate wants to micromanage the process, and I'm not going to let them do it. For the sake of homeland security, the Senate for the sake of the security of our homeland, the Senate needs to be more worried about the American people and less worried about special interests here in Washington, DC. But the best way to secure our homeland is to chase the killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice, which is exactly what the United States is going to do. It's a different kind of war. It's a war that is not measured by the destruction of tanks or ships or aircraft, because we're fighting a different kind of enemy. This is a war that is measured in terms of killers caught. We're making progress, thanks to a coalition we have put together. And we're making progress, thanks to one of the finest militaries our Nation has ever seen. Audience member. Thanks to our Commander in Chief! The President. This is an enemy which hides in caves or in the dark corners of cities and then sends youngsters to their suicidal death. It's a different kind of enemy and a different kind of war. But our resolve is just as fierce today as it has been in the past. And we're making progress. We're making progress. I don't have an exact count, but the number of those who the United States and our coalition partners have arrested, detained, whatever you want to call it, is over a couple thousand. And about a like number weren't as lucky. They're just not around anymore. We got a guy the other day, just as an example, thought he could hide in Pakistan. I don't know if you remember that doctrine I laid out, said, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy." President Musharraf in Pakistan is with us when it comes to hunting these killers down. The person who thought he'd be the 20th hijacker, bin al Shibh, is no longer a threat to the United States of America and our friends and allies. Oh, I know for some who are trying to fill the airways with speculation and noise and news and all that stuff, it's not a very glamorous war. But you've just got to know, this Nation is steady in our pursuit. We're strong in our resolve. No matter how long it takes, we're going to hunt them down, one person at a time. We're going to get them on the run, and we're going to keep them on the run, until we bring them to justice. I have submitted the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. I sent that up to the Congress for two reasons. One, anytime this Nation sends our troops into harm's way, anytime we ask our youngsters to go into the thin air of the mountains of Afghanistan or anywhere else in harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. We not only owe it to their to the soldiers, we owe it to their loved ones as well. And a defense bill sends another message. It sends a clear message to our friends and to our foe that the United States is in this for the long pull. There's not an artificial quitting date. There's not a moment that says, you know, well, we've been at it for a period of time we're getting kind of worn out and freedom isn't that important. The message is that no matter how long it takes and no matter what the cost, we will defend the freedoms of the United States of America. The House passed a defense bill. The Senate passed the defense bill. The way the process works is, they're supposed to get together, reconcile their differences, and get me a defense bill. It languishes. It languishes. This Congress must do its duty and get me a defense bill before it goes home. For the sake of our country, for the sake of this war, for the sake of the military, I need a defense appropriations bill. Now, we've got a big task ahead. See, history has put the spotlight on us. History will determine whether or not this Nation was strong and resolved in our defense of freedom. History will determine whether or not we uphold our values, the values that say we not only care for individuals here at home, but everybody matters. So far, I think history is going to judge us well. I want you to remember that when it came time to uphold the doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you house a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist," we upheld that doctrine. And in so doing, we freed a group of people from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. I want you to tell your children when they ask about this war that our country went into Afghanistan not to conquer anybody but to liberate people. And as a result of the United States and our friends and allies, many young girls now go to school for the first time. No, this mighty nation believes that everybody matters. Each person has worth. Everybody counts, regardless of where they are from. And we're going to have tough times ahead of us, no question about it, as we pursue our goals. There's going to be some rocky paths that we're going to have to climb up. There's going to be some high hurdles we have to cross. One of the highest hurdles is to recognize that as a nation, we're no longer protected by two vast oceans. No longer are we safe. We used to think, well, there's a little conflict going over there, or perhaps a leader over here who is a despicable person couldn't hurt us. We learned a new lesson after September the 11th, that we're vulnerable. For the sake of our security, we must not allow for the sake of the future of our country and for the future of other regions in the world, we must never allow the world's worst leaders to develop, to deploy, to blackmail the free world with the world's worst weapons. I believe it is important that there be an international organization that is strong and vibrant and capable of helping freedom loving countries keep the peace. You see, if the enemy hides in caves, and a different kind of enemy, different kind of war, we need a collection of friends sharing intelligence, cutting off money, routing these people out. So I went to the United Nations. And I made it clear to the United Nations that our Nation hopes that the United Nations succeeds. We want there to be a strong United Nations. We want the United Nations to be more than a debating society. We don't want the United Nations to become the League of Nations. We want the United Nations to have backbone and to enforce enforce the resolutions and doctrines and mandates. I also made it clear, for the sake of peace, for the sake of freedom for our country, if the United Nations will not act, the United States and our friends will. We owe it to our children we owe it to our grandchildren to make sure that the dictator in Iraq never threatens our country or our children or our children's children with the world's worst weapons. As we work to make our country stronger and safer, we also must never forget to work to make it better. That's why I'm so strong for these Governors they understand that. I signed one of the most comprehensive education reform bills in our Nation's history. It says, we expect there to be high standards in American schools. We want to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. I believe and these fine Governors believe that every child in America can learn. Everybody can learn. And therefore, we expect everybody to learn. If you believe everybody can learn, then you should expect everybody to learn. Inherent in that bill is my great trust for the Governors of the United States and for local folks. I strongly believe in local control of schools. But I also believe in this, that if you take Federal money, if you receive a dime of Federal money, you owe it to the taxpayers to show us whether or not the children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. And if they are, there will be plenty of praise for our Nation's teachers. But if not, we must not allow our children to be trapped in schools which will not teach and will not change. A better tomorrow recognizes that when it comes to reforming welfare, we must insist upon work. People find dignity in a job. I look forward to working with our Governors to make sure we continue the great progress of welfare reform by helping people help themselves, by helping people find job training so that instead of being dependent upon Government, they can find a job and be dependent upon their skills and their talents to provide for their families. A better tomorrow recognizes the great power of our faith based institutions in America. A better tomorrow recognizes that in our churches, in synagogues and mosques, we find great compassion and love. We understand that Government can hand out money, but what Government cannot do and by the way, we do a pretty good job of it up here but what Government cannot do is put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That's found in all across America. It's found particularly in places that exist because of the universal dictum that people should love their neighbors just like they should be loved themselves. You know, the enemy hit us. The enemy hit us, and they didn't know who they were hitting. Oh, they probably thought that after September the 11th, 2001, we'd kind of regroup and file a lawsuit or two. Laughter They didn't realize that this bold country is a great country, full of decent and compassionate people. I want you to know that out of the evil done to America is going to come great good. Around the world, if we remain tough and strong, we can achieve peace. If we're willing to speak clearly about good and evil, if we continue to denounce terror, if we understand the plight of the human condition, which we do in America that people must have hope, that everybody matters, that freedom counts we can achieve peace in this world. Oh, you'll hear a lot of war rhetoric. But I want you to know, my goal is peace. I long for peace. And I believe out of the evil done to America can come peace in places around the world that have quit on peace, including the Middle East and South Asia. I also want you to know I want you to know that we will be a better America, too, because the strength of the country lies in the hearts and souls of our fellow citizens. People say, "How can I help on this war against terror? How can I fight evil?" You can do so by mentoring a child, by going into a shut in's house and say, "I love you," by running a Boy Scout troop or a Girl Scout troop, by being involved in your Boys and Girls Clubs, by joining the USA Freedom Corps. If you're interested in helping America fight evil, love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. An educated America, a working America, an America that understands the power of our faith based and charitable organizations is an America that is going to be a better America. There is no question in my mind that out of the evil done to this country, that we will be able to help eradicate those pockets of despair and hopelessness which exist. In our land of plenty, there are people who hurt, people who cry, people who wonder whether or not the American Dream is meant for them. And this society of ours, this society of ours is going to change, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time, because thousands of our fellow citizens are loving a neighbor just like they'd like to be loved themselves. People understand in America now that a patriot is somebody who not only puts his hand over his heart and says, "I pledge allegiance to one Nation under God," but somebody who serves something greater than themselves. See, that was the example of Flight 93, an example which is vivid in my mind and, I'm sure, vivid in yours. It's an historic moment in many ways, a sad, tragic moment. On the other hand, it's a moment that I hope people remember for a long time. After all, it was a flight full of our fellow citizens. They learned that the plane they were on was going to be used as a weapon. They told their loved ones goodbye or "I love you." They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." They drove the plane into the ground to serve something greater than themselves in life. No, the spirit of America was alive on that airplane. The spirit of America is alive today. No, out of the evil done to this great country is going to come a more compassionate, a more decent, a more hopeful country. There's no doubt in my mind that we can achieve the big goals before us, because this is the finest country on the face of the Earth, full of the finest people. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. Thank you all. September 18, 2002 The President. Listen, I want to thank the Vice President and the leadership of the Congress for coming down for breakfast today. We had a really good discussion about our common concerns. The leadership is committed to moving important legislation forward, legislation that will help expand our job base. We talked about the energy bill. We talked about terrorism insurance. We talked about the defense appropriations. We talked about the appropriations process. We also talked about Iraq. We talked about the fact that Saddam Hussein has stiffed the United Nations for 11 long years and that, once again, he said made some kind of statement, trying to take the pressure off of himself. This statement about unconditional inspections was something he's made in the past. He deceives. He delays. He denies. And the United States and, I'm convinced, the world community, aren't going to fall for that kind of rhetoric on by him again. We talked about a resolution out of Congress and how it was important for us to work with Congress to pass a strong resolution. I told the Members that within the next couple of days this administration will develop language as that we think is necessary. And we look forward to working with both Republicans and Democrats to get a resolution passed. I want to thank the leadership for its commitment to get a resolution done before Members go home for the election break. I think it's an important signal. It's an important signal for the country, but as importantly, it's an important signal for the world to see that this country is united in our resolve to deal with threats that we face. And so, thank you all for coming. I'll take a couple of questions Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press , Keil Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . Iraqi Acceptance of U.N. Inspections Q. Like it or not, is it accurate to say that Saddam playing his move has made the allies go wobbly The President. Do what now? Q. Has Saddam's latest move helped make the allies go wobbly on it? The President. Oh, all they've got to do is look at the record. It's his latest ploy, his latest attempt not to be held accountable for defying the United Nations. He's not going to fool anybody. I mean, he is we've seen him before. And we'll remind the world that by defying the United Nations he is becoming more and more threat to world peace. And I'm convinced that the world understands the ploy. And one of the jobs the United States has is to remind people about not only the threat but the fact that his defiance has weakened the United Nations. And the United Nations, in order for the world to be a more peaceful place, must rise up and deal with this threat and hold him to account. And that's what we expect out of the Security Council. Dick. U.N. Security Council Q. Mr. President, a follow on Ron's question. Do you think that you'll be able to persuade France and Russia to go along with us on whatever it is you and the Congress decide to do? And frankly, sir, is that necessary? Are you prepared to go it alone? The President. Listen, we're speculating about what nations are going to do. I'm convinced that when we continue to make the case about his defiance, his deception, his the fact that time and time again, dozens of times, he has told the world, "Oh, I will comply," and he never does that the nations which long for peace and care about the validity of the United Nations will join us. And so we're going to work hard to continue to make the case. I think reasonable people understand this man is unreasonable. And reasonable people understand that this is just a ploy this is a tactic this is a way to try to say to the world, "Oh, I'm a wonderful, peaceful fellow," when, in fact, he not only kills his own people, he's terrorized his neighborhood, and he's developing weapons of mass destruction. We must deal with him. September 17, 2002 Thank you all very much. Thanks. Thank you. Thanks a lot. Thank you, "Senator." Laughter There's no doubt in my mind Lamar Alexander will make a great a lot of great contributions to our Nation. But one of the lasting contributions he will make is a contribution he made before when he held office, and that is, he brought honor and dignity to the office to which he had been elected. I'm proud to be back in Tennessee. I want to thank you all for having me here. I'm proud to come back and say as clearly as I can to the citizens of Tennessee, Lamar Alexander should become the next United States Senator. And there's a lot of reasons why, and one of them is because he married well. Like me, he married a Texan. And like me, he married above himself. We appreciate Honey, and she's a class act like Lamar is, and I'm proud to know them both. I wish my wife were here with me. You may remember, or maybe you don't know, but when I married Laura, she was a public school librarian. She didn't care for politics she didn't like politicians. Now here she is, the First Lady of the United States. Thank goodness. What a fabulous job she is doing. I bring her greetings to Lamar and Honey and all of you all. She is doing great, by the way. She's settled in. Public housing is all right there in Washington. Laughter I do want to thank the members of the mighty Tennessee delegation who are here, starting with Fred Thompson. There's only one man in this State who can fill the shoes of Fred Thompson, and that's Lamar Alexander. And Fred, thank you for your service. I appreciate his service to Tennessee and to America. Fortunately, he isn't quitting early. He's still got some he's got some he's got a task ahead there on the floor of the Senate, and that's to make sure I get a Homeland Security Department that is unfettered from Government rules and bureaucracies, a Homeland Security Department that will allow this President and future Presidents to move people to the right place at the right time, in order to protect the homeland from an enemy which still hates us. And Fred Thompson is leading that charge. And as he succeeds and when he succeeds, he will leave behind a fabulous legacy for future administrations and Senators. Fred, thank you. You've been a great Senator. I appreciate Senator Bill Frist. He too is a fine Senator. You sent two good ones up there, and you're about to send another good one in Lamar. But thank you for being here, Senator Frist. I appreciate the next Governor of the State of Tennessee, Van Hilleary, for joining us today. I want to thank Ed Bryant, and I want to thank Zach Wamp as well for being here. I hope these Congressmen are here to hear my speeches. I hope it's not just to get a free ride on Air Force One heading back to Washington. Either way, you'll find the speeches are probably too long and the accommodations on Air Force One is just fine. But these are fine Members of the Congress. I'm proud to work with them. I'm also traveling today since we're going to a school here in Nashville, I'm traveling with our Secretary of Education, Rod Paige, who's doing such a fantastic job on behalf of the children of America. And Rod, thank you for coming. I want to thank all those who helped put on this event. I want to thank Ted Welch. I want to thank Beth Harwell and Stephanie Chivers. I want to thank my friend David Kustoff. I want to thank all of you all who are involved in grassroots politics. One thing people like Lamar and I understand is that we can't win without the folks who are willing to dial the telephones and put the signs in the yards and make sure the mailers go out on time, make sure the voters go up to vote. I want to thank you for what you have done, and I want to thank you for what you're going to do. It is really important that you go back to your coffee shops, your houses of worship, your community centers, and remind the good people of Tennessee what a fine leader Lamar Alexander has been, is, and will be on behalf of the people of Tennessee. He should win this race just on what he has done. He was one of the great Governors of this State. He's one of the most imaginative and reform oriented Secretaries of Education. He'd been in higher education. He loves his family. He loves his country. He's got fabulous values. The thing I appreciate about him is that he does not rest on his laurels he's a forward thinking man. He knows that we've got to continue to work together to challenge the status quo when we find our children trapped in mediocre schools. He understands that mediocrity must be challenged. He challenged liked to challenge what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. It's going to be good to have a man in the United States Senate who will stand by my side to insist upon strong accountability, to make sure that no child in America not one single child gets left behind in our public education system. As Lamar mentioned, we're going over to a school here in Nashville to talk about the importance of teaching history and civics to our Nation's youth, that we want to make sure that when we talk about how why we defend liberty, they understand the history of liberty they understand the great ideals of our country and the values that make America the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. I look forward to going with Lamar over to East Literature Magnet School to talk about the promise of America and the hope for a better world, not only here but around the world. He understands the value of education. He also understands the need to make sure our economy grows. In Washington, sometimes when you listen to the rhetoric of some of them up there, they believe Government creates jobs. See, the role of Government is not to create wealth but an environment in which the entrepreneur and small business can flourish, so people can find work. And that's why it's going to be important to have somebody who understands that when you let a person keep more of their own money, that person is likely to demand a good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service in this country, in this system, somebody is likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces the good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work. And the whole economic package of this administration is based upon jobs. We will do everything in our power to make sure that jobs are available for people who want to work, and that starts with letting people keep more of their own money. The interesting thing is, we have passed this tax relief plan, and yet because of a quirk in the law, a quirk in the Senate rules, the law goes away after 10 years. That's kind of a hard one to explain to the ranchers in Crawford, Texas "We're going to cut your taxes, but we're really not cutting them." What we've got to make sure is, you send the United States Senator from Tennessee who will make the tax cuts permanent on behalf of the working people of this State. By the way, one of the things we did in our tax relief package, besides laying the groundwork for economic growth, was we started putting the death tax on its way to extinction. The death tax is bad for Tennessee farmers. The death tax is bad for Tennessee ranchers. The death tax is bad for Tennessee entrepreneurs. The death tax is just plain bad. And you better send you a Senator up there who will get rid of the death tax once and for all. The foundation for economic growth is strong here in America. Inflation is down. Interest rates are low. Productivity of the American worker is up. But one of the things that you need to be concerned about is Congress overspending, is Congress not understanding the need for fiscal responsibility, so that our economy continues to grow. If Congress overspends, it will serve as a drag on economic vitality. You see, some of them up there don't understand whose money we're spending. We don't spend the Government's money in Washington we're spending your money. And it's important to have United States Senators like Thompson and Frist who understand fiscal sanity is important in Washington. See, every program sounds great up there. Everybody's idea sounds wonderful. The problem, in Washington terms, they've all got billions of dollars' worth of price tags attached to them. They can't even get a budget out of the United States Senate. We need a budget. If you don't have a budget, the likelihood that the likelihood is, the Senate is going to overspend. How can you set priorities without a budget? And my priorities are defending the American people, making sure the homeland is secure. And therefore, we need to have Senators in Washington, DC, who are there to protect the taxpayers' money, to be fiscally sound. No, I've got a veto, and I intend to use it if they overspend. But it would certainly be helpful to have Senators up there that don't cause me necessary to use it. I appreciate the fact that I'll be able to work with Lamar on making sure the good people who I nominate to our Federal benches will not only get a fair hearing but a speedy hearing and will get approved. The country got to see what happens when the Senate gets so politicized that they won't give people a fair hearing when it comes to judicial nominees. I named a fabulous woman out of Texas, named Priscilla Owen, to the Fifth Court. And they distorted her record. She had the highest ranking from the ABA, and yet having listened to the rhetoric coming out of a highly politicized and polarized committee, you never would have realized how qualified she is. She was turned down for purely political purposes. For the sake of a Federal judiciary that is strong and solid, we need United States Senators like Lamar Alexander who will be fair and reasonable and realistic and will not play politics with the President's judicial nominees. And I look forward to having this good man in the United States Senate to stand side by side with me to help fulfill the most important role we have in Washington, and that's to protect the homeland. Our most important job is to protect an enemy which still exists and still hates from taking other lives. People say, "Well, you know, are you sure they're still out there?" Yes, I'm sure, and I know they still hate. I want you to tell your children who ask the question, "Why would America be under attack," to look them square in the eye and tell them, "It's because we love freedom, is why we're under attack." We hold freedom dear. We love the idea of worshiping freely in America, and we'll never let go of our freedoms. And so long as we hold dear to our freedoms, the enemy will hate us, because they hate freedom. These are people that do not value human life. And here in America, we say, "Everybody matters. Each life is precious. Everybody counts." These are people who hijacked a great religion in order to justify their murder. So our most important job is to do everything we can to make sure our homeland is secure. And it starts with an issue that I talked to you about that Fred's working on, and that is to combine the agencies involved with homeland security in such a way that we can properly enforce our borders, for example. We need to know who's coming into America. We need to know what they're bringing into America. We need to know if they're leaving America when they say they're going to leave America. And yet when you look down at our borders, north and south, there are three different United States agencies involved with the security of our border, Customs, INS, and Border Patrol, all of them manned by very fine men and women, all of them staffed by hard working Americans. But they've got different cultures, different strategies. It makes no sense for the President not to be able to put the right people at the right place at the right time to protect the homeland. And the problem is, in the United States Senate, they're more interested in Washington's special interests than they are in the interests of protecting the American people. I hope they get a good bill out of the Senate before they go home to campaign. But I'm going to make good on my promise that if the flexibility is not in the bill, the flexibility that Fred is so hard working on, that I'm going to use my veto power. I will not accept a lousy bill that makes it impossible for the President this President or future Presidents to do what the American people expect, and that's to protect the homeland. The best way to secure the homeland, the best way to make sure that we protect our children and our children's future, the best way to defend freedom and civilization itself, is to hunt the killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice, which is exactly what the United States of America is going to do. We're in a different kind of war. But make no mistake about it, it's still war. In the old days, you could count the enemy's tanks or airplanes or ships, and say, "Well, look how much we demolished," or "Their industrial capacity can't keep up with the war demands, and therefore, they're diminished as an enemy." This is a different kind of enemy. Remember, these are the kind of enemies that hide in caves. They find the darkest cave they can find. They burrow in there, and then they send some youngster to their suicidal death. These are people that hate. These are people that take innocent life at the drop of a hat. These people are resourceful, and they're wily, and they're determined. But they are not as determined as the mighty United States of America. There is no cave deep enough there's no neighborhood dark enough for them to hide in, as far as I'm concerned. And thanks to a coalition of countries that love freedom as much as we do, and thanks to a fantastic United States military, we're making good progress on the war against these killers. Just read your newspaper. The other day, the fellow that thought he wanted to be 20th hijacker is in custody. He's off the streets. He thought he could hide. He thought he could run. He thought he could escape the justice of the United States of America. No matter how long it takes, this mighty Nation will do everything is required to defend our freedom. I bet we've hauled in over 2,500 of them so far. I say "we" it's not just the America military it's our friends and allies. Remember the doctrine, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy," and that doctrine still stands. And as a result, over a couple thousand of them have been hauled in, and that number about the same number met a different fate. They weren't as lucky. And another doctrine still stands. It says, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you house a terrorist, you're just as guilty as those who murdered thousands of innocent American lives." And the Taliban found out what we want. I want you to remind your children, with all in the midst of all this war talk, the midst of the on the television screens seeing our troops and all the stuff going on remind them that this mighty Nation went into a country, as we upheld that doctrine, not to conquer anybody but to liberate a people from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. Thanks to the United States and our friends and allies, many young girls, for the first time, go to school. No, this great, compassionate Nation will not only defend our Nation we will believe in freedom for everybody. See, we think everybody matters, every life counts, every person has got worth, whether they be American or anywhere else around the globe. Speaking about barbaric regimes, we must deal with probably one of the most not probably one of the most real threats we face, and that is the idea of a barbaric regime teaming up with a terrorist network and providing weapons of mass destruction, to hold the United States and our allies and our friends blackmail. I gave a speech at the United Nations. I said, for the sake of peace, for the sake of security, after 11 years of not doing what he said he would do, it is time for us to deal with the true threats it's time with us to deal with Saddam Hussein it's time for us to secure the peace. The United Nations must act. It's a time for them to determine whether or not they'll be the United Nations or the League of Nations. It's time to determine whether or not they'll be a force for good and peace or an ineffective debating society. The United States will remain strong in our conviction that we must not and will not allow the world's worst leaders to hold the United States and our friends and allies blackmail or threaten us with the world's worst weapons. I have asked Congress to support me in this war. And I must say, the bipartisan support has been strong, and I appreciate that. But Congress has been lacking in one area. I requested the most the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President, for two reasons. One, anytime we send our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. And secondly, I wanted to send a message to friend and foe alike that the United States is not going to relent in our quest for freedom, that we're in this deal for the long haul, that there's not a calendar on my desk that says by such andsuch a date, we quit. See, that's not what you do when you face an enemy which hates. That's not what you do when you know that history has called us to defend our freedoms. I say the Congress failed because the House passed a defense bill and the Senate passed a defense bill, but they haven't gotten together to get me a defense bill yet. They need to act. The leadership in Washington needs to move a defense bill to my desk as quickly as possible. They not ought they ought not to play politics with the defense appropriations bill in the midst of a war, a war that will define civilization itself. I don't know what got into the enemy when they hit us. They must have thought the Nation was so materialistic and so self absorbed and so selfish and so shallow that after September the 11th, 2001, all we would do is file a lawsuit or two. They didn't understand America. They don't know that when they struck us, they struck a mighty nation that loves freedom. They didn't realize that out of the evil done to this country can come incredible good. And I believe that. I believe that by remaining tough and strong on terror, by working with nations around the world and reminding them the stakes about the stakes, by always adhering to the ideals that make our Nation strong, that we can achieve peace. I want you to tell your kids, my dream is peace. I want the world to be a peaceful world, not only for our children but children everywhere. I want there to be peace in the Middle East, and I believe by remaining tough and strong, we can achieve peace in the Middle East. I believe we can achieve peace in South Asia. I understand that the hurdles are going to be great, and there's going to be rough moments. But the enemy has given us a chance to achieve some good out of the evil, by realizing peace. And here at home, we have a chance to foster a more compassionate society. In the midst of our plenty, there are people who hurt in America. There are people who are addicted, who are lonely. There are people who wonder whether or not the so called American Dream is meant for them. I understand that Government can hand out money, and we do a pretty darn good job of it. But what Government cannot do is put hope into people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That is done when a fellow American puts their arm around somebody who hurts and says, "I love you. What can I do to help you?" There's a new spirit in America, thanks to what happened on September the 11th. We still mourn for the loss of life, but there are thousands of our fellow citizens who have asked the question, "How can I help?" And they've heard the call You can help fight evil by doing good. You can fight evil by loving your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. No, in this country, there's a new sense of responsibility. People are learning that being a patriot is more than just putting your hand over your heart and saying the pledge allegiance. Being a patriot is serving a cause greater than yourself. The enemy hit us, but they didn't know who they were hitting. They've they hit a country with a strong spirit, a strong sense of purpose, a strong drive to make sure that every single citizen has a chance. And so I remind my fellow Americans, it doesn't take much to be a part of a change, to be a part of the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness that will define the true face of our country. Mentor a child. Go to a shut in's house and say, "Can I help you?" Be a part of the Boys and Girls Clubs. I met a young man who today who wants to run a is going to run an after school program in the Boys and Girls Club. He's a junior in high school. He heard the call. Join the Peace Corps. If you're a youngster, be a member of the USA Freedom Corps. Serve a country by serving a neighbor in need. And that's what's taking place. You know, I first got into politics because I believed our culture ought to change from one that said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture which says, "Each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life." And if you're a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your children with all your heart and all your soul. If you're living in Nashville, Tennessee, you're responsible for the quality of education in the neighborhoods you're responsible for the quality of life. If you're running a corporation in America, you're responsible to your shareholders and your employees to tell the truth and not lie about your books. If you're a responsible America, it means you love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. And that's what's happening. There's no question in my mind this great country is going to rise to the challenges we face. There's no doubt in my mind that by remaining strong and steadfast, we can win the war on terror and help the world become more peaceful. And there's no doubt in my mind that we can find those dark corners of hopelessness and help bring light, by loving them by loving a neighbor in need. You know why I say "no doubt in my mind"? Because this is the finest country on the face of the Earth, full of the most decent, honorable people. I'm proud you came today. I'm proud to support Lamar Alexander. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. September 17, 2002 Thank you all for coming. Thanks for that warm welcome really warm welcome. Laughter Across America today, Americans are reciting 31 world words that help define our country. In one sentence, we affirm our form of government, our belief in human dignity, our unity as a people, and our reliance on Providence. And this pledge takes on a special meaning in a time of war. Our enemies hate these words. That's what you've got to understand. They hate the words, and they want to erase them. We're determined to stand for these words and live them out in our lives. Our allegiance has never been stronger. We've never been more determined. And we must work to teach our children to love our Nation as much as we do. I want to thank you all for coming today. I particularly want to thank our Secretary of Education for traveling with me, Rod Paige. I picked Rod out of a lot of really good candidates because I wanted somebody to be in Washington who had actually been on the frontlines of educating every child. We didn't need any more theory in Washington. We needed people that had actually done. And when we talk about raising the bar and challenging the soft bigotry of low expectations, so that every child can learn, when we talk about having an accountability system to make sure no child is left behind, our Secretary of Education has actually done it. He ran one of the largest school districts in my State, our State, and he did so with class and dignity. And the children of Houston, Texas, are better off for it. Mr. Secretary, thank you for coming. I'm also proud to be sharing the stage with another superintendent, Pedro Garcia. Mucho gusto, Pedro. Pedro is a good leader. It's very interesting we were talking before we came out here and Pedro was a part of what they call Operation Pedro Pan Operation Peter Pan. So, by the way, was a member of my Cabinet, Mel Martinez. When both Pedro and Mel were young men, their parents wanted their children to grow up in freedom, so they put them on an airplane to a foreign land. They had great faith in America, faith so much faith in the ideals of our country that they were willing to trust their teenage children with a stranger in a foreign country. And they came and were loved. I don't know about, Pedro, whether your mom and dad came, but Mel's mother and daddy came. And I want you all to remember these stories about Pedro, who's now your superintendent of school, or Mel, who's in my Cabinet, that this country offered so much hope and so much promise, because we believe so strongly in freedom that people such as the Garcias and the Martinezes were willing to give up their children so they could grow up in a free society. I love the story of Pedro Pan. I love the job you're doing, and I wish you all the best. And I'm also so appreciative for Kaye, Kaye Schneider, the principal of East Literature Magnet School, for opening up this school. She said it's been an amazing experience. I bet it has, with all these laughter all these advance people and all the entourage here. But thanks for opening up this great school. I'm here because this is a center of excellence, a school that refuses to leave any child behind, and it starts with having a good, solid, sound principal. So Kaye, thank you very much. I want to thank all the teachers who are here. Thank you for taking on a noble profession. Old Sam Houston, he used to live in Tennessee. And at one time he had been the Governor of Texas and a Senator from Texas. And he was a famous Tennessee guy, and he was a President of the Republic of Texas. And they said, "Of all the jobs you've ever had, Sam, what was the most important one?" He said, without hesitation, "teacher," because he had been a teacher. I want to thank the mothers and dads who are here. Thank you for coming. You too are teachers. The best education starts at home, by loving your children with all your heart and all your soul. I want to thank the students who are here. Thanks for letting me come by and visit with you. I appreciate so very much elected officials who have come today Senator Fred Thompson, Senator Bill Frist, Congressman Zach Wamp, Congressman Van Hilleary, Congressman Bob Clement, Congressman Bart Gordon, Congressman Ed Bryant. I want to thank your mayor, Bill Purcell, for coming as well, the mayor of Nashville. Thank my friend Lamar Alexander for being here. But most of all, I want to thank you all for giving me a chance to come and share some thoughts. It is very important for our youngsters to understand history, the history of our country, the ideals that make our country strong. This morning in the Rose Garden I kicked off a national initiative, and I'm going to describe some of what we're going to do to make sure that we teach more history to our children. Especially important in a time of war that our children understand the context of why we fight. You see, ours is a history of freedom. One of the most precious ideals we have is freedom for everybody. We love our freedoms. We love the idea of being a free society. And throughout our history, people have fought for freedom. Whether it's been in the Revolutionary War or the heroic struggle to end slavery or civil rights wars in the United States Congress or whether it's World War II where we fought to free people from tyranny, the history of this Nation has been a history of freedom and justice. Our children are growing up in a difficult time for America, because they see on their TV screens the fact that America is now a battlefield. When we were kids, or a lot of us were kids, growing up, oceans separated us from danger. We were confident in our ability to resist evil because evil could never make it to our shore, unless it was created internally. But now we've entered a new period where we're vulnerable. It's tough for our children to comprehend that, I know. But you've got to understand why we're vulnerable, and that is because there are people in the world that hate the fact that we love freedom. People cannot stand the fact that your great Nation not only allows but encourages people to worship an almighty God in any way they want to. We welcome that in America. We speak our mind freely. All you've got to do is remember it's an election year. Laughter We believe in a free press. And we're not going to change. We love our freedoms. Our history has taught us that. And today, we love them just as strongly as others in the past have. The other thing the children are learning is the notion of people serving something greater than themselves in life. You know, I think one of the most defining moments of the recent American history was Flight 93. Flight 93 is an amazing lesson. Laura and I had the honor of going to the site there in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the other day to hug and cry and visit with and smile with if they wanted to smile with the family members of those brave souls who were on that airplane. But it's a lesson of people loving freedom so much and loving their country so much, that they're willing to drive a plane into the ground to save other people's lives. What a powerful message, that part of being an American is to serve something greater than yourself, part of being a citizen in this great land is to not only take from the land but to give. So today, when you realize there are military people looking in caves in Afghanistan or moving around the world to try to fight tyranny and terrorism, they do so to serve something greater than themselves, because of a strong ideal, a strong sense of purpose, a strong sense of country. You've got to understand there are some in this world that simply do not adhere to the ideals we believe in. In Iraq, they don't put their hand over their heart and say, "Liberty and justice for all." They don't believe in liberty. The dictator who runs Iraq doesn't believe in justice. He only believes in liberty and justice for those who he decides get liberty and justice. There's a lot of talk about Iraq on our TV screens, and there should be, because we're trying to figure out how best to make the world a peaceful place. There's an old saying in Tennessee I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee that says, fool me once, shame on shame on you. Fool me you can't get fooled again. You've got to understand the nature of the regime we're dealing with. This is a man who has delayed, denied, deceived the world. For the sake of liberty and justice for all, the United Nations Security Council must act, must act in a way to hold this regime to account, must not be fooled, must be relevant to keep the peace. Part of the American history teaches us that we must lead toward a more peaceful world. Part of the history of the world shows that as threats develop, we must deal with them before they become too acute, unmanageable. Part of our history is, is that we're a peaceful people. We love and long for peace, that we want peace for generations to come. But sometimes we must act in order to achieve the peace. And all our history says we believe in liberty and justice for all, that we see oppression, we cry that when we found out that young girls in Afghanistan could not go to school because they were in the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind, we acted not only to uphold doctrine and to fight the war against terror, we acted to liberate people. Our history shows that we're not a nation which conquers. We're a nation which liberates. History is important for our children to understand, to give them a better sense of how to understand what we do and a sense of what it means to be an American, a sense of importance of serving something greater than yourself in life. The first initiative that we're going to put out is called We the People, which will encourage American history and civic education all around the country. There will be a grant program to encourage the development of good curricula and a lecture series and essays by high school students on liberty and justice and freedom. We've got a great store of documents here in America, and so we're going to put out a program called Our Documents. The national Archivist is going to work with us to make sure all of the archives of America are now online, so schools can easily tap in to find out how our history developed through the archives of the country. It ought to be a really interesting way for our students to learn more about America. We're going to have a White House forum there in Washington, DC obviously, that's where the White House is in January or February of next year, to call in experts as to how better teach our history, and at the same time, teach the ideals that make us a great nation. We're going to do our part at the Federal level. It's very important that you all do your part here in Nashville, Tennessee, and insist upon good civics lessons, the true lessons of history, to make sure our children understand the ideals that make us great. And one of the things our youngsters and those of us not quite so young can do and this is important is to celebrate patriotism by loving your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. You see, it's important to realize that one person can't do everything to change America, but one person can do something. Every child who hurts, who receives your love, is part of changing America for the better, is part of fighting evil with acts of kindness and decency. I met Harry Ingle, Jr., at Air Force One. He's an East Literature Magnet student. He's a junior. He was out there because he is involved with mentoring children. He's a soldier in the army of compassion here in Nashville, Tennessee. He's a part of the true strength of America, which is neighbor loving neighbor, those of us who are on our feet helping those who aren't on their feet. He's a part of the light that can help shine into corners of darkness where there may be despair and addiction and loneliness. No, part of patriotism is not just to put a hand over our heart, but part of being a patriot is to serve the ideals of this country by serving something greater than yourself. I want the students here to understand that this great Nation of ours longs for peace, but we also want to practice compassion. And you can be a part of the compassionate future by helping somebody in need. It is an honor to be here at this fine school, in this fine city, in this great State, to celebrate with millions of students all across the country the Pledge of Allegiance, the Pledge across America. It is my honor to be here to remind people of the great ideals of the greatest country on the face of the Earth. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. September 16, 2002 Thank you all for coming. Thank you all. Mr. Chairman Mr. Chairman, I'm here to remind the good people of this congressional district that Jim Nussle is not only a fine man who cares deeply about the citizens of Iowa, but it's in your best interest to make sure that Jim Nussle is reelected to the United States Congress. Anytime anytime you introduce a candidate as "Mr. Chairman," that ought to tell you something about whether or not you want a change or not. You see, when you've got somebody who's honorable and decent and full of integrity as a chairman, you need to keep him. It's in your interests. It's not only in your self interest, it's in the interest for your State. And I'm here to tell you it's in the interest of the United States of America to make sure this good man is reelected to the Congress. I know him well. I've seen him under fire. I've seen people put immense pressure on him to change, to forget why he got elected in the first place. He's steady as a rock. He's a loyal ally. He's a strong American. He has earned the right to get reelected. Don't make a mistake this district shouldn't make a mistake. When you've got a good one, you make sure you keep him. And Jim Nussle is a good one, and it's in your interests you keep him. Jim, I'm proud to be by your side, and I urge the people of this district to send you back to Washington, DC. I want to thank Karen Nussle for standing by Jim's side. It's important to have a in this business we're in, it's important to have somebody stand by your side. Laughter We both married above ourselves. Laughter I wish Laura were here with me. She's back in the White House, but I can't tell you how proud I am of the job she's doing. I want to thank you for holding up the Laura book. Laughter Yes. I haven't read it yet, but it better say she's one of the finest women God's ever produced. Laughter If they're interested in the truth, they know that she's doing a great job as the First Lady, and she sends her best to all the good friends of ours here in the State of Iowa. It's good to have met Sarah and Mark Nussle, Jim's children. It's good to have met his mother. I asked Ms. Laura Nussle whether or not Mark I mean, Jim was still listening to her. She said, "About half the time." Laughter I said, "Well, that's about as much time as I listen to mine too." Laughter It's great to have the Nussle family here. I'm also honored to be traveling today with a great United States Senator. I emphasize "great" because he's worked hard on behalf of the citizens of Iowa. When he was the Chairman of the Finance Committee something that I dearly hope happens again soon he made a huge difference for our country, and that's, of course, Chuck Grassley. I'm also honored to be traveling today with a fine United States Congressman, a gentleman, a really bright citizen of our country, somebody who cares deeply about America, and that's Jim Leach. In case some of you all are not in Nussle's district but in Leach's district, it's really important to send him back too. Laughter He's a fine man, brings a lot of integrity and class. And so does the next United States Senator from the State of Iowa, and that's Greg Ganske. I appreciate you being here, Greg. He's a hard worker. He's going to make a fine Senator. I look forward to working with both he and Senator Grassley on working on the interests of the citizens of Iowa but, more importantly, the interests of the citizens of the entire country. That's the way these two men think. I'm proud to be here with a Congressman a State senator now, soon to be a Congressman, named Steve King. Steve, thank you for coming today. Oh, hi, Steve. I appreciate Chuck Larson, who is the chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, for coming. Good to see you, Chuck. I want to thank all of you who have come to help Jim. This is a huge turnout. It's a good sign, it seems like to me. But I also want to thank those of you who are working the grassroots here in the State of Iowa. I want to thank you for what you have done and, as importantly, what you're going to do, which means turn out the vote. You see, all this stuff helps these rallies help. But the most important thing is to turn out the vote, is to find your neighbors. When you go to your coffee shops or your churches or your community centers, you've got to pass the word pass the word that people need to participate in the process, and as they start to head to participate, tell them about the qualities of the man that we're supporting here today. Grass roots politics makes a huge difference in the outcome of these races. And so for those of you who are willing to volunteer your time and to lick the envelopes and make the phone calls and stick the signs in the ground, thanks. Just get ready. Get your uniforms on. Laughter We're coming down the stretch. We need your help. Chairman Nussle is the head of the budget. The House passed a budget. The Senate can't pass a budget. Laughter That says something about his leadership. It's important to have a budget in Washington, because without a budget, there is a tendency to overspend. Laughter Without a budget, every idea sounds like a brilliant idea. Without some kind of constraint on the appropriations process in Washington, as they might say in this part of the world, somebody is liable to go hog wild. Laughter And sometimes those somebodies who go hog wild forget whose money they're spending. Nussle and I understand this When it comes to spending the money in Washington, it's not the Government's money we spend. It's your money. It's the people's money. And Jim understands that, and so do I. And that's why we're going to have to have some budget restraint. In order to make sure our economy the foundation of economic growth doesn't crumble, we've got to make sure there is budget restraint in Washington. We've got plenty of money up there. We can fund our priorities. The thing I appreciate about this chairman's leadership is, he has a clear vision of how to get back to a balanced budget. And that's important for you. It's important to have a leader up there who understands that. He also understood what I understood In the face of a recession, you've got to let the people have their own money. You see, if you're worried about jobs like we're worried about jobs, the best way to help the economy recover is to trust the people with their own money. And so we cut the taxes on the people. People have more money to spend, and when you spend it, somebody is going to produce a good or a service to meet your demand. And when they do that, somebody is more likely to find work. Our tax relief plan came at the right time in American history, and I'm proud of the work Jim did. I'm proud of the work Chuck Grassley and Jim Leach and Greg Ganske did. And now, for the sake of the hardworking people of Iowa and for the sake of the farmers and ranchers in this part of the world, we need to make sure the tax relief is permanent and the death tax is forever extinguished. You listen to these debates in these congressional campaigns in the Senate race, they're going to use every excuse in the book to take the tax relief away. That's a tax increase, as far as I'm concerned. And one thing you don't do in the midst of an economic slowdown is raise the taxes on the people. If you're interested in job creation, if you're interested more about spending a person's pocketbook rather than the Government's pocketbook, you let the people keep their own money. And Jim Nussle understands that. He also understands the importance of education. We passed a really good education bill. It's one that sets high standards, that says that every child can learn. It challenges what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. See, we understand, if you lower the bar, you get bad results. If you have expectations that are something other than excellent, if you have mediocre expectations, you'll get mediocrity out of your school systems. As well, Jim and I understood, as do the other members of the Iowa delegation, that the place to enhance educational excellence is to trust the local people. See, we understand the people of Iowa care more about the children in Iowa than bureaucracies in Washington, DC, do. So this bill passed power out of Washington. And finally, we finally began to say in America that if you take Federal money, you need to show us whether or not our children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. See, if you believe every child can learn, the next question is, "Well, are the children learning to read and write?" If you believe that, then you want to ask the question, and you want to know. And if they are, then we ought to praise the teachers in school districts that are meeting this high standards. But if not, we need to teach children early, because Jim and I understand there's no second rate children in America. No child should left behind be behind in this country. Jim mentioned a very important issue, and that is Medicare. See, the Medicare system is an important system really important we get it right. Medicine has changed Medicare hasn't. And one of the things that Jim Nussle is on the is leading in Congress I mean, leading is to make sure that there's a level playing field for Iowa seniors. He and Chuck Grassley, Greg Ganske, and Jim Leach spent a lot of time on this issue, and they understand that they need to work with Congress to get it done. I'm proud of the leadership of Jim Nussle. I'm proud of the leadership of Chuck Grassley and Greg Ganske and Jim Leach. These fine Iowa citizens know there's a problem, and they're working with both parties to solve the problem. If you want the problem solved, you better make sure that this man is reelected to the United States Congress. Nussle is a friend of the farmer, and so am I. I understand good agricultural policy is important for the economy of our country. I also want us an energy bill that includes a strong renewable section in the energy bill, which means ethanol. But also, Jim understands what I understand, that if you're good at something, you want to promote it. And since we're the best farmers in the world, we ought to be doing everything we can to sell our farm products around the world. And I appreciate so very much his strong support for a trade bill that will be good for the Iowa farmers. And Greg, I appreciate your support on a trade bill that will be good for the Iowa farmers. Same with you, Senator, and Congressman Leach as well. It's an important piece of legislation I signed. And I promise you, I'm going to use this legislation to open up markets, so our farmers can make a living. Finally, I appreciate Jim Nussle's understanding that we're we've got a problem with an enemy that hates us, that he clearly sees like I see that there is a true threat to our freedoms. People say, well, you know I'm sure youngsters say, "Well, why would somebody want to hurt America?" And the answer is, because we love freedom. The answer to those youngsters who wonder why we're at war is, because they hate us, because we love something precious. The more we love our freedoms, the more they hate us, and that's just the reality of the 21st century. You see, we love the idea of people being able to worship freely, to worship an almighty God the way they want to worship an almighty God. We welcome that. We treasure that. We hold that dear, and the enemy hates that idea. We believe in open debate. We believe in freedom of the press. We love our freedom in America. And nobody is going to take it away from us, no matter how hard they try. See, we're in a new era here in this world. It used to be we thought there was two oceans that separate us from an enemy. And we learned differently. We learned that there are no oceans which can protect us. We used to think that war was a measurement of tanks and artillery and airplanes and ships. This is a new war. It's the kind where the enemy hides the leadership of the enemy hides in caves and send their youngsters to their suicidal death. They kind of move around in the shadows of big cities in some countries and hide and then strike hard. It doesn't require a lot of weaponry for them to be successful, because they're coldblooded killers. They're nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers. A major difference between this great country, this decent, compassionate land, and the people we're hunting down is, we value life. We say, "Every life is precious. Everybody counts. Everybody matters in this country." Our most important job is to protect the homeland. Our most important job is to do everything in our power to make sure that you're safe, that the enemy is unable to take innocent life again. And it's a big job, because we're a big country. But we're making progress we're making good progress at home. We've got a lot of people on alert. We've got a lot of hard working Americans running down every lead. If we get a hint that somebody might be thinking about doing something, you need to know we're acting on it within the confines of the United States Constitution, I might add. We believe in our freedoms, and we're going to protect our freedoms. But we're running down every single every single lead. And we're getting a lot of leads. We are. The other day, as you know, the country went on a higher status of alert, for a reason The noise level began to gin up. A lot of people are working hard to protect you. I've asked the Congress to join me I want to thank the House of Representatives for hearing that call to join me in the creation of the Department of Homeland Security so we could better coordinate the Government agencies involved with your protection. Prior to September the 11th they would be worried about different things in the Coast Guard or different things in the Border Patrol. Now the number one priority for these agencies is your protection, and therefore, they ought to work under one agency. And I also need, in order to protect you better, the flexibility to move people from one place to another in order to respond to the needs of the enemy. The House heard that, and I want to thank Jim for his vote. I want to thank Ganske and Leach for their votes. It looks like, to me, the Senate is heading down the wrong path. I hope not, but it may be. You see, they want to micromanage the process. They're more interested in special interests in Washington, as opposed to your interests, which is protecting the homeland. I expect there to be a bill on my desk soon, and I expect there to be a bill that gives me the flexibility and future Presidents the flexibility necessary to do everything we can to protect the American people from an enemy which hates. The best strategy, and only strategy, to defend the homeland is to chase the killers down, one at a time, and bring them to justice. It's if they're in a cave, we head into a cave. If they're in some shadowy neighborhood, we'll finally put the spotlight on the shadowy neighborhood. It doesn't matter where they hide we're after them, one person at a time. And we're making good progress. We're making good progress. The other day I'm sure you picked up your newspapers or saw on your TVs that we captured the guy that thought he wanted to be the 20th hijacker. I want to thank the Pakistani Government for cooperating with U.S. personnel to bring this person to justice. This guy is just another killer, and we got him he along with several thousand others we have gotten. And another like number hasn't been quite so lucky. They weren't got they were gotten the ultimate way. Slowly but surely, we're dismantling a terrorist network which wants to do more harm on America. And I want to thank those of you who have got a relative in the United States military. My, we have got a fabulous United States military. I asked our Congress for an increase in defense spending a significant increase in defense spending, because my attitude is this Anytime we put our youngsters into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. I also wanted to send a message to friend and foe alike that we're in this deal for the long haul, and when it comes to the defense of our freedoms, this mighty country is going to stay the course, that we're not going to forget what happened on September the 11th, that we're steadfast and resolved because we believe in peace. We owe it to our children to make the world more secure, that freedom has a chance, and that it's a peaceful tomorrow. That's what we owe it to them. It's going to be a rocky hill at times, getting to that peace. There's some threats out there that we have to deal with. The other day I gave a speech at the United Nations, delineating one of the clearest threats we face. See, we've got a man in that part of the world who agreed to disarm, agreed to pay compensation to the victims of the horrible crimes he committed, agreed not to harbor terrorists, and he's broken every single agreement. For 11 long years he has stiffed the world community. I went to the United Nations and said, "Either you can be relevant in the world or not, your pick. We want you to be a part of keeping the peace. We want you to be strong." But I also had another message We the world cannot let the world's worst leaders harbor and develop the world's worst weapons. This tyrant must be dealt with, for the sake of our children and our children's children. We owe it to the world to show strength and resolve and leadership. This country is a great and strong country. Witness the fact that what happened after 9 11. Instead of being cowed by these terrorists, we rose up in mighty indignation. But we also did something else, and it's happening all across Iowa and all across America. People understand that in order to fight evil, you can do so by loving your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. In community after community, citizens understand there's a different calling to patriotism today, that a patriot is more than somebody who just puts his hand over his heart. A patriot is also somebody who wants to make the community in which they live a more decent and honorable place, a more compassionate place. In the midst of our plenty, there are people in America who hurt. There are pockets of despair and hopelessness. And Government can hand out money, and frankly we do a pretty good job of it. But what it cannot do is put hope into people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That's done when a citizen puts his or her arm around somebody who hurts and says, "I love you. What can I do to help you? Can I mentor you? Can I teach you to read? As a shut in, what can I do to make your day a brighter day?" No, my call to the American people, if you want to join the war on terror, is to love your neighbor, is to help somebody. Flight 93 I had the honor of going to the site and hugging the families of the 40 who were on that airplane. Flight 93, it's the flight where people flying across the country heard the plane was going to be used as a weapon. They called their loved ones on cell phones and told them, "I love you." They told one of them said, let's they said a prayer a guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane into the ground to serve something greater than themselves in life. It's an example of what is happening in America, where people understand serving something greater than self is a part of being a complete American. I call upon all of you all my call to our fellow Americans is, when you find hurt, be a part of healing and recognize that while you can't do everything, you can do something to help change America, one heart and one soul and one conscience at a time. No, the enemy hit us they hit us. But out of that terrible day can come some good. There's no doubt in my mind, if America remains strong and steadfast, we can achieve peace can achieve peace for this generation and for future generations to come. And the enemy hit us, and out of the evil done to America that day is going to come a more compassionate and decent and hopeful America, because they hit the greatest nation, full of the finest people on the face of the Earth. Thank you all for coming. May God bless. God bless America. Thank you all. September 16, 2002 Thank you all very much. It's an honor to be here. In 1992, the Sears Company got the A team. Laughter I'll leave it at that. Laughter I'm honored to be introduced by Jim Leach. He is a distinguished, honorable, honest man. We need those kind of people in Washington. I'm proud of him. I'm proud to call him friend, and I'm real proud he introduced me. I want to thank other members of the Iowa delegation who are here today, starting with Senator Chuck Grassley. I appreciate his friendship. I appreciate his leadership. I'm also proud to be with Jim Nussle and Greg Ganske, two Members of the United States Congress from the State of Iowa. We're flying back to Washington I hope the reason they're here is to hear my speech, not to get a free ride. Laughter Well, we'll find out after I give the speech. Laughter But these are good folks. They care deeply about our country, and so do I. I'm here to talk to you about how to make our country safer and stronger and better. That's what we've got to be thinking about during these troubling times. Before I begin, I'm grateful to Steve Lovejoy, who is the director of operation here at Sears Manufacturing Company, for giving me the tour Big Steve. Laughter I appreciate the employees who greeted me on the assembly line. I want to thank all the hardworking people here at Sears for doing such a fine job, for working hard, for caring deeply about your families, for upholding your responsibilities as a mom or a dad. I appreciate the Sears family, Jim and Steve and Lisa Ware, for upholding a fine family tradition of not only making a quality product but remembering they have a responsibility to the employees who work here and treat the employees with dignity and respect, like you do. I appreciate your leadership. I appreciate Bob Lane, the chairman and CEO of John Deere, coming over here today to say hello. It's very interesting, his comment was. He said, "I'm fortunate to be a customer of this fine company." That's a good sign. Finally, at Air Force One, I had the honor of meeting a fellow named Dean Claussen. You probably don't know Dean. Applause Dean brought all his cousins with him. Laughter The reason I wanted Dean to come here with me is because I had the honor of thanking him for being a soldier in the army of compassion. He's a high school junior. He was obviously raised right by Dale and Kathy, his mom and dad, who are with us. But Dean is the kind of person who understands that we can change America for the better, one person at a time. And so he, as a member of the Scott County 4 H Council and he volunteers his time. He volunteers his time to help those in need. He is told me they're raising books for some kids in Fiji, that he has recently fed the hungry, that he understands to be a citizen of this country is to serve something greater than yourself. See, the great strength of the country lies in the hearts and souls of our fellow citizens. And when a neighbor loves a neighbor, indeed, America as a whole benefits. And Dean, I want to thank you for your leadership and your compassion. People oftentimes ask me, "What can I do to help our country in the face of some difficult times?" And one of them is to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to fight evil, do some good. If you want to make a impact in the community in which you live, find somebody who hurts, and love them. I mentioned we've got some big issues here in America, and we do, but there's nothing we can't overcome. After all, this is the finest country on the face of the Earth, full of the greatest people. I think a lot about the security of our homeland. Matter of fact, I think about it every single day. And at the same time, it's important for Congress and my administration also never to forget the security of the American people. You see, my attitude is, somebody who wants to work can't find a job, we've got a problem, and we need to deal with it. And so, while the security of the homeland is an important priority, so is the security of the American worker. I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that the environment for job creation is strong. I want people working. I want people to be able to put bread on the table for their families. I want moms and dads who want to work to be able to do so, for the sake of their families and for the good of the country. One of the ways we've got to make sure that we keep our economy strong is to be wise about how we spend our money. If you overspend, it creates a fundamental weakness in the foundation of economic growth. And so I'm working with Congress to make sure they hear the message the message of fiscal responsibility. See, it starts with understanding whose money we spend in Washington. It's not the Government's money we spend. The money we spend is your money, and that's the most important premise when it comes to budget. It also means that we've got to set priorities. You know, every idea sounds like a brilliant idea in Washington. Everybody's idea is a great idea just up there they come with billions as the price tag. The bill is a little high. So I said, "Why don't we work together to create some priorities, starting with the most important priority which is, defend America against killers." That's the most important priority. I can't put it any other way about them, either. They're nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers. You've just got to understand that about the nature of the enemy. They hate us because we love. They hate. We love freedom, is why they hate us, and we're not going to quit loving freedom. And so our most important priority, when it comes to budgeting and time and effort, is to protect innocent life here in America. And make no mistake about it, we will we'll do just that. But in order to make sure there is a priorities are funded, there needs to be a budget. And thanks to Jim Nussle, who is the budget man in the House of Representatives, we have a budget that focuses on setting priorities and focuses on getting us back to a balanced budget. But there's been no budget out of the United States Senate. They haven't passed a budget. They have no plan to balance the budget. And that's of concern. It's of concern because if you have no budget, it means there's no discipline. And if there's no discipline, it's likely that the Senate will overspend. And when they overspend, they not only overspend for this year, this coming year, they'll overspend for every year afterwards too. For the sake of fiscal sanity, the United States Senate must remember whose money we're spending and get us a budget and get us to head toward a balanced budget. And while they're worrying about the budget and money, they need to give me a defense bill. They need to get stop talking, and get a defense bill to my desk. If the number one priority is to defend the American people, the best thing they need to do is pass the defense bill, so we can get after defending the American people next year. So we've got to worry about how much we spend. And by the way, there's plenty of money up there. We've got to worry about how much we spend, in order to make sure that our economy continues to grow. I'm worried about the economic security for every American. I'm also optimistic about the future, because inflation is down, interest rates are down, the productivity of the American worker is the best in the world, we've got the best farmers and ranchers in the world. I've read that textbook, that economic textbook that says, when there's a recession and by the way, when we first came in, there was a recession. We had three quarters of negative growth. That's the definition of recession. One way to encourage economic growth is to let the people keep more of their own money. You see, if you have more money in your pocket, you're going to demand a good or a service. And when you demand a good or a service, somebody is likely to produce or to make that good or produce that service. And when somebody produces the good and service, it means somebody is more likely to find work. The tax relief plan we passed, which says we trust the American people with their own money, came at the right time in American economic history, and we need to make the tax cuts permanent. I had the honor of saying hello to the head of the construction union, the local man who runs the construction union here, at the airport. He came out because we're working closely together with the head of the national union to get passed what we call terrorism insurance. If you're worried about jobs in America, like I am, then you've got to make sure that your construction industry is working. You want your hardhats out there working. And yet when the terrorists attacked us, it created a dilemma for people who want to build big building projects. They can't get the insurance necessary to go forward. Congress needs to help on this. Congress needs to pass a bill that is good for the hardhats of America, not good for the trial lawyers, and get a terrorism insurance bill to my desk, so over 300,000 workers can find work and get back to work. I say 300,000 those are the number of jobs which have been delayed or scuttled as a result of Congress not coming together to act on this important matter. And we need an energy bill too. If you're worried about economic security in America, we ought to have an energy bill, one which encourages conservation, one which encourages renewable sources of energy such as ethanol, and one at the same time that makes us less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. It's in our economic interests that we have an energy plan. It's in our national security interests that we have an energy plan. Congress has been talking about energy. They need to get a bill to my desk before they go home to run for reelection. And so my message to the Congress is, "Don't forget there are some people who are still trying to find work." And we need to work together. We need to put aside all this Republican stuff and Democrat stuff and work together to make sure the economy is strong and vibrant and the great American worker can find work. And at the same time, we've got to remember that there's still an enemy out there trying to hit us. There's an enemy that I mentioned earlier, hates what we stand for. It's a different kind of enemy than we have fought in the past. These are the kind, they don't have tanks and formation of aircraft or flotilla of ship. These are the kind that hide in caves and then send somebody to their suicidal death. These are the kind that hijack a great religion a religion, by the way, which preaches love and compassion and tolerance they hijack it and then murder in the name of that religion. These are the kind that have hate in their heart. And these are the kind that we need to do everything in our power to stop. We owe it to the sake of our freedom, and we owe it to our children. The first thing we've got to do is to make sure our country responds here at home to this threat, to this ever to this threat that just keeps going on. And that means that we've got to get our Government working in coordination. I proposed a Department of Homeland Security to make sure that the agencies involved with securing the homeland have as their number one priority your protection. That means that there needs to be a single agency where these agencies are housed, so that we create a culture of coordination and cooperation, a culture that allows for there to be fast movement when it comes to moving people to the right place at the right time, in order to respond to an enemy which still exists. And I'll give you one area where we need to do a better job, and that's on our borders. We need to know who's coming into America. We need to know what they're bringing into America. We need to know if they're leaving when they say they're going to leave America. For the sake of the security of the country, we need to have a border which is secure, a border which facilitates trade and honest traffic but a border which recognizes there a border a strategy which recognizes there's risks here in the 21st century. We've got to deal with it. Now, right now, when you go down to the border, there's three different departments dealing with the border, the INS, the Customs, and the Border Patrol, all full of fine people. But sometimes the strategy differs between the agencies. The uniforms look different, which may be all right, but in order to do what's right for the American people, I need the capacity to be able to have these agencies work closely together. We'll protect workers' rights. We'll protect the collective bargaining rights for those who want to join a union at the Federal level. But I need flexibility. The House passed a good bill. The Senate better not pass a bad bill. Otherwise, I will veto it. They need to worry more about the security of the American people and less about special interests in Washington, DC. So we're working hard to secure the homeland. There's a lot of fine folks that are spending a lot of time on America's behalf. Listen, we're sharing information. Anytime we get a hint and you've seen these alerts sometime these alerts come up because we're getting people talking, and we're hearing what they're saying, and we're sharing information better. We assess every threat. We take everything seriously. And America is responding. But the best way to respond to the threats that we face is to find these killers, one person at a time, hunt them down, and bring them to justice, which is exactly what America is going to do. It takes time. It takes a lot of effort. But we're a determined nation. You know, I had the feeling that after September the 11th that some around the world would grow weary and tired of this effort. Some would say, "Well, the threat really doesn't exist anymore." That's not how America feels. That's not how that fellow we just picked up in Pakistan feels too. He's the one that thought he was going to be the 20th bomber. He thought he could hide. He thought he could still threaten America. But he forgot the greatest nation on the face of the Earth is after him, one person at a time. We put together a great alliance. There are other people in this world who love freedom just like we do. There are other countries with some strong leaders who understand the stakes, that understand that history has now put the spotlight on us to find out what we're made out of. And so our alliance is strong, and we're hunting them down one at a time. We've captured over 2,500 or so of these about that many weren't as lucky. Thanks to the United States military and by the way, those who serve our military are some of the finest citizens we have here in America. Troops have made a huge sacrifice they're sacrificing for freedom. They fight at mountain on mountaintops in thin air they looking down caves. They're slowly but surely doing what I've asked them to do, to be on pursuit for the sake of freedom, for the sake of our liberty, so your child can grow up in a safe environment. And that's why, when I went to the Congress, I asked for a substantial increase in defense spending, because I want our troops who are placed in harm's way to have the best training, the best pay, the best possible commitment. We owe it to them, and we owe it to their loved ones. And that defense appropriations bill, which I mentioned Congress hasn't passed yet, needs to get to my desk soon and also sends a signal to friend and foe alike, we're in this deal for the long haul. When it comes to the defense of our freedom, there is no artificial date when we say, we quit. When it comes to securing a future for our children and our children's children, we will stay the course. And that not only means hunting down Al Qaida and Al Qaida type terrorists which hate America, it also means dealing with true and real threats that we can foresee. One of the most dangerous threats America faces is a terrorist network teaming up with some of the world's worst leaders who develop the world's worst weapons. I gave a speech to the United Nations, talking about Iraq and making it crystal clear to the United Nations that Saddam poses an international problem. This is a man who poisoned his own people, poisoned his neighbors. He's invaded two countries. He signed agreements that said he would develop no weapons of mass destruction, wouldn't hold any weapons of mass destruction. Yet, for 11 years, he's totally ignored what he said he would do. He basically told the United Nations, "Your deals don't mean anything to me." I told the United Nations, it can show us whether or not it's going to serve its purpose to help keep the peace, or whether it's going to be irrelevant. We, of course, want the United Nations to be relevant. We want them to be a part of a framework of peace as we head into the 21st century. But I also made it clear, this, that unless there's action from the nations at the United Nations, that that's not satisfactory as far as the United States is concerned. And if Iraq regimes continues to defy us and the world, we will move deliberately yet decisively to hold Iraq to account. We owe this to our children. We must anticipate. Somebody said, "Well, you know, they don't have a nuclear weapon." I said, "Well, the most dangerous thing" and we know they're trying to get one "the most dangerous thing would be to find out they had a nuclear weapon after they developed one." It's a new world we're in. We used to think two oceans could separate us from an enemy. On that tragic day, September the 11th, 2001, we found out that's not the case. We found out this great land of liberty and of freedom and of justice is vulnerable. And therefore we must do everything we can everything we can to secure the homeland, to make us safe. We need a safe America, a strong America, and a better America. One way to make sure we have a better America is to make sure every single child gets educated in this country. I don't mean a few. I don't mean only those in suburban districts. I mean every single child. I'm proud to have worked with Members of Congress to pass a bill which says, here in America, we believe in high standards when it comes to educating children, that we will challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations, that we believe the people of Iowa should chart the path to excellence for the children of Iowa, and that we expect there to be accountability in return for Federal money. See, we want to know if you believe every child can learn, then you want to know if every child is learning. And if they're not, we'll correct the problems early, before it's too late. There are no second rate children in Iowa or in America. To make sure there's a better America, we've got to have a place where every senior has access to high quality health care. We need a Medicare system which works, a Medicare system which recognizes medicine has changed and needs to be reformed, a Medicare system which will provide better coverage for Iowa's seniors, including prescription drug coverage. I look forward to working with Congressman Nussle, Congressman Leach, Senator Grassley on the Senate side, to come up with a bipartisan effort to make sure this important program, Medicare, works for the senior citizens of the State of Iowa. And as we think about helping people, we've got to make sure our welfare system remembers that work is an integral part of dignity, that we want to help people. We want to help them find jobs. No, we can make do a better job of passing legislation that will help America be a better place. But the truth of the matter is, like I mentioned earlier, America will become a better place when people follow their hearts, when people help people in need. One of my most important initiatives in Washington is what I call the Faith Based Initiative, because I recognize that Government can hand out money, but what it cannot do is put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. What I want to do is unleash the great compassion of America, by changing America one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. You see, when you love a neighbor, you fight evil, but you also leave behind a legacy of compassion and decency. It's what I call the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and decency, which take place in spite of Government. It takes place because our fellow citizens have heard the call, the call to personal responsibility. One of the things that the enemy did when they hit us is they awoke a new spirit in America. It used to be, you know, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," as part of our culture "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." America now understands that ushering in a period of personal responsibility, responsible for something other than yourself, is important for our country. If you're a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your children. You're the one who is responsible for loving your children with all your heart. If you're living right here in the great State of Iowa, you're responsible for the quality of life in your community. It's you who is responsible for making sure your public schools are the best. If you find a neighbor in need, you're responsible for serving that neighbor in need you're responsible for loving a neighbor just like you'd like to love yourself. No, there's a new patriotism here in America. It's more than just working on homeland defense. It's more than putting your hand over your heart. It is serving something larger than self. And when we all do that, we will make it clear to the enemy that not only did they hit a great nation, they hit a nation which is compassionate and decent and loving. No, evil done to America was mighty and tough, and still many grieve. But out of that evil can come incredible good. Out of the evil done to America can come peace, peace for our children, peace for our children's children. And out of evil done to America can come a more compassionate and decent and hopeful country. There's no question in my mind no question in my mind that we will succeed, because this is the greatest nation, full of the finest people on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming. September 14, 2002 Good morning. Today I'm meeting with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi about the growing danger posed by Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq and the unique opportunity the U.N. Security Council has to confront it. I appreciate the Prime Minister's public support for effective international action to deal with this danger. The Italian Prime Minister joins other concerned world leaders who have called on the world to act, among them Prime Minister Blair of Great Britain, Prime Minister Aznar of Spain, President Kwasniewski of Poland. These leaders have reached the same conclusion I have, that Saddam Hussein has made the case against himself. He has broken every pledge he made to the United Nations and the world since his invasion of Kuwait was rolled back in 1991. Sixteen times the United Nations Security Council has passed resolutions designed to ensure that Iraq does not pose a threat to international peace and security. Saddam Hussein has violated every one of these 16 resolutions, not once but many times. Saddam Hussein's regime continues to support terrorist groups and to oppress its civilian population. It refuses to account for missing Gulf war personnel or to end illicit trade outside the U.N.'s oil for food program. And although the regime agreed in 1991 to destroy and stop developing all weapons of mass destruction and long range missiles, it has broken every aspect of this fundamental pledge. Today, this regime likely maintains stockpiles of chemical and biological agents and is improving and expanding facilities capable of producing chemical and biological weapons. Today, Saddam Hussein has the scientists and infrastructure for a nuclear weapons program and has illicitly sought to purchase the equipment needed to enrich uranium for a nuclear weapon. Should his regime acquire fissile material, it would be able to build a nuclear weapon within a year. The former head of the U.N. team investigating Iraq's weapons of mass destruction program, Richard Butler, reached this conclusion after years of experience "The fundamental problem with Iraq remains the nature of the regime itself. Saddam Hussein is a homicidal dictator who is addicted to weapons of mass destruction." By supporting terrorist groups, repressing its own people, and pursuing weapons of mass destruction in defiance of a decade of U.N. resolutions, Saddam Hussein's regime has proven itself a grave and gathering danger. To suggest otherwise is to hope against the evidence. To assume this regime's good faith is to bet the lives of millions and the peace of the world in a reckless gamble. And this is a risk we must not take. Saddam Hussein's defiance has confronted the United Nations with a difficult and defining moment Are Security Council resolutions to be honored and enforced, or cast aside without consequence? Will the United Nations serve the purposes of its founding, or will it be irrelevant? As the United Nations prepares an effective response to Iraq's defense, I also welcome next week's congressional hearings on the threats Saddam Hussein's brutal regime poses to our country and the entire world. Congress must make it unmistakably clear that when it comes to confronting the growing danger posed by Iraq's efforts to develop or acquire weapons of mass destruction, the status quo is totally unacceptable. The issue is straightforward We must choose between a world of fear or a world of progress. We must stand up for our security and for the demands of human dignity. By heritage and choice, the United States will make that stand. The world community must do so as well. Thank you for listening. September 14, 2002 President Bush. It's my honor to welcome Silvio Berlusconi, the Prime Minister of Italy, to Camp David. I've been looking forward to having a chance to spend some quality time in a quality place. We're going to have a good visit, meeting about our common interests. And we'll have a good lunch with my wife. And I've invited my brother and my sister I want my family members to meet a good friend, a strong leader. We're making progress in the war against terror. I tell the American people all the time that we're doing everything we can to protect our homeland by hunting down killers, one person at a time. And yesterday, thanks to the efforts of our folks and people in Pakistan, we captured one of the planners and organizers of the September the 11th attack that murdered thousands of people, including Italians. One by one, we're hunting the killers down. We are relentless. We are strong, and we're not going to stop. Secondly, I had a chance to speak to the United Nations to talk about another threat that face we face that we face, all of us face, in the civilized world, and that is a threat of weapons of mass destructions in the hands of leaders who disregard human liberty, that do not believe in freedom a leader, in this case, who's poisoned his own people, poisoned his neighbors, attacked in his neighborhood, and refuses refuses to comply with United Nations' regulations, as a matter of fact, defies the United Nations. And we're making progress. And so, Mr. Prime Minister, you're here at an important time. I look forward to talking with you, and thank you for coming. Prime Minister Berlusconi. Thank you. Well, first of all, I'm glad to be here with President Bush, with whom I have a very deep friendship. I'm here as the Prime Minister of a country which is a loyal and faithful ally of the United States of America. The United States is a country to which my people bears a deep gratitude because it owes to the generosity of this great democracy its freedom and its prosperity. We'll never forget the fact that about a half a century ago, through the sacrifice of so many young Americans, Italy and Europe were saved from totalitarianism. I'm here as a sincere ally, and I know that we, as an ally, we're respected, and we heard. So I'll be able to speak as a friend, speak truthfully, in order to find, as usual, common solutions and common positions. President Bush. Thank you. Prime Minister Berlusconi. I would like to add one more thing. President Bush. Sure. Prime Minister Berlusconi. I consider the flag of the United States is not only a flag of a country but is a universal message of freedom and democracy. President Bush. Thank you, sir. His English is very good. Laughter Here's what we're going to do. I'm going to call upon an American reporter. Silvio will call upon an Italian reporter. I then will call upon an American reporter. Silvio will call upon an Italian reporter. And that's it, because we've got to go have our talks. Scott Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press . And I will this time let the interpreter pardon me for not allowing her to work. Situation in Georgia United Nations Q. Thank you, sir. President Putin is borrowing your logic to argue he has the right to attack terrorists in Georgia. Would that action be justified in your view? Are you concerned other countries, India, Pakistan, China, may use your arguments to justify actions they see fit? President Bush. I made it very clear to the Georgian Government that we expected them to rout out the Al Qaida type terrorists in the Pankisi Gorge. We are working with the Georgian Government and training Georgian troops. I have told Vladimir Putin that he must give the Georgians a chance to achieve a common objective, an objective that's important for Georgia, an objective that's important for Russia, an objective important for the United States, and that is to get the Al Qaida killers and bring them to justice. And so I urge him to continue to work with us to allow the Georgians troops to do their job. And finally, one final point for the world to hear Saddam Hussein has defied the United Nations 16 times. Not once, not twice 16 times he has defied the U.N. The U.N. has told him after the Gulf war what to do, what the world expected, and 16 times he's defied it. And enough is enough. The U.N. will either be able to function as a peacekeeping body, as we head into the 21st century, or it will be irrelevant. And that's what we're about to find out. But remember what I said in my speech, now is the time to deal with the problem. Q. What about the appropriation of your argument? President Bush. I should have clarified it by my statement. I just clarified it by my not should have, I just. Support for the President's Action At this point, a question was asked in Italian, and no translation was provided. Prime Minister Berlusconi. Well, first of all, as I said before, we want a common position with the United States of America. And we welcome the decision of President Bush to bring the problem to the table in the Security Council. As it was stated clearly, the United Nations cannot continue to see its image undermined and its resolutions flaunted. I would hasten to add, the decision taken by President Bush found agreement of my European colleagues and of the Russian Federation. President Bush. Thank you. Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters . United Nations Q. Mr. President, if Saddam Hussein has defied the United Nations 16 times and stiffed the world for a decade, why does he deserve one more chance? President Bush. That's a very interesting question. Why don't you interpret the question? He stiffed the world 16 times, why does he get another chance? First of all, the United Nations deserves another chance to prove its relevance. See, we're entering a new world. Wars of the future are not going to be like wars of the past. We fight these terrorists that hide in caves and send their youngsters to suicidal death. They strike America, but they're likely to strike Italy. They hate freedom. They also are willing and want to work with countries like Iraq to develop the capacity to deliver weapons of mass destruction. And therefore, the international community must work together to prevent this from happening. So this is a chance for the United Nations to show some backbone and resolve, as we confront the true challenges of the 21st century. It's a chance for the United Nations to show its relevance, and that's why I gave the speech I gave. But make no mistake about it, if we have to deal with the problem, we'll deal with it. Italy's Role in the War on Terrorism At this point, a question was asked and answered in Italian. President Bush. Thank you all. Welcome to Camp David. No, you misunderstood. Two questions apiece. Sorry. Two and two, si. Q. English, Mr. President. President Bush. Oh, you want an English translation. Sorry, thought you might have been trying to defy the two question rule. Very good. Laughter Q. What was the question? Interpreter. The question was President Bush. That doesn't matter. Just write the answer. Interpreter. is Italy able to play the mediating role Prime Minister Berlusconi. The role of Italy, now. Interpreter. At this moment, what's the role Italy is going to play? And the reply was Italy today is playing a role which it wasn't able to play up to some times ago, because Italy finds itself at a center of a series of relationships with the countries of the European Union, with the countries of the Middle East, with the countries of the Mediterranean, and we have the special friendship with the Russian Federation, with our common friend Vladimir Putin. So Italy is playing its part, and it's able then to play its role in this context. President Bush. Thank you all very much. Prime Minister Berlusconi. Grazie. Arrivederci. September 13, 2002 The President. Thank you all for coming. First, I'm honored to be able to meet with my colleagues from Central Africa. The Secretary of State and I look forward to a very frank and constructive dialog about how to continue our common pursuit against terror and how we will work together to promote prosperity. I look forward to a constructive dialog. So thank you all for coming. Before we begin our discussion, let me answer a few questions. Are the interpreters working right now? They are? Yours isn't working, okay. Before we begin our dialog, I'm going to take three questions from the American press corps, starting with Mr. Fournier Ron Fournier , who writes for the Associated Press. President Saddam Hussein of Iraq Q. Thank you, sir. Knowing what you know about Saddam, what are the odds that he's going to meet all your demands and avoid confrontation? The President. I am highly doubtful that he'll meet our demands. I hope he does, but I'm highly doubtful. The reason I'm doubtful is, he's had 11 years to meet the demands. For 11 long years he has basically told the United Nations and the world he doesn't care. And so, therefore, I am doubtful but, nevertheless, made the decision to move forward to work with the world community. And I hope the world community knows that we're extremely serious about what I said yesterday and we expect a quick resolution to the issue. And that's starting with quick action on a resolution. Randy Randy Mikkelsen, Reuters . United Nations Resolution Q. Yes, sir, how soon are you expecting the resolution from the United Nations? In a week, month, days? The President. As soon as possible. Q. And how what kind of deadline would you perceive within that resolution? The President. Well, there will be deadlines within the resolution. Our chief negotiator for the United States, our Secretary of State, understands that we must have deadlines. And we're talking days and weeks, not months and years. And that's essential for the security of the world. This man has had 11 years to comply. For 11 long years, he's ignored world opinion, and he's put the credibility of the United Nations on line. As I said yesterday, we'll determine how we deal with this problem will help determine the fate of a multilateral body, which has been unilaterally ignored by Saddam Hussein. Will this body be able to keep the peace and deal with the true threats, including threats to security in Central Africa and other parts of the world, or will it be irrelevant? Judy Keen USA Today . Timing of Congressional Action President Vladimir Putin of Russia Q. Mr. President, thank you. Are you concerned that Democrats in Congress still don't want a vote there until after U.N. action? And secondly, have you spoken with President Putin since your speech yesterday? The President. I have not spoken to President Putin since my speech. I did speak to his Foreign Minister, as did Colin Powell. I'll speak to President Putin, I'm confident, soon. I'll have I think we've got a scheduled phone call, actually. And the first part of the question was, Democrats waiting for the U.N. to act? I can't imagine an elected United States elected Member of the United States Senate or House of Representatives saying, "I think I'm going to wait for the United Nations to make a decision." It seems like to me that if you're representing the United States, you ought to be making a decision on what's best for the United States. If I were running for office, I'm not sure how I'd explain to the American people say, "Vote for me, and, oh, by the way, on a matter of national security, I think I'm going to wait for somebody else to act." And so I we'll see. My answer to the Congress is, they need to debate this issue and consult with us and get the issue done as quickly as possible. It's in our national interests that we do so. I don't imagine Saddam Hussein sitting around, saying, "Gosh, I think I'm going to wait for some resolution or not." He's a threat, and we must deal with it as quickly as possible. Thank you all. September 12, 2002 President Bush. Mr. President, it's great to see you again. Thank you for your leadership. Our Government believes you're doing a really fine job of setting a vision for the Afghan people and leading towards that vision, that you love freedom and that you are working hard to make your country more secure. And we appreciate your leadership. We also appreciate your understanding that jobs are important for your country. And today I had the honor of informing President Karzai that the United States, along with Saudi Arabia and Japan, will be providing 180 million for road improvement projects in Afghanistan. We'll help develop a modern infrastructure so that the Afghan entrepreneur will be able to move product from one city to the next and so that people will be able to find work people will be able to put food on the table. Our commitment to a stable and free and peaceful Afghanistan is a long term commitment, Mr. President, and we're confident in your leadership. And I want to thank you again. It's good to see you again. President Hamid Karzai. Thank you. Good to see you. Well, Mr. President, I'm very happy to be meeting with you again, after the meeting in January. We are, as before, very, very grateful for the help the United States of America gave to Afghanistan to liberate itself from the scourge, from the occupation of terrorism that murdered and killed and destroyed our country for so many years, that brought about the disaster in New York and your own country. The Afghan people continue to share that pain with you. And I came here earlier than the General Assembly to participate, to mourn that date. And we've had a commemoration of that in Kabul as well, yesterday. The Afghan people know the help that you have given to us, and the Afghan people will know the announcement that you've just made. They'll be very happy. Mr. President, I assure you that you will find the Afghan people as your very best partners in the fight against terrorism. And as your very best partners wherever you bring justice in this part of the world, we'll be with you. The Afghan people, as you rightly say, would like to have some bread on their table, and they would also like to, in some time, to make that bread themselves, to earn it themselves. So the help that you are giving us to have our highways, to have other infrastructure correct in the country is a step in the right direction towards self reliance in Afghanistan. And I must thank you very much once again. President Bush. Thank you, sir. September 12, 2002 The President. Mr. Secretary General, and distinguished members of the United Nations community, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to New York. My country is honored to be the home of the United Nations. And I'm honored to be with you today for the opening week of the 57th Session of the U.N. General Assembly. We gather in a city that was changed forever by the events of one year and one day ago. Secretary General, the people of the United States will never forget your leadership in the days following September the 11th. Within a day, the General Assembly strongly condemned the terror, and very quickly the U.N. took strong action to support and strengthen a global coalition against global terror. The United States is grateful to the U.N. and to every person and every nation that has joined this cause. We gather to address the urgent challenges of a world awakened to danger. Mr. Secretary General, thanks to your leadership, the U.N. is playing a valuable role in meeting these challenges. The U.N. Charter commits each nation here to promoting social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom. Today we rededicate ourselves to these ideals. Mr. Secretary General, I offer a toast to you to continued cooperation between the United States and the United Nations. At this point, the participants drank a toast. The President. Thank you. Let's eat. September 12, 2002 Mr. Secretary General, Mr. President, distinguished delegates, and ladies and gentlemen We meet one year and one day after a terrorist attack brought grief to my country and brought grief to many citizens of our world. Yesterday we remembered the innocent lives taken that terrible morning. Today we turn to the urgent duty of protecting other lives, without illusion and without fear. We've accomplished much in the last year in Afghanistan and beyond. We have much yet to do in Afghanistan and beyond. Many nations represented here have joined in the fight against global terror, and the people of the United States are grateful. The United Nations was born in the hope that survived a world war, the hope of a world moving toward justice, escaping old patterns of conflict and fear. The founding members resolved that the peace of the world must never again be destroyed by the will and wickedness of any man. We created a United Nations Security Council so that, unlike the League of Nations, our deliberations would be more than talk, our resolutions would be more than wishes. After generations of deceitful dictators and broken treaties and squandered lives, we dedicated ourselves to standards of human dignity shared by all and to a system of security defended by all. Today, these standards and this security are challenged. Our commitment to human dignity is challenged by persistent poverty and raging disease. The suffering is great, and our responsibilities are clear. The United States is joining with the world to supply aid where it reaches people and lifts up lives, to extend trade and the prosperity it brings, and to bring medical care where it is desperately needed. As a symbol of our commitment to human dignity, the United States will return to UNESCO. This organization has been reformed, and America will participate fully in its mission to advance human rights and tolerance and learning. Our common security is challenged by regional conflicts, ethnic and religious strife that is ancient but not inevitable. In the Middle East, there can be no peace for either side without freedom for both sides. America stands committed to an independent and democratic Palestine, living side by side with Israel in peace and security. Like all other people, Palestinians deserve a government that serves their interests and listens to their voices. My Nation will continue to encourage all parties to step up to their responsibilities as we seek a just and comprehensive settlement to the conflict. Above all, our principles and our security are challenged today by outlaw groups and regimes that accept no law of morality and have no limit to their violent ambitions. In the attacks on America a year ago, we saw the destructive intentions of our enemies. This threat hides within many nations, including my own. In cells and camps, terrorists are plotting further destruction and building new bases for their war against civilization. And our greatest fear is that terrorists will find a shortcut to their mad ambitions when an outlaw regime supplies them with the technologies to kill on a massive scale. In one place in one regime we find all these dangers in their most lethal and aggressive forms, exactly the kind of aggressive threat the United Nations was born to confront. Twelve years ago, Iraq invaded Kuwait without provocation, and the regime's forces were poised to continue their march to seize other countries and their resources. Had Saddam Hussein been appeased instead of stopped, he would have endangered the peace and stability of the world. Yet this aggression was stopped by the might of coalition forces and the will of the United Nations. To suspend hostilities, to spare himself, Iraq's dictator accepted a series of commitments. The terms were clear to him and to all, and he agreed to prove he is complying with every one of those obligations. He has proven instead only his contempt for the United Nations and for all his pledges. By breaking every pledge, by his deceptions, and by his cruelties, Saddam Hussein has made the case against himself. In 1991, Security Council Resolution 688 demanded that the Iraqi regime cease at once the repression of its own people, including the systematic repression of minorities, which the Council said threatened international peace and security in the region. This demand goes ignored. Last year, the U.N. Commission on Human Rights found that Iraq continues to commit extremely grave violations of human rights and that the regime's repression is all pervasive. Tens of thousands of political opponents and ordinary citizens have been subjected to arbitrary arrest and imprisonment, summary execution, and torture by beating and burning, electric shock, starvation, mutilation, and rape. Wives are tortured in front of their husbands, children in the presence of their parents, and all of these horrors concealed from the world by the apparatus of a totalitarian state. In 1991, the U.N. Security Council, through Resolutions 686 and 687, demanded that Iraq return all prisoners from Kuwait and other lands. Iraq's regime agreed. It broke this promise. Last year, the Secretary General's high level coordinator for this issue reported that Kuwaiti, Saudi, Indian, Syrian, Lebanese, Iranian, Egyptian, Bahraini, and Omani nationals remain unaccounted for more than 600 people. One American pilot is among them. In 1991, the U.N. Security Council, through Resolution 687, demanded that Iraq renounce all involvement with terrorism and permit no terrorist organizations to operate in Iraq. Iraq's regime agreed. It broke this promise. In violation of Security Council Resolution 1373, Iraq continues to shelter and support terrorist organizations that direct violence against Iran, Israel, and Western governments. Iraqi dissidents abroad are targeted for murder. In 1993, Iraq attempted to assassinate the Amir of Kuwait and a former American President. Iraq's Government openly praised the attacks of September the 11th, and Al Qaida terrorists escaped from Afghanistan and are known to be in Iraq. In 1991, the Iraqi regime agreed to destroy and stop developing all weapons of mass destruction and long range missiles and to prove to the world it has done so by complying with rigorous inspections. Iraq has broken every aspect of this fundamental pledge. From 1991 to 1995, the Iraqi regime said it had no biological weapons. After a senior official in its weapons program defected and exposed this lie, the regime admitted to producing tens of thousands of liters of anthrax and other deadly biological agents for use with Scud warheads, aerial bombs, and aircraft spray tanks. U.N. inspectors believe Iraq has produced 2 to 4 times the amount of biological agents it declared and has failed to account for more than 3 metric tons of material that could be used to produce biological weapons. Right now, Iraq is expanding and improving facilities that were used for the production of biological weapons. United Nations inspections also revealed that Iraq likely maintains stockpiles of VX, mustard, and other chemical agents and that the regime is rebuilding and expanding facilities capable of producing chemical weapons. And in 1995, after 4 years of deception, Iraq finally admitted it had a crash nuclear weapons program prior to the Gulf war. We know now, were it not for that war, the regime in Iraq would likely have possessed a nuclear weapon no later than 1993. Today, Iraq continues to withhold important information about its nuclear program, weapons design, procurement logs, experiment data, an accounting of nuclear materials, and documentation of foreign assistance. Iraq employs capable nuclear scientists and technicians. It retains physical infrastructure needed to build a nuclear weapon. Iraq has made several attempts to buy high strength aluminum tubes used to enrich uranium for a nuclear weapon. Should Iraq acquire fissile material, it would be able to build a nuclear weapon within a year. And Iraq's state controlled media has reported numerous meetings between Saddam Hussein and his nuclear scientists, leaving little doubt about his continued appetite for these weapons. Iraq also possesses a force of Scud type missiles with ranges beyond the 150 kilometers permitted by the U.N. Work at testing and production facilities shows that Iraq is building more long range missiles, that it can inflict mass death throughout the region. In 1990, after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, the world imposed economic sanctions on Iraq. Those sanctions were maintained after the war to compel the regime's compliance with Security Council resolutions. In time, Iraq was allowed to use oil revenues to buy food. Saddam Hussein has subverted this program, working around the sanctions to buy missile technology and military materials. He blames the suffering of Iraq's people on the United Nations, even as he uses his oil wealth to build lavish palaces for himself and to buy arms for his country. By refusing to comply with his own agreements, he bears full guilt for the hunger and misery of innocent Iraqi citizens. In 1991, Iraq promised U.N. inspectors immediate and unrestricted access to verify Iraq's commitment to rid itself of weapons of mass destruction and long range missiles. Iraq broke this promise, spending 7 years deceiving, evading, and harassing U.N. inspectors before ceasing cooperation entirely. Just months after the 1991 ceasefire, the Security Council twice renewed its demand that the Iraqi regime cooperate fully with inspectors, condemning Iraq's serious violations of its obligations. The Security Council again renewed that demand in 1994 and twice more in 1996, deploring Iraq's clear violations of its obligations. The Security Council renewed its demand three more times in 1997, citing flagrant violations, and three more times in 1998, calling Iraq's behavior totally unacceptable. And in 1999, the demand was renewed yet again. As we meet today, it's been almost 4 years since the last U.N. inspectors set foot in Iraq, 4 years for the Iraqi regime to plan and to build and to test behind the cloak of secrecy. We know that Saddam Hussein pursued weapons of mass murder even when inspectors were in his country. Are we to assume that he stopped when they left? The history, the logic, and the facts lead to one conclusion Saddam Hussein's regime is a grave and gathering danger. To suggest otherwise is to hope against the evidence. To assume this regime's good faith is to bet the lives of millions and the peace of the world in a reckless gamble. And this is a risk we must not take. Delegates to the General Assembly, we have been more than patient. We've tried sanctions. We've tried the carrot of oil for food and the stick of coalition military strikes. But Saddam Hussein has defied all these efforts and continues to develop weapons of mass destruction. The first time we may be completely certain he has a nuclear weapons is when, God forbids, he uses one. We owe it to all our citizens to do everything in our power to prevent that day from coming. The conduct of the Iraqi regime is a threat to the authority of the United Nations and a threat to peace. Iraq has answered a decade of U.N. demands with a decade of defiance. All the world now faces a test and the United Nations a difficult and defining moment. Are Security Council resolutions to be honored and enforced or cast aside without consequence? Will the United Nations serve the purpose of its founding, or will it be irrelevant? The United States helped found the United Nations. We want the United Nations to be effective and respectful and successful. We want the resolutions of the world's most important multilateral body to be enforced. And right now those resolutions are being unilaterally subverted by the Iraqi regime. Our partnership of nations can meet the test before us by making clear what we now expect of the Iraqi regime. If the Iraqi regime wishes peace, it will immediately and unconditionally forswear, disclose, and remove or destroy all weapons of mass destruction, long range missiles, and all related material. If the Iraqi regime wishes peace, it will immediately end all support for terrorism and act to suppress it, as all states are required to do by U.N. Security Council resolutions. If the Iraqi regime wishes peace, it will cease persecution of its civilian population, including Shi'a, Sunnis, Kurds, Turkomans, and others, again as required by Security Council resolutions. If the Iraqi regime wishes peace, it will release or account for all Gulf war personnel whose fate is still unknown. It will return the remains of any who are deceased, return stolen property, accept liability for losses resulting from the invasion of Kuwait, and fully cooperate with international efforts to resolve these issues, as required by Security Council resolutions. If the Iraqi regime wishes peace, it will immediately end all illicit trade outside the oil for food program. It will accept U.N. administration of funds from that program, to ensure that the money is used fairly and promptly for the benefit of the Iraqi people. If all these steps are taken, it will signal a new openness and accountability in Iraq. And it could open the prospect of the United Nations helping to build a government that represents all Iraqis, a government based on respect for human rights, economic liberty, and internationally supervised elections. The United States has no quarrel with the Iraqi people. They've suffered too long in silent captivity. Liberty for the Iraqi people is a great moral cause and a great strategic goal. The people of Iraq deserve it the security of all nations requires it. Free societies do not intimidate through cruelty and conquest, and open societies do not threaten the world with mass murder. The United States supports political and economic liberty in a unified Iraq. We can harbor no illusions, and that's important today to remember. Saddam Hussein attacked Iran in 1980 and Kuwait in 1990. He's fired ballistic missiles at Iran and Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Israel. His regime once ordered the killing of every person between the ages of 15 and 70 in certain Kurdish villages in northern Iraq. He has gassed many Iranians and 40 Iraqi villages. My Nation will work with the U.N. Security Council to meet our common challenge. If Iraq's regime defies us again, the world must move deliberately, decisively to hold Iraq to account. We will work with the U.N. Security Council for the necessary resolutions. But the purposes of the United States should not be doubted. The Security Council resolutions will be enforced, the just demands of peace and security will be met, or action will be unavoidable. And a regime that has lost its legitimacy will also lose its power. Events can turn in one of two ways. If we fail to act in the face of danger, the people of Iraq will continue to live in brutal submission. The regime will have new power to bully and dominate and conquer its neighbors, condemning the Middle East to more years of bloodshed and fear. The regime will remain unstable the region will remain unstable, with little hope of freedom, and isolated from the progress of our times. With every step the Iraqi regime takes toward gaining and deploying the most terrible weapons, our own options to confront that regime will narrow. And if an emboldened regime were to supply these weapons to terrorist allies, then the attacks of September the 11th would be a prelude to far greater horrors. If we meet our responsibilities, if we overcome this danger, we can arrive at a very different future. The people of Iraq can shake off their captivity. They can one day join a democratic Afghanistan and a democratic Palestine, inspiring reforms throughout the Muslim world. These nations can show by their example that honest government and respect for women and the great Islamic tradition of learning can triumph in the Middle East and beyond. And we will show that the promise of the United Nations can be fulfilled in our time. Neither of these outcomes is certain. Both have been set before us. We must choose between a world of fear and a world of progress. We cannot stand by and do nothing while dangers gather. We must stand up for our security and for the permanent rights and the hopes of mankind. By heritage and by choice, the United States of America will make that stand. And delegates to the United Nations, you have the power to make that stand as well. Thank you very much. September 12, 2002 Thank you all very much. Please be seated. Laura and I appreciate you all coming. It's an honor to be with you tonight. I want to apologize for the photo line taking so long. I'm the person to blame I talked too much. But thank you for coming. I appreciate so very much all the Presidents who are here and the Prime Ministers who are here and the Foreign Ministers who are here, the Ambassadors to U.N. who are here. I want to thank my citizens from our country who are here. I appreciate John Negroponte, the Ambassador to the United Nations. I want to thank the Members of the United States Congress who are here. I see one, two, three, four, five they're everywhere. These guys know a good free meal when they see one. Laughter I especially want to say a word of praise to Kofi Annan, who is the Secretary General of the United Nations, for his strong leadership and his good heart and his decency. I enjoy working with him a lot. He's a class act, as we say in the State of Texas, and I know you all agree with me in that. We gather tonight here in a place right next to a place of great tragedy and great sorrow. And we also gather in a garden of great hope and renewal. From this room, we can view the empty space where these magnificent towers once stood and remember those who perished one year and one day ago. And in this room, we see and feel the common commitment of our nations to build a better world, to work hard to see to it that good can overcome evil. Ever since it opened in 1988, the Winter Garden has been one of New York's most beautiful public spaces, a place where people gathered to hear music and view art against the backdrop of one of the world's greatest skylines. September the 11th, in just a few moments, that skyline was a scene of fire and murder. This atrium was filled with steel and glass, and history turned a page. Scores of nations lost citizens that day. And in the 366 days since, scores of nations have committed themselves to confronting and combating the threat of global terror. Our nations have enjoyed have employed the powers of law enforcement, of diplomacy, military force, and financial controls to bring justice not to seek revenge but to bring justice and to prevent further attacks. Much has been accomplished, and it's important to remember much remains to be done. On behalf of the people of the United States, on behalf of the good people of this land, I want to thank every nation that has joined us in this great global struggle. The terrible losses of September the 11th are close to our thoughts tonight, but so are the common hopes of our nations for a better world, a world beyond terror. And again, this room is a powerful symbol of these hopes. In one short remarkable year, the Winter Garden has been reborn. The speed and success of this rebuilding effort is a testament to the optimism and determination of the people of New York and the people of the world. More than one million pounds of marble for this building was quarried in Italy and Spain. As one quarry official stated, "We didn't consider this a job. It was a duty." Now the world is called to urgent duties. We're called upon to reaffirm great founding purposes of the United Nations, universal standards of human dignity, and a global system of peace and security. We're called to confront great challenges to these ideals, from poverty and disease to terror and the aggression of tyrants. By our determination, by our faith, by cooperation, we can and we will meet these tests. And by our efforts, we will lift the lives of people on every continent. Thank you all for coming tonight. May God bless your countries, and may God bring peace to the world. September 11, 2002 Good evening. A long year has passed since enemies attacked our country. We've seen the images so many times, they are seared on our souls, and remembering the horror, reliving the anguish, reimagining the terror is hard and painful. For those who lost loved ones, it's been a year of sorrow, of empty places, of newborn children who will never know their fathers here on Earth. For members of our military, it's been a year of sacrifice and service far from home. For all Americans, it has been a year of adjustment, of coming to terms with the difficult knowledge that our Nation has determined enemies and that we are not invulnerable to their attacks. Yet, in the events that have challenged us, we have also seen the character that will deliver us. We have seen the greatness of America in airline passengers who defied their hijackers and ran a plane into the ground to spare the lives of others. We've seen the greatness of America in rescuers who rushed up flights of stairs toward peril. And we continue to see the greatness of America in the care and compassion our citizens show to each other. September the 11th, 2001, will always be a fixed point in the life of America. The loss of so many lives left us to examine our own. Each of us was reminded that we are here only for a time and these counted days should be filled with things that last and matter Love for our families, love for our neighbors, and for our country gratitude for life and to the Giver of life. We resolved a year ago to honor every last person lost. We owe them remembrance, and we owe them more. We owe them and their children, and our own, the most enduring monument we can build, a world of liberty and security made possible by the way America leads and by the way Americans lead our lives. The attack on our Nation was also attack on the ideals that make us a nation. Our deepest national conviction is that every life is precious, because every life is the gift of a Creator who intended us to live in liberty and equality. More than anything else, this separates us from the enemy we fight. We value every life. Our enemies value none, not even the innocent, not even their own. And we seek the freedom and opportunity that give meaning and value to life. There is a line in our time and in every time between those who believe that all men are created equal and those who believe that some men and women and children are expendable in the pursuit of power. There is a line in our time and in every time between the defenders of human liberty and those who seek to master the minds and souls of others. Our generation has now heard history's call, and we will answer it. America has entered a great struggle that tests our strength and, even more, our resolve. Our Nation is patient and steadfast. We continue to pursue the terrorists in cities and camps and caves across the Earth. We are joined by a great coalition of nations to rid the world of terror. And we will not allow any terrorist or tyrant to threaten civilization with weapons of mass murder. Now and in the future, Americans will live as free people, not in fear and never at the mercy of any foreign plot or power. This Nation has defeated tyrants and liberated death camps, raised this lamp of liberty to every captive land. We have no intention of ignoring or appeasing history's latest gang of fanatics trying to murder their way to power. They are discovering, as others before them, the resolve of a great country and a great democracy. In the ruins of two towers, under a flag unfurled at the Pentagon, at the funerals of the lost, we have made a sacred promise to ourselves and to the world We will not relent until justice is done and our Nation is secure. What our enemies have begun, we will finish. I believe there is a reason that history has matched this Nation with this time. America strives to be tolerant and just. We respect the faith of Islam, even as we fight those whose actions defile that faith. We fight not to impose our will but to defend ourselves and extend the blessings of freedom. We cannot know all that lies ahead. Yet, we do know that God has placed us together in this moment, to grieve together, to stand together, to serve each other and our country. And the duty we have been given, defending America and our freedom, is also a privilege we share. We're prepared for this journey, and our prayer tonight is that God will see us through and keep us worthy. Tomorrow is September the 12th. A milestone is passed, and a mission goes on. Be confident. Our country is strong, and our cause is even larger than our country. Ours is the cause of human dignity, freedom guided by conscience and guarded by peace. This ideal of America is the hope of all mankind. That hope drew millions to this harbor. That hope still lights our way. And the light shines in the darkness. And the darkness will not overcome it. May God bless America. September 11, 2002 One year ago, men and women and children were killed here because they were Americans and because this place is a symbol to the world of our country's might and resolve. Today we remember each life we rededicate this proud symbol and we renew our commitment to win the war that began here. The terrorists chose this target hoping to demoralize our country. They failed. Within minutes, brave men and women were rescuing their comrades. Within hours, in this building, the planning began for a military response. Within weeks, commands went forth from this place that would clear terrorist camps and caves and liberate a nation. And within one year, this great building has been made whole once again. Many civilian and military personnel have now returned to offices they occupied before the attack. The Pentagon is a working building, not a memorial. Yet, the memories of a great tragedy linger here. And for all who knew loss here, life is not the same. The 184 whose lives were taken in this place veterans and recruits, soldiers and civilians, husbands and wives, parents and children left behind family and friends whose loss cannot be weighed. The murder of innocents cannot be explained, only endured. And though they died in tragedy, they did not die in vain. Their loss has moved a nation to action, in a cause to defend other innocent lives across the world. This war is waged on many fronts. We've captured more than 2,000 terrorists a larger number of killers have met their end in combat. We've seized millions in terrorist assets. We're reorganizing the Federal Government to protect the homeland. Yet, there's a great deal left to do. And the greatest tasks and the greatest dangers will fall to the Armed Forces of the United States. I came to the Presidency with respect for all who wear America's uniform. Every day as your Commander in Chief, my respect and that of our Nation has deepened. I have great confidence in every man and woman who wears the uniform of the United States of America. I am proud of all who have fought on my orders, and this Nation honors all who died in our cause. Wherever our military is sent in the world, you bring hope and justice and promise of a better day. You are worthy of the traditions you represent, the uniform you wear, the ideals you serve. America is counting on you, and our confidence is well placed. What happened to our Nation on a September day set in motion the first great struggle of a new century. The enemies who struck us are determined, and they are resourceful. They will not be stopped by a sense of decency or a hint of conscience, but they will be stopped. A greater force is amassed against them. They are opposed by freedom loving people in many lands. They are opposed by our allies who have fought bravely by our side. And as long as terrorists and dictators plot against our lives and our liberty, they will be opposed by the United States Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Air Force, and Marines. We fight as Americans have always fought, not just for ourselves but for the security of our friends and for peace in the world. We fight for the dignity of life against fanatics who feel no shame in murder. We fight to protect the innocent, so that the lawless and the merciless will not inherit the earth. At every turn of this war, we will always remember how it began and who fell first the thousands who went to work, boarded a plane, or reported to their posts. Today the Nation pays our respects to them. Here and in Pennsylvania and in New York, we honor each name and each life. We ask God to bring comfort to every home where they are loved and missed. And on this day and on every day, may He watch over the United States of America. God bless. September 10, 2002 President Bush. It's my honor to welcome Prime Minister Barroso of Portugal to the Oval Office. He's one of the bright young leaders on the international stage. And it's a conversation I've been looking forward to having with Jose. He comes at a very interesting time. It's a time where the world is discussing the present and the future. Today tomorrow we'll be reliving a horrible reminder of what is possible in the 21st century that is, no country is immune from attack. We will discuss today our mutual desire to fight terror. And I appreciate the Government of Portugal for its strong support in the war against terror. We will also discuss future threats that we face, all of us face, the dire possibilities that outlaw regimes will develop weapons of mass destruction and use them with terrorist organizations or use them on their own against countries which love freedom, countries such as Portugal. We will discuss our relationship in NATO, and of course, we've got a very important conference coming in NATO about the expansion. I look forward to hearing the Prime Minister's views on that important issue. So you're here at a perfect time Prime Minister Durao Barroso. Thank you. President Bush. to discuss important issues. I value his judgment. I look forward to his advice. Mr. Prime Minister, if you'd like to say a few things. Prime Minister Durao Barroso. Okay, thank you very much. Let me first of all thank very much Mr. Bush, President Bush, for receiving me here today. I think it is very important the United States of America and President Bush listens to the opinion of close allies, and Portugal is a very close ally of the United States. I think that it was Winston Churchill that said once that "The problem with allies is that sometimes they have opinions." Laughter And I come here to listen to President Bush, but also President Bush. I'm going to listen. Laughter Prime Minister Durao Barroso. to give you my opinion, very frankly, the opinion of a friend, the opinion of a close ally of the United States, a country that shares the same basic values. And I think at this very moment, where there are some global threats that have to have a global answer, we should act globally. And that's one of the messages I will convey to President Bush, a personality I admire very much for everything he represents, for the free world, the way he has led this global coalition against terrorism. And I'm very proud to be today here with you, to convey to you the deep respect of the Portuguese people indeed, I would say, of Europe in all our common endeavors against global terrorism. President Bush. Thank you, sir. Thank you all. September 10, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much. Thank you for coming. I just please, be seated. I had the opportunity of meeting with distinguished members of the Arab American and Muslim American communities, and I want to thank you all so very much for coming to share with me your thoughts. Like all Americans, they're proud of our country they're proud of our military they're proud of our allies for working together to free Afghanistan. They will never forget the joy of the Afghan people who were liberated. They appreciate the fact that we work in concert to destroy terrorist training camps in Afghanistan so that those terrorists might not hurt others. They wanted to come with me to show their solidarity with the people of Afghanistan and to show that America has a vibrant and important and dynamic Muslim faith tradition. I appreciate so very much Ziad, the president of the American Arab Anti Defamation League, for being here. Mr. Ambassador, thank you and your sweet wife for having us here. The Ambassador has a fabulous story. He's an American citizen, renounced his citizenship in order to become the Ambassador of Afghanistan, to serve this nation. I appreciate that, appreciate your leadership. I want to thank Andrew Natsios, who is with us today, who is doing a fine job of helping people in need around the world. I want to thank where's Zal? There he is. Zal, thanks for coming. Zal Khalilzad is a member of the National Security Council and very much involved with our efforts to help Afghanistan. It's important for our fellow Americans to understand that Americans of Muslim faith share the same grief that we all share from what happened to our country, that they're just as proud of America as I am proud of America, that they love our country as much as I love our country. They share my profound belief that no American should be judged by appearance, by ethnic background, or by religious faith. I believe that strongly, and so do they. Bigotry is not a part of our soul. It's not going to be a part of our future. Sure, there may be some, but that's not the American way, and we must reject bigotry of all kinds in this great land. In order for us to reject the evil done to America on September the 11th, we must reject bigotry in all its forms. George Washington says, "America gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance." And that is true today. We treasure our friendship with Muslims and Arabs around the world. One year ago, the people of Afghanistan lived under oppression. Their country was a haven for terror. Today, they're an emergency democracy an emerging democracy and building a better future. And we are proud to continue to stand by them and to stand with them. Americans are helping the people of Afghanistan in their time of hardship and need, and we will continue to do so. The United States has committed more than 700 million in aid to Afghanistan for food and seeds and roads and bridges, water and sanitation systems. I was most proud of the fact that American children from all walks of life contributed to the America's Fund for Afghan Children. It was such a strong statement, of children uniting to help people in need. All Americans must recognize that the face of terror is not the true faith face of Islam. Islam is a faith that brings comfort to a billion people around the world. It's a faith that has made brothers and sisters of every race. It's a faith based upon love, not hate. As we mourn tomorrow, we must remember that our enemy is a radical network of terrorists, not a religion that governments which support them are our enemies, not faithful Muslims who love their families, who yearn for a more peaceful and safe world for their children. Tomorrow Americans of all faiths will come together in a spirit of unity and remembrance and resolve. I call on every American to uphold the values of America and remember why many have come here. In our war against terror, we must never lose sight of the values that makes our country so strong, the values of respect and tolerance, the value that we believe that everybody ought to worship the Almighty, however they so choose. Mr. Ambassador, thank you for letting me come by on the eve of this important day for our country. I'm honored to be here at your Embassy. Ambassador Ishaq Shahryar. Thank you very much, Mr. President. The President. May God bless you may God bless Afghanistan. May God continue to bless America. I'll answer a few questions. Jennifer Jennifer Loven, Associated Press . Homeland Security Alert Q. Yes, Mr. President, with this increased threat level, can you say what your level of concern is that Americans will be attacked again? And what is your advice to Americans in this time? The President. Well, we are we take every threat seriously. The threats that we have heard recently remind us of the pattern of threats we heard prior to September the 11th. We have no specific threat to America, but we're taking everything seriously, obviously. And so, therefore, we have gone to a different level of concern, a different threat level, which means our Government will be providing extra security at key facilities and that we'll be increasing surveillance. We'll do everything we can to protect the American people. And Americans need to go about their lives. They just need to know that their Government, at the Federal and State and local level, will be on an extra level of alert to protect us. Heidi Heidi Przybyla, Bloomberg . You haven't asked a question in a while. President's Upcoming United Nations Address Q. Thank you. I appreciate it. What do you think of French President Chirac's idea to give Hussein a 3 week deadline to comply with weapons inspections or face The President. I think Heidi, I think it's important that, so that you will pay attention to my speech on Thursday, that I reserve judgment about what may or may not be in my speech. Applause Even got applause you finally got a question and applause. Laughter I do I'll have something to say, obviously, and I look forward to speaking to that international body about about how best we can work together to keep the peace, how best to make the world a more peaceful place. And so I hope you understand that I'll not reveal my speech ahead of time. I know that many are trying to find out what it is, and that's your job. But my job is not to answer you. Laughter Katie Katie Textor , ABC. Q. Sir, if you decide on a military solution to Saddam Hussein, have you resigned to go through the U.N. Security Council? Or are you determined to go it alone? The President. Katie, thank you for asking me about what's going to be in my speech tomorrow. Laughter Let me get to the U.N. and give what is an important speech for me. I'll make the case of how I think we ought to proceed, on how we work together to keep the peace. I'm going to the United Nations to give this speech for a reason, because I believe this is an international problem and that we must work together to deal with the problem. And I am also very mindful of my job as the American President to do everything we can to protect the American people from future attack. And I'm deeply concerned about a leader who has ignored all who ignored the United Nations for all these years, has refused to conform to resolution after resolution after resolution, who has weapons of mass destruction. And the battlefield has now shifted to America, so there's a different dynamic than we've ever faced before. And I take these threats seriously. The thing I take most seriously is my job to protect innocent life here on the homeland, and I will respond to this threat starting Thursday. And I look forward to the chance to do so. In the meantime, tomorrow is going to be a hard day for a lot of Americans. It's going to be a day of tears and a day of prayer and a day of national resolve. It also needs to be a day in which we confirm the values which make us unique and great. And that's one of the reasons I came here today, to be with friends to assure all Americans that we will embrace those values. So thank you all for coming. God bless. September 09, 2002 Thank you for joining us today. It's a pleasure to be back in Detroit just across the river from Windsor to reaffirm a special relationship, an important relationship, and to address a common challenge. America and Canada face new threats to our security. It's the new reality of the 21st century, and we can't forget that. And some of those threats must be stopped at our borders. This great and peaceful border must be open to business, must be open to people, and it's got to be closed to terrorists and criminals. And so today we're taking two steps to turn this vision into reality. I appreciate so very much the Prime Minister, Jean Chretien, for joining us here. He has been a steadfast friend. I really enjoy dealing with him on a personal basis. He's a plain spoken fellow with a good sense of humor probably won't go too good up here in Canada, but he'd be a great Texan. Laughter I appreciate Tom Ridge joining us. Tom is my adviser for Homeland Security, former Governor of Pennsylvania. I want to thank Tom for working hard with the Deputy Prime Minister John Manley from Canada, who both these two men work hard to applause . The Prime Minister and I, of course, get the credit if it goes well. Laughter They get the blame if it doesn't. Laughter The truth of the matter is, they did a lot of the work, and I want to thank both of you men for working hard for what's best for our countries. I appreciate so very much the members of our congressional delegation who have shown up here, Congressman Joe Knollenberg, Carolyn Kilpatrick. I had a chance to say hello to Congresswoman Kilpatrick's little boy at the airport. Laughter He's doing a fine job as the mayor of Detroit. I know she's proud of what a fine job he is doing. I want to appreciate very much Congressman John Conyers as well and Sandy Levin and Nick Smith from the both Republicans and Democrats who share deep concern about our border and what transpires here. So I thank the Members of Congress for coming today. I also appreciate so very much our Ambassador from Canada, Paul Cellucci, my close friend, for being here as well. Mr. Ambassador, thank you for coming. I want to thank Robert Bonner of the Customs, U.S. Customs, for being here, and Rob Wright, who's the Commissioner of Canadian Customs. Thank you both for coming. I appreciate Jim Ziglar so very much, the head of our INS, for being here. He's got a tough job, and he's handling his job in fine fashion. Jim, I want to thank you for your service to the country. I appreciate very much our friend the Governor from Michigan, John Engler, for introducing me. Lieutenant Governor Dick Posthumus is with us today. Lieutenant Governor, thanks for coming. And Candice Miller, the Michigan secretary of state, is here as well. And I want to appreciate all the officials for coming. This bridge right here is a symbol of the close and unique relationship close and unique relationship between our two nations. This single bridge carries more trade than any other border crossing on this continent, and that's saying a lot. This is a this is an active bridge. Thanks to the North American Free Trade Agreement, more than 500,000 people and over a billion dollarsMDSU' worth of goods cross the U.S. Canadian border every day. The ties of trade and travel and family between America and Canada are closer than ever, and our countries are better for it. Yet, nearly a year ago, we saw the terrorists, coldblooded killers, using our openness, the openness of our societies against us. We were awakened to threats that can arrive across our borders. We realized, at least in our country, that we had become a battlefield. And we've got to confront those threats. We have no choice but to confront the threats head on, while we preserve the freedom and the openness of our societies. We have hard working inspectors at this border, and I want to thank all the folks who work hard to expedite the traffic here. I believe my job is to at least on the American side is to make sure that you're able to do your jobs more effectively and to figure out how to use technologies and the systems necessary so that you can do your job in a better fashion. You see, we want our inspectors to be able to focus on the greatest risks, not on legitimate trade and travel. We want their time focused on stopping terror, criminality. We've got to recognize that inspections create bottlenecks on both sides of this bridge. That's one of the realities. When you start looking closer, you're going to start creating bottlenecks, and that's not good. It's not good for families that want to be together. It's not good for trade and traffic. And so we've got to reduce the backups and, at the same time, strengthen our mutual security. So today Canada and the United States are launching what we call the FAST, which stands for Free and Secure Trade. The Prime Minister and I got to see the FAST system in operation. It says that American and Canadian companies can register their goods and their trucks and their drivers with their Governments and then border inspectors can review this information up to an hour prior to arrival. Once the agents have determined the safety of each shipment, the trucks can cross in special lanes, using tested technology, technology that the Prime Minister and I just saw. Border inspectors will be able to instantly verify the contents and identify each truck as it pulls up. Stop times will be reduced from a few minutes to seconds, and that's important. We're also announcing a second initiative for safer and smarter borders that will benefit individual travelers. We're dramatically expanding a program to issue special photo identifications to people who are screened to ensure they are not security threats to either country. These cards entitle people to travel across the border in dedicated lanes, where there will be little or no delay for inspections. We're trying to help people cross the borders as quickly as possible. This kind of program for simplifying travel for thousands of people who regularly cross the border is now in place in Washington Washington State and British Columbia. And so, starting today, we're launching the program here in Detroit, accepting applications from Americans and Canadians who want to travel across the border in faster fashion. With these two initiatives, we'll ensure faster movement of legal, low risk goods and faster travel for people across our borders. And we'll be able to better enhance security. Our inspectors will spend less time inspecting law abiding citizens and more time inspecting those who may harm us. We're doing everything we can here in America to protect our homeland. Along with Canada, we've got some of the finest troops in the world hunting down the Al Qaida killers in Afghanistan, hunting them down one at a time to make sure we can better secure our respective countries. And at home I've asked our Congress to join with me to set up a Department of Homeland Security so that we can do a better job on our borders, a better job with our first responders. I do not need a bunch of rules and regulations trying to micromanage the process. I want the ability to be able to look the American people in the eye and say, "I'm doing everything," or "We're doing everything we can to protect you." And so the Senate, the United States Senate, must not focus on narrow special interests but must focus on the security of the American people. And so I'm Mr. Prime Minister, this country is doing everything we can to address a common problem, and you need to know, sir, that we're determined, and we're patient, and we're resolved to win this war against these terrorists, because, like you, we love freedom. We value our freedoms. We want to leave a legacy of freedom behind for our children and our grandchildren. It's now my honor to welcome to the podium a friend, a strong leader, the Prime Minister of our important neighbor, Jean Chretien. September 07, 2002 Good morning. Next week, our Nation will pause to honor and remember the lives lost on September the 11th. We must also remember a central lesson of the tragedy Our homeland is vulnerable to attack, and we must do everything in our power to protect it. We protect our country by relentlessly pursuing terrorists across the Earth, assessing and anticipating our vulnerabilities, and acting quickly to address those vulnerabilities and prevent attacks. America needs a single department of Government dedicated to the task of protecting our people. Right now, responsibilities for homeland security are scattered across dozens of departments in Washington. By ending duplication and overlap, we will spend less on overhead and more on protecting America. And we must give the Department of Homeland Security every tool it needs to succeed. One essential tool this new Department needs is the flexibility to respond to terrorist threats that can arise or change overnight. The Department of Homeland Security must be able to move people and resources quickly, without being forced to comply with a thick book of bureaucratic rules. For example, we have three agencies working to safeguard our borders, the INS, the Customs Service, and the Border Patrol. They all have different cultures and different strategies but should be working together in a streamlined effort. Other Federal agencies dealing with national security already have this flexibility, the FBI and the CIA and the new Transportation Security Administration. It seems like to me, if it's good enough for these agencies, it should be good enough for the new Department of Homeland Security. In addition, the new Secretary of Homeland Security needs the authority to transfer some funds, limited funds, among Government accounts in response to terrorist threats. This requirement is nothing new such authority is presently available to numerous agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Energy. The House of Representatives has passed legislation that would ensure the flexibility and authority needed for the Department of Homeland Security to effectively carry out its mission. The legislation now in the Senate would not. The Senate bill would not allow the new Secretary of Homeland Security to shift resources or streamline functions in response to a terrorist threat without a time consuming approval process. And the legislation would keep in place a process that can take up to 18 months just to fire an employee. The Senate bill also provides no transfer authority for the Secretary of Homeland Security. Under the Senate bill, the Secretary would have to ask the President to submit a supplemental budget request to Congress, and then wait for Congress to act every time new terrorist threats presented a need for additional funding. In this war on terror, this is time we simply do not have. Even worse, the Senate bill would weaken the President's well established authority to prohibit collective bargaining when a national security interest demands it. Every President since Jimmy Carter has used this authority, and a time of war is not time to limit a President's ability to act in the interest of national security. Senators need to understand I will not accept a homeland security bill that puts special interests in Washington ahead of the security of the American people. I will not accept a homeland security bill that ties the hands of this administration or future administrations in defending our Nation against terrorist attacks. America has been engaged in this war for nearly a year, and we've made real progress. Yet more work remains. A new Department of Homeland Security will help us to protect our country, but only if it has the tools to get the job done. I urge the Senate to follow the House's lead and pass legislation that gives the Department the flexibility and the authority it needs to protect the American people. Thank you for listening. September 05, 2002 I want to thank you all. Thanks for coming. I'm really honored to have been invited back to Louisville by Anne to help in her reelection effort. She is a incredibly she is a breath of fresh air in Washington, let me put it to you that way. She's honest. She's open. The thing I love about Anne is her heart. It is as big as Texas. Laughter She cares deeply about her fellow citizens. You see, what we need in the political process is people who put the people ahead of partisanship. They put people's concerns and hopes and aspirations ahead of personal success their own personal success. See, I love the idea that this is a soul who is willing to work in neighborhoods where somebody might not have ever voted for her. She's not the kind of citizen who said, "Did you vote for me," and therefore, "I'm going to help you." She's the kind of citizen who says, "I'm honored to be in the position I'm in, and what can I do to make Kentucky, and Louisville, Kentucky, as hopeful a place for every citizen?" Anne Northup deserves to be reelected to the United States Congress. I value her advice. I value her friendship. I value being able to work with her to do what's right for America. I also like the fact that she loves her family. She's got her priorities straight. She loves Woody, and she loves her kids. I love the fact that Anne is an adopted mom. It shows something special about her heart and her willingness to love. I enjoyed meeting her mother and dad. She probably listens to her mother about as much as I do listen to mine. Laughter But she is she's got her priorities straight, her faith and her family and the people of Louisville, Kentucky. So I want to thank you all for coming to help this good lady. I want to thank you for contributing, and I urge you to contribute your time. It's this fundraiser is going to be history in about 30 minutes, or if I keep it shorter than that, about 20 minutes. But now you've got more work to do. And for those of you who are the grassroot activists here in this community, for those of you who help lead our party, I want to thank you for what you have done I want to thank you for what you are going to do. You need to go to your coffee shops, churches, and community centers and synagogues and pass the word that when you've got a good soul like Anne Northup, citizens need to go out and support her. So, thanks for helping her, and thanks for coming. I also want to thank a member of my Cabinet, Elaine Chao, for being here. I appreciate her leadership. She's doing a fantastic job, and I'm sure she would like me to mention the fact that she married old Mitch. Laughter And when you're remembering Anne, don't forget Mitch. He's a good he's a great United States Senator. We need Mitch McConnell back in the Senate. He's doing a really, really good job for the State of Kentucky. I value his advice as well. And we were just traveling today from Washington to here earlier with another fine United States Senator, and that's, of course, Jim Bunning. And I appreciate his leadership and his support. I want to thank Ellen Williams. I want to thank State Senate President David Williams. I want to thank the members of the statehouse who are here. I appreciate the fact that Geoff Davis, candidate for the U.S. Kentucky Fourth District, is with us. And Geoff, I appreciate you putting your hat in the ring. I appreciate all my fellow citizens. We've got some issues we've got to confront here in America, and I want to share some of them with you. A lot of these issues are going to require having the steady hand of Anne Northup in the Congress. My job is to make America secure, to strengthen the country, and make it a better place. And starting with making America a better place means we better make sure every child is educated. I don't mean a handful or some in the suburban districts. Every child I mean every child in America must be educated in order for America to be a better place. And I want to tell you how what an influence Anne Northup had in a significant piece of legislation that we passed. It's called the No Child Left Behind legislation. That bill means what it says No child, not one child in America left behind. The philosophy of the bill should speak volumes to the people of this district about Anne's mentality. It first starts with understanding that every child can learn. You see, it challenges low expectations or the soft bigotry of low expectations. When you lower the bar, when you expect mediocrity, you tend to get mediocrity. And that's not good enough for our children. No, this bill says every child can learn. It also says the people who care more about the children in Louisville, Kentucky, are the citizens of Louisville, Kentucky. We believe strongly in local control of schools. We expect the local people to chart the path to excellence for every child every child who lives here in Louisville, Kentucky. But inherent in this bill are two other features that I want to explain to you One that says, if you believe every child can learn, therefore you want to know if every child is learning. And therefore, in return for a lot of Federal money, we expect every school district in America to teach our children how to read and write and add and subtract, and so we measure. We want to know. We expect there to be accountability. We're willing to ask the question, "Have you succeeded?" And we're also willing to say, "If you haven't, we expect to see something different." We don't want our children trapped in schools we won't be satisfied if our children are trapped in schools that won't teach and won't change. But Anne's biggest contribution and I mean, a significant contribution was to fight for and get funding for a Reading First Initiative. It is a Federal initiative that recognizes all this talk about structuring our schools, all the talk about making sure the public education system is reformed doesn't matter a whit if our children can't read. And so, Anne, working with some of the best experts in the country, calling together the best minds, put in this bill a significant reading program, one that's not only funded for a billion dollars but one that recognizes reading is a science, not an art. We know what works, and we expect the curriculum around America to be in place that teaches every child how to read. We've got work to do in our economy. There are some people in our country that can't find work, and they want to work, and that means we've got a problem. The foundations for growth are good. Inflation is down. Interest rates are down. Listen, we're the most productive workers in the world. We're really good at what we do in a lot of places. And even though there are some progress, I'm not satisfied. And one of the things I appreciate about Anne is that when we needed to let people have more of their own money to make sure that the economy didn't completely crater and a matter of fact, to make sure that the growth started that she joined me in fighting for tax cuts for the American people. And we need her back up there, because there are some in Washington, DC, who want to take those tax relief plans away, see? There are some who can't stand the thought of letting the people have their money. They get confused about whose money we're talking about. We're not talking about the Government's money. We're talking about the people's money. And the best way to make sure there are jobs available for people who work is to understand, if you let a person keep more of their own money, they're likely to demand a good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service, somebody is likely to produce a good or a service. And when somebody produces a good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work. We need to make the tax cuts permanent. We need to make the repeal of the death tax permanent. And Anne understands that. She understands that. That's the kind of mentality we need in Washington. Washington is a tough and ugly town at times. We saw that today in the United States Senate. I named a really, really fine woman from Texas to one of the appellate benches. This woman was ranked highly qualified by the American Bar Association. She ran statewide in my State of Texas and got over 80 percent of the vote. She's highly respected by Republicans and Democrats. And I named her to a higher bench. And today her nomination was rejected by the United States Senate. A handful of Senators distorted her record. A handful of Senators, acting out of pure politics, did not let this good woman's name go forward. The United States Senate must act in better stead. This is a treating a fine woman this way is bad for the country it's bad for our bench. And I don't appreciate it one bit, and neither do the American people. I also appreciate the fact that Anne understands that the stakes are high for our future, that our country has entered into a new era, that our homeland is a battlefield, and that our most important job as a Government is to protect the American people, is to do everything in our power to keep America safe, is to prevent the enemy from hitting us again. The enemy is still out there. They're people who just hate America you know, they just do. They hate us because we love we love freedom. We love our values. We love the fact that our citizens can worship an almighty God freely in America. That's what we love. We love we love free speech. We love a free press. We love all aspects of our freedom. And the more we love our freedom, the more they hate us. And you've got to understand something about these people. They do not value life. In America, every life matters. Every life is important. Every individual counts. The enemy is willing to take innocent life because they hate, and they have no compunction in doing so. These people are people who have hijacked a great religion, distorted its tenets, and they're still out there. And so, therefore, we've got to do a lot here in America to protect our country. And we're making good progress we really are. There's a lot of really fine people that are communicating like they've never communicated before, that are sharing information. See, now that we're on alert, now that we know they're there, we're much better about responding. We've got people at all levels of government working overtime to chase down any lead, to make sure that any hint that somebody might do something to us is followed up on. And that's why I went to Congress, by the way, because this is our priority, to get them to give us a new type of arrangement about how to deal with the new threat of the 21st century. Listen, I promise you I didn't run or you know I didn't run on, "Vote for me. I want Government to be bigger." Laughter I ran on, "Vote for me. I'll try to make it work better when it's supposed to work." And one way to make it work better is to collect the agencies involved with the homeland security and put them under one Department of Homeland Security, so that we can make the number one priority of the people that are working hard in these agencies the protection of the homeland, so that we can do a better job of protecting our borders. We've got three agencies on our borders, INS and Customs and Border Patrol, and they've got different cultures and different strategies. And they ought to be working seamlessly, to find out who's coming in our country, what they're bringing in our country, and whether they're leaving the country when they say they're going to be leaving the country. And yet, if the Senate bill goes through on homeland defense, I won't have the capacity to move the right people in the right place at the right time in order to protect our homeland. We won't have the capacity to make this part of the homeland security work seamlessly. I am not going to accept a bill where the Senate micromanages, where the Senate shows they're more interested in special interest in Washington and not interested in the security of the American people. But the surest way to secure the homeland, the only way to fully secure our homeland, is to chase the killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice. And that's what we're going to do. They hide in caves and send young kids to their suicidal death. They don't have formations and flotillas. They're resourceful killers, is what they are. And so they're kind of slithering around, hiding, and trying to find a dark corner to get in. And we're shining the light on them. It's going to take a while, see? This isn't something that's going to end anytime soon. In order to secure freedom, we must keep them moving, keep disrupting. And that's why I have submitted a defense bill to the Congress which is the biggest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President, because I understand that this isn't going to be a short term operation. I want to send the signal to our friends and allies that we're not quitting anytime soon. I want to send the signal to our enemy that you have aroused a compassionate and decent and mighty nation, and we're going to hunt you down. I also asked for the increase because anytime we send our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. The House passed a defense bill, and the Senate passed a defense bill. But since they're different, they've got to get together and reconcile. And so they need to start meeting today. You see, a lot of times in Washington they like to play politics with the defense bill. They like to hold it up. But I want to remind those who think they can play politics with the defense bill, the American people aren't going to stand for it in a time of war. They need to get the defense bill to my desk as soon as possible, so I can sign it. And we're making good progress on our war. Sometimes you'll know it, and sometimes you won't. Remember, this is a different kind of war. We're having to adjust to the fact that sometimes we'll catch one of these killers, and everybody will know about it. And sometimes you just won't know about it. Laughter That's just the way it is. Anne was right, we are enforcing the doctrines, however. We're enforcing the doctrines of this first war of the 21st century. One of the doctrines is, if you harbor one of these people, you're just as guilty as they are. If you feed a terrorist, harbor a terrorist, hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as those who murdered thousands of innocent citizens on September the 11th. And the Taliban found out what we meant. See, it's important in the world, when you say something, that you do it. But what was important about that action was not only did we uphold doctrine, but more importantly, we liberated a country. I want you to tell your kids, if they start questioning about the motives of the United States of America, if they start to get concerned about war and I can understand why they would you can remind them that this great country went into Afghanistan not to conquer anybody but to liberate people. And thanks to this Nation and our friends and allies, many young girls go to school for the first time in Afghanistan. That's the way we think as a nation. We think about peace for our children and other people's children, and we think about liberating people, because every life matters to us, see. Everybody counts. When I say every life matters, I'm not talking about just American lives. I mean every life around the globe. We believe in the value of human life here in America. That's what we hold we hold that dear to our hearts. I also laid out a doctrine that says, either you're with us or with the enemy either with us or with them. And a lot of times the actions that you're reading about are taking place because of friends and allies. I'll give you one example. Gloria Arroyo, the President of the Philippines, hauled in this guy or actually, brought the guy to justice who was running the Abu Sayyaf group, which was a group of Al Qaidatype killers that had kidnaped two Americans called the Burnhams and were holding them hostage. They didn't care about their lives. One guy, the dad, lost his life. But slowly but surely my point to you is that this coalition of nations, which care for freedom and understand the stakes, are making good progress. We're hauling them in sometimes they're not as lucky as that but we're after them, one by one. And we're going to stay after them, one by one, until we win. There are other challenges facing us. See, my job is to not only chase down those who have hit but to anticipate. We're a battleground. We've never been a battleground before therefore, the stakes have changed. See, if you're not a battleground, if you don't have to worry about your people getting attacked because of vast oceans protecting you, then you can think one way. But September the 11th changed thought here in America. It should, because now we realize the enemy is willing to take the battle here. And they're resourceful. One of my jobs is to think ahead and to think is to cause debate, and I started that yesterday, to encourage the American people to listen to and have a dialog about Iraq. And I meant it when I said that I'm going to consult with Congress. I want there to be an open discussion about the threats that face America. Tomorrow I'm calling leaders in Russia, China, and France to talk about the threats that face us all. I will see Tony Blair on Saturday. I will see Jean Chretien Monday. My point to you is, not only will I consult with Congress and talk to Congress my administration and I will do so I will also see many of the leaders of the world and remind them of the facts. The facts are, this is a man who gassed his own people, he's invaded two countries, a person who stiffed the international organization time and time again. I look forward to the debate. I look forward to the American people understanding the threats we face. But one thing is for certain I'm not going to change my view, and it's this and my view is, we cannot let the world's worst leaders blackmail America, threaten America, or hurt America with the world's worst weapons. I believe I believe I believe that good is going to come out of the evil done to America, because I know America. I know the strength of our country. I truly believe that we have an opportunity to achieve peace. These killers hit us, and in their hatred they have given us a chance to achieve peace. If we're tough and strong, if we stay focused on how to achieve peace, if we remind the world in clear terms the difference between good and evil and speak clearly about the two, we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace not only for America we can achieve peace for the people of Israel and Palestinians. We can achieve peace. I believe it. I believe we can achieve peace in South Asia. No, this enemy, these killers hit America. They, in so doing, created an opportunity to achieve peace. They hit us at home, and out of that evil will come some incredible good. America is a compassionate country. The irony of the attacks the irony of the attacks is that America became a more compassionate place. In the face of the evil, thousands of our citizens understood that in order to fight evil, they needed to do so by doing some good, that you can fight evil by loving your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourselves, that it's the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and compassion which define the true character of America. And that's happening. You see, the definition of patriotism has changed in America for the better. A patriot is not only somebody who puts their hand on their heart. A patriot is somebody who helps somebody in need. A patriot is somebody who mentors a child. A patriot is somebody who goes to their church or synagogue and mosques and organizes a way to feed those who hunger or house those who need shelter. A patriot is somebody who goes to a shut in and says, "I love you." A patriot is somebody who knows that somebody can't do everything, but somebody can do something to help America change one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. And that's happening. No, out of the evil done to America is coming a new culture, a culture which says each of us are responsible for the decisions we make, a culture which stands in stark contrast to, when I first got into politics, when it said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," here in America and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." No, there's a new day here in this country. It's a day in which we understand that there's addiction and hopelessness and despair and that Government can hand out money and we do a pretty good job of it but what Government can't do is change people's hearts or put a sense of purpose in people's life. That's done when loving, decent, kind Americans hug a neighbor in need. So the enemy hit us, and instead of retreating, instead of filing only filing a lawsuit, we decided not only to get after them, we decided not only to hold them to account, we decided that we're going to love our neighbor, just like we like to be loved ourself. And America will be a better country for it. On September the 11th, we'll mourn the loss of life. We'll remember what happened to us. And at the same time, I hope our country doubles our effort to make this land the greatest land on the face of the Earth, a hopeful place for every citizen who's fortunate enough to be a citizen. Thank you for coming. God bless you all. September 05, 2002 Thank you all very much for that warm welcome. And thank you for that kind introduction, "Congressman." Laughter I'm proud to come back to my alma mater. Well, that is, my honorary alma mater. Laughter I'm proud to come back to support Chris Cacho Chocola. Laughter He's a fine man. You're lucky he's running for Congress. The people of this district need to send him to Washington, DC. I want to thank you all for coming. I appreciate your support of Chris. I want to thank those who organized this dinner. I thank John Hiler, who's campaign chairman. I want to thank Father Scully, from one of the greatest universities in America, that is, Notre Dame. I appreciate Doc Bowen. I asked him if he wanted to be called Secretary or Governor. He said, "Governor." I said, "I understand that." Laughter Former Congressman Bud Hillis is here. A current Congressman, Steve Buyer, is here, and I appreciate Steve coming. He's been a strong ally in the United States Congress. Brose McVey, who is running for Congress from the Indianapolis area, is with us today. And Brose, thank you for running for Congress, and sure hope you win. I appreciate Jim Kittle, who's the chairman of the party. But most of all, I appreciate all the grass roots activists who are here. I want to thank you for supporting this good man. I want to thank you for what you have done, but most importantly, I want to thank you for what you're going to do, and that is turn out the vote. We need him in the United States Congress. Chris Chocola is a man of faith and family. He's got good, solid Indiana values. He married above himself laughter and so did I. Laughter I love the story that's told about Chris sitting there yelling at TV screen on Sunday morning. Sarah finally said, "If you get so agitated at screaming at the TV screen about all the opinions being made, why don't you start talking to voters instead? Why don't you go out and ask for the vote and serve your country?" And thankfully, he said yes. I appreciate a good wife who stands by her husband, who is willing to work to see the best interests of this district are represented in Washington, DC. I also love the fact that they place high priority on their children. There's nothing more important than having people in Washington, DC, who understand that their most important job is to be a good mom and a good dad. And you've got that in the Chocola family. I had the honor of shaking some hands a little earlier. And more than one person, Chris, said they wished Laura were here. You drew the short straw. Laughter By the way, she's doing great. When I married her, she was we were both raised in Midland, Texas, for starters. And the truth of the matter is, when we met and married, she wasn't very interested in politics and wasn't too keen on politicians. Now she's the First Lady of the United States, and she's doing a fabulous job. I'm proud of the way she has set an example. I'm proud of her calm demeanor in the face of crisis. I'm proud to call her wife. I love her dearly, and I wish she were here. I like Chris because not only is he a good, honest fellow, he doesn't need polls to tell him what to believe, doesn't need to run a focus group to figure out what's in his heart, but he's also run a business. I've spent a little time in Washington now, and I can assure you, we need more people in the Nation's Capital who have met a payroll. See, the entrepreneurial spirit is so incredibly important in America, and we need to people need we need people in Washington who understand that spirit. In this case, you've got a person who has helped build a small business to I guess you'd call it a medium size business. A lot of people would call it a large business when they understand this business employs over a 1,000 people. See, what we need in Washington is people who understand the role of Government when it comes to enterprise. And the role of Government is not to create wealth. The role of Government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish, in which small businesses can grow to be big businesses, in which America's producers can flourish. And that starts with creating a tax environment that is hospitable to growth and jobs. I suspect in this campaign you're going to find a difference of opinion about taxes. I'll give you our opinion. In the midst of slow times, economic times and we're in slow economic times. As a matter of fact, history will show that the first three quarters of my administration during the first three quarters of my administration, we were in recession. And it's then that it's best to stimulate economic growth and job creation by letting people keep more of their own money. Here's the difference of opinion in Washington, and you're beginning to hear it creep into the dialog. Some want to get rid of the tax cuts. Some want to raise taxes in the midst of a recession. That's the absolute wrong policy. Some want to raise tax when we've got slow economic times. That's the wrong policy. The textbook we read from says, if you let a person keep more of their own money, you will enhance the demand for goods and services. And if somebody demands an additional good or service, somebody is going to produce that good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work. What we're interested in is stimulating the entrepreneurial spirit of America, stimulating small business growth, so people in America can find work. And one of the issues we're faced with is this because of a quirk in the law, this tax relief plan that we have passed is going to expire in 10 years. I admit that's kind of hard to explain. That's tough to explain in Crawford, for example, when you tell them, "We'll get you tax cuts, but we're going to take it away from you." The Senate rules have it that after 10 years the tax relief that we passed go away. And that's bad for America. See, it's hard to plan when there's uncertainty in the Tax Code. There's also some good social policy in the Tax Code. We mitigate the harm of the marriage penalty. We believe that the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not discourage marriage. And one of the very important features of this bill, besides rate reduction, which is good for job creation, is that this bill puts the death tax on the road to extinction. The death tax is bad for Indiana farmers. It's bad for Indiana businessowners. It's bad for Indiana, period. And we need a Congressman who is willing to join me to make sure the tax cuts are permanent. No, the economy is not like it should be. And we've made pretty good progress in Washington. We need people up there who understand the responsibility that comes with running a business. In this country, we expect people to tell the truth. We don't want people cooking the books. We don't want people fudging the numbers in order to try to get ahead. I had the honor of working with both Republicans and Democrats to sign the most comprehensive corporate reform since Franklin Roosevelt was the President. My attitude is, if you cheat the American people, if you cheat the taxpayer, if you cheat your employees, we're going to hold you accountable. No more easy money in America, just hard time for those who betray the trust. I appreciate so very much Chris' understanding of the need to make sure that every child every child in America gets a good education. There is a debate that rages in America about public schools, and there should be. Here's our attitude Every child can learn. We believe it's essential to raise standards and raise the bar, to challenge the soft bigotry of low expectations. We believe it's important to trust the local people to chart the path to excellence for every child. See, we're strong backers of local control of schools. We understand the people who care more about the children of South Bend, Indiana, are the people who live in South Bend, Indiana. And therefore, we should empower them empower them to make sure that the public education meets the high standards. So local control of schools is a cornerstone of good education policy. We should never federalize education in America. And thirdly, we believe in holding people accountable. You see, if you believe every child can learn in other words, if you're willing to set high standards then you want to know whether or not that's taking place. If you believe every child in America can learn, it's essential that we insist that we measure to determine whether they are learning. We want to know whether or not our children can read and write and add and subtract, and the only way to do that is to insist that States which receive Federal money develop accountability systems so parents and concerned citizens understand exactly that which is taken place. And when we find children trapped in schools which will not teach and will not change, as a society we must demand something better, because there is no second rate children in America. Every child should be educated, and no child should be left behind. And I hope the Second District sends somebody up to Washington who is strong on national defense, somebody who understands the challenges we face, somebody who is willing to join me in insisting that Congress adequately fund our military. I say that because the most important challenge the next Congress will have is to join me in protecting our homeland. Economic security is vital, but I believe our economy is going to right itself and grow. The ingredients for growth are there low interest, low inflation, high productivity amongst our workers. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well and recovering. The biggest challenge is the homeland security. Our biggest challenge is to make sure that the enemy doesn't hit us again. And they're out there. That's the reality of the world in which we live. The battlefields of the past have shifted. The battlefield can now be here in America, as we learned tragically. And there is still a group of people out there, nothing but a bunch of cold blooded killers, by the way, that hate America. And they hate us because we love freedom. I want you to tell your kids that the reason there is an enemy that wants to strike America is because this great country, this great land, loves freedom. We love the fact that people can worship freely in America. We love the fact that people can speak their mind. We love a free press. We love everything that freedom offers, and we're willing to defend it at all costs. The more we love freedom, the more the enemy hates us. And that's why we've got to protect the homeland. And there's another interesting characteristic of these people. They don't value human life, and we do. Every life is precious in America. Everybody counts. Everybody has worth, no matter what their status. And the enemy doesn't think that way. And so long as we adhere to those values, and so long as they're running around, we've got a problem here at home. And we're going to deal with it. We're going to deal with it in a way that protects our Constitution. It's a sacred document, as far as I'm concerned. And we're going to do it in an intelligent way. You need to know there's a lot of fine people working hard to protect America right now. Anytime we get a hint, anytime we get a lead our antennae, by the way, are much more sensitive now than they were prior to September the 11th, obviously. We're aware of the new battlefield. And so we're moving on these hints and these leads, and we're disrupting, and we're after them here at home. I went to Congress and asked the Congress to help me protect our homeland by setting up a Department of Homeland Security. When I first laid out the initiative, some of our folks were a little concerned that I was trying to create big Government. I readily concede my slogan wasn't, "Don't vote for me. I'm for big Government." But I do want our Government to work. I want it to, particularly now that we're threatened. I want it to do what you want it to do, to do everything we can to effectively protect our homeland. So I sent up a comprehensive package to Congress to take all the agencies involved with homeland security and there's over 100 of them in Washington and put them under one umbrella, so that we can have the right focus and the right priority in this agency. To tell you how Washington thinks, how ever the House, by the way, responded well, and I want to thank Steve for his vote. But in the Senate, they're debating the issue, and they're trying to micromanage the process. There's a little confusion as to over who is the executive branch and who is the legislative branch. The legislative branch wants to try to run how we run our operation. And that's unacceptable, and I'll give you an example. In order to protect America better, we must do a better job of securing our borders. We've got to know who's coming into America, what they're bringing into America, and whether they're checking out when they say they're going to leave America. We've got three different agencies on our borders. We've got the INS and the Border Patrol and the Customs agency, all of which have got important duties, none of which do a very good job of working together. They wear different uniforms. They've got different strategies sometimes. For the sake of homeland security, the Senate must give this President and future Presidents the ability to move people to the right place at the right time in order to disrupt the enemy. They should not micromanage the process. They've got to worry more about the American people and less about the special interest that roams the Hall of the United States Senate. There's no doubt in my mind Steve would be with us in that spirit. He understands management, and he understands priority. The reason I say we need people in Congress up there to who understand the new world we're in and are willing to support our military is because the best way to secure the homeland is to hunt the killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what the United States is going to do. They hide in caves. See, this is a different kind of war. And part of my responsibilities as your President is to remind people about the realities that we face in America. One of the realities is, is that these people hide in caves. They find the darkest cave they can find, and then they sell send their youngsters or young folks to their suicidal deaths. They don't have tanks. They don't have munition factories. They've got determination and hatred in their hearts. They've got suicidal killers. And so we've got to run them down, no matter where they are, one by one. I sent a significant increase in the defense budget up to Congress. It's the largest increase since Ronald Reagan was the President. I did so because I wanted to send two messages One, anytime we send our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best equipment, and the best possible training. You need a Congressman from this district who understands that. I also sent a second message to friend and foe alike, and that is, this country will stay the course no matter how long it takes to defend freedom, that we're in this for the long haul, that we understand the stakes and we value our liberty and we're going to defend our country for the sake of our children and our children's children. And we're making some pretty good progress. Sometimes you see what happens sometimes you don't. This is one of these kind of wars where things happen, and you just don't know about it. But I bet we have hauled in over a couple of thousand of these people. I say "we" it's not only ourselves but our friends and allies. And they're still hitched up. They're still anxious to help, because they understand the stakes. Probably a like number weren't as lucky, but we're seeking justice around the world. It's important for our youngsters to understand this about our country as well When we say something, we've got to do it. When we say something, we do what we say. When we told the world that if you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist and we mean it. And Afghanistan and the Taliban found out exactly what the United States of America was talking about. We went to that country not to conquer anybody but to liberate people. This great Nation liberated people from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in history. And now, thanks to America and our friends and allies, young girls go to school for the first time many young girls go to school for the first time in their lives. We've got a lot of work to do. Once we get them on the run, we intend to keep them on the run by denying them sanctuary or training or finances or camps. Once we get them moving, we're going to keep them moving until we bring them to justice. And it's going to take awhile, just is. But the price is worth it. I know the nature of the enemy. No matter what it takes, no matter what the cost, we owe it to history, we owe it to our children's freedom to be tough and strong and to pursue the killers. I started a debate in Washington yesterday that is a very important national debate. It's a debate that we must have. It's a debate about our future and about peace, and it's a debate about Saddam Hussein. I want Congress involved in this debate. Tomorrow morning I'm going to call the leaders of China and Russia and France to talk about how to make the world more peaceful and more secure. I'm going to meet with Prime Minister Blair Saturday night, Prime Minister Chretien on Monday, all aimed at building a consensus and talking about a true threat that faces our country. There is nothing more threatening than to have weapons of mass destruction in the hands of somebody who hates America and hates freedom. There's doubt in people's mind I understand that. But there should be no doubt that Saddam Hussein has invaded two countries in recent history. There should be no doubt that he's totally defied the international community. You see, he agreed to disarm, and he's totally defied that what he agreed to. Where I come from, if you say you're going to do something, people expect you to do it. I expect him to do it. There's no doubt that he has killed his own people. He's poisoned his own citizens at times. He has used chemical weapons on others. There's no doubt in my mind that we should allow the world worst leaders to hold America hostage, to threaten our peace, to threaten our friends and allies with the world's worst weapons. I'm a patient man. We've got a lot of tools at our disposal. But I'm going to act on this premise, that freedom is precious, and we owe a free society to our children and our children's children. The enemy struck a great country. You know, they must have ignored reality when they hit us, or they were operating on false premises, such as, this country is so materialistic and selfish, so feeble in our strength, so shallow in our beliefs that after September the 11th we might have filed a lawsuit or two, but that's all we were going to do. But they learned they learned something about this country. They learned about our character and our fiber and our beliefs. Out of the evil done to America is going to come some good. They couldn't have possibly realized that, because they didn't understand who they were hitting. Out of the evil they have done to us a tragic, tragic day in our history, September the 11th will come peace. If we stay steadfast and strong, if we're willing to delineate between good and evil, if we're willing to continue to work with others to protect freedom, we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace not only for our own citizens, but since we value all human life and everybody matters, we can achieve peace in parts of the world that have quit on peace. No, they hit us, but they roused a mighty spirit in this country, and they've given us a chance to seize the moment, to define history, to define our history as a peaceful history. It's going to be some steep climbing for awhile. We've got some high hurdles. But I want you to tell the young ones that the aims of this country, the aims of this great country is to achieve peace. And here at home, we've got to recognize that in the midst of our wealth and prosperity, there are pockets of despair and hopelessness, people wondering whether or not the American Dream is meant for them. My attitude is, when one of us suffers, all of us suffers. But I believe we now have a chance to rectify that, to make our country hopeful for every citizen, because I know what the spirit of America is all about, and I know what's taking place in community after community after community. After September the 11th, many of our citizens took a step back to assess that which is important in life. Many of our citizens understand to fight evil, you do so by loving your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself that it's the collective acts of kindness and goodness that take place in our society on a daily basis that stands strong against the evil done to America and paints the true face of a compassionate country. I recognize, and I hope you do, that there is a role for Government. And Government can hand out money, and sometimes we do a pretty good job of it. But what Government cannot do is put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That is done when a loving citizen puts his or her arm around a despairing American, and says, "I love you. What can I do to help you? How can I teach you to read? What is it I can do to make your life more hopeful?" See, one person can't do everything in America, but one person could do something. And each of us must be that one person doing something to stand tall in the face of evil. And that's what's happening here in America. All across our country there are churches and synagogues and mosques working miracles of change in people's lives. There are people who, on a daily basis in America, feed those who hunger, provide shelter for those who need shelter, teach values to our children. No, the enemy hit us, but they didn't realize what was going to happen. They didn't realize that we're going to do whatever it takes to defend our freedom. Nor did they realize that this country is going to emerge a stronger and more compassionate land. The culture of our country I first ran for Governor, and one of the main reasons why was because I wanted to be a small part of a cultural change in America. I felt it was incredibly important for the future of this country to be a part of a change of a culture from one which had said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." My hopes and dreams still exist for a culture which says, "Each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life." If you're fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul. If you're living in South Bend, Indiana, you're responsible for the quality of education in your neighborhood. You're responsible for helping a neighbor in need. You're responsible for the quality of life around you. If you're running a corporation, you're responsible for telling the truth. This responsibility era is beginning to take place. There's an amazing event happened on September the 11th that helps define what I'm talking about. It defines that concept of serving something greater than yourself in life. It was on Flight 93, when some of our fellow citizens were flying across the country. They had heard from cell phones, generally from their loved ones, that the plane that they were on was going to be used as a weapon. And a lot of them on that airplane told their loved ones goodbye. They spoke about love. They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll," and they served something greater than themself in life by taking that plane into the ground. This country is a fabulous country because of that spirit. You see, there's a new patriotism in America, a new sense of responsibility to something greater than ourselves. There's no doubt in my mind that out of the evil done to America will come incredible good, will come peace and a compassionate tomorrow, because this is the greatest nation on the face of the Earth, full of the greatest people. May God bless you all. Thank you for coming. And may God bless America. September 05, 2002 Thank you all very much. Thank you all. It is great to be here in the State of Kentucky. Let me tell you, it's great to be back to the State of Kentucky. I want to thank you all for coming. It is my it's going to be my honor today to talk to you about our country, our future. I want to talk about how to make our country a safer country and a stronger country and, as importantly, a better country. And there's no better place to do it than Louisville, Kentucky. I want to thank Anne for her kind introduction, and I want to thank the other members of the Kentucky delegation who are here today who are my friends, and that would be Senator Jim Bunning and Congressman Ken Lucas. I appreciate all three members of the congressional delegation coming down today. As you know, they're up there in Washington meeting, and it's an honor that three Members decided to come and hear the President. Laughter I want to thank your Governor, Paul Pat ton, for coming today. Governor, I appreciate you taking time to be here. I'm honored that you're here. I want to thank Elaine Chao, who is a member of my Cabinet, the Secretary of Labor. I appreciate you coming, Elaine. I want to thank the head of the Small Business Administration, Hector Barreto, for joining us as well. Thank you, Hector. Oh, I forgot I forgot to mention the first lady of Kentucky. One thing you learn is never to forget to mention the first ladies. I appreciate Judi Patton being here as well. Thank you for coming, Judi. Speaking about first ladies, my wife is doing great, too. I like to remind people that when I married her, she was a public school librarian. And for all the public school librarians out there, you've got an advocate in the White House. For all the teachers out there, I want to thank you for being teachers, too. She didn't like politics, and she didn't like politicians when I married her. Now she's stuck with one. Laughter She's doing a great job. I'm really proud of her. She sends her love and her best to all the people of Kentucky. I want to thank the members of the Louisville community who happen to be small business owners for coming to visit. We just had a good hour discussion about small business issues. You see, one of the best ways to make sure that our economy grows is to have an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish and the small business can be strong. Most new jobs are created in America by small businesses, and therefore, we'd better worry about the health of small businesses, if we're worried about the health and security of the country. And I'm worried about the health and security of our country I am. And we've got a lot of work to do. I'm not worried about our future because I'm optimistic about America. We've got a great future ahead of us. But so long as anybody who wants to work can't find work, I think we've got a problem in America. And so, therefore, our thought process ought to be how to create jobs, how best to make sure that the foundation of economic growth remains strong and that we go forward with creating jobs. And that's why I met with the small business owners and listened to their concerns and heard their points of view. First, let me tell you, the foundation for our economy is strong. I mean, after all, interest rates are low. Inflation is low. We've got the best workers in the world. Our productivity is high. We've got the best farmers and ranchers in the world. We're really good at a lot of things in America, which creates the foundation for growth. I am not satisfied, however, until everybody can find work. And so, fundamentally, what can we do? First, you've got to understand, the role of Government is not to create wealth. It's to create an environment in which people can realize their dreams, in which small businesses can grow to be big businesses. And one way to encourage that is to let people keep more of their own money. When we came in, it turns out the country was in a recession. That's three quarters of negative growth. Fortunately, I was able to team up with members of both political parties to take a chapter out of this textbook. It's the chapter that says, if you let people keep more of their own money, they will demand a good or a service. And if they demand a good or a service, somebody is likely to produce that good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or a service, somebody is more likely to find work. The tax relief came at the right time for the American economy. If you listen carefully to some of the dialog in Washington, you begin to hear a little tone about, "Well, maybe we ought to stop the tax relief from being fully implemented." That would be a mistake for our economy. That would be a terrible mistake for jobs and job creation. Not only should we resist anybody who wants to undo the tax relief, we need to make the tax relief permanent. Well, people say, "How can cutting income taxes on the people affect small business?" Well, most small businesses are sole proprietorships, which means they pay tax at the individual income tax rate level. Or most small businesses are limited partnerships. And so when you cut the taxes on the people, you're really cutting the taxes on the sole proprietors and on limited partnerships. You're helping small business grow. And when small businesses grow, America is better off. But let me also tell you that in the tax relief plan we began to mitigate the effects of the marriage penalty. Listen, the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not discourage marriage. And the other thing is, we sent the death tax on the way to extinction. The death tax is bad for Kentucky farmers it's bad for Kentucky ranchers and it's bad for Kentucky entrepreneurs. And then you say, "Well, why, Mr. President, do you need to talk about making the tax relief permanent?" Because a quirk in the law in the United States Senate says that you won't we're going to cut your taxes, but in 10 years it will have come back. It's hard for me to explain. I mean, how can you say, "On the one hand, we're cutting your taxes on the other hand, it goes away after 10 years"? Well, that's just the way the Senate happens to work right now. But there's a way to change that, and that is to get the United States Senate to agree to make all this tax relief permanent. It will help people plan. It will help good policy, and anybody who wants to find work is more likely to be able to do so if the tax relief is permanent. In order to make sure people find work and our economy is strong, Congress must not overspend. Every idea sounds like a good idea in Washington just that they cost billions of dollars. We need to set priorities, and we have set priorities in Washington, priorities of how to make America safer, stronger, and better. And it's my job to hold the line on spending the people's money. See, it's important to have the right mind set up there. We're not spending Government money we're spending your money. In order to make sure it's spent wisely I look forward to working with Congress to make sure we spend your money wisely. If we overspend, it will serve as a drag on our economy. If we overspend, it will make it harder for people to find work. I'm worried about people finding work. I want anybody who wants a job to be able to find one here in America. There's some other practical things we can do in Washington, DC. We need to get us a terrorism insurance bill, to get our hardhats back to work. Over 10 billion of construction projects are not going forward because people can't get the proper insurance because of what the terrorists did to America. The Government ought to help here. It makes sense that the Government help. We want our hardhats back to working. The construction trades believe that over 300,000 workers will go back to work if we can get this bill out of Congress. I want a bill out of Congress that helps the hardhats, not helps the plaintiffs' attorneys. I want people going back to work in America. We need an energy bill. A good energy bill will create jobs in America. We also need an energy bill which will encourage conservation and the use of renewable energy. We can do that, but we also need an energy bill that will encourage exploration here in America, exploration in environmentally friendly ways, so that we become less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. An energy bill is good for jobs, and it's good for national security, and it's time the Congress quit talking and get an energy bill to my desk. Now, I'm optimistic about our economy. I'm optimistic about job growth. I'm optimistic about the future because I understand America. We've got problems, no question, but we have a spirit that is indomitable and strong. I'm also optimistic about being able to do my most important job, which is to protect the homeland. You know, one of my concerns was the farther we got away from September the 11th, the more likely it would be that some in our country might not think the enemy still existed. But they do, and they're nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers. That's all they are. People in our country wonder why, why would somebody hate America? It's because we love freedom that's why. We love the idea that free people can worship an almighty God any way they so choose in America. We value the freedom for people to speak their mind in this country. We value a free press. We value freedom. And the more we value freedom, the more they hate us. That's why. That's why the enemy still exists. And there's another reason. Every life matters in America. Everybody counts. Everybody has worth. And these killers don't think that way. They're willing to take innocent life in the name of a hijacked religion. And so my job is to do everything we can to protect our homeland it's to make America more secure. You need to know there's a lot of good folks working hard to protect us. I mean, anytime we're getting a hint that the enemy might be thinking about doing something to us, we're moving on it. We communicate better. We're aware. We're aware of their hatred. Prior to September the 11th, we would never assume that America would be a battlefield. It is now. It's a different era. I want you to know that you should take comfort in the fact that a lot of good people are doing everything they can to make sure that America is secure, not only at the Federal level but at the State level and here at the local level. A lot of really good people are getting better information and are acting on it as quickly as possible. I went to Congress, and I said, in order to help me and future Presidents and notice I say "future Presidents," because I don't think this war and this hatred is going to go away anytime soon that future Presidents can deal with the threat on the homeland, I've asked for a new department in Washington called the Department of Homeland Security. The reason I did is because there's over 100 agencies in Washington, DC, that have something to do with protecting the homeland. They're scattered everywhere. In order to make sure the number one priority of these agencies is your protection, I've asked that they be put under one umbrella, one Cabinet Secretary to be confirmed by the United States Senate. I want to be able to align authority and responsibility. I want to be able to say clearly to the American people, "We're doing a better job of protecting our borders." See, we need to know who's coming into America, what they're bringing into America, and whether or not they're going to leave America when they say they're going to leave America. We need to do a better job of coordinating our first the strategy of our first responders, the brave police and fire and EMS teams that you've got right here in Louisville and all across America. We need to do a better job of being able to respond to potential weapons of mass destruction attacks need to do a better job of taking the intelligence we have and analyzing it and addressing the vulnerabilities that may be evident here in America. And so I've asked Congress to act, and I appreciate the fact that the House of Representatives has acted. And I'm sure on your TV screens, if you bother to watch TV, you'll see that the Senate is debating this bill. I've got deep concerns about where the Senate is headed, however. I need the flexibility necessary to be able to move people to the right place at the right time in order to protect America. And I'll give you an example. On our borders we've got three different agencies involved with protecting the border, Customs, INS, and Border Patrol. They wear different uniforms. They have different strategies. They've got different bosses. For the sake of protecting America, any administration must have the flexibility to move people around to address our vulnerabilities. The enemy moves quickly, and so should the Federal Government be able to move quickly. And yet, the bill out of the Senate has got rules this thick. They want to micromanage the process. The Senate must hear this I expect to get a bill that is not in the best interests of vested interests in Washington but in the best interests of protecting the American people. The best way to protect our homeland is to hunt the killers down one by one and bring them to justice. The best way to secure America the best way to secure our country and to protect our freedom is to find the killers. This is a different kind of war, but the war goes on. We've got some great veterans in this hall who remember the way war used to be. You could determine the size of the enemy based upon the number of tanks they might have or the number of airplanes they have or the number of ships. This is a different kind of enemy. These are commanders who hide in dark caves and then send youngsters to their suicidal death. They kind of slither into cities and hope not to get caught. They're sophisticated. They understand we're after them. And they're elusive, and they're determined. But so are we. We've got a fabulous United States military, and they're on the hunt. We've got a strong coalition of nations which have heard, as Anne mentioned, the doctrine that says, either you're with us, or you're with the enemy. We have upheld the doctrine that says, if you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist. And I want you to tell your youngsters, your children and your grandchildren, that when this great Nation went into Afghanistan, we didn't go to conquer anybody. We went in to liberate. We went in to liberate people from the clutches of the most barbaric regime in history. This great Nation and our friends and allies not only upheld an important doctrine, but as a result of our action, many young girls go to school for the first time in Afghanistan. And we're not leaving. We believe so strongly that every individual counts, that we want to help democracy flourish in that region. And we're not leaving because there's still Al Qaida and their buddies roaming around. And there's a lot of brave folks on the hunt, probably some of your relatives. And if you've got a relative in the United States military or if you're in the United States military, this Nation is incredibly proud of what your relative is doing. I have submitted a defense spending bill that is the largest increase since Ronald Reagan was the President. And I did so for two reasons two reasons One, anytime we put our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best equipment, and the best training and secondly, I did so because I want to send a message to friend and foe alike that we're in this deal for the long haul. When it comes to the freedoms we love, when it comes to something we hold dear, this country is determined and patient and plenty resolved to achieve victory. Congress is back. The House passed a version of the defense bill. The Senate passed a version of the defense bill. I expect the Congress to work together and get that defense bill to my desk as soon as possible. It's in the interests of the United States. The American people are not going to like it if they see the Congress playing politics with the defense bill when we're at war. We're making progress. See, because the enemy is different and the nature of the war is different, sometimes you don't see what's going on. As I said early on, and right after September the 11th, sometimes you'll see what's happening, and sometimes you won't. That's just the nature of this war. Sometimes one of these killers will be brought to justice, and you'll hear about it, and sometimes they won't. But we're making progress. Slowly but surely, we're making progress. Slowly but surely, we're bringing people to justice. Notice I don't say, "Slowly but surely, we're seeking revenge." I said, "Slowly but surely, we're bringing people to justice." We owe that to our children. We owe that to our children's children. We must stay on the hunt for the sake of freedom here. We must continue to deny sanctuary. Once we get them on the run, we've also got to make it hard for them to light anywhere. We must make sure that those who would like to harbor them continue to get the message that there will be a consequence. We must anticipate problems before they occur. We must deal with threats to our security today, before it can be too late. Yesterday I announced to the country that I would be working closely with our United States Congress and the American people to explain the threat that Saddam Hussein poses to world peace. I take the threat very seriously. I take the fact that he develops weapons of mass destruction very seriously. I remember the fact that he has invaded two countries before. I know for a fact that he's poisoned his own people. He doesn't believe in the worth of each individual. He doesn't believe in public dissent. I look forward to a dialog. I'm a patient man. I've got tools we've got tools at our disposal. And therefore, yesterday I began an important discussion about our future, about peace, about freedom a discussion that I will continue to have with the United States Congress, Republican and Democrat alike a discussion I will carry on with the American people a discussion I will begin at the United Nations next week a discussion I will have with the Prime Minister of Britain Saturday a discussion I'll have with the Prime Minister of Canada on Monday a discussion I'll be having with the President of Russia, Premier of China, President of France tomorrow. I will remind them that history has called us into action, that we love freedom, that we'll be deliberate, patient, and strong in the values that we adhere to, but we can't let the world's worst leaders blackmail, threaten, hold freedom loving nations hostage with the world's worst weapons. I can't imagine what went through the enemy's mind when they hit us. I can't imagine what they were thinking. Let me guess. They probably said, America is so selfish and so self absorbed and so materialistic, that after September the 11th we might file a lawsuit or two, but that's all we would do. They were wrong. See, they don't understand America. They don't understand our character, and they don't understand our fiber. They don't understand that, when we love something, we love it dearly. We love life, and we love freedom. And they understand one thing about us, too. When we need to be plenty tough, we're going to be plenty tough. And they're learning another thing about America. When we need to be compassionate and loving, we can be compassionate and loving, too. You see, I believe out of the evil done to America and make no mistake, it was an incredibly evil act will come incredible good. You need to tell your loved ones, the little ones in particular, that when they hear the President talking about Al Qaida, Iraq, and other places, I do so because I long for peace. See, I believe out of the evil done to America, if we're strong and focused and determined, we can achieve peace. We can not only achieve peace today for America but peace in the long term but not only for America. See, every life matters in this country. And you don't have to be an American for you to matter, as far as this Nation is concerned. We want peace in parts of the world that have quit on peace. We want there to be peace in the Middle East. We want there to be peace in South Asia. We act because we believe in peace. And out of the evil done to America can come a more peaceful world. And out of the evil done to America can come a more compassionate America, too. A lot of people say, "Well, what can I do on the war against terror?" You can love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself, is what you can do. No, I'm for a safer and strong America, and I'm for a better America. A better America begins, by the way, with making sure every child gets an education in this country and no child is left behind. A better America is when we take care of people who can't help themselves with a health care system that's modern. A better America is one that calls upon the best of America. See, Government can hand out money we do a pretty good job of it. But what Government cannot do is put hope into people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That's done when a loving individual puts his arm around a fellow citizen and says, "I love you. What can I do to help you?" You see, America is changing, one person at a time one person at a time. We're saving America one soul, one conscience at a time, because thousands of our fellow citizens have recognized it's important to serve something greater than yourself. Robert Mihalovic is here. I met two groups of people I met one group of people, and I met one person. I met Robert. I also met the Louisville Little League team, both kind of heroes in their own way. One group of kids won a championship. I did remind them, "It's just beginning for you. You've got a responsibility now that you're champs, a responsibility to make the right choices in life." Robert is here Robert, if you don't mind standing up I'll tell you why Robert is here. He's a Navy World War II veteran. He's a Korean war veteran. But let me tell you something about him. He mentors children. See, he's decided that in order to make a difference, in order to be a patriot, he wants to help a child in need. Robert told me at Air Force One that his most beautiful moments come when the child hugs him and says, "Thank you," when the child says, "Thanks for giving me some hope, and thanks for giving me love." No Government program can do that. It happens because thousands of citizens like Robert, who I call soldiers in the armies of compassion, have heard the call to love their neighbor like they'd like to be loved themselves. One person, one Robert can't do everything, but he can do something. He can help change America, one heart, one soul at a time. The enemy hit us. They did tremendous evil to America. But out of that evil is going to come a more compassionate country. We can deal with addiction and hopelessness and despair when our fellow citizens answer the call to make America a compassionate and a decent place. And that's what's happening in this country. It's happening in America. No, out of the evil done to America is going to come incredible good peace and a better society, because we're the greatest nation, full of the greatest people on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming. God bless. God bless America. September 05, 2002 Listen, thank you all for coming. What a warm welcome. I appreciate this Indiana hospitality. I'm thrilled to be back here again. I wanted to come and talk to you about some of the problems we face and our this Nation's great character and our ability to overcome anything that stands in our way. See, we're all going to work together to make America a safer place, a stronger place, and as importantly, a better place. I appreciate John Barnes for introducing me. I appreciate all the good folks who put this event on. I want to thank my fellow citizens for coming out. I particularly want to thank those of you who brought your family members with you. I love to see our Nation's young. I love to be with our children. I want to thank the mayor, Mayor Luecke of South Bend, Indiana, for greeting me here. I want to thank Mayor Beutter for coming as well. I want to thank Mayor David Miller for being here. I want to thank any local official who has taken time out of your busy day to come and say hello. There's one Member of the Congress who is here today. That's Steve Buyer. I appreciate Buyer being with us. As you can see, I had some folks meet me out there at this unbelievable airplane that you provide for the President. Laughter I want to thank our long time friend Digger Phelps for being here. I appreciate him coming to say hello. And as importantly, I want you to know that if you're a Fighting Irish fan, which I presume some people are, that this great university hired a really good man to be its head coach, Ty Willingham. I appreciate Ty coming over. And what's interesting about my administration, at least one person in my administration One of the finest women in America, one of the smartest women in America, is my close adviser on foreign policy. That happens to be Condoleezza Rice. She was a former student here at Notre Dame, a former trustee at Stanford. She went and saw Notre Dame's first victory. She's constantly telling me to watch out for the Irish, because she knows Tyrone Willingham. But anyway, I want to thank you all for coming. We've got some big challenges facing this great Nation. The first challenge is to make sure that there is economic security in America. See, a better America and a stronger America is an America in which people are able to find work. If they're looking for work and can't find work, we've got a problem, and we need to do something about it. Our country was in recession when I got sworn in, it turns out the first three quarters of my time in Washington was in recession. Secondly, the enemy hit us, which shocked our economy. Thirdly, it turns out we had some people that thought they could cook the books in America, people that were thought the best way to get ahead was to kind of shade the truth, to mistreat employee and shareholder. And we're dealing with all of them. We're dealing with the latter by passing law that says to those who want to cheat people, there's no easy money in America, just hard time. We're going to find you, and we're going to hold you to account. We expect high standards. We expect high standards in America. And Democrats and Republicans came together. We passed the most comprehensive corporate reform bill since Franklin D. Roosevelt was the President. It's a good piece of legislation. By the way, it shows what's possible in Washington when we set aside our political parties and focus on what's doing right for the American people. But our economy got hurt was hurting and got hurt, but we're recovering. See, the foundations for growth are strong. Interest rates are low. Inflation is low. We've got the best workers in the world. The worker of the American the productivity of the American worker is up. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong. The foundation for growth is solid. It's solid. One way to make sure that if people want to find work is to do more on the tax front. Let me tell you something about my view of taxes. Here's the textbook I read and by the way, some in Washington aren't reading this textbook they're reading another chapter. I believe if you let a person keep their own money, that person is more likely to demand a good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service, in our society somebody is more likely to produce it. And when somebody produces that good or service, somebody is more likely to find work. The tax relief we planned came at the right time in American economic history. It was the right thing to do. It was good for small business. America must understand that 70 percent of new jobs are created by small business people. And when you cut the tax rates like we did, and you understand most small businesses are sole proprietorships or limited partnerships in other words, they pay tax at the personal income tax level what we did was infuse capital into the small business sector of our society. People are more likely to find work because of the tax relief. We also did two other things important One, we mitigated the damage done by the marriage penalty. Our Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not discourage marriage. And thirdly, we put the death tax on the way to extinction. The death tax is bad for Indiana farmers. It's bad for Indiana ranchers. It's bad for Indiana small business owners. It is plain it's just plain a bad tax. But here's the problem here's the problem because of the Senate rules, all the tax relief that we passed, which both Republicans and Democrats voted for, goes away after 10 years. Now, that's a hard one to explain at the coffee shop there in Crawford. Laughter How do you say, "On the one hand, you've got tax relief but on the other hand, you don't"? The one hand giveth the other hand taketh away. It sounds like Washington to me. Laughter But those are the Senate rules. And so here's one way to make sure we continue to have jobs for people, so that people can plan, so that people have certainty when it comes to their businesses, so jobs will grow, is for Congress to make the tax relief permanent. There are some who are beginning to make noises that they want to raise the taxes. They want to do away with the tax relief. For the sake of people who want to find work in America, for the sake of job creation, it is important for those voices in Congress to read the same textbook you and I have read, that tax relief is important for job creation. I'll tell you what else is important for job creation, is to make sure that Congress does not overspend. The problem we have in Washington is, every program sounds like a beauty, sounds like a winner. Every program sounds good. Just the problem is, they all cost billions. What we need to do is set our priorities, the priorities on how to make America safer, stronger, and better and not overspend. It's essential that the United States Congress meet our priorities and hold the line on spending. And one way they can better understand how to do that is understand whose money we're talking about. The money we spend in Washington is not the Government's money. The money we spend in Washington is your money, the people's money. We need an energy bill in America. An energy bill will be good for job security. It will also be good for national security. We need an energy bill which will encourage conservation, that will help unleash the technology necessary for us to conserve more, the technologies and the research necessary for us to do a better job with renewable sources of energy. But at the same time, we've got to understand technology has changed, and we can explore for energy here at home in safer ways. For the sake of job security and for the sake of national security and I say "national security" because we must do everything we can to become less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. They've been talking about an energy plan for months, and with the short time left before the Congress goes home for the elections, and for the sake of American jobs, they've got to stop talking and get me an energy bill. For the sake of the country, what's best for the country, we need an energy policy. And we need, by the way, a terrorism insurance policy, too. When the terrorists hit us, they affected the ability of people to be able to get insurance necessary to start construction projects. There are over 10 billion of construction projects which have been delayed because we can't get terrorism insurance for developers. Congress ought to help. Congress ought to help not for the sake necessarily of the developers but the sake of the over 300,000 hardhats who will be able to find work. If you want to help economic growth, Congress, get me a terrorism insurance bill that is that recognizes the importance of the hardhat, rewards the hardhats of America, and does not reward the plaintiffs attorneys in this country. I've got I'm optimistic about our future, because I'm optimistic about America. I know the resiliency of our country. I know the strengths of our country. And while some hurt now because of the economic slowdown, I'm optimistic about our future. I really am. I feel strong I feel strongly that there are better days ahead for people who can't find work. The foundation is there, and we'll keep working we'll keep working. My biggest job, however, is to protect you, the American people. That's my biggest job now, is to secure the homeland, is to make sure that we're safe, is to make sure our American families are protected. That job still exists, and it's important today because there's still an enemy out there that hates us. It is really important for all of us to communicate the right message to our children when we talk with these harsh words. But you need to tell your kids that these killers hate America because of what we love. And what we love is, we love freedom. We love the fact that freedom can worship an the freedom to worship an almighty God the way we see fit. We love our freedoms. We hold them dear, and we're willing to defend them. We love freedom to speak. We love freedom to assemble. We love freedom of the press. We love those freedoms. And the other thing one of the other things that distinguishes from our enemy is that we value the worth of each life. Everybody counts. Everybody matters. Each person has worth here in America. And that's not the way the enemy thinks. See, they've hijacked a great religion, and they don't care about life. They've got their desires, their dark, dark ambitions. And if people get in the way from them, that's just too bad, as far as they're concerned. But the problem what they've got is, they've got a mighty nation that stands between them and their ambitions. We know they're out there. We know they're out there, and therefore, we're doing everything we can to protect you. We're chasing down every lead, every hint. There's a lot of really good, hardworking people who are working overtime, working long hours to protect the homeland. One of the reasons I've asked or the reason I asked for us to create a new Department of Homeland Security is because I want to have all the tools at our disposal necessary to protect you not just me but future Presidents. And notice I say "future Presidents," because I believe this struggle is going to be going on for quite awhile, because we're not quitting freedom and they're probably not going to quit hating for a while. I've asked the Congress to join me in creating this Homeland Department because I want the over 100 agencies involved with your protection to be under one agency. In other words, in order to affect the culture of an agency, in order to set the right priorities, they ought to be under one umbrella. They ought to be working toward the same goal. That doesn't mean they can't do other things, but the number one priority, the most important job that these agencies have, is to protect America. And we're making some progress. I appreciate the way the House voted the bill, but we've got a little problem in the Senate. And here's the problem. I need flexibility in order to make decisions necessary to protect you. I'll give you an example. One of the ways one of the most important things to secure our homeland is to do a better job on our borders. See, we need to know who is coming in the country. We need to know what they're bringing into the country. We need to know what they're bringing in, and we need to know if they're leaving when they say they're going to leave. That's what we need to know. And yet when you go down to the border, when you look at our border, there's Customs and there's INS and there's Border Patrol, three different uniforms, three different cultures, three different attitudes perhaps. In order to better secure America, the administration, the executive branch of Government needs the capacity to move people to the right place at the right time. The enemy moves quickly we should be able to move quickly. Yet the bill coming out of the Senate micromanages the process. Listen, there are Senators up there who are more concerned about special interests in Washington and not enough concerned about the security of the American people. And I'm not going to accept a lousy bill. I'm not going to accept a lousy plan. I insist, for the sake of our security, that the United States Senate get it right. The best way to secure our homeland and the best way to make sure that our children can grow up in a free world is to hunt these killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice, which is exactly what we're going to do. It's a different kind of war than we're used to. In the old days, they could count tanks and figure out how strong the enemy was, or you could look at airplanes and formations and flotillas. This is a war where we're fighting tough people, smart killers, who hide in dark caves or who kind of slither into shadowy recesses in large cities and parts of the world and then send youngsters to their suicidal death. See, it's a different kind of war, which means we've got to think differently. We've got to be better at intelligence. We've got to uphold that doctrine that says, either you're with us, or you're with the terrorists. We will be steady. We will be patient. Sometimes you'll see the action in this war, and sometimes you won't see the action in this war. Sometimes you'll know whether we bring one of them to justice sometimes you won't know whether we bring one of them to justice. Laughter But you've got to know that we're after justice, that we're steadily, slowly but surely, we are slowly but surely doing everything we can to protect the homeland, slowly but surely finding these people. Sometimes they think they can outwit us, but they can't outwit a powerful nation that's just on the hunt. Once we get them on the run, we're going to make sure that there's no place for them to light, make sure that other countries understand the consequences of accepting these Al Qaida killers and other terrorists who hate America. I also laid out another doctrine and by the way, I think it's very important that when the United States speak, we do what we say, for our credibility and for the sake of peace. I told the world loud and clear, if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the killers who came to America. And one group of folks found out what we meant, the Taliban. I want you to tell your children this, as well, that this great Nation went into Afghanistan in upholding that doctrine we went into that country not to conquer anybody but to liberate people. See, every life matters to us. Every life matters. You need to tell your young ones when they think about America and our values, that because of this country and our friends, many young girls went to school for the first time. We freed people from the clutches of a barbaric regime. I submitted the biggest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President to Congress recently. I did it for two reasons. It's important for you to know why. First, anytime we put our troops into harm's way, our soldiers deserve the best possible pay, the best training, and the best equipment. We owe it to our troops. We owe it to those who are sacrificing for our country, and we owe it to their loved ones. By the way, if you happen to have a son or a daughter or a nephew or niece or a mom or a dad in the military, you tell them, thanks, on behalf of a grateful nation. I submitted that bill that size because I wanted to send a message to friend and foe alike that we're in this deal for the long haul, that there's not a calendar on my desk that says, by such and such a date we've got to quit. See, we love freedom. And it doesn't matter how long it takes to defend freedom. We will defend freedom in America. That's what we're made out of. That's the fiber of our country. That's important for people to understand. If there is a threat to America, we will deal with it in a deliberative, smart way. If we face a threat, we must confront that threat if we want our children see, there's a new it's a new attitude around the world. We've got to understand that. The battlefield is now here in America. It used to be the oceans would protect us. But September the 11th taught us a new lesson, and it's a lesson that must that we must take seriously. We must understand the possibilities of what can happen in the new war of the 21st century. And that's why I started a dialog yesterday on another threat to America, a dialog about Saddam Hussein. I want to assure you that I want the American people to fully understand all the consequences. That's why we're going to have a debate here nationally. That's why there's going to be a lot of discussion. That's why I've asked the Congress to be a part of the deliberations. That's why there will be open hearings. That's why members of appropriate members of my administration will testify. That's why we'll share information as much as we possibly can with the American people, not only with the American people but with our friends and allies around the world. I'll be meeting with Prime Minister Blair on Saturday, Prime Minister Chretien on Monday. I'll be talking to President Putin and Premier Jiang and President Chirac tomorrow. I'll be beginning to talk about the need for freedom loving countries to deal with threats today, before they become incredibly serious tomorrow. See, I believe we owe that to our children. Some things are certain, however. This is a man who used poisons on his own people. He's invaded two countries two countries. He's a person who has ignored all admonitions by international organizations. There will be a good debate, but I firmly believe that the world cannot allow the world's worst leaders to hold America blackmail, to threaten America, to threaten our peace and threaten our friends and allies with the world's worst weapons. I don't know what was going through the mind of the enemy when they hit us. They probably thought, you know, America is so self absorbed and so materialistic, so shallow and so selfish that after September the 11th, oh, they might file a lawsuit or two, but that's all they would do. No, they don't understand our country, do they? They don't understand the fact that, when we need to be tough, we're plenty tough. And when we need to be compassionate, we've got a huge heart. Out of the evil done to America is going to come some good. Out of the evil done to this country see, the enemy never could predict that. Haters don't can't see. They can't see beyond their selfishness. But I see something different, and I know many Americans do as well. I see peace. I believe that by being strong and forceful when we need to be strong and forceful, by speaking clearly about good and evil, by leading other peaceful and loving freedom loving people in a vast coalition, that we can achieve peace, that we can achieve peace not only for ourselves and for our children, but we can achieve peace in parts of the world where people have quit thinking about peace. We have a chance. The enemy hit us. They awoke a mighty country that not only will defend ourselves but will lead toward a more peaceful tomorrow. I want you to tell your children that when they hear all the talk and all the speculation and all the thousands of hours of so called experts babbling away about this, that, or the other, that the true policy of this Government is to achieve peace for generations to come. And at home the enemy hit us, and they have awakened a new spirit in the country. I used to tell people, "If you want to join the war on terror, do some good. If you want to fight evil, love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to be a patriot, serve something greater than yourself." Today we've got Ricardo Rios with us. He is a AmeriCorps member. Ricardo, give them a wave. I'll tell you about Ricardo. He's decided that he wants to serve something greater than self, so he became a teacher, a sixth grade teacher. He knows what I know and I want you all to hear this loud and clear one person can't do everything in society. I know that, but each of us can do something to help change America one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. See, that's the great hope here for this country. The enemy has awakened a new spirit of compassion in America. We've got to recognize that in this great country there are pockets of despair there are pockets of hopelessness there's addiction. There are people who wonder about the American Dream. And that can be changed. There can be light where there is darkness, particularly when our fellow Americans put their arm around people in need and say, "I love you. What can I do to help? How can I help make your life better?" If you want to join the war on terror, if you want to be a part of the change in America, love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. No, the enemy hit us, and as a result, there are more soldiers in the armies of compassion all across America. The enemy hit us, and as a result, people have taken a step back and have asked, "What's important in our lives?" We've taken an assessment of our worth, an assessment of our future. And as a result of what they have done, I think our culture is changing, a culture that used to say, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else for your problem," to a new day in which each of us understand we are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're a mom or a dad if you're lucky enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul. If you're fortunate enough to be a citizen of South Bend, Indiana, you're responsible for the quality of education. You're responsible for the public school system. You're responsible for making sure that your faith based groups, if they're looking for help, are joined. You're responsible for helping feed the hungry. It's your responsibility, in order to be an American, to serve something greater than yourself in life. Perhaps the most vivid example of that came with Flight 93. I want you all to remember. For me, it's one of the most important moments of the change that is taking place in America, the most vivid and sad symbol of them all but, nevertheless, vivid and clear. People are flying across the country on an airplane at least they thought they were. They learned the plane was going to be used as a weapon. They got on their telephones. They were told the true story. Many of them told their loved ones goodbye. They said they loved them. They said a prayer a prayer was said. One guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane into the ground. It is that spirit, it is that willingness to serve something greater than yourself in life which is a part of this great country's soul and fabric. No, the enemy hit us. They didn't know who they were hitting. And out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good, because this is the greatest nation on the face of the Earth, full of the greatest people. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. September 04, 2002 The President. Thank you all for coming. It's been my honor to welcome the leadership of the United States Congress here, to welcome them back from the August recess. We talked about a variety of issues talked about the defense appropriations bill and terrorism insurance and an energy bill, spent most of our time talking about a serious threat to the United States, a serious threat to the world, and that's Saddam Hussein. One of the things I made very clear to the Members here is that doing nothing about that serious threat is not an option for the United States. I also made it very clear that we look forward to a open dialog with Congress and the American people about the threat and that not only will we consult with the United States Congress "we" being the administration but that my administration will fully participate in any hearings that the Congress wishes to have on this subject, on the subject about how to make America a more secure country, how to best protect the American families in our country. At the appropriate time, this administration will go to the Congress to seek approval for necessary to deal with the threat. At the same time, I will work with our friends in the world. I've invited Prime Minister Blair to come to Camp David on Saturday, and he'll he's coming. I've looked forward to talking with him about our mutual concerns about how to make the world more secure and safe. I will see Jean Chretien on Monday, as we we'll talk about how to make our borders work better, but at the same time, I'll talk to him about this subject. I'll be on the phone to leaders of the China and Russia and France, and then I'll be giving the speech at the United Nations. Saddam Hussein is a serious threat. He is a significant problem. And it's something that this country must deal with. And today the process starts about how to have an open dialog with the elected officials and, therefore, the American people about our future and how best to deal with it. Let me answer a couple of questions. Steve Holland Reuters , Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press , and then Gregory David Gregory, NBC News , and that's it. President Saddam Hussein of Iraq Q. Mr. President, what's your opinion on putting U.N. weapons inspectors back in Iraq? Will you ask the U.N. to do that? Is that a viable option? The President. First of all, I'll be giving a speech on Tuesday or the 12th and you can come and listen to it. But let me say to you that the issue is not inspectors the issue is disarmament. This is a man who said he would not arm up. This is a man who told the world that he would not harbor weapons of mass destruction. That's the primary issue, and I'll be discussing ways to make sure that that is the case. Ron. Q. So you will be you will be discussing ways to make sure that he disarms? Are you talking about having inspectors back in? The President. I will first remind the United Nations that for 11 long years, Saddam Hussein has sidestepped, crawfished, wheedled out of any agreement he had made not to harbor not to develop weapons of mass destruction, agreements he's made to treat the people within his country with respect. And so I'm going to call upon the world to recognize that he is stiffing the world. And I will lay out and I will talk about ways to make sure that he fulfills his obligations. Q. Let me just follow up on your opening statement. When you say you're going to seek congressional approval, does that mean, in effect, Congress will have veto authority over your plan to oust Saddam Hussein? The President. I'm confident we will be able to I'll be able to work with Congress to deal with this threat to the American people. And that's what I meant. Q. Mr. President, you talked about Saddam Hussein stiffing the world. In your mind, has the time come to issue the Iraqi leader an ultimatum similar to that that you issued to the Taliban? The President. I am going to state clearly to the United Nations what I think. And I think that he has not fulfilled any of the obligations that he made to the world. And I believe it's important for the world to deal with this man. And I believe it's really important for the United States Congress to have an open dialog about how to deal with this threat. We are in a new era. The first battle of the the first war of the 21st century took place in Afghanistan. The United States is under threats. We are we spent a lot of time, people around this table, good hearted people who care deeply about America spent a lot of time thinking about how best to secure our homeland even further. And this is a debate the American people must hear, must understand. And the world must understand as well that its credibility is at stake. Thank you all for coming. Q. Are you suggesting an ultimatum is coming? Is a deadline coming, sir? Maxwell Gregory The President. That's a fine looking child, fine looking child. Laughter Little Gregory. Little Stretch. Laughter Thank you all. September 02, 2002 Well, I thank you very much for this warm welcome. Thanks for inviting me. If I speak too long, it's going to remind me of Crawford. Laughter But I appreciate you all coming. I love to see your families. I'm here to talk about the greatness of this country. And it starts with the fact that we've got great Americans who work hard to make a living to put food on the table. Our workers are the most productive, the hardest working, the best craftsmen in the world. And I'm here to thank all those who work hard to make a living here in America. I also want to talk today about how to make sure our country is safer, our country is stronger, and our country is a better place for everybody. But before I do so, I want to thank Doug. I appreciate his leadership. I appreciate his vision. But most of all, I appreciate the fact that Doug McCarron cares deeply, deeply about the members of his union. Each person in this union matters to Doug. You can tell it when you talk to him, and I've had a chance to talk to him quite a lot. He is a fine, fine man who cares deeply about people and who loves his country just as much as I do. Doug, thank you for your leadership, and thank you for your friendship. I, too, want to thank Jack Brooks. I've had the honor of meeting Jack before. He's a decent, kind, smart, hard working fellow. And I appreciate Jack's leadership as much as you do. I want to thank Ray Vogel, as well, for giving me a tour of the training center here. One of the things that distinguishes this union is that they understand, through training, somebody is going to get better pay. If you help a man or a woman enhance their skills, it's going to enhance their pocketbook. And I appreciate so very much the attention that this union pays to the skill level of its members. So I want to thank Jack and Ray for helping set this picnic up and giving me a chance to come by and talk to you all. I also appreciate the Secretary of Labor being here. Elaine Chao is doing a fine job. Her door is open. People are able to come in and visit with her. She's a good, honest, and open person, and I appreciate her service to the country. I want to thank your Governor, Mark Schweiker your attorney general, Mike Fisher your Allegheny County executive, Jim Roddey and the mayor of Pittsburgh, Tom Murphy. Thank you all for coming. The mayor has got a lot of spunk. He challenged me to a 3 mile run. Laughter I said, "Fine, see you in Crawford at 4 in the afternoon in August." Laughter I do appreciate I appreciate Melissa Hart and Phil English coming, Members of the United States Congress. Thank you all for being here. I had the honor of meeting a lady named Doris Harris today. Where are you, Doris? Thank you for coming. You see, the reason I introduced Doris is because she volunteers her time to help people in need. Doris knows that when somebody is shut in, they're alone and lonely. And so she takes time to visit homebound seniors, to say, "I love you. What can I do to help you?" Doris is a member is a soldier in the army of compassion here in America. And the reason I bring that up is because there are soldiers in the armies of compassion here amongst you as well. I want to thank Doris, and I want to thank you all for doing everything you can to bring love and compassion to the neighborhoods in which you live. It's the true strength of the America. Thank you, Doris. You know, Doug mentioned, a year ago, Labor Day, I was in Wisconsin talking to carpenters. I said that we were a nation that's strong because our people are strong. See, we're a great nation because we've got great people. I said, "We're a decent nation because our people are decent." I didn't realize, when I said that at the time, how tested we would be. But a couple of days later, the enemy hit us, and they tested the character of this country. They tested our will. They tested our very fiber. I don't know what was going through their mind when they attacked us. Laughter They must have thought we were so materialistic, so self absorbed, so selfish, that all we would do is shrug our shoulders and file a lawsuit, maybe. They didn't understand the America we know. No, they hit us, and we united. They hit us, and we're now working together as a nation to make the Nation a safer place, a stronger place, and a better place. My most important job is to keep our families safe. That's my most important job now. I want you to know that there's still an enemy out there that hates America. I'm sure your kids, they're wondering, why would you hate America? We didn't do anything to anybody. Well, they hate America because we love freedom. We cherish our freedoms. We value our freedoms. We love the fact that people can worship an almighty God in a free land, any way they choose to worship. We value the idea of people speaking their mind freely here in America. We value a free press we value our freedoms. But most importantly, we say, "Each life matters. Everybody counts. Everybody has got purpose. Everybody is important in life." And the enemy doesn't view it that way. They don't view it that they don't value life. See, they've hijacked a great religion, and they're willing to kill innocent people in the name of their sordid attitude about the future. And so, so long as we love freedom, which we'll do forever, and so long as this enemy is still standing, they're going to come and try to get us. That's just the reality that we face. And so, therefore, our biggest job is to protect the homeland. And there are a lot of good people working hard to do so. There really are a lot of fine folks in Washington at the Federal level and here in Pennsylvania at the State level and at the local level in Pittsburgh, doing everything they can to run down every lead, to chase down every idea, to hold people to account, to disrupt. And we're making some pretty good progress. But I've asked the Congress to join me in creating a new Homeland Security Department. And the reason I did is because I wanted to be able to come and, when I see the people, say, "Our most important priority is to protect America, and therefore, I want all agencies involved with protecting America under one umbrella." See, if you want the most important thing to be done, you've got to gather up the over 100 agencies that have got something to do with homeland security and put them under one boss, put them under one lead, so you can not only change the priorities but change the culture. I'll give you one example. We need to know who's coming into America, what they're bringing into America, and whether or not they're leaving America when they say they are. But see, on your border, you've got your INS and your Customs and your Border Patrol, three different agencies, and they've got different cultures. And we need to have them under one umbrella, so we can do a better job of assuring the American people we're doing their job. Look, anybody who wants to join a union can do so in this crowd, with the Homeland Security Department. I mean, if you're a whistleblower, you'll get protections. You'll have all the rights to be free to join. But I need the flexibility to put the right people at the right place at the right time to protect the American people, and the Senate better get it right. No, we're doing everything we can. A lot of people are working hard, but the best way to secure our homeland for the long run is to hunt these killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice. And that's what America is going to do. And that's how you ultimately make America a safer place. For those of you who have got relatives in the military, you need to be proud of the job they're doing. I sure am. It's a different kind of war, though. In the old days, you could count tanks and figure out how strong the enemy was. This is an enemy that hides in caves. They try to find the darkest cave, the deepest cave, and then they send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. It's a different kind of hater than we're used to. But my attitude is, there's no cave deep enough and dark enough to hide from the long arm of justice of the United States and our friends and allies. And that's exactly what we're going to do, folks. It doesn't matter how long it takes. You see, they put the spotlight on us, and we're going to find out what we're made out of, and so are they. And what we're made out of is, we're freedom loving people who are plenty tough and plenty determined to make sure the future for our children is a future that is free and peaceful. And that's why I want to strengthen the military. Anytime you put a soldier in harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. So a stronger America, to me, means a stronger military. And that's why I've submitted the biggest increase in defense spending since the mid eighties, when Ronald Reagan was the President. I wanted to send a message. The message is We'll take care of our people. See, we owe it not only to those who wear the uniform we owe it to their loved ones as well. We owe it to the husbands and wives of our soldiers. We owe it to the moms and dads. We owe it to the sons and daughters. But I also wanted to send a message to the enemy and our friends that we're in this deal for the long haul. See, when it comes to defending that which we hold dear to our hearts, we're in it for the long pull. I've asked Congress to get that bill to my desk soon. They don't need to be playing politics with the defense bill. They don't need to hold it up for other reasons. They need to get home come from their homes they need to get to Washington and get me a bill as soon as possible, so we can win this war and fight this war. That's what we owe it to those who wear the uniform to get the defense bill done early. And part of making sure we have a strong America is to understand there are some people who want to find work and can't find work, and therefore, we're not as strong as we should be. A strong America is one where there's economic security. See, we want people working. I know the statistics and all that business. What I worry about is when I hear the stories of people who can't find work. And so we've got to make sure that we continue to focus on jobs and job creation and job growth. I think the ingredients are pretty good. I mean, when you think about it, interest rates are low. That's good. Inflation is low, and that's positive. Productivity is up because we've got the best workers in the world, and that's important. So I'm encouraged about job growth, but I'm not satisfied. And neither should you be, and neither should the United States Congress. And there are some practical ways that we can build on this foundation for growth, starting with getting a terrorism insurance bill out of the United States Congress. Let me tell you what that means. That means some of these big construction projects can go forward. See, a lot of them, they've been delayed because they can't get insurance. They can't get insurance because of what the terrorists did to America on September the 11th. So Doug and I and a lot of other concerned citizens have been working with Congress. We said, "Okay, that's fine. We'll take some of the risk to get these big construction projects moving." There's been over 8 billion worth of projects that have been delayed because they can't get insurance. That means 300,000 workers aren't working. You see, if we want to do something to make sure the job base continues, Congress needs to get moving on a terrorism insurance bill. And this bill has got to be good for hardhats, not lawyers. This bill we get this bill, a lot of folks are going to go back to work. And the same with the energy bill. See, the energy bill that we're talking about is a jobs bill. You get the energy bill, we're going to get more jobs here in America. It's also a national security bill. See, we don't the less we import oil from foreign sources, the more our national security is strong. And so we want to make sure that we conserve more, that we use our technologies to develop renewable sources of energy. That makes sense. We can do that. We can do a better job of exploring environmentally. But we need a bill we need a bill. We need a bill on behalf of the American workers, and we need a bill on behalf of the national security of America. Congress needs to quit talking about energy and get back to work and do something on behalf of the American people when it comes to energy. In order to get confidence back in the economy, we've got to do a good job of making America's pensions strong. You see, one of the things that we did, we passed a part of this corporate reform bill, one of the things we passed which made a lot of sense is that, if the boss gets to sell, everybody else does. What's good for the head person is good for the people on the shop floor. We also allow people to diversify out of their 401(k)s. You ought not to be stuck in one stock forever. After a reasonable period of time, you ought to be able to diversify. You need to get the best investment advice. We need to make sure our workers are protected when it comes to pension reform. And the Congress needs to act on it. For the good of the economy, they need to act on this, just like they acted on corporate reform. And now it's my turn to act. Let me tell you what's going to happen. If we catch somebody cooking the books, like we have been doing, it's no more easy money it's just hard time. By far the vast majority of our fellow citizens are honest and decent and honorable people they just are. But a few have created a put a bad name out there. They've created a sense of lack of they diminish the confidence of the American people. We're putting those days behind us. We had Republicans and Democrats work together to pass the most comprehensive corporate reform since Franklin Roosevelt was the President. I put together a task force. And I want to assure you, my fellow Americans, here on Labor Day, that if we catch them cooking the books, if we catch them fudging the numbers, if we catch people trying to put a sleight of hand to the detriment of employees and shareholders alike, there are going to be serious consequences here in America. We expect people to behave responsibly in our society. And finally, in order to make sure the economy continues to grow and there's jobs, we've got to be wise about how you spend your money. See, every idea sounds like a good idea up there. Everybody throws something out there, and it sounds like a brilliant idea. But they always cost in the billions, it seems like. One way I like to remind Congress about how to be fiscally responsible is to remind them whose money they're spending. It's not the Government's money they spend. It's your money. It's the people's money. No, we can meet our needs. We can meet our needs. And by the way, we can make that tax relief a permanent part of the Tax Code. You need to have more money in your pocket, as far as I'm concerned. No, those are ways for us to make America a stronger place by continuing to focus on the economic security of all our citizens every citizen. And we've got to make sure that America is not only safer and stronger but a better place a better place. And there are ways to do that. One, America will be a better place when our seniors have got prescription drugs as a part of Medicare. That's a better country, a country that understands that Medicare serves an important purpose. Medicine has changed Medicare hasn't. And therefore, our seniors don't have prescription drugs. It will be a better country when we do that. It's a better country when we focus on educating every child, not just a few children but every single child. I want to thank the teachers who are here. Applause I could tell. But remember, if you're a mom or a dad, you're a teacher. We're a better country when we help people get off welfare by finding them work. We're a better country when people learn to work. This training center here makes us a better country. It's a better country when you've got people who are willing to help people help themselves. It's a better country. It's a better country when people can own their own homes. When you own something, it makes America a better place. We've got a minority gap in ownership here for homes in America. We need to do something about it. We need to close that gap. We need to help people with downpayments. We need to get some we need to get more capital into the marketplace, so people can find ways to borrow money to build to buy their own home. No, it's a the goal is more than just a safer country it's a better place for all of us, see. I mean for all of us. You know, the enemy didn't realize, but out of the evil is going to come some incredible good here in America. I truly believe that. I believe that. I believe that we can achieve peace. And I want you to tell your sons and daughters that we fight for our freedom in order for there to be peace, for the world to be more peaceful, not only here at home but for children all across the world. See, we value each human life as important. We don't try to distinguish everybody has got worth in the eyes of the Almighty, as far as we're concerned in this Nation. But peace is our goal peace. There's going to be some steep hills to climb, no question about it, but we're going to work hard to achieve peace. Out of the evil done by these killers will come peace, we think I think. We have to be tough and determined and resolute, but we can achieve peace. And at home, we can have a better America. People say, "Well, what can I do to help?" You can love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. You can help a neighbor in need. You can go to a shut in and say, "I love you." That's just a part of being a part of loving your neighbor. You can mentor a child. You can understand your most important responsibility, if you're a mom or a dad, is to love your children with all your heart and all your soul. You should tell them you love them every single day. Put your arm around them. Find somebody who hurts, understand there's deep addiction and hopelessness in parts of our neighborhoods in America, and we can help change that, one person at a time. See, Government can hand out money pretty good at it laughter but it can't put hope into people's hearts. It can't put a sense of purpose in people's lives. Somebody said, "Well, I can't do everything." No, but you can do something. You can do something. See, we can change America, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. And I call upon our fellow Americans, here on Labor Day, to be a part of that change in America. Be a part of the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and decency which show the true face and character of the greatest nation, the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. God bless you all. God bless. God bless America. Thank you all. August 29, 2002 The President. Well, thank you all. Thank you all very much. I appreciate your warm welcome. Thank you. Thank you all. Well, thank you very much for coming out tonight. I'm proud to come back to Arkansas. I'm surprised you let a Texan come here this many times. Laughter I came here today to talk about educational excellence. I went to Parkview Magnet School to talk about setting high standards and making sure no child gets left behind. And tonight I'm here to urge the good people of this State to send Tim Hutchinson back to the United States Senate. He's a hard worker. He cares deeply about the people of Arkansas. He's doing a fine job as the United States Senator. I'm proud to call him friend. I appreciate his advice, and I appreciate you all working hard to send him back up to Washington, DC. I'm so grateful that Randi Hutchinson, his wife, is campaigning with him and standing by his side during this campaign for reelection. I appreciate meeting Randi. And it's an honor to have you here, Randi. Thank you. And speaking about wives, I'm sorry mine is not here. Audience members. Me, too. The President. Yes I know you are. Laughter You drew the short straw. Laughter She's doing great. I'm really proud of Laura. She's down in Crawford. It's where I'm heading after tonight, for a couple more days. She you know, when I married her, she was a public school librarian. She didn't care for politics and didn't particularly like politicians. Laughter Now she's stuck with one. And she's doing a fabulous job as First Lady. I want to thank John Boozman, who's a Member of the United States Congress, for being with us today. John, thank you for coming down for the fundraiser. I had the honor of being with your Governor earlier today. He's off working. You need to send Mike Huckabee back to the Governor's office here in Arkansas. He's a fine fellow. And so is your Lieutenant Governor, who is with us tonight, Win Rockefeller. Thanks for coming. I want to thank members two guys who are running for the United States Congress. Former Member Jay Dickey is with us today. Jay, thank you very much. And the man they call "TR," Tommy Robinson, is with us as well. I appreciate my family friend John Paul Hammerschmidt for being here tonight and for being the national committeeman from the State of Arkansas. Thank you, John Paul. I want to thank your chairman, Marty Ryall, for his leadership here in the State of Arkansas. And I appreciate all the grassroots activists who are here. I appreciate you for what you have done and what you're going to do. See, over the next couple of months, you need to go to your coffee shops and your churches and your synagogues and your community centers and turn out the vote. You need to tell the people, when you find a good one like Tim Hutchinson, "We need to send him back to office." And there are some good reasons why, starting with the fact that he has a good vision for education. We passed a good piece of legislation out of Washington for education. It's one that Tim had a lot to do with. He worked hard on that legislation. And let me describe the principles and why it's so important to have this type of person in Washington. It first starts the bill says, and he and I both believe, that every child can learn. That sounds simple, but too often in our society, we've lowered the standards. We don't believe every child can learn. Therefore, we have low standards. It's what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. If you lower the bar, you're going to get lousy results. So this bill believes that if you set high standards and believe every child can learn, you start with the right frame of mind. Secondly, it says, we trust the people of Arkansas, the people of this good State, the people of Little Rock and Jonesboro and all the cities, to chart the path for excellence for every child in their community. We believe in local control of schools. And finally, at the core of the bill is this principle It says, we want to know whether or not our children are learning. You see, if you believe every child can learn, the next question is, are they? And the only way to know is to measure, is to hold people to account, is to let the children take a test to see whether or not they can read and write and add and subtract. If you believe every child can learn, then you want to know. And you see, when you find out children aren't learning, it gives you the tools necessary to do something about it. If you believe every child can learn, they ought to show us whether or not every child is learning. And if they're not, we need to correct problems early, before it's too late. You see, there are no second class children in the State of Arkansas, and no child should be left behind. I appreciate Tim's stand on education policy, and I appreciate his stand on tax policy. When I took office, I knew things were kind of slow, but I didn't realize that we were in the beginning of a recession. The first three quarters of my Presidency were negative growth that means recession. Thankfully, people like Tim Hutchinson supported my call for tax relief. See, we read from the same textbook. It's a little different from some of the other ones in Washington. It says, if you let a person keep their own money, they will demand a good or a service if they have more money. And when they demand a good or a service, somebody is likely to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces the good and service, somebody is more likely to find jobs in the midst of a recession. It is important to let the people have their own money. Tim was the original author of the 500per child tax credit in the House. And he supported the doubling of that tax credit in the new tax relief plan. Not only does the tax relief plan lower all rates, which, by the way, stimulates small business growth see, most of the new jobs in Arkansas and around the country are created by small businesses. Seventy percent of new jobs in America are created by the entrepreneurs who start their own business. Yet most of those small businesses are sole proprietors or limited partnerships, which means they pay taxes at the individual rate. When you lower the individual rates, you stimulate the growth of our economy by stimulating the entrepreneurial spirit in America. This tax relief plan did more than that. It mitigated the ill effects of a marriage penalty. The Tax Code ought to promote family, not discourage family. And finally, the tax relief plan put the death tax on its way to extinction. I know there's a lot of farmers and ranchers in this State and some in this audience. The death tax is bad for our ranching families. It's bad for our farming families, and it's bad for the entrepreneurial families of Arkansas. And Tim was right by my side on this tax relief plan. But what's interesting not interesting, kind of a quirk in the law, is that all this, all the tax relief that we passed goes away after 10 years from the sign of passage from the time of passage. That's the quirk in the Senate rules. It's hard to explain, I understand. You ought to try that in the Crawford coffee shop. Laughter On the one hand, we giveth on the other hand, we taketh away. For the sake of planning, for the sake of economic vitality, for the sake of job growth, you need to have a United States Senator who will join me in making this tax relief permanent. I appreciate Tim's concern about health care, health care not just for Republicans but health care for everybody who lives in Arkansas. He's on the leading edge of those in the Senate who want to bring a reasonable reform to Medicare. See, Medicare is an incredibly important program, but medicine has changed, and the program hasn't. Medicine has changed, and yet the bureaucracy still strangles the capacity for our seniors to get the care they need. We need to reform Medicare and make sure our seniors have got prescription drugs. I appreciate Tim's support for the farm bill. See, he and I understand that good economic policy at home means that you've got to have a strong agricultural sector. It's a luxury for this President to be able to say we feed ourselves. Imagine if we were around the world asking for food. We've got a great farm economy, and the farm bill we passed recognizes that. And Tim was one of the leaders that helped get that farm bill out of the Senate and to my desk. I was proud to sign the farm bill. It was good for Arkansas farmers. And finally, I appreciate his leadership on sending a clear message to people who have got positions of responsibility in America. Our economy was hurt by a recession, and then it got shocked by the attacks of September the 11th. And then, of course, we found out that bubbling up through the years was this business about people trying to cook the books, some of our corporate leaders deciding that the best way to get ahead was not to tell the truth, was not to uphold their responsibilities to employee and shareholder alike. I signed the most comprehensive corporate reform legislation since Franklin Roosevelt was the President. And Tim Hutchinson was a strong supporter. It says this If we catch you cheating, if you're not a responsible citizen, if you think you can cook the books, you're wrong. We're going to find you, and we'll prosecute you, and no more easy money, just hard time. Finally, I support I appreciate Tim's support on our war against terror and our need to protect the homeland. My most important job is to protect the homeland, is to protect innocent people. After September the 11th, the stakes obviously changed. The enemy brought war to us, and they're still out there. They just are. By the way, they're nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers. They hate us because we love freedom. They can't stand the thought of a society which values free speech, which says you can worship the Almighty any way you see fit. They hate the idea of people being able to come to our country and succeed. The more we love freedom, the more they hate us. But you know what, we're never going to stop loving freedom. This great country loves freedom and will do anything it takes to protect that freedom. You need to know there's a lot of good folks working a lot of hours to protect you. Anytime we get a hint or any piece of evidence that somebody might be plotting against America, we're moving we're moving. There's a lot of good folks who are gathering intelligence and now sharing it like it's never been shared before. Obviously, everything we hear we take seriously, and we're trying to do everything we can to disrupt and deny. In order to make sure that I can look you in the eye and say, "We're doing everything to secure the homeland," I have asked the Congress to join me in setting up a Department of Homeland Security. I did so because in order to change a culture and in order to set homeland security as a number one priority, I felt like we needed to gather up agencies involved with the homeland security and put them under one umbrella organization. You see, there's over 100 of them, scattered all over Washington, which means it's kind of hard to set a tone and a culture. It's hard to set a priority. And so I asked Congress, I said, "Let's get together and come up with an American idea" it's not a Republican idea it's not a Democrat it's an American idea "to do everything we can to give us the tools" not only me, but future Presidents "the tools necessary to guard our homeland." And I'll give you an example. We need to know who's coming in America, what they're bringing into America, and if they're leaving when they say they're going to leave America. And yet, on our borders, we've got your Customs and INS and Border Patrol, three different agencies, three different cultures, three different uniforms. I need the capacity to be able to move people to the right place at the right time to protect the homeland. The House of Representatives got the message. They provided flexibility so that this President and future Presidents can do what it takes to move people in the right place. The Senate, unfortunately, doesn't see it that way. Fortunately, Senator Hutchinson does. But see, there are some Senators out there who would rather listen to special interests in Washington, DC, than listen to the voice of the people. There are Senators who would rather give us a rule book this thick about how we have to behave and what we must do to protect the homeland, than to trust any administration for protecting America. I refuse to accept a bill which ties my hands or the hands of future Presidents. And I want to appreciate Senator Hutchinson's understanding of that. And I'm proud to call him supporter on helping craft a Homeland Security Department which will stand the test of time and will do the job on behalf of the American people. But the best way to protect the homeland, the surest way to secure our freedom, the best way to leave a peaceful legacy for our children is to hunt the killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice. And that's what the United States of America is going to do. And it's going to take a while. It's a different kind of war. People during World War II were used to measuring progress based upon infantries marching across the plain or squadrons of aircraft flying here or ships sailing across the sea, getting this island or that island. That's how they used to judge progress. This is a different type of war, but it's war. And the stakes are just as high. See, this is the kind of war where you have their commanders hide in caves. They find the deepest and darkest cave they can, and then they send their soldiers, their youngsters, to their suicidal death. That's who we're fighting. See, these people have no regard for human life. Innocence doesn't matter to them. They've hijacked a great religion in order to provide cover for their hatred. But there's no cave deep enough for America, as far as I'm concerned. See, we've got a fantastic coalition of nations which understand what's at stake, and we've got the finest United States we've got the finest military in the world. Our soldiers are performing brilliantly under tough, tough conditions. And that's why the fact that they're in the field is why I submitted the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. I did so for two reasons One, anytime our soldiers are in harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. We owe that to them, and we owe it to their loved ones. And for those of you who have got a relative in the military, I want to tell you how proud that their Commander in Chief is. I'm really proud. They're fine, fine people who are sacrificing on behalf of our Nation. And the second reason I submitted this request, as big as it is, is I wanted to send a message to our friends and foes alike that we're in this deal for the long haul. They understand this war isn't going to end tomorrow, that when it comes to our freedom, it doesn't matter how long it takes. The United States of America will fight terror and fight its sponsors and will uphold doctrine. One doctrine says, "Either you're with us, or you're with them." And the other doctrine says, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist who committed the murders on September the 11th." And we're making progress. Sometimes you'll see the progress on your TVs, and sometimes you won't. It's a different kind of war it's a hard war to measure. But, slowly but surely, we're rounding them up, one way or the other. We estimate there's over a couple of thousand of them who have now been captured by our friends and ourselves, hauled off, no longer a part of the army. And another like number just weren't as lucky. They met their fate. But we've got a lot of work to do we really do. We our strategy is pretty clear. First was to rout out the Taliban. And you need to tell your kids this about America One, we do what we say and two, when we went into that country, we went in as liberators, not as conquerors. We freed people from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. Young girls, many young girls, go to school for the first time in their lives, thanks to the United States of America and our allies and friends. And we're not leaving. We're not leaving for two reasons One, there's still Al Qaida, and we're after them. Slowly but surely, we're getting them. And secondly, we want democracy to flourish in Afghanistan. We believe in the values here at home ought to be applied elsewhere, not American values but God given values that each life matters, that every voice ought to be heard. We're getting them on the run, getting them moving around, and then making sure that we deny sanctuary to these killers. The other day a while ago, you may remember the Philippines. They asked for our help. I said loud and clear to them, "If you want help, we'll provide you help. If you can't do it yourself, give us a call." And the Philippines, as a result of Gloria Arroyo's fine leadership and frankly, some of our train ing put a force together and did in the head of what they call Abu Sayyaf. This is the group of Al Qaida sponsored terrorists who kidnaped two Americans as well as others, and brought people to their death. They don't care about life. But we got the leader we got the leader because our coalition remains firm. No, our job is to get them on the run, deny them sanctuary, and slowly but surely get them and bring them to justice, which is exactly what this country is going to do. We owe it to our children. We owe it to our grandchildren to make sure that the world's worst leaders do not develop and deploy the world's worst weapons. We owe it to future generations of America to make our stand for freedom. Oh, I know there's a lot of speculation in the press, and you've just got to know something about me I'm a patient man. And we've got a lot of tools at our disposal. We've got a lot of pressures we can bring to bear. We've got friends in the world. But for the sake of our children, we're going to deal with the problems now presented. For the sake of freedom, we will not allow these tyrants to hold the United States or our friends and allies blackmail with weapons of mass destruction. I appreciate Tim's understanding, and I appreciate his support on this war against terror. I believe that out of the evil done to this country is going to come incredible good. I believed that shortly after the attacks, and I still believe it. See, I believe that the stronger this country is on our quest for freedom and our willingness to battle terror, the more likely it is we'll achieve peace. And I don't mean peace just for Americans I mean peace around the world. The tougher we are against terror, the more willing we are to speak clearly as a nation, the more likely it is we can achieve peace in parts of the world where people have quit on peace. Peace is possible in the Middle East. Peace is possible in South Asia. I want you to assure your children, when they hear their President talk about fighting the enemy or bringing them to justice I have peace in my mind. That's my vision. I want there to be a peaceful world for all people. See, this country values all life, not just American life every child counts. When I say no child is left behind that's obviously a slogan for education here in America I mean it for everywhere else too. Children ought to grow up in a peaceful world, and the United States of America can affect that peace. It's not going to be easy. There's going to be some steep hills to climb. But if any nation can do it, it is this strong and this Nation that's based upon values. And here at home, we can achieve some incredible good too. I don't know what went through the mind of the enemy. They probably thought that we were so self absorbed and so materialistic, so selfish in our ways, that after 9 11 all we might do was file a lawsuit. Laughter See, they didn't understand our country. They didn't know that, when it comes to something we value, we're plenty tough. Nor did they realize that when they hit us, a new culture would begin to evolve, a culture of serving something greater than yourself in life. The thing I love about our country is that we're a compassionate nation. I hope you understand that in the midst of plenty, there are pockets of despair in America, hopelessness and addiction, people wondering whether or not the American Dream is meant for them. And I believe we have a chance now, as we take a step back and look at our inner souls, to help solve those problems. Government can hand out money I realize that. As I like to say, we do a pretty good job of it. But what Government cannot do is put a sense of purpose in people's lives. It can't put hope in people's hearts. That is done when our fellow Americans put their arm around somebody who hurts and says, "I love you." People say, "What can I do in the war against terror? How can I fight evil?" My answer is, love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. And it's happening in this country it sure enough is. People realize that a patriot is more than somebody who puts their hand over their heart and says, "one Nation under God." They understand that a patriot is somebody who is willing to serve something greater than themselves, and that can be in all kinds of ways. It can be leading a Boy Scout or Girl Scout troop. It can be coming out of your church and feeding the hungry or coming out of your synagogue and helping somebody who doesn't have housing find housing. You see, it's the millions of acts, millions of acts of kindness and decency that take place on a daily basis which defines the true character and true hope and true decency of this country. No, the enemy hit us, but they've awakened a great spirit of personal responsibility. One of the reasons I decided to run for Governor of Texas is, I wanted to be a small part of a cultural change in America. I wanted to help encourage this country to reject the culture which said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." My dream was to help usher in a period of personal responsibility, when each of us understood we're responsible for decisions we make in life. If you're fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, your most important job and important responsibility is to love your child with all your heart and all your soul. If you're a citizen of Little Rock, Arkansas, you have a responsibility to help heal those who hurt. That is a responsibility for being an American, and that period of responsibility is coming. The enemy hit us. They're evil. But out of that evil is going to come incredible good. Perhaps the most vivid example is that of Flight 93. Deena Burnett is here today with us. Her husband was on that flight. She knows about which I'm about to speak. She heard it firsthand. These were great Americans who were flying across the country and learned that their airplane was going to be used as a weapon. Who knows what it was targeted for, the White House or the Capitol, but it was going to be used as a weapon. Their loved ones said goodbye on the telephone. Their last words were, "I love you," to their loved ones. They said a prayer. A guy said, "Let's roll," and they took the plane in the ground. There is a new spirit in America of serving something greater than yourself in life. No, the enemy hit us. They didn't know they were hitting they hit a great nation. I promise you, out of the evil done to America is going to come incredible good, because we're the finest nation on the face of the Earth, full of the finest people. Thank you all for coming. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. August 29, 2002 Thank you all. It's nice to be here in Oklahoma. Thanks. I appreciate so very much the invitation to come and throw my support behind a fine United States Senator and a person this State is surely going to reelect, and that's Jim Inhofe. And I'm also honored to be here with "Governor" Largent. It's got a nice ring to it. Thanks for inviting me. There's not much that differentiates Texas and Oklahoma maybe the Red River, a little difference of opinion about football. Laughter But I'm thrilled to be here to see so many friends. I've always felt at home in Oklahoma, and I want to thank you all for such wonderful hospitality. As my friend said, he said, "You got to remember when you're heading up there, civilization ends at the Red River." And as my Oklahoma friends said, "Yeah, depends on which side you're coming from." Laughter But one thing is for certain people on both sides of the Red River love America. I want to appreciate Don Nickles. He is a leader in the United States Senate. I spent a lot of quality time with him. There in the Cabinet Room, we're talking about important issues and plotting strategy on how to get things through the Senate that are positive for America. Don, he loves Oklahoma, of course, and he always reminds me about the virtues of Oklahoma. But he clearly loves America too. He's providing important leadership for our country, and for that I am grateful. And I, too, want to call you friend, and thanks for being here, Don. I appreciate so very much Kay Inhofe for putting up with Jim and for being such a good mom. The Inhofes are got fantastic values, because they understand Good values, first and foremost, start at home. I'm honored to meet gosh, I don't know how many grandkids I met 11 of them. Well, if they all get out to vote, it's going to be a landslide. Laughter But I want to thank the Inhofe family. I want to thank Kay. And I also want to thank the next first lady of Oklahoma, Terry Largent, in her support for her husband, Steve. All of us up here on this stage married above ourselves. Laughter I had the privilege of saying goodbye for a brief period of time to our First Lady, who's down there in Crawford. She is she was born and raised in west Texas. That's kind of like western Oklahoma, not a lot of native trees and not a lot of water but a lot of really good people. She's down to earth she's capable. You know, when I married her, she was a public school librarian, and the truth of the matter is, she didn't particularly care about politicians or politics. And here she is, and what a great comforting voice and what a great wife, and what a wonderful First Lady we have. I am incredibly proud. Anyway, she sends her love. She sends her love, and she joins me in thanking those of you who want to help these good candidates. Thank you for what you've done and what you're going to do, which is turn out the vote, which is to go to your coffee shops and your churches and your community centers and tell the people of Oklahoma you've got two good ones in these candidates. It makes sense to send these people to their respective jobs, not for the good of Republicans but for the good of all the people in the great State of Oklahoma. I want to thank the members of the Oklahoma congressional delegation. I am proud to work with them on a regular basis. I'm proud we have worked together to accomplish some things on behalf of the American people. I want to thank Congressman John Sullivan, who is here. I want to thank Wes Watkins. And we're going to miss you, friend. Ernest Istook is here thank you for coming, Ernest. Frank Lucas is here. I appreciate you, Big Frank, for coming. And finally, another man we're going to miss is J.C. Watts. I appreciate you, J.C. I'm sure you'll be able to figure out how to get a hold of me if you need me. Laughter But thank you both for your service, and thank all the congressional Members for being here. I was so pleased to see that my friend Tom Cole won a primary in a convincing way. He beat a field of good people. But he's going to be the next Congressman, replacing J.C. Watts. I thank you for coming, Tom. I appreciate your Lieutenant Governor, Mary Fallin, for coming today. I appreciate her long service to the great State of Oklahoma. I appreciate her working with my friend Frank Keating, who's done a fine job on behalf of the people of Oklahoma. I want to thank the mayor of Oklahoma City, Kirk Humphreys. Kirk has done a fine job for Oklahoma City. I'm proud to call him friend, and I know the people of this city are proud to call him mayor. I thank Brenda Reneau for being here, who is the head of your department of labor. I also want to thank Chad Alexander, who's the chairman of the Republican Party. And again, I want to thank you all for coming. Most of all, I want to extol the virtues of your next Governor. He's a solid citizen. He doesn't need a poll to tell him what to think or what to believe. It's clear when you get to know Steve that he's got his principles indelibly etched on his heart. He's got his priorities straight. He has faith foremost in his life, and his family are his two priorities, and then comes government. But it's with those kind of priorities are important for a leader. And that's what you're trying to figure out, who's the best leader for the people of Oklahoma, who has got a vision based upon principle, not based upon polls, who will set the right priorities for the people of this State. And there's no doubt in my mind that Steve Largent has the right priorities for the people of this great State of Oklahoma. And his first priority his first priority is to make sure every child in this State gets educated, not just a few, not just some from the big, fancy school districts, but every child. That's his vision. See, he understands what I know, that if you have low standards, you get low results. If you don't believe every child can learn, then certain children won't learn, and that's inexcusable to the State of Oklahoma. So Steve travels this State, talking about setting the highest of high standards with the belief that every child can learn. He also understands that if the legislature micromanages the public schools, if they decide to set all kinds of rules that require permission slips in order for there to be local control of schools, you won't get excellence for every child. So like me, he is a strong advocate of local control of schools. But as well, he understands what I know You've got to hold people accountable. You see, if you believe every child can learn, then you're willing to say, "Let's see." If you believe certain children can't learn, then you don't support accountability. If you believe every child can learn, you're not afraid to measure, to determine whether every child is learning. You see, the accountability is so important to make sure no child gets left behind. It's important also to make sure that you address problems early, before it's too late. Steve knows what I know There are no second class children in the State of Oklahoma. I appreciate his attitude about the role of Government and the entrepreneur. The role of Government is not to create wealth. The role of Government should create an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish, which means you've got to have wise tax policy. You see, you use your Tax Code in order to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit. If you over tax the entrepreneur, it diminishes the capacity for the small business to grow and to create good, vibrant jobs. He understands that. And one of the big issues that he is going to take on is to reform the workers' compensation system here in the State of Oklahoma. He also knows that by far the biggest engine of job creation is small business. That's where most of the new jobs come from in America, and therefore, we've got to have policy aimed at small business. And one thing we've got to do, in order to make sure small business grows, is to understand the role of the lawsuit in our society. You need to have yourself a Governor who's willing to look at the plaintiff's attorney straight in the eye and ask for and get tort reform in the State of Oklahoma. I appreciate his values. I appreciate his vision. I appreciate his background. I appreciate the fact that he's a winner. And I appreciate that I'm on the stage with the next Governor of Oklahoma, Steve Largent. And I appreciate being with a United States Senator who stands on principle, who does what he thinks is right and has lived up to his word. He's a fellow that said, "I'm going to Washington. I'm not going to change." And he didn't. I think the thing that struck me most about Jim in our conversation on Air Force One by the way, it's not a bad way to travel laughter was that when he described when his daughter was professor of the year. See, he's from a family of teachers. His wife is a teacher. They raised some teachers. Jim understands the importance of teaching, and for those of you who have got family members who are teachers or you're teachers yourself, I want to thank you from the bottom of our collective hearts up here for what you do. But he's a man who understands the importance of teaching in our society, teaching not only lessons of reading and writing but teaching right from wrong. He understands the role of energy, the need for an energy policy. See, the people of Oklahoma also understand that. We need an energy policy in America. We need a policy that encourages conservation and renewables, but we need a wise policy that makes sure we've got energy here at home. It's in our economic interests that we promote jobs through good energy policy, and it's in our national security interests that we become less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. We need to get us an energy bill. These two Senators understand that. We need to get that bill to my desk as soon as they get back from the August recess. It's in our Nation's interest that we do so. Jim also was supportive of the tax relief plan that I campaigned on and got through the Congress. And that was important. You see, you've got to remember something about our economy When we came in there, the economy was just beginning to get into a recession. There had been a slowdown, but the first three quarters of my administration was in recession. That means the economy was going backwards. Thankfully, the last three quarters have been going forward. But one of the reasons why I'm absolutely certain one of the reasons why is because we let the people keep their own money. We read from the same textbook. It's the textbook that says, if you let the people have their own money, they will demand a good or service. And if they demand a good or service, somebody will produce the good or service. And when somebody produces that good or service, somebody is more likely to find jobs. The tax cut, which needs to be permanent it needs to be permanent came at the right time for the American economy. And I want to thank Jim for his strong support. See, he and I understand this When it comes time to spend the money in Washington, we're not spending the Government's money, we're spending the people's money. I want to thank Jim for his support of making sure our seniors have got prescription drugs and Medicare. It's time to modernize an important system. The system has lagged behind reality. Medicine has changed Medicare hasn't. And we need leadership in the Senate to make sure the Medicare system meets the needs of our seniors, not only in Oklahoma but all around the country. And I want to thank you on that, Jim, very much for your leadership. And finally, we need to get him back up there so he'll support some judges that I nominated. I found fine people to serve on our bench, good, honorable, honest people. We named one, Priscilla Owen, recently. She's smart. She's capable, one of the top students when she was in law school at Baylor. She got elected twice I think twice, but I know she got elected at least twice statewide in Texas, with overwhelming numbers. She's a very, very smart and capable woman. But somehow, some of them up there don't like her. I guess maybe they don't like the fact that I nominated her. But this isn't right for the judicial system, for them to be playing politics with a fine, smart, capable woman. And we need people like Jim Inhofe up there to defend my judicial nominees in Washington, DC. And I need him up there because he is a strong voice for the defense of this Nation. He's one of the leading advocates for national defense in Washington. We both understand that history has now called us into action. History has now said to America You must defend freedom. And that's exactly what this country is going to do. I submitted the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. And I did so for two reasons One, I want to make it absolutely clear that anytime we put one of our soldiers into harm's way, that person must receive the best training, the best possible pay, the best equipment. We owe it to our soldiers, and we owe it to their families. And I appreciate Jim Inhofe's strong, strong support for that defense budget. He's one of the leaders on the floor of the Senate. He also understands that we need to send that increase up there because we want to make it clear to our friends and allies and foes that we're in this deal for the long pull. There is no calendar on my desk that says, by suchand such a date, we're quitting. See, when it comes to the defense of freedom, when it comes to the defense of the values we hold dear, this United States will be relentless and tough, and we will be victorious. My most important job now is to defend innocent life in America. The enemy has taken the battle to us, and they're still there. These are haters. They're nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers. You need to tell your kids people say, "Well, what do I tell my children?" You tell your children, "Because this Nation loves freedom, they hate us, because this Nation values each and every life." See, every life is important to America. Every life is noble. Every life is worthwhile. That's the exact opposite of the enemy. They don't value life. They're willing to take innocent life just like that. They've hijacked a fine, fine, and important religion just to cover their murderous ways. And remember, it's a different kind of enemy. You see, you used to be able to measure the strength of an enemy by counting his tanks or airplanes or ships. These are the kind that go to a cave and send youngsters to their suicidal death. That's the kind of people we're fighting. But there's no cave deep enough for America or dark enough to hide. No matter how long it takes, one by one we're going to hunt them down and bring them to justice. And that's what that defense budget says. That's what that defense budget clearly says. And that's why, as soon as the Congress gets back, they need to get the defense bill to my desk and not play politics with the defense of the United States of America. No, that's the best way to defend the homeland, is to hunt them down. In the meantime, I've got to have a Department of Homeland Security that more enables me to tell the American people we're doing everything we can to protect the homeland. I mean, we need to know who's coming in the country, what they're bringing in the country, and if they're leaving the country when they say they're going to leave the country. We need to have the capacity to put the right people in the right place at the right time to defend America. I readily concede I didn't run on the platform "Vote for me. I promise to make your Government bigger." I did say, "I'm going to try to make it work better." And so when I got up there and realized there's over 100 agencies involved with homeland security, I knew it would be hard to hold people to account with that many agencies scattered all over Washington. So I made a proposal to the Congress. I said, "Join together, and let's have a Department that works." The House responded, and I want to thank the House Members here. These two Senators have responded. The problem is, is that there's other Senators in Washington who want to micromanage the process. See, they put their own turf ahead of the security of the American people. They're more interested in special interests in Washington than the interest of homeland security. I will not accept a homeland security bill that ties the hands of this administration or future administrations to defend the homeland against the enemy. My point to you is, Jim understands this. He doesn't need he doesn't need a special meeting at the White House to understand this. See, he understands it right off the bat, and that's why it's important that you reelect him. He also understands that there's going to be some tough times ahead for America there just are. If you're in this for the long pull, if you're fighting an enemy that hides in the shadows of the world, it's going to take a while. We owe it to our children, however, that we keep going on. That's who we owe it to. But not only to our children, we owe it to children all around the world. We will enforce doctrine one doctrine says, "You're with us, or you're with them." And we work hard to keep this coalition of nations together. It makes it easier to share intelligence and to haul them in when we can find them. And by the way, we've pulled in over a couple a thousand of them. A couple of thousand Al Qaida types and terrorist leaders are no longer circulating around. By the way, about equal that number weren't as lucky. We've got a lot of work to do. We've got a lot of work to do to also enforce that doctrine that says, "If you harbor one of them, you're just as guilty. If you harbor a terrorist, you're as guilty as the terrorist." So it's important to have Senators and Members of the House who understand the need for this Nation to be steady and resolved and determined and honest about the difference between good and evil. It also is important to have leadership that understands that we must not allow the world's worst leaders to develop and harbor the world's worst weapons. I've got a lot of tools at my disposal, and I'm a patient man and I'm a patient man. But I understand that history gives us an opportunity to make the world more peaceful. See, out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good. And you need to tell your little ones that part of that good is a more peaceful world, that there's going to be some steep hills to climb between now and then, but by being tough and strong, patient, smart, and wise about using our assets and all the tools at our disposal, that we can make the world more peaceful for generations to come. By fighting terror where we find it, and by rallying people to join us, I believe the evil done to America out of that evil will come peace. I also know here at home that we'll be a better America. I don't know what went through the minds of the enemy when they attacked us. They probably thought we were so materialistic, so selfish, so self absorbed, so greedy, that all we'd do after September 11th is maybe file a lawsuit or two. They didn't understand the character of this Nation. They didn't understand that if you try to take away our freedoms, we're going to respond. See, we love we love freedom. That's what they didn't understand. They hate things. We love things. They act out of hatred. We don't seek revenge we seek justice out of love. They also couldn't have possibly realized that the evil done to America would waken a spirit of compassion in this country. See, people say to me, "How can I join the war on terror?" I say, "Just love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to fight evil, do some good. If you want to fight evil, put your arms around a child and say, I love you. I'd like to mentor you. I want to help you."' You see, in this land of plenty, there are pockets of despair, addiction, and hopelessness. I understand full well Government can hand out money, but it cannot put hope in people's hearts. It can't provide a purpose for people's lives. No, that is done when our fellow citizens take the time out of their life to love somebody. That's when that happens. See, America is changing, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time, because our fellow Americans have now understood understand that being a patriot is more than the Pledge of Allegiance, pledging your allegiance to "one Nation under God." A patriot is somebody who is willing to take responsibility for their lives, willing to love a neighbor, willing to mentor a child, willing to go to a shut in and help somebody in need, willing to feed the hungry, willing to be a Boy Scout leader, willing to change America one soul, one conscience at a time. And that's what's happening here in America. America has understood that each of us can't do everything, but each of can do something to make our country a better place. Perhaps that was best illustrated on Flight 93. Citizens flying across the country they realized their plane was going to be a weapon. They told their loved ones they loved them. They said a prayer. A guy said, "Let's roll." They saved lives. They served something greater than themselves. No, out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good, peace, and a more compassionate, decent, hopeful America for everybody I mean everybody who's lucky enough to call themselves citizen of this great country. We're going to succeed. There's no question in my mind. On my wall there's a painting of a west Texas scene by Tom Lea. He said "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It's the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that has gone." I see a day that is coming that is fantastic for America, because we are the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. God bless, and God bless America. August 29, 2002 Thanks for receiving me. I'm honored to be here at Parkview. I appreciate the Patriots band playing. I'm sorry I missed it. They tell me it's one of the best in the State. I want to thank my friend Mike Huckabee for introducing me. I appreciate his leadership. As you'll hear here in a second, we've got some interesting initiatives taking place in Arkansas, because of the determination by this State and by this Government to set high expectations for every child. I want to thank very much Rod Paige for his leadership. You know, when I was trying to determine who to pick as the Secretary of Education, I wanted somebody who actually had been an educator. They've got a lot of theorists in Washington. I wasn't interested in theory I was interested in results. And Rod was running the largest school district in our State, the Houston Independent School District. And he did a fine job, and I figured if he could handle the Houston Independent School District, the Department of Education was nothing. Laughter And so I want to thank Rod for being here. I appreciate his leadership. He understands the role of principal and superintendent. Speaking about principal, I want to thank Dr. Brown, Linda Brown, for her hospitality and all the folks at this fine school for making this event or setting up this event, giving us a chance to come. I fully understand the Presidential entourage can be a burden sometimes. But you handled it well. And Linda, thank you very much appreciate you. I want to thank Senator Tim Hutchinson for coming Congressman Vic Snyder and Congressman John Boozman, three members of the Arkansas Federal delegation. I appreciate you all being here today. Thanks for your hospitality. I appreciate so very much Lieutenant Governor Win Rockefeller for joining us here today as well. I want to thank your mayor, Jim Dailey, for being here. Mr. Mayor, thank you for your hospitality. I appreciate so very much Ray Simon, who's the director of the Arkansas Department of Education Dr. Steve Franks, who's the director of the Arkansas Workforce Education and Ken James, who's the superintendent of Little Rock schools. We had the honor I had the honor of meeting them and talking to them and visiting about how best to implement a strategy that not only encourages every child to learn but a strategy that continues to raise the standards, that raises the bar. I found the visit to be extremely worthwhile, and I hope they did as well. I'm here to talk about education. Before I do so, I want to remind people we've got a lot of challenges ahead of us here in America. One of the things that's very important as we confront those challenges is to never forget about education. See, the big challenge we have now is to make sure the enemy doesn't hit us again. That's a big challenge. I want the students to understand here why someone would want to hurt America in the first place. And it's because your country loves freedom that's why. We love freedom. We love the freedom to worship. See, we value the idea of being able to people being able to worship freely an almighty God. That's what we value in America. And we're not going to change. We value the idea of people being free to succeed. See, each life matters in America everybody has worth. And yet the enemy, they hate what we love. They don't they don't respect innocence. Life doesn't mean anything to them. They've hijacked a great religion in order to spread their hate. So long as we love freedom, there's going to be this enemy out there. And so my biggest job, my most important job as your President, is to secure our homeland, is to do everything we can, everything in our power, to make sure that you're safe and your families are safe. But it's even more than that to make sure you can grow up in a free society, to make sure that you have the same freedoms that I enjoyed when I was growing up. That's the job at hand. And let me tell you what we're doing about it. We're working at all levels of government to run down any lead, any hint, any evidence that somebody might be fixing to try to do something to America. There's a lot of really fine people at the Federal and State and local level who are working hard to protect you, working hard to do anything we can to disrupt what might be a plan to hurt America or Americans. I've asked the Congress recently to help me meet this task by setting up what we call a Department of Homeland Security. So when you hear talk about the Department of Homeland Security, it's really meant to make sure that we coordinate at the Federal level all these agencies involved with some sense of homeland security. See, prior to September the 11th, we never really had a focus for securing our homeland now we do. And the best way to make sure everybody involved with homeland security is focused on this number one priority is to put them under one Department. And it's moving along okay. Seems to be a few roadblocks in the way some are more interested in their own political turf than they are in the security of the American people, and they're worried about special interests as opposed to the security of the people. But I'm confident that by working together, that we'll get us a Homeland Security Department that will actually function, that will have flexibility, that will allow us to move people to where they need to be. I mean, we need to enforce our border in this new day. We need to understand who's coming in, what they're bringing, and whether they're leaving when they say they're leaving, for the sake of homeland security. And I need the flexibility to be able to do that. And I want to be able to report to you that we do have the capacity to do everything in our power to protect you. It's my number one priority. But you all have got to understand the best way to protect the homeland security is to chase these killers, these people down one by one and bring them to justice, which is precisely what our Government is going to do. I say "justice" because we don't seek revenge we seek justice. We seek justice. And you need to know that when we go into a country to enforce a doctrine see, there was a doctrine that said "If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist." But when we went to enforce that doctrine, this great country didn't go in as conquerors we went in to liberate, and we liberated a country from the clutches of a barbaric regime. It's hard for any American to understand this, but many young girls never went to school because of these people. And now, thanks to America and our friends and allies, they're going to school. We're liberators, not conquerors, here in America. Every life matters, whether it be an American life or the life of an Afghan girl. And we've got a lot of work ahead of us. See, you all are growing up in an era with a different kind of war. You used to be able to tell the strength and size of the enemy by counting his tanks or his airplanes. These haters are the types that, since they don't value innocent life, are willing to bomb indiscriminately. And they hide in caves and send youngsters to their suicidal death. That's the nature of the enemy. But they have picked on a country which is a strong country, a country which, because we love our freedoms, is a country that's patient and tough and resolved to do what it takes to define history in a way that is that values your life and your freedoms. And that's what this country is going to do. We've got a big task at hand. I just wanted you to know. I want to give you an update so that when you read the newspapers or watch television about this war, that it's a different kind of war. The war goes on, and it's a war the United States is going to win. These are big challenges for our country. These are big challenges for this great Nation, but we'll meet the challenges. And we've got another big challenge is to make sure every child gets educated. That's a huge and significant challenge for our country. And notice I said "every child" I didn't say just a handful of children here or maybe just those who go to suburban school districts. I said "every child," and I mean every single child in America. And it starts with setting high standards. It starts with believing that every child can learn. It's a mindset that's essential for this country. See, if you believe that only certain children can learn in other words, if you have low standards you're going to get low results. If you set the bar low, that's exactly what you're going to get. You're going to get mediocrity. So the mindset has got to be that every child can learn. It's a mindset you have here in Arkansas, by the way. You do you believe it. I can feel it. I've been to this this isn't my first time to go to an Arkansas school. Certainly you've got it at this school. The Patriots believe every child can learn. That starts with the leadership of the principal. Really fine schools have always had a fine principal. It starts with the understanding of your teachers. And for the teachers who are here, I want to thank you for teaching. It's a noble profession and an important profession. It also is a mindset necessary for the moms and dads of Arkansas and America. The moms and dads have got to understand that they should expect the best for their children. They ought to set high standards. There's another part of this philosophy that matches what I just said, and that is, who best to trust when it comes to meeting those standards. See, I've learned something firsthand I kind of always knew it, but not all the smart people in the world live in Washington laughter a lot of smart ones right here in Little Rock. As a matter of fact, the people who care more about the children of Little Rock, Arkansas, are the citizens of Little Rock, Arkansas. And therefore, the cornerstone of good education policy ought to be to trust the citizens of Little Rock, Arkansas, to chart the path for excellence for every child. That's called local control of schools. This new bill I had the honor of sign ing and by the way, I reminded some people earlier, I was traveling the country with Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts. We were an odd couple in some people's mind. Laughter But nevertheless, we both share the same vision of high standards and trust in the local people. He was a supporter of this bill. And I had the honor of signing it. I pushed it as well. And a secondary a third part of the philosophy is this, and this is a very important part of the philosophy. It says If you believe every child can learn, then you want to know whether every child is learning. See, if you believe every child can learn, then it's important to have an accountability system which tells us whether every child is learning. I've heard it all. I'm sure some of the students are saying, "All he wants to do is test us all the time. I don't like tests." Well, too bad. Laughter We want to know. How do you know whether or not every child is learning unless you measure? You got to measure in order to know. In order to correct problems early, before they're too late, you must measure. See, accountability will serve as confirmation as to whether or not the curriculum is working. It will serve as confirmation as to whether or not your teacher training programs are working. It will serve as confirmation as to whether or not children are learning the basics of education. And so we have we say, "In return for Federal money, show us. Show us whether or not kids are learning to read and write and add and subtract. Show us whether or not the minimum is being met," because every child matters in America. Every child matters, and as we named this bill no child should be left behind. The name of the bill is No Child Left Behind, and I meant no child. And so, therefore, we've got this philosophy in place that the Governor has been working on, and your States have been working on, and there's in an accountability system there are consequences. If the State is unable to meet standards, if a school can't meet State standards after a period of time, something has to happen. In other words, you can't leave children trapped in schools that won't teach and won't change. And so one of the things that's going to happen is public school choice or after school tutoring. In other words, every child matters, and therefore, when a child is trapped in a school that's not changing, the parents have got to know something is going on. There's a consequence. It's not meant to punish anybody. It's meant to save lives. Every child counts. And so, therefore, what Arkansas is beginning to do as they develop standards and accountability a scorecard to let us all know who's succeeding and who needs improvement you've got an after school tutoring program that's cranking up. And I want to thank the Governor for that. And I want to thank the commissioner of education for that. It is a way to assure the parents and enforce to the children that somebody cares about them. If you're deficient, you need help, and this good bill we passed provides that help for the State of Arkansas. And you all are on the forefront of that. You know, one of the interesting things, one of the initial grants we gave out was for reading. Reading is a civil right. See, reading is the new civil right in the 21st century. It's important for our citizens to understand that if you can't read, it's going to be hard to make it in America. If you cannot read, you've got a problem. And if you can't read in the fourth grade, it's likely you're not going to be able to read in the eighth grade. And we've got to get it right, folks, early, before it's too late. Accountability will tell us whether or not the curriculum you're using makes sense. And there is a science to reading. It's not an art. It's a science. We know what works and what doesn't work. And so part of this no child left behind we have what we call the Reading First program, with significant grants to States, to get people up to speed, to get them to the starting line. To make sure the accountability system has got merit, every child has got to be reading early. And the State of Arkansas has got a reading program based upon sound research and a reading program that has been proven to be effective. And so you've got one of the first Reading First grants in this State, by the way. And it's going to make a huge difference in the lives of your children. And I want to appreciate very much those who are working on making sure that the minimum is met no child is left behind. But the minimum is not good enough for America. See, we don't believe in the minimum in this country we believe in the maximum. We've got to aim higher. We need to challenge every student I don't mean just the top 10 I mean every student needs to be challenged. We've got to make sure that people understand, starting with the parents, by the way, that they ought to challenge their children to take the toughest classes possible. That's what we have to do. You can get people up to the minimum, but that's not good enough. We've got to provide people to continue to challenge themselves. I talked to three fine students today, two from this school and one from another school, talking about the need to be challenged. We heard from we heard that many times parents don't really understand the significance of challenging of having their students taking challenging courses, that many students and maybe you all are some of them here say, "Well, I don't want to take a tough course. See, I can't pass that. Only the really smart people take the tough courses, and I don't happen to be all that smart. Therefore, I'm not going to take it." I doubt that's the case in this school, but there are schools where that's the case. Or you hear students saying, "Don't take the tough courses. It will make you a nerd." Laughter You're missing out if that's the way you think. See, you're missing an opportunity. It's an opportunity lost. It is not in your self interest that you think for such low standards. And I want the parents of this State and across the country to understand that the minimum isn't acceptable for your children. And there's a way to achieve there's a way to achieve something significant in this State, and I want to talk to you about an interesting program that we actually tried in Texas that worked. But it's to the citizens' advantage not only that we raise standards and challenge students you've got colleges where they're teaching remedial reading not only colleges in Arkansas but around the country. That's not right, see. You don't want your higher education systems to be remedial education systems. If you want the best for your citizens and I presume everybody in this State does then we've got to get it right early and make sure that we continue to challenge our students. One reason I came here is because this is a school that challenges the students in two incredibly important subjects, math and science and, of course, the arts as well. But today I want to talk about what we're creating in Arkansas, called the Center for State Scholars. It's the first of five States that had been chosen. Again, you were chosen because you've got a Governor who cares you've got people who care you believe in setting high standards. And here's the way it works. The first thing that happens is that the business community, which is and the catalyst will be what they call the Business Roundtable, which is a national group of large employers comes together, and they start becoming involved in the school Little Rock school district, for example. And they start interviewing children in eighth grade about their ambitions and explaining reality. If you don't have any ambitions, the minimum wage job isn't going to get you to where you want to get, for example. In other words, "What is your ambitions? And oh, by the way, if that is your ambition, here's what it's going to take to achieve it." It's kind of a reality check. And again, I'll repeat to you, the meetings don't take place with just A students. Every student every student is going to be contacted. Every student is going to be involved. And then what happens is, is that they start promoting advance courses. In other words, it's a practical application of reality to what must take place in the classrooms. It sounds so simple, but it works, by the way. We've seen it work in Texas. I mean, thousands of students have been challenged to take AP courses. Thousands of students who didn't really realize the value of raising the bar have gone taken extra credits and have learned new language. I mean, it is an effective way to spread the word to parent and student alike that if you're interested in your future, raise the bar. Take the toughest courses. That, in itself, has a positive effect on the schools. See, I believe teachers want the very best. I believe they love the thought when students say, "Teach me more. Raise the standards for me, please." This is going to be a positive thing for the State of Arkansas, I can assure you. The Texas Scholars curriculum score Texas Scholars score 102 points higher on the SAT than their counterpart. By the way, this is thousands of students, not just a handful. Those who have completed physics and pre calculus are now up by 50 percent since the program was started 10 years ago. It works, and it's going to be implemented here in Arkansas. One of the reasons I've come is not only to herald the need for good education but to talk about this center right here in your State. I call upon your business community to participate. The grants that we're issuing from the Federal Government will help kind of bring people together, help people understand what it takes to make this program successful. It takes business participation. It takes a willing school district. It takes a State that's willing to facilitate. It takes parents who care, and it takes students willing to listen. And it's going to happen here in Arkansas. And as a result of this program, I firmly believe when you implement it, your great State is going to be better off. You'll shine. You'll be a beacon for others to see what is possible. I want to talk about one other thing, if you don't mind. Here's how I think. Out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good. And I want our students to hear that. Out of the evil and make no mistake, what was done on September the 11th was evil is going to come some good. I believe the world will be more peaceful. And you just need to know that that's the game that's the goal, is peace in this world, not only peace here at home but peace in parts of the world where people have quit on peace, peace in parts of the world where people have said peace is impossible. I think it is. That's the vision I have. And I know by leading in that direction that we can achieve peace. I believe that. And here at home we can have a more compassionate America. I don't know what went into the minds of the people that attacked us. They probably said, "Well, this country is so self absorbed and so materialistic and so selfish that nothing would happen. Oh, they may file a lawsuit or two, but other than that, they're so weak, nothing would happen" is what they probably thought. And they're learning something else about America. See, they're learning the true character of the country. Not only are we tough when we need to be tough, not only are we patient when we need to be patient, but we're a compassionate country. That's what they're learning. See, people understand that being a patriot is now now they understand is more than just putting your hand over your heart. See, a patriot is loving a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to join the war on terror, do some good. There are pockets of despair and hopelessness and addiction in this good country. There just are. And when one of us hurts, we all hurt. Now, my view of Government is, Government can hand out money and it can, and it does quite often, I might add laughter but what it cannot do is put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That happens when a loving soul says, "I love you," to somebody in need. That's when that happens. It happens when somebody puts their arm around a child and says, "What can I do to make your life better? How can I mentor you? How can I help?" My call to the seniors and juniors and sophomores here is to understand that serving something greater than yourself in life is a part of being an American. And when the enemy hit us, a lot of good folks stepped back and said, "What is life worth? What do we need to do? How can I help? How can I serve?" Service is a part of being a responsible citizen. Service to somebody in need is part of being a whole person. Today I had the honor of meeting Connie Melton, who greeted me at Air Force One. She's a graduate of Parkview Arts and Science Magnet School. She is the founder of the Arkansas affiliate for Dress for Success, which provides suits and business attire to low income women trying to enter the workforce. I met her at the airport. I said, "How are you doing?" She said, "We've helped over 100 100 people already." She's been in business, I think she said, a little over a year. One hundred lives have been changed, she said, through the simple act of providing somebody with some decent clothes to help them out. You see, our society hurts in many places, but it can change. It can change, one heart, one soul at a time. And while we all realize one of us can't do everything, one of us can do something to be a part of helping change those hearts and souls. Connie Melton, citizen, soldier in the army of compassion, didn't need a Government law to tell her to step forward. She listened to a universal call, something much higher than Government. And she's affecting the community in which she lives in such an incredibly positive and hopeful way. Connie, thank you for coming appreciate you being here. The reason I appreciate so very much Connie coming is, I want all of us, older and younger alike, to realize one person can make a difference. And I hope you do. I hope the youngsters here aim high and shoot high. I hope you set high standards for yourself and work hard. I hope you make the right choices in life. But I also hope you understand that here in America, helping somebody in need doesn't take all that much, but by doing so, you can help set the true face of compassion for this great Nation. It is my honor to come to this wonderful school. I wish you all the best. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. August 24, 2002 Thank you all very much. Thanks a lot. "Congressman," thank you. Laughter I'm proud to come and ask for the people of this good district in this important State to vote for Steve Pearce to be the next United States Congressman. He's a man of good judgment. When we were walking in, he said, "A lot of folks wish Laura were here." Laughter And I told him, well, he drew the short straw. Laughter She is doing great, by the way. She was actually, her grandmother and her mom grew up right down the road from here, right outside of El Paso. And she was born and raised in Midland, which is right across the boundary, as you know. When I married her, she was a public school librarian. She didn't particularly care about politics or politicians, for that matter. Laughter And here she is as the First Lady. And what a great job she has done. I'm real proud of her. And in a couple of hours, I'm going to see her in Crawford, Texas. Laughter I appreciate so very much Cynthia Pearce. Both Steve and I married above ourselves. Laughter Cynthia is a great lady. I appreciate your willingness to go to Washington. It's important. It's important for our country that good people choose to serve and that the people back good people. And we're backing a good man in Steve Pearce to be the next Congressman. And he's going to be replacing a good man. I am proud of Joe Skeen. I am proud of his courage. I appreciate you, Joe. I want to thank Joe and Mary for their service, 22 years of service to this district. He has done a fine job, and we're going to miss him. I also was pleased today, earlier today, to be in the presence of another great New Mexican citizen, and that is your senior Senator, Pete Domenici. Pete had to make up his mind whether he wanted to hear me speak twice or go fishing. Laughter He chose the right course. Laughter He's fishing. Laughter I want to thank very much the Lieutenant Governor, Walter Bradley, for being here today. Walter, thank you for coming, and thank you for your service. Thank you, Walter. I'm proud to be in the presence of the next Governor of the State of New Mexico, John Sanchez. I appreciate you, John. He's got the next first lady with him, Debra. Thanks for coming, Debra. I appreciate you being here. John's going to win, and he's going to make a big difference for the people of New Mexico, a positive influence. It's a John's got a great story. I love his spirit, and I love his attitude. I also appreciate Rob Perry, the next attorney general of the State of New Mexico. I had the honor of just who they call "just call me Sharon." Where are you, Sharon? Thank you, Sharon. Good luck. Sharon is going to be the secretary of state of New Mexico. I want to thank the party chairman for being here. John, thank you for coming. I want to thank all the grassroots activists who are here. You see, you can't win unless you get people who are willing to put up the signs and it looked like they did a pretty darn good job, Steve, when I came in today laughter and do the mailings and go to the coffee shops all around the State of New Mexico and tell the people what a great slate we've got look the people in the eye and tell them the values that these people bring to the office when they win. That's important. So not only do I want to thank you for coming tonight, but I want to thank you very much for what you're fixing to do, and that is to work hard. Anytime you find a good one, you've got to get out and help, and we need your help. I also want to thank two friends of mine who have made a big difference in New Mexico, New Mexico politics, and the life of New Mexico politics, and that's Colin and Kay McMillan and Ken and Kathy Zangara. Thank you all for coming. I saw the Zangaras the other day over there in Crawford, and they said, "I'm going to see you in Las Cruces." I said, "Okay." And here they are. And they're working hard, and so are you all. And it's important. It's important. This election is an important election because we've got a lot to accomplish in Washington, DC. I need good, solid allies when it comes to making our Nation the very best it can be. And that starts with having somebody understand that when you're talking about taxpayers' money, he realizes it's not the Government's money. When we're talking about taxpayers' money, it is the people's money. And you've always got to remember that in Washington, DC. And that's important because we cut the taxes for the people. See, Steve and I understand this concept, that if somebody has more money, they're going to demand a good or a service. And if they demand a good or a service, somebody is going to provide that good or service. And when somebody does, it's more likely somebody is going to find work. And when you've got a slowdown in your economy as a matter of fact, it was more than a slowdown when I came into office it was a flat out recession it's best to understand that when people have more money, it provides wind in the sails of our economic vitality. And one of the issues we have, though, in Washington is this is that because of a quirk in the Senate rules, the tax relief we provided not only tax relief for small businesses and hard working people but tax relief on marriages and getting rid of the death tax, by the way, which is vital for families here in New Mexico but that tax relief goes away after 10 years. And so, for the sake of economic vitality, so people can plan, for the sake of understanding whose money it is that we're talking about, I need somebody in Congress who will join me in making sure the tax cuts are permanent. And that is Steve Pearce. I appreciate Steve's commonsense approach to issues. I'm not surprised. After all, there's a lot of commonsense people here in this part of the world, and he's from Hobbs. And I know a little something about Hobbs it's right around the corner from Jal. Laughter People there have got common sense. They see a problem, and they try and solve it. Let me give you one example of what I'm talking about, something I talked about when I was in Oregon the other day, and that is, we've got a problem with our forests. We've got a problem with an important national treasure. You see, there has been an attitude that if you just leave things be, the forests will be more healthy. And we're learning we're paying a price now for that kind of attitude. By letting things be, kindling piles up. And then lightning will strike, and all of a sudden we've got these massive fires that are destroying a national treasure. Steve proposed legislation that would encourage thinning so that we would make the forests more healthy and more long lived. That's the kind of commonsense approach we need in Washington, DC. For the sake of our national heritage, for the sake of our forests, let's bring some common sense to conservation environmental policy. I appreciate a man who understands farming and ranching. And that's really important in Washington, DC. You see, one of the great advantages we have as a nation is that we provide more food to our people than we need. Imagine if it were the other way around. Imagine if we were going hat in hand around the world asking for food. It would put us in a different national security position. No, we need commonsense farm and ranch policy. We need to make sure that not only do we have less regulation but that we've got to sell our products. You see, there's nothing better for our cattlemen than to be selling that beef around the world. If you're worried about price, the best way to encourage high price prices so people can make a living and stay on the farm or the ranch is to not only feed ourselves but to feed the world. I intend to use agricultural policy as the cornerstone of good economic policy for the United States of America. We need people up there who understand energy. We don't have an energy plan. I'm waiting for the Congress to finally get me an energy plan, one that is based upon common sense, one that says, of course, we can do a better job of using technologies to conserve energy, and we've got to do things about renewable energy. In other words, we've got to do a better job of protecting the resources we have by being wiser about how we use them. But we've got to find more energy here at home. For the sake of job security and for the sake of national security, we need to become less dependent on foreign sources of power. We need that kind of voice in Washington. We need somebody to bring some common sense up there. We need somebody who understands what I understand, that education has got to be a top priority of this Nation and of this State. Now look, I want you all to understand, I haven't forgot where I came from. I fully trust the local people to chart the path for excellence in the public school system. In essence, what we have done is, we're passing power out of Washington. One size doesn't fit all in Washington, DC. But it's important to have people up there who understand that we've got to set high expectations for our children, to challenge what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. We've got to face the fact that there are some districts around the country and probably some here in New Mexico where some assume that certain children can't learn, particularly those whose parents don't speak English as a first language, and therefore, the system just shuffles them through. That's unacceptable to me that's unacceptable to Steve. And that's why I've insisted that if you receive Federal money, you've got to show us whether or not children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. You see, if you believe every child can learn, then you're not afraid to measure you're not afraid to hold people to account you're not afraid to ask that question Can our children read, and can they write? And if they can, there's plenty of praise for our teachers. And for those of you who teach or are involved with public schools, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. But we've got to use the accountability system to catch the problems early and to solve the problems early, before it is too late. This business about just quitting on kids has got to end. No child in America should be left behind. And I appreciate Steve's service in the Armed Forces. And that's important knowledge to have in Washington, DC, because we're at war, and we're in a tough struggle. We're in a tough struggle against a determined enemy. They're nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers, is how I define them. These are people who truly hate. They hate what we stand for, particularly because we love what we stand for. We love freedom. They hate us because we love freedom. We love the fact that people are able to worship the Almighty in a free society. They have hijacked a great religion to profess their hate. See, they don't like the idea of people being able to express themselves freely. And so long as we hold those values dear, they will come after us. That's just the way just the way they are. And so our biggest job and I say "our" it's a collective effort, but a lot of it starts in Washington, DC is to secure the homeland. It's to do everything we can to make sure that the good people of this country don't suffer what happened on September the 11th. And we're making some progress we really are. There's a lot of hard working folks, folks at the Federal level and at the State level and at the local level, who are working hour after hour to run down any hint, any lead, and disrupting any possible plans to hit America. I've made a proposal there in Washington. I want to explain to you right quick about why I did so. I said, "We need to create a new Department of Homeland Security." When I first said that, a couple of my buddies in Texas said, "I thought you ran on the platform that you weren't going to make Government bigger." I said, "That's true that's true, but I'd definitely like to make it better." And when we have a responsibility, it ought to be able to do its job. And my concern, having looked carefully at the situation, is that there's over 100 agencies in Washington, DC, that have something to do with the homeland security. They're scattered everywhere. It's awfully hard to create a culture and set priority when they're scattered about. And so I said to the Congress, "Why don't you create a Department of Homeland Security, so that we can better enforce our borders?" Listen, we need to know who's coming in, what they're bringing in, and if they're staying, and if they're not or if they're leaving, when they're supposed to be leaving. We need to do a better job of coordinating a first responder strategy with our brave police and sheriffs departments and EMS teams and fire teams around the country. We need to do a better job of understanding the effects of weapons of mass destruction and being able to respond to those threats. We've got to have the capacity to gather intelligence, analyze intelligence, assess our vulnerabilities, and deal with them. And that's what this new Homeland Department is going to do. I made good progress in the House. I want to thank Joe for his vote. It's got a little problem in the Senate because the Senate appears to be more worried about special interests in Washington, DC, as opposed to the interests of the American people. They want to micromanage the Department. I'll give you an example. We've got, as you know as well as anybody else we've got agencies on our border. They wear different uniforms. They've got different strategies sometimes. They've got a stovepipe type organization. For the sake of our homeland security, I need the ability to be able to put the right people at the right time at the right place, in order to protect America. We've got to be able to have interoperability between our agencies, between Customs and the INS and the Border Patrol, for the sake of the security. I will not accept a bill from the Senate which ties our hands and does not let us do the job you want us to do to protect our homeland. But the best way to make sure we secure the homeland is to get the enemy and hunt them down, one by one. And that's what we're going to have to do. It's a different kind of strategy because it's a different kind of war. In the old days there was infantry and tanks and formations and fleets. That's not the kind of war we're facing right now. We're facing a war in which the commanders hide in a cave and send youngsters to their suicidal death. They blend in big cities they hide. But we've got them on the run. We're flushing them out one by one, and we're making pretty good progress. We really are. We've hauled in over a couple thousand of them, and a like number wasn't as lucky. They met their fate. But there's more of them out there. There's more of them out there, and we're learning who they are. And they're just not going to be able to hide from us because, one, we've got a great military, and two, we put a vast coalition together of people who understand what's at stake. I submitted to the Congress a significant increase in our defense budget. I want to explain to you why I did. It's significant it's the most significant since Ronald Reagan was the President. And I did so because I wanted to send two messages to our country and to everybody else, and that is, one, anytime we put one of our troops in harm's way, they must have the best equipment and the best pay and the best possible training. We owe it to our soldiers applause we owe it to our troops, and as importantly, we owe it to our troops' families. And secondly, the increase in the defense spending should send a clear message to friend and foe alike that the United States of America is a determined and patient nation, that we will do whatever it takes to defend our freedom. No matter how long it takes, we're going to do what it takes to bring peace to the world. Oh, you hear some of them squawking about it up there, but I think most Americans understand what's at stake. They remember the horrors of September the 11th. They know that there is a determined enemy. They know that we are never going to abandon the values which we hold dear, and so long as we hold those values dear, they may try and come and get us. I laid out some doctrine early in this conflict two basic doctrine one said that if you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist if you feed them or clothe them or hide them, you're guilty. And the Taliban found out exactly what we meant. Now, I do want you to tell your children and I say this every chance I get that your great Nation, in upholding that doctrine, went into Afghanistan not to conquer anybody but to liberate people. And that's what we did. We got young girls, many young girls, going to school for the first time, thanks to the United States of America. And we're still there. We're there to help promote democracy, a value which we hold dear. And we're there to hunt down Al Qaida. Anytime they bunch up or anytime we find them, we've got fantastic troops on the ground, hunting them down, one person at a time. That doctrine pertains to other countries, of course, and the idea is, once you get them flushed out and get them on the run, there ought to be no place for them to light, no safe haven, no possible place to train. So you need to know your Government is doing everything we can to continue to remind other countries that we expect them to be with us or with the enemy. Recently, a couple of months ago, the Philippines had a problem there with what they call the Abu Sayyaf group. They had kidnaped two Americans, the Burnhams, from Kansas. They were Al Qaida related, and the Philippine Government, thanks to our training, went and got the head of the Abu Sayyaf. Slowly but surely, we're accomplishing our mission. And we will not stop until we finish. There's a long way to go. We've got a lot of work to do, and sometimes you'll see the work on your TVs, and sometimes you won't. It creates a certain sense of anxiety amongst the speculators and the pundits, but that's okay. It's a new kind of war. We're steady we're patient, and we're making progress, because we understand the stakes, and the stakes are high. The stakes are these whether or not our children can grow up in a free and peaceful world. Those are the stakes, and that's why I talk about making sure that the world's worst leaders aren't able to develop and harbor the world's worst weapons. Now listen, I've got a lot of tools at my disposal, and I'm a patient, patient man. But I understand freedom, and I understand history has put the spotlight on this country. And so long as I'm the President, this country isn't going to blink we're going to lead. And I look forward to having Steve's support in this effort. I want you to know that I believe I firmly believe that by leading this coalition and by remaining strong and diligent and focused, that we can achieve peace. It's very important for you to tell the youngsters who are trying to figure out what all this means that the goal in this Nation is a peaceful world. That's what I hope. Sometimes it may not look like we're getting there, but that is where we're headed, and that's what I believe we can accomplish. Not only do I believe we can achieve peace here, but I believe we can achieve peace in other troubled areas. I firmly believe that if we remain strong on terror and promote values of human dignity and the values of freedom, that we can achieve peace in the Middle East or in South Asia. The enemy must have not known who they were hitting. They thought that we were a selfish nation, you know, that we were so materialistic that all we would do is file a lawsuit laughter that we weren't tough, that we didn't have character. That's what they must have thought. They're learning otherwise. You see, this is a nation which knows what I know, that out of the evil done to our country is going to come some good, not only a more peaceful world but a more compassionate country, a country in which everybody understands that the American Dream is meant for them everybody. My belief is that one of when one suffers, all of us suffers. I also know there's limitations on Government, that Government can hand out money. We do a pretty good job of it sometimes, but what Government cannot do is affect the human spirit. It can't put hope in people's hearts. It can't put a sense of purpose in people's lives. Government is not love. Love comes when our fellow Americans put their arms around the shoulder of somebody who hurts, and says, "I love you. I love you. What can I do to help you?" People say, "I'd like to join the war on terror," or, "What can I do to make my country a better place?" And my answer is, love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. Mentor a child. Have a Boy Scout troop or a Girl Scout troop. Be willing to teach people values. Make a difference in one person's life. Oh, I know that that doesn't seem huge. One person can't do everything, but one person can do something. One person can be that somebody who's making a difference in a child's life or a neighbor's life. And that's happening in America it really is. People are beginning to understand. They've taken a step back, and they've said, "What is this all about? What does it mean to be an American?" I believe Americans from all walks of life every political party, even those that can't stand politics understand that patriotism means serving something greater than just yourself. The enemy hit us. They didn't know who they were hitting. They're paying a terrible price and will continue to do so. But the dividend of the tragedy is going to be a stronger America. And by "stronger America," I mean a more hopeful America, a decent America, an America where anybody, regardless of their background, comes. They will have the opportunities that we have had. There's addiction in our society. There's hopelessness in our society. There's fatherless in our society. But all those problems that may seem insurmountable can be solved one citizen at a time. And so my call to our country is, be that citizen making a difference in somebody's life. I first started running for politics in well, the second time I ran for the first time I didn't do so good laughter in Midland. Came in second in a two man race. Laughter We've got some friends from Lubbock here. They may remember that. Laughter The second time I ran, I said, "I hope to be a part of a cultural change in America. I hope that I can, in some small way, influence a shift in the culture from one that had said, If it feels good, just go ahead and do it, and if you've got a problem, blame somebody else for your problems."' See, my hope was that our society would evolve toward a period in which all of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life, that if you're a mom or a dad, your most important job and your most important responsibility is to love your children with all your heart and all your soul, that if you're a citizen of Las Cruces, New Mexico, or Hobbs, New Mexico, you have a responsibility to ensure that your school system is the best it can possibly be, to support your teachers, to work in your community in any way it takes to make a difference in somebody's life. I'm a big proponent of what I call the Faith Based Initiative, because I understand that many times a changed heart will lead to a changed life, and out of our churches or synagogues or mosques come the capacity to change a person's heart, to make America a better and more decent place. The period of responsibility is coming. I can see it all across our country. People have assumed that new patriotism. It's not just rooting for a military. It is being an active citizen, a participant in making America a genuinely decent place. And perhaps the most poignant example of that came on Flight 93. Citizens were flying across the country, you may remember. They had heard that the airplane was going to be a weapon. They said to their loved ones, "I love you. I love you." They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." They drove the plane in the ground to serve something greater than themselves in life. No, out of the evil done to America is going to come incredible good, because this is the finest country, with the finest people, on the face of the Earth. God bless. August 24, 2002 The President. Thank you all. Please be seated. It's great to come to a place where you can see cowboy hats and belt buckles, boots. Thanks for letting me across the State line. Laughter I was just raised right around the corner, in Midland, Texas. So I kind of consider Las Cruces to be kind of home. But thank you all for greeting me today, and thanks for the warm welcome. It is my honor to be here in this beautiful State, in this dynamic city, to talk about the three great goals we have for this country three great goals First is to win the war on terror second is to make sure that we protect our homeland and third is to assure you that we will not rest until our economy is strong. Anybody who wants to find work must be able to find work in this country. We're going to help this economy grow. And this is a great place to talk about the strength of America. It's a great place to come to talk about the fact that, even though we've got challenges, we can overcome these challenges because we're Americans. We work hard. We have great values. We're optimistic people. There is no challenge that we can't overcome. And the people of this great part of the country understand that as well as anybody else. I want to thank my friend the senior Senator, Pete Domenici. He's a fine, fine man. Not only is he a fine man, he is a great United States Senator. And not only is he is a great United States Senator, he loves New Mexico a lot. And then, of course, there's the retiring Congressman, Joe Skeen, who has brought such class to the office of that he has held. We're real proud of Joe. We're proud of his courage. We're proud of his strength. We're going to miss him in Washington, DC, but Washington, DC's loss is your gain. He and Mary love this part of the country, and he's going to have a lot of farewells. This is not his farewell speech from me, but nevertheless, it's my honor to talk in front of his constituents and tell him how much we love him and how much we care for he and Mary. Joe, thanks for coming today. Applause They sure love you, Joe. Jay, I want to thank you very much for inviting me and this small entourage I travel with laughter to this very important campus. It's New Mexico State has got a proud reputation, and you've made it even more proud, Jay. And I appreciate your service. I want to thank all the folks who helped put this event on, particularly in this beautiful facility, where I guess the Aggies tend to dominate. I want to thank Ruben Smith, the mayor of Las Cruces, for being here. Mayor Smith, thank you for your time. Dora Dominguez, the president of the Greater Las Cruces Chamber, helped put on this event, and I'm most grateful for the Chamber members who are here. I want to thank very much Sara Misquez, who is the president of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, who is with us today. I appreciate Jesus Segura, who is the mayor of Sunland Park. I want to thank very much a special person who met me out there at the airport, Ophelia Chaffino. She is a USA Freedom Corps volunteer. She is a foster grandparent who tutors 4th and 5th year olds. Let me tell you why I want to bring up the Ophelia and people like her. Because I understand, and I hope you understand, the great strength of our country is not our governments. The great strength of our country is our people. And when people and people can make a significant difference in all kinds of ways in the communities in which they live. The fact that Ophelia wants to mentor children is a significant contribution. Oh, you know, some may step back and say, "Changing one life isn't that much." Changing one life is a lot a lot. And I want to thank the soldiers in the armies of compassion which exist in Las Cruces, all across New Mexico, and all across our country, for working hard to make our society a compassionate and decent place. Where are you, Ophelia? Thank you for being here. Please stand up and wave. I appreciate so very much Ruben King Shaw, Jr., who works for the Health and Human Services Administration, being with us today. Why don't you stand up, Ruben? I'm going to say something about you. Ruben is here to make sure that we improve health care for the people of New Mexico. You can sit down, Ruben. Laughter Ruben is a good man. I've known him I'm proud that he came up and worked in my administration. He also has got a big heart. One of the concerns we have is that nearly half of low income adults here in New Mexico are uninsured. And that's a problem and that's a problem. Most of the uninsured adults are Latinos or Hispanic. And so what Ruben did was, he came to approve an application that will allow for, the best way to put it is creative financing, to make sure that 40,000 additional adults in this State are able to get health insurance, to work with the State and Senator Domenici to provide a plan so that more of your citizens will be able to have health insurance. And Ruben, I want to thank you for taking time off of your vacation to come and work that plan and implement it so that the good folks in New Mexico have got a better quality of life. Thank you for coming. No, as Pete mentioned, we've got some hurdles to cross here in the country. We've got some issues we have to deal with. One of the issues, of course, is our economy. When I came in, the country was beginning a recession. It's just a fact. We had three quarters of negative growth. And then the terrorists hit us, and that affected our economy. And then something bubbled to the service that had been brewing for a while We found out some of our citizens wanted to cook the books. Some of our citizens didn't feel like they could do it the honest way. They had to try to slide one by us. Corporate scandals erupted. We've had three major challenges to job creation in the country. But you need to know, we're going to deal with it, and we're going to deal with it in a strong way. My view is, the role of Government is not to create wealth, but the role of Government is to create an environment in which small businesses and entrepreneurs and farmers and ranchers can prosper, so we can create jobs around the country. And one of the things we did together and I'm talking about Republicans and Democrats is we took a page out of this textbook that said, "If you want to try to encourage job creation, if you want the economy to grow, you let hard working people keep more of their own money." Pete and I and Joe have read that textbook. Some in Washington haven't. Laughter We understand if you let a person keep more of their own money by the way, you notice I don't say "keep more of the Government's money." It's not the Government's money we're talking about. It's the people's money. If people keep more of their own money, it means somebody is going to demand a good or a service. And if somebody demands a good and service, somebody is likely to produce that good or service, and when somebody produces that good and service, somebody's more likely to find work. The tax relief that we passed happened right at the right time. And for the sake of economic vitality and job creation, we need to make the tax relief permanent. And at the same time, my job is to work with fine Members like Senator Domenici and make sure that we don't overspend. We want to make sure that we're fiscally responsible. That doesn't mean that we can't set priorities and fund those priorities, and we will. But as Pete will tell you, every idea is a good idea in Washington, no matter what it costs. Laughter My job is to make sure that the good ideas that meet our priorities are funded, like fighting and winning the war on terror, protecting the homeland, and taking care of people who can't help themselves, and education our children. Those are the priorities. We need to work together. When they get back out of their break and when they get back to Washington, they need to work to put some of our construction people back to work, by passing a terrorism insurance bill, one that will allow large scale construction programs to go forward that aren't going forward because they can't get insurance necessary to cover a possible terrorist attack. And by the way, the bill ought to be more worried about the hardhats than the lawyers. This ought to be a bill that is aimed to help the working people. We need to make sure that we've got pension reform. A lot of you all have got assets tied up in what they call 401(k)s or IRAs, but if you're in a 401(k) and you're working for a company and the boss sells, you ought to sell. By the way, I've just signed, in a new law, that type of provision. It says what's good for one is good for all. If it's good for the head man, it ought to be good for everybody else working for the company. But we also need to have a law to allow people to diversify. We shouldn't force people who work for a company and who get company stock to have to stay in that stock forever. After a reasonable period of time, they ought to be able to diversify their portfolio. They ought to get sound investment advice, and they ought to get reports on a quarterly basis, not an annual basis. In order to make the economy stronger, we need to have pension reform on behalf of the workers of this country. Thirdly, I just got a new bill that will allow me to encourage trade. Let me explain my position on trade, and I'll start with something that's dear to the people of this part of the world, and that's agriculture. The good news for America is, we grow enough food to feed ourselves. That's good news. Imagine what it would be like if we didn't grow enough food to feed ourselves, if we had to go around the world asking for food. We'd be a little more vulnerable as a nation. It's good for our national security that we've got enough food to feed ourselves. But we've got more than we need, because we're the best in the world at growing things. Our farmers and ranchers are the best in the world. And if you're the best in the world at something, you ought to encourage it. And so, therefore, my job is to open up markets for U.S. agricultural products. It is the best way to allow our producers to make a living. It is in our Nation's interest we do so. And people say, "Well, of course, he's going to say that, but that hasn't been the way it's been." And I understand that. I know there's some skepticism about level playing fields. And I know a lot of the farmers and ranchers and some from other industries have said, "Well, we've heard that song and dance before." But you've just got to know how I think. If you're good at something, we're going to promote it, and we ought to start from our strength when it comes to enhancing job creation and creating wealth through trade, and that is agriculture. And let me just give you one example of what I'm talking about. We grow a lot of chickens here in America. Laughter Well, we do. Laughter And the Russians decided they were going to they thought about buying our chickens. Then we got the chickens moving, and they changed their mind. And I talked to President Putin quite a bit about that. So one time at one of our press conferences, he said, "Listen, our relationship has changed so much, we're no longer talking war we're talking chickens." Laughter Two days ago, our Secretary of Agriculture, Ann Veneman, announced that the Russians are going to buy all the chickens they said they would buy. That's good for chicken producers. It's good for hog producers. It's good for cattle producers. It's good for America. It's good for America that we open up markets to sell our products. It's going to mean jobs for the working people of this country. It's commonsense policy. And the other day I had a chance to lay out a little bit of commonsense policy which affects the folks in the northern part of your State that Pete and I just talked about. We're having some serious fires here in America. One of our most precious resources, our forests, are burning up. And one of the reasons they're burning up is because we're doing a lousy job of maintaining our forests we're doing a lousy job of maintaining our treasure. We've got to change our forest policy. Our forest policy now says, "Hands off." And guess what happens when you have a hands off policy your forests become diseased they end up like a big pile of kindling. And all it takes is one lightning strike. I flew over the huge fire in Oregon. I mean, thousands and thousands of precious forest lands are burning. For the sake of a healthy forest, for the sake of leaving a legacy for future generations, we will change the forest policy of this country to thin the forest lands to keep them healthy. And finally, I had the honor of signing the most comprehensive corporate reform bill since Franklin Roosevelt was the President. It's a long time ago, it seems like. But it was needed. It was when Republican and Democrats came together. It's a good piece of legislation which said the auditors will be audited crooked people are going to be held to account. We don't want anybody taking advantage of trustworthy people. For the sake of economic vitality and job creation, for the sake of confidence in our system, we're going to rout those out who cook the books. It's no longer going to be easy money it's going to be hard time for people who have not upheld their responsibility. We've got hurdles to cross, but I'm confident in the future of this country. I'm confident in our economic vitality, because I know our people and I understand the entrepreneurial spirit. I know the fact that we're the best and most productive workers in the world. We are. I know that low interest rates and low inflation provide the platform for economic vitality. We're just not going to rest. We're not going to rest until people are able to find work, people who are looking for work can find work. And I'm not going to rest when it comes to protecting our homeland either. That's my most important job, is to prevent people from hitting us again. I say "people" I say "people" let me qualify that coldblooded killers. That's all they are. There's no other way to say it. There's no other apt description than to tell you exactly how I think they are, and they're coldblooded killers. And they want to kill again because they hate what we love, and we love freedom. We love the fact that people can worship freely in America. We respect the fact that people worship freely in America. They don't value life. We value life. We say, "Everybody counts in America. Everybody is precious in this land." So long as they're out there, we've got to do everything we can to protect the homeland. And you need to know there's a lot of good folks working hard to do just that, good folks at the Federal level and at the State level and the local level. I mean, anytime we're getting a hint, we're acting on it. Anytime we get a whisper that somebody might be thinking about doing something to America, people are on it. And we're following every lead. People are working hard. But I want to take a step further, and I've asked Congress to join me in setting up a Department of Homeland Security. And let me explain to you why I made that suggestion. There are over 100 agencies in Washington, scattered all over Washington, I might add, that have got something to do with homeland security. And it seems logical to me that if the number one priority of this administration and by the way, future administrations is to protect the homeland, then we ought to have the capacity to make that the number one priority of the other 100 agencies. You see, you can't just say, "That's your priority," and everybody snaps to. The best way to get them to snap to is to put them under one Secretary of Homeland Security. And that's what we intend to do. But let me tell you something, what I'm not going to do is accept a bill that tries to micromanage the process, tell us who to hire, where to move them, and how to do it. I warn the Senate and Pete I'm not warning Pete, because he understands what I'm talking about. He knows who I'm talking about. There are Senators who are more worried about the special interests in Washington than they are about protecting the people. They're more interested in their turf than they are about homeland security. And they need to get me a good bill. I can count on him. But the best way to protect the homeland we're going to work hard to do this we're going to make sure our border we need to know who's coming in the country, what are they bringing in the country, if they're leaving the country when they say they're going to leave the country. We need to have a strong first responders initiative to work with the mayors and the county judges and the sheriff's departments to be able to respond. We need to work closely with some of our labs to devise ways to be able to detect and respond to a bioterrorist attack, for example, or the use of weapons of mass destruction. There's a lot we're going to do. But my theory is and my strategy is and it's the way it's going to be so long as I'm the President the way to best protect the homeland is to hunt the killers down one by one and bring them to justice. And so I submitted a budget, an appropriations request to the Congress that was the largest defense increase since Ronald Reagan was the President. I did it for two reasons two reasons One, anytime we put our soldiers into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best equipment possible. We not only owe it to the men and women who wear our uniform we owe that to their loved ones as well. The other reason I submitted this budget is because I wanted to tell our friends and allies and enemy alike that we're in this deal for the long haul. See, when it comes to defending freedom, there is no calendar that says you've got to quit by such and such a date. That this history has called us to action, and we're going to stay on course, stay steady, until we have achieved the mission, which is to make the world free, to defend our freedoms. Now, I understand that this is a different kind of war, and I hope you do as well. You see, no longer are we able to count the size of the enemy by counting tanks or airplanes or ships. This is an enemy which hides in caves and then sends youngsters to their suicidal death. These people kind of run and scatter. So it's a different kind of mission it's a different kind of war. But we've got a strategy. And they understand the strategy is, get them on the run, and once we get them on the run, don't let them light anyplace. And if they do try to light someplace, bring them to justice. And that's precisely what the United States is going to do. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. And so my request to the Congress and I know Pete agrees with me is to get the defense bill to my desk as soon as they get back. We need to get the defense bill signed. See, the Senate passed it, and the House passed it. They need to get the differences quickly. We're at war. We need to send that signal loud and clear to our troops and to the world, that we're strongly united in this effort to win the war against terror. I say it's hard to count, but I've got kind of an idea of how we're doing. I say "kind of." We estimate that over 2,500 or of the enemy have been captured by the United States or our friends and allies. And remember, we've got a huge coalition of countries that are working together to cut their money off or to share intelligence, put pressure. And the we've got about 2,500 of them or so, maybe a little more than that, that are now in captivity, that are no longer in caves, that aren't able to fight. And just about that many weren't as lucky. We will continue to uphold the doctrine that says, "If you harbor one of them, you're just as guilty as those who killed American citizens." We will be relentless and patient and strong and determined and wise about how we conduct this war. And we're going to win the war on terror. We owe it to our children and our grandchildren that's who we owe it to. We owe it to them as well to make sure that the world's worst leaders are not able to develop and deploy the world's worst weapons. We've got a lot of work to do. But I'm proud of our military, and I'm proud of our team, and we're going to get the job done. I believe that out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good. I believe that. I know it's going to happen, because we're America. I can't imagine what was going through the enemy's mind when they hit us. They must have thought, "That Nation is so self absorbed and so materialistic, so shallow in its beliefs, so selfish, that after 9 11 all they might do is file a lawsuit or two." Laughter They found out different about America. They understand they're beginning to learn the character of this Nation. They and our allies and the enemy understand that when we go into a country, we go in not as conquerors but as liberators. I want you all to tell your children This great Nation, in liberating Afghanistan, made it possible for young girls, many young girls for the first time in their life, to be able to go to school. They're learning that this Nation does not seek revenge we seek justice. And we will all learn, by being strong and tough and diligent and compassionate, we can achieve peace. In the midst of all this talk in the midst of all this talk, I want you all to tell your children that this country of ours yearns for peace, that we want peace for not only this generation but future generations to come. Oh, the hill might be steep at times. It might be a rugged terrain, like you're used to out here in New Mexico, but we're going to cross that terrain to achieve peace not only peace for ourselves, but, see, we value life all around the world. When we say we value life and everybody counts, it's not just American lives it's lives in every part of the world. I believe we can achieve peace by routing out terror and professing the God given values not American values God given values that matter to everybody. I believe we can achieve peace in parts of the world that have quit on peace. I believe out of the evil done to America can come some incredible good here at home, besides peace. See, ours is a great country, full of hope. But we've got to recognize there are pockets of despair and addiction and hopelessness. We've got to understand that when one hurts, all hurt. We have a chance, I believe, to take the evil done to America and convert it to great good. Because well, let me put it to you this way People say, "What can I do to help?" You know what you can do to help? You can love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. That's what you can do. Oftentimes we look to Government, but Government can hand out money, but it cannot put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. No, it's those millions of acts of kindness and decency that take place in America which really and truly define the true character of the country and enable me to predict that out of the evil done to America will come some good. You see, mentoring a child is part of helping change America for the better. We can change our society, one person at a time. I hear people say, "I can't do everything." Of course you can't, but you can do something. You can do something to help change America, one lost soul at a time. And that's happening in this country it really is. People are beginning to understand there is a different kind of patriotism alive in America. It's the patriotism that's much bigger than just putting your hand over your heart and saying "one Nation under God." It's a patriotism that says, serving something greater than yourself is part of being a patriotic American. It's a patriotism that understands that you're responsible for the decisions you make in life. And if you happen to be fortunate to be a mom or a dad, love your child with all your heart and all your soul. Tell them you love them every single day, in order to make America a more compassionate and more decent place. It's a patriotism that says, each of us have a responsibility to the quality of life in the communities in which we live. Help your schools. Go to your churches or synagogues and help feed the hungry. That's what the patriotism is, and it's alive and well and was best exemplified on that fateful, horrible day, September the 11th, when some of our fellow citizens on a flight that was flying across the country realized the plane they were on was to be used as a weapon, a weapon perhaps at the White House or at our Nation's Capitol. History shows that they were on cell phones, and they told their loved ones they loved them. Some of the last words they said were "love." They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." And they served something greater than themselves in life. They set an example for all of us here in America. No, out of the evil done to America is going to come incredible good, because this is the most compassionate, decent, strong nation on the face of the Earth. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. August 23, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much. Thanks for inviting me. We don't have views like this in Crawford. Laughter What a beautiful spot this is, in a fantastic State. And thanks for coming tonight. It is my honor to come and help support the fine slate of candidates that our party is fielding this year. And it's my honor to come and support the next Governor of the State of California, Bill Simon. Bill mentioned that Laura was out here working for on his behalf. And that day he drew the long straw, and today laughter you drew the short one. Laughter But she's doing great. I had a talk with her when we got settled into this beautiful spot. And yesterday in Leander, Texas, they named an elementary school for her. So she thought it would be good and deservedly so, I might say. You know, when I married Laura, she was a public school librarian. That's how she made her living. She was a public school librarian, and the truth of the matter is, she didn't care for politics or politicians. Laughter And now she got stuck with one. Laughter For the good of the country, she's a fabulous First Lady. I'm proud of her. Just like Cindy Simon is going to be a great first lady for California. I like the way the Simons value family. That's important for your leader of the State of California to hold values dear to his heart. And there's nothing more important than people who value faith and family and service to something greater than yourself. This event has not only drawn a lot of hardworking grassroot activists and I want to thank you for your hard work, not only for what Audience member. Working hard. The President. I know you are. Laughter Not only for what you have done but for what you're fixing to do, which is to turn out the vote. A lot of times, you never get thanked enough. A lot of times, those of us running for office kind of take you for granted. Well, you want need to know your President doesn't take you for granted. I want to thank you for your hard work. I want to thank you for what you do. I'm urging you to get out and support this good man and the slate that we have put together here in the great State of California. But we've got some strong we've got some strong members of the congressional delegation who are here, and I want to introduce some of them. I'm going to probably need their vote when laughter . The good news is, I haven't had to ask the ones I'm about to introduce too often, because they've been loyal friends, and they're strong, like Ken Calvert I appreciate you coming, Kenny or Ed Royce, right up the coast here. Ed, thank you for coming. How about Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Duke. Audience members. Duke! Duke! Duke! The President. I asked him how long it took to get up here from his district. He said, when he put in an afterburner, about 3 minutes. Laughter I appreciate so very much Darrell Issa being here as well. Darrell, thanks for coming. And finally, the Congressman from this district, a true leader in the House of Representatives, Chris Cox. We've got candidates who are running statewide in this fantastic State. The next Lieutenant Governor of your State of California is Bruce McPherson. I appreciate you coming, Bruce. I've known Bruce for quite a while. He's a good hand, as they say in Crawford. He's a good, hard working man, who is going to work with the next Governor to do what's right for the people of this State. I want to thank very much Dick Ackerman, who is the candidate for State attorney general, for being here. The next secretary of state, Keith Olberg, is with us today. Greg Conlon, who is going to be the next treasurer of your State, is with us today. Gary Mendoza is running a great race for insurance commissioner is with us today. I appreciate so very much Katherine Smith, running for state superintendent of public construction. Thank you, Katherine. These are fine candidates, and I want to thank you all for supporting them. I also want to pay tribute to Jack and Joanne Kemp who are here today. Jack has been a great stalwart for the applause . It's good to know they still remember you. He's a good friend and a great man, who has been stalwart in the for our cause and our way of thinking. I appreciate so very much his willingness to work hard to take the edge off a message to make it clear that what we believe in applies to everybody, that we don't believe in excluding people. We believe in including people in our message of applause . And I want to thank my friend Gerry Parsky, who has done a great job on my behalf in this State. He had some really heavy lifting to do in 2000. He was my campaign chairman in this State. But he's a good man. He's a good man, and I appreciate his friendship. But I want to talk to you about the next Governor. The thing I like about Bill Simon is he's willing to work to change the tone of politics. And that's important. If you want to lead, if you're there for the right reason, if you want to serve the people, the first thing you've got to do is change the tone and attitude of people, in this case in Sacramento, California. You see, if you believe in pitting one group of people against another, you can't get anything done. If you believe that politics is zero sum we've got one winner and one loser you're not going to get positive things done on behalf of the people. Bill Simon is committed to changing the tone in Sacramento, to get things done not just for Republicans, but for Democrats and independents and people who don't give a darn about politics. And notice, I said "get things done." I mean "get results," results such as making sure that every child gets a good education in this important State. It is really important. It's really important in this big State, in this powerful State, in this State that has got people from all walks of life, that we make sure that every single child gets educated every child. Not a few, not some in the fancy districts, not some in the suburbs, but every child, everywhere in the State of California. And that means setting high standards. That means having a Governor who believes every child can learn. You see, the sad fact is, around, probably, California, I know in Texas and around the country, there are some people who believe children can't some children can't learn. See, that means they've got low standards, what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. If you set the low bar low, you're going to get bad results. And so first and foremost, you've got to have a Governor who believes every child can learn. Secondly, you've got to have a Governor who trusts the people to make the decisions as to how to get the path to excellence set up in each school district. You see, you cannot have a one size fits all education system, not only out of Washington but out of a big, powerful State, diverse State, like California. You've got to trust the local folks. You've got to trust the teachers and the parents. You've got to be willing to say, "We're not going to try to micromanage from a centralized authority." Thirdly, you've got to have a Governor and this Governor future Governor agrees with me about this that you've got to be willing to measure. You see, if you believe every child can learn, like I do, then you insist that every child be measured to determine whether they are learning. It's the folks who say every child can't learn, are the ones who say, "Let's don't measure." If you believe the child can't learn, there's no need to tell whether or not they are. Guess what happens with the system that doesn't measure? You shuffle children through called "social promotion." And guess who gets hurt? Everybody gets hurt in a system that refuses to educate each and every child. I believe we ought to measure, and I believe we ought to measure so we know who to praise. And I believe we ought to measure to make sure we correct problems early, before they're too late. No child in America and no child in California should be left behind. And you've got a Governor future Governor, who understands that. See, it's a frame of mind you've got to have in Washington. Public education isn't a political issue it is a issue that is important for every single family in this State. You can't play politics with the education system. You need a breath of fresh air in Sacramento, is what you need. You also need somebody who can balance the budget, somebody who can help set priorities, somebody who doesn't try to be all things to all people. That's what you need. And that's the way Bill Simon is going to be. And finally, an issue that is dear to my heart is the understanding that we need to help people help themselves in California and in America. We need for example, when we reauthorize the welfare bill, we've got to make sure that the key component of any new reauthorization is work. We've got to understand that work equals dignity. But you've also got to understand we've got to help people. We've got to help people be prepared to work. Listen, there are pockets of despair and hopelessness in this State and all around this country. And one way to make sure that we help people is to unleash one of the great strengths of America, and that is the faith based programs all across our country. I'm trying to get a bill passed out of Washington that recognizes the power of programs coming out of church and synagogue and mosque, programs programs all designed to help people in need. Bill Simon understands that. We ought to ask the question, "Does it work? Does it work? Does changing a person's heart help ease addiction, help cure the hopelessness?" You bet it does. And therefore, we ought to have a Governor in this State who's willing to grab the great talent of the State, the compassion of the State, to make sure that every Californian has got an opportunity to realize the great dream of this State. That's the kind of man Bill Simon is. He doesn't need a poll to tell him what to believe. He's got a compass and a direction. So I hope you work hard to put him in and work hard to get the rest of the candidates in. It will be a big day for your State, to get a new attitude, a new way of thinking in the State's capital. It's good for all people of this State. We've got some problems in Sacramento, and we've got some problems we've got to deal with as a Nation. We do. But we're going to deal with them. My most important job my most important job is to protect innocent life here in the country. And it's still a task, because there's still an enemy that hates us. You know, I'm sure your sons and daughters or grandkids are saying, "Why would anybody hate America? What have we done?" Well, we love freedom, that's what we've done. We value each life. That's what we do here in this country. Each person has got worth, each person has got dignity. Everybody matters. We love the fact that people can worship freely in America, and we're not going to change. We love the fact that people can speak their mind Audience member. I love it The President. and they're not going to change. Keep speaking it. Laughter We love the fact we love the fact we've got a free press. We love that. And anybody who tries to take away our freedoms is going to find out we're plenty tough. We're staring down nothing but a bunch of cold blooded killers. That's all they are that's all they are. And therefore, we're going to deal with them as such. But in order to protect the homeland, I need some help out of Congress. I want to thank the House Members for voting on a good bill that recognizes that when you have over 100 agencies in Washington, DC, kind of scattered all over the Nation's Capital, it's hard to get priorities set it's hard to get a culture in place that demands the fact that we're all working to keep the people safe. That's what we need to do. We need to bring them under one Cabinet officer. The problem I face is that the Senate doesn't quite understand what the House has done. See, I need to be able to move people I need to be able to move people to the right place at the right time in order to make the border more secure, for example. We've got different agencies on the border all competing. We've got the INS and the Customs we've got Border Patrol, three fine agencies with great people, but they're not they compete. They need to work together. We've got a new day in America. The Senate is more worried about their political turf and less worried about the security of the American people. But you need to know there are a lot of fine people I mean fine folks working on your behalf, people running down every hint that somebody might be thinking about doing something, people sharing intelligence, people working overtime to do everything they can. And I don't mean people just at the Federal level I'm talking about at the State level and at the local level. I'm grateful for the law enforcement folks here in the State of California, who care deeply about the citizens of this State. I'm grateful for our FBI agents who are working hard. I'm grateful for all the people who are involved with the homeland security. We're doing everything we can you just need to know it everything we can to make sure that we protect the people. But the best way to protect the people is to hunt the killers down, one at a time, and bring them to justice. And that's what we've got to do. That's what we have to do, and that's what we're going to do. That's why I submitted the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. I did so because I want to send a clear message that anytime we put one of our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. If you've got a loved one in the military, you tell them the Commander in Chief and the country is really proud of their service. And I'm proud of your support for your loved ones. I'm proud of them. It's really important they serve. They're serving a great nation. We also have a big increase in our defense spending because I want the enemy and friend alike to know that we're in this for the long pull. There's not a calendar on my desk one of those kind of flipping calendars. You flip it, and it says, now time to quit. Laughter That's not how I think, and that's not how you think. You see, history has called us into action. History has given us a chance to defend freedom, to bring freedom not only here at home to make sure we preserve it here at home but to have freedom in other parts of the world. That's what history has done. We're making good progress, by the way. We're making good progress, thanks to our coalition and thanks to our friends. We've captured over a couple thousand of them. Laughter Seriously. Audience member. Round 'em up, George. The President. About the like number haven't been so lucky. Laughter But we've got more work to do we just do. And no matter where they light, we're going to get after them. We're going to uphold the doctrine that says, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists." I spend a lot of time talking about this, because not only is it on my mind and it's our priority, but it's very important for the American people to understand we face a different kind of war. Sometimes you'll see it on TV, and sometimes you won't. Sometimes you'll see our actions a lot of times you won't. But you've just got to know that we're chasing them, one by one. And not only that, it's very important for our future to deal with those leaders, those leaders the world's worst leaders, who want to harbor and develop the world's worst weapons. We owe it to our children. We owe it to our future. I'm a patient man. We've got tools at our disposal, but we have got to defend freedom. We owe it to the future generations to do so. You know, when the enemy hit us, I can't imagine what was going through their mind. See, they must have thought that this great Nation was so self absorbed, so materialistic, and so shallow that after September the 11th, we might just file a lawsuit or two. Laughter But they found out we think differently here in America. They found out what this country is made out of. We're a strong nation, but we're a decent nation as well. See, we don't seek revenge we seek justice. We don't go to countries to conquer we go into countries to liberate, just like we did in Afghanistan. We believe in the worth of human beings all around the world. Our dream is for freedom not just for our own children but for children all around the globe. That's the way our Nation thinks. I'm going to tell you what I believe. I believe out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good. I believe it. I believe that if this Nation remains strong and tough and pursues terrorism, upholds doctrine, is true to our word, is willing to delineate between good and evil, that we can achieve peace, that we can have peace not only for our own people, but we can have peace in places where they've quit thinking about peace, like the Middle East or South Asia. I believe that. I want you to tell your children, when they hear the talk of war or they talk about our United States taking action, that it's all a design, it's all aimed to make this world a peaceful place. And here at home, I believe that out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good as well. I mentioned the fact that there are pockets of despair and hopelessness in California and America. There just are. I believe when one of us hurts, we all hurt. But I understand the role of Government is limited. See, Government can hand out money, but what it cannot do is put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. No, societies change, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. Societies change when people say, "I want to love my neighbor just like I was loved myself." And that's what's happening here in America. People have said, "What can I do to help?" I've said, "Do some good." It's the collective acts of our kind and decent and compassioned citizens which defined the true character and true face of our country. No, the enemy hit us the enemy hit us. But out of the evil done on that terrible day is going to come a more compassionate and decent and hopeful America. You see, people have taken a step back here in this country, and they now understand that serving something greater than yourself is part of being a patriotic American. It's more than just putting your hand on your heart and saying, by the way, "one Nation under God." It's more than that. A patriot is somebody who mentors a child. A patriot is someone who brings hope into a life that is hopeless. A patriot is somebody who works to feed the hungry. That's a patriot. A patriot is somebody who's a responsible citizen, responsible for loving their children with all their heart and all their soul but responsible for working in the community in which they live. And that's what happening here in America. And perhaps the most vivid example of what I'm talking about, a vivid example of an attitude change, a clear beacon of what's happening in America took place on Flight 93, when citizens were flying across the country. History shows that they were on the cell phones, and they told their loved ones they loved them and goodbye. They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." They took the airplane that was to be used as a weapon, perhaps against the White House or the Capitol, they drove it into the ground to serve something greater than themselves in life. No, I believe I believe from the bottom of my heart that out of the evil done to America is going to come some great good. The world is going to be more peaceful, and this country is going to be more compassionate and decent and hopeful, because this is the greatest country on the face of the Earth. We're the greatest country because we've got the greatest people on the face of the Earth. Thank you all for coming. God bless, and God bless America. August 23, 2002 Thank you all very much for coming. I'm glad to be back in California. It's an honor to be back in Stockton, California, I might add. It's wonderful to be in a part of the world where we grow a lot of things and help feed not only our own people but feed the world. I'm also here to I was up in Oregon yesterday to talk about sensible policy, to make sure that we don't allow our forests to burn. I flew over the Biscuit fire there in Oregon it's a huge fire and was briefed by the experts about, you know, how that fire got started. It was a lightning strike. But because of poor forest management, we allowed kindling to build up, and we allowed it turn into just a giant pile of ready to burn material. I saw those firefighters that are spending hours trying to protect people and wildlife and habitat, and heard one after another say, "Mr. President, bring some common sense. Bring some common sense to our forest policy. Let's thin the forest so that they don't serve as giant piles of kindling to burn and ruin the legacy of good forests." That's what I was here to talk about, some commonsense policy. And that's what you need in Sacramento, California, is some commonsense thinking, somebody who can lead this State. And that's why I'm honored to be back to work on behalf of the next Governor of the State of California, Governor Bill Simon. And Laura did report, Bill, that she had a great trip. You drew the long straw with her, and you got the short straw with me. Laughter But she sends her very best to you and Cindy. She was impressed by your speech, and your caliber of the campaign you're running. People are beginning to take notice here in California that something different's happening, got a little different attitude when it comes to politics and the Governor's office. She picked up on that. And so she sends her very best. I talked to her this morning. She's in Crawford, Texas. She is applause there you go one person from Crawford. Laughter You've got 1 600th of the city here. Laughter But yesterday, she had the high honor of having an elementary school named after her in Leander, Texas. I share that same honor of having one named after me right here in Stockton, California. But I do want to herald the next first lady of California, a fine lady, a great mom, smart person, and that's Cindy Simon. Good to see you, Cindy. Alex Spanos told me the funniest thing. He said, "This is an airplane hangar." It doesn't look like one to me. Laughter Alex, I want to thank you for your hospitality. What a fine American Alex Spanos is. I kind of needled him in front of, I guess, maybe three or four thousand people at the Civic Center down there. I said I love being around an optimist. He told me with a straight face that the San Diego Chargers were going to win the Super Bowl this year. Laughter Of course, that's what he told me last year. Laughter But I love Alex. My family loves Alex. I know you love Alex. He's a wonderful contributor to the fabric of our society, and we appreciate you, Alex, and Faye, and your fantastic family. And thank you for your hospitality. I surround myself with good people. I pride myself on the fact that my administration has got some good, honorable, decent, hard working, smart people. And I've got some of them with me today. First, I've got a National Security Adviser right here from the State of California who is really doing a good job, and that's Condoleezza Rice. And secondly, when I picked somebody to be the Secretary of Agriculture, I wanted somebody who knew something about agriculture. And it made sense to find somebody from this part of the world, so I picked a lady from Compton, California. Ann Veneman is doing a fantastic job for America. I told her the other day that I wanted to make sure that agriculture wasn't treated as a stepchild when it came to international trade. You see, when you're good at something, that ought to be the cornerstone of public policy. And we're really good about growing crops and raising cows and raising chickens and hogs. We're good at that in America. We're so good at it, we don't have to worry about bringing it in from another country. We're self sufficient in food, and that's important from a national security perspective. But it's also important, if that's the case, to use our leverage to help our producers by opening up markets for U.S. products. And today Ann announced the fact that the Russians, our friends the Russians have finally honored the agreement to not only contract for our chickens but to honor the contract for American chickens. She's doing a fantastic job on behalf of the American farmer. We've got two fine United States Congressmen here with us today one, the Congressman from this area, Richard Pombo. Richard, thank you for coming. I know Richard's wife and son is here as well. And of course, there's Doug Ose from right up north of here. Doug and his family is here as well. Thanks for coming, Doug. I want to thank State Senator Dick Monteith for coming today. He's going to be the next Congressman from the adjoining district. Thank you for coming, Dick. My friend big Jim Brulte is here. He's a State senator from down south. He's got a lot of judgment and wisdom, and he's trying to keep the fiscal house in order until a new sheriff arrives in town, in Sacramento, California. And I appreciate Big Jim being here, too. Thanks for coming, Brulte. And finally, I want to thank your mayor, Gary Podesto, for his hospitality, his kind introduction down at the civic center, and for the great job he's doing for the people of Stockton, California. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I want to thank you all for helping the next Governor. I want to thank you for your talent and your time. I want to thank you for what you're going to do. You see, in order for this good man to win, he not only needs your financial support he needs you to start helping turn out that vote, to start talking to your neighbors about why you need a change in Sacramento and why he's the man to bring that change. In Texas, at least in the Crawford area, we call that coffee shop talk. You've probably got a few of them around here. It makes sense, when you get into that coffee shop, to extol the virtues. When you find a good candidate, you've got to support that candidate. It's important for this great State that you do, because you've got some problems and you need somebody to solve the problems. It starts with having the right kind of attitude. The attitude is, I want to work with people to make things better for everybody. You don't ask the question you know, I'm going to work for people to make sure that this so and so has got the right party registration. That's not the right attitude for government. The attitude in the 21st century, the one that makes sense to me, is how can I work together with people from all walks of life to make things better? You need somebody in Sacramento who's got that kind of attitude, somebody who's willing to put aside all the typical old style politics to bring a breath of fresh air, to bring new life into a stagnant situation. And the answer for the breath of fresh air for Sacramento, California, is Bill Simon. I also appreciate a man who doesn't have to take a poll to figure out what to believe. I like Bill's ideas. I like the fact that he set education as his number one priority. And that ought to be the priority of any Governor. The most important thing a State needs to do is to make sure that every child not just a few or some every child gets a good education. And it starts with having high expectations. It starts with the belief that every child can learn. See, if you believe only certain children can learn, those that you kind of exclude won't learn. That's just the way it is. If you have low standards, you're going to get low results. Bill understands every child can learn. He also knows what I know, that it's important to have flexibility in the public school system. You can't one size doesn't fit all. You've got to trust local folks to chart the path to excellence. The bill I signed says that we're going to set high standards, but we're going to trust local people we're going to let people design a path to excellence that works. But also, what's important in education if you believe every child can learn, then you need to ask the question Is it working? Is every child learning? And see, that's why I am such a strong supporter of accountability. And Bill joins me. We need to know we need to know if every child is learning. See, if you believe they can, then you're willing to measure. If you don't believe that every child can learn, then you don't measure. If you believe every child can learn, then you use an accountability system to say thanks to the teachers where children are learning, and to say to schools that aren't teaching "You need to change, because every child counts in the State of California." That's the kind of policy that's needed here in California. You need a policy that says every child can learn. When we find children who aren't, we're going to correct problems early, before they're too late to regain confidence in the school system. That's what you need to do in this great State, and this good man can do that. We're getting ready to write a new welfare law in Washington that says work is the cornerstone of freedom, that we're going to help people work. We need to have a Governor in this State who understands the dignity that comes with work but who also understands, like I know, there are people there are pockets of despair and hopelessness in this State, just like there are around the country. There just are. And one way to help address each person is to unleash the great faith based programs which exist all around the country. The Federal Government and the State government must not fear programs who change lives but must welcome those faith based programs for the embetterment of mankind. Bill understands that. You see, government can hand out money, but it cannot put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That's done when loving Americans love their neighbor just like they'd like to be loved themselves. It's a breath of fresh air you need in Sacramento, California. You also need somebody who can make the budget work. Laughter That's what you need. You need somebody who's willing to make tough decisions and set priorities with the people's money. It starts with understanding, when a government spends money, it's not the government's money it's your money. And you better have somebody who understands that, that concept. And somebody who watches the budget carefully. Bill Simon is a proven businessman who can get that done, and that's what the State of California needs. And that's why I'm so proud to be here to embrace his candidacy and urge the good people of California to work on behalf for the State's interests, that this man get elected. I want to thank you all for your support of his candidacy. And before I leave, I want to tell you we've got some tasks at hand at the Federal level, too, that we're going to meet. There's no bigger task than protecting the homeland of our country. That's my most important job. I spend a lot of time thinking about it. Not only do I spend time thinking about it, I act on it. You need to know that your Government is doing everything we can to run down every hint, every piece of evidence, every whisper about somebody that might be doing something to America. And we're chasing down every lead. A lot of good folks are working really hard on your behalf. And I'm proud of them. I'm proud of them at the Federal level I'm proud of them at the State level and I'm proud of them at the local level. You probably have heard that I have asked for there to be a reorganization of the Federal Government in order to make the homeland more secure. I didn't run and I readily concede this on the platform Vote for me, I want to make the Federal Government bigger. Laughter I ran on Let's make it work better. If it's got a responsibility, let's see to it that it works better. And so the idea of the Department of Homeland Security is not to create new bureaucracy but to make those bureaucracies and those agencies which have got some responsibility in homeland security work better. There are over 100 agencies in Washington that have something to do with protecting you. And it seemed like to me they ought to be under one umbrella, so there's accountability in the system. The problem is, is that I worry about a Senate bill I don't worry about it, because I'm not going to accept it a Senate bill which wants to micromanage, that wants to decide every kind of rule there is, that is more worried about protecting their own turf than protecting the American people. But we're going to get a good Department. I want you to know we're doing everything we can to secure the homeland. But the best way to do so is to hunt the killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice, which is what we're going to do. And we're making some progress, and we have to make progress. After all, they are still out there, and they still hate. They hate what we stand for. I want you to tell your sons and daughters that we seek justice, not revenge, and we do so because we love freedom. This country values every person. Every life is important. We value the ability to worship freely, and we hold those values dear. And when somebody wants to take them away, we're going to respond. And we'll respond in a forceful way. And force we'll use every asset at our disposal to protect the people of this country but also to protect the values that we hold dear. It is our responsibility. History has called us into action. And so long as I'm the President, this country is not going to blink. We will be steadfast and strong in our desire to make the world more free. And we're making some pretty good progress. We've got this coalition of freedom loving countries and people who understand the threats to civilization that terrorism poses, that are helping to share intelligence and to cut off money and haul them in, as I say, rather it means arrest, incarcerate them. We've got over a couple of thousand of them these are the big shots, the leaders. We're pulling them in, and slowly but surely we're decimating their army. But this is a different kind of war. See, that's what makes it not very appealing to all the air time that they've got out there, because you can't see tanks and aircrafts and ships and convoys and all, the way that wars used to be fought. Remember, we're out there chasing down these people that hide in caves. They find the darkest cave possible. In the meantime, they're sending some youngster to their suicidal death. They've hijacked a great religion that's what they've done. It's a different kind of enemy but we're figuring them out, and there's no cave deep enough. We've got a fantastic United States military. We've got a great coalition. We've got a people that understand the task at hand. And so we're making progress. But there are some other hills we've got to climb in order to make the world more peaceful. There just are. As our fellow citizens, you've just got to understand that there's going to be more combat, more missions. We'll do everything we can to continue to enforce the doctrine that if you harbor one of these people, you're just as guilty as they are. You'll see that doctrine enforced. You'll see the doctrine that says "Either you're with us, or you're with them" enforced. You'll understand clearly, as time goes on, why I feel strongly that we cannot allow the world's worst leaders to develop the world's worst weapons, to hold America or our friends and allies hostage. We just can't do that. History has called us into action. History has shined the spotlight on this great land, and we will show the world that we love human values, universal values. And we will show the world that we love freedom. That's the task at hand. And by being strong and patient and deliberate, we're going to make the world more peaceful that's the objective. The objective is for our children to grow up in peace. The objective is to achieve peace in parts of the world where the people have given up on peace. See, I think it's possible to achieve peace in the Middle East. I think it's possible to achieve peace in South Asia. I believe that out of the evil done to America can come some great good, if we remain strong and focused and diligent and tough when we need to. And I believe here at home we can achieve a more compassionate country, too. You see, out of the evil done to America has come a new culture, one that says serving something greater than yourself in life is part of being part of being a patriotic American. People say, you know, "How can I help? What can I do?" You know what you can do? You can love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. You can understand what I know, that one person can't do everything to make America a more hospitable place, a more decent place, a more loving place but one person can do something, and America can change one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. And all of us have a responsibility to help make that change, and it doesn't take much. Mentoring a child on a regular basis will change lives. Helping people who need, who are shut in, will change lives. Feeding the hungry will change lives. Helping find shelter for those who lack shelter will change lives. See, America is changing, one person at a time. The evil people, they thought they were hitting a weak country. They thought they were hitting people that were so self absorbed, so materialistic, that all we might do was file a lawsuit or two. Laughter But they realized this country is a country of courage and character and compassion and decency. After all, we are the finest country on the face of the Earth. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. August 23, 2002 Thank you all. Thank you all very much. Gosh, thanks for coming today. It's my honor to be back in California such a vibrant and exciting State. I am thrilled to be here in Santa Ana, and this is a vibrant city. And one reason why is because it's got such an energetic, visionary mayor. And Mr. Mayor, I appreciate and I appreciate your hospitality. And I want to thank Laura, the first lady of this city. I know something about marrying people named Laura. Laughter We both married above ourselves, Mr. Mayor. Laughter So, I want to thank you, and I want to thank your city council for hosting us here. And I want to thank very much the I want to thank the fine folks at this beautiful facility for welcoming us. It's a magnificent asset for this community and for this county and for this State. It's a thrill to be here to talk about some of the priorities for our Nation. We've got some big priorities, and we've got some big jobs to do. But there's no doubt in my mind we can achieve our objectives, because we're America, and we're full of Americans people bold and courageous and strong. But before I do so, I want to talk about two Members of the Congress who have joined us, two fine Americans and good, solid citizens and friends of mine That would be Chris Cox and Ed Royce. Thank you both for coming. Rosario Marin she's a former mayor in a little couple of cities away from here. She's now the Treasurer of the United States of America. And I appreciate you coming, Rosario. I like to always say hello to the high sheriff. In this case, we've got two high sheriffs one I appreciate so much, Mike Carona. He's done a fine job. We saw him on TV the other day announcing an important arrest, saying he's going to help do everything he can to make neighborhoods safe. Sheriff, you did a fine job. And I also want to thank my friend Lee Baca for being here as well. Good to see you, Lee. Everybody has got to have a good lawyer these days. Laughter And I've got one of the best, and he is here with his family, vacationing in Orange County. He came over from Washington, DC. He knows a good place to travel to when he sees one. And his name is Al Gonzales, and I want to thank my friend and lawyer, Al Gonzales, for being here. And finally, I want to thank Francisco Paret for being here. He's a member of the President's Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. And that's a commission we take very seriously. We take it seriously because we understand every child in America must be educated in order for this country to realize its full promise. I don't mean a few children I mean every single child. And you've got your superintendent of schools here, a good, young leader. He told me the district is 92 percent Hispanic. My attitude is, so what? That means when you succeed, you've done such a great job for America. That's his attitude. You see, some would say, "Ninety two percent Hispanic, that's an impossible district." Some believe certain children can't learn. I don't believe that, and neither does the superintendent of schools. You see, we start with the premise that every child can learn every child can learn. We set high standards because we believe that every child has got the capacity to learn. You see, if you set low standards in society, you know what you're going to get? You're going to get low results. You have standards so low that you've got these school districts that are going to quit on certain kids. And guess who gets quit on here in America children whose parents don't speak English as a first language, for example. Those are the easiest kids to quit on. Or how about inner city African American kids? They're easy to quit on. For the sake of America, for the sake of our future, we must first and foremost understand every child can learn, and devise systems to make sure they do. That's why at the Federal level, we're spending plenty of money but we're also saying "We trust you all to chart the path to excellence. One size doesn't fit all when it comes to running the public schools." But we're also saying "Since we believe every child can learn, why don't you show us? Why don't you measure? You see, why don't you tell America or your community or your State whether or not your children are learning to read and write and add and subtract?" And if they are, there will be plenty of praise. But you measure also to make sure that if children are failing, you catch the problems early, before it's too late. No child in America should be left behind. Every child, no matter his or her background, deserves a positive, solid, excellent education. And we've got to do a better job. And we've got to face the facts that too many of our Latino youngsters aren't learning to read early enough. And that's a problem. If you can't read by the fourth grade, you're not going to be able to read by the eighth grade. And if you can't read by the eighth grade, you can't read in high school. It's a problem, and we've got to take it head on. That's why I want to make sure that we measure. That's why I want to make sure we challenge a system that sometimes has got standards so low. It's what I call the soft bigotry of low expectations. So one of the things we've done in the No Child Left Behind is said, "Let's start with first things first. Let's make sure children can read, children from all backgrounds." Here in California, our new law provides a 50 percent increase to help students from non English speaking homes learn to read. And that's important. No child should be left behind. And so today, the Department of Education I'm going to report to you, the Department of Education has awarded California a 133 million reading grant. And that's to make sure every child can read by the third grade. That's what that's for. I don't mean just a few. I don't mean those from the nice, fancy school districts. I mean every single child. And one of the reasons why California is one of the first States to receive the grant is because California is using research based instruction to teach reading. Your State, probably because your superintendent insists on it, has asked the question, "What works?" not what sounds good, not what feels good, but what actually works. How do you teach kids to read? And that's what you're doing in this State, and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for doing that. And we've got a little money to make sure it works and make sure that we focus on every child. I don't care for the fact that a lot of the youngsters, the Latino youngsters, don't go to college. It's not a good statistic for America. Less than 10 percent go on to higher education. We must we must work to encourage participation at all levels of education. But we must make it clear to our youngsters from all walks of life, but particularly Hispanic youngsters, that going to college is essential to being able to fully realize the American Dream. All of us must set that clear goal for everybody, but we also must help. And that's why we've increased Pell grant funding by more than 2.5 billion from last year's budget to this year's budget. There's a way to help, and we need to help through good scholarship programs like Pell grants. I also want to note want you to know that we're focusing on what they call the Latino serving higher institutions. For the fiscal year 2003 budget, I've asked for more money to go to support colleges which provide 600,000 Latino students nationwide with educational opportunities. It's an increase of 30 percent. My point is, is that we've got to make sure that education is affordable and accessible. And we've got to set the goals. We've got to make people understand what is possible here in America. But first things first. We've got to make sure every child learns to read and no child is left behind. The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans is launching what we call the "Yes I Can" national awareness campaign. And it's aimed at encouraging Latino students to obtain a college education. They called together citizens from around the country, they put together this initiative, this plan, this way to convince people that higher education is essential. Parents can click onto a bilingual web site called yesican.gov yesican.gov to learn about college costs, financial aid, and what their children should be asking their guidance counselor about college. In other words, it's a go by, it's a help, it's a way to encourage people and help people understand that they that sending their children to college here in America is a way forward. And finally, about education, I know it's an important part of life for many students in our border communities in Mexico and Canada to attend school here in the United States. There's a lot of transborder crossing on a daily basis, to take advantage of our great educational opportunities. That's what we want, by the way. We shouldn't try to restrict people. It's good for our colleges, and it's good for the Mexican citizens and the Canadian citizens. And so we're going to expand eligibility for student visas, to ensure that part time commuter students can continue to study here in America. You know, education is the pathway to success, and there's just example after example of people who came here with nothing except a dream or a hope and love and got a good education and succeeded. That's what America is about. That's what I love about our country. That's the hope. That's what distinguishes us from many other countries, that we welcome people from all walks of life. We proudly call you an American. We don't say, "Show us your birth certificate, how you're born, where you're born." You're American, and we love you for being in America. We welcomed you to this country. And, you know, I've got a shining example right there in Washington I want to share a story with you about, because it's a we've got a little problem up there with this particular fellow. His name is Miguel Estrada. He's a young guy. He came to our country as a teenager. He barely spoke English. He had trouble with the language because he didn't spend any time learning the language. And he got here, and he worked hard the result of a good brain, brilliant mind. He now has argued 15 cases before the United States Supreme Court. I've named him to a high bench, but the Senate won't give him a hearing. Here's a kid who comes to our country, works hard, learns the language. He's a brilliant jurist. He can't even get a hearing. I nominated him over a year and a half ago. I want this man to serve as a bright example of what is possible in America. He'll be a great judge, and the Senate needs to act. Making sure every child is educated is part of making sure America is a secure country and a hopeful country. We've also got to do some other work to make sure we're secure and hopeful. I want to thank the law enforcement officers who are here today. You've got a big job. Our job at the Federal Government is to put a strategy in place that will make our first responders more effective. It's not only law enforcement firefighters and EMS. And we're doing just that. I've actually tried to create a new Department of Homeland Security, to put agencies under one roof, to make sure that the number one priority of the Federal Government is to protect the homeland. And we need to do that. I've got to tell you we need to do that, because there are still coldblooded killers out there that would like to hurt America. I want the youngsters to know why. And the reason why is because we love freedom. We value each life here in America. Everybody is important. Every life has meaning. Every life has worth. And the enemy doesn't think that way. You see, they hate freedom. They hate the idea of people being able to worship freely. They can't stand the thought of Republican and Democrat actually getting along. Laughter They don't like a free press, and we do. And we uphold those values, and we will defend them at all cost. And so for the sake of our freedom, for the sake of values we hold dear, the best way for us to secure our homeland, other than reorganizing and encouraging and focusing on every lead and every hint, is to chase these killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice. The best way to protect America, the best way to uphold that which we love dear, is to get them before they get us. And that's precisely what this country is going to do. We don't seek revenge we seek justice. We don't want to conquer anybody we want to liberate people, because every life matters. Every person has worth. I want the youngsters here to understand that when we went into Afghanistan to uphold the doctrine "If you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists," that we freed people. Young girls now go to school for the first time, thanks to the goodness of the United States of America and our friends and allies. No, we're on a mission. I believe out of the evil done to America will come some very some incredible good. That's what I believe. I believe these people hit a country, and they didn't understand who they were hitting. And who they hit was a country that's tough and strong and determined, but also a country that's beginning to find its soul and its deep compassion. See, not only if we're not only can we achieve peace, which I believe can happen and will happen, that we can address those pockets of despair and hopelessness which exist in America, one person at a time. My call to people in this country is that if you want to join on the war on terror, if you want to fight evil, love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. You see, this great country can change and will change, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. One of us can't do everything I know that but each of us can do something. And I call upon my fellow Americans to be that person doing something Mentor a child, help a shut in, love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. No, out of the evil done to America is going to come some great good, because this is the greatest nation on the face of the Earth, full of the most decent and compassionate people. Thank you all for coming. God bless. August 23, 2002 The President. Thank you all. I'm glad I came, and thank you all for coming. I'm honored to be here in the great city of Stockton, California. I appreciate you coming to give me a chance to share with you some of my thoughts and concerns and hopes about our great Nation. I appreciate you being here. I want to thank the mayor. My only regret is the mayor didn't take me down to Billy Hebert Field to see the team play. Laughter I'm a baseball guy. Laughter I want to thank so very much the members of the congressional delegation who met me at Air Force One. I appreciate the hard work of Richard Pombo, who represents this district. I was so pleased that he found a tie for this occasion. Laughter Doug Ose from the next congressional district is here with us. Doug, thank you for coming. These are two fine Members of the United States Congress with whom I have good working relations, people with whom I can work to do what's right for the American people. I picked I picked a fine Cabinet. You need to judge a President based upon the people who he listens to. I listen to some mighty fine people I really do. I've got great advice, not only in the national security side but also on the domestic side of my job. And I picked my neighbor, somebody from Compton, to serve in an incredibly important position, particularly for the folks in this part of the world, and that is to serve as our Secretary of Agriculture. Ann Veneman is doing a fabulous job. Mr. Mayor, thank you very much for helping put on this occasion. I particularly want to thank the Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce for their hard work in getting this all ready and inviting people to come. There's one friend I've got here that I've got to say something about. He's a great citizen from Stockton. He's been a longtime friend of mine and my family's, and that's, of course, Alex Spanos. I like to be around optimistic people. It's important to stay in touch with those folks who are optimistic. Once again he has told me that the San Diego Chargers are going to win the Super Bowl. Laughter Audience member. Super Bowl one last time The President. That's right. Laughter And once again, he believes it. Laughter Today, at Air Force One, I met Malikah Rashied. Where is Malikah? Where is she? Oh, there she is. Thank you, Malikah. She is a Freedom Corps volunteer. She volunteers for the country. In this case, she works for the California Conservation Corps, assisting in fire prevention cleanup projects, in cleanup projects. We need, by the way, to have a forest policy that applause . I mention her because I want people to understand that I understand the true strength of America. It is not in the halls of our governments but in the hearts of our people. And there are people like her all across the country who are willing to try to make the communities in which they live a better place for all of us. I appreciate your service. I also appreciate you working on fire prevention. And that's something the Federal Government needs to work on. Listen, we cannot allow our forests to become places where kindling piles up. It doesn't make any sense to me to fly over these huge fires that are consuming much of the West and realize our forest policy encourages doesn't prevent, doesn't work to make the forest healthier and safer. The forest the hands off forest policy proposed by well meaning people has failed, and now we need to do something about it. We've got a lot to do in this country. We really do. We've got some big hurdles, big challenges ahead of us. One of the things I've found in Washington is if we can get rid of all the politics and get people thinking about what's important for the Nation, we can get some things done. We really can. Oh, I know we'll never get rid of all the politics. But at least we can get people thinking and setting the right priorities on behalf of the American people. That's the most one of my most important jobs, and we're making some progress. If you look at the record, when people decide to come together, we're doing some things right for the American people, starting with making sure the funding priorities of the Government is to win the war on terror. A new priority has been to help secure the homeland by working with our brave first responders, the police, the fire, the EMS teams all around the country, those who work hard here in Stockton and all around America. It's been a priority of ours, and both Republicans and Democrats have come together to fund that priority for the good of the country. I proposed some tough new standards on for corporate reform. Like you all, I took a look out there and saw a problem. And the problem was, we had some folks who were trying to fudge the numbers. We had some people who decided they weren't going to tell the truth when it came to their assets and liabilities, to the detriment of not only shareholder and employee but to the country itself. You see, a few a few began to shatter the confidence of the American people. And so we decided to do something about it. Republicans and Democrats came together. I was honored and proud to sign the most comprehensive corporate reforms since Franklin Roosevelt was the President. This wasn't a Republican idea. It wasn't a Democrat idea. It's an American idea to hold people responsible who betray the public's trust, and that is what we're going to do. I remember giving a speech in New York about how I thought the corporate accountability bill ought to go. And at one point in the speech, I talked about the fact that our business schools don't teach right from wrong. They're unwilling to say to future business leaders, "There's a right way to deal with things, and there's a wrong way." And I was lamenting that fact, and I called upon our business schools to show leadership and to teach future leaders right from wrong. And I was working a ropeline afterwards, and a fellow walked up who's a professor at a business school. And he said, "Thanks for saying that, Mr. President. We needed to hear that." And a large guy I assumed he was one of the construction folks that was there, construction union leaders that was supportive of this initiative he said, "If you want to teach them right from wrong, Mr. President, the best lesson you can send is put them in handcuffs." And that's what's happening. And that's what's happening. We cannot let a few and I emphasize "a few" set the tone for the many who are decent, honorable citizens of this country who take care of their shareholders, who are good to their employees, who tell the truth. So we're working together. The other day, I had the honor of signing a bill that both Republicans and Democrats supported that gives me the capacity to open up markets for U.S. goods. Here's my attitude about trade If you're good at something, you ought to promote it. If you're good about if you're good at growing crops, you ought to figure out how to sell more of the crops. And we're the best in the world at farming and ranching. I'm thrilled to be here in the breadbasket of America, because it gives me a chance to remind our fellow citizens that we have an advantage here in America We can feed ourselves. And we've always got to be able to do that. It puts us in a it gives us a strategic advantage, a strategic edge. Imagine if we were going around the world asking for food. It would put the President in a pretty tough position. Laughter They may want to bargain a little high. Laughter But fortunately, we can feed ourselves, and not only that, we produce more food than we need, because we're good at what we do. And therefore, it makes sense on behalf of the producers to open up markets. We ought to be feeding feeding the world. Where people are hungry, they ought to be eating American food. We ought to be knocking down those tariffs and those barriers. We ought to be leveling the playing field, and that's precisely what I'm going to do with my new authority. I told Ann and she would testify to this and I told Zoellick, who's our trade man, I said, "I don't want our agriculture producers to be shunted aside when it comes to opening up markets." As a matter of fact, when you're good at something, it ought to be the cornerstone of your policy. So I want agriculture to be the cornerstone of good international trade policy, and it will be. And we made some progress. I don't know if you've been following this, but we had a little problem with the Russians for a while. They agreed to take our chickens. They were going to buy U.S. chickens, and then all of a sudden they decided not to buy the chickens, and that created a problem. It creates a problem for the chicken growers. It affects prices of other commodities, truly does. And it was interesting, at one of my press conferences with Vladimir Putin, who I like he's a good man he said, "You know, the good thing about our new relationship, as opposed to talking about war, we're talking about chickens." Laughter But I want the agricultural folks here to understand, we talked about chickens up until yesterday when Secretary Veneman announced an agreement with the Russians that they're going to take U.S. chickens. They're going to honor their obligations. I bring these examples up because it shows what is possible in Washington when people decide to work together. And they're getting ready to come back in August. And when they come back in August At this point, there was a disruption in the audience. The President. and when they come back in August The disruption continued. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. And when the Congress comes back after their August break, I hope they keep in mind the fact that we need to continue to work together on behalf of the American people. We need to work Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. And as we work together to make to make America more secure, we must do so on three fronts. We must work together to make sure that there's economic security. We must work together to make sure there's homeland security. And we must work together to make sure that we win the war on terror to defend our freedoms. I hosted some folks down to Waco, Texas, the middle of Texas in the middle of August. They obviously had something on their mind. And it was a really interesting forum to hear from people from all walks of life talk about the difficulties they face, the hurdles they face, to create jobs. That's what I'm interested in. When I hear somebody who wants to work can't find a job, I view that as a problem. It concerns me. I want people to be able to find work. That ought to be the cornerstone of any good economic policy. And so part of what Congress needs to do is to get together and work on ways to make sure that there's economic security for the American people. The platform for growth is good. It just is. We've had problems, no question. When we came in, there was a recession. History shows that for the first three quarters of my Presidency, we were in negative growth. The next three quarters have been positive growth, which is good news for the American people. Wages were rising. The productivity of the American worker is the strongest in the world. We're good at our workers are really good. Our entrepreneurs are innovative. We've got a good tax base, good monetary policy. Interest rates are low. And so we've got the foundation for growth. But I'm not content with our progress, and here's some things I'd like to see done. First, I can't tell you how strongly I feel and passionately I feel about the need to make the tax cuts that we passed permanent. See, here's the chapter of the economics book I read and I admit, some of them in Washington didn't read this chapter. Laughter I believe that when times are slow and remember, the first three quarters of our administration was negative growth when times are slow, you let people keep their own money. And when they keep their own money, they demand a good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service, somebody produces the good or the service. And when somebody produces that good or service, someone is likely, more likely to find work. That's how it works. And therefore, the tax relief happened at the right time. Not only did we provide lower tax rates which, by the way, is a spur to small business growth. Most small business owners are sole proprietors. Most small business owners pay tax rates at the individual rate because they're limited partnerships. Most small businesses small businesses create most new jobs in America. And therefore, we ought to have policy that encourages the growth of small businesses. By cutting individual rates, we understand the importance of small business. And not only that, we put the death tax on the road to extinction. The death tax is a bad tax. And not only that, we began to change the marriage penalty, because we want the Tax Code to encourage marriage, not discourage marriage. But here's why I bring up the issue. Because of a quirk in the Senate law, all the work that we did reverts back to normal in 10 years "normal" being what it was prior to the tax relief. In other words it's kind of hard to explain laughter but you get tax relief, and you don't get tax relief, see. It stays in place for 10 years, and then it goes away. And so Congress, both Republicans and Democrats, have got to understand, for the good of the economy, we need some permanency. People need to be able to plan. They need to be able to know that what is real today will be real tomorrow. Therefore, the tax cuts need to be made permanent. We've got a problem when it comes to construction here in America, because many folks cannot get insurance to cover losses from potential terrorist attack. There's about 8 billion worth of projects that have been put aside because people can't get terrorism insurance. That means we've got some hard hats here in America who aren't working who should be working. That means there's some good, hard working folks who aren't as active as they should be in the job market. And therefore, I have asked Congress the House responded, and the Senate came up with a version they need to get together to provide terrorism insurance legislation to help these big construction programs go forward. This bill would put people back to work, so long as the House and the Senate understand that the priority is not trial lawyers but hardhat workers in America. Congress, when they get back, needs to give me an energy bill. In order for the economy to be strong, we've got to have an energy plan. We've got to have a bill that promotes renewable sources of energy, that encourages conservation. But we need more energy explored here at home in an environmentally friendly way. It is in our economic security that we find more energy at home. It is in our national security that we become less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. Congress needs to get to work on a reauthorization of the welfare bill. See, the welfare bill is coming up again. And, by the way, it worked when we said to people we will help them find work. It made people less dependent upon Government. It has been a successful, successful public policy in America, and we need to continue that. There are some in the Senate who want to say work isn't important, and so they've got all kinds of loopholes. I think work is incredibly important. Work leads to dignity. And therefore, they need to give me a welfare bill like the House bill that says, we're going to help people help themselves by finding work. That's what we're going to do. We're going to train people for jobs, but we're going to insist that they work in return for help. And there's one other vital piece of legislation that they need to get to me before they all go back to their districts and campaign, and it's this. I want to unleash the great compassion of America by recognizing the power of faith based institutions in our society. I ask the question, "Does it work?" That's what I ask. Does it work if somebody's heart is changed and therefore they get off alcohol and drugs? Does that work? And if it does, our Government ought not to fear programs based upon the capacity to change somebody's heart. As a matter of fact, we ought to welcome those programs. We ought to say, "If you've got an idea and you've got a cross on the wall or the star of David or if you're a mosque, we welcome those ideas to help change society, one person at a time." We'll never fund religion. Of course we're not going to fund religion. That's not the purpose. But we want to help people, and we should not discriminate against programs which have the capacity to help save lives. When we save a life in America, we make America a better place for all of us. Congress has got work to do on the homeland security front as well. My most important job is to protect you all, our fellow Americans, from another attack. That's my most important job. And make no mistake about it, there are coldblooded killers out there, and we're doing everything we can to find them. Some people might not think they're out there. They're out there they just are. People say, "Why? Why would someone want to attack America?" And the answer is because we love freedom, that's why. They hate us because we value each life. Each life is important here in America everybody counts. Ours is a country that recognizes in our great diversity that every single person has worth, and they can't stand that. They can't stand the thought of a nation which recognizes that people can worship an almighty God in different ways, that we welcome that type of diversity in America, that we love that freedom. They don't like free speech. They don't like a free press. They really don't like anything about us, it turns out. Laughter But they're killers. That's the only way I can tell you how I think about them. They're coldblooded killers, and therefore my most important job is to protect the homeland. And so when I looked at ways to protect the homeland, I realized when I looked at our homeland security there in Washington, we've got over 100 agencies that have something to do with protecting the homeland, and they're scattered everywhere. In order to set the number one priority of these agencies to be the homeland defense, I decided to create a Department of Homeland Security with a new Cabinet Secretary. I did that not to create the size of Government but to make the Government work better. I did it to be able to start changing cultures within agencies. I did it to make sure that agencies had that number one priority, so that I could report back to the American people that we're doing everything we possibly can do. And the House of Representatives passed a good piece of legislation, for which I'm grateful. The Senate is now wrestling with it, and I've got some problems with how they're wrestling with it. You see, I need to be my Secretary needs to be able to move people to different agencies, if need be, to protect America. We need to put people in the right place at the right time. I'll give you an example. We've got to know who's coming in the country, what they're bringing in the country, and whether or not they're leaving the country. And yet, when you go down to the border, you'll realize they've got the INS, the Customs, the Border Patrol. We've got to be able to have the same strategy, the same culture. We don't need three competing agencies. We need to figure out how to bring people together to accomplish the objective, and that means we need some flexibility. Yet, when you look at the Senate bill, it sounds like they're more interested in special interests that have got lobbies in Washington, not the people. They're more interested in having micromanaging the Department. They're more interested in protecting their turf than giving us the flexibility to do what it takes to protect the American people. But the best way to secure the homeland is to hunt the killers down one by one and bring them to justice. And so the first order of business for both Republicans and Democrats when they get back to Washington is to get the defense appropriations bill on my desk as soon as possible. They ought not to play politics with defense appropriations at this time in American history. I've asked for the largest increase in spending since Ronald Reagan was the President defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. I did that for two reasons One, anytime we commit our military into harm's way, they deserve the best training, the best pay, the best possible equipment. And for those of you who have loved ones in the military, you thank them on behalf of a grateful nation and a Commander in Chief. And I thank you for the sacrifice of your family. And secondly, the defense increase sends a clear signal to friend and foe alike that when it comes to defending our freedom, we're in this for the long haul. You see, there's not a calendar on my desk in Washington that says, now time to quit. That's not the way I think. I believe history has called us into action. History has put the spotlight right here on America. History will determine whether or not we understand the value of freedom, the necessity to keep a vast coalition together to make the world more peaceful. See, that's my goal. My goal is for there to be a peaceful world. There's going to be some steep hills to climb, because this is a different kind of war. It's not the kind of war that many of our veterans fought in. It's not the kind of war we can measure infantry brigades marching across plains, or squadrons of aircraft. We can't count the enemy's aircraft. We don't know how many foot soldiers they have. That's not the kind of war. Remember, these are the commanders who hide in caves and send their youngsters to their death. That's the kind of enemy we fight. So we've got to think differently, which means we've got to use all intelligence at our disposal. We've got to make sure that we continue to talk with our friends and allies, that when they know something, we need to know it, and when we have learned something, we will share it with them. It means we need diplomatic pressure. It means we've got to be bold enough to enforce the doctrines. When I say, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists," I mean it. When I say, "You're either with us, or you're with the others," I mean that too. And we're enforcing that doctrine. And the Taliban found out exactly what we mean. I want the youngsters here to understand the nature of your Government. We don't seek we do not seek revenge here in America. We seek justice. We don't want to conquer anybody. That's not the way we think. We want to liberate people. See, we believe every life matters. It doesn't matter whether it's an American life every life counts. And so when we liberated Afghanistan from the clutches of the barbaric regime called the Taliban, young girls many young girls went to school for the first time. No, this great country, this great country this great country has a vision of peace and justice and compassion for our fellow human beings. But we also understand that in order to achieve those goals we're going to have to do what it takes to make the world more secure. We're going to have to do everything we can to rid the world of terror. And we're making some progress we're making some progress. We've our coalition has arrested, hauled them in, however you want to call it, a couple of thousand of them. About that many weren't quite as lucky so far. We've got more work to do, though. We just do. Where they bunch up, we'll get them. We're making it clear that to other nations, once we get them on the run, don't let them light in your part of the world. And so we spent time destroying training camps and disrupting infrastructure and disrupting communication capacities. We're getting them on the run. And you watch Slowly but surely slowly but surely we will achieve the objective and bring them to justice. And as we do so, we can achieve some larger objectives. And by the way, there is another objective that we've just got to keep in mind for the sake of our children and their children. We cannot allow the world's worst leaders to harbor and develop the world's worst weapons, to hold those of us who love freedom hostage. We must not do that. No, the enemy hit us September 11th, nearly a year ago. And I just can't imagine what was going through their mind. They said, "Well, this Nation is not going to do anything. They're so materialistic, so self absorbed, and so selfish that they might file a lawsuit or two laughter but that's all they'll think about doing. They'll kind of crumble under their own greed and their own self centered attitude about life." They didn't know who they were hitting, though, did they? Out of the evil done to America is going to come some good, because we're a great nation. We can achieve peace we can achieve peace by being strong and diligent, reminding people of the great, God given values that are important to all humanity. We can achieve peace, and will. We can achieve peace you got to know how I think I believe we can achieve peace in the Middle East by being strong and determined and to focus on what's best for people. We can achieve peace in South Asia. I know this seems like high hurdles, but we have a chance. Out of the evil done to America can come some incredible good around the world. And some incredible good can come here at home too. See, it's important to remember, in this land of plenty there are pockets of despair and hopelessness. There are people who hurt. There are youngsters who wonder or not whether America is meant for them, whether or not the American Dream applies to them. And of course, it does. See, I believe when one of us hurts, all of us hurt. When one of us is diminished, all of us are affected. And therefore, we need to do something about it here in America. I believe the enemy has wakened a spirit in this country that understands, in order to fight evil, in order to fight evil that in order to fight evil, you can do so by loving your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. And that's happening. It's important for our fellow citizens to recognize that if you were to mentor a child, you're a part of defining the true compassion of America. If you go into a shut in's home and say, "I love you. What can I do to help you," you're making a difference here in America. If you help feed somebody who's hungry, you're making a huge difference in showing the world the true character of this country. No, out of the evil done to America is going to come some good, because Americans understand that being a patriot is more is more than just saying the Pledge Allegiance being a patriot is serving something greater than yourself. We learned that lesson most profoundly on September the 11th, when citizens were flying across the country, or thought they were, on Flight 93. They realized their airplane was going to be used as a weapon to take life, perhaps in the Nation's Capital. They were on the phones, and they told their loved ones they loved them. They used the word "love." They said a prayer they said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." They drove the plane in the ground to serve something greater than themselves in life. It is that spirit of serving something it is that spirit that recognizes while one of us can't do everything, each of us can do something, one thing to help change America, one heart and one soul and one conscience at a time. No, out of the evil done to America is going to come great good, because this is the greatest nation on the face of the Earth, full of fantastic, compassionate, decent fellow citizens. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. August 22, 2002 Thank you all very much. It's great to be back in this beautiful State. I am honored to end my day here in Oregon by urging the people of this State, the good people of this State, to send this good man, Gordon Smith, back to the United States Senate. And I want to thank you all for helping him. I want to thank you for what you've done, and I want to thank you for what you're fixing to do, which is to turn out the vote, which is to go to your coffee shops, if you live in rural Oregon, go to your places of worship, go to your community centers, and remind the people of this State that you've got a good, honorable, decent man in Gordon Smith. Not only do you have an honorable, decent man, you've got an independent thinker who always has Oregon on his mind. I know because I talk to him all the time. He's reminding me about the good people of this State and the need to have commonsense policy. I also appreciate the fact that he loves his family. He's got his priorities straight his faith and his family. And I am so honored that Sharon Smith is with us today. And I want to thank Sharon for coming, and I want to thank Sharon for there she is. Gordon and I, we both married above ourselves. Laughter I talked to Laura today. She sent her very best to the Smiths. And she's not here. She's in Crawford, but she had just come from Leander, Texas, where they paid her the high honor of naming an elementary school the Laura Welch Bush Elementary School. You know, when I married her, she was a public school librarian. And the truth of the matter is, she didn't particularly care for politics, nor politicians. Laughter Then she got stuck with one. Laughter She's doing a great job. In the face of crisis, she was calm. In the when there needed to be love, she provided love. And I'm really, really proud of the job she is doing as the First Lady of the country. Traveling with me today to emphasize that my words on the up on the Hill were more than just words, that I intend to get something done, were two members of my Cabinet Gale Norton, who is the head of the Department of the Interior, and Ann Veneman, who is the Secretary of Agriculture. And I want to thank them for coming. These are two fine, fine ladies who are doing a fantastic job. I've given them big responsibilities. And it might be noted that I wasn't speaking a foreign language today, as far as they're concerned they're both from the West. Laughter They both have a Western attitude about things. I appreciate Congressman Greg Walden for being here as well. I don't know if all I can see is a hand and a shining head. Laughter But Walden is a good man. He's doing a fabulous job as a Congressman. He represents the Klamath Basin well. He represents the rural parts of your State. He understands resource management. He's a good fellow, and I just hope and feel good about the fact that his district will send him back to Washington, as they send Senator Smith back to Washington. I'm very much honored to be here with the next Governor of the State of Oregon, Kevin Mannix, and his wife, Susanna. Thank you all for coming. Finally, I'm so grateful that Senator Mark Hatfield and Antoinette are here. They're great friends of my mother and dad. They brought a lot of class they're really classy people, and he set a fine example for future Senators, an example which Gordon Smith is following very closely. I like Gordon's attitude a lot. You see, he went to Washington to try to get things done, as opposed to pick fights. There's an attitude there in that town that zero sum politics is the best for the country. That's not the way Gordon thinks, nor do I think, for that matter. I think it's important for the people of Portland to know that he goes there with not a political party in mind but with the people of Oregon in mind. That's what he goes to do. He goes to solve problems. He sees problems, and he tries to come up with commonsense solutions to solve those problems. And he's willing to work with his counterpart, who happens to be a Democrat. I saw them working together today. I saw their conversation and their discussion. It wasn't about how we can one up each other it was how best to work together to help Oregon. And that impresses me a lot. I hope it impresses the voters of this State. That's the kind of tone and attitude we need in our Nation's Capital. Today I was with a man who I believe is a true champion of the environment, and that's Gordon Smith. He understands that we can be stewards of the land, that we can put policies in place that will benefit the environment, and at the same time benefit people. And that's really important. I went up on the mountain today, in the midst of a burn, to talk about how best to prevent those burns from happening in the first place, how to put in place commonsense policy that says, if you let the forests develop kindling, nature may just cause them to burst into massive flames. So instead of allowing the kindling to build up, why don't we thin the forests? Why don't we manage the forests? Why don't we use our God given talents and our technology to manage the forests, so that the forests are healthy for generations to come? That's common sense. It's a logical approach. It's a logical approach to preserving an incredibly important treasure. And at the same time, when we do it right, it will mean people are going to be able to find work. It will mean people are going to be able to put food on the table, which is a vital concern of Gordon's, and it's a vital concern of mine. Listen, anytime somebody who wants to work can't find work, we've got a problem, and we've got to deal with it in a way this is a problem, and our job is to come up with solutions to solve the problems. You know, part of the reason why we can't get some commonsense forest management policies done is because there's too much redtape there just is. There's too many rules and regulations all bound up to make sure nothing positive happens, it seems like to me. So I talked to our Cabinet Secretaries, and we're going to do everything we can, administratively, to cut through the redtape. And there's some things we can do. We can set priorities. We can declare emergencies. We can get moving on a policy that makes sense for Oregon and for America. We've got a process now that allows people to tie up good policy in appeal after appeal after appeal. Listen, let me make this clear to everybody We want people to be able to express their opinion. That's important. That's a great thing about America. People ought to be allowed to give their opinions on a subject. But they not ought not to use that privilege to tie up good, commonsense practice forever, so nothing gets done except the forests are burning. And Gordon's an easy man to work with on this topic, because he understands. And I appreciate his efforts, and I appreciate him constantly educating, not only me but others in Congress, about how best to make sure that the Oregon forests are healthy and people can find work at the same time. No, he's got a good approach to Government. He also cares deeply about education, and so do I. We had a fantastic discussion today, by the way, with people from all around your State, people who came in the mayor of Salem and this business lady and this educator. And one of the things that became clear is that the people who have got responsibility in your State understand the importance of education. We passed a good bill out of the Senate and the House that Gordon supported. It's a bill that says that we believe in high standards for every child. See, if you believe that certain kids can't learn in other words, if you have low standards that's the kind of results you're going to get. You're going to get results in which children don't learn. In other words, if you think in your mind that there are certain children who can't learn, the system will make sure they don't. In other words, low standards yields low results. Gordon and I understand we've got to set high standards, and we did. We also trust the local people to chart the path for excellence for every child in the State. We worked together to make sure we passed power out of Washington. One size does not fit all when it comes to public education. But there's one other thing in part of the bill that I'm just insistent upon. It makes eminent sense. See, if you believe every child can learn, therefore you've got to measure whether every child is learning. So in return for Federal dollars, we just said, "Show us. Please show us whether or not children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. That's all you've got to do. You accept a lot of Federal money for title I students just show us they're learning. See, we believe they can. All you've got to do is show us." And if they're not, then change. We cannot allow our children to be stuck in schools that will not teach and will not change. I want to thank Gordon for his work on Medicare. He's a leader on Medicare. He knows what I know. The Medicare system is an important system, but it's antiquated. It's old. Medicine has advanced Medicare hasn't. As a matter of fact, in order to get prescription drugs available for seniors, it requires an act of Congress. Laughter It is so old, it requires Congress to pass a law. That's an old system. We need a system that adjusts to the needs of each senior. And our Medicare ought to include prescription drugs for our seniors. It's modern medicine. We want to modernize the system, and Gordon Smith is one of the leaders in the United States Senate on making sure Medicare is modernized. And I want to thank him for his leadership. Gordon mentioned we've got some challenges, and we do. One of the challenges was the fact that there was a recession. It turns out, when you look at the facts and the history, when I got sworn in and Dick Cheney got sworn in, the country was in a recession. We had three quarters of negative growth. And he and I agree and thankfully, he was in the Senate at this point in time that the best way to help a country recover from a recession is to let people keep more of their own money. You see, I admit that's a philosophy that frightens some in Washington because they seem to forget whose money it is we spend. Some of them think it's the Government's money. It's not the Government's money that we spend it's the people's money. We understand the textbook this part of the economic textbook that said, if you let people keep more of their own money, they will demand a good or a service. And if they demand a good or a service, somebody's going to produce the good and service. And when somebody produces the good or service, somebody is more likely to find work. The tax cuts that Gordon Smith fought for in the Senate came at the right time in American history, and now what we need to do in order to make sure the entrepreneurial spirit is vibrant is to make the tax cuts permanent. You ask, "Why aren't they permanent?" And that's because of a quirk in the laws, in the rules of the Senate. This is one of these deals where we slash the marriage penalty. We put the death tax, thankfully, on the way to extinction. We cut marginal rates, which, by the way, benefits small businesses. Most small businesses are sole proprietorships or limited partnerships, and when you cut individual income tax rates, you provide more capital in the sector of our economy that creates more new jobs, and that's small businesses. But unfortunately, the law is such that it all comes back after 10 years. It's kind of hard for me to explain to people in the Crawford coffee shop, but that's just the way it is. That's just the way it is. So, imagine the farmer or the rancher who's worried about inheritance tax driving him off the land. They start planning for this new inheritance, death tax repeal, and all of a sudden, it comes back into being. It means it creates uncertainty. And people need certainty when it comes to job creation and certainty when it comes to estate planning and certainty when it comes to their farms and ranches. For the sake of economic vitality, these need to be permanent, and we need to get rid of the death tax forever. We're taking aggressive steps to create an environment in which businesses grow. That's a difference of philosophy. See, some think Government create wealth. We don't think that. We think the role of Government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneurial spirit flourishes. One way to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit and to create jobs here in the Northwest is to aggressively seek markets for products manufactured and or grown in this part of the world. Thankfully and Gordon was a part of this I was able to get trade promotion authority. It's an authority that had lapsed for a long period of time, and we fought for it and got it done. And now I want to assure you, I'm aggressive going to aggressively promote U.S. and Oregon products in markets all around the world, for the good of our workers, for the good of people who work. And finally, we're making progress on one of the drags in our economy. We had some citizens in our country who decided that they were going to cook the books. We had some citizens who did not uphold their responsibilities as leaders that they that they were didn't uphold their calling to employee and shareholder alike. They tried to cut corners. I signed the most comprehensive corporate reform law since Franklin Roosevelt was the President. And you just need to know that I got a Corporate Fraud Task Force in place that's going to hunt these cheaters down and bring them to justice, for the good of this economy. By far the vast, vast majority of our fellow citizens uphold their responsibilities. They're honest people. Their numbers are honest. But we're going to audit the auditors, and we're going to make sure the numbers are real, for the sake of economic vitality. That's what's going to happen here in America. I've also got a big job besides worrying about people working, and that is to make sure the homeland is secure. As a matter of fact, that is my most important job is to make sure an enemy which hates freedom, which hates America because we love freedom, doesn't hit us again. And we're making progress. We are. We've got a lot of people working hard. Anytime we get a hint of that somebody might do something to us, we're moving. We've got people working overtime to secure the homeland. It's not only people at the Federal level, but it's people at the State and local level, for which I am most grateful, and I know you are as well. But as last fall and the winter I began to think about how best to enable not only this administration but future administrations to do what's going to need to be done, which is to secure America. I realized there were over 100 agencies over 100 agencies involved in one way or another with homeland security. For those of you who tried to manage something, if there's 100 agencies scattered around with different bosses, different cultures, different priorities, it's hard to really bring to account it's hard to set the priorities. So I said, "Well, why don't we have a Department of Homeland Security?" I proposed a new Cabinet officer that would take different agencies involved with homeland security and put them under one umbrella, so that we can have as the number one priority of these folks protecting you. It ought to be the number one priority. If it's our number one goal, it ought to be the number one priority of every agency in Washington, DC. So I've asked Congress to act. The House passed a pretty good piece of legislation. The Senate is now involved with the bill. I've got great support from Gordon Smith. However, the Senate must know loud and clear, I'm not going to accept a bill which is more concerned about special interests in Washington than the people or more concerned about their own turf than the protection of the American people. We want a bill I need a bill that allows me to move the right people to the right place at the right time, in order to protect America, not a bill which tries to micromanage the process for the sake of special interests that are lodged in Washington, DC. I'm confident that Gordon understands this. I look forward to working with him to get a good piece of homeland security legislation to my desk as soon as they return from their August respites. Now, having said that laughter having said that, you've got to know that the best way to protect the homeland, the best way to secure freedom for the long term is to hunt the killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice. And that is what we're doing. And that is what we'll continue to do. And we're making some progress. We put this coalition together, and as you recall, I said, "You're either with us, or you're with them." A lot of people chose to be with us. And I meant it. I still mean it. I still remind people that that's part of the doctrine of the first war of the 21st century. And we've got a coalition together that is working hard. We're sharing intelligence like never before. We're disrupting finances. This is an incredibly important part of this new type of war we fight. If we can deny the killers money, it makes it harder for them to move and plan and plot. We're arresting people. I bet you we've hauled in over 2,500 folks so far, not only just America but other countries that are have heard the call. By the way, about equal the number have not been quite so lucky. So we're making progress. Laughter But we've got a lot of work to do. You just need to know, we've got a lot of work to do. They're still out there. They still hate. They don't value life like we value life every life precious to America, to our culture. That's not the way they think. And so, so long as I'm the President, I'm going to commit our resources, the resources necessary to defend our freedom. That's why I've asked for the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. I want our troops well paid and well trained. Anytime we commit somebody into harm's way, they deserve the absolute best from our Government. And I want the message to go to friend and foe alike We're in this deal for the long haul. See, this is our freedom at stake. History has called this Nation into action. History has put the spotlight on the great beacon of freedom, and we're not going to blink. We're going to be a steady, patient, determined nation, doing what it takes to not only secure the future for our own children but the future for other countries' children. We cannot let terrorists get the upper hand, and we won't. And I want you to know and that by being steadfast and resolved and, by the way, making it clear the difference between good and the difference between evil, by making it clear we will not let the world's worst leaders develop and possibly deploy the world's worst weapons, to try to blackmail America and our friends and allies, by being steadfast and strong, I believe we're going to achieve peace. And that's one of the great ironies for the enemy. See, they didn't realize who they were hitting. They thought we were weak and self absorbed and materialistic and shallow, and that all we'd do maybe is file a lawsuit or two laughter but that's all we would do. That's what they probably thought. Instead, they found out that this is a nation that is strong and good and decent and that we're a nation that refuses to be cowed by a few killers. People that hide in caves and send youngsters to their death, that doesn't impress us at all. All that does is make us want to get into the cave with them and bring them out that's what that does. They didn't understand that when it comes to defending our freedoms, we'll do what it takes, because we love freedom. We love the idea of people being able to worship freely. But see, what they really didn't understand is that they didn't understand that we are determined to achieve peace. That's the goal. I want our children to grow up in a peaceful world. We might have to cross some hurdles before we get there, but that's where we're headed, for a peaceful world. I believe that as we remain strong and dedicated to fighting terror, that we can achieve peace not only for our own people but peace in parts of the world that might have quit on peace. See, I believe we can achieve peace in the Middle East or in South Asia. No, I think there's going to be incredible good that has come out of the evil done to America, not only abroad but here at home as well. People say, "Well, Mr. President, I want to be a part of the war on terror. What can I do?" And my answer is, love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to fight evil, do some good. It is the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and decency which define the true character of America. You see, it's when you go it's when somebody mentors a child, when somebody says "I love you" to somebody who is wondering if love is possible. That's part of being a part of defining America. It's going to a shut in's house and saying, "What can I do to help you today?" It's the simple act of loving your child every day. It's all part of the goodness that will come out of America. You see, there are pockets of despair in this country, and so long as one of us hurts, all of us hurts. But people in this country are beginning to understand that by serving something greater than yourself they understand that one of us can't do everything, but one of us can do something to help change America, one conscience, one soul, one person at a time. No, the enemy hit us. The enemy hit us. But out of the evil done to America is going to come not only a more peaceful world but a more passionate America, because Americans are understanding that the true definition of patriotism is not only to support a great military, but a definition of patriotism is to serve something greater than yourself, is to love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. That's what's happening in this great Nation. I confidently and boldly predict that America will be a better country as a result of what was done to us, because we're a country full of the most decent, compassionate, strong, honorable people on the face of the Earth. Thank you all for coming. God bless. August 22, 2002 Healthy Forests Initiative Q. Mr. President, if I may, your proposal to thin out the forest a little bit some critics say it might cause a drastic increase in commercial logging. What do you say The President. What the critics need to do is come and stand right where I stand. It's what the critics need to do is come and see firsthand the effects of bad forest policy. That's what they need to come and see. And by the way, there's nothing wrong with people being able to earn a living off of effective forest management. There are a lot of people in this part of the State that can't find work because we don't properly manage our forests. And this is the second fire site I've been to this summer, and it's the same story. Had we properly managed our forests, the devastation caused would not nearly have been nearly as severe as it has been. And it's a crying shame. You heard the man say that when a forest like this burns, there's more likely to be disease. The beetles will come and start we've got to do a better job. And that's why I'm here. I'm going to talk about how the administration can move, and I'm going to call upon Congress to enact some reasonable legislation to make sure we better manage our forest, so these guys aren't having to fight fires every year particularly, one of the biggest we've seen in a long time, the Biscuit fire. And the point is, is that we can prevent fire by good sound practice. At this point, the tour continued. President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan Q. Mr. President, do you have any reaction to President Musharraf's rewriting of the Pakistani Constitution? The President. My reaction about President Musharraf he's still tight with us on the war against terror, and that's what I appreciate. He's a he understands that we've got to keep Al Qaida on the run and that, by keeping him on the run, it's more likely we will bring him to justice. And I appreciate his strong support. Obviously, to the extent that our friends promote democracy, it's important. We will continue to work with our friends and allies to promote democracy, give people a chance to express their opinions the proper way. And so we'll stay in touch with President Musharraf in more ways than one. Q. Mr. President The President. Yes. Healthy Forests Initiative Q. back to the fire. Do we have enough money in the Federal coffer to pay for all the things needed throughout the West? The President. Well, we'll if we don't, we'll deal with it, because I mentioned to the Governor, Congress has got a way of spending money. My job is to make sure they spend on priorities, and if I didn't think the forest of the United States was a priority, I wouldn't be here. It is a priority. The other thing is, is that there are partnerships which can be put together to the benefit of those who care about conservation, the State and those who employ people. And the approach I'm going to talk about and the approach, frankly, that the Governor has worked with Governor Kempthorne of Idaho on is a balanced approach, one that recognizes more than one party involved, that there are a variety of folks involved with the health of our forests. And all voices ought to be listened to, and a strategy ought to be developed that will that will achieve goals. One of the goals is prevent fire, healthy forests. Another goal is going to be to conserve our forests. Another goal will be to provide jobs. So we believe we can do that. California Gubernatorial Candidate Bill Simon Q. Sir, Bill Simon's family's investigation fund was found guilty of fraud. How do you reconcile that fact with your visits tomorrow to California to campaign for him, given your corporate accounting The President. I agree I understand your question. Bill Simon assures us that when the courts look at this case, he'll be innocent, and I take the man for his word. Okay. You're tired of me answering questions, I know. Laughter It's unbelievable, 2 days in a row. Q. We like it. The President. What? Q. We like it. August 22, 2002 Thank you all very much for coming. Thanks for please be seated, unless of course you don't have a chair. Laughter Thanks for that. Thank you all for such a warm welcome. It's such an honor to be here in Jackson County. I have come for a couple of reasons. First, I have come to express our deepest condolences for those whose lives have been affected by these fires and to thank the yellow shirts, the hard working firefighters. I appreciate the sacrifice you all make to protect your neighbors. One of the things you learn growing up in small town Texas or small town Oregon is that you learn to be neighborly. And the idea of people sacrificing to serve their neighbors is something that makes this country great. So I want to thank you all for what you do. I also want to tell you, our job is to make sure we do everything we can to prevent forest fires from happening in the first place. That's one of our responsibilities, and that's why I went up to Jacksonville to talk about a policy that is based upon common sense. It's not a political deal. It's not a Republican idea. It's not a Democrat idea. It's an American idea to preserve our forests so that we can that's one of the hurdles we've got to address here in the country. That's one of the challenges we've got to meet, is how to preserve our national treasure. We've got other challenges. Listen, anytime anybody who wants to find work, who can't find work, it means we've got a problem. So I want to talk about the job we have of making sure we grow our economy, so people can work. And then what I want to talk about I want to talk about the fact that we've got another challenge, and that is how best to protect our homeland from the killers. And I want to tell you how we're going to win the war on terror, and we are going to win the war on terror. I want to thank members of my administration for coming out here. They're kind of used to the West, since they are from the West, and that would be the Secretary of Agriculture, Ann Veneman, and the Secretary of Interior, Gale Norton. These two ladies are doing a fine job, really fine job. I'm proud they're on my team. I appreciate so very much Gordon Smith for introducing me and being a friend. I'm proud of the service that he has given to the State of Oregon. He's a hard working man. He's a family man. He's a good, decent citizen. And I want to appreciate and I want to say how much I appreciate Senator Ron Wyden for being here as well. I think it's an important gesture to show that forest policy can be commonsense policy. I appreciate you. The honorable citizens and so is your Congressman, Greg Walden. Applause It sounds like they remember you, Greg. Laughter I remember him, because all he does is talk about Oregon. Laughter I want to thank Governor Judy Martz and Governor Jane Dee Hull, Governors from Montana and Arizona, for coming. These are fine I wish I could say they were here they came to hear my speech. They came to promote good fire policy. They got stuck listening to the speech. Laughter But I'm proud to call them friends. I had the honor of being a Governor at one time, and I knew these two ladies. And they're good ones, and I want to thank them for coming. I also want to thank the mayor of Central Point, Oregon, Bill Walton, for receiving me earlier. I want to thank Michael Draper, who is the western director of the International Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Union, for being here. You thought Michael would have gotten you a better seat. Laughter But thank you all for coming. I want to thank Nolan Colegrove, who is the president of the Intertribal Timber Council. He came up from California. I had a good visit with him. He's a good, solid thinker and a reasonable fellow. I want to thank my friends from the Klamath River Basin who are here. I want to appreciate your working with us to make sure that people who make the living off the land had enough water to survive. I want to thank the members of the Student Conservation Association who are here. Applause You'd think your relatives would be clapping, too, but laughter thank you for your concern for our environment. Thanks for your hard work to put into practice commonsense policies to preserve the forest land. I want to introduce Matt Epstein, who is here. The reason I bring up Matt is, everywhere I go, when I land, I try to welcome somebody to a member of what we call the USA Freedom Corps, out at Air Force One, to thank them. But it also gives me a chance to remind our country what a unique land we are. We have people who volunteer their time to make their communities a better place. Matt teaches kids how to read. Matt worries about those who don't have enough food. Matt also works hard to promote good forest management policy. He not only does it on his own land, but he promotes good forest policy so people understand the difference between kind of theory and good practice. Matt is a citizen who cares deeply about the community in which he lives. He is a soldier in the army of compassion. Matt understands what I know, that one person can't do everything, but one person can do something to make the community in which we live a better place. So it's my honor to introduce Matt Epstein and his wife, Donna. Thank you for coming. Where are you, Matt? There he is. Hi, Matt. Hi, Donna. Thank you. We've got some challenges that face our economy there's no question about it. I mean, the first three quarters of my Presidency, we were in recession. That means the economy was going backwards it was negative growth. The next three quarters we've had positive growth. But about halfway through that time, the enemy hit us, and it affected our economy. And then to make the challenge even more, we found out some of the folks were cooking the books. Some of the people decided that in order to get ahead, they wouldn't tell the truth. Oh, we've had some tough times in our economy, and I know you know what I'm talking about right here in this part of Oregon. Times are tough. But let me tell you something, so is America. Our economy has strengths to equal those challenges. I mean, after all, we've got the most productive farmers and ranchers in the world. We've got the most productive workers in the world. We've got a great climate for small businesses, and the entrepreneurial spirit is strong in America. No, we've got the ingredients to overcome the challenge. But there's still work to do. And let me describe some of the work that needs to get done. I believe a healthy economy will mean that we work to have in order to have a healthy economy, we've got to have a healthy forest policy. I mean, if you have good forest policy, it will yield to a better economy. After all, the fires that have devastated the West create a drag on the economy. It costs money to fight these fires. It means people lose property. There's opportunity lost. No, good forest policy not only is important for the preservation and conservation of good forests for future generations, it's good for our economy. And yet, I think we need to be honest with the American people. The forest policy of our Government is misguided policy. It doesn't work. We need to thin. We need to make our forests healthy by using some common sense. We need to understand, if you let kindling build up and there's a lightning strike, you're going to get yourself a big fire. That's what we've got to understand. Laughter We've got to understand that it makes sense to clear brush. We've got to make sense it makes sense to encourage people to make sure that the forest not only are healthy from disease, but are healthy from fire. That's what we've got to do here in America. We haven't done that in the past. We just haven't done it, and we're now paying the price. And so we're going to change the forest policy in Washington. And that's why I've got my Secretaries here. They know what I know, that we've got to change the policy, starting with setting priorities, right off the bat, about getting after those areas that are dangerous, dangerous to communities, dangerous to habitat, dangerous to recreational areas. There are some high priority areas that we need to declare emergencies and get to thinning now, before it's too late. And we have a problem with the regulatory body there in Washington. I mean, there's so many regulations and so much redtape that it takes a little bit of effort to ball up the efforts to make the forests healthy. And plus, there's just too many lawsuits, just endless litigation. We want to make sure our citizens have the right to the courthouse. People ought to have a right to express themselves, no question about it. But there's a fine balance between people expressing their selves and their opinions and using litigation to keep the United States of America from enacting commonsense forest policy. We've made some progress through administration action. We can thin on emergency basis, like I just mentioned. We'll speed up the process of developing environmental assessments, while considering the long term threat that fire susceptible forests pose to endangered species. We'll make sure that people have their voice, but aren't able to tie it all up. And I need to work with Congress, and I need help from Congress. And I appreciate Senator Smith and Senator Wyden's willingness to do what is right for the people of Oregon. They want to work together. There's too much bickering in Washington. Like, it's kind of a zero sum attitude. No, what we need is to understand that what I'm talking about makes sense. And this isn't a chance for one political party to get an upper hand on another political party. This is just common sense for what's best for not only the forests and the preservation and conservation of forests but what's best for the people who live around the forests. That's what this is. People are beginning to get the message. I mean, Americans who have no idea what good forest policy means are beginning to see the fires on TV. It's a sad way for people to learn, but it's happening, and we're beginning to make some progress. There's some recently I signed what they call a supplemental bill. And in that bill there was some the Black Hills National Forest, east of here, got some treatment about how to thin, how to make sure that that forest was well preserved. My attitude is, if it's good enough for that part of South Dakota, it's good enough for Oregon. No, I want our forests healthy, and I want our economy healthy. That's why I strongly support the 1994 Northwest Forest Plan, a plan which should allow the production of a billion board feet of timber per year. This is a plan that was a well thoughtout plan. It's a plan that was put together to protect wildlife habitat, to protect recreational areas. But it's a plan that's got another dividend, besides a healthy forest. It means 100,000 more jobs for people to be able to applause . This would be sustainable timber harvesting on a small portion of the forest. The prior administration developed and agreed to this plan. I support the plan. Congress needs to pass the laws necessary to implement the plan. Good forest policy will be good for the economy. Good forest policy will mean we will have left a legacy for future generations. You know, I'll never forget our tax relief debate. I remember telling people that where I came from, at least the economic book that I believe in says, "If you've got tough times in your economy, you got to let people keep more of their own money." Here's the theory behind that. If you let a person keep their own money and by the way, we're not talking about the Government's money. When we're spending money, we're talking about the people's money. If you let somebody keep their own money, they're likely to demand a good or a service. And if they demand a good or a service, somebody is likely to produce that good or service. And when somebody produces a good and service, somebody is more likely to find work. And so therefore, in the face of this recession, the tax cut came at the right time in American economic history. Now people say, "Well, you know, it didn't have an effect." Of course it had an effect. Let me tell you who it had an effect on. It had an effect not only on people who pay the bills it had an effect on small business owners. Seventy percent of new job creation in America comes from our small business owners, comes from our entrepreneurs. Most of those small businesses, because they are sole proprietorships or limited partnerships, pay income taxes on the personal income tax level. So when you drop the income tax rates, really what you're doing is, you're stimulating job creation by putting a shot in the arm to the entrepreneurs, the small business owners of America. This tax reform slashed the marriage penalty. It makes sense to me that the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not discourage marriage. After all, families a family unit is the strength of the country. And for the sake of the small business owners and the people who make a living off the land, the farmers and ranchers, we put the death tax on its way to extinction. But the problem is, because of a quirk in the nature of the rules, all this comes it doesn't stay stuck. Let me put it to you that way. Laughter In other words, it comes back into being. The tax rates go back up to where they were. The death tax isn't repealed. The marriage penalty goes back up to where it is. That's just the nature of how the Senate rules work. For the sake of economic growth, for the sake of job creation, for the sake of helping people stay on their farms and ranches, we need to make the tax relief permanent. There are too many construction projects that aren't moving forward because the project managers can't find terrorism insurance. There's too many hardhats not working in America. There's over 8 billion projects which are not going forward, because the insurance premiums they just can't can't insurance for a potential terrorist attack. It makes sense for the Congress to act on this. The United States Congress ought to provide a floor for terrorism insurance, so we can get our hardhats back to working again. But I caution the Congress, we need a bill that worries more about the workers and not about the trial lawyers in America. And speaking about trial lawyers, I am worried about liability for doctors. I'm worried about it. And here's what I'm worried about. I'm worried about frivolous and junk lawsuits, frivolous and junk lawsuits that are making it harder for our citizens to get access to health care. That worries me. It worries me that frivolous and junk lawsuits are running up the cost of medicine, because make no mistake about it, anytime there is these huge settlements that go forward, you pay. Now look, I repeat, if somebody gets injured, they ought to have their day in court, no question about it. That's a system that I value and a system you value. But these frivolous and junk lawsuits are denying people who have actually been injured their day in court. They're making it hard to find doctors. They're running up the cost of medicine. For the sake of good, quality, affordable, and accessible health care, we need medical liability reform in Washington, DC. And we need it now, before people lose their doctors in rural America. I want to tell you a quick story. I was in Mississippi during my so called vacation. I traveled to Mississippi. Laughter And the I met a fellow who had is a religious man, and he heard the call of taking his practice, his medical practice, into the Mississippi Delta, which is a poor, poor region of America. It's a significant percentage of the population there is African American. These poor folks need health care. And he felt like that God gave him the talents necessary to be a doctor, and he felt like he needed to use those talents to help people who could not afford health care. But because of the junk lawsuits, they ran him out of town they ran him out of the State. I'm going to tell you something, if you look around rural Oregon, you're going to find the same thing is happening to you. Now, we need to have commonsense reform of our medical liability laws, so people can get good health care at affordable prices in America. I've got a piece of legislation which is important to job creation here in America and that gives me the capacity to negotiate trade agreements. I say that's important. I understand there's some farmers and ranchers who don't believe in trade and I don't blame you, because you know what, you've been always dealt out of the mix. But here's my attitude about this. First of all, fortunately, we produce more food than we need. Imagine being the head of a country where you're worried about your next meal for the American people. We produce more food than we need because we're good at what we do. And if you're good at something you do, you ought to promote that which we do. We ought to be using American food to feed the world. We ought to have a President and I will use that tool to open up markets for Oregon farm and ranch products. In order to make sure the economy grows, we need pension protections. Listen, we need if you're one of these 401(k)s with your company stock, you ought to be able to diversify after a reasonable period of time, so you're not locked in. And by the way, the law that I'm about to describe we passed says that we just passed says that if the boss gets to sell his stock, you ought to get to sell yours. There's some commonsense pension and so I hope Congress gets after it when we get back and get me a pension bill that will help those who have 401(k)s get the best information possible, the best investment advice possible, so they can better manage their accounts. And I'll tell you one other thing that we did. I signed the law that was the most important corporate reform law since Franklin Roosevelt was your President. It said this, it said The books are going to be honest the auditors will be audited the numbers are going to be real and the criminals in America will be punished. We're not going to have this in America, where those who should be responsible to employees and shareholders feel like they can cut corners. When I gave the speech about corporate responsibility in New York, I said in my speech, the business schools in America need to be willing to teach right from wrong. And that's what the curriculum ought to do. And I was working the ropeline, and probably one of the hard hat types was sitting up there, was sitting on the ropeline, said, "If you want to send the right message, if you want to teach the lesson, just put a couple of them in handcuffs." That's the best ethics lesson that we can have in America. America is coming to understand by far the vast majority by far the vast majority of our chief executive officers are honorable, decent people. They tell the truth. They treat their shareholders with respect. They care deeply about the plight of their employees. But this corporate task force I put together is serious business. And we're going to find those who cheat, and we're going to prosecute them, and they're going to find out that, instead of easy money, they've got hard time ahead of them. We're making progress on the economic front. After all, the conditions are right for growth. I want you to think about this Inflation is low interest rates are low productivity is up consumer spending is strong. We've got the capacity to trade more. We've got the ingredients for growth. We've got some hurdles to cross, but you just need to know, I'm not going to rest until people who want to find work are able to find a job. I also want you to know, I'm not going to rest until this homeland is secure. There's an enemy out there there just is. The way I like to put it to kids who write letters in or ask the question I hope you share this with them is that people hate us because we love freedom. People it's hard for people to understand, particularly youngsters, why anybody would attack us the way they did, or would want to continue to attack us. But you've got to tell them that your great country stands for something that they can't stand, which is every life matters. Every individual counts. Every person has got worth, and we love freedom in America. The more we value the ability to worship God the way we see fit, the more they hate us. The more we honor church and synagogue and mosque, the more they hate us. The more we speak our mind freely, the more they hate us. The more free our press is, the more they hate us. And therefore, since we're not going to yield to our freedoms, since we're not going to yield the values we hold dear, we've got to do everything we can to defend the homeland. There are a lot of people working overtime to protect America. Every time we get a hint, we're moving on it. There's a lot of good people at the Federal level, the State level, and the local level running down every kind of lead, every kind of possibility. We take everything seriously here in America, because we now understand that there's an enemy out there. And that's why I asked Congress to work with me to make sure that at the Federal level, and eventually at the State and local level, we do everything we can to protect the homeland. I proposed a Department of Homeland Security. Look, I didn't run for office saying, "Vote for me. The Government is going to be bigger." That wasn't my promise. I did say, "I'll try to make it better." And I'm concerned by the fact that there's over 100 agencies involved with homeland security. They're scattered everywhere in Washington, which makes it awfully hard to hold anybody to account. The number one my number one goal and my number one job now is to protect the homeland from the enemy and therefore, I ought to have the tools necessary to do so, and that starts with the Department of Homeland Security. And we're making some pretty good progress on it, but I need the tools, and so does my Secretary need the tools, to be able to move the right people at the right place at the right time, to respond to any threat. And unfortunately, that's not the way the Senate bill looks right now. You see, some Senators are more worried about their own turf than they are protecting the American people. I am not going to accept a homeland security bill that has a book that thick trying to micromanage the Department, when all I'm asking for is the same flexibility that they've given other Presidents and that they've given to manage the airports. All I want to do is to be able to respond. I'm not interested in redtape. I'm not interested in micromanagement. I'm interested in doing what's right for the American people. And let me give you just one example. Let me just give you one example. It's important for us in America to know who's coming in the country, what they're bringing into the country, and whether or not they're leaving when they say they're going to leave. That's really important for us to know. And yet when you go down there on the border, in my part of the world, you've got one uniform in the Border Patrol then you've got the INS then you've got your Customs. It seems like, to me, that we need the flexibility necessary to meld those agencies together, to be able to transfer people around, to be able to better protect our border for the sake of the homeland security of the United States of America. So there's a lot of good people working hard there really are. And I'm proud of them. And I'm proud to report to you that our FBI and CIA are talking. I mean, people are buttoned up. They understand the job. They know the priority. They understand. And that's good. But you've got to know how I think. The best way to secure the homeland is to hunt the killers down one by one, and that's what we're going to do. It's a different kind of war we face here in America. It's not like the old days where you could measure the size of the enemy by the number of tanks he had or the number of airplanes they were flying. You can't measure progress by which hedgerow we've taken. This is a different kind of war. This is a war where we face coldblooded killers that's all they are who hide in caves and send youngsters to their death. They hide in a cave, and they send some poor, unsuspecting soul to their death. There is no cave deep enough, however there's no cave where they can hide from you see, when it comes to defending freedom, this great Nation is relentless and patient and tough. Anytime anybody who wants to take away something we hold dear is going to find out what this country is made out of. I can't imagine what was going through their mind. I can't imagine what was going through their mind. They must have thought that we were so self absorbed and so materialistic and so worried about our own well being, so selfish, that after September the 11th, we might file a lawsuit or two. Laughter But that's about all we would do. No, they learned something about America and our character. They learned that not only do we have a fabulous military they're learning firsthand, when we say something, we mean it. And when I say, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists," I mean it. And the Taliban knows what we mean. The Taliban, one of the most barbaric group of people that modern history has seen, found out that the United States sticks by its words. I want you to tell your kids this about us, that we went into that country not to conquer anybody but to liberate that's why we went and that for the first time, many young girls go to school, thanks to the United States and our friends and allies. No, by kicking out the Taliban, we recognized that each person has worth, that each person matters. We've got work to do, and that's why I submitted a significant increase in our budget, our defense budget, the biggest increase since Ronald Reagan was the President. I did so because I wanted to send a message, loud and clear first and that is, anytime we cement put our troops in harm's way, they deserve the best equipment, the best training, and the best possible pay. And the second reason I did it is because I want to send a message to our friends and allies and to the enemy that we're not quitting. There's not a calendar on my desk that says by such and such a date this ends. That's not the way I think. That's not the way it doesn't matter how long it takes, as far as I'm concerned, and we owe it to our children and our grandchildren to be tough and resolved and to be smart about how we conduct this war. This is the kind of war where sometimes you'll see us move, and sometimes you won't. I mean, it's the kind of war where we can be just as effective cutting off their money as it is hauling them in. And speaking about hauling them in, the United States and our coalition and friends have pulled in over a couple of thousand of them. And there's another couple of thousand that weren't quite so lucky. You'll see some action in Afghanistan, because there's still some spots where they feel like they can bunch up. But we've got some brave souls on the ground there, chasing them down. They may try to light, like they did in the Philippines. And I want to thank President Gloria Arroyo. She heard the message, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy," and she responded. She asked for help. We provided help, but her troops were the ones that got this guy that was running what they call Abu Sayyaf, the person who killed kidnaped two brave Americans, the Burnhams. We're going to make sure that Yemen continues to remain strong and is not a place where people get to light. I mean, we are we're running a vast coalition that loves freedom. And it's going to take a while it will. And you've also got to know that it's very important for us not to allow the world's worst leaders to develop and hold and use the world's worst weapons to blackmail us or our friends. But we're making progress we are, slowly but surely. And that's the kind of war this is. It's a slowly but surely war. We're making progress so that our so we'll be free. See, here's how I view what happened on September the 11th. I view it as an unbelievable national tragedy. But because I know the American people so well, I know our character and our strength, out of the evil done to America will come some good. That's what I believe. I believe that, if we remain strong and steadfast and resolved in our war against terror and terrorists, we can achieve peace. I want you to tell your youngsters at home that my dream is peace. I want them to grow up in a peaceful world, in a peaceful society. It's not only them, but it's any child in any country, anywhere needs to grow up in a peaceful world. And the United States can lead the world to peace. I believe we can achieve peace in parts of the world where people have given up hope on peace. That's what I believe. I believe, by leading this coalition of freedom nations, we can achieve peace. There will be some steep hills to climb. There will be some sacrifices made. But we can achieve peace. And here at home, we can achieve a better society. The good that can come out of the evil done to us is good that comes when people have taken a step back and said "What does it take to make my society, my country a better place?" People ask me, how can they help in the war against terror? My answer is, love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to fight evil, do some good. And there are a lot of Americans who hear that call. It's not my call. They've heard that call long before I was President. Some are hearing it for the first time, but they're hearing the call that if you want to fight evil, you do some good. It's just acts of kindness and decency which will change our country one soul at a time. Listen, there are some pockets of despair and hopelessness and poverty and addiction in America. If one of us suffers, we all suffer. Out of the evil done to America can come some incredible good, as good, solid, decent, loving Americans decide to mentor a child, to teach a child to read, for example, or to go to a shut in and just simply say "I love you" on a regular basis. "What can I do to make your day brighter?" It will happen when people understand their most important responsibility is to love their children with all their heart and all their soul. No, this culture of service, this culture of serving something greater than yourself in life, is becoming real in America. People understand being a patriot is more than simply putting your heart and saying the Pledge of Allegiance to "one Nation under God." They also understand that being a patriot means to love somebody, to help somebody in need, to provide food where there's hunger and shelter where somebody needs a house and housing. That's what it means that's what it means to be a patriot. No, the enemy thought they were hitting a weak nation, but instead they've awakened a great compassionate spirit in America. This sense of sacrifice was defined most clearly to me, and I think it will be to others who study the history of this period, was on Flight 93. Here were people flying across the country. They realized their plane was being used as a weapon. History will show that they said a prayer they told their loved ones goodbye. One guy said, "Let's roll." They drove the plane in the ground to serve something greater than themselves. Every life in America matters. It's this sense of service, this sense of understanding there's something greater than ourselves in life, this sense of working to make America the very best it can be allows me to say with certainty that out of the evil done to America will come incredible good, because this is the finest Nation, full of the finest people on the face of the Earth. May God bless you all. August 21, 2002 Defense Budget and Planning The President. Well, good morning. I'm pleased to welcome Secretary Rumsfeld and General Myers and members of his staff here to Crawford to discuss some important issues, issues that relate to the security of the American people. We spent time talking about missile defense. The progress that our Nation is making after our withdrawal from the ABM Treaty has been is impressive, that the Secretary and his planners are thinking through how best to spend the R D money so that we can better protect ourselves and our friends and allies from the true threats of the 21st century. And I appreciated the briefing, Mr. Secretary. I thought it was illuminating. The American people need to know that the Pentagon is forward thinking, is aggressive in its approach to developing systems that will more likely be able to respond to what we're going to face. Secondly, we talked about contingency plans. One of the jobs of the military is to constantly be thinking about how to respond to an issue should it arise. And I appreciate so very much the Secretary's thinking on that. And thirdly, we talked about transformation issues, how best to make the military conform to the threats we face, other than missile defense what weapons systems, what strategy should be employed. How do we make our services more joint in nature? The Secretary rightly pointed out that, in the past, the service chiefs would come with their particular wish list, but there wasn't much coordination as to whether or not a weapons system in the Navy could would work jointly with the Army, for example. And Secretary Rumsfeld and his team have done a really good job of beginning to shape the philosophy a new philosophy in the Pentagon. And it was right here in the Governor's House we call this the Governor's House, by the way was where he first briefed me on transformation plans nearly a year ago, and he's back to bring me up to date on the progress that the Pentagon is making. And we're making good progress. The American people need to know that our Secretary of Defense is willing to think differently about how to structure our military and is also willing to work with the Joint Staff, people in the Pentagon, to get them to think differently. It's not an easy task, but he can be a stubborn guy. But he's got a vision that is positive for the country. Mr. Secretary, would you like to say a few words? And then we might answer questions. I want to learn how you answer questions. They tell me you're quite good at it. Laughter Secretary Rumsfeld. Well, thank you, Mr. President. We were here last year about this time, had an opportunity to discuss with you and get some guidance as to the period ahead. We've benefited from that, and we're back to give you a good report and to gain additional guidance for the period coming forward. We're, of course, working on the budget bill for the 2004 to 2009 period, even though the 2003 budget is still pending before the Congress. So we have to get that process going. And I felt that we had a very good chance today to discuss missile defense and the important programs that we have going forward for transformation. The cold, hard fact is that the United States lives in a very different security environment today in this 21st century than we did prior to September 11th. We have the task in the Department of Defense of seeing that we're able to provide the kind of defense capabilities and deterrents that will enable our country to contribute to peace and stability and to protect the American people. And that means we have got to shift this Department and see that we have the kinds of capabilities that fit for the challenges and the threats that exist in the 21st century. It's a big job, but we've got a good team of people, and we're working hard on it, and we thank you for your support. The President. You're probably wondering why the Secretary is wearing a suit. Would you like to explain why you're wearing a suit? Secretary Rumsfeld. I don't have any sport clothes. Laughter The President. He's going to Fort Hood to talk to our troops, to thank them for their service, and Mr. Secretary, I appreciate yes? Regime Change in Iraq Q. Sir, after you've studied today the military capabilities of the United States and looking ahead to future threats, one thing that has to factor in is the growing number of U.S. allies, Russia, Germany, Bahrain, now Canada, who say that if you go to war with Saddam, you're going to go alone. Does the American military have the capability to prosecute this war alone? The President. Well, look, if you're ask ing are you asking about Iraq? The subject didn't come up in this meeting. But having said that, we take all threats seriously, and we will continue to consult with our friends and allies. I know there is this kind of intense speculation that seems to be going on, a kind of a I don't know how you would describe it. It's kind of a churning Secretary Rumsfeld. Frenzy. The President. Frenzy is how the Secretary would describe it. But the subject didn't come up. We will obviously continue to consult with our friends and allies. Your question makes certain assumptions that may or may not be true. But we will continue to talk with our with the people concerned about peace and how to secure the peace, and those are needed consultations. Not only will we consult with friends and allies, we'll consult with Members of Congress. Yes, Terry Terry Moran, ABC News . Secretary Rumsfeld. Could I just add a comment there, Mr. President? I think it's worth noting on that particular subject that the President of the United States and the Secretary of State and our country has put together a coalition that stretches across the entire globe that is addressing the problem of the global war on terrorism. It is 80 or 90 countries. There are 37 or 38 down in Tampa, Florida, with liaison officers. We have, at any given time, 18, 20, a couple dozen of countries involved in Afghanistan, participating. The coalition that is working on the global war on terrorism that the President and the Secretary have put together is broad it's deep it's impressive and it is in fact what is helping the forward progress that we're achieving, the traction we're getting with respect to dealing with the terrible terribly difficult problem of global terrorist networks. Q. Still, many of those are now saying that they won't take the war against terror into Iraq. What do you do about that? Secretary Rumsfeld. The President has not asked them to. Q. Sir, if I could follow up? The President. Please do. Q. General Franks today The President. We're in the giving spirit here. Q. Thank you, sir. The President. General Franks today? Q. He has said that he is drawing up war plans to provide you with credible options. Now, should the American people conclude from that that you're reaching some critical point, that a decision is imminent? The President. First of all, in the midst of the frenzy laughter I want you to note that General Franks is not here. General Franks is doing his job. And one of the jobs that the Secretary of Defense has tasked to members of his general staff is to prepare for all contingencies, whether it be in the particular country that you seem to be riveted on, or any other country, for that matter. We face a the world is not stable. The world changes. There are this terrorist network is global in nature, and they may strike anywhere. And therefore, we've got to be prepared to use our military and all the other assets at our disposal in a way to keep the peace. So General Franks is doing what the Secretary has asked. Would you like to comment on that? Secretary Rumsfeld. I would. As the President indicated, one of the things we discussed here today was the contingency planning guidance that he signed. I then meet with all of the combatant commanders for every area of responsibility across the globe. I do it on a regular basis. We go over all the conceivable contingencies that could occur. So General Franks, as well as every other combatant commander I met, I think, within the last 30 days, with at least three of them on various types of contingency plans in totally different parts of the world. That's my job. That's their job, is to see that we have the ability to protect the American people and deal effectively on behalf of our friends and our allies and our deployed forces. So it is their task to work with me and ultimately with the President as the chain of command goes from the Commander in Chief, the President of the United States, to me, to the combatant commanders. And they're doing exactly what I've asked them to do and what the President has asked me to do. The President. Heidi, Bloomberg Heidi Przybyla, Bloomberg News . National Missile Defense Q. Now that you're out of the ABM Treaty, can you talk a little bit about what type of testing you'd like to do on missile defense, what kind of testing we'll see soon? Secretary Rumsfeld. Sure, we're doing it all the time. We're testing a layered program which involves a terminal phase, mid course, as well as boost phase. It is a a program that will become layered. It will start out as a testbed and then evolve over time. We've had some very good successes with both short range missiles as well as longer range missiles, intercepting them. And I feel very good about the program. General Ron Kadish is doing a superb job for the country. Q. When do you expect there will be the kind of missile defense shield that you'd like to see? Secretary Rumsfeld. You see, that's not knowable. And first of all, the word "shield," we don't use. The program that we're designing I thought you said "shield." Oh, you didn't? Q. No. Secretary Rumsfeld. Excuse me. Q. Just kidding. Laughter Secretary Rumsfeld. The wind The President. You thought "shield." Secretary Rumsfeld. Yes, I thought "shield." We think of it as a capability that would be broad and be able to deal with relatively limited numbers of ballistic missiles and also shorter range medium and shorter range missiles. And the shorter range defenses are more advanced. In terms of how long it would take, it's something that really is not knowable, because you're in the research, development, and testing phase. And as that continues to succeed and be to work out, we then will put things in place, and they will evolve over a period of time. The President. Yes, I think the other thing that you should note is that the Secretary is and his team are briefing our friends and allies about progress we're making. That's one of the things I said when we withdrew from the ABM Treaty, that we would consult with our friends and allies, and we are. And I appreciate those consultations. I think it's very important for people to see what is possible as we as we make the world more secure through our research and development. Yes. Abu Nidal Q. Mr. President, Abu Nidal can we have your reaction to reports of his death? The President. Well, first of all, no terrorist can hide forever. Secondly, it's I found it interesting that they said he committed suicide with four bullet heads four bullet wounds to the head. And so I'm not exactly sure how he died. We just have to wait and make sure, in fact, he did die. But the point is, is that when the world puts their mind to fighting terror, we can rout out these terrorists. And some of them will be able to hide longer than others, and some of them will be able to survive longer than others. But this country will continue to lead the coalition that the Secretary of Defense talked about, to hunt them down one by one. And that's a positive development. Adam Adam Entous, Reuters , don't worry about the suit here on the ranch. Q. Sorry, I saw the Secretary Secretary Rumsfeld. You look good. Regime Change in Iraq Q. I borrowed your clothes. Laughter Considering how much discussion has been going on recently about Saddam, do you feel a need to get out there and make a case for toppling him? And if so, do you feel a need to do it before Election Day? The President. Well, Adam, what I need to do is to continue to, as we call it, consult with people who share our interests to make the world a safer place, and I will do so. The American people know my position, and that is, is that regime change is in the interests of the world. How we achieve that is a matter of consultation and deliberative deliberation, which I do I'm a deliberate person. I say it in my speeches, which you fortunately don't have to cover, that I'm a patient man. And when I say I'm a patient man, I mean I'm a patient man, and that we will look at all options, and we will consider all technologies available to us and diplomacy and intelligence. But one thing is for certain, is that this administration agrees that Saddam Hussein is a threat, and he will be that's a part of our thinking. And that hasn't changed. Nothing he has done has convinced me I'm confident the Secretary of Defense that he is the kind of fellow that is willing to forgo weapons of mass destruction, is willing to be a peaceful neighbor, that is will honor the people the Iraqi people of all stripes, will values human life. He hasn't convinced me, nor has he convinced my administration. Listen, thank you all for coming out on a windy, hot day. Fine looking boots, Martha Martha Brant, Newsweek . Q. Thank you, sir. Laughter The President. I expect to see you barrel riding here at the Crawford Q. Waiting for the invitation. The President. That's good. Thank you all very much. See you tomorrow on the plane. August 17, 2002 Good morning. This week I hosted an economic forum at Baylor University in Texas. Participants shared their concerns about the economic challenges we face and their ideas for making the economy stronger. A common theme among many panelists was that we must leave every dollar we can in the hands of the people who have earned it. We must be disciplined with our taxpayers' money, which requires Congress to focus on funding our Nation's priorities. Winning the war on terror is our top priority. The men and women fighting the war must have every tool and all the training they need to fight and win. That is why my budget includes the largest increase in defense spending in a generation. And that is why I urge the Congress to pass a final defense appropriations bill as soon as they return to Washington. Keeping our homeland secure is another high priority. My budget would nearly double funding for homeland security to almost 38 billion money to train and equip firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical personnel money for the Coast Guard, to protect our ports and coasts money to keep our water treatment plants and nuclear facilities safe. A few weeks ago, Congress passed an emergency funding bill that provides more than 13 billion in immediate funding for the war on terror, more than 4 billion for homeland security, and completes our 20 billion commitment to the people of New York. I was pleased to sign it. But Congress also sent along more than 5 billion in extra spending I did not ask for. Some of that 5 billion I have endorsed and will work to secure, but a lot of that money has nothing to do with a national emergency. Those who wrote the bill designed it so either I have to spend all the money or none of it. At the economic forum on Tuesday, I made my position clear I will spend none of the 5 billion. We must remember the lessons of the past. In the 1960s, increased spending required by war was not balanced by slower spending in the rest of the Government. As a result, in the 1970s we faced unemployment and growing deficits and spiraling inflation. We cannot go down the path of soaring budget deficits. We must meet our defense and homeland security needs and hold the line on other spending. My budget raises defense spending by more than 14 percent. It nearly doubles homeland security funding. In all other areas, it increases spending by 2 percent. Many families are living with raises like that, and so should the Government. The House of Representatives has done well by staying within these limits. Unfortunately, the Senate has not even passed a budget framework, and so far it has been ignoring fiscal discipline. I requested 2.4 billion for public housing the bill moving through the Senate includes 300 million more. I requested 2.2 billion for agricultural research again, the Senate wants to spend 300 million more. I requested 3.1 billion for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration the Senate wants to spend 200 million more. And these levels could go higher. I challenge Congress to respect the taxpayers and show restraint with their money. It is very important they do so in order for our economy to continue to grow. If Congress will not show spending restraint, I will enforce spending restraint. For the good of our economy, for the good of the people who pay taxes, my administration will spend what is truly needed, and not a dollar more. Thank you for listening. August 16, 2002 The President. Let me start off by saying the baseball owners and the baseball players must understand that if there is a stoppage, a work stoppage, a lot of fans are going to be furious, and I'm one. It is very important for these people to get together. They can make every excuse in the book not to reach an accord. It is bad for them not to reach an accord. They need to keep working. And I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions. Q. Mr. President, you spoke The President. Starting with you. Execution of Javier Suarez Medina Mexico U.S. Relations Q. Thank you, Mr. President. You spoke Tuesday with President Fox. The President. Yes, I did. Q. What did you tell him about the execution? And are you disappointed he's not coming? The President. Well, first of all, I understand why he's not coming. He said that if the execution goes forward, he's not going to come. Q. He told you that Tuesday? The President. Yes, he did. And I said, "Well, we have laws here in America. We've got the State of Texas has got a law." I said that there's going to be full recourse to the courts, which there was. And the Governor made the decision he made the Supreme Court made the decision it made and President Fox made the decision he made. But I am confident that our friendship is strong, that we'll be able to work together to resolve common problems, and we'll have future discussions. Michael Mike Allen, Washington Post . Iraq Q. Mr. President, not all Republicans seem sold on your intention to deal with dictators who gas their own people. What are you going to do to make that case more persuasively? Are you consulting with them? And what is your obligation of getting approval, not just consultation, with Congress? The President. Yes, I appreciate that question. First of all, I am aware that some very intelligent people are expressing their opinions about Saddam Hussein and Iraq. I listen carefully to what they have to say. There should be no doubt in anybody's mind, this man is thumbing his nose at the world, that he has gassed his own people, that he is trouble in his neighborhood, that he desires weapons of mass destruction. I will use all the latest intelligence to make informed decisions about how best to keep the world at peace, how best to defend freedom for the long run. We'll continue to consult. Listen, it's a healthy debate for people to express their opinion. People should be allowed to express their opinion. But America needs to know, I'll be making up my mind based upon the latest intelligence and how best to protect our own country, plus our friends and allies. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill National Economy Q. Mr. President, yesterday, Secretary O'Neill said that he is going to be stop being so candid with his comments about the economy. And you just met with him on Wednesday The President. That's an interesting observation. Laughter Let me be honest with you. Laughter Q. Did you suggest to him that maybe he should The President. No, I didn't. Listen, Paul O'Neill is doing a fine job as Secretary of Treasury. I don't know what prompted him to make that statement. I find him to be refreshingly candid. I appreciate his judgment. He's a man of great experience. He and I share an optimism about our country's future, and we do so based upon fact. Interest rates are low. Inflation is low. Productivity is up. We've got a lot of work to do. And I started the process of bringing some fiscal discipline into Washington prior to the end of the August recess. I meant what I said. In my radio address today, I'm talking about fiscal discipline so that overspending doesn't serve as an anchor on any economic growth. I firmly believe that the trade bill I got is going to help create jobs. I know we need to have a terrorism insurance package so that we can get many of our construction workers working. So there are some things we need to do. The Secretary and I share a basic optimism about our future. Supplemental Appropriations for First Responders Q. Sir, the firefighters union is very upset about the money being withheld from the supplemental, and they say that they would are they misunderstanding? The President. Well, let me first of all I've got a strong commitment to not only firefighters but to first responders, and here are the facts The budget prior to September the 11th is about 250 million after September the 11th is over a billion. And my '03 request for first responders is over 3.5 billion. So the commitment is strong, and the commitment is there. What they ought to be upset about is the fact that Congress tried to tie my hands. They said, "You've got to spend 5 billion or none of the 5 billion." And I chose not to spend the 5 billion because, one, we didn't need to, and, two, it is important for this country to be fiscally disciplined as our economy begins to recover. And so there's no question in most people's minds that I've got a very strong commitment to firefighters and first responders. President's Economic Forum Q. Mr. President, may I ask if I may ask you about the economic forum, what's the most important new thing you learned? And, sir, is there anything at the top of your list, based on suggestions or ideas that you heard there? The President. Michael, I am going to analyze and think about some of the suggestions so that when I announce them, it will be well thought out. It will be a part of a long term plan. But there are some interesting ideas expensing losses, increasing expenses of losses, accelerating the 401(k) contribution limits in other words, making it easier for people to put more money in their 401(k)s quicker. There's a lot of interesting talk about capital gains taxes, double taxation of dividends. There was certainly a very strong sentiment that we're on the right track when it comes to holding people to account who lie, steat, or cheal lie, cheat, or steal laughter who defraud people by cooking the books. There was some strong sentiment from CEO and non CEO alike. I came away from that summit that the small business person feels constrained by tax policy and regulatory policy. And I was really appreciated the people coming. I thought it was a very good summit. Last question, and then I've got to go. Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Just to follow up on that, are you planning on producing a new economic package The President. Lie, cheat, or steal. Laughter Q. Are you planning on producing a new economic package? The President. We're thinking about it. We're thinking about all options. That's one of the things that came out of the meeting, was that some have urged us to think about additional measures to help economic growth, so I'm thinking about it. But one thing that the Congress has got to do is pass laws that will make a that we've already proposed, that will make a difference for job creation. One of them is terrorism insurance. Another one is pension reform. And that's very important. So Congress needs to do that when they get back. And the other thing, of course, is Congress should not overspend. Look, I understand Washington. Every project sounds like it's needed. Every every proposal is one that's got to be funded. And my job is to set the priorities, and I have set priorities the war is a priority homeland defense is a priority and then hold people to account if they don't accept those priorities, if they overspend. And I started that process by making a decision on the supplemental. Thank you all. Hope you have a great day. President's Vacation Q. Mr. President, how is the nature trail coming? The President. Michael, is that a you're not inviting yourself out there? Laughter It's coming great. Actually, I haven't been on the good side of a saw for a while. I've been out of the out of the area, as you know. And today I'm going to I've got another event here, and then Condi is coming down. I'm going to spend some time with her. I may be at I may be sawing tomorrow. If I need an extra hand, I'll holler. Q. I can outrun Scott Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press . Laughter The President. I'll tell you what, he represented the press corps in fine fashion. It was an unbelievable effort. Q. I found someone I could beat, sir, yesterday. The President. Who's that? Q. I'm not going to identify them. Laughter The President. No, you represented you represented your profession well. I tried to find the model citizen out of all the people I could have invited. I tried to find the one person that would represent the integrity of the press corps, somebody who represents those values that we hold dear, that the enemy is trying to attack, as a matter of fact, a free press. And I hope you agree with my judgment that Scott was the right man at the right place at the right time. It's that flexibility I need. Laughter August 15, 2002 Well, thank you all so very much. John, I appreciate your kind introduction. I appreciate your leadership and your friendship. I want to thank you all for coming today. Gosh, what a warm welcome. It's such a beautiful spot. I told Laura she ought to come she didn't. You drew the short straw you got me. Laughter But what a magnificent place on such a beautiful day to talk about America and the challenges we face. I mean, after all, standing here at Mount Rushmore reminds us that a lot of folks came before us to make sure that we were free. A lot of pioneers came to this part of the world to make sure that enterprise could flourish. A lot of our predecessors faced hardship and overcame those hardships, because we're Americans. And that's what's going to happen in this era too. We've got problems. We've got challenges. This generation has got challenges to meet, and we're going to meet those challenges head on. We've got the challenge of fighting and winning a war against terrorists, and we're going to win that war against terrorists. We've got the challenges of protecting the homeland, and we will do everything in our power to protect the homeland. And we've got the challenge of economic security. Economic security in this part of the world is a big challenge, and I understand that. But we'll do everything in our power to overcome that challenge as well. No, this is America American land based upon strong values, inhabited by great people. There's no doubt in my mind that the challenges we face will be challenges we overcome. I'm glad to come to share that optimism with you in this historic spot. I appreciate those who work for our Park Service. I particularly want to thank my Secretary of Interior, Secretary Gale Norton. I want to thank the park managers, the fine, hardworking folks who work for the Park Service, for providing such a magnificent site for our fellow Americans to come and witness history and be a part of nature at its best. I want to thank so very much Governor Tom Ridge, who is my Homeland Security Advisor, for traveling with me today. He was the Governor of Pennsylvania. I said, "Listen, you need to leave being Governor of Pennsylvania we've got a problem." Laughter "We need to secure the homeland." And thankfully, he sacrificed and moved to Washington, to serve side by side with me doing everything we can to make our homeland secure. I appreciate so very much your Governor, Bill Janklow, for being here. Bill has been a friend of mine for a long period of time. He might have invented the word "piece of work." Laughter But he's a good piece of work. I want to thank I want to thank Majority Leader Tom Daschle for coming today. Tom, I appreciate your time. I'm honored you're here. And I want to thank Senator Tim Johnson, as well, for taking time out of his day to come to be here at Mount Rushmore. I had the honor of, when I landed in Air Force One at Ellsworth, I had the honor of meeting a fellow named Jerome Harvey. He's a professional firefighter who volunteers his time to help people in need. He grew up in a volunteer fire department, in the sense of taking on this important job as for his lifetime. I bring him up because he's helping others learn how to fight fire. He's a part of what I call a soldier in the army of compassion. I'm confident there are soldiers in the armies of compassion right here, people who have decided to use their talent and time to help people in need. That's the spirit of America that I love, the fact that we've got neighbors willing to help neighbors, people who are willing to take time to ask that fundamental question, "What can I do to make my community a better place?" So I appreciate Jerome coming out to say hello. And for those of you who are serving your communities in any kind of way, I want to thank you from the bottom of a grateful nation's heart. Everybody knows this economy of ours faces challenges. After all, for the first three quarters of my administration, we were at negative growth. That's called a recession. Laughter And then the enemy hit us, and that hurt us economically. And then after some scandals had been in the making for a while, they bubbled to the surface, and we learned that some of our corporate citizens were trying to fudge the numbers, weren't being honest with the American people. We've had to deal with recession, emergency, and corporate scandal. And there's no question it's raised a high hurdle for us to cross. But let me tell you something, that high hurdle is going to be crossed, because our people are hard workers. The productivity of the American farmer and rancher and the American worker is the best in the world. The fundamentals for economic growth are sound. Inflation is down. Interest rates are low. Productivity is high. The consumer is spending money. We've got the foundation laid. Now we've just got to build on it. One way to make sure we have economic security for Americans around our country is to make sure our agriculture economy is strong. See, I think the cornerstone for economic security is good agricultural policy. This is something I know something about. As a matter of fact, after I leave here, I'm heading back to Crawford. We've got a few cows around laughter got some hay. We fortunately have had rain. That wasn't the case always in Texas. I understand what drought means to people who make a living off the land. I know how people suffer when there is no rain. I've seen my fellow Texans and I heard some of my fellow Americans today talk about the anxieties that come when you're in a business that relies upon good weather and good prices. I've talked to ranchers who have been on their family ranch for years, wondering whether they can stay on. I talked to community leaders who wonder whether or not there's a place for young farmers and young ranchers in this society. No, people hurt here, and I know that. We want to help deal with this drought. We want to help the hurting people, because it is not only good for the neighborhood helping people in the agricultural sector is good for the American economy. A good agricultural sector is good for all Americans. On Monday, the Department of Agriculture made 150 million available for immediate emergency feed for livestock producers here in South Dakota and three other States. Sixty four of your sixty six counties have been allowed emergency assistance. We're working hard. I want you to know I signed the farm bill, and I'm proud to have signed the farm bill. Some of us in this audience who supported a farm bill took a little heat over it. I know the Senator supported it. John supported it. We took heat over it because, I guess, some people didn't understand how important the farm economy is. But I said, when I signed that bill, there's 180 billion in that bill of taxpayers' money to help our farm and ranch community. And as we move forward to help our ranchers with drought relief, I expect that help to come from the 180 billion, so we don't run up additional deficits in the Federal budget. It's important to watch our spending in Washington. It's important to set priorities and watch our spending. I appreciate the fact that the Congress sent me a supplemental the other day that helped fund our priorities of the military and homeland security and helping the good folks of New York. We fulfilled a promise to the good folks of New York who are trying to recover from the September the 11th attack. But in that particular bill they added 5 billion I didn't ask for. And they put some fine print in the bill that said, "Either you spend all the 5 billion, or you spend none of the 5 billion. In other words, you spend every dime in there beyond the request, or you spend none of it." For the sake of fiscal responsibility, I made the decision to spend none of the extra 5 billion. Now, there are some issues in that 5 billion that we need to deal with, and I look forward to working with the Congress. I mean, there's money in there for the Middle East, which I want to spend. There's money in there for AIDS policy, which we need to spend. But we can amend the '03 budget. So the message is clear In order to make sure we don't put a drag on our economic security measures or economic growth, we've got to be fiscally sound in Washington, DC, fiscally responsible with the people's money. I'm looking forward, when we get back, to signing an energy bill, one that promotes renewable sources of energy like ethanol. Ethanol is good for our economy it's good for our air it makes common sense. I'd rather have the capacity to say to the world, we're less dependent upon foreign sources of crude oil because we're growing energy right here in South Dakota in the United States. For the good of our economy, we need commonsense forest policy. We can and we must manage our forests. We must keep them disease free. We must have reasonable forest policies so as to prevent fires, not encourage them. In order to help our economic recovery, we need to make the tax relief package we passed out of the Congress permanent. Those tax reliefs came right at the right time. See, when you're in the middle of a recession, it's important to let people keep their own money. It's also important to remember, when we're spending money, it's not the Government's money we're spending it's the people's money. It's your money. I mean, we did a good job of cutting the marriage penalty. After all, we want our Tax Code to encourage marriage, not discourage marriage. We want the Tax Code to encourage small business growth, not discourage small business growth. And that's what cutting the personal income tax rates do. Most small businesses are sole proprietorships or limited partnerships. They pay income taxes at the personal rate. So reducing taxes is good for capital formation and job creation. But we also did something else that I think is important for South Dakota farmers and ranchers. We sent the death tax on its way to extinction. That death tax is a if you're interested in keeping people on the farm, you've got to get rid of the death tax. If you want to help the ranchers, you've got to get rid of the death tax. But unfortunately, it didn't work that way. We sent it on its way to extinction, but the problem is, it bounces back after 10 years. For the sake of economic vitality, to allow our producers and entrepreneurs to plan, for the sake of keeping people on the farms and ranches, we need to make the tax relief permanent. I just signed a trade bill. I understand some in the agriculture sector are worried about trade. I hear the same thing from some of my Texas friends. And I can understand why people in the agriculture sector worry about trade. After all, our trade negotiators in the past talked a good game about agriculture but seemed to forget agriculture when they got to the table. My attitude is, is that if you're going to have trade policy and if you want to boost the economic security of the American people, you start with your strength. And one of our great strengths in this country is the productivity of our farmer and rancher. One of the great strengths of America is that we produce more food than we need. And if you produce more food than you need, it seems like to me that you ought to work to sell that food overseas to people. We ought to be feeding the world, here in America. You just need to know that when I talk to the Chinese, I'm talking about soybeans. I want South Dakota soybeans to be sold into China. When we talk to Vladimir Putin, we're talking about chickens. Every time I have a conversation with world leaders, when it comes to trade, I remind them that we expect there to be a level playing field for American agricultural products. I believe firmly I believe firmly that good trade policy will yield good jobs in America. And finally, to make sure that we have economic security, we've got to regain the confidence of the American people. After all, the confidence had been shattered. There's too many stories in the business pages and now on the front pages of people who were fudging the numbers, people who had a position of responsibility but forgot to behave responsibly, people who didn't treat their shareholders and their employees with respect, people who are now, when we find them and prosecute them, are going to be serving hard time, not finding easy money. I want to appreciate so very much the Congress for working together. Both Republicans and Democrats came together to fashion a corporate responsibility bill. It's the most significant piece of reform corporate reform since Franklin Roosevelt was the President. And it's a good piece of legislation. Let me summarize it by this way It says, we expect the best from people in positions of responsibility. We want people to be held to account if they break the law. I remember giving a speech in New York on this subject. And in my speech I said business schools, schools that train future business leaders, must be willing to teach right from wrong. Evidently, that's not the case these days. Evidently, there's some nervousness in some of the college campuses about teaching right from wrong. And after I gave the speech, I was working the ropeline. A professor who is at a business school said, "Thank you for saying that. We need to do that around America." A big fellow standing next to him said, "Well, if you really want to send an ethics lesson in America, if you really want to teach right from wrong, put some of them in handcuffs on national TV as you lead them off." And that's what's going to happen when we find people who cheat the American people. By far the vast majority of our corporate citizens are good and honorable people. You've got some fine corporations here in South Dakota, people who care deeply about their employees, people who understand that they've got to tell the truth. No, by far the vast majority of our leadership around this country understand what it means to be a responsible citizen. And we're cleaning up the mess. Slowly but surely, the American people are understanding that this future is a bright future for us, that economic security will spread its wings throughout all our society. And you just need to know, I'm not going to rest, neither will my administration rest until we're sure anybody who wants a job and can't find one is able to find work. We've got another big challenge facing America, and that is to protect our homeland. I want to appreciate the moms and dads who brought your kids here today. It's probably hard for you to understand why anybody would want to hurt America. Why would we have to protect the homeland in the first place? Let me tell you why. It's because your country loves freedom. We love the freedom applause . We love the idea of people being able to worship an Almighty freely. We love the idea. We love the idea of honest political discourse. We like a free press. We love freedom. The enemy hates freedom. So long as we embrace freedom which we will do there's going to be people who try to hurt us. There's another distinction between us and the enemy We value every life we value every human life. And these folks are out there they're haters. They're out there, and our job is to make sure that the homeland is as secure as possible. As you know, I proposed a significant reform of the agencies involved with homeland defense. We've got over 100 agencies scattered all around Washington that have got some part of defending the homeland, and that doesn't make much sense. If the number one priority of the Government is to protect the homeland, it seems like to me that those agencies involved with protecting the homeland need to be under one boss they need to have one chain of command. If you want to change a culture, if you want to set a clear priority, we ought to organize our Government so that priority is the most important thing these agencies do. And so I called upon Congress to join me in the creation of a Department of Homeland Security. And we're making some progress on the Department of Homeland Security. But I'm a little worried about some of the noise I hear. I don't want our hands tied so we cannot do the number one job you expect, which is to protect the homeland. I need to be able to ship resources without a time consuming approval process. If you're trying to defend the homeland, if you need to act quickly in response to a threat, we need to be able to move resources. We're not trying to do away with congressional authority. We're trying to have the capacity to respond to the needs of the American people. Unfortunately, the bill in the Senate right now won't let me do that. Let me give you an example. If intelligence were to show that the terrorists were planning to use a new type of biological weapon, it makes sense for the Department of Homeland Security to take money from one project to buy medicines, to stockpile drugs, to respond if the attack were to occur. We don't have that flexibility right now. I'm not allowed to reorganize old agencies to meet new threats, and I'll give you an example. On our border listen, we need to know who's coming in the country. We need to know what they're bringing in the country, and we need to know if they're leaving the country. But we've got different agencies with different strategies in different uniforms. They need to be working in concert. I need the authority to have Customs and the INS and the Border Patrol work in concert so that there's no gaps in the defense of our borders. I don't have that authority under the Senate bill. The way the bill is structured now, it takes too long to hire good people. There's too many bureaucratic rules. The bill micromanages the capacity of the executive branch to do the business on behalf of the American people. I need the capacity, this Department needs the it's not just me, it's future Presidents need the capacity to be able to pay people according to their contributions and hold people to account for their performance, both good and bad. If somebody does a good job, we want to be able to provide bonuses. I am deeply concerned about this provision of the Senate bill. It strips me of authority. Unlike previous if this bill were to go through, this bill would take away the authority that every President since Jimmy Carter has had, which is to exempt agencies from collective bargaining requirements if I were to determine that our national security demands it. It's important during times of war that we be flexible to meet our needs. Now, having said that, I'm absolutely confident and know that this Department will protect Federal workers' rights, will safeguard against unwillful discrimination. There will be whistle blower protection. They will be able to be in a union if that's what they choose to do. But I need flexibility to be able to run this Department. I need the flexibility to be able to look at the American people and say, we're doing everything we can to protect the homeland against an enemy that hates us. The best way to protect the homeland and, by the way, there are a lot of good people working hard to protect you. Anytime we get a hint or a lead, we're moving. We're disrupting. We're following every possible opportunity to disrupt potential enemy plans. And I hope you're proud of the fact that there's a lot of good folks who care deeply about your future. I sure am. I'm proud of the way our people are responding. But the best way to protect the homeland, the best way to make sure our children can grow up free is to hunt the killers down one by one and bring them to justice. This is a different kind of war than we're used to. This isn't a war where these infantries go marching across the plains or hide in hedgerows, or formations of aircraft go streaming across our skies. This is a war where leaders hide in caves and send youngsters to their suicidal death. That's the kind of war we're fighting. It requires a new way of thinking, a new attitude. It requires our military to be trained in a way that can go into to move quickly and be agile, be lethal when they strike. It doesn't matter how long it takes, as far as I'm concerned. There's no cave deep enough we're going to hunt them down. You see, history has called us. History has put the spotlight in America. We're the beacon of freedom. We're the bastion of freedom, and we're the protectors of freedom, as far as I'm concerned. I submitted a significant increase in our defense spending it's the biggest increase since Ronald Reagan was the President for two reasons. Anytime we put our troops in harm's way, they've got to have the best training, the best pay, the best equipment possible. We owe that to our troops, who are performing brilliantly, by the way. We also owe it to their moms and dads and their husbands and wives and their loved ones. But the other reason I submitted a significant increase in defense spending is because I want the message to be loud and clear to our friends and foe alike that we're not quitting, that the United States of America understands the challenge, that no matter how long it takes, we're going to defend our freedoms. And we're making pretty good progress. We're making pretty darned good progress. I laid out a doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist or you feed one of them, you're just as guilty as the terrorists." And the Taliban found out exactly what we meant. But I want I want the youngsters here to understand that when we went into that country, we went in as liberators, not as conquerors. We freed people from the clutches of a barbaric regime and, thanks to the United States and our friends and allies, many young girls now go to school for the first time in their lives. History will note that we didn't hit and run, that we stayed there. We stayed there to not only make sure that Al Qaida doesn't bunch up again, but we stayed there to help this country, Afghanistan, flourish. We believe in democracies. We believe every child should have a chance to realize his or her dreams. We believe in peace. I think we've hauled in over 2,000 of the enemy "we" being all kinds of people, the Philippines and Spain, of course, the United States. We're making pretty good progress. We're getting them, one by one. Sometimes you'll read about it sometimes you won't. This isn't a very dramatic war, as far as TV goes. But we're making dramatic progress, is the best way to put it. And by the way, about equal a number of the people weren't quite as lucky as those who were captured. And we've got a lot of work to do. We've got a lot of work to do. And that's why this budget I submitted is a significant budget. The House passed its version. The Senate passed its version. They've now got to get together as quickly as possible, as soon as possible, and get the defense appropriations bill to my desk nearly upon arrival. In other words, as soon as they get back from the recess, I need to sign the bill so we can plan for the war. I hope you can tell that I'm an optimistic person. I'm an optimistic person because I understand America. I understand the strengths of America. I know we're going to prevail in this war on terror. And as we do so, I believe, as sure as I'm standing here, we're going to bring peace to parts of the world that haven't dreamt about peace in a long time. By being firm and strong and diligent, we'll bring peace not only to our own children and their children, but we can bring peace to the Middle East and peace to South Asia. No, we have a fantastic chance to take the evil done to our country and turn it into good for worldly peace. And here at home, we can make a huge difference in people's lives. Listen, we live in a land of plenty, but there are people who hurt, people whose lives have been shattered by addiction, young kids who haven't gotten a good enough education and may not have love at home and wonder whether or not America is meant for them. So long as any of us hurt, all of us hurt in America. I understand there is a limitation to the capacity of Government. Government can hand out checks we do a pretty good job of that sometimes. Laughter But what Government cannot do is put love in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. In order to change lives for the better, in order to make sure we eliminate those pockets of despair and hopelessness, it will require loving Americans to act, loving Americans to put their arms around people who wonder whether or not there's hope and say, "I love you, brother. I love you, sister." People ask me what they can do in the war against terror. My answer is, love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. People say, "Well, I can't do everything." I know you can't do everything, but you can do something to help change America, one soul, one conscience at a time. And that's what's taking place in this country. It really is. Many people stepped back after September the 11th and said, "What is what's our life worth? I mean, how do we fulfill a full life as an American?" More and more people understand that being a patriot is more than just putting your hand over your heart and saying the Pledge of Allegiance to a nation under God. They're saying more and more people understand that serving something greater than yourself in life is a part of being a complete American. And as more and more people do that, as more and more people choose to mentor a child, as more and more people help feed the hungry, as more and more people go to their churches and synagogues and mosques and hear that universal call to love a neighbor, America's culture is changing. And America, itself, is changing. America's culture is changing from a period in which we all have said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." We're ushering in a period of personal responsibility in this country, where moms and dads understand, if you're fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you must love your children with all your heart and all your soul. People in America are understanding that if you live in a community, you've got to help that community to realize its full potential. They're understanding there is such a thing as personal responsibility and sacrifice. And perhaps the most vivid example of that came on 9 11 itself. People were flying across the airplane on what's now known as then and now known as Flight 93. They heard their plane was going to be used as a weapon. They got on the phone, and they told their loved ones they loved them. They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." They served something greater than themselves by saving life. It's an example for all of us to remember that America is a country based upon our willingness to serve something greater than ourselves, our willingness to be something other than a materialistic society, a willingness for all of us to help define the American spirit and love our neighbor so that our country can have its full potential available for everybody who is fortunate enough to be an American. Listen, out of the evil done to this great land is going to come incredible good, because we're the greatest nation on the face of the Earth, full of the most fine and compassioned and decent citizens. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. August 14, 2002 Thank you very much. And you know what I think? I think the voters of Wisconsin are going to say yes to Scott McCallum as the Governor. I am here to help this good man because I believe in him. And I believe he's going to win. And I want to thank you all for helping him. I want to thank you for being here today. I especially want to thank you for what you're fixing to do, which is to man the phones, go to the coffee shops, and turn out the vote. You've got a good one in Scott, a good, honest, decent, honorable man who is willing to make tough decisions. And you need to send him back to the statehouse for 4 more years. And I appreciate so very much the first lady of the State of Wisconsin, Laurie. It is good to see her again, and their children. I want to thank those boys and the girl for supporting their dad in his run for the Governor's race. I bring greetings from the First Lady of the United States. She is actually campaigning today in Texas for a friend of ours who is running for the United States Senate in Texas. You drew the short straw. Laughter But she is doing great. I don't know if you remember the story about Laura and me, but when I married her, she was a public school librarian. And the truth of the matter is, she didn't particularly care about politics or politicians. And now here she is, the First Lady of the United States. And she's doing a fabulous job. I'm really proud of her. We're working out of Crawford this month. It's a nice temperature differential. Laughter But she sends her regards and sends all her best to Scott and Laurie and the family during this really important quest to be your Governor. I want to thank very much the Lieutenant Governor, Margaret Farrow, for being here as well. I find it very interesting that Governor Farrow is breaking the glass ceiling. She is the first female Lieutenant Governor in Wisconsin history. I want to thank leaders of the statehouse who are here, Mary Panzer and Scott Jensen, who is the speaker of the house. Thank you both for coming. I want to thank other members of the legislature who are here. It is in your interest that this good man win. I want to thank Scott Walker. I call him "cousin." After all, I'm George Walker Bush. Laughter At least I call him "cousin" so long as he's doing a good job. Laughter And they tell me he's doing a fine job. Scott, thank you for taking on a very important assignment as the Milwaukee county executive. And we wish you all the best. I had the privilege of meeting the next attorney general of the State of Wisconsin, Vince Biskupic, and I want to thank Vince for being here as well. I want to thank Rick Graber, who is the chairman of the Republican Party, a fellow I've gotten to know quite well and trust and appreciate his leadership. I want to thank Mary Buestrin, who is the national committeewoman. And I want to thank Craig Leipold, who is the finance chair for this fine event. Thank you all for coming. I particularly want to thank the those of you involved in grassroots politics. Oftentimes we come to these events and we never thank those who have manned the phones to even get the event going in the first place. I understand politics well. I know you cannot win without people energized at the grassroots. And for those of you who have worked tirelessly for Scott and for my behalf as well, thanks from the bottom of our hearts. And I hope this dinner serves as a way to continue to get you to continue working, because you're vital to the success of any candidate running for public office. So thanks for coming today. It's great to see you. I like a man who does what he says he's going to do, and that's what Scott did. Scott said he was going to deal with the budget in an upfront way, but he was going to do so without raising your taxes. A lot of folks in politics try to find the easy way out, but Scott stuck to his word. He said, "We've got a budget problem. I intend to work with people from both parties to solve the problem, but we're not going to solve the problem by raising the taxes in a State whose taxes are already too high." And he stuck to his word, and Wisconsin is going to be better off for having a Governor who sticks to his word. I appreciate the fact that he is working to hold down spending. That's what I'm going to do in Washington. And yesterday I sent a pretty clear signal, I intend to bring some fiscal discipline to Washington, DC. We've got a process called the supplemental budget process. It's an opportunity for the Congress to fund emergency needs. And we needed extra funding for our military, and we needed funding for homeland security, and we needed extra funding to fulfill the commitment to the citizens of New York. But Congress, in its willingness to spend your money, added 5 billion extra dollars. And what made that interesting was that in order to spend any of the extra 5 billion, I had to spend it all. In other words, "You either spend all the 5 billion, Mr. President, or you don't spend a dime." They made their position clear. I made mine yesterday clear We're not spending a dime. It is important for those of us who have in charge of the people's money to be fiscally sound and responsible. It's important to set priorities and make sure the appropriators stick to those priorities. And that's what Scott's done here in the State of Wisconsin. It's an important signal to send. During tough times, you've got to have somebody who's willing to make tough decisions. And that's what a leader does. A leader is also somebody who understands that every child must be educated. I used to say that education is to a State what national defense is to the Federal Government. The most important priority of a Governor is to insist that there be quality education. We passed a good piece of legislation out of Washington which passes power out of Washington, DC, because I believe in local control of schools. But it also says, we're going to set the highest of high standards for every child. Scott knows what I know, that if you set low standards for children, you're going to get low results. If you expect mediocrity, you'll have mediocre students. We believe every child can learn and therefore are willing to insist upon high standards for every child. And as importantly, I insist, and so does Scott, that we measure, that we hold people to account. See, if you believe children can't learn, you don't measure. But if you believe they can learn, you measure to see whether or not they are learning. And if they are, there ought to be praise for the teachers. But when we find children trapped in schools that won't teach and schools that won't change, it is essential you have leadership that demands something other than the status quo. I appreciate Scott's vision of public education, and I believe under his leadership, the public education system here in Wisconsin will demand excellence. And by demanding excellence, our children will start to learn. No child in this country ought to be left behind. I also appreciate Scott's integrity and his decency. He's a down to earth fellow. As we say down in Crawford, Texas, he doesn't have a bunch of fancy airs. What you see is what you get. And that's important. That's important for people in politics, to say what they mean and do what they say. You know, we've got a lot of good talkers in the political process, a lot of people who spin fancy promises. What the State needs here and what I believe we need in Washington are people who just say what they believe, work hard with people of both political parties to achieve it in other words, be willing to be judged on accomplishment. And when people in Wisconsin judge this man on his accomplishments, they're going to put him back in the Governor's chair. I appreciate Scott's understanding the role of Government is not to create wealth the role of Government is to create an environment in which the producer and the entrepreneur can flourish. And that's an important distinction between he and how some of the others think. The other people think that Government is there to create wealth, that Government is the answer. Scott knows what I know, that you've got to trust the people. You trust the people with their own money. You trust the people with their own ambitions. You create an environment in which people, no matter where they're from or what they're like, can achieve their dreams. That means good regulatory policy that means good tax policy that means good fiscal policy. And that's the kind of Governor he has been, and that's the kind of Governor he will be. Not only do I appreciate the chance to come and talk about Scott, I appreciate the chance to come and briefly talk about the hurdles our country faces, the challenges we face. Yesterday we had a fantastic event in Waco, at Baylor University. As I needled the crowd that came down there, I said, "I appreciate welcoming you to the middle of Texas in the middle of August." Laughter That's a heck of a commitment. Laughter We had people from all walks of life. We didn't ask their party registration. We just said, "Would you like to come and discuss your concerns about the economy?" We had laboring people and union heads and entrepreneurs and small business people and farmers and ranchers, grandmothers. We had all kinds of people. It was a very interesting session because it showed that there is a concern. But it also showed me that we've got great strength in this country to deal with the economic challenges we face. I heard over and over again that even though the statistics look pretty good these days, that people's confidence had been somewhat shaken. Nevertheless, they were confident in the long term of the American system. They're confident that so long as we have the right policies out of Washington, the entrepreneurial spirit would flourish. They were confident, if we make right choices when it comes to tax and fiscal policy, the economic growth will continue. I mean, after all, when we first got into office, we endured three quarters of economic negative growth. And then the last three quarters have been positive. So the trend is in the right direction. And interest rates are low. Inflation is low. Productivity is up. Consumer spending is strong. I mean, the ingredients for economic vitality are there. But there are some more things we need to do, we need to make sure that not only is Congress fiscally responsible, we need to make sure that the tax cuts we passed become permanent. Now, we cut taxes at the right time. You see, Scott and I understand that if you let a person keep more of their own money, the person is going to demand a good or a service. If they demand a good or a service, somebody is going to produce the good and service. And when somebody produces the good and service, somebody is likely to find work. That's how the economy works. In Washington, and I suspect here in Wisconsin, there are some who say, "Let's don't trust the people with their own money. Let's raise the taxes. Let's prevent tax reductions from going forward." There would be nothing worse for our economy than to take money away from the people who make the economy grow. We need to make the tax relief plan passed permanent. I say you need to make it permanent because under a quirk in the Senate law, all the work we did ends 10 years from the time I signed the bill. That's kind of an odd piece of legislation. It's one where you reduce something, and then 10 years later, it pops back up. That's why we need to make it permanent. And we also need to make the repeal of the death tax permanent. The death tax is terrible on entrepreneurs, terrible on Wisconsin farmers, terrible on small business owners. It's a terrible tax when you tax a person's assets twice. No, I believe our economy is going to make good progress. I particularly believe, if Congress does the right thing, that we can make substantial progress. They did the right thing on trade, by the way. For the first time in a long time, I now have what's called trade promotion authority. And I understand good trade policy will yield good jobs. If you're confident about something, you try to promote it. I'm confident about the American people's ability to outproduce anybody in the world. I'm confident that Wisconsin farmers are the best in the world. I'm confident that our high tech entrepreneurs are the best in the world. I'm confident that we can compete with a level playing field. I intend to use trade promotion authority to sell U.S. products abroad, which will be good for high paying jobs here in America. I believe in terrorism insurance. There are over 8 billion of construction projects which have been delayed because people can't get terrorism insurance. For the sake of hard working Americans, for the sake of visionaries who want to build, Congress must have a terrorism insurance bill on my desk as soon as possible, a bill which rewards hard work, not trial lawyers. We need an energy policy that promotes renewable energy, that uses technology to conserve more, but we need an energy policy that encourages environmentally friendly exploration at home. It is not only important for our economic security that we have an energy policy, it is important for our national security that we're less reliant on foreign sources of crude oil. No, I believe we can make great progress and we'll continue to work with people of both political parties to create the environment necessary for our entrepreneurs to flourish. And one thing is certain and one thing now people understand, that if you cook the books, you're going to be held to account. If you do not tell the truth to the American people, there is going to be a consequence. I signed, as Scott mentioned, the most comprehensive corporate reform since Franklin Roosevelt was the President. It should send a chilling effect on those who want to fine print the American people. It should send a chilling effect to those who believe they can use fancy accounting footwork in order to achieve some kind of short term objective. I've got a Corporate Fraud Task Force that's going to find those who have committed fraud, arrest those who have committed fraud, prosecute those who have committed fraud. The American people have got to trust the books of corporate America. I trust by far the vast majority of people who run corporate America. I proudly wear a pair of Allen Edmonds shoes every day. Laughter I know my friend who runs Harley Davidson is here. These are great corporations they're corporations because the CEO has decided to set the right kind of example by not only treating employees with respect but by understanding they've got an obligation to shareholder as well. I signed a good piece of legislation. We'll enforce the law. And Americans can be confident can be confident that if somebody cheats them, there's going to be a consequence. And they need to be confident that by far the vast majority of our corporate leaders are honest and decent and honorable people. We're making progress on the economic security of the American people. We're making progress on the homeland security for the American people. My most important job is to do everything we can to protect the homeland, is to prevent the enemy from hitting us again. And I sent up a pretty significant proposal to do just that. There's over 100 agencies in Washington, DC, that have got some part of the responsibility of protecting the homeland. It kind of makes it hard to hold people to account when there is 100 agencies scattered around. And so for the sake of setting priorities and for the sake of changing agencies' cultures so that they focus on homeland security, I proposed to Congress that we have a Cabinet office, a Cabinet agency involved with protecting our homeland we move key agencies within an umbrella organization. And we're making progress there. We're making progress because the House of Representatives passed a pretty good piece of legislation which will allow me and my Cabinet Secretary to put the right person at the right place at the right time in order to protect the homeland. And now the Senate must act. But the problem is, the first blush of the Senate legislation shows that some Senators are more concerned about protecting their turf than they are protecting the American people. Some Senators are more worried about special interests than the interests of protecting the homeland. I'm not going to accept a piece of legislation which gives us a book this thick of bureaucratic rules, thereby hamstringing the capacity of this administration to protect the American people. There's a lot of people there are a lot of people working hard to protect us. There really are. They're working overtime. Anytime we get a hint or a piece of evidence, we're running it down. We take everything seriously here in America about as to whether or not somebody might be trying to come and hurt American citizens. But the best way to protect the homeland is to chase the enemy down one by one and bring them to justice. That's the best way to protect the homeland, and that's what we're going to do. It's a different kind of war than what we are used to. I guess the best way to describe it, it's like we're on an international manhunt for coldblooded killers. These are people that hide in a cave and send youngsters to their death. They don't require a lot of equipment. They don't have tanks going across a field or formations of aircraft flying around. These are people that don't value life and hate freedom. They don't care whether innocent people die, and they hate the fact that we value life here in America. They can't stand the fact that we worship freely, that we welcome all kinds of religions, that our Government is not a Government that promotes a religion. Our Government promotes freedom of religion. It irritates them. And so long as we hold those values of freedom dear to our hearts, we're a target. But we're not going to change our values because some international killers don't like us. As a matter of fact, we're going to do something different. We're going to chase them down. We're going to unleash a great military. We're going to call upon a vast coalition. And no matter how long it takes no matter how long it takes we'll hunt them down one by one to protect our country and to secure our freedoms. And we're making good progress. We're making good progress. In a little less than a year, we routed the Taliban. We upheld the doctrine, "If you harbor or feed a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists." And the Taliban found out what we meant. I want you all to tell your children, we went into Afghanistan not as conquerors but as liberators. And thanks to the United States and our coalition, young girls many young girls now go to school for the first time. And we didn't leave. We're helping that country build a democracy. We're helping that country rebuild herself so that she has a chance to be a prosperous nation at peace in her neighborhood. But there is still Al Qaida there in remote regions, and we've got brave troops who are hunting them down. And sometimes you'll read about it, and sometimes you won't. We have hauled in over 2,000 of them. One by one, we're finding them. It's not only the United States, but the Philippines or Spain, all kinds of countries are acting in concert. And a like number weren't as lucky. But there's more work to do. There's more work to do. And I just want to assure you that I haven't forgotten September the 11th. I understand that history has called us into action. I'm never going to forget the love of freedom that the American States holds dear. I believe in our values. And so long as anybody is out there trying to bunch up or individually come and hurt us, my job is to act and act decisively. And that's exactly what our Government is going to do. And so when you read about the defense budget I've submitted, I hope I'm giving you a flavor as to why I did ask for the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. I believe anytime you put your troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. And I know it's important to send a signal to our friends and our enemies alike that the United States is in this for the long haul, that there isn't a calendar on my desk that says, oh, by such and such a date, we're going to quit we're just going to stop. That's not what America is about. We love freedom. We understand we have an obligation to defend our freedoms. But you need to know how I feel. I feel that by leading this coalition and by remaining strong and determined and patient, that we can achieve peace, peace in parts of the world that have given up on peace. I think we can have peace in the Middle East I really do by being strong and determined, by fighting terror and on the one hand, and promoting democracy on the other. I believe we can achieve peace in South Asia. I believe we can achieve peace here at home. And that's my goal, and that's my dream. See, I believe out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good. At home I'm already beginning to see the signs of the good that's coming. See, people understand that and people have asked the question, what can they do to help in the war against terror? And my answer was, love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to fight evil, do some good. If you want to be a part of a war on terror, love somebody in need. It's the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and decency which show the world the true character of America. People have said, "What can I do to help?" And my answer is, serve something greater than yourself. Serve something greater than your own personal satisfaction, your own personal bottom line. Being a patriot in America, in my judgment, understands that when one of us suffers, all of us suffers. But I also understand Government can't do everything. We can write checks, but we can't put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That requires neighbor loving neighbor that requires faith based programs flourishing throughout Milwaukee. You've got some fabulous faith based programs here in Milwaukee. I know I've seen them first hand. I've seen the power of faith work magic in people's lives right here in your neighborhood. And so my call to you is, if you want to be a patriotic American, help a neighbor in need. It doesn't take a lot. Mentor a child. And I don't mean mentor a child on a kind of a haphazard basis. I mean, take a child and mentor that child for a while, until that child becomes literate. Or go into a shut in's house and say, "I love you," on a daily basis or a regular basis. Feed somebody who needs some food. Help somebody find some shelter. America is going to change, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. Many in your community understand one person can't do everything, but one person can do something to be a part of a cultural change which welcomes a new era, one different from the old times when it said, "If it feels good, go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a new era in which it says, "We're all responsible for the decisions we make in life." We're responsible for loving our children. We're responsible for helping a neighbor in need. We're responsible for the quality of the community in which we live. Flight 93 was a defining moment in many ways. It was a time when people heard that the airplane was going to be used as a weapon. They made a conscious decision to serve something greater than themselves, to save life. History will note that they said a prayer, told their loved ones goodbye. A guy said, "Let's roll," and they took the plane into the ground. It's a symbol of what is happening in America, that people understand to be a patriotic America is to serve something greater than yourself. No, out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good, a more compassionate, a more decent, a more hopeful America. I want to thank you all for coming to help this good man. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. August 14, 2002 Thanks for such a warm welcome. It seems like only yesterday I was at the Ames straw poll. Laughter I guess you could say I cut my Presidential teeth right here in the State of Iowa. I want to thank you all for coming today. I'm honored to be here to proudly support the next Governor of the State of Iowa, Doug Gross. They tell me he grew up on a farm with nine brothers and sisters, so many kids they didn't need any machinery. Laughter The truth of the matter is, all they've got to do is make sure all those brothers and sisters vote, and it will be a landslide. Laughter I'm honored to be here with the next first lady of the State of Iowa, Eileen Gross. Doug and I both married above ourselves. Laughter Speaking about my wife, she's in Texas today. She sends her greetings to our many friends who are here. I'm sorry she's not with me, but I can tell you, I am incredibly proud to be married to such a fine lady and a person who is making a great First Lady of the United States. I want to thank all of you all for coming. I want to thank you for helping Doug to this point. I want to thank you for what you are going to do, which is to turn out the vote, to go to your coffee shops, your churches or your synagogues and your community centers, and tell the people of Iowa what a good man this guy is, a man who believes in family, a man who has got deep faith, a man who is going to bring credit to the Governor's office of the State of Iowa. I'm pleased that we're joined here today by my friend the next United States Senator from Iowa, Greg Ganske. And when you put Ganske in there in the Senate, you're going to have two fine United States Senators nobody better than Chuck Grassley in the United States Senate. We've done a lot in Washington, a lot of positive things, and a lot of it had to do with his leadership. I'm sorry he's not here to hear me bragging about him. But if you see him, tell him. And you've got Jim Nussle, who is the chairman of the budget of the House of Representatives. Nussle has done a fantastic job of making sure we've got a sound budget, that he represents the taxpayers of the United States in a great way. I want to thank you for coming, Jim. I appreciate so very much two fine Governors or former Governors who are here with us today, people who mentored Doug, who taught Doug how to manage a Governor's office, and that of course would be Bob Ray and Terry Branstad. We've got some fine Members for the United States House of Representatives with us today, Iowa State Senator Steve King and Stan Thompson, both candidates who are going to win and help us in Washington, DC. I want to thank so very much Debi Durham, who is going to be the next Lieutenant Governor of the State of Iowa. Thank you, Debi. I appreciate so very much my friend Chuck Larson, who is the chairman of the Republican Party. And I want to thank all the grassroots activists who are here. Those of us in office never can thank people enough for the grassroots work that goes on in the precincts all across the State of Iowa and all across our country. Many of you have worked tireless hours on our behalf, and both of us, both Doug and I, thank you from the bottom of our heart. I was working the State fair today, and a proud grandfather, an uncle, I think it is, came up and said, "Have you ever heard of Jeff Clement?" I said, "Yes, I know a little something about baseball. I've heard of the fellow. He's a boy from Marshalltown, Texas. He has the high school home run record." Believe it or not, Jeff is here with us today. Jeff, I want to thank you for coming, and congratulations on being a power slugger. I not only appreciate Doug's smalltown values. By those, I mean values where, when he says something, he means it. Those are the kind of values you need in office. As you know, when people shake hands in smalltown Iowa and smalltown Texas and they say they give you the word, they stick to that word. That's the way it works. And those are the values he'll bring to the statehouse here. When he says he's not going to raise your taxes to balance the budget, he means he's not going to raise your taxes to balance the budget. He understands, if you tax things too much, you're going to get less of it. And what we need is more job growth. We need small businesses to flourish. This State doesn't need more taxes. It needs more jobs so people will stay here at home. And Doug understands that. He's got a creative program to increase the jobs here in the State of Iowa. It starts with fiscal sanity in your statehouse. And, by the way, we need some fiscal sanity in Washington, DC, as well. One of my big concerns is that we overspend in our Nation's Capital. Fortunately, we've got a good man like Nussle watching the budget. But recently I don't know if you followed this or not but recently, the Congress passed what they call a supplemental. It's a way to supplement appropriations. And we needed a supplemental to help fund the war on terror and a supplemental to help pay for homeland defense. But they sent over to me about 5 billion we didn't need, 5 billion of extra money. Part of that 5 billion, by the way, was a new building to house the worm and bug collection of the Federal Government. It doesn't sound like an emergency to me. And the fine print of part of that supplemental said, "You either spend all of it, or you spend none of it. You've got to take the entire 5 billion additional dollars on top of what was needed for the military and homeland, or you don't spend any of it." And they made their position clear, and I made my position clear For the sake of fiscal sanity, we're not going to spend the 5 billion. And that's the way Doug is going to lead as well. For the sake of fiscal sanity, you can't say yes to every single appropriations bill that comes. You've got to set priorities. You need to have a Governor who knows how to manage the office. A Governor who has got the ability to say no and the ability to say yes, but always remembering that the money that we spend in Government is not the Government's money, it's the people's money. I look forward to working with Doug on farm policy. Today, at the State fair, I had the honor of talking to a lot of people who make their living off the land. By the way, one of my favorite statements, which is a true statement, is If you own the land, every day is Earth Day. The people who care more about the quality of our environment are people who have to make a living off the land. And today I was able to talk to a lot of people who make their living off the land. And I assured them that in order for there to be economic prosperity in America, we've got to make sure our agricultural sectors are strong and vibrant. And that's why, one, I was proud to sign the farm bill, and, two, I look forward to working with Doug on not only research and development projects that will enable us to grow our way out of energy dependence but to continue a good policy of promoting ethanol in America. The thing I like about him the most is his passion for education. He better be passionate for education he's got enough kids to educate. Laughter But he knows what I know, that the number one priority of any Governor has got to be to make sure every child in the State receives a quality education. And let me tell you our philosophy. It starts with understanding and believing that every child can learn. You see, if you don't think any every child can learn, then you set low standards. He believes and I know we must set high expectations for the public schools in Iowa and all across our country. He believes that every child has got the capacity to learn to read and write and add and subtract. We passed a bill out of Washington, DC. It was a good piece of legislation, and one of the cornerstones of that bill says, we trust the Doug Grosses of the world. We trust the people of Iowa to set the path for excellence for every child in the State of Iowa. One size doesn't fit all when it comes to running the public schools. All power shouldn't be in Washington, DC. We ought to be trusting the local folks to run their schools. And when you have this man as your Governor, I trust him to run the schools. But in order to make sure every child learns and no child is left behind, it is incredibly important that we measure, that we hold people to account, not to punish anybody but to determine if their kids are learning the basics. And if they are, we will continue to praise teachers. And for those of you who teach, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. But when we find children trapped in schools that will not teach and will not change, you better have you a Governor who is willing to challenge the status quo so children are not left behind. And I believe strongly, Doug will be that kind of Governor. He's not going to be beholden to special interests. The only interests he cares about is making sure no child in America not one single child in the State of Iowa or in America is left behind. No, we've got a good man here. I like to put it, when you find a good one in politics, you'd better help him. And that's why I want to thank you all for this help. There's no question in my mind that with his hard work and his vision and his passion for people bringing people together to get things done, on behalf of all of the citizens of Iowa, come this November, he's going to be the next Governor of your State. Before I leave, I do want to share with you some of the challenges that our Nation faces. And one, of course, is economic security. The way I like to put it, anytime anybody who wants to work can't find a job, then we've got a problem. And so we've got to constantly think about how to create jobs in America. That ought to be the question of all of us in Government. What can we do to create an environment in which the entrepreneur or small business or producer can flourish? And I believe that starts not only with fiscal restraint in Washington, DC and as I mentioned, I sent a pretty clear message the other day about my view of overspending. I also know it has something to do with tax policy. Thank goodness we cut the taxes on the American people when we did. The way to help the Nation recover from recession is to let people keep more of their own money. Some of the folks in Washington don't understand that. They don't understand, if a person has more money, that person is going to demand a good or a service, and if they demand a good or a service, somebody is going to produce the good and service. And when they produce the good and service, it means somebody is more likely to find work. And that's the way the economy works. But interestingly enough, not only did we reduce the taxes, but we did so on a temporary basis, because the Senate rules have it that after 10 years, the tax reductions revert to where they were. It's awfully hard for people who are trying to set up a business or run a farm to plan with uncertainty in the Tax Code. For the sake of long term economic growth, for the sake of job creation, the United States Congress must make the tax reductions permanent. And that includes making sure that the repeal of the death tax is permanent. I can't imagine what's going through the minds of these Senators and Members of the House who do not want to get rid of the death tax. They must not understand what it does to the family farmer or the rancher or the small business entrepreneur. We've got people coming to our country for the first time, they're starting their own business. It's a part of the dream of being an American. And yet our Tax Code is such that they have trouble leaving it to their heirs because their assets get taxed twice. That's not right. We put the death tax on its way to extinction. It's time you get you a Senator who understands that two Senators who understand that in Iowa, and it's time for the Congress to make sure that the death tax is permanently repealed. For the sake of economic growth, I'm going to promote trade. Confident people tear down barriers. And I'm confident in the American farmer, and I'm confident in the American entrepreneur, and I'm confident in the high tech industry in America. I'm confident in our enterprise. And therefore, I want to level the playing field and tear down trade barriers all around the world, so we can feed the world. We're the best at what we do, and it's important for us to promote the best of what we do. For the sake of job creation, I'm going to use the newly earned trade promotion authority and aggressively promote free trade for American products. No, there's a lot of other things we can do. We need a terrorism insurance bill. For those of you in the construction industry, you understand what it means to not be able to get insurance because of the premiums as a result of the potential threat of terror. And as a result of terrorism insurance premiums being sky high and not affordable, 8 billion of commercial construction has been delayed or taken off the books in America. That means somebody who is wearing a hardhat isn't working. And this Congress needs to come together and get me a terrorism insurance bill so major construction projects can go forward, a bill which rewards hard working Americans, not a bill which rewards trial lawyers. No, the fundamentals of growth are strong in our economy. Inflation is down. Interest rates are down. Productivity is up. Consumers are still buying. But we have been shaken, no question about it. As a matter of fact, the first three quarters when I was in office, we were in recession. However, the last three quarters have been positive growth, which is a good trend. And then the enemy hit us, and that shook our economy. And then another enemy cropped up. After a while, it became apparent that some in our corporate America thought it was okay to fudge the books, thought it was okay to not tell the truth. Well, we got together, Republicans and Democrats, and passed the most significant corporate reform law since Franklin Roosevelt was the President. And here's my message to those who think they're going to cheat the shareholders or their employees If you do, we're going to find you, arrest you, prosecute you, and put you in jail. And we're making progress and we're making progress. The American people must understand, by far the vast majority of people who are running corporate America are good and honorable, decent people, people who care deeply about their employees, people who understand they have a responsibility to their shareholders. No, we've got a hurdle to cross here in our economy, but I'm optimistic about America, and I'm confident in our future. And I'm also confident we're doing everything we possibly can do to protect the homeland. My most important job now and the most important job of the Federal Government is to prevent the enemy from hitting us again. I know there's a lot of kids here today who are probably wondering, "Why would somebody want to strike the United States of America? What is it about our country that creates a certain hatred toward us, toward our citizens?" And the answer is, people hate us certain people hate us because we love freedom, that's why. We love the fact that people can worship freely in America. We love the fact that we can have political discourse in an open way. We love a free press. The more we love freedom, the more some hate America. But the bad news is, for the enemy, we're always going to love freedom. We value our freedoms. It's what we're made of. It's what makes us shine as a beacon for many around the world. The Government of the United States is spends a lot of time chasing down every possible lead, every hint about somebody who might be thinking about doing something to America. My job is to make sure our Government functions as well as it possibly can, and therefore I proposed a sweeping reform to our Congress. I recognized that there's over 100 agencies involved with homeland defense. I mean, they're scattered all over Washington. You've got them here, and you've got them there, and you've got them here, and it's kind of hard to bundle them up, to make sure that their number one priority is my number one priority, which is to protect the homeland. So I proposed a new Cabinet office, a new Secretary of Homeland Defense, responsible for making sure the agencies who have got something to do with homeland defense make homeland defense its number one priority, and making sure that cultures within the agencies change so that they can work together to defend the homeland. I'll give you one example. On our borders, we've got all kinds of agencies down there. We've got the Border Patrol. We've got the Customs. We've got the INS. Sometimes they talk. Sometimes they don't talk. They've got different strategies even though they're in the same sector on the border. For the sake of protecting the homeland, we need to bring these agencies under one umbrella, with one major task Protect America from future attacks. And I want to thank Nussle and Ganske for working on a homeland defense package, which is a good package out of the House. It gives the administration not only this administration but future administrations the flexibility necessary to put the right people in the right place at the right time to create a culture of protection. But it looks like we might be having a little slight problem in the Senate. See, if you look carefully at what they're doing, they're more interested in protecting their own political turf and their own jurisdictions than they are the American people. They want us to be hamstrung by a thick book of bureaucratic rules, because they have been more interested in special interests. The special interest I've got in mind is the American people, and I call upon the Senate to get me a good bill so I can protect the homeland of the American people. But the best way to get the homeland secure is to find the enemy one by one and bring them to justice. And that's what the United States of America is going to do. This is a different kind of war than we've been used to. It's I guess the best way to describe it, it's the kind of war where the commanders hide in caves, and they send youngsters to their suicidal deaths. These people are they kind of blend into, sometimes big cities, sometimes the countryside. They always find some place where the underbelly is soft, and they burrow in there. It's like we're on an international manhunt. And we're making progress. We really are. We're using our intelligence services wisely. We're sharing intelligence with members of this vast coalition of freedom we put together. We've got a fabulous military, a lot of young men and women who are taking a risk on behalf of freedom. And we're hunting them down, one by one. We've arrested over 2,000 of these killers another like number haven't been quite so lucky. But there's more of them out there there just are. You just need to know that. And so long as they're out there, and so long as they're threatening America, this Government is going to do everything we can to find them. We don't seek revenge we seek justice. And justice we're going to find. That's why I've submitted the largest budget since Ronald defense budget since Ronald Reagan was the President. I wanted to make it clear to those who wear our uniforms and their loved ones and their families, when we put you in harm's way, you deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best equipment possible. I also wanted to make it clear to the enemy and to our friends that history has called us to action. We understand that, and we're going to defend freedom. And we're going to do everything possible to secure freedom for our children. That's the message we're sending, that we're not fainthearted, but we're determined. We're resolved. We're united. We understand the moment, and we're not going to blink, and we're not going to yield. The task at hand is pretty tough, no question about it, but so are we. We're plenty tough. But we're also plenty caring. I said loud and clear at one point, if you harbor a terrorist or feed one of those terrorists, you're just as guilty as the terrorists. And the Taliban found out exactly what the United States meant. But we just didn't go into Afghanistan to conquer we went in to liberate. It's important to remember that thanks to the United States and our coalition, young girls now go to school for the first time some young girls go to school for the first time in Afghanistan. And we haven't left Afghanistan. As a matter of fact, we're helping democracy flourish there, and we're helping rebuild that country. No, we're a kind nation. We're plenty tough, but we're plenty kind. I don't know what was going through the enemy's mind when they hit us. They must have listened to too much of the gossip shows or something, and thought that we were so materialistic, so focused on our own personal balance sheets, so self absorbed, that after 9 11 all we might do is file a lawsuit or two. Laughter But they found out this is a different kind of nation than they thought. This is a determined people, a resolved people, a people who are willing to defend values, values that we hold dear. Out of the evil done to America is going to come some good. Out of what was done to this country is going to come some incredible good. By being strong and united, by willing to stand tough in the face of adversity, we can lead the world to peace. And that's my goal. My goal is peace. By speaking plainly and clearly about what's right and wrong, about the effects of terror, we can not only achieve peace in America, I believe we can achieve peace in the Middle East and South Asia, countries and people that have given up on the hope of peace. No, out of the evil done to America can come some incredible good, not only abroad but here at home. It's so important for us and for all of us to remember that in this land of plenty, there are pockets of despair, pockets of poverty, places where children say, "This American experience isn't meant for me." So long as people suffer, the whole country suffers. And therefore, we must resolve as a nation to help eliminate those pockets of addiction and despair. Government can hand out money, and we do a pretty good job of that at times. But it's important to remember, what Government cannot do is put hope into people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That's done when a loving citizen remembers the universal call to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. That happens when somebody mentors a child, or feeds the hungry, or goes and sees a shut in and says, "I love you." That's how that happens. You see, America can change, one act of decency at a time. I like to remind our fellow citizens that one person can't do everything, but each of us can do something to make our country a better place. People ask me, "What can I do to help on the war on terror?" You can love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. It is the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and decency which will define the true character of America. No, out of the evil done to our country is going to come some incredible good. And part of that good is not only the understanding that you've got to serve something greater than yourself in life, part of it is to sacrifice to make the country a better place. And that sacrifice comes in all different ways. Perhaps the most dramatic sacrifice of all was on Flight 93. Citizens were flying across the country. They were told on their cell phones by their loved ones that their plane was going to be used as a weapon to perhaps destroy the White House or the Capitol. History will record, these brave souls told their loved ones they loved them. One of the last words was "love." They said a prayer. A guy said, "Let's roll," and they drove the plane in the ground. What a fantastic example a sad example but a fantastic example of serving something greater than yourself. If you want to join in the war on terror, help somebody in need. Work hard to make your community a better place. Tell your children you love them every single day. Love them with all your heart and all your soul. No, I believe that out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good, because this is the finest country, full of the finest people on the face of the Earth. It is my honor to be here for your next Governor. Thank you all for coming, and God bless America. August 14, 2002 Thank you all very much for that warm welcome. I came off the I came off my ranch today in Crawford. There are not many places that would kind of lure me away, but the Iowa State Fair is one. It's an honor to be here. I'm proud it's good to see so many friends and friendly faces. I think back with fond memories of my travels through this beautiful State and I mean it's a beautiful State. God has God has blessed Iowa and the citizens of this great State. I was hoping to get here in time for the chicken calling contest laughter or the hog calling contest, but they tell me that they've got a ladies husband calling contest. I think Laura entered this morning. I'm sorry she's not with me. She's in Texas. She's actually working today in the Austin area. But I send her greetings, and I can't tell you how proud I am with Laura. She's a great First Lady. I'm really lucky she said yes when I asked her to marry me. Some of her friends in Texas are wondering how lucky she was. Laughter But I'm so glad you all came. I want to talk about some of the challenges that face America. I want to talk about how to make sure our economy is strong. I want to tell you that we're doing everything we can to protect the homeland. And I want to assure you, I'm going to do what it takes to win the war on terror. I appreciate so very much my friend Congressman Greg Ganske for his introduction, and I appreciate his service to the constituency here in the Des Moines area. Greg, thank you for coming. I want to thank our Secretary of Agriculture, Ann Veneman. She's doing a fabulous job. She understands farming and ranching, and she's working hard on behalf of the hardworking farmers and ranchers here in America. I appreciate your Governor coming. Governor, thank you for being here. I'm honored you took time to be here. Governor Vilsack, thanks for coming. I want to thank Dave Huinker for inviting me to come and setting up this nice little place where we can have a chat about America. I want to thank the boards of directors of the State fair, and I appreciate hard working Americans for being here as well. I'm honored to be your President. I understand, and you know, that this economy of ours is challenged. Anytime somebody wants to work and can't find a job, says to me we've got a problem. We've got good, hard working Americans who are trying to put bread on the table for their families, and they can't find a place to work, then we better do something about it. We better get to work. When I came into office, we were in a recession. We had three quarters of negative growth. Then the enemy hit us. And then a scandal that had been brewing all of a sudden comes up to the surface, and we found out some people who knew better were cooking the books. But these challenges are pale in comparison to the strength of America. Our farmers and ranchers are the most productive in the world. Our working people can outwork anybody. Our entrepreneurs are more visionary. Interest rates are low. Inflation is low. Productivity is up. Consumers are buying. The foundation for growth is there, but we've got work to do. We've got work to do. And I really believe that work should start with making sure we've got a strong farmer economy. I believe the backbone for a good American economy is a good farm economy. I spend a lot of time talking about national security, but one thing I don't have to worry about is the lack of food for the American people. Thank goodness, thanks to the American farmers, we've got more food than we need here at home. One way to help create jobs in America, better jobs for American workers, is to trade. Oh, I've heard the excuses. They say, "Well, trade is going to cause jobs to leave America." I just don't believe that. I believe when you're good at something, you ought to encourage that which you're good at. I believe when you're the best in the world, you ought not to limit capacity but expand capacity. And one place we're the best in the world is growing things, and we ought to be opening markets for Iowa farmers all over the world. Farmers are, I'm sure, skeptical when they hear about trade. After all, the agriculture sector had been kind of a part of trade negotiations. Then when times got tough, they just kind of tossed the farmers aside, said they'd rather focus on computer chips than corn chips. But those days have changed. Those days have changed. See, I understand you start with strength when it comes to playing the American hand. I understand that if you're interested in economic security for every American, you do what you're good at. And what we're good at is growing food and hogs and cattle. And it's my job and the job of this administration, now that I've got trade promotion authority, to do everything we can to knock down the barriers so you can be selling your products all over the world. The United States was only party to three trade agreements during the past years. There are 190 of them done around the world we're only party to 3. But those days have ended. My man Zoellick, who is a trade guy, and Ann Veneman are going to work hand in hand to make sure that agriculture is the cornerstone of good international trade policy. And it needs to be. After all, when you look at the tariffs in other countries, it's prohibitive for U.S. product. I mean, we sell now about a billion dollars' worth of soybeans and soybean products around the world. But in our own hemisphere, the tariffs on soybean products can reach as high as 65 percent. Imagine what can happen when we reduce those tariffs, reduce those barriers, level the playing field for America's great farmers. No, if we could get rid of all the barriers around the world, it's estimated that 13 billion of trade, 13 billion of commerce, would flow in our agricultural sector on an annual basis. That means people would be able to make a living on the family farm. That means that the hard work you do will be realized in fair and reasonable prices. One of the things we're going to do is to make sure that we're not on the sidelines of international trade and open up markets. It's in our Nation's interests to do so for our farmers and ranchers. It's in our Nation's interest and also for our working people too. It's a fact that when you trade, we get better jobs here in America. It's a fact that when you don't seal ourselves off from the rest of the world, our working people are able to realize a better living. I want you to understand this statistic. Caterpillar right now is beginning to move product around the world. Yet in Chile they're trying to move something into Chile for that economy there's a 15,000 tariff on a motor grader. Imagine what would happen if we had a free trade agreement with Chile, which we're going to work hard to do. All of a sudden, those motor graders move a lot quicker, because they're the best in the world. But guess what happens when we sell them into Chile? Somebody else is going to find work here in America. We've got to produce American goods and sell them overseas. It's in our workers' interests to do so. The head of John Deere is here with us today, and he tells me one out of every four tractors produced at John Deere's largest U.S. factory in Waterloo, Iowa, is sold overseas. That means somebody's earning a living on that plant floor. That means one of your fellow citizens is more likely to be employed. The more tractors John Deere sells overseas, the better off it is for Iowa workers. You see, trade is not only good for the farmers and ranchers, the entrepreneurs, and the high tech people trade is good for the working people here in America. And I intend to make America a free trading nation. But there are other ways to make sure our economy remains strong. Greg talked about my understanding of the need to develop renewable sources of energy. You see, there's a chance, if we do good things on research and development, there's a chance, if we continue wise policy as regards ethanol, we can grow our way to become less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. It's in our Nation's interest that we become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. We need to make sure that, in order for our economy to be strong, for the farm economy to remain strong, that the tax relief package we passed is permanent. When your economy slows down, it is very important to let the people keep their money. You see, when a person has more money in their pocket, they're likely to demand a good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service, somebody is going to produce the good or a service. And when somebody produces a good or a service, somebody's going to find work. The tax relief package that we passed came at the right time for America. Unfortunately, because of a quirk in the law, it goes away after 10 years. Unfortunately, it is not permanent. For the sake of our farmers and ranchers, for the sake of the small business owners here in America, for the sake of people who need to plan, Congress needs to make the tax relief permanent. Yesterday we had an economic summit in Baylor University in Waco, Texas. I told them, I said, "Welcome to the middle of Texas in the middle of August." Laughter They must have had something on their mind, and they did. One of the things we heard over and over again from our small business people and from our farmers and the ranchers that were there was how terrible the death tax is. I mean, people wonder about, how do you keep the farm in the family? One way you keep the family farms intact is not to tax a person's assets twice. Part of that tax relief plan I'm talking about was the repeal of the death tax. It comes back after 10 years. That's bad public policy. I strongly urge the farmers and ranchers here and those who own small businesses to demand that your elected representatives repeal the death tax once and for all. There's other things we can do and must do. We've got to have fiscal responsibility in Washington, DC. We've got to make sure we don't overspend. Every project sounds fantastic. Every idea is worth funding in Washington, but that's not reality. It's important to set priorities with your money and to make sure we stick to those priorities. Congress sent me what they call a supplemental spending bill. There was a healthy amount of money in there for fighting the war on terror and protecting our homeland, which I thought we needed. But they added 5 billion extra dollars, including a new building to house the worm and bug collection of the Federal Government. And they put a stipulation on the money. The Governor will appreciate this. They said, "Either you spend it all, or none of it." Those of us in the executive offices don't particularly like that kind of language. "Either you spend it all, or you spend none. Either you spend everything we think is necessary, including the house for bugs and worms, or you don't spend any of it." Well, they made their decision. I made mine We're not spending any of the extra 5 billion, for the sake of fiscal sanity in Washington. There's a lot of things we can do. We need a terrorism insurance package to get our hardhats working again. There's over 8 billion worth of projects, large projects, which are stalled in America because we can't get terrorism insurance to the developers. Congress needs to pass a good bill which understands putting the hardhats back to work is good for the American economy. But there's one other thing we need to do here in America. We need to take some of the good, old fashioned farm values and make sure they're a part of our culture. I'm talking about values of hard work and honesty. I'm talking about telling the truth. I love the priorities of our farm families faith, family, and telling the truth and being honest and upright. And corporate America needs to hear that signal. By far the vast majority of our corporate leaders are good, honest people, no question about it. You've got some of the great corporations here in Iowa, people who run companies run by people who care deeply about their shareholders and their employees. But I want to assure you of something. If we find somebody cooking the books, we find somebody not being open and honest, we find somebody trying to get ahead by sleight of hand, they will be prosecuted and they will be they will be held to account. We can't stand for corporate corruption to corrupt America. No, we're making progress. We're making progress. We've got a lot of work to do. But I'm optimistic about the economic security of America, because I understand America. I know we've got great people, hard working citizens. I understand the vibrancy of our entrepreneurial class. I see and hear the vision of people that are dreaming new dreams. I know there's new businesses being started up all around the country. No, we may have hit a bump in the road. But that road is going to smooth out, and people are going to find the economic security they want here in America. But we're not going to rest until that security is throughout the entire country. We've got another big calling here, too, and that's the homeland security for our country. People wonder, you know, "Why is it that an enemy would want to hit America?" And my answer is pretty simple. It's because we love freedom, and they don't. It's because we value a society in which people are able to worship freely and speak their mind freely and read a free press, and the enemy can't stand it. And they're out there. They're out there, and they hate us. And plus, they don't value life like we do here in America. Every life matters in this country. Every person's got standing, as far as we're concerned. They don't believe that. And so long as they're out there, we will do everything we can to protect the homeland. There are a lot of really good people at the Federal, State, and local level working hard to protect America. Anytime we get a hint, anytime we get a piece of evidence, we're moving on it, to disrupt whatever plans they may have. In order to do as good a job of protecting our homeland as possible, I have called upon Congress to create a new Department of Homeland Security. I concede I didn't run for Government saying, "Vote for me. I want our Government to be bigger and more cumbersome." I said, "I want our Government to be effective and to work." And we particularly need an effective Department when it comes to homeland security. There's over 100 agencies there in Washington that have got something to do with homeland security. I mean, there's just too many of them. It's hard to hold people to account when you've got 100 agencies scattered all over the Nation's Capital. So in order to protect our borders better, in order to be able to deal with first responders and bioterrorism, I said, "Why don't we collect most of them under one umbrella, give them one boss, give them a chance to set a single priority, which is protecting the homeland?" Oh, I understand that agencies like the Coast Guard will do other things. But protecting our homeland is the number one priority of this Government. And so therefore, I expect and the American people expect Congress to work with us to give us the tools necessary to protect the homeland. And the House of Representatives made a good start, but the Senate looks a little shaky. The Senate looks like they want to micromanage how we can run the Department of Homeland Security. They want to protect their turf. But their turf isn't nearly as important as the security of the American people. I expect the Senate to give me a bill that will allow me to move people to the right place and the right job and the right time on behalf of the security of the American people. But the best way to secure this homeland is to hunt the killers down one by one and bring them to justice, and that's what this country is going to do. It's going to take a while. It's going to take a while because, after all, unlike previous wars where you can see these battalions and divisions moving across plains and hedgerows and see aircraft flying in formation, this is one of these wars where people are going to hide in a cave and then they send some youngster to his death. That's the kind of war we're fighting. But we're patient. We're a patient country. And we're disciplined, and we're united, because we understand history has called us into action. History said, you know, what are we made out of? We're about to show the world what we're made out of. We love our freedoms. No one is going to take them away from us. And we've got a fantastic United States military to back us up. I called on Congress to pass the largest defense appropriations bill since Ronald Reagan was the President for two reasons One, anytime we put our soldiers into harm's way, we better make sure they've got the best pay, the best equipment, and the best possible training. Secondly, we're sending a pretty strong message to the rest of the world that we're not quitting, that America understands our obligations and responsibilities to future generations, that we love freedom, that we love our the ability to live a free life. And therefore, we're going to remain vigilant and strong and lead a mighty coalition against those who would try to take away our freedoms. And we're making progress. We're making pretty good progress. We've hauled in or captured however you want to put it brought to justice over a couple of thousand of them. And a couple of other thousand weren't so lucky. But they're still out there. They're out there. And they just have got to hear the message from America loud and clear You can't hide you can't run. Slowly but surely, we're going to bring you to justice. I hope when we get back from our what they call a recess, the August recess, that Congress acts quickly on the defense appropriations bill. Sometimes they like to play politics with the defense appropriations bill, but we're at war. We don't need any politics with the defense appropriations bill. I want to sign the bill as soon as possible after we get back. It's important for our military. It's important for our planners. I believe we've got some hurdles ahead of us, but there's no question we're going to we'll deal with them, because we're America, a fantastic country. I believe that out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good. I believe, sure as I'm standing here, that if we remain tough and strong in the war against terror, that we'll bring peace to the world that by being steadfast in our love, we can achieve a peace that's important for future generations of Americans, but equally as important for future generations of children growing up all around the world. We have that chance, and I believe it's going to happen. And I know, here at home I know, here at home, that we have a chance to change America for the better. There are pockets of despair and hopelessness in this land of plenty. There are people who really wonder whether or not the American experience is meant for them. So long as one of us suffers, all of us suffer. But I know that America can change, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. I like to put it this way One of us can't do everything, but each of us can do something to help make America a more compassionate place. I was joined at Air Force One by Erika McCroskey today. She's from right here in the Des Moines area. Erika, stand up for a minute, will you? Erika is an AmeriCorps volunteer. She decided she is going to do something with her life by helping others. I was reading that and Erika, she's going to Bolivia to help somebody in need there. I said, "Erika, why are you going?" She said,"My mother raised me in the spirit of service." You see, the great strength of America are the Erikas. I call them soldiers in the armies of compassion, people that don't need a Government law to tell them to love a neighbor just like they'd like to be loved themselves, people who have heard a call that's much bigger than Government. You know, our fellow citizens say to me, "What can I do to help in the war against terror?" I tell them to love somebody in need. If you want to fight evil, do some good. What's happening in America as a result of the attack is that people are now understanding that patriotism is more than just putting your hand over your heart and saying the Pledge of Allegiance with the words "under God" in it. A patriot a patriot a patriot is somebody who assumes the personal responsibility to help somebody in need. And that's happening in this country. Our culture is changing from one that has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understand we're responsible for the decisions we make in life if you're fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your children with all your heart and all your soul that you're responsible for helping people in need, that you're responsible for a society that hurts sometimes, and that you're responsible for helping somebody who's just calling out for a little love and some attention. No, if you want to help in the war against terror, do some good. It's what I call the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness, which are defining the true character and the true nature of our country. No, the enemy hit us. The enemy had probably thought we'd file a few lawsuits or two. But they realized we're a little different than that. This is a strong nation, a nation of deep character, a nation that can overcome problems, and a nation that will see to it that out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good. Thank you all for coming today. And may God bless you, and may God bless America. August 14, 2002 Well, thank you all very much for that warm welcome. It's great to be back here in Wisconsin, the land of reform, a State which has challenged other States to achieve excellence for every citizen. I appreciate the Governor's introduction. I appreciate his friendship. I so very much appreciate you all coming today to give me a chance to share with you some of the challenges our Nation faces and why I'm optimistic that we can achieve and defeat those challenges. There's no better place to come a State to talk about a can do spirit than Wisconsin. There's no better place to come and explain to my fellow citizens how deeply committed I am and our country is to winning the war on terror. This is a good place to come to explain to our fellow citizens that we will do whatever it takes to protect the homeland and that we will do whatever it takes to make sure our economy remains strong and vibrant, all throughout the United States of America. I want to thank Nancy, the chancellor of this fine university, for hosting me and the small entourage the President travels with. Laughter I appreciate very much, Nancy, your staff working hard to set up this room for this discussion. Thank everybody on our behalf, please. I also appreciate your commitment to education. I love the idea of a school in which people come to get educated and stay in the State in which they're educated. It is a positive sign that this university is fulfilling its important function, which is to train Wisconsin youngsters for the future and then have the Wisconsin youngsters stay here to make sure that future is bright for all citizens. I congratulate you for your leadership. I appreciate so very much your focus on no child being left behind. I appreciate so very much the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce for hosting this event. I want to thank the local officials who have come State officials and local officials. I particularly want to pay homage to Scott Walker. Yesterday I spent some quality time with the latest inductee into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum's Hall of Fame. That would be your Tommy Thompson. You need to know he's doing a fantastic job. He's got a tough job, and he's doing a great job on behalf of citizens all across our country. Finally, I had the honor of welcoming a soldier in the army of compassion today at Air Force One. Her name is Lucille Woods. Lucille, would you mind standing up, please? I want you to meet Lucille because she's an example of what needs to happen in America if you're interested in our society being a compassionate society. See, Government can hand out money, but what Government cannot do is put love into people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. If you're interested in having an America that is a decent and compassionate place, you've got to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. That is what Lucille Woods does. She is a foster grandparent she is a foster grandparent who works with second graders to make sure that they learn to read. No child will be left behind in her vision of America. Lucille volunteers her time in her church to help those in need. Our society is going to change, one heart, one soul at a time, because of silent heroes like Lucille Woods. And thank you for coming today, Lucille. Now, I was mentioning, we have some serious challenges facing our Nation. And my most important job, I think, is to make sure that I protect do everything I can to protect the homeland and make sure that an enemy which hates freedom doesn't hit us again. They're out there. They can't stand the thought of America being a hospitable society to many cultures. They can't stand the thought of a society which worships an almighty God in different ways, a society which is tolerant to different approaches to religion. They really hate the thought of us being a society in which we are able to speak our mind, a society which values the individual worth of each person. And so, so long as we uphold those values, which we will do, they're going to try to strike us. But you need to know, your Government at the Federal level and governments at the State and local level are doing everything we can to protect the American people. There's a lot of really fine people who are running down every hint and every lead and every opportunity to disrupt what may or may not be fixing to happen. When we get back to Washington after what they call the August break, I look forward to working with the United States Congress to do everything we can to effect an organizational change which would then allow me to say more certainly to the American people, we're effective at protecting the homeland. There was there is over 100 agencies involved with homeland defense. These agencies do different things other than homeland defense, but part of their function is to protect the homeland. The Coast Guard is a good example. The Coast Guard protects our shores from smugglers, and they, you know, they're watching out for the fishermen they rescue boats in distress. But they also have got a function of protecting the homeland. And so the fundamental question, when you think about the fact there's 100 agencies scattered around, is, what can we best do to align authority and responsibility? How best can we have the primary function of these 100 agencies be to protect the homeland? In other words, how do we change priority and culture? My suggestion was, is that we create a single Department, the responsibility of which is to protect the American people, with a Cabinet officer confirmed by the Congress. And we're making progress on this idea. By the way, this isn't a Republican idea, and this isn't a Democrat idea. This an American idea to protect the American people. And so we're making progress. We're making progress, but the Senate now needs to take up the idea. And the concern is, is that they will be more concerned about their own political turf and jurisdictional turf than they will be the larger concept of protecting the American people. They'll be more concerned about special interests and less concerned about how to adequately protect America. So I look forward to working with the Senate. But I can assure you, I will insist that the new Department be able to put the right person in the right place at the right time to be able to protect the American people, that we will reject any plan which has got a thick book of bureaucratic rules all aimed at protecting special interests. And it's important that we be able to have the right person at the right place at the right time. It's important to be able to do so to protect our borders. We need to know who's coming in and what they're bringing into America and whether or not they're leaving when they're supposed to be leaving America. And that means that the INS and the Border Patrol and the Customs all ought to be working in concert, under the same authority, developing the same culture. And that's going to require flexibility to get everybody thinking the same way. There's a lot of entrenched interests in Washington. And we're going to need all the tools necessary to make sure those entrenched interests hit in the right run in the same direction, and that is to fulfill the top priority of our Government, which is to protect our homeland. But the best way to protect the homeland, the best way to secure freedom for this country is to chase the killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice, which is what the United States is going to do. I say that because I want the world to be at peace, but I know the nature of the enemy. They we can't talk them out of their ideas. We can't hold their hands and hope they change their attitude. We must bring them to justice. This country doesn't seek revenge. We seek justice. And the farther we get away from the attacks of America, the more likely it is some Americans will forget the danger but not me, nor will the United States military. For those of you who have got loved ones in the U.S. military, I want to tell you how proud I am, how confident I am of their abilities, and how proud you should be of their service to our great country. I have submitted a significant increase in defense appropriations for two reasons Anytime we put our military in harm's way, they deserve the best training, the best pay, the best possible equipment and secondly, I want to send a message to our friends and our enemies that the United States of America is determined and patient and relentless in our quest for freedom. Now, the Congress has passed the House passed one version. The Senate passed another version. They need to get together quickly, when they get back in September, and get a defense appropriations bill on my desk first thing. It's important for our planning purposes it's important for our war on terror that they not play politics with the defense appropriations bills. And we're making some progress. We really are. What's hard for some to understand about this new war of the 21st century is that these are people being treated like international criminals, and so it's like we're on a manhunt. And the United States is working closely with our friends, and we have hauled in over a couple of thousand of these folks. They've been arrested and detained. Some of them are in our possession. Others are with other countries. Some of the terrorists haven't been quite as luckily as those who have been detained and arrested. But we're slowly but surely making progress, and we're enforcing the doctrine that says, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy, and if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed one, you're just as guilty as those who killed thousands of Americans on September the 11th." I believe by being relentless and steady, not only will we make America more free, that the future generations of American citizens will be able to grow up in a free society, but by being relentless and steady and principled and determined, we can achieve peace. And that's my hope, is for the world to be peaceful that we can achieve peace in parts of the world that have where some folks have just given up on the thought of peace, perhaps the Middle East or South Asia. For those of you with youngsters who are trying to explain what you're seeing or hearing on TV about this war on terror, please tell them that when we go into a country, we go in not as conquerors but as liberators, because we believe in freedom for all citizens who live in the world. We love our own freedoms, and at the same time, by being strong and resolved and determined, we can achieve peace peace for generations to come. And the third big challenge is to enhance and to work on the economic security of the American people. We'll work on the homeland security and the economic security. Yesterday I had a forum in Baylor University, in central Texas quite a sacrifice for people to come down there, to central Texas, middle of Texas in the middle of August. But they were determined to share with me and people in my administration ideas and thoughts and concerns. I could have had the meeting right here and had the same input from citizens here in the great city of Milwaukee. We had union members and union leaders. We had grandmothers. We had entrepreneurs, small business people, farmers, ranchers, people from all walks of life. And they talked about the challenges our economy faces. I mean, after all, for the first three quarters when I was the President, we were in recession. And then that September the 11th hit, and that hurt our economy. And then some of these liars showed up. Some of the scandals started to surface. They'd been in the making for a while, but they began to bubble up, and that shook the confidence of our country. And we discussed we discussed that yesterday. But we all came at least, I came to the conclusion, having listened to a lot of our fellow Americans, that the strength of the American people and the fundamental strength of our economy far outweighs the challenges we face. And let me give you some examples. We're the most productive people in the world. Our farmers and ranchers and working people are incredibly productive. Interest rates are low. Inflation is low. Wages are rising. Taxes are lower. Consumer spending is still strong. I came away from the meeting confident about our economic future, but not content with the progress we're making. And I want to discuss with you some of the things I think we can do. First, you've got to understand that behind the statistics at least the way I view it is, behind the statistics is somebody's life. So the way I put it is, if somebody wants a job and can't find a job, we've got a problem. So long as anybody is looking for work who can't find work, we need to do something about it. Now, there are some things we can do in Washington to help the economy grow. One thing we need to do is to restrain excessive spending. We need fiscal responsibility. Excessive spending will serve as a drag on economic growth. Right now, we've got some deficits because of the recession and because we're funding the war on terror. But by restraining excessive spending, we can have our budget back in balance. But it's going to require Congress to show some discipline. And that's hard. Every constituency has got an issue. Every program sounds wonderful. I tried to help yesterday. Congress sent an emergency spending bill to my desk, and that was good. It's called a supplemental. It's money for the war on terror it's money to defend the homeland it's money to help rebuild New York City. But interestingly enough, they put 5 billion additional dollars in there, about 5 billion that I didn't think was an emergency. And part of the language in the supplemental said, "Either you spend all 5 billion of the extra money, or you spend none of it." In other words, I didn't have any flexibility. I didn't get to pick and choose. They said "all or none." I heard their position. Yesterday they heard mine We're spending none of the 5 billion. This decision should serve as an example that I am serious when it comes to protecting taxpayers' money and to being fiscally sound with your money, to set priorities and make sure they fund the priorities but don't overspend. Somebody said, "What are you talking about?" In part of the 5 billion, to show you one of the egregious examples, was, they wanted a new building for worms and bugs that the United States had collected. That's not an emergency. Laughter If somebody thinks it's that important, they can put it in next year's appropriations bill. As a matter of fact, one of the things we'll do is, we'll take some of the good ideas that were a part of the 5 billion and work immediately to get them in the '03 budgets. And by the way, the '03 funding starts soon. Two examples One, a pressing need one of the pressing needs was AIDS prevention programs. I'm a supporter of doing everything we can here at home and internationally for fighting AIDS. And there's money in there for the Middle East, for Israel and Palestine, and that money is necessary. But there's time to get it in the '03 budget, and we'll get it spent. But I am not I am not going to allow Congress to pressure me to spend money that I don't think is needed. For the good of the economy, we must show fiscal restraint. And for the good of the economy, we fortunately reduced the taxes on the people who pay taxes here in America. Tax relief was timely, and it's going to history will show it was necessary to help fight this recession that we inherited. One of the things I heard yesterday, and I suspect you would hear from the small business owners in this crowd, is that by reducing taxes, it helps small businesses grow. Seventy percent of the new jobs in America are created by our small business entrepreneurs. Small business is the backbone of an economic recovery. And therefore, by cutting taxes, we helped small businesses. I've heard the rhetoric about who supposedly we're helping or not helping. The reality is, most small businesses pay personal income taxes. Most small businesses are not incorporated. They're sole proprietorships. They're limited partnerships. They pay personal income taxes. And when you drop the personal tax rate, you're helping small businesses. The more money a small business has, the more likely it is that small business is going to be able to grow and employ another citizen from Wisconsin. We slashed the marriage penalty. I believe the Tax Code ought to encourage marriage, not discourage marriage. And we put the death tax on the road to extinction. We heard yesterday from people from all walks of life talk about how terrible the death tax is. These are small business owners, many of whom have just come to America for the first time. They're building up their asset base. They want to be able to leave their assets to whoever they want to leave them to, without that asset getting taxed twice. The death tax is bad for Wisconsin farmers. The death tax is bad for Wisconsin's small business owners. The death tax needs to go, forever, as far as I'm concerned. But because of a quirk in the Senate rules, the tax relief plan that is being phased in will end in 10 years, or 9 years from now. And that's not right. People need to be able to plan. People need not be have certainty in the Tax Code. And so therefore, for the good of economic growth, for the good of job creation, the United States Congress must make the tax relief plan that we passed permanent. Congress needs to act on terrorism insurance. People say, "What is that?" Well, there are eight there's 8 billion worth of money that has been put aside 8 billion worth of construction projects that are not going forward in America because of the high cost of terrorism insurance. When the enemy hit us, they changed the whole concept of risk. Our belief is, the Federal Government ought to help pay for terrorism insurance. I think it's a useful use of taxpayers' money to provide a certainty, a security for terrorism insurance. If you're worried about jobs like I am, if you want your hardhats working, we've got to get terrorism insurance passed so these large commercial projects go forward. We want people working in America, and the United States Congress can provide a means necessary to get these construction workers back to work. We need an energy plan in America. We need to conserve more energy. We need to work on renewables. We need to explore more at home in an environmentally friendly way, so we're not reliant upon foreign sources of crude oil. I got trade authority. I'm going to use trade authority for the good of the economy. I made the argument to Congress that good trade means good jobs. Listen, if you're good at something, you want to encourage. If you're good at something, you want to open up markets for the product you create. Listen, we've got the best entrepreneurs in the world here in America. We've got the best farmers in the world here. We've got the best cheese in the world here in America. And we ought to be selling our products all around the world. It's important for our fellow Americans to understand, trade means higher paying jobs. I also look forward to working with Congress on pension reforms. A lot of people own stock and bonds, and that's positive. We want people to own things in America. We want people to say balance sheet to be more than just potential income we want it to be assets. And yet there are those who are involved in pension funds that are locked into funds. They can't diversify. There needs to be a law on the books that says that after you own your company's stock for a while, you ought to be able to sell it and diversify your portfolio. You ought to not have all your eggs in one basket. And I'm proud of the law I just signed which says, if the CEO gets to sell his stock, so does the working person, the person working for that CEO. And speaking about CEOs, like you, I have been disappointed in the performance of some of America's chief executive officers. They let us down. They didn't uphold their responsibility as a leader should. They fudged the books. They didn't tell the truth. And now they're going to pay the price. It's no longer easy money for these folks it's hard time. I want to thank the members of both political parties for signing the most comprehensive corporate reform since Franklin Roosevelt was the President. I appreciated working with leaders in both parties to get this done. We're going to send a very strong signal to people. We expect there to be transparency. We're going to make sure that the numbers are real. We've got a lot of first time stockholders who don't appreciate being told one thing is happening, but reality was another. The SEC is stronger. We've got more enforcement officers. We've got laws on the books now that are going to increase the penalties for lying and cheating to the American people. I've got a Corporate Fraud Task Force that's active and aggressive. Obviously, they'll stick to the law, but when we find somebody who has defrauded the American people, they're going to pay a price. You know, I was telling some folks yesterday, I was disappointed to hear that in business schools, they're afraid to teach right from wrong. They don't want to take the position of right from wrong for future MBAs. And in my speech I gave to New York City about the reforms necessary to help clean up corporate America, I talked about the need for business schools to teach right from wrong. And professors came up to me when I was on my way out of the room he said, "Thanks for saying that." Big old fellow, a working man, came up and said, "If you really want to teach them right from wrong, Mr. President, if you want to send a message about ethics and business in America, slap some handcuffs on one or two of them and put them on TV that's the best lesson you can leave with corporate America if they're going to lie, cheat, or steal." Today chief executive officers of major corporate America are putting their names on the line to certify that the numbers on their balance sheets are real. And that's positive. By far the vast majority of those who run corporate America are good, honorable people. You've got some great companies here in the State of Wisconsin. I think of Harley Davidson, for example, a company which has got not only a great product but a company which treats its employees with the utmost of respect and dignity and has done pretty well by the shareholder as well. We've got all kinds of companies like that, run by decent people, and we're not going to let the few ruin the reputations of the many. We're going to hold people to account here in America. One of the things I learned at our sessions yesterday and I suspect would learn here today, that even though folks are optimistic about the future, there has been a little shaken in their confidence. People are concerned, and I can understand that. But one of the things that rang true yesterday to me, and does every time I make a stop here in America, is that we should never lack confidence in our character, in the character of the American people. This is a fabulous country. These are hard working, decent, honorable people who can overcome any challenge. This is a great country, and when we put our mind to something, we'll be successful. And we've got our mind on some big goals here in America. We've got our mind on bringing freedom and peace to the world. Our mind is on protecting the homeland, and our thoughts and concerns are with those who are struggling economically. But we'll achieve economic security here in America. Our entrepreneurial spirit is strong. The fundamentals are great. We're regaining confidence in the leadership of corporate America. But most of all, the American people are determined to succeed. You know, I have said to our citizens a lot of times that out of the evil done to America on September the 11th is going to come incredible good. Out of the evil done to our Nation is going to come some good, the likes of which we never really would have dreamed. And part of the good that's going to come is the fact that our culture is changing, that a lot of Americans understand that it's patriotic to help a neighbor in need. People say, "What can you do to fight the war on terror?" You know what you can do? You can do some good. It's the collective acts of goodness and decency which define America, which show the world the true face of our nobility and our strength and our culture. Flight 93 was a poignant moment for me and, I suspect, for you as well. These are people flying across the country. They heard the plane was going to be used as a weapon. They were on their cell phones to their loved ones. They told them they loved them. They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane in the ground to serve something greater than themselves in life. It's those acts of courage, those quiet acts of compassion which really are changing America, one person at a time. There is a new culture in this country. We're ushering in a period of personal responsibility. People are responsible for the decisions they make in life, responsible for loving your children with all your heart and all your soul, responsible for helping a neighbor in need, responsible for making sure the Milwaukee school system is the best in the country so nobody no child is left behind. No, there is a new responsibility in America. I don't know what went through the minds of the enemy when they attacked us. They must have thought they were attacking a nation that was so shallow, so materialistic, so selfish that all we would do was maybe file a lawsuit. But what they've learned is, they attacked a nation that is strong and courageous and decent, a nation in which thousands of our fellow citizens understand that by serving something greater than yourself in life, you serve the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming. May God bless. August 13, 2002 Well, Dr. Sloan, thanks for having us all. And I want you to thank all the good folks here at Baylor University for putting on a great show. I know a lot of people worked hard. I'm really glad a lot of folks from around the country got to see Baylor. It's a fantastic university. And I want to thank the folks here who came from all around the country. Welcome to central Texas in the middle of August. Laughter People here are the people that really make America work the entrepreneurs and the visionaries, the carpenters, the union heads, the educators, grandmothers. We're here to listen to you, to get a report from what I call the frontlines of the American economy. And it's an important report. And the American people need to hear your report. My economic team and I heard much of the discussion. We will read the summaries. We'll think about it, and we'll move forward to create jobs for Americans. I want to thank all those who led the panels. I want to thank our speakers for doing a fantastic job today. I am so very grateful for our fellow citizens who are deeply concerned about the direction of our country. On stage today we're joined by four people who I mentioned during the radio address over the weekend. I want to thank Xavier Teixido, who is the chairman of the board of the National Restaurant Association. Xavier is an entrepreneur who obviously runs a restaurant and is now head of a very important association. Maria Sobrino, who is the founder of Lulu's I don't know if Maria is going to be serving us all after lunch, but I certainly hope so, because she does a great job. Robert London, the driver from UPS Jimmie Morgan, material management at Boeing. These are four ordinary Americans, as Phyllis called them, who have got opinions. And we heard their opinions, and they're important opinions. And so I want to thank the Vice President and members of my administration for coming down here to listen, to listen to what Americans have to say. There's no question our economy has been challenged by a recession that was beginning when we took office, that the terrorist attacks of September the 11th that Phyllis talked about had a lot to do with our economy and the state of affairs from today, and recently we have had to deal with corporate scandals that were long in the making they finally have come to light three factors that affected our economy. One of the things that we heard today is that our economy has strengths that are greater than the challenges. I mean, after all, our workers and farmers are the most productive in the world that our entrepreneurs are incredibly visionary that inflation and interest rates are low that today we saw a report that consumer spending is still robust. We've had three quarters of positive growth after three quarters of negative growth. No, the foundations of the American economy are strong. Yet, the only purpose of a strong foundation is to build on it. And that's what we're discussing today. And we're determined, this administration is determined, to build on the long term security of the American people. Here's the way I put it If somebody wants to work and can't find a job, we have a problem. And we need to do something about it here in America. We have heard from Americans who are concerned but not discouraged. We've seen problems. But we're confident in the long term health of this economy. We share a sense of optimism about America, because we understand our country. Too many Americans have lost a large portion of their retirement funds, and they've lost a sense of security in the process. I know that. Too many Americans have lost jobs, especially in the high tech world, in the manufacturing sector. Too many Americans run into economic and regulatory barriers when they try to create a business or expand their business. Too many construction projects have halted because they cannot get terrorism insurance. The goal must be to create an environment of sustained economic growth. We've got work to do. I know that. But we're going to do the work. It starts with listening to our fellow Americans to find good ideas and implement them. Here's one good idea to make sure we continue to grow our economy, and that is, Congress, for the long term economic security of America, needs to restrain spending. Recession and the cost of war and the cost of homeland defense have increased our budget, increased our deficits. Yet, I am determined to fund the great priorities of our Government while exercising the spending restraint that will return America to the path of a balanced budget as soon as possible. More money spent in Washington means less money in the hands of American families and entrepreneurs, less money in the hands of risk takers and job creators. A limited and focused Government is essential to a growing economy. And if the Congress won't show spending restraint, I intend to enforce spending restraint. And this work of enforcement on spending continues today. At the end of the session, the Congress passed an emergency spending bill to strengthen our military, protect the homeland, and to complete the commitment of 20 billion I made to the citizens of New York. But they also sent along more than 5 billion in extra spending I didn't ask for. Some of that 5 billion I have endorsed and will work to secure through amendments to the '03 budget, like AIDS prevention money and support for Israel and Palestine. But a lot of that money has nothing to do with the national emergency, and I'll give you one example a new facility for storing the Government's collection of bugs and worms. I made my opposition clear. We were pretty plain spoken about the supplemental. But those who wrote the bill designed it so I have to spend all 5 of the extra billion dollars or spend none of it. That's how they wrote the supplemental. Those are the rules they placed upon my administration. I understand their position, and today they're going to learn mine. We'll spend none of it. As I said, for truly pressing needs and priorities, such as AIDS prevention and resources for the Middle East, we'll send to Congress specific amendments to get these funds quickly. However, we're not going to spend 4 billion we don't need in order to unlock 1 billion we do. For the good of our economy, for the good of the people who pay taxes, my administration will spend what is truly needed and not a dollar more. Spending restraint is just one of the many responsibilities that we accept. In order to build on the long term security for the American people, we must always think about growth and jobs. I want to get American construction workers back to work. And that's why we need to have a terrorism insurance policy. I want those who wear the hardhats, who are willing to take risks by suspending themselves above the land, by building commercial projects that are significant in size I want them working. I want to thank Doug McCarron for being here. He wants them working too. We're working hand in hand to see to it that Congress finally gets the message that we need a terrorism insurance bill to get American hardhats back to work. People say, "Does it matter?" Of course it matters. There's over 8 billion of commercial construction that has been suspended last year. That means 8 billion worth of projects in which somebody is going to be able to work and put food on the table for their family. And we need an energy policy too. Listen, energy policy is not only good for economic security, it's good for national security. We can do a much better job of harnessing technologies to conserve more energy. We can do a better job of finding renewable sources of energy. But for the sake of our economic security and for the sake of our national security, we need to become less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil, and we need to put our people to work by good, solid energy projects here at home. Congress needs to get me an energy bill. They need to stop talking, and they need to start acting by getting a good, sound energy bill to my desk as soon as they get home. You've heard a lot about the tax relief plan we passed. Thank goodness we passed it when we did. We cut taxes in the middle of a recession because we believe by letting people keep more of their own money, it'll cause them to demand a good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service, somebody will produce a good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or service, somebody is more likely to find work. The tax relief was incredibly important, and it's going to be important as time goes on, because it's phased in. Now, there are some in Washington who want to stop the tax relief, which is like a tax increase, which would be an unmitigated disaster given the economic situation in which we find ourselves. But rather than me talking about, "Let's stop the tax reductions," what Congress needs to do is to join us in the call to make these tax relief permanent, permanent so small business make it permanent so we send a signal throughout society that people should be able to plan, send a signal that we understand job creation is the number one priority of economic policy out of Washington, DC. In order to make sure the economy grows, we must bring the promise of broadband technology to millions of Americans. My administration is promoting investment in broadband. We will continue to work to prevent new access taxes on broadband technology. If you want something to be used more, you don't tax it. And broadband technology is going to be incredibly important for us to stay on the cutting edge of innovation here in America. The Federal Communications Commission is focusing on policies to encourage high speed Internet service for every home and every business in America. The private sector will deploy broadband, but government at all levels should remove hurdles that slow the pace of deployment. In order to build long term security, we will enforce the rules and laws on the books. I say as plainly as I can to CEOs If you break the law, we will hunt you down we will arrest you and we will prosecute you. We expect the highest of high standards when it comes to corporate America. I want the books open and transparent. The numbers need to be real. The good news for our economy and our society is, by far the vast majority of CEOs are good, honorable people. They care deeply about their shareholders and their employees. Now that both Republicans and Democrats have come together to pass a sound corporate responsibility bill, my administration will take the new law, and we will hold those to account who do not uphold the high standards Americans expect from those of us in positions of responsibility. I believe I believe to build the long term security of America, we need to encourage ownership. We want to have an environment and where people feel comfortable about starting their own business. We want the Curtis McGuires of the world to flourish. Another way we can promote ownership is to encourage homeownership. One of the statistics that concerns me deeply and concerns those in my administration is this Too many minorities do not own a home in America. Under 50 percent of African Americans and Hispanic Americans own a home. That's just too few, as far as I'm concerned. You see, owning a home is part of the American experience. And so I'm promoting policies that will encourage homeownership. And we've set this goal, by the way, that we want there to be 5.5 million minority families owning a home over the next 10 years, which means Government ought to have a policy that helps people with a downpayment. People take a look at owning a home, and they realize the downpayment is a frightening thought. We ought to have a downpayment assistance program out of Washington, DC. We need to make sure we have education programs, so that people understand what it means to buy a home, so that they're educated in what it takes to own a home. We need to make sure that we have got money available for homeowner ship, minority homeownership. I want to thank Fannie Mae, Franklin Raines for being here. He is joined with many in the private sector to unlock millions of dollars, to make it available for the purchase of a home. Listen, when people own a home, they have a stake in the future of our society. If we're interested in economic security, we must promote home ownership for all Americans and the same for promoting asset ownership for all Americans. One of the most heartening statistics is, more and more Americans are building their balance sheets through pension plans. They're owning stocks and bonds. They've got a future other than their income stream. And that's vital, and that's important. But to make sure that those who own their pensions are fully protected, we need law out of Congress. I proposed a law the House passed it the Senate needs to act which says the following things One, people should not be forced to hold a large portion of their accounts in a company's stock. If you're working for a company and you own that stock, you should be able to diversify after a 3 year period of time. Secondly, you ought to get sound investment advice every quarter, not every year. Thirdly, as we pass a corporate responsibility bill, if the CEO is able to unload the stock, so should the employee. What's good for the boss is good for the people working for the boss. And we need to make sure that all investment advice is sound investment advice. And these workers who've got their money and their future tied up in these pension plans ought to get the best best advice possible. These are good reforms, and Congress needs to act on these reforms in order to encourage what we call an ownership society. In order to make sure that we continue to grow our economy, we need to be aggressive when it comes to trade policy. Zoellick mentioned to me, he said they're all looking to me. They may be looking to me, Zoellick I'm looking to you. Laughter You're the Trade Representative. You've now got the tools. Go out there and start negotiating free trade agreements around the world. We're back at the bargaining table as a result of getting the trade promotion authority vote out of the United States Congress. It is essential that we move aggressively, because trade means jobs. More trade means higher incomes for American workers. Listen, a confident nation is one which opens up markets. A nation which isn't confident is one that closes its markets and puts walls around. I'm confident. I'm confident in the American entrepreneurs. I'm confident in our high tech industry. I'm confident in our farmers and ranchers. I'm confident that when we compete, we're the best in the world. And therefore, I want to trade. I want to open up those markets. I want to level those playing fields. Open trade is good for American workers and American families. I agree completely with the health care panel, ably led by Tommy, that health security is an important part of economic security. There's a lot we need to do in Washington, but it starts with trusting the American people to make the right decisions. That's where it starts. There is a fundamental debate in Washington, DC. It goes like this Do you trust who do you trust? Do you trust the American people? Do you trust the elderly to make the right decisions for Medicare? Or do you want the Government making those decisions? I know that sounds like a simple formula, but it's true. It's true. The debate is, is that there are some in Washington who believe that the Federal Government should make all the decisions on behalf of the American people when it comes to their health care. We don't. We believe the Government can write a check, but we believe that the ultimate decisionmaker is the people of is the person we're trying to help. That's the ultimate decisionmaker. We want our seniors to have more choices. Medicare is a vital program, but it's old, and it's stale, and it's tired. Medicine has changed Medicare hasn't. We need to modernize Medicare by giving our seniors more viable choices when it comes to meeting their own specific health care needs. Health care must be affordable, and it must be accessible. And one way to make it more affordable and more accessible is to have a medical liability reform at the Federal Government. Too many lawsuits are driving our doctors out of practice and are driving up the cost for too many of our citizens. We have got a serious problem in America when it comes to frivolous lawsuits, and we need to deal with it. And I hope the Members of the Congress are listening carefully when they get when they're back in their districts. They need to be talking to the people whose lives are being affected by these junk lawsuits. And for the sake of good medicine and good health care, we need medical liability reform out of Washington, DC, as soon as possible. And finally, I appreciate so very much the panel's discussion about making sure every child in America gets educated. There is no question we need to set high standards here in America. If we have low standards, guess what's going to happen. We will continue to get bad results. If we believe certain children can't learn, the system will just shuffle them through. The system will quit on them, and we've got to stop that in America. The best way to make sure that we enforce high standards is to say that if you receive Federal dollars, you, the State, must measure. You must show us whether or not every child is learning to read and write and add and subtract. Prove it, and if not, you've got to change the system. We cannot have children stuck in schools that won't teach and won't change. For the good of our economic security and for good of our children, we must be willing to challenge the status quo when the children can't read and write and add and subtract. And the only way to determine if that's the case is to have strong accountability. And I can assure you, Janet, so long as this administration is in power, we will insist upon accountability, no matter how long, how loud the cries of those who believe the status quo works. This administration believes every child can learn. This administration wants every child to learn. And you mark my words, by having high standards and holding people to account, our children are going to learn. And America is going to be a much better place for it. We heard a lot of things Government can do, and this administration is willing to work with Congress to do them restrain spending, pass terrorism insurance, protect the pensions and promote trade, punish those who lie, cheat, or steal. But there are also things that people in America can do, people right here in this room must do. It's time for corporate America to earn back our trust. And that starts with having CEOs lead the way by having open balance sheets, fair numbers, by authorizing the numbers that are tomorrow, starting tomorrow by proving what I know, that by far the vast majority of those leading corporate America are good, honorable people. But I'm calling upon you to help earn back that culture that says, "We trust what we read. We trust the advice we're getting." You need to know that I'm incredibly optimistic about America. Oh, I know the hurdles Phyllis talked about hurdles we face. And we do have hurdles. We've got a war to fight, but it's a war we're going to win. We've got a homeland to protect, and we're doing everything we can to protect the homeland. And we've got the economic security of our fellow Americans to worry about. But I'm confident in America. I'm confident in the skill of our people. I'm confident in our spirit. I know I know that we're the greatest nation on the face of the Earth, because we're a land full of people that are caring and decent, hard working and compassionate. Oh, there may be some tough times here in America. But this country has gone through tough times before, and we're going to do it again. And we're going to show the world how to be a prosperous and compassionate and decent country. Thank you all for coming. God bless you all. August 13, 2002 The President. Good morning. Sorry to interrupt. I was hoping to hear Phyllis. Laughter Phyllis Hill Slater. I was quoting you. The President. You were? Ms. Slater. Yes, I was quoting you "Let no child be left behind." The President. There you go. Ms. Slater. Education is key to keeping us strong in this country. And I especially want to look after those children in the rural and urban communities, because that's our future. The President. You bet. Ms. Slater. And I thank you for that lead in. The President. Well, listen, thank you all for coming. So here's what happens. I come for 15 minutes and then go to another seminar the Vice President as well. But I can assure you that any recommendations that come out of this discussion will make it to my desk. I look forward to hearing what you have to say. I want to thank you all for coming. Welcome to central Texas, and I truly look forward to hearing what you have to say. I suspect I know what's on Doug's mind, and that's how to get people back to work. And that's on my mind. I mean, we ought to seize every opportunity to get our workers working. In one case, Congress can do something about it and should do something about it quickly, and that is to provide some terrorism insurance so that roughly 8 billion worth of projects move on. And that's 8 billion worth of work for somebody. I view that in human terms, not in balance sheet terms. So I want to thank you all for coming to talk about ways to get the economy moving again. You know, we're pleased with some progress, but we've got more to do. And that's what we're really here to discuss. So any specific ideas that bubble up, you know, we'll give it a good look. But in the meantime, keep the conversation moving here. I don't want to dominate. At this point, Treasury Secretary Paul H. O'Neill introduced John Brooks, executive secretary treasurer, Greater Pennsylvania Regional Council of Carpenters. The President. Big John, what do you do excuse me. Mr. Brooks. I'm a business manager for the Carpenters The President. Oh, good. Mr. Brooks. of Pittsburgh, which we've entertained you. The President. Yes, you have. You certainly did. Mr. Brooks. I was probably the first person you met. The President. That's right. Well, I didn't notice you. I didn't recognize you in a coat and tie. Laughter Mr. Brooks discussed the need for accurate pension fund reports. Secretary O'Neill. Mr. President, before we started, Van, who is sitting between us here, was telling me that her 92 year old grandmother is watching this on television. So I think we ought to give Van an opportunity to talk. Laughter The President. Your grandmother and my mother. Laughter Van Eure, owner, Angus Barn restaurant, briefly discussed the importance of tax deductions for small businesses and her experiences in dealing with the death tax. The President. Thanks. Ms. Eure. And I'm just honored to be sitting beside one of my heroes. Laughter The President. Who, O'Neill? Laughter Secretary O'Neill. Mr. President, I'll take it. Laughter Ms. Eure. Yes. The President. Thank you. Ms. Eure. You're welcome. The President. The thing about the death tax the death tax is punitive on small business owners. It is very tough on farmers and ranchers. It's hard to be able to keep your farm and your family if you've got a big appraisal value when a loved one dies. We're trying to get rid of the death tax. I firmly believe the death tax is good for people from all walks of life all throughout our society. As the entrepreneurial spirit takes hold in communities all throughout America, the death tax is going to try to be very punitive on many minorities, minority owned firms. And our view is, is that if you build up your asset base, you ought to leave it to somebody you want to leave it to, whether your kid or your cousin or whatever it is. And so we've put the death tax on its way to extinction. However, as a result of a quirk in the law, it arises again 10 years from now. That's a hard one to explain. But, nevertheless, it does. And so we've got to make the repeal of the death tax permanent, for the good of the entrepreneurial spirit and for the good of our farmers and ranchers. And thank you for bringing that up. Secretary O'Neill. Sheri Orlowitz, I wonder if we could hear from you? The President. Where are you from, Sheri? Sheri Orlowitz. I'm from Washington, DC. The President. Nothing wrong with that. Me, too. Laughter Ms. Orlowitz. I haven't seen you around lately. The President. Well, I'm on a temporary basis there. Laughter Ms. Orlowitz, chairman and chief executive officer, Shan Industries, LLC, discussed the importance of patience during economic downturns and greater corporate accountability. The President. Well, thanks, Sheri. That's very articulate. A couple of points we are going to find those who have broken the law and arrest them and prosecute them. And the SEC actually has done quite a bit of work. Some of it, I guess, hasn't received wide publicity. But 80 different officers have been punished in a year's period of time. I think it is a year's period of time. Secretary O'Neill. That's right. The President. We've increased the SEC budget so that they've got more capacity now to move through the system. Part of what you say requires a board of directors and a compensation committee for understanding their responsibilities. I mean, you're right. Excessive executive pay sends confusing signals. I mean, when a guy makes a merger or a company makes a merger, the executive makes a lot of money, the shareholders lose something is wrong. Independent members of boards need to be tough in their responsibilities. I don't think it's right for a Government to regulate pay. I don't think that's a role for the Federal Government. It is a role for the Federal Government, however, to bring those to justice who break clear law. And we will and we will. The other thing that you mentioned is the recession. We were history now has shown, we had three quarters of recession, three quarters of negative growth, and now we've had three quarters of positive growth. So the trend is in the right direction, which is important for Americans to understand. But nevertheless, there's a lot more to do. One of the key things, as you mentioned, is this business about insurance. We've got to get these projects going. We want these workers working. We want McCarron to quit calling me on the phone saying, "What are you doing about this insurance bill?" Laughter Secretary O'Neill. Mr. Johnston, I wonder if we could hear from you? You're in a business that touches every American every day in the grocery business, Mr. President so maybe we could hear from you. The President. Yes. Lawrence R. Johnston, chairman of the board and chief executive officer, Albertsons, Inc., briefly discussed his suggestions for stimulating economic growth. The President. Thanks. Thanks for coming. Secretary O'Neill. Mr. President, you have to go. The President. Yes, well, the life of the President always has to go. But I do want to thank you all for coming. This is I appreciate, Sheri, your talking about this summit in positive terms. That's how I view it too. You'll be amazed, when you go to lunch today, to see the quality of the folks that have come got some of the world's leading economists here with you, in your panel, national labor union leader. I mean, we've got really fine people who have agreed to come and share their insights and share some thoughts with us. I think one of the things you'll hear is that even though times are kind of tough right now, that we're America. I'm incredibly optimistic about the future of this country, because I understand the strength of the country. And the strength of the country is our people. We've got the highest productivity in the world. We've got the best farmers and ranchers in the world. We've got the best manufacturers in the world. We've got the hardest working people in the world. We've got the best tax policy in the world. I mean, we've got a lot going for us. And I think when the American investor one thing I do want to comment on, I was at an earlier seminar, and I, too, am concerned about the language of Wall Street not being clear so that the average investor can understand what's going on. And we talked to Chuck Schwab about that. And Wall Street has got to understand that fancy footwork, when it comes to financial instruments, needs to need to be totally open and transparent, so everybody understands what's happening. And you're right about making sure that the average investor feels confident in what he or she reads. A lot of folks in this part of the world aren't real I would call it suspicious about some of the fine print. And there needs to be better disclosure so that people feel confident that they're not being led down the primrose path of fancy financial footwork, let me put it to you that way. And the Government can do some of this, but the industry itself, the investment advisors, and the people I call them Wall Street they need to there needs to be some self policing mechanism as well, so that people are confident in the numbers. More and more people invest. A lot of Doug's workers invest all of a sudden become pretty sophisticated relative to their father and forefathers. But you can't be that sophisticated if you're fighting off lawyers and accountants that are trying to put the dark cloud over reality. And that's one of the things we've got to just make sure does not happen anymore. Part of it is to put these people in jail. But part of it is to insist that the advisory world not have conflicts of interest and everybody understands what's going on. And I think you're going to find some pretty interesting ideas come out of this summit along those lines. But anyway, thank you all for coming. Hope you've enjoyed central Texas. You're 45 minutes away from Crawford. Laughter No Albertsons yet, but we do have a stoplight. Laughter Thank you all for your time. August 10, 2002 Iraq President's Economic Forum The President. Anybody got anything? Q. Do you, sir? The President. Well, I do. I'm in close consultations with my senior staff on a variety of subjects. As I said yesterday, I have no timetable for any of our policies as regards to Iraq. That yesterday I spent time with my principal advisers on that subject, as well as others. I am pleased with the reports about the productivity of American workers. I thought that was a continuing signal that our economy grows and strengthens. Next week I'll be having an economic summit that we'll discuss ways that we can further job growth. So, anyway, I'll be spending some time on subjects that might interest you all. Q. Mr. President, yesterday in an interview, I guess, with Scott Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press , you described Iraq as the enemy. The President. I described them as the axis of evil once. I described them as an enemy until proven otherwise. They obviously, you know, desire weapons of mass destruction. I presume that he still views us as an enemy. I have constantly said that we owe it to our children and our children's children to free the world from weapons of mass destruction in the hands of those who hate freedom. This is a man who has poisoned his own people. I mean, he's had a history of tyranny. Q. I'm sorry, if I could follow up. Are you surprised that you haven't been able to build more support within the region and within Europe for taking action? The President. Well, Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News , I think most people understand he is a danger. But as I've said in speech after speech, I've got a lot of tools at my disposal. And I've also said I am a deliberate person. And so I'm we're in the process of consulting not only with Congress, like I said I do the other day, but with our friends and allies. And the consultation process is a positive part of really allowing people to fully understand our deep concerns about this man, his regime, and his desires to have weapons of mass destruction. Last question, and then I've got to go chip and putt for a birdie. Laughter It was a good drive. Q. It looked kind of right. Q. Do you think the American people are prepared for casualties in Iraq? The President. Well, I think that that presumes there's some kind of imminent war plan. As I said, I have no timetable. What I do believe the American people understand is that weapons of mass destruction in the hands of leaders such as Saddam Hussein are very dangerous for ourselves, our allies. They understand the concept of blackmail. They know that when we speak of making the world more safe, we do so not only in the context of Al Qaida and other terrorist groups but nations that have proven themselves to be bad neighbors and bad actors. Thank you. Have fun today. At this point, the President continued his round of golf. President's Visit Legislative Bipartisanship The President. I'm having a lot of fun. It's good to be back here with my friends in Texas, including Senator Sibley, a fine lad. Former State Senator David Sibley. A young man. Laughter The President. We're just talking about the old days, what it's like to be in a legislative environment where Republicans and Democrats can get together to do what's right what it's like to be in a legislative environment where people decide to do what's best for a something greater than themselves as opposed to what's best for a political party. Q. Think you'll be able to do that in Washington with pension reform? The President. I hope so, on all issues. My call is that Republicans and Democrats need to work together like on homeland security, on terrorism insurance, on pension reform. There's too much politics in Washington. Judicial Nominee Priscilla Owen Senator Sibley. I don't remember anybody ever busting a judge. The President. Yes, busting judges, as he mentioned. There's too much politics. Senator Sibley. It never happens. The President. Of course, he's talking about a fine Texas woman named Priscilla Owen, who's being busted for political reasons. She's been elected statewide here in Texas. People know here and trust her judgment. And yet, they're playing politics with her. Thank you for remembering that. Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful afternoon. August 10, 2002 Good morning. On Tuesday, I will host an economic forum at Baylor University, in Texas, to meet with people on the frontlines of the American economy. Small business owners, working people, investors, corporate leaders, economists, farmers, and Government policymakers are coming together to discuss where our economy stands, the impact of the policies we have put in place, and the steps we are taking as we move forward. After a recession that was beginning as I took office, the terrorist attacks of September the 11th, and the corporate scandals that have recently come to light, the American economy faces challenges. Yet, the great strengths of America are more than equal to its challenges. American workers are productive. American entrepreneurs are visionary. And we are acting to reach the full potential of our economy. These efforts began last year with a tax cut that boosted our economy at just the right time and continues to put more money into the hands of consumers. I have just signed into law trade promotion authority, which I will use to open foreign markets to American goods, creating high paying jobs at home. I worked with Congress to enact new laws designed to keep corporate executives and auditors honest and to punish those who are not. And we are actively investigating, arresting, and prosecuting corporate wrongdoers. And this week, hundreds of companies will submit signed statements to the SEC, either verifying that their financial records are accurate or letting investors know if there are any problems. Yet, there is more we must do, more to promote long term growth and create jobs in our economy more to enforce budget discipline in Congress, so we can focus on urgent priorities like the war on terror more to guarantee pension security and improve access to affordable health care more to educate every child for economic and personal success. At next week's economic forum, we will discuss all these topics. Economists will provide their latest ideas and analysis of the economic recovery. But I'm also eager to hear from Americans from all walks of life who are working hard to make ends meet during these uncertain economic times. And I expect I will get a wide variety of suggestions on strengthening the economy. Let me tell you about some of the Americans participating in this forum. Xavier Teixido, a restaurant owner from Delaware he immigrated to this country from Paraguay when he was 2 years old and worked his way up in the restaurant business. He was recently elected chairman of the board of the National Restaurant Association. Maria Sobrino is another entrepreneur who will attend the forum. In 1982, she brought her mother's traditional Mexican desserts to the U.S. market. Twenty years later, she owns a successful food production company in Southern California. Mr. Teixido and Mrs. Sobrino will tell us about the obstacles small business owners face and offer opinions about how the Federal Government can help small businesses thrive and create more jobs. Robert London and Jimmie Morgan will also join us at the forum. Robert is a driver for UPS down in Waco and a member of the Teamsters. Jimmie works for Boeing in Wichita, Kansas, and he has held a number of jobs in the company, from factory worker to management. Robert and Jimmie know that more trade means more jobs, and they want to be sure our Nation continues to open foreign markets to American goods. With the help of Xavier Teixido, Maria Sobrino, Robert London, Jimmie Morgan, and other participants, the economic forum will generate ideas to strengthen our economy and make workers and investors more secure. I look forward to participating in the discussions and sharing our findings with the American people. Thank you for listening. August 07, 2002 Thank you. Well, Chip, thank you very much. It's nice to be back here to Mississippi. I did bring Laura her coffee this morning. Laughter I don't want to put any pressure on Trent. Laughter But the good news is, it was in Crawford, Texas. Laughter I want to thank you for having me. I'm not going to stay for lunch I'm going to head on home. I've changed addresses for a brief moment. I took my office from Washington to Crawford. I look forward to spending some time outside of our Nation's Capital. And I'm honored that the first place that I've come to since I've moved my office was the great State of Mississippi. It's wonderful to be back here again. Laura and I have got a lot of friends here, and we appreciate our friends. I want to thank you all for coming to help Chip. I'm here today because I want to make it as clear as I possibly can You need to send Chip Pickering back to the United States House of Representatives. And I want to thank you all for helping. I want to thank you for contributing not only your money but your time. I know many of you are involved with grassroots politics, and that's good. That's how you win, is to invigorate the grassroots, like this man is doing. So I want to thank you not only for what you have done, but what you're going to do which is to man the phones and put up the signs and turn out the vote. I like to put it this way When you find a good one, you've got to keep him. And you've got a good one in Chip Pickering. And he's got a fine family. I want to thank Leisha for her dedication to the Pickering family. I don't know where all the ones in the red shirts are, but they were at the last place I was. Those Pickering boys kept coming, one after another. Laughter But I love a man who loves his family, and Chip loves his family. I also want to thank Margaret Ann Pickering for being here, Chip's mom. And I want to say something as clearly as I can about why we need to control the United States Senate. I put a good man up, named Judge Pickering, for a higher court. And the people who control the Senate maligned this good man's character. They didn't treat him right. It's not good for America to have this kind of politics take a good person and not treat him well, not give him the benefit of the doubt. We need to change the United States Senate so that we end this kind of politics on the judiciary and allow good people, good, honorable judges, to serve our Nation. The Senate did wrong by Judge Pickering. I did right by naming him to the bench. And he has no better friends in the Senate than Thad Cochran and Trent Lott, and I appreciate their leadership. I want to thank Thad and Trent for their friendship. When it comes to Mississippi, those men are pretty good about making the Mississippi case you just need to know that. Laughter One of my favorite things to do I'm an early morning guy I get to the White House early. And I love to take Barney out on the South Lawn. He's a Scottish terrier. The Lotts, Tricia and Trent, they love Scottish terriers. And I bring Spot there to the Oval Office. Spot was born at the White House, so she's quite used to being in the Oval Office and respects the new rug. Laughter And I get there early in the morning. One of my favorite things to do is to call up Trent he's not an early morning guy laughter and share with him my Barney stories. Laughter But you're well represented by these two fine men. They're doing a great job for Mississippi, and they're doing a great job for America too. And it's great to see Tricia, great to see Tricia. Laura and Tricia are fast friends, and I look forward to telling Laura today when I get back home that I got to see her buddy Tricia, Tricia Lott. I also want to thank Congressman Roger Wicker. He, too, has done a fine job. He and Chip make a pretty darn good pair for the people of Mississippi. I want to thank Clinton LeSueur for running for the United States Congress. Where are you, Clinton? Go get them I wish you all the best. I appreciate so very much my friend G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery for being here, Sonny Montgomery. Sonny is a long time friend of my family's. We're really proud to call him friend. He was a fabulous Congressman for the State of Mississippi. When I'm in town there in Washington, I go to church right across the street. Sonny always reserves me a spot in the pew there. But I forgot to say in the earlier rally, he also puts a couple of dollars in the plate on my behalf. Laughter I'm running up quite a debt to Sonny. Laughter Keep giving, Sonny, and one of these days I'm going to pay you back. Laughter Oh, we're even now? Okay, good. Laughter But anyway, it's great to see Sonny. It's great to see Haley Barbour here, the former RNC Chairman, a man who loves Mississippi and has never left. I want to thank Phil Bryant, who is the Mississippi State auditor. Phil, thank you for being here appreciate you being here, sir. And Dick Hall, the Mississippi transportation commissioner, is here with us as well. Thank you, Dick. I want to thank Jim Herring, who is the chairman of the mighty Republican Party of Mississippi. And Cindy Phillips, national committeewoman, I want to thank her for coming too. Thank you, Cindy good to see you. I appreciate so very much you all coming to help Chip. It's important Denny Hastert remain the Speaker of the House. Equally important, it's important that you're represented by this good man. He is what we call an up and comer. He's a star today he's going to be a bigger star tomorrow, because he's a man of principle. See, he doesn't get up there and kind of try to wag his finger to figure out which way the wind is blowing. He stands on principle, and he stands strong on those principles. He believes in faith and family and Mississippi, in that order. Before September the 11th, he was for a strong military, just like a lot of folks in Mississippi believe in a strong military. That was good, because after September the 11th, we needed a strong military. He's going to work with me to make sure that our military budgets are sound. He's a fellow who believes in educating every child every child. We passed a good piece of legislation. Interestingly enough, it's called the No Child Left Behind legislation. I mean that, by the way, and so does Chip no child left behind. The principles behind that bill are pretty simple and easy to understand. First, you've got to set high standards. See, if you believe certain children can't learn, certain children won't learn. So you've got to insist upon high standards. There's a Federal role for insisting upon high standards because we spend a lot of money helping people, helping States. So we expect the best. We believe every child can learn. And if you believe every child can learn, then you ought to insist that we measure to see whether every child is learning. If you believe every child can learn, therefore we ought to know whether that's the case. If you believe certain children can't learn, then don't bother to measure. But if you believe every child can learn, and if you're taking Federal money, the bill we passed says show us it's not a Federal Government test you in Mississippi show us whether or not children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. And if they are, they'll be praise for the teachers. See, we believe in local control of schools. There will be praise for those who have insisted upon excellence for every child. But if you can't show us, then you need to change. The reason why we insist upon accountability is not to punish but to save lives. It is not to say, "These people are bad." It's to say, "What you're doing isn't working." We insist that every child in America learn, and nobody should be left behind. I appreciate Chip's support and vision about economic security. The role of Government is not to create wealth. The role of Government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish, in which small businesses can grow to be big businesses, in which people feel confident about expanding the job base, so people can find work. The foundations for economic growth are strong in America. Inflation is low. Monetary policy is good. Productivity is up. There is growth in our economy. But so long as somebody who wants to find work can't find work, I think we have a problem and need to continue to work on policies that will encourage economic growth. And Chip understands that. You know, when I came into office, we were beginning a recession. I remember the Vice President saying that clearly. And immediately the world in Washington start wagging their finger at him, and it turns out he was right. The numbers, the statistics have shown that for the first three quarters of my Presidency, we were in recession. It was during that period that I argued for a tax cut for the American people. See, in times of recession, it's important to let people keep their own money. And when they keep their own money, they're going to demand some good or service. And by demanding a good or a service, somebody will produce the good and service, which means jobs. That's what that means. I want to appreciate Chip's support of the tax relief plan. Those tax cuts were well timed. And by the way, inherent in the tax relief is not just a reduction of rates on income taxes it's a small business vitality program, because most small businesses are sole proprietors, or most small businesses are limited partnerships, and they pay taxes at the individual rate. And thereby, dropping individual rates, you've stimulated small business growth. We've also slashed the marriage penalty and have done a gone a long way toward repealing the death tax, which is punitive on Mississippi farmers and ranchers and small business owners. I say "gone a long way" because, because of a quirk in the Senate law, after 10 years those tax relief packages revert back to where they were. And so one way to continue to set the foundation for economic growth is to have certainty in the Tax Code. Therefore, it's important for Mississippi to send somebody to Washington who understands that, who is willing to join me in making sure the tax relief package we passed in the midst of a recession are permanent. I call upon Congress to make the tax cuts permanent so the American people can plan and grow. I understand full well what has happened here in Mississippi and in other communities when they have been deceived by corporate wrongdoing. Today I met with two ladies who worked for WorldCom here in Mississippi. They had their savings invested in the company. They no longer work for the company. They're disillusioned, and they should be. They should be disillusioned. Anybody anytime anybody abuses their positions of authority by hedging numbers, that's not right by not being open and honest, particularly when a shareholder or employee is relying upon you. Chip understands that. The Congress understood that. They passed good laws. And this administration is going to investigate, we will arrest, and we will prosecute those who betray the trust of the American people and their shareholders and employees of American companies. Today I came to Mississippi to talk about liability reform. I'm worried about what the frivolous lawsuits have done to the health care systems across America. There is a Federal responsibility when it comes to health care. After all, we write checks for Medicare. Chip talked about prescription drugs for Medicare. We need a prescription drug program for the seniors. We need a modern Medicare system. But we also spend a lot of money. And these frivolous lawsuits run up the cost of Medicare, and they run up the cost of Medicaid, and they run up the cost of veterans programs. It's a Federal responsibility. And so for the sake of controlling health care costs, we need medical liability reform at the Federal level. I worry about health care systems, not only where the costs are high but where people have trouble finding health care they need. We heard from stories today about ob gy or pediatricians in the Delta. One fellow came, named Kooyer, Dr. Kooyer. He came down to Mississippi because, as he said, his Christian calling asked him to come down, told him to come down to help people in need. There's a pediatrician in some of the poorest counties in America wanting to provide health care for people in need, and he's leaving your State because the lawsuits are driving him out of the State. You need to do something about it here in Mississippi, and we need to do something about it in Washington, DC. And Chip Pickering understands that. No, I appreciate Chip. I appreciate his attitude. I hope Mississippi rejects the politics of putting people in one class or another and pitting them against each other. That's not how you get ahead in a society. We've got too much of that in Washington. And one of the reasons, one of the objectives I've got is to get rid of that kind of politics, of saying, you know, "If you're in this group or that group, you're either no good, or we're going to make you fight in order to get ahead." That is not good for the country. Chip is a unifier he's not a divider. He sets the right tone, as far as I'm concerned. And that's the kind of tone that will make you proud when you send him back to Washington, DC. I look forward to working with Congress when we get back, particularly the Senate, to make sure this Department of Homeland Security that I proposed is set up right. I say that because our number one priority now is to make sure that the enemy doesn't hit us again. And they're out there, by the way. These are people that hate America because we love freedom. They hate what we stand for. They hate the fact that we worship freely, that all religions are welcome here in America. They hate that. They hate the fact that we speak our mind. They hate the fact that we have good political discourse. They hate everything we stand for, and so therefore, they're going to keep coming. And my job and the job of the Congress is to work together to do everything we can to protect our homeland. It's to make sure that we do everything we can to get our agencies cooperating, make sure that the agencies involved with homeland security, of which there's over 100, have as their number one priority the protection of the American people. And so I said, "Why don't we put them all under a single Department of Homeland Security?" Look, I recognize I wasn't the guy that ran for office and said, "Vote for me. I'm for bigger Government." I did say I want to make Government work better. And I think this will make Government work better. And the House of Representatives passed a good piece of legislation which will allow our administration, or the next administration or the next administration after that, to put the right people in the right place at the right time in order to protect the homeland. And I will not accept a bill that hamstrings the capacity of an administration to do that. And the Senate just needs to know and I appreciate Senator Lott and Senator Cochran's support on this issue that we will continue to argue for what's best for the American people, not what's best for either political turf or special interest groups in Washington, DC. The protection of the people is more important than setting up so many bureaucratic rules that we won't be able to protect the people. And so I look forward to getting a good bill out of the Senate and a bill on my desk. In the meantime, I hope you realize that there are a lot of people working hard to protect our homeland. We're doing a better job of sharing information. We're running down every lead, every hint. Every time we find out that somebody might be thinking about doing something to America, we're reacting. And there's a lot of good people reacting on our behalf. And I want to thank you for that, and I want to assure you that we take every possible hint seriously. We do. I also want to tell you that I know the best way to protect the homeland is to find the killers and bring them to justice. We must hunt them down one by one to secure America, and we will. It's a different kind of war. I know you know that. The American people have come to understand that, that the first war of the 21st century is different from the previous wars. In the past, we would follow infantries and formations of aircraft and fleets of ships across oceans. We would know where they were, and we'd watch whether or not battlefields were taken or not. Now we're fighting individuals who hide in caves and send youngsters to their death. We're fighting people that move money around surreptitiously and attack by means of terror. That's who we're fighting. But it's still a war. We fight for freedom. Just like the previous wars we fought for freedom, we fight for freedom now, which means that we have to think differently about how we fight the war. The first stage of any war is to make certain doctrines clear. One doctrine we made clear and we're continuing to make clear is, no matter what the cost, we defend freedom in America. That's why I submitted a significant budget a defense budget, the biggest since Ronald Reagan, because I understand the price of freedom is high. But it's not too high, as far as I'm concerned. Anytime we put our uniformed folks into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, and the best possible equipment. It also is a signal, by the way the size of the defense bill is a signal that says, we're in this for the long run. I like to remind people, there's not a calendar on my desk. Senator Lott will tell you, or Senator Cochran, who's been in the office, there's not a calendar in the Oval Office that says, oh, by suchand such a date we're through, that we'll all go home. That's not the way it is when it comes to defending freedom and winning the first war of the 21st century. We're relentless, and we're determined. And so the first doctrine is, no matter what the cost to defend our freedoms, we'll pay it. The second doctrine is, if you harbor a terrorist, or if you feed a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists. And the Taliban learned now what we meant. The Taliban found out what we meant. And I want you all to remind your youngsters who are here, or remind your youngsters if they're not here, that their Government sent our military into Afghanistan not to conquer a people but to free a people, to free people from the clutches of a barbaric regime which would not even educate young girls. And so for the first time in Afghanistan, many young girls get to go to school, thanks to the United States and our coalition. The other doctrine is, is that either you're with us and those of us who love freedom, or you're with the enemy. And that doctrine still holds too. We've put together a vast coalition of people that understand the stakes, and the coalition still is strong. I mean, we're trying to disrupt money. We're sharing intelligence. We've hauled in over 2,000 people 2,000 of these killers. Another 2,000 or more haven't been as lucky. The other day, the Government of Gloria Arroyo in the Philippines went after the Abu Sayyaf group. It looks like the head of that group met his demise. That's the group, by the way, that had captured American missionaries the husband of a wonderful lady named Gracia Burnham was killed. Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy. The Philippines and other countries around the world are denying sanctuary to these killers. We've got them on the run. We're going to keep them on the run. As well, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy" also applies to nations which harbor weapons of mass destruction nations which have got abysmal human rights record at home, at their own homes nations which have not been able to live at peace with their neighbors nations which would use those weapons of mass destruction to either destroy and or blackmail the United States and our friends and allies. I'm a patient person. I've got a we've got a lot of tools at our disposal. I believe in consultation with Congress. I believe in consultation with our friends and allies. But those who have talked to me know that history has called us to this moment. For the sake of our children and our grandchildren, we can't let the world's worst leaders blackmail and threaten the United States with the world's worst weapons. At this point, there was a gap in the audio feed. is going to come some good. I love to speculate about what was going through the enemy's mind. What were they thinking when they hit America? They must have thought that we were so materialistic or self absorbed or shallow or so worried about our own prosperity, our own individual wealth, that we were unwilling to serve something greater than ourself in life that when the enemy hit, we would just kind of make noise and do nothing about it. They didn't understand the character of the American people. I do. That's why I can predict with confidence that out of the evil done to America will come some good. I know this Nation. I know our heart. I know our determination. I know our resolve. I firmly believe that by remaining strong in the face of terror and by remaining committed to the human values that we hold dear, that we can achieve peace in parts of the world that may have given up on peace. I believe we can lead others to realize that peace is possible and peace can happen and peace will happen in the Middle East or in South Asia. And I believe we can achieve the peace we dream for, for our children and our children's children. I also know at home that out of the evil done to America can come some incredible good, because I've seen the spirit of America. I saw it when I saw the coal miners that were rescued in Pennsylvania. I see it firsthand everywhere I go. I saw it today with a child who came out 18year old girl who came out to the airport to greet me, who upon her own initiative signed up her classmates to mentor children in need and fed the homeless, fed the hungry. I saw her in action. I saw her love, and I saw her compassion. It didn't require an act of Government to get her to love a neighbor like she'd like to be loved herself. She felt the spirit, and she felt the call. And that's happening all across America. That's what this Nation is made out of. There are thousands of people all across this country who reach out to a child and say, "What can I do to make sure you understand that America is meant for you?" You see, our society can change and will change, one heart, one soul, one person at a time. And people say, "Well, I can't do everything." But you can do something. You can do something to make the community in which you live a better place. And that's why I'm such a believer in the Faith Based Initiative. Government shouldn't discriminate against faith. Government should welcome faith, the power of faith, whether it comes through the Christian church, through Judaism, or through Islam, can change people's lives for the better. And we must welcome that faith in our society. I started running for office in Texas because I was hopeful to be a part of a cultural change in America, a change from a culture which had said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." I believe the culture is shifting in America. People are beginning to understand that serving something other than yourself is an important part of being an American. And perhaps the most vivid example of that came on Flight 93. Average citizens were flying across the country that fateful day. They heard their airplane was going to be used as a weapon, perhaps against the Capitol or against the White House, certainly against innocent Americans. They said a prayer. They told their loved ones goodbye. One guy said, "Let's roll," and they drove the plane in the ground. It is a signal, a symbol of what it means to be an American, of serving something greater than yourself in life. No, out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good, because we're the greatest nation, full of the finest people, on the face of the Earth. Thank you all for coming. God bless. August 07, 2002 Thanks for a warm welcome. Thanks for having me. It's true, Congressman, I did bring Laura her coffee this morning. Laughter The only thing that was different from the past is, I brought it to her in Crawford, Texas. Laughter I have moved my office to Crawford, and I'm so honored my first stop after having moved my office to Crawford is in the great State of Mississippi. I want to thank you all for coming. I want to talk about three important goals for our country One, win the war on terror two, to protect the homeland and three, to make it clear we will not rest until we have economic security for everybody who lives in America. That's a goal shared by the Mississippians for Economic Progress, and I want to thank them for hosting me today. I appreciate you all coming. I also want to thank the Congressman for introducing me. I also appreciate so very much two fine I mean fine United States Senators from the great State of Mississippi who are here, and that's, of course, Thad Cochran and the man I call Leader, Trent Lott. I want to thank very much Ronnie Shows for being here. Congressman, thank you for coming. I'm honored you're here. I appreciate it. And I want to thank Roger Wicker, another member of the Mississippi congressional delegation, for coming. We've got Congressmen everywhere. Laughter But there's one special former Congressman with us. It's a man when I'm in Washington, I go to church right across the street from the White House, and this fellow always saves me a pew a spot in the pew. He's been a great friend of my family's. He's a great friend of Mississippi. He is the namesake of the Montgomery Institute in Meridian, Mississippi, and that's Sonny Montgomery. Applause It looks like they still remember you, Sonny laughter and love you, just like I do. I want to thank members of the statehouse for coming. The Governor kindly came out to greet me today, and I'm thankful for the Governor for being there. I want to thank the Lieutenant Governor, Governor Tuck, for coming today. I want to appreciate the State senator, Travis Little, and all the other members of the statehouse who are here. It makes me feel welcome for you to come and to greet me. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I also want to thank the mayors who are here. Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler of Madison is here. I want to thank you, Madam Mayor, for coming. And Mayor Gene McGee, the mayor of Ridgeland, Mississippi, is here. David Allen is the vice chairman of the Mississippians for Economic Progress, who gathered you all up. And I want to thank you, David, and your group for supporting this event. I want to thank J. Reeves, who is the principal of the Madison Central High School, for having us. I want to thank the Madison High band. Listen, you all were great when you serenaded us coming in. Laughter I tried to pop out of the limousine laughter to say thanks, but it was moving a little too fast. Laughter But I do want to thank you all. The principal was telling me you're an award winning band, and I so much appreciate the fact that you played. Unfortunately, most band members are in the overflow room, so if you're listening, thanks. I also want to thank Mike Kent, who is the Madison County superintendent of education. I want to thank the folks who I just met with, Mississippi citizens from all walks of life who expressed their concerns to me on a variety of issues. And I'll be discussing some of those issues. I met with some of the kindest, most decent doctors you can possibly imagine who are with us today, people who love their communities, love their profession, are deeply concerned about the future of medicine in this State. I met WorldCom employees who no longer have work, who are disillusioned, like me and others, about the corporate fraud which is taking place in our country. I met with small business owners who long to have an environment that will allow them to flourish. So I want to thank them for coming. I'm going to talk more about some of the issues around these participants. But you've got some fine folks in this State, and they took time to visit and share their frustrations with me. I want to thank them all for coming today, very much. I also want to welcome Star Wallin here. One of the things I love to do as I travel the country is to meet soldiers in the armies of compassion, people who have heard the call to love a neighbor just like they'd like to be loved themselves people who don't wait for a President to say, "You will go love somebody," or Congress to pass a law people who understand that part of being an American is to serve your community by helping people in need. Star is here. She's the founder of what's called Project CARE, Compassion in Action creates a Ripple Effect for positive change. The unusual thing about Star is, she's 18 years old. She has that's not unusual there's a lot of 18 year olds. Laughter What is unusual is, is that she is signing up people who went to her school to help people in need. As a result of her vision and her work and her compassion, 300 elementary school students were mentored by upperclassmen. The 300 benefited, as did the mentors. As a result of her vision, she has rallied people to feed the needy, to provide furniture for those who want. She has helped restore playgrounds on public schools. As a result of her vision, her community is better. She has set a fabulous example. Star, thank you for being here, and thank you for what you do. And I want to thank your family for being here as well. They did a pretty darn good job of raising you. My most important job as the President of this country is to protect the homeland. My most important job is to rally our governments to do everything humanly possible to prevent the enemy from taking innocent life again. That job goes on because the enemy still exists, an enemy that hates freedom and therefore hates America, people who can't stand the thought that we worship freely in this country and therefore hate us, coldblooded killers who don't value life the way we value life. And so they're still a threat to the homeland. There is still a threat that they might attack us again. And therefore, you need to know that your Government is doing everything humanly possible. A lot of fine folks are working overtime doing everything humanly possible to run down every hint, every lead, every piece of evidence to protect the homeland. I got to Washington, and after being there for a while, I took a look at the homeland security apparatus there in the Nation's Capital. There are over 100 different agencies involved with homeland security. As I like to say, they're scattered everywhere. And if they're scattered everywhere, it makes it hard to hold people accountable. And we need accountability all throughout Government nothing more important, though, than to have accountability when it comes to protecting the homeland. I felt like, having taken a look at the situation, that in order to set the number one priority of all those agencies as the protection of the homeland, they needed to be under one agency, one Cabinet officer. And so I proposed to the country, to the Congress, that we have a Department of Homeland Security that will be in charge, enforcing our borders. Listen, we need to know who's coming in the country, what they're bringing in the country, why they're coming into the country, and if they're leaving when they're supposed to be leaving the country. We need to work with our courageous first responders, the firefighters and the police and the EMS teams, all across our country to prepare prepare as best as we possibly can for emergency. We need to be prepared to respond to a terrorism attack using weapons of mass destruction. We need to better coordinate intelligence. We get intelligence gathered here and there, and we need somebody to analyze this, to address the vulnerabilities assess the vulnerabilities so that we can address them to make the homeland more secure. That's a major task of the office of homeland security. This isn't a Republican issue, folks. This isn't a Democrat issue. This is an American issue. This is what we need to do. We need to leave a legacy behind. And when we create the Department, we've got to do it right. See, we're trying to leave a legacy not only for future Presidents but future Congress, so they can deal with the true threats of the 21st century. We're in a different era here. And you need to know that I'm not interested in having to try to run a clumsy, slow moving bureaucracy, that when we fashion a new Department, we must be able to react. We've got to be able to put the right people in the right job at the right time, without a thick book of rules that have little to do with protecting the American people. The number one priority of this agency must be the protection of the people, as opposed to representing narrow political interests. I want to thank the Members of the House of Representatives who heard that message, who put their political turf aside and focused on the American people. Now the Senate must hear the message. These two Senators have heard the message, and I want to thank them for their leadership I want to thank them for their leadership. The leadership of the Senate must focus on what's best for America, not what's best on narrow interests, and get a bill to my desk that will enable me to say to the American people, "We're doing everything we can to protect the homeland." The best way to protect the homeland in the long run is to hunt the killers down one by one and bring them to justice, which is what we're going to do. This is a different kind of war. The leaders hide in caves and send youngsters to their death. But there's no cave deep enough, no cave dark enough for an America, a resolved America, that loves our freedom. And so no matter how long it takes, no matter what the cost might be, for the sake of our freedom and for the sake of our children and our children's children, we're going to hunt them down. These are nothing but international criminals, and they're going to be treated as international criminals. And we're making good progress. We really are. It's hard to tell it sometimes, because as we make progress, sometimes it doesn't get on your cable channel. Laughter But you need to know we're making progress. We've hauled in or captured and I say "we" we've got a mighty coalition of countries from around the world that love freedom just like we love freedom, and they understand the true threats that we face. And we've captured over 2,000 of them in a pretty quick period of time. Another group of them, just about the same number, weren't quite as lucky. But we've got a lot of work to do. I want the youngsters here, the high school students here, to know that we seek we don't seek revenge we seek justice. And when we go into a country, we do so not to conquer but to liberate. There are young girls going to school in Afghanistan for the first time, thanks to the mighty Government mighty United States military and our friends and allies. And that's important for you to remember. We face threats because we love freedom. Al Qaida represents threats, and we're dealing with them. There are countries which harbor and develop weapons of mass destruction, countries run by people who poison their own people, countries whose leadership has got a terrible record when it comes to valuing life, particularly inside their own country. And these are real threats, and we owe it to our children to deal with these threats. I will promise you that I am will be patient and deliberate, that we will continue to consult with Congress, and of course, we'll consult with our friends and allies. We will discuss these threats in real terms, and I will explore all options and all tools at my disposal, diplomacy, international pressure, perhaps the military. But it's important for my fellow citizens to know that as we see threats evolving, we will deal with them. We must deal with them. History has called us into action. We love freedom, and we'll deal with the threats that could eventually hurt our freedoms. I've asked for the biggest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President for two reasons. One, anytime we commit our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, the best equipment possible. And two, the defense budget sends a signal to our friends, allies, and to the enemy that we're in this for the long haul, that we love our freedom so much that we're in it for the long pull. I appreciate the fact that the House of Representatives has passed the defense appropriations bill and the Senate has passed a defense appropriations bill. But taking care of our military must be the first order of business when Congress returns back to Washington. We owe the military every tool they need and every dollar it takes to win this war. And therefore, I call upon the leadership of the Congress to resolve, quickly resolve the differences between the House appropriations bill for defense and the Senate appropriations bill for defense and get that bill to my desk first thing when they get back so I can sign it. I'm going to continue to work to build the economics the foundations for economic security for our people. And I believe the foundation is strong. Listen, our economy is growing. It's getting better. Inflation is low. The great news and I'm not surprised at this is that worker productivity is increasing dramatically. I'm not surprised because I know the American people. I know that the true strength of the country is our people. But listen, so long as anybody is looking for work and can't find work, I think we've got a problem. When somebody is out there who says, "I want to work and can't find a job," we need to do something about it. Look, the role of Government is not to create wealth but an environment in which the economy can grow. Everybody here knows this We're not going to tax our way to prosperity we won't regulate our way to prosperity we certainly won't litigate our way to prosperity. What we need to do is to always ask the question, "How do we increase job growth and honest enterprise and honest enterprise?" When I took office, our economy was beginning a recession. That's what the facts have shown. Then our economy was hit by terrorists. Then our economy was hit by corporate scandals. But I'm certain of this We won't let fear undermine our economy, and we're not going to let fraud undermine it either. I appreciate the work of both Republicans and Democrats to pass the biggest corporate reforms since Franklin Roosevelt was the President. And I had the honor of signing that and working with members of both parties to get this bill done. We're going to make sure the books are honest, the numbers are real, the auditors are audited, and the criminals are punished. And the task force I put together is beginning to make progress. They're investigating, arresting, and will soon be prosecuting those who have betrayed the trust of employee and shareholder alike. For corporate leaders found guilty of fraud and theft, there will be no more easy money, just hard time. And here in Mississippi, you know what I'm talking about. You know what it means to be let down by shady corporate practices. Two of the good folks with whom I met earlier today had been let down by shady corporate practices. They lost their jobs and a good portion of their retirement funds because there was corporate malfeasance. They were cooking the books. They weren't open and honest. People who dedicate their lives to building the company who hired them deserve better, not only here in Mississippi but all over the country. People who invested in a local company because of State pride deserve better. By raising the standards of conduct in corporate America, we're going to protect the jobs. By holding people accountable, we'll protect jobs and, as importantly, retirement security all across the country. And speaking about that, we've got to do more to protect worker pensions. Right now too many workers are locked into plans that force them to hold a large portion of their accounts in their company stock. There are a lot of plans that won't let people diversify, and that's not right. I believe workers ought to be able to diversify after 3 years in their company's plan. I think we ought to trust workers with their own money. Right now workers get an update every year. They ought to get updates every 3 months on their plan. They should be able to get sound investment advice. After all, it's their money. I proposed these reforms months ago. The House acted. The Senate hasn't. The Senate leadership, those who are running the Senate now, ought to bring these worker reforms forward. They ought to get this pension reform bill up and to my desk as soon as they get back from their vacations. And I'm not talking about the Senate leaders here on the front row, either. Laughter Here in Mississippi you're learning a hard lesson, that one of the biggest obstacles to growth is the lawsuit industry. That's one industry we don't want to see grow. Junk and frivolous lawsuits can ruin an honest business. Listen, small business is the backbone of our society. Most new jobs are created by small business. And when you have junk and frivolous lawsuits that could completely wipe out a small business hanging over the heads of small business people, it doesn't help. It hurts economic vitality and economic growth, and you've got to understand that. And in this State, the lawsuit industry is devastating the practice of medicine. And people around the country understand this is happening here. They're getting the message that the fastest growing industry is the lawsuit industry. Too many frivolous lawsuits in this State are being filed against doctors. That's a fact. And too many jury awards are out of control. You've got too many of your doctors that are being forced to settle cases for large amounts of money even when they haven't committed an error. And that's not right, because you know who it hurts? It hurts the people it hurts the people of Mississippi. It causes medicine, the cost of medicine, to go up, and that means people have to pay more money out of their pocket all people. You may not think so, but it's a hidden cost of your health care bill. You know what else it does? Because premiums go up or liabilities are threat ening lawsuits are threatening doctors I mean, some of the docs can't get insurance coverage, which means they no longer want to provide care. And that hurts people too. Not only does excessive lawsuits cause your bill to go up, it makes it awfully hard for people in some parts of your State to even get medical care. And that's a crime, and that's a shame. And that's a problem here in Mississippi and in other States too. I just met with some Mississippi doctors. These are people that love their communities and care deeply for their patients. But they are practicing their medicine in the face of hostile legal environments. These are good docs who can't get liability insurance or giving up their specialties or leaving their practices to go somewhere else. It's estimated by some that this great State could lose 10 percent of your physicians this year, unless you do something about it. I want to tell you about Dr. Kooyer. He's sitting right out there. He and his wife went to Rolling Fork, Mississippi, in the heart of the Delta. They did because, as he said, he felt a Christian calling to care for children, children who need help. That's what he heard. Not only did he have skills, he's got a heart. But because of frivolous lawsuits, because every time he turns the corner somebody might sue him and because of his rising liability insurance premiums, he's leaving your State. He doesn't want to leave your State. He loves Mississippi. He loves helping those who need help. He loves being a pediatrician, and so does his wife, but he's had it. And so he's leaving, which means there will be no pediatrician in that county in Mississippi. And that's a shame. Lawsuits are driving them out of your State. It's hurting people. It's not hurting big institutions it's hurting the people. Dr. Frothingham you talk about a man with a heart. You think Kooyer has got a heart? Wait until you hear Frothingham. Laughter He's a great Mississippian, grew up here, thought he might try to live in South Carolina, realized what he was missing, came back to Mississippi. Laughter He's a neurosurgeon. He talked with deep compassion about a man who suffered a trauma, a fellow he was with Johnny was with us today. He's a guy who understands that practicing medicine is more than just technology. It's concern and care. They're running him out of business. There's too many frivolous lawsuits. And that hurts the State, and it hurts the country. It hurts people. Jill Mahaffey says she got lucky. She and her husband are here. They live in the Delta too. She got lucky. She heard she's pregnant. She's getting there, getting ready. She goes to the doctor. He says, "I've got to leave" ob gyn getting ready to leave because of lawsuits, because of the threats, because even if you're a doctor who practices good medicine, you're going to get sued in this State and in other States. Believe this or not, fortunately, she was getting toxic, and the doc induced labor before he quit his practice. She says she was lucky, and she was. But these human stories, these stories of people going without or could go without have got to end in this country. And it's not just in Mississippi. There are other States being affected by the lawsuit industry, and we need to do something about it. This State needs to do something about it, and so does Washington, DC, need to do something about these frivolous lawsuits. Well, some say, "That's not a Federal issue. Here you are in Mississippi. You're talking about Mississippi's problem. Leave it in Mississippi." That's a Federal issue. I'll tell you why. If you agree with me that these junk lawsuits run up the cost of medicine, then it becomes a Federal issue when you realize all the dollars we spend on Medicare. It's a Federal issue when you think about all the money we spend on Medicaid to help people. It's a Federal issue when you think about all the veterans hospitals around the country. No, it's a Federal issue, and it's time for the Congress to pass a minimum Federal standard which says this One, if you're hurt, you ought to have your day in court, and you ought to be able to recover full economic damages no problem about that. Everybody agrees with that. If you get hurt, you ought to be able to go to your court, the courthouse, and be treated you ought to get fair compensation for your economic damages. But we cannot have unlimited noneconomic damages and punitive damages drive health care away from the people. So I strongly support and I urge Congress to have reasonable Federal limits on noneconomic damages 250,000 is reasonable. I think we ought to have a cap on punitive damages. I think we ought to have joint and several liability reform. And I know we ought to allow doctors and folks who work in hospitals to be able to evaluate practice, to be able to analyze best practices on behalf of the patients without fear of a frivolous or junk lawsuit. It's time for Congress to act. It's time. This liability system of ours should serve patients, not trial lawyers. There's more we can do, and I look forward to working with Congress to make sure economic security is solid in America. You know, I believe that when you let a man or a woman keep more of his or her own money, it means he or she is going to demand a good or a service. And when they demand a good or a service, somebody is going to produce the good and service. And when somebody produces the good and service, somebody is likely to expand the job base. That's the school of economic thought I come from. And that's why I worked closely with then Leader Lott and Speaker Hastert and people from both parties to pass a significant tax reduction on behalf of the American people. This tax reduction was well timed. When you look at the fact that our economy was now as we found out in recession when I took office, it's well timed. When people have more of their own money, it's how you fight a recession, and that was important. But interestingly enough, as a result of a quirk in the law of the Senate, these tax reforms, these tax reductions not only income tax reductions but significantly reducing the marriage penalty and repealing the death tax all those go away, all those reductions, after 10 years. For the sake of economic vitality, for the sake of allowing people to plan, for the sake of small businesses and farmers and ranchers all across the country, we need to make the tax reductions permanent. We need to make sure that construction projects go forward. After September the 11th, about 8 billion worth of construction projects were delayed or killed because people couldn't get lending, couldn't get commercial property financing for the lack of terrorism insurance. The Congress needs to act on this issue. For the sake of the hardhats here in America, for the good, hard working people in Mississippi that are building bridges and commercial projects, for the people's sake blue collar workers all across America we need to get a terrorism insurance bill that will provide some surety so that these commercial projects can go forward, so that our construction workers will be back to work. It's time for the House and the Senate to reconcile its differences and, as you do so, make sure that you keep the workers in mind and not the lawyers. So I wanted to come to Mississippi to talk to you about our Nation's priorities. And I want to thank you for giving me a chance to come. I want to tell you how I feel about the country and its future. You're looking at an optimist. There is no problem we can't solve in this country. I believe out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good. I say that with certainty because the strength of the country is the American people. The American people have got great hearts, great resolve, great compassion, and great determination. This country is going to lead the world to peace. No, I know all the war rhetoric, but it's all aimed at achieving peace. That's my dream. I want there to be peace for generations of Americans. I want there to be peace for generations of Israelis and Palestinians, peace in South Asia. And by being strong and determined, by speaking clearly about good and evil, by being patient and resolved, I believe that we can help lead the world to peace. And here at home, we can lead, all of us can lead our country to a more compassionate future. There are pockets of despair in America. There are pockets of addiction and hopelessness. So long as one of us suffers, all of us suffers, as far as I'm concerned. And yet, I fully understand the limitations of Government. We can hand out money in Washington, DC, but we can't put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. I wish I knew the law that would say, "We will all love each other." Lott would sponsor it. I'd sign it. Laughter There is no Government law. There's a universal law. There's a higher law, and that's really the strength of America. People have heard that call. People say, "What can I do to help after September the 11th?" I've said, "Love your neighbor." If you want to help, mentor a child. If you want to help, go see a shut in and tell them you love them. If you want to help, feed the hungry. Build a house with Habitat. Run a Boy Scout troop or Girl Scout troop. If you want to help, just tell somebody, "I care for you. I hope you I hope if you've got a problem, you come and call on me." You see, America can be saved one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. One person can't do everything. I know that. The task seems large, but one person can do something. I'm asking you to be that one person doing something to help make your community and Mississippi and our Nation a place of hope, a place of decency, a place of compassion for every citizen who is fortunate enough to be an American. No, the enemy hit us. They hit us, but they didn't know who they were hitting. Oh, they probably thought we'd file a lawsuit or two. Laughter But they hit a nation that loves freedom, and we'll defend our freedoms. They also found out about our heart, that out of the evil done to America will come incredible good, because we're the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming. August 06, 2002 Good morning. We're gathered here today because we share a profound concern for the safety of the most precious and important people in our own lives and the life of our country, our children. After the terror of September the 11th, many parents throughout America found themselves holding their children more closely. Unfortunately, as we work to help our children feel safer by fighting terror, America's children and parents are also facing a wave of horrible violence from twisted criminals in our own communities. During recent months, we have prayed and worried with parents as their children have been kidnaped and, in some cases, murdered. The kidnaping or murder of a child is every parent's worst nightmare. Today I call on all Federal and State and local law enforcement agencies and our communities and our citizens to work together to do everything in our power to better protect our children. I appreciate so very much the Attorney General, John Ashcroft, for his work on this issue. I appreciate Secretary Rod Paige at the Department of Education, who is working with us on this issue. The FBI has provided investigators, agents to the scenes of these horrible crimes as quickly as humanly possible, so I appreciate Director Mueller and his agents. I want to thank Ernie Allen, who is the president and chief executive officer of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. As well I want to thank Carolyn Atwell Davis, who is the government relations liaison for the Center. These are two fine human beings who care deeply about our children and are making a positive difference in the lives for a lot of families and a lot of communities around America. The most recent statistics available tell a terrible story. More than 58,000 children are abducted by non family members annually. Many of these children are returned home quickly, but some are not. Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies work every day to find these missing children and to punish severely those who have committed crimes against them. Today we're taking steps to focus on preventing crimes against children before they happen. The Department of Justice will release a handbook of simple and practical steps that parents can take to make their children safer. One of the most important things that a mom or dad can do is talk to your children very specifically and rehearse what they can say and do if they ever feel threatened. You should teach your children how to say no and how to trust their instincts. For example, children should know that unfamiliar adults usually would not ask them for directions or help. Such a request might be a trick to get their attention and, of course, to lure them away from safety. The handbook also has practical advice to help families and communities make their homes and their schools and their neighborhoods safer. Children should know a safe place to seek help if they are approached by a stranger on their way to school or if they're standing at a bus stop. We developed these guidelines with the help of Federal agencies and, of course, with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. And they're available at the Center's web site, www.missingkids.com. If a mom or a dad wants to learn more today about how to protect his or her child, go to the web site, www.missingkids.com, and learn some practical advice and some useful tips. The Department of Education will distribute the handbook to every public and private school in the country, and that's why our Secretary of Education is here. I urge the families to get these recommendations and to discuss the important safety tips with their children. Next month we will convene a White House Conference on Missing, Exploited, and Runaway Children. This forum will bring together leading national experts to focus on ways parents and communities can help shield children from the harm that is being done to some today. Recent child abductions have understandably left many of our families in fear, and the most productive response is to improve the safety of your child's environment, on the best information and the best advice. Through this conference, we'll provide that advice. Our Nation has come to know the names and faces of too many wonderful children because they've been the victims of despicable acts of violence, children like Danielle van Dam and Samantha Runnion. But in our sorrow, we are reminded of the incredible ability of all Americans to support one another in times of need and in times of crisis. Danielle's mother, Brenda, recently exchanged words of comfort with Samantha's mother, Erin, and here's what she said "We had a conversation, mother to mother, about our daughters, our pain, and also our hope that Danielle and Samantha are dancing together in heaven." No family should ever have to endure the terrible pain of losing a child. Our Nation grieves with every family that has suffered unbearable loss, and our Nation will fight the threats against our children. We can take hopeful and practical steps to improve our children's safety, and we will take those steps together. Thank you all very much. May God continue to protect America's children. Thank you. August 05, 2002 Well, thanks, "Governor" laughter I'm glad you had me back. I know that your election and Jane's election will be best for the people of Pennsylvania. And I want to thank you all for joining in his effort. I want to thank the sitting Governor, Mark Schweiker. I, too, want to commend you for your leadership. I appreciate your steady calm and your deep compassion for your fellow citizens during crisis. A lot of people got to see what you're made out of. And as Mike said, a lot of people got to see what the people of Pennsylvania are made out of as a result of that incident. And I thank you, Mark, very much. You did a fine job. I want to thank the two United States Senators from the great State of Pennsylvania for being here. We've got Arlen Specter. Thank you for coming, Senator Specter. And Rick Santorum, we appreciate Rick Santorum. He's got such a good seat only because he's never on time. But it's good to see you. Laughter But both are doing a fine job. And I also appreciate Congresswoman Melissa Hart, from this area, for being here as well. Melissa, where are you? Thank you for coming. I was pleased to meet your mother. I had breakfast with mine today. She's still telling me what to do. Laughter And I'm still listening about half the time. Laughter I appreciate so very much Carol Fisher, the future first lady of the State of Pennsylvania. I want to thank you for standing by your man and getting ready to campaign with him all across this State. There's nothing like marrying well. Laughter I know. I married really well. And Laura sends her best and her love to a lot of our friends here in the State of Pennsylvania. I'm really proud of the job she's doing as the First Lady of the United States. She brings kind of a calm, steady demeanor to a pressure cooker of a life, and I'm a better President because I married so well. And the country is better off to have her as First Lady. I appreciate very much the next Lieutenant Governor, Jane Earll. It's an honor to meet her husband and her family here. And I want to thank you for your sacrifice, Jane. It shows what kind of Governor Mike's going to be. The fact that he picked Jane shows that he's going to be a inclusive person, somebody who wants to make sure that he represents every single person in the State of Pennsylvania. You made a great pick, Mike, in seeing Jane, and you're going to make a great team when you become elected to Governor and Lieutenant Governor of this State. And Jane, it's great to see you again. Thanks for your service. I want to thank I think Tim Murphy is here. There he is. Congressman, good to see you. I appreciate you running, Tim, and I wish you all the best. I look forward to working with you next year. I also look I want to thank all the leadership of the Republican Party. Christine Toretti, who is my friend, who is the national committeewoman, is here, but and so are a lot of the grassroots activists. I know this is what they call a fundraiser, but there's a lot of people here who are going to do a lot more than fund raise. They're going to go out and put the signs up and organize the rallies and make the phone calls, mail the mailers. And I want to thank you for your efforts, and I want to thank you for the work that you have done and, as importantly, for the work you're going to do to make sure that these two good people get elected. I like Mike. I like what he's made out of. I like his character. I like the fact that he worked in the steel mills. And I like the fact that he knows how to get votes. See, I thought I ran a pretty good campaign here in the State of Pennsylvania. Laughter I didn't particularly care about coming in second, but nevertheless, I worked hard. And he told me the first time I met him, he said, "Well, you ran a pretty good campaign, but I beat you, by about" laughter "by about 600,000 votes." Laughter Here's a man who knows how to get votes. He's a man who knows how to work with both Republicans and Democrats. He's not afraid of taking his message into neighborhoods that might not be called what we call "Republican" neighborhoods, because, see, his message is bigger than just a party. He's got a great compassion for the people of Pennsylvania, starting with well, he wants to make sure every child gets educated. See, he understands the most important priority for a Governor is to promote an education system that is the best in the country. That's part of the legacy of Tom Ridge, who, by the way, is doing a fabulous job as the Director of Homeland Security. Mark understands that, and you're fixing to elect a Governor who shares the same passion. He believes what I believe, that every child in Pennsylvania and in America can learn. See, there must be some in this State and around the country who don't believe that. They've set such low standards and low expectations that the systems just shuffle people through. For the sake of Pennsylvania's future, for the sake of your citizens, you must elect a Governor who believes in the highest of high standards and who is willing to hold people accountable to make sure those standards are achieved for every single child in this State. Some in this State are willing to accept the status quo, even though the status quo is failing. What Pennsylvania needs is a Governor who has got high hopes and high expectations, a Governor who is willing to insist upon accountability, and then a Governor who is willing to do something about it when he encounters failure. We must not allow the children of Pennsylvania or anywhere else in America be trapped in schools that will not teach and will not change. I firmly believe that Mike Fisher is the right man to make sure that no child is left behind in the State of Pennsylvania. I also appreciate a man who understands that in order to make sure the public school system works, you've got to teach the children how to read. Kind of like me, he's a first things first fellow, a practical person. And I kind of get tired of all the theorists who talk education and forget to teach people how to read. We passed a significant piece of educational reform out of Washington. It says we're going to trust the Governors and local folks to chart the path to excellence when it comes to education. But it also says that we're going to insist upon curriculum that works, particularly when it comes to reading. We've got a Reading First Initiative. I'm comfortable in saying that this man will implement a good reading program all across the State of Pennsylvania, to make sure your children learn to read. And when they do, they'll learn. They'll learn science, and they'll learn math, and they'll learn self esteem. Reading is the gateway to freedom. Reading is the new civil right, and you'll have a Governor who understands that in the State of Pennsylvania. As the attorney general, Mike has had a record of making sure schools are safe. It's hard to learn, it's hard to learn to read, it's hard to learn anything in schools that aren't safe. It's important to have a Governor who's willing to blow the whistle on academic failure, and a Governor who is willing to insist that the classrooms be safe safe on behalf of the children and safe on behalf of the parents and safe on behalf of the teachers who are trying to impart knowledge. Mike has got a good record. He's got a good, solid record when it comes to enforcing the law, and he's got a good heart when it comes to insisting that every child get educated in the State of Pennsylvania. I also appreciate his attitude about small business and the entrepreneurial spirit. He knows what I know The role of Government is not to create wealth but an environment in which people can realize their dreams, in which small businesses can grow to be big businesses, in which the entrepreneurial spirit is strong in the great State of Pennsylvania. He knows that I know that most small small businesses create more jobs in America than big business that if you're interested in finding employment for the people of Pennsylvania, you've got to stimulate the growth of small businesses, which means you've got to have good tax policy. If you overtax your small businesses in the State of Pennsylvania, or in the country, for that matter, it's going to mean there's no capital for expansion there's no extra money for job creation. Pennsylvania must have a Governor like Mike who knows that the economic environment conducive for the growth of small business is vital for job creation. Mike's got a record I was impressed by the fact that when he was a State senator, he understood that Pennsylvania workers' compensation laws needed to be more fair and less burdensome on the businesses of the State of Pennsylvania, and by changing the law it not only helped worker it helped set a tone for the State of Pennsylvania so people felt comfortable about employing people in this State. This man is a job creator, and that's what the State of Pennsylvania needs as its Governor. As you know, I too am worried about jobs here in America. If anybody wants to work and they can't find a job, we've got a problem, as far as I'm concerned. If somebody is looking for work and work is not available, we need to do something about it by focusing on job creation. Part of that is to make sure there's confidence in the private sector. I was pleased the other day to sign a bill, a corporate responsibility bill that says, if you're in charge of a business, you have the responsibility to your shareholders and your employees to tell the truth, and if you don't, you will be held accountable. And Mike has done just that as the attorney general of this State. He has got a record, a clear record of enforcing laws and coming down hard on corporate fraud and saying that we expect the highest of high standards throughout all our society, that no one is exempt from the laws of our land. No, I am confident this man is going to make a fabulous Governor for the State of Pennsylvania. I strongly believe he's going to win, and I appreciate you supporting him. I also want to talk about the national challenges we face. I believe that I'm an optimist. I'm an optimist about our economy, and I should be. The fundamentals are strong. Interest rates are low. Monetary policy is sound. I can assure you I will work with Congress to control excessive Federal spending. One reason they give the President the veto power is to make sure the Congress doesn't overspend. Overspending could serve as an anchor on economic vitality and growth. I've mentioned we signed a corporate fraud bill. I also am the first Governor President in a long period of time to have what they call trade promotion authority. It means that we're going to open up markets for U.S. products, markets for the products of Pennsylvania farmers, markets of the products of Pennsylvania high tech companies. A confident nation is a nation willing to trade, and this Nation, as a result of the bill I just got and am signing tomorrow, will be a free trading nation. No, I've got confidence in the economic vitality of this country, because I've got confidence in the American people. I've got confidence in our workers. Productivity is up. I've got confidence in our entrepreneurs. People are still imagining new ways to bring new products. I've got confidence in our tax policy. See, I come from the school of thought that says, if you let people keep more of their own money, they will demand a good or a service. And if somebody demands a good or a service, somebody will produce the good and service. And when somebody produces the good and service, somebody is going to find work. We passed tax relief at exactly the right time, and Congress needs to make the tax cuts permanent. The foundation for growth is strong in America. And we'll continue to work to promote ways to foster economic vitality. And one crucial way is, when Congress gets home, gets back from heading out to their districts and their States, they need to pass a terrorism insurance bill so that large construction projects which are now on the books will move forward, so that our construction workers will have work. There are too many construction projects that are put on hold for fear of a for lack of terrorism insurance. People can't insure their projects, and so they're not moving forward. Congress needs to act, and when they act, they've got to remember, the workers are more important than the trial lawyers in America. We're making progress on securing the homeland. As I told you, Tom Ridge is doing a fine job. But I took a look at the agencies involved with our homeland security and realized that there's over 100 of them 100 different agencies over 100 agencies involved with securing the homeland. And they're scattered all over our Nation's Capital. It's awfully hard to hold anybody to account if there's over 100 agencies involved with a single mission. So I sat down with Tom and others in my administration, and we came up with a plan. We decided to create a Department Cabinetlevel Department of Homeland Security, so I can say to the American people that we have organized ourselves to better protect us from an attack by one of these killers. And we're making progress on the creation of an office of homeland security. We need an office of homeland security to make sure that the number one priority of our Government is reflected in the agencies, and that is your protection. That's the number one priority right now. And we've got to have an office of homeland security so that we can say to these agency heads, you may have other missions, but your most important mission is to protect the homeland. We've got to have a culture that becomes a part of this new Department that says, protecting the homeland is your most important job. The House of Representatives passed a good bill. The Senate will take it up when they get home. One of the things you'll hear about the Senate debate is, they're all worried about their turf and special interests and politics. For the sake of the American people, the Senate needs to pass a homeland security bill that provides me with the tools necessary to protect the homeland. You need to know there's a lot of people working a lot of hours to protect us, a lot of good folks that work in the Federal Government and the State Government and local governments, doing everything they can to chase down every possible lead, every hint that somebody might be fixing to do something to the American people. And they're out there. The killers are out there. And that's all they are, by the way. They are nothing but a bunch of cold blooded killers who hate America because we love freedom. They hate us because we love the values of freedom of religion, freedom to speak, freedom to campaign the way you want to, freedom to assemble. They can't stand that. And so they're going to they think they're going to hit us again. And we're doing a lot to protect the homeland. We really are. I am grateful for those who spend hours upon hours protecting America. But the best way to protect the homeland is to hunt the killers down one by one and bring them to justice, which is precisely what this country is going to do. I appreciate the House passing the defense appropriations bill. I appreciate the Senate passing the defense appropriations bill. And I want to thank the Members here for voting for both. Now it's time for them to get together, reconcile the differences between the two appropriations bill for our national defense, and get the bill to my desk in early September. We're at war, and I expect the appropriations bill on my desk the appropriations bill necessary to fund this war on my desk as soon as possible. It ought to be the number one priority of the appropriators when they get back from their August recess. And in that bill you'll see it's the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan. And the reason why is, anytime we send our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, the best equipment possible. And the increase in defense spending sends a message it sends a message to our friends and allies who are part of our vast coalition. It sends a message to the enemy, we're in this for the long pull. This country isn't going to quit until we secure our freedom. This country is not faint hearted. We're a determined country. We're strong, and we're united. When it comes to defending our freedoms, we understand the price of freedom is high, but we're willing to pay the price. That's the message we're sending to the enemy and to our friends. And that's an important message to send. And we're making good progress in the war against terror. We've hauled in over a couple of thousand of them. I say "hauled them in" that means "arrest" or "incarcerate" or however you want to put it. But those not only the United States have done this, but so have our friends and allies. And just about the like number haven't been quite as lucky. So we're making good progress. And this is a different kind of war, though, as you noticed. Sometimes you'll see the progress on your TV screens, and sometimes you won't. Sometimes one of these killers will get plucked off the streets of a foreign nation, and you'll never hear about it. Sometimes it will make big news. But in either case, we're making progress, one by one. The old war used to be, they'd see these infantry brigades marching across some plain or scurrying through hedgerows. That's not the kind of war we're in. We're in a kind of war now where they've got the commanders, the so called commanders of the enemy hiding in a cave, telling youngsters to go kill themselves. They send young kids to their suicide in the name of a great religion, and they, themselves, cower cowards hiding. But there's no cave deep enough for the United States. There's no cave dark enough for our troops and our friends and allies. In order to secure freedom and defend the American people, we're going to hunt them down, and we owe it to our children to do so. And we also owe it to our children to enforce these doctrines If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you close clothe a terrorist, you're just as guilty as those who killed the people of America on 9 11. And the doctrine and this doctrine still pertains Either you're with the United States and those of us who love freedom, or you're with the enemy. You see, the strategy is pretty clear. We've disrupted the Taliban. And I want the youngsters here and those of you who have got little ones at home to go home and tell your kids that we went to Afghanistan not as conquerors but as liberators. We freed people from the clutches of a barbaric regime. And now, thanks to the United States and our friends and allies, young girls get to go to school for the first time many of them for the first time in their life. And our friends understand the message. So the other day I was pleased to see that Gloria Arroyo, the President of the Philippines, went ahead and unleashed her troops and got after Abu Sayyaf, which is an Al Qaida type network which had captured some Americans, amongst others. And she hears loud and clear, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy." So the coalition is knitted up, and we're active. We're cutting off their money. We're sharing information. We're fighting the first war of the 21st century. I say "the first war" there's no telling how many wars it will take to secure freedom in the homeland. But I know this We will not and we must not allow the world's worst leaders to blackmail the United States and our friends and allies with the world's worst weapons. I'm a patient man I'm a patient man. We've got a lot of tools at our disposal, diplomatic tools, intelligence tools, military tools. We've got a lot of tools. We've got a lot of friends as well. And I'm going to take our time to make sure we get the policy right, no matter what part of the world we're in. But I understand that freedom has called us into action I mean, history has called us into action to defend freedom. I understand where we stand now in history. We have an obligation to the future. And this great country will not shirk its obligation. Out of the evil done to America can come some incredible good, and part of that good is peace. Oh, I know the rhetoric can be tough. I understand all that. But you just need to know that I believe we can achieve peace, and that's my dream. I want there to be peace here in America. I want us to be able to live the life we love and embrace the freedoms that we cherish and not worry about some killer coming to take out their problems on us because we love freedom. And I believe we can achieve peace by being strong and determined in parts of the world where peace seems to be far away. I believe we can achieve peace in the Middle East. I believe we can achieve peace in South Asia. I believe this great Nation, by being strong and determined and standing on principles and adhering to our universal values, can help the world achieve peace. And at home, I know that out of the evil done to America can come some great good. Listen, I understand and you know that in the midst of our plenty, there are pockets of despair there are pockets of addiction. There are children who say, "What is the American Dream? It's not meant for me. What is this American Dream business? I don't belong to that dream." You see, what we must understand is that we've got individuals, too many individuals, whose vision of the country is dimmed by the circumstances. But I believe and I know we can save those children, one heart or those people, one heart and one soul, one conscience at a time. Government can hand out money, but it cannot put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That's why I'm such a believer in faith based programs, charitable programs, all of which exist because somebody has heard the universal call to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. I landed at the Pittsburgh airport today, and I met six college kids from a program called Jumpstart. One went to Penn State, who has already graduated five are now undergraduates at the University of Pittsburgh. These are children who mentor 5year old kids, so that when they get to elementary school, they've got a chance to learn to read. These are children who understand that you can save America, one person at a time. They understand one person can't do everything, but one person can do something to be a good citizen. So here they are, college kids, and they've got a lot of other things to do, but part of their life as a college student is to love a child, is to make a difference in a child's life. People say, "What can I do to help?" What you can do is, love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. What you can do is to be a full citizen of the country by helping to serve others. And that's happening all across this country. You just need to know that. Out of the evil done to America can come some incredible good. Our society is becoming a more compassionate society, because there's a lot of people who have taken a step back and said, "What is my life worth? What is it all about?" One of the reasons I entered politics in the first place in the State of Texas is because I was concerned about a culture which had clearly said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." My hope was to be a part of a cultural shift which says that we must usher in a era of personal responsibility if we want our country to realize its full potential. I believe it's happening. I believe the notion of serving something greater than yourself, which is at the core of being a personally responsible citizen, has taken hold in America, probably best defined not far from here, where Flight 93 hit the ground, citizens aboard an aircraft who heard their plane was going to be used as a weapon. They told their loved ones they loved them. They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." And they served something greater than themselves in life. No, out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good, because this is a nation that is so good and decent and compassionate. I want to thank you all for coming to help Mike. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. August 05, 2002 Thank you very much. Governor, thanks for your introduction. Thanks for your calm in the midst of crisis. I want to thank you and all the good folks here in the State of Pennsylvania who rallied to save the lives and help save the lives of nine valuable citizens. Today we're here to celebrate life, the value of life, and as importantly, the spirit of America. I asked to come by to meet our nine citizens and their families because I believe that what took place here in Pennsylvania really represents the best of our country, what I call the spirit of America, the great strength of our Nation. So I want to thank you all for coming, for giving me chance to and giving me a chance to come and share with you the optimism and joy of a historic moment. First I do I want to thank Dan Walsh of the Green Tree Volunteer Fire Company for opening up this beautiful house and inviting all these folks here. Dan, I want you to know I'm a proud supporter of the Crawford Volunteer Fire Department. I understand how important firefighters are, paid or volunteer. And so on behalf of a grateful nation, I want to thank all the folks who work here at the Green Tree and all those first responders who are here with us today. Thank you for being here. I want to thank Elaine Chao of my Cabinet and Dave Lauriski, who is the Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administrator, for being here. They tell me, Dave, you did a fabulous job, and on behalf of our Nation, that's what we expect you to do. Laughter Thanks for your good work. I appreciate Members of the United States Senate Senator Specter and Congresswoman Hart and Congressman Chabot for coming. I appreciate the attorney general being here. I appreciate State Senator Earll being here. I want to thank some special citizens who have come today. They're what we call Freedom Corps greeters. They came out to the airport to say hello to me. They represent a program called Jumpstart. These are AmeriCorps workers. They're also college students. Well, at least five of the six are college students. One is a graduate of Penn State the other go to the University of Pittsburgh. The reason I'm asked them to join us here is because I want you to know, America can be saved, one person at a time. You see, this great society of ours can be changed, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. And as we're here to celebrate the victory of life, we've also got to understand there are some lives who are troubled, some lives who are despondent. Some people wonder whether not America is meant for them they live in pockets of hopelessness and despair. And these six heroic students, people who have said, "Listen, serving something greater than myself in life is an important part of being a citizen," have been a part of what's called Jumpstart. They're tutors to young kids, to make sure the kids have a chance to learn to read and write and add and subtract, have a chance to be a part of this great American experience. And so I want to thank these soldiers in the armies of compassion for setting a great example for their fellow college students and for some of us old folks as well. Thank you all for coming appreciate you being here. As I said, we're here to celebrate the spirit of America, and it's represented by a lot of folks here, a lot of people involved with what took place here in Pennsylvania and Somerset. First, the spirit is best represented by the first responders, the people who were at the site, you know, people who heard the call that one of my neighbors is in trouble, a fellow American is in need. We've got nine people trapped below the earth who might lose their life, and your fellow Americans came to your rescue. They came to work hour after hour, many of them volunteers. None asked, "Where am I going to get my next paycheck from?" All asked, "What can I do? What can I do as an American to help a neighbor in need?" And so to the first responders here, I want to thank you for your spirit. For those who volunteered hour after hour to save a fellow citizen, somebody you didn't even know but were willing to sacrifice on behalf of that citizen, thank you for a grateful nation from a grateful nation. Thanks for the example you set. Thanks for showing our fellow citizens that by serving something greater than yourself is an important part of being an American. I truly believe the effort put in will serve as an example for others in a time of crisis. The spirit of America, the best of America was represented by those who spent long hours worrying about the lives of their fellow citizens. The best of America was also represented in the technology and know how of our mine safety folks, those who on a moment's notice used their skill to devise a way to save life, took a look at the situation, reacted to the environment, predicted what might happen miles below the earth, and responded, and then rallied others. They set up a plan and a strategy. They're our folks are world renowned for mine rescue, and the Nation saw why. And there are nine lives here to testify that we're some of the best at rescuing our fellow citizens. The best of America really is the use of our technology and know how to save lives and to help others in need. The spirit of America can best be seen with the families who are here. A strong America is America based upon strong families. A strong future for our country depends upon the strength of our family husband loving wife and wife loving husband, husband and wife dedicating themselves to their children. The spirit of America was represented as family members, wives and sons and daughters and moms and dads, prayed for the safety of their loved one. They spent hours worrying about the lives of somebody they called "loved one." And out of this near tragedy comes the living example of the importance of family. It was my honor to meet the family members here today. I appreciate and I know your dads and your husbands appreciate much more than me the fact that you the energy you spent on seeing that they came out of that hole alive was an important part of rallying the country. And that's another part of the spirit of America I want to herald, and that is the prayers that were said by thousands of your citizens I mean, people from all walks of life. They didn't say, "I'm a Republican. Therefore, I get to pray," or "I'm a Democrat. I pray" "I don't care about either of them. I pray." Everybody prayed. A lot of people if I say "everybody," I don't know if everybody prayed. I can tell you, a lot prayed. A lot prayed for your safety. A lot prayed for your families. A lot pled to an almighty God that you were rescued, and thank God the prayers were answered. But most of all, the spirit of America was represented by the courage of the nine, nine folks trapped below the earth. They had one sandwich and two bottles of water. These are people that had had found an unshakable faith, not only in their fellow citizens and their families would be pulling for them but faith in God. These are men who, as old Harry Mayhugh put it, "I just didn't see how we were going to get out." That's what he said, "I don't see how we're going to get out." But he said, "We're going to we've got to pull together to get out. " In other words, they understood that they needed to rely upon each other, rely upon the strength of each. They huddled to keep warm. They said prayers to keep their spirits up. They understood they needed to tie together to fight the underground current. It was their determination to stick together and to comfort each other that really defines kind of a new spirit that's prevalent in our country, that when one of us suffer, all of us suffers that in order to succeed, we've got to be united that by working together, we can achieve big objectives and big goals. Here's a living example of people working together to save nine precious lives, to make sure that nine families were reunited. And by the way, it's that spirit that's help us going to prevail in the big challenges we face around the world, the challenge of making sure that we hunt down every terrorist and bring them to justice, because we love freedom. It is the determined spirit of America and our optimism and our ability to solve problems which will help us deal with the economic downturn. It is the great spirit of America will help us eradicate pockets of despair and poverty. I love to tell the world and our country that out of the evil done to America will come incredible good. And part of that good is a culture that says each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you're a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your children with all your heart and all your soul. But part of the era of responsibility also is, you're responsible for helping a neighbor in need. You're responsible for loving somebody like you'd like to be loved yourself. You're responsible for the health of the community in which you live. No, the spirit of America is alive and strong, as we found out loud and clear in Somerset, Pennsylvania. It's an honor to be here with you today. I want to thank you for the example you set. May God bless you. May God bless your families, and may God continue to bless America. Thank you very much. August 04, 2002 Good morning. I'm distressed to hear about the latest suicide bombers in Israel. For those who yearn for peace in the Middle East, for those in the Arab lands, for those in Europe, for those all around the world who yearn for peace, we must do everything we possibly can to stop the terror. There are a few killers who want to stop the peace process that we have started, and we must not let them. For the sake of humanity, for the sake of the Palestinians who suffer, for the sake of the Israelis who are under attack, we must stop the terror. I call upon all nations to do everything they can to stop these terrorist killers. Thank you. Now watch this drive. August 03, 2002 Thank you all very much. Please be seated. Well, thank you all very much for that wonderful welcome. This probably is the first political event I've ever traveled to by boat. Laughter And I want to thank the boat's captain, "Number 41." You're never supposed to drive a boat wearing a tie. Laughter That's why he doesn't have one on. Laughter But as you can see, we the best of our family isn't with us. My mother is back there in Kennebunkport, and the great First Lady of the United States is in Texas. But if they were here, I can assure you, they would say what I'm about to say, that Susan Collins is a great United States Senator, and Maine needs to send her back to the Senate. Both of us are really proud to be here to campaign on her behalf. We want to thank you all very much for helping her. We I urge you to make sure that you continue working for her. For those of you who lick the envelopes and make the phone calls and put out the signs and turn out the vote, get your uniforms on, because you win in all States, but particularly in Maine, through grassroots politics. You win because you energize the voters. You win because you remind the people of what a fine person you have as a United States Senator. So thank you for what you have done on behalf of Susan Collins, and as importantly, thank you for what you're going to do to make sure this fine lady returns back to the United States Senate. And I appreciate her mother and dad driving all this way. It is a long way. Laughter That's a 5 1 2 hour drive. But it's wonderful to meet the Collins family, all of them. And it says something to me that, you know, Mom and Dad and brothers are willing to stand by their sister and or child to do whatever it takes to help out. To me, that's what family is all about, and I appreciate so very much the Collins family for being here today, and thank you for supporting your little girl. Maine's got two fantastic United States Senators. Olympia Snowe is a capable lady. Olympia and Susan make a formidable team on behalf of the citizens of Maine, and it would be wise for Maine not to break that team up. It would be wise for the people of this State to make sure that they send somebody back to Washington who understands that, to get things done, you've got to work with people of both parties and who solidly rejects, like I reject, the same old, tired politics of tearing somebody down to get ahead. Susan Collins, she's a breath of fresh air in Washington, DC. She's kind of an independent thinker, I might add. Laughter I don't do everything she says. Laughter She doesn't do everything I say. Laughter But she's an ally, and I'm proud to call her friend. I want to thank very much Steven Joyce and Kevin Raye for tossing their hats in the ring. Steven is running for the Congress, Maine 1 and Kevin is running for Congress, Maine 2. Thank you all for coming. We hope you win. We look forward to seeing you in Washington appreciate it. It's nice to be here with the next Governor of the State of Maine, Peter Cianchette. I want to thank the party officials who are here. I want to thank Kathy Watson, who's the chairwoman of the Republican Party of Maine Kathy, thank you for your hard work and Jan Martens Staples, who's the national committeewoman. I want you to know that in Washington, they've got a lot of pretty good talkers, you know, people who can give a fine speech. But somehow, behind all the rhetoric, they don't get much done. That's not the way Susan Collins is. She gets a lot done. Let me talk to you about a couple of issues that's dear to her heart and dear to mine. First of all, we passed a really good education bill this year. It was called No Child Left Behind. And the reason why it was called that is because Susan and I believe that when we get it right, that we can make sure no child gets left behind in America. It means we've got to set high standards and high expectations for every child who lives in America. It means we've got to trust the local people to run the schools, that we understand that you're not going to have quality education if you try to run the public schools out of Washington, DC. And it means you've got to hold people to account by insisting upon measuring. See, we want to know. We want to know whether every child is learning how to read and write and add and subtract. And if not, we're going to blow the whistle on failure. If not, we're going to insist that people change. This business about shuffling children through the schools has got to end in America, to make sure no child is left behind. And Susan Collins understands that. An integral part of the education bill was what we call Reading First. It's a national focus on making sure that every child not a few but every child learns how to read. And Susan Collins put her stamp on one of the most important education bills in our Nation's history by leading the charge for the Reading First Initiative. The people of Maine owe her a debt of gratitude, and so do the people of America, for this piece of legislation. I want to thank you, Susan. And I appreciate her work on making sure our seniors are well treated. Susan insists, like I insist, that the Medicare program be modernized. We recognize the Medicare program has fulfilled a mission, but it's old, and it's stale, and it's tired, and it's not doing its job for our seniors. Medicine has changed, but Medicare hasn't. And we need to make sure that we've got prescription drug coverage as a part of Medicare for every senior in America, and Susan Collins is leading the charge. We just passed a good piece of legislation that says to corporate America, if you cheat, if you fudge the books, if you don't tell the truth, we're going to hold you accountable. And Susan Collins was a part of that legislation. And you need to know we're going to investigate them, and we're going to arrest them, and we're going to prosecute those who have broken their trust with shareholders, employees, and the American public. And I want to appreciate your work on that bill, Susan. And I appreciate your understanding that Government doesn't create wealth. That's not the role of Government. The role of Government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish, in which small businesses can grow to be big businesses. Our role is to make sure the climate for economic growth is strong, and it is. Interest rates are low. We've got good monetary policy. I can assure you, I will use the veto, if necessary, to make sure we don't overspend in Washington, DC. We just passed a trade bill for the first time in a long time. I want to thank Susan for her support on that trade bill. Opening up markets for American goods, for products produced in Maine, for agricultural products produced in this State, is good for workers. It's so important that we not wall ourselves off from the rest of the world. It's important that we be confident. And when you're good at something, you ought to promote it. And we're good at a lot of things in America, and we need to be selling our goods and services all across the world. I want to thank the Senate and the House for giving me trade promotion authority. I'm going to sign the bill on Tuesday, and this bill will be good for American workers. There's some other things we can do when the Senate and the House gets back. We need to pass a terrorism insurance bill to make sure that large construction projects can go forward. We want our hard hats working in America. We want our working people out there. We want there to be jobs. And the Senate and the House needs to act. They need to think about workers, not about trial lawyers, when it comes to passing good pieces of legislation like the terrorism insurance bill. And you know something, it turns out Vice President Cheney was right. He said, when we first got here, it looked like we might be in a recession. Of course, some people didn't appreciate him saying that. And then all of a sudden, the statistics came out recently, which showed that the first three quarters of my administration were negative growth. We did, in fact, inherit an economic slowdown. And thank goodness, thank goodness I convinced the Congress to let the people keep more of their own money. Thank goodness we had a tax cut. There are some people in Washington that read a different textbook than Susan and I do. They think if you raise people's taxes, it's going to be good for the economy. What we believe is that when you let somebody have their own money, keep their own money, it means they're going to demand a good and a service. And when somebody demands a good or a service, somebody is going to produce the good or service. And if somebody produces a good or a service, it means somebody is going to be able to find work. That's what that means. For the good of the American economy, we need to make the tax cuts permanent. One of the worst taxes we have in America is the death tax. The death tax taxes a person's assets more than once. You know, some of us are worried about people being forced to sell their farms or their ranches because of the death tax. And so the Senate did a smart thing, and the House did a smart thing. It repealed the death tax. But because of a quirk in the law, because of the Senate rules, the death tax comes back to life after 10 years. It is important to get rid of this tax once and for all. It's important for the small business owners in America it's important to ranchers and farmers to permanently repeal the death tax. The economic security of our people is a vital issue, and I will continue to work with Congress to make sure we pass needed legislation to keep our economy growing. Listen, anytime anybody who wants to work can't find work, we've got a problem, as far as I'm concerned. So when Congress gets back, we'll continue to talk about ways to make sure that the environment for economic growth is strong and viable. We've also got a significant issue, obviously. The biggest issue that I confront is to make sure the homeland is secure. The biggest issue, the biggest challenge that we face, the President and the Congress, is to prevent the killers from taking American life again. That's the biggest challenge. And you need to know you need to know there's some fine people in your Government doing everything they can to run down any hint or any lead, any evidence whatsoever, to make sure that they don't hit us again. It's a big chore. But there are a lot of fine Americans working hard to enable me to say that we're doing everything we can to protect you. But there's something else we need to do. We need to reorganize our Government to make sure that the homeland security function is the number one priority of many of our Federal agencies. You see, right now in Washington, there's over 100 agencies involved with the defense of our homeland. They're scattered everywhere. It makes it awfully difficult to hold anybody accountable. And so for the sake of changing the culture of many agencies, for the sake of insisting that the homeland security is the number one priority, I've asked Congress to reorganize much of our Government under one Cabinet agency called the office for homeland security. It is vital Congress gets it right. The House passed a good bill. I have listened to some of the Senate debate. They seem to think that political turf is more important than the security of the homeland. I will not accept a bill that doesn't allow me to adequately manage people and resources to better protect the homeland. The Senate must not protect their own turf. They must work to protect the American people. But the best way to protect the homeland is to hunt the killers down one by one and bring them to justice. And that's what we're going to do. And they're out there, and they're tough, but not as tough as the United States of America. You've got to understand the nature of the enemy. They hate freedom. They hate the fact that we worship freely in America. They can't stand the thought that we have open debate, that we have a free press. They hate everything we stand for, and therefore, they're relentless. But so are we so are we. You know, this is a different kind of war. I'm standing up here with a great World War II veteran. In those days, they would occupy battlegrounds, and they would move tanks across fields and formation of aircraft. This is a different kind of war. This is the first war of the 21st century. This is a war where the so called leaders of the enemy send youngsters to their death, and they, themselves, hide in caves. Oh, sometimes they group up, and when they do, they pay a significant price. But this is a war that's going to require a different way of thinking. It means we've got to have the best intelligence in the world. It means we've got to and we will maintain a vast coalition of freedom loving countries and make sure the doctrine, "Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy," sticks. This is the kind of war where sometimes you'll see our victories, and sometimes you won't. It's an international manhunt, is what it is. And we've got them on the run, and we're going to keep them on the run. And so, as long as I'm the President of the United States, we're going to run them down one by one, in order for America to be free. And we're making progress. We're making progress. We've captured and I say "we " it's not just America. I can point to country after country that has responded to our call. We've captured over a couple thousand of their leaders, of their combatants, and just about as many weren't quite as lucky. Our strategy is clear. I say this as often as I can If you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist. And the Taliban know exactly what I'm talking about now. And I want the youngsters here to understand that your great Nation did not go into Afghanistan to conquer anybody. We went into Afghanistan to liberate to liberate a people from the clutches of the most barbaric regime in history, in modern history. And we did. But we've got a lot of work to do, and we're going to do it. I asked the Congress for the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. And thanks to leaders such as Susan Collins, the Senate voted, and the House voted, significant increases. And now, when they get back, for the good of the war and for the good of the country, they need to reconcile their differences and get a defense appropriations bill on my desk as soon as possible. But Susan understands what I understand. She supported this increase in defense spending because anytime we commit an American service man or woman into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, the best equipment possible. And secondly, it's a signal to our friends and it's a signal to the enemy that we're not quitting. There's not a calendar on my desk that says, oh, by such and such a day, you've got to quit, Mr. President. When it comes to our freedom, America doesn't quit. When it comes to upholding our obligation to future citizens of our country, we don't quit. When it comes to chasing down people who would harm Americans, we don't quit, much to the chagrin of the enemy. Our task and our responsibility to history is more than just an Al Qaida network. We owe it to the future of civilization not to allow the world's worst leaders to develop and deploy and therefore blackmail free, loving countries with the world's worst weapons. I'm a patient man. I'm a patient man. I've got a lot of tools at my disposal. But I can assure you, I understand history has called us into action, and this country will defend freedom no matter what the cost. I believe strongly that out of the evil done to America will come incredible good. I believe that as this Nation leads the world, that we can achieve peace. I know that as we remain strong and united and focused on fighting terror, on spreading democracy, on embracing the values we love, that we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace in parts of the world where peace may be an afterthought to so many. See, I believe by leading the coalition for freedom, we can achieve peace in the Middle East or in South Asia. We can achieve peace not only for our homeland but for our friends and allies. No, out of the evil done to America can come some great good, not only abroad but here at home as well. It's so important for all of us to remember that, in the midst of our prosperity, there are pockets of despair and hopelessness. There are pockets of addiction. People say, "American Dream," and we've got people in America saying, "What does that mean? It certainly doesn't mean anything to me." No, out of the evil done to America can come some great good, because Americans are beginning to understand that serving something greater than yourself in life is an important part of being an American. People ask me, "What can I do to help on the war against terror?" I tell them, "Love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself." If you want to fight evil, mentor a child. If you want to do some good, go into a shut in's home and say, "I love you." If you want to be a responsible American, go into your church or your synagogue or your mosque and say, "How can I help somebody in need?" You see, out of the evil done to America is going to come some great good, because we can change America one heart, one conscience, one soul at a time. And that's what's happening in this country. I ran for Governor of Texas for a lot of reasons, but one main reason was, I was worried about a culture which had clearly said to Americans from all walks of life, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." I wanted to be part of a culture shift that says, each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life that if you're a mom or a dad, you are responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul if you're a responsible citizen, you're responsible for making sure the community in which you live is a place of bright lights and hope and optimism that you have a responsibility to help a neighbor in need. And that's happening. Out of the evil done to America is good, because people are now beginning to understand that shallow materialism is not what life is about, that helping somebody and helping our great Nation realize its full potential is the culture of America. You know, it brought home to me most vividly when Flight 93 was driven into the ground. We had people on an airplane who told their loved ones goodbye. I want it noted, they said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." They served something greater than themselves in life. I think this is going to be a defining moment in America's cultural history, because we vividly got to see what it means to be a true and patriotic American. No, out of the evil done to America out of the evil done to this country will come incredible good, because this is the finest nation, full of the finest people on the face of the Earth. Thank you for helping Susan. God bless. God bless America. August 03, 2002 Good morning. We've had a month of accomplishment in Washington. Congress acted on several important proposals to strengthen our national security and our homeland security and our economic security. Republicans and Democrats worked in a spirit of unity and purpose that I hope to see more of in the fall. I requested more money for our military and for our homeland security, and Congress provided crucial funding to continue military operations, to train and equip medics, police officers, and firefighters around America, and to support the Coast Guard operations that protect our ports and coasts. I proposed tough new standards for corporate executives and accountants and increased penalties for fraud and abuse. Congress responded with strong corporate accountability reforms, which I signed into law on Tuesday. And we are rigorously enforcing the laws against corporate crimes with new arrests just this week. For nearly a year and a half, I've been pressing Congress for trade promotion authority so I can aggressively push for open trade with other nations. This week, the Senate followed the lead of the House by giving me that authority, which I will sign into law next week. Expanded trade will mean more business for America's farmers and ranchers and manufacturers, better buys for American consumers, and good jobs for America's workers. Together, we made significant progress on national priorities. Yet, when Congress returns from its summer recess, important work remains. In March, I urged Congress in a time of war to pass the defense budget first. After 4 months, the House and the Senate have acted on their own bills, but they have not sent me a final bill that works out their differences. When the Congress returns in September, its first priority should be to complete the defense budget so our military can plan for and pay for the war on terror and all the missions that lie ahead. The Senate should also act quickly to pass a bill authorizing the new Department of Homeland Security, which it failed to do before the recess. This Department will consolidate dozens of Federal agencies charged with protecting our homeland, giving them one main focus, protecting the American people. And when we create this Department, the new Secretary of Homeland Security will need the freedom and flexibility to respond to threats by getting the right people into the right jobs at the right time, without a lot of bureaucratic hurdles. The Senate must understand that the protection of our homeland is much more important than the narrow politics of special interests. Congress should also act to strengthen the economic security of all Americans. The Senate must pass reforms to protect workers' savings and investments and reform Medicare to include prescription drug benefits. Both Houses must reach a consensus on final terrorism insurance legislation to spur building projects and create construction jobs. And they must agree on a comprehensive energy bill that will increase production and promote conservation and reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources. And as we work to strengthen America's economy, we must remember Americans who are struggling. The Senate should follow the House's lead and pass welfare reform that encourages work and promotes strong families. And they should pass legislation to promote the vital work of private and religious charities and helping disadvantaged children and people struggling with addiction, the homeless and many others. I know, in the fall of an election year, the tendency is to focus more on scoring political points than on making progress. I hope the Congress will reject this approach. In the last month we've proven how much we can get done when everyone in Washington works together on behalf of the American people. Come September, I look forward to working with the Republicans and Democrats to build on that progress. Thank you for listening. August 02, 2002 The President. August was a month of accomplishment here in Washington. Today I signed a supplemental which provided needed money for our military, money for the ongoing war on terror, and money for homeland security. Next week I'm going to sign a trade promotion authority bill, which is very important for American workers. Today the statistics are out that show that the unemployment rate is holding steady. We've got a lot of work to do to make sure people can find work, and this trade bill is going to help a lot. It's going to help our ranchers. It's going to help our farmers. It's going to help people find jobs. I signed a bill that says loud and clear that if you try to fudge the numbers, if you're a CEO of an American corporation and you don't tell the truth, you'll be held to account. And when you look at these accomplishments and you couple them with the tax cuts, the education bill, the brownfields legislation, it goes to show what is possible when people in this town set aside politics and focus on doing what's right for the American people. It goes to show that when we put our partisanship aside, when people stop all the yelling and hollering and finger pointing and say, "How can we help the American people," we can get a lot done in this town. I pledge to the American people, I'll continue leading Washington by defusing all the ugly talk, by keeping big goals in mind, by always remembering we're here to represent the American people. I hope you all have a fine weekend. I look forward to seeing you on Monday, and then I'll be signing that trade bill on Tuesday. Thank you very much. August 01, 2002 President Bush. Before I welcome His Majesty back to the Oval Office, we will take two questions apiece after our opening statements. First, Your Majesty, welcome back. I look forward to a good and fruitful discussion about our common interests. Obviously, your neighborhood is still a dangerous place. Today in America we mourn the loss of American lives. My prayers and sympathies go to the loved ones of those who were killed by terrorists who must hate the thought of peace, who must firmly believe that violence is the best hope for mankind in that part of the world, a concept I strongly reject. It's a concept that is just foreign to peace. And therefore, the first thing we must do is to work hard as a team to uphold our responsibilities and fight off terrorist activities that kill innocent life. I look forward to talking to His Majesty about how to move the foundations of peace, the prospects of peace forward in the Middle East. That's going to, of course, be discussions about a security force in the Palestinian territory that will be able to help deal with those who want to destroy the prospects for peace. I want to thank His Majesty for working with CIA Director Tenet to strategize about how to best help the Palestinians have a more secure future. We'll also be talking about the plight of the Palestinian people, how sad it is that for too long the Palestinians have suffered. They've been pawns in the game of foreign policy, and we want to help them. It's going to be very important for us as we go forward to have confidence, however, in the Palestinian government that emerges. We want to have confidence that the money that we eventually will spend to help the Palestinian people is spent on the people. We want to have confidence that those who emerge to lead the Palestinian people are long for peace and want to coexist side by side in peace with Israel. And so, Your Majesty, welcome back. I look forward to a good and fruitful discussion. King Abdullah. Thank you, Mr. President. Again, it's a delight to be back with you here, especially to discuss your tremendous commitment to bring peace and stability to our region. You have really given us hope that once and for all we will be able to move forward as Arabs and Israelis, to be able to live in harmony and have a tremendous future. We're here, obviously, to discuss how we can best move the process forward, but again, the President's very strong commitment to assist alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people, which is of tremendous importance, and we're very grateful for that. So I'm looking forward to President Bush. Thanks. King Abdullah. fruitful discussions. President Bush. Barry Barry Schweid, Associated Press . American Victims of Hebrew University Bombing Q. Mr. President, with American victims now and of course, you've touched on this, and I'm sure I know how you feel about it but does this raise the war on terrorism to a new level? Is there something the U.S. must do to respond to the murder of Americans now? President Bush. Well, Barry, we are responding to the murder of Americans. We're responding all across the globe to murders of Americans. We responded in Afghanistan to murders. We responded in the Philippines. We will we're responding by working with our Arab friends and Israel, of course, to track these people down. The war on terror is fought on many fronts. And I just I cannot speak strongly enough about how we must collectively get after those who kill in the name of some kind of false religion. I just I grieve for all people whose lives are taken by terrorist activities. I'm particularly sad today because of the American families who cry today, weep at the loss of a loved one, because there's some fanatic who believes that killing innocent life is positive. It's incredibly negative. And so, yes, Barry, we're committed to the war on terror and to fighting the war on terror and to winning the war on terror. And this bombing in Israel showed how tough it's going to be, but this country is tough and united and strong, Your Majesty. Middle East Plan for Peace Palestine Liberation Organization Q. Mr. President, you've recently articulated your vision for peace in the Middle East. However, an action plan is still needed to be crystallized. President Bush. Yes. Q. So, you know, is there any framework for such a plan? And what are the guarantees that both sides would be committed to that plan? President Bush. Well, first of all, I'm committed to peace that's I can speak for myself. And I'm committed to a vision of two states respecting each other, two states living side by side in peace. Secondly, there is an action plan going forward, and that's what I'm going to review with His Majesty. Step one is to develop a security force that actually serves the people, not a particular leader. The security force must be designed to fight off terror, not designed to serve the whims and interests of a of one person. Secondly, we've got to work together to develop a constitution, so that the institutions of a new state are bigger than any one person. And that's very important. Thirdly, that we've got to make sure that there is the capacity for the Palestinian Authority to spend money in a way that and account for money in a transparent way that will give us all confidence that when we try to help the Palestinian people, the money goes to the people. At the same time, as I mentioned in my talks, I do believe that we can get to a so called conference within the 3 year period of time. But before what has to happen is, we must have confidence in a state. Now, there are some who will say, "Well, you know, there's only one person that could conceivably make this happen from the Palestinian side." I just simply don't believe that. I believe there's all kinds of brilliant and smart and capable Palestinians that, given the chance, given a chance to emerge and by the way, people committed to peace and given the chance to articulate that vision of peace, will do so. And I look forward to working on this on the vision. It's the right vision. It will lead to peace. All parties have responsibilities, by the way, and we will continue to insist that people uphold their responsibilities. Yes, Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters . Hebrew University Bombing Q. Mr. President, thank you. I can't see you there. Israel has said it will respond militarily to yesterday's attacks. Do you support this, and is it the right thing to do at this time? President Bush. Israel must defend herself, but as I say to all parties involved, we must keep the vision of peace in mind. We must be committed to peace. We must understand that the consequences we take to make the area more secure also must be these decisions to make the area more secure must be made in the context of peace for the long run. And I'm just as angry as Israel is right now. I'm furious that innocent life is lost. However, through my fury, even though I am mad, I still believe peace is possible. And I will and I know that we can improve the conditions of everybody in the region by working toward a vision that is hopeful and optimistic and not letting the terrorists destroy the possibility for peace. King Abdullah. Mr. President. I have to support the President's vision that he does understand that, the suffering that Israelis and Palestinians and Arabs are going through in the Middle East. And what has been so reassuring to me is that the President has the commitment to work very hard with his Government to give the hope for Arabs and Israelis to be able to move to the future. And we have always been working very closely with the President, and he does have the courage and conviction to stand up for the hope that we've all had in him and his Government to bring peace and prosperity to the Middle East. And we're very grateful for your position on that. President Bush. Have you got a final question? Regime Change in Iraq Q. Mr. President, you seem to the two of you seem to disagree on Iraq. Are you going to discuss those disagreements? And could you maybe elucidate on those disagreements? President Bush. Well, I appreciate that, John John Cochran, ABC News . The policy of my Government, our Government, of this administration, is regime change for a reason. Saddam Hussein is a man who poisons his own people, who threatens his neighbors, who develops weapons of mass destruction. And I will assure His Majesty, like I have in the past, we're looking at all options, the use of all tools. I'm a patient man, but I haven't changed my opinion since the last time he was in the Oval Office. And one of the things we will do is consult with our friends, but he just needs to know how I feel. He knows how I feel, I have had the opportunity and the honor of explaining that to him before. And he'll find out I haven't changed my mind. King Abdullah. All I'd like to say is that, again, what I've found from day one with the President is, he understands the bigger picture and that at the end of the day, peace and stability for the Middle East has been at the forefront of his mind. And so we have many areas where we find common base to be able to move the region forward. President Bush. Thank you. July 31, 2002 The President. Thank you all for coming. First, I want to condemn in the strongest possible terms the attack that took place in Israel. There are clearly killers who hate the thought of peace and, therefore, are willing to take their hatred to all kinds of places, including a university. And this country condemns that kind of killing, and we send our deepest sympathy to the students and their families. I also want to make it clear to the killers, they won't stop us from rallying the world to fight their kind of terror, nor will they stop us from having a vision of peace. I look forward to continuing to work with all responsibility parties in the region, starting to insist that they work with us to stop this terror use all their power to stop organizations such as Hamas from taking innocent life. And at the same time that we do so, we must continue to work to put the institutions in place necessary for the evolution of a state which can live at peace with Israel. Secondly, we met today and talked about our economy. There is some statistics out today that showed our economy continues to grow. Second quarter growth was 1.1 percent. When you combine that with the first quarter growth, it's a 3 percent growth. This is a positive trend. We're heading in the right direction, but the growth isn't strong enough, as far as I'm concerned. And so I look forward to working with Congress to pass a trade bill, a bill which will be good for American workers, American farmers, American ranchers. I look forward to working with Congress to pass a terrorism insurance bill, a bill which will help stimulate construction work, which will help our workers, those who build buildings and construction people who work on projects. I look forward to working with Congress to show fiscal restraint when it comes to budgeting and spending the taxpayers' money. I believe Congress ought to make the tax cuts permanent, so our small businesses and taxpayers can plan with certainty. As well, we discussed this Corporate Fraud Task Force with the Attorney General, and he and I share the same strong commitment to ferret out those who have cheated employees and workers and bring them to justice, which we will continue to do. So I appreciate my Cabinet coming and sharing ideas about how we can continue the positive trends, so that the people who want to find a job can find one here in America. I'll answer some questions. Lindlaw Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press . Foreign Tax Havens Q. Mr. President, what's your position on American companies moving their headquarters to foreign tax havens? Should it be outlawed? Did Harken do this while you were a director? The President. Moving their headquarters? Q. Yes, to foreign tax The President. I don't recall Harken moving their headquarters. I think there was an issue over a arrangement with Bahrain, a drilling venture there, which I opposed, as you may recall, when I was a director of the company. Q. Should the practice be outlawed now? The President. I think we ought to look at people who are trying to avoid U.S. taxes as a problem. I think American companies ought to pay taxes here and be a part good citizens. But as far as the Harken issue, we'll try to answer all your questions on that. Q. Mr. President The President. Excuse me for a second. Q. I'm sorry, sir. The President. Yes. Reform of the Palestinian Authority Q. The Jordanian Foreign Minister is pressing for a detailed work plan for a Middle East peace accord. Is this something that's worth pursuing? The President. Well, I think it's interesting. What's worth pursuing is a detailed plan toward achieving these objectives a security force that exists to fight terror, not keep certain officials who haven't been able to deliver on the war against terror in office, a security force that will cooperate with people who care about achieving peace and will provide security, not only for the Palestinians but for the neighborhood secondly, progress toward the writing of a constitution, which will enable a state to evolve that is that will be at peace with its neighbor. These institutions, by the way, are incredibly important to because it's peace is bigger than an individual. There needs to be institutions in place that last longer than a particular individual. And the Palestinians the voice of the Palestinians, those who desire peace, needs to be heard. And so reform of these institutions are an incredible part of achieving what I believe His Majesty wants, which is two states living side by side in peace. Eventually there will be a peace conference, but there needs to be steps leading up to the peace conference, where all of us do our jobs about putting those institutions in place that will lead to peace, so that we all have confidence. Listen, one of the things that we care deeply about is the plight of the Palestinian family and Palestinian people. These people live in squalor, and they're poor, and they're downtrodden. And there's nothing more that we'd like to do is to work with our friends to provide humanitarian assistance, a strong package of aid to help these poor people that have, frankly, been used as pawns in the peace process over the decades. However, it's so important before we spend money that we're confident the money is not going to be stolen, that it be that the anti corruption reforms be in place. So these are all steps necessary, Steve Steve Holland, Reuters , to get to where we want to get. Yes, Dick Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . Consumer Confidence National Economy Q. Mr. President, are you concerned at all that consumer confidence, which came in at kind of a low number yesterday, is a harbinger of things to come, particularly as people watch their stock portfolios erode and vanish? Will this make them less likely to spend and put more pressure on the recovery? The President. I think look, let me just give you my own consumer confidence index. I am positive about the our economy. I feel very optimistic about it, because I look at the facts. And the facts are that inflation is low interest rates low productivity is high. We're going to get a trade bill which will help, presuming the Senate acts this week. I feel strongly that they're that having now it turns out, having been through three quarters of negative growth, when I first came into office, we've had three quarters of positive growth. I think that's the right trend, Dick. So I'm optimistic about this, and I think when the American people take a look at the facts and are confident about those facts, like I am, they will they're going to realize we've got a bright future ahead of us. And I am upbeat. And I think most of the people around this table are upbeat about the prospects for people being able to find work. Thank you all. July 30, 2002 Thank you very much. Welcome to the White House, and welcome to this historic occasion. During the past year, the American economy has faced several sudden challenges and proven its great resiliency. Terrorists attacked a center and symbol of our prosperity. A recession cost many American workers their jobs, and now corporate corruption has struck at investor confidence, offending the conscience of our Nation. Yet, in the aftermath of September the 11th, we refuse to allow fear to undermine our economy, and we will not allow fraud to undermine it either. With well timed tax cuts, we fought our way out of recession and back to economic growth. And now with a tough new law, we will act against those who have shaken confidence in our markets, using the full authority of Government to expose corruption, punish wrongdoers, and defend the rights and interests of American workers and investors. My administration pressed for greater corporate integrity. A united Congress has written it into law. And today I sign the most far reaching reforms of American business practices since the time of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. This new law sends very clear messages that all concerned must heed. This law says to every dishonest corporate leader "You will be exposed and punished. The era of low standards and false profits is over. No boardroom in America is above or beyond the law." This law says to honest corporate leaders "Your integrity will be recognized and rewarded, because the shadow of suspicion will be lifted from good companies that respect the rules." This law says to corporate accountants "The high standards of your profession will be enforced without exception. The auditors will be audited. The accountants will be held to account." This law says to shareholders that "the financial information you receive from a company will be true and reliable, for those who deliberately sign their names to deception will be punished." This law says to workers "We will not tolerate reckless practices that artificially drive up stock prices and eventually destroy the companies and the pensions and your jobs." And this law says to every American "There will not be a different ethical standard for corporate America than the standard that applies to everyone else. The honesty you expect in your small businesses or in your workplaces, in your community or in your home, will be expected and enforced in every corporate suite in this country." I commend the Congress for passing a strong set of reforms. I particularly thank Senator Paul Sarbanes and Congressman Mike Oxley. Both are very thoughtful and were persistent voices for reform. They are true advocates of corporate integrity. I appreciate their working together to send a signal to the rest of the country that it's possible in Washington, DC, to set aside partisan differences and to do what's right for the American people. I also appreciate the bipartisan leadership in the Congress, and I particularly thank Senator Daschle and Senator Lott who are with us here today. I want to thank members of my Cabinet who worked on this bill Secretary of Treasury O'Neill and Attorney General Ashcroft, Secretary Evans, Secretary Chao. I appreciate the FBI Director being here, along with the Chairman of Securities and Exchange Commission, Harvey Pitt. I appreciate the Corporate Fraud Task Force members who are here. I want to assure the American people, they're just getting started. America's system of free enterprise, with all its risk and all its rewards, is a strength of our country and a model for the world. Yet, free markets are not a jungle in which only the unscrupulous survive or a financial free for all guided only by greed. The fundamentals of a free market buying and selling, saving and investing require clear rules and confidence in basic fairness. The only risks, the only fair risks are based on honest information. Tricking an investor into taking a risk is theft by another name. Corporate executives must set an ethical tone for their companies. They must understand the skepticism Americans feel and take action to set clear standards of right and wrong. Those who break the rules tarnish a great economic system that provides opportunity for all. Their actions hurt workers who committed their lives to building the company that hired them. Their actions hurt investors and retirees who placed their faith in the promise of growth and integrity. For the sake of our free economy, those who break the law, break the rules of fairness, those who are dishonest, however wealthy or successful they may be, must pay a price. Today we are taking practical steps to encourage honest enterprise in our Nation. Under this law, CEOs and chief financial officers must personally vouch for the truth and fairness of their companies' disclosures. Those financial disclosures will be broader and better, for the sake of shareholders and investors. Corporate officials will play by the same rules as their employees. In the periods when workers are prevented from buying and selling stock in their pensions or 401(k)s, corporate officials will also be barred from any buying or selling. Corporate misdeeds will be found and will be punished. This law authorizes new funding for investigators and technology at the Securities and Exchange Commission to uncover wrongdoing. The SEC will now have the administrative authority to bar dishonest directors and officers from ever again serving in positions of corporate responsibility. The penalties for obstructing justice and shredding documents are greatly increased. Corporate crime will no longer pay. CEOs who profit by betraying the public trust will be forced to return those gains to investors. And the maximum prison term for common types of fraud has quadrupled from 5 to 20 years. For the first time, the accounting profession will be regulated by an independent board. This board will set clear standards to uphold the integrity of public audits and have the authority to investigate abuses and discipline offenders. And auditing firms will no longer be permitted to provide consulting services that create conflicts of interest. This law gives my administration new tools for enforcement. We will use them to the fullest. We will continue to investigate, arrest, and prosecute corporate officials who break the law. The Corporate Fraud Task Force I established is now hard at work, overseeing investigations of alleged fraud and insider trading. More than 200 Federal prosecutors are at work detecting and punishing corporate crimes. Every corporate official who has chosen to commit a crime can expect to face the consequences. No more easy money for corporate criminals, just hard time. As the work of enforcement proceeds, I hope Congress will join me in other important efforts to protect the savings and investments of Americans preparing for retirement. We've seen how workers can lose a lifetime of savings overnight, locked into pension plans without adequate choices and information. Workers should be able to sell company stock and diversify into other investments after 3 years in their own company's plan. They should receive updates on their retirement accounts, not once a year but every 3 months. They should have access to sound investment advice. I have proposed pension protection reforms. The House has passed them. I hope the Senate takes them up soon. We must also work together to promote more growth in the economy and jobs for the American people. The fundamentals of our economy are sound. After all, sales of automobiles and new houses are on the rise. New unemployment claims have been falling since April. Inflation is low. Productivity is increasing, and growth continues. Those are signs of strength in our economy, and with the right policies, we can build on it. We must continue to work to control Federal spending and make the tax cuts permanent, so Americans can save and plan for their own future. We must tear down trade barriers, so people everywhere can buy American. We must make terrorism insurance available to spur more construction. And on energy, we must encourage conservation through new technology and produce more energy at home, to give our economy safe and steady sources of power and make our country less reliant upon foreign sources of power. The attacks against our economy in the last year have caused deep hardship and highlighted the economy's fundamental strength. The American economy is more diverse and more innovative than ever before, and its greatest strength, the people who make it work, are better trained and more productive and more highly skilled than ever before. Whenever we face challenges, from the fear that threatened our economy after September the 11th to the fraud that threatens investor confidence today, we've tackled them head on. The American economy depends on fairness and honesty. The vast majority of businesses uphold those values. With this law, we have new tools to enforce those values, and we will use those tools aggressively to defend our free enterprise system against corruption and crime. It is now my honor to sign the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002. July 29, 2002 The President. Well, thank you, "Governor." Laughter I want to thank you all for coming. I'm really glad to be back in South Carolina. I've got a lot of fond memories here, if you know what I mean. Laughter And we've got a lot of friends here, too. It's a great State. After all, it's the State where my mother went to high school. But it's an honor to be here to work for the next Governor of the State of South Carolina. I want to thank you all very much for supporting Mark. You know that when you find a good one, you've got to help him, and you've found a good one in Mark Sanford. I particularly thank those who are going to put up the signs and lick the envelopes and make all the phone calls, those tireless workers at the grassroots level who can decide the fate of an election. You've got a vibrant Republican Party here in South Carolina. You've got a lot of folks who never get thanked enough. And so not only do I want to thank those who have helped Mark financially, I want to thank those of you who are going to put some shoe leather out there to work hard to make sure that you turn out the vote next November. It's important for our country it's important for this State that this good man become the next Governor of the State of South Carolina. And I love a family man. They started coming through the photo op line I never thought the Sanford kids were going to stop. Laughter But it was an honor to meet Marshall, Landon, Bolton, and Blake, but more importantly, the mom, Jenny Sanford, the great future first lady of the State of South Carolina. We both married above ourselves. Laughter I'm sorry the First Lady is not here with me. She's hiking. But I can't tell you how proud I am of her. She's doing a fabulous job as the First Lady of the United States. Who would have thought a former public school librarian, who didn't like politics or politicians laughter would be where she is? Thank goodness. She's doing great. A lot of you who I met earlier said they're praying for me and praying for my family. It's the kindest gift you can give a President and his family, and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers. I want to thank members of the fine South Carolina delegation who are here. That would be Congressman Henry Brown, right here from Charleston Congressman Joe Wilson I first met him one time when I was marching with him in the Okra Strut in Irmo Congressman Jim DeMint, from up north laughter and the next United States Senator from South Carolina, Lindsey Graham. I appreciate some of the State folks showing up, too. There will be two former Governors here, Carroll Campbell and Jim Edwards. I want to thank them both for being here. And Mark, when you win, you need to ask their advice. They were great Governors for the great State of South Carolina. I also want to thank Iris for being here as well. Iris, it's great to see you again. And I want to thank Ann Edwards as well. I also want to thank my friend the Lieutenant Governor, Bob Peeler, for being here as well. Thank you for coming, Bob. And I want to thank you and the attorney general, Charlie Condon, for working hard to unite the Republican Party. And I know the speaker is here. David H. Wilkins. Yes, sir. The President. Mr. Speaker oh, there you are. Laughter I appreciate you coming. It's great to see you again, friend, great to see your great wife. Tell those boys of yours hello for me. I also want to thank Gresham Barrett, who's going to become the who is the Republican candidate for the third congressional district. We're pulling for you, Gresham. We wish you all the best. Thank you for being here. I think it's fairly important to have somebody who is going to be your Governor who is willing to change the tone if the tone is divisive. See, what we need is more people in public office who understand it's important to unite people to get things done. And there's nothing worse than old style politics, the politics that wants to pit one group of people against another, the politics that says it's much better to call somebody names than to lead. And when Mark says he wants to change the tone in the statehouse in South Carolina, I believe him. And I believe it will be important for the people of South Carolina to have a change of tone in the capital, so he can get some things done on behalf of all the people of this State. Not just the Republicans but all the people of South Carolina need a Governor who's willing to set big goals, a strong agenda, willing to bring people together to work toward those goals. And there's nothing more important than to making sure that every single child in this State gets a good, quality education. We passed some good legislation in Washington. And one of the things that legislation does is passes power out of Washington, so that the local folks can figure out the path to excellence for every child. And I'm confident in saying to the people of South Carolina, flexibility, with Mark as the Governor, will make it more likely that every child in this State will be educated. It also means you better have somebody as the Governor who believes every child can learn. It means setting the highest of high standards. You see, I found out as the Governor of Texas, and I have learned as the President, if you set the bar low, if you don't believe everybody can learn, you're going to get bad results. If you have low standards for every child, if you believe, "Oh, there are some kids in my State who can't learn," guess what's going to happen. Certain of the children won't learn. And the people will be satisfied with just passing kids through the system, as if they don't matter. No, I believe it's important to put people in office who set the highest of high standards, who believes every single child can learn, and who's willing to measure to determine they are. I think it's so important to have a Governor who believes in strong accountability, who wants to measure early whether or not children can read and write and add and subtract and, if they can't, do something about it early, before it's too late. It is so fundamentally important that we view each child as a child of potential, and that we determine whether or not the child is learning. And if they are, praise the teachers. But if we find children trapped in schools that won't teach and in schools that won't change, you better have a Governor who's willing to blow the whistle on failure. Every child matters, and no child in South Carolina or no child in America should be left behind. I appreciate having a man who understands the money he's spending as your Governor is not the government's money. It's the people's money. And he's a man who set a good example. I was impressed when I read that he held his office expenses down, maybe thought the Government was writing too big a check for the expenses there when he was a Congressman, saved a million and a half dollars of taxpayers' money and gave it back into the till, put it back in. He understood that when he got a pay raise, that rather than accepting the raise, he'd give it to charity. He's a man who leads by example. And I think the people of South Carolina ought to pay attention to that example, because I know firsthand that there's always a budget crisis if you have a Governor who's saying, "Everything matters. We're not going to set priorities." It's important to have somebody who's fiscally sound with the people's money, who understands whose money it is and is willing to set priorities. We need a little of that in Washington, DC. It seems like every program that comes along is something that needs a little extra money. In order to make sure that we hold the line in Washington or hold the line in South Carolina, that's why they give the chief executives the veto. And I'm confident this man will use his powers wisely to protect the taxpayers' money, for the good of all people who live in the State of South Carolina. And so I'm proud to be here to support Mark. And I ask you to work hard. It's a tough run when you're running against somebody who has been there for a while. It's never easy. But I'm convinced he's going to win, and I want to thank you for helping him win. We've got a big we've got a lot to do in Washington. Before they run me out of here, I'd like to tell you how I think things are going in the Nation's Capital. First, I know there's a lot of concern about our economy. After all, if somebody wants to work and can't find a job, can't find work, that's a concern. It's a concern of mine to know that there are Americans who are still looking for a job and can't find one. And we need to do something about it. We need to make sure that the foundation that we've put in place for job creation remains strong. And I believe the foundation is strong for economic growth. After all, inflation is down, and interest rates are low. We've got wise monetary policy. I strongly believe the fiscal policy we put in place which is giving people some of their own money back so they can spend it, as opposed to the Government made eminent sense for economic vitality and job creation. And the Congress now needs to make those tax cuts permanent so people can plan. The Senate, when they get moving, is going to get me a trade bill so we can open up markets, which will create jobs for workers all across the country. We need to get a terrorism insurance bill out that doesn't reward the trial lawyers but in fact encourages construction projects to go forward that can't get insurance. And tomorrow I'm signing a good bill. It's a bill overwhelmingly embraced by Republicans and Democrats that says loud and clear to corporate America, we expect you to be responsible. We expect you to be responsible with the people's money. We expect you to be responsible for the shareholders and your employees. And if you're not, we're going to investigate you, arrest you, and prosecute you, if you don't uphold your responsibilities. I'm optimistic about our economic future, and I'm optimistic about the security of our homeland as well. You need to know that we face an enemy that are coldblooded killers, the best way I can describe them. These are people that hate freedom. They hate what we stand for, and they can't stand the fact that we are tolerant of each other, that we worship freely and speak our minds. They hate that. And therefore, so long as we're willing to defend our freedom, they'll come after us. But they also didn't understand America. I just can imagine their meetings. They must have sat around saying, "Well, we attack them, they probably won't do anything. It's such a materialistic society. You know, Americans are so self absorbed, so selfish, so worried about their own bottom line that they'll just oh, they may file a lawsuit or two" laughter "but that's all they'll do." They didn't understand the nature of this country. They didn't understand that when somebody attacks our freedoms, when somebody tries to take away the values that we hold dear, we're plenty tough we're plenty resolute and we're plenty strong. At home we're doing everything we can to protect the homeland by chasing down any kind of lead, any kind of hint, any kind of any bit of evidence that somebody might be trying to do something to the American people. Our most important priority in Washington is to protect the innocent lives of the American people. As you know, after a lot of thought and study, I decided to form what I call the Department of Homeland Security. And the reason I did is because there's hundreds over 100 agencies all involved with securing the homeland in Washington. They're scattered all over the place up there. And when you've got so many agencies, it makes it awfully hard to hold people accountable. I believe in aligning authority and responsibility in order to get good results. And so I've asked Congress to join me in setting up a Department of Homeland Security so we can better coordinate the efforts to secure the homeland. You see, we need to know who's coming in our country and why they're coming in and what they're bringing in and if they're leaving on time. So we need to reform the border security of the United States of America. We need to have an effective strategy dealing with the heroic first responders in South Carolina and all across America those would be your police officers and your firefighters and your EMS teams so that if there's an emergency, there's an adequate response. We need to be able to better deal with the potential threat of weapons of mass destruction. And we need to be able to take all the intelligence gathered from different agencies and analyze them and address vulnerabilities to the United States of America. That's what we need. We need somebody who I can hold accountable. We need to be able to say to the American people, "We understand our most important priority is to protect our country, and therefore we formed a Department of Homeland Security with a variety of agencies underneath the umbrella, all of which have got one responsibility, a primary responsibility. And that's to protect the homeland." And I want to thank the House for moving, and I hope the Senate gets me a bill soon which will give me the ability to run the Department and give me the ability to be able to say to the American people, "We put politics aside and focused on securing our homeland as the most important priority in Washington, DC." But the best way to protect our homeland is to hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice, and that's what our country is going to do. And we're making progress. This isn't one of those wars where, you know, you can watch everything on TV or a war where they will eventually study they've had mass movements of infantry and artillery and squadrons of aircraft flying all over the place from one point to another. This is a war where we're literally chasing them down and treating them like they are, which is international criminals. That's all they are. And we're making pretty good progress. We've we, when I say "we," we've got a mighty coalition of freedom loving countries who've joined us, and others who have heard the message, "Either you're with us, or you're with the other ones." And by the way, that doctrine still holds. Either you're with the United States, or you're not. Over a couple of thousand of them have been captured. And just about that many weren't as lucky. And our friends are still still understand the stakes. You know, I was a little worried about, the farther we got away from September the 11th, the more likely it is people would forget the horror. But the coalition is still strong. And the reason it's strong is because the American people are strong. The American people are united. The American people are resolved. The American people understand the stakes, that we're fighting for freedom itself, that we're fighting for civilization. A good example of that came in the Philippines a while ago. The President of the Philippines asked for some help, would we help her she asked if we'd help her train some of her troops, and I said, "You bet. Either you're with us, or you're with the other guys, and we're willing to help." And as a result of the bravery of the Philippine troops and the skill of our troops training them, they brought to justice, in the ultimate way, the leader of the Abu Sayyaf group, which is an Al Qaida related organization. In other words, what I'm telling you is, is that we're denying them sanctuary. We routed them out of we routed the Taliban. If you harbor a terrorist, you're a terrorist. The Taliban found out what we meant. We got them on the run. Sometimes they light, and we figure out where they are, and the brave United States military will chase them down. Sometimes they're scrambling around. But wherever they try to go, we're going to get them, no matter how long it takes, because you see, history has called us into action. This is a defining moment. The 21st century will be decided as to how the United States responds. And so long as I'm the President, we're going to respond in a determined, focused, effective way by defending freedom, no matter what the cost. And that includes understanding we cannot let the world's worst leaders blackmail the United States or our friends and allies with the world's worst weapons. And so I want to share with you my thinking. My thinking is, we owe it to our children and our grandchildren to do everything we can to disrupt known terrorist groups, to find folks that think they want to team up with terrorist groups, that we owe it to our future to use our standing and our might and our wealth to define the 21st century as one which will be peaceful and hopeful and, most importantly, free. Out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good. I truly believe that. I can say that with confidence. I believe that, when we remain strong and forceful and tough and resolved, that we can bring peace not only to the United States but into parts of the world which may never dream they'll have peace. I believe, by the United States taking a leading role and standing on principle and speaking clearly, that we can help achieve peace in the Middle East or in South Asia. You need to go home and tell your kids or your grandkids that the reason we fight the way we fight is because of peace. And this can happen, and I believe it will happen. And here at home, you've got to understand and I know you do that in spite of our wealth, in spite of our prosperity, there are pockets of despair and pockets of hopelessness, pockets of addiction, pockets where people say, "America's not meant for me." But I believe out of the evil done to America, this good will happen that our fellow citizens will understand that by loving a neighbor like they'd like to be loved themselves, they can help eradicate that despair that by unleashing the great faith based institutions which exist all across America, we can bring hope where there's darkness by calling upon the best of America, the great character of the American citizens, the understanding that when one of us suffers, all of us suffers, that we can change this country one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. You saw the great spirit of America recently in Pennsylvania. When their miners were trapped, people prayed for their deliverance. Americans spent hours trying to figure out how best to save those miners, came up with a plan, successfully got each and every one of them out. I want to thank God for the prayers of the American people for helping them, and thank God for their savior their saving. That's the kind of country we live in. It's a country fundamentally strong and great. I believe out of the evil done to America, the culture of our country is changing from one which has said, "If it feels good, go ahead and do it," to "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture which says, "Each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life." You see, there's an understanding after September the 11th, after the evil people hit us, that serving something greater than yourself is a part of being a patriotic American. That came home most clearly to me, most vividly to me, when I heard the story of Flight 93, where average Americans were flying across the land. They found out their plane was going to be a weapon. They told their loved ones they loved them. They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." They took the plane in the ground to serve something greater than themselves in life. That example will shine brightly for a lot of Americans, including me, that in order to be an American, in order to understand and help people realize the full potential of our country, it's important to serve something greater than yourself. Now, out of the evil done to America is going to come incredible good, because this is such a good and compassionate and decent country. Thank you all for coming to help Mark. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. July 29, 2002 Thank you all very much. It's great to be back in Charleston. I want to thank you for taking time out of your day to come by and say hello. It's good to be back to the place where my mother graduated from high school. She must have learned there that if you ever get to be a mother, make sure you tell your oldest son what to do all the time. Laughter I'm still listening. I am so honored that Tommy traveled down with me. You know, Tommy and I were fellow Governors. I knew he had a good record as the Governor of Wisconsin in helping move people from welfare to work. So that when I one, I asked Tommy to join us as the Cabinet Secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services, because I know I know his passion for helping people in need, and I know his philosophy. And so I want to thank Tommy for agreeing to leave the life he had there in Wisconsin and moving to Washington, DC, and serving our Nation with such class and such distinction. I appreciate you, Mr. Secretary. I want to thank some of the members of the mighty South Carolina congressional delegation who have joined us here today, Congressmen Brown, Wilson, Graham, and DeMint, who represent your State with such class. And I appreciate you all coming. And it's good to see that my friend the Lieutenant Governor, Bob Peeler, is here with us as well. Thank you, Bob, appreciate you coming. And I want to give a special thanks to Bob Olson, the principal of this high school. I know it's not easy to host a Presidential visit. The entourages are quite large. But you all have done a fabulous job. It's such an honor to be here in this high school. I want to thank you for Bob, you and the teachers, all the folks who work here for being involved in education. There's nothing more important to make sure that every single child in America gets a quality education. I just had what they call a roundtable discussion about some of the programs that are taking place here in South Carolina, programs all aimed at helping people help themselves. I don't have time to go through all the stories, but there are some remarkable people that joined us today, those who have worked hard to get off welfare to succeed and those kind, compassionate souls who are helping them. And I want to thank the participants for coming today. I really appreciate our discussions. I also met Steve Riggs, who is a volunteer here in South Carolina. He came out to Air Force One. Steve's job is to as a volunteer is to work with the South Carolina military department, which reenacts moments of American history. Steve believes it's important to teach history live history or history that through people wearing uniforms, so they can see history come to life. He believes it's important to teach our youngsters values that they can hold dear for the rest of their life. Steve decided to do this on his own. It didn't require any Government edict or any proclamation. He's a volunteer to make South Carolina the best State it can be, and I'm honored you're with us today, Steve. Thank you for coming. The reason I like to talk about people like Steve and many of the people I met this morning share the same concept that one person can do something to help change America, and each of us have got to be a person helping to change America. If you want to fight evil, if you want to join the war on terror, do some good in your society. If you want to send a message to the evil ones who attacked us, one way to do so is to love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. And that's what's happening all across America. I can't imagine what went through the mind of the enemy when they attacked us. They must have thought America and Americans were shallow people, so materialistic that when it came to defending something we hold dear, we'd just kind of file a lawsuit or, you know, wring our hands, be afraid of our shadows. But they didn't understand America, see. And they're learning a pretty tough lesson about this country When it comes to the defense of our freedom, when it comes to defending that which we hold dear, we're plenty tough, and we're determined, and we will succeed. Now, we're making progress on the war against terror. It's a different kind of war. Steve reenacts battles where there used to be infantries moving against infantries and artilleries moving against artilleries and flights of aircraft flying all over the this is a different type of war. These folks are nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers who they'll send youngsters to their death, and they'll hide. And so this country, in order to protect America, is going to hunt them down one person at a time, no matter how long it takes, one person at a time. I know this is a great military town, and I want to thank all of you who have got loved ones in the United States military. Please pass on from their Commander in Chief that we're proud. We're proud of their service, and we're proud of their sacrifice. We're making progress on our economy. The foundation for growth is strong in America. Interest rates are low. Inflation is low. Monetary policy is sound. Fiscal policy is sound. Productivity is up. And tomorrow I'm going to sign a bill that says as clearly as we can possibly say it out of Washington, DC by the way, a bill supported by both Republicans and Demo crats that if you're a CEO and you think you can fudge the books in order to make yourself look better, we're going to find you we're going to arrest you and we're going to hold you to account. And as Tommy mentioned, we're making great progress on helping people help themselves, so they do not become dependent upon Government. We're helping people become independent people, so they can realize their full human potential. The welfare reform is a true success story. Since the passage of the bill in 1996, welfare caseloads have dropped more than 50 percent. It's a remarkable achievement 50 percent fewer people on welfare. Today, 5.4 million fewer people live in poverty than in 1996 2.8 million fewer children live in poverty. And that's positive for America. And an incredibly vital statistic is, the percentage of African Americans and children in poverty is the lowest ever. The success of welfare reform is not in the numbers, however. The success of welfare reform is not in the caseloads cut. The success in welfare reform is the number of people whose lives have been changed in a positive way. That's the success. And we've got many success stories in South Carolina and all across the country. I'm sure there are some here who I haven't had a chance to meet. Today I did meet Lushanda Bright. She talked about her life and her story. First of all, she had the toughest job in America, which is being a single mother. That's the hardest work in this country, by the way, is trying to raise your children on your own. And that's what she was doing. She was a 24 year old at the time. She had two young children. She was on unemployment benefits, and they were about to run out in August. But she didn't just want a job. She wanted to do something better for herself and for her children. And so she hooked up with a group here, all aimed at helping people go from welfare to work, a group that came to be after the '96 law, because the Federal Government finally in its wisdom said, "We ought to trust the local people to help, the local people to design the programs that best work for South Carolina, people we're trying to help" that all knowledge isn't in Washington, DC. As a matter of fact, the more we trust the local people, the more likely it is that good programs will spring forward to help the Lushanda Brights of the world. And such a program is called Moving Up. And they helped Lushanda. They asked what she wanted. They asked what they could do to help. She enrolled in Northeastern Technical College. She completed several courses on medical insurance and billing by the way, while working at a convenience store and being a mother of two. Today, she has a full time job at Marlboro Park Hospital. In the fall she's going back to school to continue her education. And here's what she had to say "A whole lot has changed for me. My life has turned around. It was hard, but I went from having nothing and ended up with a job I love." Lushanda, thank you for coming. Thank you for sharing with us. I appreciate you being here. These are the human stories. These are stories which are repeated over and over again all across America because of a philosophy inherent in the 1996 welfare reform bill that says people can achieve, just give them a chance. Help people help themselves, and amazing things will happen in America. I understand leaving welfare is not easy, but it's an essential step toward independence from Government. Work is the pathway to dignity and to freedom and to self respect. The stories that you hear across America are a tribute to personal effort. They're a tribute to the organizations which help them, and they're a tribute to the businesses which employ the people who want help. They're a tribute to corporate America, which understands there is a responsibility not only to be honest about the books but a responsibility to help in the communities in which they exist by helping people who want to help themselves. And so the welfare reform bill passed in '96 is a real success. And so the fundamental question facing the country and facing the Members of Congress is, what to do when the bill becomes comes up for reauthorization. In other words, the way things work in Washington is, if you pass a law, sometimes it doesn't exist forever. In this case, this requires a reauthorization. And Congress has got to choose whether or not we will continue to reform to help people, or will law undermine the clear successes that have taken place since '96? That's the fundamental choice facing your elected Representatives. I believe that compassionate welfare reform must move forward, to strengthen work, to insist upon work as one of the benchmarks for success, because I believe work increases somebody's self worth and dignity. I know that the welfare bill, the reauthorization, needs to encourage marriage and family. In order to help people, we also have got to start with our youngsters early, and the welfare reform effort, the reauthorization, must support effective teen abstinence programs. I urge Congress to join me on these principles, these practical ways to help make America a better place. Congress must always remember that when they write law, that we've got to trust the local folks as well, that one size doesn't fit all when it comes to trying to help people help themselves, that the more flexibility there is for people at the local level to design programs that work, the more likely it is we'll achieve national objectives, which is fewer people on welfare, more people working fewer people despondent, more people hopeful fewer people addicted, more people free free to realize the great potential here in America. And so we and we made some work made some progress. The House of Representatives, these Members here, stayed with us on a very important bill that on the reauthorization bill which supports stronger work requirements. Today, for example, on the average in the State States require work of only about 5 percent of the adults on welfare. In other words, the goal is incredibly low. If you require work from only 5 percent of the adults on welfare, you're likely to achieve that objective. That means a lot of other people aren't working, and that's not right. Every State should be required within 5 years to have 70 percent of the people on welfare working. That's not just a statistic, however. Inherent in the 70 percent number means that we've got to help people at the same time, that we've got to provide the resources, the flexibility and the flexibility so we can help people find work. Programs like Moving Up work, and we've got to encourage programs such as that, not stifle them but encourage them. And here's what I mean by work That means 40 hours a week. Now, I fully understand some people need help, and so as part of the 40 hour workweek, 16 of those hours can be hours spent on job training or education, on skills, on going to courses which help on changing skills. It is so important that we have high standards, flexibility, but also recognize that people need help. People that want to work, and on welfare, many times don't understand how to even get started. Many of them haven't even graduated from high school. And that's why the proposal also recognizes that an adolescent mom, for example, can meet her work requirements and still be helped by attending high school. There are some in our society who are addicted. They might want to work, but they've got to deal with their addiction first. And so part of the work requirements can be 3 months in full time drug rehabilitation programs. The point is, is that we've got to give people the tools necessary to improve their lives and at the same time understand how important work is in freeing people from the clutches of our Government. And Congress must hear that message when it comes to work. It is also important to understand that a more hopeful society is one in which we encourage strong marriages and families. I understand building and preserving a family is not always possible I know that. But it should be a national goal. We ought to aspire for what's best, and what's best is for our families to remain intact. All you've got to hear is from the man I met today, Patrick, talk about the fatherhood initiative. He talked in compelling terms about what it's like to have dads want to be a dad and, when Dad is reunited with their families, how vital and how real that person's life becomes and, more importantly, how hopeful the life becomes for the children. He works for the Sisters of Charity Foundation on the Fatherhood Initiative. There are such initiatives throughout our society many in the faith community, by the way initiatives that ought to be supported by the Federal Government. And so, therefore, the bill that the House passed, that I proposed in my budget, I have 300 million on an annual basis to support education programs and counseling programs, out of the faith community and out of the charitable community and out of the government community, all aimed at encouraging marriage, all aimed at helping couples to build and sustain healthy marriage in our society. Families are important for our children. Families are important for American women and American men. Families are important for America. In order to help people help themselves, I strongly believe that we must encourage teen abstinence programs. We've got to help people understand that, one, it's okay to abstain, and secondly, having a baby out of wedlock early in life is going to make it awfully tough awfully tough on the child, awfully tough on the mom. We've got to make it clear that we've got a health issue when it comes to sexually transmitted disease and that we've got to deal with it in an upfront way with our youngsters. You know, I've heard all the talk about the abstinence programs and this, that, and the other. But let me just be perfectly plain If you're worried about teenage pregnancy or if you're worried about sexually transmitted disease, abstinence works every single time. The citizens of this State understand which is what I said citizens, by the way, from all walks of life understand what I just said. You've got one of the finest teen abstinence education programs in the Nation. A lot of States are turning to you for advice. You know this, that when our children face a choice between exercising self restraint and engaging in harmful behavior, the Government should not be neutral. People say, "Well, do you have enough money in the budget to meet your goal?" Well, the budget I submitted and the one passed by the House spends 17 billion a year on welfare for 2003. Now, that's the same amount that was spent in '96, but the difference is, the caseloads have dropped by half. So you've got the same amount of money with half the clientele, which means there's a like, for example, on the average, across the country, 16,000 per family will be spent on helping people help themselves, as opposed to 7,000 in 1996. Here in the State of South Carolina, the amount of money per family would double from '96 to today, from 4,200 to 10,700 per family to help. No, there's ample money in the budget, because of the successes of the past, because there's fewer people to help. If you keep the funding constant, you've got more money to help. And so that shouldn't be an excuse for people not to move forward with a reform package that works. Now, the Senate is writing a bill, and I want to share with you some of my thoughts about the bill that the Senate is writing. First, I believe the bill is a retreat from the success. I believe they're not moving forward. I believe, if the bill goes through the way they've written it, it's going to go back we're going to go backward here in America. And the bill would hurt the very people we're trying to help. For example, the bill that passed the Senate Finance Committee has so many work exceptions that it would result in many fewer welfare recipients moving from welfare to work. There are so many exceptions, so many loopholes, so many ways out of holding people to high standards, that fewer people would actually be moving from welfare to work, and that's not right. That hurts our fellow Americans. There are so many loopholes that a State could meet its work requirement without having even one person working at a job. Now, let me give you an example. Under the way they're kind of writing it right now, out of the Senate Finance Committee, some people could spend their entire 5 years there's a 5 year work requirement on welfare, going to college. Now, that's not my view of helping people become independent. And it's certainly not my view of understanding the importance of work and helping people achieve the dignity necessary so they can live a free life, free from Government control. I'm also I'm not happy with the fact that they reduced the amount of money by a third, available to promote healthy marriage. That doesn't make sense to me. As a matter of fact, some of the money that they believe they ought to be spent on so called family building will go to programs that have nothing to do with promoting marriage. On top of that, the Senate bill is weak on the budget. In other words, they're saying, "We've got to spend a bunch more money in order to make us feel better and make things work better." We don't need that. What we need is focus on what works, focus on reforms, focus on flexibility, focus on elevating the programs that have been proven over the last years to help people. We need a welfare bill that's strong on work, not weak on work, strong on marriage, and a welfare bill that's good for the taxpayers. And the Senate needs to do the right thing in order to help with these reforms. And finally, encouraging work and supporting families and effective teen abstinence program is not enough. That's not enough. They're not enough. We need more. An abandoned child needs something larger and more important than welfare reform. She needs a loving mentor. She needs somebody who is willing to put their arm around a child and say, "I love you. What can I do to help you?" People who struggle with addiction or who are victimized by abuse need more than a check. They need personal support and concern and care and compassion. This city is known as the Holy City because of your many churches. It's also known as the Holy City because of the many good deeds done by the citizens here, charities and faith based groups. What we must understand in our society, faith based programs and charities fill needs that no welfare system can fill, fill the needs that no matter applause the programs fill the needs that no carefully designed program out of Washington, DC, can meet. Government can hand out money, but it cannot put hope into people's hearts. It cannot put faith into people's lives. I'm a strong proponent of the faith based groups in America, because they're reclaiming America one block at a time. They're helping save one life at a time. They understand the power of changing a person's heart is a way to freedom and independence and to better behavior. No, our Government should not fear faith based programs in America we ought to welcome them. Faith based programs ought to be treated equally with nonfaith based programs. We ought not to ask the question, "Who?" We ought to ask the question, "What works?" If your program is a faith based program and it changes people's lives and they become less addicted, we ought to say thank you, and you can have equal access to money, and you don't even have to change your mission. We understand the power of faith in our society, and we ought to welcome it. I understand the strength of America. The strength of America is our people. It's not our Government. It's the people. And ours is a compassionate and decent nation. You know, I said earlier, out of the evil done to us will come some good. People in America understand that we're into a different era, we're heading into a different culture. It's one that says, "Serving something greater than yourself is an important part of being an American." It's a lesson that came through on Flight 93. People flew an airplane in the ground to save other's lives. That example is one that I think is going to stand like a beacon for future generations to understand what it means to be an American. It means that you, of course, make a living for your family. But it also means that when you find a neighbor in need, you love that person. It also means that while one of us can't do everything, each of us can do something to change America, one soul at a time. Out of the evil done to America will come incredible good, because our fellow citizens have taken a step back, taken an assessment of what's important in life, and realized serving our Nation means helping somebody in need. The old culture used to say, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." I sense a new change in America, where each of us understands we're responsible for the decisions we make in life. Each of us are responsible for loving our children, if we're fortunate enough to be a mom or a dad, loving our children with all our heart and all our soul. And each of us understands that in order to be a patriotic American, we must love our neighbor like we'd like to be loved ourself, help a fellow American in need. And that's happening all across our country. I want to thank those of you who are doing just that. I want to thank you for hearing the call. I want to thank you for setting an example. I want to thank you for being a part of the greatest country on the face of the Earth. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. July 27, 2002 Good morning. This week, the Federal Government took decisive action against corporate fraud and abuse. The Justice Department arrested several executives who used a public company as a personal loan agency, while hiding their actions from investors and employees. Additional investigations coordinated by our Corporate Fraud Task Force are underway across the country. It should be clear to every shareholder, investor, and employee in America that this administration will investigate, arrest, and prosecute corporate executives who break the law. During the last several months, I've called on Congress to pass strong reforms to hold corporate officers accountable for their actions. This week, Members of Congress responded to that call. The House and the Senate passed bipartisan reforms, increasing the penalties for corporate wrongdoers and creating tougher standards for corporate auditors, so that investors and employees can trust the accounting statements of their public companies. This legislation will help reassure Americans that our economic system is sound and fair. I thank the Congress for their hard work, and I look forward to signing the bill next week. Members of the United States Senate have one more week before they head home for August recess. I urge them to take up several important issues. The Senate should pass trade promotion authority, which will give me a stronger hand in negotiating foreign trade agreements. Trade agreements create good jobs and economic growth, because they open new markets to America's farmers and ranchers and manufacturers. I urge the Senate to get a final bill to my desk so I can immediately take action that will create jobs and strengthen the economy. The Senate should pass the defense appropriations bill, which includes the largest increases in defense spending since the Reagan years. Our military needs to plan for a long war on terror and prepare for all the missions that lie ahead. The House passed its defense appropriations bill in June. Now the Senate must make the defense of our country a top priority. The Senate should not go home before approving a new Department of Homeland Security. This Department will coordinate our Nation's response to grave national threats, to anticipate our enemies, analyze our vulnerabilities, and act forcefully to address them. And the Senate must give the Department of Homeland Security all of the authority and flexibility it needs to protect the American people. And the Senate should protect the retirement security of American workers. In April, the House passed pension reforms based on my proposals, to give workers more timely information and greater control over their own retirement funds as well as access to professional investment advice. America's retirement security is too important to fall victim to political game playing, and the Senate must act now. By taking action on these issues, the Senate can advance our national priorities of defending freedom, protecting our homeland, and strengthening our economy. The Senate now has one week left to make progress for the American people, and I urge them to seize the opportunity. Thank you for listening. July 26, 2002 The President. Thank you all for coming. Welcome to the White House. Good morning. Audience members. Good morning. The President. I appreciate so very much being joined here by firefighters and police officers and emergency personnel, public officials at the local level, the State level I know we've got some Governors here. And I want to thank you all for coming. We're on the cusp of doing something right for America. And I appreciate the members of my Cabinet who are here. I want to thank the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Transportation, the head of the Office of National Drug Policy. I appreciate Kay James being here. I want to thank Tom Ridge for his hard work. But most importantly, I want to thank the Members of Congress who got up pretty early after not much sleep laughter for your hard work and your care for our country. I see Senator Lieberman, who is really working hard in the Senate to cobble together a homeland security bill that will work. I appreciate Senator Nickles being here as well Senator Bennett from Utah. Thank you all for coming. I really want to thank Chris Shays and Jim Gibbons for coming, and Mac Thornberry as well the three fine Republican Members, along with Steve LaTourette. But I also want to thank Ellen Tauscher from the State of California. She's been working really hard to make this bill a bipartisan bill, where the American people can see both Republicans and Democrats working together to do what's right for the country. I really want to thank you all for coming. I also want to thank the heads of agencies who are here. Jim Loy, who's the Under Secretary for Transportation, Chief Operating Officer of the Transportation Security Agency served our country nobly as the running the Coast Guard and has now put on another uniform called a coat and tie. Laughter I want to thank Tom Collins, who does head the Coast Guard, Robert Bonner, who runs the Customs. I want to thank Jim Ziglar for running the INS. I appreciate again my Governor friends, Rowland, King, and Patton for coming up today. And I also want to thank my Mayor, Anthony Williams, the Mayor of Washington, DC. I want to acknowledge Mike Carona of Orange County, California, who's with us, the sheriff. Where are you, Mike? There you are, Mike, looking right at you. I appreciate you coming. He represents the local officials, what we call in Texas the high sheriffs. He's the fellow who recently apprehended the killer of Samantha Runnion there in California. I want to congratulate you for your good work, helping make your community as safe as possible. America, we're in our 10th month on the war on terror. And we've got a great deal to show for our efforts. We're making progress. And that's important for the American people to know. Our country continues to lead a mighty coalition of civilized nations, all joined in facing a common threat to humanity. This is the first war of the 21st century, and we're making progress. We and our allies have uncovered terrorist cells all across the world. We're disrupting plots. We're doing a pretty good job of seizing their assets and cutting off their money. And we've got them on the run. See, these are international killers. That's all they are. And we're getting them on the run. So far we've captured over 2,000 of the terrorists, and just about that many weren't quite as lucky. But there's still a lot of them out there. And what you need to know as leaders in your communities is that no matter how long it takes, we're going to run them down one by one and bring them to justice. And we do so not only to defend freedom and civilization, itself we do so to protect the American people, which is our highest calling. We defeat the threat abroad, and we're doing a pretty good job here at home as well. Congress has passed new laws to help. Congress has already acted to help our law enforcement agencies investigate and prosecute terrorists. Congress responded quickly after September the 11th in a fashion that made me proud, and I know that made the American people proud. We've strengthened our aviation security and tightened our borders. We've stockpiled medicines to defend against bioterrorism. We've developed new technologies to help first responders identify and react to attacks. We've dramatically improved information sharing amongst our intelligence agencies. Governor Tom Ridge has produced the first comprehensive plan in our Nation's history to protect America from terrorist attack. It's a good piece of work, and I appreciate you and your staff, Tom, for working hard on it. We're taking urgent measures against clear vulnerabilities, and now we must also prepare our Government and our people for the long term vigilance that the new threats will require. I say "long term" because this is a determined enemy we face. This isn't just a one battle war. This is a war that will occupy not only our time, but will occupy the time of future Presidents and future Members of the United States Congress and future agency heads. The number one priority of this Government and the future Governments will be to protect the American people against terrorist attack. And so, therefore, I believe it's important, we must create a Department of Homeland Security to prepare America for the permanent duty for the permanent duty of defending the homeland. And these Members here today agree with me. We need this Department for one main reason America needs a group of dedicated professionals who wake up each morning with the overriding duty of protecting the American people. The agencies in this Department will have other duties no question about it but no higher responsibility. Protecting American citizens from harm is the first priority, and it must be the ruling priority of all of our Government. The Department of Homeland Security will have four primary tasks. It will control our borders and prevent terrorists and weapons from entering our country. The way I like to put it is, we need to know who's coming in and why they're coming in and what they're bringing in with them, and whether or not they're leaving when they say they're going to leave. Secondly, the new Department will work with our incredibly brave and dedicated first responders, many of the representatives of whom are on the stage with me today. We need to be able to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies. We need good cooperation between the Federal Government, the State governments, and the local governments. We bring the best scientists together to develop technologies that will detect biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons, and to discover drugs and treatments to protect our citizens. We need to harness the great genius of the American people to make sure that it's focused on the true threat of the 21st century. And for the first time, this new Department will merge under one roof the capability to identify and assess threats to the homeland, to map those threats against vulnerabilities, and then to act to secure America. The Department of Homeland Security will draw on the knowledge and experience of every sector in America. We'll work in a collaborative way with the people who care about America, and that's the American leadership and the American people, at all levels of government. This administration is working with Congress to forge a bipartisan bill, and I want to appreciate the members of both parties for coming this morning. I believe we're making good progress. And of course, being the modest fellow that I am, I'm willing to recognize a good idea even if it comes from Congress. Laughter Yet, it's important to understand this I'm not going to accept legislation that limits or weakens the President's well established authorities authorities to exempt parts of Government from Federal labor management relations statute when it serves our national interest. Every President since Jimmy Carter has used this statutory authority, and a time of war is the wrong time to weaken the President's ability to protect the American people. And as Congress debates the issue of how to set up this Department, I'm confident they're going to look to me to say, "Well, is it being done right," after they got the bill passed. And therefore, it is important that we have the managerial flexibility to get the job done right. We can't be we can't be micromanaged. We ought to say, "Let's make sure authority and responsibility are aligned so they can more adequately protect the homeland." Now, look, I fully understand the concerns of some of the unions here in Washington. Somehow, they believe that this is an attempt by the administration to undermine the basic rights of workers. I reject that, as strongly as I can state it. I have great respect for the Federal employees. I travel the country as one of them, talking about how we need to work together to protect the homeland. I think of the times I've gone to Coast Guard cutters or gone to ports of authority or gone to our labs or seen our first responders, many of whom happen to be a member of the union. Never have I said, "Show me your card." I've always said, "Thanks for being a proud American and for working hard for the American people." So the notion of flexibility will in no way undermine the basic rights of Federal workers. Workers will retain whistle blower protection, collective bargaining rights, and protection against unlawful discrimination. The new Secretary must have the freedom to get the right people in the right job at the right time and to hold them accountable. He needs the ability to move money and resources quickly in response to new threats, without all kinds of bureaucratic rules and obstacles. And when we face unprecedented threats, like we're facing, we cannot have business as usual. I am I appreciate the work of Senator Lieberman. He's working hard. I am concerned, however, the way the committee has passed out the homeland security bill. The bill doesn't have enough managerial flexibility, as far as I'm concerned. I look forward to working with the Senator and the Republican Members to get the bill right, to make sure that when we look back at what we've done, we will have left behind a legacy, a legacy that will allow future Senators and future Members of the House and a future President to say, "I can better protect the homeland, thanks to what was done in the year 2002." It's very interesting that Harry Truman took on the same task. And as I understand, it was on this day 55 years ago that he signed the National Security Act of 1947. It was an act that helped win the cold war by consolidating the Navy and the Army and the newly independent Air Force into what was interestingly called the National Military Establishment. Laughter It's now known as the Department of Defense. Laughter But he thought boldly, and so did the Members of Congress. They recognized that after World War II, we were going to enter into a new era. And therefore they adjusted the sights of the Federal Government. That's what has happened now. History has called us into action. We're entering a new era, and we must adjust our sights, and we must respond. And I know the Members here, and I know the Members on the floor that are working hard. And I'm confident we will respond in a way that will make America proud America proud of our efforts to come together but, more importantly, America more secure in the knowledge that we're doing everything we can to protect the homeland. Thank you all for coming. May God bless your work, and may God bless America. July 25, 2002 Well, thank you very much, "Senator." Laughter I want to thank you all for coming. I'm here for this reason It is important for North Carolina, it is important for our country that Elizabeth Dole become the next United States Senator from North Carolina. And I want to thank you all for helping. And there's no doubt in my mind, with your help and her hard work, she's going to win. She married well. Laughter But Bob got the better end of the deal laughter just like I did when I married. Laughter I'm sorry that Laura isn't here tonight. She is but she sends her love to Elizabeth and her thanks to you all. I'm really proud of Laura. She is, in my unobjective judgment, a great First Lady, no question a great wife. She's a great wife. She's come a long way from being a public school librarian in Texas laughter one who, frankly, didn't like politics too much and didn't really care for politicians either. Laughter But here she is, the First Lady of the greatest country on the face of the Earth, and she's doing a great job, and she sends her best. I know you all will join me in wishing Jesse Helms all the best, and he needs to get back to Washington. We need his vote laughter and he will be. And I appreciate so very much Lauch Faircloth for being here and former Senator Jim Broyhill as well. Thank you both for coming, and thank you for your service. I want to thank all the folks who are involved with the Republican Party of the great State of North Carolina. I want to thank Bill Cobey and Linda Shaw, and I want to thank all the grassroots workers who are here. You know, you win a campaign if you can get people to show up to lick the envelopes and to make the phone calls and to hold the signs and to turn out the vote. The grassroots are excited here in North Carolina because they've got a candidate who is an exciting candidate and somebody who is going to make a big difference. So I want to thank you all for what you've done and what you got to do between now and November. I want to thank Fred Blackman for being the master of ceremonies of this event. I want to thank all the sponsors and the cohosts and the people that have done an extraordinary job of supporting Elizabeth Dole. Thank you for having me. She is a she's got a lot of great experience, and that matters in my judgment. You know, the thing I love about Elizabeth is she's constantly breaking what they call the glass ceiling. She shows what is possible. And that's important, particularly for a lot of young women looking for a role model, somebody who has done a applause a person of accomplishment. In Washington, we've got a lot of good talkers, but we need doers, people who can get the job done. And Elizabeth Dole is that kind of person. She is not only a trailblazer she is a she's got a deep, abiding passion for people from all walks of life. Her compassion is real, and it's heartfelt. When Elizabeth goes walking down the streets of smalltown North Carolina, for example and I understand she's doing a lot of that she doesn't ask somebody when they shake their hand, "Are you a Republican? Are you a Democrat?" She looks them in the eye as a fellow American, wanting to represent all the people of this good State in Washington, DC. No, the people in North Carolina, when you find a good one like Elizabeth, you need to send her up there to represent your State and your country. And I'm confident you will. Elizabeth and I understand the importance of agriculture to North Carolina and America. I had the honor of speaking to some FFA leaders today in Washington before I came up here. I reminded them that agriculture is not only important for our economy it's important for our national interest. Imagine if we didn't have enough food to eat we'd be in a bind. And it's important to always keep agriculture in the forefront of economic policy. But it's also important to remember that on our farms and ranches, we find good old fashioned American values. I know the people here are hurting because of the drought. I tried to do my part today with some rain. Laughter But it wasn't enough, so this week Ann Veneman has approved a request for Federal drought relief. I approved it for 73 counties. It's emergency assistance to pay living expenses and production costs and help refinance debt for the hard struggling farmers here in your State. We also opened up a applause That's the kind of Senator you want, somebody who is a practical person, who is able to deal with the problems that confront the people of this good State. And we talked about drought relief, and I assured her we were sincere in our attempts to help the farmers through this difficult period. Today I also had the honor of going out to High Point to talk about an important issue, and that's health care. Elizabeth and I talked about that. She and I are on the same wavelength. We want people to have health care that is affordable, and we want people to have a good relationship with their doctor. And one of the problems we face all across America is that we've got too many lawsuits, too many people suing our docs and hospitals, too many junk lawsuits that are causing our doctors to have to practice what they call defensive medicine for fear of getting sued, which then runs the cost of health care up on the citizens. People say, "Well, is this a Federal issue?" Of course, it's a Federal issue. The frivolous lawsuits that are filed all across the country cost the Federal Government over 25 billion a year. That's 25 billion of your dollars. See, we pay Medicare, and we pay Medicaid, and we pay for the veterans, and we pay for our military. And all these junk lawsuits are running up the cost of medicine, which hurts our patients. And so, therefore, it's time for the Federal Government to act. Today I proposed Federal tort reform for medical malpractice, and I asked the Congress to join me. That's the kind of item I need Elizabeth's help on in Washington, DC. We've got a lot on our we've got a lot on our plate up there. And it's going to be good to have a good, steady Senator there. We need freedom for our taxpayers real freedom. We passed a tax relief plan, but because the Senate has got arcane rules, the tax relief goes away at some point in time. And that's not right. In order to plan, we need the tax relief permanent. In order to get rid of the awful death tax, we need to make sure that it is repealed permanently. We need a voice in the Senate who understands that. We need to make sure that we free Americans from dependency upon Government, so when we reauthorize welfare, we insist upon work, and we provide help to people so they can find work. We need a Medicare plan that is modern. You know, Medicare is a great idea, except that it's antiquated. It was made for another time. It's time to reform Medicare so seniors have got prescription drugs and more options from which they can choose. It is time the Federal Government trusts the American people. You know else why I need Elizabeth Dole? I want my judges to get a fair hearing. I picked I've nominated good people to serve on the bench, good, qualified, distinguished Americans, like Terry Boyle. I put his name out there 14 months ago, and he can't get a hearing. I nominated a fabulous woman from Texas named Priscilla Owen, a great jurist ranked at the highest rating by the ABA, ran twice statewide in Texas and won. And yet, when you listen to the rhetoric up there, it's all politics in Washington, DC. They're not willing to give these judges their fair shake and a fair due. It's time to get the Senate in the hands of people who will approve the good jurists I send, so we can have a Federal bench that will not legislate from which it will not be will not legislate from but will strictly interpret the Constitution of the United States of America. Our economy is getting stronger. The foundations for growth are there. Inflation's low we've got good monetary policy, got good tax policy the productivity of the American worker is up. And today, thankfully, the Senate and the House passed corporate legislation which will insist upon holding people accountable for being honest with the American people, honest about their assets, honest about their liabilities. And I want to assure you what took place yesterday will continue to take place. This administration will investigate, will arrest, and will prosecute chief executive officers who break the law. Elizabeth knows what I know is that this country is still in danger of attack. We're fighting an enemy who is incredibly ruthless. They don't value human life like we value human life. They hate freedom. They cannot stand the thought that in our great country, we worship an Almighty God freely, that we respect all religions in America, that we're not ashamed of our religious beliefs and our tolerance. They can't stand the thought that we have an open debate in our society. They don't like the free press. They don't like anything we stand for because we believe in freedom, and therefore, they still have designs on attacking America. And we will do everything we can to protect our homeland. It is, by far, the most important job I have. We're making pretty good progress. A while ago I proposed the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. I want to tell you right quick why I did. There are over 100 agencies in Washington, DC, that have got some part of the of protecting the homeland. They're scattered everywhere. They're all over the place. In order to make sure that the number one priority of the primary agencies involved with homeland security is the protection of the American people, they ought to be under one boss. We ought to put those agencies under one Cabinet position. It's important to do so for reasons of accountability, but it's also important to do so to make sure we change cultures in Washington, DC. And we're making some progress. This is not a Republican idea, by the way, or a Democrat idea this is an important idea for all of America. And as the Congress debates the issue, it is so important for them to give me the ability to manage this Department, so I can come before the American people and say, "We've got the tools necessary to protect the homeland." You need to know that there is a lot of really fine Federal Government employees working a lot of hours to protect you they really are. We can just do it a better way and a better job. We're running down every hint. We're running down every lead. If we get a sniff from something abroad, the information is now shared on a timely basis with our FBI, for example. And we're just we're on full full alert. We're chasing everything down. We're spending a lot of time on the subject. But the best way to secure the homeland, the best way to defend our freedom, the best way to make sure America is as safe as possible, is to hunt these killers down one by one and bring them to justice. And that is exactly what the United States and our friends are going to do. It's a different kind of war. We're facing people who hide. You know, they don't have armies and tanks and equipment. It doesn't take much for them to strike. They as I like to tell people, these are the ones that hide in a cave and send youngsters to their death. They hijack a great religion and then tell kids to go kill themselves. That's the way they are. And they're still out there. A lot of them were trained in these Al Qaida camps. But we're making good progress. You just need to know, we've got over a couple of thousand of them captured. And just about that many weren't quite as lucky. And it's not just us. We've put together a vast coalition of countries that understand the stakes they understand that this is a defining moment in the 21st century. The doctrine that says, if you harbor a terrorist, feed a terrorist, or hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists it still holds. And so does the doctrine, either you're with the United States and those of us who love freedom, or you're not with the United States and those of us who love freedom. Our first action was to rout the Taliban. They harbored terrorists they fed terrorists and they were treated just like the terrorists. And thanks to the mighty United States military, we routed the Taliban. I want the youngsters here to understand that your country did not go into Afghanistan as conquerors. We went in as liberators, and we freed people from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. For the first time, thanks to the United States and our friends and allies, young girls get to go to school in Afghanistan. We're working with the interim with the Government of Chairman Karzai. We're helping to feed the people. We're helping to provide infrastructure. We're doing everything we can to enable this country, this war ravaged country, to develop into a hopeful place. But in the meantime, there are still Al Qaida people in the country. And so you'll see sometimes you'll see and sometimes you won't see the fact that our military is still hunting them down. When we figure out they are somewhere, that's where we're going to be. One time, they tried to group up in the Shahi Kot Mountains. That's the last time they made that decision. Laughter The other thing we're doing is we're denying them sanctuary. See, once you get them on the run, then they're looking for safe haven. So our strategy is to remind other nations that we don't want them to have safe haven. The other day, the Philippine Government went after this group called Abu Sayyaf and got their leader. This was the group of people that killed Mr. Burnham out of Kansas. I met his by the way, I met his wife in the Oval Office, Gracia Burnham. You talk about a fabulous woman, who believes deeply in the Lord. Her heart is right. She is strong. She told me she said, "Mr. President, I appreciate the fact that you and the Government, and the Government of the Philippines did everything you can to rescue us." I told her, I said, "You just need to know, because of our working with the Philippine Government, there's one less terrorist available to kill somebody." We're making progress. We're making it clear that if you try to provide sanctuary for these people, you'll be dealing with the United States of America. This is a pledge I have made not only to those who have lost life on September the 11th and others, but it's a pledge I make to our children and grandchildren. We owe it to future generations to be tough and resolved and dedicated to protecting our freedom, no matter what the cost. And that means dealing with nations which harbor and develop weapons of mass destruction. We must not, for the sake of the future, and we cannot allow the world's worst leaders to threaten America or our friends and allies with the world's worst weapons. I'm a patient man. I intend to use all the tools at our disposal. But for the sake of freedom, for the sake of what's right, for the sake of a for the sake of history, we're not going to let the world's worst leaders threaten America with the world's worst weapons. I'm incredibly proud of our country. It's a great country, because we're great people. You know, I just cannot imagine what the killers were thinking. They were sitting around in some cave, probably, saying, "You know, if we attack them, they won't do anything. You know, they may file a lawsuit." Laughter "They'll just sit back. They're so materialistic and so self absorbed and so selfish, they're not they're not going to defend anything." What they didn't realize is they were attacking a great nation. What they didn't realize is that we're people who will defend our freedom at all costs. But as importantly, out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good. I believe that when our country applause I believe that as we remain tough and resolved and lead a coalition that understands the true threats we face in the 21st century, we can achieve peace. And my goal is peace. I want there to be peace in the world. I know there are going to be some tough moments. There are going to be some high hurdles to cross. But my vision is one that says the world can be peaceful. I believe that. And I believe by routing out the terrorists, we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace for our country we can achieve peace for our friends and allies we can achieve peace in places like the Middle East or in South Asia as well. And at home, we can accomplish a lot. See, out of the evil done to America is coming good, because people are taking an assessment of what's important in life. They've stepped back after September the 11th and taken kind of an assessment of their personal balance sheet, and realize it's not just dollars and cents, that life is not just money, that in order to be a complete person, life is serving something greater than yourself. And that's what's happening in America. That's why I feel so strongly that we must have what I call a Faith Based Initiative. Because I understand in America, in spite of our wealth, there are pockets of despair and hopelessness, addiction and loneliness, but these are Americans we're talking about. In our country, when one hurts, all of us have got to hurt in America, as far as I'm concerned. And therefore, the good that can come out of the evil will be when Americans put their arm around somebody in need and say, "I love you, brother," or when they mentor a child, or when moms and dads renew their effort to be as great a parent as they can possibly be. You see, if you're lucky enough to be a mom or a dad, your most important job is to love your child with all your heart and all your soul. It's happening in America, all across this land. People from all political parties, from all walks of life, are saying, "What can I do to make America a better place? How can I serve something greater than myself in life?" One of the reasons I first got into politics is because I was worried about a culture which had clearly said, "If it feels good, go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." I wanted to help be a part of a change of a culture which says, "We're all responsible for the decisions we make in life, that we all have responsibilities, that serving something greater than yourself is a part of being an American." Perhaps that lesson came home most vividly to me, and I'm sure to you, about what took place on Flight 93. I happen to think it's a defining moment for the culture of our country. People flying across this country realized that a plane was going to be used as a weapon, perhaps a weapon on the White House or on the Capitol. They were on their cell phones with their loved ones they said, "I love you." They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll," and they took the plane in the ground, to serve something greater than themselves. This country out of the evil done to this country is coming incredible good, an understanding that to be an American means to love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. When the enemy hit us, they didn't know who they were hitting. They hit the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. It's my honor to be here with you tonight. May God bless you all. July 22, 2002 The President. Thank you all. Please have a seat laughter unless you don't have a chair. Laughter Thank you all very much for welcoming me here. I'm honored to be here. I'm honored to be here with some of the finest Americans in our country. We're in a new kind of war today. We face a ruthless and a resourceful enemy. We do. That's the reality of the 21st century. These people seek to acquire the most destructive of weapons because they hate freedom. They intend to spread fear and death around the world. To prevail in this war, we're going to take the battle to the enemy in foreign lands. To prevail in this war, we'll use our law enforcement and our intelligence gathering all across our country to prevent the American people from being harmed. And to prevail in this war, we will fight on the frontiers of knowledge and discovery. In this new war, we will rely upon the genius and creativity of the American people. And that's why I'm here, to look in the eyes of those who posses the genius and the creativity of the American people. Our scientific community is serving on the frontlines of this war by developing new technologies that will make America safer. And as you tackle new scientific challenges, I want you to know, our Government will stand by your side to make your job easier. It is in our interests that we work together. I want to thank Spence Abraham for his leadership at the Department of Energy, and I want to thank all of you for working for the fine Department of Energy. I want to thank Tom Ridge for coming. He's a man I asked him, I said, "You know, you need to serve your country." He was serving as the Governor of Pennsylvania. I said, "You've got a nice mansion over there." Laughter "It's heavy lifting, but we need you in Washington." And for the good of the country, he came to help us spearhead the effort for a Department of Homeland Security. And I want to thank Dr. John Marburger, who is the Director of Office Science and Technology Policy. Dr. Marburger is a fine scientist who represents the best of American scientists in Washington, DC. I appreciate the Speaker of the House being here. He's my friend. He's doing a fine job on behalf of the citizens of Illinois and the United States of America, Speaker Denny Hastert. And I want to thank Senator Durbin and Senator Fitzgerald for coming as well. I know they've got busy schedules. Thank you all for being here. I appreciate you coming. I appreciate Judy Biggert, Jerry Weller, and Mark Kirk, fine Members of the House of Representatives from Illinois, being here today. I look forward to giving them a lift back to Washington. Laughter It's a nice way to travel. I think you all will like it. Laughter I want to thank the Governor, George Ryan, for coming. Governor, I appreciate your time. I want to thank the attorney general of Illinois, Jim Ryan, for coming as well. I want to thank Ray Orbach, who is the Director of Office and Science at the Department of Energy, who led us on our tour. And of course I've got to thank Dr. Grunder. If everybody had a spirit like Dr. Grunder, the world would be an incredibly happy place. We're proud of you, Hermann. Thank you for your service to the country, and thank you all very much. The Argonne National Laboratory is a cutting edge facility. You're on the cutting edge, and you've got a great history as well. It is a direct decedent of the University of Chicago laboratory, where in 1942 Enrico Fermi and his colleagues achieved the world's first controlled nuclear chain reaction. This is a place where smart people work. Laughter It is the home of some of America's greatest scientists, who continue to dazzle the world with astonishing breakthroughs. I've just come back from viewing some demonstrations of the great work done at national laboratories, whether it be here or Los Alamos or Sandia or others. The American people need to know we've got a lot of brainpower working on ways to deal with the threats that we now face as we head into the 21st century. For example, I saw a warning and response system that will supply first responders with timely and life saving information in the event of a chemical attack on a subway or any other enclosed space. I saw a project that uses new advances in genetic research to identify and understand biological agents that could be used against us. I saw computer simulations to help policymakers and first responders anticipate the effect of an attack of natural disaster and to develop life saving plans. What I saw was new technologies that our scientists are developing to help us secure the homeland. America is grateful. It's grateful for your work. And our Government must be organized and focused to support these efforts. Right now there are more than 100 different Federal agencies that have some role in the homeland defense of our country. And despite everyone's best intentions in those agencies, this inevitably leads to a dispersal of authority. Imagine, 100 of them scattered all over Washington, DC. It makes it hard to have accountability when you've got 100 agencies scattered around, and it's a drain on critical resources. So I asked Congress to join me in creating a single, permanent, Cabinet level Department of Homeland Security with an overriding and urgent mission, with this primary focus to secure the American homeland. There are agencies once they're under this in this new Department will have other missions, no question about it. But their primary mission is to recognize the new world in which we live. The world has changed, and so must our Government change with it, in order to allow all of us who have responsibility to say to the American people, "We're doing everything we possibly can to protect innocent American lives." This Department of Homeland Security will foster a new culture throughout our Government, one that emphasizes cooperation and working together on behalf of the American people. And this Department will have four primary tasks. First, it will work to control our borders. There needs to be much better cooperation amongst the agencies to make sure we know who is coming in the country, what they're bringing in the country, why they're coming in the country, and are they leaving when they said they're going to leave the country. We need to work one of the primary responsibilities will be to work with State and local authorities to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies. In other words, we need to be better coordinated with the brave first time responders that means police and fire and EMS teams which exist all across our country. We want to have them have the strategy necessary to respond, the tools to respond effectively, and to be coordinated not only at the Federal level, the State level, and the local level. Thirdly, we need to merge under one roof the capability to identify and assess threats to the homeland, map those threats against our vulnerabilities, and address the vulnerabilities. So prior to September the 11th, we had the CIA collecting information, and we had the FBI collecting information, and sometimes they weren't talking all that much. Now they talk. Now they coordinate. When I'm there in Washington, I meet every morning, face to face, with the Director of the CIA and with the head of the FBI. It's a way to make sure that, at least at the very top levels of Government, people are communicating, and we're sharing information. We need to do that throughout all our Government and the Department of Homeland Security. We need to be able to take the information intelligence gathered from around the world, as well as at home, and understand what might or might not be happening. One of the key tools that we need to use effectively against the coldblooded killers who we're trying to chase down is the capacity of our Nation to collect and analyze information. And finally, we need our scientists to develop the kinds of technologies I saw today. We need to have an effective strategy of mating up our brainpower with the problems we face, so as to stay on the cutting edge of technological change necessary to protect the homeland. And this last point is an incredibly important point, and that's why I've come to this laboratory to make the point. Laughter It's a perfect place to make the point. We will harness our science and our technology in a way to protect the American people. We will consolidate most federally funded homeland security research and development to avoid duplication and to make sure all the efforts are focused. You see, we need to learn to set priorities in our Government. And the number one priority is to protect America from attack, because we're at war. The Department of Homeland Security will work to create a long term plan. And once you have the long term plan with the goal of securing the homeland, then we can set funding priorities. We give our scientists the resources they require, and that's important for you to know resources necessary to counter the chemical and the biological and the radiological and nuclear threats that our Nation faces. And these threats are real. And therefore, we need to stay focused, not only to make sure resources are spent but that critical research continues, because you all know better than anybody, when we research and we set priorities, this great Nation can achieve any objective. We're making progress. We are making progress in Washington. I appreciate so very much the House select committee getting a bill out, and it's going to get to the floor. And the Speaker was telling me today that it looks like they may get a vote this week, and the Senate is working hard on it. Both Republicans and Democrats are working hard to reconcile any differences that may be had. It's important for people to understand, particularly in Washington, this Department of Homeland Security is not a good Republican idea it's not a good Democrat idea it's simply an American idea. And they need to get their work done. And as they do so, the new Secretary of Homeland Security must have the freedom and the flexibility to be able to get the right people in the right job at the right time, so we can hold people accountable in Washington. We need the freedom to manage. We don't need to be micromanaged. And that's sometimes what happens in Washington, DC. The new Secretary needs the ability to move money and resources quickly, to respond to true threats. I understand why that may not happen sometimes in Washington, and it's because, for example, appropriators may not want the executive branch to have the capacity to make decisions necessary to make the Homeland Department work effectively. But we're in new times in America, and that requires new thinking. And Congress must give us the flexibility necessary to make the right decisions to achieve our goal, which is to protect the American people. As well, this new Department must have every tool it needs to secure the homeland. This new agency should include all of the departments which protect our border all of the departments, not just some, but all of the departments. That includes the Coast Guard, the Customs Service, the INS INS inspectors, Border Patrol, and customs agents must report to the same boss and work together for the same goals. And this new Department needs to be able to respond effectively to any attack that might come, so it must house FEMA in its entirety. What I'm telling you is, I understand that these changes won't be easy for some in Congress, but for the sake of the security of the American people, Congress needs to give up some of its turf and recognize turf is not nearly as important as security for the people security for the American people. We're in new times, folks. We're in a different world. We face an unprecedented threat, and we cannot respond with business as usual. But I want you to know something, how I feel, and what I know. I know that the best way to secure the homeland is to hunt these coldblooded killers down one by one and bring them to justice, and that's what we're going to do. And it's going to take awhile. It's going to take awhile. Unlike past wars, where you could see platoons and battalions moving here, or airplane formations moving there, we're chasing down these people who are willing to hide in a cave and send youngsters to their death. That's the kind of people we're facing. You know, these people hate they hate America because we love freedom. They hate the fact that as I look out, I mean, I can see people who worship an Almighty and some who don't, who worship an Almighty one way and others another way. They hate that. They can't stand a society which honors freedom, freedom to worship, freedom to speak, freedom to express our opinions. That's what they hate, and they're going to hate us for a long time because those are the values we'll never relinquish in America. We believe in tolerance in America. That's what we believe in. We respect the other person. We always don't agree, but we respect, and we tolerate. And we believe everybody ought to have access to the great American experience, regardless of how they're raised or where they're from. That's what we believe. And anytime anybody who tries to get us because of those beliefs they're going to find something out about America. I don't know what was going through the minds of the enemy when they were plotting and planning. I don't know who they thought they were attacking. They must have thought this country was so materialistic, so self absorbed that we would sit back and, you know, after the attacks, maybe file a lawsuit or two. Laughter That's not the America I know. And that's not the America you're a part of. Listen, when people come after us, we're plenty tough. We're a compassionate nation. And so we're on the hunt. You just need to know we're after them, one by one one by one. And so long as I'm the President of this country, we're going to chase them down, one by one, to make sure the American homeland is secure. And we're making progress. As I said in a speech in front of about 10,000 of our troops and their families in Fort Drum, New York, last Friday We've hauled in thousands that means captured laughter and another couple of thousand weren't quite as lucky. We're making progress. Sometimes it's not quite as dramatic as, you know, the newscasters would like, because they learned their lesson, by the way. They understand if they bunch up, if they get together, our military is going to find them. And it's not going to be a pleasant day when our military does find them, because we're good. I'm really proud of the United States military and those who serve. And I'm proud of you all too. That's really what I'm here to tell you. I'm proud of you. We're depending on you to develop the tools we need to lift the dark threat of terrorism for our Nation and, for that matter, the world. All of us here today, whether we're scientists or engineers or elected officials, share in a great calling. It's an honor to participate in a noble cause that's larger than ourselves. Audience member. God bless America. The President. It's an honor to defend this Nation. It's a high honor to be called into action and to defend our Nation when it's threatened, and that's what you're doing. It's an honor to help protect the American people against the forces of evil. History has called each of us to defend America. That's what's happened. History has called us into action in a time of great peril. The struggles against nazism and communism helped to define the 20th century. The war on terror will be the defining conflict of the 21st century. It's our solemn duty, it's our responsibility, and it's our great privilege to help America prevail in this war. And prevail we will. May God bless you all. May God bless your work, and may God bless America. Thank you very much. Thank you all. July 20, 2002 Good morning. As Congress approaches the August recess, it must take decisive steps to provide economic security to the American people, to demand high ethical standards from corporate leaders, to promote economic growth and job creation, and to curb its appetite for excessive spending. We must promote economic security by enforcing high ethical standards for American businesses. Unethical business practices by corporate leaders amount to theft and fraud. These practices are unacceptable, and we are fighting them with active prosecutions and tough enforcement by the SEC. We will defend the rights and interests of every American worker and shareholder, and we will not accept anything less than complete honesty. The House and Senate have both passed strong corporate accountability bills that toughen penalties and provide transparency and hold corporate executives accountable for their behavior. I am confident that the differences between the House and Senate approaches can be bridged. Some in Congress have predicted that it will take 2 months for the House and Senate to send a bill to my desk. There is no good reason for the legislative process to take that long. I call again on Congress to pass a bill before the August recess. It's time to act decisively to bring a new era of integrity to American business. We must also increase economic security for American workers through expanded trade. For over a year now, the United States Congress has debated trade promotion authority. This week I met with Members of the House and Senate to urge them to resolve their differences and approve a bill. If Congress waits, less markets will be open to American goods, and less jobs will be created for American workers. To promote our economic security, we also need to act on a terrorism insurance bill. Until Congress sends a bill to my desk, some buildings will not be able to get coverage against terrorist attacks, and many new buildings will not be built at all. Commercial development is stalling, and workers are missing out on these jobs. This year alone, the lack of terrorism insurance has killed or delayed more than 8 billion in commercial property financing. Congress should pass a terrorism insurance bill without unnecessary measures that increase frivolous litigation. Finally, we must promote economic security by enforcing fiscal restraint. Congress must control its enormous appetite for excessive spending so we can meet our national priorities and return to a budget surplus without undermining our economy. Unless Congress controls its spending, we will face a decade of deficits. I will insist on and, if necessary, I will enforce discipline in Federal spending. This is a crucial moment for the American economy. The economic fundamentals are strong. Inflation and interest rates are low. Productivity is increasing, and the economy is expanding, which creates more jobs. While the economy is growing stronger, confidence in our free enterprise system is being tested. Unethical business conduct that began in the boom of the 1990s is being uncovered. Investors have lost money. Some in retirement have lost security. Workers have lost jobs, and the trust of the American people has been betrayed. As we face these economic challenges, my administration will do everything in its power to ensure business integrity and long term growth. We must act quickly and aggressively on a variety of fronts to increase the economic security of the American people, and I ask the Congress to join me in this urgent task. Thank you for listening. July 19, 2002 The President. Thank you all. Thank you, General, and thank you all for such a warm welcome. I'm honored to be here. I've been looking forward to coming to Fort Drum. Audience members. Hooah! The President. It gives me a chance to come to one of our Nation's finest military bases. Audience members. Hooah! The President. But more importantly, it gives me a chance to speak to some of the finest Americans we have, our soldiers and their families. I'm proud of you. You have a vital mission, especially in this time of war. And you do it well, and you do the mission with honor. Audience members. Hooah! The President. The 10th Mountain Division patch stands for the skill and it stands for the power of our military, and it stands for the best values of the United States of America. Audience members. Hooah! The President. Many of you just returned from service abroad in Operation Enduring Freedom. Audience members. Hooah! The President. Others have come home from duty in Kosovo or Bosnia. Audience members. Hooah! The President. And the Sinai. Audience members. Hooah! The President. Troops from this base will be needed again in missions yet to come. Audience members. Hooah! The President. But you have the Nation's gratitude for all you've done and the Nation's confidence in all you will do. Audience members. Hooah! The President. I want to thank General Huber for his service to our country. I want to thank Judy Hagenbeck, the wife of Major General Buster Hagenbeck, with whom I got to speak via one of these teleconferencing apparati. Laughter I want to thank General Larry Ellis for his leadership. I want to thank Colonel John Kelly. I want to thank Major General Ken Lopez. I want to thank all those who wear the uniform, on behalf of a mighty nation. Audience members. Hooah! The President. I want to thank my friend Governor George Pataki of the State of New York. I appreciate you being here, Governor. I want to thank the Lieutenant Governor, who is here. I appreciate members of the New York congressional delegation who have taken time out of their schedules to come, Senator Clinton, Congressman McHugh, Congressman Boehlert, Congressman Reynolds, Congressman Sweeney, and Congressman Walsh. I want to thank the State officials who are here. I want to thank the local officials who are here. And I want to thank the veterans who are here with us today. Audience members. Hooah! The President. I know Watertown, New York, is proud to call hundreds of the veterans citizen, and the American people are so grateful to your service. I want to thank the family members who are here today. Our country depends upon those who wear the uniform, and our country depends upon their family members too. I want to thank you for the sacrifices that you make on behalf of a nation. I want to thank the wives and the husbands and the sons and the daughters. We appreciate the commitments you make to your family and to your country. This Nation is grateful to our military families. Audience members. Hooah! The President. This great base, the 10th Mountain Division, has a special place in American military history. Under different names, Fort Drum has given continuous service to the defense of our country since the beginning of the last century. The ranks of the 10th Mountain Division have given distinguished and at times heroic service for six decades. This unit has produced some of the finest soldiers ever to wear the uniform Audience members. Hooah! The President. including a World War II veteran, one of the great living Americans, Senator Bob Dole. Audience members. Hooah! The President. This division has now been called to play a central part in the first war of the 21st century. In the fight against terror, you are responding as you always have in times of danger. Because of you, and men and women like you in all branches of our military, we will defend this Nation, and we will defeat the enemies of freedom. Audience members. Hooah! The President. I can't imagine what the enemy was thinking. Laughter They must have thought we were so weak, so feeble a nation that we might, after September the 11th, file a lawsuit or two. Laughter They obviously had never been to Fort Drum. They didn't understand what I know, the character and the strength and the courage of the men and women of the United States military. This war came upon us suddenly. The response has placed great demands on our military. Yet at every point in the chain of command, you were prepared for the orders that came. As Major General Hagenbeck has put it, when this division was called in September to deploy, nobody ever asked, "Are you ready?" It was assumed. And as the enemy found out, you were ready. Within days, you stepped forward to guard against further attacks on the homeland. Within weeks, soldiers from Fort Drum were guarding bases in Uzbekistan and moving in to defeat a brutal regime in Afghanistan. Audience members. Hooah! The President. You fought beside our allies in cold and rugged terrain, against trained and resourceful killers. You met the enemy half a world away, in his own element, yet the terrorists discovered no bunker could protect them. Audience members. Hooah! The President. Darkness couldn't conceal them. Audience members. Hooah! The President. And there was no cave deep enough to save them. Audience members. Hooah! The President. The 10th Mountain Division cleared over 100 caves used by Al Qaida, seized more than 500 stockpiles of enemy ammunition, patrolled over 500 miles of border trails to block fleeing enemy, helped build or repair tent hospitals and deliver over a million pounds of food. In the Afghan campaign, more than 150 soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division were decorated for their noble actions, including one lieutenant colonel who calmly inspired his troops during 18 hours of grenade attacks and withering small arms fire. When the 10th Mountain Division first arrived in Afghanistan, the Taliban was in power. When some of you left, the Taliban was in ruins, and the Afghan people were liberated. For some of you, this may seem like a long war, particularly ones who have had loved ones overseas. But we've been at it for only 10 months. We have a great deal to show for our efforts. Our country leads a mighty coalition of civilized nations, joined in facing a common threat, a real threat to humanity. We're uncovering terrorist cells all across the world, disrupting plots against us. We're seizing terrorist assets and keeping terrorists themselves on the run. So far, more than thousands of terrorists have been captured, and thousands others, like several in the Philippines just weeks ago, weren't that lucky. Audience members. Hooah! The President. One by one, they are meeting their fate, a fate they chose for themselves. Around the world, terrorists are learning that the justice of the United States of America cannot and will not be escaped. Audience members. Hooah! The President. Some members of our coalition need America's aid and advice, and they're receiving it. Other nations need help training their armies to fight terror, and we're providing that. Some parts of the world, there will be no substitute for direct action by the United States. That is when we will send you, our military, to win the battles that only you can win. Audience members. Hooah! The President. At this moment, around 60,000 Americans are deployed around the world in the war against terror. We've given great responsibilities to them and to you. And those of us in Washington have great responsibilities of our own. We must never cut corners when it comes to our national security. We owe our military every weapon you need, every dollar it takes to fight and to win this war. Audience members. Hooah! The President. We're making progress, and I appreciate the fact that Congress has stood behind me. I appreciate the support I've received in Congress. I've been able to rely on leaders of both political parties. Earlier this year, I proposed the largest increase in military spending since Ronald Reagan was the President. Audience members. Hooah! The President. I did so because our troops must be well trained, well equipped, and well paid in order to fight and win this war. We're investing in our military so we can deploy swift and agile forces anyplace, anytime they're needed. We're building precision weapons that can spare the lives of American soldiers and lives of innocent civilians in foreign lands. We will multiply every advantage every possible advantage so that we're prepared for any enemy, any enemy of freedom. Audience member. Let's get Saddam. Audience members. Hooah! The President. In March of this year, I asked Congress to put defense appropriations at the beginning of the legislative line, not the end. I asked them to stop playing that old trick, "We'll hold defense last." Audience members. Hooah! The President. I think it needs to be first. Audience members. Hooah! The President. The House of Representatives responded. The Senate is still delaying. The Senate must act so that we can plan the war. The Senate must act, and it must act this month, on defense appropriations. Congress has the responsibility to put first things first, and nothing comes before the freedom and the security of the American people. Audience members. Hooah! The President. As we prepare our military for action, we will protect our military from international courts and committees with agendas of their own. Audience members. Hooah! The President. You might have heard about a treaty that would place American troops under the jurisdiction of something called the International Criminal Court. The United States cooperates with many other nations to keep the peace, but we will not submit American troops to prosecutors and judges whose jurisdiction we do not accept. Audience members. Hooah! The President. Our Nation expects and enforces the highest standards of honor and conduct in our military. That's how you were trained. That's what we expect. Every person who serves under the American flag will answer to his or her own superiors and to military law, not to the rulings of an unaccountable international criminal court. Audience members. Hooah! The President. This new war is going to take some time. We're in this for the long haul. After all, we defend our Nation we love. We defend the values we uphold. We love freedom we love freedom. We love our freedoms, and we will defend them, no matter what the cost. Audience members. Hooah! The President. The work has just begun. And what we have begun, we will finish. Audience members. Hooah! The President. In Afghanistan, coalition troops still have critical work, and the dangers haven't passed. Elsewhere, new threats are taking shape. In this war, there will be times of quiet, and there will be times of crisis, times that call for patience, and times that call for sacrifice. As members of our military, you understand this as clearly as anyone. You know the nature of the threat. Terrorism is fueled by boundless hatred. Terrorism will be stopped by a mighty nation with a strong and ready military. Audience members. Hooah! The President. We fight against a shadowy network that hides in many nations and has revealed its intention to gain and use weapons of mass destruction. We're threatened by regimes that have sought these ultimate weapons and hide their weapons programs from the eyes of the world. The same regimes have shown their true nature by torturing and butchering their own people. These tyrants and terrorists have one thing in common Whatever their plans and schemes, they will not be restrained by a hint of humanity or conscience. The enemies of America no longer need great armies to attack our people. They require only great hatred, made more dangerous by advanced technologies. Such enemies against such enemies, we cannot sit quietly and hope for the best. To ignore this mounting danger is to invite it. America must act against these terrible threats before they're fully formed. Audience members. Hooah! The President. We will use diplomacy when possible and force when necessary. Audience members. Hooah! The President. We will prepare deliberately and act decisively. Our commitment should be clear to all, to friend and enemy alike America will not leave the safety of our people and the future of peace in the hands of a few evil and destructive men. Audience members. Hooah! The President. In this war, we fight against the advance of terror and its agents. We also fight for the advance of freedom and human dignity. We do more than oppose an ideology of violence and hatred we offer a vision of democracy and development that can overcome resentment and despair in every part of the Earth. Seldom have the ideals of freedom been under greater threat. Seldom have the ideals of freedom had greater appeal. This Nation, this generation, you all have been entrusted with the ideals and with their defense. This is a charge we bear. This is a charge we shall keep. Audience members. Hooah! The President. Your duties will take you many places. In some places, you and your fellow soldiers may be the only representatives of justice and order. As members of our military, you will stand between American citizens and grave danger. You will stand between civilization and chaos. And you will stand for liberty and tolerance and truth, the ideals of America and the hope of the entire world. Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division and men and women of the Armed Forces, I'm honored to serve with you. Audience members. Hooah! The President. This is a decisive moment in the history of freedom. As your Commander in Chief, I leave you this message Be proud, be strong, and be ready. Audience members. Hooah! The President. May God bless you all. May God bless you, and God bless America. July 18, 2002 The President. I have a short statement here, and then I'd be glad to answer two questions I'll call on the people. Then we need to get to our meeting. I want to thank the Ministers for coming today. Secretary of State Powell has been working hard to work on an initiative that we believe will bring peace to the Middle East. Our vision of peace says that there ought to be two states living side by side in peace. Our vision for peace recognizes that there must be security in the region. Our vision for peace understands that too many Palestinians suffer they suffer from lack of food and basic services. Our vision for peace understands that all parties have got responsibilities The United States has a responsibility the neighborhood has responsibilities the Israelis have a responsibility the Palestinians have a responsibility. And we will continue to work with all parties to achieve the pathway to peace. And I want to thank the Ministers for coming. They represent governments that are anxious to work with us, anxious to work toward achieving the vision that we all hope will happen soon. It's in the best interests of the world that we do achieve peace in the Middle East, and I'm looking forward to continuing our dialogs. I'll answer a couple of questions. Dick Keil Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . Reform of the Palestinian Authority Q. Mr. President, would you be willing to consider a permanent Palestinian state that included Chairman Arafat in some sort of ceremonial role or as President? The President. As I mentioned I think it was yesterday, I think, I had a press conference. My, time flies. The issue is bigger than any single person. And our discussions will center on how to have institutionals institutions in place that will truly represent the will of the Palestinian people, that will give confidence to the world that we can spend money in a way that helps the Palestinians, that when we talk about security, there are security forces there aimed at protecting people from terrorist attack, as opposed to enabling people to stay in office. You know, it's very interesting that these leaders came to our country to discuss peace, and the terrorists attacked. It's clear that a few want to damage the hopes of many. And by working to put institutions in place that will help on security and finances and government, institutions which will outlast any single leader and so that's what we're going to discuss today. Mark Smith Associated Press Radio . Middle East Security Arrangement Timing of Terrorist Attacks Q. Mr. President, what do you think of the idea of having troops and others from the Egyptian and Saudi and Jordanian sides help train security forces for the Palestinians? And, sir, yesterday there was another double suicide bombing just after you used the word "progress." Do you think that's a coincidence? The President. You know, I'm beginning to think that every time we have a high level meeting, something happens. It's not coincidental. I think the enemies of peace try to send signals, try to derail peace, and try to discourage us. And one of the things I'm going to tell the leaders today is we refuse to be discouraged. We're going to continue to work for peace, continue to push hard for peace, because we think it's a we know it's in our vital interests. In terms of who trains whom for security, that's part of the ongoing discussions, and that's what we want to discuss. George Tenet has laid out a plan, and part of the plan is to work with the nations present here as to how to effect a security arrangement that will be effective and will work. That's what we want to do, and that's what we want to discuss. Listen, thank you all. July 18, 2002 The President. Thank you very much. So I was telling the President of Poland, I said, "There's a lot of smart people in Washington, but not all the brains are in Washington. Why don't we get on the airplane and come out and see some other smart Americans?" It's an honor to be here. I want to thank you for coming. I appreciate the warm hospitality that you've shown me and my friend. We had a heck of a dinner last night. It was a black tie dinner, and I had the honor of sitting next to the First Lady of Poland. And it dawned on me after the dinner that he and I share a lot, starting with the fact that we both married really well. Laughter The First Lady of Poland sends her best, and so does the First Lady of America, my great wife, Laura Bush. I appreciate John and Michelle Engler. John mentioned that she is of Polish heritage. He forgot to say she's got some Texas blood in her too. But I'm proud to call John and Michelle friends. I'm happy that Aleksander got to meet my friends here who have been doing such a fine job of running this State. I want to thank Gary Russi, the host, the president of Oakland University. I know it's not easy to host an entourage, choppers and all the things that fly in here. But I want to thank you for providing this fantastic forum, a chance for us to talk about our mutual visions for a peaceful world. So I want to thank all those who helped here at Oakland to make this a successful trip. I want to thank the Lalewiczes. That would be the lady the fantastic young lady who sang "The Star Spangled Banner" and her brother, Peter. I told the President he's going to see a budding star singing our national anthems, and she didn't let us down. I want to thank you, Olivia, very much for being here. I appreciate some of the good folks who work here in Michigan. The Lieutenant Governor, Dick Posthumus, is here. Candice Miller is supposed to be here somewhere. I appreciate Candice is the Michigan secretary of state. I want to thank the Polish delegation. We've got a lot of the leadership who are involved in the President's Government. They've traveled with us from Washington today. I want to thank you all for coming. I'm honored you're here. Our Ambassador from Poland is here, Chris Hill. Thank you, Mr. Ambassador. You're doing a fine job. I appreciate you coming. I mean, when the President of Poland shows up, all the officials show up. We've got not only Federal officials and State officials, we've got L. Brooks Patterson, the Oakland County executive. We've got the mayor of Detroit. Mayor Kilpatrick, thank you for coming. I want to thank the mayor of Rochester for being here as well. Mr. Mayor, thank you for coming. I'm honored you're here, and the mayor of Rochester Hills is here as well. And I want to thank you all for coming. It's an honor that you're here. We're thrilled you're here. It gives us a chance to talk about our vision for a peaceful world. There's a lot of war talk these days, as there should be, but it's all aimed at making sure the world is peaceful, peaceful not only for children here in America but peaceful for children in Poland as well. And it's kind of you all to give us a chance to come and to visit. When we landed our chopper out there on the playing fields or some kind of field laughter I know it was a field laughter we were met by two really fine Americans, Helen Suchara and Erin Chekal. Now they're here, and I want them to stand up here in a minute. But I want to describe to you their hearts. First, you'll see that Helen has lived a full life. But in the early nineties, she decided to go to Poland as a Peace Corps volunteer. She decided to take American values to her the homeland of her ancestry, to talk about democracy and freedom, those very same values which the country embraces today. And Erin Chekal wanted to do the same thing. And so we've got two generations of Americans with us today who have volunteered their time to make not only America a better place but to help the country they love, Poland, become a better place. And I want you to welcome them. Thank you all for coming. Applause Mr. President, the strength of our Nation is not our balance sheet it's not our military. The strength of our Nation is the American people. The American people are generous people. They're kind people. They're courageous people. The true strength of America lies in the hearts and souls of Americans from all walks of life. It has been such an honor to welcome the President here to America. Laura and I went to Warsaw, by the way, as his guest and had a fantastic experience. We were the people were great, and it was a wonderful time for us to begin a friendship that's an important friendship today. And the friendship, though, between Poland and America goes back a long way. As Governor Engler mentioned, Poles fought for American independence, and in the century past, we had the privilege and honor of helping Poland fight for her independence. We had the honor of repaying the favor, because we love freedom, and so do the Polish people. America is proud to call Poland a friend, a partner, and an ally. The people of Poland and the people of America share strong bonds of kinship and culture and commerce. The sons and daughters of Poland, many of whom I'm pleased we have here today, Mr. President, have been enriching America throughout our entire history. Applause There's one or two sons here. Listen, they've contributed to every walk of life, Jan Karski, Ed Muskie, Bronko Nagurski. We had dinner last night with one, a great Polish American, Stan Musial. All throughout our society, Polish Americans have made a tremendous contribution, Mr. President, and we're proud of that contribution. As a matter of fact, it's the contributions from people from all walks of life which make America not only a unique nation but a strong nation. Poland has given a lot to America, and Poland has given a lot to the world. For 50 years, the people of Poland waged an heroic struggle for freedom. For 50 years, they set an example of what it means to love freedom. It was Polish courage and conscience that caused an evil empire to fear freedom and eventually bring down the evil empire. And Poland has given the world one of the greatest figures of the last century. The moral authority and iron integrity of a Polish Pope have stirred the forces of freedom throughout the world. Everyone who believes in human rights and human life and human dignity owes a great debt to Pope John Paul II. And I want to thank one of his most distinguished representatives here in America, His Eminence Cardinal Maida, for being with us today as well. Poland is an example to all of Europe. After all, it's a strong democracy with a market economy. It's a force for stability within Europe, and it's a nation prepared to play an influential role on the world stage. Five years ago, the United States proudly supported Poland's bid to join NATO. This year, Poland and the United States will meet in Prague and support NATO membership for all of Europe's democracies ready to share in NATO's responsibilities. In this age, in this era, America needs allies who share the same views about the world's opportunities. We need allies who understand the world's dangers. When America was attacked, NATO and Poland, led by this good man, immediately declared that an attack on one of us was an attack on all of us. You need to know that Poland is standing strong I mean, strong alongside America in the war on global terror. Poland has Poland Audience members. Stop the war! Stop the war! Stop the war! The President. Poland has deployed troops to Afghanistan, has shared intelligence, and cracked down on terrorist financing. You need to know that the United States of America will track the terrorists down one by one and bring them to justice. Applause Thank you all. Mr. President, the people of America are deeply grateful for your support and the support of the people of Poland. See, a lot of people in our country, and perhaps yours, wonder why would, why would an enemy by the way, nothing bunch of nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers strike America. And Mr. President, it's because they fear freedom. See, we believe in freedom of speech. We believe in freedom of the press. Like you, we love freedom, and if somebody attacks our freedoms, we'll stand tough and strong. No, we're bound together in this war on terror. This President understands what I know, that we've entered a new type of war. We're hunting down people that will hide in a cave but send youngsters to their death that's what they'll do. These are international criminals, and we're going to treat them like international criminals. We're going to get them on the run, and we're going to keep them on the run until we bring them to justice. We owe it to history we owe it to our children and our grandchildren. Anytime anybody wants to affect the freedom of our people, they must pay a price, not because we seek revenge but because we seek justice. I was explaining to the President yesterday that I've submitted a mighty hefty increase in our defense spending. I did so because anytime an American President commits one of our troops into battle or into harm's way, that person deserves the best training, the best pay, the best equipment possible. And Mr. President, this significant increase, the largest since Ronald Reagan was the President, shows the world, shows our friends, and as importantly, shows the enemy that the United States is a determined, resolved nation. It doesn't matter how long it takes. There are no calendars on our desks in Washington that say, by such and such a moment we've got to quit. That's not how we think, Mr. President, and you know that. The increase in the defense budget says that we're in this for the long haul, that we owe it to a lot of people to be patient and resolved. Mr. President, I'm telling you that this country is united. We understand this isn't a Republican war, a Democratic war. This is a war that will test the soul and conscience and strength of the American people. And Mr. President, America will meet the test. We are united. We're a united country, and we're united with Poland. We will not permit the future to be defined by fear and chaos and hatred. We will define a future of greater development of democracy and a future of tolerance. We'll stand together, and, make no mistake about it, we will defeat global terror. When I spoke to the faculty and students at Warsaw University last year, I said the question no longer is what others can do for Poland, but what America, Poland, and all of Europe can do for the rest of the world. Working together, we will build greater prosperity and greater hope to people of our respective nations and people all across the globe. Poland has a leader it can trust. He's a good man. He's a man I'm proud to call friend. I'm proud to bring him to the great State of Michigan. I'm proud to introduce him to you. Ladies and gentlemen, President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland. July 17, 2002 President Bush. It's an honor to welcome my friend the President of Poland to the White House. Mr. President, welcome. President Kwasniewski. Thank you very much. President Bush. Poland is a close friend and a good ally and an influential nation in the center of Europe. Poland has influence across Europe. America and Poland see the world in similar terms. We both understand the importance of defeating the forces of global terror, and America appreciates all that Poland is contributing to this great struggle. Our nations also understand the importance of building a better world beyond terror, one where prosperity replaces poverty and democracy and tolerance replace dictatorship and hatred. Poland and the United States are part of the great alliance of liberty, and we're working to spread the hope of freedom and prosperity across the globe. We had good talks this morning, and I want to highlight two initiatives we agreed on. First, we agreed to expand cooperation between our militaries. Both Poland and the United States are seeking to transform our Armed Forces and develop new capabilities. We need to meet the new threats such as terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. By sharing ideas and expertise, our militaries can help each other reach out reach our transformation goals faster and improve our ability to work together. We hope this initiative will be a model for similar efforts with other NATO Allies. Second, our Governments agree to cooperate more closely to expand our economic ties. The Polish American trade and investment relationship is important to both countries, and it's particularly important to creating jobs and high tech growth opportunities in Poland. We will work to resolve some company specific issues and also improve Poland's investment climate. These two initiatives will help build our strong working relationship. Tomorrow the President and I look forward to traveling to Troy, Michigan. I believe you have to go beyond Washington to truly capture the energy and diversity of our country. Mr. President, I think you'll like the trip. Troy is just one of countless communities across our Nation that has been enormously enriched by the contributions and values of Polish Americans. It will be a great honor for me to travel to such a community with the President of a free and independent Poland. Mr. President. President Kwasniewski. Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. President, let me once again emphasize how pleased I am to stand here on the hospitable land, the country that is so close to the Polish people, where millions of people live here of Polish extraction. I'm coming as a President of the Republic of Poland to the United States from the country which may set an example of success for others. And we know that this success is due to the support of our American friends. Today I am here as the President of democratic, developing Poland, Poland that is important in its region and whose voice is very significant, both in Europe and worldwide. I am here as President of the country which enjoys strategic partnership with the United States and friendship which is hundreds of years long and well tested, as well as enjoys perspectives that we have discussed with President George Walker Bush for a long time today. During our conversations, we have discussed combating terrorism that has to be brought to the final end. And Poland has been contributing to this particular combat. And we're sure that under the leadership of the United States, we could eliminate this particular threat from the world of the 21st century, so that we could build a future on the basis of the dialog, the protection of human rights, and mutual tolerance. Poland, with its soldiers in Afghanistan, is present in NATO, and Poland is active in exchange of information of intelligence and special units. We are ready to develop our cooperation along these lines. We have spoken about NATO. Poland is one of the new members, and we are convinced that the new summit in Prague will be the day on which new countries will be invited to become members of NATO who have met the requirements. Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, our friends from Slovakia, and our close partners from Bulgaria and Romania and Slovenia will be welcomed there. We want a strong NATO. We want NATO to be ready to ensure security in Europe as well as in the Euro Atlantic theater and a NATO that is going to be ready to respond to threats where the basic values of life and ethnic cleansing or acts of terror are taking place. I've presented to President George Walker Bush an initiative that I had presented a few days ago in Riga, to develop cooperation with countries which are in NATO, which will be in NATO, and with those ones which are going to be outside of NATO I'm thinking here of the Balkan states. And I rejoice in the fact that the initiative of cooperation has been accepted as interesting by the United States, and as deserving further development. We have also spoken of Europe, and Poland wants to become a member state of the European Union. And we are sure that at the beginning of 2004 we are going to become a member state, and we think that our future should be built with very close cooperation with the United States and Europe. And we want Poland to contribute, with its potential to global security and to building peace and mutual trust. On bilateral issues, we have emphasized that we're closing a particular chapter of transformations that have been taking place in Poland and in countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Today, we can say that our partnership has matured, that we're opening a new chapter where we're going to be treated mutually as fully fledged partners ready to take actions, both current actions as well as those that are going to take place in the future. I am convinced that the United States may draw on the experiences that Poland has gained in its transformation. We are ready to share these transformation experiences with other countries. I am also convinced that we're going to serve very well the military cooperation, especially in the areas of training, equipment, and the cooperation of special units with the particular military forces. And transformation is Poland's specific experience, as I want to emphasize again. I would also like to say that it's very significant that we have been creating a very positive climate for European investments. Americans have so far made an investment of 8 billion U.S., and we want the climate for further investments to be very good. We would hope that new American companies will be opening their new headquarters in Poland, making it possible for them to operate vis a vis other states of the region. Let me also emphasize that since the very first moment in Washington, DC, we have been feeling the atmosphere of extreme wishfulness, kindness, and hospitable that I wish to extend my words of gratitude now in this context to President Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush. We're not only guests here, as we feel, but we're also friends that are coming from Poland for a visit to the United States. I'm convinced, too, that this visit will encourage further contacts and to develop enough contacts at all levels concerning not only politicians and elites but also citizens of the two countries, nongovernmental organizations and various institutions, social institutions. We want very much the Polish American relations to get the new momentum. And free of the challenges that we have had in the recent decades, they could become the greatest contribution to the world, to Europe, and to Poland and the United States. And thank you for your attention. President Bush. We'll answer some questions. We'll alternate between the American press and the Polish press, three apiece. Corporate Responsibility National Economy Q. Mr. President, even while you're calling for transparency in corporate America, you refuse to ask the SEC to turn over documents from its investigation into Harken Energy Corporation, your old company. And the Vice President has answered few questions about his role at Halliburton, his old company, which is now under investigation by the SEC. Why not just clear the air, ask the SEC to release those documents, and ask the Vice President to talk about Halliburton in a public forum? President Bush. Well, first, the Vice President I've got great confidence in the Vice President, doing a heck of a good job. When I picked him, I knew he was a fine business leader and a fine, experienced man. And he's doing a great job. That matter will take run its course, the Halliburton investigation, and the facts will come out at some point in time. Secondly, as to a look at Harken, the SEC, as a result of Freedom of Information requests, has released documents, and the key document said there is no case. It was fully investigated by career investigators. Some of you, I think, have talked to the head career investigator, and he's made it clear there was no case. The key thing for the American people is to realize that the fundamentals for economic vitality and growth are there, low interest rates, good monetary policy, productivity increases, economic vitality, and growth in the first quarter and that, as Chairman Greenspan said yesterday, that we've got to change from a culture of greed to a culture of responsibility. And I believe that's going to happen. Congress is working on some legislation. I hope they get it to my desk before they go home. I think it's important to send a signal to the American people that reforms have been enacted, laws will be upheld. But as I said the other day in Alabama, I've got I'm an optimist about the future of this economy. I think that the ingredients for growth are in place, and that's important to our friends from Poland because, as he mentioned, we invest and we trade and the stronger our economy is, the more likely it is we'll have investment and trade together. President Kwasniewski. Now it's time for Polish journalists. I invite Polish TV. Poland's Role in the War on Terrorism Q. Polish public television, TVP. The question to both of you. Regarding the future of the anti terrorist coalition and possible next phase of the war against terrorism, do you expect an increase of Poland's involvement? And do you think that Poland is ready to meet the expectations? President Bush. Well, first, I've been very impressed by Poland's troops. And we've got confidence in the Polish military. And we want to continue to train together. Particularly, our special forces need to work together, because the ability to succeed in the war the new war of the 21st century means that we have to move quickly and move in a way that is effective and sometimes lethal. It's interesting you said the "next phase of the war against terror." Almost every day is a new phase, in some ways, because we're reminding different countries which may be susceptible to Al Qaida that you're either with us or against us. And so we're constantly working on bolstering confidence amongst some nations which may sometimes forget that either you're with us or you're with the terrorists. That's kind of a that's a phase, I guess you could say. Phase one was Afghanistan. Phase two is to make sure that other countries don't become places for training or places where the Al Qaida think they can hide. And we spent a lot of time on that here. I talked to Aleksander a lot about that today. The Polish Government has been very strong about working with us. The other I also told him, of course, that we'd stay in close consultation, and we will. President Kwasniewski. I would just constrain myself to say that we have been part of the coalition from the very beginning, to the potential that reflects Poland's possibility and capability, such as our station in Bagram, and there is a Polish logistics unit, and they're right there. Our intelligence forces have been cooperating very closely, and we know that the commitment on the part of the Republic of Poland will be growing with the needs that are going to be growing. We have discussed with President George Walker Bush on how to modernize the Polish Armed Forces so that they could meet the challenges of the war against terrorism. And then Secretary Rumsfeld and Minister Szmajdzinski talked about talks, and they will be continued. And we hope that the effect will be that the Polish Armed Forces will be transformed in such a way so that, as a very serious and mature partner, they would be able to respond in unison with other armed forces. Poland is a member of the anti terrorist coalition and has been very closely cooperating with the United States. And we want to reconfirm our readiness to continue this combat. Reform of the Palestinian Authority Vice President Cheney Q. Mr. President, do you agree with your Secretary of State's willingness to consider working with a Palestinian Government that has Yasser Arafat as a figurehead leader, despite your call in June for a new and different leadership? And if I may follow up on Ron's Ron Fournier, Associated Press question President Bush. You get one question. Laughter Q. If I could follow on Ron's, are you confident the SEC will find that Vice President Cheney did nothing wrong while at Halliburton? President Kwasniewski. His question was President Bush. It happens worldwide. Yes, I am, to answer your second question. And first, I am confident as well that we need to put institutions in place so that a peaceful Palestinian state can emerge. And that ought to be the primary focus. The reform of the Palestinian state is a crucial element to achieving the confidence necessary amongst all parties so that we can eventually achieve the vision of two states living side by side in peace. That's really important. The issue is much bigger than a person, as far as I'm concerned. I made it clear, I thought. The person you mentioned, Mr. Arafat, has failed to deliver. I still feel that way. And I know the Palestinian people will be better served by new leadership. And so we are but my focus of my administration is to work with leaders from around the world, some of whom were in New York yesterday, to work to make sure there's a new constitution which divides power, so that one person doesn't get to decide the fate of a group of people who have suffered mightily that there are security arrangements in place, so that they serve to make the area more secure, as opposed to security forces all existing all of which exist to keep a person in power reforms of financial institutions to make sure there's full transparency, to make sure that the money that we spend on humanitarian aid ends up helping Palestinian people, not a few leaders. Those institutional changes, Randy Randy Mikkelsen, Reuters , are essential for the evolution of a state. It's essential that those institutions are developed so that the people of Palestine get helped. That's essential. And I do believe we're making progress to this end. It is a this is an issue much bigger than a single person. Mr. Arafat would like the whole issue to be about him. That's the way it's been in the past. Except when you analyze his record, he has failed the Palestinian people. He just has, and that's reality. Q. Inaudible President Bush. You only get that's your third, second followup. Laughter Unbelievably aggressive today. Laughter President Kwasniewski. Mr. President, now is Polish turn. President Bush. You're in good standing with your colleagues for that. Break some new ground. President Kwasniewski. It's a press conference, not interview. Laughter President Bush. Yes. Q. Polish public radio. Mr. President, this is a question addressed to both Presidents. President Bush. An old Fournier trick. Polish U.S. Relations War on Terrorism Q. There are some differences between Europe and the United States. Europe seems to be more eager to deal with economy and political sources of terrorism. United States seems to be more determined to apply military solutions. European Union and the United States differ in some important trade issues. What is the differences present in your today conversation? Poland is going to be a member of the European Union. Might this membership complicate relations in between our two countries? President Bush. No. That's an easy one. Laughter No, it won't. Let me make it clear to you, make sure if I could kind of change one of your premises. We use military power, no question about it, and we'll continue to do it, to hunt these killers down, one by one. And that's all they are, is killers, coldblooded killers. We also understand that in order to make it hard for them to attack the United States again, or any of our friends, that we must disrupt their finances. We spend a lot of time on working with our friends to disrupt finances. And so we have a multifaceted approach to the war on terror. It's important for you to understand that. We don't necessarily place one aspect on the war against terror as more important than the other. In terms of the listen, we've got great friends in Europe. Poland is a great friend, and the United States fully understands that we must cooperate together to achieve victory in the war against terror. That means intelligence sharing and working cooperatively on finance, making sure our militaries cooperate together. NATO a useful role for NATO, the new role for NATO, is going to be to defend Europe against terrorist activity. And therefore, NATO needs to change so that it can do a more effective job of defeating the enemy. Russia is not the enemy. Russia is you know, the idea of Russian tanks storming across Europe are no longer the problem. And therefore, cooperation on chasing down killers, one by one, even becomes more focused and more important in many ways. And that's the nature of our relationship. So I welcome Poland going into the EU, if that's what the President and the country think is best. President Kwasniewski. I wish to say that we have discussed the subject, and it is true to say that in Europe, Poland has been criticized as a state that has extremely been has been very pro American. And for that reason I haven't witnessed any criticism or heard any criticism, for that reason, here in America. But the issue of whether Europe or America, relations, et cetera, reminds me of a question that is very often addressed by a child Is Mom or Dad better? From the educational point of view, it's a false question, because under these circumstances that we are now in, we're creating a family based on the same fundamental values or based on similar or very similar objectives, and also based on the historical heritage for Europe and the United States are quite similar and very penetrating. It seems to me that outside of current politics, or different accents in politics, certainly we could not talk, and we should not talk, about any conflicts of opinions. Poland wants to become a member state of the European Union, and that's how we see our political and economic opportunity. And we hope it's going to be true the first of January 2004. And I want to assure that Poland, as a member state of the European Union, will be doing all it can and will be able to do for the cooperation between the United States and Poland and Europe to be even better. I would like to refer to what President George Walker Bush said in Warsaw last year in June. "We have to be building a spirit of Europe," he said, "whole and free," a whole and free Europe. And I believe that this is a good reply to this question, a good answer on how we should work together and how a Europe that is going to be in its whole entirety based on the same values to be the traditional and very close ally and partner for the United States. I am convinced that Poland's membership in the European Union will not only be a problem in relations between Poland and the United States, but because we are going to get new incentives for development, this type of cooperation between Poland and the United States will be greatly welcomed also by the United States. Financing Homeland Security Q. Thank you, Mr. President. The strategy that you announced yesterday indicated that we're already spending about 100 billion on homeland security. What have you determined about the costs going forward? How much is it going to cost us, and how much of that total do you see coming from State and local governments, on the one hand, and from the private sector, on the other? President Bush. It's going to be hard to quantify how much the private sector spends. Let's just say they need to spend enough to work in a cooperative way, and many private sector companies realize it's in their interests to do so. The key thing about the national strategy is that we have the ability to have a Department of Homeland Security that's able to effect a national strategy by setting priority. And the priority is to protect our homeland. Mr. President, we've got agencies who've got many different functions, and we want the primary function of agencies that have anything to do with homeland security to be protecting America, because we still feel like we're under attack. The key cost issue is the cost of transition toward this new Department of Homeland Security. And we're confident that if we're given the management tools necessary, we can effect that in a cost effective way, that transition in a cost effective way. That's why I spent some time talking to Members of Congress yesterday about giving us some management flexibility, flexibility in personnel decisions, flexibility in reorganization decisions. I think that's going to be an important part of making sure that the cost of transition is a realistic cost. As a matter of fact, we think we can save money as a result of overlap. In terms of how much it costs down the road, that's going to depend upon how effective we are at defeating the enemy. The best homeland security is to hunt the enemy down one by one and bring them to justice. That's the best way to secure the homeland, and the more effective we are at that, the more cost effective it will be at home. And so the budget we submitted is one we think is important for this year, and we'll reassess on an annual basis. Q. As you know, Mr. President, the State and local governments are saying they're at the end of their rope financially, at the moment, because of the economic downturn. Do you see a substantial burden on them President Bush. Well, we'll just have to work help them work through their budgets. But remember, the we'll just have to see. They're concerned about budgets in a lot of areas, Medicaid, different areas. And the I believe this economy is going to come back, and I think it's going to help improve their financial picture when it does. Poland's Role in Europe Russia U.S. Relations Q. TVN Polish Network. A question for both of you. Would you please expand on the subject of the specific role that Poland is going to play in Central and Eastern Central Europe, especially within the context of new enhanced relations between the United States and Russia? What is Poland going to do? President Bush. Well, that's a very good question. First of all, the President talked about the Riga initiative that he described. It's a and it's something that caught our imagination and caught our attention. We thought it was a very interesting set of ideas, and we want to explore that with him further, which would really put Poland in a unique role of fostering continued relations with countries which may or may not be admitted into NATO, for example. In terms of the Russia U.S. relationship, it's a strong relationship. But the and it's a relationship which is important because it helps Russia think Westward. And Poland can be a part of that, of course. The President has had great visits with President Putin, and he's talked about the benefits of thinking West. And the other important part, the most immediate effect, is when Russia looks West, she sees Poland and realizes there is no threat from Poland. Poland is a peaceful neighbor. Poland's at peace with all its neighbors. And that is a very important contribution to the stability of our relationship. If we were as I was very aggressive about, in talking about NATO expansion, if Russia thought that the neighborhood was unsettled, it might create some issues. But Poland has provided a great source of stability in the neighborhood, and therefore Russia feels less threatened. And I think that's an important nuance, as we say, in foreign policy. I think that's the word, isn't it? "Nuance"? Yes. Laughter Anyway, but it's been a vital contribution, Mr. President, and I thank you for that. Making sure you're awake. President Kwasniewski. Thank you. First, I also wish to say that some journalists in Poland have been writing that good relations between the United States of America and Russia mean that the role of such states as Poland, or such states that joined NATO from Central Europe, has been decreasing or on a decline. I think that this is not a very wise thesis or assumption. But let me emphasize that especially the states of Central and Eastern Europe and Russia want Russia to become a fully democratic state, a state exercising a very peaceful attitude to all other nations. So good American Russian relations are a guarantee for us, and President George Walker Bush has just mentioned that, that there is no threat from the Russian Federation and there will be no threat from the Russian Federation. I want to be in the shade of Russia and not afraid, as opposed to being a country that is right upfront and is afraid of Russia. I think it's the very vital interest of Poland and other states for Russia the United States relations to be very good. And we are very happy with the Russia NATO partnership. This is a new quality of ensuring security in the world and especially in our region. Now, secondly, we are extremely happy that the American position is very, very pro enlargement of NATO. I think politically this is a very significant decision that will result in the further development, broadening of the security zone in Europe. We are also very happy that there is a support for the Riga initiative, because it means that countries which are not going to become members of NATO will also could be also can be also benefiting from the outcome and from the results of this success, so they we can also be supporting democracies, emerging democracies in Bosnia Herzegovina and Croatia, in Macedonia, et cetera and et cetera, something that has been the world's problem. And I think the Balkan states are going to be an area of development, economic development and development of security. I also want to assure you, and President Bush knows about it, that Poland has been functioning as an exporter of stability. We have been a unique state because, in the last 10 years, Poland has not changed its border by a single inch, and all our neighbors have changed. None of our neighbors have been neighbors of Poland 10 years ago, neither the east Eastern Germany or the German Democratic Republic, neither the Soviet Union nor any other country. So this is a piece of evidence that you can export stability. You can be a pretty important factor contributing to security in Europe, but also in the Euro Atlantic dimension. And finally, I'd like to say that we talked about the cooperation with the Ukraine. Let me use this opportunity to say that Ukraine should play an even more important role in Europe and in the region, and I am convinced that we should be supporting and favoring all efforts aimed at furthering development and cooperation with Ukraine and cooperation with the United States. And I am convinced that, strategically looking at the future, we should not be in the position not to see the 50 million state located right in the heart of the European Continent. So, speaking in brief words, we have made a review of politics in the area, and perspectives are good. But I think they should be utilized in the best possible ways. And in that sense, the Polish American cooperation is very, very important. Thank you very much. July 17, 2002 Thank you all. Mr. President and Madam First Lady, it's a great privilege for Laura and I to host you here in the White House. Tonight's dinner is a small way of saying dziekuja for the warm hospitality you showed us last year in Warsaw. Today, Poland and the United States are meeting the challenges of our times, sustained by bonds of kinship, culture, and commerce that unite our peoples. Two centuries ago, Poles fought for America's independence. Before and since, thousands of American communities have been enriched by the energies of millions of Poles who came here to settle. Mr. President, tomorrow we'll travel to Michigan to visit one of those communities. But pride requires me to point out that the oldest permanent Polish settlement in America can be found in my home State. In the fall of 1854, more than 100 Polish families traveled to the prairies of south Texas, seeking greater freedom and opportunity. They arrived at their destination on Christmas Eve, and they christened their new settlement Panna Maria, or Virgin Mary. The town is still there, a living symbol of our common ties. Just as Poles keep contributing to America's vitality, Poland keeps contributing to the vitality of the entire world. Poland's opposition to Soviet tyranny inspired half a continent and helped bring down an evil empire. And the passion for human dignity and iron integrity of a Polish Pope has added to the momentum of freedom around the globe. Freedom did not have to be imported into Poland. It is found naturally in the rhythm of every Polish heart, a commitment of conscience and faith stronger than the brutality of conquerors or the official lies of oppressors. In 1989, Poles on all sides of the ideological divide made an historic decision to build a society based on democracy and human rights and the rule of law. Two years later, more than 100 political parties participated in Poland's parliamentary elections, including one party called the Beer Lovers' Party. We're watching to see how much beer you drink tonight, Mr. President. Laughter All but a handful of these parties were committed to a Poland founded on freedom. In the decades since, Poland has continued to be an example for other nations seeking to claim their democratic future. And Poland has found what America has found, that democracy and free markets are honorable and just and indispensable to national progress. America and Poland are joined by a commitment to helping each other along freedom's road. Thomas Jefferson once wrote to Kosciuszko and praised him for being true to a single object, the freedom and happiness of man. Today, this single object defines Poland itself, and it defines the partnership between Poland and America. Together we can and we will complete the unification of Europe. We will reach out to Russia and Ukraine, and we will win the war against terror. Poland and America share a vision that is stronger than intolerance and hatred and bigotry. It is a vision of a world that is free and just, a world that respects people's dignity and rewards their enterprise and creativity. Mr. President, let us toast to friendship between our countries. Tonight the old Polish saying has new meaning in a new century For your freedom and ours. July 17, 2002 Mr. President, Madam First Lady, members of the Polish delegation, distinguished guests, on behalf of the American people, it is my great honor to welcome you to the United States. This is the only the second state visit of my administration, and it symbolizes the high importance America places on our friendship with Poland. This friendship is rooted in our common history and sustained by our common values. This generation of Poles has written a story of courage and determination that has inspired America and has inspired the world. Out of a past filled with pain and oppression, Poland is constructing a future defined by greater freedom, good relations with its neighbors, and increasing influence throughout Europe. And today, Mr. President, we meet as leaders of two strong, mature democracies, ready to shape a new era of freedom and security. Together, Poland and America are standing and fighting side by side in the war against global terrorism. From military forces to law enforcement, terrorist financing and intelligence, Poland's support and solidarity in this great struggle has been unqualified, and America is deeply grateful. Our nations are determined to lead the way in NATO's efforts to develop new capabilities to meet new threats. We're united in our determination that our children will inherit a world defined not by fear and chaos but by tolerance and freedom. Together, Poland and America are building that freedom on the continent of Europe. Today, a new Europe is within our grasp, one that is whole and free and at peace for the first time in its history. In November, the President and I will join other NATO leaders in Prague to decide on inviting new members into the Alliance. On this issue, Poland and America stand united. We believe in NATO membership for all European democracies ready to share in NATO's responsibilities. Our aim is for freedom and security to span the European Continent from the Atlantic and the Mediterranean to the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea. Together, Poland and America are also building our common prosperity. The trade and investment that flows between our countries creates jobs and lifts lives on both continents. We're determined to bring the benefits of trade and markets to all our citizens. Today, Poland and America are forging a new strategic relationship, but the friendship between our people is very old. Nine million Americans claim Polish descent. Over two centuries ago, when Americans were fighting for our independence, Poles fought alongside us. In the century just passed, as Poles reclaimed their independence, America stood by Poland. And today, Poland and America stand and fight together for our common freedom and for bringing the hope of freedom to all who seek it in the world. Mr. President, in June of last year you welcomed Laura and me to Poland. You showed us a nation of deep faith, a central part of Europe's soul. And you showed us a nation alive with liberty and energy and enterprise. Today Laura and I are honored to welcome you and the First Lady to an America that is proud to call Poland a friend, an ally, and a partner. Thank you for coming, and welcome. July 16, 2002 Mr. Vice President and Governor Ridge, thank you all. I want to thank the Members of Congress who have come to discuss the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. We just had a really productive meeting on this important issue. All of us agree that protecting Americans from attack is our most urgent national priority and that we must act on the priority. I want to thank the Speaker, Speaker Hastert, and Leader Gephardt, as well as Leader Lott and Senator Reid for being here. And I appreciate so very much their agreement that we ought to have a debate about the creation of the Department of Homeland Security on the floor of both bodies before Congress leaves for the August break. These four leaders have shown a strong commitment to get something done on behalf of the American people. I also want to appreciate the members of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security are here, Chairman Armey and Vice Chairman Pelosi and other members. Both Republicans and Democrats are charged with reconciling the work of numerous House committees who acted this past week. They face a significant challenge, but I'm confident they'll meet the challenge, because they, too, want to do what's right. I also welcome Members of the House and Senate who have been long interested in changing the way our Government protects our homeland Senator Lieberman and Thompson and Collins, Congresswomen Harman and Tauscher, and Congressmen Thornberry, Gibbons, Chambliss, Portman, and Shays. These are members who had an interest in reform prior to September the 11th. They've been working on this issue for a long time, and I appreciate their input and their willingness to stay involved in the process. I want to thank them for their past efforts. The American people need to know these Members of Congress are working hard and working long hours. And during the next couple of weeks, they'll be working hard to get something on the floor of their respective bodies. And that's good, and that's good for the American people. There are a lot of tough decisions that will be made as we develop and discuss and debate how to move forward. But I'm confident that Members of both parties and Members of both Chambers know that the security of our Nation is the goal. That's the most important thing that they'll be focused on, is how best to secure the United States. We also understand that the current structure of our Government is a patchwork, to put it best, of overlapping responsibilities, and it really does hinder our ability to protect the homeland. And so we're working with both parties in both Chambers to effect a strategy that will make it more likely that not only this administration and this Congress can deal with the true threats of the 21st century but, as importantly, future administrations and future Congresses will be able to deal with the threats that will continue to be directed at a nation which loves freedom. I right after the September the 11th attacks, I established the Office of Homeland Security in the White House and gave it a critical mission to produce a national strategy for homeland security. And today I'm sending to Congress our new National Strategy for Homeland Security. This comprehensive plan lays out clear lines of authority and clear responsibilities, responsibilities for Federal employees and for Governors and mayors and community and business leaders and the American citizens. With a better picture of those responsibilities, all of us can direct money and manpower to meet them. In the war on terror, the American people are showing tremendous strength and great resolve. Our unity is a great weapon in this fight. And by acting together to create a new and single Department of Homeland Security, we'll be sending the world a signal that the Congress and the administration will work together to protect the American people and to win this war on terror. Again, I want to thank the Members for their hard work. I appreciate the long hours that they're putting in. I appreciate their love for America and their patriotism during this trying time for our country. May God bless the American people, and may God continue to bless America. Thank you very much. July 15, 2002 Thank you all very much. Please be seated. It's a long speech. Laughter Thanks so much for coming. I don't know whether you know this or not, but in 1972, I helped organize Red Blount's campaign for the United States Senate right here in the State of Alabama. Because of me and Jimmy Allison, he managed to get 32 percent of the vote. Laughter But I learned then and there how great the people are of the State of Alabama. I've got fond affection of those times. I count many of you as my friends, and I want to thank you for coming today to help the next Governor of the State of Alabama, Bob Riley. There is no doubt in my mind he is going to win, and I want to thank you all for helping. He's going to win because he's got a fantastic grassroots organization. Many of the grassroots activists are here today. I want to thank you for what you're fixing to do, which is to start dialing phones and putting up signs and knocking on doors and going to coffee shops and going to your churches and synagogues to remind people that with Bob Riley you've got a good, honest politician who's going to bring integrity to Montgomery, Alabama, and he's going to reform the State on behalf of all the people of this great State. He's also going to win because he married well. Laughter And I appreciate Patsy Riley and the Riley family for standing by Bob as he makes this very important run for the governorship. Patsy, thank you for being here. God bless you all. And I know something about marrying well. I did. I'm really proud of Laura. She was a public school librarian when she married me. She didn't care for politics or politicians. Here she is, First Lady of the United States, and doing a fantastic job. I want to also urge you all, as you're turning out to vote for Bob, to make sure you turn out to vote for Jeff Sessions, who is a fantastic United States Senator. I appreciate working with Jeff, and I appreciate working with Richard Shelby as well, two great United States Senators who have got fan applause . They're always talking about Alabama when I'm with them, reminding me of Alabama, and that's what you want your Senators to do. But they've also got the capacity to think about the country as well. I'm proud of your Senators, and I hope you are as well. And Jeff needs your help. You need to take nothing for granted in this election year. It's important for the good of the country and for the good of your State that Jeff Sessions be sent back to the United States Senate for another term. I want to thank Members of the United States House of Representatives from the State of Alabama who are here with us today, starting with a man we're going to miss, out of Mobile, Alabama, Sonny Callahan. Where are you? There he is, Sonny. Sonny's a good one. Sonny has served the State and the country with great distinction. He announced his retirement earlier on this year. It's just too darn bad he decided to go fishing all the time, but it's a well deserved rest, and he's a fine man. I also appreciate so very much Terry Everett from Montgomery for coming today. Terry, I appreciate you being here, as well as Robert Aderholt and Spencer Bachus. Thank you all for coming. I know a lot of members of the statehouse are here, folks who Bob Riley is going to be working with when he becomes the Governor. I know the Lieutenant Governor, Steve Windom, is here, as is the attorney general, Bill Pryor. And I want to thank you both for coming as well. I want to thank Jim Bennett, the Alabama secretary of state, and all the members of the statehouse, the senators and house of representatives who are here to support your next Governor. It's good that you're here, as people are beginning to realize he's going to win, you're beginning to realize he's going to win. So it's kind of good to get in good with the Governor early. Laughter At least, that's how we did it in Texas, and I suspect Alabama is that way, too. The Governor is going to remember who was with him early and who kind of got on the late train. But the good news, he's going to be the Governor of everybody when he wins. He's not going to play this business of pitting one group of people against the other. We've got some fine candidates running to replace Sonny Callahan and Bob Riley. We've got Jo Bonner from the Alabama First Congressional District. Jo, are you here? Thank you. There he is. I appreciate you, Jo. And Mike Rogers from Alabama Three is here as well. Thank you, Mike. But I'm here to help this good man get elected to the governorship. It's a job I understand. I was a great honor to be the Governor of my State. It's a fantastic opportunity to make a difference in the lives of a lot of people, particularly if you've got a Governor like Bob Riley, who's got a positive vision for everybody, a vision that says the most important job for the Governor is to make sure that every child gets a good education. I know his passion about education, because he helped me get the education bill through the House of Representatives. And I'd like to outline the principles of that bill so that the people of Alabama understand what he will do when given the chance to be the Governor. The first principle, it says that we believe Riley and I believe, and I hope you believe with us that every child can learn. We set the highest of high standards. We understand that in order to get the best for every child, you must have high expectations. See, we understand, if you have low expectations, you get low results. There are some people in our society who don't believe every child can learn, and therefore they're willing to set low standards. That's opposite what we think. We believe every child can learn, and we expect every child to learn. And therefore, the bill I signed said in return for Federal money in return for a good size budget increase, I might add, for Title I students we expect you to teach them how to read and write and add and subtract. You see, we're tired of the days when children were just shuffled through the system, the days when expectations were so low that it seemed okay to pass those through who weren't supposed to be able to learn. For the good of the country, for the good of the State of Alabama, those days of passing children through without teaching them to read and write and add and subtract must end and will end. We believe in accountability, because we want to know. We understand you can't change a system unless you measure it. We understand you can't correct a problem unless you measure it. We understand that if you want every child to learn to read and write and add and subtract, we must determine if every child can read and write and add and subtract early in their school career. Now, I've heard every excuse in the world, you know, "You shouldn't test. It's racist to test." My fellow Americans, it's racist not to test. It's racist not to hold people accountable for the children in the State of Alabama. And finally, Bob and I share a deep conviction that if you want to have excellence for every child, you must trust the local folks to chart the path to excellence. One size doesn't fit all across America. One size doesn't fit all across the State of Alabama. We must empower people at the local level to meet the high standards by holding them in account, but trusting first and foremost the fact that the parents and the people closest to the children are those who are more likely to design a program that will meet our national goals, which is every child learning and not one single child left behind. I'm confident in telling you that the vision of Bob Riley as Governor of the State of Alabama the education vision is the right vision for the future of this important State, because it is part of attracting jobs to your State. When the word gets out that the Riley reforms are taking hold and children aren't being left behind, there's going to be a lot of people coming, "I want to work here in Alabama. I want to bring my business in Alabama" assuming, of course, that you make sure that the junk lawsuits that plague this State and other States don't continue to reign supreme. And it's good you're about to put a tort reformer in the Governor's mansion in the State of Alabama. It is necessary. Look, we want our people to have access to the courts, no question about it. If you've got a legitimate claim, you ought to have your day in court. But it's important to remember that the frivolous and junk lawsuits that get filed all the time are clogging the ability of people with honest claims to get to the courthouses in Alabama and across the country. Tort reform is important for the State. And I appreciated Bob's strong support on the tax relief package which we passed, not only his strong support but the strong support of the other Members of Congress and, of course, the two United States Senators. We cut taxes right at the right time in our country. This economy began to slow down in March of 2000. And we understand that one way to encourage economic growth is to let the people keep their own money. You see, when you have your own money, you decide, do you want to spend it on a good or a service? And when you make that decision, somebody has got to produce the good or service. And when they produce the good and service, it means somebody is more likely to find work. Tax relief was right for America when we did it, and I'm proud to have Bob Riley's support. And it was more than just reducing rates which, by the way, will stimulate small business growth here in Alabama. I had the honor of meeting some of your fine small business owners at the University of Alabama Birmingham today. And by the way, that is an impressive campus that has got an impressive mission here for Alabama's future. And we talked about how to encourage ownership. And Bob understands a healthy and whole society in which people from all walks of life have the opportunity to own their own business. And I explained to them that the tax relief package we passed was good for small business. It was good for the capital formation necessary for small businesses to thrive because most small businesses are sole proprietorships, most small businesses are limited partnerships which pay tax on the individual rate schedule. And when you reduce the individual rates, you're reducing the taxes on the startups and the small businesses. And after all, it's important to understand the role of small businesses like Bob does, because 70 percent of the new jobs in America are created by small businesses. And so it's going to be good for Alabama to have a Governor who understands that the role of Government is not to create wealth, but the role of Government is to create an environment in which entrepreneurs from all walks of life are able to realize their dream, and that's to own their own business. We've got work to do in Washington on this, a matter of economic security. The heady days of the nineties, the boom days of the nineties, it was like we were on a binge where there was no the horizon was forever going up. And we binged, and now we're suffering a hangover. But the foundations for economic vitality and growth are very strong, low inflation, good monetary policy. One of the risks to economic vitality is whether or not Congress will overspend. They give the President a veto for a reason, to make sure that Congress doesn't overspend. And I expect there to be fiscal discipline in Washington this summer and, as importantly, this fall, as we run up into an election year. I expect Congress to set as its priorities the priorities that I think are important, and that is the defense of the United States of America and our military budget. We need to be a nation which is willing to be confident and strong and open up markets for Alabama farmers and Alabama ranchers and Alabama entrepreneurs. Congress needs to give me trade promotion authority. They ought to stop talking and start acting in Washington, DC. For the good of our economic growth, we need to have a terrorism insurance bill which will encourage the creation of construction work all around America, and we need a terrorism insurance bill that focuses more on working America and less on trial lawyer America. The foundations for growth are there. We had an over 6 percent growth in the first quarter of this year. Durable good purchasing is up. Last month, retail sales were up by a percent. The American people need to know that we've got the potential to grow and grow strong. But so long as anybody is looking for work and can't find work, I think we've got a problem, and I'm going to continue to work the problem. And part of the problem is the fact that people don't have confidence in business leaders. A few and I emphasize, a few of corporate America's leadership have polluted the well for many. And the best thing the United States Government can do is hold them to account, because we expect high standards from business America. We expect corporate CEOs to understand the responsibility of their jobs to be open and honest with the American people to be open and honest with the shareholders and to treat their employees with respect. So we're going to pass some laws, and I'm confident that the laws that are passed out of the Senate and the House will be laws that will set the right tone and right standards without jeopardizing innovation and enterprise here in America. But I can assure you, when I talk about personal responsibility in America, I expect there to be corporate responsibility as well. And we will hold those to account who do not uphold those high standards in America. I'm very optimistic about our economy. I'm optimistic about our country too. And we've got some big jobs to do, no question about it. My biggest job is to protect the American people from another attack, and I know that. I go to the Oval Office every morning and by the way, walking into that office is an unbelievable experience. It's unbelievable now that I've been up there for about a year and a half it will be unbelievable for however long I'm there, I can promise you. It's unbelievable for me and my dog Spot, I might add. Laughter They don't let Barney in. It's a new carpet, and Barney's a new dog. Laughter But every morning I sit there at the H.M.S. Resolute desk. Teddy Roosevelt used it Franklin Roosevelt used it Kennedy used it Ronald Reagan used it. I open up the threats to the United States of America. There's an assessment it's a summary of what we think we know. You need to know that the enemy we fight is still interested in harming our country. I'm sure a lot of young people wonder why. We're a kind nation. And you need to know they hate us because we love freedom. We love to worship freely. We love to speak our mind. We love a free press. We love all the aspects of our freedom. But what they didn't understand is that we're willing to defend our freedoms at any cost, anyplace, anywhere. Applause Thank you all. We're making progress here at home. You know, I readily concede I didn't run on the ticket, "Vote for me. I'll try to make Government bigger." I did say, "I'll try to make it work better." And that's why I proposed the Department of Homeland Security. There are over 100 agencies dealing with homeland security. They're scattered all over Washington. It makes it awfully hard to set priority and to hold people accountable. For the sake of the defense of our Nation, I think it's important that the major agencies and many of the minor agencies involved with homeland security be organized under one umbrella group, one Cabinet officer. It's going to save us money because we'll be able to get rid of the duplication of some services. But more importantly, it will help us install a new culture, which says that "No matter what other assignments you might have, your most important function, Mr. Agency Head and all the people who work for you, is to protect the American people, is to understand we're in a new era, that we fight a new war, that America is still threatened, and so long as America is threatened, we need to work overtime to make sure we protect the American people." And that's what's going on. We're getting pretty good cooperation. I appreciate the bipartisan spirit in Washington. There is such a thing sometimes, and that's important. It's important to understand my proposal wasn't a Republican idea. It wasn't a Democrat idea. It's an American idea, to leave behind a legacy so that future Presidents and future Congresses are going to be able to deal with the true threats we face as we head into the 21st century. Part of the problem is, and there is a hurdle I recognize, and that is that we're asking some Members of Congress to give up turf. And that's okay. I understand that, but I'm going to keep reminding people, congressional turf is not nearly as important as American security. And therefore, I expect Congress to act. We need to know who is coming into our country, why they're coming into our country, and whether or not they're leaving our country when they say they're going to be leaving our country. We need to have an effective strategy at the national, State, and local level to deal with the brave police and fire and EMS teams all across our country, so we've got a planned response if necessary. We need to work on bioterrorism, and we need to make sure we've got a coordinating facility within the Homeland Security Department that will take all the bits of intelligence that we gather and coordinate it and look at it and assess it and, if there is any vulnerabilities in our country, react to it. And we're making good progress. You just need to know there are a lot of good folks good, hard working folks who are working overtime in this phase on the war against terror. And it's part of making sure that the President can say we're doing all we can do to protect the American people. We're chasing down any lead. Anytime we get a hint, anytime we get a suggestion that somebody might be planning to do something on American soil against Americans or, for that matter, on Americans or on our allies elsewhere, we're moving, and we're reacting, and we're disrupting. And we're treating these guys for what they are, a bunch of coldblooded killers, nothing but a bunch of international crooks. And so our strategy is to keep them on the run, get them on the run, smoke them out of their holes, deny them access, make clear the doctrine that says, "Either you're with us, or you're with the terrorists," make it clear to people that we're continually doing if you feed them, if you house them, if you're financing them, you're just as guilty as the murderers who struck the United States on September 11th. I submitted the largest increase in our defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President, for two reasons I firmly believe that anytime the Commander in Chief commits a soldier into harm's way, that person deserves the best pay, the best training, the best equipment possible and I know that the signal it sends by the big increase shows our friends and allies, as well as the enemy, that the United States of America is in this war for the long pull, that there's not a moment in time in which we're just going to say, "Well, fine. We've had enough. We quit." You know, there's no calendar on our collective desks that say, well, by such and such a date, I guess we'll just get kind of tired of all this and shut her down. That's not what history has called us to do. History has called this Nation to lead the world against the true threats of the 21st century, and that's precisely what my administration will continue to do. This is a different kind of war. We don't have the formations of airplanes flying over a territory. We don't have rows of tanks or convoys of destroyers moving around the globe. There's no set battlefield. This is a war where we're hunting them down one by one. The other day I told the Nation, we and our friends and allies have hauled in over 2,400 of these terrorist killers, and we're making progress. Sometimes you'll read about it, and sometimes you won't. Sometimes it will make a splashy headline, but a lot of times you'll never hear about the progress we're making. Sometimes you'll see like what happened in the Philippines, where, as I've made it clear, that if we find out there's an Al Qaida type network in a country, we will go to the leadership and say, "We want to help you. You get them, or we'll get them, or we'll get them together. We just want them got." Laughter And the President of the Philippines, Gloria Arroyo, did just that by knocking off the head of the group that had captured the Burnhams, American citizens. These are terrorists and kidnapers and killers, and their leader no longer is around, thanks to the leadership of our coalition. We're making progress. It's just going to take awhile. But that's okay, just so long as the enemy knows that we're going to chase them down, just keep them on the run. But there's some bigger tasks. You've got to understand, this is bigger than just a terrorist network I mean, bigger than an individual. I know there's sometimes a preoccupation about it, is so and so alive, or is such and such dead, you know. This is a struggle for freedom that really talks to the need for our country to not only view the current threats but future threats, threats such as some of the world's worst regimes developing weapons of mass destruction and teaming up with an Al Qaidatype terrorist organization. We cannot and we will not allow the United States and our friends and allies to be blackmailed by the world's worst leaders with the world's worst weapons. We owe it to our children and our grandchildren to eliminate this threat before it becomes a reality. I believe that out of the evil done to America is going to come incredible good, starting with peace. I want you all to assure your children and your grandchildren that our Nation is resolved and tough and strong because we love peace. We want them to grow up in a peaceful world. We not only want them to grow up in a peaceful world we want youngsters all across the globe to be able to grow up in a peaceful world. I believe that by remaining strong and resolute and united the way we are, that we can achieve peace in places like the Middle East and in South Asia. I also know that out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good here at home, because this Nation is such a decent and honorable nation. There are thousands of our fellow citizens who love their neighbor just like they'd like to be loved themselves, thousands of our citizens who know that they, themselves, can't do everything to make our society a better place for all, but they can do something. People say, "What can I do to help in the war on terror?" My answer is, love your neighbor. Find a child who cannot read and teach him to read. Find a child who might be hopeless and lost and put your arm around him and tell him or her you love them. Unleash the great power of faith in our society. I strongly believe in faith based institutions, because I know that faith can change hearts for the better in America. I believe that out of the evil done to America is coming is becoming we are learning a new sense of what it means to be an American. We're learning that it's more than just the bottom line that counts, that a complete and whole life is one that lends your time and talent and efforts to eradicating despair and hopelessness, to make sure the American experience is in every single neighborhood. I believe we're ushering in a period of personal responsibility, a period where people understand that their most important job is to love if you happen to be a mother or dad, is to love your children with all your heart and soul that's your most important job that you have a responsibility, if you're living in Birmingham, to help the community be a better place for everybody. If you run the corporate Birmingham, you've got a responsibility to your shareholders. And it's happening. Perhaps the most vivid example of serving something greater than yourself happened on Flight 93. You all may remember that when people were flying across the country, they learned their plane was becoming a weapon. They told their loved ones goodbye. They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." And they made the ultimate sacrifice. They served something greater than themselves in life. That's happening all across America. Obviously, that example is the most vivid of them all. But out of the evil done to America is coming a culture of personal responsibility that allows me to boldly predict that we're much more likely now to bring hope where there's no hope, light where there's darkness, and to make sure this American experience is available for all. It's going to happen, because we are the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. And it is my honor to be the President of such a nation. Thank you for coming. July 15, 2002 Thank you all very much. Thank you for coming. So I come up here with Thornton, and he says, "I think driving a bulldozer is a little easier than introducing you." Laughter I said, "Well, you must be a pretty good bulldozer driver then, Thornton, because you did a great job of introducing me." Thank you very much. I appreciate your being here. Thornton is the president of Stanley Construction Company. He's one of several business leaders from Alabama I met with today to talk about what we can do together to help this economy recover. I want to first tell you how proud I am to be back in Alabama. It's a great State. It's produced some wonderful Americans, starting with my National Security Adviser, born and raised, Condoleezza Rice, right here in Birmingham. And I'd be in trouble with the Secretary of State at least his wife if I didn't remind you all that Alma Powell was raised born and raised right here in Birmingham, Alabama, too. It's an honor to travel today with members of the congressional delegation, two fine United States Senators, Senator Shelby and Senator Sessions. Thank you all for coming. We've attracted quite a few members of the House delegation here. I'm not suggesting that they're here to be close to the President just in case they can get aboard Air Force One when we're heading back. Laughter But if you guys do get on, you'll find it to be a comfortable plane. Laughter But I'm proud that Sonny Callahan and Terry Everett and Bob Riley and Bob Aderholt and Spencer Bachus are with us, too. Thank you all for coming. These are fine Members, and they're good people to work with, and they put their country first. And I appreciate that a lot. I know the Lieutenant Governor is here, and the attorney general is here, and the mayor is here, mayor of Birmingham. I want to thank you three for coming as well. I appreciate your hospitality. I personally want to thank the good folks here at UAB, University of Alabama Birmingham, for allowing us to use, first of all, this fantastic facility. I had the honor of speaking with the president earlier today. I am proud of the accomplishments of this fine university. It is a university that is on the leading edge of important medical research. It's a university that has fostered and kindled the growth of small businesses here in Birmingham. President Marc was rightly proud of the place, and I know you are as well. And I want to thank you for your hospitality from the bottom of my heart. And finally, one of the things I like to do when I come to a community is meet and herald those soldiers in the armies of compassion which exist all across our country. And today when I got off of Air Force One, there was a man named Roman Gary there. Roman, are you here? Where are you, Roman? There he is. Roman Gary the reason I bring up Roman is he is a he's a man who understands that our children need love in order for our society to be a vibrant and whole place, there are some who need to be having an adult in their life, somebody who there's a child somewhere in Birmingham and all across the country and needs somebody to put their arm around them and to say, "I love you. You're a part of America." And so Roman understands that. It didn't require a Government law. It didn't require a giant act of Congress or a Presidential edict. It required somebody like Roman loving a neighbor like he would like to be loved himself. And therefore, he has poured his heart and soul into Big Brothers and Big Sisters here in Birmingham, Alabama. And I thank you. Our society can and will change, one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. And while each of us can't do everything, each of us can do something to advance a decent and whole society. And so Roman, on behalf of the thousands of your fellow Americans who heard the call to help the communities in which you live, people who have assumed responsibility for their lives here in America, I want to thank you, and thank all of you all for doing the same thing. A secure America is an America that is a compassionate America. A secure America is also an America that is willing to hunt down international killers one by one and bring them to justice. And that's what we're going to do. It doesn't matter how long it takes this country will defend our freedoms. This country will defend civilization itself. This country will not let the acts of a few coldblooded killers stand. As well, in order for us to have the security we all want, America must get rid of the hangover that we now have as a result of the binge, the economic binge we just went through. We were in a land of there was endless profit there was no tomorrow when it came to, you know, the stock markets and corporate profits. And now we're suffering a hangover for that binge. But I want you to know the economy, our economy is fundamentally strong. This economy is has got foundations for growth so the people who want to find work can find work, so that the entrepreneurs in America can flourish. Listen to the facts. Inflation is low. An important part of an economic recovery is to make sure that inflation is under control it is. We've got sound monetary policy. Interest rates are reasonable. If people want to borrow money, you don't have to pay a lot of interest. Productivity is increasing. We lead the world in productivity gains as a result of the entrepreneurial spirit and the fine workers we have in America. That's an important indication of how sound our economy is. The first quarter growth of 2002 was a little over 6 percent. That's a pretty good sign that the foundations for growth are there. Orders for durable goods for the past 6 months are up. The manufacturing sector was down, but slowly but surely it is recovering from a slowdown that began for all of our economy in early of March 2000. Last month, retail sales were up by one percent. Consumers are buying. In other words, in spite of the fact that we've been in a slump for a while and in spite of the fact that the terrorists attacked us and affected our economic outlook, American business and workers are resilient and resolved. And this economy is coming back. That's the fact. But I understand this, that the American economy is constructed on confidence, confidence to invest and build, confidence for our small business owners to take risk, confidence that the job base will expand, confidence to produce and hire. And so I want to talk to you today about ways in which I intend to continue to work in Washington to build confidence, to build on the foundations, the strong foundations for economic vitality that exists, to build on the good statistics we're beginning to see. Of course, I like to remind people that Washington is full of all kinds of numbers crunchers. They talk about this number here and that number there. My attitude is, so long as somebody who wants to work can't find work, we've got a problem we need to deal with. And so I want to talk about long term economic growth and what we can do about it. I want to make sure it is clear to those in Congress that I will resist runaway congressional spending which could serve as a drag on economic vitality. And finally, I expect and you expect and our country expects the highest ethical standards in corporate America. First, we're promoting long term growth, the kind of growth that understands that the main job creators in America are small business entrepreneurs. And if you're interested in recovery if you're interested in recovery of the job base, it is important for us to remember who creates most of the jobs, and those are the small business owners in America. And that's why I fought so hard for a tax cut for the American people. I believe, when you cut taxes, it spurs economic growth, particularly in the small business sector. Most entrepreneurs are not incorporated. Most small businesses are what they call sole proprietors or limited partnerships. And so they pay tax like an individual pays tax. And so when we reduce the taxes on the individuals, we reduce the taxes on small business growth. It was important to do that. I remember the outcry, of course, because if you want more money in Washington, you don't want to let the people keep their own money. So they started quoting these textbooks that said, when times are slow, raise taxes when times are slow, don't let the people keep their money. The textbook I read says that if we let you have your own money, you'll decide to spend it on a good and service. And if you decide to spend it on the good and service, somebody will produce the good and service. And when somebody produces the good and service, it means somebody is going to find work. In the tax relief plan, we reduced the marriage penalty. We reduced the alternative minimum tax which affects many small business owners. And we did something else that's important it's important for all small business owners and that is, we eliminated the death tax. I say "we eliminated the death tax" by a quirk of the Senate rules, the death tax, however, isn't eliminated after 10 years. That's a hard one to explain. We eliminated it, but didn't eliminate it. So for the good of long term planning, for the good of the entrepreneurial spirit, for the good of allowing people to pass their business, farm, or ranch to whoever they want to pass it to, we need to make the tax cuts that we put in place permanent. I want to expand trade. I believe that will help create jobs. Confident people are willing to expand trade. Nonconfident people, you know, people who aren't confident about America and our ability to compete, want to build barriers around the country. And I'm confident. Listen, I know our farmers Alabama farmers, Texas farmers, farmers all across the country are the best in the world. And if you're the best at something, we ought to be opening up markets for them so they can sell their products around the world. We're good at a lot of things in America, and we ought to be selling our products all around the world. It's time for Congress to quit talking and start acting and giving me trade promotion authority so we can open up more markets and more people can find work right here in America. There's an issue that the Congress needs to get to my desk quickly that will show good judgment and a way to help our economy recover, and that is to pass a terrorism insurance bill. It basically says that the Government will help cover certain losses for insurance companies for a terrorist act. It is important that we pass this so that major construction projects which cannot get insurance can go forward. And when those construction projects go forward all across the country, it means somebody is going to be able to find work. It's important for us to be realistic about how to provide help so that there is insurance coverage for projects. We can do so that creates jobs not jobs for trial lawyers. We must not have legislation this legislation must keep in mind the workers of America and not open up our Government and or employers to unnecessary and frivolous and junk lawsuits. And I appreciate I appreciate the reform minded folks here in the State of Alabama who understand that junk and frivolous lawsuits affect small business owners like Thornton. It makes it hard for him to expand his business, to hire people. Listen, you ought to have your day in court, no question about it. But we've got to make sure that these junk and frivolous lawsuits stop running up the cost of doing business and make it harder for people to employ people here in America. And finally, good economic policy starts with good education policy. And I want to share with you right quickly what has happened in Washington in terms of public education and why I think it's going to make a tremendous difference in the lives of citizens all across Alabama and all across the country. An educated workforce is necessary if we intend to compete. A lady representing Honda told us today that I think she said there's going to be additional 2,000 jobs here in Alabama. This is in the face of what appears to be pretty rough economic times for some. But 2,000 new jobs is fantastic. It also means that you make sure you've got to have 2,000 educated workers. And it starts with public schools. It starts with making sure every child in America learns the basics, learns to read and write and add and subtract, which means you start with setting the highest of high standards. I can't tell you how important that is, to set high standards and to have high standards, because if you don't, if you have low standards, it means certain kids aren't going to learn. If you lower the bar, guess what's going to happen? You'll have low results. People who adhere to low standards in public education essentially admit there are certain kids who can't learn. I don't accept it. As a matter of fact, I know what happens in systems that say there are certain children who can't learn. It basically means, if we want to be honest about it, inner city African American kids are just shuffled through the school system as if they don't matter. Children whose parents don't speak English as a first language, they're deemed to be hard to educate, so it's just easy to move them through. For the good of our country, for the good of the job base, for the good of the American Dream, we must end that kind of education policy in America. And that means high standards for every child. That means a mindset that says, every child can learn, and we expect every child to learn. It means that when you receive Federal money and by the way, we have filled the coffers last time around with Federal money for Title I programs. There's a lot of money available for the States now as a result of the funding last time. It says, though, in return, we expect you to show us whether or not the children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. We expect there to be strong accountability. In return for taxpayers' money, we the taxpayers want to know whether or not high standards are being met. We expect the children to be able to read and write and add and subtract we want the children to be able to read and write and add and subtract and we expect you to deliver on the promise that children should be able to read and write and add and subtract. I've heard the argument. Listen, I was the Governor of a great State that fought hard for accountability. I heard every argument in the book against accountability, you know, "It's racist to test." It's racist not to test it's racist not to test. If you expect all children to learn, we want to know, and the testing ought to be viewed as a way to determine what works and what doesn't work. It ought to be viewed as a way to say, "If there is a problem, let's address it now, early, before it's too late." We want to know. You can't solve a problem unless you're able to diagnose the problem. And the accountability is the diagnostic tool available for not the bureaucrats in Washington, DC the local folks, because we believe in local control of schools. I firmly believe that the education plan that we passed is going to make a significant difference in making sure we achieve the national goal of not one child no child should be left behind in America. In order to make sure we have economic growth and vitality, in order to make sure we build on the foundation that is laid for economic growth, I will enforce fiscal discipline in Washington, DC. I think it is so important that we make sure that we fund our priorities, fighting the war and the homeland defense, educating our children, and that Congress hold the line on additional spending. Because if there is perceived deficits, the markets react, and if there's perceived deficit, sure enough what's going to happen is people are going to start calling for tax increases. And you don't want to run a person's taxes up in the middle of an economic recovery. Secondly, my philosophy is, is that I'd rather you spend your money. We want to fund our priorities, but when it all comes down to it, after the priorities are funded, you're better at spending your money than I am. It's your choice to spend your money on your families. Congress must control its appetites for additional spending. There is I submitted what they call a supplemental. It's an urgent request for funding the war and homeland security. I submitted that over 4 months ago, and yet, I haven't ever seen anything from Congress yet. The Senate needs to act and the House needs to act to get this to my bill to my desk, so we can fund programs. And part of the problem is, is that the Senate wants to add billions more than we requested to the supplemental. They view it as a funding opportunity, as opposed to a as a focused approach on funding the war against terror and making sure our homeland the agencies are funded. Now, they're going to say, "Well, you know, we're going to maybe play this down to the very last minute." No. Now is not the time for games when it comes to the appropriations process. We expect applause . There is no budget in the Senate. The House passed a budget there's no budget in the Senate, which means, I guess, that I'm going to have to remind the spenders in Washington that I have submitted a budget. And I hope they watch it very carefully as they determine the size of the appropriation bills. The defense of the country is a priority. Homeland defense is a priority. Other parts of the budget have grown, but we expect them to be realistic about how they spend. After all, the budget plan I proposed says if Congress is realistic and reasonable and funds priorities, that we can balance the budget in the year 2005. Now, that requires discipline, and I intend to help Congress understand discipline is needed in Washington, DC. One of the best ways to make sure that our economy grows is for there to be a joint effort in being fiscally responsible with your money. And that's exactly what's going to happen in Washington, DC. Another way to make sure that we foster growth and restore confidence is to hold people accountable for misdeeds in the public sector. It is important for corporate America to hear this call You are in order to be a responsible American, you must behave responsibly. We expect there to be full disclosure of assets and liabilities. We expect there to be fair accounting practices. We expect you to treat your investors and employees with the respect they deserve. And if not, we intend to do something about it at the Federal level. We intend to hold people accountable. That's why I set up what they call a Corporate Fraud Task Force in the Justice Department. We also have proposed doubling the jail time for corporate fraud. A proposed provision is to make sure that corporate executives cannot transfer company funds to their personal accounts while their company is under investigation. I am for increasing the budget of the regulatory authorities, to make sure that there is enough manpower and technology available to run down the facts and to hold people accountable. We're making sure that executives who commit improper acts will forfeit phony profits. And we're saying that if you have defrauded investors, you can never serve as a CEO or on the board of directors of a company again. I support the creation of a strong, independent board that will provide effective oversight of the accounting profession. In other words, I'm willing to work with Congress to make sure that we've got the necessary law in place that will hold people accountable without stifling the entrepreneurial spirit of America, without stifling innovation in America. The House has passed a bill the Senate is going to pass a bill tonight, I understand. The two need to get together as quickly as possible and get me a bill that I can sign before the August recess. But the truth of the matter is, we can't pass a law that says you'll love your neighbor like yourself, and we can't pass a law that says you will be honest. We can pass laws that say, if you're not honest, we'll get you. Corporate America must make the decision, each as an individual, that you're going to uphold high standards, that you have a responsibility to our society, that you've got the responsibility to your shareholder and your employee to treat both with the respect they deserve. Now, the good news for our country is that by far the vast majority by far of people who have taken on the responsibility to run a corporation are good, honorable people. A few have damaged the reputation of the many, and that's why we've got the Corporate Fraud Task Force. But I call upon all of us in America to understand the awesome responsibilities we have in this country the responsibilities if you run a company, to be forthright and open, and the responsibilities if you live in America, to help work in the community in which you live to make it a better place. You know, I like to remind our fellow citizens that out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good. I believe that. Oh, some are saying, "Maybe he's too optimistic." That's what I believe about America. I believe our soul is strong our constitution is firm. I believe this country's great strength is the fact that we're such a decent and honorable group of people that out of the evil done to America will come peace. If we're strong and steady and resolved, we can achieve peace. Out of the evil done to America will come an economic vitality that will be vibrant, because we're an entrepreneurial people, risk takers and dreamers and doers. And out of the evil done to America will come a better America, because in our prosperity and wealth, we've got to remember there are pockets of despair and hopelessness and addiction. There are some in our society who wonder whether or not America is really the American Dream is meant for them. There are some young Americans who have no hope. And I refuse to concede that, however. I believe that out of the evil done to America can come some incredible good, particularly as our fellow Americans respond to the call to love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. I'm a strong proponent of the Faith Based Initiative because I understand that Government can hand out money, but it cannot put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. No, I believe the enemy hit us, but they didn't know who they were hitting. They must have thought we'd file a lawsuit or two. Laughter But they didn't realize that when it comes to the defense of our freedoms, we're strong. And when it comes to the love of our fellow human beings, we're compassionate. I want to tell you, I'm honored that you came out today. My vision for the country is one that's positive and hopeful. I believe there is a better day right around the corner for all Americans. And I believe that because I know that I'm the President of the greatest country on the face of the Earth. Thanks for coming today. May God bless you, and God bless America. Thank you all. July 13, 2002 Good morning. Congress came back to Washington this week, and they have a lot of work ahead of them before the August vacation. I urge the Congress to join me in acting to achieve three big goals We need to win the war we need to protect our homeland and we must strengthen our economy. Winning the war and protecting the homeland require a sustained national commitment. More than 100 days ago, I asked Congress to pass emergency funding to equip our Armed Forces and strengthen security at our airports. The Department of Defense and the new Transportation Security Administration are still waiting for the money. Without prompt congressional action, our military will need to start cannibalizing spare parts to keep equipment running the Transportation Security Administration will have to suspend the purchase and installation of up to 1,100 bomb detection systems and the FAA may have to furlough up to 35,000 air traffic employees. Congress must fund our troops while they're fighting a war, and Congress must provide funds to continue improving security at our airports. Congress also must pass the Defense appropriations for next year's budget. The House has acted. The Senate must act. Our Nation is at war, and our budget priorities and actions need to reflect that reality. Congress should send the Defense bill to my desk by the end of this month. These bills are critical. Yet, quick action on them does not and should not preclude simultaneous progress on other legislation. Creating more jobs and strengthening our economy are an urgent part of our agenda. Congress can act to create jobs by giving me trade promotion authority, which will allow me to open up foreign markets to American goods and create better American jobs. For the sake of long term growth and job creation, I ask Congress to make last year's tax reductions permanent. And I ask Congress to work with me to pass a terrorism insurance bill, to give companies the security they need to expand and create jobs through new building projects. Perhaps the greatest need for our economy at this moment is restoring confidence in the integrity of the American business leaders. Nearly every week brings news of greater productivity or strong consumer spending but also a discovery of fraud and scandal, problems long in the making and now coming to light. This week, I announced new steps my administration is taking to crack down on corporate fraud. I proposed doubling jail time for financial fraud. I am creating a new task force at the Justice Department to aggressively investigate corporate crime. I'm requesting an additional 100 million to give the SEC the manpower and the technology it needs to better enforce the law. This year, the SEC has acted to bar 71 officers and directors from ever again serving as a director of a public company. All of these measures are in addition to the comprehensive plans I announced and the House passed to protect worker pensions and to make CEOs more accountable. As part of this crackdown, I support the creation of a strong, independent board that will provide effective oversight of the accounting profession. This board would have the ability to monitor, investigate, and enforce high ethical principles by punishing individual offenders. My administration is working with congressional leaders in both parties to pass legislation that will protect workers and shareholders and investors. I am pleased that the Senate approved several of my new proposals this week. The Senate, the House, and my administration will not stop working until a final bill is passed. Strengthening the economy and protecting the homeland and fighting the war on terror are critical issues that demand prompt attention. I urge the Congress to act on all these issues before they adjourn for their August recess. Thank you for listening. July 12, 2002 The President. I'm looking forward to our state dinner. It's a chance for me to, on a personal level, repay the favor of my friend Aleksander for his great hospitality to Laura and me when we visited he and Jolanta there in Warsaw. Secondly, it's a chance to say to our country and the world how important our relations are with Poland. We really think respect the Polish people. We've got great numbers of Polish Americans who still love the motherland. And it's going to be a wonderful occasion to build on a great relationship, make it even better. We will discuss a lot of topics. We'll talk about the war on terror. Poland has been a great friend and supporter, member of the coalition on the war against terror. We've got troops in the on ships off the Indian Ocean. We've got engineers in Bagram, shared intelligence. Aleksander has been a strong friend and supporter. I'm confident he'll want to talk about NATO expansion. Perhaps I'll leave that for a question. But all in all, we've got great relations, and I look forward to having a good conversation with a leader I respect. And I respect Aleksander Kwasniewski. Why don't we start with you, sir. Democracy in Poland Q. Thank you. Mr. President, about your talks with President Kwasniewski next week, Poland has been viewed by your administration as one of the most successful examples of democratic transformation. However, the current Polish Government is taking some steps and adopting some laws which would obviously limit independence of media and central bank, which are the pillars of democracy. So are you going to raise these issues with the President? The President. Well, first of all, I've got faith that a democracy will work. And I am confident that the Polish Government and the Polish people will come up with the right answers to issues relating to any law. I will of course, if he asks my opinion, I will remind him that an independent media is a very important part of democracy. It's one of the pillars of democracy. I value our media, as an aside, saying that of course to pander to the people here that cover me on a daily basis. Laughter But I do value a free and open media, and I think it's an incredibly important part. But your opening statement was true. We value the progress that Poland has made and the example Poland has set in a neighborhood that was a pretty tough neighborhood for awhile. And I was most impressed, when I went to Warsaw, to see the spirit of the people and the optimism. I understand the country is going through tough times, but all countries go through tough times. President's Upcoming Visit to Troy, Michigan Q. Mr. President, you're taking Aleksander Kwasniewski it was your decision to go to Troy, Michigan, to meet with Polish Americans. The President. Yes, we are. Q. What is the reason for that meeting, and if you could tell us, what is your message to Polish Americans? The President. Well, first of all, the message to Polish Americans is, I respect and honor the Polish traditions and Polish heritage. Actually, there was a even in my own State of Texas, there is a community or two that Polish Americans have settled in Texas and still retains many of the great traditions and heritages. It also reminds people that even though they have got a Polish heritage and embraced Polish traditions, they're Americans. It's a great part of the American experience. We envelop and welcome people from all walks of life. That in itself is an important statement to constantly make in our country. It reminds people of the strength of the country. I've decided to go to Troy, Michigan, because it's going to be a I hope it's a fun trip for Aleksander. I mean, I think it's important I understand what a state dinner is like. It's formal. You'll see it's going to be a grand day. They arrive on the South Lawn. The military will be there. There's a lot of pomp and circumstance. It's an exciting ceremony it really is. And then there will be the formal dinners and the black tie, and the people will come, and the entertainment and the food it's going to be great. But there's more to a good American experience than just a formal dinner. I try to wear a tuxedo as little as possible, I want you to know. But flying out there to Michigan, the heartland of the country, with our friend, is going to be great. And he's going to see a big, enthusiastic crowd. It will give him a chance to say some things. And I think that's important to provide him a forum, so that he can not only be seen in a tuxedo but be seen speaking his mind about whatever issue he wants to talk about to an American audience that is made up of people from his homeland that have now settled in our country. I think it's going to be a great event. To me, it helps complete the state dinner aspect of the trip. U.S. Economy Q. Mr. President, I talked to Mr. Kwasniewski just before yesterday. The President. Yes. How is he doing? Q. Great. He looks good, in good shape. The President. Looking forward to a 3mile run? Laughter Q. He told me that one of the topics he would like to touch on is the recent financial scandals in the U.S., because they are a kind of backlash on Central Europe, and the recovery is difficult. And there's this feeling outgoing that the U.S. Government is not doing enough to change its own rules to really prevent the backlash for a Central European The President. Yes, I'll explain to him we are doing things, and I will be glad to lay out the initiative I talked about and have been talking about, by the way, since March February and March and then the speech I gave in New York. And of course, our House has acted the House of Representatives acted, and the Senate has acted. And if he looks at what I proposed and what the Senate has proposed and what the House proposed, there's not much difference. And in other words, the point is that a bill will come out that will hold people accountable for accounting error accounting fraud and, as we go forward, hopefully set an example make it clear to people, there will be a consequence if they continue to do that. There are markets three things affect our markets, I'll explain to Aleksander. One of course is confidence and the numbers, and we're addressing that. Secondly is the war on terror. People are still you know, realize that America is still a target. And the American people know that we're doing everything we can to protect the homeland and run down these killers wherever they try to hide. And that's all they are, by the way, just nothing but a bunch of cold blooded killers. And thirdly, the corporate sector the profits are beginning to improve, but the price earnings multiples in other words, the price of a share relative to its earnings was very high, and the market is adjusting. So all three of those factors are important. And obviously we that's not the whole picture of our economy, and that's what Aleksander has got to understand. The market reflects part of it, but our unemployment rate is looks like it's steady. It has stopped rising. As a matter of fact, it had a drop, and it's level. Our consumer spending numbers are up. Our manufacturing orders are increasing. In other words, the recovery is beginning to show some strength. So therefore, what I'm going to ask him is to look at the entire picture. Finally, we've got good monetary policy and good fiscal policy here in Washington, and that in itself is part of long term recovery. And so he'll hear a man who is recognizes that we're making some progress. We've got to do more, but I'm pleased to report to him that I think things are going to get better. The foundation for long term growth has been is in place. War on Terrorism Q. Mr. President, I wanted to ask you a question about the war against terrorism. The Europeans seem to less and less support the war against terrorism. And I wonder if you could explain to us, why do you think it's happening, and if you are ready to go alone on this next phase of the war, whatever the phase is? The President. No, I don't feel that the support from Europe is lessening. As a matter of fact, I've just come from a G 8 meeting in Canada where, to a person, they were very supportive of our war on terror, because the Europeans recognize that the terrorists could strike them just as easy as they could strike us. We've still got great intelligence sharing amongst our nations. We've got good police action. We have hauled in "we" being the coalition has hauled in that means arrest 2,400, more than 2,400 terrorists. So we're picking them off, one by one. This is a different kind of war. I use every chance I get, when I speak to the American people, to explain why this is different. And so as opposed to destroying lines of tanks or shooting down airplanes, success is measured by one by one, one person at a time. And the European leaders understand that, and they've been very supportive. They still I think we've got about 8,000 troops in Afghanistan we do, in the Afghan theater, and there's another 8,000 troops from other nations there as well. So it's a firm commitment. I will continue to communicate and consult with our friends and allies as to every stage of the war, as the battlefront shifts. By the way, the battlefront isn't shifting out of Afghanistan. We're there. We'll remain there. We've got a lot of work to do there. There's still Al Qaida killers there. And of course we'll need to continue to have deliberations with our friends and allies, and we'll have them for future theaters and different operations. We talk to them all the time. Poland's Purchase of New Fighter Jets Q. Speaking of war, Mr. President, Poland is going to buy new fighter planes The President. Yes, I understand that's the case. Q. Yes. And the F 16s are one of the The President. I've got a suggestion for them. Laughter Q. However, President Kwasniewski just 2 days ago you kind of was kind of complaining that maybe the American offer is not meeting enough expectations. So is The President. He's negotiating in public. Laughter Q. Is your administration in any way going to support U.S. companies to win the standard The President. We will offer a fabulous product Q. Fabulous product. The President. called the F 16. And we will work with our friends to make you know, to compete on an above board basis, totally above board. And you know, we hope the Polish Government picks quality. If they do, they will, of course, come our way. But that's up to the Government. Aleksander will be and the Government of Poland will you know, we will respect the process and respect the country and appreciate it's a tough decision and hope they make the right decision as far as we're concerned. But that Future Role of NATO Q. Mr. President, do you think that the NATO will play as important role for the United States in the present century as it played in the previous century? The President. Yes. Q. And do you think it is possible that Russia one day will become NATO member? The President. Interesting question. First, I do think NATO is very important. It's obviously a different role. NATO served as kind of a bulwark in defense against Russian tanks storming across the European Continent. Those days are over. Russia is no longer the enemy. I witnessed the fact that not only have we got good relations with Russia, but the very same trip that I when I went to Moscow to sign this treaty that literally redefined our relationship from one of distrust and like it was during the cold war, to a new relationship, shortly thereafter we went to Italy and welcomed a new relationship between NATO and Russia. So the whole relationship has changed for the better. NATO has and I think it's going to be very hard very important to work that relationship with Russia, to allow for the the new relationship to develop and mature. And I think it will in a very positive way. The new relationship the new role of NATO is really needs to adjust to the new realities of the 21st century, and that is how to best fight the war on terror. And that means a different configuration of the use of our forces and the use of assets. Our forces need to be lighter and quicker to strike, and elite units need to be prepared to move at a moment's notice. The enemy has changed, and the battlefield, the nature of the battlefield has changed. And therefore, the NATO mission must remain the same, mutual defense. But its tactics must change. And I think NATO is very relevant, and we will be an active and engaged partner in NATO. Let me just I'll ask myself, "Well, Mr. President, do you think we ought to expand?" Laughter I gave a very important speech in Warsaw. It's interesting I hope the people in the world that are interested in our opinion on subjects noted that the speech was in Warsaw. And the speech was about a Europe that's whole, free, and at peace. And I talked about the expansion of NATO, and I said that I am interested more rather than less. And at the same time, I urged the applicant countries to take nothing for granted, to work very hard up until the last minute to show those of us in NATO that they'll be willing and active and capable partners. And I look forward to our meeting in Prague. I fully understand the position of the Polish Government. I've had long discussions with Aleksander on the subject of NATO expansion, and I think people know that I'm forward leaning, depending if the member countries, you know, meet their MAP requirements. Polish and U.S. Central Banks Q. I want to go back to the finances and the limit. There is an attempt in Poland to limit independence of central bank, so it would be more be manipulated more by Government, so Government would have more influence over central bank. In the current situation, what's your feeling about this? The President. Well, first of all, I don't know all the facts about how the Polish democracy is handling this particular situation. I can tell you, however, from my experience, that a central bank should be independent. And the independence of our central bank gives Chairman Greenspan and the other Governors of the Federal Reserve great credibility in our country, to know that decisions are being made apart from politics. And our central bank is a part of is a very important part of our has been and will continue to be a very important part of the economic vitality of our country. It also gives investors who look at our country great confidence to know that the monetary supplies be not based upon politics, but the decisions on monetary supplies will be based upon the vision of some very wise people. I think, when people look at how capital moves into countries, the independence of a central bank is an important part of attracting capital. And Poland needs to attract capital investment. If anybody were to ask me my advice on the central bank, that's what I would give. President's Popularity in Poland President's Vacation Q. I'd like to ask you about different subject. According to the latest polls, you are the most popular foreign politician leader in Poland. The President. Really? I usually say I don't believe in polls, but I may have to change my mind. Laughter Q. With the same approval rate as President Kwasniewski. And I want to ask you to comment on this, and The President. Well, how high is it? Q. Would you be willing to visit Poland again? The President. Seventy three? Q. Why don't you go to Poland? The President. Again? Q. On holiday. The President. Thanks. I don't know what to say. I appreciate that. I'm flattered. Q. Are you willing to spend a vacation in Poland? With your parents, obviously? The President. With my parents? I don't know if my mother could stand that. But listen, when I vacation, just kind of know about me, I like to be with my family, and I like to be in Texas. I just recently went to Maine. I'd love to go to Maine, too, to be with my mother and dad. But my favorite vacation spot is my own ranch in the State I love. And I like to get out and fool around on the land, and it doesn't matter how hot it is or how cold it is. How hot it is and cold it is matters to those who have to follow me. For me, there is no day hot enough or cold enough. Laughter These poor souls Crawford in August. That's my idea of vacation. Although I must say, I had a great time up with Mother and Dad this weekend, and I love to be around them as well. But this August, I'm going to go down to Texas and actually work out of Texas. I'm going to travel quite a bit. After all, we're getting into the political season here in America. We've got our elections in November of 2002. September 11 War on Terrorism Q. Mr. President, we talk a lot about how September 11th changed the world, changed America. Has it changed you? The President. Changed me? Q. Yes. The President. I don't think a single event can change anybody's basic values. It obviously changed the fact that I knew that my time as the President would be dedicated to winning the war on terror and protecting our homeland. This is I keep telling people this it's just a different type of war, because much of the movement of the enemy is invisible to the American people and or to the world. And yet we know they're there. The killers on September the 11th had been in our country for a period of time. They behaved normally. They looked normal. They, you know, were nonthreatening. It was hard to tell that they were part of this unbelievably evil plot. And it we're concerned that another group are here or somewhere, not only here but in other countries in Europe. And so the task is an all consuming task of protecting our homeland and making sure we do everything we can here to find out if anybody is here and who they are and disrupt their plans and, at the same time, hunt down their leaders. The wars of the past had known battlefields, and it was clear that such and such had to happen. There had to be an invasion in order to achieve this or that. This is a hunt for individuals. We're chasing down one person at a time. They were foolishly collected up at one point in time in the Shahi Kot Mountains, and it was a tough chore. But our brave soldiers, along with coalition soldiers, were able to go in and score great success at bringing them to justice, as I like to put it. They're wise to our ways. They realize we're a heck of a lot tougher than they thought. They assumed America was a weak country, that we didn't really believe anything. And they're finding out that's not the way we think. And so I realized after 9 11, after I got over the grief, along with everybody else in our country, that this was a long, very important struggle. And the struggle goes beyond just fighting an Al Qaida type network. I have deep concerns about the development and deployment of weapons of mass destruction, and so should you, so should anybody who loves freedom, because there are nations in the world developing these weapons who hate freedom, leaders hate freedom. And what we cannot allow happen is these nations to develop these weapons and then blackmail us and or use them. We will have a judgment will have missed history's call to freedom. And so I realize that this war is going to consume a lot of my time. On the other hand, these members of the press know that I am optimistic person who truly believes that we can achieve some positive things out of the evil done to the country and to the world. So when I talk to our friends, like Aleksander and others, I remind them of this call. We're leaders in a significant moment in history, and we can't blink, and we can't we must be determined and focused to achieve this important objective, which is peace for our children, is what we're really fighting for, civilization. Yes, ma'am. Free Trade Q. Mr. President, you always said that you are supporter of removing the trade barriers. The President. Yes. Q. Why do you think there are so many of them still exist? The President. Well, you know, because I think the temptation is to be protectionist. And it's easier to mollify constituencies with protectionist rhetoric. Poland suffers from protectionist policies in parts of Europe, as you know. I'm a strong believer in free trade. I want the Congress to give me what's called trade promotion authority. I will exercise that diligently to open up markets. On the other hand, I have an obligation to enforce law. And so I recently said that the I listened to an International Trade Commission ruling on steel. The ITC ruled that excessive steel imports were affecting our industry in a negative way. I put a temporary measure in place, which exempted, by the way, Poland. And that was a chance for the steel industry, our own steel industry, to get on its feet. But nevertheless, as I reminded members of the European Union, this only represents a very small portion of the 2 trillion of trade we have each year. But protectionism, for some, is a viable economic remedy. And in my judgment, protectionism would be bad for the world and bad for our country. We're opening up we sent our man to Doha to commit to the next round of the World Trade Organization. And unlike Seattle, where it all fell apart, we were able to "we" being those of us in the world who support free trade were able to move the process farther down the line. And I will continue to work for free trade. It's in our Nation's interests and the world's interests that we trade. It's in the developing world's interest that there be trade. And our country is we've got what's called AGOA, agreement with the African countries. I'm working on a free trade agreement with Central Americans. I'd like to see a free trade agreement from Canada all the way down to Argentina. As I say, there's protectionist tendencies that occasionally rise up. We've just got to convince our respective people that trade is in their interests. Russia U.S. Relations Q. There is another President you have such a good relationship it's President Putin. The President. Yes. Q. Very good working relationship, on terrorism, on oil. But there is this feeling also this is in cost of some human rights, human rights in Chechnya, press freedom in Russia it's overlooked now and probably some freedom of some other Russian republics. Don't you worry that this close relationship is putting your raising other problems? The President. No, a close relationship with Putin allows me to make the case that, on media freedom, for example as a matter of fact, on my last trip there, I urged him to interface with media entrepreneurs from America to understand how free press actually works, something that they're not very used to in Russia. And so there have been dialog interchanges now with some of our media executives. And I do push Vladimir Putin on the need to have open media and open his media. And secondly, in terms of Chechnya, I'm constantly talking to Vladimir Putin about relations with Chechnya and understanding and supporting minority rights. The other issue that is very important, to which we do not turn a blind eye, and which I'm deeply concerned, not only about minority rights, is proliferation, matters of proliferation. I think we're making some progress there. The immediate concern was proliferation to Iran, and I brought that up with Vladimir every time I visited with him. It's a very important issue that he understand that an armed Iran could be very dangerous to his own country, much less to our friends the Israelis or America, itself. And we've had some very important exchanges on that. In terms of helping make Russia a more secure place, we're working on what they call 10 plus 10 over 10 10 billion from the U.S., 10 billion from Europe over 10 years to help secure some weapons stockpiles. Vladimir is very interested in working with us to decommission some of his nuclear submarines to make Russia and the world more safe. In other words, my only point to you is, is that by being closer to Russia, we're able to deal more directly with some of the thorny issues that could separate us and could in fact make the West less likely to deal with Russia. And we've got another issues at home here that has upset a lot of our people, and that's chickens. Fortunately, we're arguing over chickens and not over war, over chickens and not over missiles, like we used to. But a lot of people here feel like there was a commitment made to let U.S. chickens into Russia. And they started moving into Russia, and all of a sudden they stopped moving into Russia. And so I've been so whether it be trade or minority rights or press, our relations are such that we're able to bring those up in a very frank and forthright way and yet still moved a very important relationship forward. Look, friends don't always agree, but friends are more likely to be able to work things out than enemies. As a matter of fact, in the old days, if there was a disagreement between enemies, that could lead to war. And there won't be a war between Russia and the United States. Situation in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, a question on another very easy subject, the Middle East crisis. The President. Yes. Laughter Q. What solution do you see to the crisis, and what compromise do you expect from both sides? The President. Yes, that's a very good question. First, I do believe that we can achieve a vision of two states living side by side, at peace with each other. And that's the vision, and that's what all policy must aim toward. It starts with understanding that it's going to be impossible to achieve that vision if terrorists are allowed to have a free run and blow up the process. An incredibly important step toward the vision of two states living side by side is for the international community, including the Arab world, to work with us to develop the institutions necessary for the emergence of a Palestinian state that will be transparent it will respect rule of law it will have a constitution that will allow for a sharing of power arrangement that will have institutions that outlast are far more important than any single one person. And we're in the process of working toward that end. Colin Powell will be meeting with what the call the Quad in New York. Foreign Ministers from the Arab world will be coming as well, later on, to work on the step by step process toward the emergence of a Palestinian state. And I repeat, that requires a constitution, a judiciary, transparency when it comes to financial conditions. And I believe there's financial aid available. I know there is. At this point, the tape machine stopped. The President. Something just ground to a halt. That thing had, what do we call it, a skidding halt. Sounded like it needs some new tires. Anyway, the international community wants to help with aid, but they're not going to help with aid if it's going to be stolen. Let's put it very bluntly. And so the The tape machine stopped again. The President. the press conference has clearly gone too long. Laughter So we're working to get these institutions in place. Obviously as security improves, Israel is going to have to, as I said, pull her troops back to September of 2001 2000 levels. In other words not levels but geographic within geographic boundaries of September 2000. They're going to have to deal with the settlements. In other words, all parties have got responsibilities. The Arab world has got responsibilities, by the way, as well, to help on the development of a security force necessary a security force, by the way, which must exist to enforce security, not enhance the status of a single person. So we're making progress. It requires a international commitment and a focus on a positive end, which is two states living side by side in peace. As I said, I'm an optimistic fellow and believe that if we stay at it and keep working hard, we can get there. But there's no question in my mind, as I said in my speech in the Rose Garden recently, that there's going to be some setbacks. But our Nation is committed to a peaceful resolution of the conflict. All right, well, thank you all. July 11, 2002 Thank you very much. Thanks for that warm welcome. It's great to be back in Minnesota. I've had some opportunity to welcome some fine Minnesota folks to the White House. Last May, a couple of Minnesota teams came by to say hello that happened to be national champs in women's and men's hockey. They felt pretty good about things, and they said they thought they're going to be back next year. Laughter Next year when they come back, Norm Coleman and John Kline are going to be with me to greet them. I want to thank you for supporting these fine candidates. I want to thank you for being here tonight, and I want to thank you for what you're going to do, which is to man the phones and put up the signs and convince your neighbors that these two men need your support for the good of the country and for the good of your great State. I'm proud to be here with not only Norm but, as importantly, his wife, Laurie. It's important to have a applause . And I appreciate Vicky Kline as well, being here with John tonight. I know something about marrying well. Laughter We I'm really proud of Laura. Someday she needs to come and campaign for these candidates, if they want to win. I don't know if you've heard me say this before, but when I married Laura, she was a public school librarian. And the truth of the matter is, she didn't particularly care about politics or politicians. Laughter And now, here she is, the First Lady of the greatest country in the world, and what a fabulous, fabulous job she's doing. She sends her best. You know, one of the things about a President people come by, and they say, "We appreciate the job you're doing." And one of my first responses is that if you've got a good team, the job is a lot easier than it might look. And I want you to know, I put together a fabulous team. And one of my team members is here tonight, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the former Governor of the State of Wisconsin, my close friend, a guy doing a great job, Tommy Thompson. I appreciate you, Tommy. I want to thank those who are who hold office now. The speaker is here, and the Senate minority leader is here. The secretary of state is here. Thank you all for coming. And I'm honored also to be sharing the stage with the next Governor of the State of Minnesota, Tim Pawlenty. There's no doubt in my mind that these great candidates can win. There's no doubt, because they bring a lot of qualities to the ticket that the people of Minnesota will respect. Norm Coleman First, he loves his family he's a man of faith he loves his country he's an independent kind of fellow nothing wrong with that. Laughter The thing I like about Norm is, he focuses on results. As the mayor of St. Paul I'm told, a pretty Democratic city at least that's what the numbers looked like to me the last time I ran laughter he wins as a Republican because he brought a compassionate conservative agenda to the people. He focused on things that matter, like jobs and making sure children got a quality education. He agrees with me that when it comes to educating our children, it is important to have high standards and high expectations. You see, if you don't think some kids can learn, the system will just shuffle them through the system will quit on them. That is not good enough for America. He understands that to make sure that every single child gets educated, we must understand whether they're learning to read and write and add and subtract. And if they are, we will praise the teachers. But if we find out that our children can't read, write, and add and subtract, we better do something about it early, before it's too late. No child should be left behind in America. Norm's got a record of prosecution prosecuting white collar crime. Our Nation must have confidence in our institutions. I oftentimes talk about the need for each of us to be responsible for our behavior. Corporate America must be responsible for its behavior as well. We expect balance sheets to be fair and open. We expect transparency, and we expect those in charge of corporate America to treat the shareholders and employees with the utmost respect. I need Norm in the Senate to help me on Medicare. Today I had the honor of going to the University of Minnesota Medical Center, and what a fabulous place that is. It is first class. And we saw some of the new heard about some of the new drug therapies being developed to save lives and extend life and to enhance the quality of life. And what we need is a Medicare plan that not only encourages innovation but gives seniors choices, all of which will include prescription drugs. I need a man in the Senate who will join me in nominating judges to our courts who will not use the bench from which to legislate but will strictly interpret the Constitution of the United States. And we need a voice in the United States Senate who will focus on the people's business, not the needless partisanship, the bickering, the name calling that too often too often fills that great Chamber. We need somebody who can work with both sides of the aisle, somebody who's focused on what's right for Minnesota and what's right for America. And there's no doubt in my mind that the right person to handle that important responsibility is Norman Coleman. And I'm here to campaign for John Kline for the United States House of Representatives. If the good folks in his district are wise, they'll send him to Washington. John served the United States with distinction as a member of the Marine Corps. He understands the need to support our military, and we need people who will support our military in the United States Congress. The thing I like about this good man is, he actually worked on a farm. He knows if you own the land and make a living on the land, every day is Earth Day. He understands how important farming is not only to his district but to his State and to the Nation. And he understands what I know When you're good at something, you need to promote it. Our farmers and ranchers are the best in the world, and we need to be selling our farm products and ranch products all over the world. I look forward to having John in the United States Congress to work on the homeland defense and on the defense of our Nation. And when you put him there, he'll bring honor to that office. I'm also here I'm pleased to urge you to work hard for your next Governor, Tim Pawlenty. He understands what I know If you let people keep more of their own money, it invigorates the economy. And he knows the best way to bring fiscal discipline to any body of government is to resist unnecessary spending. Tim Pawlenty will be a fine and great Governor for the State of Minnesota, and I'm proud to lend my support. I'm pleased to talk about tax relief and trade because it is necessary to those are necessary items to make sure our economy recovers. You know, in Washington, they talk a lot about statistics, and that's fine "This number's up, or that number's down." What I worry about is, anytime anybody is looking for work and can't find it, we've got a problem. So therefore, I ask the question, how do we make sure we continue to expand our job base? What does it take to make sure that the entrepreneurial spirit of America is strong and vibrant so that there are more jobs for people who want to work? And that means making sure Congress doesn't overspend, doesn't overcommit, and making sure we have fiscal sanity in Washington, DC. We cut taxes at the right time. You see, I read the textbook that says, when people have more money, they're going to demand a good or a service. And if they demand a good or a service, somebody's going to produce the good and service. And if somebody produces that good and service, it means somebody's going to find work. For the good of long term economic growth and for the good of long term economic vitality, we need to make the tax cuts permanent. And I want a Senator and Members of the House to do so. One of the worst taxes in America is what they call the death tax. It's a tax that taxes people's assets more than once. It's a tax that hurts farmers and ranchers. It says you cannot leave your business, if you're a small business owner, to your relative. It says to some in America that if your loved one passes away, that you might have to liquidate your family farm in order to pay inheritance taxes. The Congress did the right thing in eliminating the tax, but it only lasts, because of a quirk in the Senate rules, for 10 years. We need people in the United States Congress who understand how bad the death tax is to small business owners, ranchers, and farmers in America and make the repeal of the death tax permanent. So I spend a lot of time on economic security and will continue to do so until I'm confident people can find work. I also spend a lot of time on our homeland security. You need to know that we fight an enemy that is not only ruthless, a group of people who don't value human life, but they're they hide, and they're patient, and they're determined to hurt America. People I'm sure some of the young hear, "Well, why would you want to hurt our country? Why would they care?" And the answer is, because we're a beacon for freedom. We stand for things they don't stand for. See, we believe people should be able to worship the Almighty God any way they see fit they don't. We believe people should be able to speak their mind. We believe in a free press. We believe in open elections. What we stand for is freedom, and they hate freedom and, therefore, they hate us. But they may be patient. We're more patient. They may be determined. We are more determined. They may think they have hit a country which is soft and weak. They have found out the United States of America will defend our freedoms at all costs. We're going to hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice. We are we're making progress in a different kind of war. You know, you watch the old war films, you'd see tanks moving across a battlefield or formations of airplanes. That's not the kind of war we're in. We're after international killers, cold blooded killers. That's all they are. They and, therefore, we've got to make sure at home we're secure. The other day, I made a far reaching proposal that urges Congress to join me in reorganizing our Government so we can do as good a job as possible about protecting the homeland. Listen, I didn't run by saying, "Vote for me. I'm for bigger Government." That wasn't my platform. Laughter But I did run and say, "Give us a chance to produce results." Now, you need to know that when it comes to homeland security, there are over 100 agencies involved with homeland security, which means it's hard to align authority and responsibility. We've got 100 of them scattered all over Washington. I think those agencies, for the good of the country, need to be under one Cabinet officer. We need to have as a the priority of these agencies the protection of the American people. Now, some of the agencies do other things, no question about it. But in order to effect a new culture and to set new priorities, it makes sense to me to have authority and responsibility aligned. And this new agency will have several functions. One is to make sure we understand who's coming into our country and why they're coming in and whether they're leaving when they say they're going to leave. This new agency will be charged with working with some of America's finest citizens, our first responders, the police and firefighters and EMS teams all across the country, to make sure that we respond to an emergency if it ever were to occur. This new agency is in charge of working to deal with the threat of bio a bioterrorist attack, so they've got the immunizations available and our health care systems are prepared to respond. This new agency will analyze data, intelligence that has been gathered from around the world, and analyze it in one place to determine our vulnerabilities and then the response necessary to button up the American homeland. I'm proud of those who work for our Government. We've got a lot of fine folks working a lot of hours, running down any kind of hint there is. Any kind of suggestion that somebody is going to do something to America, we're responding as quickly as we possibly can. And we're making good progress. But you just need to know, the best way to secure the homeland is to do what we're doing, and that's to hunt these killers down one person at a time. In my speech to the country outlining my vision for a Department of Homeland Security, I told the folks that we've we and our friends have hauled in over 2,400 of these killers. Sometimes you'll know about it, and sometimes you won't. But what you need to know is that wherever they try to light, we're going to get them on the run, and we're going to keep them moving. And we're going to keep them moving until our military and our coalition brings them to justice. You've got to know how proud I am of the United States military. What a great group. I asked the United States Congress for a significant increase in defense spending. And I know the two gentlemen up here, if they were in the Halls of the Congress, would be strongly supporting what I'm about to tell you. The reason I asked for the biggest increase since President Ronald Reagan was the President is because I believe this Anytime you commit an American youth into harm's way, they must have the best equipment, the best training, the best pay possible. And the increase also sends this signal to our friends and allies, as well as the enemy We're in it for the long haul. We're talking about freedom. We're talking about civilization itself. History has called our country into action. There's a big spotlight on America, and our country will lead. We will lead this vast coalition. I want you to know, the doctrine that says, "Either you're with us, or you're with the terrorists," it still stands, and we enforce it every single day. If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you finance a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the killers who struck America on September the 11th, and we'll hold you accountable as well. Our task is bigger than any single individual. We chase down a network. And at the same time, I have tried to speak as plainly as I possibly can about those nations with who harbor weapons of mass destruction, who would dare try to blackmail the United States and other freedom loving countries. We cannot and we must not allow the world's worst leaders to develop and deploy the world's worst weapons. We owe it to our children and we owe it to our children's children to be tough and firm. We're making progress. We've got a lot of work to do, a lot of work. And I appreciate so very much the resolve of the American people. My, what a fantastic country we have. We are so strong and so courageous and so compassionate, it leads me to declare this, that out of the evil done to America will come incredible good. Out of the evil done to our country will be some some positive developments, starting with this. I believe that as the United States continues to lead with resolution and determination, that we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace not only here at home, but we can achieve peace in places around the world that haven't dreamt of peace or dreamt that peace is possible. I believe it. I believe that the terrorists I don't know what went through their mind. They must have thought we were so self absorbed and materialistic that all we would do after 9 11 was file a lawsuit or two. Laughter What they didn't realize is that this is a great nation, a great nation full of determined people, people not only to work for peace but people who here at home will seize the moment to make our communities a more decent and positive place for everybody to live. We live in a fabulous nation, a rich nation, but we must always remember that in our wealth, there are pockets of despair. There's loneliness. There's addiction. There are children who wonder whether the American Dream is meant for them. And I believe out of the evil done to America will come the good of addressing those problems, because a lot of Americans have stepped back and said, "What is the value of life? How do I have a complete life?" And many of our fellow citizens understand that to have a complete life, you love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. There are thousands of our citizens, on a daily basis, responding to the evil done to America by mentoring a child or helping a shut in or delivering food to the hungry, providing shelter for the homeless. And that's the true strength of our country. We're a decent country, a compassionate country. We understand that each of us can't do everything, but each of us can do something to help make a difference in changing America, one soul, one conscience, one heart at a time. And that is why I feel so strongly that our Government must not fear the compassionate programs that emanate out of the faith based institutions. We must not discriminate against faith. We must welcome faith in America in order to change lives. And that's part of the spirit that is evolving in the country. We are ushering in a new period of personal responsibility, where each of us understands we're responsible for the decisions we make in life. We're responsible for loving our children. If you're a mom or a dad if you're lucky enough to be a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your children with all your heart and all your soul. If you live in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and you're aware of a friend in need, you're responsible for helping that friend in need. If you're running a corporation, you're responsible for open books and treating your employees well. That message came home loud and clear in Flight 93, the concept of serving something greater than yourself in life, the concept of understanding that patriotism is more than saying the pledge or saluting the flag patriotism is serving your Nation by helping a neighbor in need. We had citizens traveling across the country. They realized their airplane was going to be used as a weapon. They told their loved ones they loved them. They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." And they drove the plane in the ground to save other people's lives. It's the new spirit of the 21st century. And so, tonight I urge you not only to work hard for these good candidates but work hard to be a part of making America a complete country for everybody. And it's happening it's happening. You see, I can confidently predict, out of the evil done to America will come great good, because I'm the President of the greatest nation in the face of the Earth. It is my honor to be here. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. July 11, 2002 Thank you all very much for that warm welcome. I appreciate you coming out today and giving me a chance to talk about how do we work together to make America a more secure place and a better place for all of us. And part of making sure America is a better place for each and every one of us and a more secure place is to make sure we've got a health care system that is responsive and vibrant and alive and well and a place a system that will really relate to each and every one of us as an individual, give each and every one of us a chance, as we grow older, to have a health care system that we can be proud of and confident in. That's why I started my day here in Minnesota at the University of Minnesota Medical School. You were probably wondering why Yudof was relevant. Laughter That's because he hosted me at a fine medical school. And there I had the honor and opportunity to talk to some fellow Minnesotans about how to advance medicine, some of the research that was taking place. I talked to some patients and heard from some of our elderly about how what kind of system was necessary to have the quality of life that we want for each and every one of us. It's the key is to make sure that we advance medicine in a way that makes sure that our citizens get access to new drugs, new lifesaving drugs, unbelievably innovative drugs that have changed medicine as we know it. And it starts with making sure our seniors have got a guarantee of a prescription drug coverage in Medicare. That's where it ought to start. It ought to start with our seniors, who have paid their dues. And as we do so, as we look at Medicare to make sure it includes prescription drugs, we must make sure that whatever system evolves does not undermine the great innovations which take place in America. And that's important to remember, that as we debate this issue in Congress, as Congress debates the issue and of course I'm watching attentively laughter that we do not undermine the great strength of the American system, which is the capacity to be on the cutting edge of new technologies which save lives. The House has passed a good first step, by the way, in reforming and making sure Medicare is modern and capable. And I hope the Senate acts quickly and gets a responsible bill into conference so that we can get a bill to my desk, and we can get moving to doing what is right for the American people. I appreciate so very much Tommy Thompson traveling with me today. He is he has been a fine, fine Secretary of Health and Human Services. He was a great Governor of Wisconsin, and he has brought a lot of innovation to applause . There's a lot of folks I could introduce. I want to introduce one other person, a person I had the opportunity to meet at the airport when I came in. One of the things I like to do is to herald kind of the quiet heroes of our society, those who volunteer to make their communities a better place. I met Pearl Lam Bergad when I came earlier today. I don't know if you've ever heard of Pearl Lam here in your community, but she has done a magnificent job of heralding the cultural life of Minnesota. She is a remarkable volunteer. Where are you, Pearl Lam? She's somewhere here. She must not have gotten a very good seat. Laughter Oh, there you are, Pearl Lam. Please stand up, will you? Thank you for coming. She's worked tirelessly to promote and improve cultural awareness in the community. She did so without any Government agency telling her what to do. She did so because she wanted to serve. She did so because she had a talent she wanted to share. You see, the great strength of the country is the fact that we've got a nation full of people who really, honestly, decently care about the communities in which they live and want to do something about it. And so, Pearl Lam, I want to thank you, on behalf of the thousands and millions of others in our country, for volunteering. I called up my friend Mark Yudof and invited myself here because Minnesota is one of the leading centers of health care innovation in our country. And that's saying a lot. People come from all around the world to come to the University of Minnesota's cancer center. I don't know if you know that or not, but it's one of the most famous cancer centers. We thought we were pretty good in Texas laughter but you're really good here. This university performed the first successful bone marrow transplant and is one of the world's leaders in curing childhood leukemia and other cancers. There's a lot of incredible work going on right here in your neighborhood. Patients from all over the globe have had their lives saved by heart devices and other medical products invented by the hundreds of medical companies that have their homes in what you call Medical Alley in the Minneapolis area, and I know we've got some of the entrepreneurs, the medical entrepreneurs here with us today. And I want to thank you for your work, and I want to thank you for employing people. People from every corner of the world come to a clinic in southern Minnesota called Mayo Clinic. I know something about that, because my mother's on the board. Laughter Whew, those must be amazing board meetings. Laughter Sorry, Mom. Laughter But the Mayo Clinic's countless breakthroughs include effective drug treatment for tuberculosis and other diseases, and the clinic now has branches all across the country to make sure our seniors get the best possible health care. I just met with a Mayo Clinic cardiologist named Doug Wood. I want to share a story he told me. I think it helps make my point about the need for us to stay on the cutting edge of drug therapy. When he was a resident less than 25 years ago, the only real decision he had in treating a heart attack patient was how long to keep him or her in bed. That was the most important decision he had to make after the heart attack, how long will bed rest last. He could do more than just offer comfort, and knowing Doug, he offered a lot of comfort. But today, thanks to progress in drug treatments, Dr. Wood uses a wide range of treatments to limit the damage from heart attack, to stop any further progress of the heart disease, and to prevent it from happening in the first place. In 25 short years, the ability for this healer to make a significant difference in the lives of those who have had heart diseases is amazing. It is a fantastic development in our society. And the future promises even more breakthroughs. That's the exciting thing about America. Thanks to the rapidly evolving field of genetic medicine, doctors may soon be able to prescribe individually suited drugs based on their patients' genetic makeup. If you think about that you've got a particular problem and the drug will be designed to meet your need it's medicine at its most basic level. But there's a problem, and I think we all recognize it now in our society, and we need to do something about it. And no matter how exciting the new drug therapies are, they're oftentimes very costly. Because Medicare and what makes it even worse is that Medicare does not cover most prescription drugs. That's reality. Too many seniors, because that's the case because they're too costly and Medicare doesn't cover them too many of our seniors are forced to chose between paying for their pills or paying basic bills. And that's not right in America. And the reason why is because the Medicare system was designed for a different time. It's old. It is it served a noble purpose, and it made a huge difference in a lot of people's lives. But it was designed at a time, for example, when surgery was common and the miraculous prescription drugs we have today were not only avail able not available, but some people hadn't even thought about them yet. We need a Medicare system that is updated and modern, to serve the seniors of today with the medicine of today and to be able to serve the seniors of tomorrow, guys like me, with the medicines of tomorrow. We need a system which works. I support a prescription drug benefit in Medicare that allows seniors to choose the drug coverage that is best for them that is best for them. I also support allowing and encouraging seniors to band together to use purchasing power to purchasing clout to be able to get lower drug prices on their drugs. Now, what you need to know is that a full Medicare drug benefit will take some years to phase in. And that's why I think we need to have a Medicare endorsed prescription drug card immediately for our seniors. The card will allow seniors to gain access to manufacturer discounts on the drugs they use as well as gain access to other valuable pharmaceutical services immediately. I talked about this last year. Court moved in there, and we're trying to get the court out of it. This is important for seniors. I also support proposals like the one the House just passed, that will provide Federal funds for immediate prescription drug assistance for seniors. Now, the key is to make sure that we expand seniors' access to programs that help them work with their doctors to use the best treatments too. And that includes better access to innovative disease management programs, like a program you have right here in Minnesota called Evercare. You should have heard the testimony I heard, one from a loyal daughter whose mom is now in the Evercare program and another from a customer of Evercare, about the need to use Medicare Plus Choice to fund innovative programs that allow for seniors to feel like they're not a part of some giant bureaucracy but in fact treated on a basis that you'd want to be treated on. And that's what Evercare does. And those are the kinds of innovations we need throughout our system, by giving seniors more choice in the system. While we strengthen Medicare, we must also encourage innovation by preserving our private health care system, the private health care system which is the envy of the world. In the report issued today that Tommy talked about, the Department of Health and Human Services says this In countries which rely on Government controls to keep health care costs down presumably to keep health care costs down the patient suffers. And that's important for you all to understand and to know. And it's important for those who advocate Government control of all the health care in America to understand as well The patient suffers. If you want a health care system where the patient doesn't suffer but, in fact, benefits, we must be innovative and encourage a healthy private sector. When Government determines which drugs are covered by health insurance, when Government makes those decisions, the invariable results are this There will be delays and inflexible limits on coverage of new treatments. Costs might go down for seniors who are lucky enough to need the drugs that are on the Government's list. But as in the Canadian provinces and in many other countries, seniors who need drugs that are not on the Government's list would have no alternative to get the coverage they prefer. All seniors have to wait for the Government to decide what is covered, and that doesn't seem fair to me. And with prescription drugs, those delays can be life threatening. And the heavy hand of Government in other countries often does this It discourages the costly and time consuming investments in research necessary to discover new drugs. I want you to understand these facts. Eight of the ten top ten best selling drugs in the world were developed by American companies, while we can expect that 34 out of the 55 breakthrough drugs entering the market this year will come from American companies. It is our companies and our researchers which are leading the world in finding the therapies necessary to save lives, and we've got to remember that. And therefore, we need to steer clear of direct Government controls that stifle innovation and limit a patient's choice. What's interesting is that more than half of our seniors have private drug coverage now because of their previous employment. And Government should act to strengthen these private health insurance options, not replace them. By relying on competition and patients' choice and innovative programs like Evercare, we will protect our seniors now and offer many new lifesaving services to seniors in the future and preserve our private health care system. When the founders of the Mayo Clinic started their practice over a century ago, they chose a clear principle to guide their work The best interest of the patient is the only interest to be considered. That's the principle. Minnesota's immense and continuing contributions to biotechnology demonstrates that this is the right principle for our health care system. As Members of Congress act to provide a drug benefit in Medicare, I urge them to honor the principle I just outlined by putting patient control and patient choice ahead of Government control. If we do so, we can guarantee the continued vitality and productivity of America's private health care system, while providing the modern drug coverage that seniors so desperately need. And that's part of making sure we have a secure America. Health security is part of being a secure America. The other thing we need to do to make sure we secure a lot of things we need to do to make sure we secure America one is to make sure we continue to grow our economy. Job security is important for a secure America. But I want to just tell you real quickly about how I'm thinking about the war on terror, while I've got you stuck here. Laughter The war goes on. We face an enemy who is they like to hide, and they'll go to the big cities in some of these countries and think they're invisible. And sometimes we don't hear from them for awhile. But you need to know, they're still plotting and planning. These are the ones that go into caves and send their youngsters to their death. They themselves hide, and get somebody else to carry on their mission, sometimes suicide missions. They're out there still. They still hate America because we love freedom. They hate us because we value the fact that people should worship freely. The more free we are, the more desperate they become. They like to find countries that are soft, kind of burrow in, and try to plan. And you just need to know we're doing everything we can to disrupt them. The doctrine still holds Either you're with the United States of America and freedom loving countries, or you're with the terrorists. We have over 60,000 troops overseas, 8,000 still in Afghanistan. As you know, Afghanistan is still a dangerous place. And we're going to stay there until a stable government emerges, until we complete our mission. We're anytime we get a hint in a place like Afghanistan, we're moving, and we're moving with some of the finest Americans ever produced, those who wear our uniform. This is a different kind of war. In the past, you'd see tank movements or airplane formations. This is like hunting down a bunch of coldblooded killers that's what it's like. And that's all they are, by the way. And we're after them one at a time, one person at a time. We've when I talked about the need for us to establish a Department of Homeland Security, I announced part of my announcement was that I told the people that we had hauled in "we" being our friends as well as our selves hauled in over 2,400 of these terrorists. That's in less than a year's time. So we're making progress, one person at a time. Our goal is to get them on the run and keep them on the run, so they have no place to light or no place to hide. And it's going to take awhile. The American people understand that that's positive. That's good news for us and bad news for the enemy. The American people understand that we've got a new challenge. Because we understand, when somebody attacks our values, the values we hold dear, it doesn't matter how long it takes, we'll defend them. I've submitted a bill, an appropriations request to the Congress, which is a significant increase in our defense spending. And I did it for two reasons. One is, I firmly believe that anytime we commit our young into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, the best equipment possible. And two, it's a signal to the enemy and to our friends and allies that we're in this for the long run. There is no time certain as to when we quit. There is not a calendar that says, "By such and such a moment, you've got to stop, Mr. President." For however long it takes, we defend our freedoms. History has called America into action, and America America will act, because we're a nation that stands for tremendous values. We love freedom. We love freedom. And anybody that tries to take it away applause . I also want you to know this, that out of the evil done to America is going to come some good. I firmly believe that. I believe it. I want the youngsters here to understand, when you hear your President talk about getting them and rounding them up, that I yearn for peace. And I believe I believe we can achieve peace. I believe that when this country remains strong and steadfast and resolved, we can achieve peace, peace not only for our own people but peace in parts of the world where people have never dreamt of peace in a while. That's the legacy this generation will leave behind By being tough and doing what it takes to win the war on terror, we'll leave peace for our children and our grandchildren. I'll tell you what else is going to happen here, as a result of the evil done to America, there's going to be some incredible good here at home too. I believe people have taken a step back and asked, "What's important in life?" You know, the bottom line and this corporate America stuff, is that important? Or is serving your neighbor, loving your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself? I gave a speech at Ohio State University, at their graduation, and I was pleased to see that 70 percent of the seniors in the class had served their community one way or the other. They understand that a life in America is most complete when you help a neighbor in need, when you volunteer your time, that in America, being a patriot is more than just putting your hand over your heart and saying, "One nation under God." It is a serving a neighbor applause it also means loving a neighbor. It means mentoring a child. You see, in spite of our richness, there are pockets of despair and hopelessness and loneliness and addiction that we must address. The enemy hit us, and I believe they finally they helped wake up a spirit of personal responsibility, a spirit that says, being an American means you've got to help a neighbor in need as well as saluting your flag. And it's happening in this country. It's happening. And I believe that out of the evil done to America is going to come a society in which the great American experience and the great American hopes extends into all neighborhoods, where people realize that they're fortunate to live in the greatest land I mean the greatest on the face of the Earth. And it's my honor to be your President. I want to thank you all. I want to thank you all for giving me a chance to come by and talk about an issue that's important for today and tomorrow, and that is quality health care for our seniors. And thank you for giving me a chance to be the President of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. God bless, and God bless America. July 10, 2002 Thank you all very much. Please be seated. Thank you. Thanks for that warm welcome. It's such a pleasure to be here today, and I want to thank you all for coming. I'm here to thank each one of you for your dedication to the country we all love. You worked hard prior to September the 11th. You're working really hard now, and the American people appreciate it a lot, and so do I. You know, the amazing thing about America is, our Nation is stronger today than it was before the enemy hit. I like to remind people, they must have not understood who they were dealing with. They probably thought we might file a lawsuit or two laughter but they didn't understand the character of the American people, the strength and resolve of our great land to defend that which we hold dear, which is freedom. Nor did they understand the energy and drive of the people who work on behalf of the American people to do everything we can and I say "we" we can, to protect and guard our people. And that's what's happening today in America, and I want to thank you for your dedication. And we've got to do more. We've got to move forward. We've got to seize the moment to do everything we can to assure the American people that our Government and the fine folks who work on behalf of the taxpayers are working in a smart way, in a dedicated way. And today I want to talk some about the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and why it's important to our country. And I call upon your continued sense of duty to our country as we develop the new plans. Oh, it's not going to be easy, and the challenges are going to be great. But there's no doubt in my mind that we'll do what's necessary do what's necessary to protect America. I want to thank Chung for her introduction. Backstage, we had a picture taken. I said, "Only in America" only in America do we have somebody as dedicated as people like Chung, who are willing to sacrifice on behalf of the United States of America, use their time and talent and energy like everybody in this hall to work for others. So, Chung, thanks for your hard work, thanks for your dedication to your job, and thanks for representing the good folks in this hall. When I go back to Crawford, people say or I see my friends from Texas, they say, "Gosh, it must be hard to be the President." I say, "Well, not really, if you've got a good team." And I've put together a great team. You all are a part of that team. Today some of the generals of the team are here, people such as Tom Ridge, who is adviser to Homeland Security. He's done a great job. He left being the Governor of the great State of Pennsylvania to come and serve the Nation, and I want to thank you, Tom, for your dedication to the country. Some of my Cabinet members are here. The Secretary of State of the United States of America, Colin Powell. Our great Attorney General, John Ashcroft, is here. The Secretary of Agriculture, Ann Veneman, is here. Secretary of Transportation Norm Mineta the Energy Secretary, Spence Abraham, is here. Thank you for being here, Spence. Christie Todd Whitman, who runs the EPA, is with us today. Thank you, Christie Todd. The prettiest person in our administration laughter of FEMA, Joe Allbaugh I want to thank Kay James, who's the Director of Office of Personnel Management, for coming. I appreciate you being here, Kay. I know Stephen Perry of the GSA is here. I see Brian Stafford, who's running the Secret Service. I see the head of the Coast Guard. I see Magaw, John Magaw. Thank you all for coming. I appreciate you all being here. And I want to thank the Members of Congress who are here. I appreciate you working with us. I appreciate you're here to celebrate the dedication of the fine people that we're fortunate enough to have working in our Government. You know, the threats we face are real. I mean, it is real. I like to remind people that I'm an early morning guy. I get to the Oval Office about oh, generally about 6 50 or so. It's not a very long commute. Laughter And I sit at the great desk that other Presidents have used Teddy and Frank, and I can call them that, since laughter . And Spot the dog comes in with me, and I read a threat assessment. The fact that the enemy is still interested in hurting America, I read that every morning. And I take it seriously, and I know you do as well. This is a threat that not only affects America it affects anybody who loves freedom, anybody who's willing to stand up and say, "We value freedom. We value the freedom for people to worship the way they want to or speak their mind or to print an article the way they want to print it." And the people who stand up for freedom, they're going to be threatened by these killers. And it's time for us to continue to act decisively and to be patient and to be resolute. It means all the parts of our Government must continue to cooperate. And you all have done that, and I want to thank you for the level of cooperation that has taken place in a fragmented Government. It's a and we're making progress we really are. First, we're hunting down the killers wherever they try to hide, and we're bringing them to justice. Sometimes you'll read about it in your newspapers or see it on the you know, on all these TV shows, and sometimes you won't. But what is for certain is, we've got a great military who are doing everything they can to hunt the killers down, one person at a time, and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what this Government will continue to do. These are shadowy killers, and we're treating them just as they are as international crooks, international criminals. And they'll you know, these are the kind of folks that will slip into a city and try to hide, or they'll go to a cave. And then they'll send some youngster to his death, and they, themselves, of course, won't choose that route, for some reason. They don't want to show up, because they know, if they show up, we'll get them. And it's just a matter of time. It's just a matter of time. They made a mistake they attacked a great nation. And this Nation will do whatever it takes to defend freedom and to bring people to justice. We're making progress overseas we're making progress at home. We strengthened our aviation security, and we're tightening our borders. We're stockpiling medicines to defend against bioterrorism. We're improving information sharing amongst our intelligence agencies. We're taking new steps to protect critical infrastructure. But the important thing for the American people to know is that our public servants are working longer hours and working harder and working smarter to defend the American people. We will win the war on terror no doubt in my mind thanks to the heroism of our fighting troops and thanks to the patriotism of our people and thanks to the hard work of Government officials here at home. There have been some extraordinary stories about some in your ranks many in your ranks. And I want to share some of the stories with you so the American people fully understand the dedication of the people throughout our Government. Tom Armas is a special agent in the Secret Service. On September the 11th, after helping to evacuate the agency's New York field office at Seven World Trade Center, he proceeded into the damaged North Tower and up the stairwell to the 40th floor, where he worked to help the seriously wounded. After being turned back by raging fire, he continued his efforts in the North Tower lobby and then on the street. Eventually, Tom was forced to evacuate the area because of thick smoke and, of course, falling debris. Yet, even while leaving, he continued to help others. In the midst of chaos, he was a calm and steady soldier, at one point carrying a woman to the safety of a nearby emergency vehicle. You see, this is the meaning of public service, as you all have shown the American people, a willingness to go the limit, and then some more, for the sake of your fellow citizens. Tom, thank you very much for your service to the country. David Hart has been a FEMA individual assistance reservist for many years. He had a variety of responsibilities related to September the 11th in New York, including making sure that victims received assistance quickly, make sure that there was staffing at the assistance centers and that there was proper training for people who were willing to help. Throughout this emergency, David was responsible for monitoring the individual assistance programs. He worked with the contract inspectors and others and was a troubleshooter for a wide variety of problems. He performed with great skill and boundless determination. He showed compassion to people in need. He put the best face on our Government for people who suffered. And David, we appreciate your service to America as well. We serve our citizens in all kinds of ways, in different methods. Take, for example, the story of Chantice James. It's a really interesting story, because she is one of the first U.S. Customs inspectors ever to work abroad for the sole purpose of protecting America and other countries from weapons of mass destruction weapons of mass destruction that could be concealed in cargo. We take these threats very seriously. We worry about weapons of mass destruction. And so we've asked Chantice James to leave her family to move to Vancouver, Canada, where she's been for the past 5 months. She and her Canadian counterparts are reviewing all shipments ultimately destined for the United States that comes through that port. She has assisted in training additional U.S. Customs inspectors, sharing her skill and talent and knowledge, who are now deployed in Halifax and Montreal. She's developing techniques that will be used around the world. She's using her time and talent and efforts to help us assure the American people that we're doing everything we can to protect the homeland, and Chantice, thank you for your service as well. These are just some of the examples of the extraordinary service that's taking place. You probably have got your own stories to tell. You've got examples of people, perhaps yourself, who have taken an extra step on behalf of the American people, and I want to thank you for that, and so do the American people. You see, we're all part of the war on terror, and that's what's important to understand, a new kind of war. This is an historic campaign. It's a little different, but it does point up the fact that public service in America today is not just another job. It is an important act of citizenship. It is a way to fulfill our obligation to those who have gone before us, to those who will follow us, and to those who have sacrificed and died for us. That's how I view your job and my job. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to those public servants who, I like to say, quietly stand guard on the ramparts of freedom. We owe something else as well. We owe all of you a concerted effort to do what it takes to make your efforts more effective. And that's why I proposed the Department of Homeland Security. At present, there are over 100 different Federal agencies with a role in what we call homeland security. And that means, despite everybody's best intentions and hard work and sacrifice, there is a dispersal of authority, a lack of accountability, and the truth of the matter is, a needless drain on critical resources. There's, to put it bluntly, an overlap of administration, a duplication of administration. And Congress and so that's why I did what I did. And I understand it's hard to make changes in Washington, DC. I understand that people kind of get set in their ways and want to guard turf, and I know that. But there is an overriding and urgent mission here in America today, and that's to protect our homeland. We have been called into action, and we've got to act. The Department of Homeland Security will foster a new culture in the Nation's Capital, and it will be a culture of cooperation. Sure, there's cooperation now. But when you've got 100 agencies dispersed throughout Washington, we can do a better job of cooperation. By uniting essential agencies that will work closely together, it will give new tools to meet new challenges. It will help set priority. Listen, all of you are in agencies that have got more than one priority, but the single most important priority is to protect the homeland now in America. We're at war. We're in a different kind of war than we're used to. There'll be moments where it seems like we're not at war, but we're at war until we win. And therefore, we must do everything we can to funnel resources and to set priorities to protect the American people. It is by far our most important challenge. The Department of Homeland Security will be charged with four primary tasks to control our borders and prevent terrorists and weapons from entering the country listen, we need to know who's coming in, and why they're coming in, and if they're leaving, when they're supposed to be leaving. And if they're not leaving, we need to know why they're not leaving. We need to work with State and local authorities to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies, and that's important. All levels of government must work together. We'll bring our best scientists and develop technologies to detect biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons, and to develop the drugs and treatments necessary to protect our citizens. This is an historic opportunity, not only to deal with the immediate but to leave a legacy of better medicines and better cures on behalf of the American people. And finally, for the first time, this new Department will merge under one roof the capability to identify and assess threats to the homeland, to map those threats against our vulnerabilities, and to do what's necessary to secure America. Congress is reacting positively to the initiative, and I want to thank the Members of Congress. See, this isn't a Republican idea this isn't a Democrat idea this is an American idea that makes sense for all Americans. I understand the challenges that we face. I accept the challenges. I'm not going to let it stop us, and neither should you. This is the most significant reorganization since 1947 of Government when President Harry Truman decided to reorganize the Defense Department. Congress, as they work with us, must give us the flexibility necessary to achieve our objectives. I call it freedom to manage. The new Department must be able to get the right people in the right place at the right time with the right pay. We need to be able to reward excellence and ensure accountability for individual performance. A lot will be expected of us, and I expect Congress to give the executive branch the give us the flexibility necessary to achieve our objectives. I'm here to let you know that there's no question in my mind we can achieve what we need to achieve, particularly when we work together. I want you to think about the Department of Homeland Security in this sense. Twenty years from now, if we're still standing individually, that is you can look back and say, "I was part of not only winning the war on terror, but I was part of working together to leave behind a legacy, a legacy of a more secure homeland so a future President or a future Congress or a future agency head can better address the true threats of the 21st century that will face our children and our children's children." That's really what we're talking about today. This is an historic moment, a fantastic opportunity. History has called us into action. History has put the spotlight on America. History has people are saying, "What is this country all about?" Well, I'll tell you what we're about. We're going to do what's necessary to say to do our most important job. We are can do people. We see a problem this is a country that works to solve it. And that's what's going to happen, thanks to your hard work and dedication. And I'll tell you what else is going to happen. We're going to win the war on terror, no matter how long it takes. It is a first of all, we do what we do because there's others coming up in our society. The dedication and sacrifice you all make is because you understand that you're working for other people, particularly young youngsters, youngsters who want to enjoy the same life we have in America, a life of freedom, a life a chance to realize your dreams. And we're doing what we're doing because you all understand that a full life is one that serves something greater than yourself. Otherwise, you wouldn't have signed on for Government service in the first place. I believe the culture in the country is changing. Oh, I know there's a lot of folks that worry only about themselves and their balance sheets and how well they're doing. But I do believe that, as a result of the evil done to America, a lot of Americans are stepping back and taking a hard look at what's important in life. They remember the example of Flight 93, average Americans flying across the country. They learned their plane would become a weapon. They told their loved ones they loved them and goodbye. They said a prayer, and they drove the plane in the ground, the ultimate symbol of serving something greater than yourself, the ultimate act of sacrifice, to serve somebody and something, a cause greater than themselves. And that's what we're here talking about today good, honorable, honest Americans working hard to serve something greater than yourself. And that something is the greatest country on the face of the Earth. Thank you for your sacrifice. God bless you all. July 09, 2002 Thank you all. Thank you very much for that warm welcome. I'm pleased to be back in New York City. New York City is a unique symbol of America's creativity and character and resilience. In the last 10 months, New Yorkers have shown a watching world the true spirit of your city, a spirit that honors the loss, remembers its heroes, and goes forward with determination and with confidence. The people of this city are writing one of the greatest chapters in our Nation's history, and all Americans are proud of New York. I've come to the financial capital of the world to speak of a serious challenge to our financial markets and to the confidence on which they rest. The misdeeds now being uncovered in some quarters of corporate America are threatening the financial well being of many workers and many investors. At this moment, America's greatest economic need is higher ethical standards, standards enforced by strict laws and upheld by responsible business leaders. The lure of heady profits of the late 1990s spawned abuses and excesses. With strict enforcement and higher ethical standards, we must usher in a new era of integrity in corporate America. I want to thank Bill for his introduction. There's nothing like being recycled. Laughter But thanks for having me, and I'm honored to meet your family and Uncle Jack. Laughter I appreciate very much Secretary O'Neill and Secretary Evans traveling with me today. I want to thank the members of the New York delegation, Senators Schumer and Clinton as well as Congressman Fossella and Congressman Rangel. I appreciate so very much the mayor my friend the mayor for being here to greet me as I came in on the chopper. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and thanks for the great job you're doing for New York. I'm honored that Cardinal Egan is here. And I appreciate so very much seeing John Whitehead, the chairman of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. And thank you all for coming as well. The American economy, our economy, is built on confidence the conviction that our free enterprise system will continue to be the most powerful and most promising in the world. That confidence is well placed. After all, American technology is the most advanced in the world. Our universities attract the talent of the world. Our workers and ranchers and farmers can compete with anybody in the world. Our society rewards hard work and honest ambition, bringing people to our shores from all around the world who share those values. The American economy is the most creative and enterprising and productive system ever devised. We can be confident because America is taking every necessary step to fight and win the war on terror. We are reorganizing the Federal Government to protect the homeland. We are hunting down the terrorists who seek to sow chaos. My commitment and the commitment of our Government is total. We will not relent until the coldblooded killers are found, disrupted, and defeated. We can be confident because of the amazing achievements of American workers and entrepreneurs. In spite of all that happened last year, from the economic slowdown to the terrorist attack, worker productivity has grown by 4.2 percent over the last four quarters. In the first quarter of 2002, the economy grew at an annual rate exceeding 6 percent. Though there's much work left to do, American workers have defied the pessimists and laid the foundation for a sustained recovery. We can be confident because we're pursuing pro growth reforms in Washington, DC. Last year we passed the biggest tax cut in a generation, which encouraged job creation and boosted consumer spending at just the right time. For the sake of long term growth, I'm asking Congress to make the tax reductions permanent. I'm asking Congress to join me to promote free trade, which will open new markets and create better jobs and spur innovation. I ask Congress to work with me to pass a terrorism insurance bill, to give companies the security they need to expand and to build. And I will insist on and if need be, enforce discipline in Federal spending, so we can meet our national priorities without undermining our economy. We have much to be confident about in America. Yet our economy and our country need one more kind of confidence, confidence in the character and conduct of all of our business leaders. The American economy today is rising, while faith in the fundamental integrity of American business leaders is being undermined. Nearly every week brings better economic news and a discovery of fraud and scandal, problems long in the making but now coming to light. We've learned of some business leaders obstructing justice and misleading clients, falsifying records, business executives breaching the trust and abusing power. We've learned of CEOs earning tens of millions of dollars in bonuses just before their companies go bankrupt, leaving employees and retirees and investors to suffer. The business pages of American newspapers should not read like a scandal sheet. The vast majority of business men and women are honest. They do right by their employees and their shareholders. They do not cut ethical corners, and their work helps create an economy which is the envy of the world. Yet high profile acts of deception have shaken people's trust. Too many corporations seem disconnected from the values of our country. These scandals have hurt the reputations of many good and honest companies. They have hurt the stock market. And worst of all, they are hurting millions of people who depend on the integrity of businesses for their livelihood and their retirement, for their peace of mind and their financial well being. When abuses like this begin to surface in the corporate world, it is time to reaffirm the basic principles and rules that make capitalism work, truthful books and honest people and well enforced laws against fraud and corruption. All investment is an act of faith, and faith is earned by integrity. In the long run, there's no capitalism without conscience there is no wealth without character. And so again today I'm calling for a new ethic of personal responsibility in the business community, an ethic that will increase investor confidence, will make employees proud of their companies, and again regain the trust of the American people. Our Nation's most respected business leaders, including many gathered here today, take this ethic very seriously. The Business Roundtable, the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ have all proposed guidelines to improve corporate conduct and transparency. These include requirements that independent directors compose the majority of the company's board, that all members of audit, nominating, and compensation committees be independent, and that all stock option plans be approved by the shareholders. I call on all the stock markets to adopt these sensible reforms, these commonsense reforms, as soon as possible. Self regulation is important, but it's not enough. Government cannot remove risk from investment I know that or chance from the market. But Government can do more to promote transparency and ensure that risks are honest, and Government can ensure that those who breach the trust of the American people are punished. Bold, well considered reforms should demand integrity without stifling innovation and economic growth. From the antitrust laws of the 19th century to the S L reforms of recent times, America has tackled financial problems when they appeared. The actions I'm proposing follow in this tradition and should be welcomed by every honest company in America. First, we will use the full weight of the law to expose and root out corruption. My administration will do everything in our power to end the days of cooking the books, shading the truth, and breaking our laws. Today, by Executive order, I create a new Corporate Fraud Task Force, headed by the Deputy Attorney General, which will target major accounting fraud and other criminal activity in corporate finance. The task force will function as a financial crimes SWAT team, overseeing the investigation of corporate abusers and bringing them to account. I'm also proposing tough new criminal penalties for corporate fraud. This legislation would double the maximum prison terms for those convicted of financial fraud from 5 to 10 years. Defrauding investors is a serious offense, and the punishment must be as serious as the crime. I ask Congress to strengthen the ability of SEC investigators to temporarily freeze improper payments to corporate executives and to strengthen laws that prevent the destruction of corporate documents in order to hide crimes. Second, we're moving corporate accounting out of the shadows, so the investing public will have a true and fair and timely picture of assets and liabilities and income of publicly traded companies. Greater transparency will expose bad companies and, just as importantly, protect the reputations of the good ones. To expose corporate corruption, I asked Congress 4 months ago for funding to place 100 new enforcement personnel in the SEC. And I call on Congress to act quickly on this request. Today I announce my administration is asking Congress for an additional 100 million in the coming year to give the SEC the officers and the technology it needs to enforce the law. If more scandals are hiding in corporate America, we must find and expose them now, so we can begin rebuilding the confidence of our people and the momentum of our markets. I've also proposed a 10 point accountability plan for American business, designed to provide better information to shareholders, set clear responsibility for corporate officers, and develop a stronger, more independent auditing system. This plan is ensuring that the SEC takes aggressive and affirmative action. Corporate officers who benefit from false accounting statements should forfeit all money gained by their fraud. An executive whose compensation is tied to his company's performance makes more money when his company does well. That's fine, and that's fair when the accounting is aboveboard. Yet when a company uses deception, deception accounting to hide reality, executives should lose all their compensation all their compensation gained by the deceit. Corporate leaders who violate the public trust should never be given that trust again. The SEC should be able to punish corporate leaders who are convicted of abusing their powers by banning them from ever serving again as officers or directors of a publicly held corporation. If an executive is guilty of outright fraud, resignation is not enough. Only a ban on serving at the top of another company will protect other shareholders and employees. My accountability plan also requires CEOs to personally vouch for their firms' annual financial statements. Currently, a CEO signs a nominal certificate and does so merely on behalf of the company. In the future, the signature of the CEO should also be his or her personal certification of the veracity and fairness of the financial disclosures. When you sign a statement, you're pledging your word, and you should stand behind it. And because the shareholders of America need confidence in financial disclosures right away, the SEC has ordered the leaders of nearly 1,000 large public companies to certify that the financial information they submitted in the last year was fair and it was accurate. I've also called on the SEC to adopt new rules to ensure that auditors will be independent and not compromised by conflicts of interest. The House of Representatives has passed needed legislation to encourage transparency and accountability in American businesses. The Senate also needs to act quickly and responsibly, so I can sign a good bill into law. Third, my administration will guard the interests of small investor and pension holders. More than 80 million Americans own stock, and many of them are new to the market. Buying stock gives them an opportunity to build wealth over the long term, and this is the very kind of responsible investment we must promote in America. To encourage stock ownership, we must make sure that analysts give honest advice and pension plans treat workers fairly. Stock analysts should be trusted advisers, not salesmen with a hidden agenda. We must prevent analysts from touting weak companies because they happen to be clients of their own firm for underwriting or merger advice. This is a flat out conflict of interest, and we'll aggressively enforce new SEC rules against this practice, rules which take effect today. And the stock markets should make sure that the advice analysts give and the terms they use have real meaning to investors. "Buy" should not be the only word in an analyst's vocabulary, and they should never say "hold" when they really mean "sell." Small investors should also not have to have the deck stacked against them when it comes to managing their own retirement funds. My pension reform proposal would treat corporate executives the same as workers during so called blackout periods, when employees are prohibited from trading in their own accounts. What's fair for the workers is fair for the bosses. My reform proposal gives workers quarterly information about their investments. It expands workers' access to sound investment advice and allows them to diversify out of company stock. The House has passed these measures. I urge the Senate to do the same. Tougher laws and stricter requirements will help it'll help. Yet ultimately, the ethics of American business depend on the conscience of America's business leaders. We need men and women of character, who know the difference between ambition and destructive greed, between justified risk and irresponsibility, between enterprise and fraud. Our schools of business must be principled teachers of right and wrong and not surrender to moral confusion and relativism. Our leaders of business must set high and clear expectations of conduct, demonstrated by their own conduct. Responsible business leaders do not jump ship during hard times. Responsible leaders do not collect huge bonus packages when the value of their company dramatically declines. Responsible leaders do not take home tens of millions of dollars in compensation as their companies prepare to file for bankruptcy, devastating the holdings of their investors. Everyone in a company should live up to high standards, but the burden of leadership rightly belongs to the chief executive officer. CEOs set the ethical direction for their companies. They set a moral tone by the decisions they make, the respect they show their employees, and their willingness to be held accountable for their actions. They set a moral tone by showing their disapproval of other executives who bring discredit to the business world. And one of the principal ways that CEOs set an ethical tone is through their compensation. The pay package sends a clear signal whether a business leader is committed to teamwork or personal enrichment. It tells you whether his principal goal is the creation of wealth for shareholders or the accumulation of wealth for himself. The SEC currently requires the annual disclosure of the CEO's compensation. But that information is often buried in long proxy statement proxy statements and seldom seen, seldom seen by shareholders. I challenge every CEO in America to describe in the company's annual report, prominently and in plain English, details of his or her compensation package, including salary and bonus and benefits. And the CEO, in that report, should also explain why his or her compensation package is in the best interest of the company he serves. Those who sit on corporate boards have responsibilities. I urge board members to check the quality of their company's financial statements, to ask tough questions about accounting methods, to demand that audit firms are not beholden to the CEO, and to make sure the compensation for senior executives squares with reality and common sense. And I challenge compensation committees to put an end to all company loans to corporate officers. Shareholders also need to make their voices heard. They should demand an attentive and active board of directors. They should demand truly independent directors. They should demand that compensation committees reward long term success, not failure. Shareholders should demand accountability not just in bad times but especially in boom times, when accountability frequently breaks down. Shareholders are a company's most important constituency, and they should act like it. The 1990s was a decade of tremendous economic growth. As we're now learning, it was also a decade when the promise of rapid profits allowed the seeds of scandal to spring up. A lot of money was made, but too often standards were tossed aside. Yet the American system of enterprise has not failed us. Some dishonest individuals have failed our system. Now comes the urgent work of enforcement and reform, driven by a new ethic of responsibility. We will show that markets can be both dynamic and honest, that lasting wealth and prosperity are built on a foundation of integrity. By reasserting the best values of our country, we will reclaim the promise of our economy. Leaders in this room help give the free enterprise system an ethical compass, and the Nation respects you for that. We need that influence now more than ever. I want to thank you for helping to restore the people's trust in American business. I want to thank you for your love of the country. And I want to thank you for giving me the chance to come and address you today. May God bless you all. July 09, 2002 The President. Please be seated. Thank you all very much. Good afternoon, and welcome to the White House. Laura and I are honored to welcome our recipients and family members and friends to the people's house. As we honor today's Presidential Medal of Freedom winners, I want to acknowledge the presence of our great Secretary of State, Colin Powell, and his wife, Alma. Secretary Powell has won the Presidential Medal of Freedom twice once with distinction. I'm not sure what happened the other time. Laughter The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civil honor our Nation can bestow, and we award it today to 12 outstanding individuals. The men and women we honor span the spectrum of achievement. Some are fighters others are healers all have left an enduring legacy of hope and courage and achievement. Hank Aaron overcame poverty and racism to become one of the most accomplished baseball players of all time. "When I was in a ballpark," he said, "I felt like I was surrounded by angels, and I had God's hand on my shoulder." By steadily pursuing his calling in the face of unreasoning hatred, Hank Aaron has proven himself a great human being, as well as a great athlete. Bill Cosby is a gifted comedian who has used the power of laughter to heal wounds and to build bridges. "I don't think you can bring the races together by joking about the differences between them," he said. "I'd rather talk about the similarities, about what's universal in their experiences." By focusing on our common humanity, Bill Cosby is helping to create a truly united America. Placido Domingo has performed in more roles than any other tenor in the history of opera. His boundless admiration for the composers of the great operatic music makes him push himself to the limit. "They spend years creating operas," Placido has said, "lots of suffering and lots of sweating." Well, by suffering and sweating himself, Placido Domingo is making sure that the great music of the past will continue to delight opera lovers the world over. The week after September the 11th, Peter Drucker sent a letter to his friends and associates urging them not to abandon daily life and civil society. "That's exactly what the terrorist wants," he said. Peter Drucker has devoted his life to strengthening civil society. His determination to help our nonprofit and faith based institutions carry out their desperately needed missions more effectively has made him one of the greatest management experts of our time. Katharine Graham was a forceful, courageous, and deeply principled newspaper publisher. She described herself as someone who suffered from a sense of inferiority but who was forced to become a leader after her husband's death. "What I essentially did," she wrote, "was to put one foot in front of the other, shut my eyes, and step off the edge." Under her brilliant guidance, the Washington Post has become one of America's most powerful newspapers. Katharine Graham will always be remembered for her determined pursuit of journalistic excellence. D.A. Henderson is a great general in mankind's war against disease. From 1966 to 1977 he led the World Health Organization's global smallpox eradication campaign. Today, he is helping protect America from the threat of bioterrorism. "We need to plan, not panic," says this master medical planner. Our Nation is fortunate to be able to draw on D.A. Henderson's great store of wisdom and experience as we work to lift the dark threat of terrorism from the Nation and our world. Irving Kristol is a wide ranging thinker whose writings have helped transform America's political landscape. As young men, he and his fellow student radicals in City College's "alcove number one," devoted themselves to solving the ultimate problems of the human race. Today, Irving Kristol is still grappling with ultimate problems, and in thinking them through, he has vastly enlarged the conservative vision. Shortly after he arrived on South Africa's Robben Island to begin serving his prison sentence for resisting apartheid, Nelson Mandela refused an order to jog from the harbor to the prison gate. When a prison warden threatened to kill him, here's what he said "If you so much as lay a hand on me, I will take you to the highest court in the land, and when I finish with you, you'll be as poor as a church mouse." Laughter The warden backed off and so, eventually, did other, more powerful representatives of apartheid all of whom were humbled by Mandela's immense moral authority. It is this moral stature that has made Nelson Mandela perhaps the most revered statesman of our time. Gordon Moore is a great businessman and innovator. His interest in science was sparked by a chemistry set when he was a boy. "With the chemistry set," he recalls, "I had to get a good explosion at the end, or I wasn't happy." Laughter In the worlds of business, science, and philanthropy, Gordon Moore has been setting off explosives ever since. And the ripple effects of his explosive genius have helped create our age of information. Nancy Reagan has devoted herself to her family and her country. As first lady of California, she spoke out eloquently on behalf of POWs and American servicemen missing in action. As First Lady of the United States, she has led an antidrug campaign she led an antidrug campaign that helped reduce teenage drug abuse. Today we honor Nancy Reagan for her eloquent example of loyalty and courage and abiding love. Fred Rogers has proven that television can soothe the soul and nurture the spirit and teach the very young. "The whole idea," says the beloved host of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, "is to look at the television camera and present as much love as you possibly could to a person who needs it." This message of unconditional love has won Fred Rogers a very special place in the heart of a lot of moms and dads all across America. A.M. Rosenthal's calling is journalism his passion is human rights. "When I come out for human rights," he says, "I'm not talking in the abstract. I know that if I lived in a dictatorship, I would be in jail very quickly." A.M. Rosenthal's outspoken defense of persecuted Christians in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East have truly made him his brothers' keeper. Each of these men and women has enriched the life of America and the world. And we're honored to have them with us here today. And now the military aide will call each of the winners forward and read their citations. At this point, Maj. James M. McAllister, USA, Army Aide to the President, read the citations, and the President presented the medals. The President. Again, I want to thank you all for coming to honor such remarkable men and women. The Presidential Medal of Freedom, established by President Kennedy in 1963, recognizes individuals who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, or to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." I'm sure you'll agree that today's Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients richly deserve their honor. And now, Laura and I would like to invite you all to join us for a reception in honor of today's distinguished Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients, in the room back here in the back. May God bless our recipients, and may God bless you all. July 08, 2002 The President. Good afternoon. I hope you all enjoyed your weekend in Maine as much as I did. And I hope our fellow Americans all enjoyed a Fourth of July weekend with their family and friends. And now it's back to work. Congress is coming back into Washington, and they've got a lot of work ahead of them before the August vacation. Congress has been making some important progress, but it also has a lot of unfinished business. I urge Congress to join me in advancing join me in acting to achieve and advance three big goals We need to win the war we need to protect our homeland and we need to strengthen our economy. Winning the war and protecting the homeland requires a sustained national commitment. More than 100 days ago, I asked Congress to appropriate additional money to equip our Armed Forces and strengthen the security at our airports. Four months later, the Department of Defense and the new Transportation Security Administration are still waiting for the money, and they'll run out of operating funds maybe as soon as this week. Congress simply must fund our troops while they're fighting a war, and Congress must provide the funds to improve security at our airports. Further delay is intolerable Congress has got to act. Congress must also pass the defense appropriations for next year's budget. The House has acted the Senate must act. Our Nation is at war, and our budget priorities and actions need to reflect that reality. These bills are critical, and quick action on them does not and should not preclude simultaneous progress on other legislation. Creating more jobs and strengthening our economy are critical priorities. And Congress can act to create jobs by giving me trade promotion authority. Expanding trade means new jobs for American workers. Congress has debated trade now for more than a year. It's time to stop talking. It's time to start acting. Congress should act to create American jobs before it goes home for the August recess. And Congress should act to make us less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Congress has the opportunity to pass legislation that gives America the energy policy it needs, one that makes us less dependent on foreign oil and promotes conservation. Reliable, affordable energy means more and better jobs. Another key element of economic growth is consumer and investor confidence in our markets and in the integrity of corporate America. And right now, that confidence has been shaken. Tomorrow in New York, I'll outline tough new laws and actions to punish abuses, restore investor confidence, and protect the pensions of American workers. We have a duty to every worker, shareholder, and investor in America to punish the guilty, to close loopholes, and protect employee pensions and we will. The House has acted on the pension reforms I proposed in February and on the corporate responsibility proposals I made in March. It's time for the Senate to act in an equally responsive manner. As Congress works on all this important legislation, it must keep a tight hand on taxpayers' money. Excessive Government spending is a drag, or will be a drag, on our economy. Congress is moving forward on the proposal for the new Department of Homeland Security, and it is doing so with speed and skill and a constructive spirit of bipartisan cooperation. I hope the Congress will apply the same spirit to other important legislation. A safer and more prosperous America can also be a more compassionate country. The House has acted to encourage the charity and good works of private and religious groups throughout America. The House has also passed welfare reform that upholds the values of work and family. If the Senate acts, we will improve the lives of millions of our fellow citizens. I know that this is an election year, and both Republicans and Democrats will be focused on politics. That's normal during an election year, but we must not be distracted from the important work that we share. It will take a lot of work and bipartisan cooperation to get important legislation out of the Congress before they all go home to campaign. The agenda is full the time is short and the Nation is watching. In the coming weeks, I'll continue to focus on pursuing the war and protecting the homeland and strengthening our economy. And I urge the Congress to join me in this unfinished business. Now I'll be glad to answer some questions you have. Why don't we start here, David David Gregory, NBC News ? Corporate Responsibility Q. Mr. President, in the war on terrorism, you made it very clear that it's not just a matter of seeking justice for offenders but also preventing another act of terrorism against our country. So when it comes to corporate corruption, beyond calling for tough penalties, what can you say to investors around the country about what this administration will do to prevent abuses from occurring in the future? The President. Well, let me start by telling you that I think by far the vast majority of CEOs in America are good, honorable, honest people who have nothing to hide and are willing to let the true facts speak for themselves. It's the few that have stained the that have created the stains that we must deal with. And tomorrow I'm going to talk about some specifics, and I'd rather save those for tomorrow. But let me just put it to you this way We'll vigorously pursue people who break the law. And that's what and I think that will help restore confidence to the American people. Q. And prevention, though? What about how do you prevent this from happening again? The President. Well, David, there is a listen, there had been a period of time when everything seemed easy. Markets were roaring capital was everywhere and people forgot their responsibilities. And as you know you've had to suffer through many of my speeches but I have been calling for a renewed sense of responsibility in America. And that includes corporate responsibility, because I'm very worried about a country that has that could conceivably lose confidence in the free enterprise system. And I'm an avid backer of the free enterprise system, but I also understand that that requires trust. And we've had some destroy the trust of the American people, and we need to do something about it. In the future, starting we start with calling on people's calling on people's better nature. And I'll do some of that tomorrow as well. Yes, Sandra Sandra Sobieraj, Associated Press . Smallpox Vaccine Q. Sir, the Government is stockpiling enough smallpox vaccine for every American, but is only planning right now to offer it to emergency and health care workers. Why shouldn't every American be able to evaluate the health risks for themselves and then decide for themselves to get the vaccine? The President. Sandra, first of all, I haven't made any decisions as to who's going to be vaccinated or not. We're looking at all options. I think one concern that I can share with you is that if everybody received a vaccine, there are some who to whom that vaccine might be fatal. And I worry about that. I worry about calling for a national vaccination program and that it could cause the loss of life. And so I'm looking at all options before I make up my mind. Yes yes, sir. Harken Energy 2002 Election Q. Mr. President, the Democrats have signaled that they are going to make your behavior while a director at Harken an election year issue. There's an ad out today which is relatively new. I know you said this has been vetted before I mean, I've heard that. But would you take on the charge that you were 8 months late with an 850,000 stock sale report? The President. First, let me take on the notion that people love to play politics. You know, you said the Democrats are going to attack me based upon Harken. That's nothing new. That happened in 1994. I can't remember if it happened in 1998 or not. It happened in 2000. I mean, this is recycled stuff. When I laughter . Thank you. Laughter When I made the decision to sell, I filed what's called a Form 144. I think you all have copies of the Form 144. It's an intention to sell, and I did so. And but as you said, this has been fully vetted. It has been looked at by the SEC. You've got the documents. You've got the finding where the guy said, "There is no case here." And it's just the way I view it is, it's old style politics. And I guess that's the way it's going to be, but Q. Well, sir, if I might, on the question that the Form 4 was 8 months late, why was it? The President. You know, the important document was the 144, the intention to sell. That was the important document. I think you've got a copy of it. If you don't, we'll be glad to get you one that showed the intention to sell. As to why the Form 4 was late, I still haven't figured it out completely. But nevertheless, the SEC fully looked into the matter. They looked at all aspects of it, and they did so in a very thorough way. And the people that looked into it said there is no case. And that was the case in the early nineties it was the case in the '94 campaign it was the case in the '98 campaign. The same thing happened in the 2000 campaign. I guess we're going to have to go through this again in the 2002 campaign, but nothing has changed. And the nothing that changed was the fact that this was fully looked into by the SEC, and there's no "there" there. Helen Helen Thomas, Hearst Newspapers . SEC Chairman Harvey Pitt Q. Mr. President The President. I'm working my way around, John John Cochran, ABC News . Q. in a way to clean up the corporate world and start the reforms, Senator McCain is suggesting that you ask for the resignation of Harvey Pitt and says that he is inept and has had to recuse himself so many times in all these cases. What do you think? And are you 1,000 percent behind him? The President. Very tricky. I support Harvey Pitt. Harvey Pitt has been fast to act. He's been in office less than 12 months, I think I mean, he was we sent him up to the Senate and was unanimously approved. I'm not exactly sure when the vote was. I guess it was about a year ago, and every Senator said aye on Harvey Pitt "aye" meaning that they thought he would do they thought he was the right man for the job. And I still think he is. He is in a quick period of time, he has taken 30 CEOs and directors to task by not allowing them to serve again on a board or serve in a CEO capacity of a company. He's encouraged what they call disgorgement in other words, if somebody has profited based upon malicious reporting, or whatever the lawyers call it obviously trying to scam somebody they had to give their money back. And he's been very active on that. So I think Pitt's doing a fine job. Former President Clinton Harken Energy Q. Sir, you said, in your speech tomorrow you're going to talk about some of the excesses of the 1990s, when a lot of money was flying around, people were playing a lot of games with money. The President. That's right. Q. You weren't President then Bill Clinton was President. Do you think in some way he contributed to that, set a moral tone in any way? The President. No. Q. Can I ask one more laughter ? You'd not like to expand on that? You were asked about the SEC and the Harken Energy Company. Democrats are saying, "Would you have the SEC release all the papers in connection with that to end all the questions? Would you tell the SEC, Mr. Pitt, to release those papers?" The President. This is old politics, John. This has been around for a long time. In the early nineties, key members of Congress asked for relevant documents from the SEC on this case. They were given the documents. You've seen the relevant documents. And I want to remind you all that I sold the stock at 4, and 14 months later the holding period for capital gains, I think, was 12 months in those days the person who bought my stock could have sold it for 8, could have doubled his or her money. Q. Mr. President, you've said that you didn't know, when you sold your Harken stock, that the company was going to restate its earnings. As a member of its audit committee, how could you not know that its earnings had not been properly accounted for? The President. Because that fact that fact came up after I sold the stock. And the SEC fully looked into this. All these questions that you're asking were looked into by the SEC. And again, I repeat to you, the summary, which I think you've seen I hope you've seen it if not, we'll be glad to get it to you said there was no case there. Yes working my way down there. Usama bin Laden Q. Mr. President, first of all, my apology for not having the tie, because I have this Indian summer suit today. Laughter The President. That's okay. Therefore, you don't get to ask a question. Laughter Q. And second, sir, happy birthday. We share the were born the same day. The President. Thank you. That's a fine question. Laughter Q. My question is, sir, that we did a survey at India Globe and Asia Today, around the United States among the Indian American community and also in India and the Indian Government. They all support your stand against fighting against terrorism. But the question is, sir, are you going to find Usama bin Laden before the first anniversary of September 11th? The President. Well, that's an interesting his question is about Usama bin Laden. We haven't heard from him in a long time. I don't know if the man's living or the man's dead. But one thing is for certain The war on terror is a lot bigger than one person. And as I told the American people, this is going to be a long and long struggle. And we're making good progress. We're rounding people up slowly but surely. We're disrupting networks. But this is and these are like international criminals, is what they act like. They kind of hide and order things up and then hide again. And we're just patiently hunting them down. And whether or not Usama bin Laden is alive or not, I don't know. Mike Mike Allen, Washington Post . Harken Energy Q. Sir? Q. Mr. President, if I may walk you The President. If you'd have worn a tie, you could have had a followup. Laughter Q. If I may ask a question from just before the sale of stock that you mentioned, could you please explain your role when you were on the board of Harken Oil in the sale of 1989 of its Aloha Petroleum subsidiary, which later caused the SEC to require Harken to restate its earnings? The sale has been described as creating a phantom profit to hide large losses. How did you see it, sir? And do you think that this transaction hurts your credibility on corporate responsibility? The President. Mike, Mike, this and all matters that related to Harken were fully looked into by the SEC. And in this case, the system worked. There was a honest difference of opinion as to how to account for a complicated transaction. And that's what you're going to find that in different corporations. Sometimes the rules aren't as specific as one would expect. And therefore, the accountants and the auditors make a decision. And it is the SEC's role to make the determination as to whether or not the accounting procedure used in this particular instance was proper or not. And let me finish. And they made the decision that Harken ought to restate some earnings, which Harken did. And that's how the system is supposed to work. John John King, Cable News Network . Q. If I may ask you, right before the accounting, the sale, itself, of the subsidiary did you favor that? Were you involved The President. Mike, you need to look back on the directors' minutes. But all I can tell you is, is that in the corporate world, sometimes things aren't exactly black and white when it comes to accounting procedures. And the SEC's job is to look and is to determine whether or not whether or not whether or not the decision by the auditors was the appropriate decision. And they did look, and they decided that earnings ought to be restated, and the company did so immediately upon the SEC's finding. Yes, John. Corporate Responsibility Q. Sir, in that SEC investigation, you waived attorney client privilege so that the SEC could question Harken attorneys and your personal attorneys about your dealings. In light of that, do you think it is appropriate today, given the fact that you say investors are nervous about the markets, for senior executives of these companies to go before Congress and invoke the fifth amendment and refuse to discuss their dealings in controversial and on a related point, one of the differences right now between the administration and the Senate bill on corporate responsibility is the Sarbanes proposal to have this independent board, appointed by the SEC, police the accounting industry. You have opposed that so far. Are you prepared today to endorse that? The President. Well, let me I'll give you my opinion on that. Look, I think people, obviously, if they're called up, ought to tell what they know. But lawyers have different opinions. And these people are listening to the advice of their counsels. Q. Does it hurt the very market confidence you're The President. Well, I think what hurts the market confidence is the in the recent cases, was the inflated numbers. And so people look at balance sheets and wonder if they're real. And now, as to the Sarbanes bill, we share the same goals, and I'm confident we can get a good piece of legislation out of the Congress. I too called for an independent board. My concern in the Sarbanes bill is that there's overlapping jurisdiction, which will make it harder to enforce rules and regulations, not easier. If you have overlapping jurisdiction, it creates confusion as to who is in charge of what. But I'm confident we can work that out. I am. Yes, David David Sanger, New York Times . We're skipping around there. Q. Mr. President, you The President. Nice tie, though. Laughter Q. Hope I'm going to get a question. Laughter Situation in the Middle East Q. You gave your speech on the Mideast nearly 2 weeks ago now. And after your previous speech on the Mideast, you repeatedly called on the Israelis to withdraw from the West Bank. You made a brief allusion to that in this most recent speech. You haven't discussed it since. And of course, they're still there. Should they take your silence as an indication that they should stay where they are, or that they should stay there while Yasser Arafat is still in power? The President. David, I said in my speech, "as security improves." I also will call upon the Israelis, as security improves, to allow for more freedom of movement by the Palestinian people. At the same time, we're working to begin the reforms necessary amongst the Palestinians to create enough confidence in all parties so that security will improve as well. Burns Under Secretary Burns was recently there in the Middle East. He's back to report this week. Colin Powell will be following up on his meetings. And I haven't had the briefing yet, but I believe some progress is being made toward the institutions that I talked about that are necessary for a Palestinian state to emerge which will give us all confidence in its ability to fight off terrorist activities, in its ability to receive international aid without stealing the money, its ability to develop a judiciary. And what's very important in the Middle East, Dave, is that those institutions evolve and grow so that the true will of the Palestinian people can be reflected in the government and that the institutions grow and evolve so that there's, in fact, separation of power, so that all hopes of the Palestinians don't rest on one person. And I believe we're making some progress there. Go ahead. Followup on Dave. Q. With security at its current state, do I understand you correctly to be saying, if things are in its current state, you're perfectly comfortable to have the Israelis where they are? The President. I would hope that everybody got the message that we all have responsibilities to fight off terrorist attacks. Yes, Ed Ed Chen, Los Angeles Times . Bringing Terrorists to Justice Q. Good afternoon. Since shortly after September 11, you said that you would like to see Usama bin Laden, dead or alive. But you've also said that America is after justice and not revenge. The President. Right. Q. Could you please tell us, to your way of thinking, what is the difference? The President. Between justice and revenge? I think it's a difference of attitude. I mean, I seek justice for the deaths done to American people. And it's you can be tough and seek justice, Ed. And you can be disciplined and focused and seek justice. But it's a frame of mind. We don't take we take lives when we have to, to protect the people and to hold people accountable for killing thousands. That's how I look at it. Ed, and then Jim Jim Angle, Fox News , and then Tie Man Ken Bazinet, New York Daily News . Q. Thank you. Regime Change in Iraq Q. Yes, Mr. President, thank you. We continue to see reports on the state of planning to get rid of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. I know it's unlikely that you'll share any details with us, though we'd be delighted to hear them, sir The President. Somebody else thinks they are, evidently. Laughter Q. But I wonder, Mr. President, regardless of when or how, is it your firm intention to get rid of Saddam Hussein in Iraq The President. Yes. Q. and how hard do you think it will be? The President. It's the stated policy of this Government to have regime change. And it hasn't changed. And we'll use all tools at our disposal to do so. I actually didn't read the whole story about somebody down there at level five flexing some know how muscle, but there's all kind listen, I recognize there's speculation out there. But people shouldn't speculate about the desire of the Government to have a regime change. And there's ways, different ways to do it. Q. How involved are you in the planning, sir? We know that you meet with General Franks. You meet with Rumsfeld to talk about this. How involved are you? The President. I'm involved. I mean, I'm involved in the military planning, diplomatic planning, financial planning, all aspects of reviewing all the tools at my disposal. And but in my remarks to American people, I remind them I'm a patient person and there's a but I do firmly believe that the world will be safer and more peaceful if there's a regime change in that Government. And Tie Man. Let me see, you are laughter I don't have my "no name," it says. Never mind. Laughter Q. Tie Man is fine. The President. Thank you. SEC Chairman Harvey Pitt Q. Thank you. And I thank you for the compliment. Earlier you signaled your staunch support for Harvey Pitt, sir. On August 8th, his 1 year will have come up, and he will no longer have to recuse himself. Do you think that he should voluntarily recuse himself after that point? Would that be appropriate? The President. I think Harvey Pitt was put in place to clean up a mess, and he's working hard to do that. It's an amazing town, where the man barely got his uniform on, barely had a chance to perform, and now, for whatever reason, people think he ought to move on, the very ones who voted for him. And I would ask them to look at his record. And I'm going to since I'm the decisionmaker, I'm going to give him a chance to continue to perform. Elisabeth Elisabeth Bumiller, New York Times . Q. Mr. President The President. Your name is not Elisabeth. Harken Energy Q. Thank you. The accounting procedures at Harken and Aloha have been compared to what went on at Enron. Would you agree with that? The President. No. Q. Why not, sir? The President. Well, again, this is there was no malfeance involved. This was a honest disagreement about accounting procedures. And the SEC took a good look at it and decided that the procedures used by the auditors and the accounting firm needed to were not the right procedure in this particular case or the right ruling and, therefore, asked Harken to restate earnings, which it did. I mean, that's the way the SEC works. That's the proper role of an oversight group. There was no malfeance, no attempt to hide anything. It was just a accounting firm making a decision, along with the corporate officers, as to how to account for a complex transaction. Q. Can I follow that up, sir? The President. No. Yes, Ken Ken Walsh, U.S. News World Report . Corporate Responsibility Q. Yes, Mr. President, to put your speech tomorrow in a larger context, at the turn of the last century, Theodore Roosevelt complained about what he called the "malefactors of great wealth." And he asked, in a very famous speech "Who shall rule this country, the people, or" what he called "those who hide behind the breastworks of corporate organizations?" I wonder if you feel this era is comparable to that one, and if you feel you should respond as aggressively as Roosevelt did to corporate corruption? The President. Well, of course, he was referring to trusts. I'm referring to a lapse of ethics, people forgetting the fact that they represent things other than their own compensation packages, however inflated they may be, that they have a responsibility to employees and shareholders. And I am I also understand how tender the free enterprise system can be. If people lose confidence in the system, it will be hard to attract capital in the markets. And that's one reason I've reacted so steadily against what I have seen. And I don't like it a bit, and I'm going to talk about it tomorrow. David asked an interesting question about how do you prevent things in the future. It's like asking how do you if somebody has doesn't have that ethical compass, they'll find ways to cut corners. There are ways that people should hold people accountable. I mean, investors need to be pay attention. There are investor groups that will do that. Obviously, boards of directors need to hold CEOs accountable. But if you get a bunch of people together that have no sense of ethics, you're going to get this kind of behavior. And so then what the Government must do and it's a legitimate role of Government is to step in and hold people accountable. Corporate Tax Returns Q. Mr. President, one way to establish or restore investor confidence being floated right now is making public the tax returns of corporations. Would you favor that policy? The President. Making public? I'd need to look at that. I'll take a look at that. Q. Mr. President The President. Hillman G. Robert Hillman, Dallas Morning News . Civil Rights Q. Yes, Mr. President. The NAACP is meeting this week in Houston, as you probably know. And there's been some criticism that you've not attended their convention since the 2000 campaign. How would you respond to that and respond generally to suggestions from some critics that your civil rights record in the administration is not a stellar one? The President. Let's see. There I was, sitting around the leader with the table with foreign leaders, looking at Colin Powell and Condi Rice. Yes. Anti Semitism Situation in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, on the Middle East, a followup. Realistically, can anything be accomplished in the Middle East before the Palestinian elections? And does the White House have anything to say about the rise of anti Semitism which is sweeping Europe? Are you concerned that that could spread to this country? The President. We're concerned about anti Semitism anywhere. And yes, progress can be made. We can help write encourage the writing of a new constitution, the reformulation of security forces, prepare aid packages that will be disbursed if there is transparency. So progress can be made until the elections. Pension Reform Q. Mr. President, how do you respond to the criticism that your administration, and you particularly, are more interested in protecting the interests of corporate America than the needs of ordinary Americans? The President. What I'm interested in protecting is the confidence of all Americans in the marketplace, so that people feel comfortable investing, because investment means jobs and so that people feel comfortable that their savings plans and pension plans are protected. That's why I put out the pension reform package. Remember, in February I laid out a pension reform package. And in March I laid out 10 steps for good corporate governance, and I'm waiting for Congress to act. And it's been a while but listen, I'm a believer in the free enterprise system. But I'm also a strong believer in holding people accountable when they betray the trust of employees and shareholders, and that's exactly what we're going to do. Yes, Anne Anne Kornblut, Boston Globe . Regime Change in Iraq Q. On Iraq, can the American people expect that by the end of your first term you will have effected a regime change in Iraq, one way or another? And by the same token The President. That's hypothetical. Q. But can the American people expect that? Should they expect that? The President. That's a hypothetical question. They can expect me not to answer hypothetical questions. Q. On Usama bin Laden, does your promise still The President. On sensitive subjects. Laughter War on Terrorism Q. Sir, on Usama bin Laden, does your promise still hold that he will be caught, dead or alive, at some point? The President. What? Say that again? Q. Does your promise on or your goal of catching Usama bin Laden dead or alive, does that still stand? The President. I don't know if he is dead or alive, for starters, so I'm going to answer your question with a hypothetical. Usama bin Laden, he may be alive. If he is, we'll get him. If he's not alive, we got him. Laughter But the issue is bigger than one person. That's what I keep trying to explain to the American people. We're talking about networks that need to be disrupted, plans that need to be stopped. These people are cold blooded killers. They're interested in killing innocent Americans, still. And therefore, we will continue to pursue them. And I understand the frustrations of this war. Everybody wants to be a war correspondent. They want to go out there and see the tanks moving across the plains or the airplanes flying in formation and but that's not the way this war is going to be fought all the time. There's a lot of actions that take place that you'll never see. And there's and some of it, hopefully, will continue to take place as a result of the actions of our friends, such as that which took place in the Philippines. Abu Sayyaf the leader, evidently, was killed by Philippine troops. And that's positive. That's a positive development. We're constantly working with nations that might become havens for terrorists, to make sure that there's no place for them to bunch up or train or to and it's and we're making progress. But it's a long journey, and that's what people have got to know. Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. Final question. Securities and Exchange Commission Q. Mr. President, you mentioned that sometimes the accounting laws are just too difficult to calculate. The President. No, I said sometimes there's differences a ability to interpret one way or the other. Q. But isn't that wouldn't that provide a handy excuse to some of the folks who are involved in these scandals today, who say, "Well, internally we had " The President. Sure. Sure, it becomes a handy excuse. But good prosecutors and a strong SEC will determine the difference between what becomes a handy excuse by somebody willing to defraud and somebody who has just a difference of opinion. And that's the difference. And that's the role of the SEC, and that's why the SEC has to be strengthened. And tomorrow I'll call for a stronger SEC, more investigators and more budget. But that's precisely what the role of the SEC is, and that's what it does. I know the Democrats are trying to divert attention from the major goal. And I hope they I hope we can work together to get good legislation out. The important thing is to restore confidence to the economy, and we can. But go ahead. Q. I just wonder if you think then that some of the companies that are in play today in terms of scandal could actually be places where the accounting was just The President. Could be. It could be. It's not my role to judge, or the Congress's role to judge. It is the SEC's role to judge. And that's why we need a strong and vibrant SEC, to make those judgments. But I think it's pretty clear when somebody is trying to defraud. And it's when you've got an error of 3.4 billion, I think it was, it's a pretty clear indication that something might be there. But everybody ought to have their day in court. We ought not to rush to judgment on every single case that comes up. And the SEC ought to do its job and do it well. Thank you all very much. July 06, 2002 Assassination of Vice President Haji Abdul Qadir of Afghanistan The President. Today Vice President Qadir of Afghanistan was gunned down. The administration and our country mourns the loss of a man who desired freedom and stability for the country he loved. We have been in touch with Chairman Karzai, expressed our deepest condolences to the Chairman and the Government and people of Afghanistan, who lost a good and valued friend. The Afghan Government is in the process of investigating who might have done this. And we are more resolved than ever to bring stability to the country so that the Afghan people can have peace and hope. I'll answer a couple of questions. Q. Mr. President, did you personally call Chairman Karzai? And what does this say about the ability of a new Government to form and actually succeed there, and what are your concerns? The President. No, I haven't spoken to Chairman Karzai yet. I spoke to him yesterday, interestingly enough, to express our condolences about the loss of life during the military action. He was talked to by a member of my national security team. I am confident and I believe Chairman Karzai is confident that with patience and with aid and with a proper strategy, that Afghanistan can develop into a peaceful and hopeful nation. Bombing of Afghan Civilians Q. Sir, what do you say to the Afghan people who are upset about the bombing of civilians? The President. Well, I say, you know, we're investigating. I say "we." Both the Afghanistan Government and the United States Government are investigating to find out the facts. But I can say to the Afghan people exactly what I told to Chairman Karzai, "Anytime innocent life is lost, we're sad. Our country values life, all life, and we'll find out what the facts are and then address it accordingly." Assassination of Vice President Haji Abdul Qadir of Afghanistan Q. Can the United States or the FBI or someone help with the investigation of the assassination, or will they? The President. Well, we'll find out. Right now the Afghan Government believes they can handle the investigation. There's all kinds of scenarios as to how the who killed him. But we'll work closely with the Government if they want us to. Q. Sir, is there any sign that this kind of assassination may be connected to terrorist groups who are trying to get more involved in the country? The President. It could be that. It could be drug lords. It could be longtime rivals. Who knows? All we know is a good man is dead, and we mourn his loss. All right, thank you all. Thanks. President's Birthday Q. Birthday plans, sir? The President. Let's see, settling in, a family lunch, may go for a run it will be a mechanical run, however. Q. Why, not hot enough? The President. No, I wish I could get off the Point, but I think the agents will say today it's probably best for me to stay on Walker's Point. Let's see, what else will be happening? Who knows? Maybe a surprise party. Laughter Other than that, just hanging out with my family, which is a wonderful gift unto itself. Thank you all. Q. What took you so long to play 18 holes just 2 hours and 10 minutes? The President. Well, I think it's because I three putted too many greens. Laughter Have a good day today. Q. Happy birthday, Mr. President. The President. Thank you all. July 06, 2002 Good morning. This week, Americans are celebrating the 226th anniversary of our independence. On the Fourth of July, we count our blessings, and there are so many to count. We are thankful for the families that share our life in this land of liberty. We're thankful for the opportunities given to us every day in this country. We are thankful for our freedom, the freedom declared by the Founding Fathers, defended by many generations, and granted to each one of us by Almighty God. Americans know that our country did not come about by chance. Our Nation was first designed as a colony, serving an empire and answering to a king. The Founders had other things in mind. In the summer of 1776, they declared that these colonies "are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States." All Americans can draw a straight line from the free lives we lead today to that one moment when the world changed forever. From that day in 1776, freedom has had a home and a defender. Unlike any other country, America came into the world with a message for mankind that all are created equal and all are meant to be free. There is no American race there's only an American creed. We believe in the dignity and rights of every person. We believe in equal justice, limited government, and the rule of law, personal responsibility and tolerance toward others. This creed of freedom and equality has lifted the lives of millions of Americans, of citizens by birth and citizens by choice. This creed draws our friends to us, sets our enemies against us, and always inspires the best that is in us. In this 226th year of our independence, we have seen that American patriotism is still a living faith. We love our country only more when she is threatened. America is the most diverse Nation on Earth. Yet, in a moment we discovered again that we are a single people we share the same allegiance we live under the same flag and when you strike one American, you strike us all. More than ever in the lifetimes of most Americans, our flag stands for a true united country. We've been united in our grief, and we are united in our resolve to protect our people and defeat the enemies of freedom. At this hour, more than 60,000 American troops are deployed around the world in the war against terror. Many of you have family members serving in the military. Wherever they are stationed, this Nation is depending on them, and you can be proud of them. America's service men and women and our veterans know better than anyone that our love for country is shown in works. That spirit of service is alive and strong in America today. As we fight a war abroad, at home Americans are answering the call of service, giving their time and energy to causes greater than self interest. This Nation is confronting a terrible evil, and we are overcoming evil with good. Today, as much as ever before, America bears the hopes of the world. Yet, from the day of our founding, America's own great hope has never been in ourselves alone. The Founders humbly sought the wisdom and the blessing of Divine Providence. May we always live by that same trust, and may God continue to watch over the United States of America. Thank you for listening. July 05, 2002 I'm honored to send greetings to the leaders of the Vilnius Ten group of nations aspiring to join the NATO Alliance. I want to thank Prime Minister Berzins and President Freiberga for hosting this important event in the great city of Riga. I'm also pleased that Senator Trent Lott and some of his colleagues were able to visit with you today. The U.S. Senate has a critical role to play in ratifying any expansion of NATO, and I appreciate my friend Senator Lott's leadership on these vital issues. Our nations share a common vision of a new Europe, where free European states are united with each other and with the United States through cooperation, partnership, and alliance. We seek a new Europe that has buried its historic tensions and is prepared to meet global challenges beyond Europe's borders. America will continue to work arm in arm with Europe on fulfilling this vision. At the Prague Summit later this year, we can take a major step by enlarging NATO to include all of Europe's democracies that are ready to share in NATO's responsibilities. Since you first met in Vilnius over 2 years ago, your countries have made real progress on the essential reforms necessary for NATO membership. Work continues, as it must, to prepare your nations to make the greatest possible contributions to the new Europe we are building. Today, our nations face another historic challenge to defeat the forces of global terror. The attacks of September the 11th took place in the United States, but their target was freedom, itself. All of Europe and freedom loving nations everywhere are threatened by these forces of chaos and hatred. NATO has risen to the challenge, declaring that an attack on one of its members is an attack on all. And NATO nations have made valuable contributions to the war on terror in Afghanistan and elsewhere. NATO must prepare itself to fight and defeat terror and the other threats to freedom that we face together. And new members will help improve NATO's capabilities. The Prague Summit will mark the beginning of a new era in Europe and in trans Atlantic relations, defined by greater security and greater prosperity and greater freedom. We will see the great alliance of liberty grow and prepare to fulfill its old mission in a new era. And I am determined to succeed and determined that our children will record this year as a momentous turning point in their history. I wish you success at your meeting. I have met most of you, and I look forward to seeing my good friend Aleksander in a few weeks here in Washington. We have a great opportunity ahead of us. The hopes and prayers of the American people are with you. Thank you all very much. July 04, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much. Thank you. Well, thank you, Shelley, and thanks for that warm welcome. I'm really proud to be in Jackson County, West Virginia. Today we mark the 226th birthday of the United States of America. Last year I spent my first Independence Day as your President in Philadelphia. This year I get to spend it in Ripley, West Virginia. Shelley told me about the Fourth of July celebration. She said I needed to come and meet the town. It looks like most of you showed up. Laughter I appreciate your hospitality. I appreciate all the hard work that went into making this Fourth of July celebration such a fantastic gathering of our fellow Americans. And thanks for having me. I want to thank Shelley Moore Capito for her friendship and her leadership in the Halls of Congress. I appreciate so very much one of my Cabinet officers, Tony Principi, who is the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs, for not only serving the country and serving in Vietnam but also agreeing to come today to Ripley to represent the veterans from all across our country. Thank you for being here, Tony. I want to thank your Governor, Governor Wise, for joining us today. I appreciate you being here, Bob. And I appreciate Senator Jay Rockefeller coming as well. Thank you both for coming. I had the honor of meeting the mayor of Ripley, Mayor Guthrie. Thank you for being here, Mr. Mayor. I appreciate your hospitality, and tell all the folks who work in the city here, I'd like to stay around for the cleanup, but laughter . Audience member. We'll let you. The President. I'm sure you would let me, but laughter . I also appreciate Mayor Ritchie of Ravenswood for coming over to say hello as well. Thank you, Mayor. I know the attorney general of West Virginia is here, General McGraw. I appreciate the secretary of state for West Virginia for being here. I want to thank all the members of the legislature. But most of all, I want to thank my fellow citizens. Today I had the honor and privilege of saying hello to two West Virginia citizens who are family members of some of West Virginia's finest. Earlier this year, U.S. Special Forces Sergeant Gene Vance, Jr., and Anissa Ann Shero lost their lives in defense of our freedom. And I had the privilege of kissing Gene's wife, to express our sympathies and our love and our prayer. And I had the privilege of doing the same with Anissa's dad. And I would like you all to join me in welcoming them to this celebration today. Thanks for coming. The anniversary of America's independence is a day for gratitude and a day for celebration. On the Fourth of July, we count our blessings, and there are so many to count. We're thankful for the families we love. We're thankful for the opportunities in America. We're thankful for our freedom, the freedom declared by our Founding Fathers, defended by many generations, and granted to each one of us by Almighty God. Americans know that our country did not come about by chance. Our Nation was first designed as a colony, serving an empire and answering to a king. The Founders had other things in mind. In the summer of 1776, they declared that these colonies "are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States." With a great army massed against the Americans, these were not idle words. "Stepping forward to sign the Declaration," said Dr. Benjamin Rush, "was like signing your own death warrant." Yet he and 55 others put their name on the document, pledging to the cause their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. And all Americans can draw a straight line from the free lives we lead today to that one moment when the world changed forever. From that day in 1776, freedom has had a home, and freedom has had a defender. Unlike any other country, America came into the world with a message for mankind, that all are created equal, and all are meant to be free. There is no America race. There's only an American creed We believe in the dignity and rights of every person we believe in equal justice, limited government, and in the rule of law we believe in personal responsibility and tolerance toward others. This creed of freedom and equality has lifted the lives of millions of Americans, of citizens by birth and citizens by choice. This creed draws our friends to us. It sets our enemies against us and always inspires the best that is within us. In this 226th year of our independence, we have seen that American patriotism is still a living faith. We love our country only more when she's threatened. An Air Force pilot spoke for everyone when he was asked if anyone on his base had a personal connection to the victims of September the 11th. He said, "I think we all do. They were all Americans." Watching the events of that day, no American felt this was an attack on others. It was an attack on all of us on each and every one of us. Every ethnic background is known and respected here in America. Every religious belief is practiced and protected here. Yet, in a moment we discovered again that we're a single people. We share the same allegiance. We live under the same flag. When you strike one America when you strike one American, you strike us all. In the moments after September the 11th, Americans turned instinctively to the flag we share. The flag was lowered to half staff in days of mourning, raised in respect over Ground Zero, hung in defiance from the wall of the Pentagon, carried with special pride at the Olympic Games, carefully folded at military gravesides and given to families. The American people, when we pledge our allegiance to the flag, feel renewed respect and love for all it represents. And no authority of Government can ever prevent an American from pledging allegiance to this "one Nation under God." More than ever in the lifetimes of most Americans, the flag stands for a truly unified country. We've been united in our grief, and we are united in our resolve to protect our people and to defeat the enemies of the United States of America. Sixty years ago, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, General George C. Marshall declared that "before the Sun sets on this terrible struggle, our flag will be recognized throughout the world as a symbol of freedom, on the one hand, and of overwhelming power on the other." This is our purpose again today. Once again, history has called America to use our overwhelming power in the defense of freedom, and we'll do just that. In Afghanistan we defeated the Taliban regime, but that was just the first step. The liberation of that country was the beginning of the long and unrelenting struggle we have entered. America is a patient and determined country. We're working with our allies. We'll use every tool of diplomacy and law enforcement. We're organizing to protect the homeland against further attack, and we will take the battle to the enemy, wherever he hides and wherever he plans and wherever he dwells. The greatest asset we have in this conflict is the military of the United States of America. At this hour, more than 60,000 American troops are deployed around the world in the war against terror. Many of you here today have family members serving in the military. Wherever they are stationed, this Nation is depending on them, and you just need to be proud of them. Thousands of our men and women in uniform were born in other countries and now spend each day in honorable service to their adopted land. Many of them are still waiting for the chance to become American citizens because of the waiting period for citizenship. These men and women love our country. They show it in their daily devotion to duty. Out of respect for their brave service in this time of war, I have signed an Executive order allowing them an immediate opportunity to petition for citizenship in the United States of America. America has always depended on the courage and character of our people in the military. We're honored today by the presence of some of West Virginia's most distinguished citizens, veterans of American Armed Forces. These men and women served in different places, at different times, but all were ready when their country needed them, ready to sacrifice, to fight, and if necessary, to die for the sake of others. That's the highest form of citizenship. Whether the veterans here served in peacetime or in the worst battles, you have the Nation's gratitude and the respect of your fellow Americans. On this Fourth of July, it is my privilege to thank you for your service to your country. Veterans know better than anyone that love for country is shown in works. A spirit of service is alive and strong in America today. Our response to tragedy and sudden national challenges has revealed the courage, and it has revealed the kindness of the American people. As we fight a war abroad, here at home Americans are answering the call of service, giving their time and energy to causes greater than self interest. This Nation is confronting a terrible evil, and we are overcoming evil with good. There is much in modern America that the founding generation might not understand. Yet, they would recognize the Stars and Stripes, and they would know qualities of character that still define our country. They would take great pride, as I do, in the decent, responsible, caring citizens who are the true strength of our country. I am certain as well that, if they could survey this country of ours, they would join us all in giving thanks for all that we have. A year after independence was declared, the Second Continental Congress set the design of our Nation's flag. The stars on blue were to represent a new constellation, the different world our young Nation had begun to create. Today, as much as ever before, America bears the hope of the world. Yet, from the day of our founding, America's own great hope has never been in ourselves alone. The Founders humbly sought the wisdom and the blessing of Divine Providence. May we always live by that same trust, and may God continue to watch over the United States of America. God bless, and God bless America. July 01, 2002 Thank you very much for that warm welcome. I'm feeling great, by the way. Laughter And I'm glad I'm here. And thank you all for coming. We've just come from a discussion of community leaders all involved with trying to make Cleveland a compassionate, decent place for every citizen. Some were Democrats some were Republicans all of them Americans, all of them Americans who understand that out of the evil done to America can come some incredible good, that by loving a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself, you can do some good in our country. You can fight evil by being a decent, honorable, compassionate citizen. And that's what I want to talk about today. I want to talk about the soul of America. First, I appreciate my traveling party and the folks who showed up here today. I want to thank Rod Paige for being the Secretary of Education. I like to remind people that when I was came time to pick a Secretary of Education, that I wanted somebody who had actually been on the frontlines of education. I didn't need a theorist. I needed somebody who was a practical person, somebody and I knew Rod when I was the Governor of Texas and he was the superintendent of our State's largest school district, Houston Independent School District. And our test scores soared when he was leading that district. And so I fortunately, he came to Washington, DC. He's made a huge sacrifice to be there, and he's doing a fine job. And I want to appreciate Rod, and I appreciate his leadership. I appreciate his being a straightforward fellow. It's easy to understand where he's coming from. He's coming from this perspective Every child must be educated in America every child. I also brought another man along with me, Alphonso Jackson, who is the Deputy Secretary of HUD. Alphonso's job is to make sure we work tirelessly to promote homeownership in America. And I appreciate Alphonso coming. I'm going to talk a little bit about that later on. Of course, I appreciate so very much the elected officials who have joined. My friend the Governor of the great State of Ohio, Bob Taft, is with us. Your senior Senator, a fine friend and a good man, George Voinovich, is with us. I think you're are you the senior Senator? He's the junior he's the oldest junior Senator. Laughter He's a junior Senator who happens to be a senior citizen, he said. Laughter But a young he thinks young. He's a great man. I appreciate members of the congressional delegation, both Republicans and Democrats alike Ralph Regula, Steve LaTourette, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, and Dennis Kucinich. I appreciate you all coming. Thanks for being here. I appreciate you're here. I appreciate the attorney general, Betty Montgomery, from the great State of Ohio. I'm honored that the mayor of the great city of Cleveland would come Mayor Campbell, thank you for being here. I'm honored you're here appreciate you. I had the honor of listening to a elected a local elected official, Ms. Fannie Lewis, who had some things to say. Thank you, Fannie, for coming. Today, as I landed at the airport, I had the honor of meeting a gentleman named Eugene Brudno, and Eugene is a Cleveland resident who has spent a lot of time of volunteering in the community. The reason I mention Eugene is, one of the true strengths of this country is the fact that we've got so many citizens who have heard the call to help somebody in need, and they don't need a Government telling them to do it. They just do it because they love their community. And Gene has been loving his community for a long time. Gene, would you stand up and please wave? Thank you for coming. I want to thank Alex Machaskee for having sponsored the discussion we had today. I want to thank the United Way leadership for being here. I want to thank you all for coming. I am honored that you're here. I've got some things to say it's really how great America I mean, what a fabulous country we have. We are lucky to be Americans. And as Americans, we have responsibilities. We have responsibilities. If you live in this country and you want to be a patriotic soul, you have a responsibility. And I think one of those most important responsibilities is to help a neighbor in need. I do. And I've got a responsibility, too. Perhaps my biggest responsibility is to keep our homeland secure. I want to give you a brief update about our attempts to keep the homeland secure. At home, we're doing everything we can do. I want to thank all those on the frontline, the first time the first responders, the police and fire and EMS teams, for being prepared and ready and working long hours. In Washington, DC, we've got a lot of good folks who are spending a lot of time chasing down any hint or any lead, any idea that somebody might have to hurt us. We're on it. And you just need to know, we are actively focusing our attention and efforts to keep the homeland secure. We're fighting an enemy that hates what we stand for. They don't value human life. The death of innocent people doesn't bother them in the least. They've hijacked a great religion. They kill in the name of the religion when, in fact, they're nothing but a bunch of coldblooded fanatics and killers. I've asked the Congress to take all the agencies involved with the homeland defense there's about 100 of them scattered all over Washington, DC. You can imagine what that is like, trying to hold somebody accountable. I said, "We should put it all under one umbrella called the Cabinet officer, and give us a chance to align authority and responsibility. Give us a chance to change the culture of these agencies. Give us a chance to say, protecting the homeland is now the single most important priority of the Federal Government." And I appreciate the response from both Republicans and Democrats alike to the initiative I laid out. It's tough for some. I recognize that. I mean, there's some turf in Washington. Laughter And people like to protect the turf. But by far most Members understand that it's more important to protect the American people than the turf. So we're making progress at home. But the surest way to protect the homeland is to hunt the killers down one by one and bring them to justice. And that's what we're going to do. And we're making progress. This isn't a the type of war we're all used to. It's not the kind of war where there's tanks moving across, you know, some plain, and everybody gets to see the progress of the tanks. This isn't the kind of war where planes are in formation. This is a war that we fight against these shadowy terrorists that hide in caves or hide in big cities and send young souls to their death through suicide. That's the kind of people we're after. But we've hauled in over 2,400 people so far. I say "we " I'm talking about not only the United States but a vast coalition of freedom loving countries. And so we're after them one by one. I guess the best way to describe the strategy is to treat them for what they are, international criminals get them on the run and when we find them, bring them in and get them. And that's what this mighty country is going to do, because, you see, we love our freedom. We stand for freedom. We love freedom of religion. We love freedom of the press. We love to speak freely. We love politics. We love what we're doing in this country. And anybody who threatens our freedoms will face the ire of the mighty United States of America. And we're in this deal for the long haul. There is not a calendar on my desk that says, by such and such a date, we quit. That's not how I think, and I don't believe that's how the American people think either. The American people understand that we need to be patient and resolved and determined to do what is right. History has called us into action. And for the sake of our young, for the sake of our children and our grandchildren, we must be strong enough and resolved enough to defend freedom to the core, to not waver or tire in the face of an enemy that hopes that we relinquish our love for freedom and the values we hold dear in America. You know, I can't imagine what was going through their mind when they attacked us. They must have thought America was so materialistic and so selfish and so self absorbed that we might just file a lawsuit or two. Laughter They learned differently. They learned that we love our country and love our freedoms. But I want the youngsters here to understand, this great country doesn't seek revenge we seek justice. And this great country, when we go somewhere, we don't go as conquerors we go as liberators. I want our country to keep in mind what happened in Afghanistan. Afghanistan was a country that had been hijacked by these Al Qaida killers, with a complacent government. We said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're just like the terrorist. We're going to treat you just like the terrorist." And we upheld that doctrine by removing the Taliban, but more importantly, we liberated people. For the first time, young girls go to school in Afghanistan, thanks to the United States and our coalition. And that's and that's going to be our posture for a long time coming, too. We believe in freedom for all. We believe in the value of individual life. We're a compassionate, strong nation a nation that through our determination will bring peace. Oh, I know that in the midst of this war, there is a lot of warlike talk, and I'm as guilty as I'm guilty. Laughter I talk that way. But I want you to know, I love peace. I want the world to be at peace. I believe out of the evil done to America can come some good. And one of the goods is going to be a peaceful world, peace in places where we haven't seen peace in a long time and peace at home for our children and our grandchildren. I long I long for a peaceful world for every citizen on the face of the globe. And I believe that the United States can lead to peace if we're strong and resolved and unified. And I also believe that as we make the world more peaceful and America more secure, we can make America a better place, a better place for all of us, not a better place for some, not a better place for a few, but a better place for all. I think that means that our Government, Federal Government, must be active to promote self government and self reliance and independence. It means that we must encourage individuals and communities and families to take more responsibility for themselves and their neighbors and our Nation. Our aim isn't to make Government bigger by spending more money. Our aim isn't to focus on finance, large or small. Our aim must be to mean that when we spend money, we spend it on what works to create a better society. I call this compassionate conservatism. It is conservative to trust the local folks to chart the path to excellence in education. It's conservative to liberate parents. It's conservative to pass power out of Washington, DC, when it comes to public schools. It is compassionate to make sure not one child gets left behind in America. It is conservative to promote private property and ownership of homes. It is compassionate to understand there is an ownership gap in America, and we must use our resources to close that ownership gap by encouraging minority ownership of homes in America. It's conservative to reform welfare and reduce dependence on Government. It is compassionate to encourage work and family and values of personal responsibility. It is conservative to understand Government can hand out money, but it cannot put hope in people's hearts. And therefore, we should promote the good works of faith based and community based programs. It is compassionate to understand, in the land of plenty, there are pockets of despair and hopelessness. There are people who, when you say "the American Dream," say, "I don't know what that means." And it's compassionate to understand all of us, no matter what your political party is, must do something about it. We must work to make the American Dream reach into every single neighborhood all across America. I believe that starts with making sure everybody gets a good education. Rod talked about the No Child Left Behind legislation. Let me tell you what I think the bill says. I believe it says that our society must believe every child can learn, and that means we've set high standards. If you set low standards, guess what's going to happen? If you have low expectations, you know what's going to happen? We'll just give up on kids see? It's so much harder to, by the way, educate inner city some inner city children. It's easy to walk into a classroom full of inner city African Americans, for example, and say, "You can't learn. We'll move you through." Or how about classrooms full of children whose parents don't speak English as a first language? It's easy to quit on those kids. "Heck, it's hard to educate a child whose parents don't speak English. Why don't we just shuffle them through the system?" That means you have low hopes, low standards, low expectations. We start with a different premise Every child can learn, regardless of their circumstances. And we expect every single child to learn in America. We said, "Yes, there's a role for funding," and we increased funding for Title I programs here in Cleveland by 23 percent. And that's good, and that's important. We want to help the disadvantaged through funding. But Washington shouldn't be telling Cleveland how to run its school system. See, that's up to you all to figure out how to run your school system. But we've instituted a new reform, and it's an important reform. It says, if you do receive the money, if you decide to take Federal money, show us whether or not the children are learning, see. Show us whether or not expectations are being met. I've heard it all "We can't test." "We test too much. We test too much." "We shouldn't test children whether they can read." "See, all you do is teach the test." Listen, if you can teach a child to read, they can pass a test. You teach them to read don't worry about the tests. We need to know in America whether or not our children can read and write and add and subtract. That's what an accountability system is for. Not only do we need to know, but more importantly, the parents need to know whether or not the children can read and write and add and subtract. And if we find they can't, something else has to happen. We cannot allow our children to be trapped in schools that won't teach and won't change. Starting this September, as many as 3.5 million students across America who attend failing schools will have different options, of transferring to another public school. It's part of being an accountable society. It's part of strengthening public education. Listen, I think public education is one of the most important parts of democracy. In order to make sure the American Dream reaches every neighborhood, we've got to have good public schools all across America. We must. So we've got to strengthen the public education system by encouraging different opportunities if there's failure. Low income students, as a result of the new bill, in chronically failing schools will now have access to after school tutoring. The money follows the child, and the parent can decide who provides the after school tutoring. There is not a single avenue to success. In order to achieve educational excellence for every child, there's got to be a multiplicity of approaches. That's why I believe so strongly in local control of schools. The people of Cleveland and the State of Ohio decided that one of the approaches they wanted to take was to encourage a voucher system to be implemented. That was a local decision, and the Supreme Court of the United States gave a great victory to parents and students throughout the Nation by upholding the decisions made by local folks here in the city of Cleveland, Ohio. It is a constructive approach to improving public education. We're interested in aiming toward excellence for every child. And the voucher system is a part of the strategy to achieve that here in Cleveland. One of my jobs is to make sure that we continue to insist upon reform, to take this court decision and encourage others to make the same decision at the local level. One way to do so is through tax credits, which is now in my budget. I urge Congress, when we debate how to improve public education, to pass the tax credit so parents will have more flexibility and more choices when it comes to the education of their children, particularly K through 12. I also the Supreme Court in 1954 declared that our Nation cannot have two education systems. And that was the right decision can't have two systems, one for African Americans and one for Whites. Last week, what's notable and important is that the Court declared that our Nation will not accept one education system for those who can afford to send their children to a school of their choice and for those who can't. And that's just as historic. I think by continuing to focus on high standards and results and local control of schools, we can all work together to make sure no child is left behind. And by the way, I had the honor of meeting Roberta Kitchen today. She should be giving the speech, not me. Where's Roberta? Hi, Roberta. Roberta is a mom of five children, and her passion is a passion which is shared by moms all across America. Her passion is pretty simple "I want my children to go to a safe school where he or she can realize their full potential." Roberta, thank you for your love for your children. I appreciate you. We also have got to do a better job of bringing the American Dream to all Americans by encouraging homeownership. There is a we've got a homeownership gap in America. Let's face it. Over 75 percent of White Americans own their home, and less than 50 percent of Hispanos and African Americans don't own their home. And that's a gap. That's a homeownership gap, and we've got to do something about it. One of the barriers to homeownership is the cost of downpayment. And I'm working with Congress right now to have a downpayment assistance program to help the homeowner be able to afford the down payment. I also believe that a barrier to entry is education. There's a lot of folks who, when they look at the fine print in the contract, don't quite understand what it means. Not only do we need to simplify the contracts, we've got to make sure that there's an outreach program to educate first time home buyers on what it means to own a home and how you do it, not to get nervous about the fine print, but to realize what's in the fine print so that the people can make good decisions. We've got money in the budget to do that. We want to work with the faithbased community to encourage the education of people to understand what it means to own a home. I'm also working with the private sector to make sure they do their part. It's in the national realtors' interests, or the national homebuilders' interests that we encourage minority ownership of homes. We're trying to increase the demand for homes. One way to do that is to work with Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to encourage capital, so that there's more money in the private sector for first time homebuyers. We need billions of more dollars available for those who want to realize the dream. They have made the commitment to do so. And finally, we need legislation, tax credit legislation that will increase the supply of homes, affordable homes all across the country, affordable homes in inner city Cleveland, where people are able to find a home and realize their dreams. The goal for this country is that by 2010 we have 5.5 million new minority homeowners. And when that happens you watch what happens when these neighborhoods will become revitalized. It'll help the public school systems it'll create such a sense of hope. This is a noble goal and one that I fervently believe we can achieve and must achieve to make America a better place. We've got work to do. The Senate has got work to do, in passing a reauthorization of the welfare reform bill. One of the great success stories in recent past has been to reform welfare so as we reduce dependency upon Government. And that's important. See, we believe in the worth of each individual and believe if we help people, they can realize their full potential. And it starts with finding work. It starts with a job. If somebody works, they're more likely to be able to realize dreams, to realize their God given potential. And so we've got to continue to employ the resources and the vision to helping people find work. I believe work ought to be an incredibly important part, ought to be the standard by which welfare reform has been judged. And our society must work with local folks to implement strategies that will help people find work. Listen, the Government is willing to pay for re education. The Government is willing to pay for job training. But we need people at the local people, just right like you do out here in Cleveland, to take the hand of somebody in need and say, "How can we help you? How can we help you realize the independence of finding and the dignity, by the way of finding work?" I want to thank the employers in Cleveland for showing responsibility by helping on the welfare to work initiative. And I want to thank the faith based programs for taking the resources available and to help people find work. We've got to continue we've got to continue to promote work as part of a independent independent to encourage independence. And at the same time we do so, we've got to teach people the values of marriage and family. And speaking about responsible society, one of the key things we've got to do here in America is make sure that all of us are responsible for the decisions we make, especially in this day and age, the CEOs of corporate America. We need to make sure that when the people put out their balance sheets, when people put out the facts and figures, there's no question about their veracity. There's no question that they're true numbers. You see, in order to keep the job base increasing in America, there must be trust. And some have violated the trust. They haven't assumed their responsibility. I expect there to be responsibility at all levels in our society. And I intend to fully enforce the law when people cheat on the balance sheets of corporate America. We laid out an initiative in March to provide better information to investors, to make corporate officers accountable and responsible, to make sure that there's an independent auditing system, make sure this business about conflict of interest is eradicated. We need to rebuild the confidence in our job creating system. Now, you need to know that by far the vast majority by far of corporate America are above board and doing their jobs just the way you'd expect them to do, that they treat their investors, their shareholders, and employees the way you'd want them to. And that's important for America to know. It's also important to know we're going after those who aren't and hold them accountable. Our economy, the foundation of our economy is strong. We've got good fiscal policy, good monetary policy. We just now got to get this get trust built back in the country's leadership, which we will. We will. And one way to do it is to bring some of these folks to justice who have violated their trust. And we'll do that too. I also want you to know that my philosophy really does trust the American people. I trust people when it comes to the parents when it comes to educating their children. I trust people when it comes to making right decisions about whether to own a home. I trust people when it comes to helping find work. The strength of this country is really not in our halls of Government it's in the hearts and souls of the American people. That's really why America is so strong a nation as we are today. I also believe that in the power of faith in people's lives, and that when we find people who have lost hope, maybe as a result of addiction or despair, that one way to help change America is to encourage those who have heard the call to love a neighbor to go love their fellow citizen. See, I've got great faith in America because I know our society can change one heart, one person at a time. And I know there are millions of soldiers in the armies of compassion who are willing to do just that. The Faith Based Initiative that you've probably read about means this Our Government should not fear programs which exist because of a church or a synagogue or a mosque has decided to start one we should not discriminate against programs based upon faith in America we should enable them to access Federal money, because faith based programs can change peoples lives, and America will be better off for it. I urge the Congress to get the bill on my desk that does two things One, allows for faith based programs to compete for taxpayers' money to help change people's lives and secondly, allows nonitemizers to receive a deduction on their income taxes when they give money to a charity. We need to do everything we can to encourage the strength of America, to help change America for the better. Now, out of the evil done to America is going to come some incredible good here. I believe it. I believe that our citizens, many citizens are now hearing the call that a true patriot is somebody who serves something greater than themselves. A true patriot is somebody who asks a neighbor in need, "What can I do to help?" A patriot is somebody who understands that life is more that life is complete when you make a sacrifice for somebody else. That certainly came home to a lot of Americans when Flight 93 was driven into the ground by citizens normal, everyday citizens who realized the plane they were on would be a weapon. And I want to remind you of what happened on that flight. They told their loved ones goodbye. They said a prayer, and they made the ultimate sacrifice for somebody else. That's the American spirit, as far as I'm concerned, the notion that in order applause . And it is that spirit which is exhibited every day in our country when people say, "I think I want to mentor a child," and do so, and when people help an elderly shut in, when people deliver food. It's the millions of acts of kindness and decency which define America, which show the true face of this great country and I mean a great country. It's a great honor to be the President of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming today, and God bless. June 28, 2002 I hate to disagree with our distinguished honoree, but the reason people are here, Connie, is because they love you, they trust you, and like me, want you reelected to the United States Congress. I appreciate so very much the Morella boys for being here. That, of course, is Tony, the husband, Mark, the son, and Michael, the grandson, who led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. It's good to be here with the Morellas. It's clear that they love each other. They value their family. They understand that in family you can find strength of purpose and love and compassion and comfort. And I want to thank the Morella men for allowing Connie to serve our Nation and encouraging her to serve our Nation. She makes an important contribution, and therefore, you do as well. I regret that my wife wasn't here today. But I want you to know she's doing fine. I can't tell you how proud I am of the First Lady. She really wasn't interested in politics when I asked her to marry me and frankly didn't care for politicians, if the truth be known. Laughter But now the people of the country are figuring out why I asked her to marry me. She's calm and steady and a gracious lady. A lot of people wonder why she said yes. Laughter But we're doing great. Many of you have said some of you have said you pray for me and my family. It is the greatest gift you can give a President and his family, and for that, I'm grateful. I appreciate Governor Ehrlich being here today as well laughter I meant Congressman Ehrlich. I thank Congressman Gilchrest, Wayne Gilchrest. There you are, Wayne. Thanks for coming. I appreciate you being here. So here's what I like about Connie She speaks clearly. After all, she was an English professor. Laughter A lot of people think I probably need to spend a little quality time with her. Laughter But she's an independent soul. She's a highly intellectual person who is with you if she thinks you're right and is gracious enough to explain to you when she thinks she's wrong when you're wrong. And I respect that a lot. And I hope the people of this district respect that about Connie. She's an incredibly thoughtful soul, with a big heart, who cares deeply for the constituents she represents and loves her country too. You know, I like to tell people, when you find somebody who's good and decent and honorable, you have a civic duty to make sure that that person remains in the Halls of Congress. I appreciate so very much her focus on homeland defense, and so should you. I mean, the defense of our homeland is an incredibly important part of the national life these days. And after all, Connie represents the National Institutes of Health and does it well, I might add. She understands the important role that the National Institutes of Health can play in fighting off bioterrorism, preparing response for our Nation. She's an advocate of doing what is right in the budget for the National Institutes of Health. For no other reason, people ought to send her back, because she's got a clear vision of the importance of research for our country. But as well she worked hard right after September the 11th to secure emergency funding for the Montgomery County's local police forces and emergency response teams, those who worked so hard to help rescue and repair lives in the wake of that tragedy. As you know, I've asked the Congress to think boldly about how best to protect the homeland. I mean, after all, we've got 100 different agencies involved with homeland defense. They're scattered all over Washington. And it seems like to me that we ought to align authority and responsibility under one Cabinet office, so that we can affect the culture of the agencies that protect the homeland as well as make sure that we can affect the results. And fortunately, Connie understands that. And she is on the House Science and Government Reform Committees, two important committees that will be dealing with this important initiative. I have been pleased with the response so far out of Congress. Both Republicans and Democrats alike understand that defending the homeland is not a partisan issue. It has nothing to do with political parties. It has everything to do with doing what's right for the American people. And the good news is, Connie understands that for the good of the country, some are going to have to give up what they call turf. You know, some people are going to have to say, "Well, this I no longer can have oversight on this jurisdiction." And that's going to be hard. And it's going to be difficult for some Members of the Senate and the House, and I understand that. But fortunately, we've got allies who understand the Nation comes first, and that leaving behind a legacy that will make it easier for future administrations and future Congress to deal with the true threats that face this country is more important than turf. And I want to appreciate Connie Morella's leadership on this issue. I appreciate so very much her strong commitment to Medicare and seniors who rely upon Medicare and the need for us to have prescription drugs in Medicare. As well I appreciate her strong commitment to making sure that we fulfill the promise of Social Security. As well I love her passion for education. We worked closely on an education bill that I'm convinced will make a significant difference in the lives of thousands of our fellow citizens. I mean, this was a good piece of legislation. After all, it had to be pretty good, since Senator Edward Kennedy and I traveled around the country signing the bill. Laughter I know people in the Crawford coffee shop are wondering, "What the heck's he doing? That guy gets up there and must've drank the water or something." Laughter But nevertheless, it's a good piece of legislation, and Connie poured her heart and soul into making sure it's good. Let me explain it right quick. It says we ought to have high standards for every child in America, not just a few children, not just children from one demographic group but every child. We ought to believe in our heart that every child can learn. She understands and I understand that if you set low standards, you're going to get lousy results. If you believe certain children can't learn, guess what's going to happen? Certain children won't learn. And so we started kind of trying to change the mentality of public education by insisting on the fact that every child can learn. And then we said something unique. We said, "If you receive Federal money, you've got to measure to see whether or not the children are learning." See, if you've got high standards and high expectations, you want to know. If you've got low standards and low expectations, you don't care. But if you've got high standards, you want to know. And so for the first time, the Federal Government says, "The State of Maryland, you get to measure to show us whether or not children are reading and writing and adding and subtracting." And you see, if they are, then we'll praise the teachers and praise the plans and herald the curriculum that's working. But if not, we expect something else to happen. We expect there to be a change. We expect for people to say, "Wait a minute. This is unsatisfactory to allow certain children to learn and other children not to learn." You see, the idea of measuring and holding people accountable is to save lives it's to enforce this belief that every child can learn it's to make sure we have the highest of high standards. And finally, in the bill, we say we trust the people of Maryland to chart the path to excellence. We understand that trying to run the public schools out of Washington isn't going to work. We believe in local control of schools. And I appreciate Connie's commitment to education reform. And finally, she has been a champion of the strong economy. We need to make sure that above all else here domestically, people can find work. You know, this is a town where people love to talk about statistics. Here's my attitude about the workforce If somebody's looking for work who wants to work and can't find work, we've got a problem. We've got to continue to work to expand the job base. I appreciate the Members of Congress here who supported the tax relief plan last year. It made sense to let people keep their own money, because when people keep their own money, they get to spend their own money. And we'll continue to work to open up markets for products manufactured right here in Connie's district, so that we can sell overseas. You see, fearful people build walls around America. Confident people open tear them down and open up markets. And I'm confident that the entrepreneurs in the State of Maryland and all across the country can compete if given a level playing field. And Connie understands that, and I want to I appreciate her support for trade measures that the Congress has been working on. I'm a little concerned about I'm not concerned about the fundamentals of our economy. I think they're very strong. I think we've got the right fiscal policy in place, the right monetary policy seems like it's good. People are concerned, however, about whether or not the balance sheets of corporate America are open, whether or not the numbers are real. Let me tell you how strongly I feel about this I believe if somebody is running a corporation, if somebody has got responsibilities to shareholders and employees, they have the responsibility to be aboveboard at all times, to be frank and honest with all numbers. We can have all kinds of rules, and we will. I laid out some initiatives in March of this year that will hold people accountable. And our Justice Department will hold people accountable. But corporate America has got to understand there's a higher calling than trying to fudge the numbers trying to slip a billion here or a billion there and may hope nobody notices that you have a responsibility in this country to always be aboveboard. We expect high standards in our schools we expect high standards in corporate America as well. And I intend to enforce the law to make sure that there are high standards. It is important for our fellow citizens to understand that the foundation for economic growth is strong in America that our free enterprise system is strong, vibrant that there's a lot of entrepreneurship that takes place across the country. And it's important for our fellow citizens to understand that, by far, the vast majority of our leaders in the business community are honest and upright people. That's important for them to hear. Just as important for them to hear, when we catch people doing wrong, there will be consequences for those who have done wrong. So I feel good about our work on the economy. But we won't tire until we kind of boost the confidence of the country and, at the same time, work to continue to expand the job base so people can find work. And Connie Morella has been an advocate for this kind of approach, and I appreciate her leadership in the Congress. One issue that affects our economy besides the competence and corporate profits, which are improving, is also the American people and the investors are worried about another attack on America. And as you know, we're doing everything we can here at home to button up the homeland. Connie Morella's a huge supporter of the Federal workers, those who work hard to help America. And I've got to tell you, people are working overtime on behalf of our citizens. I'm proud of the effort people put in. Listen, we're running down every hint. If we get any kind of hint that somebody's thinking about doing something to this country, we're on it "we" being hard working Federal employees like the FBI. People analyze data there's a lot of people in this town who spend a lot of time on the now the number one mission of the country, which is to protect our homeland. And I'm proud of their efforts. But the surest way to protect the homeland, the best way to make sure that America is safe and secure, is to hunt the killers down one by one and bring them to justice, which is precisely what we're going to do. And we're after them we're after them. Sometimes you might not know it. After all, this is a different kind of war. This war doesn't have the old troop movements of the past, where you could watch lines of infantry march here or squadrons of airplanes fly there. We're facing a shadowy bunch of killers, and that's all they are, coldblooded killers who hide in caves and send youngsters to their death, who meld into big cities, you know, hide in the buildings hoping nobody knows they're there. And so it takes a while to achieve the battlefield victories, because we've got to change our mindset about what it means to achieve a battlefield victory. Battlefield victories come one person at a time in this war. So I'm pleased to report, as I did the other day when I spoke to the Nation, that we've got about 2,400 of them so far. These are hardcore killers and their supporters and money raisers, part of their army. And it's not just America it's our friends and allies who are like the courageous leader of the Philippines, Gloria Arroyo, who we believe brought to justice the guy who was running this Abu Sayyaf group who managed to kidnap at least two Americans, the Burnhams. And the husband died, unfortunately, on the rescue attempt. But these people need to be got, and we've got our friends and allies getting them. And that's what we're going to spend our time doing in this administration. We made great progress in Afghanistan, obviously. I mean, we've still got a lot of work there, no question about it, because we want to leave behind a legacy of that's safe and stable and secure. And there's still a lot of people there, kind of in caves and moving around, that eventually we're going to bring to justice. But you've got to tell your sons and daughters that this great Nation went into that country not as conquerors but as liberators. In the midst of all the talk about war, it's important to reassure our youngsters that we don't seek revenge, we seek justice, and that this compassionate Nation want to help people, that we believe in freedom. When people attack our freedoms, we'll respond. I don't know what got into the minds of the enemy. They must have thought we were so self absorbed and materialistic that, after September the 11th, all we might do is file a lawsuit or two. They don't understand the character of this Nation and how much we love freedom. And when it comes to our freedoms, we will spend the time necessary to defend our freedoms. And that's why I've submitted to Congress a significant increase in the defense spending, because I want our troops to have the best pay, the best equipment, the best training possible. And I want to send a message to the world that America is in this fight for freedom for the long pull. And the House of Representatives passed the defense appropriations bill overwhelmingly, and I want to thank both Republicans and Democrats for voting on that bill. And I expect the Senate to get the defense appropriations bill to my desk quickly, for the good of our planning for this war, for the good of understanding what money is going to be available. Instead of playing politics with the defense appropriations bill, they need to do what the House did and get it passed in a bipartisan fashion so I can sign it as quickly as possible. We're making great progress. Like the American people, I'm a patient man. And we're deliberate. I think the American people fully understand the new the nature of this war. I believe history has called us into action. I mean, I believe history has shined the spotlight on this country, and people are wondering, are we going to blink, or are we going to lead? That's what they're wondering. And there's only one course, and that's lead toward freedom. There are some true threats that face us, beyond, obviously, this Al Qaida network, and you've heard me speak about them. I believe, for the sake of our children's future, we've got to deal with and be realistic about these countries which de velop harbor the desire to develop weapons of mass destruction. You see, we cannot let America and our friends and allies become blackmailed by the world's worst leaders who harbor the world's worst weapons. And so for the sake of our future, you just need to know that we'll use every tool at our disposal every tool at our disposal to make sure that our children can grow up in a free world. No, we've been given a chance to show the world what we're made out of, and we are. This is a fantastic nation. And I believe that out of the evil done to America will come some incredible good. It's hard for people to probably realize that, but I believe it. I believe we can achieve peace. I believe that if America is tough and firm and resolved, we can achieve peace. We can achieve peace if we speak clearly, no doubt of where we stand. We can achieve peace in parts of the world where people have no hope for peace, where people might have given up. No, I believe out of the evil done to America can come some incredible good, not only abroad, but I believe here at home too I believe here at home. This country is so compassionate and decent and kind that out of the evil done to us can come some incredible good. We've got to understand in this country, in this land of plenty, there are pockets of despair and hopelessness and addiction. There are people who say, "This American Dream has absolutely nothing to do with me." And that bothers me, and it bothers Connie, too. But you know what I know? I know that our society can change one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. And I know there are thousands and millions of Americans who understand that to fight evil, you can do some good by loving your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. And it doesn't take much. It doesn't take much. It doesn't take much to be tolerant to your neighbor. It doesn't take much to mentor a child or to go into a shut in's house and say, "I love you," to deliver food out of your church or your mosque or your synagogue. It doesn't take much. It takes a commitment to something greater than yourself, is all it takes. It takes a desire to serve your Nation not only as a patriot who is willing to put his hand over his heart on the Pledge of Allegiance but understands that patriotism is serving that person in need. And that's happening in America. You watch. Out of the evil done to America will come some incredible good in this country. And you know why? Because we are the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. And it is my honor to be your President. And it's Connie's honor to be representing Maryland in the United States Congress. Thanks for coming, and God bless you all. June 27, 2002 President Bush. First Q. Okay, President Bush President Bush. Wait a minute, please. I first want to say how pleased I am to meet with Vladimir Putin again. Every time we meet, we have a very constructive dialog, and we have a very important dialog. And I appreciate so very much his leadership and his continued willingness to find new common ground in this most important relationship. Yesterday a court in America made a ruling that I want to comment on. America is a nation that is a nation that values our relationship with an Almighty. Declaration of God in the Pledge of Allegiance doesn't violate rights. As a matter of fact, it's a confirmation of the fact that we received our rights from God, as proclaimed in our Declaration of Independence. I believe that it points up the fact that we need commonsense judges who understand that our rights were derived from God. And those are the kind of judges I intend to put on the bench. Mr. President, do you want to make a comment or just answer questions? At this point, President Putin began his remarks in Russian. President Bush. Do you want to interpret this for the American press? President Putin. I want to say that I'm also very glad to meet with President Bush. And moreover, I'd like to emphasize that the President and I are having very good personal relations, and our colleagues in our capitals also note that interaction between our countries is becoming very efficient, not only from the viewpoint of bilateral relations and solving bilateral issues but also as regards to resolution of major international problems. And there is one subject that is of particular importance and responsibility the U.S. and Russia undertook that is the promotion of international security. And during the time since the signature of our international treaties on stability, international stability between our countries, we have had an opportunity to evaluate these documents and pass them to the parliament for further ratification I mean the treaty between the United States and Russia on cutting strategic offenses. And I'm simply very glad to meet George again and have a chat with him and discuss all the problems that are of concern for both our nations. President Bush. Thank you. Patience, please. Terry Terry Moran, ABC News . WorldCom Corporate Responsibility Q. Mr. President, there are some Democrats who think they can make some political hay out of the WorldCom failure and other business scandals by, first, noting that polls show a lot of Americans think you're too close to big business and, second, arguing that because of that, your reform proposals aren't tough enough. What do you think the political impact of WorldCom will be? Are you concerned about it? President Bush. I'm concerned about the economic impact of the fact that there are some corporate leaders who have not upheld their responsibility. If you are a responsible citizen and you run a corporation in America, you must fully disclose all assets and liabilities, and you must treat your shareholders and employees with respect. President Putin. During the general discussion at the G 8 meeting, the President paid attention to this issue. And for me and my other colleagues, it was very important to listen to the President's opinion, because under the circumstances of the globalized community and world, a lot depends on the state of the U.S. economy these days. And therefore, the willingness of the President of the United States to secure the stock market and market of the securities is very important, as well as the notion of transparency in the U.S. business, and it is a very good signal. President Bush. Do you want to call on a Russian media? Middle East Peace Proposal Q. President Bush, were you astonished by the European reaction towards your proposal in regards to Arafat? President Bush. I'm very pleased with my the response to my proposal in the Middle East. The response has been very positive. And the reason why is, most European leaders understand something has to change in order for there to be peace. And that starts with free elections, a new constitution, transparency, rule of law amongst the Palestinians. And that's the hopeful way to get to where we need to get, which is two states living side by side in peace. The response has been very positive, and for that I'm grateful. Q. And one question to you, Mr. Bush. Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. A question from the American reporters. President Bush. Martha Martha Brant, Newsweek . President's Personal Faith Q. Thank you, sir. In light of the comments you just made about the Pledge of Allegiance, I'm wondering if you could talk about how your personal faith has helped you as President. President Bush. Well, I appreciate you saying that, Martha. You know, yesterday when I went to see the or 2 days ago when I was or yesterday laughter 2 days ago, I went Q. Mr. President President Bush. Please, let me at least finish the answers. I was amongst people whose lives were hurting a lot. And I was trying to figure out how to bring a sense of hope, and I thought that the best thing I could say was that there is a God who loves them. And I believe that's the case, and as a result, I feel comfortable in my life because I have that belief and that understanding. You know, it's interesting there is a universal God, in my opinion, and the first conversation I ever had with Vladimir Putin was about God in Slovenia. It was a way that we we'd never met each other, and the first discussion we had was about our personal beliefs. I appreciate you hear me say that I appreciate the fact that our country prays for me and Laura, and I do I do. I feel the prayers of the people. And so there is a I think that the Almighty is important obviously, important part of my life but very important part of the life of our country. And that's why the ruling of the courts was out of step with the traditions and history of America. Press Secretary Fleischer. Final question from a Russian reporter. Russia U.S. Cooperation Against Terrorism Q. Mr. Bush, the G 8 was supposed to carry out the six points having to do with terrorism. What is the relationship of the United States and Russia vis a vis this battle against terrorism, jointly? I only ask the Russian translation when you're speaking. Thank you. President Bush. It sounds like you speak better English than some of us. Laughter Q. Thank you very much. President Bush. Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press included. Laughter First of all, President Putin has been a stalwart in the fight against terror. He understands the threat of terror, because he has lived through terror. He's seen terror firsthand, and he knows the threat of terrorism. One of the first go ahead, do you want to translate? He understands what I understand, that there won't be peace if terrorists are allowed to kill and take innocent life. And therefore, I view President Putin as an ally, strong ally, in the war against terror. And his actions are more than speak louder than his words. He has been a man of action when it comes to fighting terror, and I appreciate that very much. Thank you all. We've got to have our bilateral. Thank you. At this point, a question was asked in Russian, and no translation was provided. President Putin. What I would like to say that the military of our nations and special services of our countries are built up in a way so that they carry this global nature. And unfortunately, terrorism is of a global nature as well today. And therefore, we have repeatedly mentioned that joint efforts are essential if you want to be a success in this fight. Therefore, we welcome the firm position of the U.S. President in this regard. And therefore, we welcome his courage and consistency with which he persists his policies, in spite of any elements that interfere with that. And we expect that our interaction will make a significant and decisive contribution to the elimination of terrorism worldwide. June 26, 2002 President Bush. I'm going to make a comment the Prime Minister will make one. We'll call in an orderly fashion, answer a couple of questions, if you don't mind. First, I'm it's great to be with my friend the Prime Minister. This is our second bilateral of the day. The first was in the gym. I went down after a run, and there was the Prime Minister working out an impressive regime, I might add. Laughter So we had a good visit there, and we'll have a good visit here. America has got no better friend than the Government of Great Britain. And I really appreciate his advice and friendship. It's good to see him. I am deeply concerned about some of the accounting practices that take place in America. Today the revelations that WorldCom has misaccounted 3.4 billion is outrageous. We will fully investigate and hold people accountable for misleading not only shareholders but employees as well. There is a need for a renewed corporate responsibility in America. Those entrusted with shareholders' money must must strive for the highest of high standards. The good news is, most corporate leaders in America are good, honest, open people who care deeply about shareholders and employees, and our economy is strong. But when we find egregious practices, such as the one revealed today, we'll go after them and need to. Mr. Prime Minister. Prime Minister Blair. Well, Mr. President, first of all, thank you for your kind words. And I thought you looked in pretty good shape yourself this morning. And once again let me pay tribute to your leadership at this time, particularly post September the 11th, but actually on all the range of issues in the world today. Our relationship is strong, partly because you and your colleagues are so easy and open and transparent to deal with it, and I thank you for that. And obviously, we have discussed and will discuss all the key issues that are to do with the summit and the issues to do with the Middle East and so forth. And I'm sure our discussions will be good and fruitful, as they always are. President Bush. Finlay Finlay Lewis, Copley News Service . Middle East Peace Proposal Palestinian Authority Q. Mr. President, in your speech you made it very clear that the current leadership in Palestine is not acceptable. If the outcome of the election in January were to result in the reelection of Yasser Arafat, what would be the policy of your Government? President Bush. I meant what I said, that there needs to be change. If people are interested in peace, something else has got to happen. We're mired in the situation now where there is terror on the one hand and hopelessness on the other, and that's unacceptable. And therefore I laid out a way forward for Palestinians, the Israelis, the Arab world, and all the rest of us worried about it. And it said basically the new institutions there needs to be a new constitution there needs to be elections there needs to be balance of power there needs to be new security forces there needs to be transparency amongst financial institutions. I also made it plenty clear that if their leadership compromised by terror, we won't be on the path to peace. I've got confidence in the Palestinians, when they understand fully what we're saying, that they'll make right decisions as to how we get down the road for peace. The status quo is simply unacceptable, and it should be unacceptable to them. They live in a you know, they've been pawns in the game of peace. They have been they have no hope. Their economy is in shambles. They live in squalor. Their leadership has let them down. Q. Mr. President, who will be the judge, though, in the sufficiency of the reforms that you're calling for? President Bush. The free world, the people that are going to be asked to put up money. Listen, I can assure you we won't be putting money into a society which is not transparent and corrupt, and I suspect other countries won't either. Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority Q. Mr. Prime Minister, can I ask you, do you agree that there's got to be change, and that means an end to Yasser Arafat? And can I ask you also, Mr. President, whether you agree with the Europeans that you're not as serious as Mr. Blair about helping Africa? President Bush. Okay. Prime Minister Blair. First of all, let me just make it clear, as I said to you yesterday, it's for the Palestinians to elect the people that they choose to elect. But if we're going to make progress, we need people that we can negotiate with who are serious about negotiating around the issues of security and political reform necessary for the peace process to work. So this is no question of us going in and saying to the Palestinians, "Look, we're going to run your election." But it is a question of us saying, "If we want this peace process to work, there are certain clear preconditions. One, we've got to have leadership we can negotiate with that is serious about peace and resists and totally rejects terrorism. Two, we've got to have a security infrastructure in Palestine that has integrity. And three, we've got to have political institutions capable of giving rise to the viable Palestinian state that we believe should be the outcome of this process. So if in the end you want, as we want, an Israeli state that is confident about its own security and a viable Palestinian state, those are the preconditions. For Israel to be confident, it's got to have a negotiating partner that is serious about tackling terrorism." Now, that is, I think, the essence of it. So, you know, it's not a question of saying we're going to tell people who they elect or not elect that's for them. But it's for us to say, the consequences of electing people who aren't serious negotiating partners is that we can't move this forward. Q. And that's Arafat you're talking about Prime Minister Blair. Well, you know, as I said to you yesterday, we've had a situation over the past few years and I've tried as hard as anyone. I think I've had 30 different meetings with Chairman Arafat over the past few years. But as I said to you yesterday, you've got a situation where we have not been able to make progress, and there has been an attitude towards terrorism that is inconsistent with the notion of Israel's security. Assistance to Africa President Bush. As to Africa, all of us are doing as much as we possibly can. I don't think this is a competition. I'm proud of the Blair government's efforts for Africa, and I'm proud of my efforts for Africa. After all, I laid out what I call a Millennium Challenge Account in Monterrey, Mexico, that says if countries adopt the habits of democracy and freedom and private property and reform, there will be 5 billion a year available. I laid out a new AIDS initiative that is the first of its kind, that says we're going to provide a lot of money, about half a billion dollars, to moth er to child to affect mother to child transmission of HIV AIDS. We're also significantly involved in the AIDS fund. I laid out another initiative on a 200 million education fund. So I'm plenty pleased with the progress we're making. Stretch David Gregory, NBC News . We call him Stretch. National Economy Corporate Responsibility Q. Glad to have it back. Laughter Mr. President, if Yasser Arafat is compromised by terror and if the Palestinian Authority has trafficked with terrorists, under your doctrine are you prepared for the U.S. to step up its military role in eliminating him and those terror organizations which the administration believes that he props up? And totally unrelated to that, do you believe that there is a crisis in confidence among the American people vis a vis the economy, and particularly the stock market, in view of yet another failure of an American corporation? President Bush. Let me answer the second question first. The market isn't as strong as it should be for three reasons. One, corporate profits There's no question some sectors of our economy are recovering from the slow down. But they'll recover. Secondly, there are still some concerns as to whether or not the United States and our friends and allies will be able to prevent further terrorist attack. In other words, there's some concerns about the capacity of the enemy to hit us again. And I want to assure American investors and our friends that we're doing everything we possibly can the Government is on full alert, attempting to run down every hint and every lead. And thirdly, there are some concerns about the validity of the balance sheets of corporate America, and I can understand why. We've had too many cases of people abusing their responsibilities. And people just need to know that the SEC is on it our Government is on it. After all, Arthur Andersen has been prosecuted. We will pursue, within the full within our laws, those who are irresponsible. Having said that, I do believe the economy is strong, and I know that most people that run businesses in America are aboveboard, honest, care deeply about their employees and their shareholders. First question? Bush Doctrine Q. Under the Bush doctrine, any President Bush. Under the Bush doctrine, I said we'd use all resources, all available resources, to fight off terror. And that includes working with our friends and allies to cut off money, to use diplomatic pressure, to convince to convince those that think they can traffic in terror that they're going to face a mighty coalition. And sometimes we use military force, and sometimes we won't. In the case of the Middle East, obviously, the roadmap I've laid out is one that calls upon all our friends and allies to join and bind together against terror. It calls upon the Arab nations to step up and firmly reject terror. If you remember, in my speech, I said they need to get on their public airways and denounce terror they need to work on Syria and Lebanon to prevent Hezbollah from creating chaos in the Middle East. We all have responsibilities, and in this case the tool I'm using is diplomatic pressure, to work with our friends and allies to convince all parties they have a responsibility to bear. Q. Are you ruling out military action? President Bush. I'm never ruling out military. All options are available. But in this case, at the path I've laid out, is the path that ought to be clear to you by now. It's one that the one that I spoke to clearly. Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. Final question, British reporter. War on Terrorism Q. I'm the only British reporter here. Laughter President Bush. Inaudible British accent? Laughter Q. I speak English. President Bush. I may not understand you. Laughter Q. Can we just ask about the war on terror, because you know, anyone who has come up here knows what a fortress you've got here. What more have you got to agree with your G 8 partners here on President Bush. On the war on terror? Q. On the war on terror. President Bush. I think it's just an up time to give an update. We've got to do everything we can to cut off their money, do everything we can to keep the pressure on countries which might not realize that we're still serious. We've had some great successes. One of the most recent successes, of course, is Gloria Arroyo in the Philippines. She's a part of our vast coalition. She early on said, we need to get after Abu you know, the Abu Sayyaf group. And she did it. And to her credit, it looks like the leader met his demise. And the Philippines are better off for that, and so is the world. And so this is a chance for us to continually remind each other that we our countries are still under threat, but we're making good progress. This is a different kind of war I readily concede that. Sometimes people are going to see success, and sometimes they're not, but we're making success. Prime Minister Blair. And I think the important thing, too, is to emphasize to people that it's a continuing threat, that this threat is not over yet. We have to make sure that in every single battle we carry this fight on, and it will take a long time. But I think if you if we're to look at Afghanistan today and think back 7, 8 months, I think we've come a very, very long way indeed. And I'm optimistic about it, because I think the coalition against terror is as strong today as it was all those months ago. President Bush. Let me just make sure you understand, Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press , what I said. I can tell from the tone of your question that there was a little doubt in your mind some doubt. No leader ever takes options off a table. But the path to peace that I believe is appropriate is the one I talked about in the Rose Garden the other day just to make sure you understand. Q. Diplomacy. President Bush. Absolutely. June 24, 2002 The President. Thank you very much. So here's what I believe. I believe if you find an honest person who works hard on behalf of every citizen in the district in which he represents, a person who does in office what he said he would do, you need to send him back to Washington, DC. I'm here as as strong an advocate as I can be for the reelection of Mike Ferguson to the United States Congress. After all, we share some things in common. We both have got impressive mothers. Laughter We both got degrees from Notre Dame. Laughter Okay, it took me a 30 minute speech to get mine. Laughter We both married great women. I appreciate so very much Maureen. I love her demeanor. It was an honor to meet their children today. And I want you to know, Maureen and Mike, that Laura sends her best. She is not town not in Washington, that is. She's out in Texas with her mother, and she is but boy, she's made me proud. People now know why I asked her to marry me. Laughter A lot of people wonder why she said yes, but laughter . But we're doing great. Listen, many of you said you pray for Laura and me and the family. It is the kindest gift you can give the President, is your prayers, and I want to thank you for that. We had a big event at the Port Authority today, and one of the one of my treasured Cabinet secretaries and friends came with me, and that is your former Governor, Christie Todd Whitman. Barney Barney's the little Scottish Terrier wouldn't have happened without Christie Todd. Laughter And so I thank her for her service, but as importantly, thank her for Barney. Laughter I want to thank some candidates who are here. Doug Forrester, running for the United States Senate, is with us. Scott Garrett, running in the 5th District of New Jersey, thank you, Scott. My friend Buster Soaries, thank you, Buster, for coming. I'm glad you're here. I want to thank Rodney Frelinghuysen for being here. He's a fine Member of the United States Congress. And Rodney, thank you for your leadership. Frank LoBiondo is here as well. Frank, where are you? He heard I was going to give a speech. Laughter I want to thank Lew Eisenberg, my friend here from New Jersey, for being such a great Republican National Committee finance chairman. I want to thank Lew for taking time out of a busy life to serve our party and our country. And I want to thank your chairman, the new father. Joe, I wish you all the very best with your new baby. Thanks for coming. So the enemy hits us, and a lot of people were wondering how people would respond. And Mike and Maureen spend time comforting people. They didn't hold press conferences. They didn't hire some camera crew to follow them around. They did the best they could possibly do about extending love and compassion and decency to people who hurt deeply. That's the kind of Congressman I would like to have. This was not a time for politics in our country. This was a time to be as good an American as you could possibly be. It's a time of great testing. These two folks passed it passed their test with flying colors. And he's passed his test in the United States Congress too. A couple of examples He understands, like I understand, the role of Government is not to create wealth. The role of Government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish, in which the small business can grow to be a big business, in which people are willing to take risk. He understands that when you cut the people's taxes, it's part of creating an environment that encourages job growth. You know, when I was running, I said they asked me, "Would you ever deficit spend?" I said, "Well, only if we had a recession or a national emergency or a war." Laughter And our economy was floundering, and thank goodness I had allies like Mike, who agreed with me that we needed to let people keep more of their own money. See, we here's the textbook we read from. If somebody has more money in their pocket, they're likely to spend it, and when they spend it, they demand a good and or service. And when somebody demands a good or service, somebody is going to produce a good and service. And when somebody is producing a good or a service, somebody is working. In Washington, they talk about statistics all the time. Here's my attitude So long as somebody wants to work and can't find a job, we need to worry about that person. We need to worry less about statistics, and more about the people more about people who are trying to find a job. Tax cuts came at the right time in America, and I'm glad Mike was by my side. And now we need to make them permanent. And I appreciate his commitment to making sure Social Security is strong, not only strong today, and that we fulfill the promise to our seniors today, but strong tomorrow. And as well, you need to know that as an impressive as a sign of the Congress' recognition of Mike's leadership, he's going to be one of the leaders on the floor of the Congress, to make sure that our seniors get prescription drugs in Medicare. That doesn't happen all the time, when you've got a freshman Congressman. You know, as they say down home, it means you've got a good one. Laughter And you need to work hard to put him back in office. And that means more than showing up in ballrooms. That means manning the phones and turning out the vote. Many of you never get enough credit for that kind of work, here in New Jersey or anywhere around the country. I'm here to tell you, I thank you from the bottom of Mike's heart and my heart for your willingness to be grassroots activists for something you believe in. And I believe in this guy, and I know you do as well. And what I love about Mike's background is, he was a teacher. For those of you who have been teachers and or are teachers today, thank you from the bottom of our heart. It's an incredibly important profession, because while homeland security is now the top priority of the country, economic security depends upon making sure every single child I don't mean a few or some every child gets a good education. We passed a great education reform bill. Mike was by my side. He understands it's important to set high standards. It's simple kind of a simple logic, but if you set low standards, guess what you're going to get? You're going to get bad results. We believe every child can learn. Therefore, we've set the highest of high standards. And we believe you ought to measure. You see, if you don't measure, how do you know if somebody is not getting shuffling through get shuffled through the system? And guess who is easy to shuffle through? Children whose parents don't speak English as a first language, for example. It's so much easier to quit on a child. Inner city African Americans, it's easy to quit on them. But when you measure, we get to determine whether or not the goal of every child getting educated is being met. And if that's the case, I promise you, I'm going to praise the teachers all over the country. However, where I find children trapped in schools that won't teach and won't change, I demand something different, because not one single child needs to be left behind in America. And Mike understands that, and I appreciated his support on the education matters. I appreciate his support on matters of economic security. That is a top priority of mine, to make sure we continue to work to expand our job base, so people can find work. It's a top priority of mine to make sure that we protect the homeland too. Today I went to the Port Authority to thank the first responders, brave police and fire and Port Authority officials that work so hard on behalf of the American people. You just need to know, if you don't know, that there are a lot of people working a lot of hours to do everything we can to prevent the enemy from attacking America again. And I'm proud of their efforts, and I'm proud of their response. I went today to thank those on the frontline. We can't thank them enough for the diligence. I like to tell people that anytime we get a hint or a lead or a piece of evidence, we're going to run it down. We're going to make sure that the enemy if they think they can hit us, they're going to have to cross some mighty big hurdles to do so. And we're getting better at what we're doing. We really are. Today I saw some fairly sophisticated equipment or very sophisticated equipment about how to detect hazardous equipment. If somebody is trying to ship it here, we've got a better job of risk assessment, so that not only we can facilitate trade, but we can also make sure that the cargo coming in is inspected. We need to know who is coming in our country, if they're going out when they're supposed to be going out. We need to know what is coming in our country, if it is supposed to be the stuff that's supposed to be coming in our country. And so, therefore, we're being wiser about how we use technology with our Customs and Border and INS people. And we need to share information better. There is no question about it, prior to September the 11th, the FBI and CIA weren't talking enough, and now they are on a regular basis. There's no question that the culture of the FBI wasn't focused for homeland defense. After all, they're charged with hauling people in that had busted the law. And they still need to be doing that. But the world's changed, and now the focus is on protecting the homeland. And every morning, I talk to the Director of the FBI and the head of the CIA, and we talk about information and how we're doing and what's happening with this lead. It's all part of making sure we do everything we can to so I can travel the country to say we're doing we are doing everything we can, every possible thing, to protect the homeland. I think we need to do some more in Washington, DC. I believe strongly we need to reorganize the agencies involved with the homeland, the defense of our homeland, into one single Cabinet agency. Listen, I didn't run on "Vote for me I'm going to try to make Government bigger." I understand that, and this is going to be a big agency. But I do want to make sure that we've got authority and responsibility aligned. There's over 100 different agencies involved with the defense of our homeland. In order to make sure we've got the right focus and the right culture, it seems wise to me to have them aligned under one agency. And so I'm asking Congress to make a tough decision, to give up a little turf, and to do what's right on behalf of the American people, so that I can continue to say the Government is doing good. And I must tell you, the response has been gratifying, the response from both Republicans and Democrats. And I want to thank them for that, and I just urge them to continue to work to get this done. There's a lot to do to secure the homeland, and we will. But the surest way to secure the homeland is to hunt the killers down one by one and bring them to justice, which is what we're going to do. And it's going to take a while. It's going to take a while. Audience member. You're doing a good job. The President. Thank you. Every crowd needs a yeller. Laughter Thank you. I'm not doing as good a job as the U.S. military is doing though. I'll tell you, they're doing a great job. The I can't imagine what was going through the minds of the enemy when they attacked us. They must have said, this country was so materialistic, so self absorbed, so selfish, that after September the 11th, we might file a lawsuit or two. Laughter They found out we think differently. They did. They found out that we love freedom, and we love our country. And we're making progress. We're making progress. The other night, when I announced the Department of Homeland Security, I told the country that we have arrested we, our friends, and allies, have arrested over 2,400 people. And that's good. Some of them you never heard about. This is a different kind of war. This isn't a war with fronts and tanks and industrial complexes. This is a war of this great country fighting down shadowy killers, nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers who do not value innocent life. And 2,400 of them is a good dent. We've made pretty good progress. But you've just got to know there's more to go. And so long as they're out there threatening us, we're going to run them down. They think they can hide applause . I've submitted to Congress the largest defense spending increase since Ronald Reagan was President, and I did so for two reasons One, anytime we send our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best equipment, the best training, and the best pay and secondly, I did so because this is going to take a while. You know, I just I don't have a calendar on my desk it's a magnificent desk, I might add, in the laughter beautiful Oval Office that says, on such and such a date, we quit. That's not how you think when it comes to defending freedom. There is no date of departure from this noble effort. Until we feel secure, that's the date. And so I work hard on a daily basis to keep our coalition intact. And this weekend, I had the honor of calling Gloria Arroyo, the President of the Philippines. I don't know if you remember, but they had this little Al Qaida type terrorist organization that captured two Americans as well as other people. The wife lives today free in America the husband, unfortunately, died. They're called Abu Sayyaf. Early on in the war I said, "They're there in your country. We'd like to help you. However you want the United States to help, we want to help." See, we're after anytime these terrorists light, we're after them. And I called her and congratulated her on what looks like the demise of the head of the organization, totally disrupting it. Either you're with us, or you're against us, and she proved she was with us. And I want to thank her for her leadership. And so we're making steady, steady progress, just one day at a time one day at a time. And as you know, I'm deeply concerned not only about shadowy terrorist networks I'm deeply concerned about shadowy terrorist networks teaming up with nations which have got some of the world's worst leaders and at the same time want to develop and maintain the world's worst weapons. And I'm a patient man. I'll take my time. We've got a lot of tools at our disposal. We've got diplomatic tools, financial tools, military tools. But for the sake of our children and for the sake of freedom, we can't let the world's worst leaders threaten us or blackmail us with the world's worst weapons. I want to thank Mike for his steadfast support on this war we all fight. This isn't that partisan battle up in the Congress. There are no partisan battles when it comes to defending the homeland. This isn't a Republican initiative. It's not a Democrat initiative. This is an American initiative. And I think Congress understands that. Not only do I feel determined I also feel that out of the evil done to America is going to come some good. I truly believe that. I believe that if we remain strong and steadfast, we can achieve peace. I see a lot of youngsters here. I want them to know that my dream is peace. I want our children and matter of fact, children all around the world to grow up in peace. Your country doesn't seek revenge. We seek justice. And when we went into the first battle of this new war, we liberated a country. We didn't conquer a country. We liberated a country. And thanks to your Government and your country, young girls go to school for the first time in Afghanistan. And I also believe here at home, out of the evil done to America can come some incredible good as well. I do. I see if you want to fight evil, love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to fight evil, do some good do some good. Help a neighbor in need. Mentor a child. Teach a child to read. Listen, there are pockets of despair and loneliness and hopelessness in America that we need to worry about. There are people who hurt in this country, people who wonder, is America meant for them? And I believe that because this Nation is so compassionate and decent, that out of the evil done to America on September the 11th will come the good by reaching into neighborhoods with love and compassion and decency. I'm a strong backer of the Faith Based Initiative, because I believe in providing help and hope to those in need. Government can write a check, but what Government cannot do is put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That will be done by our fellow citizens. We will change America one soul, one conscience, one person at a time. And it's happening here in this country. Joanna Glick came out to the airport today and then was at the Port Authority with me she's a 17 year old child, a high school student who, the day after September the 11th, started what's called Teen Freedom Corps Club in her high school to help people in need. You know, what made her story most interesting is, her brother, Jeremy, was on Flight 93. And so here's a child who asked the question, "What can I do to fight evil," and of course, obviously, misses her brother and loves her brother but immediately went out to rally compassion and decency to help people in need. Her brother serves as a great example of what I think is happening in America, and why I say that out of evil will come some good. Here's a guy, along with others, on an airplane they knew was a weapon told their loved ones goodbye, told them they loved them, said a prayer, said, "Let's roll," drove the plane in the ground. They served something greater than themselves in life. They were willing to say, "I will die to save somebody else." Joanna was willing to say, "I will work. I will set aside myself, to serve somebody else." And that's my call to my fellow Americans. If you want to do some good, you can fight evil by loving a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. Now, out of the evil will come some good, because this is America. We are the greatest country, the greatest country, on the face of the Earth. It is my privilege to campaign for a Congressman of that great country, as the President of the greatest country. God bless you all, and God bless America. June 24, 2002 For too long, the citizens of the Middle East have lived in the midst of death and fear. The hatred of a few holds the hopes of many hostage. The forces of extremism and terror are attempting to kill progress and peace by killing the innocent, and this casts a dark shadow over an entire region. For the sake of all humanity, things must change in the Middle East. It is untenable for Israeli citizens to live in terror. It is untenable for Palestinians to live in squalor and occupation. And the current situation offers no prospect that life will improve. Israeli citizens will continue to be victimized by terrorists, and so Israel will continue to defend herself. And the situation of the Palestinian people will grow more and more miserable. My vision is two states living side by side in peace and security. There is simply no way to achieve that peace until all parties fight terror. Yet, at this critical moment, if all parties will break with the past and set out on a new path, we can overcome the darkness with the light of hope. Peace requires a new and different Palestinian leadership, so that a Palestinian state can be born. I call on the Palestinian people to elect new leaders, leaders not compromised by terror. I call upon them to build a practicing democracy, based on tolerance and liberty. If the Palestinian people actively pursue these goals, America and the world will actively support their efforts. If the Palestinian people meet these goals, they will be able to reach agreement with Israel and Egypt and Jordan on security and other arrangements for independence. And when the Palestinian people have new leaders, new institutions, and new security arrangements with their neighbors, the United States of America will support the creation of a Palestinian state whose borders and certain aspects of its sovereignty will be provisional until resolved as part of a final settlement in the Middle East. In the work ahead, we all have responsibilities. The Palestinian people are gifted and capable, and I am confident they can achieve a new birth for their nation. A Palestinian state will never be created by terror. It will be built through reform, and reform must be more than cosmetic change or a veiled attempt to preserve the status quo. True reform will require entirely new political and economic institutions, based on democracy, market economics, and action against terrorism. Today, the elected Palestinian legislature has no authority, and power is concentrated in the hands of an unaccountable few. A Palestinian state can only serve its citizens with a new constitution which separates the powers of government. The Palestinian Parliament should have the full authority of a legislative body. Local officials and government ministers need authority of their own and the independence to govern effectively. The United States, along with the European Union and Arab states, will work with Palestinian leaders to create a new constitutional framework and a working democracy for the Palestinian people. And the United States, along with others in the international community, will help the Palestinians organize and monitor fair, multiparty local elections by the end of the year, with national elections to follow. Today, the Palestinian people live in economic stagnation, made worse by official corruption. A Palestinian state will require a vibrant economy, where honest enterprise is encouraged by honest government. The United States, the international donor community, and the World Bank stand ready to work with Palestinians on a major project of economic reform and development. The United States, the EU, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund are willing to oversee reforms in Palestinian finances, encouraging transparency and independent auditing. And the United States, along with our partners in the developed world, will increase our humanitarian assistance to relieve Palestinian suffering. Today, the Palestinian people lack effective courts of law and have no means to defend and vindicate their rights. A Palestinian state will require a system of reliable justice to punish those who prey on the innocent. The United States and members of the international community stand ready to work with Palestinian leaders to establish finance establish, finance, and monitor a truly independent judiciary. Today, Palestinian authorities are encouraging, not opposing, terrorism. This is unacceptable. And the United States will not support the establishment of a Palestinian state until its leaders engage in a sustained fight against the terrorists and dismantle their infrastructure. This will require an externally supervised effort to rebuild and reform the Palestinian security services. The security system must have clear lines of authority and accountability and a unified chain of command. America is pursuing this reform, along with key regional states. The world is prepared to help. Yet ultimately, these steps toward statehood depend on the Palestinian people and their leaders. If they energetically take the path of reform, the rewards can come quickly. If Palestinians embrace democracy, confront corruption, and firmly reject terror, they can count on American support for the creation of a provisional state of Palestine. With a dedicated effort, this state could rise rapidly, as it comes to terms with Israel, Egypt, and Jordan on practical issues such as security. The final borders, the capital, and other aspects of this state's sovereignty will be negotiated between the parties as part of a final settlement. Arab states have offered their help in this process, and their help is needed. I've said in the past that nations are either with us or against us in the war on terror. To be counted on the side of peace, nations must act. Every leader actually committed to peace will end incitement to violence in official media and publicly denounce homicide bombings. Every nation actually committed to peace will stop the flow of money, equipment, and recruits to terrorist groups seeking the destruction of Israel, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah. Every nation actually committed to peace must block the shipment of Iranian supplies to these groups and oppose regimes that promote terror, like Iraq. And Syria must choose the right side in the war on terror by closing terrorist camps and expelling terrorist organizations. Leaders who want to be included in the peace process must show by their deeds an undivided support for peace. And as we move toward a peaceful solution, Arab states will be expected to build closer ties of diplomacy and commerce with Israel, leading to full normalization of relations between Israel and the entire Arab world. Israel also has a large stake in the success of a democratic Palestine. Permanent occupation threatens Israel's identity and democracy. A stable, peaceful Palestinian state is necessary to achieve the security that Israel longs for. So I challenge Israel to take concrete steps to support the emergence of a viable, credible Palestinian state. As we make progress towards security, Israel forces need to withdraw fully to positions they held prior to September 28, 2000. And consistent with the recommendations of the Mitchell committee, Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories must stop. The Palestinian economy must be allowed to develop. As violence subsides, freedom of movement should be restored, permitting innocent Palestinians to resume work and normal life. Palestinian legislators and officials, humanitarian and international workers must be allowed to go about the business of building a better future. And Israel should release frozen Palestinian revenues into honest, accountable hands. I've asked Secretary Powell to work intensively with Middle Eastern and international leaders to realize the vision of a Palestinian state, focusing them on a comprehensive plan to support Palestinian reform and institution building. Ultimately, Israelis and Palestinians must address the core issues that divide them if there is to be a real peace, resolving all claims and ending the conflict between them. This means that the Israeli occupation that began in 1967 will be ended through a settlement negotiated between the parties, based on U.N. Resolutions 242 and 338, with Israeli withdrawal to secure and recognized borders. We must also resolve questions concerning Jerusalem, the plight and future of Palestinian refugees, and a final peace between Israel and Lebanon, and Israel and a Syria that supports peace and fights terror. All who are familiar with the history of the Middle East realize that there may be setbacks in this process. Trained and determined killers, as we have seen, want to stop it. Yet the Egyptian and Jordanian peace treaties with Israel remind us that with determined and responsible leadership, progress can come quickly. As new Palestinian institutions and new leaders emerge, demonstrating real performance on security and reform, I expect Israel to respond and work toward a final status agreement. With intensive effort by all, this agreement could be reached within 3 years from now. And I and my country will actively lead toward that goal. I can understand the deep anger and anguish of the Israeli people. You've lived too long with fear and funerals, having to avoid markets and public transportation, and forced to put armed guards in kindergarten classrooms. The Palestinian Authority has rejected your offered hand and trafficked with terrorists. You have a right to a normal life. You have a right to security, and I deeply believe that you need a reformed, responsible Palestinian partner to achieve that security. I can understand the deep anger and despair of the Palestinian people. For decades you've been treated as pawns in the Middle East conflict. Your interests have been held hostage to a comprehensive peace agreement that never seems to come, as your lives get worse year by year. You deserve democracy and the rule of law. You deserve an open society and a thriving economy. You deserve a life of hope for your children. An end to occupation and a peaceful, democratic Palestinian state may seem distant, but America and our partners throughout the world stand ready to help help you make them possible as soon as possible. If liberty can blossom in the rocky soil of the West Bank and Gaza, it will inspire millions of men and women around the globe who are equally weary of poverty and oppression, equally entitled to the benefits of democratic government. I have a hope for the people of Muslim countries. Your commitments to morality and learning and tolerance led to great historical achievements, and those values are alive in the Islamic world today. You have a rich culture, and you share the aspirations of men and women in every culture. Prosperity and freedom and dignity are not just American hopes or Western hopes. They are universal, human hopes. And even in the violence and turmoil of the Middle East, America believes those hopes have the power to transform lives and nations. This moment is both an opportunity and a test for all parties in the Middle East, an opportunity to lay the foundations for future peace, a test to show who is serious about peace and who is not. The choice here is stark and simple. The Bible says, "I have set before you life and death... therefore choose life." The time has arrived for everyone in this conflict to choose peace and hope and life. Thank you very much. June 21, 2002 Gosh, thanks for that warm welcome. It's an honor to be back here in the great State of Florida. I want to I appreciate all of you who have come tonight. I'm here to help support the Republican Party of this State and make sure your unbelievably great Governor gets reelected. It was a real treat for me to be able to see mi cu ada, my sister in law, Columba. Jeb and I both married above ourselves. Laughter I know you're proud of the job that Columba's doing as the first lady of Florida. And I'm really proud of the job Laura's doing as the First Lady of America. I'm pleased to report that our mother is still telling both of us what to do. Laughter And we're both listening most of the time. But it's great to be here with my family. As you know, we love our we've got a great family we love each other a lot. And anything I can do to help Jeb stay in the Governor's office I'll do, even if that means keeping Brogan as the Lieutenant Governor. Laughter I appreciate you, Frank. Frank Brogan is a very good man, and you're doing a great job, Frank. I appreciate you. I want to thank an Orlando product who traveled with me today for his service to the country. Mel Martinez is doing a great job in my Cabinet. I want to thank former Senator Connie Mack for staying involved with the Republican Party and for helping a lot. I appreciate so very much Congressman Ric Keller, who's doing a fine job in the United States Congress. Ric, thank you very much. Mike Bilirakis is here, and Mike is a great Congressman from up the coast. I appreciate you being here, Mike. They tell me Congressmen Miller and Foley and Weldon may be here. If you're not here, I can understand I'm going to give a long speech. Laughter If you are here, thank you for your service to the State of Florida and to the country. And finally, they've been a little lax on the immigration laws here in Florida you let a man from Georgia come in. He's a great Congressman from south Georgia, Charlie Norwood Congressman Norwood. I appreciate members of the elected who have been elected statewide here in Florida Charlie Bronson, Charlie Crist, and Tom Gallagher. I'm honored you all are here. I want to thank the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, Al Cardenas, for his hard work and noble efforts for this party. And I want to thank Al Hoffman and Al Austin for their loyal friendship and longtime support for both Jeb and me. I want to thank you for your hard work. I want to thank the mayor of this fine city and the mayor of Sarasota as well for coming, both Carolyn Mason and Glenda Hood. Thank you all for being here. I appreciate so very much members of the Florida legislature, starting with the speaker, Tom Feeney, and Senate Leader John McKay. Thank you both for being here, and all of you for coming. But most of all, I want to thank you all for supporting a great cause and a great slate of candidates. I want to thank those of you who have contributed your money, and I want to thank those of you who contribute your time. We understand at least Jeb and I understand how important it is to have a viable, vibrant grassroots organization. And for those of you who spent hours dialing phones and putting up signs and passing out pamphlets, thanks for your hard work. Get a little rest over the next couple of weeks laughter and get ready. We need you this fall. My attitude is, when you find a man who brings integrity to office, you've got to send him back into that office. And that's Jeb Bush. He's a man with strong principles. He fights for what he believes in. He sets high standards. The thing I'm most proud about Jeb, he is the Governor of everybody in the State of Florida. His vision he doesn't think about keeping people out or doesn't think about keeping special people in. When Jeb thinks and acts, he thinks about how best to improve the lives of everybody. And I want the citizens of Florida to stay focused on his education agenda and his education vision. Jeb Bush understands and believes that every child in the State of Florida can learn. He knows that if you set low standards, certain children aren't going to learn. He believes that he's got to set high standards to make sure that every child in this great State learns how to read and write and add and subtract. He's a man of enormous principle who believes in holding people accountable. He understands that in order to make sure every child learns, you must measure. You see, there used to be a system in Florida that said it must have said certain kids can't learn, so the easy way out is just to move them through. And guess who got moved through inner city African American kids. Let's just quit on them and move them through and hope nobody notices. How about children whose parents don't speak English as a first language? They're easy to quit on. But under the leadership of Governor Jeb Bush, because he set high standards and holds people accountable for results, his program and his vision will do more to make sure that every child I mean every single child in this great State is going to get a good education, and no child will be left behind. I'm proud of you, brother. It hasn't been easy times for Governors around the country when it comes to managing the budget. But fortunately, you've got a Governor who didn't run up the baselines of your budget when it seemed like times were plenty. You've got a fiscally sound Governor, somebody who understands that the people's money is their money, not the Government's money, somebody who's done a fabulous job on behalf of the taxpayers of the people of Florida. I've enjoyed very much working with Jeb on a lot of key issues, and I know for the State of Florida there is no more key issue than making sure that the coastline of Florida didn't have a lot of oil and gas drilling. As a matter of fact, under our vision, it's not going to have any. And so we worked together on Destin Dome we worked together on Destin Dome and the Collier property in the Everglades. And thanks to the leadership of this Governor, thanks to the leadership of Jeb Bush he has been a strong environmental steward for the people of the State of Florida. This guy is doing a great job for the people. And I'm confident with your help, you're going to send him back up to Tallahassee. We've got work to do in Florida, and we've got work to do in Washington. And I want to share some thoughts about how I think things are going. First, I know there's a lot of talk about statistics in Washington, DC. They're always quoting this person's statistic or this smart person's statistic. Here's my attitude If somebody wants to work and can't find a job, we've got a problem. If somebody's looking for work and can't find that job, all of us involved in public policy must do everything we can to expand the job base. The role of Government is not to create wealth. The role of Government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish, in which the small business owner has a chance to realize his or her dreams. And that's why I insisted last year that the United States Congress join me in cutting the taxes on the working people all around America. I readily concede some people in Washington read a different economic textbook than I have. They believe that when the economy slows down, you've got to keep more of the money in Washington. I believe that if you let people have their own money, they'll spend it. And they'll demand a good and service, and when they demand a good or a service, somebody is going to produce that good and service. And when somebody produces that good and service, somebody is more likely to have a job. It is essential in Washington and in Tallahassee that you have leaders understand the entrepreneurial potential of our country and of the State of Florida. So whether it be on tax policy or terrorism insurance and by the way, I want to thank the Senate and the House for passing me a terror insurance bill, so that we can make sure large scale construction projects can go forward in the State of Florida. But they've got to make sure they send me a bill that doesn't enrich plaintiffs' attorneys but instead encourages workers to be able to find work. And you're going to see, there's going to be some budget struggles in Washington, DC. The temptation is to spend, and I understand that. But they've given the President the veto for a reason. And one of the reasons is to make sure that there is fiscal discipline in Washington, DC. And I intend to use the veto to make sure we do not overspend in our nation's capital. We're making progress on the economic security front. But I'm telling you, we've got a lot more to do, and we will we will. And we're making progress on the defense of our homeland as well. As you probably have heard, I have asked Congress to help me in streamlining and making more effective the ability for all of us involved with the homeland security to do our jobs. I readily concede that some are probably asking the question, "Why would he try to create more Government?" After all, I didn't run and say, "Vote for me. I promise to create bigger Government." The reason why I have asked Congress to join me is because I want to take the over 100 agencies involved with homeland defense and bring them under one agency, so that we can be more effective, so that we can be more accountable and doing the most important job we have to do, which is to keep the enemy from hurting innocent Americans. I say, "Keep the enemy from hurting innocent Americans," because that's exactly what they want to do. We're dealing with coldblooded killers, and that's all they are. These are people who hijack a great religion and kill in the name of that religion. These are people who send youngsters to their death, and they hide in caves. And so I just want you to know that my main focus, and the main focus of a lot of hard working people, is to do everything we can to protect America. We're chasing down every single lead applause we're chasing down every single lead. If there is a hint that somebody might try to do something to America, we're on them we are. I know there's been a lot of consternation in Washington and probably in your newspapers here about the FBI and the CIA. There's no question that the FBI needed to change its attitude after September the 11th. After all, prior to September the 11th, the main function of the FBI was to run criminals down here in America and arrest them and bring them to justice, and that's still an important function. But now that we've realized that we've got a war on our hands, an enemy that wants to hurt us, the FBI's primary mission is now to prevent an attack. And they're talking better than ever. With intelligence gathering networks, we're getting pretty good at it, and we're communicating better. My point to you is that the defense of the homeland, although never perfect, is improving every single day thanks to a lot of hard working Americans. But the best way to secure the homeland, the best way to make sure that I do my job, is to hunt the killers down one by one and bring them to justice. And that is precisely what America is going to do. I've submitted a significant increase in the defense spending of the United States. It's the largest increase since Ronald Reagan was the President of our country. I did so for two main reasons One, anytime any one of our troops goes into the battle or into harm's way, that person deserves the absolute best equipment, the best pay, the best training possible. And the second reason is it sends a clear signal to our country, the coalition we have put together, and the enemy that the United States, when it comes to defending our freedom, will take however long it takes, that this is a long struggle, this is going to be a struggle of it's going to last a long time. And we're making progress we really are. Some of it's very evident we routed out this barbaric regime called the Taliban. We sent our incredibly brave troops into Afghanistan, and in pretty short order we liberated a country. We freed people from the clutches of people who wouldn't even let girls go to school, and now they do, thanks to the United States of America. But a lot of what's happening you won't see. That's the nature of the new war. We're kind of chasing down shadowy networks, people that try to blend into big, crowded cities, or they hide in, as I said, caves. But you just need to know we're after them. We've got them on the run. And we're going to keep them on the run. And we're going to continue making sure we send a clear message Either you're with us, or you're with the enemy. We spend a lot of time talking to our friends and allies and bolstering our coalition. Today one of our coalition members, President Gloria Arroyo of the Philippines, did the world a great service. There was a group of killers named Abu Sayyaf in her country. They kidnaped they killed. And today their leader met his Maker, thanks to one of our coalition partners. We've hauled in, one way or the other, 2,400 make it 2,401 people that have been a part of this shadowy army. But there's more to do. There's more to do. And you can bet the United States of America, so long as I'm the President, is going to do what needs to be done, because, after all, we defend our freedom. And the decisions we make today and our steadfast resolve will help our children to live in a free world. And there's some tough, tough tasks ahead, no question about it. There will be some tough battles. There's a threat that faces our country, which I take very seriously, and that is the capacity of some of the world's worst regimes to develop and harbor weapons of mass destruction. I'm a patient man. The United States has got a lot of tools at our disposal. And we'll use every tool at our disposal to make sure that the axis of evil doesn't hold us hostage, doesn't hold our friends hostage, and does not hurt the freedoms that we love so dearly. I believe that out of the evil done to America will come some good. I believe that this country is so strong and so powerful and so good and decent that out of the evil done on September the 11th can come some important, lasting contributions to the world, starting with peace. You know, Laura always not always, sometimes gets on me for my rhetoric. Laughter And if your children question, you know, "Why is the President talking this way or the other way," I ask you to look them in the eye and say, because he loves peace because he believes that the United States has been called into action, that history has given us a chance to seize the moment to use our position in the world to make the world more peaceful, peaceful in America, peaceful in parts of the world where people cannot possibly dream of peace right now peace in South Asia, peace in the Middle East. So long as I'm the President, I will drive public policy foreign policy to achieving peace. And at home and at home, I believe that out of the evil is coming incredible good. People say, "What can I do to help?" You can love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to fight evil, do some good. You see, it's the million acts of kindness and decency that take place every day in America that will help us fight off evil. As a result of people loving their neighbor, mentoring a child, helping a shut in, our culture's changing in America. I gave a speech at Ohio State University a week ago today, and I was pleased to see that 70 percent of all the graduating class had at one time or another done some volunteer work. It's a great sign to realize that our young have heard the call that life is more than just profit and loss, that life of service is an important part of being not a spectator but a citizen of the United States of America. The most compelling story, of course, in my judgment, after 9 11 or during 9 11 was Flight 93, when brave souls heard that their airplane was a weapon. They called their loved ones. They said a prayer, and they took the airplane in the ground in the ultimate gesture of serving something greater than yourself. I believe that lesson has reverberated throughout our society. I believe millions of our fellow citizens now realize that in order to be a full fledged American, it means you've got to help somebody in need. There are pockets of despair and hopelessness in America that can be solved by love and compassion, by works of faith. And I believe that out of the evil, more and more Americans, as a result of our fellow Americans showing compassion and decency, will realize the American Dream extends to every neighborhood in this great land. I believe that Americans understand that the culture of "If it feels good, do it," and "You got a problem, blame somebody else," is a culture that must fade off into the sunset. It's being replaced by a culture of personal responsibility. Each of us are responsible for loving our children. If you happen to be a mom or a dad, your most important job is to love your children with all your heart and all your soul. In order to be a good neighbor, you must love your neighbor. If you're running a business, a public company in America, you have the responsibility to have clean balance sheets, to be fully disclose your assets and your liabilities and treat your shareholders and employees with the respect they deserve. No, out of the evil done to America has come a new culture, a new sense of responsibility. The enemy thought they were hurting America, and they killed too many lives, no question about it. But they didn't realize who they were dealing with. They were dealing with the greatest nation, the most decent nation, the most compassionate nation on the face of this Earth. And it is my high honor to be the President of such a great place. Thank you for coming. God bless you all. June 21, 2002 FBI Alert on Fuel Tanker Trucks Q. Inaudible the threat warning that your administration has put out with regard to fuel tugs tanks, rather, or trucks, what Americans need to be aware of? The President. Well, anytime we get any kind of threat that we think is serious, we'll put it out, and people need to respond accordingly. Q. Nothing more specific on this threat? Situation in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, what is your current thinking on the Middle East? When can we expect to hear from you? The President. My current thinking is, is that there are obviously some in the Middle East who want to use violence to destroy any hopes for peace. And the world must do everything in its power to prevent the few from creating misery for the many. I and if you're talking about the speech, I'll give the speech when I'm ready to give the speech. Laughter But wait a minute let me finish but I strongly condemn this series of attacks. I fully recognize that Israel's got the right to defend herself. And all parties who are interested in getting on the path to peace must do everything they can to reject this terror. It is outrageous, and it is it's got to be stopped. Q. Sir, do you agree with your wife that the building of an electronic fence by Israel is not particularly helpful to two states living side by side in peace? The President. Israel has a right to protect herself. Q. Including an electrical fence? National Economy Corporate Responsibility Q. Mr. President, yesterday business executives who saw you said that you saw several things weighing down the market the state of the economy, fears of terrorism, and a loss of confidence in corporate accounts. The President. Yes. Q. Do you think the market is just not going to bounce back until you address all three of those? The President. I think we are addressing all three of those. And I think, obviously, corporate profits are important. People are going to make their decisions based upon their view of the future and the P E ratios at the moment. Obviously, there is concern in our society about possible terrorist attacks. I think most people in America know we're doing everything we can to deal with it, particularly chasing these people down. I don't know if you took note, but there was a significant event that took place in the Philippines. The head of the Abu Sayyaf is now dead. We want to congratulate Gloria Arroyo for being tough and firm and strong to help rid the world of this particular threat. But I do think there is an overhang, over the market, of distrust. Listen, 95 percent or some percentage, a huge percentage of the business community are honest and reveal all their assets and have got compensation programs that are balanced. But there are some bad apples. And well, let me finish and there are some bad apples, and the business world must clean up its act. I mean, people have got to have confidence as to whether or not the assets and liabilities are good numbers. They've got to have confidence that the leadership has got the shareholder and employee in mind when they make decisions. And so I'm concerned about that, and I spoke very plainly about it. You've heard me, in many of my speeches, say in this era where we expect for there to be personal responsibility in America we expect there to be corporate responsibility as well that part of a responsible era is, those who run corporate America understand they have a responsibility. And so I believe it's being addressed. I've got confidence in the future of the country. I've got confidence in our economy. I've got confidence we're doing everything we can to stop terror. And I've got confidence in the good faith of those who run corporate America. Thank you. At this point, the President's tour of the Marks Street Senior Recreation Complex continued. 2002 Elections Q. Mr. President, how do you feel about outpacing your predecessor when it comes to fundraising, which you're about to do? The President. Got good candidates. Right here. One of the great candidates in the history of Florida. Q. You're one of the best fundraisers, right? The President. No, no. It's the candidates, Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . It's the candidates. June 21, 2002 Thank you all very much. So here's what they say about Marks Street Senior Center It's one of the most happening places in all of central Florida. Laughter I believe that. I've just come from a spinning class. Laughter I just came from a strong exercise class. Thankfully, I didn't have to join. Laughter I was most impressed by the spirit of the participants and the idea of encouraging exercise. That's what I'm here to talk about. Before I do so, of course, I want to say how proud I am of my little brother laughter my big little brother. I love him a lot. I love him a lot. He's a great man. I'm glad to be with him here in Florida. Today I came down with some distinguished citizens as well. I picked a man from central Florida, from Orlando, to be my Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and that's Mr. Mel Martinez. I appreciate you coming, Mel. Mel told me he volunteered here. He and his wife, Kitty, used to come by to help people here, and it was kind of old home week for him. But he's doing a fabulous job. And it's hard to take a young family out of such a beautiful part of the world and sacrifice and move to Washington. But Mel made that decision, and the country's better off for it. I want to thank the two United States Senators for traveling with me today, Senator Bob Graham and Senator Bill Nelson. I want to thank them for their applause . I particularly want to thank Senator Graham for his leadership on the Intelligence Committee. During this time where America is at war, intelligence is gathering of intelligence is incredibly important, and I appreciate the way he has led that committee. It gives me great confidence to know that Bob Graham is there making sure we do everything we can to collect as much intelligence as possible to protect Americans. And so Senator, I want to thank you for your leadership on that issue. I want to thank Congressman Ric Keller for traveling with us as well. Ric's one of the bright stars in the United States Congress. I appreciate you, Rick. Mike Bilirakis flew down with us, but he probably thought he had to hear me give a speech, so he went somewhere else. Laughter But Mike's a good friend and a good man. I'm honored that your mayor, Glenda Hood, came by to say hello. Madam Mayor, I'm pleased appreciate you being here. And with her as well is Orange County Chairman Rich Crotty. Rich has been a friend of mine for a long time. And I want to thank Julie for Julie Graf for inviting us here. I'm here to talk about applause . Thank you, Julie. I want to give you a quick update about how I see the world, and then I want to talk a little bit about the health initiative that we're here to herald. You know, we love freedom in America, and we hold freedom dear. And obviously that has irritated some people who hate freedom. And that is why they've made the decision in the past to attack us and why they're probably trying to figure out a way to do it again. They must have thought we were weak. They must have thought we were really a feeble country. But they're learning differently. You see, when it comes to the defense of freedom, we're strong and we're plenty tough. And when it comes to the defense of our homeland, we're plenty tough. I just want to assure you that the country's united and determined. And I'm determined to do everything in my power to keep America safe. I appreciate the spirit in Washington, DC, of both Republicans and Democrats. When we talk about the homeland security, it's not a Republican issue. It is not a Democrat issue. It is an American issue. I am sure you certain that you've heard about this Homeland Security Department I intend to create. It is to streamline decisionmaking so everybody is on the same page when it comes to protecting the homeland. We've got to change cultures of agencies which, before September the 11th weren't that focused on homeland security. And you can understand why we hadn't been attacked for a long time. And now it's time to reorganize and readjust and set the most important priority of all, which is to keep America safe. And I look forward to working with the Congress and the Senate on what is a difficult task, but a task that I'm confident that, when we keep the keep the American people in mind, we can get done. But the best defense for America is to chase the killers down one by one and bring them to justice, which is precisely what America will do. It's a different kind of war. I'm confident there are some World War II veterans or Korean war veterans here, and I want to thank you for your service. It's a war for freedom, but it's a different kind of war. Today in the last 24 hours, the Philippine Government, which had made a concerted effort to find terrorists in their country the terrorists who, by the way, kidnaped two Americans, the Burnhams today announced that the head of the group, this extreme group of killers, met his fate. And I want to congratulate the President of the Philippines. I appreciate her leadership and her strength. It goes to show that by assembling a vast coalition of freedom loving countries, that when we work together and are strong and are diligent, we can succeed, and that's what's going to happen. I not only work to make sure that America is a safer place, I want to work to make sure that America is a better place as well. One of the initiatives that we talked about the last time I was in Florida, one of the last times, was called the USA Freedom Corps. I encourage people to serve their neighbor by volunteering, by becoming involved in their communities. We talked about a Senior Corps that can make a huge difference in people's lives all across Florida and all across the country. I believe serving somebody in need is an integral part of the American experience. Today I had the honor of meeting Marie Wieland. She came where are you, Marie? There she is. Thank you for coming. She came out to the airport today. She stood underneath the great seal of the Air Force One to have her picture with me, because she has been an extraordinary volunteer in your community. She's heard the call to help a neighbor in need. She's involved with the community care for the elderly. She's been involved with the Children Home Society of Florida. All her life, she has set an example by serving in the army of compassion. You see, our society can change one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. And for those of you like Marie, who are volunteering and helping make America a better place, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. And thank you, Marie, for being here. Generally, when we come to Florida to talk to senior citizens, we're talking about Medicare. I look forward to working with the Congress to get a Medicare plan that is modern, up to date, with prescription drugs. But I want to talk about another way, another way to encourage a healthy America. Yesterday I unveiled, right there on the South Lawn, what we call a HealthierUS. It is an initiative to encourage young and old alike to live healthier and longer lives by paying attention to four guideposts. First, people should be physically active every day. Secondly, people should develop good eating habits. Let me put it another way. You need to eat your vegetables laughter and your fruits. We've been working on Dad for a while on the broccoli issue. Laughter People need to be conscious of their diet. They need to be careful not to be loading up with fatty foods all the time. If you want to have a healthy life, you've got to be careful of what you eat. People need to take advantage of preventative screenings to detect early whether or not there's a likelihood of disease, so you can do something about it. And finally, in order to have a healthy life, you shouldn't smoke, drink excessively, or do drugs. In other words, those are choices you can make to make sure you've got a healthy life. The amazing thing about America is that we're doing a good job on chronic diseases, and people are living longer and longer lives. And that's incredibly positive. But we've all got to work to improve. We can all do better. And age need not be an indicator of health, as I witnessed in the spinning class. Laughter There are a lot of youth that couldn't spin like those spinners were spinning. Laughter We need to make healthy choices no matter how old we are. And a simple and effective way to do this is to really focus on exercise. Jeb mentioned I'm in pretty good condition because I exercise nearly every day. Laura exercises nearly every day. And I feel better for it. I sleep better. I eat better. I'm a lot more pleasant fellow to be around after I exercise. Laughter And I encourage all Americans to do so. Not enough older Americans are exercising, however. I want to share this statistic with you In fact, nearly 70 percent of individuals in our country age 65 to 74 do not engage in regular physical activity. And that can be changed pretty quickly. Listen, just a stroll in the park for a reasonable period of time is exercise, and it's good for you. If people just walked 20 to 30 minutes a day, it would change life expectancy, your life expectancy. It would improve your healthy conditions. The Department of Health and Human Services has been reporting on the health of America, and they confirm that older Americans have more to gain from regular exercise than younger Americans do. That makes sense. And so, today I want to continue on my message of encouraging America to make healthy choices by encouraging our seniors to exercise on a regular basis exercise just like we saw here in this fabulous center listen to people or seek advice as to how to keep up your heart rate and increase your breathing work on your flexibility. It will make a tremendous difference, and it doesn't take much. It doesn't take much. We can make a significant difference in the cumulative health costs all around America by encouraging young and old alike to exercise. If we can get people exercising and pushing away from lousy diets, we'll decrease the amount of incidents of heart disease by a significant number. If we can get some of our young to stop watching TV as much as they do and get outside and enjoy, it will promote the habits for a healthy life for a long time coming. I urge moms and dads to exercise with their kids, to go out in the backyard and kick a soccer ball or throw a baseball. It will be good for your family it will also be good for setting good habits for your children. Physical exercise, whether it be walking or gardening, walking up and down the stairs, can have a significant impact all across America. I say societies can change one soul, one person at a time. If each person makes a dedicated effort to exercise more, you'll be serving your Nation. The accumulative effect will be incredibly positive for America. And what a nation you'll be serving. I want you to tell your grandchildren or your children, the young of America, that this great Nation stands for peace that this Nation, as we defend our freedom, we do so to keep the peace that we're a nation that is compassionate and decent. When we unleash our military, we do so not as conquerors but to liberate people from the clutches of a barbaric regime such as the Taliban, that was so repressive they wouldn't even let young girls go to school. That when they hear their President talking about chasing this person down or that, he does so because he wants the children to grow up in a peaceful world and to realize the freedoms that we've realized. He does so because we defend civilization itself, and we have the obligation to do so. We're making progress in the war against terror. It's going to take a while, but America understands that it's going to take a while. And for that, I'm grateful. And as importantly, we're making progress in showing the world the compassionate face of America as well. Hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens are loving a neighbor just like they'd be liked just like they'd like to be loved themselves. And that's good. Out of the evil done to America is going to come incredible good, because we're such a good nation. Thank you for coming today. And may God bless you all, and may God bless America. June 20, 2002 Well, thank you all very much. The kindest gift anyone can give a President and his family is prayer, and I appreciate the prayers. I'm so honored to be with you all to pay tribute to an exceptional man and to further a great cause. Leon Sullivan understood an important principle If we want to live in a world that is free, we must work for a world that is just. The free people of America have a duty to advance the cause of freedom in Africa. American interests and American morality lead in the same direction. We will work in partnership with African nations and leaders for an African continent that lives in liberty and grows in prosperity. I want to thank Andrew Young for his service to our great country. I appreciate his friendship. I also want to welcome my friend the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the stage, and I want to congratulate him on receiving the prestigious Leon H. Sullivan Summit Award. You have picked a good man. I want to thank Jack Kemp for supporting this organization. I appreciate his applause . It has been my honor tonight to meet the Sullivan family, headed by a fantastic lady, Grace Sullivan, who has raised beautiful children, people who are willing to follow the example of their dad. We were Hope and I were talking about that we had a lot in common. You know, we both have got famous fathers and strong mothers. Laughter I appreciate very much Julie and Howard and meeting the grandkids. It's a thrill to be here. Your dad and your grandfather was a great American. That's the only way to call it. I appreciate so very much members of my Cabinet and my inner circle being here, of course, the great Secretary of State, Colin Powell Secretary of Treasury Paul O'Neill the National Security Adviser, Condoleezza Rice. I see the Deputy Director of HUD, my friend Alphonso Jackson. I also appreciate Members of Congress who are here tonight, members of the diplomatic corps. It's good to see the Ambassadors from the African nations, many of whom I've had a chance to spend some quality time with. It's great to see Coretta Scott King here as well. Thank you all for coming and supporting this important dinner. Thank you for giving me the chance to talk about my administration's plans for the continent of Africa. I'm really grateful, though, that the Secretary of State and Treasury are here. See, it was last May that Secretary Powell became the first member of my Cabinet to travel to Africa. And this May, Secretary O'Neill was the latest member of my Cabinet to travel to Africa. He and Bono were quickly dubbed "The Odd Couple." Laughter But they soon found out that the rock star could hold his own in debates on real growth rates and that the Secretary of Treasury is second to none in compassion. I knew the trip had had an effect on our Secretary when he showed up in the Oval Office wearing blue sunglasses. Laughter Here's what we believe. Africa is a continent where promise and progress are important, and we recognize they sit alongside disease, war, and desperate poverty, sometimes even in the same village. Africa is a place where a few nations are havens for terrorism and where many more many more are reaching to claim their democratic future. Africa is a place of great beauty and resources and a place of great opportunity. So tonight I announce that in order to continue to build America's partnership with Africa, I'll be going to the continent next year. Can I come to your place? I think the President has in mind a particular stop. Laughter Put me on the spot here, right with all these cameras. Laughter I look forward to the trip. I really do. It's going to be a great trip, and I look forward to focusing on the challenges that we must face together. Everyone in this room is joined by a common vision of an Africa where people are healthy and people are literate, a vision that builds prosperity through trade and markets, a vision free from the horrors of war and terror. America will not build this new Africa Africans will. But we will stand with the African countries that are putting in place the policies for success through important new efforts such as the Millennium Challenge Fund. And we will take Africa's side in confronting the obstacles to hope and development on the African continent. One of the greatest obstacles to Africa's development is HIV AIDS, which clouds the future of entire nations. The world must do more to fight the spread of this disease and must do more to treat and care for those it afflicts. And this country will lead the effort. My administration plans to dedicate an additional 500 million to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV. And as we do so, we will work to improve health care delivery in Africa and in the Caribbean. This will allow us to treat one million women annually and to reduce the mother to child transmission by 40 percent within 5 years or less in the countries we target. Every year it's important for my fellow Americans to understand this statistic every year, approximately 2 million HIV infected women give birth. More than one in 3 will pass the virus on to her baby, meaning that on the continent of Africa there are close to 2,000 more infected infants every day. We will begin to save many of these young lives by focusing our efforts on countries where the problem is most severe and where our help can have the greatest impact. We will pursue proven and effective medical strategies that we know will make a difference. And when the lives of babies and mothers are at stake, the only measure of compassion is real results. In places with stronger health care systems, we'll provide voluntary testing, prevention, counseling, and a comprehensive therapy that we know is highly effective in reducing virus transmission from mother to child. We know it works. In places with weaker health care systems, we'll provide testing and counseling and support one time treatment programs that reduce the chances of infection by nearly 50 percent. Most importantly, we will make a major commitment to improve health care delivery systems in these countries. We will pair hospitals in Africa with hospitals in America. We will deploy volunteer medical professionals to assist and train their African counterparts, and we will recruit and pay African medical and graduate students to provide testing and treatment and care. As health care delivery systems improve in these nations, even more progress will be possible. And as we see what works, as we're confident that our money will be well spent and results will matter, we will make more funding available. I want to thank the Members of Congress who have supported this initiative. I particularly want to thank Senators Helms and Frist and Congressman Jim Kolbe of Arizona. I'm also pleased that organizations exercising on exercising leadership on this issue will join our efforts, particularly the Pediatric AIDS Foundation headed by Elizabeth Glaser. And I will call upon other industrialized nations and international organizations to join as well, so that we can bring hope of life to hundreds of thousands of African children. This 500 million commitment is the largest initiative to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV by any government in history. It's important for you to know that this funding will complement the nearly 1 billion we already contribute to international efforts to combat HIV AIDS. The money will complement the 2.5 billion we plan to spend on research and development of new drugs and treatments, and it will complement the 500 million we've committed to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS and other infectious disease. Lack of education is the second great barrier to progress in Africa. Tonight I announce that my administration plans to double, to 200 million over 5 years, the funding devoted to an initiative I put forward last year to improve basic education and teacher training in Africa. Here's what we believe we can achieve. With that money we will train more than 420,000 teachers, provide more than 250,000 scholarships for African girls, and partner with historically Black colleges and universities in America to provide 4.5 million more textbooks for children in Africa. As we do so, we'll make sure the school system is more open and more transparent, so African moms and dads can demand needed reform. Education is the foundation of development and democracy in every culture, on every continent. And we'll work to give Africa's children the advantages of literacy and learning so they can build Africa's future. The third great obstacle to Africa's development is the trade barriers in rich nations and in Africa, itself, that impede the sale of Africa's products. The African Growth and Opportunity Act is a tremendous success. My administration strongly supports efforts in Congress to enhance AGOA. And to encourage more U.S. companies to see Africa's opportunities firsthand, I propose holding the next AGOA Forum in Africa to coincide with my visit. We will continue to explore a regional free trade agreement with the Southern African Customs Union. Africa also stands also stands to gain even greater benefits from trade if and when we lower trade barriers worldwide. And so I'm committed to working in partnership with all the developing countries to make the global trade negotiations launched in Doha a success. And we look forward to advancing all of our development priorities with African countries at the upcoming World Summit in Johannesburg. Expanding global trade in products and technologies and ideals is a defining characteristic of our age, capable of lifting whole nations out of the cycle of dependency and want. In this country we will work to ensure that all Africa all of Africa is fully part of the world trading system and fully part of the progress of our times. It is important for my fellow citizens to know we will build trade with Africa because it is good for America's prosperity, trade is good for building prosperity in Africa, and it is good for building the momentum of economic and political liberty across that important continent. And finally, for Africans to realize their dream of a more hopeful and prosperous future, Africa must be free from war and free from terror. Many African nations are making real contributions to the global war on terror, particularly my friend President Obasanjo. I can remember his phone call right after September the 11th, and Mr. President, I want to thank you for your condolences and your support. I've asked Congress this year to provide an additional 55 million in funds to help African nations on the frontlines of our mutual war to defend freedom. The United States is committed to helping African nations put an end to regional wars that take tens of thousands of lives each year. We will help African nations organize and develop their ability to respond to crises in places such as Burundi. We'll work closely with responsible leaders and our allies in Europe to support regional peace initiatives in places such as the Congo. And we will also continue our search for peace in Sudan. My policy towards Sudan seeks to end Sudan's sponsorship of terror and to promote human rights and the foundations of a just peace within Sudan, itself. My envoy for peace in Sudan, former Senator John Danforth, has made progress toward a cease fire and improved delivery of humanitarian aid to such places as the Nuba Mountain region of Sudan. Since September the 11th, there's no question the Government of Sudan has made some useful contributions in cracking down on terror, but Sudan can and must do more. And Sudan's Government must understand that ending its sponsorship of terror outside Sudan is no substitute for efforts to stop war inside Sudan. Sudan's Government cannot continue to talk peace but make war, must not continue to block and manipulate U.N. food deliveries, and must not allow slavery to persist. America stands united with responsible African governments across the continent and we will not permit the forces of aggression and chaos to take away our common future. We jointly fight for our liberty. We chase down coldblooded killers one at a time, and we do so for the common good of all people. Leon Sullivan wrote and spoke of a vibrant partnership between America and Africa that, in his words, would help mold Africa into a new greatness, glorious to see. Tonight his vision must be our mission. Together, we can chart a new course for America's partnership with Africa and bring life and hope and freedom to a continent that is meeting the challenges of a new century with courage and confidence. May God bless the people of Africa, and may God continue to bless America. Thank you for having me. June 19, 2002 The President. Well, Doug, I appreciate those kind remarks. I thought you were on Air Force One because you wanted a free ride. Laughter But I had a good visit with Doug. I believe I'm a pretty good judge of character, and I appreciate this man's character. I'll tell you why. First, he said, "We don't agree 100 percent of the time." I remember my friend Bullock, who was the Lieutenant Governor of Texas, Democrat Lieutenant Governor, when I was the Governor of Texas. He said, "You know, if we agreed 100 percent of the time, one of us wouldn't be necessary." Laughter He's necessary. He's necessary in Washington, DC, on behalf of the working people. He you know, in this town, sometimes people don't shoot straight with you. They kind of come in and tell you something, and then they leave, and you're wondering what they said, or if they said something, whether they mean it. And Doug's a straight shooter. That's high on my list of the kind of people I like to talk to and deal with. The other thing I like about Doug is, his vision for a better union means more skills for those who are members of the union. You see, Doug understands that through education and training, you can enhance a man's or a woman's skills. And that enables that person to more better realize their dreams. He understands the vision of a union is not only to work for jobs but to enhance the ability of members within the union to improve their lives. And I appreciate that vision of putting union members first. Doug, you're a good leader. You're a good leader. And I want to congratulate you on opening up your new building last night, right there on Capitol Hill. I bet it was pretty well built. Laughter Audience member. It's union. The President. Yes. And I appreciate the fact that you had Ted Kennedy and Elaine Chao, the fine Secretary of Labor, there to open it up. It is a good sign of it's a good sign as to how to how Washington ought to deal with problems. I'll be the first to admit there's too much politics in this town. Laughter There's too much putting the party ahead of the country. And I'm a proud Republican many of you are probably proud Democrats but first and foremost, we're all proud Americans. I also appreciate my friend Congressman Rob Portman for coming by this morning. I appreciate Rob's energy and enthusiasm and his drive. I want to talk about the challenges America faces. I worry about our security. I'm worried about our homeland security. I'm worried about our national security, and I'm worried about economic security. And that's what I want to talk to you about. First, let me talk about the homeland. I remind people that every morning I go into the Oval Office and by the way, it is a huge honor to walk in the Oval Office. I'm never going to get tired of walking into this beautiful office that we have built for our Presidents. It's an honor that it's hard for me to describe how what an honor it is. But I walk in there. That's, by the way, after I get the First Lady some coffee every morning. Laughter I don't want to put any pressure on you guys, but laughter the President does get to set the example. Laughter Then take the dogs out, Spot and Barney. Spot was born in the White House in 1989 when my dad and mother were up here, so she's quite comfortable with the surroundings. Barney's new, kind of a young fellow, so he doesn't get to go in the Oval Office, though, in the mornings. We just put a new rug in there. Laughter At any rate, I read threat assessments on the country. I sit at this magnificent desk a desk, by the way, that Theodore Roosevelt used and Franklin Roosevelt used and John Kennedy used and Ronald Reagan used and I read threat assessments. The Sun's coming up, and the first thing I do is open up a book that says, here's what the potential threats are to our country. It reminds me on a daily basis, my most important job is to defend the homeland, to protect innocent Americans from the deaths of the killers. People say a lot of young people say, "Well, why America? Why would anybody want to come after us? Why would anybody want to fight a war with this Nation?" And the answer is, because we love freedom. That's why. And they hate freedom. We love the idea of people being able to worship freely in America. We love the idea of people being able to come to our country and realize dreams. We love the idea of people having free being able to freely debate issues. We love freedom, and these coldblooded killers hate freedom. And that's why they want to come and hurt America, and we are not going to let them. I say we're not going to let them we're going to do everything in our power. And one of my points I want to make to you today is that we are focused, and we are buttoning up this homeland as securely as we can make it. I proposed a new Cabinet department. I want to explain quickly why I did so. There are over 100 agencies involved with homeland defense, and they're scattered all throughout Washington. It makes it difficult to do a job if you're trying to chase down 100 different agencies, because they're in different departments. The Coast Guard is in the Transportation Department, and that's fine, except for the fact that there's a new world in America where our number one priority is to protect the homeland, and the job of the Transportation Department is not homeland security. Or take the Customs Department. Customs is an important agency to protect the homeland. It's part of understanding what's coming into our country and whether we want it in our country or not. And yet, it's a part of the Treasury Department. The Treasury Department is not responsible for homeland security. What we need to do is to bring these agencies under one Cabinet Secretary, organize it so that information flows freely, organize it so there's responsibility and authority so we can have accountability, and help change cultures in agencies to the primary responsibility of the day, which is to protect the American homeland. And so I've asked Congress to do this. Now, I understand it's going to be a difficult task. First, I appreciate the response of both Republicans and Democrats, and that's good. It's going to be a little difficult, because there is a tendency on Capitol Hill for people to, what they call, protect their turf. In other words, if you've got responsibility over funding one agency and that agency is going to be moved away from you, you might be somewhat resistant. And what I'd like to do is to call upon Congress and I hope you do as well to think first and foremost about how best to protect the homeland, not how best to protect their political turf. And I think it's going to happen. I do. And I think it's going to be able to make us enable us to do our job in better fashion. Along those same lines, the FBI and CIA are thinking differently. And as we have seen, they needed to think differently about how to better coordinate information, about how to understand the new threats that face us in the 21st century. You see, a lot of Washington was all geared up for the old days of war where, you know, tanks would be moving across battlefields or army platoons would be going here. And now we're facing a new kind of enemy. These guys are killers. I mean, they're international killers. They're these are the kind of people that are secretive, and they're plenty smart. It doesn't require a lot of money for them to operate. They send youngsters to their death, and they hide in a cave. That's how they think. And we've got to match those threats with a new way of thinking, which means we've got to do a better job of collecting and sharing intelligence. When I first the man I named, Mueller, Bob Mueller, who's the head of the FBI, came to work one week before September the 11th. And I told him in one of my first meetings right after September 11th, "We've got a new world, and while the job of the FBI is to chase down criminals and arrest them you still have that job your most important job now is to prevent, is to run down every possible lead. If you get a hint that somebody's fixing to do something to America, you and your agents need to run them down. We need to know. We need to know who's coming into the country and why they're coming in. We need to know if they're leaving the country when they're supposed to be leaving the country. We need you running down every single hint." And we want you, the CIA, to continue to gather information outside of the country, but make sure, if you've got a relevant piece of information, to share it with the FBI. The number one priority of this Government is to button up our homeland so that the American people can go about their lives without fearful without fear of another attack from one of these killers. And we're making progress. And I want to appreciate those on the frontline, the police and fire on the frontline, for working hard. But the best way to secure the home land you need to know just how I think the best way to secure our homeland is to run these killers down one by one and bring them to justice, which is precisely what we will do, so long as I am the President of the United States. It is not an easy task because, as I just described, the nature of the enemy is different than we're used to. You know, I can't imagine what was going through their minds when they attacked America. I guess and assume that they thought we were so weak, so feeble, so self absorbed, so materialistic, that after September the 11th we might file a lawsuit or two. Laughter But they found out America thinks differently, and they're finding out we've got a fabulous military. Now, the budget I submitted, the defense budget I submitted you've probably heard about this defense budget, and it is big there's no question about it. And I'll tell you why. First of all, my attitude is, anytime we commit one of our youngsters into battle or into harm's way, they deserve the best training, the best equipment, the best pay possible. And for those of you with relatives in the military, I want you to thank them, on behalf of their Commander in Chief and a grateful country, and need to know they're going to be strongly supported here in Washington, DC. And the second reason why the defense increase is large and significant is because this is this war is going to take a while to win. This is just because we've routed the Taliban in Afghanistan doesn't mean the war has ended. We have got a long way to go to secure the homeland, to defend freedom, and to defeat this enemy. And it's important for the American people to understand that. You know, sometimes there's kind of a sense that, well, so and so was captured, and therefore, this deal is over. That's just not the way it is. The war on terror is going to take a while. The good news for us and the bad news for the enemy is, the American people are united, are patient, are resolved to win this war. They understand the stakes, and so do I. It's important for our country to send a very clear signal that we're in this for the long run, and that's what the budget does. It says there's no time there's not a calendar on my desk that I flip and say, okay, it's over, you know, it's time to quit. No, it's time to quit when the homeland is secure. And we're making progress. We really are. I mentioned the fact that we routed out the Taliban. These people were barbaric people who wouldn't even let young girls go to school. And so I can safely say to the youngsters here that your country went into Afghanistan not to conquer people but to liberate people, to give them freedom, to give people a chance to express their will, to give young girls a chance to go to school, to give women a chance to participate in government. No, we're tough when we need to be tough, but we also uphold values as we fight this war on terror, values that will not be compromised. The war on terror is bigger than just a person or a network. The war on terror is to address the threats that will face our children in the future. And there's a major threat, and that is the threat of weapons of mass destruction in the hands of regimes that are run by leaders that hate freedom. There's a major threat that an Al Qaida type organization could mate up with one of those countries that I labeled "axis of evil" and, therefore, have the capacity to have a ballistic missile threat that could conceivably allow them to blackmail freedom loving countries into inaction. And we've got to deal with that threat. I'm a patient man. We use all tools at our disposal. But for the good of our children and for the good of freedom, we must not allow the world's worst regimes to threaten us and our friends and allies with the world's worst weapons. And so I spend time making sure this coalition of freedom loving countries is strong. And they're kind of looking at the United States, and if I blink, it's likely they'll go to sleep. So we've got to stay strong and determined to lead to lead the world to defend our freedoms, and I'll do just that. I can assure you of that. I feel it. And I also believe it's important for the President of the United States to speak plainly, to speak his heart, and I believe this is a struggle of good versus evil. And I don't mind calling evil by its name. And you know what's going to happen? Good will overcome evil with the leadership of the United States, and we're going to provide that leadership. I'm also worried about the economic security of our country. This is a town where they like to talk statistics, and that's all right you know, good employment for some of the numbers crunchers. But behind every number, there's a story. And my attitude is, so long as somebody who wants to work can't find work, we've got a problem, and we need to deal with it. And we need to figure out how to expand jobs. Doug and I spent a lot of time talking about job expansion. What can the Federal Government do to create more paying jobs for people? How do we make sure the economy is vibrant so people can find work? That's my concern. And we've talked about a lot of issues. I happen to believe letting people keep more of their hard earned dollars is a good way to create economic activity. I believe that there is a proper role for the Federal Government, but there's also a recognition that when you put more money in a woman's or man's pockets, they spend it. And when they spend it, they demand something. And when they demand something, somebody builds it for them. And so this tax cut that we passed came at the right time in American history. It needs to be a permanent part of the Tax Code so people can plan. You see, I believe the more money a person has has in his or her pockets, the more likely it is they're going to be able to realize their dreams. Tax relief was the right thing to do. And so is passing this terrorist insurance bill. And I want to thank you all and your leadership for working with us to get Congress to act, to provide terrorism insurance so that some of these big building projects can go forward in America. It's an incredibly important piece of legislation. And Doug has been on the frontlines of working with both Republicans and Democrats. And it's a problem, and let me give you some examples. This guy Dave Creamer, who is the chairman and CEO of GMAC Commercial Mortgage they're the lenders. People have got to borrow money to build these big projects. He's turned down more than a billion dollars of new loans this year because projects were not insured against acts of terror. To me, that's a problem we've got to address. If the concern is more jobs, and people aren't lending money because there is no insurance against acts of terror, Congress needs to deal with it. He also reports that loans are not limited to projects in New York or Los Angeles or Chicago, the big cities they're nationwide. And you know that as well as I know that. There's a guy who's trying to build an apartment complex. He's not going to get he's not going to get funding for an apartment complex in the Washington Baltimore area, a 50 million complex that would re quire that would allow for 250 construction jobs for 3 years, because he can't get a loan, because he can't get the insurance. And so they're working on a bill. The House passed one. The Senate passed one. They need to get it to conference, and they need to get it to my desk as quickly as possible. And the bill has got to make sure that insurance companies remain engaged in covering terrorism losses that the Government will help but not help all the way. And they've got to make sure that this bill doesn't open up all kinds of lawsuits. What we're interested in is job creation, not lawsuit creation. We've got plenty of lawsuits all around America as it is. And so it's a I spend time thinking about jobs, and Doug and I talk about it. We talked about an energy bill. He supported the energy bill. I support the energy bill for two reasons One, it will help jobs the more infrastructure we build in America, the more jobs there will be. Two, I don't particularly care for the fact that we get a lot of our energy from overseas. Over 50 percent of our energy comes from overseas, and some of the suppliers aren't real friendly to America. For the good of economic security and for the good of national security, we need a sound energy policy here in America. I was impressed by Doug mentioned Ground Zero. It was an honor to go there that day. And I know that you all join me, if you're not from New York, in expressing our appreciation to the Union Local 79 for their hard work in cleaning up Ground Zero. It was an unbelievable feat of dedication and hard work and focus. Jeff Zelli said, "We can rebuild now. We're on our feet already, and we're going to build something beautiful." That was his comment, the head of Union Local 79. That's how I feel. You know, we're on our feet, and we can rebuild something beautiful. You see, I believe out of the evil done to America can come incredible good. I believe, if we're strong, we can achieve peace, and that's what I want. We fight for peace. We not only fight to defend our country and defend liberty and the values that we love, we yearn for peace. That's what we want our kids to grow up in a peaceful world. But I also believe, here at home, that there's going to be some good that comes out of the evil, starting with the fact that more of us understand the need to love a neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself, that if you're interested in fighting evil, you can do so by doing some good, by mentoring a child, by going to a shut in's house and say, "What can I do to help you?" You see, it's those small acts of kindness that really end up defining the true character of this country. I also believe that the culture is changing in America from one that has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understands we're responsible for decisions we make in life. If you're a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul. If you're a good citizen in this country, you're responsible for helping a neighbor in need, mentoring a child, extending a hand of kindness and compassion to somebody. If you run a corporation in America, you're responsible for telling the truth on the assets and liabilities on your balance sheet. I see it in the country where this is taking place. It's a change for the better. I went to Ohio State University and gave the graduation speech last Friday 70 percent of the graduating class at one time during their career at Ohio State had volunteered to help somebody in need. There's an ethic which I hope is coming into the hearts and souls of the country that says, we're responsible for this great Nation. And perhaps that example was best shown us all on Flight 93. I want you to think about that moment. People flying across the country they realized the plane they were on was going to be used as a weapon. They told their loved ones they loved them. They said a prayer. They said, "Let's roll," and served something greater than themselves in life. I believe that out of the evil done to America will come incredible good. The world is going to be more peaceful. America will be more secure. And millions of Americans understand that serving something greater than yourself in life is an important part of having a full life. It is my honor to come and visit with you all. You're citizens, as you know, of the greatest country on the face of the Earth. And I'm sure proud to be the President of the greatest country on the face of the Earth. And now it is my special privilege to declare that this conference of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners is officially adjourned. God bless you all, and God bless America. June 19, 2002 Thank you all for that warm welcome, and thank you for coming tonight. We're here for the same reason. We want Denny Hastert to remain the Speaker of the House and Trent Lott to become the majority leader of the Senate. And I want to thank you for helping us achieve those two important goals. And I say they're important because I believe that when we achieve those goals, we can do a lot for the American people. I want to thank John Boehner for taking the lead role on this successful dinner. I want to thank George Allen from Virginia, the Senator from Virginia, for participating and helping. I want to thank Bill Frist and Tom Davis Bill Frist of the Senate and Tom Davis of the House for leading their respective committees to get these Members elected. I want to thank Richard Burr of North Carolina for his help and leadership. Mr. Bob Ingram, thank you for your help. All the folks here, I appreciate your willingness to work hard to make this dinner a successful event. I appreciate Steve Wariner for his beautiful rendition of the National Anthem. And I want to thank my friends Amy Grant and Vince Gill for being here as well. Thank you all for coming. Most of all, I'm pleased that the First Lady came. She's done a heck of a job as First Lady for the United States of America. She has kept me in line. Laughter I appreciate her passion for the children of this country, her desire to help everybody learn to read, her calm, her steady hand, and her unabiding love. Thank you for coming. I promised the American people that I'd do my best to change the tone in Washington, DC, to elevate the discourse, to bring people together to achieve big goals for our country. And I believe, thanks to many Members of the United States Senate who are here and many Members of the United States House of Representatives who are here, we're making great progress toward that goal. My deep desire for the American people is to provide security for our Americans. It starts, of course, with homeland security and the defense of our country. But before I talk about that, I want to talk about the security of a good America as well. That means job security. I know, here in this town, people like to look at numbers all the time, and they analyze the status of America based upon this statistic or that statistic. My attitude is this If somebody is looking for work and they can't find work, we've got a problem. I believe, if there's somebody who's willing to find a job and there's not a job, all of us in Washington, DC, must do everything in our power to increase the job base in America. And thanks to members in this audience, we started by cutting the taxes on the American people. There was an interesting vote the other day on the floor of the Senate. You see, earlier this year, both Houses sent a tax relief bill to my desk that not only reduced the rates on the working people and did something about the marriage penalty, it repealed the death tax, because, you see, we think the death tax is unfair to American entrepreneurs. It's unfair to American farmers and American ranchers. And because of a quirk in the law, this death tax repeal doesn't stay repealed. It's kind of hard to explain that to the fellows in Crawford, Texas, who own their farms. But nevertheless, it doesn't stay repealed. And yet the Senate, thanks to the leadership of Trent Lott, brought a vote up. Our side was firmly firmly I mean firmly, for the permanent repeal of the death tax. Their side wasn't. The question is, who stands on the side of the people? We do. Part of economic security is to make sure everybody gets a good education in America. I appreciate Senator Congressman John Boehner's leadership as chairman of the Education Committee and want you to know that by working together, we passed an education bill that sets high standards for every child in America. You see, we believe that if you lower the bar, you get low standards and bad results. We believe every child can learn. But we, for the first time, said that if you receive Federal money, if you take taxpayers' money, you must show us whether or not children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. And if they are, we will praise you, but if not, you better change on behalf of the American people. We've done some good in one House. We're stalled in another House on some important legislation to enhance the economic security of the American people. We need a actually, I take that back. Both Houses acted to pass terrorism insurance. Mr. Leader Lott, I want to thank you for your leadership on that issue. It's important that we encourage construction around America, to encourage the creation of more jobs through construction by having terrorism insurance by the way, a bill that does not encourage frivolous and junk lawsuits that impede economic progress and hurt jobs in America. I appreciate so very much the work on an energy bill. Listen, this country needs an energy bill. We need to do a better job of conserving, no question about it. We need to enhance renewables. But we need to reduce supply from countries that don't like us. It is not in our national security to be importing oil from countries around the world. Part of making sure that we've got economic security in America is to make sure that when we reauthorize the welfare reform package, that we encourage people to work. You see, if you have low expectations, you say it's okay not to work. We're the people who have high expectations for every American, regardless of where they're from in America. And we understand that with a job, you get dignity. We must make sure we insist upon work as the cornerstone for any welfare reform package. No, there's a lot to do. And there's going to be a lot to do next year as well. And one of the reasons we need to make sure Leader Lott heads the United States Senate is so that the nominees the good nominees, the qualified nominees I send up for the judiciary all across America gets a fair hearing, a vote, and confirmation. And finally, to make sure we've got good economic security for everybody in America, we've got to make sure Congress holds the line on spending. I know there's going to be some tough choices on these appropriations bills, but I want to make sure that everybody understands with clarity that the budget the House passed is the limit on spending for the United States Congress. I appreciate the Members being here to work on the security of our Nation by enhancing job security, by doing everything we can to grow the job base. You see, we understand the role of Government isn't to create wealth. That's what we understand. We understand the role of Government is to create an environment in which the small business can flourish, in which the entrepreneur can do well, in which people who want to work for the American Dream can realize that dream. And thanks to the Members here, Members in this audience, we've done a pretty darn good job of enhancing the environment for economic vitality all across America. And we've got to do a good job of protecting our homeland. Every morning, I go to the Oval Office that is, after I get Laura her coffee laughter Equal and milk, I want you to know. Laughter I don't mean to be putting any pressure on you boys out there, but laughter it's a good habit to get into. Laughter And I go to the Oval Office with Spot the dog. Barney doesn't get to go. He's only a year and a half, and Laura did design a new rug for the Oval Office. Laughter The first thing I do when I sit at this fantastic desk in this beautiful office and I mean it's beautiful it's a great shrine to democracy is read a threat assessment. It makes me realize that the enemy is still interested in hurting America. My most important job is to protect the security of America, to do everything in our power to make sure the enemy doesn't hit us again. And we're making progress we're making progress. We've got the FBI and the CIA talking like they've never talked before. And that's important, and that's important. It's important because we fight a shadowy enemy. We fight people who send youngsters to death, and they try to hide in a cave and kind of slink around, trying to hurt people who love freedom. And so, therefore, it's important for us to do the very best job we can to collect intelligence abroad and share it with our domestic agencies. The FBI is changing its culture. It's still by the way, you need to know, it's still going to go after crooks and criminals and mobsters. But its most important job now is to protect our homeland, is to chase down any lead, follow any hint, to do everything in our power to make sure we protect innocent lives here in America. You're probably wondering why I asked the Congress to make a very difficult decision to join me with restructuring the homeland defense. I didn't run remember, I didn't say, "Elect me. I'm going to do everything I can to make Government bigger." And so, therefore, the idea of creating a new Cabinet department probably sent some puzzling signals. I also, however, believe in accountability and results. I didn't think you sent me up here just to talk. I thought you sent me up here to get things done on behalf of the American people. And so, therefore so therefore, I'm asking Congress to reorganize all the agencies involved or most of the agencies involved in the defense of our homeland into one single agency. There are over 100 different agencies that have something to do with the homeland, and they're scattered everywhere, which makes it awfully hard to align authority and responsibility. It makes it hard to say with certainty we're going to get the results the American people expect. And I'd like to cite two examples of how the signals can get mixed. One, the Coast Guard the Coast Guard does an incredible job for America, by the way one of their most important functions is to protect our borders. If the defense of our homeland is the number one priority, then the Coast Guard ought to be a part of that priority, since they can do a good job of preventing things from coming into our country that we don't want to come in. And yet the Coast Guard is a part of the Transportation Department, and the Transportation Department's primary function is not the defense of the homeland. Or take the Customs, the Customs people they're important. If we change their priority to defending the homeland, which we're going to do, you wonder out loud why they're a part of the Treasury. The Treasury's primary function is not the protection of the homeland. For the good of the security of America, I urge the Members of Congress to think what's best for the country, not what's best for their particular committee, and allow us to reorganize a singular function, all aimed at protecting the American people from attack. And I appreciate so very much the cooperation we've received, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Members on some of the difficult problems that exist to get this job done. But you also need to know that the best way to protect the homeland, the best way to secure America from further attack, is to hunt the killers down one by one and bring them to justice. And that's what we're going to do. I sent a significant increase in the defense budget up to the Hill for a reason, and I appreciate the Members here, because I know they agree with what I'm about to say. First, anytime we commit one of our troops into harm's way, that person deserves the best pay, the best training, the best possible equipment. And secondly, the size of the increase indicates that we're America is in this fight for the long haul. There is none of us have one of those desk calendars, and pop the date, and all of a sudden it says, you've got to quit. That's not what it says. As a matter of fact, if there was anything it said on my desk calendar, it would say, stay at it, Mr. President. Freedom needs America. The enemy hopes we quit. They must have thought we were so soft and so materialistic and so self absorbed that after September the 11th, all we would do is call our favorite plaintiff's attorney and file a few lawsuits. Laughter They didn't understand what America is all about. They didn't understand, when somebody tries to take away our freedom, we respond. They don't understand that we love our values. They can't understand that we love freedom of religion. We value the fact that people can worship freely in America or speak their mind or write any kind of editorial they want. And when it comes to somebody messing with America, trying to threaten us and threaten our freedoms, we will respond. And we will respond for however long it takes, because we love freedom in this country. I fully recognize the task is not going to be easy. It's going to require a lot of patience and discipline on behalf of the American people. The task is difficult now, because we're hunting people down one by one. It's difficult when you think about some of the true threats that really face our country. Imagine the scenario when a regime which hates freedom, a regime which has in the past poisoned her own people, and a regime that's attempting to develop weapons of mass destruction, teams up with one of these shadowy terrorist networks. Then all of a sudden, there's the possibility of blackmail, international blackmail, holding freedom loving nations hostage. For the good of our country, for the sake of our future, we cannot allow the world's worst regimes to develop and hold us hostage with the world's worst weapons. And we're making progress. We routed this Taliban, which should allow you to say to your children, "America we don't go into countries to conquer. We go in to liberate." It's a proud moment for the history of our country when we liberated the country of Afghanistan and allowed young girls to go to school for the first time in their lives. We've assembled this vast coalition to cut off their money. We've arrested, detained, hauled in, however you want to put it, over 2,400 of these killers. We're making progress. We're making progress. But there's a lot more. And they just need to know, loud and clear from the President of the United States, we got you on the run, and we're going to keep you on the run until we get you and bring you in. I believe I believe that out of the evil done to America can come incredible good. I truly believe that. I believe that if we remain steadfast and strong and resolute, we can achieve peace in the world. I know sometimes my rhetoric gets a little west Texan. Laura reminds me, I've got to tone her down at times. Laughter But you need to know my drive is for peace. I love peace. I want our children and your grandchildren to grow up not only in a peaceful America but peace all around the world, peace in the Middle East and peace in South Asia. And I believe this great country, if we're steadfast and strong, if we stand to our principles and stick to our guns, that we can help achieve peace. And I believe at home I believe at home America can not only be safer, but it can be a better place. I say that with confidence because I've got a good feel about the American people. I understand the great heart and compassion of the American people. You see, in our land of plenty, there are pockets of despair and hopelessness. There are people in this great country addicted to drugs and alcohol. There are young children who can't read, people wondering what this American Dream business is all about. And so long as there's pockets of hopelessness and despair, all of us have an obligation to do something about it. And I believe out of the evil can come incredible good, because I have seen a spirit arise in this country, where people now understand that they've got to serve something greater than yourself. And that means loving a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. It's my honor to travel this country and see hundreds and thousands of our fellow citizens and see them respond when I remind them if they're interested in fighting evil, if you want to fight evil in America, you can do so by doing some good. You can do so by simple acts of kindness and decency. You can do so by mentoring a child or helping a shut in. You can do so by going to your church or mosque or synagogue and organizing a group of people to take care of the homeless. It's this millions of acts of kindness all across our country that take place on a daily basis that truly define the great character and strength of America and the American people. No, I believe I believe out of the evil done to America on September the 11th will come not only a peaceful world, but I believe that this great Nation can work miracles through love and compassion in places where there is despair and hopelessness. And I want you all to join in that. I really do. I'd like you to go home to your communities and redouble your efforts to help somebody in need, to redouble your efforts to make a gesture of kindness and compassion. Tell your children you love them on a daily basis. See, what's happening in America is, the culture is slowly but surely beginning to shift away from "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which we all understand we're responsible for the decisions we make. If you're a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving your children. If you're a proud American, you're responsible for helping a neighbor in need. If you run a corporation in America, you're responsible for being honest on your balance sheet with all your assets and liabilities. But most of all, in order to be a patriot in this country, it is important to serve something greater than yourself. And it's happening. And it's happening because I'm fortunate enough to be the President of the greatest nation I mean the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. June 18, 2002 Well, thank you all very much for that kind welcome. I'm here for a couple of reasons. First, I want to thank you all for your service to the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. I'm here to celebrate National Homeownership Month, because I believe owning a home is an essential part of economic security. And I'm concerned about the security of America. I had the pleasure on June the 12th of speaking to the last President who visited HUD I wished "Number 41" a happy birthday. And I'm glad you've invited me here today. I really am. I first am really proud of Mel Martinez and Alphonso Jackson. I've known Mel for awhile. I've known Alphonso for a long time. There was no question in my mind that these two fine Americans would do a great job in leading this important agency. I want to thank all those who have assumed leadership roles, who have left your States and your friends to come and serve America. And that's important. Service to our country is an incredibly important part of being an American. I want to thank all those who have worked here for a short time and long time, who will be here after we leave. I want to thank a man named Larry Thompson, who has worked here for where's Larry? Larry's been here for 30 years. And I want to appreciate your service, Larry, and thank you for setting such a fine example for many others inside this building who serve the country. Let me first talk about how to make sure America is secure from a group of killers, people who hate you know what they hate? They hate the idea that somebody can go buy a home. They hate freedom. That's what they hate. They hate the fact that we worship freely. They don't like the thought of Christian, Jew, and Muslim living side by side in peace. They don't like that at all. And therefore, they since they resent our freedoms, they feel like they should take out their resentment by destroying innocent lives. And this country will do everything we can possibly do to protect America. And that's going to mean making sure our homeland is secure, and I appreciate the progress we're making on setting up a Department of Homeland Security. I know it's going to be hard for some in Congress to give up a little power here and there, but I think it's going to happen because people realize we're here to serve the American people, not here to serve a political party or turf in the United States Congress. But the best way to secure the homeland is to hunt them down one by one. And I mean, hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice, which is precisely what America will do. I want to thank the choir for coming, the youngsters for being here. I just want you to know that when we talk about war, we're really talking about peace. We want there to be peace. We want people to live in peace all around the world. I mean, our vision for peace extends beyond America. We believe in peace in South Asia. We believe in peace in the Middle East. We're going to be steadfast toward a vision that rejects terror and killing and honors peace and hope. I also want the young to know that this country, we don't conquer people. We liberate people, because we hold true to our values of life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The security of our homeland, the need to make sure that America is safe and secure while we chase peace is my number one priority for the country. But I've got another priority as well. I not only want America to be safer and stronger I want America to be better. I want America to be a better place. I worry about our economy, because there are people who can't find work who want to work. In this town, people look at numbers all the time you know, such and such a number dropped, or this number increased. What I worry about are hearts and souls. That's what I worry about. And if somebody is trying to find work who can't find work, we need to continue to expand our job base. We also have got to understand, in this land of plenty, there are pockets of hopelessness and despair. You know, I mentioned the word "American Dream" in Atlanta. I also recognize that some people aren't sure that dream extends to them. Some people don't even know what the dream means. And our job our jobs, our collective jobs, is to make sure that notion of the American Dream extends into every single neighborhood around this country. I know this isn't the right Department when I talk about education, but education, making sure every child is educated and no child is left behind, is part of making sure the American Dream extends to every single neighborhood in America. And we're making progress in a practical way when it comes to educating children because you know what? For the first time, the Federal Government says, if you receive money, you need to let us know whether the children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. And if they are, we'll praise the teachers and praise the parents and praise the administrators. But if not, if our children can't read and write and add and subtract, instead of just hoping something changes, we're going to use the accountability system to insist upon change, so every child has a chance to realize the dream in America. But I believe owning something is a part of the American Dream as well. I believe, when somebody owns their own home, they're realizing the American Dream. They can say, "It's my home. It's nobody else's home." And we saw that yesterday in Atlanta, when we went to the new homes of the new homeowners. And I saw with pride, firsthand, the man say, "Welcome to my home." He didn't say, "Welcome to Government's home." He didn't say, "Welcome to my neighbor's home." He said, "Welcome to my home. I own the home, and you're welcome to come in the home," and I appreciated it. He was a proud man. He was proud that he owns the property, and I was proud for him. And I want that pride to extend all throughout our country. One of the things that we've got to do is to address problems straight on and deal with them in a way that helps us meet goals. And so I want to talk about a couple of goals and one goal and a problem. The goal is, everybody who wants to own a home has got a shot at doing so. The problem is we have what we call a home ownership gap in America. Three quarters of Anglos own their homes, and yet less than 50 percent of African Americans and Hispanics own homes. That ownership gap signals that something might be wrong in the land of plenty, and we need to do something about it. We are here in Washington, DC, to address problems. So I've set this goal for the country We want 5.5 million more homeowners by 2010 million more minority homeowners by 2010 5 1 2 million families by 2010 will own a home. That is our goal. It is a realistic goal. But it's going to mean we're going to have to work hard to achieve the goal, all of us. And by all of us, I mean not only the Federal Government but the private sector as well. And so I want to, one, encourage you to do everything you can to work in a realistic, smart way to get this done. I repeat, we're here for a reason. And part of the reason is to make this dream extend everywhere. I'm going to do my part by setting the goal, by reminding people of the goal, by heralding the goal, and by calling people into action, both the Federal level, State level, local level, and in the private sector. And so what are the barriers that we can deal with here in Washington? Well, probably the single barrier to first time homeownership is high downpayments. People take a look at the downpayment, they say, "That's too high. I'm not buying." They may have the desire to buy, but they don't have the wherewithal to handle the downpayment. We can deal with that. And so I've asked Congress to fully fund an American Dream Downpayment Fund which will help a low income family that have qualified to buy, to buy. We believe when this fund is fully funded and properly administered, which it will be under the Bush administration, that over 40,000 families a year 40,000 families a year will be able to realize the dream we want them to be able to realize, and that's owning their own home. The second barrier to ownership is the lack of affordable housing. There are neighborhoods in America where you just can't find a house that's affordable to purchase, and we need to deal with that problem. And the best way to do so, I think, is to set up a single family affordable housing tax credit to the tune of 2.4 billion over the next 5 years to encourage affordable single family housing in inner city America. The third problem is the fact that the rules are too complex. People get discouraged by the fine print on the contracts. They take a look and say, "Well, I'm not so sure I want to sign this. There's too many words." Laughter "There's too many pitfalls." So one of the things that the Secretary is going to do is, he's going to simplify the closing documents and all the documents that have to deal with homeownership. It is essential that we make it easier for people to buy a home, not harder. And in order to do so, we've got to educate folks. Some of us take homeownership for granted, but there are people obviously, the home purchase is a significant, significant decision by our fellow Americans. We've got people who have newly arrived to our country, don't know the customs. We've got people in certain neighborhoods that just aren't really sure what it means to buy a home. And it seems like to us that it makes sense to have a outreach program, an education program that explains the whys and wherefores of buying a house, to make it easier for people to not only understand the legal implications and ramifications but to make it easier to understand how to get a good loan. There are some people out there that can fall prey to unscrupulous lenders, and we have an obligation to educate and to use our resource base to help people understand how to purchase a home and what where the good opportunities might exist for home purchasing. Finally, we want to make sure the Section 8 homeownership program is fully implemented. This is a program that provides vouchers for first time home buyers which they can use for downpayments and or mortgage payments. So this is an ambitious start here at the Federal level. And again, I repeat, you all need to help us every way you can. But the private sector needs to help too. They need to help too. Of course, it's in their interest. If you're a realtor, it's in your interest that somebody be interested in buying a home. If you're a homebuilder, it's in your interest that somebody be interested in buying a home. And so, therefore, I've called yesterday I called upon the private sector to help us and help the home buyers. We need more capital in the private markets for first time, low income buyers. And I'm proud to report that Fannie Mae has heard the call, and as I understand, it's about 440 billion over a period of time. They've used their influence to create that much capital available for the type of home buyer we're talking about here. It's in their charter. It now needs to be implemented. Freddie Mac is interested in helping. I appreciate both of those agencies providing the underpinnings of good capital. There's a lot of faith based programs that want to be involved with educating people about how to buy a home. And we're going to have an active outreach from HUD. And so this ambitious goal is going to be met. I believe it will be, just so long as we keep focused and remember that security at home is economic security at home is just an important part of as homeland security. And owning a home is part of that economic security. It's also a part of making sure that this country fulfills its great hope and vision. See, I tell people and I believe this that out of the evil done to America will come some incredible good. You know, they thought they were attacking a country so weak and so feeble that we might file a lawsuit or two, and that's all we'd do. Laughter That's what they thought. We're showing them a different face of America. We're showing them that we're plenty tough. When it comes to taking somebody trying to take away our freedoms, we're tough, and we're going to remain tough and steadfast. But I also want people to see the deep compassion of America as well. I want the world to see the other side of our character, which is the soft side, the decent side, the loving side. I want people to know that when we talk about dreams, we mean big dreams. And when we talk about a free society, we want a society in which every citizen has the chance to advance, not just a few. And part of the cornerstone of America is the ability for somebody, regardless of where they're from, regardless of where they were born, to say, "This is my home. I own this home. It is my piece of property. It is my part of the American experience." It is essential that we stay focused on the goal and work hard to achieve that goal. And when it's all said and done, we can look back and say, "Because of my work, because of our collective work, America is a better place. Out of evil came incredible good." Thank you all for coming by. June 17, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much for that wonderful Atlanta welcome. It's nice to be back in this incredibly important community. You know, our Nation faces a lot of huge challenges. Right now we've got 60,000 troops fighting terrorism so that we can be free, all of us can be free. I appreciate so very much the resolve and unity and determination of this great land. I appreciate our military for their sacrifices. We're also doing everything we can to secure the homeland, to make sure that those who hate us won't take innocent life again. And as we work for a more secure world, we've got to work for a better world too. And that means, as we work on our security from possible attacks by terrorists, we also work on economic security. The two securities go hand in hand. Anybody who wants a job who can't find one means we've got a problem. In Washington, they talk statistics all the time, and that's important. People who count numbers need to make a living too. Laughter But my attitude is, if somebody can't find work and they want to work, we've got to continue to work on expanding the job base. And part of economic security is owning your own home. Part of being a secure America is to encourage homeownership, so somebody can say, "This is my home. Welcome to my home." Now, we've got a problem here in America that we have to address. Too many American families, too many minorities do not own a home. There is a homeownership gap in America. The difference between Anglo America and African American and Hispanic homeownership is too big. And we've got to focus the attention on this Nation to address this. And it starts with setting a goal. And so by the year 2010, we must increase minority homeowners by at least 5 1 2 million. In order to close the homeownership gap, we've got to set a big goal for America and focus our attention and resources on that goal. And I picked a good man to help realize that goal, in Mel Martinez. I don't know if you know Mel's story, but it's an interesting story. Mel was born in Cuba. Applause Yes, Mel brought his cousins with him laughter all two of them, anyway. Laughter But Mel's mother and daddy Mel's mother and dad put him on an airplane to come to America when he was a young boy, because they didn't want his son growing up in a country that wasn't free. Think about that think about the courage of a mom or a dad and their love for freedom love freedom so much that they would put their child in the hands of loving Americans. And Mom and Dad eventually came. And here he now sits, as a member of the President's Cabinet. What a great country we have. My point is, Mel understands what it means to dream and then to work to realize the dreams. I've also picked a fine friend of mine from Texas named Alphonso Jackson to serve as the Deputy of HUD. And where are you, Alphonso? There he is. I appreciate you. These are can do people. So when we set a goal, they understand their job is to work toward that goal. I also want to thank the mayor of Atlanta, Georgia, for being here, Shirley Franklin. Thank you for coming, Madam Mayor. Much of the success of this program is going to depend depends upon the ability for the Federal Government to work with State and local governments. And I know the mayor has got a strong commitment to housing for all people and to end the ownership gap. Madam Mayor, thanks for coming. I appreciate as well Johnny Isakson and John Linder, members of the Georgia congressional delegation, for coming today. Thank you all for being here. I want to thank Franklin Raines of Fannie Mae and Leland Brendsel of Freddie Mac. Thank you all for coming. Today I had the pleasure of seeing an entrepreneur's work firsthand, an Atlanta citizen who also dreamt a dream, and that is to develop a piece of blighted property so others could benefit from her vision and hard work. Masharn Wilson is here. She is a president and CEO Masharn is the president and CEO of her own company. Part of the economic security is not only owning a home part of it is, if you have the entrepreneurial instincts, is to own your own business as well. So I want to appreciate you, Masharn. I appreciate your hard work. And one other person I want to announce is a fellow named Darryl Hicks. Where are you, Darryl? Darryl Hicks. Right here. The President. There you are. Darryl Hicks is here. I want to Darryl is one of the things I remind our fellow citizens, if you're interested in defeating evil, do some good. You see, we're going to fight with our military, but we can also fight with our hearts. And a country which has been under attack can respond by loving your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. And this man right here is a fellow, Darryl Hicks, who works for Habitat for Humanity programs. He's interested in lending his heart and his talents to helping a neighbor in need. America can be changed one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time, so long as we are willing to love a neighbor like we'd like to be loved ourselves. I want to thank you, Darryl. I want to thank Darryl for being a soldier in the army of compassion. And I also want to thank Reverend Dr. Thomas Bess for opening up this beautiful church. You know, one of my passions is the Faith Based Initiative. It is important that Congress not fear faith based programs but welcome faith based programs, so we can help change people's lives. I find it most interesting that we would be talking about how we help people in a church. After all, that's why churches exist. Audience members. Um hmm. The President. And so I am I want to thank the church staff for opening up this beautiful facility to the army which follows me around. Laughter I do believe in the American Dream. I believe there is such a thing as the American Dream. And I believe those of us who have been given positions of responsibility must do everything we can to spotlight the dream and to make sure the dream shines in all neighborhoods, all throughout our country. Owning a home is a part of that dream it just is. Right here in America, if you own your own home, you're realizing the American Dream. You know, today I went to the to some of the home met some of the homeowners in these newly built homes, and all you've got to do is shake their hand and listen to their stories and watch the pride that they exhibit when they show you the kitchen and the stairs. So people like Ken Beatty, who is an environmentalist or Al Smith, a probation officer or Geary Jefferson, a database administrator or Darrin West, an Atlanta police officer Tamika Henry Tomika Henry Cole These are all people that I've met. They've come over here today. They showed me their home. They didn't show me somebody else's home they showed me their home. And they are so proud to own their home, and I want to thank them for their hospitality, because it helps the American people really understand what it means. And what we've got to do is to figure out how to make sure these stories are repeated over and over and over again in America. Three quarters of White America owns their homes. Less than 50 percent of African Americans are part of the home ownership in America, and less than 50 percent of the Hispanics who live here in this country own their home. And that has got to change for the good of the country it just does. And so here are some of the ways to address the issue. First, the single greatest barrier to first time homeownership is a high downpayment. It is really hard for many, many low income families to make the high downpayment. And so that's why I propose and urge Congress to fully fund the American Dream Downpayment Fund. This will use money, taxpayers' money, to help a qualified low income buyer make a downpayment, and that's important. One of the barriers to homeownership is the inability to make a downpayment. And if one of the goals is to increase home ownership, it makes sense to help people pay that downpayment. We believe that the amount of money in our budget, fully approved by Congress, will help 40,000 families every year realize the dream of owning a home. Part of the success of Park Place is that the city of Atlanta already does this. And we want to make the plan more robust. We want to make it more full all across America. Secondly, there is a lack of affordable housing in certain neighborhoods. Too many neighborhoods, especially in inner city America, lack affordable housing units. How can you promote homeownership if people can't afford a home? And so what I've done is propose what we call a single family affordable housing tax credit, to encourage the development of affordable housing in neighborhoods where housing is scarce. Over 5 years, the initiative amounts to 2.4 billion in tax credits, and that will help. It will help a lot to build homes where people can where when fully implemented, people will be able to say, "I own my home." A third major barrier is the complexity and difficulty of the home buying process. There's a lot of fine print on these forms. And it bothers people it makes them nervous. And so therefore, what Mel has agreed to do and Alphonso Jackson has agreed to do is to streamline the process, make the rules simpler, so everybody understands what they are makes the closing much less complicated. We certainly don't want there to be a fine print preventing people from owning their home. We can change the print, and we've got to. We've got to be wise about how we deal with the closing documents and all the regulations but also wise about how we help people understand what it means to own their home and the obligations and the opportunities. And so, therefore, education is a critical component of increasing ownership throughout America Financial education, housing counseling, how to help people understand that there are unscrupulous lenders. And so one of the things we're going to do is, we're going to promote education, the education of owning a home, the education of buying a home throughout our society. And we want to fully implement the Section 8 housing program, homeownership program. The program will provide vouchers that first time home buyers can use to help pay their mortgage or apply to their downpayment. Many of the partners today, many of the people here today, many of the business leaders here today are creating a market for the mortgages where Section 8 vouchers are a source of the payment, and that's good. See, it's an underpinning of capital. It helps move capital to where we want capital to go. And so these are important initiatives that we can do at the Federal Government. And the Federal Government, obviously, has to play an important role, and we will we will. I mean, when I lay out a goal, I mean it. But we also have got to bring others into the process, most particularly the real estate industry. After all, the real estate industry benefits when people are encouraged to buy homes. It's in their self interest that we encourage people to buy homes. And so one of the things that I'm going to talk about a little bit today is how to create a sustained commitment by the private sector that will have a powerful impact. First of all, we want to make sure that we help work to expand capital available to buyers and, as I mentioned, overcome the barriers that I've delineated as well as provide the education component. In other words, this is not just a Federal responsibility. That's why I've challenged the industry leaders all across the country to get after it for this goal, to stay focused, to make sure that we achieve a more secure America by achieving the goal of 5 1 2 million new minority homeowners. I call it America's homeownership challenge. And let me talk about some of the progress which we have made to date, as an example for others to follow. First of all, Government sponsored corporations that help create our mortgage system I introduced two of the leaders here today they call those people Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as well as the Federal Home Loan Banks will increase their commitment to minority markets by more than 440 billion. I want to thank Leland and Franklin for that commitment. It's a commitment that conforms to their charters as well and also conforms to their hearts. This means they will purchase more loans made by banks to African Americans, Hispanics, and other minorities, which will encourage homeownership. Freddie Mac will launch 25 initiatives to eliminate homeownership barriers. Under one of these, consumers with poor credit will be able to get a mortgage with an interest rate that automatically goes down after a period of consistent payments. Fannie Mae will establish 100 partnerships with faith based organizations that will provide home buyer education and help increase homeownership for their congregations. I love the partnership. The Enterprise Foundation and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation will increase efforts to build and rehabilitate more homes in inner cities at affordable prices by working with local community development corporations. In my home State of Texas, Enterprise helped turn the once decaying Ideal Neighborhood of Dallas into a vibrant community by building homes that were sold to residents at affordable prices. The National Association of Home Builders will team up with local officials, home builder associations, and community groups in 20 of our Nation's largest housing markets, to focus on how to eliminate barriers and encourage homeownership. The Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation will dramatically expand financial and home buyer education efforts to 380,000 minority families. The Neighborhood Housing Services of America will raise 750 million to promote homeownership initiatives in many communities. We're beginning to use the Internet better, so that realtors all across the country will be able to call up programs all designed to help minority home buyers understand what's available, what's possible, and what to avoid. The National Realtors Association will create a central databank of affordable housing programs, which will be made available to agents, real estate agents, to help people. So these are some of the beginnings of a national effort. And I want to thank all those who are responsible for the organizations I just named for lending your talents to this important effort for America. You know, one of the things Presidents can do is, they can call the old conference. So I'm going to call one laughter just to make sure people understand not only are we serious but to let them check in. If they've signed up and said they're going to help, this will give everybody a chance to say, "Here's what I've done to help." It's what we call accountability. And so this fall, we're going to have a White House conference. It is a White House conference specifically designed to address the homeownership gap. It is a White House conference that will not only say, "What have you done to date" "Have you got any new ideas that we can share with others," as well. I'm serious about this. This is a very important initiative for all of America. See, it is a chance for us to empower people. We're not going to talk about empowering Government we're talking about empowering people, so they have got choices over their lives. I want to go back to where I started. I believe out of the evil done to America will come incredible good. I believe that, as sure as I'm standing here. I believe we can achieve peace. I believe that we can address hopelessness and despair where hopelessness and despair exist. And listen, I understand that in this great country, there are too many people who say, "This American Dream, what does that mean? My eyes are shut to the American Dream. I don't see the dream." And we'd better make sure, for the good of the country, that the dream is vibrant and alive. It starts with having great education systems for every single child. It means that we unleash the faith based programs to help change people's hearts, which will help change their lives. It means we use the mighty muscle of the Federal Government in combination with State and local governments to encourage owning your own home. That's what that means. And it means it means that each of us each of us have a responsibility in the great country to put something greater than ourselves to promote something greater than ourselves. And to me, that something greater than yourself is to love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. In order to change America and to make sure the great American Dream shines in every community every community we must unleash the compassion and kindness of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. I'm honored to be here today. I want to thank you for your interest. God bless you all, and God bless America. June 14, 2002 The President. Thank you for that warm welcome. It's another reason I'm glad to be home laughter that, plus getting a little culture. Laughter I can't tell you how great it is to see so many friends. I want to thank you for your prayers, for your friendship. I want to thank you for helping Laura and me serve our country. I'm here today to talk about a man who there's no doubt in my mind is not only going to win in November but do a fine, fine job on behalf of the Texas people. We've shared a lot. We have both been Governors. And we both married above ourselves. Laughter I appreciate Anita Perry, the first lady of the State of Texas, and she's bringing a lot of class to the office. I'm sorry Laura isn't here with me. She's in Crawford. Audience member. We are, too. The President. Well, I'm sure you are. I can understand that. Laughter You probably wish she was speaking. Laughter It's hard to believe that a public school librarian who didn't particularly care about politics or politicians laughter is now the First Lady of this great country, and she's doing a magnificent job. I'm really proud of her. Of course she, like my mother, is still telling me what to do. Laughter Marjorie, I'm of course listening. Laughter But we're doing great. We really are. Our family's strong. Our spirit is strong. Our love for our country has never been greater. I want to thank all the elected officials who are here. I particularly want to say something about the next attorney general, Greg Abbott. Greg, I want to thank you for your applause . I want to thank Henry Bonilla for being here and for his work on behalf of our party and the Victory Committee. I want to thank Justices Jefferson and Rodriguez, who are here with us tonight. I know there's all kinds of candidates Judge Carter, who's running in the 31st Congressional District this year. I know my friend thank you, Judge. I know my friend Tommy Craddick is here. And members of the statehouse, both Republicans and Democrats, are here tonight, and I want to thank you all for coming. I want to thank you all for supporting Rick. I want to thank you for contributing your money and, as importantly, thank you for contributing your time. I see a lot of what they call grassroots activists here. I tell you, I know I could never have won the Governor's race and or the Presidency without those of you who man the phones and sign the envelopes and lick them and mail them and do all the hard work. And so on behalf of grateful candidates, thanks for what you have done and thanks for what you're going to do come November. I appreciate Rick's record. I want to talk a little bit about education. It is a passion of mine, and it's a passion of Rick's. It is absolutely essential that at all levels of government we have people who are willing to raise standards for every child. It is absolutely essential for the good of the State of Texas that we have a Governor who believes every child can learn, somebody who doesn't lower the bar. See, if you lower the standards, if you expect mediocrity, you'll get mediocrity, and that's not good enough for the State of Texas. As Rick mentioned, we reformed the education code out of the Federal Government. It mirrors what Rick is doing here in Texas. Let me explain it to you right quick. It says that if you receive money from the taxpayers, you've got to measure. If you get help from the Federal Government or the State Government, you've got to show the taxpayers but more importantly the parents whether or not the children all across the State of Texas are learning. And if they're learning, we'll praise the teachers. If they're meeting standards, if they're meeting expectations, there will be all kinds of praise for the hard working teachers all across the country and in the State of Texas. But when we find children who aren't learning, children who can't read, we've got to address the problems early, before it's too late. You see, every child is important in the State of Texas. Every child matters. And you can't tell whether or not children are learning to read and write and add and subtract unless you have the courage to hold people accountable. Texas must not go backwards. Texas must continue to have strong accountability systems, so that this business about just shuffling children through the system stops. You see, it's easy to quit on a young black child. It's easy to say, "That person can't learn. Let's just move them through." It's easy to quit on somebody whose parents may not speak English as a first language. It's easy to quit. But by having accountability and local control of schools, we measure each child, because each child counts. You cannot possibly fix the problem unless you know the problem exists. Education is the number one priority for this Governor. And it's the number one priority for the State of Texas, and that's as it should be. And we're making progress. We are. One of the things I love about Rick is, his vision of Texas includes everybody, not just a few. His vision of Texas says every child counts, and no child will be left behind in the great State of Texas. One of the big initiatives in Washington, DC, is the reauthorization of welfare. One of the great successes in our country has been the 1996 welfare reform bill. And it basically said that we can do better than dependency upon Government, that we can free people by insisting upon work and by helping those learn how to work. It gives me great confidence to know that Rick is going to be the Governor of Texas as we talk about reauthorization. The cornerstone of helping people is to help them find the dignity of a job. And with Rick Perry as Governor, I'm confident that that dignity will spread throughout all parts of the great State of Texas. I appreciate a man who understands there needs to be fiscal sanity when it comes to spending money, spending your money. And Rick saved the State 500 million as a result of some bold actions he took. And as you know, the economy kind of slowed down a little bit, and thankfully, you had a Governor who is willing to make the tough fiscal choices that's going to stand Texas in good stead in the years to come. I appreciate your courage, Rick, and I appreciate your leadership. But the thing I appreciate most is your integrity and your values, the fact that you make your family your top priority. I love the fact that you love your wife, and you love your kids. You know, we were going down the Gulf Freeway today. Laughter Traffic wasn't all that bad, by the way. Laughter If you got stuck in one of the exits, I apologize. Laughter We spent more time talking about our family. I appreciate a Governor who wanted to share with me the hopes and aspirations of his children. It's important for the State of Texas to have somebody in the Governor's office who's got his priorities absolutely straight, faith and family and the great State of Texas. You know, when I was one time campaigning in Chicago, a reporter said, "Would you ever have a deficit?" And I said, "I can't imagine it, but there would be one if we had a war or a national emergency or a recession." Laughter Never did I dream we'd get the trifecta. Laughter But I want you to know we're making progress on all three fronts. I'm concerned about the economic security of the American people. I know there's a lot of focus on statistics this number comes out or that number comes out. Here's my attitude So long as somebody wants to work and can't find a job, we have a problem. And my focus is going to be to continue to expand the job base of this country so people can find work. We made a pretty good start when we cut the taxes on the working people. And it came at exactly the right time. There's a school of thought in Washington that says, if you take more of the people's money, the economy will benefit. I don't read the same textbook. Laughter My attitude is, when times are slow, you let people have their own money. And when they keep their own money, they spend it. And when they spend their own money, they demand a good and service. And when you demand a good and service, somebody's going to provide the good and service, which means somebody's going to be able to work. This tax cut happened at the right time, and we need to make the tax cuts permanent. In order to make sure people can find jobs and can work in America, we need an energy policy. We need an energy policy that, on the one hand, encourages conservation and makes sure that we promote renewable sources of energy, an energy policy that promotes the new technologies that are coming on line. But we need an energy policy as well that encourages exploration for oil and gas in the United States of America. The nay sayers and the skeptics, you know, challenge that policy. They don't understand the technologies now available that allow us to provide domestic energy and at the same time protect our environment. But let me put it to you this way For the sake of economic security, we need a sound energy policy. And for the sake of national security, we must become less reliant on foreign sources of energy. Some of those sources don't particularly care about America, I might add. This Congress needs to give me a trade bill so I can open up markets for Texas agricultural products, for high tech products. Listen, if you're good at something and we're good at a lot of things when it comes to our economy we ought to be selling them to people around the world. This country ought to be feeding the people of the world. I need trade promotion authority from the United States Congress for the good of the job creation. We're making progress on economic security. And we've got a long way to go. But I just want you to know, so long as somebody can't find work that wants to work, I'm working. And we've got a lot to do on homeland security as well. I want you to know what I think about the people that we're fighting. They are nothing but coldblooded killers. There was a bombing in Karachi. Innocent people lost their lives. Most of the innocent people were Muslims. These people, these terrorists, these killers have hijacked a noble religion, but the world is seeing what they're made out of, what they're like. They do not value individual life. And for the good of freedom and for the good of America and our allies and friends, we're going to hunt them down, one by one, and bring them to justice. We've made some progress. The other night when I announced this Department of Homeland Security, I laid out a statistic that said we've rounded up about 2,400 of them so far make it 2,401. Audience member. That's right. The President. And that's good. And that's good, except there's still a lot of them out there. And so it is it is my most important job to do everything in my power to prevent the enemy from taking innocent life again. We've got over 100 agencies in Washington, DC, involved with homeland security. They're scattered all throughout the bureaucracy. As you can imagine, it makes it kind of tough to get an efficient plan in place. And so I've asked the Congress to make the most impressive and far reaching reorganization since Harry Truman reorganized the Defense Department. I want it all under one one authority. I want to align authority and responsibility. I want it to be said that, as a result of reorganizing Government, our country is better prepared to enforce our border, to respond to emergency our country is better prepared to respond to bioterrorism. We need the capacity to analyze the information we're getting to predict what might happen so that we can react. Now, this isn't going to be as easy as it seems, reorganizing Government. After all, there's a lot of turf in Washington, DC, and people are guarding their turf. There's an appropriation chairman here, a ranking member there that likes the idea of deciding how much money goes to this agency or another. For the good of the American people, I call upon Congress to think about not turf but security. I'll never forget my first hard discussion with the Director of the FBI. I don't know if you are aware of this fact, but he came on to work one week before September the 11th, so he got right in the middle of the action pretty quickly. And he was talking to me about, you know, they're doing a pretty good job of going after this white collar criminal and arresting this person. And I said, "That's all fine and good, and you need to keep doing it. But your most important priority now is to prevent attack. I want you running down every lead. If you've got a hint that somebody might be coming in here to do something to America, I want to know about it, and I want you on them. I want you doing everything in your power. Your agency is vital, but your mission has the priority of the agency your new mission is to use the resources of the United States of America to protect the homeland." And we're making progress. We really are. The CIA and the FBI communicate in a lot closer way these days. There's a lot better sharing of information. You've just go to know that there's a lot of hard working people doing everything they can to protect you. But the best way to secure the homeland, the best way, is to chase these killers down, one by one, and bring them to justice. We will use every tool at our disposal. We've assembled a vast coalition of freedom loving countries, and we're and they're working. We're communicating with these folks. Every time I meet with a foreign leader, I remind him or her that our most important collective job is to win this war on terror. History has called us into action. History will look back and determine the mettle and drive and desire of all of us who have been given awesome responsibilities. We're cutting off their money, and that's vital. It's kind of hard for them to operate unless they have cash. And although the enemy doesn't require much money, if they don't have any, it's going to be hard for them to move. So we're working with financial institutions all round the world on a regular basis to cut off their money. Probably the most effective force we've used, of course, thus far is the United States military. For those of you who've got relatives in the military or are in the military yourselves, thanks from the bottom of my heart and our Nation's heart. I was at West Point the other day, and I was honored to give a graduation speech where I laid out a new doctrine called preemption, which I'll describe here in a second. But I shook every hand of the graduates. Let me tell you, the military's in good shape. These are fine, fine young Americans. I sent up to Congress the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President, and I did it for two reasons, and I want to explain it to you right quickly. One, anytime we commit our men and women into harm's way, they deserve the best equipment, the best training, the best possible pay. And secondly, I submitted a significant increase, because we're in for a long war. I know some would hope the enemy would go away. They're not going away until we get them. That's a fact. The good news is, the American people are united and strong and resolved. They understand what I know, that we must defend our freedoms at all costs. You know, I can't imagine what went through the mind of the enemy. They probably looked at America and thought we were so self absorbed and materialistic and selfish that after they killed thousands of our citizens, all we would do is file a lawsuit or two. Laughter They and the world have seen the true character of America. We love our freedom. We care about our children. We love our values. We love the fact that people can worship freely in America. We love the fact that you can have honest political discourse. That's what we love. We love our lifestyle, and we will use all our might to protect it. The threats we face go beyond just one terrorist network. The threats we face are bigger than a group of these shadowy figures who try to hide in caves and then send youngsters to their death. We face threats of weapons of mass destruction. In the past, we used to have a doctrine called containment and deterrence. You can't contain a shadowy terrorist network. You can't deter somebody who doesn't have a country. And you're not going to be able future Presidents won't be able to deter or contain one of these nations which harbors weapons of mass destruction, nations who hate America. For the good of the American people, I will use all the resources at my disposal to make sure the world's worst regimes do not threaten, blackmail America and our friends with the world's worst weapons. I believe that out of the evil done to America is going to come incredible good. I've got a great painting by Tom Lea. Many of you know Tom Lea from El Paso. He passed away, unfortunately, earlier this year. And on my wall is his fantastic picture painting, I guess you'd call it of West Texas. And it reminds me of a quote Tom Lea said it's something I said at our convention. He said, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." The day I see coming for this great country is one of peace. I want you to tell your children that behind all the war rhetoric is a strong desire for peace, that I long for peace not only in America, but I think if the United States of America remains tough and vigilant and strong and steady, that we will be able to achieve peace in parts of the world where there is no hope for peace right now. I believe that. I believe that the enemy, much to their chagrin much to their chagrin out of the evil will come a more peaceful world. And at home, I know out of the evil will come a better America. Today I had the honor of speaking at the Ohio State University graduation ceremonies. I told those kids, I said that patriotism is more than saluting the flag. Patriotism is service to your country. Patriotism is loving your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to fight evil, if you want to join the war on terror, love somebody. Do some good. It's the gathering momentum of thousands of acts of kindness and generosity which will show the world the compassionate face of America and, at the same time, show the world that this country is not going to be cowed by evil people. One person can't do everything in this society. I know that. But one person can do something to save a soul. Listen, in this great land of ours, a land of plenty, there are pockets of hopelessness and despair. There are too many children who wonder whether America is meant for them, and we're going to do something about that here in America. There are too many people addicted and sad and lonely, and we'll do something about that too. The Government can hand out checks. But what Government cannot do is put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in their lives or love people. That's going to happen because this great country is full of loving and decent and caring souls. I call upon you all to continue what you're doing when it comes to helping a neighbor in need. The acts don't have to be huge acts. Listen, if you just walk across the street and tell somebody shut in that you love them, it's a part of making our society whole and complete. Mentor a child. Grab a child around the shoulders and tell them you love them and teach them how to read. It's these acts of compassion and decency which will help lay the foundation for a more hopeful America in the future. You know, when I was campaigning for Governor and still as President, I've talked about a cultural change. I said, it's so important for us to change the culture away from that of my generation, which has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." That's happening in America. People understand that they are responsible for the decisions they make in life. I believe a culture of personal responsibility is beginning to take hold, and perhaps the most important catalyst for that cultural shift is what took place on Flight 93. People were driving flying across the country, trying to get home, and all of a sudden they realized their airplane was a weapon. And they said a prayer, and they told their loved ones goodbye, and they served a cause greater than self by driving that airplane into the ground. It's that sense of sacrifice and courage that will serve as an example for young and old alike. It's that concept of serving something greater than you which will allow this great Nation to show the world that we will overcome evil with good. I want to thank you all for your friendship. I repeat, I want to thank you for the greatest gift you can give a President and his wife, and that's your prayers. I want to thank you for supporting my friend, the current and next Governor of the State of Texas. I want to thank you all for coming. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. June 14, 2002 Thank you all very much. I appreciate that very warm welcome. President Kirwan, thank you for inviting me. Governor Taft, Chairman Patterson, distinguished members of the Ohio State faculty, trustees, family members, distinguished guests, and most importantly, members of the mighty class of 2002. Congratulations. You've earned a degree at a great American institution, and you have every right to be proud. I want to congratulate your parents. Many of you have written your last tuition check. Laughter That must be nice. I'm still writing them. Laughter You've given so much encouragement and support to your children, and their gratitude will only increase over the years. I also commend Ohio State's fine faculty, which has done so much to shape the minds and hopes of the graduating class. One more word of congratulations is in order. Today I had the honor of meeting Coach Jim Tressel most polite of him to share with me the really fine experience that the Buckeyes had up in Ann Arbor this year. And I appreciate so very much the honorary degree you're conferring upon me today. I'm delighted that George Steinbrenner is receiving one as well. I guess we're both being honored as legends of baseball laughter legends, at least, in our own minds. Laughter I am now the only person standing between you and your diploma. The tradition of commencement addresses is to be brief and forgotten. I assure you that this speech will be shorter than it seems. Your senior year was special in your life, and the months since last September have been extraordinary in our country's history. On a Tuesday morning, America went from a feeling of security to one of vulnerability, from peace to war, from a time of calm to a great and noble cause. We're called to defend liberty against tyranny and terror. We've answered that call. We will bring security to our people and justice to our enemies. In the last 9 months, we've seen the true character of our country. We learned of firefighters who wrote their Social Security numbers on their arms with felt tip pens, to mark and identify their bodies, and then rushed into burning buildings. We learned of the desperate courage of passengers on Flight 93, average citizens who led the first counter attack in the war on terror. We watched the searchers, month after month, fulfill their grim duty and New Yorkers line the streets to cheer them on their way to work each morning. And in these events, we relearned something large and important The achievements that last and count in life come through sacrifice and compassion and service. Some believe this lesson in service is fading as distance grows from the shock of September the 11th, that the good we have witnessed is shallow and temporary. Your generation will respond to these skeptics, one way or another. You will determine whether our new ethic of responsibility is the break of a wave or the rise of a tide. You will determine whether we become a culture of selfishness and look inward or whether we will embrace a culture of service and look outward. Because this decision is in your hands, I'm confident of the outcome. Your class and your generation understand the need for personal responsibility, so you will make a culture of service a permanent part of American life. After all, nearly 70 percent of your class volunteers in some form, from Habitat for Humanity to Big Brothers and Big Sisters to OhioReads. Ohio State has been a leading source of Peace Corps volunteers since 1961. I honor the 29 ROTC members in today's graduating class for their spirit of service and idealism. I hope each of you I hope each of you will help build this culture of service, for three important reasons Service is important to your neighbors service is important to your character and service is important to your country. First, your idealism is needed in America. In the shadow of our Nation's prosperity, too many children grow up without love and guidance. Too many women are abandoned and abused. Too many men are addicted and illiterate, and too many elderly Americans live in loneliness. These Americans are not strangers they are fellow citizens, not problems but priorities. They are as much a part of the American community as you and I, and they deserve better from this country. Government has essential responsibilities Fighting wars and fighting crime protecting the homeland and enforcing civil rights laws educating the young and providing for the old giving people tools to improve their lives helping the disabled and those in need. But you have responsibilities as well. Some Government needs some needs Government cannot fulfill, the need for kindness and for understanding and for love. A person in crisis often needs more than a program or a check. He needs a friend, and that friend can be you. We are commanded by God and called by our conscience to love others as we want to be loved ourselves. Let us answer that call with every day we are given. Second, service is important in your own life, in your own character. No one can tell you how to live or what cause to serve, but everyone needs some cause larger than his or her own profit. Apathy has no adventures. Cynicism leaves no monuments. And a person who is not responsible for others is a person who is truly alone. By sharing the pain of a friend or bearing the hopes of a child or defending the liberty of your fellow citizens, you will gain satisfaction that cannot be gained in any other way. Service is not a chain or a chore. It gives direction to your gifts and purpose to your freedom. Lyndsey Holben is an OSU sophomore majoring in business. When she was in high school, Lyndsey had a friend and a classmate who died from an illness, and Lyndsey decided she wanted to work with children who suffer from life threatening diseases. Today, Lyndsey is a leader among volunteers for the Make A Wish Foundation. Here's what she had to say "It's hard enough to put a smile on someone's face but especially someone who is hurting. Even if that's all you can do, that is something, and there is no better feeling in the world." Lyndsey and others here today have learned that every life of service is a life of significance. Third, we serve others because we're Americans, and we want to do something for the country we love. Our Nation is the greatest force for good in history, and we show our gratitude by doing our duty. Patriotism is expressed by flying the flag, but it is more. Patriotism means we share a single country. In all our diversity, each of us has a bond with every other American. Patriotism is proven in our concern for others, a willingness to sacrifice for people we may never have met or seen. Patriotism is our obligation to those who have gone before us, to those who will follow us, and to those who have died for us. In March of this year, Army Ranger Marc Anderson died in Afghanistan, trying to rescue a Navy SEAL. Marc and five others gave their lives in fulfilling the Ranger creed "I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy." Marc, from Westerville, Ohio, was a remarkable man. Instead of pursuing a career that might have made him wealthy, Marc decided to be a math teacher in a high school in a tough neighborhood. He was a mentor, a tutor, and the best teacher many students ever had. After September the 11th, Marc joined the fight against terrorism. "I'm trained, and I'm ready," he wrote to his friends. Before Marc left for Afghanistan, he arranged for part of his life insurance to pay for one of his former students to attend college. Today, that student, Jennifer Massing, plans to go to the University of Florida to study architecture. Marc Anderson considered this country great enough to die for. Surely it is great enough to live for. And we live for America by serving others. And as we serve others, this challenge can only be answered in individual hearts. Service in America is not a matter of coercion it is a matter of conscience. So today I'm making an appeal to your conscience, for the sake of our country. America needs more than taxpayers, spectators, and occasional voters. America needs full time citizens. America needs men and women who respond to the call of duty, who stand up for the weak, who speak up for their beliefs, who sacrifice for a greater good. America needs your energy and your leadership and your ambition. And through the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and decency, we will change America one soul at a time, and we will build a culture of service. I have asked all Americans to commit at least 2 years 4,000 hours over a lifetime to the service of our neighbors and our Nation. My administration created what we call the USA Freedom Corps to help Americans find service opportunities at home and abroad. We're doubling the size of the Peace Corps. We'll increase AmeriCorps by 50 percent. We've created Citizen Corps to help protect the homeland. And today I'm announcing an historic partnership. We are bringing together the broadest group of service organizations ever assembled to create the USA Freedom Corps Network. The USA Freedom Corps Network includes America's Promise, the Points of Light Foundation, the United Way, VolunteerMatch, SERVEnet, and many other organizations will be the most comprehensive clearinghouse of volunteer opportunities ever assembled. This network will enable you to find volunteer opportunities within your neighborhoods and communities and in countries around the globe. One of the main reasons people give for not volunteering is that no one has asked them to do so. Another reason They don't know where to start. Well, today I'm asking each of you to serve your country, and through the USA Freedom Corps Network, you've got a place to start. All that remains is for you to answer the call to service. I hope you do, and I believe you will. A life of service isn't always easy. It involves sacrifices, and I understand many other things will lay claim to your time and to your attention. In serving, however, you will give help and hope to others. You will your own life will gain greater purpose and deeper meaning. You will show your love and allegiance to the United States, which remains what it has always been, a citadel of freedom, a land of mercy, the last, best hope of man on Earth. And so to the graduates of Ohio State University Congratulations on your achievement. I want to thank you for this honorary degree. I leave here a proud member of the class of 2002. I leave here confident that you will serve our country and a cause greater than self. May God bless you and your families, and may God bless America. June 13, 2002 President Bush. We're going to have an opening statement the Prime Minister will. I will call upon an American reporter. The Prime Minister will call upon an Australian reporter. I will then call upon an American reporter. The Prime Minister will finish by calling on an Australian reporter. Mr. Prime Minister, welcome. Prime Minister Howard. Thank you. President Bush. The United States has got a great friend in Australia, and I've got a personal friend in the Prime Minister. And I want to thank you for your steadfast support when it comes to fighting terror. I reminded the people here in the meeting that the last time the Prime Minister and I visited here in America was on September the 10th, and our world was changed forever the next day. I found it really interesting that one of our best friends was with the President of the United States the day before the attack. And our best friend will be with us at the end of this war, too, and that's really comforting to know. I look forward to working with you on a variety of issues. I look forward to coming to your country one day. The Prime Minister invited me to go down to Australia. I'd love to go. But I want to welcome you very much an honor to call you friend. Prime Minister Howard. Thank you very much, Mr. President. There is something rather poignant about us meeting again in this Oval Office and remembering the last time was the 10th of September. I said to the Congress yesterday that America had no better friend anywhere in the world than Australia. I want to put on record the admiration of the Australian people for the tremendous leadership that you've displayed, Mr. President, over the past 9 months. Australia is a firm and faithful friend, and we are in there with you in the fight against terror. It still has a long way to go, and I think it's very important that the people don't imagine that the fight is anywhere near complete. And there will be a lot of commitment on our part, and we do respect and admire the contribution that you're making as the leader of the world's response. And personally, can I thank you very warmly for your welcome and that of your administration. It was a real honor to address the other part of the United States Government yesterday and to talk to some of the Congressmen and to understand the processes of your form of democracy. We each have our own challenges. You have yours I have mine. Laughter But it's great to be here. And I said yesterday that Americans and Australians like each other and they find it easy to relate to each other. And I've certainly found that, at a personal level, with you, Mr. President. And thank you very much. President Bush. Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . Future Palestinian State Q. Mr. President, Secretary of State Powell has been talking to Arab and Middle Eastern media in recent days about you very soon having a timeline for Palestinian statehood. And he's also raised the possibility of a provisional or temporary Palestinian state to get the ball moving. Do those statements reflect your views? And how soon could we anticipate something from this? President Bush. I'm listen, I'm listening to a lot of opinion. I met today with the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia. The Prime Minister and I talked about the subject. And I think it's probably wise for people not to spend a lot of time speculating. I'm going to lay out my vision at some point in time. It's going to be a vision that will help lead toward two states living side by side. People are going to have to be in order to achieve that vision, people are going to have to take responsibility. Israelis are going to have to be responsible Palestinians are going to have to be responsible the Arab world is going to have to assume responsibility to achieve this vision. And there's one thing for certain that I strongly believe, and that is that we must build the institutions necessary for the evolution of a Palestinian state which can live peacefully in the region and provide hope for the suffering Palestinian people. Mr. Prime Minister. Prime Minister Howard. Inaudible Iraq Q. Mr. Prime Minister, Vice President Dick Cheney has said in recent days that the problem of Iraq requires a direct response from both the United States and its allies. I just wonder whether you discussed that issue, whether, Mr. President, there was any timeline on what you would require from Australia? Prime Minister Howard. Well, we discussed it. I think what's been said by the administration earlier on this was repeated. Clearly, Iraq's behavior has been in relation to the weapons of mass destruction has been offensive to many countries, including the United States and Australia. But the question of any action by the United States is a matter for the United States. And I've indicated before in Australia, and I repeat now, that if there are any approaches made to Australia, we'd consider them in the circumstances, at the time, if they occur. President Bush. Yes, I told the Prime Minister there are no war plans on my desk. I haven't changed my opinion about Saddam Hussein, however. He is this is a person who gassed his own people and possesses weapons of mass destruction. And so, as I told the American people and I told John, we'll use all tools at our disposal to deal with him. And of course, before there is any action military action I would closely consult with our close friend. But there are no plans on my desk right now. Yes, John John Roberts, CBS News . New Source Review Q. Mr. President, on the New Source Review changes that were announced by the EPA today, environmental groups say that this is a giveaway to industry that will actually increase pollution at these dirtiest powerplants. One former member of the EPA who joined that organization under "Bush 41" said today that the new rules are disgraceful, sir. And I'm wondering what your opinion is. President Bush. They're absolutely wrong. The New Source Review reforms, coupled with the clear skies legislation, will reduce pollution by approximately 70 percent. This administration is committed to clean air, and we're going to work vigorously to achieve clean air. Trade Promotion Authority Q. Mr. President, if Congress gives you trade approval, will a trade deal be a priority with Australia? And will Australian farmers get better access to American markets? President Bush. Yes. I talked to John about the importance of trade. The qualifier was, if Congress were to give me trade promotion authority I appreciate you qualifying it that way. I urge Congress to give me trade promotion authority, so Prime Minister Howard. So do I. Laughter President Bush. so we can have fruitful discussions with our friend. But first things first. And as you know, a bill passed the House, and one passed the Senate. And now it's time for them to get together and get the bill to me. And I would more than willing to ask my man Zoellick to talk to the Australians, but only until and after we get TPA. Listen, thank you all for coming. June 13, 2002 Thank you all. So I give Kvamme a salary, and he leads a standing ovation. Thank you. Laughter Thank you all very much. I'm honored you're here. I particularly want to thank our panelists for sharing their wisdom. And I want to thank you all for taking time to come and visit about how to make sure our Nation is secure and strong and hopeful. I want to thank the members of my Cabinet who are here, Don Evans and Elaine Chao. I want to thank John Marburger for being here as well. You know, we these are extraordinary times. I remember campaigning, and somebody said, "Would you ever deficit spend?" I said, "Only if there was a war or a recession or a national emergency." Laughter I didn't think we were going to get the trifecta. Laughter But there's no doubt in my mind we can and will solve all three. And one of the keys to recovery on the economic side is a strong and vibrant high tech industry. I know that I understand the importance of productivity gains and what it means for average Americans. My attitude is, as long as somebody's not working, we've got a problem. I know people here in Washington like to look at statistics, and that's fine. But so long as somebody wants to work and can't find work, people in Government need to think about ways to expand economic opportunity. And one way to do so is to make sure that our country is still on the cutting edge of productivity gains. There's a practical application to high tech, by the way, one that's really come home to roost recently. And that is, you know, when it comes to the defense of our country, our high tech gains have made a enormous difference. Let me take a step back. We fight an enemy which is cruel and heartless and relentless. You just need to know that. And even though we've made some progress and we have as I said the other night, we and our friends have hauled in about 2,400 of them. There's still a lot of them out there, which means this country is in for a long war. Particularly and it's necessary because we're defending freedom. That's what you've got to know. And it's real, and we're going to have to deal with it. And we can deal with it diplomatically, which we'll do. We've got a great coalition we've put together, and we'll keep the coalition together. We'll share intelligence, which we will continue to do, to make sure that we can find these killers wherever they try to hide. And at the same time, we'll continue to fight a guerrilla war with conventional means, because we're the best in the world with high technology. The first battle in the war first war of the 21st century was in Afghanistan, as you know. And a lot of people said, "Well, it's impossible to fight that war there because of past experiences." And of course, we were somewhat mindful of history. And yet what people didn't realize was that because of precision guided weapons, we were really accurate, which was bad news for the enemy, good news for the civilian population and coalition forces. We fly a Predator airplane. Probably some of you all designed the programming and all the materials that make it work. We fly a Predator airplane now that has got the capacity on a real time basis to send signals back to the United States about what's going on on the ground. It can fly at night it flies at day. It gives people a pretty good look about what the enemy may or may not be doing. This Predator saves time, saves lives, is an incredibly important part of fighting a guerilla war with conventional means. It means our targeting is a heck of a lot more accurate. It means the information that the people in the field receive is timely and real and fast, thanks to the high tech industry of America. Our high tech advantage will make it easier for us to keep the peace. We talk about weapons of war, but I want you to know, they are used to keep the peace. That's the dream of this administration, is to make the world more peaceful. And we're going to have to continue to use high tech means and high tech equipment to chase the killers down one by one. It is fortuitous that America is on the cutting edge of high technology at this time in history, because of the nature of the war. In the old days, there would be columns of tanks and artillery moving here and airplanes flying there. And now we're facing sophisticated killers who hide in caves, who communicate in shadowy ways, and who are plenty lethal. And we're going to win the war because of our resolve and our determination and our love for freedom, but we're also going to win the war thanks to the incredible technology and technological breakthroughs that we have achieved here in America. And we're going to win protect our homeland in a better way as well, because of technology. And that's important for Americans to know. Listen, I fully you probably can tell by now, I believe the best defense is a good offense. So we're going after them. But in the meantime, we've got to do a better job of securing the homeland. And I can envision a lot of new technologies that enable us to communicate with first responders and to be able to communicate between the Federal and State and local governments. As you probably have read, we've had a we need to do a better job of gathering intelligence and sharing intelligence between different agencies of our Government. All of this is going to require, by the way, in order to do so, new technologies within the FBI and the CIA and the ability to communicate with each other and the ability to filter out what information should go from one agency to the next all aimed at protecting the homeland. And so when you hear me talk about homeland security and the new Department of Homeland Security, it's one of the missions is going to be to make sure it's a modern agency that actually functions the way modern corporate America functions. And that's one reason why I have asked for the Congress to put all the agencies under one head. I mean, this is 100 different groups here in Washington trying to defend the homeland. You can imagine, there's not a lot of accountability when they're scattered all over DC. And I'd like to streamline this agency, not to create bigger Government but to create a Government that will actually work and work in a way that protects the homeland. We've got a lot of work to do, but I'm confident if we're wise about how we use technologies and the advantages of E government, that the country will be more secure. So I want to thank you for your contributions to national defense. You probably never dreamt, by the way, a year and a half ago or 2 years ago that a President of the United States would be addressing a high tech conference, thanking you for your contributions to the defense of the United States and the defense of our homeland. But that's the realities of the new world. And fortunately, our country has been smart about how we have how our economy has developed. I was interested to read that our Government plans to spend 53 billion on information technology next year. Now, if you're one of the recipients of that 53 billion, make sure that the product actually works, please. Laughter It is important. It's important to make sure Government functions better, but more importantly, it will help our taxpayers have better response to democracy and get better information more quickly. And so I'm pleased that we're working on E government. I just urge people to focus on results and not process. The other thing that I want you all to understand is I think I've got a pretty clear vision of the role of Government, and it's not to create wealth. That's not the role of the Government. The role of Government is to create an environment in which people who've got a good idea and are willing to work for it can make a living and expand their businesses and employ people. I've met many of you before, and I told you if you gave me a chance to be here in Washington, I would work to cut taxes. Fortunately, I kept my promise, and it was good for the American economy that I did so and that the Congress acted. The tax relief came at the right time. Now, some don't subscribe to that theory here in Washington, but they read a different economic textbook than I do. Their view is, we ought to not lower taxes in times of recession. In essence, their view is, we ought to keep as much money in Washington, DC, as possible. That doesn't lead to economic recovery. My view is and you know what it is, which is if you let people keep more of their own money, they'll spend it. And when they spend it, they're going to demand a good and service, and then somebody's got to provide the good and service. This tax cut was the right thing to do. It's important that the Congress now make the tax cuts permanent. I saw we had a little setback when the Senate unwisely didn't make the elimination of the death tax permanent. The death tax is a bad tax. It's a bad tax for entrepreneurial America. It's a bad tax for people from all walks of life. It's a bad tax if you're worried about urban sprawl. It's a bad tax if you're a farmer or a rancher. And yet, they don't want to make it permanent. I don't know why. I guess it's politics. I think the reason why you make tax relief permanent is because it is important that there be predictability in the Tax Code. The other thing that was interesting about this tax relief package is that most small businesses in America, a lot of startups are unincorporated businesses or limited partnerships. They pay tax the people involved with the corporation pay tax on the personal income tax level. And by cutting taxes on everybody who pays taxes, it is a stimulus to economic vitality in many sectors of our economy in which we want there to be economic vitality, particularly in the minority sectors where business ownership is increasing dramatically. Tax relief was good for the entrepreneurial spirit of America. In order to enhance the ability for people to make a living, we must open up markets around the world. We've had a battle here on trade. There are people who don't believe in free trade. There are people who believe that kind of walling off America from the world would lead to more job growth. I completely disagree. The more we trade, the more jobs there will be in America. The more we are willing to sell our markets and work where we've got a competitive advantage, the better off the workforce will be, the more likely it is an entrepreneur will be able to succeed. And so I have worked hard to get Congress to pass what they call trade promotion authority, which will give me the ability to negotiate trade treaties. And we're making progress. Now, I'd like your help to convince both the Members of the Senate and the House to reconcile their differences in the conference committee and get me a trade promotion authority as quickly as possible. And with that trade promotion authority, not only will I work to expand free trade throughout our hemisphere my attitude is, good foreign policy starts with a neighborhood which is democratic, free, prosperous, and strong but I will work in other parts of the world to open up markets, markets for high tech products, markets for our agricultural people. And I'll be aggressive at it I will. And if I find unfair trade practices, by the way, I'm going to enforce the law, the laws on the books. And so I want to thank you for your support on trade promotion authority. We're also working to reform the Export Administration Act, known as the EAA. We've got a bill out of the Senate we're working to get a bill out of the House. And I want you all to understand you've probably been told this already, but I want to tell you what else we've done. We've raised the control limits for computer systems, and I'm eliminating outmoded controls on computer chips. The idea is to understand the difference between national security and free trade. And I think we've brought some common sense to this issue. One of the things I spent a lot of time listening about was education. And many of you all have been very much involved in education reform, and I want to thank you for that. And the bill we passed is a good bill. It really is, because it sets high standards. It refuses to accept the fact that we challenge the idea that certain kids can't learn let me just put it to you that way. It's easy to quit on kids. It's easy to say, "Well, there's a certain group of kids that can't learn, so why don't we just shuffle them through the system?" And for the first time, the Federal Government said, "In return for Federal money, you must measure. You must show us." Some people were squawking about that because they didn't want to be held accountable. You know, if you believe every child can learn, then you have no problem saying, "Show us if every child is learning." And so we've done that, and it's a good it's a really, really interesting reform. I know many of you are involved with the reform movement in your respective States, whatever that may mean, charter schools or choice programs. The best way to stimulate reform is to demand accountability. It's hard to cover up failure, and it's hard to justify failure. The bill also passes power out of Washington. It really does a pretty darn good job of aligning authority and responsibility at local levels. So I'm proud of the piece of legislation, and we'll continue to stay focused on education. We're also spending a lot of money on research and development, which I believe is a legitimate Federal function. We spend a lot of money at the NIH, which is good for health care in America, and we're spending over about 100 billion in research and development for your fields. And one of the things I hope Congress joins me on is making the R D tax credit permanent as well. You see, research has made a huge difference for product development. And I like to remind our fellow Americans that research expending their research their tax dollars on research will yield the interesting jobs, interesting opportunities. And so which really leads me to an interesting question that I know is on your mind, and that is broadband technology. This country must be aggressive about the expansion of broadband we have to. I used to travel around our State of Texas a lot. I saw some really innovative health programs. I remember going to the Texas Tech Medical Center and seeing a fellow have his ear examined by a nurse practitioner in I think it was Alpine, Texas. And the picture was clear, and the specialist was able to diagnose the disease. We have virtual classrooms in Texas, virtual school districts in Texas, where we've hooked up a fairly wealthy school district with rural or poor school districts. It made a huge difference. It would have been a heck of a lot better had there been broadband technology, however, to make the process move a lot quicker. I get when I'm down at Crawford, I'm in constant contact with our administration. We've got secure teleconferencing capacity there. And it's pretty good. It can be better. Laughter It can be more real time. It's an important part of life, and it's time for us to be time for us to move, move with an agenda. Hopefully, we're doing a pretty good job of working to eliminate hurdles and barriers to get broadband implemented. I've fought off or worked with Congress, is a better way to put it laughter to prevent access taxes on the Internet. It ought to be a tax free environment in order to encourage use. And of course, a lot of the action is going to come through the FCC. I know that, and you know that. And I'm confident that the Chairman and the Board is focusing on policies that will bring high speed Internet service, will create competition, will keep the consumers in mind, but to understand the kind of the economic vitality that will occur when broadband is more fully accessible. And so I want to thank you for giving me a chance to come and talk about how to make America safer and more prosperous. But I also want to spend some time talking about another important subject, and that's how to make America a better place. On my wall, there's a painting that says where the painter, a guy named Tom Lea he's a friend he says, "Sarah and I lived on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that has gone." I have that on the wall because it's a fine Texan who wrote it, and the painting is a beautiful painting. But that's how I see things. I believe that a tough and strong America will lead to peace. And I think we're going to be able to achieve peace in parts of the world where people don't believe peace is possible. I believe that. And it's going to require a kind of patient, steadfast strength. And the good news is, our country is patient and steadfast and strong. We really are. I also believe that out of the evil done to America will come some incredible good, particularly as our fellow Americans love their neighbor like they'd like to be loved themselves. And we spent time today talking about how people in corporate America can lend a hand about attacking pockets of hopelessness and despair which exist in America. If you run your business, encourage your employees through wise incentives to mentor a child or to build a home, to give time consistently to loving your neighbor. It is a central part of making America a complete and whole country. It is a key ingredient to winning the war against terror. We can fight evil with military might and weapons devised by a high tech world. As significantly, we can fight evil by doing acts of kindness and decency. Out of this evil will come, I believe, a culture which is going to herald personal responsibility and shift the culture of some of our generation which has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, it's somebody else's" where each of us are responsible for the decisions. We're responsible for loving our children, if you're lucky enough to be a mom or a dad. You're responsible for the misery in the community in which you may live of doing something about it. If you're running your company, by the way, you're responsible for fully disclosing your assets and your liabilities. And that's what and it's happening it's happening. The enemy hit us. They must have thought we were so weak and self absorbed, so materialistic, that all we would do was file a couple of lawsuits, if you know what I mean. Laughter Instead, they found that this mighty Nation will defend our freedom at all cost. And this mighty Nation is going to show the world the true heart of a great country. Thanks for coming. June 12, 2002 The President. Good afternoon, and thank you all for coming. On September the 11th, the world learned how evil men can use airplanes as weapons of terror. Shortly thereafter, we learned how evil people can use microscopic spores as weapons of terror. Bioterrorism is a real threat to our country. It's a threat to every nation that loves freedom. Terrorist groups seek biological weapons. We know some rogue states already have them. It's important that we confront these real threats to our country and prepare for future emergencies. Protecting our citizens against bioterrorism is an urgent duty of American American governments. We must develop the learning, the technology, and the health care delivery systems that will allow us to respond to attacks with state of the art medical care throughout our entire country. I want to thank the Members of the United States Congress who are here today, members of both parties who have worked together on this bill. I appreciate Governor Tom Ridge's hard work, Tommy Thompson and your staff's hard work on this bill. I want to thank Tony Principi and Christie Todd Whitman from the Veterans Department as well as the EPA for being here and working on this bill. I appreciate very much Senator Ted Kennedy, the Chairman of the Senate Health and Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, for working with Bill Frist. I want to thank the other cosponsors from the committee who are here. I appreciate Members of the House Billy Tauzin and John Dingell for combining their talents and experience and energy to get the bill done. I want to thank Mike Bilirakis, Judd Gregg, who isn't here, and all the other Members of the Congress, to show the American people that when people of both parties work together they can do good work on behalf of our country. I want to thank Elias Zerhouni, who is the Director of the National Institution of Health, who is here with us today I appreciate you being here, Elias Dr. Les Crawford, who is the Acting Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration as well as Dr. David Fleming, who is the Acting Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I want to thank you all for being here as well. Biological weapons are potentially the most dangerous weapons in the world. Last fall's anthrax attacks were an incredible tragedy to a lot of people in America, and it sent a warning that we needed and have heeded. We must be better prepared to prevent, identify, and respond. And this bill I'm signing today will help a lot in this essential effort. First, the bill will enhance our ability to prevent and detect bioterrorist attacks. We must and we will improve inspections of food entering our ports and give officials better tools to contain attacks on our food supply. We'll have new authority to track biological materials anywhere in the United States. Second, the bill will strengthen the communications networks that link our health care providers with public health authorities. Biological attacks can be carried out quietly. Our health care professionals are likely to be the first to recognize that there has been an attack. The speed with which they detect and respond to a threat to public health could be the difference between containment and catastrophe. Thirdly, the bill will strengthen the ability of our health care system to expedite treatments across our country. It will provide our State and local health authorities with resources and tools needed to do their job. And this bill will further develop our stockpiles of smallpox vaccines. Finally, the bill will help us develop better medicines for the future. It reauthorizes and improves the Prescription Drug User Fee Act. This will make new lifesaving drugs and therapies available more quickly and will help ensure the safety and effectiveness of the treatments. We'll also be able to use the combined research expertise of the Government and the private sector to improve our vaccines, our medicines, and our diagnostic tests. Strengthening our protections against bioterror is part of a larger effort to deal with the new threats of the 21st century. If we're going to succeed, we need to reorganize our Government. And that's why I look forward to working with Congress to create the Department of Homeland Security, to make sure we align authority and responsibility, to make sure that we have an effective response to the enemy that still wants to hit America. This bill today I sign is a part of the process of doing our duty to protect innocent Americans from an enemy that hates America. I'm proud to sign the bill, and I'm proud to welcome the bill's sponsors here to the Rose Garden. Thank you all very much. At this point, the President signed the bill. The President. Thank you all very much. June 12, 2002 Well, thank you all very much for taking on this assignment. Joe, thank you for your being Chairman. And Bill Webster, we've got a lot of talented folks around this table. And I want to thank you for agreeing to help our Nation. We're under attack that's the way it is. The more we love freedom, the more we espouse values that are decent and honorable, the more we welcome religion in our society, open political discourse, the more this enemy is going to try to hit us. And we've got two courses of action. One is to run them down, wherever they try to hide, and bring them to justice. That's precisely what we're going to do. These people are the kind of people that they try to find a soft spot around the world and burrow in and plot and plan. And we're just going to have to enforce the doctrine Either you're with us, or against us either you join the coalition of freedom, or you're on the other side of the fence. And we're making good progress we really are. The other night when I announced this Department of Homeland Security, I made mention of the fact that our coalition has hauled in about 2,400 of these terrorists, these killers. The problem is there's still quite a number of them still out there. We're using our military we've got a great military, by the way. I'm really proud of the men and women who wear our uniform, and our Nation stands squarely with our military. We're using diplomatic pressure. That's an important tool. We're cutting off their money. That's we've been fairly effective at cutting off their money. We can all do a little better job of denying them the funds they need. They don't need a lot of money, but they do need money to conduct their attacks. We're sharing intelligence. I know many members of this committee have been very much involved in the intelligence gathering capacity of America, and we're doing a better job of finding our weaknesses here at home and working on the weaknesses. The CIA and the FBI now are doing a much better job today than they had been prior to September the 11th of sharing information across these what were once formidable jurisdictional boundaries. The culture of our agencies have changed since the war. The FBI has got a has got a new job, which is to prevent attack, and that's now their primary focus. And Bob Mueller is doing a good job of recognizing the cultural shift that needs to take place, of taking input, listening to people, and responding. So we're making progress we really are. But until we rout out every terrorist cell and every terrorist, until attitudes change about freedom in America, we've got to protect our homeland in a new way. And I want to thank you all for agreeing to help us. You're breaking new ground, and you're going to help us leave a legacy, so that future Presidents, future administrations, and future Congress can deal more effectively with how to do the most important job any elected official has, which is to protect innocent life. As you know, I called for the Department of Homeland Security. Obviously, I wouldn't have done so if I didn't think it was the absolute right thing to do. I think it's important to focus the mission, through reorganization. I know it's going to make help us be more effective here at home. I also recognize how tough the chore is going to be. I mean, after all, we are asking people in Congress to give up turf, as they say, give up a little power. And I'm under no illusions that asking folks to give up power can be a difficult assignment. So one of the things I'll do is remind the Members of Congress that this is not a political issue, that protecting America is an American issue, it's a duty we all have, and that I vow not to play politics with doing what's right. I'll also remind the Congress that I am going to speak to the American people about this issue. Once I propose it, I'm going to take my case beyond Washington to the true influence the real influence peddlers of America that's the American people, the people who work every day and who've got the capacity to inform their Members of Congress or the Senate their opinion. And that's what I'm going to continue to do. I'm going to continue to speak as plainly as I can about the need for this Department, assuring the American people that we're not interested in increasing the size and scope of the Federal Government, we're interested in efficiency. We want an organization that can work closely with local leaders such as my Mayor, Mayor Williams. We want to be able to respond better if something were to occur. We want to know how better to enforce our borders. We want to know when they're coming in the country and if they're overstaying their visas. We need to know that, in America, under this new the new threats under which we live. We've got to I signed a bioterrorism bill today. I want to thank you all for coming for the signing ceremony. I saw Jim Schlesinger there, and I'm sure you're glad I cut my remarks in half, because the temperature seemed to be laughter seemed to be a little warm out there. But the idea is to better coordinate our capacity to detect weapons of mass destruction and respond to them if they occur. And finally, we need an analytical capacity within a department that can take all the intelligence that's gathered, not only by the FBI or the CIA but all throughout our Government, and analyze it so we have a better feel for what the terrorists might be thinking and then how to respond. And you all can play a very useful role in this in this process. You bring a lot of heft and a lot of experience and a lot of know how. You can definitely help us understand how best to coordinate Government activities with the private sector, and that's essential, that we team up to do everything we need to do to protect America. So I want to thank you for your service. I want you to know this administration is totally committed to protecting the people. Many of you are aware of the President's briefing he gets, sees or knows what the President reads. And they're still out there these people you know, these killers, they're still lurking around. But they picked on a they picked on a group of people who are plenty determined, and that's the American people. We've got a fabulous nation. And we're tough, and we're determined, and we're united, and we're strong. And at the same time, we're showing the world that we're a compassionate nation as well. We won the first battle, or we're winning the first battle in the war of the 21st century, which was in Afghanistan. And we went into that country not as conquerors but as liberators. And I'm proud of our Nation, and I'm proud of your service to our Nation. And I want to thank you all for giving us your time. God bless you all. Thank you. June 11, 2002 Thank you all. Thank you very much. Well, thanks for that most generous welcome. It's an honor to be here, back to the great State of Missouri. I'm here tonight for one reason I urge the good folks of Missouri to send this good man to the United States Senate. I want to thank all of you all for making this evening, I'm told, an historic evening. It's incredibly successful. I want to thank the good folks at the head table, who worked hard to send a clear message to others in the State of Missouri that Jim Talent's got great support all across the State. I particularly want to thank those who man the phones and stuff the envelopes, the grassroots workers that make an incredible difference on every election day. I understand this is the height of barbecue season. Laughter I know a little something about barbecue. Laughter We kind of think Texas barbecue is pretty good. Laughter But we had a barbecue recently on the lawn there at the White House. It was a magnificent event. We were able to invite Republicans and Democrats from the United States Congress, but one person was missing. So the next time I give a barbecue, we might just decide to have barbecue from this part of the world, as we eat barbecue with the next United States Senator, Jim Talent. I want to thank Brenda Talent for joining her husband in this great journey to serve the people of Missouri. I know what it's like to marry somebody above myself. Laughter I regret that Laura is not here today. She is out in the western part of our country. She was in Idaho and then Utah, going to go out to California later on today. And then she and I are going to team up or meet back up in Crawford, Texas, for the weekend. I've got to get some culture here one of these days, so I'm going back to Crawford. Laughter But you know, when I asked Laura to marry me, she was a public school librarian, and the truth of the matter is, she didn't particularly care for politics or politicians. Laughter But the people of this country are beginning to understand why I asked her to marry me. She's a class act. A lot of people are still scratching their heads wondering why she said yes. Laughter But we're doing great. A lot of you out there have prayed for my family. I want to thank you for the precious gift of the prayers of the people, and we feel strong and confident. I traveled here today with some fine folks in my administration Governor Tom Ridge, who is Director of the Homeland Security former Governor of the State of New Jersey, who's now the Administrator of the EPA, Christie Todd Whitman, is with us. Christie made a really good suggestion for our family right before the end of the campaign in 2000. She suggested that I buy Laura a birthday present. It's a pretty good suggestion, actually. Laughter I had forgotten. Laughter And it turned out that the gift was Barney, the Scottish terrier. Little Barney is a fabulous little guy. He's the son I never had. Laughter In that he's only 1 1 2, he really doesn't spend much time in the Oval Office. After all, we've got a new rug in there. Laughter But it's the chance for me publicly to thank Governor Whitman for her fine suggestion and a great addition to our family. Our family is also complete when we talk about Spot the dog. Spot was born at the White House when Mother and Dad were there, and Spot gets to come in the Oval Office on a regular basis. It is such an honor to walk into the Oval Office, dog or no dog. Laughter And I want to thank you all for giving me the chance to serve this great country. I particularly want to thank Ann Wagner for her good work for the Republican Party in Missouri as well as the national committee. I want to thank you all for raising a man who is doing a fantastic job for the country, and that is the Attorney General of the United States, John Ashcroft. I appreciate so very much your senior Senator, Kit Bond, who is traveling with me today. I want to thank you, Senator, for your leadership. Sam Graves, and Kenny Hulshof of the State of Missouri is with us as well, and I thank you all for being here. If you see them leaving after my speech, it's because they want a free ride. Laughter It's not a bad way to travel, I might add. Laughter We've also got a Congressman from the great State of California with us. He's the chairman of the Rules Committee, a close friend. He's doing a fine job for America, David Dreier. Thank you for coming, David. And then, of course, there's the Governor of Kansas. I'm surprised you all let him across the State line. Laughter But he's a good friend. He's done a fabulous job. He's brought a lot of dignity to the Governor's office in the State of Kansas. And that's Bill Graves. And finally, I'm proud of your secretary of state of Missouri, Matt Blunt. Matt was a Naval Reserve officer who just returned from Operation Enduring Freedom. And I want to thank you for your service, Matt. Jim Talent's an easy man to support. I like his values. I like the fact that he makes his family a priority. I like the fact that he loves his country more than himself. I like the fact that he's an experienced man. He served in the United States Congress, and when he served in the Congress, he served with distinction. You all may remember he was on the House Armed Services Committee. He believed we needed a strong military prior to September the 11th. I also appreciate the fact that he understands the significant role small business plays in our society. It's really important that our small business sector be vibrant and strong, that there be less regulations on the small business person, there be less taxation on the small business person, and that we think aggressively about how to make sure small businesses can take care of their own, can help their employees. That's why his support of the association health plans makes so much sense. It's so logical. We need a logical mind, a can do fellow in the United States Senate representing that junior seat. I want to thank Jim as well for understanding the role of Government is not to create wealth. The role of Government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneur and small business owner can flourish. And that is why it was vitally important that we cut the taxes on the working people in America. Occasionally you hear the voices up there in Washington saying, "Oh, the tax cut didn't mean anything." The tax cut meant a lot. When you let people keep more of their own money, it increases demand. And when you increase demand for goods and services, somebody is going to provide the goods and services. And when somebody provides the goods and services, it means somebody can find work. This tax cut came at the right time for America, and we need to make it permanent. And Jim Talent will be a vote I can count on when it comes to cutting the taxes on the American people. He understands that if you're good at something, you ought to promote it. We're good at agriculture in America. We're good at high tech in America. And we ought to be selling our products not only at home but overseas. I need trade promotion authority, and I need a vote in the United States Congress that will give me trade promotion authority, for the good of American workers. One of the debates we're going to have in Washington right now, and it may spill over when he's the Senator, is welfare reform. The 1996 law that Jim was integrally a part of has made a significant difference in the lives of millions of Americans. It has freed people from dependency upon Government. It has encouraged people to find dignity in their lives through work. And whatever we do, for the good of the American people, we must not we must not water down any welfare reform reauthorization. We must insist upon work and family, for the good of the American people. The next logical step for welfare reform is to unleash the great compassion of America, is to encourage faith based and community programs to be an integral part of helping people help themselves. Jim Talent understands that Government should not discriminate against programs based in religious institutions. We ought to welcome those programs, for the good of people whose lives we're trying to save and whose lives need additional hope. So I look forward to having him in the United States Congress, and I look forward to working with him to help us do our most important job, which is to secure our homeland, which is to do everything we can to protect the American people. I was telling you, I took Spot there in the Oval Office. I sit at the desk, by the way, where the Roosevelts sat. Since I'm a President, I can Ted and Franklin laughter Kennedy sat, Reagan sat. I go in this magnificent office, which is really a shrine to the great democratic traditions of our country, and I read an assessment from our intelligence services about the plans of the enemy. And it reminds me every day of two things One, that we face nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers, is the best way I can describe them and that all of us must work together to protect the innocent people of America. And that's why last week I proposed a reorganization of agencies all throughout our Government into one Cabinet, called the Department of Homeland Security. My intention, of course, is not to create more Government. As a matter of fact, I ran I said, "Give me a chance. I won't create more Government." My intention is to make Government work. There are over 100 different agencies involved with protecting our homeland, agencies scattered throughout the Federal bureaucracy, which means it's kind of hard to determine who's responsible, who is accountable for the protection of the American people. And so, for the good of our country, I've called upon Congress to reorganize Government in a way that allows us all to more effectively deal with the true threats that face America. This agency will be charged with enforcing our border. Listen, we need to know who's coming into the country. We need to how long they intend to stay. We need to know whether or not they've left like they said they were going to do. We need to make sure that we can respond to any bioterrorist attack. We need to be wise about what can happen and, if it does happen, what to do about it. We need to reorganize so that we've got the capacity to deal effectively with local governments, particularly our first responders, the brave police and fire and EMS crews that serve the public with such distinction. And we need to make sure that any intelligence gathered is analyzed properly so that we can anticipate threats, so we get a better feel for what may be happening in America and then devise a plan to deal with it. People say, "Well, gosh, that sounds pretty simple to get done." The problem is, we're dealing with some in Congress who guard what they call "turf." They don't like the thought of losing jurisdiction over one of the 100 groups. They don't like the idea of perhaps the appropriations process being taken away from them. But for the good of the country, the United States Congress needs to put political partisanship aside. They need to put turf battles aside and do what's right to secure the homeland. Let me share a couple of examples about what I'm talking about. The Coast Guard is an incredibly important part of our of securing our border. The Coast Guard is and they do a great job, by the way, and they've got a lot of tasks. But there's nothing more important than border security. And yet the Coast Guard reports to the Transportation Department. The Transportation Department's primary function is railroads and airplanes and highways, not the security of the United States. The Customs Department needs to be an integral part of enforcing our border, and yet the Customs Department reports to the Secretary of Treasury. His job isn't homeland security his job is fiscal policy in the United States. For the good of the American people, we need to align the responsibilities, align authority and responsibility so that I can hold somebody to account, because I can assure you, the American people are going to hold me to account. I know you hear about all these threats, but you need to know we're doing everything we can possibly do to prevent the enemy from hitting us. Prior to September the 11th, the FBI, for example, was focused on law enforcement, and that's good. We want them to be focused on law enforcement. But the culture is changed. We've made a lady came before it the other day and brought some pretty good evidence, evidence that we needed to look at to make sure that if there's any gaps, we deal with them. And now Director Mueller, who was on the job one week prior to September the 11th, by the way, comes to my office every morning, reporting in to me about what the FBI is doing to prevent attack. The culture is shifting in Washington, DC, and that's incredibly positive for the American people. We've got a lot of work to do we've got a lot of work to do, but we're making good progress. But you need to know how I think. The best way to secure the homeland of our country is to hunt the killers down one by one and bring them to justice. And that's precisely what the United States is going to do. I submitted a budget that prioritizes our national defense. It's the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan was the President of the United States. I did so for two reasons One, anytime we put our young into harm's way, they deserve the best training, the best equipment, the best pay possible and two, it's a signal to the American people, our allies, and as importantly, to the enemy, that the United States of America is in this war for the long pull. There is not a calendar on my desk that says, by such and such a moment, you're going to quit. That's not what somebody does when it comes to defending that which we hold dear, and this country loves freedom. I can't imagine what was going through the minds of the enemy when they attacked us. They must have said, "Well, you know, these people in America are soft they're so materialistic and so self absorbed and so basically weak that all the great country might do is file a couple of lawsuits." Laughter They were wrong. If anybody attacks our freedom, if anybody thinks the United States of America will blink in the face of terrorist activity, they have significantly, significantly underestimated the will of the American people. This is a war unlike any we've ever had. There's not great columns of equipment moving across a country. There's not vast industrial complexes manufacturing weapons to be used in these armies. We fight a shadowy group of killers who like to hide in caves and send youngsters to their suicide. They think they can hide from our country and our coalition, but because we're patient and steadfast and brave and determined, there is no cave deep enough for people who want to harm America and take away our freedoms. The enemy has suffered a significant defeat in the first battle in the first war of the 21st century, and that was in Afghanistan. It is important for you all to tell the young ones in America, when you have a chance, that this great country of ours does not seek revenge. America seeks justice. And I ask you to point out to the young ones that when we went into Afghanistan, we arrived not as conquerors but as liberators. As a result of the United States and our friends and allies, young girls go to school for the first time in Afghanistan. By freeing the Afghan people from the clutches of the most barbaric regime in modern history, we have liberated people, for the good of the people of Afghanistan. Sometimes the American people will see progress on their TV screens, and sometimes you won't. In my speech the other night, I informed the American people that we've we and our friends have arrested and detained over 2,400 terrorists. As you read in the newspaper, we now need to make that 2,401. We're upholding the doctrine that says, "Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. Either you love freedom, or you stand against the United States of America." No matter where these killers light, the United States and our friends and allies will bring them to justice, no matter how long it takes, because history has called us into action. History has given us the opportunity to defend freedom, and that's precisely what we're going to do. And freedom is not only at risk as a result of one terrorist network freedom's at risk because of terrorist networks around the world. And freedom is at risk with the thought that Al Qaida or an Al Qaida type organization could mate up or team up with one of these nations which develops weapons of mass destruction. That's a nightmare scenario to think about. Think about the fact that people hate our freedoms, hate the fact that we are tolerant of religion, hate the fact that we speak our minds freely, and they develop the capacity to deliver a horrible weapon via ballistic missiles that could change the dynamic of the ability for us to keep peace. It could cause people to blanch, to blink in the face of such a threat. I'm a patient man. I'll use all the tools at our disposal. But we will not let the world's worst leaders hold America and our friends and allies hostage with the world's worst weapons. Ann mentioned I'm an optimistic fellow, and I am. I believe that out of the evil done to America will come some incredible good. You also need to tell people that we fight for peace. That's what we fight for. I long for a peaceful world. And I believe that if America continues to lead with steadfast purpose and strong resolve, that we not only can achieve peace for the American people, but we can achieve peace in places around the world that have seemingly no hope for peace. It's important for us to keep peace in mind. And at home, I believe that we're a better country as a result of the evil done to us, because I believe Americans have heard the call that if you want to join the fight against evil, do some good love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. I'm asked all the time, "What can I do to help?" My answer is, mentor a child. If you want to fight evil, tell somebody you love them. Show somebody your compassion. Join your church or synagogue and mosque's programs to feed the hungry. It is important in this Nation for us to recognize there are pockets of despair and hopelessness. And I believe that through compassion and love, we can save those people and show them America is meant for them. I recognize one person can't do everything, but I want you to know, one person can do something. One person can be a part of saving America, one soul, one conscience, one heart at a time. The American people are responding, because our people are deeply kind and compassionate people. People all across the country are taking responsibility for their lives. I believe out of the evil done to America, there's a good chance we'll change our culture from one which has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a new culture which says, "Each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life." If you're a mom and a dad, you're responsible for loving your child with all your heart and with all your soul. If you're a responsible citizen of Kansas City, you have the responsibility to help somebody in need. If you run a company in corporate America, you have a responsibility to disclose all your assets and all your liabilities. You have a responsibility to your employees, and you have a responsibility to your shareholders. And the reason I believe this is happening, because I believe Americans realize serving something greater than yourself in life helps complete life. Serving something greater than your own self interests is part of what a full life is all about. And it's happening across America it is. I think perhaps the most significant moment after 9 11, or during 9 11, was Flight 93. We had people on an airplane, flying across our country. They thought they were on a business trip, or traveling thought it was a normal day. They were told on their cell phones that the enemy was using airplanes as a weapon. They realized that the hijacked plane they were on was going to be used to kill, and they decided to serve something greater than themselves. In this case, they served their country. They said a prayer, they told their loved ones they loved them, and they drove a plane into the ground. It is a sign to me that the great courage and heart of America is alive and strong. And all of us must use that example of serving something greater than themselves as we join this war against evil. And by so doing, out of the evil will come incredible good for America. People will realize the greatness of our country. People will realize there's hope where there is no hope, light where there seems to be darkness. And it's going to happen in this country, no doubt in my mind, because this is the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. And it is a huge honor to be the President of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming. May God bless you all. June 11, 2002 Department of Homeland Security The President. It's my honor to welcome the leadership of the Congress here to the to the Cabinet Room to discuss the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. We've had a really good discussion about the need to move forward with this idea. I'll let the leaders speak for themselves later on, but I what I've heard is, there's a commitment to get this done in a way that takes any partisanship out of the issue and at the same time strives for a date certain Congressman Gephardt suggested that we can get this done, or should try to get this done, by September the 11th. The Speaker spoke out about the need to work toward getting it done as soon as possible, as did Senator Daschle and Senator Lott. And my message here is, we want to work as closely as we can with the Congress to achieve this significant change and to leave behind a legacy for future Presidents and future Congresses, the legacy of a department that will work in close coordination to secure the homeland. We're in for a long struggle in this war on terror, and there are people that still want to harm America. And we have an obligation to our citizens to work together to do everything we can to protect the people. That commitment is shared by Republican and Democrat alike. And I'm thankful for the leadership that the Members here have shown, and I'm thankful for the good ideas that have been shared with our administration as we developed our vision of the Department of Homeland Security. I'll answer a couple of questions, then we've got to get going. Yes, Sonya Sonya Ross, Associated Press . Arrest of Abdullah al Muhajir Q. Sir, in the reporting on yesterday's belatedly announced arrest of Jose Padilla, it's come out that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has 107 radiation sources missing or stolen just since March 31st. Do you have any reason to believe that those samples or sources are not in Al Qaida or terrorist hands? The President. We will run down every lead, every hint. This guy Padilla's a bad guy, and he is where he needs to be, detained. Q. Mr. President, given the conspiratorial nature necessary to make a dirty bomb or any such device, can we anticipate from you any announcements related to this case, any additional arrests, any additional people in custody or in The President. As we run down these killers or would be killers, we'll let you know. And this guy Padilla is one of many who we've arrested. As I said in the speech to West Point, the coalition we put together has hauled in over 2,400 people, and you can call it 2,401 now. And there's there's just a full scale manhunt on. And Padilla's where he needs to be. David David Gregory, NBC News . Domestic Reaction to Terrorists Q. Mr. President, do you feel like the American people have grown complacent at all about the threat we face? And do you feel like the apprehension of Padilla is something of a wake up call? And should it be? The President. First of all, the American people are not complacent. They're patient, tough, determined, and they recognize we're fighting the first battle of the new wars of the 21st century. The Members of Congress are certainly not complacent. They are they reflect their States or their constituencies, and they know we've got a battle on our hands. I'm real proud of the American people. I'm proud of how the American people have responded. I'm proud of how strong the American people are, and I appreciate the compassion of the American people too. Last question. Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters . Situation in South Asia Q. New subject is the threat of war between India and Pakistan over, do you think? And what's the next step? The President. Well, we've made progress in defusing a very tense situation. And I want to thank all the countries who have been which have been sending representatives to India and Pakistan to try to persuade both leaders that it's war would be a disaster. And so the situation is getting better. But so long as there's troops amassed and people are still hostile toward each other, there's always a threat that something could happen. But I'm pleased with the progress we've made, and we'll continue to work the issue. June 11, 2002 Thank you very much. Please be seated. Thanks for that great Missouri welcome. I'm honored to be back here, to talk about how we're doing and what we're doing to make sure that America is safe and secure and America's a promising place for everybody who lives here. I'm traveling in pretty good company today. I've asked I had asked two of my Governors friends to join me in Washington, DC, to serve our Nation. And thankfully, they both agreed. First, the former Governor of New Jersey, now the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, a fine lady, a person doing an excellent job on behalf of all America, Christie Todd Whitman. And the former Governor of Pennsylvania, a man who, right after the attacks on our country, agreed to leave his job and come and serve as the adviser on homeland security, the first such adviser, a guy who has worked endless hours to make sure America is as safe as can possibly be, and that's my friend Tom Ridge. I want to thank Members of the United States Congress who are here today, some of whom flew down on Air Force One. I'm not suggesting they like a free flight. Laughter But it was good to have them on the plane Senator Kit Bond, from the State of Missouri where are you, Kit thank you. Congressman from this area, Sam Graves Sam, thank you for being here. Applause Sounds like Sam has got a lot of his cousins here. Laughter Kenny Hulshof as well, from the State of Mis souri Kenny, thank you for being here. I appreciate it. The next fellow's not from this area, although he claims he was born in Kansas City. He's a Congressman from California, chairman of the Rules Committee, David Dreier. Thank you for coming, David. Former Congressman Jim Talent has joined us today. I'm glad you're here, Jim. Thank you for coming. And the mayor of Kansas City, Madam Mayor Kay Barnes, is here. Thank you for coming, Madam Mayor. I'm honored you're here. I also want to thank the school officials. Mr. Principal, thank you for opening up this beautiful high school. I appreciate you giving us a chance to come by and share some thoughts with my fellow citizens. You know, I don't know what went through the minds of the enemy when they hit us. I can't imagine what they were thinking what kind of thought process did they have? I guess they thought America was so materialistic and so self absorbed and so selfish that all we would do after the attack was maybe file a lawsuit or two. They didn't understand that we love freedom, and if somebody tries to take our freedoms away or if somebody tries to frighten us because of our freedoms, we'll respond. And I'm proud to report this mighty Nation has responded. We are fierce, and we're tough when it comes to defending our values. I see a lot of you have brought your children I want to thank you for that. And I want you, as moms and dads and as grandparents, to make sure you tell your children that we fight not to seek revenge but we do so because we seek justice and that the overriding ambition of this country is to achieve long lasting peace. It's important our fellow citizens of all ages understand the goal and vision of a strong and tough America is a more peaceful world, that we long for chance for our own children and children all across the globe to grow up in societies which tolerate people based on and don't prejudice based upon people's religious beliefs, that we honor we honor freedom of religion we respect other people's opinions we honor the notion of being able to speak freely with political discourse. That's what we honor. It's important that when our children read about military movements or arrests, that it's all done with a clear understanding that this is a peaceful nation and that we long for a freer day for everybody around the globe. Our country is I like to use the word "tough," because we are. We are we're a tough country. We've got a great military. And for those of you who have got relatives in the military, I want to thank you on behalf of a grateful nation and thank them on behalf of a grateful nation as well. We're also a patient nation. The American people understand that this is a new type of war. After all, we were attacked. We lost thousands of innocent citizens. Old wars used to be battle lines and tanks moving here and equipment moving there and logistics. New wars are wars fought against shadowy enemies, people who hide in caves and then are willing to send youngsters to their death. And that kind of war's going to require patience and resolve. It's going to require us gathering the best intelligence we possibly can. It requires our great Nation to assemble a vast coalition of freedom loving people to join us as we're seeking these killers one by one. It requires us cutting off their money. One of the things that the terrorists and the enemy can't stand is to have their money dried up. They operate on money as well as they do on hate, and we're working with the financial institutions all over the world. We've got over 60,000 American troops around the world fighting terror a bunch of them in Afghanistan now. Not only are they in Afghanistan to fight terror, they're also there to bring some order into a chaotic society. One of the things I was most proud of is that when we sent our troops, they arrived in Afghanistan they weren't there to conquer a country they went in to liberate a country from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. And thanks to the United States and our coalition, young girls now go to school for the first time in their lives. This is an unusual kind of war because it sometimes will show up on your TV screens, and sometimes it won't. Sometimes there will be moments of high drama, and of course, good reporters will be going all kinds of hyperventilating about this action or that action. Laughter And sometimes you won't see a thing. Interestingly enough, we've rounded up and detained over 2,400 terrorists, and that's good. It's not just us our friends have as well. We're making progress. You probably read in the newspaper the number's now 2,401. And it's not very dramatic at times when that happens. But you need to know that we're steady and strong on the subject of keeping America free. I'm going to talk about homeland security, but the best way to secure our homeland is to hunt the killers down, one by one, and bring them to justice, and that is what we're going to do. It also is a new kind of war, because we're going to be confronted with the notion that these shadowy terrorists could hook up with a nation that has got weapons of mass destruction, the nations that I labeled "axis of evil," people who in one case have gassed their own people with a weapon of mass destruction, people who aren't afraid to use these weapons, people who hate America because of our freedoms. And I've made it clear that we will use all tools at our disposal. But one thing we are going to do is defend the American people and make sure that these terrorist networks don't hook up with these nations that harbor bad designs on us and at the same time develop the worst kind of weapons. We owe it to our children to defend freedom. We owe it to our children to defend what we believe in, and we owe it to the world to speak clearly Murder of innocent people is always wrong societies which mistreat women are always wrong religious intolerance is always wrong. And this country has a duty to speak out loud and clear. And when we see evil I know it may hurt some people's feelings it may not be what they call diplomatically correct but I'm calling evil for what it is. Evil is evil, and we will fight it with all our might. I recognize the best way to defend our homeland is to go on the offense, and we're going to. But we've got to do a pretty good job on defense as well. And that's why I've called for the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, a new Cabinet agency. And I'd like to explain why I did so. Right now, there are over 100 agencies responsible for a part of homeland security 100 different entities at the Federal level. Now, I'm a person who believes in accountability. One reason I believe in accountability is because I understand who the American people are going to hold accountable if something happens laughter me. Laughter And therefore, I'm the kind of fellow who likes to pick up the phone, and say, "How are we doing? How are we doing on implementing the strategy?" I don't like the idea of calling 100 different agencies. I like to call one, and say, "Here is the strategy, and what are you doing about it? And if you're not doing something about it, I expect you to. And if you don't, I'm going to find somebody else that will do something about it." We've got to have accountability. In order to get good results, it's important to hold people accountable and align authority and responsibility. And so that's part of my thinking, is to take the functions and put them under one in one Cabinet agency. The idea, of course, is not to grow the size of Government. I ran on making sure we didn't grow the size of Government. The idea is to make Government more effective and more efficient so we can do our job. Within this Cabinet Department, we're going to have four basic functions. One are borders. We've got to do a better job of protecting the borders of the United States. We need to know who's coming in and why they're not going out. Laughter We need to know what they're here for and how long they say they're going to be here for. And that requires a management plan and focus and technology. And I'll be honest with you, we've got a long way to go to make sure that what they call the INS is working the way we want it to work. But we've got the strategy we know what we need to do. Secondly, we've got to support our first responders, the fine police and fire and emergency medical squads, not only here in Kansas City but all across the country. We need to help them with their strategy of responding if need be. Thirdly, we've got to develop detection capability to be able to detect weapons of mass destruction, chemical, nuclear, biological weapons, and if they ever were to be used, figure out what to do about it. We've got to have a strategy to deal with bioterrorism, for example, here in America. And finally, we must have the capacity to analyze all sources of intelligence so that we can imagine the worst and plan for it, so we can figure out how best to deal with the new threats that face America. And those are the four major categories. And people say, "Well, can you give me some examples of why it's necessary?" Well, I'll give you a couple. The Customs Department Their job is to collect tariffs and to worry about people bringing things into our country, and yet they work for the Treasury Department. Well, the Treasury Department's job is to worry about fiscal matters, not the security of the homeland. Or how about the Coast Guard? The Coast Guard can do a good job of patrolling our borders, and they do. The Coast Guard is a fine outfit. But guess who they report to? The Transportation Department. The Transportation Department is worried about highways and airplanes and railroads. And so, in order to make sure that we had a strategy that works and a focus that is intense, it's important to have these agencies that have got responsibility to defend our homeland under one leader, under one Department. In other words, we've aligned functions, and that, in itself, will help change cultures within agencies. And that's an important aspect of making sure we defend our homeland. We've got to make sure agencies that have not been focused on defending the homeland change the culture, so that they do a more effective job of doing so. And I'll give you one example of where things have changed in a positive direction, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the FBI. And we've been reading a lot about the FBI lately. And I appreciate those who come forward and make suggestions as to how to better protect the homeland. But I wasn't surprised that the FBI wasn't fully prepared for the war against terror, because, after all, the FBI's major job up until September the 11th was to make cases against people who committed crimes already in America white collar crimes, spies. They really weren't focused on preventing attacks. And so we needed to change the culture. The FBI man running it now, a guy named Robert Mueller, came on one week before September the 11th. That's when he started his job. He's had his hands full. Laughter But he's a good man. He knows what to do. And he discovered that we needed to change the attitude, the focus, the culture within the FBI, so that its major function now is to think about how best to prevent attack, is to chase down every lead, to run down every hint, to follow every possible every possible terrorist activity and find out what they're up to, so that we can keep America safe. And it's happening it's happening. Now, that's not to say they're still not going to have an important law enforcement function they're not going to do what they used to do in the past. They are, of course. But the attitude in America has got to change, because we've got a new problem we're faced with. It's an enemy that who is very tough and smart and determined. They're not as tough and smart and determined as we are, however. The other thing we are doing a better job of is having the CIA, which collects information overseas, coordinate with the FBI. That's part of how you restructure agencies in order to better protect America. It used to be they didn't talk very much. There was kind of a I guess a structural problem. You just need to know we've changed that. We've changed it. It started, I guess, many ways with every morning I meet with George Tenet, who's the head of the CIA, and then after I named Bob Mueller, right after September 11th, he comes in every day as well. There's nothing like having face to face discussions with agency heads to determine how we're doing and whether or not people are talking to each other. And they are. And they are, and that's important. It's important that we link up the two. And this new capacity at the homeland Department of Homeland Security is going to be also important, where we'll have people whose job it is to analyze everything we see and assess everything we hear. And it's to make sure it's all in one area, so we can get a clearer picture of what may or may not be happening to America. As well, it is important for us to trust the local folks to do a better job at recognizing in Washington we don't have all the smarts, that we want to work with the mayors, people at the local level. We want to hear from the police and fire. We just came from one of the water treatment plants here in the area, and we're pleased to see how secure the plant is. Christie Todd was telling me, however, that we're going to eventually have grant money for water treatment facilities all around the country, to encourage them to make sure that any there's a full assessment of the plant, to address any vulnerability that may exist. This one didn't appear very vulnerable, I want you to know. So I was looking I was pleased to take a big gulp of water when I arrived here. Laughter But I want you to know we're making progress. We've got a good strategy, we do. It's going to be an interesting challenge to see if Congress responds. I had a good meeting today with Speaker Hastert and Representative Gephardt from Missouri, as well as Senator Daschle and Senator Lott and all the leadership from both parties. And in our discussions, I made it clear to them that I don't view this as a political issue. I don't view it as a Republican issue or a Democrat issue. I think loving America is an American issue. It's important to elevate this debate way beyond political parties, and I was pleased with the meeting. I was pleased with the spirit of the meeting. You know, sometimes there's a not invented here attitude in Washington. I don't care who gets the credit for putting this thing in. I just want it done right, and I want it done on behalf of the American people as quickly as possible. It may seem kind of easy, but here's the problem. There's a lot of people there's 100 different agencies involved with homeland security. It means there's a lot of people in the Congress and in the Senate who have got jurisdiction over those agencies. In other words, that's what they call "turf," and people like to defend their turf. And so, all of a sudden, when you're saying, "Well, you know, Mr. Chairman, we're going to have to take this away from you and put it in a single agency. You don't get to fund it anymore," it kind of makes the chairman nervous. So what I'd like I need the help of the American people to remind the turf fighters not to be nervous, because we're talking about doing what's right for America. I believe we can get it done I really do. But I want your help need to talk to the Members and the Senators. Just let them know that you appreciate you appreciate their efforts, their concerns about the homeland, but you hope that they will join the White House and work hard together to do what's right for the American people. I sincerely think this is right. Otherwise I wouldn't have proposed it. You know, I am an optimistic guy. I believe I believe this country I know this country is a fabulous country, but I believe we've got great days ahead of us. I believe that by being strong and tough, that we can achieve peace. I believe that. I sincerely, honestly believe it. And not only do I believe we can bring peace for America, I believe we can bring peace to parts of the world that may not seem like there ever is going to be peace. This country has got a great chance to lead the world toward a more peaceful tomorrow. I know they're watching us pretty carefully that is, the other leaders and other countries. If America blinks, they'll probably go to sleep. We're not blinking. We're not blinking. America understands that history has really called us to action. Out of the evil is going to come some good, and it's going to be peace. And out of the evil is going to come some good at home too. I believe that as well. You know, people ask me, they say, "What can I do to help, Mr. President? What can I do to be a part of this war on terror?" And my answer is, if you want to fight evil, love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to do some good, mentor a child teach a child to read walk across the street and say to a shut in, "What can I do to help you?" A simple act like that is all part of doing some good here in America. And it's happening in this country. It really is. You know why? The great strength of America is the people. The great strength is the American people, because not only are we tough, like I said we're also a compassionate people. We care deeply about neighbors in need. You see, out of the evil will not only come peace, but out of the evil I believe that we have a chance to address hopelessness and despair which exists in some neighborhoods in this great country. It just sure does. And we've got to do it. We've got to do it with better education systems. We've got to welcome faith based programs into the compassionate delivery of welfare and help, because after all, faith based programs exist because of a universal call to love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. We've got if you're interested in helping, we've got a program called the USA Freedom Corps. You can get right on the Internet and find out what's available. There's some fantastic ways to help, and you can become a soldier in the army of compassion. We've got one such soldier today, Denny Barnett. Where are you, Denny? Denny is somewhere here. There he is. Denny, thank you for coming. Denny is was out at the airport to meet me, and I want to thank him for coming. He drew the short straw. He was going to be with Laura in Salt Lake City, Utah. Instead he got stuck with me. Laughter But Denny is works for the Partnership for Children. He has been a soul who has spent his life, his adult life, helping in his church, working with the Boy Scouts, works for Habitat for Humanity, is a soldier in the army of compassion. It doesn't require a Government law or Government edict to get Denny to work he just followed his heart and, as a result, is part of making society a better place. You see, one person can't do everything in America, but one person can do something. And our society, folks, changes one heart and one soul and one conscience at a time. That's how we change America, and it's happening in this country. Out of the evil is coming good. Out of the evil, America is taking a good hard look at what's important. There's moms and dads taking an assessment of their of what's important in their life, and that is to love your children with all your heart and all your soul. You know, we live in a fast paced society, no question about it. But people are beginning to understand that a full life is one in which you serve something greater than yourself in life, that to have a full and complete life, you do more than just worry about yourself. You help a neighbor in need. You do something to make a country you love stronger. I guess that example came home most vividly when men and women on Flight 93 realized that their airplane was going to be used as a weapon, called their families, told them they loved them, said a prayer, said, "Let's roll," and sacrificed themselves for something greater. They served their country. What a great example. What a great example for others to see. All of us are sad it happened, but all of us can use the example of serving something greater than yourself to help fight this war against terror. You know, there is no question in my mind that this great country is going to show the world what we're made out of. This great country will show the world that we fight for what we believe, as we seek justice. And this great country will show the world the true compassion and decency of a great nation. Thanks for coming. May God bless. June 10, 2002 If I may have your attention for a minute, please. It is a great pleasure for me to welcome the International Democratic Union's members and its new chairman, Prime Minister of Australia John Howard. And it's my pleasure to thank the outgoing chairman, William Hague, for his outstanding leadership. With us this evening are IDU members from 40 nations, including five current heads of state or government, and nine former heads of state or government. The presence of so many distinguished world leaders is a remarkable testament to the power and attractiveness of our ideas. More than a century ago, the British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir William Harcourt, declared, "We're all socialists now." Laughter Today, it's fair to say, we're all democratic capitalists now. The democratic capitalists' vision of a free and just and compassionate society has captured the imagination of the world. Free markets, free governments, and free societies are not American ideas they're not European or Western ideas they're universal ideas. And they inspire all the member parties of the International Democratic Union. The historical record is clear Economic systems that put freedom first have achieved greater levels of equality and well being than systems that seek to strengthen the power of the state and stifle economic liberty. That's the record. But while the ideas the IDU stands for have made unprecedented gains, the free societies we love face unprecedented threats. We face coldblooded killers that hate the freedoms we cherish, and with the spread of chemical and biological and nuclear weapons, along with ballistic missile technology, freedom's enemies could attain catastrophic power. And there's no doubt that they would use that power to attack us and to attack the values we uphold. It is our commitment to freedom and human dignity and the strong belief that each individual matters that sets our enemies against us and draws our friends together in a great coalition of liberty. We will oppose the new totalitarians with all our power. We will hunt them down, one by one, and bring them to justice. And we must never hate hesitate to speak for what we believe. We believe we fight an enemy that is barbaric and that is evil. We believe targeting innocent civilians for murder is always and everywhere wrong and political, social, and economic freedoms are always and everywhere right. The war on terror will be long and it will be dangerous. It will require us to be patient and steadfast and clear about what we're fighting for. We fight for the nonnegotiable demands of human dignity The rule of law limits on the power of the state respect for women respect for private property and free speech and equal justice and religious tolerance. And so I'd like you to join me in a toast for the ideas which we all share, and for the great hope to replace poverty and repression and resentment with the promise of a better day for everyone who inhabits this Earth. May God bless you all. June 10, 2002 President Bush. It's my honor to welcome back Israel's Prime Minister to the Oval Office. Every time the Prime Minister comes, we have a very frank and good exchange. Today we talked about how to achieve peace in the Middle East. I reiterated my strong view that we need to work toward two states living side by side in peace. And we talked about how to achieve this how to achieve security and peace and economic hope for all people in the region. I appreciate so very much the Prime Minister's coming and willingness to share his views about his country's future. Every time he comes, I learn a lot. And I want to thank you for coming, Mr. Prime Minister. Prime Minister Sharon. Thank you. President Bush. Do you want to say a few things? Prime Minister Sharon. Yes. I would like to thank you, Mr. President, for having me again here. I think it was a very interesting and fruitful talks about reaching a peace in the Middle East. Israel is a peace seeking country. We believe in peace we are committed to peace. Of course, in order to achieve peace in the Middle East, first of all we have to have security it should be a full cessation of terror hostilities and incitement. And of course, we must have a partner for negotiations. At the present time, we don't see yet a partner. We hope it'll be a partner there with whom we'll be able to move forward, first to achieve a doable peace in the area and second, of course, to provide security to the citizens of our countries. And of course, one of the most important things is how really to take on the necessary steps to make the life of the Palestinians and other nations in the region better than they are now. These are, I would say, were the main subject of our talks today. Again, thank you so much. President Bush. You bet. Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Q. Yes, sir. President Bush. And then we'll alternate. Israeli Position on Resumption of the Peace Process Q. I have a question to you, sir. President Bush. That's good. That's a that's a reform. Q. Is Israel hurting the peace process with repeated incursions and by ruling out, even as you're trying to jump start the peace process, a withdrawal to the country's 1967 borders? President Bush. There are people in the Middle East who want to use terror as a way to disrail derail any peace process. And we've got to work together to create the conditions that prevent a few from stopping what most people in the region want, which is peace. Israel has a right to defend herself. And at the same time, as Israel does so, the Prime Minister is willing to discuss the conditions necessary to achieve what we want, which is a secure region and a hopeful region. And that's why we discussed reforms necessary for the that would enable a Palestinian Authority to emerge, which could give great confidence to two people, the Israelis and, as important, the Palestinians. And that's important. And so we're going to continue to work together, along with other Arab along with some of the Arab leaders, to fight off terror, to prevent the few from dictating against the will of the many in the region. Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority Q. Inaudible of Israel Channel Two. Mr. President, there's a wide concern within the Israel Government that, after the next terror bombs, there should be an expelling of Arafat from the region. What do you think about it? Do you think it's fruitful a fruitful move that will, as you said, would merge the terrorists and the Palestinian side? Or it's a destructive move that will hurt the peace process? President Bush. I don't think Mr. Arafat is the issue. Q. He is the issue President Bush. Excuse me for a minute. Let me start over. I don't think Mr. Arafat is the issue. I think the issue is the Palestinian people. And as I have expressed, myself, I am disappointed that he has not led in such a way that the Palestinian people have hope and confidence. And so, therefore, what we've got to do is work to put institutions in place which will allow for a government to develop which will bring confidence not only to Israelis but the Palestinians. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Arrest of Abdullah al Muhajir Q. Mr. President, sir, what can you tell us about this dirty bomb plot? Is there still a threat? And if this had happened, was Washington, DC, the target? President Bush. I can tell you that we have a man detained who is a threat to the country and that, thanks to the vigilance of our intelligence gathering and law enforcement, he is now off the streets, where he should be. And I'll let the Defense Department, Justice Department comment on the specifics. Regional Ministerial Peace Summit Q. Inaudible Radio. Mr. President, I would like to hear your view about the regional summit we all discussed. Do you think that this regional summit should be based on the Security Council Number 1397, calling to establish a Palestinian state, which you mention in your vision? Or do you think it just should be based on the 242 and 338 Resolution that we all know about? President Bush. Look, I think here's the thing I think that we need to have a well, first of all, let's get the summit in context. You're talking about the proposed summit this summer, a ministerial summit of people that come together to work toward the conditions necessary to establish a peace. See, the conditions aren't even there yet that's because no one has confidence in the emerging Palestinian government. And so, first things first, and that is, what institutions are necessary to give the Palestinian people hope and to give the Israelis confidence that the emerging government will be someone with whom they can deal? And that's going to require security steps, transparency when it comes to economic matters, anticorruption devices, rule of law enforced by a court system. Now, it is very important for people to understand that as these steps are taken, as this people work together to achieve the institutions necessary for peace, that there is a political process on the horizon as well. But the ministerial meetings that the Secretary of State, Colin Powell, suggested are all aimed at achieving working toward the foundation necessary for there to be confidence and eventual peace. Thank you all. June 08, 2002 President Bush. Mr. President, thank you. Welcome to Camp David. It is a joy for me and Laura to have you here at this beautiful part of our country, a place where we like to come and relax and a place where we like to welcome our friends. We had a the President and I had a good dinner last night. We talked a lot about our mutual concerns, opportunities to make the world a more peaceful place. And we got up and had a good private visit and then met with our delegations. First, I want to thank the President of Egypt for his country's strong support in our war against terror. I know there's been a lot of focus on, obviously, the Middle East, and I'll mention that in a second, but we're still in a war against people who want to harm America and people who want to harm Egypt. And we've had we've got a good friend, Americans have a good friend, when it comes to this war on terror, in Egypt. The President understands that we've got a long way to go in order to be successful. He's now been told again by me that my most important job is to secure our homeland, and this country is plenty tough and plenty patient and plenty determined to achieve that objective. Obviously, we spent time talking about the Middle East, and we share a common vision of two states living side by side in peace. And I appreciated so very much his listening to his ideas as to how to achieve that objective, that grand goal. The world the Palestinians hurt, and I know that. And my concern is for the Palestinian people. And my view is, is that if the Palestinian people have a government that is transparent and open and willing to serve the people, Israel will be better off, Egypt will be better off, America will be better off, and we're more likely to achieve peace. And we discussed how to achieve those objectives. The President of Egypt has had a lot of experience, and I appreciate his experience, and I appreciate his advice. Anytime he is willing to give it, I'm willing to listen. And so, Mr. President, I want to thank you for your time, and I appreciate your friendship, and welcome you to Camp David. President Mubarak. Thank you very much for that. I will deliver my speech in Arabic language. President Bush. He's going to speak in Arabic. That's good. The American press President Mubarak. I would like to thank President Bush for his welcoming remarks, which reflects the deep friendship between us. During our stay at Camp David here, I conducted extensive discussions with President Bush on a range of issues of mutual concern, most important of which was the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, and especially the Palestinian Israeli track and its negative impact on regional and international security in general. There is no doubt that the peace process in the Middle East is passing through a critical junction which requires us to exert all possible efforts on the political and security tracks, to rebuild the confidence between the parties, on one hand, and to relaunch a serious political negotiations aimed at final settlement on the other. While Egypt's leading quest for peace in the Middle East has achieved its objectives here at Camp David 24 years ago, we have come back together today fully committed to exert our maximum efforts once again, so that peace and security may prevail in the Middle East region. And I must affirm here that your personal role, Mr. President, and the role of the United States today remains as important as was America's contribution towards reaching the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel more than two decades ago. And we look forward to the continuation of the effective role. The entire international community, ladies and gentlemen, has supported the courageous vision of peace in the Middle East put forward by President Bush in his speech before the United Nations last fall. This vision was adopted by the Security Council in its Resolution 1397, which affirmed that peace in the Middle East must be based on two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side. We in Egypt and the entire Arab world support this vision and strongly believe that it represents the only way to achieve progress towards the settlement of the conflict. Now it is time to move to implement our common vision in an effective and systematic way. And we have a strong foundation to implement that vision, and that is represented in the principles adopted by the Madrid peace conference and supported by the initiative adopted by the Arab League summit conference in Beirut, which affirmed Arab rights while responding to all Israeli concerns. These are the terms of references that should govern all future efforts. For us to be able to achieve this vision, the confidence that was lost between the two parties during the previous period must be rebuilt as we embark on serious political negotiations that will contribute to the realization of our objectives. In this context, Israel must End the siege imposed on the Palestinian people and withdraw its forces to positions occupied on September 28, 2000 and halt assassinations and the repeated incursions in the territories under the control of the Palestinian Authority and immediately halt all settlement activities in the occupied territories, including the illegal confiscation of land and expansion of settlements under the pretext of natural growth or any other consideration. At the same time, the Palestinian Authority must continue to intensify its efforts towards restructuring in a way that facilitates the better performance of its functions based on the principles of transparency and trust, in preparation for the establishment of its sovereign, independent state. The Palestinian Authority must continue in its firm implementation of President Arafat's decisive commitment to halt the violence and intensify the security cooperation and coordination under the supervision of the United States. It also falls upon all of us, as partners in peace, to work towards alleviating the suffering of the Palestinian people, through economic and humanitarian assistance, so as to remove the feeling of despair that stands in the way of reaching the desired settlement. Mr. President, Egypt and the Arab states have affirmed their condemnation and rejection of the use of force and violence against civilians. Egypt has also affirmed its commitment to continue its major role in the search for peace. At the same time, the United States has affirmed, by putting forward this clear vision for peace, its commitment to effectively play its role in its capacity as the main sponsor of the peace process. We look forward to a strong American engagement in the coming phase to implement this vision, in the context of an agreed timeframe and through negotiations on a permanent settlement that should lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state on the entire West Bank and Gaza and East Jerusalem. For the settlement to be just and comprehensive, Israel must withdraw from all the Arab territories occupied during 1967, including Syrian and Lebanese territories. While pursuing our efforts, it must be kept in mind that there are forces that lack the conviction of our joint vision and will continue to obstruct our efforts to move towards a final and a comprehensive settlement. The way to confront the enemies of peace is to move forward with courage and determination to renew hope to the Palestinians and Israeli peoples in the future in which prosperity and stability prevail and away from the menace of violence and confrontation. My meeting here today with President Bush has reaffirmed our joint determination to revive the hopes of peace through the longstanding partnership between our two countries and through which we have and will continue together to reach historic achievements on the path of peace between Arabs and Israelis for the benefit of the peoples of the region and also for the benefit of regional and international stability. The depth of Egyptian American relations represents one of the essential cornerstones in our joint pursuit of peace and stability in the Middle East. In this context, we discussed today means to strengthen our bilateral ties, including our trade and economic relations, so as to reinforce Egypt's ability to implement its plans for economic reform and to guide us toward a more balanced trade relationship between us. Our meeting today coincides with a visit by the United States Trade Representative, Mr. Robert Zoellick, to Egypt, to meet with his counterparts on the Egyptian side, which I hope that it will result in tangible progress in furthering our relationships to new heights. Mr. President, I look forward to working with you in the weeks and months ahead to chart the correct path on the road to peace, so that we can complete together the implementation of the mission that we have started together here at Camp David more than 20 years ago to achieve just, comprehensive, and lasting peace in the Middle East. I am confident that our joint efforts, supported by a solid determination, will lead us to achieve this goal in the near future. Thank you. President Bush. Thank you very much. I appreciate it. Thank you. Q. President Bush President Bush. Hold on a second, please. We'll answer two questions apiece, two from the American side, two from the Egyptian side. I'm going to call on the American first. If you don't mind, contain your questions to one of us, if that's possible. And we'll start with Mr. Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press , who I know I know will adhere to that rule. Laughter Ron Fournier. Q. Mr. President President Bush. Thank you. Timetable for a Palestinian State Q. Do you agree with President Mubarak that there needs to be a deadline for a Palestinian state to give the Palestinian people hope? And on the other hand, I want to know if President Mubarak the reforms of the Palestinian Authority that you say that President Bush says will give the Israelis hope, can they be done with Arafat still in charge? President Bush. See, it's hard to reform the press. Laughter It may be harder to reform the press than to implement the needed reforms in the Palestinian territories. Your first question was? Q. Do you agree with President Mubarak that there needs to be a deadline President Bush. Yes. Here's the timetable I have in mind. We need to start immediately in building the institutions necessary for the emergence of a Palestinian state which, on the one hand, will give hope to the Palestinian people and, on the other hand, say to the world, including the neighborhood, that there is a chance to defeat to live in peace, to defeat terror. And that's important. I also agree with the President of Egypt that, as we discussed the development of institutions necessary to provide hope and security in the region, that we've got to be talking about a political have a political dialog. Part of the consultation process that we are having is to determine what's feasible in terms of that political dialog, what's feasible in terms of the timetable that a lot of people are anxious to talk about. We're not ready to lay down a specific calendar, except for the fact we need to get started quickly, soon, so that we can seize the moment. And one of the things I'm most appreciative about, about the about the progress made to date is, people now understand they have responsibilities. As I said in my April 4th speech, I talked about the responsibilities necessary to achieve a vision of peace. And President Mubarak has shown that he is accepting responsibility. He's very much involved in this process, and he's very much anxious that we work together to achieve that which is necessary and, to put it in his words, to come up with an effective and systematic way to get to the vision that we've that I've outlined. President Mubarak. What's your second question, please? Reform of the Palestinian Authority Q. I just want to know whether those Palestinian reforms that President Bush says have to happen first, can they be done, sir, in your opinion, by Yasser Arafat? President Mubarak. Look, we should give this man a chance. We are working very hard in cooperation with the United States for the reform in the Palestinian Authority. Such a chance will prove that he is going to deliver or not. If he's going to deliver, I think everybody will support him. If he's not going to deliver, his people will tell him that. Q. President Bush President Bush. The President gets to decide what member from the Egyptian press corps President Mubarak. Yes. Q. President Bush President Bush. Good going. He selected you. Laughter Israeli Settlements Q. Right. Nihal Saad, from Egyptian Television. Thank you for giving me the floor. It has been the stand of successive American administrations that the settlements, the Israeli settlements, is an obstacle to peace. But ever since Prime Minister Sharon came to office, there has been a steep increase in the settlements by almost 40 percent. Now, what is the stand of your administration concerning the settlement building, and what message would you tell the Israeli Government concerning that issue? President Bush. Well, on April 4th I delivered the speech that I'm talking about, that I would hope you'd review what I said. I said, all parties have got responsibilities to achieve peace, including the Israelis. And Israel must work to create the conditions necessary to achieve peace. And my position hasn't changed since that speech. Adam Adam Entous, Reuters . Reform of the Palestinian Authority Q. Thank you. Mr. President President Bush, are you confident you will get support from Arab leaders for reaching beyond Yasser Arafat to other Palestinian representatives? President Bush. Look, Adam, here's what I'm confident about. I'm confident about the Arab leaders understand the need for us to develop the institutions necessary for a peaceful and hopeful state to emerge. Chairman Arafat, as far as I'm concerned, is not the issue. The issue is whether or not the Palestinian people can have a hopeful future. I have constantly said I am disappointed in his leadership. I think he's let the Palestinian people down. And so, therefore, my focus is on the reforms necessary to help the Palestinians. The President believes that the Chair man if you notice, he didn't say he's going to deliver should be given a chance to deliver. And that's an interesting point of view. I also happen to believe that there is plenty of talent in amongst the Palestinians, and that if we develop the institutions necessary for the development of a state, that talent will emerge. The issue is bigger than one person. The issue is an issue that really deals with people who suffer and people who have no hope. And I believe I believe it is in the Palestinians' interest to have an independent state, at peace with its neighbor, and I believe it's in Israel's interest. Otherwise, I would not have taken this position. Last question. Halting Middle East Violence Q. President Mubarak my question is addressed for President Mubarak. And I want to have a comment from Mr. President Bush, if you please. My name is Hanaa Simery, from the Egyptian Television, and my question is, is it realistic to ask for a complete halt of violence between the Palestinians and Israelis as a precondition for resuming any political negotiations? President Mubarak. Me or you? President Bush. I don't care. Who would you like to answer it? Q. Both of you. President Bush. Both of us, okay. President Mubarak. Both of us, on the same question. All right President Bush. Maybe we'll give the same answer. Laughter President Mubarak. I think we have the experience, since the Prime Minister took office, that he will never start the negotiation unless violence could come to an end even that before Prime Minister Sharon. Till now violence didn't stop, and I don't think the violence will come to an end unless the people feel that there is hope for peace and there is something to show that peace is coming. If they didn't feel that, they will not stop violence it will continue forever. President Bush. My attitude about violence is this People have responsibilities to do everything they can to stop violence. Chairman Arafat must do everything in his power to stop the violence, to stop the attacks on Israel I mean everything. And that includes reforming the security forces so that they are their primary function is to deal with violence. The Arab world must work hard to defeat terror and violence. My opening comments were sincere about the President of Egypt he's working hard to defeat violence and terror. And so the one thing I'm certain of is that we've all got to focus a lot of energy and attention on stopping violence, not only in the Middle East but all around the world. See, there are terrorists who would love to destroy any peace process, and we have the responsibility to prevent them from doing so. And that means working all the time to stop it from happening. There are people who hate freedom, and they'll use terror to destroy innocent lives to achieve evil objectives. And all of us that's what I'm certain about all of us must work I'm certain if we don't work together and assume our responsibilities, it's going to be hard to win the war on terror. I'm certain if we stay focused and tough and resolute, we can win the war on terror. And as we remain tough, we're going to be able to achieve peace in parts of the world where people have kind of said there's no chance for peace, and it's not just in the Middle East not just in the Middle East. Thank you all very much for coming. President Mubarak. Good job. Thank you. President Bush. Good job. June 08, 2002 Good morning. Nearly 9 months have passed since September the 11th, and America is leading the world in a titanic struggle against terror. The first and best way to secure America's homeland is to attack the enemy where he hides and plans, and we are doing just that. We have also concluded that our Government must be reorganized to deal most effectively with the new threats of the 21st century. So I have asked the Congress to join me in creating a single, permanent Cabinet level Department of Homeland Security, with an overriding and urgent mission, securing the American homeland and protecting the American people. The Department of Homeland Security will unite essential agencies that must work more closely together, among them the Coast Guard and the Border Patrol, the Customs Service, Immigration officials, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Employees of this new agency will come to work every morning knowing that their most important job is to protect their fellow citizens. The Department of Homeland Security will be charged with four primary tasks This new agency will control our borders and prevent terrorists and explosives from entering our country it will work with State and local authorities to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies it will bring together our best scientists to develop technologies that detect biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons, and to discover the drugs and treatments to best protect our citizens and this new Department will review intelligence and law enforcement information from all agencies of Government and produce a single daily picture of threats against our homeland. Analysts will be responsible for imagining the worst and planning to counter it. What I am proposing is the most extensive reorganization of the Federal Government since the 1940s. During his Presidency, Harry Truman recognized that our Nation's fragmented defenses had to be reorganized to win the cold war. He proposed uniting our military forces under a single Department of Defense and creating the National Security Council to bring together defense, intelligence, and diplomacy. President Truman's reforms are still helping us to fight terror abroad, and now we need similar dramatic reforms to secure our people at home. Only the United States Congress can create a new department of Government, so I'm asking for your help in encouraging your Representatives to support my plan. We face an urgent need, and we must move quickly, this year, before the end of the congressional session. All in our Government have learned a great deal since September the 11th, and we must act on every lesson. We are stronger and better prepared today than we were on that terrible morning. And with your help and the support of the Congress, we will be stronger still. Thank you for listening. June 07, 2002 Department of Homeland Security The President. I want to welcome Members of the Senate and the House, members of both political parties, to the Cabinet Room this morning to discuss how best to implement the strategy that I talked about last night, that other Members of Congress have been talking about for awhile, and that is the development of the Department of Homeland Security. We've got a lot of work to do to get this Department implemented. There's going to be a lot of turf protection in the Congress. But I'm convinced that by working together, that we can do what's right for America, and I believe we can get something done. To this end, I'm going to direct Tom Ridge to testify before Congress about the need for the establishment of this Cabinet agency. I feel strongly that he is the he can represent the interests of the administration on the Hill, and he can bring our message to the Hill. And I look forward to working with Senators Lieberman and Specter and Members of the House to get this important legislation passed. Obviously, the sooner the debate begins, the sooner the passage of this bill can happen. And that's good for the country. Again, I want to thank the Members who are here. I want to thank you for your leadership on this issue. Thank you for your willingness to speak out about the importance of protecting our homeland. I'll answer a couple of questions. Yes, Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press ? Situation in the Middle East Q. Thank you. If I could look ahead the next couple days, it's been a couple months now since you asked all the parties to step up in the Middle East, and there are still suicide bombings, still the incursions by the Israelis. Is there any hope for any progress in the next couple days with the President of Egypt and the Prime Minister of Israel? The President. Yes, I mean, we're going to have good discussions, and that's always important. George Tenet has just come back from the Middle East. Ambassador Burns is coming back from the Middle East. There's been consultation with all the parties. And after my meetings with President Mubarak and Prime Minister Sharon, I'll talk to our country about how I think we should move forward. Progress is being made. The Arab world now understands they need to be involved in pushing for peace and fighting against the terrorist actions that have that make it very difficult to achieve a peace. I still am disappointed in Mr. Arafat's leadership. He needs to cut off the terrorist activities. Q. So you're talking about a speech on the Middle East? The President. Well, I don't know if it'll be a speech. It may be a discussion. It could be a paper. I haven't decided the forum. Q. But you'll lay out a new vision? The President. No. I'm going to lay out listen, if you're interested to know what I think, go back to the April 4th speech. Department of Homeland Security Q. Mr. President, how are you going to deal with some of the turf battles that come up? And what led you to change your mind about a Cabinet agency? The President. Well, first of all, I have always been ever since we first got going, I've been exploring this idea. My mind was never made up one way or the other. I knew I needed to act right after September the 11th, and that's why I called upon Tom to serve in the capacity in which he has served. We needed to do something very quickly right after the attack. We've been exploring this idea for awhile. I've been listening to Members of the Congress, who have been quite articulate on the subject. And after doing a lot of work on the feasibility of setting up this Cabinet position, we decided to move forward yesterday. Now, in terms of turf battles, there's nothing wrong with a good turf battle fight. And one way to win that argument is to call upon the good services of effective Members of the House and the Senate. And that's what this meeting is all about it's the beginning of winning the turf battle. I think most Members of Congress understand the need to act. I know Members of Congress know that we're in a new type of war, and there's been precedent. As I talked about last night, Harry Truman moved asked Congress to move, in the reforms of our war fighting capacities, and we need to do the same thing for the homeland. And we've got Members here if you look around this table, we've got Members here with plenty of seniority and plenty of stroke and plenty of credibility to move this package through both the House and the Senate. Q. Mr. President, many Americans, when they hear about this plan, may think it is a growth in the size of Government, in the bureaucracy, another layer of bureaucracy. What do you say to people who might have that concern, might be concerned that this is just a shuffle and reshuffling of the deck? The President. Well, I would tell them that there's going to be savings by when we combine accounting units and savings when we combine people in place to worry about administration. You see, when you combine agencies that are scattered throughout the Government, there are inherent savings, which means that we're going to be able to have more money on the frontline of our homeland security. There is one of the things that's important about Government is that there be accountability within Government. And as I mentioned last night, there's over 100 different agencies involved in homeland security. In other words, the ability to protect the homeland is scattered throughout, so there really is no accountability. I mentioned the example of Customs. You know, they collect tariffs, but they report to the Secretary of Treasury, who really isn't in charge of homeland security. And so the idea is to configure those existing agencies into a that are responsible for pieces of our security into one agency, so that accountability is clear. And obviously Harry Truman said, "The buck stops here," in the White House. I understand that. But if that's the case, I want to make sure that accountability to me is clear, that we've aligned responsibility and authority. And so this is a very important reorganization to it'll enable all of us to tell the American people that we're doing everything in our power to protect the homeland. Q. Mr. President, we were told yesterday that this would lead to no substantial changes at the FBI and the CIA. Since those are the two agencies under the most scrutiny right now, how can Americans rest assured that this reorganization will really do anything to address the root intelligence failures behind the September 11th attacks? The President. Well, first of all, the FBI and the CIA are changing. They understand that there have been gaps in intelligence sharing. If you listen to the testimony of FBI Director Mueller, you will understand that the FBI is making changes. Now, FBI Mueller came to work one week before September the 11th. He'd been here one week on duty. And he has taken the testimony of the lady, the FBI woman out of Minneapolis, very seriously. He's looked at the report from Arizona. And he's reacted with reform. The CIA and the FBI I've said this in many, many speeches that is, if you were paying attention to them that the CIA and the FBI now talk like they've never talked before. In other words, we've learned lessons from what took place prior to September the 11th. And so the reforms, they're already going on, and they're making great progress and communicating in a much more seamless way, in a much more in a way that will help protect the homeland. Thank you all. Death of Martin Burnham Q. Mr. President The President. Yes, one question. I want to answer this. Yes? Q. Are you satisfied that the Philippine troops did all they could in the rescue attempt of the Burnhams? And have you contacted their family here at home? The President. First, let me say how sad we are that Martin Burnham lost his life, and I will call his parents. I'm pleased that Mrs. Burnham's alive that's good. I talked to President Arroyo of the Philippines. She told me that she had called the Burnham parents, and I thanked her for reaching out. She assured me that the Philippine Government would hold the terrorist group accountable for how they treated these Americans, that justice would be done. We are obviously going to look at all the particulars and the facts, and the State Department will be talking about that later on today. June 07, 2002 The President. Thank you for that warm welcome. David, thanks for your kind remarks. It's a great honor to be here. It's a great pleasure to get out of Washington. Laughter It feels like I'm kind of getting closer to home, to be with people who make their living on the land. I'm honored to be with the good folks who supply our country with food and the good folks who live the values of the farm. I am honored to be traveling today with Tom Ridge. I gave a speech last night to the Nation that talked about the need to make sure we do everything we can to secure the homeland. And Tom I convinced him to leave the Governor's the statehouse of Pennsylvania to join me in Washington, and he's done a really good job, really good job. I want to thank some of my friends who flew down from Washington with me. I don't know if they wanted a free ride or not, but they came. Laughter You know how Senator Grassley is. Laughter Congressman Ganske, Leach, and Latham also came down with me, and I was honored to travel with them. I appreciate their friendship. We spent a lot of time talking about the farm. Anytime you're around people from Iowa, at least the congressional delegation, they're always talking about the farm, and that's good. I'm told Senator Harkin is here. Thank you for coming, Senator. I appreciate you being here. Congressman Leonard Boswell is here. Thank you for coming, Congressman. I'm honored you're here. The Lieutenant Governor, Sally Pederson, is here Governor, thank you for being here. I'm honored you came. I've got one regret. The traveling team wasn't complete. Unfortunately, my wife didn't come with me. At this point, the audience groaned. The President. Yes, I agree with you. Laughter You know, I'm really proud of her. The country has gotten to know Laura like I have gotten to know her. People now understand why I asked her to marry me. A lot of people are still confused as to why she said yes. Laughter But she has been a great comfort to our Nation and a great love of my life. I remember I remember campaigning in Chicago, and one of the reporters said, "Would you ever deficit spend?" I said, "Only only in times of war, in times of economic insecurity as a result of a recession, or in times of national emergency." Never did I dream we'd have a trifecta. Laughter But I want you to know we are dealing with these issues in a way that I hope makes you proud that we're dealing with the issues. I'm doing everything I can to put the interests of the American people ahead of politics. I'm doing everything I can everything I can to address these issues in a way that solves problems. So for example, on the issue of economic security, I went at it in a way the only way I knew how, which is in a straightforward, plain spoken way. I said, the best way to make sure we've got a strong farm economy and to make sure our economy recovers from the recession is to let people keep their own money. I believe that when you let a person keep his own his or her own money, they're going to spend it. And when they spend it, it increases demands for goods and services. And with an increase of demand for goods and services, somebody has got to produce that good and service. And when they produce it, it means somebody's going to find work. It was one year ago today, I had the honor of signing the tax relief bill that Chairman Chuck Grassley then Chairman Grassley shepherded helped shepherd through the United States Senate. It was the right public policy at the right time for the United States of America. And today I'm told that there are some statistics coming out that shows that the unemployment rate in America is dropping. People are getting back to work. My attitude is, I don't pay attention to the numbers, however. If a person's looking for work and can't find work, I'm worried about it. And so long as there are people looking for work who can't find work, we're going to continue doing the right thing in Washington to stimulate job creation. Now, part of that tax relief package was something really important for the future of the country and for the future of your families. Finally, the United States Congress realized how unfair the death tax is to the people who make a living on the farm, and finally, we repealed the death tax. Now but because of a quirk in the law, that repeal isn't permanent. It's hard for me to explain why. They repeal it but didn't repeal it. And so what I want you to do is work with Members of the United States Senate so that they do what they did in the House, which is to make the repeal of the death tax permanent. It makes no sense to tax a person's assets twice, and it makes no sense to have a tax that drives people off the farm. For the good of American agriculture, let's make sure that death tax is forever buried and forever done away with. For the good of the economy and for economic security, they need to get me an energy bill, an energy bill that encourages conservation, an energy bill that encourages reasonable, environmentally sound exploration, and an energy bill and an energy bill that promotes renewable sources of energy such as ethanol and biodiesel. When I first came to Iowa to ask for the support of the people here, and I talked about ethanol, people's eyes tended to glaze over at times because they said, "Well, this guy's from Texas. He can't possibly mean what he says about ethanol." First, I hope I proved them wrong. And secondly, you've got to understand, it's in our Nation's national interest it is in our national interest to have more forms of energy produced at home so we're less reliant upon foreign sources of energy. In order to make sure this economy is strong, we've got to make sure that the agricultural sector of our economy is strong. See, I understand that. I was from a the Governor of the second largest agricultural State in the Union. I understand farm economics. I understand the need to have a hopeful economy. And I understand the need to be able to grow more to grow more food than we need, for the national security of the country as well. But I also understand, when there's oversupply, it's a problem. And one of the ways to deal with oversupply is to sell Iowa pork in foreign markets. I need the trade promotion authority. It is time to quit playing politics with trade promotion. It's time for the House and the Senate to get together and get that bill on my desk. And my promise to you all is this We're not going to treat agriculture as some second class citizen when it comes to international trade agreements. I understand the importance of agriculture for our economy. I understand the importance of agriculture for job creation. And I understand the need to fight for foreign markets so that when we're good at something, we benefit. And we're good at growing hogs, and we ought to be selling our hogs all across the world. And the farm bill I signed recognizes the importance of trade. To put it in fancy Washington talk, it's what we call WTO compliant. It means we've honored our trade agreements when it comes to agriculture. But it also recognizes, there needs to be a safety net for the American farmer. And it also recognizes the need to promote conservation in America through the EQIP program, for example. I signed a good farm bill. It's good for the American farmer, and it's good for the United States of America. And finally, to work on the economic security of this country, we need terrorism insurance. There's a lot of construction programs or projects that aren't going forward because people can't get the right kind of insurance for fear of a terrorist attack. And Congress has got to act, for the good of the working people, for the good of people who are building skyscrapers and construction projects all across America. The United States Congress needs to get to my desk a bill to make sure we've got terrorism insurance all across the United States of America. If we're interested in economic security, this is a good step in that right direction. This is a step in a direction that will help people find work when it comes to building plants and equipment. The economy's getting better, but I'm not going to rest until everybody can find work. The other big challenge we have is to make sure our homeland is secure. As I mentioned last night, when I get into the Oval Office every morning, I read what they call a threat assessment. By the way, I do have a ritual every morning. I'm still getting Laura the coffee. I hate to put the pressure on you guys, but laughter there I was this morning. I'm kind of on a farmer's schedule. We're up early. In comes the coffee. I don't spend a lot of time on the editorial pages, I want you to know. Laughter And then I'd walk the dogs, and it's a moment of high drama for the dogs. They're looking forward to getting out of the confines of the White House. Spot the dog is pretty comfortable there. After all, she was born when my dad was the President, born right there at the White House. And so she's second time around, feels understands where the hedges are. Laughter And Barney, 1 1 2 year old Scottish terrier, he's a feisty little guy. He doesn't spend a lot of time in the White House I mean, in the Oval Office. After all, we've got a new rug in there. Laughter So off goes Barney in one direction, and Spot and I go in the Oval Office. And I settle in to read this threat assessment, and it reminds me, on a daily basis, my most important job is to protect America from attack. We're constantly asking inside the White House, What can we do? What do we need to do to protect innocent Americans? And the reason we're having to do that is because we face a formidable enemy, an enemy which hates America because we stand for freedom. The problem is, they're going to be on the losing side because we're more formidable, because we love freedom. I don't know what went through their mind when they attacked us. They must have thought we were so materialistic and so weak and so self absorbed that all we would do is file a couple of lawsuits. They found out we're a little different than that. And the first thing we've got to do is to make sure we do everything at home to protect the people. And that's why last night, on national TV, I proposed the creation of the Department of Homeland Security, a new Cabinet level position that will consolidate the essential functions of securing our homeland into one agency. See, there's now over 100 different entities agencies that deal with the homeland, which makes it kind of hard to hold anybody accountable. I believe in accountability in Government. After all, you will hold me accountable, and therefore, it's important to align authority and responsibility, to create accountability. Last night I used a couple of examples. You know, I said that the Coast Guard's obviously job is to patrol the coast, but they report to the Transportation Department. And the Transportation Department's primary function is not the security of the country. The Customs reports to the head of the Treasury. The main job of the Treasury is not the security of the country. It's time for us to consolidate, not to increase the size of Government but to increase the efficiency of your Government, so we can do the job you expect us to do. This is going to be a tough battle because we're going to be stepping on some people's toes. I understand that. You see, when you take power away from one person in Washington, it tends to make them nervous. So we're just going to have to keep the pressure on the people in the United States Congress to do the right thing. I believe it is going to happen. This morning we had a group of Senators and House Members from both parties Joe Lieberman was there Arlen Specter was there talking about how to get this bill started in Congress and through Congress as quickly as possible. And so I'm confident it's going to happen, particularly when the American people understand it is in our national interests that we bring these agencies under one under one head, so that we can do everything in our power and I mean everything in our power to keep you all safe. But the best way to keep you safe, the best way to protect the homeland, is to chase the killers down one by one and bring them to justice. And that's what we're going to do. I see some youngsters out there. I want you to understand that the goal of this country is to have peace. The goal of the United States is to remain strong and tough so that you can grow up in a peaceful world. That's my hope. And it's not just you growing up in a peaceful world it is children all around the world growing up in a peaceful world. But so long as there are people out there that want to harm us because of that vision, because we love freedom, because we worship freely, because we're free to speak our mind, the United States of America has an obligation to lead. The United States of America has an obligation to lead a coalition to bring people to justice. And so long as I'm the President of the United States, that is precisely what this great Nation is going to do. This is a new kind of war. We're not used to this kind of war in America. First of all, we weren't used to the fact that anybody could come into our country and kill thousands of innocent people. We've got to get used to the fact that they want to come again. That's what we have to get used to. But we've also got to get used to the fact that we're fighting an enemy that's willing to send youngsters to their suicide, to the death by suicide, and they, themselves, hide in a cave. And so it's going to require this country to be determined and strong and patient. And that's exactly how the country feels. And for that, I'm grateful. And for that, the enemy is nervous. You see, the world looks at us right now. They say, "Well, this great bastion of free dom how are we going to react? As time goes between September the 11th and now, what's going to happen to the United States? How strong are they? How much are they willing to defend their country? What are they really like?" And that's why it's important for us to remain tough and strong. If we blink, the world's going to go to sleep, and I understand that. In order to defend freedom, we've got to have the world by our side. And that's what's going to happen, folks that's just exactly what's going to happen. There is no cave dark enough and deep enough to prevent us from chasing down these killers. And so one by one, this great and steady and strong United States of America is going to liberate the world from people who would destroy civilization as we know it. It's the right course of action. History has called our Nation into action. History has given us a chance, and it's a chance I intend to seize. I believe I firmly believe, out of the evil done to the country will come some great good I do. I believe that over time, we can achieve peace in places where there's never been a hope for peace. I believe by being strong and diligent, by speaking out against right from wrong, by calling evil what it is, we can lead the world to a more peaceful tomorrow. And I also know this about America Out of the evil done to our country can come some incredible good right here in Iowa, and all across the country. People ask me all the time, "What can I do to help America? How can I participate in this war against terror?" Well, if you're interested, really interested, you can call up dial up USA Freedom Corps on the Internet to find out. But you don't need to do that. If you're interested in fighting evil, do some good. If you're interested in fighting evil, love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. Sometimes the acts of kindness are noticeable, and sometimes they're not. Walking across the street to a shut in, saying, "I love you. What can I do to help you?" is part of loving your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. Mentoring a child is an incredibly important part of defining America for what we are, which is a country of goodness and decency. Today at the airport I met a young lady named Annie Wignall. She's the founder of Care Bags Foundation. Young lady where are you, Annie? Stand up. Applause Annie started this foundation on her own. She just decided she's going to do something to make a difference in somebody's life. It collects and distributes clothes, toys, and personal care items to children who are victims of abuse or neglect. Annie is a soldier in the army of compassion. Annie sets a good example for all of us. One person can't do everything, but one person can do something to make somebody's life better. So my call to my fellow Americans is that on the one hand we're tough, to keep the peace. But on the other hand, I know we can rise to the challenge of showing the world that in the face of the incredible evil done to America can come some great good. And it starts right with you. Every act of individual kindness and compassion, the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and compassion, will show the enemy and the world the true face of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. Thank you for letting me come by. God bless you. June 06, 2002 Good evening. During the next few minutes, I want to update you on the progress we are making in our war against terror and to propose sweeping changes that will strengthen our homeland against the ongoing threat of terrorist attacks. Nearly 9 months have passed since the day that forever changed our country. Debris from what was once the World Trade Center has been cleared away in a hundred thousand truckloads. The west side of the Pentagon looks almost as it did on September the 10th. And as children finish school and families prepare for summer vacations, for many life seems almost normal. Yet, we are a different nation today, sadder and stronger, less innocent and more courageous, more appreciative of life, and for many who serve our country, more willing to risk life in a great cause. For those who have lost family and friends, the pain will never go away, and neither will the responsibilities that day thrust upon all of us. America is leading the civilized world in a titanic struggle against terror. Freedom and fear are at war, and freedom is winning. Tonight over 60,000 American troops are deployed around the world in the war against terror more than 7,000 in Afghanistan others in the Philippines, Yemen, and the Republic of Georgia, to train local forces. Next week Afghanistan will begin selecting a representative government, even as American troops, along with our allies, still continuously raid remote Al Qaida hiding places. Among those we have captured is a man named Abu Zubaydah, Al Qaida's chief of operations. From him and from hundreds of others, we are learning more about how the terrorists plan and operate, information crucial in anticipating and preventing future attacks. Our coalition is strong. More than 90 nations have arrested or detained over 2,400 terrorists and their supporters. More than 180 countries have offered or are providing assistance in the war on terrorism. And our military is strong and prepared to oppose any emerging threat to the American people. Every day in this war will not bring the drama of liberating a country. Yet, every day brings new information, a tip or arrest, another step or two or three in a relentless march to bring security to our Nation and justice to our enemies. Every day I review a document called the threat assessment. It summarizes what our intelligence services and key law enforcement agencies have picked up about terrorist activity. Sometimes the information is very general, vague talk, bragging about future attacks. Sometimes the information is more specific, as in a recent case when an Al Qaida detainee said attacks were planned against financial institutions. When credible intelligence warrants, appropriate law enforcement and local officials are alerted. These warnings are, unfortunately, a new reality in American life, and we have recently seen an increase in the volume of general threats. Americans should continue to do what you're doing. Go about your lives, but pay attention to your surroundings. Add your eyes and ears to the protection of our homeland. In protecting our country, we depend on the skill of our people, the troops we send to battle, intelligence operatives who risk their lives for bits of information, law enforcement officers who sift for clues and search for suspects. We are now learning that before September the 11th, the suspicions and insights of some of our frontline agents did not get enough attention. My administration supports the important work of the intelligence committees in Congress to review the activities of law enforcement and intelligence agencies. We need to know when warnings were missed or signs unheeded, not to point the finger or blame but to make sure we correct any problems and prevent them from happening again. Based on everything I've seen, I do not believe anyone could have prevented the horror of September the 11th. Yet, we now know that thousands of trained killers are plotting to attack us, and this terrible knowledge requires us to act differently. If you're a frontline worker for the FBI, the CIA, some other law enforcement or intelligence agency and you see something that raises suspicions, I want you to report it immediately. I expect your supervisors to treat it with the seriousness it deserves. Information must be fully shared so we can follow every lead to find the one that may prevent tragedy. I applaud the leaders and employees at the FBI and CIA for beginning essential reforms. They must continue to think and act differently to defeat the enemy. The first and best way to secure America's homeland is to attack the enemy where he hides and plans, and we're doing just that. We're also taking significant steps to strengthen our homeland protections, securing cockpits, tightening our borders, stockpiling vaccines, increasing security at water treatment and nuclear powerplants. After September the 11th, we needed to move quickly, and so I appointed Tom Ridge as my Homeland Security Adviser. As Governor Ridge has worked with all levels of government to prepare a national strategy and as we have learned more about the plans and capabilities of the terrorist network, we have concluded that our Government must be reorganized to deal more effectively with the new threats of the 21st century. So tonight I ask the Congress to join me in creating a single, permanent department with an overriding and urgent mission, securing the homeland of America and protecting the American people. Right now as many as a hundred different Government agencies have some responsibilities for homeland security, and no one has final accountability. For example, the Coast Guard has several missions, from search and rescue to maritime treaty enforcement. It reports to the Transportation Department, whose primary responsibilities are roads, rails, bridges, and the airways. The Customs Service, among other duties, collects tariffs and prevents smuggling, and it is part of the Treasury Department, whose primary responsibility is fiscal policy, not security. Tonight I propose a permanent Cabinet level Department of Homeland Security to unite essential agencies that must work more closely together Among them, the Coast Guard, the Border Patrol, the Customs Service, Immigration officials, the Transportation Security Administration, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Employees of this new agency will come to work every morning knowing their most important job is to protect their fellow citizens. The Department of Homeland Security will be charged with four primary tasks This new agency will control our borders and prevent terrorists and explosives from entering our country it will work with State and local authorities to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies it will bring together our best scientists to develop technologies that detect biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons, and to discover the drugs and treatments to best protect our citizens and this new Department will review intelligence and law enforcement information from all agencies of Government and produce a single daily picture of threats against our homeland. Analysts will be responsible for imagining the worst and planning to counter it. The reason to create this Department is not to create the size of Government but to increase its focus and effectiveness. The staff of this new Department will be largely drawn from the agencies we are combining. By ending duplication and overlap, we will spend less on overhead and more on protecting America. This reorganization will give the good people of our Government their best opportunity to succeed by organizing our resources in a way that is thorough and unified. What I am proposing tonight is the most extensive reorganization of the Federal Government since the 1940s. During his Presidency, Harry Truman recognized that our Nation's fragmented defenses had to be reorganized to win the cold war. He proposed uniting our military forces under a single Department of Defense and creating the National Security Council to bring together defense, intelligence, and diplomacy. Truman's reforms are still helping us to fight terror abroad, and now we need similar dramatic reforms to secure our people at home. Only the United States Congress can create a new department of Government. So tonight I ask for your help in encouraging your Representatives to support my plan. We face an urgent need, and we must move quickly, this year, before the end of the congressional session. All in our Government have learned a great deal since September the 11th, and we must act on every lesson. We are stronger and better prepared tonight than we were on that terrible morning, and with your help and the support of the Congress, we will be stronger still. History has called our Nation into action. History has placed a great challenge before us Will America, with our unique position and power, blink in the face of terror, or will we lead to a freer, more civilized world? There's only one answer This great country will lead the world to safety, security, peace, and freedom. Thank you for listening. Good night, and may God bless America. June 04, 2002 Intelligence Prior to September 11, 2001 The President. How are we doing? Q. Not bad, sir. I wanted to ask you, yesterday you said in Little Rock that a better job could have been a better job needs to be done to prevent terrorism. Does that mean, in hindsight which, obviously, is 20 20 a better job could have been done? The President. Well, I think there's no question that the FBI, for example, did not have as its primary mission a prevention of an attack, and now it does. In other words, the FBI was a fine law enforcement agency, chasing down white collar criminals and people that were committing crimes in America. And that's good, and that's still an important function of the FBI. But now the focus is on the primary focus is on preventing a further attack. So the mission has changed, and that's a positive change. In terms of whether or not the FBI and the CIA were communicating properly, I think it is clear that they weren't, and that they now we've addressed that issue. The CIA and the FBI are now in close communications there's better sharing of intelligence. And one of the things that is essential to win this war is to have the best intelligence possible and, when we get the best intelligence, to be able to share it throughout our Government. And as you've seen the reforms that both Director Tenet and Bob Mueller have put in place, a lot of those reforms had to do with how able the two are able to talk to each other. And it's a very positive reform. Q. If the reform had been put in place beforehand, if the FBI had been The President. Well, it's hard it's hard I haven't seen any evidence Q. could the attacks have been stopped? The President. I've seen no evidence to date that said this country could have prevented the attack. Upcoming Visit by President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt Q. Mr. President, President Mubarak told the New York Times this morning that he is proposing the idea of declaring a Palestinian state and then negotiating the hard things borders later. Does that make any sense to you? The President. Well, I look forward to talking to President Mubarak. I'd rather you know, I think it's probably wise for me to listen to what he has to say and not read it, you know, through the filter of a fine newspaper. So I'm going to look forward to my meetings with him at Camp David. Egyptian Intelligence Prior to September 11 Q. He also one of the things he said in that was that the Egyptian intelligence services had told the United States that they were expecting an Al Qaida attack a week before September 11th. Is there any do you know of any reason to believe that? The President. No, listen, there's all kinds of speculation. As I said, I have seen no evidence that would have led me to believe that we could have prevented the attacks. And obviously, if we could have, we would have prevented the attacks. Intelligence Community Congressional Investigation Q. Sir, is there any concern at all that all this finger pointing between the FBI and the CIA is distracting them a bit from the mission at hand, preventing future terrorist attacks? The President. Well, you know, one of the things I've said is that, for example yes, I'm concerned about distractions from this perspective I want the Congress to investigate, but I want a committee to investigate, not multiple committees to investigate, because I don't want to tie up our team when we're trying to fight this war on terror. So I don't want our people to be distracted. In terms of the gossip and the finger pointing level three staffers trying to protect, you know, trying to protect their hide I don't think that's of concern. That's just typical Washington, DC. But what I am concerned about is tying up valuable assets and time and possibly jeopardizing sources of intelligence. And that's why it is very important that the Congress do investigate, but they do so in a way that doesn't jeopardize our intelligence gathering capacity. That's why they have intelligence committees on Capitol Hill, and that's the appropriate forum, as far as I am concerned, for these investigations. Iraq Q. Mr. President, you've got a lot going on foreign policywise right now, the Middle East meetings later this week, the continued efforts here. Is this all moving Iraq to the back burner? The President. Well, I think you need to read my speech that I gave at West Point. If you haven't, I'll get you Q. I was there, sir. The President. Oh. I think you need to have listened to my speech I gave at West Point. Laughter No, the war on terror is and my strong desire to protect our homeland is of paramount importance to me. And I think people understand my position on these closed regimes that harbor and desire to have weapons of mass destruction. And as I said in my speech, we'll use all the tools at our disposal to deal with these nations that hate America and hate our freedoms. And one option, of course, is the military option, but as we've said repeatedly, I have no plans on my desk at this point in time. But nevertheless, these nations that I have named need to take they need to take America seriously. When it comes to defending our freedoms, they need to be worried about how we defend our freedom. We're very serious about this, and we expect them to change their behavior. Global Warming Q. Mr. President, good morning, sir. Do you plan any new initiatives on to combat global warming? The President. No, I've laid out that very comprehensive initiative. I read the report put out by a put out by the bureaucracy. I do not support the Kyoto treaty. The Kyoto treaty would severely damage the United States economy, and I don't accept that. I accept the alternative we put out, that we can grow our economy and, at the same time, through technologies, improve our environment. Morale in the Intelligence Community Q. Sir, are you concerned about the morale in the intelligence agencies, given the criticism that's been lodged so far, and is that part of what you're going to be talking about today with the employees of the NSA? The President. I believe morale is high. I glean that from the leaders with whom I meet on a regular basis. These our intelligence communities understand they are on the forefront of one of the most important wars in our Nation's history. And they're I think I'm more worried about them being overworked. These good people are putting in long, long hours. And one of my jobs is to remind those who sacrifice on behalf of our Nation that we appreciate it a lot. And I'd rather have them sacrificing on behalf of our Nation than, you know, endless hours of testimony on congressional hill. The appropriate place to do that, of course, is the intelligence committees. And again I repeat, the reason why that's important is because we have got to guard the methodology methodologies of our country, of how it's important for us to not reveal how we collect information. That's what the enemy wants, and we're fighting an enemy. Thank you all. June 04, 2002 The President. Thank you all for coming. Welcome. Please be seated. Well, thank you all for that warm welcome, and welcome to the people's house. All of you here today who have gone from welfare to work really represent courage and strength. And I want to thank you for your examples of what is possible and for your stories of success. You've earned independence and the respect of your families and your communities, the respect of your President. I congratulate you I want to congratulate you on using and utilizing your God given talents to their fullest. So, welcome. I want to welcome Tommy Thompson, who's the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Tommy, thank you for being here. He's a former Governor nothing wrong with former Governors. Laughter But Tommy has been a leader in welfare reform, which is really a leader in helping people. He did a great job as the Governor of Wisconsin. He's doing a great job here in Washington. Thank you, Tommy. Elaine Chao is here as well, who is the Secretary of Labor. I want to thank you for coming, Elaine, as well. I want to thank Members of the Congress who are here. Wally, thank you for coming Wally Herger from California, Buck McKeon of California, Michael Bilirakis of Florida. I appreciate your interest. I thank you for coming. I want to thank Rodney Carroll, who is here. Rodney is the president and CEO of the Welfare to Work Partnership. What that means is, Rodney is really in charge of convincing corporate America to do their duty, and that is to help people who want to find work. And Rodney's done a great job. There's millions of people have been placed in employment because of the Welfare to Work Partnership. And one of the really terrific companies that has responded to the call to be a responsible corporate citizen in America is UPS. And I want to thank the representatives of UPS who are here "Big Brown," I think you call yourself now. Laughter On the stage with me is Al and Ann Briscoe. They're going to have something to say if we can ever get the President to stop talking. Laughter But I want to welcome the Briscoes and all the welfare to work graduates from the States of Pennsylvania and Michigan and Connecticut and Florida. We're really glad you're here. I want to thank the Briscoes for their willingness to share the inspiring story stories, by the way, which we heard yesterday in Arkansas as well. These are stories that are being repeated all across the country, compelling human stories of people conquering very tough odds to succeed, to go from poverty to success and from welfare to work. The people in this room who have overcome the obstacles have obviously known some really tough times, starting with the fact that the hardest job in America is a single mom. That's the hardest work. People have overcome incredible odds and obstacles and hurdles. But thanks to courage and determination and hard work in many cases, prayer you've turned your lives around, and you're strong, proud, successful women, and we want to thank you for that and strong, proud, successful men, I might add. The historic welfare reform passed by Congress in 1996 helped many Americans find dignity and self respect. And that's what we're here to talk about. We're not only here to talk about the lives that have been changed but law and how to make the '96 law work better. And the '96 law worked well because of the much of it had to do with the work requirement in the law. It basically said, you've got to work. In order to be independent and free, you've got to work, and we want to help you find work. That's what the law said. The statistics are strong about how successful the '96 law was. At the time, however, it was quite controversial. I wasn't here. I was working with Tommy, trying to get the law passed from the perspective of a Governor. But there was one study, for example to show you how controversial the bill was that said, at least a million children would be cast into poverty by the welfare reform law if it passed, if the '96 bill passed, that a million children would be thrown into poverty. Well, whoever did that study probably is out of work at least I hope so laughter because the truth is, there are 5.4 million fewer people in poverty today than in '96, and there are 2.8 million fewer children living in poverty than in '96. Anyway you look at it, the bill has been really successful. The real success, though, is not found in the numbers. The real success has been found in the number of lives that have been changed. It's one thing to talk about reducing welfare rolls, and that's fine. But the most important thing is the number of lives that have been saved and enriched. That's the most important part about the '96 law and its consequences. Maria Medellin, de mi estado de Texas from the State of Texas is here, and she is one type of story. She's been working for UPS, Big Brown, now for 3 years. When she first came to UPS, she was a single mom on welfare, raising two sons. She needed extra income and benefits to support her family, so she started working at UPS for 8.50 an hour, and then she was promoted. And now she is a recruiter she's a boss. She's enrolled in college, and she's going to get her degree in 3 years. Maria says this about her journey and about her struggles "It was a challenge to overcome the statistic of being a single minority female with two children on welfare. UPS is the foundation that has allowed me to be where I am today. Being able to raise my children and provide for them is my greatest source of pride. Just showing my children that I'm strong enough and can succeed is more than enough for me." Maria, congratulations. And there are a lot of people with stories like Maria's. The great thing about the subject we're talking about today is, there are Marias all across America and right here in this room. And so the fundamental question is, How can we continue this progress? What can we do to continue to make America a better place? As you know, we struggle hard to keep America secure, and we're going to. We will win the war on terror and keep us free. But as we fight for our security, we also must work to make America a better place. And where we find people who've lost hope, we must work to provide hope. And where we find pockets of despair, we must work all of us work to eradicate pockets of despair. And one way to continue to make sure America is a hopeful place, a better place, is to work on a new reauthorization bill for welfare that continues to make progress to help people. That's what we've got to do. The bill in '96 is up it kind of run out of its time. And so it's now time for Congress to come together and pass another measure. And the debate's going to be, What do we do? How do we make it? What do we do? The House has already answered the question by passing a law that really makes sure that work is still an integral part of welfare reform. Work and family are integral parts of welfare reform, I might add. Here's what I think ought to happen I think the Senate ought to pass a bill that has the same principles embodied in the House bill. And it says that rather than lowering standards, we need to keep high standards in America, particularly when it comes to what we expect in terms of work. We want 70 percent of the people on welfare working by the next 5 years. That's what we want. We don't want to reduce the number of people that should be working in America, because we understand how important work is to the future of every citizen. We want to raise the standard and raise the bar. And that means 40 hour workweeks. That's what work that's the definition of work. Now, I recognize there are a lot of people that need help, and so within the 40 hour workweeks there are credits for education and vocational training, to help people help themselves. A work requirement isn't punishment. A work requirement is part of liberation in our society. But in order to make sure that people are able to work, we want to make sure there is ample training and ample education, to give people the chance they want. And that's what this bill and that's what this vision for a better welfare reform bill talks about. And then, of course, there is the issue of money, and that's always a big debate here in Washington, DC. Laughter It seems like you can never spend enough. And so one of the things I decided to do was to be wise about how we spent the amount of money we spent in the welfare appropriations. I thought it made sense to keep the level of welfare spending the same as it has been, which really doubles the amount of money available for States to spend, because the caseload has declined in half. So if you've got the same amount of money and the caseload has declined in half, you've got double the money available for people you're trying to help. And that ought to be ample money for the States to help people with education, vocational training, to help people help themselves. And so I'm confident the amount of money we've got in the bill is more than adequate to meet the needs and to help meet our goals of work and money available to help to help the 2 million families who are still on welfare rolls. And that's the goal, is to help as many as we possibly can achieve independence and dignity and work. I think it's important for Members of Congress to talk to the people who and listen to the people who've succeeded under the current law, who have actually become independent from Government, and what it means to their lives. They ought to listen to the Marias and the people who I've had the honor of talking to, as they decide how best to help people. They ought to listen to the stories, and they ought to be hopeful and optimistic about what is possible in America. People who are pessimistic about the future lower standards. People who are optimistic raise the standards, because we believe in the best. I'm honored to have the Briscoes here with us today. They are exemplary of what is possible in America. And I fully understand that laws are important no question about it. And spending money is important there's no question about that. But there's nothing more important than heart and courage and desire. And so it's my honor to welcome here to the podium Mr. Allen Briscoe, who is a man who has overcome tough odds to be a great, proud dad and successful American. Welcome. At this point, Mr. and Mrs. Briscoe made brief remarks. The President. So there you have it. I want to I want to thank you all for I want to thank you all for sharing just a not quite yet. Participant. Stay? The President. Yes, you stay right there. Laughter Participant. Yes, sir. Laughter The President. I want to thank you all for sharing your story with us. And we could have had some great stories here, long we could have taken a lot of time with some of the great stories here. And I want to thank you all for coming. This is a fabulous country in which we live. It is, and it's because the people are fabulous. For those who represent corporate America, keep doing what you're doing. You have a responsibility to the country in which you thrive. You've got a responsibility to help people you do. Those of us in Government have a responsibility to pass good law that will help people. And for those of you who have overcome incredible obstacles, thanks for the example you've set. May God bless you and your families, and may God continue to bless America. Thank you. June 03, 2002 Thank you all. It's nice to be back in Arkansas. Thank you for that great hospitality. You know, when I was Governor, you used to let me come across the river sometimes laughter that is, Governor of Texas and it's good to be back. I'm so honored to be in this fine State with so many citizens. I'm here to give you kind of a sense about how things are going, at least from my perspective. Before I do, I want to thank Senator Hutchinson for his hard work on behalf of the people of Arkansas, and I want to thank him for his friendship. I appreciate so very much Senator Blanche Lincoln being here as well. Thank you for coming, Senator Lincoln I'm honored to have you here. Congressman Boozman from up north is here. Thank you for being here, John. I'm glad you're here. I hope they're here to get some of this update and not because they want a free ride back to Washington. Laughter By the way, it's a nice way to travel, I want you to know. I've known your Governor for a long time. I'm proud to call him friend. I'm really I know you're grateful for the job he's doing as the Governor of this important State, and I want to thank him. Mike's invited me to his church today I'm going out there to talk about the need to be compassionate for people who hurt. And I can't wait to go. Mike, I want to thank you for the invitation for to give me a chance to herald the great faith that exists throughout our country and the importance of faith in the lives of our citizens and the importance of faith to make sure our Nation is as strong and as decent and as hopeful in every neighborhood as is conceivably possible. And I appreciate Tommy Thompson traveling with us today. Tommy is the Secretary of Health and Human Services. He is a friend of mine as well. He's the former Governor of Wisconsin, who understands that welfare needs to help people help themselves. Tommy is doing a fantastic job as our Secretary of Health and Human Services. Not on our traveling team is the most popular person in my family, the First Lady of the United States. Applause I know. The same thing happened to my dad. Laughter But Laura was recently here in Arkansas. She's talking about her passions of education and helping people. And when I asked her to marry me, she was a public school librarian in Texas, and she didn't particularly care for politicians or politics. And here she is, First Lady of the United States thank goodness, for the country. She's doing a great job. The family's doing well. Barney, the dog, is in great shape. Laughter Spot, the dog who was born at the White House when Mother and Dad were there, is getting a little up in the years, but she's doing well too. She's used to the confines of the South Lawn. And I invite her every morning into the Oval Office with me to start my day. Kind of in the southern tradition, I'm an early morning person. I get there about 10 until 7 every morning, and Spot makes herself comfortable on the new carpet. Laughter That's why Barney's not invited in in the morning. Laughter But we're doing great. And before I begin the state of our Union, or at least how I see it right now, I want to thank all of you for your prayer. Many people in this State and around our Nation give the President the greatest gift a President could receive, and that is prayer. And it's a it's not a Republican prayer it's not a Democrat prayer. It's a prayer that's far greater than politics, and I know that. And I want to thank you for that, and I want to thank you for praying for our Nation as well, because we've got some challenges ahead of us. And there are some truths to the challenges we face. What's interesting is that we've been at war for 9 months. And that's a short time in the generally, in the history of war. It seems like a long time to some. But not much time has passed, really, when you think about it. And we're making good progress, though. We are. We've got we're learning a lot. We're learning that there are people that hate America because of our the fact that we love freedom. That's what we've learned. I remember some children asking me, "How can we be attacked? Who would want to hurt America?" And the answer is, people that can't stand freedom. They hate the thought of a nation being tolerant about religion. They can't stand that we're allowed to worship freely in America that bothers them. It bothers them that we can have good, open, and honest political discourse. It bothers them we've got a free press. It bothers them that we are the beacon to freedom. So when people look around the world for what freedom means, they look to America, and that bothers them. We've learned that this enemy is nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers coldblooded killers who hijack a religion. That's what we've learned. We've learned they're pretty resourceful and pretty devious. They'll hide in a cave, thinking that we'll quit. They're willing to send youngsters to their death, while they, themselves, are taking care of their own. That's who we're dealing with. And they're patient, and they're still determined they're still determined. They've still got an army out there. Oh, it's not the kind of army we're used to when you think about war certainly not the armies that fought on the continent of Europe. Just as you know, I was honored to go to Normandy. What an unbelievable sight that is, by the way. And for all the World War II vets who are here, thanks from the bottom of our collective hearts for securing our freedom. We've learned that the new enemy, the enemy of the new wars of the 21st century they don't have lines of defense they kind of meld into society. They take advantages of either weakness or freedom. That's what we've learned. And it's good to know that it's good to know that. And they've learned some stuff about us. They've learned we're pretty tough when people come after America. They've learned that when it comes to defending our freedom, we'll defend it with all our might. That's what they've learned. They've learned that we love freedom, and it is nonnegotiable, our love for freedom. They have learned that the United States has got a great military. They have learned that America is grateful for those who wear our the uniform of our military. And they've also learned that this is an administration that understands, anytime we commit any of our young to battle, they deserve the best pay, the best equipment, the best training possible. The enemy probably thought that we were such a weak society, so materialistic and self absorbed, that when they attacked that all we would do is file a couple of lawsuits. Laughter They've learned that that's not the way we think, that we're resolved. Much to their chagrin, they've learned that we're a patient nation, that the people of this country understand what I know, that this struggle for freedom is going to take a while. As a matter of fact, there is no there's not a calendar that says it's got to quit by such and such a moment that if things aren't wrapped up by this election or this Super Bowl or this World Series that we're just going to fold up and go on home that we're a patient people that the American people understand that some days there will be moments of great drama on the TV screens, and sometimes there's going to be, you know, kind of a lull in the action and that that we understand that. And that's important in this war, that American people, much to the chagrin of the enemy and much to the delight of a grateful President, understand that we face a new threat, the likes of which we've never seen before, and that we will do what it takes to win the war. If there's a cave that needs to be searched, we'll search it. If there's a country that needs to hear again and again, "You're either with us, or you're against us," they'll hear it. We're on an international manhunt. And you just need to know, my fellow citizens, that even though it may not be prominent in the news, I think about defending this country every day and that we're after them, one person at a time. Anybody who thinks they're going to hurt America is going to be hunted down. The best way to defend the best way to defend this country, the best way for me to do my most important job, which is to protect innocent Americans, is to go on the offense and chase them down one by one and bring them to justice, which is precisely what America is going to do. And we learned that we've got some work to do at home, that we can do a better job of defending the American people, which we are going to do. We know we've got to do a better job on our borders, understanding who's coming into the country and who's leaving and why they're here and why they haven't left. We know that we need to do a better job of that in order to defend the homeland. We know we've got to make sure we're ready for whatever happens. I want to thank the police and the fire and the emergency workers here in the State of Arkansas for the important job you do and let you know that part of our strategy is to make sure we've got a first responders initiative and strategy that will make the homeland more secure. We know we need to do that, and we're doing that. We've got to make sure that we get the best intelligence possible. In this new war against this shadowy enemy, it's very important that we gather as much intelligence as we can. We need to know what they're thinking and what they're planning on doing before they do something. That's the best way. And we also know that at home we needed to have changed and are now changing our law enforcement agencies from to a new strategy, one that not only chases down criminals and arrests them, but a strategy which works to prevent further attacks. So when you read about the FBI, I want you to know that the FBI is changing its culture. The FBI prior to September 11th was running down white collar criminals and that's good was worrying about spies that's good. But now they've got a more important task, and that is to prevent further attack. And so the FBI is changing, and they're doing a better job of communicating with the CIA. They're now sharing intelligence. My point to you is that whether it be at your airports or on a border or law enforcement, the whole mission of the Federal Government, working in conjunction with the State and local governments, is to protect the American people. The enemy also knows that I'm really serious when it comes to routing out harm before it hits America. I don't know whether that's good or bad they know that, but they're learning that. They're also learning we're the kind of team that does what we say we're going to do. So when I said the other day that I'm concerned about these countries which develop weapons of mass destruction and we know they hate America and I intend to bring the diplomatic pressure or the pressure of the world and, if need be, act, I mean it. History has called this Nation into action. History has put the spotlight on America. History is going to write, did this country, in its position unique position in the world, did we blink in the face of terror, or were we willing to lead the world to a more free and civilized society? And as far as I'm concerned, there's only one answer to that question, and that answer is, this great country will lead the world to a more safe and secure and free society. No, this Nation is plenty patient and plenty tough. And we're ready we're ready. But you know what else I've learned? That out of evil can come some incredible good. Out of evil, out of the evil done to our country, we have a chance to not only keep the peace and I want the youngsters here to know that when you hear about fighting, it's because we want the world to be peaceful. Our goal is peace. We never have sought revenge. This great country seeks justice. And we want you to be living in a world that is peaceful, so when you grow up, you can feel freedom and be free. But also at home, we have a chance to show, out of evil can come some incredible good. People say to me, "What can I do to join this great country in the war on terror?" And my answer is, love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to fight evil, do some good. You want to fight evil, help somebody who needs some help. And those acts can be great acts, or they can be small acts, but they all add up. Our society can be saved one heart and one soul, one conscience at a time. And I recognize while one person can't do everything, one person can do something to make a difference in somebody's life. You've seen how people have taken a look at their own lives and at their own soul since 9 11. You've seen moms and dads recognize their most important job, if they happen to have a child, is to love their children and remind them they love them. That's part of a compassionate society. There are people all across this country who are who hear a call to help somebody. It's not a Government issued call, really when you think about it, it's a call of conscience and a call of heart. All the President can say, "If you want to help, please help," and I do that all the time. We've got the USA Freedom Corps, Peace Corps, ways to help and AmeriCorps. And today we've got with us Brenda Ross, who's a USA Freedom Corps honoree, full time AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer. She works in making sure people who need food get food. She's working in Boys and Girls Clubs. I don't know where Brenda is, but anyway, she is part of the soldiers in the armies of compassion. And you can join that army of compassion, too, by mentoring a child. I told you, we're going to Huckabee's church excuse me, Governor Huckabee's church I call him Huckabee. Laughter This is a church which is helping welfare recipients learn a skill so they can work. There's nothing more there's no more there's no better way to earn dignity than to work. And this church understands that. We can fight terror by feeding people who are hungry. We can fight terror by loving the lonely. We can fight terror by insisting every child learns to read. We can fight terror by doing good, and that's happening all across America. The great strength of this country is not really our military. The great strength of the country is the people of America. The great strength of the country lies in the hearts and souls of our citizens, people who are willing to serve something greater than materialism and selfishness, people who are willing to serve something greater than yourself. You know, that really came home to me most vividly on Flight 93. Think about that People got on an airplane they're flying across the country and all of a sudden the call comes and says, "Your airplane is going to be used as a weapon." And so they tell their loved ones they love them they said a prayer they took the plane to the ground to save somebody else's life. You see, it's that sense of serving something greater than yourself that we all can do that we all can do by showing compassion and decency and love. And as a result, we will show the world the true strength of America. We're going to keep the peace by being strong militarily and by doing our job, and we will win the war by being a compassionate, decent, honorable nation. It is such an honor such an honor to be the President of such a grand country. Thanks for giving me the chance. May God bless you all. May God bless America. June 01, 2002 Thank you very much, General Lennox. Mr. Secretary, Governor Pataki, Members of the United States Congress, Academy staff and faculty, distinguished guests, proud family members, and graduates I want to thank you for your welcome. Laura and I are especially honored to visit this great institution in your bicentennial year. In every corner of America, the words "West Point" command immediate respect. This place where the Hudson River bends is more than a fine institution of learning. The United States Military Academy is the guardian of values that have shaped the soldiers who have shaped the history of the world. A few of you have followed in the path of the perfect West Point graduate Robert E. Lee, who never received a single demerit in 4 years. Some of you followed in the path of the imperfect graduate Ulysses S. Grant, who had his fair share of demerits and said the happiest day of his life was "the day I left West Point." Laughter During my college years, I guess you could say I was laughter during my college years, I guess you could say I was a Grant man. Laughter You walk in the tradition of Eisenhower and MacArthur, Patton and Bradley the commanders who saved a civilization. And you walk in the tradition of second lieutenants who did the same by fighting and dying on distant battlefields. Graduates of this Academy have brought creativity and courage to every field of endeavor. West Point produced the chief engineer of the Panama Canal, the mind behind the Manhattan Project, the first American to walk in space. This fine institution gave us the man they say invented baseball and other young men over the years who perfected the game of football. You know this, but many in America don't George C. Marshall, a VMI graduate, is said to have given this order "I want an officer for a secret and dangerous mission. I want a West Point football player." As you leave here today, I know there's one thing you'll never miss about this place being a plebe. Laughter But even a plebe at West Point is made to feel he or she has some standing in the world. Laughter I'm told that plebes, when asked whom they outrank, are required to answer this "Sir, the Superintendent's dog laughter the Commandant's cat, and all the admirals in the whole damn Navy." I probably won't be sharing that with the Secretary of the Navy. Laughter West Point is guided by tradition, and in honor of the "Golden Children of the Corps," I will observe one of the traditions you cherish most. As the Commander in Chief, I hereby grant amnesty to all cadets who are on restriction for minor conduct offenses. Applause Those of you in the end zone might have cheered a little early laughter because, you see, I'm going to let General Lennox define exactly what "minor" means. Laughter Every West Point class is commissioned to the Armed Forces. Some West Point classes are also commissioned by history to take part in a great new calling for their country. Speaking here to the class of 1942, 6 months after Pearl Harbor, General Marshall said, "We're determined that before the Sun sets on this terrible struggle, our flag will be recognized throughout the world as a symbol of freedom on the one hand and of overwhelming power on the other." Officers graduating that year helped fulfill that mission, defeating Japan and Germany and then reconstructing those nations as allies. West Point graduates of the 1940s saw the rise of a deadly new challenge the challenge of imperial communism and opposed it from Korea to Berlin to Vietnam, and in the cold war from beginning to end. And as the Sun set on their struggle, many of those West Point officers lived to see a world transformed. History has also issued its call to your generation. In your last year, America was attacked by a ruthless and resourceful enemy. You graduate from this Academy in a time of war, taking your place in an American military that is powerful and is honorable. Our war on terror is only begun, but in Afghanistan it was begun well. I am proud of the men and women who have fought on my orders. America is profoundly grateful for all who serve the cause of freedom and for all who have given their lives in its defense. This Nation respects and trusts our military, and we are confident in your victories to come. This war will take many turns we cannot predict. Yet, I am certain of this Wherever we carry it, the American flag will stand not only for our power but for freedom. Our Nation's cause has always been larger than our Nation's defense. We fight, as we always fight, for a just peace, a peace that favors human liberty. We will defend the peace against threats from terrorists and tyrants. We will preserve the peace by building good relations among the great powers. And we will extend the peace by encouraging free and open societies on every continent. Building this just peace is America's opportunity and America's duty. From this day forward, it is your challenge as well, and we will meet this challenge together. You will wear the uniform of a great and unique country. America has no empire to extend or utopia to establish. We wish for others only what we wish for ourselves, safety from violence, the rewards of liberty, and the hope for a better life. In defending the peace, we face a threat with no precedent. Enemies in the past needed great armies and great industrial capabilities to endanger the American people and our Nation. The attacks of September the 11th required a few hundred thousand dollars in the hands of a few dozen evil and deluded men. All of the chaos and suffering they caused came at much less than the cost of a single tank. The dangers have not passed. This Government and the American people are on watch. We are ready, because we know the terrorists have more money and more men and more plans. The gravest danger to freedom lies at the perilous crossroads of radicalism and technology. When the spread of chemical and biological and nuclear weapons, along with ballistic missile technology when that occurs, even weak states and small groups could attain a catastrophic power to strike great nations. Our enemies have declared this very intention and have been caught seeking these terrible weapons. They want the capability to blackmail us or to harm us or to harm our friends, and we will oppose them with all our power. For much of the last century, America's defense relied on the cold war doctrines of deterrence and containment. In some cases, those strategies still apply, but new threats also require new thinking. Deterrence the promise of massive retaliation against nations means nothing against shadowy terrorist networks with no nation or citizens to defend. Containment is not possible when unbalanced dictators with weapons of mass destruction can deliver those weapons on missiles or secretly provide them to terrorist allies. We cannot defend America and our friends by hoping for the best. We cannot put our faith in the word of tyrants who solemnly sign nonproliferation treaties and then systemically break them. If we wait for threats to fully materialize, we will have waited too long. Homeland defense and missile defense are part of stronger security they're essential priorities for America. Yet, the war on terror will not be won on the defensive. We must take the battle to the enemy, disrupt his plans, and confront the worst threats before they emerge. In the world we have entered, the only path to safety is the path of action, and this Nation will act. Our security will require the best intelligence to reveal threats hidden in caves and growing in laboratories. Our security will require modernizing domestic agencies such as the FBI, so they're prepared to act and act quickly against danger. Our security will require transforming the military you will lead, a military that must be ready to strike at a moment's notice in any dark corner of the world. And our security will require all Americans to be forward looking and resolute, to be ready for preemptive action when necessary to defend our liberty and to defend our lives. The work ahead is difficult. The choices we will face are complex. We must uncover terror cells in 60 or more countries, using every tool of finance, intelligence, and law enforcement. Along with our friends and allies, we must oppose proliferation and confront regimes that sponsor terror, as each case requires. Some nations need military training to fight terror, and we'll provide it. Other nations oppose terror but tolerate the hatred that leads to terror, and that must change. We will send diplomats where they are needed, and we will send you, our soldiers, where you're needed. All nations that decide for aggression and terror will pay a price. We will not leave the safety of America and the peace of the planet at the mercy of a few mad terrorists and tyrants. We will lift this dark threat from our country and from the world. Because the war on terror will require resolve and patience, it will also require firm moral purpose. In this way our struggle is similar to the cold war. Now, as then, our enemies are totalitarians, holding a creed of power with no place for human dignity. Now, as then, they seek to impose a joyless conformity, to control every life and all of life. America confronted imperial communism in many different ways, diplomatic, economic, and military. Yet, moral clarity was essential to our victory in the cold war. When leaders like John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan refused to gloss over the brutality of tyrants, they gave hope to prisoners and dissidents and exiles and rallied free nations to a great cause. Some worry that it is somehow undiplomatic or impolite to speak the language of right and wrong. I disagree. Different circumstances require different methods but not different moralities. Moral truth is the same in every culture, in every time, and in every place. Targeting innocent civilians for murder is always and everywhere wrong. Brutality against women is always and everywhere wrong. There can be no neutrality between justice and cruelty, between the innocent and the guilty. We are in a conflict between good and evil, and America will call evil by its name. By confronting evil and lawless regimes, we do not create a problem we reveal a problem. And we will lead the world in opposing it. As we defend the peace, we also have an historic opportunity to preserve the peace. We have our best chance since the rise of the nation state in the 17th century to build a world where the great powers compete in peace instead of prepare for war. The history of the last century, in particular, was dominated by a series of destructive national rivalries that left battlefields and graveyards across the Earth. Germany fought France, the Axis fought the Allies, and then the East fought the West, in proxy wars and tense standoffs, against a backdrop of nuclear Armageddon. Competition between great nations is inevitable, but armed conflict in our world is not. More and more, civilized nations find ourselves on the same side, united by common dangers of terrorist violence and chaos. America has and intends to keep military strengths beyond challenge, thereby making the destabilizing arms races of other eras pointless and limiting rivalries to trade and other pursuits of peace. Today, the great powers are also increasingly united by common values, instead of divided by conflicting ideologies. The United States, Japan, and our Pacific friends, and now all of Europe, share a deep commitment to human freedom, embodied in strong alliances such as NATO. And the tide of liberty is rising in many other nations. Generations of West Point officers planned and practiced for battles with Soviet Russia. I've just returned from a new Russia, now a country reaching toward democracy and our partner in the war against terror. Even in China, leaders are discovering that economic freedom is the only lasting source of national wealth. In time, they will find that social and political freedom is the only true source of national greatness. When the great powers share common values, we are better able to confront serious regional conflicts together, better able to cooperate in preventing the spread of violence or economic chaos. In the past, great power rivals took sides in difficult regional problems, making divisions deeper and more complicated. Today, from the Middle East to South Asia, we are gathering broad international coalitions to increase the pressure for peace. We must build strong and great power relations when times are good to help manage crisis when times are bad. America needs partners to preserve the peace, and we will work with every nation that shares this noble goal. And finally, America stands for more than the absence of war. We have a great opportunity to extend a just peace by replacing poverty, repression, and resentment around the world with hope of a better day. Through most of history, poverty was persistent, inescapable, and almost universal. In the last few decades, we've seen nations from Chile to South Korea build modern economies and freer societies, lifting millions of people out of despair and want. And there's no mystery to this achievement. The 20th century ended with a single surviving model of human progress, based on nonnegotiable demands of human dignity, the rule of law, limits on the power of the state, respect for women, and private property and free speech and equal justice and religious tolerance. America cannot impose this vision, yet we can support and reward governments that make the right choices for their own people. In our development aid, in our diplomatic efforts, in our international broadcasting, and in our educational assistance, the United States will promote moderation and tolerance and human rights. And we will defend the peace that makes all progress possible. When it comes to the common rights and needs of men and women, there is no clash of civilizations. The requirements of freedom apply fully to Africa and Latin America and the entire Islamic world. The peoples of the Islamic nations want and deserve the same freedoms and opportunities as people in every nation. And their governments should listen to their hopes. A truly strong nation will permit legal avenues of dissent for all groups that pursue their aspirations without violence. An advancing nation will pursue economic reform, to unleash the great entrepreneurial energy of its people. A thriving nation will respect the rights of women, because no society can prosper while denying opportunity to half its citizens. Mothers and fathers and children across the Islamic world and all the world share the same fears and aspirations In poverty, they struggle in tyranny, they suffer and as we saw in Afghanistan, in liberation, they celebrate. America has a greater objective than controlling threats and containing resentment. We will work for a just and peaceful world beyond the war on terror. The bicentennial class of West Point now enters this drama. With all in the United States Army, you will stand between your fellow citizens and grave danger. You will help establish a peace that allows millions around the world to live in liberty and to grow in prosperity. You will face times of calm and times of crisis, and every test will find you prepared, because you're the men and women of West Point. You leave here marked by the character of this Academy, carrying with you the highest ideals of our Nation. Toward the end of his life, Dwight Eisenhower recalled the first day he stood on the plain at West Point. "The feeling came over me," he said, "that the expression the United States of America' would now and henceforth mean something different than it had ever before. From here on, it would be the Nation I would be serving, not myself." Today, your last day at West Point, you begin a life of service in a career unlike any other. You've answered a calling to hardship and purpose, to risk and honor. At the end of every day, you will know that you have faithfully done your duty. May you always bring to that duty the high standards of this great American institution. May you always be worthy of the long gray line that stretches two centuries behind you. On behalf of the Nation, I congratulate each one of you for the commission you've earned, for the credit you bring to the United States of America. May God bless you all. June 01, 2002 Good morning. It's graduation time on many college campuses. Members of my administration are traveling around the country to challenge the class of 2002 to make serving their neighbor and their Nation a central part of their lives. Earlier today I spoke to the graduating cadets of West Point, who will provide the ultimate service to our Nation as we fight and win the war on terror. Americans have always believed in an ethic of service. Americans serve others because their conscience demands it, because their faith teaches it, because they are grateful to their country, and because service brings rewards much deeper than material success. Government does not create this idealism, but we can do a better job of supporting and encouraging an ethic of service in America. During my State of the Union Address last January, I asked all Americans to give at least 2 years, or 4,000 hours over their lives, to serving others. And I created the USA Freedom Corps to help Americans find volunteer opportunities. Whatever your talent, whatever your background, each of you can do something. America needs retired doctors and nurses who can be mobilized in emergencies, volunteers to help police and fire departments, and transportation and utility workers trained to spot danger. We have created a new Citizen Corps to enable Americans to make their own neighborhoods safer. America needs citizens working to strengthen our communities. We need more talented teachers in our troubled schools and more mentors to love our children. Through the USA Freedom Corps and the "Citizen Service Act" introduced in Congress just over a week ago, we will expand and improve the good efforts of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps to meet the needs of America's communities. I urge Congress to act quickly on this good piece of legislation. The USA Freedom Corps is also working with the nonprofits and hospitals, houses of worship, and schools around the country that offer millions of Americans the chance to serve others. And America needs citizens to extend the compassion of our country to every part of the world, so we are renewing the promise of the Peace Corps, doubling its volunteers over the next 5 years, and asking it to expand its efforts to foster education and development in the Islamic world. We will fight resentment and hatred with hope and progress. Americans from every walk of life are heeding the call to service. Since my State of the Union Address, more than 45,000 Americans have asked for Peace Corps applications. More than 34,000 citizens have signed up for the new Citizen Corps initiative. Applications for AmeriCorps and Senior Corps are also up. And service knows no age requirement. You're never too old or too young to help out. One remarkable act of service came from 13 year old Ashley Shamberger of Aloha, Oregon. A few months ago, Ashley wrote me a letter about the patriotic keychains she and her mom made and sold to raise money for the children of Afghanistan. She included a check for 270.88 "to save more kids," as she put it. She did all this while hospitalized with cancer. Tragically, Ashley died on the very day her letter reached the White House. This is the character of our country. This is the soul of our people. This is the Nation we love and can honor through acts of service. If you'd like to find opportunities to serve your community, our country, or the world, as so many Americans already have, just contact usafreedomcorps.gov or call 1 877 USA CORPS. Thank you for listening. May 30, 2002 The President. We started the Cabinet meeting today with a prayer from Secretary Mineta, who in his prayer reminded us that this is a somber day for America. It is the day in which we've removed all the debris from Ground Zero. On behalf of a grateful nation, I want to thank all those who participated in the cleanup of that deadly site and want our Nation to continue to offer our prayer to those families and friends and citizens who still hurt as a result of the attacks of September the 11th. As well I talked about our trip, as did the Secretary. We had a very successful trip to Europe, successful bilaterals with France and Germany and Italy. And of course, the highlight of the trip was signing the treaty with Russia that really signifies to the world that the cold war is over, Russia is our friend, and we need to work together. And then we went I've signed an agreement with NATO and Russia that basically said the same thing. And this is a good this is the dawn of a new era in relationship with Russia that will be very positive for our country and for world peace. And after all, that's what we work to achieve, which is world peace. I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions. Yes, Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press , and then Randy Randall Mikkelsen, Reuters . FBI Reorganization Civil Liberties Q. Mr. President, the FBI is lifting restrictions on domestic spying, including against religious institutions and political organizations. Is there a risk of going too far in the battle against terrorism and actually losing some freedoms that are very important to the country? The President. Of course, the Attorney General will be briefing the Nation today about what we intend to do. And here's what we intend to do We intend to honor our Constitution and respect the freedoms that we hold so dear and secondly, we want to make sure that we do everything we can to prevent a further attack, protect America. The FBI needed to change. It was a organization full of fine people that loved America, but they the organization didn't meet the times. And so I appreciate Director Mueller's reform measures. This is a man who came on to the FBI not many days before the September the 11th attack, and he's now reforming this important agency, all aimed at preventing a further attack. Our most important job is to protect America. And the initiative that the Attorney General will be outlining today will guarantee our Constitution, and that's important for the citizens to know. Randy, and then John John King, Cable News Network . Pakistan India Relations Al Qaida Q. Mr. President, are you preparing to activate plans for evacuating American civilians and troops from Pakistan and India? And how much concern do you have that the standoff over Kashmir is allowing Al Qaida to regroup and operate in Pakistan? The President. Well, first of all, the Secretary is both Secretaries are analyzing what it would take to protect American lives, if need be. Secondly, we are making it very clear to both Pakistan and India that war will not serve their interests. And we're a part of a international coalition applying pressure to both parties, particularly to President Musharraf. He must stop the incursions across the line of control he must do so. He said he would do so. We and others are making it clear to him that he must live up to his word. Al Qaida is a they'll find weakness, and we are doing everything we can to continue to shore up our efforts in on the Pakistani Afghan border. And they shouldn't think they're going to gain any advantage as a result of any conflict that may be or talk of conflict between India and Pakistan, because we're still going to hunt them down. This is a long war. You know, I was just reflecting the other day, we've only been at this for we've haven't even been fighting this war for a year yet. And we've got a lot of work to do. And there will be moments where the Al Qaida thinks that, you know, maybe America is not after them, and they'll feel safe and secure. And you know, they'll think they'll kind of settle into some cave somewhere. But they don't understand the intention of this administration, which is to patiently hunt these people down, and that's exactly what we're going to do. Q. Are you sending Secretary Rumsfeld next week to the region? The President. Yes, he's going there. Deputy Secretary of State Armitage is going this week, and then Secretary Rumsfeld is going as well. Q. This week or next, sir? The President. Next week. Secretary Rumsfeld. Next week. The President. Yes, early next week. John, last question. Legislative Agenda Situation in the Middle East Q. Sir, a two part, if you don't mind. One, there seems to be a sense again in the Middle East with respect to a period of treading water. CIA Director Tenet is supposed to go. I'm trying to get your sense of whether you have seen any tangible proof from the parties that they are willing to take the steps necessary to move beyond the standoff. And you have it on the table today also, your domestic policy team I'm wondering if you come back from the trip, if you discuss today the sense of frustration, if you will, that Congress went home for Memorial Day without acting on many of the things a few months back you had asked them to do. The President. Well, let me address the second first. We have been pleased with how many of our initiatives have moved through the House of Representatives and been frustrated by the fact they haven't moved through the Senate. Having said that, I was pleased that the Senate moved the trade promotion authority bill and hope when they get back that they call a conference quickly and get this bill to my desk. It's important for people who are looking for work here in America. But there's still a lot of work to be done in the Senate. They've got to get this supplemental done quickly. It's important that we get a supplemental out and, frankly, a supplemental that doesn't bust the budget. And we'll be looking forward to working with the Senators to explain to them that the supplemental ought to focus on emergency measures, measures that are needed to fight the war, to button up the homeland. But the supplemental shouldn't be viewed as an opportunity to load up to load it up with special projects. In terms of the Middle East, we are sending we sent Ambassador Burns there yesterday Director Tenet is going all aimed at providing the steps necessary to provide the institutions that will create stability in a potential Palestinian state. And that's very important. That's very important because it begins to say that people are responsible. It's tangible evidence that what I said in the Rose Garden is what we mean, that people need to be responsible for their actions. Mr. Arafat needs to be responsible, and part of that responsibility is to reform a security force so that it will actually keep security in the region. The Secretary was telling me that there was some talk of a new finance minister being promoted in the Palestinian Authority, a person that has got international standing. That is a positive development, because one of the things that worries us is spending any international aid on an authority that might not keep good books, that the money might not actually go to help the Palestinian people but might end up in somebody's pocket. And that concerns us. So John, to answer your question, we are we are making progress on a strategy that will put the underpinnings of a Palestinian state in place. And it's going to take a while we recognize that. But we're going to continue to work the issue very hard. Q. Have you seen enough from the parties to schedule the conference the Secretary wants to hold or The President. Well, the scheduling of a conference is a matter of making sure that the that we find the right place and the right time to do so, and the Secretary is working on that. May 28, 2002 NATO Russia Council Meeting President Bush. This is a historic day. At this point, a delegation passed in front of President Bush. President Bush. So much for scripting every event. Laughter Secretary General Lord Robertson. Inaudible Q. Sir, is this an historic day? Laughter President Bush. This is an historic morning. No, this is an historic day, and I want to thank Lord Robertson for such great leadership. He recognizes that a Europe whole and free and at peace is an important goal and one that will be more likely to be achieved for years to come by welcoming Russia west. And because of his vision and historic work, today we're signing a document that does just that. So I want to thank you for your leadership. It's been impressive. Secretary General Lord Robertson. Thank you very much, Mr. President. The President and I are exactly the same age, and what's happening today turns completely on its head everything we've lived with up to now, because here is the Russian President as an equal, round this table today. So I said that even the table plan is a revolution. Laughter President Bush. That's right. Situation in the Middle East Q. Can I ask you about the Middle East, sir? President Bush. Yes, go ahead. Q. Your reaction to the suicide attack yesterday? And do you plan to bring a new initiative, maybe a timetable for peace talks to the conference next month this summer? President Bush. First, we strongly deplore and condemn terrorist violence. There are people that don't want peace, and therefore they're willing to kill to make sure there is no peace. And all of us, all of us involved in the process Arab nations, the Palestinians, Americans, Europeans, Israelis must do everything we can to stop terrorist action. We're going forward with our plan. This week Burns will be going to the Middle East Tenet will be going to the Middle East. Before Tenet leaves, I do want to go back and visit with him. That will be tomorrow morning. And at an appropriate time, we'll announce his schedule. There needs to be a the implementation of institutions necessary for a state to evolve. And that's exactly what our strategy is. And that's what we're going to work on. And I call upon all nations to uphold their respective responsibilities, to see that that happens. And the first step is to make sure that there's a security force in place that keeps the security. Modernizing the Military Q. Lord Robertson, how concerned are you about the so called capability gap between Europe and the United States in NATO? And how are you going to convince Europeans to boost their defense spending? President Bush. Well, I should let Lord Robertson talk about that. But he and I have had this discussion a lot. He agrees with me that all militaries ought to be modernized. All militaries need to be modernized to meet the true threats of the 21st century. And we've got some ideas we'd like to share with him and NATO. This man understands the need to modernize militaries. And he's been a visionary in thinking forward thinking for NATO. We've got to modernize our own military, too. As you know, we've been working with Congress to make sure that when we spend money, we spend money on weapons systems that are needed, not weapons systems that have got nice politics attached to it. And I'm speaking starting with the Crusader. And I expect the Crusader not to be in the appropriations defense appropriations. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters , last question. President's Upcoming Meeting With Pope John Paul II Q. Sir, what are you going to talk about with the Pope today, and are you going to raise the abuse scandal? President Bush. I'm going to, first of all, listen carefully to what the Pope has to say. He's a man of enormous dignity and compassion. I will tell him that I am concerned about the Catholic Church in America I'm concerned about its standing. And I say that because the Catholic Church is an incredibly important institution in our country. And I'm also going to mention the fact that I appreciate the Pope's leadership in trying to strengthen the Catholic Church in America. At this point, reporters started to leave the room. Modernizing the Military President Bush. Wait, wait, wait. Modernization. Secretary General Lord Robertson. I just want to first of all say that the responsibility and the credit for today's meeting, which by any measure is historic, lies with the President of the United States. He took an opportunity he took the unique cooperation that happened after the 11th of September and made it into something that looks to the future, builds a base for future cooperation with what were the former adversaries. And I want to pay tribute to the President in this regard. On capabilities, if this Alliance that the President has promoted so vigorously in his speeches this week is going to remain relevant and important to the people on both sides of the Atlantic, then there must be a true transatlantic bargain. The Europeans must do more spend more and spend more wisely, and the United States must share technology and open export markets and encourage transatlantic reorganization. So I occasionally stand on toes on both sides of the Atlantic, but that's why I was appointed, and I'll continue to do it until they get 19 people to agree to get rid of me. Laughter Thank you. May 28, 2002 Secretary General, thank you for your leadership. Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for your grand hospitality. You've been a great host. And I want to welcome our friend President Vladimir Putin to this table, and all my NATO colleagues. Today marks an historic achievement for a great alliance and a great European nation. Two former foes are now joined as partners, overcoming 50 years of division and a decade of uncertainty. And this partnership takes us closer to an even larger goal, a Europe that is whole, free, and at peace for the first time in history. NATO was born over a half a century ago as an alliance committed to defending democracy and advancing freedom. Today we renew our commitment to these important goals. And as we reach out to a new Russia that is building freedom in its own land and is already joining us in defending freedom against a common enemy, we do so in the spirit of peace and friendship. The attacks of September the 11th made clear that the new dangers of our age threaten all nations, including Russia. The months since have made clear that by working together against these threats, we multiply our effectiveness. The NATO Russia Council gives us the opportunity to move forward together on common challenges and to begin building ties that can be expanded far into the future. We will start with areas where our ability to help one another as equal partners is unmistakable, areas such as countering terrorism, preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction, emergency planning, and search and rescue operations at sea. We will improve our coordination in places where we are already working together, such as the Balkans. NATO, Russia, and our other partners can take great pride in the greater peace and stability we have brought to that region. We will also look ahead to other areas where we can expand our cooperation, such as missile defense and airspace control that can strengthen the security of all of Europe. Nothing we do will subtract from NATO's core mission. We will be practical, moving forward step by step. And as our trust and track record of success grows, so will the breadth and depth of our work together. The NATO Russia Council offers Russia a path toward forming an alliance with the Alliance. It offers all our nations a way to strengthen our common security, and it offers the world a prospect of a more hopeful century. Thank you very much. May 27, 2002 Mr. President and Mrs. Chirac Secretary Powell and Secretary Principi members of the United States Congress members of the American Armed Services veterans, family members fellow Americans and friends We have gathered on this quiet corner of France as the sun rises on Memorial Day in the United States of America. This is a day our country has set apart to remember what was gained in our wars and all that was lost. Our wars have won for us every hour we live in freedom. Our wars have taken from us the men and women we honor today and every hour of the lifetimes they had hoped to live. This day of remembrance was first observed to recall the terrible casualties of the war Americans fought against each other. In the nearly 14 decades since, our Nation's battles have all been far from home. Here on the continent of Europe were some of the fiercest of those battles, the heaviest losses, and the greatest victories. And in all those victories, American soldiers came to liberate, not to conquer. The only land we claim as our own are the resting places of our men and women. More than 9,000 are buried here, and many times that number have of fallen soldiers lay in our cemeteries across Europe and America. From a distance, surveying row after row of markers, we see the scale and heroism and sacrifice of the young. We think of units sustaining massive casualties, men cut down crossing a beach or taking a hill or securing a bridge. We think of many hundreds of sailors lost in their ships. The war correspondent Ernie Pyle told of a British officer walking across the battlefield just after the violence had ended. Seeing the bodies of American boys scattered everywhere, the officer said, in sort of a hushed eulogy spoken only to himself, "Brave men, brave men." All who come to a place like this feel the enormity of the loss. Yet, for so many, there is a marker that seems to sit alone. They come looking for that one cross, that one Star of David, that one name. Behind every grave of a fallen soldier is a story of the grief that came to a wife, a mother, a child, a family, or a town. A World War II orphan has described her family's life after her father was killed on a field in Germany. "My mother," she said, "had lost everything she was waiting for. She lost her dreams. There were an awful lot of perfect linen tablecloths in our house that never got used, so many things being saved for a future that was never to be." Each person buried here understood his duty but also dreamed of going back home to the people and the things he knew. Each had plans and hopes of his own and parted with them forever when he died. The day will come when no one is left who knew them, when no visitor to this cemetery can stand before a grave remembering a face and a voice. The day will never come when America forgets them. And our Nation and the world will always remember what they did here and what they gave here for the future of humanity. As dawn broke during the invasion, a little boy in the village off of Gold Beach called out to his mother, "Look, the sea is black with boats." Spread out before them and over the horizon were more than 5,000 ships and landing craft. In the skies were some of the 12,000 planes sent on the first day of Operation Overlord. The Battle of Normandy would last many days, but June 6th, 1944, was the crucial day. The late President Francois Mitterrand said that nothing in history compares to D day. "The 6th of June," he observed, "sounded the hour when history tipped toward the camp of freedom." Before dawn, the first paratroopers already had been dropped inland. The story is told of a group of French women finding Americans and imploring them not to leave. A trooper said, "We're not leaving. If necessary, this is the place we die." Units of Army Rangers on shore, in one of history's bravest displays, scaled cliffs directly in the gunfire, never relenting even as comrades died all around them. When they had reached the top, the Rangers radioed back the code for success, "Praise the Lord." Only a man who was there, charging out of a landing craft, can know what it was like. For the entire liberating force, there was only the ground in front of them no shelter, no possibility of retreat. They were part of the largest amphibious landing in history and perhaps the only great battle in which the wounded were carried forward. Survivors remember the sight of a Catholic chaplain, Father Joe Lacey, lifting dying men out of the water and comforting and praying with them. Private Jimmy Hall was seen carrying the body of his brother, Johnny, saying, "He can't. He can't be dead. I promised Mother I'd look after him." Such was the size of the Battle of Normandy Thirty eight pairs of brothers died in the liberation, including Bedford and Raymond Hoback of Virginia, both who fell on D day. Raymond's body was never found. All he left behind was his Bible, discovered in the sand. Their mother asked that Bedford be buried here as well, in the place Raymond was lost, so her sons would always be together. On Memorial Day, America honors her own. Yet we also remember all the valiant young men and women from many Allied Nations, including France, who shared in the struggle here and in the suffering. We remember the men and women who served and died alongside Americans in so many terrible battles on this continent and beyond. Words can only go so far in capturing the grief and sense of loss for the families of those who died in all our wars. For some military families in America and in Europe, the grief is recent, with the losses we have suffered in Afghanistan. They can know, however, that the cause is just. And like other generations, these sacrifices have spared many others from tyranny and sorrow. Long after putting away his uniform, an American GI expressed his own pride and the truth about all who served, living and dead. He said, "I feel like I played my part in turning this from a century of darkness into a century of light." Here where we stand today, the new world came back to liberate the old. A bond was formed of shared trial and shared victory. And a light that scattered darkness from these shores and across France would spread to all of Europe, in time turning enemies into friends and the pursuits of war into the pursuits of peace. Our security is still bound up together in a transatlantic alliance, with soldiers in many uniforms defending the world from terrorists at this very hour. The grave markers here all face west, across an ageless and indifferent ocean to the country these men and women served and loved. The thoughts of America on this Memorial Day turn to them and to all their fallen comrades in arms. We think of them with lasting gratitude. We miss them with lasting love, and we pray for them. And we trust in the words of the Almighty God which are inscribed in the chapel nearby "I give unto them eternal life, that they shall never perish." God bless. May 26, 2002 President Chirac. Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon. Welcome here. Welcome to all of you here this afternoon. Of course, I extend a special welcome to the members of the press who have come with President Bush. Can I, first of all, say how pleased I am that we'll have the opportunity to welcome on his first trip to France the President of the United States and his wife. It's, of course, a great pleasure for me to welcome them, and I think it's also a great pleasure for all the people of France to welcome them. And that is something that I wanted to say in no uncertain terms. We had this afternoon a working session. We'll meet again over dinner. Tomorrow, as all of you know, President Bush will be in Normandy. And I think it's very moving for me and for the people of France to know that, for the first time ever, if I'm not mistaken, the President of the United States will not be in the United States on Memorial Day, and that on this occasion the President will come and pay a solemn tribute to the great number of young American servicemen who gave up their lives to fight for France, for Europe, for freedom. This fight for freedom, for liberty, is a constant fight, a fight that we all engage in, a fight that is a bond between the peoples of both sides of the Atlantic, a fight that is pursued still today under very specific ties, the fight against terrorism. We exchanged views. We had an intense, candid, friendly exchange of views. And I think this echoes and epitomizes the nature of the dialog that we have had ever since President Bush's election, in the number of contacts we have had either in Europe or when I have been to the United States. I think the last time we met was when we both were in Monterrey, in Mexico, and also over the phone. We mentioned a number of issues the fight against terrorism and in this respect, we have a similar understanding of what is being done and what should be done to fight and eradicate terrorism. We both know that terrorism still exists, that it can be active anywhere, at any time, and that, therefore, all the leaders across the world must pay great attention to this issue and be determined to eradicate terrorism. We also mentioned strategic issues. In this respect, we paid special attention to the change and the developments in the relationship between the U.S. and Russia. And we welcome this change. Russia is a major nation, a great nation. And I think that the relationship between Russia and the U.S. are crucial in the world today. On Tuesday, in Rome, we will have an opportunity to set in stone this change in the relationship, to act upon also the new treaty that has been signed between both Presidents in Moscow yesterday. We have an opportunity to make more concrete the relationship between NATO and Russia. And as you know, for a long time, the French position has been that the relationship between Russia and NATO should be strengthened. And you might even remember that the founding act was signed here in 1997, even though it didn't have quite the consequences that we could have expected. This being said, nowadays Russia from now on, Russia will be closer involved. And this will be the results of the NATO council in 2 days' time in Rome. We also mentioned, of course, the list of strategic issues, the fight against proliferation proliferation in a number of regions across the world. We also mentioned the relationship between France and the U.S. and, of course, the relationship between the EU and the U.S. These relationships are very good at a political level. They are instrumental for the equilibrium and the balance of our world. At an economic level, they're essential, instrumental in the good health of the global economy. There can be, indeed, no balance in our world if there is no strong relationship between the U.S. and the EU. We also spoke about issues where we have diverging views trade issues, for instance the farming bill, for instance. And in this respect, the President said that there might have been there could have been a misunderstanding of what the goals of the farming bill was, a misunderstanding here in France and in other places, maybe. But I think that this means that we have to have more consultation, more consultation between the U.S. and the EU. We also, of course, mentioned steel. These are, of course, very real issues, and real answers have to be given to these problems, after consultation and intense dialog. But can I just remind you that these differences, these diverging views only account for 5 percent of the trade between the EU and the U.S. Of course, that's important, but we have to have a look at the greater picture and have a sense of perspective. We also mentioned a number of other issues in which we have slight divergence of views environment, for instance the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol. And I, personally, stressed the fact that there was a very real danger, a very real risk in going on consuming more of our planet than the Earth can actually produce. And I think that all of us know that these are very real issues and that we have to go on talking, discussing, and working together on these issues. And I'm sure I'm convinced that we will find the right ways to produce, to consume, new ways to do so. And I think all the new technologies that are being developed nowadays will enable us to do so, while at the same time, consuming less of our natural resources and better control of pollution. Of course, these issues are being discussed in other fora. We also discussed globalization. And I said that, yes, of course, globalization is unavoidable and is positive, because it increases trade and thus production and thus wealth and thus the number of jobs that there are across the world. This being said, there is a necessity that we have to bear in mind, and that is controlling globalization so that the development of the people in other countries is protected. So what I am saying is that globalization in trade has to go hand in hand with globalization of solidarity. We will be, this evening, mentioning a number of other issues, international crisis, for instance the Middle East the topical issues, the tension between India and Pakistan be talking about Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, the Balkans, and Africa. We'll be talking about Africa in the context of the new relationship that is currently being developed in the relationship between rich and poor countries. We've already, in a way, touched upon these issues. And I wanted to I did stress when we were talking with President Bush that as a longtime advocate of aid to poor countries and relationship between poor and rich countries, what I stressed is that for a very long time, these issues haven't been considered properly and that in Genoa we had, for the first time, a very real discussion about Africa. And that will be what we should remember of Genoa, although people will remember other things of the Genoa summit. And I think that this was partly do to the initiative taken by President Bush that gave us a real opportunity to talk about development development at large and development of Africa, more specifically. And this also enabled us to move from a situation where we give assistance to Africa, to a situation where we have a partnership with Africa. And that also is one of the goals of our next meeting in the G 7 format in Kananaskis, in Canada, where we will talk about the NEPAD. We also spoke of some local situations about in Africa. So all that is what we've done today. We've spoken in a very understanding and friendly atmosphere. President Bush. It's true. Laughter I am honored to be here in France. It's my first trip as the President to this beautiful country and to this beautiful capital. I always find it a great joy to talk with Jacques Chirac. He's a it's not hard to figure out where he stands on issues, and he's a good friend. He's a friend to me, personally. He's a friend to my country, and for that, I'm grateful. I'm also looking forward to going to Normandy tomorrow. We do believe this is the first time a President has been out of the country for Memorial Day. I'm looking forward to giving a speech. Memorial Day in my country is a day to honor those who have sacrificed for freedom, given their lives. Many died in France, and I'm looking forward to the moment to share my country's appreciation. And we in the talk, I'm going to talk about there's been current modern day sacrifices. We still fight people who hate civilization. It was or at least, civilization that we love they can't stand freedom it was President Chirac who was the first head of state to visit me in the White House right after September the 11th. I was very grateful for that visit. As he, himself, said, that we're in a fight to defend civilization, and I couldn't agree more with him. And I want to thank the French people for not only the sympathy shown for my country after September the 11th but the strong support in the war against terror. Jacques and I spent a lot of time talking about how to better fight this fight, and that's not just in military terms. I speak in terms of doing a better job of cutting off money to terrorists, denying them safe haven, and as we fight for a safer world, how to make the world a better world. And one of the things I really admire about I guess I should call you President Chirac President Chirac is that you've had this great compassion for the developing world, and I appreciate your compassion, and I appreciate your heart. It's important that we continue to work together to make sure that there is a strategy in place to help people develop and grow and prosper. I'm looking forward to the dinner. He's always saying that the food here is fantastic, and I'm going to give him a chance to show me tonight. And I also look forward to continuing our discussions on important issues, like how to make sure NATO works better, how best to continue to work with our friends in Russia, how we can work together to in the Middle East to bring peace to that part of the world. I appreciate this good man's advice. I listen carefully to it when he gives it, and I'm proud to call him friend. Thank you for your hospitality. President Chirac. Thank you. Pakistan India Relations Q. Mr. President, you mentioned this morning that you had expressed strong reservations to President Musharraf about the missile test in Pakistan. I'm wondering, sir, whether your administration actually asked President Musharraf not to conduct those tests, and second, whether you regard the escalating conflict there as a threat to U.S. forces in the region? And finally, as tomorrow is the first Memorial Day since 9 11, can you say to the American people how this Memorial Day will be somehow different from those past? And President Chirac, you mentioned in your opening comments that the response to the President's strategic initiative with Russia from a year ago had not been what you had anticipated. Do you think that perhaps the Europeans overreacted a year ago to what President Bush was proposing to do with Russia? And were you suggesting, sir, that perhaps you underestimated this President? President Bush. Like everybody else. Laughter Pakistan yes, we expressed deep concern, and we'll continue to express concern about testing and our I'm more concerned about making sure that insisting, along with other world leaders, that including the President of France that President Musharraf show results in terms of stopping people from crossing the line of control, stopping terrorism. That's what's more important than the missile testing, is that he perform. I'm jet lagged what's the first couple of questions? Q. The second one, sir, was I was wondering if the escalating conflict posed a threat to U.S. forces in the region. President Bush. I would certainly hope not. Third? Is that it? Laughter Memorial Day Q. Memorial Day. President Bush. Oh, Memorial Day. Thanks. That's what happens when you're over 55. Laughter You know what I mean. Let me say one quick thing about Memorial Day. All Memorial Days are solemn days, particularly for those who mourn the loss of a loved one. All Memorial Days are days in which Americans ought to give thanks for freedom and the fact that somebody sacrificed for their freedom. This Memorial Day is the first Memorial Day in a long time in which younger Americans know firsthand the price that was paid for their freedom. President Chirac. On that very last point, can I maybe just say that it really is very moving for all the people of France and Europeans at large to see that President Bush that the President of the United States will be for the first time outside the United States on Memorial Day and that he come to Normandy to pay tribute to all those many American who gave their lives for freedom. This, I think, is a very strong gesture that we will not forget. Maybe a question for a French journalist? Yes. France's Role in the War on Terrorism Q. Mr. President, Mr. Bush, after your trip to Russia, what would be for you a more decisive ally in your war against terrorism? Would it be Russia or this little corner of this continent which is called Western Europe? And please, Mr. President, don't say "both" this wouldn't be the beginning of an answer. President Bush. Both. Laughter What was that? I didn't get the full question. I got "Russia," and I got "this little corner of Europe." But what was the question? Who do I rely on more? Q. What is for you the more decisive ally in your war against terrorism? President Bush. Decisive ally? Ally? Decisive ally? Of course, Jacques Chirac. Laughter I listen, thank you for the trick question. Let me talk about this ally. The phone rang the day after the attack the day of the attack. I can't remember exactly when, but it was immediately. And he said, "I'm your friend." On this continent, France takes the lead in helping to hunt down people who want to harm America and or the French or anybody else. We've shared intelligence in a way that is really important. One of the most important things in fighting the war on terror is to understand how the enemy thinks and when the enemy might strike. And make no mistake about it, they'd like to strike again. You know, some people would wish that their thoughts go away. These are cold blooded killers, and it requires strong cooperation to protect our citizens. My most important job and I suspect Jacques feels the same way is to protect our citizens from further attack. And it's we've got no stronger ally in that task. I mean, he is willing to take steps necessary, obviously within the laws and Constitution of this country, just like I'm within the Constitution of mine, to protect our people. And for that, I'm very grateful, Mr. President. I'll call on the Americans. President Chirac. An American journalist, maybe? Russia and Iran Q. Yes, sir. You said in Russia that President Putin had offered some assurances about Russian sales of nuclear energy technology to Iran that we would find comforting. Aside from his statement that Russia doesn't want Iran to have nuclear weapons, what did you find comforting? And secondly, President Putin also argued that the plant he's building there is quite similar to the one and others have offered to build in North Korea. Is that accurate, sir? And President Chirac, you mentioned that the two of you were talking about proliferation matters. Do you also have concerns about Russia's relations with Iran? President Bush. Well, first, I think it's important to understand that President Putin understands that an Iran that's got the capacity to launch a missile is dangerous for him and his country. He understands that. Secondly and we had a very frank discussion about the potential or the development of a nuclear powerplant that he is convinced will not lead to the spread of technologies that will enable Iran to develop weapons of mass destruction, and is willing to allow for international inspection teams to determine whether that's true or not. And we're thinking about what he told us. Q. And the plant in North Korea, sir, is that different from the one he's building in Iran? President Bush. As I say, we're thinking about what he told us. Q. President Chirac? President Chirac. I share, unreservedly, the position outlined by President Bush, by George. French journalist? Regime Change in Iraq Situation in the Middle East Q. France would like to see the Middle East peace conference convene the quickest possible, and the U.S. to do to act for it. May we know, what are your forecasts for this Middle East conference, and when do you think it will happen, and if president Arafat will be participating in such a conference? Also, I would like to know, if possible, what are your plans for the Iraqi regime? Are you really willing to change the Iraqi regime, and how? President Bush. Okay. Whew, a lot of questions here. Let me start with the Iraqi regime. The stated policy of my Government is that we have a regime change. And as I told President Chirac, I have no war plans on my desk. And I will continue to consult closely with him. We do view Saddam Hussein as a serious, significant serious threat to stability and peace. In terms of the Middle East, this week we will be sending American officials back into the region to work with the parties, to have a political dialog, start a political dialog, as well as develop a security force within the Palestinian Authority that can will function like a security force, actually do what they're supposed to do. And in terms of meetings, conferences, our view is, is that we need to develop a strategy, to continue working with our Arab friends on that strategy, and then the Secretary will be convening a ministerial conference sometime this summer. Obviously, depending upon the progress being made and how much progress we are making toward establishment of the institutions necessary for a Palestinian state to evolve, that progress will determine how many conferences are necessary until we eventually get to, hopefully, the end of the process. My Government and I, personally, strongly believe that it's in everybody's interest that there be two states living side by side in peace. And that's the vision we work toward. The good news is, is that many in the Arab world are now working with us to help create an environment so we can get to that to those two states. And to that end, I viewed the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia's declaration of a declaration that Israel should live in peace with its neighbors is incredibly important breakthrough. And we're seizing that initiative and seizing that opportunity to work together. President Chirac. Last question, for the American press, maybe? President's Visit to Europe Q. You said in reaction to demonstrations against you and your administration during this trip in Europe that it's simply a healthy democracy exercising its will, and that disputes are positive. But I wonder why it is you think there are strong such strong sentiments in Europe against you and against this administration? Why, particularly, there's a view that you and your administration are trying to impose America's will on the rest of the world, particularly when it comes to the Middle East and where the war on terrorism goes next? At this point, the reporter asked the rest of his question in French, and the interpreter translated it as follows. Q. And Mr. President, would you maybe comment on that? President Bush. Very good. The guy memorizes four words, and he plays like he's intercontinental. Laughter Q. I can go on. President Bush. Yes, I'm impressed. Que bueno. Now I'm literate in two languages. Laughter So you go to a protest, and I drive through the streets of Berlin seeing hundreds of people lining the road, waving. And I'm look, the only thing I know to do is speak my mind, to talk about my values, to talk about our mutual love for freedom and the willingness to defend freedom. And David David Gregory, NBC News , I think a lot of people on the continent of Europe appreciate that, appreciate the fact that we're friends, appreciate the fact that we've got we work together, that there's a heck of a lot more that unites us than divides us. We share the same values we trade 2 trillion a year. I mean, there's so I don't view hostility here. I view the fact we've got a lot of friends here, and I'm grateful for the friendship. And the fact that protesters show up, that's good. I mean, I'm in a democracy. I'm traveling to a country that respects other people's points of view. But I feel very comfortable coming to Europe. I feel very comfortable coming to France I've got a lot of friends here. Q. Sir, if I could just follow President Bush. Thank you. President Chirac. Look, the demonstrations you've been referring to, sir, are indeed, as the President has just said, healthy and normal in democracies. That is one of the means of expression that people have. And it's only normal and important that people should respect that. Of course, there are limits there are constraints that have to be enforced, and that is what is being done. But I think that it is only normal that, in the face of a very important political event, those who have a different understanding of things should express their diverging view. The right to demonstrate is a fundamental right intertwined with democracy. And there's no need to tell Americans about that they know it. But what I just wanted to say is that these demonstrations are really marginal demonstrations, that you shouldn't give too much credit to these demonstrations. They do not reflect a so called natural aversion of such and such a people in Europe to the President of the United States or to the U.S. people as a whole. Yes, we do have diverging views on this or that issue it's only normal. And that is the result of interests, of our national interests, and they're not always converging. And I think it's only healthy that these demonstrations should occur, that we should express our diverging points of views, and that we should find democratic answers to these questions. As for the relationship between Europe and the United States, it is a very old relationship, as you know. It is a fundamental relationship for the balance for the equilibrium of our world. But I would also add that it's an increasingly important relationship, and it's it would be the sign of short sightedness to refuse to acknowledge that. The United States and Europe are the two major economic powers in our world. And in our world the economy drives social progress. Economic power helps express political power. So I think that there is a very real, a deep rooted link between Europe and the United States, and that's the bedrock of that link, the roots of that link is the shared values that we have together. And that must be used to guarantee the balance of our world, the stability of our world. And that's precisely why we welcome the trip of an American President in Europe President Bush, in this case. But generally, a statement of generalities would be to say that we welcome a visit by the President of the United States because it shows the solidarity between the two sides of the pond, the two sides of the Atlantic, something that is fundamental for the stability of our world. Well, thank you, ladies and gentlemen. May 26, 2002 Religious Freedom in Russia The President. Good morning, everybody. Q. Good morning, Mr. President. The President. Today we've had a a beautiful morning. We've been to a church and a synagogue. One of the nonnegotiable demands of individual dignity is freedom of religion, and I'm impressed by what I've heard from religious leaders, Christian and Jewish, here about the state of affairs in Russia. We went to a cathedral that up until recently was a museum of atheism, and today it's a place where people can worship God freely. We've been to a synagogue that was, even though open, was not a welcoming sight for many Russians, and today it is a spectacular place for people to gather and worship an Almighty God and worship an Almighty God freely. And one of my strong beliefs is that people should be free to worship, and I'm pleased that that's taking place here in Russia. It's important for this country that religious freedom flourish and there be tolerance of all faiths. And it's been a very rewarding morning for Laura and me, and we want to thank our hosts and thank the Russian people. Last night I was very impressed and pleased to see so many Russians lining the streets, and they were so welcoming to the American delegation. We're making great progress in our strides toward freedom I mean, toward friendship and our mutual respect of freedom. Thank you for your hospitality. Pakistan India Relations Q. Mr. President, yesterday Pakistan went ahead with their planned missile tests. The President. Yes. Q. Do you think that has had any impact on the situation there? And do you believe this is something they should have gone forward with at this point in time? The President. As you know, we expressed our strong reservations about the tests. Obviously, we hope that there is restraint in the area, that that not be viewed as a provocation. We're continuing to work the diplomatic channels, as are other nations. I mean, everybody understands the danger of a serious conflict in the region. And slowly but surely we can erode the distrust that has arisen in the area so that they can Q. Do you think the situation is as tense and dangerous there now as it was in January, where in hindsight it appears they came very close to an armed conflict? The President. I think that anytime you have countries with nuclear arms, that a tension, serious tension is dangerous. And it's hard for me to measure the degree of tension. Let's just say it's tense now, and it was tense then. So we've just got to continue to work the problem, and we will. I'm hopeful that we'll be able to defuse the situation. Palestinian Authority Q. Mr. President, are you inclined to agree with your advisers who say that we should deal with Chairman Arafat, or those who think he should be frozen out? The President. Well, you know, I get all kinds of advice. People know my opinion about Chairman Arafat, and that is that he has let the Palestinian people down. He hasn't delivered. He had a chance to secure the peace as a result of the hard work of President Clinton, and he didn't. He's had a chance to fight terror, and he hasn't. Evidently there's a new attitude emerging among some of the leadership in the Palestinian Authority, and the answer is, we'll see. We'll see if he can deliver. The key for the for peace in the region, as far as I'm concerned, is for the Arab world to continue to fight terror, to do what they say they're going to do we believe that that's happening more than ever and that we develop the institutions necessary so that a Palestinian state can emerge that will be at peace with Israel. And that start first step is to have a security force that actually keeps the security, as well as the reforms ought to align authority and responsibility so people can be held to account for success or failure. Q. I just want to follow up and make sure I understand what you are saying, when you're saying that apparently there's a new attitude in the Palestinian Authority and we'll see. Are you The President. Well, you're beginning to see talk of reform. You know, if you read the press accounts, there's people are beginning to question out loud as to why there hasn't been success. One of the things that we've been trying to do is to say people must be responsible. My speech on April 4th called upon outlined the responsibilities necessary to achieve peace. So I'm beginning to hear this is publicly I'm beginning to hear, I might add discussion about, "Well, maybe we ought to assess how to make the Palestinian Authority more accountable," and that's what I was referring to. Q. But you're not referring to any good words or deeds you're seeing out of seeing out of Arafat. So are you saying that the time has now run out on Arafat and we're not going to deal with him, or he's still got a chance to do it right? The President. No, what I'm saying is that what we need to do is develop the institutions necessary for there to be a responsible Palestinian state. And it starts with security. One of the things that's interesting is, when you talk to European leaders, there's an interest about helping the Palestinian people the Palestinians with economic development, but it's hard to promote economic development when there is concerns about graft and corruption. And so there needs to be there needs to be institutions that will be transparent, institutions that will hold people responsible for the expenditure of money, institutions necessary to make sure that the good hearts of the world, when they apply to the Palestinian people, will be met with good results. Q. Can I follow on Ron's Ron Fournier, Associated Press question? Q. Sir Director of Central Intelligence George J. Tenet's Upcoming Visit to the Middle East Q. Is Director Tenet going back to the region this coming week? The President. You've had a big day today, Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News three questions. Q. It's because he's taller, you know. Q. That's a pool, because we all want to ask that one, though. The President. He's also booming. He's also booming out there with his question, butting in. No anyway laughter Q. My apologies to Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters . The President. Poor Patsy, here she is trying to be dignified Q. That was my question, anyway. The President. It was your question? Q. Yes, I was trying to be dignified. The President. Well, would you like to ask it, so you can Q. Sir, is Director Tenet going back to the region next week? Laughter The President. As you know, I expressed I said that I was going to send Director Tenet back to the region. I haven't changed my mind. Q. Next week? Russia's Role in the Middle East Peace Process Q. Inaudible the role of Russia on the Middle East question? The President. Well, President Putin has been very helpful. And he's been helpful because he has he has insisted that there be accountability and responsibility in the region. And he has been a he makes it very clear that the Russian Government is rejects any kind of terrorist activities that disrupts the peace process, in a very strong voice for reason and for reasonable policy, and I appreciate that a lot. Thank you all. Q. This week for Director Tenet? The President. See you in France. May 25, 2002 President Vladimir Putin of Russia. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for having me here. It's a great pleasure, as always, to be with young people, but especially here since I graduated from this university it's a double pleasure for me to be here. But this university played a dual role in my career. The first time, when they basically gave me a present they just gave me the degree that I earned that was the one important part. Laughter The second very important facet in my life was when I worked here for the rector of the university as an assistant, helping him in the area of international contacts between and among various universities. And what I was doing was doing the same thing the rector was just talking about I was setting up the initial contacts between our university and various other universities around the world. So what we did once, we invited the president of a midsize college from St. Petersburg, Florida, to come here and pay us a visit, since they had the same name. So then, what I did is I talked the former mayor, Mr. Sobchak, to receive this president of this college. So he, in turn, invited him to come to the United States. And this Mr. Carter, who was the head of this college in St. Pete, arranged a visit with one of the Presidents of the United States at the time, and I think his name was Bush. Laughter After that, he invited me to come to work for him, and the rest of my career is history, as they say. Laughter Well, to be very, very serious now, it's really a great pleasure to have business and dealings with students because students are very direct, as you know. And they also feel the rhythm of civilization as it's changing. When we were guests of the Bushes in Crawford, Texas, we also were given an opportunity to meet with young people. I think this will become a very fine tradition. President Bush. That's right. President Putin. And I think Mr. Bush also was waiting for this opportunity, because he asked me several times about this possibility. Well, George Bush and I don't know each other for that long I think it's a little bit less than 2 years. But what we're trying to do is establish the environment which would be very conducive to having people in both of our countries meet, have opportunities to make contacts, and get along better. I don't want this to sound like a major report here, but I just want to inform you that we have just signed two major agreements between our two countries. One of them is having to do with the reduction in strategic arms of the two countries, and the other one is called an agreement on a new strategic relationship between the two countries. As we all know, people are divided into two groups, optimists and pessimists, and the pessimists will always find something wrong. Optimists, however, will find in these two documents that we signed a lot of things that are very useful and beneficial. But it's wonderful to deal with young people because, by their very nature, they're optimists and they look into the future. And that's why we're here, among other things. So today, when we were coming to the conclusion of our visit to the Hermitage and we were running late so we were in a hurry Mr. Piotrovsky, who really had very little time, said, "By the way, before we leave I want to show you a portrait," which was a portrait of our great Tsaritsa Catherine the Great. And Mr. Bush, without missing a beat, said, "Oh, and by the way, where is the portrait of Potemkin?" Laughter So when you ask questions, I ask you to give me the easy questions and give Mr. Bush the tough questions. Laughter And with pleasure, I give the word to George Bush. President Bush. Thank you very much. Madam President, thank you for your hospitality. Laura and I are honored to be here at this famous university. I'm particularly pleased to be coming to this university because it is the alma mater of your President and my friend, Vladimir Putin. But even more importantly, it is Mrs. Putin's alma mater. Laughter The President was talking about a seminar on international relations. I guess this is the most sophisticated seminar on international relations that you could possibly have. So I'll give you a quick insight as to what it's like to be involved with international relations. There we were, as guests of the Putins in their private home last night. We talked about our families we talked about our passions we talked about matters of life that friends would talk about. The best international relations start when people care about the other person, when they try to figure out how the other person thinks and what makes the other person's life go forward. We've had a lot of negotiations, of course. But the thing that impressed me the most about the President and his wife was how much they loved their daughters. That's a universal value. It's an impressive value. When I got out of college in 1968, America and the Soviet Union were enemies bitter enemies. Today, America and Russia are friends. It's important for you to know that that era is long gone as far as I'm concerned. The treaty we signed says a lot about nuclear arms. It speaks about the need for peace, but it also says the cold war is over, and America and Russia need to be and will be friends, for the good of the world. And so it's my honor to come. I look forward to answering your questions. Since Vladimir went here to St. Petersburg, it only seems fair that the hard ones go to him. Laughter We'll be glad to handle your questions. Russia's Brain Drain Q. Inaudible from the Sociology Department, and the question is Everyone knows what the brain drain problem is, and it is an open secret that the traffic of brain drain is mostly oriented to the United States. I wonder what the Presidents of these two countries think about this problem. President Putin. I'll tell you right away He'll say it's good I'll say it's bad. Laughter But if you look at it a little more deeply, I'll get a little more serious and give you some more detail. There are two methods for stopping this occurrence First of all, close the country down once again and create such regulatory conditions where people will lose the right to move freely second is, in a free economy, to create economic conditions, conditions of prosperity for all those people so that they wish to stay here and work. And I think we have to take the second path. President Bush. I first of all, there's a lot of brains in this room, and you get to decide whether there's a brain drain in Russia. I tell Vladimir all the time I mean, Mr. President all the time that Russia's most precious resource is the brainpower of this country. And you've got a lot of it. It's going to take a lot of brains in Russia to create a drain. There are plenty of bright and smart people in Russia. Your history says that. I'm absolutely convinced that the future of this country is incredibly bright, first, because of the great imagination and intellect of the Russian people, and second, because you've got a leader who understands that freedom is going to enhance the future of this country. You need to know that my view of foreign relations is not only to promote peace, but it's also to work with our friends the Russians so that the quality of life in both our countries improves. And so, finally, your question had a little bit of a slightly pessimistic tone to it only slightly. I'm optimistic about Russia, and a strong and prosperous and peaceful Russia is good for America. Future of the Russian Economy Q. Inaudible from the Department of Economics, and I would like to ask this question We are involved in high technology exports, and my question in fact is, when will the time come when the bulk of the exports from Russia would be high technology and high technology products, and not the primary products like oil and wood as the situation is now? President Bush. Good question. President Putin. It's a very professional question. And you, as an economist, understand very well that this situation did not just happen yesterday. The world market demands those products that are competitive. And the things that you mentioned, the high tech kinds of things that you mentioned are in great demand in the world marketplace. And it's a no brainer to understand that there were the kinds of talent and the kinds of products in the old Soviet Union that, in fact, had been in demand, because the best brains were directed precisely in that direction in those days. One of these areas, for instance, is missile technology, and our cooperation with the United States in this area can be measured in the billions of U.S. dollar equivalents. And during this summit, we dedicated a substantial portion of our discussion time precisely to this issue, which I consider very important if we are to remove many of the things that are obstacles in allowing high tech to come into Russia. And these obstacles and limitations were placed upon us back in the days of the Soviet Union and by their very inertia continue on and on. Therefore, many of the products come into Russia from third countries, from Europe, from Asia, and not from the United States. We think that it's not good for our bilateral relations with the United States. We have to do better. And that's why a great amount of time was spent by President Bush and myself in trying to find ways to remove these obstacles. We also spent a lot of time thinking about what we, ourselves, have to do internally in Russia to help get rid of these obstacles. But since we have the high level esteemed guest in our midst, let me just direct our question to our bilateral affairs, and that is, what we need above all for Russia is an absolutely nondiscriminatory access to world markets and to U.S. markets. And we don't need preferences we don't need subsidies we don't need special favors. We just want normal, simple, ordinary, fair trade relations. President Bush. The role of Government is not to create wealth. The role of Government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneur or small business or dreamer can flourish. And that starts with rule of law, respect of private property, less regulatory burdens on the entrepreneur, open banking laws so that all people have access to capital, and good tax policy. Private ownership in Russia is a little more than 70 percent. That's a significant change. More and more people are owning small business. That's incredibly important, because that phenomenon makes sure that the elites don't control the economy. There's one piece of good news about Russian taxation, and one that I learned about yesterday, which Vladimir and I haven't had much time to talk about, that's troubling. The good news is that the flat tax in Russia is a good, fair tax much more fair, by the way, than many Western countries, I might add. I am worried when I heard that some Russian goods there is an export tax on Russian goods. And the trouble with that, of course, is that no matter how good your goods are, if you price yourself out of the market, no one is going to buy. So that's a barrier. There's also barriers coming from Western countries that we've got to eliminate. Export controls on high tech goods are problematic, that we're now reviewing in the United States. And very briefly, it is very important for the infrastructure to be modernized as quickly as possible, so that information from around the world moves quickly, freely throughout Russia, so that an entrepreneur such as yourself are able to learn from other entrepreneurs being connected through the Internet, which is going to be a great source of ideas and potential wealth for Russia. Okay. Russia U.S. Relations Q. Inaudible from the Foreign Affairs Department, and the question is addressed to President Bush What is the image of inaudible that exists in the United States setup, and how this image of inaudible influences Audience member. Image of Russia. Audience member. Image of Russians. President Bush. Image of Russia in the United States? Q. what image of Russia Russians exists in the American political setup, and how this image of the Russians influences the taking of decisions in the area of American foreign politics? President Putin. This guy is very tricky he's a very tricky young fellow. Mr. President, he's going to listen to your answer, write a dissertation, and get a degree. Laughter President Bush. Most Americans by far, the vast majority of Americans are very pleased by the fact that the United States and Russia is entering into a new era. We've got a new war to fight together. We're joined to fight against bloodthirsty killers. These people hate freedom. They hate multiethnic societies. They can't stand religion. And it's a threat to America, and this is a threat to Russia, as you all so well know. In this country you've been hit by terrorist acts like we have been hit by terrorist acts. The American people truly appreciate the cooperative spirit of the Russian Government and truly appreciate the sympathies of the Russian people for what took place on September the 11th. It's an interesting question about leadership. Does a leader lead, or does a leader follow? Does a leader lead opinion, or does a leader try to chase public opinion? My view is, the leader leads. And my administration, along with Secretary of State Powell and National Security Adviser Rice, are going to do everything we possibly can do to make relations with Russia strong and friendly and cooperative and productive for both people. Good foreign policy good foreign policy sets a foundation that is so firm that it won't crack if one nation or the other gets weak in the commitment to friendship. And we're laying a strong foundation. President Putin. I have to say that we have political leaders, we have public leaders, we have journalists. Our journalists and people who are specialized in the ministry, for instance, of international relations and foreign affairs and other specialists, in many other departments and agencies, confirm what President Bush has just said. President Bush. Yes, ma'am. Sorry. Q. The student of the Management Department, and the question is addressed to President Putin Our countries have lived through quite different relations. While in the Second World War we had one type of relations, relations very close and friendly and then the cold war came. And my question is, as a result of this evolution of relationships, what is the state of our relationship between these two countries now? President Putin. You're studying management, right? Are there any people from the History Department? And I think the people from the History Department will probably support me in saying in my saying the following The World War II period and the cold war period were but two of the most contrasting and sharpest examples of the evolution of our relations. But we can talk about a lot of different episodes in our cooperation. But it really began in the times of the Revolutionary War in the United States. At that time, the Crown of England appealed to Catherine the Great and asked for support in quelling the rebellion in the United States. And the Russian sovereign turned and said, that's not what we're all about, and declared a military neutrality vis a vis the war. And this neutrality played a significant role in the allowing the United States to gain its independence and gain its foundation. And today I'm going to present to President George Bush two very interesting documents, two original documents having to do with the earliest days of our diplomatic correspondence between our two countries. The world was changing over time our relations were changing over time. Today, for instance, the United States is our number one trading partner for Russia, both in terms of the number of goods that are traded and also in terms of the accumulated investments that we have from the United States in Russia. The United States is a great and powerful power and has an economy that is powerful enough to a great extent to determine world economics. For decades, we voluntarily, on our own, created walls and barriers around ourselves and decided to live alone within these walls. And in a time when high technology is absolutely mandatory to the beneficial development of any country, this circumstance today is just unforgivable. And today, in the realms of national security, international security, economics, trade, we now are beginning to blend in together with the world economy at large. You can call our relations today a multi component kind of a relationship depending on many, many different aspects. But I want to name the one and most important aspect. Over the last year and a half or 2 years, what we've experienced is a huge growth in confidence and trust manifested between our two countries. And it is precisely this distinguishing characteristic which colors our relationship. If you're sitting next to the First Lady of the United States, I can't say you can't have a question. Laughter Leadership Q. The lady is from the Management Department, and she addresses her question to both of you gentlemen To make up a manager, many factors are involved. What were those factors that shaped you as leaders, as managers? President Bush. I understand a leader can't do everything. And so, therefore, a leader must be willing to surround himself, in my case, with smart, capable, honorable people. A leader must be willing to listen, and then a leader must be decisive enough to make a decision and stick by it. In politics, in order to lead, you've got to know what you believe. You have to stand on principle. You have to believe in certain values, and you must defend them at all costs. A politician who takes a poll to figure out what to believe is a politician who is constantly going to be trying to lead through it's like a dog chasing its tail. And finally, any leader must in order to lead, must understand, must have a vision about where you're going. You must set clear goals and convince people of those goals and constantly lead toward those goals. And finally, you've got to treat people with respect on your team. And by respecting people, they become they become better members of the team and, therefore, give better advice and work toward the same goal. President Putin. To be successful in any kind of business, in any kind of enterprise, you have to have two qualities You have to have a sense of responsibility, and you have to have a sense of love. Unfortunately, we have to come to an end here. Somebody is going to start crying back there if they don't get a question. Russia and the World Trade Organization At this point, the questioner spoke in Russian, and a translation was not immediately provided. President Putin. I did the right thing by giving the question to her she's asking President Bush instead. Laughter At this point, the questioner spoke in Russian, and a translation was not immediately provided. President Putin. Great question, WTO. Q. The question is for President Bush from inaudible from the Department of International Relations What specific and concrete steps can we expect from the United States in order to support our accession to the World Trade Organization? President Bush. Starting with having a President who thinks you ought to be in the WTO and I think you ought to be. And I think the accession to the WTO ought to be based upon the rules that every other nation has had to live up to, nothing harsher, nothing less harsh. And I've told Vladimir in private and I've told the American people, I'm for Russia going into the WTO, just like I've asked just like I asked Congress yesterday once in a press conference in Russia to get rid of Jackson Vanik. So, to answer your questions, I vote aye, assuming that the President the Russian Government continues to reform her economy, open it up, make market based economy work. And that's exactly what the intentions of this President that's the intention of this President. President Putin. George said it very well. The President of Russia has to want to be a member of the WTO. And he said that he's for it. If that's sufficient, I'm in. Laughter But on conditions acceptable to Russia. Laughter Dear friends, I want to thank you. I would like to thank you for the warm and friendly atmosphere in which we were, and it is of great importance for me personally, because indeed I want very much our dear guests to enjoy my native city. And although, of course, our movements create some hurdles for the movement of other people in the streets of Moscow, but, as George pointed out, the people are not very cross with us, since they wave their hands at us and smile at us. Laughter And today we had a friendly and kind atmosphere here, and the questions were in that spirit. And I am grateful to you for that. And as I promised, I would like to hand over to President Bush the copies of the first diplomatic documents. And these documents actually initiated they started the diplomatic letters exchanged between our two countries, and they date back to 1780. President Bush. Thank you all very much. May 25, 2002 President's Visit to Russia Q. Mr. President, allow me to ask you inaudible summarize results of your inaudible . And the second part of that question, the expectation of the Moscow summit how do you think President Bush. Well, first, the hospitality has been magnificent. The time we spent last night with the Putins in their beautiful home was very relaxing for Laura and me. It gave us a great chance to see how the Putins live, a very good sense of their values. I think the thing that struck me the most was how they have raised their daughters. They've got two beautiful daughters who are incredibly talented young ladies. It is clear their mom and dad love them a lot, and that was impressive to Laura and me. The other good piece of news is, I got to go actually run outside laughter which is a difficult thing for me to do when I'm on the road and in Washington as well. I ran on beautiful grounds it's such a spectacular piece of property. And then we had a wonderful breakfast special Russian foods. It's been a wonderful, relaxing experience. I was very touched that the President took time yesterday, after going to the Kremlin after going to Red Square, to take us to his office. And I thought it was a great personal touch that was important, to see the private side of this man's life. It meant a lot. Secondly, I think the summit was met expectations it met my expectations. I hope it met the President's expectations. We not only signed a very important treaty, we signed a you know, a very important protocol of how our relations ought to go forward, and I'm really glad that I'm glad that all the hard work on both sides has paid off. And this will be good for the Russian people. This agreement will be good for the people of Russia, and it'll be good for the people of America. You know, at the St. Petersburg cemetery today, the lady who gave us a tour spoke about peace and how it was important for everybody who walked those hallowed grounds to remember the ravages of war and to remember the importance of peace. And I explained to her that this visit was a visit of peace, where we cast aside the old ways of suspicion and now embrace peace. Sorry about the interpreter. Laughter Q. Inaudible interpretation. President Bush. Okay. Well, good luck. Laughter At this point, a question was asked in Russian, and no translation was provided. President Vladimir Putin of Russia. As far as the staying of Mr. President and his wife in our home yesterday, I would like you to know two things. For one thing, our personal relations to have been greatly strengthened. They're very happy to know that I'm dealing with very honest and upward and straight people. That is one. And then there is something else, which is by no means a political thing. Yesterday, when we had our dinner and I was treating my guests, of course, to the Russian caviar, and I told him how some of the caviar is produced. The experts would take the fish and open up the fish and then take the caviar and then throw out the fish again and throw it back into the water. Laughter Everybody was laughing, thinking that I was really inventing things on the spot, something really improbable. Laughter But I was trying to convince them I was really trying to tell them that I was telling the truth that's how we treated the environment. Laughter The Secretary of State, the Russian Foreign Minister, Dr. Rice, Mr. Ivanov, and also both wives my wife and Mr. President's wife all laughed at me. And there was only one person who wouldn't laugh and said, "I do believe you, Mr. President," and that was the President of the United States. Laughter And I want to confirm it here and now that's the truth, ladies and gentlemen. Laughter And one more thing. The dinner, the supper was over somewhere around midnight, because we were supposed to go to St. Petersburg early in the morning. Of course, we got up very early we didn't have enough sleep this morning. And when last night, before going to bed, Mr. President told me that he would be jogging in the morning, I wouldn't believe him. Laughter But he was doing that, just that. Well, on a serious note, as far as the results of this visit are concerned, I would like to say that myself and my experts, all my experts, we have been discussing the results of the visit this morning, and we have officially agreed that we are satisfied, and all the goals of this visit have been achieved. I thank you. President Bush. One question, Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press , go ahead. Pakistan India Relations Q. If I could ask you real quickly, sir, is there anything personal you can do to ease tensions between Pakistan and India? And do you think President Musharraf is doing enough to crack down on terrorism in Kashmir? President Bush. We are spending a lot of time on this subject "we" being the administration. And we're making it very clear to both parties that there is there's no benefit of a war, there's no benefit of a clash that could eventually lead to a broader war. We're deeply concerned about the rhetoric. It is very important for President Musharraf to stop do what he said he's going to do to in his speech on terror, and that is stop the incursions across the line the line of control. It's important that the Indians know that he is going to fulfill that promise. Vladimir and I have talked about this, and he's got he as well as the United States and Great Britain and other countries have got influence in the region, and he is going to meet soon at a conference where we believe Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Musharraf will both be attending. My point is, is that there's a lot of diplomatic efforts going into bringing some calm and reason to the region. President Putin. An international event is planned for the early June this year in Kazakhstan, where both President Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee have been invited. I do hope they will come, and there would be an opportunity for us to discuss things. And we have covered that ground with the President of the United States. Of course, the testing, while there is escalating tension, really aggravates the situation, and Russia is concerned and sorry about that. I'm sorry about that. And we shall be working together to take steps in order to prevent the escalation of the conflict. President Bush. Thank you all. May 25, 2002 Good morning. As you hear this, I am in St. Petersburg, Russia, in the middle of a 7 day trip to Europe. I've come to Europe to reaffirm our close ties with important allies, to talk about the next stages of the war on terror, and to open a new chapter in our relationship with Russia. In this last century, the conflicts of Europe led to war and suffering for America. Today, Europe is growing in unity and peace, and that benefits our country. The nations of the European Union have made strong contributions to the war on terror. And the volume of our annual trade and investment relationship is nearly 2 trillion, helping workers, consumers, and families on both continents. Germany, which I visited earlier this week, has emerged from a troubled history to become a force for good. German police and intelligence officials are helping in the war on terror. In Afghanistan, German troops have served and died beside our own. Speaking in Berlin, I thanked the German people for their support and sacrifice and talked about the challenges that still lie ahead. Here in Russia, President Putin and I are putting the old rivalries of our Nation firmly behind us with a new treaty that reduces our nuclear arsenals to their lowest levels in decades. After years of planning for war, Russia and the United States are building a friendship based on shared interests, fighting terrorism, and expanding our trade relationship. After centuries of isolation and suspicion, Russia is finding its place in the family of Europe, and that is truly historic. The partnership of America and Russia will continue to grow based on the foundation of freedom and the values the democratic values we hold dear. Free nations are more peaceful nations, and the spread of liberty strengthens America. On the rest of my trip, I'll travel to Paris and then to Normandy, France, for Memorial Day, to honor the soldiers who in 1944 gave their lives so that America, France, and all of Europe could one day live in peace and freedom. I will visit Rome for a summit that will forge new ties between the NATO Alliance and Russia. I'll meet with the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, whose message of peace and social justice is particularly urgent at this time. In two World Wars, the New World came to the rescue of the Old, and America became a European power. Now this continent is closer to being whole, free, and at peace than anytime in its history. We must finish this job, inviting a new Russia to be our full partner. And together, we must face the challenges of the world beyond Europe and America, terrorism, poverty, and evil regimes seeking terrible weapons. Europe and America share common dangers and common values. We have the opportunity and the duty to build a world that is safer and better. Thank you for listening. May 24, 2002 President Bush. President Putin, thank you very much. Laura and I are so grateful for your hospitality and your friendship. It's an historic and hopeful day for Russia and America. It's an historic day for the world as well. President Putin and I today ended a long chapter of confrontation and opened up an entirely new relationship between our countries. Mr. President, I appreciate your leadership. I appreciate your vision. I appreciate the fact that we've now laid the foundation for not only our governments but future governments to work in a spirit of cooperation and a spirit of trust. That's good. It's good for the people of Russia it's good for the people of the United States. President Putin and I have signed a treaty that will substantially reduce our nuclear strategic nuclear warhead arsenals to the range of 1,700 to 2,200, the lowest level in decades. This treaty liquidates the cold war legacy of nuclear hostility between our countries. We've also signed a joint declaration of new strategic relationship that charts a course toward greater security, political, and economic cooperation between Russia and the United States. Our nations will continue to cooperate closely in the war against global terror. I understand full well that the people of Russia have suffered at the hands of terrorists, and so have we. And I want to thank President Putin for his understanding of the nature of the new war we face together and his willingness to be determined and steadfast and patient as we pursue this war together. President Putin and I agree also that the greatest danger in this war is the prospect of terrorists acquiring weapons of mass destruction. Our nations must spare no effort at preventing all forms of proliferation. And we discussed Iran in this context today. We'll work closely with each other on this very important issue. Our nations also agree on the importance of a new NATO Russia Council that will be launched in a few days in Rome. And Mr. President, this council is also a tribute to your leadership and your vision. For decades, Russia and NATO were adversaries. Those days are gone, and that's good. And that's good for the Russian people it's good for the people of my country it's good for the people of Europe and it's good for the people of the world. Russia and the United States are also determined to work closely on important regional challenges. Together, we will work to rebuild Afghanistan. Together, we will work to improve security in Georgia. We will work to help end fighting and achieve a political settlement in Chechnya. Russia and the United States are committed to economic cooperation. We have launched a major new energy partnership. Private firms will take the lead in developing and transforming the vast energy reserves of Russia and the Caspian world to markets through multiple pipelines such as the Caspian Pipeline Consortium and Baku Jihan. And I want to thank you for the cooperation and the willingness to work together on energy and energy security. Russia is building its market economy, opening new opportunities for both our countries. I'm impressed by the level of entrepreneurial growth here in Russia. It's a significant achievement. Again, it's a testimony to the leadership of Vladimir Putin. In a while, we're going to meet with Russian and American business leaders to discuss how we can continue fostering good relations and fostering opportunity. We want Russia to be a part of the world economy. We look forward to one day welcoming Russia as a member of the World Trade Organization. President Putin and I also agree that we'll work to resolve disputed areas of trading, such as poultry or steel, in a spirit of mutual respect and trust. America welcomes the dramatic improvement in freedoms in Russia since Soviet days, including the new freedoms of Russia's Jewish community. In recognition of these freedoms, I am determined to work with Congress to remove Russia from the Jackson Vanik amendment. It is time our Congress responded to my request, President Putin's desire, that the Jackson Vanik amendment be removed pertaining to Russia. I also discussed with President Putin the important role of free press in building a working democracy. And today we will meet with media entrepreneurs from both countries. It's an issue we discussed before. The President said it makes sense to have a forum where media entrepreneurs can meet and visit. And it's going to take place today. Mr. President, I appreciate that. I am pleased with our relationship. I am confident that, by working together, we make the world more peaceful. I'm confident that, by working together, we can win the first war of the 21st century, and that is the war coldblooded killers against coldblooded killers who want to harm nations such as America and Russia. And I'm confident that, when we work together in a spirit of cooperation on all fronts, both our peoples will benefit. Mr. President, thank you for your hospitality. President Putin. Distinguished American colleagues, distinguished Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, we've just accomplished the official part of our talks with U.S. President George Bush. Before our distinguished colleagues are the visit in Moscow and in St. Petersburg. But now we can name the major result of our talks first of all, the logical development and practical implementation as seen by our agreements reached in Crawford last year. I mean the signature of the treaty between Russia on strategic defensive reductions and, first of all, this document. It's the statement of our countries to reduce our nuclear arsenals and the joint work for nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction. It's the decision of two states which are particularly responsible for international security and strategic stability. We're on the level of adopting the declaration on new strategic relationship which determines the basic directions in the security and international policy. It will have a positive impact for economic cooperation and development of our relations between the institutions of general public. And together with Mr. President, we discussed especially this aspect, the civil society between the people of our countries. The declaration formulates the principles of our dialog, anti missile dialog that is, the transparency and openness and exclusion of potential threats. We confirmed the Genoa agreement on offensive and defensive systems in all their aspects. A separate issue, the mechanism of NATO Russia cooperation within the framework of 20, it presumes a new level of joint responsibility and confidence between all its participants. I would like to stress, especially, that is the international novelty. And it happened because of the strengthening of Russian American relations, including in joint confrontation to international terrorists struggling with international terrorism. Russians work together with the American people in September the 8th, and we're grateful for sincere feelings of compassion headed by President Bush on behalf of American people because of the recent events in Kaspiysk. The memory of terrorism victims and the responsibility for the security of our people means joint struggle against this evil, as well as the struggle against nazism. The spirit of our cooperation will mean fruitful results even today. That's why the agenda has very concrete issues of interaction against terrorism on the basis of unique standards against any manifestation of terrorism and extremism. We need close contacts through all agencies and services, including special services. Here we have very positive experience we've accrued over the past years. And we see today we feel it today during the negotiations. The bilateral working group on Afghanistan has demonstrated its efficiency. And we, Mr. President, would like to transform it on a group to combat terrorism, especially chemical, biological, nuclear terrorism. Russia and the United States are oriented to build new relations in economic activity. Our businessman mentality is much alike, that their qualities and their joint work is based on free trade and supporting the initiatives. That's why our task is to open new opportunities for business community. We need to avoid obstacles of the past. Here we mean not only the market status of the Russian economy and I'm grateful to Mr. President that he has given a very positive signal during our talks. And it does also mean such things as Jackson Vanik amendment. We have to remove administrative obstacles, which encurls both countries, to cooperate, especially in the high tech sphere, which determined the economy of the 21st century that is, the aeronautics, telecommunications, science and technologies, new sources of energy. I would like to focus on energy, especially nuclear energy. We paid much attention to it today. And the large format of our cooperation will be a great element for the global economy on the whole. I would like to stress, in conclusion, that, of course, not all ideas, not all initiatives, are on paper and in the form of official documents. But a serious move forward in all these issues is quite evident for us. Today, we together counteract global threats and challenges, and we're going to form a stable world order that is within the interests of our peoples and our countries. And I think it's in the interest of all the civilized human society. Thank you. President Bush. Name your agency. Nuclear Arms Reductions Q. I have a question for both Presidents, please. If we've truly entered a new era, why do you each need 1,700 nuclear weapons? And President Putin, why does Russia need to continue producing nuclear warheads? And to President Bush, why does the United States need to keep some 2,000 of these weapons in storage, ready for deployment? President Bush. Yes. First of all, remember where we've come from. We've come from 6,000 to 1,700 in a very quick or to 1,700 to 2,200 in a very quick period of time. You know, friends really don't need weapons pointed at each other. We both understand that. But it's a realistic assessment of where we've been. And who knows what will happen 10 years from now? Who knows what future Presidents will say and how they react? If you have a nuclear arsenal, you want to make sure they work. It's one reason that you keep weapons in storage apart from launchers is for quality control. And the thing I think it's important for you to know, Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press , is that we've made tremendous progress from the past. And the treaty is setting a period of time in the rear view mirror of both countries. And I am not only confident that this is good for world peace I'm confident this sets the stage for incredible cooperation that we've never had before between our countries. President Putin. I concur with the assessment given by my colleague, Mr. Bush. And naturally, our position is well known. We are guided by the facts that it's more worthwhile, perhaps, to eliminate a certain part of nuclear potentials. At the same time, I'd like to point out another thing here. Any man who has at least once in his career dealt with arms, had arms in his hands, at least to hunt or a rifle or whatever, he knows that it's much better, much safer to have it in stock disarmed, disassembled perhaps, rather than to have it in your arms and charged with bullets in it and with your finger on the trigger at the same time. This is a different state of affairs, as it were. And the fact that we agreed with President Bush regarding such d tente, in such manner, this is a serious move ahead to ensure international security, which is a very good sign as regards the relationship between our two countries. Now, as to why Russia should continue to produce nuclear arms, I'd like to say that this is not our priority. But in addition to Russia and U.S. out there, there are other states who possess nuclear arms. What is more concerning, there are countries who want to acquire weapons of mass destruction. Experts in the area of international security are aware of the fact, and they have been talking a lot about nuclear arms as deterrent. Moreover, many of them assert and it is difficult to dispute this fact they say the existence of the nuclear arms was an impediment, an obstacle which contained the world from large scale wars over the past decades, let's say. And I think we should take that into consideration while building a new quality of relationship within the two main nuclear states of the world. We also should pay attention to the whole set of relations currently in the world out there, and we should take into account the prospects of development of the world in the realm of security, bearing in mind those potential threats I've mentioned here. Jackson Vanik Amendment Russia U.S. Economic Relationship Q. Mr. Bush, when we can hope that Jackson Vanik will be rescinded, which currently is very out of place? That's, you know, a remnant of the cold war here. And will the U.S. continue to use it as a leverage of applying pressure on Russia and when Russia will finally be recognized as a marketplace country? And what's the prospect of Russia's accession to WTO? And now to Mr. Putin, Russian President. What's your idea of how U.S. Boeings can help Russian civil aviation? President Bush. I couldn't make myself clearer during my opening statement about how I feel about Jackson Vanik not much action by the Congress of the United States, and I hope they act. The market based economy is an issue that the President and I talked about. It is a regulatory matter, the responsibility of which resides at the Commerce Department. Secretary Evans and I have to talk about this subject, and we'll have an answer to the President soon. And in terms of success of Russia ascending into the WTO, it's something that we want. It's in our Nation's interest that Russia be a part of the WTO. And we look forward to working with the President and respective ministers to see that that happens. It's in our interest that that happen. So it's hard for me to predict the timetables on all the issues you mentioned. Those over which I have got direct control will happen relatively quickly. President Putin. Well, you know, while talking about the whole set of commercial and trade ties between our two countries, today we've mentioned more than once that we are facing somewhat an unusual situation in this area today, which has to do with the fact that while improving relations in disarmament matters, building confidence and so on and so forth, at the same time, we're expanding the whole set of relations in economic area. And naturally, we'll face new problems we never had to deal with before. The position taken by the U.S. administration and the President is known to us as regards Jackson Vanik. It's precisely the administration who initiated its rescinding. And business communities of our two countries, American and Russian business communities, and their interaction together with the interaction of the parliamentary issues, will be able to remove similar problems in automatic manner, I guess. Now, as regards your specific question on purchase of Boeings, I must say that the best lobbyist of the interests of U.S. companies will be American President standing here, since both Boeings and poultry and other matters very often have been told by my colleagues. People usually say, "Well, it's not on our level, but I must say," and then there will be a lengthy monolog on specific matters. Anyhow, you've posed a very acute and very specific question. Why it's acute? Because it's on the agenda or practical interaction. And it's very specific since it has a bearing to very specific matters. And since it's acute and specific, I'll answer as one should in gentlemen's society, in a very general manner. First and foremost, our carriers, in my opinion, should be primarily guided towards Russian aircraft producers. Why? because Russian manufacturers, you know, don't have anywhere to sell their products otherwise, because they are not let anywhere or with a lot of difficulty. They only can sell it domestically that's the first thing. And here we can talk about interaction on the market. Now, the second thing, our carriers, primarily Aeroflot, should be competitive on the market and should have advanced technology in their hands. Therefore, they both have American Boeings today they also have European Airbus aircraft. And the question has been raised currently on additional purchase, on replacement of old equipment with those foreign aircraft. Now, I should say, depending on the decision to be taken by economic structures this is not a political question, mind you. The economic structure should decide on it. A lot will depend on it in regards of the state of our political interaction, of course. And our American colleagues' proposal today is a little bit costlier than the Europeans' proposal. Had Americans bought our cheap aluminum and steel, then their aircraft would have been cheaper and more competitive, including in our market. So all of this jointly has been a subject of our discussions with the President here, and our good friend and partner, Secretary of Commerce and economy. And I think that in the course of normalization of trade and commerce relations, all these issues will be addressed in a most mutually advantageous manner. Iran Nuclear Nonproliferation Q. Inaudible state sponsor of terrorism. I wonder because of that, if these Russians sales that you object to continue, does that this new strategic relationship you're discussing today bump up against what you outlined in your speech to Congress when you said, in the war against terrorism, you're either with the United States or against the United States? And President Putin, the Bush team says that your sales of nuclear technology and sophisticated military technology to Iran are the world's single biggest proliferation problem right now. Do you agree with that assessment, and did you make any specific promises today in your meeting with President Bush? President Bush. Well, first, we spent a lot of time on this subject. And as I said yesterday in Germany, I worry about Iran. And I'm confident Vladimir Putin worries about Iran, and that was confirmed today. He understands terrorist threats, just like we understand terrorist threats. And he understands that weapons of mass destruction are dangerous to Russia, just as they are to America. And he's explained that point himself, of course, now that he's standing here. But we spoke very frankly and honestly about the need to make sure that a nontransparent government run by radical clerics doesn't get their hands on weapons of mass destruction. It could be harmful to us and harmful to Russia. And the President can speak for himself. And he gave me some assurances that I think will be very comforting for you to listen to. And I'm confident we can work together on this issue. This is in both our countries' mutual interest that we solve this problem. President Putin. I will confirm what Mr. Bush has just said, and I agree with your evaluation of threats in this regard. Generally speaking, I believe that the problem of nonproliferation is one of the key problems as regards ensuring international security. Incidentally, this happened to be one of the main motivating and underpinning logical stimuluses to work in Russia NATO framework together on nonproliferation on nuclear arms. At the same time, I'd like to point out that cooperation between Iran and Russia is not of a character which would undermine the process on nonproliferation. Our cooperation is exclusively, as regards energy sector, focused on the problems of economic nature. I'd like to point out also that the U.S. has taken a commitment upon themselves to build similar nuclear power plant in North Korea, similar to Russia. And in addition to Iran, I think, we also need to think about other countries here. For example, we have some questions concerning development of missile programs in Taiwan, in some other countries where we've been witnessing active work of producing mass destruction weapons and their carriers. All of that should be a subject of our in depth discussion both bilaterally and in the frameworks of NATO Russia agreement. That's one of the key issues of the modern times, I believe. It would seem to me that in order to be efficient, in this sense, like in other areas, we need to address the main task, to upgrade confidence mutually. And today I mentioned to President Bush here that as regards Iran and some other countries, according to our data, the missile programs of those countries, nuclear programs, are built largely on the basis of the technologies and with the support of the Western companies. We do have such info, and we stand ready to share it with our American partners. So if we pursued that way, not dealing with generalities, then we'll get results with respect to this very complicated and very important for our two countries track. And the conclusive question inaudible . Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty Q. Mayak Radio Station. To both Presidents, to what extent the treaty ensures real nuclear parity, and are there conditions that the treaty can be terminated by either side? And how true is the fact that Russia still remains as one of the nuclear targets for nuclear forces? And how does that relate to the announced new strategic relations between our two countries? President Bush. Well, it is a treaty. This document is a treaty that will be confirmed by the United States Senate and the Duma, hopefully. Secondly, treaties have always had outs there's nothing new about that. There are conditions of which things may change, and people get out of treaties. That's the way it's been. The Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty had an out there's nothing new about that. And thirdly, you know, we are going to work to end the forever end the cold war. And that begins with the statement that Russia's our friend, not our enemy. And you say "targeting" I mean, the idea of our weaponry our military has no aims at Russia. There may be old vestiges in place, but Russia's not an enemy. You don't think about how to deal with Russia the way they used to. Russia is a friend, and that's the new thinking. That's part of what's being codified today. President Putin. As regards the parity, the parity relationship of sorts, the weight of military potentials and nuclear potential, and so on, so forth, each state would have its own strategy of development of what you refer to as nuclear deterrent process. But I'd like to assure you that all the action undertaken by us in this area fully confirmed with the interests of the Russian Federation. The documents signed today are a result of joint effort of the Minister of Defense and Chiefs of Staff and our Minister of Foreign Affairs, of course, jointly with our American colleagues. And we proceed from the assumption we have today, and we try to forecast the status of affairs in the world for a lengthy period of time I would like to point out, again, for a lengthy perspective. Now, as regards the question of verification and control, perhaps, I'd like to point out that we're very much satisfied with the U.S. administration approach to this question. Our American partners have agreed that we need to retain START I, which is provided for by the system of verification. We agreed we will continue this work on the basis of the documents signed today as well. And what was the second part of the question, incidentally? The mike was off at this time. Regarding those targets, that was not to me. I will also make a remark here, regarding aiming targets. And Mr. Baluyevskiy, our military First Deputy Chief of Staff, is here with us. He and his American counterpart are full aware of those things, targeting aims and other things involved, and what is the status today of those aimings and targeting. All in speculations in the press are nothing but expression of domestic political infight either here or in the U.S., just on the verge of the visit. We are not being emotional here. We're not talking to the press, but as experts, we're full aware of that, and we have no concern whatsoever in this regard. Thank you. Thank you for your kind attention and for your participation. May 24, 2002 Thank you all very much. Mr. Ambassador, thank you and Lisa for opening up your modest home. Laughter I bet every Ambassador that represents the United States wishes they lived this way. But we appreciate your taking on this very important assignment, and that is to represent our country here in Russia. I'm honored that Laura was traveling with me today. Trips always seem to go so much better when she is by my side, so I'm really glad you got to meet Laura. I like to tell the story in America that when I married her, she was a public school librarian who didn't like politics and didn't particularly care for politicians. Laughter And then she got stuck marrying one. Laughter But she's doing a great job for our country, and I'm real proud of her. And I'm proud of the team I put together as well. I've got a great national security team, headed by Colin Powell and by Condi Rice and Andy Card. And I'm honored they're traveling with me, and I'm honored you have a chance to meet them as well. And thank you all for coming. For those of us, the Spaso House at least those of us who've paid attention to international politics the Spaso House was always viewed as a refuge for freedom. And I'm so privileged to give you a few comments here in this historic setting, where so much history was written. You know, I'm aware that during World War II, Russian, American diplomats and soldiers met here as allies. It's kind of an interesting part of the history of this house. And during the cold war, this is where many of you came, refuseniks and human rights activists. You're always welcome here, and we're glad you're here. Our Nation stands for freedom. That's what we're fighting off the terrorists about. We believe so strongly in freedom, we're willing to defend it at all costs. The Soviet era is gone. The cold war, I hope, is past us. And today President Putin and I signed an historic document. It was more than just a document that reduces nuclear weaponry, although that in itself is good. It's a document that says there's a new era ahead of us, that instead of being stuck in the past, these two leaders are willing to take two great countries forward in a new relationship built on common interests and cooperation, and cooperation on all fronts the idea of working together to make the Russian economy strong and vibrant so people can make a living, so people have hope about putting bread on the table for their families the cooperation of fighting terror the cooperation of promoting peace. But the best cooperation also must be based on common values, as well as common interests. And I want you to know that we hold the values in America dear, and you know that. We hold dear what our Declaration of Independence says, that all have got uninalienable rights, endowed by a Creator not endowed by the ones who wrote the Declaration of Independence but by a Creator, a universal Creator. I want you to know that I believe all governments have a duty and responsibility to protect those rights, those unalienable rights. In Soviet times, people heroically defended those rights with incredible courage, and you earned the respect of a lot of people a lot of people by doing so. Many of you now are active in a modern Russia, and I want to thank you for staying active and involved in this important society, starting with making sure that freedom is protected by rule of law. And we agree completely, and we hope we can help, because rule of law is essential for a modern society to thrive and to succeed. I applaud your commitment and your patriotism. I love the fact that you love your country. I love mine, and you love yours, and that's incredibly healthy and important. You understand that free nations and a free Russia require strong civic and religious institutions, committed to democratic values. Russia's on the road to democracy, but it's important, as she does so, that she embrace the values inherent in democracy. In the past, I know you know that we have been committed to helping institutions which promote those values through direct Government assistance, and we will continue to do so. We believe it's for the good of Russia. We believe it will help Russia develop in a way that will be enable Russia to become a lasting friend. And that's what I'm interested in. I'm interested in friendship and peace and mutual development. Most Russians want and expect what most Americans want and expect, and that's important for the Russian people and the American people to understand, a Government starting with a Government that works for citizens, that represents everyday citizens, not a corrupt elite. And that's important. People want a society ruled by law, not by special privilege, special circumstance a law where people are treated equally, regardless of their religion, ethnicity, income level. In a multiethnic society, people must work toward tolerance and reject extremism. It's important in America, just like it's important here in Russia. And this is a multiethnic society, to the credit of Russia, just like America is a multiethnic society, which makes our country strong. We're bound together by common values. And so can Russia be bound by the same values. To reach these goals, societies need fair laws and, as importantly, fair enforcement of law. They need independent media that is respected by the Government. I remind those who sometimes get frustrated with the media that even in America, elected officials sometimes don't agree what's written about them maybe especially America, for all I know. Laughter But it's important for those of us who value democracy to promote an independent media. Opposition parties must be free to associate and must be free to speak their minds. In order for a democracy to be strong, there has to be competition of ideas, a free discussion of ideas, and an airing of philosophy in an open way. Freedom of religion and separation of church and state are so important, so important so that people can worship as they choose, Jews, Muslims, and all Christians, and all religions. Free societies have all got to meet the great challenges we face in ways consistent with values. That's what I'm here to tell you that's in my heart. That's what I want you to know about this administration, that we're not only committed to fighting terrorism and we will. We are. We were under attack in America. In Germany yesterday I said, September the 11th was just a fine just as clear a dividing line in our history, in our Nation's history, as Pearl Harbor. It was. America at one time was protected by two oceans we seemed totally invulnerable to, for example, the wars that took place here in Russia or on the European Continent and all of a sudden found ourselves attacked, because we love freedom, because we respect religion, because we honor discourse. And you need to know that we're going to defend ourselves and defend that which we hold dear and, at the same time, protect civilization itself. But in Afghanistan, we've shown, I believe, how to do it in a way that's commiserate with our values that, on the one hand, we're plenty tough, and we will be. We've got a military we're going to use, if we need to, to defend freedom. But on the other hand, we delivered a lot of medicine and a lot of food. We hurt thinking not only that the children in Afghanistan could not go to school we cried for the fact that people were starving in the country. We have rebuilt schools. We have also provided medicine and food. Russia is building hospitals in Afghanistan. That's incredibly positive, we think. Nations are not only contributing military forces, but we're working to build a state that can function on her own, a state at peace in the neighborhood, and a state where people have got hope and a chance to survive, where moms and dads can raise their children in peace. And that's important for you to know as well. You know, a lot of the time, people talk about the tough talk. But you've got to understand, we also have got a soft heart when it comes to the human condition. Each individual matters to me. Each individual has got worth and dignity. The experience in Afghanistan has taught us all that there's lessons to be learned about how to protect one's homeland and, at the same time, be respectful of the on the battlefield. And that lesson applies to Chechnya. The war on terror can be won, and at the same time, we have proven it's possible to respect the rights of the people in the territories, to respect the rights of the minorities. We are I represent a great nation, and Russia is a great nation. Both of us share a lot. We've got a big resource base. We've got people who are very smart. I remind Vladimir Putin that the great resource of Russia is the people of Russia. The resource of this country is the brainpower of this country. And when they get the system right, that encourages individual growth and entrepreneurship that brainpower is going to flourish, and so will commerce, and so will opportunity. And while that happens, both nations must respect the multiethnic character of our lands. That, too, makes us great. And how we promote that multiethnicity, and how we respect human rights is another way we'll be judged by history. We'll be judged by history on how we defend our freedoms. We'll be judged in history by how we help our people prosper and grow. And we'll be judged by history as to whether or not we defend the universal values that are right and just and true. I want to thank you for that commitment to those values. I appreciate your stance for freedom. I appreciate your love of your country. I appreciate your understanding there is a universal and gracious God. May God bless you all. May God bless Russia. And may God bless the United States. Thank you very much. May 23, 2002 The President. President, thank you very much for your kind introduction. And thank you for giving me this chance to be here today. President Rau, thank you very much Chancellor Schroeder. I understand former Chancellor Kohl is here. I want to thank the members of the Bundestag. How are you, sir? I was a little nervous when the President told me that you all are on vacation. Laughter I can just imagine how my Congress would react if I called them back to hear a speech of mine when they were on vacation. Laughter But thank you for coming. I'm so honored to be here, and my wife Laura and I really appreciate the hospitality that you've shown us. I've had the pleasure of welcoming your Chancellor to Washington three times, and we have established a strong relationship. Mr. Chancellor, I'm grateful. And now I am honored to visit this great city. The history of our time is written in the life of Berlin. In this building, fires of hatred were set that swept across the world. To this city, Allied planes brought food and hope during 323 days and nights of siege. Across an infamous divide, men and women jumped from tenement buildings and crossed through razor wire to live in freedom or to die in the attempt. One American President came here to proudly call himself a citizen of Berlin. Another President dared the Soviets to tear down that wall. And on a night in November, Berliners took history into their hands and made your city whole. In a single lifetime, the people of this capital and this country endured 12 years of dictatorial rule, suffered 40 years of bitter separation, and persevered through the challenging decade of unification. For all these trials, Germany has emerged a responsible and prosperous and peaceful nation. More than a decade ago, as the President pointed out, my dad spoke of Germany and America as partners in leadership, and this has come to pass. A new era has arrived. The strong Germany you have built is good for the world. On both sides of the Atlantic, the generation of our fathers was called to shape great events, and they built the great transatlantic alliance of democracies. They built the most successful alliance in history. After the cold war, during the relative quiet of the 1990s, some questioned whether our transatlantic partnership still had a purpose. History has given its answer. Our generation faces new and grave threats to liberty, to the safety of our people, and to civilization itself. We face an aggressive force that glorifies death, that targets the innocent, and seeks the means to matter murder on a massive scale. We face the global tragedy of disease and poverty that take uncounted lives and leave whole nations vulnerable to oppression and terror. We'll face these challenges together. We must face them together. Those who despise human freedom will attack it on every continent. Those who seek missiles and terrible weapons are also familiar with the map of Europe. Like the threats of another era, this threat cannot be appeased or cannot be ignored. By being patient, relentless, and resolute, we will defeat the enemies of freedom. By remaining united At this point, there was a disturbance in the audience. The President. By remaining united, we are meeting we are meeting modern threats with the greatest resources of wealth and will ever assembled by free nations. Together, Europe and the United States have the creative genius, the economic power, the moral heritage, and the democratic vision to protect our liberty and to advance our cause of peace. Different as we are, we are building and defending the same house of freedom its doors open to all of Europe's people, its windows looking out to global challenges beyond. We must lay the foundation with a Europe that is whole and free and at peace for the first time in its history. This dream of the centuries is close at hand. From the Argonne Forest to the Anzio beachhead, conflicts in Europe have drawn the blood of millions, squandering and shattering lives across the Earth. There are thousands, thousands of monuments in parks and squares across my country to young men of 18 and 19 and 20 whose lives ended in battle on this continent. Ours is the first generation in a hundred years that does not expect and does not fear the next European war. And that achieve ment your achievement is one of the greatest in modern times. When Europe grows in unity, Europe and America grow in security. When you integrate your markets and share a currency in the European Union, you are creating the conditions for security and common purpose. In all these steps, Americans do not see the rise of a rival, we see the end of old hostilities. We see the success of our Allies, and we applaud your progress. The expansion of NATO will also extend the security on this continent, especially for nations that knew little peace or security in the last century. We have moved cautiously in this direction now we must act decisively. As our summit in Prague approaches, America is committed to NATO membership for all of Europe's democracies that are ready to share in the responsibilities that NATO brings. Every part of Europe should share in the security and success of this continent. A broader alliance will strengthen NATO it will fulfill NATO's promise. Another mission we share is to encourage the Russian people to find their future in Europe and with America. Russia has its best chance since 1917 to become a part of Europe's family. Russia's transformation is not finished the outcome is not yet determined. But for all the problems and challenges, Russia is moving toward freedom, more freedom in its politics and its markets, freedom that will help Russia to act as a great and just power. A Russia at peace with its neighbors, respecting the legitimate rights of minorities, is welcome in Europe. A new Russian American partnership is being forged. Russia is lending crucial support in the war on global terror. A Russian colonel now works on the staff of U.S. Army General Tommy Franks, commander of the war in Afghanistan. And in Afghanistan, itself, Russia is helping to build hospitals and a better future for the Afghan people. America and Europe must throw off old suspicions and realize our common interests with Russia. Tomorrow in Moscow, President Putin and I will again act upon these interests. The United States and Russia are ridding ourselves of the last vestiges of cold war confrontation. We have moved beyond an ABM treaty that prevented us from defending our people and our friends. Some warned that moving beyond the ABM treaty would cause an arms race. Instead, President Putin and I are about to sign the most dramatic nuclear arms reduction in history. Both the United States and Russia will reduce our nuclear arsenals by about two thirds, to the lowest level in decades. Old arms agreements sought to manage hostility and maintain a balance of terror. This new agreement recognizes that Russia and the West are no longer enemies. The entire transatlantic Alliance is forming a new relationship with Russia. Next week in Rome, Chancellor Schroeder, NATO Allies, and I will meet as equal partners with President Putin at the creation of the NATO Russia Council. The Council gives us an opportunity to build common security against common threats. We will start with projects on nonproliferation, counterterrorism, and search and rescue operations. Over time, we will expand this cooperation, even as we preserve the core mission of NATO. Many generations have looked at Russia with alarm. Our generation can finally lift this shadow from Europe by embracing the friendship of a new democratic Russia. As we expand our Alliance, as we reach out to Russia, we must also look beyond Europe to gathering dangers and important responsibilities. As we build the house of freedom, we must meet the challenges of a larger world. And we must meet them together. For the United States, September the 11th, 2001, cut a deep dividing line in our history, a change of eras as sharp and clear as Pearl Harbor or the first day of the Berlin blockade. There can be no lasting security in a world at the mercy of terror ists for my Nation or for any nation. Given this threat, NATO's defining purpose, our collective defense, is as urgent as ever. America and Europe need each other to fight and win the war against global terror. My Nation is so grateful for the sympathy of the German people and for the strong support of Germany and all of Europe. Troops from more than a dozen European countries have deployed in and around Afghanistan, including thousands from this country, the first deployment of German forces outside of Europe since 1945. German soldiers have died in this war, and we mourn their loss as we do our own. German authorities are on the trail of terrorist cells and finances. And German police are helping Afghans build their own police force, and we're so grateful for this support. Together, we oppose an enemy that thrives on violence and the grief of the innocent. The terrorists are defined by their hatreds. They hate democracy and tolerance and free expression and women and Jews and Christians and all Muslims who disagree with them. Others killed in the name of racial purity or the class struggle these enemies kill in the name of a false religious purity, perverting the faith they claim to hold. In this war we defend not just America or Europe we are defending civilization itself. The evil that has formed against us has been termed the "new totalitarian threat." The authors of terror are seeking nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. Regimes that sponsor terror are developing these weapons and the missiles to deliver them. If these regimes and their terrorist allies were to perfect these capabilities, no inner voice of reason, no hint of conscience would prevent their use. Wishful thinking might bring comfort but not security. Call this a strategic challenge call it, as I do, "axis of evil" call it by any name you choose but let us speak the truth If we ignore this threat, we invite certain blackmail and place millions of our citizens in grave danger. Our response will be reasoned and focused and deliberate. We will use more than our military might. We will cut off terrorist finances, apply diplomatic pressure, and continue to share intelligence. America will consult closely with our friends and allies at every stage. But make no mistake about it, we will and we must confront this conspiracy against our liberty and against our lives. As it faces new threats, NATO needs a new strategy and new capabilities. Dangers originating far from Europe can now strike at Europe's heart, so NATO must be able and willing to act whenever threats emerge. This will require all the assets of modern defense mobile and deployable forces, sophisticated special operations, the ability to fight under the threat of chemical and biological weapons. Each nation must focus on the military strengths it can bring to this alliance, with the hard choices and financial commitment that requires. We do not know where the next threat might come from we really don't know what form it might take. But we must be ready, as full military partners, to confront these urgent threats to our common security. One way to make ourselves more secure is to address the regional conflicts that en flame violence. Our work in the Balkans and Afghanistan shows how much we can achieve when we stand together. We must continue to stand for peace in the Middle East. That peace must assure the permanent safety of the Jewish people, and that peace must provide the Palestinian people with a state of their own. In the midst of terrorist violence in the Middle East, the hope of a lasting accord may seem distant. That's how many once viewed the prospect of peace between Poland and Germany, Germany and France, France and England, Protestant and Catholic. Yet, after generations of traded violence and humiliation, we have seen enemies become partners and allies in a new Europe. We pray the same healing, the same shredding of hatred, might come to the Middle East. And we will be unrelenting in our quest for that peace. We must recognize that violence and resentment are defeated by the advance of health and learning and prosperity. Poverty doesn't create terror yet, terror takes root in failing nations that do not police themselves or provide for their people. Our conscience and our interests speak as one To achieve a safer world, we must create a better world. The expansion of trade in our time is one of the primary reasons for our progress against poverty. At Doha, we committed to build on this progress, and we must keep that commitment. Transatlantic nations must resolve the small, disputed portion of our vast trading relationship within the rules and settlement mechanisms of the World Trade Organization, whether those disputes concern tax law, steel, agriculture, or biotechnology. For all nations for all nations to gain the benefit of global markets, they need populations that are healthy and literate. To help developing nations achieve these goals, leaders of wealthy nations have a duty of conscience. We have a duty to share our wealth generously and wisely. Those who lead poor nations have a duty to their own people, but they have a duty as well, to pursue reforms that turn temporary aid into lasting progress. I've proposed that new American aid be directed to nations on the path of reform. The United States will increase our core development assistance by 50 percent over the next 3 budget years. It will be up to a level of 5 billion a year, above and beyond that which we already contribute to development. When nations are governed justly, the people benefit. When nations are governed unjustly, for the benefit of a corrupt few, no amount of aid will help the people in need. When nations are governed justly when nations are governed justly, investing in education and health and encouraging economic freedom, they will have our help. And more importantly, these rising nations will have their own ability and, eventually, the resources necessary to battle disease and improve their environment and build lives of dignity for their people. Members of the Bundestag, we are joined in serious purpose very serious purposes on which the safety of our people and the fate of our freedom now rest. We build a world of justice, or we will live in a world of coercion. The magnitude of our shared responsibilities makes our disagreements look so small. And those who exaggerate our differences play a shallow game and hold a simplistic view of our relationship. America and the nations in Europe are more than military allies we're more than trading partners we are heirs to the same civilization. The pledges of the Magna Carta, the learning of Athens, the creativity of Paris, the unbending conscience of Luther, the gentle faith of St. Francis All of these are part of the American soul. The New World has succeeded by holding to the values of the Old. Our histories have diverged, yet we seek to live by the same ideals. We believe in free markets, tempered by compassion. We believe in open societies that reflect unchanging truths. We believe in the value and dignity of every life. These convictions bind our civilization together and set our enemies against us. These convictions are universally true and right. And they define our nations and our partnership in a unique way. And these beliefs lead us to fight tyranny and evil, as others have done before us. One of the greatest Germans of the 20th century was Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who left the security of America to stand against Nazi rule. In a dark hour, he gave witness to the Gospel of life and paid the cost of his discipleship, being put to death only days before his camp was liberated. "I believe," said Bonhoeffer, "that God can and wants to create good out of everything, even evil." That belief is proven in the history of Europe since that day, in the reconciliation and renewal that have transformed this continent. In America, very recently, we have also seen the horror of evil and the power of good. In the tests of our time, we are affirming our deepest values and our closest friendships. Inside this Chamber, across this city, throughout this nation and continent, America has valued friends. And with our friends we are building that house of freedom for our time and for all time. May God bless. May 23, 2002 The Chancellor's remarks are joined in progress. Chancellor Schroeder. welcome you most warmly here to the garden of the Chancellery. We have exceedingly been looking forward to this visit of the U.S. American President, George W. Bush. And the results of our conversations I think are such that we have every reason to be pleased. U.S. American are in an exceedingly healthy state. It's a very friendly atmosphere that has become abundantly clear in all of our conversations. But I also think that there is a tremendous amount of agreement between the two of us and our two countries as regards the assessment of the situation around the world. Now, to begin with, we have started to talk about, very intensely, about the U.S. American European relations. I think what the American President and the Russian President have agreed together regarding questions of disarmament, but also regarding the process of approachment of Russia towards NATO, that that is of historic importance. And I would very much say that and we both agree that this process is going to be topped by what we're going to be doing in Rome on the 28th of May together. The world is going to be a safer place for it, and I think it's a tremendous success not only of America but of this special U.S. American President. We then, obviously, talked about the ongoing necessity to continue with our joint fight against international terrorism. And I have been able to brief the President about my visit to Kabul and about the necessity of maintaining the protection force on the ground, the ISAF. They are the force to guarantee a minimum of security and, therefore, a minimum perspective of hope of reconstruction for people in this country. This is also important We want to rebuild economic and social structures in the country. We're very much in agreement that we have every reason to trust the interim Government with Interim President Karzai and to give them all of the support that they need to move their country forward as a way of their own momentum. Now, we very much agree that it is necessary and important to make sure we move the peace process forward in the Middle East. I have emphasized very strongly that the President's speech in Washington was a milestone regarding this situation. He went in and made it abundantly clear what we all believe in at least we, too, certainly believe in that Israel has got a guaranteed inaudible right of safe existence within strong and reliable borders, that it needs to be recognized by all of its neighbors, and that by the end of the day, certainly there is going to be an independent Palestinian state too. And we're very much agreed that this is a job to be done by the international community of states, certainly by means of the Quartet that arose from Madrid the United States of America, the United Nations, Europe, and Russia. Now, this Quartet is hopefully going to support the constructive process as well as they can, because we really need stability and peaceful development for this region, specifically. We very much share the concern about the existing conflict between Pakistan, on one hand side, and India on the other hand. And we're very much agreed that we have to do whatever we can to bring a peaceful solution to this conflict. I mean, we must make sure that no further escalation happens over there. Now, moreover, we addressed questions of interest regarding trade with one another. We also addressed some other issues that are in existence regarding our bilateral relations. Thank you. President Bush. Well, thank you, Chancellor. It's an honor to be here in this historic city. I want to thank you for your hospitality, and I want to thank you for treating Laura so well. The Chancellor and I have met I think it's now five times, and I value our friendship. I appreciate the frank discussions we have. I'm here to let the German people know how proud I am of our relationship, our personal relationship, and how proud I am of the relationship between our two countries. Germany is an incredibly important ally to the United States of America. We respect the German people. We appreciate democracy in this land. We appreciate the struggles that Germany has gone through, and we value the friendship going forward. My speech today at the Bundestag will talk about the problems that we can solve together, that we share so much particularly when it comes to values and a deep and abiding concern for humanity and for peace. One of the things I like about Gerhardt is, he's willing to confront problems in an open way. And he is, hopefully like people consider me, a problemsolver, that we're willing to use our respective positions to solve problems, such as making sure our respective homelands are secure from terrorist attack. I'm going to talk clearly about that today, about the need for us to continue to cooperate and to fight against terror people who hate freedom, people who are challenging civilization itself. I want to thank again the German people and the German Government for the commitment to Afghanistan. The Chancellor made a very tough but, I think, correct decision in sending troops to Afghanistan, and those troops have performed brilliantly. I know you've lost life, as have we. And our hearts go out to the families of the soldiers who died. But in my judgment, the sacrifice is necessary, because we defend freedom, and freedom is precious. We talked about weapons of mass destruction and the need for us to be concerned about weapons of mass destruction. As I will mention in my speech, one way to help our mutual security is to work together to solve regional problems, and we spent a lot of time talking about the Middle East. The German Government has been very helpful in helping set the foundation for peace. Both of us agree that there ought to be two states, a Palestinian state and obviously the Israeli state, living side by side in peace, and we're working in that direction. A hot topic today, of course, in the world and one that we spent a lot of time talking about is, as Gerhardt mentioned, the India Pakistan issue. My point is, is that we've got a reliable friend and ally in Germany. This is a confident country led by a confident man, and that's good. That's good for world peace. It's good for those of us who love and embrace freedom. So, Mr. Chancellor, thanks for thanks for giving me a chance to come and visit with you. Thanks for your hospitality. Thanks for giving me a chance to speak to the Bundestag here in a little bit. We'll be glad to answer a couple of questions for you. Chancellor Schroeder. There is the possibility to put three questions from each side. Please, possibly, that the guests could start. President Bush. Did he just call on you? Okay laughter okay, I'm sorry. Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press , have you got a question? Laughter Q. I do President Bush. That's right. Q. This is a question to President Bush President Bush. Wait a minute. How many questions are you going to ask? Intelligence Before September 11 Attacks Iraq Q. Should the American people conclude there were some intelligence lapses before September 11th? And can you please explain why you oppose an independent commission to look into the matter and why you won't release the August 6th memo? And quickly to you, sir, do you think there should be a regime change in Iraq? President Bush. Well, first of all, I've got great confidence in our CIA and FBI. I know what's taken place since the attacks on September the 11th. Our communications between the two agencies is much better than ever before. We've got a much better doing a much better job of sharing intelligence. I, of course, want the Congress to take a look at what took place prior to September the 11th. But since it deals with such sensitive information, in my judgment, it's best for the ongoing war against terror that the investigation be done in the intelligence committee. There are committees set up with both Republicans and Democrats who understand the obligations of upholding our secrets and our sources and methods of collecting intelligence. And therefore, I think it's the best place for Congress to take a good look at the events leading up to September the 11th. The other question? Q. The August 6th memo President Bush. Oh, yes. Well, one of the things that is very important, Ron, is that the information given to the President be protected, because we don't want to give away sources and uses and methodology of intelligence gathering. And one of the things that we're learning is, in order to win this war on terror, we've got to have the best intelligence gathering possible. And not only have we got to share intelligence between friends, which we do, but we're still at war we've still got threats to the homeland that we've got to deal with. And it's very important for us to not hamper our ability to wage that war. And so there are ways to gather information, to help improve the system without jeopardizing the capacity for us to gather intelligence, and those are the ways I support. Chancellor Schroeder. Saddam Hussein is a dictator, there can be no doubt, nothing else. And he does act without looking after his people at all, whatsoever. We're agreed when it comes to that. And we're also agreed to the fact that it is up to the international community of states to go in and exercise a lot of political pressure in the most possible way. The United Nations have decided to do so as well. We need to pressurize him so that international arms inspectors can get into the country to find out what weapons of mass destruction can be found in his hands. I mean, there is no difference there between President Bush and myself when it comes to the assessment of this situation. We then obviously also talked about the question as to what should happen in the future, what could happen in the future. I have taken notice of the fact that His Excellency, the President, does think about all possible alternatives. But despite what people occasionally present here in rumors, there are no concrete military plans of attack on Iraq. And that is why, for me, there is no reason whatsoever to speculate about when and if and how. I think such speculation should be forbidden. That certainly is not the right thing for a Chancellor, and I am in this position. We will be called upon to take our decision if and when, after consultations and we've been assured that such consultations are going to be happening and then we'll take a decision. And before that, I think we should not speculate about serious questions like this one. Situation in the Middle East Q. Mr. President inaudible Chancellor, looking beyond Iraq, given the fact that Syria, too, in U.S. terminology, is a state sponsor of terrorism, given the fact that Saudi Arabia is anything but a democratic, rule of law, pluralistic society, how do both of you want to have this whole region, the Middle East, look like once the fight against terror is over? President Bush. Yes, it's a great question. Would you care to go first, Mr. Chancellor? Laughter I'll be glad to answer it, if you like. First, you need to know that in order for the region to be peaceful and hopeful, there must be a resolution to the Palestinian Israeli conflict. I believe that strongly. And that's why my Government and I feel strongly that we've got to work toward a vision of peace that includes two states living side by side. And the positive news is that many Arab leaders understand that they have got to be a part of the process now. We spent a great deal of time talking to the Saudis, for example you mentioned the Saudis. They must be a party to the process. They have sometimes in the past, the process has not gone forward because there hasn't been, as we say in America, the buy in by the parties they haven't been a party to the process. And I'm pleased to report, as you can probably see in your newspapers, they are now they're involved. I think one of our and the reason I mention that is because I think their involvement to a process that I'm optimistic will succeed will then enable us to continue to more likely have an effect on promoting values that we hold dear, values of rule of law and democracy and minority rights. The institutions of change are more likely to be effective with our ability to achieve a peace in the Middle East. And so much of the ability to promote reform, which we're for, hinges on our abilities and capacities to get something done. And it's going to take a while, I believe, but nevertheless, we are making progress. And my administration spends a great deal of time on the Middle East, because we understand it is a linchpin for convincing regimes to adopt the habits of freedom that sometimes we take for granted in our respective countries. Chancellor Schroeder. Well, I don't think I've got to add a lot to what's been said, but possibly so much. I think there cannot be peace in the Middle East without the United States of America and without them being active in this field. And it was not without reason that I pointed to the tremendously important speech of the President. It's very important. And that is why we support the efforts towards peace undertaken by the United States, but also by all other members of the so called Quartet. We are supporting this in the framework of the European Union, but we're also doing it through bilateral channels. And my impression is and here yet again, I fully agree with the President that a certain degree of progress is visible in this process. Now, obviously, we cannot be satisfied with the degree of progress, but still we have moved a little bit, and there is no alternative to the way that the President just described. There is no such thing as a magic formula to solve this tremendously difficult problem. Nobody has such a formula. And that is why I think the task that the President just described is certainly one that needs to be seriously supported by the European Union and us, bilaterally. President Bush. Steve Holland, Reuters. Q. Thank you very much. President Bush. A fine man, fine man. Chancellor Schroeder. We'll see that once he's put his question. Laughter President Bush. There you go. Russia and Iran Q. When you meet with President Putin tomorrow, how are you going to talk him into ending nuclear cooperation with Iran? President Bush. Well, that's a that's going to be a topic. One way to make the case is that if you arm Iran, you're liable to get the weapons pointed at you, that you've got to be careful in dealing with a country like Iran. This is a country that doesn't it's not transparent it's not open. It's run by a group of extremists who fund terrorist activity, who clearly hate our mutual friend Israel. And you know, it's very unpredictable. And therefore, Russia needs to be concerned about proliferation into a country that might view them as an enemy at some point in time. And if Iran gets a weapon of mass destruction deliverable by a missile, that's going to be a problem. That's going to be a problem for all of us, including Russia. So that's how I'm going to make the case. We've got a lot of work to do with Russia. I will continue to make the case. As you know, Steve, I have brought that subject up ever since I've started meeting with Vladimir Putin. The good news is, we're our relationship is a friendly relationship that I view President Putin as a friend. I view Russia as a friend, not as an enemy. And therefore, it's much easier to solve these difficult issues, an issue like proliferation, amongst friends. And I want to appreciate the Chancellor's kind words about tomorrow's treaty signing. It's going to be a positive development for America and, I believe, a positive development for Europe. And then, of course, we're going to Rome afterwards, and that, too, will be a positive development for Europe and America. And it is within the it's in this positive relationship and positive atmosphere that we're more likely to be able to achieve satisfaction on nonproliferation. Iraq Q. Mr. President, the Chancellor just said that your Government does not seem to be very specific right now when it comes to plans to attack Iraq. Is that true, sir? And could you, nevertheless, try to explain to the German people what your goals are when it comes to Iraq? And secondly, by German standards, Germany has already shouldered a huge burden in military terms of the fight against terrorism. Are you satisfied with that, or do you want Germany to do more? President Bush. First, what the Chancellor told you is true. Chancellor Schroeder. Of course it is. Laughter President Bush. I'm surprised anybody would doubt your word, Chancellor. Laughter Yes, look, I mean, he knows my position, and the world knows my position about Saddam Hussein. He is a dangerous man. He is a dictator who gassed his own people. He's had a history of incredible human rights violations. And he is a it's dangerous to think of a scenario in which a country like Iraq would team up with an Al Qaida type organization, particularly if and when they had the capacity had the capacity, or when they have the capacity to deliver weapons of mass destruction via ballistic missile. And that's a threat. It's a threat to Germany it's a threat to America it's a threat to civilization itself. And we've got to deal with it. We can play like it's not there. We can hope it goes away. But that's not going to work. That's not going to make us safer. And I told the Chancellor that I have no war plans on my desk, which is the truth, and that we've got to use all means at our disposal to deal with Saddam Hussein. And I appreciate the German Chancellor's understanding of the threats of weapons of mass destruction, and they're real. Now, I know some would play like they're not real. I'm telling you They're real. And if you love freedom, it's a threat to freedom. And so we're going to deal with it, and we'll deal with it in a respectful way. The Chancellor said that I promised consultations. I will say it again I promise consultations with our close friend and ally. We will exert a unified diplomatic pressure. We will share intelligence. We love freedom and so does the Chancellor, and we cannot allow these weapons to be in a position that will affect history. Listen, history has called us to action. I don't want to be in a position where we look back, and say, "Why didn't they lead? Where were they when it came to our basic freedoms?" And we are going to lead. What was your other part of your question? That's what you get for asking long questions, or what I get for answering long answers. Germany's Role in the War on Terrorism Q. That's perfectly all right. The second question was, sir, that Germany has already shouldered a huge burden in military terms, and do you expect more President Bush. Germany has shouldered a significant burden, and we are very grateful for that. The Chancellor and I talked about how to make sure we complete the task in Afghanistan, which is to continue chasing down the killers, by the way, and to find them before they hit us, but as well is to leave institutions behind so that Afghanistan can run herself, so Afghanistan can be a peaceful nation, so Afghanistan can function. And we both recognize that our presence is going to have to be there for a for quite awhile. And the Chancellor made that commitment, and I appreciate that. I'm very satisfied with the commitment of the German Government. Yes, Terry Terry Moran, ABC News . Disposition of the Russian Nuclear Arsenal Q. Thank you, sir. On the subject of weapons of mass destruction, the strategic arms agreement you'll sign in Moscow does not address what many people say is now the greatest threat posed by the Russian arsenal of weapons of mass destruction, and that's proliferation to terrorists or rogue states because of insufficient security. What specific plan do you have to address that issue with President Putin? Do you believe the Russian Government is doing a good job securing those weapons? And what do you say to critics of this arms deal who say that by taking the material off the warheads, you provide more opportunities for terrorists to get them? President Bush. Well, I guess to start with the critics, I'd say, would you rather have them on the launchers? Would you rather have the warheads pointed at people? I would think not. Secondly, this issue about the so called loose nuke issue has been around for quite a while. This isn't anything new. This is a problem that we are jointly working on. As you know, Terry and others may not know we've got what's called Nunn Lugar, which is a significant expenditure of taxpayers' money to help Russia dispose of and dismantle nuclear warheads, which we're willing to do. As a matter of fact, the '03 budget is nearly a billion dollars toward that end. We're working with Chancellor Schroeder on what's called 10 plus 10 over 10 10 billion from the U.S., 10 billion from other members of the G 7 over a 10 year period, to help Russia securitize the dismantling the dismantled nuclear warheads. And President Putin understands that. He understands the need to work closely with all of us. Listen, he understands that a loose nuke could affect his security as it affects somebody else's security. He's a wise man he's aware of the issues that we confront. That's why he's one of the best partners we have on the war against terror. He understands the implications and consequences of terror. And he also recognizes that a nightmare scenario is a dirty bomb or some kind of nuclear bomb in the hands of a in the hands of any kind of terrorist organization. Chancellor Schroeder. Last question. President's Security Bubble Addressing Issues of Hope Q. Mr. President, at the present you are visiting a kind of ghost town around here. Do you feel a bit of pity about not to meet the Berlin people inaudible visit first? And then secondly, when discussing ways to find a inaudible peace, did you discuss on social and developmental matters too, these means? Is there a chance that you'll come back to the table to sign the Kyoto treaty? President Bush. No. Laughter Q. Then what are your aims, concerns in the Johannesburg summit in August? Will you take part of it inaudible ? President Bush. Okay. Let's see, part one of a four part question. I live in a bubble. That's what happens when you're the President. So unfortunately, I don't get to see as much of Berlin as I'd like to see. That's just life. So when I come back at some point in my life, Mr. Chancellor, you can show me around. We'll go fishing together. No, I don't yes, of course, whether it be in Berlin or Moscow or anywhere else, I mean, I'm a person who likes I like to meet people. I like I enjoy people. I had one small glimpse of Berlin last night when we went to a restaurant. It was my pleasure to shake hands with everybody or most everybody in the restaurant. I enjoy that. It frustrates me not to be able to see this growing city. But that's just life in the bubble. That's just what happens when you're the President, and I knew that going in, so I'm not griping about it. Yes, the human condition is very important to me. I mean, it is and that's one way to make sure that the terrorists are less likely to be effective in their recruiting, is to promote those conditions necessary for human beings to realize their full potential, such as good health and good education and prosperity those habits necessary for the growth of prosperity. And I will address that in my speech to the Bundestag. And I don't know whether or not you followed it, but we've laid out an initiative called the new Millennium Fund, where after 3 years our Government will be spending 5 billion a year new money for development. And that money is going to go promote to countries which are willing to fight corruption and promote rule of law. Look, you can give all kinds of money to corrupt societies, but it's not going to help the people it will help the few. And I'm tired of that. I want to encourage reforms in society that help people. You know, I'm desperately concerned about AIDS. I know the Chancellor shares my grief. And we've put a significant amount of money on the table. But eventually I hope to see a strategy that will work. It's one thing to commit money it's another thing to insist that the money actually work and start saving people's lives. And when that happens, we'll commit more money. So, you bet, we're going to talk we've talked about and will continue to talk about the human conditions necessary to really make sure the whole world is able to be free and at peace. Thank you all. Chancellor Schroeder. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. May 22, 2002 I'm looking forward to my trip to Europe. I'm going to take a couple of messages. One, of course, I appreciate the friendship with the European people, our strong alliance, and that our alliance must remain tough in the war against global terror, that even though we've had some initial successes, there's still danger for countries which embrace freedom, countries such as ours or Germany, France, Russia, or Italy. And as an alliance, we must continue to fight against global terror. We've got to be tough. Secondly, friends benefit through free trade. I will reaffirm our commitment to trade. I hope the United States Senate finishes debate on the trade promotion authority and passes the bill. It's going to be important for our friends around the world to see this commitment to trade. Trade is in the interests of our workers. Trade is in the interest of job creation, and trade is in the interest of developing nations as well as developed nations. And so I want to thank those in the United States Senate, both Republicans and Democrats, who have worked hard on this bill. I hope they finish the debate and pass this important legislation. It'll be a strong positive message. I'm looking forward to the trip. I'm honored to represent the greatest nation on the face of the Earth in capitals around Europe. And I look forward to reporting back to the American people upon my return. Thank you very much. May 21, 2002 President's Upcoming Visit to Germany Mr. Kleber. Mr. President, "George Bush" is probably the best name a man can carry to Berlin The President. Oh, well, thank you. Mr. Kleber. given the achievements of your father, especially. But still, the city, right now, even as we speak, is bracing, expecting huge demonstrations. And the largest police force in the history of the city has been mobilized to protect you. The President. Thank you. Mr. Kleber. Not only against terrorism yes, I guess. It is not only about the terror threat, which of course is on everybody's mind. The President. Sure. Mr. Kleber. But also, thousands of demonstrators of all colors, more than ever before. Have you been made aware of that? The President. No. I but that's good. That's democracy. See, I love to visit a place that is confident in her freedom, a place where people feel free to express themselves, because that's what I believe in. And so I'm looking forward to my visit. I'm going to have a great visit with the Chancellor. I'll be at the Bundestag, and I look forward to a speech there that talks about the importance of our relationship that is, the relationship between Germany and America and what we can do together. I'm anxious I've never been to Germany, so I'm anxious to go, and I'm looking forward to it. Mr. Kleber. It's too bad that the President never gets to really see a city like Berlin. The President. Yes. Mr. Kleber. There's always this security around. The President. The bubble. Mr. Kleber. Yes. The President. That's true. And that's part of my life that's part of the that's one of the drawbacks of being the President. You really are encapsulated into a bubble, whether it be in Germany or in America, for that matter. Mr. Kleber. There is, beyond the demonstrations and beyond the people who show up everyplace just to cause havoc, there is a mood in Germany right now, pervasive among decent people, who are concerned about an America that more and more seems to stand in many important questions outside the global consensus, from the Kyoto agreement to the International Criminal Court to Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, military options versus Iraq, all these questions. My question to you Is your Government really still part of that global family? Or is it more, America looks for coalitions of the willing, meaning if you go with us, fine if you don't, we find somebody else or we go it alone? The President. Well, that's a very complicated question. Let me just tell you this I'm coming to Germany to say that together we can work to achieve peace, and we must work together to achieve peace. I'm going to talk about a NATO the idea of expanding NATO to help achieve peace. I'm going to reaffirm those institutions that are important, where we can cooperate. I am listen, I believe in alliances. I know America can't win the war on terror alone. I understand there's some reluctance about some of the positions I take. But one of the things that the German people at least ought to respect is, I speak my mind. There's no doubt where I stand. And I remember, when Ronald Reagan came to Germany, he said Mr. Gorbachev, tear down the whole wall. He didn't say, tear down a couple of bricks. He said, tear the whole thing down. And I guess I tend to speak that way too. But the German people will know, if they listen to my speech, that I care deeply for the alliance and friendship we have with the German people. And I believe together we can do a lot of good in the world. President Saddam Hussein of Iraq Mr. Kleber. Iraq is an issue very much on everybody's mind in this context. Your Government seems to be determined to end the regime of Saddam Hussein by any means necessary. This seems to include military options. Is there any way that this man, this dictator, can address your concerns and stay in power? Or are we drifting towards a war? The President. Well, first, let me say this, that Iraq ought to be on the minds of the German people, and they ought to be on the minds of the American people, because the Iraq Government is a dangerous Government. Iraq ought to be centerpiece in our thinking. This is a Government that's gassed its own people. This is a Government that is not transparent, and this is a Government we know wants to develop weapons of mass destruction. They may have weapons of mass destruction we just don't know. This is a dangerous regime. And for the good of freedom and for the good of our future, we've got to deal with it. Mr. Kleber. One way or the other? The President. One way or the other, absolutely. Now, I'm not going to I have no military plans on my desk that calls for that plots out a military operation. I'm looking at all options. And of course, I'll consult closely with our allies and friends. I look forward to talking this subject with the Chancellor of Germany. I will be very blunt in my assessment of his "his" being Saddam Hussein's threat to the freedom of the world. But this is a threat that we better take seriously, and we better take it seriously now. September 11 Attacks Mr. Kleber. One question about September 11th. The President. Sure. Mr. Kleber. I don't care about this Washington second guessing game this is really not what I'm getting to. We have pictures of your travel pool on Air Force One looking in horror at this little flat screen which was back in the plane, seeing the second tower collapse. The President. Yes. Mr. Kleber. I wondered what was going on at about that time in the front of the plane? The President. Well, thanks for asking. First of all, I learned about the attack the second attack I knew about the first attack when I walked into a schoolroom. I thought it was an accident. And I'm listening to an education briefing, and Andy Card, my Chief of Staff, whispered in my ear. He said, "America's under attack. There's been a second plane crash. America is under attack." I made up my mind right then and there that if somebody was attacking us, we would respond with the full might of America. Mr. Kleber. But there was little you could do at that moment, in that plane. The President. At that moment, no, there wasn't. You're right. I mean, I was trying to get out of harm's way. We were concerned about threats on the President. We were worried about future attacks, and there's a lot of belief that Flight 93 was headed to the White House. I was concerned about things like, is my wife safe? You know, I was worried about that. I was worried about things such as my parents. I was worried about my girls. And that's what I was concerned I was worried about Americans who were grieving. But at the same time, you need to know about me that I was also thinking clearly about how to respond. If America is under attack, my job as the President is to protect the homeland, to find out the facts, and to deal with it in a firm way. I want to thank the German people and the German Government, not only for their sympathy but for understanding the new war of the 21st century. And we have a new war, and we'd better deal with it, because this is an evil group of people that are interested in destroying civilization. And so long as I'm the President, I'm going to do everything I can to prevent that from happening. Mr. Kleber. Your people give me the signal to stop. I would love to keep going. The President. Well, I'm sorry we can't, but maybe some other time. Mr. Kleber. Have a safe trip. The President. Thank you. Mr. Kleber. Take care. Bless you. The President. Thank you. May 21, 2002 Terrorist Alerts Mr. Malar. Mr. President, thank you very much. Could you be more specific on the prospects of new attack against the United States? It's a source of concern for all of us, of course. And do you think it's a concerns also, for instance, the French, who have been severely targeted struck recently by the terrorist networks in Pakistan? The President. Yes, it's a good question. First, I'm concerned about all people who love freedom. The French love freedom Americans love freedom. And Al Qaida hates freedom, and they can't stand people who embrace freedom. I have no specific threat to America and Americans or to the French. If I had a specific threat, something that would hurt the French, I can assure you we would have shared that information immediately with our friends in the French Government. If I have a specific threat relating to America, we would deal with that specific threat. We would use our assets to harden whatever the target might be. You probably wouldn't know about it. What you're hearing is you're hearing the people of my administration are concerned about a group of people who continue to plot and plan on ways to hurt us. And the best way to prevent further attacks is to find them and hunt them down, to chase them one by one, and to bring them to justice. And that's what my country and our coalition will continue to do. Iran and Iraq Mr. Malar. Mr. President, you spoke a lot about the evil axis. Are you still planning to attack Iraq? And what about Iran, which, according to our understanding of various sources, might have been harboring bin Laden for the last few months? The President. Oh, really? Well, I certainly hope that's not the case, for Iran's sake, that they be harboring bin Laden. We don't know about Mr. bin Laden. He might be dead he might be alive. All I can tell you is, I heard I haven't heard much from him in a long period of time. I do believe there is an axis of evil. These are countries that are not transparent they're dictatorial they've got designs for weapons of mass destruction, if they don't have them already. They hate they preach a gospel of hate. And we'll deal with each of them differently. Obviously, the military is an option. I have no plans on my desk right now, but whatever I decide and whatever we decide, of course, we'll consult closely with the French, our allies, and our friends. But we must deal with this threat, the threat of countries such as Iraq using a weapons of mass destruction to affect a balance of power or to affect our willingness and ability to go defend ourselves. And this is a dangerous problem that we've got to deal with. Situation in the Middle East Mr. Malar. Mr. President, concerning the peace process in the Middle East, it seems there is no peace solution in sight right now. Arafat doesn't want cannot control the Islamic terrorist acts against Israel. Mr. Sharon doesn't want him anymore as a partner for peace. What can you do? The United States is the only country to be able to impose a solution. What can you do concretely, Mr. President, to put peace back on track for good? The President. Yes, thank you. I'm not so sure you can ever impose a solution on people. In other words, the first job is to convince people the need for peace, to give people a chance to work toward a vision. And I've laid out a vision. And the vision is two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace. That's something we will work toward. I believe we're making some progress. It starts with convincing all parties in the region they have a responsibility toward peace. The Israelis have got a responsibility I've made that clear to Prime Minister Sharon. The Palestinians have a responsibility, particularly to denounce and to fight against terror, to stop these killers from derailing peace. And the Arab world has the responsibility to be a party to not only discussions but a party to providing hope for the Palestinians. And we are we've got a dialog going on. One of the first things we need to do is put the institutions in place that will help provide a stable society in the Palestinian territory. That means a security force that actually works, one that functions properly, one in which authority and responsibility are aligned. You need to know I'm an optimistic man. I believe we can achieve peace. It's going to take a lot of hard work. I have started this the first day of my administration, and I will continue during the last day of my administration. Mr. Malar. Two quick last questions. The President. Sure. Europe U.S. Relationship Mr. Malar. Mr. President, what do you answer to the Europeans, and especially the French, who are very fussy sometimes and considers the reproach of America's unilateralism? What do you answer to them? They even fear today, among Europeans, that the new American Russian axis which would prevail over the rest of Europe. The President. Well, listen, my trip into Europe will let people know me a little better. I'm a person who knows that first of all, I know what I believe. And the thing I believe I believe strongly in the common values that we share. And I believe strongly in freedom. I mean, I believe we ought to do everything in our power to encourage freedom all around the world. And that's important. I also know we can't win a war on terror alone, that we've got to work with our allies and friends. I'll confirm the importance of the NATO Alliance for all of us. So I look forward to the trip. I'm confident there are some there that have got an opinion about me that I might not like, but that's the good thing about democracy. I welcome people people's opinions. And I'll be honored to represent our country overseas, and to reconfirm our friendship. I'm going to Normandy, and President's Memorial Day Visit to Normandy Mr. Malar. You are going to Normandy, so I imagine you are going to spend Memorial Day on the beaches of Normandy. And I'm sure, Mr. President, it means a lot to you when we are in the world where a lot of people try to fight for freedom and security. The President. Yes. Well, it's going to be an emotional moment, to think of all the sacrifice that went so that you and I can speak here in freedom. I'm the son of a World War II veteran. I'm a product of what they call the Greatest Generation. And I just my friends who have been there tell me that it's an amazingly emotional place. Memorial Day is a great holiday here in America, where we honor those who have sacrificed. And so I'll give a speech that will talk about sacrifice and will call people to the memory of those who have come before us and lay out the sacrifices that we're going to need to do in the future if we expect the world to be free. And I can't wait to go. It's going to be one of the best parts of the trip. It's going to be a memorable trip, and I'm confident that the trip to Normandy will be one of the great highlights of the trip. Mr. Malar. Mr. President, I want to thank you very much. I wish you all the best. The President. Thank you, sir. Mr. Malar. And God bless you. The President. Thank you, sir. May 21, 2002 Terrorist Alerts Mr. Borrelli. Mr. President, raising the alarm about the possibility of new terrorist attack without being specific is a way of crying wolf, which can frighten people. Can Americans stop the suicide bombers? The President. Yes, it's a very interesting question. Well, first of all, the Vice President and the Director of the FBI wasexpressing a general threat they're basically saying with which I agree that theAl Qaida still exists they still hate Americaand any other country which loves freedom and they want to hurt us. They're nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers. And if we had a specific threat to ourselves or to Italy, for that matter, we would deal with it in a way that you probably wouldn't know about. In other words, we'd be on the phone to the Italian authorities, sharing information to protect our just so that they would help our friends protect themselves. Had we had a specific threat here in America, we would have used our assets to harden the threat. But no, it's a real problem. The best way to secure our homeland, the best way for Italy to be secure, and other countries, is to find these killers, is to hunt for them, is to chase them down. And that's what we're going to do. And the good news is, for those of us who love freedom, and the bad news is, for the enemy, this country is very patient and very united and going to be very deliberate in our pursuit of freedom. Europe U.S. Relationship Mr. Borrelli. The U.S. and Europe are divided on important issues, as the next step in the war on terrorism and steel trade. Do you think you have to change something in your leadership to be more convincing with European countries? Or do they have to modify their policy? The President. Well, I don't think either of us have to change because we share great values. See, we love freedom. We hate those who want to kill. That's the common ground, and that's very important, and that's the high ground. And you bring up interesting issues, you know. You bring up the issue of steel. We trade first of all, we have trade disputes because there is so much trade. If we had no trade, there would be no disputes. And we've got 2 trillion worth of trade, which is a significant amount of trade. Obviously, I was concerned about what imports were doing to our industry. And under the rules of the WTO, under the guidelines that we've all agreed to, I acted. I am confident and hope that our European trading partners will also respond within the guidelines of the WTO. And that's the way you settle disputes. A trade dispute is hardly a breach of an important relationship. It is a way to work through a difficult situations. And as far as the axis of evil, you know, I understand there are some that would hope that the threat would go away just on its own, but we're going to have to act. I will, of course, consult with our friends. I'm deliberate in my thinking. I have no set plans right now. But I am serious about making it clear to countries around the world that we need to work together to rid the world of the threat. And the threat is a nontransparent dictator dictatorship having a weapons of mass destruction to be used countries such as yours and mine. And that's a threat that we must deal with if we want to do our duty to history. Situation in the Middle East Mr. Borrelli. How can America and Europe improve their efforts to make peace in the Middle East? The President. Yes, that's a great question. We are working together well, I believe. I was very pleased with and the Secretary of State is the one who keeps me abreast of the levels of cooperation. During the recent issues in the Middle East, the EU and our country worked very closely to try to lay out the foundations and a pathway to peace. I gave a speech right here in the Rose Garden on April the 4th that said parties have responsibilities Israelis have got responsibilities if they're interested in peace the Arab world has responsibilities as do the Palestinians. I've talked about a vision of two states living side by side, at peace with respect to each other. The Europeans agree with that position, so we're on the same we share the same vision. And I believe that the Europeans also agree that there will never be peace so long as terrorists continue to kill and that we've all got to use our collective efforts to stop the terrorist attacks. We definitely agree that we've got to provide hope for the Palestinian people. There's a lot of people who've been suffering for a long period of time. We need an economic development package that will help the Palestinians realize a hopeful future. But we cannot do so until there is the institutions of a credible state in place. In other words, we're not going to give money if it ends up going into somebody's pockets and not to help the people we're trying to help. So we've got the framework. We've got the vision for peace and the framework for getting there, and now we've just got to continue working together to achieve it. It is a difficult subject. People have been killing each other there for a long period of time. But once there is the collective vision for peace and I think we're building that collective vision and once people understand their responsibilities and we're now laying out the responsibilities we have an opportunity to move toward that vision of peace, and that's exactly what we're doing. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy Mr. Borrelli. Last time I came here I asked you if you received an invitation to have dinner with Mr. Chirac or Mr. Berlusconi, which one would you accept? You answered, you like Italian food. Do you still enjoy Italian cuisine made by Berlusconi? The President. I love Italian cuisine. And I'm very close to the Prime Minister. He is a he is a good man he's easy to be around because he is a good listener and a good talker. And I like his judgment, and I like his friendship. President's Upcoming Meeting With Pope John Paul II Mr. Borrelli. When you go to Rome, you meet the Pope. The President. Yes. Mr. Borrelli. One of his desires is to visit Ground Zero in New York. Will he be visiting soon? The President. I hope so, but that's up for the Pope to make that decision. He is a I had the honor of visiting the Holy Father the last time I was the visit in beautiful Rome. And actually, it was outside of Rome we went to the summer the summer palace overlooking the spectacular lake. And you know, he's getting older, and whether or not he's able to travel to Ground Zero will be up to up for the Holy Father to decide. But I just want you to know I'm looking forward to that visit. It is a great honor to be in his presence. He's a great man. Mr. Borrelli. Thank you, Mr. President. The President. Thank you, sir. May 21, 2002 The President. I have a couple comments, and I'll answer some questions, obviously. This is a trip that I've been looking forward to. I've never been to Germany I'm looking forward to it. I've prepared a speech to the Bundestag, which is going to be a very interesting opportunity for me to talk about a very important relationship. In my speech I'm going to refer to my trip to Russia as well, about how I view this as an opportunity my trip to Russia and Germany and France and eventually Italy as a way to confirm the importance of our relationship bilaterally as well as institutions like NATO but as a way to talk about how welcoming Russia, Russia's vision into the West is important for all of us. I look forward to my bilaterals with Gerhard Schroeder. We've got a good relationship. I look forward to my bilaterals with Jacques and Prime Minister Berlusconi, who is three friends. As you know, I rely upon personal diplomacy a lot. I think it's easy, when people find areas of mutual respect, to work together. I've got good relationships with all three and, of course, we've got good relationships with President Putin as well. Q. He's also a friend? The President. He is a friend yes, he is, very much. I will talk in the bilaterals as well, of course, in my public addresses, about our need to continue to fight terrorism. You've seen our newspapers. You've seen members of my administration, high ranking members of my administration clearly talking about the potential threats and attacks on America. I will remind our friends that this war is far from over. I will praise the cooperation, because I believe it. I will talk to them about what we need to do to continue fighting for liberty and freedom. In my speeches in discussions privately and in my public speeches, I will also remind us that we want the world to be not only more secure but a better world. I'll explain the Millennium Challenge Fund that I laid out in Monterrey, and I'll talk about some of it publicly in the Bundestag as well. I think this is an opportunity I view this as a great opportunity for those of us who are in positions of responsibility to defend our freedoms and to work collaboratively to make the world a better place, improve the human condition. So I'm looking forward to it. It's going to be an interesting experience. I'm looking forward to going to Normandy on Memorial Day. It's going to be a very dramatic moment for the son of a World War II veteran. And I look forward to going to a church and a synagogue in Russia, Sunday. I look forward, as I said, going to the Bundestag. It's going to be a it'll be a memorable event, to talk in front of the vast chamber with democratically elected members, some of whom who agree with what I believe in, some of whom don't but all of them are free to express their minds. And then, of course, go to Paris it's going to be a magnificent moment then Rome, and then as well the "at 20," the NATO confirmation of a new relationship with Russia. But anyway, this is going to be a good trip. I sent the best advance team I can send, and that is the First Lady laughter preparing my way. So why don't we go around and answer some questions? Who would like to start? Europe U.S. Relationship Q. Mr. President. The President. Yes, sir. Q. You are by now an experienced European traveler, so I would like to ask you, is there something wrong with the U.S. European relationship in terms of a growing psychological, military, technological gap? Is there something that is worrying you and that you hear from your friends that is worrying them? The President. Well, first, I recognize that there are more ties that bind us than don't. You see, when you love freedom, that's a powerful tie. The German people, the French, Russians, and the Italians, like Americans, love freedom. And so do I, a lot. And that's what binds us. We've got values that bind us rule of law, constitutions, marketplace, the rule of the marketplace. These are common values that make us bound together. We've got common problems that we must solve that are also greater than any dispute that may arise. I mean, listen, fighting for terror is a common cause that is a powerful force that unites us. So I think the relationship is a strong relationship, and it's a healthy relationship. And of course there are disagreements at times. We have trade disagreements, but that's because we've got a lot of trade we've got 2 trillion of trade a year. If we didn't have any trade, there would be no disagreements. But that's normal that's in the normal course of business. And I certainly do not let that affect my way of how I view this incredibly important alliance and relationships. So I'm I go to Europe feeling optimistic about our relationships and feeling optimistic about our capacities to work together to solve problems. Russia Q. Mr. President, some American political scientists would prefer to see Russia in the future as undeveloped. The President. Yes. Q. As a strong developer The President. Pay attention to him. Q. they became a significant competitor for the U.S.A. However, a poor and a bitter country would be even more dangerous. The President. Yes. Q. How do you, Mr. President, see Russia in the near future? The President. Well, first of all, it's the same issue that relates to the European Union and America as well as Russia and America. We want healthy competition. We want our friends to be strong and competitive. We want the economies to grow. I think it's essential for American policy makers to recognize that a healthy Europe and a healthy Russia is in our Nation's interests. It makes it easier for example, a healthy economy makes it more likely that a friendship will develop in a more significant way. And so my message to the Russian people, as well as to here at home, is that it is important that Russia be viewed as a friend, not as an enemy. I said that right off the bat that was my stated goal as a President, is to work with Russia as a friend, not as an enemy. I was able in Slovenia to realize that was possible when I visited with President Putin. And this head of his bureau there, or whatever you want to call the guy, asked me the question, first question Do you trust Putin? Yes. I answered that several months ago when what's the boy's name? Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press is his name please, please, scratch that from the laughter scratch that from the notes. They said, "How do you know?" I said, "I looked into his eyes and was able to glimpse into his soul." See, and I've been proven right. I do trust him because I believe he cares deeply about moving forward. There's so much that can be done in the spirit of friendship, together. And that's how I view that's and we've got a lot of problems. We've got AIDS ravishing an entire continent. Well, imagine, here we are, we're all representative of relatively wealthy nations hopefully, Russia's wealth will increase and yet, we're confronted with a society that's being wiped out. And so one of the fundamental questions is how what do we do? We've got nations, responsible nations how do we respond to that? And I've got some ideas. As you know, we put a anyway, my point to you is that we want Russia to succeed. We want Russia to be healthy. We want Russia, our partner now in fighting terrorism, to have the means to continue the fight. And I hope this trip will help, you know, assuage the doubts of some in Russia who and in America who like the old way of resentment and bitterness and hatred. Vladimir Putin and I are putting that behind us for the good of both peoples. Yes, sir. NATO Q. Mr. President, one of the main vehicles of the relationship between the U.S. and Europe is, of course, NATO. The President. Yes. Q. And we have many in Europe, and not only Europe, are wondering, is NATO doomed? Will it disappear at some point? And if not, what is the purpose of NATO in the coming years? The President. Well, that's a great question. NATO is more needed than ever in many ways. And let me explain it to you this way. The nature of the threats to us and I say "us" collectively has changed. And what we're learning is, it's the ability for nations to share information and to cut off finances, the ability for nations to deny safe haven, the ability for nations to keep these killers on the run that's going to make this war successful. And therefore, it's a collective effort in order to beat a terrorist network. And NATO is a collection of freedom loving countries. Therefore, NATO must change its mission not its mission, its focus and its capabilities in order to meet the threats that now face us. So I think NATO is very relevant. That is why in Prague, next fall, I will depending upon the actions of applicant states will follow through my speech I gave in Warsaw and will reiterate somewhat in Germany, that I see a Europe whole, free, at peace with itself. And NATO expansion is one way to achieve that. Now, I caution those who would read your articles to not take anything for granted when it comes to the NATO expansion. But I have been on record as one that has talked aggressively about expansion. The reason I do is because I understand the importance of NATO and the relevance of NATO. And we need to work within NATO to make sure that NATO has got the capacities to to better use capabilities, define capabilities and strategies, make sure an expanded NATO is flawless and seamless in its capacity to advance against a new threat. So I think it's a very relevant part of the future, and I will say that in Germany, and to Jacques. Q. If I may have a followup on this The President. Sure. Q. Are you worried by the gap in military capabilities, which is widening and even, with your budget, will be widening more between Europe and the U.S.? The President. I think that's an issue. I do think it's an issue. On the other hand, it's an issue that can be overcome with time. We're transforming our military or trying to transform our military rapidly. There's a few weapons systems that seem to keep popping up, even though they may have been doomed at one point. But that's part of the process. And but we are transforming. And NATO must transform as well in order to meet the true threats. Russia is not a threat. Russia is not a threat to the West. And therefore, NATO must align its capabilities and its budgets to the new threat. And that's going to take awhile. I understand that. So I'm not in a you know, I'm optimistic about NATO changing. I've talked to Lord Robertson about this issue. I will address it in my speech in Germany as well, about how to make sure NATO stays relevant as we head into the 21st century. But gaps can be closed, and gaps can be changed, particularly technological gaps, particularly among friends. And I'll repeat, I go to Europe as a friend, and someone with whom someone who wants to work with Europe to achieve common objectives. And I will say this again The war on terror requires significant cooperation. We're not fighting a nation that has got the capacity to move tanks. We're fighting a group of killers, international killers who hide in caves, who burrow in free societies, who are patient and tough and mean, and who want to destroy. And therefore, we must cooperate with each other we must share intelligence we must run down leads we must interdict we must arrest. And a great place to start is with a collection of freedom loving countries, and that is NATO. Yes, sir? Russia Q. What is the Russia NATO Council about? Does it give a say to Russia on NATO issues? And if not, what? The President. The "at 20" certainly does not give Russia any veto power over military actions. And that's important to know. However, it recognizes that Russia can be an important partner in a peaceful Europe by working, initially working with Russia on counterproliferation measures, terrorism measures, ways to address the new threats facing all of us. Russia faces the same threat that Italy, France, Germany, and America faces, and that is the threat of terrorism. It is important for your readers to know you face the threat, just like we face the threat. It may not seem so it may not seem so. But I'm telling you the threat is real. President Putin understands that. Therefore, it makes as do Europe leaders as well, I want you to know. And it, therefore, makes eminent sense to include Russia in a new relationship with NATO, and that's what we're going to confirm on the outskirts of Rome. Iraq and State Supported Terrorism Q. Mr. President, would you say that Iraq, for the time being, is basically contained? Or do you think that there are urgent steps required to undertake against Saddam's plans with weapons of mass destruction? The President. Sure. I'm a patient man. And I am a deliberate man. But the word "contain" doesn't work if someone's got the capacity to deliver a weapon of mass destruction. How can you contain somebody when they've got the ability to blackmail or launch a weapon? And that is my deep concern. And I feel passionate about this concern, because I know the nature of the regime. And I know the potential threat that could come if this terrorist organization that we're hunting down teams up with I'm not sure how you translate into German, but Q. We'll find a way. The President. coordinate, allies with, coordinates with uses these weapons of mass destruction to further their means as well. And I'm concerned about it. I know there's a lot of angst about my statements about these nations, but I have the responsibility to speak as clearly as I possibly can about how I view the nature of these regimes. And I will continue doing that. Q. Is that why the Vice President said that inspections are not really enough? The President. Well, we certainly hope that the Iraq Government will allow there to be full and open and unfettered inspections. We want to know. This is a man who's denied inspections for years. I wonder why. I think the world ought to ask, why won't you allow for inspections? Every time they talk about inspections, he's got a certain kind of caveats and strings, and won't let them "You can't go here. You can't go there." So I think the Vice President was expressing some skepticism about the nature of the regime itself. And we'd like to see inspections, unfettered, whole, free inspections. We'd like these inspectors to go look where they want to look, just like Saddam Hussein agreed to do over a decade ago. Mr. Volk? Putin Bush Relationship Q. Mr. President, can you please describe your relationship I'm excited, therefore I'm reading. Laughter Can you please describe your relationship with President Vladimir Putin? The President. Yes. Q. How do you call each other during the informal session? What are the subjects of your conversation after official state session? The President. Well, I would call my relationship warm. I enjoy his company. He has got a good sense of humor, and I appreciate that. And he has kindly invited me to his house, and I'm looking forward to going. Our conversations will be about here's a man who loves Russia, and he loves the Russian people. And he's deeply concerned about problems facing Russia. And a lot of times, even in the most informal gathering, he shares with me his deep concerns. He is a he also is a man who worries about the threats that Russia faces. We share a common interest in this war on terror because Russia, herself, has been attacked innocent people have lost life. And he's passionate on the subject, about protecting his homeland. And we share information about how best to do that. I mean, we ask questions as friends would ask questions "How are you doing this? Where are you doing that?" Q. How do you call him? Vladimir? The President. Oh, I call him Vladimir, yes. Q. Vladimir? The President. Yes. And he calls me George. Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. Jorzh. The President. But he's a one of the interesting things we're going to do is go to St. Petersburg together and go on the barges and see the White Nights. Q. Do you know a couple of words in Russian? The President. No. Q. No? The President. Nyet. Laughter One. But I've got a Russian speaker with me, Senorita Arroz. "Arroz" means "Rice." Terrorist Alerts Q. Mr. President, the warnings which have been issued in the last days about terrorist threat, including what the Vice President said on Sunday is it a kind of general notice to the American people that they must stay vigilant in the demands on the U.S. front? Or does it point out to any specific and imminent threat? The President. The FBI Director yesterday, I talked to him he comes in every morning, by the way. So this subject he came up this morning. He was talking about he was speculating based upon a lot of intelligence that indicates that the Al Qaida is active, plotting, planning, you know, trying to hit us. So he was speculating. He basically said, "Look, I wouldn't be surprised if there is another attack, and it's going to be difficult to stop them," is what he said. The Vice President also reflected that attitude. Now, if and when we have a specific threat, you know, we in other words, if I were to tell you that I know that there's a thinking about an attack on a certain moment at a certain place, we would deal with that in a way that would obviously harden that site. We would put our assets in place to prevent that from happening. I doubt there'd be a lot of publicity. The people, obviously, whose lives could be affected would be informed, directly informed, as the country, as the Government deployed assets to react. These are very clever killers. And I refer to them as killers because that's what they are. They're out to kill, no other way to put it. And they their communications are adept. And we're learning more about them. But they're they're a heck of a lot more sophisticated than people assume, I guess is the best way to put it. They think, and they plan, and they plot. They burrow into free societies. And so what the Vice President and the FBI Director were reflecting was a general understanding of the desires and attitudes and methodology or potential methodology obviously, if we knew the exact methodology, they wouldn't be around we would have taken care of well, protect our homeland, I'll put it to you that way, within the Constitution of the United States, of course. They would be off the streets. It's a concern. This is I mean, every morning I read threats some, by the way, directed not toward U.S. assets, but to the assets of our friends. As a matter of fact, I am confident that I've read threats that were directed to the countries represented here. All the time, we share information immediately. As a matter of fact, before I see it, I'm confident that the information has gone to the intelligence gathering networks of the respected countries. And that's very important that's very important. I don't mean to be an alarmist. And again, there are no I didn't have a there's not a moment. But there is an attitude of these people. And they're relentless, they just are. And therefore, when you hear me say that the best strategy, the best defense is an offense, I mean it. And the best way to protect our respective people is to hunt these people down. One of my jobs is to continually educate the American people and, for that matter, anybody who is interested in the world who wants to listen, as to the true nature of what we face. I've got a better handle on it than most. I pay attention to it every day. My most important job we'll debate all the debates and all the issues, but my most important job is to protect America and our friends and allies and work with our friends and allies to protect the innocent people in your countries. You know, it's a unique war we're fighting. The old wars, there would be battle lines and movements, and you could measure progress here and territory taken here. A lot of people steeped in history kind of still think that way. But it's a different kind of war. And we're recognizing how different it is as we get more intelligence. And it takes a different effort to fight it. But it's real it's absolutely real. I know some in the world don't particularly want to hear that. It's much easier not to be confronted with the truth, because it means that there's going to be sacrifice and worry and concern. But it's a real threat, and I'm going to I'll battle with all my and I've got a great country behind me doing Q. On this point, were you disappointed by the questions raised by the Democrats about the way you were informed? Did the conclusions you draw, you drew from this information The President. As I said, this is the the thing about Washington. I suspect capitals elsewhere democracy, there's nothing like a little second guessing. As I said, in Washington, the second guessing is second nature. I'm used to it. I think there was a lot of most of the elected officials here are very responsible citizens. They understand the nature of the intelligence they understand how it works. We're a united country may flare up a little, politics flares up. But we're a united country. And this country is both Republicans and Democrats are united to win this war on terror, and I appreciate that spirit from Washington. Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority Q. On Middle East The President. Make it a good one. Q. Yes. The President. Be sure it's a good one. Laughter I'm sure everybody here is interested in that subject. Q. Is peace possible with Arafat? The President. It's a very interesting question. First of all, I meant what I said on April the 4th, when I said Mr. Arafat has let the Palestinian people down. He's had a chance to lead. He had a chance to get a peace agreement with my predecessor. He's had chance after chance. And by failing to lead, he has really let the Palestinians down. I say that with a lot of angst in my heart because I am concerned about the plight of the Palestinian citizenry, poor and isolated and frustrated. Many live in refugee camps and have for years. And there's obviously I realize in many of their hearts, there's little hope, and that's frustrating. And so I am clearly disappointed. Somebody said, "Has he earned your respect?" I said, he never had my respect, because he has he let his people down. The role of a leader is to lead. Having said that, I do think peace is possible, and I think it's important. I think it's very important that we work toward a vision of two states living side by side in peace. There's work for all of us involved in this process, to have that vision so necessary for a secure Israel and so necessary for a hopeful Palestine. The process to get there is going to require a commitment by all parties a commitment for the United States to continue to lead on the issue, and we will a commitment by the Israelis to make the tough choices necessary for the Palestinian state to exist the commitment by the Palestinians to renounce and fight terror the commitment by the Arab world to become engaged not only in the humanitarian aspects of the region but to be a part of the building of the institutions necessary for a Palestinian state to exist. That starts with a security apparatus that actually functions for the benefit of the Palestinian people by fighting off terror, by rejecting extremism. There is and at the same time, shows the world, not only just Israel but shows American and Arab nations and everybody, the EU, that there is a concerted effort to fight terror, a security force in which authority and responsibility are properly aligned. That's step one. A while ago I announced that Tenet was going to reengage in the process of developing this security force. There also needs to be the institutions necessary for the growth of a state, such as the ability to disburse money in a noncorrupt way, the capacity to provide help for citizens actual help for citizens who suffer in a way that will lead to the rebuilding of community they have the civil institutions necessary for growth. That will come when there are when there is the reforms necessary to make sure there is accountability in the Palestinian Authority. There needs to be the conditions necessary for economic vitality that's trade. There's money willing to be spent. The EU I've talked to President Aznar on the subject I've talked to your respective leaders on the subject. I've committed to it. But I'm not committed to spending sending money in a place until I'm convinced it's going to be spent to help the Palestinian people. And so I yes, I think peace is possible. It's going to take awhile it's going to take a lot of work. And the first steps necessary are for people to assume their responsibilities, to assume a responsible role. I am I will tell you that you've read the press accounting of what's taking place. There is a sense that amongst some in the region, a lot in the region, that there needs to be a reform process in the Palestinians that will boost the confidence of, first, the people, second, the neighborhood, and third, the community of the world, of which the EU and America are an integral part. So I will continue to work for peace, and I just to renounce terror, insist that people fight off terrorist attacks, demand that there be accountability for people who are involved in the process, cut off money wherever we can, to deny terrorists the capacity to derail peace by death. And we have to do that in order to achieve peace. You've got to deny people killers the ability to destroy hope through death. And I'm optimistic we can do that. I believe we can. Thanks for asking. Okay, thanks for your time. May 17, 2002 The President. Elaine, thank you very much. Welcome to your house laughter the White House. I want you to know, Norm, I welcome Republicans, Democrats laughter people who don't care laughter all Americans. You're welcome here. I am honored to welcome you. I didn't realize you sponsored the legislation that my dad we call him "number 41" signed, which permanently made the celebration of Asian and Pacific American culture a month long event. And that's what we're honoring today. I'm so proud to be the President of a diverse nation, a nation with 13 million Americans of Asian or Pacific Island heritage. What a great country, to welcome such diversity. Whether you're here by birth, or whether you're in America by choice, you contribute to the vitality of our life. And for that, we are grateful. I also appreciate service to our Government and our country. I picked two fabulous members of my Cabinet from Asian Pacific backgrounds. You've seen them both. One lady who wasn't born in America, yet because of the dreams of her mother and father and because our country can be a welcoming country, was able to get a good education, and here she sits in the Cabinet of the President of the United States. Another man, a man not of the same political party as I am but a man who loves his country just as much as I do, a person who, as a young boy, was interned in a camp for Japanese Americans on our own soil a moment that is not a good chapter in our history and yet had the courage to fight for change and for the dignity of every American, and now sits in the Cabinet of the President of the United States. I am fortunate to have them in my Cabinet. I appreciate their advice, and I appreciate the great job they're doing on behalf of all Americans all Americans. I want to thank Senator Inouye for being here. He's one of the fine distinguished Members of the United States Senate. He's an ally when it comes to defending our Nation. He understands what it means to serve your country and be prepared for the defense of America. Senator, you're doing a great job. Thank you for coming. I also want to thank Congressman David Wu from Oregon for being here as well. I want to thank Delegate Faleomavaega. Laughter Did I even come close? Laughter Well, at least I gave it my best shot, Eni. Laughter How about just Eni? Thank you for coming from the American Samoa. We've got friends of ours from Guam, the Guam Senate Senate Leader Edward Calvo and the House Speaker, Tony Unpingco. Thank you all for coming. I'm honored you both are here. You are welcome. I want to thank Susan Allen, the president of the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce. Thank you, Susan, it's great to see you again. Richard, I want to thank you for filling this room and the whole house with incredible music. Man, what a talent. And I appreciate you sharing it with us. You help make a special day more special. And Lisa, thank you for bringing your beauty here. Laughter I'm looking around for Dat Nguyen. Is he here? He's supposed to be here. Audience members. Inaudible The President. Yes, he's a Texan. Laughter He's a mighty Texas A M Aggie, middle linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys, came from a Vietnamese family. He's a great story, and I just wish they'd win a couple more games. Laughter I want to thank John Tsu, the Chairman of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. John, thank you very much, and Russell Wong, a great actor, for being here as well. And welcome to you all. The history of Asian Pacific Americans is really a history of great patriotism, people who were willing to sacrifice. Incredibly enough, Asian Pacific Americans fought in the Civil War and, of course, World War II and the war on terror. It's a story of hard work. Many of you have had relatives who came here early, early on in our country, that worked the railroad, helped build the infrastructure necessary for America to grow. It's a story of great achievement and great success. I mean, look at our Olympic teams, Asian Americans on our Olympic teams, helping a unified country achieve in sports. It's a story of great business success, great cultural success. It's a story of influence on our society, scientific influence, architectural influence, music, art significant contribution to our country. And for that, all of us are grateful. Sadly, one of the greatest contributions, Asian contributions to our Nation was destroyed on September 11th. The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center were designed by Seattle architect Minoru Yamasaki. He and his partners designed the towers. For 30 years, they stood as a testament to American ingenuity and prosperity. They served as a symbol now, perhaps, as a symbol of a more innocent time. But for me, I can assure you, it's a reminder, a symbol, that we must never forget there are people in the world who hate what we stand for, people who can't stand the thought that a diverse nation can be a free nation, people who hate freedom, freedom of religion, freedom of thought, freedom of press. They can't stand it. And I can't stand the thought that they hate us, and we're going to run them down one by one to protect our homeland. They don't understand us. Mr. Senator, they just didn't understand us. They thought we were so weak and materialistic, we must not have believed in much, that all we'd do is kind of roll over and say, "Well, that's just what happens, you know," and go about our business. But that's not America. See, we defend our values and our freedom. We fight for peace, and I want you to know, I long for peace that's my dream, for peace. But we also fight for values that we hold dear. We believe strongly in America that each person needs to be judged on his or her individual values, abilities, and talents, that each life has dignity has dignity each individual matters, no matter where you're from, no matter how you were raised. That's what we fight for. And as we fight for a safer world and a peaceful world, we've got to work for a better world here in America. One of the great traditions in our Asian communities is the understanding and love for education. It's amazing how well and how hard Asian youth work in school to get ahead. It is an unbelievably good example for all of us. Educational excellence must be the standard for every child in America. Access to good education must be the goal for every single child. In order to have a better tomorrow, we've got to continually work to make sure that every child gets educated I mean every child. In order to make sure there is a better tomorrow, we've got to make sure the entrepreneurial flame continues to shine brightly in America, that we're known as entrepreneurial heaven. I was pleased to see that there are nearly a million small businesses in America owned by Asian Pacific Americans. That's a lot. That's good news for our country. It means that people are willing to take risk and own their own business, which is a powerful part of the American experience. The role of Government's never to create wealth it's to create an environment in which anybody from any background who's got a good idea can work and achieve the dream of owning your own business and therefore, by the way, employing more people. Talked about the tax cuts Elaine talked about the tax relief. I viewed the tax relief that we passed as an incredibly important part of small business formation. Most small businesses are not incorporated they pay income tax at the personal tax level. And therefore, when you reduce the personal income taxes, you help small businesses all across America. As you know, we're working hard to make sure our homeland is more secure. The best way to make the best defense is a good offense, no question about that. But you need to also understand that I'm mindful of American traditions, and as we work to make our borders more secure, for example, people will be treated fairly. Our INS must do a much better job of identifying who's coming into our country and why, but they've also got to do a better job of processing paperwork. It's inexcusable, the endless delays of paperwork that really do make it hard for families to function and to stay together. I'm a strong believer that our Nation must pass what they call 245(i), immigration reform which will allow families to stay together. People who are here and applying for different paper shouldn't have to go back to their country and then come back if one of the members is here legally with cards. It just doesn't make any sense. We need to be mindful of the dignity of each person in our country. And I know we can achieve that goal good homeland security, better border control and at the same time treating people with respect who are here in our land. I also very much appreciate the bridge that our Asian Pacific community provides America to an incredibly important part of the world. And those are the nations of the Pacific. I spent some time there, and I gave a speech in China and Japan and South Korea where I said, "This is going to be the Pacific century." And I believe that. We are a Pacific nation, America. We've got a lot of incredibly important ties with China and Japan, Korea, the Philippines all the nations represented in this room are an incredibly important part of our future. We've got to work on trade issues, issues that open up trade between our respective nations, so that we're able to better exchange goods and services. That's to the benefit of not only workers here in America, of course it's also to the benefit of workers in countries with whom we trade. We've got to continue dialog we've got to make sure that we work closely together to promote peace, to fight off this scourge called terror. And the Asian Pacific Americans of our country make those ties incredibly important. Not only do you help Americans understand the cultures in the countries, you, yourself, by your presence, export American values so that those countries understand us better. And so it's my honor to welcome you all to this magnificent house, to welcome your contributions to the greatest land on the face of the Earth, to tell you how proud I am to be the President of a diverse nation in which people make contributions, all kinds of fantastic contributions, to let you know that as we fight, we do so with peace in our mind and that we do so to make the world a better place here at home. I often say that if you want to join in the war against terror, do some good. If you want to fight evil, love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. That's a universal call. That's a call that is exhibited in neighborhoods all throughout America. See, the great strength of our country really isn't in the halls of government, Senator and Congressmen it's in the hearts and souls of our citizens. That's what makes our country unique and strong and vibrant, is the great citizens of America. And it's my honor to welcome such citizens to the White House. May God bless you all. And may God bless America. May 14, 2002 President Bush. Thank you all for coming. Mr. Prime Minister, welcome to the Oval Office. It's great to see you. I've been looking forward to this visit to publicly thank the Prime Minister for his strong support in the war against terror. He, right after the September the 11th attacks, immediately went and signed a condolences book in our Embassy, and that meant a lot. He's been a somebody with whom we can talk we've got good relations. We share a deep concern about terror, what terror means to our respective countries, what it means to our peoples. Mr. Prime Minister, I want to thank you for your friendship and thank you for your leadership, and I want to welcome you. Prime Minister Mahathir. Thank you very much, Mr. President, for the invitation. Since we met in Shanghai, I have always wanted to follow up on what we discussed there, in particular with regard to how we handle this problem of international terrorism. And I hope that as a result of this visit, we will be able to understand the strategy and maybe to work out how best to deal with this problem which plagues all the world, not just the United States. I'm quite sure that this visit will be very fruitful. President Bush. I think so, too. Thank you. A couple of questions. David David Sanger, New York Times . Al Qaida Activity in Malaysia Q. Mr. Prime Minister, when you met with a group of us in New York, you said that there was no evidence at that time that Al Qaida was actively was active in Malaysia. American officials have now told us that they believe some links do exist. Has your opinion changed since then? And Mr. President, I'd like to know whether it's still the position of the United States that Anwar Ibrahim has been jailed primarily for his political opposition to the Prime Minister? Prime Minister Mahathir. Well, at that time we were not very certain, but we have discovered that some of these people who were active, who planned to overthrow the Government by force of bombs, had activity into Pakistan and eventually to Afghanistan, where they did meet with the Al Qaida people. And they I believe that they could overthrow the Government by force of bombs in order to establish what they consider to be an Islamic state. Q. You believe they are Al Qaida? Prime Minister Mahathir. Yes, they are. We have found evidence that they have had involvement with these people. But they're primarily in east Malaysia. President Bush. What was your second part of your question? Former Malaysian Finance Minister Anwar bin Ibrahim Q. The question was, Mr. President, is it still the position of the United States that Anwar Ibrahim, the former finance minister President Bush. Yes. Q. was jailed primarily for his political opposition to the Prime Minister? Or do you believe and do you believe he should be released? President Bush. Our position has not changed. Q. Mr. President Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. The Malaysian press. Malaysia U.S. Relations Q. Mr. President, can you tell us what you what we can expect of future Malaysia U.S. relations as a result of these talks that are taking place today? President Bush. Well, I think you can expect continued cooperation intelligence sharing, for example. Let me finish, please. One of the things that we're finding is that our enemy is shadowy. They lurk behind civil institutions, and then they strike. They they're not like an enemy we've known before. And in order to make sure our respective societies are as secure as possible, we must share intelligence. We find out a lot about movements throughout the region, and we're more than willing to share with the Prime Minister's Government what we know, and vice versa, and that's important. That's incredibly important. My most important job I remind this to the American people is to secure our homeland. Q. Not more extensive than that President Bush. There's a lot more. We'll talk about trade. We'll talk about economy. There's a lot more to talk about. But when it comes to the security of a homeland, that's about as extensive as it gets. You see, I'm not going to let our Nation forget or our friends in the world forget what happened to us on September the 11th. It could happen to somebody else as well, and the Prime Minister understands that. And this is a very important visit from that respect. The we'll also talk about the Middle East, and I look forward to hearing from the Prime Minister on the Middle East. So we'll have a good discussion. Ann Ann Compton, ABC News . Cuba Q. Mr. President, former President Carter is in Cuba, about to address the Cuban people. Has his have his remarks complicated your foreign policy? And what would you say to the Cuban people, if allowed to speak directly to them? President Bush. Well, I you know, I appreciate President Carter's focus on human rights. I think that's important in Cuba, in a place where there is no human rights. My message first of all, it doesn't complicate my foreign policy because I hadn't changed my foreign policy. And that is that Fidel Castro is a dictator, and he is repressive. And he ought to have free elections, and he ought to have a free press. And he ought to free his prisoners, and he ought to encourage free enterprise. And my message to Fidel my message to the Cuban people is, demand freedom, and you've got a President who stands with you. And my message to Fidel Castro is precisely what I said. I'm going to deliver that message next Monday in here, and then I'm going to go down to Miami for Cuban Independence Day. Last question here for Response to Terrorism Q. Mr. President, what do you think of Dr. Mahathir's definition of terrorism and his view that the root causes of terrorism must be addressed not through military action alone? President Bush. I agree with that. I think that but first, some of these people are nothing but coldblooded killers, and there's no rehabilitation program, except for bringing them to justice. I mean, there's no way that these people made up their minds. The leaders of these groups have decided that they're going to come and kill. And it may be an American it may be a Malay sian who knows? But we're going to stop them. And so the best program is to use our respective militaries, intelligence gathering, cutting off money, to go after these killers. Now, in terms of youngsters who are looking for you know, who are searching for a future, if there's a hopeless future, there may be an opportunity to convert them into potential suiciders or potential killers. And that's what I think we need to talk about, about how to ease hopelessness where there is no hope I mean, to help people and to help people realize there's a better future other than joining up with a terrorist organization whose sole intent is destruction. That's why education is important. Good health care initiatives are important. That's why it's important for, you know, people in the Middle East to feel like there is a future. It's one of the reasons I've advocated a Palestinian state to be able to live side by side with Israel in peace, so that there people realize there's a future, and there's a better provide better choices for people other than suicide killing. But in terms of the senior Al Qaida members or some of these, listen, there's no as I say, I want to repeat, there's no rehabilitation program for them. There's only one thing to do, is to get them, and we're going to. We're going to bring them to justice. And I will remind the Prime Minister it's going to take awhile. This is a and we're patient. He needs to know that the American President, our Government is a very patient Government. And we're steadfast, and we're resolved, and we're going to hunt them down. And we look forward to continue working with him to do just that. And we'll bring them to justice, and that's precisely what's going to happen to these people. May 14, 2002 Thank you for that great welcome. I'm honored. I'm glad I heard the second introduction. Laughter You know, when I asked Marc to become the party chairman, I knew he was going to do a great job, and he hasn't let me down. Mr. Chairman, thank you for your leadership. I appreciate that. I want to thank Marc, and I want to thank Ann Wagner. I want to thank Marie Josee thank you very much for doing this. I appreciate your leadership. I'm honored that Lew Eisenberg agreed to serve as the finance chairman of our grand party. Lew, thank you for your leadership as well. I want to thank all who made this dinner possible. I particularly want to thank you all for being here tonight. I've been blessed by a lot of things. I've been blessed by a great group of friends, many of whom are here, and I want to thank you for coming. And the country realizes now I've been blessed with a great wife. I am sure glad she said yes when I said, "Will you marry me?" Laughter As you know, a lot of her friends are still confused as to why she said yes. Laughter But I wish she was here tonight. She's in Paris, and I don't mean Paris, Texas. Laughter She is in Paris, France. The French are getting to see what America knows, that our First Lady is calm and steady and dignified and is a great First Lady for the United States. I see out there many of the members of my team, and I've been blessed with a great team. I want to thank my Cabinet officials who are here tonight. I particularly want to say one word about a member of my team who isn't here I understand he spoke at lunch. Somebody said to me one time, he said, "Well, Dick Cheney is going to be a good Vice President." No, Dick Cheney is a great Vice President for the United States. I want to thank the Speaker. Mr. Speaker where is Mr. Speaker? Somewhere down there. Hi, Speaker. The Speaker of the House is a fabulous Speaker of the House. And one of the things I'm going to dedicate myself to is to make sure he remains the Speaker of the House. And I've got another job, too, as the leader of this party, and it's to make sure that Trent Lott becomes the majority leader of the United States Senate. I look out there and see many of the fine Members of the United States Congress, Tom DeLay and others. I want to thank you all for being here. Thank you for supporting our great party. Thank you for your leadership, and thanks for working with your President. I also want to thank all the folks who do the grassroots work for the Republican Party. Those of us who have ever run for office know full well how important it is to have people who are willing to man the phones and to stuff the envelopes, to carry the signs, to stand on the street corners, to do all the work necessary. And so, on behalf of a grateful group of elected officials, thank you for your hard work on behalf of our candidacies and our philosophy. You know, it doesn't seem like a year ago that I was here. Time is flying. Either that's because I've got a lot to do, or I'm enjoying myself. Laughter The truth is, both are the reasons why time is flying. I do have a lot to do. But I can't tell you how much I love being your President, and thank you for the opportunity to serve this great Nation. A year ago I said that I would do my part to try to change the tone in Washington, DC, to get rid of the needless name calling that tends to go on here, to try to focus on what's best for America, to bring a philosophy which is conservative and yet compassionate, to not listen to the voices that try to tear people down but to lift this Nation up, and to focus on getting things done. And I believe and I strongly believe that we've made great progress. I feel just as strongly today as I did a year ago about the need for the American people to learn that when our philosophy is put into action, people are better off, and that when they give us a chance to lead, we lead by focusing on results. And I want to talk about some of those results here tonight. First, I had the honor of signing the largest tax reduction in years. That tax reduction reflected two things One, we Republicans understand that we're not spending the Government's money. It's the people's money, and we've got to let the people keep more of their own money in order to keep our economy growing. And secondly, that tax relief came at the right time. Some of them up here read a different economic textbook than we do. They thought that it made sense to take more money out of the pockets of the hard working taxpayers if the economy were to slow down. We think just the opposite. We think, when the economy slows down, you give people more of their own money so they can spend. And when they spend on goods and services, somebody provides the goods and services. And when somebody provides goods and services, it means work for American people. This tax relief was the right thing for the taxpayers, and it's the right thing for the economy of the United States. And I look forward to working with the United States Congress to make sure that the tax relief we passed is permanent, is long lasting, is real for the American taxpayer. At the same time, I worked with Members on both sides of our aisle to provide an economic stimulus package, just when the country needed it. And I want to thank the leaders here who worked with the White House, who understands that when we encourage investment in the private sector, it is more likely to lead to work for the American people. I want to thank the people here who helped me work on education reform. There's nothing more important than making sure that every child in America gets educated. I don't mean a few I don't mean some who live in certain neighborhoods I mean every single child in this country. We passed a bill that sets high standards. You see, we understand that if you set low standards, if you don't believe people can learn, people won't learn. See, ours is the party that looks at each individual and says, he or she matters, and he or she can learn. And we set high standards. Ours is also the party that believes in results. Listen, if we spend Federal money which we do on disadvantaged children, we want to know. We expect results. We expect the children to learn to read and write and add and subtract. See, we believe every child can learn. So part of the reform package said that if you get help, you must show us you, the States and local jurisdictions, must show us. And if children will learn, listen, we'll praise all day long the teachers who are working hard to make that happen. But when we find children trapped in schools that will not teach and will not change, we demand something else. No child should be stuck in a school that won't teach. And finally, the core component of the education bill recognizes that we don't know all everything here in Washington. And so we passed power out of Washington to empower local people, to empower people closest to the children, to chart the path to excellence for each child. No, this education reform is an important piece of legislation. It's conservative to trust local people it is compassionate it is compassionate to insist that every single child in America get a quality education. And when Dick Cheney and I came to Washington, we said we'd make sure our defense and defenses of the United States were strong. And we have done that. The morale in the United States military is high. Our folks are being trained, and they're being well equipped. And our Nation is better off for a strong defense policy that we support. We've made progress on key issues key issues like trade. I want to thank the House of Representatives for getting a good trade bill out of the House. And it's now up to the United States Senate to get a trade bill to my desk. It is important to open up markets for U.S. products. We passed an energy bill. For the first time, our Nation had an administration that was willing to stand up and say we need an energy policy, a policy which encourages conservation and new technologies for renewal but also a policy that understands it's not in our Nation's interest to be dependent on foreign sources of crude oil, particularly when some of those foreign sources of crude oil don't like us. One of my passions, one of my legislative passions, is to encourage programs based upon faith and programs based upon love to flourish all across America. The House of Representatives passed a important piece of legislation called the Faith Based Initiative. It is stuck in the Senate. It is time to get this important legislation out of the United States Senate and on my desk, so we can capture and rally the great compassion all across America, to make sure nobody in America feels left out of this great country. And there are issues we're working on. There is no more important an issue for the President than to be able to name and nominate judges. I want you to know that this country has got a vacancy crisis on the Federal bench, and that's not good for America. That's not good for America. I've worked hard to name well qualified jurists, people from all walks of life, people who have done different things in their life, different occupations, but all of them great judges. And I can't get the politics of the United States Senate to be set aside for the good of the judiciary. One reason we need to change the Senate is to make sure the well qualified judges I have named and nominated get approved to the benches all across America. We're working on an early childhood development program. We want our Head Start programs to be able to teach our children the basics of reading and writing and math. If we're going to measure, we want little kids from all walks of life at the same starting point as other kids. This is essential, that we get good legislation out of the Congress that focuses on making sure every child learns to read. There's nothing more basic and nothing more important for the future of this country. We're working on a welfare reform package. One of the great success stories was the welfare reform of 1996. The welfare rolls in America are down by over one half. And that's good for taxpayers, but more importantly, it's good for the people who've found work. A job for a family means dignity, and we must continue the reform of making sure we help people find work in America. And one of the interesting debates going on in Washington, which amazes some people I know it amazes the people in Crawford, Texas is, I think a crucial component of a good welfare reauthorization bill is to encourage people to marry and stay married, to encourage families two parent families. The statistics show that when there's a mom and dad together, a child is more likely to succeed in America. And I'm proud to strongly support family initiatives all across this country. No, there's a lot to work on here for the good of the people. Another thing we're going to be working on is the budget. I was in Chicago in 2002 some guy said a reporter said, excuse me, said laughter a male reporter said laughter "Would you ever allow a deficit?" I said, "Only if we're at war or only if the Nation were in recession or only if we had a national emergency would I allow a deficit." Well, this administration got all three. And we're going to have a deficit because our economy isn't generating the tax revenues that we thought. That will be okay after a while. We'll have a small deficit if Congress adheres to the budget I submitted. But I wanted you to know how I feel about it. My most important job is to protect the American people. And one of the reasons we have a short term deficit is because I've insisted that we fund our national defense to the fullest. My most important job is to protect innocent lives, is to secure our homeland, is to do everything we can to make sure the enemy doesn't hit us again. I want you to know that the defense of our country, protecting the homeland, I don't view as a partisan issue. I view it as my duty. And I view it as the duty of the United States Congress to work with the President, which is what's happening. I wish I could report to you that the enemy is defeated, that they no longer are interested in hurting us, but that's not the case. They're still moving around. A lot of kids say and write letters in and say, you know, "Why? Why would they want to come after America?" It's hard for people to understand, but these coldblooded killers hate what we stand for. They hate our love for freedom. They hate the fact that America believes strongly in the freedom for people to worship the way they see fit, the people for the freedom for people to speak their mind, the freedom of the press. The freedoms we hold dear are hated by these people. I like to remind my fellow Americans that we're a unique land, that we're plenty tough. And I guess they just didn't understand us. They must have thought that we were so materialistic and shallow and feeble that, oh, yeah, we might file a couple of lawsuits laughter but that we wouldn't do anything else. Thanks to the mighty United States military and a vast coalition of freedom loving countries, we've proved them wrong. And we're going to continue to prove them wrong, because this Nation is a united Nation we're together. We're also patient. I've been so pleased and thankful that the American people have been so patient in the understanding of the task ahead. They don't have like me, they don't have a calendar on the wall that says, by such and such a date we're going to quit. They understand that we're facing an enemy that we have never really seen before a faceless, nameless bunch of people who they've got leaders who say to the youngsters, "Go blow yourself up, and in the meantime, I'm going to find a cave to hide in." A different kind of enemy. But we're learning more about them. You need to know that our intelligence gathering is getting better we're sharing a lot of intelligence with our friends. And we're going to run them down one by one and bring them to justice. History has called us into action. History has laid a significant responsibility on this Nation's shoulders, our collective shoulders. And I'm proud to report to my friends and proud to report to the world that we accept that responsibility. That's why the defense budget I submitted is significant. It has two principles involved in it One, anytime we commit our young men and women in harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best equipment, and the best training. And the second message is to not only our friends but our enemies We're in this for the long haul. We're in it until we secure our own homeland. See, we fight for freedom, and when somebody comes after our freedom, this mighty Nation is plenty tough. This mighty Nation will not relent in the face of people who think that we will back down. We've got a lot of work ahead of us. We've got work ahead of us in Afghanistan, and we're after them. We're going to continue to work to make sure that the Al Qaida killers aren't able to bunch up or train in other spots of the world. We're making good progress there. We're cutting off their money. But there's some larger tasks ahead as well. We just cannot, as a nation that loves freedom, allow the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us or to team up with Al Qaida to threaten us with the world's most dangerous weapons. History is going to look back at this time, and people are going to say, "Did the United States have the courage to lead, or did the United States blink?" And I'm here to report to you that history will say that the United States of America led the world to freedom. I'm an incredibly optimistic person. I believe that there's some incredible good that's going to come out of this evil. I want you to know that I talk about our military, and I talk about "getting them" in caves, but I long for peace. You see, I know that by being tough and strong and resolute, we can achieve peace. And that's what I that's my hope and my goal. And I believe it's going to happen. I believe when the United States leads the world, we're more likely to achieve peace in troubled regions and peace around the world. And out of the evil is going to come some good at home, too you mark my words. This country is so compassionate, so decent that we will be able to address the pockets of despair and hopelessness which exist in cities and communities around our country, not by vast new Government programs but by the love of the American people. People say, what can they do to help to fight in the war against terror? And my answer is, love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you're interested in fighting evil, do some good. The acts don't have to be hugely significant. Mentor one child as a part of doing some good. If you've got a shut in in your neighborhood, walk across the street on a daily basis and say, "What can I do to help you?" That's part of doing good. If you go to church or a synagogue or a mosque, rally your fellow citizens to feed somebody who is hungry. Find a child whose parent might be in a prison and surround him with love. And that's happening in America. See, the strength of America is not in our halls of Government the strength of America is in the hearts and souls of incredibly decent and generous and kind people. There's a spirit in this country that I can feel, that's alive and well, a spirit that on the one hand says, we'll defend our freedoms, and a spirit on the other hand that says, not only will we make the world safer, we will make America better. It has been an honor to serve as the President of this great country. I'm an early morning guy. I love getting up in the morning and bringing the First Lady her coffee. I love taking Spot and Barney down the elevator and heading out into the South Lawn. Barney heads off with the gardener, because the rug in the Oval Office is new and he's quite young. Laughter Spot goes in with me. After all, she was born in the White House during the "41" era and is quite used to the accommodations. Laughter I sit behind a fantastic desk that has been used by Theodore Roosevelt I'm a President I call him Ted laughter Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy, the great Ronald Reagan. I look at Abraham Lincoln on the wall, and I put him on the wall there because he had the toughest job of all, which was to keep our Nation united in the face of a civil war. I know my job My job is to keep our Nation united so that we can capture the great spirit of America, to make sure that everybody who lives in this country understands our promise, our values, and our hope. That's my dream for the world peace and our country being as hopeful for everyone as it can possibly be. Thank you for giving me the chance to be the President. May God bless you. Thank you all. May 14, 2002 The President. Thank you all. Please be seated. Thank you all for coming. I'm honored today to sign a bill that is an important step in an effort to secure our border, while promoting trade and commerce. It's a good piece of legislation. It's bipartisan legislation. And I want to thank the members of both parties who have worked hard to get this bill to my desk. I want to thank Tom Ridge, who's here. Where are you, Tom? Oh, you're Tom Ridge, yeah. Laughter At least that's what some of the Members are saying. I particularly want to thank Senators Kyl and Brownback and Kennedy, Feinstein, and Hatch for being here fine, fine Members of the United States Senate. I want to thank you for coming. I also want to appreciate Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner and George Gekas as well. These Members worked hard on this legislation. I want to thank the members of my administration who are here. I also want to say hello to Arlene Howard. Ms. Howard, it's good to see you. A lot of folks might remember you can stand up. Applause Thank you for coming. Arlene gave me her son, George's, badge and as a reminder of the evil that had been done to our country. You look great. I remember when I went over to Yankee Stadium to throw out the ball there at the World Series, Arlene's one of Arlene's other sons was there. Where is he? Oh, there he is. Thanks for the advice aim high. Laughter I want to thank Peter Johnson, who was George's partner for 12 years. Peter, thanks for coming. It's good to see you. I appreciate you being here. Thank you, sir. I want to welcome you all. I was looking at Arlene and the brave folks here it reminds me of what was done to us there on September 11th and how important it is that we remain tough and strong and diligent as we seek justice, as we chase down these killers one by one and bring them to justice. And that's a major responsibility of all of ours, and it's a responsibility we take seriously. The country is united in our drive for justice. This Nation is determined, and we're patient, much to the chagrin of the enemy. It must make them really worried to know that we don't have a calendar that says, on such and such a date we're going to quit, that when it comes to our free doms defending our freedoms and securing our homeland and protecting our innocent Americans and never forgetting what happened on September the 11th, we are some kind of tough. And that's the way it's going to be. We've got responsibilities here at home as well, and it starts with our borders. Our borders process an incredibly huge number of people. It may come as a surprise to some of you, but there's over 500 million people a year enter America, and half of those are our own citizens that may have been traveling. We have 11 million trucks come across our borders. We have 51,000 foreign ships call into our ports. It reminds us that no nation can be totally secure or more secure, unless we're well protected and unless our borders are well screened. We must know who's coming into our country and why they're coming. We must know what our visitors are doing and when they leave. That's important for us to know. It's knowledge necessary to make our homeland more secure. America is not a fortress no, we never want to be a fortress. We're a free country. We're an open society. And we must always protect the rights of our law of law abiding citizens from around the world who come here to conduct business or to study or to spend time with their family. That's what we're known for. We're known for respect. But on the other hand, we can do a better job of making our borders more secure and make our borders smart. We must use technology and be wise about how we use technology, to speed the flow of commerce across our borders and to identify frequent travelers who pose no risk. We should be directing resources to risk. We ought to be routing out smugglers and focusing on criminals and, of course, stopping terrorists from coming into the country. The bill I sign today enhances our ongoing efforts to strengthen our borders. The purpose of this bill is to help our country do a better job of border security. It authorizes 400 additional inspectors, investigators, and other staff on the INS over the next 5 years. We're adding manpower, obviously. It makes it easier for the INS and other Federal agencies to get better information about people and products that come into America. It requires every foreign visitor desiring entrance into the United States to carry a travel document containing biometric identification that would be fingerprints or facial recognition that will enable us to use technology to better deny fraudulent entry into America. It strengthens the requirements that all commercial passenger ships and airplanes entering the United States provide a list of passengers and crew before arrival, so that border authorities can act immediately to prevent someone from entering the country if he or she poses a threat to our citizens. It makes a lot of sense to do that. We should have probably been doing it a long time ago. These new measures will only be effective if Federal authorities have access to important information. One of the things we've learned is how to better share information. Right now, the FBI and the CIA do a good job of sharing information. Information is getting better shared from the Federal to the State to the local levels. But we've got to do a better job of sharing information and expanding information to the INS and the State Department and Customs agents and throughout the intelligence community. We've just got to do a better job. This bill enables us to modernize our communication, so the information flows freely and quickly. The legislation requires law enforcement and intelligence communities to continue to develop a list of suspected terrorists and to maintain that list and to make it readily available, so that nobody is granted entry into the United States that's on the list. In other words, we're beginning to gather information overseas in a much better way. We've got a vast coalition of nations that are still with us. They heard the message, "Either you're with us, or you're not with us." They're still with us. And we're sharing information, and we can use that better use that information with our own agencies here at home, to make sure that we really button us up, that we do our job, the job the American people expect. The bill didn't have everything I wanted. I wanted a temporary extension of 245(i) in the bill, which basically allowed certain immigrants, sponsored by their families or employers, to become legal residents without having to leave the country, so that families can stay together. I thought that made sense. It's not a part of the bill. I intend to work with Congress to see if we can't get that done here pretty quick. Yet, the commonsense measures will help us meet the goal, and that's important. It will help us meet the goals of legitimate commerce and important travel. And at the same time, it will help us keep the country secure. Basically what we're saying is, this is part of a legislative part of a national strategy. Tom's worked on the national strategy. He's worked with our respective agency heads. And Congress has been a great partner in this strategy. This is good work. You know, sometimes in Washington we actually are able to put our political parties aside and focus on what's best for the country. And we're able to say, let's make sure America comes is the first priority of all of us. And this has happened in this bill. So it's my honor to welcome both Republicans and Democrats from the legislative branch of Government here as I sign this important legislation. Thank you all for coming. God bless. At this point, the President signed the bill. The President. Thank you all very much. May 13, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much for that warm welcome. Mr. Mayor, I'm honored to be in your presence. This man is a great mayor of a great city. I've learned one thing I'd rather have him for me than against me. Laughter And the good news is, he is for the people of Chicago, and that's important, Mr. Mayor. Michael, thank you very much for having us here. We're honored to be able to come and to talk about how to make America a more compassionate and better place for all people. I want to thank Rodney Carroll, who is the president of the Welfare to Work Partnership, for being here. He has helped recruit thousands of businesses across the country, which have employed over 1.1 million citizens who were formerly on welfare, who are now independent and free to realize their dreams. Rodney, thank you for your leadership. I want to thank my two new friends who are here, with whom we'll be discussing their lives and how important work is for the future of their family. I want to thank members of the congressional delegation who are joining us today Senator Peter Fitzgerald thank you, Peter, for coming. Congressman Rod Blagojevich thank you, Rod, for being here. The chairman, Henry Hyde thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm glad you're here. I'm looking forward to flying back to Washington with the Chairman on Air Force One. I announced this morning at the South Lawn of the White House that we've reached an agreement with Russia on a treaty that will substantially reduce our nuclear weaponry, so that we can enter into a new era of relations with Russia. I can't wait to explain it to you, Mr. Chairman, and I appreciate your support. I want to thank Judy Biggert for being here. Judy, thank you for coming. I appreciate Mark Kirk as well for coming. Thank you, Congressman. Jerry Weller thank you, Jerry. I appreciate you being here. Finally, the attorney general of the State of Illinois, Jim Ryan thank you, Jim. I want you to know that we're here to talk about how to make America better. Before we talk about that, I want to remind you of one thing My job is also to make sure America is safer. And the best way to make America safe is to not only have a homeland security strategy that will support our mayors and our police and fire and EMS teams all across America but to make America safe, we've got to hunt these killers down one by one and bring them to justice. And much to the chagrin of the enemy, we are a united country. The security of America has nothing to do with our political parties it has everything to do with doing our jobs. We are a united nation we are a patient nation. And we're plenty tough when it comes to protecting that which we hold dear. And what we hold dear is freedom, and we're not going to let anybody get it. I can't imagine I can't imagine what was going through the mind of those people. They must have thought we were so materialistic, so self absorbed that all we was going to do is maybe file a couple of lawsuits. Laughter But much to their chagrin, they realized that we're tough. But also the world is learning we're compassionate as well. While we work to make the world more secure, we've got to make the world a better place. And it starts right here at home. Today I had the honor of meeting Adrienne and Jerry Welenc. Would you all stand up for a second, please? Applause These good folks hold on, don't applaud yet, until you hear what they've done. They have fostered over 90 children over the last 35 years. These good Americans didn't need a law they didn't need a government telling them what to do. They decided to love a neighbor just like they wanted to be loved themselves. These good Americans asked the question, what could they do to save one person's life. If you want to join the war on terror, help somebody in need. It's going to be hard to do what they've done 90 children over 35 years is a fantastic feat. But it's a fabulous tribute to Americans making the decision to help somebody. We can't do it all, but we can help one person at a time. And as we do so, America will be a more compassionate place. As we work hard to defy the evil ones through military strength, we must also do so with the kindness and compassion that define America. I want to thank you all for being here. God bless you for your work. And we can continue to make America a better place by helping people find work. We can help America be a compassionate, decent land, where hope can penetrate places of despair and despondency, by helping people find a job. And that's what we're here to talk about, as we reauthorize the welfare bill. It is essential that a central component of that bill be work. We must set high standards. Over the next 5 years, the States, and working with the local governments, ought to place 70 percent of the people on welfare into a job. It is important not only for our society it's important for the people. Because as you're about to hear, a job is such an important part of a person's dignity, a person's future. And so one of the things about welfare welfare to work is, not only do we need to encourage businesses to provide a place we've got to encourage States to get after it, to provide training and help. Listen, the welfare budget we're submitting is 17 billion. That's the same level it was when we had twice the number of welfare cases we had to deal with. The welfare rolls have declined in half, yet the dollars are the same, which ought to be ample money to help people with training or drug treatment, to give them a chance so that they can work and realize the dignity of a job. When we reauthorize welfare, let us always remember that a job is a central core to someone's hopeful future. I want to make three other points, and then I promise, Mr. Mayor, I'll be quiet for a brief period of time. The best way to help people avoid welfare is education. Mr. Mayor, I want to thank you for setting high standards for the public schools of the city of Chicago. Washington doesn't know everything, believe it or not. That may be a horrible admission for somebody who lives there temporarily to say. The best way to help people get off welfare is to empower local folks, is to recognize one size doesn't fit all, is to recognize that the more options there are at the local level, the more opportunity it is for people to succeed. And finally, in order to make sure welfare works, we've got to welcome faith based and community based programs into the compassionate delivery of help. We shouldn't fear faith in our society. We ought to welcome faith. We ought to welcome the programs that come out of our inner city churches or synagogues and mosques. Our Government ought to say, "You ought to be able to access Federal money to help people in need, without losing your mission." In order to make sure that welfare works, not only do you encourage jobs, but we need to welcome those programs that can fundamentally change people's lives by changing their hearts. Mr. Mayor, I want to thank you for letting me come here to Chicago. I've been talking too much. So what I'm going to do is ask Rodney Carroll, who's in charge of this Welfare to Work Partnership one of the things I preach is personal responsibility. There's also such things as corporate responsibility in America. CEOs have the responsibility not only to make sure that we all understand fully their assets and their liabilities, that there's full disclosure, but they have the responsibilities of helping the communities in which they live. Mike has done a fabulous job doing that for Big Brown, and Rodney's in charge of lining up corporate America to do that as well. Welcome, Rodney. At this point, the discussion began. The President. I believe the thing that's interesting to note is, a beneficiary, of course, is UPS. Laughter You talk for a person who has never worked a day in her life until UPS, you're one articulate soul. Vivian Kimmons. Thank you, thank you. The President. And that's a really good job. Ms. Kimmons. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. President. The President. Congratulations. Ms. Kimmons. Thank you. The President. And your oldest daughter? Ms. Kimmons. She's 17. The President. What's she fixing to do? Ms. Kimmons. She's about to graduate from the Firefighters Police Academy, tomorrow night at 6 p.m. The discussion continued. The President. Great job. Thank you very much, Lupe. I think the what we're trying to say here, most eloquently by these two ladies, is that in this country, if you give somebody a chance, they can succeed. Now, it takes extra help sometimes, and we've got to provide that help. It takes a little extra education. We've got to provide that education. If we don't get it right the first time, we can't quit. We've got to get it right the second time. But the key is, is that when this country puts its mind to something, like making sure every child gets educated or making sure everybody gets a hand businesses cooperating, local government cooperating, Federal Government we can succeed. And here are two prime examples of what we're talking about, people who now have hope, children who see their mom and by the way, being a single mom, raising children, is the toughest job in America it's the toughest work. And that's what makes these two stories even more courageous and successful. I told them, when we got it back there in the back they said they were nervous. I said, "There's not going to be many people out there." Laughter But I thank you for sharing with us your hearts and your story. For those people who are watching and realize that and maybe wondering whether you can succeed, just look at these two ladies. They're great examples of what is possible, what is possible. Mr. Mayor, one of the things you do is you run a great city, and you care deeply about the lives of the citizens here. In the city of Chicago, the welfare rolls are down by 70 percent. We're proud of your record, Mr. Mayor, and we'd love to hear from you. The discussion continued. The President. Michael, I want to thank you all for giving us a chance to come and visit with you. There's a lot of issues that we face in Washington or here in Chicago. But there's no bigger issue than all of us remaining united to show the world what we're made out of, that people from all walks of life, all backgrounds, political parties, can come together to defend our country and at the same time elevate the spirit of this great land, to defend common values that are bigger than any single individual, and to serve a nation by helping somebody. It's really what we're talking about today, people willing to help themselves, as well as corporate America willing to provide an opportunity so people can succeed. I want you to know that you live in the greatest country on the face of the Earth. The stories we hear here today speak to our greatness and speak to the fact that we will not rest as a nation when we see and find pockets of despair and hopelessness, that in order to make this country complete, everybody has got to feel a part of its future not just some but everybody. Oh, I know that's a high goal, but it's a goal we can achieve. Working together, it's something that this Nation can do. Out of the evil done to America will come incredible good. And part of that incredible good is that the promise of America extend its reach into every single neighborhood. It is an honor for me to be here today. And it is an honor for me to be the President of the greatest country on the face of the Earth. God bless. Thank you all very much. May 13, 2002 Well, thank you for that warm Chicago welcome. I appreciate your kind remarks, Governor. Laughter I want to thank you all for coming. Pat, thanks for your leadership. And I want to thank you all for supporting this good, honorable man to be become the next Governor of the State of Illinois. I want to thank all the grassroots advocates who are here, those who man the phones and stuff the envelopes and get out the vote. I want to thank you for what you've done in the past, and I want to thank you for what you're fixing to do. I can just see the headlines Ryan Replaces Ryan. Laughter Durkin Defeats Durbin. And I want to thank Marie. We had our picture taken with the Ryan family. I thought it was never going to end. That's a good sign. Laughter If all the Ryans vote, it's a landslide. Laughter But I want to thank Marie. Mother's Day must have been a heck of a day for you, with all those kids. And I want to thank the sons and daughter who are here. Marie has got four sons and a daughter. It reminds me of another name in American politics Barbara has got four sons and a daughter. The difference is, is that your sons must be treating you better. You don't have any white hair. Laughter But I want to thank you for being a great wife, and soon to be a great first lady of the State of Illinois. And to you boys out there, you listen to your mother. Laughter I'm still listening to mine. Laughter Speaking about great First Ladies, I'm sorry that Laura can't be with us today. She is off to Europe, and she's going to represent our country in the Czech Republic and Hungary and France. And then I'm going to team up with her there in about 9 days. I bring her up just to you know, when I married Laura, she was a public school librarian. She wasn't really interested in politics. And if the truth be known, she really didn't care for politicians. Laughter But thankfully, she agreed to marry me, and now the American people are beginning to see why. She is calm, and she is steady. She's got great values and a huge heart. A lot of people are still wondering why she said yes. But she sends her love and wishes you all the best. And I appreciate Senator Hawkinson being here, the next Lieutenant Governor for the State of Illinois. Thank you for coming, Senator. Members of the Illinois delegation are here, some of them looking for a ride back to DC, I suspect. Laughter Just depends on how you vote. Laughter But I appreciate Senator Peter Fitzgerald for coming tonight today. Peter, where are you? Thank you, Peter. I think Chairman Henry Hyde thought I was teasing him. I told him today I was announcing the fact that Russia and United States agreed to a treaty to substantially reduce our offensive nuclear weapons. It is a treaty that will change the relationship between Russia and the United States for the better, for world peace. Mr. Chairman, I'm serious about talking to you about this treaty when we fly back to Washington. Henry Hyde, thank you for coming. He's what we call a solid citizen. And so are the other members of the congressional delegation who are here, Mark Kirk, Jerry Weller, Judy Biggert, as well as Ray LaHood. I appreciate you all coming as well. I mentioned the fact that Durkin is going to beat Durbin. I want to thank Jim Durkin for being here and for running for the United States Senate. I appreciate the Lieutenant Governor, Corinne Wood, for being here. Thank you for coming, Corinne. And the State treasurer and the old State treasurer, Judy Baar. Where is she? Thank you, Judy. Yes, just kidding well. Laughter And finally well, not quite finally I'm glad to see my old friend Pate Philip. Pate, thank you for coming. I appreciate you being here. I remember going to your great county more than once to learn the lessons of good State politics at the foot of a master. Mr. Senator, thank you for being here. And I appreciate Lee Daniels being here as well. Lee, thank you for your leadership and your strong, strong support for the next Governor. Thank you, Lee. Now I'm getting to the finally. I had the honor of knowing two great Governors, past Governors, who are here with us today, big Jim Thompson and Jim Edgar. Thank you all for coming. I appreciate you, Edgar. I'm proud to support Jim Ryan. I appreciate, first of all, his heart and his philosophy. I call him a compassionate conservative, somebody who believes like I believe that if you embrace a conservative philosophy and you have a heart, you can help people. And that's what government is all about, is to help people help themselves, to understand the limitations of government, to apply government where it needs to be applied, but always remember, the idea is to make sure the American experience and the American Dream reaches every corner of our country. And that's the way Jim thinks. And that's an important attitude for the people of for the Governor to have, for all the people. We're running as proud Republicans. We serve as a proud American. I appreciate his strong stand on law enforcement. He's been given the job as the attorney general of this State to hold the law, to bring people to justice, to blow the whistle where a whistle needs to be blown. And he's done just that. If the people get beyond the rhetoric in this campaign and look at the record, a record of accomplishment, the people of Illinois will put this man in the statehouse with the big numbers, because he has got a record of accomplishment as the attorney general The truth in sentencing law supports the first child advocacy center to deal with child abuse he believes strongly in school safety. I mean, he's got a record. And he's got a vision as well. See, he understands that the number one priority of any State has got to be to make sure every child every single child is educated. You know, we passed a really good education reform law in Washington, and it relates to this campaign. And I'll tell you how in a second. But first, it's amazing what can happen when you put your country or your State ahead of petty politics. I was and I must confess, it did confuse some of the folks at the Crawford, Texas, coffee shop, when I was traveling around the country with Theodore Kennedy Ted Kennedy, thanking him for working on this bill. But we put it all aside, all the typical Washington, DC, bickering and name calling, and decided to do something right for the children and passed a great piece of education reform. And it starts with setting high standards. It starts with saying every child can learn in America, not a few, not just certain kind of children but every child. It believes that every child can learn. That's the way that Jim Ryan thinks. Secondly, it says that in order to understand whether every child is learning, we must measure. We must hold people to account as to whether or not children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. I've heard all the talk about school accountability. Let me put it on the line It is racist and it is wrong not to determine whether or not children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. It is a mistake not to measure. And a system that does not measure a system that does not measure is a system that has low expectations. A system that won't hold people to account as to whether or not our children are learning is a system that's more likely just to shuffle kids through as if they don't matter. Every child matters in America. And in order to receive Federal money, after I signed this bill, the people of Illinois and Texas and every State must determine whether or not children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. And if they are, we'll praise the teachers, and they need to be praised. But if not, here's your chance to change. If we find children trapped in schools that won't teach and won't change, you need to change. You need to have a Governor who's willing to blow the whistle on failure. Every child matters. Every child counts. That's why I'm for Jim Ryan. He's willing to take on the status quo when he finds children in schools that will not teach. And finally, the bill I signed says that the people who care more about the children in the State of Illinois are the people of Illinois. It has a strong component of local control. We're passing power out of Washington. We're giving maximum flexibility at the local level, so the local folks can chart the path to excellence. Listen, one size doesn't fit all. One size doesn't fit all when it comes to the education of the children of the State of Illinois. And you'd better have you a Governor who understands that and who won't stand for excuses and who's willing to innovate when innovation is needed. The number one priority of any Governor in any State has got to be the education of the children of the State. And Jim Ryan understands that. I just came from Big Brown, UPS, where the mayor, thankfully, was there to greet me. I appreciate the mayor a lot. As I said publicly, I learned one thing It's better to have him for you than against you. Laughter But I appreciate his leadership for this great city. It's a fabulous city you live in. And we were talking about welfare to work and the fact that millions of people have moved from welfare to work, for the betterment of our country. It's helped our country. It's also helped each individual person when they realize the dignity of work. And we were talking about the need to make sure that corporate Illinois or corporate America does its part about helping people go from welfare to work. Big Brown has hired 52,000 people from the welfare rolls. We had two young ladies, young moms, talk about what it means to go from welfare to work. It's just a compelling story and a great morning for me. The reason I bring it up is, we're in the midst of reauthorization of the welfare reform. And it's important for States to continue to strive for high standards when it comes to deploying resources to help people find work. It's essential you have a Governor who feels compassionate about each individual and who works hard and tirelessly to provide the job training necessary and the education necessary so that Americans can have the dignity of a job. And so when I talked about advocating maximum flexibility for States in the welfare to work I mean, the welfare reauthorization bill, it gave me great comfort to know that Jim Ryan is going to be the next Governor of the State of Illinois, because he cares about people and he's willing to bring people together to achieve the common objective. I'm confident that when you have a man of good values who knows what he thinks, who doesn't need to take a poll or focus group to figure out his direction that he's going to head in life, he's going to make a good leader for your State. And I'm proud to support him. I also look forward to working with your Governor to make sure that the State of Illinois is prepared to respond, should the enemy hit us again. And they want to. I know that every morning when I go in the Oval Office and read a threat a threat assessment to our country, they're interested in hitting us again. Kids say, "Why? Why would they want to do that to America?" Because they hate us. And the reason they hate us is, we love freedom. We cherish our freedoms. We love the idea that people can worship freely in America that's something we strongly believe in. They don't like that. And we can speak our minds freely, and we can come to political gatherings, make our decisions in freedom. We have free press. We're an open society. That bothers the enemy a lot. And they're still out there. And you need to know that we're doing everything we can, everything in our power, to make the United States safe. My most important job is to protect innocent Americans. Our law enforcement agencies are talking like they've never talked before. Anytime we get a hint of anything, we're sharing information across jurisdictional boundaries we're running down every possible lead. We operate proudly operate within the confines of the United States Constitution. But there is no hint, no lead that is insignificant, as far as we're concerned. But you need to know that the most the best way to secure the homeland is to chase these killers down one by one and bring them to justice. That's precisely what the United States of America is going to do. There's been some interesting lessons. First of all, I always kind of felt that the farther we got away from September the 11th my worry was, the farther we got away, that the more likely it is America will say, "Maybe it's not worth it." I'm proud to report that's not the case. In my travels around our country, I have seen what must make the enemy feel terrible, a united, resolved, strong nation which says that we'll do whatever it takes to defend the values that we hold dear. And that's comforting to me, and it's not so comforting to them. You know, I can't imagine what was going through their mind when they attacked. They must have looked at America and said that this Nation is so self absorbed, so shallow in its materialism that all America would likely do is maybe file a couple of lawsuits. They were wrong. They found out that we are plenty tough, and we're going to remain tough. I unleashed a military that should make every one of you proud. You will read about the budgets I submitted. By the way, right here in Chicago I was asked, when I was campaigning here, they said, "Hey, Mr. President, would you ever have a deficit?" I said, "Only if there was a war or a recession or a national emergency." Laughter Yeah, we've got one right now. But it's worth it because we're fighting for freedom. And when we bring some fiscal discipline to Washington, it's going to help make the deficit short term. And I submitted a big budget, no question about it, for defense. And I did it for a reason. One, anytime we commit our troops into harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best training, the best equipment possible. That's what we owe our military. And secondly, it is important to show the world that we're in this for the long run, and that while there may not be dramatic action on your TV screens on a daily basis, we're making progress. And it's going to take awhile. This is a new kind of war. This isn't a war of known fronts and carrier movements and battle stations being manned on a regular basis. We're facing a shadowy enemy. Look, these are the guys that send youngsters to their suicide death, and they, themselves, try to hide in caves. It's a new form of warfare, and it's going to require incredible patience. And the American people have got to understand, we're in it for the long run. Our coalition must understand that we're in it for the long run. They do I tell them all the time, see. I say, "This is freedom we're fighting for. This is this is this is the most important value that we believe in, in America. Either you're with us, or you're against us, and I expect you to be with us. We're in it for the long pull." And that's what that budget says. We've been successful we've been successful. We enforced the doctrine that said, if you harbor one "one" being a killer you're just as guilty as the killer. And the Taliban found out exactly what we meant. But in enforcing that doctrine, we showed another side of America as well. We showed not only are we tough, not only are we wise with the military strategy, not only were we able to win a guerrilla war using interesting new technologies, we liberated a nation. I want the young of America to understand that we went into a country and freed people. We didn't conquer people we freed people from the clutches of a barbaric regime that would not even let young girls go to school. And today, they do in Afghanistan, thanks to the United States of America. No, it's going to take awhile, but we're making progress you just need to know, we really are. We're doing a better job of cutting off their money, and that's important. We're getting the kind of sometimes we're getting a hint where somebody might be trying to hide out, and we're kind of rallying people to get them. There's countries that looked like they were potential safe havens, a nice place for maybe the terrorists to train. They're no longer safe havens for the terrorists. We're just taking our time and doing our job. And that's what the American people want. That's what the coalition is seeing. There's a lot of people who are out there, saying, probably, "Gosh, we kind of hoped the United States would grow tired of all this. It would make our life a lot easier at home." Forget it. Laughter We're not growing tired of it. My most important job is to protect the security of the American people, and I take that seriously. I also understand history has called us into action, and our country will not blink in the face of evil. I also believe that by leading a coalition and by being firm and resolute and strong, that out of the evil that has been done to America will come incredible good, starting with peace. I believe if we're patient and strong and deliberate, we'll be able to achieve peace. And that's important to me, and I know it's important to you as well. We don't seek revenge as a nation. We seek justice, and we seek peace. I also believe that out of the evil can come some incredible good at home. I believe that. I'm asked all the time by people that say, "What can I do to help on the war against terror?" My answer is, love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to fight evil, do some good. If you want to show the world what we're made out of, that we're stronger than just military might, why don't you mentor a child. Teach a child to read. Why don't you go to your church or your synagogue or your mosque and start an initiative to help folks who live in pockets of deep despair. That's how you fight the war against terror, and that's how we can make an enormous difference in our own country. I truly believe that America the great strength of America is our hearts and souls. And out of this evil can come some great good. I see it all the time. I see it in small acts of generosity and kindness that will astound you. Today at the Meigs Field, I met two folks who have fostered 90 children here in Chicago 90 children. It's unbelievable to think about that. Two good it didn't require a Government act or a Government edict. They just decided to do that. And it happens all the time in our community. If you really want to fight evil, find out a way to contribute your time and efforts and money and talent to making one person's life brighter. That's how we change America. I like to say, each of us can't do everything, but each of us can do one thing. See, America changes one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. Out of this evil is going to come good. There's a new attitude in America about serving something greater than yourself. It was highlighted to me, and I'm sure most of the country and history should record this moment about Flight 93, when you had people on an airplane. They're flying from one place, one part of our country to another. They find out the plane is going to be used as a weapon. They tell their loved ones on the cell phones they love them they say a prayer and they drive the plane into the ground to save somebody's life, to serve something greater than themselves. I truly believe that out of the evil done to America can come a sense of serving something greater than a materialistic society. And therefore, America is going to be a more hopeful place for all. The true strength of America is our people. That's the strength of our country. And I can't tell you how proud I am to be the President of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming to help Jim. May God bless you, and God bless America. May 10, 2002 Thank you very much. Gosh, it's a great Ohio welcome. I'm honored to be back. It's good to be back near the family plot. Laughter As you may recall, Prescott S. Bush, my grandfather, was raised right here in Columbus, Ohio. Last time I did that, my mother was watching on C SPAN. She said, "What about my father?" Laughter I said, "Oh, yes, he was raised in Dayton, Ohio." Laughter So, Mother, I mentioned him. Laughter But it's great to be back in this great State. I'm here to talk about welfare reform, but I'm also here to make sure that the good people of Ohio send this good man back to the Governor's Mansion. There's a lot of reasons to send him back, but none greater than the fact that he married well. Laughter Hope is doing a great job as the first lady of the State of Ohio. When we were walking in, Bob was telling me how proud he is of Hope and the job she does, particularly to promote literacy. And I told him, "I'm real proud of my wife, too." I can't tell you how what a great job Laura is doing. She has brought a lot of calm and a steady hand. You know, when I asked her to marry me, she was a public school librarian who didn't like politics and really didn't like politicians. Laughter A lot of people are now beginning to realize why I asked her to marry me. She's got a lot of class. A lot of people, however, are wondering why she said yes. Laughter But I wish she were here. She loves the Tafts. She really appreciates Hope and Bob, and she sends her best to you all. I'm also traveling with some pretty good company today. I had the honor of flying down on Air Force One with a fabulous United States Senator, George Voinovich. I like George he's the kind of fellow that tells you what's on his mind. Laughter There's no doubt what he believes in. One of the things he believes in is Ohio. He loves the State of Ohio. I'm also honored to be traveling today with members of a great congressional delegation, Deborah Pryce, Dave Hobson, Pat Tiberi, Bob Ney, and Rob Portman. These people not only represent Ohio well they're friends. And they're people with whom it's a real pleasure to work. They bring a lot of class to the United States Congress. And earlier today, I had the honor of meeting a fellow named Mike Turner, who won a primary in Dayton, Ohio, who a lot of people think, when he continues to work hard, he's going to be the next Congressman from Dayton. Welcome, Mike. I also want to thank Jennette Bradley for willingness to run and to join the ticket. I appreciate you, Jennette. It's going to be a historic moment when you become the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Ohio. It seems like ever since I was been coming to Ohio to campaign for one Bush or another, Bennett has been around. It's great to see you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate it. I want to thank Tim and all the folks who organized this event. I want to thank you all for coming to help to help Bob. You know, when you find a good, honest, decent, honorable person in politics, you need to back him, and this guy is just that. Plus, he's got a great record. He has his priorities straight. His most fundamental priority is to make sure that every child in the State of Ohio gets a good education, and the record is impressive. The record is impressive. Not only has he focused on making the Ohio schools a funding priority he's focused on insisting that there be excellence in every single schoolroom in Ohio. I appreciate your Bob, I appreciate your leadership. The people of Ohio have got to understand that he has led on this issue. And not only that, he and Hope understand that if a child cannot read, a child cannot learn. And it's important to have a Governor set a priority. Not only is public schools a priority, public education a priority, but teaching every child to read is the first priority of making sure there's excellence in every public school in the State of Ohio. We have just passed historic reform in Washington, DC, education reform. It may be hard for you to believe, but there are, at moments, when Republicans and Democrats come together for the good of the Nation. And this is one of the cases. People from both parties came together and worked on education reform which says that we believe every child can learn in America, not some, not a few, but every child. We set the highest of high standards. We also say that in return for Federal money we're going to spend money Washington is good about spending money and in return for Federal money, we expect there to be results. In return for Federal money, you, the local folks, must show us whether or not children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. And if they are, we will sing your praises, as a society. But if not, we expect there to be change. It is not right for there to be children trapped in schools that will not teach and will not change. High standards, strict accountability, coupled with local control of schools I believe that the people who care more about the children of Ohio are the citizens of Ohio. And we passed power and flexibility out of Washington, DC, so that good Governors like Bob Taft can chart the path of excellence for every single child who lives in your great State. Earlier today I had the opportunity to talk about welfare reform. We're getting ready to reauthorize the welfare bill. First of all, it is important for Americans to understand that the welfare reforms of 1996 have been a huge success, a success because the welfare rolls are down dramatically, but more importantly, a success because more and more citizens, as a result of finding a job, now have dignity in their lives. Knowing that there are Governors like Bob Taft, I can safely say, the best way to make sure we continue with welfare reform is to trust Governors and local authorities to match up programs and needs with people. In other words, the Federal Government must get out of the way, must provide maximum flexibility at the local level, which is precisely what I intend to do. It is good to know that you have a Governor who's willing to rally the social entrepreneurs all across the State of Ohio to make sure that people are able to get the help we want them to get. Ohio is on the leading edge of welfare reform, thanks to Governor Voinovich and now thanks to Governor Taft. And I appreciate Bob Taft's understanding the role of Government is not to create wealth. That's not the role of Government. The role of Government is to create an environment in which small business owners and entrepreneurs have a chance to flourish. His initiative of the Third Frontier Project for the State of Ohio understands that jobs and job creation best take place in the private sector. Governor, you're right on track, and I appreciate your vision for economic vitality. And thankfully to the United States Congress, our economy is better on track. You may remember when I came to the State of Ohio to campaign, I said, "If you give me a chance to be the President, I'm going to make sure that people get to keep more of their hard earned dollars." And thankfully, we passed tax relief right at the right time. Here's what Bob and I know, that if you let people keep their own money and, by the way, it's not the Government's money. I love to read these stories about, "Well, the Government's money we can't send the Government's money back." It's not the Government's money it's the people's money. It's the taxpayers' money. When they have more of their own money, they demand goods and services. And when they demand goods and services, somebody will produce the goods and services. And when somebody produces the goods and services to meet demand, somebody is going to be able to find work. The best way to stimulate our economy was to let the American people keep their own money, so they get to decide what to do with it. George Voinovich has been a leader in Congress, as have the other members from the congressional delegation, about joining me and the Vice President to make sure this Nation finally wakes up and has a balanced energy policy. You know, we import over 50 percent of our energy, and sometimes the people we import from don't like us. Laughter For the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, this Nation needs a comprehensive energy plan that encourages conservation, promotes new technologies that will save energy and enhance renewable sources of energy, but at the same time, a energy plan that has the wisdom to promote clean coal technology, so that we're less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Oh, there's a lot of issues we face. And you know, we've got issues related to trade. I'm pleased that the Senate looks like they've got an agreement on a trade bill. This Nation ought to be confident. We ought to be opening up markets all around the world to trade. It'll be good for our Ohio farmers to trade it's good for Ohio small business people to trade. I hope Congress finally gets a trade promotion authority bill to my desk. Confident nations open up markets they don't build walls around themselves. I'm confident that we're the best producers and innovators in many products, and therefore we ought to be selling our products around the world. I'm also working on issues like terrorism insurance, to encourage construction projects. I know the Senate will join me on that. We've just got to make sure that when we do so, we don't provide a gravy train for personal injury lawyers in America. Obviously, we've got budget matters. You know, when I was running for President, in Chicago, somebody said, "Would you ever have deficit spending?" I said, "Only if we were at war, or only if we had a recession, only if we had a national emergency." Never did I dream we'd get the trifecta. Laughter But that's what we got, and we're going to deal with it. And we're going to deal with it in a way that understands that each individual American matters, in a way that promotes jobs not Government. And we're going to deal with it in a way that makes a priority the defense of the United States of America. I've got a routine that I really enjoy there at the White House. It starts off early in the morning where, like I did at the Governor's Mansion in Texas, I bring Laura her coffee. Laughter My next job is to take Spot and Barney out for a walk on the South Lawn. Spot was born there at the White House when Mother and Dad were there, so she's used to the accommodations and understands the decorum necessary to go into the Oval Office. Laughter Barney, on the other hand, is only a year and a half. In that we've got a brand new rug, he's not allowed in. Laughter So Barney goes off with the gardener, and I go in the Oval Office with the dog, Spot, and sit. First thing there, sit behind a fantastic desk that many of you may have seen. It's a desk used by Teddy Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, some of the great names that have preceded me to the Presidency. And the first thing I do is I open up a threat assessment. I read about the fact that the cold blooded killers are still after us. And by the way, that's all they are. They're nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers, and they still want to hurt America. It's hard for a lot of young to understand why they would want to do so. And the answer is, because we believe in freedom, and they don't. We're a beacon for freedom, and they can't stand that. They cannot stand the thought that America worships freely, that we welcome people of all faiths, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu you name it we welcome. We understand a lot of Americans have no faith at all, and that's okay. They're proud Americans. We know that. They can't stand the thought that there's free and open discourse in America. They hate the thought of a free press. No, they hate our freedoms, and therefore, they're going to continue to try to strike us. We're doing everything we can. You need to know that our law enforcement officials are communicating a lot better than ever before between the Federal and State and local governments. Anytime we get any kind of hint, we're moving. And we're sharing intelligence all around the world. Our coalition is more than just a coalition of military it's a coalition of our respective treasuries to shut down money. It's a coalition of our intelligence gathering to share information. I mean, we are we're on full alert in Washington, DC, about anything that might happen. But the best way to make sure that we protect the homeland, the best way for me to do my job is to hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice, and that's precisely what the United States of America is going to do. I have submitted a significant increase in our defense budget for two basic reasons. One, anytime we commit our troops into action, they deserve the best equipment and the best training, best possible pay. And by the way, for those of you who have got relatives in the United States military, you can tell them, this Commander in Chief is incredibly proud of how they've conducted themselves. And the second reason why is because we're in this for the long run. There are no calendars, no dates certain as to when this is going to be over, because we're defending freedom. That's what we're defending. No matter how long it takes, we will defend our freedoms and civilization, itself. Oh, I know there are some saying, "Well, it's got to end by such and such," or "What happened here? What happened there?" That's what the enemy wants. What makes them really nervous is when they hear the fact that our Nation is united and focused and disciplined and patient. I've traveled the country a lot, and I'm proud to report that's exactly the way Americans think. You see, I'm amazed of what I try to speculate what went on in the minds of these people when they attacked us. They must have thought we were weak. You know, they must have thought that this kind of false image of materialism affected their thinking. They thought we were so materialistic, we wouldn't react. They probably thought all we were going to do is maybe file a couple of lawsuits. Laughter They were watching the wrong TV show. Laughter They found out that this Nation, when it comes to the defense of our freedom, is plenty tough. When it comes to the values we hold dear, we will be strong, and we'll be steadfast. And when it comes to enforcing doctrine, when I said, "Either you're with us, or against us," they understand. And when I said, "If you're going to harbor one of those terrorists, you're just as guilty as the terrorists," thanks to the United States military, thanks to our coalition, the world now knows what we mean. The Taliban Government now knows what we mean. We have totally destroyed their training camps. We've disrupted their chain of command. We've got them on the run. And once you get them on the run, the key is to make sure that there's no place to run to. And so our second strategy is to make sure there is no safe haven for these killers. There is no place for them to light. Either you're with us, or you're against us. And there's going to be a lot of action left. I mean, when you're hunting them down one by one or in small bunches, it's going to take a while. It's just going to take a while, and that's the resolve of my Government and our Government. It doesn't matter how long it takes. See, that's the thing that people have got to understand about America. It just doesn't matter how long it takes, because we love our freedom. It also matters that there are potential threats that we recognize. This threat bothers me the idea of a terrorist organization teaming up with a nation that develops and harbors weapons of mass destruction. It bothers me. We cannot let the world's most dangerous regimes threaten us with the world's most dangerous weapons. For the good of our children, for the good of freedom, for the good of civilization itself, this Nation will be deliberate we'll be patient. But we're not going to allow the world's most dangerous regimes to hold the United States blackmail with the world's most dangerous weapons. I believe that by being firm and tough and strong, we can achieve peace. It's very important for the moms and dads to tell their children that your Government is interested in peace and freedom. If there's any doubt in your children's mind about what we're doing, remind them that when we sent our troops into Afghanistan, we liberated a country. And for the first time in a long time, young girls got to go to school. While we're chasing down the killers, we're also helping the nation rebuild herself, with medical care and food. This is a compassionate nation, a nation that longs for peace. And I believe by being firm and strong and leading the world, we can achieve peace. I was pleased to see today that the standoff at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem was resolved peacefully. That's positive news in a troubled region. But you just need to know, in that region and around the world, I visualize a peace so people can live side by side in peace. And our country will continue to work in that direction. Out of the evil will come good. Out of the evil will come good, not only around the world but here at home as well. People ask me, they say, "Well, Mr. President, what can I do to help in the war against terror?" And my answer is, if you're interested in fighting evil, do some good by loving your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to help this country, go across the street to a shut in's house and say, "What can I do to help you?" If you want to be a part of a movement in America that's taking place, mentor a child go into your church or your synagogue or mosque and rally the good people that show up to worship, to help people in need. There are pockets of despair in America there are pockets of hopelessness which can and will be overcome because loving citizens have decided to do something about it. The great strength of this country is really not our military. It's not the fact that we're, you know, great and rich. It's the fact that our Nation is full of people with decent hearts and loving souls, people who are willing to take time out of their day to help a neighbor in need. I believe that as a result of the evil done to America, many are taking a hard look at the values in their life. Moms and dads recognize that their most important job is to love their children with all their hearts and all their souls. Many citizens around our country are realizing that, while it's important to make a living, it's also important to serve something greater than yourself, your community. And it's happening. That's why I'm so optimistic that not only will we achieve peace, but we'll show the world the true face of America, a decent face, a hopeful face, a compassionate face. It is an unimaginable honor to be the President of the greatest country on the face of the Earth. And I'm the man with that honor. Thank you for coming, and God bless you all. May 10, 2002 Thanks for that warm Columbus, Ohio, welcome. It's nice to be back home well laughter I say "home" because my grandfather was raised here, Prescott S. Bush, raised right here in Columbus, Ohio. I want to thank you all for coming. I'm here I want to talk about welfare today. I want to talk about how we make sure that we continue on the progress that we have made since 1996. Millions of Americans no longer are dependent upon Government, and that's incredibly positive not only for America but, more importantly, for each individual. It brings dignity to someone's life when they're on their own and successful. The Congress is going to take up a reauthorization, they call it in Washington speak, of this legislation. And I've got an idea how best to make it work, continue the reforms, and how to make it work better for Americans. We're really here to talk about the dignity and worth of each individual American. And joining me today is a man who understands that, is my Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy Thompson. Tommy was the Governor of Wisconsin, who in 1996 helped lead the Nation in getting a welfare reform bill that helped people but also showed what is possible when you trust local officials, when you give them the flexibility necessary to design a program to meet the needs of the citizens of a community or a State. Tommy did a fabulous job as the Governor of Wisconsin in helping people, and he's doing a great job as the Secretary of Health and Human Services. I want to thank your Governor. He's a longtime friend of mine. He's a man who, when we look out of Washington which we need to do a lot of, by the way and look down at the States, it gives us great comfort to know that Governor Taft would be in a position to help implement and start and encourage the programs necessary to help people, whether it be in education or in helping people become less dependent upon Government. And I want to thank you, Bob, for your service and thank you for your leadership. I'm honored to call you friend, and the people of Ohio are honored to call you Governor. I want to thank my friend, former Governor, a man with whom Tommy and I served as Governors, who is now the United States Senator from the State of Ohio, George Voinovich. George is traveling with us today. I'm honored that you're here, George. Deborah Pryce, Pat Tiberi, Bob Ney, David Hobson, and Rob Portman, all members of a fantastic congressional delegation, are with us today as well. I want to thank you all for traveling here today and thank you for your friendship. I want to thank Michael Coleman, the mayor of Columbus, for joining us today. Mr. Mayor, thank you for being here appreciate you coming. I want to thank the executive director of St. Stephen's Community House for letting us come. Today, when I landed at the airport, I was greeted by a fellow named Gabe Wilson, who is a high school senior here. He's a fellow that takes time out of his day to help educate younger kids about the dangers of drug use. The reason I welcome Gabe and introduce him is because he understands that America can be better off, one person at a time. I like to put it this way One person can't do everything, but one person can do something to help. He's a member of the army of the soldiers he's a soldier in the army of compassion. Where are you, Gabe? Gabe, thank you for coming. Applause You know, we've got big challenges ahead of our Nation. Obviously, one of the great challenges is to make sure that we protect our homeland, is to prevent the killers from harming any American, to do everything we can to chase them down and bring them to justice. That's a key priority, obviously, for me and my administration. It's a key priority to make the world peaceful, to seek the peace. It's probably going to have to be a little tough to get there have to defend our values, stand up for what we believe, not let people harm us. But we seek the peace. We seek the peace. We work to make the world more secure. But as we do so, we need to make work hard to make the world better, too, a better place. The best place to start is here at home. The best place to start is to make sure every child gets educated in America I mean every child. Got good legislation that we passed. Believe it or not, actually, Republicans and Democrats worked together to get it done. We put aside our political parties and focused on what was right for America. And that's important that's important. And we need to do the same thing on helping people who are on welfare. We need to set aside our political parties and focus on what is best for the American people. Let's do what works. Let's make sure that we help people. So today I do want to talk about welfare reform. We've come to St. Stephen's Community House because it is a living example of flexibility in the welfare law, what it means. It is a living example of what we call a one stop center, where people who need help are able to come and find help to help themselves. I understand that this is a kind of a welcoming center for people who are transitioning, a place where people can find all important job training or childcare or counseling just the help they need. I am impressed by the programs that are here in the building and equally impressed by the fact that the county has taken a strong and active role. The United Way has taken an active role. The Catholic Church plays an active role here at St. Stephen's, and so do other individuals and community groups. It's important for there to be a collaborative effort in helping people, and this center recognizes that. It welcomes all the social entrepreneurs who are willing to help. As we reauthorize the welfare bill, it is essential that we always remember the importance of work in our society, that work helps people achieve the dignity in their lives. If you believe that every person has got value, like I believe, then we ought to help that person find work. It's the cornerstone of the last one of the cornerstones of the last welfare reform bills that has worked, by the way it is successful and it ought to be the cornerstone of the reauthorization. If work made a huge difference in people's lives as a result of the '96 bill, it ought to be a significant part of the reauthorization. And so Congress must understand the power of work, and we must continue with time limits and high goals and high expectations. Within 5 years, 70 percent of the welfare recipients must work. We're saying, from the time the bill is reauthorized until 5 years later, the goal is that 70 percent of those on welfare, those remaining on welfare, must find a job. Oh, I've heard them complain about that's too high a goal. It's not too high a goal if it helps a per son that helps a person. If it brings dignity into someone's life, it is not too high a goal. And we're going to help. That's what St. Stephen's is here for. That's why we've got to have flexibility. We want to help people find the work. Right, Dannetta? I need to let Dannetta get up here and talk. She knows what she's talking about. She said to us, in a meeting we had before, she said the most important thing in the success of the '96 bill was there to be time limits on people being able to stay on welfare, that there be a time certain, so that people get moving. I not only believe there ought to be time limits I believe there ought to be strict goals, too high expectations. The higher the expectations, the more likely it is people are going to succeed. As part of the 40 hour workweek requirement, of course, we recognize that people need education and vocational help. And so part of meeting the work requirement is to allow for 2 days each week for vocational training and educational training. So in other words, part of the vision is to say, "You'll get work. We want to help you get work, and we recognize the importance of job training and vocational training to help people find the skills necessary to find jobs that actually exist," like they do right here at St. Stephen's. Now, one of the keys to make sure now, if we set high goals and high standards and high expectations, we've got to recognize that it's important to give flexibility to States and local authorities to achieve those goals. In order to achieve the expectations, you've got to trust local people. If you don't trust local people, it means everybody in Washington is making the decision. It's not going to work with everybody in Washington making the decision. There needs to be flexibility. I was struck today on our discussions about the fact that a lot of folks from Somalia have come to Columbus. I met a young lady there she is who came from Somalia, who came barely speak English she got help. Needed job skills she got help. She now owns her own business in America, because the program had flexibility to meet her particular needs. And we need to have flexibility as we call it, the ticket to independence that gives States the freedom to innovate and to create programs that meet local needs. Oh, some in Washington don't like that because they want to control everything out of Washington. But if you're interested in helping people, we've got to empower people at the local level to help people in need. I'll give you an example of some of the roadblocks that Federal regulations create, all the rules, all the fine print, Mr. Mayor, all the thick layers of booklets. The Governor's explained to me this case, and it's interesting. There's a single mom with two daughters here in Ohio. One of the daughters is disabled, and the other daughter is working at she's 17 years old to help the family. She's working part time. Because she was 17 years old, her income didn't count in the formula to decide whether or not the family was eligible for food stamps. Guess what happened on her 18th birthday? All of a sudden, her income, because of a rule or regulation, starts to count. Even though the income level of the family didn't increase, they lost their food stamps. Now, that's not what a compassionate America is all about. When people need help, we need to help them. Now, it's conservative to trust local people, but it's compassionate to provide flexibility so that rules and regulations don't prevent people from getting the help we want them to get. What ought to happen is, the State of Ohio should have the flexibility necessary to allow that young girl and her family to receive food stamps as a transition period to full time employment. In other words, it ought to be a part of the transition from welfare to work, but that's not the way the food stamp program works. And I'll tell you what else happens with a system that is too bureaucratic and too focused on rules and regulations. The administrative costs of these programs end up putting money not in the pockets of people we're trying to help, but in as a result of the bean counters, you know, how do you keep track of what's going on? The more complicated the rules and regulations out of Washington, the more money States have to spend to account for the money. And I'll give you an example. On the food stamp program here, the State of Ohio spent 192 million administering the program. The program provides 573 million of benefits. That is a high cost per dollar delivered. It's about 25 percent overhead cost. Now, I'll tell you, a lot of that money with fewer rules and regulations, a lot of that money would end up going to benefit people. And that's important for the American people to understand. The more regulations there are out of Washington, the more complex the Washington, DC, regulations are, the more likely it is money is not going to end up helping people. And therefore, for the good of the people we're trying to help, flexibility out of Washington no strings attached type legislation not only will help people it'll be more efficient with our taxpayers' money. After all, if you look at the success of the TANF program, the Temporary Assistance to Needy Family program, the overhead cost in those programs as a result of the flexibility at the local level is only 10 percent is only 10 percent. I hope Congress understands that granting States flexibility not only will help people we're trying to help but will make it easier to spend our dollars in a more efficient way. We had some great success we met with some great success stories. Josef, where are you? Josef is a man as a result of flexibility in the program in Dayton, Ohio, Dannetta was able to take some TANF funds and some work assistance funds, and Josef is now becoming a computer expert. Yes, he's going to end up applause . One of the important things about the future of our country is to remember some important values. One of the most important values in America is our family values, the importance of family in our country. Now look, I recognize that not every marriage is going to survive I know that. And I recognize some folks, you know, are just going to find it impossible to stay married, and I know that. But I firmly believe that in order to make the welfare program work, in order to help people, that wherever couples seek help in trying to figure out how to save a marriage, our Government ought to be responsive to that need. The statistics show that when moms and dads raise a child, when moms and dads stay together, that child is much more likely to succeed. It's an important it's never to diminish the fact listen, being a single mom raising a child is the toughest job in America. I know that. But wherever possible, we ought to promote and encourage programs that help save marriage, foster family, encourage families. That ought to be a focus of the welfare reform. We've got money in the budget to do just that. Today we met with Melvin and Rhonda Tuggle. Where are the Tuggles? There they are. Thank you all for coming. These are folks that had that had children. They had income, but it was certainly not enough to meet the needs of their three children. The economic struggles put a huge strain on their marriage. They split apart. Thankfully, in the city of Cincinnati, Rhonda sought help, sought a job training program to help her out. But one of the interesting things that she found in the program was the willingness of the folks there to help work to save her marriage. In other words, you know, in a compartmentalized world, no one ever would have thought to have a marriage counseling be a part of somebody trying to help find a job, but these good people did. They understood the importance of family, the importance of encouraging moms and dads to stay together. As a result of a social entrepreneur working hard to help save a soul, the Tuggles not only have helped improve themselves by better job training and better jobs, but they received the counseling necessary to encourage them to stay married. They had another child. They're together. Their four children now have a much better future as a result of the decision they made. We must have the courage in America to promote and encourage stable families for the good of our children. It's also important to help our young children learn to make right choices in life, to help them understand consequences of choices. One of the parts of our welfare reform reauthorization is to promote abstinence, is to be willing as a society applause . I've heard all the reasons why we shouldn't. Let me give you a reason why we should It works every time. Laughter And finally, in order to complete our welfare vision, which says we're going to help everybody in America, that every individual has got worth and dignity, we must not be afraid to rally faith based programs in America. There's legislation in Washington that will encourage charitable giving, allow non itemizers to deduct their charitable gifts, which the experts tell me will increase charitable giving immeasurably in America, and that's good. It's important. Part of the legislation, the Faith Based Initiative which has passed the House and hasn't passed the Senate yet it needs to get out of the Senate, by the way is to recognize that our Government should allow faith based programs to access Federal dollars, to help people in need without causing them to have to lose the heart and soul of their mission. Government has got to recognize that love and compassion are oftentimes the result of strong faith. In order to help heal broken hearts and save broken lives, we need love and compassion. There are pockets of despair and hopelessness in America that we must be addressing. Money helps, obviously, but it cannot put faith in people's lives, or hope. That requires compassion and decency. I talk a lot in America about this war on terror, obviously. Part of my job is to educate the American people about how long it's going to take to defend ourselves. And it's going to take a while. But I also tell people, and I truly believe this, that out of the evil done to America can come incredible good. Part of the good is going to be peace. Part of the good is going to be a more compassionate America. My call to the good folks of Columbus, Ohio, is to become involved in helping a neighbor in need. If you really want to join the war against terror, do some good. People say, "How can I fight the war against terror?" And the answer is, love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. The Faith Based Initiative relates to welfare that way. Loving a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself is the natural extension of welfare reform. The best way to save some folks from drug and alcohol abuse is to recognize faith can change hearts and therefore change lives. The best way to help a child who may wonder whether or not he or she has a future in America and there's a lot who wonder that is to encourage a loving mentor and welcome a loving mentor in their lives. The best way to encourage the homeless to recognize that there somebody cares, is for a church or a synagogue or a mosque to rally a program to help the homeless. No, this is a great country, because we're full of great people. The strength of our country is not really in the halls of Govern ment our system is great it's magnificent but the true strength of America lies in the fact that there are millions of Americans who want to help a neighbor in need. The role of the Government is to recognize that power and that goodness of the American people, and structure our welfare laws that welcome and encourage and foster the greatness of the country. Every American has got dignity. Every American has got value. And we want to make sure our laws welcome that understand that. This is a welcoming country. And when we get the welfare reauthorization bill right, it's going to be even more welcoming. Listen, thank you for letting me come and talk to you all. You live in the greatest country in the face of the Earth. May God bless you all. May 09, 2002 Thank you all very much. I'm honored to be here with the Alaskan of the Century just wondering which century. Laughter It's a high tribute to be called the Alaskan of the Century, and he's well on his way for laying the foundations to becoming the Alaskan of this century. I really am honored to be here with Ted. I appreciate a lot about him. I appreciate he's a straightforward fellow. Laughter There's no question laughter you know where he stands, in the great Alaskan and, for that matter, the great Texan tradition. There's no as we say down home, there's no bull about him. And that's good and that's good. That's good for the Senate that's good for the people of Alaska and more importantly, it's good for the United States of America. It is essential that this man be reelected Senator from the State of Alaska. And if all goes well, he'll be the President pro tem of the United States Senate as well. I want to thank his patient wife, Catherine. We both the Senator and I both married above ourselves. Laughter I'm sorry Laura's not here. She's a fan of the Stevenses. She is in New York City actually, she's in New Haven today helping one of our daughters move out of her dorm room. But she sends her best. Like Ted, I am really proud of my wife. She's done a fabulous job. She's been a great First Lady. I appreciate Ted's love of his children. When I was in Alaska last, I had the honor of meeting some of Ted's offspring the State senator I had a chance to meet. And tonight I had a chance to meet Beth as well, and it's great to see you. I'm glad you're here, Beth. Thank you for coming. Laughter It's also great to be here with the Governor of the or at least the next Governor of the State of Alaska, Frank Murkowski. I appreciate Frank's leadership, and I also really appreciate Don Young. He, too, is a straightforward Alaskan who makes a big difference. It's about as fine a congressional delegation as there is. It's 100 percent good. Laughter I know there are a lot of Senator Stevens' colleagues here, and I want to thank his fellow Senators for coming. I also appreciate George W. being here, the mayor of Anchorage, George Wuerch. Laughter Mr. Mayor, you're kind to come down, as are all the folks from Alaska who traveled a long way to be here. It's a great testimony to this good man. I also want to thank Jimmy Hoffa for being here. It's a big deal for Jimmy to be here, and it shows what kind of leader Ted Stevens is. We were there in line somebody said, well, you know this guy represent Jimmy said he represents the greatest generation, and he does. Just this week I had the honor of renaming the Old Executive Office Building for Dwight David Eisenhower. I guess it shall be called the Ike. Laughter But in the front row was Ted Stevens. Not only had he served in the Eisenhower administration, he also served our Nation as a C 46 and C 47 pilot during that war. This is a man who has paid his dues to his country, a man who loves America, loves what America stands for, and a man who serves ably in the United States Senate. During a time of threat to the United States, it gives me great comfort to know that up there on Capitol Hill is a person who understands that America must be ready and prepared, that we've got to give our troops the best equipment, the best training, and the best pay. And as the ranking member of the defense appropriations subcommittee, the United States military has got a great friend in Ted Stevens. As well, I appreciate his understanding that the strategic threats to the United States are changing. And in order to protect our Nation and our friends from blackmail or from the attack by a nation that harbors weapons of mass destruction, this good country must develop a missile defense system. Ted Stevens understands that. It's important to have an advocate for the defenses of the United States and our alliance and what we stand for in the United States Senate. And Ted clearly can see the future, and for that I'm grateful, and so will the Nation be grateful. Future generations of Americans will be grateful when we finally develop a missile defense system that will protect us and protect our friends from an accidental launch or, more significantly, blackmail at the hands of one of these rogue nations that harbors and develops weapons of mass destruction. So, Mr. Senator, thank you for that as well. There's a lot of thought up here in Washington about national defense, as there should be. After all, we are at war. And one of my concerns and one of the Senator's concerns is the fact that our Nation relies upon too much energy from nations that sometimes don't like us, that we're dependent on foreign sources of energy. And we don't necessarily have to be that dependent, because we've got vast reserves in the great State of Alaska. And for the good of our national security and for the good of our economic security, we must develop those reserves in an environmentally friendly way, and this man understands that. Now, there's going to be a lot of issues we're faced with, and one of the reasons I want to make sure that we reelect Ted and take control of the Senate is because I want the good people that I send up as judges to get a fair hearing and to get a timely vote. We have a vacancy crisis in America, and we need a Senate that is able and willing to respond to that vacancy crisis. I want my nominees to be given a fair hearing and an up or down vote quickly, for the sake of the United States of America and our judiciary. I can talk a lot of issues, but there's nothing more important than the security of this country. It's an unimaginable honor to walk in that Oval Office every morning, as you can imagine. By the way, that's after I have gotten the First Lady her coffee laughter and after Spot and Barney and I take a stroll on the South Lawn. Spot was born in the White House during 41's era, and so she's quite familiar with the surroundings, and she's welcome into the Oval Office with me, about 6 50 in the morning. Barney, on the other hand, at the age of 1 1 2, is not allowed on the new carpet. Laughter But I walk in there, and I sit at this magnificent desk. Ted Stevens has seen it a lot he's seen other Presidents use this desk as well. It's a desk that was used by Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan a lot of Presidents have used it. Kind of settle in there, and the first thing I look at is a threat assessment to the United States of America the fact that these killers and that's all they are, they're nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers are interested in hurting America. It's a reminder that my main job and the truth of the matter, the job of the United States Congress is to come together, Republicans and Democrats, to unite to make sure that our country is as secure as it can possibly be. We've got a good homeland defense strategy. We're working on ways to get money into the hands of the first responders, the brave police, fire, and EMS crews around the country. We've got a bioterrorism initiative. I'm about to sign a new border security initiative that passed the House and the Senate it's a good piece of legislation. Our law enforcement teams are talking like they've never talked before. You just need to know that anytime we get any kind of hint or evidence that somebody may be thinking about doing something to America, we're reacting. We're reacting within the guidelines and confines of the United States Constitution, but we're reacting. We're chasing down every single hint. But the best way to secure the homeland, the best way to make sure our children can grow up in a safe America, the best way to protect civilization itself is to chase the killers down one by one and bring them to justice. And that's precisely what we're going to do. I know Ted is just as proud as I am at how our United States military has responded. We sent them into a tough situation in Afghanistan, and they and our friends and allies responded brilliantly. Our military makes us proud. And for those of you who've got relatives in the military, I want to thank you on behalf of a grateful nation. And you make sure you thank your relatives on behalf of Senator Stevens and myself for doing such a fabulous job to defend freedom. The other thing I'm proud about our military is that not only did they accomplish the first stage in the war against terror, which was upholding the doctrine, if you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as a terrorist. And we threw out this barbaric regime. But our troops went into Afghanistan not as conquerors, but they went in as liberators. We have liberated people because, you see, this country values the worth of every single individual, regardless of where they live, regardless of their religion. I am so proud of the fact that young girls now go to school for the first time in their lives in Afghanistan, thanks to the mighty United States of America. The thing I appreciate about Ted Stevens is, he understands that we're in for a long struggle, that you know, that we don't have a calendar. I don't have a calendar on my desk and he doesn't have one on his desk that says, by such and such a moment we will quit, that we're just going to kind of bail out after a period of time. That's what the enemy wants. But much to their chagrin, that's not what they're going to get. You see, we're relentless, and we're patient. And I've traveled this country a lot, and I can report to you that we are united because this country values our freedom. We value freedom. And anytime anybody threatens that which we hold dear to our heart, freedom, we will respond. We will respond in a smart, deliberate, but plenty tough way. You know, I cannot imagine I can't imagine what was going through the minds of the killers when they were plotting the attacks of September the 11th. They must have thought that we were so self absorbed and so materialistic, so selfish and so weak that all we'd likely do is file a couple of lawsuits. Laughter They found out differently, didn't they, Senator? We're not only staying on course there in Afghanistan we're denying sanctuary anywhere they think they can light. Anytime they try to train, we'll disrupt. Anytime they try to establish a training camp, we'll destroy it. And we're going to hunt them down one by one. There is no cave deep enough to hide from the justice of the United States of America. Ted Stevens understands that when a nation is called to defend freedom, that we must not blink. He knows that, and I appreciate that very much, because I feel the exact same way. And we've been called to defend freedom. This is our moment in history, and we're not going to let freedom loving people down. Out of this evil, I truly believe, is going to come some great good. I believe by remaining tough and resolved, by being well prepared, that we'll achieve peace. And that's my goal. I unleashed our military to achieve peace, peace all around the world. And I believe it's possible matter of fact, I know it's possible. And out of the evil done to America is going to come another incredible good, and that is this country is going to rise up with great compassion to solve many of the problems we find all around our country, whether it be in Alaska or Texas or anywhere else. There are pockets of despair and hopelessness in America. And that's not good enough for our country. People often ask me how they can help in the war against terror. I'll tell you how you can help You can love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to join the war on terror, mentor a child. Find somebody who seems lost and put your arm around them and say, "I love you." If you want to join the war against terror, simple acts such as walking across the street and telling a shut in that you love them it's part of this collective effort to stand squarely in the face of evil. You see, it's the common good, it's the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and decency that define the true character of the face of America. And in turn, we'll say to the evil ones that attacked us, "You will not prevail." Out of this evil will come peace, and out of this evil will come a more compassionate, more decent, more hopeful America. It is an honor for me to be here with a great man. I want to thank you for helping him get reelected. I'm proud to call him friend. You all are proud to call him Senator. And the Nation is better off for it. God bless. May 09, 2002 Nominations to the Federal Judiciary The President. I want to thank the Senators for being here today we're talking about a judges. We have a vacancy crisis in America. There are too many seats that aren't filled with judges, and therefore, America hurts, America is not getting the justice it needs. Ours is a system that relies upon an independent court system, and when there is vacancies, the American people suffer. And I call upon the Senate to approve at least give hearings to people we've sent up to the Senate. There are 30 circuit court vacancies in America, and they've approved 7. This is a bad record, and it's a record that's bad for the country. Over a year ago I submitted the names of 11 qualified, well qualified Americans, and the Senate has only dealt on 3 of them. These Senators here bring stories about circuit courts in their own States, in their own districts, that because of vacancies, good, honest Americans aren't getting their hearings. And this isn't right. For the good of the country, the Senate needs to act and act expeditiously on the nominees I've sent up. It's important that our judiciary be full. I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions. Arshad Arshad Mohammed, Reuters . Q. Mr. President The President. You're second, Sonya Sonya Ross, Associated Press . Q. Mr. President, do you think this is just do you think this is just raw politics on the part of the Democrats? The President. Well, you can ask the Senators here. But yes, I do. I think it's bad politics. These are well qualified you know, they've relied upon the American Bar Association in the past. These nominees have been given well qualified or qualified ratings. Yes, I think it's raw politics, and I think it's bad for the country. Sonya. Afghan Warlord Gulbuddin Hekmatyar Q. Mr. President, the CIA The President. Is this going to have anything to do about judges? Q. launched a missile attack against an Afghan warlord. Is this now U.S. policy The President. What was that, again? Q. Near Kabul, an Afghan warlord survived a missile attack, and this has been acknowledged today by Government officials. I'm trying to what my question to you is, is whether this is now the policy to pursue with missiles anyone that's I mean, why are we firing at this man? Is he suspected to be Taliban or Al Qaida? The President. I can assure you, when we go after individuals in the theater of war, it's because they intend to do some harm to America. Federal Deficit Q. Mr. President, last night your budget director said that he had, in his words, grave doubt whether the deficit can be erased by 2004, as your administration previously said that it would be. Does it give you any concern that you might be facing a reelection campaign at a time when the budget would still be in red ink? The President. Well, first of all, I'm not thinking that far ahead about my election. I am thinking about how to win a war, how to get this country's economy growing, and how to deal with a national emergency. When I ran for office I said the only way we'd have a deficit, as far as I was concerned if any of those three happened. All three happened. And I firmly believe that we need to spend what it takes to protect our freedoms, and we're going to do that. We need to make sure our military has got the best equipment, the best training, the best pay possible to win this war. And it's going to take a while to win the war. This isn't a war that's going to end tomorrow. It's a war that is going to require a steady, patient, united country going after people who still want to harm America. It's going to require money to make sure our national security, homeland security is intact. And in terms of the economy, the economy is beginning to come back but certainly not as strong as I would like. And until the economy comes back as strong as it can, revenues aren't going to be as good as they should be. Reform of the Palestinian Authority Q. Mr. President, Israeli officials told me yesterday that you weren't against the idea of moving Yasser Arafat out of a position of power in a reformed Palestinian Authority as long as he was neither hurt nor exiled. Is that an accurate reflection of your opinion? The President. No, it's not. No, it's not an accurate reflection of what went on in the Oval Office, as the Secretary of State has made clear who was in the meeting as well. What is an accurate reflection of my opinion is that Mr. Arafat has let the Palestinian people down. He hasn't led. And as a result, the Palestinians suffer, and my heart breaks for the Palestinian moms and dads who wonder whether or not their children are going to be able to get a good education and whether or not there's going to be a job available for their children. And one of the things that we did talk about was how to put institutions in place so that a potential Palestinian state can be a peaceful neighbor with Israel reforms such as making sure there is a single command security force that can be held accountable for arresting terrorists reforms such as having a kind of economic system that would help promote rule of law and defeat corruption reform so that if there is ever a rebuilding campaign which we've expressed an interest in doing and the Europeans have that the money is actually spent on the projects that we intend them to be spent on. And that's what we did discuss. Palestinian Authority Arrest of Hamas Terrorists Q. Do you have any confidence that the Hamas members arrested today, sir, will stay in jail? The President. We'll have to see. But what I said was I said I was pleased that Chairman Arafat spoke in Arabic against terrorism. That's good. That's a positive development. Now it's up to Chairman Arafat to perform, to keep them in jail arrest them, and keep them in jail. In order for there to be peace, there must be we must rout out terror. And the answer to your question, time will tell. May 08, 2002 President Bush. It's an honor for me to welcome back His Majesty the King of Jordan. I always enjoy a visit with His Majesty. He's a man who cares deeply about the people of the region, a person who always emphasizes the humanitarian aspects of the people of his country. And he cares deeply about peace. It's a series of ongoing discussions I'm having with leaders from the Middle East as to how we can seize the moment, to bring peace to the region. Your Majesty, welcome back to the Oval Office. I'm thrilled to have you here. King Abdullah. Thank you, Mr. President. Always a delight to see you again and to be here at this difficult time. And I hope that with our discussions today, we can somehow try and articulate a way to bring Palestinians and Israelis to peace and security. And I look forward to fruitful discussions with you this evening. President Bush. Thank you. We the Majesty has agreed to take a couple of questions, as have I. We'll start with Terry Terry Moran, ABC News . Situation in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, you said, "Seize the moment." In many ways, this is a difficult moment. At this juncture, as you're trying to put in place a structure for progress towards peace, do you believe that Prime Minister Sharon should act with restraint in responding to yesterday's suicide bombing? President Bush. Well, first I want to remind everybody, it seems like every week is a difficult week in the Middle East. And it's been difficult months in the Middle East, and it's been difficult years in the Middle East. There's been a lot of there's been a lot of hard feelings and hatreds. And our jobs are to convince people, first and foremost, that they've got to believe in peace. And Israel is a nation that it's a sovereign nation. But whatever response Israel decides to take, my hope, of course, is that the Prime Minister keeps his vision of peace in mind. We've got to want peace in order to achieve peace, and that's what the United States is working toward. Q. Your Majesty, what is the Jordanian vision that you're going to present to the U.S. administration regarding the U.S. proposed peace conference? King Abdullah. Well, we're actually here at the moment to see if we can identify some logical steps over the next few weeks to articulate a vision that brings the Israelis and the Palestinians out of the impasse that we're facing at the moment. And we'll discuss the views this evening and maybe see if we can find a roadmap to have America's support to bring Israelis and Palestinians the peace that they deserve. President Bush. Jim Jim Gerstenzang, Los Angeles Times . Reform of the Palestinian Authority Q. Mr. President, do you see any role at all for Arafat in any kind of peace conference at this point, or does that have to wait until there's been a reform in the Palestinian Authority? President Bush. Well, first of all, I was pleased to read the transcripts of his call against terror in Arabic. I didn't read the transcripts in Arabic I read the English translation. But I was most pleased that he did that. I thought that was a incredibly positive sign. As you know, I've been one who he has disappointed in the past, and therefore, I hope that his actions now match his words. It's very important for us, and I'm going to explain this to His Majesty why I think us all of us involved must work hard to put a the infrastructure in place or the structures in place for a Palestinian Authority that respects rule of law, that has its own constitution, that is able to fight corruption, that is able to spend money properly when it gets it from foreign sources, so that there is hope, there is hope for the Palestinian people. One of the things I'm deeply concerned about, and I know His Majesty is as well, is that there is a lot of people Palestinians who don't believe there is any hope there's no future. And we've got to make sure they have a better future by putting an economic plan in place. But that can't happen unless there is a Palestinian Authority that's backed by a true government I mean a true sense of the ability to run itself. And that, in turn, will help Israel be more comfortable with her neighbor. And so we're going to talk about the way forward. And the way forward is to and step one is to make sure there's a unified Palestinian security force, a force that is responsible, a force that reports to a certain authority figure, a force that we can hold accountable, a force that's not fractured and fights each other. And to that end, as you know, the other day I announced that George Tenet is going to go to the region to help this reform. Upcoming Arab Summit Q. Your Majesty, you are the fourth leader now that's met with President Bush in the last 2 or 3 weeks. Where do you see the Arab nations right now? One of the things that the President called for was that the Arab nations need to take responsibility, need to take a leadership role. What do you see the Arab nations as doing, and what is the message that you're bringing now from the Arab leaders that you have met before coming here? King Abdullah. Well, one of the things that we will discuss with the President this evening is that after this meeting our Foreign Minister goes to Cairo, to be there at a summit that is going to be convened by President Mubarak and Crown Prince Abdullah with a group of Arab countries, that will articulate the vision of Beirut in other words, the olive branch towards Israel in practical terms and at the same time, having to deal with the issues of security and terrorism. And I hope that there is a lot of success in that meeting, that it allows the Arab countries to really step up to the plate and move forward with the responsibility that we need from them. May 08, 2002 The President. Thank you very much for that warm welcome. I'm it is an honor for me to be here. I want to thank you for the invitation. As you can tell, I'm going to spend a little time talking about education, and a good place to talk about education and educational excellence is in centers of excellence. Rufus King International High is a center of excellence. So is Clarke Street Elementary, and I appreciate the invitation. As my friend the Secretary of Education said, he is traveling around the country to spread the word that we passed new legislation in Washington, DC, new education reform. I'm honored to join him here in the great State of Wisconsin as part of his tour. His job is to implement the law as quickly as possible so that no child is left behind, and I want to thank Rod for his hard work. You know, I picked him because he was a superintendent of schools in Houston, Texas, a tough school district. But he believed every child could learn he believed in setting high standards. He worked hard he made a huge difference on the frontlines of education. So, instead of picking somebody who knows the theory of education or somebody who talks the philosophy of education, I actually picked somebody who did the work of education. And he's doing a great job. I want to thank your Governor for traveling with me today it's an honor to be in the presence who has made public education his top priority. I want to thank Scott Walker, the executive elect of Milwaukee. I appreciate Dr. Spence Korte, who is the superintendent here in Milwaukee Public Schools. I want to thank Jeff Spence, president of School Board District Two, for being here. Jeff, thanks for coming. Of course, I want to thank your fine principal for inviting me here, Andy Meuler. I want to thank Keith Posley as well, who is the principal at Clarke Street. I'm fixing to go over to Clarke Street with Keith. I'm looking forward to it. I appreciate you being here. I want to thank the students for inviting me. I appreciate you giving me the chance to be here. I guess some of you all are about to graduate. Applause Don't get carried away. It hasn't happened yet. Laughter I noticed the fine teachers at this school were clapping when I said that. They want you paying attention. And by the way, I do want to thank the teachers I'm going to spend a little more time on the teachers later but you know, you can't have a high school as good as this unless you've got great teachers. And I want to thank the great teachers who are here. The reason I mentioned the class getting ready to graduate is because you're the first high school class to have graduated in a long time in a time of war. You're the first high school class to have graduated with America under attack. And I want to talk a little bit about that today. You need to know, as citizens all of us need to know that we're in for a long struggle. We're in for a struggle to defend our freedom and to defend our values. These aren't political values these aren't the values of one political party or another. These are the values of all Americans, the values that believe that freedom is important and essential Freedom to worship the way we want to worship, the freedom to speak your mind, except when the President is speak ing laughter the freedom of the press freedom. And our freedoms are under attack by people who hate America because of our freedoms. And we're not going to let them hurt America again. We will do everything in our power. This isn't the kind of war that you're used to studying in the textbooks. This is a kind of war we've never seen before. We face a group of international killers and that's what they are who are kind of a hide in caves, and they're not necessarily an organized government. And they're on the run, and we're going to keep them on the run. It's just important for you to know it's important for you to know that this nation does not seek revenge we seek justice. We seek justice. It's going to take a while, and you need to know that as well. But the good news for America and the bad news for the enemy is that I'm patient, and America's patient. I'm determined, and America's determined. We're a united country, particularly when it comes to defending that which we value, that which we hold dearly. It's important for you all to understand that when our country speaks, that we mean it, and we do what we say. I said, "Either you're with us, or you're against us." I meant that. The good news is, there's a lot of nations with us a lot of governments understand what is at stake. Civilization is at stake. We cannot allow terrorists to determine the fate of our respective nations. I also made it clear that we were going to do everything possible to deny sanctuary that means places to train, places to recruit, places to places from which to fight deny sanctuary to the terrorists. And we did that. Thanks to a mighty United States military and our coalition, we threw out a barbaric regime. See, this is a regime called the Taliban, that said, "If you're a young girl, you don't get to go to school." Think about that. Think about growing up in a country that says, if you happen to be a female, education isn't available to you. And if you expressed yourself, if you said, "Oh, I don't like the way they think I don't appreciate that piece of public policy," then you go to jail. See, we were dealing with a barbaric regime. You need to know your Government and our allies and our friends went into Afghanistan to free a country. We didn't go to conquer a country we went in to free a country, because we believe in freedom for every individual, no matter where they live in the world. America is still not safe from attack, because they still want to get us, they still want to harm America. But we're doing everything in our power to prevent that. You need to know that. You need to know our law enforcement officials are talking at the Federal, State, and local level. We're sharing information. We're running down every lead. We've got a homeland security initiative that works with our brave police and fire and EMS teams all across the country. No, we're doing everything in our power. But the best way to make sure that we protect innocent lives, the best way to make sure that Americans can go about their life is for you to know that this Government is going to chase down the enemy one by one, no matter how long it takes, and bring them to justice. Our job is not only to make America safer, but it's to make America better, a better place. Our job is not only to make the world safer, but it's to make the world a better place. That's why if we're tough and strong and diligent when it comes to fighting terror, we have a chance to bring peace in places in the world. I think out of the evil done to America can come some incredible good around the world. I truly believe that. Out of evil can come good. And at home, out of evil can come good as well. And it starts with making sure that every child gets a good education. And what does that mean? What are the principles of a good education? Well, it starts with having high standards, high expectations. It starts with having people who believe that every single child can learn, that certain children there's some attitude amongst some that says, "Well, if you're raised this way or if English isn't your first language, you can't learn." That's not the way people think here. That's not the way Andy thinks. That's not the way the teachers think. They believe in high standards and excellence. They know this They know that if you lower expectations, if you lower the bar, if you believe certain children can't learn, guess what's going to happen? Certain children won't learn. And that's not satisfactory, as far as I'm concerned. And by the way, if you believe in high standards and if you believe in high expectations, if you believe if you challenge the students that they can achieve, then you also welcome accountability. You say, "We're willing to see whether or not expectations are being met." In other words, if you have high now, look, I know you don't like to take tests. When I went to high school, I didn't like to take tests. I didn't appreciate it one bit. Laughter But don't get carried away. But I've grown. I understand that how can you possibly tell whether standards are being met or whether expectations are being met if you don't test, if you don't hold people accountable? And so a competent principal like Andy, he welcomes accountability, because he believes every child can learn. The State of Wisconsin must welcome accountability in grades three through eight as well in order to achieve educational excellence. We've got to trust the local people. We've got to trust the Andys, the teachers here. We've got to trust the Keiths, the principals all across the parents. Listen, one size doesn't fit all. We don't want all power on how to run the schools in Washington, DC. It would be a classic mistake it would be a huge mistake. All wisdom isn't in Washington. As a matter of fact, the best wisdom for educating the children of Wisconsin is right here in Wisconsin. And so the new bill we passed says we trust local people. We want to empower the people of Wisconsin to make the right decisions. We want to empower the principals and provide as much flexibility at the local level as possible. One size doesn't fit all. You've got to trust the local folks to chart the path to excellence for every single child. As well, in order to make sure that we meet our goals, to meet high expectations, we've got to make sure our teachers are well prepared, well trained, they've got power in their classrooms. And that's one of the things about this bill that I want to spend some time talking about. First, I'm proud to be in the presence of Alexis Ludewig, the Teacher of the Year for the State of Wisconsin. I want to thank you for being here, Alexis St. Germaine Elementary. It was my honor to welcome Alexis and Teachers of the Year from every State in the Union to the White House the other day. It was a special moment for me, and it was an exciting time to really be able to thank teachers. Teaching is such a noble profession. It's an important part of making sure that no child is left behind. So, for those of you who are interested in how to if you're thinking about a career, about how to best serve your community and serve yourself by helping other people, think about becoming a teacher. I was told that over 85 percent of you are going to go to college that's a lot. That is fantastic news. Think about becoming a teacher. I'm going over to Clarke I'm going to see, I hope, Sherrion Perkins, who had received Milwaukee's Excellence in Education Award in December. She's a reading teacher. You know what makes her special is that, one, she wants to use curriculum that works. She doesn't want she wants to discard applause she understands the science of reading. She also believes every child can learn. That's her attitude. That's what makes her a fine teacher. And then, here, of course, you've got Donna Cassillo, who teaches where's Donna? Adonde est , Donna? Adonde? Oh yes, right, good to see you, Donna. Thank you very much. La doctor, la doctor, thank you very much. I appreciate you both. I appreciate okay laughter silencio. Laughter So here's the deal. How do we make sure that teachers are well trained, well equipped, well prepared? That's the question we've got to ask. And so we spent hold on. Laughter Audience member. Inaudible The President. Not a bad answer. "More money," he said. It's exactly what we did in the 2002 budget. We spent 3 billion more dollars on teacher recruitment, teacher training, teacher preparedness. And that's important. The way you recruit teachers is for people in our communities to remind would be teachers the importance of the profession. That's what teachers can be doing now in their classrooms. I know you're doing that by being great role models. Laura, the First Lady, my wife, who I love dearly, is going to spend a lot of time recruiting applause . I admit it, proudly so I do love her a lot. She's a fabulous, fabulous First Lady who is going to spend time reminding people that classroom teachers, people in the classroom, are incredibly important for America. We've got to make sure that teachers are properly trained, and we've got to admit that sometimes our teacher colleges don't train teachers well enough. And therefore, we have to retrain teachers, retrain teachers on curriculum that works, make sure teachers are able to match their hearts with skill in the classrooms. We want to make sure that new teachers are prepared to teach, and therefore, they need to pass an exam in their course new teachers, upon graduation, must be able to show pass an exam in their specialty. I think that's important. Particularly for teachers who are now in the classroom, who view their profession rightly so as professionals, you want to make sure that others joining your ranks, upon certification, are able to pass an exam in the course in which they're supposed to be teaching. They're supposed to have subject matter supposed to understand the subject matter. One of the things in the new bill that's important for teachers to know is that there's what's called the Teacher Protection Act. It says that teachers and principals and school board members can take reasonable actions to maintain order and discipline in the classroom without the fear of being sued. And that's good law, and that's important law. The teacher must be able to control his or her classroom in order to be able to impart knowledge. I don't like it when frivolous lawsuits disrupt quality education, and I'm proud of this part of the bill. I worked on it, campaigned on it, and I really think it's going to make a big difference for the professionals who are in the classroom. I also if you're someone who has borrowed money to go to college and you want to teach math or science or special education in what they call a low income area, you should be allowed to forgive up to 17,500 of your college debt. In other words, we're going to use the ability to forgive debt to encourage teaching. But the key thing for teachers with this pot of money out there is for States to have the flexibility to meet the needs of the teachers and the teaching profession, whether it be to recruit or pay or retention bonuses or teacher development. It's not up to the Federal Government it's up to the States and local school boards to make that decision. So we've got the ingredients for success in education. I truly believe it. As Rod mentioned, this is a bipartisan bill. That means that both Republicans and Democrats worked on it. It's not a party bill it's not a bill it's a bill that's good for America. It's a bill that sets a framework for change and excellence. It's a bill that says success is the only thing that we expect in America. And where we find failure, we must challenge failure. It's unacceptable just unacceptable to have children trapped in schools that are mediocre, that won't change, that won't teach, because we have high expectations in America and high hopes. No, we're fighting evil around the world. And one way to fight it here at home is to make sure every child gets a good education. And another way to fight it, and I want you all to listen carefully, for those of you who are wondering about America and what our worth and what this country is all about If you want to fight evil, do some good. You see, if you want to fight evil, love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. The great strength of America lies in the hearts and souls of our citizens. We have this kind of materialistic world it must have seemed that way to the enemy. When they hit us, they must have said, "This country is so self absorbed, so selfish, so materialistic, so self centered that it would never respond maybe file a lawsuit or two, but never respond." And they were mistaken, because that's not what we're made out of. On the one hand, we're tough. On the other hand, we're compassionate. On the one hand, we will do what it takes to defend liberty, as I mentioned. But on the other hand, we can show the world what we're made out of by loving a neighbor. If you're interested in serving your country, go to your church or synagogue or mosque start a program that loves a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. Why don't you go to the Boys and Girls Club and help mentor a child after school? Why don't you walk across the street and tell a neighbor who may be a shut in that you love them and ask them what you can do to help them? It's these acts of kindness that help define the soul of America. I met a young lady today at the airport named Tammy Krohn where are you, Tammy? There she is, Tammy Krohn. Tammy Krohn is an AmeriCorps volunteer. Tammy Krohn has said, "What can I do to help my country? What can I possibly do to make a difference in the lives of my fellow citizens?" She is a resident elementary school teacher for children with special needs. She trained a golden retriever that will serve someone with physical disabilities. Oh, some say, "Well, you know, that's not that big a deal." It's a big deal to the person she's helping. You see, America changes, America becomes a better place one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. And what Tammy knows is that one person can't do everything, but one person can make an enormous difference in the lives of somebody who needs help. And that's my call today. To those of you who live are going to college you got a great education here, you're going to go to college, I just want you to remember that if you're interested in fighting evil, if you're interested in making this Nation as strong as it possibly can be, help somebody in need. Take time out of your day, take time out of your life to be a part of the vast army of compassion which exists all across this great land. I want you to know you live in the greatest country the greatest country on the face of the Earth, and I am proud to be your President. God bless, and God bless America. May 08, 2002 The President. Thank you. Okay, here we go. Thank you all very much. It's Audience member. We all love you! The President. Your mother may be watching behave yourselves. Laughter I'm honored to be here. I want to thank the citizens of La Crosse, Wisconsin, for such a warm welcome. I'm great to be here in Logan High School. It's a great place. So I was being briefed about Logan High School. I'll tell you what impressed me the most. I was impressed by the fact you've got a great baseball team. I was impressed you've got a great girls basketball team. But I was most impressed when I saw that the school raised a banner for the academic superstars. I'm at this school, of course, to talk education, but I'm also here to herald excellence. And we have found excellence at Logan High School, and thanks for giving me a chance to come by. I appreciate the Secretary of Education traveling with me today. You know, we've got a lot of people who like to theorize in Washington, DC kind of philosopher types. I'm kind of a roll up your sleeve and get it done type guy. And that's what I want the people and I picked that kind of man as our Secretary of Education as well. This is a fellow who's been on the frontlines of education. I had the honor of meeting your superintendent here in La Crosse. They were able to talk superintendent talk. Laughter They know how to get things done. And so I've got a really good man who's joined me in my administration to help make sure that no child in America and we mean no child is left behind when it comes to education. I want to thank Logan High grad, class of '81, Congressman Ron Kind for joining us today. Thank you, Ron. I really appreciate you coming today. I'm honored you're here. I also want to thank your Governor, Scott McCallum, for traveling with me today as well. I want to thank Michael McArdle, who is the president of the La Crosse School Board, for being here. I want to thank all the school board members. I appreciate Thomas Downs, who's your superintendent. Interestingly enough, he showed me a picture of he and my dad when he was I think, a teacher, he said, in Iowa. I really want to thank Scott and the staff and the teachers for making this visit possible. You know, one of the things I've learned, as Governor and now President, is that when you find a good school, you also find a good principal. There's going to be some folks here graduating, I understand, pretty soon. Audience members. Yes! The President. Don't take it for granted. Laughter But you'll be the first high school class that has graduated with America under attack. We got under attack in September, and you're graduating in a time of war. And I want to talk to you a little bit about what that means for America, what it means for our country, what it means for a nation to fight for what it believes in. I can't imagine what went through the minds of our enemy when they attacked us on September the 11th. You know, they must have thought America was so self absorbed, so materialistic, so selfish that we would cower in the face of a challenge well, we might file a few lawsuits or two, but that would be all we would do. But that's not the America I know, and that's not the America you're a part of. This is a country that when it comes to defending that which we believe in, when it comes to defending our freedoms, we are patient we're deliberate and we are plenty tough. You're graduating in a time of war, right here in America, but a war that your textbooks really haven't been able to describe before. It's a new kind of threat to our country. Now, you need to know right off the bat that our enemy are nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers. And they hate America because of our freedoms. They cannot stand the thought that we worship freely, that we've got freedom of the press, that we debate freely. They can't stand that. It bothers them. And therefore, they're out to hurt us again. Now, you need to also know that we're doing everything we can to protect the American people. My most important job is the security of the American people. I learn that every day when I walk into the grand Oval Office. In the morning, I walk in there, and first thing I do, of course, is after I bring the First Lady a little coffee laughter is take Spot and Barney down, let them work the South Lawn for a while. Laughter Spot was born in the White House. She's 13 years old. She understands the decorum of the Oval, so she gets to go in. But Barney is only a year and a half and we got a new rug, so he doesn't. Laughter Every morning I read about threats to America. I read about the enemy wanting to inflict some more harm on us. And every morning it reminds me that I will do everything in my power to protect the American people. Our law enforcement officials are talking better amongst each other we're sharing information a lot better way now. The Federal Government is in better communications with State and local governments. And anytime we get a hint or anytime we get kind of a sniff that something might be fixing to happen, you need to know we're acting. We're acting within the confines of the United States Constitution, but we're acting. But the best way and I want the students to understand this the best way for me and our Government to protect the homeland is to chase these killers down one by one and bring them to justice. And that's what we're going to do. And it's going to take a lot longer than people want it's just going to take a lot longer than people want. We're not dealing with an organized government with the Al Qaida network. We're dealing with people who, on the one hand, send youngsters off to kill themselves, and they themselves try to hide in caves. That's the way they are. It's important for you to know as well that when your country speaks, we're going to do what we say. And we told the Taliban, "Since you're harboring those terrorists, you're just as guilty," and we ran them out of business. Thanks to the United States military and a mighty coalition, we ran them out of business. Our country doesn't seek revenge. I want the high school kids here to understand We don't seek revenge we seek justice that's what we seek. And when we went into Afghanistan, I want you to remember and history will record that this Nation, this decent, kind Nation liberated a group of people from the clutches of barbaric people who would not even educate young girls. We went in not as conquerors but as liberators. And I'm proud of our Nation, and I'm proud of our heart. Now, it's going to take a while it's going to take a while. But much to the chagrin I guess to the chagrin I haven't spent a lot of time talking with the enemy, but I got the feeling they're going to be disappointed to hear that we're going to remain united as a country and that we're resolved and we're patient and we're plenty tough that they think they can hide, but they can't. Our strategy has been not only to disrupt the government that harbored these people we're destroying their training camps we're disrupting their finances. We're chasing them down. We're denying them sanctuary in other parts of the world. Listen, these are the kind of people that if they can find a soft spot, they'll light. If they can find somewhere where there may be a weak government, they'll try to move in. And that's why, when I look at some of these leaders and send a message, "Either you're with us, or you're with them," they understand that we mean what we say. And we're beginning to deny sanctuary. No, it's going to take a while. But the people in this high school, the kids in this high school have got to understand, it is worth it. I will not let your Government's not going to let people destroy the freedoms that we love in America. We fight for civilization, and they're going to find out what this country is made out of. This country is going to defend our values to the core, and we're going to win. But not only do we work to make our country and the world safer we also got to work to make it better, a better place. And it starts with making sure every child in America gets educated. I there's been a lot of talk about this bill I was able to sign by the way, worked on by both Republicans and Democrats. It was a it was a refreshing change of what sometimes takes place in Washington, or a lot of times, where people are in there just trying to promote their own political party without worry about the Nation. This is a piece of legislation where we worried about the Nation and not our political parties, and the Nation is better off for it. I want to thank Ron for his vote on this piece of legislation, by the way. But here's what here's what let me tell you the philosophy in the bill. It first starts off by saying, in order to achieve educational excellence around the Nation, we must have high expectations and high standards. It starts with the belief that every child can learn. If you have low expectations in other words, some can't learn you're going to get bad results. It starts with a mindset. See, I believe every child can learn, and I expect every child to learn. We have raised the bar of expectations. And in order to make sure that's happening, we're insisting that people show us it's happening. See, if you believe it can happen, then you want to know if it's happening. If you don't believe it can happen, you don't care. If you have low expectations for students, if you have low standards, you don't care whether they're learning, because you don't think they can. If you have high expectations, you care, and therefore, you want to see. And we want to know. We want to know through an accountability system, designed not by the Federal Government but by the good people of Wisconsin. That's who's going to design it. We want to know. We want to know. We want to see the scores. We want to post it for everybody to see, because we believe every child can learn. I know you don't like to take tests. Too bad. Laughter It is important. It's important. So what we're saying, that after a period of time, the State of Wisconsin must develop accountability, grades three through eight. If we spend Federal money, we're going to see some results. And so we want to know. And by the way, an accountability system is not meant to punish anybody it's meant to be used as an information tool. And if things are going well, we ought to use the accountability system as a way to praise the teachers and principals for success. However, if we find out children aren't learning, there's a reason, and we need to know the reason. And we need to solve the problems early, before it's too late. This business about just shuffling kids through the system has got to end. This business about kind of promoting them out applause . But part of making sure that we also succeed is the understanding that one size doesn't fit all when it comes to public education. I mean, look, we don't want Federal Washington, DC, telling you all how to run your schools. You've got plenty of good people here in Wisconsin. As a matter of fact, the people who love the children in Wisconsin are the people of Wisconsin. And therefore, we have passed a lot of power and authority out of DC to align responsibility and authority where it belongs, at the local level. Also, an incredibly important part of a successful school system, the thing that matters a lot, of course, is the teachers. And I want to thank the teachers here at Logan High School for doing what you do. It's an incredibly noble profession. It's an important profession. And it's one that I hope I assume that you get a lot out of it by making sure that our children learn. The teaching profession needs to be heralded. And we've got a great person in my administration who's willing to do just that, a former teacher, my wife, Laura. When I married her, she was a public school librarian. And the truth of the matter is, she didn't particularly care for politics or politicians, for that matter. Laughter Thank goodness she said yes when I asked her to marry me. A lot of people now know why I asked her to marry me. A lot of people are wondering out loud why she said yes. Laughter But she's great. And she's going to go around the country reminding people that if you want to serve your community reminding young and old if you want to serve your community, teach. Become a teacher. We've got a Troops for Teachers program for retired military to go in the classroom. We've got Teach for America programs. We've got all kinds of opportunities. When you go to college and you're looking for something to do and you're wondering about your career, think about becoming a teacher, to make a difference in the lives of our children. The bill we passed has got 3 billion additional dollars in there for teacher training, teacher recruitment, teacher retention programs. And that's good. But it's going to be up to the local districts, the States and local districts, to figure out how to spend that money to make it work for the teachers. But I'll tell you another piece of reform that's really important in this bill. One of the things that's important is for teachers to be able to control her classroom or his classroom. It's essential that that be the case. And for the first time, the Federal Government has limited liability for teachers and principals and school board members and superintendents when they enforce reasonable standards of conduct in classrooms. Let me see if I can put that a little more plainly. If you think you can disrupt your class, you're going to get booted out, and the teacher's not going to get sued. So don't disrupt the class. Laughter Parents have got a lot to do with whether or not schools in our communities succeed. The parents have got to make sure that young children read more than they watch TV. That's a hard thing to do. Oh, I know it's hard to turn off the TV and read to your child. But it's really important for a mom or a dad if a mom or a dad wants their child to learn, get reading to them early and stay on it and click off the tube. Your children are going to learn a heck of a lot more. It's important for parents to come to the PTAs and to be interested. It's important for a parent to make sure that a child understands respect for teachers when they get in that classroom, that they have got a responsibility to be respectful. And one way to make sure parents are involved is to use the accountability system. A lot of parents in America feel like their school is doing just fine, until they see the results of the children's tests, until it's a comparative system like you do here in La Crosse. This man right here, he's not worried about comparing. He's a confident principal. He's confident in the teachers. He doesn't care if there's a comparison, because he knows he's going to do well. He's focused. He likes that idea of a good, healthy comparison. But in order to enhance parental involvement, parents need to know. It's amazing how many parents say, "Everything is going just fine in my child's school," until they see the results. And if you want to enhance teacher parental involvement, let them see whether or not their children are learning relative to the school across town. Just make sure that the scorecard is honest and open and transparent, and you'll get parental involvement and even more. This State has enacted public school choice, which basically says, if your child is trapped in a failed school, we're not going to tolerate that anymore. And if you're tired of it, you can move to another public school. I think that's a good, healthy reform. Our bill does just that. And not only that, if a child is trapped in a school that won't change, after 3 years there are what's called supplemental services. That means money, Title I money follows the child a Title I eligible child to tutoring services, summer school, after school services. If you're interested in making sure no child is left behind and you find children trapped in schools that will not change and will not teach, we've got to make sure that they get extra help, and give parents additional choices. And that's exactly what this bill does. Parental involvement not only happens when there's care and love I told people earlier today at our seminar, I can't make people love one another that's not the role of Government. But we can provide the tools necessary for loving parents to become more involved. And one way to do so is for the results to be open and for parents to have different options. Now, we've got a good plan, but it's up to you to make it work. The Federal Government is not going to the Federal Government is going to spend money, which we have the Federal Government is going to provide a strategy. But it's up for the local folks, and that's why we've come to this school. This is a school in which the community takes great pride. Mothers and dads take great interest. The teachers take great time to make sure that every child gets educated. A better America is going to be an America that educates every child. I keep saying "every child." The truth of the matter is, we're not educating every child right now. We're letting a lot of them just go on through, the tough to educate. "If you don't speak English or the mothers or daddies don't speak English as a first language, let's just move them through" that's going to quit, as far as I'm concerned. That's not the America I know. The public school system is a vital part of our democracy. It is absolutely essential that we have educational excellence if we want our democracy and our freedom and our system to flourish and thrive. And that's the kind of public school system I envision, and I know it's the kind you envision as well. I believe that out of the evil of September the 11th will come incredible good. I believe that we can achieve peace. That's my dream. Oh, it's going to be tough to get there there's going to be some hills to climb. But out of this, by being firm and resolved, we'll achieve peace, and that's important for America. It's important for our children. It's important for our children's children. I also believe out of this evil will come some good, because Americans are such a compassionate and kind people. People ask me, "What can I do to join the war on terror?" And my answer is, love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself that if you want to fight evil, do some good that if you want to confront the evildoers that struck America, walk across the street and tell a shut in that you love them. Mentor a child. Teach a child. Go to your church or your synagogue or your mosque and rally the compassion within the within the halls there to feed the hungry. There are pockets of despair in America. There are pockets of hopelessness right here in La Crosse, Wisconsin. And if you want to fight evil, tackle those pockets of despair with love and decency. I met Dorothy Wetterlin today. Where's Dorothy? She's somewhere. Hey, Dorothy, stand up, will you? No? You don't want to stand up? Okay, don't stand up. Dorothy kindly came out to the airport to greet me. The reason why is because Dorothy is a soldier in the army of compassion here in La Crosse, Wisconsin. She is helps victims of domestic abuse and violence. She started puppet shows for young kids in elementary schools to teach them how to make the right choices when it comes to drugs and alcohol. She's a person making a difference. She's a person who understands that one person can't do everything but one person can darned sure do something to help somebody in need. America is full of Dorothys. You've got them all across this country. And I want the young to understand that I believe you have an obligation as an American to help make this country a compassionate and decent place. I believe that it's important for you I know it's important you go to college or whatever you're going to do after high school, go to work. But remember, if you're interested in fighting evil, do some good. Lend your heart lend your talent to help somebody in need. And America is doing this. I am so optimistic about the future of our country, not only because we are strong and tough and resolved. I am optimistic about the future of America because we are decent and honorable and good people. I think the most telling event on September 11th, and one that I hope a lot of people remember, is what happened on Flight 93. Basically, what I'm saying is, it's important to serve something greater than yourself in life. It's important to serve a call greater than yourself and a cause greater than yourself. Flight 93, we had average citizens flying across the country, and they realized their plane was fixing to be used as a weapon on the Nation's Capital. They called their loved ones on the phone. They said a prayer and told them they loved them, said a prayer, and they drove the plane in the ground to serve something greater than themselves. That's the American spirit I know. That's that sense of sacrifice that makes this country so strong. And that's exactly what's happening. I want you to know when you get out of high school, you're going to college, and you're going to college in the greatest land, the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. And it is my high honor to be the President of the greatest country on the face of the Earth. Thank you for letting me come. May God bless. May 07, 2002 President Bush. I want to welcome Prime Minister Ariel Sharon back to the Oval Office. We've just had a really good conversation about how to get on the path to peace. I want peace our Government wants peace the Prime Minister is interested in peace, of course. And we had a good discussion about how to move forward. One of the things that I think is important the Prime Minister has discussed this as well is for us to immediately begin to help rebuild a security force in Palestine that will fight terror, that will bring some stability to the region. I think it's very important that there be a unified security force. But at the same time, we need to work for other institutions a constitution, for example, a framework for development of a state that can help bring security and hope to the Palestinian people and the Israelis. And one of the things we've got to make sure that we do is anything, any vision understands that there are people in Israel who long for security and peace, people in the Palestinian world who long for security, peace, and economic hope. To this end, I've told the Prime Minister that George Tenet will be going back to the region to help construct the design the construction of a security force, a unified security force, that will be transparent and held accountable. And so I really am pleased with our conversation. As I've said, there are responsibilities to be had by all the parties. We discussed those responsibilities. I told the Prime Minister there's nothing more that I want than to be peace in the region and that I look forward to working with him and his government to achieve that peace. Mr. Prime Minister, welcome. I'm glad you're here. Prime Minister Sharon. Thanks so much. I'm very glad to have this opportunity to come again here to visit you, Mr. President. I would like to thank you for all your efforts. And we need to act against terror worldwide. We appreciated that. And we appreciate your leadership and courageous decisions. And of course, I would like to thank you for your friendship. Israel is a peace seeking country, and we are after many, many years being involved in many wars, heavy battles, and now after the last operation that we carried out against the infrastructure of terror in Samaria and Judea or as you call it, the West Bank I believe that there is a chance now to start and move forward. We discussed these issues, how to move forward. We emphasized about the need for reform in the Palestinian Authority, and I think that's very important. And we discussed the original peace conference that I advocated, and I believe it's very important. We hope that it will take place. All together, all of us understand the importance of peace, the need for peace. And I think that we are committed to take every effort and every step to make peace. And I would like to thank you again for everything and for your friendship. President Bush. Thank you, sir. Fournier, AP Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Situation in the Middle East Q. If you could, first of all, further define what you mean by "unified" President Bush. Pardon me? Q. If you could, first of all, identify what you mean by "unified structure." And secondly, more broadly to both of you Your administration is on record as supporting accelerated peace talks, dealing with Yasser Arafat, and making Saudi Arabia a key partner. Prime Minister Sharon favors incremental steps, taking Arafat out of the process, and he's provided you evidence suggesting that the Saudis encouraged Palestinian attacks. Have you bridged any of those gaps, the two of you? President Bush. Well, "unified" means that, as opposed to six, seven, or eight different security forces under six, seven, or eight different commands, there's one command structure. That's what that means. Q. Palestinian? President Bush. Yes, Palestinian, exactly. In terms of the other issues, we discussed a wide range of issues. One of the things that should be coming apparent to people is that we're in consultation with not only the Israelis but other governments. I talked to Crown Prince Abdullah today, as well as President Mubarak about how best to proceed toward a common vision. You just heard the Prime Minister talk about the desire for peace. We had the Saudi Crown Prince stand up and talk about peace and the need for a peaceful solution. And it's very important for us to seize this moment, as the Prime Minister mentioned, and lead and get on that path. And that's exactly what we've talked about. And I want to reiterate what I've said and will continue to say There are responsibilities. If people truly want there to be peace, people have to assume their responsibilities for peace. And the Saudis must do that, and they're willing to do that. The Crown Prince, again, and I talked, and I made it clear to him that we've got to fight terror in the region for there to be peace and that he and the other leaders must work and must convince the Palestinian Authority that they have got to do everything in their power to lead toward a solution. At the same time, I emphasized what Ariel has just mentioned, that we must provide a framework for growth of a potential Palestinian state. There's got to be the framework for education and health and economic development, as well as security. And all parties have got responsibilities in the region to see to do their part. Q. Inaudible Radio One. Q. Mr. President? President Bush. Yes. Q. Sorry. President Bush. I can't see you. Trudy Trudy Feldman, Trans Features , you're blocking her vision. Response to Terrorism Q. You've said many times that one should not compromise with terrorism. You said many times that you are disappointed from Yasser Arafat on the issue of terrorism. Do you think that Israel should compromise and negotiate with Chairman Arafat? President Bush. I'm never going to tell my friend the Prime Minister what to do on how to handle his business. That's his choice to make. He's a democratically elected official. And I'll reiterate I have been disappointed in Chairman Arafat. I think he's let the Palestinian people down. I think he's had an opportunity to lead to peace, and he hasn't done so. And that's why it's important for all of us to work out a way to develop the institutions necessary for there to be a Palestinian Authority that's got the capacity to keep security, but as well as a Palestinian Authority that's got the ability to help promote hope for the future of her people that there's an education system that works, a health system that's vibrant. And by the way, there's plenty of nations that are willing to participate, so long as those the framework for a stable part of the world is in place. And those are the reforms that the Prime Minister has talked about, and those are the reforms that we must press. I will give you one example. The Palestinians need to develop a constitution, rule of law, transparency. They've got to have a treasury that is able to battle corruption, so that not only does the do the Israeli people have confidence in the Authority but so do the Palestinian people have confidence in the Authority. And those are the reforms we've discussed. Q. Mr. President President Bush. We've got the Prime Minister here. This guy can answer questions. Laughter Prime Minister Sharon. I'm happy to wait. Laughter Palestinian State Q. Mr. Prime Minister, the last time President Bush. Thank you, Randy Randall Mikkelsen, Reuters . Laughter Q. The last time you met President Bush, you accepted the idea of a Palestinian state at the end of the peace process. Do you still support the establishment of a state? And Mr. President, do you believe that a state should be a stated goal of a peace process? President Bush. Yes. I haven't changed my position. Prime Minister Sharon. Thank you. I think that it's still premature to discuss this issue. I think that what we have to concentrate now is making every effort that real reform will take place. And we discussed, I would say, how really to reach these reform, what should be there. And we discussed some other developments, like the original peace conference and other issues. Q. Do you believe reforms must take place before you would consider a Palestinian state? Prime Minister Sharon. I think that it's, as I said, it's premature now. I think, first of all, steps should be taken in order to establish or to have real reform in the Palestinian Authority. Q. Inaudible Radio Number One. President Bush. How many Radio Number Ones are there? Laughter Q. Every one of them is number one. Laughter Reform of the Palestinian Authority Q. Mr. President, I wonder if you could tell us you've probably been studying these ideas of reforms in the Palestinian society. How long do you think how long do you estimate it will take the Palestinians to carry out these reforms? And do you have any reason to believe or any information that Mr. Arafat will agree to such reforms? And will Arafat agree actually to lose his power and give it to somebody else in the Palestinian leadership? President Bush. Well, you know, it's interesting. I think the operative question is, how soon will you start working on reforms? That's the if I could put a question in your own mouth. The answer is, as soon as possible. That's what we discussed about how quickly can we begin the reform process? That's also is what we'll discuss with the Arab leaders who have got an interest in the area, about how to get reforms going. And I think it's going to be and the answer as to whether or not people will accept the reforms look, our job is to convince the Saudis, the Jordanians, the Egyptians that these reforms are absolutely necessary. And when I say people have got responsibilities, I'm not just saying the Israelis and the Palestinians have responsibilities I'm saying these leaders. And these were this is a subject I discussed with Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. He's the man who laid out the vision for peace. He's also a man who understands that by reforming the Palestinians, we have a chance to achieve peace. And so I would hope that all the responsible Palestinian leaders understand that reform is in their interest. It's in the people's interest. Listen, I deeply hurt when there is a lack of hope for moms and dads of anybody Palestinian moms and dads it bothers me. It bothers me to think there are some whose children are so hopeless they're willing to commit suicide. And so one of the things we've got to work for and one of the things our Nation will work for is reforms coupled with humanitarian help, reforms with the chance for there to be economic development, so people can realize a normal life. And as to who's going to accept what, we'll find out. But one of the things that's going to be clear is that the world is rallying toward these reforms. And that's what our job is to do, is to lead them to those reforms. It makes a lot of sense. And this is a good first step toward the path to peace. Listen, thank you all for coming. May 07, 2002 Thank you very much. Please be seated. Well, thank you all very much. And thank you, Susan, for those kind words, and welcome. On behalf of all Americans, I am proud to dedicate this historic building to the lasting memory of a great man, Dwight David Eisenhower. I want to thank Secretary Powell and Deputy Secretary Wolfowitz, Administrator Perry, General Hicks, for their kind words. I'm also pleased to have so many special guests who are here. I don't see I do see Senator Stevens. I'm so honored that Senator Ted Stevens, who actually worked in the Eisenhower administration, is here. And I want to welcome all the others who worked in this in the Eisenhower administration to this dedication ceremony. Welcome. I also want to welcome General Andrew Goodpaster, Senator Bob Dole, and all the other veterans of World War II. We're pleased to have you here. It's a pleasure to welcome back former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. I want to thank Members of the United States Congress, Senator Inouye, Congressman Amo Houghton, Jerry Moran, Jim Ryun, Congressman Steve Horn. And I too want to say how much we appreciate the work of former Senator John Chafee, who introduced the legislation necessary to rename this bill this building in honor of Dwight Eisenhower. And above all, we welcome the Eisenhower family and send our good wishes to John Eisenhower, who could not be with us today. As the son of a President, myself, I know how proud John must feel, knowing that our country's respect for his father has only increased with the years. The city of Washington is accustomed to change, but this neighborhood looks much as it did in 1929. If you'd walked down Pennsylvania Avenue 73 years ago, you would have seen the Renwick Building on the corner of 17th Street, looking just as it does now. A few doors down were the Blair and Lee Houses, with gas lamps still out front. In 1929, Lafayette Square was dominated by a great bronze horse, as it is today, proudly carrying Andrew Jackson. And standing outside this building on a spring morning 73 years ago, you might have seen Dwight Eisenhower pull up in a 1927 Buick and walk up the stairs to his office. The twenties and thirties were quiet times for our Army and Navy, quiet times when he worked here. But it was in this building that Dwight Eisenhower's reputation began to grow. His immediate supervisor said of him this said this of him "This is the best officer in the Army. When the next war comes, he should go right to the top." These words carried a lot of weight after all, the man who said them was Douglas MacArthur. He also worked here for many years in room 252. There was a time when a visitor to this building might pass in the hallway not only Eisenhower and MacArthur but the first man commissioned General of the Armies of the United States, John J. Pershing. General Pershing occupied room 274, a space now used by Vice President Dick Cheney. Two doors down is an office that Theodore Roosevelt would still recognize as his own from his time as Assistant Secretary of the Navy. So would Franklin Roosevelt, who, a generation later, occupied the same office and walked these very same halls. And in between, from 1904 to 1908, William Howard Taft reported to work here as the Secretary of the War. In all, as has been mentioned, seven future Presidents have worked in this building 25 Presidents have known it. Harry S. Truman held press conferences in an ornate room two stories high called the Indian Treaty Room although no Indian treaty has ever been signed there. And it was Truman, himself, who paid a distinctive tribute to this building when a committee suggested it be torn down. He believed we ought to leave it right here. He said, "It's the greatest monstrosity in America." But it was Eisenhower who decided its fate. He said he rather liked it. And over time, a lot of us have come to like it. The architectural grace of this building will remain a matter of opinion, but its place in history and its place on the skyline of Washington is as safe as can be. It seems odd that with all the history it contains, this great building went more than a century without a name befitting its dignity. We've solved that problem today, and we've solved it once and for all. This building now bears the name of Dwight D. Eisenhower, not because it was spared from the wrecking ball in his time, not even because he was the first President born in Texas. Laughter His name fits this building because, as a great soldier, a great President, and a good man, Dwight D. Eisenhower served his country with distinction. People over a certain age will always associate Dwight Eisenhower with a time of strength and a time of stability in America. We think of the fifties and in the mind's eye we see the President and his fine wife, Mamie. They had lived a military life, moving more than 30 times. And just as GIs in the fifties across America were settling back home, so were the Eisenhowers. As a matter of fact, they would live longer in the White House here than at any other address. We don't need to idolize the era they represented to see all the good things that were there millions of growing families and industries and new cities and the beginnings of the life that we know today. Had he never become President, Eisenhower would still be known to all as the leader of the forces that liberated a continent from a terrible evil. The turning point of the war was the decision to invade the coast of France. The decision was made by Roosevelt and Churchill the day and hour were left to General Eisenhower. And a lot of people felt a lot better knowing that it was his call to make. General Eisenhower understood exactly what risks lay ahead. Had his troops failed to take the beaches, he was going to point a finger straight at himself. Here's what he wrote, in advance "If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt, it is mine alone." Fifty seven years ago this very day, General Eisenhower reported that the mission of the Allied force was fulfilled, and the war in Europe was over. In victory, he was the first to share credit. It was not within his character to do otherwise. His Vice President, Richard Nixon, said this about General Eisenhower President Eisenhower "He always retained a saving humility." "It was the humility," Nixon said, "not of fear but of confidence. He walked with the great of the world, and he knew that the great are human. His was the humility of man before God and before the truth. His was the humility of a man too proud to be arrogant." In his career, Dwight Eisenhower faced two great crises of the 20th century a world war that came upon America with a sudden attack, requiring a global response, and a cold war that tested our patience and resolve to wage a struggle of decades. In our time, we face elements of both, an enemy that strikes suddenly and must be pursued across the years. And in this struggle, we know how victory will be gained, because President Eisenhower and General Eisenhower showed us the way. We will be calm and confident and relentless. With the best of America's character, we will defeat America's enemies. We are proceeding with patience and resolve to overcome this growing danger to the civilized world. NATO, the grand alliance first commanded by General Eisenhower, is part of a new coalition that is making steady progress on every front. Our mission in Afghanistan continues even after we have liberated that country from a brutal regime. We continue to fight Al Qaida terrorists, and we will prevent them from regrouping elsewhere. We'll deny terrorists the safe havens they need to operate and choke off their sources of money and supplies. We'll confront dangerous regimes that seek weapons of mass destruction. In this war we will depend on the alertness of our law enforcement, the diligence of our intelligence operations, and on the skill and valor of the American Armed Forces. Our military has performed with great daring and courage, and more will be asked of them. I have full confidence, complete confidence, in the men and women who wear our uniform. They've responded in the finest traditions of the American military. Their sense of honor, their devotion to duty, their loyal service to America would all be recognized by the five star general and President we remember today. The skill and determination and optimism of Dwight Eisenhower are alive in the American Armed Forces, and that spirit will bring us to victory. The General was one of six sons raised by Ida and David Eisenhower in the prairie town of Abilene, Kansas. They raised good men, but destiny chose this one. His whole life shows the power of one man's goodness and integrity to shape great events. He brought permanent honor to his family name, and that name now brings honor to this grand building. It's one more mark of this country's respect, and we offer it today with great affection and lasting gratitude. God bless. May 04, 2002 Good morning. Sunday is Cinco de Mayo, a day that commemorates the Mexican people's great victory at the Battle of Puebla, a battle for freedom fought against overwhelming odds. That victory continues to inspire liberty loving people across the globe. It reminds us that the cost of freedom is always high, but it is never too high. Brave and determined people, committed to a great cause, can do great good. That was true 140 years ago, and it remains true today. Just before September the 11th, I welcomed my good friend President Vicente Fox to the White House as the guest of honor at my first state dinner. When he arrived I said this The United States has no more important relationship in the world than the one we have with Mexico. In the past 8 months, our relationship has grown even stronger. The people of Mexico stand with the American people in the war on terror. This is a decisive decade in the history of liberty, and the United States is grateful we can count on Mexico's strong support. America's relationship with Mexico is built on common values and shared culture. We both value families and communities the places where character is formed and traditions are passed from one generation to the next. Americans appreciate the strong faith of the Mexican people, a faith that provides hope and inspiration and unity even in the darkest times. People on both sides of the Rio Grande value independence and freedom and opportunity, the ability to work hard to achieve your dreams and become successful as a result. By their strong values and their determination to create a better life for themselves and their children, immigrants from Mexico enrich American life. My close relationship with President Fox reflects the close relationship between our nations. It is built on the solid ground of respect and trust and friendship. President Fox is a great Mexican patriot, a man of honest talk and convictions who is passionately concerned for his people's welfare. We are both deeply committed to helping the entire American familia achieve prosperity and live in peace. Mexico and America share a continent, and we are dedicated to common goals. We are working together to create a "smart border," one that will speed the safe flow of people and commerce but protect our two nations from terrorism and crime. We are working together on a Partnership for Prosperity, to better focus the creativity and resources of the private sector on the critical task of development. We are working together to address the important and challenging immigration issues between our countries. And I've asked our Congress to pass an extension of section 245(i) of our immigration law to let families stay together while they become permanent residents. We're working together to improve conditions for people living along the border. And we're working together to create an entire hemisphere that lives in liberty and trades in freedom. Our two nations will succeed together because our futures are bound to each other. Geography made us neighbors, but our shared values and rich cultures have made us the closest of friends. May God bless the people of Mexico, and may God bless the United States of America. Thank you for listening. May 03, 2002 President Bush. Laura and I are honored to welcome our friend the President and First Lady of Espa a to Camp David. It's an opportunity for us to share some private time together, to talk about issues of concern between our countries as well as opportunities we can have to work together for world peace. We've got great relations with Spain Spain is a very close friend. And I've got good very strong personal relations with Jose Maria. So it's such an honor to welcome you here, Senor Presidente. And it's great to see the First Lady as well. Quiere habla? At this point, President Aznar made brief remarks in Spanish, and no translation was provided. President Bush. A couple of questions. Russia U.S. Nuclear Arms Agreement Q. Mr. President, the Russian Foreign Minister today, after he left the meeting with you today, said there's a very high probability for a U.S. Russian nuclear deal in time for your trip. Do you think prospects are that good for an agreement? President Bush. Espero que s . I hope so. We've been spending a lot of time with Russia to reach an agreement that will codify that which I've told our country and told Mr. Putin that we're going to substantially reduce our offensive nuclear weapons. I hope so. It's the Secretary of State is optimistic. There's some work that remains to be done. I'm looking forward to my trip. I look forward to getting to continue working closely with President Putin. Jose Maria has got the same intentions. And what's interesting is, right after I leave, el va a Russia to visit with Mr. Putin as well. Upcoming Meetings With Middle East Leaders Q. Mr. President, on Tuesday you will meet with Prime Minister Sharon. It will be the fifth meeting. You've talked to him a number of times on the phone. And people might say this weekend showed what a difference that makes. But you haven't really interacted with Chairman Arafat as much, and I wondered about that. Do you feel as though it really wouldn't make that big a difference? Or is there a strategic reason for not engaging him? President Bush. I'm looking forward to my meeting with Prime Minister Sharon. I'm looking forward to my meeting with King Abdullah. We have got, obviously, a lot of activity, a lot of discussions, a lot of interface with the different people in the region, the different interested parties. And there's going to be a lot more discussion going on. As you know, Secretary of State Powell talked about a ministerial meeting. It's just a series of ongoing discussions to help solidify the visions that have been expressed by not only the United States but the Europeans but, more importantly, the visions expressed by Israel, the Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. And so there's going to be a lot of discussions and a lot of meetings. And I've had a lot already, and I'm going to have more. Unemployment Rate Q. The unemployment rate today, 6 percent is that just a bump in the road, or is that a sign of some reversal? President Bush. No, that's listen, I've been saying all along that the growth number of the first quarter of this year was very positive, but I said listen, I'm not confident we've got more work to do. So long as anybody is looking for work, we've got a problem, as far as I'm concerned. And that number shows that backs me up. We need long term growth, and that's why we need a trade bill, and that's why we need terrorism insurance that doesn't provide a vehicle to enrich personal injury trial lawyers. And that's why we've got to make sure that Congress doesn't overspend. So we've had mixed news. One week we had positive growth in the first quarter, although a lot of that, of course, was attributable to inventory build back, as you and I discussed, and based upon consumer demands. I'm concerned that there's not enough business investment. But we'll see how it goes. But Congress must get us some legislation. President Aznar's Visit to Camp David A reporter began a question in Spanish, and no translation was provided. He then concluded his question in English. Q. What do you think of this invitation, and what do you expect trip to Camp David? President Aznar answered in Spanish, and no translation was provided. A reporter began a question in Spanish, and no translation was provided. He then concluded his question in English. Q. What are you especially interested in stressing during your conversations with the President? President Aznar. I'm sure that as soon as you allow us to do so, we will make maximum use of our time. Because what we intend to do here is be able to continue our discussions in a relaxed atmosphere, because there's a lot of work to be done, and we intend to get down to work and do it. And we appreciate the invitation. President Bush. Gracias. President's Dog Q. Where is Barney? The First Lady. Barney is back at the house. President Bush. He's at the cabin. We were afraid Barney would disrupt the press conference. May 03, 2002 Thank you all. Some of them were pretty good and one of them was really good, right, Al? Laughter I want to thank you all for coming, and I want to talk about an important subject, and that's our judiciary. One of the true strengths of our democracy is a judiciary that is fair, impartial, and independent. Our courts depend on the dedicated service of men and women who are called to decide disputes. Yet today, there is a vacancy crisis on our Federal courts. Both the President and the United States Senate have constitutional responsibilities to address vacancies on the Federal bench. I have nominated 100 outstanding jurists for these posts, but the Senate thus far has not done its part to ensure that our Federal courts operate at full strength. Justice is at risk in America, and the Senate must act for the good of the country. I want to thank Al Gonzales he's mi abogado. He's been my lawyer he's been served on the as secretary of state in Texas he's served on the U.S. or the Texas Supreme Court he and his able staff work long hours to really find the best possible nominees for the bench. And I want to I appreciate Al's leadership, and I appreciate those who work with Al, on behalf of the White House, for their long hours. I want to thank you all for coming. Thanks so very much for your interest in this important subject. And it's an important subject. I mean we're talking about an incredibly important part of our country. And I want you all to help spread the word about how serious the vacancy crisis is. You pay attention to this issue, and you can help advocate what I'm about to call the Senate to do. This is Law Week or Law Day, and it's a day we celebrate the legal profession in our democracy and a day set aside to recall the role of law in our society. This year's Law Day theme is "Assuring Equal Justice for All." And that's a noble theme, and it's a noble calling. We're all proud of our judiciary. We know that justice and security and prosperity can flourish only in a society governed by law. We're grateful to our Federal courts we're grateful for the vital work that they play in our American system. Federal judges are key to make sure America functions well. Every day, they uphold the rights of an individual, protect the innocent they punish the guilty. Their rulings are essential to the rule of law in our Nation. To discharge their responsibilities effectively, the Federal courts must have judges. Yet today, more than 10 percent of all Federal judgeships are vacant. The Chief Justice of the United States recently warned that the number of vacancies is, in his words, alarming. The crisis is especially severe especially severe in our 12 regional Circuit Courts of Appeals, where more than 1 in 6 judgeships is vacant. The Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit, for example, handles some of our Nation's highest profile cases, including an important class of cases involving terrorists. But 4 out of 12 judgeships are not filled. The Sixth Court of Appeals, which covers Ohio and Kentucky and Michigan and Tennessee, is even worse off. Back in March of 2000, when it had only four vacancies, its chief judge said it was hurting badly and would not be able to keep up with its workload. Today, 8 of the Sixth Circuit's 16 judgeships are vacant, despite the fact that I sent up 7 nominations many months ago. All across America, the wait for justice is growing longer. The burden on Federal judges is growing heavier. And the frustration level of ordinary Americans seeking justice is growing greater. To address this vacancy crisis, I have submitted the names of 100 Federal court nominees to the United States Senate. These 100 nominees are notable for their distinction and their accomplishments. They are exceptional for their humanity and their integrity. They are in the solid mainstream of American legal opinion, and they share a principled commitment to follow and apply the law, not to make law from the bench. But the Senate has confirmed only one half of my nominees. It has confirmed only 9 of my 30 nominees to the Circuit Courts of Appeals only 9 out of 30. Every one of these 30 nominees rated so far have been judged either well qualified or qualified by the American Bar Association, which has been hailed as the gold standard by Senate Democrats. On May 9th, 2001, nearly a year ago, I submitted I introduced my first 11 nominees to the Courts of Appeal. Yet the Senate Judiciary Committee has held hearings for only 3 of these nominees. All the others are still awaiting confirmation hearings an entire year later. The eight still waiting a hearing include some of the leading appellate lawyers in the Nation, some of the most well respected sitting judges, and one of the country's finest law professors. Collectively, this group of 8 nominees has argued more than 60 cases in the Supreme Court of the United States. Yet all, every one of them, still wait for the Senate to take even the first step down the road toward confirmation. The Senate can do much more and must do much more to address the current vacancy crisis. A year ago I urged Senators from both parties to rise above the bitterness of the past and provide a fair hearing and prompt vote for every nominee. And my call for a prompt vote it doesn't matter to me who's in the White House or who controls the Senate. What matters to me is that we have a that we address the vacancy crisis, that we solve the problem our Nation faces. That's what matters. Let me tell you what the Chief Justice said recently. And I want you to know he was speaking expressly on behalf of the Federal judiciary. He asked the Senate to grant prompt hearings and up or down votes on all nominees. But the Senate has not acted, and by its inaction, the Senate is endangering the administration of justice in America. All judicial nominees deserve a timely hearing, and they deserve a vote. As everyone here today understands, Americans need and deserve a judicial system at full strength. As we celebrate the role of law in our democracy, I call on Senate Democrats to end the vacancy crisis in our Federal courts by restoring fairness to the judicial confirmation process. I want to thank you all for your interest in this incredibly important subject. I thank you for standing for justice and fairness, the American way. One of the things that I talk about to when I go to these conferences to try to help developing nations, or I talk about when leaders come in the Oval Office I always talk about the need for there to be rule of law, that in order for people to be able to realize their dreams, society must be a society of law, and there ought to be rule of law. And our country is a shining example of that. But in order to make sure we continue to shine, we've got to address problems in a timely way when we find them. And that's what I'm here to discuss, and I want to thank you for your interest. And may God bless America. May 03, 2002 Thank you all very much. Please, sientanse. Laughter Bienvenidos. Welcome to the White House. This is the casa para todos. I'm honored you all have come to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. It's a pleasure to have you here. The victory we commemorate today is a source of tremendous pride to the people of Mexico and a source of inspiration to the people of America. I want to thank mi esposa, Laura, for her laughter mi amor. I want to thank Sara for her passion for the education of Latino children. She is a well, she's unique. She's smart she's capable. After all, she's a tejana. Laughter But I really do appreciate her focus, her willingness to work hard to make sure that every child has got the opportunity to realize his or her dreams in America. I want to thank el Embajador de Mexico, mi amigo Juan Jose Bremer, tambien, esposa. Thank you all for coming. And I appreciate all the Mexicanos who are here today. I'm glad you're here to celebrate a special day in your country, here in the White House. It's an indication of our friendship. I want to thank members of my administration who are here, too many to name. I will name the Cabinet Secretary, Mel Martinez. I appreciate Mel's service. I see the Treasurer mi abogado, Gonzales the new Surgeon General nominee, Rick Carmona. Thank you, Rick I appreciate you being here. I better stop now, before I forget somebody. I want to thank Ed Pastor, the Congressman from the State of Arizona. Thank you for coming. I want to thank Ana Maria for your being here. I really appreciate you coming. You did a great job as the emcee. And I know a lot of Americans watch your TV show, and we're honored you're here. I really want to thank Pedro Fernandez. Pedro, you're awesome. I'm not sure how you say that in Spanish laughter or Mexicano, brillante. Laughter But I want to thank you and your tres hombres for being here. Laughter Al, thank you for leading the Pledge. Al is the Director of the Selective Service. He wears the Medal of Honor. And again, thank you all for coming. We're so honored to have you. Cinco de Mayo commemorates a great victory in the battle of Puebla. I remember when I went down, Jose, to the guest of the previous President, President Zedillo, to see a reenactment of the battle in Puebla. It was exciting, and it was able to see firsthand the great courage and the victory in the battle for freedom that was fought against overwhelming odds. That victory continues to inspire liberty loving people all across the globe. It reminds us that the cost of freedom is always high, but it is never too high. Brave and determined people, committed to a great cause, can do great good. That was true 140 years ago, and it certainly remains true today. Just before September the 11th, I welcomed my good friend President Vicente Fox aqui, in Washington, DC, as the guest of honor at the very first state dinner I hosted as the President. When he arrived, I said this at the beautiful arrival ceremony we have on the South Lawn I said, "The United States has no more important relationship in the world than the one we have with Mexico." I meant it then I mean it now. In the past 8 months, our relationship has grown even stronger. The people of Mexico stand with the American people in the war on terror. This is a decisive decade in the history of liberty, a decisive moment in our history, and the United States is grateful we can count on the strong support of Mexico. America's strong relationship with Mexico is built on common values and shared culture. We both value families we both value communities the places where character is formed and traditions are passed from one generation to the next. Americans appreciate the strong faith of the Mexican people, a faith that provides hope and inspiration and unity, even in the darkest of times. People on both sides of the Rio Grande value independence and value freedom and opportunity. People on dos lados del Rio Bravo appreciate the ability to work hard to achieve dreams and to become successful as a result of hard work. By their strong values and their determination to create a better life for themselves and their children, immigrants from Mexico enrich American life. My relationship with President Fox is similar to the relationship between our nations. It is built on the solid ground of respect and trust and friendship. President Fox is a great Mexican patriot, a man who a man of honest talk and convictions who is passionately concerned for his people's welfare. I know firsthand I've heard him speak clearly about the welfare of the people of Mexico. We're both deeply committed to helping the entire American familia achieve prosperity and, as importantly, to live in peace. Mexico and America share a continent, and we are dedicated to common goals. We are working together to create a smart border, one that will speed the safe flow of people and commerce but protect our two nations from terrorism and crime. We are working together on a partnership for prosperity, to better focus the creativity and resources of the private sector on the critical task of development. We're working together to address the important issue and challenging issue of immigration. I've asked our Congress to pass an extension of section 245(i) of our immigration law to allow families to stay together while they become permanent residents. There is no reason why this law should not be passed. We're working together to improve conditions for people living along the border. It's really important that we do so. We're working together to create an entire hemisphere that lives in liberty and trades in freedom. And I appreciate President Fox's leadership in our hemisphere. I rely upon his advice and good counsel I appreciate his vision. Our two nations will succeed together we will succeed together because our futures are bound to each other. Geography made us neighbors, but our shared values and rich cultures have made us the closest of friends. The great Mexican leader Benito Juarez had a strong bond with President Abraham Lincoln. Juarez said, "Between individuals, as between nations, el respecto al derecho ajeno es la paz' respect for the rights of others is peace." The United States and Mexico have a relationship of respect. It is the foundation of our enduring peace and lasting friendship. I want to thank you all again for coming to the White House to celebrate Mexico's strong and vibrant culture, its extraordinary history, our common future. May God bless the people of Mexico, and may God continue to bless the people of the United States. Thank you for coming. May 02, 2002 President Bush It is a pleasure to welcome President Aznar and President Prodi to Washington, DC, for this summit. We had a good discussion on the common challenges facing the United States and the European Union, including the urgent need to fight terror and to promote peace in the Middle East. Just one month ago I called on all the parties in the Middle East to step up to their responsibilities to end terror, to make progress toward peace, and to build better lives for all the people of the region. In recent days, we're beginning to see some signs of progress. The situation in Ramallah has been resolved nonviolently. We're working for peace in Bethlehem. I'm encouraged by my meeting with Crown Prince Abdullah and the steps he has taken to advance his vision of peace. Next week I will meet with Prime Minister Sharon and King Abdullah of Jordan to discuss next steps on the road ahead. The United States and the EU share a common vision of two states, Palestine and Israel, living side by side in peace and security. This vision offers the Palestinian people a new opportunity to choose how they live. We should take this opportunity to help build institutions that will serve the Palestinian people, a Palestinian state, and its neighbors as well. A Palestinian state must be achieved by negotiating an end to occupation, but such a state cannot be based on a foundation of terror or corruption. A Palestinian state must be based on the principles that are critical to freedom and prosperity democracy and open markets, the rule of law, transparent and accountable administration, and respect for individual liberties and civil society. We want to work with the Palestinian people, our regional partners, and the international community to build a Palestinian state that both lives at peace with Israel and lives up to the best hopes of its people. The EU, as well, and the United States, has an important role to play. When the EU and the United States work together, we multiply our effectiveness. Today we discussed our desires to continue working together. We see this in the fight against global terror, where we've been cooperating closely. We see this in the Balkans, where together we have solidified the peace, prevented civil war in Macedonia, and helped the region become more fully part of the European community. And we're working together to bring reconstruction and hope to Afghanistan, so that it never again serves as a haven for terror. We must bring the same spirit of cooperation to our common economic agenda. Today I informed President Aznar and President Prodi that I will work with our Congress to fully comply with the WTO decision on our tax rules for international corporations. This will require both time, and it will require legislation. I hope and expect that we can all act in the same spirit of understanding as we work through other problems. This is a time for hope for the United States and for Europe, a time when our cooperation could lead to a safer and to a better world. I look forward to traveling to Europe later this month to strengthen our close ties and to advance our common goals. Ahora el placer es mio para welcome my friend, el Presidente de Espana, Jose Maria Aznar. Senor Presidente. President Aznar. Good afternoon, everyone. First of all, I'd like to thank President Bush for his hospitality at this meeting between the European Union and the United States. And besides his hospitality, I'd like to thank him for the hard work and dedication that he and his entire staff have put into ensuring the success of this meeting. The first thing is that I hope not to disappoint people in terms of their expectations about hearing about strong controversies between Europe and the United States, because that has not happened. In fact, we are here to send out a very positive message concerning the strength of the relationship between the European Union and the United States, and especially our determination that that strong relationship be further strengthened in the extraordinary circumstances we are currently experiencing politically, economically, and in terms of security that we must face together. So the message is that we have strengthened the ties between the EU and the United States, thanks to this meeting. And this is no doubt a very positive factor. I'd like to briefly touch on four issues, because President Bush has made a very accurate summary of our meeting. Number one, the fight against terrorism The work carried out jointly between the U.S. and the EU is increasingly being enhanced, becoming broader. You know that the EU has adopted an action plan against terrorism. We've reviewed the legislation in all of our countries to step up the fight against terrorism, to combat financing of terrorism and comply with U.N. resolutions and join all other countries in this fight. Secondly, we have a mandate from all EU countries to negotiate an agreement for judicial assistance and cooperation on criminal matters. And we hope that negotiations for that will proceed as quickly as possible, so that this doesn't just pertain to security issues but will also spread to judicial matters. It would be a bit absurd not to be aware of the fact that terrorists move internationally, and we have to approach that from a common judicial area, to the extent possible. Between us, we've broadened or lengthened the list of terrorist organizations, and we hope that there will be an increased rapprochement between the lists approved by both the U.S. and the EU. And as far as that goes, we are firmly resolved to combat terrorism wherever it takes place, with all that that entails, and with the ultimate objective of eradicating terrorism so as to enjoy a safer, more stable world for all. The second issue I'd like to refer to has to do with more general topics. You heard from President Bush about the Middle East, and in just a few moments, the quad will be meeting again that is, the U.S., the EU, Russia, and U.N. Secretary General. That agreement is extremely important. We attach the utmost importance to the work that we can do jointly in the Middle East in the quest for the essential features security for all an immediate cease fire and a political perspective which would lead to a democratic, independent Palestinian state and a state of Israel that is entitled to live in security, calm, and free from any kind of violent or terrorist aggression on its territory. So that is the perspective. These are the initiatives. And this is what we're working on, along with economic issues. I also wanted to refer to the very positive joint work we're carrying out in the Balkans and in Afghanistan and the exchange of opinions we've had concerning Russia. President Bush and the European Union and I, myself, have worked on providing support for President Putin, considering their new strategic approach. President Bush's trip, the NATO meeting in Rome, and the EU Russia meeting, all upcoming, point to a particularly important turning point in terms of defining new strategic positions for Russia in the world that require our understanding and support. The final point is that U.S. and Europe account for 40 percent of world trade. Between us, approximately 96, 97 percent of the economic issues work satisfactorily, with no problems. And we have agreed to work very hard on a positive agenda to further enhance the commercial ties and ties in terms of trade between the EU and the U.S.And in terms of certain specific differences President Bush has referred to a few of them it is our expectation and hope and this is what we're going to work on, that in the coming months there will be negotiations underway which will naturally safeguard the fundamental interests of both sides and, in compliance with the WTO, that will enable us to lead to positive results and conclusions. We have worked on all of this we have made progress on all of this so I would like to say that from the point of view of the European Council and the EU, this summit has fulfilled the goal of strengthening our ties and relations and will ensure the success of these relations between the U.S. and the EU. President Prodi. Inaudible but to what has been told by President Bush and President Aznar. It was clear today that the world is going better when U.S. and Europe get together. We have seen it recently in Doha, in Monterrey we have seen it in the Balkans and in Afghanistan. We have sometimes disagreement, but we really share the same deep values and the same common strategy. We tackled also some case in which we have difference steel, for example, on the legitimacies of U.S. safeguards, which we believe are certainly harming us, on the possibility of short term rebalancing. But we have agreed that discussions should continue, without any prejudice to our respective rights under WTO. We both intend to play it by the WTO rules. And so I think that even in this field, we shall demonstrate friendly way of working. I want to praise the President of the United States for the leadership he's showing on a problem that is certainly difficult you know, the export on the export subsidies and on the problems that are linked to that. And you know, I want to end just with one reflection. I think that everybody in America should consider what we are doing now in Europe. What we are trying to do in this great 2002 Europe is now the currency of 12 nations. We will soon enlarge European Union to embrace until, I hope, 10 new countries before the end of the year. And we are also working on the convention to reform our institutions. The democratic unification of our Continent is happening, and it is an enormous effort. And this is really the end of the end of the end of the cold war. And I hope that what we are doing is appreciated for the dimension of the problem, if you consider the difference of income, the different tradition, the different habits of the 25 countries that now we shall have together inside the European Union. So what we present here is really a new Europe. President Bush. Thank you, President. I think we've got time for three questions. It makes sense that an American asks a question, and then Jose Maria will call on somebody, and President Prodi will call on somebody, and then we've all got to go on our respective ways. So I'll start with Mr. Fournier, AP Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Yes. Q. Thank you, sir. President Bush. You're welcome. Situation in the Middle East Q. Despite the existence of what you called some signs of progress in the Middle East in the long month since your Rose Garden statement, neither side has fully complied. Just yesterday, Ariel Sharon scuttled your push for a U.N. peace mission to Jenin. And Yasser Arafat Arafat called the Israelis terrorists, Nazis, and racists. And yet, there have been no consequences for defying you. Are you open to cutting off U.S. aid to either Israel or the Palestinians, and are there any consequences for those who thumb their nose at the President of the United States? President Bush. In this world, there are people who think the glass is half empty or half full. I tend to look at it as half full. I'm optimistic we're making good progress. After all, a week ago there were Yasser Arafat was boarded up in his building in Ramallah, a building full of, evidently, German peace protestors and all kinds of people. They're now out he's now free to show leadership, to lead the world. We're making good progress. There's a lot to be done. We're dealing with centuries and years of hatred, and I understand that. But I am pleased that the Arab world is responding. I had great visits with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. They're according to some American newspapers, they're, you know, very much engaged, and I appreciate that. I'm pleased with that. I think that's a positive development. I am absolutely convinced it's going to require the efforts of the Saudis and the Jordanians and the Egyptians to help cement a lasting peace. And the Crown Prince is following up on his initiative, and I think that's a positive development. I think it's very important for Chairman Arafat to show the world that he's capable of leading. As I said in my remarks in the Rose Garden about a month ago which, by the way, in the terms of the Middle East isn't all that long a period of time, in my judgment that he has just been disappointing. He has disappointed. He's had some chance to grab the peace and hasn't done so in the past, and therefore he's let down the Palestinian people. Now's the chance to show he can lead. And of course, I placed responsibilities on Israel as well, and I look forward to continuing my discussions with world leaders. Part of the importance of meeting with Jose and Roman was to talk about a way forward. And as Jose Maria mentioned, the Secretary of State is going to be talking with the ministers of the quad about a way forward. I'll be doing the same thing with King Abdullah and Prime Minister Sharon, as we come up with a way to cement a vision of peace in place. But it starts with people assuming responsibilities, and people are beginning to assume responsibilities. And that's why I'm optimistic progress is being made. Jose. Q. No threat of losing their aid, sir? President Bush. Jose. Terrorism Q. Inaudible the American press and the public opinion in America is still referring to ETA just like a band who is fighting for its independence in Spain. I wonder if the United States has same commit to fight terrorists in Spain as much as is about fighting terrorists in other parts of the world, and what can you do to help Spain in this fight? And I'd like to know also your opinion about the way this topic is treated in America. President Bush. Yes, let me start with that, and then you can finish. President Aznar. No, no, no. Laughter President Bush. It's your country. Laughter When I was last in Spain, I talked about this very subject, and I spoke this was before September the 11th. And I spoke very clearly about my friend's efforts to fight terrorist activity within the country of Spain. I just want to remind you of the timing, that I made a public statement about terrorist activities in the country of Spain prior to my country being attacked. So terrorist activities within the borders of Spain has been on my mind. It is we stand ready to help the President. If the President asks for help, the United States of America is more than willing to provide that help. We're doing we've got great cooperations cooperation with our friends in Spain. We share intelligence we talk about arrests that we've made. I mean, we are close friends and allies. And Jose Maria knows this very well I'm a phone call away, and terror is terror, and we must fight it wherever it exists. President Aznar. President Bush was very right in saying that when he was in Madrid, during his visit to Spain before 9 11, in May June last year, he explicitly expressed his support for Spain's fight against terrorism. But what I would like to say once again is that we can establish no differences among terrorists. They're all the same. They're all seeking to destroy our harmonious coexistence, to destroy civilization. They're seeking to destroy our democracy and freedoms. A terrorist attacking the Twin Towers in New York or the Pentagon in Washington is tantamount to the same kind of criminal who places a car bomb in Madrid or on the streets of any other Spanish city. President Bush and I know that there are no differences as far as that go. And that's how we approach the issue, and we will continue to do so. The cooperation between Spain and the U.S. on counterterrorism is maximum the cooperation between intelligence and security services, also because we both hold the conviction that moral values underpin our struggle and our fight against terrorism. And the moral value of what it means to uphold the principles of democracy and freedom and the principles of our countries in the face of terrorism is basic. And the memory of the victims is the very finest thing. We must remember. We must never forget the victims. That's the best reason to combat terrorism. And there is never any reason whatsoever to establish dialog with terrorists ever. To initiate dialog with terrorists is tantamount to problems for democracy. Terrorists cannot have, must not have, and certainly for our part will never have any other fate than that of being permanently defeated in Spain or anywhere else. And when I say "anywhere else," what I mean is that cooperation with United States and most especially with President Bush in the international fight against terrorism is and will continue to be to the maximum. President Bush. Pick one, Roman. NATO EU Defense Policy Q. Yes, this is a question for all of the Presidents. I have to I want to ask a question about the future of NATO and the cooperation with the European Union. For many months now, there is a problem with the future of ESDP, because of Greece's position opposition not to accept the Ankara agreement that Great Britain, with the participation of the U.S. and EU, broke with Turkey, a non EU member of NATO. Do you have anything on this issue, and did you discuss this issue with the President? President Prodi. No, we didn't discuss this issue today, but of course this is part of our vision for the future strategy because we want to make the progress of this type of cooperation that is, shared progress. We mentioned before an enlargement, you know, and of course, that we are our goal, our strategy is to have also Cyprus among the countries of enlargement. We hope that will be one of the 10 countries in December. So we think that a cooperative spirit can permit this goal, because Europe must have also in the Mediterranean area its role, its influence. And it's positive influence in these difficult days in the area. President Bush. Thank you all. April 30, 2002 Thank you all very much. Well, thanks for that warm California welcome. It's great to be back in this majestic State, and it's great to see so many friends. I want to thank you all for coming. We're here for the same reason It is important for California to have a new Governor, and Bill Simon is that man. I'm honored to have been invited here to campaign, and I really appreciate the chance to get to know Bill a little better. He flew on Air Force One from Albuquerque over to Los Angeles yesterday, and one of the best parts of the flight is, I got to meet the future first lady of the State of California. We both married above ourselves. Laughter Many of you have gotten to know Laura. What you didn't know is that when I asked her to marry me, she was a didn't care for politics, didn't care for politicians. And here she is as the First Lady of the United States thank goodness. She's doing a fabulous job. I'm really proud of her, and I love her dearly. Today she couldn't be with me here in California because she's in Arkansas, talking about the need to make sure that we have early childhood education in every neighborhood, in every State, all across the country. I want to thank Richard Pombo, who's here. He's a Member of the United States House of Representatives from the great State of California. Richard, thank you for coming. I want to thank all the State and local officials who are here. I want to thank all of you all for helping this good man. There are some people in this audience who are the grassroots activists here in California. I want to thank you for your hard work. I want to thank you for dialing phones. I want to thank you for stuffing envelopes. I want to thank you for being foot soldiers so people like me and Bill can run and win and do our jobs. In our audience today, we've got a brave soul named Dorothy Garcia. Her husband was on Flight 93. His name was Andy. The reason I bring that up is that Flight 93 really, in many ways, epitomized the best of America Average citizens just doing their job, who heard that America was under attack they told their loved ones goodbye they said a prayer and they made the ultimate sacrifice so others could live. And for that, our Nation is incredibly grateful grateful for the sacrifice and grateful for the example that Andy and others set for future generations. Dorothy, I'm so honored you're here, and thank you for coming. I appreciate so very much Bill and Cindy's values. They love their family, and that's good. They love their State, and they love their country. I've been somewhat amazed about reading some of the clips on the way out here about what Bill's the supporters of Bill's opponent are saying. It kind of runs this way He's never held elective office laughter he's only been a successful businessman how could he possibly be the Governor of a big and diverse State? It sounds like to me that Governor Davis is getting his advice from Ann Richards. Laughter In '94, I showed up, and I laid out a positive vision of where I wanted to lead my State. I rejected the old style politics, and that's exactly what Bill Simon is going to do here in California. I am proud to support this new face in American politics. I'm proud to support somebody who doesn't need to take a poll or to have a focus group to tell him what he believes. And I want to thank you all for joining us to effect a positive change, not just for Republicans but for everybody who lives in the State of California. I appreciate so very much Bill's emphasis on issues that matter to everybody, starting with education. I gave a speech a little earlier here in the Silicon Valley, and I talked about the hope and promise of public education. It is so important that we get our public education right in America. The public education system in America is one of the most important foundations of our democracy. After all, it is where children from all over America learn to be responsible citizens and learn to have the skills necessary to take advantage of our fantastic, opportunistic society. And yet, we have failed in our public school system for too many children. As Bill mentioned, I had the honor of signing historic education reform that set high standards for every child in America, not just a few, not just people from suburban California or suburban Texas, but every single child. We believe every child can learn in America. And in that bill we incorporate a uniquely Republican principle that says, we trust the local people to chart the path for excellence for the citizens and children of California. I understand and Bill understands, all wisdom does not reside in Washington, DC, that if you're interested in achieving educational excellence, we've got to trust the people of California to chart the path for educational excellence. That's why it's important this man become your Governor. But in this bill as well and what makes it different from the past is, we're now saying, if you receive any Federal help and there's Federal help, particularly for Title I students you'd better teach them. In return for help, you show us whether or not the children can read and write and add and subtract. You administer tests to show us, and you put the tests on the Internet for everybody to see. And when we find success, we will praise success. But when we find failure, we need to challenge failure. When we find children in schools that will not teach and will not change, you better have you a Governor that is willing to challenge the status quo. It is essential that we educate every child in America and that not one child be left behind. I appreciate Bill's commonsense view of energy. This Nation needs an energy policy. We haven't had an energy policy for a long period of time. Finally, they got one bill passed out of the House, and they've got one coming out of the Senate. Now they need to get together and get the bill to my desk. And here's what it basically says. It says, we can use technology to develop renewable sources of energy, which we will. It says, we must do a better job of conserving energy, which we must. But it also says, in an environmentally friendly way, we can find more energy in our country. And that's important. It's important not only for the economic security of people looking for work it is important for the national security of the United States of America. We import over 50 percent of our oil from overseas, and a lot of those countries don't particularly care for us. And you need to have a Governor who's got a vision about energy, if you expect this State to grow and if people want to find work. And I appreciate Bill's view of taxing and the taxes and budget. I remember campaigning in the Silicon Valley, and I said, "If you give me a chance, I'm going to cut the work to cut the taxes." And thankfully, we did. And we did so right at the right time. There's a difference of opinion in our political system, and that's good. It basically boils down to an understanding of whose money we're talking about when we talk about budgeting and spending money. See Bill and I understand, when we're talking about taxpayers' money, it's not the Government's money it's the people's money. When you let people keep more of their own money, it is not only good for our economy it is good to help people realize their dreams. There are so many fantastic stories of the entrepreneurial spirit here in California. I've been impressed by some amazing statistics, like the number of Hispanic owned small businesses. When you cut the taxes, when you reduce the tax burden, you encourage the growth of small businesses. Most small businesses are sole proprietorships or limited partnerships. They pay taxes on the individual through the individual system, and by cutting tax rates, we encourage entrepreneurial growth and ownership in California and in America. And we need to hold the line on spending. Bill understands that in California, and we need to hold the line on spending in Washington, DC. We've got a temporary deficit, and there's a reason. We had a recession and a national emergency. But the best way to make sure the deficit is small and temporary is for the United States Congress not to spend excessively. That's why the President has been given a veto. I remember in Chicago they said to me, "Would you ever have deficit spending?" I said, "Only if there was a war or a national emergency or a recession." Never did I realize we'd get the trifecta. Laughter But this country is ready to handle we're ready to handle the slowdown in the economy. And I understand people are hurting here in the Silicon Valley. I've seen the statistics that the economy grew at over 5 percent in the first quarter. That's fine. We'll let the number crunchers talk about numbers like that. So long as people can't find work, I'm worried. So long as somebody who wants to work can't find a job, it's got my attention. And so the best way to make sure our economy grows is to make our tax cuts permanent, so there's certainty in the Tax Code is to promote free and fair trade all around the world and is to have an energy plan that makes sense for America. And we're making progress on the economy, and we're making progress on making sure our homeland is more secure. Cindy asked me to tell this story, which I told last night, so I will. It is well, first of all, it's an unimaginable honor to be able to go to work in the Oval Office. It is a beautiful place. It is a powerful reminder of the greatness of our country. I treat it like a shrine. My job is to take the dogs downstairs first thing in the morning. We've got kind of an early morning White House. I try to show up right before 7 o'clock every morning. And so Spot, who is not a very imaginative name, I admit it, but nevertheless laughter was born in the White House, by the way. She's 13 years old. She's quite familiar with the grounds. She walks out, as does Barney. Barney's the 1 1 2 year old terrier. Now Barney, he doesn't get to go in the Oval Office first thing in the morning, because the rug is new. Laughter But Spot and I walk in. Barney goes off with the gardeners, chasing squirrels or something. And I sit there at this fantastic desk, called the H.M.S. Resolute. Perhaps you remember the picture of John John Kennedy putting his head out of the door of that desk with his dad. I think his dad was making a phone call or gazing out to the beautiful South Grounds. I remember Edmund Morris, who wrote "Theodore Rex," walked in to give me a copy of his book. And he said, "Teddy Roosevelt used that desk." The door that John John Kennedy put his head out of the desk is there because Franklin Roosevelt had put that door on his desk to cover his infirmities. It's been used by a lot of Presidents. And I sit at this majestic piece of furniture and read a threat assessment every morning, that the killers still want to hurt America. It's a daily reminder that my most important job is to protect the American people. We're still vulnerable, because we're a huge nation, big borders. But we're less vulnerable. You need to know that we share information like never before. Anytime we get any kind of hint, any evidence whatsoever that somebody may try to do something to America, we're reacting. We're following every single lead. We've got better coordination with our intelligence gathering and the FBI and law enforcement at home. We're buttoning up America the way you'd want us to, within the confines of the United States Constitution. We're doing a better job of coordinating efforts with our brave police and firefighters and EMS they're called first responders. We're going to do a better job of reforming the INS so that we've got better border security in the United States. We've got an initiative and a strategy to deal with bioterrorism, should it come. We're working hard, and a lot of good folks are working endless hours to protect the American citizens. But the surest way to protect America is to hunt the killers down one by one and bring them to justice, and that is what we're going to do. I have submitted a budget that makes our defense a priority, and I expect the United States Congress to pass the defense appropriations bill early, rather than late, and not play politics with defense appropriations. It is a big increase, because anytime we put our soldiers in harm's way, they deserve the best equipment, the best training, and the best pay possible. And it's also a big increase because it is indicative of the fact that we're in this for the long pull. There is no calendar on my desk that says, "By such and such a date, you will quit." There is no timeframe, artificial timeframe. When it comes to defending the freedom of the United States, America, we will do whatever it takes, no matter how long it takes. Others may grow tired, but I'm not. I am so honored by our hard work of our Secretary of State and my national security team by the way, one of whom is doing great, named Condoleezza Rice, came right out of this part of the world. Thank goodness she's there and not at Stanford. Laughter Nothing wrong with Stanford, but America is better off with her leading our National Security Council. We've got this coalition together because we said loud and clear, "Either you're with us, or you're with the terrorists." And I meant it. I meant that. I also said that if you harbor a terrorist and feed one, you're just as guilty as the killers. And the Taliban found out exactly what the United States of America meant. As we talk about this war, it's really important to remind young Americans and all Americans, for that matter that this country does not seek revenge we seek justice and that we've got to be proud not only of the fact that we're defending our freedoms, but we went into Afghanistan not as conquerors but as liberators. And for the first time, many young girls were able to go to school, thanks to the United States of America. You just need to know, it's still a dangerous period in Afghanistan. There's still a lot of killers roaming around, and they hate America. Listen, they hate us because we're free. They cannot stand the thought that we have freedom of religion in America, that we respect each other based upon our personal religious beliefs. They cannot stand the thought that there's honest political discourse. There's free press I'm confident they hate that. They hate us. And so, wherever they try to hide, we're going to get them. There's no cave dark enough or deep enough from the United States of America. We are a patient country we are a united country we're plenty tough when we have to be tough. You know, I can't imagine what went through their minds. They must have thought they must have fallen prey to this notion that America was so self absorbed, so materialistic, so selfish, so essentially weak, that all we were going to do when they attacked was file a lawsuit. Laughter They found out we think differently. Not only are we going to make sure we help secure Afghanistan we will help rebuild Afghanistan. We not only want the world to be more secure we want the world to be better. The second phase of the war is to deny sanctuary and training grounds to any Al Qaida organization, and we're doing a pretty good job of that. Yemen, for example, is a country with which we work to make sure that they don't get to bunch up in Yemen and start over. In other words, by denying sanctuary, we're treating them as they need to be treated, as international criminals, as coldblooded killers. But this war is more than just one person it's more than about one organization. You see, there are regimes that governments, not just organizations, that can't stand what we believe in, who develop and harbor and hold some of the worst weapons in the world. And for the sake of our children and for the sake of our children's children and for the sake of our friends and allies, we must and we will not allow the world's most dangerous regimes to possess and threaten us and blackmail us with the world's most dangerous weapons. I'm proud of our military. I'm proud of our country. We send such a strong signal to the world when we're united and resolved and determined. See, if we blink, everybody else goes to sleep. History has called us into action. History has laid the mantle of responsibility for peace squarely on our shoulders. I accept that responsibility, and so does the American people. I'm an optimistic person. I truly believe that out of this evil will come some incredible good. I believe by being firm and tough and routing out terror, the world will be more peaceful. I long for peace. I want our children to grow up in a peaceful world. I want there to be hope where hope has been diminished around the world, and we must not, and we will not, let terrorism rule the world. No, by being tough and strong and diligent, this world, thanks to the leadership of the United States of America, is going to be a more peaceful place, and I think at home, we can be a more compassionate place as well. People say to me, "You know, Mr. President, what can I do in the war against terror?" My answer is, love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself that if you want to fight evil, do some good. It doesn't take much. I talked about the ultimate sacrifice of serving something greater than yourself. But you can serve something greater than yourself by mentoring a child. You can serve something greater than yourself by feeding the homeless. You can serve something greater than yourself by just walking across the street to a shut in and saying, "I love you. Is there anything I can do to make your day better?" If you want to fight evil, do some good. And there's all kinds of opportunities. We've got the USA Freedom Corps for old and young alike who want to volunteer. We've got a Peace Corps that we're going to expand and send around double the size of the Peace Corps. There's all kinds of opportunities. In my State in my State my speech in front of the Congress, I said, "Why don't if you want to help, dedicate 4,000 hours of your life from this point forward to help a neighbor in need." And it's happening. I truly believe out of the evil will come a new culture of personal responsibility, one that says that stands in contrast, by the way, to a period of time that said, "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." There's a new culture that's coming around that says, "I'm responsible for the decisions I make in life. I'm responsible for loving my family. I'm responsible for loving my neighbor." And to make that responsibility era full, if you're running a company in America, you have responsibility to be honest and open with your shareholders and your employees as well. It's happening, and it's happening in this country because the strength of America is not in the halls of our governments the strength of this country is in the hearts and souls of incredibly decent and kind and compassionate Americans. No, out of evil will come incredible good. The world will not only be more peaceful, but this world will show the true face this country will show the world the true face of America, a welcoming society, a society that says that the American Dream belongs to all, a society that's willing to tackle the pockets of despair and hopelessness with love and compassion and decency. Out of the evil done on September the 11th, we will show the world the true nature of the greatest country on the face of the Earth. I want to thank you all for coming to support this good man, and thank you for giving me the honor of being the President of the United States of America. April 30, 2002 Well, thank you very much for that warm welcome. I am so grateful for the Commonwealth Club and the Churchill Club for inviting me here. I appreciate you all coming, and I appreciate your hospitality. I want to thank Dr. Gloria Duffy for her generous introduction and for her invitation. I want to thank Silvia Fernandez, who's the president of the Churchill Club, for joining the Commonwealth Club to host this event. I want to thank all the elected officials who are here. I want to thank my fellow citizens for coming. Whenever I visit California, I'm impressed by the beauty of this State and by the spirit of the people. Because of its size, the health of the California economy influences every American. And California has got a culture of optimism and energy that touches all of us as well. This is a vital and a vibrant place, and I'm glad to be back. The last time I visited San Jose, the Silicon Valley was still in an economic boom, and America was at peace. For many in this valley and across our country, those times are a world away. After a recession made worse by a national emergency, we have seen some good news. Our economy is beginning to grow. Just last week, we had the good news about strong growth in the first quarter. Yet, this vital region reminds us that a lot of work remains to be done. Business investment and job creation are not what they should be. We cannot be content with one quarter's news. We cannot be complacent. My attitude is that we'll let the statisticians talk about the numbers, but so long as somebody who wants to work can't find work, that's a problem for America. We have a great task ahead of us. We must turn our short term recovery into long lasting expansion that reaches every part of our country. Our economy grows when trade barriers fall. I ask the Senate to join the United States House of Representatives in giving me what's called trade promotion authority. It's important to be a confident country, and I'm confident in the ability of American entrepreneurs and producers to compete in the world. I'm confident that our farmers and ranchers can compete in the world. And I know American technology companies are the best in the world. And we must open new markets so they can sell to the world. Our economy grows when the tax burden goes down and stays down. Much of the growth we have seen this quarter is the result of consumer spending, fueled by well timed tax deductions. To encourage growth in job creation, we must protect the lower tax rates we've enacted, and we must make them permanent. And to make sure there is economic vitality around our country, our Government must control its appetite for excessive spending. Our economy grows when entrepreneurs are rewarded for their success, not hounded by regulations and needless litigation. We must enact reforms that free entrepreneurs from pointless regulation and endless litigation. And to restore trust in our economy, corporate leaders must be held to the highest ethical standards. And as your State knows, our economy grows when we have steady, stable, and affordable sources of energy. In Washington, we must adopt finally adopt a comprehensive strategy to conserve more, to produce more, and to deliver the energy that keeps our economy running. Both Houses have passed a energy passed energy legislation. I expect them to get a bill to my desk soon, for the good of American economy and American jobs. By acting in the above way, we confirm that the role of Government is not to create wealth the role of Government is to create the conditions for economic growth. Since I was last here, America has also accepted a great challenge in the world to wage a relentless and systematic campaign against global terror. The security of the American people is the central commitment of the American Government. We are in for a long and difficult war. It will be conducted on many fronts, but as long as it takes, we will prevail. In the first phase of our military operation, American and coalition forces have liberated have liberated the people of Afghanistan from a barbaric regime. Our Armed Forces performed with skill and success and honor. A regime has fallen, terrorists in that country are now scattered, and the children of Afghanistan have returned to school, boys and girls. Our work in that country is not over. We are helping the Afghan people to rebuild their nation. And in every cave, in every dark corner of that country, we will hunt down the killers and bring them to justice. We have entered the next phase of the war with a sustained international effort to rout out terrorists in other countries and deny Al Qaida the chance to regroup in other places. Across the world, governments have heard this message You're either with us, or you're with the terrorists. And for the long term security of America and civilization itself, we must confront the great threat of biological and chemical and nuclear weapons in the hands of terrorists or hostile regimes. We will not allow the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten America or our friends and allies with the world's most destructive weapons. History has called us to these responsibilities, and we accept them. America has always had a special mission to defend justice and advance freedom around the world. Whatever the difficulties ahead, we are confident about the outcome of this struggle. Tyranny and terror and lawless violence will not decide the world's future. As Ronald Reagan said and as every generation of Americans has believed, "the future belongs to the free." In a time of war, we reassert the essential values and beliefs of our country. In the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln pointed toward a new birth of freedom. Leading America in a global war, Franklin D. Roosevelt defined the four freedoms freedom of speech and religion, freedom from fear and want. Whenever America fights for the security of our country, we also fight for the values of our country. In our time, we will defend the land we love, and we will act on the ideals that gave it birth. In America, we've not always lived up to our ideals, yet we always reach for them. We believe that everyone deserves a chance, that everyone has value, that no insignificant person was ever born. We believe that all are diminished when any are hopeless. We are one people, committed to building a single nation of justice and opportunity. America rejects bigotry. America rejects applause we reject every act of hatred against people of Arab background or Muslim faith. We reject the ancient evil of anti Semitism, whether it is practiced by the killers of Daniel Pearl or by those who burn synagogues in France. America values and welcomes peaceful people of all faiths, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, and many others. Every faith is practiced and protected here, because we are one country. Every immigrant can be fully and equally American, because we're one country. Race and color should not divide us, because America is one country. These American ideals of opportunity and equality come to us across the generations, and they have attracted millions from across the world. Yet, there are young Americans growing up here, under this flag, who doubt the promise and justice of our country. They live in neighborhoods occupied by gangs and ruled by fear. They are entitled by law to an education, yet do not receive an education. They hear talk of opportunity and see little evidence of opportunity around them. Every American must believe in the promise of America, and to reach this noble, necessary goal, there is a role for Government. America doesn't need more big Government, and we've learned that more money is not always the answer. If a program is failing to serve people, it makes little difference if we spend twice as much or half as much. The measure of true compassion is results. Yet we cannot have an indifferent Government, either. We are a generous and caring people. We don't believe in a sink or swim society. The policies of our Government must heed the universal call of all faiths to love a neighbor as we would want to be loved ourselves. We need a different approach than either big Government or indifferent Government. We need a Government that is focused, effective, and close to the people, a Government that does a few things and does them well. Government cannot solve every problem, but it can encourage people and communities to help themselves and to help one another. Often the truest kind of compassion is to help citizens build lives of their own. I call my philosophy and approach compassionate conservatism. It is compassionate to actively help our fellow citizens in need. It is conservative to insist on responsibility and on results. And with this hopeful approach, we can make a real difference in people's lives. Compassionate conservatism places great hope and confidence in public education. Our economy depends on higher and higher skills, requiring every American to have the basic tools of learning. Every public school should be the path of upward mobility. Yet, sadly enough, many are the dead end of dreams. Public schools are some of the most important institutions of democracy. They take children of every background, from every part of the world, and prepare them for the obligations and opportunities of a free society. Public schools are Americans great hope, and making them work for every child is America's great duty. The new education reforms we have passed in Washington give the Federal Government a new role in public education. Schools must meet new and high standards of performance in reading and math that will be proven on tests and posted on the Internet for parents and everyone to see. And we're giving local schools and teachers unprecedented freedom and resources and training to meet these goals. It is conservative to let local communities chart their own path to excellence. It is compassionate to insist that every child learns, so that no child is left behind. By insisting on results and challenging failure where we find it, we'll make an incredible difference in the lives of every child in America. Compassionate conservatism offers a new vision for fighting poverty in America. For decades, our Nation has devoted enormous resources to helping the poor, with some great successes to show for it basic medical care for those in need a better life for elderly Americans. However, for millions of younger Americans, welfare became a static and destructive way of life. In 1996, we began transforming welfare with time limits and job training and work requirements. And the Nation's welfare rolls have been cut by more than half. But even more importantly, many lives have been dramatically improved. One former welfare recipient here in California happened to be a mother of a chronically ill child and the victim of domestic violence describes her experience upon leaving welfare. She said, "I feel like an adult again. I have my dignity back." We need to continue to fully transform welfare in America. As Congress takes up welfare reform again in the coming weeks, we must strengthen the work requirements that prevent dependency and despair. Millions of Americans once on welfare are finding that a job is more than a source of income it is a source of dignity. And by helping people find work, by helping them prepare for work, we practice compassion. Welfare reform must also, wherever possible, encourage the commitments of family. Not every child has two devoted parents at home I understand that. And not every marriage can or should be saved, but the evidence shows that strong marriages are good for children. When a couple on welfare wants to break bad patterns and start or strengthen a marriage, we should help local groups give them counseling that teaches commitment and respect. By encouraging family, we practice compassion. In overcoming poverty and dependence, we must also promote the work of charities and community groups and faith based institutions. These organizations, such as shelters for battered women or mentoring programs for fatherless children or drug treatment centers, inspire hope in a way that Government never can. Often, they inspire life changing faith in a way that Government never should. Our Government should view the good Americans who work in faith based charities as partners, not rivals. We must provide new incentives for charitable giving, and when it comes to providing Federal resources to effective programs, we should not discriminate against private and religious groups. I urge the Senate to pass the Faith Based Initiative for the good of America. It is compassionate to aggressively fight poverty in America. It is conservative to encourage work and community spirit and responsibility and the values that often come from faith. And with this approach, we can change lives one soul at a time and make a real difference in the lives of our citizens. The same principles of compassion and responsibility apply when America offers assistance to other nations. Nearly half of the world's people still live on less than 2 a day. When we help them, we show our values, our belief in universal human dignity we serve our interests and gain economic partners. And by helping the developing nations of the world, we offer an alternative to resentment and conflict and terror. Yet, the old way of pouring vast amounts of money into development aid without any concern for results has failed, often leaving behind misery and poverty and corruption. America's offering a new compact for global development. Greater aid contributions from America must be and will be linked to greater responsibility from developing nations. I have proposed a 50 percent increase in our core development assistance over the next 3 budget years, money that will be placed in a new Millennium Challenge Account. At the end of this 3 year period, the level of our annual development assistance will be 5 billion higher than current levels. This is a record amount of spending. And in return for these funds, we expect nations to rout out corruption, to open their markets, to respect human rights, and to adhere to the rule of law. And these are the keys to progress in any nation, and they will be the conditions for any new American aid. It is compassionate to increase our international aid. It is conservative to require the hard reforms that lead to prosperity and independence. And with this approach, we'll make a real difference in the lives of people around the world. Compassionate conservatism guides my administration in many other areas. Our health care policies must help low income Americans to buy health insurance they choose, they own, and they control. Our environmental policy set high standards for stewardship while allowing local cooperation and innovation to meet those standards. Our housing programs moved beyond rental assistance to the pride and stability of homeownership. Our reforms in Social Security must allow and encourage and help working Americans to build up their own asset base and achieve independence for their retirement years. All of these policies and all of these areas serve the same vision. We are using an active Government to promote self government. We're encouraging individuals and communities and families to take more and more responsibility for themselves, for their neighbors, for our Nation. The aim of these policies is not to spend more money or spend less money it is to spend on what works. The measure of compassion is more than good intentions it is good results. Sympathy is not enough. We need solutions in America, and we know where solutions are found. When schools are teaching, when families are strong, when neighbors look after their neighbors, when our people have the tools and the skills and the resources they need to improve their lives, there is no problem that cannot be solved in America. By being involved and by taking responsibility upon ourselves, we gain something else as well We contribute to the life of our country. We become more than taxpayers and occasional voters we become citizens citizens, not spectators citizens who hear the call of duty, who stand up for their beliefs, who care for their families, who control their lives, and who treat their neighbors with respect and compassion. We discover a satisfaction that is only found in service, and we show our gratitude to America and to those who came before us. In the last 7 months, we've been tested, and the struggle of our time has revealed the spirit of our people. Since September the 11th, we have been the kind of nation our Founders had in mind, a nation of strong and confident and self governing people. And we've been the kind of nation our fathers and mothers defended in World War II a great and diverse country, united by common dangers and by common resolve. We, in our time, will defend our Nation, and we will deliver our Nation's promise to all who seek it. In our war on terror, we are showing the world the strength of our country, and by our unity and tolerance and compassion, we will show the world the soul of our country. May God bless America. April 29, 2002 The President. Gosh, thanks for that warm welcome. It's great to be back in New Mexico. I'm glad to know my Texas passport is still active. Laughter I'm here because it is very important for the people of New Mexico to send Heather Wilson back to the United States Congress. I'm here to give my whole hearted support to her candidacy. Before I spend a little time fleshing that out, I want to say something about the senior Senator from New Mexico. There's no finer American in the United States Senate than Pete Domenici. I'm proud to call him friend, and I'm proud to get lectured by him all the time. Laughter It seems like he's always got important issues on his mind, the labs, mental health parity. But he is a great ally and a really fine Senator. I'm also honored to have served with been the President at the same time that Joe Skeen was the United States Congressman from another congressional district here in New Mexico. We're going to miss old Joe, but I'm confident he still has my address and willing to give Audience member. Inaudible The President. That's good. But thank you for your service. I want to thank John Dendahl, the party chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, and all the party leaders who are here. I particularly want to say something about the grassroots, the people who work the phone banks and lick the envelopes and do all the work necessary to keep people like me and Pete and Heather in office. And I want to thank you for your loyalty I want to thank you for your passion for our political party and I want to thank you for the endless hours you put on our behalf. I want to thank the Lieutenant Governor and all the State officials who are here. And I want to thank you all for supporting Heather. Here's the way I feel Anytime you find somebody who brings such class and dignity to a political office, we as Americans owe our support to her. And Heather Wilson brings a lot of class and a lot of dignity. You know, in Washington there's a lot of there can be a lot of noise, a lot of shrill voices, people who are people up there sometimes are the ones who like to divide people into camps and call names and point fingers. They think that's effective, and it's such a wonderful contrast to have the quiet dignity and the competence of Heather Wilson in the United States Congress. It is so good and refreshing and good for our democracy and good for our country that people like Heather are willing to serve. She can get things done for New Mexico. The thing I appreciate, Heather, is she is there for the right reason, to serve the people, to represent the people of New Mexico. And I'm proud of our political party, make no mistake about it, but I'm proud of the fact that Heather puts our country first, that she understands the importance of our Nation and what it stands for. I remember so well going to Griegos Elementary with Heather. She said, "You come to my district. I want you to go, first and foremost, to an elementary school." Because she understands that when we educate our children, the American Dream will be extended to every neighborhood. I appreciate that spirit. She told me that the day I signed the no child left behind legislation, which was a significant piece of educational reform, supported both by Heather and by Pete, that she went back to Griegos. And it was a fitting place for her to go, because this is a piece of legislation which says that America will refuse to condemn any child to failure. It is a piece of public legislation that says to our public schools, we'll set high standards for every child I mean every child that we trust the local people to chart the path to excellence, and that we refuse to accept a system that simply shuffles children through. And the beneficiaries of this type of mentality are going to be the children who go to Griegos, and Heather knows that. And I want to thank you for your strong support on education reform. It means so much to this part of the world, to all our country that we got this legislation done. I also appreciate so very much Heather's values. You know, we were coming in I said I'm trying to get her to talk about issues she wants to talk about Little League baseball. Laughter Here I am, trying to tell her what's going on in the world, which we eventually got to, but the first thing on her mind was to let me know that her son and Jay's son is a Little League player and how proud of the fact that she was that the lad suits up, gives it his all, occasionally gets a base hit. Must be Jay's genes. Laughter But she loves her family. She loves her husband. And I think that's also an important trait for anybody to serve our public well. And Jay, I want to thank you for your patience and understanding and support for this fine lady who serves New Mexico in the United States Congress. I also want to thank Heather for her strong support for Kirtland Air Force Base. People got to I think it's important, when people start heading in these voting booths next fall, that particularly in this part of the world that they understand Heather's influence, that she's making a difference, that she's getting things done for this part of the world. And one of the things that she's good at is understanding the importance for national defense. Kirtland Air Force Base is an incredible part of that national defense of the United States. I remember so well campaigning here in New Mexico and then coming back to the Barelas Job Opportunity Center, which she and Pete helped get started. Pete and Heather were telling me that there's been 6,000 people that have been helped in this job center, people to be able to find work. And I want to thank you all for inviting me back for when we opened up that facility, and I want to thank you for leading on that. But jobs is an incredibly important part of Heather's agenda, and it's an incredibly important part of mine. And it here's the way I feel about it If anybody's looking for work and can't find work, we've got a job problem. And I know the numbers are beginning to look better, but you know, I leave the numbers for the statisticians and the bean counters. We're practical people that's got to keep asking the question, how do we keep America employed, and how do we keep the job base growing? And one other thing Heather understands is the role of Government is not to create wealth but to create an environment in which small businesses can grow and the entrepreneurs of America can flourish. And we campaigned on the idea that if you let people have more of their own money I emphasize "their own money" that there would be more money to spend, more demand for goods and services. And with more demand for goods and services, somebody will produce the goods and services. And when they produce the goods and services, it means somebody is going to find work. This tax cut that I campaigned on and fought for, that Pete and Heather and Joe supported, was the right thing for America at this point in our history. And it has made a big difference in helping people find work. Heather also understands the need to have fairness when it comes to Medicare. And she is going to take a leadership role in helping to provide prescription drug coverage within the Medicare system, so our seniors do not go without. It's an important initiative, and thank goodness she's willing to lend her talent to get this job done. She's close to the Speaker on this issue, and when you're close to the Speaker on this issue, you have a good chance to make a significant difference for the elderly of not only New Mexico and the United States of America. There's a lot more issues that we could talk about where Heather has taken a leadership role, but I do want to talk about one more, and that is energy. Our Nation has not had an energy policy. And I came along with the Vice President, and I tasked him to develop an energy policy, one that recognizes that technology is going to help us conserve better. And we need to conserve more. We need to be wiser about how we use our energy. And part of our vision and part of our plan and part of our initiative is to make sure that we're able to get power to the consumer across a modern infrastructure, as opposed to one that is now aging and decrepit. But we also recognize that it is important for us to find more energy in America, that we ought to produce more. We have a national security problem. Over 50 percent of our energy comes from other countries, and some of those countries don't like us. Some of them aren't our friends. And so for the sake of our national security and for the sake of our economic security, we need an energy bill. One passed the House, and I want to thank Heather for her leadership. One has passed the Senate, and I appreciate Pete for his leadership. And now it's time for Congress to act and get a bill to my desk which I can sign. I mentioned national security, and that's on my mind these days. Every morning when I'm there in Washington, I walk into the beautiful Oval Office and read a threat assessment prepared by our intelligence agencies, and it's in a list of what we're learning and what we think and what we know about an enemy that still wants to hit America. So every day I'm reminded that my biggest task and most important job is to protect the homeland. And we're making progress. We're still a vulnerable nation, and the reason we're vulnerable is because we've got an enemy that hates us, an enemy that is nothing but coldblooded killers. That's all they are, as far as I'm concerned. We're doing a much better job of sharing information of gathering information and sharing it. To put it in Midland, Texas, terms Anytime we get a hint, we're following up on it. Every time we get a sense that something may be about to happen or somebody is trying to attack a U.S. citizen or facility, you just need to know we're responding. Our number one priority of our law enforcement agencies around America is to run down every lead, every hint. We've also got a strategy here at home to deal with bioterrorism. And that's a real threat to America, but we must be prepared if such a threat were to come. We've got an initiative to make sure that our borders are more secure. We've got to do a better job at the INS of understanding who is coming into our country, why they're coming into our country, and how long they intend to stay in our country. And if they're going to be here for a short period of time, are they actually leaving our country? For the sake of our national security, we've got to reform the INS and bring it up to speed and make it a modern agency with the capacity to gather and disperse information in a modern way. But the best way to secure the homeland for America is to run these killers down one by one and bring them to justice. And it's not going to be easy, nor is it going to happen as quickly as some might like. I do not have a calendar on my desk that says, "At such and such a time, you will stop. You, President Bush, on such and such a date will have run out the string, and it's time for you to quit." That calendar doesn't exist, because my mind frame is this When it comes to defending our freedoms, no matter how long it takes, that's exactly what this country is going to do. We're not going to forget what happened on September the 11th. We've learned more about the enemy. We learned a good lesson, that two oceans can no longer protect us, that because we're an open society, we're a vulnerable society. But we're not going to allow our openness and our love for freedom to go away. I mean, one of the things the enemy wants to do is to say, "You know, since you love freedom, you're under attack." And I guess the corollary is, is that, "Get rid of your freedoms." But that's not the way we think in America. When it comes to defense of our country, when it comes to our defense and defending our values, we're plenty tough. And that's the way it's going to be, much to the chagrin of the killers. I have unleashed the United States military, and they have not let us down. For those of you who have got relatives in the military, a son or a daughter or a husband or a wife, I want to thank you, on behalf of a grateful nation, for their sacrifice and your understanding. I have submitted a budget to the United States Congress which makes a priority of our national defense. And I expect that the appropriations process to pass the defense bill first. In times of war, I ought to have the defense appropriations bill on my desk as soon as possible. We don't need any people playing politics with the defense of the United States of America. You know, when I was campaigning in Chicago one time, they said, "Would you ever have a deficit?" I said, "I hope not." I said, "I think it's important for us to make to work hard to have a balanced budget." But I said, "Yes, I'd have a deficit if I were the President only if we were at war or in a recession or in times of emergency." I didn't think I was going to draw the trifecta. Laughter But when it comes time to defending our freedom, we need to understand, even though the price of freedom is high, it is not too high. It is never too high. And that's what the Congress has got to say, and that's what the Congress has got to know. The other thing that's important for us is to uphold the doctrines that I lay out, or the country lays out. And when we said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're just as bad as a terrorist," I meant it, and the Taliban found out exactly what we meant. Now, one of the things that's important for our fellow citizens to understand is that we're not seeking revenge we're seeking justice. And when we went into Afghanistan, we went in not as conquerors we weren't interested in conquering anybody we went in as liberators. And I'm so proud of the fact that not only is this Nation tough and strong but that we care deeply about young girls who had never been to school in their lives, and we're proud to have freed the people of Afghanistan from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. We've got a lot of work to do there. And so you just need to know that our military is going to be there for awhile. I mean, they've got these little pockets of these killers showing up, and we're just going to have to find them, keep chasing them down. We've got work to help this country rebuild her military, so that she can defend herself. We've got work about to make sure that the humanitarian aid and assistance that we're so generously providing is effective. So we'll be there for awhile. We'll be there for awhile. And another reason why we're going to be there is because the second phase of this war our strategy has been to deny sanctuary to any of the killers in anywhere else, in any other country. So when we find a country that looks like a safe haven for them, a place where they may try to bunch up and train or set up a logistical command center, we're shutting them down. We've got a great coalition, thanks to our Secretary of State and my administration. We're nurturing that coalition. We're reminding them that to be a member of this coalition, you've got to perform. We don't need any sweet talk what we want is results. And so we're denying sanctuary to Al Qaida killers and terrorist killers. And so therefore, if they have no sanctuary, it's more likely they'll remain in Afghanistan, which is fine with us, because that's where we're prepared to chase them down. I wish I could tell you that what the timetable is going to be. I can't. But the good news is, the American people don't expect a timetable. They're unified, and for that I'm grateful. We are strong, and for that I'm grateful. We're a disciplined nation when it comes to our defense, and for that I'm incredibly grateful as well. You know, this war on terror is bigger than just an organization. It's certainly bigger than one person. We've also got to deal with and we will and confront and we will the fact that nations there are nations in this world who hate America who are developing and have developed weapons of mass destruction. And a nightmare scenario for future generations of freedom loving people is to allow one of these nations to team up with a terrorist organization so that they could blackmail America and our friends and hold us hostage. And you just need to know, I'm just not going to let that happen. History has called us to action. History has given this chance this nation a chance to lead. And that's exactly what we're going to do, so long as I'm the President of the United States. I'm pleased with the support I'm getting in Congress. I want to thank Pete and Heather and Joe for their strong support for the national defense of the United States. I am going to make sure that as the budget process goes on, that I will defend the priorities that I have submitted to Congress, primarily our national defense and homeland security, and make a clear case to Congress not to overspend, to show some fiscal discipline and some restraint, that we've got plenty of money to fund our priorities. We've just got to make sure we stay focused on the priorities. I also want you to know that there are a way for every one of us to help join in this war against terror to fight evil. And the way I like to put it is, go love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself that if you want to fight evil, do some good that if you want to show the killers that we're not going to be intimidated, feed the homeless, mentor a child, start a program, a faith based program in your church or synagogue or mosque, all aimed at showing somebody who may have fallen to the depths of despair that somebody loves them, that there is a good and gracious God that loves them. And you can be a messenger, on behalf of the good and gracious God, to help somebody in need. And that's what's happening around America. This is a unique moment, because the character of our country is shining through. I mean, we're tough, but we're compassionate. We're strong, but we want to help the weak. And by doing so, the country is an amazing place for people who are fortunate enough to become an American. When people see our true character, they're amazed that we're a welcoming society. It doesn't matter how you were born or where you're raised it doesn't matter if your mother or dad speaks Spanish and not English, because you're welcome in America. This country is available for you and your children. We need to show the world that when they hit us, they not only awakened our military and our strength and our resolve they also awakened a deep and abiding compassion in our fellow human beings, who may not be as fortunate as we are. I want to thank you all, if you're doing that. If you're not, I call you to do it. I ask you, on behalf of the country, to redouble your efforts or to begin your efforts to help somebody who might hurt, to love somebody who needs love. And in so doing, you help strengthen America. You help us defeat an enemy that tried to change our country. It is such an honor to be the President of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. I'm honored you came today, and I want to thank you for supporting a really fine soul, in Heather Wilson. April 29, 2002 Thank you all very much. It is a high honor to be back in the great State of California. I am honored to be speaking in front of so many folks who are here for a common purpose, and that is to see to it that this good man, Bill Simon, becomes the next Governor of the State of California. I want to thank Bill and Cindy. Flying in on Air Force One today, we had a good chance to visit, to talk about our families, to talk about our shared values. And after our conversation, it was quite clear to me that both he and I married above ourselves. Laughter I want to thank Cindy Simon for her willingness to join Bill in this fantastic journey to become the State's next Governor. It takes a very strong wife and a good partner to be willing to make this sacrifice. I know firsthand, because I've got a great wife. The country is beginning to see why I asked Laura to marry me. She's calm, and she's steady she's strong. A lot of people are still wondering why she said yes. Laughter But I'm sorry she's not with us tonight. She's back in Washington, DC. But I am really proud of the First Lady of the United States. I want to thank members of the congressional delegation who are here, Congressmen Rohrabacher, Issa, and Miller. I want to thank them for their friendship, and I want to thank them for joining in helping pass an agenda that is positive for all Americans. I want to thank Bill Jones California's secretary of state is here as well. I'm not sure if Bruce McPherson's here, the Lieutenant Governor candidate, but he's a fine guy. And I want to thank all the State and local officials who are here as well. And I want to thank you all for supporting this good man. I want to thank you for the friendship you've given him, for the contributions you make, and for your willingness to do more than just contribute, the willingness to go out and talk him up and to tell your friends and neighbors. As we say in Texas, it's coffee shop chatter that helps somebody get elected. I want to thank all of you who are here who are involved in grassroots politics in California. I want to thank you for your making the phone calls, for licking the envelopes, for doing all the hard work necessary to see to it that candidates can win elections. This is a good man I'm campaigning for and a good man you're supporting. He's a fellow who's got his values straight. He's an entrepreneur with a generous heart. He loves his family, and he loves his country. I've been reading about what some of the comments have been here in California. Some of the Democrats are saying, "This is a fellow who's never held elective office. Heck, all he's been is a successful businessman. Laughter What can he possibly know about running any organization?" Laughter Sounds familiar. Sounds like Ann Richards is advising the Davis campaign. Laughter In 1994, the people of Texas voted for a positive vision for a great and diverse State. And that is exactly what's going to happen in the great State of California this November. This great and diverse State is going to vote for a breath of fresh air, a positive vision. This State will reject old style politics and elect as its Governor a man who is willing to lead, a man who doesn't need a poll or a focus group to tell him what to think, a man who will stand on principle, and a man who has got the courage to do what is right for the people of the State of California. I appreciate so very much Bill's emphasis on education. As he mentioned, we just passed historic reform in Washington, DC. Let me tell you what the bill says. It says we believe every child can learn in America, and therefore, we expect high standards for every single child. The bill says that we trust the local people to make the right decisions for the children of California or Texas or any other State in the Union. The bill says that when we spend money, we expect results. And the bill says that when we confront when we find failure, we must be courageous enough to confront it, for no child should be trapped in a school that refuses to teach and a school that refuses to change. That is the philosophy of Bill Simon, a philosophy which will suit all the citizens of this State in good stead. I appreciate Bill's understanding about the importance of energy for the State of California. It's hard to believe that our Nation has had no comprehensive energy plan for a long time. And as a result, the people of this State began to suffer. And so in Washington, we put together a plan that says, on the one hand, we've got to do a better job of conserving our scarce resources. And at the same time, we've got to use our vast technological know how to develop renewable sources of energy. But it also says that for the sake of our economic security and for the sake of our national security, we must become less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. Bill and I know that we've got to be wise about how we explore for oil and gas in our own country. And we both believe that through technology, we can do so in an environmentally friendly way. But it's time for this State to have leadership when it comes to energy. In order for people to be able to find work, this State needs to have a Governor who understands the need to have a comprehensive energy plan, and Bill Simon is that man. I appreciate Bill's understanding of the need to have fiscal discipline in our seats of government. And at the same time, he understands that the money we're spending is not the Government's money. The money we spend, whether it be in Washington or Sacramento, is the people's money. I remember campaigning right here in this room, and I said if I was fortunate enough to become the President, I would go to Washington, DC, and insist that we return some of the people's money back to them. For the good of the entrepreneurial spirit in America, we let them keep more money. For the good of small business growth, people should keep more money. For the good of encouraging people to be able to realize their dreams, they ought to be able to keep more of their hard earned dollars. And fortunately, Congress listened, and the tax cut we passed came at the exact right time. I heard some of them talking up there about, "Well, you know, we need to raise taxes," or "We've got to stop the tax relief." They're reading the wrong textbook, as far as I'm concerned. I don't know what course they took, but what America should not do is, in the face of economic difficulties, raise the taxes on the people. What America must do is trust people with their own money. And Bill Simon understands that as well as anybody who's running for office in America today. He's a good man with a good agenda for everybody who lives in the State of California. When he wins, he's going to be the Governor of everybody. Doesn't matter whether somebody voted for him or not this good man will represent the best interests of all the people of this important State. We've got a lot on our agenda in Washington. We're talking about trade promotion authority, and that's incredibly important, to be able to open up markets. Listen, the State of California benefits when we trade. And I hope Congress finally gets me a trade promotion authority. I hope Congress finally gets me an energy bill. I hope Congress acts. But there's nothing more important than making sure we defend the homeland of the United States of America. I have the high honor of walking in the Oval Office every morning that I'm in Washington. I'm an early morning guy, and I've got an interesting routine. I get up and get the First Lady a little coffee laughter sometimes I read the headlines of the newspapers laughter rarely do I read the editorial pages laughter in all due respect take the dogs out. And Spot, the dog who is now 13, born to Millie at the White House when Mother and Dad were there, joins me in the Oval Office. Barney, the 1 1 2 year old Scottish terrier, is not allowed in. Laughter After all, we've got a beautiful new rug. Laughter But I sit at this fantastic desk called the H.M.S. Resolute desk. It's a desk that Theodore Roosevelt had used and Franklin Roosevelt had used. President Kennedy used it. You might remember the picture of John John Kennedy looking out from the door at the desk. And I sit there in this beautiful sanctuary of democracy and read a threat assessment. Every morning, I see a compilation of intelligence about what the enemies may or may not do. And it reminds me of the most solemn task I have, and that is to protect innocent Americans from further attack. And make no mistake about it, the people we're dealing with are nothing but coldblooded killers. I can't put it any more plainly, and we're going to deal with them as such. You need to know our country is doing a heck of a lot better job of sharing intelligence. Anytime we get a whiff of somebody thinking about doing something to us, we react. We react within the confines of the United States Constitution, but we react. We chase down every single lead there is. There's great cooperation now or better cooperation now between our CIA and the FBI and much better cooperation between the Federal Government and the State government and local authorities. At the same time that we're chasing down every single lead, we're also making the homeland more secure. The budget I've submitted to Congress has got a significant increase in monies available for border security, for a response to bioterrorism, monies for our bold and brave first responders, the police, the fire, and the EMS teams all across America. No, we're active, and we're serious. But the surest way to protect the homeland is to chase these killers down one by one and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what we're going to do. I oftentimes think about what was going through the minds of the Al Qaida killers. They must have taken a look at America and said, "This nation is so self absorbed and so materialistic and so self centered and so weak that all they would do would be to file a lawsuit." Laughter They were wrong. They have learned firsthand that when it comes to defending our freedoms, our Nation is strong, united, and resolved. And we're making good progress, thanks to a fantastic coalition of nations that heard the call, "Either you're with us, or you're with the terrorists." And a lot of nations have made the right choice. And they also learned firsthand that when it comes to defending freedoms, we're plenty tough, because of a fantastic United States military. For those of you who have got relatives in the military, you thank them on behalf of a grateful Commander in Chief. And I thank you for supporting them. I submitted a budget to the United States Congress that significantly increases our defense spending. I did so for two reasons One, that anytime we put a soldier in harm's way, he or she deserves the best training, the best equipment, the best possible pay and secondly, I submitted a significant budget because I wanted the world and our coalition and the enemy to realize we're in this battle for the long pull. I don't have a calendar on my desk, that beautiful desk, that says, "By such and such a date, you will be finished." That's not how I think. I think that whatever it takes, no matter how long it takes, I will lead this Nation to defend freedom against terrorist killers. But the spirit of this Nation is so strong and powerful, and the world has got to know and the youth of America must know that this great Nation doesn't seek revenge. There's no revenge in our heart. We seek justice. And when we rid when we got rid of the most one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind, the Taliban, we didn't go to that country as conquerors we went as liberators. I want you all to remember that for the first time, many young girls were able to go to school, thanks to the United States of America. The first phase ended with the Taliban out. Oh, some of them are hiding in caves, but there's no cave dark enough to hide from the United States of America. The second phase is to make sure that Al Qaida can't bunch up anywhere else, that they can't use a weak country as a training base or a place to recruit or a place to operate from which to operate. And we're making good progress there. When the United States stays strong and steady, the world looks for our leadership. And that's the way it's going to be. So we're in this for the long pull, and America understands that. I can't tell you how grateful I am to be the President of a nation that is so united and so resolved and so strong and so willing to defend that which we hold dear to our hearts, our freedom. You know, history has called our Nation into action. It's a unique moment. And we've responded mightily, and we will continue to respond, much to the chagrin of the enemy. If America goes to sleep, the rest of the world is in trouble. If we blink, the rest of the world will close their eyes. So we're not blinking, and we're not going to sleep. This war against terror is bigger than one person or one organization. You've heard me talk about nations which harbor weapons of mass destruction. Let me repeat again We owe it to our children and our children's and our children's children to make sure that some of the worst nations in the world are never able to blackmail America and our friends and our allies with the worst kind of weapons. It is essential that we remain strong. It's essential that we defend freedom. And as we do, out of this incredible evil done to America can come some really good things. I truly believe that if we lead in a strong and resolute way, we can achieve peace in the world. My dream is for the world to be peaceful in parts in regions where people have lost hope for peace. I believe we can achieve peace. I believe we can achieve peace in the Middle East. I believe we can achieve peace between India and Pakistan. I believe, by being constant and vigilant and tough against terror, we will achieve peace. And therefore, out of the evil done to us on September the 11th will come incredible good for the world. And here at home, we have a chance to show the world what we're made out of. I mean, we're more than just a military. We're more than just an economic engine. We're a nation of incredibly compassionate and decent people. We are one nation, under God. We're a nation that believes no matter where you're raised or where you're from, no matter what your religion may be, you can succeed in America. And that's an important message for people around the world to continue to hear. But we can do more than that. If you're interested in fighting evil, love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you're interested in standing strong against those who attacked us, mentor a child. Go to your church or synagogue or mosque and rally good people to feed the homeless. There are pockets of despair in America, and we must deal with those pockets not only with money but with compassion and decency and love. The Boys and Girls Clubs or the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts or Big Brothers and Big Sisters are all part of this great fabric of America which shows our true compassion and kindness and decency. Today I had the honor of going to south central Los Angeles, and I was in a room full of people from different religions and different races. But I was so proud to be in a room bound by one common dream, and that is to extend the hope of America through every neighborhood, not only in Los Angeles but all across America. No, out of this evil done to us is going to come some great good, because we're a great nation. You know, I also believe that what happened to us on September the 11th is beginning to change our culture in America. The culture for years has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." I see a different culture emerging. It's one that says, "Each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life." Each of us are responsible for loving our children with all our heart and all our soul. There's a responsibility era. It says that if you're a citizen in America, you have a responsibility to help a neighbor in need. If you're running a corporation, you have a responsibility to be honest with your employees and your shareholders. There's a new culture emerging. And perhaps it was best defined by what took place on Flight 93. On September the 11th, people were flying from one city to the next. They were told on the telephones that somebody was attacking America. They realized their plane had become a weapon. They told their loved ones on the phone that they loved them. They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll," and they made the ultimate sacrifice. They drove the plane in the ground to save other people's lives. It's the ultimate act of personal responsibility. In this country, people are beginning to realize that serving something greater than yourself in life is important. It's an important part of our society. And it's an important part of being a whole person. No, out of the evil done to America is going to come incredible good. And the reason why is because we are such a good nation. People say they pray for me and my family, and for those of you who do, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I want to tell you that it is an unimaginable honor to be the President of this great land. It is amazing feeling, to be able to represent the greatest people on the face of the Earth. I want to thank you for that honor. I want to thank you for supporting a good man to become the next Governor of the State of California. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. April 28, 2002 The President. Good afternoon. I am pleased by today's developments in the Middle East and believe they'll prove to be important steps along the path to peace in the Middle East. I commend the Israeli Cabinet for its decision this morning to allow Chairman Arafat to move freely, to accept international monitoring of six prisoners who are at Chairman Arafat's compound, and to withdraw its forces from Ramallah. The Palestinian Authority has agreed to accept this approach. Many parties contributed to today's positive development. The United Kingdom played an especially important role in creating a framework for international monitoring of the six prisoners. I've called on all parties to step up their responsibilities, and today's developments are a positive sign that they are doing so. Much hard work remains, and this is a time for all of us to commit to fight terror and to promote peace in the Middle East. Chairman Arafat should now seize this opportunity to act decisively, in word and in deed, against terror directed at Israeli citizens. As we work to improve the security situation in the region, all of us must step up our efforts to bring humanitarian relief and economic assistance to the Palestinian people. This morning I called Crown Prince Abdullah to thank him for his visit to the United States. Our discussions forged a personal bond of friendship and strengthened the 60 year relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince has offered a number of constructive ideas for making political progress between Israel and the Palestinians. We will continue to build on these ideas as we move forward to fight terror and to promote peace in the Middle East. I'll answer a couple of questions. Sonya Sonya Ross, Associated Press . Saudi Peace Plan Q. Mr. President, on the Saudi peace plan, where are the points of objection that you've not been able to agree upon? The President. Well, they came with some constructive ideas, and we listened very carefully to their ideas, and we will continue to work with them and others in the region to promote them. I believe that there is a lot of common ground, starting with all parties assuming responsibility their responsibilities. The Crown Prince clearly understood there is a responsibility for the Arab world. He also believes strongly that Chairman Arafat must step up and believes that Israel should withdraw from the territories. And that is taking place now. Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters . Ramallah Bethlehem Jenin Q. Mr. President, is today's proposal that was accepted by Mr. Sharon and Mr. Arafat a model for lifting the siege in Bethlehem? And are you concerned that the Israelis have not allowed the U.N. monitors into Jenin yet? The President. Well, first of all, on the Jenin issue, that's being worked out now at the U.N. And secondly, in terms of Bethlehem, I believe we're making good progress toward ending that part of the Israeli incursion, and hopefully it will get done soon. But the big news, of course, is Ramallah, and Chairman Arafat is now free to move around and free to lead. And we expect him to do so. Situation in the Middle East Q. Mr. President The President. Okay, Stretch. Q. on that point, what would you expect to see from Chairman Arafat in the next 24, 48, 72 hours in terms of explicit demonstrations of his leadership? The President. Well, of course, one of the things that Chairman Arafat must do is condemn and thwart terrorist activities. And it's important he do so. Again, I keep saying this, and it's so important for all of us involved in this process to recognize there are clear responsibilities. And his responsibility is just what I said, to renounce, to help detect and stop terrorist killings. The Israelis have got responsibilities. The key responsibility for the world at large is to help end the suffering of the Palestinian people through humanitarian and economic assistance. I am very serious about our Government's involvement in a in humanitarian relief. I my heart grieves for a people who have no hope, and there are a lot of people who have no hope in the Middle East. There are some Palestinians a lot of Palestinians who wonder whether or not life is worth living. And we've got, as a world, have got to help them understand there is a positive life ahead for they and their children. There is people in Israel, of course, are deeply concerned about their security, and I can completely understand that. And therefore, all of us Arab nation, Palestinians, United States, the EU must all continue our collective effort to fight terror. There are clearly people in the Middle East who would use terror as a weapon to derail any peace process. And for there to be peace something I long for and something I know that Israel and the Palestinian people long for in order for there to be peace, we must continue to rout out terror. And the message can't be more clear, and we're going to continue to hold people accountable for results. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel Q. Did you invite Mr. Sharon to visit? The President. As I understand yes, we did. Listen, I'm pleased anytime people want to come and visit. We've had the King of Morocco we've had Crown Prince Abdullah, obviously. And when I talked to him on the phone this weekend, the subject didn't come up, but as I understand that there is a discussions going on about a potential trip. I welcome a trip here to the United States. I welcome people from that part of the world to come and bare their soul and discuss their plans for peace. The thing I always look for when I talk to the leaders is a vision for peace. It's impossible to achieve a peace unless there's a vision. And one of the things I appreciated about the Saudi initiative a while ago was it laid out a potential peace process, a plan for peace, a way to get to peace in the region something we all long for. Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority Q. Are you ready to include Arafat in that open invitation? Are you ready now to include Arafat in that open invitation? The President. Mr. Arafat must perform. Mr. Arafat must do his job. I've called upon Mr. Arafat in the past I'll continue to call upon Mr. Arafat to lead. The other day somebody asked me one time, a while ago, they said, "Has he disappointed you? Has he lost your respect?" I said, "Well, he hasn't earned my respect yet. He must earn my respect by leading." And there are a lot of people, a lot of Palestinians who are suffering, and now is the time for him to step up. This has been a hopeful day for the region, and we must continue to press forward to peace. I want to thank you all. April 26, 2002 The President. Good morning. The Department of Commerce announced that our economy grew by 5.8 percent in the first quarter of 2002. That's a very encouraging sign for American workers and American families. Yet, as encouraging as this number is, I am not content. We've got more to do. This morning I had a conference with my economic team, and we all agree that a major force contributing to the high growth figure is a short term swing in inventories. This means that the impetus behind growth won't last very long, that we must continue working to make sure the short term recovery is a long term recovery. Today's report is strong evidence, however, that our tax relief plan is working. If you look at the figures behind the rationale behind the figures, you'll see that a lot of it had to do with consumer spending. And the more people money people have in their pockets, the more likely it is they're going to spend. And tax relief is an incredibly important part of this recovery. Now that's why, as part of making sure that the economy grows long term, is that we make the tax relief permanent, so that there's certainty in the Tax Code. The economic stimulus bill I signed passed out of both Houses and then I signed will help for the long term growth was an important piece of legislation that will help in the out months and out years. We must continue to encourage investment and hiring. One way to do that is to get this energy bill done and get it to my desk. I'm pleased that it passed the House I'm pleased that it passed the Senate. I look forward to working with them on the reconciliation to get it to my desk. A second way to encourage long term growth is to give me trade promotion authority, allow me to negotiate trade agreements, which will open up markets for U.S. manufactured products as well as products produced by American farmers and entrepreneurs. I'd like to get that bill soon. I think it's an important piece of legislation. It passed the House. Senator Daschle said he'd bring it up in the Senate. I hope it's done quickly. It's important that it be done quickly. Also, to make sure that our economy grows, it's important for Congress to hold the line on spending. I submitted a budget I expect them to adhere to the budget. If we overspend this year, it's going to have an effect on long term growth. And finally, it is important to pass the terrorism insurance bill. One of our concerns is that as a result of people not being able to get proper insurance against terrorist acts, capital construction projects in the private sector that normally would have gone forward, haven't done so, so far. So these are the steps that are necessary to make sure the that we have long term growth in our economy. I'm pleased with the numbers. I realize there's going to be some it's an estimate there will be other revisions on this quarter. But it's a good sign. It's a good sign that we're on the path to long term recovery. But, as I repeat, I'm not content with this number, and I know we've got a lot of work to do. I'll answer a couple of questions. Scott Scott Pelley, CBS News , why don't you start. Discussions With Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia Q. Mr. President, late yesterday the Saudis said they had warned you that U.S. credibility could suffer because you haven't done enough to rein in Sharon. What did you say to the Crown Prince on that, and what's the next U.S. move? The President. Well, I told the Crown Prince that we've got a unique relationship with Israel, and that one thing that the world can count on is that we will not allow Israel to be crushed. And I think that's an important statement to make. It's a part of our foreign policy it has been a part of our foreign policy it will continue to be a part of our foreign the Saudis understand that. I also reiterated what I told the country and the world on early April, and that is, all parties have responsibilities in order to make sure there is peace. The Crown Prince is interested in peace in the region, and so am I. And I said to the Crown Prince, and he and we had a good discussion about the obligations of the Arab nations. The Crown Prince was clear in his denunciation of terror. Chairman Arafat has got obligations, and so does the Israelis. And I once again enunciated what those obligations are, and so that the Crown Prince understands my foreign policy. And it's important that we speak with clarity, and I will continue to do so. Israeli Incursions Into Palestinian Territory Q. It's been 2 weeks since you said that Israeli withdrawal ought to be coming without delay, and yet yesterday there was yet again another incursion looking for Palestinians. Have you talked what else can you say to the Israelis to make your point clear? The President. The Israelis understand my position. I've been very clear on that. And there has been some progress, but it's now time to quit it altogether. It's time to end this Q. Why don't they The President. Well, we'll see what happens. It's I know they've heard us. Federal Budget Deficit Q. Mr. President, you've called again for making the tax cut permanent. But there's new figures out now suggesting that the deficit may double may be double earlier forecasts because of a shortfall in tax collections. How do you reconcile that? How do you deal with that larger The President. Well, first of all, let me remind everybody of the facts. I haven't seen this particular story. Of course, it's all speculative to begin with. I don't know the models that they guessed, but it's guesswork thus far. In our guesswork from the OMB, we projected over 100 billion of deficit. I remind I want to remind you what I told the American people, that if I'm the President when I was campaigning if I were to become the President, we would have deficits only in the case of war, a recession, or a national emergency. In this case, we got all three. And therefore, we're recovering from all three. Now, I have submitted a budget that sets clear priorities, and the number one priority is to defend the homeland. And I expect Congress to pass the defense appropriations bill early and get it to my desk. That's going to be an important signal to send our own military, for the country to send to the world, that we're in this for the long haul. But the best way to build up you know, the best way to reduce deficits and to get back into balance is to encourage economic growth. The more growth there is, the more tax revenues there will be coming into the Treasury and hold the line on spending. It is very important for Congress not to overspend. We'll see whether they can get a budget. The House got a budget. We'll see whether or not the Senate gets a budget. But I've laid out my budget. I'm very serious about the budget. And the best tool I have besides persuasion is to veto. And I'm mindful of what overspending can mean to interest rates or expectations of interest rates. And it's very important that we hold the line on spending. Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . Did you run today? Morning Run Aid to Israel Q. I did, this morning. The President. Good. Do you care to tell the country what your time was? Q. You know what, I forgot to turn my watch on. Laughter The President. Feeble excuse for a slow run. Laughter Q. It was a slow run. It was a slow run. Some conservatives in Congress, including Representative DeLay, are pushing at a resolution to take a very strong pro Israel stand. A bipartisan group of lawmakers want to put some more aid to Israel, roughly 200 million, into the supplemental. Do you support these positions, and do they in any way complicate your desire to make clear to moderate Arab nations that, you know, you're making demands on everybody, including Israel? The President. Well, first, let me address the supplemental. I submitted a supplemental, and when I did so, I was mindful that oftentimes supplementals become a supplemental can be a vehicle for a lot of additional spending. In order to make sure our economy remains strong, we've got to watch the line on spending. And so when I said, when I submitted the supplemental, that this was a number that was comfortable with, I meant that. In terms of the resolution, I haven't seen it, but I'm not surprised that Congress would want to express its strong support of Israel. This is clearly a Congress that believes that our relationship with Israel is unique, and Israel is a democracy. I also hope and believe that Congress recognizes we've got interests in the area as well, beyond Israel, that we've got have good relationships with the Saudis and the Jordanians and the Egyptians, and our foreign policy is aimed to do that. People know exactly where I stand, and that's very important in the realm of foreign policy. Now I've got to go over to a friendraiser. Republican National Committee Luncheon Logan Walters' Wedding Q. A friendraiser? The President. Well, that's opposed to a fundraiser. Q. What's a friendraiser? Tell us about that. The President. A friendraiser? Well, it's a well, it's just kind of a cute way of saying I'm going to go over and see people and thank them for being a part of my campaign. And they actually get to do this for free. And I'm glad. But these will be people, evidently, from all around the country. I haven't seen the list, but I'm told that they are. And I look forward to thanking them. It's really a way of thanking people, many of whom I I suspect I haven't seen since I've been the President. It's a nice, casual setting to say hello to people, and I'm looking forward to it. And then, of course, tomorrow night, for those of you who followed the campaign, we'll all be going to watch little Logan get married. It's going to be an emotional moment for us, because we love Logan. And interestingly enough, Logan is marrying the niece of Don Evans' wife. And so I've known them for a known the family for a long period of time. Logan's bride's father was the Boy Scout in my Cub Scout den. Now, you can chew on that for the rest of the day. Laughter Root Jay Root, Fort Star Telegram , good to see you. How's little Root? Q. Good, he's doing good. His fingers are about like mine. Laughter The President. That's good. Tell him hello for me. Tell the bride hello. Q. You know, they've got a lot of planes out at the airport there. The President. Are there? Q. Inaudible little planes inaudible flying in The President. Well, they're coming in for a friendraiser. April 25, 2002 The President. Good afternoon. I was honored to welcome Crown Prince Abdullah to my ranch, a place that is very special for me and a place where I welcome special guests to our country. The Crown Prince and I had a very cordial meeting that confirmed the strong relationship between Saudi Arabia and the United States of America. Our partnership is important to both our nations. And it is important to the cause of peace and stability in the Middle East and the world. We discussed the critical importance of the war on terror. Much of our discussion centered on the Middle East and how to defuse the current situation so we can get back on the path to peace. Our two nations share a vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. I reiterated that all parties have responsibilities to help achieve that vision. The Palestinian Authority must do more to stop terror. Israel must finish its withdrawal, including resolution of standoff standoffs in Ramallah and Bethlehem, in a nonviolent way. We discussed the need for Arab states to condemn terror, to stop incitement of violence, and as part of a long term peace, to accept Israel as a nation and a neighbor. We also agreed the world must join in offering humanitarian aid to the many innocent Palestinians who are suffering. I told the Crown Prince how much I appreciate his vision for a peaceful and integrated Middle East and how I appreciated his leadership in helping rally the Arab world toward that vision. I also appreciated the Crown Prince's assurance that Saudi Arabia condemns terror. The Crown Prince is going to be in America for several more days, and officials from both our Governments will be continuing our discussions with the hope that our efforts can help return us to the path of peace a lasting peace. I'll answer a couple of questions. Sandra Sandra Sobieraj, Associated Press . Situation in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, Saudi officials have taken strong issue with your characterization of Prime Minister Sharon as a man of peace and say that your tolerance of what he's doing risks damage to U.S. Arab relations. Were you and the Crown Prince able to bridge differences over that issue and find ways to fix the fragile Arab support? The President. Well, first of all, one of the really positive things out of this meeting was the fact that the Crown Prince and I established a strong personal bond. We spent a lot of time alone discussing our respective visions, talking about our families. I was most interested in learning about how he thought about things. I'm convinced that the stronger our personal bond is, the more likely it is relations between our country will be strong. I made it clear to him that I expected Israel to withdraw, just like I've made it clear to Israel. And we expect them to be finished. He knows my position. He also knows that I will work for peace I will bring parties along. But I think he recognizes that America can't do it alone, that it's going to require a unified effort, and one of the main things about this visit was to solidify that effort. He's a man with enormous influence in the Middle East. I respect that a lot, and I'm confident we can work together to achieve a peace. Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters . Oil Q. Mr. President, the Crown Prince raised the prospect of Saudi support for Iraq's oil embargo, and are you concerned that Arab nations might use oil as a try to use oil as a bargaining chip in the Middle East crisis? The President. Well, Saudi Arabia made it clear and has made it clear publicly that they will not use oil as a weapon. And I appreciate that, respect that, and expect that to be the case. Situation in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, to follow on what Sandra asked you, do you feel like you made some personal headway in meeting with the Prince today, in reassuring him of the United States belief that all parties in the region must work harder to The President. I Q. do you feel like do you feel like you need to convey this message, perhaps in a stronger way, by sending somebody to the region to meet with other Arab leaders who are raising concerns along these lines? The President. Well, Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News , we just sent somebody to the region. And that somebody has just returned from the region, and his name is Colin Powell. And we're exploring all options. A lot of our discussion with the Saudi delegation was how to get back on the path to peace. Clearly, there's some things that must be done in the short run finish the withdrawal by Israel, for the Palestinian Authority to clamp down on terror. We discussed that in very plain and straightforward terms. As to where we head from now, one of the things that I think is important for the Crown Prince to have heard is we're interested in his advice we're interested in his counsel. We share a vision, and I reminded him how much I appreciated his statement toward Israel. I thought that was a breakthrough moment. And it and then he went and sold that in Beirut, and I appreciated that as well. So there's a shared vision. And as to how to achieve that vision is something we must consult with our friends. And that's what this meeting was about. It went on quite a while because there was a lot to discuss, plus, I want you to know, I had the honor of showing him my ranch. He's a man who's got a farm, and he understands the land, and I really took great delight in being able to drive him around in a pickup truck and showing him the trees and my favorite spots. And we saw a wild turkey, which was good. But we had a very good discussion, and I'm honored he came to visit. Last question. Saudi Arabia and Terrorism Q. Mr. President, do you believe you said that the Crown Prince is against terror. Do you think he will speak out? Did he make any promises about speaking out? Should he speak out? And secondarily, in Saudi Arabia, do you believe the leadership is doing enough to deal with their own problems with terrorism that comes out of their own country? Fifteen of the 19 hijackers The President. Yes, I the Crown Prince has been very strong in condemning the murder of U.S. citizens. He's been very strong about condemning those who committed those murders. And I appreciate that a lot. Right after 9 11, he was one of the strongest voices of condemnation. He understands how devious Usama bin Laden has been. He knows that that anybody who you know, that a strategy by some would be to split the United States and Saudi Arabia. It's a strong and important friendship, and he knows that, and I know that, and we're not going to let that happen. So he's been very strong in the condemnation of terror, for which I'm grateful. And we're constantly working with him and his Government on intelligence sharing and cutting off money. And we're reminding him, on occasion, where we find money flows, and the Government has been acting, and I appreciate that very much. He's got a right now we're working on an issue in the border region with Yemen to make sure that Yemen doesn't become a haven for Al Qaida killers. And I appreciate his cooperation on that matter as well. It's in his interest that we rout out terror. Listen, thank you all very much. April 24, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much. Thank you very much thank you for that warm welcome. I'm really glad I came back to South Dakota. John said to me, he said, "Well, you might want to come over to South Dakota. A few of my friends might show up." Laughter I want to thank all of you for coming. I'm here for a couple of reasons. First, I'm here because I firmly believe that John Thune should be the next United States Senator from South Dakota. And I'm here to thank the people of this good State who work so hard for the Republican Party, who know that our party represents strength and compassion, that we trust the people of America. I want to thank those of you who man the phones and lick the envelopes, who carry the signs. I want to thank the grassroots support that are so incredibly important not only for making sure our point of view is heard but incredibly important part of our democracy. Your job of turning out the vote and talking to the neighbors and going to the coffee shops and spreading the word is incredibly important. And it's going to be an important reason why John Thune gets elected next November. I want to thank John's wife, Kimberley, for making the sacrifice necessary to for her husband to run for this high office. John and I share something in common that is, we both married above ourselves. Laughter My regret is that my wife, Laura, isn't with me here tonight. But I will tell you, I am incredibly proud of this fine soul. She is doing a great job as the First Lady for our country. Audience member. Inaudible in South Dakota! The President. I had the honor of serving as the Governor of my State, and while I was the Governor, I got to know the Governor of your State. He is he's one of a kind. Laughter I'm proud to be with my old Governor friend, and I know you're proud of the job he's doing as your Governor. I also want to thank the first lady, Mary Dean, as well. I want to thank the party chairman, Joel Rosenthal. I want to thank the national committeeman, the national committeewoman. I want to thank you all. This is a this is a really large crowd. Laughter It says something about the vitality of our message, and it says something about the strength of our candidate for the United States Senate. Here's what I like about John. I like his values. I respect his intellect. I appreciate his dedication to hard work and his desire to get things done in Washington, DC, on behalf of the citizens of South Dakota. He's not afraid to stand up for what he believes, and it's refreshing to hear his voice amongst the shrill partisans in Washington, DC. He's a steady hand, and he's a man with whom I can work. We've worked on big issues thus far. One of the most important issues we worked on was making sure the people of South Dakota and America got to keep more of their hard earned dollars. When it comes time to spending money in Washington, DC, both of us understand the money we're spending is not the Government's money. The money we're spending is the people's money. And we cut your taxes right at the right time. You know, our economy was floundering. When I went into office, the economy was grinding down, and that deeply troubled me. Anytime somebody in this country wants to work and they can't find a job, I'm troubled by that. But I understood this economic fact If you let people keep their own money, they're going to spend it they're going to demand something. And when they demand a good or a service, somebody is going to produce a good or a service. And when somebody produces that good or service, that means somebody is going to find work. The tax cuts we passed, in spite of some of the big spenders in Washington, DC, helped this economy get back on its feet. And we need a good farm bill out of Congress. We don't need any more politics with the farm bill. Let's get a farm bill on my desk that makes sense for the South Dakota farmers. Farming is an incredibly important part of this national economy of ours. It's important to understand that good farm policy is not only good for the economy it's good for out national security as well. Thank goodness we can feed our people in America. And what's bad for our national security is that we are too dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. We're too dependent on sources of energy from some countries that don't particularly care for America. And one way to help reduce that dependency is to promote, encourage value added processing with America products such as ethanol. I told the people I told the people when I was running, I was for ethanol. And a lot of people said, "Well, he's from Texas. He's not for ethanol." Listen, I'm the President of everybody, and I understand what it means to be reliant upon somebody else's energy. There's plenty of room for ethanol in the energy mix in America. We must have it. We must have it for the good of our farm economy we must have it for the good of our air and we must have it for the national security reasons of the United States of America. My view about trade is this If you're good at something, you ought to promote it. And one of the things we're good at is raising meat and growing crops. America has got a competitive advantage when it comes to our agriculture. We grow more than we need here in America, and therefore, we ought to have policy that helps us feed the world. I want free trade, and I want fair trade. The House has passed a trade promotion authority, and so should the United States Senate. And the good news is, John Thune understands that. And he also understands this, that our party has been compassionate. We've been conservative, but we have been compassionate when it comes to issues like welfare reform. One of the great successes in recent history has been the welfare reform law, which says if you're dependent upon Government, it's hard to realize your dreams. Listen, we'll help people who cannot help themselves. But we have reduced dependency upon Government as a result of encouraging and training and insisting that people go to work. There is a welfare reform reauthorization coming up in other words, we've got to rewrite the bill. I want to make sure someone like John Thune is elected to the Senate so that if that bill gets reauthorized when he's a Senator, there will be a voice for reason and compassion, a voice that understands, with a job you find dignity, and a voice who will join me in promoting family and marriage in the welfare reform bill. Like the farmers here, I'm kind of an early morning fellow. I get up every morning I take old Barney and Spot outside. Laughter Spot then joins me in the Oval Office. After all, she was born in the White House and is used to the trappings there. Barney's only a year and a half, so he doesn't spend much time inside the Oval Office. After all, we've got a new rug in there. Laughter I walk in the office I sit behind a desk that has been used by Presidents ranging from the Roosevelts to Kennedy to Reagan, and I read a threat assessment. I read a list of potential threats to our country, and it reminds me that my most important job is to do everything in my power to protect the American people, that my most important job is to make sure that the enemy doesn't hit us again. And we're making progress. I want you to know that we take this notion of homeland security very seriously. Today I was visiting with your Governor, and he explained to me what South Dakota is doing. I'm most impressed with his leadership on this issue. You need to know that we follow every single lead. If we hear somebody might want to hurt us, we're running them down. We're making sure our borders are more secure. Here in America, we're a welcoming society. But we want to know who's coming in, and we want to know who's going out. As part of our homeland defense strategy, we're spending money and working closely with our first responders, the brave police and fire and EMS teams all across America. We want to be prepared in America, and we've got a strategy to do just that. And for those of you who wear the uniform who are here tonight, I want to thank you on behalf of a grateful nation. We take the threat of bioterrorism very seriously here in America, and we've got a strategy to deal with that. What I'm telling you is, we're doing everything in our power to protect the American people. But the surest way to protect the American people is to chase the killers down one by one and bring them to justice. I can't imagine what was going through the minds of the killers when they attacked America. I guess they must have thought that this was a soft nation, that we were so self absorbed, so materialistic, so weak that all we were going to do was to file a lawsuit. Laughter They found out we think differently here in America. They found out that when it comes to the defense of our freedoms the freedom to worship, the freedom to speak, the freedom to assemble, freedom of the press that we're a mighty nation, and if threatened, we will respond. I can't tell you how proud I am of the United States military. For those of you who have got relatives in the military, you thank them on behalf of a grateful nation and a grateful Commander in Chief. The world is also finding out that when America says something, we mean it, that when we say we're going to do something, we're going to follow through. Early on, I said to the world that either you're with us, or you're against us. The good news is, a lot of the world is with us, and for that we're grateful. I also said, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a killer, if you hide a killer, you're just as guilty as the killers." And the Taliban regime in Afghanistan found out exactly what we meant. It is so important for Americans, particularly young Americans, to understand that this Nation does not seek revenge we seek justice. And when we went into Afghanistan, our military and our coalition partners did not go in as conquerors we went in as liberators. We freed people from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. In so doing in so doing, we opened up schools for the first time for many young girls. I am proud of the efforts. I'm proud of our steadfast resolve, our determination, our unity, and I'm proud of the values that our country holds dear. You see, we value the worth of every single individual, regardless of their religion, regardless of their status. I have submitted a budget to Congress and I'm so proud that John is supporting this budget that makes the defense of our country the number one priority. It's a significant increase in the defense budget. It's the largest increase since Ronald Reagan, and I have done so for two reasons. One, anytime this Nation commits our young to battle, anytime we put our troops in harm's way, they must have the best equipment, the best training, the best possible support from the Government of the United States of America. And I have submitted a significant increase because it is an indication of the struggles ahead. It is a signal to the world that the United States is in this war for the long haul. I don't have a calendar on my desk that says, by such and such a moment this war will end. I don't operate under false deadlines. And I know the nature of the enemy they're coldblooded killers. And we have no choice but to defend ourselves and defend our friends by hunting them down. The second phase of the war after Afghanistan is to deny sanctuary, training bases, or recruitment facilities for any one of these killers. To put it bluntly, we're treating them like they are international criminals. And we've got them on the run, and we're hunting them down one person at a time. There is no cave deep enough for this patient Nation. They think they can run, and they think they can hide, but they're going to be sorely disappointed. Our war against terror is more than just a person it is more than just a network. We understand that history has called us to defend freedom so that people can grow up in a free society, not only in America but around the world. And so I want you to know that when I talk about an axis of evil, I mean it. We will not allow the world's most dangerous regimes to harbor and develop the world's most dangerous weapons. History has given us a chance to rise up, and rise up we will, in the defense of those values we hold dear. And so I want to thank my fellow citizens here in South Dakota and all around America for their for their unity and purpose and resolve. I truly believe that by being firm and tough, we can achieve peace. That's what I want. I want lasting peace. I want peace not only for America I want peace for regions of the world that are plagued by terror. I want peace so people can grow up and realize their God given potential. I believe that when America fulfills its duty and honors the mission, that peace is more likely to come. And I also know that out of this terrible evil done to America can come incredible good. People oftentimes ask me, "What can I do to help?" And my answer is this Love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself if you want to fight evil, do some good. You see, it's the collective action of millions of acts of kindness that take place every day in America that truly defines the character of our country and allows us to stand squarely in the face of evil. If you want to help your country, mentor a child. If you want to help your country, go to your church or synagogue and mosque and rally good people to feed the homeless. If you want to help your country, remember there are pockets of despair and loneliness that can be solved by somebody putting their arm around somebody and saying, "I love you." This country has risen to its task, because not only do we defend our values but because we're a nation full of great hearts and kind souls and decent people. I believe out of this evil will come incredible good. I believe America is beginning to realize the importance of serving something greater than yourself in life, the importance of recognizing that as you serve something greater than yourself in life, you serve your country. That lesson came home so clear. I think the young here, when they read the history of 9 11, should remember what took place on Flight 93. People getting on an airplane thought they were just going through an average day of travel. They were told the plane served as a was serving as a weapon. They were told what was on the ground. A couple of people got on the phone and told their wives and loved ones goodbye, they loved them. They said a prayer. One guy said, "Let's roll." And they drove the plane to the ground to save lives. It's the American it is that spirit, it is that ultimate sacrifice, that sense of personal responsibility which is helping to change this Nation. You see, the culture says, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." There's a new awakening here in America that says, "Each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life" that we are responsible that if you are a mom or a dad, you're responsible for loving that child with all your heart and all your soul, and if you're a good citizen, you're responsible for loving a neighbor. And that's what's happening in America. This is a great country. I can't tell you how optimistic I am about the future of our land. I'm optimistic that we'll achieve peace. I'm optimistic that we will stand squarely in the face of evil, with acts of kindness and decency. And I'm optimistic that this country will remain the most hopeful place on the face of the Earth. It is an honor, a high honor, to be the President of the greatest land on the face of the Earth. Thank you for giving me that privilege. May God bless you all. God bless. April 24, 2002 Thank you all very much. Thank you. It is great to be back in South Dakota. I want to thank you all for such a warm and gracious welcome. I am here because I want John Thune to become the next United States Senator. I want to thank you for helping him. He is my attitude is, anytime you find a person of high character and strong values, you've got to help him, and I want to thank you for doing that. I'm going to spare you from a lot of my speech that I'm going to give a little later on, but I do want to tell you it's a huge honor to represent the greatest country on the face of the Earth. We've got a lot on our plate, and I hope to have this good man beside me in the United States Senate, just like he has been beside me as a fine Member of the United States House of Representatives. We've got a war to win, and we're going to win the war. We've got an economy to worry about, and we're going to make the right decisions to encourage economic vitality and growth in all sectors, including the agricultural sector. Today I had the honor of going to an ethanol plant. I made it very clear to the people there and I'm going to continue to make it clear that I meant what I said when I ran for President, that value added processing ethanol is good for South Dakota it's good for farmers it's also good for America. One of the things I also said I remember clearly, when I came to South Dakota campaigning I said if you give me a chance to be President, I'll work hard to cut the taxes on the people of our country. And thankfully, we did. And we did so right at the right time. There's some people up there in Washington read a different textbook than John and I read. Laughter You see, we believe that if you let people have their own money and it's not the Government's money, of course it's your money that you'll spend it. And when you spend it, somebody produces a good and service. And when they produce a good and service to meet the demand, that means somebody is going to work. The best way to encourage the creation of jobs is not through excessive Federal Government it is through trusting the people of our country with their own money. We cut the taxes, and we cut them at the right time. I'm going to talk about some other issues a little later on, but one thing I want to remind our country is that we're great. And we're great not because of our Government we're great because of our people. The thing that I am most proud about, about America, right after this terrible incident of September the 11th, is the American spirit how strong we have stood in the face of terror how determined we are as a nation to defend that which we hold most dear, which is our freedoms and how compassionate our nation can be. I'm going to say this a little later on, but I want to say it again here that we can fight evil and will, with a strong military. But at home, we need to fight evil through acts of compassion and decency and kindness. As Americans love a neighbor just like they'd like to be loved themselves, we show the world the true face of this great country and in so doing stand squarely squarely in the face of evil. I want to thank you all for the many prayers I had some pictures taken back there, and a lot of people came through and said, "Mr. President, we pray for you and your family." It means a lot to me. It means a lot to me to be a President of a country that prays for their President, and it means a lot to me to be the President of a country that is full of so many decent and honorable and hard working and bold Americans. Again, I want to thank you for helping John. This is a very important election. He is I stand here knowing the character of the man. I know his values. I know his strengths. He will be great for South Dakota in the United States Senate, and he will be great for America as its next Senator. Thank you all for coming, and God bless. Thank you. April 24, 2002 Thank you all. Please be seated. Ron, I want to thank you very much. I thought Washington was where it got a little windy. Laughter You've got to remember, I was raised in west Texas. I'm kind of used to the wind. It reminds me of home. I want to thank you all for a warm welcome. Thank you for being so gracious. Ron, thank you very much for hosting us here. I appreciate the briefing I had and the chance to meet with some of your fellow citizens in South Dakota, a chance to talk about ag policy. And I want to thank all those for coming as well. I appreciate so very much Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman traveling with me today. I'm proud of the job Ann is doing. She's a great leader for the Ag Department. She understands farmers, understands farming, and she's doing America a fine job. I want to thank your Governor for coming. Janklow and I have been friends for a long time. I was a Governor of Texas, he was a Governor of South Dakota and he kept telling me what to do all the time when I was around him. Laughter But I appreciate you being here, Governor. Thank you very much. We share something in common we both married above our heads. Laughter I'm sorry my wife isn't with me. I had the honor of saying hello to the first lady of South Dakota at the steps of Air Force One. I bring up Laura because I can't tell you how proud I am of her. She is you know, when I married her, she was a public school librarian who really didn't like politics and didn't care for politicians, either, I might add. Laughter And she has been such a calm and steady influence for the country, and she's come a long way from a public school librarian to a great First Lady. I'm real proud of her. I want to appreciate the Senate majority leader, Tom Daschle, for being here today. Tom, I'm honored you'd come. And Tom and I have spent some quality time together. I invite him to the Oval Office for breakfast he doesn't eat much, I want you to know, which is good for my wallet. Laughter But I appreciate working with him. And I also appreciate Senator Tim Johnson being here as well. Thank you, Tim, for coming. As well, we're honored to have the only Congressman from the State of South Dakota, John Thune thank you for being here, John. I want to spend some time talking about agriculture and the importance of agriculture for our country, but before I do, I want to tell you about the war. I want you to know that we're fighting against killers, coldblooded murderers, and they still want to hurt us. Bill Janklow and I were talking coming in about what he has done to help secure the homeland here in South Dakota. And for that, I am grateful, and you need to be. He takes it seriously. He is on top of the situation here in South Dakota. And I believe that around the country we're making great progress toward making our homeland more secure. We've got to do a better job of understanding who's coming into our country and why they're coming in, and, if they're going out, when they're supposed to be going out. We've got a good amount of money in the budget, as Senator Daschle can tell you, to make sure that our first responders are ready, should something happen. We've got a good initiative on bioterrorism that we're working on, to make sure the homeland is secure. But the best way to secure the homeland is to chase these murderers down one by one and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what America is going to do. The reason I tell you that is it's important for you to know that this war to secure our homeland and to protect freedom is not going to end anytime soon. I don't have a calendar on my desk that says, by such and such a date we're going to quit. That's not how I think, much to the chagrin of the enemy. You see, I don't know what they were thinking when they attacked America. They must have thought we were so materialistic, so self centered, so weak that all we were going to do was to file a lawsuit. They found out we don't file lawsuits when it comes to defending freedom we send our United States military. And I've submitted a budget to the United States Congress that sets our defense as the number one priority. It's a big increase, no question about it. But my attitude is we're in it for the long haul, and we must send that signal not only to the enemy but to our coalition partners. And secondly, anytime we commit a U.S. citizen who wears our uniform to combat, or in harm's way, they must have the best equipment, the best training, the best pay possible. The price of freedom's high, but as far as I'm concerned, it's not too high, and we're going to pay it. And there's no cave deep enough for them to hide. We're going to get them one by one, because this Nation is patient and we're plenty tough when it comes to defending our country. But it's also important to know that we're a compassionate nation as well. I remind our citizens, particularly the young, that we don't seek revenge we seek justice. And when we went into Afghanistan to uphold the doctrine that said, if you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the ones that came to kill America, and routed out the Taliban, we didn't go in there as conquerors we went in as liberators. We freed people from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes ever. And now, thanks to the United States of America and our coalition partners, young girls go to school in Afghanistan. We've got a lot of work to do on the war front. We've got a lot of work to do on making sure that Afghanistan is a viable nation which can defend herself and is a good neighbor in an important part of the world. And so you just need to know that I am proud of America I'm proud of the fact that we're unified. This isn't a Republican war this isn't a Democrat war this is an American war. And our country is unified, and we are strong, and we are resolved. And that makes this President and I know it makes the Members of the Congress feel really good. And we have work to do at home as well. The enemy, when they hit us, did affect our economy, and there's no question about that. And my attitude is, anybody who wants to work who can't find work we've got a problem in the economy. And there was a lot of people who wanted to work who couldn't find work. What I thought was necessary was to cut the taxes on the people who work. See, my attitude is if you get people more money, they increase demands for good and services. When they increase demand for goods and services, somebody produces the goods and services. And when somebody produces the good and services, somebody's going to have a job to produce the goods and services. For the good of the jobs in America, cutting taxes and passing an economic and signing an economic stimulus bill was good. It was good for the country. And part of the tax relief package was the repeal of the death tax. The death tax is particularly tough on South Dakota and Texas farmers or anybody who farms or ranches. It's a tax that keeps taxing somebody's assets over and over again. You know, it's this you get taxed by the income tax you die you keep paying taxes even after you're dead. It's not a fair tax, and we got rid of it. Except for, there's a quirk in the rules in the United States Senate that means that, after 10 years, it's conceivable that the death tax doesn't go away. The House made the repeal of the death tax permanent. I saw that Senator Daschle is going to bring that to a vote on the floor of the Senate, for which I am grateful. It is time to get rid of the death tax forever. American agriculture is incredibly important for our economic vitality. I when I was the Governor of Texas, I had the honor of being the Governor of the second largest farm State in the Union. I'm heading to Crawford after tonight. It's not a very big town almost everybody there is in agriculture business. Like you all, I like to I used to like to go down and sit around the coffee shop. They don't let me go down to the coffee shop anymore. Laughter But I think I got a pretty good handle on the importance of agriculture for the future of this country, and one of the most important ways to make sure the agriculture economy is strong is to promote value added processing. I said when I was running for President, I supported ethanol, and I meant it. I support it now, because not only do I know it's important for the ag sector of our economy, it's an important part of making sure we become less reliant on foreign sources of energy. I appreciate Senator Daschle working on the RFS standard. And I appreciate John Thune working on the bio energy rebate program, to make sure that we help increase, on the one hand, the demand for ethanol and, on the other hand, the supply of ethanol. It's good public policy for America. It's good for our air it's good for our economy and it's good for our national security. Thank goodness we're self sufficient in food. But we're not so self sufficient in energy. And pretty soon they're going to get an energy bill to my desk, and I look forward to signing it. On the one hand, it's going to encourage more conservation. On the other hand, hopefully it will spur not only the development of renewables but more oil and gas at home, and the two are not mutually exclusive. The less reliant we are on foreign sources of crude oil, the better off we are in America. I mentioned we're self sufficient in food, and that's good. And we generally produce more than we need here at home. And if that's the case, it seems like we ought to figure out how to sell more of it overseas. The more markets that are open for U.S. farmers and ranchers, the better off our economy will be. It is important that this Nation embrace free and fair trade. It is important that we understand that when we're good at something and we're the best farmers and ranchers in the world we ought to work to open up markets to sell our products all across the world. And I will tell you the days are over with, with American ag being kind of shunted aside when it comes to international trade agreements. We need to keep American ag in the forefront of trade agreements. It ought to be the cornerstone of international trade policy. And that's been my record thus far as the President, and it will be my record so long as I am the President. I understand that the Senate is getting to take up a trade bill, for which I'm grateful. I look forward to getting that bill to my desk. It's important to get it passed and to get it moving. And it's important to get a farm bill to my desk as well. We need good farm legislation. It's the farm bill needs to get done quickly so that the farmers who are out there fixing to plant know what the rules of the game is. And we can do it. We need to put aside all the posturing, all the noise, and for the good of American agriculture, get a trade bill to my desk and get a farm bill to my desk. I want you to know that this great country is going to make the right decisions when it comes to peace, is going to make great decisions when it comes to how to bolster our economy and make sure we understand that a strong ag sector is good for America, good for everybody in America. But this country also is going to stand squarely in the face of evil, and here's how We're going to love our neighbor like we'd like to be loved ourself and show the world that good overcomes evil every single time. We can not only boast of a strong military and hopefully a vibrant economy all across the country, but we can do small acts of kindness that, in their aggregate, in their total, defines the true nature of America. You know, when you go to your Sunday school or your synagogue or mosque and vow to help somebody in need, you're really helping define the face of America. When you mentor a child who seems lost or hopeless, you're helping to define America. When you teach in a classroom, when you love your children and you tell your children you love them every day, that's part of making sure that America is as compassionate as can be. No, the enemy hit us, but out of this evil is going to come some incredible good. Out of this evil is going to come a nation that will be stronger, more resolved, tougher, but also more loving. I believe that the country is on the verge of changing the culture which for years has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a day in which each of us understand we're responsible for the decisions we make in life, that we're responsible for something greater than ourselves. That came home to me on Flight 93 When Americans were on an airplane, they got the word that they were the enemy was going to use the airplane as a weapon. They got on cell phones and told their loved ones goodbye they said a prayer they drove the plane into the ground to save somebody else. It's the America that I know, and it's the America that I love that was represented in that act, and that happens every day. It happens every day here in South Dakota. It happens every day in States and communities across the country. That willingness to serve something greater than yourself is such a wonderful part of the American character. And my call to you is, if you want to fight evil, do some good love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. It's happening all across America because, folks, I happen to be the President of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth because of our people. God bless you all. April 23, 2002 President Bush. It's my honor to welcome His Majesty the King of Morocco to the Oval Office. We've had a really good discussion about a number of matters. No question that Morocco is a great friend of the United States of America, and for that, Your Majesty, we are very grateful. I appreciate your steadfast support when it comes to the war on terror. I appreciate your leadership in the region. Today I've informed His Majesty that our Government will work to enact a free trade agreement with Morocco. It's in our Nation's interest that we do so. His Majesty believes it's in his nation's interest that we have a free trade agreement as well. To this end, it's very important that the United States Senate act on free trade, to give me the trade promotion authority, as well as to work on an extension of the Andean Trade Preference Act. Trade is an important part of good foreign policy it's an important part of making sure Americans can find jobs. And the Senate needs to act, and it needs to act now. We will continue our discussions over lunch. I look forward to those discussions. His Majesty brings a lot of knowledge, a lot of vision, and it's my honor to welcome him here to the Oval Office. Your Majesty. King Mohamed. Thank you. Well, as I told you, I will ask that inaudible to translate me. It will be easier for me and safer for you. Laughter At this point, King Mohamed spoke in French, and his remarks were translated by an interpreter as follows. His Majesty wishes to thank you, Mr. President, for the words you have just expressed about Morocco and words which honor His Majesty personally, the royal family, as well as the entire Moroccan people. We are honored for with the relations we have enjoyed so far with the United States. But I think it's time that we have to shift the gear to go on higher speed. And we have also we are determined to carry out all kinds of programs dealing with our cooperation, our collaboration, all fields. With respect to terrorism, Mr. President, we are also determined to go ahead with you in fighting terrorism. And this is something of concern to Morocco as much as it's of concern to the United States and all the democratic people in the world. With respect to the free trade zone which you have just announced, Mr. President, I would like to thank you and to tell you how much we appreciate this initiative coming from yourself, Mr. President, and from the United States. We will work closely with your collaborators, in particular, Mr. Zoellick, who I have met twice and who will be visiting Morocco together with his colleagues. We will work very closely with them in order to bring about the concretization of this great program of cooperation and friendship between the United States and Morocco. His Majesty wishes, Mr. President, to praise the efforts you personally make, and your administration, to promote peace and understanding in the world. He wishes also to thank and to praise Mr. Secretary of State Colin Powell for what he has done so far and especially the effort he just deployed lately and the visit in the region of which we are beginning to see the results. And His Majesty wishes that the Secretary of State would have recovered by now from the trauma he has had when he first met with His Majesty in Agadir. Laughter And I would like to thank also Mrs. Tutwiler for the excellent work she has been doing since she arrived to Morocco. Situation in the Middle East President Bush. Thank you, Your Majesty. We'll answer a couple of questions, or I will. Barry Barry Schweid, Associated Press . Q. Mr. President, on that trip, the Secretary came home with an Israeli idea, but others said similar things, for an international peace conference. And since he's been home, the White House reaction seems to be a little lukewarm. Is that something you think is a viable idea, a foreign ministers conference, perhaps? President Bush. Well, what's first important to know, that our Government means what we say, and we said that the only way for there to be lasting peace is for there to be two states living side by side, at peace with each other and secondly, that in order to achieve that vision, all parties have responsibilities. The Arab world has responsibilities, and we will work with them to delineate those responsibilities and to encourage them to accept those responsibilities. Mr. Arafat has got responsibilities, and that is not only to renounce terrorism but to fight terror. Mr. Sharon has got responsibilities, and that is to continue his withdrawal. There is a strategy in place. We're analyzing all options to help achieve this vision. And I look forward to visiting with His Majesty about ideas such as a conference. The key is, however, for the leaders of the world to work toward that vision by assuming, accepting, and acting on the responsibilities necessary to achieve peace. Holland Steve Holland, Reuters , are you here? Q. Inaudible President Bush. Who? Oh, there he is. There you are, sorry. Resignation of Karen Hughes Q. Mr. President, are you concerned that the long hours and the pressure of working in this building will drive away more people, like Karen Hughes? And would you be here without her? President Bush. Well, first of all, Your Majesty, one of my close friends and adviser has informed the White House today that she is moving back to Texas. And the reason why is, is because her husband and son will be happier in Texas, and she had put her family ahead of her service to my Government. And I am extremely grateful for that approach and that priority. And Karen Hughes will be changing her address, but she will still be in my inner circle. I value her judgment, and I will have her judgment. I value her advice I have her advice. And I value her friendship, and I will have her friendship. April 20, 2002 Good morning. This week Secretary of State Colin Powell returned from the Middle East and reported on his intensive and productive meetings. In this region, we are confronting hatred that is centuries old and disputes that have lingered for decades. Yet, America has a vision for peace, and by calling all the leaders of the Middle East to their responsibilities, Secretary Powell made progress toward peace. To defuse the current crisis, the Palestinian Authority must act on its words of condemnation against terror. Israel must continue its withdrawals. All Arab nations must confront terror in their own region. All parties must stop funding or inciting terror and must state clearly that a murderer is not a martyr he or she is just a murderer. All parties must realize that the only long term solution is for two states, Israel and Palestine, to live side by side in security and peace. This will require hard choices and real leadership by Israelis and Palestinians and their Arab neighbors. The time is now for all of us to make the choice for peace. America will continue to work toward this vision of peace in the Middle East, and America continues to press forward in our war against global terror. We will use every available tool to tighten the noose around the terrorists and their supporters. And when it comes to the threat of terror, the only path to safety is the path of action. In the days just after September the 11th, I told the American people our war against terrorism would be a different war, fought on many fronts. And we are making progress on many fronts. Yesterday the United States and the world's other leading industrialized nations blocked the financial assets of another 10 terrorists and terrorist organizations. This joint action among close allies is an important step in choking off the financial pipeline that pays for terrorist training and attacks. A total of 161 nations around the world have joined together to block more than 100 million of suspected terrorist assets. The United States also works with our friends and allies around the world to round up individual terrorists, such as Abu Zubaydah, a top Al Qaida leader captured in Pakistan. From Spain to Singapore, our partners are breaking up terrorist cells and disrupting their plans. Altogether, more than 1,600 terrorists and their supporters have been arrested or detained in 95 foreign nations. In Afghanistan, the United States and its partners are pressing forward with a military campaign against Al Qaida and the Taliban. More than a dozen of our NATO Allies are contributing forces to this fight. Right now, hundreds of Royal Marines from Great Britain are leading an operation to clear and seal off regions where our enemies are trying to regroup to commit murder and mayhem and to undermine Afghanistan's efforts to build a lasting peace. And we're working with nations such as Yemen, the Philippines, and Georgia that seek our help in training and equipping their military forces to fight terror in some of the world's distant corners. We're making progress. Yet, nothing about this war will be quick or easy. We face dangers and sacrifices ahead. America is ready the morale of our military is high the will of our people is strong. We are determined we are steadfast and we will continue for as long as it takes, until the mission is done. Thank you for listening. April 19, 2002 Death of Canadian Troops in Afghanistan The President. I want to say publicly what I told Jean Chretien the other day, that how sorry I am that Canadian soldiers lost their lives in Afghanistan. It was a terrible accident, and parents and loved ones of the soldiers have my most heartfelt sympathy. And I wish we could bring them back, but we can't. I appreciate so very much our sacrifices that the Canadians are making in the war against terror. And again, sorry this accident took place. Q. Sir, should there have been better communication between the The President. We'll find out. We'll find out what took place. It's just a terrible accident. Situation in the Middle East Q. Some international groups criticized conditions in some of the camps in Palestine as horrific. The President. Well, we'll find again, I think there's a I share a deep concern about the humanitarian plight of people who live in that region. Obviously, I worry about families whose lives have been affected by the terror. I think it's very important for all of us as we work toward a vision of peace to understand that we must provide hope where there is no hope, provide an opportunity where there seems to be no opportunity that the best way for a lasting peace is for countries in the regions to uphold their responsibilities and remember that a peaceful situation requires there to be an opportunity for the Palestinians, peace for the Israelis. I am concerned about the living conditions of people throughout the region, and all governments have responsibilities for those living conditions. I worry about high unemployment rate in countries in the region. And I worry about the fact that some young feel like they have no hope, and we need to work together to provide hope. Part of a lasting peace is for there to be hope in the region. Energy Legislation Q. Mr. President, will you sign an energy bill without ANWR? The President. There is a energy bill with ANWR passed by the House, an energy bill without ANWR passed by the Senate soon to be energy bill without ANWR passed by the Senate. And we'll see what happens. I do think it is very important for the American people to understand we need more supply to offset the national security risk of importing oil from parts of the world that do not like America. And I am confident we can find more supply in an environmentally friendly way. Visit to James J. Rowley Training Center Q. Tell us about your visit this morning. We understand you got behind the wheel. The President. I did get behind the wheel. Q. How did it go? The President. Have you ever done a J turn before? Q. No, sir. The President. I have. Laughter Q. Inaudible The President. Yes, it is. At least, this is the first time I'll ever admit to doing a J turn. Q. Did you pull it off? The President. Let me just say this The Secret Service has got some of the best instructors in the world, and they took a fellow who hadn't been driving much and taught me the J turn. It was a pretty exciting feeling. Q. Looking forward to doing it in the pick up, sir? The President. There will be no J turns in Crawford. Laughter Situation in the Middle East Q. There are critics who say that you're easing up on Israel and that your comments The President. I think what people need to do is to read my speech in the Rose Garden, where I laid out a vision for peace and called upon all parties to uphold their responsibilities. In order for there to be peace, leaders must lead, and people must be responsible. There is joint and shared responsibility for peace. Israelis have got responsibility the Palestinian Authority has got responsibility and the nations in the region have got responsibility. And if there is a sincere desire for peace which I hope there is, and I certainly have then my job is to continue to lay out that vision and to call upon people to achieve to do that which is necessary to achieve the peace. Listen, thank you all. I hope you have a great weekend. April 18, 2002 Welcome to the Rose Garden, and thanks for coming. Congratulations on what you've done for our country. I know you're proud to be here, and I know your moms and dads are proud that you're here too. And I want to thank your teachers that are here with you as well. Teaching is a noble profession, and we appreciate your care for the country and the future of our country. So, welcome. The Rose Garden really is a fitting place to honor people who care about our environment. As you can see, it's a really beautiful place. I want to thank so much the award winners for turning idealism into action, for taking a great spirit and love for our country and doing something about that spirit and love for our country. Communities are better as a result, but as importantly, you're providing a really good example of service. You're showing other people that people can make a difference in people's lives, and that's really important. I want to thank Christie Todd Whitman for being such a great Administrator of the EPA. You know, she and I were Governors together. She was the Governor of New Jersey, and I was the Governor of Texas. And I got to know her well as a great Governor. I knew that when I picked her, she'd be really good at this job, and I want to thank her for her service. I want to thank the Members of the Congress who are here. We've got a Senator here today Senator Specter is here. We're pleased. Zach Wamp and Rob Simmons and Jeff Flake from Tennessee, Connecticut, and Arizona, I want to thank you all for coming as well. I want to thank the regional administrators of the EPA for being here. I want to thank you for your hard work and appreciate your dedication to the country. You know, America has learned a lot about ourself in the last 7 months we really have. We've seen the unity and public spirit of our country. We've seen a great good that can come out of a terrible, terrible evil. And we've rediscovered the importance of taking a stand, of serving something greater than ourself. It's a really important lesson of September the 11th, that in order to fight evil, you can do so by doing some good. I've asked Americans to dedicate 4,000 hours, the equivalent of 2 years of your lives, to serving your neighbors and your Nation. As part of joining the war against terror, dedicate 4,000 hours to help somebody or some cause or some community. Our winners today have gone a long way toward meeting that goal already. I may have to assign you another 4,000 hours here pretty soon. Laughter You've developed the good habits of service, and you're making a big difference in a very important area, and that's our Nation's environment. Good stewardship begins with the simplest of things. That's what's interesting about the environmental movement. What may appear to be a small act is really important, cleaning up a park or recycling or encouraging people and showing people how to conserve energy. Good stewardship means understanding the consequences of our actions and convincing others to not needlessly destroy our environment. A good steward also understands that we share this Earth with other creatures, and we have a responsibility to provide them places to live and areas to roam. In serving others, I think you've shown good works don't have to be these huge projects. What may seem like a small act when taken alone can produce tremendous results when combined with the efforts of others. Thirty young Americans are going to receive an award today. And if you multiply their works by a hundred or a thousand or a million, you've got more than just projects you've got a movement. When citizens take responsibility for our environment, there's no limit for the good they can do. The Federal Government has got responsibilities, as well, to protect the environment. America's experience with environmental protection really makes me optimistic about our future. The modern environmental movement was born in America, born right here in our country. And we've made tremendous progress since its birth. Since 1970, we've reduced emissions of six key air pollutants by 29 percent. That's significant progress, but more significant given the fact that our economy grew by more than 160 percent. We've shown that you can grow your economy so people can work and, at the same time, be better stewards of the environment. Some problems such as lead emissions from automobiles have been virtually eliminated 1970, that wouldn't have been the case. Kind of hard for some of us to remember back to 1970 some of you weren't even born. The Administrator and I, we were born then laughter well, it might have been a little bit before then. Laughter So we remember. Not only do we have a better economy, the world's strongest economy, but we have significantly cleaner and healthier air. We've got better water. And our land is better protected and better managed and more accessible to more Americans. And we can do more, and we will do more. We're promoting the development of cleaner fuels and new technologies. We're supporting conservation efforts in order to use our resources more wisely. We work with Congress to improve our laws so more brownfields will be cleaned up and redeveloped and more communities can be revitalized. Our clean our Clear Skies Initiative would improve air quality by dramatically cutting power emissions emissions from power plants. Our Global Climate Change Initiative commits our Nation to significantly reducing greenhouse gas intensity. And last week, I sent to the Senate legislation necessary to implement a global treaty to control the worst environmental pollutants, in order to reduce air, land, and water pollution around the world. I'm confident the Senate will act. Stewardship is the calling of Government, and it is the calling of every citizen. In my Inaugural Address, I urged Americans to act as citizens, not as spectators, in building communities of service and a nation of character. You each shown us the way by your own example. I hope that in the years ahead you'll never lose the idealism we honor today. Your communities need it, and your country needs it. And now, I'd like to welcome back Administrator Whitman to highlight this year's winners of the Presidential of the President's Environmental Youth Awards. Congratulations. April 18, 2002 President Bush. Before the President and I will answer a couple of questions from both the U.S. side and the Colombian side, I do want to welcome my friend Andres Pastrana back to the White House. President Pastrana is a has taken on a huge task in his country. One is to defend democracy and the institutions of democracy, and he's done a great job at that. Secondly, is to fight is to fight narcotrafficking. He has led a valiant effort at eradicating coca fields, standing strong against the narcotraffickers. And as well, he fights terrorism in his country. He fights well organized, well funded groups that are out to destroy democracy in Colombia. And he has been strong in his support for democracy not only in his own country but in the region. We had a good discussion about a variety of issues about how to change the focus of our strategy from counternarcotics to include counter terrorism. I explained to him that a supplemental I sent up to the United States Congress would do just that. As well, we talked about the need to get the Andean Trade Preference Act passed out of United States Senate, reconciled if there's any differences with the House of Representatives, and to my desk as quickly as possible. I am a strong supporter of trade with the Andean with our Andean friends. The President knows first hand how important that trade is, not only for commercial reasons but also as a way to help fight against narcotrafficking, provide opportunities for people in his country. This is a good friend, and it's my honor to welcome him back to the White House. Mr. President. President Pastrana. Thank you very much, President Bush. Once again, thank you for having us here in the Oval Office. I think you've said everything. The only thing that I wanted to say is, first of all, thank you for your help, for your leadership in helping Colombia and helping the world. At the end, we are fighting a common enemy that is narcotrafficking and narcoterrorism. We have full support of President Bush and the Government, first in trying to, as you said, Mr. President, in change of authorities the use of the military equipment sent by the United States to Colombia to be used against also narcoterrorism, not only against narcotrafficking. Secondly, as you said, you have been a big supporter of ATPA. The Andean preference act is fundamental for us. It's commerce. As we said, we don't want aid we want commerce. And that's what we need in Colombia, also, as one of the big components of the social side of Plan Colombia that is, social investment. And social investment is jobs, better jobs and well paid jobs. So I think that with the help of the Government, but the most important, with the help of the U.S. Congress, we will have ATPA before the end of May. And that's going to be fundamental to continue our fight on drugs. So thank you very much, Mr. President, for all your help. President Bush. De la AP, Senor Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Q. I think that's you, Ron. Laughter Venezuela Q. Mr. President, if I could ask you about another Latin American issue. Your administration was slow to condemn the Venezuelan coup. How does that square with your war on terrorism rhetoric, that America will always stand up for democratic values? President Bush. My administration was very clear, when there were troubles on the streets in Venezuela, that we support democracy and did not support any extraconstitutional action. My administration spoke with a very clear voice about our strong support of democracy. It is very important for President Chavez to do what he said he was going to do, to address the reasons why there was so much turmoil on the streets. And it's very important for him to embrace those institutions which are fundamental to democracy, including freedom of press and freedom for the ability for the opposition to speak out. And if there's lessons to be learned, it's important that he learn them. Mr. President, care to comment on that? President Pastrana. Yes. First of all, I think there's no doubt in Latin America of the support and promotion of President Bush on democracy in the region. I think that's something that nobody could put in doubt of your support in promotion of democracy in the whole region. As you said, what we're expecting is that President Chavez said in his speech that he's going to be a try to look for a reconciliation inside Venezuela, that he is going to correct many mistakes. And we hope that what he's going to correct is toward strengthening democracy, respect, as you said Mr. President, civil laws, give guarantees to the opposition, the freedom of the press, respect of human rights. And that's what all Latin America are supporting and what we want in the case of President Chavez. In our case, for example, I think one of the mistakes was regarding the presence of the guerrilla groups in Venezuela. Yesterday, unfortunately, Mr. President, the media, national and international, we had information that Mexico closed the office of the narcoterrorist group in Mexico. And the first information is that they could be in Venezuela. So that's why today, Mr. President, I'm sending a letter through my Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, asking if there is the FARC these members of the FARC are present in Venezuela or not that we need that information. We approved a very clear resolution in the Group Rio meeting in Costa Rica last week, supporting what you promote in the Security Council, ban any presence of terrorists in any countries. And that's what we want to do in Latin America. Northern Command Q. Mr. President, how do you respond to the reaction of Canada and Mexico to participate with troops in the Northern Command that was announced yesterday by Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld? Do you think Mexico and Canada will, in the future, participate with troops in the Northern Command? President Bush. Well, I think that the restructuring of our command structure really represents that we're in a new world and that we face new threats. Our relationships with Canada and Mexico will not change as a result of restructuring. It's a better way for us to organize against an enemy that is willing to strike at America and our neighborhood. And that's what this reflects. It reflects the ability to coordinate a possible response against an enemy that's fearless. And these are killers. They're coldblooded killers. And they've hit us before, and they want to hit us again. And so the unified command structure now is going to reflect the true threats that we face. We used to not face these threats in the past. We thought two oceans would keep us safe. We thought there's no way that an enemy could possibly strike America again after Pearl Harbor. And were we wrong. We were really wrong. And so that Q. Mr. President President Bush. Excuse me for a second, please. And so therefore, it is very important for us to make sure that we prepare our military, as well as our respective homeland securities, against attacks. So not only are we looking at how for a new command structure for military, we're also working very closely with Canada, y tambien Mexico on making sure that our border is more secure, on making sure that we've got better intelligence sharing, on making sure that cooperation at all levels is as good as it can possibly be. And it is as good as it can possibly be. I'm real pleased with the efforts we're making with our neighbors. Venezuela War on Terrorism Q. Mr. President, do you believe, as President Pastrana said, that Colombian guerrillas are operating from Venezuelan territory? Is there anything that the United States can do to help him fight that? And you mentioned freedom of the press when you were talking about things President Chavez should do. What other specific things do you think he should do following this coup? President Bush. Well, first, the reason I mentioned freedom of the press is because when things got hot in Venezuela, he shut the press down. I want you all I've never thought about doing that, no matter how what kind of questions these guys ask here. Laughter Mr. President, I've always believed in a free press. I don't care how tough the questions are, or as significantly, how they editorialize in their news stories, but nevertheless because I respect the press, and so should President Chavez. It's essential he do that. And so there's a good example of what I'm talking about. When the pressure gets on, leaders should not compromise those institutions that are so important for democracy. The right for opponents to speak out is essential. There is one of the things that is essential is that people be given the liberty of expressing their opinion without fear of reprisal. The first part of your question was whether or not FARC is utilizing Venezuela to strike our friend. I'll let our friend speak to that. He's a man who has to live with this problem. We discussed this very issue. I am and by the way, it's not just FARC basing in Venezuela to strike Colombia it's as well FARC striking Venezuelan ranchers that aren't protected by the Venezuelan Government. But why don't you speak to that, Mr. President? President Pastrana. Thank you, Mr. President. I think that, as you remember some weeks ago, there was announced that FARC was using the Venezuelan territory to attack the Colombian militaries. And these were, as you remember, 2 or 3 days before all the crises in Venezuela. The chief commander of the army, General Vasquez, personally said to President Chavez that FARC was using Venezuelan territory to attack Colombia. So that's why we had a meeting last week, the 10th of April, between the Foreign Minister of Colombia and the Foreign Minister of Venezuela, because we are asking questions and we want answers of what was happening. And we proposed the creation of a binational commission between Colombia and Venezuela to study all these reports that were putting on the press and on the media by journalists of Colombia and Venezuela, of the presence of the FARC on Venezuelan territory. That's why we sent the letter yesterday, asking the Venezuelan Government if it's true that members of the FARC that were turned away from Mexico the office of the FARC was closed in Mexico we were asking, and we want answers, if these guys are or not in Venezuela. That's what we're expecting of the answer of the Foreign Minister of Venezuela. Q. Mr. President, what will be your message, then, for countries in this case, Venezuela or other countries that might open their doors to so called terrorists? President Bush. Well, we've spent a lot of time talking about these aren't "so called" terrorists these are terrorists in Colombia. And the reason they're terrorists is because they're using murder to try to achieve political ends. They tried to blow up the recent recently tried to blow up the man running for President. They've captured people. They're after Andres. And so my message is that we will work with you to rout out terror. We've put FARC, AUC, on our terrorist list. We've called them for what they are. These are killers who use killing and intimidation to foster political means. And we want to join, with Plan Colombia's billions of dollars, to not only fight the and by fighting narcotrafficking, by the way, we're fighting the funding source for these political terrorists. And sometimes they're interchangeable. And we've got to be strong in the fight against terror. And the United States listen, my biggest job now is to defend our security and to help our friends defend their security against terror. That's what I spend a lot of my time doing. And each area of the world requires a different response that in some parts of the world, we'll do it militarily in some parts of the world, we'll help our friends to deal militarily in some parts of the world, perhaps, we can rout out terror through just simply cutting off money in other parts of the world, diplomacy seems to have an effect. We're working with our friends in Europe to use their law enforcement officials to arrest known Al Qaida killers hiding in their country, or plotters. We've been at this now for 7 months. Colombia has been at this for a lot longer period of time. And we're beginning to make a lot of progress. They key to success is not to grow tired in the fight against terror. And I can assure you I won't. I know this good President is dedicated to fighting terror. And it's essential for Colombia to succeed in this war against terror in order for her people to realize the vast potential of a great, democratic country. Colombia is an essential part of a peaceful South America. Colombia has got a fantastic tradition, a noble tradition of democracy. It's led the way. And I'm confident that with the right leadership and the right help from America, the kind of leadership Andres is providing now, that Colombia can succeed. And it's in everybody's interests that she does succeed. Listen, thank you all. April 18, 2002 Situation in the Middle East The President. I'm pleased to welcome the Secretary of State back to the Oval Office. Presidents and Secretaries of State have sat here for a long time, trying to figure out how to reduce violence and bring peace to the Middle East. The Secretary went over with a vision on how to do that. We talked about the two states living at peace with each other. He carried that message of hope and peace, that our Nation is will work hard to achieve a peace. He also carried the message that people must must be focused and must work hard to achieve a peace. People in the region have got certain responsibilities. The short term responsibilities are these The Palestinian Authority must act on its condemnation of terror the Israelis are withdrawing from Jenin and Nabulus, and they must continue their withdrawals and neighbors in the region must condemn terror, cut off funding for terror, must make it clear that people who suicide bomb are not martyrs, that they kill or are murderers of innocent people. As well, the Secretary's trip made it clear that our Nation thinks beyond the shortterm, that we're serious when we talk about two states living side by side and that we're laying the foundations for peace, the structures necessary to get to peace. Progress is being made toward our vision. In order for that vision to be achieved, leaders must take responsibility leaders in the region must be responsible citizens for a peaceful world. The Secretary delivered that message loud and clear, and I want to thank him for his work. Mr. Secretary. Secretary Powell. Thank you, Mr. President. I did try to deliver that message loud and clear that the United States does have a vision, a vision that leads to two states living in peace, side by side the only solution to this conflict. And I talked about what the sides have to do with respect to restoring a sense of security so the two peoples and have confidence in one another and begin negotiations once again, essentially put down security element to our strategy. We made clear to the leaders in the region that we want to move forward with negotiations as early as possible, and we're looking at different ways to do that once security has been established link the negotiations closely to security. And the third part of our framework was the humanitarian part. There would be a great need for humanitarian relief, for reconstruction efforts, and all that has to be part of an integrated strategy. And we can begin working quickly on that integrated strategy if the Palestinian Authority, if Chairman Arafat and those Palestinian leaders not only denounce violence, but take action to act against those who continue to encourage violence and perform acts of terrorism and violence. The terrorism, violence has to stop. I made that message very clear. I'm pleased that the Israeli Government is now continuing withdrawal. I hope it will be accelerated, and we will bring that to an end as quickly as possible, because that is one of the difficulties that we have now in moving forward in the integrated strategy. And Mr. President, we will be staying in close touch with the situation, by phone and with various members of the administration who are already in the region, such as Ambassador Bill Burns, and with the assets of the Department of State and other departments of Government to make sure that the strategy is understood and shared with our friends around the world who are ready to execute it. The President. Terry Terry Moran, ABC News . Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel Jenin Q. Mr. President, you said progress has been made toward our vision. Where? And secondly, do you believe that Ariel Sharon is a man of peace, and are you satisfied with his and his Government's assurances that there was no massacre in Jenin? The President. I do believe Ariel Sharon is a man of peace. I think he wants I'm confident he wants Israel to be able to exist at peace with its neighbor with its neighbors. I mean, he's told that us here in the Oval Office. He has embraced the notion of two states living side by side. And a progress is made, Terry, as a result of the United States and the Secretary of State going to the region and convincing the parties that we'll never get to peace if there's violence. And the situation prior to the Secretary's arrival was at a boiling point, and thanks to his hard work, he has laid out not only a vision of hope, which is important, but has convinced others that these terrorist acts will forever and constantly undermine the capacity for peace. As he mentioned and I mentioned, there have been withdrawals from the West Bank. Mr. Arafat did condemn terror, and we will hold him to account. This is a part of the world where killing had been going on for a long, long time. And one trip by the Secretary of State is not going to prevent that from happening, but one trip by the Secretary of State laid out the framework and the path to achieve peace. The United States has an obligation to do just that, and he did. And I have done that, and we will continue to do that. Q. And Jenin? The President. I was told by the Prime Minister last a couple of days ago that they were withdrawing from Jenin, and I believe they will oh, the we'll see what the evidence says. Future Involvement in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, you said yesterday that you plan to stay engaged in the Middle East. What is the next step? Do you send Mr. Tenet to the region? And specifically, do you support an international peace conference? The President. Well, let's make sure everybody understands that we have been engaged from the beginning of this administration. It's a the Mitchell plan came into being as a result of the mission that President Clinton called together. But as a the Secretary of State and myself and the administration embraced the Mitchell plan. It is a way to achieve peace. All parties signed on to it. We worked to get them to sign on to it. The Tenet plan, as a result of this administration sending George Tenet to the region to lay out a security cooperation agreement and so when you not reading into your question, I just want to make it clear that the history of this administration shows that the Middle East is an incredibly important part of our foreign policy. I went to the United Nations, spoke clearly about two nations living side by side. And so not only have we been, as they say, engaged of course, we will be engaged. It is essential that we continue to work to fight terror. There will never be peace in parts of the world unless we're willing to rout out terror. And as I said in my speech yesterday, that this war against terror is a part of making sure the world is not only safer but, eventually and as importantly, better. And as the Secretary said, that there must be a humanitarian aspect to peace in the Middle East, that people must have hope, that the hope doesn't come from killing the hope comes from an ability to realize what all of us want, which is to raise our children in a peaceful and secure environment, hope they get educated, and people can realize their entrepreneurial dreams. And that is exactly where our vision is. And that's why we will be engaged not only there but around the world where we fight terror. This is the calling of our time, to fight terror. And this Government will be strong in our battle against terror. Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters . Israeli Withdrawal From Palestinian Territories Q. Mr. President, does it trouble you that Israel hasn't withdrawn without delay, as you requested? And does the demand still stand for a full and immediate withdrawal? The President. Well, Israel started withdrawing quickly, after our call, from smaller cities on the West Bank. History will show that they responded. And as the Prime Minister said, told me he gave me a timetable, and he's met the timetable. In Ramallah, there is an issue with the "Zeevi five" killers. They're housed in the basement where Colin visited with Mr. Arafat, and we will work with the Israelis to figure out a solution to the "Zeevi five." These people are accused of killing a Cabinet official of the Israeli Government. And I can understand why the Prime Minister wants them brought to justice. They should be brought to justice if they killed this man in cold blood. And so I can the situation in Ramallah is based upon that particular part of the problem. In terms of the Church of the Nativity, hopefully progress is being made. Once the people are out of the Church of the Nativity, Israel will leave pull back out of Bethlehem. This is good progress. I'm convinced that the Secretary of State's trip helped achieve this progress. Listen, thank you all. Q. Mr. President, can I ask one question on the Middle East? The President. You had your shot. April 18, 2002 The President. Thank you for that warm welcome. I'm honored to be your President, and I'm honored to be a proud backer of the Crawford Texas Volunteer Fire Department. Laughter Anybody here from Audience members. We love you, George! Laughter The President. I was hoping somebody would be here from the Crawford Volunteer Fire Department. Laughter It's a long drive from Crawford, but thanks for coming. Laughter This evening we pay a fitting tribute to our Nation's first responders, the men and women who answer America's alarms. Yours is one of the highest callings in our country and one of the hardest. Your neighborhoods depend on you and so does your country. And you've never let us down. It's good to be here with Hal Bruno. This man was one of the finest names in TV journalism. You know him as a champion of fallen firefighters and a champion of their families. And as a lifelong volunteer, Hal, you have the respect of the people in this room, and we thank you for your service. And America has come to know my friend, a steady and strong man, the man I picked to be the FEMA Director, Joe Allbaugh. I'm proud of applause there's something reassuring about old Joe. Laughter It might be his haircut. Laughter But I know him well and trust him because he's got a big heart. And as Hal just told me, I'm proud of the fact that he's welcomed into any firehouse in America. And I give my thanks to a former volunteer fire chief, an eloquent former volunteer fire chief, the man who founded the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, my friend Congressman Curt Weldon. I want to thank Chief Dave Paulison for his willingness to serve our country. I want to thank the Congressmen who are here, Steny Hoyer as well as Rob Andrews. I understand that Senator Biden and Senator Sarbanes are to be here. They might be trying to pass some legislation right now I hope. Laughter I've got a few suggestions in mind if they laughter if they're interested. But I want to thank the Members of the Congress who are here. Thank you for taking time out of your evenings to be here and support this really important evening. I want to thank Chief Nigro, Chief Plaugher, and Chief Shaffer for their leadership and for leading the Pledge of Allegiance. And I want to thank you all for being such fine Americans. This annual event recognizes more than a million Americans who accept the difficult and dangerous work of fighting fires. At this hour, across our country, career and volunteer firefighters are waiting for the next call and prepared for anything that might come. Every one of them knows the risk that may be only minutes away, and every firefighter has made a decision. It has been said that a firefighter's first act of bravery is taking an oath to become a firefighter. We often read about surveys that ask Americans whom they trust and respect the most. In addition to their own family, one of the groups the young people of America most often name is the firefighters of our country and rightly so. You defend us against humanity's oldest enemy. In many ways, modern societies have gained control over fire. We have invented new methods of detecting fires and new practices to prevent them. Yet, we know there will always be fires, and someone will have to face the flames. America will always need the kind of people who do that work. There is no substitute for the raw courage of the firefighter. On September the 11th, the world saw once again the true meaning of heroism. Thousands of lives were saved from certain death by the courage of rescuers. Thousands were killed in the attack on our country, but not one of the victims was abandoned. Undoubtedly, for many who died that terrible day, the last voice they heard was the voice of a rescuer. A woman who lost her daughter at the World Trade Center has written this "We do not know what Ann's final time on Earth was like. But one thing we do know if she were conscious of being in a fire, she would have known that somewhere firemen were looking for her, and if it were humanly possible, they would save her or give their lives trying. She learned that as a fireman's daughter." Another fireman's daughter is here this evening, along with her three brothers and their mom, Rosalie. They are the family of Chief Ray Downey, who will always be remembered as one of the heroes of September the 11th. Those who knew him would tell him tell you he was the bravest of the brave, a fireman's fireman. And today I proudly signed legislation designating a post office in Deer Park, New York, as the Raymond M. Downey Post Office Building. It is our job to make sure that our country does not forget the sacrifices of that day and the valor of those who made them. We will remember all the innocent people who were murdered and the terrorist leaders who sent the murderers. And we'll remember our mission, to run down the terrorists one by one and bring them to justice. I can't imagine what went through their minds when they were plotting this horrible evil. You know, they must have thought America was so materialistic, so self centered, so self absorbed, so weak that all we were going to do was file a lawsuit. Laughter They found out we think a little different here in America. These people are nothing but coldblooded killers. And that's exactly how we're going to treat them. There is no cave applause there's not a calendar on my desk that says, you know, you got to quit by this date. I'm patient so is the American people. We're united. You see, when it comes to defending that which we hold dear, we're plenty tough, and we hold our freedoms dear. This is a different kind of war than we're used to in America. The days after September the 11th, I told the American people, and I'm telling them every chance I get, that this will be a war that will be fought on many fronts. Sometimes we'll use our military sometimes we'll cut off their money sometimes we'll conduct operations that no one will see, except the enemy when we grab them. I want you to know we're making good progress. But it's going to take a long time. It's going to take a lot longer than some of the calendar watchers would like. But that's okay, because we've got the resolve. Much to the chagrin of the enemy, this Nation has the resolve and the desire and the will to do what it takes to defend our freedoms and to make sure our children and our grandchildren can grow up in a free and peaceful world. I sent up I sent up a budget to Congress that reflects the nature of the war we're in. It's a big increase, no question about it. It's a 48 billion increase for our Armed Forces. It's the largest increase in defense spending since Ronald Reagan. And it's necessary. Here's my attitude If we put our soldiers in harm's way, they deserve the best equipment they deserve the best training they deserve the best support possible from the United States of America. I've also made homeland security a priority in the budget, with 3.5 billion in proposed spending for our country's first responders. We must prepare our country for whatever emergency may come and commit new resources to train and equipment our firefighters, our police, and EMS crews all around the country. You know, people oftentimes ask me what can they do to help fight in the war against terror. Firefighters answer that call every day. But there are other ways to fight in the war against terror as well. If you want to fight evil, do some good. If you want to join the war against terror, love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. That's why I'm calling on people to join the USA Freedom Corps, and one of the initiatives is to help our firefighters and police and EMS teams have volunteers support you all, have elderly help out in Neighborhood Watch. I mean, there are ways citizens can join in this war against terror. And there are other ways as well. If you mentor a child, you're doing some good. If you say to a shut in, "What can I do to help you out," you're doing some good. If you go to your church or synagogue or mosque and help people feed the hungry, you're doing some good. And it's the millions of acts of kindness and compassion which stand squarely in the face of evil. I am so proud I am so proud of the way America has responded. You know, I think we're beginning to defeat the old culture which said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." You've lived the culture of personal responsibility, of being responsible for something greater than yourself. That's what the firefighter does. And making the sacrifice and risking your life, you're a part of a movement, of a culture that says, "It's important to serve something greater." That was best seen in Flight 93. It's one of the moments that I'll never forget when brave men and women on a flight were told via telephone on the plane that America was under attack and they, themselves, had become a weapon. They said to their loved ones they told their loved ones they loved them they said a prayer one guy said, "Let's roll" and they drove an airplane in the ground, to serve something greater than themselves in life. Out of this evil will come incredible good in America. Out of the evil done to our country will come more peace in the world, a culture of personal responsibility, a willingness to serve something greater than ourselves in life. The enemy thought they hit a weak nation, but instead they hit the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. And it is my honor to be the President of the greatest nation. Thank you all. May God bless you. April 18, 2002 The President. Thank you very much, Tommy. I want to thank you all for coming, and welcome to the people's house. Today we're here to talk about the inspiring commitment and persistence of Americans who left welfare for better lives. And we're here to talk about the compassion of American companies which hired them. And we're here to talk about the next actions we must take in welfare reform to encourage work and to encourage families. I want to thank Tommy for his leadership at the Department of Health and Human Services. I knew he was going to be a good one, because I saw what he did as Governor of Wisconsin, and he brought that very same skills of leadership and vision to Washington. And I want to thank another member of my Cabinet who is here as well, Elaine Chao. Thank you for coming, Elaine. She is the head of the Department of Labor. I want to thank Rodney Carroll, president and CEO of the Welfare to Work Partnership. I want to thank Rodney for his vision I want to thank Rodney for his successes. I want to thank the dozens of welfare to work stories, the actual examples of people who made the firm and solemn commitment to work hard to embetter themselves. I want to thank you for your example, and I want to thank you for making America a better place. I want to thank all the company executives who are here, those who have made the commitment to serve their community by serving a by helping a neighbor help themselves. My goal is to produce a bipartisan piece of legislation that will continue the good reforms of the 1996 welfare law. I've invited Members of the Senate and the House here today. The House is working up working on making is getting this bill ready. They're marking it up, as we call say it here in Washington. The Senate sent fine of its three Members, Senators Breaux, Santorum, and Bayh, and I want to thank the three United States Senators for joining us today. Glad you're here. You can clap for them. Applause Just remember that on the next vote. Laughter As Tommy said, welfare reform is one of the great success stories. I used to say it was conservative to change welfare it was compassionate to help people help themselves. Since the law passed in 1996, welfare caseloads have dropped by more than half. And today, 5.4 million fewer people live in poverty, including 2.8 million fewer children than in 1996. That's success that's success. No one can deny that that has not been a successful piece of legislation. But the real success is not found in numbers, not in found in the number of caseloads cut. That's just a statistic. The real success is found in the number of lives which have been changed, and changed for the better. Real success is shown in the stories of hope and dignity, of hard work and personal achievement. On stage with me are four success stories, Tiffany Smith and Christine Anthony, Emory Bent and Bernadine Murphy. They are inspiring to me, and they will be inspiring to Americans when they hear their stories, because they are people who know how to persevere against tough odds and dedicated themselves to climbing that hill, to defeating those odds. And I'm so grateful that they're here, and I want to talk about two of the stories. Emory Bent he was unemployed, he was homeless, and he was struggling with drugs. The staff at Project Renewal in New York provided Emory with counseling, support groups, food and shelter, job training and education. In other words, somebody decided that Emory needed some help. In Emory's words, "Project Renewal helped me be a man and stand on my own two feet and be responsible for myself." Once he was hired by Home Depot, Emory said, "I felt like I was a member of society." Emory will be completing his college degree this year. What's not said on this piece of paper and what I've discovered since I met Emory in the Blue Room, here in the White House, is that even though the program helped, he is more than willing to give praise to an Almighty. Audience members. Hallelujah. Amen. The President. A faith based initiative helped as well. You see, when you help people change their hearts, it can help them change their lives. And sometimes we need a power bigger than Government or the private sector to help in our lives. And Emory is a walking testimony of what can happen. And then there's Bernadine Murphy of Chicago. She lived in a homeless shelter too. In this case, she had three children with her. It was just 3 years ago that she was in a homeless shelter. She also struggled with drug abuse, and her self esteem was, as she put it, "nonexistent." Bernadine enrolled in a 13 week training program, spent 11 weeks working part time with a mentor, somebody who put an arm around her. In her words, "The course made me feel like I was working towards something and helped me begin the long process of rebuilding my self esteem." That's what she said. Thanks to the course, Bernadine moved into her own apartment, not somebody else's but her own, and now works at the law firm of Bellows Bellows. Standing next to Bernadine when I went through the line was one of the partners at Bellows Bellows. I said, "Does she make a pretty good hand?" That's Texan for, "Is she a good worker?" Laughter She said, "Really good really good." Those are just two of the four stories here today, obviously emotional stories and true stories. But they're among the millions of stories that have taken place in America. They're a tribute to the personal effort of those who leave welfare and to the organizations who've helped them, as well as the businesses that hired them. I want to thank the Welfare to Work Partnership, which is a national campaign that has rounded up and encouraged over 20,000 businesses to provide more than 1.1 million jobs to former welfare recipients. You know, up here in Washington, there's a lot of talking that goes on. What we like to find are those who can actually deliver, and this program has worked. It took a lot of talking, I'm sure, to convince the businesses, the 20,000. But the amazing thing, is the results are fantastic. There is a responsibility in America if you're if you're running a business. You have a responsibility to your employees you have a responsibility to tell the truth when it comes to your assets and your liabilities laughter and you have a responsibility to be a good neighbor in your communities, in your cities, in your States, and in our country. You have a responsibility, as far as I'm concerned, and part of that responsibility is to give back. And one way you can give back is to help hire people coming off welfare. I urge people I urge businesses to join the Welfare to Work Partnership or any like such partnership, so that they can meet and realize the beauty of the stories that we just heard today. It's part of being a good American citizen to reach out to a neighbor in need. We're encouraged by the results of the welfare law, but we're not content. There's more work to be done. We want many more stories like those we've heard today. And so we will continue a determined effort to bring opportunity and hope to all Americans, opportunity and hope in parts of our country where opportunity and hope does not exist. And it's important for Americans to understand there are pockets of despair in our country, and we cannot rest so long as there are pockets of despair. This year the 1996 welfare law must be reauthorized by Congress. That means they've got to pass something like it again. I propose spending a lot of money on welfare, to make sure that we can help people help themselves, spending 17 billion a year from 2003 to 2007, the same level it was last year. But remember, the caseloads are going down, so we can keep the money the same and the caseloads are going down. It's a generous commitment to helping people help themselves. But we need to do more than just spend money. Money can help, of course, but money can't put hope in people's hearts. And so I want to talk about four goals that I think are important for the next bill. First, we've got to strengthen the work requirements for those on welfare. We've got to aim high. We've got to expect the best. Today, States, on average, must require work of only 5 percent of adults getting welfare. That's not a very high standard. I propose that every State be required, within 5 years, to have 70 percent of the welfare recipients working. We promote work because it is the pathway to independence and the pathway to self respect. I don't think we would have seen the emotion or heard the stories we heard today if it weren't for a desire to have people work. Work is important. The welfare recipients must spend at least 40 hours a week in work and in preparing for work. And that's important. Because many adults on welfare need new skills, this plan will allow States to combine work with up to 2 days each week of education and job training. In other words, we recognize some can't immediately get into the workplace. I know that. But part of the work requirement has got to be people helping themselves through education and job training. People need some people need intensive, short term help, and I know that as well. And so our proposal offers 3 months in full time drug rehabilitation or job training. Adolescent mothers can meet their work requirements by attending high school. But at the heart of all these proposals is that a simple commitment to return an ethic of work as an important part of the American life. Secondly, we must encourage to work we must work to encourage strong marriages and homes. Strong marriages and stable families are good for children, and stable families should be a central aim of welfare policy. We should not be afraid to promote families in America. Building and preserving families is not always possible I know that. I understand that, but it should always be a goal. Under my plan, up to 300 million will be available to States to support good private or public programs that counsel couples on building a healthy marriage. It recognizes that if there's a focus on marriage, that some marriages can be saved. I also believe it's very important to make sure that we do everything we can to prevent unwanted pregnancies. And one way that works every time is abstinence. It's fail safe. Laughter And it makes sense for the Federal Government to aim for an ideal. So in my budget, I've got 135 million for abstinence education programs. And not only will abstinence work when it comes to unwanted pregnancy, it will work to fight sexually transmitted diseases. Thirdly, we must give States greater flexibility in spending welfare money. Today, confusing and conflicting regulations are keeping people from getting help. The intent is there, but sometimes the regulatory world stands in between those who need help and the ability to get help. And Tommy and I are committed to doing everything we can to eliminate the bureaucratic hoops that people have to dive through. And so the proposal I've submitted that will be in law will provide waivers to allow States to redesign how the Federal programs operate in their States. Rather than dictate to States how each major welfare and training program should operate, waivers would allow States to be more innovative in providing care to low income families. Let me put it to you this way. They do things a little differently in Louisiana, where Senator Breaux is from. And they do things differently than Pennsylvania or Indiana. And it makes sense to trust the local folks to help design the programs necessary to meet the local needs, and that's what we're doing. And finally, even as welfare proceeds, it is incredibly important that we encourage the work of charitable and faith based groups to help people in need. America's neighborhood healers, the social entrepreneurs of our country, fill needs that no welfare system can possibly fill. And the Government ought to be the ally of the faith based and charitable programs. We ought not to worry about faith in our society. We ought to welcome it. We ought to welcome it into our programs. We ought to welcome it in the welfare system. We ought to recognize the healing power of faith in our society. We ought to say to churches and synagogues and mosques, love if you want to love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself, start a program to help the homeless, to feed people. I support legislation Rick Santorum is the sponsor in the Senate, along with Joe Lieberman that encourages charitable giving by allowing non itemizers to deduct charitable gifts, so that we can get more money in the hands of people who are trying to help people in need. We ought not to allow the Federal Government to discriminate, when it comes to the distribution of Federal money, against faith based grassroots programs. Faith based initiatives is an integral part of the next step of welfare reform, and I encourage the Congress the Senate to get this bill moving. And if there's any differences with the House, get it reconciled and get it on my desk. And the same on welfare reauthorization. I want to thank the Senators for being here. I want to thank the House Members for working on it. We need to get this done. It's for the good of the American people. You know, this is a fabulous country we have. I don't know what the enemy was thinking when they hit us. They must have thought all we were going to do was file a lawsuit or something. Laughter But we're not only going to fight evil we're not only going to fight evil with a focused effort to defeat terrorism, but we're going to fight evil by doing some good in our country. It's the millions of acts of kindness and compassion which take place every single day which really define the America that we all know. It's those business folks, people in the business community, in the private sector, who said, "What can I do to help? How can I help somebody?" And when they end up helping somebody who's been on welfare, they realize they're more help than the person they're trying to help. And that's what this is all about. I want to thank you all again. I want to thank those who have had the courage to stand up and seek self esteem and independence. I want to thank the those who have been mentors and provided love in the darkest days of people who wondered whether there was any hope in our society. And I want to thank corporate America, those who have sat up and said, "I'm going to be a good citizen. Not only am I going to provide for my shareholders and my employees, I'm going to provide for people who need a helping hand." It's such an honor to be here today. Again, I want to thank the four good souls who have agreed to stand up here. Thank you for your example. May God bless you all, and may God continue to bless America. April 17, 2002 Well, thank you all very much. At ease. Thank you all very much for that warm welcome. General Myers, thank you. General Bunting and General Casey, Secretary Marsh, Congressman Goodlatte, Albert Beveridge, members of the corps of cadets, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. I want to thank you for your warm welcome and thank you for inviting me to one of America's great institutions. I brought along a little graduation present. I'm sure you'll like it some of you will need it. Laughter As Commander in Chief, I hereby grant amnesty. Applause General Bunting, I'm sure you can tell who needed it. Laughter And I know you'll be generous in the interpretation of this doctrine. Laughter I want to congratulate the winners of the George C. Marshall ROTC Award. The more than 260 young men and women who represent the winners represent the best of our country and the best future for the United States Army. You stand out among the nearly 30,000 young Americans who are today enrolled in the Army ROTC, the officers who will serve in the military of the future and one day will lead it. A majority of the Army's current officers started out in the ROTC. For nearly 90 years, this great program has developed leaders and shaped character. Those looking for idealism on the college campuses of America will find it in the men and women of the ROTC. ROTC's traditions and values are a contribution and a credit to every college and every university where they're found. Secretary of State Colin Powell was in the ROTC at City College of New York, an experience that helped set the course of his life. In his own words, he said this "The order, the self discipline, the pride that had been instilled in me by our ROTC prepared me well for my Army career or, for that matter, any career I might have chosen." Colin Powell's career has taken him from service in Vietnam to the top rank in the military and now on a peace mission to the Middle East. America is fortunate and I am proud to have ROTC graduate Colin Powell serving our country. Only one other Army general has gone on to serve as Secretary of State, and that was George Marshall himself, VMI's highest ranking cadet in the class of 1901. As Army Chief of Staff, General Marshall became the architect of America's victory in the Second World War. He fought tenaciously against our enemies and then worked just as hard to secure the peace. President Truman considered George C. Marshall the greatest man he knew. Above all, said Winston Churchill, Marshall "always fought victoriously against defeatism, discouragement, and disillusionment." The key to morale and to victory, Marshall said, is "steadfastness and courage and hope." And today, we are called to defend freedom against ruthless enemies. And once again, we need steadfastness, courage, and hope. The war against terror will be long. And as George Marshall so clearly understood, it will not be enough to make the world safer we must also work to make the world better. In the days just after September the 11th, I told the American people that this would be a different war, fought on many fronts. Today, around the world, we make progress on the many fronts. In some cases, we use military force. In others, we're fighting through diplomacy, financial pressure, or special operations. In every case, we will defeat the threats against our country and the civilized world. Our progress our progress is measured day by day, terrorist by terrorist. We recently apprehended one of Al Qaida's top leaders, a man named Abu Zubaydah. He was spending a lot of time as one of the top operating officials of Al Qaida, plotting and planning murder. He's not plotting, and he's not planning anymore. He's under lock and key, and we're going to give him some company. We're hunting down the killers one by one. We're learning a lot about Al Qaida operations and their plans. As our enemies have fled their hideouts in Afghanistan, they left some things behind. We found laptop computers, drawings, and maps. And through them, we're gaining a clearer picture of the terrorists' targets and their methods. Our international coalition against these killers is strong and united and acting. European nations have frozen almost 50 million in suspected terrorist assets, and that's important. Many European states are taking aggressive and effective law enforcement action to join us in rounding up these terrorists and their cells. We're making good progress. Yet, it's important for Americans to know this war will not be quick, and this war will not be easy. The first phase of our military operation was in Afghanistan, where our Armed Forces continue to perform with bravery and with skill. You've got to understand that, as we routed out the Taliban, they weren't sent in to conquer they were sent in to liberate. And they succeeded, and our military makes us proud. The battles in Afghanistan are not over. American and allied troops are taking risks today in what we call Operation Mountain Lion, hunting down the Al Qaida and Taliban forces and keeping them on the run. Coalition naval forces, in the largest combined flotilla since World War II, are patrolling escape routes and intercepting ships to search for terrorists and their supplies. As the spring thaw comes, we expect cells of trained killers to try to regroup, to murder, create mayhem, and try to undermine Afghanistan's efforts to build a lasting peace. We know this from not only intelligence but from the history of military conflict in Afghanistan. It's been one of initial success followed by long years of floundering and ultimate failure. We're not going to repeat that mistake. In the United States of America, the terrorists have chosen a foe unlike they have any they have never faced before. They've never faced a country like ours before We're tough we're determined we're relentless. We will stay until the mission is done. We know that true peace will only be achieved when we give the Afghan people the means to achieve their own aspirations. Peace peace will be achieved by helping Afghanistan develop its own stable government. Peace will be achieved by helping Afghanistan train and develop its own national army. And peace will be achieved through an education system for boys and girls which works. We're working hard in Afghanistan. We're clearing minefields. We're rebuilding roads. We're improving medical care. And we will work to help Afghanistan to develop an economy that can feed its people without feeding the world's demand for drugs. And we help the Afghan people recover from the Taliban rule. And as we do so, we find mounting horror evidence of horror. In the Hazarajat region, the Red Cross has found signs of massacres committed by the Taliban last year, victims who lie in mass graves. This is the legacy of the first regime to fall in the war against terror. These mass graves are a reminder of the kind of enemy we have fought and have defeated. And they are the kind of evil we continue to fight. By helping to build an Afghanistan that is free from this evil and is a better place in which to live, we are working in the best traditions of George Marshall. Marshall knew that our military victory against enemies in World War II had to be followed by a moral victory that resulted in better lives for individual human beings. After 1945, the United States of America was the only nation in the world strong enough to help rebuild a Europe and a Japan that had been decimated by World War II. Today, our former enemies are our friends, and Europe and Japan are strong partners in the rebuilding of Afghanistan. This transformation is a powerful testimony to the success of Marshall's vision and a beacon to light the path that we too must follow. In the second phase of the war on terror, our military and law enforcement intelligence officers are helping countries around the world in their efforts to crack down on terror within their borders. Global terrorism will be defeated only by global response. We must prevent Al Qaida from moving its operations to other countries. We must deny terrorists the funds they need to operate. We must deny them safe havens to plan new horrors and indoctrinate new recruits. We're working with Yemen's Government to prevent terrorists from reassembling there. We sent troops to help train local forces in the Philippines, to help them defeat terrorists trying to establish a militant regime. And in the Republic of Georgia, we provide temporary help to its military as it routs out a terrorist cell near the Russian border. Wherever global terror threatens the civilized world, we and our friends and our allies will respond and will respond decisively. Every nation that joins our cause is welcome. Every nation that needs our help will have it. And no nation can be neutral. Around the world, the nations must choose They are with us, or they're with the terrorists. And in the Middle East, where acts of terror have triggered mounting violence, all parties have a choice to make. Every leader, every state must choose between two separate paths, the path of peace or the path of terror. In the stricken faces of mothers, Palestinian mothers and Israeli mothers, the entire world is witnessing the agonizing cost of this conflict. Now, every nation and every leader in the region must work to end terror. All parties have responsibilities. These responsibilities are not easy, but they're clear. And Secretary of State Powell is helping make them clear. I want to thank Secretary Powell for his hard work at a difficult task. He returns home having made progress towards peace. We're confronting hatred that is centuries old, disputes that have lingered for decades. But I want you to know, I will continue to lead toward a vision of peace. We will continue to remind folks they have responsibilities in the short run to defuse the current crisis. The Palestinian Authority must act must act on its words of condemnation against terror. Israel must continue its withdrawals. And all Arab states must step up to their responsibilities. The Egyptians and Jordanians and Saudis have helped in the wider war on terrorism, and they must help confront terrorism in the Middle East. All parties have a responsibility to stop funding or inciting terror. And all parties must say clearly that a murderer is not a martyr he or she is just a murderer. And all parties must realize that the only vision for a long term solution is for two states Israel, Palestine to live side by side in security and in peace. That will require hard choices and leadership by Israelis, Palestinians, and their Arab neighbors. The time is now for all to make the choice for peace. And finally, the civilized world faces a grave threat from weapons of mass destruction. A small number of outlaw regimes today possess and are developing chemical and biological and nuclear weapons. They're building missiles to deliver them and at the same time cultivating ties to terrorist groups. In their threat to peace, in their mad ambitions, in their destructive potential, and in the repression of their own people, these regimes constitute an axis of evil, and the world must confront them. America, along with other nations, will oppose the proliferation of dangerous weapons and technologies. We will proceed with missile defenses to protect the American people, our troops, and our friends and allies. And America will take the necessary action to oppose emerging threats. We'll be deliberate, and we will work with our friends and allies. And as we do so, we will uphold our duty to defend freedom. We will fight against terrorist organizations in different ways, with different tactics, in different places. And we will fight the threat from weapons of mass destruction in different ways, with different tactics, in different places. Yet, our objective is always the same We will defeat global terror, and we will not allow the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most dangerous weapons. America has a much greater purpose than just eliminating threats and containing resentment, because we believe in the dignity and value of every individual. America seeks hope and opportunity for all people in all cultures. And that is why we're helping to rebuild Afghanistan. And that is why we've launched a new compact for development through the Millennium Challenge Account. And that is why we work for free trade, to lift people out of poverty throughout the world. A better world can seem very distant when children are sent to kill other children and old hatreds are stoked and carefully passed from one generation to another and a violent few love death more than life. Yet hatred, fanaticism are not the way of the future, because the hopes of humanity are always stronger than its hatreds. And these hopes are universal in every country and in every country in every culture. Men and women everywhere want to live in dignity, to create and build and own, to raise their children in peace and security. The way to a peaceful future can be found in the nonnegotiable demands of human dignity. Dignity requires the rule of law, limits on the power of the state, respect for women, private property, equal justice, religious tolerance. No nation owns these principles. No nation is exempt from them. Sixty years ago, few would have predicted the triumph of these values in Germany and Japan. Fifteen years ago, few would have predicted the advance of these values in Russia. Yet, Americans are not surprised. We know that the demands of human dignity are written in every heart. The demands have a power and momentum of their own, defying all pessimism. And they are destined to change lives and nations on every continent. America has acted on these hopes throughout our history. General George Marshall is admired for the war he fought, yet best remembered for the peace he secured. The Marshall plan, rebuilding Europe and lifting up former enemies, showed that America is not content with military victory alone. Americans always see a greater hope and a better day, and America sees a just and hopeful world beyond the war on terror. Many of you will help achieve this better world. At a young age, you've taken up a great calling. You'll serve your country and our values. You'll protect your fellow citizens. And by your effort and example, you will advance the cause of freedom around the world. And so I'm here to thank you for your commitment and congratulate you on the high honor you have received. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. April 16, 2002 Well, thank you all very much. I appreciate you coming and giving me a chance to discuss the budget of our country. First, I want to thank Ted Fowler and Grady Rosier for leading this noble effort to make sure that Congress gets the message that fiscal sanity and discipline is important as we fight our war against terror. I want to thank the members of my administration who are here, the Deputy Director of the OMB I don't know where "The Blade" is, but laughter he's traveling. But I want to thank you all very much for making up the Fiscal Responsibility Coalition. Now, last night was not only the night people were supposed to file their taxes, but Congress was supposed to file its budget. The House has, and the Senate hasn't acted yet. But I want you to know that we fulfilled our responsibility. And I want to talk about budgeting in the face of the war against terror and budgeting in the face of a slowdown in our economy. It's an important issue because sound budgeting is going to determine whether or not and sound appropriating is going to determine whether or not people are going to be able to find work. First, I think it's important on any budget to set priorities. And I want to share with you the three priorities that I've set and why I did it. Homeland security We've doubled the amount of money available for homeland security, because my most important job is to protect our homeland. I need to be able to say to the American people that you can go about your lives because we're doing everything we can to protect you. And we are. We've got money in our budget for first time responders those are your police and your fire and your emergency medical teams so that they can have a capacity to respond to any emergency that may occur, if one does. We've got money for bioterrorism in our budget. We've got medicines available. We're beefing up the public health units around the country. We've got money in our budget for border security. I mean, let's be frank about it, we've got to know do a better job about knowing who's coming in and why they're coming into America, how long they intend to stay, and whether or not they're staying for as long as they say they're staying. We beefed up our Coast Guard to make sure that our ports and ports of entry are better protected. We're doing a much better job here in America of communicating between law enforcement agencies. We've got money in our budget to modernize the capacity for the FBI to communicate internally, as well as with other law enforcement agencies around the country. You just need to know that anytime we get any hint that somebody might be thinking about doing something to America, we're responding. We're chasing down every possible lead to make sure the homeland is secure. But the reality is, is that the way to secure the homeland is to find these killers, wherever they try to hide, and bring them to justice. That's the best way to secure America. I know some Americans wonder what is how long this is going to go on. The answer is, for however long it takes. History has called us into action. We're not going to blink. We're not going to get tired. We're going to do what is necessary to defend our freedoms. I like to tell people in these speeches I'm giving that I can't imagine what went through the mind of the killers. They must have thought we were so materialistic, so self absorbed, that all we were going to do was file a lawsuit. Laughter They found out that we think differently here. And so my budget prioritizes our national defense. It's the biggest increase in the defense budget in 20 years. And there's a couple of reasons why. First, anytime we send our troops into harm's way, they've got to have the best training, the best equipment, the best possible pay. I mean, we owe it to our soldiers that it be this way. And secondly, the size of the budget request ought to indicate to the American people that we're in it for the and the enemy, by the way that we're in this for the long pull that there is no calendar on my desk that says, "Oh, by the way, this thing must end by such and such a moment." That's just not the way I'm thinking, and it's not the way our military is thinking. And the Congress needs to understand that as well, that it's expensive to fight for freedom, but it's not too expensive because it's freedom we fight for. These people, these terrorists still want to hit us. They're coldblooded murderers. That's just what they are, and we're denying them places to hide. And slowly but surely, we're going to get them. And just ask their chief operating officer, Abu Zubaydah, what it's like to be on the wrong side of the United States of America. We got him, and America's safer for it, but there's more out there. I feel the same way, by the way, about nations that are going to develop these weapons of mass destruction, who have got a history of hating America, hating freedom, and using these weapons against their own people, for example. I've got one country in mind, as I laid out that characteristic. Laughter But we can't, for the good of our children and for the sake of our future, allow them ever to team up with an Al Qaida organization and try to hold us hostage or hold the free world hostage. And it's just not going to happen. I'm going to be patient and deliberate, be steady. And our budget reflects that. And so and the third priority has been to make sure that we promote economic vitality and growth. And so the priority in the budget was the tax cut that many of you worked on and is now in place. And I will tell you that I remember giving speech after speech after speech saying our economy needs a tax cut. It's important to let people have their own money so that they can spend. And when they do, demand increases, and then somebody will meet that demand with a good or a service, and then somebody will be able to find work. And it made a huge difference in our in the vitality of our economy that we cut the taxes. Those taxes need to be permanent, by the way. And I look forward to working applause . And the budget also included a blueprint for the economic stimulus plan that I signed. And again, I want to thank some of you in this room for working on this a good thing. And so I urge Congress to get moving on the appropriations process, particularly when it comes to the Defense bill. Generally, here in Washington, they wait and put the Defense bill out last. I'm not going to read any reasons why into that it just happens. I'll let the experts tell you why. It seems like to me, if we're at war and we are at war that they ought to get the Defense appropriations bill out first and not play games with the Defense appropriations. And so I'm asking Congress to do that. I've made this clear to the leadership. I had a breakfast they were seemed to be very responsive. And now it's time for the appropriators to act. I also ask Congress to pass the supplemental that we submitted. It's emergency funding for defense and homeland security and economic security, and we'd like to get that done by Memorial Day. It's time for them to get that supplemental passed. The key, however, in making sure that this all fits together is that Congress understand the consequences of excessive spending beyond the priorities. The budget we submitted sets our priorities, but areas outside of our priorities will increase in expenditure by 2 percent, which is a pretty darn healthy increase in times of war. It means that we're going to meet other obligations. The education bill, for example, is an increase, after a substantial increase from last year. And one of the things that I'm urging Congress is to make sure that when they begin to think about programs and what they're going to spend the money on, is to think of the lessons of the past. We must not repeat the mistakes in the sixties, when increased spending required by war was not balanced by slower spending in the rest of Government, that the appropriators thought, "What the heck, we'll just spend it on everything without any fiscal discipline in Washington, DC." And as a result, in the seventies, we faced unemployment and growing deficits and spiraling inflation. In times of now is the time for us to be responsible when it comes to spending the people's money. That's not to say that it's not always time to be responsible when it comes to spending the people's money, but it's a time to be disciplined. The lesson ought to be clear that when you have excess spending, it's going to cost people their jobs, and Congress has got to be very careful about that. The recession no question, I remember when I was campaigning, I said, would you ever deficit spend? Or and I said, "Yes, only if there were a time of war, or recession, or a national emergency." Never thought we'd get laughter . And so we have a temporary deficit in our budget, because we are at war, we're recovering, our economy is recovering, and we've had a national emergency. But never did I dream we'd have the trifecta. Laughter But the key is to make sure it's as small as possible and to make sure it doesn't last very long. And so you'll hear some who will say, "Well, let's raise taxes as the way to deal with this temporary deficit." That, of course, would slow the economy down. It would make deficits worse. The best way to make sure that we get rid of this deficit, this short term, temporary deficit, is to continue stimulating our economy more jobs, more growth equals more tax revenues and at the same time, have strong fiscal discipline here in Washington, DC. If we restrain spending, even though we're at war, even though our economy is still clunking along, if we react responsibly, we can return to a balanced budget something I want as early as 2004. But tough choices on Capitol have to be made. I intend to help them make those choices. I want them to applause . I think we can do so in the spirit of cooperation, focusing on what's best for America. This doesn't have to be a time for harsh partisanship, where people are trying to advance their own political agendas as opposed to focusing on what's best for the country. What's best for the country is winning the war on terror, buttoning up the homeland, and keeping this economy growing so people can find work. That's what's best for the country. And we don't have to get into needless partisan screeching over the budget. We've got to be wise and reasonable with the people's money. And we've got to have some goals, and I've set the goals in terms of the war and set the goals in terms of the homeland. Our economy needs to get growing. But we also can focus on making sure we end this deficit. And we can do so, if the United States Congress does not overspend. And that's what I'm here to ask for your help on. I know you're interested in our country. I know you're most interested in the budgeting process. And we need your help, to help them hold the line on spending. You've got a tool, and that's called your voice, and the people you work with. And I've got a tool, and that's called a veto. Laughter And perhaps and together applause I don't think that's going to be necessary, because I believe, in this difficult time for America, there's a common spirit on Capitol Hill and one that we can promote and use for the benefit of the people. And let me conclude by telling you, as people who've got influence in your communities and around the country, that there is a way you can help fight in this war against terror beyond trying to affect the budget, make sure you keep employing people. And that is, to love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself that if you're interested in fighting evil, do some good. Mentor a child tell your own children you love them every single day help a shut in get your church or synagogue or mosque to feed the hungry. Always remember there are pockets of despair and hopelessness in America, pockets of places where but a place that can be changed, as a result of a loving soul entering someone's life. The best way to fight evil in America is, do some good. And it's those collective acts of kindness and decency and compassion which will not only stands America squarely in the face of evil, but which will turn the evil acts done to us as incredible good for people, people all around the country. This is a great country. There's no doubt in my mind that not only will we be able to achieve peace, but we'll achieve a hopeful America for everybody. Thank you all for coming, and may God bless. April 16, 2002 Well, John, thank you very much for inviting me to this beautiful room, and thank you all for coming today. Justice is one of the defining commitments of America. In our war against terror, I constantly remind our fellow citizens We seek justice, not revenge. We seek justice for victims. We seek justice for their families. And for justice to prevail in our struggle for freedom, we must rout out terrorist threats wherever they exist. And that's exactly what this country is going to do. And while the war goes on and while our fight for freedom continues, we will continue to work for justice at home, including justice for the victims of violent crime. I appreciate John Ashcroft's leadership, his stand on principle, and his wise counsel during my time as the President. I appreciate so very much Senator Feinstein and Senator Kyl carrying this cause that I'm here to support. I want to thank the chairman, and I want to thank the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee for coming as well, Senator Leahy and Senator Hatch. I want to thank all the Members from the United States Congress for being here, Congressmen Barrett and Chabot and Wicker. I too want to thank John Walsh. I appreciate not only you standing up for victims I appreciate you putting the pictures of the Al Qaida killers on the TV screen to help America remain alert, to help this country understand that we're still in danger from attack. I want to thank you for being a good American, and I want to thank you for helping the cause. I want to welcome the leaders of victim rights groups from all around the country. I particularly want to thank and congratulate those who are award winners today. As John mentioned, in the year 2000, Americans were victims of millions of crimes. Behind each of these numbers is a terrible trauma, a story of suffering, and a story of lost security. Yet, the needs of victims are often an afterthought in our criminal justice system. It's not just it's not fair and it must change. As we protect the rights of criminals, we must take equal care to protect the rights of the victims. Many of the victims of crime have gotten a crash course in the complications and frustrations of our criminal justice system. One victim put it this way "They explained the defendant's constitutional right to the nth degree. They couldn't do this, and they couldn't do that, because of his constitutional rights. And I wondered what mine were. And they told me, I hadn't got any." The guy sounded like he came from Texas. Laughter But too often, our system fails to inform victims about proceedings involving bail and pleas and sentencing and even about the trials themselves. Too often, the process fails to take the safety of victims into account when deciding whether to release dangerous offenders. Too often, the financial losses of victims are ignored. And too often, victims are not allowed to address the court at sentencing and explain their suffering or even to be present in the courtroom where their victimizers are being tried. When our criminal justice systems treats victims as irrelevant bystanders, they are victimized for a second time. And because Americans are justifiably proud of our system and expect it to treat us fairly, the second violation of our rights can be traumatic. "It's like a huge slap," said one victim, "because you think the system will protect you. It's maddening and frightening." Thirty years ago, a grassroots movement began to stand up for the rights of victims. It resulted in domestic violence shelters, support groups for families of homicide victims, rape crisis centers. They exist in cities and neighborhoods all across America, because Americans care about their neighbors in need. One good example is in John's home State of Missouri. It's called Aids Aid for Victims of Crime, Inc., in which volunteers provide counseling and court advocacy and other essential services to the victims of crime. Victims' rights groups are active every single day. There isn't a day that goes by that they're not involved in somebody's life, and they're especially important during times of disaster and crisis. You know, when the bomber hit Oklahoma City, victims' rights groups were on the scene immediately thereafter to help. And the same happened after 9 11 in New York, in Washington, Pennsylvania. Victims' rights groups were there. Hundreds of counselors and chaplains and social workers, victims' service providers helped their fellow Americans deal with the unspeakable pain and suffering caused by the terrorist murders. The Attorney General will shortly present awards to outstanding individuals and groups for their work on behalf of victims. I had the honor of meeting the winners, and I want to congratulate them publicly for loving your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. You've chosen to live out the words of Saint Paul "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good." And our Nation struggles as our Nation struggles to overcome the evil of September the 11th, your lives, the example you set, stand out as models of compassion and integrity. The victims' rights movement has touched the conscience of this country, and our criminal justice system has begun to respond, treating victims with greater respect. The States as well as the Federal Government have passed legal protections for victims. However, those laws are insufficient to fully recognize the rights of crime victims. Victims of violent crime have important rights that deserve protection in our Constitution. And so today I announce my support for the bipartisan crime victims' rights amendment to the Constitution of the United States. As I mentioned, this amendment is sponsored by Senator Feinstein of California, Senator Kyl of Arizona one a Democrat, one a Republican, both great Americans. This amendment makes some basic pledges to Americans. Victims of violent crime deserve the right to be notified of public proceedings involving the crime. They deserve to be heard at public proceedings regarding the criminal's sentence or potential release. They deserve to have their safety considered. They deserve consideration of their claims of restitution. We must guarantee these rights for all the victims of violent crime in America. The Feinstein Kyl amendment was written with care and strikes a proper balance. Our legal system properly protects the rights of the accused in the Constitution, but it does not provide similar protection for the rights of victims, and that must change. The protection of victims' rights is one of those rare instances when amending the Constitution is the right thing to do. And the Feinstein Kyl crime victims' rights amendment is the right way to do it. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. April 15, 2002 Thank you all very much. Thank you all. Please be seated. Well, Greg, thank you very much for that warm introduction. I want to thank you all for the warm welcome. I'm here because I want Greg Ganske to become the next United States Senator from Iowa. I'll never forget that I ended up where I am because of the good folks in Iowa. It all started here. And I want to thank many of you who I want to thank you all so very much for making this, Greg tells me, the largest fundraiser in Iowa history. I want to thank you all very much for supporting Laura and me. I want to thank those of you involved in the grassroots politics in Iowa for all your hard work, for the phones you dial and for the envelopes that you stuff. I want to thank you all for working hard to make our country as great a country as it can possibly be. It is an honor to be back in Iowa. I'm only sorry that First Lady Laura Bush didn't come with me. Like Ganske, we both married above ourselves. Laughter I appreciate Corrine Ganske. I appreciate her patience. I appreciate her willingness to work with Greg to ensure that he becomes the next United States Senator from Iowa. I was most impressed that Ganske's mother in law came. Laughter That's a good sign. Laughter I want you to know that I am incredibly proud of Laura, just as proud of Laura as Greg is of Corrine. She has brought a lot of calm and steadiness to our country. You know, when I asked her to marry me, she was a public school librarian. She didn't particularly care for politics. She wasn't all that thrilled to be around politicians. But people in America are now beginning to realize why I asked her to marry me. A lot of folks are still somewhat concerned as to why she said yes. Laughter But I want you to know that she is doing a fabulous job, and I'm really proud of her. I want to thank Greg's colleague Jim Leach for being here tonight. Jim Leach is one of the true class acts of the United States Congress. He still reminds me that he was a fine wrestler in high school and college but not nearly as good as Dan Gable, and I want to thank Dan Gable for being here as well tonight, too. I know Greg is proud to call you friend and supporter, and I know Iowa is proud to call you son. And they're also proud of Cael Sanderson and his incredible accomplishments as one of the finest college athletes ever. Cael, thank you for being here tonight as well. I know that two former Governors are here, friends of mine, people who distinguished themselves when they held the high honor of being Governor of Iowa, and that's Terry Branstad and Bob Ray. I want to thank you all for coming. I know that Ron Corbett is here, and I appreciate Ron helping Greg, and I appreciate him being the president of the Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce. And Chuck Larson, the chairman of the Republican Party, he's doing a fantastic job on behalf of the Republicans in Iowa. But most of all, I want to thank Greg for his willingness to run for the Senate.You know, Washington, DC, needs people like Greg who care more about getting things done than trying to be as shrill as they possibly can be. Washington, DC, needs people of accomplishment, people who are not interested in needless partisan fighting but who put America and Iowa, in this case foremost in their agenda. And that is Greg Ganske. I was here today at General Mills, and I want to thank that fine company for their hospitality and remind people that April 15th, today, can actually be called tax relief day. Laughter I came to Iowa, and I laid out a tax relief plan in Des Moines, Iowa it's the first place that I talked about it. And I said, "If you give me a chance to be the President, I look forward to taking your message to Washington, DC." And that is, first of all, that the money we're dealing with is not the Government's money it's the people's money. I said as plainly as I could, "If you give me a chance to be the President, I'm going to work with whoever will listen, to make sure people have got plenty of money, their own money in their pockets, so they get to make the decisions as what to do with their own money." And thanks to people like Greg Ganske, we delivered on that promise. Tax relief was incredibly important not only to working families in America tax relief came at the right time. Our economy was beginning to grind down. Our economy was slowing down too much. And people in Washington, people like Ganske and Leach and others, understand that when you let people keep their own money, they will spend. And when they spend on goods and services, somebody is going to produce those goods and services. And when somebody produces those goods and services, it means jobs for the working people. Thank goodness we cut the taxes on the American people when we did. And part of that tax relief not only deals with the marriage penalty because Greg and I and others, believe we ought to promote families and promote marriage part of it recognizes the many in Iowa are struggling to raise children. Single moms is the toughest job in our country is being a single mom. And we increased the child credit. But the other thing we did which was important for Iowa is that we put the death tax on its way to extinction. It is important for Iowa farmers repealing that death tax is important for people who own the land. It makes no sense to have a Tax Code that taxes people's assets twice. Now, what's curious about how the United States Senate works is that the repeal of the death tax is not permanent. In 2011, it can come back to haunt small business owners and farmers and ranchers and people who work all their life to leave their assets to their children. And what we need is to make all tax relief permanent, and Greg Ganske is willing to make that tough vote, and I appreciate that very much. There's a practical reason to elect Ganske, because he's going to be part of the change of leadership in the United States Senate. And when we change the leadership in the United States Senate, thanks to his election, Senator Chuck Grassley will become chairman of the Finance Committee, and that's going to be good for Iowa. And that's not only good for Iowa, that's good for America. I appreciate Chuck. I appreciate his hard work. He, like Greg, is a fine, solid solid citizen who represents your State with a lot of class and a lot of distinction in Washington, DC. We need a majority because I want my judges to be given a fair hearing. I want to tell you I appreciate Greg's understanding of the importance of trade. Jim Leach reminded me that here in Cedar Rapids this is a town that relies upon trade more dollars per capita generated through trade than almost any other city in the United States. Of any city in the Nation that understands the importance of trade, it's right here. And the President needs what's called trade promotion authority. I need the ability to negotiate trade agreements all around the world. There are some in Washington, DC, who want to build walls and protection around America, but a confident nation is one that tears those walls down. We are the best farmers in the world, and we ought to be selling Iowa products all across the world. I appreciate very much Greg's understanding of the need for a comprehensive energy policy. I submitted a plan to the House that Greg sponsored and supported, that is a balanced plan. It says on the one hand we've got to do a better job of conserving energy in America, and we've got to use our technologies to lead the way to not only cleaner air but to better conservation. I believe that one of these days we're going to have brand new types of cars that are going to make us less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil, and we'll be more better at cleaning our air. And that's coming down the road. And part of the bill that we worked together on has got those incentives for technological development, and it's going to happen. It's going to happen in our lifetime. But I want you to know that in the meantime, for the sake of economic security and for the sake of national security, we need to be finding more energy at home. We import more than 50 percent of our energy from around the world. And some of those countries from which we import, they don't like America. And I don't like to be in a position of having to rely upon energy from countries that don't like us. I've heard the rhetoric like you. I just want you to know, I've got all the confidence in the world that we'll be able to explore at home and protect the environment. Technology has developed so that we can have a exploration program that doesn't permanently scar the environment, that understands the importance of environmental policy. And as we're working on sound, comprehensive energy policy, we must also work on renewables renewables such as ethanol. All of these elements are a part of an energy bill that Greg helped get out of the House, that is stalled in the United States Senate. I repeat For the sake of economic security of those who work for a living and for the sake of national security, we need Senators in Washington, DC, who will promote and work for sound energy policy. It's good for the country. I appreciate Greg's big heart. He's a fellow who's always served his fellow citizen. He's used his God given talents as a surgeon to help those in need, and that's important, to have people with big hearts in Washington, DC. I appreciate his deep concern about the Medicare funding formulas that so affect rural Iowa. He gave me an earful on Air Force One, I want you to know. Laughter I appreciate so very much his concern about the doctor patient relationship and making sure that's intact. But most of all, the thing I appreciate him is, he's a good thinker and a hard worker who cares deeply about the citizens of this State. Greg Ganske is going to make a United a fine United States Senator, and there's no doubt in my mind he's going to win next November. And I look forward to working with him in the Senate on a lot of issues other than those I've discussed. I want to talk about three issues facing America. First, our homeland security. My most important job is to make sure the enemy doesn't hit us again. My most important job is to protect innocent Americans. You need to know that the nature of the people we're dealing with, they're coldblooded killers. They hate us, and you know why they hate us? They hate us because we love freedom. They hate us because we love the fact and honor the fact that we worship freely in America. They can't stand the thought of free elections, free press. And they're out there. But I also want you to know, we're doing everything in our power to protect the homeland. We've got a homeland security strategy that is preparing our noble and brave first responders, should something happen that would be the police and the fire and the EMS folks. We've got an initiative on bioterrorism that's smart and wise. We're increasing our security at our borders. We want an INS that's the folks who're supposed to know who's coming in and coming out to be modern. We want to know who's coming in our country and why they're coming in and if they're leaving when they're supposed to be leaving. And I also want to assure you that anytime we get any lead, any hint that somebody might try to do something to an American citizen or an American city, we're responding. We're chasing down every single lead there is. We're on alert. Our law enforcement officials are communicating much better than ever before. But the best way to secure the homeland is to run down the killers one by one and bring them to justice, and that's exactly what we're going to do. History has called us into action. And we're not going to tire, because when it comes to the defense of our freedoms, when it comes to civilization itself, this Nation is going to stand tall. You know, I can't imagine what was going through the minds of the Al Qaida killers. I guess they just thought they were going to hit us, and because we were so materialistic, in their minds, so self absorbed, so incredibly selfish, that all we were going to do was file a lawsuit. Laughter They were wrong. Anytime anybody anytime it comes to defending that which we hold dear, this Nation will be strong and resolute and determined. I'm sure you've read about the budget priorities that I the budget I submitted, with its priorities. And by far the biggest priority is a increase in the spending for our national security and the defense budget. And I want to explain why. First, anytime we commit a troop into action, that person must have the best equipment, the best training, the best possible the best pay possible. You see, I've heard the debates in Washington about how high the budget is. The price of freedom is high, but as far as I'm concerned, it's never too high. I've also submitted a budget that's increased because we're in this thing for the long haul. There is no calendar on my desk that says, by such and such a date we're going to quit. I don't feel any constraints of time. I'm a patient man. And fortunately, so is the United States of America, much to the chagrin of our enemy. Our first task was to uphold the doctrine that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists." And the Taliban understood understands now exactly what the United States of America meant. But I want to assure you that this great Nation does not seek revenge. We seek justice. We don't have revenge in our heart. We're going to defend freedom by holding people accountable. The Taliban, the hosts to the parasites, was one of the most backward and barbaric governments that modern man has ever seen. And thanks to a vast coalition and the United States military, we routed them out. And as a result, we were liberators of a country. It's so important for you all to remind the young, your children or your neighbors, that this great, mighty Nation freed people. We gave people a chance young girls a chance to go to school for the first time in their life. Not only are we protecting the homeland, we're also protecting the human dignity of people around the world. There's a lot of work to be done. Afghanistan is still a dangerous place. A couple of weeks ago they bunched up, and we got them. I don't know if they're going to bunch up again. Laughter But if they do, we're going to rout them out. We denied sanctuary for them. We've ruined their training bases. We're disrupting their finances. We got them on the run. We're treating them exactly the way they are, international criminals. And the only way to treat an international criminal is to hunt them down and bring them to justice. For the good of the world, this country is going to do exactly that. And I meant what I said when I talked about making sure that our Nation or our friends are never threatened or blackmailed by some of the world's worst leaders, harboring and developing the world's worst weapons. We cannot allow nations that run by people who have gassed their own citizens, nations who want to destroy our friends and allies, nations who hate America, to develop and deploy weapons of mass destruction. You need to know I'm patient. I'll consult with our allies and friends. I'm steady when it comes to the mission, but they're not going to get away with it. For the good of our future, they're not going to get away with it. And so our Nation has got to keep its resolution. But that's easy, because this is such a fabulous land. We know what's at stake. I want you to know that out of this evil is going to come some good, and I firmly believe that. If we remain steadfast and strong and determined to rout out terror, we can achieve peace in the world. That's my dream, and that's my hope. Oh, I know talking about military budgets and getting them and all that stuff is part of my the way I talk. But you just need to know, in my heart is the drive and desire to achieve lasting peace. And we're willing to work for peace in regions of the world where some may say peace never has a chance. I am very proud of the hard work and the diligent effort of Secretary of State Colin Powell, working to lay the foundations for peace in the Middle East. And I also believe that out of this evil will come incredible good at home. People say, they say, "Well, gosh, I want to try to contribute in the war against terror."And there's an easy way to do that It's to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to fight evil, do some good Mentor a child start a program in your church or your synagogue or a mosque that feeds the hungry understand that in our Nation there are pockets of hopelessness and despair, but those pockets of hopelessness and despair can be changed as a result of loving Americans working hard to save our country one heart and one soul, one conscience at a time. No, the enemy hit us, but they have given us a good chance to work for peace and to show the world the true compassion of America. If there's a young one out there looking for something to do, we've got what's called the USA Freedom Corps. Go to the Peace Corps and help spread American values. Become a teacher and teach a child not only how to read and write and add and subtract, but teach them the important values that make our country unique. I always have said that I believe our Nation can work together to change a culture which has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." I believe I believe we're in the process of ushering in a new type of culture, one which says, "We're all responsible for the decisions we make in life" that if you're a mom or dad, that if you happen to be fortunate enough to be a mother or a father, it's your responsibility to love that child with all your heart and all your soul if you're fortunate enough to be an American responsibility to love your neighbor that if you run in if you're in corporate America, you have a responsibility to your workers and your shareholders to fully disclose assets and liabilities. And this great country is responding. The gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness truly defines our Nation. The notion of sacrificing for something greater than yourself has become a part of our national conscience. Sacrifice, again I repeat, is to help somebody in need. That sacrifice came very clear to me and Americans on Flight 93, when people, passengers, people going to work or wherever they were going to, were on cell phones and realized America was under attack and realized the plane they were on was going to be used as a weapon. And they told their loved ones they loved them, said a prayer, and sacrificed their lives so others could live. To me, that defines the American spirit and what is possible, in all kinds of ways, across the country. The evil ones hit us, but this great Nation is not going to allow the evil ones to have its day. This great Nation will rise up, with its goodness and kindness and compassion, and show the world not only our strength, not only our determination, but show the world we understand the true meaning of love. I want to thank you all for coming tonight. It is my honor it is my incredible honor to be the President of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. May God bless you all. April 15, 2002 Thank you all. Well, thank you for that warm Iowa welcome. It's nice to be here. Bill, thank you for your hospitality. And I want to thank you all for giving me a chance to come and share some things with you about our great country. First, I want to thank the folks who work here, who spent some time talking to me about how much they enjoy working here in the company, talking about their families, what tax relief meant for them in real terms. I appreciate the Governor of the State of Iowa, Tom Vilsack, for coming. Thank you, Governor, I'm honored you're here. I had the privilege of flying down from Washington with two fine I mean fine United States Congressmen, Jim Leach and Greg Ganske, and I'm honored at your presence. I appreciate Mayor Paul Pate for being here, the mayor of Cedar Rapids. I want to thank him for his hospitality today. And I want to thank my fellow Americans. I want to thank you all for your patience and your determination and your love for freedom. This is a fabulous country, and I want to thank you all. Today, as you know, is April 15th laughter tax day. Today, at least, we get to call it tax relief day. It was right here in the State of Iowa, when I was running for President, asking people for their votes, that I said if you gave me a chance to be President, I'd work hard to let people keep their own money. I reminded people that the money we're talking about is not the Government's money it's the people's money. And we kept that promise. I say "we," a lot of more than one guy up there in Washington working on behalf of the working people I think you noticed that today. I'm going to spend some time talking about it and why it's important, but we've also got other priorities in this country. I want to spend a little bit of time talking about those priorities. We've got a priority to make sure our homeland is secure. My most important job is not politicking my most important job isn't to give speeches everywhere. My most important job is to make sure people don't hit America again, is to make sure we're secure. And I want to assure you that your Federal Government is doing everything humanly possible to secure the homeland. We've got a first responders initiative to work with the police and fire and emergency medical corps, those brave men and women who serve us on a daily basis. We've got a bioterrorism response initiative going on that says if they ever do use a bioterrorist type weapon, that we know how to respond. We're doing a better job of understanding who's coming into our country and who's going out of our country. We need to know who's coming in and why they're coming in. We're securing our borders in a better way. And as well, we're taking every bit of information we get, every hint and running down every lead to make sure if somebody is still here in our country who wants to hurt innocent Americans, we're going to disrupt their plans. They're out there. You just need to know that the people we're dealing with are coldblooded killers. It's hard for Americans to understand the mentality of somebody who hates freedom, because we love freedom. We value our freedom to worship the way we want to worship, the value of our freedom to raise our families the way we want to raise our families, the value of the freedom to be able to speak our minds or to read a free press. There are people who hate freedom, and therefore they hate America, because we're the bastion of freedom. I don't know what got in their mind on that day when they attacked us. They must have thought this country of ours was so weak and so materialistic, so self absorbed, that all we would do would be to file a lawsuit. Laughter They found out we think a little differently here in America. They now know that we know the best way to defend our homeland is to hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice, and that's exactly what we're going to do. In order to make sure America is secure, we must be relentless and steady and patient. We must find those who want to hurt us because of the beliefs we hold dear, and bring them to justice. I want you to know, I use the word justice. And for the young here, you need to know our country does not seek revenge. We seek justice. And when we say we're going to do something, we're going to do it, because the credibility of our country is at stake. I said, you know, that the Taliban regime, because they were feeding these guys and giving them a nice place to hang out, we were going to get them. We were going to run them out of business. And that's exactly what we did, thanks to the United States military. But we were not conquerors. We were liberators. We went into Afghanistan, and we routed out one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. And as a result of the United States, plus other nations, young girls were able to go to school for the first time. I cannot tell you how proud I am of a country that on the one hand is willing to defend its freedom and, on the other hand, is willing to fight for the freedoms of others as well. When those young girls went to school, I was so proud of the United States military and our country. We've got a lot of work to do. Oh, I know there's a certain impatience sometimes with the commentators and the writers and all the people that make our political process whole. But you just need to know, there's a lot more to go, and I'm not tired. I don't have a calendar on my desk that says by a certain date, all this business has got to end. That's not how it works. That's what the enemy wants. They want us to quit, because we're impatient. But it's not going to happen. It can't happen. History has called us into action. We must never look back and say, "How come we didn't act when there's called into action?" We must be steadfast in that which we believe and steady in our resolve. And I can assure you it doesn't matter whether you're a Republican or whether you're a Democrat or whether you don't even give a darn about political parties this country is united when it comes to defending the freedoms we hold dear. And so we're going to keep them on the run. And I've told world leaders, "Either you're with us, or you're not with us." And I mean every word of it. And they now know our country means every word of it as well. And so we're in for a long time, but it's worth the price. For those of you who have got relatives in the military, a son or a daughter or an aunt or uncle or a mom or a dad, I want to thank you from the bottom of our heart for not only their sacrifice but for your understanding as well. The cause is noble, and the cause is just. And I wasn't kidding when I said that in order for our children to grow up in a safe world, in order for our children and our children's children to be able to have the same freedoms that we enjoyed coming up, that we can't let the world's worst leaders harbor and develop the world's worst weapons, so that they might try to blackmail us or hold us hostage or launch one of those awful weapons at us, that we must be steadfast not only in routing out Al Qaida and terrorist organizations who would do us harm, but we've got to draw the line when it comes to nations, for example, a nation that was willing to gas its own people, a nation willing to assassinate people who speak out in dissent and, at the same time, develop a weapon that can be used against us. We're deliberate we're patient. I'm under no hurry, but you can rest assured that when it comes time to protecting our freedoms and our country, this Government is going to take action. I believe strongly the collective will of people who love freedom can make an enormous difference in this world, and I will continue to work with the coalition of leaders and countries that share the same values we share, leaders and countries that understand that, if we let terrorists run rampant, they will affect the peace in regions of the world where we long for peace. I know that one of the good things that's going to come out of the evil done to America, with the right leadership and the right focus, is a lasting peace all around the world. I believe that as sure as I'm standing here. As well we had problems here at home right after September the 11th. You know it I know it. I'm sure you were concerned about your jobs, and when the enemy hit, they not only killed a lot of innocent people, but they affected our economy. And it's one of the reasons I'm so proud we cut the taxes on the people who work, because you see, if you let people keep their own money, they tend to want to spend it. Laughter And when they spend it, they're going to buy a good or a service, and somebody will provide the good or a service. And when they provide or produce the good and service, it means somebody is going to find work. The best way to make sure that workers continue to work in the face of a recession is to cut the taxes on the people who do the work in America, and that's what we did. These tax relief plans were fair. To me, that's really important. It wasn't one of these targeted deals, where some get it, and some don't. We basically said, "If you pay taxes, you get relief." It was straightforward everybody understood it and it's going to be around for a long time. Tax relief began immediately, and I want to remind the people about what took place before September the 11th. Tax rebate checks started coming in the mail. A single payer received up to 300. Single parent taxpayers received up to 500. Married couples received up to 600. In the State of Iowa, there were 974,000 refund checks mailed out, totalling 426 million. And that was an important part of making sure people could realize their own dreams and, at the same time, making sure this recession eventually didn't take didn't strangle our economy. The good news is, is that tax relief is continuing this wasn't a one time event that there is more tax relief coming, and if you file out your forms and I kind of suggest you do here, pretty quick laughter that you'll see the child credit was increased to 600 and made available to more lower income Americans. For a single mom with two children, making 18,000 a year, this one change alone provides 800 of tax relief. This year we're beginning a new 10 percent bracket. We've lowered the bracket. We're making it easier for low income workers to stay take their first steps up the ladder of opportunity. Starting this year, you'll be able to save more of your own money, tax free, through education savings accounts, IRA, or 401(k). And I hope you take advantage of it. Saving is good for your families, and savings are important for your future. You know, one of the interesting things that we discussed today was how these tax relief actually I mean, benefits people. Sometimes in Washington, it's all theory. And yet, behind every tax every check that went out, there's a true story. Today the Madsen family shared with us where are you? There he is, right behind me big John shared with us two beautiful kids talked about how tax relief helped them with their mortgage payments. He spoke about owning a home and how the tax relief helped him do that. It's a fantastic feeling, I know, when you own your home, John. It was important for the Galvin family to make improvements on the house there he is, Terry make improvements on the house they brought last August. By the way, they needed to make an improvement on their house because this good couple has got a huge heart, and they're willing to adopt children, to provide them a loving and safe and promising home. And I want to thank them for the love they show for their kids. Patty Wignall talked about how tax relief helped her purchase school supplies and clothes for her children. She was wondering whether or not we could crank up the refund checks again. Laughter No. Laughter But in the code the code is going to continually change. I want to share with you what's going to happen. By the year 2010, the child credit will increase up to 1,000 per child. It just started this year, to increase. That's good for moms and dads and families. At the same time, the marriage tax will be reduced, and the unfair death tax will be completely abolished. Small businesses maybe some of you all harbor ambition to run your own business. A small business generally pays tax not at the corporate rate but at the personal income rate, because they're sole proprietorships or partnerships or Subchapter S corporations. And by reducing the marginal rate on taxes, we encourage the growth of small businesses, which is incredibly important for the future of America. And it's important to make that dream of owning your own small business vibrant and alive and well. And we have done so through tax reform. Marginal rates will continue to fall, and that's important. And as they do, and when fully phased in I want you to hear these statistics 43 million married couples will see their taxes reduced, on average, by more than 1,700 a year 11 million single moms will be able to keep an average of 770 more of their income each year, to care for their children 13 million seniors will see their taxes reduced, on average, by more than 900 and 3.9 million Americans will have their Federal income tax liability changed forever they won't pay taxes. Tax relief is absolutely right for America. It was important. And I believe one of the reasons why we're seeing encouraging signs in the economy is because of tax relief. But we need to do more. My attitude is, so long as somebody is working for work and can't find it, we need to continue making sure we increase jobs. I worry about people worrying about their work. I know that's not the case here in General Mills, because you're a strong, vibrant company. But there are people out there who are wondering whether or not they're going to get a paycheck tomorrow. There's still some uncertainty in our economy. And besides tax relief, there are things we need and can do. First, in order for the long term job security of our country, this country needs to have an energy plan. We need to have a plan, because if there is a disruption in supply, it's going to affect jobs. You've got to understand, we import more than 50 percent of our energy from countries around the world. And I'll be perfectly blunt with you Some of them don't like America. Some of the people sending our energy our way really don't care for us that much. And for the good of our national security and economic security, we need an energy plan. Now, an energy plan has got to start with encouraging conservation. We can do a better job of conserving energy. And we must do a better job of developing alternative uses for example, a car. I believe that within a the lifetime of my lifetime and others here, we'll be driving hydrogen powered cars and trucks, the technology which will enable us to keep our air cleaner and technologies that will make us less dependent on foreign sources of energy. But we've got to do more than just enhance technology. It's going to take a while to get these cars to be ready for the market and the infrastructure to be able to deal with them. And it's going to take more than just conservation. We need to focus on renewable sources of energy, starting with ethanol produced right here, from corn in Iowa. And we need to explore for more energy here at home. And we can do so in an environmentally friendly way. And that is what's important, that technology has changed to the point where I can confidently say that exploration for energy in ANWR in Alaska can be done without leaving a footprint that will affect the environment in a negative, harmful way. Oh, I've heard the propaganda. But let me tell you this When Saddam Hussein stood up and said he wanted to cut off energy and we're importing energy from him it makes sense to me that we'd better, in order to make sure he doesn't hold us hostage, that we'd better figure out a way to explore for more energy at home. So there's a bill one of them came out of the House, and there's one on the floor of the Senate would not only promote ethanol, not only promote conservation and encourage the development of technologies that will change our lives in positive ways, but it will also encourage exploration here at home. We need that bill. It's good for economic security for those who work in America, and it's important for our national security as well. A second thing we need to do is we need to promote world trade. You know that Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has got more trade per capita than nearly any other city in the United States. Let me tell you what that means. That means when we open up markets for products in the United States, the good people of this city are working because of that. Trade equals jobs, and this Nation ought not to be afraid to work hard to open up markets. Listen, we're the best farmers and ranchers in the world, and we ought to be selling our foodstuffs and our meats all across the globe. In order to make sure that our job base continues to grow, we've got to help small businesses. I just talked about the affect tax relief will have on small businesses. It's a positive part of stimulating growth. Most new jobs in America are created by small business owners. And that's an important fact for people to understand. And so we need regulatory reform we need health care reforms we need Government contracting reforms to make sure the small business sector continues to grow in America. In order to make sure the job base remains strong, we've got to make sure our folks are educated. A good education system will mean that people are going to be able to find good work in America. And one of the things we did it was Republicans and Democrats, I might want to remind you came together and said, public education ought to be a top domestic priority. We passed historic reforms which sets high standards and, at the same time, trust the Governors and local folks to manage the path for excellence. The people who care more about the Iowa children when it comes to education, are Iowans, not people in Washington, DC. One thing that's pretty interesting to note is that some of these tax reforms are going to expire at the end of 10 years, or in 2011. It's a quirk in the law. I think that doesn't make much sense. It's going to be hard to plan your future, if you think all of a sudden these things get kicked in full time and then go away. They need to make these tax cuts permanent. For the good of the working people in America, for the good of families, for the good of small businesses, for the good of farmers and ranchers, we need to make the tax relief plan permanent in the Tax Code. There is a lot of issues facing us. But one of the issues I want to talk quickly about not an issue, just I want to remind you about is that if you want to fight the war against terror and you're living right here, you want to stand up against evil, love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. People ask me all the time, people say, "What can I do? How can I help? What can I do to make the country I love as strong as it can be?" And that is, just do some good in your neighborhood. It is these acts millions of acts of kindness and compassion that really define our country. It's the hearts and generous spirit of Americans from all walks of life that will help us stand squarely in the face of evil. When you tell your child you love them and give them a hug, that's part of making sure the future of the country is as strong as it can be. If you ever walk across the street and tell a shut in, "What can I do to help you," that is part of defining the great compassion of our country. I believe 9 11 was a wake up for America. It made us realize that we're vulnerable, that two oceans no longer separate us from terror, and we've got to do something about it, and we are. But I also know that 9 11 really made us remember what is important in life, that families are important and children are important and loving a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself is incredibly important. To me, one of the most the most meaningful of moment or one of the most meaningful moments came when the people on Flight 93 got on the cell phones on that airplane, and listened to what was taking place on the ground. And they called their loved ones, and they said, "I love you." They said a prayer, and they drove the plane into ground to save somebody else. It's the American spirit of sacrificing for something greater than ourselves. And that thing greater than ourselves is freedom. And that thing greater than ourselves is a country based upon fabulous values. And that's why it is my honor, not only to be here today but to be the President of the greatest country on the face of the Earth, because of our great people. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. April 11, 2002 Elaine, thank you very much. I appreciate the job you're doing. And thanks for that kind introduction. I want to welcome you all here to the White House, the people's house. It's an honor to welcome those who have heeded a great call, to love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. It's a universal call, and it's a call that has been applicable throughout history. It's really needed right now. And so I want to thank you for coming to help discuss a very important issue, an important piece of legislation, a part of making sure the future of our country is hopeful for everybody who lives here. Part of the reason you're here is so we can unleash your talents and energy on the Hill. Laughter And I appreciate your willingness to be practical in Washington, because there is a piece of legislation that I hope you work on. It's an urgent time for you to act, and I think it's going to help America. This really isn't about any political party, I want to assure you. It's a way to make sure America is as hopeful as we possibly can be. I want to thank all those who are here on stage with me, besides the Secretary of Labor. Thank you for coming. I appreciate you being soldiers in the armies of compassion. I want to thank Senator Santorum, who is the author of the legislation I'm going to talk about, and Senator Brownback from the State of Kansas for coming. As the author of the bill, I thought you might have gotten a better seat. Laughter Sam got your seat because he was on time. Laughter I'm still for your bill. Laughter Both Senators are fine people and good Members. And I want to thank you all for coming. I appreciate Cardinal McCarrick for being here as well, my longtime friend. And I want to thank you all. I don't know if you've met my confidant, Jim Towey, who is here. He works in our Faith Based Office. There he is. Hi, Jim. How are you? Jim is a remarkable soul who I was able to convince to leave the private sector to come and work. And if you've got any complaints about how charitable choice is working or suggestions about how to make it work better, he's available. His job is to work with the faith community to make America a better place. He was Mother Teresa's lawyer, worked for Democrats and Republicans. This is not a political guy, you'll be pleased to hear. And he'll do his job in a way that will make you proud. The events of September the 11th were an incredibly dark moment. But the thing I'm most proud about is, through the darkness, our character shined. This is really an unbelievable country we live in. It was heroes who risked their lives, and Americans responded with incredible generosity. I mean, our heart was united with those who lost their those whose families grieved. It was a remarkable moment, it really was. It was a test of our character. People prayed. All faiths were praying for our country. People grieved together. All the racial issues went away because we all realized we were Americans, with everything at stake everything at stake. The organizations directly related to the relief efforts received 2 billion during that quick period of time. The goodness of the country is overcoming the evil done to us. We're overcoming the evil done to us, as well, through military action. And we will take action. I want to assure you, we don't seek revenge we seek justice. And I believe that if we're patient and resolved and united, that out of this evil will come lasting peace, peace in regions of the world that might appear now that cannot be peaceful. I believe we can achieve peace by being strong and to lead the world toward peace. Peace is the cornerstone of this Nation's foreign policy it's what we aim for. It's going to be there are going to be some tough moments achieving that peace. But you need to know that we're going to be plenty tough when we need to be tough. And we're going to stay focused on keeping our homeland safe, hunting down barbaric killers one by one. That's our call. History has called us into action, and we must and we will respond. But we need to do more than just make the world more secure. We need to make the world and our country a better place. In order to really battle evil, we must be more than just a military might. We must be a we must show our might through our compassion for our fellow citizens. I gave a speech in Monterrey, Mexico, the other day, talking about how this Nation will help in the development of nations who are poor and who suffer. I was proud to give that speech. At home, though, we also have got to recognize even though we're a rich and powerful nation, there are pockets of despair and hopelessness. There are too many people in America who wonder whether or not America is meant for them. And so part of our fight to make our country more secure must be one also to make the country a better place for all of us. And the place to start is understanding that the country can be changed one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. One person can't do everything, but a person can do something to help somebody. And your jobs as social entrepreneurs and people deeply committed to our future is to gather that love and compassion which exists. And you're doing a great job of doing that, and I want to thank you. My job is to continue to address the spirit of the country, is to call upon the best, and I will do so. I will remind people, if they want to fight evil, they must do some good. And it's also to recognize problems when they exist and work to solve those problems, to eliminate the hurdles and barriers that prevent the neighborhood healers and helpers from doing their jobs. The past 7 months have shown how much our country depends on charities. Yet today, America's charities face very difficult times. It's ironic to me that in the immediate aftermath of September the 11th, we responded, and yet, there are too many charities hurting. Part of it is because of a recession I recognize that. Part of it is that a lot of money has gone into those charities directly involved with the relief efforts. And that's good, but it's not good enough for the future of our country that many charities suffer today, and we're going to do something about it. If there is any doubt, let me just quote a few statistics to you to make my point. America's Second Harvest, the country's largest hunger relief charity, reports that more than 80 percent of its affiliates face increased demands for food, while 40 percent have seen a significant drop in food donations and funding. That's a problem. In Northern California, the United Way is facing an unprecedented fundraising shortfall for 2001. Giving was 14 percent below the year before. That's a problem. The group's leader said this "I don't think we've ever had a dropoff of this magnitude. It affects our ability to serve our community." And I agree. The United Way in Orlando was forced to lay off 17 percent of its staff in February because it fell significantly short of its fundraising goal. Many people in this room, many people whose sole purpose is to help an American in need, are confronting greater needs with fewer resources. And our Government must recognize the problem and deal with it in a constructive way. First, as I mentioned, my job is to call upon Americans to love a neighbor like they'd like to be loved themselves, to understand that being a citizen is more than just a spectator it's a participant in your community. And I will continue to I will continue to call upon Americans to serve. And I will continue to talk about the pockets of despair and hopelessness, so that it is clear to those who may be comfortable that they have a there are some who aren't and we need their help. And I'm going to make sure that our Government passes legislation that does a couple of things one, that encourages more private sector giving, that makes giving to the armies of compassion a more profitable venture for the individual by allowing the people to deduct from their income taxes all charitable gifts. The issue is for those who do not itemize. They don't get to deduct their gifts, and we ought to allow that. We ought to encourage giving by allowing the non itemizers listen, charitable giving is important for all of the people in our country, not just the wealthy. Everybody ought to be encouraged to give. What's called the "CARE Act," the "Charity Aid, Recovery, and Empowerment Act," sponsored by Rick Santorum and Joe Lieberman, have this as a part as a core part of the bill. It is an important part of the legislation, and I urge you all to take your message to the Finance Committee in the United States Senate that has something to do with this type of legislation. Laughter I'm sure they'll respond. You probably know that the House is passing a good piece of legislation already. J.C. Watts and Tony Hall were the sponsors. It passed. And now, so the focus that's why the focus is on the United States Senate. The "CARE Act" as well recognizes oh, by the way, just so the people understand the extent of what we're talking about, 84 million Americans don't itemize and therefore don't have the opportunity to deduct. And we really believe and I know you agree with me that changing the tax laws to provide an incentive for the 84 million could and probably will substantially raise the amount of giving in America, which will be really helpful and hopeful and positive. The other thing the Federal Government must not do is worry about the role of faith based programs in providing help to people in need. Let me put it a little more bluntly The Federal Government should not discriminate against faith. There must be a level playing field available. When we have Federal monies, people should be allowed to access that money without having to lose their mission or change their mission. We need to know that in our society, faith can move people in ways that Government can't. I mean, Government can write checks, but it can't put hope in people's hearts or a sense of purpose in people's lives. That is done by people who have heard a call and who act on faith and are willing to share that faith. And I'm not talking about a particular religion. I'm talking about all religions under the Almighty God. And we should not fear those kind of programs programs where someone's addiction may be more likely cured because of faith programs that are willing to go into the prison systems you know, programs that say, "Well, stamping license plates is okay, but it may not change somebody's life for the better" programs in which they surround a child with love because of faith and provide a blueprint based upon a future based upon love for a child. That's what we ought to recognize happens. Listen, some of the greatest welfare programs in America are on the street corners of inner city America in a house of worship. Some of the best places where lost souls find hope are in our synagogues. Mosques provide great hope for people who wonder whether America is meant for them. And our Government must recognize the power of these programs. These programs don't have giant bureaucracies and endless rules in which they become entangled. They keep their focus on their mission. They don't keep hours. Laughter They're open when needed. There's been some anticrime programs based upon faith, like Brother Rivers, out of Boston, Massachusetts, who has done a fantastic job. And so this act recognizes that part of the mosaic of aid and comfort in America comes from the faith community and that we shouldn't fear faith, we ought to welcome it in our society. I urge that the "CARE Act" get passed out of the Senate by Memorial Day. I want to thank the neighborhood healers who are here. One of the things I brag about is the entrepreneurial spirit in America. But people have got to understand, the entrepreneurial spirit just doesn't pertain to starting a business. Our entrepreneurial spirit also pertains to helping people. And one of the great joys of being a candidate and eventually President is the opportunity to see these little programs that start up because somebody has heard a call. I mean, it's an unbelievable part of the fabric of our Nation. Somebody has heard the said, "I think I'm going to take my energy and my talent into a neighborhood where nobody else has dared walk," and have changed people's lives. And it is amazing what happens, amazing what happens when you start off Brother Lusk here started off with I don't even think well, it might have been a building it looked like a building. Laughter But now he's got this magnificent place in inner city Philadelphia, because he had a vision and a dream to make something happen. But it is the effect and why I feel so strongly about this mission that we're all on is because when that one soul who decides to do something changes a heart, it is likely that heart that's been changed is willing to change another heart. And it's that effect that will have an incredibly profound effect on all of us. In order to fight evil, we must do good. It is the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and compassion which define the true face of America, that shows what this country is truly made out of. On the one hand, we are strong and tough militarily, but on the other hand, that is we are a nation that is compassionate and decent and caring. And no evil, no terrorist can extinguish that light. God bless. April 09, 2002 Thank you all very much. I appreciate so very much your warm welcome. I am delighted to be here in Bridgeport, Connecticut. I want to spend some time with you today talking about the spirit of our country, the great American spirit which has been tested in recent times. But history will record that we've met the test. I saw some of that spirit today in the South End Community Center. I met a fine executive director named Tony Tozzi, and thank you, Tony, for your hospitality. I saw members of AmeriCorps who were mentoring children. I saw members of the Senior Corps, the Foster Grandparent Program who, as opposed to kind of settling in, these Senior Corps members decided to continue to give something to our society. And many are giving the most important gift of all, and that is to teach a child how to read. I want to thank you. I appreciate Catherine Milton, the vice president and executive director of Save the Children. Thank you very much, Catherine, for your focus. I want to thank my friend Steve Goldsmith for taking on the important assignment of being the chairman of the Corporation for National and Community Service. One of the things I feel very passionate about is our need to inspire the armies of compassion, which exist in neighborhoods all throughout America. And you'll hear me talk a little later on about the need to fight evil by doing some good. And one of Steve's jobs is to help gather the spirit of America and channel it and focus it so everybody understands the American experience, the hope of America belongs to them, no matter where they live or how they were raised. I want to thank my friend the Governor of Connecticut, Johnny Rowland, and the first lady, Patty Rowland, for being here as well. I want to thank Chris and Betsi Shays, the Congressman and wife from this district. And I also want to thank two other members from the Connecticut congressional delegation, friends of mine, Nancy Johnson and Rob Simmons. Thank you all for being here. Thanks for coming. You know, I can't imagine what went through the mind of the evil people when they attacked America. I'm trying to I've always tried to figure out who they thought they were attacking. You know, what were they thinking? They must have thought that this Nation had no character, that we were so materialistic and self absorbed that we wouldn't act, that we might just all we'd do was sue them. Laughter They didn't understand the true character of the American country, the Nation. You see, we love freedom. We love the freedom to worship the way we see fit. We welcome all faiths in America, Christian faiths, Jewish faith, Muslim faith. We welcome faith. We believe in freedom to worship. We believe in freedom to speak out loud. We believe in freedom of the press. We believe in free elections. We believe in the dignity and worth of every individual. That's what we believe. And if somebody attacks those beliefs, we'll respond. That's the character of our country, is that when we believe something, we stand up for it. We are slow to anger, but when angered, watch out. We also are we're a nation that does not seek revenge. That's not in the American character, as far as I'm concerned. We seek justice. We're a nation of justice. This Nation has also showed remarkable character in this way We're patient we're a patient nation and we're a disciplined and focused nation. Americans understand that the new war of the 21st century, the struggle for civilization, itself, is going to take a while. You know, we live in an age where things happen so quickly that one of my concerns after September the 11th was the farther we got away from September the 11th, the more our grief was behind us, that I thought the American people might forget that which is at stake. That's not the case much to the chagrin of the killers, who continue to want to bring harm to America. Make no mistake about this, that we're in for the long pull because there are people who hate us. They hate what we stand for, and they're killers. They use killing to justify their beliefs, and I'm not going to let that stand. My job is to protect the American people. And our job is to stand strong so that our children and our children's children will know the freedoms that we knew growing up. That's what's at stake, my fellow Americans at least that's how I view it. And so long as I'm the President, that's going to be the view of this Government. In 6 short months we have made remarkable progress. We really have. You know, I said early on, I said to the people, "You're either with us, or you're against us." I said, "Either you're standing with the United States of America in our quest and desire to protect freedom, or you're not. There is no middle ground." And I'm proud to report the coalition there has been a vast coalition of nations that have joined us, nations of all stripes, all who understand what's at stake. I also said that if you harbor a terrorist and you feed one, you're just as guilty as the murderers who came to New York City and Washington, DC. And as a result of a great United States military and a military of many of our friends, we have liberated a country. It's important for the young here to hear this We didn't go into Afghanistan as conquerors this great Nation led a coalition of military folks to go into Afghanistan as liberators. It's hard for Americans to know and to believe, but many young girls were not allowed to go to school in Afghanistan because of the barbaric nature of the Taliban regime. But thanks to the United States, and thanks to our friends and allies, girls now go to school in Afghanistan, for which I am mighty proud. That is the character of the American people. We're plenty tough when we need to be, and we'll remain tough. But we're also compassionate. We care deeply about our fellow citizens in this world. We care deeply about the plight of children, no matter where they may live. That's our nature. And that's how I feel about it at home too. I feel like out of this evil is going to come some incredible good. I believe I believe that out of this evil will come peace in regions of the world that we never dreamt would be peaceful. It's not going to be easy, and we're going to have to lead. And we're going to have to be diligent and resist and fight terror wherever we find it. But we've got a good chance for long lasting peace. And at home there is going to be some incredible good that comes out of this evil, because Americans have got great character, and Americans care for their neighbors in need. People say, "What can I do to join the war against terror?" And I say, love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to fight evil, find somebody to help. And I'm prepared to help you find somebody to help, if you want help. If you want to find a way to help your country, that's what I'm here to talk about. There are all kinds of ways to help don't get me wrong. I mean, you can go to your church or synagogue and mosque and help a lot. You can help a lot. You can help a program devise a program to feed the homeless, help put a program together that goes into some of the pockets of despair in America and spread love, one person at a time. That's what you can do to help. Service and voluntarism are an integral part of the American character. De Tocqueville discovered that years ago, and if he were to come back, he'd be just as proud of America now as he was then, when it came to the willingness of our citizens to serve each other. You know, I have been so impressed by the living spirit in America. It's been unbelievable to see firsthand how alive this country has become, how focused our Nation is on serving something greater than ourself. Perhaps it had to do with the vivid lesson of Flight 93. Here we are we're a nation kind of moving along we thought oceans would separate us from any threats kind of, you know, perhaps in a culture of self absorption. And all of a sudden, people on an airplane called their loved ones, told them they loved them, said a prayer, and sacrificed to save somebody else's life. To me, that was one of the most meaningful moments of September 11th and on. It spoke of a spirit that of America that recognizes there's something greater than ourselves, the need to serve our fellow mankind. These folks did it in the most courageous of ways, but we can do it in other ways as well here at home. And so in my State of the Union or my speech to the Nation whatever you want to call it, speech to the Nation laughter I asked Americans to give 4,000 hours over the next over the rest of your life of service to America. That's what I asked. I said, 4,000 hours. Now, many of you already do that. So this is there you go this is a drop in the bucket for you. I understand that. But many Americans don't. So 4,000 hours of service for the remainder of your life I set that as a goal, and Americans are responding. Many have heard the call. And in order to channel that enthusiasm, we set up what's called the USA Freedom Corps. And inside the USA Freedom Corps, we're focused on three distinct areas, one, the Citizen Corps. I was in Knoxville, Tennessee, yesterday heralding the Citizen Corps program. This is a chance for people to help the police, the firefighters, the local emergency medical teams to respond to any disaster that might occur. And if you're interested in helping the brave men and women of the police force or fire force or emergency medical teams in your community, join. Join the Citizen Corps. It is a way to help secure America and prepare America for a disaster if one should come. And then, of course, AmeriCorps and Senior Corps are an integral part of the USA Freedom Corps. These are programs that recognize that in America, we can change our country one heart and one soul and one conscience at a time. You see, I used to like to say that Government can hand out money, but what Government cannot do is put hope in people's hearts. That requires a loving, hopeful person to do just that. And I view AmeriCorps and Senior Corps as ways to tap into the great talent and strength and compassion of America to help people in need. And then we've got the Peace Corps, and the Peace Corps is a great way for Americans to help teach the world about the universal values that we hold dear, the true nature of America, which sometimes is distorted around the world. People don't have the true picture of our country. And one way to make sure they do is to have compassionate citizens go into communities all around the world to teach to teach all kinds of things. But the most important lesson they teach is that we're a loving country, that we care deeply about the citizens of the world. And so if you're interested in helping the country in those three areas, you can call 1 877 USA CORPS. Pick up your phone and dial laughter or if you're one of these high tech souls, usafreedomcorps.gov. And you'll find a way to help the country. This will give you a chance to participate. And this is just one way, I emphasize. It's one opportunity. And by the way, through this web site, you'll find other programs in the communities in which you live that will provide an outlet for your energy and your compassion. You need to know that just so people there is a gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness that are taking place in the country. We've had 29,000 people requested applications for the Peace Corps in 6 months. Applications to join AmeriCorps are up by more than 70 percent. Twenty five thousand people have signed up for the Citizens Corps. In other words, Americans are responding, and for that, all of us are grateful. And one of the things I'm here to talk about is how to expand America's service programs and how to make them better and how to bring in new volunteers and, at the same time, make sure that which we're funding works, that we're actually meeting some goals. I look forward to working with the Congress. I'm going to talk to the Members who are traveling back with me to Washington, DC, after these events, to talk about the reauthorization of these programs. The discussions are beginning to come up this week, so part of my speech is to lay the groundwork for how I think the reauthorization of these important Federal initiatives proceed. And one of the things is funding, of course. That's an important part of any process. And I've asked for 290 million in new funding for these programs for the year 2003. And it's to help meet these goals 25,000 additional, new AmeriCorps members, 25,000 more than we have now today all across the country 100,000 new Senior Corps members and two hundred to three hundred thousand students in the Federal Work Study Program. That's what we're aiming at that's the goal we've set. Some say it's too ambitious nothing is too ambitious for America, as far as I'm concerned. And here are some ways we can help make the programs more effective. First, by removing barriers that discourage seniors from joining the Senior Corps. Now, remember, the Senior Corps has got programs within it like the Foster Grandparent Program, programs all aimed at using the talents of our seniors to help make citizens' lives better where people are losing hope, where despair is too common and too prevalent. Now, under the current law, volunteers cannot join some Senior Corps programs until they reach the age of 60. I think we need to lower it. And so I chose 55, my age. I guess I'm now eligible for Senior Corps, if they'd finally give me a chance to participate. My mother is not going to believe I'm eligible for Senior Corps. Laughter But if we can get this through the Congress, I will be. We need to encourage programs to expand, to give people an outlet and a chance to participate. And we need to eliminate income tests that keep seniors out of the program. Believe this or not believe it or not some people are not allowed to participate in Senior Corps because they make too much money. That doesn't make any sense. And I'm confident that the Congresspeople here recognize that we've got to make sure Senior Corps is open to as many people who are willing to put up their hand and say, "I love America, and I want to help." Many seniors participate in AmeriCorps, and that's good. That's what we want. Under a new proposal that I'm making to Congress, seniors who join AmeriCorps should be able to earn what we call a Silver Scholarship. In other words, when you work for AmeriCorps you get a scholarship if you go on to college. A senior who has already been to college should be able to earn that same scholarship and donate that to a member of their family, if they so choose. It makes sense to have older Americans helping younger Americans and at the same time helping their families as well. I want to read this, by a girl named Nicole who works in Baltimore. She's an AmeriCorps member. Perhaps some of the AmeriCorps members will understand what she's saying when I read this to you "None of it would have happened if I had not done AmeriCorps. AmeriCorps redirected my life forever. I know the direction my life is in service to others, particularly the poor." This is Nicole's reflection upon what it meant to work for AmeriCorps. It is a beautiful spirit, an important spirit for America. And so we're trying to figure out ways to make sure that AmeriCorps is attractive to young to the Nicoles of the country. Right now, AmeriCorps members who complete a year of service receive an education award worth almost 4,700 4,700 that will help them go to school. And that's good it's really good. Under the proposal I'm making is that that award ought to be tax exempt and the 4,700 ought to have a cost of living adjustment. As well, we need to reform the Federal Work Study Programs. These are programs which encourage students to work off their Federal loans. It makes sense if you borrow money, that you ought to work them off. And the fundamental question is, how do we let them work it off? Right now, 7 percent only 7 percent of the workstudy funds are required to be devoted to students who tutor, mentor, or perform other forms of service in their community, 7 percent. And so we think that we ought to raise that number to 50 percent, to say that we recognize that an incredibly valuable contribution to our society is to allow 50 percent of the students to work off their Federal loans by mentoring, by tutoring, by becoming involved in community programs which change America one person, one soul, one conscience at a time. One of the things we hear is that Governors and mayors and local authorities are frustrated by the bureaucracy in Washington, DC. I understand. I've been there, myself. I have been frustrated, when I was the Governor of Texas, with the bureaucracy in Washington. Goldsmith's job as well as Les, the executive director is to reduce the amount of bureaucracy and to trust the States and local authorities more, to give the States and local authorities more flexibility as we how to apply these monies to meeting the needs of the local folks. It is very important that Washington it's important that Washington provide flexibility in selecting the groups and charities in which AmeriCorps volunteers will be placed. We've got to trust the local folks to understand local problems. You know, I like to tell people, not all the wisdom of the world is in Washington, DC. Laughter But we also want to make sure people are held accountable. We want to make sure when we spend money, that it meets needs. And so Steve and the good folks at the Corporation for National Community Service are going to develop clear standards and reasonable measures of performance so that we know whether or not we're being successful. I think that's really important. I think that's what the American taxpayer expects. They expect results, and I expect results. And so if a program is failing, we ought to be willing to blow the whistle on failure, just for the good of the people. We're trying to help. And when a program is successful, we ought to be praising the program and its success and the people who are helping. It is important, as well, that we make sure that we create a new standard of accountability for service learning programs in America too. The whole purpose of accountability in government is to make sure that we're succeeding. And in this case, we're aiming for a noble goal, and this is a hopeful America, a promising America, an America that says clearly to everybody This wonderful experience and this great land belongs to you just as much as it belongs to somebody else. I've come to talk a little bit about the character of the country, and it's a character being defined by the moment at hand. History will look back at us generations will look back at us and I believe they're going to say, thanks, thanks to the people who stood strong when it came to defending freedom, thanks to those who sacrificed in our military, thanks to the Congress for making sure the military had the resources necessary to take on a long struggle. Listen, you've just go to know, there's no cave deep enough there's no cave deep enough for the long arm of American justice. There is no calendar. There is no calendar on my desk that says, if we don't get if so and so doesn't show up, then this thing ends. That's just not the way I think. I'm a patient man, and so is the American people, much to the chagrin much to the chagrin of the enemy that still wants to take us on. And we'll look back at the history of America, though I believe this is going to happen and say what a fantastic period of time it was for kids to grow up in our country where we insisted upon quality education for every child, where there was after school programs available, manned by loving citizens who put their arm around those who might seem hopeless and say, "I love you a lot. I love you a lot, and you're going to college." This is a time when you're going to find, I believe, in American history where our Government, instead of fearing faith and faith based programs, welcomes faith and faith based programs into the compassionate delivery applause . This will be a time in American history when those of us in Washington, DC, or in the State capitals, recognize that oftentimes the most hopeful and promising programs of help come from places of worship. It doesn't matter what their religion is the people hear that universal call to love somebody just like they'd like to be loved themselves. This is a period of time when America, instead of cowering in the face of terrorism, stood defiantly in the face of evil when not only did we fight for freedom, but we promoted the peace. And this will be a time in history when our Nation's compassion comes forth, where the collective face of America is a compassionate, joyous nation, that will not allow evil to prevail and, in turn, make sure our neighbors are loved just like they'd like to be loved themselves. You can understand why I'm optimistic about our country, because I am the President of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming. May God bless. May God bless America. April 09, 2002 President Bush It's an honor to welcome Lord Robertson back here to the White House. NATO is an anchor of security for both Europe and for the United States. And Lord Robertson is a very strong leader who is helping NATO meet the challenges of the new century. Since September the 11th, NATO has been a bulwark in the fight against terror. On September the 12th, for the first time in history, NATO invoked Article V, declaring an attack on one of its members is an attack on all. NATO did so to show its strong support for the United States. And NATO nations are backing up those words with action. More than a dozen of our NATO Allies are contributing forces to the war against terror in Afghanistan. NATO aircraft have been deployed to patrol our skies in support of America's security. And the airspace of NATO members has been critical to coalition air operations. The United States is deeply, deeply grateful for this support. This past weekend in Texas, I thanked Prime Minister Tony Blair for the many valuable contributions of Great Britain. Today, on behalf of the American people, I thank Lord Robertson for his leadership and for the help of our NATO friends. The United States will consult closely with our allies as we move forward in the war against terror. This is an important moment for NATO, and as we prepare for the NATO summit in Prague later this year, we must address some critical challenges. NATO must develop new, flexible capabilities to meet the threats of the 21st century. We must take on new members, securing freedom from the Baltic to the Black Sea. And NATO must forge a new relationship with Russia that is even more constructive, so that we can finally and forever abolish the divisions that are relics of a previous era. These are difficult challenges, requiring determination and leadership. And I'm so happy that NATO has a strong visionary leader in my friend Lord Robertson. It is our fourth meeting since I've taken office, and I look forward to many more. Lord Robertson, I appreciate you coming. Secretary General Robertson. Mr. President, thank you very much for these kind words. And I'm delighted to be here at the White House today, because it was on this very day in this city, 53 years ago, that a group of nations came together to create a common defense against a common threat, by saying an attack on one country would be deemed to be an attack on all. It was, however, a very different world when NATO redeemed that pledge last September. But although the world has changed, the ties that bind the 19 NATO nations together have not, because this is an alliance built on shared principles and not on convenience, built on permanent values, not on expediency. So as the President has said, it should be no surprise that so many NATO nations all the NATO nations are at the forefront of this war on terror. NATO is the kind of alliance that you need, because when facing a long term strategic challenge, there's no substitute for long term strategic partners, partners that you can trust and who trust you. It's also the kind of alliance that works because when the going gets tough, the sheer training, standards, and structures are what welds different nations into an effective whole. It's also the kind of alliance that lasts because it adapts and modernizes, as it will indeed do at our summit meeting in Prague in November of this year taking in new members, rising to new challenges, creating new capabilities to defeat new enemies and new threats. So today the President and I discussed the common threats that we face, both in Europe and in North America, including from weapons of mass destruction. And NATO allies will work together to overcome these threats. And I say this to you, that we will succeed because the record shows that NATO is an alliance that has served its members well in the past, is serving us well in the present, and as we continue to transform, will serve us well into the future. Mr. President, this is indeed the fourth time that we've met. This is NATO's 53d birthday. It's strong, strong as it ever was. And it remains strong because the ties that bind us together are enduring, and they lie in the common values of freedom and democracy and of liberty. Thank you very much for your kind President Bush. On that note, why don't I go buy you a meal? April 09, 2002 Thank you for that warm welcome. It's nice to be back in the State in which I was born. I was running for Congress one time, and they accused me of not being able to represent the people of west Texas because I was born in Connecticut. And I said, "Heck, I just wanted to be close to my mother on that day." Laughter I know I've got a lot of people here are friends of Mother and Dad's. I just want you to know they're doing great, and so am I, and so is my wife. I'm sorry Laura couldn't be with us today. She went to the Queen Mother's funeral in London, and she's flying back tonight. But let me just tell you, for somebody who is a public school librarian, who wasn't all that thrilled about politics and all that in love with politicians, she's made a fabulous First Lady she really has. She's brought a lot of comfort to the Nation when we needed to be comforted, and she brings a quiet dignity that I'm most proud of. I also want to thank my friend Johnny Rowland. I'm here because I want the people of Connecticut to reelect Johnny. He's done a heck of a job as your Governor. And you get a good Lieutenant Governor with him as well. I appreciate Lieutenant Governor Jodi Rell for being here. Thank you very much. It's great to see you again. Lieutenant Governor Rell and I spent some quality time campaigning together, and I found her to be a very bright, very accomplished soul. It's great to see you again, Jodi. And I'm also here because I want Denny Hastert to be the Speaker of the House. It is important that we elect Republicans from Connecticut to support Denny Hastert. I remember one time, right after in the fall, people said, "Well, do you plan on campaigning?" I said, "Yes, I plan on campaigning." It is in my interest to campaign for good candidates, because I think it's in the Nation's interest that we have people like Chris Shays and Nancy Johnson and Rob Simmons represent the good people of Connecticut in Washington, DC. I appreciate Shays. Laughter Sometimes, he appreciates me. Laughter But I enjoy working with him because he's a man of deep compassion. He cares deeply about the human condition, and so does his wife, Betsi. And it's been an honor to call them friends, and I appreciate you all very much. I want to thank Charlie Glazer, the event chairman, longtime friend. I appreciate your tireless work. And I want to thank those who represent the grassroots of the Connecticut party. Oftentimes, those of us in public office only focus on one aspect of politics. But I like to remind people that it takes the good folks dialing the phones and mailing the mail, holding those signs up at least the ones that say nice things on them. Laughter They're the ones who really oftentimes don't get the credit. And so for those of you who have toiled in the vineyards on behalf of candidates such as me and those on the stage, thanks from the bottom of our heart. And thank you all for helping the party, which helps Johnny, and helping the two candidates who have got serious challenges. First, on Johnny. The way we like to put it in Texas is, he's the kind of fellow that does in office what he said he would do. I can't tell you how important it is to have people who hold office who deliver. And one of the jobs of a Governor is to help restore faith in the political process of a particular State. And the best way to defeat cynicism is to accomplish things on behalf of everybody, is to rise above the traditional noise that tends to dominate the political scene and perform. And that's what Johnny has done. He said he would cut taxes, and he did. He said he would reduce those taxes which inhibited growth in the State of Connecticut, and he did. And as a result, the economy here has been vibrant and exciting, thanks to Johnny's leadership. Listen, he understands what I understand Governments don't create wealth we know that but governments need to create an environment in which people are willing to risk capital, in which the entrepreneur can flourish. That's what's happening in Connecticut, thanks to Johnny Rowland's leadership. I gave a speech the other day on the importance of making sure that children learn how to read early in life, so that when they start kindergarten, there's not this huge learning gap that takes place in America. Johnny figured that out way before my speech. He figured out preschool education was important before a lot of other people knew it was important. And I appreciate Johnny's efforts on focusing the State of Connecticut and his budget on preschool programs as well as spending billions of dollars to make sure class sizes are smaller in the State of Connecticut. Listen, we passed historic education reform in Washington, DC. And thanks to the Members on the stage and both Republicans and Democrats working together, finally, in Washington, we were able to pass a meaningful piece of legislation, part of which is to not only hold people to high standards and to expect the best out of every child, but part of it is we're going to trust the Governors and local people to figure out the path to excellence. And it gives me great confidence in supporting such a bill, knowing that Johnny Rowland is the Governor of the State of Connecticut. Serious crime has dropped by 15.7 percent in the State of Connecticut since Johnny's been the Governor. His record speaks for itself, and I'm confident the State will be wise enough to send Johnny back to the statehouse for another term. I certainly hope so, because he's a good man. And Nancy Johnson's got a race. And surely the people of her congressional district are going to be wise enough to send this good soul back to Washington, DC, because she is a good soul. She's the dean of the delegation. She's a leader in the Republican Party. She has got enormous respect on both sides of the aisle, and that's important. If you're a person who goes to Washington to get something done, you've got to have the respect on both sides of the aisle, and Nancy Johnson does. She is she has been in the Oval Office more than one time with steady counsel and good advice, and she's not afraid to give it. Laughter She is a leading authority on health care and retirement security. If I've heard her say one time, I've heard her say 50 times, "Let's work together to get a plan to make sure our seniors have got prescription drug coverage." I agree with Nancy. We need to work together to achieve some important national objectives. Nancy is a builder. She's a good, steady soul. She is working on pension reform, and she proudly stood with me when it came time to cut the taxes. And I want you to know we cut the taxes right at the right time. She understands that when you give people their money back or let them keep their own money in the first place, it increases demand. And when you increase demand, somebody is going to supply something for you. And when they supply that good or service, it means jobs. Cutting taxes, which I understand was unpopular on some of the opinion pages around America, was the exact right thing to do, and I want to thank Nancy and Rob and Chris for their support. And we sent the death tax on its way. We're getting rid of that death tax. But unfortunately, there is a quirk in the law that means that the repeal of the death tax is not permanent. It's hard for me to explain why you eliminate the death tax, and all of a sudden it's able to come back to life. Laughter That's Washington. Laughter We need to make the tax cuts permanent, and the three Members from the United States Congress understand that the repeal of the death tax is an important part of letting people realize the American Dream. And we've got small business owners all over the country who've worked all their life, who want to leave their business to their heirs, to a son or a daughter, and can't do so because of the death tax. Listen, getting rid of the death tax was great for farmers and ranchers. It's good to it's a good policy if you're worried about urban sprawl, so they can keep the farmland in their families for generations. And we need to make it permanent. We need to make sure that the good work we did doesn't change because of a quirk in how Washington works. So the three Members up here are going to be important to make sure that the repeal of the death tax is forever, and that will be good for the country. And I appreciate Rob Simmons. He and I showed up about the same time in Washington. Laughter And he is doing a fine, fine job. He's respected. When he speaks, people listen to what he has to say. As you know, he has had a lifetime of service to the country. He worked for the CIA after he served in the Army. He worked on the Senate staff. He's in the State legislature. He's worked hard, very hard, at every position he's held. And he's been a very fine Member of the United States Congress. He cares deeply about our veterans. He's a member of the Committee of Veteran Affairs. He knows our country owes a lot to the people who have worn the uniform. He's also on the Armed Services Committee. The Armed Services Committee is important for the State of Connecticut. It's important to have his voice heard on behalf of not only Connecticut, of course, but the entire Nation. But I'm confident he'd tell you things about Connecticut first. Laughter And the people of his district will be doing the State of Connecticut a very important service to send him back to Washington, DC, as well. I have mentioned a couple of the issues that we've worked on, education and tax relief. But there's a lot to do in Washington. We need an energy policy, an energy policy on the one hand that enhances conservation, that unleashes the technology of the country to enable our cars to run cleaner, our plants to burn cleaner. But we need to explore more, too. We need to be less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. This was made pretty clear the other day when Saddam Hussein stands up and announces he's going to try to organize an oil boycott. You know my opinion about Saddam. Laughter The world's not going to follow him. But it just goes to show how important it is to diversify our supply away from places like Iraq. We need to have trade promotion authority passed for the good of American workers. I need to be able to negotiate trade agreements with countries all around the world. That bill passed the House, just like the energy bill. It stalled in the Senate. Nothing seems to be moving out of the Senate these days. A faith based initiative passed the House. It is now sponsored by Joe Lieberman of Connecticut. It's stalled in the Senate. We've got a lot of work to do in Washington, DC, and I appreciate these House Members' support. But there's no greater work to be done than to protect the American people. I have submitted a budget that prioritizes homeland defense and our national security. I submitted a budget that recognizes that we've got to prepare America for whatever emergency may come, a budget that puts ample amount of money in place to enable our first responders, our brave police and firefighters and EMS crews all around the country, to have the equipment and training necessary to respond should the enemy hit us again. I know the Coast Guard Academy is based here. In my budget, I beefed up the Coast Guard in order to make sure that our borders are more secure. We've got to change the INS, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, so we understand who's coming into our country and what is their purpose for coming into our country. We've got to make sure we have a mechanism in place to deal with any bioterrorist attack that may occur. And so we've got and I've got a good man, a friend of Johnny's and mine who is a fellow Governor of ours from Pennsylvania named Tom Ridge, running this operation. You also need to know that every morning that I'm in Washington, I go into the Oval Office which is a fabulous office, by the way. Laughter It's a great shrine to our country. I sit at the desk where the Roosevelts I guess since I'm a President, I can call them the Roosevelt boys sat at the desk, John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan. And I think my dad had a different desk. And so I sit there and open up a threat assessment that our people put together about noise we hear of one kind or another about the enemy still is interested in hitting us. And so I'm reminded every day that my job is to protect America, which I'm going to do. Anytime we get a hint, anytime we get any evidence that somebody might be thinking about doing something, you need to know we're moving, and we're moving in a way that would make you proud. But the best way to secure the homeland is to find the enemy wherever they try to hide and bring them to justice. The best way make no mistake about it you should not be confused about the nature of the people we're dealing with. They hate us because we're free. They hate the thought that Americans welcome all religions they can't stand that thought. They hate the thought that we educate everybody. They hate our freedoms. They hate the fact that we hold each individual we dignify each individual. We believe in the dignity of every person. They can't stand that. And the only way they know to express themselves is through killing, coldblooded killing. And so we need to treat them the way they are, as international criminals. And that's why my defense budget is the largest increase in 20 years. You know, the price of freedom is high, but for me it's never too high because we fight for freedom. I've tried to speak as clearly as I possibly can "You're either with us, or you're not with us. You're either with us, or you're against us." And the good news is, there's a lot of people with us. A lot of people love freedom like we do, and we've got a vast coalition we've put together that we work on. I had the honor of welcoming Tony Blair down to the ranch. We've got no finer friend, no stronger partner in our quest for freedom than Tony Blair. I also said that if you hide a terrorist or feed one, you're just as guilty as a terrorist. And the Taliban found out exactly what we meant. We went into Afghanistan not as conquerors but as liberators. It is so hard for people to understand, the fact that this was a government it's hard for people in America to understand that this is a government that would not let young girls go to school. I mean, these were barbaric, backward people. And we got them out of office. And not only did we get them out of office, we kept a nation from starving. We're helping with their health care system. I am so proud of the contributions that our military and Americans have made. It is a signal to the world that we're not only tough if somebody wants to take us on, they will have made a bad mistake. But we're also compassionate, and we care deeply about the plight of our fellow human beings, no matter what part of the world they live in. The enemy must be chagrined. You know, first of all, I can't imagine what went through their mind when they attacked. I like to remind people, they must have felt we were so materialistic and so self absorbed and so weak and feeble that all we would do would be to file a lawsuit. Laughter They thought we would grow weary. They thought we would tire. Man, are they wrong. This Nation is united and strong. And it's important that we be patient and united and strong, because there are still a lot of them out there. There just are that's the reality. I deal with reality every day. But there's no cave deep enough for these people to hide in. You just need to know that. The other day we hauled in a guy named Abu Zubaydah. He's one of the top operatives plotting and planning death and destruction on the United States. He's not plotting and planning anymore. He's where he belongs. History has called us into action, and this Nation is responding. You've got to understand my mindset and what I think. We've got to act on behalf of the little ones. We've got to secure the world and this civilization as we know it from these evil people. We just have to do this. And that includes making sure that some of the world's worst leaders who desire to possess the world's worst weapons don't team up with faceless, Al Qaida type killer organizations. We owe it to the future of this country to lead a coalition against nations that are so evil and, at the same time, desire incredibly evil weapons. And you just need to know, so long as I'm the President, my focus is going to be defending freedom and making sure that, when they look back at history, they will have said the United States did what was necessary to keep the world free from terror and barbaric behavior. And I want to thank these Members for their strong support of the defense budget that I submitted. And my call, of course, to the Congress is that instead of passing the defense budget last, like they always try to do, let's pass it first let's get it done. Let's make sure our troops understand they're going to have the best equipment, the best training, and the best pay possible early in the budget cycle, not late. I believe strongly in the inherent good of our country. I'm an optimistic fellow because I know what a great land we are have and what a great people we are. I believe out of this evil that has been done to our Nation will come incredible good. There's no doubt in my mind there's no doubt in my mind, if we're firm and deliberate and tough, we'll achieve peace in places where we never dreamt there would be peace. If we're steady and rout out terror wherever it exists, we can achieve peace. And I know this country can respond to the evil acts by responding with acts of kindness and decency. People say, "What can I do to help?" The answer is, love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to help America fight evil, do some good in your neighborhood. Put your arm around a child who may wonder whether or not the American experience is meant for them and say, "I love you." And more than that, teach them how to read, so they can understand what America is all about. If you really want to help, support your schools. Help people understand that loneliness and despair do not have to be a way of life. Walk across the street to a shut in who may live in your neighborhood and say, "I care for you. What can I do to help you today?" It's small acts of kindness and decency that define the true face of America for the world. If you want to fight evil, do some good. And it's that gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness which will have the American people stand squarely in the face of the evildoers. And that's happening in America. It is. Our culture is beginning to change from one of that basically said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to one in which we're all responsible for the decisions we make in life, that we're responsible for loving our children. The most important job you'll ever have as a mother or father is to love your children with all your heart and all your soul. A responsible period of time says that you will be involved in your community, that you shouldn't just take from the great American experience but you've got to give and you've got to help people in need. It means we've got corporate responsibility in America. CEOs of corporate America must not only be responsible for full disclosure of assets and liabilities, but they must also stay focused on the health and welfare of their workers. There is a responsibility era emerging in America to the better to the better and as a result, we'll be able to overcome evil with good. And perhaps that change of attitude and change of culture is best reflected by what took place on Flight 93. For me, it was one of the most meaningful stories of September 11th and on. It's the story of average Americans flying an airplane on an airplane, traveling our country just like everybody else has done most everybody has done just got on an airplane and said, "I'm going to go somewhere," for business or pleasure, whatever it was. And they were told on their telephones that America was under attack. And they told their loved ones they loved them, and they said a prayer, and they drove the plane in the ground to save others' lives. It is the ultimate it's the ultimate statement of personal responsibility to serve something greater than yourself. And that's what's happening in America. Americans all around our country are serving something greater than their own self promotion. And that's good. And that's the American spirit. And that's why I am so incredibly optimistic about the future of this country, because we're a land full of decent and caring and compassionate Americans. Thank you all for coming today, and may God bless you all. April 08, 2002 Q. Thanks for doing this. This is really I appreciate it a lot. The President. You bet. Q. It's a big event tomorrow for the Wall Street Journal. The President. Well, I understand yes, I understand you're kind of changing your format. Q. Yes. It will look different, color. The President. What about the sketches? What happened to the poor sketches? Q. They'll still be there. You'll still get one. Counselor Karen Hughes. This is journal Q. Somewhat short. Q. Subdued color. Champagne, as they call it. The President. What is your job? Q. I'm the Washington bureau chief. The President. What is Al Hunt's job? Q. He's the executive Washington editor. I can't define that exactly for you somebody else will have to do that for you. The President. Somebody upstairs somewhere. Q. He's the guy you have to worry about. The President. Good. That's why he's here. Laughter Iraqi Oil Exports Energy Policy Q. It's a good day to be here. It's a good day to be talking to a former oil guy, actually. The President. Yes. Q. And I thought maybe we would start there. You saw what the Iraqis said today about cutting off oil exports. The President. Taking production off for a month? Q. Yes. And the Iranians and the Libyans have said similar things. Do you worry about some form of another Arab oil embargo or some form of oil embargo by some people? The President. Here's my thoughts on that. One, it means that we need an energy policy that encourages diversification away from places like Iraq. You know, the ANWR debate has been amazing to watch because of the amount of misinformation that has been laid out there. But the reason I bring up ANWR is because it just so happens that once production is up and running on a very small footprint in the middle of this vast country, we can produce as much oil as Iraq produces on the world market. A good energy policy is one that obviously encourages conservation and new technologies but is also one that helps America diversify away from sources of crude oil in places like Iraq. And I the first I heard of this, I said this is a justifies more than ever the call for exploration in areas where technology will allow us to do so in environmentally friendly ways. I also saw the response of other nations, nations that were willing to step up and increase production, and I appreciate that as well. My other reaction is that Saddam Hussein is willing to cut off production even though it affects his own people. It helps define the nature of this regime. I've told people as I've made the case for about my strong feelings about Iraq, that this is a person who is willing to poison his own people. Now it looks like he's willing to cut off revenues so that he can't feed his own people. Anyway, I'm not I mean, axis of evil. Q. You mentioned the statements by other countries. Did you have you heard anything from Saudi Arabia? Did Secretary Powell hear from Saudi Arabia? The President. I haven't, not yet. He's, as a matter of fact, eating dinner with Crown Prince Abdullah as we speak. No, I just I thought Ari told me that there had been some movement on the Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. They said they're not going to follow a call for an embargo OPEC has said that. Q. And in terms of if you have Iraq, if you have Iran, possibly Libya, you still have a substantial effect on the market, couldn't it? The President. Well, it could, absolutely. There is excess supply, and we'll just see how it plays out. But to me, it indicates that well, that's another reason why we've got to be very cautious about making bold predictions about the economy. We're an energy dependent nation. And as a result, it's you know, it points up to part of the fragility of our economy. In other words, when you're dependent, a price spike can affect growth, obviously. So I'm pleased with some of the progress being made, but as I told the folks there in this speech I just gave on terrorism insurance You know, people can try all the numbers and prognostications and all they want I'm the kind of fellow who believes that if somebody can't find work or is worried about their job, we've got a problem. And bad energy policy or the failure to have energy policy or the fact that we're dependent upon unstable countries is a reason why I am do not believe that we're out of the economic woods yet. Q. Is what Iraq is doing, does it amount to a hostile act against the U.S.? The President. Well, I wouldn't call it a friendly gesture. It is you know, this is a man who obviously hates America. And he's not just affecting America, by the way it's affecting countries all countries. If, in fact, his action has the is able to run the price of crude up, it's going to affect Europe it's going to affect poor nations it's going to affect poor people around the world. This is a guy who has tried to manipulate the market for short term gain for the wrong reason, is a person who is unfriendly to all nations, as far as I'm concerned. Q. You would like a better energy policy that's fine, and that's understandable. In the shorter term, if you've got a problem, there are some other options you can consider. You could think about SPROs out there. The President. Could do that. Q. There are gas taxes that could be reduced. Either of those options appeal to you? The President. We'll look at all options. If, in fact, his threat look, we're the kind of people that deal with problems that's what happens in the White House. You're dealt a problem, and we deal with it. And we'll look at all options. But let's I think we need to be a little careful about predicting whether or not this man is going to have the effect he wants to have until President Saddam Hussein of Iraq Q. The effort to do something about Saddam Hussein has obviously been kind of put on hold while this Middle East situation gets sorted out. It could take a long time to sort out the Middle East situation. How long does it stay on hold? The President. Well, not necessarily. Q. Not necessarily The President. I wouldn't you made repeat your question. I think you made a pretty strong assumption in your question. Q. Well, it's only based on the 20 years of history. The President. No, what did you just say, though seriously, I'm not being critical. I'm just curious. Again, you just said my plans for Iraq have been placed on hold? Q. Yes. Is that incorrect? The President. Iraq is a problem, and again, another reason why it's a problem, we witnessed today. And we are constantly talking with our friends and allies about Iraq. I spent a great deal of time this weekend talking to Tony Blair about Iraq. As I've said, all options are on the table for Iraq, and that's about all I've pretty much about all I'm going to say. I don't know what you meant by Q. It would be wrong to say that your plans are on hold? The President. You see, I assume from your question that we're not really thinking about Iraq now, that somehow, because the Middle East has flared up, any thought about Iraq or keeping a coalition together on Iraq Q. I was thinking more action rather than thought. The President. Well, I mean, we're looking at all options. And Iraq is an important country. By the way, chasing down the Al Qaida killers is still a priority, even though the Middle East has flared up. I'm in no hurry on a lot of issues. I'm a patient man I'm a deliberate person. I understand we live in a world where people are constantly saying, "Gosh, after 6 months, how come this isn't over?" Some people say that most Americans don't feel that. They understand that we're in the long, long pull. So you've got to put everything in context. And the way I am, I'm a deliberate, patient man when it comes to conducting this war, thorough war, to defend our freedom. And I have said publicly that the idea of an Al Qaida terrorist network hooking up or matching up with or allied with let me start over "allied with," I think, is a more understandable word a nation that has developed a weapon of mass destruction is a scenario that I will not leave our children saddled with, in other words. And again, my timeframe is longer rather than shorter. In other words, the fact that we haven't proved whether or not Saddam or bin Laden is alive or dead or he may be dead, may be alive, that fact just simply doesn't bother me. Because if he is alive, we're going to get him eventually, and if he's dead, that's fine, too. But we're making progress there, just quietly, steadily making progress. Abu Zubaydah is a very good example for those of you who follow the Al Qaida network, you understand the significance of an Abu Zubaydah capture. And anyway, I don't know if I answered your question properly. In other words, it almost implied that things have to be immediate on all fronts otherwise, there's not a focus. And that's just not the case. Q. Just as a prognostication The President. Just as a hypothetical? Q. See, that's not what I was going to say. You can define it, I guess. The President. Okay. Q. Do you think if we're sitting here a year from now talking, Saddam Hussein is still going to be in power in Iraq? The President. That's one of those hypotheticals. Laughter I'm not going to Gas Taxes Q. Let me go back to something I mentioned earlier, gas taxes. Any reason for Republicans to start thinking about rolling back some gas taxes at this point? The President. I think you're asking me you're speculating on something that hasn't occurred yet. Gas Prices Q. Just to follow up on that, though, how much of a do you have any sense of how much of an increase in the price of oil or the price of gas we could see as a result of this? The President. No, I don't yet. I understand you all are trying to make news, but this is this is a fresh statement by so we've just got to see how the world reacts. But one thing is for certain The fact that people are concerned points up the fact that we had better do something for the good of our country in terms of diversification of supply away from sources of crude oil in places like Iraq. Israeli Withdrawal From Palestinian Territories Q. The other part of your Middle East problem today is obviously on the West Bank. You don't seem to have gotten much of a response. The President. Actually, there is some new news. IDF announced they were withdrawing out of two Israeli cities. What are the names of them, Steve? Deputy National Security Adviser Hadley. Tulkarm and Qalqilya. The President. Qalqilya. That's right. And that's a beginning. If responsible leaders want peace, they must there are clear things that they must do. The Arabs must condemn and fight terrorism. They must cut off funding. They must stop propagandizing about the great heroic martyrdom of suicide killers. They must explain clearly that Israel has a right to exist and they intend, as leaders, to coexist with Israel in a peaceful way. The Israelis must continue withdrawal. I was very concerned that a point had been reached at which it would be very difficult to achieve peace. We want peace. We have laid out the vision for peace, and Israel has recognized the Palestinian state. Israel has signed on to Tenet and Mitchell, as has the PLO. And my point is that Israel has recognized the framework for peace, and it's time for her to start pulling out in order to allow all of us who care about peace to be able to work to get peace in the region. Q. Have you been told by the Israelis that this is a response, the beginning of a response to what you asked for in the last few days? The President. I have not been told that. All I can tell you is they're beginning to withdraw, at least from these two cities, as of an hour ago. Q. What did you think of the Prime Minister's speech to the Knesset? Have you had a chance to The President. Today? Q. Yes. The President. I didn't see it. I had a the only thing I've heard from him was, we had a good conversation on Saturday. Q. A good conversation? The President. Yes. I mean, it was good in the sense that he knows where I stand, and he heard my it was a good, frank discussion, let me put it to you that way. Ari told me that the word was moving around that it was a very hostile conversation. It wasn't. It was just a very frank discussion about two leaders who are concerned about the region. Q. What he said today was basically I don't know if I can get you the exact words but, "We're going to keep going until we're done." It didn't say when that was going to be. The President. I just can tell you they started pulling out of cities. Q. When you talked to him, or just in general, are there consequences if that doesn't continue? The President. It's going to continue. Q. Sorry? The President. I think it will continue. Q. The withdrawal? The President. I think he heard what I said, and I repeated it again today, prior to this news. And Colin Powell's mission is to continue to work to set the framework for political discussions, and part of that is for Israel to withdraw. Secretary of State Powell's Visit to the Middle East Q. And as part of the Powell mission, do you anticipate him meeting with Arafat? The President. It depends on the circumstances at the time. He's got full latitude to do what he thinks is necessary to get the process headed toward a political settlement. Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority Q. And if Yasser Arafat does what sort of things between now and when Security Powell gets there, is that more likely to happen? The President. That's up to Powell. But obviously listen, Yasser Arafat, as I've said somebody asked me the other day, have I lost trust in him? I said, "Well, he never earned my trust." The way you earn trust is by leading and by, you know, not squandering missed opportunities squandering opportunities, creating missed opportunities after missed opportunities, to provide here you've got a nation, America. I'm the first President, I believe, to have ever gone to the United Nations and laid out a vision for a Palestinian state at peace with Israel. And this is an administration that laid out the Tenet plan, embraced the Mitchell plan that was, I guess, finalized on my watch but started under President Clinton's watch. So you've had two administrations working toward a blueprint for peace. And Mr. Arafat, instead of focusing and seizing and using his energy to achieve this vision, has not led. So he's never earned my trust. Q. So who leads, if Arafat doesn't? The President. Arafat is the leader. That's who we're dealing with. Secretary of State Powell's Visit to the Middle East Q. Do you have any interest in having Powell see alternative Palestinian leaders while he's there? The President. I think Colin ought to visit with whomever is necessary to move the peace agenda, and he'll just use his judgment. We've got General Zinni on the ground there. Burns, I believe Burns is with Powell. So we've got our experts there that understand the area very well. And Powell has got an agenda, which is to move the process toward a political settlement. And obviously, we've laid the conditions out in my speech on Thursday, as to what it will take. And he's got the U.N. resolution standing behind him, a blueprint toward where we need to get, and there are responsibilities on both parties. Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia Q. Somebody suggested to me that one reason that you dispatched Secretary Powell was that the Saudis were that you had some frank conversations with the Saudis over the last few days, including one in which they indicated the Crown Prince might not make it to Crawford, Texas, unless the situation The President. No. Q. Can you describe the conversations with the Saudis on this point? The President. Well, listen, the Saudis are just as concerned as other nations in the region. But the idea of saying, "You must do this, or else I'm not going to come to Crawford," just isn't that didn't happen. Not only didn't it happen, it wouldn't be a very smart thing for anybody to do. It's just not the way I it's not the way we do things in this administration. Energy National Economy Q. Let me go back to oil for just a second, and then I think you want to switch to something else. Have you gotten, in any kind of conversations with the Saudis, any assurances that they are not in the oil embargo business anymore and that they'll try to make sure others don't The President. I'm sure the subject will come up with Colin and the Crown Prince, but this has been relatively you know, this is new. Q. Right. The President. So it'll be a topic of conversation. Q. Yes. Yes. The President. And as Ari said, he felt like that the OPEC, as well as the Saudis again, tell me the news I haven't seen it. This is all breaking since I just arrived from Knoxville. Counselor Hughes. The President has been in Tennessee. The President. Ari watched the whole speech on C SPAN in Knoxville, didn't you? Press Secretary Fleischer. Yes. They said they're not going along with the call. The President. So we just have to see. Q. But it's your the recovery is fragile enough that there are things that can still throw it off track. The President. Oh, I think so. I don't think the recovery is a given. And that's why we need to have this terrorism bill, terrorism insurance bill. I mean, there are things that Congress can do, and I think there are some signed signals we need to send. We need a trade bill. We need an energy bill that will help even though it won't happen immediately. Diversification won't happen immediately. It will help calm nerves. It means that the long term is more optimistic than not. So there are things we need to do. California, the California energy situation wasn't a year ago. And yet, it seems like it was years ago that California looked like it was running out of energy. And to me, that was a wake up call. Where are we going to get our gas from to fuel the electricity, the new plants that were built in California? And you know, the Prime Minister of Canada is thrilled that we're increasing demand, because he's a major supplier of gas, and we're going to have to work with them. That's why I've got this hemispheric energy group, Mexico, Canada, the United States, meeting as to how to increase supplies in our hemisphere, the need for pipelines, and where they ought to go. In other words, that's important. And Mexico, herself, is grappling with a constitutional issue on energy. We export about 8 percent of our natural gas to Mexico. And obviously, to the extent that Mexico is able to attract capital and explore for more gas, it's good for Mexico in terms of jobs it's good for their cashflow and it's good for the energy picture in our hemisphere. In my judgment, obviously, we've got to go to Alaska. It's a part of a strategy to diversify away from unstable sources of energy. And we need more nuclear power as well. That's why the Yucca Mountain issue is an issue. We need clean coal technology. We need a comprehensive effort. And we need conservation as well. The interesting fact that came out of the California energy crisis was that they increased their conservation by about 10 percent, which is significant and necessary and good. I believe that some of the I've got faith that technology will that we will have new automobiles. But it's not going to be quick enough to deal with immediate issues in the Middle East, for example. In other words, down the road there is going to be some new technology. We'll still be driving, all of us we'll still be driving, and we'll be driving cars that make us less dependent on foreign sources of crude and are much cleaner burning. Corporate Management Reform and Responsibility Q. You wanted to switch to corporate Q. Yes. Well, you were talking about things that potentially threaten the recovery. Do you think that the I don't know if "crisis" in confidence is too strong a word, but the feeling, you know, the concerns about corporate governments is a serious The President. I think it's a serious I think it's an issue that we need to look at and look at very carefully. I think the markets reflect the fact, though, that most investors have still got confidence in our economy and in corporate America. But reforms are necessary, and the CEOs need to be held accountable for full exposure or full detail of assets and liabilities. There needs to be pension review. If officers sell, the employees ought to be able sell. There ought to be better information sharing. There ought to be more diversification. On the other hand, we've got to make sure that we don't disincent companies for 401(k) compensation. I think it's a vital part of building up savings for our workers. There are discussions now about options, how we handle options. I think options are important. I think they're a good incentive program. I think once options earn the money, that they ought to be calculated in the dilution of yes, be part of the that they ought to be dilutive in their earnings per share calculations. To me, that seems like a reasonable way to handle that issue so that people fully understand the effect of options being granted. Q. But not as Chairman Greenspan has suggested, expensing? The President. My personal opinion is that and I think most of the people in my administration feel like the best way to calculate you know, earnings are earnings. And earnings per share is the calculation oftentimes used in an investment decision. And so we ought to state the earnings for what they are and affect the earnings per share. Listen, Alan Greenspan is very smart I hate to get into a debate with him. But my view is, is that it achieves both objectives. One, what are the true earnings of the company? And two, what is the dilutive effect of options in the money? We may perhaps get to the same end that he is trying to achieve, and that is a full accounting of options. To me, that's a reasonable way to do that. Q. One of the things that's happening right now is that, obviously, Arthur Andersen is teetering on the brink. Are you is it possible the Justice Department went a little too far and a little too hard after Arthur Andersen? Are you comfortable with the idea that they might go away, as a result of what the Justice Department has done? The President. Well, I believe people ought to be held responsible for decisions made, and I will refer I'll ask you to refer your questions to the Justice Department as to their tactics and decisions. Since they filed the suit, they'll be good at explaining it to you. Q. But there are policy I mean, there are policy issues involved. And some people say the way the Justice Department went at it is you know, threatened to put thousands of people on the street who were totally innocent and all of this. The President. There is a need to hold people responsible. I oftentimes talk about responsibility era each of us need to be personally you know, personal responsibility. I also make sure I broaden that to corporate responsibility as well. There is a responsibility for leadership to conduct themselves in a responsible way. I'll leave the details to the Justice Department, but the idea of holding people accountable or entities accountable is a very important part of ushering in the responsible era. And we'll let there are all kinds of pundits, and I've heard this, that, and other. We'll just let the Justice Department answer those questions about the tactics. Q. Do you think corporate America had kind of gotten away from that responsibility? The President. I think I do think there have been periods where the growth and the apparent creation of wealth gets so kind of easy, in a way, that people forget not all people but some forget. I remember the oil business in the early eighties, and people would say, "The price is going to 100." You know? And investment decisions were pretty lax. It just seemed like there was this kind of euphoria that swept up this particular sector. And every IPO hit, and everybody was in the money and options. It just seemed like the sky was the limit. There was never going to be any reality. And during those periods of time, sometimes, some fail to remember that they have a responsibility to people other than themselves namely, shareholders. And when we look back at this period, I think we'll find some incidents of that. You asked me whether or not those incidents would cause lack of confidence in the future. I don't think so at all, and I think the market reflects that. On the other hand, it does call us to action, and that's one of the reasons why we've laid out a series of initiatives to deal with this issue. I worry about a board of directors that are too acquiescent to a CEO, beholden not to the shareholder but to the CEO. That concerns me. I'm not sure of the law that you can pass necessarily, but I do think there is a culture that can evolve out of this period of time which will remind people they have a responsibility as leaders of a corporation. Q. Can you do anything to make that evolution happen? The President. Well, I think it is happening. I can't, as the President, call upon, reform and change and call people to account, in a broad sense. I mean, I'm not going to get involved in every lawsuit that comes down the pike, but I can remind people that we have a responsibility as citizens. And there is a big responsibility in corporate America amongst the CEOs who treat their workers with respect. I was particularly grateful of the automobile manufacturers to promote product with keeping their workers' livelihoods in mind. I thought that was noble during this period of time. That sometimes stands in contrast to a corporate stereotype where people say, you know, "I don't really care about the livelihood of the workers. For me, I'm going to bottom line, focus immediate bottom line." There is a responsibility that these leaders have. Situation in the Middle East Q. Can I just return to the Middle East for a second? I can't get over it. When The President. You're writing about it for your whole life. Q. I know. I'm stuck. I'm in a rut I admit it. It's pathetic. Laughter The President. No, it's important. Q. Sometimes. The President. You know, it's an issue that has consumed enormous amounts of time by this administration and every administration preceding me in modern history. Q. It's lifetime employment for journalists, too. The President. It's an important issue. It's an issue in which we've got enormous stake. It is an issue that there has to be a vision of peace there has to be a commitment to peace. And my job is to lay out that vision and to lead parties to the steps necessary to achieve the vision. And it's going to take a while. Step one, in order to get there, is withdrawal of troops, from the Israeli perspective and for the Arabs, to stand up and be accountable for holding cutting off financing of terrorists and disrupting terrorist networks. These are people that do not the terrorists and bombers do not want peace. They want to kill to prevent peace. Q. Just to finish that thought, though as you've often said, you're an optimistic person. The President. Yes. Q. Doesn't it feel like we're further away from any kind of a resolution than we've been in a long time? The President. Well, I listen, I hate the killing. Yes, in one way it seems like we're a long way away from peace, obviously, when you turn on your TV and see death, suicide bombers blowing up Passover celebrations, young Arab girl blowing up a young Israeli girl. But I also know if the innate goodness of mankind and that there are people who understand that this way is as I said, enough is enough. I think there is enough good will in the region, inherent goodness of the people on both sides of the issue that we'll ultimately have leadership say, "We're sick of this, and now let's work together." I don't know if it's going to be a month or a year, however long. But nevertheless, this is a and you have to look at it that way. You have to believe that peace is possible, and I believe it is. Ask Jerry Seib if peace is possible. He knows this issue better than me. But I believe it is, and my administration will continue to work as if it is achievable. And one of our jobs is to pick and choose the time when we spend capital, be judicious in how we approach these issues, to not create false expectations, to be realistic about what's possible, and lead. But in order to lead, you've got to see a better day. And I feel that. This picture right here says it's a Tom Lea. He wrote the line, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It's the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." And I love that picture, because I love the man and I love Texas because I also love the quote, because it is a frame of mind necessary it's a frame of mind that a President must have in order to be a good President. And I believe that there are a lot of people in the Middle East, average, hard working mothers and fathers, who want to see a better day. And we've got to lead to that better day. April 08, 2002 Let me say one thing before I leave. First of all, I meant what I said to the Prime Minister of Israel. I expect there to be withdrawal without delay. And I also meant what I said to the Arab world, that in order for there to be peace, nations must stand up, leaders must stand up and condemn terrorism, terrorist activity. There is a mutual responsibility to achieve peace, and it's going to require leadership on both sides. And the United States is firmly committed to achieving peace and is firmly committed I am firmly committed to what I expect from both parties. I repeat, I meant what I said about withdrawal without delay, and I mean what I say when I call upon the Arab world to strongly condemn and act against terrorist activity. April 08, 2002 Thank you very much. Ed, thank you very much. I didn't realize you were so eloquent. Laughter But I know you're a good leader, and I know you care deeply about the people you represent, and so does Jimmy Hoffa and Joe Hunt, and so do the people the employers here. I want to thank you all for coming to help me talk about this important issue facing the country, and that is how to make sure people stay working. That's what we're talking about. You know, the enemy hit us pretty hard on September the 11th. I just came in from Tennessee, where I was talking about one way to respond to the attacks is for people to volunteer in their communities and help make their neighborhoods a better place. I told them, I said, they must have not they miscalculated. They hit us and thought we were so weak that all we would do is probably file a lawsuit. Laughter But they found out that we're thinking a little differently in America and that, when it comes to our freedom, we will do what it takes to defend freedom. And I want to remind you all that this is a long struggle that's going to take a while, that there are Al Qaida killers still on the loose. There are people who hate America. They hate what we stand for. They hate the fact that Democrats and Republicans both love our country equally. They hate the idea that we worship freely. They hate the concept that we debate issues in open. They hate freedom. They just hate it, and they are going to try to hurt us they are. And the best way to secure the homeland is to find them, one by one, and we are. That's exactly what we're going to do. And the we've unleashed the proud United States military, and the men and women who wear our uniform are really doing us proud. I also want you to know that it's just important to know that we don't seek revenge we seek justice. That's what we're doing. And we're not conquerors, but we're liberators. I am really proud of our Nation. I'm proud of the fact that young girls went to school for the first time in Afghanistan. That really makes me feel really good about what we're doing. I'm proud about the fact that we're not leaving the country behind, that not only have we liberated people from the clutches of this barbaric regime but we're staying around to help them with their security and help them to develop into a nation that can protect herself and a nation that will be a good neighbor in an important part of the world. We have made some pretty good progress in a quick period of time. But you've got to remember we live in a world in which sometimes, in all due respect, the media expects things to end quickly. This isn't going to end quickly. So long as there is terrorists, we need to find them. So long as there is nations which develop weapons of mass destruction and therefore try to hold the U.S. or our friends and allies hostage through blackmail, we're going to have to deal with it just going to have to deal with it. History has called us into action, and I'm not going to let our children and grandchildren down. And I know you're not, either. In terms of our economy, no question that the attacks of September the 11th hurt our economy. I mean, it affected employment in big ways. Many of you know that. I see Bill Marriott his business was affected, deeply affected. And thanks to some focused efforts, things are improving. But as far as I'm concerned, the notion about where we stand in terms of our economy really depends upon whether or not people are able to find work and whether or not they think they're going to have work tomorrow. That's how I judge whether or not we're healthy. If someone is looking for work and can't find work, that means we're not healthy. If someone is working and they're worried about whether they're going to be working tomorrow, that means we're not healthy, as far as I'm concerned. And therefore, public policy must do everything we can to create an environment in which jobs are steady and growing. I thought tax relief was very important to make sure that the environment was such that people could find work. I know energy policy is very important, and we spent a great deal of time with Jimmy and Ed talking about how to get a good energy bill out of the Congress. It's an energy bill, by the way, that is needed more than ever, particularly given the fact that there's been some threats recently by Saddam Hussein that he's going to try to cut off energy supply to affect the United States. I mean, what more reason do we need than to have good energy policy in the United States to diversify away from somebody like him? And we need to do something on terrorism insurance as well. This is an issue that I don't think a lot of Americans understand very well, and we're going to use this opportunity to explain it. I'm going to do my best to explain it. Tom Ridge and Larry Lindsey will follow up. It's an issue because it is a jobs issue. If people can't buy insurance on a construction project, they're not going to build the project. And if they don't build the project, somebody's not working. That's the simplest way I can describe the issue at hand. And we have a lack of insurance coverage now as a result of the enemy attack. I don't think they actually sat down and said, "Gosh, if we attack, we'll affect the insurance industry of America." I think that was an unintended consequence of theirs, but nevertheless, it was a consequence. And we in Washington must deal with it and must deal with it in a hurry, because the pace of new construction is dropping dramatically in America. Banks and investors and others will not finance construction projects that do not have terrorism insurance. In order to build a project, in order to employ people, you've got to borrow money, and you can't borrow money unless there's adequate terrorism insurance. And that's not being provided today. Nonresidential construction is down 3 percent compared to January of 2002, and down 17 percent compared to February of 2001. That's an issue that the Congress must deal with. If people who want to work can't find work, something is wrong with the economy. They should not be fooled by the statistics. If people who are working a construction job are uncertain as to whether or not there will be a job for them tomorrow, that is a problem, and we need to deal with it. And when you see construction nonresidential construction permitting down to the extent to which it is, it is a problem. And I expect the Congress to act. The Hyatt Corporation has acquired a new site for a 1.5 million square foot office building in downtown Chicago. That ought to be encouraging news. It ought to be encouraging news for my friend the mayor. It ought to be encouraging news for people who wear the hardhat and work, the ironworkers and the construction workers. But they've got a problem finding terrorism coverage, and so they're not getting financing for the project. Somebody wants to build it they can't get the money to do it because the insurance isn't available. This project is valued at 400 million, will lead to the creation of 2,500 jobs, if the Hyatt Corporation could get insurance. There are other examples as well. A 2 billion resort in Nevada you've got some influence out there, Jimmy laughter could provide 16,000 jobs, is on hold because they can't get insurance for terrorism. Imagine that. You know, you've got the chance to employ 16,000 people, but because something hasn't happened in the United States Congress, it's not going forward. And that's not right. We're worried about charities that may be forced to cut back on services to the needy because of the high cost of insurance. Pension funds for teachers and other workers that hold real estate assets may experience lower rates of return because of higher terrorism insurance costs. That affects someone's retirement system. The transportation industry will face strains from the lack of affordable terrorism insurance. Secondly, while we're doing everything we can to stop terrorist attacks, the economy must be prepared to handle an attack if they do occur. We spend a lot of time here in Washington sniffing down every lead, looking for every opportunity to run down a clue as to somebody might be trying to get us. And I am confident I know we're doing everything we can, but I can't predict with 100 percent accuracy whether or not another attack won't occur. And therefore, we'd better find terrorism insurance, because without it, it would be a catastrophic problem if there is another attack. It would make it really hard for our economy to recover a second time if there's an attack, without adequate terrorism insurance. I mean, on the one hand we're talking about jobs, and on the other hand we're talking about recovery if there's an attack. Now, we passed a bill in the House that basically put the Federal Government as a stopgap for terrorism insurance. Above a certain level of claim, the Federal Government would step in. And that's important. And now it's in the Senate, and the Senate needs to respond and act. The Senate needs to get this bill done quickly. All they've got to do is talk to people in this room, Republicans and Democrats alike. This isn't a bill that says, gosh, if it passes, it'll help somebody's political party. That's not what this is all about. This is a bill that helps workers and helps strengthen our economy. This is an important piece of legislation. I've heard some talk in Capitol Hill that the facts don't justify this type of legislation, the facts don't justify the Federal Government stepping in as a stopgap. They're not looking at the right set of facts, as far as I'm concerned. And so I expect, for the good of our economy and for the good of the country, that the Senate act. And I want to thank you all for your interest in this bill, and I ask you to contact Members of the United States Senate. We believe there is bipartisan support for this bill. We believe that if it ever makes it to the floor, it passes. And I know that we can work with the House version, if it's somewhat different, to get something done quickly. This is good for workers. This is good for America. This is a way to really handle a tough situation and to make our country stronger. Now, the strength of the country, it really is in the hearts and souls of our people. People say to me, "Are you an optimistic fellow about the future of America?" The answer is, absolutely. Absolutely. I believe out of this evil that faced us will come some incredible good. I truly do. I believe that we'll achieve peace. If we're firm and tough and stand strong against terror, continue to lead a coalition of freedom loving nations, that we'll achieve peace in areas where people don't think we can achieve peace. I truly believe that. I know some parts of the world look like they'll never be peaceful, but I don't believe that. And I know at home, if we make the right moves, people are going to find work. But more importantly, I know this country is going to respond to evil, because we're a loving nation and respond to evil by helping people in need. My hope is that Americans seize this moment and show the world the true face of America. And it's a face that is really defined by millions of acts of kindness that take place on a daily basis. It happens when somebody mentors a child, or a mom tells her baby "I love you" every day, or somebody walks across the street and says to a shut in, "I care for you." That's the America I know. That's the America that really is the country that's going to defeat evil by acts of goodness and kindness. I've never been more upbeat about a nation in my life, because I know the true strength of the country. And the true strength of the country is the American people. Thanks for coming by. April 08, 2002 The President. Thank you all so very much. I'm sure glad to be back in Knoxville, Tennessee. I want to thank you for your warm welcome. I want to thank you for your hospitality. And I want to thank you all for coming today to give me a chance to talk about some to talk about the future of this great country and why I'm optimistic about the future of this great country and why I'm so proud to be an American, to be the President of this great country. It makes sense to come to the Volunteer State to talk about the need for our citizens to help each other. I can understand why the foes of the University of Tennessee dread hearing "Rocky Top." Laughter I mean, it kind of fired me up, standing behind the applause . It reminds me of that great volunteer spirit. Of course, in Texas, we really appreciate those Tennessee volunteers coming down to help us out. And I appreciate the Citizens Police Academy I went to today. It shows the best of your city. You have a great mayor working with a really fine police chief, who are pooling the resources, who are providing an avenue, an outlet for people who care about your community, a place for them to come and learn the skills necessary to help protect the good people of Knoxville, should an emergency arise. I've come to highlight what works, so others around the country, if they're interested At this point, there was a disturbance in the audience. The President. if you're interested in doing what is right to encourage your citizens to become involved. And so I want to thank the city of Knoxville, Tennessee, for showing Americans for showing Americans how best to help their communities. Applause Thank you all. I also want to thank the mayors and county officials from cities from around our country. I had the honor of flying over from Washington today with the fine Mayor of Washington, DC, my friend Tony Williams. I also was with Mayor Jim Hahn from Los Angeles and others here, all of whom are utilizing their positions to encourage our citizens to become more involved in our communities. And I want to thank you all so very much for coming. We've got some mayors from Texas, small towns, large towns, Republicans, Democrats, all of whom care deeply about our country. I want to thank so very much the members of the Tennessee congressional delegation for being here as well. You've sent a fine group of folks to Washington. I enjoy working with them. I appreciate their service to the country, and I want to thank you all for coming. I want to remind our fellow citizens that we have a volunteer military, that we've asked our citizens to volunteer to protect our country. And my attitude is, so long as we have a soldier in harm's way, they deserve the best pay, the best support, the best equipment possible. I have submitted a budget to the United States Congress that reflects the nature of the conflict with which we're faced. I've asked for the largest increase in defense spending in 20 years, not only because it will fulfill our commitment to support our troops but because it recognizes that this country is in our war for the long pull, that we're interested in defending freedom no matter what the cost. You know, I can't imagine what went through the minds of those who felt like they could attack America. I can't imagine. They must have thought we were so materialistic and so self absorbed and so weak that all we would do was file a lawsuit. Laughter They found out we're a different type of nation than they thought. They found out this Nation will do what it takes to defend that which we hold dear, and what we hold dear is freedom. And it's important for the young, in particular, but all Americans to understand that we seek we don't seek revenge we seek justice. It's hard for some to believe, but there are people in this world who hate what America stands for. They hate the fact that we believe people should worship freely. They hate the fact that we believe there ought to be honest political discourse. They hate the fact that we believe in human rights and the dignity and worth of each individual. These people hate America. They are coldblooded killers, and the United States will hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice. And thanks to our United States military and thanks to a coalition we put together and thanks to the coalition we have put together, we have freed the people of Afghanistan from one of the most repressive regimes in the history of mankind. Not only are we steadfast in our desire to defend that which we believe we also are willing to commit resources to free a nation. Several weeks ago, young girls went to school for the first time in Afghanistan. I'm proud of the United States of America. I'm proud of our people. I'm proud of our resolve. I'm proud of the unity. I'm proud of the patience of the American people. The American people know what I know, that we have been called into action, that history has given us a chance to lead, that history understands that we now understand that history's call is to lead our vast coalition against terrorists and to defend freedom, no matter what the cost. And my fellow Americans, I can assure you so long as I'm the President, I will lead this world's coalition to defend our freedoms, no matter what the cost. I've heard talk about the budget and people saying, "Well, the budget is too big for defense." Listen, the price of freedom is high. I understand that. But it's not too high, as far as I'm concerned. This Nation can show the world what we stand for, and we can show future generations what we're made out of. Now, it's important for us to remain strong, and it's important for us to do what we say we're going to do in the world. I said loud and clear, "Either you are with us, or you're against us." And I also said, "If you're going to harbor a terrorist or feed a terrorist or think you can hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the ones who came and murdered innocent Americans, and we're going to hold you accountable." And we're making good progress. We're making good progress. We're hunting them down, and that's what has to happen. And we're doing it in a way that sometimes doesn't make it in the newspapers. I understand that. You know and sometimes it doesn't have all the sensationalism that some on the TVs would like to see. But you've just got to know that your Government is steady and deliberate and patient. There is no cave deep enough to hide from the arm of justice of the United States of America. And while I recognize that the best way to secure our homeland is to find the enemy wherever they hide, there's some stuff we need to do at home too. And we're doing it. And that is to have a homeland security strategy that recognizes the importance of first responders. I want to thank the police and fire officers and EMS teams not only in Knoxville but around the country for your sacrifice on behalf of the citizens of your community. We've got a strategy that makes sure our border security works better, a strategy that responds to any bioterrorism type attack. We're doing a good job of buttoning up our country. We're doing a much better job of communicating between law enforcement agencies. You see, you've got to know that anytime we get a hint, a scintilla of evidence that somebody might be thinking about doing something to America, we're responding. We're sharing information. We're on alert, and we're working overtime. And we're working diligently to make sure the enemy doesn't hit us again. But there's some things that citizens can do as well. People oftentimes ask me, "What can I do to help?" Well, let me give you some suggestions today. One way to help is to volunteer. And I said to the fellow citizens, give 4,000 hours of volunteer service for the rest of your life. If you want to help America, step up and serve your community. And there are ways to do that. There are ways to do so on the forefront of the war on the strategy to make sure America is better prepared. I have created what's called USA Freedom Corps. It's a chance for citizens from all walks of life to serve, to serve by serving in AmeriCorps, where you can help teach where you can help people realize that the American experience is meant for us all. Or you can teach. Or Senior Corps senior citizens can serve in the Senior Corps programs. Or the Peace Corps we've had thousands of people now call in to say they want to serve America's interest in the Peace Corps by helping to spread America's values. There are ways to serve. Today I'm talking about the Citizens Corps. It's an opportunity to work with local officials to make the homeland security more prepared. Interestingly enough, when I made the call for people to serve, we had over a million hits on the web site for the Citizens Corps, and 25,000 Americans stepped up and said, "We want to help. We want to apply for Citizens Corps applications." And here there are ways to help. We need volunteers who are trained in emergency preparedness and response to participate in what we call Community Emergency Response Team programs. They first started in Los Angeles, Mayor Hahn was telling me. All the cities represented here on this stage have now got CERT programs. It gives people a chance to be a part of an emergency response mechanism, both urban and rural, in America. If you're interested in helping, dial up the phone and the web site I'm about to give you, so that you can be a part of emergency preparedness in your communities. We need volunteers on the Neighborhood Watch programs. Neighborhood Watch I hope you're familiar with it is a way for communities to be citizens to become involved with making each neighborhood more secure. Neighborhood Watch is a structure which already exists. We want to expand it in America. We want more folks to be a part of the Neighborhood Watch program, to make our communities more prepared. Operation what's called we call it terrorism information program it's a tip program. This is a program where truckers can report anything that might be suspicious to local authorities. One of the most innovative tip programs in the country took place in Maine. Governor King, in working with the local FBI, signed up a lot of lobstermen, so when they're out there pulling their pots to get the lobsters, if they see something suspicious taking place along the Maine coast, that they share information with the local jurisdictions, local law enforcement jurisdictions. If people see anything suspicious, utility workers, you ought to report it. This is a way to organize that which already happens in our communities on a daily basis and a way to make the homeland more secure and more prepared. We've got what's called the VIP program, VIPS, and that's Volunteers in Police. And that's what we've talked about today here in Knoxville. I don't know if you know this or not, but I would say the vast majority of police departments need volunteer labor to help make their departments function. The chief here in Knoxville was telling me that he could not live without the fact that we've got a lot of volunteers right from your community, probably your neighbors, that go down there on a daily basis, to help make the police department function more smoothly. This is a good way to help in your community, if you're interested in helping. And then we have what's called the Medical Reserve Corps. This is a chance for active and retired doctors and nurses to lend a hand in preparing any community for an emergency. It makes a lot of sense to say to a retired doc or a retired nurse, "You know, you've still got your skills. You still care about people. Here's a good way for you to serve the community." We need this participation from our citizenry. It's not only good for each community it's good for the citizens to know that they're helping to serve a great nation by serving their community. And so for those of you out there who are interested in participating, I want you to call up this number, 1 877 USA CORPS , or to dial up on the Internet, www.citizencorps.gov. This is a way where you can help America. The Government will help as well. I put in my budget 203 million to help on the Citizen Corps programs, 50 of which will be immediate, through the supplemental. In other words, we're willing to fund. But what we can't do is, we can't hire people. You've got to step up in the Citizen Corps. The money is meant to enable. You're meant to provide the manpower. So when a fellow American says, "What can I do to help? What can I do to help America be prepared better," here's a way you can help and make a huge difference in the communities in which you live. And there's another way to help too. It's by loving a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. You've probably got a sense of my strong feelings about the enemy. I believe they're evil. The best way to fight evil is to do some good. Let me qualify that the best way to fight evil at home is to do some good. The best way to fight them abroad is to unleash the military. It is so important for citizens in this country to put a face on America for the world to see, the true face. And that's by loving somebody, and that's by caring for somebody who needs a hand. You know, it doesn't take much to help define the true face of America it really doesn't. It can mean just walking across the street to a shut in, and saying, "I care for you. Is there anything I can do to make your day brighter?" It certainly means mentoring a child, putting your arm around a child, and say, "You know, America is meant for you, and I love you." It means organizing a program in your church or your synagogue or your mosque, to help hear the universal call of loving somebody just like you'd like to be loved yourself. There are pockets of despair in America, and we need people of love to go into those pockets, people of faith to go into those pockets of despair, to help this country realize its potential. If you want to join in the war against terror, you can join the Citizen Corps, or you can act out of compassion and concern to help make somebody's life brighter. It is the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and decency and compassion which show the world the true face of America. Not only are we strong militarily, but we've got great hearts and great compassion about our fellow human men and women. And therefore, my fellow Americans, if you want to join us, if you want to make the country stronger, participate help somebody in need. You know, I truly believe that out of this evil is going to come incredible good. I believe that by remaining strong in the face of terror, that we can lead the world to peace. I believe there's going to be some problems in the world that can be solved with American strength and American leadership and a coalition that refuses to bend when it comes to the defense of terror. And out of evil will come some incredible good in America, some incredible good. Many of you know what I'm talking about when I say that families have taken a good look at what's important in their life. Moms and dads have now said that they're going to love their children with all their heart and all their soul. They're going to focus their love and attention on being the best parent they can possibly be, as we've taken a good look at the value systems that are important for our future. You know, Flight 93 told me a lot about America. Here we were in the midst of this beginning of the new war of the 21st century, and some men and women on a flight decided that they needed to save others. They were on cell phones with their loved ones. They told them they loved them. They said a prayer. They said, "Let's roll," and they saved lives on the ground. It is that spirit that is alive and well in America, and it's that spirit that makes me so optimistic about the future of this great country. I want to thank you all so very much for coming. I want to thank you for your strong support for our country. I want to thank you for your patience. I want to thank you for your understanding about what lies ahead for the country. But most of all, I want to thank you for working hard to make your neighborhood and your community the best place it can possibly be for each one of us who's lucky enough to call themselves an American. And I want you to know, I can't tell you what an honor it is to be the President of the greatest land on the face of the Earth. God bless. April 06, 2002 President Bush. Good morning. Laura and I are very honored to have our friends Tony and Cherie Blair and their family visit us here in Crawford. We appreciate the rain that the Prime Minister brought with him laughter and so do the other farmers and ranchers in the area. Mr. Prime Minister, thanks for bringing it. Prime Minister Blair. My pleasure, George. Laughter President Bush. It is always a pleasure for any American President to welcome the Prime Minister of Great Britain, because ours is a special and unique relationship. And our relationship is strong because of my respect for the Prime Minister. I appreciate his advice. I appreciate his counsel, and I appreciate his friendship. This morning I conveyed to the Prime Minister the condolences of the American people for the recent passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. This remarkable woman is warmly remembered on both sides of the Atlantic for her grace and her strength and particularly for her inspiration she provided during the darkest days of World War II. Today, the bond between our peoples that she symbolized is stronger than ever. Our nations share more than just a common language and a common history. We also share common interests and a common perspective on the important challenges of our times. No nation has been stronger in fighting global terrorism than Great Britain. I'm extremely grateful for the Prime Minister's courageous leadership since September the 11th. And the world is grateful for all that Great Britain has contributed in the war against terror, everything from special forces to ground forces to naval forces to peacekeepers. The Prime Minister and I both understand that defeating global terror requires a broad based, long term strategy. We understand the importance of denying terrorists weapons of mass destruction. And we understand the importance of adapting NATO to meet new threats, even as NATO prepares to take on new members and forges a new relationship with Russia. The Prime Minister and I also agree that, even as we work to make the world safer, we must also work to make the world better. Our countries will continue to work closely to bring greater hope and opportunity to developing nations. We also had extensive conversations about the situation in the Middle East. Both our nations are strongly committed to finding a just settlement. Both of us agree on the fundamental elements that a just settlement must include. We share a vision of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and in security. We agree that this vision will never be realized through terrorism and that it can only be realized through a political process. We agree that the Palestinian leadership must order an immediate and effective cease fire and crackdown on terrorist networks. And we agree that Israel should halt incursions in the Palestinian controlled areas and begin to withdraw without delay from those cities it has recently occupied. The Prime Minister and I agree to work closely in the weeks and months ahead on these difficult issues. We have a common reading of history. We understand that each of our nations stands taller when we stand together. And that's why our nations will continue to stand together against freedom's enemies. And that's why we'll continue to work together, for not only the good of our own people but for good of peace in the world. Mr. Prime Minister. Prime Minister Blair. Thank you, Mr. President. First of all, if I could begin by thanking you and the First Lady for their very kind and gracious welcome that you have given to myself and my family, and also thank the people of Crawford and McClellan County for their kind welcome, too. And it's a real pleasure to be with you here. And as you might expect, we've had very detailed discussions covering all the issues, from the topics of the moment through to issues like trade and bilateral issues between us. Of course, much of our discussion has focused on the situation in the Middle East. And I agree entirely with what the President said just a moment or two ago, not just in relation to what must happen in the immediate term but also as to the only basis upon which there will be and can be a viable and lasting peace there, that is a state of Israel, secure in its own borders, recognized by the entirety of the Arab world, and also a viable Palestinian state where people can live side by side with each other. We discussed, of course, the issues of international terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. I would like to pay a particular tribute to the President for his courage and for his leadership in the aftermath of the 11th of September. And I think that it is worth reflecting that over these past few months, although very much still remains to be done, we have accomplished, nonetheless, a very great deal in Afghanistan and in the pursuit of those responsible for that terrible event on the 11th of September. And we will continue to work in any way we can in order to make sure that this scourge of international terrorism is defeated. We also agreed and made it very clear, as well, that the issue of weapons of mass destruction cannot be ducked. It is a threat. It is a danger to our world, and we must heed that threat and act to prevent it being realized. In addition, I was grateful for the President's kind words about the contribution Britain has made in Afghanistan. We made that willingly, because we believe it is important not just that we root out the last remnants of the Al Qaida terrorist network in Afghanistan but also that we help that country to go from being a failed state, failing its region and its people, to a state that offers some hope of stability and prosperity for the future. And finally, I would like to say a special thank you to the President for his words on Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother that will be deeply appreciated by people of Britain. And as you may know, there have been many Americans as well as British people paying their respects to the Queen Mother as she lies in state. Ours is, indeed, a very special and unique relationship between Britain and the United States of America. And I have no doubt at all that under the leadership of President Bush, that relationship will strengthen still further. And for that, Britain is glad I know that the United States is but I believe it is good for the wider world, too. President Bush. We have now agreed to take three questions apiece. We'll start with Ron Fournier Associated Press , a fine man who works for AP got a couple of kids, cares deeply about the future. Laughter Prime Minister Blair. I'm just thinking of how I introduce mine, now. Laughter Q. Flattery will get you nowhere, sir. President Bush. I've noticed. Laughter Israeli Incursions Into Palestinian Territories Q. Israel is moving deeper into Palestinian territories, and there are reports today that she has launched attacks on southern Lebanon. Have you failed, Mr. President, to convince Prime Minister Sharon to pull back his troops? And why did you wait so long to demand the withdrawal and only today adding the caveat, "without delay"? President Bush. My administration's my words to Israel are the same today as they were a couple of days ago Withdraw without delay. I made the decision to give the speech when I did because I was concerned about the ability for those of us who were interested in a long term solution to take hold. I was worried about the balance being tipped to the point where we weren't able to achieve a long lasting peace. I gave the speech at the right time. And I expect Israel to heed my advice, and I expect for the Palestinians to reject terror in the Arab world. As Israel steps back, we expect the Arab world to step up and lead to lead against terror, to get into an immediate cease fire, begin the implementation of U.N. Resolution 1042. Q. Can I follow up, please? President Bush. No. Nice try. Prime Minister Blair. Andy Meyer, who works for the BBC, and really nothing else need be said. Laughter He's got three children. Q. Can I just follow up from that and ask the President and the Prime Minister, what happens now if the Israelis continue to ignore what you've been asking them to do? President Bush. I don't expect them to ignore. I expect them to heed the call, heed the call from their friends the United States, and heed the call from their friends the Great the people of Great Britain and the leadership of Great Britain. Q. But if they don't? President Bush. Well, that's as I told you, I think they will heed the call. Prime Minister Blair. I think that most people in Israel will realize that they don't have two greater friends in the world than the United States of America or Britain. And we both understand, as well, the appalling nature of the acts of terrorism that they have been subject to. We understand that. But we are also trying to help secure a way out of the present impasse, so that we can get into a political process where some of these underlying issues can be resolved satisfactory for the long term, because the bloodshed and the carnage and innocent people dying, in the end, is not a solution to this issue. So I believe that Israel will heed the words of President Bush and will do so knowing that he speaks as a friend to Israel. Regime Change in Iraq Q. Mr. President. President Bush. I don't know you well enough, Adam Adam Entous, Reuters to be able to sing your praises. Laughter Q. Thank you. Mr. President, you have yet to build an international coalition for military action against Iraq. Has the violence in the Middle East thwarted your efforts? And Prime Minister Blair, has Bush convinced you on the need for a military action against Iraq? President Bush. Adam, the Prime Minister and I, of course, talked about Iraq. We both recognize the danger of a man who's willing to kill his own people harboring and developing weapons of mass destruction. This guy, Saddam Hussein, is a leader who gasses his own people, goes after people in his own neighborhood with weapons of chemical weapons. He's a man who obviously has something to hide. He told the world that he would show us that he would not develop weapons of mass destruction, and yet, over the past decade, he has refused to do so. And the Prime Minister and I both agree that he needs to prove that he isn't developing weapons of mass destruction. I explained to the Prime Minister that the policy of my Government is the removal of Saddam and that all options are on the table. Prime Minister Blair. I can say that any sensible person looking at the position of Saddam Hussein and asking the question, would the region, the world, and not least the ordinary Iraqi people be better off without the regime of Saddam Hussein, the only answer anyone could give to that question would be, yes. Now, how we approach this, this is a matter for discussion. This is a matter for considering all the options. But a situation where he continues to be in breach of all the United Nations resolutions, refusing to allow us to assess, as the international community have demanded, whether and how he is developing these weapons of mass destruction doing nothing in those circumstances is not an option, so we consider all the options available. But the President is right to draw attention to the threat of weapons of mass destruction. That threat is real. How we deal with it that's a matter we discuss. But that the threat exists and we have to deal with it, that seems, to me, a matter of plain common sense. Q. Prime Minister, we've heard the President say what his policy is directly about Saddam Hussein, which is to remove him. That is the policy of the American administration. Can I ask you whether that is now the policy of the British Government? And can I ask you both, if it is now your policy to target Saddam Hussein, what has happened to the doctrine of not targeting heads of states and leaving countries to decide who their leaders should be, which is one of the principles which applied during the Gulf war? Prime Minister Blair. Well, you know it has always been our policy that Iraq would be a better place without Saddam Hussein. I don't think anyone can be in any doubt about that, for all the reasons I gave earlier, and you know, reasons to do with weapons of mass destruction, also to do with the appalling brutality and repression of his own people. But how we now proceed in this situation, how we make sure that this threat that is posed by weapons of mass destruction is dealt with, that is a matter that is open. And when the time comes for taking those decisions, we will tell people about those decisions. But you cannot have a situation in which he carries on being in breach of the U.N. resolutions and refusing to allow us the capability of assessing how that weapons of mass destruction capability is being advanced, even though the international community has made it absolutely clear that he should do so. Now, as I say, how we then proceed from there, that is a matter that is open for us. President Bush. Maybe I should be a little less direct and be a little more nuanced, and say we support regime change. Q. That's a change though, isn't it, a change in policy? President Bush. No, it's really not. Regime change was the policy of my predecessor as well. Q. And your father? President Bush. You know, I can't remember that far back. Laughter It's certainly the policy of my administration. I think "regime change" sounds a lot more civil, doesn't it? The world would be better off without him let me put it that way, though and so will the future. See, the worst thing that can happen is to allow this man to abrogate his promise and hook up with a terrorist network. And then all of a sudden you've got one of these shadowy terrorist networks that have got an arsenal at their disposal, which could create a situation in which nations down the road get blackmailed. We can't let it happen we just can't let it happen. And obviously, the Prime Minister is somebody who understands this clearly, and that's why I appreciate dealing with him on the issue. And we've got close consultations going on, and we talk about it all the time. And he's got very good advice on the subject, and I appreciate that. Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority Q. Thank you, Mr. President. You say that in the war against terrorism, people are either with us or against us. Whose side is Chairman Arafat on, and do you think the world would be a better place without him? President Bush. I think Chairman Arafat I was asked on British TV the other day, have I lost trust in Chairman Arafat? And I said, "Well, he never earned my trust, because he hasn't performed." Somebody told me there's a story floating around that somehow I am blaming the Clinton administration for what's going on in the Middle East right now. Let's make this very clear, that in my speech I said that Mr. Arafat has not lived up to the promises he made at Oslo and elsewhere to fight off terror. He hasn't performed. I appreciate what President Clinton tried to do. He tried to bring peace to the Middle East. I am going to try to bring peace to the Middle East. But in order to earn my trust, somebody must keep their word. And Chairman Arafat has not kept his word. He said he would fight off terror. He hasn't. He needs to speak clearly, in Arabic, to the people of that region and condemn terrorist activities. At the very minimum, he ought to at least say something. And you know, there's all kinds of excuses. But in order to achieve lasting peace, both sides must make constructive steps, and we're prepared to help and will help. That's why the Secretary of State is going to the region. But Chairman Arafat has failed in his leadership, and he has let the people down. He had opportunity after opportunity to be a leader, and he hasn't led. And I'm disappointed. President Saddam Hussein of Iraq Q. Present company doubtless excepted, one could think of quite a lot of world leaders the world might be better off without. President Bush. Thank you for the exception. Q. And I'm not sure necessarily whether the Prime Minister would agree with you on Yasser Arafat. But can I ask you, I think what Europeans have a problem with, about expanding any war on terror to Iraq, is linkage. They can see a linkage between Al Qaida and Afghanistan. They can't see a direct linkage to Saddam Hussein. Would you accept that there isn't a direct linkage and how, therefore President Bush. First of all, I wouldn't accept that. But can't they see linkage between somebody who's willing to murder his own people and the danger of him possessing weapons of mass destruction, which he said he would not develop? I see the linkage between somebody who is willing to go into his own neighborhood and use chemical weapons in order to keep himself in power and at the same time develop a weapon that could be aimed at Europe, aimed at Israel, aimed anywhere, in order to affect foreign policy through his you know, I can't imagine people not seeing the threat and not holding Saddam Hussein accountable for what he said he would do, and we're going to do that. History has called us into action. The thing I admire about this Prime Minister is, he doesn't need a poll or a focus group to convince him the difference between right and wrong. And it's refreshing to see leaders speak with moral clarity when it comes to the defense of freedom. I intend to speak with clarity when it comes to freedom, and I know Prime Minister Tony Blair does as well. And we will hold Saddam Hussein accountable for broken promises. And that's what a lot of our discussion over there on Prairie Chapel Ranch has been about. And other than eating lunch, which we're fixing to go do, we're going to continue our discussions. Prime Minister Blair. You talked about no linkage there. There is a reason why United Nations resolutions were passed, nine of them, calling upon him to stop developing weapons of mass destruction. I mean, there is a reason why weapons inspectors went in there, and that is because we know he has been developing these weapons. We know that those weapons constitute a threat. Three days after the 11th of September when I made my first statement to the House of Commons in Britain, I specifically said then this issue of weapons of mass destruction has got to be dealt with. And the reason for that is that what happened on the 11th of September was a call to us to make sure that we didn't repeat the mistake of allowing groups to develop destructive capability and hope that, at some point in time, they weren't going to use it. They develop that destructive capability for a reason. Now, we've made it very clear to you how we then proceed and how we deal with this all the options are open. And I think after the 11th of September, this President showed that he proceeds in a calm and a measured and a sensible but in a firm way. Now, that is precisely what we need in this situation too. And as I say to you, never forget he knows perfectly well what the international community has demanded of him over these past years, and he's never done it. President Bush. Thank you all. Prime Minister Blair. Thank you. April 06, 2002 Good morning. This weekend, Laura and I are hosting the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and his family at our ranch in Crawford, Texas. America has no better ally in our war against terrorism than Great Britain. Six months ago, when the United States launched military strikes against Al Qaida training camps and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, British forces were right by our side. And the success of Operation Enduring Freedom owes much to the strong support from allies like Great Britain. Yet, the war against terrorism is far from over. It will continue in Afghanistan and beyond. The world has been brutally reminded these past 2 weeks of the price exacted by terror. Prime Minister Blair and I will spend much of our time this weekend discussing the tragic outbreak of violence in the Middle East. Across the world, people are grieving for Israelis and Palestinians who have lost their lives. When an 18 year old Palestinian girl is induced to blow herself up and in the process kills a 17 year old Israeli girl, the future itself is dying the future of the Palestinian people and the future of the Israeli people. The United States is strongly committed to finding a just settlement in the Middle East. That settlement must lead to two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. This goal can never be realized through terrorism. It can only be realized through a political process. Arab governments, the Palestinian leadership, and the Palestinian people must recognize that suicide bombings are jeopardizing the very possibility of an independent Palestinian state. This week, I called upon the Palestinian leadership to order an immediate and effective cease fire and a crackdown on terrorist networks. Israel, too, faces hard choices. America will always be a committed friend of Israel, and we recognize Israel's right to defend itself against terror. Yet, to lay the foundations of future peace, I've asked Israel to halt incursions into Palestinian controlled areas and begin withdrawing from those cities it has recently occupied. Next week, Secretary of State Powell will travel to the Middle East to seek broad international support for these principles and to work towards a cease fire that will lead to a political settlement. I have no illusions about the difficulty of this mission. Yet, our determination is strong. We'll work closely with nations in the region and with close allies such as Great Britain to end this conflict and to begin an era of peace. This could be a hopeful moment in the Middle East. A number of Arab leaders have endorsed a proposal that brings them closer than ever to recognizing Israel's right to exist. The United States is on record supporting the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a Palestinian state. And Israel has recognized the goal of a Palestinian state. I believe the region could write a new story of democracy and development and trade and join the progress of our times. Yet, progress requires an atmosphere of peace, and peace requires acts of leadership, not acts of terror. Thank you for listening. April 04, 2002 Good morning. During the course of one week, the situation in the Middle East has deteriorated dramatically. Last Wednesday, my Special Envoy, Anthony Zinni, reported to me that we were on the verge of a cease fire agreement that would have spared Palestinian and Israeli lives. That hope fell away when a terrorist attacked a group of innocent people in a Netanya hotel, killing many men and women in what is a mounting toll of terror. In the days since, the world has watched with growing concern the horror of bombings and burials and the stark picture of tanks in the street. Across the world, people are grieving for Israelis and Palestinians who have lost their lives. When an 18 year old Palestinian girl is induced to blow herself up and in the process kills a 17 year old Israeli girl, the future itself is dying the future of the Palestinian people and the future of the Israeli people. We mourn the dead, and we mourn the damage done to the hope of peace, the hope of Israel's and the Israelis' desire for a Jewish state at peace with its neighbors, the hope of the Palestinian people to build their own independent state. Terror must be stopped. No nation can negotiate with terrorists, for there is no way to make peace with those whose only goal is death. This could be a hopeful moment in the Middle East. The proposal of Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, supported by the Arab League, has put a number of countries in the Arab world closer than ever to recognizing Israel's right to exist. The United States is on record supporting the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people for a Palestinian state. Israel has recognized the goal of a Palestinian state. The outlines of a just settlement are clear two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. This can be a time for hope, but it calls for leadership, not for terror. Since September the 11th, I've delivered this message Everyone must choose you're either with the civilized world, or you're with the terrorists. All in the Middle East also must choose and must move decisively in word and deed against terrorist acts. The Chairman of the Palestinian Authority has not consistently opposed or confronted terrorists. At Oslo and elsewhere, Chairman Arafat renounced terror as an instrument of his cause, and he agreed to control it. He's not done so. The situation in which he finds himself today is largely of his own making. He's missed his opportunities and thereby betrayed the hopes of the people he's supposed to lead. Given his failure, the Israeli Government feels it must strike at terrorist networks that are killing its citizens. Yet, Israel must understand that its response to these recent attacks is only a temporary measure. All parties have their own responsibilities, and all parties owe it to their own people to act. We all know today's situation runs the risk of aggravating long term bitterness and undermining relationships that are critical to any hope of peace. I call on the Palestinian people, the Palestinian Authority, and our friends in the Arab world to join us in delivering a clear message to terrorists Blowing yourself up does not help the Palestinian cause. To the contrary, suicide bombing missions could well blow up the best and only hope for a Palestinian state. All states must keep their promise, made in a vote in the United Nations, to actively oppose terror in all its forms. No nation can pick and choose its terrorist friends. I call on the Palestinian Authority and all governments in the region to do everything in their power to stop terrorist activities, to disrupt terrorist financing, and to stop inciting violence by glorifying terror in state owned media or telling suicide bombers they are martyrs. They're not martyrs. They're murderers. And they undermine the cause of the Palestinian people. Those governments, like Iraq, that reward parents for the sacrifice of their children are guilty of soliciting murder of the worst kind. All who care about the Palestinian people should join in condemning and acting against groups like Al Aqsa, Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and all groups which oppose the peace process and seek the destruction of Israel. The recent Arab League support of Crown Prince Abdullah's initiative for peace is promising, is hopeful, because it acknowledges Israel's right to exist. And it raises the hope of sustained, constructive Arab involvement in the search for peace. This builds on a tradition of visionary leadership, begun by President Sadat and King Hussein and carried forward by President Mubarak and King Abdullah. Now other Arab states must rise to this occasion and accept Israel as a nation and as a neighbor. Peace with Israel is the only avenue to prosperity and success for a new Palestinian state. The Palestinian people deserve peace and an opportunity to better their lives. They need their closest neighbor, Israel, to be an economic partner, not a mortal enemy. They deserve a government that respects human rights and a government that focuses on their needs, education and health care, rather than feeding their resentments. It is not enough for Arab nations to defend the Palestinian cause. They must truly help the Palestinian people by seeking peace and fighting terror and promoting development. Israel faces hard choices of its own. Its Government has supported the creation of a Palestinian state that is not a haven for terrorism. Yet, Israel also must recognize that such a state needs to be politically and economically viable. Consistent with the Mitchell plan, Israeli settlement activity in occupied territories must stop. And the occupation must end through withdrawal to secure and recognized boundaries consistent with United Nations Resolutions 242 and 338. Ultimately, this approach should be the basis of agreements between Israel and Syria, and Israel and Lebanon. Israel should also show a respect a respect for and concern about the dignity of the Palestinian people who are and will be their neighbors. It is crucial to distinguish between the terrorists and ordinary Palestinians seeking to provide for their own families. The Israeli Government should be compassionate at checkpoints and border crossings, sparing innocent Palestinians daily humiliation. Israel should take immediate action to ease closures and allow peaceful people to go back to work. Israel is facing a terrible and serious challenge. For 7 days, it has acted to root out terrorist nests. America recognizes Israel's right to defend itself from terror. Yet, to lay the foundations of future peace, I ask Israel to halt incursions into Palestinian controlled areas and begin the withdrawal from those cities it has recently occupied. I speak as a committed friend of Israel. I speak out of a concern for its long term security, a security that will come with a genuine peace. As Israel steps back, responsible Palestinian leaders and Israel's Arab neighbors must step forward and show the world that they are truly on the side of peace. The choice and the burden will be theirs. The world expects an immediate cease fire, immediate resumption of security cooperation with Israel against terrorism, an immediate order to crack down on terrorist networks. I expect better leadership, and I expect results. These are the elements of peace in the Middle East, and now we must build the road to those goals. Decades of bitter experience teach a clear lesson Progress is impossible when nations emphasize their grievances and ignore their opportunities. The storms of violence cannot go on. Enough is enough. And to those who would try to use the current crisis as an opportunity to widen the conflict Stay out. Iran's arms shipments and support for terror fuel the fire of conflict in the Middle East, and it must stop. Syria has spoken out against Al Qaida. We expect it to act against Hamas and Hezbollah as well. It's time for Iran to focus on meeting its own people's aspirations for freedom, and for Syria to decide which side of the war against terror it is on. The world finds itself at a critical moment. This is a conflict that can widen or an opportunity we can seize. And so I've decided to send Secretary of State Powell to the region next week to seek broad international support for the vision I've outlined today. As a step in this process, he will work to implement United Nations Resolution 1402, an immediate and meaningful cease fire, an end to terror and violence and incitement, withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian cities, including Ramallah, implementation of the already agreed upon Tenet and Mitchell plans, which will lead to a political settlement. I have no illusions we have no illusions about the difficulty of the issues that lie ahead. Yet, our Nation's resolve is strong. America is committed to ending this conflict and beginning an era of peace. We know this is possible, because in our lifetimes we have seen an end to conflicts that no one thought could end. We've seen fierce enemies let go of long histories of strife and anger. America itself counts former adversaries as trusted friends Germany and Japan and now Russia. Conflict is not inevitable. Distrust need not be permanent. Peace is possible when we break free of old patterns and habits of hatred. The violence and grief that trouble the Holy Land have been among the great tragedies of our time. The Middle East has often been left behind in the political and economic advancement of the world. That is the history of the region, but it need not and must not be its fate. The Middle East could write a new story of trade and development and democracy. And we stand ready to help. Yet, this progress can only come in an atmosphere of peace. And the United States will work for all the children of Abraham to know the benefits of peace. Thank you very much. April 04, 2002 Situation in the Middle East Trevor McDonald. Mr. President, the situation in the Middle East is desperate beyond words. How far are you prepared to go to resolve the crisis? The President. Well, today I gave a speech which shows my resolve to work with all parties concerned to try to achieve a lasting peace. On the one hand, I called upon the Arab world to fight to cut off the money, to stop this business about glorifying suicide bombers by calling them martyrs, to make sure that the press does encourage violence and killing and murder. And on the other hand, I said Israel has a right to defend herself I fully understand that but that it's time for her to withdraw from the occupied territory. And the reason I feel that way is that I began to worry that the foundations necessary to achieve lasting peace were becoming eroded. In order for Israel to be able to exist, it requires the Arab world's willingness to encourage the conditions so that she can exist. And in order for there to be a Palestinian state, which I support, there needs to be the conditions so that a Palestinian state can exist. And those conditions were becoming eroded, so we acted strong. I'm sending our very capable Secretary of State, Colin Powell, to the region. He goes there with the mandate of working with the leadership in that part of the world, as well as with the European Union and others, to implement what the U.N. resolution a recent U.N. Resolution 1042, which lays out the steps necessary to eventually get to a political solution. Mr. McDonald. But has this come a little late, Mr. President? The Secretary of State has been there before the Vice President has been in the region you've had General Zinni there. The President. I thought my speech came right about the right time. Mr. McDonald. But for so long now, for many, many days, if not weeks, people could see this situation spiraling rapidly out of control. The President. Well, the problem is, you can't see the killers. You can't see the suicide bombers. And what we're trying to do is to rally the world to expose them and to expose those who are funding them and to say to Iran, "Stop it," and to Syria, "You must choose." That's the problem. The invisible part of everything that you thought you could see, you can't see, which is killers who are going into Passover type celebrations and killing people, killing innocent people. And we've got to stop that, Trevor we just have to. In order for there to be peace, there must be there must be a world effort to stop the suicide and the killers. Those people kill for one reason to stop the peace, to stop a plan from coming into effect. And this silly notion about somehow our Government hasn't been involved is just silly. I mean, we've had Zinni there, as you said. The Vice President's there. The Secretary of State has been there in the past he's going back. Mr. McDonald. So what is different this time? The President. Well, this time hopefully there is a resolve. Hopefully, there's a resolve to the needless killing and the loss of innocent life that responsible citizens stand up and say, "Enough is enough." That's what I said today, "Enough is enough." And I believe that. I'll tell you something else that is different. Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia laid out his initiative that essentially says the Arab world must recognize Israel's right to exist, which was a significant change, and we've got to seize on that bold initiative. Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority Mr. McDonald. Will Secretary of State Colin Powell meet Yasser Arafat? The President. I have no idea yet. I'll tell you what he is going to do. He's going to go work with the leadership to bring people together. My worry is, is that Yasser Arafat can't perform. He's been given plenty of opportunities. Mr. McDonald. Has he forfeited your trust? The President. He certainly hasn't earned it. Here's a man who said that he has signed onto Oslo, that he was going to fight off terror. We thought we had a cease fire arranged. We were that close to a cease fire, and the next thing we know, there's a suicide bomber that hits. We thought a couple of months ago that we thought we had an agreement. The next thing we know, he's ordered a shipment of arms from Iran. Now, he's got a long way to go, and it starts with him proving that he can lead. He has let his people down, and there are others in the region who can lead and those who have called upon those others in the region to lead. And Crown Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has taken a leadership role. President Mubarak of Egypt is a leader. King Abdullah of Jordan is a leader. And so Colin Powell is going to go to the region to gather those leaders up and to start a process hopefully that will lead to lasting peace. Mr. McDonald. You come pretty close to suggesting that Palestinians should look for another leader. The President. It's up to them. Far be it from the American President to get to decide who leads what country. I'm just telling you since I've been the President, the man hasn't performed. Situation in the Middle East Mr. McDonald. Is there an emerging difference between the United States and Britain about how this should be solved? The President. No, I don't think so. Mr. McDonald. Let me tell you, the British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, says sending in tanks to Ramallah and to Bethlehem is no response to suicide bombers. You seem to imply that anything should be done to counter terrorism. That's the difference. The President. No, actually Mr. McDonald. And a significant one. The President. I think I just told you that I asked for Israel to withdraw the cities which she now occupies, so the extent that that's what the Foreign Secretary says, that's fine. The man I talked to is Tony Blair, and I talked to him this morning and informed him about what I was going to say. And I gave him he was the first foreign leader, by the way, I called to detail the speech that I delivered at 11 a.m. here in the U.S. And he was, one, appreciative of the phone call, it seemed like, and two, applauded what was going to be in the speech. He thought, at least I hate to put words in somebody else's mouth, but from my perspective Mr. McDonald. Inaudible that it was about time, did he The President. Those are your words, not his. War on Terrorism Mr. McDonald. Mr. President, turning to the war on terror, which you declared in the aftermath of the events of September 11th, hasn't it reached something of a stalemate? The President. Is that a serious question? Mr. McDonald. I meant it as a serious question. The President. Well, it's not. Well, no. Of course, we haven't had a stalemate. We're winning. I mean, we just arrested a guy named Abu Zubaydah. We crushed the Taliban they're no longer in office. We've got schools open for the first time in Afghanistan, where girls are going. For the first time, young girls are going to school. It's been a glorious series of victories, thanks to friends such as the British. We've got a lot more work to do don't get me wrong but I don't think there's any stalemate to it. Afghanistan Mr. McDonald. At your request, the British are sending 1,700 more troops to Afghanistan. Is there a danger that they might become sucked into a never ending commitment? The President. No. No, it's not, because we've got a plan on how to get out. But first things first. We've got to find those Al Qaida killers and bring them to justice. What the world needs to know is, there are still a lot of these murderers on the loose, and that's what they are. And anybody who thinks that we can rehabilitate them just simply doesn't know the nature of the enemy. Usama bin Laden Mr. McDonald. And their leaders on the loose, too. The President. Well, there's one less on the loose. And we don't know if Mr. bin Laden is on the loose. I don't know if you know, but I hadn't heard from him in the Mr. McDonald. I was hoping you would tell us what you think. Is bin Laden alive? The President. I have no idea. But I'll tell you this He's not making a lot of noise these days. And maybe he's dug in one of those holes, but there's not a hole deep enough. They're going to get him if he's still alive. And these people are killers, and that's the way we're going to treat them. They're international crooks, and we're going to hunt them down one by one. I know there's a certain kind of anxiety amongst people in the press, for example, who want this thing over with tomorrow. But that's not the nature of this war. This is a different kind of war. This is a war that requires incredible patience and resolve. And make no mistake about it I've got the patience and the resolve necessary to win, and so does my country. We're united in this effort, and we're going to do whatever it takes to rout out these terrorist organizations. President Saddam Hussein of Iraq Mr. McDonald. You've been very clear, Mr. President, turning to the question of Iraq, that it's part of an axis of evil, as I think you called it. When you meet Tony Blair in the coming days, will you be discussing the possibility of an attack on Iraq? The President. I'll be talking a lot of things about Iraq with him, starting with the fact that we both recognize that Saddam Hussein is a dangerous man and he harbors and develops weapons of mass destruction make no mistake about it that he has got a variety of weapons that can harm mankind and he's not afraid to use them, including on his own people. And so we'll be discussing that, and we'll be discussing all options. I have no immediate plans to conduct military operations. But as one of my closest friends, personal friends amongst the world leaders, and one of my Nation's closest allies, of course we're going to discuss all options. Mr. McDonald. I take your point about no immediate plans, but in a sense, have you made up your mind that Iraq must be attacked? The President. I made up my mind that Saddam needs to go. That's about all I'm willing to share with you. Mr. McDonald. And you would take action to make sure that happens? And of course, if the logic of the war on terror means anything which you have explained then Saddam must go? The President. That's what I just said. The policy of my Government is that he goes. Mr. McDonald. People think that Saddam Hussein has had no links with the Al Qaida network, and I'm wondering why you have The President. The worst thing that could happen would be to allow a nation like Iraq, run by Saddam Hussein, to develop weapons of mass destruction and then team up with terrorist organizations so they can blackmail the world. I'm not going to let that happen. Mr. McDonald. So you're going to go after him? The President. As I told you, the policy of my Government is that Saddam Hussein not be in power. Mr. McDonald. And how are you going to achieve this, Mr. President? The President. Wait and see. Mr. McDonald. Do you think that the international coalition, which you which an administration once assembled for the Gulf war, when Kuwait was invaded and the aggressors were undoubtedly the Iraqis do you think that that international coalition can be assembled again for another attack on Iraq? The President. I think the coalition can be assembled to demand that Iraq let inspectors back in, like she agreed to do right after the Gulf war. I don't know why the man won't let inspectors in. He's probably got something to hide, don't you think? And the idea of having this man, who is willing to murder his own people, have weapons of mass destruction I'm not going to let that happen, and neither will the free world. So I'm confident that we can lead a coalition to pressure Saddam Hussein and to deal with Saddam Hussein. Mr. McDonald. You say you are confident about this coalition. Certainly, Britain, there are grave misgivings about it. And Tony Blair is under pressure within his own party 51 percent of the British people think, in an opinion poll, that Saddam Hussein should not be attacked at this time. How are you going to do that? How are you going to accomplish that? The President. How am I going to change the minds of Britain? Mr. McDonald. And a number of European countries, too. The President. Well, we'll just watch and see what happens. I'm going to work closely with our friends and consult with our friends, like I am doing. One thing Tony Blair does understand is that Saddam Hussein is a dangerous person. And I admire his courage for speaking the truth, and he speaks clearly about the truth. And that's one of the reasons why I like his advice and treasure his counsel. Mr. McDonald. So what you are calling on Saddam Hussein to do is to let the inspectors back in The President. Yes, of course. That's what he said he would do. Mr. McDonald. And that's the way he can avoid The President. But this is not an issue of inspectors. This is an issue of him upholding his word that he would not develop weapons of mass destruction. Mr. McDonald. So whether he allows the inspectors in or not, he is on the list to be attacked he's the next target? The President. You keep trying to put you're one these clever reporters that keeps trying to put words in my mouth. Mr. McDonald. Far from that, Mr. President. The President. Well, I'm afraid you do, sir. But nevertheless, you've had my answer on this subject. And I have no plans to attack on my desk. A policy of my Government is for Saddam not to be in office. It's in the interests of the free world that he not be in office, and it's in the interests of the free world that he not be allowed to develop weapons of mass destruction. And the first thing is he must show us whether or not he has weapons of mass destruction, just like he promised he would do. Mr. McDonald. And you will have to build the job of the coalition to make sure that this The President. We've got a vast coalition for freedom right now. And I talk to leaders all the time, and of course, the subject of Iraq, amongst other subjects, comes up. And I explained to them precisely what I'm explaining to you. And most people understand that history has called us into action. History has given us an opportunity to fight for freedom, and we all will fight for freedom. Situation in the Middle East Mr. McDonald. Mr. President, to really put your stamp on a solution in the Middle East which will help in other ways in fighting this war against terror, as you, yourself, have said might you be willing to convene a summit to get both sides together and to discuss these problems and to try to resolve these? The President. Well, we've tried summits in the past, as you may remember. There wasn't one all that long ago where a summit was called and nothing happened, and as a result we had a significant intifada in the area. The only time that's appropriate for a U.S. President to call a summit, when it looks like something can get done. And in the meantime, the Secretary of State is very much involved in the Middle East. And I don't know if you want to call it a summit, but he's going to have meetings with leaders, attempting to get in place Resolution 1042, which the Security Council has agreed to, which will lead to a political settlement if all the parties participate. Mr. McDonald. Mr. President, thank you, sir. The President. You're welcome. Glad you're here. Mr. McDonald. Thank you, sir. At this point, the network took a commercial break. Pressures of the Presidency Mr. McDonald. How do you cope with the pressures The President. Well, I'm a man I believe in prayer I believe in exercise I've got a great wife balance, as they say. Obviously, I'm reminded of what's important in life. We've got a fabulous team. We've got one of the great administrations in American history, and it gives me great comfort to know that the advice I get is honest, straightforward advice from very experienced people. Aftermath of September 11 Attacks Mr. McDonald. Has anything surprised you about the pressures, having these crises have there been any surprises since you came into the Oval Office? The President. I think the surprise was how clearly I saw what we needed to do after 9 11. I shouldn't say surprised, I guess. Pleased with how clearly I saw things. I was obviously emotional, but I knew what the country needed to do. And I was really pleased with the way the country responded. Mr. McDonald. How do you think America has changed after those terrible events of September the 11th? The President. Well, I think a lot of people are now taking an assessment about what's important in life. I hope moms and dads are saying, "What can I do to be better mother or father?" I know a lot of my fellow Americans have asked, "What can we do to help fight on the war against terror?" And I answer by saying, "Love somebody. Be a good neighbor. Help some kid who just wonders whether the American experience is meant for them, or teach somebody how to read." In other words, there's a lot of small acts that help define the face of America, which really do contribute to standing up against evil. You've probably heard me speak. I truly believe that this is a fight against evil. These killers are evil people. They've hijacked a religion, and they want to commit murder in order to justify the goals and the ambitions of a few people. Situation in the Middle East Mr. McDonald. You understand that there are, sort of, different perceptions about this? For example, I heard after you made your latest speech about the crisis in the Middle East, a Palestinian spokesman said, "Yes, but we also live under the terrorism of occupation." Do you understand that? The President. Sure, people have look, my job isn't to try to nuance. My job is to tell people what I think. And when I think there's an axis of evil, I say it. I think moral clarity is important, if you believe in freedom. And people can make all kinds of excuses, but there are some truths involved. And one of the truths is, they're sending suicide killers in because they hate Israel. That's a truth. And you can justify it any way you want, but nevertheless, the role of the President, as far as I'm concerned, is to stand up and tell the truth, and I did today. I made it as plain as I could. I try to speak as plainly as I can. I know people don't like it when I say there's evil this is evil versus good. But that's not going to stop me from saying what I think is right. Mr. McDonald. Your Palestinian interlocutors will say that they you have to balance that against the fact that they live, as they say, under this occupation. They also have increasing settlements. And there is a kind of tyranny, they say, they would claim The President. Well, in my speech today, I recognized that they need to stop the building of settlements. And it is my Government that laid out the Tenet, and then the Mitchell plans, which both sides agreed to, which will lead to peace. The problem is, they haven't lived up to the agreement. And I'm calling on the Palestinians to live up to the agreement. And I'm calling on the Israelis to pull out of the occupied territory, the places, the cities they've occupied recently, trying to set up a situation where we can achieve peace. That's what I want. I want peace. And I believe it can happen, otherwise I wouldn't be working so hard on it. I'm an optimist. As you can see, the way we've got the Oval Office here designed, it's open, and it's optimistic, and it's sunny. That's what I feel about life. It was right in this room where Vladimir Putin came in, and I had a fantastic meeting with him here. Finally, we're getting rid of the cold war, where we hated each other. You know, if you'd been sitting in the fifties, saying, "Can you ever imagine a U.S. President and a Russian President sitting here and talking like friends," you'd have said, "Of course not. How farfetched is that?" That's what I used as an example today as what is possible in the Middle East. And I think it is possible. All of us are going to have to work to achieve that goal. Mr. McDonald. But you're not very much into, sort of big, set peace summits to do that? The President. Well, he'd better the problem is, the American President, when he calls a summit, better get it right. Mr. McDonald. He puts his personal reputation on the line. The President. This doesn't have nothing to do with reputation. It has everything to do with the consequences if it fails. It's not the President see, that's the problem. It's not all about the person. It's about the people who live in the region. If a summit fails, if the President puts lays it out there and nothing happens, generally the status the followup is worse than the status quo. And that's what Presidents must understand. We're dealing with people's lives and expectations. And I think there's a better way to achieve what we want is peace. Someday that may happen, don't get me wrong. Someday you may say, "I remember when I talked to old Bush, and there he is, sitting there with a big summit." But now is not the time for one. I've got a different strategy. April 04, 2002 Well, thank you, Mr. Secretary. I'm glad I caught you before you packed your bags. Laughter This morning I sent the Secretary on a very important mission, a mission of peace. And there's no doubt I sent a great man to go accomplish that mission. I'm proud of your service to our country, Colin, and thank you for inviting us to this beautiful hall. I want to thank you all for coming as well. I appreciate so very much the opportunity to talk about the values and interests of America and the fact that open trade is in our Nation's interest. And open trade helps us all adhere to values that we share, common values, values that call for respect of human rights and values that believe in the worth of each individual and values that hold democracy and freedom dear. I believe strongly in trade. I believe not only is trade in my Nation's interests I think trade is in the interest of those nations who struggle with poverty, that desire a route out of poverty. As Colin mentioned, I was in Monterrey, Mexico, recently we were in Monterrey, Mexico. I said there in Monterrey, this country of ours will provide aid we're pleased to do so and proud to do so but direct aid is small in comparison to the benefits of trade and that not only would we provide direct aid, but in return we expect our friends to adopt the habits that will encourage stability and peace and human rights. And there's nothing better to encourage those habits than trade. And trade is important for American workers too. Lost in the debate on trade here at home is the fact that many people are able to find better jobs as the result of an active trade policy in the United States. And so we're here to talk about a way to make sure that our Nation trades and our Nation works with other countries in the world to trade. In order for that to do so, the United States Senate must pass trade promotion authority. I need that authority. Every day we go by without the authority is another day we are missing opportunities to help our economy, to help our workers, to help our country, to relate to our friends around the world. If the Senate acts to give me trade promotion authority and I expect them to do so I will use it to expand commerce and work for higher paying jobs for American workers. And so today I urge the Senate leadership to lead, to act, and to get this bill to my desk. I want to thank Secretary Don Evans, who's the Secretary of Commerce, for being here. He's my close friend. We spent a lot of quality time in Midland, Texas, together. He's now representing the commercial interests of our country, and I'm proud of the job he does. And I want to thank John Walters for being here as well. John is in charge of making sure that the United States drug policy not only is clear but works. And that drug policy says, we'll work with our neighbors to interdict drugs. But in order for a drug policy to be effective, all of us in this country must make it clear to our young that drugs destroy their hopes and opportunities. I want to thank members of the diplomatic corps who are here. Particularly, I want to thank the Prime Minister of Peru. Bienvenidos. It's nice to see you again, sir. Thank you for coming. I have spent a lot of time with members of the ambassadorial corps. I'm a better person for it. I see many friendly faces here. I want to thank you all for coming to support this initiative. See, I hope I wish Members of the United States Senate were here to see the members of the diplomatic corps who've showed up for this. They're here because they understand the importance of trade. They're here because they understand the benefits of trade to their own people. I also want to thank the U.S. exporters who are here, America's business leaders, and people who understand the benefits of opening up markets. I know that many of you have worked hard to help advance trade around the world, and for that we're grateful. And we've done a lot last year we really have. As Colin mentioned, we helped launch a new global a round of global trade negotiations in Doha. We helped bring China and Taiwan into the World Trade Organization, and that's good. That's important, to recognize and to welcome both countries, both the Republic of Taiwan and of course China, into the World Trade Organization. It's positive it's a positive development for our country. We've worked hard to have a free trade agreement with Jordan and bilateral trade agreement with Vietnam. We reinvigorated trade negotiations of the free trade area of the Americas in Quebec City, as Colin pointed out. I thought those were very constructive discussions we had with your leaders. It was my chance to my first chance to meet them. And it was an interesting thing about that meeting, by the way, is that every country in our hemisphere was represented, except one. We welcomed every country into the meeting that had democratically elected leadership. One notable absence, I might add, Cuba they don't democratically elect their leader. And the first, most important thing we discussed, besides preserving democracy in our hemisphere, was trade how to encourage more free trade. And that was a positive development. We're also in negotiations now with Chile and Singapore on free trade agreements. And so we're now making good progress, but we've got to continue the momentum. I need the support of Congress on two urgent matters, trade promotion authority and the Andean Trade Preference Act. Both are awaiting action in the Senate. Both sit waiting for the Senate to act, and both are essential to the economy of the United States. The trade promotion authority sometimes Members of Congress and I think people don't pay much attention to the issue, don't really understand how it works. The trade promotion authority gives the executive branch the right to negotiate trade agreements, but Congress has the final authority to approve the agreements. It's not by granting me TPA that all of a sudden they've dealt themselves out of the mix quite the contrary. If they pass it, they've dealt themselves into the mix. They have a chance to ratify, up or down, a treaty. But the good thing about TPA is it allows me to negotiate or my administration negotiate, and then Congress gets to vote on the terms, up or down. And that's important for the nations represented in this world. It gives them confidence to negotiate a treaty with the United States without it being fine tuned by numerous experts on the Hill, on what is right or wrong about trade. It's important to have a platform for trade, and TPA provides that. Five Presidents before me, Republicans and Democrats, have had this advantage in trade negotiations five of them. For two decades, trade promotion authority was a bipartisan commitment. It wasn't a political issue. It was a commitment, because it represented our national interest in expanding foreign markets. Those years saw many successes, and during the nineties, about one quarter of our economic growth came as a result of exports. Our two major trade agreements, NAFTA and the Uruguay round, have improved the average standard of living for Americans. As importantly, NAFTA improved the average standard of living for Mexico and Canada. You see, the best policy for the United States is to hope our own neighborhood is prosperous. A prosperous and vibrant Mexico is good for the United States. You want your neighbors to do well. You want your neighborhood to be peaceful and prosperous, and NAFTA helped do that. The other thing that's interesting about trade is, people think about trade, and they think, "Well, trade is only good for big companies only the multinational companies benefit from trade." I don't believe that's true. I know that since the role of Government is to create an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish and realize his or her dreams, that trade opens up opportunities for the entrepreneur. And here's one example. Excel Holdings is a company based in Leesburg, Virginia. We've got the owner here, which I'm about to name him here pretty quick. And I can see his wife and two and son and daughter, I might add. Their job let me just say, last year, they signed a 35 million contract with a Mexican distributor. Excel's product serves an important purpose, as it can produce up to 5,000 gallons of purified drinking water each day. Today, Excel maintains distributors in 13 countries. The owner, a fellow who came to the United States from Egypt, Hisham Fawzi, he's with us. Hisham, thank you for coming. Here's a guy who had a dream he wanted to build and own his own company. That's an important part of the American experience, owning your own business, coming up with a good idea and working hard to see to it that the good idea works. His idea, obviously, included markets around the world. In order for his business to succeed, he needed trade in more markets. There are thousands of entrepreneurs in America who benefit from trade. Trade is not just good for mega corporate America. Trade is very good for farmers and ranchers and entrepreneurs, like our guest here today. I want to thank you for coming, and thank you for working hard to realize the American Dream, and good luck in your business. In 8 years since the TPA, the trade promotion authority, expired, we have missed a lot of opportunity in America. And it's cost and when you miss opportunity, it tends to affect the average worker in our country. More than 150 regional free trade and customs agreements exist throughout the world. The European Union is party to 31 of them Mexico is party to 10 the world's largest economy is party to 3. While we've been marking time, our competitors have been working, and they've been signing agreements. While we have been delaying, they've been trading. Listen, I don't fault our trading partners for making progress. As a matter of fact, I would expect our trading partners to work hard to make progress. But what we need to do is to engage in competition ourselves. You see, when Americans when there's a level playing field, we can compete. We're good at it. Fearful people build walls around America. Confident people make sure there are no walls. And I am confident. I'm confident in America products. I'm confident in American entrepreneurs. I'm confident in the American worker. I'm confident in the American know how. I'm confident in America's farmers. I'm confident in America's ranchers. And we need to be a trading nation. And I'll submit agreements to Congress, when I have this authority, that will be in our Nation's best interests. And we'll work hard to make sure we have good trade agreements that benefit both America and our trading partners. And if Congress doesn't like it, they can turn it down, but I need the authority. It's in our country's interest that I have the authority. And it's also in our interest to bring confidence to countries around the world, to realize we're serious about it when we speak countries in our own neighborhood. I mean, trade promotion authority will help us establish the free trade agreement of the Americas. And that's going to be in our country's interests, in our neighborhood's interests to do that as well. The other thing that's important about trade for our country to understand is that people who trade with America benefit. Trade is just not a one way street. It is a positive relationship. It's important for Americans to understand that by trade, we help people, and we help poor people, and we help people get lifted out of poverty. Listen, we're a compassionate nation. There are a lot of people in our country who deeply care about Africa and countries in Africa, who deeply care about South America and Central America. These are countries that are fine countries, work hard, but they're poor countries. And if you're concerned about helping people help themselves, we've got to trade with the developing world. And the facts are fantastic. The trade with the African nations as a result of AGOA has been a billion dollars' worth of new commerce. It's the beginning of what we all hope is a prosperity, a boom in prosperity in parts of the world that have not been prosperous. Oh, there's a lot of talk I hear about labor and environmental agreements. A prosperous nation is one more likely to take care of its workers. And a prosperous nation is one more likely, much more likely, to be able to afford the technology necessary to protect the environment. And then, of course, trade creates the habits of freedom. If you welcome trade into your country, it creates the notion of freedom. It gives people, consumers, the opportunity to demand product, which is part of a free society. It creates an entrepreneurial class, which is a part of a free society. And the habits of freedom begin to create the expectations of democracy and demands for better democratic institutions. Societies that open to commerce across their borders are more open to democracy within their borders. And for those of us who care about values, believe in values, not just American values but universal values that promote human dignity, trade is a good way to do that. It's a heck of a lot easier to promote human dignity and human rights through trade than it is through lectures. And it's very important for us to always remember that a as I mentioned earlier, a prosperous neighborhood, a democratic neighborhood, and a peaceful neighborhood is in our Nation's interests. As a matter of fact, in all due respect to nations from around the world, the best foreign policy starts with making sure your own neighborhood is prosperous and safe and sound. And I as Colin mentioned, we have just come back or a while ago came back from a meeting with our friends in Central America and our friends in the Andean nations. And we had very constructive dialog, but let me tell you what I heard. I heard fine, democratically elected leaders who are troubled by the fact that the United States Congress cannot yet respond to their simple desire to trade, their desire to expand and extend the Andean Trade Preference Act. It is important for these nations and all you've got to do is ask the Prime Minister or the Ambassadors from the four countries with whom I met ask them the facts. That's what I ask the Senate to do. What does the Andean Trade Preference Act mean to nations that protect and defend democracy and, at the same time, fight off narcotraffickers? Trade in this instance not only is important for their economies it is important for their security. It is important that these nations be given market access so they can develop products other than coca, that the workers in their countries are not prone to need to work in the narcotics industry. If we're serious about dealing with narcotics, not only will we work to reduce demand, as John Walters is going to do, but we've got to work in a constructive way, in a real way, with the Andean nations. And that means not only to work on interdiction, but it means helping these nations through trade and develop substitute products products that can be substituted for the quick buck in narcotics. I hope Congress understands that. I hope Congress understands that the Andean Trade Preference Act is a crucial part of making sure that our hemisphere is democratic and free and stable and secure. The United States Senate needs to affirm America's trade leadership and bring both measures I've talked about today, the trade promotion authority and the Andean Trade Preference Act, to the Floor by April 22d. Now, I've talked to enough Members of the Senate, as have my staff, to know that there's enough Republicans and Democrats to pass both bills. And therefore the time of delay is over. By April 22d, I'd like to see the debate and get them passed. These bills are good for America these bills are good for our friends. The time of delay must end. And by approving these measures, and other measures such as the Generalized System of Preferences and an enhanced African trade bill, we will stand squarely with our friends in the world, recognizing that when we work together and when we trade together, the whole world can be more prosperous. We've got to seize the moment. As you know, we fight off incredible terror. And we will. You don't have to worry about this administration. We're determined, and we're going to win against terror. And we've also got to fight off poverty and despair and hopelessness, and one way to do that is to encourage trade. I want to thank you all for giving me a chance to come and share my thoughts. May God bless not only America but all the nations of the world. April 02, 2002 Thank you very much. Well, "Governor," thank you for those kind words. I want to thank you all for coming, and thanks for that warm welcome. It's good to see so many friends. I want to thank you all for supporting the next Governor from Pennsylvania. I've been here quite a bit since I've been President, but I learned a new fact recently that made me a little nervous. I didn't realize this, but Pennsylvania has more pretzel bakeries laughter than any State in the Union. Laughter So I decided to take a risk. Laughter I love coming to Philadelphia. I love the history of Philadelphia. I love the fact that Philadelphia is the cradle of freedom that's what I love. Mike mentioned Tom Ridge. You know, my biggest job is to defend freedom, is to protect our homeland. And you know better than anybody, I picked a really good man to lead the homeland defense of the United States. I want to thank you for letting Tom cut his eyeteeth here. Laughter He did a great job as Governor. He's doing a really good job in Washington. And I want to thank Mark Schweiker as well. He's doing a fantastic job as Governor. Thank you, Mark. Pennsylvania has had two fine Governors. It's time to make three Governors in a row. I'm proud to be here on stage with Mike and the future Lieutenant Governor. There's no doubt in my mind they will both do a fine job, an excellent job, for the people of Pennsylvania. I'm also honored to be here with your senior Senator, Arlen Specter. Thank you very much, Arlen, for coming. I had the privilege of traveling from the University of Pennsylvania, in Delaware County, to the hotel with Jane Earll. She's solid on the issues. She knows what she's talking about. I'm also honored to be here with David Girard diCarlo and Manny Stamatakis. These guys were my friends before I was somebody laughter and I'm proud to call them friend. I want to thank them for their hard work, and I want to thank you all for contributing your hard earned dollars to this good candidate. I also want to thank the leaders of the political party here, the chairman and the national committeeman and national committeewoman, all of whom are willing to provide the grassroots support necessary for candidates like me and Mike to succeed. You know, fundraising is an integral part of politics but so is getting out the vote so is those who are willing to spend a lot of time putting out the yard signs, dialing the phones, and doing all the hard work necessary to make candidates viable. On behalf of a grateful President and a soon to be grateful Governor, thank you for the grassroots politics here in Pennsylvania. I also want to thank Carol Fisher, Mike's wife, for her willingness to make a huge sacrifice on behalf of a good man running for Governor. I know something about good wives. I'm very fortunate to have a good wife, myself. Laura is doing a great job as our First Lady. She is a steady hand. She was a public school librarian when I married her and really wasn't all that keen on politics. And if the truth be known, she wasn't all that thrilled about knowing politicians, either. Laughter But she is where she is, thank goodness thank goodness for my family, and thank goodness for the country. The American people have gotten to see why I asked Laura to marry me. There's still a lot of doubts in people's minds as to why she said yes. Laughter But I'm proud of her, and I want you to know she's doing great, and so is my family. I think there's a lot of reasons for the people of Pennsylvania to support Mike. First, he's done a good job as the attorney general. He's been given a huge responsibility, and he performed. He's one of these fellows that does in office what he said he would do, and that's refreshing. Mike has led the fight against drugs, and he's made a difference. As I understand it, there's been over 6,000 arrests made to make sure Pennsylvania streets are safe from those who would sell drugs. But he also knows what I knew, that we've also got to work on demand. We've got to make sure our youngsters understand that drugs will destroy their lives and ruin their hopes. Mike can take this to the Governor's office and make a huge difference for the citizens of Pennsylvania. He also has been making sure Pennsylvania stays safe. He's a tough crimefighter. He makes it clear that there are consequences for bad behavior in the State of Pennsylvania. And that will stand him in good stead when he becomes the Governor as well. We had a chance to talk about education today in the car. I was promoting an early childhood reading initiative here in the Philadelphia area. Mike knows what I know, that we must set high standards for every child, that we must expect the best from every single child, and that we must hold people accountable for results. It's fine for States and the Federal Government to spend money, but for that money we expect our children to learn how to read and write and add and subtract. And if the status quo is unacceptable, if children are not learning to read and write and add and subtract, it's important to have somebody in the Governor's office who is willing to say, "That is not good enough. The fact that children can't read and write and add and subtract is not satisfactory to me, because every child counts in America, and no child should be left behind." It is important to have a Governor who sets high standards and expects the best and a Governor who is willing to challenge a system that simply shuffles children through. During the campaign, I called that the soft bigotry of low expectations. Mike understands that we must hold people accountable, that we must insist upon basic education. We must challenge failure wherever we find it, in order for the American Dream to reach every neighborhood in every community in every State of our Nation. And I want to thank Mike for that. I had the honor of working on and signing a substantial piece of education legislation, a significant reform. I was able to work with Senator Kennedy and Senator Gregg and Congressmen Boehner and Miller to get this done. The Federal Government spends a lot of money on education, and finally we're beginning to say, "What are the results? Can our children actually do what we expect them to do?" In that bill not only do we insist upon strong accountability to show us whether or not we're achieving standards, but we pass a lot of power back to the States, where power belongs. I fully recognize one size does not fit all when it comes to public education all across America. It's important for Governors to be empowered to meet high standards. And therefore, it's important to have good Governors, who understand high standards and accountability, in the Governors' offices all across America. Mike Fisher will be such a Governor. And as Mike said, he understands the importance of empowering the private sector in order to create jobs. Governments don't create wealth governments must create an environment in which the entrepreneurial spirit flourishes. Mike believes in lower taxes, and so do I. You might remember, I came to Pennsylvania a lot, saying, "If you give me a chance to be your President, I will work with Congress to cut the taxes on the people who work in America." And that's exactly what we did. And not only did we do that, we did it at the right time in Washington, DC. You see, when the economy slows down, like it had, it's important to let people have more of their own money, so they can spend it. When people have more of their own money, it creates demand. And when people demand more goods and services, somebody will produce the goods and services. And when somebody produces the goods and services, somebody can find work. The best way to make sure America goes back to work is to trust the American people with their own money. Now, there are some in Washington who don't understand that, but they read a different textbook than Mike and I do. There are some who say, the more money the Federal Government has, the better off America will be. That's not the way I think. That's not the way Mike thinks. And history will prove us right. By cutting taxes, we saved the country from a significant recession. I remember campaigning in Chicago one time, and the guy said, "Would you ever deficit spend?" I said, "Well, only if we were at war or the country was in recession or there was a national emergency." Laughter I didn't realize we were going to get the trifecta. Laughter We're dealing with the issue of our economy, and I want you to know that we're dealing with the issue of war and our national emergency as well. I mentioned Tom. Our job is to make sure that if anybody hits us again, the Nation can respond. We've got a great first responders initiative. I had the honor of meeting the fire chief of Philadelphia and leaders of the Philadelphia police force, those who lead the brave men and women who are on the frontline of dealing not only with crime but with any emergency that may come. We've got a significant amount of money in our budget to protect the American people. Not only are we going to bolster our first responders, to provide them more training and more equipment in order to respond we're going to make sure our border security is better. We want to know who's coming into the United States and why they're coming in and if they're leaving when they're supposed to be leaving. We've got a bioterrorism initiative to put in place a response mechanism if the enemy were to use a biological weapon or a chemical weapon on America. In other words, we're buttoning up the homeland security of the country. You also need to know that anytime we get any kind of hint that somebody may try to harm Americans, we will respond. We've got much better dialog between our Federal and State and local law enforcement officials. Our intelligence gathering is better than it's ever been. Our information sharing is very sound. I wake up every morning and I get into the great, beautiful Oval Office and I read a threat assessment. It reminds me that we're still threatened. But I'm here to tell you, our country is responding. We're diligent. We're alert. We know our mission, and we know our priority. But the best way to defend the homeland, the best way to make sure our little ones can grow up in a peaceful world, is to find the enemy wherever they try to hide and bring them to justice. When our when the enemy hit us, I couldn't understand what was going through their mind. They must have thought our Nation was so self absorbed and so materialistic that all we would do would be to file a lawsuit. Laughter They sure were wrong. I said some things, and I meant them. I said to those nations around the world, if you think you can hide one of those terrorists or feed them or harbor them, you're just as guilty as the terrorists. And thanks to the United States military and a vast coalition of freedom loving nations, the Taliban found out exactly what I meant. Every chance I get, I try to stress, particularly to the young in America, that ours is a nation that doesn't seek revenge we seek justice. And that we went into a country like Afghanistan not as conquerors but as liberators. I want to remind you all that, as a result of our military action in Afghanistan, we saved thousands of people from starvation. And as importantly, schools opened up to young girls. For the first time, many young girls got to go to school. I'm so proud of the compassion of America. I'm proud of our strength, but I'm equally as proud of the compassion of this great nation. But we're just starting in Afghanistan, and there's still a lot of work to be done there. Afghanistan is still a dangerous place, and wherever we find them bunched up or wherever we find their leaders, we're in hot pursuit. We're teaching these people treating these people the way they need to be treated. You need to understand These are coldblooded killers. These are people who hijacked a religion so they can kill for means which freedom loving people can't understand. They hate America. They hate what we stand for. They cannot stand the thought that we worship freely in America. They hate the thought that there's viable political discourse. They can't stand the thought that we're a free country, that everybody has got an equal chance in America. And so they want to harm us. We're going to treat them as international crooks, and we're going to get them on the run. And like you read in the newspapers or saw on your TV screens, we're hunting them down, one by one. Our Nation is resolved. Our Nation is united. Our Nation understands that we're in this for the long haul. History has called us into action. History has said to America, "Are you going to defend freedom or not?" And the answer clearly is, you bet we're going to defend freedom. And that's why I've submitted a budget to the United States Congress that significantly increases our defense spending. It's the largest increase in 20 years. And here's why. First, this is a long struggle, and it's not an easy struggle. And secondly, anytime the United States commits our troops into harm's way, they must have the best equipment, the best training, the best possible pay. The price of freedom is high, no question about it. But it is not too high, as far as I'm concerned. The world watches America very closely. They want to know Are we serious are we determined will we tire and grow weary? Because if we do grow tired and grow weary, others will as well. They're going to find a determined administration who leads a determined country to defend freedom. And I believe, as a result of being steadfast and strong and determined, we can achieve the peace. I long for peace, but I understand the road to peace can be really hard. But if America is strong and determined and we constantly keep the pressure on terrorist activities and terrorism, we can bring peace to places in the world that never thought they could have peace. I've got a vision for the Middle East that says that Israel must be allowed to exist and be at peace with its neighbors. I appreciate the fact that Saudi Arabia spoke clearly about the need for Israel to be able to have normal relations with its neighbors, so that Israeli boys and girls can grow up in a peaceful society. I feel the same thing about the Palestinians. I hope that they can have their own peaceful state, at peace with their neighbor, Israel, a self governing country, a country in which there is economic prosperity to end the hopelessness of many of the citizens who live there. But there are those who want to destroy that vision. There are those who want to murder to make sure that vision never comes to be. The United States of America will stand strong and continue to insist that those who yearn for peace in the Middle East and other regions around the world must do everything they can to stop the terrorist activities all aimed at making sure that peace does not exist. Now, out of this evil is going to come some good. A strong America will lead to a more peaceful world. And at home, we can fight evil as well. People say to me, "What can I do? What is it that I can do to help?" Well, you can love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. You see, in order to fight evil, this country can gather millions of acts of kindness and put a compassionate, kind face on our country. In order to fight evil, in order to stand squarely in the face of evil, we can let our hearts flow. It doesn't take much it really doesn't. Mentoring a child, teaching a child to read or telling a child you love them, a big brother or a big sister, a Boys and Girls Club member, is all part of defining the true face of America. You know, if you want to fight against the war on terror, if you walk across the street to a shut in and simply say, "Can I talk with you today," that, in itself, is part of defining the true character of our country. The way to fight evil is to help build character in our children. The way to fight evil is to tell your children you love them every single day, is to remember the most important job you'll ever have, if you happen to be a mom or a dad, is to love your son or your daughter with all your heart and all your soul. This country is going to win the war against evil, because not only are we militarily strong and determined but because we're a nation that is so compassionate and so kind and so loving. There is a new culture evolving in America. It's a culture that is shifting away from "If it feels good, do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture in which each of us understand that we are responsible for something greater than ourself. That was clearly defined on an airplane that crashed in Pennsylvania, when several people on that plane told their loved ones goodbye. They told them they loved them. They said a prayer. They said, "Let's roll," and drove an airplane into the ground to save other people's lives. It is a symbol of what is possible in America. It is a sign that there are people in this Nation willing to make a sacrifice to help a neighbor in need, willing to make a sacrifice to make their community a better place. That's how you win the war on terror. You understand that there is a responsibility that comes with living in the greatest country on the face of the Earth. The great news is, America is rallying to the cause. I can't tell you what an honor it is to be the President of a nation full of such great and decent and compassionate and tough and firm and freedom loving human beings. I want to thank you all for coming. I want to thank you for supporting Mike Fisher. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. April 02, 2002 Gosh, thanks for that warm welcome. It's an honor for me to be here today to talk about a subject that's dear to my heart and a subject very important to the country, which is the education of every child in America. I just had the honor of meeting with a panel of experts from not only the State of Pennsylvania but from around the country teachers, soon to be teachers, people who deeply care about the education of every single person. I want to thank them for their input. I want to thank them so very much for their idealism. And I want to thank you for your commitment to our country. Three months ago I had the honor of signing what is called the No Child Left Behind Act. It's a piece of education reform, and I believe we'll have it was the beginning of a new era of education in America. Through high standards and accountability, we're going to make sure that every school in America is ready to teach. Now we must take another essential step. We must make sure that every child enters school ready to learn every child not just one, not just a few, but every single child. On this issue we know what works, and we know our responsibilities. As parents, teachers, and caregivers, we must give our children the lifelong gift of early learning. And today I'm here to outline specific measures to help meet that goal. Before I do so, I want to say how sorry I am that my wife, Laura, isn't with me. The reason why is because early childhood education has been a lifelong mission of hers. In Texas and in Washington, she is a strong advocate for reading to our Nation's youngest children. She will work to bridge the gaps between scientists, policymakers, and caregivers on this issue. I'm grateful for her leadership. America is beginning to understand why I asked her to marry me. Laughter A lot of people are still wondering why she said yes. Laughter I'm also honored to be traveling today with Rod Paige, who's the Secretary of Education. You know, when I came to I was trying to figure out who best to serve in that important position. I wanted somebody who had worked in the trenches. Rod was the superintendent of schools in the Houston Independent School District. He believed in setting high standards for every child and believed strongly in accountability. And his record was a good one, because more and more children were learning. And so I'm honored that Rod took time out of his life to come up to Washington, DC, to serve our Nation, and he's doing a fine, fine job. I want to thank Dr. Spanier, Graham Spanier, for his hospitality. It's good to see you again, sir, and thank you for being the president of Penn State. I want to thank Ed Tomezsko, Dr. Tomezsko, for his hospitality on this beautiful campus. Thanks for letting us come. I appreciate my friend the Senator from Pennsylvania, Arlen Specter, for being here as well. Thank you. The Governor of Pennsylvania, Mark Schweiker, is here. Thank you, Governor, appreciate you being here. And I want to thank the attorney general, Mike Fisher, for being here as well. And I want to thank my friend the Congressman from this part of the country, Curt Weldon. I appreciate you being here, sir. I have constantly reminded America that one way to fight evil is to do some good. If you're interested in helping our country, love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. Today, out at the airport, I got the honor of meeting a fellow named Stan Braxton. Stan used to work for IBM. And he's retired, but he hasn't quit working, because what he decided to do was to help make people's lives better. He works in an after school program. He provides technical assistance to nonprofit organizations in the Philadelphia area. I appreciate you coming, Stan. Do you mind standing up for a second? Applause Thank you for coming. Out of this incredible evil done to our country is going to come some good. I truly believe it. And part of the good is that the armies and the soldiers the soldiers in the armies of compassion are going to increase all around America. More Stans will say, "What can I do to help America?" Stan is a living example of somebody who puts service to mankind ahead of his retirement, for example. And so, Stan, thank you for serving as a great example for our country. You need to know that even though the subject of today's talk is early childhood development, I am going to be relentless and tireless in our pursuit of justice and to make sure the homeland is secure. We fight for not only the security of our country we fight for freedom. We love freedom in America, and we will defend freedom at all costs. And we long for peace. We want peace all around the world. In order to make sure the world is peaceful, we must stand strong against terror and rout out terror wherever it exists. And as the war continues, though, it is important for our Nation to remember we have other important responsibilities. As we fight to defend our ideals, we must also work to realize those ideals. We stand for equal opportunity. It's one of the ideals we believe in, in America. And equal opportunity demands schools that are effective and excellent. We must give all our children, every single child in America, the basics of knowledge and character, and we must leave no child behind. My administration will not be distracted from these goals. As we fight for freedom, I also understand that freedom means no child in America will be left behind. The new civil right in America is reading. We made a tremendous start in our country when it comes to education reform, because of the hard work of both Republicans and Democrats. I signed a significant piece of legislation that sets high standards, requires assessment in grades three through eight, accountability to determine whether or not our children are actually learning. And if they are, we will have the basis to praise the teachers who are working tirelessly to see so. But if not, we'll have the capacity to correct problems early, before it's too late. This bill offers new resources to schools, a lot of new resources to encourage success and options for parents in the case of failure. Accountability is now at the center of American education, because we believe every child can learn in America. We don't accept excuses, and we want to make sure no child is left behind. Yet, for accountability and annual assessments to mean something, all children must start school with the basic skills necessary for learning. In order for this piece of reform to really work, we've got to make sure that every child starts at the same point. If we expect achievement from every child, all our children need to begin school with an equal chance at achievement, is what I'm saying. Every child must have an equal place at the starting line not some children, not just those who live in rural Pennsylvania, and not those who live in urban Pennsylvania or vice versa. Every child that is the national goal. From years of research and as I say, this campus has today hosted some of the great researchers in America we know what an equal chance at achievement means. It certainly means encouraging a child's social and emotional development. No question about that. But it also means that children, before entering school, know letters of the alphabet and begin to know the sounds these letters make. They must learn what the written word looks like and must build a strong vocabulary. And they must be excited about reading, because they've seen others do it. The way to make a child excited about reading is for them to watch others read, like their parents. Reading is the foundation for all of learning, and that foundation is built early by exposing young children to the wonders of books and the uses of language. Reading to a child early and often can change a child's life. Like many parents, Laura and I saw this firsthand. Ever since our twins, our twin daughters, were toddlers, we would read to them at every possible opportunity. Sometimes, when I sleep at night, I think of "Hop on Pop." Laughter We found it to be fun, and it's important for parents to understand that it's a part of the responsibility for being a good mom or a dad to read to your children. But it's more than just fun. It is a vital preschool learning experience. Consider this amazing finding 10th grade reading scores can be predicted with surprising accuracy from a child's knowledge of the alphabet in kindergarten. Think about that. We can pretty well predict how well a child will read in the 10th grade if that child has been given a whether or not the child has been given a good education early in his or her life. A child who cannot identify the letters of the alphabet in his or her first year of school runs a real risk of staying behind in school throughout her or his career. We cannot accept this in America. To close the achievement gap in our schools, we must close the early childhood education gap in our society. Today I pledge my administration's support in working with parents and families, Head Start and childcare centers, and our States to achieve this goal. Every child who goes to school, every single child, must be ready to learn. As many of you know, as I mentioned, parents play a huge role, play the most important role. A parent is a child's first and most influential teacher for many children, their only teacher until kindergarten. For most parents, helping their child learn is a joy it's not a chore. Yet, learning activities really are not common enough. And we must encourage parents in this essential responsibility of preparing their children to learn. We must help them. Many parents wish their children came with an instruction manual. All new parents need good information about child development that's for sure. So later this month, Laura will be launching a series of booklets based on the best scientific research that give suggestions on child development at crucial early stages of a child's life. I've asked the Secretaries of Education and Health and Human Services and Agriculture to make these publications widely available to families with newborns all across the country. These publications will be offered through a variety of programs that serve our Nation's families WIC clinics, State departments of education, State health and human service agencies. The White House and these agencies will also have these booklets ready, available online. I want to thank Laura and those who have helped her design these books for working hard to make this an incredibly important issue in America. And all these efforts will promote early childhood learning where it matters most right there in the home. After parents, Head Start centers have some of the greatest potential to encourage early childhood learning. Many of them are already doing a terrific job. We had a chance to hear from one such center today. Laura and I were deeply impressed by the Margaret Cone Center in Dallas, Texas, which uses a curriculum rich in pre reading and vocabulary development activities. Before this curriculum was introduced in 1994, graduating classes who left the Cone Center and entered the local public schools scored as low as the 21st percentile on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. After 1994, after this scientific based curriculum had been introduced, Cone classes have scored as high as the 94th percentile in vocabulary and reading. It matters what the curriculum is in these centers. Head Start centers are a Federal responsibility, and we're determined to encourage the kind of quality that we see in centers such as the Cone Center. We must focus Head Start on the pre reading and language development of children, so the Department of Health and Human Services will implement an accountability system for every Head Start center in America. In addition to providing essential health and social services, centers must enhance activities for children to acquire language and number skills. These activities can and should be done in ways that are appropriate for younger children, in ways that work. Every Head Start center in America must teach these skills and must demonstrate that its teaching is effective. We want to make sure that we understand that the Head Start programs understand we know what works. We want to measure the input. We want to say that in return for Federal taxpayers' help, we expect you to be providing the foundation for reading and math. And to help Head Start centers meet these standards, we'll begin a major new effort to prepare Head Start teachers. In order for this to work, we must give our Head Start teachers the tools necessary to meet our goal. Our goal is to reach the nearly 50,000 Head Start teachers over the next 12 months by giving them the tools necessary to teach basic skills to our children. This summer the Department of Health and Human Services will give intensive, research based training to 2,500 early literacy specialists, who will then instruct Head Start teachers around the country. And starting today, we'll distribute a guidebook for early childhood educators and caregivers. It's called "Teaching Our Youngest." It contains proven teaching activities to help children develop their language abilities, increase their knowledge, and discover a love for books and reading and learning. We're also asking States to do their part. The Federal Government provides States with considerable funds for childcare. In fact, over the past decade, Federal funding for early childhood programs has nearly tripled. Yet, many children are still showing up in kindergarten not ready to learn. That's going to change. We propose that States receiving these Federal funds must submit a plan to promote early childhood education. States must take steps to provide pre kindergarten programs with guidelines on pre reading and literacy skills, and they must have a plan to expand the training of childcare and preschool teachers in their State. Just as States care about health and safety of children's bodies, they must also care about the health and progress of the children's minds. I know your Governor cares a lot about that here in Pennsylvania. Anyone who is serious about educational reform must be serious about early childhood education. If we want all our children reading by the third grade and that's what we want then all our children must be ready to learn on their first day of school. This will require Americans to work together families, teachers, caregivers, civic groups, along with government on every level. I look forward to working with leaders in Congress on this important issue, especially Senators Kennedy and Gregg, and Congressmen Boehner and Miller. Here's what I think Where America's children are concerned, there is no Republicans or Democrats, only moms and dads, grandpas and grandmas, all eager to help our youngest citizens succeed. As we try harder to serve our children better, we ought to keep in mind the wise words of Theodore Geisel he, better known as Dr. Seuss, the guy who wrote "Hop On Pop." Laughter "Children want the same things we want, to laugh, to be challenged, to be entertained and delighted." We want our children, even the youngest children in America, to be challenged and entertained and delighted by learning. This is a responsibility of every parent, and it's a great calling for our great country. Thank you for coming, and may God bless. April 01, 2002 Governor's Island Transfer The President. I have just informed the Governor and the mayor, the Governor of New York and the mayor of New York City, that the Federal Government will transfer Governor's Island to the people of New York. I'll never forget choppering over Governor's Island with George and Rudy Giuliani, Mike Bloomberg's predecessor, and the two leaders talking about what good use Governor's Island could be put to. Since that time, I've studied the statements of Mayor Bloomberg, who extensively talked about Governor's Island and how to improve Governor's Island and how to make it a center of educational excellence, something dear to George Pataki's heart. I looked at the law, looked at the circumstances, and decided this morning that this was the right thing for the U.S. Government, and it's the right thing for the people of New York. I appreciate so very much the vision of these two leaders, and I appreciate their heartfelt concern for the citizens of New York City and the region. And so I want to welcome to the Oval Office with this piece of news. George, why don't you say a few words? At this point, Governor Pataki and Mayor Bloomberg made brief remarks. The President. I know you will. Thanks. I'll be glad to answer a few questions. Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority Q. Mr. President, what specifically would you like for Chairman Arafat to do, what specific action you'd like him to take in the Middle East? And in light of the current situation in Israel, does the Bush doctrine on terrorism not apply in this case? The President. Well, first of all, there will never be peace so long as there's terror. And all of us must fight off fight terror. And you asked about Chairman Arafat. I'd like to see Chairman Arafat denounce the terrorist activities that are taking place, the constant attacks. We've got a plan that will lead to peace, the security plan called Tenet there's a political plan called Mitchell. Both sides have agreed to this plan, and we urge the parties to accept the Tenet plan so that we can bring some a peaceful resolution to an issue that's affecting the lives of Palestinians and Israelis alike. There's a lot of innocent people who hurt in the region because of the senseless violence and senseless murder. Q. Mr. President, I'd like to follow up on Sonya's Sonya Ross, Associated Press question. Under your doctrine, a terrorist or someone who aids a terrorist is the equivalent of a terrorist. So what's keeping Chairman Arafat what's keeping you from labeling Chairman Arafat a terrorist? The President. Chairman Arafat has agreed to a peace process. He's agreed to the Tenet plan. He's agreed to the Mitchell plan. He has negotiated with parties as to how to achieve peace. And of course, our hope is that he accepts the Tenet plan. That's what General Zinni is in the Middle East doing, working to get this Tenet agreement in place, which is a series of concrete steps to reduce the violence in the Middle East. President's Involvement in Middle East Q. There were various calls on the Sunday talk shows for you to become more actively involved in this process, sir. Is there any way you would do that? The President. You know, they must have not been with me in Crawford when I was on the phone all morning long, talking to world leaders. We've just come from a National Security Council meeting where Colin Powell was recounting his phone conversations. We've got General Zinni in the region. We've got a Tenet plan, a Mitchell plan, a roadmap to what will be a peaceful resolution to this issue. I hope that the world community will continue to condemn terror, and if they haven't condemned terror yet, start condemning terror. It's essential for the peace of the region and the world that we rout out terrorist activities, that we condemn those activities. Suicide bombers in the name of religion is simple terror. And the free world, the civilized world must band together to stop this kind of activity if we expect there to be peace and resolution in the Middle East. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel Q. You've made clear, sir, that you believe that Chairman Arafat needs to do much more. Do you believe that Prime Minister Sharon is doing all he can to foster peace in the region? The President. I think it's very important for the Prime Minister to keep a pathway to peace open, to understand that on the one hand, Israel should protect herself, and on the other hand, there ought to be a pathway, the capacity to achieve a peaceful resolution to this issue. It's important for Israel to understand that. They've signed on to the Tenet agreement, and they signed on to the Mitchell plan, and that is the pathway to peace. And I believe Prime Minister Sharon still accepts Tenet and still accepts Mitchell as the way to achieve a peaceful resolution. I was very heartened a couple of weeks ago by the Saudi Arabia Crown Prince, when he talked about the need for the Arab world to recognize Israel's right to exist. It was a positive development. There were some positive things that were taking place in the region, until the terrorist suicide bombers start killing innocent people. Governor's Island Transfer Q. Mr. President, why give the island now? Can you tell us what The President. Why now, right this second? Q. Well, why did you make the announcement today, and what persuaded you to transfer the island to the city? And also, was this in any way to help Governor Pataki in his reelection? The President. Well, listen, he doesn't need my help to get reelected, for starters. He's got a great record. The people of New York are discerning voters. Well, most of the time they're discerning voters laughter if you know what I mean. Laughter Q. No, what do you mean? Laughter The President. Well, you're a smart guy read between the lines. No, George Pataki has been a great Governor for New York. I made the announcement today because I had finished the necessary study of the issue, to make sure that we could transfer this property without congressional action. And I believe I can do that. It took a while to take a look at it. It also requires I wanted to make sure that the Governor and mayor would be using this property for education purposes. That's what the mayor said he would do the Governor said he wanted to do that. They took a look at it and decided this is what they wanted to do. And it makes a lot of sense to me, and using it for education purposes will make it easier for me to facilitate the transfer, by the way. Q. Mr. President, the previous administration didn't want I was just wondering, what specifically persuaded you? The President. Well, I took a look at it. I mean, it's a good question. I took a look at it. I listened to what George said. He's my friend I trust his judgment. I've known him for a long time, and Rudy Giuliani as well both of them were passionate in their appeal for us to consider transferring Governor's Island. And I knew Mike was very interested in enhancing the quality of education in New York City. And I took a look at it. I came back obviously, things didn't happen quickly after September the 15th trip, because we had a lot on our mind. But it took a while to work it through the White House staff, and it arrived on my desk sometime last week. And the recommendation was that we could transfer this property, if that's what I wanted to do. And it's something I want to do, because I think it's going to make the life of a city that has been tragically affected by killers and murderers better. And I think it will enhance the quality of education for the people of New York. And to me, that is a worthwhile and noble cause. March 30, 2002 The President. This morning I made a series of phone calls to world leaders to express my concern, listen to their concerns about the escalating violence in the Middle East. We are at this point because there has not been enough done to fight off terror. All the leaders in the world must stand up against terror, must do everything in their power to cut off the funding to terrorist organizations, to prevent terrorist organizations from finding safe haven. And that especially applies to Chairman Arafat. I believe he can do a lot more to prevent attacks such as the one that just occurred in Tel Aviv. I am deeply concerned about the loss of innocent lives. It breaks my heart when children and innocent women and innocent men lose their life. I fully understand Israel's need to defend herself. I respect that. It's a country that has seen a wave of suicide bombers come into the hearts of their cities and kill innocent people. That country has a right to defend herself. And as she does so, I urge that their Government, the Israeli Government, make sure that there is a path to peace as she secures her homeland. But they've got to keep in mind the need that there's got to be a peaceful solution at some point. I've been assured by the Israeli Government that about the well being of Chairman Arafat and that he won't be harmed. I have heard him say that, well, in that he's confined, he can't do anything to secure to help secure the region. I know he's got a lot of forces he's got a lot of people that listen to him still and he has got to speak out clearly. He's got to make it absolutely clear that the Palestinian Authority does not support these terrorist activities and use his security forces to prevent them from happening. I've asked that General Zinni stay in the region. I think it's very important for our country to provide an opportunity for discussions, an opportunity for people to come together, and so Zinni will stay there. He will stay there to continue to push for a process that will ultimately get us into Mitchell, and Mitchell is the best hope for peace. It has been agreed to by the parties. It is an opportunity for those who love peace to have a framework for peace. Last night the administration supported a U.N. Security Council resolution that urges there to be a cease fire, to start a process that will end this cycle of violence. Here we are on one of holiest of holidays, and we're worried about people needlessly losing their lives. And our prayers and thoughts go to the families of the victims, and I pray for peace. And I urge all parties to recognize that there are terrorists in this world who can't stand the thought of peace, and all of us all of us must work together to condemn, find, and stop terrorist activities. I'll be glad to answer a few questions. Preventing Terrorism Q. Mr. President, with this latest terrorist attack on a Tel Aviv cafe tonight with many apparent casualties, does Chairman Arafat, in your opinion, really have any control over these suicide bombers? The President. I think Chairman Arafat can do a lot more. I truly believe that. I believe he needs to stand up and condemn, in Arabic, these attacks. He's got a security force, admittedly somewhat on the defensive right now. But nevertheless, there is a security force there is a security apparatus. We've been dealing with the leaders of the security apparatus. And they have got to do a much better job of preventing people from coming into Israel to blow up innocent people. The leaders in the region must do the same thing. Again, I was pleased that Crown Prince Abdullah spoke out so forcefully for what he called normalization. We support that. But there is no normalcy when day after day killers destroy innocent lives. All the leaders must join with governments such as ours to strongly condemn and stop terrorist activities. I spoke to Jose Maria Aznar today. He's the head of the EU now, and he told me, he said, you know, the world must fight off these terrorists. And the region can do more, in my judgment. The Iranians must step up and stop sponsoring terrorism. The Syrians must participate. If people want peace in the region, there has got to be a united effort against terror, and I do believe Mr. Arafat can do more. Diplomatic Efforts in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, you made a lot of phone calls today, but not to Sharon, not to Arafat. Why not, and what is the next U.S. step? The President. Well, first of all, my administration has made a lot of phone calls into the region on a daily basis. Secretary of State Powell will be speaking to Prime Minister Sharon again. Q. Today? The President. Yes, today soon, as I understand it, unless this current this recent bombing has put the Prime Minister into a Cabinet meeting and therefore won't be able to take a phone call. But he was supposed to have made a call, like, right now. Nevertheless, we're in constant touch with these governments, and the next step is to continue our call and our efforts and our push to fight off terror. It appears to me these aren't just isolated incidents. I mean, there's a pattern, a routine, and a constancy. And so we will continue to lead, to talk and urge world leaders, particularly those in the region, to do everything they can to shut off the capacity of people to come and bomb. Q. Why wasn't Arafat called by Powell today? The President. He may be doing that I just don't know. Mr. Arafat, he doesn't need a phone call from me. All he's got to do is watch what I just said, and that message will be delivered to him. Q. Mr. President, have we reached a point where there needs to be a more aggressive and more visible and public U.S. effort to quell the violence? And will that include greater outreach to the nations in the region? The President. Well, you may recall the Vice President has just returned from the region, which is a significant outreach. We're spending a great deal of time, in our capacity as the leader of a coalition against the war on terror, to continue not only our war in Afghanistan and elsewhere but also continuing to fight terror in this region. And every phone call I make, I remind people that if you're interested in peace and the leaders I've talked to are interested in peace we have all got to come together to stop terror. Our role is very visible, and our role is very active. And I firmly believe that we can achieve a peace in the region, but not until not until there is a concerted, united effort to rout terror out. Because what we're seeing is we're seeing for example, in South Carolina, I remember talking to you all and saying this was on Thursday, saying or Wednesday, saying that I was optimistic that we had a chance to get into Tenet. And by the time I got on the airplane and landed in Georgia, there had been this awful suicide bombing. And so it is a it's clear to me the more progress we make toward achieving a cease fire or meaningful security discussions, the more a killer organization will try to disrupt the process. And therefore, the best way to make sure that we can get some meaningful dialog going is to secure the is to help secure the region, in particular, Israel's homeland, by a united front against terror. It's essential that we "we" meaning those who long for a peace and again I repeat to you, every leader I've talked to said we need peace. But there needs to be a focused coalition effort in the region against peace I mean, against terror, for peace. Preventing Terrorism Q. You mentioned a moment ago that Iran and Syria need to do more. The President. Yes, I believe they do. Q. Can you identify other countries in the region who need to do more than they're doing now? The President. All the countries in the region must condemn terror, speak clearly about terror. I appreciate the fact that the Saudis have spoken about a vision for peace. I thought that was a very important statement. It recognized Israel's right to exist. And that's essential. The corollary to that is, in order for Israel to exist, terror must stop. I can understand why the Israeli Government takes the actions they take. Their country is under attack. Every day there has been a suicide bombing, and every day the Government sees the loss of innocent life. On the other hand, I understand why some Palestinians feel so hopeless. There is a the loss of innocent life on the Palestinian side is too much. But the Palestinians, particularly those who long for a peaceful resolution, the independent statehood of the Palestinians is a part of that peaceful solution, but they must do everything in their power to stop terrorist activity. Q. On Iran and Syria, do you have any evidence that those countries are directly involved in the latest series of bombings? The President. No, I do not have evidence. But I saw, for example, that Syria once again walked out of the U.N. when there was a reasonable resolution put forward. That should say something. And secondly, I understand the connections between Hezbollah and Iran. And there has been no evidence I don't know who's claiming credit for this bombing. I haven't seen Hezbollah's name mentioned. But nevertheless, that's terror that's a terrorist organization, and but no, I have no direct evidence. Nevertheless, I do know their influence in the region. And if they are interested in a peaceful resolution, they too need to be active about cutting off funds. And as you may recall, there was a ship that was intercepted by the Israelis, that came from Iran full of weapons. And so my point is, is that there needs to be a focused international effort to condemn strongly condemn as well as rout out terrorist activities. Otherwise, we will have a difficult problem in getting to a peaceful accord. There has been a framework laid out, and now the efforts will be focused, like they have been, on getting into the framework. In the meantime, Israel will defend herself. And again, I understand that. You will recall, as I said in my statement, that I hope Israel keeps in mind that there needs to be a road for peace. It's in the Israelis' interests, in my judgment, not only to defend herself but to keep in mind that there has got to be a peaceful resolution in order for her people to be able to grow up in a secure and peaceful world. Israeli Action Against Chairman Arafat Q. Can I follow up on that point? Do you think that it seems as if, even if they're not trying to physically harm Arafat, that they're trying to undermine him, undermine his leadership with the Palestinians. Do you think that serves any purpose? The President. I think Mr. Arafat could have done more 3 weeks ago and can do more today. I know I have been disappointed in his unwillingness to go 100 percent toward fighting terror. That includes using his security forces to help prevent suicide bombers from crossing certain lands, and that also means speaking out clearly, in his native tongue. I fully understand the frustrations of the Israeli people. I sympathize, and I sympathize with the frustrations of the Palestinian people, those who long for normalcy, those who want to send their kids to school and go to work. There's got to be a much more concerted effort by Chairman Arafat and others to stop terror. Terror is so long as there's this reign of terror, there will be no peace. So therefore, stopping terror will make the conditions ripe for peace. Q. Mr. President, did we know in advance about the invasion? And what's your position now? Should the Israelis get out of the compound? Should they continue the military action or quit? The President. Israel is a democratically elected government, and the Government is responding to the will of the people for there to be more security. And Israel will make the decisions necessary to defend herself. My point to the Israeli Government is As you do so, keep in mind there must be an avenue toward a peaceful settlement. As you defend yourself and you have the right to do so please keep in mind and work with the region to develop a strategy that will end up with a peaceful settlement. Thank you all for coming. March 28, 2002 Thank you very much. Thank you all. Please be seated. Thanks. Everybody in Crawford says hello laughter starting with Laura. I wish she'd have come with me today, but applause she is doing a fabulous job. I tell people it's because she's from Midland, Texas. But I send her best. She's got a lot of friends here. And the country now realizes why I asked her to marry me. Laughter A lot of people are still wondering why she said yes, but nevertheless, she's doing great, and she sends her love. And I want to thank you all for coming here today as well. It is my honor to come and campaign for the next United States Senator from the State of Texas. I'm going to miss Phil Gramm. He is a close friend. He is a strong, strong advocate for principles that are sound for our freedom. He has been a great United States Senator from Texas. I was disappointed he chose not to run again. I understand, but I was disappointed. But my disappointment waned when I realized my friend John Cornyn was running to take his place. I know John. I've seen him work. I've seen him in action. I've not only seen him as a campaigner but somebody who does in office what he said he is going to do. There is no question in my mind that he can do the job and bring a standard of excellence to the United States Senate. And there's no question in my mind we need him in the United States Senate to make sure our agenda moves forward. I want to thank Bill and Rita Clements for being here. I like to call Bill the pathfinder for Republican Governors. I appreciate my friend Henry Bonilla for taking on the Texas Victory 2002 committee. It is important we send Henry back to the United States House of Representatives. I know Kay Granger from Fort Worth is here, and I appreciate so very much working with Kay. She is a great friend, a reliable voice for sound and commonsense policy in Washington, DC. I'm so glad to see Greg Abbott, the next attorney general of Texas, here. I know that Wallace Jefferson and Mike Schneider are here. Thank you all for coming. I know that Jeb Hensarling, the next United States Congressman from the 5th Congressional District, is here as well. Congratulations on your primary win, Jeb. Charles Matthews is here. Our party chairman, Susan Weddington, is here. I want to thank Susan for her longtime service to the Republican Party of Texas. I see Tommy Craddick is here, other members of the house and the State senate. I miss you. I wish I could count on your votes in Washington, like I could have in Austin. But thanks for coming by to see your old buddy. And thank you all for being here as well. This is an important election for Texas. And it's an important election for the country. We've got to have a man like John Cornyn representing our State in Washington. And there are a lot of reasons why. First, we've got to get good, conservative judges appointed to the bench and approved by the United States Senate. I want people on the bench who don't try to use their position to legislate from the bench. We want people to interpret the law, not try to make law and write law. And I sent such a man up from Mississippi the other day, a good, honest, honorable man, who had been approved unanimously by the United States Senate earlier and yet did not get a vote on the floor of the United States Senate. We need people like John Cornyn in the United States Senate, who will work with the White House to have a solid judiciary, to make sure that the judges do what they're supposed to do in the United States and not overstep their bounds. We need somebody like John, who is going to take a tough position, tough stand on issues like energy. I don't need to be telling my friends in Texas that we've got an energy problem, but we do. We need to do a better job of conservation, no question about it. And we will. As technology advances, we will conserve more. But for the sake of our national security, we need to be finding more energy at home. We need to be less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. John Cornyn will be a steady vote and a steady voice when it comes to good, sound energy policy in Washington, DC. You know, one of the interesting issues that always faces us in Washington is what to do with the people's money. The tendency, of course, is to overpromise and then overspend. We need fiscal sanity in Washington. I want to thank Phil and his leadership on the issue of taxation. As you may remember I think it was in this room I said, "If you give me a chance to be your President, I will make sure the people get to keep a substantial amount of their own money." I reminded people that we weren't dealing with the Government's money we were dealing with the people's money. John understands that. And we passed tax relief in Washington exactly at the right time. You see, we understand Phil understands, I understand, and John understands that if you let people keep more of their own money, they will demand more goods and services. And if they demand more goods and services, somebody will help produce those goods and services. And if somebody else produces those goods and services, it makes it easier for somebody to find work. And so we cut the taxes on the people. Right in the middle of a recession, we cut the taxes, which is the right thing to do. Now, there are some people up there who read a different textbook. See, they advocate raising your taxes. They get caught in that Washington trap. They forget whose money we're spending. John Cornyn understands we spend the people's money, not the Government money, and he'll be a reliable ally when it comes to making sure that tax relief that we passed is permanent and long lasting and real. And I'll tell you an issue that's coming up where we're going to need his support, if they don't get it done this year. We put the death tax on its way to extinction. But because of a quirk but because of a Senate rule, after 10 years that death tax can come back to life. I proposed, Phil has proposed, that we make the death tax getting rid of the death tax permanent. I guarantee he'll vote for that. You know, when I was campaigning in Chicago in the general election, somebody said, "Would you ever deficit spend?" I said, "Well, only if we were at war or there was a national emergency or we were in recession." Little did I realize we'd get the trifecta. Laughter We've dealt with the recession with good fiscal policy, a budgeting process that holds the line on spending, and at the same time, let people have more of their own money back. And it's important for us to make sure that those actions we took to stimulate the private sector remain in place. And we're also dealing with the other two issues. Today I had the opportunity of going to the Dallas Fire Department's training center to thank Texas Task Force 1 for going to New York City on September the 16th, to be there at Ground Zero to help rescue those who were trapped in the rubble. I went by there because I wanted to highlight one of the key initiatives in the homeland defense strategy, which is to make sure we've got a coordinated effort with our first responders, to respond to any emergency that may come up from this point forward. The reason I bring that up to you is that my most important job as your President is to defend the homeland, is to protect American people from further attacks. Not only are we working on a first responders initiative, we've got a good, fine bioterrorism initiative as to how to respond if there were a bioterrorist attack. We're beefing up our border security. It's important for this country to understand who's coming in and who's going out. And we know we've got a lot of work to do with the INS. It's a troubled agency that needs reform, and we will reform it. I want to assure you all that we're doing a much better job in Washington of coordinating intelligence and information between jurisdictional boundaries, and we're sharing information in a much better way with State and local authorities. If we get any kind of hint that there's an Al Qaida cell in America, we're moving on it. If we get any whisper that somebody wants to harm us again, I can assure you, we're moving quickly. Every morning in the Oval Office, George Tenet of the CIA comes in and gives me a briefing about what he knows. And then the Director of the FBI, Robert Mueller, comes in. I ask him every single day, "What do you know, and what have you done about it? If you've got any hint, Mr. Director, for the good of the American people, I want you and over 4,000 agents dedicated to protecting the homeland to move quickly." I'm proud of the way we're responding as a nation. The Nation is on alert we're prepared, because we understand that we fight an enemy that are nothing but a bunch of coldblooded killers. They can't be rehabilitated. They hate what America stands for. They hate our religious tolerance. They hate our freedom of speech. They hate freedom of the press. They despise freedom. They despise freedom. And therefore, the best way to secure the homeland, and the only way to secure the homeland for the long term, is to hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what I intend to do. I don't know what was on their mind when they attacked America. They must have thought we were so self absorbed and materialistic that all we were going to do was file a lawsuit. Laughter But they found out we think differently here in this country. They now know we love freedom, and we will defend our freedom with all our might. I laid down a doctrine early. It said, "Either you're with us, or you're against us." And fortunately, most of the world said they're with us. And we've put together a vast coalition of freedom loving nations to defend not only America but our friends and allies. I also said that if you harbor a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist and feed a terrorist, you are just as guilty as the murderers who killed thousands of innocent Americans. And the Taliban found out exactly what we meant. I unleashed the mighty United States military and other coalition forces, and thanks to the bravery of U.S. soldiers the Taliban has been routed out of existence. It is so important for young Americans to know that our Nation does not seek revenge we seek justice. And we'll do whatever it takes to defend freedom. We view freedom as nonnegotiable. It is precious. It's also important for Americans to understand that we went into Afghanistan not as a conquering nation but as liberators. Last Saturday, many young girls went to school for the first time in Afghanistan, thanks to the United States of America. We've got a lot more to do. And that's what I want to share with you, and that's what John understands. Even though we've upheld the doctrine, if you hide a terrorist, you're just as bad as a terrorist, there are other countries that might not get the message. And there are a lot of people still on the loose that want to hurt America. And that's why I've submitted the largest increase in the defense budget during the last 20 years. Because here's what I know If we put our soldiers at risk, they deserve the best equipment, the best training, the best pay. Oh, some of them are talking in Washington about it's too high a price. Listen, there is never too high a price for freedom, as far as I'm concerned. And I submitted this budget because it's a clear signal to the American people and, just as importantly, to our enemy, that we're in this for the long pull. I have no calendar on my desk that says this must end by a certain date and I'll feel better. It doesn't matter how long it takes, as far as I'm concerned. So long as I'm the President, we will treat these killers as international terrorists and get them on the run and keep them on the run until we bring each and every one of them to justice. And that's what we're going to do. This fight on the war against terror is larger than any single individual or any single network. There are other nightmare scenarios that our Nation must be worried about. One such scenario would be for a terrorist killer organization to team up with some of the world's worst leaders who harbor and develop the world's worst weapons. I've told this to a lot of world leaders, that I'm just not going to let that happen. History has called us into action. We can't look back after our time in Washington, DC, and say, "How come we let this happen?" For the good of our children and our grandchildren, we must deny the world's most dangerous leaders from having and harboring the world's most dangerous weapons. We'll be deliberate we'll be thoughtful we will consult with our friends and allies. But when I said "axis of evil," I meant it. I believe that out of this incredible evil that has been done to our country will come great good, though. I do. When the United States remains firm and strong and determined, we can achieve peace in parts of the world where people never thought peace could happen. Oh, I know the Middle East is looks like there will never be peace, but I can assure you we're not giving up. We're not going to let murderers disrupt a march to peace. My heart breaks for those who were celebrating Passover in the hotel, when a coldblooded killer came in and destroyed innocent life, to derail the attempts of peaceful loving people for coming together. But they're not going to stop us as a nation for longing for peace and working for peace. And the best way to achieve the peace is to be strong and steadfast against terror. I see a peaceful world. I do. The rest of the world watches us very carefully. I like to say, if the United States blinks, they'll go to sleep. We're not going to blink. I also believe at home we can achieve incredible good too. People often say, "Well, what can I do to help in the war against terror?" My answer is, love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to fight evil, do some good. I look around the room and see a lot of my friends who I know have been doing good for a long, long number of years here in Texas. And I want to thank you for that. But it's important you keep doing it. It's important you give of your time and your money to help people in need. This Nation is based upon some great principles our love for freedom, our love for democracy. But our real strength is the hearts and souls of the American people. We're a tough nation we're a courageous nation. But we're also a compassionate nation. And in order to fight terror, in order to stand squarely in the face of evil, we must help people in need. Just walking across the street to see a shut in and saying, "I care about you," is part of fighting evil. Mentoring a child, telling your own child you love him every single day, going to a church or a synagogue or a mosque and developing a program to help feed the hungry or clothe those who need clothes and help, that's all part of not only defining our Nation but fighting against evil. And that's why I'm such an optimistic soul, because not only do I know that we've got what it takes to achieve the peace, we've got the determination, the will, and the strength to have a more peaceful world. I know we've got the heart and compassion to show the world the true definition of our Nation. And it's happened. It's the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and compassion which show the world the true worth of the greatest country on the face of the Earth. Thank you for helping John Cornyn. May God bless you all. March 27, 2002 Thank you all very much. Thank you all. It is nice to be back in South Carolina. Please be seated. Thank you. My only regret is I didn't bring Laura with me. I can't tell you how proud I am of her. She is she is a fabulous wife and a great lady. She's flying Barney and Spot and the cat down to Crawford, Texas, as I speak. America is getting to see why I married her. A lot of people are wondering why she said yes. Laughter But Lindsey, thanks for mentioning Laura. She is I love her dearly, and she's a great First Lady for the country. And you're going to be a great Senator for South Carolina. I'm here with one message I want Lindsey Graham elected to the United States Senate. It is in South Carolina's interest that he get elected to the United States Senate, and it's in our Nation's interest that he get elected to the United States Senate. And frankly, it's in my interest that he get elected to the United States Senate, because I've got a lot I want to do. And I look forward to working with him to get it done. So I'm proud to be here on Lindsey's behalf, and I want to thank you all the organizers of the event and you all for coming to support this good man for this important cause. I also want to thank Jim DeMint. It's important that he win as well. Jim is the kind of fellow that I like to work with in Washington. First of all, he understands his district well. And he loves the people of his district. We've got the kind of relationship where I welcome him into the Oval Office to sit down and discuss important issues. And we can have frank discussions and come to agreement. Now, I know there are some of them here picking on him because of textiles. Because of Jim DeMint's leadership, my administration has got a plan to strengthen the textile industry. And I want to thank him for his leadership on this issue, and so should the people of this district. And I want to thank Congressman Henry Brown for coming all the way up from the coast. It's nice of you all to let him in. Laughter And he's doing a fine job as well. As you know, I'm fortunate enough to make a lot of friends in your great State, and I want to thank you all for giving me a chance to be your President. But I also want to thank some of those that I spent a lot of time with in South Carolina for coming over today Carroll Campbell and Iris, thank you all for being here. They tell me Beasley is around here somewhere. Beasley, how are you? Good to see you. I appreciate your coming. And the speaker I've got no better friend than the speaker. Election day, he took me to the Ham House. Laughter I'm still running off the pancakes. Laughter And Lieutenant Governor Peeler and Attorney General Condon, two fine friends of mine, and I was proud to call them friends back in 2000, and I'm still proud to call them friends. And it's great to see you guys, and thank you all for being here as well. And I want to thank my friend Barry Wynn as well. Barry and I have been friends for awhile, and he helped me get to where I am, and so did many of you all. I've got a lot to do in Washington. And we need somebody who can help get that done in the United States Senate from South Carolina. Listen, you've had a fine, fine man in Strom Thurmond representing you all, and what you need is a young visionary leader to take his place. He understands how Washington works. I want the voters of South Carolina to remember, he was for a strong military prior to September the 11th. He understood we need a strong military to defend our freedoms. He doesn't need to be educated, once he gets to Washington, on this issue. He's a member of the Armed Services Committee and has served proudly. And I look forward to working with Lindsey as we fight this war on terror. He also has been a leader on education reform. For too long, our party was identified as being antischool, that we weren't for educating children. That's changed. I had the honor of signing a piece of legislation which recognizes the importance of education in our society refuses to allow for mediocrity challenges the status quo when children are simply shuffled through the system, regardless of whether they can read or not insists that every child I mean every child can read in America. And Lindsey Graham stood by my side on this important piece of education reform. And not only that, he's sponsoring a piece of legislation, which I strongly support, that will forgive loans to teachers who teach in the neediest areas in America. He's a reformer when it comes to education, and the South Carolinians ought to be proud of his record. Now, we've got a lot to do we've got a lot to do. There's a lot to do at home. As you know let me put it to you this way. I was campaigning in Chicago one time, and a fellow said, "Would you ever allow for deficit spending would that ever enter your vocabulary?" I said, "Well, under certain circumstances Only if we're at war, or there was a national emergency, or there was a recession." Little did I realize we'd draw the trifecta. Laughter But I want to make it clear about how we dealt with the latter, and then I'm going to talk about the first two. The slowdown in our economy the best way to make sure an economy recovers is to trust the people with their own money. You see, when people have more money in their pocket, when they've got more money to spend, that increases demand for goods and services. And when there's an increase in demand for goods and services, somebody is going to produce goods and services. And as they produce goods and services, it firms up the job base. We cut the taxes on the American people at exactly the right time, and our economy is improving because of it. Lindsey understood that, and he was a strong proponent of the tax relief for the American people. He was describing the other fellow's position. He said he wouldn't have supported the tax increase. Yet another reason why Lindsey Graham ought to be in the U.S. Senate it's because we trust people with their own money. The tax money is not the Government's money it is the people's money. And when we can give it back and afford to give it back, we ought to do so. Now, there are some of them up there that believe in times of a recession, you increase the taxes on the people. But that's not the textbook that Lindsey and I have been reading. Our textbook starts with, you trust the American people, particularly when it comes to their own money. So I need to have an ally in the United States Senate who understands how our economy works and who trusts the private sector and trusts the people with their own money. We're going to have some issues coming up, and I'll tell you one. We got rid of the death tax, but because of the law, it can conceivably come back into life 9 years from now. We need to make the repeal of the death tax permanent. That's an important issue for small business owners. It's a particularly important issue for South Carolina farmers, South Carolina ranchers. And we needed somebody in the U.S. Senate who will vote to make that tax relief permanent. Listen, we don't need a tax system that encourages somebody to work all their life to build up an asset base and have it taxed again, have it taxed twice. What we need is a system that encourages hard work, the entrepreneurial spirit, and allows people to pass on their assets to whoever they want to pass on their assets to. We need an energy plan in America. We need a plan that not only encourages conservation and the development of exciting new technologies, but we also need a plan that reduces our dependency on foreign sources of crude oil. We need a plan that encourages biomass, ethanol interesting alternatives. But I want you all to understand something Lindsey understands and I darn sure know, is that we now import over 50 percent of our energy from overseas. Sometimes we get it from nations that aren't really pleased with U.S. foreign policy. For the good of national security, we need to explore, in environmentally friendly ways, for energy in our own country so we can reduce dependency. It's in our national security interests that we do so. We need to get a faith based initiative out of the United States Senate. We need to rally the great compassion of our country in order to stand up in the face of evil. We need to understand that the best welfare programs sometimes are those that come out of our churches and synagogues and mosques. Our Federal Government must not fear faith in our society. We must welcome faith, faith programs that heal hearts, that provide hope to the hopeless, that give people the opportunity to realize the American Dream. And that's incredibly important at this stage of our Nation's history. Because in order to win the war on terror, we must not let terror affect the hearts and souls of the American people quite the opposite. It's important for me and all of us in positions of responsibility to rally the great compassion of America so that we can stand squarely in the face of evil, so that we can say, out of evil acts of September the 11th have come incredible goodness. And that's what's going to happen in America. I firmly believe it. I believe that out of this evil will come great goodness because of the compassion of the American people. I just had the honor of speaking to a lot of folks who wear the uniform in Greenville, South Carolina, and surrounding neighborhoods the police and the fire and the EMS folks to talk about a homeland strategy that Tom Ridge in my administration is developing, a strategy that provides a significant amount of money in the new budget to provide first responders not only with a strategy but with ample money to be able to be prepared for any emergency that might arise. We've got money in our budget for bioterrorist attack a possible bioterrorist attack. We've got money in the budget to make sure that the INS, the folks who are supposed to know who is coming in and out of our country, do a better job of understanding who is coming in and out of our country. We're buttoning up the homeland. And I want to tell you that my biggest job is to make sure that we do everything in our power to make sure that innocent lives are not lost in America again. I want the moms and dads to know that my priority is to make sure your children can grow up in a peaceful country. And we're making progress. The law enforcement law enforcement at the Federal level and the State level and the local level are communicating a lot better than they have ever before. Every morning, like this morning, I ask the FBI Director Mueller, "What are you doing in running down leads? Are you hunting them down here on the homeland, if we get a hint that somebody might do something against us?" And we are. We're chasing down every single lead. But I want to tell you all, the best way to secure the homeland is to hunt the enemy down wherever they hide and bring them to justice, and that's exactly what we're going to do. The budget I submitted to the United States Congress not only makes our homeland security a priority, it makes the defense of the United States a priority. It's the largest increase in defense spending in 20 years. And the reason why is twofold. One, whenever we commit people who wear our uniform into battle, they must have the best equipment, the best training, the best pay possible. The price of freedom is high, no question about it. But it is not too high, as far as I'm concerned. And the other reason why I've submitted a significant increase in the defense spending is because we're in this thing for the long haul. We defend freedom. We're fighting murderers, coldblooded killers who hate what America stands for. They hate our religious tolerance. They hate the fact that we speak freely. They can't stand our democracy. And they want to hit us again. And we're going to chase them down one by one, until we rid the world of the global reach of terror. We have no other choice, my fellow Americans. We fight for our children's freedom. They must have not understood who they were dealing with on September the 11th. I guess they thought we were so materialistic and so self absorbed that all we would do is file a lawsuit. They found out we think differently here in America. They found out when it comes to defending our freedom, we will take whatever means are necessary. They found out what I meant when I said, "Either you are with us, or you're against us." And they found out, in the first theater on the war against terror, what I meant when I said, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the murderers who attacked New York City and Washington, DC, on September the 11th." Thanks to our mighty United States military and a vast coalition of freedom loving countries, we upheld that latter doctrine. The Taliban found out exactly what I meant. They are no longer in power, thank goodness, for the people of Afghanistan. I want to assure you that we did not go into that theater, or any theater, to seek revenge. We seek justice. And when we went into Afghanistan, we didn't enter as conquerors we entered as liberators. This past weekend, young girls, many young girls, for the first time in their life, went to school. And I am proud of a nation that is not only tough and strong but a nation that is compassionate and cares deeply about the lives of all citizens around the world. Thankfully, our Nation is united and determined, because we've got a lot more work to do. There are still a lot of them out there that would like to harm our country. And the best way to deal with them is to treat them like international criminals precisely who they are and keep them on the run and deny sanctuary and be patient and deliberate and tough and determined. The world watches the United States of America. If we were to blink, I think they might go to sleep. But I can assure you, we're not going to blink. We're determined. No matter how long it takes, this administration will lead this Nation in chasing down the killers. And not only that, we must not allow and will not allow the world's worst leaders to develop the world's worst weapons that could conceivably hold the United States and our allies and friends hostage. There is an axis of evil in the world, and the United States of America will deal with it in a firm way. We are patient we are deliberate we will consult with our allies. But the world must understand, we love freedom we hold freedom dear to our hearts. And we will not let our freedoms be threatened or our freedoms taken away from us. You know, one of the most interesting not interesting, one of the most compelling and moving moments during this from September the 11th on, was Flight 93. It was a time when America got to see that there are people in our society who are willing to serve something greater than themselves. This was an airplane flying toward who knows the White House or the Capitol. Americans on that plane on their cell phones told their loved ones goodbye. They said a prayer. They told them they loved them and said, "Let's roll," and drove the plane in the ground so somebody else could live. I believe out of this evil will come incredible good. On the one hand, if we're tough and strong and firm, the world will be more peaceful. I believe that when the United States leads with firm resolve, we have a much better chance to solve the world's most intractable problems. But I also know that by unleashing the compassion and goodness of America, by following the example of others who are willing to sacrifice for something greater, that we can rally the great compassion of the country so that the American Dream extends its hope into every neighborhood in every corner of this great country. Out of evil will come great good, because the great strength of the Nation is in the hearts and souls of an incredible country. Thank you all for being here. May God bless you all. Send Lindsey Graham to the United States Senate. March 27, 2002 Thank you all very much. Saxby, thanks. I am honored that so many showed up. I want to thank you for such a warm welcome. I'm here to deliver this message Saxby Chambliss needs to be in the United States Senate. And I'm so pleased you agree with me. Laughter First, I want to thank Julianne. One of the things I've learned is that a life in the public arena is a lot easier when you've got a great wife. He married above himself, and so did I. Laughter We both married schoolteachers. And like Saxby is proud of Julianne, I'm really proud of Laura. I wish she were here tonight. She's in Crawford, Texas. The two dogs and the cat laughter went down to Crawford, because that's where I'm headed after this event. I love my job. But even though I've changed addresses, my home is still in the heart of Texas. I want to thank Saxby's mother for being here. She informed me when she came through to get her picture taken that she was here, but she was a Democrat. Laughter I said that didn't bother me one bit. Laughter I never would have gotten to be the Governor of Texas had not a lot of Democrats voted for me. Laughter It doesn't matter whether you're Republican or Democrat when it comes to doing the right thing for the country and the right thing for our democracy. We welcome all people we welcome anybody. And looking at the mother reminds me to remind all the youngsters here to listen to your mother. I'm still listening to mine. Laughter I'm listening to her most of the time don't tell her I said that. Laughter I want to thank Bo Callaway for being the master of ceremonies. I appreciate his long service to the United States of America. I want to thank Congressmen Barr and Collins, Deal, Linder, and Norwood, fine, fine members of the congressional delegation from the great State of Georgia, members with whom I enjoy working, members who represent your State in a proud way. And I appreciate you letting somebody from the State of Ohio in laughter the chairman of the Education Committee, John Boehner. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I had the privilege of saying hello to one of Georgia's most distinguished citizens today, and that's Judge Griffin Bell. I'm so honored the judge is here. You all have produced a lot of fine leaders from your State, and Judge Bell is one of the finest. And I appreciate the party chairman, Ralph Reed. I appreciate his dedication to grassroots politics. And I want to thank the R.B. Wright fifth grade choir. You read more than you watch TV. Laughter And thanks for coming. And I want to thank all those who worked hard to make this a successful evening, and I want to thank you all for caring about your country and for doing what is right getting involved in democracy and working hard. And when you find a good one like Saxby Chambliss, work your heart out, because there is no finer American than Saxby. He loves his family. He loves his country. He's a man of enormous experience. He's one of these can do politicians, somebody who goes to Washington and tries to figure out how to make things better. I value his advice on terrorism. He's sound when it comes to counterterrorism. He's been in the Oval Office to give me sound, solid advice. And I've listened to it every time he's come in there. I appreciate his love for education. He understands this that if you can't read, you can't realize the American Dream. I like to put it this way Reading is the new civil right, and we must have people who understand the profound impact quality education can have on the future of this country. And I'm glad Boehner is here. I had the honor of signing a profound piece of education reform. It said a couple of things. One, it says we believe in high standards for everybody, not just a few but everybody that we trust the people of Georgia to run your schools more than we trust the people in Washington, DC that we're committed to spending Federal dollars on education, but for every dollar spent, we expect there to be results. We believe and I strongly believe every child can learn. And therefore, the system must focus on every child. The name of the bill that Saxby worked on and John Boehner worked on is "No Child Shall Be Left Behind." And that's the way I feel. And that's the way America must be, that the promise of America must be extended to every single person. Saxby understands that, and I'm going to be proud to have him in the United States Senate working on these fundamental issues that will help change America. There is no more fundamental issue than to making sure we have a judiciary of people that do not interpret the law from the bench, people who do not try to write law from the bench, people who interpret the law and not try to write it. And I put up a good man from Mississippi the other day. And I don't remember the senior Senator from Georgia defending this man's honor. And we're going to have more fights when it comes to the judiciary. And I'm going to put strict constructionists on the bench. And I expect people in the United States Senate, from a great State like Georgia, to do what Zell Miller did and stood up and defended the honor and integrity of Judge Pickering. And that's what Saxby Chambliss is going to do. He also knows something about agriculture. This State will benefit by having somebody who knows something about agriculture in the United States Senate. Saxby knows what I know that we're the best producers in the world, that Georgia farmers and American farmers are the best. And if you're the best, it benefits our farmers to fight to open up markets around the world. And that's exactly what I'm going to do. And I want his help. You see, it's a confident nation that tears down barriers. It's a confident nation that insists that people open up their markets to our food products. It's been my policy, and I need people in the United States Senate who's willing to back me on that policy. And so do the American farmers. I'll never forget one time in Chicago when a reporter said, "Would you ever deficit spend?" And I said, "Well, only only if we were at war, only if there were a national emergency, or only if there is a recession." Never did I believe we'd get the trifecta. Laughter But we're dealing with it. And let me talk about this recession. We cut taxes at exactly the right time. We understand that if you let people keep their own money, they will demand more goods and services. And as they demand more goods and services, somebody will produce more goods and services. And when you produce more goods and services, you expand the job base. Now, some folks evidently don't understand that. They've been reading a different textbook than Saxby and I read. You see, they either want to delay the tax cut or raise your taxes. We need somebody in Washington a friend of the taxpayer, a vote we can rely on. And let me tell you a crucial vote that's going to come up. The tax reform act started the end of the death tax. However, we need to make getting rid of the death tax permanent in the Tax Code. We don't need anybody up there who's going to waver, somebody who's going to try to check in with a higher political authority on whether this is the right move or not. Getting rid of the death tax forever is important for small business owners. It's important for farmers. It is important for ranchers. The death tax is a bad tax. The death tax says that someone is going to have to work all their life to build up their assets and then leave most of it not to who they choose but to the Federal Government. Saxby Chambliss understands that. It's a vote that you can count on in the United States Senate, when it comes to tax policy. And we're dealing with the other issues. We're dealing with the national emergency, and we're dealing with the war. I had the honor of going to Georgia Tech today to talk about our homeland defense. Applause I'm glad they let one graduate in applause two in. Laughter I talked about my administration's commitment to protecting the homeland, to doing everything we can do to keep American families safe. Part of that protection is to make sure that if there is any attack, that we can respond quickly, so I talked about a first responders initiative. I had the honor of being with some of the finest folks in your State, the firefighters and those who work for the police and emergency medical teams, to lay out one of my budget priorities, which is a first responders initiative. We've got 3.5 billion in the '03 budget to make sure that if there is an attack, we can respond quickly. I've also talked to folks about how we're going to strengthen the Coast Guard to make sure our ports are more secure. We've got an airline security bill to make sure that air traffic is air travel is as safe as it can possibly be. I want you to know that our law enforcement is communicating better from the Federal to the State to the local level. Anytime we get any whiff or hint that somebody may do something in America, we're reacting. We're doing everything we can. We need better control of our borders. We want to know who's coming in and why they're coming in and are they leaving. So we're doing everything we can to bolster the homeland security. It's the most important job, is to be able to assure Americans we're doing everything we can to keep you safe. But the best homeland security, the best way to protect Americans for the long run, is to find the killers and bring them to justice one by one. And that's exactly what we're going to do. I don't know what they were thinking on September the 11th. They must have taken a look at America and said, "All they'll do is sue us." Laughter They were wrong. They were wrong. I said right off the bat, "You're either with us, or you're against us." I meant every word of what I said. I also said that if you harbor a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the murderers who hit New York and Washington, and you will be held accountable. And thanks to a mighty coalition led by a fantastic United States military, the Taliban found out exactly what I meant. I like to assure my fellow citizens that we don't seek revenge we seek justice. And it's important for the young in America to understand that when we went into Afghanistan, we went in not as conquerors but as liberators. Young girls went to school many young girls went to school for the first time this past weekend, thanks to the United States of America. I have submitted a budget that significantly increases our defense budget. It's the largest increase in 20 years. I did so for two reasons. One, anytime that we commit U.S. troops into action, they must have the best training, the best equipment, the best pay possible. We owe it to those who are willing to sacrifice for freedom. I expect the United States Congress to pass the budget I submitted. I expect them to get the appropriations bill for defense out early, not late. Now is not the year to play games with the defense of the United States of America. And Saxby understands that. He knows what I'm talking about. I also have asked for a significant increase because we're in this for the long haul. We're fighting for freedom. We fight people who are killers, coldblooded murderers who hate America. They hate the fact that we worship freely in our country. They can't stand the fact that we have political discourse. They resent the fact that we're a free society. Freedom scares them. And when it comes to defending freedom, they will find out that this Nation is determined and steadfast. And we will provide the resources necessary to chase them down. These are international criminals. They will be treated like international criminals. And we will not stop until we hunt them all down to make sure our children and grandchildren can grow up in a peaceful world. And the task is more than one person or more than one terrorist organization. There are some nightmare scenarios that we must confront if we want to secure the peace and defend our freedoms. One such scenario is the fact that a terrorist organization could join up with some of the world's worst leaders, who harbor some of the world's worst weapons. I referred to some of those world's worst leaders as an "axis of evil." I meant exactly what I said. Now, our Nation is deliberate. We're steady. We're going to talk with our allies. But we will not let the world's worst leaders hold our Nation and our friends and our allies hostages with weapons of mass destruction. And I believe that the fact that we will remain strong and united as a nation, that we will be determined, will yield a world that will be more peaceful. It's going to be rough at times, no question about it. And we'll call upon our citizens to sacrifice, particularly those who wear the uniform. But as a result of a steadfast, absolute determination to defend freedom, the world's going to be more peaceful. Out of the incredible evil of September the 11th will come some lasting good. And nothing compares to peace. We fight for peace, we long for peace, but we will not relent. We will not weary until peace is secure. And out of this terrible evil will come some good at home. And the reason why is because the great strength of our country lies in the hearts and souls of our citizens. What a fabulous nation we are what a great country America is. You know, the thing that I love about our country is the fact that people are willing to help people in need, and it doesn't require a government law. You see, people ask me all the time, "What can I do to help in the war against terror?" You can be vigilant, you can be alert, but you can also love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to do something against evil, do some good. If you want to do something against evil, mentor a child who may need to learn to read. Walk across the street if there's a shut in and say to that person, "I care for you." Feed the hungry. Go to your church or synagogue or mosque and convince a Sunday school class to get a project that will help somebody who hurts. Recognize the power of faith in our society, when it comes to healing the addiction of alcohol or drugs. That's what we can do in America. We can capture a unique spirit in this land and stand squarely in the face of those who are evil. And that's what America is doing. And that's why it's such a huge honor to be the President of the greatest country on the face of the Earth. I'm honored you all are here. Thank you for supporting this good man. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. March 27, 2002 Thank you very much. It is great to be back in South Carolina. I didn't realize I was going to be giving an address on my old jogging path. Laughter Mr. Mayor, I have fond memories of your beautiful city. And thank you very much for your leadership and your hospitality, and thank you all for coming. One of the things that I'm not surprised about was how the good folks of South Carolina responded on September the 11th, in the aftermath. The good people here hurt for the people of New York, because they realized an attack on one part of America was an attack on all of America. And I want to thank you all for donating a brand new firetruck to New York City. I want to thank you for sending men and women to New York City in response to the emergency. I know that firefighters and casualty experts, emergency management director headed up north to provide help, and I'm here to thank you for that. And I'm here also to thank you for what you do every single day. You know, the evil ones hit us, but out of that evil has come some good. I'm going to talk to you about some of that good. And one of the good things that's come is a sincere appreciation and respect for the men and women who wear the uniform, the police and the fire and the emergency medical units all across the country. And I'm here to thank you as well for your dedication and your service to the people of your communities here in South Carolina. I appreciate so very much Tom Ridge's service. You know, he was a Governor there in Pennsylvania, just kind of cruising along. Life was pretty good. And then the President called him and said, "I've got an assignment for you, to come and set a national strategy for our homeland security. The enemy's hit us, and we'd better be ready in case the enemy hits us again. And we need a strategy." And I'm telling you, he's come to Washington, DC, with a vision and a capacity. And we're developing and have got a strategy, some of which I will share with you today. And Tom, I want to thank you for your service. And I want to thank the other fellow on the stage here, Jim DeMint. He is a strong Congressman. He cares deeply about the people of this State. He is he is an ally of mine in the House, because he is a man of integrity. He cares deeply about national issues and issues that affect the people here in his district. He understands the need for us to be tough and diligent and forceful when it comes to fighting terrorists. He understands the need for us to be strong at home as well. And that's why he has led a discussion on a strategy to make sure that the textile industry here in South Carolina gets not only the attention of the administration but a strategy to help people who work in the textile industry. This man is a leader, and he needs to go back to Washington, DC. And we've got some other people from the fine South Carolina delegation. Lindsey Graham is here, and a little later on, I'm going to try to give Lindsey a little boost. And I appreciate Hank Brown for being here as well. Thank you for coming. And I want to thank members of the statehouse who have come. You've got a fine Lieutenant Governor and attorney general. Thank you both for coming and, of course, your speaker, homegrown boy, David Wilkins. I'm honored that you all have been here today. I drove in and went by the BMW plant for about the hundredth time, and it was good that I was traveling by it with Carroll Campbell, who made sure that the BMW plant came here the first time around. Governor, it's good to see you. Thank you for coming. I want to thank the high sheriff of Greenville County, Sam Simmons I don't know if you call him the high sheriff around here or not, but play like you do, if you don't. Laughter But I want to thank the sheriff. I want to thank Willie Johnson, the chief. I want to thank Tom McDowell, chief of the fire department John Zaragoza as well. And again, I want to thank you all for coming. The interesting thing about September the 11th is that even though the attacks were on two major cities, it reminded us and in the aftermath reminded us that we're all vulnerable as well. I mean, after all, you might remember that some of the initial discussions after September the 11th, about potential threat, was about crop dusters. Now, they don't have a lot of crop dusters, you know, in Manhattan. They've got a lot of crop dusters in South Carolina or Texas. In other words, some of the intelligence we were getting was that not only were the enemy willing to use airplanes, obviously, as weapons, but what we were concerned about was that they would use other methods, like using a crop duster to spray a weapon of mass destruction, if possible. It's an indication that we had to be on alert to defend all sites and all locations in our country. We knew they were evil, and we're beginning to learn how really evil their intentions were, after September the 11th. And that's why Tom and I and many of you all and others around the country have got plans in place to defend power generating plants, dams and reservoirs, livestock and crops, all kinds of areas. I mean, the truth of the matter is, homeland security in the heartland is just as important as homeland security in the big cities. And that's what we're here to talk about today, to make sure that America is safe. See, that's my most important job. My most important job is to work with Federal, State, and local officials to prevent the enemy from hitting us again and taking innocent life. I think about it every day. And even though they're still under threat and we are under threat we're getting better prepared every day. I sent a budget up to Congress that reflects my priority. The first responders of America, all across America, must have the resources necessary to respond to emergencies and save lives. In the budget we sent up, there is a 1,000 percent increase for first responders requests 3.5 billion to make your jobs easier. I've requested 327 million right away, right off the bat, to provide critical training and equipment to first responders 327 will come this year, hopefully 3.5 is for next budget cycle. In places like Pickens, South Carolina, and Union and Greer and by the way, I've been to all three and enjoyed every minute of it. One of the bedrock principles of smalltown life is, you help a neighbor in need. A volunteer firefighter in Fort Mills, South Carolina, put it this way "We may not be a big department like New York City, but we have the same goal, to help our neighbors in time of trouble." That's how you all feel too. That's how the Crawford, Texas, volunteer fire department feels as well. I'm a proud booster. And one of the things we've got to do is to understand that we've got to strengthen security in smalltown America as well by helping smaller communities and smaller counties develop what we call mutual aid agreements. And in the budget that I've submitted to Congress, there's 140 million to do just that. If one town has got them a good hospital facility, another may be able to lend fire trucks a third may be a home to hazardous material experts. But we've got to develop these mutual pacts so that we can coordinate efforts, pool resources all aimed at helping a neighbor in need, if we need to. So one of the things we're doing is focusing on the big cities, medium sized cities like Greenville. But we understand we've got to have a strategy for rural South Carolina and rural America as well. And I'm here to assure the good folks of South Carolina that the strategies that we're putting out, the strategies that we're going to outline and work with the States and local authorities on, will also include rural South Carolina, to make sure that assets are pooled, personnel is coordinated all aimed at buttoning up the homeland of the United States and preparing our country. But I want you to know that the best homeland security, the best way to secure the homeland and protect innocent life, is to find the enemy wherever they hide and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what we're going to do. We will hunt them down one by one. And after September the 11th, we started. And I said as plainly as I could speak, mustering up as much Midland, Texas, as I could find I said, "Either you are with us, or you're against us." And I made it clear that if anybody harbored a terrorist or they fed a terrorist or they hid a terrorist, they're just as guilty as the murderers who took innocent life on September the 11th. And thanks to a mighty United States military, the Taliban found out exactly what I meant. I'm proud of our military. And for those of you who have got a relative in the military, I want you to thank them on behalf of a grateful nation. But we've got to do more than thank them. We've got to make sure that they've got the best training, the best equipment, the best pay possible. And that's why the budget I submitted to the United States Congress not only includes a significant increase for first responders and homeland security issues, but it is the largest increase in military spending in two decades. Because I understand that the price of freedom is high, but as far as I'm concerned, it is never too high when it comes to the defense of freedom. And that's what we're defending. We don't seek revenge we seek justice. But it's more than just justice. This Nation will defend freedom. We defend the freedom to worship we defend the freedom to speak we defend the freedom for all Americans, regardless of their background, to enjoy a country that says, if you work hard, you can realize your dreams. That's what we defend. And this enemy of ours hates what we stand for. They can't stand us. They're ruthless murderers. And they must not have understood America when they attacked us. They thought we were weak. They thought we were so self absorbed in our materialism that all we would probably do is just sue them. Laughter Man, were they wrong. We've thrown the Taliban out. And this past weekend, for the first time, many young women went to school. We went into Afghanistan not as conquerors but as liberators, as people who are willing to sacrifice to defend our freedoms. The first phase of the war is over holding people accountable for harboring a terrorist that message is now loud and clear. I think other governments have heard that message. And the next message is this We're going to keep you on the run. If you're a killer, we're going to treat you for what you are, an international criminal with no place to hide, no place to sleep. Oh, I know some of them think there's a cave deep enough. We're patient we're determined we're united. As proud and patriotic Americans, I can assure you that distance between September the 11th is not going to cause me to weaken in my determination to defend our country and to fight for freedom. I also want to explain right quickly what I meant when I was talking about the axis of evil. Let me put it to you this way We cannot allow nations that have got a history of totalitarianism and dictatorship a nation, for example, like Iraq, that poisoned her own people to develop a weapon of mass destruction and mate up with terrorist organizations who hate freedom loving countries. We can't afford to do that, for the sake of our children and our children's children. History has called this Nation into action, and we're not going to let the world's worst leaders develop and maintain and deploy and aim, at us or our friends, the world's worst weapons. My fellow Americans, we've got a lot at stake. We've got a lot at stake at home and a lot at stake around the world. We've been called, and I'm here to assure you this great country is prepared and willing and will answer the call to freedom. And I believe there's another calling at home as well. I believe that we have an opportunity to fight evil at home in a different kind of way than people would have imagined. I'm asked all the time by people, "What can I do in a war against terror?" You all are answering that call. But there's something else I'd like for you and others in South Carolina and around America to do. You see, in order to fight evil, we can stand strongly in the face of evil with acts of kindness and compassion. We can better love our neighbor like we'd like to be loved ourself. You see, the great strength of America is not necessarily our military might, and it's certainly not our Government, even though the system is great and the military is strong. The great strength of America are the hearts and soul the great strength is the heart and soul of our country that's the strength. The strength of the country comes when somebody walks across the street to a neighbor in need and says, "What can I do to help you" when somebody walks in to a shut in and says, "I care about you" or somebody mentors a child, teaching that child how to read or a church or a synagogue or a mosque comes up with a program based upon faith of the Almighty to help a person whip alcohol or drugs. That's the great strength of America. And I believe out of this evil will come incredible goodness. I know this country can stand squarely in the face of evil by loving a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. And today we've got a high school student, Gus Samuel. Please stand up, Gus. Gus is here because he is a living example of what I'm talking about. This guy goes to high school, and yet he is active in the Salvation Army, and he finds time to work with youngsters in the Girls and Boys Club. Our society can be changed one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time. And it's the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness, because of guys like Gus, that we will show the world the true heart of America, and we will stand squarely in the face of the evil ones who did not understand who they were attacking. Out of the evil will come a more lasting peace, if we're tough and firm. And out of the evil will come a new renewal of heart in the greatest land on the face of the Earth. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. Thank you all. March 27, 2002 Thank you all very much. It is such an honor to be back in Atlanta, on the campus of one of the great universities in our country. I want to thank Wayne, the president of the university, for hosting us. And Saxby, thank you for your leadership and your strong support of our national effort to defend the homeland. I want to thank the Governor and the first lady for being here. The last time I saw you was at Booker T. Washington High School. I was honored that you all came and took time out of your day to help us focus the Nation's attention on how best to secure the homeland. I want to thank all who work at the Center for Emergency Response Technology, Instruction, and Policy. I have just seen a demonstration that helps prepare the emergency firefighters and firefighters and the police how to take care of a disaster or an attack, how best to protect the citizens. This is an innovative training center. And I want to thank all those involved with the center for your hospitality and for the chance to see firsthand how Atlanta and the State of Georgia are preparing for any possible attack. I particularly want to thank the guy who they cut off his clothes and ran him through water. That goes beyond the call of duty to impress the President. Laughter There he is. Better you than me. Laughter I'm also here to say thanks to those who wear the uniform, the policemen, policewomen, the firefighters, the emergency medical teams, all of whom work hours on hours to serve the people of Georgia and the United States of America. My first responsibility as your President is to protect the American people and to provide a strategy that not only protects the American people but, should there ever be another incident, provides response, quick response for the American people. I picked a good friend, a former Governor colleague of Roy and mine, to serve as the Director of Homeland Security. His job is to develop a strategy, a national strategy that uses national, State, and local assets to protect the homeland. And I picked a very good man to take on this assignment. Tom Ridge is doing a heck of a good job, and I'm so honored he left his job as Governor. Part of that homeland security measure is to enhance the capacity of first responders to deal with any kind of emergency. And that's what we're watching today, the training of first responders. Those who have called into action must be able to save as many lives as possible. And that's why the budget I submitted for '03 has 3.5 billion available for State and local governments to enhance the capacity of our first responders to deal with any crisis that might arise. As well, I submitted what we call a supplemental budget request that's an emergency request. And part of that emergency request is nearly 5 billion to make sure that we make our airports more secure and make our borders more secure. What we want to know in America is, who's coming into the United States and why and, if they're leaving, when they're supposed to leave, in order to make sure we protect the homeland. So, in other words, what we've done is we're making the borders more secure. We're dealing with first time responders to make sure they've got what's needed to be able to respond. As well, I understand how it works in rural parts of our country, like Georgia. I've got a pretty good handle on what happens in rural Georgia. I cut my teeth on rural Georgia in 1968 and '69 as a pilot trainee in Valdosta, Georgia, home of the mighty Bulldogs, I think they're called. I also understand the role of the volunteer firefighter. You've got a lot of fine citizens serving as volunteer firefighters in your State. We've got a lot in my State. I'm a proud backer of the Crawford Volunteer Fire Department, Crawford, Texas. And one of the things that I know is that not all rural counties in Georgia or in Texas or anywhere else can have all the equipment necessary to be an integral part of the first line of response. But I do know that neighbors like to work with neighbors. And I do know that one county might have a good hospital another county might have the capacity to respond. So we've got money in our budget, Governor, for what I call mutual aid agreements. There's 140 million in the budget to encourage rural counties to pool their resources, their talents, their time to be able to respond to any kind of attack. We've got a big focus on the big cities like Atlanta and the surrounding counties. But we've also got to make sure that our rural areas all across America also have got a capacity to respond. You also need to know that we are spending a great deal of time trying to gather as much intelligence as we possibly can to make sure that we follow every lead to protect the American people. If we get a hint that somebody is coming, we're going to respond. We're chasing down every applause and part of a modern homeland defense system is one that shares information more timely, not only amongst Federal agencies but amongst State and local authorities. The enemy is a dangerous group of people. There's no way to rehabilitate these folks. They are murderers. And they hate what America stands for. See, they can't stand the thought that we're a society that welcomes all religions, that we value freedom of religion as a part of our basic core. They hate the idea of political discourse and debate, freedom to speak. They don't even like the free press. They don't like much about what America stands for. And I want to issue this warning to the American people that they're still after us. But we're on alert. And I want to thank all the local law enforcement officials and everybody else who has got positions of responsibility for paying attention and for reporting anything that seems out of the ordinary, so we can follow it up to make sure it's not a real threat to America. But the surest way that we protect the homeland is to run them down one by one and bring them to justice, and that's what we're going to do. I want to thank you for giving me the chance to come and share with you some of my thoughts about this war against terrorists and terrorism. First, I see a lot of young folks here. I want to assure you of a couple of things about our country. First, we don't do this, take this action, out of revenge. We seek justice, not revenge. We seek justice. And secondly, we take this action because we believe so deeply in freedom. We love our freedom. And this Nation will stand strong and steady when it comes to defending our freedoms. I also want you to know that I laid out a doctrine and it's really important for when the United States speaks, it means what they say. And I said that if you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist if you feed one or hide one, you're just as guilty as those who came and murdered thousands of innocent Americans. It's an important part of any foreign policy to do what you say you're going to do. And we did. Thanks to the mighty United States military, the Taliban no longer is in power. But I want to make two points to the young One, we're not alone in this. There's a vast coalition of other countries that love freedom like we do. And secondly, your country went into Afghanistan not as conquerors, but we were liberators. It is hard to believe what I'm about to tell you, but there are hundreds of young girls in Afghanistan who weren't allowed to go to school. And thanks to the United States Government and the coalition we put together, last weekend children boys and girls got to go to school in Afghanistan. But our defense of freedom is far from over. While we have held the doctrine in Afghanistan, the doctrine of "thou shall not harbor a terrorist," there still are killers running loose there just are. And we must deal with that fact. And the best way to deal with it is to make sure there is no sanctuary, no haven, no place for them to group up or to train. The best way to deal with that is to cut off their money, is to insist that you're either with us or you're against us, insist that there be action when it comes to nations in the world, is to hold people accountable in the name of freedom. And so the United States Government is today determined and steadfast and patient and resolved to chase down any criminal, any international terrorist, and bring them to justice. And the good news is the American people understand the cause. They understand the need. They understand that history has called us into action, and we must not blink. And we must not grow weary, because I repeat We fight for freedom. We fight for values we hold so dear and precious. Now, I believe that by being firm and disciplined and determined, we can achieve peace throughout the world. I believe out of this incredible evil that was done on September the 11th, we can realize good. And one of the good is going to be peace. It is awfully hard to realize there can be peace in a place like the Middle East. My heart breaks for those innocent lives that are lost on a daily basis. And today there was another suicide bomber who murdered innocent Israelis. This callous, this coldblooded killing, it must stop. I condemn it in the most strongest of terms. I call upon Mr. Arafat and the Palestinian Authority to do everything in their power to stop the terrorist killing, because there are people in the Middle East who would rather kill than have peace. If the United States is firm and strong in routing out terror, if the United States stays steady in our quest for peace, I believe we can achieve peace in places where people think we'll never have peace. The road is going to be hard, there's no question about it. It'll test our will it'll test our determination. But the enemy that struck us is going to find out what we're made out of. They've already found out a small taste about what we're made out of. You know, when they hit us, they must have thought we were so self absorbed and so materialistic that we would sue them. Laughter They were wrong. They're also wrong about one other thing. Our Nation our Nation is not only a strong and determined nation, we are a compassionate nation. We're a nation who will show the world our true face by not only putting a military in place that's well paid, well trained, well equipped but also by loving a neighbor like we'd like to be loved ourself. Today I had two fine Americans if you all would stand, please come out to the airport. These good folks take time out of their lives. These are citizens that have heard a call to love a neighbor like they'd like to be loved themselves. They spend extra time helping a neighbor in need. They've asked the question, "What can I do to make my society a better place" you can sit down if you like "how can I serve something how can I serve something greater than myself?" Thank you all for coming to the airport. Thank you for your service to your community. Thank you for teaching children to read. Thank you for mentoring. Thank you for having served in AmeriCorps. You see, if you want to help in the war against terror, find somebody whose heart may be broken and help mend it by loving them. Walk across the street and say to a shut in, "I care for you." Mentor a child on how to read. If you're a mom or a dad, love your children with all your heart and all your soul. It's the accumulation of millions of acts of kindness and decency that define the true nature of our country. And by loving a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself, you help stand square in the face of evil. The evil ones hit us. I believe the world can be more peaceful. I know our Nation can be more compassionate. And as a result, those who died on September the 11th and those who died subsequently defending freedom will not have died in vain. Thank you all for coming. God bless. March 26, 2002 Well, thank you, Tommy, very much, and welcome to the White House for this historic announcement. I appreciate your leadership, Tommy, in leading this administration's strong efforts to improve our Nation's health care, to make sure that more Americans get affordable health care, better patient protections, that the system puts our patients first, the system understands the importance of our docs, and we value that relationship, patient and doctor. I also want to assure our fellow Americans that we're going to make and are making an unprecedented commitment to medical research. And we're improving our public health system to make sure that we can respond quickly to any biological threat that our country may face. We're putting sound health care policies in place and, as importantly, putting a quality team in place. And that's what we're here to discuss today. It's my honor to nominate two fine men to head important Government institutions, to take important jobs. My nominee to lead the National Institute of Health is Elias Zerhouni, and my nominee as the next Surgeon General is Richard Carmona. These are distinguished physicians who have worked tirelessly to save lives and to improve lives. They bring exceptional knowledge and skill to these critical jobs. And they are absolutely dedicated to improving the health and well being of all Americans. It is my honor to welcome their families here as well. Thank you all for coming, Nadia Zerhouni and her children, and Diane Carmona and her children. We welcome you all, and we're glad you're here. I want to thank the Acting NIH Director, Ruth Kirschstein, for being here as well. Where are you, Ruth? There you are. Thank you so much, Ruth, for a fine job. I appreciate the Acting Surgeon General. Ken, where are you? Ken, thank you for being here, and thank you for your fine job as well. I want to thank the former NIH Director, Harold Varmus, for being here. Antonia Novello is here. Thank you, Antonia. I remember you. Laughter She was a former Surgeon General under "41." Laughter And I'm so pleased that former House Minority Leader Bob Michel, former Senator Dennis DeConcini of Arizona, former Congressman John Porter, as well, from Illinois, is here. Thank you all for coming. We're honored you're here. And I also want to thank the Ambassador from Algeria for being here as well. Thank you all for coming. The National Institutes of Health is entering a new era of medical promise. NIH researchers recently cracked the genetic code, an amazing achievement with enormous potential benefits. New diagnostic tools are alerting patients when they have an elevated risk of certain diseases, so they can take an active role in preventing them. New treatment therapies will be tailor made for an individual's genetic makeup. And many medical treatments will become less invasive. American medicine is on the verge of dramatic progress against AIDS, against diabetes, and against heart disease. We're closing in on cancer's cause and cancer's cure. The anthrax attacks against American citizens also demonstrated the need to strengthen our defenses against bioterrorism. Medical research will improve our ability to identify and respond and treat infectious diseases, whether they occur naturally or are used as terrorist weapons. The NIH has taken a leading role in this important front on the war against terror. The work of the National Institutes of Health have never been more promising and never been more important. Leading the NIH is a great responsibility, and I have picked the right man to do so. Dr. Zerhouni and his wife immigrated to America from Algeria with 300 in their pocket, but a dream of opportunity. Today, he is the executive vice dean of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the chairman of the department of radiology and radiological science at Johns Hopkins, and a professor of radiology and biomedical engineering. He is an expert in biomedical research and is committed to extending his benefits to all Americans and all humanity. Dr. Zerhouni will also bring strong management skills to the NIH, and they are needed. This is a large and complex organization. The NIH budget has grown dramatically from around 2 billion in 1975 to more than 23 billion today. And my 2003 budget proposes an additional increase of nearly 4 billion. I urge Congress to approve this increase, and when they do, we will have completed my campaign commitment to double funding to this vital medical research over the next 5 years. Dr. Zerhouni is well prepared to manage this rapidly growing institution during times of great new opportunity and urgent biodefense needs. He has supervised research at Johns Hopkins, one of our Nation's leading research facilities. One former colleague calls him a quadruple threat a doctor who excels at teaching, researching, patient care, and management. Dr. Zerhouni shares my view that human life is precious and should not be exploited or destroyed for the benefits of others. And he shares my view that the promise of ethically conducted medical research is limitless. As Director of the NIH, Dr. Zerhouni will be at the forefront of our efforts to promote biomedical research with a careful regard for the bounds of medical ethics. Dr. Zerhouni, thank you for accepting this incredibly exciting challenge. Translating medical research into practical life improving changes is a critical function of the Surgeon General. Since 1871, the Surgeon General has been America's chief health educator, giving Americans the best, most up to date knowledge on how to improve their health and reduce the risk of disease. When I first learned that Dr. Richard Carmona once dangled out of a moving helicopter, I worried that maybe he wasn't the best guy to educate our Americans about reducing health risks. Laughter But that turned out to be just one of several times that Dr. Carmona risked his own life to save others. As an Army Green Beret in Vietnam, a decorated police officer in Pima County, Arizona, a SWAT team member, a nurse, and a physician, Dr. Carmona has redefined the term "hands on medicine." Dr. Carmona currently serves as the clinical professor of surgery and clinical assistant professor of family and community medicine at the University of Arizona. He is also the chairman of the State of Arizona Southern Regional Emergency Medical System. He will bring to the Surgeon General's Office a proven commitment to service and a strong management background. The next Surgeon General will address three particularly urgent issues. First, the Surgeon General administers the 5,600 member Public Health Service Commission Corps, health care professionals who are on call for emergency duty. Members of this force were deployed in New York and Washington, DC, after the terrorist attacks of September the 11th and during the anthrax attacks that followed. Dr. Carmona has worked for many years in law enforcement and community preparedness, important preparation for any emergency that may come. Dr. Carmona is an experienced voice to help educate Americans about the best precautions and response to the threat of bioterrorism. Second, I have asked Dr. Carmona to lead an important initiative focusing on prevention and lifelong healthy living as a key component to medical care. The research is overwhelming that simple improvements in diet and exercise would result in dramatic improvements in America's health. Studies show that overweight Americans who are at risk of developing type II diabetes or coronary heart disease can delay and possibly prevent these diseases with just moderate exercise and a healthy diet. Walking 30 minutes a day will dramatically improve your life. Playing a game with your children in your backyard will help. Walking in a park can make a difference to your health. These relatively small actions can dramatically reduce costs and strain on our health care system. Fitness and a healthy lifestyle are a priority for me. I really like to run. It makes me feel better. The doc and I are going to encourage all our country to either run or walk or swim or bicycle for the good of their families, for the good of their own health, and for the good of the health of the Nation. And thirdly, Dr. Carmona is going to speak regularly to the Nation about alcohol and drug abuse and the tremendous toll they take on our society. Substance abuse by students undermines academic achievement and dims the great hope of the American Dream. Alcohol is a prime cause for many of our society's ills, not the least of which is domestic violence. And the long term health effects of alcohol and drug abuse are devastating. If we want to live healthier and longer, we're going to have to tackle the problems of alcohol and drug abuse. And Dr. Carmona's going to make that one of his priorities. Doctor, I thank you so very much for your willingness to serve our country. I have found two fine Americans who are willing to serve our Nation, and I'm grateful for their service. It is now my honor to welcome to the podium Dr. Zerhouni, the nominee to run our National Institute of Health. March 25, 2002 Your Eminence, I can't spend enough time with you. Laughter I love your gentle soul, and I love your guidance and your advice. And anytime you want to come back, just give me a call. Laughter I'm so glad you're here. And I want to thank you all for joining us to celebrate this important day for Greece. I want to honor the heritage of liberty that both the Greeks and the Americans share. There's no better place to do this than in the White House, the symbol of liberty and the symbol of freedom. I want to thank the Greek Under Secretary of Foreign Affairs for being here as well. I appreciate you coming. I want to thank the Ambassador the Greek Ambassador to the United States and the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the United States as well. You all are welcome here. Thank you for coming. It's great to see you again. I'm glad to see Ambassador George Argyros is here as well. I never thought he'd get through the confirmation process. Laughter But he is my Ambassador to Spain and is doing a very fine job. I appreciate so much the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, George Tenet, for being here as well. One hundred and eighty one years ago, our Nation supported the cause of Greek independence. And we have admired the progress Greece has made since. Yet well before we recognized the independence of modern Greece, the Greek heritage had a great impact on American independence. Many of America's founders knew Greek history better than our own. They drew on Greece's political heritage in framing our Constitution. America's love for liberty has deep roots in the spirit of Greece. The spirit of liberty has always had enemies. It's important for us to remember our history, that there are some who can't stand liberty and freedom, as we learned so tragically on September the 11th. The terrorists who attack us hate the very idea of human freedom. They cannot stand the thought of freedom of religion. It must make them very nervous to know that a Methodist is standing next to His Eminence laughter in a free society, in a society that welcomes people to worship freely and as they so choose. They hate freedom of speech. They can't stand the thought of people speaking their minds. They hate our system. They also thought we were weak and soft. And they're wrong, and they're learning it every day. They learned it in Afghanistan, where we went into that country not to seek revenge but to seek justice. And this weekend, little girls went to school for the first time some little girls went to school for the first time in Afghanistan, showing the world that we didn't go into Afghanistan as conquerors but as liberators. And they're going to find out how tough we are. Because I want to assure you all that we're going to hunt them down one by one until our homeland is secure, until freedom is secure, to make sure our children and our grandchildren can live in a free and peaceful world. One ancient Greek statesman put it this way. He said, "We are free to live exactly as we please, yet we are ready to face any danger." He might as well have been talking about the United States of America. Fortunately, we don't face danger alone. There are other people who love freedom as well in this world. Greece and America have been firm allies in the great struggles for liberty. Greece was one of only a handful of countries that fought alongside the United States in every major 20th century war. And Americans will always remember Greek heroism and Greek sacrifice for the sake of freedom. As the 21st century dawns, Greece and America are once again stand united, this time in the fight against terrorism. Greece is a part of the coalition of nations helping bring justice to those who would harm us, harm the people of Greece, harm anybody who loves freedom. The United States deeply appreciates the role Greece is playing in the war against terror. We thank Greece for access to the military base in Souda Bay, Crete, and for providing a naval frigate for patrolling the Arabian Sea. And just as Greece has stood side by side with the United States, the United States stands ready to encourage the continued warming of Greek and Turkish relations. We welcome the resumption of diplomatic talks on Cyprus and hope that they will lead to a final settlement that strengthens regional peace and stability. America and Greece are strong allies, and we're strategic partners. Our Nation has been inspired by Greek ideals and enriched by Greek immigrants. Today, about one million Americans claim Greek origin. They've made a mark in every field. America is better for the one million Americans who live here. In my administration, John Negroponte heads our United Nations, and he's doing a fine job. And as a part of my war council, the National Security Council, sits George Tenet, whose advice and steady hand have been invaluable to our success. Today we honor Greek independence and the Greek spirit, a spirit of liberty and a spirit of courage, a spirit that values family and education and public service and faith, a spirit that has helped make America what it is today. It is my honor to welcome you all here. May God bless Greece, and may God continue to bless America. March 24, 2002 President Flores Perez. Good afternoon. It is an honor for us to be here with you and to be able to answer the questions that you want to ask President Bush and myself. I would like to start by saying that for El Salvador, it is an immense honor to have President Bush in our land. El Salvador has been a country that has faced enormous difficulties the war, combat against poverty, earthquakes. And El Salvador has done this through a system of freedoms in the search of a democracy, the search of economic freedom as well giving people the opportunity the opportunity to get education, to trade of their products, and to integrate into the new world. So a country like ours that believes in freedom feels especially honored to have a world leader that has built a leadership based on values and principles, values that have to do with the rights of human beings. And this allows us, countries that are so different like the United States and El Salvador, to find each other in a common point. So welcome to our country, President Bush. It is an immense honor to have you here in our country. President Bush. Gracias, Senor Presidente, mi amigo. Thank you, President Flores, for providing such warm hospitality in this beautiful country. Laura and I were struck, when we flew in, about your beautiful mountains and your beautiful sea. I'm honored to be here for the first time in my life. We've just completed our fifth meeting this is the fifth time that the President and I have met. And in each of them, I have come away from our meetings most optimistic about the future of El Salvador. I truly believe this country has got a unique President and a great President. El Salvador and the reason why I believe that is because of the success of the country. El Salvador is one of the really great stories of economic and political transformation of our time. Just over a decade ago, this country was in civil war. For millions of Salvadorans, violence was a daily reality, and prosperity was just a distant dream. Today, El Salvador is at peace. The country has renewed its commitment to democracy and economic reform and trade. It is one of the freest and strongest and most stable countries in our hemisphere. The United States considers El Salvador a close friend and strong ally. As friends, we come to each other's aids in times of crisis. Since September the 11th, El Salvador has been unwavering in its support for the international coalition against terrorism. I want to thank the President and the people of El Salvador for their prayers for the American people during this crisis. I want to thank you as well for ordering a freeze on suspected terrorist assets and for strengthening your border security. And when the devastating earthquakes hit El Salvador last year, the United States immediately dispatched rescueworkers and relief assistance. We proudly contributed millions of dollars to El Salvador's reconstruction effort. And we will spend even more in the year 2002. Our countries are united by ties of commerce and culture and kinship. The large number of Salvadorans who live in the United States make valuable contributions to our economy and send approximately 2 billion back home to family members in El Salvador each year, cada a o. Trade between our countries now approaches 4 billion annually. That is up 140 percent. And trade means jobs. Trade means people who want to work are more likely to find jobs in both countries. El Salvador is one of the really bright lights in Latin America. Many countries in this region have changed old ways and have found new wealth and new freedom. In this coming decade, El Salvador and the United States and nations throughout this hemisphere are committed to maintaining and extending this progress. Greater trade can help us accomplish this goal. In January, I announced we would pursue a free trade agreement with Central American nations. And the President and I, after this press conference, will be having lunch with other leaders in Central America to discuss this very proposition. And we're also going to continue to pursue the Free Trade of the Americas, which aims to encompass the entire hemisphere in a free trade agreement. Completing these agreements will promote prosperity throughout the hemisphere and reinforce the region's progress toward political and economic and social reform. I just met with two El Salvadorans, who are seated right here, who personify the cause of reform. One's an architect, and one's an economist. They are El Salvador's first two participants in the Americas Fellows Program. Soon, they will be coming to Washington to spend time working in the United States Government offices, where I believe they will acquire new skills and training. And they can bring them back home and share them with others. And thank you all so very much about participating in the program. I'm also optimistic about this country's future. There's no doubt in my mind that because of this man's leadership, there are bright days ahead for El Salvador. And it's an honor to be invited here, and it's an honor to call him friend. And I want to confirm the fact that this Nation remains a strong ally with the great people of El Salvador. Senor Presidente, gracias. Questions. El Salvador U.S. Trade Immigration Q. Good afternoon, President Bush. Good afternoon, President Flores. As you said, I'm William Melendez from Channel 12, and I have the honor of trying to summarize the questions of all my other colleagues and the mass media of El Salvador. Presidents, the benefits, the needed benefits of a free trade agreement can delay themselves, if we are not mistaken, to arrive to our countries, maybe 5, 6 years, because the mechanism is a bilateral mechanism, bilateral negotiation. And so the migration could continue working hard during that phase. I would like to know, what will the treatment be of the United States of America for those fellow men of ours, so that they can regulate their migration status immediately? And besides, since poverty is the weakness, what conditions could be applied so that the countries, the poorer countries of our region, especially El Salvador, can optimize their resources and avoid that the states could become main allies of the economic oligopolies? President Bush. A couple points. One, you're right, trade agreements sometimes take too long. And we intend to push as hard as we possibly can to get the trade agreement done. I was very serious when I announced the trade agreement, and we're going to work hard to expedite the agreement. Secondly, the President made an interesting suggestion, which I will take very seriously. He said, "Make sure that a country is allowed to accelerate its moving into a free trade agreement." In other words, if the country meets conditions and conditions of rule of law and private property, conditions that I'm confident El Salvador will meet early let us make sure that if another nation hadn't met those conditions, El Salvador can ascend to the free trade agreement early. So one way to cut the time is to analyze the President's request. It made a lot of sense to me, and we'll take a good look at it. There's no question there's a lot of hard working Salvadorans in the United States. And the first thing I want to assure the people of this good country is that we want to make sure they're treated with respect. We want them to be we recognize I recognize that family values, something we talk a lot about in America, don't stop at the Rio Bravo. There are people who care deeply about their families in El Salvador. They want to work. They're looking for jobs. And so the cornerstone of good economic policy, or good immigration policy, is to match a willing employer with a willing worker, to make that happen, to facilitate that arrangement. And that's going to be the cornerstone of immigration reform in the as this issue comes up in Congress. On the other hand, there are specific areas of immigration policy that affects the people of El Salvador, starting with TPS. My administration granted TPS last time the issue came up. And it doesn't come up until September, and we'll take a very hard look at it this summer. And the second issue is a bill that's working through the Congress, introduced, if I'm not mistaken, by a Democrat and a Republican one named Berman, one named Davis that would grant the same status to Salvadorans, Hondurans, Guatemalans, as those granted to Nicaraguans and Cubans. And we will take a look at that bill as well. In terms of oligopoly, the best way to avoid oligopolies is to encourage open markets and competition. The best way to make sure that oligopolies do not dominate an economy to the detriment of the people is to do what the President's done Insist that the markets be open insist that competition allowed is encouraged. And another way to enhance open markets and competition is through trade, honest, open trade. And so that's what I've come to talk about today. And I believe President Flores is on the absolute right track to making sure oligopolies don't dominate this economy. Ken Walsh, U.S. News, fine American. Laughter Campaign Finance Reform Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, when you return home, new campaign finance legislation will be awaiting your signature. I wonder if you could tell us if you're going to given your criticisms of campaign finance legislation in the past if you're going to sign this bill reluctantly or wholeheartedly, what the impact you think will be on our political system, and how you regard the impending legal challenge to the legislation? President Bush. I sign it I have a kind of a firm, semifirm signature, as it moves across the page laughter . I wouldn't be signing it if I didn't think it improved the system. And I think it improves the system this way One, individuals will be allowed to contribute more to the campaigns. I've always been skeptical of a system where monies were put into the system where people didn't have a choice, whether it be a labor union worker or a shareholder of a corporation. Sometimes shareholders of corporations they might make an investment for, hopefully, a good rate of return, and yet they wake up and realize that some CEO or somebody's made the decision to support a political party or a candidate not of their choosing. And I've always thought that the individual ought to have a choice. And so, therefore, the fact that the system encourages more individual participation, I think, is positive. Finally, they've raised individual limits. I also think this will help challengers. And as much as I now love incumbency laughter I think it's important to encourage challenges in the system. I am worried about some of the provisions I stated so in my signing statement.One such provision was that you can't they're going to try to control who can participate in the election process in the last 60 days. And we'll see whether or not that stands up. I'm going to stay, by the way, totally apart from the legal matters. One of the things I'm disappointed in the law is and again, this may not stand a court challenge but I've always thought that people who pump money into the political system we ought to know who they are. I was a little discouraged not discouraged I was quite discouraged at the end of the 2000 campaign to see tons of dollars flowing into the political campaign at the last minute, on these so called independent groups, and we didn't know who was funding them. And you know the kind of ads I'm talking about, scurrilous, untrue ads, coming into the campaign a so called front group, independent, and we don't have any idea who's putting the money in. And that's not good for democracy. And so I didn't particularly appreciate the fact that this campaign bill didn't adequately address full disclosure. Now the excuse, evidently, was the courts won't allow it. Well, I would have liked to have seen them challenge the system, to see whether the courts might allow it now that we're going into the 21st century. But nevertheless, the bill is a better bill than the current system, and I'm going to sign it. And there will be I take it back it will be a signature. I won't hesitate. It will probably take about, you know, about 3 seconds to get to the "W" I may hesitate on the period and then rip through the "Bush." Laughter Thank you. Free Trade Agreements Q. Good afternoon to both Presidents. The first question is for President Bush, because we're talking about taking very seriously the free trade agreement with Central America. President, you're also saying and talking about openness. You said that we were going to eliminate subsidies, in the International Conference for Development in Monterrey. But the market of the United States continues being a protectionist with your national there are subsidies for agriculture. I don't know how much it would be willing that is, your government to eliminate these subsidies that are really disrupting the market of the small producers. And also, if the Senate is going to approve, in the short term, the permit to start the negotiations, because it also the advancement of the free trade agreement will depend on this also. President Bush. Let me just say one thing. Look, we buy more goods from all around the world than any nation. And of course, we're the biggest nation we're the biggest market. But nevertheless, we buy billions of dollars of goods on an annual basis billions. I think it's like 650 billion a year the United States purchases from countries. And Africa alone we signed a free trade agreement with Africa, and we had a billion dollars of purchases last year, which significantly increased employment in Africa. And there are some instances where we've got farm policy, for example, where people where the Congress has decided to fund certain programs. But this our market is wide open. And by the way, anytime there's unfair trade, we will respond. And I have done so, and will continue to do so, because free trade must be fair trade as well. But I think if you look at the facts and statistics, you'll find that the U.S. market is one of the most open markets in the world, and we intend to keep it that way. President Flores Perez. I would like to say the following Never, never, in the history of El Salvador, El Salvador has had the opportunities that they have with the United States of America, thanks to the initiative of the Caribbean Basin. And never has El Salvador had the possibility of signing a free trade agreement with the United States before. So the possibility of openness that the region has with the United States has no precedent in the history. Today, that we were flying with President Bush from the airport to this site, I was telling him what this openness is doing in El Salvador. And I was explaining to him that many women in the rural areas have opportunities to work today, thanks to that openness of the United States. And it is producing a dramatic change throughout the rural areas of our country. Undoubtedly, the comparison between donated funds and trade is a comparison that is very different, because it is so much more important to have trade than donations. So in this sense, we believe that the focus of President Bush is absolutely true, that the only way to come out of poverty is through work. And the way to generate employment in our region is, giving the possibility of investment and work and labor. Obviously, the agricultural topic is a topic is an issue, but this has had an enormous advance for Q. Inaudible President Flores Perez. the Salvadorans and the region. President Bush. Are you asking another question? Q. Yes. President Bush. Okay. What is it? Q. Excuse me. My colleagues from Guatemala are asking that in Guatemala there has been the withdrawal of the visas to some militaries. And they want to know if this is part of the control or the enforcement of the improvement of economies that the countries are asking for. President Bush. Inaudible Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, what is President Bush. Raise the mike a little. Q. Don't think it goes that high. President Bush. Okay. Laughter Democratic Party's Radio Address Q. What is your reaction to the Democratic Party using its national radio address to criticize you on foreign soil, saying you made this trip to Latin America merely to pander to Hispanic voters? President Bush. Wow. That was the ad? Q. Yes. President Bush. Or not the ad, but the well, I guess I'd say, I'm disappointed. When I first got elected, I said, the best foreign policy for the United States is to have a prosperous, peaceful, and free neighborhood. My first trip as President of the United States, out of the United States, was to Mexico. And my longstanding interest in this in Mexico and Central America is well known. I firmly believe that the best policy for the United States is to pay attention to our friends, is to promote trade. Trade produces liberty and freedom. And sometimes in Washington, DC, people cannot get rid of old habits which is petty politics, Mr. President. But that's just what happens. But people in America know that our administration is focused on what's best for America. And what's best for America is a prosperous and peaceful El Salvador, y Mexico, y tambien los paises in Sur de Am rica. There is a great opportunity for all of us to be equal partners, to work otros para todos los personas que viven in nuestros paises. Senor Presidente, gracias. El honor es mio de est en este pais. It has been my honor to be in this country. Thank you very much. We have to all work together to make this happen. President Flores Perez. I just wanted to say, just to close this conference, that El Salvador, through myself, wants to express their profound appreciation to the United States of America for having accompanied us in so many difficult times. And this has to do with the leadership of President Bush. And Salvadorans want to recognize you at this moment. And I would like to end by saying this and this is very personal I have had some honors in my life, but never had I had such a high honor as President Bush calling me his friend. Thank you very much. March 23, 2002 President Toledo. This is an historic visit made by a friend representing a country with which we have had a historical relationship. It is not a merely diplomatic visit it is an official working visit. And we have touched on substantive issues which range from the open struggle against poverty, a war without quarter against terrorism and drug trafficking. I repeat, a war with no ambiguities whatsoever, against terrorism and drug trafficking. We've touched on issues of trade, education, even the Peace Corps. But my friend George Bush, this Peru is a country that welcomes you with open arms. We are renewing our friendship, and this is the beginning of a new era in the relationship between Peru and the United States. And I'm extremely happy that the two of us are able to begin this relationship. I know you seem younger than I am, but we are both 55 years old, and we have a long way ahead of us to work together. I know that we both have the energy and the stubbornness, particularly with regard to the issue of terrorism and drug trafficking, because your country, just like mine, loves peace. It appreciates life. And we are united on this. And as of today, we have a strategic alliance of hope for the future. My friend, welcome to my country. President Bush. Gracias, Senor Presidente. It is an honor for me to be the first sitting President of the United States to visit Peru. I want to thank you for the invitation. It's a greater honor for Laura and me to come here as guests of a leader who symbolizes Peru's revitalization. President Toledo and I have now met three times. At each meeting, I've been impressed by his commitment to democracy and his determination to improve the lives of the people of Peru. Peru is on the path toward greater freedom and greater prosperity, and America will be the partner in this progress, Mr. President. Earlier today our two Governments signed an agreement that will reintroduce the Peace Corps to Peru, after an absence of nearly 30 years. The first volunteers will arrive in August, a symbol of the stronger ties between our people and the stronger relationship between our nations. This relationship is based on common values and common interests. Our nations understand that political and economic progress depends on security, and that security is impossible in a world with terrorists. Peruvians have been reminded again this week of the terrible human toll of terror. On behalf of the people of the United States, I express our deep sympathy for the victims of the recent bombing and our deep sympathy for their loved ones. President Toledo and I share a common perspective on terrorism We must stop it. Since September the 11th, Peru has taken the lead in rallying our hemisphere to take strong action against this common threat. And I want to thank the President for his leadership and his strong support. Our nations understand that freedom is only as strong as the institutions protecting it. The United States is actively supporting the President's efforts to strengthen Peru's democratic foundations. And we will continue to support the work of Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which is helping correct the abuses of the past and set the course for a better future. President Toledo and I both understand the importance of providing economic opportunity to all our citizens as a hopeful alternative to the drug trade. We discussed ways to make the assistance that the United States provides under the Andean Regional Initiative more effective. And I emphasized to the President my commitment to renew and extend the Andean Trade Preferences Act. The United States House of Representatives has moved this legislation. It is stuck in the Senate, and I urge the Senate to act. President Toledo and I have agreed to renew discussions on a bilateral investment treaty and to complete a debt for nature agreement to help Peru reduce debt payments while it protects its biodiversity. I also informed the President that Secretary of Commerce Don Evans will lead a trade mission to Peru and the Andean region later this year. By building these ties of commerce, both our nations create more jobs, more investment, and more benefits for workers and consumers. President Toledo and I believe that education is the key to participation in the global economy. The President's own path in life is a lesson in how education opens up doors to opportunity. He is passionate on the subject. I love his passion, and I appreciate his commitment. And I'm pleased to announce that our country will help establish an Andean Center of Excellence for Teacher Training, with a base here in Peru. The center will support President Toledo's goal of quality schools with quality teachers, that give more Peruvians the literacy and learning they need to succeed. I've also directed the U.S. Commerce Department and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency to establish an Andean E Business Fellowship Program, to give more high tech professionals from this region the chance to learn more about information technology. President Toledo and I have a strong relationship. I'm inspired by his life I'm inspired by his story I'm inspired by his leadership. I'm impressed by Peru's progress, and I'm very confident of Peru's future. Thank you, sir. Q. Mr. President President Bush. Which one? Laughter Counterterrorism Efforts Q. You, sir. Given increasing evidence that the FARC is now operating in Peru, will you be willing to provide President Toledo extra assistance in fighting the war against terrorism here, should he ask for it? And are you concerned that what was once a regional problem in Colombia, or something restricted to Colombia, is now spreading across Colombia's borders and threatening its neighbors? President Bush. We discussed the neighborhood at length today. President Toledo told me that he is now that he's done a very good job, or the country's done a good job, of making sure that relations with neighbors north and south are peaceful, that he is moving troops and making decisions to prevent terrorists from coming into his country from Colombia. And we will help him in this effort. That's part of the reason why we're here is to support our mutual desire to fight terror and to help this good democracy thrive. Later on today we'll be talking with Presidents from and one Vice President from the Andean nations. And we'll be discussing our common desire to prevent terrorist groups like the FARC from holding people and nations hostage. And I'm absolutely convinced, having talked to the President three times, that he will do everything in his power to rout out terror, not let it take hold, and preserve the institutions that make Peru a beacon for democracy. Q. Inaudible President Toledo. No, the evidence that we have is I repeat, the evidence that we have indicates that there is no transfer of the FARC into Peru. However, we are adopting every measure possible. The Minister of Defense was at the border very recently. We took our bases that were along the border with Ecuador where, after signing the peace agreement, there is no need for their presence we removed them, as a precautionary measure, over to the border with Colombia. As President Bush just indicated, this is a joint task. What happens to Colombia affects us, and vice versa. But here, too, we're partners. And I think that the issues that have to do with the Andean community are issues on which President Bush is extremely interested, and I'm sure that we will be working together on these. We are going to work together on this I'm sure of that. Peru U.S. Relations Q. President Bush, you granted an audience recently to my daily, El Comercio, at the White House, and you said in that interview that Peru, for the United States, is not only a friend but an ally. I'd like to ask you, beyond trade preferences and the commitment to struggle against drug trafficking, what will be the major elements in your administration that would highlight this different relationship you want to have with Peru? For example, would you open up an antechamber, so to speak, for Peru to come into a free trade agreement negotiation with the United States? And let me ask President Toledo, with regard to the issue of shared responsibility in the fight against drug trafficking, would you take on the commitment, before President Bush, to establish a control office that would monitor whatever the United States does not comply with? President Bush. I listed quite a few things in my opening remarks about our relationship. I believe strongly that if we promote trade and when we promote trade, it will help workers on both sides of this issue. It will help Peruvian workers, help U.S. workers. The Andean Trade Preference Act is a cornerstone of good policy, as far as I'm concerned, and it's a cornerstone of good relations. We talked about a treaty on investment that could be the beginning of a trade treaty. The President brought it up. He asked whether or not we would consider it. I said we'll take it back and discuss the issue when I get back to Washington, D.C. There's nothing more important than fostering good economic relations. I mean, the best way for people to get lifted out of poverty is a job. And the best way to encourage jobs is through trade. I mean, what we're beginning to realize in the world is, development aid is important, but development aid pales in comparison to the amount of capital that's generated through trade in the marketplace, in the private sector. And countries that open markets and countries that trade freely are countries where the people are more likely to be able to succeed. And I would not discount the importance of our relationship when it comes to fighting terror. The world has called us to action. This is a new era. We're fighting a new kind of war, and we're strong allies in that war. And when we win, our peoples will be better off. You can't alleviate poverty if there's terror in your neighborhood. It's impossible to achieve what we want if terrorists run free. And so I think one of the best things we can do to lay the foundation for a better tomorrow is to be tough and firm and not yield to threat. And that's exactly the way the President feels, and I can assure you that's the way I feel. President Toledo. I think that in the war against drug trafficking and terrorism, we are partners, not simply through conviction, my good friend, but because we, ourselves, have experienced it. We have experienced the effects of terrorism here for 20 years the United States, on September 11th. And I have here my friend Colin Powell, with whom we have a very solid human relationship because, in this very palace, we were witnesses to the news of September 11th while we were having breakfast. On this issue, we are partners I am stubborn. I am stubborn, and I believe it is not incompatible to respect the law and to be strong handed with regard to the issue of terrorism and drug trafficking. I do know there's been a decision from the U.S. Government to increase support for the struggle against drug trafficking, and I appreciate that enormously. We still have a long road ahead to walk together in this struggle, but we will do it. And Mr. Journalist, I want to underscore something that was referred to by President Bush. Trade preferences is an issue on which President Bush has demonstrated and I am a witness his will for congressional approval in the United States. The separation of powers makes it impossible for Presidents to control congresses just like I don't control mine. But that's the way democracy works. Nonetheless, we have gone beyond trade preferences Andean trade preferences. I have asked of President Bush that he consider an initiative for trade, for bilateral trade and investment within the framework of the Andean community. And we are going to be talking to our colleagues in just a few minutes. I think it's important because trade is a synonym for work, and work is a way to deal with poverty. Through work, education, and health, we can eradicate poverty. We are partners on the issue of trade, on the issue of drug trafficking and terrorism, in the defense of democracy and of human rights, my friend human rights. Peru U.S. Drug Control Cooperation Q. Mr. President, the Peruvians have expressed an urgent desire for the resumption of U.S. drug interdiction flights in Peruvian airspace. You told us yesterday in Monterrey that the issue was under rigorous review. My question to you, sir, is it your ultimate goal to see a resumption of those flights? And what preconditions would you put on those flights before authorizing resumption? And for President Toledo, if I could, sir, if you are to expect a maximum effort at a partnership with the United States to eradicate drug trafficking, why won't you make the same commitment to coca eradication as your neighbors Bolivia have? You've talked a lot about the problem being drug trafficking, but you have not made the same commitment on coca production, sir. President Bush. We are reviewing all avenues toward an effective policy of interdiction. As you know, we had a terrible situation where a young mom and her daughter lost their life that caused us to step back to take a look at our policy at home and then to work with the Peruvian Government to figure out how best to be effective at interdicting drugs. And so the discussions are ongoing. And we want to make sure that when we work with countries like Peru, that we achieve the common objective, which is to make it hard for those narcotraffickers to move through their airspace, across their land, or in oceans. I want to say something about there's a lot of talk about interdiction, and there should be. And there's a lot of talk about battling the narcotraffickers here in the Andean area, and we will. But our country has an obligation as well, not only to provide support and help. The President mentioned that we have expanded the direct aid to Peru on this issue, which we have. We've tripled it, up to about 200 million about 195 million, I think it is. But the best thing that America needs to do is reduce demand for drugs. We've got to do a better job of convincing our own country to quit using them. As demand for drugs goes down, it will take the pressure off of our friends in Peru. So we've got a double obligation, it seems like to me on the one hand, to provide help and aid that's effective and will work. And that's exactly what we spent a long time talking about, in all three of our meetings. But I want to remind our Peruvian friends that we've got to do a better job at home of convincing Americans to stop using drugs. And part of our drug initiative will be to focus on the demand side. Less demand for drugs will mean that the supply for drugs will be less urgent. And that will in turn help the region. President Toledo. Look, my friend, let me deal with your question head on. In 1990, the number of hectares with coca cultivation was approximately 140,000 total. Today, we are down to 34,000 hectares, where we have coca cultivation. Enormous progress has been made. I know it's not enough. We have a long path ahead of us yet. And we have to do this together. I know that the drug traffickers have become more sophisticated over time they have more high tech capabilities. And now we, too, have to push forward in that direction. I want to be very open, and I apologize to my friend President Bush now. We are not fighting against drug trafficking in order to satisfy the United States or Europe. Drug trafficking, in partnership with terrorism, is an issue of national security. It's an issue of national security. On Wednesday they killed 9 people, 9 of our brothers and sisters, and there are 30 people wounded. I have publicly stated, and I want to repeat this We are not going to let this stand. So let me respond to you. We have met a substantial reduction. We still have 34,000 hectares to go. But we are going to do this together. Final point. I think President Bush is extremely sincere he's extremely sincere and honest when he recognizes that as long as there is a demand out there, there will be a supply. As long as there are consumers, there will be producers. And so, together, we need to work on reducing the number of consumers, cure them better, make them better. And we need to reduce the amount of hectares under cultivation. And, footnote here, it's also true that the statistics indicate that although levels are still low, there is an increase in the consumption of cocaine among youth in Peru. And that is also part of our concern, with regard to national security. U.S. Assistance to Peru Q. President Bush, you are in a region now that's been devastated by terrorism and subversion and drug trafficking for over three decades. You're offering us the Peace Corps. I would ask you if you're willing, as President of the most powerful nation on Earth, to lead a Marshall plan for South America? President Bush. I appreciate that. I think I said more than just the Peace Corps, if I'm not mistaken, in my opening comments. Obviously, our Nation is committed to this part of the world. I've come to Peru, as the first sitting President, to express our solidarity with Peru and the people, as well as express my appreciation for a reformer who got elected who's willing to defend the institutions that make democracy go. I repeat, if you'd like me to go through the litany of things I just said the Andean Trade Preference Act the bilateral action on investment money for education money to fight drugs. We've tripled the amount of money I believe it's from 50 million up to 195 million available. And so I think our commitment is I think our commitment speaks for itself. And I appreciate so very much the chance to come and explain it to the Peruvian people that ours is more than just words ours is deeds and action. Situation in the Middle East Q. Good afternoon, President Bush. Buenas tardes, Senor Presidente. President Bush, many lawmakers in Congress are growing increasingly concerned about your policy in the Middle East, wondering if the very talk of potential high level negotiations involving Vice President Cheney, specifically, with the Palestinian leader, Yasser Arafat, might not in fact send a signal that terrorism against Israeli civilians can achieve some limited political aims. I'd like to ask you, sir, why you're contemplating that, and why those who wonder if that is not the case are incorrect? President Bush. Well, first of all, I think there's been no question that the United States has stood strong with Israel. And we've made it very clear to Mr. Arafat that he is not he's not doing all he can do to fight off terror. I can't be any more clear than that. Vice President Cheney said, depending upon the Zinni mission and General Zinni's recommendation, he might go back, if and when Arafat performs. Surely those in the Congress you talk about appreciate the fact that the administration is engaged and sent General Zinni into the region. We laid out the Tenet plan, which is the way to bring some security to the region, which would then lead to the Mitchell plan. And we're doing everything in our power to get the parties into Tenet. And we'll continue working hard to get them to Tenet. Q. Even if the violence continues President Bush. If and when if and when Mr. Arafat if and when Q. Inaudible President Bush. Excuse me. If and when Chairman Arafat performs, that's what we have said. General Zinni went to the Middle East he's leading discussions. But people shouldn't mistake our desire to get into Tenet as anything more than a desire to get to peace. And we'll continue working to do so. And Prime Minister Sharon knows where the United States stands. We're strong allies with Israel. We have been ever since I've been the President, and we'll continue to be strong allies with Israel. U.S. Assistance to Peru Q. Good afternoon to both Presidents. President Bush, just a few days ago I was able to ask you in Washington about leadership in the fight against poverty. And on this aside from the issue of being 55 and the fact that you're wearing the same color ties you are in agreement with President Alejandro Toledo, who also insists on fighting against poverty. But the fight against poverty presupposes and this has been stated by Dr. Toledo thinking of reducing arms in Latin America, because for every tank or F 16, we could buy a lot more schools. Mr. President, I'd like to know your views on this and the views of President Toledo with regard to this issue, the possibility of arms control in the South American part of the hemisphere. And the same question for President Toledo. President Bush. We may be the same age, but el tiene pelo negro. Laughter Yo tengo pelo gris. Laughter I appreciate President Toledo's work to have a security arrangement in place in the neighborhood, amongst the countries bordering Peru, that will then allow him to reinvest in education. We talked about that.And I think that is a strong commitment and a wise commitment. As far as my country's commitment goes, I gave a speech in Monterrey, Mexico, 2 days ago, where I committed our country to a 50 percent increase in development aid. But I said, it's time for the world to stop looking at inputs and to focus on outputs and that the United States, developed nations, must do more financially. And we're leading the way. But we expect other nations to develop the habits that will lead to a better opportunity for their people rule of law, a focus on education, and good health care. President Toledo understands that he's been a leader in that effort. And I think what I said in Monterrey was very important, that unless we all focus on how programs benefit people directly, no matter what the efforts or strategy is, it's likely to lead to failure. But programs and policies that understand the worth of each human being, that each individual matters, are those programs which will be successful. And so our country will try to foster that. And this President has made that commitment, for which I am grateful. President Toledo. Aside from the fact that President Bush has very good taste with regard to color in ties, he's also taller than I am. Laughter On this issue of military expenditure, we discussed it with him. And here I want to strike a difference between military expenses for armed conflicts between countries and military expenditures for defense against terrorism and drug trafficking, because these are two separate issues. I think that there is a major challenge in the world. In order to survive in this globalized and savagely competitive world we live in, we need to invest more in the minds of our people. Basically, what this means is investing more in nutrition, health, education, and justice for the poor. We won't be able to deal with the challenges of this globalized world unless we invest in the knowledge of our societies. The question immediately arises, and obviously so, in an economy that is growing, that is overcoming a recession, where do you get the money to invest in nutrition, health, and education? Well, we've made an appeal to countries at the bilateral level. And there the United States has played a very generous role, at the donors table in Madrid. And I want to publicly express my appreciation, Mr. President. There has been debt conversion, external bilateral debt swap, for social investment. And there we have been able to get a commitment of about 1 billion. This is one way to establish a financial space to invest in health, nutrition, and education. The other thing is that I believe it makes no sense in this world that as long as we have a country with 54 percent of Peruvians who live below the poverty line or 16 percent who live below the dire poverty line when I was born, the very first minute of my life when I opened my eyes, I saw the face of dire poverty. I know what this means. That's why I am convinced that we can make an effort to reduce military spending, to reorient those resources towards investment in justice and education and health, because the defense of a country no longer depends on how many tanks or ships or aircraft we have. It's all about how strong our economy is, how educated our people are. And please excuse me for being so passionate on this subject, but there is absolutely no doubt on this. And the empirical evidence is very harsh with regard to the return on investment on education and health and nutrition for our people. And here, once again, we have another point of coincidence that leads us down the same path together. I conveyed something that's very close to my heart, with regard to the Huascaran education program, and I asked our friend to support us on this. And I will be going to New York, and I'm going to talk to Mr. Bill Gates to try to promote the Huascaran project even more. But if we reduce military spending, we're going to have some financial leeway to reorient this money towards the poor, who want to overcome poverty, who want freedom. And we'll be able to deal with the challenges of the future even better. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much. March 23, 2002 Mr. President, we're so honored to be here. We want to thank you for your invitation. We want to thank you for the hospitality that you and the First Lady have shown us. And we want to thank you all for coming. I want to thank my friends the President of Colombia y de Bolivia y tambien el Vice Presidente de Ecuador. Thank you all for being here as well. I have come to Peru to congratulate the President and the people of Peru for embracing the institutions of democracy. It is such an important example for the world to see. I have come to Peru to thank the people of Peru and the President of Peru for the condolences that you sent to mi pais on September the 11th. We appreciate your prayers we appreciate your condolences and we appreciate your firm stand in the fight against terror. And I bring with me the condolences of the American people for those lives and the families whose lives were affected as a result of the cowardly bombing that took place in Lima last week. I come in the spirit of respect and cooperation, respect for the people of Peru and the desire to cooperate to advance trade and commerce and prosperity and education and health. I see a great future in our relationship, and I see a great future for the great country of Peru. So it's my honor to be here tonight to toast my friend el Presidente, the First Lady, and the people of this gran pais. March 23, 2002 Good morning. This week I'm traveling in Latin America, visiting three strong American allies Mexico, Peru, and El Salvador to reaffirm the central importance I place on American relations with the rest of our hemisphere. Our country's future is closely tied to the success and security of our closest neighbors. Problems like drug trade and poverty produce terrible consequences for all our countries, and prosperity in our hemisphere will produce profound benefits for all our countries. The United States is strongly committed to helping build an entire hemisphere that lives in liberty and trades in freedom. The NAFTA trade agreement is a model for the world. NAFTA has created jobs and lifted lives in Mexico and Canada and the United States. During NAFTA's first 7 years, 15 million jobs were created in the United States. Our trade with Mexico now averages more than 650 million a day. And that's why our border is one of the busiest in the world, and keeping trade and traffic moving freely is essential to America and American jobs. Yet, we must also prevent our terrorist enemies from using the openness of our society against us. Even our welcoming country must be able to shut its doors to terrorists and drugs and weapons at our own borders. So America, working closely with Canada and Mexico, has set a goal We are working for a common border that is open to commerce and legitimate travel and closed to drug trafficking and terror. We want to speed the movement of legal goods and people across the border and stop the illegal movement of goods and people. And we will use the most up to date technology to achieve this goal. This week I saw some of that technology at work on a visit to a border near El Paso, Texas. X ray machines are being used to thoroughly screen cargo more efficiently than ever before. During my visit to Mexico, President Fox and I announced an agreement to move toward a smart border between our countries. Through close cooperation and advanced technology, we'll make our shared border more open and more secure. We'll work with the Mexican Government to identify individuals who pose threats to North America before they arrive here. We will share technology to inspect traffic on cross border rail lines and at major ports of entry. We will make sure that people with legitimate business who travel regularly across the border can cross easily, so border authorities can focus on greater risks. And we will share information more quickly and efficiently with our Mexican friends. America's border with Mexico is a region of tremendous economic vitality, and that must not change. Both our nations benefit from close ties of family and culture and commerce. Our new approach to strengthened border security will preserve that openness and increase the safety of our country. America will defend ourselves against new threats at the same time that we build closer relationships with our neighbors. Thank you all for listening. March 22, 2002 President Fox. Good afternoon. Thank you very much. Yes, in fact, it has been a very productive meeting, a meeting where we have touched upon three subjects, three chapters. One deals with what we have called the border alliance, intelligent borders, and the smart border initiative. The purpose is, firstly, to introduce the safety factor and hold it as an important priority and, at the same time, with the same emphasis, to seek for efficient borders, customs that are efficient as well, for an expeditious flow both of people, merchandise, products. And in this sense, what we seek is for those using these crossings, which are hundreds of thousands of people every day, to do so with that efficiency we are talking about. Likewise, within this same sense, we talked about a program to modernize, technologically speaking, our borders. And this would promote that efficiency. Among other points within this same category, we have also spoken about opening in airports that have high traffic, both in the United States and Mexico, a line to take care of the Mexicans and Canadians coming into Mexico and, in the case of Mexico, taking care of U.S. citizens and Canadian citizens. The second topic is what we have called the Partnership for Prosperity, where there are plenty of topics but the specific purpose is to generate opportunities for advancement, opportunities for income, and mainly in communities with high migratory rates in Mexico. For this purpose, we have spoken of joining efforts to facilitate resources for micro , small , and medium sized companies, who are the ones generating the highest number of jobs. We have spoken of also working to bring down the cost of migrators' remittances to their families in Mexico, and this way facilitating those resources becoming productive projects toward important generation of employment and opportunities. We talked about important program of scholarships where, on the U.S. side, there will be investments up to 50 million, precisely to promote these scholarships and promote to the state level the creation of scholarships for universities. This is important in the purpose of creating, forming human resources. And on the other hand, we have also spoken of generating and facilitating resources for infrastructure, especially at the border, infrastructure for an efficient use of water, for water treatment plants, infrastructure for ecological or environmental purposes at the border, and some other investments in infrastructure along the same lines, the border. On the other hand, I believe it is very significant, and we have talked about it again, to have this great drive that has been announced by President Bush at the Financing for Development Conference. And it's the purpose to try to increase important resources for countries that are not as developed, for poorer countries. We have heard from many leaders present, many heads of state, who truly expressed this was welcome information, a welcome announcement. And of course, same goes for us. We are not a country to receive the help, but we clearly understand that there are countries who require this help to combat poverty very close to us, such as the case of Central America. So we hope that these additional funds, I repeat, have been very welcome, well received by the community of smaller countries present here. This time these same resources also, part of them, to be used in these countries of Latin America or Central America. This effort of what has seemed to be called the participation in the millennium, the challenge of the millennium, is important for us. And we have verified this importance it has for the community of countries. Thank you. Now Mr. Bush will speak. President Bush. Thank you for your hospitality, and thank you for hosting the important conference on reducing global poverty. It was a success, thanks to your leadership and your vision. I'm so glad that the world could see Monterrey, Mexico. It is a really dynamic city. It's important for the world also to realize that as a result of President Fox's vision, this country is reforming. It's a vibrant place. It's an exciting place for people to live. People are finding jobs in Mexico. And Mr. President, I am grateful to call you friend. Thank you for your leadership as well. I try to remind people in my country, as many times as I can, a vibrant, prosperous Mexico is in the best interests of the United States of America. We were at the White House on September the 5th, and here's what I said then "The United States has no more important relationship in the world than the one we have with Mexico." I believed it on September the 5th I believe it today. And since September the 11th, those words have been tested and proven. I deeply appreciate President Fox's early support and his continuing advice. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the people of Mexico for their support and sympathy. The relationship between the United States and Mexico is very strong, is very important, and it's growing stronger every day. America respects Mexico's culture and Mexico's achievements. By embracing markets and fiscal discipline, Mexico has created one of the most resilient economies in the region. And through NAFTA, our nations have forged one of the world's most dynamic trading relationships. Every day we exchange more than 650 million worth of commerce, creating wealth and opportunity for consumers and workers and families on both sides of the border. President Fox and I are determined to extend the benefits of free markets to all our citizens. As part of our Partnership for Prosperity, we'll help focus private investment on less developed parts of Mexico, creating more jobs and more opportunities for more people. President Fox and I are determined to make our shared border modern, efficient, and secure. The smart border declaration our countries have just signed will move us toward this important goal. Our common border must be closed to drugs and terrorists and open to trade and legitimate travel. America is grateful for Mexico's fight against the drug cartels, and I salute your many breakthroughs this year, Mr. President. President Fox and I talked about migration. Last year, we established a process to address this issue. We're making good and steady progress. Migrants make a valuable contribution to America. It's also important for our Nation to recognize, as we discuss immigration, Mexico has got a unique place in this issue. Mexico is different from other countries not only because of our proximity but because of our special relationship. We made some progress this year on an issue called 245(i). It's an important piece of legislation. It allowed families to stay together. It passed the House of Representatives. Unfortunately, it got stalled in the United States Senate. And my hope, Mr. President, is we're able to get it out of the United States Senate and to my desk so I can sign it. President Fox and I agreed on measures to reform the North American Development Bank, known as NADBank. We will increase the Bank's ability to make low interest loans to address urgent environmental priorities along the border. We also agreed to expand the Bank's range, so more people can benefit. Mexico and America are proud nations united by timeless values, by democracy, by faith, and by freedom. We have a modern relationship sustained by a mutual respect and trust. We've entered a new era of trade and cooperation and prosperity.And the United States and Mexico are building an historic partnership, one which will benefit both our peoples and provide a good example for the rest of the world. International Family Planning Middle East Peace Efforts Q. President Bush, have you or General Zinni heard anything from Chairman Arafat that indicates that a meeting between him and Vice President Cheney could help catalyze an Israeli Palestinian truce? And honoring President Fox's request that we focus on poverty over this summit, could I also ask you to explain why your administration is withholding the 34 million that Congress appropriated to the United Nations Population Fund, why it's inaudible this year's budget? And President Fox, do you have any thoughts about the administration's decision on the United Nations Population Fund? President Bush. Let me start with the latter. That violated the one question rule, but I said we're not going to use taxpayers' money to fund abortion. And we're going to make sure, before we spend taxpayers' money, that we're not funding abortion. And as to your first question, as I have said all along, General Zinni will assess the situation in the Middle East. And a meeting could happen if and when Chairman Arafat performs, does what he's supposed to do. Those conditions have been laid out by Vice President Cheney. And now General Zinni is trying to determine whether or not he is going to do what he said he would do. President Fox. The second question, what is the question to me? Q. Your reaction to President Bush's decision to withhold 34 million from the United Nations Population Fund and their family planning work around the world. President Fox. None. No comment. His decision is totally independent. No comment from my side. President Fidel Castro of Cuba Q. My question concerns both Mexico and the United States, in a way. President Bush, the Cuban Government claims that President Fidel Castro's early departure from the summit is a result of pressures from your Government. And Mr. President, I want to know if you really would have felt uncomfortable to encounter Fidel Castro here in Monterrey? And for President Fox, Mr. President, what is the relationship between Mexico and Cuba now, after Ricardo Alarcon made the Government of Mexico responsible for President Castro's early departure? President Bush. First of all, I know of no pressure placed on anybody. I mean, Fidel Castro can do what he wants to do. And what I'm uncomfortable about is the way he treats his people. There's only one country that's not a democracy in our hemisphere, and that's Cuba. And it makes me uncomfortable to realize that there is still one country that doesn't have free press, freedom to speak, freedom to realize your dreams. And I feel strongly about that, and I'm going to continue to speak out on the fact that this island is a place of repression, a place where the people don't have hope. Q. Did you pressure anybody? President Bush. I don't know what you're talking about, about pressuring anybody. I just said that. President Fox. There has been no modification in our relationships. We said goodbye to Mr. Fidel Castro. His visit ended. And there is no modification or alteration. U.S. Assistance to Peru Q. Mr. President, President Bush, are you prepared to offer Peru new military assistance to help crack down on terrorism in the wake of the bombing in Lima? And is it time to resume drug surveillance President Bush. On the drug surveillance issue, we have yet not made up our mind yet. We're analyzing not only what took place in the past but the most effective way to help Peru fight narcotics. The first part of the question? I'm sorry, Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Q. Helping Peru with terrorism with new military assistance. President Bush. We're going to analyze all options available to help Peru. But the first place we need to help Peru is to get the Andean Trade Preference Act out of the U.S. Congress. One of the messages I'm taking to not only Peru but the other Andean nations is, ATPA is important. It's important to my administration, it's important to their future, and I'd like to see it renewed as quickly as possible. President Fidel Castro of Cuba Q. Thank you. Good afternoon. The Cuban Government says that the Mexican Government was pressured. The Mexican Government said they had no pressure. Who is lying, Mr. President Fox? Who is lying, Mr. President Bush, the Cubans or the Mexicans? Thank you. President Bush. I thought I just answered that question. Laughter Maybe I missed it or you did. Laughter President Fox. There is no such thing. Mr. Fidel Castro visited Mexico, visited the conference, the U.N. conference. He was here, he participated in the conference, and he returned to Cuba nothing more. President Saddam Hussein of Iraq Q. President Bush, good evening. During his recent trip to the Middle East, the Vice President made it very clear that at each stop, he told our Arab allies that no military action against Iraq was imminent. Isn't it also true that this administration is telling our allies, Arab allies and others around the world, that this government is, however, committed as committed to removing Saddam Hussein from power as the administration was for removing the Taliban? President Bush. Let me put it to you this way, David David Gregory, NBC News What we're telling our friends is that Saddam Hussein is a man who is willing to gas his own people, willing to use weapons of mass destruction against Iraq's citizens. Evidently, there's a new article in New York magazine or New Yorker magazine some east coast magazine and it details about his barbaric behavior toward his own people. And not only did he do it to his own people, he did it to people in his neighborhood. And this is a man who refuses to allow us to determine whether or not he still has weapons of mass destruction, which leads me to believe he does. He is a dangerous man who possesses the world's most dangerous weapons. And it is incumbent upon freedom loving nations to hold him accountable, which is precisely what the United States of America will do. I haven't had a chance to explain this to our Mexican friends, but a nightmare scenario, of course, would be if a terrorist organization such as Al Qaida were to link up with a barbaric regime such as Iraq and thereby, in essence, possess weapons of mass destruction. We cannot allow that to happen. And so, David, what I've told others, including President Fox, is we have no imminent plans to use military operations. We'll be deliberate we'll consult with our friends and allies. But we'll deal with Saddam Hussein. And he knows that. And this is exactly what I've been saying ever since I've been the President. Q. Does that mean you will remove him President Bush. As I said, yes, we'd like to see a regime change in Iraq. That's been the longstanding policy of the U.S. Government. Nothing is new there. That's precisely what has been said since I became President of the United States. But close consultations with our friends from all around the world and they I think people have got a pretty good sense of how I view him. And I hope that, of course, he allows inspectors to go into his country, like he promised he would do, not for the sake of letting inspectors in but to showing the world that he has no weapons of mass destruction. Immigration Q. Good evening, Mr. President. If truly your government has contemplated some date about the migratory agreement with Mexico? And also, here at the forum there was something from former President Carter for amnesty for 3 million Mexican workers in the U.S. Your government would consider legalizing them, or are you saying no? President Bush. I think the best way to describe what is possible in the United States is that beyond 245(i), which is the family reunification, is, first of all, understanding the unique nature of the Mexican in our country, that the Mexican national is different by virtue of the fact of the proximity to the United States and that we do have a special relationship between our countries, not only defined by NAFTA but defined by cultural ties and historic ties. And so I think that ought to be a part of any discussions. But here's my attitude. I think what our country ought to do is help match any willing employer with any willing employee, so that if somebody is looking for somebody who wants to work and somebody wants to work, we can facilitate that arrangement. And we've got a lot of discussions and work to do. But what I've assured President Fox and his administration is that we will continue working on this issue. We've got technical groups working on it, and he and I will continue working on it. President Fox. Thank you very much. Good evening. March 22, 2002 Senor Presidente, Marta, Gobernador, distinguished guests, Laura and I thank you for this dinner. And thank you for inviting us to Monterrey, a city that is home to so much of Mexico's industry and enterprise and a city that embodies Mexico's prosperous future. Monterrey has hosted a number of U.S. Presidents over the years, mi pap , President Clinton, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt. When Presidents Camacho y Roosevelt met here in April of 1943, they affirmed our two nations' World War II alliance and agreed to closer economic cooperation. Today we meet with a similar purpose. We affirm our shared struggle against terror, and we work to promote the great alternatives to terror prosperity and freedom and hope. President Fox, I deeply appreciate your friendship and counsel, especially since September the 11th. And the people of the United States are grateful for your visit to Ground Zero in New York to honor the victims. And the world appreciates Mexico's support for the international coalition against terrorism. The terrorists have declared war on civilization itself, and the civilized world will defeat them. It wasn't all that long ago that Laura and I used to live right next door to Mexico. During that time, I saw the steady emergence of a more confident and more hopeful nation. I saw the strong and growing ties of culture and trade and kinship between our countries. Mr. President, your election symbolized these changes and has reinforced them. You're a true patriot with a compelling vision for a stronger and more prosperous Mexico. I tell the people of my country that a strong and prosperous Mexico is good for the United States. We're working well together, and I am confident our important work is just the beginning. We will build on the success of the North American Free Trade Agreement, to expand the benefits of trade and markets to all of our people. We can build on our political cooperation to make real progress on drug trafficking, environmental protection. And we will build a border that is more open and more secure, and we will confront the issue of migration in a spirit of mutual respect. The Mexican proverb tells us, Tenemos mal los momentos, es cuando se conocen al los amigos. Senor Presidente, the United States knows who our friends are, and your enduring friendship allows me causes me to say, muchas gracias. Today, we have a relationship of unprecedented closeness and cooperation. By continuing to work together, we can improve the lives of the people in our two nations, in our hemisphere, and in our world. Mr. President, I offer a toast to you, your gracious wife, and the great friendship between our two countries. March 22, 2002 Good morning. We meet at a moment of new hope in an age old struggle, the battle against world poverty. I'm honored to be with so many distinguished leaders who are committed to this cause. I'm here today to reaffirm the commitment of the United States to bring hope and opportunity to the world's poorest people and to call for a new compact for development defined by greater accountability for rich and poor nations alike. I want to thank Vicente Fox, el Presidente de Mexico, and the people of Monterrey for such grand hospitality. I want to thank Kofi Annan for his steadfast leadership. And I want to thank the distinguished leaders who are here for your hospitality as well. Many here today have devoted their lives to the fight against global poverty, and you know the stakes. We fight against poverty because hope is an answer to terror. We fight against poverty because opportunity is a fundamental right to human dignity. We fight against poverty because faith requires it and conscience demands it. And we fight against poverty with a growing conviction that major progress is within our reach. Yet, this progress will require change. For decades, the success of development aid was measured only in the resources spent, not the results achieved. Yet, pouring money into a failed status quo does little to help the poor and can actually delay the progress of reform. We must accept a higher, more difficult, more promising call. Developed nations have a duty not only to share our wealth but also to encourage sources that produce wealth economic freedom, political liberty, the rule of law, and human rights. The lesson of our time is clear When nations close their markets and opportunity is horded by a privileged few, no amount no amount of development aid is ever enough. When nations respect their people, open markets, invest in better health and education, every dollar of aid, every dollar of trade revenue and domestic capital is used more effectively. We must tie greater aid to political and legal and economic reforms. And by insisting on reform, we do the work of compassion. The United States will lead by example. I have proposed a 50 percent increase in our core development assistance over the next 3 budget years. Eventually, this will mean a 5 billion annual increase over current levels. These new funds will go into a new Millennium Challenge Account, devoted to projects in nations that govern justly, invest in their people, and encourage economic freedom. We will promote development from the bottom up, helping citizens find the tools and training and technologies to seize the opportunities of the global economy. I've asked Secretary of State Powell, Secretary of Treasury O'Neill to reach out to the world community to develop clear and concrete objective criterion for the Millennium Challenge Account. We'll apply these criterion fairly and rigorously. And to jump start this initiative, I'll work with the United States Congress to make resources available over the 12 months for qualifying countries. Many developing nations are already working hard on the road and they're on the road of reform and bringing benefits to their people. The new compact for development will reward these nations and encourage others to follow their example. The goal of our development aid will be for nations to grow and prosper beyond the need for any aid. When nations adopt reforms, each dollar of aid attracts 2 of private investments. When aid is linked to good policy, 4 times as many people are lifted out of poverty compared to old aid practices. All of us here must focus on real benefits to the poor, instead of debating arbitrary levels of inputs from the rich. We should invest in better health and build on our efforts to fight AIDS, which threatens to undermine whole societies. We should give more of our aid in the form of grants, rather than loans that can never be repaid. The work of development is much broader than development aid. The vast majority of financing for development comes not from aid but from trade and domestic capital and foreign investment. Developing countries receive approximately 50 billion every year in aid. That is compared to foreign investment of almost 200 billion and annual earnings from exports of 2.4 trillion. So to be serious about fighting poverty, we must be serious about expanding trade. Trade helped nations as diverse as South Korea and Chile and China to replace despair with opportunity for millions of their citizens. Trade brings new technology, new ideas, and new habits, and trade brings expectations of freedom. And greater access to the markets of wealthy countries has a direct and immediate impact on the economies of developing nations. As one example, in a single year the African Growth and Opportunity Act has increased African exports to the United States by more than 1,000 percent, generated nearly 1 billion in investment, and created thousands of jobs. Yet, we have much more to do. Developing nations need greater access to markets of wealthy nations, and we must bring down the high trade barriers between developing nations themselves. The global trade negotiations launched in Doha confront these challenges. The success of these negotiations will bring greater prosperity to rich and middle income and poor nations alike. By one estimate, a new global trade pact could lift 300 million lives out of poverty. When trade advances, there's no question but the fact that poverty retreats. The task of development is urgent and difficult. Yet, the way is clear. As we plan and act, we must remember the true source of economic progress is the creativity of human beings. Nations' most vital natural resources are found in the minds and skills and enterprise of their citizens. The greatness of a society is achieved by unleashing the greatness of its people. The poor of the world need resources to meet their needs, and like all people, they deserve institutions that encourage their dreams. All people deserve governments instituted by their own consent legal systems that spread opportunity, instead of protecting the narrow interests of a few and the economic systems that respect their ambition and reward efforts of the people. Liberty and law and opportunity are the conditions for development, and they are the common hopes of mankind. The spirit of enterprise is not limited by geography or religion or history. Men and women were made for freedom, and prosperity comes as freedom triumphs. And that is why the United States of America is leading the fight for freedom from terror. We thank our friends and neighbors throughout the world for helping in this great cause. History has called us to a titanic struggle whose stakes could not be higher, because we're fighting for freedom itself. We're pursuing great and worthy goals to make the world safer and, as we do, to make it better. We will challenge the poverty and hopelessness and lack of education and failed governments that too often allow conditions that terrorists can seize and try to turn to their advantage. Our new approach for development places responsibility on developing nations and on all nations. We must build the institutions of freedom, not subsidize the failures of the past. We must do more than just feel good about what we are doing we must do good. By taking the side of liberty and good government, we will liberate millions from poverty's prison. We'll help defeat despair and resentment. We'll draw whole nations into an expanding circle of opportunity and enterprise. We'll gain true partners in development and add a hopeful new chapter to the history of our times. May God bless you all. March 21, 2002 The President. Good morning. Thank you all for coming. I just had a breakfast with Vice President Cheney, and as you all know, he's returned from a lengthy and successful trip to the Middle East, the first trip I asked him to go on. I sent him to the region because this is an incredibly important part of the world, and it's a turbulent part of the world. And the Vice President took a lot of messages on behalf of our administration and made some really good progress. I'm really proud of how he handled himself and how he delivered the message. As a result of this trip, and as a result of working with General Zinni, there is some progress being made in the Middle East. And I want to thank the Vice President for being very firm and deliberate and convincing both parties that the Tenet plan and ultimately the Mitchell plan is a way to achieve what we all want in the world, which is a peaceful resolution to this longstanding conflict. But Mr. Vice President, welcome back. Thanks, you did a great job. The Vice President. Well thank you, Mr. President. It was a good trip. And as you say, there are a lot of issues on the agenda right now that are important in that part of the world. I talked extensively with our friends about the ongoing campaign in Afghanistan and the war against terror that affects all of us. And everybody in the region spent a lot of time on the Israeli peace problems and propositions, the conflict between Israelis and the Palestinians obviously, a lot of time on the Iraqi situation and Saddam Hussein's development of weapons of mass destruction. But I found at virtually every stop that the United States has great friends and allies in that part of the world. I also had the opportunity to visit with a number of our military personnel conducting active operations or supporting those operations in Afghanistan and the region. So all in all, it was a great trip. I'm ready to go back there. The President. Questions? Yes, John John King, CNN . Situation in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, interested in your own calculations when the Vice President called to discuss the possibility of the Arafat meeting, your calculations in making the decision to change slightly the administration's standard for opening the door to a meeting with him. And Mr. Vice President, do you believe now that meeting will happen? Is Mr. Arafat keeping his end of the bargain? The President. Well, first of all, I've always been one that trusts the judgment of the people I send on a mission. And the Vice President called me, with General Zinni by his side, and said, "There's a chance that we can get into the Tenet security agreement. And if that were to happen, in my judgment, I think it would be best if I would then go see Mr. Arafat." And I trust the Vice President's judgment. He's a man of enormous experience who's got a good feel for things, and we both trust General Zinni. And so the definition of whether or not he is going to see Mr. Arafat depends upon the feel for our negotiator, General Zinni. But I think it was the right thing to do, obviously. We've set some strong conditions, and we expect Mr. Arafat to meet those conditions. I, frankly, have been disappointed in his performance. I'm hopeful, however, that he listens to what the Vice President told him and said that in order for us to have influence in terms of achieving any kind of peaceful resolution, he must he, Mr. Arafat must do everything in his power to stop the violence. The Vice President. Well, as I've said before, John, the key here will be General Zinni. And he'll make his judgment based on whether or not Arafat is in fact implementing Tenet, not just promising to implement but implementing Tenet. If he's doing that, if he's living up to those requirements, and General Zinni signs off on it, then I'm prepared to go back almost immediately for a meeting. But it will depend on whether or not Arafat is complying. Iraq Q. Mr. Vice President, on Iraq, the other main item on your agenda, you said we have a lot of allies out there. But I haven't noticed any of the Arab states maybe they say things privately that they don't publicly we've long been told that supporting strong action against Iraq. They seem to want diplomacy to be given a chance Annan's efforts, sanctions, changes, et cetera. What kind of response did you get? The Vice President. Well, I think I guess the way I would characterize it is, they are uniformly concerned about the situation in Iraq, in particular about Saddam Hussein's failure to live up to the U.N. Security Council resolutions, especially number 687, that he pledged to at the end of the war, that said he'd get rid of all of his weapons of mass destruction. And they are as concerned as we are when they see the work that he has done to develop chemical and biological weapons and his pursuit of nuclear weapons, the past history that we all know about, in terms of his having used chemicals. If you haven't seen it, there's a devastating piece in this week's New Yorker magazine on the 1988 use by Saddam Hussein of chemical weapons against the Kurds. If the article is accurate and I've asked for verification, if we can find it he ran a campaign against the Kurds for 17 months and bombed literally 200 villages and killed thousands and thousands of Iraqis with chemical weapons. That's not the kind of man we want to see develop even more deadly capacity, for example nuclear weapons. And my experience is that our friends in the region are just as concerned about those developments as we are. And I went out there to consult with them, seek their advice and counsel, to be able to report back to the President on how we might best proceed to deal with that mutual problem, and that's exactly what I've done. The President. I think one other point that the Vice President made, which is a good point, is that this is an administration that when we say we're going to do something, we mean it that we are resolved to fight the war on terror this isn't a short term strategy for us that we understand history has called us into action, and we're not going to miss this opportunity to make the world more peaceful and more free. And the Vice President delivered that message. I was grateful that he was able to do so. It's very important for these leaders to understand the nature of this administration so there's no doubt in their mind that when we speak, we mean what we say, that we're not posturing. We don't take a bunch of polls and focus groups to tell us what how to to what we ought to do in the world. When we say we want to defend freedom, we mean it. And the Vice President did a fine job of delivering that message. Part of any foreign policy good foreign policy is to consult with our friends and allies. We've told our friends and allies we'll do so on all kinds of issues. And the Vice President did that in a really good way. Terrorist Attack in Lima, Peru Q. Mr. President, different part of the world, a car bomb exploded in Lima last night, killing nine people. Are you concerned about your safety? The President. No, I'm still going. I'm sure President Toledo will do everything he can to make Lima safe for our trip. Two bit terrorists aren't going to prevent me from doing what we need to do, and that is to promote our friendship in the hemisphere. Our neighborhood is important to us Peru is an important country. President Toledo has been a reformist, obviously worked within the democratic system. And you bet I'm going. March 21, 2002 Thank you all. Thank you all very much. So, Laura and I were heading down to Mexico, and we decided to stop to see a lot of our friends. And there's no better place to see a lot of our friends than El Paso, Texas. I want to thank you all for coming out. I want to thank you for being here. As you know, I had a change of address, but my home is still Texas. I love to be with my fellow Texans, and I'm really happy that Laura came with me today. As you know, she's doing a great job as First Lady. I'm a lucky man to have Laura as a wife. Some people are wondering how lucky she is to have me as a husband. Laughter But I attribute the fact that she has done such a fabulous job to this Every summer when she was a kid, she came to El Paso, Texas. I'm also honored to be traveling today with a fantastic Secretary of State, Colin Powell. Colin Powell has cobbled together one of the great coalitions ever, a coalition determined to fight terror wherever we find it. Mr. Secretary, thank you for your love for America thank you for your love for freedom and thank you for your service to this country. You know, when the enemy hit us, I knew we needed a strategy to protect our homeland. We needed a strategy to something to put in place to do the very best we can to protect our citizens. And I turned to a friend of mine to lead the strategy, the former Governor of the State of Pennsylvania, a strong leader, a capable man, a Vietnam vet, Tom Ridge. I'm proud to be on the stage with a man who's doing a fabulous job for the people of Texas, the Governor of the State of Texas, Rick Perry. And I was proud to travel from Washington, DC, back to his home territory with a fine Congressman, a man who understands the border, a man who loves Texas, Henry Bonilla. We've really come for more than just to see our friends. We've come down to highlight the importance of our border and the importance of our relationship and friendship with Mexico. First, I want to make this clear somebody asked me the other day they asked this question. They said, "Because of the war on terror, have you is your interest in Mexico diminished?" I said, "Not at all." A strong and prosperous Mexico is good for America. And the best foreign policy is a foreign policy that insists that our own neighborhood be prosperous and peaceful and democratic. Mexico is an incredibly important part of the futuro de los Estados Unidos. And the border, la frontera, is a very important part of our relationship. It is essential that Americans understand the nature of this border. And that's why I'm going to be going to a border crossing point to make this point On the one hand, we want the legal commerce, the people who travel back and forth on a daily basis, the brothers and sisters on both sides of the border, the relatives that have been coming back and forth for years, to be able to do so in an efficient and easy way. We want that kind of traffic, that kind of border crossing to be done in an expeditious way. It's good for Juarez, and it's good for El Paso, Texas. Rick mentioned the amount of commerce that takes place. The commerce that takes place between Mexico and Texas and the United States is good for both countries. It's good for the United States it's good for Mexico. And therefore, we must work to make sure our border is modernized so that the commerce that takes place can move more freely, can be expedited so as it makes it easier for people to have jobs and find work. On the other hand, we want to use our technology to make sure that we weed out those who we don't want in our country, the terrorists, the "coyotes," the smugglers, those who prey on innocent life. And so we're making good progress in the modernization of our border. And that's what I'm going to go talk about today, and that's what I'm going to highlight. I want this border to be modern. I want it to have the very best technology. I don't want it to be a neglected part of our country. I want it to be a place where we spend a lot of time and focus on it, so that it works the best it can possibly work. It also is important for our country to understand how I feel about our neighbor to the south. First of all, I approach Mexico with the spirit of friendship and the spirit of mutual respect and the spirit of resolve. I want to thank the Mexican leaders and will do so in person tonight for their steady and strong resolve in their efforts to join us in our fight against terror, in our efforts to join us in the fight against drug cartels, in our efforts to make sure our relationship is as hopeful and as together as possible. And so today I've sent up an emergency request to the United States Congress of 27 billion, 5 billion of which will be spent on our airports and on our borders, to make sure Americans are more secure and more safe than ever before. My most important job as your President is to protect Americans from any attack. I think about this all the time. I walk into the Oval Office every morning, and I sit at this fantastic desk that Teddy Roosevelt sat at and that Franklin Roosevelt sat at, John Kennedy sat at, Ronald Reagan sat at. These are imagine what it feels like for a fellow from Midland, Texas. It's an honor. But every morning I read about potential threats to America. And I take them seriously, and so should we all. And that's why we're working hard to make the border work better. That's why we're working hard to beef up our Coast Guard, so that our ports are more secure. That's why we take every single threat seriously. If we get any kind of hint, any kind of nudge that the evil ones may be coming after us, I can assure you we're reacting. We're sharing information the likes of which we've never shared before. Our country's on alert, and our governments, the Federal, the State, and the local governments, are doing everything we can I mean everything we can to protect the homeland. But I want you to know how I feel. The best way to protect the homeland, the best way to make sure Americans can grow up in a peaceful country, is to find terrorists wherever they hide and bring them to justice. And that's what we're going to do. We're in for a long struggle. And I think Texans understand that, and so do Americans. We're a united people. We're a resolved people, because we understand that we fight for something we hold dear, and that is our freedoms. Sometimes it seems like the terror threat may be going away, but all you've got to do is look on your TV today, be reminded about how evil these murderers are. Today we had a terrible suicide bombing in Israel, and innocent lives were lost. And there was one in Peru yesterday, where people lost their life. And this morning Laura and I met Milton Green and his son, who lost a wife and a mother when they were going to church, when they were praying to the Almighty God, and a suicide killer came in in Pakistan and took their lives. This is a dangerous world. Too many people are losing their lives to murderers. History has called us into action. We cannot let the terrorists take over freedom loving societies, and we will not. America will fight terror wherever we find it, and as well we will call upon leaders around the world to do so as well. Mr. Arafat must do more to stop the violence in the Middle East. And I want to assure you all, the Secretary of State and I will remind leaders of their obligation to defend innocent people, of their obligation to stamp out terrorists wherever they light, of their obligation to make sure they uphold this doctrine If you harbor a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists themselves. And if you're interested in knowing what that means, just ask the Taliban. Thanks to our mighty United States military and thanks to our vast coalition, we upheld that doctrine. But I'm proud of this Our country and our friends do not seek revenge we seek justice. And we sent brave, brave U.S. soldiers into Afghanistan not as conquerors but as liberators. It may be hard for some of the youngsters here to believe, but the government that we just routed in Afghanistan would not let young girls go to school. That changed. This week young girls will be going to school for the first time, because we got that barbaric regime out of power. And we're not stopping. And we're not stopping. And that's why I submitted the largest increase in defense spending in two generations to the United States Congress. We can't afford to stop, for the sake of our children and our grandchildren. And I expect the United States Congress to honor my request for this important reason Anytime we put a U.S. soldier into harm's way, we expect that soldier to have the best equipment, the best training, an additional pay raise. I know it's a lot of money. I know it's a lot of money, my request, but let me just tell you this I want to remind you all, we fight for freedom. This country stands strong for freedom, and we will not relent to any terrorists who think they can take our freedom or the freedom from anybody else in the world away from us. And therefore, the budget I submitted to Congress, while it may be high, the price of freedom is never too high, as far as I'm concerned. I ask for your patience and unity because I understand the nature of the enemy we fight. They've got these leaders over there that are willing to send youngsters to their suicidal death, and they try to find a cave they can hide in. There's no cave deep enough for American justice. It doesn't matter for me how long it takes. It doesn't matter how long it takes. We're going to hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice. If they bunch up again in Afghanistan like they did in the Shahi Kot Mountain Range, we'll send our soldiers in there. The last time they bunched up, they didn't like the results. No matter where they light, we're going to get them. We're going to treat them for what they are, international terrorists. And we're going to keep them on the run. It is in the interests not only of our country but the interest of the world that our Nation be steady and strong and determined. And you can bet, so long as I am your President, we will be determined and steady and strong and defend our freedom with all our might. I believe this I believe as a result of our being strong and steady and determined, the world will be more peaceful after we rout out these terrorist killers. I believe we have a chance to solve some problems around the world that some people had given up hope on. I believe that the United States, by leading our coalition, can lead the world to a more peaceful tomorrow. And that's my goal, and that's my dream. Out of our strength and out of our resolve will come a peaceful tomorrow for children who not only live in America but children who live all across the world. And I want to tell you one other thing I believe about America is, out of this evil will come some incredible good. I believe strongly that the evil ones didn't know who they were attacking. They thought we would they thought we would roll over. They thought we were so materialistic and self absorbed that we wouldn't respond. They probably thought we were going to sue them. Laughter Not only did they not understand our resolve, but they didn't understand that this Nation is not going to let evil prevail. They understand I get asked all the time I want you to hear me on this I get asked all the time by people around America, "What can I do to help in the war on terror?" I'll tell you what you can do. In order to stand squarely in the face of evil, do some good. Love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. Reach out to somebody in need. Make sure somebody who's hungry has food, somebody who needs love has love, somebody who needs to be taught how to read is taught to read. You see, it's the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness that will define this Nation and allow us to stand squarely in the face of evil. And there's no doubt in my mind that the good people of El Paso, Texas, and those who live at Fort Bliss are going to do exactly that. I know El Paso. I know the hearts and souls of the citizens who live here. I know full well the love and compassion that exists throughout the neighborhoods in this great city in this part of the State. Today I had the honor of meeting Rosario Piedra. She brought her whole family. Laughter She came out to see this magnificent Air Force One. She was there because Rosario is the kind of person I'm talking about. She takes her obligation as a U.S. citizen very seriously. She knows there's something more to life than just serving yourself. She's in charge of Girl Scout troops, teaching young girls values that will stay with them for the rest of their life. She works after school programs to help children that need a little extra help. It is this kind of citizen that makes our country unique and different. I want to share with you this thought, that the most meaningful event of September the 11th, in many ways, was Flight 93. I want you all to remember what took place. On that flight were people who had been told on their telephones that Washington and New York was under attack. They knew their plane had been hijacked. They got on the plane, and they told their loved ones they loved them. They said a prayer. They said, "Let's roll," and they served something greater than themselves. They served humanity. It is that spirit of sacrifice, it is that spirit of serving something greater than yourself that is alive and well and strong in our great land. And as you love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself, remember that you represent that spirit you represent the best of our country and you join us all in standing squarely in the face of evildoers. This great country is the finest country on the face of the Earth, and we're going to show the world exactly that. And so I want to thank you all. Laura and I love El Paso. We love our friends. May God bless you all. March 20, 2002 Visit to Latin America Ms. Meluza. Some countries in Latin America feel that after 9 11, the region has been relegated or has lost its priority that you have so clearly stated in the past. Do you plan with this trip to reinsert the region in your priorities, in your agenda? And if so, what are the substantive issues to prove it? The President. Sure. First of all, the trip will give me a chance to say again that the best foreign policy for America is to have a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous neighborhood. Secondly and it should be noted that my first stop is to Mexico. Obviously, there's the development conference, which is an important conference. That, in itself, will help me talk about how we've committed a lot of money to helping alleviate world poverty. And there's poverty in our neighborhood. It will also give me a chance to have a bilateral meeting with my friend Vicente Fox to talk about the importance of Mexican U.S. relations. That relationship has not diminished. I mean, that relationship is as strong as ever. We've got huge amounts of trade going back and forth, a lot of people going back and forth, and we're going to talk about initiatives that make the border policy more productive, better, more efficient, and at the same time protect both our countries from terrorist threats. My trip to Peru will give me a chance to talk about the Andean Trade Preference Act. I want to that needs to be passed by the United States Congress, and it needs to be passed quickly. This will give me a chance to, on the one hand, say to our friends there, not only Toledo but to the leaders, that I want the Andean Trade Preference Act I'm committed to it I will fight for it and then at the same time send a message to Congress. Y por fin, El Salvador is a Central American country, and again it will give me a chance to talk about the importance of that region. Don't worry, we've got plenty of time. Temporary Protected Status Ms. Meluza. Will you offer, sir, TPS, temporary protective status, which Central American regions, nations are looking for? The President. Right, they are. In terms of the El Salvadoran TPS status, I was a strong supporter of it in the past. It doesn't come up until September of this year. I think it's important for me to withhold judgment until we are close to the date, but I let me just put it this way I was a supporter in the past, a vocal supporter of TPS status, and I will express my opinion at the appropriate time. Mexico U.S. Border Policy Ms. Meluza. Sir, you will visit the border tomorrow, El Paso. Do you believe that consolidating the agencies that handle the border will strengthen the security in the border? And will you send a recommendation to Congress? The President. I'm studying different options. But here's what I want to achieve A border that recognizes how much traffic there is, normal traffic a border that recognizes we've got trucks and cars moving goods and services throughout both our countries and a border policy that recognizes there are hundreds of people going back and forth on a daily basis who have done this for years on years, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, on both sides of la frontera and on the other hand, that we've got to work with our Mexican friends to make sure the border has got the best infrastructure, the best technology, the best intelligence sharing to make sure that we stop the "coyotes," the smugglers, and the terrorists. And we can do both. But the border policy needs to be reviewed. And if it is achieved, if it's better achieved by a new construct, then I'll support it. And I just want to make sure that I get all the facts before I make my decision. Immigration Policy Ms. Meluza. Sir, in the past, immigration had a high priority on your agenda with Mexico. When you sit down with President Fox this time, will you bring back again meaningful conversations about immigration policy, a wide immigration policy? And will you jump start again these negotiations? The President. Si, por cierto. I mean, immigration's a big issue. It's a big issue for Mexico it's a big issue for the United States. And we're starting with what we call 245(i), which is needed. And I want to remind people that we can't get it out of the Senate. I've spoken out on it very clearly I did so again yesterday I did the day before. I worked with the House to get it out. And people say, "Well, that's not enough. We need to continue a dialog." But it's a start. And so I would hope the advocates here in Washington, DC, will be up there lobbying the United States Senate, so we can actually get something done. Secondly it's very important I still believe we need a policy that recognizes there are employers willing to employ people from Mexico, for example, and there are willing workers who are looking for jobs. And we've got to recognize that as reality and make that work. Ms. Meluza. So when you talk about willing workers and willing employees employers, do you mean to say that some here in the States will benefit from this policy again? The President. Yes Ms. Meluza. Not only a temporary workers program? The President. Well, we'll see. I mean, that needs to be discussed. But all I can tell you is, the basic premise of good policy is to say there are employers in the United States who are looking for somebody to work, and there are people from Mexico who are willing to do the job. And our legal system and our immigration system ought to recognize that important relationship and make it work. Ms. Meluza. Even those who are here now? The President. That's very much of a possibility, of course. I mean, obviously, they're here doing a job that somebody wants them to do. But there's got to be the matching of the willing employer and willing employee. And if they're here now, fine. They ought to be discussed, and they ought to be a part of the mix, of course. Ms. Meluza. I think that my time is up. Thank you very much, sir. The President. Thank you. Good job. Ms. Meluza. Thank you very much, sir. Lots of pressure. The President. You look great in red. March 20, 2002 Mexico U.S. Relations Q. Mr. President, thank you very much for being on Television Azteca. It's a pleasure and an honor, sir, to have you. Let me first ask you, in Monterrey there are many people demonstrating against the meeting, not only of Mexico and the United States but in general of this world meeting. And they say that this will be an occasion to have Mexico subordinated to the United States. What do you tell these people? The President. Mexico es a grand amigo de los Estados Unidos, and we're equal partners. It's very important for people in our hemisphere to know that we've got a unique relationship with Mexico and a very positive relationship. We've got a lot of trade that goes on on a daily basis. We've got a lot of contact with Mexico. And my attitude is, if Mexico succeeds, that is good for the United States. A strong Mexico, an equal partner is very good for the people of our country. Everywhere I go, there's protesters, so I don't worry about protesters. What I worry about is to make sure that we have good relations with Mexico. It's an important part of my foreign policy. This will be my second trip to Mexico since I've been the President, in a year's time. That should send a clear signal of the importance of the relationship. Q. And this is not an occasion to subordinate anybody or anything? The President. No, of course not. There's no subordination. This is an excuse for people who want to disrupt a positive relationship. And it's important for us to have a positive relationship with Mexico, and relations with Mexico have never been better. Vicente Fox is my friend. I can have very good dialog with him. He's a strong, strong proponent of what's good for Mexico. He speaks his mind, as he should. And there are some areas where we agree and some areas where we don't agree, but we always agreed to have good relationships. Immigration Q. Mr. President, one of the issues that you're going to be discussing with President Fox is the one related to immigration. The President. Yes. Q. And I talked to a lot of people community leaders, immigration attorneys and they tell me that 245(i) only helps a very small percentage of people, and that, in reality, something has to be decided about this guestworker program initiative, the illegalization of all those Mexicans who are still here and working every day, and they haven't been able to get their residency those kinds of things. But they say that as long as you push and you put your political capital on this, something can be done. Otherwise, it won't. My question is, are you willing to put that political capital on The President. Well, I've always been one who understands that we need to make sure that a willing employer and a willing employee can come together in a legal way. That's been my position for a long period of time. 245(i) is just the beginning of a lot of discussions 245(i) is a compassionate approach to helping reform immigration. And so the issue is broader than 245(i), as far as I'm concerned, and it's going to take a lot of work, however. And it's very important for our Mexican friends to understand that as a result of the attacks on America, the American people are focused on terror and focused on making sure people don't come in the country to hurt us. I, of course, reminded people that most people from Mexico that come into the country come to help, not to hurt. So we've got a lot of work to do. But I haven't changed my mind I think it's important. The first step is to see if we can get 245(i) out of the United States Senate. And so all those lawyers you've talked to or advocates need to be up working the United States Senate right now to see if they can perform. Q. Many people feel that this will only happen if you push and you put your political capital there. The President. That's what I'm doing. I've said, first things first. I'm the President who stood up and said, "Get me 245(i), let's get that done." And the Senate can't move. And so I called upon the Senate again, "Let's see you perform, and let's get all these advocates in Washington, DC, to whom you've spoken up on the Senate floor. Get them up there getting something done." See, I'm one of these let's see if we can get things done guys. There's too much talk in Washington and not enough action. And so I've not only talked about immigration reform that makes sense, I'm pushing to get 245(i). Once we get 245(i), we can deal with the next issue. And there's a lot of issues we need to discuss, and I'll discuss them with my friend Vicente Fox. Antidrug Efforts Q. And my last question Benjamin Arellano Felix, the head of this cartel, suspect in Mexico, was apprehended there. Are you going to ask for extradition for an extradition of this guy to the United States? The President. Si, por cierto. Por cierto. He's under indictment here in the United States, and I look forward to working with the Fox Government on extradition. We've had a great great cooperation on the issue of extradition. As you know, the Government has made some honored our requests a couple of times, and for that I'm grateful. And yes, we'd like to see him extradited. And I'm so appreciative of the Mexican authorities arresting this arresting this man. It's a good signal. And it's a good signal for many Americans to hear it and realize that the Fox Government is getting tough on these narcotraffickers. Now, let me talk about drugs very quickly. I want the Mexican people to understand that we'll work together and we are to stop the flow of drugs. But here in America, we must do a better job of not using las drogas. We've got to do a better job of reducing demand. We have an obligation we've got an obligation to work closely with our Mexican friends we've got an obligation at home to convince our young not to use drugs. And so I want the American people to hear me loud and clear Drugs will destroy your families, and drugs will destroy life. And we've got to do a better job of promoting that. And so when demand for drugs goes down, which I hope it does and I think it can with good, focused effort it will help our Mexican friends deal with a very tough issue. Thank you, sir. March 20, 2002 Q. Thank you, Mr. President, for this historic interview with Radio Programas de Peru. The President. Si. Action Against Poverty in the Hemisphere Q. First question. After the tragedy of September 11th, you have led the world into a battle against global terrorists. Now, in the context of this important visit to Latin America, are you prepared to take the lead in fighting global poverty? The President. Por cierto. Por cierto. Mi vision es eso yo quiero la paz para todos, pero yo quiero vida mejor para todos tambien. I believe we need to fight for peace. I believe we need to work for a better life. One of the main reasons I'm going to our in our neighborhood is to say, the best foreign policy is to make sure the neighborhood is prosperous. I look so forward to coming to Peru. I'll be the first sitting President in la historia de mi pais para viajar a Peru. And I look forward to talking to President Toledo. I want to talk about how to encourage prosperity for everybody through trade, good trade policy. But as well, I come to Monterrey para discutir un plan para distrubir dinero a los paises en este hemisphere en otros lugar para to encourage growth and habits of growth, tambien education, health care. And so, yes, I'm absolutely committed to helping fight poverty. Q. Your personal dealings with Latin America are strong and part of a long family tradition. As President, your father launched important regional initiatives. Are you on the verge of launching your own Latin America initiatives? The President. Well, I want to make sure that that which has worked continues to go forward. NAFTA has worked. I want the Andean trade preference passed out of the United States Congress so that Peruvian farmers or Peruvian business men and women can realize markets in the United States. I think that's good for Peru I think it's good for jobs and I think it's good for the working people. My initiative is the free trade of the Americas, which is a large concept of a marketplace, united from the north of Canada all the way to the south of Argentina. Plus, I'm coming with this, what we call the Millennium Challenge Fund, which is 10 billion of new money. It's actually money the first year, plus money the second year, plus money the third year, up to 5 billion. When you add up all the new money, it equals about 10 billion or so, and that will be money to help alleviate poverty. But I want to do it in a way that just doesn't give money I want to do it in a way that rewards countries who battle which battle corruption, which honor education, which focus on health care, so that there is good habits developed, so that people actually benefit and not just a few. Peru U.S. Relations Q. In the case of Peru, what concrete announcement should we expect? Perhaps expanding Plan Colombia into the region, or any interdiction flights over Peru? A free trade agreement of the Andean region, with Peru? The President. Si. Well, first of all, por cierto, I want to tell people that we're going to work to get this Andean trade preference in place, real, so that the Andean countries can plan on it. Other than that, the main thing the reason I'm coming to Peru is, I want to make it clear how much I appreciate President Toledo's focus on democracy and reform. He's been a bold leader, and I thank him for that very much. And I want the Peruvian people to know that we will cooperate and work closely with the Government to foster institutions that promote freedom. I know President Toledo is committed to that. But the main thing I'm concerned about is making sure that prosperity is alive and well with our friends. We want our friends to succeed. A strong Peru, a healthy Peru, is good for the United States. Q. President, could you please use this occasion to say a few words in Spanish directed to the people of Peru. The President. Pues, to las personas que vida en Peru, quiero decir estamos sus amigo aqui en los Estados Unidos. Hay muchas personas que desean relaciones buenos, mejores con los personas que viven en Peru. Y tambien quiero decir a President Toledo, usted es mi amigo, y muchas gracias para la opportunidad de viajar a esta pais muy importante. Q. Muy bien. Muchas gracias, Senor Presidente. The President. Si. Q. Si, es un honor para nosotros para conversar con usted. The President. El placer es mio. Thank you, sir. March 20, 2002 Mexico U.S. Border and Immigration Policy Q. Mr. President, you're going to make an announcement about the situation on the border with Mexico. And that's something that, for millions of our viewers, is very, very important. Can you advance something of what you're going to say? Laughter The President. La frontera es muy importante por los Estados Unidos y tambien Mexico. The infrastructure la frontera necesita I mean, we've got to change for the better. We need to focus on new technologies, and we need to have a smart policy which recognizes two things. One, there is a lot of normal traffic that ought to be facilitated, as opposed to stopped. There's a lot of traffic with trucks and a lot of traffic with people. Secondly, we've got to be wise about stopping things we don't want to have happen. In other words, we've got to encourage things we want to have happen and wise about stopping things we don't want to have happen, los coyotes, the terrorists, las drogas. And we can do a better job of assigning risk and focusing our resources and infrastructure and technologies to make it work better. That's really what it is. There's not much new there really isn't much new, except for a determined focus to make the border work. And our cooperation with the Fox Government has been very good. Q. There's a huge challenge balancing homeland security The President. Yes. Q. and not disturbing something that is part of the blood of this country that is immigration. The President. That's right. Q. How do you manage to do something like that? The President. Well, it's the first to recognize that there are people who come to our country para trabajar. They love freedom they want to work they want to feed their families. Those family values values de la familia no pare in la Rio Bravo. They've got moms and dads in Mexico who want to work. And so a good immigration policy recognizes there are people in the United States who want to employ, Mexicans who want to work, and we've got to facilitate them coming together. That has nothing to do with the war on terror that has everything to do to make sure that our economy grows. And we can do a better job of that. We need to modernize that part of the immigration law. At the same time, when we share intelligence, when we modernize the border, when we use biometrics, for example, on the border, when we've got new machines that are able to look inside trucks, then I think we can do both. We can have an immigration policy that's wise and an antiterrorist homeland security for both countries that is effective. And that's what I've been talking to President Fox about, as well as the Canadians. And we've got good relationships. So we can do a lot better job of making the border work better. Q. The Mexican consulates are giving to the Mexicans in this country an ID called matricula consular. And in some counties in California and in Texas and it's expanding it's been accepted officially as an ID, and they can open bank accounts and stuff like that. Is it realistic to think that there could be a way to think in further terms about something like that? The President. Es posible. Remember there are again, I think it's very important for us to differentiate between those who on the border go back and forth on a daily basis and that's easy to figure out a way to facilitate that. It may be biometrics it may be a card it may be something. That's been discussed for a long period of time. And then there are those who are inside the country legally, and again, some kind of ID is a possibility. These are all open for discussion. But the thing that is important for Americans to understand is that there are a lot of employers looking for people to work and a lot of people from Mexico who are willing to do the job and looking for work, and we've just got to come up with a plan that facilitates that. And I don't know all the details, and I don't have but those are the kinds of things that our people are discussing with the Mexicans to come up with a compassionate policy. Colombia Q. Are we closer to seeing U.S. troops in Colombia? The President. No. No, no, no. We have committed to help the Colombians fight narcotrafficking. We're in the process of discussion with Congress the make to allow our aid and advice to help the Colombians fight terrorism. As you know, we put the terrorist groups within Colombia on our list of terrorist organizations. And so I don't see any role beyond advising and training. And I think that's important. It's important for the Colombians to make the decision themselves, to get the will necessary to take on these terrorists. And we will help them help themselves. It is a terrible situation where a part of your country has been taken over by a terrorist organization, that evidently doesn't want to reach an accommodation with you I'm talking about FARC, now does not want to reach an accommodation with the Colombian Government. Pastrana tried, and he tried, and he tried, and every attempt to create peace and a peaceful situation has been rejected by them. And now they're going to take a new tack, and we're there to help. Q. Thank you very much. The President. Thank you, sir. March 20, 2002 El Salvador U.S. Relations Q. Ten years after the peace agreement in El Salvador, how do you evaluate the current relationship between the U.S. and my country? The President. Muy fuerte. I've got, first of all, a good personal relationship with El Presidente de su pais. He's a very good man. He's a young, strong leader, and I'm impressed by him. And everybody in America who's met him is impressed by him. Secondly, I believe we've got some great opportunities. There's a lot of people from your country living here in America, and so we get a better sense of your country from them hard working, good people. Secondly, obviously we've had a chance to cooperate during some of the unbelievable natural disasters that affected El Salvador Hurricane Mitch. And our country was very glad to help. We sorry it happened, but then it happened, glad to help. And I'm going to go down and talk about trade and the ability for us to work together to put together a free trade agreement with Central American nations. I think it's a great opportunity. I'm really looking forward to the trip. I can't wait to go to El Salvador. It's going to be it's an honor to go. Central America U.S. Free Trade Agreement Q. Mr. President, do you consider that the free trade agreement between the U.S. and the Central American countries will indeed benefit the poorest people in our region? The President. Por cierto, por cierto. That's why I'm so anxious to do so. The best way to develop jobs, the best way to develop hope and opportunity is through trade. A country which trades with the United States, for example, or any other country, a vibrant marketplace is going to get 8 times more benefit from that trade than they would through any foreign aid program. Now, we're going to be generous with our foreign aid, and we'll help, but trade is really the best chance to help the poor. And that's what I'm interested in doing. I know that when somebody starts getting jobs available, there's better training. It will lead to better education it will lead to better health care. And so we're anxious to promote prosperity, and the best way to do that is through a trade agreement. Temporary Protected Status Q. Deeply inside you, Mr. President, have you made a decision over the future of 250,000 Salvadorans currently under TPS? The President. TPS? No, but I want first of all, I was a strong supporter of TPS the last time it came up. The TPS authorization or the renewal won't come up until Septiembre. So this summer I, of course, will look at it. I haven't made up my mind yet, but I will tell you, the last time I was a strong supporter. I thought it was the right thing to do. And one might guess, if I thought it was the right thing to do last time but I will make up my mind this summer. War on Terrorism Q. Does El Salvador have an important role to play in the global war against terrorism? The President. Oh, of course, of course. And here it is Al Qaida killers are trying to find places where they can move assets, train, move money. They're looking for weak spots. They found one in Afghanistan, and we're still bringing them to justice. Any country that appears weak or is welcoming to a terrorist organization is one where they're likely to go. And what El Salvador can do is continue to be strong and say, "We're not going to tolerate terrorism. We're not going to let people come to our country or our neighborhood." And they've been very strong. President Flores has been great on this subject, and I look forward to working with him. You bet it's very important for all of us who love freedom to stand strong against terrorist organizations, so that they can have no place to go. We'll keep them on the run, and we're going to keep them running. And they're going to get tired of running. And then, when they do get tired of running, we'll bring them to justice. El Salvador U.S. Relations Q. People is very anxious, waiting for you, Mr. President, in El Salvador. Tiene un mensaje para pueblo Salvadoreno? The President. Si, al pueblo de El Salvador, quiero decir eso, tu pais es importante para el futuro de mi pais. Yo quiero decir que somos amigos, y muchos gracias para la opportunidad de viajar a este pais bonita, bella. Y quiero decir que tu Presidente su Presidente es un amigo mio. Q. Thank you very much, Mr. President.The President. Si, thank you. March 20, 2002 Military Tribunals Q. Mr. President? The President. Yes. Q. What are you hoping to achieve by holding the military tribunals? And at this point, do we have any people eligible to face those tribunals? The President. Well, the tribunals are just an option for us. And we'll be using the tribunals if in the course of bringing somebody to justice it may jeopardize or compromise national security interests. So they're a tool they're an option. As you know, we're discussing rules about how they can function well. The Defense Department asked a lot of opinions from respected scholars, and the world's now beginning to see what we meant by a fair system that will enable us to bring people to justice but at the same time protect national security. I have no plans right now to use anybody nobody in mind yet. But the option is available. Q. Are many of those people otherwise going to be sent back to their home countries, and have you decided which ones would be The President. Well, we're still in the process of getting as much information from the detainees as possible. Remember, these are the ones in Guantanamo Bay are killers. They don't share the same values we share. They would like nothing more than to come after Americans or our friends and allies. And so, therefore, it's in our national interest to make sure we know enough about them before we decide what to do with them. So there's a process ongoing process to get as much information as we can from the prisoners, the detainees. Some talk some don't talk. Q. But let me follow, if I could The President. There will only be three questions. Q. Okay, sorry. But if you say they're killers The President. They said they're killers. Q. what makes them eligible to go to the tribunal? The President. I told you, if any evidence that is required to convict them jeopardizes the national security interests of the country, we'll use the tribunal. Situation in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, are you frustrated by the continuing violence in the Middle East, that looks one day it looks good, the next day it's The President. Of course I am. I am frustrated by the violence in the Middle East, and so are a lot of people who live in the Middle East. I know there are some people who do not want us to achieve any kind of peaceful settlement of a longstanding dispute. And they're willing to use terrorist means to disrupt any progress that's being made. And that frustrates me. It frustrates mothers and dads who happen to be Palestinians and Israelis, because they want to raise their children in a secure environment. Nevertheless, we'll continue to work the issue and work it hard. Zinni is over there he's making some progress. He's saying to both parties, "Stay the course. Work hard to get into Tenet." And hopefully we can achieve what we all want to achieve, which is eventually a political settlement. But first and foremost, we've got to come up with a security agreement. We made some progress, and I want to thank Zinni for his job that he's doing there. And I'm looking forward to being briefed by the Vice President tomorrow morning when he gets back from he's getting back this afternoon, but he's going to come in tomorrow morning. We'll have breakfast first thing in the morning, prior to me leaving for Mexico. Q. Mr. President, just yesterday the Vice President was suggesting that he could meet with Chairman Arafat if there was a cease fire. Does a cease fire mean an end to all suicide bombings? The President. Well, what he said was, was that there are certain conditions under which he would meet with Mr. Arafat, and that is getting into the Tenet agreement and meeting the conditions. And we've also said that we expect there to be a 100 percent effort by Chairman Arafat. We expect him to be reining in those people with whom he's got influence. Clearly, he's not going to have influence with every single suicide bomber. I understand that. But we expect him to be diligent and firm and consistent in his efforts to rein in those who would like to disrupt any progress toward peace and rein in those who would harm our friends the Israelis. And as I've said in the past, I didn't think he has done a very good job of doing that up to now, and I believe he can do a better job. And that's exactly the message the Vice President is delivering in his statement. Listen, thank you all very much. I don't want to hold two press conferences in one week. March 20, 2002 Thank you, Laura, for that warm introduction. I appreciate what a fine job she's doing as the First Lady. She's a pretty calm voice in a time in turbulent times for our country, and I'm lucky to be married to her. I want to thank all the Tucker Tigers for letting me come by to say hello. Gosh, it's good to see you all. I want to thank the fact that you understand that you can make a big difference in somebody's life, that you can help a boy and girl who needs help, and you've done a darn good job. I understand you raised 2,500. That's a lot of money to raise, but you did it by reading books. So you accomplished two things One, you helped somebody in Afghanistan who needs your help and secondly, you practiced reading, which is one of the most important things you can do. I hope you read more than you watch TV. That's really important. How many of you are going to go to college? Can you raise your hands if you're thinking about going to college? Boy, that's great. Guess what? That means you've set an important goal. That's what that means you've set a good, important goal. It also means you'd better learn how to read. So by reading all those books, it's really a good step toward meeting your goal. So thanks for letting us come. I also want to thank your teachers. Thank you all for being teachers. Teaching is a noble profession, an incredibly important job. So make sure you listen to your teachers. They care about you a lot, and they want you to meet your goal, and they want you to learn how to read. And Laura and I want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking on this important, vital profession. I want to thank the principal as well and thank the superintendent of schools. I want to thank you all. Gosh, it's such a pleasure to come. I'm accompanied by some people who I admire a lot. Our Secretary of Education, Rod Paige has come with us today. Rod, thank you for being here. Our Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao, good to see you again, Elaine. You probably know this already, I don't need to tell you this, but each State has got two United States Senators. And you're in the State of Virginia, and you've got two Senators that represent your State at the Capitol. And you've got two really fine United States Senators, both of whom have come today to say hello to us, and both of them have come today to show their support for this important project. And here they are Senator John Warner, Senator George Allen. Thank you all for coming. And from Miami, Florida, there's a Congresswoman here Ileana Ros Lehtinen is here, as well. Ileana, thank you for coming. I want to thank Harold Decker and all those who work for the Red Cross for participating in this important project. I want to thank all of you who helped on the uniform project, as well. You know, I oftentimes talk about the need to be a responsible society. In order to have a responsible society, there's such a thing as corporate responsibility. So it warmed our hearts to know that many of you in corporate America heard the call to help, and thank you so much for coming. I appreciate your efforts. Today, as well, we're joined by a special young lady from Texas. That's where Laura and I are from. She flew up here for a reason, and it's because I wanted to single her out as someone who has done a little extra not a little extra, a lot extra for the fund to help Afghan boys and girls. Her name is Olivia Bennett. Olivia, would you please stand up over here? Olivia is from Southlake, Texas, and she's got a unique talent. At the age of 12 years old, she is a really good artist. And you know what Olivia did? She painted a lot of pictures and sold them and thus far has raised 33,000 for the fund to help Afghan children. But you know what? She's only a third of the way toward her goal. She told me she is going to raise 100,000. And that is so wonderful. Thank you, Olivia, very much for being here. I want to thank Haroun Amin for being here, as well, the Afghan Charg d'Affaires. Thank you so much for coming, sir. And Madam President, fine job. There will be a Madam President one of these days, and if you keep talking the way you talk, you may be her laughter very good job. I know you all know that we're fighting a war. We're fighting against people who really don't like freedom, people who want to hurt us. And I want to assure you that we'll do everything we can to make sure they don't. We'll do everything we can. But we're fighting for more than just a war we're fighting to help people, too. We want the world not only to be peaceful we want the world to be a better place. We want boys and girls to grow up in a world that is free and where they can go to school. And we're making some good progress. I want to tell you all that we've helped people get food. And a lot of times on TV, all you see is about the bombs, but we've prevented mass starvation because we've moved a lot of food into the region. We're helping build roads. We're helping build schools. We're helping make sure boys and girls or others have got health care and health clinics. And we're also doing a lot to help children get a good education. Laura talked a lot about education, and she's right. If you're educated, you've got a much better chance to have a hopeful future and a happy future, and that's what we want. We want that for every boy and girl, whether they live in America or anywhere else in the world. And the amazing thing about this and a lot of Americans have trouble understanding this that for the first time young girls are going to be going to school in Afghanistan. See, that's hard for us to believe, isn't it? Most of you, after summer, dread going back to school not all of you, some of you. But there are boys and girls there's girls in Afghanistan who dream about getting to go at all. And as a result of what our country and many of our friends have done, girls get to go to school, too, starting this week. And when they go to school, we want to make sure they've got supplies. We want to make sure they've got tablets to write on and Crayolas to color with and even jump ropes to jump with. And so one of the things that's happened is we've put a coalition that means a group of people together to send textbooks to Afghanistan. We've sent 4 million textbooks thus far, and there's another 6 million to go in Afghanistan, so the boys and girls will have something to read. And as you heard earlier, we're putting basic school supply kits together, so that 120,000 Afghan children will have some school supplies by June. And they're called school chests, and today I had a chance to see some of your classmates putting the chests together. Matter of fact, I got to load a couple of notebooks myself. Forty notebooks per chest, that's a lot of notebooks. But that's how many children there are in a class. And there's a lot of other things in there as well. There's pencils and rulers, as I mentioned, crayons, jump ropes, a soccer ball so the kids can play soccer, get a little exercise while you're doing your studies. And so far, I just want you all to know it's kind of a report here that 1,000 of these kits have been put together, 1,000 chests have been assembled. But that's not enough. We need 2,000 more chests. And so I'm asking our fellow Americans to rally for this good cause, to donate and participate in the creation of 2,000 more school supply chests to go to Afghanistan. And if you want to help, contact your local Red Cross chapter. You know, I'm asked all the time, "What can I do to help in the war against terror?" You can help by helping build one of these school chests. It doesn't matter how you do it, how you raise the money. Just get it done. And the good news is we're a can do country. We're a country who responds in a compassionate way. There's no doubt in my mind, Harold, that the American people will respond. And when they do, Laura and I will thank them from the bottom of my heart our hearts. But there's a lot to do. And so for those of you out in America who wonder what you can do to help, call the Red Cross office. And they will give you an assignment, and when you fulfill the assignment, you'll know you're making a huge difference, a significant difference in the life of a boy or a girl in Afghanistan. Our dream is a world that's peaceful, and our dream is a world that is hopeful. And the best way to make sure the world is hopeful is to help people get a good education, and that's what we're here today to honor. I want to thank you all for helping somebody. I want to thank you all for understanding that when you help somebody, it really helps your own life, that when you help somebody in need, that it makes you a better person. I hope that's a lesson you keep with you for a long time. Thanks for letting us come by to say hello. God bless you all. March 19, 2002 Visit to Latin America The President. I'm going to give you an opening statement. But first of all, these observers are simply that. Q. They're not going to take one question. The President. They get no questions. They're here just to listen to your questions and my answers. They probably will like your questions and not like my answers. Laughter Anyway, let me talk about the trip from my perspective, and we'll kind of rotate around. Everybody will get at least one question hopefully everybody will get two. First, I'm looking forward to my trip. Obviously, one of the main purposes of the trip is to go speak about development, world development, in Monterrey. I will lay out there for the world leaders what I already did so in our country which is the Millennium Challenge Fund, of a fund that will ultimately be 5 billion a year. It starts at 1.5 billion, roughly 1.5 billion, and then will go up to about two thirds of 5 billion, and then will be at 5 billion in year three and will remain at 5 billion. And that fund will be used to encourage first of all, it will say our country assumes our rightful responsibility to help developing nations, but we expect there to be rightful obligations on those who receive them to make sure that there's an education system that works, a health care system that works, an opportunity for development of an entrepreneurial class or small businesses, foster trade between ourselves. And countries that practice good habits will get money. Now, this is on top of roughly 10 billion which we spend already in direct development aid, not including other projects, assistance to the World Bank organizations, et cetera. Also, I'm really looking forward to seeing my friend the President of Mexico. He was my friend prior to September the 11th he was my friend after September the 11th he'll be my friend for a long period of time because I know him well. I respect him a lot. We've got a very good relationship, and obviously, we've got a very important bilateral relationship. So we're going to have a we'll have a discussion about issues that are common issues. Obviously, the border is a common issue, how to make the border work better, looking at a variety of options as to how to modernize the border between Mexico and the United States, as well as the border between Canada and the United States. I'll discuss some ideas with him. We'll continue to talk about migration, the need to make sure that people are treated with respect when they come to this country that I strongly believe that we need to pass what we call 245(i) here. The House has done so the Senate hasn't done anything yet. And I'd like to get that done quickly. We're urging the Senate to move and to get this bill passed. And we've got a lot of discussions about commercial relations and law enforcement relations. We've got great cooperation. I've been very impressed by the dialog that we've had. It was a good dialog before the attacks it's been a good dialog after. Then we go down to Peru. I'm looking forward to seeing President Toledo. He is a leader dedicated to democracy and reform. I'm really looking forward to being in Lima. I've never been there. It's going to be an exciting trip for me and mi esposa. And it will not only give me a chance to have a good bilateral discussion with el Presidente on a variety of subjects, not the least of which will be counternarcotics cooperation, trade. I'm very concerned about opening markets in the United States. We'll talk to him about that. And then we'll be meeting with other leaders from the Andean trade pact. And I look forward to meeting them as well. I've known most of them before. This will be the third or fourth time I've seen President Toledo, so I've got a familiar relationship with him. And then off to El Salvador to discuss a free trade agreement with the Central American countries and to see my friend President Flores, who is really one of the bright young leaders. I admire him a lot and respect him a lot. So I look forward to discussing the main discussion in Central America will be trade, will be the focus on how to enhance prosperity. The main discussions with the Andean countries will be trade plus, obviously, the issue of drugs, drogas. I will remind all countries, however, that our Nation has got to do a better job of suppressing demand. In order to make sure that we're effective in dealing with the Andean nations, with the issue of borders, safe borders with Mexico so long as we've got people using drugs in America, somebody is going to provide them. And it's likely they're going to come from our neighbors. So we've got a big obligation at home as well. I want to make that clear to the leaders and the people as well. So this is going to be an exciting trip. I said when I first got elected that good relations in the neighborhood, in our own neighborhood, is the cornerstone of a good foreign policy. I meant that. My first trip as President was to Mexico. I continue to stay very much involved in the neighborhood, and so I'm looking forward to the trip. Trade Promotion Authority Q. Yes, Mr. President. In your trip to Mexico City, you're talking about The President. Mexico City, do you mean Monterrey? Q. I'm sorry, Monterrey. The President. I was going to say, have we got another trip, and they forgot to tell me? Laughter Q. When you're talking about trade, you obviously know that the whole issue of fast track hasn't gone anywhere here in the Senate. Do you see that The President. In the Senate? Yes. Q. And in Congress, itself. The President. Well, the House passed it, remember? Q. Right. The President. We got it out of the House, which a lot of people didn't think we were going to be able to do. Q. So as far as trade conversations down there, do you see that as a problem? The President. No, I don't. I see it I will remind them that we'll continue to work hard with the Senate. I'll remind them of some of the language of some of the Senators that do believe that we ought to have a free trade agreement. We ought to extend the Andean Trade Preference Act, which I will continue to push and won't happen prior to my leaving. I'm going in 2 days. But nevertheless, we're confident we can get that done. I will also remind them trade promotion authority passed the House. A lot of people thought that was a higher hurdle than the Senate. The Senate leadership has said that they're going to bring this bill up. I don't know the timing of it yet, but we're going to push hard to get it done as soon as possible. It is an important issue to a lot of Senators, and I think I'll get it done. So I'll talk about that. Obviously, we have an obligation at home to get TPA passed, and we're halfway there. And then we'll also talk about free trade in the Americas, as well as the Central American the trade negotiations. I'll be talking about Chile, starting with the free trade agreement with Chile. We think we can get that done this year as well. So there is a lot of positive progress. And I'll remind them that on the decision I made on steel, I honored the agreements and the commitments of NAFTA and the free trade agreement. And so, as a result, Canada and Mexico were excluded from the agreement, as are most developing nations. And the only nation that's been affected is Brazil in our hemisphere, and only to the extent of about 12 percent of her steel production or her exports. Assistance to Colombia Q. Mr. President, in Lima, you are going to meet with President Pastrana of Colombia. The President. Yes, I am. Q. While your administration is moving to increase the aid, the military aid to Colombia, to fight the foreign guerrillas but according to the U.S. State Department, most of the drug trafficking no, much of the drug trafficking problem and human rights violation is responsibility for the rightwing paramilitary group AUC. Aren't you afraid that your effort could not help to solve a big part of the problem? The President. Am I afraid I beg your pardon afraid of the? Q. That you help the Colombian Government to fight the FARC The President. Well, we expect them to fight all renegade and terrorist groups. We expect them to hold the line. I mean, we are not picking and choosing. We believe that AUC and FARC need to be we need to focus on AUC and FARC, and the third group I understand Mr. Pastrana is in discussions with them right now, and we'll see how that goes. And so we don't play favorites with terrorist groups and renegade groups. We believe there's equality, and they're equally bad. And so we're going to insist that we not insist we will offer help and aid, like we have done. Right now we're restricted by Congress to focus on narcotrafficking, and we believe that we will work we need to work with Congress to help broaden the focus to counterterrorism. And we're more than willing to have those discussions with Congress. I've already done so. But I have always said that we'll stay within the confines of the law. We have no interest in committing ground troops, but we do want to help them, and we'll do so. Impact of Trade on Developing Countries Q. Mr. President, about this trade agreement with Central American countries and I'm thinking specifically of El Salvador. How is your vision how do you make these free trade agreements into benefits for the real people? I mean, in terms of development, what's your vision? The President. Well, I think people first of all, the statistic I like to quote is that we buy 450 billion of goods from developing nations on an annual basis. I think that's the number I used the other day in my speech. That is 8 times more and that, by the way, ends up when you purchase goods, you're actually purchasing something that requires labor, and labor is a job. And so one of the focuses of this administration is how to put policies in place that enable people to work for a living. What is it what is it we can do with each other? And trade equals jobs, as far as I'm concerned. And the trade figures, which really put money directly into the economies of countries with whom we trade, are significantly bigger than direct aid. And so it makes sense to promote trade. So the answer to your question and I'm confident people in your fine country are asking, "What good is it for me? How will this benefit me?" And that's a legitimate question people ask. And the answer is, trade equals jobs. The more markets are open, the more trade there is, the more jobs available. And the President understands President Flores understands that. And that is very important to understand. It is the amount of capital that ends up flowing within the private sector in the country is significantly greater than any aid package could possibly be. And that's important for people to know. And that's why I think President Flores is excited about the idea of having this trade pact. And obviously, countries are going to have to put procedures in place that will allow for the orderly development of a private sector, rule of law, anticorruption measures. No one is going to do business if you get money stolen from you. There's got to be tightening of anticorruption measures. There's got to be a good education system. And part of the Millennium Challenge Fund will help developing nations develop an education system. One of the things we learned from northern Mexico the trade is that trade created a lot of job opportunity. And the job opportunity created training opportunities, which in itself was good education for many people. The border region of my State, while still poor, has changed significantly as a result of the trade policies. And Monterrey has blossomed into one of the great financial centers of the hemisphere because of trade. And so there's a lot of positive benefits for people. People talk about health care, and it's essential that we have good health care. But it's a society that is generating wealth is one much more likely to provide good health care for her people. And there's a lot of benefits to trade. And so that's probably the most direct benefit to the people. Drug Interdiction Intelligence Q. One small detail concerning what he asked you before. Is Peru, Colombia, and the United States talking about a place in an intelligence basement in the jungle of Colombia and Peru to fight narcotraffickers and The President. Are we talking about I can't get too specific about placements. Let me just put it to you this way We're willing to cooperate to do as effective a job as we can on interdicting. I won't count that as a question. Q. You're already talking about it. And my question, please The President. One of the things we don't discuss, at least in this administration, is intelligence matters. We don't want the enemy to have any sense about what we're thinking about doing, or where we may be going. So that does not count as a question. Fujimori Government Investigation Q. President Toledo will ask you to help him for the reclassification of documents concerning corruption and human rights violations in Fujimori's government. The CIA, especially The President. FBI. Q. FBI and CIA also has some of the most important documents, we think, concerning the Vladimiro Montesinos. How long are we going to have to wait to know what those documents have? The President. Well, actually, we're cooperating very closely. I think he would say that we've had great cooperation with the Peruvian Government. There has been significant cooperation. As a matter of fact, it led to the significant arrest, as you may remember. And I will be very candid with him and talk about matters of sharing information. We're not again, I don't know a specific document you're talking to. But I can tell you the history has been positive up to now. Otherwise the arrest I can't remember the fellow's name. You know him more than me, Fujimori's close Q. Vladimiro Montesinos? The President. Yes. That was the result of our cooperation, if I'm not mistaken. Q. How was it? The President. What? Q. How was it? The President. How was the result? Q. Yes. The President. Well, we shared a lot of information in order to make the case, if I'm not mistaken. The Ambassador here was very much involved with that. And I think that history will show when the facts come out that this man wouldn't have been arrested without the close cooperation of the U.S. Government. Mexico U.S. Border Issues Q. Sir, the Washington Post runs a story today that about the creation of a new border agency that will merge Customs, the INS, and the Border Patrol. The President. Don't believe everything you read in the paper. Laughter Q. Okay. Laughter The President. That's off the record, of course. No, put it in there. It will make me a hero. Laughter Q. I know that the at least the border issue will be a main topic on Friday's bilateral reunion with President Fox. What will a reinforced U.S. Mexican border mean for each country? The President. Yes, let me talk about first of all, I'm exploring all options to make our borders more secure and more modern. And so what does that mean with Mexico? Well, first of all, I recognize the of all people, I recognize, since I was the Governor of Texas, I know how much traffic goes across that border on a daily basis and how much of that traffic stays within the region. I mean, we've got aunts and uncles visiting their nephews and nieces and have been doing it for generations. And therefore, a smart border policy is one that recognizes customs and habits and the history as a matter of fact, facilitates that flow, as opposed to prevents that flow of people and recognizes that there is a unique relationship here and, therefore, there's got to be positive policies that do not impede those customs. Secondly, a smart border is one that recognizes that we've got traffic originating in the midst of our respective countries that can be inspected somewhere other than the border get a good seal of approval from an inland port, say, and let that cargo, once it's inspected, once clear for travel, proceed directly to a port or a destination in Mexico or the United States or vice versa, so that the traffic moves more expeditiously through the border. It's a smart border initiative. It's one that recognizes the amount of commerce. You go down to Laredo, like I have, and you've got miles and miles of trucks. The system is antiquated it is outdated. It needs to be modernized for the good of both countries. Third, border security means more manpower and effective coordination to crack down on "coyotes." The worst kind of smuggling, in my judgment, is people smuggling. And as you well know, there has been a lot of that, and there's been a lot of tragedy as a result of poor, hard working Mexicans, looking for a job, ending up in the back of somebody's truck in terrible weather, in horrible conditions, because of "coyotes." And we've got to do a better job. And when we crack down on the "coyotes," we've also been pretty darn effective at the same time about cracking down on smuggling, on both ways, I might add. We need to be effective with biometrics. That will not only facilitate the common flow, the daily flow of traffic it will also help us deal with those who are coming into the country illegally and or register those who are coming illegally for extended periods of time. So there's a lot we can do. How best to effect that is what I'm looking at within the administration. I'm looking at a variety of options, because I want our borders to be modern and secure and recognize the great vitality between our respective countries. We've had good dialog, by the way, with the Fox administration, as have we had with the Chretien administration. And I think people are beginning to realize that we're serious about both sides, or all three of us, are serious about working collaterally to make our borders work better. Immigration and Border Security Legislation Q. As far as the 245(i), how confident are you that the Senate will move on it? The President. Well, I'm not confident they'll move on it I'm confident we've got the votes. But the problem is, I haven't been confident that they're going to move on many things these days. We've gotten a lot of bills out of the House and not much out of the Senate. And so that's why I just finished my Cabinet meeting and made a direct call to the Senate to get 245(i) passed. They're dealing with other matters. Campaign funding reform is up, and they've still got an energy bill moving around. Q. Because there's also a deadline for the program to end. The President. No, I know. Trust me, I'm a big 245(i) backer. And I remember, as I recall, some in the Senate and the House went down to Mexico and talked to President Fox about a modern immigration policy. And I just hope that they're able to live up to their kind of their implied promise or explicit promise they told the Mexican people when they went down there. Venezuela Q. Mr. President, in your trip to Lima, you're going to meet the Andean Presidents but not the Venezuelan President. The President. That's right. Q. As your spokesman tells us almost every day The President. He mentioned it? Laughter Q. Yes. Your administration are your administration is not happy with Mr. Chavez's trips, Mr. Chavez's friends. What should the current Venezuelan administration do to in order to be closer to your maybe get a meeting? Or thinking about the recent political unrest in Venezuela, are you worried that there could be some the situation could be worse? The President. Well, let me see here. First, Venezuela is not a part of the Andean trade group. Secondly, the President has spoken out against free trade agreements. And since this is going to be mainly a discussion other than my bilateral with President Toledo a discussion about trade, that it doesn't seem to make sense to have him a part of those discussions. Why have somebody there who's not in favor of what we're all trying to do? Secondly, we are concerned about Venezuela. We've had longtime connections with the Venezuelan people, have a great respect for the Venezuelan people. We've got a commercial relationship with the Venezuelans for years, and that obviously is in the energy sector. And we are concerned anytime there is unrest in our neighborhood, and we're watching the situation very carefully. This man was elected by the people. We respect democracy in our country, and we hope that he respects those institutions, the democratic institutions within his country. Temporary Protected Status Extension Q. Mr. President, as you might or might not be aware, there are 6 million Salvadorans living inside our country. The President. Yes. Q. And 2 million and a half living outside, mostly in the United States. What could we expect in terms of migrations? Are you also the announcement of the TPS extension for Salvadorans? The President. I won't be making that announcement there. But as you may remember, I supported the TPS extension last time around. It does not come up until September of this year, if I'm not mistaken. I will take it under advisement. But the last time it came up, I was strongly in support. Let me just give you my view generally about immigration. There are people in our neighborhood who hurt a mom or a dad who worry about whether or not their children eat and I have great sympathy for those folks. And many come to our country to work. I used to remind people that family values did not stop at the Rio Bravo. There's a lot of parents who deeply care about whether or not their families can survive and are willing to take a risk to come long distances to find work. And it turns out that a place that had been looking for workers for a period of time was the United States. The economy was strong. There were a lot of jobs that others wouldn't do, what people were willing to do, and they came here. And my attitude is that we ought to have a program, figure out a program that will match a willing employer with a willing employee and make that a part of a legal process. In other words, if you're willing to work and somebody is looking for a job, that we make that easier rather than harder to accomplish. And that's not the case in the law today. It's hard to legally hire somebody. And I think we can that's going to be a discussion I must have with Members of our United States Congress and obviously with the President of Mexico, for starters. This is going to take a while to accomplish, but it's to me, it's a commonsense way to approach the migration issue. How that affects the people here from El Salvador, some legal and some illegal, it's hard to tell. Q. So just to be sure, so you're not making any announcement in terms of migration in El Salvador? The President. No, I'm not. But I will remind people, if asked, of course, that I was for TPS the last time around. Peru Hemispheric Democracy Q. Not only Venezuela but also Argentina and Colombia and Brazil is doing its own way, but South America is going through a very special moment now. Are you looking in Peru a new ally closer to the United States to go to the South American region? The President. Well, that's very interesting. First of all, I'm going to Peru because I do view Peru as an ally and a friend. I'm the first United States sitting President to have ever gone to Peru. And I welcome the reforms in Peru, and I welcome the fact that President Toledo is taking a very firm stand on reforming and anticorruption. And he was elected through the democratic process, which is important. And interestingly enough, all but one nation in our hemisphere has got a democratically elected President. Cuba is the only country that does not have a democratically elected President. That is a significant change, if you think about it, in the history of our hemisphere, an amazing change to the better. We just had elections in Central America, the neighbors of El Salvador. And the neighborhood there has had two elections, good, clean elections, where reformers and advocates for the open market and trade were elected. And I'm looking forward I've met them prior to their swearing in. I look forward to seeing them again when I'm down there. Brazil, obviously, is fixing to have an election. Colombia is going to have an election soon. It will be very interesting to see how that election plays out. Obviously, the security of the people will be an issue in that election. I think that happens in May, if I'm not mistaken. So there's an ongoing to me, it's a the system and Mexico, of course, was one where, you know, the PAN wins, and all of a sudden it shows the maturity of the democratic process. And I think this is incredibly positive results for our hemisphere. Not everything is going to be smooth all the time, but so long as leaders and the people demand democracy, there will be more freedom and more opportunity and more hope than in societies that will be closed and will frighten their neighbors. Argentina is a financial issue. Argentina has got a longstanding democracy. And it's an issue of great concern for us, because we're friends with Argentina and we're partners with Argentina. And we are hoping that Argentina will make the necessary reforms, the tough decisions necessary to earn the confidence of some of these international financial institutions but most particularly the IMF. I know that I've talked to my friend the President of Spain a lot, because the Spanish banks are quite exposed in Argentina. They've got more exposure than any banks in the world, and we're second. So we're interested, but we're more interested in the people, themselves. So we've spent, in our administration, a lot of time focusing on Argentina. So I'm concerned about that on the other hand, I know that there is a way out, and the country itself is going to have to make some tough calls, starting with reforming the relationship between the States and their budgets and the central government. But we'll see what happens. I'm optimistic about our hemisphere. I think it's been I think there's some really great years ahead of us. And the reason I am is because I've watched some of these elections very closely, and I think the outcomes have been they've embraced giving the people an opportunity to express themselves. U.N. Commission on Human Rights Cuba Q. You mentioned Cuba. The President. Yes. Q. It is said that you are going to ask President Toledo to vote against Cuba in the United Nations Human Rights Committee meetings? The President. Well, I wouldn't say "voting against." I'm just going to remind the Human Rights Commission to remember that Cuba is an incredibly repressive regime. It's the one nondemocratic government. They put people in prison if they don't agree with you. I mean, that to me is a violation of people's human rights. I mean, there's no rule of law there. It's the rule of one person. He's been there for a long period of time, and unfortunately the people of that country are suffering as a result of him. So it's a vote for liberty and freedom, and that's something Mr. Castro doesn't believe in. For example, there's not a lot of free press there, to put it in your lap, as we say. Last question. Millennium Challenge Fund Q. Okay. Today's main story in our newspaper in Mexico, as part of the international conference in Monterrey, was the U.S. opposition well, it was Alan Larson's opposition The President. Who? Q. Alan Larson? The President. Alan Larson? NSC Senior Director Maisto. Under Secretary for Economic Affairs. The President. Oh, okay. Q. Okay. You do know him, okay. Laughter The President. I've got a big administration. Laughter Q. He was speaking on the The President. Well, I don't know if I know him or not. Depends on what he said. Laughter Q. Okay, now I'm going to rethink the question first The President. The real question is, will he know me after what he said? But anyway, go ahead. What's Al's position, and what's the subject? Laughter Q. Well, the story was on the United States opposition to aid quotas. Is it The President. To what quotas? Q. Aid, quotas for aid. The President. Aid quotas? Q. Aid, to help developing countries. The President. Oh, yes. Okay, yes. Q. And it's The President. He and I are in the same position. Al still has a job. Laughter Q. That's good. The conference started yesterday, and is it expected that every developed country decides on its own how and how much to help, if The President. Now, here's the thing. You can't it's an arbitrary measurement that I frankly don't think reflects the great compassion of the United States. People are able to adopt whatever formula they think is necessary to be generous. But these formulas often times don't measure how much a nation is contributing, like our nation is contributing. And I think a better way to go, and the way we are going to go, is through this Millennium Challenge Fund, where we're laying out a 5 billion a year commitment. Now, that starts 3 years from now, so I just want to make sure everybody understands the funding. I know there's a little confusion about what a third of it, which is more than 1.5 billion, it's a little less than 1.7 billion 1.66667 billion and then two thirds, and then Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. Could be, it's going to be be determined exactly. The President. Anyway, it'll be up to 5 billion at the end of 3 years. Laughter Larson? Laughter Anyway no, you're Fleischer. Five billion at the end of 3 years, 5 billion the fourth year, 5 billion the sixth year, okay? This is a better way to go. As I said earlier, that it is an obligation we take seriously, and by the way, this is on top of that which we already do. It doesn't include monies, for example, to make the world more secure. It's hard to have economic development if you're being terrorized. And one of the obligations that we take seriously is the obligation to rid the world of terror. And we don't mind leading this coalition, and we are spending the most money to do so which is fine. We're happy to do that. We will defend freedom. My only point is, there's a lot of ways to contribute. We're a big contributor to the World Bank, significant contributor to the IMF. We contribute in a variety of ways the United Nations, which is a large contributor, and there's a variety. So do other nations don't get me wrong. I'm not saying we're the only ones doing this. I'm just saying that the best way for us to proceed, the most comfortable I am, is to make the commitment I have made through this Millennium Challenge Fund which is a reform to the current process, because on the one hand we're saying we have responsibilities we'll uphold those responsibilities. But there is a responsibility from the country that receives money as well, a responsibility to the people, a responsibility to rout out corruption. I think it makes no sense to give aid, money, to countries that are corrupt. Because you know what happens? The money doesn't help the people it helps an elite group of leaders. And that's not fair to the people of this particular country, nor is it fair to the taxpayers in the United States. So I believe it's time to bring a measure of accountability into this process, and I'm going to be very strong about it in Monterrey. I don't subscribe to the theory that certain countries cannot reform, and therefore we must give them money anyway. I don't buy that. I believe everybody can have basic rule of law and can respect the citizens who live there. Everybody should be able to focus on educating their children and have good health care policy. And so this millennium fund is going to be focusing not only on enhancing trade and the practices that lead to good trade policy and again, I'll repeat, if a nation is worried about developing, a nation can receive a heck of a lot more help, private capital, aid not in the normal sense but help through trade. It happens every time. And so the best practices, it seems like to me, the best way to foster what we all would hope for, which is a healthy, well educated, prosperous world, is to encourage trade and the habits that lead to trade and the habits that lead to marketplace. And again, I repeat, there's got to be good government practices attributed to that. And I'm going to be tough about it. I'm not interested in funding corruption, period. And if a country thinks they're going to get aid from the United States and they're stealing money, they're just not going to get it out of this millennium fund and hopefully not out of any fund. And then we expect nations to develop practices that will help the people directly, like good education. I'm the first leader who stood up and said that the World Bank ought to have 50 percent of the money they distribute in the form of grants, not loans grants to help education and health flourish in developing nations. I think it would be a lot better than, you know, loaning money that in many circumstances can't be repaid. It's hard to get a rate of return in the financial sense on an education system. But you can get a huge rate of return on the capital of human capital, by a good education system. So I'm for grants, not loans, for 50 percent of the money coming out of the World Bank. I think there's a lot of people down there in Monterrey that you know, I didn't hear a lot of thunderous applause on it, but it's the right thing to do. And so I'm not afraid of taking a lead. And I'm going to lead on this issue, because I feel strongly that for our taxpayers to be comfortable with money being spent, there's got to be something, there's got to be an effort made a true, honest effort made to improve the plight of the people we're trying to help. And I'm optimistic about all this. We've got some terrible problems in the world. I'm deeply disturbed about the AIDS crisis. It is a significant, significant issue in Africa, obviously. There's a place where we've put up a half a billion dollars to begin. And when I see a strategy, a focused strategy that will yield results, then we'll be willing to work with Congress to put more money in. But I want to see and we didn't mind we're happy to take the lead in starting to seed the fund. But now, it's time to see whether or not there can be a strategy in place that will actually work. And when we see something working and we'd like to help but when we see something working, we'll be an enthusiastic backer. But if it doesn't work, it's time it's time to hold people accountable. And that's exactly what my message is going to be in Monterrey. I'm looking forward to giving I'm sorry. I've got to go. Laughter Q. I will wait and see. The President. Tengo que salir. You'd better yell loud, because I can't hold this pack back. Laughter They'll be up there yelling and elbowing and screaming out questions. You watch they're a very aggressive lot back there. Possible Caribbean Visit Q. Mr. President, do you envision going to the Caribbean soon at all or doing the same kind of thing that you're doing in Central and South America? The President. Quizas, quizas. President Eduardo Alberto Duhalde of Argentina Q. Mr. President, are you going to see President Duhalde of Argentina, do you know? Is he on your schedule, do you know? The President. I don't know. Oh, you mean in Monterrey? Q. Yes, sir, on this trip. The President. I imagine I'll see him. We're having a dinner, leaders' dinner only, if I'm not mistaken. Q. Yes. A luncheon. The President. Luncheon. Almuerzo. Thank you all. March 19, 2002 Thank you all very much. Thank you for coming. Thank you very much. Gosh, thanks for the warm welcome. Elaine, thanks for your kind words. I'm proud of the job you're doing in my Cabinet. I appreciate your advice and counsel, I and appreciate the leadership you've shown at theU.S. Department of Labor. I want to thank those who organized this summit. I think it's a very important summit. I think it's important to advance the spirit of entrepreneurship and equality and opportunity for everybody who is fortunate enough to be an American. I'm honored to be with you, and I'm glad you invited me, because I believe small businesses are really important to the future of our country. I know small businesses are the path to success for many Americans, especially women, the newly arrived, minority Americans. Small businesses create jobs, and this is incredibly important for our economy at this time. Small businesses embody the American values of hard work, risktaking, and independence. And so, today I want to discuss with you a series of new policies to encourage and reward the work of America's small business women and men. Before I do so, I want to thank some of the members of my team who are here. Hector Barreto, who is the head of the SBA, is with us today. And Hector, I want to thank you very much for coming. I understand the Secretary of Treasury was here, Paul O'Neill. He probably went back to work. That's a good sign. Laughter He heard the boss was coming, so he headed out of here laughter but I appreciate his leadership. Rosario Marin, who is the Treasurer of the United States, is here. Thank you, Rosario. I see my friend from the State of Arkansas, Tim Hutchinson. Thank you for coming, Senator. I appreciate you being here today. Not only do I want to thank you all for being here, but I know we've got some folks who are watching via satellite from Orlando. You might say hello to your Governor down there for me. Laughter Tell him to keep listening to Mother. Laughter St. Louis, Missouri we've got some folks tuned in in St. Louis. I just was there last night and had a great trip to St. Louis. We've got some people from Little Rock, Tim, who are watching, and from Bangor, Maine, as well. So welcome via satellite to this important conference, and thank you all for listening. One of the things this summit recognizes is that there's been a fundamental change in our economy. When it comes to entrepreneurship and job creation, ours is an increasingly woman's world. The truth of the matter is and the reason why I say that is, women owned businesses are growing at twice the rate 2 times the rate of all other United States firms. That's a remarkable accomplishment for the United States of America. And the interesting other fact that I want to point out to people listening is that women firms now employ 7 million Americans. Small business ownership is a great equalizer in America. The only connections you need are happy customers, a good business plan. The only credentials you need are good products. The only values you need is to be willing to take risk and to work hard. For millions of minorities and women and new Americans, small businesses provide a great chance to succeed in America, a chance to realize your dreams. For some women, a small business brings the satisfaction of success without having to go through the frustrations of corporate life. I suspect there are a lot of women entrepreneurs in this room and around the country who tried out corporate life and found out and agree with what this entrepreneur said. Nancy Miller put it this way "You succeed or fail based on your own abilities, not on politics or anybody else." She's got a pretty good point there. She talks about the freedom that comes with owning your own business. And it's so important that our country maintain that flame of freedom, the entrepreneurial spirit of America. What the other and the reason I love the entrepreneurial spirit, because it provides people a chance to be creative, to build, to contribute, and to own. Being your own boss, as Sherrin Holder of Virginia describes it, brings a sense of pride and accomplishment, a sense of ownership, and a growing hope for success. She captures the feeling of every entrepreneur. You can advance yourself, and you can do good by doing so. As you succeed, you help others to succeed, first and foremost by providing somebody with a job. You can dream big dreams in America, and my job as the President is to make sure that if you've got a good idea, you can realize those dreams. And as importantly, when you're successful, you can pass on your assets to your children, if you so choose, or to anybody you desire to. The thing about America is that people Americans have got to understand that everybody in our country has a stake in the success of small businesses, starting with the fact that small businesses create two thirds of the new jobs created in America on any given year. It's really important for people to understand, as we're fighting a recession, if small businesses create two thirds of the new jobs, it makes sense that any economic recovery strategy focus on small businesses. And that's what I want to talk about today. I do not believe the role of Government is to create wealth. That's not the role of Government. There are no guarantees in the free enterprise system. The role of Government is to create an environment that encourages risktaking, an environment that facilitates the flow of capital, and an environment in which people can realize their dreams. That's the role of Government, and that's exactly what I intend to do as the President. And it started right after I got sworn in as President, when I went before the Congress and insisted that they reduce the tax rates on everybody who pays taxes in America. And that tax cut came at the right time for our country. Make no mistake about it, the fact that we're willing to allow people to keep their own money stimulated demand. And when you stimulate demand, that then causes production increases. And when you increase production, you increase jobs. The tax cut came just at the time our economy was losing steam. It was an important part of the fact that our economy is beginning to rebound. And for those who think we ought to undo the tax cut, they've got a mighty high hurdle to cross That's me. And here's the thing about the tax cut that I know was incredibly important for the future of our country. Most small businesses let me put it this many small businesses, many, many businesses are sole proprietorships or are limited partnerships and, therefore, do not pay corporate rate in income tax they pay individual rates. And therefore, by cutting all rates, what we did was provide cashflow to the small businesses of America. The tax reduction plan was important for small business growth and activity. The more businesses the more cashflow a small business owner has in her pocket, the more likely it is the business will succeed and expand and create more jobs. This tax cut not only happened at the right time it was really good for small businesses in America. A lot of us in Washington didn't feel like that was enough, and so we fought for an economic stimulus plan, which I'm proud to report I was able to sign in the Rose Garden a couple of weekends ago. And with the help of both Republicans and Democrats, the plan made it to my desk. It is a plan that says we're going to help people whose lives were affected because of the attacks of 9 11 by extending unemployment benefits. But it also recognized that people don't want an unemployment check they want a permanent paycheck. And therefore, we created additional stimulus, mainly encouraging people to invest in plant and equipment. If you encourage people to invest in plant and equipment, that will help those who are the immediate employer, but also those who manufacture the equipment or manufacture the or construct the plant will also have employment. So it's a ripple effect in our economy. And so I was pleased to sign that bill, and it's going to help, in my judgment, not only in the short term but in the out years as well. And we're seeing some encouraging signs of recovery, but I want to tell you something. I'm not a numbers cruncher, I'm not one of these bean counters, but I don't believe the economy is strong enough to say that we've recovered. I worry about the fact there are too many people in our country still looking for work. And if people who want to work can't find work, we've got to keep moving on the subject of economic security and economic recovery, and that's what I want to talk to you about today. Again, I'll repeat, if the small business sector creates two thirds of the new jobs in America, it makes a lot of sense to focus on how to stimulate small business growth. So I want to talk to you about some of my plans to do so, starting with this. And basically, the summary is, that we're going to lift unfair regulatory burdens we're going to encourage additional cashflow and we're going to work to make sure that American entrepreneurs have got access to Government contracting. Because the economic stimulus package only had a 3 year life to it, I believe Congress ought to pass additional incentives for small businesses to invest in plant and equipment, incentives beyond the incentives in the economic stimulus package. As you know, annual tax deductions are limited to a certain amount of money on an annual basis for small businesses, and the size of the purchase is relatively small. I think we ought to increase the size of the purchase of plant and equipment as well as increase the annual deductions for small businesses in order to enhance cashflow, which will make it easier for people to find more jobs in America. Secondly, the complexity of the Tax Code is a tremendous burden on small business. And we must simplify it. It's an interesting fact I ran into 9 out of 10 small businesses owned by women have fewer than 5 employees. And the amount of time people spend over trying to figure out a complicated tax system is enormous. It is a frankly, not that good a use of your time. Laughter I talked to Secretary O'Neill about this very subject. I'm going to share it with you. One, I instructed him to report on ways that the Treasury Department can simplify the Tax Code on small businesses as quickly as possible. I will give you one idea not an idea, one thing we're going to do immediately by a revenue rule, it's called. And Paul, I promise you, is the kind of fellow that, when he's asked to do something, he'll get it done quickly. And I've asked him to do this. Laughter Service businesses with gross revenues of under 10 million will be able to use the cash accounting method of accounting, as opposed to accrual method of accounting. Simply put, that will eradicate a lot of time spent on trying to figure out the accrual method of accounting. It simplifies the accounting process for small businesses, which will be a timesaver and a moneysaver and will help create more jobs by simplifying the regulatory burden on small businesses. We're going to get this done quickly. Although what I'm about to tell you won't have an immediate effect on job creation, it is an important part of any small business owner's plan or strategy, and it's this We've eliminated the death tax as a result of the new tax reform. However, because of a I guess you would call it a quirk in the law, the death tax would not be totally eliminated in the year 2011. We must make the repeal of the death tax permanent. I call upon Congress to do this immediately. It is unfair, patently unfair, for a any entrepreneur but a woman entrepreneur to develop her own business and have that business taxed twice as she tries to leave her assets to whomever she chooses. It is not fair. There are a lot of Federal regulations that complicate the lives of small business people all across the country. The SBA has calculated that the hidden costs of regulations to businesses with fewer than 20 workers and it's this it comes down to 7,000 per worker. That's a lot of money, particularly if you're trying to figure out ways to expand your employment base. And this is a drag on our economy. Hidden costs are a drag on the U.S. economy. And so today I want to make sure people understand that we're going to do everything we can to clean up the regulatory burdens on small businesses, starting with this Every agency already it's under current law but every agency is required to analyze the impact of new regulations on small businesses before issuing them. That's an important law. The problem is, it's oftentimes being ignored. The law is on the books the regulators don't care that the law is on the books. From this day forward, they will care that the law is on the books. Mitch Daniels, who heads the Office of Management and Budget, will not accept regulations that do not calculate the cost on American small businesses. We want to enforce the law. It is a good law to have a cost benefit analysis of any regulation on small business. If regulations provide a hidden cost on small businesses, which provide a drag on our economy, and if we're trying to stimulate our economy, one way to do so is to enforce the law which says that we will not have costly regulations on small businesses in America. And that's what we're going to do. Furthermore, if you've got a problem with regulations, if there are nettlesome regulations which are costly for you to operate your business, that you don't think makes any sense, I urge you to get on the Internet and wire the OMB your problem, so we can analyze it. Now, here's who you if you want to write this down, here it is. Laughter Gosh, it seems like a lot of people are getting ready to write it down. Laughter I'm not surprised www.whitehouse.gov wait a minute, it's getting better omb inforeg, and wire them in. I talked to Mitch before I came over here I said, "Mitch, I just can't stand up here and say you're going to get rid of regulations and ask people to call in or write in. Give us some place to send the information." And I said, "If I stand up here in front of the women entrepreneurs of America and somebody e mails in, you better respond" laughter www.whitehouse.gov omb inforeg. Fifth, I am proposing measures to make health care more available. I understand the drag on small businesses. It is hard for you to attract good workers it is hard for you to keep good workers if your health care costs are going sky high. I understand that. There was a lady who wrote in. She said, "I have 12 employees, and I was canceled 3 times by my insurance company in 2001. And the reason they gave me is that they are no longer going to be writing small group plans." Perhaps that's happened to some of you all out here as well. "If we could get into a larger pool where we could get access to lower premiums, then I could insure more people and hire some more people." I think that's a universal complaint all across America. And that's why I strongly support association health plans. That means that small businesses will be able to pool together and spread their risk across a larger employee base. It makes no sense, no sense in America, to isolate small businesses as little health care islands unto themselves. We must have association health plans. I know the Senator strongly supports that, and Congress ought to support them. And here's the way they will work. It means a family restaurant or a local hardware store can insure their workers, say, through the National Federation of Independent Businesses or the National Restaurant Association. It allows association groups to write health care plans across jurisdictional boundaries to the benefit to the benefit not only of the small business owner but to the benefit of those who work for small businesses. And finally, Government contracting must be more open and more fair to small businesses. I believe I know Government contracting, if wisely done, can help us achieve a grand national goal, which is more ownership in more communities all across America. But you know as well as I do that there are some large hurdles for small businesses. One is, that and the main one is that agencies sometimes, many times, only let huge contracts with massive requirements, and they tend to go to the same group of large corporate bidders. Around the term of art in Washington is called bundling. It effectively excludes small businesses, and we need to do something about that. Again, I talked to Mitch about this, and I want him to examine he understands, like I understand, the capacity for our Government to encourage entrepreneurial growth, the capacity for our Government to stimulate small business ownership in all communities across America. And so one of the things we're going to do is, we're going to examine the Federal Government's contracting policies, to make sure that they encourage competition as opposed to exclude competition, to make sure that the process is open, to make sure the process helps achieve a noble objective, which is more ownership in our country. And wherever possible, we're going to insist that we break down large Federal contracts so that small business owners have got a fair shot at Federal contracting. The Government can provide an environment that will encourage risktaking, and I believe, when we do these, it will encourage risktaking. There are no guarantees in the free enterprise system, as you all know. But we can make the system more open and more inviting. We can encourage people to take risk, and that's exactly what we're going to do in this administration. It is important for the economic security of the United States of America. Not only am I concerned about economic security I'm also concerned about our national security. And I want to share some thoughts with you about my thinking about our national security. First, I know there are many from New York City here who suffered mightily on September the 11th. And I want to say how much I appreciate that city showing not only our Nation but the world what it means to be resolute and tough and determined to succeed. Not only watching how New Yorkers responded but seeing how our Nation responded leads me to conclude that the enemy didn't understand who they were dealing with. You see, they thought we were so materialistic and so self absorbed that the only thing I was going to do was sue them. Laughter They were wrong. They were wrong. My most important job is to protect innocent lives in America. My most important job is to protect the homeland, and we've got a strategy in place to deal with a bioterrorist attack. We've got a first responders strategy. We're doing a better job of buttoning up our borders. We want to know who's coming in and why they're here and when they're leaving. We've got to do a better job. But I want to tell you all that the best way to achieve the objective of securing the homeland is to chase the killers down, wherever they try to hide, and bring them to justice. And I want to assure you, that's what's going to happen. And it's going to take a while, but the good news is, the American people are patient. I believe the American people understand the difficulty that lies ahead. I know the United States military does, and I'm so proud of the way they have accomplished the mission so far. I gave a speech in Washington a while ago and once you're over 55, everything is a while ago laughter I can't remember if it was a week or 2 weeks but, nevertheless, a while ago laughter that said the first phase in the war against terror is over with. And that first phase was upholding the doctrine that said, if you harbor a terrorist or feed a terrorist or hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as those who came and murdered innocent Americans and others from around the world. And the Taliban found out exactly what this great Nation meant. They're no longer in business. The way I viewed I was so proud of our country, because we sought not revenge but justice. That's what we seek. And we didn't go to Afghanistan as conquerors we arrived as liberators. As Elaine Chao mentioned, this week, for the first time, many young girls will be going to school. I am so proud of our country. I am proud of our military. I am proud of the children who have raised millions of dollars for Afghan children. I'm proud of the compassion of our country. We've showed the world that not only will we seek justice we've showed the world that we will seek a better society for citizens, starting in Afghanistan, by ridding them from the clutches of one of the most barbaric, backward regimes history has ever known. But there's more to do, and as leaders in your communities, it is important for me to share this with you. Anytime Al Qaida bunches up, we're going to get them. They did so in the Shahi Kot Mountain Range, and they now regret that. Because you see, there are still thousands of these trained killers around. And I want to tell you I cannot make it any more plain than this they hate America, and the reason they hate America is because we're free. We're a free society. They can't stand the thought of the President of the United States coming to speak to women who own their own business. These are people who are irrational, and we will treat them like the international criminals they are by keeping them on the run. So the second phase, my fellow Americans, of this war is to deny them sanctuary. Anywhere they try to light, we will disrupt them. We will be patient we'll be deliberate. But I can assure you, we'll be determined. I have submitted a budget that significantly raises the defense spending. And the reason I did was because I want those who risk their lives on behalf of Americans to get the best pay, the best equipment, the best training possible. I recognize I recognize that the price of freedom is high. But as far as I'm concerned, it is never too high. The world watches us. The world tests, or really looks at, our will. They want to know whether or not we're people who just talk or people who are willing to lead. And they're going to find out we're a nation that when somebody attacks our values and murders our citizens and still wants to do so, they will find that we are a strong, resolute, determined, and united people, much to the chagrin much to the chagrin of terrorist networks around the world. The more firm we are, the more likely it is the world will follow. And the more firm and determined we are, the more likely it is that we will achieve lasting peace. My dream for the world is lasting peace. I want our children to grow up in a peaceful world, a world in which freedom, at its very center, is the most important value. And we can achieve that. There is no doubt in my mind, as the United States remains firm and strong and achieves our clearly stated objectives, that we have a chance to solve problems that many never think could be solved around the world and leave behind such a wonderful legacy, not only for our own children but for children of every country. And at the same time, we have an opportunity at home to show the world the true face of America, the heart and soul of the American people. I want to thank very much Suzanne Tufts for being here today. She is the president and CEO of American Woman's Economic Development Corporation. Right after the enemy attacked, Suzanne and her organization moved quickly to help small businesses affected by the attack, primarily women owned businesses, to help them, obviously, deal with the shock to their businesses but also help them get back on their feet. It is this kind of compassion and care and concern for a neighbor that is the true strength of the country. Listen, we're a great military power, and that's good. Laughter But the true strength of America is not in the halls of Government it's in the hearts and the souls of our citizens. The thing that makes our country so unique is that we're people that have heard the universal call to love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. I'm asked all the time by people, "What can I do to help in the war against terror?" And the answer is If you want to stand up to evil, do something good for a neighbor in need if you want to stand up squarely in the face of evil, show somebody you love them. And those don't have to be magnificent acts of love they can be small acts of generosity which, in their total, help define America for the rest of the world. Just walking across the street to a lonely shut in is, in itself, part of the defiance to evil or mentoring a child, or thanking a teacher, or generosity with your checkbook, or using your time and talents for your church or synagogue or mosque to help people who are hopeless in our society. Out of this incredible evil done to America, I see great good. I see not only the good of lasting world peace I see a nation that is more compassionate and hopeful, a nation that understands that by adhering to the admonition to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself, we set a clear example of what's possible in other places around the world. I have been not only amazed, I have been so gladdened by what I've seen and heard about America in the face of this tragedy. Not only are we determined to seek justice we're determined to right wrongs, to help heal souls, and to help people in need. It is such an honor to be the President of a country that embraces the entrepreneurial spirit for all. But more importantly, it's an honor to be the President of a country full of decent and heartfelt and compassionate Americans. God bless. March 19, 2002 Thank you all for coming. We've had a very good Cabinet meeting. I want to thank my members of the Cabinet for discussing a variety of topics. I heard from the Secretary of State about the Vice President's visit and the Zinni mission. So we're making progress. We heard, of course, from the Secretary of Defense about our progress in the war on terror, and I appreciate his leadership and the bravery of the military. We talked about a lot of other issues. One thing I want to urge the Senate to do is to pass 245(i). This bill passed the House, and it now needs to pass the Senate. It is a bill which enhances our border security and, at the same time, says that if someone's living here legally, they won't have to leave the country in order to stay with their family. In other words, they won't have to leave the country, apply, and then come back to be with their family. We believe in family values. We believe good policy keeps families together. The House agreed with us, and the Senate ought to act. The Senate ought to get this done and particularly soon. I'm going to Mexico. I want to show our friends the Mexicans that we are compassionate about people who live here on a legal basis, that we don't disrupt the families for people who are here legally. So I think it's going to require some leadership in the Senate, and I look forward to seeing the Senate get this done soon. And I thank you all for coming today. March 18, 2002 Thank you very much. Be seated, please. Gosh, thanks for such a warm welcome. It's always good to have a good introducer. Laughter Bucky is my favorite uncle when I'm in St. Louis. Laughter He's my favorite uncle all the time he's a fabulous man. Thanks, Buck. And I like to call Sam Fox "Foxy." Foxy, I didn't realize you were so eloquent. Laughter But I thank you for the leadership, and I want to thank you all for coming tonight. This is a magnificent crowd here to support the next United States Senator from Missouri, Jim Talent. I appreciate Jim, and I appreciate the fact that he's a family man. Like me, he married above himself laughter so I appreciate Brenda. It's an honor to meet the three children today, and it's an honor to meet your mother, Brenda. I got a report from my homefront as well I married really well. Laughter Laura is doing great, and I'm so proud of her. She's made a great First Lady for the country. I want to thank the members of the Missouri delegation who are here, starting with the senior Senator, Kit Bond. Thank you for coming, Kit. I appreciate his leadership on a lot of important issues. Take election reform he's making sure that we encourage people to vote, but he's working hard to make it tougher to cheat. Half of the Senators understand what he's trying to do. It seems like one out of the two Senators from Missouri understand that. I want to thank the members from the congressional delegation here as well, Todd Akin, Roy Blunt, Jo Ann Emerson, Sam Graves, Kenny Hulshof. These are fine, fine Members of the United States Congress, and I'm proud to serve with them. I want to thank all the members of the Republican Party who are here. I particularly want to thank the grassroots activists who man the phones and sign all the letters and get out the vote. I want to thank you for your hard work in 2000. I want to thank you for your hard work that you're fixing to do in 2002. I'm here to support as strongly as I possibly can this good man to become the Senator the next Senator from Missouri. And I do so for a reason, and it starts with the quality of the individual. He is a quality person who's got the right values. He is a steady man, and he is an experienced person who will bring good judgment to the United States Senate. And let me cite some of his qualifications. First, he has been in Washington before. He was there for 8 years in the House of Representatives, where he made a mark of accomplishment. You know, in that town, we've got some good talkers, and then we've got the doers. We've got some people up there who like to hear themselves talk and others who actually get something done. And that's the way Jim Talent is he knows how to get things done things done not only for the good of Missouri, to get things done for the things of Missouri, but to get things done positively in a positive way for the country. I want the people of Missouri to remember he served on the Armed Services Committee, and he stood up for a strong national defense when he was there. And obviously, that was before we entered this war. And thank goodness he did stand up for a strong national defense when he was there, because it enabled us to have a military capable of accomplishing the first mission we sent them out to do, which was to destroy the Taliban. He worked on historic welfare reform. He worked to change a culture of dependency to one that recognized if you get a job, if you find work, you can be independent from Government. This welfare reform law is an unqualified success, and I want to thank you for your work on that, Jim. We share a philosophy about the role of Government. The role of Government is not to create wealth but an environment in which the entrepreneur can flourish, an environment in which the small business person can dream big and take risks and realize his or her dreams of owning your own company in America. Jim understands small business. Today I was on the outskirts of the great city of St. Louis, where we had a chance to meet some small business entrepreneurs, where I laid out a way to make the tax structure more conducive to entrepreneurial development. Jim Talent understands that, and it's important for Missouri to have a voice for the small business person in the Halls of the United States Senate. He also understands good tax policy. If you give people their own money to spend, that increases demand. And when there's more demand, somebody meets that demand through more production, and production means jobs. We cut the taxes on the American people at the exact right time, and Jim Talent understands that. Some in Washington seem to forget whose money we're spending. They think it's the Government's money. What Talent understands, like I understand, it's the people's money. And one of the things we can't afford to do is to have people in Washington who don't like the tax cut because it diminishes the role of the Federal Government. I've heard some rumblings and you might have heard them, too that people say, "Well, gosh, we're in a recession we probably ought to not go through with the tax cuts," which in effect is a tax raise. They're reading the wrong economics textbook. You don't raise taxes when the economy is slow you trust the people with their own money when the economy is slow. And that's exactly what we did in Washington, DC. And that's exactly the attitude Jim Talent will take when you send him up to represent Missouri in the United States Senate. And we need to do more when it comes to tax relief, starting with making sure that the death tax is permanent, that we say to the American people, you have the right to pass on your farm or your small business to whoever you want to pass them on to, without getting taxed twice by the Federal Government. Talent understands that, and we need that kind of thinking in the United States Senate. He also understands that this Nation needs an energy policy an energy policy on the one hand that encourages conservation, that uses our technologies to make sure we remain productive but consume less, but on the other hand, that we better find sources of energy at home in order to make us less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. It is in our national security interests that we have a balanced energy policy. And my, do we need his vote in the United States right now when it comes to making sure we have a balanced energy policy. And so these are some of the reasons why you need to send him to the United States Senate He's accomplished he's a serious man he's a can do fellow who's got the experience to back it up and I can't wait to work with him when he gets elected this fall. And not only do we have a big job at home, we've obviously got a big job abroad as well. We're fighting a war, and I want to share with you all some of my thoughts about this war that we fight. First of all, you've got to know that we're fighting against a determined group of killers. These are people who would rather die than surrender. These are people who hate America. They hate our freedom. They hate our freedom to worship. They hate our freedom to vote. They hate our freedom of the press. They hate our freedom to say what you want to say. They can't stand what we stand for. And therefore, we have no choice but to hunt them down one by one to defend the very freedom we hold dear in America. And that is exactly what we're going to do. The enemy must have thought they were hitting a society that was so soft, so self absorbed, so materialistic that we would sue them. Laughter They didn't understand America. They didn't understand our fiber. They don't understand our core. They don't know what we're made out of. At least, they didn't. Now they do. I made it absolutely clear when we first got going that if a country harbored a terrorist or fed a terrorist or hid a terrorist, they were just as guilty as the murderers who hit us on September the 11th. And now the Taliban knows exactly what I meant. Thanks to a magnificent United States military and a vast coalition, we have routed the Taliban in Afghanistan. I'm proud of our military, and I'm proud of our country. We went into Afghanistan not to seek revenge but justice, and we went into that country not as conquerors but as liberators. We have freed Afghan people from the clutches of one of the most barbaric, backward regimes history has ever known. Later on this week, schools will reopen in Afghanistan, and incredibly enough, for the first time, young girls get to go to school, thanks to the United States and our coalition. And so the other day, in Washington, I declared that the first phase in our war against terror had ended. We upheld the doctrine of a nation harboring a terrorist and the consequences we made clear. But I want to tell you all, there is more to do. You see, there are still thousands of Al Qaida trained killers on the loose, and we will treat them the way they are, which is like international fugitives. We will deny them sanctuary. We will keep them on the run. We'll disrupt their finances. No matter how long it takes, we're going to get them and bring them to justice. There is no cave deep enough for the justice of the United States of America. And therefore, I have submitted to the United States Congress a budget which makes our national security the number one priority. I've asked for the largest defense increase spending on defense since 20 years ago. And I expect Congress to pass this budget, because they've got to understand, if we're putting our young soldiers in harm's way, they deserve the best equipment, the best training, the best pay possible. The price of freedom is high, but as far as I'm concerned, it is never too high. And so not only do I expect Congress to support our military and pass this budget I expect them to do it early, rather than late. The history of the United States Congress is such that they hold back the defense appropriations bill to the last minute. That's bad policy. It's bad policy in times of peace, and it's terrible policy in times of war. I expect and hope the first appropriation bill to my desk is to fund the United States military. There's more to the war on terror than one single individual or one single network. The nightmare scenario is for our Nation to tire and weary and allow an Al Qaida organization or an Al Qaida type organization to mate up with a nation which has developed weapons of mass destruction, a nation which has got a history of treating her people poorly, a dictatorial nation. We cannot we cannot allow the world's worst regimes to develop the world's worst weapons and therefore hold the United States and our allies hostage. We owe it to our children and our children's children to be firm and to be tough and to say to those bullies and dictators, "We will not let you stand and get away with blackmailing the world." Here's the way I view it History has called us into action. History demands that this Nation honor our commitment to freedom and our love for freedom. We not only owe it to the citizens who live in the United States today to make sure that our homeland is as secure as possible and make no mistake, we're doing everything we can to secure the homeland but the best way to secure the homeland is to bring the killers to justice, no matter where they hide. We not only owe it to people who live in America today we owe it to future generations of Americans. We owe it to children and our children's children, so they can grow up in a society that knows the freedom that we have loved, the freedom so dear to our heart. The world is looking at the United States of America to see whether or not we will blink. I want to assure you all that we won't blink, that we're going to remain diligent and firm in our love, in our quest and our drive to rid the world of terror. And I believe and I firmly believe that when the United States leads, we have a chance to achieve long lasting peace. I believe out of this evil will come some incredible good. I believe that by leading this coalition in a firm way, that we will be able to achieve peace in parts of the world that never dreamt they would ever see peace. I believe that. And not only that, I believe that out of this evil will come some incredible good at home. I believe that the evil ones have unleashed the great compassion of America at home. I'm oftentimes asked, "How do I help in the war against terror?" People all the time are asking here in America, "What can I do?" And my answer is this If you want to fight terror, love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to stand up to terror and evil, be a part of the great compassion of America. Reach out to a fellow citizen in need mentor a child walk across the street and say to a shut in, "I love you. What can I do to help?" You see, it is the momentum, the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and decency which will allow this great Nation to stand squarely in the face of evil, and there's no doubt in my mind that we can achieve that. The great strength of America is not in our military although that's pretty good, pretty strong these days. Laughter It is not in the Government. It is in the hearts and souls of the American people. And so I call upon you all here in St. Louis, in the great State of Missouri, to make an extra effort to help somebody in need. I'm passionate about the understanding that we must unleash faith in our society, not a particular faith but faith to help change hearts. And so one of the initiatives that I'm looking forward to working with Jim on, and others here, is a faith based initiative that understands out of our churches and synagogues and mosques come that compassionate help that will define the face of America. And our Government we must not fear faith we must welcome faith as we deal with the intangible problems that confront every neighborhood in the country of America, the problems of hopelessness the problems of addiction and hopelessness. When we fight abroad, we must also fight at home to make sure the American promise extends its reach throughout every neighborhood in our society. And in this country, we can achieve that. We've got to understand, it's not vast programs that save people's lives it is saving people's lives one soul at a time that makes a difference in each of us. Each of us in America can make that difference. I also believe, out of this incredible evil, that our culture is beginning to change from one that has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture which says, "Each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life." That culture begins with moms and dads loving their children with all their heart and all their soul. That culture begins by understanding that materialism is shallow and empty and that to have a full life, you've got to love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. That's a culture that extends to corporate America as well. Corporate America has a responsibility to its citizens and a responsibility to make sure all the assets and liabilities are completely disclosed on one's balance sheet. Now, we have a chance we have a chance, through the acts of kindness in our country, through the deep compassion that exists in our hearts, to change the culture of America. For me, probably the most defining event since September the 11th was on September the 11th, Flight 93. When United States citizens on this flight talked to their loved ones on the ground and realized what was taking place in the Nation's Capital, they said a prayer, they told their wives they loved them, they said, "Let's roll," and they sacrificed for something greater than themselves. Americans from all walks of life got to see the noble cause of serving something greater than yourself in life. To me, the spirit on that airplane defined the possibilities of our country, and man, what a great country it is. Not only will we win the war on terror to secure the peace in the world we will show the world that a diverse nation from all walks of life and all religions can be compassionate and kind and hopeful for everyone who's lucky enough to be an American citizen. I want to thank you all for coming and for supporting Jim Talent. I'm confident he can win with your help. And I want to thank you all for coming tonight. It gives me a chance to tell you how honored I am to be the President of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. May God bless you all. March 18, 2002 The President. Thank you so very much, Rolf, for your invitation to come. Rolf is a classic example of what makes America unique and strong. He had an idea and a dream. He built his own business. He employs good, hard working people here in Missouri. He's got a vibrant business. And I explained to these folks that one of my jobs is to create an environment in which the entrepreneurial spirit flourishes, in which small business owners are able to keep making a living and keep people employed. I talked about making the death tax repeal permanent, so that Rolf can pass his assets to a family member, if he so chooses. I talked about some expensing items, some items to make sure the small business owner has got an incentive to invest more, which means more jobs. Tomorrow I'll be talking about regulatory relief. I'm also talking about ways so that a small business owner such as Rolf can better afford health care for his employees, so that they're able to work here and, at the same time, enjoy health benefits like those from large companies enjoy. We had a good discussion. And it's important to the American people to understand the role of small business in our society. Most new jobs created are created by small businesses. And more people are able to realize the American Dream by starting their own business. And so one of things we've all got to work toward is an environment in which the small business flourishes. Rolf, thank you for letting me come. I want to thank you all for a great discussion. I'll answer a couple of questions. Terrorist Attack on Church in Pakistan Q. Mr. President, do you have any sense of who carried out the attack yesterday in Pakistan at the church, why they did it? Do you think they're trying to undermine Musharraf and his support for the war on terrorism? The President. Very interesting question. I talked to President Musharraf this morning, first thing. He is very sympathetic, obviously. He was deeply concerned about the American loss of life, and he wanted to share that with me. And I appreciated his phone call. We both talked about the need to continue fighting people that would kill for political reasons. And it goes to show that there is still some that that part of the world is a dangerous place at times. And the tougher President Musharraf is and the more steadfast the United States is, the stronger we stand against terrorist activity, the more lives we'll ultimately save. Q. Mr. President The President. He doesn't know who it is excuse me for a minute. He doesn't know who it is yet. And when we find him, we'll bring him to justice. Situation in the Middle East Q. Sir thank you. Vice President Cheney is in the Middle East. Should he meet with Chairman Arafat? Would you like to see that happen? And if no, why not? The President. I talked to the Vice President today, and he's had a very good visit in the Middle East. He is matter of fact, he was 15 minutes away from going in to see Prime Minister Sharon. He had General Zinni with him. General Zinni is optimistic that we're making some progress in the Middle East. And the answer to who the Vice President ought to meet with or not meet with depends upon General Zinni's recommendations. He's the man on the ground. He's in charge of trying to foster an environment such that we can get into Tenet and then eventually get into the Mitchell peace plan. Our Government has laid out a pathway to a peaceful resolution of a very difficult set of problems, and Zinni's over there working hard to get us into that process. Operation Anaconda Q. Mr. President, Operation Anaconda, we've been told, is successful, and The President. Operation? Q. Operation Anaconda, we're being told, is successful, and it's over. Do you feel the war in Afghanistan that part of the war is now over? The President. John, I don't. I feel like we've got a lot more fighting to do in Afghanistan. First of all, we were successful in Operation Anaconda. I want to thank our troops, our brave troops, for fighting in incredibly tough terrain and against difficult circumstances. And the difficult circumstances were not only the terrain, it was the fact that we were fighting against an enemy that refuses to surrender. These are people that are there to die. And we accommodated them. And it's a but there are more Al Qaida killers in Afghanistan, perhaps in Pakistan, willing to come back into Afghanistan. The reason and I know for a fact that they were trying to in the midst of this battle, in the midst of the United States military and our coalition forces being very successful, they were trying to reinforce. And these are people that are they were willing to reinforce in the midst of the Shahi Kot Mountain Range, where they were getting wiped out they were willing to come back into Afghanistan to continue to try to hurt us. These are killers. They hate America. They hate America's freedom they hate what America stands for. And they are relentless. But so are we, and we will be more relentless than they are. That's why I've urged the American people to be patient, and the American people are patient. And that's why I've urged Congress to fund the U.S. military. And I hope Congress does fund the U.S. military to the fullest, because we've got a lot more fighting to do in Afghanistan. Situation in the Middle East Q. Many Mideast leaders are saying that the U.S. should be focusing more on the Israeli Palestinian conflict and less on Iraq. Can you give a reaction to that? The President. I appreciate their advice, but we will not allow one of the world's most dangerous leaders to have the world's most dangerous weapons and hold the United States and our friends and allies hostage. That's just not going to happen. And so I appreciate their advice. But we will continue working with them. We will continue dialog. I have told people that we're a deliberate nation. We'll talk to our friends and allies. But what I said about the axis of evil is what I mean. I can't be any more plain about it. March 18, 2002 Thank you all. Gosh, thanks for that warm welcome. It's great to be back in Missouri. And thank you for that hospitality. I'm so glad that I'm with the Senator today. He is a champion of the small business person. I look forward to working with him on some good legislation that understands the incredibly important role that the small business person plays in America. And here it is On a practical sense, more new jobs are created by small business people than anybody else. And I happen to think that the small business the entrepreneur represents one of the true strengths of our country. I mean, after all, this is a country where if you've got a good idea and you're willing to work hard and you're willing to take a little risk, you can own your own business. It doesn't matter who you are. It doesn't matter how you were raised. It doesn't matter whether you were born in America. What matters is, is that you're willing to dream and work for the dream. And so one of my jobs is to make sure the entrepreneurial spirit is strong and alive in America, that it continues to flourish so that the great American Dream of owning your own business is vibrant and alive and well and when we go into the 21st century. And I want to talk about that today, a little bit. Before I do, I want to thank Rolf and the good folks here at Albers for their hospitality. It's not easy to welcome the President and the entourage laughter just a mere 14 vehicles. Laughter But I do want to thank you for your hospitality, and all the employees with whom I just had an interesting discussion about how to about what's on their mind, about what's it like to work for a small business and how best what the Government can do to perhaps make the small business more vibrant and or deal with some of the needs that directly affect the employees. Now, I want to thank the other small business owners who are here. I love what you do. Again, as I repeat, you're an incredibly important part of the future of the country. Thanks for taking risks and for working hard. I appreciate my friend Hector Barreto for coming. He was born here in Missouri, raised in California, and is doing a fine job as the head of the Small Business Administration in Washington, DC. I had the honor today as well of traveling with Jim Talent and four fine members of the Missouri congressional delegation, Congressmen Akin and Blunt, Congressmen Hulshof and Jo Ann Emerson. Thank you all for coming. I also was met at the airport today by a guy named Derek Rapp. Where are you, Derek? There you are. Got a good seat, I see. Laughter That's what you get for coming to the airport. Laughter Here's Derek. Derek is the CEO of a small biotech firm. He is an economic entrepreneur, but I'm heralding Derek today because he's also a social entrepreneur. He's a person that understands that with freedom comes the responsibility to love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself, and I appreciate that spirit, Derek. He started what's called St. Louis Cares. It is a recruiting vehicle to help match people with kind hearts with people who need kind hearts in their lives. And the reason I want to talk about the Dereks of the world is because in order to win the war against evil, this Nation must continue to practice acts of decency and kindness and goodness that there is no question that the entrepreneurial spirit in America makes us unique, I think, but one of our other strengths is the fact that our Nation is a kind nation and a compassionate nation and a nation where neighbor loving neighbor is having a profound impact on the quality of our country's life. And so one of the things and one of the reasons I like to introduce a guy like Derek is because it helps remind us all about really one of the great strengths of our country, and that is our people. You know, Government can't make people love one another. I would sign the law. Laughter But people loving one another is essential to having a bright future, so that everybody can experience the great American Dream. And we've got pockets of persistent poverty in our society, which I refuse to declare defeat I mean, I refuse to allow them to continue on. And so one of the things that I'm trying to do is to encourage a faith based initiative to spread its wings all across America, to be able to capture this great compassionate spirit. One of my hopes is, out of this evil that was done to our country, is that people, young people understand that living in America is wonderful but it also requires an effort to make the communities in which they live a better place, that we've got to work to usher in an era of personal responsibility. And part of that era of personal responsibility is not only, you know, obviously taking advantage of the material wealth available if you work hard and have got a good idea, but that there's much greater promise and hope than materialism, itself materialism, itself, is a dead end that the idea of trying to work to help somebody in need is a powerful part of having a full and complete life. And therefore, I ask all of you and all the good folks in Missouri if you're already helping a neighbor in need, thank you, and continue doing it. But if you're looking for a way to make your life more full, more complete, mentor a child or help somebody who is shut in or go to a church or synagogue and mosque and say, "What can we do to feed somebody who needs some food?" I mean, there are all kinds of ways that you can help. And by helping, you stand squarely in the face of the evildoers that hit America. One way to make sure America is strong is to rally the compassion. Another way is to make sure that our economy is strong. I want to tell you right upfront that I do not think the role of Government is to try to create wealth. That's not the role of Government. The role of Government is to create an environment in which people are willing to take risk. And if they've got a good idea applause the role of Government is to create an economic climate in which the Rolfs of the world say, "Gosh, I've got a good idea. I want to take a risk and, therefore, employ people." That's really what I view my job is If there's roadblocks, to eliminate them, and if there's ways to make the environment better, do so. I wanted to talk a little bit about that. High taxes is a roadblock. High tax rates discourage investment, and when you discourage investment, you discourage job creation. And therefore, working with people in Congress, both the House and the Senate, we worked to reduce the tax burden on working people in America. And it came at exactly the right time. Tax relief was vital. It was vital for our economic future, because when you give people more of their own money to spend, they demand, and when they demand, somebody produces, and when somebody produces, somebody gets to work. But the other thing that was important about tax relief is that it is recognizes the importance of small business, because many small businesses are unincorporated. Many small businesses are sole proprietors or are limited partnerships. And by cutting the personal rates, all personal rates, what we are in effect doing for the small business community was encouraging cashflow. And more cashflow on small business owners means more jobs. And so one of the crucial things we've done to address the economic recession and its slowdown and the effects it caused on working people was to say, "Let's give people their own money back." For a while they were talking about taking away that tax relief "they" being some people in Washington, DC. I couldn't imagine anybody saying, in the midst of a recession, "We're going to raise taxes." They were reading the wrong textbook, Senator. Laughter Anybody in their right mind knows that if you're interested in making the economy more vital, you let people keep more of their own money. I don't hear much of that talk anymore now that the plan looks like it's working. But even though the economic news has been positive, in my judgment, we're not out of the woods yet. We've got to keep working for policies in place that encourage more job creation. And one of the other things we did that was interesting, and I think important to the formation of small businesses, is that we dealt with an issue that discourages small businesses, at least in this sense. If you're Rolf, and you build up your business and build up your assets through years of hard work, you ought to have the you ought to be able to make the decision of who gets to own that business after you move on. And the death tax made it awfully difficult for you to make that decision. You see, if you're a small business owner and you're not public, for example, if you're a privately held company, the death tax would cause your heirs to have to liquidate the assets that you built up over a lifetime. It was a terrible tax. We put it on its way to extinction, but I call upon the Congress to make the elimination of the death tax permanent in the Tax Code. We decided to do more in Washington to deal with this attack on 9 11, particularly from how it affected people's lives. One of my big concerns has been and still continues to be the fact that some of our American workers lost jobs as a result of the enemy attack. And my attitude is, anybody who wants to work and can't find work is a problem for me to have to deal with. And there's a lot of Americans who want to work and can't find work, and so we decided to do something about it. First of all, we decided to make sure that the people got an unemployment check. If their benefits were about to run out, we extended the amount of time for unemployment benefits, and that was the right thing to do. But I understand people don't want an unemployment check they want a permanent paycheck. And therefore we asked Congress, and worked with Members of Congress who understand capital, how best to create jobs? What can we do to make sure that the true part of an economic stimulus package is jobs? The central core is how to create more jobs. We passed a bill that encourages investment in plant and equipment, because we think that will be the best thing that will encourage job creation. And we stayed with it and worked hard and got a good vote out of the House and a good vote out of the Senate. And I was honored to be able to sign that bill, which I think is going to be a good part of encouraging investment in job creation. I also want to take it a step farther. I'm giving a speech tomorrow on specifically on how best to deal with issues related to small business. I want to talk to you about two issues real quick. One is what's called Section 179 Expensing. Now, if you're not an accountant, I guess it's kind of hard to understand, but see if I can explain it. You know okay, good. Laughter Okay, fine. Laughter Here's what it means. It increases the maximum deductions small businesses can take when they invest in new plant and equipment. Right now the law lets small businesses immediately deduct the full cost of the first 24,000 of investment when they invest less than 200,000 a year. Okay. So what I think we ought to do in order to encourage small business to make more investment, is to increase the limit from 200,000 to 325,000, and allow for the first year deduction of 40,000. Let me see if I can put this into English or Texan. Laughter I'm trying to put in place something that will encourage Rolf to go buy a new piece of machinery which he says he wants to buy, to provide proper incentive for Rolf to go buy a new machine that will make his business more competitive and therefore more likely to be able to hire somebody. That will help the manufacturer of the machine employ somebody that will have an effect throughout the entire economy. And it seems like to me, if small businesses are vital for the future of our country, if small businesses provide most of the new work for people looking for work and we're worried about people finding jobs, why don't we put something in place that encourages small business growth? And that's exactly what this does. One of the things I heard from the good folks who work here is that they're concerned about their health care costs. And if you're a small business owner or somebody who works for a small business, you're concerned about health care costs, and I don't blame you. I heard what Rolf is going through. I've heard what the people are worried about. Here is one idea to help small businesses deal with high premiums. One of the reasons small business owners have to pay high premiums is because they cannot spread the risk of the health care across a lot of folks. Large corporate America, because of the size of their workforce, can spread risk throughout a big workforce and, therefore, pay less cost for health care. If one of the cost drivers is the need to have more people to spread risk, why don't we try to figure out a way to allow Rolf to pool his risk with other small businesses? And so one of the good ideas Jim sponsored this bill I know that Kit is for it is to allow for what we call associated health plans, which says that if you're a member of the NFIB, for example, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, that they can pool a multitude of small businesses together, thereby driving down the cost of health care. It makes sense. It is good for small businesses. It is very good for the people who work for small businesses. And it is beyond me why Congress can't figure out why this doesn't shouldn't work. And so I'm calling on them to give this plan a hard look and get it passed for the good of the American economy. So today I wanted to talk to you about how we fight evil with acts of decency and kindness at home, how we make sure we've got economic security for all Americans. But I also want to mention to you pretty quickly that I also understand that my most important job is to defend America, is to make sure that we is to secure the homeland, is to prevent the enemy from hitting us again. I want you to know, at home we're working overtime to do everything we can to make sure that doesn't happen. We're running down every lead, every hint. Every possible threat we take seriously in America, because I still believe I still know there are people out there that hate our freedoms. They can't stand the idea of a society which welcomes a good idea, and if you've got a good idea, you can succeed. They don't like freedom. They don't like freedom of religion. They don't like freedom of speech. They don't like freedom of politics. They just hate freedom. And therefore and since we're the beacon of freedom, they want to attack us, and we're doing everything we can to make sure they don't. But the best way to defend the homeland is to find them where they are and bring them to justice. And that's precisely what we're going to do. We've got a big task ahead of us. And the good news is, the American people understand the size of the task. After all, when you defend freedom freedom, itself it may take a while, and the people know that. I've traveled the country enough to be able to report to you all that the Nation is united and patient. We've made some pretty good progress in a little over 6 months. It wasn't all that long ago that the enemy miscalculated and attacked America, thinking that maybe we were such a materialistic society, we wouldn't defend that which we hold dear to our heart. I said early on, I said, "If you harbor a terrorist or you hide one, you're just as guilty as the murderers." And the Taliban found out what we meant, thanks to a mighty United States military and thanks to a vast coalition of nations that love freedom. We have run out of town, run out of their offices, run out of power a Government that is one of the most repressive Governments history has ever seen. One of the things that makes me most proud is that we didn't seek revenge we sought justice. And we went into Afghanistan not as conquerors but as liberators. I want you to know that later on this week schools reopen in Afghanistan, and this is hard for Americans to believe, but for the first time, young girls get to go to school, thanks to America. And so the first phase of the war, which was to hold people accountable for harboring terrorists, is over with. That's not to say some may decide to harbor them in the future, in which case they now know the lessons that will they know I mean what I say, let me put it to you that way. The second phase is to deny these killers sanctuary it's to not let them ever settle down and light anywhere it's to treat them like what they are, international terrorists, and keep them on the run. And that's what we're doing. And I mean just that I mean just that get them on the run and keep them on the run. And if that means months and hunting them down, that's exactly what this country is going to do. Listen, we caught a bunch of them bunched up the other day laughter and they're not bunched up any more. I have submitted a significant increase in the budget to the Congress. I expect them to pass it. I know the Senators are with me. I know the Members of the Congress are with me. We need to make sure our troops are well trained, have got the best equipment, get a pay raise. And I don't want Congress messing with the budget. They have the right to debate I understand that. And I can understand they get the right to spend. I propose they dispose. I know that. Laughter But now is not the time to be playing politics with the military budget. They need to get it to my desk early. Generally, the defense budget is the last one or the defense appropriation is the last one to the President's desk. It ought to be the first one this year. I want you to know that history has called us into action. History has placed a great responsibility at our doorstep, and I will not miss this opportunity. It is a chance to defend freedom. It is a chance to make sure that our children and grandchildren grow up in a peaceful world. Out of this evil will come some good. America will be stronger at home. We'll be more compassionate and more decent. Out of this evil will come, I believe, a period of personal responsibility, a new culture as reflected in Flight 93, when people drove an airplane into the ground to sacrifice for something greater than themselves. And if we're tough and resolved and determined, like I know we're going to be, out of this evil will come a more peaceful world for generations to come. As you can tell, I hope, I'm optimistic. And you'd be optimistic, too, if you got to see what I see. See, I get to travel the greatest land on the face of the Earth. I am optimistic because of the values that make America strong, and I am optimistic because of the people who make her great. God bless you all. March 16, 2002 Good morning. In one week, boys and girls in Afghanistan will start a new school year. For many girls, this will be the first time in their young lives that they will have set foot in a classroom. Under the Taliban regime, educating women was a criminal act. Under the new government of a liberated Afghanistan, educating all children is a national priority. And America, along with its coalition partners, is actively helping in that effort. When Afghan children begin their classes, they will find that the United States has already sent more than 4 million textbooks to their country. The textbooks are written in the Afghan languages of Pashto and Dari. And before the end of the year, we'll have sent almost 10 million of them to the children of Afghanistan. These textbooks will teach tolerance and respect for human dignity, instead of indoctrinating students with fanaticism and bigotry. And they will be accompanied by blackboards, teacher's kits, and other school supplies. America's children have been extremely generous in helping the children of Afghanistan. Through America's Fund for Afghan Children, they have raised more than 4.5 million, much of which is used for school supplies like notebooks and pencils, paper and crayons, soccer balls and jump ropes. The United States will also be funding 20 teams of teacher trainers to conduct training sessions with thousands of Afghan educators. In helping the Afghan people rebuild their country, we have placed a central focus on education, and for a good reason. Education is the pathway to progress, particularly for women. Educated women tend to be healthier than those who are not well educated, and the same is true of their families. Babies born to educated women are more likely to be immunized, better nourished, and survive their first year of life. Educated women encourage their children to be educated as well. And nations whose women are educated are more competitive, more prosperous, and more advanced than nations where the education of women is forbidden or ignored. We still have a lot of work to do in Afghanistan. The brave men and women of the American military continue to fight Al Qaida forces that are trying to regroup and would like nothing more than to strike America again. And even as we fight terror, American compassion is providing an alternative to bitterness, resentment, and hatred. The United States has helped Afghanistan avert mass starvation. We're repairing its roads and bridges. We're rebuilding its health clinics and schools. And in one week, with textbooks in hand, the young girls of Afghanistan will begin school. This will be a remarkable moment in the history of Afghanistan and a proud moment for the people of America. Thank you for listening. March 15, 2002 President's Visit Q. Mr. President, it was a little noisy over there could you give us your impression of what you The President. I was very impressed. We've got the finest soldiers in the world. We've got a great training mission, and I'm glad those soldiers are on my side. Q. What kind of message should that display send to adversaries? The President. Well, what the adversaries need to know is we're going to do what is necessary to have a well trained military to accomplish a major objective, an important objective, which is, defend freedom. And the adversaries need to know that we're going to be in this for a long time, that we're going to be steady, relentless, and we're going to win. Situation in the Middle East Q. Sir, what are you hearing from General Zinni? Is his mission making any headway? The President. Haven't heard from him yet, but I believe there's good progress in the Middle East. Obviously, the Israelis have moved back some of their troops. That's a positive development. And I have yet to hear from Zinni, but we will soon. Q. Inaudible troop withdrawal from Ramallah? The President. Well, we're very pleased with it. As I said, that one of the things we've got to do is to work with both parties to establish the conditions for eventual peace. And I appreciate Prime Minister Sharon's decision. General Zinni is in the region now. We're hopeful that he'll have an impact on setting the conditions for peace, which begins with getting into the Tenet plan and then, eventually, the Mitchell plan. I thought that was a positive development yesterday. Q. How hopeful are you that he'll be able to succeed? The President. If I wasn't hopeful, I wouldn't have sent him. Mikey, Mikey, Mikey Mike Allen, Washington Post . Q. Mr. President The President. Did that get any national play, that "Mikey, Mikey, Mikey"? Q. With my family. President's Visit Q. What about lunch, Mr. President? What do you think of it? Are you getting ready to dig in? What have you seen today? Are you pretty happy? The President. Well, first of all, I knew our troops were good because I've been reading reports about how good they are. I got to see firsthand I'm going to see all day long, firsthand the esprit de corps is very high here. These soldiers are proud to wear the uniform. Great command staff they've got highly motivated officers they are well trained. Every one of the troops, as I moved down the line, spoke a foreign language. To give you an example of how well trained they are, the medics, these highly trained young men, can conduct they can pull a tooth or they can amputate a leg, if need be. I mean, these are fabulously trained soldiers. I'm real proud of their training. One of the things we've got the make sure that Congress understands is that we've got to spend the money necessary to keep them highly trained. They all know we're in for a long struggle. They're prepared to make the sacrifices to meet that struggle. I had the honor of meeting with the widows of two of the soldiers who died and their dad and their mom of one of the guys and to a person, they said, "Mr. President, don't falter." These people just lost a loved one, and they are just as resolved about winning this war on terror as I am. And I was very impressed by their steadfast support for what we're doing and their understanding of the sacrifices necessary to defend freedom. Now I'm going to eat my lasagna. If it gets cold, you have to eat the lasagna. Laughter March 15, 2002 The President. Thank you all. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. Thank you all very much. At ease! Laughter General McNeill, thank you very much. For a warrior, you're prettydarn articulate. Thank you all for such a warm welcome. It's great to be here in Cumberland County, North Carolina. I'm also honored to be here with fine men and women who wear our uniform from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, the world's finest fighting soldiers. For generations, Fort Bragg has stood for the best in the United States military. And now, along with those stationed at Pope Air Force Base, you're playing a crucial role, a vital role, a successful role in our defense of freedom, in our war against terror. I'm proud of your service. I thank you from the bottom of our hearts. I want to thank General Holland, commander in chief, Headquarters U.S. Special Operations Command. I want to thank General Brown. I want to thank all the fine men and women of the 18th Airborne Corps, the Special Forces, and the Special Operation units. It is good to be with the fine folks of the 43d Airlift Wing. I am honored to be traveling with members of the North Carolina congressional delegation, two of whom you've just heard from, Congressman McIntyre, Congressman Hayes. Congressman Etheridge is with us today, as is my friend Elizabeth Dole. Thank you all for coming. One week ago, this coliseum was the scene of graduation ceremonies for the latest group of soldiers to have earned the right to wear the Green Beret. In doing so, they will join the ranks of some of the best and bravest citizens we have. The soldiers and sailors and airmen of the U.S. Special Operations Command are the best in the world, and the world is seeing how tough and how brave they are today. Our Special Operations forces know the danger that awaits them. This is a dangerous battle that we face, a dangerous war. And I'm proud of the courage not only of the soldiers who volunteer for battle but for the loved ones who remain behind. Not only am I proud of our soldiers, I am proud of the wives and husbands and sons and daughters and moms and dads. And on behalf of a grateful nation, we thank you as well. We appreciate your courage and your sacrifice. Two young men from the Special Forces were recently laid to rest, Chief Warrant Officer Stanley Harriman and Air Force Tech Sergeant John Chapman. I want their families to know that we pray with them, that we honor them, and they died in a just cause, for defending freedom, and they will not have died in vain. Because of such soldiers, a vicious regime has been toppled in Afghanistan, and an entire people have been liberated from oppression. Because of American soldiers and our brave allies and friends who have fought beside them, the Taliban is out of business. At the beginning of this war, I made it very clear as clear as a fellow from Texas could make it either you're with us, or you're against us. And if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you try to hide a terrorist, you are just as guilty as the murderers who killed innocent Americans on September the 11th. And thanks to the mighty United States military, the Taliban found out exactly what I meant. But the world has seen we are not conquerors we're liberators. We fight for freedom, and at the same time, we have saved a people from mass starvation. We fight for freedom, but at the same time, we're clearing away minefields, rebuilding roads, and opening up hospitals. We fight for freedom, and yet, next week schools will reopen in Afghanistan, and for the first time, many young girls will go to school for the first times in their lives. We haven't been at this struggle very long. I know it seems like a long time for those of you whose loved ones are overseas. But we've been at it for 6 months, and we've made a lot of progress. And you know what? The terrorists have now figured out they picked on the wrong people. They must have thought we were soft. They must have thought we were so materialistic that we wouldn't fight for values that we loved. They must have thought that we were so self absorbed that the word "sacrifice" had left the American vocabulary. And my, were they wrong. Thousands of terrorists have been brought to justice. But I want you to know, my fellow citizens, we will not relent. We will not slow down until the threat of global terrorism has been destroyed. I have made this message clear to the American people. I have made this message clear to our vast coalition, and I've made this message clear to our enemies, and our military has delivered the message. We have finished the first phase of our war against terror. You see, when we routed out the Taliban, we completed that phase, and now we're entering a second stage of what I think will be a long war. It's a sustained campaign, a tireless, relentless campaign to deny sanctuary, to deny safe haven to terrorists who would threaten citizens anywhere in the world, threaten our way of life, threaten our friends, threaten our allies. These terrorists are now on the run, and we intend to keep them on the run. Oh, we know their strategy. They want to try to regroup, and they want to hit us. We're doing everything we can to stop them. No, we know their strategy. We also know they're the most committed, the most dangerous, the least likely to surrender. Folks, these are trained killers who hate freedom, and so long as they're on the loose, we're in danger. And therefore, in order to keep them from harming any of our citizens again, we're going to hunt them down one by one. This mighty Nation will not blink we will not yield. We will defend the innocent lives of the American people by bringing terrorist killers to justice. Obviously, as you well know, we found some of them bunched up in the Shahi Kot Mountains. And we sent our military in, and they're not bunched up anymore. Laughter And when we find them bunched up again, we'll send our military in, and the same thing will happen. You know, they've got these leaders that are so bold that they're willing to send youngsters to their suicide while they try to hide in deep caves. But they're going to find out there is not a cave deep enough to escape the long arm of American justice. And so as fellow citizens, you need to know the strategy of this new phase is this We want every terrorist to be made to live like an international fugitive, on the run, with no place to settle, no place to organize, no place to hide, no governments to hide behind, not even a safe place to sleep. And we're going to stay at it. You watch, we're going to stay at it for however long it takes. And the good news is, the American people are united and patient and understand the nature of the struggle ahead. And for that I'm grateful, and so are the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States military. At the same time, the civilized world must take seriously the growing threat of terror on a catastrophic scale. We've got to prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction, because there is no margin for error and there is no chance to learn from any mistake. The United States and her allies will act deliberately. We'll be deliberate, but inaction is not an option. Men who have no respect for life must never be allowed to control the ultimate instruments of death. I have made it clear that we will not let the most dangerous regimes in the world team up with killers and, therefore, hold this great Nation hostage. Whatever it takes to defend the liberty of America, this administration will do. I want you to know that even though we have made great progress in 6 short months, I am aware that history will judge us not based upon the beginning of this campaign but how it ends. Great challenges lie ahead, and we're in for a long struggle. And therefore, we must make sure that our United States military must have everything it needs to meet the objective. And just like our military has responsibilities, I have responsibilities as the Commander in Chief to the military. In every stage of the war on terror, I can assure you our actions will be carefully planned and carefully prepared. Our objectives will be clear. We will be deliberate, but when we act, we'll be decisive. I will give clear orders, and I will make sure that you have every tool you need to do your job. I've asked Congress for a one year increase of more than 48 billion for national defense. This is the largest defense increase in a generation, because we're at war, and Congress needs to pass this budget. And by the way, it includes another pay raise for people who wear the uniform. Nothing is more important than the national security of our country nothing is more important so nothing is more important than our defense budget. I've heard some of them talking about, you know, "It's too big," up there. Let me just make this as clear as I can make it The price for freedom is high, but it's never too high, as far as I'm concerned. As you know, if you follow the budget process, oftentimes Congress waits until the last days of the fiscal year in order to pass the defense budget. That's bad budgeting practices in times of peace. It's really bad budgeting practices in times of war. I expect the United States Congress to not only pass the budget as I submitted I expect them to make it the first order of business, so we can plan for this war. Now is not the time to play politics with the defense budget. Now is the time to get it out first and get it on my desk. We need to send that clear message that not only are we in this for the long haul, but the elected Representatives of the United States people understand it as well. I'm proud of the bipartisan spirit that exists in our war against terror. Now, let's just make sure we've got some good budgeting practices to go along with it. We're working hard to make sure the homeland is secure. I'll never forget, right after September the 11th, I went to see some high school kids, and they were seniors. And it dawned on me that obviously on them, too that this is the first high school class that had ever seen an attack on the homeland like this, at least on the 48 States that are contiguous. And it reminded me then and I've never forgotten it that oceans no longer matter when it comes to making us safe, that we have a giant obligation, an obligation I take very seriously here at home, to make sure we do everything we can to protect innocent life. So you need to know that anytime we get a hint about somebody may be thinking about doing something, we're on them. Every time we get a scintilla of evidence that somebody might be trying to get in here or burrow in our society, we're doing everything we can everything we can to protect the American people. We honor our Constitution, but we're on alert. And so are many of you all, and I want to thank you for that. We've got a good first responders initiative. We've got a great initiative on bioterrorism. We're making our borders more secure. We want to make sure we know who's coming in and who's coming out. We want to make sure the INS is reformed. Laughter As you might could tell by the news that day, I was plenty hot laughter when I read about the bureaucratic inefficiency of this agency. We're going to do everything we can to reform it. We want to button up the homeland as best as we possibly can. But my attitude is this The best way to secure the homeland is to unleash the mighty United States military and hunt them down and bring them to justice. And the best way to fight evil at home is to love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. The best way to stand squarely in the face of those who hijacked a good religion is to live a life that helps people in need. You know, the true strength of our country is much greater than our military. The true strength of America are the hearts and souls of loving American citizens. And we have an obligation in our free society to work to make our society as compassionate and as kind as it can possibly be. Today I had the honor, when I landed here, to meet Jane Davis. Where are you, Jane? There she is. Jane, thank you. Don't clap yet until you hear about her. She's the wife of Colonel Gary Matteson of Fort Bragg. The reason I mention Jane is because she is an example of what I'm talking about, about the strength of the country. Right after September the 11th, she left North Carolina to volunteer at Ground Zero in New York City. Nobody had to tell Jane. There wasn't a Government edict. There wasn't a telegram from Washington, DC, directing her to go to Ground Zero. She followed her heart. She knew it was the right thing to do. It's the Jane Davises that really defined America for the world to see. And you can be you can help a neighbor in all kinds of ways. You can walk across a street to a shut in and say, "What can I do to help your day?" Or you can mentor a child, or you can teach in a classroom. If you want to help, you can get on the Internet and dial up usafreedomcorps.gov and see. And we've got a member of the Senior Corps here, which is a part of the USA Freedom Corps. If you want to be involved, there's all kinds of ways all you've got to do to act. But if you're interested in joining the war against terror, do something to make your community a more vibrant and kind place. It is what I like to call the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness that define America for what we are. And I'm proud to be the President of a nation that is dedicated and firm in our defense of liberty, that will stand strong when we defend freedom and not blink or tire. And likewise, I'm proud to be the President of a nation whose true strength are the hearts and souls of citizens from all walks of life. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. March 14, 2002 President Bush. It's my honor to welcome the Prime Minister of Canada, a personal friend and a great friend of America, back to the White House. We had a wide ranging discussion on a lot of topics, starting with how appreciative I am of his steadfast support and the Canadian Government's steadfast support and the Canadian people's steadfast support in our war against terror. We know the Canadians have put troops on the ground in Afghanistan, and they have performed brilliantly. For that, we are grateful. We also talked about our border. We've got a great relationship on our border. We've had a series of meaningful discussions on putting reforms in place. I believe our border cooperation is going to be the model for not only our hemisphere but also for the world. We also talked about trade issues. Canada is a massive trading partner with the United States, and it's an important trading partner of the United States. And like any relationship that has got a lot of issues, sometimes we run into rough spots. And one such issue is softwood lumber. But our negotiators, as a result of the Prime Minister's assistance and my assistance, are working overtime to achieve an agreement by March the 21st. We're making very good progress. And we've agreed to keep working hard to achieve an agreement that is satisfactory to both parties, and I believe we can achieve that. So, Mr. Prime Minister, thank you very much for coming. Oh, by the way, we talked energy. It's important for the American people to know that as a result of our trade agreements with Canada and our close relations, Canada is a significant supplier of energy to the United States. And that's positive. It's much better for us to be securing our energy from a friend and a stable friend and a partner. And so I appreciate the Canadian energy business. I appreciate the exploration that's going on. It is good for our economy. I shared with the Prime Minister I'm optimistic about our economy. We've still got some rough spots, but it looks like we may be improving. And if we are, that will be good news for both of us. So, Mr. Prime Minister, welcome back. It is my honor to serve you dinner again, and it's a thrill to be with you. Prime Minister Chretien. Thank you, Mr. President. I cannot add to what the President said. He covered the ground very well. I think the relations between America and Canada could not be better. We are solving problems when we have one. We are working with America in the war against terrorism. Our troops are in the fight at this moment in Afghanistan. You know, in the snow, we're good at it, President, you know. And we President Bush. You're good on the ice, too. Laughter Prime Minister Chretien. We are good on the ice, too and both men and women. Laughter And so and we have to work on our other problems. Thank you for the statement you made on softwood lumber. I think that the defense of our values and against terrorism are extremely important for Canadians. And we have worked very well together. For me, I should say a few words in French, with your permission. President Bush. Please. Prime Minister Chretien. Can you translate after that? Laughter At this point, Prime Minister Chretien spoke in French and then resumed speaking in English. I want to tell you that we spoke about Africa, and I want to say I said that in French I want to say thank you for what you have announced today, about the programs that you have announced, because as you know, at Kananaskis in Canada, at the G 8, the main topic will be Africa. And we want to establish a partnership with them. They came to Genoa last June you and our colleagues asked me to take inaudible at that time. And I think that the partnership, and with your contribution, is developing very well. Next month I will be traveling in Africa for visiting five or six countries to build a partnership but to reward good governance, human rights, to make sure that they have real democracies and so on. And those who don't do that will have to not to be rewarded, because they will not meet what the world wants. So thank you again, Mr. President. For the press, I will take questions after my dinner. Thank you. March 14, 2002 Thank you all. Sientese. Gracias, Enrique. It's about time you invited a President here. Laughter It's about time one accepted. Thank you for the energy and leadership you bring to the challenge of global development. I'm honored to be at the Inter American Development Bank, which has done a lot of good in our hemisphere over the last 40 years. I appreciate your work, and I'm proud of your accomplishments. Along with many of you, I'll be in Monterrey, Mexico, next week as leaders from around the world focus on the important work of reducing global poverty. I'm here today to announce a major new commitment by the United States to bring hope and opportunity to the world's poorest people. Along with significant new resources to fight world poverty, we will insist on the reforms necessary to make this a fight we can win. As you can see, I'm traveling in some pretty good company today Bono. Laughter We just had a great visit in the Oval Office. Here's what I know about him First, he's a good musician secondly, he is willing to use his position in a responsible way. He is willing to lead, to achieve what his heart tells him, and that is nobody nobody should be living in poverty and hopelessness in the world. Bono, I appreciate your heart. And to tell you what an influence you've had, Dick Cheney walked in the Oval Office he said, "Jesse Helms wants us to listen to Bono's ideas." Laughter I appreciate Paul O'Neill, Secretary of Treasury. I appreciate his work I appreciate his advice. He's a fine member of my Cabinet. Cardinal McCarrick, thank you for coming, sir I'm honored to have you here. Jim Wolfensohn, thank you for your leadership of the World Bank. I appreciate Jose Fourquet. Thank you, Jose, for taking on the responsibility you've done. It's good to see Andrew Natsios here of AID. Thank you, Andrew, for coming. You've done a fine job, by the way, in helping prevent starvation in Afghanistan. I appreciate your work, and I appreciate your focus. I want to thank John Negroponte, Embajador de la United Nations. I want to thank all the other Ambassadors who are here. I look around, I can see many familiar faces. Thank you all for coming today. I appreciate the Members of the United States Congress who are here. I see Frist and DeWine from the United States Senate. I appreciate both Senators for coming. I appreciate the Congressman from Puerto Rico thank you for coming, senor. I see the Congress lady from Miami, Florida. I see Spencer Bachus from Alabama. I think that's it I better well, anyway, if anybody else is here laughter Chris Cannon, I think, from Utah is here. Hey, Chris, thank you for coming, and thank you all for taking an interest in this subject. It's an important subject. As you all know and we all know, America is engaged in a global struggle, a mighty struggle against the forces of terror. Yet, even as we fight to defeat terror, we must also fight for the values that make life worth living, for education and health and economic opportunity. This is both the history of our country, and it is the calling of our times. In World War II, we fought to make the world safer, then worked to rebuild it. As we wage war today to keep the world safe from terror, we must also work to make the world a better place for all its citizens. The advances of free markets and trade and democracy and rule of law have brought prosperity to an ever widening circle of people in this world. During our lifetime, per capita income in the poorest countries has nearly doubled. Illiteracy has been cut by one third, giving more children a chance to learn. Infant mortality has been almost halved, giving more children a chance to live. Nations from India to Chile have changed old ways and, therefore, found new wealth. Nations from Turkey to Mali have combined Islam with progress. Yet in many nations, in many regions, poverty is broad and seemingly inescapable, leaving a dark shadow a dark shadow across a world that is increasingly illuminated by opportunity. Half the world's people still live on less than 2 a day. For billions, especially in Africa and the Islamic world, poverty is spreading and per capita income is falling. In Malawi, thousands of teachers die each year from AIDS, and life expectancy has fallen to only 38 years. In Sierra Leone, nearly one third of all babies born today will not reach the age of 5, and in Sudan, only half the children attend school. This growing divide between wealth and poverty, between opportunity and misery, is both a challenge to our compassion and a source of instability. We must confront it. We must include every African, every Asian, every Latin American, every Muslim, in an expanding circle of development. The advance of development is a central commitment of American foreign policy. As a nation founded on the dignity and value of every life, America's heart breaks because of the suffering and senseless death we see in our world. We work for prosperity and opportunity because they're right. It's the right thing to do. We also work for prosperity and opportunity because they help defeat terror. Poverty doesn't cause terrorism. Being poor doesn't make you a murderer. Most of the plotters of September the 11th were raised in comfort. Yet persistent poverty and oppression can lead to hopelessness and despair. And when governments fail to meet the most basic needs of their people, these failed states can become havens for terror. In Afghanistan, persistent poverty and war and chaos created conditions that allowed a terrorist regime to seize power. And in many other states around the world, poverty prevents governments from controlling their borders, policing their territory, and enforcing their laws. Development provides the resources to build hope and prosperity and security. Development is not always easy, but the conditions required for sound development are clear. The foundation of development is security, because there can be no development in an atmosphere of chaos and violence. Today, the United States is leading a broad and vast coalition defending global security by defeating global terror. Meeting this commitment is expensive, but securing peace and freedom is never too expensive. Development also depends upon financing. Contrary to the popular belief, most funds for development do not come from international aid they come from domestic capital, from foreign investment, and especially from trade. America buys and imports over 500 450 billion in products from the developing world every year 450 billion of purchases every single year. That is more than 8 times the amount developing countries receive in aid from all sources. Trade is the engine of development, and by promoting it, we will help meet the needs of the world's poor. Successful development also requires citizens who are literate, who are healthy and prepared and able to work. Development assistance can help poor nations meet these education and health care needs. That's why the United States provides more than 10 billion a year for development assistance for food and for humanitarian aid. That is also why my administration has committed 500 million to the global fund to fight AIDS and other infectious diseases. And we will work with Congress to increase this commitment, to show our love and compassion by increasing our commitment as the fund gets organized, develops a strategy, and shows success. We're spending billions more on AIDS research and other programs to fight the disease around the world. Yet many of the old models of economic development assistance are outdated. Money that is not accompanied by legal and economic reform are oftentimes wasted. In many poor nations, corruption runs deep private property is unprotected markets are closed monetary and fiscal policies are unsustainable private contracts are unenforceable. When nations refuse to enact sound policies, progress against poverty is nearly impossible. In these situations, more aid money can actually be counterproductive because it subsidizes bad policies, delays reform, and crowds out private investment. The needs of the developing world demand a new approach. In Monterrey, we have a tremendous opportunity to begin acting on a new vision of development. This new vision unleashes the potential of those who are poor, instead of locking them into a cycle of dependence. This new vision looks beyond arbitrary inputs from the rich and demands tangible outcomes for the poor. America supports the international development goals in the U.N. Millennium Declaration and believes that these goals are a shared responsibility of developed and developing countries. To make progress, we must encourage nations and leaders to walk the hard road of political, legal, and economic reform so all their people can benefit. Today I call for a new compact for global development, defined by new accountability for both rich and poor nations alike. Greater contributions from developed nations must be linked to greater responsibility from developing nations. The United States will lead by example. We will increase our development assistance by 5 billion over the three over the next three budget cycles. This new money, above and beyond existing aid requests is above and beyond existing aid requests in the current budget I submitted to the Congress. These funds will go into a new Millennium Challenge Account. Under this account, among other efforts, we will expand our fight against AIDS. We will bring computer instruction to young professionals in developing nations. We will assist African businesses and their people to sell goods abroad. We will provide textbooks and training to students in Islamic and African countries. We will apply the power of science and technology to increase harvests where hunger is greatest. These are some of the examples of what we intend to do. The goal is to provide people in developing nations the tools they need to seize the opportunities of the global economy. In return for this additional commitment, we expect nations to adopt the reforms and policies that make development effective and lasting. The world's help must encourage developing countries to make the right choices for their own people, and these choices are plain. Good government is an essential condition of development, so the Millennium Challenge Account will reward nations that root out corruption, respect human rights, and adhere to the rule of law. Healthy and educated citizens are the agents of development, so we will reward nations that invest in better health care, better schools, and broader immunization. Sound economic policies unleash the enterprise and creativity necessary for development, so we will reward nations that have more open markets and sustainable budget policies, nations where people can start and operate a small business without running the gauntlets of bureaucracy and bribery. I've directed Secretary Powell and Secretary O'Neill to reach out to the world community, to develop a set of clear and concrete and objective criteria for measuring progress. And under the Millennium Challenge Account, we will apply these criteria rigorously and fairly. Countries that live by these three broad standards ruling justly, investing in their people, and encouraging economic freedom will receive more aid from America. And more importantly, over time, they will really no longer need it, because nations with sound laws and policies will attract more foreign investment. They will earn more trade revenues, and they will find that all these sources of capital will be invested more effectively and productively to create more jobs for their people. The evidence shows that where nations adopt sound policies, a dollar of foreign aid attracts 2 of private investment. And when development aid rewards reform and responsibility, it lifts almost 4 times as many people out of poverty, compared to the old approach of writing checks without regard to results. Marrying good policies to greater aid led Mozambique to a 10 percent growth rate in 2001. This approach help Uganda open its schools to more children and increase teacher pay by 2,700 percent. Bangladesh, a nation that was once a symbol of famine, has transformed its agricultural economy rice production is almost up by 70 percent since the mid seventies. The new compact I propose would multiply this progress. I challenge other nations and the development banks to adopt this approach as well. America's support for the World Bank will increase by almost 20 percent over the next 3 years. We expect the World Bank to insist on reform and results, measured in improvements in people's lives. All the development banks should adopt a growth agenda, increasing their support for private sector enterprises and focusing more on education, as the Inter American Development Bank has done. And I challenge the development banks to provide up to half of the funds devoted to poor nations in the form of grants, rather than loans grants instead of loans that may never be repaid. Many have rallied to the idea of dropping the debt. I say let's rally to the idea of stopping the debt. This new compact for development can produce dramatic gains against poverty and suffering in the world. I have an ambitious goal for the developed world, that we ought to double the size of the world's poorest economies within a decade. I know some may say that's too high a hurdle to cross. I don't believe so, not with the right reforms and the right policy. This will require tripling of current growth rates, but that's not unprecedented. After all, look at the dramatic growth that occurred in Asia in the 1990s. With the world's help and the right policies, I know I know that the developing world can reform their own countries I know it can happen and, therefore, better their own lives. They can live in a world where their children's dreams are ignited by liberty and learning, not undermined by poverty and disease. They can live under governments that deliver basic service and protect basic rights. The demands of human dignity know no borders and know no boundaries. They are universal. And so are the gifts of creativity and enterprise that lead to prosperity. When governments repress and punish those gifts, no amount no amount of aid is sufficient to lift people from poverty. When governments honor these gifts, every nation can know the blessings of prosperity. People across the world are working to relieve poverty and suffering, and I'm proud of their efforts. I appreciate Bono. I appreciate groups like the Sisters of Charity. Some were motivated by simple decency some serve a God who is impatient with injustice and all have made this commitment. We cannot leave behind half of humanity as we seek a better future for ourselves. We cannot accept permanent poverty in a world of progress. There are no second class citizens in the human race. I carry this commitment in my soul, and I'll carry it with me to Monterrey next week. As the civilized world mobilizes against the forces of terror, we must also embrace the forces of good. By offering hope where there is none, by relieving suffering and hunger where there is too much, we will make the world not only safer but better. Thank you very much. March 13, 2002 The President. Good afternoon. Tomorrow the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on the nomination of Charles Pickering to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Judge Pickering is a respected and well qualified nominee who was unanimously confirmed 12 years ago to the district bench. His nomination deserves a full vote, a vote in a full Senate. I strongly urge his confirmation. While tomorrow's vote is about one man, a much larger principle is also at stake. Under our Constitution, the President has the right and responsibility to nominate qualified judges, and the legislative branch has the responsibility to vote on them in a fair and timely manner. This process determines the quality of justice in America, and it demands that both the President and Senate act with care and integrity, with wisdom and deep respect for the Constitution. Unfortunately, we are seeing a disturbing pattern where, too often, judicial confirmations are being turned into ideological battles that delay justice and hurt our democracy. We now face a situation in which a handful of United States Senators on one committee have made it clear that they will block nominees, even highly qualified, well respected nominees, who do not share the Senators' view of the bench, of the Federal courts. They seek to undermine the nominations of candidates who agree with my philosophy that judges should interpret the law, not try to make law from the bench. And because these Senators fear the outcome of a fair vote in the full Senate, they're using tactics of delay. As a result, America is facing a vacancy crisis in the Federal judiciary. Working with both Republicans and Democrats, I have nominated 92 highly qualified, highly respected individuals to serve as Federal judges. These are men and women who will respect and follow the law. Yet the Senate has confirmed only 40 of these 92 nominees, and only 7 of the 29 nominees to the circuit courts, the courts of last resort in a vast majority of cases. This is unacceptable. It is a bad record for the Senate. The Senate has an obligation to provide fair hearings and prompt votes to all nominees, no matter who controls the Senate or who controls the White House. By failing to allow full Senate votes on judicial nominees, a few Senators are standing in the way of justice. This is wrong, and the American people deserve better. I will now be glad to answer a few questions, starting with Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Q. Thank you, Mr. President. The President. You are Fournier, aren't you? Q. Yes, sir. The President. I'm looking at my chart here. Laughter Yes. Nuclear Posture Review Q. The Pentagon is calling for the development of low yield nuclear weapons that could be used against China, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Russia, and Syria. Can you explain why the United States is considering this new policy, and how it might figure into the war on terrorism? The President. I presume you're referring to the nuclear review that was recently in the press. Well, first of all, the nuclear review is not new. It's gone on for previous administrations. Secondly, the reason we have a nuclear arsenal that I hope is modern, upgraded, and can work, is to deter any attack on America. The reason one has a nuclear arsenal is to serve as a deterrence. Secondly, ours is an administration that's committed to reducing the amount of warheads, and we're in consultations now with the Russians on such a on this matter. We've both agreed to reduce our warheads down to 1,700 to 2,200. I talked with Sergey Ivanov yesterday, the Minister of Defense from Russia, on this very subject. I think one of the interesting points that we need to develop and fully explore is how best to verify what's taking place, to make sure that there's confidence in both countries. But I'm committed to reducing the amount of nuclear weaponry and reducing the number of nuclear warheads. I think it's the right policy for America, and I know we can continue to do so and still keep a deterrence. Q. Why a policy, though, that might go after a country like Libya or Syria? The President. First of all, we've got all options on the table, because we want to make it very clear to nations that you will not threaten the United States or use weapons of mass destruction against us or our allies or friends. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Situation in the Middle East Q. Do you agree with Kofi Annan that Israel must end the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands? And how is the Israeli offensive going to complicate General Zinni's mission? The President. Well, first of all, it is important to create conditions for peace in the Middle East. It's important for both sides to work hard to create the conditions of a potential settlement. Now, our Government has provided a security plan that has been agreed to by both the Israelis and the Palestinians, called the Tenet plan. And George Mitchell did good work providing a pathway for a political settlement, once conditions warrant it. Frankly, it's not helpful, what the Israelis have recently done, in order to create conditions for peace. I understand someone trying to defend themselves and to fight terror. But the recent actions aren't helpful. And so Zinni's job is to go over there and work to get conditions such that we can get into Tenet. And he's got a lot of work to do, but if I didn't think he could make progress, I wouldn't have asked him to go. During the announcement of the Zinni mission, I said there was we had a lot of phone conversations with people in the Middle East which led us to believe that there is a chance to create to get into Tenet or at least create the conditions to get into Tenet. And I've taken that chance, and it's the right course of action at this point, Steve. Yes, John John Roberts, CBS News . Immigration and Naturalization Service Q. Mr. President, let me look at what happened Monday with the INS visa approvals for Atta and Al Shehhi and ask the requisite three part question. Let me ask you, first of all, how high did the hair on the back of your neck rise when you heard about that? How can the American people have any faith in the credibility of the INS in its antiterrorist efforts? And what can you do, both immediately and for the long term, to assure nothing like that ever happens again? The President. Well, it got my attention this morning when I read about that. I was stunned and not happy. Let me put it another way I was plenty hot, and I made that clear to people in my administration. I don't know if the Attorney General has acted yet today or not. I haven't seen the wire story, but he has. He got the message, and so should the INS. The INS needs to be reformed, and it's one of the reasons why I called for the separation of the paperwork side of the INS from the enforcement side. And obviously, the paperwork side needs a lot of work. It's inexcusable. So we've got to reform the INS, and we've got to push hard to do so. This is an interesting wake up call for those who run the INS. We are modernizing our system, John, and it needs to be modernized, so we know who's coming in and who's going out and why they're here. Q. But what does this say, sir, about the credibility of the INS in its antiterrorism efforts? The President. Well, it says they've got a lot of work to do. It says that the information system is antiquated. And having said that, they are they got the message, and hopefully, they'll reform as quickly as possible. But yes, it got my attention in a negative way. Catholic Church Q. Mr. President, there's a growing crisis in the Catholic Church right now, involving pedophilia. And the crisis is exploding in Boston under the watch of Cardinal Law, who you know. Do you think the archdiocese there is acting swiftly enough to deal with the issue of pedophilia among the ranks of priests? The President. Well, I know many in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church I know them to be men of integrity and decency. They're honorable people. I was just with Cardinal Egan today. And I'm confident the church will clean up its business and do the right thing. As to the timing, I haven't, frankly I'm not exactly aware of the how fast or how not fast they're moving. I just can tell you I trust the leadership of the church. Q. Do you think Cardinal Law should resign? The President. That's up to the church. I know Cardinal Law to be a man of integrity. I respect him a lot. Iraq Q. Vice President Cheney is on the road now trying to build support for possible action against Iraq. If you don't get that, down the road you decide you want to take action, would you take action against Iraq unilaterally? The President. One of the things I've said to our friends is that we will consult, that we will share our views of how to make the world more safe. In regards to Iraq, we're doing just that. Every world leader that comes to see me, I explain our concerns about a nation which is not conforming to agreements that it made in the past, a nation which has gassed her people in the past, a nation which has weapons of mass destruction and apparently is not afraid to use them. And so one of the what the Vice President is doing is he's reminding people about this danger and that we need to work in concert to confront this danger. Again, all options are on the table and but one thing I will not allow is a nation such as Iraq to threaten our very future by developing weapons of mass destruction. They've agreed not to have those weapons. They ought to conform to their agreement, comply with their agreement. Yes, John John Cochran, ABC News . Q. It seems to me you seem to be saying, yes, you would consult with the allies and others, including in the Mideast, but if you had to, you'd go ahead and take action yourself. The President. Well, you're answering the question for me. If I can remember the exact words, I'll say it exactly the way I said it before. We are going to consult. I am deeply concerned about Iraq, and so should the American people be concerned about Iraq, and so should people who love freedom be concerned about Iraq. This is a nation run by a man who is willing to kill his own people by using chemical weapons, a man who won't let inspectors into the country, a man who's obviously got something to hide. And he is a problem, and we're going to deal with him. But the first stage is to consult with our allies and friends, and that's exactly what we're doing. Everybody here on the front row? John John Dickerson, Time . Situation in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, on the question of Iraq, how does the increased violence between the Israelis and the Palestinians affect what Vice President Cheney is trying to do and affect the case you're trying to make with our Arab allies for a regime change or just unconditional inspections? The President. Well, I understand that the unrest in the Middle East creates unrest throughout the region, more so now than ever in the past. But we're concerned about the Middle East, John, because it's affecting the lives of the Palestinians and our friends the Israelis. I mean, it's a terrible period of time when a lot of people are losing their lives, needlessly losing life. And terrorists are holding a potential peace process hostage. And so while I understand the linkage, for us the policy stands on its own. The need for us to be involved in the Middle East is to help save lives. And we're going to stay involved in the Middle East and, at the same time, continue to talk about Iraq and Iran and other nations and continue to wage a war on terror, which is exactly what we're doing. I want to reiterate what I said the other day. Our policy is to deny sanctuary to terrorists anyplace in the world, and we will be very actively in doing that. Q. But on the question of the Palestinians, Sharon has said that he shares your concern for those not involved in terror. Do you still think that's the case? The President. I do. But unlike our war against Al Qaida, there is a series of agreements in place that will lead to peace. And therefore, we're going to work hard to see if we can't, as they say, get into Tenet and eventually Mitchell. I do I certainly hope that Prime Minister Sharon is concerned about the loss of innocent life. We certainly I certainly am. It breaks my heart and I know it breaks the hearts of a lot of people around the world to see young children lose their life as a result of violence, young children on both sides of this issue. This is an issue that's consuming a lot of the time of my administration. And we have an obligation to continue to work for peace in the region, and we will we will. The two are not mutually exclusive, however. Yes. Scope of the War on Terrorism Q. Mr. President, in your speeches now you rarely talk or mention Usama bin Laden. Why is that? Also, can you tell the American people if you have any more information, if you know if he is dead or alive? Final part, deep in your heart, don't you truly believe that until you find out if he is dead or alive, you won't really eliminate the threat of The President. Well, deep in my heart, I know the man is on the run if he's alive at all. Who knows if he's hiding in some cave or not? We haven't heard from him in a long time. And the idea of focusing on one person is really indicates to me people don't understand the scope of the mission. Terror is bigger than one person. And he's just he's a person who's now been marginalized. His network is his host government has been destroyed. He's the ultimate parasite who found weakness, exploited it, and met his match. He is as I've mentioned in my speeches, I do mention the fact that this is a fellow who is willing to commit youngsters to their death, and he himself tries to hide if, in fact, he's hiding at all. So I don't know where he is. You know, I just don't spend that much time on him, Kelly Kelly Wallace, Cable News Network , to be honest with you. I'm more worried about making sure that our soldiers are well supplied, that the strategy is clear, that the coalition is strong, that when we find enemy bunched up like we did in Shahi Kot Mountains, that the military has all the support it needs to go in and do the job, which they did. And there will be other battles in Afghanistan. There's going to be other struggles like Shahi Kot, and I'm just as confident about the outcome of those future battles as I was about Shahi Kot, where our soldiers are performing brilliantly. We're tough we're strong they're well equipped. We have a good strategy. We are showing the world we know how to fight a guerrilla war with conventional means. Q. But don't you believe that the threat that bin Laden posed won't truly be eliminated until he is found either dead or alive? The President. Well, as I say, we haven't heard much from him. And I wouldn't necessarily say he's at the center of any command structure. And again, I don't know where he is. I I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him. I know he is on the run. I was concerned about him when he had taken over a country. I was concerned about the fact that he was basically running Afghanistan and calling the shots for the Taliban. But once we set out the policy and started executing the plan, he became we shoved him out more and more on the margins. He has no place to train his Al Qaida killers anymore. And if we excuse me for a minute and if we find a training camp, we'll take care of it. Either we will, or our friends will. That's one of the things part of the new phase that's becoming apparent to the American people is that we're working closely with other governments to deny sanctuary or training or a place to hide or a place to raise money. And we've got more work to do. See, that's the thing the American people have got to understand, that we've only been at this 6 months. This is going to be a long struggle. I keep saying that I don't know whether you all believe me or not. But time will show you that it's going to take a long time to achieve this objective. And I can assure you, I am not going to blink, and I'm not going to get tired, because I know what is at stake. And history has called us to action, and I am going to seize this moment for the good of the world, for peace in the world, and for freedom. Mike Allen Mike Allen, Washington Post . I'm working my way back there, slowly but surely. Michael. Relationship Between Executive and Legislative Branches Q. Mr. President, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has asked Governor Ridge to testify about the administration's domestic homeland security efforts. Why has the White House said that Governor Ridge will not testify? The President. Well, he's not he doesn't have to testify. He's a part of my staff, and that's part of the prerogative of the executive branch of Government, and we hold that very dear. Q. Mr. President, that's another area, along with the war and the development of the energy policy The President. This wasn't a trick question, Mike get me to say that and then kind of have a quick followup? But go ahead. Q. No, sir. But that's an area where Congress has said members of both parties have told us they're not getting enough information from the White House. The President. Oh, Mike, Mike, Mike, we consult with Congress all the time. I've had meaningful breakfasts with the leadership in the House and the Senate. I break bread with both Republicans and Democrats right back here in the Oval Office and have a good, honest discussion about plans, objectives, what's taking place, what's not taking place. We have members of our Cabinet briefing. Condoleezza Rice is in touch with the Members of the Congress. We are in touch with we understand the role of the Congress. We must justify budgets to Congress. And so I don't buy that, to be frank with you. Q. Mr. President, given The President. Mike, this is the third. Two followups is a record. Keep trying. Q. Given that you've not convinced everyone in your own party of that, to what degree are you trying to recalibrate the power between Congress and the Presidency? The President. Mike, I'm just doing my job. We'll let all the kind of the legal historians figure all that out, you know. First of all, I'm not going to let Congress erode the power of the executive branch. I have a duty to protect the executive branch from legislative encroachment. I mean, for example, when the GAO demands documents from us, we're not going to give them to them. These were privileged conversations. These were conversations when people come into our offices and brief us. Can you imagine having to give up every single transcript of what is advised me or the Vice President? Our advice wouldn't be good and honest and open. And so I viewed that as an encroachment on the power of the executive branch. I have an obligation to make sure that the Presidency remains robust and the legislative branch doesn't end up running the executive branch. On the other hand, there's plenty of consultation, Mike. I don't know what single Republican you're referring to. But if you'd give me the name afterwards, I'll be glad to have him over for another consultation, if you know what I mean. Laughter David David Sanger, New York Times . Saudi Peace Initiative Q. Mr. President, when you endorsed the Saudi plan on the Middle East, or the Saudi vision, it called, of course, for full normalization of relations between Israel and the Arab states. You've seen some backing away from that now by some other Arab countries and, in fact, by the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia. Can you imagine endorsing a plan that calls for anything other than full normalization, anything less than full normalization? The President. Well, I think the thing in order for there to be a plan that is acceptable to all parties, it must recognize the right of Israel to exist. And that's what I thought was very encouraging from the Saudi declaration. It was the first such declaration, if I'm not mistaken, David you probably know that better than me but that the Crown Prince said there ought to be a independent state but that recognizes Israel. That's how I interpreted it Israel's right to exist. And I think that's a very important declaration. That's why we seized on that. I have said the same thing myself, but it obviously didn't have nearly the same weight as the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia in saying that. Q. Normalization means something a little deeper than that. The President. Well, but first of all, there's nothing more deep than recognizing Israel's right to exist. That's the most deep thought of all. After all, there are some skeptics who think that nations in that part of the world don't want Israel to exist. The first and most important qualification, it seems like to me, for there to be peace is for people in the region to recognize Israel's right to exist. And therefore, policies ought to follow along those lines. I can't think of anything more deep than that right, that ultimate and final security. And when the Crown Prince indicated that was on his mind, we embraced that, strongly embraced that. Go ahead. Nature of the War on Terrorism Q. I was about to say, just a moment ago, you said that many of your allies are joining you in the war on terrorism. You do have a number of countries right now that seem to be right in the middle Indonesia, Somalia places that you've been worried about but that have not asked for our training, our help. Would you consider going into a country that did not seek your aid? The President. Well, that's one of those pretty cleverly worded hypotheticals. Let me just put it to you this way, David We will take actions necessary to protect American people, and I'm going to leave it at that. That's a good question, however. Yes. Russia U.S. Nuclear Agreements Q. Mr. President, back to nuclear issues, the Russian Defense Minister expressed the hope today that agreements on the new strategic framework could be signed by the time of your visit next May in Moscow. Is it realistic? And second, are you ready to sign documents in a treaty form? And third, have you made progress on the issue of destroying versus storing nuclear warheads? The President. Well, I share the Minister's optimism that we can get something done by May. I'd like to sign a document in Russia, when I'm there. I think it would be a good thing. And therefore, we've got to make sure that those who are interested in making sure that the cold war relationship continues on are kind of pushed in the background. In other words, we've got to work hard to establish a new relationship. I also agree with President Putin that there needs to be a document that outlives both of us. What form that comes in, we will discuss. There is a I think David asked me this question, as a matter of fact, back in Slovenia, if I'm not mistaken, about storage versus destruction. We'd be glad to talk to the Russians about that. I think the most important thing, though, is verification, is to make sure that whatever decision is made, that there is open verification so as to develop a level of trust. There is a constraint as well. I mean, the destruction of nuclear warheads requires a lot of work and a lot of detailed work, and that, in itself, is going to take time, and that's got to be a part of the equation as well. But those are all issues we're discussing. I had a good very good discussion with Sergey Ivanov yesterday. I'm confident that President Putin is interested in making a deal, coming up with a good arrangement that will codify a new relationship. The more Russia the more we work with Russia, the better the world will be. And we've got a good, close relationship with them. We've got a few sticking points. We've got an issue on chickens, for example, that some of you have followed. We made it pretty darn clear to them that I think we've probably got to get this chicken issue resolved and get those chickens moving from the United States into the Russian market. Laughter We laugh, but nevertheless it is a problem that we must honor agreements. But I believe we're going to have great relations with Russia, and we're going to work hard to achieve them. Yes, go ahead. You're next, Angle Jim Angle, Fox News . Debt Ceiling Q. Mr. President, can I ask about the debt limit, sir? And specifically about the Treasury Secretary's plan to borrow cash from the Federal retirement funds, can you justify that to the American people, sir? The President. I'm not going to comment on the Secretary of Treasury's plan. I'll tell you what I think ought to happen. I think Congress ought to pass a clean bill that raises the debt ceiling, and I'll sign it. I think it's important. I hope we can get that kind of spirit out of Congress. If they do that, it will solve the problem. We don't need to be playing politics with the debt ceiling, particularly now that we're at war. And we're working with the Congress on that. I've had some pretty good discussions with the leadership about the need to get a clean bill coming. And I hope they do. I hope they listen I hope they respond. Q. There are those who will say that borrowing from the Federal retirement funds is also a form of playing politics The President. Well, if the Congress passes the bill, we're fine. And we've got to get that done. It's their responsibility to get the debt ceiling raised. I hope they do it quickly and soon, and we're going to work with them to get it done. Jim. Nuclear Posture Review Q. Mr. President, what do you make of the dust up over the nuclear review? And have you made any decisions about its recommendations? In particular, what is your view about building smaller nuclear weapons, which some people believe would make them more likely to be used? The President. Well, first of all, I view our nuclear arsenal as a deterrent, as a way to say to people that would harm America, "Don't do it." That's a deterrent, that there's a consequence. And the President must have all options available to make that deterrent have meaning. And that's how I view the review. Q. But what is your thinking, sir, on smaller nuclear weapons, which some analysts believe would be a major departure and would make them more likely The President. My interest is Jim, my interest is to reduce the threat of a nuclear war, is to reduce the number of nuclear warheads. I think we've got plenty of warheads to keep the peace. I'm interested in and that's why I told President Putin and told the country, if need be, we'll just reduce unilaterally to a level commensurate with keeping a deterrence and keeping the peace. So I'm interested in having all having an arsenal at my disposal or at the military's disposal that will keep the peace. We're a peaceful nation and moving along just right and just kind of having a time, and all of a sudden, we get attacked, and now we're at war, but we're at war to keep the peace. And it's very important for people in America to understand that at least my attitude on this is that we're not out to seek revenge. Sure, we're after justice, but I also view this as a really good opportunity to create a lasting peace. And so, therefore, the more firm we are and the more determined we are to take care of Al Qaida and deal with terrorism in all its forms, particularly that of global reach, that we have a very good chance of solving some difficult problems, including the Middle East or the subcontinent. But it's going to require a resolve and firmness from the United States of America. One of the things I've learned in my discussions and at least listening to the echo chamber out there in the world is that if the United States were to waver, some in the world would take a nap when it comes to the war on terror. And we're just not going to let them do that. And that's why you hear me spend a lot of time talking to the American people at least, I hope I'm talking to them, through you about why this is going to take a long period of time and why I'm so determined to remain firm in my resolve. And anyway. Draft Registration Military Readiness Q. Mr. President, could I The President. Yes, sir? You asked the softest. Laughter Q. I'd like to ask you about the public service component of your initiative as it The President. The what, now? Q. The public service initiative of yours as it relates to the war, which you've just said again, that could go on for quite a while. As we all know, 18 year old men in this country, when they turn 18, they're required to register with the draft, which is now dormant but could be activated again. At this time and we're looking at sort of an unlimited situation with this war should the country expect the same of women in this country? The President. You mean in terms of the draft? Q. Yes. The President. Well, the country shouldn't expect there to be a draft. I know they're registering. But the volunteer army is working. Particularly when Congress passes my budget, it's going to make it more likely to work. There's been a pay raise, and then we'll have another pay raise. And the mission is clear the training is good the equipment is going to be robust. Congress needs to pass this budget. So I don't worry about and people shouldn't worry about a draft. We do have women in the military, and I'm proud of their service. And they're welcome in the military they make a great addition to the military. Q. You don't think The President. Pardon me? Q. that the military will be stretched too thinly, as some people have feared? The President. Ed Ed Chen, Los Angeles Times , I don't think so. I think we're in pretty good shape right now. It's there's no question we have obligations around the world, which we will keep. If you went to did you go to Korea with us? Q. Yes, sir. The President. Well, there's a major obligation there of 37,000 troops, an obligation that is an important obligation, one that I know is important, and we will keep that obligation. But we've got ample manpower to meet our needs. Plus, we've got a vast coalition of nations willing to lend their own manpower to the war. And as I mentioned the other day in my speech there on the South Lawn, 17 nations are involved in this first theater in Afghanistan. And we had Canadians and Danish and Germans and Australians I'm probably going to leave somebody out Brits, Special Forces troops on the ground, boots on the ground, as they say, willing to risk their lives in a dangerous phase of this war, and men going cave to cave, looking for killers. These people don't like to surrender they don't surrender. But we've been able to count on foreign troops to help us. And so, Ed, I think we're in good shape. I really do. And if not, we'll I'll address the Nation, but I don't see any need to right now. Mexico U.S. Relations Q. Will you take one on Mexico? The President. Si. Q. You are going to my country next week. The President. Es la verdad. Q. Besides what President Fox presented to you last year, you haven't acted in favor of the Mexican proposal by the President of Mexico. You haven't presented anything to Congress. The President. Excuse me a second, what proposal are you talking about? Q. The one the President Fox mentioned The President. In specific. I don't mean to interrupt you. Q. The regularization of The President. Oh, the immigration issue? Q. Yes, the immigration issue. So when are you going to present any concrete steps in that direction for Mexico? The President. Well, first of all, we are working closely with Mexico. We've had many of our administration officials down there. Tom Ridge just came back he had a very good dialog with President Fox. John Ashcroft has been very much involved with the Mexican Government. We have had a wide ranging discussions as to how to make the border work better, how to make the border more secure for both countries. We've had a really good dialog. Some of what needs to be done didn't require law. I'm glad you brought that up. We just got 245(i) passed in the House of Representatives. Hopefully, that will come out of the Senate quickly. That's a step toward that's a good reform, is one that I support. I also cautioned President Fox at the time that there will be no blanket amnesty in America. I don't think the will of the American people is for blanket amnesty. I think he understands that. And so, therefore, the thing we've got to do is figure out how to make sure willing employers are able to match up with willing employees. And so we'll work we're making progress 245(i) is good progress. Yes. Lieutenant Commander Michael Scott Speicher Q. Mr. President, do you believe there is an American pilot from the Gulf War still alive in Iraq? And if so, how might that complicate any actions you consider The President. Well, let me just say this to you. I know that the man has got an MIA status, and it reminds me once again about the nature of Saddam Hussein if, in fact, he's alive. And therefore, it's just another part of my thinking about him, my I guess, lack of respect is a good way to define it. Q. Does it complicate any action you might take you might consider taking against Iraq in the war against terror? The President. Well, that's where we're this is the old hypothetical again. And let me just put it this way It doesn't change my opinion about him. Matter of fact, it reinforces the fact that anybody who would be so cold and heartless as to hold an American flyer for all this period of time without notification to his family just I wouldn't put it past him, given the fact that he gassed his own people. Q. Mr. President The President. Yes, ma'am. Zimbabwe Elections Nomination of Charles W. Pickering, Sr. Q. Okay, thank you. Do you officially recognize the Zimbabwe elections? And what are your thoughts about Mugabe? And also on Pickering, what are your thoughts The President. Wait, whoa, whoa. Laughter Wait a minute. This is all over the lot. Laughter Wait a minute all over the lot. Q. Mr. President, when I get a chance with you, I have to take it. The President. You talk about somebody taking the liberty of a Q. When I get a chance with you, I have to take it. The President. I can see that. Laughter Go ahead, take it. Q. Okay. The President. Is this a six part question? Q. No, it's only three. The President. Three, okay. Laughter Let me start writing them down. First one is Zimbabwe. Go ahead. Q. Yes, and with Pickering The President. Pickering Q. What are your thoughts about many of your nominees who are opposed have issues with racial bias, including Pickering? The President. Yes, okay. That's two. Q. Okay. The President. You're going to limit it to two? Thank you very much. Q. Yes, you're welcome. The President. That's a good break. First on Pickering, Pickering has got a very strong record on civil rights. Just ask the people he lives with. I had the honor of meeting the attorney general of Mississippi, Moore. Attorney General Moore fine Democrat, elected statewide in the State of Mississippi a man who, I suspect, is a man who got elected because he cares deeply about the civil rights of his citizens came up and sat in the Oval Office and said Judge Pickering has had a fine record on civil rights and should be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. I hope the Senators hear that. I hope they listen to Moore or Al Gore's brother in law or the former Governor of Mississippi, Winters. Zimbabwe. We do not recognize the outcome of the election because we think it's flawed. And we are dealing with and we are dealing with our friends to figure out how to deal with this flawed election. Q. What are the options then? The President. Well, we're dealing with our friends right now to figure out how to deal with it. Class Action Reform Legislation Q. The House is voting on class action reform this evening. Given the current political atmosphere, do you want to enact new legal reforms into law this year? And if so, which ones are you going to The President. Well, here's the thing. I am for reducing the number of lawsuits in our society. I think everybody will have their day in court, but I think a society that is so kind of litigious oriented is one that is bad for jobs, bad for the creation of jobs. And if any reform I will support reforms which reduce lawsuits and at the same time provide give people the opportunity to take their case to court. Q. Are there any ones you want to pursue? The President. Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . Super Stretch, Little Stretch. Regular Stretch. Laughter Corporate Management Reform Q. Last week you announced an ambitious set of changes to make it easier for the Government to crack down on corporate wrongdoing. Yet Republicans in Congress and your own SEC Chairman says, essentially, a lot more money than you proposed will be needed to do the job effectively. I'm talking about the The President. You're talking about when I called on the SEC to enact laws to make sure that corporate CEOs take responsibility for their books, make sure that when somebody says they've got X amount in liabilities, that X equals X and not X equals Y or something less than X. Yes, I strongly believe that, and the SEC needs to get after it. And I don't use the excuse of not enough money in the budget, frankly. I need to know the numbers, but we need action. And we need reasonable action, without causing a plethora of lawsuits. Hutch Ron Hutcheson, Knight Ridder . Perspective on the War on Terrorism Q. Thank you, sir. I wanted to ask about the second phase of the war. As a member of the Vietnam generation, do you worry as you send these military advisers all over the world, typically to chaotic places, that they may get involved in direct conflict and the situation could escalate? And are you prepared to do that? The President. Interesting question. Hutch, let me tell you something, I believe this war is more akin to World War II than it is to Vietnam. This is a war in which we fight for the liberties and freedom of our country. Secondly, I understand there's going to be loss of life and that people are going to and the reason I bring that up is because for a while, at least for a period, it seemed to be that the definition of success in war was, nobody lost their life. Nobody grieves harder than I do when we lose a life. I feel responsible for sending the troops into harm's way. It breaks my heart when I see a mom sitting on the front row of a speech and she's weeping, openly weeping for the loss of her son. It's it just I'm not very good about concealing my emotions, but I strongly believe we're doing the right thing. And Hutch, the idea of denying sanctuary is vital to protect America. And we're going to be, obviously, judicious and wise about how we deploy troops. I learned some good lessons from Vietnam. First, there must be a clear mission. Secondly, the politics ought to stay out of fighting a war. There was too much politics during the Vietnam war. There was too much concern in the White House about political standing. And I've got great confidence in General Tommy Franks and great confidence in how this war is being conducted. And I rely on Tommy, just like the Secretary of Defense relies upon Tommy and his judgment whether or not we ought to deploy and how we ought to deploy. Tommy knows the lessons of Vietnam just as well as I do. Both of us he was a he graduated from high school in '63, and you and I graduated in '64. We're of the same vintage. We paid attention to what was going on. And so I think it was '64, wasn't it? Q. No, sir. The President. Oh. Laughter You're not that old. You're not that old. I'll give you an interesting fact I don't know if you all know this or not, speaking about Tommy, but Tommy Franks went to Midland Lee High School, class of '63. Laura Bush went to Midland Lee High School, class of '64. That's an interesting thing for the social columns. Laughter For those of you who allow for your news gathering to slip into social items laughter or social gossip, which sometimes happens. It doesn't happen that much. Q. Did they know each other? The President. No. Laughter Elisabeth Elisabeth Bumiller, New York Times . Immigration and Naturalization Service Q. Mr. President, who do you hold responsible for the failure of the INS this week? I see the Attorney General said he was going to hold individuals responsible The President. Going to do hold Q. Hold individuals responsible. The President. Well, let's see what the Inspector General comes back with. But obviously, I named a good man to run it, Ziglar, and he's held accountable. His responsibility is to reform the INS. Let's give him time to do so. He hasn't been there that long, but he now has got another wake up call. The first wake up call was from me This agency needs to be reformed. And secondly, he got another one with this embarrassing disclosure today that, as I mentioned, got the President's attention this morning. I could barely get my coffee down when I opened up my local newspaper well, a newspaper. Laughter U.N. Security Council Resolution Q. Mr. President, back on the Middle East, sir, can you tell us what was behind the timing of pursuing a U.N. resolution at this point regarding a future Palestinian state? The President. Well, there was a sometimes these resolutions just get a life of their own. And sometimes we have to veto them, and sometimes we can help help the message. This time, we felt like we were able to make the message a clear message that we agreed with. If it was a message that tried to isolate or condemn our friend, I'd have vetoed it. In this case, it was a universal message that could lead to a more peaceful a peaceful world. And so we supported it. As a matter of fact, we helped engineer it we were a part of the process. And as to the timing, I don't know the timing. All I know is the things start showing up on my desk. And Q. When did it start showing up on your radar screen, sir? The President. Well, desk or radar screen, same thing. About 24 hours ago. And I heard from the Secretary of State and Condoleezza Rice that there was a little movement afoot there at the Security Council. And so we made a decision, a conscious decision to try to send a statement that it was a hopeful statement. It turned out to be a good statement, by the way. It was one of those statements that was embraced by all the parties except for one that couldn't bring themselves to vote for it, Syria. But again, we are working hard to create the conditions for a security arrangement that will then enable the Mitchell process to kick in. I know you all are tired of hearing me say that. But unlike other parts of the world, in this part of the world, Tenet and Mitchell have been agreed to by both parties, which means there is a hopeful process if we can get people into the process. And so our mission is to do that. And that's why Zinni is over there. Listen, I want to thank you very much. I've enjoyed this press conference. I hope you have as well. Thank you. March 13, 2002 Thank you very much. A hundred thousand welcomes to you all. I probably am not going to try to say that in Gaelic. Laughter But I have learned how to pronounce Taoiseach. Laughter Welcome back to the White House. It's good to be able to welcome a friend into your home. The Taoiseach is a friend. I want to thank John Reid, the Secretary of State of Northern Ireland, for being here. John, how are you? He's on his honeymoon. Laughter Sorry to disrupt your honeymoon, but it's for a noble cause. Laughter David Trimble, the honorable David Trimble, First Minister of Northern Ireland David, thank you for coming. Honorable Mark Durkan, appreciate you being here. I want to thank all the other leaders from Northern Ireland. I want to thank the ambassadors who are here. Members of Congress, always a pleasure to welcome you to the White House. I want to thank you all for joining us in celebrating the memory of Saint Patrick. His generosity and love of liberty shaped Ireland. Through generations of immigrants, those values have helped shape America, and we are a better country for it. Today we also celebrate our common bonds and common purpose. From America's earliest days, our Nation has profited from the contributions of the men and women of Ireland. In fact, over two centuries ago, it was an Irish boy born in County Wexford, John Barry, who made vital contributions to America's independence and is recognized as one of the founders of the Department of Navy. Today, Ireland is supporting the coalition against terrorism, and we're proud of your support. You've frozen the assets of terrorists. You're helping respond to terror by leading the Security Council of the United Nations. For tens of millions of Americans, our ties with Ireland are family ties, and this number includes some very distinguished Americans. We're honored today to have with us Irish American firefighters who served our Nation so heroically on September the 11th. They represent the best of the United States when they displayed enormous strength and determination in the face of overwhelming tragedy. And I want to thank you all for coming. And I want to tell you what I told you before We remember your colleagues. We will not forget your colleagues who gave their lives trying to save the lives of others. Welcome to the White House. The people of Northern Ireland know the threat of terror. They know the value of peace. America is encouraged with the great strides that have been made in implementing the Good Friday Agreement. We see progress in the daily business of the Northern Ireland Assembly, in the new class of police recruits drawn from all communities in Northern Ireland, in the first act of decommissioning taken last fall, and in the North South Ministerial Council, which is promoting cooperation across the border in agriculture and transportation and other areas. The good citizens of Northern Ireland and the leaders here today have demonstrated a fierce determination The next generation must not grow up amid The Troubles. For all communities in Northern Ireland, there's only one future, and it must be a future of peace. Peacemaking can be hard work, like planting in hard soil, and as the Irish proverb tells us, "You'll never plow a field by turning it over in your mind." Important work remains, and the United States stands ready to do its part. As we gather here today to celebrate an old friendship and new hopes, let me open this reception with a blessing May the Irish hills caress you may her lakes and rivers bless you may the luck of the Irish enfold you may the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you. God bless Ireland, and God bless the United States of America. March 13, 2002 Taoiseach, thank you very much. Laura and I welcome you and Ms. Larkin here to the White House. I want to thank you for this fine gift to the people of the United States. I'm honored to accept it as a symbol of the strong and faithful friendship between our two nations. Ireland has given many gifts to America throughout our history. This very house was designed by an Irish immigrant, based on your own Leinster House in Dublin, and has since been occupied by more than a dozen Presidents of Irish descent. One of them, President John Kennedy, said on a visit to Ireland, "When my great grandfather left here to become a copper in east Boston, he carried nothing with him except two things, a strong religious faith and a strong desire for liberty." The Kennedys were among millions of immigrants who came to America with that same faith and the same love of freedom. As much as any other immigrant group, Irish Americans have shaped this country for the better. They have fought in our wars, like the five Sullivan brothers who died together on one day on one ship in World War II. They helped settle our territories, like David Crockett. They helped build our cities and to this day still embody the spirit of public service. When the rollcall when the roll was called of the policemen and firemen and emergency workers who died on September the 11th, it included many names like Donnelly and Duffy and Kelly and Sullivan. Tens of millions of Americans trace their lineage to Ireland, and so many came here in times of grief for a country they left behind. Today, we are glad to see a strong and free and rising Ireland with so much to offer its people and the entire world. The ties of family and values are adding ties of diplomacy and trade, with commerce between our nations quadrupling in just the last 7 years. September the 11th has reinforced these bonds of friendship. Ireland is a valued member of the international coalition against terrorism. Ireland has allowed American military planes to use its airports and has helped to rebuild Afghanistan. We appreciate your help in a just and vital cause. America stands with you in another cause, bringing security and stability to the people of Northern Ireland. We've seen great progress since we gathered here a year ago. Many challenges lie ahead, but I am so optimistic that by working together we can meet these challenges and help create a lasting peace. This morning we remember a good man who spread a gospel of peace. The greatest of Irish names, Saint Patrick, was brought to Ireland a slave and died there a saint. His courage and kindness helped to shape a great and noble culture. Americans are proud of our Irish influence, and we're grateful to our Irish friends. God bless. March 12, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much. Well, Chris, thank you very much. And thank you all for coming. I've been really looking forward to coming back to Philadelphia. After all, it was here that Benjamin Franklin set the stage for what it means to be a good volunteer. He started a university and started a library. He rallied people to help neighbors in need. So this is a good place to come and conduct a national dialog on the importance of people serving neighbors in need and the importance of people volunteering in their community. And I want to thank Chris so very much for agreeing to be a moderator, but also thank you for your service to the Philadelphia community. Sometimes when the President shows up, we get a pretty august crowd of elected officials here. I know the mayor is here somewhere. I want to thank the mayor for coming. Mr. Mayor, thank you for being here oh, yes. Senator Specter, Senator Santorum, Congressmen Borski and Greenwood, Congressmen Weldon and Hoeffel, thank you all for coming. I know the attorney general of the State of Pennsylvania is here as well. Welcome, Mike. It's good to see members of the mighty Pennsylvania congressional delegation, a fine lot. Laughter I know they understand the proper role of Government. And that is that Government can't make people love one another. I wish it could. I promise you, I'd sign the law laughter and they would all sponsor it. But we understand that Pennsylvania, like the other States in our Union, are full of compassionate people. And the job of Government is to serve as a catalyst to capture that compassion. And that's incredibly important as we fight this war on terror. You know, we've got a great military might in the United States, and I can't tell you how proud I am of our military. But another strength of the country is our compassion and our love for each other. You know, I want to thank the Big Brothers and Big Sisters who are represented here. I want to thank the Points of Light Foundation, the Network for Good. I want to thank Gloria Guard, who recently recently, I mean just like a couple of minutes ago laughter led me on the tour of her beautiful place, where homeless women and their children are loved and cared for and given training to succeed. What a successful program that's been. You know, if we'd have had hearings on that in Washington about how to make that program successful, they'd still be meeting laughter and will be meeting and would have been meeting for a decade. But there are social entrepreneurs in our society who help define America. And one of my jobs is to herald those social entrepreneurs and to thank them on behalf of all Americans. I believe out of this evil will come incredible good. And one of the good things that will happen is that Americans will ask the question about how I can help fight evil by doing something good. That's how I think we ought to do it. I think we ought to say that if you're interested in fighting evil, love a neighbor. If you're interested in doing something for your country, help somebody in need write a check give your time volunteer. Societies change one heart, one soul, one conscience at a time, and Government can hand out money, but it cannot put hope in people's hearts. And we're here to talk about how to put hope in people's hearts, because people love one another. One of the things I've asked the country to do is to think about 4,000 hours of public service, for the rest of your life or 2 years. That's not hard for some, I understand that. I bet you've already done that. Audience member. I think so. The President. Well, you've got another 4,000 to go. Laughter People that responded I mean, the response has been fantastic ever since my State of the Union, when I said, "Serve the country." Let me just give you an example 18,000 people have asked how to if they can join the Peace Corps. And we're going to talk about the Peace Corps in a minute. AmeriCorps is up by 50 percent. The Citizen Corps numbers are up. The Senior Corps number is up by 500 percent. In other words, Americans have been asked to respond, and they are. And for that, we're a grateful nation. Let me just talk about the USA Freedom Corps right quick. It's a chance for people to participate. It's an opportunity for people to join the AmeriCorps, which is a way to help strengthen community Senior Corps, which is a way to help strengthen community and or join in the fight against terror by being a part of a neighborhood watch program, for example. The Citizens Corps, as well, are to help reinforce the first responders in local communities. And of course, the Peace Corps is an opportunity to spread American values throughout the world. And if people are interested in joining the USA Freedom Corps, you can do so by calling 1 877 USA Corps or usafreedomcorps.gov on the Internet. But serving America doesn't have to go through USA Freedom Corps. It's just an opportunity. You can serve America all kinds of ways. You can do so through a faith based initiative. And one of the things we must do is get our Faith Based Initiative passed out of the United States Senate. It already has passed the House. You can do so through United Way agencies. And by the way, they're not mutually exclusive. And if you do, one of the things that I have asked our White House staff to put together is a booklet that would give you an opportunity to record your service. And if you're interested in picking up one of these, just dial up the web site. If you're interested in recording, not only for yourself but recording for your family or a child, perhaps, what you've done to make America a better place, this is a good go by. This is a good opportunity to bring a little discipline into your volunteer service. When I looked at this, I envisioned kind of an interesting diary that can be passed from one generation to the next. I can't think of anything more interesting than a mom or a dad volunteering, recording his or her thoughts, giving it to a child, who gives it to a grandchild. So somebody is sitting there reading about what it was like to live in the 21st century and how to help a neighborhood in need, for example, or how to help a person in need. I also want you to know that you can do the same thing through an online tracking system on the USA Freedom Corps web page. And as well I'm going to instruct the agencies Cabinets in my Government to figure out ways to reduce barriers for people to be able to get involved better in their communities. I mean, sometimes we've got a process oriented world. We ought to be a results oriented world. We ought to care less about rules and regulations and more about how we're helping people help themselves. And so I'm looking forward to my Cabinet officers reporting back, and when we find barriers, we'll do everything we can to prevent them from inhibiting the love that exists in the neighborhoods around our country. I believe that in order to live in a free society, you need to give something back. In order to make a society vibrant, all of us owe something to America. And one way to provide that is either through the military or through loving somebody and showing it through actual deeds. And I know that when you do so, I know that when you help a neighbor in need, it is a part of a complete life. It's a part of making sure that your life is not empty. It's a part of making sure that you are able to really understand the joys of a giving existence. And so thank you for coming by. Thank you for listening to an optimistic President. I am so optimistic about our future. Not only do I believe that we're going to have lasting peace when we achieve our objectives in the war against terror, but I know that afterwards and during this period of trauma for many Americans, this country's strength, its goodness and compassion will serve as a beacon for the rest of the world to see. God bless you. At this point, the discussion began. The President. You know, AmeriCorps has got 50,000 AmeriCorps ians. Laughter And we hope to have 75,000 at least the budget calls for an increase of 50 percent in AmeriCorps corps. Thank you for your example. Jennifer Cardy. Sure. I think that we need to get the word out to more youth. The President. You bet. Ms. Cardy. I think that youth is a real strength in our community. The President. Well, one way to do so is for people to see what joy you get in serving your community and how it's a part of a full life. I think people are becoming a little less materialistic in America now. One of the things the enemies thought we were totally materialistic, obviously. They made a terrible miscalculation about the will and might of the United States and our drive. But I think people are beginning to realize that there's more to life than just materialism. You're a living example. Thank you. The discussion continued. The President. Well, thanks, Ira. Let me ask you, what's the attitude? Give us a read. How is the at Pennsylvania, are the kids involved, interested, asking for ways to help, kind of complacent? Give us a feel. Ira Harkavy. Not complacent at all. In fact, young people come to Penn desiring to serve, and when they come to the university, they want to put their ideals into practice. So I think this is an extraordinary generation. We have to only give them the opportunity, and they will seize that opportunity in ways we could only dream of. So this generation, both pre college and in college, is a generation of extraordinary talent, idealism, and ability. And they want to serve. And I'm convinced they'll respond to your call. The President. Thanks, Ira. Thanks. I appreciate you. Thanks for coming. The discussion continued. The President. I told Stephanie earlier that reading is the new civil right. And so far you've heard three speakers talk about reading. And we've got to get it right. We've got to get this right. We've got, actually, a pretty good piece of legislation a really good piece of legislation, education legislation, a core component of which is to make sure that children learn how to read using, as Ira mentioned, a science of reading and what works. And so thank you very much for focusing on that. You're what I call a soldier in the armies of compassion. And it's pretty extraordinary that a social entrepreneur be so young. But I want to thank you for that very much. I bet one of the things you've learned is that by serving as an example, you stimulate others to serve as well. The discussion continued. The President. Thank you, Stephanie. Good luck love your spirit. Thank you. The discussion continued. The President. I appreciate you, Captain. Thank you very much. I'm glad the captain is here as a citizen soldier, because it serves as a reminder that we've got people who make the ultimate sacrifice, people who wear the uniform. We really are fighting for freedom and fighting for lasting peace. That's the key for, particularly, young Americans to understand, that this Nation didn't ask for war but that we'll be strong when it comes to the defense of values that we hold dear. And one of them is freedom of religion or freedom to vote or freedom to express your opinion. We're fighting evil people who cannot stand freedom. And sacrifice is beginning to become apparent to many who never thought they would have to sacrifice. There is a new culture evolving in the country to the benefit, I might add, of future generations and that is that there's something greater than yourself in life, and it's worth serving. Part of service is in the military part of service is on the streets part of service is loving people. And so I want to thank you for coming, Captain, and thank you for your service. The discussion continued. The President. Well, I appreciate you, Elaine. Elaine's got an extraordinary spirit. She's like the Energizer Bunny when it comes to helping people laughter perpetual motion. And first of all, let me mention something about the Peace Corps. If there are any people that are interested in spreading U.S. values around the world, the Peace Corps is a wonderful place to do so. You may share that some of that with us, if you don't mind, just a little bit of your experience. Somebody may be watching that wonders if the Peace Corps is worthwhile. Elaine Lander. The Peace Corps is worth every minute of it. I first decided I wanted to become a Peace Corps volunteer in third grade, when the motto was "Helping People Help Themselves." And when I graduated from college, I was fortunate I got accepted to the Peace Corps quickly. And it was the most amazing 2 years of my life. And I tell people that all the time. You're making a call for 4,000 hours of volunteer service or 2 years. That's just a fraction of one's life span, and it's worth every minute. The President. Our goal is to double the Peace Corps over 5 years. Our goal is as well to make sure we have the Peace Corps go to nations, particularly Muslim nations, that don't understand America. They don't understand our heart they don't understand our compassion they don't understand that we share the same values. I mean, listen, mom and dad love children in the Muslim world just like we do in America, and they've got to understand that, that there are some common beliefs that we share that will make and the Peace Corps is a good way to spread that message. Ms. Lander. Yes, I think some of us would like to say, for a lot of people, the world is a terribly big place, but for those of us that have served in the Peace Corps, it's a large planet made up of communities. The President. That's right. The other thing is, is that Elaine is involved in kind of a first responders program here in Philadelphia. We want people to become involved in the first responders initiative. We have a Citizen Corps set up just for that, that really will help communities deal with disaster if disaster were ever to come. And we're doing everything, by the way, to prevent disaster from ever happening again. But should they hit us again, we need to have a response plan. And Elaine is very much involved in that as part of her duties with the Red Cross. And I want to thank you for that as well. Thanks. Thanks for your love and your service. The discussion continued. The President. Well, I appreciate that. Thanks, Dick. I thank you for your service to the country. It's never too late, is it? First of all, you need to know that here in southeast Pennsylvania, because of the United Way, there's what's called a Volunteer Center. Chris, I want to thank you for running that. It's a place to help people find a way to volunteer. If you're interested, USA Freedom Corps doesn't suit your needs, the United Way Volunteer Center is also a good opportunity. They help train they show you the way they give you opportunities to they show you where the needs are. And I want to thank you for that. As well, we've got people here from the Corporation for National and Community Service. Steve Goldsmith, my friend, who's the former mayor of Indianapolis, is with us, as well as Les Lenkowsky. Thank you all for coming. I appreciate you being here. I hope what America gets to see as a result of this dialog is the fact that there are people in our country who understand that a culture of responsibility requires responsible behavior. It requires people not only to take care of their own by loving your children but also requires people to love a neighbor like they'd like to be loved themselves. We have living examples of people on the leading edge of ushering in a culture of personal responsibility. I want to thank you all for sharing your message with us. It is Philadelphia is better off as a result of your daily concern for your fellow human beings. America is strong. We won't relent. We won't relent in the face of evil. And we will win. We will win. We'll win hearts and souls and minds. This country has got a fabulous future ahead of it, because the strength of the country is not in the halls of our Government but in the hearts and souls of our citizens. Thank you for coming. March 12, 2002 The President. Thank you all. I am here because I am most interested in making sure Denny Hastert remains Speaker of the House. It's in the Nation's interest that he remain Speaker of the House. And there's a reason why. First, he's a high quality person. I don't know if you all know this, but he was a wrestling coach at one time. He's the perfect Speaker. Laughter He's a steady man he's a joy to work with. I trust him I trust his judgment. I really appreciate his can do spirit. Denny's the kind of person that comes in the Oval Office and asks the question, "How can we get something done on behalf of the American people?" And I appreciate that attitude a lot. You know, some folks up here are looking for a fight. Denny's a guy looking for results. And the record speaks pretty clearly. I remember first coming up here, and I told Denny that we've got to work together to get a tax cut for the American people. He said, "You bet." And as a result of his leadership, we got a tax cut for the American people, right at the right time. History will judge that the tax cut was timely. It's a pretty simple theory, but one that works, and that is if the economy is slowing down, like it was, if you give people their own money back, that creates demand. And demand creates production, and production equals jobs. And as a result of Denny's leadership, we passed important economic relief, called tax relief. Some of them up here must be reading a different economics textbook than Denny and I are. There's a for a while, they were talking about either stopping the tax relief, which I view as a tax increase. You never raise taxes in the midst of a recession, and Denny understands that, and I appreciate that. We worked together on a really good education bill. We had some photos taken earlier, and one lady came through, said she was a teacher. I want to tell her and I want to tell everybody else that education has got to be one of the top domestic priorities, regardless of political party. And as a result of working closely together, we passed a substantial piece of education reform. It is really good legislation. It is one that sets high standards, that refuses to accept mediocrity for any child, that challenges a system that quits on children early and just moves them through. That's not going to happen in America anymore, as far as we're concerned. We say we'll fund education we'll focus money on where the needs are most, particularly amongst poor the poor. But we expect everybody to learn. Not only do we expect everybody to learn, we firmly believe everybody can learn. We've got a great reading initiative as a part of this bill. Denny understands what I know, that reading is the new civil right. If you can't read, you're going to be left behind. And we were deadly serious when we said no child will be left behind in America, and it starts with making sure every child learns to read. We're on a mission here in America to achieve that objective. It, of course, trusts the local people I mean, lest you think I forgot where I came from. I trust the Governors and the local school districts more than I trust people in Washington, DC, about educating children. So not only did we set high standards, we passed power out of Washington, DC. One size doesn't fit all. And if we expect to achieve excellence, we've got to trust local folks. And that's exactly the spirit of this bill. As well, Denny understands the need to stimulate our economy even further. On the one hand, we want to make sure those whose lives were adversely affected on 9 11 receive help. But people in America don't want an unemployment check they want a permanent paycheck. And therefore, as a result of his steadfast leadership, I had the honor of signing a economic stimulus package last Saturday in the Rose Garden, a package that not only helps workers but provides incentive for people to develop plant and equipment, which means jobs. In other words, Denny understood what I understood Jobs is the center of any good economic development plan. And Mr. Speaker, thanks to your steadfast leadership, I was able to sign a very good economic stimulus bill. He's the kind of fellow that doesn't say much, which is unusual here in Washington. Laughter He lets results speak for themselves. History is going to show as well, we had a substantial legislative session in the House. As you know, as a result of the Speaker's leadership, we took a giant stride for improving our energy situation here in America. On the one hand, we encouraged more conservation and the development and modernization of our infrastructure, but on the other hand, we understand we've got to find more oil and gas in an environmentally friendly way here in America. The energy bill that passed the House was a really good piece of legislation. It is in our national security that we become less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil, and Denny Hastert understood that. As well, we passed a good trade bill out of the House of Representatives. It's a bill that has got confidence in the productivity of American farmers and American workers. It says that if you're confident, you open up markets. If you're confident, you encourage trade as opposed to protectionism. And thanks to the Speaker's leadership, we got trade promotion authority out of the House of Representatives. Thanks to the Speaker's leadership, we're focusing on research and development and at the same time send a firm, clear message We will ban cloning in America. Thanks to the Speaker's leadership, we passed a Faith Based Initiative which recognizes that there are some in our society who hurt badly hurt and that the next step of good welfare reform is to rally the armies of compassion all across America, to encourage faith based programs to help people who have got significant needs in our society. The last four pieces of legislation energy, trade, cloning, as well as Faith Based Initiative passed the House, but they haven't gotten out of the Senate yet. Denny Hastert is a can do leader that focuses not on the political parties but focuses on what's best for America. And it's good for our country that he's the Speaker of the House of Representatives. I submitted a budget that recognizes our Nation is in a long struggle for freedom, and Denny understands that. He understands that my most important job and as a significant leader, his most important job is to make sure the enemy doesn't attack America again, that our most important job is to protect innocent life here in our country. We've got a great homeland defense strategy that the Speaker and I have been working on, as well as working with Tom Ridge. But I want to assure you all that I know this fact, that the best way to secure the homeland is to find the enemy, wherever he tries to hide, and bring them to justice. And that's precisely what we're going to do here in America. I gave a speech the other day, and I talked about the fact that we've accomplished the first stage of our mission, and that is, we liberated a country from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. We unleashed our mighty military, along with coalition forces, and we routed out the Taliban. I can't tell you how proud I am I'm so proud of our military, men and women who are making huge sacrifices on behalf of freedom and that have not let us down. We're now in another phase of this war, which is to deny the enemy, the Al Qaida and any other affiliated terrorist group, any sanctuary anywhere in the world. We want them on the run. We want them to be treated like the international terrorists and international criminals that they are. And therefore, our policy not only continues to focus on Afghanistan we have just finished or are in the midst of wrapping up a significant battle in Afghanistan where we have achieved a mighty victory. We've lost life, and for those lives we mourn. And I hope those family members understand that the lost life was for a giant cause, and that is the freedoms we hold dear. But we're not through in Afghanistan. Anytime we find Al Qaida or like minded killers bunched up, we're going to get them. We'll be steady we'll be relentless we'll be resolved we will not blink. I will continue to lead this coalition. History has called us into action, and we're not going to miss this opportunity to make the world more peaceful. And so whether it be in Afghanistan or in Yemen or in the Philippines, perhaps in Georgia, this mighty Nation will use our resources to deny sanctuary to anybody who thinks they can harm the United States of America or our friends or our allies. And there is a large cause at hand, as well, and Denny understands this. This great Nation must never allow the world's most dangerous regimes to develop the world's most dangerous weapons and hook up with terrorist organizations. Audience member. That's right. The President. As you know, I made that pretty clear to the world. I will continue to make that clear. This Nation must speak clearly and strongly for universal values. We must never waver in our love for freedom. We must never waver in our disdain for those who use murder to achieve political ends. And so long as I'm the President, I promise you I will be steadfast and strong in the face of evil. And the good thing about America is that the Nation understands this. We're a united nation. We're bound together, regardless of political party or where we live, by this common love for freedom. And America understands the stakes, and they recognize that history has called us into action. And for that I am most grateful to the American people. It is such an honor to be the President of such a great land. As well, American people are beginning to show the world that we're a compassionate nation as well, that we're a kind and decent people. We're tough on the battlefield we're really tough. But also at home, neighbors love neighbors more than ever before. And I like to remind my fellow citizens that if you're interested in joining the war against terror, love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. You see, it's the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and decency that define our country and allow me to say that good stands squarely in the face of evil. We're a good people. We're a strong people. We're a resolute people. And we're a people who will not be deterred in our desire to not only protect our homeland but to make the world more peaceful for generations to come. It is an honor to be here with a great man, the Speaker of the House, and it is an honor to be the President of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. God bless. March 11, 2002 The President. Welcome. We're about to unveil a stamp. It's an extraordinary piece of work. I want to thank the photographer here, and I want to thank Gary Ackerman for sponsoring it. This stamp will sell for 45 cents 11 cents, obviously, more than the current price of a stamp. Eight cents will go to a victims fund to help those family members who are struggling in the aftermath of 9 11. It is a it's a good gesture by the Postal Service. The Postmaster General is here, and I want to thank you for that very much. Postmaster General John E. Potter. Thank you, Mr. President. The President. The three officers are here, and they're on the stamp. And I appreciate you all allowing your allowing the Postal Service to use you as a way to help our Nation remember the terrible incident that took place 6 months ago and help people get their lives back in order. And so it's with pleasure that we reveal the stamp. At this point, the stamp was unveiled. The President. Fabulous, good job, really good job. March 11, 2002 Diplomatic representatives of the coalition of nations Members of the Congress, the Cabinet, the Supreme Court members of the American Armed Forces military coalition members from around the world distinguished guests and ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the White House. We have come together to mark a terrible day, to reaffirm a just and vital cause, and to thank the many nations that share our resolve and will share our common victory. Six months separate us from September the 11th. Yet, for the families of the lost, each day brings new pain each day requires new courage. Your grace and strength have been an example to our Nation. America will not forget the lives that were taken and the justice their death requires. We face an enemy of ruthless ambition, unconstrained by law or morality. The terrorists despise other religions and have defiled their own. And they are determined to expand the scale and scope of their murder. The terror that targeted New York and Washington could next strike any center of civilization. Against such an enemy, there is no immunity, and there can be no neutrality. Many nations and many families have lived in the shadows of terrorism for decades, enduring years of mindless and merciless killing. September the 11th was not the beginning of global terror, but it was the beginning of the world's concerted response. History will know that day not only as a day of tragedy but as a day of decision when the civilized world was stirred to anger and to action. And the terrorists will remember September 11th as the day their reckoning began. A mighty coalition of civilized nations is now defending our common security. Terrorist assets have been frozen. Terrorist front groups have been exposed. A terrorist regime has been toppled from power. Terrorist plots have been unraveled from Spain to Singapore. And thousands of terrorists have been brought to justice, are in prison, or are running for fear of their lives. With us today are representatives from many of our partners in this great work, and we're proud to display their flags at the White House this morning. From the contributions these nations have made some well known, others not I am honored to extend the deepest gratitude of the people of the United States. The power and vitality of our coalition have been proven in Afghanistan. More than half of the forces now assisting the heroic Afghan fighters or providing security in Kabul are from countries other than the United States. There are many examples of commitment. Our good ally France has deployed nearly one fourth of its navy to support Operation Enduring Freedom, and Great Britain has sent its largest naval task force in 20 years. British and American special operations forces have fought beside teams from Australia and Canada, Norway, Denmark, and Germany. In total, 17 nations have forces deployed in the region. And we could not have done our work without critical support from countries, particularly, like Pakistan and Uzbekistan. Japanese destroyers are refueling coalition ships in the Indian Ocean. The Turkish air force has refueled American planes. Afghans are receiving treatment in hospitals built by Russians, Jordanians, Spanish, and have received supplies and help from South Korea. Nations in our coalition have shared in the responsibilities and sacrifices of our cause. On the day before September the 11th, I met with Prime Minister John Howard of Australia, who spoke of the common beliefs and shared affection of our two countries. We could not have known that bond was about to be proven again in war, and we could not have known its human cost. Last month, Sergeant Andrew Russell of the Australian Special Air Service died in Afghanistan. He left behind his wife, Kylie, and their daughter, Leisa, just 11 days old. Friends said of Sergeant Russell, "You could rely on him never to let you down." This young man and many like him have not let us down. Each life taken from us is a terrible loss. We have lost young people from Germany and Denmark and Afghanistan and America. We mourn each one. And for their bravery in a noble cause, we honor them. Part of that cause was to liberate the Afghan people from terrorist occupation, and we did so. Next week, the schools reopen in Afghanistan. They will be open to all, and many young girls will go to school for the first time in their young lives. Afghanistan has many difficult challenges ahead, and yet we've averted mass starvation, begun clearing minefields, rebuilding roads, and improving health care. In Kabul, a friendly government is now an essential member of the coalition against terror. Now that the Taliban are gone and Al Qaida has lost its home base for terrorism, we have entered the second stage of the war on terror, a sustained campaign to deny sanctuary to terrorists who would threaten our citizens from anywhere in the world. In Afghanistan, hundreds of trained killers are now dead. Many have been captured. Others are still on the run, hoping to strike again. These terrorist fighters are the most committed, the most dangerous, and the least likely to surrender. They are trying to regroup, and we'll stop them. For 5 months in Afghanistan, our coalition has been patient and relentless, and more patience and more courage will be required. We're fighting a fierce battle in the Shahi Kot Mountains, and we're winning. Yet, it will not be the last battle in Afghanistan. And there will be other battles beyond that nation. For terrorists fleeing Afghanistan, for any terrorist looking for a base of operations, there must be no refuge, no safe haven. By driving terrorists from place to place, we disrupt the planning and training for further attacks on America and the civilized world. Every terrorist must be made to live as an international fugitive, with no place to settle or organize, no place to hide, no governments to hide behind, and not even a safe place to sleep. I have set a clear policy in the second stage of the war on terror. America encourages and expects governments everywhere to help remove the terrorist parasites that threaten their own countries and peace of the world. If governments need training or resources to meet this commitment, America will help. We are helping right now in the Philippines, where terrorists with links to Al Qaida are trying to seize the southern part of the country to establish a militant regime. They are oppressing local peoples, and they have kidnaped both American and Filipino citizens. America has sent more than 500 troops to train Philippine forces. We stand with President Arroyo, who is courageously opposing the threat of terror. In the Republic of Georgia, terrorists working closely with Al Qaida operate in the Pankisi Gorge near the Russian border. At President Shevardnadze's request, the United States is planning to send up to 150 military trainers to prepare Georgian soldiers to reestablish control in this lawless region. This temporary assistance serves the interests of both our countries. In Yemen, we are working to avert the possibility of another Afghanistan. Many Al Qaida recruits come from near the Yemen Saudi Arabian border, and Al Qaida may try to reconstitute itself in the remote corners of that region. President Salih has assured me that he is committed to confronting this danger. We will help Yemeni forces with both training and equipment to prevent that land from becoming a haven for terrorists. In the current stage of the war, our coalition is opposing not a nation but a network. Victory will come over time, as that network is patiently and steadily dismantled. This will require international cooperation on a number of fronts, diplomatic, financial, and military. We will not send the American troops to every battle, but America will actively prepare other nations for the battles ahead. This mission will end when the work is finished when terror networks of global reach have been defeated. The havens and training camps of terror are a threat to our lives and to our way of life, and they will be destroyed. At the same time, every nation in our coalition must take seriously the growing threat of terror on a catastrophic scale, terror armed with biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons. America is now consulting with friends and allies about this greatest of dangers, and we're determined to confront it. Here is what we already know. Some states that sponsor terror are seeking or already possess weapons of mass destruction. Terrorist groups are hungry for these weapons and would use them without a hint of conscience. And we know that these weapons, in the hands of terrorists, would unleash blackmail and genocide and chaos. These facts cannot be denied and must be confronted. In preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction, there is no margin for error and no chance to learn from mistakes. Our coalition must act deliberately, but inaction is not an option. Men with no respect for life must never be allowed to control the ultimate instruments of death. Gathered here today, we are 6 months along, a short time in a long struggle. And our war on terror will be judged by its finish, not by its start. More dangers and sacrifices lie ahead. Yet, America is prepared. Our resolve has only grown, because we remember. We remember the horror and heroism of that morning, the death of children on a field trip, the resistance of passengers on a doomed airplane, the courage of rescuers who died with strangers they were trying to save. And we remember the video images of terrorists who laughed at our loss. Every civilized nation has a part in this struggle because every civilized nation has a stake in its outcome. There can be no peace in a world where differences and grievances become an excuse to target the innocent for murder. In fighting terror, we fight for the conditions that will make lasting peace possible. We fight for lawful change against chaotic violence, for human choice against coercion and cruelty, and for the dignity and goodness of every life. Every nation should know that for America, the war on terror is not just a policy it's a pledge. I will not relent in this struggle for the freedom and security of my country and the civilized world. And we'll succeed. There will be a day when the organized threat against America, our friends, and allies is broken. And when the terrorists are disrupted and scattered and discredited, many old conflicts will appear in a new light, without the constant fear and cycle of bitterness that terrorists spread with their violence. We will see then that the old and serious disputes can be settled within the bounds of reason and good will and mutual security. I see a peaceful world beyond the war on terror, and with courage and unity, we are building that world together. Any nation that makes an unequivocal commitment against terror can join this cause. Every nation of good will is welcome. And together, we will face the peril of our moment and seize the promise of our times. May God bless our coalition. March 09, 2002 Good morning. I'm speaking to you live from the Rose Garden, where I'm about to sign legislation that will give short term help to workers who have lost their jobs and provides long term stimulus to create more jobs across our country. I want to thank the Vice President. I want to thank Speaker Hastert, Senator Daschle, Senator Lott, Members of the Congress for joining me today as I sign this important piece of legislation. Many contributed to the success of this bill, but none more than the Speaker, and Chairman Bill Thomas. Also here today are working men and women, small business people who make this economy run. We're seeing some encouraging signs in the economy, but we can't stand by and simply hope for continued recovery. We must work for it. We must make sure that our recovery continues and gains momentum. We want a recovery that is broad enough and strong enough to provide jobs for all our citizens. The terrorist attacks of September the 11th were also an attack on our economy, and a lot of people lost their jobs. Since then, many laid off workers have been relying on unemployment benefits, which normally end after 26 weeks. The bill I sign this morning will allow the extension of jobless benefits by another 13 weeks, and even longer in States with high unemployment rates. This will allow those who lost their jobs in the recession or in the aftermath of the September the 11th attacks more time to pay their bills and support their families while they look for work. And in order for people to find jobs, businesses need to be hiring. So this new law will provide tax incentives for companies to expand and create jobs by investing in plant and equipment. This measure will mean more job opportunities for workers in every part of our country, especially in manufacturing and in high tech and for those who work for small businesses. This bill will also stimulate economic growth by extending net operating loss rules and by granting some alternative minimum tax relief. The city of New York suffered a great tragedy on September the 11th and still faces major economic consequences. The bill I sign into law today provides over 5 billion in tax relief to aid in the recovery of lower Manhattan by helping businesses to get back on their feet so they can start hiring again. The people of New York have shown great courage, perseverance, and America stands with them. This Monday marks 6 months since the attack on America. For the families of the victims, these have been 6 months of sorrow, and America will never forget their loss. In our war on terror, these have been 6 months of determined action. We have destroyed terrorist camps. We've disrupted terrorist finances. We've toppled a terrorist regime and brought thousands of terrorists to justice. We are strengthening our Nation's defenses against attack. And today we are acting to help workers. We're acting to create jobs, and we're acting to strengthen our economy. Thank you all for coming, and it is now my honor to sign this important piece of legislation. March 08, 2002 The President. I want to thank Mike and the good folks here at America II for welcoming me and Jeb and members of the Florida congressional delegation. We've just had a fantastic discussion about why this is a unique company. It's unique because it has got a culture that understands that the worker is an incredibly important part of the vitality of the company and therefore its success. I'm real proud of Mike. Mike started this company in 1989. He had a dream. He worked hard to achieve it. He's wise enough to understand that he's only as successful as the good folks who work with him. And so it's an honor to be here. In the room, I'm going to talk about the opportunities for this country to usher in a period of responsibility. Part of a responsible society is for there to be a responsible attitude for corporate management toward employees and shareholders and disclosure, if you're a publicly traded company. America II is really the best of the best here in America, and I want to thank you for letting me come, Mike. And I want to thank you all very much for sharing. I'll answer a couple of questions here. Aftermath of September 11 Q. Mr. President, when you looked down on the ruins of the Pentagon on September 11th, didn't you, in your heart of hearts, expect that by the time you celebrated the sixth anniversary, that you would know where bin Laden was and where Omar was? The President. No. You know, I knew that we were in for a very different kind of war. And on 9 12 and the days following, when we put the war plan in place, I wasn't sure how long this was going to take. I knew we were in for a long struggle, though. And I never had any artificial deadlines. The good news is, the American people also understand we're in for a long war and that, when it comes to defending freedom, we'll take however long it takes to defend our freedom. A little later on here, I'll have the privilege of meeting a mom and a dad of a soldier who just died in Afghanistan. And I'm going to remind them that those lives were not lost in vain and that we will fight terror wherever terror exists. I will tell you, I am pleased at the progress we have made in a quick period of time. Six months is not a very long period of time when you think about the enemy we fight. We've made tremendous progress, thanks in part to the coalition and thanks in part to the brave men and women who wear our uniform. And I am grateful, and so is the Nation grateful. Those who are preoccupied with one individual do not understand the struggle. We fight terror wherever terror exists. And for those people who say, "Well, one person matters," they elevate that person to a status that he does not deserve. I don't know whether Mr. bin Laden is alive or is dead. I do know we haven't heard from him in a long period of time. National Economy Stimulus Package Q. Sir, employment grew for the first time in 7 months. Is the economy now out of the woods? And the Senate has passed your stimulus plan your reaction, sir? The President. Well, first, I am glad the Senate passed the stimulus plan. I think it's going to be really good for workers whose lives have been affected as a result of 9 11. And it's good for entrepreneurs and businessowners because it encourages investment, it encourages employment. And the best stimulus plan is one that focuses on jobs. And I applaud the House that stayed with this, and I'm glad the Senate finally passed it. I look forward to signing it. It is a good piece of news for workers and entrepreneurs alike. Look, Steve Steve Holland, Reuters , in terms of the numbers, there's going to be a lot of statistics thrown around about our economy. But let me tell you bluntly how I feel. People's lives were deeply affected on September the 11th. A lot of people got hurt as a result of that attack, and I'm concerned about it. I'm concerned about anybody who's not working and wants to work, and so we'll let the numbers talk. But in terms of policy and the focus of this administration, we're going to do everything we can to increase jobs so people can find work. One of the reasons we came here is Mike, in the midst of a significant downturn in his business, laid nobody off. There wasn't one layoff at America II. If he was well, you know, what about the numbers? Well, the numbers here show that he was in a big slowdown. Sales dropped by 40 percent. And yet, he understood his responsibility as a decent citizen, and nobody got laid off. And I'm real proud of that, Mike, and I want to thank you for it. And it's the kind of thing, by the way, that workers years from now in America II are going to remember, that in the midst of this unbelievable, despicable act of evil on America that affected our economy I don't care what the number crunchers say it affected our economy and it affected a lot of people's lives this man understood the importance of the workforce and kept people employed here. Anything else? Florida Gubernatorial Election Q. Mr. President? The President. Who are you with? Q. St. Petersburg Times. Anything to say to Janet Reno, who's tooling around on the other side of the bay? Laughter The President. Pardon me? Q. Anything to say about Janet Reno, who's campaigning on the other side of the bay today against your brother? The President. No, I don't have anything to say. All I've got to know is, the people of Florida have got a really good Governor. They would be wise to keep him. Laughter Operation Anaconda Q. Mr. President, the battle going on outside of Gardez there's some rumors now from the Afghan our Afghan allies that there may be some real top leadership, maybe even bin Laden up there. What do you know about that? The President. I don't know of any specific names, John John Dickerson, TIME . I do know we're making great progress. I do know that anytime we find Al Qaida bunched up like that, we'll get them. And it's going to be there's going to be more battles like this one, and American people just need to understand that the best way to secure a homeland is to bring them to justice and to get them. And that's exactly what's happening as we speak. Our military is tough. Our coalition is strong. And by the way, we're fighting fierce fighters. These people evidently don't they don't want to give up. And that's okay. If that's their attitude, we'll just have to adjust, and they will have made a mistake, because we're going to be relentless and we're steady and we're supporting our military and they'll have the tools necessary to achieve victory. But as of specific names, I don't know. Look, here's the thing. We're fighting leaders of the murderers that sent people to commit suicide missions. They're real brave. They say, "You go ahead and commit suicide. I'm going to find a cave. We'll send youngsters to their death. In the meantime, I'm going to try to find a deep cave somewhere." And so when you fight people like that, you never know. You know, we've closed up a lot of caves in Afghanistan, and one of these days, you know, we might find some people still in there. But I just don't know, nor am I that focused on it individually. I realize we're in for a long struggle. And I'm giving a speech on Monday that will outline where we are in this war on terror. And I'm going to remind the American people that we've still got a task at hand in Afghanistan, which is to deny sanctuary to Al Qaida killers. We have achieved a significant victory in Afghanistan by routing the Taliban. I'm also going to remind people that we're denying sanctuary in other countries as well. I don't want to give you the whole speech I'd like for you to come and listen to it. Laughter Thank you. March 08, 2002 The President. Thank you all. Well, thank you all for coming out to say hello to me and my little brother. Laughter I sure hope you work hard to get him back in. He has done a fabulous job. You know, when you've got somebody who brings honor and integrity and works hard and loves the people and does in office what he said he's going to do, you need to send him back in. So thank you for getting ready to work. Thank you for getting ready to work. Grassroots politics means a lot. Audience member. We love you both. Laughter The President. Thank you. Sounds like you've been talking to our mother. Laughter I think she still loves us. I know she's telling us what to do all the time. Laughter Jeb listens about half the time. I listen all the time, of course. Laughter It's great to be in Pinellas County. You know, I was flying down today with Chairman Young. He said, "It's about time you came to Pinellas." I said, "Well, it's about time you invited me, Mr. Chairman." Laughter But I'm proud of Bill Young. I hope you're proud of Bill Young. He's doing a fabulous job. He's a good man. He's a good man in the right position. And Mr. Mayor, thank you for coming, too. The mayor of St. Petersburg is here. I'm honored you're here, Mr. Mayor. I don't know if any of the other Congressmen that came down with us are here. Audience member. Inaudible The President. There he is. Miller, Bilirakis of course he's here. What am I thinking? What am I thinking? Where's Red? There he is. Adam Putnam, he's here. Miller, Dan Miller is here. Listen, there are some fine Members of the United States Congress from Florida. You need to get them back in, too. Miller is not running again, I'm sorry to say, but nevertheless, we've got to make sure his seat stays Republican, and these other three need to come back, along with the chairman. Listen, we're making a big difference up there. And one of the reasons why is, we've got a Republican Speaker, and we want to make sure we have a Republican Speaker after the off year elections. I told Jeb, I'll do anything he wants me to do to get him elected. If he wants me down here, I'm coming back. It's important for the State of Florida. Jeb said, "Well, it'll help me." Nuh uh, it's going to help the people of Florida. You see, you've got a man here who cares deeply about making sure the school system works and that no child in Florida is left behind. It is essential that you have a Governor who knows how to lead on education. It is by far the most important issue that a Governor can deal with, is educating the children. And Jeb, as a result of his program and as a result of the help you're giving his program, is making a huge difference in the very future of the State of Florida. Florida has got her challenges, and it's good to have a good, steady man at the helm, a person, by the way, who makes his mind up not based upon polls or what some focus group might say, but a person who makes up his mind based upon principles. Jeb is a principled man. And he's not going to blink in the face of tough times, and neither am I. And we've got some tough times ahead of us in America. We've got some tough times. We're fighting for freedom. We're defending the very values that we hold dear. We got attacked by some murderers, people and I like to remind people, they must have not known who they were attacking. They thought we were soft. They thought we were self absorbed. They thought we were so materialistic that we would maybe try to sue them laughter that we wouldn't deal with them. But they made a big mistake. I told the world that either you're with us, or you're against us, and there's no in between. And most of the world is with us. And I'm proud to say our coalition is strong, because people understand the value of freedom, the freedom to worship the way you like to worship, the freedom to vote, the freedom to express your opinion without fear of reprisal, the freedom to risk capital and realize your entrepreneurial dream. Well, listen, we hold freedom dear, and we will defend it at all costs. I also said that if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed one, if you think they can hide in your land, you're just as guilty as the terrorist, and the Taliban found out exactly what we meant. They are no longer in power, thank goodness. And the people who appreciate that fact the most are women and children in Afghanistan. We seek justice, not revenge, and we're liberators, not conquerors. Our mighty military, along with other coalition forces, routed out the Taliban and liberated people from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. I cannot tell you how proud I am of the will of the American people and the strength of the United States military. I have said from the beginning of this war that this is going to be a long, difficult struggle. And it is. Today Jeb and I had the honor of meeting a mom and dad whose son was recently killed in the battle that rages in Afghanistan. It broke my heart to see her sadness. I was touched by her grief. But I assured her, like I assure you, that this cause is noble this cause is just. And our country will not relent we will not tire we will not falter until we have routed out terror from its very roots and held people accountable for those who would want to hurt America. History has called us into action. History has called this great land to lead, and we will lead. And the good news is, the world sees how strong the American people are and how united we are and how convinced we are of the rightness of our cause. I have submitted a budget that is the largest defense spending increase in 20 years. I did so because of my conviction, a conviction supported by Chairman Young, that our military deserves the best equipment, the best training, a pay increase. If we send the men and women in uniform into harm's way, our Government must stand strongly with them in the fight for freedom. Thank goodness the man from Pinellas County is in charge of the appropriations process, because he knows what I know. The price of freedom is high, but the price of freedom is never too high, as far as we're concerned. And by the way, the war against terror is bigger than any single individual. Oh, I know there are some always talking about this bin Laden fellow. But remember, he's the kind of fellow who he asks youngsters to go commit suicide, and he tries to bury inside a cave. We haven't heard from him in a long time. He's been kind of quiet for months. I don't know if he's alive I don't know if he's dead. But I know this If he is alive, there is no cave deep enough for the United States. We're going to find him. It doesn't matter whether he was brought to justice a month ago or years from now. What matters is the resolve of the American people to rout out terror. And what matters is, as well, is we're not going to let nations develop the worst kinds of weapons and hook up with terrorist organizations so that future generations of Americans will be held hostage to people who resent our country and resent our way of freedom. The world's most dangerous weapons will not the world's most dangerous nations will not be allowed to develop, to keep the world's most dangerous weapons. We're doing everything we can to secure the homeland. My most important job is to protect the American people. Every morning I walk into the glorious Oval Office. I'm an early morning guy, so I get out there about get over there about 6 50, 7 o'clock in the morning. In comes Spot, the dog, with me. Laughter Spot was born at the White House when Mother and Dad were there, so she's kind of used to the surroundings. Laughter When I told them that, somebody said, "What about Barney, the Scottish terrier?" I said, "Well, we just bought a new rug." Laughter He's a little young for the Oval Office. And I read about the threats that face our country. The enemy is still out there. And I want you to know we're doing everything in our power. We're chasing down every lead. We're working with law enforcement officials. We're focused on hunting them down. Anybody who thinks they can come to our country to hunt them to hurt us, we're going to be after them. And we're on alert. And I'm proud of the American law enforcement officials, and I'm proud of our citizens. But I want to remind my fellow citizens, the best way to secure the homeland is to rout out terror wherever it exists and get them and bring them to justice. And so long as I'm the President, that's exactly what we're going to do. I want to thank you all, too, for standing strong on taxes. Now, as you know, our economy got roughed up as a result of 9 11, that we got hit pretty hard. You're going to hear the statisticians, the number crunchers, the bean counters, as we call them in Texas, say, "Well, this might have been a recession this might not have been a recession" this, that, and the other. Look, so long as somebody lost a job, I'm worried about it. That's enough to get my attention. And we need to make sure we focus on how to create jobs in our economy, and one way to do that is to let people keep their own money. One way to make sure that there's economic vitality is to let people keep their own money so that increases demand, which increases supply, which then helps people keep jobs. We cut the taxes last year, last June. We signed the tax bill. It was the absolute right thing to do at the right time in order to make sure our economy did not suffer economically. And as Jeb mentioned, sometimes people in the political process read the wrong economics textbook. When times are slow, they want to raise your taxes. Or when times are slow, they don't want tax relief to continue on. Well, when they do that, they get crossways with the Bush boys. Laughter We understand we understand that the money is not the Government's money it's the people's money. And finally, let me share with you my optimism about our country. This is such a fabulous nation. And people say, you know, they say, "How do you fight terror?" And I say you remind them that one way to stand in the face of evil is to do some good, and that's what's happening all across the country. We're a compassionate nation. We're a kind nation. We're a nation of faith, a nation of family. We're a nation where somebody walks across the street and says to a neighbor who's shut in, "What can I do to make your day brighter? How can I help you?" That's the America I know. As a result of the millions of acts of kindness and decency that take place on a regular day, America stands strong in the face of evil. Our collective front is formed by the compassion that Americans do to neighbors in need. And so my call to my fellow Americans is, love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. Mentor a child. Help somebody who needs help. Love somebody. Donate some money to a worthy cause. Go to your church or your synagogue or your mosque and start a faith based program that will help somebody defeat addiction. Remember, there are still people that hurt in our society, and we can help and we can help. There is the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness in America. And as a result of this evil, we're assessing ourselves. We're taking a good look at values that matter. America is on the verge of ushering in a new culture, one that says, "I'm responsible for the decisions I make in life," a culture that recognizes there's something a culture that recognizes serving something greater than yourself is a noble culture. Flight 93 helped define what I'm talking about. Young men and a lady on an airplane knew they were in danger. They were on their cell phones. They told their wives they loved them. They said a prayer, and they sacrificed for something greater than themselves. That's the America the world is beginning to see. That's the America I have the honor of leading. It is such a privilege to be your President. It is such a privilege to be the President of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. May God bless you all. March 08, 2002 Thank you for that warm welcome. I love to be introduced by my brother. Laughter I know I'm not supposed to say this, but he's doing a great job as Governor. He's really applause . I'm really proud of him, and it seems like a lot in Florida a lot of people here are proud of him too. But it's good to see you, Jeb. Thanks, and I hope you're still listening to Mother. Laughter For all of you out there who have got children, I want you to know that you can tell them the President said, listen to their mothers laughter because I'm still listening to ours laughter whether I want to or not. Laughter I'm so honored that we could come to America II. I was impressed by what I read on the briefing paper before I arrived at the company. I am doubly impressed, having talked to Mike and the people who work here, about the incredible culture that exists in this fine company, a culture that recognizes the worth of the people who work for the company. And Mike, I want to thank you for letting us come. One of my jobs is to remind people, the role of Government is not to create wealth but an environment in which the entrepreneurial spirit can flourish. Here's a guy that started off with 5 employees and no children laughter now has 4 children and 500 employees. Laughter And so I want to congratulate you all, and thanks for your hospitality. I also appreciate the members of the Florida congressional delegation for flying down today. We had really a good talk about issues that matter to our national security as well as issues that matter to Florida. Congressmen Bilirakis, Davis, Miller, Putnam, and the chairman, Congressman Bill Young, thank you all for coming. And I want to thank the mayor. Mr. Mayor, you did a fine job of getting America II prepared for just a little visit from the President. Laughter I want to spend a little time talking about the big challenges our Nation faces, starting with an unrelenting drive to defend our freedom. We were attacked by a ruthless enemy who must not have understood America. They must have thought we were soft and so incredibly materialistic and self absorbed that we would not find the will to fight and sacrifice for that which we hold dear. And they have made a huge miscalculation. In the beginning, I told the American people we were in for a long, difficult struggle, that I wasn't sure how long this was going to take. But I really wasn't concerned about the calendar. I'm concerned about our future. And I'm concerned about this Nation leading the world to rout out terror wherever it exists, so our children and grandchildren can live in freedom. That's our concern. I told the world that you're either with us, or you're against us. A lot of people are now with us. Laughter And it's important that we remain strong and determined and focused, to remind people that we're fighting for freedom, the right to worship freely, the right to express your opinion in the political process, the right for there to be a free press freedoms we hold dear. And these freedoms are not just American freedoms they're universal freedoms. And we must stand strong. I also said, if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the murderers who killed thousands in America. And the Taliban found out what I meant. The Taliban found out about what we meant by justice. The Taliban found out that we've got a fabulous military. And they found out that our military and our coalition were not conquerors we're liberators. We liberated the people from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind, people who refused to educate young girls, people who mistreated women. No, this great country of ours not only defends our freedom we liberate people so they can enjoy their own freedoms. I'm proud of the United States military. Next Monday will mark the sixth month, the date of 6 months from September the 11th. That's not a very long time. It seems like a long time for a lot of people, I know, but when we look back at history, 6 months is a pretty short period of time in the war against terror. And we've accomplished a lot, but there are still dangerous missions left ahead. You see, the Al Qaida killers trained thousands of people who hate America, who hate what we stand for, who resent our freedoms, who want to harm us still, who want to make sure that our alliance is weak. They're looking for soft spots to exploit, and we're not going to let them. We found a bunch of Al Qaida killers recently, bunched up in Afghanistan. And our military went after them, and we're making good progress. It is a sign of what's going to happen for a while. And my fellow Americans must understand that, that we'll be relentless and determined to do what is right. And we will take loss of life, and I'm sad for loss of life. And today we've got the mom and dad of a brave soldier who lost his life, and a brother. God bless you. Thank you all for coming. I know your heart aches, and we ache for you. But your son and your brother died for a noble and just cause. May God bless you. May God bless you. I hate it, to know that young soldiers are at risk. But I want to assure you and all those loved ones whose sons and daughters are at risk that not only is the cause just and important and noble, but our United States Government will provide the United States military with whatever it needs to win this war against terror. And I want to thank Chairman Young, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, for joining and supporting the budget I submitted to the United States Congress, which sets this priority The national defense of our country is the number one priority in this budget. We will give our soldiers the best material, the best supplies, the best training, another pay raise. The price of freedom is high, no doubt about it, but the price of freedom is never too high, as far as I'm concerned. My job is to protect the American people. It's the job of the American military, and I take that job really seriously. We've got a homeland defense strategy that's making the borders more secure, preparing for bioterrorism attack, a homeland security strategy that will work with first time responders, should we need them. We're on it, and I want you to know that our law enforcement officials are running down every possible lead, every hint. I mean, if we get a whiff of somebody fixing to do something to America, we're on them. We are doing everything we can. The Nation is on alert, as it should be, because there is still an enemy there. But I want to remind my fellow citizens, the best way to secure the homeland is to find the killers wherever they hide, wherever they try to flee, wherever they think they can find safe sanctuary. We're after them. We will not allow this Nation to be threatened. We will protect the homeland. We will defend freedom no matter what the cost. I'm proud of my fellow citizens. We're united. We are determined, and we are patient much to the chagrin of the enemy. And I'm proud of my fellow citizens when it comes to enduring some hardship at home as well. I mean, not only were we attacked, but the attacks of September the 11th hurt our economy. Now, you'll hear a lot of number crunching going on and people saying, "Well, you know, this was the number that was the number." Look, I don't care about the numbers. I know the facts, and people's lives were affected. People lost jobs. People were worried about their future. People were deeply concerned about what the terrorist attacks did to our economy. And so long as somebody can't find work who wants to work, I'm worried about it. And therefore, I'm going to stay focused on how best to create more jobs in America what can you do to do to help people find work? It's one thing to help people that are unemployed, and that's fine. Unemployment checks are good and important, but that's not what folks want in America. They want a permanent paycheck, and that ought to be the policy of this Government. And today the United States Senate passed a stimulus package, one that the House passed yesterday. That is a good piece of news for American workers and American entrepreneurs. I'm going to sign it as soon as it gets to my desk. The best kind of public policy is one where we don't play party politics but focus on what's right for the country. It's kind of hard to get them thinking that way up there, but nevertheless, we're making pretty good progress. And I think I think America is beginning to see that by changing the tone and by focusing on people and by heralding what we can do, as opposed to what we can't do, we're making progress in Washington, DC. This is a good piece of work by the House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House deserves a lot of credit. The Members of the House deserve a lot of credit for staying with this initiative. And I'm pleased the Senate has reacted and passed the bill, and now I'm going to sign it. It is good for America. But I also want to remind you that we took some action ahead of this. This is going to help as we go down in the out years. But when I traveled your State, I talked about the need for tax relief. I said that it's really important for our Government to understand the dynamics of economic growth, and when you let workers keep their own money, it gives them something to spend. And when they spend it, it encourages somebody to produce a product. And when somebody is encouraged to produce a product, that means jobs. We cut taxes at exactly the right time, and I can't tell you I'm going to mightily resist anybody who tries to undo the tax relief for the American people. Sometimes in Washington people get confused about whose money we're dealing with. They think it's the Government's money. No, it's the people's money. And the more you have of it in your pocket, the better off you will be and, therefore, our economy will be as well. I'm pleased to hear Mike's firsthand report about sales beginning to improve. I think that is good news. I'm pleased to see, you know, the unemployment figures today got better, and that's good news. But as far as I'm concerned, the economy is not strong enough. As far as I'm concerned, when people are looking for work and can't find it, I'm going to keep focused on jobs. I'm not going to let the numbers lull me to sleep. I want you all to know that out of this evil is going to come some good. It may be hard to realize it right now it's got to be. But out of evil will come good in America. I believe when we stay strong you know, so long as I'm the President, we're going to be after them, without blinking. If we remain steadfast and steady and determined and strong, the world will be a more peaceful place. Out of the evil will come some good. And at home, out of evil is coming some good. People are beginning to say take a new look at their life, take an assessment of what's important in life. There is a period of responsibility beginning to take hold here, and that begins that's twofold One, personal responsibility and one, corporate responsibility. I'm here because this is a company led by a man who understands corporate responsibility. They lose 40 percent of their sales and didn't lay off one citizen. Mike built a culture of respect. I felt it when I was talking to the employees. People respect each other. They love the idea that he's aligned authority and responsibility. He is a good corporate citizen, because he understands the responsibility that comes with leadership. All people involved in our capitalistic system must assume responsibility for leadership. In the publicly held corporations, the world of publicly held corporations, there are laws and regulations which hold people accountable. They need to be clear, and they need to be tough when people misuse the public trust. We've got thousands of citizens who own shares of publicly held companies, many in pension plans, mutual funds, a lot of them direct ownership. And this country must hold corporate CEOs CEOs of publicly held companies to the highest of high standards. I talked yesterday I want to review with you right quick what I believe we ought to do. First of all, anytime a chief executive officer of a publicly held company signs a financial statement, he is personally vouching he's personally saying the numbers are correct and accurate. And if one were to receive a bonus, any corporate officer receive a bonus and the numbers are misleading as a result of misconduct, the bonus needs to go back to the treasury on behalf of the shareholders. These guys should not be allowed to keep their bonuses. And if they get caught doing it, they ought never to be an officer of a publicly held corporation or a board member of a publicly held corporation again. They ought to be anytime an officer of a publicly held company sells stock, we ought to know within 2 days. We ought to know, "we" being shareholders and employees. There needs to be openness and transparency for the good of the capitalist system. And the auditors, those who analyze the numbers for publicly held companies, ought to be held to high standards as well. And they ought to make sure that we can have confidence in their numbers by making sure there are no conflicts of interest involved. In order to usher in a period of responsibility in America, a culture of responsibility, corporate America must be responsible, must make sure that there are no shenanigans or sleight of hands, must make sure there is an openness and disclosure about true liabilities and true assets. And if they don't, they must be held to account. And I believe Americans, as a result of taking an assessment of what's important in life, are ushering in a period of personal responsibility as well. I think I believe we're feeling a cultural shift, one from the days when it said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," to a period when each of us understands we're responsible for the decisions we make in life, that we're responsible for loving our children with all our heart and all our soul, and we are responsible for loving our neighbor just like we'd like to be loved ourself. Today we've got one such person with us. You know, I like to define America's compassionate citizens as soldiers in the armies of compassion. And we've got one such soldier here that I can recognize I'm sure there are many soldiers in the armies of compassion here with us and her name is Roxanne Hunt. She works for the City of Pinellas Park Police. Roxanne, do you mind standing up real quick? Applause Thank you, Roxanne. Without being asked or told, Roxanne has adopted a family for Christmas. Roxanne has fed the homeless. Roxanne has been involved in environmental cleanup activities here. Roxanne sponsored a bike rodeo, saved a little guy's life who was choking on a hot dog at least it wasn't a pretzel. Laughter Roxanne is a soldier in the armies of compassion, armies which exist in every community across America. People say to me, "What can I do to help? What can I do to fight in the war against terror?" And my answer is, do some good. You see, for every act of kindness, people are doing something to fight evil. If you're good to a neighbor in need, you stand firm in the face of evil. It's the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and compassion and decency which define the true face of America. They hit us. They thought we had quit. We're not going to quit. We're strong, and we're steady. They hit us, and out of this evil can come incredible good, as Americans show the world their compassion by loving a neighbor, by caring for somebody in need, by focusing on the values that matter, faith and family. I'm so proud to be the President of a country of such decent and caring and strong and people willing to sacrifice for a greater good. May God bless you all. May God bless America. March 07, 2002 Thank you, Secretary Evans, and thank you all very much. It's an honor to be back here. It's a pleasure to see so many students here today. I understand some of you took a tour of the White House. You must have behaved well, because I didn't hear the dogs barking. Laughter I hope you enjoyed being there as much as Laura and I enjoy being there. It's a fabulous place, the White House is. I'm so glad you were able to see it. I'm also pleased to be back to congratulate the award winners of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. I'm really pleased that school districts have been added. I want to commend the Baldrige Committee for including education. Secretary Rod Paige is here. Both of us believe so strongly that no child should be left behind. Both of us know the potential of the public school systems in America, and we want to thank and congratulate the school districts here that have set the highest of high standards not only at the secondary level but also at the high level of education. I was privileged to know Malcolm Baldrige. He was one of America's most distinguished Secretaries of Commerce, and what a fine and honorable man he was. The award that bears his name reflects the virtues that he brought to public service and how he lived in his private life, a commitment to excellence, shrewd judgment and sound judgment, principled leadership, integrity, and a sense of responsibility. Today's honorees have met a rigorous test and such a worthy example for others. And I know Malcolm would have approved of the winners. It's a great honor to be with Midge Baldrige again you're looking pretty darn good these days laughter and Letitia Baldrige as well. I know we've got some Members of the United States Congress here. I think Bill Jenkins from Tennessee is here. I know Connie Morella is here. Thank you for coming, Connie. I also appreciate Nancy Murkowski, the wife of Frank Murkowski. Nancy is committed to quality education in the State of Alaska, and I know you're as proud as I am for the winners who are here. And I always want to thank the U.S. Army Band for providing such wonderful music. I appreciate the fact that prior winners of the Baldrige Award are here. I think it's important for you to stay involved in the process. As you heard, some of the recipients also appreciate of you being here. And I want to welcome five more organizations to your ranks, the school districts, the University of Wisconsin Stout, as well as the fine symbols of entrepreneurial spirit in America, Pal's Sudden Service of Tennessee, and of course, Clarke American Checks, represented by some rowdy Texans. This is a high, high honor. I know you all understand what a big deal this is, having gone through the process. It is an important award, and I congratulate you all so very much. The award goes to organizations rather than any single individual, and that's important to note. As we've seen today, success happens in an atmosphere of teamwork, common values, and trust. An organization needs a good idea and a good product or a good service. It certainly needs a good strategic plan. But more than anything, it needs good people, men and women of integrity who understand their duties to each other and to the public interest. And this is true throughout our entire economy. The free enterprise system draws upon the best in people, creativity, ingenuity, energy, a desire to make life better for ourselves and for others. The whole design of free market capitalism depends upon free people acting responsibly. Business people must answer not just to the demands of the market or self interest but to the demands of conscience. The bottom line of the balance sheet defines a business' goal but not the sum of responsibilities of its leaders. Management should respect workers. A firm should be loyal to the community, mindful of the environment. In America, by far by far most businesses fulfill their responsibilities. They do not cut ethical corners or neglect workers or disregard community standards. A good business finds opportunities and makes the most of them, and a good business always respects the boundaries of right and wrong. In our country, the law defines many of these responsibilities, from workplace safety to environmental protection. For publicly held corporations the law goes further, defining standards of disclosure with independent certification by auditing firms. We have seen lately just how important these standards are and the harm that can follow when they are ignored. Exactly where the blame lies may take a long time to determine, and legal judgments are for regulators and for courts. But this much is clear To properly inform shareholders and the investing public, we must adopt better standards of disclosure and accounting practices for all of corporate America. The reason that a single bankruptcy can cause so much concern in America is that more Americans than ever have invested their money in public corporations. Today, about 80 million Americans own stock, either individually or through their pension plans. This is one of the causes for the expansion in personal wealth over the past 20 years. This has been an incredibly positive development for America. Stock ownership allows citizens from all walks of life to own a part of the economy and to share in its growth. The people who run public companies owe a special obligation to these investors, many of whom have put their savings and future security on the line. Corporate officers must perform their duty in good faith to the best of their abilities. They must disclose relevant facts to the investing public, and they must focus on the interests of shareholders, who are the real owners of any publicly held enterprise. I recognize that the basic rules of corporate law are made by the States, and that's as it should be. But Washington has responsibilities as well. The buying and selling of publicly held shares is regulated by the Federal Government. And today I call upon the Securities and Exchange Commission to take action. Existing regulations should be clearer. Penalties for wrongdoing should be tougher. Reform should improve investor confidence and help our economy to flourish and grow. It is important to provide sound regulation and remedies where needed, without inviting a rush of new lawsuits that exploit problems instead of solving them. Our goal is better rules so that conflict, suspicion, and broken faith can be avoided in the first place. Reform should begin with accountability, and reform should start at the top. The chief executive officer has a daily duty to oversee the entire enterprise, the entire firm, and therefore, bears a unique responsibility for serving shareholder interests. Currently, a CEO signs a nominal certification of annual financial statements and does so merely in his capacity on behalf of the company. In the future, the CEO's signature should also be his personal certification, vouching for the veracity and fairness of the financial disclosures. When he signs a statement, he's giving his word and should stand behind it. Oftentimes businesses base executive bonuses on financial statements. If, however, a financial statement turns out to be grossly inaccurate or the result of serious misconduct, those bonuses should be returned to the company's treasury on behalf of it's shareholders. Corporate officers should not be allowed to secretly trade their company's stock. Every time they buy or sell, they should be required to tell the public within 2 days. The Securities and Exchange Commission should be able to punish corporate leaders who clearly abuse their powers, by banning them from ever serving again as officers or directors of publicly held corporations. We must also do more to safeguard the rights of investors. America has the best system of corporate disclosure. Yet, the interests of the average investor are sometimes overlooked, especially the need for thorough and timely information about firm performance. And some corporations have used artful and intricate financial arrangements to hide the true risks of the investment. We need to get back to basic capitalism. In a system based on the willingness to take risks, investors need to know the true nature of the risks. The investor has the right to a true and fair picture of assets, liabilities, and income. Management has a good faith obligation to provide that information, attracting investment by building on strengths, not by clever concealment of weaknesses. And to further ensure that information is reliable, we will need reforms within the accounting profession. Auditors are a critical external check on management, and we must ensure that the integrity of their work is never compromised. Accounting is one of the most basic and one of the most respected professions in our country, and it can help protect its own integrity by developing and enforcing clearer standards of conduct. The profession also needs an independent regulatory board to hold accounting firms to the highest ethical standards. And the SEC should exercise more effective and broad oversight of accounting standards. The SEC should also do more to guard against conflicts of interest, requiring, for example, that an external auditor not be permitted to provide internal audits to the same client. And finally, auditors should do more than evaluate a company by minimum standards. Instead, the auditors should compare the company's financial controls to the best industry practices and give those findings to the audit committee. You know, we're passing through extraordinary times here in America. We fight a war a real war to protect our homeland by bringing terrorists to justice. We stand strong against evil abroad I mean, we are standing strong and determined and united against evil. We're finding strength at home through the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and generosity and goodness, neighbors helping neighbors, Americans adhering to the age old call to love someone just like you'd like to be loved yourself. America is ushering in a responsibility era, a culture regaining a sense of personal responsibility, where each of us understands we're responsible for the decisions we make in life. And this new culture must include a renewed sense of corporate responsibility. If you lead a corporation, you have a responsibility to serve your shareholders, to be honest with your employees. You have a responsibility to obey the law and to tell the truth. Business relationships, like all human relationships, are built on a foundation of integrity and trust. When those values are practiced and expected, our economy and our country are stronger. We're seeing some challenges and some changes in American business and American enterprise. Yet this annual presentation is a reminder of things that must never change, the passion for excellence, the drive to innovate, the hard work that goes with any successful enterprise, the need to be open, the call for integrity. This year's Baldrige Award winners have shown these qualities and have taken their place in a distinguished line of leaders. Once again, my congratulations to you all. May God bless your enterprises, and may God bless America. March 07, 2002 The President. Good afternoon. I'm deeply concerned about the tragic loss of life and escalating violence in the Middle East. This is a matter of great interest to the United States and all who want peace in the region and in the world. There is a roadmap to peace. The Tenet security work plan will bring parties together to reduce the violence, improve the security situation, and return to the path of peace. The Tenet work plan is the first step towards implementing the Mitchell Committee report in full and resuming a political process between the sides. I'm committed to working with our partners in the region and around the world in the pursuit of this goal. The United States has a vision of a Middle East in which all people, Arabs and Israelis, can live as neighbors in full peace and security. Recent ideas put forth by the Crown Prince Abdullah Saudi Arabia have created an opening for discussing this broader peace and for the normalization of relations between Arab states and Israel. The United States is committed to exploring this opening. Because of our commitment to peace, I'm sending General Tony Zinni back to the region next week to work with Israel and the Palestinians to begin implementing the Tenet work plan so that the parties can renew their efforts for a broader peace. The United States will do all it can to help the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority restore hope to their people and to the region. I once again call upon Chairman Arafat to make maximum effort to end terrorism against Israel, which undermines the prospects for peace. And as we move forward, I'm counting on all parties in the region, Prime Minister Sharon included, to do everything they can to make these efforts a success. The violence and tragic loss of Israeli and Palestinian lives must end. Families on both sides of the conflict share this goal, and so does my country. Peace and stability will be an important topic of the Vice President's upcoming trip to the region. I've asked him to join me today. Mr. Vice President. At this point, Vice President Cheney and Secretary of State Powell made brief remarks. The President. I'll answer a few questions. Morris Dave Morris, Bloomberg News . Administration Initiatives in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, you said all along that the two sides need to break the cycle of violence. There's been a lot of false hopes. The violence continues even today. What assurances do you have, if any, that the two sides are now willing to take that step and break the cycle? The President. Well, we've had a lot of consultations over the last week and week and a half. We've been on the phone a lot. And we believe now's the time for General Zinni to move back into the region. There are no assurances. That is not going to prevent our Government from trying, trying to get the parties to agree to Tenet, trying to reduce the cycle of violence. Obviously, there's a reason why, and that is because, as a result of consultations, we believe there's a possibility that we can have an impact. And so the combination of General Zinni's trip and the Vice President's trip may have a positive impact. We'll see. Yes, John John Roberts, CBS News . Then Terry Terry Moran, ABC News . Q. Mr. President, your Secretary of State had some rather stern words for Israel yesterday. Do you believe that Ariel Sharon, engaging in his current policies, has become an obstacle to peace? The President. Well, I read the Secretary's comments, and it sounded like he had pretty tough words for all parties. He's concerned about the level of violence, like I am. He made it clear that Chairman Arafat needs to do a better job of reducing violence, of using his leadership role to reduce violence. He's also deeply concerned, as am I, about the retaliation, the escalation. It's hard to achieve peace when violence is escalating. And one of the reasons why we're sending Zinni back, and one of the reasons why I hope the Vice President's trip will have a positive effect is because our message is to both sides, reduce violence. As I mentioned in my remarks, Chairman Arafat must do everything he can to reduce the violence, to stop the spread of violence. We don't believe he's doing enough. And so I thought that the Secretary's comments were wisely balanced. Q. Mr. President, do you believe that the continuing and escalating violence is an indication of failure on the part of your administration in the approach you've taken of refraining to send General Zinni, of not yourself talking to Chairman Arafat? The President. Oh, I think what the escalating violence shows is that there are people who believe in terror as a way of life, people who refuse to allow a peace process to go forward, people who don't want peace in the region. And our Government is committed to saying to those folks, "We will do everything in our power to stop you from preventing a peace process from going forward." It is and the first step toward any political solution has got to be the Tenet plan. George Tenet, obviously, works for the United States Government he's the person that laid out the plan. There is a roadmap for a peaceful solution. It's going to take a lot of effort by a lot of people, and we're willing to put in the effort and believe that General Zinni's trip can make a difference. Yes, Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Q. Mr. President, why are you personally only talking to one side in this conflict? Why don't you reach out to Chairman Arafat? The President. Oh, I believe the administration speaks with one voice, and we've got ample amplification to both parties. And our strategy is a well thought out strategy. It's one that reminds both parties there's an obligation to seek peace. I fully understand the Israelis' perspective that they want to defend themselves. That's why I've constantly called on Mr. Arafat to do a better job of reining in those who would wreak havoc on Israel. I also agree with the Secretary of State that it is going to be very hard to achieve a peaceful settlement if there is a tendency to want to constantly find a reason to escalate. And we hope that the Zinni mission will help get to Tenet, and that's where our focus is. Our focus is to get the parties into a process that the world agrees is a good process. Saudi Peace Initiative Q. Mr. President, how is the Saudi plan an opening if it's based on things that the Israelis have long rejected? The President. Well, first of all, they cannot reject the notion of Crown Prince Abdullah that says, "We recognize Israel's right to exist." I think that's an important opening, and I think that's an important statement by Crown Prince Abdullah. Secondly, it's a position that I took as well at the United Nations, when I said that there ought to be a Palestinian state the borders of which, by the way, ought to be negotiated between the two parties but both states recognize each other's right to exist. And it's an opening. The Crown Prince's decision to make that statement provides an opening. And that's another reason why the Zinni mission is going forward. Jim Jim Angle, FOX News . Administration Initiatives in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, you've consistently called on Mr. Arafat to make, as you said today, a maximum effort. What seems to be new this week is the administration's skepticism about Mr. Sharon. Are you worried, sir, that retaliation seems to be the only policy that he has in mind? The President. First of all, I fully understand a nation's wanting to defend herself, and I appreciate that. After all, we're in defense of ourself right now. And I can understand the strong desire to enhance security for a people, and I believe that. I believe what we're saying, though, is that there's got to be a vision for peace. There's got to be more than security, that there's got to be an attempt to achieve a lasting peace. And I hope that my friend the Prime Minister Sharon agrees with that assessment. I think he does. I think he recognizes that you can't achieve peace by allowing violence to escalate or causing violence to escalate. So on the one hand, I fully understand his need to protect the people of Israel, and on the other hand, we look forward to working with him to get into the Tenet plan. He thought the Tenet plan was a good plan. He agreed that the Mitchell plan is the proper course of action. And now we've got to work hard to get into it. Kelly Kelly Wallace, Cable News Network . Corporate Management Reform Q. Mr. President, can I ask you about the corporate responsibility measures you put forward? The President. Yes. Q. Some Democrats are saying that they kind of fall far short of what's needed, and they say your own Treasury Secretary, Paul O'Neill, was pushing for stronger measures, lowering the bar for punishment for corporate leaders. The President. I think what they ought to do is look at my proposals, take a good, hard look at them. They were very sound, solid proposals. It's the first formal package laid out for the American people to analyze about how to reform corporate governance. I think it's also very important to make sure that, as we reform corporate governance, we don't encourage frivolous lawsuits. I think it's very difficult to have a vibrant society in the free enterprise sector that is riddled with massive lawsuits all the time. And so I want to have a balanced plan, and I put one out. I'm proud of it. And it would make a lot of sense, and I hope Congress acts on it. Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters . National Economy Q. Mr. President, is the recession over now? And looking back, do you think we actually ever really had one? The President. Well, that's a trick question, Patsy, and I appreciate you throwing that out there. Laughter See, I actually read clips from other parts of the world before I came out here today. So, nice try. There's no question our economy was hurt by the attacks on 9 11. We'll let the statisticians define what happened or what didn't happen. But our economy went through a massive slowdown. And people's lives were badly affected, and a lot of people were laid off. And that's why the House did the right thing today, and the Senate now needs to act. The House passed a very good bill. It's a bill that not only takes care of unemployed workers it is a bill that has got some economic stimulus as a major part of it. And now the Senate needs to do something. The Senate needs to act and get the bill to my desk, and I look forward to signing it. But we've had too much too much non movement on this important issue. And it's time to go. It's time to get a bill, and it's time for me to end the press conference. Laughter Thank you. March 06, 2002 Hector, thank you. One of the best decisions I made was, I asked you to come and be the SBA Director. And he's doing a fine job. One of the reasons I asked Hector is because he understands that the role of Government is not to create wealth but to create an environment in which entrepreneurs from all walks of life have a chance to succeed. I'll never forget going to the Hispanic Chamber banquet in California, and I was given the information about the number of Latino owned small businesses in the State of California. It was a staggering number, and I can remember telling friends of mine in Texas and other States what a magnificent statistic it is, to be able to read about the thousands of businesses started by Latinos, which means the American Dream is spreading her wings in every single neighborhood, which is precisely the vision I have for America. I want everybody who wants to start their own business to feel comfortable in doing so and have an opportunity to succeed in America. And Hector understands that. I want to thank you all to the Casa Blanca tambien. I want to thank Fidel Vargas for being here. He's on the Social Security Commission I put two Latinos on the Social Security Commission. The Social Security Commission spent a lot of time analyzing the Social Security System and came back with a solid recommendation of allowing younger workers, if they so choose, to have their own money invested in a personal savings account. Again, I can't think of anything better for the future of our country than for people to own a piece of the future of America. After all, it is not the Government's money we're talking about it is the workers' money. And I want to thank the hard work of Fidel y los otros and the Commission of the Social Security. I want to thank George Herrera, the president of the Chamber, el Presidente. Laughter I want to thank Liz as well for being here, y tambien mi abogado. Al has been my lawyer since when I was the Governor. He's been mi abogado cuando estoy el Presidente, and his advice has always been sound. He's really a smart guy and a very close friend. And finally, I want to recognize Miguel Estrada. Miguel. Miguel is a really bright attorney who I've named to the U.S. nominated to the U.S. Court of Appeals, DC Circuit. They're playing too much politics in the United States Senate on our judge nominees. This man deserves a hearing, and he deserves a vote. This is a good, solid jurist who ought to be on that bench. And I'm calling on the United States Senate to move quickly on Miguel's nomination so that we can have a good, young Latino, smart, brilliant man represent our Nation. Thank you for being here, Miguel. I first want to tell you that this is an incredible time for our country, and I want to assure you all, as leaders in your communities and moms and dads and as concerned citizens, that our Nation is doing everything we can to protect America, that we've got a homeland security strategy that is working with first responders and bioterrorism, that we want to modernize our borders. We want to make sure we do everything to protect the American people, and we are. But you've also got to understand my view, and it's this, that the best way to protect the American people is to find a terrorist wherever they hide and bring them to justice. You know, when this first got started, I told the American people that we would be in for a long and difficult struggle. And after nearly 6 months, the American people still understand that that in order to fight for freedom, in order to win for freedom, we've got to be determined and strong and not relent. History has called this great Nation into action, and so long as I'm the President, I will pursue the opportunity to protect freedom, anytime, anywhere. And as you know, I've laid out a doctrine that said if you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist, and that's what the Taliban found out. And I like to remind my fellow Americans, not only am I proud of how our United States military has performed, that our military were not conquerors, they were liberators. We freed women and children from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. I cannot tell you how proud I am of our troops. And obviously, there is still work to be done in the first theater in the war against terror. This is a I told people, and I've been saying this for a long time, and I will continue to say so Afghanistan is still a dangerous place. There are still people in Afghanistan who either want to disrupt the Karzai interim Government, want to make sure or try to cause Afghanistan to revert back to being a sanctuary for murderers and terrorists, so they can do one thing, and that is attack us again. And so as you know, our military, combined with the military of our friends and allies, including the Afghans, are still on the hunt. And we encountered a large group of Al Qaida type terrorists, and we're bringing them to justice. There's a fierce battle waging, and it's but we're winning that battle. I'm so sad we lose life. My heart breaks when I think about the moms and dads or wives or children of those who have lost their life. But we defend freedom, and we're fighting for freedom, and we must continue to fight for freedom. And so where we find these killers, we'll bring them to justice. This Nation is determined. We're united. We are patient, and we're resolved to defend the values we hold dear to our hearts. And that's the way it's going to be, so long as I'm the President of the United States. I also want you to know we've got a lot of work to do at home. I was really proud earlier this year to travel the country touting the fact that I signed a significant piece of education legislation. It was a landmark piece of legislation. I don't remember the exact words I said when I spoke to the Hispanic Chamber in California in one of my first speeches, but I can assure you I talked about education because it is a passion of mine, and it was a passion of not only mine but of both Republicans and Democrats. I got a good bill on my desk because both people leaders in both parties decided that there's something more important than political party in America, and that's the education of our children. This is a really good piece of legislation because, first and foremost, it sets high standards and high expectations for every child, por todos. It refuses to accept a system that quits on children early. As you know, in some neighborhoods in America, it's so much easier just to move the kids through, so much easier to say, "You know, a Latino child can't read very well because his or her parents may not speak English, so let's just move them through the system." Those days have got to end if we want the American Dream to extend to all neighborhoods. And so I signed a bill that says we're going to measure for every child. We want to know if every child can read or write and add and subtract. And if not, we'll correct the problems early, before it's too late. Every child matters in America, and no child will be left behind. We put significant resources into Title I programs. But for money, we want results. We want to because, you see, I believe every child can learn. I don't accept excuses that say certain children can't learn. Every child in America can learn. Now, we also have passed power out of Washington, DC. I don't believe all the wisdom in the world exists in Washington. As a matter of fact, I think by empowering teachers and principals and parents and school districts, we're more likely to achieve a common objective, which is high standards for every single child. I also have unleashed a reading initiative that I truly believe is going to change America for the better. I like to say reading is the new civil right. If you can't read, it's hard to understand other subjects it's hard to excel it's hard to be part of this fantastic future we have. And so we've spent a billion dollars on reading. And I want to assure you that the reading programs are going to be aimed toward teaching that which works, not that which sounds good. There is a science to reading. We've got some of the best scientists in the world now analyzing what works for all kids. And so rather than just spending money, we're going to make sure we spend money on what works. And you mark my words, as we stay focused and energized on this important subject, more and more children will read. And as more and more children will read, more and more children will realize the fantastic future in America. And so I'm proud of this piece of work we've done. I also want to thank you all for supporting tax relief. We cut taxes at exactly the right time. In order to encourage the economy to grow, it was very wise to give let people keep their own money. Some up here don't understand that. They're reading the wrong textbook. You hear talk about making sure the tax relief doesn't continue. It's like raising taxes. You don't do that when times are slow you encourage the vitality of the private sector by letting people keep their own money. And not only that, I heard from many of you all about the unfairness of the death tax, and we've now put the death tax on its way to extinction. It's so important for people to be able to build up their own assets and their own businesses and have the capacity to pass that on to whoever they choose, a son or a daughter, without the Government getting in between the entrepreneur and the family member. So we're making good progress. I think the economy is still has still got problems. But we put the right fiscal policy in place. I still think we ought to do more. We ought to not only take care of those who have been unemployed because of 9 11 we ought to help them with their unemployment benefits as well as their health benefits. But I like to tell people Americans don't want an unemployment check they want a permanent paycheck. And there needs to be a stimulus bill. The House passed a good bill. Part of it was a small business incentive bill, recognizing that the small businesses create more new jobs in America than any other sector of our economy. I want to continue to push for trade. I believe trade makes sense. Yesterday I made a tough decision on steel. But I will tell you, in order to be a free trade advocate, in order to be consistent on free trade, we better make sure we enforce the laws on our books. The two go hand in hand, free trade and fair trade. And so I obviously put a temporary plan in place to allow the steel industry to restructure. But I also want to remind you all I honored the agreement of NAFTA, so that Mexico and Canada are exempt. And let me talk about Mexico right quick. My attitude toward Mexico is that I want Mexico to succeed. I want our neighbors to be successful. The best kind of neighborhood to live in is one where everybody is successful, and so our public policy ought to recognize Mexico as an incredibly important part of the American future. And therefore, I look forward to working with el Presidente Fox on how best to make sure our relationship is strong. One thing we can do is doing what we're doing, which is encourage our economy to grow and to recover. That will help Mexico. But the other thing is to honor NAFTA, which I have done as the President. I did so in the steel decision yesterday. I will continue to do so because I believe NAFTA is not only good for Mexico as importantly, it is good for American workers as well. I believe and I know we've made great progress. We've got a spirit of amistad. We've got a relationship that is open and strong. I told the Congress that I want to make sure that the Mexican citizen here is well respected, and we will. We respect people in our country. And one way to do that is to pass 245(i), which will allow for families to be reunited. If you believe in family values, if you understand the worth of family and the importance of family, let's get 245(i) out of the United States Congress and give me a chance to sign it. I also want to talk about energy. Energy is incredibly vital for our economic vitality. And you've got to understand, as the President, somebody who's concerned about our national security as well, the fact that we import over 50 percent of our energy from around the world is an indication that we're not as strong from a national security perspective as we could be or should be. And so we need to have an energy plan, one that, on the one hand, encourages conservation and the modernization of our infrastructure, electricity infrastructure, but we've also got to explore for more energy. And we can do so in an environmentally friendly way, starting in Alaska, where there's a lot of oil and gas. Those of you in California know full well that we had a little scare out there about a year less than a year ago. And the State has responded by building more powerplants to increase the supply of energy, and that's good. Except what's interesting is, those plants are powered by natural gas. And the fundamental question is, where is that gas going to come from in the long term? We ought to be exploring for more natural gas, and a good place to start is Alaska. I want you to know that Mexico imports gas from the United States. In other words and it's a hemispheric issue, and we've got to think long term on behalf of the American citizens. And so I put out a comprehensive energy plan. It passed the House of Representatives. It needs to get out of the Senate and get to my desk, for the good of the national security of the country as well as for the good for jobs. As you may know, I'm headed down to Mexico for my second visit since I've been the President, to Mexico. There's going to be a conference on development. I look forward to participating in that. I will proudly remind people that we are the most generous Nation in the world when it comes to helping developing nations. I don't know if you know this just for example, I was recently, as you know, in the Far East. And I reminded the people out there that we provide 300,000 tons of food to North Korean citizens. I'm not so sure the President or the head of North Korea gives us any credit for having provided the food, but we're a compassionate nation, and we should be proud of our record on helping people. I then go to Peru, and I look forward to working with the Andean nations not only on issues of trade but on the cultivation of coca leaves for drugs. But I'll also remind them that so long as there's a demand for drugs, somebody's going to supply them. And it's a two way street that, one, we'll help reduce supply, but we in our Nation have an obligation to work with our young to reduce the demand. We must tell them clearly that drugs can ruin their life. We must educate the youth about the dangers of drug use. We must reduce demand if we expect our neighborhood to help clean up drugs. And then I'm going to El Salvador to meet with the Central American nations. We've got the beginnings of a free trade pact with them. President Flores is going to be the host, a remarkable young leader. Like Peru and Mexico, these are strong democracies they're continuing to reform their process. It's important for me to herald the fact that they are embracing democratic institutions which make their country so much stronger and so much more vibrant. So I'm really looking forward to spending time in the neighborhood. I believe the best foreign policy begins in making sure your own neighborhood is free and democratic and peaceful. So I'm looking forward to spending time there as well. You know, I like to remind people that I truly believe that out of this evil that was done on us on September the 11th will come some great good. I believe that. I believe if we stay the course and are strong and determined and if the Congress passes the Defense budget I sent up there, which prioritizes national defense to make sure our military gets all the best equipment and best training possible, that we'll have the staying power to make the world more peaceful. And I believe it will be if we're strong, and we will be strong. I also know that at home that people are taking an assessment of what's important in life. And I believe as a result of that, some positive things will happen. I think the culture can begin to change from one that has said in the past, "If it feels good, go ahead and do it," to a culture that says, "Each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life" the responsibility era, where moms and dads are responsible for loving their children. The most important job any American will ever have, if you're fortunate enough to have a child, is to love your child. But it goes beyond that, where neighbors will love neighbors. I tell my fellow citizens that if you're interested in fighting joining the war against terror, do some good. I mean, if you really want to stand squarely in the face of evil, help a neighbor in need, mentor a child, help a shut in, you know, support your schools, give to charity, help to start a faith based group that will help change people's hearts. It's this it's the collection of the kindness of America. It's the collection of all the acts of kindness that take place which not only define our Nation but will stand squarely in the face of evil. And it's happening, and I'm so proud of the way the American people have responded. Many in this room have as well, and I want to thank you for that. I do believe that America understands there's a new responsibility, that this is a new era, that, on the one hand, we've got to be diligent and alert, and on the other hand, we can make a difference in people's lives. After all, it was Flight 93 that set a new tone for America. People on an airline thought they were going on a business trip or thought they were going home. They heard the Nation's Capital was under attack. They got on their telephones. They told their wives they loved them. They said a prayer, and they sacrificed their life to save somebody else's. To me, that's one of the most defining events of September 11th and on. It shows me what a great nation we have. It reminds me of the character of the American people. And that's why we're so unique, not because of our Government but because of our people. Thank you for coming to Washington, and God bless. March 05, 2002 President Bush It's my honor to welcome President Mubarak to the White House again. The United States has got a close and meaningful relationship with Egypt. The relationship is a cornerstone for our policy in the Middle East. I value my friendship with President Mubarak. I always appreciate our candid conversations. Our nations are united by ties of friendship and a shared commitment to regional stability, economic prosperity, and peace. Today, the strategic partnership between our countries is more important than ever, as we confront the threat of global terror. And I want to thank the President for his steadfast support in our war against terror. Egypt has been a good friend, and I'm grateful. We also meet at a moment when the people of both our countries are gravely concerned about escalating violence in the Middle East. Each day brings fresh reports of more lives lost and more Palestinian and Israeli families shattered by those losses. Both our countries view this situation with great alarm. We both feel deep sympathy for the people in the region who are trying to live their lives in peace, and we're both determined to redouble our efforts to work for peace. We talked extensively today about our efforts. President Mubarak has a long history of advancing peace and stability in the Middle East. My country has set forth a goal, which I stated last November at the United Nations We're committed to two states, Israel and Palestine, living peacefully together within secure and recognized borders, as called for by the Security Council resolutions of the United Nations. The United States also believes that this goal is only possible if there is a maximum effort to end violence throughout the region, starting with the Palestinian efforts to stop attacks against Israelis. We want to work with the parties to implement the Tenet security plan and then the Mitchell recommendations. We stand ready to return General Zinni to the region when appropriate. The Israeli Palestinian situation will be an important topic of Vice President Cheney's upcoming visit to the region. And we're willing to work with all our friends in the region to see how we can build on the vision for peace recently advanced by Crown Prince Abdullah. President Mubarak and I also spoke about the full range of interests that our nations share. We welcomed the decision yesterday by Secretary Powell and the Foreign Minister of Egypt to initiate a U.S. Egyptian strategic dialog to provide regular coordination on political, economic, and military issues. We also discussed how important it is to expand economic opportunities in the Middle East and help more young people acquire the education and technical expertise they need to embrace opportunities as they arise. I've asked Secretary Powellto launch a new initiative aimed at increasing both economic and educational opportunities throughout the region. Egypt was the first Arab state to stretch out its hand for peace in the Middle East, and it has worked hard to preserve its peace with Israel, even during difficult times. I know that Egypt will continue to be a vital partner as we seek to help the parties move forward in the months to come toward a broader Middle Eastern peace. I want to thank President Mubarak for coming back to Washington, and now it's my honor to welcome him to the podium. Mr. President. President Mubarak. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Good evening. Before commenting on my discussions with President Bush, I want to reiterate my personal condolences and those of the Egyptian people to you, Mr. President, and to the American people and all those who suffered in the tragic events of September 11th. Let me seize this occasion to reaffirm that Egypt has always been on the forefront of fighting terrorists and will continue to play an instrumental role in this regard. Once again, I met with my friend President Bush and exchanged views with him on several issues of common concern. As usual, our discussions were very friendly. As President Bush just said, we have built a solid partnership that is serving our bilateral interests and the cause of peace and stability in the Middle East. The partnership has matured over the years and endured the test of time. A general sense of continued cooperation and friendship has evolved. As you know, Egypt took many pioneering steps toward peace in the Middle East. Today, we remain committed to that goal. Our partnership has an indispensable role to play in helping the parties directly involved in the conflict find a just and comprehensive solution. In this vein, the U.S. has contributed greatly to this cause for the past 25 years. I welcome that the administration will spare no effort in order to help achieve a comprehensive peace. In this context, we look forward to welcoming Vice President Cheney to the area soon and appreciate that the peace process will be one of the issues to be given the merit it deserves. We must bring about an end to the cycle of violence and other hostile actions and ensure the early resumption of peace negotiations. Nothing can be achieved through violence or resolved through force. As the Palestinians are being asked to exert more effort to bring down the level of violence, the Israeli Government should understand that the use of military power and unilateral measures against the Palestinian population, the closure of roads, the siege of towns and villages, the demolition of houses, the collective punishment that make progress more difficult, should stop. The only way out is to put a decisive end to all this suffering, to resume full fledged peace negotiations immediately, including the implementation of the Tenet plan and the Mitchell recommendations. Peace will only be achieved through ending the Israeli occupation of all territories occupied since June 1967, implementing the relevant U.N. resolutions, establishing of a viable Palestinian state, and guaranteeing the security of all parts in peaceful coexistence. For decades, Egypt has been at the forefront of peacemaking and development in our region. Our partnership with the U.S. has played a crucial role in this process. Our comprehensive reform program is now entering a new phase, one that seeks to complete Egypt's integration into the world economy. At the core of this vision is our quest to deepen our trade ties with all partners, especially the United States. In this context, we have discussed our bilateral relations with a view to intensifying our cooperation in various fields. We agreed to take concrete steps in that direction. Thank you. Q. Mr. President, what President Bush. Hold up a second. Please, please, please. I'm going to call on two U.S. reporters the President will call on two Egyptian reporters. We'll be glad to answer four questions. I will start by asking AP writer Barry Schweid. Middle East Peace Initiatives Q. Thank you. Mr. President, you spoke today, as Secretary Powell has, favorably of the Saudi initiative. Israelis are virtually lining up Israeli officials wanting to go to Saudi Arabia to talk about this proposal. But the Saudis apparently are discouraging that. Do you think there should be some preliminary discussions, preliminary searching out of what the proposal means? And does it carry any solid hope, as far as you're concerned, of ending this morass? President Bush. First of all, I think the Crown Prince's suggestion was a very positive development, and I appreciate those in Israel who are trying to find out exactly what it means. There has got to be a vision for peace in order for us to head toward peace. And the President of Egypt has talked made an offer for dialog that will help lead to a peace, hopefully. Crown Prince Abdullah has as well. And our Government supports efforts to create lay out a vision for a more peaceful tomorrow. And so I appreciate the efforts of both leaders, and I applaud those efforts of those willing to explore opportunity. But I want to remind everybody that it's going to be difficult to achieve any kind of peace so long as there is a cycle of violence. And one of the things that we talked about is how best we can come together to break the cycle of violence. There are people in the Middle East that do not want peace. There are people who want to use death to prevent there to be peace discussions. They want to murder innocent lives. I cannot tell you how it breaks my heart to see the weeping moms and those who have lost life, because somebody is preventing peace from somebody wants to prevent a peace process from beginning. And so, as the President mentioned, the step is to reduce the cycle of violence and to get into the Tenet security plan as quickly as possible. But I applaud the efforts of these leaders for trying to move the process forward. Q. I would like the question of both President Mubarak and President Bush. President Bush President Bush. It's the old two question trick. Laughter Q. President Bush, now President Mubarak has offered a window of hope, the offer of President Mubarak to host both Prime Minister Sharon and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in Sharm el Sheikh or in Egypt. So what is your response to that offer? Particularly, what can the U.S. do in order to translate that offer, that is likely to break the cycle of violence, into a reality? And President Mubarak, whether you were satisfied from what you heard from President Bush in your discussions regarding your offer? Thank you. President Bush. Well, thank you for that question. Let me say, as I mentioned, that I appreciate any efforts, any ideas that will lay out a vision for a peaceful resolution. And the President's offer was a meaningful offer, and we applaud his efforts. As I mentioned in my opening remarks, Egypt has had a has led the way toward leading the region toward peace, and his offer was indicative of that type of leadership. Crown Prince Abdullah has laid out an interesting idea. I, myself, at the U.N., talked about a solution. The key, however, for us to get to the solution is to bust this cycle of violence. And that is where my administration and, I know, the President as well is spending a lot of time and efforts to convince the parties that violence will only lead to heartbreak and will enhance the chances for those who hate the idea of peace to prevail. And those of us who love peace must continue to, as I said, redouble our efforts, which we will. Mr. President. President Mubarak. I'm satisfied with my discussion with President Bush about the peace process. And we hope we could continue, and the other partners should comply with what we are mentioning. Something concerning the Crown Prince Abdullah initiative, I would like to say this is the first time in the history of the Saudis that they could say, "We are ready to normalize relations with Israel in case of peace prevails" the first time in history. We should underline this. Thank you. Action on Steel Imports Q. Mr. President, many U.S. allies are threatening retaliation over your steel decision. Are you prepared for a trade war? And why shouldn't this be seen as a tax increase? President Bush. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters , we're a free trading nation, and in order to remain a free trading nation, we must enforce law. And that's exactly what I did. I decided that imports were severely affecting our industry, an important industry had a negative impact and therefore, provide temporary relief so that the industry could restructure itself. That's exactly what the World Trade Organization allows for. The International Trade Commission made this recommendation. As you know, I honored our NAFTA agreements by exempting Canada and Mexico. I also we will honor our agreements with developing nations. This is a remedy allowed under the WTO. It also is a part of our law, and I intend to enforce our laws. International Terrorism Q. My question is addressed for Mr. President Bush and Mr. President Mubarak. As we know, this is your first meeting after 11 September attacks, and Egypt's experience in combating terrorism is worldwide recognized. Did you find a common stand in your talks today to combat this international phenomenon? President Bush. We did. The President reminded me of the fact that he has been fighting terror long before I became the President. He's an old hand at fighting terror. And I assured him that we were strong allies in this effort. There are some in the world who don't like President Mubarak because of what he stands for, a more open society. He's been a great leader of Egypt, and there are extremists who don't like him. And to the extent that we can help round up those extremists that would do harm to the President or his government or the people of Egypt, we will do so. It doesn't matter to me where a terrorist tries to hide. We will work with our friends and allies to hunt them down, and I assured the President that my determination is as strong today as it was on September the 11th. This is an important moment in history, where nations must not flinch in the face of murder and terror and people who are willing to take innocent lives, people who hate free societies. And I am proud of our alliance, and I appreciate his friendship, and I appreciate his steadfast resolve, as well, to rout out terror wherever it exists. Mr. President. President Mubarak. Thank you. March 04, 2002 Thank you very much. Thank you for that warm welcome. Tonight I'm here for one simple reason I want Norm Coleman to become the next United States Senator from Minnesota. And so do a lot of other people in Minnesota, as witnessed by this crowd. Thank you all for coming, and thank you for supporting this really good man. I want to thank Gene for his kind comments. And Pat, thank you very much. I want to thank members of the United States congressional delegation who are here tonight, Gil Gutknecht and Mark Kennedy and Jim Ramstad, three fine Members of the House of Representatives. Your dollars will not only help Ron but will help these three Members get reelected as well. I want to thank those of you who work in the grassroots of the Republican Party, defending values that make America stronger. And I want to thank my fellow Americans for your support and your kind prayers. I really want to thank Laurie Coleman as well. She is obviously going to be a strong asset in the Coleman campaign. And like Norm, I married above myself, too. Laughter I'm really proud of Laura. You know, when I married Laura, she was a public school librarian. She really wasn't fond of politicians or political speeches. Man, what a great First Lady she has become. She's a fabulous wife, a great mother of our 20 year old twin daughters, and has been such a calm and positive influence on Americans all across our country. I'm grateful for her sacrifice, and I love her. I'm really impressed by Norm. You know, in this line of work we're in, you've got the good talkers, and then you've got the doers. In this case, obviously, he's a good talker and a doer. Laughter He's an independent thinker, and that's important for the State of Minnesota. But he's a person who tries to figure out how to get things done, and he has done so in St. Paul, Minnesota. He's a man of accomplishment. He knows what it takes to succeed. He's a proven leader. He's a practical guy that focuses on results, and that's the kind of United States Senator you need in the State of Minnesota. The record speaks for itself. It's a record of accomplishment. It's a record that understands the role of the private sector in the revitalization of community. But what I love is Norm's passion for education. I love a person who understands that the power of education can make America a much more hopeful place. I appreciate a man who stands tall for making sure every child is educated and no child is left behind. I hope the people of Minnesota, from all parties, understand what a good and decent, honorable man Norm Coleman is and to send him to the United States Senate. We've got some big things ahead of us in this Nation. We have got a war to win. My biggest job, the most important job I have, is to defend this Nation and our people, and defend this Nation and our people is exactly what I intend to do. Applause Thank you. The enemy really misunderstood America. When they attacked us, they must have thought we were soft, that we were so materialistic that we wouldn't understand sacrifice and duty and honor. They thought we would blink, and they made a huge mistake. In the course of this conflict, I made it clear that either you're with us, either you stood with the United States and our defense for freedom across the world, or you were against us. And a lot of nations heard that call, and they stand with us. And for that, we're grateful. I also made it clear that if you harbor a terrorist, if you try to hide a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you're just as guilty as those who murdered thousands of innocent lives, and you will be held accountable, too. And thanks to our fabulous men and women who wear the uniform, that doctrine in the first theater in the war against terror has been upheld. We went to Afghanistan not as conquerors but as liberators. Not only did we uphold the doctrine of harboring a terrorist we freed women and children from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes history has ever seen. I can't tell you how proud I am of the U.S. military. I am proud of our military, and I'm so very proud of the American people. The American people are patient and calm in the face of danger. The American people understand that history has called this Nation into action. The American people understand that the struggle we face is going to be long and arduous, but a united Nation has sent a loud message to the rest of the world We will defend freedom we will defend the values we hold dear, no matter what the price. I have submitted a budget to the United States Congress that has got the largest increase in defense spending in a generation, for this reason Anytime the United States sends our men and women who wear our uniform into harm's way, they must have the best equipment, the best training, and another pay raise. And I ask the Congress to pass that budget. It is important for the United States Congress to understand that the price of freedom is high, but the price of freedom is never too high. It is important for the world to understand that we struggle not just for freedom but for civilization itself. If the United States were to blink, the rest of the world will be lulled to sleep. And this country, so long as I am the President, will be steadfast in our leadership and in our resolve to lead the world to more freedom and more liberty and more opportunity for everybody on the face of the Earth. Every morning I wake up and read what they call a threat assessment. I get to walk into the grand Oval Office. It's such a fabulous office, by the way. It's such an honor to be working in that shrine. I'm an early morning kind of guy. I get there generally around 7 o'clock. Spot, the dog, goes with me. Laughter Spot was born at the White House, when Mother and Dad were there, so she's quite comfortable with the surroundings. Laughter Barney, the one year old Scottish terrier, does not get to go. I just got a brand new rug in the Oval Office. Laughter But I sit at this grand desk where the Roosevelts have sat, other Presidents, and I read threats to the United States of America. I realize that there is a barbaric enemy that hates what we stand for, hates our freedoms, hates our openness, people who cannot stand the fact that we're able to worship freely in America, that we're able to express our opinions in America, that America is a place where we have spirited elections, but we're a sound and solid democracy. I recognize that I will have got to do everything I can to make sure that we respond to these threats. And so we've put together a homeland defense strategy that coordinates activities with the Federal law enforcement level, State law enforcement level, and the local law enforcement level. We're running down every hint, every threat, every possible threat. I can't tell you how proud I am of the FBI and the men and women who wear the uniform of the police in Minnesota and all around the country. These folks are working overtime to secure America. We've got a first responders initiative that will make it more likely that, if there's an attack, the good police and emergency folks and fire folks of Minneapolis or St. Paul can respond. We've got a bioterrorism initiative that, after it's all said and done, may end up actually providing incentive for be able to provide an impetus to find cures for diseases that will plague us. We've got a better border security initiative going on. We're going to do a better job of understanding who's coming into our country and who's leaving their country and why they're here in the first place. We're buttoning up America. And I want to thank my fellow citizens for being on alert and for those who are working overtime to protect you. But I want to remind my countrypeople, my fellow countrymen, that the surest way to secure the country, the best way to make sure our children and grandchildren can grow up in a peaceful and hopeful world, is to hunt down the terrorists wherever they try to hide and bring them to justice. And that's precisely what we will do. It's obvious, the news has shown that we're still active in Afghanistan. We have found a significant Al Qaida group of killers, and the Afghans, along with our Special Forces, along with other coalition members, are hunting them down. America must realize this is a dangerous phase of this war. And we lost life today. And I know all of us mourn for the family members who have lost their life, but I can assure them that the cause is just. Defending freedom and defending the homeland is a noble and just cause. And I hope they're as proud of them as I am. Our efforts go beyond Afghanistan, as you're beginning to realize. We'll team up with any friendly government that's interested in bringing Al Qaida and terrorists to justice. We've arrested over 1,000 people outside the Afghan theater and bringing them to justice. But I also laid down another dictum, and it's this In order for our children to be free, we must never allow transparent dictators nontransparent dictators to develop weapons of mass destruction, thereby enabling them to mate up with terrorist organizations. We will not allow the world's worst regimes to develop the world's worst weapons and hold America and our friends and our allies hostage. I know this is going to be a long and difficult time for America. But we are up for the task. America will lead this world to a more secure and a more hopeful future. And we've got a job to do at home as well. You know, when I was campaigning in Chicago, I'll never forget, one of the reporters said, "Would you ever allow any deficit spending?" I said, "Only if we had a recession or an emergency or a war." Laughter Thankfully, the Nation is resolved to fight the war. Thankfully, we had thousands of citizens rise to deal with the emergency. And thankfully, we cut the taxes on the American people to deal with the recession. The best thing we did to deal with the recession is to allow people to keep more of their own money, so they can spend it and provide more demand and, therefore, the corresponding supply. The best way to deal with a recession is to trust the American people with their own money. For a while you heard some of them talking in Washington that they were going to stop the tax relief plan. I do not know what economic textbook they were reading, but one thing you don't do is raise the taxes on the people in the midst of a recession. What you do is trust the private sector. What you do is incent people to create more jobs. What you do is understand the best economic recovery plan has got one word, and that is "jobs". How do we create jobs for the working people in the United States of America? And there are some things we can do to create jobs, besides providing tax incentives. One, we can have an energy plan that makes sense. I came to Minnesota to lay out my vision for an energy plan that says We can conserve better we must modernize our electricity but for the sake of our national security, we need to develop more oil and gas here at home. The less dependent we are on foreign sources of crude oil, the more secure America will be in the long run. And we've got to get a good farm bill out, one that encourages one that does not encourage overproduction, one that recognizes, however, that our farmers hurt, that there needs to be a reasonable safety net, and one that recognizes this fact Minnesota's farmers, along with the rest of the farmers in America, are the best at what they do in the world. And if you're the best at what you do in the world, we ought to open up more markets for you to sell into the world. And we must understand the power of value added processing. When I campaigned for President, I said I supported ethanol. And as President of the United States, I support ethanol as a way to reduce our dependency on foreign sources of crude oil and as a way to clean the air in the United States of America. And we're making good progress on other fronts. Today I went to Eden Prairie High School, and I've got to tell you, if you've got kids there, I was really proud of the student body. They actually listened. Laughter But it was a chance to tout a really good piece of legislation that we got passed. You know, I am passionate about making sure that we do not leave any child behind in America. I am passionate on challenging systems that simply shuffle children through the school system without understanding whether they can read or write or add and subtract. The bill I signed says a couple of key points. One, if you receive Federal money, show us whether or not children are learning. If you receive a dime of Federal money, we expect every child in America to be learning how to read and write and add and subtract. Lest you think I forgot where I came from, however, I understand all wisdom does not exist in Washington, DC, that the people who know best how to run the school systems are the local folks, that we've got to pass power out of Washington, DC, to provide maximum flexibility to the local districts, local schools, local the States. Listen, the more flexibility there is at the local level, the more likely it is every single child in America will learn. This is a great piece of legislation, and it took both Republicans and Democrats to get it passed. I don't know if you remember, but right after I signed that bill, I had the honor of traveling the country with two Democrat sponsors and two Republican sponsors. It probably shocked you I know it shocked the folks in Crawford, Texas laughter that I actually said kind things about Ted Kennedy. But he got it out of the United States Senate. He made it happen. This good piece of legislation would not have happened without the work of both Republicans and Democrats. It shows what is possible when we put our political differences aside and focus on the children in America. And it's that attitude that point of view is why I'm so strongly supporting Norm Coleman. That's what we need in Washington. We need people who go up there not to represent, you know, a narrow interest but to work to change the tone of Washington, DC, to make Washington the kind of place where people look at and say, "I'm proud of my Government, that Government can actually get things done in a positive way." And that's what we need to continue to work on. It's so important in order to rally the country. You know, I'm asked all the time, what can people say, "Well, what can I do to help in the war against terror? What is it that I can do?" Well, my answer is pretty straightforward. If you want to fight evil, do some good. If you want to show the world the true side of America, our heart, our decency, our compassion, love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. Mentor a child. Find a child who wonders whether or not America is meant for them, and put your arm around that child and say, "I love you." That's how you can fight evil. Walk into the house of a shut in and say, "Neighbor, what can I do to help you?" Support your teachers. Get involved in a faith based program, understanding that faith can change people's hearts, and by changing people's hearts, we can change their lives. The way to fight evil is through the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness, is to show the world the true face of the American people. I am so optimistic about this country because I understand our resolve and our unity. I understand our courage. You know, probably the most meaningful event that took place, as far as I'm concerned, right after September or during the September 11th and afterwards was Flight 93, when Americans were on a telephone to their wives. They said the Lord's Prayer. They then said to their wives, "I love you," and drove an airplane in the ground to save other people's lives. This notion about us being a shallow, materialistic society went down the tubes with the courageous people on Flight 93. It leads me to believe that out of these acts of incredible evil will come some great good. If we remain strong, the world will be more peaceful. And here at home, I think we have an opportunity to help change a culture, one that has said, "If it feels good, go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." I see a different culture, one in which we understand we're all responsible for the actions we take in life, that we're responsible that part of a responsibility era means that each mom and dad in America must love their children with all their heart and all their soul. A responsibility era calls us all to help neighbors in need. A responsibility era recognizes the worth in serving a cause greater than self. A responsibility era understands that sacrifice for the good of your fellow human beings is worth it. Listen, this is a fabulous nation. It's a fabulous nation not because of our Government. It is a fabulous nation because of the hearts and souls of the American people. And it is such a huge honor to be the President of the United States, of such a great land. Thank you. March 04, 2002 The President. We had a really good discussion about education, the importance of public education in America. The better our public schools are, the better the quality of life for all our citizens. I also had a chance to listen to Minnesota teachers, people who have dedicated their lives to making our communities better by teaching children how to read and write and add and subtract but also teaching children how to behave and how to learn through example. I cannot thank the teachers enough. I hope that, through my words and deeds, I'm able to convince people to become a teacher, because it's such a noble profession, and it's such an important profession for America and our future. I absolutely believe there are that this country can achieve anything we want. That includes making sure every child can read and every child has got a hopeful future because he or she has gotten a great public school education. So I want to thank you all very much. I'm really looking forward to speaking to your school. Thanks for the hospitality, and thank you all very much for serving our country by being a by being such good teachers. Let me answer a few questions, then, of course Al Qaida Operation Anaconda Q. Mr. President, will you need to increase the U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan or delay an expansion of the war on terrorism beyond Afghanistan as a result of the Al Qaida resurgence The President. Well, first of all, we've always known Al Qaida exists in Afghanistan. And from the beginning of this, I have cautioned the American people that this is going to take a while, that it's going to take a while to rout out Al Qaida wherever it tries to hide. The American people understand that. And as you well know, over the weekend we've started an operation against a significant nest of Al Qaida fighters. These are people that, if they were to escape, could conceivably harm the United States again. And therefore, we're going to hunt them down wherever they try to hide. And I am so proud of the men and women who wear our uniform. I appreciate the efforts of our coalition to chase down Al Qaida, to bring them to justice. I'm obviously saddened by the loss of life. All America is saddened when one of our soldiers loses life. On the other hand, I think most Americans and I hope these parents and loved ones understand, the cause is important, and the cause is just. I rely obviously, rely upon the advice of our commanders on the ground as to what is necessary to win. But we'll take whatever means is necessary to protect our service men and women. And we'll win this battle, and we'll keep battling Al Qaida wherever we find them. In terms of the overall scope, the international scope, I have always said that sometimes the American people will see us see our military in action, and sometimes they won't. But we will keep the pressure on Al Qaida. Our country is still under threat, and so long as our country is under threat, this great Nation will hunt down those who want to harm innocent Americans. Yes. Q. Mr. President, how important is it for you to round up a lot of Al Qaida leaders in this particular battle that's going on? And do you have any indication at all whether Usama bin Laden might be in this area? The President. I haven't heard from him since September December the 11th. He's been awfully quiet. I don't know why. But I know he's on the run, if he's running at all. And I know there's no cave deep enough for Usama bin Laden. He hit a country that he thought was weak and feeble, and instead, he found out he hit a country that is determined to defend freedom. And that's exactly what we're going to do. We will defend our freedoms. And the first part of your question? Leaders Q. Do you expect to The President. We're after any Al Qaida person. Q. Do you have any reason to believe that there's a lot of them in this particular area? The President. I believe there are some, and I'm not sure how many enough for us to put together a significant coalition of Afghan, American, and other forces to rout them out. These are people that have got one thing in mind They're going to harm innocent Afghan citizens. They want us to leave. They want us to be soft. They want us to let down our guard. And we're not going to do that, so long as I'm the President of the United States. And we've been called into action. This Nation has been called to defend history history has called us to defend freedom, and we're going to do that. And you should not be surprised that our troops will go into action in Afghanistan again. I have said repeatedly, we are in a dangerous phase of this war and as we learned, much to our horror, the last couple of days when we lost life. But nevertheless, it is worth it, and it is necessary to bring these people to justice. If we do not, America could remain more vulnerable. If we do not find them, then we will have missed a great opportunity to make the world a safer place for our children and grandchildren. Terry Terry Moran, ABC News . Q. Mr. President, you said that one of the calculations that Al Qaida might have had is they thought Americans couldn't stomach the casualties. The President. Yes. Q. Do you think the American people are ready for this? The President. I think anytime somebody loses their life, the American people will mourn and are sad, and I feel that way, too. On the other hand, I am just as determined now as I was a week ago or 3 months ago to fulfill this mission, and that is to make sure our country is safe from further attack. These people have made it absolutely clear these people being Al Qaida that they want to harm America again. And we will do everything in our power to not let them do so, and that means chasing them down from the mountains of Afghanistan or in Yemen or in the Philippines, using our vast coalition to bring these people to justice. These are killers they're murderers. And I am my job is to protect America and support our military during this historic time. And that's exactly what I'm going to do. Situation in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, the Mideast situation is do you believe the Mideast situation has escalated out of control? And do you think the U.S. needs to do more to try to seize control? The President. We are on the phone every single day, nearly I say nearly we might have missed a day or two to the leaders in the Middle East, urging there to be a less violence. I have said repeatedly that Chairman Arafat must do everything he can to convince those Palestinians who want to derail any possible peace to lay down their arms. And the situation is terrible, anytime you lose as many innocent lives as has been lost in the Middle East. But that won't deter us from working hard, working the issue. I'm meeting with Hosni Mubarak tomorrow, and I'm sure we'll talk the Middle East and the process to try to get to the Tenet and the Tenet plan, laid out by George Tenet, which is the first step toward bringing the violence down and making the area more secure, so that we can eventually get into the Mitchell process, which then eventually will lead to some kind of settlement. I appreciate the fact that the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia has laid out a vision for some political solution. But the first thing is, we've got to reduce the violence in order to be able to get the discussion started. And so we're spending a lot of time trying to get the people of that region to stop killing each other. March 04, 2002 Thank you for that warm welcome. It's nice to be here at the home of the Screaming Eagles. They tell me you've got a good football team and a good high pom squad. But I'm really not interested in talking about athletics. I'm here because of the achievements, the academic achievements of the students, the quality of the teaching, and the involvement of the parents. I'm here because this is one of America's finest public schools. I believe strongly in the hope and promise of the public school system all across America. And I know how important it is to thank our teachers, to thank those who come to your classrooms every day, to wish them the best, and to herald such a noble and important profession for the future of our country. I'm here to talk about teaching and its responsibilities and how our country can do a better job of supporting America's teachers. I know look, I am sure a lot of you are out there saying, "The guy is still talking about teaching. I really get tired of seeing my teacher" laughter "particularly at test time." Laughter Trust me, you're going to miss your teachers. They're an important part of your life, and they're an important part of our country's future. I really want to thank the applause I just had a meeting with a group of teachers from all over the area, and I want to thank them for being there to share some thoughts about how to make sure the school systems work as good as they possibly can. I want to thank Jeff, your school's principal, for, gosh, opening up this huge facility and inviting so many people here. I want to thank the superintendent of schools, Bill Gaslin. I want to thank my friend Mark Yudof from the University of Minnesota, who understands that applause . About seven people appreciate you, Mark. Laughter I want to thank the reason Mark I want to herald Mark is that he understands that in order for a teacher to be able to teach, the teacher colleges have got to teach a curriculum that actually works in the classroom. And I appreciate his leadership. I want to thank members of the U.S. congressional delegation, Gutknecht and Kennedy and Ramstad, for being here as well. Thank you all for coming. I want to thank my friend Norm Coleman, former mayor of St. Paul, Minnesota. Mary Kiffmeyer, the secretary of state, is here as well thank you, Mary. And Christine Jax, the education commissioner of Minnesota, is here too. Thank you all for coming. Before I talk about the importance of education and teaching, I do want to talk to the students about my desire to defend freedom, to try to put some context to what's taking place overseas into your life. You know, I'm sure it must have been troubling for high school seniors to turn on their TV or high school juniors or sophomores, for that matter to see America under attack. When we grew up, the baby boomers and everybody else, we never really thought we'd be attacked. I mean, the last thing that I entered my mind when I was getting out of high school in 1964 is that an enemy would attack America. And yet, here you are graduating from high school, the first high school class to ever have seen the 48 contiguous States attacked by an enemy. And you're probably wondering, why would somebody hit us? And it's because we love freedom. There are people in the world who cannot stand a free society. There are people who do not believe that you should be able to worship freely. There are people who do not believe you should be able to speak freely. There are people who do not believe that young women should be educated. And when they find a nation that's willing to defend freedom, they try to attack it. And when they attacked us, they thought we were soft and materialistic. They thought our Nation had no fiber and no courage. They fell prey to images of a selfish American a selfish America. And my, did they make a huge mistake, because this Nation will defend ourselves and freedom at any price. It is too precious a gift it is too precious a gift for future generations to give up to terrorists. You know, I laid out an initiative that said, "You're either with us, or you're against us either you stand with America to defend freedom, so that you can grow up and your children can grow up in a society, in a civilized world that values individual freedoms." And most nations of the world chose to be with us. And for that, our Nation is grateful. I also said that if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you try to encourage a terrorist, you're just as guilty as those who murdered thousands of innocent Americans. And the Taliban has found out exactly what we meant. I am so proud of our United States military. Many of you who have got relatives in the military, you need to tell them how proud I am of their service and of their sacrifice and of their dedication. We went into Afghanistan not as conquerors but as liberators. It's hard for you to believe, I'm certain, that Afghanistan, when it was taken over by the Taliban a government that sponsored terrorism, that allowed Al Qaida killers to hide and train in their country would not allow young girls to go to school. It's hard for any American to understand how barbaric this regime was. We didn't go in as conquerors. We went in as liberators, and now women and children are free from the clutches of these barbaric people. People say, "Well, how long is this going to last?" And the answer is, for however long it takes to make sure America is secure. People say, "Well, the hard part is over with." And my answer is, "No. It's not." We're just beginning as we learned recently that there's an Al Qaida a group of Al Qaida killers in a mountainous region in Afghanistan. And when we find them bunched up and we find where they are, you can rest assured the United States and our coalition are going to hunt them down, that these are people that, if we allow to go free, could easily come back and harm the American citizens. And so we sent teams in and there is some serious combat as I speak and lives are lost. And we send our prayers and tears to those whose families have lost life. But I want to assure the students who are here and the loved ones of those military, defending freedom is a noble cause, and it is a just cause. And so long as I am the President of the United States, I will pursue those who want to hurt America and who want to take away our freedoms. I'm confident that over time, we'll prevail. I'm confident that this mighty Nation has got the patience and the determination and the will to succeed. And when we do, the world will be better off. And I'm confident that we can do what we need to do here at home to make sure every child is educated. It is so important that we achieve that objective. I was fortunate enough to be the President at a time when the people in Congress realized that maybe with a little bit of my persuasion that we needed to reform our school system. And I signed an historic reform bill. It was one of those wonderful moments in Washington where a group of us put aside our party politics said, "It's okay to be a Republican it's okay to be a Democrat. But what's most important is to function on what's best for America." And we got a bill done. It's a good piece of education reform that says that in America, we believe in educating every child each and every child and that we must bring high hopes and high standards to every school and every neighborhood all across America. As a result of this bill, parents will know whether their child or their child's school is succeeding in meeting that ambitious goal, because schools will have to test and publish the results. From now on, teaching reading will be the first priority of every elementary school in America. My friend Phyllis Hunter put it best The new civil right in America is teaching every single child to read. And from now on, schools in low income neighborhoods will have the same high expectations as everybody else. These reforms were passed in Washington, but the success of the reform will ultimately come down to the teacher in the classroom. There are a lot of really great teachers in America. I know you've got a lot of really great teachers here. But we want to make sure there is a great teacher in every classroom. And it starts by making sure that teachers coming out of teacher schools know how to teach the subjects that they're going to take into the classroom. Interestingly enough, now, about 35 States require new teachers to take an exit exam an entrance exam into the teaching profession to make sure that they can pass the test in the subject they teach. Sometimes, the standard is so low that all you have to do is answer half the questions, and you're in. That doesn't make sense to me, and you know, it doesn't make sense to good teachers. Teachers want their profession to have the highest of high standards. And so in order to make sure every school has got a teacher, we're going to work with the States to make sure that the exit exams, those exams for teachers being going into the teaching ranks, exiting college, have high standards, that they can pass a test in the subject they're going to teach, and that every teacher be licensed or certified. Every public school teacher in America must demonstrate competence in his or her field of instruction. If we want to have a teaching profession that is held in high regard, we must have confidence in the teacher colleges and those coming into the teacher ranks that they can do the job expected of them. We owe it to the parents, and most of all, we owe it to the students. We also understand what a good teacher can accomplish in a young life. Our new economy demands higher and higher skills, and good teachers provide those skills. But it's only one part of the teacher's job. Just as life is more than a race to the riches and life should be more than a race to the riches education is more than a search for skills. Look, you probably have already forgotten the isosceles triangle or photosynthesis. Laughter But hopefully you did learn how to try hard and how to work hard and how to take pride in your work, exactly what your teachers are teaching you. You learn to study, and you learn to communicate, and you learn to appreciate the living truth of history and literature. A good teacher instills a sense of your own possibilities, along with your willingness to respect other people. We ask a lot of our teachers. We expect them to teach knowledge and skills. We expect them to welcome measurement and accountability. We expect them to have sound character, and we expect them to teach by example. And the teachers have a right to expect certain things in return. They have a right to expect every child will come to school ready to learn and that good manners and respect for teachers will be taught at home. And that's the responsibility of moms and dads. After all, a parent is a child's first teacher. And when the children show up for school, they should already know the basics of good manners and good discipline. Teachers are also entitled to expect some things from government. As we raise the expectations of our schools, we must give our schools the tools to succeed. As we ask more of our teachers, we must take their side. We must be their allies, and all of us, all around America, must give them the support they need to do their jobs. My administration is supporting teachers in getting the training they need to raise educational standards. We have appropriated nearly 3 billion made available to States to recruit, to prepare, and to train teachers. That is more than a 35 percent increase over last year's budget. This is the greatest Federal commitment to quality teachers and principals. And it's important, and it's necessary if we're going to achieve the reforms inherent in the No Child Left Behind bill. Much of the training will focus on specific needs, like special education and math and science instruction and early reading. The truth of the matter is, if we don't teach the children to read, they're not going to understand math and science. We have got to make sure our elementary school teachers have the skills and tools necessary to teach every child in America how to read. And that means starting in preschool, and that means making sure that the preschool teachers know what works. And that's why I heralded Mark Yudof. Listen, reading is a science. Mark said, "Well, explain what you mean by reading is a science."' That means, teach what works. We know what works. Some reading programs sound good, but they don't work. Let's use curriculum that actually works. Phonics works, and it needs to be an integral part of the reading curriculum all around America. And so one of the things we're doing is setting up a clearinghouse of the most recent and reliable information on what works so that districts and teachers can access information and, if need be, change curriculum so that standards are met and no children are simply shuffled through the school system because they may seem to be hard to educate. So there's money in the budget for training, retention, and recruitment, and we'll also support teachers by welcoming more talent and experience into the ranks. Over the next decade, school districts will need to hire 2.2 million teachers. And we must recruit new teachers. And we must remind people, if you're looking for something to do that will have an incredible impact on people's lives, think about, when you go to college, getting a teacher's certificate think about going into the classroom. It is such a noble and important profession. But there are also other ways to attract. For example, I'm a strong supporter, as is the administration, for a program called Teach for America, which recruits and trains outstanding college graduates to teach for at least 2 years in our neediest public schools. We're increasing funding for a program called Transition for Teaching, a program that puts professionals like lawyers and accountants and scientists into public school classrooms and give them the teacher training they need. I'm also committed to expanding a great program called Troops to Teachers, which encourages military personnel, upon retirement, to get into the classroom, to bring the skills they have learned in the defense of the United States to the children of the United States. These are programs all aimed at recruiting people, encouraging people, and giving people the skills necessary to enjoy one of life's most noble professions, teaching children. My administration will support teachers who are committed to educating disadvantaged students. Education education is the surest way out of poverty. Children who live in low income neighborhoods can succeed, absolutely, but they need people willing to teach them. Many schools in high poverty areas are having trouble finding filling the teacher vacancies. So we'll help them by expanding student loan forgiveness for teachers willing to teach math, science, and special education in these schools for at least 5 years. Right now our Government forgives up to 5,000 in student loans. If someone is willing to teach math, science, or special ed in a school that is having trouble recruiting teachers, then we ought to forgive up to 17,500 in student loans. I just met with Patrick Pelini. He's an English teacher at Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis. Here's what he said. He said that low income students are hungry to be taught. He said that mentoring and teaching students in his school has been a tremendously gratifying experience for Patrick. Let me tell you something This guy is committed. He is a solid citizen of your State. He is focused and dedicated on making sure every child gets educated. If he had any student loans, they ought to be forgiven. But the next Patricks ought to have their student loans forgiven, so that they end up teaching in these schools where it's having trouble recruiting teachers. It makes sense it's good public policy. And if we want to make sure no child is left behind, let's encourage really bright, smart people to head into those schools. We will support our teachers by allowing them to enforce discipline in the classrooms. So behave yourself. Laughter Albert Shanker said this he was a great advocate for teachers he said, "The amount of disruption in our schools is much larger than it needs to be because it's tolerated." He knew that learning only takes place in an atmosphere of order. And for the sake of the teachers, we must make sure they're in charge of their classrooms, and we took a huge step in that direction in the new bill I signed. And it's because of this Many teachers are wary of imposing discipline, because they might be sued. Somebody might file a lawsuit against them. Well, because of what we call the teacher protection law, teachers and principals and other school professionals can take reasonable actions to maintain order and discipline in the classroom without the fear of being hauled into court. We are taking frivolous lawsuits out of the learning process and empowering teachers to be able to maintain order in their classrooms. America is going to be a lot better off for this law I signed, and so will the teaching profession. One of the interesting initiatives that I hope Congress passes is this one Committed teachers oftentimes have to buy supplies for their students out of their own pocket. The average across the Nation is 400 per teacher. And yet they cannot deduct that from their income taxes. Look, if a business person can take somebody out to lunch and deduct it, teachers ought to be allowed to deduct the supplies they purchase for their classrooms. And finally, I understand that all wisdom isn't in Washington, DC. As a matter of fact there is some wisdom there. Laughter But if you're interested in quality education, if you really want to make a huge difference in making sure the public schools meet the high standards and high objectives, you've got to trust the local people to make the right decisions for the schools. You've got to trust the parents and teachers and principals and school board members in order to chart the path for excellence. And part of that means giving school districts and States the flexibility to spend Federal money on what they need the most. Some districts will provide incentives for new teachers. If you're having trouble attracting a teacher, you can use your Federal monies to attract teachers. Some will want to spend more money on teacher development. Many districts may want to use it to increase teacher pay. Flexibility with Federal money will help local folks meet the needs in order to chart the path for excellence, so every child learns. And so in Washington, we're working to enhance the professionalism of the teacher ranks and in reminding America what a noble profession teaching is. We talk about teacher training and teacher recruitment and teacher authority and local control of schools. I want the teachers here to know how much I respect what you do and how I appreciate the effort and care and compassion you show on a daily basis. One of the young teachers in there said, "You know, I decided that I wanted to teach instead of trying to get rich." That attitude is a fabulous attitude for America. It's really what I think is going to come out of this attack by the evil people. I think we're all beginning to take a hard look at the value of life, why we're here on the face of the Earth. You know, today we've got a guy named Will Gove with us. Will is right here. Let me tell you something about Will. Can I say your age? Eighty three, World War II vet, social entrepreneur. Here's a guy I think he said he could sit around the 19th hole drinking martinis if he wanted to. Laughter Was it martinis or beer? Anyway, instead, he builds soccer fields. Instead, he reads newspaper articles so that blind folks can get the news. Instead, he is a mentor. Instead, this guy is a soldier in the army of compassion, which exists all across America. Will, I want to thank you for your example, for your living example of someone who puts his heart and soul into making our community a better place, someone who understands that you ought to love somebody just like you want to be loved yourself, that a complete life is one that is much greater than simple materialism. The enemy hit us. They thought we were a materialistic society. But they didn't know we were made up of Wills. They didn't know, truly, what the fabric of our country was made out of. You know, one of the things that I hear a lot of youngsters asking is, "What can I do in the war against terror? What can I do to be a part of my Nation's efforts to defend freedom?" Well, let me tell you what you can do. You can make somebody's life better off. You can walk into a shut in's house on a daily basis and say, "What can I do to help you?" You can mentor a child. You can go to your church or your synagogue or your mosque, and you can put together a food drive. You can make somebody's life better. In order to stand up in the face of evil, you can do something good. It's the millions of acts of kindness and decency and compassion that define America and stand strong in the face of evil. USAfreedomcorps.gov is a place where you can go if you're interested in serving somebody greater than yourself, a cause greater than yourself, to help somebody in need. If you want to figure out some way to enrich your life, think about being a teacher, or think about following the example of Will. If you want to do something, think about my friend Mary Copeland, who runs a prayer service, who understands the importance of faith in people's lives. With faith in people's lives, you can kick drugs and alcohol, and you can realize a better tomorrow. What I'm saying to the students is, you're fortunate enough to live in a great nation, a nation not defined by its Government but a nation defined by values that we hold dear and a nation defined by the hearts and souls of decent and loving and caring people. I'm proud of our country. I'm optimistic of our future. And I'm honored to be the President of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. God bless you all. Thank you all very much. March 01, 2002 Thank you very much. Please be seated. It's an unbelievable honor for a guy from Midland, Texas, to be back in Iowa. Laughter As I recall, it started here, and I want to thank you all. I want to thank you for your support, and I want to thank you for coming out to support Tom Latham. And I want to thank you for your support for the Iowa Republican Party. And I want to thank you for that warm welcome. It's an honor to be back in your great State. I too want to extend our most heartfelt sympathies to Katie Roth. As you know, Luke was ran my campaign here in the primaries. I remember him as a joyous, fine, solid American. I talked to Katie the other day on the phone. I assured her the prayers of Iowa and Luke's friends are with her, and I know you join me, I hope, in praying for God's blessings on Katie and the family. Somebody said to me the other day, "Do you plan on campaigning? You're the President of all the people." I said, "Sure I am. When I find somebody good, I'm going to help them." And Tom Latham is a good, good United States Congressman. You bet I'm going to campaign. I'm going to campaign for a party that holds the values that I hold dear to my heart of heralding the individual and limiting the size and scope of Government, recognizing that all wisdom is not in Washington, DC, but is in local governments and individuals, recognizing that we must have a strong national defense to secure freedom. I am. I'm going to campaign. I want Denny Hastert to be the Speaker of the House, and I want Tom Latham returned to the United States Congress. And I want to thank you all for coming to help, and I appreciate your generosity. I also want to thank Kathy Latham for her patience and her support of Tom. And like me, Tom married above himself. Laughter Thank you for being here, Kathy. Speaking about marrying above myself, Laura is doing great. As you may remember, she was a public school librarian when I married her. She really wasn't interested in politics or politicians, and now she is a fabulous First Lady for the United States of America. She sends her greetings. I'm going to see her here in a while, and I look forward to telling her that I saw a lot of our friends in Iowa today at lunch. I also want to thank Elaine Chao. You know, one of the ways you judge a President is what kind of team does he put together. And as you've seen, I've put together a fabulous national security team, a team of experienced hands and people who are willing to express their opinion, willing to work for what's best for America. And I've also put together a great domestic team as well. And one of those members is Elaine Chao, who is the Secretary of Labor, and I want to thank you for coming, Elaine. I see the party chairman Chuck, thank you for coming here. I got to know Larson on the campaign trail. Never did I realize he'd be elevated to such a high standing in life. Laughter But now that he is, I hear that he's doing a great job. So Mr. Chairman, thank you for taking on a leadership role. I love your enthusiasm, and I love your zest for life. I think Bob Ray is here. He set the standard for what it means to be a Governor. Terry Branstad, I understand, was going to be here as well. If so, thanks for coming. There, Branstad, how are you? Hi, Bob. Thank you all for coming. It's good to see you both again. I know Mary Kramer told me she was coming, and I know the speaker is here and others from the State House. Mary, how are you? Again, thank you, Speaker. I want to thank you all for being here. I was back met some folks back there, and this tall giant walked through. He said, "I used to mow down the Texas Rangers on a regular basis." And I said, "You're not Cal Eldred, are you?" He said, "Yes, I am." I said, "Well, I'm sorry to see you again." Laughter But I'm glad to see him here. Where are you, Cal? There he is. Thanks for coming, Cal. I appreciate your being here. I know you're sorry to be out of baseball, but Ranger fans are glad you are. Laughter At any rate, thank you all for coming. Let me tell you a couple things about Tom Latham that it's important for those who might be undecided to listen to. One, he's on the Appropriations Committee. That's important, to be on the Appropriations Committee. It requires somebody who has got a little extra a little extra talent to be on that committee in the House of Representatives. It makes no sense for people in the congressional district in which he's seeking to replace somebody on the Appropriations Committee with somebody who's not. The Appropriations Committee is one of the most important committees there is in the United States Congress. And not only that, but he's got some accomplishments that I want to tout. One of them is and this is an important issue that faces the future of America he is a strong battler of illegal drugs. Methamphetamine, for example, has been a problem in the Midwest, a problem here in Iowa, and this good United States Congressman had the foresight and willingness to work to get a regional training center to fight methamphetamines. And I appreciate that very much, Tom, and so do the people of Iowa, and they've got to remember that when it gets ready to go into the polls. As you know, in Washington we've got a lot of talkers. And what you need to do is herald the doers, the people who can get things done. One of the interesting issues, as you know, that obviously faces Iowans and I learned this firsthand, of course is the agricultural economy here. The farm bill is working its way through, and Tommy Latham understands a couple of points that are important. One, we need a safety net, but we don't want to encourage overproduction. We want a wise farm policy, and part of that wise farm policy is to make sure that we open up markets for trade. The Iowa farmers are the best farmers in the world. And it makes sense if you're the best farmer in the world if you're the best in the world, you want to be able to sell more, not sell less. And so when I was in China recently, I made it very clear to the Chinese officials with whom I met that they need to honor obligations and open up their markets, starting with soybeans from the United States of America. Those protectionist voices in Washington must not understand the Iowa farm community. The more product we sell, the better off it is for the Iowa farmer, and Tom Latham understands that. He also understands, and I understand, the importance of value added processing when it comes to agricultural products. I told the good people in Iowa, when I campaigned here, I supported ethanol. I supported ethanol as the nominee of the party, I supported ethanol as a candidate, and I support ethanol as the President of the United States. But there are some other things we ought to do. We ought to do what Tom Latham has suggested and has done, which is to encourage more research and development between the Energy Department and the Ag Department, so that we can fully explore the potential of biomass. One thing you'll hear me talk a lot about is we need less dependency on foreign sources of energy. And there would be nothing better than to be able to grow our way out of that dependency. But it requires leadership, and Tom Latham has provided that leadership for the good of Iowa, as well as for the good for the Nation. And finally, an issue that he spends a lot of time thinking about and working on and talking to me about, is to make sure that there is equity for rural hospitals, particularly when it comes to Medicare reimbursements. My point to the people of Iowa is that this is an accomplished man and a smart man who has got the interest of his district in his heart. And it makes a lot of sense, if you care about the future of Iowa forget political party, if you care about the future of Iowa to send this good man back to Washington, DC, come November. And one other thing I like about him is he understands that the budget I sent up to Washington, DC up in Washington, that prioritizes our national defense, is the right priority for the country. We're defending freedom, and I sent a budget up there that says, we're going to set a priority for defending freedom. And the Congress ought to pass that budget. It ought to recognize that the price for defending freedom is high, but whatever it takes, we ought to spend because our freedom is precious and dear. This Nation has sent men and women who wear our uniform into battle to defend freedom, and they have performed brilliantly. But if we send them into battle, they deserve the best training, the best supplies, the best equipment. They deserve another pay raise. And Congress needs to fully fund the military and defense budget I sent up to both the Senate and the House because we're in for a long struggle. You know, I told the American people that this was a new kind of war. The enemy hit us. We've never been attacked like that before on the continental 48, and we realized that we're in a new era. And that's going to require patience of the American people, because we're chasing down a kind of a faceless enemy, an enemy who sends young men to die on suicide missions and they, themselves, try to hide in caves. But you need to know how determined I am to defend America and our freedom. It doesn't matter how deep the cave is. It doesn't matter where the cave is. We're going to find them. We're going to slowly but surely hunt them down and bring them to justice. In the course of this war, I laid out some doctrines that are pretty darn clear. One of them is, if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you provide aid or comfort to a terrorist, you are just as guilty as the terrorist. And the Taliban found out exactly what we meant. Our military took on a tough mission to uphold that doctrine, and it was a dangerous mission, and they performed brilliantly. We're not conquerors we showed the world we're liberators. We liberated people from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. I cannot tell you how proud I was to see the joy on the faces of women and little girls in Afghanistan with the realization that this mighty Nation has freed them to realize their dreams. I also made it clear to the world that either you are with us, or you're against us, that either you're with the United States in defending freedom, or you're not with the United States in defending freedom. And a lot of people have heard that Nation, and they're proud to sign up with us. And we've got a vast coalition, as we're hunting down the Al Qaida. We've had over 1,000 arrests in places outside of Afghanistan. I mean, we're slowly but surely doing what we need to do to protect the homeland. And the coalition understands our determination, and they see our resolve. I'm proud of the patience of the American people. The American people recognize the new type of war we're in. They understand that sometimes they'll see the action of the United States Government and sometimes we won't. But they also understand we must be strong and diligent as we defend freedom, because that's what we defend. I made it clear that this is a war beyond just a single individual. One guy thinks he can hide, but he's not going to. We haven't heard much from him lately, by the way. Laughter But we fight terror wherever it exists. And this is for the good of our children. History has called us into action, and we must not and we will not blink. It's a chance to define freedom for future generations. I made it clear that a scenario which I will not let stand is one in which a terrorist organization could team up with a nation that has had a history of mistreating her people, a nontransparent nation perhaps, a nation that is known to be developing weapons of mass destruction. We cannot let, for the sake of our children and grandchildren, terrorist organizations team up with nations that want to develop weapons that can be delivered from long distances that will hurt ourselves, our friends, and our allies. We're not going to let the world's worst regimes develop the worst weapons and threaten the United States of America. We're doing everything at home to defend the homeland. We've got a good strategy in place. It starts, by the way, with having the best intelligence possible, gathering intelligence from all around the world, disseminating on a quick basis, and following every lead and every hint. If we get any kind of whiff that somebody is trying to do something to the American people, we're moving. We've got thousands of FBI agents whose major task, primary focus, is on preventing an attack. We're doing a much better job of coordinating with State and local authorities. We've got a national strategy in place to make our borders more secure, to make our Nation more responsive to a potential bioterrorist attack. I mean, we're making good progress, and our budget reflects that. But the best way to secure the homeland is to be relentless in our pursuit against terrorists, and that's exactly what's going to happen, so long as I'm the President of the United States. You know, I remember campaigning in Chicago, and somebody said, "Would you ever spend a deficit?" And I said, "Only if we're at war or we had a recession or there was a national emergency." Little did I realize we'd get the trifecta. Laughter It's going to be important for Congress to fund the priorities. But in order to make sure whatever deficit we have is short lived, they better hold the line on the rest of the budget. And that's why the President has the veto pen. It's important for there to be fiscal discipline in Washington, DC, right now. Our economy is, as you know, has been sputtering. And thankfully, the Congress, working with me, did a smart thing. Last March, we cut the taxes on the people who pay the bills in America. Actually, I think it took place a little later than March. Last year, we cut the taxes. It happened at the exact right time. You see, in order to stimulate economic vitality and growth, when we give people their own money back, it enhances demand, which causes more production, which creates job stability. Now, there are some in Washington that have been mumbling beneath their breath that maybe they think they want to prevent the rest of the tax relief package from going through. I do not know what economic textbook they're reading. One thing you don't do is raise taxes in the middle of a recession. In order to stimulate growth, you trust the American people with their own money, and that's what we did. I appreciate Latham's vote on that matter, and I'm going to hold the line when it comes to tax relief. And I can remember standing on farms in Iowa, standing by a generation of farmers, saying one of the worst things that can happen to the Iowa agricultural economy is the death tax. We need to get rid of the death tax, and I'm proud to report the death tax is on its way to extinction. I hope Congress gives me a trade bill so I can open up markets. I hope Congress gives me an energy bill so we become less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil and can conserve more energy. I hope Congress gives me a stimulus package that not only takes care of workers who lost their jobs but recognizes that people want more than an unemployment check they want a permanent paycheck. And we need to stimulate economic activity by encouraging more plant and equipment more investment in plant and equipment. The House has acted. The Senate has stalled. It's time to get some of these important measures to my desk so we can make progress in the country. I, like everybody else in America, was heartsick on 9 11. I mean, I can't tell you how sad I was, just like you, and then I got a little angry. And then I realized upon reflection that out of this evil was going to come some good, and it has. Out of this terrible evil, we have a chance to keep the peace for a long time coming, and we will. And out of this evil, this Nation has shown the world what a compassionate, kind place we are. I always used to say that one of my hopes was that this Nation's culture would shift from one that said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else," to a culture which says, "Each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life." Unbeknownst to the evildoers, I think they've helped accelerate that cultural change. I know millions of Americans are asking the question, "What can I do to fight terror? What is it I can do to fight evil?" And they're beginning to realize what I know, that in order to fight evil, do something good. In order to stand square in the face of evil, this good Nation, through the millions of acts of kindness that take place on a daily basis, stands opposite of evil. And as a result of neighbors looking after neighbors, of people caring for somebody in need, of somebody loving their neighbor like they'd like to be loved themselves, people understand there's a new responsibility to be had. Mothers and dads know that the most important job they will ever have is to love their children is to love their children. Churches and synagogues and mosques, who have these fantastic neighborhood healing programs, need to be unleashed in America through the faith based initiative that I have proposed. You see, Government shouldn't fear faith. We ought to welcome faith and the power of faith to change people's lives in a very positive way. You know, I was working the ropeline over there at the retirement plan ceremony, and I ran into a guy I met in Colfax, Iowa, from Teen Challenge. It was a fantastic experience during the course of the caucuses because it gave me a chance to explain to people what I meant when how faith changes life. But I'll never forget the heroin addict from Chicago standing up and saying he was clean because a power greater than himself entered into his heart. These kinds of programs Government can't create. But these kind of programs exist in America because of the goodness of America. And this society is changing, as we unleash this compassion, as people understand that part of being responsible is not only responsible for your own family but responsible for loving a neighbor. And it's taking place in the country, and it's so powerful and positive, that leads me to say that out of this evil is going to come a stronger, more decent, more humble society. There's defining moments that take place in our history, and I think a defining moment was Flight 93, when people on an airplane, on cell phones, told their wives they loved them, said a prayer, and drove a plane into the ground to save somebody's life, to serve something greater than yourself. It's the ultimate testimony to the American character and the American spirit which defines this Nation for what it is, the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. And I am really proud to be its President. God bless. March 01, 2002 The President. I want to thank Bill and the employees here at Printers for sharing with me their thoughts on the advantages and the importance of 401(k) plans. The 401(k) plan allows a person to invest his or her own money in a savings account which will enhance their asset base in their retirement years. We talked about how important it is to have an ownership society, where people own assets. We talked about the importance of 401(k) plans for small businesses in America. And Bill very wisely has set up a really constructive and interesting plan, one of which the owners the whole concept is that this is the workers' money, that this is Diana's money or Judy's money, and they ought to be trusted in the management of that money. And that's what this plan does here, it gives instant access to the web site. They can make investment decisions, obviously, within the guidelines of the law. Now, there are some reforms that are necessary for privately held businesses, such as allowing for more investment advice to the workers, without fear of being sued. But they've got a very constructive plan here. I want to thank Bill and thank you all for sharing with me the vibrancy of your 401(k) plan. A little later on I'm going to talk again about some of the reforms we're proposing in Congress, as well as some of the expansions to the 401(k) that we enacted into law during the last during the tax debate. I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . War on Terrorism Q. Mr. President, what did you make of Senator Daschle's comments yesterday with the war Mullah Omar and Usama bin Laden are still out there? The President. Well, I think most Americans understand that it's going to it's going to take a while to achieve all our objectives, that by far the vast majority of Americans are patient. They know, when you're looking for one person who may be hiding in a cave, it may take a while. But what Usama bin Laden has got to understand, if we haven't already gotten him I don't know where he is. But I think he now understands that this patient and determined Nation is going to hunt him down, that he can't hide long enough. And the other point I'd like to make is, as I've said repeatedly and most Americans understand this as well that our war against terror is far greater than one person, that in order to defend freedom and protect our children and our children's children, that we must rout out terror wherever it tries to hide. And that's why we are working with our coalition on an active basis to deny safe harbor, to disrupt financial plans. And the American people are beginning to see that we have been active beyond Afghanistan. We've obviously got activities interested Philippines, activities in Georgia. And we're hunting him down. And I'm real proud of our military. We've been at this for about 6 months, and we've been very successful in a quick period of time. Continuity of Government Yemen Q. Mr. President, is there a shadow Government in place since September 11th? And The President. A shadowy Government or a shadow Government? Laughter Q. A shadow Government. And as part of the antiterror effort, are you considering granting some form of aid to Yemen? The President. Let's see, there are two questions there. The first one is, we have we take the continuity of Government issue very seriously, because our Nation was under attack. And I still take the threats that we receive from Al Qaida killers and terrorists very seriously. I have an obligation as the President, and my President has an obligation to the American people to provide to put measures in place that, should somebody be successful in attacking Washington, DC, there's an ongoing Government. That's one reason why the Vice President was going to undisclosed locations. This is serious business, and we take it seriously. As far as Yemen goes, Yemen is a country that I've had a very good discussion with the President of Yemen. I made it clear to him, as well as other Presidents of nations, that you're either with us, or you're not with us, and that if you're with us, we expect results. I don't know if you remember my speech to the United Nations, where I said, "Thanks for all the condolences and flowers now is the time for action" that if you're a part of our coalition, we expect you to work diligently and work hard to arrest Al Qaida killers. Al Qaida members are people who aid and abet Al Qaida. And the Yemen Government is responding. I've oftentimes asked, what about you know, what are the particulars you're doing, in a particular government? I'm not going to talk about ongoing operations. I will just tell you that wherever we find an Al Qaida presence, we work with the government to rout them out. In other words, this war against terror is far broader than Afghanistan, and we're making good progress. National Energy Policy Development Group Q. Sir, some of the legal actions seeking documents from the energy task force have been successful. It looks like some of the documents are going to be released. Are you concerned The President. That's fine with me. Q. Are you concerned about some of the information that's out there? The President. No. Q. Will it raise doubts about your energy plan? The President. Not at all, no. I'm not concerned at all. As a matter of fact, I hope the Energy Department gets the documents out there as quickly as they possibly can. I am concerned, though, about a Congress trying to make privileged the private conversations the President or the Vice President has. In other words, I receive advice, and in order for people to give me sound advice, that information ought not to be public. Somebody is not going to walk into the Oval Office thinking that the conversation is going to be public and give me good, sound advice. And therefore, when the GAO overstepped its bounds to try to get advice given to the Vice President and me, we resisted. But in terms of the honoring the FOIA request, the freedom of information request to our Departments, in which different groups are legally entitled to do, you bet. And we received interesting advice from a lot of people on our energy plan. First of all, we're the first administration to put forth an energy plan. And this Nation needs an energy plan. The more dependent we are on foreign sources of crude oil, the less secure our Nation will be. And it's about time somebody stepped forth with an energy plan. And we listened to energy companies, which seems to make sense. If you're developing an energy plan, one place to start is to listen to people who know something about the business. We also listened to environmental groups. We listened to people that were concerned about how to create more conservation. And the end result was a plan that is now public, and every American has got the capacity to pick it up and read it and decide whether they think it makes sense or not. The House of Representatives evidently thought so, because they passed the bill. And for the good of the country, the Senate needs to pass an energy bill that encourages conservation, exploration, and modernizes the capacity and the abilities of the country to move electricity from one part of the country to the next. Last question. Continuity of Government Q. Sir, back to the issue of the shadow Government. The reports out today said that one reason why the shadow Government was authorized was that there was a threat of nuclear attack by Al Qaida. Is that something that is still a significant threat? The President. We take every threat seriously. And until this country has routed out terrorists wherever they try to hide, we're not safe. Now, we're doing everything we can to protect the American people, and the American people understand that. They know that our Federal law enforcement, State law enforcement, local law enforcement are working day and night to protect the American people. I'm proud of the efforts. I believe I know we've made America a tougher place to attack than before. It is much harder for somebody to get on an airplane to attack again. We are taking you know, we've got better intelligence gathering. We're doing everything in our power to protect the American people. And I will tell you, there are people still in this world who want to harm America. And we're going to chase them down. And it's going to take a while. But I am a determined person, and as I told the American people, I'm not going to relent. I believe we've been called by history to lead the world. I believe this great, strong, compassionate country has been given a unique moment. And I'm not going to miss the moment, by leading the world to a more freedom loving world. And the American people understand that, and they're solid behind this administration's efforts to defend freedom. Thank you. March 01, 2002 Well, thanks for that warm welcome. It's nice to be back in Iowa. I spent some quality days here in Iowa. Laughter I used to tell people that Iowa was the friendliest State that I campaigned in, and I want to thank you for the hospitality, coming back as your President. I appreciate the Governor being here. Governor, thanks for taking time. We had the honor of hosting the Governors the national Governors at the White House last Sunday night. I'd just gotten in from China, rented my tux, and had the Governors over. Laughter But it was good to see your Governor, and thanks for being here. I'm honored you're here. And I also appreciate so many friends and members of the Iowa House who are here. I see my friend Mary Kramer. I see the speaker. I want to thank you both for coming. I want to thank all the members. I hope the Governor is doing everything you tell him to do. Laughter That's not the way it's supposed to work. I appreciate very much Leonard Boswell, the Congressman, for being here, and I want to appreciate my friend Tom Latham as well, for traveling with me two fine Members of the United States Congress. Anyway, I thank all the elected officials for coming. I appreciate a chance to say hello. I also want to thank the Benskins for inviting me here. I didn't realize Bill I guess the employees probably didn't realize it either he's such a silver tongued devil. Laughter But I appreciate so very much the chance to visit with Bill and some of the employees. Let me tell you what my first impression is, is that this is a company that deeply cares about the people who work here. And Bill and Marty understand that if you treat the folks that work with you well, you'll more likely have a good product, that if you care about the future of the people who are doing the work for your company, the company is going to have a culture of success. And I could feel that instantly when I came here, and I want to congratulate the Benskins. See, small business is the lifeblood of the American economy. Most new jobs are created in small businesses. I'm a big believer in the entrepreneurial spirit. I'm a big believer in understanding that the role of Government is not to create wealth but an environment in which small businesses can flourish and people like the Benskins can realize their dream and, in turn, provide good, steady, honorable employment for the people who work in this company. So I want to thank you for giving me a chance to come and talk about security. Before I talk about retirement security, I see people wearing our uniform the uniform and I've got to talk about national security from a defense perspective. I submitted a budget to the United States Congress that sets this priority We will defend freedom at any cost. The budget I submitted says basically this If you wear the uniform of the United States of America and you're fighting to defend our freedom, you deserve the best equipment, the best training, another pay raise. And Congress best heed that call. We're in for a long and difficult struggle when it comes to fighting terrorists. It's long and difficult because, unlike other wars, these kind of faceless folks, nameless folks hide and burrow into countries that may be weak. They hide in the caves. These are the kinds of people who send young advocates, young believers to their suicide, and they, themselves, hide. When they attacked our country, they really didn't understand America. They thought we were soft. They thought we had a culture that was so materialistic that nobody in this land would be willing to sacrifice for something greater than ourselves. And they made a huge mistake. I made it absolutely clear to the world, a couple of points One, that if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists who attacked America, and you'll be held accountable. And that's exactly what happened to the Taliban. They wish they'd never heard of America. But our country showed up not as conquerors but as liberators. Our United States military liberated a nation from the most barbaric one of the most barbaric regimes history has shown, and now young girls get to go to school, and women are free. And I can't tell you how proud I am of the efforts of the United States military in Afghanistan. I also made it clear to our coalition and our country that this is a new kind of war, that we've got to think about our children's future, that we can't rest until we have routed out terrorists wherever they try to hide, wherever they think they can accumulate and gather to hurt us again. Listen, we're doing everything we can to protect the homeland of the country. Our law enforcement is on alert. Our FBI has got thousands of agents now chasing down every possible lead, every hint. Every opportunity to make the country safe, we're seizing it. We've got a national strategy in place to have a good first time responders initiative. I know the Governor is working on that, along with local law enforcement officials, to make sure that if we're attacked, there is a good response mechanism in place. We're working on a bioterrorism initiative. We're strengthening our borders. We're going to have a better understanding of who's coming in and who's going out of the United States of America. And we've got better intelligence sharing. We're doing everything we can. But the best way to secure the homeland is to chase down those that would harm us and bring them to justice, and that is precisely what the United States of America is going to do. It doesn't matter how long it takes it doesn't matter where we have to go. We will protect freedom, and this administration will protect the innocent lives of American citizens. I'm confident the congressional appropriators will not let our military down and will not let the American people down, because the American people are united and patient and strong and prepared to defend freedom. I can't tell you how proud I am of our country, how proud I am of those who understand the task ahead. I also understand that part of my job is to battle a recession, and I spent a lot of time here in Iowa talking about the need for tax relief. And we passed tax relief right about the right time, because the best way to battle an economic slowdown is to get people your own money back so you can spend it. And as you spend it, it encourages new products and jobs. There are some in Washington who want to argue that we shouldn't go on with tax relief that we passed. They're reading the wrong economic textbooks. They are mistaken. Tax relief is good for American workers, and tax relief is good for the American economy. I know we need to take care of workers whose lives were affected as a result of the terrorist attacks on America. We need to extend unemployment benefits, and we need to help with health care. And I've laid out an initiative to do that. The House of Representatives passed a good bill to do that. But people want more than an unemployment check in America they want a paycheck. And what people in Washington ought to be asking is how what do we do to create more jobs so people can find work what does it require? And one of the things that I think needs to happen is, we need a stimulus bill, an economic growth bill, a jobs bill that will encourage more investment in plant and equipment. If companies invest more in plant and equipment, companies are more likely to hire more workers. We need a stimulus bill out of Washington, DC. And we need a good farm bill to help with jobs. And I'm looking forward to working with Congress to get a good farm bill, one that recognizes a couple of things One, farming is an incredibly important part of our economy. It's a huge industry in America. And the more vibrant the farm economy is, the more vibrant our national economy will be. Secondly, we've got to think about value added processing when it comes to agriculture. I believe in ethanol. I believe ethanol is good for the quality of the air. I believe ethanol is important for the agricultural sector of our economy. I think it makes sense, and we've got to explore additional ways. We've got to have a farm bill that provides a safety net but doesn't encourage overproduction. And at the same time, we must open up markets for Iowa corn growers and soybean growers. When I was in China, I spent a lot of time talking to the Chinese leadership, saying, "Buy those Iowa soybeans. You said you would do so. Open your markets." Because the more markets are open around the world for food products, the more likely it is American farmers, who happen to be the best at growing food in the world, are going to be able to sell their products. We ought to be feeding the world because we're the best at growing food. And so I want a good farm bill, and I expect to get one here pretty quick. And I look forward to signing it. And also, we need an energy bill. Listen, we import over 50 percent of our energy from overseas. And that doesn't make sense. We have to do it because we're not conserving enough, nor we are producing enough. For the good of the national security of our country, we ought to encourage more exploration in an environmentally friendly way on American soil. We ought to be less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. And I also want to talk about retirement security today. And I came here not only because I wanted to herald the importance of small business in our society but because this company has a good 401(k) plan. A good 401(k) plan has got some features to it, one, that there is an encouragement for people to save. And Bill was telling me that one of the smart things they did was they put a certain amount of money in everybody's 401(k) plans to begin the process, and everybody said, "What is a 401(k) plan?" It got everybody's attention when they saw they had a little money, something set aside for them. A good plan is one that where the company says it's to your advantage to put as much money as you can away when you're younger and understand the power of compounding interest rates. In other words, watching that money grow on a tax free basis makes a lot of sense. And the workers here at The Printer, Inc., understand that. You see, we're going to have to encourage more savings in America because people are going to live longer lives. I mean, you and I, the baby boomers, if we behave ourselves, will live way beyond the average lifespan of 20 to 30 years ago. And I don't know about you, but I plan to be active after I've reached the so called retirement age. And therefore, it is to our advantage to start putting more money aside early so we've got more money to spend and to live on later on. And the 401(k) is a great way to encourage savings. And Bill was telling me, there's no guarantees, but on bonus years it goes in the 401(k)s, which is a way to encourage workers to pay attention to the plan. He also tells me that there's a web page designed for instant access to your money. This isn't the Government's money, by the way. This is your money this is the workers' money and you ought to be trusted with your own money. And a 401(k) recognizes who owns the money. And a good company is one that provides the instant access to accounting of your money, so you can see how it's growing. And then you have the option, obviously, within the law, to make investment decisions that you think is important. Now, one issue that I am concerned about is that a company like right here cannot offer sound investment advice, third party advice to the workers, because they're afraid to get sued. Now, that doesn't make any sense to me, that if on the one hand a business such as this sets up a 401(k) plan and encourages investment, that they can't bring a third party adviser to sit down with the workers, to give people objective advice as to what's happening in the marketplace or what makes sense, without fear of lawsuits. We've got too many lawsuits in our society, to begin with. And it doesn't make any sense to force workers not to be able to have good advice because somebody is afraid of getting sued. And so it seems like to me, it makes sense for Congress to help reform pension laws by making it easier for people such as Bill to get good advice for the workers, without fear of some junk lawsuit or some throwaway lawsuit. And so I'm proud of what's happening here in this company, and I know that we need to do more when it comes to encouraging savings. And we did some good stuff in the tax relief the tax cut tax relief bill I talked about last year. Let me tell you about some of the reforms we made to encourage others to save more. One, we relaxed the restrictions on how much workers can invest in their individual retirement accounts and 401(k) plans in other words, made it easier for people to invest. Two, it allows people over the age of 50 to catch up, to put more money into their retirement fund. And why would that happen? Well, somebody might have been laid off for a while. Or, if you happen to be a woman and you stayed at home for a while to raise your kids and came back into the workplace late, you ought to be allowed to catch up. You ought to be allowed to put more money in to make sure your 401(k) was sound and whole. We have as well, we've reduced the tax burden on small businesses who want to start a 401(k) plan. As Bill will tell you if you were to ask him, it's pretty expensive to start one of these plans. You've got to hire a lawyer you've got to hire an accountant. There are some startup costs. And a lot of small businesses take a look at the startup costs, and they say, "What the heck do I want to spend money on this for," and therefore don't. And the workers lose out on a fantastic opportunity. And so it makes sense for the Government to make it easier for the small businesses to be able to deduct the cost of such startups on the tax credit basis, so that we encourage more 401(k) plans in America and, therefore, encourage more savings. The more savings there are, as Americans grow older, the more likely it is we'll have a vibrant society where people are more productive, more happy, and more healthy. I also am deeply concerned about pension plan abuse. I'm worried about what's taking place, what we've seen in the newspapers here in America. First of all, there's such a thing as corporate responsibility. We've seen that here in this company, people responsible for the employees. Corporate America has a responsibility to disclose all the assets and liabilities of their companies. As well, we need to make sure that workers don't lose everything if their company were to fail. In other words, there needs to be some safeguards in some of these 401(k) plans, particularly as it relates to publicly traded companies. And let me cite some of the reforms I think that Congress ought to pass. First, workers would be free to sell any stock their company contributes to their retirement plan after participating for 3 years. In other words, if you've been a 3 year employee and your company has used stock as part of your retirement plan which, by the way, is a good thing. I hope Congress understands it's a good thing to encourage companies to contribute their own stock to their employees as part of an incentive plan. On the other hand, an employee ought to be able to sell that stock after she or he has worked there for a 3 year period of time. Secondly, they have what they call a blackout period sometimes, when they change a fund manager, for example. And here's what I believe ought to happen If there's a blackout period in which employees can't conduct transactions, first, an executive shouldn't be able to sell if the employee can't sell. What's good for the executive ought to be good for the employees in America. If the boss sells, so should everybody else. And if everybody else can't sell, the boss doesn't get to sell. There ought to be a guarantee that employees get to see at least quarterly reports on what's taking place in the 401(k) plans. Here, you get a minute by minute report. You know, the information flows so freely these days, it seems like it makes sense to give everybody instant access to what's going on in their accounts, and that's what ought to be happening. There ought to be, you know, at least quarterly reporting as well, as I mentioned, to make sure that small businesses have got an incentive to set up a plan, as well as liability protection against those employers who are anxious that there be as much information and as much knowledge passed between adviser and employee. The whole point is this We ought to do everything we can in Washington, DC, to encourage people to own a piece of the future. The more somebody owns something, the more somebody builds up an asset base, the better off America will be. And whether it be in Social Security or 401(k)s, we've got to understand the power of compounding interest, the importance of savings, and the beauty of ownership in the American society. And what a great society this is. America you know, when they hit us, they didn't realize that out of this terrible evil was going to come some good. Nobody nobody in America wishes what happened on 9 11 would ever occur again, of course. And we're still sad when we think of the events at least I am. But there's going to be some incredible good that comes out of this. The world will be more peaceful if we're strong and patient and resolved, and we will be. But as a result, I think our communities are going to be better. I think the American people have taken a good, hard look at what's important in life. They understand that loving your child, if you happen to be a mother or dad, is the most important job you'll ever have. America knows that. I like to tell people that, if you're interested in fighting evil and want to join in the war against terror, love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. It's what I call the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness which define America and which enable America to stand tall in the face of evil. It's all these acts of goodness that take place in our society. Right here in Des Moines, Iowa, somebody walks across the street on a daily basis and says to a shut in, "I love you. What can I do to help you?" It's that accumulation of all those acts which define our country. What a great nation we are. We're a strong nation we're a proud nation and we're showing the world we're a deeply compassionate nation as well. Out of evil will come good. They thought they hit a weak nation, but instead they found a strong, strong group of people, and I'm proud to be your President. God bless. February 28, 2002 Thank you all very much. I appreciate that warm welcome. It's a pleasure to be here with friends and those who are promoting an important cause, and that is promoting the security and dignity of Americans who are in retirement. Americans can help secure their own future by saving. Government must support policies that promote and protect saving. And saving is the path to independence for Americans in all phases of life, and we must encourage more Americans to take that path. I want to thank the Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao, for helping put on this conference, and I appreciate her service. I appreciate the Director of the Small Business Administration for being here Hector, thank you for coming. It is good to see at least one fellow Texan, Sam Johnson. I appreciate you being here, Sammy thank you for coming. And I appreciate Bill Roth, the former Senator from Delaware, for being here as well. Thank you, Senator, for coming today. Just over 100 years ago, at the turn of the last century, the average life expectancy in America was only 47 years. Today, that number has increased by three full decades. This amazing advance in the health of Americans is also profoundly changing our society. Americans who retire today may have decades decades of healthy life before them. This is time to volunteer, making seniors one of the greatest resources of compassion in America. This is time for family, to pass on values to grandchildren and to strengthen the bonds between grandparents and family members. And increasingly, retirement is a time of new beginnings, a time to travel and explore, a time to take up new hobbies, and a time to take up new careers. Some 80 percent of baby boomers I happen to be one laughter say they plan to work at least part time in retirement. And smart employers will be wise to use their experience and their competence. The choices seniors make in retirement should not be limited by arbitrary dates or obsolete stereotypes. Increasingly, the choices of seniors will only be limited by two things, the state of their health and the state of their savings. Because the nature of retirement is changing, the needs of retirement are changing as well. Older Americans now require a retirement nest egg large enough for decades of enjoyment and ambition. As medicine increases the length of life, adequate savings must increase the options we have on longer lives. Saving is never easy it's hard for some to do. But it's always worthwhile, particularly when you think about the power of compounding interest. The power of compound interest is one of the great advantages of American citizens, and they must learn to use it. If a worker starts saving just 20 a week at age 22 and earns a 5.5 percent real interest rate on the investment, that adds up to a nest egg of nearly 180,000 by age 65. This summit was created by Congress to educate workers and citizens about the power and rewards of saving, and I want to thank you for participating. You've accomplished a great deal, but there's much more to do. Americans are saving too little, often dangerously too little. The average 50 year old in America has less than 40,000 in personal financial wealth. The average American retires with only enough savings to provide 60 percent of his former annual income. This problem is especially acute for women and minorities. We must encourage, for all our people, the security and independence provided by savings. I want America to be an ownership society, a society where a life of work becomes a retirement of independence. Savings start as an individual responsibility, but Government can help by expanding the rewards of saving and by strengthening protections for saving. Last year, the Congress passed and I proudly signed powerful new incentives for retirement savings. Many of you in this room were involved in that effort, and I want to thank you. We relaxed the restrictions on how much workers can invest in their individual retirement accounts and 401(k) plans. Last year's tax relief plan allowed workers over the age of 50 to make overpayments to their retirement plans. This is especially important for women who take time out of the labor force to stay at home with their children. We passed some important reforms to give workers more choices and more rights. We created a new kind of 401(k) that allows workers to pay their taxes now and make tax free withdrawals when they retire, just like the way the Roth IRA works. And we required companies to vest their employees' retirement rights more quickly. Your retirement money becomes yours faster, now more than ever. And finally, we made it easier to roll over retirement savings from one account to another. We know that American workers change jobs more frequently today than they used to. This means that people are seeing opportunity, and they're seizing it. But if workers are going to move, their retirement savings need to move with them without unnecessary bureaucracy and unnecessary paperwork. Thanks to the 2001 tax relief program, our Tax Code is now friendlier to saving than it has been in a long time. Not only am I proud of cutting taxes, I'm proud of reforming the savings, and I'm proud of the good work that Congress did on this matter. But there's still more to do. Even when people are saving enough, they need to feel more secure about the laws protecting their savings. In recent months, we've seen how workers can lose a lifetime's worth of savings if their company were to fail. So my administration has proposed reforms to make sure that the money Americans put away in their working years grows safely, so it is available in their retirement years. More than 40 million workers own 401(k) accounts totaling over 1.8 trillion in assets. Many of these assets have been contributed by employers who match their workers' own savings. We know that employers contribute more when they have the option to give company stock as well as cash, and that option ought to remain as positive for American workers. But a worker should also have more freedom to choose how to invest their retirement savings. Companies that contribute stock to employee 401(k)s should not be permitted to lock their employees into owning that stock for years and years. My proposal will allow workers to sell company stock and diversify into other investment options after 3 years in their own company's plan. We need action to give workers the right to put their savings to put their eggs in more than one basket. Another important reform addresses the issue of blackouts, times when employees are not free to change or access their retirement accounts. When companies black out a pension plan, they temporarily take away a worker's freedom to choose for themselves. Workers should be given a 30 day notice before any blackout period begins, and company officers should not be allowed to sell their own company stock when workers cannot. What's fair on the top floor should be fair on the shop floor. To make good investment decisions, workers need sound advice and timely information. Employers should be required to provide updates on workers' retirement account values every 3 months. And we should change current law to remove the threat of lawsuits from employers who provide sound third party investment advice. All these measures will help build faith in America's pension system, and I urge Congress to act. I want to thank Senators Tim Hutchinson and Chuck Grassley and Representatives Boehner, Portman, and Cardin for their bipartisan efforts to put forward good, commonsense legislation that seeks to achieve many of these pension reform principles. Every American deserves to be an owner in the American Dream. That dream includes a sound pension plan and adequate private savings, and it is ultimately completed by Social Security reform. Some people like their Social Security exactly the way it is, and they'll be able to keep it exactly the way it is. But for younger workers who want to take advantage of the power of compounding interest, we should allow for personal retirement accounts. Today, Social Security is not a personal savings program. Retirees' benefits are paid directly from the taxes paid each year by current workers. The average return on Social Security is less than 2 percent. And in the long run, Social Security can pay retirees less than 30 percent of what they earned before retiring, and that's not good enough as we head into the 21st century. We can do better, and a lot of people know this. Someone retiring today after 45 years of work would be entitled to a monthly benefit of 1,128 a month from Social Security. If that same retiree if those Social Security taxes had been invested in the stock market over the last 45 years, during the same period of time, that person would now have a nest egg of 590,000, or income of more than 3,700 a month. Because there will be an expanding number of retirees for Social Security to support in the future, we must apply the power of savings, investing, and compound interest to the challenges of Social Security by introducing personal retirement accounts into the system. Americans would own these assets. After all, it is their money. They would see more retirement income, and that's necessary as people live longer lives. And as importantly, they would be able to pass these accounts on to their children. Franklin Roosevelt told the U.S. Congress in 1935 that his goals for Social Security included providing a secure retirement to American workers and making sure all Americans could build their personal wealth. We must dedicate ourselves to both those goals. At a time when older Americans have longer lives and more options than ever before, we need to ensure they have access not just to a monthly check but to personal wealth. And I mean all Americans, not just a few but all Americans, especially women and minorities who are often shortchanged by the current Social Security system. Robert Johnson, the CEO of Black Entertainment Television, explains it this way, "African Americans die earlier, therefore receiving less in the form of Social Security pay outs. One of the ways to address this is through the use of wealth generating private accounts that form part of an estate opportunity for African Americans." And Lea Abdnor, a member of the President's Commission to Strengthen Social Security, as was Mr. Johnson, said, "I believe very strongly that we have to give women the opportunity to create ownership and wealth for the first time." And I couldn't agree more. My administration is working to expand growth and opportunity in our economy. That's why we cut the taxes. And we've got to make sure opportunity is available as a result of people being able to own something, own their own money so they can manage it themselves, own their own portfolio, have the capacity to generate wealth. The generation of wealth should not be limited to a few in our society it ought to be an opportunity for everybody. There's nothing better than providing the incentive to say, "This is my asset base. I own it. I will live on it in retirement, and I will then pass it on to somebody in my own family." If you own something in America, you own a stake in America's future. And a good retirement vision, a good retirement future says that we must reform Social Security, not only for the good of the system but, as importantly, for the good of American workers who work all their life so that they can have an asset base to call their own. So as you continue to meet, I hope that you will think not only about the short term issues we face but how best to make sure that the retirement promises are kept, and how to make sure that as we devise come up with new systems and new structures, that we fundamentally change America for the better, that we make the system open, and that opportunity extends its reach throughout every neighborhood. It is such a wonderful opportunity for the country, and I hope you join me in seizing it. I want to thank you for giving me the chance to come by. Elaine is right I do worry about the security of the American people. I worry about the security of those who retire. And I want you to know, every day I'm worried about the homeland security, too. Every day we wake up I wake up and go into the beautiful Oval Office and read about threats to the United States, and it reminds me that the security of this country is my most important job. And I want to assure you all that our administration is doing everything that we possibly can to make sure innocent Americans do not lose their lives here at home. We're running down every lead. We're following every hint, every suggestion, every opportunity to chase down some possible clue of an attack. We are doing it. And I'm proud of our law enforcement officers at the Federal, State, and local level for their diligence. But I also want to remind you that in order to make sure the homeland is secure as it can possibly be for our children and grandchildren, that we must hunt down the killers and would be killers, terrorists, Al Qaida terrorists, and bring them to justice. This is going to require more time than people may want. It's going to require a patient and determined nation. But having traveled around the country some, having had a chance to listen to the American people, I'm proud of the fact that our Nation is patient and is determined. Because our Nation understands that we fight for freedom, and anytime our freedom is challenged, we stand strong in the face of those who would take away our freedom. Our military is making great strides. I'm proud of the U.S. military. And as fellow Americans, I will assure you that so long as I'm the President, I will do whatever it takes to protect the American people. I want to thank you for letting me come by. May God bless you all. February 27, 2002 Thank you all very much. Please, be seated. Your salad might get cold. Laughter Thanks so much for that warm welcome. It's great to be back in the State of North Carolina. It just seems like I was here a couple of weeks ago I was. Laughter I love coming to your State. The people here are wonderful and friendly. I love working the rope line at the airport when people say, "Mr. President, I'm praying for you." I can't tell you how wonderful that makes me feel. I thank you for your support and your friendship. I thank you for getting ready to send a fabulous woman to the United States Senate named Elizabeth Dole. I appreciate all those who have come to contribute not only to Elizabeth but to my friend Robin Hayes's campaign, but also to the Republican Party of North Carolina. Somebody said to me the other day or, actually, asked me today, you know, am I going to campaign? "Here we are in war. Do you think it's all right for the President to go campaign?" I said, "Yes, I do. I think it'd be a lot easier for me to accomplish what I want to accomplish with Denny Hastert as Speaker of the House of Representatives and with Trent Lott as majority leader of the United States Senate." So I want to thank you all for coming to support two good candidates in the party. I also want to say, although Elizabeth is going to make a great United States Senator, it's been a joy to work with Jesse Helms. He's been a strong voice. And like you know, Robin is smart enough to send his wife. Laughter I should have sent mine. Laughter What a fabulous job she's doing. You know, when I married her, she was a public school librarian, didn't particularly care for politics truth be known, politicians. Laughter And now she has been in a position of such important responsibility, and she's handled her position with such calm and resolve. She's been a wonderful comforter, not only to me but to the country, and I'm so grateful for her and the sacrifices she has made. We're doing great, by the way. I've never felt stronger in my life. I think it's because my wife is so great. It's also because I happen to be the President of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth, and this country is united and resolved. Another reason I feel confident in our ability to accomplish some important missions for the country is, I've assembled a great team. For those of you who have ever run a company or run an organization, you understand what I'm about to say that you're only as good as your team. And my national security team is strong and capable and experienced, and so is my domestic policy team, with Tommy Thompson playing an integral role. And Tommy, I want to thank you for serving the country, and thank you for being a part of my Cabinet. We're here today to talk about welfare reform. You do a good job in Mecklenburg County about making sure that businesses are responsible citizens in the county and helping people help themselves by finding them work. And we understand that work is an integral part of any welfare reform, but we also understand that we've got to pass power out of Washington, DC, so the local folks can meet important goals and objectives. And speaking about local folks who we trust, you've got a fine mayor. We appreciate the mayor of Charlotte, and we appreciate his leadership. And I also want to thank Sue Myrick. She is a fine Member of the United States Congress. Every other word is "Charlotte" when I'm around her. Laughter She did a great job as mayor. And speaking about that, Robin Hayes he needs to go back to Washington, DC. He needs to be reelected for the good of North Carolina, North Carolina workers, and North Carolina businessowners. And I want to thank you, Barbara, for representing him. We've got Barbaras have a sweet spot in our heart in the Bush family. And you did a fine job. I completely understand why Robin is not here. He wants to be working on behalf of the North Carolina people, which is what he has done every time I've met with him. He's one of the best grassroots politicians I've ever met. He's the kind of fellow that, when you're driving through the district, he says, "There's old Joe over there. He owns that business. And there's this fellow over there. I got to know him when I went to shake hands with him." He also stood strong for the textile industry. When it became clear that there was going to be some trade negotiations going on, he said, "I want to make sure textiles are not dealt out of the mix this time." And because of his leadership, textiles have not been dealt out of the mix. The Secretary of Commerce was in your State the other day and made it clear that when it comes to trade, we're for fair trade for U.S. products. And I want to thank Robin for his leadership. And the North Carolina people ought to be thanking him for his leadership as well. And I can't wait to work with Elizabeth Dole. It's important this State send her to Washington, DC. It's important that you have somebody in Washington that when she calls over to the White House, they answer the phone. Laughter She's been a longtime friend. I trust her judgment. I know the integrity she'll bring to the office. I've been so impressed about how hard she is working. It's so easy to come into a State and take things for granted. That's not Elizabeth Dole's style. She is going to outwork anybody who's running for the United States Senate because she loves the State of North Carolina. She's always loved North Carolina, and she's going to represent you with class and dignity in the United States Senate. And we've got an important agenda in Washington. We're defending our country. You know, the enemy attacked us thinking we were soft, thinking our culture was corrupt, thinking we'd just kind of roll over and say, "Well, you know, okay, fine. We'll figure out if we can sue them." Laughter Man, did they make a mistake. They found a nation that's resolved. They have found out that we will defend freedom. They understand now that this Nation is slow to anger, but when angered, we will chase them down, and we'll bring them to justice. I'm so proud of the United States military. For those of you who've got relatives in the military I met one young wife whose husband was in the 101st I want to thank you all for your sacrifice to our country as well. And the budget I've submitted to the United States Congress clearly reflects the need to defend our country. It is the largest defense increase since Ronald Reagan was President of the United States. It says this, that if we put our troops in harm's way, if we ask young men and women to defend America, our allies, and our freedom, they must have the best equipment, the best training, and the best pay possible. We have put together a mighty coalition of freedom loving nations, nations all resolved to rout out terror wherever it may exist. It's going to require our Nation to be steadfast and strong in order to make sure that coalition stays focused. And it's easy for a nation, for a leadership, to assume that position when we've got a nation that is resolved and patient and determined. I'm proud of the military, and I'm equally as proud of the people of the United States of America. We understand what is at stake. We understand our freedoms are now being challenged. We understand that civilization itself is under attack, and we will not relent. We stand strong in the face of the evil ones, and we will be victorious, make no mistake about it. The American people understand it's going to take time to accomplish our objective. We're just in the first theater in the war against terror. We were able to uphold a new doctrine which said, if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you try to hide a terrorist, you, yourself, are just as guilty as the terrorist. The Taliban, one of the most repressive governments in the history of the world, has found out what we meant when we said, "We will hold you accountable for harboring terrorists." Our military, they're not conquerors they're liberators. We liberated women and children from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind, and I'm so proud of the accomplishment in Afghanistan. And our troops are still in harm's way. We're now in a dangerous phase in accomplishing our objectives. After all, we're chasing down people who, on the one hand, send young boys to their death in the name of religion and, on the other hand, hide in caves. But there's no cave deep enough. They can't hide long enough, because I'm patient, and so is the United States military. We will take however long it takes to hunt them down and to bring them to justice. And that's exactly what they deserve, the justice of a freedom loving nation, a justice of a nation which will defend herself at all costs. The price of freedom is expensive, but we'll pay the price necessary to defend our freedoms. But history has called us into something larger than just one organization. We must defend ourselves and, more importantly, our children and our children's children against future terrorist attacks. And so the cause goes way beyond one person or one country. Our cause is to rout out terror wherever it hides, is to rally a coalition and insist upon results, insist that we bring terrorists to justice. It also recognizes a nightmare scenario, a scenario which recognizes that great harm could come to freedom loving nations if we ever allow a terrorist organization to hook up or become an alliance with a transparent nation which develops weapons of mass destruction. We cannot allow some of the world's worst leaders to develop the world's worst weapons, to hold America and our friends hostage. This administration will rout out terror wherever it exists and will hold people accountable if they harbor a terrorist or made up a terrorist or threaten the United States with terrorist weapons. Applause Thank you. Thank you all. Sit down. My most important job is to protect innocent Americans. The best homeland defense is to pursue terrorists overseas. The best way to secure the homeland for the long run is to be successful. In the meantime, however, I found a good man, the Governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Ridge, who I've known for a long time, a friend of Tommy's and mine, to set up a national strategy to defend the homeland. We've got a first responder initiative that's strong, that basically will rally police and fire departments at the local level to respond if there ever is a problem. We're strengthening the Coast Guard to make our coasts more secure. We're going to make sure our borders are secure by understanding who's coming in and who's going out of the United States of America. We're doing everything in our power to rally the resources of law enforcement and intelligence communities to protect the American people. I'm proud of the efforts of the law enforcement level at the Federal and State and local level. They will stay on alert so long as there is a threat to the United States of America. And we've got a job to do at home as well. You know, I was campaigning in Chicago, and somebody asked me, "Is there ever any time where the budget might have to go into deficit?" I said, "Only if we were at war or had a national emergency or were in recession." Laughter Little did I realize we'd get the trifecta. Laughter But we're fine. You know, I campaigned on tax relief because I knew it was the right thing to do. It became even more apparent it was the right thing to do when our economy started slowing down, before I got sworn in as President. Tax relief, fortunately for the American economy, passed the United States Congress. By giving people more of their own money to spend, it'll help invigorate the economy. Now, there are some in Washington who say, "Well, maybe we ought not to have tax relief. Maybe you ought to create uncertainty about the tax relief plan." Forget it. That's not going to happen. Tax relief for the American people happened at the right time. It was the right thing to do, and I stand strongly in support of giving people their own money back. And for the good of a lot of people in North Carolina, in particular, the North Carolina farmers and ranchers, we put the death tax on its way to extinction. And you'll hear them screaming about the budget up there. But if they're worried about the budget, what they need to do is fund the priorities I've sent up there national defense, homeland security, education and then hold the line on spending everywhere else, and we'll be just fine. And speaking about education, I'm proud that we passed a good bill, really good education bill. I know it shocked you, and I can guarantee it shocked the people in Crawford, Texas, to hear me say nice things about Ted Kennedy. Laughter He deserved nice things said about him in this case because he got the bill unstuck in the United States Senate. It is a bill which says the Republican Party understands that we've got to educate every child, that no child should be left behind, that we strongly believe in accountability in our public school systems, that we believe that poor children can read and write and add and subtract, that we insist that there be local control of schools, and we understand that reading is the new civil right for every child in America. This party now stands squarely with the children of America, to say that everybody ought to be educated, and we support our public schools, and we think they can do a better job, and the Federal role, while needed, is limited. I was proud of the bipartisan spirit. We need more bipartisanship in Washington, DC. We need less people worried about their own personal political careers and more people focused on what's best for the United States of America. You know, I was very impressed today by what I saw on the job training program. It really reinforces in my mind that the best initiatives are always those that kind of spring out of the hearts of people who really care more about their communities than anybody in a distant Government could possibly care. And it reminds me of what I try to tell people when they say, "What can I do to help America? What can I do to help fight in the war against terror?" Well, if you're not wearing a uniform, I've got a suggestion for you Love your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. It's kind of a universal admonition. It doesn't pertain to one religion or another, but it's pretty good advice, it seems like to me. Because if you're worried about fighting evil, one way to do so is to do some good. One way this Nation can stand up to forces of evil is through the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness which take place every day, not because of Government but because a loving citizen has said to him or herself, "What can I do to help? What can I do to make my community a better place?" Every time somebody in America walks next door to see a shut in and says, "I care about you," that's part of the momentum of kindness that I was talking about. If you mentor a child and say to that child, "I love you," teach a child how to read, you really are standing in the face of terror and evil. Now, the great strength of the country is really not in the halls in Washington it's in the hearts and souls of the people of North Carolina and Texas and every other State in the Union. And my job is to capture the spirit of this country and to rally the strength, to stand tall in the face of evil. And there's no doubt we can do this in this Nation. I believe that we're on the verge of changing a culture that will have lasting benefits. Not only do I believe that what we pursue overseas will make the world more peaceful for generations to come, I believe that what's taking place in America today could make America a more compassionate and kind place for years to come as well. A lot of us grew up during a time when the culture said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it," and "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." I believe this Nation is on the cusp of welcoming in a period of personal responsibility, a responsibility era, an era which says, "Each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life." And that starts with moms and dads understanding their most important job is to love their children with all their heart and all their soul. It also means, in a period of responsibility, that we love a neighbor like we'd like to be loved ourselves. Personal responsibility extends to the corporate world as well, by the way. Corporate America has got the responsibility to disclose all assets and liabilities for shareholders and employees. It's also got a responsibility to treat the employees with respect and help. It's like the corporate responsibility I saw today when corporate Charlotte was working to help people find jobs and find work, understanding that in work they find dignity. Now, I absolutely believe that America is going to make some right choices in life. And those choices collectively will help change the culture, and we'll be better off for it. The enemy hit us. They thought we were weak and soft. Instead, they found a nation that is strong and determined, but a nation, as well, that is compassionate and decent, a nation that will defend the values of freedom, but a nation that will also make sure the doors of hope and justice and opportunity are open to every person who's fortunate enough to be called an American. Thank you for coming. May God bless you all. February 27, 2002 The President. We are honored I am honored to be here. We just had a great discussion with folks here in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County. I am very impressed by the welfare to work program that has been instituted. There's obviously a sense of corporate responsibility in this community that is powerful, that recognizes that the bottom line is one thing but taking care of their fellow humans is another. The county leadership in the county is forward thinking and aggressive as to providing resources to help people, help each individual succeed. They've got a spirit of innovation here in this county that needs to be heralded because of the successes. So I'm proud to be here. But I'm most proud of the individuals who have made a conscious decision to improve their lives and therefore, in many cases, improve the lives of their children women who have overcome terrible odds to become successful role models, articulate spokespeople for themselves, their families, a system that cares about their successes. And so I want to thank you all for sharing with me your stories and your history. Ella, today she works at the Park Hotel. She was down and out. She made a decision to succeed. She received the help necessary. And she read us a poem today that was so moving to all of us that we asked her to share that, if you don't mind. At this point, participant Ella Currence recited her poem entitled "The Struggle to Independence." Q. Sir The President. A couple of quick ones. Republic of Georgia and the War on Terrorism Q. Yes, if you don't mind. Do you think there's Al Qaida influence in Georgia? The President. I do. So long as there's Al Qaida influence anywhere, we will help the host countries rout them out and bring them to justice. Q. What specifically are we doing to help Georgia? The President. Mainly, equipment and technical advice. Obviously, in order for us to work closely with governments that have been invaded by Al Qaida cells, they're going to have to request request help. And we've made it very clear that either you're with us, or you're against us. And we've made it very clear that we hope that nations step up and do their jobs. Obviously, we've got a presence in the Philippines because there's an Al Qaida affiliated group of people there. And we've had some successes in Yemen, where we're working. We're working around the world. When this war started, I told the American people that there would be a variety of fronts on the war against terrorism, some of which would be very visible, some of which we wouldn't see much about. And the American people need to know that, one, we're maintaining our coalition and the efforts of the coalition, and two, anytime we find terrorist organizations like Al Qaida, we will do everything we can to bring them to justice. And so, yes. Colombia Q. Mr. President, what about Colombia? What can you do there? You have some legal constraints as to how far you can go. The President. Well, we did have legal constraints. We were providing advice to the Colombian Government as to drug eradication, and we need to keep it that way. The law is very clear. If the Colombian Government decides to take military action against the FARC, which they it looks like they may decide to do and continue to do, that is their business to do so. I applaud the efforts of the President, by the way, to try to bring order to the country. But we are restricted by law, and I intend to adhere to that law. National Debt Ceiling Q. Mr. President, what did you tell the congressional leaders this morning about the debt limit? And what ceiling are you comfortable with? The President. Well, we'll leave the size of the debt ceiling to the Treasury officials. They will make the recommendation. But I told the recommended to the Members of the legislation that we not play politics with the debt ceiling, that we're at war, we've got troops all around the world, we've got men and women whose lives are at risk. And now is not the time to be playing politics or using the debt ceiling as an excuse for some individual's cause. We need to have a good, sane policy. And I think the Members there at breakfast agreed with me, that now is an inappropriate time to play politics with the debt ceiling. It's happened in the past. Both parties are guilty about playing politics with the debt ceiling. And I urge the Congress deal with the debt ceiling, deal with it in a professional way, and move it on. Yes, Terry Terry Moran, ABC News . World Perception of United States Q. Mr. President, the Gallup organization has run a poll in Arab nations showing that there is deep suspicion and resentment of the United States. What do you make of that? How big a problem? What can you do about it? The President. Well, Terry, I saw that, briefly looked at I haven't analyzed the sampling and who was asked and all that stuff. But here's my attitude. If the United States shows strong leadership when it comes to fighting terrorist organizations, the world will follow. And if we're determined and resolute at routing out murderers and killers, people who want to destabilize legitimate governments, the world, regardless of the nature of their population, the religious nature of their population, will respect that. Secondly, there is no question that we must do a better job of telling the compassionate side of the American story. And I will give you one example. This kind and great Nation provides 300,000 tons of food a year to starving North Korean citizens. And yet, the North Korean citizen has no idea that we provided the food. We don't even know whether or not the food has gotten to the starving North Korean people. All we know is, we made a strong commitment, followed through on that commitment. My point, Terry, is that it is essential for us to not assume that the kindness of the country is known. And therefore, we've got to do a better job of telling the story. And I'll give you one good example of how we perhaps can do that. Colin Powell went on international MTV, and the first question he was asked, by a lady from Brazil and I'll paraphrase was basically, "Why is the nation of America so evil?" And it floored him, like it would floor most Americans to think that people would think of our Nation is evil, when, in fact, defending freedom is good. We're the largest supplier of help and food and medicine in the world. But Colin was able, in his classy fashion, to answer the question and all of a sudden was part of an education process. So we've got work to do. And people will realize we're peaceful, yet we're determined and patient, and we use our strength for positive reasons. Last question. I know you're awaiting my speech. 2002 Elections Q. Mr. President, later today you're going to a fundraiser. As we move deeper into an election year that's also a year of war against terrorism, how much support can Republicans count on from their popular President? The President. I'm interested in making sure that the Speaker of the House is Denny Hastert. I've made that very clear. I think my job will be easier if Denny Hastert is the Speaker. I'd like to see Trent Lott be the majority leader, and I will work to those ends. February 27, 2002 Thank you. Only in America. Laughter Frances, thanks. I appreciate your story I appreciate your courage and I appreciate your introduction. I'm also thankful that Tommy Thompson agreed to leave the State of Wisconsin to come and help make sure that Health and Human Services was run in the right spirit, in the right, compassionate attitude, one in which we fight for Federal funds that are reasonable and realistic but understand that the true wisdom and strength of the country is at the local level. Speaking about the local level, I want to thank the mayor and Parks. Thank you very much for being here as well. I appreciate both you all's leadership. The innovation that takes place in this community is positive and strong, and that's why we're here, to herald a program that actually works. Sometimes they sound good on paper. They read good, but the results are short. And that's not the case in Mecklenburg County when it comes to putting people to work. So I want to thank you all for your leadership. I had the privilege of flying down with Sue Myrick and Robin Hayes today on the airplane, two really good United States Congressmen from the State of North Carolina, people who understand that North Carolinians can best run North Carolina, and not people out of Washington, DC. So I want to thank you all for coming. And I want to thank Rodney Carroll, as well, for being here. I want to thank Carroll Gray and members of the chamber. A lot of times I talk about responsibility, ushering in a period of responsible behavior in America. There is such thing as corporate responsibility, corporate America not only making sure the balance sheets are real, that all assets and liabilities are exposed for shareholder and employee alike. But there's something about saying, "I'm going to do something in the community in which I live," working hard to take the extra step to employ somebody, to keep them on, to help them work through their difficulties. This is a community in which corporate North Carolina or corporate Charlotte has heard that call, and I want to thank the chamber for being on the leading edge of encouraging corporate responsibility. First, let me tell you that, as I said a while ago, the state of this Union is very strong. It is clear to me, when I sat in the room today, that the state of the State of North Carolina is strong and vibrant, at least in this corner of the State, if not the whole State. But the state of our Union is strong. We are steady we're resolved and we are a determined nation. You know, the enemy attacked a nation that they thought was weak, and man, did they make a mistake. They thought the United States was so materialistic, so caught up in a false Hollywood vision of America, that we would accept their attack as part of the normalcy in America, that we would do nothing about it. And they've now learned that this Nation is absolutely resolved to defend that which we hold dearest to our heart, and that's freedom that when somebody attacks freedom, that we'll defend it with all our force and all our might. And that's what we're doing. I think the country has laid out a clear message First, that either you're with us, or you're against us in the fight for freedom that either you stand beside this great Nation as part of a coalition that will defend freedom and defend civilization itself, or you're against us. I think the message has gotten out. The world is knitted up pretty tight when it comes to bringing the Al Qaida and other killers to justice. We've had over 1,000 arrests around the world, different countries, different governments that are putting these Al Qaida people behind bars. We're slowly but surely, methodically and patiently demolishing Al Qaida so they cannot hit us again. We have made it clear that if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you train a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist. And the Taliban Government in Afghanistan found out exactly what I meant, thanks to a strong and spirited, well motivated, well trained United States military, a military of which I am immensely proud. We have liberated a country. This great Nation seeks not revenge but justice, and at the same time, we're not conquerors, but we're liberators. We have liberated women and children from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes history has ever known. It was my honor to welcome Mr. Karzai and his Cabinet, including a woman minister, to Washington, DC, and hear him firsthand say how anxious he is to restore Afghanistan to normalcy, where women and children, young girls are educated, just like young boys, where people are given a chance in life. The Taliban made a terrible mistake, and they paid a dear price. And I'm grateful for the United States military for the job it's done, but more importantly, so are the average citizens of Afghanistan. I want to tell my fellow Americans that we're still in a dangerous period when it comes to the first theater in the war against terror dangerous because, until we complete our mission, which is to bring all Al Qaida killers to justice, that we're going to hunt them down, that we will stay on task. The good news for our United States military is that the American people are very patient, and they're resolved, just like our military is resolved. But we're now facing people who send young kids to suicide on suicide missions, and they, themselves, try to hide in caves a leadership which is willing to send some mom's child on a fruitless mission in the name of religion, and they, themselves, are doing everything they can to hide and not be accountable for what they've done. But they can't hide long enough. There's no cave deep enough for them to avoid the long arm of justice of the United States. And so it doesn't matter how long it takes, as far as I'm concerned. It doesn't matter if it's a month, a year Al Qaida, the people who killed thousands of United States citizens, the thugs who want to challenge freedom wherever it exists, those who use religion in the name of murder, will be brought to justice. But it's not just Al Qaida. The mission is more than just one group or one individual. History has called us into action. History has given this Nation a chance to lead a coalition to fight terror wherever it exists. There is a nightmare scenario that we must not let happen. Imagine, for example, if a faceless terrorist organization was able to team up with a nation which sponsored and developed weapons of mass destruction. Imagine how the balance of power in the world would change. We're not going to let that happen. The United States of America cannot let nations that are not transparent, closed societies, societies which harm their citizens, societies which have a past history of being not a civilized nation, to develop a weapon of mass destruction, that could possibly team up with somebody like the Al Qaida organization, which would, therefore, then hold us hostage, hold the coalition hostage. We owe it to our children and our children's children to rid the world of terror now, so they can grow up in a free society, a society without fear, a society without the threat of attack on our own homeland. The best homeland defense policy is to find out terrorists where they live, where they hide, and bring them to justice. And that's what I'm going to do, so long as I am the President of the United States. I picked a good man to lead the homeland security effort. Tom Ridge was the Governor of Pennsylvania. The last time I was here in the State of North Carolina, I talked about a first responders initiative, about how the budget I was going to submit to Congress not only was going to make national defense a priority but also that homeland defense would be a priority. I have since done that. We talked about first responders to make sure that the police and fire had a strategy necessary to respond to emergencies if it were to occur. I'm also talking about a bioterrorism initiative. I'm also talking about a border security initiative. One of the interesting things I think that the people of North Carolina will appreciate, that I hold in high esteem the United States Coast Guard. We've got a plan to beef up the Coast Guard, to modernize her ships, to make sure the Coast Guard is available around all the coasts of the country to protect the homeland. We've got a better intelligence sharing system in place. We've got a strategy to defend the homeland of the United States. And every day I ask the question to the FBI Director and others, "What have you done to make the homeland more secure?" My fellow citizens need to know we're doing everything in our power to protect innocent families. There's a lot to be done in Washington as well. Obviously, we've got to fight a recession. My view about the recession is that we'll help people with unemployment checks, and we must. But as Congress tries to figure out ways of how to deal with this, I always want them to remember that people want more than an unemployment check they want a paycheck. And therefore, we ought to have jobs as a central aspect of any economic recovery plan how best to create jobs. What should we do? Well, I thought I did something pretty wise, and that was last year, when we got a sniff that the economy was pretty darn slow, was to fight for a tax relief package that gave people their own money to spend. When people have more money in their pocket to spend, it creates more demand, which means somebody is producing products, which means somebody is getting a job. The more money people have in their pockets to spend in the face of recession, the more likely our economy is going to come out of a recession. And for those in Washington who think they want to roll back the tax relief, they're not going to get to do so. The tax relief was right. And it's important for the American people that we defend tax relief. But there is more to do. I would hope Congress would pass an economic stimulus package that will encourage investment in plants and equipment. The more investment in plants and equipment, the more likely it is a textile worker is going to find a job. The more incentive there is for somebody to put a new piece of equipment in a factory, the more likely it is somebody is going to work. And so as they debate the stimulus package, it's important not only to remember we want to take care of those who have been affected by the attacks on 9 11, we also want to stimulate jobs, to encourage jobs. We also I submitted in my budget a priority for educating the American people, educating our kids. We talked today about the best welfare plan best to make sure we keep people off welfare, besides helping them find work is to make sure they're educated. And the State of North Carolina deserves congratulations for having a really good public school system. You were tied with Texas, and that's a big admission for a Texan to say. Laughter I want you to know that we passed a good piece of education reform, and it ties in directly to what we're talking about today. It says, every child matters. We've got to challenge a system that tends to just shuffle children through without regard to whether they can read or write and add and subtract. We need to focus resources on Title I. We'll demand accountability. We'll pass flexibility out of Washington, DC, to the local level. We've got a reading program that understands reading is the new civil right if you can't read, you can't succeed in the America of the 21st century. This is a great piece of legislation, sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats. It shows what can happen when we put our Nation ahead of political party, which we must do more of in Washington, DC, as far as I'm concerned. In order to make sure our economy recovers, in order to make sure we've got a balance sheet that is reasonable as we go into the out years, I want to insist Congress hold the line in spending, that they not get carried away, that they not spend that what they think sounds like sounds good is not going to work. One area in which I'm going to hold the line on the budget, though, is on TANF funds. My budget calls for over 17 billion a year for TANF funds to be block granted back to States. Now, there's going to be some in Congress that say we've got to reduce the TANF monies, welfare monies, because the caseloads have dropped. I don't think we ought to do that at this time in history. And so the budget I've submitted holds the line on TANF. On the other hand, I do think we need some reforms, and I want to share with you some of those. But first, let me tell you that there has been great success when it came to welfare reform. We've actually changed the whole culture from dependency to self sufficiency. And by doing that, the welfare rolls have declined dramatically, and the country's better off for it, but more importantly, so are the human beings. It's so easy to get caught up in statistics, and forget about behind each number is a person. And today I have the honor of talking about of hearing from the people involved, the human stories, the real life stories of people that have overcome incredible obstacles. I like to tell people, the toughest job in America is a single mom trying to raise her children. That's the hardest hill to climb in this country. And yet, as a result of a collaborative effort of public private partnership here in Mecklenburg County, a place where government and business teamed up, many people have been moved from dependency upon government to work. Now, the system worked, but in order for that to happen, it requires a will, a personal determination. Some person has to say, "I can do better and want to do better," just like my introducer, Frances Cunningham, did. She is a single mom with two teenagers. That, in itself, deserves a medal. Laughter She has started working with the Work First Program, obviously has a job. But I want to quote what she said "The success of it is, my children see me go to work every day. And that makes them go to school every day, because they see Mama isn't staying at home." The ability for somebody to realize kind of an independent life, less dependent upon government, not only affects that person but also affects a lot of other people, starting with the children starting with the children. I met with Michelle Venegas. Michelle is articulate. I told her she speaks better English than I do laughter although she got hired as a translator. She's from Mexico, Tijuana, Mexico. She was working for a company that went out of business. She needed a little transition help. She found it here in Mecklenburg County. By the way, she herself is a mom, got a little ninita. She went to the county department of social services. She found out they needed someone with Spanish language skills. She's now employed full time by the department. Kathleen Collado, I met with her as well. She's a single mom, recently divorced. She had no high school diploma. Imagine how tough her future looked. She needed to take a step up in life, and she found help. Kathleen was able to get her GED. She polished her interviewing skills and now works for U.S. Airways. These are stories that are real. But the good news is, in this county and all across America, they have happened time and time again. There are 20,000 businesses nationwide that have helped 1.1 million people go from welfare to work. It is an essential ingredient of what the future bill ought to look like. We need to make sure that work is an integral part of any welfare reauthorization, that the cornerstone of a good bill understands that when we help somebody find work and I emphasize the "help somebody find work" that leads to more independence, more self esteem, and more joy and hope. And so, as Congress begins to reauthorize, I want to make sure that work is an integral component and a strong component. As a matter of fact, I believe that within 5 years, 70 percent of the welfare recipients must work. As part of the requirement, 70 percent of people being helped have got to get to work, and we'll help. The bill must allow for there to be adequate time for training. Of a 5 day work week, 3 could be devoted to work and 2 to education and job training. For the tougher cases, there ought to be time set aside exclusively for job training or drug rehabilitation. And high school moms ought to be allowed to get credit for going to high school at the same time as part of their work requirement. In other words, the system ought to insist upon work but encourage work by making sure people have got the skills necessary to work or the help necessary to make them a responsible person in the workplace. Secondly, our public policy must encourage families. Research shows that two parent families are more likely to raise a child that is going to go to high school or college, that a child in a two parent family is less likely to get addicted to drugs. Now, I understand there are some families that just simply aren't meant to be. I know that. I'm not I'm wise about that. On the other hand, we ought to aim for a goal, a goal that recognizes the power and importance of two parent families in America. And therefore, the budget I'm submitting and the reform that I hope that Congress will insist upon recognizes that premarital counseling can work, conflict resolution after marriage is important, antigambling help the old man get off the gambling habit will help. Drug and alcohol rehabilitation can be part of an important concept about keeping families together. We've got 300 million up to 300 million in the budget to encourage parenting and family programs to flourish at the local level. And as well, I've got 135 million in the budget for abstinence education programs. Now, let me be as candid as I can about this. Abstinence works every time laughter when it comes to making sure somebody may not have an unwanted child or someone picks up sexually transmitted disease. And this society ought to give children the benefit of the doubt. We ought not to assume that our culture is automatically going to lead a child to defy an abstinence education program. We ought to try it. We ought to work hard. We ought to shoot for the ideal in society and not get drug down by the cynics. And so part of making sure that welfare reauthorization is going to achieve objectives is to promote family and to encourage right choices amongst American youth. Thirdly, we must trust local officials to manage the money necessary to achieve certain objectives and goals. We have got to have flexibility at the Federal level. Tommy understands that. It's one of the main reasons I asked him to become the Secretary of Health and Human Services. He was a Governor I was a Governor. We understand that the more flexibility there is at the local level, the more possible it is to meet local needs and, therefore, meet local and national objectives, to meet goals. And so one of the things we're going to ask Congress is not to micromanage the system. There are hundreds of Federal welfare programs. For those of you who work in this line of work, you know what I'm talking about hundreds of them, many of them with incredible hoops that need to be jumped through in order to be able to access funds. It is not necessary to have hundreds of welfare programs. What's necessary is to make a commitment to set goals, to expect results, and to trust local people in managing the dollars. And that's the spirit of welfare reform. And we're going to push hard for this initiative in the United States Congress. I can't guarantee 100 percent success. But I can guarantee you, we're going to give it our best shot to make sure that we're able to achieve local objectives and, therefore, realize a national goal, and that is moving as many people as we can, as compassionately as we can, from welfare to work, helping people help themselves. And finally, any part of a welfare authorization must understand the power of faith based organizations and charitable organizations in our society. I have asked for legislation that will encourage charitable giving and, at the same time, allow faith based organizations to access Federal dollars without discrimination, without causing the faith based organization to abandon faith. You see, here's what I believe I believe there are neighborhood healers and helpers all across America who want to love their neighbor just like they love themselves and ought to be encouraged rather than thwarted. I know you've got a strong faith based initiative here in Mecklenburg County. I want to applaud you for that. It makes sense to say to church and synagogue and mosque that if you want to help a neighbor in need, we encourage you to do so. It makes sense to recognize that sometimes a drug addict or an alcohol person hooked on alcohol needs a change of heart in order to change behavior. And that doesn't happen through Government bureaucracies. It happens as a result of people of faith interfacing with neighbors in need. And so I'm calling on Congress, the Senate and I talked to Senator Daschle about this this morning, and he wrote a very positive editorial about the need for faith based programs in our society. I hope they get this legislation passed and to my desk. It is essential that we rally the armies of compassion all across the country. Yesterday in Washington, DC, I met with a guy hooked on crack cocaine. He found the Lord. He changed his life. He's married. He was a lousy dad he's now a good dad, upholding his obligations. He feels so much better about himself. And as importantly, he's a part of a program that exists in inner city Washington, DC, trying to find the next crack cocaine addict, to help that person help themselves. The fabric I envision a fabric in our Nation of healers and helpers and faith based, compassionate people, all reaching out to a neighbor in need. People ask me all the time, "What can I do in the fight against terror?" And the answer is Do something good. You see, it's the gathering what I like to call the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness on a daily basis that stands strong against the evil which attacked our country. It is the ability for our Nation to show its compassionate side through acts and deeds of kindness and the willingness of somebody to put their arm around a child as a mentor and say, "I love you." Or just walking into a neighbor's house, an elderly neighbor's house, a shut in, and saying, "I care about you. What can I do to help you today?" This is the strength of the country. This is we're not trying to reinvent something. We're tapping into the great soul of America. The spirit of our country is one based upon neighborhoods, people helping each other, communities all bound up with one thing in mind, how to make people's lives better. You know, they hit us they attacked us they took life. But they have not been able to dent the spirit of America. We are strong. We are compassionate. We're a loving nation. And as a result, I see a future that is so hopeful and so bright for every citizen who's fortunate enough to call themselves an American. Thank you for letting me come. God bless. February 25, 2002 Well, thank you very much for that warm welcome. I'm glad I came. Laughter Bob, I want to thank you very much for your hospitality, and I want to thank you very much for your willingness to take the reins of the Voice of America in such a critical time. I also want to thank all the supporters who are here, those who support the Voice of America. And I'm glad to see so many friends of international broadcasting here the Voice of America staff, the members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, former Voice of America Directors, former U.S. Information Agency Directors, staff and directors from Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty, Radio Marti. You all are dedicated professionals who serve your country and its highest ideals with honor and with purpose. I also want to thank Marc Nathanson, who's the chairman of BBG deserves a special thanks for his endowment of the Nathanson Fellows, between the Voice of America and the Annenberg School of Journalism. Sixty years ago, only 79 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the first Voice of America broadcast across the Atlantic into Nazi Germany, with these words "Here speaks a voice from America. We shall tell you the truth." For decades, the Voice of America has told the world the truth about America and our policies. Through a World War and a cold war, in crisis and in calm, the Voice of America has added to the momentum of freedom. And now, in a new conflict, I'm proud to say that the Voice of America still speaks strongly and clearly. To people whose governments broadcast messages of bigotry and hate, the Voice of America sends a message of tolerance and respect. To people who are told that democracy is soft and weak, the Voice of America shows freedom's strength and determination. To people who live under governments that sustain their power with lies, the Voice of America brings truth. Under some regimes, like that in North Korea, simply listening to the Voice of America is treated as a crime. And the fears of these regimes are well founded, because tyranny cannot survive forever in an atmosphere of truth. The Voice of America is not neutral between America and America's enemies, between terrorism and those who defend themselves against terror, between freedom and between tyranny. The Voice of America is a broadcaster with a special purpose, a special mandate, and a special trust. As President Reagan said, "Freedom is not the sole prerogative of a lucky few but the inalienable and universal right of all human beings." The Voice of America spreads that message throughout the world, with special emphasis on those countries where information is restricted and free voices are silenced. The Voice of America broadcasts in 53 languages, to nearly every country on Earth, reaching an audience of over 90 million listeners. Many are listening right now, exercising their God given right to freedom, free access of information. And their numbers are growing every day. The Voice of America's new Middle East Radio Network will offer music, reliable news and information in Arabic, and an opportunity to better understand American principles and American actions. And I want to thank Norm Pattiz for his perseverance and dedication to this project. Even before our Armed Forces helped bring freedom to the Afghan people, the Voice of America was bringing them the news in languages of Dari and Pashtu. Since September the 11th, Voice of America has increased its programming in these two languages, serving as a vital partner in helping rebuild that country. Throughout its history, Voice of America has applied the power of technology to the advance of liberty. It has used every means possible shortwave, television, and now the Internet to bypass the barriers of tyrants. Radio waves are not hindered by borders, and as technology improves, the Internet will become less vulnerable to the censor's hand. No one knows what new information technologies will be available 60 years from now, but two things we do know First, that the Voice of America will find a way to use them and second, though these means of delivery may change, the message never will. It's a simple message. It's a message of freedom, and freedom is worth defending. And the truth, no less than the force of arms, is needed for its defense. Since 1942, you have defended freedom by speaking the truth to millions. You not only have the ear of the world you have the gratitude of your country. May God bless your efforts, and may God bless America. February 24, 2002 Ladies and gentlemen, Laura and I would like to welcome you all to the White House. It's good to see a lot of our friends, and we're so honored you are here. Tonight is a special night for us, but it's no more special but especially special for three people, three birthday people Governor Siegelman, Governor Ryan, and Governor Swift. Happy birthday. I also want to welcome members of my Cabinet and my team who are here. I've assembled a fabulous team. They bring a lot of experience to their jobs. I'm really proud of the Cabinet members who have been Governors Tommy Thompson, John Ashcroft, Tom Ridge, and Christie Whitman. They understand firsthand the issues that Governors face every day. And my administration is working hard to make sure the Federal Government is more responsive to your needs. Since we met last, America has been attacked and has been wounded by terrorists. We've been inspired by acts of courage and generosity. And this Nation has confirmed a deep sense of national purpose. We're determined to protect the American people by fighting terror wherever it is found. This cause will take years, require the patience of the American people, and it will require participation of all levels of government. And we've made a very good beginning. Our military has routed the Taliban, and we're hunting down Al Qaida. We've worked to take preventive measures to stop any attack, and we're prepared to respond should they come. The Governors have taken threats seriously, and you've acted quickly to confront them. And our Nation is grateful. At every stage of this crisis, I have benefited from your counsel. I've been inspired by your leadership. I was touched by my friend George Pataki's calm demeanor during the crisis in New York. I know our Nation needs to develop a national strategy to protect the homeland, and that's why I picked a fellow Governor, a former Governor, and a good friend, Tom Ridge, to lead the effort. America's Governors have displayed leadership at a time when history demanded it. And so it's with deep respect and gratitude that I offer this toast to the Governors of the United States. God bless. February 22, 2002 The President. Vice President Hu, thank you very much for your kind and generous remarks. Thank you for welcoming me and my wife, Laura, here. I see she's keeping pretty good company, with the Secretary of State, Colin Powell. It's good to see you, Mr. Secretary. And I see my National Security Adviser, Ms. Condoleezza Rice, who at one time was the provost at Stanford University. So she's comfortable on university campuses such as this. Thank you for being here, Condi. I'm so grateful for the hospitality and honored for the reception at one of China's and the world's great universities. This university was founded, interestingly enough, with the support of my country, to further ties between our two nations. I know how important this place is to your Vice President. He not only received his degree here, but more importantly, he met his gracious wife here. Laughter I want to thank the students for giving me the chance to meet with you, the chance to talk a little bit about my country and answer some of your questions. The standards and reputation of this university are known around the world, and I know what an achievement it is to be here. So, congratulations. I don't know if you know this or not, but my wife and I have two daughters who are in college, just like you. One goes to the University of Texas. One goes to Yale. They're twins, and we are proud of our daughters, just like I'm sure your parents are proud of you. My visit to China comes on an important anniversary, as the Vice President mentioned. Thirty years ago this week, an American President arrived in China on a trip designed to end decades of estrangement and confront centuries of suspicion. President Richard Nixon showed the world that two vastly different governments could meet on the grounds of common interest, in the spirit of mutual respect. As they left the airport that day, Premier Zhou Enlai said this to President Nixon "Your handshake came over the vastest ocean in the world, 25 years of no communication." During the 30 years since, America and China have exchanged many handshakes of friendship and commerce. And as we have had more contact with each other, the citizens of both countries have gradually learned more about each other. And that's important. Once America knew China only by its history as a great and enduring civilization. Today, we see a China that is still defined by noble traditions of family, scholarship, and honor. And we see a China that is becoming one of the most dynamic and creative societies in the world, as demonstrated by the knowledge and potential right here in this room. China is on a rising path, and America welcomes the emergence of a strong and peaceful and prosperous China. As America learns more about China, I am concerned that the Chinese people do not always see a clear picture of my country. This happens for many reasons and some of them of our own making. Our movies and television shows often do not portray the values of the real America I know. Our successful businesses show a strength of American commerce, but our spirit, community spirit, and contributions to each other are not always visible as monetary success. Some of the erroneous pictures of America are painted by others. My friend the Ambassador to China tells me some Chinese textbooks talk of Americans of "bullying the weak and repressing the poor." Another Chinese textbook, published just last year, teaches that Special Agents of the FBI are used to "repress the working people." Now, neither of these is true, and while the words may be leftovers from a previous era, they are misleading, and they're harmful. In fact, Americans feel a special responsibility for the weak and the poor. Our Government spends billions of dollars to provide health care and food and housing for those who cannot help themselves. And even more important, many of our citizens contribute their own money and time to help those in need. American compassion also stretches way beyond our borders. We're the number one provider of humanitarian aid to people in need throughout the world. And as for the men and women of the FBI and law enforcement, they're working people they, themselves, are working people who devote their lives to fighting crime and corruption. My country certainly has its share of problems, no question about that. And we have our faults. Like most nations, we're on a long journey toward achieving our own ideals of equality and justice. Yet there's a reason our Nation shines as a beacon of hope and opportunity, a reason many throughout the world dream of coming to America. It's because we're a free nation, where men and women have the opportunity to achieve their dreams. No matter your background or your circumstance of birth, in America you can get a good education you can start your own business you can raise a family you can worship freely and help elect the leaders of your community and your country. You can support the policies of our Government, or you're free to openly disagree with them. Those who fear freedom sometimes argue it could lead to chaos, but it does not, because freedom means more than every man for himself. Liberty gives our citizens many rights, yet expects them to exercise important responsibilities. Our liberty is given direction and purpose by moral character, shaped in strong families, strong communities, and strong religious institutions, and overseen by a strong and fair legal system. My country's greatest symbol to the world is the Statue of Liberty, and it was designed by special care. I don't know if you've ever seen the Statue of Liberty, but if you look closely, she's holding not one object, but two. In one hand is the familiar torch we call the "light of liberty," and in the other hand is a book of law. We're a nation of laws. Our courts are honest, and they are independent. The President me I can't tell the courts how to rule, and neither can any other member of the executive or legislative branch of government. Under our law, everyone stands equal. No one is above the law, and no one is beneath it. All political power in America is limited, and it is temporary and only given by the free vote of the people. We have a Constitution, now two centuries old, which limits and balances the power of the three branches of our Government, the judicial branch, the legislative branch, and the executive branch, of which I'm a part. Many of the values that guide our life in America are first shaped in our families, just as they are in your country. American moms and dads love their children and work hard and sacrifice for them, because we believe life can always be better for the next generation. In our families, we find love and learn responsibility and character. And many Americans voluntarily devote part of their lives to serving other people. An amazing number, nearly half of all adults in America, volunteer time every week to make their communities better by mentoring children or by visiting the sick or caring for the elderly or helping with thousands of other needs and causes. This is one of the great strengths of my country. People take responsibility for helping others without being told, motivated by their good hearts and often by their faith. America is a nation guided by faith. Someone once called us "a nation with the soul of a church." This may interest you 95 percent of Americans say they believe in God, and I'm one of them. When I met President Jiang Zemin in Shanghai a few months ago, I had the honor of sharing with him how faith changed my life and how faith contributes to the life of my country. Faith points to a moral law beyond man's law and calls us to duties higher than material gain. Freedom of religion is not something to be feared it's to be welcomed, because faith gives us a moral core and teaches us to hold ourselves to high standards, to love and to serve others, and to live responsible lives. If you travel across America and I hope you do some day, if you haven't been there you will find people of many different ethnic backgrounds and many different faiths. We're a varied nation. We're home to 2.3 million Americans of Chinese ancestry, who can be found working in the offices of our corporations or in the Cabinet of the President of the United States or skating for the America Olympic team. Every immigrant, by taking an oath of allegiance to our country, becomes just as an American as the President. America shows that a society can be vast and it can be varied, yet still one country, commanding the allegiance and love of its people. And all these qualities of America were widely on display on a single day, September the 11th, the day when terrorists, murderers, attacked my Nation. American policemen and firefighters, by the hundreds, ran into burning towers in desperation to save their fellow citizens. Volunteers came from everywhere to help with rescue efforts. Americans donated blood and gave money to help the families of victims. America had prayer services all over our country, and people raised flags to show their pride and unity. And you need to know, none of this was ordered by the Government. It happened spontaneously, by the initiative of free people. Life in America shows that liberty, paired with law, is not to be feared. In a free society, diversity is not disorder debate is not strife and dissent is not revolution. A free society trusts its citizens to seek greatness in themselves and their country. It was my honor to visit China in 1975. Some of you weren't even born then. It shows how old I am laughter and a lot has changed in your country since then. China has made amazing progress in openness and enterprise and economic freedom. And this progress previews China's great potential. China has joined the World Trade Organization, and as you live up to its obligations, they inevitably will bring changes to China's legal system. A modern China will have a consistent rule of law to govern commerce and secure the rights of its people. The new China your generation is building will need the profound wisdom of your traditions. The lure of materialism challenges our society challenges society in our country and in many successful countries. Your ancient ethic of personal and family responsibility will serve you well. Behind China's economic success today are talented, brilliant, and energetic people. In the near future, those same men and women will play a full and active role in your Government. This university is not simply turning out specialists it is preparing citizens. And citizens are not spectators in the affairs of their country. They are participants in its future. Change is coming. China is already having secret ballot and competitive elections at the local level. Nearly 20 years ago, a great Chinese leader, Deng Xiaoping, said this I want you to hear his words. He said that China would eventually expand democratic elections all the way to the national level. I look forward to that day. Tens of millions of Chinese today are relearning Buddhist, Taoist, and local religious traditions, or practicing Christianity, Islam, and other faiths. Regardless of where or how these believers worship, they're no threat to public order in fact, they make good citizens. For centuries, this country has had a tradition of religious tolerance. My prayer is that all persecution will end, so that all in China are free to gather and worship as they wish. All these changes will lead to a stronger, more confident China, a China that can astonish and enrich the world, a China that your generation will help create. This is one of the most exciting times in the history of your country, a time when even the grandest hopes seem within your reach. My Nation offers you our respect and our friendship. Six years from now, athletes from America and around the world will come to your country for the Olympic games. And I'm confident they will find a China that is becoming a da guo, a leading nation, at peace with its people and at peace with the world. Thank you for letting me come. Taiwan Participant. Mr. President, yesterday I watched the press conference made by you and President Jiang Zemin. At the conference, you didn't clearly answer a question which is a concern by almost everybody. It's why the TMD system will cover Taiwan. And what's more, whenever you talk about the Taiwan issue, you always use a phrase just like "peaceful settlement." You never use the phrase "peaceful reunification." What's the difference and why? The President. Thank you, very good question. First of all, I want to compliment you on your English. Very good. The first thing that is important on the Taiwan issue is that my Government hopes there is a peaceful, as I said, dialog, that there is a settlement to this issue. But it must be done in a peaceful way. That's why I keep emphasizing "peaceful." And by the way, "peaceful" is a word intended for both parties, that neither party should provoke that go ahead, I'm sorry. The interpreter continued the translation. Interpreter. First of all sorry. The President. She's correcting my English. Laughter Interpreter. I'm sorry, Mr. President. The interpreter continued the translation. The President. We've had many discussions with your leaders, and I've reiterated support for the "one China" policy. It's been my Government's policy for a long period of time, and I haven't changed it. I also, in your question about missile defenses, have made it clear that our Nation will develop defenses to help our friends, our allies, and others around the world protect ourselves from rogue nations that have the that are trying to develop weapons of mass destruction. To me, that is essential for peace in the world. We have yet to develop a system, and therefore, that's exactly what I said yesterday, and it's the truth. But we're in the process of seeing if we can't develop a system, and I think it will bring more stability to the world than less. And let me just say one general comment that's very important for you to know, and it's also important for the people of my country to know that my administration is committed to peacefully resolving issues around the world. We want the issues resolved in a peaceful manner. And we've got a lot of issues that we deal with. We're dealing in the Middle East. And if you follow the news, it's a very dangerous period of time there. We're working hard to bring peaceful resolution there. We're working hard to bring a peaceful resolution to Kashmir, which is important for China. And I recently went to Korea, and I made it very clear that we want to resolve the issues on the Korean Peninsula in a peaceful way. Another question, please? Participant. I'll repeat my question in English. The President. Thank you. Participant. It's a pity you still haven't given us sorry give us a clear question about whether you always use the "peaceful settlement." You have never said "peaceful reunification." It's a pity. The President. We're back on Taiwan again laughter go ahead. Participant. This is a question our Chinese people are extremely concerned about. The President. Yes, I know. Participant. Three days ago, during your speech in the Japanese Parliament, you said, the United States will still remember its commitment to Taiwan. The President. Right. Participant. But my question is, does the U.S. still remember its commitment to 1.3 billion Chinese people, abiding by the 3 Joint Communiques and 3 notes? Thank you. The President. Thank you very much. As I said, this seems to be a topic on people's mind, obviously. I can't say it any more clearly, that I am anxious that there be a peaceful resolution that's going to require both parties to come to a solution. And that's what I mean by peaceful dialog. And I hope it happens in my lifetime, and I hope it happens in yours. It will make a it will be an important milestone. And secondly, when my country makes an agreement, we stick with it. And there is called the Taiwan Relations Act, and I honor that act, which says we will help Taiwan defend herself if provoked. But we've also sent the same message that there should be no provocation by either party for a peaceful dialog. Next question. Yes, ma'am. That's not a ma'am that's a male. Sorry. Actually, I said, "Yes, ma'am," but China U.S. Student Exchanges Participant. Now, please let me repeat my question in English. Mr. President, I'm a student coming from the School of Economics and Management in Tsinghua University. As we can see, China and the United States have a bright future in scientific and cultural exchanges. Now just now you have made warm remarks about our universities. So my question is, if possible, do you will you be happy to encourage your daughters to study in our university? Thank you. The President. I'm afraid they don't listen to me anymore laughter if you know what I mean. Let me first of all, I hope they do come here. It is an amazing country. You know, as I said, I was here in 1975. It is hard for me to describe the difference. It is an amazing transformation. I first saw that in Shanghai, earlier this fall or last fall. They would benefit from coming here, as would a lot of other United States students. I think our student exchange program is very important. I think our Nation must be welcoming to Chinese students who would like to go study in America. I think that would benefit the students, but as importantly, it would benefit American students. It's so important for people to realize in both our countries that we're dealing with human beings that have got desires and loves and frustrations. Even old citizens like me and the Vice President laughter Interpreter. I'm sorry, sir? The President. Even older citizens like me and the Vice President laughter can benefit by spending time getting to know each other. Obviously, there are some issues in our relationship that we don't see 100 percent don't have a 100 percent agreement on. But it is so much better to discuss these issues after you get to know a person, as a person. We're human beings, first and foremost. There are just some important characteristics that are real. And you know, I talked about my families in my speech. Family is just such an important, integral part of any society. And China has got a grand history of honoring family that is an important tradition, an important part of your culture. And I hope my country, as well, has a is known for a strong tradition of family. That's a concept that is not owned by a particular country it is universal. And when students get to know each other, they learn the universality of many values. And that's going to be important for peace in the world. Another question? China U.S. Relations Participant. Please let me translate my question in English. Mr. President, I'm a student from Center for International Communication Studies. Your younger brother Neil Bush visited our university just before last Christmas, and he mentioned that there are many Americans, especially politicians, have a lot of misunderstandings about China. So just like just as our Vice President Hu Jintao and you mentioned, you all want to make efforts to promote the Sino American relationship to go ahead smoothly. So my question is, being the President of the United States, what will it take some action to promote the contacts and exchanges between the two countries, between the peoples at all different levels? Thank you. The President. Well, thank you, that's a very good question. Participant. Thank you. The President. Well, first of all, my trip here and my discussion here helps promote applause people in my country are paying attention to my visit here. And it should interest you that I was here in the fall, and I'm back here again in the winter twice, in a very brief period of time. That should say something about the importance of our relationships. It's important for our political leaders to come to China. And I know many have, and more ought to come. It's important for the rhetoric, when we describe what we've seen, to be accurate and real. And when I go back home, I describe a great nation, a nation that has not only got a great history but an unbelievably exciting future. Many people in my country are very interested in China, and many come, as you know. They come to not only see the beautiful countryside, but they come to learn more about the culture and the people. And we've got to continue to encourage travel between both our countries. But you know, what's really going to make a significant difference in world understanding of your great country is the Olympics. It's going to be a fantastic opportunity it is. It's going to be a chance for people from all over the world not only to come and visit and to stay in hotels and to see the modernization that has taken place, but everybody in the world is going to watch it on TV, too, and it's going to be a great opportunity. And I think that's one of the reasons why I think it makes sense to give Beijing the Olympics in 2008. Yes, sir. Go ahead and yell it. There you go. Participant. Now please, let me repeat it in English. The President. Thank you. Changes in Chinese Society Participant. Mr. President, you have been to China in 1975, and you have mentioned just now there are a lot of changes in the Chinese society. Have the effects the programs in the economy have you noticed any other social programs in the changing society? The President. Well, I appreciate that. Let me tell you my most notable the thing I have noticed most. And it has to do with the economy, but it also has to do with a different attitude toward the people. In 1975, everybody wore the same clothes. Now, people pick their own clothes. Just look here on the front row Everybody's dressed differently, because you thought this is what you wanted. You made the decision to wear a beautiful red sweater, and when you made that decision, somebody made it. And in other words, the person, the individual the demand for a product influences the production, as opposed to the other way around. Recognizing the desires of the individual in the marketplace is part of a free society. It is a part of the definition of freedom. And I see that as the most significant change that I can see, besides the new buildings and all the construction. But the most important thing is the human dimension of freeing people to decide for themselves. And with that freedom comes other freedoms. So you can understand why the transformation from my memory of 1975 to today is significant. I mean, it is an amazing change for the better, I might add. I'll answer one more question, then I've got to go have lunch with your President. Laughter Yes, sir, in the blue. Crime and Education in the United States Participant. Thank you, Mr. Bush. Thank you, Mr. President, for giving me the last chance to ask you a question. I have read your autobiography, and in it you wrote about some social problem in the U.S. today, just like the violence in campus and juvenile delinquency, and such as the children in poverty. And we know a former schoolmate of our university, Tsinghua, and he studied in USA and was killed last year. And I feel so sad. And I know this kind of crime has become more and more serious in today U.S. As the President, do you have any good plan to improve the human rights today in the U.S.? Thank you. The President. Sure. Well, first of all, I'm proud to report that violent crime actually is going down. But any crime is too much crime. I mean, anytime somebody is violent toward their neighbor, it's too much violence. And there's no question, we've got people living in poverty. But as I mentioned, our Government is very generous in the amounts of money we spend trying to help people help themselves. When we all campaigned for office, one of the big debates is how best to help people help themselves. Foreign policy is an important part of our campaigns, of course, at least for President. But the American voter really is more focused on domestic politics, what's happening at home, as you can imagine. If the economy is soft, like ours is now, they want to know, "What's going to happen? What are you doing about the economy?" If the economy's good, then they don't talk much about the economy. But always we talk about two key issues, to address your problem. One is welfare How do we structure a welfare system that helps people in need and, in my judgment, should not make them dependent upon their Government? And the other big issue is education. It's always not only an important part of campaigns, but it's an important part of being once you're in office. When I was the Governor of Texas, I used to always say, "An educated child is one less likely to commit a crime." As a Governor, and now as President, I have spent a lot of time working with members of both political parties to develop an education plan that starts making sure children learn before they just get shuffled through the system. One of the saddest facts about my country is that there are a significant number of fourth grade students who cannot read at grade level. Imagine a child who can't read in the fourth grade is a child that's not going to be able to read in the eighth grade. And if a child can't read in the eighth grade, it's likely that child's not going to be able to read sufficiently when they get out of high school and, therefore, won't be able to go to college. It's a shame in America that that's the case. So as part of an education bill I managed to get through Congress last year, we've got a significant reading initiative, where we'll work with the States and the local jurisdictions to focus on an education program that emphasizes reading. This year I hope to work with my wife and others on a early childhood development program, so the youngsters get the building blocks to learn how to read. I'm actually working my way to your question, I promise you laughter because education is the best anticrime program. It's important to enforce law. It's important to hold people accountable for their actions. It is important to have consistent policy that says, "If you harm somebody, there will be a punishment for that harm." But in the best interests for my country, the long term solution is to make sure the education system works for everybody. And when that happens, there will be a more hopeful future for people, and there will be less poverty, less hopelessness, and less crime. Listen, thank you for letting me come. God bless you all. February 22, 2002 Laura and I and the American people are deeply saddened to learn about the loss of Daniel Pearl's life. And we're really sad for his wife and his parents and his friends and colleagues, who have been clinging to hope for weeks that he be found alive. We are especially sad for his unborn child, who will now know his father only through the memory of others. All Americans are sad and angry to learn of the murder. All around the world, American journalists and humanitarian aid workers and diplomats and others do important work in places that are sometimes dangerous. Those who would threaten Americans, those who would engage in criminal, barbaric acts, need to know that these crimes only hurt their cause and only deepen the resolve of the United States of America to rid to world of these agents of terror. May God bless Daniel Pearl. February 21, 2002 President Jiang. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to begin by extending on behalf of the Chinese Government and people a warm welcome to President Bush. This is my second meeting with the President. Four months ago, we had a successful meeting during the APEC Summit in Shanghai. In our talks today, President Bush and I looked back on the past 30 years of China U.S. relations and had an in depth discussion on bilateral ties and the current international situation. We have reached many important common understandings and achieved positive results in many areas. We have agreed that under the current complex and volatile international situation, China and the United States, both with significant influence in the world, should step up dialog and cooperation, properly handle their differences, and work together to move the constructive and cooperative relations between us further forward. We have agreed to intensify high level strategic dialog, as well as contacts between various agencies at all levels, with a view to increasing mutual understanding and trust. I have accepted with pleasure and appreciation President Bush's invitation to visit the United States in October this year, prior to the APEC meeting in Mexico. At the invitation of Vice President Cheney, Vice President Hu Jintao will visit the United States in the near future. We have agreed to vigorously carry out bilateral exchanges and cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, energy, science and technology, environmental protection, the prevention of HIV AIDS, and law enforcement, conduct strategic dialog on regional economic and financial matters, and hold within the year meetings of the Joint Economic Commission, Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade, and Joint Commission on Science and Technology. President Bush and I have also had an in depth discussion on the international fight against terrorism. We have agreed to step up consultation and cooperation on the basis of reciprocity and mutual benefit and to beef up the bilateral mid and long term mechanism for counterterrorism exchanges and cooperation. The two sides have also exchanged views on a series of major international and regional issues, and decided to enhance communication and coordination. To properly handle the Taiwan question is vital to stability and growth of China U.S. relations. In my meeting with President Bush, I have elaborated the Chinese Government's basic position of peaceful reunification and "one country, two systems" for the solution of the Taiwan question. And President Bush emphasized that the United States upholds the "one China" policy and will abide by the three Sino U.S. joint communiques. Given the differences in the national condition of the two countries, it is natural for China and the United States to disagree on some issues, which President Bush and I have discussed with candor. So long as the two sides act in a spirit of mutual respect, equality, and seeking common ground while shelving differences, we will be able to gradually narrow our differences, enhance our mutual understanding, and advance our cooperation. It is my hope and conviction that today's meeting will have a positive impact on improvement and growth of China U.S. relations. Thank you. It is your turn now, Mr. President. Laughter President Bush. Well, thank you, Mr. President. I appreciate so very much your hospitality. We have just concluded some very candid and positive talks. It is true that I invited the President to the United States next fall. It's true he accepted. This is the 30th year 30th anniversary of President Nixon's first visit to China, the beginning of 30 years of growth in the U.S. China relationship. Our ties are mature, respectful, and important to both our nations and to the world. We discussed a lot of issues, starting with terrorism. We recognize that terrorism is a threat to both our countries, and I welcome China's cooperation in our war against terror. I encourage China to continue to be a force for peace among its neighbors on the Korean Peninsula, in Southeast Asia, and in South Asia. China, as a full member of the WTO, will now be a full partner in the global trading system and will have the right and responsibility to fashion and enforce the rules of open trade. My Government hopes that China will strongly oppose the proliferation of missiles and other deadly technologies. President Jiang and I agreed that the United States and China could cooperate more closely to defeat HIV AIDS. Our talks were candid, and that's very positive. The United States shares interests with China, but we also have some disagreements. We believe that we can discuss our differences with mutual understanding and respect. As the President mentioned, we talked about Taiwan. The position of my Government has not changed over the years. We believe in the peaceful settlement of this issue. We will urge there be no provocation. The United States will continue to support the Taiwan Relations Act. China's future is for the Chinese people to decide. Yet no nation is exempt from the demands of human dignity. All the world's people, including the people of China, should be free to choose how they live, how they worship, and how they work. Dramatic changes have occurred in China in the last 30 years, and I believe equally dramatic changes lie ahead. These will have a profound impact not only on China itself but on the entire family of nations. And the United States will be a steady partner in China's historic transition toward greater prosperity and greater freedom. Thank you, Mr. President. National Missile Defense Q. Thank you, Mr. President, for your hospitality. President Bush, on the question of strategic nuclear policy, you've said you want to develop a missile defense system in order to defend the United States and its allies from the threats and dangers of the 21st century. Do you envision circumstances where that includes Taiwan? And President Jiang, if I may, with respect, could you explain to Americans who may not understand your reasoning why your Government restricts the practice of religious faith, in particular, why your Government has imprisoned more than 50 bishops of the Roman Catholic Church? President Bush. I did bring up the subject of missile defenses in the broad context of protecting ourselves and our friends and allies against a launch by a threatening nation. I explained to the President that we've just recently gotten out from underneath the 1972 Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty and are beginning to explore the full options as to whether or not a system will work. And that's the extent of our conversation. China U.S. Relations Q. Just now, President Bush mentioned that today marks the 30th anniversary of the first visit to China by President Bush. In few days' time, the 28th of this month will mark the 30th anniversary of the release of the Shanghai Communique. So my question to President Jiang is, how would you characterize the relationship over the past 30 years? President Jiang. We will have in February the 30th anniversary of the first visit to China by President Nixon and the release of the Shanghai Communique. The visit by President Bush coincides with this day, and his visit is highly meaningful. Thirty years ago, leaders of China and the United States acted together to put an end to mutual estrangement and open the gate for exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. History has proven that it was with great vision that our leaders took this major move. The growth of bilateral ties over the years has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples and played an important role in safeguarding peace in the Asia Pacific region and the world as a whole. At present, despite profound changes in the international situation, China and United States have more rather than less shared interests and more rather than less common responsibility for world peace. The importance of the relationship has increased rather than decreased. So to build a constructive and cooperative relationship serves the desire of not only the people of the two countries but also of the people throughout the world. The Chinese side is ready to join the U.S. side in reflecting on the past and looking to the future, increasing exchanges and cooperation and enhancing understanding and trust. I'm deeply convinced that so long as the two sides bear in mind the larger picture, take a long term perspective, and abide by the principles in the three Sino U.S. joint communiques, the relationship will make even bigger strides forward in the years ahead. Thank you. North Korea China's Role in the Coalition Q. Thank you. President Jiang, do you agree with President Bush that there should be a regime change in Iraq? And if so, would you support the use of all necessary means to accomplish that? And with respect, sir, we're eager to hear the response to the original question about the arrest of Catholic bishops in your country and attention to religious groups in general. And President Bush, you have thanked the Chinese for their cooperation in the antiterror campaign. As that campaign evolves, can you say today what would be the single most important contribution that China could make? And did you receive any assurance today that that will happen? President Bush. Let me start. We discussed the Korean Peninsula, and I told the President that I was deeply concerned about a regime that is not transparent and that starves its people. I also he reminded me that he had a conversation with Kim Chong il last fall, urging Kim Chong il to take up Kim Dae jung's offer for discussion. That was constructive leadership. I then told him that the offer I made yesterday in Seoul was a real offer and that we would be willing to meet with a North Korean regime. And I asked his help in conveying that message to Kim Chong il, if he so chooses. If he speaks to the leader of North Korea, he can assure him that I am sincere in my desire to have our folks meet. My point is that not every theater in the war against terror need be resolved with force. Some theaters can be resolved through diplomacy and dialog. And the Chinese Government can be very helpful. Furthermore, in the first theater in the war against terror, part of the call for our coalition is to make sure that Afghanistan becomes a self supporting, peaceful nation. And the Chinese Government is supportive of the aid efforts, to make sure that we aid the new post Taliban Afghani Government in its opportunities to develop its own army, as well as its own economy, its own security. And so they've been helpful there, as well. Thank you. China's Economic Development Catholic Bishops in China Korean Peninsula Iraq Q. I have got a two part question. First, in recent years, China has enjoyed rapid economic growth, and its national strength has increased. Some people in the United States have concluded that because of this, China has posed a potential threat to the United States, and they call for a policy of containment against China. What's your comment, President Jiang? And secondly, in your opening remarks, President Jiang, you mentioned that the key to steady growth of Sino U.S. relationship is the proper handling of the question of Taiwan. President Bush, in his opening remarks, also elaborated on the U.S. position on Taiwan. President Jiang, could you comment on what President Bush has said on the question of Taiwan? President Jiang. We're living in a world of diversity. As two major countries with different national conditions, China and the U.S. have, indeed, had certain disagreements. But they also share broad and important common interests. So the old mindsets which views the relationship between countries as either of alliance or confrontation, ought to be abandoned, and a new security concept which features security through mutual trust and cooperation through mutual benefit should be established. It's true that since the inception of reform and opening up program, China's national strength and people's living standards have somewhat improved in recent years. Yet, compared with the developed countries, our economic and cultural developments remains quite backwards. With a population of over 1.2 billion, the road ahead is still very long before we can basically complete modernization and deliver a better life to all our people. To focus on economic development and improvements of people's livelihoods is our long term central task. What China wants most is a peaceful and tranquil international environment with long term stability, to not do unto others what you would not like others to do unto you. Even if China becomes more developed in the future, it will not go for bullying or threatening other countries. Facts have proven already and will continue to prove that China is a staunch force dedicated to the maintenance of peace in the region and the world at large. Now, let me comment on the questions posed to me by the American correspondents as they raised questions for President Bush. President Bush, he has much more experience than I. Laughter I will do my best to answer your question. In the first question, the correspondent mentioned that some of the Catholic Church people have been detained. I want to explain that since the founding of People's Republic of China, all our constitutions, various versions, have provided for the freedom of religious belief. In China there are many religions which include Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, and a typical Chinese religion, Taoism. And their religious faiths are protected by our Constitution. I don't have religious faith. Yet this does not prevent me from having an interest in religion. I've read the Bible. I've also read the Koran, as well as the Scriptures of Buddhism. I often have meetings with the religious leaders in this country. For instance, when we are about the celebrate the new year or during the holiday season, I would have meetings with them and exchange views. Whatever religion people believe in, they have to abide by the law. So some of the lawbreakers have been detained because of their violation of law, not because of their religious belief. Although I'm the President of this country, I have no right interfering in the judicial affairs, because of judicial independence. You also asked about the Korean Peninsula issue. President Bush has also commented on this. In our talks just now, the two of us exchanged views on the Korean Peninsula. I want to make clear that we have all along pursued such a position. That is, we want the Korean Peninsula to have peace and stability. We hope that the problems between DPRK and ROK can be resolved through dialog. And we also sincerely hope that the contacts between the United States and DPRK will be resumed. All in all, in handling state to state relations, it is important to resolve the problems through peaceful means, in a spirit of equality, and through consultation. And that's why I've explained our consistent and clear cut position on the question of Korean Peninsula. It's quite near. You asked about Iraq. Iraq is not as near. But I think, as I made clear in my discussion with President Bush just now, the important thing is that peace is to be valued most. With regard to counterterrorism, our position has not changed from the position I made clear to President Bush when we last met 4 months ago. And that is, China is firmly opposed to international terrorism of all forms. I'm very pleased to see that Afghanistan has now embarked on a road of peaceful reconstruction. I wish them well. I hope they will succeed in rebuilding their country and enjoying national unity and peace. Let me conclude by quoting a Chinese proverb "More haste, less speed." Despite the fact that sometimes you will have problems that cry out for immediate solution, yet patience is sometime also necessary. Or perhaps I could quote another Chinese old saying to describe the situation "One cannot expect to dig a well with one spade." So we need to make continuous our unlimiting efforts to fight terrorism. Thank you. February 21, 2002 President Jiang. On behalf of the Chinese Government and people, I would like to once again extend our warm welcome to you, Mr. President. We have just had a very good discussion about issues of utmost concern, and now I'm prepared to have a continued exchange of views with you on other aspects of the bilateral ties, as well as the international situation. You will have the floor first. President Bush. Well, Mr. President, first of all, thank you again for your gracious hospitality. I am so pleased that my wife, Laura, is traveling with me so that she can see the progress of your great country. I also want to reiterate what I said inside about how thankful our Nation is my Nation is for your strong support in our war against terror and how gracious you were with your phone call right after September the 11th, expressing your condolences. We look forward to finding areas where we can work together, such as energy cooperation is a chance for us to explore technologies that will enable your country to grow and our country to grow at the same time, work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, for example. I gave a speech in the United States the other day outlining our vision of making sure we have economic growth and, at the same time, employ new technologies that will help us reduce greenhouse gases. And I announced to the country that I look forward to working with nations such as yourself, China, to explore ways that we can work together to deal with this issue in a cooperative spirit. Another area where we can work together is on HIV AIDS. I understand your Minister of Health is coming to the United States soon, and we can have a good chance for our Secretaries of Health to be able to work together and share information and share hope of able to deal with this very important issue, not only in our own countries but around the world. February 21, 2002 The President. Well, thank you very much, Martha. I appreciate that explanation as to why trade is to the advantage of the United States worker and to the Chinese worker. I want to thank you very much for inviting me and the Secretary of State here and our Ambassador. We've just come from a very fruitful discussion of key issues with President Jiang, and part of our discussion had to do with trade, and part of our discussion had to do with how do we make sure we've got a clean environment. And it's very interesting to me that this presentation that you just made is a clear indication of how we can achieve both, prosperity and a cleaner environment. Before I say a few comments, I do want to thank Mr. Shusen, as well, for being here. Thank you, sir, for your leadership. I also want to thank Tim Stafford and Steven Chew, as well, for bringing their product by. As Martha said, China has bought about 2,000 U.S. built bus engines that burn clean compressed natural gas instead of diesel fuel. The city of Beijing now owns one of the largest natural gas bus fleets in the world. It is it's wise policy, because natural gas burns cleanly. It is also wise policy that we trade together, because it means somebody is going to have a job. You know, there are some in the United States that fear trade. They want to erect barriers. I think this is a living example of why trade is positive and good. The bus engines China buys from America create jobs in North Carolina. The money that the workers earn in North Carolina can be used to purchase goods made in China. And as a result, both people benefit both people, both countries, people in both countries are better off as a result of the commerce that takes place, in this case, as a result of automobile and bus engines and transmissions. As well, one of the things that the President and I talked about was the need to address greenhouse gases in a way that recognizes that economic growth and a cleaner environment can go hand in hand. I addressed our Nation a couple of weeks ago and laid out my administration's policy on climate change. In my address, I made it very clear that any policy must encourage economic vitality. Societies that are economically vital are those that are more able to afford the technologies that will end up cleaning up the environment. And so, growth is essential for our country and for China. And wise growth and the use of technologies can clean up our environment, and that's exactly what we're looking at here, and so I want to thank you all for a vivid example of why I have been so strong for China entering the WTO and why I believe that good, constructive policy using modern technologies can clean up both our environments. You know, we've got a strong relationship with China. China is a great country. China is a country that has got vast potential. And it's in our Nation's interest that we work with China on a variety of issues. It's in our Nation's interest that we trade with China. It's in our Nation's interest that China adhere to the rules of the World Trade Organization. It's in our Nation's interest we cooperate with China on the war against terror. And we are. And I appreciate the Chinese leadership for not only its quick response to the terrorist activities that hit our country on September the 11th and their compassionate response for the people of our country I also appreciate the fact that we're working closely to battle terror around the world. It's in our interest to have good, strong dialog. As I said in a speech earlier today in South Korea, a point I also mentioned in Japan, is that the United States is a Pacific nation. And as a result, we've got to have and will maintain close relations with Pacific or other nations in the Pacific. And there's no more important nation than China. And we will have close dialog with China. Sometimes we will agree, and sometimes we won't agree. But in those instances where we don't agree, we will do so in a respectful way. I want to thank you all for coming. I appreciate this living exhibit as to why trade is positive for the people of America and trade is positive for the people of China. Thank you. Okay. How is everybody doing over here? Upcoming Remarks at Tsinghua University Q. Will you be asking China to embrace American values? The President. You had your chance at the press conference. Q. What's your message for tomorrow? The President. My message, what? Q. Your message for tomorrow. We have to pitch ahead. Tomorrow at the university, will you be asking China to embrace American values? The President. I will be defending American values and talking clearly about American values. It's important for starting with freedom. And I don't want to give it all away because you won't Q. I will. The President. No, you won't. Laughter Q. What will you be asking the Chinese to do The President. See, you're trying to get me to I'd like you to come and pay attention to it word for word. February 21, 2002 The President. Thank you very much. Well, thank you for that warm welcome. My fellow Americans, I'm on my way to China, and I hope you don't mind me stopping by to say a few words. I also thought you might want to say hello to a great wife and a wonderful First Lady, my wife, Laura. We are so delighted to be here. It gives me a chance to bring a message from home. Your family are proud of you, and so is America. You walk in the path of thousands of soldiers who fought for freedom in the Korean war and all who kept the peace for half a century. Many millions of people are safe from harm because you're here. You're a credit to the United States of America, and I want to thank you for that. I'm proud to be traveling with members of the fabulous team I put together, anchored by our Secretary of State, Colin Powell. We're making a huge difference on the Peninsula, not only because of our military presence but because of our diplomatic presence. We've got a great Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, Tom Hubbard, and his wife, Joan. One time I was Governor of the great State of Texas. Now I know we're going to keep the peace. Laughter And I went to Fort Hood and got to meet General Thorpe. I knew him to be a strong man then. I'm sure glad he's here now. He brings great credit to the United States military. Mr. General, thank you, sir. It is an honor to be here with General Lance Smith, as well. Thank you for your hospitality. Thank you for putting us I've got kind of a sweet spot in my heart for fighter pilots. I hope they're behaving well these days. Laughter I'm honored to be here with Denny Larsen. And I'm honored to be here with David Clary, as well. I want to thank those from the ROK who are here, the leaders. But most of all, I want to thank my fellow citizens, the members of the United States military, for being strong and steady, to keep the peace. It is such an honor to be traveling in Asia, representing our country. This is an important journey. We're stopping in the capitals of Japan and South Korea and then, in a couple of hours, in China. All three Governments are lending their support in our war against terror. It gives me a chance to look the leaders in the eye, to thank them on behalf of a grateful nation, for their steady and strong support, as this Nation leads a coalition to defend freedom. My trip was scheduled here for October, but we changed it after America came under attack. We had to change our plans. But since then, the killers and the Government that sponsored them had to change their plans, too. A few months ago, Al Qaida and the terrorists occupied Afghanistan. Now some of them are in cells in Guantanamo Bay. Not long ago, they were urging their followers to sacrifice their lives. Now they're running for their own. Those who attacked us and those who still want to try to hurt us are beginning to realize they picked the wrong enemy. They thought we were soft. They thought we were so materialistic that we would not be willing to sacrifice. They didn't realize that we're a patient nation, that we're a deliberate nation. And they're now beginning to realize that we're resolved to find the terrorists, wherever they hide, and rout them out. And as my fellow Americans, you need to know that we won't stop until the threat of global terrorism has been destroyed. We have been called to history. We must not stop. After all, we defend civilization itself. We didn't ask for this war we're a peaceful nation. But we will do everything in our power to defend freedom and the universal values that are so important to our Nation and so important to a peaceful world. I made this message clear to our enemy, and the mighty United States military is delivering it. I'm proud to report America and our allies are committed to this cause. If you haven't been back to America lately, I want to tell you, our Nation is strongly united. This isn't a matter of political parties. We're talking about national purpose. The people of America understand it's going to take a while, but they're ready. We've accepted new responsibilities. There's a new way of thinking in America. It was defined by flight the actions on Flight 93, when several people aboard an airplane got the word that that airplane might be headed to the Capitol or the White House, but certainly headed to hurt a fellow American. They were on the telephone with their loved ones. They told them they loved them. They said a prayer. And then they said, "Let's roll." There is a new spirit of sacrifice in America that understands that we must, in life, serve something greater than ourselves. And we're now called to defend freedom, and our allies understand that. And the United States military understands that, and freedom we will defend with all our might. And that's what you're doing here on the Korean Peninsula, a free and peaceful nation, and its 47 million people count on you every day. And in this duty, the United States has a steady and courageous partner in the Republic of Korea. During the years of partnership between our two countries, South Korea has become prosperous, and it has become strong. Its vibrant economy is an example of what free people and free institutions can achieve. And it shows the importance of America's presence in Asia. The United States is a Pacific nation. History has led us here. Ties of commerce and friendship keep us here. And our friends and allies can be certain that we will always stand beside them. When America says, "We're your friend," we mean it. We hope for a day when the stability of the Korean Peninsula is built on peaceful reconciliation of North and South. Today, however, the stability of this Peninsula is built on the military might of our great alliance. In our dealings with North Korea, we've laid down a clear marker. We will stand by the people of South Korea. We will maintain our presence here. And as I told the Congress and the world in my State of the Union messages, we will not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us or our friends or our allies with weapons of mass destruction. Those of you who are stationed here in Korea and members of our military throughout the world spend every day training and testing and preparing for any mission that may come. That's your responsibility, and you're the best in the world. And as your Commander in Chief, I have responsibilities to you to give clear orders, to set clear objectives, and to make sure you have everything you need to do your job. So I'm asking Congress to pass more than a 48 billion increase in our defense budget. It is the largest increase in military spending in a generation. It recognizes defending the price for defending freedom will be high, but it's necessary to defend freedom. Our most important job is the security of the United States of America and the security of our friends and allies. And we will pay whatever price it takes to defend America. I'm so grateful many of you have brought your families, who are here. A grateful nation not only thanks those who wear the uniform, but we thank the wives and husbands and sons and daughters and family members who sacrifice along with you. But in order to make sure that sacrifice is not quite such a hill to climb, in the budget that I've requested to Congress, I'm asking for another pay raise for the people who wear the uniform. It is necessary it is the right course of action Audience member. We love you, George! Laughter The President. because in the months and years to come, our Nation is going to be asking more of the United States military. And you have my confidence, because you've earned it. You earn it every day, in the difficulties you accept and the dangers you face. You're each here to serve your country, and your country is grateful. You're here because you believe in America, and America will always believe in you. God bless. February 20, 2002 President Kim. I would like to give my presentation. First, on behalf of the Korean people, I would like to warmly welcome President Bush and thank him for taking time out of the war against terrorism to visit our country. This visit is the first by President Bush since his Inauguration, and it is also the first by an American President in the 21st century. It is for this reason that this visit will lay the foundation for future progress in Korean U.S. relations in this century. During today's meeting, President Bush and I recognized that the Korea U.S. alliance is indispensable not only for stability on the Korean Peninsula but also in Northeast Asia as a whole. Furthermore, President Bush and I expressed satisfaction that the bilateral alliance is not limited to cooperation in security matters but that the comprehensive partnership has expanded and developed to all areas, including political, economic, and diplomatic arenas. President Bush and I exchanged views about the war against terrorism and future course of action. I praised President Bush for the success in the war against terrorism under his outstanding leadership and indicated that Korea as an ally would do its utmost to cooperate and provide full support. President Bush and I agreed to work with mutually consistent objectives and strategies in close consultation in pursuing the North Korean policy. I greatly appreciate President Bush's staunch support for our sunshine policy, as well as the U.S.'s unconditional proposal to dialog with North Korea. President Bush and I also discussed in depth issues related to the threat of WMD proliferation, such as the possibility of terrorists obtaining WMDs, and U.S. efforts to deter their spread across the world. In this regard, we also concurred that the objective is to resolve the issue of North Korean WMDs and missiles at an early date through dialog. To this end, we agreed that Korea U.S. joint efforts were necessary. President Bush and I concurred that continued expansion and progress of bilateral, economic, and trade relations are in the interest of both our countries. Furthermore, we also agreed to further deepen cooperative relations at the multilateral level, such as the WTO Doha development agenda. I am more than satisfied with the frank and open exchange of views I had with President Bush this morning on numerous issues. I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to President Bush for the interest he has expressed in peace on the Korean Peninsula, for the unparalleled affection he has for Korea, as well as the efforts and enthusiasm he has demonstrated in the development of bilateral relations. Thank you. President Bush. Thank you, Mr. President. It is such an honor to be here. Laura and I are grateful for your hospitality and the hospitality of First Lady Hee ho. We look forward to a full day in your beautiful country. The President is right we had a great meeting. It was so good that we didn't want to go into the meeting room where there was more people. We had a very frank exchange. And that's important when you're friends, to be able to discuss issues in depth. A lot of times I find in the diplomatic world that people want to gloss over issues they don't want to spend much time really understanding each other's positions. Because of our friendship, because of the friendship between our countries, we had a very frank exchange and a positive exchange, and one that allows me to safely say that this relationship is 50 years old, the relationship between South Korea and America, and it's seen a lot of problems. And we've dealt with those problems together. And I'm confident we'll be dealing with problems 50 years from now in a spirit of cooperation and openness. I understand how important this relationship is to our country, and the United States is strongly committed to the security of South Korea. We'll honor our commitments. Make no mistake about it that we stand firm behind peace in the Peninsula. And no one should ever doubt that, Mr. President. No one should ever doubt that this is a vital commitment for our Nation. It's also vital that we continue to trade together. And so we obviously discussed issues of the security issues on the Peninsula. We also discussed ways to make sure our trade was more open and fair to both sides. I'm very impressed by the amount of investment capital, foreign capital that has come into South Korea in the last 4 years. It's a testimony to a country that understands open markets and freedom. And I'm going up to the DMZ here in a little bit, and it's going to be an interesting contrast, to talk about the benefits and the dividends of freedom. And part of those is an economy that is vibrant and improving, thanks to structural reforms. I assured the President we're doing everything we can in our country, as well, to make sure our economy recovers. It's hard to be a good trading partner if you don't have a good economy, and we're beginning to see signs that there's economic vitality in America, which will be good for our partners here in South Korea as well. And of course, we talked about North Korea. And I made it very clear to the President that I support his sunshine policy. And I'm disappointed that the other side, the North Koreans, will not accept the spirit of the sunshine policy. We talked about family reunifications, the displaced family initiative that he started, which I think is a great initiative. And yet only 3,600 families, I believe it was, have been allowed to reunite. I asked him how many what's the potential what are the potential families on both sides of the DMZ that could reunite. He said, 10 million people. In order to make sure there's sunshine, there needs to be two people, two sides involved. And I praised the President's efforts. And I wonder out loud why the North Korean President won't accept the gesture of good will that the South Korean President has so rightfully offered. And I told him that we, too, would be happy to have a dialog with the North Koreans. I've made that offer, and yet there has been no response. Some in this country are obviously have read about my very strong comments about the nature of the regime. And let me explain why I made the comments I did. I love freedom. I understand the importance of freedom in people's lives. I'm troubled by a regime that tolerates starvation. I worry about a regime that is closed and not transparent. I'm deeply concerned about the people of North Korea. And I believe that it is important for those of us who love freedom to stand strong for freedom and make it clear the benefits of freedom. And that's exactly why I said what I said about the North Korean regime. I know what can happen when people are free I see it right here in South Korea. And I'm passionate on the subject, and I believe so strongly in the rights of the individual that I, Mr. President, will continue to speak out. Having said that, of course, as you and I discussed, we're more than willing to speak out publicly and speak out in private with the North Korean leadership. And again, I wonder why they haven't taken up our offer. This is going to be a great visit for us, Mr. President. It's going to be a great visit because it's a chance for me to say clearly to the South Korean people We value our friendship we appreciate your country we share the same values and we'll work together to make sure that our relationship improves even better as we go into the 21st century. Mr. President, thank you, sir. North Korea Q. First, I have a question for President Kim. There is a difference between the axis of evil and the sunshine policy. Do you feel that the gap was overcome during this summit? And right now, the Korean people are concerned about how inter Korean relations will develop following the summit. How do you perceive the inter Korean relations to develop in the future? President Kim. In my view, I believe that the U.S. policy and the Korean policy are fundamentally similar, and there are no major differences. We both believe in democracy and a market economy. Furthermore, we are allies. Korea and the U.S. are strong allies, and I believe that this is important and vital for the national interest of both our countries. And so that's our top priority. Furthermore, in matters related to North Korea, regarding the WMD or missiles or nuclear issues, our views have coincided. And during the summit meeting this morning, I believe that there was no difference in opinion between our two leaders. And we believe that it is through dialog that we will be able to resolve this issue, and we agreed on this point. Therefore, recently in the press, there were some indications that there might be some difference of opinion. But during the conversation that I had this morning with President Bush, we were able to reconfirm that there is no difference of opinion between Korea and the U.S. And in the future, regarding North Korean issues, we were able to reaffirm that we have made the proposal to North Korea to dialog, and it is through dialog that we hope to resolve all of the issues. And so we hope that North Korea will, at an early date, accept our proposal and that inter Korean dialog and dialog between North Korea and the U.S. will resume. On September 15th, there was the fifth inter Korean interministerial meeting, and several issues were decided. There were 10 agreements made regarding the meeting of separated families and the relinking of the Kyongui railroad line, and we are implementing these agreements. Thank you. Press Secretary Ari Fleischer. Mr. Jim Angle from Fox Television. Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Mr. President, some South Koreans, perhaps even President Kim, had some concerns about your comments about the axis of evil and North Korea. How do you think your approach fits with and helps the sunshine policy? And if I may, President Kim, did you have any misgivings, sir, about the President including North Korea in the axis of evil? And secondly, why do you think that North Korea is genuine about opening up? We have heard here about their failure to participate in the reunification of families. They haven't built their end of the rail line, and they refuse to talk to the U.S. What makes you think they're sincere in wanting to open up? President Bush. You know, during our discussion, President Kim reminded me a little bit about American history, when he said that President Reagan referred to Russia as the "evil empire," and yet, was then able to have constructive dialog with Mr. Gorbachev. I will believe I will not change my opinion on the man, on Kim Chong il, until he frees his people and accepts genuine proposals from countries such as South Korea or the United States to dialog, until he proves to the world that he's got a good heart, that he cares about the people that live in his country. I am concerned about a country that is not transparent, that allows for starvation, that develops weapons of mass destruction. I care very deeply about it because it is in the neighborhood of one of our very close friends. I don't see and so, therefore, I think the burden of proof is on the North Korean leader, to prove that he does truly care about people and that he is not going to threaten our neighbor. We're peaceful people. We have no intention of invading North Korea. South Korea has no intention of attacking North Korea, nor does America. We're purely defensive. And the reason we have to be defensive is because there is a threatening position on the DMZ. But we long for peace. It is in our nations' interest that we achieve peace on the Peninsula. I also want to remind the world that our Nation provides more food to the North Korean people than any nation in the world. We are averaging nearly 300,000 tons of food a year. And so, obviously, my comments about evil was toward a regime, toward a government, not toward the North Korean people. We have great sympathy and empathy for the North Korean people. We want them to have food. And at the same time, we want them to have freedom. And we will work in a peaceful way to achieve that objective. That was the purpose of our summit today, to reconfirm that our Nation my Nation is interested in a peaceful resolution of the here on the Korean Peninsula. And at the same time, of course, I made it clear that we would honor our commitments to help South Korea defend herself if need be. I think we had a question for the President. President's Upcoming Visit to China Q. Mr. Mike Allen of the Washington Post. President Bush. He got cut off, I think. He just got filibustered. Laughter Q. Mr. President, in Beijing, do you plan to meet with any political dissidents or Christian activists? How did you decide that? And what do you plan to do to try to persuade the Chinese Government to extend more rights to these individuals? President Bush. Mike, I am not exactly sure of all the details of my schedule yet, since I'm focused here on this incredibly important relationship. I can tell you that in my last visit with President Jiang, I shared with him my faith. I talked to him on very personal terms about my Christian beliefs. I explained to him that faith had an incredibly important part in my life, and it has a very important part in the lives of all kinds of citizens and that I would hope that he, as a President of a great nation, would understand the important role of religion in an individual's life. That's why I put it in that context. I then segued into discussions about the Catholic Church, and I will do so again. I will bring up the need that there be a that I would hope the Government would honor the request of the Papal Nuncio to be able to at least have dialog about bishops that are interned there. And I also talked about the Dalai Lama, as well as Christian faiths, and I will do so again. As to what my schedule is and who I'm going to see, I'm not sure yet, Mike. North Korea South Korea U.S. Summit Q. I first have a question for President Bush. During your presentation you said that you are ready to dialog with North Korea at any time, anywhere. If North Korea accepts, then will you continue with the economic aid to North Korea? And also, in order to tell Pyongyang that you are ready to dialog, are you willing to send an envoy? My next question is to President Kim. You said that you are satisfied with the summit meeting. What do you feel is the biggest achievement of the summit meeting? President Bush. Well, first, dialog or no dialog, we will continue to send food to the North Korean people. I reiterate, our issue is not with the North Korean people. As a matter of fact, we have great sympathy for the North Korean people. Any people that live under a despotic regime is has our sympathy. And so I presume that's the economic aid we're referring to. We will send food. As to how any dialog were to begin, it obviously takes two willing parties. And as people in our Government know, last June, I made the decision that we would extend the offer for dialog. We just haven't heard a response back yet. And how we end up doing that is a matter of the diplomats. The great Secretary of State will be able to handle the details. But the offer stands, and if anybody's listening involved with the North Korean Government, they know that the offer is real, and I reiterate it today. President Kim. Yes, at this morning's summit meeting, I believe that I am most satisfied with the fact that we were able to have a frank and open discussion, and we were able to reconfirm that we are close allies not only are our two countries allies, but I believe that we have become close personal friends as well. And so I believe that we will be able to learn a lot from each other and that we will be able to understand each other more and better in the future. And we were able to have an open and frank dialog, and I am most satisfied about that. And the second point is that at today's summit meeting, even before we had the summit meeting, we had agreed that we would talk on the four main issues and that we wanted to have concrete results on four areas, and that is to reconfirm the Korea U.S. alliance. The second was to fight against terrorism and that we would work on a global scale in order to uproot terrorism and that we would continue to cooperate in order to do so. And third is for the North Korean WMDs and missile issue must be resolved. And this is, more than any other country in the world, it is a matter directly related to the security issue of Korea. The fourth issue is that for inter Korean relations, to resolve the current issues such as the WMDs and the missile issue, we must resolve these issues through dialog. And so, regarding these four points, I concurred and I agreed with President Bush, and as was mentioned earlier, President Bush is more than ready to dialog with North Korea. And he has reiterated his position. And the Korean people, I believe, will be assuaged by this reiteration. And I believe that President Bush's visit to Korea will reaffirm the alliance between our two countries and will also lay the foundation for inter Korean relations and improvement in those relations. In the future, regarding economic issues, and also the Winter Olympics, which are being held in Salt Lake City, and also the World Cup, we are going to have to deal with security issues, and we agree that there will be a lot of cooperation between our two countries in order to ensure the security in those events. This concludes the joint press conference. Thank you very much. February 20, 2002 Mr. President, it's a great honor to be here as your guest. Your love of democracy and example of courage have changed Korea, have challenged Asia, and inspired the great respect of my Government and my country. All your life you have seen the hope of change and progress where few could imagine it. You have shown that sometimes the conscience and will of a single individual can move history. I admire your visionary leadership, and I thank you for your hospitality to Laura and me. We gather today surrounded by reminders of the challenges to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. President Kim has just shown me a road he built, a road for peace. And he's shown me where that road abruptly ends, right here at the DMZ. That road has the potential to bring the peoples on both sides of this divided land together, and for the good of all the Korean people, the North should finish it. Traveling south on that road, the people of the North would see not a threat but a miracle of peaceful development, Asia's third largest economy that has risen from the ruins of war. The people of the North would see more than physical wealth they would see the creativity and spiritual freedom represented here today. They would see a great and hopeful alternative to stagnation and starvation. And they would find friends and partners in the rebuilding of their country. South Korea is more than a successful nation it is an example to the world. When nations embrace freedom, they find economic and social progress. When nations accept the rules of the modern world, they find the benefits of the modern world. And when nations treat men and women with dignity, they find true greatness. When satellites take pictures of the Korean Peninsula at night, the South is awash in light. The North is almost completely dark. Kim Dae jung has put forward a vision that can illuminate the whole Peninsula. We want all the Koreans to live in the light. My vision is clear I see a Peninsula that is one day united in commerce and cooperation, instead of divided by barbed wire and fear. Korean grandparents should be free to spend their final years with those they love. Korean children should never starve while a massive army is fed. No nation should be a prison for its own people. No Korean should be treated as a cog in the machinery of the state. And as I stated before the American Congress just a few weeks ago, we must not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most dangerous weapons. I speak for these convictions even as we hope for dialog with the North. America provides humanitarian food assistance to the people of North Korea, despite our concerns about the regime. We're prepared to talk with the North about steps that would lead to a better future, a future that is more hopeful and less threatening. But like this road left unbuilt, our offer has gone unanswered. Someday, we all hope the stability of this Peninsula will be built on the reconciliation of its two halves. Yet today, the stability of this Peninsula is built on the great alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States. All of Asia, including North Korea, knows that America will stand firmly will stand firmly with our South Korean allies. We will sustain our obligations with honor. Our forces and our alliance are strong, and this strength is the foundation of peace on the Peninsula. American forces receive generous support from our South Korean hosts, and we are very grateful. Together, we are increasing the effectiveness of our military forces, even as U.S. troops become a less intrusive presence in Korea, itself. Americans are also very grateful for the tremendous outpouring of sympathy and support shown by the South Korean people following the terror of September the 11th. Today, both our nations are cooperating to fight against terror, proving that our alliance is both regional and global. The United States and South Korea are bound by common interests. Our alliance is defined by common values. We deeply value our own liberty, and we care about the liberty of others. Like the United States, South Korea has become a beacon of freedom, showing to the world the power of human liberty to bring down walls and uplift lives. Today, across the mines and barbed wire, that light shines brighter than ever. It shines not as a threat to the North but as an invitation. People on both sides of this border want to live in freedom and want to live in dignity, without the threat of violence and famine and war. I hope that one day soon this hope will be realized. And when that day comes, all the people of Korea will find in America a strong and willing friend. May God bless you all. February 19, 2002 Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Prime Ministers, distinguished members of the Diet, Ambassador and Mrs. Baker, Secretary Colin Powell and the American delegation, Japanese delegation, distinguished representatives of the great people of Japan Laura and I are honored to be here. And thank you so very much for your invitation, and thank you very much for the generous reception. Thank you so very much for the kind and generous reception that we have been shown by the Japanese people. We look forward to the great honor of meeting Their Imperial Majesties, the Emperor and Empress, later on today. And we bring to you the respect and good wishes of the American people. A century ago, our two countries were beginning to learn from and about one another after a long period of suspicion and mistrust. The great Japanese scholar and statesman Inazo Nitobe, a man who understood both our peoples, envisioned a future of friendship as he wrote, "I want to become a bridge across the Pacific." That bridge has been built, not by one man but by millions of Americans and Japanese. My trip to Asia begins here in Japan for an important reason. It begins here because for a century and a half now, America and Japan have formed one of the great and enduring alliances of modern times. From that alliance has come an era of peace in the Pacific. And in that peace, the world has witnessed the broad advance of prosperity and democracy throughout east Asia. From its very birth, our alliance has been based on common interests, common responsibilities, and common values. The bonds of friendship and trust between our two people were never more evident than in the days and months after September the 11th. We were grateful, so very grateful, for the condolences and compassion of the Japanese people and the Japanese Government. We were especially touched especially touched that the people of Ehime Prefecture sent a donation to the families of victims, showing empathy for loss, even when their own loss was so recent. This is a gesture of friendship my Nation will never forget. Last fall in Shanghai, the Prime Minister gave me a special gift, a samurai arrow in a box in which the Prime Minister had written, "The arrow to defeat the evil and bring peace to the Earth." He also said, "This is a fight we have to win to ensure the survival of freedom." I assured him then, and I assure you today, freedom will prevail. Civilization and terrorism cannot coexist, and by defeating terror, we will defend the peace of the world. Japan and America are working to find and disrupt terrorist cells. Your diplomats helped build a worldwide coalition to defend freedom. Your Self Defense Forces are providing important logistical support, and your generosity is helping to rebuild a liberated Afghanistan. Your response to the terrorist threat has demonstrated the strength of our alliance and the indispensable role of Japan that is global, and that begins in Asia. The success of this region is essential to the entire world, and I'm convinced the 21st century will be the Pacific century. Japan and America share a vision for the future of the Asia Pacific region as a fellowship of free Pacific nations. We seek a peaceful region where no power or coalition of powers endangers the security or freedom of other nations, where military force is not used to resolve political disputes. We seek a peaceful region where the proliferation of missiles and weapons of mass destruction do not threaten humanity. We seek a region with strong institutions of economic and political cooperation that is open to trade and investment on a global scale, a region in which people and capital and information can move freely, breaking down barriers and creating bonds of progress, ties of culture, and momentum toward democracy. We seek a region in which demilitarized zones and missile batteries no longer separate people with a common heritage and a common future. Realizing this vision, a fellowship of free Pacific nations, will require Japan and America to work more closely together than ever before. Our responsibilities are clear. Fortunately, our alliance has never been stronger. America, like Japan, is a Pacific nation, drawn by trade and values and history to be a part of Asia's future. We stand more committed than ever to a forward presence in this region. We will continue to show American power and purpose in support of the Philippines, Australia, and Thailand. We will deter aggression against the Republic of Korea. Together, Japan and the United States will strengthen our ties of security. America will remember our commitments to the people on Taiwan. And to help protect the people of this region and our friends and allies in every region, we will press on with an effective program of missile defenses. In a few days, I'll visit China. America, like Japan, welcomes a China that is stable and prosperous and at peace with its neighbors. We're grateful for China's cooperation in the war against terror. We both supported China's entry into the World Trade Organization. And we will work with China in the great task of building a prosperous and stable Asia for our children and for our grandchildren. In the United States, China will find a partner in trade. China will find the respect it deserves as a great nation. And America will find and China will find that America speaks for the universal values that gave our Nation birth, the rule of law, the freedom of conscience and religion, and the rights and dignity of every life. Those are the values of my country, and those are the values of our alliance. America and Japan have joined to oppose danger and aggression. We have also joined to bring aid and hope to those who struggle throughout the developing world. We are the world's two largest economies and the two most generous contributors of economic and humanitarian aid. Japan's commitment to development is known and honored throughout the world. So is Japan's leading role in great international institutions, the United Nations, the World Bank, and the G 8, among others. The challenges of development are often deep and difficult persistent poverty, widespread illiteracy, terrible disease. Money is necessary yet, money alone will not solve these problems. Lasting help will come as we help to rebuild honest government and effective law enforcement, quality schools and quality hospitals, and growing economies. Progress will require a long term commitment, and we both must provide it. In the months ahead, our nations will take part in two world summits focused on development. Japan and the United States should work to expand our partnerships with the private sectors, to reform international financial institutions, to improve access to education for boys and girls in Asia and Africa and in the Middle East. In all our efforts we must put resources where they do the most good, with the people and the communities we are trying to help. Our two countries have unique strengths and a unique opportunity to combine them for the benefit of the world. In science, we're exploring new technologies to produce energy while protecting the environment. In medicine, we're exploring the human genome and nearing treatments and cures to extend lives and relieve suffering. Japan is making these great contributions even in a time of economic uncertainty and transition that has caused some to question whether your nation can maintain these commitments and your leadership in the world. I have no such questions, and I'm confident that Japan's greatest era lies ahead. Japan has some of the most competitive corporations and some of the most educated and motivated workers in the world. And Japan, thanks to my friend the Prime Minister, is on the path to reform. I value my relationship with the Prime Minister. He is a leader who embodies the energy and determination of his country. He and I have had very good visits. I trust him. I enjoy his sense of humor. Laughter I consider him a close friend. He reminds me of a new American star, Ichiro. Laughter The Prime Minister can hit anything you throw at him. Laughter Over the years we Americans have seen our share of economic challenges. In the late seventies and early eighties, our competitiveness was weak our banks were in trouble high taxes and needless regulation discouraged risktaking and strangled innovation. America overcame these difficulties by reducing taxes and by reducing regulations. We moved nonperforming loans to market, making way for new investment. As we made reforms, foreign investors regained faith in us, especially investors from Japan. We learned that, in times of crisis and stagnation, it is better to move forward boldly with reform and restructuring than to wait, hoping that old practices will somehow work again. Through bold action, we emerged a better and stronger economy, and so will you. Over the past few years, Americans have increased our investments in Japan, further binding our nations and showing confidence in your future. Japan has a proud history of moving forward, not through revolutions but through restorations. One of the heroes of the Meiji Restoration, Yukichi Fukuzawa, was a student of the economic ideas that transformed the Western world. He saw these ideas spark prosperity and lift millions out of poverty, and he sought to introduce them to his people. As he translated an influential economics textbook into Japanese, he came across an English word with no Japanese equivalent, "competition." So he coined a new word, kyoso, and forever enriched the Japanese language. But kyoso is more than just a word. It is a spirit and an ethic. It is an engine that drives innovation and unleashes the potential of free people. More than a century ago, competition helped propel Japanese economy into the modern era. A half century ago, it accelerated the Japanese postwar economic miracle admired by the world. Now Japan has embarked on a new restoration, a restoration of prosperity and economic growth through fundamental reform and the full embrace of competition. In all the work that lies ahead, in the defense of freedom, in the advance of development, in the work of reform, you'll have a firm ally in the American Government, and you'll have a constant friend in the American people. Thank you very much. February 18, 2002 Prime Minister Koizumi. This is my fourth meeting with President Bush, and we engaged in very candid and very friendly talks, and very useful meeting it was. I was able to renew our friendship and cement further our relationship of trust and reaffirm the importance of Japan U.S. alliance. In the fight against terrorism, Japan, on its own initiative, has been cooperating with the United States and in cooperation with the international community to eradicate terrorism. And we shall continue with this firm resolve and firm stance to fight against terrorism in the days ahead, as well. I expressed my respect for the strong leadership that President Bush has exercised to date. On September the 11th, these unforgivable terrorist acts took place. But in this fight against terrorism, we shall continue we shall need to sustain our cooperation, and under international cooperation we need to carry forward this fight against terrorism. On these points, again, we saw eye to eye. On the issue of Afghanistan, the roles that Japan and the United States play will differ, but we should complement each other in order to make our own contributions to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Afghanistan. Turning to East Asia, as a whole, the relationship between Japan and East Asia is important for the stability and the peace in the world. Japan attaches importance to our relations with China and Korea, and the close coordination between Japan and China and Japan and Korea is something that I would also like to work on to further strengthen. On North Korea, Japan, through cooperation and coordination with the United States and Korea, would like to work on normalization of relations with North Korea. With regard to China, we welcome China's accession to WTO, and it will be hosting Olympic games in the future, as well. And I very much hope that China will play important roles in the international community and also play its part in the international community, recognizing its important responsibilities. In considering the future of friendly ties between Japan and China and Japan and Korea, we also agree that Japan U.S. relations would be very important. And turning to economic issues, economic revitalization in Japan to imbue confidence once again in the Japanese economy, this is the greatest mission given to my Koizumi administration. Whether my support is high or low, I shall not slacken this structural reform efforts that I've made. This policy of structural reform will not change whatsoever. I explained this to President Bush, the measures against deflation and measures to prevent the financial unrest, but we will do all our best in this regard. So there will be absolutely no change to the structural reform efforts that the Koizumi administration has maintained. In fact, it may only be strengthened, but it will not change the policy will not change. Ten years ago, Japan perhaps was a little overconfident. Today, Japan has lost confidence in itself. But Japan has to regain confidence in itself, and with hope, if we work on the structural reform, then definitely Japan shall be able to revive its economy. And the potentials of Japan can also come to the fore. And it is to that end that the Koizumi administration has been working on structural reform. And President Bush has shown his understanding towards this and has expressed his strong support for this policy of mine. On global challenges, there is the global warming issue and Kyoto Protocol question. The United States has come up with a very positive proposal. The problems of environment and the problems of economy, these should proceed hand in hand, and they should not run counter to each other. On the future problems of the globe, the technological development in the interest of the environment will produce economic growth. So economy and the environment do not run against each other. Rather, efforts to improve the environment will bring about science and technology development in science and technology and, thus, also generate greater economic development. This perspective should not be lost. Japan will aim at achieving both economic growth and environmental improvements. So Japan welcomes the positive proposal on global environment issue, and we appreciate the stance shown by the United States to contribute on that front, and we'll expect greater efforts in that respect. On the environmental questions, economic questions, and so on, in these broad areas Japan wishes to engage in discussions with the United States and cooperate with the U.S. So I was able to have very candid exchange of views on all these and numerous other issues. This, as I said, was our fourth meeting, but I feel as if we've met each other umpteen times already. In fact, we were able to exchange views on almost anything. Our relations are built on a deep mutual trust, and building on that, we'd like to further develop our relations. And I believe it will be important for Japan and the United States to cooperate on these and numerous other issues, because in doing so we'll contribute not just to Japan and the United States but to the entire world as well. And I think it was a great meeting. President Bush. Thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister. It is a real pleasure and honor to begin my trip to Asia here in Japan. And the reason why our first stop is here in Japan is because Japan is one of America's greatest and truest friends. I also want to thank my friend the Prime Minister. He is a man whose word I trust, a man whose advice I seek, and a person with whom I've got good personal relations. And I want to thank you for your friendship and your generous hospitality. I believe the U.S. Japanese alliance is the bedrock for peace and prosperity in the Pacific. Japan is a generous host to America's forward deployed forces, providing an essential contribution to the stability of Asia. This enduring partnership benefits both our countries, but it also benefits the world. The peace of the world is now threatened by global terror. And we have had no better friend, and nobody provides such steadfast support than the Japanese Government. I remember the phone call, Mr. Prime Minister, you gave me when I was in the Oval Office. It meant so much to hear in this right after 9 11, it meant so much to hear your voice and your steadfast support, which has not wavered. And I want to thank you and the Japanese people for that. Japan also understands that in order to complete the first theater in the war against terror, that we must help Afghanistan rebuild. And I want to thank you, Mr. Prime Minister, and your government for hosting a very important conference. Today we had a we spent some a good deal of time talking about how to make sure that the Afghanistan of today, the post Taliban Afghanistan, is stable and has a chance to achieve prosperity and security and peace for her citizens. And Japan plays an incredibly important role in that. Japan also has aided people throughout the world. Japan is a generous nation, helping the developing nations with health and education needs, and for that we are also very grateful. Prime Minister Koizumi and I not only reaffirmed the importance of the Japanese United States security alliance we also talked about our economies. I told him that our economy is still in a recession, but there are some hopeful signs that we're recovering. There are some signs that the tax relief plan that we put in place is having a positive effect, so that we're beginning to see some growth. I also, obviously, talked to him about his strategy for the Japanese economy. And he mentioned about confidence. Well, let me tell you what my confidence level is like I'm confident in this man's leadership ability I'm confident in his strategy and I'm confident in his desire to implement that strategy. And when he implements the strategy, it will help Japan's economy a lot. And that's important. It's important not only for our bilateral relations it is important for the world's second largest economy to grow. It'll help the region, and it will help the world. And so, Mr. Prime Minister, it is my honor to come to your beautiful country. I want to thank you very much for your hospitality. Laura thanks you for your hospitality, as well. And I look forward to our meeting tonight and the chance to speak to the Diet tomorrow. And as importantly, I look forward to meeting the Imperial Majesties, the Emperor and the Empress. Thank you, sir. Prime Minister Koizumi. Thank you very much. Do you have any questions, please? Reforming Japan's Economy Q. First, a question for President Bush. In the early meeting, did you make any specific did you ask the Prime Minister to take any specific actions on the Japanese economy? Much is said about the triple lows for the Japanese economy, and some speak of an impending financial crisis. Which would you like Japan to give priority to, structural reform or antideflation measures? And Prime Minister Koizumi, what sort of balance do you intend to strike? President Bush. First of all, before I had a chance to bring up the economy, the Prime Minister brought up the economy. In our private discussion, he said, "I want to make it very clear to you exactly what I intend to do." And he talked about nonperforming loans, the deflation issue, and regulatory reform, and he placed equal emphasis on all three. And I'm not here to give advice. I'm here to lend support. When he looked me in the eye and told me that he is going to take measures necessary to improve in all three regions, I believe him. I believe that's his intent. And that is good news, because it's going to require a strong leader to deal with the difficult problems facing the Japanese economy. Q. Mr. Prime Minister? Prime Minister Koizumi. He asked about structural reform or measures against deflation. That question, itself, I think is built on a wrong perception. Whatever the situation may be, Japan needs to carry through its structural reform. Of course, there are many activities that are going on where Government is not involved, and we can invite the private sector to come into areas that were covered by the Government, and we should carry forward regulatory reform, as well. And there will be, of course, confrontation with the vested interest. Whatever measures we may take, financial measures or deflationary measures or fiscal policy measures or what, changes will not take place. So it's not really a question of which should be given priority, structural reform or deflationary measures. Whatever the situation may be, we have to implement a structural reform. So the Koizumi administration will never slacken its efforts to work on structural reform. I hope you understand that point full well. Some might think that I'm going to shift from structural reform measures. I'm aware of those voices, but that will never happen. Whatever the situation, structural reform needs to be implemented, and without that, there cannot be economic revival of Japan. And having said that, deflationary measures or monetary easing, these are measures needed to accelerate structural reform. So whatever the situation may be, I will never slacken the structural reform. Q. Mr. President, you expressed confidence in the Prime Minister again today. But he's been in office for about a year now, and he's been unable to enact structural reforms. Why do you think it's taken so long for the Japanese Government to enact the reforms you're talking about? And to the Prime Minister, you called the President's alternative to Kyoto a positive proposal. That given, do you think the world's environment would have been better off if America had signed on to Kyoto? President Bush. The second question is moot. What was the first question? Laughter Q. Why has it taken President Bush. Oh, that's right, yes. Listen, sometimes it is very difficult to get a reform package done in any society, but particularly structural reform. And what the Prime Minister is proposing is a bold agenda, and it takes somebody who's willing to spend capital, political capital, to get the agenda done. So I am my main focus of this meeting was to judge intent and desire and willingness to work hard to achieve a bold agenda. And having listened to the Prime Minister at length today and looked him in the eye, I feel very confident that that's precisely what he is going to do, pursue a bold agenda. And sometimes it is not easy to get others to follow, but that's his job, is to lead. And he knows that. And that's why, one, I like him a lot, because I appreciate bold leadership. And secondly, he is going to stay the course, and that's important as well. Prime Minister Koizumi. Well, some might say we're slow, but we're moving steadily. It's been less than one year. Many people say there haven't been tangible results. But look at Thatcher reform or Reagan reform none of these reforms were achieved within a year or two. In fact, the results of the Reagan reform came to fruition after he had retired. So it's been less than one year, and I would like to say that we are making steady progress. Of course, in certain areas we can achieve results in 9 or 10 months. But I hope you understand that there are areas where we have been making steady progress. Of course, there is a need for coordination with the Diet, with the parliament. And there are areas where we cannot proceed without their approval, but we are proceeding steadily. And of course, we are striving to move forward our reform, but we're not falling behind at all. As for the Kyoto Protocol, Japan has been very tough on the environmental questions, and we've been very active. I certainly understand the circumstances in the United States, but of course we will continue to work so that we can cooperate with the United States. It is a question for the United States to decide whether to take part in the protocol or not, but I hope we will continue with our efforts so that we can move in the same direction, as I said earlier. Both the economy and the environment can be improved together, and we'd like to see further efforts on the part of the United States. Iraq, Iran, and North Korea Q. A question for President Bush. You referred to Iraq as the axis of evil. And I wonder if in the meeting you referred to the possibility of exercising force and, if so, what did you say? And what role would you expect of Japan? Mr. Koizumi, if the U.S. really exercises force, what specifically would Japan do? President Bush. Inaudible talked about my speech I gave to the Congress. Japan is one of our strongest allies and close friend. And I explained to the Prime Minister that there are some nations in the world which want to develop weapons that will hurt the United States and or our friends and allies, and we've got to stop them from doing so. I also reminded him, in the speech I talked about the need for nations to come together, to work together. And I reiterate that, that we've got a coalition of freedom loving nations that can work together to, hopefully, help them change their behavior. I also explained to him that all options are on the table and that I will keep all options on the table. Other than that, there are there's nothing else to talk about. We want to resolve all issues peacefully, whether it be Iraq, Iran, or North Korea, for that matter. And as you know, I'm going to the Korean Peninsula to talk about that very subject. On the one side of a parallel, we've got people starving to death because a nation chooses to build weapons of mass destruction and on the other side, there's freedom. And it's important for those of us who love freedom to work with nations to convince them to choose freedom. But I've also said that they should make no mistake about it, that we will defend our interests, and I will defend the American people. And that's what we talked about. Prime Minister Koizumi. With regard to this axis of evil, again we exchanged our views very frankly. Iraq, Iran, North Korea, we exchanged our views regarding these countries very candidly. The expression "axis of evil," I believe, reflects the firm resolve of President Bush and the United States against terrorism. President Bush, I believe, has been very calm and cautious vis a vis Iraq, Iran, and North Korea. He will not exclude any possibilities in order to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, to prevent terrorism. He will resort to all possible means to fight against terrorism, and I believe this resolve was behind the expression "axis of evil." Now, this fight against terrorism is not going to be a short one. I understand it's going to be a drawn out and tough fight. And Japan, together with the United States and the international community, will, on its own initiative, cooperate very actively. And I believe Japan's role in the fight against or eradication of terrorism will be very important. And Japan shall continue to support the United States. So that's the sort of exchange of views we had. Nature of the Coalition Q. Mr. President, the French Foreign Minister called your "axis of evil" remarks simplistic, and a top European Union official has accused you of taking an absolutist position on this. If you do not get the kind of support that you just suggested from your allies, is the United States willing to go it alone? President Bush. Well, first of all, the Secretary of State had, I thought, an interesting reply to the French Foreign Minister. And you might want to ask him afterwards what he meant by "vapors." People who love freedom understand that we cannot allow nations that aren't transparent, nations with a terrible history, nations that are so dictatorial they're willing to starve their people we can't allow them to mate up with terrorist organizations. In the war against terror, one of the worst things that could possibly happen is Al Qaida like organizations becoming allied and operationally attuned to nations which develop which have a weapon of mass destruction. Freedom loving people understand that, and I'm going to continue making the case. Now, listen, I understand what happens in the international arena people say things. But the leaders I've talked to fully understand, exactly, what needs to happen. They understand the resolve of the United States of America. They understand that our commitment is not just in Afghanistan, that history has given us a unique opportunity to defend freedom. And we're going to seize the moment and do it. And I'm confident nations will come with us. Right here is a Prime Minister that has said he's our friend he is a part of a coalition and he's going to be steady in our coalition. And for that I'm very grateful. And the other world leaders I have talked to have expressed the same resolve and determination. And so I don't accept the hypothesis of your question. Prime Minister Koizumi. Thank you very much. This concludes the press conference. President Bush. But never mind. Laughter Thank you all. February 16, 2002 Good morning. Today I'm flying west across the Pacific to visit Japan, South Korea, and China. The people of Tokyo, Seoul, and Beijing touched all our hearts in the days after September 11, with moving displays of sympathy and support in the wake of the terrorist attacks. Today, all three nations are supporting our fight against terrorism. I look forward to discussing our progress in ridding the world of this great threat to civilization, and we'll discuss our work to build a better world beyond terror, a world of greater opportunity and more open trade, stronger security and more individual freedom. I will speak to the Japanese Parliament and thank Japan for five decades of friendship. Our great alliance has helped make possible the remarkable economic success of the Pacific region, which creates so much opportunity and so many jobs for Americans. Today, Japan is in the midst of economic uncertainty and transition. But I have great confidence in Japan's future and in the unlimited potential of its people. And I'm confident that Japan will make the bold reforms needed to restore growth and opportunity, which will benefit the people of both our nations. I will visit South Korea and travel to the Demilitarized Zone, one of the most dangerous places on Earth, where barbed wire marks a line dividing freedom and oppression. I will visit with American service men and women who defend this frontier and provide stability on the Korean Peninsula. The people of South Korea have built a vibrant democracy and Asia's third largest economy. The people of the South are now reaching out to the North in a spirit of friendship and reconciliation. I support these efforts. Yet I will remind the world that America will not allow North Korea and other dangerous regimes to threaten freedom with weapons of mass destruction. In China, I look forward to seeing again firsthand the remarkable changes that are taking place as China opens to the world. America welcomes China's recent entry into the World Trade Organization, which will encourage American trade with China and encourage economic freedom and the rule of law in China itself. I look forward to talking to the Chinese about their commitment to open up their markets to U.S. agricultural products. I'm also looking forward to meeting with Chinese students, because it gives me an opportunity to talk about the America I know, an America with strong values of family, community, faith, and freedom. And I will express my hopes that as China moves forward, it too will embrace the universal demands of human dignity, freedom of conscience and religion, and the rights and value of every life. The flight across the northern Pacific is a long one. But in our spirit of friendship and cooperation, the nations of the northern Pacific are drawing ever closer. All around this great ocean we see good friends, Canada and Australia, New Zealand and Thailand, the Philippines and Taiwan. And they will find in America a nation that is determined and patient and committed to the great cause of building a world that is more peaceful, more secure, and more prosperous. Thank you for listening. February 16, 2002 The President. Thank you all. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. Thank you all. Colonel, thank you very much. It's nice to be back in Alaska. I was told I was the only President of the United States ever to live in Alaska. And even though that was in 1974, I have incredibly fond memories of such a beautiful, beautiful part of the world. I want to thank you very much for your hospitality. And I'm so honored that, on my way overseas, that you all would greet Laura and me. I know I'm confident that you're as proud of her as I am. A lot of people are. People all across America now know why I married her. Laughter A lot of them are still wondering why she married me. But we're honored to be here. And I'm honored to be in a place where people understand the need for sacrifice and patriotism. There's no question that Anchorage, Alaska, the Anchorage Bowl is full of people who have dedicated themselves to serving our country, not only those who wear the uniform but the family members of those who wear the uniform. And I've come to Alaska to let you know that I'm proud of our United States military, that when I sent you into action, I knew you would not let this Nation down. And I want to tell all of you, those who wear the uniform, the family members of those who wear the uniform, and those who support out United States military in Alaska, that our cause is just, our cause is noble, and we will defeat the forces of terror. I want to thank Doug Miller, and I want to thank General Schwartz and Colonel Nickerson, and thank you all, as well. As you can see, I'm traveling in some pretty fancy company today. I'm traveling with a man who has put together one of the greatest coalitions of freedom in the history of mankind, a man who has served our country with such incredible distinction and class, a valuable member of my Cabinet, Colin Powell. And I appreciate I appreciate the congressional delegation from Alaska, three really fine people, one of whom I traveled from Washington today with, and that's, of course, Senator Frank Murkowski. Thank you, Frank. He, along with Senator Stevens, does a fabulous job in Washington, DC, not only for Alaska but for the country are tireless advocates for the people of Alaska. And so is Congressman Don Young. You've done a good job by putting good people in Washington, DC. I don't know whether your Governor has admitted it or not, but he went to Yale. Laughter He probably slurs his words so it sounds like "jail." Laughter And we were classmates, and it's probably not politically correct to say it, but we were fraternity brothers. And I'm glad to be here with my old friend Tony Knowles. I also found another George W., the mayor. I want to thank all the State and local officials who are here. I want to thank the members of the Canadian Armed Forces who are here. I want to tell you something We've got no better friends than Canada. They stand with us in this incredibly important crusade to defend freedom, this campaign to do what is right for our children and our grandchildren. I want to thank the band, the Top Cover. I know we've got some members of the 3d Wing here today. As the Colonel mentioned, the 3d Wing of Elmendorf had a long and distinguished history of providing top cover for America. The F 15 Strike Eagle drivers and AWACS crews applause I didn't know the AWACS crews were quite that wild. I thought they were kind of a sedentary bunch. Laughter The radar operators have been providing the homeland defense for more than half a century, and America is grateful. And I want to thank you for your efforts for Operation Noble Eagle. You've made a huge contribution to this to our Nation. And as the lead air expeditionary force wing, the 3d Wing's mission is critical to maintaining peace and security around the world. You're good about getting people the right people to the right place on time. The people of Elmendorf and Anchorage welcome home more than 500 members of the 90th Fighter Squadron. I'm glad you got back in time for Christmas. And that's exactly where I'm heading, over to South Korea, so if you've got somebody you want me to say hello to laughter never mind. Laughter You know, I can't wait to take our message overseas. We're going to Japan and South Korea and China, where I'm going to continue to work with the leaders of those countries in our mutual concerns, starting with fighting the war against terror, making it clear that the resolve of this Nation is steady and strong to be able to look these leaders in the eye and say, when it comes to defending freedom, the United States of America will not blink. And I look forward to sharing with them my passionate belief in the values that we hold dear here in America Freedom, freedom to worship, freedom to speak, freedom to achieve your dreams. And it's those very values that came under attack on September the 11th. The good news is, our mighty military was ready. You know, when we were attacked, it seemed like the people in the U.S. military took it personally. A reporter asked an Air Force pilot, he said asked him if he had any direct connection to any of the victims of September the 11th. And he said, "You know, I think we all do. They're all Americans." You see, when you strike one American, you strike all Americans. And those terrorists are going to hear from us. It's hard for me to figure out what was going through the minds of those who planned and attacked America. They must have thought we were soft. Audience member. They were wrong! The President. Yes, they were. They thought we were so materialistic that we didn't understand sacrifice and honor and duty. They must have been watching some lousy movies. Laughter They didn't know that this great Nation would rise up in unison to send a clear message that we will do whatever it takes to defend our freedoms, that this great Nation is resolved to find the killers one by one and bring them to justice. But this cause is more than just an individual. Oh, I know sometimes the people on the airwaves like to say, "Well, someone is bin Laden's hiding here, and he's hiding there." But this cause is much bigger than a single person. This is about fighting terror wherever it hides. This is about defending America and our friends and allies, defending values. The world must understand that this Nation won't rest until we have destroyed terrorism, until we have denied the threat of global terrorism. I can't tell you how passionate I feel on the subject. I look around and see your children and your grandchildren. This is an opportunity to defend freedom for them. This is a chance to say that your kids can grow up in a secure and peaceful America, and if they work hard and get a good education, they can realize their dreams in a peaceful world. We long for peace, but we understand that the terrorists must be brought to justice in order to achieve that peace. Thanks to our military, we're making good progress, and it hasn't taken very long. If you think about it, we've been at this for a little less than 6 months, and we're achieving our objectives. First, I mentioned the coalition the Secretary of State's working on. And we sent a clear message Either you're with us, or you're against us either you stand for freedom, or you stand with tyranny. And the good news is, many, many, many nations have heard that message, and I'm proud to report they stand squarely with the United States in the defense of freedom. And you all also may remember that early on I said, if you hide a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you provide comfort to a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist. The Taliban now knows what we mean. They're gone. And guess what? People in Afghanistan don't miss them one bit. I am proud that our military has fulfilled our mission, our military mission. But in so doing, we liberated a people. We freed women and children from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. But there's more to do in Afghanistan. We're entering a difficult phase of the first theater in the war against terror. They've got a lot of caves over there, but they can't hide long enough. See, we're patient, and we're determined, and we're a steadfast nation. We're steady in our resolve. And that's so important, because we're trying to run down some people that, on the one hand, send youngsters to their death, and they, themselves, try to hide in caves. But there is no cave deep enough to hide from the long arm of justice of the United States military. We're going to run them down one by one. And it doesn't matter where they try to hide. There is no calendar there is no deadline. There is no "If you don't do it by now, we're just going to go home and take a nap." Laughter That's not the way it works. Now that they have laid down the gauntlet, we're going to pursue them, and we're going to get them. And when we do, the world will be a safer place. But we've got a bigger task than that. One of the most dangerous things that can happen to the future of our nation is that these kind of terrorist organizations hook up with nations that develop weapons of mass destruction. One of the worst things that could possibly happen to freedom loving people, whether it be the United States or our friends or allies, is to allow nations that have got a dark history and an ugly past to develop weapons of mass destruction like nuclear weapons or chemical weapons or biological weapons which could, for example, be delivered by long range missile, to become a part of the terrorist network. And there are such nations in the world. Of course, we'd like for them to change their ways, and we'll continue to pressure them to do so. We'd like for them to conform to normal ways of treating their own people, plus their neighborhood, plus the world. We expect there to be transparency. People who have got something to hide make us nervous, particularly those who have gassed their own citizens in the past, for example. And so we expect them and so do other freedom loving countries to change their behavior. But if they do not, the United States will do what it takes to defend our freedom. Make no mistake about it. This is a grand and noble cause, and it's going to require a strong and modern military. I sent a budget up to Congress. The good news is, I don't have to worry about two United States Senators and the Member of the House of Representatives from the State of Alaska. The budget I submitted is the largest single increase in military spending in a generation. If we're going to fight for freedom, we have to pay the cost to fight for freedom, and it's worth it. And I also believe that anytime we send our military into harm's way, they should have the best equipment, the best training, the best possible support. A grateful nation owes it to the United States military. And one other thing, you need another pay raise. You hear a lot of talk about homeland security. And I want to assure you all, the moms and dads and everybody else here, that we are doing everything in our power to secure the homeland. I mean, we're chasing down every lead, every hint, every possible cell member. We're giving them a chance to share with us what they may or may not know. I mean, we are absolutely defending this Nation. I can make no guarantees I do know the enemy wants to hit us again. But every day, my administration discusses how best to make America a more difficult target. Every day, the FBI Director talks about how he has changed the culture of the FBI. We've got thousands of FBI agents working to protect the American people. We're making our borders more secure. We've now got a bioterrorism initiative we're starting. We're doing a lot, and I'm proud of the efforts of people who are working overtime, constantly working to make the homeland secure. But the American people must understand, the best way to secure the homeland is to unleash the United States military. And that's exactly what we're going to do. Oh, I know there's been a lot of focus overseas, but I'm also concerned about this Anytime anybody can't find work in America, I'm worried about it. I'm worried about the fact that the enemy, when they attacked us, hurt our economy. I'm worried about the fact that we need to have a stimulus program that will help people find work. Listen, I'm more than willing to sign and will sign legislation that provides people with an unemployment check. But people want more than an unemployment check in America. They want a steady paycheck, and Congress must understand that. I want a stimulus package on my desk. There's too much politics in Washington. We need to be worried about those people who can't work. We need to be worried about those who can't find work, and understand the role of Government is to create an environment in which jobs are created. And so one of the things we did up there or over there, or over and down there laughter was we cut your taxes. We did it at the right time. And we did it at the right time. The best way to encourage economic vitality and growth is to let people keep their own money. When you spend your own money, somebody's got to manufacture that which you're spending it on. You see, more money in the private sector circulating makes it more likely that our economy will grow. And incredibly enough, some want to take away part of those tax cuts. They've been reading the wrong textbook. You don't raise somebody's taxes in the middle of a recession. You trust people with their own money. And by the way, that money isn't the Government's money it's the people's money. There are some other things we can do and must do in order to create jobs. We've got to trade. I can't wait to talk to the Chinese leadership about getting them to honor their agreements for the American farmers and ranchers to be able to sell our foodstuffs into China. I said all along, there's many, many mouths in the world to be fed, and if I do my job by opening up markets, U.S. farmers and ranchers are going to feed them. We're the best in the world at growing crops and raising cows and hogs, and we ought to be feeding the world. And when we do, that will mean jobs for the American people. But there's a way to create jobs for the American people right here in Alaska, right here in this important State. You know, I'm the first I think we're the first administration in quite a while that has ever developed a national energy plan. See, I understand that we need a national energy plan. I understand it's in the national interests, the security interests of the United States of America that we're less dependent on foreign sources of energy. We'll all work hard to put measures in place that encourage conservation. It makes a lot of sense to do that. But folks, we've got to find energy in our own country, and a great place to start is right here in the State of Alaska. And a lot of people understand that not only is it in our national security interests that we drill for oil and gas in Alaska, it's good for jobs it's good for working people it's good for people to be able to put money on the plate money on the table so they can feed their families. Listen, we need to be exploring for oil and gas in ANWR. I've heard them all in Washington I've heard all the skeptics say, "Well, you can't do that. It's going to ruin this or that." Listen, there's no doubt in my mind there's no doubt in your Governor's mind there's no doubt in the congressional delegation's mind there's no doubt in the minds of people who take a sound, scientific look at this that we can do so without endangering the environment, that we can find energy for America's people and, at the same time, preserve the beauty of Alaska. What we need is a commonsense approach to energy. Audience members. Inaudible The President. There you are. Laughter Let me tell you how proud I am of America. I cannot tell you how fantastically I feel about the people of this country. You see, not only have we shown incredible resolve and strength this is a nation that is full of compassion and kindness. We are a decent nation. The strength of our country is not the halls of Government. The strength of the country is the people. And one of the ways one of the things that people say to me is they say, "What can I do? What can I do to help in the war against terror?" Well, many of you are already answering that call here today, but others aren't. Others are wondering what they can do to help. As you probably figured out by now, I view this current conflict as either us versus them, and evil versus good. And there's no in between. There's no hedging. And if you want to join the war against evil, do some good. If you want to be a part of our Nation's stand against those who murder innocent people for the sake of murder, for those who believe in tyranny, for those who hijack a noble religion if you want to take a stand, love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. If you want to be a part of the war, walk across the street and say to a shut in elderly person, "What can I do to help you," or mentor a child, or get into your public schools here in Anchorage, or provide support for people, or go to your church or synagogue or mosque and walk out with a program that says, "I want to help somebody in need." Feed the hungry. If you want to be a part of the war against terror, remember that it's the gathering momentum of millions and millions of acts of kindness that take place in America that stands squarely in the face of evil. The enemy hit us, and they made a huge mistake. Not only will our Nation seek justice, but out of the evil will come incredible goodness. Out of the evil will become America more resolved not only to defend freedom, more resolved to sacrifice, if necessary, to defend the freedom, but America resolved to show the world our true strength, which is the compassionate, decent heart of the American people. It is such an honor to be the President of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming out to say hello to Laura and me, and God bless. February 16, 2002 Thank you all. Thank you, Governor I mean laughter . Thank you all for coming. Listen, I've been in Alaska long enough to remember when Edith Holmes sang "The Star Spangled Banner." Laughter God rest her soul. I actually met Edith when I was living in Fairbanks in 1974. I had the privilege of voting in the Republican primary in 1974. As you know, you've got a one month residency requirement, and I met it. So I voted. I can't remember who I voted for, but I was a proud participant. I know I'm the only President ever to have voted in any kind of primary in Alaska. Laughter But I have such fond memories of Fairbanks and the Kenai Peninsula and Anchorage. And as you know, there was a period of time when you had kind of weak immigration laws and a lot of Texans came up here laughter many of whom were my friends. But such a fabulous State. And thanks for such warm hospitality. And who said your three electoral votes didn't matter? Laughter I'm real thrilled to be traveling with Laura, obviously. The last time I went overseas, she didn't go. It was right after 9 11. I went to Shanghai for a quick meeting and came back. Now the people of the Far East are going to get to see a fabulous wife and a great mother and a great First Lady for the country. I do want to thank all those folks who put this on today, and I particularly want to thank the members of the Alaska congressional delegation Senator Stevens, Senator Murkowski, and Congressman Young. These are three very accomplished, capable, smart people who also have got a little bit of seniority, which helps. Laughter But Senator Stevens, I wish he were here because I would like for him to hear what I am going to say about him. He is a he's a great legislator who loves America, and he is smart, and I really, really enjoyed working with him. He is a wonderful representative of the State of Alaska, obviously. But those of you who know Ted Stevens, you can't pigeonhole him just for one State. He really cares deeply about the Nation, as does Frank. And Don Young and I worked a lot of times together on this airport security bill. And it's a good piece of legislation, and he deserves a lot of credit for seizing a moment and getting some good legislation through. It was a period of time when it was so important for the country to see that the Government was actually doing something constructive at home to make to kind of ease the nerves of the American people. And Don did a really good job of working that issue. And I was proud to sign the bill that he had a major hand in getting to my desk. And I also want to thank all the statehouse folks and the mayors, George W. another George W. laughter there he is. But it's a thrill for us to be here. We're on our way, obviously, to Japan, South Korea, and China. It's an important trip, because we've got a lot in common with those nations. We've got trading interests. And as I mentioned in the speech over there, that one of the things I am going to continually remind these nations, that trade ought to be a two way street, you know, that if we open up our market, they ought to open up theirs. And I will work hard to do that, because we have got a competitive advantage in a lot of important areas, and one of which is agriculture. I truly believe that it is in our Nation's interests and the world's interests that we tear down these barriers to trade, so that we can feed people who are hungry. I'm also going to talk about our values. The world obviously knows that we're willing to defend values, the values of freedom. And I'll explain to the leaders firsthand my absolute determination to do that. I told the country at different times right after September the 11th that the farther we got away from the date, it's likely that people would grow weary and tired of the efforts. Not me, nor my administration. History has called us into action, and action is where we'll be. We've laid out a pretty clear set of objectives early on in the war against terror but all focused on defending freedom. And it's as simple as that. It's good versus evil, and freedom is under attack. My job, obviously, covers a lot of fronts, but there's nothing more important than the security of the American people and to prevent an attack. And as much as I wish I didn't have to say this, I still believe we are under attack. And I see threats every morning. Having said that, you can rest assured we're doing everything in our power to keep America safe. Everything possible, obviously, within the confines of the Constitution, we're doing. And I'm proud to report that the team is really working hard. You know, when I first came into office or, not first came into office well, first came into office, and actually right around the September the 11th period the FBI's function was really to run down spies or white collar criminals. And there's nothing wrong with that that's an important function of the FBI. But I can tell you with certainty they've got a new major focus, and that's preventing an attack. We've got over 4,000 FBI agents around the country that are working hand in glove with State and local authorities, just to give just to keep running down every lead and every hint and every opportunity to keep the country safe. And we are. And I'm pleased with the efforts being made. But I'm also a realistic fellow. And I know that in the long term, in order to keep America safe, we've got to keep this vast coalition we've put together and rout out terror wherever it hides and wherever it exists. And that's what we're going to do. That's what we're going to do. The amazing thing for me is that the country is so patient and so determined and so resolved. And I am very grateful for that, as I'm sure you can imagine. It is such a powerful feeling to know that I represent a great land that is united in our efforts to secure freedom. The other thing that I find interesting is that not only are we going to leave the world a safer and freer place, but I believe the culture is beginning to change. And one of the reasons I first ran for office in Texas and then eventually the Presidency was, I was concerned about a culture which, as I said in my State of the Union, said, "If it feels good, do it." The second half of that is, "If you've got a problem, blame somebody else." And my wish is, for the country, is that we usher in a period of personal responsibility. That means, if you're a mother or a father, that your most important job is to love your children with all your heart and all your soul. That's really what a period of personal responsibility means we all rededicate ourselves to the parenting, if we're fortunate enough to have a child. Or it means that you'll love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. Or if you're corporate America, it means you will have full disclosure on all your assets and liabilities. Laughter Seriously, so that you don't mislead your shareholders or employees. There's certain responsibility that comes to those of us who have been entrusted with people's lives, in my case, or corporate America's lives, or individual lives, and we must seize that moment. And you know, I probably the most meaningful moment for me was on Flight 93, when the guys get on the airplane, and they hear they get the word that something's happening in Washington. The plane's hijacked. They tell their loved ones they love them they say a prayer and they drive the plane into the ground. It is kind of the epitome of taking responsibility to save somebody else's life. It's the ultimate sacrifice. I believe the country is asking, you know, how best to make ourselves better. And as I said in the speech in there, one way to do that, obviously, is to practice acts of kindness. And it's that it's the compilation of these acts of decency and responsibility that will eventually define America and eventually win the war against terror. We've got some besides the military, besides the budget items, there's obviously an issue that's relevant here to Alaska that I am passionate about, and that is energy. It is so important that our Nation be wise about our energy policy and be first of all, we've got to conserve better, and we will. There's new technologies coming on that will enhance conservation, and that's important, no question about it. And the less energy we use and still are able to grow our economy, the less dependent we are on somebody else's energy. But we've also got to explore at home, and there is no better place to do so than in Alaska. There is a myth that somehow the environment cannot be protected if you find natural gas. As a matter of fact, natural gas will help protect the environment. Laughter And it is we've got to do everything in our power to send a clear message about reality, that nature and exploration can coexist in a positive way. I want to thank the Teamsters. Jerry Hood traveled with us today, and I've met with Jimmy Hoffa. He understands that this is more than just national security. We're also talking about people's jobs. This is a chance for people to get to work and to make a living and to put and to help battle this recession that we face. So I am I told Frank I mean, I can assure you, this is not only important for our national security interests it's right for America that we pursue this. And obviously you don't need to persuade your any elected officials here. But if you happen to know somebody else in Congress that seems reluctant, tell them the truth tell them how it works tell them how important it is for the country. But we're having the time of our lives, and it's been an as you can imagine, a fantastic experience in many ways, sad in many ways, very emotional for a period of time. But I've never been more optimistic about a country or a philosophy. I believe that philosophy that our party honors is one that heralds the individual, recognizes everybody has got potential, and that the job of the Government is to help people realize their potential. It's not to create wealth but an environment in which people are willing to take risks so that the entrepreneur can flourish, you can own your own business. We believe strongly in the freedoms that we adhere so closely to, that we believe in private property rights and the rights of every citizen. And so it's a proud moment for me to be able to represent the Republican philosophy to the United States but, more importantly, show that it works. It works for people. And then so the tax cut that I campaigned on that we worked hard to get not only has made a huge difference in the lives of our citizens, but it came right at the right time. Just as the economy was, you know, declared stagnant and dead in the water, we got a tax cut going, which means people have got more money to spend, which means it's kind of a boost in the arm for our economy. And I wish I could say we're out of recession. I don't think we are. But there are some positive signs happening. So, all in all, I guess what I'm telling you is, one, I love being your President. I want to thank you for helping me get there. And I am incredibly optimistic, optimistic about the country, optimistic about peace, optimistic about our future. I just feel so strong, and it's great to be a President of a land of so many good people. And they don't even have to be Republican, as far as I'm concerned laughter people from all walks of life. So thanks for greeting Laura and me. Thanks for giving us a good sendoff as we go on to this important foreign policy trip. And may God bless you all. Thank you. February 15, 2002 Thank you very much. Welcome to the White House. When America was attacked on September the 11th, they thought our country would splinter into fear and selfishness. They thought we'd fall apart. They thought we didn't have any fiber or character. Instead, we've seen extraordinary acts of courage and compassion and a renewed dedication to service. A spirit of sacrifice and service gave birth to the Peace Corps more than 40 years ago. We needed the Peace Corps then, and we need the Peace Corps today. My administration strongly supports the Peace Corps, and we're increasing our commitment to it. That starts by finding somebody who can serve ably as the Director. I have found such a man. I was honored to swear Gaddi in, in the Oval Office or watch his swearing in today in the Oval Office, and I know he'll do a superb job in leading this important organization. Thank you for leaving your beloved California. Thank you for your sacrifice. And welcome to an administration that wants to do right by the Peace Corps. I also want to thank Elaine for your sacrifice as well. I know it's hard to pull up your family and head east, but it's the right thing to do. It's the right thing to do to serve your country. And I'm so honored both of you all have come. And Jason, thank you for being here as well to support your dad. I want to thank the first Peace Corps Director, who joined us today. I can't thank you enough, Sargent Shriver, for taking time out of your busy schedule to show up here to see this good man assume this important office. We're honored with your presence. We appreciate your service to the country, and thank you for coming. And we've got another former Director here today, too, a lady who serves in my Cabinet as the Secretary of Labor. She's doing a fabulous job there, just like she did for the Peace Corps, and that's Elaine Chao. Thank you for coming, Elaine. And Gaddi was such a big draw that he got another member of my Cabinet here, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Mel Martinez. Thanks for coming, Mel. I appreciate your being here. Two Members of the United States House of Representatives have joined us Gaddi's Congressman, Chris Cox thank you for coming, Chris I appreciate you being here and a former volunteer, Tom Petri from Wisconsin. Thank you for coming. We hear from a lot of Members of Congress about the importance of the Peace Corps but no more clear voice about that than Chris Dodd, the Senator from Connecticut. I look forward to working with Chris to implement our mutual vision for making sure the Peace Corps fulfills its mission and hope. And speaking about that, I want to thank all the people who work at the Peace Corps, those who work there now, those who have been volunteers in the past, are current volunteers. We're honored that you serve our Nation, and you're welcome here in the White House, and thank you for coming. And finally, I think it's a great tribute to the Peace Corps that we've got a lot of members from the ambassadorial corps who are here. I want to thank you all for coming and taking your time. You understand the importance of the Peace Corps, and your presence here is a confirmation of its importance. And so we welcome you. Thank you for coming. For more than 40 years, the Peace Corps has sent Americans to serve their country by serving the world. America has a new kind of force today. I mean, we're not only a great country, a great economic engine, and obviously a great military, we're a great idea. The greatness of the country is in the values we believe in, freedom and hope and opportunity. We're a nation founded on just valuable principles. And the power of the idea cannot and will not be stopped at our borders. The Peace Corps volunteers carry the American idea with them. They don't carry our culture they carry universal values and principles that are so incredibly important for all of mankind. Peace Corps volunteers contribute in unaccountable ways to the countries to which they're assigned. They not only teach reading, English language skills they introduce new business and farming methods, help spark economic development, promote training and modern technology, help fight the spread of HIV AIDS and infectious diseases. They make an incredibly important contribution to our fellow mankind. You know, because we come from a society where women can be leaders, where people speak and worship freely, where the difference is a source of our strength, not a cause of war, a Peace Corps volunteer in the very life they live helps spread important values. Just the fact that somebody comes from a country that is so open, that in itself is an incredibly positive influence on the world. You know, the war has thrust upon us an enemy who hates every good everything the Peace Corps stands for. We long for peace in America. We've got to remember, we're fighting an enemy that really can't stand the values spread by the Peace Corps, which means that the Peace Corps must be reinvigorated. The Peace Corps, itself, stands for what we fight for. And if we weren't to understand the role, if we were to shrink in our obligations, if we were not to allow the Peace Corps to expand, we would be doing exactly what the terrorists want us to do. And we're not going to let them cause us to abandon what we hold dear. I have called for twice as many Peace Corps volunteers over the next 5 years, to return the Peace Corps to the strength it had in the midsixties. Those new volunteers will be heading out to new destinations. They'll be returning to the republics of central Asia. And within 3 weeks, a team will leave for Afghanistan, to address how the Peace Corps can assist that country in reconstruction. The Peace Corps is committed to returning to Peru and to sending volunteers to East Timor, which will soon become the first country to gain independence in the 21st century. The Peace Corps will also explore ways to assist the governments of Azerbaijan, Bosnia Herzegovina, Botswana, and Chad, and Swaziland. And during my upcoming trip to Asia, I will explore with Chinese officials the possibility of an expansion of the Peace Corps program into China. And when these volunteers return home, they can also help educate Americans about the countries in which they serve. My administration has created what's called the USA Freedom Corps, to encourage citizens to give at least 2 years of their life to service to their country. And the Peace Corps is a vital part of this effort. For Americans looking for service opportunities at home or abroad, they can find those opportunities in the USA Freedom Corps. If you're interested in the Peace Corps, get on the Web on your computer and dial up the USA Freedom Corps web page, which is usafreedomcorps.gov, or just pick up your telephone and dial 877 USA CORPS. If you want to know about the opportunities the Peace Corps offers, call that number or get on the web page. And we will help you serve our fellow mankind. You know, when President Kennedy, Sargent Shriver's brother in law, signed an Executive order more than 40 years ago providing for the establishing of the Peace Corps, he spoke about a nation of men and women anxious to sacrifice their energies and time and toil to the cause of world peace and human progress. That mission hasn't changed. As a matter of fact, today the mission is needed more than ever. I look forward to working with the Members of Congress to strengthen the Peace Corps, to reassert its independence, and to create new opportunities in other nations, as well as the ones I mentioned new opportunities in Muslim nations for us to spread the good story about the values, the universal values, we hold so dear. I believe Americans are still willing to sacrifice for causes greater than themselves. And the Peace Corps offers such a fantastic opportunity to do so. Gaddi Vasquez understands this, as well. And so it's with pleasure I introduce the newly sworn in Director of the Peace Corps to the American people. May God bless you all. February 13, 2002 President Bush Good morning. It's my honor to welcome President Musharraf to the White House. President Musharraf is a leader with great courage and vision, and his nation is a key partner in the global coalition against terror. Pakistan's continuing support of Operation Enduring Freedom has been critical to our success so far in toppling the Taliban and routing out the Al Qaida network. Yet President Musharraf has made an even broader commitment. He has declared that Pakistan will be an enemy of terrorism and extremism wherever it exists, including inside his own border. He understands that terrorism is wrong and destructive in any cause. He knows that his nation cannot grow peacefully if terrorists are tolerated or ignored in his country, in his region, or in the world. He is committed to banning the groups that practice terror, closing their offices and arresting the terrorists themselves. Terrorists operating in Pakistan recently kidnaped American reporter Daniel Pearl. We spent a time today in the Oval Office talking about our mutual desire to see that Mr. Pearl is returned home safely. I want to thank the President for his assistance and work on securing Mr. Pearl's release. I also applaud President Musharraf's clearly stated intention to work for peace in Kashmir and lower tensions with India. I'm particularly pleased to note that he is going to be holding elections later on this fall. The President has articulated a vision of a Pakistan as a progressive, modern, and democratic Islamic society, determined and serious about seeking greater learning and greater prosperity for its citizens. The United States is committed to working in partnership with Pakistan to pursue these objectives. Together, our nations will continue to cooperate against terror and trafficking in drugs. We will strengthen ties of trade and investment between our nations. We'll work to improve educational and economic opportunities for all Pakistanis, especially women and children. And my Government stands ready to work with all parties on the subcontinent to foster dialog to lower tensions and resolve outstanding issues. The forces of history have accelerated the growth of friendship between the United States and Pakistan. I believe the pages of history will record that this friendship was hopeful and positive and will lead to peace. Mr. President. President Musharraf. Thank you very much, Mr. President, for your welcome and your kind words and sentiments expressed for me and for Pakistan and for my Government. I recall with great pleasure our very productive meeting last November in New York. We have also spoken quite frequently on the telephone since then. I value most highly this opportunity to exchange views with you in person. Our discussions this morning have been fruitful and constructive and will continue over the lunch. Our meetings and discussions with senior members of your administration continue as part of the ongoing dialog which characterizes our close and cooperative relations. For more than half a century, the relations between Pakistan and the United States have been friendly, multifaceted, and enduring. They represent an important element of stability in our region and beyond. The criminal terrorist attacks of September 11th and the momentous events since then have demonstrated the depth and strength of this relationship between the United States and Pakistan. Pakistan has a firm position of principle in the international battle against terrorism. We reject terrorism in all its forms and manifestations anywhere in the world. We will continue to fulfill our responsibilities flowing from our commitment. I am gratified that my vision of Pakistan as a dynamic, liberal, progressive, peaceful, and genuinely democratic Muslim country and the decision I announced on 12 January have evoked a supportive response in the United States. I believe that Pakistan United States relationship must draw strength from our past relationship as we move to a new century, a changed world and meet the challenges faced ahead. I apprised the President of the massive and aggressive deployment of Indian forces on our borders and the serious security situation that it has created. The immediate return of Indian forces to peacetime locations and the early resumption of dialog between Pakistan and India is the way forward. We welcome the constructive role played by President Bush and Secretary Powell in urging restraint and defusing military tensions. I am committed to a peaceful resolution of the Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people. All other differences existing between Pakistan and India should also be settled through peaceful means. We believe the United States can facilitate such a solution and help South Asia turn a new leaf. The faithful implementation of the Bonn accord provides the best guarantee for the future of Afghanistan. The interim administration must be strengthened and its writ established over the entire country. Rehabilitation and reconstruction must begin in Afghanistan. The Tokyo donors conference has provided a forceful and timely impulse to this process, which will also accelerate the return of millions of Afghan refugees in Pakistan to their homeland. Together, the United States and Pakistan can accomplish great things. We have embarked on a long term partnership. We look forward to an era of robust collaboration. I look forward, Mr. President, to your visit to Pakistan, where a warm and cordial welcome awaits you from the people of Pakistan, who hold you in the highest of esteem. I thank you, sir. President Bush. Thank you, Mr. President good job. President Musharraf. Thank you. Iraq Daniel Pearl Q. Mr. President, your advisers have long said that there needs to be regime change in Iraq. Are you looking at military action to achieve that goal? How could Saddam be toppled? And to President Musharraf, are you confident that Mr. Pearl is alive and will be released soon? President Bush. Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press , I meant what I said the other night, that there are some nations in the world which develop weapons of mass destruction with one intention, and that is to hold America hostage and or harm Americans and or our friends and allies. And I also meant what I said, that I look forward to working with the world to bring pressure on those nations to change their behavior. But make no mistake about it, if we need to, we will take necessary action to defend the American people. And I think that statement was clear enough for Iraq to hear me, and I will reserve whatever options I have. I'll keep them close to my vest. President or Saddam Hussein needs to understand I'm serious about defending our country. I think one of the worst things that can happen in the world is terrorist organizations mating up with nations which have had a bad history and nations which develop weapons of mass destruction. It would be devastating for those of us who fight for freedom. And therefore, we, the free world, are going to must make it clear to these nations they've got a choice to make. And I'll keep all options available if they don't make the choice. Q. Mr. President, Mr. President President Bush. Here's what's going to happen. Hold on for a second, please. Hold on for a second. These two press people are going to actually bring some order to this by calling upon individuals, and the President is going to speak about Daniel Pearl. President Musharraf. Your first part of the question, whether Mr. Pearl is alive or dead I am reasonably sure he's alive, and I really very much hope we all hope that he's alive. About getting him released, well, let me say we are as close as possible to getting him released. But I would like to emphasize here that I have taken certain steps in Pakistan to crush extremism, religious intolerance in the society. And therefore, I expected a certain degree of fallout of these steps. But however, I would like to say we are not deterred. These kinds of things were expected, and we will meet this challenge and try to resolve whatever negative influences it creates in our society. I very much hope that with all our efforts and the combined efforts of all the intelligence agencies in Pakistan, we will be able to get Mr. Pearl released. Kashmir Q. Mr. President, it is evident that the Kashmir issue has not been resolved through bilateral talks between India and Pakistan. In the beginning, U.S. even voted for Kashmir, the United States and U.N. resolution. Now we hope that U.S. come forward for mediation and resolve this issue, because this is the main issue between India and Pakistan. President Bush. Well, our hope is that we can facilitate meaningful dialog between India and Pakistan. The only way this issue is going to be solved is if the Pakistani Government and the Indian Government sit down and have serious, meaningful dialog to resolve this issue. And you heard the President of Pakistan say his hope is that there's a peaceful resolution. That's our hope, as well. And so the best thing our Government can do is to encourage there to be a to come to the table and start to have meaningful, real dialog. And that's what we'll continue to press for. Campaign Finance Reform Q. On campaign finance reform, sir, are Republican President Bush. Is this to the Pakistani President, or me? Laughter Q. For you, sir. On campaign finance reform, are Republican operatives trying to kill the bill? And will you sign Shays Meehan if it gets to your desk? President Bush. Well, I want to sign a bill that improves the system. And it seems like to me that if they get a bill out of the House of Representatives that improves the system, it ought to be in effect immediately. But we'll see what comes my way. And I would look at it very carefully and give it a good look. Q. What about the Republicans are they trying to kill the bill, working for the RNC? President Bush. I've talked to many Republicans that are trying to improve the system, as well. And again, I repeat I understand there's a chance to amend the bill that says, if it improves the system, let's have it in effect this year. And I support that. I think it makes sense. But I'll take a good look at it. It's making its way through the system, and I'll give it a good look. Pakistan U.S. Relations Q. President Bush, you talked about history President Bush. Talked about excuse me? Q. You talked about history President Bush. Oh, history, yes. Getting a little hard of hearing. Q. And history shows that the U.S. dumped Pakistan after the Afghan war in 1980. So a common Pakistani wants to know whether the U.S. will repeat the same history again, once again. And secondly, how do you plan to help Pakistan, the modernization of Pakistan in its struggle of survival against mighty and militarized India? President Bush. Well, that's a very legitimate question. And it's one of the reasons why President Musharraf and I are spending time together is, he has got to be confident in me and my Government willingness to stay supportive of Pakistan. I think one of the things, in order for us to have a positive relationship, is that he realizes that when we say we're committed, we're committed. And we're committed to peace in the region. We're committed to fighting terror. The President made a tough decision and a strong decision. It's not only a decision about fighting terror it's a decision for the direction of his country. And we support that strongly. So I can understand why some in Pakistan are saying, "Well, oh, this is just a short term dance." But so long as we share the same ideals and values and common objectives, we'll work with Pakistan. And there are ways to help. The President is going to go see Secretary Rumsfeld today. We have he negotiated and we willingly supported a strong aid package in the '02 budget. We're now discussing help in the '03 budget. We want to help facilitate the President's concerns about a debt burden on Pakistan. We want to talk about trade matters. We want to help him achieve his vision of elevating the average citizen by giving them a chance and a hopeful opportunity for life. And so, I would suggest that people in Pakistan remember to think about the future and not dwell in the past. That's what the President has done with his vision, and I am proud to call him friend. I want to remind people from Pakistan that I didn't mention many world leaders in my State of the Union. But I mentioned President Musharraf, for a reason. And hopefully, that's an indication of my sincerity of developing a strong and meaningful relationship. Education Reform in Pakistan Q. Mr. Bush and Mr. Musharraf, should secular schools be the standard in Islamic communities in Pakistan to prevent jihads and other terrorists attacks like 9 11? President Bush. Let me first and I'd like the President to speak on this, basically on the madrasa school issue in Pakistan. One of the things that most impressed me about President Musharraf, that gives me confidence in his vision, is that the last time we met in New York City, we spent a fair amount of time talking about education reform. And the President has placed a very intriguing and very interesting woman in charge of the education system in Pakistan. She used to work in rural areas, a rural province of the country. He's elevated her to Cabinet position because she's a reformer. She understands the modern world requires an education system that trains children in basic sciences and reading and math and the history of Pakistan. And the President laid out to me a vision, which he can share with you, about how to encourage madrasas to adopt a curriculum that will actually will work and will provide a workforce, a trained workforce, and will give people hope. And so our Government is committed to working with the Pakistani Government on education reform. We had a as I understand that of the 600 million, part of the aid package last year, 100 million of those dollars have gone into education reform. The President will make the decision as to how best to use that. There's 35 million or 34 million additional dollars this year that will go help on education reform. I shared with him my passion about education reform here in America, and I want to applaud him for making a visionary statement about education. He knows what I know An educated child is one much more likely to be able to realize dreams and to be a productive citizen. So, April April Ryan, American Urban Radio Networks , I think let the President speak to this issue, if you don't mind. President Musharraf. Thank you. We are involved in Pakistan, as I laid out in the 12 January speech, in a jihad jihad e akbar, which I call a greater jihad, which is in our teaching in Islam, a jihad against illiteracy, a jihad against poverty, backwardness, hunger. This is the jihad that we are engaged now and we have initiated. Now, within this jihad, education forms a focal area. And since the President wants me to focus particularly on madrasa, in education we are taking three areas of education. One is the madrasa education the second is the primary and secondary education and the third is higher education. I would just like to focus on the madrasa education. We have formulated strategies in each one of these three areas. Madrasas, we must understand, are basically there are about 600,000 to 800,000 students here in madrasas. Now, the positive aspect of the madrasa which I did lay out in my speech also I would like to highlight for everyone to hear is that they are a welfare. They have a welfare and humanitarian aspect to them. They feed and house the poorest of the poor children. So this is the positive aspect of their providing free board and lodge to the poorest of the poor. Now, the weaknesses of some of the madrasas only teaching religious giving religious education to the children has to be removed. And the children in these madrasas need to be brought into the mainstream of life. And that is what we are doing. We have asked the madrasas to introduce four subjects, and these are science, English, Pakistan studies, and mathematics. Now, with these four subjects introduced, we have also created a board for them to take their examinations from. And once they take their examinations through these boards, it will make them eligible to transfer to any other college or university, if I want to give them a scholarship and take them there, or to get them a job anywhere, in a banking area or in the military or anywhere, instead of focusing only into the religious field. So this is the strategy that we have adopted to get these children into the mainstream of life in Pakistan. So the basic idea is, utilize their strength, the strength of their giving free board and lodge to such a vast population of the poorest of the poor, and eradicate their weakness so that they are drawn into the mainstream of life in Pakistan. This is the strategy we are following. U.S. Treatment of Pakistanis Q. My question is for President Bush. President, you know President Bush. Why am I not surprised? Laughter Q. Almost more than 700,000 Pakistanis are based in the United States. President Bush. Say that again? I'm sorry. Q. Almost more than 700,000 Pakistanis are based in the United States. President Bush. Right, right. Q. But after September 11th, FBI and different law enforcing agencies, they made a major crackdown against different communities. And Pakistani community has especially been targeted by law enforcing agencies, and hundreds of Pakistanis are in different detention centers. And there is a sense in the community they are treating them like a terrorist. And you know, very wrong messages are delivered back to Pakistan that in the United States, Pakistanis are treated like a terrorists. And on the other side, in Pakistan, is supporting all the way the United States in the war against terrorism. President Bush. Yes. Q. And the same White House Mexican President, Mr. Fox, visited White House, and you promised that you will consider to give guest worker status to illegal Mexicans, 3.5 million. So keeping in, you know, the Pakistani what they have done for United States, would you be kind enough to consider a legal status for a small number of illegal Pakistanis who are in process of legalization? President Bush. Well, first, we need to reform our INS. There's no question the paperwork delays are way too long. It's frustrating for people. So for those who are amazed at the fact that paperwork can stay in a process for such a period of time, I can understand that. Secondly, I've always believed that we ought to encourage a willing employee and a willing employer to come together. And as we discuss immigration law, that ought to be an aspect of the law. And finally, this great Nation is a nation that will protect ourselves we're still under threat. But we treat people with ultimate respect. I mean, people in this country have got a chance to get attorneys at law to help them. People are not being we never said, let's go single out a particular group of citizens. Let's protect America. If we get any kind of lead or any kind of hint about anything that is could lead to an attack, we're going to give people a chance to share information to protect America. That makes sense, if you're living here and you care about the country, that you ought to be given a chance to participate. So I don't know who, specifically, you're referring to, but people are being treated incredibly humanely here and in Guantanamo Bay, by the way. Perhaps you're referring to maybe some citizens there. I will just assure you, like I've assured the President, that people are getting fantastic health care, much better health care today in Guantanamo Bay than they were getting in Afghanistan, I can assure you. And so our country is mindful of the need to respect people's rights. But I want to assure you, we will do, within our power, within the Constitution of the United States, what it takes to defend the American people. My most important job is to protect innocent Americans, and this is exactly what I'm going to do. Listen, thank you all very much. February 12, 2002 Well, thank you very much, John. This Nation has got some big challenges ahead of her. One big challenge, of course, is to defend freedom, is to remain united as we fight for the very values that we hold so dear. And another big challenge is to battle drug use. Drugs undermine the health of our citizens they destroy the souls of our children. And the drug trade supports terrorist networks. When people purchase drugs, they put money in the hands of those who want to hurt America, hurt our allies. Drugs attack everything that is the best about this country, and I intend to do something about them. Today I'm proud to announce a national drug control strategy. It is a plan that will lay out a comprehensive strategy for our Nation. We're putting the fight against drugs in the center of our national agenda, and I'm grateful for all of you who are here. I want to thank John and those who work with him for taking on this enormous task. I also want to thank Members of the United States Congress who are here Senators Graham and Hatch, thank you both for coming today I appreciate Elijah Cummings and Ernest Istook from Oklahoma and Sander Levin from Michigan John Mica of Florida Rob Portman of Ohio and Chairman Sensenbrenner from Wisconsin Mark Souder from Indiana. Thank you all for coming. Your presence here shows our mutual commitment to put policy in place that will make a huge difference in the lives of many, many of our citizens. I'm also so grateful for Admiral Loy for being here, of the United States Coast Guard. I had the honor of traveling to Maine recently to announce a significant initiative for the Coast Guard, a strong commitment by our administration to boost spending to make sure the Coast Guard is modern and capable of not only defending our borders but actively being engaged in the fight to interdict drugs that could be coming into our country overseas. Admiral Loy, I'm proud to have you here, and I'm proud of your team. I also want to thank many Ambassadors who are here, Ambassadors from our neighbors to the south, the Ambassador to Russia. I'm so grateful that you all are here and willing to lend your nations' support in this great cause. I also want to thank the citizens who are here. We've got a fabulous group of citizens from around the Nation representing groups that are have made the decision to do something about drug use. We've got community groups and prevention groups and law enforcement groups, and I want to thank you for coming. And I hope you go back and, when you go home, thank the folks that are working with you on behalf of a grateful nation. We've got a problem in this country. Too many people use drugs, and this is an individual tragedy. And as a result, it's a social crisis. There is no question that drug use wreaks havoc on the very fabric that provides stability for our society. Drug use wreaks havoc on our families. Drug use destroys people's ambitions and hopes. More than 50 percent of our high school seniors have said that they've experimented with illegal drugs at least once prior to graduation. There's some new, "hip" drugs like ecstasy and GHB. They're kind of fads. But they're dangerous and lethal, and they're taking too many lives. And we know the results. We know what can happen. The important bond between parents and children are fractured and broken, sometimes forever. Schools can turn into places of violence and chaos, as opposed to places of learning and hope. Productive citizens can become so dependent, so addicted that they live a life of hopelessness. We've got to do something about it here in America. Drugs constitute a huge challenge to the very health of our Nation. Illegal drugs cost our health care system almost 15 billion a year, and illegal drugs are directly implicated in the deaths of almost 20,000 Americans a year. Drug use causes people to commit crime, making neighborhoods less safe and less secure for our families. Drugs help supply the deadly work of terrorists that's so important for people in our country to understand. You know, I'm asked all the time, "How can I help fight against terror? What can I do, what can I as a citizen do to defend America?" Well, one thing you can do is not purchase illegal drugs. Make no mistake about it, if you're buying illegal drugs in America, it is likely that money is going to end up in the hands of terrorist organizations. Just think about the Taliban in Afghanistan 70 percent of the world's opium trade came from Afghanistan, resulting in significant income to the Taliban, significant amount of money to the people that were harboring and feeding and hiding those who attacked and killed thousands of innocent Americans on September the 11th. When we fight drugs, we fight the war on terror. Today I'm pleased to announce a new strategy to combat drugs in America. We're determined to limit drug supply, to reduce demand, and to provide addicts with effective and compassionate drug treatment. Each of these steps is essential, and they're inseparable. And these steps must be funded, which is why the budget I submitted to Congress calls for 19 billion to fight drug use. We'll fight drug supply to reduce drug use and punish those who deal in death. More than 280 metric tons of cocaine and 13 metric tons of heroin enter our country each year. To stop drugs from reaching our borders, the budget I've submitted includes nearly 2.3 billion dollars for drug interdiction, an increase of over 10 percent from last year's budget. With the Coast Guard's help and with our partners in other nations, with the collaborative efforts with the leaders of all the nations in our neighborhood, we're going to fight drug traffickers whether they try to bring the drugs in this country by sea, by land, or by air. I also want to target the supply of illegal drugs that are the source, particularly those in the Andean nations. That's why I've requested 731 million for the Andean Counterdrug Initiative, the countries of Bolivia and Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. And I look forward to making sure the program is effective, that crop substitution works and crop destruction goes forward. I look forward to working with your Presidents and telling them pointblank how anxious I am to make sure that our efforts to interdict supply is effective and meaningful and measurable and real. I've also asked our Homeland Security Director, Tom Ridge, to examine ways we can improve our national border management system to make sure we achieve what we want on our borders, which is commerce to move but to stop the illegal flow of drugs. A more effective management of our border for homeland security will lead to better drug interdiction in our southern and northern borders. However, it is important for Americans and American families to understand this, that the best way to affect supply is to reduce demand for drugs, that we can work as hard as we possibly want on interdiction but, so long as there is the demand for drug in this country, some crook is going to figure out how to get them here. And so a central focus of this strategy is to reduce demand, is to convince our children that the use of drugs is destructive in their lives. And that starts with good parenting. It is essential that our parents understand that they're the child's most important teacher and that the message of our parents must be unequivocable Don't use drugs. And so one of the things we're going to work hard to do is to fire up the Parents Drug Corps, is to fund an initiative that will convince and rally parents to do their job. I say that if we want to usher in a period of personal responsibility, if we want a new culture that changes from "If it feels good, do it," to one that says, "We're responsible for our decisions," it begins with moms and dads being responsible parents, by telling their children they love them on a daily basis. And if you love somebody, you'll also tell them not to use drugs. We know that community involvement can help defeat demand. Congressman Portman and Congressman Levin know that firsthand. They have been involved in their communities to rally interests and concerned citizens to come with a local grassroots effort, all aimed at educating kids and all aimed at pulling community resources together to make a clear statement, a clear, responsible statement that drugs will destroy don't use them. And so we support the Drug Free Community Support Program, by 10 million, to encourage these grassroots efforts, kind of the bottom up effort to reduce demand in America. The money will help coalitions the formation of coalitions, effective coalitions of business leaders and teachers and families and law enforcement and, oh, the faith community. We must never forget the faith community in America. Our Government must not fear the involvement of faith based programs. As a matter of fact, we've got to welcome faith based programs. This initiative is coupled with a Faith Based Initiative, will help rally the armies of compassion, those citizens who love their neighbor like they'd like to be loved themselves, to help send a clear message that we love you we love you so much we're going to convince you not to use drugs in the future. We also know that early drug education defeats demand, and so in my budget there are 644 million on the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Program. That is a significant commitment. We also want to make sure that it is effective, that the message that gets into the schools is one that sends this clear message Don't use drugs, no ands, ifs, or buts. Don't use them. And we know the media can have a powerful effect. And so we've got a 180 million on the National Youth Anti Drug Media Campaign, a series of messages which lay out the hazards of drug use. And so ours is a concerted effort to reduce demand. It's central to making sure we've got an effective strategy. As demand goes down, so will supply. As we reduce demand in America, it will take the pressure off of our friends in the south. It will make it easier for our friends in Mexico to deal with the drug problem. It will make it easier for Colombia to be able to deal with the growers and the mobsters who tend to wreak havoc in your country. The two are linked, but the reduction in demand is central to an effective strategy. And finally, treatment We must aggressively promote drug treatment because a nation that is tough on drugs must also be compassionate to those addicted to drugs. Today, there are 3.9 million drug users in America who need but who do not receive help. And we've got to do something about that. We've got to help. We're, therefore, proposing 3.8 billion for drug treatment and research. This is an increase in our budget of over 6 percent. We'll work with State governments to provide treatment where it is needed most, and the Federal dollars will be distributed to States to support efforts that work, not efforts that might sound good but efforts that actually accomplish the objective of saving people's lives. This includes a 100 million increase in treatment spending as part of a plan to spend 1.6 billion over the next 5 years. Now, one of the things in our strategy that I hope you find interesting and is important is that we're actually going to start targeting treatment spending for those who are most vulnerable, people like pregnant moms, the homeless, people with HIV AIDS, and teenagers. So while we've asked for an increase in treatment, there will be some targeted people we're trying to help, to make sure that those get special attention and special help in our treatment programs. I believe by moving aggressively, without hesitation or apology, in all three of these areas we can make an enormous difference in America. And progress must be measured. I told John when he signed on, I'm the kind of fellow that likes to say, "What are the results?" I'd like to know, actually, are we making a difference? And so here's our goal here's the goal by which we'll be measured here's the goal which I'll be measured first, and then John will definitely be measured if I'm measured laughter I want to see a 10 percent reduction in teenage and adult drug use over the next 2 years, and a 25 percent reduction in drug use, nationally, over the next 5 years. Those are our goals. We understand we can't do it alone here in Washington, and that's why our approach is a community based approach. That's why we recognize the true strength of the country is our people. And we know there's thousands of parents, thousands of educators, thousands of community activists, law enforcement officials, all anxious to come together to achieve this national strategy. I know they're ambitious goals, but when we meet them, our Nation is going to be safer and more hopeful. You see, there is a moral reason for this fight. There is a moral reason to achieve this grand national objective, and it's this Drugs rob men and women and children of their dignity and their character. Illegal drugs are the enemies of ambition and hope. Thank you for joining the fight. May God bless you all. February 11, 2002 Well, thank you, Tommy. Earlier today Tommy stood up and said, "You know, my heart is in Wisconsin, but I've got an address in Washington." I've got bad news for you, Tommy. You're not going to change your address for a while. Laughter Tommy is doing a fabulous job. People of the country are getting to know what the people of Wisconsin already know, is that if you give a man a tough job, he can handle it. And I appreciate your leadership. And I'm proud to be here for Scott. I hope the people of Wisconsin send this man back for 4 more years as the Governor. And there's a reason to In a short time, he's got a strong record of leadership he's not afraid to lead. You know, when times get tough in the political arena, sometimes you find those who duck or you find those who stand up and lead the people. And that's exactly what Scott has done, and I appreciate his leadership. He's following a good man. There's been 15 years of strong leadership in this State, and when he gets reelected, there will be 4 more years of strong leadership in the State of Wisconsin. And I want to thank you all for coming to help. You can't win elections unless the people are with you. And this huge crowd shows that something's happening here in Wisconsin that's positive for Scott's campaign. I also want to thank all of you who worked hard to help me get where I am. I know I couldn't have won without the hard work of citizens all across our land, people willing to man the precincts, blow up the balloons, make the phone calls. And it's an honor to be in the room with so many who worked so hard, and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. And I appreciate Laurie, the first lady of the State of Wisconsin, her steadfast support of Scott. She brings a lot of class to the office of first lady. Where are you, Laurie? Applause I know something about good wives. Laughter The people of the country now understand why I married Laura. They're a little confused about why she married me. Laughter But I can't tell you how proud I am of Laura Bush. She has done a fabulous job. It's my honor to say hello tonight to the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Wisconsin. Thank you for coming, Governor. I'm traveling today with members of the Wisconsin congressional delegation, a fine group Green and Petri, Ryan, Sensenbrenner. I'm looking forward to visiting with them on the airplane going back to Washington. But you've sent four fine Representatives to Washington, DC, and I'm proud of their service. Thank you all for coming. I want to thank members of the legislature for being here. The Speaker is here, I understand, and I want to thank you all for coming. You know a good man when you see one. I want to thank Rick Graber, the party chairman, and all of you who are involved with the Republican Party of the State of Wisconsin. Thank you for your hard work, and thank you for what you're fixing to do, which is to turn out the vote next November, to make sure this guy gets in. And I appreciate Craig and the leadership and all the vice chairmen who worked so hard to make this event incredibly successful. You know, I was watching how Scott handled the budget issue here in Wisconsin. And he's handled it the way you'd want any leader to handle it to stand up and make tough decisions, to not duck them. He proposed a budget that recognizes that when times are bad, you don't raise taxes on the working people that if times are lean, you do what families do, you pare back a little bit. But he also set clear priorities. To me, the most important job of any Governor is to make sure the public school system of a State is sound and healthy, to make sure children from all walks of life get educated. And in the budget he proposed, public education is the number one priority for the citizens of Wisconsin. I understand he's proposed an energy plan. That makes a lot of sense. The State of Wisconsin has an energy plan the United States of America needs an energy plan, an energy plan that encourages conservation, but an energy plan as well that understands, if we rely upon foreign sources of crude, we could have problems in the future. We need a plan that not only saves energy but finds more energy to become less dependent on foreign nations. It is in our national security interests to do so. And that includes alternative fuels, like ethanol. Applause We've got some corn boys here. Laughter Behave yourselves back there. Laughter Scott signed into law Wisconsin's Senior Care Program. And that's important, because it provides prescription drug relief to over 200,000 Wisconsin seniors. Today I had the privilege of laying out a health care speech, a health care strategy. And included in my speech was the need to make sure we reform Medicare so that seniors have got prescription drug coverage. As a result of Scott's leadership, Wisconsin is making great strides toward making sure seniors have got prescription drug coverage. Now, this guy has got a strong record, a record of leadership, a record of accomplishment, a record that Wisconsans need to be proud of. You've got a steady man here, a good man, a solid man who deserves 4 more years in office. I had the high honor of going before the Congress for my State of the Union Address. And in my address I said that we're at war, and we're battling a recession, but the state of this Union has never been stronger. When the enemy attacked on September the 11th, they made a huge mistake. They thought they were attacking a weak nation, a nation that was undisciplined, a nation so materialistic that we would put self above sacrifice. I said in my speech earlier or last fall that if you harbored a terrorist, if you fed a terrorist, if you hid a terrorist, you're just as guilty as a terrorist. And the Taliban has found out exactly what I meant, and so have hundreds of Al Qaida terrorists. We're making great progress in the first theater on our war against terror. You know, I unleashed the might of the United States military with all the confidence in the world that they would get the job done, and my, have they performed brilliantly. For those of you with relatives who wear the uniform, I want to thank you on behalf of a grateful nation. I sent a budget to Congress that recognized a couple of things One, that the price for freedom is never too high and secondly, those who wear our uniform deserve the best equipment, the best training, the best support, and another pay raise. It is a large budget increase, because it recognizes that the war on terror is just beginning. In the caves in Afghanistan, we've discovered the fact that the enemy desired weapons of mass destruction, trained hundreds of potential killers that are now spread around the world. It reminds us that even though distance has passed since September the 11th, we've still got a mighty task ahead of us, and the task is so vital and so important. It's so important that our Nation continue to lead this vast coalition, because we fight for freedom we fight for the liberties that we've taken for granted for a long period of time. We must stand up to terror now, in order to make sure our children and grandchildren can grow up in a peaceful world. And are terrorists and the threats to America not only are from the terrorist organizations that hate freedom and kill in the name of religion. Our mission also includes countries which develop weapons of mass destruction, nations with a history of brutality. If they're ever able to mate up with terrorist organizations, the free world will be threatened. And this President is not going to allow regimes such as Iran, Iraq, and North Korea to threaten our way of life. I appreciate the unity of this Nation. I appreciate the unity in Washington, DC. Republicans are patriotic Democrats are patriotic. We're united in our resolve. The world has been amazed at the determination of this country. The world is seeing what we're really made out of. You know, to me, one of the most defining moments of this war on terror came when some fellows were on a telephone on an airplane on September the 11th They said a prayer they told their wives they loved them and they drove a plane into the ground to save others' lives. It's the ultimate sacrifice. It's such a statement, a powerful statement, of what it means to defend freedom. Every morning I'll go into the Oval Office, and I read a threat assessment which tells me the enemy is still trying to come. And I want to assure you all that we're doing everything in our power to protect innocent life in America. The FBI is on full alert. Listen, we're running down every lead, every hint. Every opportunity we have to disrupt potential attack, we're taking. Our law enforcement officials are working overtime, and I'm really proud of what they're doing. We've got a plan headed by Tom Ridge that focuses on bioterrorism and airport security, border security. We now need to know who's coming in our country and who's leaving our country, so we make sure people don't slide in who want to harm us. This Government is on full alert, and I'm proud of the way the Federal Government has responded, and I'm proud of the way the Congress is going to fund our homeland security efforts. But make no mistake, the best way to secure America is to find them and hunt them down, no matter where they hide, and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what we're going to do. We've got a big challenge here at home, and that is people hurt because of the recession. People hurt because when the enemy hit us, it caused the economy to slide, and people lost work. And so long as people are out of work, I hurt for them. And so I proposed an economic stimulus plan that says to the Congress, let's take care of the unemployed by extending unemployment benefits, and let's help them with their health care. But always remember, folks in America don't want an unemployment check they want a permanent paycheck. So let's create more jobs by creating an environment in which people are willing to risk capital. Let's cut taxes on investment and on equipment and plants, so that people who employ people will have more cash to do so. The House passed a good bill. It seems to have died in the Senate. Let's get it out of the Senate. Let's get a jobs package out of the Senate so people can get back to work in America. An energy plan means more jobs. Trade means more jobs. We need good farm policy out of the United States Congress to help us with jobs. I ask the Congress to think about one thing when it comes to economic policy, and that is jobs. Jobs provide dignity jobs provide hope jobs are essential to the future of this country. The amazing thing that's happened to this Nation after September 11th is, out of the terrible evil has come some good. Out of the evil has come some amazing compassion and kindness. I believe we have a chance to work together to change our culture in America for the better. You know, the culture was dominated by the "If it feels good, do it" era. I believe we have an opportunity now to welcome a culture that says, "Each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life." The people on Flight 93 were responsible citizens by making the huge sacrifice they did. Our soldiers are responsible citizens. You know, I'm asked all the time, "What can I do to help in the war against terror?" Well, you've probably learned by now, I don't believe there's many shades of gray in this war. You're either with us, or against us you're either evil, or you're good. The best way citizens in America can fight evil is through acts of kindness, is to do some good in your community. It doesn't have to be much. One can just walk across the street to a shut in and say, "I care for you," or, "I love you," or, "What can I do to help?" That's an act of kindness. Or you can mentor a child. You know, we've got thousands of sons and daughters whose parents are in prison in America, people who wonder whether or not the American experience is meant for them. In order to help fight evil, I hope people become mentors to one of those children. Put your arm around them and say, "I love you a lot, and America is meant for you." You know, there are all kinds of ways that all of us can help make our communities much stronger. And a way to usher in a new period of responsibility is to remember that not only are we responsible for loving our children, not only is our most important responsibility in a responsible society is to love your children with all your heart and all your soul, but a responsible period, a responsible era says, "I want to love my neighbor just like I love myself." It's the gathering momentum of a million acts of kindness and compassion all across America that will stand strong in the face of evil. It is the acts of generosity by generous Americans as they help people in need that will send a clear message to the world that the United States of America will not stand for evil. We will stand strongly in the face of evil. We will defend our freedom. And out of the evil acts of September the 11th will come incredible goodness and kindness and compassion. And if any country on the face of this Earth can set that example, it is the great country called America. Thank you all for coming. God bless. February 11, 2002 Well, thank you very much, Tommy I appreciate your introduction. Your heart may be in Wisconsin, but you've got to keep your address where it is right now. Laughter I'm counting on you. He's doing a fabulous job. I love Wisconsin for a lot of reasons. One, you produced Thompson. I love you so much I even come in the winter, which is hard for a Texan. Laughter It is an honor to visit this distinguished place of learning which trains so many outstanding physicians. I happen to know something about Wisconsin doctors. I'm pretty familiar with them. After all, the White House physician is Colonel Richard Tubb, raised right here in Wisconsin. He's not only a fine doctor he fortunately got special instructions on pretzel related conditions. Laughter My advice is, swallow after you chew. Laughter But the Medical College of Wisconsin represents the future of health care, here and throughout our country. It's a fitting place to address the great opportunities and challenges that the future will bring our country. Our health care system is in need of important reform and on the verge of amazing discovery. We must seize the moment for the benefit of all Americans. And that's why I want to thank Scott McCallum for welcoming me here, and I appreciate his leadership for the State of Wisconsin. I want to thank the members of the congressional delegation, Barrett, Petri, Ryan, Sensenbrenner, for coming, as well. It's good to see all of you. I'm looking forward to working with you to do what's right for the citizens in terms of health care. I appreciate Michael, his leadership, and his hospitality. I want to thank the docs who gave me a briefing. And I want to thank all of you for your warm welcome. I want to talk about two things, and they both have to do with the challenges we face. I briefly want to talk a little bit about the challenge we face abroad. And then I want to talk about the challenge we face at home, particularly with health care. First, the enemy made a bad mistake. They don't understand us. Let me rephrase that they didn't understand us. They do now. We are patient. We're resolved people. But we are absolutely determined to defend freedom. I'm pleased to report that out of the evil have come some good, one of which is that in Washington, there is no difference between Republicans and Democrats as to who is the most patriotic or who wants to win the most. All of us want to win the war against terror, for which I am grateful. But I want to tell you all that we're just beginning, that I see this as a unique moment in history. And this Nation must seize the moment. And it's this Either we defend freedom, so that our children and grandchildren can grow up in a peaceful world, or we blink. And if we blink, the rest of the world will blink as well. I don't believe we have that luxury. I believe we must find terror wherever it hides and bring it to justice. And so the Afghan theater is the first theater in the war against terror, and we've done a lot in a quick period of time. I laid out a doctrine that said, if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists. And the Taliban found out what I meant. Not only have we thrown them out, but in doing so, we liberated we liberated women and children from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. I'm proud of our military. And for those of you who have got a relative in the military, thank you, and I know you're proud of that relative, as well. There's a lot of focus on one individual in this war on terror, but this is much bigger than one person. Oh, the guy, he can hide, and he can run, but there's no cave deep enough for the arm of justice of the American people. And it's just a matter of time. I have no artificial date deadlines. I really don't care if it's tomorrow or a month from now or a year or a couple of years. But Mr. bin Laden is going to meet his fate. And in the meantime, the United States of America will continue to rally our coalition, to continue to cut off money from terrorist organizations, continue to share intelligence so we can react better, continue to defend our homeland, and continue to insist that freedom loving nations find, incarcerate, and bring to justice anybody who would harm America, our allies, and our friends. There was some concern amongst some that the farther we got away from the horrible day of September 11th, America would waver in our determination. They don't need to be concerned. We are determined. We are patient. We are tough. We're compassionate. We will not yield to terror. There are a lot of challenges we face. We fight a recession. I'm optimistic we'll recover. But one of the big challenges is our health care system. I like to put it this way We face a huge challenge of making sure that we're still the world's greatest health care system. That's our challenge. How do we maintain our edge? How do we make sure the American people get the best health care in the world? And it starts by making sure that we attract the best and brightest to the medical profession. And that can start with the President saying, thank you for dedicating your lives to such a great calling. America appreciates the fact that you've chosen a profession that is so profound and so important. It's a model of service and excellence. And the achievements of our medical professionals set the standards for the entire world. Life expectancy in America today is 8 years longer than it was in 1950 and 29 years longer than it was in 1900. That's a lot of progress. And for millions, those extra years are more active and more healthy than anybody could have imagined. We're making great progress against many diseases, such as breast cancer and colon cancer and childhood leukemia. The death rate from coronary disease is down 40 percent since 1980. Our country leads the world in Nobel Prizes for science and medicine and in the invention of new drugs and medical devices. I truly believe that this progress is one of America's greatest contributions to mankind. It is a tribute to the outstanding efforts of the medical profession and to a system of private medicine that encourages innovation and rewards hard work. Yet our doctors and patients know that our system is far from perfect. Too many patients feel trapped by the system, with decisions about their health dictated by HMOs or Government bureaucracies. Too many doctors feel buried in paperwork. I've heard it said that some doctors feel they don't practice medicine, they practice insurance. At the same time, health care costs are rising sharply, and many people worry they won't be able to afford the treatments they need. Some procedures are overused, often as defensive measures to avoid litigation. And about 40 million Americans still have no health insurance at all. We must reform health care in America. We must build a modern, innovative health care system that gives patients more options and fewer orders and strengthens the doctor patient relationship. Government has got to take an active role in reform. Yet it's important that Government's role is not to centralize, nor is Government's role to control the delivery of medicine. Other nations have tried this route, and it has led to long waits for treatment, low quality care, and lagging technologies. And for many patients, their experience with centralized Government controlled medicine leads them somewhere else, often right here to America, where they can get the treatment and care they need. The role of Government in health reform is to fix the system where it's failing, while preserving the quality and innovation of a private, patient centered medical system. All reform should be guided by some goals. The first goal All Americans should be able to choose a health care plan that meets their needs at affordable prices. When people have good choices, when people are given different options, health plans have to compete for business, which means higher quality and better coverage. Most Americans get their health care coverage at work. Yet, higher costs are causing some employers to cut back on benefits or insist that the employee pay more, especially if they want to choose their own doctor or to avoid the complications of managed care. Many families end up in a health plan whose monthly premium puts a strain on their budget, and when they require care, they find what they need really isn't fully covered. So here's what I propose I propose we give workers more choice. I propose we reform the system to make the system more individualized by creating personal health accounts. Instead of paying a large premium every month for services you may not use, I believe we ought to have an account that allows a person to pay a much smaller premium for major medical coverage and then put the savings into a health account, tax free. The money is your money. It's your money in the health account, not the Government's money. And you can use it for whatever health care need that arises. If you don't use it, it's yours to keep. And the more affordable and for the more affordable premium, you also get catastrophic care, protection in case of serious illness. The tendency for Government is one size fits all. If part of reform is to restore the patient doctor relation and to give patients more choices, we have to change the tax system, too, and allow for patients to make decisions that is in their best interests. I also propose to help workers get better and more affordable choices in health plans at work. Now, some large companies are you're okay you've got some choice. But many small businesses are unable to afford health insurance. And so and that's because there's not much purchasing power. A stand alone small business does not have purchasing power in the marketplace. Either they can't afford to cover, or they have to allow their employees to settle on a high premium, high dollar single plan. And so what I propose is that we ought to allow employers to pool together, through an industry association or perhaps the Chamber of Commerce, so that they can get the best deal for their workers, just as large corporations are allowed to do. Too many workers get no coverage at all through their jobs. This is especially true among minorities, part time employees, and seasonal workers. For those with limited means, my budget will provide new credits to afford health coverage, up to 1,000 for an individual or 3,000 per family. And they won't have to wait for tax time to get these health credits. We'll make them immediately available for qualifying families, giving them the help they need when they need it. And at the same time, we'll work with our Nation's Governors to create purchasing groups to negotiate with insurers for the people who use these health credits. In other words, people who don't have insurance must be given incentive to purchase insurance the States can help them pool, in order to get decent decent coverage but it's not a Government program. In other words, we trust the people. The Government incents individuals to make decisions in the marketplace. If the goal is to increase quality care by encouraging individual choice and a doctor patient relationship, health credits is one way to help the uninsured do so. I also strongly believe that the legislation that I proposed to help unemployed workers makes a lot of sense. And it's this As soon as a person qualifies for unemployment benefits, the Government would cover 60 percent of the cost of continuing their health care. That's a proper role for the Federal Government. The role of the Federal Government is to help people who have been unemployed, not only with benefits but also with their health care costs. And the same principle of encouraging choice and helping people help themselves must apply as well to two Government sponsored programs, Medicaid and Medicare. Medicaid and the SCHIP program provide essential coverage for low income families and seniors and persons with disabilities. These Americans also deserve more choices. My budget gives States more flexibility to provide better options in Medicaid and SCHIP and makes additional funds available for States to improve the coverage. And the Medicare program is a source of security and dignity for tens of millions of our seniors. It is an incredibly important commitment that our Federal Government has made. I strongly support Medicare because it is so crucial in the lives of older Americans, but I understand that Medicare is antiquated. It has not kept pace with advances in medicine. For instance, when Medicare was established in 1965, health care usually meant hospital care. Today, we understand how important it is to prevent people from getting sick in the first place yet Medicare does not fully cover preventive medicine. In the past 37 years, many new medicines have arrived to replace invasive treatments and surgeries. These drugs can be more effective than surgery and are far less expensive. A serious stomach ulcer, for instance, once required a lengthy stay in the hospital and many thousands of dollars in medical bills. Today, the ulcer can be cured with prescriptions costing only hundreds of dollars. Yet Medicare would only cover the surgery, not the prescription. We must bring Medicare into the 21st century, to expand its coverage, to improve its services, to strengthen its financing, and to give seniors more control over the health care they receive. I think we're making progress in Washington, progress toward convincing the Congress that all wisdom doesn't exist in Washington bureaucracies when it comes to health care for the elderly. We've got Republicans and Democrats and an independent from the United States Senate working on Medicare reform. Seniors who are happy with the current system should be able to keep the coverage just the way it is. In other words, if there is a senior living in America who says, "I love Medicare just the way it is," nothing changes, and that's an important it's important for a lot of Americans to hear that. But all seniors should be offered different options, a range of options from which to choose, in both the private sector and private markets, as well as a better Government plan with better Medigap options. And all of these choices all of them, however, must include prescription drug coverage. The second goal of reform is quality, the ability for a patient to get the best care from the doctor of our choice. Managed care plans have done a lot to make health care more affordable for many people. They can also unfairly deny coverage and step between the doctor and the patient. When such basic rights are lost, they've got to be restored by law. And that's why I urge Congress to get a Patients' Bill of Rights to my desk. We're close to an agreement on this issue. I've given a message to Congress Please send me a bill that protects all patients, not just a fortunate few. Send me a bill with comprehensive patient protections. No one should be charged extra, for example, for simply visiting the nearest emergency room. No one should have to run a bureaucratic gauntlet before he or she can see a specialist. And if health plans deny care, every patient should have the right to a prompt review by an impartial panel of doctors. Finally, we should be serving the interests of the patients, not the self interest of trial lawyers. There will always be matters that can and will be resolved in a courtroom, but with a strong review process, most disagreements between patients and health plans will end up in medical care, not in the courtroom. Needless litigation does not needless litigation does incredible harm to our health care system. It costs everyone time and money, especially patients who need care quickly, and can destroy the bond of trust between physician and patient. Frivolous lawsuits drive up insurance premiums for everybody and discourage employers from offering employee coverage at all. It is really important to remember that we want to help doctors to heal, not encourage lawyers to sue. And the hostile legal atmosphere that doctors face is adding to costs and undermining the quality of health care in practical ways. At some hospitals, for instance, doctors have worked closely with one another to cut the rate of infection after surgery by more than half. Yet when they discuss that information openly or put it on a paper for the benefit of others, they also put themselves at risk of a lawsuit. We actually have a system that penalizes doctors for trying to prevent errors and avoid complications in patient care. And that doesn't make much sense. These good faith efforts do not deserve the punishment of a lawsuit, and Congress needs to do something about that. When it helps patients, information must be broadly shared. In the Medicare system, we're giving people more information on the quality of nursing homes all across the country, and we plan to do the same thing throughout the health care system. Increased reliance on information technology will not only lower costs, it also holds great promise for detection and treatment and the development of new cures for disease. Personal medical information, however, must always be strictly confidential. A patient's right to privacy must be protected, and we will enforce those protections. My final goal in health care reform is to make sure Government acts where it should, providing a strong health care safety net and promoting research on the frontiers of science. The Federal Government has accepted these responsibilities, and we must fulfill them. Many of the poor and uninsured, including legal immigrants, are outside our system of health care entirely. Their neighborhoods often have few health care professionals or facilities. They have little or no access to preventive care, and most treatment takes place in an expensive emergency room. Around the country, more than 3,000 community health centers are fighting these problems by giving immunizations, providing prenatal care, and treating illness before they become medical emergencies. I strongly support these community health centers because they're compassionate. They are compassionate they are cost effective and America needs more of them. And so I've set this goal We need 1,200 more community health centers over the next 5 years to make sure our Government fulfills its commitment to the needy. The Federal Government has a large role in medical research, as you well know here. And that role is now urgent. In response to the threats facing our Nation, we've committed more than 2 billion to develop new tests and new treatments for bioterror weapons. This research is not only important for the immediate, but it is likely to produce new insights into the treatment of diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria, HIV AIDS. Our massive effort to ensure the safety of our people will improve the health of our people. The National Institutes of Health is one of the most successful Government undertakings in our history. The work of the NIH has helped us defeat a long list of diseases and dangers to public health. Now, as scientists begin to read the codes of life itself, we are nearing incredible breakthroughs in the fight against disease. We may, in our lifetime, lift from humanity the curse of cancer. This is a moment of great national challenge, and the work of the NIH has become even more urgent and promising. I'm asking Congress to give strong support to the NIH. And my budget achieves the goal I set out when I sought the vote, and that is, we will have doubled the NIH goal at the end of the year 2003. Science is on the very sources is closing in on the sources of sickness and disease. By 2010, scientists predict, genetic tests will allow individuals to know if they are predisposed to certain conditions. Within 20 years, targeted drug and gene therapies will be available for diabetes and hypertension and other diseases. As we pursue the promise of these projects, we must also be alert to their dangers. Genetic information should be an opportunity to prevent and treat disease, not an excuse for discrimination. Just as we addressed discrimination based on race, we must now prevent discrimination based on genetic information. There is another danger to guard against, the use of genetic research to threaten the dignity of life itself. The powers of science are morally neutral, as easily used for bad purposes as good ones. In the excitement of discovery, we must never forget that mankind is developed is defined not by intelligence alone but by conscience. Even the most noble ends do not justify every means. Life itself is always to be valued and protected. In biomedical research, we're dealing with the very makings of life, and the law must be firm and clear in restraining the reckless and protecting the voiceless. These are the goals of health care reform, principles to make a good system even better. We'll put our trust in the choices of patients and the decisions of doctors, the surest way to better coverage and better care. We'll protect patients and doctors from unfair treatment and unreasonable lawsuits. And Government will fulfill its unique responsibilities to provide a health care safety net and conduct the research that holds such great hope for all of us. With these reforms, new breakthroughs in medical research will reach the patients who need them, quickly and at the lowest cost possible. I believe America can achieve anything it sets its mind to. I believe I don't believe I know we're going to win the war against terror. And I know if we honor our professionals and honor our patients and recognize the limited role of Government, if we trust Americans to make the right choices for their lives, we'll have the health care system that remains the envy of the world. There's no doubt in my mind that with the right reforms, the right philosophy, a philosophy of trust trust in people that America will remain on the cutting edge of medicine. And as America remains on the cutting edge of medicine, America will be the promised land for all of us. It is such an honor to be here. I want to thank the youngsters who are going to be docs. I want to thank you for your service. Give them an "A" for attending, for sitting through this lecture. Laughter But I do appreciate it. And I also appreciate your professors. And I appreciate the chance to come and share with my fellow citizens about the future of health care in America. May God bless you all. February 08, 2002 The President. Mr. President, Laura and I are honored to be back. Thank you all very much for your hospitality. Mr. Hinckley. We're honored to have you here. We very much appreciate that you've come. We're all here excited about the Olympics, and we think this is going to be a great thing for this area and for the United States of America. The President. I agree. Thank you, sir. Mr. Hinckley. Thank you very much. The President. I'm looking forward to it. I want to congratulate the great State of Utah for putting on the games. It's going to be a I know it's been a lot of hard work, and now we're here, and I think the world is going to see why we love the West so much here in the United States. People can get things done. Mr. Hinckley. We're happy that they're here. We hope that all will go well we're confident that all will go well and that it will be a great season for all of us. The President. I might answer a few questions. You got anything, Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press or Steve Steve Holland, Reuters ? Winter Olympic Games Q. Mr. President, are you confident about the security situation at the games? The President. I'm so confident about the security condition, I've come. Laughter Fournier, you got anything? Genealogy Q. What did you talk about in there? The President. Well, we just interestingly enough, we talked about our family heritage, our lineage. The president kindly gave us our family histories, genealogies that have been researched here, and it's a wonderful gift. And I said, "Before you tell me, are there any horse thieves in there?" Laughter Mr. Hinckley. I want to tell you that he comes of good stock. Laughter The President. That's right. Laughter Mr. Hinckley. And so does she. Winter Olympic Games Q. Mr. President, did you give any advice to the American athletes on carrying the flag from New York, the World Trade Center flag? The President. No, I didn't. Q. And is there a danger that an event like this takes on some political overtones, especially with the United States engaged in a war on terrorism? The President. Well, I think the event is going the the events are going to strike a proper balance between the patriotism that we all feel here and the international flavor of the games. As I understand it, they've reached what appears to be a reasonable compromise about the flag that flew over the World Trade Center. And I think it's important for all Americans, obviously, to root hard for our athletes and recognize, however, this is an international event. And one of the things that is important is that there be world unity. And this is a nice place to have world unity, during the competition. You know, an athlete wins, people salute their flag and their anthem. And unfortunately, it's not going to be the American flag every single event. It'll be somebody else's country, but it gives us a chance to cheer for others and celebrate with others, as well. So it appears to me that the proper balance has been struck. No question that tonight is going to be an emotional moment, though. I mean, we're the host country, and we're a nation that has been under attack. And this proud country is unified and strong, and when they play the national anthem, I'm sure there's going to be millions of Americans who are proud to hear the anthem played in a unique setting and in an historic moment. Q. Were you disappointed, sir, when you first heard that the flag was not going to be allowed in the ceremonies? The President. I knew that there would be an accommodation reached. I talked to some friends about it. So I'm happy with the outcome of the accommodation. I think it's a nice balance. Q. Did you weigh in at all on it? The President. No, I didn't. Meeting With President Hinckley Q. Mr. President, why was it important for you to meet with President Hinckley today? The President. Well, first of all, this isn't my first meeting. I was it's kind of Mr. Hinckley. Reunion. The President. Reunion, right. Thank you. I was searching for the word. Laughter I was here in the summer of '99. And first of all, President Hinckley represents a great religion. He is a strong part of the American scene, and I wanted to come by and say hello and pay my respects, and I'm glad I did. Also, by the way, looking forward to hearing the choir tonight. It is going to be a magnificent moment, an incredibly touching experience for all of us, particularly those of us who will be there live. So thank you for tuning them up. Laughter Mr. Hinckley. They're all ready to go. The President. Thanks. Mr. Hinckley. Thank you very much. The President. Good to see you, sir. February 08, 2002 Well, thank you very much. I'm not deserving, but I'm proud to wear this jacket. I want to congratulate our great country's Olympic team. I want to thank you all for your efforts. I want to thank you for your hard work. The whole country is pulling for you, and we're really proud of you. I want to thank all those who've worked to make these games go well Mitt Romney, Sandy Baldwin, Lloyd Ward, Dwight Bell, Bernie Machen. I want to thank your coaches and your families. Today we're joined by three Port Authority Police Officers from New York City Tony Scannella, Curt Kellinger, Frank Accardi. Where are they? There they are. Applause Thank you all for coming. And as you know, they brought with them one of the flags that flew in front of the World Trade Center on September the 11th, which will be carried into the Olympic Stadium today. This flag serves as a symbol of this Nation's strength, of our resolve, of our determination to fight for freedom. These games come at a perfect time for the country. In our time of sadness and determination and resolve, our Olympic athletes will represent the best of America. I can't wait for Americans to see our flag fly. It is such a proud moment for all of us. This Nation is steadfast and unified, and you, the athletes, are going to represent us with such class and dignity and courage. It's a chance for the world to see that in times of war, we can come together in friendly competition to promote the peace. So not only you represent the greatest nation on the face of the Earth, you represent a spirit that is much bigger than evil and terror You represent peace. A lot of people are going to be watching you, particularly a lot of kids. You'll become heroes overnight. That's an awesome responsibility. I know you'll handle it with grace. I know you'll set the best example possible. And so we're here to wish you all the best, to congratulate you. Let's roll. God bless. February 08, 2002 Thank you all very much. It's great to be here. Thank you very much. Well, thank you very much. I'm really honored to be here. I really appreciate my new hat. Laughter I'm looking forward to wearing it in Crawford. I don't get to spend enough time there, but when I do, I really enjoy being around the cows. Laughter I find it such a relaxing place, a place to stay in touch with what's important in life. And Laura and I love what we do. We love our new address. Laughter But I can assure you, when it's all over, we're going back to the ranch. I want to thank my friend Lynn for inviting me here. And thank you all for such a warm greeting and giving us a chance to come. I'm here to share with you some thoughts about our Nation, how to improve our economy and the strength of our character. You know, I gave a State of the Union the other day, and I reminded the Nation we're at war. We've got tough economic times. We're in a recession, but our Nation has never been stronger. And someone who has shown incredible strength and calm during a time of national crisis has been my wife, Laura. A lot of it has to do with the fact that she had a great mom and a wonderful dad. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that she was born and raised in the West. People around the country are now figuring out why I married her. A lot of them are trying to figure out why she married me. Laughter I appreciate so very much traveling today with our Secretary of Agriculture, Ann Veneman. Ann's doing a really good job for the country. You know, one of the things that concerned me a lot is to make sure that hoof and mouth never made it into our land. I talked to Ann a lot about it. I said, "Whatever you do, you make sure we stop it." And she did, along with a lot of other good folks who work for the Agriculture Department. I'm proud of her efforts. I'm proud of her genuine concern about the farmers and ranchers of the country, and I appreciate her strong leadership. I'm proud to be traveling with Members of the United States Congress who understand the importance of agriculture in the life of our country. One such man is a guy from west Texas. In 1978, I ran for the very seat he holds. I lost. He won. Laughter He's the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, a really good friend and a good man out of Lubbock, Texas, Larry Combest. And we brought some other Members along from the great State of Kansas, Senator Pat Roberts Craig Thomas of Wyoming. I'm spending the night in his State tonight, in Jackson Hole. They tell me it's quite a spectacular place to look at. He said, "Don't worry, Mr. President. The high is going to be about 9." Laughter But I'm really looking forward to it. Laughter I appreciate so very much, as well, fine Senators from the State of Colorado, Wayne Allard I hope Wayne comes back up there he's needed in Washington, DC and Ben Nighthorse Campbell. I've spent a lot of time with this other Senator, roaming around Iowa. It seemed like everywhere he went, he said, "You know, old Joe owns this 160 acres, and he farms soybeans." And then we'd go down the road a little bit, and he'd say, "That's where Harry lives he farms corn." This guy knows more about agriculture in the State of Iowa and more about Iowa than it could possibly be imagined. He's a fine, fine leader. He's the head of the Finance Committee at one time I'd like to get him back to be the head of the Finance Committee and that's Chuck Grassley. This State has got an excellent Governor. I'm proud to call Bill Owens friend. He knows what he's doing. I think the people of Colorado appreciate his leadership Governor Bill Owens. We've got another Member from the United States Congress with us from the State of Colorado, Tom Tancredo. Thank you for coming, Tom. And finally, on the way to Wyoming, we're going to stop in Utah. Laughter I'm really looking forward to opening the Olympics. It's going to be a magnificent moment for Utah and our great country. And traveling with us today are the two United States Senators from Utah, Senator Bob Bennett and Senator Orrin Hatch. Thank you all for coming. I appreciate being with people who love the land and appreciate open space. I realize there's nobody more central to the American experience than the cowboy. But cattle raising is not only a big part of America's past I view it as an incredibly important part of America's future. This Nation has got to eat. Laughter It's in our national security interests that we be able to feed ourselves. Thank goodness we don't have to rely on somebody else's meat to make sure our people are healthy and well fed. I appreciate so very much the fact that the cattleman usually doesn't spend a lot of time asking something from the Federal Government, except for perhaps lower taxes. But one message that all of us on this stage heard loud and clear was this "Let us pass our assets on from one generation to the next. Let us make sure my son and daughter is able to ranch the land that has been in my family for a long time." I'm proud to report that finally finally enough Members of Congress, including the chairman of the Finance Committee, understood the punitive nature of the death tax, and we've sent it on its way to extinction. But to make sure we finally put it where it belongs, to put the death tax to death, we need your help in making sure the Senate and the House hears that the tax relief we passed last winter must be permanent. One thing I appreciate about cattlemen and the cattlewomen, the families that ranch our land, is the values, the values represented right here in this great hall, the values of hard work, of faith and family, the values reflected in the determined attitude of American cattlemen, values that frankly represent a part of the American spirit, values that are incredibly important for our Nation to uphold during a time of national testing. And make no mistake about it, this Nation is being tested. You know, when the enemy hit us on September the 11th, they must have not figured out what we were all about. See, they thought we weren't determined. They thought we were soft. They obviously had never been to a national cattlemen's convention before. Now what they're finding out is, this great land is determined and patient and steadfast and strong to defend freedom. We've been called into action. History has called this Government and our Nation to action to defend freedom. And make no mistake about it, that's exactly what I intend to do. I intend to find the killers, wherever they may hide, and run them down and bring them to justice. They think there's a cave deep enough. They're wrong. They think they're going to run out of patience. They are wrong. Those who hurt America and those who continue to want to harm America will not be able to escape the long reach of American justice. I'm sure there's many out in the audience today who have got a relative who serves in the United States military. I want to tell you how grateful we are for the sacrifice and the honor the military has brought to the United States. I sent them on a tough mission, and my, have they made us proud. We haven't been at this very long, but we've accomplished a lot in a short period of time. As you remember, I laid out a doctrine for our foreign policy that said, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists." And the Taliban found out what that meant. Our military not only upheld the doctrine, but in so doing, I'm proud to report, we liberated a people. We have freed women and children from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. I'm so proud of the United States military. And we're just beginning. Afghanistan is the first theater in the war against terror. This Nation cannot afford and must not rest until we have done everything in our power to rally our coalition and rid the world of terror. That not only means those who are associated with the terrorist networks of global reach it also means nations which develop weapons of mass destruction aimed at destroying America and attacking our friends and our allies nations that have had, as a result of their past, have shown us clearly that they hate freedom, they hate transparency, they hate rule of law nations which, if they were able to couple their mad designs with global terrorism, would threaten our children and our children's children's future. I will not let it stand, and neither will the United States of America. And so I sent a budget to the United States Congress. I'm proud to report all of them on the stage are with me on this one. It's a budget that increases our monies for security, significantly increases defense spending. Those who wear our uniform deserve the best the best training, the best equipment, another pay raise. The price of freedom is high the price of security is high but this Nation will pay it. I want you to know it's a huge honor to walk in the Oval Office and sit at a great desk in magnificent surroundings. But now my job has changed after 9 11. Every morning, I walk in and read threat assessments to the United States of America. The enemy would still like to hit us, but you need to know that we're doing everything in our power to prevent it. I'm proud to report that the FBI is well managed by a man named Robert Mueller and a great team. We're still interested in spies. We're still after white collar crime. But the primary focus of over 4,000 FBI agents is my primary obligation, which is to protect the American people, protect American families from another enemy attack. We're running down every lead. We're following every hint. We're chasing down every opportunity to make the country safe. I also want you to know that the Nation is developing a homeland security strategy. That's important. It's important not only for the short term, but it's important because after we implement the strategy, America will be better off for the long term. For example, preparing against a bioterrorist attack, we're spending a lot of money to make sure the Nation's health care system can communicate better, public health works better, that there's medicines available if there were to be an attack. Much of the research and development that's going on to make America better secure against bioterrorism could conceivably lead to cures for diseases that have plagued us for a long period of time. We've got money in our budget to make sure our first responders, the heroic policemen and firemen all around the country, have got better equipment and can better communicate. As a result of hardening the homeland against bioterrorist attack with first time responders, our neighborhoods will be ultimately safer for crime. We're making sure our borders are more secure. We want to know who's coming in, and we want to know who's going out. We want to make sure that we do everything we can to be a hospitable nation. On the other hand, we want to make sure if people have overstayed their welcome, that they're welcome to leave. Laughter And we're worried and I talked a lot today to Senator Roberts about this subject, and to Ann Veneman we're concerned about making sure our food supply is safe. We're investing in training and technology at the Department of Agriculture to detect biological and chemical weapons and agents. We're going to have an even swifter response to food contamination. We've tripled the amount of money in the budget to prepare America against the very worst. But you need to know, we're doing everything in our power. We're on alert. We're wise. We're learning more about the enemy. We're looking. But the way to make sure America is secure in the long run is to find them, hunt them down, and get them. And that's exactly what we're going to do. We're going to make sure we do everything in our power to win the war on terrorism. And we're going to defeat the recession, too. I'm deeply concerned about those who lost their jobs as a result of September the 11th. There's a lot of people hurting in the country, and our Government must respond. I appreciate the fact that the Senate passed a bill to extend the unemployment benefits for those who have lost their work, and the House has already done so. It makes a lot of sense for the Government to respond in that kind of way. But the people in America who have lost their jobs, they don't want an unemployment check for the long run they want a paycheck. And the best thing Congress needs to do is ask this question How do we create more jobs? How do we invigorate the private sector to create more jobs so people can find work? I know some of them over there up there decided that the stimulus package is dead. The leadership in the Senate said, "No, we can't get anything done." I respectfully disagree. It seems like to me that we ought to focus on what's best for the country, work together, and get a package which provides stimulus for job creation. We want to take care of the people who lost their work. We also want to invigorate the job creating mechanisms of the United States of America so that people have jobs so they can put food on the table. We can't let politics dominate Washington, DC. We need to set aside our parties and focus on what's right for the country. And part of making sure we've got a healthy economic outlook is to have a healthy agricultural sector. Our farm economy, our ranchers and farmers provide an incredible part of the Nation's economic vitality. I mean, if you're not vital, the Nation's economy will suffer. A lot of Americans have got to understand this, that food and fiber accounted for nearly 1.3 trillion of gross domestic product in the year 2000 1.3 trillion of our economy came from farmers and ranchers and all the people associated with helping people raise crop and raise beef. And so we've got to make sure that our farm economy is strong. The farm economy employs nearly 24 million people. That's a lot. And therefore, when we work on the farm bill in Washington, we must understand that we've got to have a good bill that not only enhances our Nation's security by making sure we've got ample food but that we by having good farm policy, good agriculture policy, we can help create jobs all across America. And so I want to talk to you quickly about the farm bill. One bill passed the House one bill looks like it's getting ready to pass the Senate. It will go to what they call conference, and we're going to work hard to get a good farm bill out. I'm really looking forward to working with Larry Combest and the conferees in the House, as well as looking forward to working with the conferees in the Senate, to get a bill that meets these principles. First, I want farm policy that is generous in our appropriations and affordable. Now, we've agreed that our farm bill should cost 73.5 billion over the next decade. My administration will honor that agreement. I know the folks on this stage will honor that agreement. It looks like that's pretty well settled in, and that's good for the farm sector. But we've got to spend the money without I guess you could call it political gimmickry. You see, what we don't want to have happen is, they take the bulk of that money and spend it early, so that in the out years the farm economy suffers. What we want is to make sure that when the bill is passed, that the 73 billion is spent evenly or relatively evenly over the decade. In other words, to put it bluntly, what we don't want to do is overpromise to farmers and underperform. What we don't want to do is use the taxpayers' money to try to cobble together a loose coalition to get votes early on which will ultimately hurt the agricultural sector of the United States of America. A good farm bill must provide a safety net for farmers without encouraging overproduction and thereby depressing prices. By setting loan rates too high, we could easily worsen a problem that loan rates were supposed to correct. I favor farm policies that strengthen the farm economy over the long run, policies that promote independence. But what I don't want to do is to provide incentives into the marketplace that will hurt farmers. And so we've got to have good loan policy, and I look forward to working with the Members on the stage to provide that. I want a farm bill that supports trade. Oh, I know there's a lot of controversy around America on trade. Let me tell you how I look at it. Our ranchers and farmers are the best in the world at what they do. We can grow crops better we can grow things better and we can raise beef better. And if that's the case, it seems logical to me that we want a more want more opportunity to sell that which we're best at, all around the world. We want people in China eating U.S. beef. No, I know there's some skepticism. People are always saying, "Well, you know, every President comes along and he talks about agriculture, and then when it comes time to negotiating international trade agreements, they seem to forget." Well, so far, our administration hasn't forgotten. I told the people who are interested in this subject when I was campaigning, we were going to make sure agriculture remained at a cornerstone of U.S. economic policy, not only at home but internationally. I sent a team over there, with Ann and Zoellick, to talk to the Chinese. And I just look at the record. There's huge amounts of opportunity for American farmers and ranchers in that vast market. There's been some discussions about world trade, and look at the record The United States stood strong when it came to protecting the agriculture interests. We want to open up markets, and at the same time, we want to make sure others open up their markets for us and to make sure that we open up markets in places like Europe for America's healthy beef. You can help by making sure the Senate hears that message, that the Senate passes a trade promotion bill which gives me the authority to work hard to open up markets all around the world for those who work hard. I need that authority. It's good for America to have that authority. It's also going to be good for the world, because America's great producers will help feed the hungry. I also want to make sure the good farm bill establishes farm savings accounts to help farmers and ranchers manage risks that you run. I understand how risky agriculture can be. It wouldn't be so risky if we could control the weather. That's one of the things we haven't figured out how to do yet. It wouldn't be so risky if we could make it rain all the time there'd be hay to feed the cows. Somehow, that doesn't happen all the time. I know. I sat through the as Governor, I watched the rains go away in the great State of Texas for many of the months in my last years as the Governor. You know, I'm a guy who runs out to my land or thinks about my land, and the first thing I ask old Kenneth who lives on it is, "Did it rain? Where's the water?" But I understand the risks. And there's a risk of price, and the cycles make it difficult. But I think the Federal Government can help mitigate the cycles by giving farmers and ranchers the opportunities to establish what we call farm savings accounts or ranch savings accounts. We'll give you a chance to insure against risk. It makes a lot of sense. I know that Senator Grassley has been a big promoter of farm savings accounts, and we look forward to getting this additional tool to you all to be able to help you help yourselves. A good bill finally will offer incentives for good conservation practices. Let me tell you exactly what I think about the land and how best to manage it. Every day is Earth Day for people who rely upon the land to make a living. The best conservation practices happen because somebody realizes that it's in their benefit, their own economic interest, to practice good conservation in order to raise cows, for example. I was traveling the ranch one time with Vladimir Putin and Mrs. Putin, and we're driving around, showing it off. I'm a windshield rancher. Laughter And they were asking, "Well, can you" I was explaining like I like to cut down trim the new growth cedar, because the new growth cedar sucks out a lot of water from the from the beautiful hardwoods we have. Many of you know exactly what I'm talking about. It enhances the beauty and the value of the land if you can get rid of the new growth cedar. It enables our beautiful native pecans or live oaks to flourish, and that's good for the country. And they said, "Well, you're allowed to cut down your own trees?" I said, "Yes, if you're wise about it." And obviously there are some county restrictions, and of course, I pay attention to all that. But, yes, we laughter we trust people to we trust people to manage their own land. We trust people with their own land. And they said, "Well, that's different in some places in Europe. You can't do that." And I said, "Well, here's what we think in America. We think that the collective wisdom of those who own their land is a benefit to the Nation, that when individuals make proper choices because they own their own property, that all those decisions in a collective way makes better environmental policy, better land use policy than if it was dictated from a central source of people, many of whom have probably never been on the land." And so this farm bill has got to recognize the principle I just outlined and help ranchers and farmers. I strongly favor expanding EQIP program. I think it makes a lot of sense. Good conservation policy in a farm bill will enable ranchers and farmers to make better decisions. It's an important part of the farm bill, and I hope the Senate hears that. And I know the folks on this podium agree, on the stage agree with the principle inherent, and not only in that aspect of a good farm policy but the other four I described. I just want to assure you all that these just aren't opinions of mine these are commitments of mine, commitments to good agriculture policy. And so we're, as a nation, are dealing with some tough times, but I've never been more confident or optimistic. I think it's because I know the true strength of the country, and the true strength of the country is our citizens. We're a land of strong, hard working, compassionate people. I'm asked all the time, "What can I do to help in the war against terror?" Well, you've probably figured it out by now that I don't see many shades of gray in the war on terror. Either you're with us, or you're against us. And it's a struggle between good, and it's a struggle between evil. And if you're interested in fighting evil, do some good. And by that, I mean, show some compassion to a neighbor in need. You know, when people walk across the street to help a shut in, they're doing some good. When people take time to mentor a child, that's doing some good. We've got children whose parents are in prison they wonder, "Gosh, I wonder if America is meant for me?" There's a hopelessness that can creep in their lives. What America needs to do in order to fight evil is to have mentors all across the country who are willing to put their arm around a child and say, "I love you a lot. America counts for you as much as it counts for me." No, if we want to fight good fight evil with good, we can do so in many ways, all across America. My call to America is to help somebody in need. Many of you in this audience have probably either been or are on your school boards. It's a job tougher than being President I understand that. But by helping your public schools or helping any school, it's helping fight evil with good. By being active citizens in your church or your synagogue or, for those Muslims, in your mosque, and adhering to the admission to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself, that's how we can stand up. It is the momentum of millions of acts of kindness that take place all across America. That's how we stand up to evil. And if any country can do it, it is this country, because this is a nation that is loving and strong, compassionate, God fearing, a nation that will not relent when it comes to our most precious value, and that value is freedom. Thanks for having me, and may God bless America. February 07, 2002 President Bush. I'm going to make a statement the Prime Minister will make a statement. We both have agreed we'll answer two questions from both sides. I'll call on somebody the Prime Minister's press aide will call on somebody and that's the way we're going to do it. So it's my honor to welcome a good friend, the Prime Minister of Israel, back to the Oval Office. Mr. Prime Minister, I'm so glad you're here. Welcome back. We just had an extensive discussion, first about our mutual desire to rid the world of terror. I assured him that our Nation is just beginning in a great objective, which is to eliminate those terrorist organizations of global reach. And by doing so, I firmly believe that the world will be a more peaceful place. My most important objective is to protect our homeland. The best way to do so is to rout terrorist organizations where they try to hide and bring them to justice. Secondly, I assured the Prime Minister that we will continue to keep pressure on Mr. Arafat to convince him that he must take serious, concrete, real steps to reduce terrorist activity in the Middle East. We had an interesting discussion about how we can help the Palestinian those who aren't involved with terror. I'm deeply concerned about the plight of the average Palestinian, the moms and dads who are trying to raise their children, to educate their children. My Government is I've got 300 million in the budget to go through NGOs to help Palestinians be able to realize a better life. And finally, we had a good discussion about how best to work together to get the Mitchell process started, to get into Tenet and then in Mitchell. In other words, that we had wide ranging discussions not only about international terror but security, about economic development for the Palestinians, as well as for the desire to achieve to get into Mitchell so that there can be some long lasting peace in the region. And so, Mr. Prime Minister, I appreciate the candid discussion. I appreciate your friendship, and I want to welcome you back. Prime Minister Sharon. Thank you, Mr. President. I was very glad to be again at the White House. We had discussions about strategic issues in the region. We talked about the need to fight terror and not to get into compromise with terror one cannot get into compromise with terror. At the same time, we discussed steps that should be taken in order to improve the life conditions of those Palestinians that are not involved in terror. That's my intention. It was always my intention. And of course, we'll try and see what can be done. And altogether, I think that we can look forward with optimism, though it's not going to be a short struggle against terror. It's a long struggle. But I'm sure that we will win, as I have a real admiration, Mr. President, for the steps that you have been taking against terror in order to defend our values. Q. Mr. President President Bush. Hold on a second. And I'm going to do the calling on who gets the question. He's not through yet. Are you through? Prime Minister Sharon. Is there any questions? President Bush. Yes, there's going to be. Laughter Barry Schweid Associated Press . Laughter I'm the control guy. Laughter Q. I'm new at this. President Bush. Welcome. Laughter You don't look that new to me, Barry. But anyway, please. Q. I did your dad. President Bush. That's right. Situation in the Middle East Q. At this point, sir, is there a point for the U.S. to talk to Mr. Arafat? Is there a point for Israel to talk to Arafat? President Bush. Well, Mr. Arafat has heard from us. I can't be any more clear in my position, and that is that he must do everything in his power to fight terror. Obviously, we were at first surprised and then extremely disappointed when the Karine A showed up loaded with weapons, weapons that could have only been intended for one thing, which was to terrorize. And I made our Government's position about as clear as I could. I couldn't say it any more plainly, and I haven't changed my position. And as to what the Prime Minister's position is, he can answer that. Prime Minister Sharon. I personally, myself, and my Government regard Arafat as an obstacle to peace. Arafat has chosen a strategy of terror and formed a coalition of terror. Therefore, we believe that pressure should be put on Arafat in order, maybe, I hope, to have an authoritative leadership in the future. Q. Mr. President, the Israeli Defense Minister said today that Ms. Condoleezza Rice and also your Vice President Cheney said that they don't trust Arafat, they don't believe any words coming out of his mouth, and there's no point keeping talking to him. Do you think, as those officials, that there is a point to keep talking to him, to be in contact with him? Or do you think it is time to change the phase in the pressure on Arafat? President Bush. Mr. Arafat has heard my message. I can't be any more clear about it, that he must do everything in his power to reduce terrorist attacks on Israel. And that at one point in time he was indicating to us that he was going to do so, and then all of a sudden a ship loaded with explosives show up that most of the world believes he was involved with. And I think it's very important that people realize that this great Nation wants us to get into Mitchell as quickly as possible, but we fully understand that it's difficult to have peace during terrorist times and that our campaign against global terror should help the region. And I am absolutely committed to fighting terror wherever terror exists. And I would hope other leaders do so. And Mr. Arafat has a chance to do so, and my hope is, is that he responds in a positive way. At the same time, I am deeply concerned about the plight of the average Palestinian. I worry about stories and pictures I see of people going hungry and children not being educated and deep concerns etched on the faces of moms and dads who happen to be Palestinian. And my Government we've discussed this openly with the Prime Minister, and as I said, we budgeted money to go through nongovernmental organizations to help. And I think the world understands that there's a lot of folks over there who suffer because of the terrorist activities of a few. Vice President's Upcoming Visit to the Middle East Q. Mr. President, did Iran and Iraq figure in your conversations today with the Prime Minister? And why are you sending Vice President Cheney to the region next month, and particularly the four countries that directly border on Iraq? President Bush. I'm sending the Vice President because, one, he is a key player in our administration, and I want to get feedback from the world, from the world leaders. I want them to see firsthand, as well, our strong intent to fight terror. There's nothing like looking somebody in the eye and letting them know that when we say we're going to fight terror, we mean it. And there's nothing like people getting a sense of the determination of this Government. There's a lot of folks who might have predicted that over time we would grow weary, and we'd get tired, and we'd kind of get faint of heart. The Vice President can deliver the message to many important world leaders that our Government is absolutely committed to fighting terror, and we expect people to join us in doing so. As I said, either you're with or you're against us. And we fully understand that in order to be effective in our fight against terror, that we need others to join us. And so the Vice President, I think, is going to be very effective at convincing at convincing our friends we mean business. And we would hope that they would do everything in their power to shut off money, to deny haven, and to join this grand coalition dedicated to one thing, freedom and peace. As to whether or not we discussed other countries in the region You bet. We discussed a lot of countries in the region, and we've had a very frank and open discussion. Palestinian State Q. President Bush, the Government of Israel decided not to let Chairman Arafat move inaudible . Do you think this decision serves the goal of stability in the Middle East? And one question for you, Prime Minister Sharon. You said a couple of months ago that you want to give the Palestinians a Palestinian state, for the first time. Do you still support the same President Bush. Do you want to go first? Prime Minister Sharon. Yes. I believe that the end of the process first should be the perfect right to be a full cessation of terror and violence and incitement. And then several steps will be taken by the Palestinians, like arresting serious arrest of the terrorists, dismantling terrorist organizations and their infrastructure, collecting their weapons that should be handed to American representatives and destroyed out of the area. Once they would take serious preventive steps and stop completely incitement, then we'll start negotiations. I believe that one day we'll be reaching a peace. Israel is committed to peace. And at the end of the process, I believe that the Palestinian state, of course, will be we'll see a Palestinian state, but only at the end. And the final steps that should be taken in order to start negotiations they cannot be done under terror. We are my role and my Government's role is to defend our citizens against acts of terror. President Bush. We, too, of course, support a Palestinian state, one that's been negotiated by the parties, one that recognizes that Israel has got a right to exist. And Israel will be supportive of their right to self govern. I think that's an ultimate aim that we all have got to work hard to get to. The problem is, there are some that don't want to get there and, therefore, terrorize. My position on Mr. Arafat is clear as of today. I can't be any more clear about what I think he ought to do. And I'm confident if he were to make these strong steps toward reducing terror, it would help the world it would help tell the world that he is fully dedicated toward achieving the objectives that we both described. And it's going to be hard to have a peace process if so long as there's terrorist activity. But we believe strongly that Chairman Arafat needs to put a 100 percent effort to achieve a peaceful some peace, so that we can then get to a political process. And that's very important for us. Listen, thank you all for coming. February 07, 2002 Thank you very much, John. Laura and I are really honored to join you this morning to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Prayer Breakfast. And Admiral Clark, whatever prayer you used for eloquence worked. Laughter I appreciate your message, and I appreciate your service to our great country. I want to thank Jon Kyl and Judge Sentelle for their words and CeCe for your music. I appreciate getting the chance to meet Joe Finley, New York City firefighter. He's a living example of what sacrifice and courage means. Thank you for coming, Joe. I want to thank Congressman Bart Stupak. I really appreciate the fact that my National Security Adviser, Condoleezza Rice, is here to offer prayer. I appreciate the members of my Cabinet who are here. I want to say hello to the Members of Congress. I'm particularly grateful to Lisa Beamer for her reading and for her example. I appreciate her example of faith made stronger in trial. In the worst moments of her life, Lisa has been a model of grace, her own and the grace of God. And all America welcomes into the world Todd and Lisa's new daughter, Morgan Kay Beamer. Since we met last year, millions of Americans have been led to prayer. They have prayed for comfort in time of grief, for understanding in a time of anger, for protection in a time of uncertainty. Many, including me, have been on bended knee. The prayers of this Nation are a part of the good that has come from the evil of September the 11th, more good than we could ever have predicted. Tragedy has brought forth the courage and the generosity of our people. None of us would ever wish on anyone what happened on that day. Yet, as with each life, sorrows we would not choose can bring wisdom and strength gained in no other way. This insight is central to many faiths and certainly to the faith that finds hope and comfort in a cross. Every religion is welcomed in our country all are practiced here. Many of our good citizens profess no religion at all. Our country has never had an official faith. Yet we have all been witnesses these past 21 weeks to the power of faith to see us through the hurt and loss that has come to our country. Faith gives the assurance that our lives and our history have a moral design. As individuals, we know that suffering is temporary, and hope is eternal. As a nation, we know that the ruthless will not inherit the Earth. Faith teaches humility and, with it, tolerance. Once we have recognized God's image in ourselves, we must recognize it in every human being. Respect for the dignity of others can be found outside of religion, just as intolerance is sometimes found within it. Yet for millions of Americans, the practice of tolerance is a command of faith. When our country was attacked, Americans did not respond with bigotry. People from other countries and cultures have been treated with respect, and this is one victory in the war against terror. At the same time, faith shows us the reality of good and the reality of evil. Some acts and choices in this world have eternal consequences. It is always and everywhere wrong to target and kill the innocent. It is always and everywhere wrong to be cruel and hateful, to enslave and oppress. It is always and everywhere right to be kind and just, to protect the lives of others, and to lay down your life for a friend. The men and women who charged into burning buildings to save others, those who fought the hijackers were not confused about the difference between right and wrong. They knew the difference. They knew their duty. And we know their sacrifice was not in vain. Faith shows us the way to self giving, to love our neighbor as we would want to be loved ourselves. In service to others, we find deep human fulfillment. And as acts of service are multiplied, our Nation becomes a more welcoming place for the weak and a better place for those who suffer and grieve. For half a century now, the National Prayer Breakfast has been a symbol of the vital place of faith in the life of our Nation. You've reminded generations of leaders of a purpose and a power greater than their own. In times of calm and in times of crisis, you've called us to prayer. In this time of testing for our Nation, my family and I have been blessed by the prayers of countless of Americans. We have felt their sustaining power, and we're incredibly grateful. Tremendous challenges await this Nation, and there will be hardships ahead. Faith will not make our path easy, but it will give us strength for the journey. The promise of faith is not the absence of suffering it is the presence of grace. And at every step we are secure in knowing that suffering produces perseverance, and perseverance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint. May God bless you, and may God continue to bless America. February 06, 2002 The President. Thank you very much. Gosh, thanks for the warm welcome. It's great to be back in New York City. It's the home of such courage and strength and resolve. It's shown the world and the country what it means to be a community that refuses refuses to back down in the face of evil and terror. I'm proud to be the President of a country where we've got such a fabulous city called New York City. I want to thank the party chairman for his hard work. I want to thank the Lieutenant Governor for being here. She certainly brightens up the stage. Laughter She's smarter than all of us, too. Laughter I want to thank the mayor. I appreciate the mayor taking on the awesome responsibility of being the mayor of this huge city. He could have easily have just continued to run his successful business and said, "What the heck, I'm not interested in serving." But he made a personal sacrifice for the good of the people. And the city is going through tough times, but you made the right decision to have a man who knows how to lead to be your mayor. And I look forward to working with the mayor. George is right we're going to work hard to make sure that New York City gets the help she needs. And it's comforting to me to be able to tell the spenders up in Congress that when we send the money here, it's going to be well managed by Mayor Bloomberg. And I want to thank you all for coming to support my good, close friend George Pataki. He has done a applause . If for no other reason you ought to send him back, it's because, like me, he married well. Laughter But he's got a fabulous record. He has been a breath of fresh air here in New York State. He's done in office what he said he would do. He's a plain speaker and just goes out and does it. Audience members. Like you! Laughter The President. He's one of these candidates who can actually run on his record and be proud of it. Laughter Some of them run away from their record. He's running on it. He's running on a great record. But there's another reason to send him back. As you know, we're in tough times here in America. As I said in my State of the Union, we're at war we're in recession but we've never been stronger. And one of the reasons we're strong is that this important State has got a leader who, in the face of danger, in the face of an emergency, stood strong and steady and was reliable. In tough times, what this State needs is somebody who you can count on, somebody who won't panic, somebody who won't play politics with the situation, somebody who knows how to lead. And that somebody is Governor George Pataki. He's got a good record. He's proven that he knows how to lead. And it also makes sense for New York State to have a Governor whose phone calls will be returned from the White House. Laughter We do have some tough times ahead of us. But you've got to know, I've never been more optimistic about the future than I am right now. I'm optimistic because I know what we need to do. And what we need to do is to make a clear statement and a stand for freedom never relenting, never tiring, and pursuing a grand and noble objective, and that objective is to rid the world of terror. The enemy, in attacking New York City, made a terrible mistake. They must not understand what America's character is like. I like to say they must have been watching too much daytime TV. Laughter They they miscalculated. They thought we were soft. They thought we were so materialistic and selfish that we couldn't think beyond ourselves, that we couldn't think in terms of a grand idea, that we wouldn't cherish freedom to the point where we would fight for it. And that miscalculation has been most notable with the Taliban Government in Afghanistan. I unleashed the mighty United States military on a clear objective. I said that not only would we find the killers and bring them to justice, but if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as a terrorist. There's been some proud moments for this country, nothing more proud for me than to see our military liberate a people liberate women and children from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. Not only are we fighting for justice, we're liberators. We free people so they can realize their potential. This great country is not only tough and resolved, but we stand on principle. And freedom is our principle. We love freedom at the core. And we will not relent we won't relent in our quest to not only make the world more free but to make the world more peaceful. I want you to know I'm a patient man. I don't feel any great anxiety toward achieving objectives on the moment. And therefore, those who think they can hide can't hide long enough. Those who think they can run can't run far enough. We are deliberate. We are patient. But make no mistake about it, we will deliver justice. The country is united, and for that I am really grateful. I appreciate the support of members of both political parties in Washington, DC, for this most important cause, this most important campaign. History has called us into action, and we'll respond. It's our chance to leave a better world. And so I want to tell you that the first theater on the war against terror is going well. But there will be other theaters. So long as the enemy wants to harm us, so long as people believe they can get away with terror, this Nation will lead our vast coalition with firm resolve, dedicated to a peaceful world. The other day I spoke very clearly about some choices countries get to make. I talked about an axis of evil because I firmly believe that nations need to be put on notice that this Nation will not allow our citizens to become threatened, not only by terrorist acts but by nations which develop weapons of mass destruction which could easily or eventually be used against us. We will not be intimidated. I will not allow nations to hold us hostage or our friends and allies hostage. Terror is our mission applause . And so, my fellow citizens, I appreciate our Nation's resolve and understanding and adherence to some important principle. I also want you to know that every morning I walk into the Oval Office and sit at this magnificent desk that had been used by the Roosevelts and by President Reagan by the way, today is his 91st birthday and other leaders and sit down there at the desk and read a threat assessment. It's a summary of the intent of the enemy. And you've got to know that there are still ambitions against us. But I also want to assure you, our great land is doing everything we possibly can to protect our American citizens. We're on alert. The law enforcement agency at the Federal level, the FBI, is now focused on prevention. We're running down every lead we're seeking every opportunity to disrupt potential cells in America we're working overtime. I'm proud of the way our law enforcement officials have responded. You need to know that we are doing my most important job and the most important job of your Government is to protect the American people, and we will do so with all our vigor and all our might. As I said in my State of the Union, I stand in awe of the American people and in awe of the citizens of New York City. This great city refused, absolutely refused, to be intimidated. This city, it stood in defiance of evil. And America watched, and America was impressed, and so was your President. I've been impressed applause . I'm asked all the time by people, "What can I do to help?" You see, as you probably can tell, I don't see many shades of gray in this world. Either you're with us, or you're against us. Either you support evil, or you support good. This great Nation stands on the side of good. And for those who want to help, you can do so by acts of kindness. You can do so by showing compassion to your neighbor. And it doesn't require much. Walking across the street to a shut in to say, "I care for you I hope you're okay," is an act of kindness that will stand in the face of evil. Mentoring a child who can't read is an act of kindness which stands in the face of evil. Saying to a child whose parent is in prison, "America belongs to you just as much as it does to me," is an act of kindness in the face of evil. The gathering momentum of a million acts of kindness and compassion is how America can stand strong in the face of evil. And make no mistake about it, that is how America is responding. I believe out of this great evil will come great good. I believe the world will be more peaceful when we accomplish our mission. And I know our country is beginning to make different kinds of choices. The old culture said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it." Now we've learned a new ethic, and it had to do with Flight 93. When people on that airplane said a prayer, told their wives they loved them, and drove the plane in the ground to save others' lives, we're beginning to get a sense of sacrifice. We saw it here in New York City, where firefighters and policemen rushed into buildings to save others. This Nation is in the process, I believe, of ushering in a period where we said, "Each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life." We're responsible for loving a neighbor like we'd like to be loved ourselves. We're responsible for loving our children. We're responsible for the communities in which we live. No, they hit us, and they're going to pay a terrible price. But as a result, our Nation will be stronger and more compassionate and more decent. It will hold more promise for people who are lucky enough to call themselves Americans. I love being the President of a nation whose strength is not its Government, whose strength is the American people. I'm proud to be here. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. February 06, 2002 Please be seated. Thank you all. It's nice to be back in New York City, and I am so proud to stand here today with New York's finest and New York's bravest. I have a message for you from your fellow Americans Police and firefighters of New York, you have this Nation's respect, and you'll have this Nation's support. The budget that Tom talked about increases the Federal commitment to our Nation's first responders by more than 1,000 percent. It is the right thing to do, and you all are the right to help us continue to fight this war on terror. I want to thank Tom Ridge for taking on a job. He was a good Governor he's a very good Homeland Security Director. I know he comes from Pennsylvania laughter but I'm proud of the job he's doing. He's helping to develop a national strategy that starts with understanding that the best responders and the best response starts at the local level. And the role of the Federal Government is to facilitate the job done at the local level. And so, Governor, thank you so much for taking on this big assignment. I want to thank your Governor. You know, it's very important to have a steady hand, an anchor in the wind, in a time of crisis. I think that's how you determine whether or not somebody knows how to lead. And your Governor showed your State and the country that he is a leader. And I'm proud to call him friend. I hope you're proud to call him Governor. I appreciate your mayor. He's come in with a tough job, but he's going to tackle it with a lot of savvy. And New York made the right decision when they picked Mayor Bloomberg. He's got a lot of financial background he's going to help New York City guide itself. Laughter It's important that you picked somebody who understands numbers over a politician, because he's going to be able to help guide you through this tough period. It's important. I think you made a good choice I really do. And I'm proud to work with him. I want to thank Vito for being here, as well. He's a fine Member of the United States Congress. Vito likes to bring his sister to every event laughter five sisters. Only one of them yelled. Laughter And I want to thank I want to thank Commissioner Kelly. It's good to see you again, Commissioner. I'm proud of your record, proud of your accomplishments. Last week I reported to our Congress that the state of our Union has never been stronger, that despite a war, a recession, despite continuing danger, we are strong, really strong, because our people are strong. And there's no stronger people than the men and women who wear the uniform here in New York. There's no stronger people than those who kind of set the new standard of courage and honor. There's a new ethic in America at least I think one's coming on a new culture, a culture to replace "If it feels good, do it" with one of responsibility, with one defined by those brave words "Let's roll." But that's nothing new for the firefighters and the policemen of New York. That's been your ethic for a long, long time. That ethic's been around here way before September the 11th, and a lot of people are lucky the ethic was around. As you rebuild your ranks, every new recruit walks in the path of heroes. And as a result of some of the courageous action here, not only is a new ethic evolving, but there's some fantastic examples for young recruits to follow. Peter Ganci many of you knew him. He was the highest ranking uniformed officer in the New York Fire Department. His deputy, Michael Regan, saw him for the last time on the morning of September the 11th, after the first building had collapsed and while the second building was still burning. Michael Regan recalled this Peter directed every citizen and every firefighter to go north to safety, and he went south, directly into danger. Let's roll. Brian McDonnell. Or maybe maybe you knew Brian well here. His wife called him a cop's cop. He was a former Army paratrooper. He was known for always putting his colleagues first. September the 11th, he was last seen charging into the South Tower to help his fellow citizens. On the worst day this city has ever known, we saw some of the finest people New York has ever produced. We mourn every loss. We remember every life. But they will not have died in vain. I told our country and I told the world that we don't seek revenge we seek justice. And I want to assure you all, those who have been touched by this terrible tragedy, justice will be meted out. I unleashed the mighty United States military, and they have not let us down. In 5 short months, in a brief period of time, we have completely routed the Taliban. I've said loud and clear, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist," and the Taliban found out what we meant. This is a patient nation. We are a determined nation. We're a nation that will not rest until we have brought justice not only on the Al Qaida killers and governments which support and house them but on terrorism everywhere. Now we must seize the moment. History has called this Nation into action history has given us a chance to defend freedom, to fight tyranny. And that's exactly what this country is going to do. We defend freedom. Not only do we owe it to those whose lives were lost on September the 11th, but we owe it to the living as well. We owe it to our children and our children's children to protect a way of life, to defend freedom, to defend our values, to fight evil. And we will not tire nor will we rest until justice is done. Oh, some around the world may grow weary. Some of them may grow exhausted by our drive for freedom. But not me, not our Government, and not our Nation. I have submitted a budget that recognizes that Afghanistan is only the first theater on the war against terror. We significantly increase the budget for national defense. After all, it is our number one priority. It is the largest increase since the Presidency of Ronald Reagan, whose 91st birthday we celebrate today. His budgets helped rebuild the military power of the United States, and for that our Nation should be grateful. But what was true in his day is true today, that whatever it costs to defend our security and whatever it costs to defend our freedom, we must pay it. I ask Congress to pass this budget. Our men and women who wear the uniform of the United States military deserve the best training, the best equipment, another pay raise, the best support of the United States of America. And for those of you who have a relative who wear the uniform of the United States military the moms and dads, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters on behalf of a grateful nation, I want to thank you very much. I'm fully aware of the task at hand. I know that in order to defend America in the long term, we've got to be successful overseas, that the best homeland defense is to rout out terror wherever it exists. I know that. And I know some of them are going to try to hide in caves, but there is no cave deep enough for us. They're going to try to run, but they can't run forever. They cannot run forever. And in the meantime, until we achieve our objective, no matter how long that takes, we will secure our homeland. I have a great honor of going into the Oval Office as your President. Every morning that I walk in there, I'm thrilled and honored. I take the dog in with me, and she seems to be thrilled and honored too. Laughter I sit down at the fantastic desk it's a desk that the Roosevelts used it's a desk John Kennedy used Reagan used it's a desk I'm honored to use. And the first thing I do is, I look at threats to the United States of America. They're still out there. The enemy still wants to get us. And I want to assure you all we're doing everything in our power to prevent them from doing that, that my main job and the main job of Ridge and the FBI and Kelly and everybody else involved with law enforcement is to protect the American people, is to keep American families safe, that we're pouring all our energy into doing our job, which is the security of the country. We've changed the attitude of the FBI. I mean, we're interested in spies we're more interested in Al Qaida killers. We're going to run down white collar criminals, but our focus is on finding any cell that may exist in our country and getting them. We're going to run down every piece of evidence we find and share it with State and local authorities. We're on the hunt. We're on the hunt, and we're not going to rest. We're just not going to rest. The American people need to know we're doing everything in our power to strengthen the security at home. And we're preparing for we're preparing responses. Yesterday Tom and I went over to Pittsburgh and talked about a bioterrorism response as a part of our homeland security package. We're loading up with medicines. We're going to have the health services communicate better with each other. We're ready we're getting ready. We're doing a better job of securing our border. We're going to figure out who's coming into our country and who's leaving our country, to make sure that people applause . Listen, we're a great nation. We welcome people in. We just want to know why you're here. Laughter And if you're not supposed to be here more than a period of time, then maybe you ought to just go on home. It's important that we have good information so we can secure the homeland. It's important that our airports be secure. And so, we worked with Congress to get a bill out to make air travel more safe. And it's important that we understand that in the first minutes and hours after attack, that's the most hopeful time to save lives. And so that's why we're focusing on the heroic efforts of those first time responders. That's why we want to spend money to make sure equipment is there, strategies are there, communications are there, to make sure that you have whatever it takes, prepared to respond. But the interesting thing about making sure our homeland is more secure is that, as a result of focusing on first responders, neighborhoods will be more safe in the long run. As a result of focusing on bioterrorism, perhaps we'll develop vaccines and medicines and cures for other diseases. As a focus on making sure our health systems talk better, we'll leave behind a better health care system. As a way of making sure that our borders are more secure, we'll have a stronger Coast Guard. And so, the short run, we're focusing on attacks the long run, the country will be better off for the doubling of the homeland security budget that I submitted to the United States Congress. And part of making sure we're secure is to make sure there's economic security for New Yorkers and for the country. Obviously, I'm deeply concerned about the recession, and I understand the shocks to our economy, what 9 11 did. And I'm worried about the fact that many New Yorkers aren't working. And we want them to work. And that's why I am committed to defeating not only terrorists but the recession. These are I want you to know something When I say I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it. I told the people of New York that we will work to provide at least 20 billion to help New York rebuild herself, and that includes money apart from the Victims Compensation Fund. And when I say 20, I mean 20. FEMA is on the spot, and we're now spending a lot of money here to help New York and the emergency side of things. And we need to restore the infrastructure. We need to quickly rebuild the highways. And you know what else we need? We need the Liberty Zone in lower Manhattan. We need to provide job incentive incentive to create jobs in the area that was affected by the attack. Congress needs to put the Liberty Zone, the Liberty Bonds in a stimulus package and get it to my desk so I can sign it for the good of New York City. It is important that New York City be vibrant and strong. It's important when people not only here at home but around the world look at this fantastic city, they see economic vitality and growth. I'm confident we can recover together. It's going to take Federal and State effort. I'm here to tell you the Federal help is coming. You know, I don't know what went through the enemy's mind when they attacked us. I think they thought we were soft. I like to needle them by saying they must have been watching too much daytime TV. Laughter They probably thought that, oh, we'll attack, and we'll just kind of roll over, gnash our teeth a little bit, wring our hands, mourn for the dead, and forget. Boy, they really miscalculated. See, they don't understand America. They don't understand us. We're understanding more about ourselves as a result of what went on. We understand heroism. We understand now what it means to recite a prayer, tell your wife, "I love you," on the phone, and drive a plane in the ground to save others' lives. We're beginning to understand more about sacrifice, personal responsibility. See, I believe out of this terrible evil can come some great good. I believe there's a better understanding of the sacrifice the policemen and firefighters make, and that's good for America. I believe there is a different culture evolving, one that says each of us need to be responsible for the decisions we make each of us ought to love a neighbor like we'd like to be loved ourself. There's a different culture evolving as moms and dads now understand their most important job is to love their children with all their heart and all their soul. People ask me all the time, "What can I do to help fight terror, fight the evil ones?" Well, I believe since this is a struggle between evil and good, the best way to do it is to do some good in your neighborhood, is to mentor a child who may be lost, is to help a shut in, is to walk across the street to a neighbor in need and say, "What can I do to help you?" Many of you are already doing that, by loving the widows and the children of those who lost their life. It's these thousands and millions of acts of kindness all across America on a daily basis that define the character of our Nation. The way you fight evil is with millions of acts of good. It's the cumulative effect of the heart and soul of America that stands tall against the evil ones. Not only will we prevail militarily in the long run, but we will have overcome evil by being a nation that is more compassionate, more decent, more loving to our fellow citizens. I'm so proud of how America has responded. I'm proud of New York City and the strength and character you have shown. I loved it when our pilots found on some of the munitions this simple sign, "I Love New York." America loves New York. We love your strength. We love your resolve. We've loved your courage in the face of incredible difficulty. Keep on, and my God bless you all. February 05, 2002 Voluntarism Q. Mr. President, Dick Armey today came out against your volunteer program, saying it's not the Government's business to teach Americans charity. What's your response to that? The President. I think the country needs to provide opportunities for people to serve. Expanding AmeriCorps, expanding Senior Corps it's a good way for Americans to fight evil, and there's all kinds of opportunities. Senior Corps is one opportunity AmeriCorps is one church, synagogue, or mosque programs are another. As I said in my speech, if you don't know where to serve your 2 years of public service or 4,000 hours over the rest of your lifetime, here's a really good opportunity. Q. Is his opposition does that threaten the program, threaten The President. No, I don't think so. I think Congress understands that we need to provide opportunities for teachers to teach in the inner city schools and seniors to provide homeland defense volunteer activities. The key thing, the key point I was making in my speech is that many in the country are asking how they can help, how they can help fight terror. And one way to do so is through acts of kindness and compassion and decency. And the good news is, a lot of Americans are responding. Enron Pension Reform Q. Mr. President, Senator Hollings yesterday asked for a special counsel to investigate your administration's relations with Enron. How do you feel about that, sir? The President. I feel like Congress needs to pass my pension reform legislation I sent up there. I sent up a good piece of legislation that will help protect workers, and they ought to get after it and respond to that. Listen, this is a business problem, and my Justice Department is going to investigate. And if there's wrongdoing, we'll hold them accountable for mistreatment of employees and shareholders. Q. You don't see a need for a special counsel? The President. I see a need for laws, and I see a need for a full investigation, and that's what we're providing. The Justice Department is gathering information, and we're going to determine whether there was any wrongdoing. And if there is, there will be consequences. In the meantime, I've sent up pension reform legislation that Congress needs to get after. It's a good piece of legislation, it will help workers, and we ought to do it now. Thank you, all. February 05, 2002 Thank you very much. Thanks for that warm welcome. It's great to be back in Pittsburgh. Never did I think I'd come back and say, "America is under attack." Never did I dream I'd come back to this beautiful city and say, "We've got to be on alert." But here I am, and that's what I'm saying. I walk in the Oval Office every morning and by the way, walking in the Oval Office is a fabulous experience. Laughter It's unimaginable. I can't tell you what an honor it is. It is it's great. It is a beautiful office. I get there early in the morning. Spot, the dog, goes with me. Laughter I don't let Barney go. Got a brand new rug, so he doesn't get to go. Laughter But I sit at this magnificent desk. It's a desk that was used by President Roosevelt, President Kennedy, and President Reagan. And I read threats to the United States of America. Every morning, I'm reminded that my most important job is to make our country secure, is to protect the homeland of the United States of America. And that's what I want to talk to you all about today, how best to protect the homeland. The best way to start to do so is to pick a good general, somebody who knows how to organize, somebody who's tough, somebody who's smart, and somebody who can articulate the issues we face. And I found a good one right here in Pennsylvania in your former Governor. I've also got a great team, a wonderful team of Americans who are there to serve something greater than their own self interests. Not only do I have a great foreign policy team, I've got a wonderful domestic policy team. And one of the key members of that team is a former Governor, friend of mine, who is doing a fabulous job, and that's Tommy Thompson of Health and Human Services. I'm sorry your current Governor couldn't be here, but he's giving his budget address. I completely understand why he's not here. But I also want to thank him publicly for his work in coordinating the antiterrorist activities of the State of Pennsylvania the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the Federal Government. He's doing a fine job, and you need to be proud of his efforts and his desire to make Pennsylvania as safe a place as possible. I also want to thank two Members of the United States Congress who are here one Democrat, Mike Doyle one Republican, Melissa Hart. The reason I bring them up with their party affiliations is there is no difference, as far as I can tell, in Washington, DC, about love for country. You don't have to be a Republican to love the country or a Democrat to love the country. We all love our country. And one of the healthy things that I think is beginning to happen in Washington, DC, is we're beginning to recognize that it's time to put aside partisan differences and focus on what's best for America and do what's right for our citizens. So I want to welcome you both here. Thank you. I also want to thank those who have briefed us on some of the innovative work that is going on here at the University of Pittsburgh as well as with Carnegie Mellon, Mike Wagner and Andrew Moore. They gave us a fascinating presentation of a program I'm going to explain briefly in a second. I appreciate D.A. Henderson, the Director of the Office of Public Health Preparedness, who's traveled from Washington with us. D.A., where are you? Thank you for coming, D.A. D.A.'s got a big job. His job is to take some of the interesting things that have been developed in places such as Pittsburgh and make sure they're duplicated around the country, make sure others go to school on what you've done at this school, so that America is safe as it can possibly be. I also want to welcome Tony Fauci here of the NIH. Tony, thank you for coming. Tony does a fabulous job at the NIH. He represents a very important part of the research and development arm of the United States. We've significantly boosted the NIH budget, not only to help fight the war against terror but also to help fight the war against disease. And I'm proud of the efforts of our NIH folks, and thanks for coming, Tony. I want to thank Mark Nordenberg for letting us come. It kind of strains the resources when the President shows up, I fully understand. But thanks, Mark, for letting us use your beautiful campus. And Jared Cohon as well, from Carnegie Mellon, thank you for greeting us and briefing us today. And Arthur Levine, I want to thank you as well. You did a fine job of explaining what's going on. And I look forward to kind of sharing some of that with the American people. Homeland defense takes many forms. One, of course, is to secure our borders, to make sure we understand who's coming in and out of our country. Part of making sure America's safe is to have as good information as possible about what takes place in our ports of entry. That's why I spent a little time in Maine the other day, talking about how we're going to boost the presence of the Coast Guard, for example, to make sure our border and our homeland is secure as possible. Part of having a secure homeland is to have a good airport system that's safe for people to travel, an airport system that is inspecting bags by inspectors who are qualified to inspect bags. Part of a homeland defense is to have good intelligence sharing between the Federal, the State, and the local level. Part of homeland security is to have a first responders mechanism that's modern and current. And part of homeland security is to be prepared to fight any kind of war against bioterror, and that's what I want to spend some time talking about today. Some of us remember that back in the fifties we had what was called the DEW line on the Arctic Circle, to warn us if enemy bombers were coming over the North Pole to attack America. Well, here in Pittsburgh, I had the honor of seeing a demonstration of the modern DEW line, a real time outbreak and disease surveillance system, developed right here, which is one of the country's leading centers on monitoring biological threats. What we saw was how to take real data on a real time basis to determine if there was a outbreak of any kind, including a terrorist attack. The best way to protect the homeland is to understand what's taking place on the homeland, so we can respond. And so the modern day DEW line, to me, was fascinating. And I appreciate those who have worked so hard to come up with a incredibly useful tool for America, a useful tool to protect ourselves. I also appreciate the fact that the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon Institute launched what's called a biomedical security institute to help protect the Nation in all ways from the insidious biological attack. You know, I've come to realize, having spent some time in Pittsburgh and particularly after hearing the briefings today, that while Pittsburgh used to be called "Steel Town," you need to call it "Knowledge Town." There's a lot of smart people in this town, and I'm proud to report to my fellow citizens, they're working in a way to make America safe. A lot of the money, obviously, comes from the State Government, and for that we are grateful. But the Federal Government has a role to play, as well. I'm proud to say the Department of Defense, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Department of Health and Human Services all provide financial support to the Biomedical Security Institute. But as you can tell from reading the newspapers and tell from my hopefully, if you listened to my State of the Union Address, I have made the homeland security a top budget priority. And I ask Congress to respond in a positive way to this request. For example, we're asking for 1.6 billion. This is additional money for State and local governments to help hospitals and others improve their ability to cope with any bioterror attack. One, it's important to be able to recognize what's happening, and secondly, we've got to respond, respond in a modern way, a way that will help the American people survive any attack if it were to come. I want to make sure that each region around the country has the proper equipment and the right amount of medicine for the victims of any attack, should it occur. We've got to upgrade our communications, not only between the Federal Government and the State government but between State governments and local communities and between counties and local jurisdictions. We've got to be able to talk to each other better, so that there's real time communications, so that we can share information in a crisis. Information sharing will help save lives. And so part of the money is to bring our systems up to speed, to make them more modern and more responsive. The budget also adds 2.4 billion to develop new test protocols and new treatments for bioterror weapons. We were able to save lives during the anthrax outbreak, but some infections were identified too late, and some people were too badly infected to save. We must do everything in our power, everything to protect our fellow Americans. We need better testing, better vaccines, and better drugs if America is going to be as safe as it can possibly be. And there's some hopeful news. Scientists tell us that research we do to fight bioterrorism is likely to deliver great new advances in the treatment of many other diseases, such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, malaria, and HIV AIDS. The monies we spend to protect America today are likely to yield long term benefits, are likely to provide some incredible cures to diseases that many years ago never thought would be cured. It's an investment that will pay off not only for better security but for better health. And I ask Congress to support me on spending this money. We're also going to expand our Nation's stockpile of antibiotics and vaccines. We're going to have more of these important antibiotics and vaccines readily available. By the end of the current fiscal year, we'll have enough antibiotics on hand to treat up to 20 million people for anthrax, plague, and other bioterrorist diseases. We're preparing for the worst. We'll provide funds to States to make sure they can distribute medicines swiftly. And we're also going to expand our bioterror intelligence service. During the Korean war, we created what was called an Epidemic Intelligence Service to help defend America if any of our cold war enemies tried to use bioweapons against us. Now we need to adapt the EIS to a new era and to a new mission. We'll make the commitment to expand and modernize the service and to work with scientists in this country and friendly nations around the world. All in all, my budget will commit almost 6 billion to defend ourselves against bioterrorism as Tom mentioned, an increase of over 300 percent. It's money that we've got to spend. It's money that will have a good impact on the country. It's money that will enable me to say that we're doing everything we can to protect America at home. But I want to remind you all, the surest way to protect America at home is to find the enemy where it hides and bring them to justice. The surest way to protect America is to unleash the mighty arm of our United States military and find the killers, wherever they hide, and rout them out and bring them to justice. History has called us into action, here at home and internationally. We've been given a chance to lead, and we're going to seize the moment in this country. As we've mentioned more than once, what we do here at home is going to have lasting impact for a long time. And I want to tell you what we're doing abroad is going to have lasting impact, as well. I view this as an opportunity to secure the peace for a long time coming. I view this as a struggle of tyranny versus freedom, of evil versus good. And there's no in between, as far as I'm concerned. Either you're with us, or you're against us. Either you stand for a peaceful world for our children and our grandchildren, either you're willing to defend freedom to its core, or you're going to be against the mighty United States of America. I truly believe that by leading the world, by rallying a vast coalition, by holding people accountable for murderous deeds, the world will be a more peaceful place for our children and our grandchildren. And I'm honored, and I'm proud to report this country understands what I just said. We are patient we're deliberate. Oh, I know the news media likes to say, "Where's Usama bin Laden?" He's not the issue. The issue is international terror. I like our chances against bin Laden, however. Laughter There's no cave deep enough for him to hide. He can run, and he thinks he can hide, but we're not going to give up until he and every other potential killer and every other body who hates freedom will be brought to justice. You know, the enemy hit us, and they said, "Oh, this great country is going to wilt. They're not great. They're weak." I like to needle them by saying they must have been watching too much daytime TV. Laughter They got the wrong impression of America, because quite the opposite is happening. We're unified we're focused we are deliberate we're patient. We're certain of our values and sure of the need to defend freedom. And for that, the enemy is going to pay a serious price. You know, I'm asked all the time here at home, "What can I do to help?" Well, when I look out and see the docs, every day you show up for work you're helping, by helping develop some antibiotic or perhaps helping some poor person who can't afford health care. The reason I bring that up is because I think the way to fight off evil is to do some acts of goodness. See, the great strength of the country is the hearts and souls of our fellow Americans. And the best way to declare our position, the best way to make our position known to the world, is through what I like to call the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and compassion and decency, acts of compassion and decency which take place on a daily basis, in all kinds of ways. People say, "How can I help?" Well, just walk across the street and tell a shut in you love her, and what can you do to visit, to make her day complete? Or how about mentoring a child in a school and teaching that child how to read? Maybe if you're interested in helping fight the war on terror, you should become a mentor to a child whose mother or dad may be in prison, so that child can have somebody put their arm around them and say, "I love you. In America, it belongs just as much to you as it does to me." Now, there's all kinds of ways to join this war against terror. And it starts by Americans leading with their heart. There's no doubt in my mind we'll make the right decisions here at home. There is no doubt in my mind that the United States will prevail in the war of terror. And there's no doubt in my mind that out of the incredible evil that was done, great goodness will come, and America will be better off for it. May God bless you all. February 04, 2002 Thank you all. Please be seated. Thank you very much. I appreciate your warm welcome. It is an honor to be here with the men and women who wear our uniform. It's an honor to be at Eglin. And it's appropriate that I was delivered to your door on an Air Force jet. I not only want to thank all of you who wear our uniform, I want to thank your families as well. I understand that military life makes a lot of demands on those who serve, and I also understand the family's sacrifice. And for that, your Nation is grateful. Every family member here today can be certain that our Nation's cause is right, and our Nation's cause is just. You can be sure of something else In this war against terror, the forces of freedom will prevail. I always enjoy coming to States which have a great Governor. Enough said. Laughter It's clear that both of us were listening to our mother. Laughter My advice to all you youngsters out there is Listen to your mother. Laughter Right, Buddy? I'm also honored to be here with Ched Bob. As you know, I like nicknames. I never heard a general called Ched Bob before. Laughter But General, thank you for your leadership. I also want to thank General Lyles and General Stogsdill, as well, for their leadership for our country. I'm proud of the men and women who wear the uniform. And I'm proud we've got some of the finest finest Americans who are leading our brave troops, including General Hester. I also want to thank Congressman Miller. Congressman Miller flew down with me today on Air Force One. He's a young Congressman he just got up there. But I can assure you one thing When it comes to supporting the men and women in the military, you've got a strong supporter in Jeff Miller. Not only am I pleased to be with so many from Eglin, I'm also pleased to be from men and women and families from the headquarters of the Special the Air Force Special Operations Command in Hurlburt applause the quiet professionals. You don't sound so quiet today, however. You perform with daring and dedication. You've made an impression on the enemy. You've given the terrorists around the world their first glimpse at their fate. The 16th Special Operations Wing has a motto "Any Time, Any Place." You spend every day training, testing, and preparing for any mission that may come. It makes me feel good to be the Commander in Chief of people who train hard for any mission that may come. You perform your missions with success and with honor, and you've made America proud. I understand that one young man has returned from the war zone in time for the birth of twins. My congratulations to Staff Sergeant Christopher Avery and Erica. Staff Sergeant, you can take it from the Commander in Chief and a father of twins You're going to be a busy man. Laughter Our military has a new mission for the 21st century. It came suddenly, but you were ready. The 919th Special Operations Wing is part of a tremendous fighting force that assembled across the world in a matter of weeks. You destroyed Afghans' terrorist training camps and freed a country from brutal oppression. Our military not only proved themselves on the battlefield, but our military were liberators, freeing women and children, giving them a chance to breathe the fresh air of freedom. For that, I'm so grateful and proud. When America was attacked, our men and women in uniform felt it in a personal way. A reporter asked an Air Force pilot if he had any direct connection to the victims of September the 11th. The pilot replied, "I think we all do. They were Americans." That's how we all felt. When you strike one American, you strike all Americans, and you can expect to hear from us. The terrorists are beginning to realize they picked the wrong enemy. As I like to put it, they must have been watching too much daytime TV. Laughter They thought we were soft. They thought we would roll over. My oh my, they haven't got us figured out. But they're beginning to understand us. You see, we're a patient and deliberate people. We are absolutely resolved to find terrorists where they hide and to root them out one by one. Some people may grow weary, but not me and not you. History has called us into action, and we will not stop until the threat of global terrorism has been destroyed. This message has been made clear to the enemy. It has been made clear to the world. It has been made clear to those who think they can harm America. And that message is being delivered by the finest military ever assembled, the United States military. In a short period of time, we're making great progress. It hasn't been all that long ago that I called the military into action. I know it seems a long time for many of the family members. But when history looks back, we haven't been at this for very long, but we're making huge progress. We've built a fabulous coalition of many nations in every region of the world. They know that in this conflict there is a choice to make Either you're with us, or you're with the terrorists either you're with freedom and justice, or you're on the side of tyranny and oppression. And the good news is, civilized people everywhere are taking the side of freedom and justice. Our first objective in the first theater against the war against terror has been achieved the Taliban are out of business. They're gone, and the people of Afghanistan don't miss them one bit. A few months ago, some warned that military action would cause an uprising in the streets. Well, when we defeated that brutal regime, people did take to the streets, but they came out to celebrate. They came out to express their joy. They came out to cheer the fact that their oppressors had left and freedom had returned. And we're working on our next objective. And that's to run down the Al Qaida and the rest of the terrorists and maybe give them a free trip to Guantanamo Bay. This will take time. It's going to take a while. The American people understand that, and for that, I'm grateful. And you need to know, I'm a patient man. I don't have a set calendar. All I know is, we've got them on the run. And we're after people who, on the one hand, send kids to suicide missions, and on the other hand, try to bury deep inside some cave. But there's no cave deep enough. There's no place they can hide long enough for the long arm of American justice to find them and get them. Afghanistan is only the first step, the beginning of a long campaign to rid the world of terrorists. We're just starting. In the caves they ran from, we found evidence of more plans to attack us. And while we're on alert at home and doing everything we can to protect innocent life in America, the surest way to defend America, the surest way to make sure our children grow up in a peaceful and free society, is to be relentless in our pursuit of those who would harm America, those who hate freedom, and bring them to justice. We believe that they've trained thousands of killers, and they view the entire world as a battlefield. And that's why we're not going to quit, and that's why we're going to rally the nations of freedom, and that's why we're going to protect the American people. Another objective is to prevent regimes that sponsor terror from threatening America or our friends and allies with chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons. We must be deliberate as a nation. But time isn't on our side. Terrorist states and terrorist allies are an axis of evil, seeking weapons of mass destruction. But I've put them on notice The United States of America will not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most destructive weapons. It is now up to them to change their behavior. It is now up to them to join peaceful nations, but they're on notice they're on notice. And this cause, this historic moment, this great opportunity to fight for freedom and to promote the peace for the long term requires a strong military. And we must keep it strong with new investments in equipment, and we must keep it strong by attracting and retaining the best and the brightest in our country. We're learning a lot about modern warfare in the first theater, Afghanistan. We're learning about weapons and how to use them better. It's proof that in this first phase, that expensive precision weapons not only defeat the enemy but spare innocent lives. And the budget I submit makes it clear we need more of them. We need to be agile and quick to move. We need to be able to send our troops on the battlefields in places that many of us never thought there would be a battlefield. We need to be agile and mobile. And therefore, we need to replace aging aircraft and get ready to be able to defend freedom with the best equipment possible. Our men and women deserve the best weapons, the best equipment, and the best training. And therefore, I've asked Congress for a one year increase of more than 48 billion for national defense, the largest increase in a generation. We need one other thing. As I said, we need to recruit and retain the best. This budget I submitted has another military pay raise for those who wear the uniform. We're unified in Washington on winning this war. One way to express our unity is for Congress to set the military budget, the defense of the United States, as their number one priority and fully fund my request. The budget I submit recognizes the vital role the military will play and recognizes we have only one alternative, and that is victory. One of the great honors I have is the opportunity to work with people in our military, from the troops to the former pilot who serves as the Secretary of Defense, Don Rumsfeld, my administration's matinee idol for the seniors. Laughter I've also appointed an Air Force general as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. And he brings to the job great discipline and duty and service above self. I'm proud of General Myers. The Air Force has a great ethic, a family ethic. You stick together you take care of your own and you bring out the best in each other. And you know the stakes of this cause. Our enemies want every person on Earth to live in tyranny or live in fear. We seek a world that lives in peace and freedom. And you know what? There's no doubt in my mind, we're going to prevail. In the months and years to come, our Nation will be asking much of the Air Force and every branch of our military. You have my confidence, because you've earned it. You earn it every day in the difficulties you accept and the dangers you face. You're each here to serve your country, and your country is grateful. You're here because you believe in America, and America believes in you. God bless. February 01, 2002 President Bush. I want to welcome our close friend His Majesty, from the country of Jordan, back to the Oval Office. We have had a chance to visit several times during the course of my tenure as the President, and every visit has been very constructive and very positive. I appreciate so very much his support on our mutual concerns about making the world more peaceful, our desire to rout out terror. And Your Majesty, thank you for your strong support. I also look forward to having a good discussion with His Majesty about how we can work together to improve both our economies. King Abdullah is serious about his desire to improve the lot of his people and wants to make sure that whatever we do, we do together with one thing in mind, and that is to extend our mutual prosperity so people can make a living and have a better life. I appreciate so much his compassion for the people of Jordan. Every time I've talked to him, he's expressed his concern to make sure that the moms and dads of Jordan have got a capacity to provide for their children. I look forward to also discussing his desire to make sure that we share our strategies about how to make sure both our people are educated in a way that will provide a hopeful future. So, Your Majesty, welcome back to the Oval Office, and I'm glad to have you here, sir. King Abdullah. Thank you very much, Mr. President. As always, it's a tremendous honor and pleasure to be back to see you. As you've said, our meetings have been growing in strength and cooperation every time that we have met. It is really such an important relationship between our two countries. Not only have we been able to work with you on improving the economic situation in Jordan, as you've just mentioned, but equally as important, you've been so kind to listen to our views on the area and the region, and we're very grateful for your effort. And I know, Mr. President, where your heart is on many of the regional issues to try and bring peace and stability to the area. And we're very grateful for your vision in that and for your courage and determination to really bring a better world in our part of the Middle East. President Bush. Thank you. We'll answer a couple of questions. Situation in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, good morning. Prime Minister Sharon spoke yesterday about his sorrow not to eliminate President Arafat in Lebanon, as if it was a mistake he would like to correct now. Do you have any comment on Mr. Sharon's sorrow? President Bush. Yes. I think the best way to peace is for us all to keep the focus on what derails peace, and what derails peace is terror. And the more quickly we eliminate terror, the more likely it is we'll have a peaceful resolution in the region. And that's all I want to comment on the situation. Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Axis of Evil Daniel Pearl Q. Mr. President, first, real quickly, to Your Majesty. Do you think there is The President. You want two questions Q. Only one each. The President. Okay, in that case Q.Real quickly, sir, Your Majesty, do you think there is an evil axis in the world, and is Iraq part of it? And Mr. President, what are you doing or what can you do about the Wall Street Journal reporter who is hostage in Pakistan? King Abdullah. Well, sir, after the September 11th tragedy, I think it's very obvious that there are those that are on the side of good, those that are on the side of bad, and there's some countries in the middle that haven't made up their minds. I think that the policy of the United States and the rest of us have been to be very clear to everybody on which side you want to choose, and that the President has been very articulate from the beginning of the 11th of September that there is a new world, there's a new expectations of how countries are supposed to react, and those countries better make up their minds pretty quickly. And I endorse tremendously that view and that position. President Bush. I talked to the FBI Director this morning, Ron, about the American who is in Pakistan being evidently held against his will. We are working with the Pakistani Government to chase down any leads possible. For example, we're trying to follow the trail of the e mails that have been sent, with the sole purpose of saving this man, of finding him and rescuing him. We've been in touch with the Wall Street Journal, and obviously we're deeply concerned, as is the Pakistani Government. And we will continue to do everything we can to rescue him. Q. You said you have talked to the Journal or your people have? President Bush. The FBI Director did. Q. Mr. President, have you abandoned efforts of pursuing a peaceful dialog with Iran and North Korea? President Bush. No, of course not. My hope is I said in my speech, I hope nations hear our call and make right decisions. A wrong decision will be to continue to export weapons of mass destruction. And I certainly hope that North Korea, for example, listens to what we suggested, and that is, they pull back some conventional weaponry to make a clear declaration of their peaceful intentions on the Peninsula and that they not export weapons. We would be more than happy to enter a dialog with them if that would be the case. All the three countries I mentioned now are on are now on notice that we intend to take their development of weapons of mass destruction very seriously. It's not just "we" I'm talking about other nations that respect the rule of law and freedom. And I look forward to having this discussion with our friend King Abdullah. He has obviously made a very clear statement about his understanding of what it takes to bring peace and order to the world. But having said that, all options are on the table as to how to make America and our allies more secure. Situation in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, what are the future plans that steps that the United States is planning to take to restore calm and enhance peace in the Middle East? President Bush. Well, the first thing is, Mr. Arafat has to make a has to show the world that he is willing to join our fight against terror. I felt like we were making pretty good progress, up until the time when we discovered, the world discovered, that there had been a significant shipment of arms ordered from Iran for only it seemed like to us, only one purpose, and that is to prevent is for terrorist purposes. And we can't let that stand. And frankly, that's in total contrast to what he assured us, not only through his decisions at Oslo but verbally, that he would help us fight against terror. Mr. Arafat must lead. Q. Mr. President, what kind of help do you expect from Mr. Arafat if he's actually under house arrest? And second, what do you think of Mr. Sharon's policy of destroying the infrastructure of the Palestinian Authority and possibly the removal of Mr. Arafat from office? Do you really think of the post Arafat era? President Bush. I think what we need to do is to fight terror on all fronts in the Middle East, so that at some point we can get into the Tenet and then Mitchell accords. There is a plan for peace, but it starts with a full focused effort to fight terror. And Mr. Arafat must do a better job. We believe he can do a better job, and he must do a better job of doing so. Little Stretch David Gregory, NBC News . Daniel Pearl Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Just to follow up on the situation with the Wall Street Journal reporter, do the Pakistanis are they familiar with the group holding him? President Bush. No, according to the press, they're not according to my information, they're not necessarily familiar with the group. On the other hand, we have some leads, for example, the e mail e mails could provide a lead and we're chasing them down. We're very concerned about the Wall Street Journal reporter. We are in touch with the Pakistani Government. We're in touch with the Wall Street Journal, and we've got both the you know, our agencies in the area actively involved in trying to rescue him. Federal Reserve Stimulus Package Q. Can I just follow on another point? Given the Fed's decision not to act The President. Given the Q. I'm sorry, the Fed's decision not to act on interest rates here a couple of days ago President Bush. Oh, the Fed a new subject, okay, go. Laughter I'm kind of "the Feds," and we're acting in terms of Pakistan. I got you. Laughter Q. I'm trying a Fournier. President Bush. But it's not quite as subtle as Fournier. See, Fournier is good about it because he actually addresses the two questions to two people. You're now going with the it's a sole two question, and it's a very it's brazen, but go ahead. Laughter Q. It is a stretch President Bush. I'm very impressed. It is a stretch Little Stretch. Laughter Q. If I could remember what I was going to ask laughter given what the Fed said and the growth numbers for the fourth quarter, are you as convinced that a stimulus package is still needed? President Bush. One thing I'm I believe we're still not out of our economic problems. We've still got problems. The economy is still soft. Too many people aren't working. There's not enough job creation. And I believe, like I said in the State of the Union, we need a stimulus package. Until Americans can find steady work, I am going to be relentless in my desire to enhance economic growth, and that means jobs. And we've got to work with Congress to figure out how to enhance economic vitality. There are some positive numbers, but not enough positive numbers to satisfy me. February 01, 2002 President Bush. Thank you all. Please be seated. Thank you. It is rare that a fellow can give two 50 minute addresses in the same week. Laughter I knew you'd be thrilled. Laughter J.C., thanks for those kind words, and thanks for your leadership. One of us didn't get the dress code right. Laughter Audience member. You didn't get the memo. President Bush. Yes, I didn't get the memo. Laughter At any rate, I'm delighted to be here I am. First, I want to say something about the leaders of the two bodies represented here. Your Speaker and the majority leader I call him majority leader are two really good men to work with. I have loved my experience working with Denny and Trent last year. I really enjoy the candid discussions. But most importantly, what I really appreciate is the desire to work together to do what's right for the country. We're lucky to have two such strong and good men leading the country. And so it's an honor to be with the Speaker and Senator Trent Lott. And I look forward to a fabulous year working with the two men in 2002. I think this is going to be a great year I do. I've never been more optimistic about anything in my life. In the Oval Office there's a painting by a friend of mine named Tom Lea. And when you come in the Oval Office, you'll notice it's the western looking painting right by the door where Logan used to sit. By the way, this is Logan's last day working for me, which is I didn't fire him he voluntarily left. But anyway, if you were to work where Logan used to be, there's a painting that shows a great expanse of west Texas. It is the the guy who painted the painting was the person who wrote the quote I used at the end of the convention, which I'm sure most of you have memorized by now. Laughter It says, "Sarah and I live on the east side of the mountain. It is the sunrise side, not the sunset side. It is the side to see the day that is coming, not to see the day that is gone." It's so important for a President to see a day that is coming, that is positive. And I do. In clear and vivid ways, I see a day that is much better for not only America and Americans but the world. We have an historic opportunity to fight a war that will not only liberate people from the clutches of barbaric behavior but a war that could leave the world more peaceful in the years to come. None of us asked for this war. None of us wished that what happened on September the 11th happened, and we continue to pray for the victims. But now that it's happened, this Nation is ready to seize the moment. And I'm so proud that the people in this room and on this podium understand the historic opportunity we have, and I want to thank you for joining this most noble and just cause. We fight for freedom, and we stand for freedom, and we won't relent until we defend freedom at its core. And that's why the budget I sent up there has got a significant increase in defense spending, because we owe it to the defenders of freedom to give them the best equipment, the best housing, the best training, and another pay raise. Now in my speech, I tried to educate the American people about what we're up against. I talked about the fact that thousands of people had gone through Al Qaida killer camps, and they're still roaming around. And so long as they're roaming around with the intention of hurting us, this Nation will hunt them down. I've been traveling the country, as you know, and I'm so pleased with the fact that the American people are incredibly patient and resolved and share our determination to achieve our noble objective. They know that we have succeeded in one phase of our war in Afghanistan we liberated women and children by demolishing the Taliban and its repressive government. They also know that the stage we're now in, which is hunting down the cave dwellers, is going to take a while. They understand that, and I am grateful for the people's understanding. They understand that this is a dangerous phase of the war. But they have also been assured by me and by you all that we're not going to weary. We're not going to rush our military. We're going to be steady and relentless until we achieve the objective of getting the Al Qaida killers and bringing them to justice. But they also understand that we are not preoccupied by one or two people, that while bin Laden thinks he can hide in a cave or Mullah Omar thinks he can run, it's just a matter of time. I don't know how much time, and I don't worry about the time about when he is brought or they are brought to justice. That's just not one of my concerns. It's going to happen. And you know, we've got them running, and it's just we'll get them. But that's not our we're preoccupied. And the American people understand that, because they understand our goal is broader than just two individuals. It is terror wherever terror exists, and it's upholding that doctrine, forcefully upholding the doctrine that says if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, you too are as guilty as a terrorist. But the moment is broader than just destroying terrorist training camps or finding terrorist trainers and bringing them to justice. The moment that we must seize says that in order for the world to be peaceful for our children and grandchildren, we've got to prevent nations which develop weapons of mass destruction from mating up with terrorist groups that will threaten the United States and our allies. Now we've got nations on notice as a result of the speech last Tuesday night. Of course, I hope they change behavior on their own. I hope they hear the message of not only the United States but a vast coalition of freedom loving countries as we clearly say, get your house in order don't develop weapons of mass destruction. And then people say, "What are the consequences?" They'll find out in due course, if they can't get their house in order. The mighty United States will do whatever it takes to defend our security. Make no mistake about it, if you threaten us with weapons of mass destruction, if you threaten our allies and friends with weapons of mass destruction, we will do whatever it takes to protect our people. And that's what we're doing at home. And I want to thank you all for working with us. There's been some great ideas that have come out of the Congress about how best to protect the homeland, and we've incorporated a lot of them in the initial strategy that we're outlining, not only in our budget but over the course of the last couple of weeks, and we'll continue to do so. And Tom Ridge and our team is open for more suggestions about how to protect the people. And so our bioterrorism initiative is substantial and real. And I want to thank you for working on it. Our first responder initiative, where we're working with local governments, through Governors, is going to be real and meaningful. Our airport security measures are strong. I mean, we're doing everything we can, and the American people need to know that. And so when you go back to your districts, I thank you very much for sharing our mutual concern and our knowledge that the enemy still wants to hit us, but our Government is responding forcefully. You need to know, and I know you know this, that the FBI, under Bob Mueller, has changed its culture. It's still after spies and white collar criminals, and that's important. But the primary focus of 4,000 plus agents is to disrupt the enemy, is to find out any information possible and run it down. We take every lead seriously. We take every hint of evidence seriously. We understand the intentions of the enemy, and your constituents must know that this Government is doing everything in our power to make America safe. But the best way to secure the homeland for the long run is to get them, get them where they hide, get them where they train, and bring them to justice. And you just need to know something about your President I am not going to tarry like I wary weary, on this subject, like I said in my first speech in September after the war. I understand the call. My determination today is as strong as it was when I addressed you all in October, and my determination 3 years from now will be just as strong then as it is today. I understand the call. I understand the mission. And this great country will defend freedom to its core. I said in my State of the Union that I stand in awe of the American people, and you know what I'm talking about. You've seen it in your communities when you go back home. You've seen it in your coffee shops. You've seen it in your different clubs. You've seen it when you've seen your neighbors. I mean, this country is a country that is not only strong and determined, but it's a compassionate country as well. People often ask me, "What can I do to participate in the war against terror?" And as you know, in this particular issue, I see things pretty clearly, in just plain terms. Since this is a war of good versus evil, those of who want to participate in the war against terror can do acts of kindness to overwhelm the evil done to the country. People can participate in the war against terror all kinds of ways. You can help serve as eyes and ears you can alert be alert. But you can love a neighbor. An American, in fighting the war against terror, can walk across the street to a neighbor who is shut in and say, "I care for you." And it's those millions of acts of kindness on a daily basis that define our country and stand defiantly in the face of evil. And so one of the things I've tried to do is to capture the magnificent spirit of the country. And we've set up what's called the USA Freedom Corps. And somebody who is interested in joining can dial 1 877 USA CORPS, or if you happen to be computer literate, usafreedomcorps.gov. And it's a chance for citizens to heed my call, which says we'd like you to serve your country for 2 additional years, or 4,000 hours over your lifetime. Now, I understand many in this room and many of your constituents are already have heard the call. And keep doing my call is, keep doing it. But some don't know where to start, and here is a good place for people to start. And if they call the USA Freedom Corps number, they will find ways to if you're a senior citizen, participate in Senior Corps or if you want to teach, Teach For America or if you want to go to the Peace Corps, we're expanding the Peace Corps to take our values and compassion into the Islamic world, for example. There's all kinds of opportunities to serve. And we're calling on the American people to do so. And it's really to help change our culture. That's how I view it. A lot of us grew up in a culture which has said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it if you've got a problem, blame somebody else." See, I believe out of this evil can come a new cultural a new culture, a new assessment of what America is all about. Our hope is that the country's culture changes to one of responsibility, that each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you are a mom and dad, you are responsible for loving your child with all your heart and all your soul. If you're a compassionate neighbor, you're responsible for helping a neighbor in need. If you're corporate America, you're responsible for making sure you reveal all your assets and liabilities to your shareholders and your employees. So part of the ushering in the responsibility era, not only from the individual basis but on the corporate basis, I have proposed some pension reforms I would like to outline briefly for you today and ask you to take them up as quickly as possible. We are announcing some proposals to protect pensions. My plan will strengthen the workers' ability to manage their own retirement funds by giving them more freedom to diversify, better access to professional investment advice, and quarterly information about their investments. Employers should be encouraged to make generous contribution to workers' 401(k) plans. It's a positive development when employers give stock to people who work for them. About 42 million workers own 401(k) accounts with a total of 2 trillion in assets, and that's a critical part of retirement security for workers all across America. But workers should also have the freedom to choose how to invest their retirement savings. And so the proposal I'll submit to Congress and work with Members here in this room will allow workers to sell company contributed stock and diversify into other investment options after 3 years of participation in their company's plan. To ensure that blackout periods are fair, the plan will ensure that company executives be bound by the same blackout restrictions they impose on their workers. If it's okay for the sailor, it ought to be okay for the captain. My plan also requires that workers be given a 30 day notice before any blackout period begins, so workers can plan to make changes in their investments. It's a matter of fairness. It's a matter of openness. It's a matter of respect for the process. And I look forward to working with you to get something done. I also look forward to working with you to continue the progress we've made on a lot of issues. I think America appreciates it when people come to this body or your respective bodies and work hard for what's good for the country. We've made good progress doing that. I am so proud of working with you. I'm proud to be able to call you a colleague here in Washington, DC. It's been a remarkable experience for me. It's a joy to exchange ideas. It's been sometimes a joy to watch the legislative process. Laughter Generally, it's an amazing experience to watch. Laughter But I'm looking forward to working with you to make sure that the legislation that does come out is positive and hopeful for the American people. Thanks for your friendship. God bless. January 31, 2002 President Bush. Well, we've had a substantial discussion with my friend the Chancellor of Germany, Gerhard Schroeder. I appreciate him coming over to say hello again. We spent a great deal of time talking about our mutual desire to rid the world of terror. And I'm so pleased with Germany's cooperation. They've provided troops in Afghanistan, troops that have performed really well, according to our military, and I want to congratulate you for that. I also thanked the Chancellor for hosting the Bonn convention, which made a substantial stride toward an Afghanistan that will be able to survive after we have ridded it of the Taliban. I appreciate so very much the Chancellor's willingness to help Afghanistan help herself, in terms of training a police force. I told him we're in the process of setting up a plan to help Afghanistan develop her own military. So we're linked up well in our mutual desires to leave the world more peaceful. So, Mr. Chancellor, I'm so honored you're here. I want to welcome you. Chancellor Schroeder. Well, ladies and gentlemen, I can only absolutely confirm what His Excellency, the President, has just said regarding our discussions, particularly focusing, obviously, on the fight against terrorism but also about the fight that has happened in Afghanistan and that the support that has been rendered by us, too. We, as you all know, are very committed to the participation in the peace corps in Afghanistan, under the umbrella of the United Nations. Obviously, and as the President has just pointed out, we are very interested in committing ourselves to training police forces, law enforcement forces, within Afghanistan because we find it crucially important that such intra Afghanistan proper homegrown police forces can be built up in the process. And in the more long term, obviously, a military structure will be needed here, too. I obviously wouldn't like to forget the fact that I have congratulated the President on the economic performance that the country has obviously been able to show. We do see some positive signs here things are being fueled again, which obviously is not just positive and good for the U.S. American economy but also for the global economy, too. I'm very pleased, indeed, that obviously there are now some hopeful signs here, because obviously, as soon as the economy runs smoothly again here, that is going to be good for the global economy and, therefore, good for Europe and certainly for Germany too. President Bush. Thank you, Gerhard. January 31, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much. Please be seated. Well, it's good to be here with my little brother. Laughter Last night when we arrived, I had the honor of saying hello to, it looked like, a couple thousand citizens there. And I said I always like to go to States that have got a really good Governor. Laughter And I did. I want all the moms here to know that any success I've had, any success Jeb has had, is the result of having a strong mother. So my advice to the young in Florida is, always listen to your mother. Laughter Jeb and I know one thing, and that is that America can change, one heart, one soul at a time. We understand that a compassionate tomorrow and a safe tomorrow requires Presidents and Governors and mayors and county officials to rally the true strength of the country, which is our people. You know, the enemy hit us the other day, a while ago. They didn't understand America. They thought we were weak and materialistic and soft. Instead, they have found a patient, determined, compassionate nation that stands in the way of their efforts to spread evil. In my State of the Union Address the other night, I chose to spend time talking about the spirit of unity in our country. To me, it is one of the most as I said, I stand in awe of the American people, individually and collectively. I know I know how strong we are as a nation. And now our job is to take that spirit and extend it for years to come. I like to describe it this way Our culture has said, "If it feels good, do it." Our dream or my dream for the country is that we usher in a culture that says, "Each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life." We're responsible for loving our children. We are responsible for serving goals greater than ourself, and that means becoming involved in the communities in which we live. And so we're here today in Volusia County to herald a Senior Corps program that embodies the spirit that I was defining in my speech, a program that recognizes the power of recruiting volunteers to work side by side with police and fire and emergency rescuers to make sure that this county is more secure in its future. I want to thank Terry White, who is the Florida secretary of elder affairs. I mention the Florida office because we understand at the Federal Government, since I had been a Governor, that sometimes the Federal Government can help, and sometimes it can get in the way. I want to be I want to have an administration that helps and doesn't thwart the efforts of local people. So I look forward to working with your Governor, and I look forward to working with the cabinet he's put together, to pass power out of Washington to local governments. The government that's closest to the people is that which works the best, as far as we're concerned. And somebody who understands that is Congressman John Mica, and I want to thank John for being here as well. I want to say a word about John. One of the obviously, right after the attack, we realized the Federal Government had a responsibility to make sure our air travel was more secure. And as a result of his leadership and the leadership of others but John had a major role to play I was able to sign a good airline security bill that made traffic as secure as it possibly could be. And thanks to the result of our efforts, Brother was informing me today that people are beginning to travel more, coming back to this great destination State called Florida. I'm glad they're traveling more. I hope they travel more to Florida. It's good for our economy, and it's good for our Nation when people do that. But John, thank you for your leadership on this important issue. I also am so glad the Chairman of the Corporation for National and Community Service is with us, the former mayor of Indianapolis, Indiana, a man who understands what compassionate conservatism is all about, a guy who did a fabulous job of revitalizing Indianapolis through a faith based initiative that was strong and powerful and locally derived, and now a man who is in charge of making sure that the initiatives I'm outlining get instituted, and that's Stephen Goldsmith. Thanks for coming, Steve. And with him is the CEO, Les Lenkowski. In my speech, I talked about making sure AmeriCorps and Senior Corps expand. Les's job is to follow through. I'm one of these accountability guys. I understand, sometimes in the political process, all you hear are words. I like to back them up with action. I like it to be known that Audience member. You bet! The President. You bet. Laughter I like to know that it's one thing to lay it out it's another thing to follow up. I'm a followup guy. Les understands that. And so, when we say we're going to have an active effort to recruit, I will be asking Les and John Bridgeland, who is now working for me, head of the USA Freedom Corps, "What are the results? Have we been able to deliver what we said?" And I'm confident we will, particularly since the spirit in this country is so strong. I'm confident when I stood up in front of the Nation and said, "I ask you to dedicate 2 years of your life, 4,000 hours for the rest of your life, to service for your country" and I believe America will respond. I truly believe it. One thing we've got to do is make sure that people understand how to respond. Now, don't get me wrong I understand there are thousands of Americans who are now volunteering in America. And for that, I am incredibly grateful. I know there are hundreds and thousands of man hours being given to make sure communities are better off, and we applaud those efforts. What I'm saying is, to those who are already volunteering, "Keep going. We need your help." And some aren't sure where to go you see, some aren't sure how to help. And so we set up the USA Freedom Corps. And I want people to understand that if they want to help, they need to call 1 877 USA CORPS. If you want to be a part, just call that number, and we will help direct your heart to a program that needs your help. Or if you happen to be an Internet surfer, we've got a web page, usafreedomcorps.gov usafreedomcorps, spelled c o r p s, .gov. It will give you a chance to find out what we're talking about. It will give you a go by as to how you can help. And there are some fantastic programs right here in Volusia County that others ought to recognize, that work. One is Citizens on Patrol. We basically we, the county and the State, have said there are numerous seniors who have got a lot to offer, people who might be retired but their brains haven't retired and their experience hasn't been retired, so let's figure out how to get them involved in the community. So they've got a program called Citizens on Patrol. More than 200 volunteers put in 51,000 hours in the year 2001 to help serve as eyes and ears of local law enforcement. If a child is missing, they help look. If something is odd, they help notice. I don't know if you remember, but I talked about, digging into those Al Qaida caves in Afghanistan, we found some of their aspirations in terms of creating harm for America. For example, they targeted some of our cities or some of our infrastructure. Citizens on Patrol here in Volusia County patrol the water treatment plants and water treatment facilities in this county. I was up in Maine the other day, and I was informed that as a result of a collaborative effort with the Coast Guard and the FBI, lobstermen now patrol the coast of Maine, looking for something unusual. Part of having a homeland defense is to have people on alert. And I appreciate this program. So if people in this part of the world want to help be a part of the first defense on homeland security and that is, help patrol neighborhoods or patrol areas or industrial complexes to make sure nothing unusual is happening a great program is Citizens on Patrol, right here in Volusia County. Part of the homeland security initiative that I outlined is to make sure that there is a proper strategy in place for responding to an emergency. That's why we're focusing resources on bioterrorism, airport security, a better border better border programs. We've got to understand who's coming in and who's coming out of the country in a better way, it seems like to me. But one of the things we also need to do is to have emergency response strategy. If something were to go wrong, there needs to be a collaborative strategy between city and county and all jurisdictions within that will be able to respond properly. One of the interesting programs here through Senior Corps and the senior programs in Volusia County is the Community Emergency Response Volunteers, CERV. They have got lists of seniors who they call if there's an impending emergency. They help put kits together to make sure that if there's an emergency, people are well treated. They have been assigned schools to go to if there's an emergency during evacuation. All this, by the way, is transferable to our war against terror, is to make sure the homeland of the United States is more secure. And so I want to thank the seniors in this county. And the innovative entrepreneurial spirit of convincing people of how to volunteer in a constructive way is so good here. And America Americans are asking how you can help. Here's another way to help to serve your Nation by being a part of an emergency response team. There are retired doctors, retired nurses that can help hospitals there are retired policemen and firemen that can help fire there are people that want to help. Here's a good way to help. And finally, one of the things that one of the incredible parts of 9 11 is that the Nation understands how important compassion is. I mean, the way I view this is that we're fighting evil, and I don't see any shades of gray. And the best way to fight evil is with acts of kindness. The best way to fight evil is for people to love their neighbor. People say, "Well, I want to be a part of the war on terror." Okay, go love a child. Find somebody who needs help. One thing we ought to do in the Nation is to find those children whose parents may be in prison and team them up with a mentor, so that that child understand there is at least somebody in our society that says, "I love you." And there is an important role for seniors, people who understand the importance of love. And so, there's a Foster Grandparent Program here, as a part of Senior Corps. It's a program that says, if you care for children and most foster grandparents obviously have had a little experience with raising children please, we want your help. We want you to serve as a mentor. We want you to provide a part of a hopeful future for a child. I'm fully aware of the importance of Senior Corps for the future of the country. That's why I'm here, to herald successful programs within the Senior Corps fabric. Our goal is to recruit 100,000 new Senior Corps volunteers 100,000. We've got a web site. We've got a phone number you can call. Please pass the word. It is an initiative that will help really solidify the spirit of compassion, a responsibility era that's beginning to emerge in our country. I leave here to go to Atlanta, Georgia, to talk about the need for us to recruit teachers in classrooms. Part of fighting terror is to make sure our children are educated. And we need more teachers, and particularly hard in neighborhoods where some teachers may not want to teach. And so I'm going to herald a great program later on today that's as successful as the Senior Corps program here in Volusia County. Obviously, you can tell that I've got great optimism for the country, a great hope for our future. My most important job as the President is to protect America, is to make sure that we've got a homeland defense that's well coordinated and active. And even though the enemy thinks they're going to hit us again, you need to know your Federal Government is doing everything we can to stop them. We are on full alert. Our FBI, for example, has got a new mission, and that is to prevent attack. Oh, they've got their other jobs to do, but their primary focus is, "What can I do, what can I do as an FBI agent, to gather as much intelligence as possible to prevent a possible attack from happening?" Another way, we've got to make sure we share information with local authorities. When we get a piece of information, I can assure you we'll be on the phone notifying people about the appropriate response. But we're looking, and we're listening, and we're active. And the enemy knows that they have awakened a mighty giant. But the best way to make sure we secure our homeland, the best way we make sure that children can grow up in a peaceful world, a world that understands the power and promise of freedom, is to find the enemy where they hide and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what this Nation is going to do. Oh, I know some of the people around the world are saying, "Well, you know, he can't possibly mean that, now that they've looked like they're successful in Afghanistan. Gosh, don't you think it's about time they just kind of go on home?" No. It's now time to stand for freedom and to make it clear to terrorists and or nations that are willing to develop weapons of mass destruction that could be used against us that we will not tire and we will not falter. This great Nation has been given a chance in history to make the world more free, and I promise you we'll seize that opportunity. We'll be wise and deliberate about how we pursue our grand objective, but we'll pursue it. Time isn't on our side. As these nations develop these sophisticated weapons, they need to know not how, but our intention is to hold them accountable. And the rest of the world needs to be with us, because these weapons can be pointed at them just as easily at us. And we cannot let terror and evil blackmail the United States or any other freedom loving country in the world. I'm proud of our country. I'm proud of the spirit of America. I am proud to be the President of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. I said in my speech that one way we'll overcome evil is through the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and decency and compassion. And I'm proud to be in a room of part of that momentum. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. January 31, 2002 Thank you all. Please be seated. Nice to be here at the home of the mighty Bulldogs. Whew, I'm glad I'm not on the other team. I'm so honored to be here. I was specially interested to learn this was Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, high school. And I want the students to understand something about his life. It goes to show that an individual can make a huge difference in the lives of our fellow citizens. In his case, he made history. In your case, it could be just loving somebody. The lesson of Martin Luther King is a powerful lesson and is part of my what I want to talk about today. But before I do so, I've got some introductions I want to make. First, I am honored that your Governor is with us, Governor Roy Barnes. I appreciate it and the first lady. And like me, he married above himself. Laughter First lady of Georgia, it's good to see you. Thank you. I appreciate members of the congressional delegation coming. Oh, I know generally a Democrat is not supposed to show up when a Republican shows up, and a Republican's not supposed to show up when a Democrat shows up. But there is a new attitude in America today. I'm a proud Republican. Cynthia McKinney and John Lewis and Zell Miller are proud Democrats. Saxby's a proud Republican. Cleland is a proud Democrat. But first and foremost, we're all proud Americans. I appreciate so very much members of the house and the senate State house and the senate for coming over to say hello today. I'm honored that your mayor is here. Thanks for coming. I'm so pleased that a member of my Cabinet came. I picked a good man when I picked the Secretary of Education. I didn't pick somebody who dwelt on theory. I picked on somebody who is experienced. You know, you have a chance to got to choose all kinds of people when you pick your Cabinet. I wanted somebody who actually understood how public education worked because he had lived in public education. This man ran the toughest, biggest, orneriest school district in the State of Texas, the Houston Independent School District, and he did a great job there. And he's doing a great job as the Secretary of Education. I appreciate you. I want to thank your superintendent of schools here in Atlanta, Dr. Beverly Hall. Thank you for coming, Beverly. One lesson I have learned not only as Governor but as President, that a school really functions well if it's got a fine principal. And you've got a fine principal. They love you. I want to thank all the teachers who are here. I'm honored to be in your presence. I want to thank not only the Teach For America teachers who are here I want to thank all the teachers who are here. Yours is a noble, important profession. For those of you who have yet to graduate from high school, who are wondering what life might hold for you, wondering what your career might be, please give teaching a consideration. Please look at teaching. There is no better way to leave a mark, a positive mark on the life of America. One of the things I like to do is herald kind of the quiet heroes of our society. In this case, I want to talk about a social entrepreneur, someone who had a dream and a vision and implemented it. And that's the founder and president of Teach For America, Wendy Kopp. Now, for those of you who don't applause she brought some of her family members here. Laughter It is Wendy shows that with strength of purpose and setting goals and striving for a better tomorrow, it is possible to make a huge difference. Out of an idea came the desire to convince folks to teach in schools that are having trouble to get teachers. And she had succeeded way beyond what people thought a single person can do. There are 8,000 Teach For America teachers and alumni around the country. I am proud to stand up and talk about the best of America in Wendy Kopp. Wendy, thank you for what you do. I am proud of a country that is unified and strong. You know, I like to put it this way The enemy must have been watching too much daytime TV. They thought we were weak. They thought we would roll over by one single attack. My, my, were they mistaken. The enemy thought that we were too materialistic, too self absorbed, that we would tire and weary. No, this United States is united. We are strong. We are determined. We are patient. We are resolved to rout out terror wherever it exists to save the world for freedom. And it's important to do so. History has called us into action. And we cannot weary. Oh, I know some are some, the farther we get away from September the 11th, are going to say, "Well, gosh, do we really need to go through this?" Listen, I want you all to know, every morning I walk into a fabulous office, the Oval Office, and I sit down in my desk, and I read a report, a threat assessment about what the enemy wants to do. There are still designs on America. The evil ones can't stand a nation that is free. Evil people can't stand free people. And so, they still want to hit us. My most important job is to make sure that this Nation is secure and safe. We're doing everything we can at home to find out, to track down anybody who would dare hurt innocent United States citizens. And we're making pretty good progress. The Federal Bureau of Investigation's major task now, its most important job, is to protect the homeland. We've got thousands of agents tracking down any hint, any lead, making sure that America is safe. I've got a Homeland Security Office, all designed to work to make sure that a bioterrorist attack can be responded to, to make sure our heroic police and firefighters have the tools necessary to respond, to be active and first responders, to make sure we understand who's coming into our country and who's leaving our country. We're doing everything we can at home. But I want to tell you all, as plainly as I can, the best homeland defense, the best way to make sure America is secure and free, is to find the enemy where it hides and bring them to justice. And we're making good progress, and I appreciate the resolve and patience of our country. I appreciate the unity that stands behind the men and women who wear our uniform. I sent such brave, brave men and women into a tough conflict. And I want to tell you, they haven't let us down. I see some students with your uniforms on. If you choose to go into the military, I want to thank you and let you know that your Government will stand squarely behind you. Whatever it takes to win the war on terror, we will pay it. I said to the people who killed thousands of Americans that we're coming after you, that we won't let your evil acts stand. I also said that if you hide one of those people, if you feed one of those people, you're just as guilty as those who attacked America. And the Taliban has learned the lesson of that doctrine. They no longer are in power, thank God, for women and children in Afghanistan. Our Nation has liberated we not only served to bring justice not revenge but justice we have liberated women and children who lived under the most oppressive regime one of the most repressive regimes in this history of mankind. I am proud of this great country. When you graduate this year if you're a senior, you're the first yes, sir you're the first laughter you're the first senior class that has graduated after America has been attacked on the homeland. Think about that. That is historic, and it's not over unless we pursue our mission. And so, therefore, the mission is not just those who flew into the building. These people, the Al Qaida people, trained thousands of people in their camps before we started moving on them. I say thousands of ticking timebombs ready to go off. And therefore, we must be relentless in our pursuit, not just in Afghanistan, but wherever they hide. That's why it's so important to have a vast coalition of nations, friendly nations together. And it's why it's important for our country to continue to lead, to make sure that part of the doctrine that says, "Either you're with us, or you're against us," is enforced. It is so important that we fight for freedom, so young can grow up in a free society. We're also in a pretty dangerous phase of the first theater in the war against terror. Because, remember, we're chasing down people who, on the one hand, send youngsters to their suicide deaths, and on the other, try to burrow in the ground in caves as deep as they can come. But they're about to learn this lesson from our country They can run, and they can hide, but they can't run and hide long enough, because this patient people are going to bring them to justice, no matter how long it takes. I also talked yesterday about countries that are developing weapons of mass destruction that could be used to hurt ourselves or our allies or our friends. And we're just not going to sit back and let them do it. They now have been warned. They can change their behavior, and I hope they do. Some nations are already changing their behavior as a result of the United States leading a strong coalition. Now they know, and now they can change. But one thing they've got to know is for certain We will not let them use their weapons of mass destruction to threaten the security of the United States of America. They are on notice, and I expect them to make the right decisions about being a peaceful nation, a nation that doesn't want to harm our allies and friends, a nations that respects common values, and a nation that adheres to freedom. We have that obligation to future generations of Americans, and it's an obligation I assure you that I will keep. Out of this evil came some incredible good. No one wished what happened on September the 11th happened. But out of evil came great good in the country, and I want to share some of that with you. The country has taken an assessment of what's important in life. We've kind of stepped back and said one thing we've said in Washington is, politics is important, but it's not nearly as important as winning a war. Politics is important listen, we're all politicians anybody who's holding office saying they're not a politician isn't telling the truth but at least we can put something greater than self at least we can figure out how to do something more important than political party. And we did so, by the way, with an education bill. I know, you're not supposed to stand up if you're a Republican and say something nice about Ted Kennedy. But I did, for a right reason, because we worked together, Republicans and Democrats, to fashion a really good piece of legislation that empowers the Governors and local people to make the right decisions, but also says, we're not going to stand for a system that simply shuffles children through. We know who gets harmed in a system that gives up on kids early. And we're not going to stand for it in America because every child can learn, and no child should be left behind in this country. There are ways to fight terror other than wearing a uniform. A teacher fights terror every day by walking into a classroom and teaching children how to read and write and add and subtract. A church group can do it by helping people in need. A synagogue can organize ways to help elderly, for example. There's all kinds of ways to fight evil. People ask me, "What can I do to help? What can I do to help?" Well, if you're dedicating your time to volunteer work, you're already helping. And I ask America, young and old alike, to dedicate at least 2 years of your life, 4,000 hours over your lifetime, to service to your fellow man, to service to your Nation, by serving somebody else. And it's happening. Listen, I know Atlanta, Georgia, and I know the country. There are thousands of people dedicating thousands of hours. And for that, I am grateful. Just keep doing it. But some are asking, "What can I do to help?" As a matter of fact, some in our society have never been challenged to help. After all, we've been living through an era that said, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it." My dream is to change that culture to one in which each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life. If you have a child, you're responsible for loving the child. If you're in a community, you have a responsibility of loving your fellow man, just like you'd like to be loved yourself. No, we can change, use the evil to help usher in a period of personal responsibility. And part of an era of personal responsibility is to help somebody, is to help somebody in need. And so I've set up a program called the USA Freedom Corps. If you're looking for someplace to help, here's a chance. If you want to participate in the good of your country, here's your opportunity to do so, and all you've got to do is pick up the phone and dial 1 877 USA CORPS. Laughter That's all you've got to do, and they will help you. And we've got some ideas for you. If you're a senior citizen, join Senior Corps and help make your community more alert to the potential of attack or help develop an emergency response team. If you're a retired doc, participate with your local health systems to prepare your community and your neighborhood for what we hope doesn't happen. If you want to participate in USA Freedom Corps, it's usafreedomcorps.gov, if you're one of these computer literate type people. Laughter If you want to help, and you feel like you want to take your compassion overseas, we're going to expand the Peace Corps mission. And we're going to send people into the Islamic world for the first time, or one of the first times, to make sure we spread America's compassion and hope. And you need to help at home as well. One way you can help is to become a mentor. One way you can help is to find a child who needs somebody older in their life who can put their arm around them and say, "I love you. There's hope for you. What can I do to help you succeed in America?" And another way you can help and I hope young Americans all across the country think about joining Teach For America it is a part of AmeriCorps. And our goal is to expand AmeriCorps by 200,000 volunteers this year. And I thank my friend Steve Goldsmith for helping shepherd this program forward. He's a former mayor of Indianapolis. He understands how to rally community based programs for the greater good. And so, my fellow Americans, if you care about America, put 4,000 hours of service toward America. It will help defeat what the enemy wants. You know, I tend to speak, I hope, plainly enough for people to understand. I view this as good versus evil. There is no middle ground, as far as I'm concerned. And therefore, in order to fight evil, what this Nation must do is to gather the collective hearts, the good decency of our American people and show the world we're not going to be intimidated. We will not be intimidated overseas. We will not change at home. What we will do is take the momentum of millions of acts of decency and convert that to the greater good. We've got a huge challenge against us for us, a huge challenge, a huge hill to climb in America, winning the war on terror and changing the culture for the better. But guess what we're fixing to do? We're fixing to show the world the strength of America. We're fixing to overcome our obstacles. We're going to lead the world toward a more compassionate, more decent, more free tomorrow. It is such an honor to be the President of such a great nation. And we're a great nation because we're a great people. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. January 31, 2002 Thank you all very much. Saxby, thanks so very much for your kind words in your introduction. This country is fortunate to have such a good man be the chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Defense. It's important that we have good leadership in roles that relate to making sure our land is secure, and the State of Georgia sent a good one up there in Saxby Chambliss. I'm honored to be in the company of other members of the Georgia delegation. As you know, I'm a proud member of the Republican Party. I'm traveling today with proud members of the Democrat Party, but we're all proud Americans, first and foremost. I'd like you all to welcome Cynthia McKinney and Congressman John Lewis from Atlanta, Georgia. Thank you all. I appreciate your being here. I got a little Georgia briefing on the way in from the airport from a man who understands this State pretty darn well, a marine I was about to make a huge mistake and say former marine laughter and your former Governor, Senator Zell Miller. I want to thank other locally elected officials for being here, and I particularly want to thank a member of my Cabinet. This man is a man who understands public education. He understands it well. You see, I picked him out of the trenches. I didn't find somebody, somebody who can talk theory to be the Department of Education head of the Department of Education. I found somebody who has practiced. And when I asked him to join my team, he was the superintendent of the Houston Independent School District, a school district that was committed to make sure there was excellence for every child, and no child I mean no child would be left behind. Please welcome the Secretary of Education, Rod Paige. We are on our way, after this chance for me to tell you about how I think things are going, to Booker T. Washington High School to talk about the need for folks to teach. I'm going to spend a little time at the end of this talk, talking about that. But Rod is here to highlight our passion and focus on education. I also am here to tell you that, even though we're at war and even though we're in recession, this Nation has never been stronger. You know, I like to tell people that the enemy must have been watching too much daytime TV. Laughter They thought we were soft. They thought we would weaken. They thought we were so materialistic that we'd be unable to put something greater than ourselves as a priority. But my oh my, did they make a huge mistake. This Nation is united. It is patient. It is determined to do the right thing, and that right thing is to rout out terror wherever it hides and wherever it exists, so the world can be free for our children and our grandchildren. I knew that when I called our military into action, our military would perform brilliantly. They have not let us down. And for those of you who have got a relative in the military, thank you from the bottom of our heart, and please thank them on behalf of the Commander in Chief. We sent them on a mission, and the mission was to hold those accountable who attacked us, but it wasn't just those who attacked. There's a new doctrine. It says that if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist. And the Taliban found out that we say what we do in America. We held them accountable, and by holding that barbaric government accountable, this great Nation liberated a people. We liberated women and children from the clutches of a government that did not believe in respect for women and rights for children. I can't tell you how proud I am of our commitment to values. And as I said in my speech, that commitment to values is going to be an integral part of our foreign policy as we move forward. These aren't American values these are universal values, values that speak universal truths. But we've only accomplished part of our mission in the first theater on the war against terror. We're still going to get Al Qaida. Now, these are remember, this is a difficult stage of the war, because these are the fellows that like to commit somebody else's sons to suicide missions while they, themselves, burrow into caves. But there is no cave deep enough for the reach of the American military and American justice. They can run, and they can hide, but they can't run and hide forever. This patient Nation will stay the course until we bring the killers to justice. We seek not revenge we seek justice. But we seek something else. We understand this is a struggle for freedom, itself. We understand that we face an enemy that knows no value, does not share the same values we do. For the sake of the civilized world, for the sake of stability for the world, for the sake of a peaceful world, we must not only find them in Afghanistan we must find them wherever they hide, in any country that harbors terrorism around the world. And we will and we will. In my speech to Congress, I said that not only would we find, rout out terror and terrorist training camps and by the way, the evidence we found indicates that there's been thousands of people trained in these camps. So they're moving around. We can't rest we can't weary. We've also sent another message, that if you're one of these nations that develops weapons of mass destruction, and you're likely to team up with a terrorist group, or you're now sponsoring terror, or you don't hold the values we hold dear true to your heart, then you too are on our watch list. People say, "What does that mean?" It means they better get their house in order, is what it means. It means they better respect the rule of law. It means they better not try to terrorize America and our friends and allies, or the justice of this Nation will be served on them as well. My hope, of course, is that nations make the right choice. And I believe some nations are doing just that by being steadfast with our coalition and our friends and allies, that nations choose a peaceful course, that they reject terror. And as I say, many nations are realizing when we say, "You're either with us, or against us," we mean it. There's no middle ground when it comes to freedom and terror. And so, my hope is, is that those nations we put on notice and other nations around the world will make the right choice. But they should not make any mistake about it We will defend our national security. The security of the United States of America is my most important job. And I take it seriously, and I will follow through. And that's why the budget I sent to Congress says this To those who wear our uniform, you deserve the best training, the best equipment, and you deserve a pay raise. The number one priority of my budget is the defense of the United States of America, and the good news is, is that our Congress is unified. There is no difference between the Republicans and Democrats when it comes to freedom and security, and for that, I'm grateful. And I'm confident that my budget the military aspect of my budget will not only get a fair hearing but will be passed by members of both political parties. Secondly, we've got to protect our homeland. I wake up every morning, get into the Oval Office by the way, it is still an awesome experience to walk in the Oval Office laughter every morning. What an honor it is to walk in there. And even Spot, the dog, is impressed. Laughter Barney's not invited in. The carpet's too new. Laughter Don't tell Barney. I hope he's not watching C SPAN. Laughter But I sit at that grand desk in the Oval Office and read a threat assessment, read about the intentions of the enemy. And it reminds me that this Nation's got to be alert. Now, what does that mean? Well, it means if you see something unusual, tell the local police. They're on alert. It means that we've got to make sure Federal law enforcement officials know that their most important priority is to prevent another attack. I'm proud to report that Director Mueller and the FBI have changed the culture. We're still going to be after spies and white collar crime, but their most important function is to make sure that we get as much intelligence as possible and act on it to prevent the enemy from hitting us again. And so, my fellow citizens, I know the farther we get away from 9 11, we hope that the world becomes more secure. But you just need to know that I take nothing for granted. Time and distance from when the evil ones hit does not diminish my intensity for doing everything we can to protect our people. And that's why I asked Tom Ridge to put together a homeland defense strategy. That's why I'm asking Congress to pass a significant budget increase, to focus on bioterrorism, to provide money and support for local law enforcement and fire folks, to make sure there's emergency plans in place, to make sure that our INS knows exactly who is coming into our country and who is leaving our country, to make sure that homeland to make sure our homeland is as secure as possible. But I want to remind you all and remind those who wonder about our activities overseas, the best way to secure the homeland of our country is to find the terrorists where they hide, and get them. No, the enemy made a mistake, and they don't understand our country. And they could not have predicted what would have happened in America. While we hate what happened on September the 11th, I welcome I welcome the changes that are taking place in our country. I stand in awe of the American people. I do. I'm the President of a land of people who are so compassionate and so decent and so kind that evil people can't possibly, possibly put that into their calculation. This is a land where neighbors are helping neighbors. I view this as a unique moment not only to fight for freedom, a unique moment to fight for peace, but a unique moment to help change our culture from one that says, "If it feels good, do it," to a new culture which says, "Each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life." Part of a responsibility culture starts at home. And it says, if you are a mom or a dad, the most important job you will ever have is to love your children. That's the most important job, but a responsibility culture also says that we're responsible for the citizens our neighbors. We're responsible for loving a neighbor like we'd like to be loved ourselves. And by the way, there's corporate responsibility, part of the responsibility here, which says that let's make sure when you account for losses and profits, that you put it all on your books so everybody understands. I have asked America to fight evil with acts of kindness. You see, I believe that the best way people say, "Well, what can I do to help?" Well, there's ways you can help by being alert. But I'm asking people to fight evil with good. As you can probably tell from my speeches, I don't see any shades of gray in the war against terror. It's either evil applause . I also believe that we as a nation can overwhelm the evil ones by rising up and support a new culture of responsibility by volunteering. And so I've asked the Nation, each of us, to volunteer 4,000 hours, minimum, over the rest of our lifetime, or 2 years in service to your country. And I know many in Atlanta do that, and I thank you for that. You come out of your churches or synagogues or mosques, and you've got a program based upon faith, and you're working hard to change people's lives. You're already doing it. Just keep doing it. It's good for America, and it's good in the fight against evil. But some don't know where to help, and so we've started what's called the USA Freedom Corps. And it's a chance for people to participate in homeland security or participate in spreading American values and kindness and generosity around the world through the Peace Corps or to participate at home in inner city neighborhoods. Join Teach For America, for example, which is a fantastic program that I'm going to go herald at Booker T. Washington High School. There's a way to join Senior Corps, and there's all kinds of ways to help our country. And if you're interested, call 877 laughter USA CORPS, or usafreedomcorps.gov. My fellow Americans, if you want to join the fight against terrorists, join up. Volunteer to make your community a better place. Spread love and compassion throughout our country. The way I like to define it is, we will overcome evil through the gathering momentum of millions of acts of kindness and decency. And after all, it's going to happen, because you know why? This is such a decent and compassionate country. We're a country based on fabulous values. We're a country open to everybody. We're a country based upon the principle that says, "Freedom is important. Freedom is essential. Freedom is nonnegotiable." No question in my mind these are tough times for America, but there's no question in my mind We'll prevail. Right is on our side. And we'll prevail because we're a fabulous nation, and we're a fabulous nation because we're a nation full of fabulous people. It's my honor to be your President. God bless. January 30, 2002 The President. Thank you all. I'm glad to be back in the great State of Florida. I love to come to States where they've got a great Governor. As Americans make their travel plans, more of us need to think about coming to Florida. One of the last times I came was when I went to the racetrack owned by Mr. France, right next door to here, where Teresa's good husband was driving cars. It was such an honor to be with Mr. France and his wife and Teresa Earnhardt. And may God rest Dale's soul, and may God bless her family, too. I don't know if you all know this, but you sent a good one up to represent you in Congress, John Mica. And I appreciate John being here. In politics, they've got the talkers, and they've got the doers. John is a doer. I worked closely with him on an airport security bill that will make sure that, when Americans get on their airplanes, it is as safe as can possibly be. And I want to thank John for his leadership and his hard work on this vital piece of legislation. I know we've got some from the statehouse in particular the Speaker of the House Feeney. I'm so honored that people came down from Tallahassee to say hello to Jeb's "little" big brother. Laughter I am so thrilled to be here. I hope I didn't speak to long last night. Audience members. No o o! The President. I didn't mean to keep people up too late, but I had something to say. The state of our Union is strong this is a great nation. We've got some challenges ahead, but this country is going to rise to the challenges. We've got a big task ahead, and that is to rid the world of terror. I know people say, "What does that mean?" Well, it means that in order to keep America safe, we've got to make it clear to any person who thinks they want to be a terrorist that this great Nation and its coalition will find you and bring you to justice. It means that if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, you're just as guilty as a terrorist. Our mission is more than just Afghanistan, although we've been pretty darn successful there, thanks to the United States military. And for those of you who have a loved one in our military or in the military, I want to thank you from the bottom of our heart. I'm so proud I'm so proud of the men and women who wear our uniform. And you need to be proud, too. We've sent them into a tough mission, and they've accomplished that mission exactly the way that I hoped they would. We routed the Taliban, and by the way, there's nothing that makes me more joyous than to know our great military have been liberators, liberators of oppressed women and children, liberating people from the clutches of one of the most barbaric regimes in the history of mankind. We're still in that theater. We will be in that theater with our military until we bring Al Qaida to justice. This is a dangerous phase of the first theater in the war on terror because there's a lot of caves. And we're trying to find people who, on the one hand, send youngsters to their death and, on the other hand, hide. On the one hand, they say, "It's okay for you to go kill yourself." And on the other hand, they're running and hiding. But see, what they don't understand about this Nation is, we are patient we are determined we are steadfast. We're going to keep them running, and one of these days, we'll bring them to justice. But the mission is more than just Afghanistan and Al Qaida. We need not be focused on one person, because we're fighting for freedom and civilized civilization. We fight to make sure our children and our children's children can grow up in a peaceful world, a world based upon values that respect dignity of life and the individual values, universal values. We fight evil people, people who want to murder us, people who hate America and what we stand for. And that's why we'll be relentless and steady. The world looks to us for leadership. If we blink, they may go to sleep. That's why we're not going to blink. That's why we're going to be after them. That's why we're going to disrupt their finances. That's why we're going to hold people account. That's why we're going to say, "If you develop weapons of mass destruction and you aim and ruin the security of us or our allies, we will hold you accountable." That's why this Nation is going to stand tall and strong and not relent in the face of terror. My biggest job is to secure our homeland. I walk into that magnificent Oval Office in the morning, and I look at a threat assessment, where the enemy may try to hit us again. And make no mistake about it, they'd like to. My biggest job is to rally the resources of our Government to prevent anything from happening to the innocent life in America. And I take it seriously, and so does our Government. We're doing everything in our power to seek down leads, to alert people if necessary, to gather as much intelligence as we can and share it quickly. The Federal Bureau of Investigation's major mission now is to keep the homeland safe, is to prevent another attack. So for all the law enforcement officials who are here, I want to thank you very much for your diligence, your hard work, for keeping your eyes and ears alert. Traveling around the country, talking about a homeland initiative that's going to enhance more spending for to fight bioterrorism more money for first responders, like the fire and the police, to make sure the emergency plans are in place more money for the health agencies around the country more money to make sure that we understand who's coming into our country and who leaves our country more money applause No, they've put us on notice, and we're after them. The best way to secure our homeland in the long term, however, is to take this war wherever a terrorist tries to hide and get them. And that's exactly what we're going to do. I sent a budget one of the things a President does is put out a budget. I sent a budget up. It starts with this number one priority If you wear our uniform, you deserve the best training, the best equipment, and another pay raise. The second budget request I put in there is for a homeland security, and the third is for job security. I know there are some people hurting in this State, and my interest is to make sure we do wise things to increase the job base. We're going to help people with an unemployment check, but what Americans want is a steady paycheck. Oh, I know there's been a lot of talk about, you know, revenues here and spending here and all that. Let me just tell you something about the tax relief plan that you helped us pass. Thank goodness we passed it. It came at the right time. If you want to fight off a recession, if you're interested in job creation, one of the best ways to do so is to let people keep their own money so they can spend it and therefore create more jobs. We did exactly the right thing in Washington, DC. We made the exact right decision. I know there are some who have got a different theory about economics that is, if you take more money out of people's pockets and increase the size of Government, the economy recovers. That's not what we think. That's not and most economists will tell you, if you encourage a tax rise in times of recession, it will make matters worse. That's Economics 101. Evidently, some of them up there forgot to pick up the textbook. Laughter This tax cut says we trust people with their own money, and it also reminds people that we're dealing not with the Government's money but with the people's money. We need to stimulate more economic growth by encouraging investment in plant and equipment, which means jobs, and by stimulating consumer spending by accelerating the tax relief plan, which means jobs. Jobs is the central core of any stimulus package. And let me remind you something else about jobs. In order to make sure people can find work and the job base of America expands, folks, we need an energy policy. We need a policy that has reliable energy for America. Imagine an employer wondering whether or not they're going to run out of energy. That person is not likely to hire somebody. Or if we get tight on energy, the price of energy goes up it means somebody is not going to be able to find work. We need an energy policy. We need to encourage conservation. We need to build infrastructure, and we need to encourage exploration amongst in the United States. A good energy policy is job security. But a good energy policy that reduces dependency upon foreign oil is a matter of national security as well. Like I said last night, I have been in awe of the American people. Audience member. We love you! Laughter The President. I'm at a loss for words. I'm speechless. Laughter May be hard to believe, after 49 minutes of talking last night. Laughter But I do want to tell you that this is a fabulous land, as you know. And we've got a great opportunity. The enemy hit us. As I like to kind of tease the enemy, they must have been watching too much daytime TV. They thought we were soft. They thought we were materialistic. They thought we wouldn't fight for what we believed. They thought we would cower in the face of terror. And my, my, are they wrong. Quite the contrary has happened. This great Nation is unified and steadfast, and this Nation understands that if you want to fight evil, you do so with acts of goodness. I'm asked all the time, "What can I do to help?" People say, "Well, gosh, I want to be a part of the war against terror." And my answer is Love somebody be a good mother or dad. I answered the call last night for many of you, I know, are spending a lot of time in your communities and helping people in need, worrying about kids in school, helping the schools, teaching in the schools, perhaps. But I'm calling on America and I did last night, and I will continue to do so to serve 2 years, or 4,000 hours, for the rest of your life, in service to your community. And if you don't have a place, we've started what's called the USA Freedom Corps. It's a chance for retired police officers or firemen to help out the local law enforcement authorities to be on alert. I'll give you an interesting idea that took place in Maine. They've got Maine lobstermen are now patrolling the coast on a volunteer basis to make sure that somebody in a somebody carrying something they don't want to carry in a boat shows up on the coast. I mean, there's all kinds of ways to serve the community. We're looking for people to be mentors. We're looking for teachers to teach in neighborhoods that may need teachers. Tomorrow I'm here because I want to go by a Senior Corps program where senior citizens are signed up to help lend their talents and their valuable experience in the communities. There's all kinds of ways, all kinds of ways, that Americans can serve their communities and their neighborhoods. And by doing so, we stand square in the face of evil. We tell the enemy, "You can't get us. You think so you think you can tear down the spirit of America, but quite the contrary. We are stronger than we have ever been as a nation." Nobody wishes this evil had ever happened, but as a result of evil, there's some amazing things that are taking place in America. People have really begun to challenge the culture of the past that said, "If it feels good, do it," to welcome a new culture that says, "I'm responsible for the decisions I make in life." This Nation has a chance this Nation, this great Nation has a chance to help change the culture. We have a chance to stand up for being a mom or dad by just loving your kids more. We have a chance to fight evil by walking across the street to a shut in, saying, "Somebody cares." We have a chance to say to the thousands of children whose moms or dads and parents to match them with a mentor in prison and match them with a mentor, so these youngsters know there's hope in our society, that they know there's love. We have a chance to change our culture for the better. We have a chance to turn this evil to turn the evil deeds and the evil acts into incredible, long term good for our Nation. I ask you to seize the moment. I ask you to understand that we've got to be patient we've got to be steadfast in our drive overseas and we've got to be loving and decent and compassionate at home. And when we do and when we do, we will have proved to the world once again that every time, good overcomes evil. It is such an honor to be here, back in Daytona Beach. And it's such an honor to be the President of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. January 30, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much for such a warm North Carolina welcome. I hope I didn't keep you up too late last night. Laughter I usually get to bed about 9 o'clock, but I obviously had something to say. I said that even though we're at war, even though we're at recession, the state of our Union has never been stronger. And I know why. And the reason why is because we're a nation of strong Americans. It is such an honor to be the President of such a fabulous country. And I'm glad, proud to be here with you to share some of my thoughts and hopes and concerns. Before I begin, I want to thank your chief. She has done a fabulous job. I loved it when the men and women who wear the blue stood up when the chief came out and led the round of applause. It shows that she knows how to lead. So, Chief, thank you for being here, and thank you for honoring me with your presence. I'm proud that Tom Ridge is traveling with me today. He and I were Governors together. Never did I dream that I'd ask him to come and serve in an important capacity and that is to protect our homeland because we never thought we'd be attacked. But we have been. And now it's time for this country to respond in a positive way, and I am so proud of the effort he is leading to secure the homeland of the United States of America. I'm also glad Allbaugh is here. Obviously, I didn't pick him because he's pretty. Laughter He's got a face only his mother would love laughter if she stretches it. Laughter But I've known him for a long time. He was with me in Texas. He understands how to manage an organization. And the organization he manages is FEMA, so that if there ever is an emergency in Winston Salem, North Carolina, you'll get the absolute best service from your Federal Government. I want to thank both members for being here both men for being here today. I flew down on the airplane today with some distinguished members of the North Carolina congressional delegation. First, a true gentleman, and somebody every time I sees him talks about North Carolina in the most glowing terms, and that's Senator Jesse Helms. And then we let somebody from Hickory, North Carolina, travel with us, old Cass Ballenger. I appreciate you being here, Cass. Congressman Mel Watt is with us today, too. Thank you, Congressman, for coming honored you're here. My first meeting was in his district, and then I crossed the line and came into Richard Burr's district, Congressman Richard Burr. Richard told me that his mother and daddy are here. Where? There you go. I hope he listens to you, Mom. You better tell him. He probably listens to you about as much as I listen to my mother laughter a lot, by the way. Laughter I'm also so proud the other night I invited one of our Nation's foremost couples for dinner. Unfortunately, only the husband could come. We got stuck with the short straw in this couple, because the wife was here doing hard work in North Carolina. The lady who wasn't at dinner was Miss Elizabeth Dole. Thank you for coming. My hope, of course, is that we'll be able to dine frequently. Laughter I'm told your good Governor is here, the Governor of the State of North Carolina, Mike Easley. I know your mayor is here, because I traveled with him in the limousine. We had a good visit, newly elected Mayor Joines of Winston Salem, North Carolina. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. We've got leaders from the State delegation. I know the leader of the senate is here on the Republican side, members of the house and the senate. I'm so honored you all would take time to come and pay a visit. I know that we've got people who have made huge sacrifices in their life with us today, men and women who wear our uniform. We are so grateful for your service to our community. I'm told there are some volunteer firefighters here. I'm a proud contributor to the Crawford Volunteer Fire Department. One of the things I'll be talking about a little later on is how we can encourage volunteers to help police and firefighters all across the country. The volunteer fire departments have already shown how to help. It is made up of people who understand that in order to make their community, people must stand up and say, "How can I help?" So I want to thank all the volunteer firefighters who are here today. We're making great progress in our war against terror. We have totally routed out one of the most repressive governments in the history of mankind, the Taliban. When I made our announcement last September about our intentions, I said, the evil won't stand and to nations that feel like they can harbor evil or support terrorists, they, too, are just as guilty as a terrorist. We not only made the message clear we delivered. And that's because this patient Nation has got a fine, strong United States military. And this country is going to back them to the hilt in our war against terror. We're making good progress. We put together a great coalition of nations around the world with this message Either you're with us, or you're against us either you're on the side of freedom and justice, or you aren't. And the good news is, most people are beginning to see the wisdom of being on the side of freedom and justice. Laughter We're after them. But the good news to report for our side, and the bad news for the evil, is that we're patient, and we're determined, and we will not stop until we achieve all our objectives. The first objective was to hold the Taliban Government hostage and to liberate a people. And this proud Nation did so. One of my favorite images was to see liberated women and children with joy on their faces, thanks to the United States military. We haven't forgot our other objective, and that's bad news for Al Qaida. Our other objective is to run them down, wherever they hide, and bring them to justice or as I like to say, get them. Laughter It's going to take a while. There are caves in rugged parts of Afghanistan where these people may be hiding. But they better not think they can hide forever Audience member. Give them what for, G! Laughter The President. because our only objective is not Al Qaida our objective is broader than one person or a handful of people. We'll get them. We're going to get them. We're going to bring them to justice, make no mistake about it, my fellow Americans. But the call is bigger than that. In order to make sure our children can grow up in a free world and a civilized world, we must rout out terror wherever it exists, wherever it hides. The doctrine that says you're just as guilty as the terrorist applies not only in Afghanistan but worldwide. Our mission is to make the world free from terror. And this mighty country will not tarry, and we will not fail in our love and our quest for freedom. I told the people last night that one of the things we discovered in Afghanistan in the caves was that they've got designs on our homeland still, of course. We also believe they've trained thousands and thousands of killers that are around the world. That's why we're not going to rest. That's why we're going to remind the nations around the world that we can't rest. We have no choice, and we're not going to. I also made it clear that if you're a nation that's going to develop weapons of mass destruction, you too you too are on our radar screen. You too, if you've got a history of repression and violence and disregard for human rights and are developing a weapon of mass destruction, you too are now on notice that the United States of America will do whatever it takes to defend our security. And therefore, the budget I sent to Congress makes a priority for national defense. Our soldiers deserve the best equipment, the best training, and a pay raise as we fight this war against terror. I also want Americans to know that we will do everything we can to secure the homeland. And therefore, I submitted a budget that increases homeland security, increases the monies for homeland security. Tom Ridge is developing a coordinated strategy that will provide research for vaccines to fight bioterrorism, that will send more equipment and training money to first responders those are the police and firefighters all across America. We'll keep a closer eye on our border. We want to make sure we understand who's coming in and who's going out. We want to do everything we can to secure America, to secure our Nation. Part of the initiative I called on will call upon people to help us with the homeland security, and I will explain that a little later. But you've got to know that every day your Federal Government and law enforcement officials are doing everything we can to find them, to make sure they don't hit us, to protect the American people. My most important job is the security of America, is the security of Americans. I will not rest until we finally win this war on terror, because I understand the best way to secure America is to find terrorists where they live and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what this country is going to do. I also spent some time last night talking about economic security. We're talking about homeland security, and part of having a secure homeland is to make sure people can work, that there are jobs available for people who want to work. And so on the one hand, I think Congress ought to help those who are unemployed. But I understand people don't want an unemployment check they want a steady paycheck. And so the thing Congress has got to do is create jobs, jobs for Americans, jobs for people who want to work. You probably remember the debate on taxes. Thank goodness we cut taxes when we did. The best way the best way to help an economy recover is to let hard working people keep more of their money. When they get more money in their pocket, they spend more money, and as they spend more money, it helps create jobs. Tax relief is an important way to battle recession. And for those who want to do away with tax relief, you don't know what you're talking about. You don't raise taxes. We don't raise taxes in the middle of a recession. We've got to trust people with their own money. I'm not sure what textbook some of them are reading up there. Laughter But obviously, it's not the same one we've been reading here in this room. I will tell you another way to create jobs is to open up markets. Listen, our farmers in America are the best in the world. We've got the best agriculture sector. If we're the best at something, it seems like we ought to sell it. The more we can sell, the more jobs there are. The more markets that open for U.S. producers, the more jobs there will be for U.S. workers. I'll tell you another way to create jobs is to have an energy policy, is to finally get an energy policy that does several things. First of all, if you're trying to create jobs and you're not sure what the price of energy is going to be, it makes job creation less certain. If there's a price spike, it's harder to hire somebody. If there's uncertainty in supply, it's harder to plan for the future. And therefore, having an energy policy makes sense. It makes sense from an economic perspective. We've got to conserve more. We've got to utilize technology more. But for the sake of national security, we must find more oil and gas at home to become less reliant on foreign sources of oil. I'm proud of the work we did on an education bill. I know a lot of you here are concerned about your public schools, and so am I. I want the best, and so do you. I want to make sure every child learns and no child gets left behind. We worked well together. I said last night in the middle of the speech that I was proud to work with Republicans, proud to work with Democrats. I was even proud of the efforts very proud of the efforts of Ted Kennedy. Now, I understand in North Carolina laughter and in parts of Texas laughter they may not understand a good conservative Republican like me saying nice things about liberal Ted Kennedy. Laughter But I'm going to tell you something He cares about public schools like I do. He, too, doesn't want any child left behind. We set aside our parties and focused on America and did what was right for the schoolchildren of America. A good job means good education. A good education means good jobs. In order to have good jobs, you've got to have a good education system. And so, therefore, we passed a good piece of legislation provides more money for at risk kids but also trusts the good people of North Carolina to make the decisions for the children of North Carolina. The people who care more about the children who live in Winston Salem are the moms and dads and community leaders of Winston Salem, North Carolina. And we've obviously got more to do, and we're going to get a lot done if we focus on America, if we focus on results, if we don't play the politics of the old days where you try to tear the other guy down in order to get ahead. We've got to get rid of that attitude in Washington, and when we do, the country will be better off for it. And that's what the country expects. This country expects the best the best. This country is taking an assessment right now of what's important. The evil ones thought that we were weak. They didn't understand us. As I say, they were probably watching too much daytime TV. Laughter This is a strong nation. This is a compassionate nation. This is a decent nation. And this is a nation that will not let terrorists change our way of life. As a matter of fact, what the terrorists have done has caused us to take an assessment of what's important. And one of the things of my job is to capture this new spirit. I had been concerned for too long about a culture that says, "If it feels good, just go ahead and do it." I believe that this Nation is strong enough and focused enough and dedicated enough to usher in a culture that says, "Each of us are responsible for the decisions we make in life." Part of our responsibility understands that if you happen to be a mom or a dad, that your most important job will be to love your children with all your heart and all your soul. Part of our responsibility is corporate responsibility. And corporate America must be open about its books and accounting systems, so that shareholders and employees know the full truth about what's going on on balance sheets. Part of being a responsible society part of being a responsible society is for people to love your neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. And part of being a responsible society is to serve your community. And so my call to America is, I hope and ask that you serve your community you live in and your Nation by 2 years of service, 4,000 hours of service over your lifetime. Now, many of you do that, I know. Many of you go to your Sunday school class and figure out ways to help a neighbor in need. Some of you walk across the street to a shut in and say, "I love you. Can I care for you?" Many of you mentor. I hope you keep doing that. That's part of the 4,000 hours I asked for you to do for your Nation, for the good of your community. Some don't know where to start, and I've got, obviously, a good idea, and that is for the USA Freedom Corps. It's a chance to serve your Nation in three different ways. One is to be a part of making sure your community is prepared for any emergency that might happen. I went over with the chief today earlier and saw a community collaboration that is very strong and powerful that you have here in Winston Salem. You need to be proud of it, proud of the fact that your police chief and your fire chief and your mayor, your emergency responders, the National Guard have developed a hospitals and docs and nurses have developed an emergency response plan, a plan that will help the citizens deal with an emergency, should it occur here in Winston Salem. It's an integral part of preparing your community. By the way, by preparing your community for an emergency, you also leave a legacy behind that will make your community better. The more the police and fire work together, the more likely it is your communities will be safe. But one of the things we're asking is for people to volunteer. Ex policemen or ex firefighters, retired docs or nurses, make yourself available to be a part of your emergency response teams in Winston Salem, North Carolina, or any other community in North Carolina or the country, for that matter. A second way that we can serve our community is through AmeriCorps. I want to expand the size of AmeriCorps by 200,000 volunteers, many of whom will end up teaching in inner city schools. I'm going to Atlanta, Georgia, tomorrow to herald a great program called Teach For America. It is a place where youngsters or oldsters, for that matter who are interested in serving their community can teach. I can't think of a more noble profession and a better way to serve your community than teaching. We're going to expand Senior Corps, as well, to give our seniors a chance to continue to lend their expertise and judgment and wisdom in the communities in which they live. And finally, I believe that one thing we must do and I spent some time talking about it last night was to expand the Peace Corps, revitalize the mission, encourage the Peace Corps to go into the Islamic world to spread the message of economic development and really share the compassion of a great nation, and that is America. These are ways you can help. These are ways that you can be a part of serving your Nation. Along these lines, I've asked a friend of mine who has served my administration well to be the Director, the Executive Director of this USA Freedom Corps. He is an integral part of our team. And by taking him off the Domestic Policy Council and putting him in charge of USA Freedom, I am obviously making a strong commitment to the future of this organization. He'll be held accountable. When we say we're going to get more people involved, I'll be asking him on a regular basis, "How are we doing? If we're not doing that well, how come? What can we do to make it better?" But I'd like you to welcome the new Executive Director, John Bridgeland. Applause Now, in order to make sure people who want to sign up if you listened to the speech last night, you know, people were saying, "Well, gosh, that's nice. He called me to action. Where do I look?" Well, here's where at usafreedomcorps.gov. If you want to find out how you can join the USA Freedom Corps or, for that matter, figure out how to help to serve your community outside of the USA Freedom Corps because, as I understand, we've got it tied into web sites, for example, the community services in Winston Salem dial up usafreedomcorps.gov. Or you can call this number it sounds like I'm making a pitch, and I am. Laughter This is the right thing to do for America 1 877 USA CORPS. If somebody out there is interested in figuring out how to serve, it's 1 877 USA CORPS. Now, people ask me all the time, "What can I do to help? How can I be a part?" And oh, by the way, I look forward to working with my old rival on this initiative. One of the things that John McCain spent a lot of time talking about when we ran against each other and still spends a lot of time talking about is service. He's a man who understood service to his country. He's a man who knows that America will be better off as we serve our country. And I look forward to working with Senator McCain and Senator Bayh of Indiana to get this legislation through the Congress. People, though, come up to me all the time and say, "Well, gosh, that's good. We're winning." I say, "We are, and we've got a lot more to do, and it's going to take a while." They say, "What can I do to help?" You know, you've heard me talk about this, probably, but I really, truly view this as a conflict between good and evil. And there really isn't much middle ground like none. Laughter The people we fight are evil people. They have no regard for human life. They believe in tyranny. Their history has shown exactly what I'm talking about. Imagine a society where women are brutalized, children aren't educated, young girls have no chance of getting an education. It is a backward, barbaric point of view. And those are the kind of people but the people we're after embraced that point of view. And obviously, if you want to fight evil, we've figured out a way to do so militarily. That's one way. But at home, you fight evil with acts of goodness. You overcome the evil in society by doing something to help somebody. It's the collection what I called last night the momentum of a million acts of kindness. That's the collective soul of the country, millions of acts of kindness and decency that take place not because of the Government but because this is a nation of heart, a nation that cares, a nation of fine, fine people. If people want to fight terror, do something kind for a neighbor join the USA Freedom Corps love somebody mentor a child stand up to evil with acts of goodness and kindness. Not only will our country be better, but we'll show the world we will show the world that values, universal values, must be respected and must be adhered to. And as a result, the world will be more peaceful. History has called us to action, and action we will take. It is such an honor I want to repeat where I started it is such an honor to be the President of such a great land, to be given the opportunity to lead a land full of such great people. Fight on, America. I love you. God bless. January 29, 2002 Thank you very much. Mr. Speaker, Vice President Cheney, Members of Congress, distinguished guests, fellow citizens As we gather tonight, our Nation is at war our economy is in recession and the civilized world faces unprecedented dangers. Yet, the state of our Union has never been stronger. We last met in an hour of shock and suffering. In 4 short months, our Nation has comforted the victims, begun to rebuild New York and the Pentagon, rallied a great coalition, captured, arrested, and rid the world of thousands of terrorists, destroyed Afghanistan's terrorist training camps, saved a people from starvation, and freed a country from brutal oppression. The American flag flies again over our Embassy in Kabul. Terrorists who once occupied Afghanistan now occupy cells at Guantanamo Bay. And terrorist leaders who urged followers to sacrifice their lives are running for their own. America and Afghanistan are now allies against terror. We'll be partners in rebuilding that country. And this evening we welcomed the distinguished interim leader of a liberated Afghanistan, Chairman Hamid Karzai. The last time we met in this Chamber, the mothers and daughters of Afghanistan were captives in their own homes, forbidden from working or going to school. Today, women are free and are part of Afghanistan's new Government. And we welcome the new Minister of Women's Affairs, Dr. Sima Samar. Our progress is a tribute to the spirit of the Afghan people, to the resolve of our coalition, and to the might of the United States military. When I called our troops into action, I did so with complete confidence in their courage and skill. And tonight, thanks to them, we are winning the war on terror. The men and women of our Armed Forces have delivered a message now clear to every enemy of the United States Even 7,000 miles away, across oceans and continents, on mountaintops and in caves, you will not escape the justice of this Nation. For many Americans, these 4 months have brought sorrow and pain that will never completely go away. Every day a retired firefighter returns to Ground Zero to feel closer to his two sons who died there. At a memorial in New York, a little boy left his football with a note for his lost father "Dear Daddy, please take this to heaven. I don't want to play football until I can play with you again some day." Last month, at the grave of her husband, Micheal, a CIA officer and marine who died in Mazar e Sharif, Shannon Spann said these words of farewell, "Semper Fi, my love." Shannon is with us tonight. Shannon, I assure you and all who have lost a loved one that our cause is just, and our country will never forget the debt we owe Micheal and all who gave their lives for freedom. Our cause is just, and it continues. Our discoveries in Afghanistan confirmed our worst fears and showed us the true scope of the task ahead. We have seen the depth of our enemies' hatred in videos where they laugh about the loss of innocent life. And the depth of their hatred is equaled by the madness of the destruction they design. We have found diagrams of American nuclear powerplants and public water facilities, detailed instructions for making chemical weapons, surveillance maps of American cities, and thorough descriptions of landmarks in America and throughout the world. What we have found in Afghanistan confirms that, far from ending there, our war against terror is only beginning. Most of the 19 men who hijacked planes on September the 11th were trained in Afghanistan's camps, and so were tens of thousands of others. Thousands of dangerous killers, schooled in the methods of murder, often supported by outlaw regimes, are now spread throughout the world like ticking timebombs, set to go off without warning. Thanks to the work of our law enforcement officials and coalition partners, hundreds of terrorists have been arrested. Yet, tens of thousands of trained terrorists are still at large. These enemies view the entire world as a battlefield, and we must pursue them wherever they are. So long as training camps operate, so long as nations harbor terrorists, freedom is at risk. And America and our allies must not and will not allow it. Our Nation will continue to be steadfast and patient and persistent in the pursuit of two great objectives. First, we will shut down terrorist camps, disrupt terrorist plans, and bring terrorists to justice. And second, we must prevent the terrorists and regimes who seek chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons from threatening the United States and the world. Our military has put the terror training camps of Afghanistan out of business, yet camps still exist in at least a dozen countries. A terrorist underworld, including groups like Hamas, Hizballah, Islamic Jihad, Jaish e Mohammed, operates in remote jungles and deserts and hides in the centers of large cities. While the most visible military action is in Afghanistan, America is acting elsewhere. We now have troops in the Philippines, helping to train that country's armed forces to go after terrorist cells that have executed an American and still hold hostages. Our soldiers, working with the Bosnian Government, seized terrorists who were plotting to bomb our Embassy. Our Navy is patrolling the coast of Africa to block the shipment of weapons and the establishment of terrorist camps in Somalia. My hope is that all nations will heed our call and eliminate the terrorist parasites who threaten their countries and our own. Many nations are acting forcefully. Pakistan is now cracking down on terror, and I admire the strong leadership of President Musharraf. But some governments will be timid in the face of terror. And make no mistake about it If they do not act, America will. Our second goal is to prevent regimes that sponsor terror from threatening America or our friends and allies with weapons of mass destruction. Some of these regimes have been pretty quiet since September the 11th, but we know their true nature. North Korea is a regime arming with missiles and weapons of mass destruction, while starving its citizens. Iran aggressively pursues these weapons and exports terror, while an unelected few repress the Iranian people's hope for freedom. Iraq continues to flaunt its hostility toward America and to support terror. The Iraqi regime has plotted to develop anthrax and nerve gas and nuclear weapons for over a decade. This is a regime that has already used poison gas to murder thousands of its own citizens, leaving the bodies of mothers huddled over their dead children. This is a regime that agreed to international inspections, then kicked out the inspectors. This is a regime that has something to hide from the civilized world. States like these and their terrorist allies constitute an axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world. By seeking weapons of mass destruction, these regimes pose a grave and growing danger. They could provide these arms to terrorists, giving them the means to match their hatred. They could attack our allies or attempt to blackmail the United States. In any of these cases, the price of indifference would be catastrophic. We will work closely with our coalition to deny terrorists and their state sponsors the materials, technology, and expertise to make and deliver weapons of mass destruction. We will develop and deploy effective missile defenses to protect America and our allies from sudden attack. And all nations should know America will do what is necessary to ensure our Nation's security. We'll be deliberate yet, time is not on our side. I will not wait on events while dangers gather. I will not stand by as peril draws closer and closer. The United States of America will not permit the world's most dangerous regimes to threaten us with the world's most destructive weapons. Our war on terror is well begun, but it is only begun. This campaign may not be finished on our watch yet, it must be and it will be waged on our watch. We can't stop short. If we stop now, leaving terror camps intact and terrorist states unchecked, our sense of security would be false and temporary. History has called America and our allies to action, and it is both our responsibility and our privilege to fight freedom's fight. Our first priority must always be the security of our Nation, and that will be reflected in the budget I send to Congress. My budget supports three great goals for America We will win this war we will protect our homeland and we will revive our economy. September the 11th brought out the best in America and the best in this Congress. And I join the American people in applauding your unity and resolve. Now Americans deserve to have this same spirit directed toward addressing problems here at home. I'm a proud member of my party. Yet as we act to win the war, protect our people, and create jobs in America, we must act, first and foremost, not as Republicans, not as Democrats but as Americans. It costs a lot to fight this war. We have spent more than a billion dollars a month, over 30 million a day, and we must be prepared for future operations. Afghanistan proved that expensive precision weapons defeat the enemy and spare innocent lives, and we need more of them. We need to replace aging aircraft and make our military more agile to put our troops anywhere in the world quickly and safely. Our men and women in uniform deserve the best weapons, the best equipment, the best training, and they also deserve another pay raise. My budget includes the largest increase in defense spending in two decades, because while the price of freedom and security is high, it is never too high. Whatever it costs to defend our country, we will pay. The next priority of my budget is to do everything possible to protect our citizens and strengthen our Nation against the ongoing threat of another attack. Time and distance from the events of September the 11th will not make us safer unless we act on its lessons. America is no longer protected by vast oceans. We are protected from attack only by vigorous action abroad and increased vigilance at home. My budget nearly doubles funding for a sustained strategy of homeland security, focused on four key areas bioterrorism, emergency response, airport and border security, and improved intelligence. We will develop vaccines to fight anthrax and other deadly diseases. We'll increase funding to help States and communities train and equip our heroic police and firefighters. We will improve intelligence collection and sharing, expand patrols at our borders, strengthen the security of air travel, and use technology to track the arrivals and departures of visitors to the United States. Homeland security will make America not only stronger but, in many ways, better. Knowledge gained from bioterrorism research will improve public health. Stronger police and fire departments will mean safer neighborhoods. Stricter border enforcement will help combat illegal drugs. And as government works to better secure our homeland, America will continue to depend on the eyes and ears of alert citizens. A few days before Christmas, an airline flight attendant spotted a passenger lighting a match. The crew and passengers quickly subdued the man, who had been trained by Al Qaida and was armed with explosives. The people on that plane were alert and, as a result, likely saved nearly 200 lives. And tonight we welcome and thank flight attendants Hermis Moutardier and Christina Jones. Once we have funded our national security and our homeland security, the final great priority of my budget is economic security for the American people. To achieve these great national objectives to win the war, protect the homeland, and revitalize our economy our budget will run a deficit that will be small and short term, so long as Congress restrains spending and acts in a fiscally responsible manner. We have clear priorities, and we must act at home with the same purpose and resolve we have shown overseas. We'll prevail in the war, and we will defeat this recession. Americans who have lost their jobs need our help, and I support extending unemployment benefits and direct assistance for health care coverage. Yet, American workers want more than unemployment checks they want a steady paycheck. When America works, America prospers, so my economic security plan can be summed up in one word jobs. Good jobs begin with good schools, and here we've made a fine start. Republicans and Democrats worked together to achieve historic education reform so that no child is left behind. I was proud to work with members of both parties Chairman John Boehner and Congressman George Miller Senator Judd Gregg. And I was so proud of our work, I even had nice things to say about my friend Ted Kennedy. Laughter I know the folks at the Crawford coffee shop couldn't believe I'd say such a thing laughter but our work on this bill shows what is possible if we set aside posturing and focus on results. There is more to do. We need to prepare our children to read and succeed in school with improved Head Start and early childhood development programs. We must upgrade our teacher colleges and teacher training and launch a major recruiting drive with a great goal for America, a quality teacher in every classroom. Good jobs also depend on reliable and affordable energy. This Congress must act to encourage conservation, promote technology, build infrastructure, and it must act to increase energy production at home so America is less dependent on foreign oil. Good jobs depend on expanded trade. Selling into new markets creates new jobs, so I ask Congress to finally approve trade promotion authority. On these two key issues, trade and energy, the House of Representatives has acted to create jobs, and I urge the Senate to pass this legislation. Good jobs depend on sound tax policy. Last year, some in this Hall thought my tax relief plan was too small some thought it was too big. But when the checks arrived in the mail, most Americans thought tax relief was just about right. Congress listened to the people and responded by reducing tax rates, doubling the child credit, and ending the death tax. For the sake of long term growth and to help Americans plan for the future, let's make these tax cuts permanent. The way out of this recession, the way to create jobs, is to grow the economy by encouraging investment in factories and equipment and by speeding up tax relief so people have more money to spend. For the sake of American workers, let's pass a stimulus package. Good jobs must be the aim of welfare reform. As we reauthorize these important reforms, we must always remember the goal is to reduce dependency on government and offer every American the dignity of a job. Americans know economic security can vanish in an instant without health security. I ask Congress to join me this year to enact a patients' bill of rights, to give uninsured workers credits to help buy health coverage, to approve an historic increase in the spending for veterans' health, and to give seniors a sound and modern Medicare system that includes coverage for prescription drugs. A good job should lead to security in retirement. I ask Congress to enact new safeguards for 401(k) and pension plans. Employees who have worked hard and saved all their lives should not have to risk losing everything if their company fails. Through stricter accounting standards and tougher disclosure requirements, corporate America must be made more accountable to employees and shareholders and held to the highest standards of conduct. Retirement security also depends upon keeping the commitments of Social Security, and we will. We must make Social Security financially stable and allow personal retirement accounts for younger workers who choose them. Members, you and I will work together in the months ahead on other issues productive farm policy a cleaner environment broader homeownership, especially among minorities and ways to encourage the good work of charities and faith based groups. I ask you to join me on these important domestic issues in the same spirit of cooperation we've applied to our war against terrorism. During these last few months, I've been humbled and privileged to see the true character of this country in a time of testing. Our enemies believed America was weak and materialistic, that we would splinter in fear and selfishness. They were as wrong as they are evil. The American people have responded magnificently, with courage and compassion, strength and resolve. As I have met the heroes, hugged the families, and looked into the tired faces of rescuers, I have stood in awe of the American people. And I hope you will join me I hope you will join me in expressing thanks to one American for the strength and calm and comfort she brings to our Nation in crisis, our First Lady, Laura Bush. None of us would ever wish the evil that was done on September the 11th. Yet, after America was attacked, it was as if our entire country looked into a mirror and saw our better selves. We were reminded that we are citizens with obligations to each other, to our country, and to history. We began to think less of the goods we can accumulate and more about the good we can do. For too long our culture has said, "If it feels good, do it." Now America is embracing a new ethic and a new creed, "Let's roll." In the sacrifice of soldiers, the fierce brotherhood of firefighters, and the bravery and generosity of ordinary citizens, we have glimpsed what a new culture of responsibility could look like. We want to be a nation that serves goals larger than self. We've been offered a unique opportunity, and we must not let this moment pass. My call tonight is for every American to commit at least 2 years, 4,000 hours over the rest of your lifetime, to the service of your neighbors and your Nation. Many are already serving, and I thank you. If you aren't sure how to help, I've got a good place to start. To sustain and extend the best that has emerged in America, I invite you to join the new USA Freedom Corps. The Freedom Corps will focus on three areas of need responding in case of crisis at home rebuilding our communities and extending American compassion throughout the world. One purpose of the USA Freedom Corps will be homeland security. America needs retired doctors and nurses who can be mobilized in major emergencies, volunteers to help police and fire departments, transportation and utility workers well trained in spotting danger. Our country also needs citizens working to rebuild our communities. We need mentors to love children, especially children whose parents are in prison. And we need more talented teachers in troubled schools. USA Freedom Corps will expand and improve the good efforts of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps to recruit more than 200,000 new volunteers. And America needs citizens to extend the compassion of our country to every part of the world. So we will renew the promise of the Peace Corps, double its volunteers over the next 5 years, and ask it to join a new effort to encourage development and education and opportunity in the Islamic world. This time of adversity offers a unique moment of opportunity, a moment we must seize to change our culture. Through the gathering momentum of millions of acts of service and decency and kindness, I know we can overcome evil with greater good. And we have a great opportunity during this time of war to lead the world toward the values that will bring lasting peace. All fathers and mothers, in all societies, want their children to be educated and live free from poverty and violence. No people on Earth yearn to be oppressed or aspire to servitude or eagerly await the midnight knock of the secret police. If anyone doubts this, let them look to Afghanistan, where the Islamic "street" greeted the fall of tyranny with song and celebration. Let the skeptics look to Islam's own rich history, with its centuries of learning and tolerance and progress. America will lead by defending liberty and justice because they are right and true and unchanging for all people everywhere. No nation owns these aspirations, and no nation is exempt from them. We have no intention of imposing our culture. But America will always stand firm for the nonnegotiable demands of human dignity the rule of law limits on the power of the state respect for women private property free speech equal justice and religious tolerance. America will take the side of brave men and women who advocate these values around the world, including the Islamic world, because we have a greater objective than eliminating threats and containing resentment. We seek a just and peaceful world beyond the war on terror. In this moment of opportunity, a common danger is erasing old rivalries. America is working with Russia and China and India, in ways we have never before, to achieve peace and prosperity. In every region, free markets and free trade and free societies are proving their power to lift lives. Together with friends and allies from Europe to Asia and Africa to Latin America, we will demonstrate that the forces of terror cannot stop the momentum of freedom. The last time I spoke here, I expressed the hope that life would return to normal. In some ways, it has. In others, it never will. Those of us who have lived through these challenging times have been changed by them. We've come to know truths that we will never question Evil is real, and it must be opposed. Beyond all differences of race or creed, we are one country, mourning together and facing danger together. Deep in the American character, there is honor, and it is stronger than cynicism. And many have discovered again that even in tragedy especially in tragedy God is near. In a single instant, we realized that this will be a decisive decade in the history of liberty, that we've been called to a unique role in human events. Rarely has the world faced a choice more clear or consequential. Our enemies send other people's children on missions of suicide and murder. They embrace tyranny and death as a cause and a creed. We stand for a different choice, made long ago on the day of our founding. We affirm it again today. We choose freedom and the dignity of every life. Steadfast in our purpose, we now press on. We have known freedom's price. We have shown freedom's power. And in this great conflict, my fellow Americans, we will see freedom's victory. Thank you all. May God bless. January 28, 2002 The President. It's a great honor for me to welcome to the White House the Chairman of the Afghan Interim Authority, Hamid Karzai. Mr. Chairman, welcome. Chairman Karzai. Thank you very much. The President. I also want to welcome the ministers of the Interim Authority who have accompanied him to Washington. Chairman Karzai is a determined leader, and his Government reflects the hopes of all Afghans for a new and better future, a future free from terror, free from war, and free from want. The United States strongly supports Chairman Karzai's interim Government. And we strongly support the Bonn agreement that provides the Afghan people with a path towards a broadly based government that protects the human rights of all its citizens. The Afghan people have already taken the first steps along this path by committing to rid their country of Al Qaida terrorists and remnants of the Taliban regime who supported the terrorists. Yet, even as the war against terrorism continues, the world has also begun to help the Afghan people win the peace they deserve. The United States is committed to building a lasting partnership with Afghanistan. We'll help the new Afghan Government provide the security that is the foundation for peace. Today, peacekeepers from around the world are helping provide security on the streets of Kabul. The United States will continue to work closely with these forces and provide support for their mission. We will also support programs to train new police officers and to help establish and train an Afghanistan national military. The United States is also committed to playing a leading role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. Today I announce the United States Overseas Private Investment Corporation will provide an additional 50 million line of credit for Afghanistan to finance private sector projects. This announcement builds on the United States' pledge in Tokyo earlier this month to provide 297 million this year to create jobs and to start rebuilding Afghanistan's agricultural sector, its health care system, and its educational system. Yet these efforts are only the beginning. Two days ago, for the first time since 1979, an American flag was raised over the U.S. Agency for International Development's mission in Kabul. That flag will not be lowered. It will wave long into the future, a symbol of America's enduring commitment to Afghanistan's future. Chairman Karzai, I reaffirm to you today that the United States will continue to be a friend to the Afghan people in all the challenges that lie ahead. Welcome to Washington. Chairman Karzai. Thank you very much. Well, thank you very much, Mr. President. Although we are here, as I mentioned in my meeting with you, invited by you, for which we are very grateful, but we are also here in a way to thank you and the American people for the great help that we were given to liberate our country once again, this time from terrorism from the Taliban. The Afghan people recognize this help. They know that, without this help, we would have still probably been under that rule. So thank you very much to you and, through you, to the American people. Afghanistan is a good partner. It will stay a good partner. And I'm sure that the future of the two countries will be good, and a wonderful relationship should be expected to come in the future. Thank you very much for the help that you gave us during the Tokyo conference, and thank you for organizing that, as well, together with other co organizers. And thank you for the help that you announced today. Afghanistan does need help in reconstruction. Afghanistan does need help in the rebuilding of its national army. And thank you very much for doing that, too. I assure you, Mr. President, that Afghanistan, with your help and the help of other countries, friends, will be strong and will stand eventually on its own feet. And it will be a country that will defend its borders and not allow terrorism to return to it or bother it or trouble it. We'll be self reliant. We'll do good in business. We'll be a strong country. Afghanistan knows, Mr. President, the suffering of those people in America that saw and went through the horrors of the Twin Tower incident, the terrorism there. I believe the Afghans are the best people to see the pain exactly the way it was felt there then, at the time, because the Afghans have suffered exactly in the same way. We have sympathy we know that pain we understand it. Our families know that pain. Therefore, this joint struggle against terrorism should go to the absolute end of it. We must finish them. We must bring them out of their caves and their hideouts, and we promise we'll do that. Thank you very much, again, for having us here. It was an honor, and we enjoy our trip to the U.S, myself and my colleagues. Thank you very much. The President. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We'll answer a couple of questions. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters , Sonya Sonya Ross, Associated Press . Guantanamo Bay Detainees Q. On the issue of the detainees at Guantanamo Bay, what's wrong with formally applying the Geneva Convention to them? The President. I have the question is about the detainees in Guantanamo Bay. I had a very interesting meeting this morning with my national security team. We're discussing all the legal ramifications of how we what we how we characterize the actions at Guantanamo Bay. A couple of things we agree on One, they will not be treated as prisoners of war they're illegal combatants. Secondly, they will be treated humanely. And then, I'll figure out I'll listen to all the legalisms and announce my decision when I make it. But we're in total agreement on how to on whether or not on how these prisoners, or detainees, excuse me, ought to be treated. And they'll be treated well. And yesterday the Secretary of Defense went down to Guantanamo Bay with United States Senators from both political parties. The Senators got to see the circumstances in which these detainees were being held. They I don't want to put words in their mouth, but according to the Secretary of Defense I'll let him put words in their mouth they felt like, one, that our troops were really valiant in their efforts to make sure that these killers these are killers were held in such a way that they were safe. I noticed one of our troops last night was commenting that they are receiving very good medical care. But I'll make my decision about on how to legally interpret the situation here pretty soon. Sonya. National Energy Policy Development Group Q. Are you prepared to go to court with the General Accounting Office to keep secret the records of your energy task force meetings? The President. Well, the question about the General Accounting Office is this Should an administration be allowed to have private conversations in this office without everybody knowing about it? This is a part of how you make decisions, is to call people in and say, "What's your opinion? What's your opinion on stem cell? What's your opinion on energy? What's your opinion on the war?" And in order for me to be able to get good, sound opinions, those who offer me opinions or offer the Vice President opinions must know that every word they say is not going to be put into the public record. And so I view the GAO like the Vice President does. It's an encroachment on the executive branch's ability to conduct business. Now, as far as the specific case of the energy report goes, there is an energy report that is now in the public arena. People are free to read it. I hope they do, because it's a comprehensive report, one based upon the opinions of members of the exploration sector of the energy business some about the infrastructure, opinions from those involved with the infrastructure some opinions, obviously, from those in the environmental community. This is a report that collected a lot of opinions, and it was done in such a way that people felt free to come in and express their opinion. And so, to answer your question, we're not going to let the ability for us to discuss matters between ourselves to become eroded. It's not only important for us, for this administration it is an important principle for future administrations. Gregory David Gregory, NBC News . Situation in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, on the Middle East The President. Medium size Stretch. Laughter Q. When you spoke to President Mubarak today and expressed your disappointment in Yasser Arafat, what did he say? And secondly, are you worried that the level of disappointment in the region is not as high as your own? Does that complicate your efforts to build a coalition against Arafat that's necessary? The President. I think members I think first of all, Mr. Mubarak can characterize the conversation the way he sees fit. I will just tell you what I told him. And I told him that in order for there to be peace in the Middle East, we must rout out terror wherever it exists. And the U.S. effort to rout out terror around the world is going to benefit the Middle East in the long term. It is important for Mr. Arafat to not only renounce terror but to arrest those who would terrorize people trying to bring peace. There are people in the region that want there to be a peaceful settlement, and yet, obviously, terrorists are trying to prevent that from happening by wanton murder. And Mr. Arafat must join the effort to arrest them. And when the ship showed up with weapons, obviously aimed at terrorizing that part of the world, I expressed my severe disappointment because I was led to believe that he was willing to join us in the fight on terror. I took him for his word when he at Oslo. And so I made this very clear to my friend Hosni Mubarak, that ridding the Middle East of terror is going to make it more likely that there be peace and stability in the region. National Energy Policy Development Group Report Enron Q. Mr. President, going back to the issue of the GAO lawsuit The President. Yes. Q. some in Congress, particularly Congressman Waxman, have suggested that the energy report represented a wish list for Enron. The President. The energy report represented a wish in other words, we were doing favors for Enron? Q. Do you agree with that, sir? The President. Well, Enron went bust. Shortly after the report was put out, Enron went broke. And it went broke because, it seems like to me and I will wait for the facts to come out it went broke because there was not full disclosure of finances. This is a what we're talking about here is a corporate governance issue. This is a business problem that our country must deal with and must fix that is, full disclosure of liabilities, full understanding of the effects of decisions on pension funds, reform of a pension system, perhaps. There are some on Capitol Hill who want to politicize this issue. This is not a political issue. It is a business issue that this Nation must deal with. And you know, Enron had made contributions to a lot of people around Washington, DC. And if they came to this administration looking for help, they didn't find any. Now, obviously, we're interested in people's opinions about energy those in the energy business, those in the conservation world, those who know how to develop infrastructure. And so we solicited a lot of opinions from people. And the report is now public everybody can read it to determine our vision about how to make our country less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil, which we must do. Yes, Jim Jim Angle, FOX News . Afghanistan Q. Mr. President, we understand that you do not want to commit American troops to peacekeeping forces in Afghanistan. Why not, sir? And do you have any concerns that there will be enough forces to give Mr. Karzai the kind of security he needs? The President. We are committing help to the ISAF in the form of logistical help, in the form of kind of a bailout if the troops get in trouble, we stand ready to help in the form of intelligence. Plus, I have just made in my remarks here a significant change of policy, and that is that we're going to help Afghanistan develop her own military. That is the most important part of this visit, it seems like to me, besides the fact of welcoming a man who stands for freedom, a man who stood for freedom in the face of tyranny. We have made a decision both of us have made the decision that Afghanistan must, as quickly as possible, develop her own military. And we will help. We'll help train, and Tommy Franks, our general, fully understands this and is fully committed to this idea. So, better yet than peacekeepers which will be there for a while, with our help let's have Afghanistan have her own military. Major Major Garrett, Cable News Network . 2003 Budget Proposal Tax Relief Q. Mr. President, along the issue of politicizing Enron, the majority leader, Tom Daschle, with whom you in the past have said you have a good working relationship, said over the weekend that he was afraid your budget would Enronize Social Security and Medicare that is to say, put them in specific jeopardy of collapsing. I wonder if you could comment on that, sir, and if there's any way to make this The President. Well, sometimes there's political hyperbole here in this town. The budget I submitted is one will submit soon is one that says that the war on terror is going on, and we're going to win, and we've got to make sure we spend enough money to win. It's also one that prioritizes homeland security. It is also one that wants to do something about our economy let's get a stimulus bill. It's a bill that sets priorities. And it is I think there are some still upset with the tax cut, but I want to remind you that we were in recession in March of last year. That's when they officially declared recession. The slowdown was obviously significant to reach a point where we were where the economists said we were in recession, and so the tax cuts came at the right time. Now, there are some who believe if you raise taxes, it makes the economy stronger. As I've told the American people several times, I don't understand what textbook they're reading. I believe by reducing taxes, it makes the economy stronger. The tax relief came right at the right time. Now, our economy is still, you know, not as strong as it should be. There's still some weakness, but surely people aren't suggesting raising taxes at this point makes sense. I don't believe it does make any sense. And so the budget I've submitted is a good, strong budget. It sets priorities, and it's realistic, and the American people will understand it when I explain it tomorrow night. Yes, Terry Terry Moran, ABC News . Guantanamo Bay Detainees Q. Mr. President, in holding the detainees in Cuba in the manner in which the United States is, is one of the signals you're sending that in this new kind of war, as you've described it, the Geneva Conventions are outdated and don't apply in the conflict with Al Qaida? The President. No, the Geneva Conventions are not outdated, and it's a very important principle. First of all, Terry, we are adhering to the spirit of the Geneva Convention. When you say you're holding the prisoners in the manner you are we're giving them medical care they're being well treated. There is no allegation well, there may be an allegation there's no evidence that we're treating them outside the spirit of the Geneva Convention. And for those who say we are, they just don't know what they're talking about. And so Q. Mr. President The President. Let me finish. And so I am looking at the legalities involved with the Geneva Convention. In either case, however I make my decision, these detainees will be well treated. We are not going to call them prisoners of war, in either case, and the reason why is, Al Qaida is not a known military. These are killers. These are terrorists. They know no countries. And the only thing they know about countries is when they find a country that's been weak, and they want to occupy it like a parasite. And that's why we're so pleased to join with Chairman Karzai to rout them out. And so the prisoners, detainees, will be well treated. They just won't be afforded prisoner of war status. I'll decide beyond that whether or not they can be noncombatants under the Geneva Convention, or not. I'll make that legal decision soon. But this administration has made the decision they'll be well treated. Long before they arrived at Guantanamo Bay did we make that decision. Plante Bill Plante, CBS News . Saudi Arabian Detainees Q. Mr. President, the Saudi Interior Minister today said that a majority of those being held at Guantanamo, more than 100, are Saudi citizens, and asked that they be returned to Saudi Arabia for questioning. The President. Well, I appreciate his request. And we will, of course we'll take it under consideration. There are a lot of detainees around the world as a result of this first phase in the war against terror. There's a lot in Pakistan there's a lot in Afghanistan and there are 179, I believe, or whatever the number is, in Guantanamo Bay. So there's a lot of Saudi citizens that chose to fight for Al Qaida and or the Taliban that we want to know more about. And so we'll make a decision on a case by case basis as to whether they go back to Saudi Arabia or not. I appreciate his suggestion. Listen, I want to thank you all very much. Mr. Chairman, it's good to have you Q. May I ask Chairman Karzai a question? The President. Ask who? Q. May I ask Chairman Karzai something about The President. Of course you can ask Chairman Karzai a question. Thank you. Q. Mr. President, I have a question The President. No, I'm sorry. Afghanistan Q. Chairman Karzai, given Afghanistan's history of fighting foreign invaders and its pride and independence, are you concerned about any political sensitivity inaudible in establishing an Afghan military? And how would you describe the ideal partnership between the United States? Chairman Karzai. Well, we have no concerns there. As I mentioned in my remarks earlier, the Afghans are grateful that we were helped twice, once during the Soviet occupation, by the U.S., and now to fight terrorism and liberate ourselves from that menace. We are a fiercely independent country, and the world knows that. Our neighbors know that very well, and the countries in the region know that. The Afghan request for training of our army is nothing new. Our prime ministers were here even back in the 1950s to ask this kind of training. And it's training and a relationship between two independent, sovereign countries, and nothing to worry others. Usama bin Laden Q. Chairman Karzai, have you discussed in regards with Usama bin Laden, and what can you do to gather more information to capture him? Chairman Karzai. We are looking for him. He's a fugitive. If we find him, we'll catch him. Thank you very much. The President. That's right. January 28, 2002 Please be seated. Mr. Commissioner, good to see you, sir. Thank you for coming. I appreciate the Buss family members for being here. Thank you. Welcome to the East Coast. I'm so honored that Phil Jackson has come with players from the mighty LA Lakers championship team. I want to welcome you all the to White House. We're thrilled you're here. This is one way for us to congratulate you for being champs. I want to thank the members of the California congressional delegation. I think we've got six Members here. Thank you all for coming. I know you're as proud of the team as the people of California are. I also want to thank the Boys and Girls Clubs of Atlantic City in New Jersey and Maryland for being here. I'm just as excited as you are for meeting these players. Laughter And thanks for coming. I first want to congratulate Coach Jackson on learning how to win championships for different teams. He's got to be a pretty remarkable guy to figure out how to win on a consistent basis. And so, Phil, congratulations for coming back to the White House. I also want to thank the players. Being champs on the court means you've got to be champs off the court as well. And I know these players understand that every time they do something, some kid is watching. Every time they say something, some kid is listening. And I want to thank the players who understand that with victory comes huge responsibility to encourage people to make the right choices in life. To me, that's the true sign of a champ. I also want to thank the LA Lakers for being involved in your community. People ask me all the time after the attack of 9 11, "What can I do to help? How can I participate in the war against terror?" And the answer is, you fight evil with acts of decency and kindness. You fight evil by doing something good. You fight evil by teaching a child that somebody loves them. You fight evil by being an LA Laker that convinces somebody to be a mentor for some child in inner city Los Angeles who wonders whether there's any love or hope in the world. That's how you fight evil. And so I want to thank the organization and the players and the coach for assuming a position of responsibility in our society. I was hoping that on his birthday, Mark Madsen would dance for us. Laughter I actually as I said, I was hoping. Laughter I'm afraid the Secret Service might react violently if you did. Laughter But I'm glad you all are here. It's an honor to welcome champs to the people's house. LA Lakers, good luck this year. Congratulations for two fabulous seasons. Welcome. January 26, 2002 Good morning. A few days from now I will go before Congress to report on the state of the Union and lay out my priorities for the coming year and beyond. These priorities reflect a single, overarching commitment to enhance the security of America and its people. Government's responsibilities begin with the defense of our Nation. Our fight against terrorism began in Afghanistan, but it will not end there. America must not rest until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped, and defeated. In this work, our military must have every resource, every weapon needed to achieve full and final victory. My budget calls for the largest increase in defense spending in the last 20 years, investing in more precision weapons, missile defenses, unmanned vehicles, and high tech equipment for our soldiers on the ground. I will also seek another pay increase for the men and women who wear our country's uniform. We will spend what it takes to win the war against terrorism. A related priority is homeland security. We will pursue a sustained strategy to protect our people from the threat of terrorism. The Federal Government has already acted to increase airport security, investigate terrorist activity, and improve our response capability. In the next budget, we will do even more. I'll be calling on Congress to nearly double funding for homeland defense to 38 billion. We will complete the hiring of tens of thousands of new Federal airport security workers. We will strengthen the Border Patrol, hire another 300 FBI agents to help fight the war on terror. We'll provide more money so that State and local firefighters, police officers, and EMTs have the equipment they need. The American people are on watch against future attacks, and their Government will be as well. The third key of my budget is to fight the recession and build economic security for the American people. Government doesn't create jobs, but it can encourage an environment in which jobs are created. I'm glad the Senate is finally moving forward, and I urge it to pass a strong stimulus bill like one that passed the House last year. Every budget reflects fundamental choices, and my administration has made choices to fit the times. We'll work to create jobs and renew the strength of our economy. We'll protect our people in every way necessary, and we will carry on the campaign against global terror until we achieve our goal, the peace that comes from victory. Thank you for listening. January 25, 2002 Situation in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, are you consider cutting off ties to Yasser Arafat, sir? The President. I am disappointed in Yasser Arafat. He must make a full effort to rout out terror in the Middle East. In order for there to be peace, we've got to rout out terror. And ordering up weapons that were intercepted on a boat headed toward headed for that part of the world is not part of fighting terror that's enhancing terror. And obviously, we're very disappointed. Q. We're told that you thought his explanation was insulting, sir. The President. I never said that. Thank you all. January 25, 2002 Thank you all very much for coming. It's nice to be back in, I guess, my second home. I was telling your fine Governor, Angus King and thank you for being here, Angus. I'm so honored you're here. He said, "Are you going to come back next summer?" I said, "I knew I should have made my bed last time I was here." Laughter I'm not so sure my mother is going to invite me back, but I hope she does. Laughter Maine's a fabulous State, and as the Governor knows, it's full of such decent people. And thank you for coming out for such a warm greeting. I've got some things on my mind, and I want to share them with the good people of Maine. First, I want to tell you, I've got a great Cabinet. I'm so proud of the way our team has responded. A leader is only good as his team. I brought two members of my Cabinet with me Secretary Mineta, and when I picked him out of the ranks, he was a he served the previous administration as the Commerce Secretary. He's a proud Democrat, but he showed America really what he is He's a proud American, and he's done a fabulous job. And I knew I needed somebody who knew something about local government to run the Homeland Security Office, somebody who had been an administrator, a chief executive officer, and somebody who could organize a massive task. And I picked the right man when it came to the former Governor of Pennsylvania, my very close friend Tom Ridge. And one thing the world is learning, something I already knew, we've got a fabulous military run by fine people. Admiral Loy, thank you for your leadership. I appreciate it. I was supposed to bring two other folks with me today. I think you've heard of them Snowe and Collins. They missed the flight laughter for good reason. They were working on behalf of the people of Maine. They had some votes to cast. But I will tell you, these two fine ladies are good to work with, strong for the support of the State of Maine, and great patriots. I'm proud of their service to our country, and I want to thank you for sending them to Washington, DC. And I know a Congressman one of the two Congressmen from your State, John Baldacci, is here. John, where are you? Thank you for coming. I appreciate you being here as well. First, I want to talk about the Coast Guard. Now, you probably think I've had a sweet spot in my heart for the Coast Guard because when I spend the night at 41's house down the coast, I wake up and see the cutter sitting out there. Laughter Well, has some good reason why I support the Coast Guard so strong. But I saw how the Coast Guard has responded after 9 11, and I know how important the Coast Guard is for the safety and security and the well being of our American citizens. This is a fine group of people who don't get nearly as much appreciation from the American people as they should. And I'm here today to say thanks on behalf of all the citizens who appreciate the long hours you put in, the daring rescues you accomplish, and the fine service you provide to our country. Oh yes, we're on guard in America. But the Coast Guard has got more missions than that. Admiral Loy told me that right off the coast of my State of Texas, the Coast Guard enacted one of the largest marijuana busts in history just the other day right off the east coast. The Coast Guard chopper, the Coast Guard crew from Air Station Cape Cod coast guardsmen who I had a chance to thank personally today rescued five fishermen from a 74 foot fishing vessel called the Covered Wagon, that sank in heavy seas. Five human souls returned back to land because of the bravery of people who wear the Coast Guard uniform. Such bravery is not an isolated event. After all, this story was repeated 4,000 times last year. The Coast Guard, the men and women who accomplish the mission, seized over 60 tons of cocaine last year. They responded to over 11,000 oilspills.They're working around the globe with the Department of Defense. Today, the Coast Guard is conducting maritime intercept operations in the Persian Gulf and providing waterside security in Guantanamo Bay. Earlier today I had the pleasure of going on board the Tahoma, the Coast Guard vessel that was the command vessel on site in New York Harbor the day the enemy hit us. They stayed there for 40 days, on alert 24 hours a day, making sure that not only did traffic flow smoothly but the people were safe. When it comes to securing our homeland and helping people along the coast, the Coast Guard has got a vital and significant mission. And therefore, the budget that I send to the United States Congress will have the largest increase in spending for the Coast Guard in our Nation's history. We must make sure that our Coast Guard has got a modern fleet of vessels. We must make sure that port security is as strong as possible. We must make sure there's additional operating money available for the extended missions of the Coast Guard. And we must make sure those who wear our uniforms are well paid. I'll have other priorities in my budget. One of the biggest priorities, of course, is to make sure the homeland is secure. You know, none of us ever dreamt that we'd have a two front war to fight, one overseas and one at home. But we do. That's reality, and as a result, we must respond and continue to respond and stay on alert and help defend America. The biggest chore I have, my biggest job, is to make sure our homeland is secure. Every morning I go into the Oval Office and what a thrill it is to walk into that grand office and I sit at the desk that other Presidents have sat at, Roosevelt, Reagan. And I look at the I look at a threat assessment. The enemy still wants to hit us, and therefore this Nation must do everything in our power to prevent it. And so when I speak to the Congress next Tuesday night and I submit my budget, one of the top priorities will be the security of the homeland. I've asked for a doubling of homeland security funds to 38 billion a year, money that will be spent to make sure that the Federal Government and the State Government and the local governments and I know some mayors are here work in a cooperative way to make sure that our first responders, the police, the fire, the emergency medical teams, have the best equipment, the best training, the best ability to communicate with each other to protect the American people. In this budget, we will make sure that our health systems are more modern and more responsive, that we stockpile needed medicines so that they'll be easily accessible at the call of a Governor or the call of a mayor, that we've got money in the budget for research and development, to stay ahead of what the enemy may try to use, that our public health systems have got the best communications possible and the ability to respond quickly. In this budget, under Norm Mineta's leadership, we are securing our airports, we're modernizing the equipment, we're sending more people into our airports to make sure that travelers get the best service and the most safe flight humanly possible. And under this budget, we're spending 11 billion for controlling of our borders. It is so important for our Nation to work with our friends to the north, Canada, and our friend to the south, Mexico, on border initiatives that, one, doesn't tie up commerce but, on the other hand, prevents illegal drugs, terrorists, arms from flowing across our border. Tom Ridge went up to Canada and I know the Governor will appreciate this, since you've got such a huge border with Canada he went up with Canada, and we're talking about a new border initiative with our friends. We're analyzing every aspect of the border and making sure that the effort is seamless, the communication is real, that the enforcement is strong. And so, to this end, I've got a 29 percent increase in the budget of the INS, to make sure we modernize our reporting data, to know who comes in our country and who leaves our country. Forty percent 40 percent the INS estimates that 40 percent of the people who are here illegally have overstayed their visa. Forty percent of the people who are here illegally came because of the generosity of America were given a period of time in which they could stay, and then they didn't leave. And one of the things we want to make sure of is we find the 40 percent to make sure they're not part of some Al Qaida network that wants to hit the United States. And so we're looking we're listening we're following every single lead. I'm proud of our FBI. We've got a fine man running the FBI, named Robert Mueller. When Mueller first came in, the main task of the FBI was running down crime, which is great white collar crime or watching for spies. And those are all important missions. But I'm proud to report to you now the number one mission of the Federal Bureau of Investigation is to prevent another attack on America. We're going to add agents onto the payroll. We're going to add agents on our payroll, all aimed to making sure that not only do we find leads, but when we find a lead, we chase them down as quickly as possible. There is nothing more important for me and the Federal Government, to do everything within the Constitution of the United States and I emphasize we will not let the terrorists tear down our Constitution we will do everything within the Constitution to protect the innocent Americans, the innocent moms and dads, the people who yearn for freedom and normalcy in their life. We're working overtime, and I'm proud of the American people, and I'm proud of the people who are working to protect the American people. We're going to beef up Customs. We're on alert. But I want to assure you, I know this that the best way to secure freedom in America, the best way to make sure we're a peaceful nation, the best way to ensure that our children can grow up in a world that a lot of us older folks grew up in one that was pretty calm, pretty peaceful at home, one that was secure the best way to accomplish this dream and mission is to find the enemy where they hide, to rout them out, and to bring them to justice. And that's exactly what our Nation is going to do. It wasn't all that long ago that I asked the military to perform a vital function. We've been at this for about 4 1 2 months. Oh, for some people it may seem like a long time, but it's not very long when you think about the magnitude of the task. But in 4 1 2 months, we've accomplished a lot we really have because we've got such a fabulous military. We routed out the Taliban. You see, I told the world I told the world that if you harbor a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you're a terrorist, and you're going to pay a price. Our men and women in uniform are brave, and they're skilled, and they must have all our support. So the budget I asked for to the United States Congress has got the most significant increase in military spending in the last 20 years. The price of victory is well worth it. And you know what makes me so proud of America? In the process of holding the Taliban accountable, in the process of defending freedom, our troops became liberators. We liberated women and children from the clutches of one of the most repressive regimes in the history of mankind. We rid women and children of the evils of the Taliban regime. But I want to explain to the American people that we must be patient. We've just started, and there's a lot to do. We've entered into a dangerous phase of the first theater in the war against terror. And that is, we're now hunting them down. We've got teams on the ground that are going cave to cave. You see, this enemy is one that's willing to send their young on suicide missions while they, themselves, hide in caves. But there's no cave deep enough for the reach of the American military. We're patient we're deliberate and we're going to bring them to justice, one person at a time. I want to remind you all that our mission is not one person, our mission is terror wherever it exists. I'm proud we've got a strong coalition, a coalition that our country leads, a coalition bound up to protect freedom, a coalition that I hope will take every step necessary to find terrorists where they live and help us bring them to justice. You know, when the enemy hit us, they must have not known what they were doing. I like to tell people, "They must have been watching too much TV, because they didn't understand America." Laughter They were watching some of those shows, that one can get the wrong impression about how materialistic we might be, how selfish we might be as a people. But that's not the way we are. Not only are we patient and determined and resolute to defend values we love, starting with the value of freedom, this good Nation understands that in order to fight evil, you do so with acts of kindness and goodness. People say to me, "What can I do, Mr. President, to help?" And my answer is, if you want to fight evil, do something good in your neighborhood. If you want to fight evil, be a part of the goodness of the country by loving a child who may have lost a parent, by walking across the street to a shut in and say, "Somebody cares about you." If you want to be a part of the war against terror, go to your church or synagogue and mosque and ask the question, "How can we love a neighbor in need," and then feed somebody. If you want to be a part of the war on terror, help a teacher get involved with your public education mentor a child. You see, the great strength of America is not only our military. The true strength of America is the million acts of kindness and decency and compassion that define the soul and character of our country on a daily basis. No, when the enemy struck us, little did they realize that out of the terrible evil would come such good. Our job is not only to win the war overseas our job is not only to protect the homeland, to make sure we can live peacefully our job is to fight evil on a daily basis by loving a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. And that's what's happening all across the country. And for those of you who do that, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. And I want to thank you for giving me a chance to be the President of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. God bless. January 24, 2002 Welcome to the White House. It's a privilege for me and for Tom to be with the country's most accountable elected officials laughter the mayors, los alcaldes. We always used to say, you know, the government that's closest to the people is that which governs best. You know firsthand. You know what it's like to get the call to make sure the streets are paved or the garbage is picked up. You're what I call practical. Laughter The farther you get away from the local governments, we get a little theoretical. But there's nothing like being a mayor to be a problem solver. And as you know, we've got a new problem to solve here, and that's the security of our homeland. And I'm so pleased that you all are here to give me a chance to discuss how we're going to work together to solve this common national problem, which is the security of our people. It's your police forces, your emergency medical teams, your firefighters who are responsible for the first response on any terrorist attack and are responsible for saving lives. I say "terrorist attack" because we're still under attack. They still want to come after us. These are evil people that are relentless in their desire to hurt those who love freedom. And since we're the bastion of freedom, the beacon of freedom, we're their target. And we're going to respond, and we're going to deal with it by working together. I want to thank when you go back to your communities, you make sure that you thank your police chiefs and your fire chiefs and your emergency medical teams, not only on behalf of the President but the entire country. These good folks put their lives at risk they work incredibly hard and long hours and they deserve the praise and love of our Nation. There obviously is a role for the Federal Government, and I'll discuss parts of our homeland security strategy in a little bit. But in order to make sure that our homeland is secure for a long time, we as a nation must be patient enough and resolved enough to hunt down the killers and the terrorists wherever they try to hide and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what this country is going to do. I say "patient enough" because sometimes there is a certain sense of anxiety that creeps into the national dialog. Some folks are trying to rush the scorecard, I guess, is a way to put it. We've made huge progress in 4 1 2 months. I mean, we've done a lot, thanks to a great military, by the way. And there's a lot of moms and dads and wives and husbands and children who also need to be thanked for their sacrifice. But in the first theater to rout out terror, we have done a lot. We've totally destroyed the government and routed out the government that thought they could hide the terrorists. You see, there used to be, I guess, a school of thought around the world that it's okay to hide a terrorist you weren't considered a terrorist. We changed that. We said, "If you hide a terrorist, or you feed a terrorist, or you coddle a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists, and we will hold you accountable," as the Taliban has found out. We have liberated people. I'm so proud of our military and this great Nation and our coalition we've got a strong coalition of going into Afghanistan and freeing women and children. It was a fantastic moment in United States history, to be able to liberate people that were so oppressed that they probably thought they had no future. And yet, we came. We came to achieve an objective the objective was to hold a government accountable for harboring a terrorist and, in so doing, became liberators. It's a proud moment for the country. And now we're chasing down people in the first theater who, on the one hand, are willing to commit others to suicide, and they themselves hide in caves. And they think they can hide, and they may be able to hide today, but we'll get them. We're going to get them running, and when they run, we'll bring them to justice. I'm plenty patient. I have no preconceived notion about how long this should take, and neither do the American people. What the American people expect is a determined, relentless effort. And that's exactly what we're going to that's exactly how we're going to behave. And so while we're after them overseas, there's a lot to do at home. That's what I want to discuss today, that this is a two front war. Overseas we're fighting, and at home we're fighting. We're fighting to share information or working to share information to make sure that all law enforcement agencies are knitted up, that we do a better job of alerting people, giving people a heads up that something might be going on in the neighborhood and please help. Our people are alert. The shoe man, the shoe bomber, Reid, he found out how alert Americans can be when he showed up on the airplane, and all of a sudden people noticed something was odd. And they turned him in, and now he's in prison. That's what we're doing. But there's more to do, and I want to discuss that with you today. We're counting on you, and I'm about to tell you that we're going to make resources available so that we can work together. I want to thank Tom for taking on a tough assignment. I appreciate you bringing one mayor who thought you did a good job as Governor. Laughter I'm really proud of Tom's efforts. He understands local government he understands State Government. He believes in cooperative efforts. He's an open minded fellow. I hope you've found that he's willing to listen, willing to listen to good ideas. He's not an it's got to be invented here guy. He believes that if there's a good idea, it doesn't matter who brought it up, Republican or Democrat we'll put it in place. So I'm real proud of your efforts, Tom, and thanks for your hard work. Mel Martinez is here. He will have spent a lot of quality time with you all on housing issues. I appreciate your service, Mel. I appreciate your applause . A man who worked with me a lot in Texas, who now runs FEMA, who is a who has made sure the agency is responsive to emergencies, who will eventually, soon, play a big effort in making sure this national strategy for homeland defense is effected in a way that helps you do your job, and that's Joe Allbaugh. Thank you for coming. I appreciate all the county officials, all the city officials, all who helped make sure that we work together in good fashion. I particularly want to thank the head of the mayors. I am a little disappointed in Mayor Morial. I went down to Antoine's the other day in New Orleans to eat a meal. I was hoping I could invite him and he would pay. Laughter But the intelligence gathering system in New Orleans works well, so he went to Mexico. Laughter But nevertheless, Mr. Mayor, I appreciate your service. I love your town, and thanks for being here today, sir. I'm going to the Congress next Tuesday night to deliver a State of the Union Address, and I will lay out the priorities of our Government. You heard one of our first priorities That's to fight and win this war. The second priority of our Government, a priority which will be reflected in my budget, is making sure we protect the people at home, homeland defense. And therefore, I'll be calling on Congress to pass a funding increase for homeland defense of 38 an additional 38 billion. This is double the pre September 11th numbers. Thirty eight billion is the total request double over 2002. It's the beginning of a homeland defense initiative which is going to last throughout my administration. It's the beginning of a cooperative effort. It shows and recognizes that in the first minutes or hours after an attack, are the most hopeful minutes for saving lives first minutes, immediately. And therefore, we've got to understand and remember the important role of first responders. It became vivid, obviously, on September the 11th. One of the most poignant stories I remember is when some going into the danger wrote their Social Security numbers on their arms. It reminds all of us about how dangerous the job is and about how some are willing to sacrifice for others. We saw that firsthand throughout the September the 11th timeframe. We saw people drive an airplane into the ground to save others. I think America is now becoming to appreciate the definition of sacrifice, sacrifice for freedom, sacrifice for human life. That's something our first responders have known for a long time, and it's important for America to recognize that contribution they make. And so, what we must do in the country is remember that the attacks on September the 11th were not just attacks on New York or the Pentagon, were attacks on all of America, and treat those attacks such. It is a national threat, and therefore, obviously, it's a Federal responsibility. And so the 2003 budget proposes 3.5 billion in Federal aid to State and local first responders. That is a 1,000 percent increase over what our Government has spent. It's necessary money. It's part of the 38 billion budget I'm going to be asking for for homeland security. It's absolutely necessary that we spend the money and that we spend it correctly. And therefore, in order to make sure that there is a strategy, one that you understand, one that the Governors understand, one that the folks in Washington understand, I'm going to ask the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be the lead agency on coordinating efforts with the local governments. It is the right agency to choose. They understand local disaster and the local emergency. They understand and have responded in the past, not only in this administration but in other administrations the need to work closely with mayors to make sure that we effect good policy. Plus, I trust Allbaugh. I've seen him work before. He's a good man. It doesn't matter whether Daley calls him or whether a Texan calls him he's going to answer the phone. Laughter He's not one of these political, partisan guys. He's here to serve the country for the right reason, and so this is the right way to go. And if you have any problem with him, call me. Laughter Part of our task is to recognize there's 36,000 local jurisdictions all around the country. And how do we make sure there are some standards? How do we make sure, you know, that the fire hydrant hookup works in one city and can go across the region and fit another city? How do we make sure information flows properly? How do we make sure there's mutual aid agreements in the neighborhoods? How do we make sure that the communications equipment and the rescue equipment is compatible not only within a State but nationwide? Those are the tasks ahead, and that's part of the challenge we face. But I'm confident that, if we work with you, we can meet the challenge. There's no question in my mind that given the right impetus and the right focus, the right communications, and the right money, we can make it work. We have no choice. We're all charged. We find ourself in a moment of history where we, as leaders, must respond. And we will and we will respond. It is sometimes you get to pick your moments, and sometimes you don't. Laughter And we're here now in the middle of a war, and I want to thank you all for understanding the call. And we're not going to blink as a nation, and I know you won't blink as mayors. You accept your responsibility, and I accept mine. And as a result of working together, the Nation will be better off. We've got a lot of work to do, but that's how I got elected. And it starts with cooperation, and I can assure you, this Government is willing to cooperate. I also understand a good homeland defense means our cities are vibrant and strong. I want to work with you on brownfields legislation on implementing brownfields. I signed legislation now it's time to get after it. And it's going to help the cities around America that we clean up the brownfields. I want to thank the Republicans and Democrats up here who worked on this initiative. We finally got something passed that will enable cities to revitalize tracts of land that had been abandoned, that now can be productive parts of your property tax base. I want to work with you to support homeownership for low income Americans. I love the idea of somebody owning something, somebody owning their own home. I can't think of anything more powerful to help revitalize neighborhoods than to encourage homeownership. And we'll work with you on that. I want to work with you to strengthen the community based drug prevention and effective drug treatment programs. I believe that the best I know we've got to do a better job of suppressing demand for drugs. But I also understand that the most effective programs are community based programs. You've seen them. You've helped make them vital in your communities, and we want to work with you to do just that. I have not given up on my Faith Based Initiative. Many of you understand the power of faith based programs in your communities, church programs, programs out of synagogues and mosques. I believe so strongly in the power of faith. I believe strongly that we must unleash the armies of compassion in every city in America to provide hope for people where hope doesn't exist. And I want to work with you to do just that. I think we can get a bill out of Congress. I bring up matters of the spirit because the enemy doesn't understand who they hit. They first thought they were hitting somebody, a nation which was soft, a nation which wouldn't oh, we might respond, but we wouldn't mean it. It would be kind of a slap on the wrist response. They didn't understand that when you attack America and you murder innocent people, we're coming after you with full force and fury of a great nation and our allies. They didn't understand our fiber, our character, our values. And that's one of the interesting developments in our country, is that people, as you know better than me, have said, "We better assess our values as a result of what went on." And people all across the country are doing just that. It's a moment that we must seize. Those of us in leadership position must understand that there are a lot of Americans who are asking what they can do to help. I like to put it in as plain terms as I can If you want to fight evil, do some good. If you want to show the world that we're not going to stand evil, let's make sure we love somebody, mentor a child. Let's get involved in the school systems in our local communities. Let's rally around those who want to help a neighbor in need. Let's seize the moment, seize the initiative, seize the chance to rally the armies of compassion, so that people feel love and decency in their lives, so that shut ins know somebody cares, so lonely children who may have a parent in prison know somebody loves them. This is the opportunity. I look forward to working with you to rally the country, to not only not let to not only fight evil but to stamp in place a compassion, a decency, and a goodness that will stand the test of time. It's a challenge we face, and I know it's a challenge we can meet. Thank you all for coming. January 23, 2002 Thanks for coming. Please be seated. Thank you all very much. We've come together today to remember and recognize victims of terrorism and to sign a piece of legislation that will provide a tangible measure of support for their families. The Victims of Terrorism Tax Relief Act will provide some tax relief to families of those killed in the attacks on September the 11th, the anthrax attacks after September the 11th, and the Oklahoma City bombing. This is a small gesture compared to the overwhelming generosity of the American people in times of tragedy. Yet this will help to extend that generosity because it exempts payments from charities to victims' families from Federal taxes. This legislation is a bipartisan symbol of the Federal Government's concern for families who suffered such great loss. I want to thank the Members of Congress who are here. I particularly want to thank those who worked on the bill Senator Torricelli of New Jersey Senators Schumer and Clinton of New York and by the way, welcome back to the White House Senator Nickles of Oklahoma Senators Allen and Warner of Virginia Senator Baucus of Montana Congressman Rangel of New York Congressman Fossella of New York Congressman Thomas of California, who couldn't be here and all the other Members, both Republicans and Democrats. Welcome back to town, and welcome to the White House. We're joined today by families who have lost loved ones in the great acts of evil. As you draw on faith and personal strength to cope with your grief, I hope you'll also find comfort in the knowledge that your Nation stands with you and prays for you. We mourn those whom we've lost, and we face the future together. In times like these, we realize both the purpose and the limitations of Government. The Government cannot take away your pain and sorrow, but it can bring the killers to justice. It can devote its energy and resources to try to prevent other families from experiencing what you're going through and can help remove some of the financial obligations it imposes to ease your burdens. The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrible crime, and justice was done. And I can assure each of you that justice will be done to all those who are responsible for the evil acts of September the 11th. We've already driven the Taliban from power in Afghanistan, and we're helping a new government take its place. We've infiltrated Al Qaida caves. We destroyed their camps. We will continue to destroy their bunkers and their hideaways. We've put them on the run, and we'll hunt them down, wherever they try to hide, and bring them to justice. As we wage the war on terrorism abroad, we will also comfort families deeply hurt by terrorism here at home. The Members of the United States Congress who came together to pass this bill I'll sign today had one goal in mind to help ease your financial burdens as you struggle to cope with the loss of your loved ones. Many families lost their primary wage earners in the attack on the Murrah Federal Building, in the attacks of September the 11th, and in the anthrax attacks after September the 11th. This financial strain deepens the emotional and psychological impact of the initial tragedies. The legislation passed by Congress will relieve the tax burden on families who have lost loved ones. Under this law, the Federal Government will collect no income taxes on wages earned by terrorism victims in the year of their death or in the preceding year. Families of victims killed in the Oklahoma City bombing will receive a tax refund on behalf of their relatives. Some death benefits paid by employers will be exempt from Federal taxation. Lower State tax rates will apply to victims of terrorist attacks as well as to members of the armed services who have been killed in combat zones. And to help insure that families receive as much relief as possible from charitable organizations, payments from charitable organizations to victims' families will be exempt from Federal taxation. The Victims of Terrorism Tax Relief Act is an important example of our national unity and resolve, and it's my honor to sign it today. God bless. January 23, 2002 Thank you all. At ease. Laughter I want to thank you all very much for such a warm welcome. It's an honor to be here, and it's an honor to receive the Minuteman Award. I'm in pretty good company Scoop Jackson, Strom Thurmond, President Ford, President Reagan, and the best dad a guy could ever have. It's a high privilege to be here with the men and women of the Reserve Officers Association. For 80 years, you stood up for America and the people who wear its uniform. Today, many Reserve officers are on duty in our campaign against terror. Today, the Guard and Reserve are fighting a two front war, one in Central Asia and one here at home. The Air Force Reserve alone has flown more than 3,000 sorties over Afghanistan and more than 800 sorties to protect American cities. In this hour of need, America is depending on our Reserve officers. You are not letting us down, and America is grateful. We're in a fight for freedom and for the security of the American people. We're in a fight for the values of civilization. And the terrorists, the evil ones who targeted America are learning something They picked the wrong enemy. Whatever it takes, whatever it costs, this patient, this resolved Nation will win the first war of the 21st century. I want to thank Chip for his fine introduction and for picking me for the award. Laughter I see Secretary of the Army White is here. General Jumper is here. I'm sure I'm going to miss somebody. David Chu is here, and other members of one of the finest teams one of the finest national security teams a President has ever put together. Thank you all for coming. And I appreciate the Reserve chiefs, as well. Thank you for your service to the country. You know, it has been 4 1 2 months since September the 11th. It's been 4 1 2 months since we've been attacked. Sometimes it seems like a long time. But one thing is for certain When you think about the nature of the war we face, 4 1 2 months is not a very long time. And yet, we've done a lot. We've accomplished a lot. One thing is for certain This great Nation has risen to the challenge. One of the most brutal and repressive regimes ever, the Taliban, is now out of business. We've smoked members of Al Qaida out of their caves. We've destroyed their bunkers, and the global network of terrorists has seen the first glimpse of their fate. We've sent food and medical shipments to the suffering people of Afghanistan. We've helped them organize a new government that represents all the people. And this proud military and this great Nation has liberated people. We've liberated women and children who lived under the severe hand of the most repressive Taliban. And these gains are a tribute to the United States military. There were no doubt in my mind that when I unleashed our great military, our men and women would perform bravely. They have not let us down. Our military is relentless I mean relentless in pursuing the terrorists. And at the same time, we've shown great care in protecting innocent life. They serve with skill and dedication. Our commanders are patient they're not restless. They know that they've got the backing of the administration and the American people that I'm patient the people are patient. We all know that we've entered a difficult phase in our first theater in the war against terror that while, in the first couple of months, we saw great success on the ground, we're now on a manhunt, one person at a time. No matter how long it takes, no matter where we have to look, our United States military will patiently and surely hunt down the murderers and killers and terrorists and bring them, one by one, to justice. Our fight against terrorism began in Afghanistan, but it's not going to end there. We still face a shadowy enemy who dwells in the dark corners of the Earth. Dangers and sacrifices lie ahead. Yet, America will not rest we will not tire until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, has been stopped, and has been defeated. We have a special responsibility to defend freedom. And I accept that responsibility and so does our military and so do the American people. And I have the responsibility to prepare the Nation for all that lies ahead. Next week I will go before Congress to lay out my priorities for the coming year. There will be no room for misunderstanding. The most basic commitment of our Government will be the security of our country. We will win this war we will protect our people and we will work to renew the strength of our economy. Our first priority is the military. The highest calling to protect the people is to strengthen our military. And that will be the priority of the budget I submit to the United States Congress. Those who review our budget must understand that we're asking a lot of our men and women in uniform, and we'll be asking more of them in the future. In return, they deserve every resource, every weapon needed to achieve the final and full victory. My '03 budget calls for more than 48 billion in new defense spending. This will be the largest increase in defense spending in the last 20 years, and it includes another pay raise for the men and women who wear the uniform. We will invest in more precision weapons, in missile defenses, in unmanned vehicles, in high tech equipment for soldiers on the ground. The tools of modern warfare are effective. They are expensive. But in order to win this war against terror, they are essential. Buying these tools may put a strain on the budget, but we will not cut corners when it comes to the defense of our great land. Another priority is to protect our people from future terrorist attacks. And so the second priority in my budget will be a major new increase in spending for homeland security. The Federal Government has already acted quickly to increase the number of sky marshals, to support the largest criminal investigation in U.S. history, to acquire antibiotics for large scale treatment of anthrax, to deploy hundreds of Coast Guard cutters and aircraft and small boats to patrol ports, and to station 8,000 National Guardsmen in the Nation's airports. All this came in response to a sudden emergency. Now we must undertake a sustained strategy for homeland defense. In our next budget, we move forward to complete the hiring of 30,000 new Federal airport security workers. We will hire an additional 300 FBI agents to help fight the war on terror. We'll purchase new equipment to improve the safety of the mail and protect the men and women who deliver our mail. We'll begin a major program of research to combat the threat of bioterrorism. We'll modernize public health labs throughout the country, improving their capacity to detect and treat outbreaks of disease. We will ensure that State and local firemen and police and rescue workers are prepared for terrorism, and we will do more to secure our borders. The American people are on watch against future attacks, and so will their Government. The truth of the matter is, though, in order to fully secure America and our allies, those of us who love and defend freedom, in order to make sure we're safe in the long run, we must find the terrorists wherever they think they can hide and, as I like to say, get them. Another priority of the budget is to fight the recession and work on the economic security of our people. You know, our country is united when it comes to fighting the war. We need to be united when it comes to battling recession, as well. It's time to set aside all the politics, all the posturing, and figure out how to take care of workers whose lives were affected because of the attacks on 9 11. But as we do so, always remember that people may want an unemployment check to help them through tough times, but what they really want is a permanent paycheck. And therefore, jobs ought to be the central core of any economic development plan that we can run out of the United States Congress. So when I submit my budget to the United States Congress, these will be my priorities. We've made our choices to match the great challenges and opportunities of our time. Our great challenge is to protect the American people. Our great opportunity is to advance the cause of justice and human dignity and freedom all across the world. In this cause, our military is showing the world America at its best. And so, on behalf of an entire nation, I want to say thanks to the men and women who wear our uniform, and thanks to the Reserve Officers Association for your sacrifices and your support of our great land. Thank you for having me, and may God bless. January 22, 2002 Upcoming Session of Congress Terrorist Attack in India Q. Mr. President, do you think the Enron investigation will become a distraction for Congress and, by extension, your goals? The President. No. Q. Is the attack in Calcutta an attack on America? Was the attack in Calcutta an attack on our country? The President. Well, we're gathering more information about it, to find out exactly what the facts are. Terror is terror, however. It doesn't matter whether it's an attack on us or an attack on other people. You've got to work together to fight off terrorists. For your question, I believe Congress knows what it needs to do. It needs to fund the war. It needs to fund homeland security. It needs to work on ways to create jobs. And I'm confident that all the facts will come out on Enron. And I'm also confident that if Congress has the right attitude, we can get a lot done. We need an energy policy, a trade policy. So I'm going to keep talking about it until we get it done. Enron Energy Policy Q. Do you worry that Enron creates a negative perception about you or your policies? The President. Our administration has done the exact right thing. There has been a couple of contacts with people in my Cabinet. And my Cabinet officers said, "No help here." And we're starting an investigation before anybody started paying attention to Enron. Last December, Elaine Chao started an investigation of pensions. And I'm absolutely confident the American people know that my administration has acted the right way. What I'm outraged about is that shareholders and employees didn't know all the facts about Enron. My own mother in law bought stock last summer, and it's not worth anything now. If she had known all the facts, I don't know what her decision would have been made, but she didn't know all the facts. And a lot of shareholders didn't know all the facts. And that's wrong. And so our Government must do something about it, must make sure that the accounting practices that have been going on for quite a while are addressed, make sure there's full disclosure and the corporate government's issues are wide open for everybody to understand. If Congress is going to do its business, and should the Congress also needs to stay focused on the American people. We're running a war. We've got to make sure our homeland is secure. And we've got to make sure people can find work. And we'll take care of our business. Q. Inaudible call the information about meetings between the Vice President and Enron and energy policy, just to get it out The President. If somebody has got an accusation about some wrongdoing, just let me know. It's like when I talked with Don Evans and O'Neill, they told me they had spoke to Enron. I said, "Tell the people what you did." And if there's any accusations, if you've got anything on your mind the energy report should speak for itself. We laid out the energy report it's fully disclosed. People now know that we need an energy plan based upon conservation and increasing supplies and better transmission of energy. And there's no better place to talk about energy than right here in West Virginia, which is an energy dependent State. Q. The West Virginia coal miners, sir, what do you say to The President. My answer is that with a comprehensive energy plan, they're going to be able to find work. And we need an energy plan. And there are ways to have coal exploration and coal development with a sensitivity toward our environment. West Virginia's Economic Development Q. What about the West Virginian who's not into coal, the other part of the State that needs help so badly? The President. Well, education is going to be the first step. People getting a good education are going to be able to find good work. And West Virginia has got an interesting, burgeoning tourist industry. They've got a good natural gas industry, and they've got a lot going for them. But a lot of it is going to be the ability to educate the people so they can find work. And that's why this education bill is a good piece of legislation. Thank you all, pleasure. January 22, 2002 Thank you very much. Well, thank you for that warm welcome. Steve, I appreciate the fact that everybody who works here has got a uniform on with my middle name. Laughter I don't know if he'll claim me as a relative, being a Walker. Laughter But hearing how you like to sing at parties in West Virginia, I'm not so sure I want to claim you. Laughter But I'm honored you all would have me. I appreciate small business owners, entrepreneurs, people who work hard, people who build a team. I want to thank the workers here for such a warm greeting. I also appreciate you for your high quality work. You know, American workers are the best in the world, and Walker employees are some of the best workers in the world, too. I can't think of a better place to talk about economic security than at a place that works hard to create jobs and helps people keep a job and makes sure that people who work here are treated well, treated with respect. At its core, an economic security plan for every American has got to be the goal of our Government, and it begins with a good education and ends with secure retirement. And in between, much of one's life depends on being able to find work, good, steady work. And that's how I approach decisions about our economy. I ask, are we creating an environment in which people can find work? My economic plan is summed up in one word jobs. And that's what all of us in Washington ought to be asking How do we create jobs for people who want to work in America? I want to thank members of the West Virginia delegation who are with me. Shelley traveled with me from Washington. We flew down together we had a good visit. Every time I talk to her, she constantly talks about West Virginia. Every time I talk to her, she doesn't necessarily do everything I tell her to. She's got kind of a West Virginia independent streak to her. Laughter But I'm proud to call her friend, and I'm also proud to call Jay Rockefeller friend. He and I are different political parties, but that's okay. We both love America. The other day I had the honor of signing a piece of legislation at the White House, called the Safe and Stable Families Act. It's a really good piece of legislation. It's legislation that promotes adoption, legislation that helps foster care children. It's a legislation sponsored by Republicans and Democrats. Senator Rockefeller was one of the sponsors, and I sung his praises there, and I'm happy to come on his home turf and sing his praises here for this piece of legislation. So thank you, Senator Rockefeller, for doing it. Every job begins with one decision, and that is the decision by somebody to say, "I want to hire you." It comes as a surprise to some in Washington, though, when you think about that, that most of the hiring does not take place at the Government level. Of course, we create jobs by hiring people at the Government level. Most hiring takes place at small businesses. Most hiring takes place when an employer in the private sector says, "I need you to work for me." And so the job of the Government, if you think about it, is not to try to create wealth. That's not the job of the Government. The job of a Government is to create an environment in which more people are willing to hire more workers. If jobs are the most important part of one of my jobs, then I'm going to insist that people ask the question, how do we encourage people to hire more people? That's what we ought to be asking. And that's the role of Washington, DC. It starts with making sure everybody is well educated. You know, every new product, every new service starts with a good idea. And then that needs to be carried out by talented, skilled, educated people. With a better educated workforce, our businesses, small and large, all across America are going to be able to innovate and make improvements. A better educated workforce will mean America is more productive, and higher productivity means more jobs and higher paychecks. So we've got to get it right when it comes to education. And I'm proud to report this is one issue where a handful of us in Washington decided to put aside our political parties and focus on what was right for America. I had the honor of signing a very good piece of education legislation sponsored by, of all people in the Senate, Ted Kennedy. Now look, I traveled the country saying the guy is not a bad guy. Laughter I think I put him in shock. Laughter I know I put the people in Crawford, Texas' coffee shop in shock. Laughter But on this issue we worked well together, Republicans and Democrats. We showed the country that party is all right I'm a proud Republican it's not nearly as important as the education of our children. One of the roles of Government is not only to create an environment that is good for jobs but to remove obstacles, if they exist, for people having jobs. One of the obstacles that exists in our society is a public school system that simply shuffles children through the schools. It's so much easier to quit on a child, one that's supposedly hard to educate. And in some schools, in some school districts, and in some States, we've had the practice of just moving children through. And that's not right in America. It is not right to quit on kids. And so now, as a result of this piece of legislation that both the Members here voted for, we asked we say, "Look, if you get Federal money" and we're going to spend money, by the way, on certain areas in education, out of the Federal Government "but if you get it, you've got to show us whether or not the children can read and write and add and subtract." I'm asking the simple question, are we getting results with your money? And if not, do something different. If we're spending money, we expect children to learn to read. And if they can't, you'd better change, or otherwise, we're going to give parents different options, so that there is no child trapped in a school that will not teach and will not change. I want to assure you, I remembered where I came from. I trust the people of West Virginia to run the schools of West Virginia, so we passed power out of Washington to the States. But we expect high standards and high accountability and results. If what we're worried about is jobs, we've got to remove the obstacle for people finding good work by educating every child who lives in America. But education doesn't just stop at the elementary school level or high school or college. This Nation has got to understand, as technology changes, we've got to make sure the workforce changes with it. And that's why I strongly support local job training programs. We're increasing significantly increasing the amount of job training in our in the budget I submit to Congress. It recognizes there are a lot of good, hard working people in America who received an education, that were skilled in one area, but the job base has shifted, and therefore, we better educate people to make sure that they can shift with the technologies. And as well, my 2003 budget increases funding for Job Corps, which is an effective program that will help disadvantaged young people learn how to work. So one thing we can do to make sure that people find a job is to make sure our education system works well throughout its entirety. Another thing to make sure there's an opportunity to create more jobs is to have good tax policy that allows people to keep more money, more of their own money, that you can put more of your own money in your own pocket, and you can spend it. When workers have more money and by the way, it's your money to begin with. It's not the Government's money. Somebody said the other day, "Well, the Government is giving back the money." Well, it's not the Government's money it's the people who work for a living's money. If you have more of your own money, it means you're going to spend more. And if you spend more, somebody is going to have to make more of what you're spending it on, which means more likely somebody is going to find work. That's how the economy works. The same with Walker. I want the Walkers to have more money to reinvest in their business. I want the Walkers to be able to have more cashflow so they can upgrade the equipment which the workers here use. It means it's more likely that somebody is going the find a job for the long term. Now, there is kind of a wacky economic theory going around Washington. It says, "The more they take in your taxes, the better off you'll be." Laughter It doesn't make any economic sense. It doesn't make any dollars and cents. And here in West Virginia, like they do elsewhere, they've got to know this is nonsense. This economy started slowing down last March. And so the tax cut we put in place for everybody who pays taxes came right at the right time. If you want to encourage an economy to recover, you let people keep more of their own money. If you want to slow down an economy, you stop tax cuts. You, in essence, take money away from people, and that's not right, folks. I'm worried about job security. The more money people have, the more likely it is you're going to be able to find work. Now, I'm also worried about people who lost work because of the evil ones who attacked us. And I look forward to working with members of both political parties to extend unemployment benefits to those who lost their job and to help them with health care. Surely, we can come together to do that. But any good economic stimulus plan must ask the question, how do we create more jobs? And one way to do that is to accelerate tax relief for workers, and the other way to do that is to make sure the Tax Code doesn't punish companies like Walker. We ought to allow them to accelerate the depreciation schedule so it is more likely they will buy more equipment. And we've got to reform a Tax Code that makes them pay more taxes even though their profits are going down. And it is time for a vote. It's time for people to set aside who's going to benefit on the nightly news, you know, whose picture is going to look the best. Let's get a vote up. Let's pass this bill. Let's quit talking about it, and let's get the bill going. Congress is coming back tomorrow, and I'm confident, if they listen to the people out there, they'll know it's time to get a piece of legislation moving that will help create jobs and help workers who got affected as a result of 9 11. The next opportunity is to make sure that this Nation has an energy policy. This Nation needs an energy policy. Jobs depend on affordable energy. If there's a price spike or a disruption in supply, people may not have work. And it's also in our Nation's national security interests that we become less dependent on foreign sources of energy. And we're dependent. We're dependent on energy from some parts of the world where sometimes they like us and sometimes they don't. And we need to do something about it. We need an energy bill. We passed one out of the House of Representatives, and it's now time for the United States Senate to pass a good bill. It's one that says, "Of course we'll conserve more." All of us want to have new technologies that will make conservation a part of our life. And we can do a better job in America. One of these days, we're going to be driving automobiles that are fueled differently. And that's going to be exciting times for America. In other words, there's new technologies coming down, and we can encourage those technologies. So conservation, technological development have got to be an integral part of energy. But folks, we need more supply. You know, I'm walking back here in the back, and they said, "I'm now repairing a machine that digs for coal." We need to use coal. We've got a lot of it, and we need to make sure that we've got coal. A lot of people don't realize that good energy policy means jobs. Bad energy policy means we might lose jobs. Good energy policy means we can create jobs. I was with Jimmy Hoffa the other day, of the Teamsters, in his headquarters. I know, I mean, people don't expect a Republican to be hanging out with the Teamsters. Laughter But he and I share something in common We worry about people who want to work. He worries about it as the head of a mighty union. I worry about it as the President. See, I'm the President of everybody, not just a few. I'm the President of people whether they voted for me or not. I'm the President of union and nonunion. I'm the President of Republicans and Democrats and independents. And I share something in common with Jimmy, and that is how best to get jobs. That's why he and I both know that the energy bill ought to make sure we can explore for natural gas and crude oil in Alaska. It's good for jobs. He knows what I know That means work for people. There's going to be a lot of work. And he knows what I know, as well that we can do so in an environmentally friendly way, that we can have a footprint in this vast tundra that will not affect the environment and, at the same time, make us less dependent on foreign sources of energy. Listen, finding oil and gas and coal in our own hemisphere and nuclear power, for that matter in our own hemisphere is in our national security interest. And I ask the Senate to put aside all the politics and get me a good energy bill. It's in the best interests for people trying to find work, and it's in the best interests of the United States of America. We can create more opportunities by selling more products overseas. You know, I spent a lot of time as the Governor of Texas with the farmers. The agricultural sector is an incredibly important part of our economy. And one of the benefits we have as a nation is, we can feed ourselves. That's good for the national security interest, by the way. But we produce more food than we need. We ought to be selling it overseas. The more markets available for U.S. products, the more likely it is somebody is going to find work. It is so important for America to understand that we're good at what we do. We can compete with anybody in the world. We've got the most productive workforce on the face of the Earth. Therefore, let's open up markets to sell our products. The Senate has got to give me the ability to do that. It came out of the House it's bottled up in the Senate. I ask them to pass that bill called the trade promotion authority. In order to create good jobs, we've got to have a legal system that's fair and balanced. I want people who have got a good case to be able to make their case in court. But I'm going to tell you, the Walker boys fear frivolous and junk lawsuits. I don't know them that well, but I can guess they do. Laughter And we don't need a lot of regulation either. The Federal Government ought to be wise about how we enforce standards but not overregulate those who are trying to create work. We can do some smart things in Washington to create jobs. One of the things the Government needs to do is to spend money on research and development. The more research and development there are, the more likely it is we'll find interesting answers to energy problems or health problems or national security issues. And that translates into jobs. And so my budget for 2003 spends 110 billion on Federal research on grants for research and development. It makes sense. The more we know today about the future, the more likely it is we're going to be able to have a workforce that's steadily employed. And finally, we've got to make sure that we have retirement security, that if part of a secure economic environment begins with education, it's got to end with making sure that our Medicare system works well, that people are given options, that it's a modern system that reflects the modern ways of medicine, and that we have a Social Security system that fulfills the promise to the elderly but recognizes we better reform her for the younger workers so that they will have a Social Security system, one that says if you're relying upon Social Security today, nothing changes. The promise we have made you will be a promise this Government will keep. But if you're a younger worker, we've got to trust you to manage your own money, if that's what you choose to do. You see, ownership is a part of what it means to have a society that is vibrant, that is a society based upon economic security. I want people to own their home, and so we've got plans to encourage ownership from renters. I want people to be able to manage their own money. I want people to be able to own and start their own business. I want them to be able to pass their farm or ranch or business from one generation to the next. That's why I was so insistent we get rid of the death tax in the Tax Code. Ownership is what makes America unique and different. And if we're asking about how to make sure we have a secure environment for workers and families, let's encourage people to own their own home and business and their own retirement accounts. And we can do that. As a matter of fact, I'm confident in our economy, confident in because I'm confident in the American way of life. You know, they hit us on 9 11, but Walker was running before 9 11, and it's running after 9 11. I mean, some certainly have gotten affected as a result of the attacks. But they didn't diminish the entrepreneurial spirit of America. They didn't diminish the drive by small business owners to expand and grow and to create jobs. Now we've got the underpinnings of growth are with us. And our job in Washington, DC, is to encourage that growth and to always remember that jobs are the cornerstone of good economic policy. But these are unique times in America, which means we've got to really deal with the problem that came upon our shores. The truth of the matter is, the best thing I can do for the economy is to make sure the enemy doesn't hit us again. And I'm proud of the applause . Every morning I wake up, walk into the great Oval Office. Well, first I take Barney and Spot outside. Laughter But I go into this fabulous office by the way, it is just a it's a shrine to our great democracy and I read a threat assessment. You know, the intentions of the enemy are to hit us again. And I make a vow every morning that I will do everything in my power and encourage those of us in positions of responsibility not to let that happen. You need to know our Government is on full alert, and I hope you are, as well. People say, "What does that mean?" Well, if you see something odd happening, let somebody know something out of the ordinary. It's just like that stewardess on the airplane that time when the shoe man showed up. She saw something was odd. Laughter She thought something was different, and she brought him in. That's what Americans must do now as a result of the evil ones hitting us. We've got to be on our toes. The FBI has changed its culture. The FBI is now focused on preventing another attack. We've got agents all across the country working day in and day out to sniff out any lead, any idea, because our biggest job is to prevent them from coming at us. They may come at us, but they're not going to get us. I want to thank the local law enforcement officers here in West Virginia who are working hand in hand with State officers and working with our Federal people, too. But the truth of the matter is, the best way to make sure that we secure our homeland is to find the enemy where they hide and bring them to justice, and that's exactly what we're going to do. Many of you have got relatives in the military, and I want to thank you, and you thank them on behalf of their Commander in Chief. Put the military to a task, and the military has performed brilliantly. We told the world, I told the world, our Government has told the world, our country has told the world, that this compassionate, generous Nation will not let terror stand, that wherever we find terror, we will deal with it. We put a great coalition together, people who understand that this is an historic opportunity and a moment in which those who love freedom must not blink and must not tire, that I made it clear that if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, we're going to treat you like a terrorist. And the Taliban learned that lesson because of our United States military. They're not in power. And by routing them out of power, this great Nation not only defended freedom, not only sent a clear message about our intention, but this great Nation liberated a people. We liberated women and children. We freed people from incredible oppression. What a proud moment for America, that we stood for what we believe and, in so doing, gave people a better chance for life. I want to thank you all and thank the American people for your patience. If we tire, the world will tire. If we get impatient, the terrorists win. Yet our great Nation is bound by such a love for freedom and the desire not for revenge but for justice that we're not going to tire, that we will stay the course. Families in America have suffered the greatest sacrifice of all, the loss of a loved one. But in this case, the cause is noble, and it is just. We fight for freedom and the ability for our children and grandchildren to grow up in a peaceful world, one that does not fear murderers coming onto our shore and killing through acts of terror. This country must not yield. We must seize this moment of history. It is this generation's calling, and we are not going to let the world down. We're ready we're steady we're resolved. And we will rout out the terrorists, no matter what cave they think they can hide in, and bring them to justice. You know, I was floored to think about the attitudes of the enemy when they thought we were soft. I couldn't figure out which TV show they had been watching. Laughter I mean, can you imagine somebody saying the great United States won't respond, or the great United States really doesn't care, won't commit the resources necessary to rid the world of evil? But my oh my, did they make a huge mistake. They also didn't understand the character of the country. They don't understand how good we are. They don't understand America's values the values of freedom of worship no matter what religion you choose, freedom to speak, freedom to run for office, freedom to vote, freedom to be to work for your family so your family can live in a peaceful world. They don't understand that. They must not understand it. I'm asked all the time, "What can I do to help?" Well, what you could do to help for a while was to travel, and it looks like we're getting better. Airlines are filling up, and people are going to different destination places. But the truth of the matter is, if you want to fight evil and make no mistake about it, this is good versus evil if you want to fight evil, do some good. If you're interested in fighting evil, tell your children you love them every day this year. If you want to fight off evil, get involved in the school system and make it as good as it can be. Teach a child to read. If you want to fight evil, go to your church or synagogue or mosque and start a program that will love a neighbor. If you want to fight evil, go see a shut in and say, "What can I do to help?" You see, the great character of America is not defined necessarily by our military actions, although that counts. The great character of America is defined by millions of acts of decency and kindness that take place every day all across our country. The evil ones struck, but out of this will come incredible good. The world will be more peaceful when we accomplish our mission. And this country will be more compassionate and more decent and more loving. It's such an honor to be the President of a land that has achieved so much but with much more to do. Thank you for giving me the chance to come, and thank you for giving me the chance to be your President. May God bless you all. January 22, 2002 The President. Thank you all. It's nice to be back. I appreciate this West Virginia welcome. Thank you for your hospitality, and thank you for giving me a chance to give you a little update on how we're doing as a nation. But first, before I begin, I want to thank our friend, a great friend to West Virginia, Shelley Moore Capito, for her leadership. I've learned some things about Shelley Moore One, she's very bright two, she doesn't always do what the President says she's got a little bit of an independent streak but three, she loves West Virginia. She loves the State, and she's working hard to do what's right for the West Virginia people. And I'm proud to call her friend. And I hope you're proud to call her Congresswoman. It's been a pleasure to work with some of the distinguished Members you have sent to Washington, DC, and there's no more distinguished than Senator Robert Byrd. He loves his State he loves the country. I have been spellbound by his speeches. I've been interested to hear his points of view. I look forward to working with him as Congress comes back to Washington, DC, after the Christmas break. West Virginia has got a fine friend in Senator Byrd, and so does America, and I'm proud to call him friend. And I appreciate your Governor being here today, Governor Wise. It's awfully kind of him to come and say hello to the President. We're working closely together on a subject that's dear to your heart and dear to my heart, and that's how to make sure West Virginia, and all of America, remains safe, make sure we've got a homeland that's secure. And the Governor is working closely on this issue with us. I appreciate so very much the former Governor, Cecil Underwood, and my friend, for being here. I don't know if they put Cecil into "Ripley's" or not laughter but he was the youngest Governor ever and the oldest Governor ever, and he's still looking pretty spry to me. I appreciate the Speaker and the Senate President, as well as the minority leaders in the Senate and the House for coming. Thank you all for being here to say hello. And your mayor showed up. Mr. Mayor, thanks for coming, as well. It's an honor to be with my fellow citizens from West Virginia on such a beautiful day. And it's a day for me to tell you, folks, we're winning. Little did I realize the last time I was here that I would be coming back to this very spot to thank the fine men and women of the West Virginia Guard for helping us fight and win the war against terror all of you. For all who wear our uniform, I want to thank say thank you on behalf of all Americans. For the moms and dads and wives and husbands and sons and daughters of those who wear the uniform some of whom had been deployed out of West Virginia thanks from the bottom of our hearts for your sacrifice. It is for a cause that is noble and a cause that is just and a cause that this great Nation will win. I appreciate the fact that our Nation is now on alert, that we're ready, that if you see something odd happening in your neighborhood, that you now know to go and notify the local police something different is happening, and we might ought to take a look at it. Every morning I wake up like I did this morning, and I get to the Oval Office I'm an early morning man. Barney and Spot and I head out to the South Lawn. Laughter I head into the Oval Office, and the first thing I look at is potential threats to the United States. Every morning I'm reminded that my most important job in this day and age is to make sure our Government, the Federal Government and all governments at all levels, do everything we can to prevent a further attack on the good people of this country. I want to assure you, we're chasing down every lead we're following every hint. Our FBI is on full alert. Their primary task now is to prevent another attack. We're working with States as I mentioned the Governor we're working with local officers to better share information to disrupt and prevent. And I'm so proud of the way our Nation is responding, but the truth of the matter is, the best way to secure the homeland of the United States is to find the enemy where he hides and bring him to justice. I know I'm like many moms many dads, and Laura is like many moms who yearn for peace. We want nothing more than our children to be in a peaceful world. But I understand that in order to defeat the evil ones, we must use the mighty U.S. military to put after we have put them on notice, to rout them out of their caves and to bring them to justice. And that's exactly what our Nation will do. Our military has performed brilliantly. I gave them a task with clear objectives, and they're accomplishing those tasks and those objectives. I said real clear to the world that real clearly to the world the old west Texan in me slipping out laughter clearly to the world, I said that either you are with us, or you are against us, when it comes to finding terror. I'm proud to report many, many, many nations have signed up to be with us. But I want to assure you all that if I tire, they will go to sleep. And if we blink, so will they. And therefore, it's so important for this Nation to remain steadfast and resolved and strong in our purpose to free the world of terror so our children can live peacefully. I want to thank the people of West Virginia and the American people for their patience. They understand that the task at hand may take a while. They understand that this country is in this for the long pull, that in order to secure freedom for generations to come, that we, this generation, must be willing to sacrifice, must be patient, must be determined, and must be resolved. We have no other choice, as far as I'm concerned. It's either allow terror to spread its wings and terrorize others, or to stand tough. And this Nation has made the decision to stand tough. And I'm proud of her. A fellow came the other day to the office and said, "Well, are you worried about Mr. bin Laden?" I said, "No, I'm not too worried about him. He's the guy that needs to be worried." Laughter But I want to assure you, the objective is not bin Laden. Oh, we'll get bin Laden. There's only so many caves he can hide in, if he's still hiding in caves. My attitude was, once we get him running, it's just a matter of time before we bring him to justice. But the mission is broader than just one person. The mission is to make sure that terror, wherever it tries to settle in, is routed out. The mission is to say to the governments that think that we're not watching, "We're watching, and if you try to harbor a terrorist, feed a terrorist, you're just as guilty as those who would commit murder on innocent citizens." So I want to reiterate what I said to those who are making the sacrifice by wearing the uniform, and particularly their families. I want to thank you. I grieve and mourn and pray when we lose a life. And we will, when it comes to the war on terror. But I told Audience member. We love you, sir! The President. Thank you. Laughter But I told the families that I've spoken to, by word and written letter, that this Nation is doing the right thing, that we're seeds in history, that we refuse to be shaped by terror, that we will win the war on terror, and the cause of sacrifice is noble, and it is just. What a great nation we have A nation that is willing to sacrifice for freedom and, at the same time, a nation that is liberating women and children in Afghanistan from the evil repression of the Taliban a nation that not only stands on principle but a nation that is a nation of liberators. I'm so proud of our military and the American people, and the Afghan women and children thank you from the bottom of our heart. I know a lot of people are thinking overseas, and that's I can understand that, but we've got a lot of work here to do at home, too. The evil ones, when they hit us, affected our economy. And I've got to tell you something I'm worried about people being able to find jobs. My economic plan is based upon this word jobs. I want to ask that question all around the country, what do we do to create work? There's a lot of good people who want to work, and we've got to help them find work. And so I'm asking Congress, when they come back, to keep in mind one word jobs. Now, we've got to help people. We've got to help the good folks who have lost their job as a result of 9 11, and that means extending unemployment benefits. We can do that. That means helping them with health care, and we'll do that. But the American people, they don't want just an unemployment check they want a permanent paycheck. And that's what we've got to be figuring out how to do. I remember when I was campaigning in West Virginia, I said, "If you'd give me a chance to become your President, one thing I'll fight for is to let the working people keep more of their own money." And guess what? We got it done I mean, a real tax relief package that understands that by giving people their own money, somebody is going to spend more. And if somebody spends more, somebody is going to produce what their spending spend money to produce what their spending on, which means they've got to hire people. Listen, tax relief equals jobs. And thank goodness we did it when we did. This economy was slowing down the evidence shows it in March of 2001. It was beginning to kind of grind down, and tax relief happened at the right time. There's some weird economics going on in Washington. There are some saying they don't want the tax relief plan to go through, which is basically a tax increase. They want to raise taxes in the midst of a recession. I can't imagine what textbook they're reading. Laughter But raising taxes, or not allowing money in people's pockets in the midst of the recession, is the wrong prescription. If you want to create jobs, let the American people have more of their own money so they can spend it. We've got to sell more products around the world. I've spent a lot of time talking to American farmers. I said, "Look, our farmers are the best in the world. We're the best at growing crops. So why don't we try to feed people who don't have food?" It seems like to me, it makes sense for us to open markets for U.S. products. We're good at what we do. We've got the best workers in the world. We're the most productive people on the face of the Earth. We should not fear opening markets we ought to welcome opening markets so we can sell more products. If we sell more products overseas, it means more jobs for the working people in America. In order to grow our economy in order to grow our economy, we've got to have an energy plan. Believe it or not, we're the first administration in a long time that's developed a comprehensive energy plan. On the one hand, it says, we've got to do a good job of conservation. We've got to promote technologies that will enable people to have the same lifestyle without burning as much energy. We've got to figure out ways for our cars to burn less fuel, but be able to be comfortable and be able to let families drive all throughout West Virginia. We've got to conserve energy. But conservation is only one half of the equation. In order to become less dependent on foreign sources of energy, we've got to find and produce more energy at home, including coal. I don't view the world as zero sum. I believe that we can have coal production and enhanced technologies in order to make sure the coal burns cleaner. I believe we can have both. Now, I know there are some in Washington who don't want to concede that, but they must not have much faith in the technology that's coming on line. I don't believe we can be independent as a nation unless we've got a constructive coal policy. And so I asked Congress, once and for all, to pass a comprehensive energy plan, including exploring for natural gas in the State of Alaska so we can be less dependent. The other day some of the most interesting meetings are taking place in Washington. The other day I was with Jimmy Hoffa. A lot of people say, "Well, he's a Republican. Obviously, he doesn't care about the union." That's not true at all, for starters. I care about working people. I don't care what label they put on them. I don't care if they're a Democrat, Republican, independent, union, nonunion I want to find jobs for everybody. I'm the President of everybody, not just a few. And so I sat down with Jimmy, and we talked about and I was with the head of the carpenters and seafarers and construction people and we're talking about jobs. And he reminded me, one reason he was so strong for the energy plan was not only because it was good for U.S. security he cares about U.S. security just like I care about U.S. security but because when we explore for energy in America, it means jobs for working people. This is just as much of a job program as it is an energy as a national security program, folks. And it's about time Congress skips all the politics and focuses on what's right for the American people. Congress is coming back tomorrow to Washington, and my call to Congress is, not let the year 2002 become a bitter political year. Now, I know a lot of them are running for office, and that's fine. And I've got my favorites laughter like Shelley Moore. But there are some things that are more important than political party. The national security is more important than political party. And I appreciate the way Democrats and Republicans have worked together. Energy is more important than political party. Jobs are more important than political party. And we showed what's possible in Washington on the education bill. We passed a good piece of legislation that says, public education is a cornerstone of job security it's a cornerstone of hope and the Federal Government is going to take an active role in promoting accountability to make sure nobody gets left behind in America. I trust the local people of West Virginia to make the choices for the children of West Virginia. So we're going to pass power out of Washington, so the schools are run locally. But there are some major initiatives inherent in that bill. One of them is making sure every child reads. I mean every child, not just a few, not just only one kind of child every single child. If we want to have an America that is hopeful and prosperous, if we want to have a job oriented country, we'd better make sure our schools teach every child how to read. And if they don't, it's time for us to start blowing the whistle on failure and changing things early, before it's too late. So there I was, a couple of weeks ago, traveling the country, saying, "You know, Ted Kennedy is a pretty good fellow." I know that sends a lot of shock waves throughout American political scene. Laughter It certainly shocked him. Laughter We worked together on the education bill. Instead of saying, "Well, I can't talk to you because you're of this party, and you can't talk to me because I'm that party," we said, "Why don't we do what's right for America when it comes to our children? Why don't we set aside all the bickering? It's time for us to understand in Washington that America is more important than our political parties and come together and do what's right for the American people." We are a strong, strong nation, and I am so proud to be the President of such an incredible land. You know, the enemy, when they hit us on 9 11, really didn't understand America. They thought we were soft. I guess they were watching too much TV. Laughter They didn't understand our character or our resolve. They didn't understand that if you anger a mighty nation, that we will rise up with one voice and bring justice. We're a nation not of revenge but a nation of justice. We're a nation that loves our freedom. We're a nation a nation based upon some fundamental values and principles. You know, after 9 11, a lot of mothers and dads sat down at their dinner tables and reassessed their value systems. They said, "We now understand our most important job is to love our children. We may be working 8 to 5, but loving your children is forever." There's a lot of mothers and dads there's a lot of moms and dads saying, "I love you," on a daily basis, and that's good. Out of evil can and has come good. Audience member. How's Laura? The President. She's doing great. Thank you for mentioning her name. Laughter Laura is doing great. I got to tell you, what a fabulous, fabulous wife and First Lady she is. It's clear I married above myself. Laughter But I want you all to know that many have asked, "What can I do to help America?" And they're still asking that question. Well, the best way to fight evil is with good. The best way to let the enemy know here at home that they have not affected us is for parents to love their children more, is for people in communities all across West Virginia to help a neighbor at need. If you've got a shut in across the street from you and want to be a soldier in the war against terror, walk across the street on a daily basis and say, "Can I help you?" If your church group or synagogue or mosque knows somebody who's lonely, why don't you help set up a mentoring program so the child knows somebody in America loves him or her. If you want to be a soldier in the war against terror, love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself. America is defined not by our Government. America is defined by millions of acts of kindness that take place every single day all across America, because this Nation is a nation of such strong values, of such strong faith, that nobody, no evil one will ever be able to diminish the good inherent in the soul and character of the American people. It is my honor to be your President and to be the President of such a fabulous land. Thank you for having me come. May God bless. God bless America. Thank you all. January 16, 2002 President Bush. I'm going to have an opening statement welcoming our friend to the Oval Office. The Prime Minister is going to say a few remarks. Both of us have agreed to take some questions. I would like those traveling with the Turkish press to have a chance to ask some questions today as well. We'll both take two questions apiece. Thank you for coming, Mr. Prime Minister. I'm proud to welcome you as a friend. You have been steadfast in your support in the war against terror, and for that, my Nation is very grateful. We appreciate your leadership when it comes to foreign policy, and we appreciate your leadership when it comes to economic policy. You and your administration have made some very tough decisions, and the economy is improving as a result of your leadership. And we look forward to having a good discussion about how we can increase trade. And today I'm informing the Prime Minister that we're lifting the travel ban on Turkey so that our citizens can feel comfortable going to that wonderful country to visit and to enjoy the rich history of one of our valued allies and friends. So welcome, Mr. Prime Minister. It's a delight to welcome you, and thank you for coming. Prime Minister Ecevit. Thank you very much for your kind invitation, Mr. President. It is a great honor for us. We deeply appreciate the support that you have extended, since you have taken over, to relations with Turkey. We had always good relations with the United States in your during your time of office. And you have totally enhanced this cooperation and friendship. We have some very good, concrete good news now, as you have referred to it, Mr. President. The State Department has today issued a statement expressing the will of the United States that we will be able to form an economic partnership President Bush. Right. Prime Minister Ecevit. in additional to our political partnership. We attach great importance to that our cooperation with you against terrorism is a great service not only for our own people but for the whole world. The American determination to get rid of terrorism in the world is of great importance, of historic importance, and we are glad we are very happy that we have the chance to cooperate with you to that effect. And Turkish and American cooperation, partnership now together with economic partnership will be beneficial for both peoples of both our countries. We had very fruitful discussions during the brief period here. We still have other items on our agenda, and we shall go to New York also to visit the place of terrorism. Thank you very much for sharing this time, for showing this generosity and friendship to us. President Bush. Well, you're welcome, sir. Prime Minister Ecevit. Thank you. President Bush. Holland Steve Holland, Reuters and then Sonya Sonya Ross, Associated Press . Cyprus Q. Sir, what do both of you see as the chances of a negotiated settlement with Cyprus President Bush. I'll let the Prime Minister speak. Of course, we're very encouraged that there is a dialog now taking place. And I want to thank the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister for encouraging that dialog. You can't solve a problem unless the parties are willing to talk. And Mr. Prime Minister, would you like to speak about the Cyprus situation? Prime Minister Ecevit. Yes. We attach great importance to our dialog with you with regard to Cyprus. It's good news that the leaders of the two communities are now having face to face dialog. They may not attain concrete results immediately, but the very fact, the very process of dialog may lead to satisfactory agreements between the two communities. President Bush. Well, I appreciate that very much. Anybody from the Turkish press? Iraq Q. Mr. President, to make your Iraqi policy more efficient, in your efforts to make the Iraqi policy more efficient President Bush. Iraqi policy? Q. Yes, your policy towards Iraq. What are your expectations from the Turkish Government? President Bush. Well, I'm going to have a discussion with the Prime Minister about Iraq. And my expectations, most importantly, are not from Turkey are from Iraq. I expect Saddam Hussein to let inspectors back into the country. We want to know whether he's developing weapons of mass destruction. He claims he's not let the world in to see. And if he doesn't, we'll have to deal with that at the appropriate time. My discussions with the Prime Minister are going to be not only regional in nature but global in nature. And I will assure him that we will consult closely with Turkey on any decisions that I make. Turkey is an ally and a friend, and no decisions have been made beyond the first theater. And the first theater is Afghanistan, and I do appreciate very much the Turkish support for our efforts in Afghanistan. Q. What if Saddam Hussein doesn't let the inaudible inspectors? President Bush. If he doesn't let them in? He'll find out. Afghanistan Q. On the question of Afghanistan, do you support the Turkish idea of leading the peacekeeping operation there? And if the United States essentially made the peace there, why not involve U.S. troops in keeping the peace? President Bush. Well, first of all, there's been a lot of international interest in providing troops to help keep the peace. And we welcome that support. As you know, the Brits have now taken the lead in the first round. There are some discussions as to whether or not Turkey will take the lead in the second round, and I appreciate their consideration of this very important matter. I believe there is plenty of troops from other nations that are willing to help, and after all, I've made it clear that our troops will be used to fight and win war, and that's exactly what they've done. We've sent them over to fight a war, and we're winning the war. And on the other hand, we're more than willing to help with the reconstruction efforts. We're make serious contributions to the interim government of Afghanistan so they can help rebuild themselves. We look forward to the conference in Tokyo. We'll have representatives there. Just today, Richard Armitage, our Deputy Secretary of State, met with the Finance Minister of the interim government of Afghanistan, and I've been told they had a very good discussion about how to get cash starting to move into the coffers. But I think there is ample support from around the world to provide troops to help stabilize Afghanistan so the Government can eventually take over its own defense. Q. Yes, but are you going to channel more funds to support Turkey in its role in Afghanistan? President Bush. Channel more funds to support Turkey in its role in Afghanistan? You mean, if and when they provide troops? That's what you're talking about? Q. Yes. President Bush. Well, we haven't had that discussion yet. And one thing for certain is that we're providing a lot of funds now in the Afghan theater. After all, we're proudly leading the efforts to destroy the Taliban and rout out the Al Qaida. As to reimbursements, that's a discussion we'll have at a later date. Turkey hasn't made up her mind yet as to whether or not she is going to lead the coalition forces. We're just in discussion phases. So I think the budgetary phase the budgetary discussions should take place after a commitment has been made. Taxes Q. Inaudible generous inaudible Senator Kennedy called for President Bush. Oh, let me comment. I appreciate that very much. Q. I thought you might want to. Laughter President Bush. Well, Mr. Prime Minister, we put a significant tax relief package in place right at the right time. Our economy was beginning to slow down in March of 2001. Fortunately, I was able to work with both Democrats and Republicans in our Congress to get a good tax relief package out. And when the economy slows down, it makes sense to cut taxes, and that's exactly what's happened. And those who want to revoke the tax cut, basically raise taxes, are those who just don't share my view. I think raising taxes in the midst of a recession is wrong economic policy. It would be a huge mistake. It's bad for American workers. It hurt when it comes to creating jobs. And so I strongly disagree with those who want to raise taxes here in Washington, DC. I'm confident that the American people agree with me, as well. And if Members of the House and the Senate listened to their constituents and listened to those who want to find work, they will understand the wisdom of our ways. Thank you. January 16, 2002 Well, thank you for that very warm welcome. It's such a pleasure to be here tonight for this gathering. I want to thank the World Affairs Council for promoting citizen interest in global issues, especially an interest in our own hemisphere and its importance to our country. Eldon, thank you very much for your fine introduction. Backstage he was wondering whether or not I could understand his accent. I said, "That's not the problem. The problem is, can you understand mine?" Laughter I want to thank Jerry Leach, as well. I want to thank the leadership here at the OAS. Cesar, thank you very much for your continued hospitality and leadership. It's good to see my friend Luigi again. I want to thank Enrique Iglesias, as well. I want to thank members of my Cabinet who are here, in particular, Mel Martinez, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Thank you, Mel. I'm pleased to see Roger Noriega, el Embajador de los Estados Unidos a la OAS, for being here. Thank you, Roger. A new member of my team is Otto Reich, Assistant Secretary for the Western Hemisphere. I appreciate Otto being here. And of course, I want to thank the members of my National Security Council who are here, Condi Rice and John Maisto, for their sound and solid advice. Thank you all for coming. In September of last year, I welcomed my good friend the President of Mexico to the White House. Standing together on the South Lawn, President Fox and I spoke of building a hemisphere of freedom and prosperity and progress. That was 5 days before the terrorists attacked the peace and security of the world, murdering thousands of citizens from over 80 nations, including almost every nation in this hemisphere. Since the attacks, the United States has received incredible sympathy and support from our neighbors and friends. I've been in close contact with democratic leaders such as Prime Minister Chretien and President Fox and President Cardoso, President Lagos and President Toledo, to name a few. We've been talking on a regular basis about our common interests. Democratic leaders throughout the Americas have offered help and wisdom, friendship, and even peacekeepers, and for that this country is very grateful. The nations of the Western Hemisphere are resolved We refuse to live in fear, so we will fight terror wherever it is exists. And we're committed to building a prosperous and free and democratic hemisphere. Nothing will distract us nothing will deter us in completing this great work. We meet, however, at a time when there are some who question the path to prosperity and stability. Some wonder whether free market reforms are too painful to continue. Some question the fairness of free and open trade, while holding out the false promise of protectionism. And there's even greater danger, that some may come to doubt democracy itself. Our answer to these questions and doubts must be clear, and it must be consistent The hopes of all our peoples, everybody who lives in this hemisphere, no matter where they live, lie in greater freedom. Free markets and open trade are the best weapons against poverty, disease, and tyranny. And democracy is the nonnegotiable demand of human dignity. The future of this hemisphere depends on the strength of three commitments democracy, security, and market based development. These commitments are inseparable, and none will be achieved by half measures. This road is not always easy, but it's the only road to stability and prosperity for all the people all the people who live in this hemisphere. Our first commitment is to democracy and political freedom. This is affirmed in the Democratic Charter of the Americas, which holds this Only democracies can be a part of our inter American dialog and system. And these governments cannot be democratic in name only. Citizens and businesses must know that the townhall, the alcaldia, is free from bribery and cronyism and all forms of corruption. These old attitudes and habits are a form of theft, stealing from people their money and their trust and their hopes for a better life. For freedom and prosperity to come, corruption must go. Freedom the freedom to vote, the freedom to speak your mind, the freedom to worship an Almighty God, the freedom to own your own property is the great idea of our time it is the great idea of all time. And by building governments that are more open and honest and fair, we will make freedom more meaningful for all our citizens. Our second commitment is to security, security against acts of terror. It is the great calling of the 21st century. And I can assure you this Nation will not tire we will not fade we'll be resolute in our determination to rout out terror wherever it exists in our neighborhood or neighborhoods around the world security against the lawless violence of drug cartels and their accomplishments accomplices. Our citizens must know that they can exercise their freedoms in security and in peace. And that is why, for example, the United States, Canada, and Mexico are cooperating in unprecedented ways to build smart borders for the 21st century that ensure safety for ordinary people and trade and filters out terror and drugs. And that is also why the United States remains committed to helping nations like Colombia defend her democracy. Colombia and the Andean nations are strengthening law enforcement, reducing illegal crops, and expanding legitimate business opportunities as viable alternatives to drug farming and drug trafficking. The United States Congress and I recently approved 625 million to support these efforts. America will help all nations in the region in cutting off the supply of drugs. And just as importantly, America will help the nations of the regions by reducing the demand for drugs within our own borders. Our third commitment is to growing and stable economies where the benefits of growth are widely shared, economies where small business owners and farmers and workers and investors are all able to build and earn their own prosperity. We must foster policies that reward, not punish, entrepreneurship, work, and creativity. We understand that sustained development depends on market based economies, on sound monetary and fiscal policies, and on freer trade in our neighborhood. Recent events in Argentina do nothing to change this reality. America is deeply concerned about the difficulties facing our ally and our friend we're deeply concerned about the effects of the economy on Argentina's great people. We share ties of commerce and culture and family. America is hopeful that Argentina will get through these tough times. It was an encouraging sign that the President, on taking office, expressed a desire to pursue a Free Trade Area of the Americas. Argentina and nations throughout our hemisphere need to strengthen our commitment to market based reform, not weaken it. Shortcuts to reform only lead to more trouble. Half measures will not halve the pain, only prolong it. The United States is prepared to help Argentina weather this storm. Once Argentina has committed to a sound and sustainable economic plan, I will support assistance for Argentina through international financial institutions. This assistance can soften the impact of the crisis on the lives of the Argentine people and help that country return to growth and prosperity. Success in the global economy comes to countries that maintain fiscal discipline, open their borders to trade, privatize inefficient state enterprises, deregulate their domestic markets, and invest in the health and education of their people. And those who promise painless protectionism or security through statism assure a bleak and stagnant future for their people. Countries that stay on the hard road of reform are rewarded. Just look at Chile. Chile has cut its poverty rate in half over the last decade. It has cut its child mortality rate by almost two thirds since 1980. Or Mexico, that's withstood the setbacks of the midnineties, and its economy has grown by more than 4 percent annually since 1996. Costa Rica's emphasis on education and attracting foreign investment has transformed its economy over the past decade. Costa Rica's exports of computer products are now almost 4 times greater in value than its banana exports and nearly 8 times greater than its coffee exports. My Nation is no stranger to the difficulties of reform and restructuring. A generation ago, our Government made a mistaken and failed experiment with wage and price controls. Later, during the 1970s and 1980s, millions of our workers were displaced as our industries adapted to the demands of a new global economy. We've grown through the pains of recession, inflation, and unemployment by strengthening our commitments to markets, by enacting sound monetary and fiscal policies, and by embracing free trade. In the end, each of these challenges made us stronger and more prosperous. With all its tests and difficulties, a faith in freedom is never disappointed. This belief in markets is justified within our borders and beyond them. Open trade and investment bring healthy, growing economies and can serve the cause of democratic reform. From the success of NAFTA, we know these are facts, not theories. Acting on this belief, we went to Doha, and strongly support a new global trade negotiations. In this region, we are acting on a number of fronts. We're working to build a Free Trade Area of the Americas, and we're determined to complete those negotiations by January of 2005. We plan to complete a free trade agreement with Chile early this year. And once we conclude the agreement, I urge Congress to take it up quickly. And I ask the Senate to schedule a vote, as soon as it returns, on renewing and expanding the Andean Trade Preference Act. Today I announce the United States will explore a free trade agreement with the countries of Central America. My administration will work closely with Congress toward this goal. Our purpose is to strengthen the economic ties we already have with these nations, to reinforce their progress toward economic and political and social reform, and to take another step toward completing the Free Trade Area of the Americas. All of these efforts depend on one thing Congress must pass trade promotion authority. The House of Representatives acted. In the Senate, the Finance Committee has given its strong bipartisan approval. Now it's time for the full Senate to approve trade promotion authority, so I can put it to work for the good of America and all of the Americas. Markets and trade, development and democracy, rely on healthy and educated people. Therefore, we are also working to bring better health care and greater literacy to the nations of our hemisphere. The United States' funding for international basic education assistance programs this year will be over 45 percent higher than last year. And this spring, the first of our regional teacher training centers will open in Jamaica. Additional centers will be operating in South and Central America by year's end. I have called upon the World Bank and other development banks to increase the share of their funding devoted to education. The Inter American Development Bank has significantly increased this share over the past year. All the development banks should keep moving in the direction of making sure our neighborhood is well educated. I've also urged the World Bank to provide up to 50 percent of its assistance to the world's poorest nations in the form of grants rather than loans, grants for education, for health, for nutrition, for water supplies, and for sanitation. To this end, my next budget will include nearly 50 million increase in aid to the World Bank programs that assist the poorest countries. If the Bank demonstrates it can use the funds to achieve measurable results and helps move forward reform, I'm prepared to consider requesting increases over 100 million in each of my subsequent budgets. This would mean that the amount the annual U.S. contribution to these World Bank programs would be 30 percent higher than 3 years ago. This hemisphere is on the path of reform, and our nations travel it together. We share a vision, a partnership of strong and equal and prosperous nations, living and trading in freedom. Together, we will defend that vision against lawlessness and violence. We will assert it against terrorism and protectionism. Especially in times of adversity, we'll maintain our vision, because it unleashes the possibilities of every society and recognizes the dignity of every person. Together and I mean together we will build and defend this hemisphere of liberty. Thank you for coming. January 15, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much. It's great to be back in what they call the Big Easy. As you might remember, I grew up in Texas and spent some quality time here in New Orleans. I forgot how good the food is. I'm going to have to spend about a week working off that baked Alaska that I had at Antoine's. Laughter I didn't have any pretzels last night for dinner. Laughter I learned my lesson Always listen to your mother, who told me, "Chew your pretzels before you swallow." Laughter But thank you all for coming. It is a beautiful day in a great city and an important part of our economy, and that is the Port of New Orleans. I want to thank Gary LaGrange, who is the executive director of this facility. I want to thank the Secretary of Commerce Don Evans, who is traveling with me. I want to thank the chairman of the Port of New Orleans Board of Commissioners. I want to thank Dave Wagner. I want to thank Jim Campbell, who is the president of the International Longshoremen's Association Number 3000. I want to thank all the hard working longshoremen who are here to help make America grow. I want to thank my friend the Governor of the great State of Louisiana. What a piece of work that guy is. That's why they love you, Mike. Laughter He knows how to tell the truth he speaks plainly and he's doing a heck of a good job for the people of Louisiana. I want to thank Congressman David Vitter, who's here today. I want to thank Congressman John Cooksey, who is with us, as well. Thank you both for coming. And I want to thank you all for coming out to say hello. It's a great way to end my trip throughout America's heartland. I started yesterday in Moline, Illinois, at a factory that makes harvesting equipment for John Deere. I told them I was coming down to New Orleans, and I said, "I'm going to come to the place where much of the equipment you manufacture is shipped out when you sell overseas." And then I went to see some farmers in Missouri. And I told them that I was coming down to New Orleans in Louisiana, which ships out a lot of the product that they grow. The reason I'm here is because I want America to understand how our economy works. We're worried about jobs in our country. We want everybody who wants to find work to be able to have work everybody who wants a job should be able to provide for their family. I'm worried about the loss of jobs. Our economy is interconnected. What happens in Moline, Illinois, and in Missouri affects the people who work here in New Orleans, in the port. And therefore, good public policy recognizes that. And good public policy asks the questions, how do we make sure that what affects one affects the other in a positive way? How do we make sure people can find jobs as we head into the year 2000? The best way to make sure that our economy recovers from the attack I think one of the most important things I can do is to make sure that they don't hit us again. We suffered a lot on September the 11th, and one of the things that we suffered was the lack of confidence in the future. But as every day goes by, the American people are getting more and more confident in our ability to protect ourselves and the ability for our Government to respond in a positive way to make sure that families are safe in America. I fully understand the enemy still lurks out there, and the enemy still would like to hit us. But America has changed since September the 11th. We're now more alert. We've got a Coast Guard that's now actively patrolling our coasts, trying to make sure nobody comes in to hurt us. We've got an FBI major function now is to prevent further attack. We've got better intelligence sharing around the world to make sure that we find people before they come to our country. We're on full alert. I'm so proud of the law enforcement officials all across America who are working endlessly who are working endlessly to make sure that we're safe. This is a strong country. It's an alert country, and it's a patient country when it comes to achieving the ultimate objective, which is keeping America safe by finding terrorists where they live and bringing them to justice. And that's exactly what's happening in the first theater in the war against terror. I have unleashed a mighty military, and the mighty military of America is making us proud. For those of you who wear our uniform, I want to thank you. For those of you who have got families family members of those who wear the uniform, I hope you're as proud of them as I am. We set a clear objective several clear objectives. One of them was is that if you harbor a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you're guilty. That's the doctrine. The objective was to make sure that the Taliban no longer harbored Al Qaida. The Taliban no longer rules in Afghanistan. We met that objective, and in so doing, we liberated a group of people that had been terrorized we liberated women and children. I'm so proud of the United States military. It brings me such joy such joy to know that not only are we pursuing the objective and that is to bring the murderers to justice but this great Nation is liberating people and feeding people. We're not only a tough nation, but we're a compassionate nation. And the world has seen the greatness of America as we pursue our objective. And we're making some progress against Al Qaida. We're hunting them down, one man at a time. I just want to tell you that I'm patient, and our military is patient that I don't care how long it takes. I don't care where they hide we're after them. And we're after them and will remain after them until they're brought to justice. Oh, I know there are some who are saying, "Gosh, I wish this ended yesterday." But that's not how this is going to work. You see, we've got people who send youngsters to suicide missions, and they, themselves, hide in caves. Those are the kind of people we're dealing with, but there's not going to be enough caves in the world to hide them. Some may tire some in our coalition may get tired of this effort, or some in our country may tire. But I can assure you, I'm not, because I view this as a moment a defining moment in history, a moment when we must defend freedom, a moment when we must defend civilization, itself, a moment when this great Nation in which this great Nation must lead the world must lead the world to make sure our children and grandchildren can grow up in a peaceful and secure society. In order to make sure people can find work, we better make sure we educate the people of our country. I had the real privilege last week of traveling the country, touting a good education bill, a bill that is going to make sure every child gets educated and no children get left behind. One of the things that I really, really appreciate about Governor Foster is that he understands that we better hold people accountable in education. Otherwise, some are going to get left behind. I'm real proud of the education reforms that Mike Foster has put in place. I believe strongly, every child in America can learn. I believe that, and I believe our public school systems can teach every child in America how to read and write and add and subtract. And I took that message up to Washington and worked with both Republicans and Democrats to get a good bill out that sets high standards, that says, "If you take money, you need to show us whether or not children can read and write and add and subtract," a good bill that focuses on making sure every child is literate, a bill that helps teachers teach reading using a curriculum that works, and a bill that says the good folks of Louisiana can run their schools better than bureaucrats in Washington, DC. And one of my traveling mates was Ted Kennedy, the Senator from Massachusetts. I've said good things about him. Laughter He nearly fell out. Laughter So did the boys at the Crawford coffee shop. Laughter But I said it because he worked hard to get a good bill he worked with a Republican administration to get a good piece of education reform. We showed what can happen in Washington when you put your political parties aside and focus on what's best for the United States of America. And that's what's got to happen on this issue of trade. One of the reasons I'm traveling down the spine of America and on the mighty Mississippi is because I want to remind our fellow citizens how important trade is. It's important to these workers that we trade. The people who are loading these ships load them because we're trading around the world. The farmers who are selling product can sell more if we trade. And if the farmers sell more of their product, we can sell more of the machines made in Moline, Illinois, so the good folks up there, the UAW workers, can work. I'm worried about jobs. And I believe if you trade more, there are more jobs available for hard working Americans. There are some who play politics with the trade issue they want to shut down trade. I like to remind people, those who shut down trade aren't confident. They're not confident in the American worker they're not confident in the American entrepreneur they're not confident in American products. I'm just the opposite. I know we got the best workers in the world I know we can make the best products in the world. And therefore, we ought to have free and fair trade around the world. I'm not the only one that feels that way. Some of the longshoremen that I met coming in said, "We need trade so I can keep working." I got a nice letter from your mayor. He said, you know, he's sorry he couldn't see me because he's on a trade mission to Mexico City, "However, I want you to know that I fully support your efforts to pass legislation giving your administration fast track authority to negotiate trade agreements." This isn't a Republican issue this isn't a Democrat issue. Trade is a jobs issue. And the United States Senate needs to hear the voices of the working people and get me a bill I can sign. And you know what else the United States Senate needs to do? They need to pass an energy bill. One of the great things about our agriculture sector is, we grow enough food to feed America. And therefore, we're secure when it comes to food. Gosh, I would hate to be the President of a country that has to import a lot of food. It would mean you're beholden to somebody else's farmers to feed your people. We grow a lot of food. We can feed our people. We grow enough that we can put it on the ships here and send it around the world, and we ought to be feeding the world, as well. But that's not the case for energy. We receive a lot of our energy, over 50 percent of it, from other parts of the world. Sometimes they like us sometimes they don't. Laughter And it's those times when they don't like us that makes me nervous as the President of the country. Laughter It's in our national interest to have a national energy plan. It's in Louisiana's interest to have a national energy plan. It's in America's interest to have a national energy plan. A national energy plan will help us conserve more and produce more. It will make us less reliant upon foreign sources of energy, and it will help us create more jobs. The people of Louisiana understand that energy equals jobs. So do a lot of other people in America. This bill is bottled up in the United States Senate. It's about time they focused on creating jobs in America and get me a trade bill and an energy bill for the good of the American people. The good news is, I think we got a United States Senator I know we've got one from Louisiana who understands that John Breaux understands. He understands jobs, and I appreciated him supporting me on the tax cut. And that's another good piece of legislation that passed out of Washington, and it came just at the right time just at the right time. You see, our economy started slowing down significantly in March of 2001. And when the economy begins to slow down, one of the best remedies is to let people keep more of their own money, is to take less of the money from the working people. When a longshoreman is able to keep more of his own money, his family has more money to spend. And as they spend that money, somebody, obviously, has to produce the product for them to buy. And as they produce the product, it creates jobs. And in order to stimulate the economy, one of the good ways to do so is to have tax relief. We passed meaningful, real tax relief that says, finally, our Government trusts people with more of their own money so that people can make the right decisions for their families. You know, there are some in Washington, however, who seem to be indicating that in order to come out of a recession, you should raise taxes. Audience members. No o o! The President. I don't know what economic textbook they've been reading laughter but it's not the one that most Americans have read. They understand tax relief is the best way to encourage an economic recovery in America. Now, we can help and should help those workers who lost their jobs as a result of the September the 11th attacks. We should work together to extend unemployment insurance employment benefits. We ought to help pay for health care for workers that have been laid off that's something we ought to do. But most Americans don't want an unemployment check. They want a paycheck, and we ought to figure out ways to increase jobs. An energy plan will help create jobs a trade bill will create jobs. And we need a stimulus plan that says, "Let's be smart. Let's encourage entrepreneurs and people who buy equipment, and let's accelerate the tax relief so that this economy will grow, so that people who want to work can find work." There is no reason why we can't work together to get a good bill done for the American people. I like my job a lot. It's a huge honor to live in the White House, and I want to report that Laura is doing a fabulous job. What a great, great First Lady. She's happy, and that's really important. Laughter And it's an honor to represent you in Washington, but I really enjoy traveling our country, as well. I like to get out. I like to move around, because it is one, it reminds me of the true strength of America. And the true strength of our country is not in our Capital. We've got a great system no question about it. We've got a fantastic Constitution. But the true strength of America really are the American people is the American people. That's the true strength. The true strength is the American citizens, people of good heart. The enemy didn't understand our country. You know, they thought we were so materialistic that we were soft. They thought we cared more about ourselves than we cared about something greater than ourselves. But they were wrong. They didn't understand the character of America. They don't know how tough we can be they didn't realize how tough we could be if we decided to be tough. They thought we would be impatient, and they're wrong. They thought we'd get tired early. They don't understand us. A lot of people say, "Well, what can I do to help fight the war on terror?" Well, one, be alert. If you see something happening that's unusual, report to the local law enforcement. Let them know. But the other thing is, is that in order to fight evil, I think one way you do it is to fight it with good acts of kindness and decency. In order to fight the evil ones and not let their way of life stand, one thing Americans can do is to love a neighbor. I want to not only unleash our military and the might of our military I also want to help unleash the compassion of the American people. A soldier in the war on terror is somebody who mentors a child or somebody who walks across the street to a shut in neighbor and says, "How can I brighten your day? What can I do to love you?" A soldier in the war on terror is a mom or a dad who surrounds who hugs their children on a daily basis and says to a child, "I love you more than anything in life." Somebody who wants to fight evil with goodness is somebody who wants to get involved in their school system and praises the teacher or helps the education, somebody who goes to a church or a synagogue or mosques and says, "What can we how can we form a faith based program to help change people's lives by changing their hearts?" The enemy has awakened a mighty nation. They made us angry, but they've also made us hopeful because we fully understand the true strength of our country lies in the hearts and souls of a wonderful, fantastic group of people. It is my honor to be your President. It's my honor to be here in New Orleans. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. Thank you very much. Thank you all. January 14, 2002 The President. Thank you all. I appreciate it. Thanks for coming. I thought the Senator I thought the Senator was going to offer me a pretzel. Laughter Not one of those ones that are hard to chew. Now, I see a lot of the students who are here. This gives me a chance to give you some good advice Always listen to your mother. Laughter Mine used to say, "Never swallow your pretzel until you've chewed it." Laughter I guess I wasn't listening. But it's great to be back here in the great State of Missouri and Springfield. I want to thank the Chamber of Commerce for hosting this event. It gives me a chance to share some of my thoughts with our fellow citizens as I work my way down the heartland of America. I started earlier in Moline, Illinois, at a factory that makes John Deere tractors. I am here to talk to farmers. I'm on my way down to New Orleans to remind people that much of what we grow and produce in America is shipped overseas, out of that port. I'm really here to remind people of the great values of our country, lived in your everyday lives. So I want to thank you all for coming. I'm grateful for a fine United States Senator and a good friend of mine, Kit Bond, for being here. Thank you for coming, Kit. I appreciate my Secretary of Commerce as well as the Secretary of Agriculture for joining me on this trip. Thank you both for coming. I want to thank Kenny Hulshof and Todd Akin, of the United States Congress, for being here today. I want to thank those two fine Members of the House of Representatives for coming. I see my good friend Jim Talent is here. I appreciate you coming, Jim I'm looking forward to visiting with you on the way out to the next stop. I want to thank so very much Roseann Blunt for being here, the wife of your Congressman. The first lady of your fine State met me at the airport, and I want to thank Lori Holden for coming out to say hello. But most of all, I want to thank you all for taking time out of your day to be here to greet me. It's been an unbelievable experience to be your President. Audience member. Inaudible The President. Thank you. I'm so proud to come and be able to share some thoughts about how to make sure America remains strong and to make sure people who are trying to find work are able to do so. You know, my view about this is that the role of Government is not to try to create wealth. The role of Government is to create an environment in which people are willing to take risks, in which the entrepreneur is willing to expand through capital investment. The job of Government is to create an environment in which people are willing to create jobs, so people who want work can find work. And that starts with making sure our Nation is safe, in order to make sure in order to make sure that there's confidence in our economy and that the environment is good for job creation. My biggest job is to prevent the enemy from hitting us again, and that's exactly what I'm going to do. We take homeland security very seriously in America now. I put a good man in place, Tom Ridge, to make sure that anytime we get any hint that anybody would try to harm America again, we'll act, and we'll act strong. If we get any scintilla of evidence that somebody may try to harm America, we will bring them to justice. I want to thank the law enforcement officers and officials who are on alert. And we've got to remain on alert. You see something unusual happening in your community, contact the local law enforcement. We're on the look. But the truth of the matter is, the best way to protect America is find the enemy where they hide and get them. I am so proud I am so proud of those who wear our uniform. We have given them a big task, and they're performing brilliantly. For those of you who may have a son or a daughter in our military, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. For those of you who have a husband or wife in the military or a mom or a dad, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Our military is doing us proud. We have sent them on a difficult mission. It is getting more difficult as time progresses. After all, we've got our troops now looking in caves, looking in villages, scouring the countryside. When I first announced our mission, I told the American people it may take a while, that we must show discipline and resolve, and we must be steadfast in our purpose. And that's exactly what the American people that's how the American people are reacting. And for that I'm grateful, and so are our troops. We had objectives that our troops have accomplished. One, we said, "If you harbor a terrorist, if you hide a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist," and the Taliban is paying a price. I hope you're as proud as I am of the pictures of joy as our troops have liberated the women of Afghanistan, the Taliban. We're not only fighting for freedom we're liberating people from the clutches of oppression. And now we're after Al Qaida. They think they can run they think they can hide from the mighty United States. But we're patient we're strong we're resolved. We're going to stay on the hunt until we bring them to justice. In order to make sure people can find work, we better make sure everybody in America is educated. I had an honor I had the high honor of traveling our country last week with authors of a good education bill. It's one, by the way, that says every child can learn every child can learn. We must teach children the basics. And in return for help, you must show us just like you say here in Missouri whether or not children can read and write and add and subtract. And if they cannot, let's correct problems early, before it's too late. It also says, inherent in that bill, the people who care more about the children in this part of the world are the moms and dads and teachers who live in this part of the world. We believe in local control of schools. I stood up in front of the American people there on this trip, and I said, "You all may not believe this certainly the people in the Crawford, Texas, coffee shop may not believe it when I say it but Ted Kennedy did a fine job on this bill." Laughter I never thought I would hear myself say that. Laughter Of course, he never thought I would say it. Laughter But I meant it I meant it. It goes to show what can happen when Republicans and Democrats set aside their political differences and focus on what's right for America. Let me tell you what we need in Washington We need people to put party aside and say, "America is the most important thing in Washington, DC." In order to make sure people can find work, this Nation better better knock down trade barriers. See, one of the things we're good at, really good at, is growing food. We're the best in the world. And it makes sense that if we're good at growing food, that we ought to be trying to sell it not only at home but, when we have a little extra, overseas. If you want to be if you're good at something and the best at something, it makes sense to allow that product to be overseas. One of the things I'm fighting for and one of the things I think makes great sense is for this nation to be a free trade nation not to be afraid to compete but let us compete. And when we can compete in a fair way, we can whip anybody when it comes to selling food. The other thing we need to do is to make sure we have an energy policy. We're a blessed nation because we can grow our own food, and therefore, we're secure. A nation that can feed its people is a nation more secure. Now, if you're secure when you feed the Nation, it seems like one of the things we ought to try to be more secure about, as well, is having an energy policy that makes us less reliant on foreign sources of energy. We can do a better job of conservation, and we will. We can do a better job of distribution, and we must. We can use some innovative products to provide energy, like ethanol. But one of the things we've got to do is to explore for energy in our own lands in an environmentally sensitive way. We had a trade bill bottled up in the Senate. I hope they move it when we get back. We've got an energy bill bottled up in the Senate. I hope they move it when we get back. It is in the Nation's interests that we move those two bills. And finally, in order to make sure people can find work and I'm worried about the fact that the evil ones hit us and it caused people to lose their job in order to make sure they can find work, we've got to have good, sound economic policy coming out of Washington, DC. And that starts with understanding how jobs are created. One way you can create jobs is to lower people's taxes. If people have more money to spend, it means somebody has got to produce more for them. And the producers then need to hire people. It's Economics 101. Except sometimes people in Washington haven't taken the course. Laughter We passed a meaningful tax cut, and now some of them want to take it away from you by delaying it. Audience members. Boo o o! The President. Yes, I agree. The best way the worst thing to do is, in the face of this recession, is to not let people have their tax break. It doesn't make any economic sense. And that's why we're not going to let them that's why we're not going to let them repeal this tax cut. And not only that, we can help workers who got laid off. We need to extend the unemployment benefits, and we need to help them with their health care. And we can do that, if we make our mind up to put people's lives ahead of partisan politics. But I'm going to remind the folks in Washington that what people don't want is an unemployment check what they want is a permanent paycheck. And therefore we've got to put plans in place that stimulate our economy, that creates jobs, that says to employers, if you buy equipment, you get a little extra in order to help people find work. No, we can do a better job in Washington, DC, of addressing this economic downturn. And I'm confident when the people's voice rises up, the good folks up there elected to represent you all and everybody else will hear you loud and clear. One of the things that the evil ones didn't figure out was how strong we are. Oh, they knew we had a nice military, but they didn't think we'd use it. They made a bad mistake. But what they also don't understand is the character of our Nation. They don't understand what I know, that the great strength of this country really isn't in our airplanes or guns it's not in our stock market. Those are parts of our country that are strong, but the great strength is in the hearts and souls of our fellow citizens. This is a nation of a lot of character. It's a strong nation because we're strong people. It is a nation that is determined and patient, but it's also a nation that's compassionate and decent. The evil ones hit us, and they caused a lot of loss of life and a lot of anguish, a lot of fright and a lot of fear. But they also caused folks all across our country to search their soul about life. They caused moms and dads to ask the fundamental question of what was the most important thing for them. The good news is about America, moms and dads all across America are now saying, "My most important job is to love my children with all my heart." What the evil ones did is they reminded us that there are things important in life, such as loving your neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself. People ask me all the time, what can they do to help fight terror. And one thing you can do is walk across the street and tell a neighbor in need you love them. If you find somebody who's shut in, just spend a little time. If you want to fight evil, mentor a child who needs to learn how to read, support your teachers, get involved with public education. If you want to fight evil, make a contribution to a local charity, go to your church or synagogue and mosque, and figure out how you can help a community become a better place. That's what's happening all across America. You know, folks, we're going to win the war, but we're also going to win because the goodness of America will overshadow the evil of those who take innocent life. It is such honor to be moving around the country, to be with the good folks who make the country strong. I want to thank you so very much for your hospitality I want to thank you for your prayer. May God bless America. Thank you all. Thank you all very much, and God bless. Thank you. January 14, 2002 Thank you all very much. Thank you all. I thought for a while, when they told me that I was going to receive a gift here, that old Chuck was going to bring a pretzel laughter those kind that are easy to chew. Laughter If my mother is listening, Mother, I should have listened to you. Always chew your pretzels before you swallow. Laughter When I work the ropelines, people bring their children, and I always turn to the child, especially the teenagers, and say, "Listen to your mother. It's the best advice I can give you." I obviously needed to do the same thing last night. But I'm feeling great and so honored to be here. Thank you very much for letting me come to this fantastic plant. I'm impressed by the size of these monsters. Laughter It kind of makes me think I need a bigger ranch. Laughter I'm also impressed by the quality of the work. It's a great tribute to the men and women who work the floor here, which is a great tribute to the country, that we've got such good workers, such an entrepreneurial spirit. And part of my job is to make sure we preserve that spirit. It's also an honor to be here on the Mississippi River. The river really links our country together, and so I'm going to start here, and then I'm going to go down to Missouri to talk to some farmers. And then I'm going to go down to New Orleans, to the Port of New Orleans, from whence your product and the products you help harvest leave our country for foreign markets. It's my way of doing a couple of things one, reminding America about how important the food and fiber system is to our economy reminding America that those who grow food and those who help the farmers harvest that food are an incredibly important part to the future of our country. The food and fiber industry represents 1.3 trillion of gross domestic product in the year 2000. It employed over 24 million people. I'm also here not only to remind people about the importance of food and fiber but to remind people that we need to make sure we create jobs in this country. And I've got some ideas I want to share with you on how we do just that. There's no better place to do this than on the mighty Mississippi River. I appreciate members of my Cabinet traveling with me, Secretary Evans and Secretary Veneman, both of whom are doing a fine job representing all segments of our society. I want to thank Members of the United States Congress who are here Senator Harkin from Iowa, Senator Fitzgerald from Illinois, thank you both for being here. I appreciate a Member of the United States House, Lane Evans, who represents this district. And they must have changed the immigration laws because they let two Congressmen from Iowa in here. Laughter Congressman Ganske and Congressman Leach, thank you both for coming. I appreciate the mayor of East Moline and the mayor of Moline for greeting me here today. Thank you both for coming. I want to thank the officers of John Deere. I want to thank Bob Lane and John Gault. And I want to thank Chuck Thompson and all the hard working folks here at this plant. Thank you for greeting me. It's my honor to be here. The role of Government is not to create wealth the role of Government is to create conditions in which jobs are created, in which people can find work. And I want to share with you some of my thoughts about how best to do that. The first condition to make sure that people can find work is to make sure our Nation is secure, secure against an enemy that wants to attack us. That starts with having a robust, active, strong homeland security for our country. People say, "What does that mean?" Well, it means anytime you get a hint that somebody wants to harm us, you do something about it. It means you share intelligence with people all across the world, so that we know if somebody is coming our way. It means we've changed the nature of our law enforcement, so that preventing an attack is the number one priority of the FBI and local law enforcement. It means we're going to have our ears up and our eyes open. It means we'll be alert. And it means if we catch anybody trying to harm America or thinking about harming America, we're going to bring them to justice. Bob mentioned the confidence of the American consumer, and there's no question the attacks on America on 9 11 have affected our confidence. But the more the American citizen realizes that our Federal Government in combination with State Government and local authorities are working day in and day out to prevent any other kind of attack, confidence will return. But I want to remind my fellow citizens this, that the best way to secure the homeland of America is to find the enemy where they think they can hide and bring them to justice, no matter where they are. It's amazing to me that we've got an enemy, on the one hand, that's willing to convince young males to commit suicide on behalf of a cause that's empty and, at the same time, try to escape the justice of America in caves. They can run they think they can hide. But this patient, strong Nation will stay on the job until we find them, rout them out, and get them. I'm proud of our military. And for those of you who have got sons and daughters or brothers and sisters or moms and dads wearing the uniform, you need to be proud, too. They're accomplishing the mission that we set out, a mission that is dangerous, a mission that is just. After all, we are fighting for the freedoms the freedom to live the life the way you want to, the freedom to worship the way you want to, and the chance for our children and our grandchildren to grow up in a peaceful and safe society. The enemy made a mistake They thought this Nation was soft. They thought because we're a wealthy nation that we wouldn't rise to the occasion. Oh my, are they wrong. A second way to make sure we've got sustained economic growth is to make sure our public school system works well. Recently, last week, I had the honor of traveling the country touting the fact that I was able to sign a good education bill. I know I shocked people when I stood up and said, "Ted Kennedy is all right." Laughter Probably shocked him more than anybody else. Laughter But we showed what can happen in Washington when you put party politics aside and focus on what's good for the country. And what's good for the country is to make sure our education system produces smart, intelligent, literate children. And this bill I signed goes a long way for helping. It's a great piece of legislation, and I want to thank both Republicans and Democrats for working with me to get an education bill that America can be proud of. I believe the third condition necessary to make sure people can find work and those who have work can work harder is to make sure that we open up the world for American products. Fearful people want to build walls around America confident people believe we ought to tear them down. I'm confident in the American worker. I know the American worker can outproduce anybody, anywhere in the world. I'm confident in the American farmer. I know the American farmer is more efficient and can raise more crop than anybody, anywhere in the world. I'm confident we need to open up markets, not close them down. I'm confident we've got to get my friend Putin to be buying John Deere products. I'm confident what this Nation needs is to level the playing field and have trade that will create jobs all across America. The fourth ingredient is to make sure we've got an energy supply as we head into the future. I oftentimes talk about how important it is to have to be able to grow your own food. Part of the national security of the country is to know that we're self sufficient when it comes to food production, that we can grow our own food, we don't have to rely upon another nation to feed our people. It's one of the luxuries this Nation has. We don't have the same luxury when it comes to energy. We are too reliant upon foreign sources of crude oil. We've got to do a better job of not only conserving energy, but it seems to make sense to me that when we've got energy on our own hemisphere and in our own States, we ought to explore for it, to make us less reliant. It's in the national security interests of our country to have an energy policy. And we need to get Congress to act on a good one. It's one that will make us less reliant. It's one that encourages more conservation. And it's one that's good for American workers and American jobs. And finally, in order to make sure we have jobs, in order to make sure the economy expands, we've got to have good economic policy out of Washington, DC. I know there's a difference of opinion on about what's good economic policy, but mine starts with saying this When the economy slows down, one of the best things we can do is let people keep their own money so they can spend it. If the economy slows down, one of the best answers is tax relief. It trusts local people to spend the money the way they want to see fit. If you have more money in your pocket, you buy more things, which encourages more production. Consumer demand is stimulated by tax relief. And the great thing about our society is when consumers demand, generally somebody's there to produce, and so there's more jobs as more production takes place. Now, there's going to be a debate when we go back to Washington about tax relief. But I've made up my mind The tax relief plan we passed, which you're now beginning to feel the effects of, is going to be permanent. There are some more things that we can do. We need to take care of the workers whose lives were affected as a result of the evil ones' attacks, by extending unemployment benefits and by helping with their health care. I'm confident we can find common ground in Washington, DC, and a way to help people. But you know something? Americans don't want an unemployment check Americans want a permanent paycheck, and that's got to be the mission of any good stimulus package. So we need to work together to figure out ways to create stimulus deductibility for more equipment purchased, speeding up tax relief. There are some positive things we can do, if we make up our minds to do it, that will give a little extra oomph to an economic recovery that I hope is beginning to happen. So those are some of the thoughts I wanted to share with you as I travel down the Mississippi River Good stimulus policy, good economic policy based on trusting people with their own money, good education policy, good trade policy, and a good policy to bring these terrorists to justice. You know, I am amazed that anybody would think they could attack the country. They just didn't understand us. But I understand the great strength of our country, and it's the people it's the people that live all across our land. I don't care whether you're Democrat or Republican or independent, it's the people that make us great. You know why? Because this Nation is a nation of heart and soul and strength. I am so pleased to hear the stories of moms and dads sitting around their dinner table, asking the fundamental question about life, people assessing their values What's the most important thing in life? And moms and dads are realizing it's to love your children with all your heart and all your soul. No, the evil ones struck us, and they did serious damage. But in so doing, they really lifted the spirit of the country in a unique way. They brought out the very best in America. The best in America takes place when somebody walks across the street and says to a neighbor in need, "What can I do to help you?" Somebody knows there's somebody's shut in and says, "I think I'm going to go spread a little love today." The best of America takes place is in our churches and synagogues and mosques, when people walk out and listen to that call to love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself, and then do something about it. All this takes place, by the way these millions of acts of kindness on a daily basis, which helps define the soul and spirit of America it takes place not because of Government it takes place because of the people of the greatest land on the face of the Earth. My call to you is Work hard like you do love a neighbor like you'd like to be loved yourself love your children tell them you love them every single day make sure they turn off the TV so they become good readers. Laughter And always remember that we're lucky to live in such a fabulous nation, the nation called America. Thank you. January 14, 2002 Thank you all very much. So there I was, sitting in the Residency at the White House laughter watching a football game, eating a pretzel. Laughter And the next thing I know is, Barney, the Scottish terrier, is wondering what the heck happened. Laughter I want you all to know that I learned a good lesson, and that is I should have listened to my mother. Laughter She said, "Never try to swallow your pretzel until you chewed it." Laughter Thank you all for coming, and thank you for letting me come. If you see some of the folks who lined the road coming in, tell them thanks. Really, I wish we had a bigger hall so I could thank everybody in person, but there's a lot of people from your communities that are out there to wave, and I'm really grateful. Thank the high school kids and the teachers for being out there, as well. I'm working my way through the Midwest, through the heartland, because I want to send a couple of messages to the American people. One message is, food is really important for the economy of this country that in the year 2000, 1.3 trillion of the GDP came from food and fiber, 24 million Americans were employed as a result of work in food and fiber that if we're talking about the economic health of the country, we've got to always understand it begins with a healthy farm economy. And if we're worried about creating jobs which I am then we've got to think we use some common sense principles in order to expand the job base so people can find work. I'm also glad to be in the heartland because it's a place that understands values, the values of family and faith, of personal responsibility and hard work. I started my day in Moline, Illinois, at the John Deere plant where they're making harvesters, and then here, of course, in Aurora and Springfield, Missouri. And then I'm on my way to New Orleans, where they sell the product. It's a good message for America, to understand how the farmer works in relationship to the equipment manufacturer, in relationship to the exporter. I'm so happy that people in my administration understand the importance of the farmer to our country, starting with our Secretary of Agriculture, Ann Veneman, and the Secretary of Commerce, Don Evans. Thank you both for being here. I want to thank Senator Kit Bond for traveling with me today. He was giving me a good lesson on Missouri politics, as was Jim Talent, when we drived over. Thank you for coming, Jim. And I'm traveling with two members from the Missouri congressional delegation, Kenny Hulshof and Todd Akin. Thank you all for coming. Now, my friend Roy Blunt isn't here. He's evidently on a mission somewhere else, but he sent his better half. And I want to thank very much I want to thank sweet Roseann Blunt for coming, as well. Thank you for coming. I want to thank the Missouri Farmers Association. I want to thank the people who run this outfit. And I want to thank my fellow citizens for coming today. One of the things I strongly believe is that the role of Government is not to create wealth. The role of Government is to create an environment in which people are willing to take risk, an environment in which people are willing to risk capital, an environment that heralds the entrepreneur and the small business person. That's the role of Government. If the role of Government is to create an environment in which people are willing to take risk, one of the things Government must do is to work hard to create confidence in the people. And at this moment in history, the best thing I can do, along with my administration, in order to build the confidence of the American people, is to prevent the evil ones from hitting us again. The best way to make sure this economy recovers and people can find work is to have a homeland security system that runs down every hint that somebody might harm us, runs down every lead that we find. I want to assure you all that I spend a lot of time, as did my administration, on this top priority, that we're working with intelligence gathering services from around the world to sniff out, to listen to, to find out who might be trying to harm us again, that we've got our law enforcement officers around our country at the Federal, State, and local level now understand that they must remain on alert, that there's still an enemy and we've got to stop them. The FBI's primary mission is homeland security, and we're working closely with folks in your communities to make sure that if there's any hint that somebody may try to harm America, that we're going to act and act now and bring them to justice. I'm proud of the efforts of many all around our country who are working endless hours to make America safe. But the best way to make America safe is to hunt the enemy down where he tries to hide and bring them to justice, and that's exactly what we're going to do. I gave our military a mighty task, and they have responded. I want to thank those of you who have got relatives in the military, a brother or a sister, or a son or a daughter, or a mom or a dad. They have made me proud, and I hope they made you proud, as well. We sent the military on a clear mission, and that is to bring the evil ones to justice. It's a mission, however, that I expanded to include this that if you hide a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you provide aid and comfort for a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist. That's why the Taliban is no longer ruling Afghanistan. I think that one of the most joyous things for me is to see the faces of the Afghan women as they have been liberated from the oppression of the Taliban rule. Not only is our military destroying those who would harbor evil, destroying whatever military they had, destroying their defenses, but we're liberators. We're freeing women and children from incredible oppression. The humanitarian aid workers are home, as part of the conditions I laid down for the Taliban. The Taliban is in total rout. But we haven't completed our mission yet. And we're now at a very dangerous phase of the war in the first theater, and that is sending our boys and troops into the caves. You see, we're fighting an enemy that's willing to send others to death, suicide missions in the name of religion, and they, themselves, want to hide in caves. But you know something? We're not going to tire. We're not going to be impatient. We're going to do whatever it takes to find them and bring them to justice. They think they can hide, but they're not going to hide from the mighty reach of the United States and the coalition we have put together. I see members of the FFA here. I want you to know that the cause that our military now wages is a just cause, it's an important cause, that I long for peace. But I also understand that this Nation must lead the war against terror if you and your children and your grandchildren are going to grow up and understand the freedoms that we so enjoy in America that if you and your children and grandchildren can grow up in a peaceful and hopeful world, now is the time for this country to lead, and lead we will. I'm worried that the attacks on 9 11 have affected the ability for people to find work, and we're going to do something about it. Not only are we going to make the homeland secure, but we've done some things in Washington that actually make sense. Laughter And one of them is to pass a good education bill that makes public education a priority, that sets high standards, that calls people into account if there's failure, and that trusts the local people to run their own schools. I had the privilege of traveling the country last week with two Republicans and two Democrats, the sponsors of the bills. One of the Democrats happened to be Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts. Never did I dream laughter that I would say good things about him. Laughter Never did he dream that I would say good things about him. Laughter But I can, because he joined together with an administration to come out with a bill that's a good bill. It goes to show this bill shows what can happen in Washington when we're willing to put our political parties behind and focus on what's best for the United States of America. I'm going down to New Orleans tomorrow. I like to go there. It's a nice place to eat, and I'm going to be laughter . I've got a lot of friends in Louisiana it's right next to the State where I used to be Governor. But I'm also going to remind people of the importance of trade, trade not only for the agricultural sector of our country but trade in general. And let me tell you my view. If you're good at something, you ought to try to encourage it to become a bigger part of your world. And if you're good at growing crop, we ought not to diminish the ability to grow crops in America we ought to encourage. And the way to do that is to find other places to sell crops. If you're the best in the world at what you do which we are in farming then it seems like to me, we ought to encourage that product to be sold not only here in America but level the playing field so it can be sold all across the world. I know there's a lot of farmers around who say, "You know, we've heard that before. Every trade agreement trades out the farmer. Here comes old Bush from Texas, and he says he's for the farmer. Yet, you watch. They'll worry more about other products, and when it comes time to argue for the agricultural sector, they'll just leave us out." But that's not the way it's going to be, folks, because I understand how important agriculture is, not only for America, but how important it is for international trade for our country. Not only domestically but internationally, agriculture is important. And I'd just ask you to look at the record. In China, I argued that China ought to be in the WTO because it's good for the American agriculture. Look at the agreement. We've opened up the Chinese markets to U.S. farmers. It's good for China, and more importantly, it's good for the U.S. farmers to have that market available. We've got to trade. It's in our Nation's interest to trade, and it's a sure way to help create jobs. We've also got to have an energy policy if we're going to grow for the long term. One of the great things about America is, is that we're self sufficient in food. It's a national security interest to be self sufficient in food. It's a luxury that you've always taken for granted here in this country, but imagine if we have to rely upon somebody else to provide us food. It would be a problem. The good news is, we can not only grow food for ourselves we can grow food for others. That's not the way it is in energy. We're too reliant upon foreign sources of energy. We're too reliant upon parts of the world that may like us, may not like us, for our sources of energy. It seems like to me that we ought to work hard to become more self sufficient, less reliant, by having an energy plan that encourages conservation encourages the use of ethanol, for example value added processing, and also explores for energy in our own hemisphere and in our own States, in an environmentally friendly way. Finally an administration has come along and said, "Let's have a national energy plan." And that's exactly what passed out of the House, and hopefully, we can get it out of the Senate, just like the trade bill that came out of the House. Hopefully, we can get it out of the Senate. Hopefully, when they come back, they listen to the American people and put plans in place that will help our economy grow so that people can find work. Finally, I want to talk to you about economic policy out of Washington. It seems like to me that the question we ought to be asking in Washington is, what does it take to help people create jobs? What's it take? I started with this part I said that if you give people their own money back, if you let them keep more of their hard earned dollars, that's good for the economy. If a consumer has got more money, he or she spends it on a product, causing the person who manufactures the product to keep jobs in place and or increase jobs. And so we worked together and passed meaningful, real tax relief. It came at exactly the right time. The economy started to show signs of slowing down in March of 2001. A way to stimulate growth during recession is to give people let them keep their own money. That's Economics 101, except it sounds like some of them hadn't taken the course in Washington. Laughter There's now some talk that maybe we should raise taxes in a recession. That would be a disaster for the American economy, and we're not going to let it happen. And one of the best parts of that bill, that tax bill, was phasing out the death tax so the American farmer can pass his assets from one generation to the next. And there are some things we ought to do in Washington to help. We ought to help people who lost their job on 9 11, whose industries were affected as the result of that attack. That means extending unemployment benefits. That means helping people with health care. But here's the way I think about it People really don't want an unemployment check they want a permanent paycheck. And therefore, we ought to figure out ways to expand the job base of America. Every question ought to be, how do we grow our economy in a smart way? Therefore, I'm more than willing to work with the Democrats and Republicans to help the unemployed, but I ask them to think long term for America. Accelerating depreciation makes sense for people who buy equipment. It makes sense to speed up the tax relief. It makes sense to help low income taxpayers with money in their pocket to enhance demand. Oh, there's some smart things we can do to stimulate this economy, and there's some smart things we will do to make sure that we've got a good farm bill. I look forward to working with both political parties to come up with a farm bill that meets the following principles One, it will be generous and affordable. There will be ample money in there to meet the needs, and it's money that will fit into our budget. Secondly, a farm bill must provide a safety net for the American farmer without encouraging overproduction and thereby depressing prices. Thirdly, the farm bill must support our strong commitment to trade. Fifthly, it must offer incentives for good conservation practices on working lands. And finally, establish farm savings accounts to help farmers manage risks. These are sound principles which will enable the American farmer to plan, to think ahead, to be able to survive in a down time, and thrive when the markets get good. I look forward to working to get a good farm bill, and I look forward to working with you to get a good farm bill. Here are some practical steps to make sure that our economy recovers good education that will help in the long run, for certain good tax policy a good stimulus package a good farm bill good trade policy and most importantly, homeland security that keeps Americans safe. You know, when the enemy hit us, I was amazed to read that they really thought we were soft. They kind of didn't understand America very well. They might have been watching too much TV or something. Laughter I don't know what it was, but they thought, "Well, we'll hit them, and then America will fold their tent." We may launch a cruise missile or two, but that will be it. Man, did they make a big mistake. They don't understand how much we love freedom and that we're willing to fight for it. They didn't understand people they must not have understood people being on a commercial airline, figuring realizing what was happening, then saying a prayer and bringing the plane down to save others' lives. They didn't understand sacrifice. But what they really don't understand is the character of the American people. They don't realize that this Nation is a nation full of people who are determined and strong but compassionate and loving. A lot of times people ask me, "What can I do in the war against terror?" Well, obviously, if you see something unusual, report it. Treat people with respect. Value all religious religions. But there are some other things you can do. Fight evil with good. We can fight terror using our military, and we're going to, of course. But we can fight terror and evil with acts of kindness, with millions of acts of kindness, all across the country. The best thing about America is the fact that that happens on a daily basis. There are people who walk across the street to a neighbor in need and say, "Can I help you? What can I do to help?" They find somebody who is shut in and say, "I'd like to just love you for a second." It happens when Sunday schools or synagogues or mosques empty out, and they look for somebody to help. It happens when people raise money for a local charity. It happens when somebody says, "I want to be a Boy Scout leader, to teach a child good values." It happens when somebody mentors a child and teaches them how to read. The war on terror is a war we will fight on many fronts. It is a war we're going to win on many fronts. It's a war we'll win at home because this is a compassionate nation, full of decent and loving and caring people. And it is such an honor to be the President of the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. Thank you for having me. God bless. Thank you all. January 12, 2002 Good morning. We have entered a busy season here in Washington. Soon, Congress will be back in session. I will go to the Capitol to report on the State of our Union, and I will present a budget that sets the priorities of our Government for fiscal year 2003. Our highest priorities are clear to all. We must give our military every tool and weapon it needs to prevail in the war against terror. We must strengthen our country's defenses against further attack with a comprehensive program of homeland security. And we must get our country's economy growing and creating jobs once again. The economy is a concern for all Americans, especially for those out of work. These Americans need extra help. My economic plan proposes an additional 13 weeks of unemployment insurance benefits for workers who have lost their jobs and direct assistance to protect their health insurance. My plan is based on the simple truth that people out of work need an unemployment check, but what they need even more is a steady paycheck. So I have joined with Republicans and Democrats in proposing concrete steps to create more jobs and help spur more growth in the economy. The House passed this plan the Senate needs to act on it. Difficult economic times brings hardship to many other Americans as well, single moms or disadvantaged young people trying to get into the workforce. My budget seeks to help them, too, by adding resources to vital programs that have proven their value. One of our Government's most effective services is the Women, Infants, and Children program, which counsels mothers on nutrition and health care for their children. In my budget for the coming fiscal year, I will propose an increase of 364 million for the WIC program. This will be enough to serve nearly 8 million women and children each month. Another vital program is the Job Corps, which provides employment training to more than 72,000 disadvantaged young Americans. In my budget, I will ask Congress for an additional 73 million to expand the good work of the Job Corps. This will help to pay for new residential training centers. We will also secure high school accreditation for Job Corps training so that more young people can have the advantage of a high school diploma. These are some of the elements of the budget I will be sending to Congress. My budget focuses on the pressing needs of our country and on the basic needs of our citizens. I am committed to building a strong economy that spreads its benefits to everyone. This goal reaches beyond politics or party, and I'm confident that Congress will join me in the work ahead. Thank you for listening. January 11, 2002 Thank you very much for that warm welcome. It's great to be back here in Pennsylvania. I'm glad to be traveling with one of the most effective members of my Cabinet, the former Governor of New Jersey, now the Administrator of the EPA, Christie Todd Whitman. America is getting to know what people in this part of the world understand, that she is an able Administrator, a fine person, a person who cares deeply about the environment and our country. And she's going to go down as one of the best selections I have made in my Cabinet. So Christie Todd, thank you for coming, and thank you for your leadership. I want to thank you all for coming. When I saw the family over there, it reminded me that we have more responsibilities than just those on the war. And that is, we've got a responsibility of making sure every child is educated and that the environment in which our children grow up is healthy and clean. I'm here to sign this bill, and it's a very important piece of legislation. It's a great accomplishment. And I do so in Pennsylvania because your State has been on the forefront of brownfield legislation, thanks to now the in part, to the Director of our homeland security effort, Governor Tom Ridge. I want to share with you, just right quick, my attitudes about how to keep the peace. And the reason I brought up the family is, is that it's so important for our fellow Americans to understand that our efforts overseas and our efforts at home are all aimed at making sure that little fellow can grow up in a peaceful world and in a world that understands freedom. We have learned that there are some on this globe that hate America and hate what America stands for. Those folks didn't understand our country. They thought, because we were prosperous and free, we would be soft and complacent. They made a grave mistake. Our war overseas and our war at home to stop terrorist activity is all aimed at making sure the youth of America can grow up in a free society. They will not stop us. They will not deter us. We will achieve our aims and bring the terrorists to justice no matter where they hide or where they exist. So we'll be focused overseas, and we'll be making sure we follow every single lead about whether or not they're going to try to hit us again. But we've also got a lot of work to do here at home. I made that clear the other day when I signed a really good piece of legislation, and that's the education reform bill. And I'm now making that statement again when I sign this sensible piece of legislation, one that emphasizes the need for environmental stewardship all across the country, and a piece of legislation that will enhance prosperity and the safety of Americans living in urban areas. This bill was passed because of the work of both Republicans and Democrats. It's an example of what can happen when people put partisanship aside and focus on what's best for America. It shows what can happen when people say, "I'm proud of my political party, but I'm more proud of my country, and I'm in Washington, DC, to do what's right for America first, not my political party." And so I want to thank Paul Gillmor from the State of Ohio. Paul flew over today from his district outside of Toledo, in order to watch this bill being signed. And it's right that he's here, because he was the main sponsor in the House, who has worked hard to get this piece of legislation through. Paul, I want to thank you for coming. I look forward to giving you the pen, as I sign the bill. This should be one of the high marks of your leadership and your service to the country. So thank you for being here, sir. I want to thank two members of the Pennsylvania delegation for being here, Joe Hoeffel and Bob Borski. Thank you both for being here and taking time out of your day to come. It's good to see the old Governor here. I appreciate Mark coming today. I appreciate his leadership, and I know the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania appreciate his willingness to step in when Ridge left, and he's doing a fine job. I want to thank the attorney general, Mike Fisher, for being here as well. Michael, thanks for coming, and thanks for your service to Pennsylvania. And then I want to thank Brian O'Neill. I knew the O'Neills were a big family, but I didn't realize laughter they were that big. But I thank Brian for being a risktaker somebody who understands that in order to create jobs, you have to take risk somebody who is an entrepreneur somebody who has had the vision to take these eyesores and convert them into positive economic assets that benefit the community at large. And so, Brian, I'm proud of the work you do, no more so than the citizens of this community. You're leaving behind a legacy that is positive and strong. And I'm honored to be here at your place of business. Thank you, sir. I also want to thank some of the Senators that worked on this piece of legislation, none of whom could be here today. They're traveling around in different parts of the globe. One is Senator Lincoln Chafee from Rhode Island he sponsored the bill. Kit Bond worked on it Senator Bob Smith, Senator Harry Reid all worked hard to get this legislation out of the Senate and eventually onto my desk. All of us have a responsibility to be the stewards of our land. When we use the land, we must do so wisely and responsibly, balancing the needs of the environment with the best interests of those who live and work on the land. The law I sign today addresses the problem of land which has already been developed and then abandoned. American cities have many such eyesores anywhere from 500,000 to a million brownfields are across our Nation. These areas once supported manufacturing and commerce, and now lie empty, adding nothing of value to the community and sometimes only causing problems. Many communities and entrepreneurs have sought to redevelop brownfields. Often they could not, either because of excessive regulation or because of the fear of endless litigation. As a consequence, small businesses and other employers have located elsewhere, pushing development farther and farther outward, taking jobs with them and leaving cities empty. For its part, the Federal Government sometimes spent more time haggling over regulatory details than it did working with States and cities to fix the problem. The old way of doing things was to mandate, regulate, and litigate. That began to change a few years ago as some States, such as Pennsylvania, and some communities and local businesses began to work together in a constructive relationship to find positive solutions to the brownfield problem. And the Federal Government began to help by pursuing a more cooperative approach with regulatory relief, with loans, and with technical support. Here at the Millennium Corporate Center, if people take time to find out what happened, you'll see the possibilities of what can happen when people work together. For a long time this site was the site of a steel foundry. After the foundry closed, the property sat in disrepair. Finally, with a grant from the EPA, Montgomery County began to work to turn things around. Then O'Neill came in with private investment, and he received cooperation at every level of government. This place is a good place to work. It is now a good place to live. And there are going to be more people employed here than before. This is an example of what can happen, of what is possible. And the bill I am about the sign will enable this success to be repeated many times over, all over America. It gives protection against lawsuits to prospective buyers and others who didn't create the brownfields but want to help clean them up and develop them. And it will help strengthen State cleanup programs, with more Federal funding and less Federal meddling. My budget for next year will meet this commitment by requesting that Congress double EPA's brownfields funding. The law will also make way for the creation of more jobs. As the employees here know, when a business develops a brownfield, it turns a stagnant plot of land into a productive neighborhood. What we ought to be asking in America is, what does it take to create more jobs? Sure, we want those who have been affected by 9 11 to be helped with an unemployment check, but what they really want is a permanent paycheck. In all public policy public policy ought to figure out ways to make sure that the entrepreneurs can succeed, so that there is job creation taking place all over the country. This is a good jobs creation bill. Further benefit will come as businesses recycle older properties and spare surrounding lands from development. There has been a lot of talk about urban sprawl. Well, one of the best ways to arrest urban sprawl is to develop brownfields and make them productive pieces of land where people can find work and employment. By one estimate, for every acre of redeveloped brownfields, we save 4 1 2 acres of open space. This legislation will also protect small business owners from unwarranted Superfund liability. Lawyers and governments used to tell small business owners that because they sent their trash to a landfill and because that landfill became contaminated, they were potentially liable for cleaning up the entire site. When Government acts in such a heavy handed way, it hurts a lot of people it works against its own purposes it discourages small business growth. With this bill, we are returning common sense to our cleanup program. We will protect innocent small business owners and employees from unfair lawsuits and focus our efforts, instead, on actually cleaning up contaminated sites. Environmental protection and economic growth can go on together. It is possible for the two to exist, if we're wise about public policy. And the law that I'm about to sign is good public policy. It's got a lot of common sense in it. It's wise. It encourages growth. It fosters the environment. It is the best it shows what can it is the best of Washington, when people decide to cooperate, not bicker, when people put the national interests ahead of political interests. And so it's an honor to be here in Pennsylvania to sign the most important piece of environmental legislation that came out of the Congress last year, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act. Thank you very much. January 10, 2002 President Bush. Well, thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. Listen, we're so honored you're here. Thank you so much for coming to America. There is a huge number of Greek Americans who live in our country who have still got great fondness for their for your country. I am most appreciative, sir, of your strong stand against terror. You have been a friend in our mutual concerns about routing out terror around the world, and I want to thank you for that very much. I'm also very appreciative of your administration's working with Turkey. Relations have improved with Turkey, and as a result, the world is better off. And I want to thank you for your vision, for your foreign ministry's hard work to do what is right for the world, to make the world more peaceful. We've got a lot in common with your country we've got a lot of interests in common. I look forward to discussing those with you. I also look forward to the Olympics. Thank you for your invitation. It's going to be a magnificent moment for the sporting world to have the Olympics return to Athens. I'm confident your country will do a fine job. So welcome to the White House. We're so glad you're here. Prime Minister Simitis. Thank you very much, Mr. President. I'm so very glad to be here and have the possibility to discuss with you the problems the subjects are interesting for us. We are totally committed to the fight against international terrorism. And as you know, we take part in the Afghanistan effort. We will be part also in the international peace corps in Afghanistan. And I think it's necessary to cooperate in order to fight terrorism all over the world, because there are also, for example, in the Balkans, group terrorists, groups in all the Balkan countries, and we think that this must be controlled. Thank you also for your appreciation for our effort concerning the Greek Turkish relations. We make we want more peace and stability in the region, and this is our main principle, how apply international laws that we have a southeastern Europe that is really peaceful. As you know, I showed you the coins of the new euro. President Bush. Yes. Prime Minister Simitis. This means this means a big banking change for Europe, because the whole environment will change. There will be a new feeling about the possibilities of Europe, and there will be new discussions on the new European structures, on the necessity of new cooperation, and also of the necessity, I hope, of a closer cooperation with the United States in order to solve the common problems. So this is a new year, and I'm very glad to be here at the beginning of the new year. President Bush. Well, thank you, sir. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. Welcome. Thank you, all. Q. You don't want to take a question? President Bush. I took them all this morning you just were in the wrong pool. January 10, 2002 Pension Reform The President. Thank you all for coming. I met with my economic security team last week to talk about ways to create jobs. We're meeting again with the components of the team to talk about one part of economic security, and that's pension security. One of the things we're deeply concerned about is that there have been a wave of bankruptcies that have caused many workers to lose their pensions, and that's deeply troubling to me. And so I've asked the Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of Labor, and Secretary of Commerce to convene a working group to analyze pensions, rules and regulations, to look into the effects of the current law on hard working Americans, and to come up with recommendations how to reform the system to make sure that people are not exposed to losing their life savings as a result of a bankruptcy, for example. As well, Secretary of Treasury, along with the SEC, the Fed, and the CFTC, are going to convene a working group to analyze corporate disclosure rules and regulations. In light of the most recent bankruptcy, Enron, there needs to be a full review of disclosure rules to make sure that the American stockholder or any stockholder is protected. And so, I think this is an important part of, obviously, other investigations that are ongoing. The Justice Department announced and informed us late yesterday that they're in the process of investigating aspects of the Enron bankruptcy. The administration is deeply concerned about its effects on the economy. We're also deeply concerned about its effects on the lives of our citizenry. I'll be glad to answer a few questions. Enron Corporation Q. When was the last time you talked to either Mr. Lay or any other Enron official about the about anything? And did discussions involve the financial problems of the company? The President. I have never discussed with Mr. Lay the financial problems of the company. The last time that I saw Mr. Lay was at my mother's fundraising event to for literacy, in Houston. That would have been last spring. I do know that Mr. Lay came to the White House in early in my administration along with, I think, 20 other business leaders to discuss the state of the economy. It was just kind of a general discussion. I have not met with him personally. Q. Inaudible to inoculate and your administration politically from the fallout? The President. Well, first of all, Ken Lay is a supporter. And I got to know Ken Lay when he was the head of the what they call the Governor's Business Council in Texas. He was a supporter of Ann Richards in my run in 1994. And she had named him the head of the Governor's Business Council, and I decided to leave him in place, just for the sake of continuity. And that's when I first got to know Ken and worked with Ken, and he supported my candidacy. This is what anybody's going to find, if is that this administration will fully investigate issues such as the Enron bankruptcy to make sure we can learn from the past and make sure that workers are protected. Iran and Afghanistan Q. Mr. President, does it appear that Iran is flexing its muscles in western Afghanistan, and does that threaten the U.S. war on terrorism in that region? The President. Well, first of all, Iran must be a contributor in the war against terror that our Nation and our fight against terror will uphold the doctrine, "Either you're with us, or against us," and any nation that thwarts our ability to rout terror out where it exists will be held to account, one way or the other. I hope we had some positive signals early early in this war from the Iranians. We would hope that they would continue to be a positive force in helping us bring people to justice. We would hope, for example, they wouldn't allow Al Qaida murderers to hide in their country. We would hope that if that be the case, if someone tries to flee into Iran, that they would hand them over to us, that they're a part of if they're a part of the coalition, then they need to be an active part of the coalition. In terms of Afghanistan, we are we would like to work with the Iranians, as well as other neighboring countries, to bring a stable interim government to stabilize the interim government. And to the extent that they're involved, we would hope that they would participate. If they are trying if they in any way, shape, or form try to destabilize the government, the coalition will be we'll deal with them, in diplomatic ways initially. And we would like very much for them to be active participants in a stable Afghanistan. It's to their advantage, by the way, that Afghanistan be stable. Middle East Arms Shipment Q. Mr. President, based on the evidence the Israeli delegation presented at the State Department yesterday, about this arms shipment, do you believe that it's time for the United States to either break or suspend relations with Mr. Arafat and the Palestinian Authority? The President. John John King, Cable News Network , I think it's very important for our administration to remain engaged with both parties. Obviously, I want to make sure that the evidence is definitive. But I'm, like many, beginning to suspect that those arms were headed in the wrong to promote terror. And terror will never enable us to achieve peace in the Middle East. So long as there's terrorists trying to disrupt the peace process, there won't be peace. I do believe that once the evidence is in, that those responsible need to be held to account. On the other hand, I also believe that our country must stay engaged in the process. I intend to ask Zinni to go back to the region at the appropriate time, to keep pushing for a dialog, to keep pushing for the process to go forward. Mr. Arafat must renounce terror, must reject those who would disrupt the peace process through terror, and must work hard to get to the peace table. It seems like it's up to him to make these decisions. Q. But has he been less than truthful in speaking to Secretary Powell, General Zinni, and others, in saying he had nothing to do with this and no knowledge of it? The President. We will find out the facts, John. But he is you asked a question, should we basically disengage? And the answer is no, we won't disengage from the Middle East. We will stay involved in the Middle East peace process or trying to get to the peace process. And it starts with making the region more secure. Mr. Arafat must renounce terror and must reject those in the region that would disrupt the peace process by the use of terrorist means. Pension Reform Q. What can you do about pensioners what can you do about pensioners now? Isn't that horse already out of the barn at Enron? The President. Our group is meeting, and they will bring recommendations here. They'll look at fully investigate what went on. My concern, of course, is for the shareholders of Enron. But my I have great concern for the stories for those I read about in the stories who put their life savings aside and for whatever reason, based upon some rule or regulation, got trapped in this awful bankruptcy and have lost life savings. And one of the things this group is going to do is take a good, hard look at it. Thank you all. January 10, 2002 The President. Thank you very much. At ease. Laughter I always love being introduced by a matinee television idol. Laughter Who would have thought it? Laughter Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Not my wife. The President. Only his mother. Laughter Thanks so much, Mr. Secretary. He's doing a fabulous job. Secretary Rumsfeld. Thank you. The President.He really is. And so are the men and women who work in this building, and the men and women who wear the uniform. We're really proud of you. I'm honored to sign this bill because the Nation owes the men and women of the military our full measure of respect and our full measure of support. We owe you decent pay and a decent quality of life. We owe you the best leadership and training. We owe you the best equipment and weaponry. We owe you, our service men and women, our best, because we owe you our freedom. This bill, which includes both this year's defense appropriations and emergency supplemental spending, keeps the commitment to our military and keeps the commitments of our country. It was passed with bipartisan support in the Congress. It will be implemented by this fine Secretary, and a fine Deputy Secretary in Paul Wolfowitz. As Commander in Chief, I'm really proud to sign this bill here in the Pentagon. It shows that at an hour when freedom is under attack, America is steady and standing tall in freedom's defense. I too want to thank the Members of the United States Congress who are here, particularly Chairman Bill Young. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for coming. Senator Dorgan, I appreciate you being here, sir. Rodney, thank you for coming, and Jim and George. I guess you're supposed to be formal with the Senate and informal with the House. But thank you all for taking time to be here. It's a kind gesture for you to come. I also want to thank the members of the Joint Chiefs and the leadership of our military who are on the stage with me here. Dick Myers is doing a fabulous job. He is steady he is strong. He sends such an important signal throughout our military that we mean business, we're a no nonsense group of people who have got one thing in mind, and that is victory. I remember talking about our plans with the Secretary and others in my administration. And as we set our plans, there was no question that our military was ready. The Secretary made that clear Dick Myers made that clear Hugh Shelton made that clear. And since September the 11th, the skill, the daring, and the courage of our men and women in uniform is now clear to all. It's clear to your fellow Americans, and it's clear to those who try to hide in caves. We have liberated a nation from oppression, and we've saved many people from starvation. I like to remind my fellow Americans there is nothing more joyous to my heart than to see our military liberate women who have lived under the most oppressive regime in the history of mankind. This cause is noble, and this cause is just. And we will stay on this cause until we have achieved our objective. You're delivering justice not revenge but justice to agents of terror. And you're making this Nation proud. America recently has been reminded that in our quest to defend freedom and really in our quest to save civilization there are enormous sacrifices, and no more greater sacrifice than loss of life. And like the Secretary, I extend my prayers and sympathies to the moms and dads and the wives and sons and daughters of those who have lost their life. But as I told the young lady the other day when I called her, whose husband had died, I said, "Please tell your children that he died for a just cause." Sacrifices are made willingly by volunteers. And having traveled our Nation a little bit, I can assure you, you're in the midst of a grateful people. In our global campaign against global terror, our military must have every resource, every tool, every weapon, and every advantage you need for the missions to come. The bill I'm about to sign makes a downpayment on an essential commitment We will give our forces everything they need to defeat global terror. Overall, this year's defense bill provides nearly 30 billion more than the amount enacted for the fiscal year 2001. The emergency supplemental measure provides another 3.5 billion on top of that. Yet, even more important than these numbers are the priorities they represent. First of all, the bill contains funding for pay increases of up to 15 percent for service members, with an average increase of 6.9 percent. The bill reduces out of pocket housing costs from 15 percent to 11 percent and puts us on a track towards eliminating this burden altogether by the year 2005. In addition, the bill also fully funds the health care of active duty members and their families and provides 3.9 billion for health care benefits for military retirees over 65 and their families. We can never pay our men and women in uniform on a scale that matches the magnitude of their sacrifice. But this bill reflects our respect for your selfless service. Today, more than ever, we also owe those in uniform the resources they need to maintain a very high state of readiness. Our enemies rely upon surprise and deception. They used to rely upon the fact that they thought we were soft. I don't think they think that way anymore. Our forces must be ready to deploy to any point on the globe on short notice. This bill increases operation and maintenance by over 8 billion. This Nation must have and will have ready forces that can bring victory to our country and safety to our people. The world's best soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines also deserve the world's best weaponry. To ensure that, our Nation must invest in procurement accounts. This defense bill contains about 61 billion for procurement. This Nation must give our military the weapons it needs to meet the threats of our future. If the war against terror means that we must find terror wherever it exists and pull it out by its roots and bring people to justice, our military must have the means to achieve the objective. This bill is just the beginning to make sure that that happens. Our Nation must also look even farther into the future, so that the next generations of weaponry take advantage of our Nation's decisive technological edge. That's why I'm pleased to see that this year's defense bill contains almost 50 billion for research and development, including nearly 8 billion for missile defense. My administration is committed to transforming our forces, with innovative doctrine and strategy and weaponry. This will allow us to revolutionize the battlefield of the future and to keep the peace by defining war on our terms. It's a great goal, and it's a great opportunity, one granted to few nations in history. And with the leadership of the Secretary, we will seize this opportunity. And finally, I'm pleased that the emergency supplemental funding in this bill is going to allow us to meet some of our urgent priorities. In addition to the 3.5 billion to help prosecute the war on terror, the bill contains 8.2 billion to help New York, Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Pennsylvania recover from the attacks by the evil ones. It also devotes an additional 8.4 billion to homeland security. We're working hard to make sure that our homeland is secure. But the best way to secure America's future is to bring the terrorists to justice and to say to those who think they can hide them, "You, too, are just as guilty as the murderers if you think you can hide them and provide them aid and provide them comfort." We will build the security of America by fighting our enemies abroad and protecting our folks here at home. And we are committed, this administration, and the Congress is committed to these most important goals. These are good bills that will help America in time of need. And I appreciate the spirit on Capitol Hill that led to its passage. I look forward to working with the Congress as we build our Nation's strength and security. I look forward to working for next year's budget, with the priorities of winning this war and defending our homeland. I'm confident that the spirit that prevailed in late fall will spill over into this year, as we continue to remember the great goals that face this Nation. It is now my honor, in the heart, in the headquarters of the greatest military in the world, to sign the Department of Defense and emergency supplemental appropriations act. Thank you all for your hospitality. Stay on course. Find the enemy. God bless. January 09, 2002 Thank you all very much. First, it's good to be at the old family reunion. Laughter I want to thank Marv and Doro for hosting this reception for our brother, my big little brother. Laughter I want to thank the chairman and the vice chairman of the Republican Party for being here. I want to thank the chairman of the Florida Party. I want to thank Al Cardenas, and I want to thank you all for coming. These are serious times that face our Nation. And these serious times require serious leaders, and you're here to support a really good, serious man. I was reminded about how serious the times are today when we lost a KC 135 refueler in Afghanistan. Our hearts and prayers go out to the families of the soldiers. But I want to remind them that the cause that we are now engaged in is just and noble. The cause is freedom, and this Nation will not rest until we've achieved our objective. I have explained to the American people that we must be patient and I'm proud to report the Americans are patient that we're entering into a dangerous phase in our war against terror, that we've achieved a lot of objectives, thanks to a fabulous military, that we have routed out the government that was the host to the parasitical Al Qaida. And in so doing, this great Nation liberated women and children from one of the most repressive, evil regimes history has ever known. My favorite scenes of this conflict have been the joy on the faces of Afghan women as our soldiers and our allies have swept into these villages where women were so incredibly repressed. It's hard for our country to imagine the brutality and the backwardness of the Taliban. They are no longer in power, thanks to the great United States of America. Those who struck America think they can run and hide. It's interesting I find it amazing that the Al Qaida leaders are more than willing to convince some of their brethren to commit suicide yet they, themselves, hide in caves. Laughter And that's why this phase of the war is dangerous, because we're going to hunt them down. They think they can hide, but this patient Nation will do whatever it takes to bring them to justice. And when we do, the world will be better for it. We have got a job to do here at home, and I appreciate working with Governor Bush on protecting our homeland. We've got a job to make sure that we take every threat seriously. And make no mistake about it, the enemy still wants to harm America. But what they don't realize is that this Nation is alert, and we're ready. And anytime we find any hint of anybody who will try to harm the innocents of our country, we will give them the chance to share information with us. Laughter We will bring them to justice as well. But the best homeland defense, of course, is to be successful overseas. We're in the first theater. But wherever terror exists, this great Nation will hunt it down. It's the calling of our time. I appreciate so very much the spirit of unity here in Washington, DC, on this war. Laughter But we showed what's possible in Washington, what can happen in Washington, the last couple of days. I had the honor of traveling our country with George Miller of California, John Boehner of Ohio, Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, and Senator Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts. I signed an education bill that is a really good piece of legislation. It's a good piece of legislation because it enables and empowers Governors like Jeb Bush of Florida to continue to strive for excellence for every child. And it's a good piece of legislation because it shows what's possible in Washington, DC. Political parties are important, but they're not nearly as important as doing the Nation's business. And making sure every child is educated is a heck of a lot more important than the political parties that make up our political system. I've worked hard to change the tone in Washington, to focus on big matters, and to bring people together to achieve those matters. I hope that one of the legacies of my administration will be that results matter more than rhetoric and that, as we achieve results, it's important to share credit with people. I jested with Ted Kennedy when I told him that the folks at the coffee shop in Crawford, Texas, will be amazed when they see me standing up there saying nice things about him. Laughter But I meant them. I meant them, because this bill never would have happened had he not made up his mind to help it happen. And that's exactly the spirit that Jeb has taken to the governorship of Florida. You see, he, too, is a proud Republican, like me, but he also understands, children of Florida are more important than political parties. And he said he stole ideas from me he didn't steal ideas from me. He had the idea of every child being educated ingrained deeply in his heart. He is today I signed an Everglades agreement with the State of Florida. It's legislation that passed prior to my time. My job then was to certify that the Floridians were honoring their obligation to make sure there was enough water to the Everglades park. That was easy to sign because I know that deeply ingrained in Jeb's heart is a desire to protect the natural beauty of the State of Florida. He can also he's a deeply compassionate man, but he's plenty tough. Just ask the crooks of Florida. Laughter I want to thank you all for making his campaign more viable. But what's going to make it really viable is that he is a man who's done in office what he said he would do. He speaks straight with the Florida voters he tells them what he believes. He's not one of these kind of fellows that walks around with his finger in the sea breeze trying to figure out which way the political winds blow. He says what's on his mind, not based upon polls or focus groups, but based upon conviction. And there's no doubt in my mind that he is not only one of the great Governors of Florida's history he's one of the great Governors of our Nation. And he deserves a second term. We not only share a last name, but we share the fact we both married above ourselves. Laughter It's great to be here with Columba as well. Both Jeb and Columba understand there's a calling when you hold a high office, that there's an awesome responsibility that comes with that office. And that's, first and foremost, to bring honor and dignity to the office. And that's exactly what this couple has done. They may not agree with Jeb in Florida on every issue, but when they look at that office, when they look at the office of Governor of Florida, they know they've got a man there who will tell them the truth, a man who's there for the right reason, and a man who brings honor to the great State of Florida. Thank you all for coming. May God bless. January 08, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. Okay. I know you all are anxious to get back to class. Laughter So please be seated. Laughter Thank you for such a warm welcome. It's great to be in the home of the Big Blue, Hamilton High School. I want to thank you all for coming. I particularly want to thank my friend the Governor of the great State of Ohio, Governor Taft, for being here. I want to thank Tracey Miller for being so hospitable. I want to thank all who have come to witness this historic moment. For those of you who have studied the history of our Government, you know most bills are signed at the White House. But I decided to sign this bill in one of the most important places in America, a public school. We've got large challenges here in America. There's no greater challenge than to make sure that every child and all of us on this stage mean every child, not just a few children every single child, regardless of where they live, how they're raised, the income level of their family, every child receive a first class education in America. And as you know, we've got another challenge, and that's to protect America from evil ones. And I want to assure the seniors and juniors and sophomores here at Hamilton High School that the effort that this great country is engaged in, the effort to defend freedom and to defend our people, the effort to rout out terror wherever it exists, is noble and just and right, and your great country will prevail in this effort. I long for peace. But I also understand that if we do not lead the world against terror, that your children and your grandchildren will not grow up in a society that is as free as the society we have today. Freedom is the precious gift that one generation can pass to the next. It is a gift and a promise that I intend to keep to the American children. And we owe the children of America a good education. And today begins a new era, a new time in public education in our country. As of this hour, America's schools will be on a new path of reform and a new path of results. Our schools will have higher expectations. We believe every child can learn. Our schools will have greater resources to help meet those goals. Parents will have more information about the schools and more say in how their children are educated. From this day forward, all students will have a better chance to learn, to excel, and to live out their dreams. I want to thank the Secretary of Education, Rod Paige, for being here and for his leadership. I asked Rod to join my administration because I wanted somebody who understood what it meant to run a school district in Washington, DC. I didn't need somebody that based his knowledge on theory I wanted somebody who based his knowledge on experience. And Rod was a teacher, a school board member, and the superintendent of the Houston Independent School District. He did a fine job there, and he's doing a fine job in Washington. Reaching this moment has not been easy, as you could tell from Chairman Boehner's discussion. Laughter But we made it because of the willingness of four fine leaders to do what was right for America. We made it because proud Members of the House and the Senate, loyal to their parties, decided to set partisan politics aside and focus on what was right for America. I want to thank George Miller. I call him Big George, Jorge el Grande. Laughter As John mentioned, George and I aren't from the same political ideology except when I met with George in Austin, I could tell he shares the same passion I share for making sure that every child gets educated. And he, like me and others, realize that a system that simply shuffles children through the schools is a system that's going to leave people behind, and so we made up our minds right then and there to do something about it. I appreciate so very much my friend Judd Gregg from the State of New Hampshire being here. He was my campaign manager in the New Hampshire primary. I still invited him to come with me. Laughter After here, we're going to New Hampshire. I look forward to singing Judd's praises because he is a solid, solid United States Senator, honest, full of integrity, and like the others here, he buckled down to do what was right for the children. And then, of course, there's Senator Edward Kennedy. And the folks at the Crawford coffee shop laughter would be somewhat shocked when I told them I actually like the fellow. Laughter He is a fabulous United States Senator. When he's against you, it's tough when he's with you, it is a great experience. And I'm signing this bill here because it's the home of the chairman, John Boehner. John did a really good job. He shepherded the process. He made sure people showed up for the meetings. He was dogged in his determination to get this bill done. It would not have happened without his leadership. And all four of these Members up here need to be proud of the legacy they have left behind. This is a good bill for the American children, and I'm proud to sign it in their presence. There are other Members of the Congress who are here, as well, and I want to thank them for coming. Senator Evan Bayh from the State of Indiana is here. Evan, thank you for your leadership on education reform. Senator Mike DeWine of your State of Ohio, who helped author who helped to author the safe and drug free schools part of this bill, thank you for your leadership. Steve Chabot of Ohio, Van Hilleary of Tennessee, thank you both for coming, as well. In that box is the bill. I don't intend to read it all. Laughter It's not exactly light reading. Laughter But if you were to read it all, you would find that it contains some very important principles that will help guide our public school system for the next decades. First principle is accountability. Every school has a job to do, and that's to teach the basics and teach them well. If we want to make sure no child is left behind, every child must learn to read, and every child must learn to add and subtract. So in return for Federal dollars, we are asking States to design accountability systems to show parents and teachers whether or not children can read and write and add and subtract in grades three through eight. The fundamental principle of this bill is that every child can learn, we expect every child to learn, and you must show us whether or not every child is learning. I read a quote one time from a young lady in New York. She said, "I don't ever remember taking an exam. They just kept passing me along. I ended up dropping out in the seventh grade. I basically felt nobody cared." The story of children being just shuffled through the system is one of the saddest stories of America. "Let's just move them through." It's so much easier to move a child through than trying to figure out how to solve a child's problems. The first step to making sure that a child is not shuffled through is to test that child as to whether or not he or she can read and write or add and subtract. The first way to solve a problem is to diagnose it. And so, what this bill says, it says every child can learn. And we want to know early, before it's too late, whether or not a child has a problem in learning. I understand taking tests aren't fun. Too bad. Laughter We need to know in America. We need to know whether or not children have got the basic education. No longer is it acceptable to hide poor performance. No longer is it acceptable to keep results away from parents. One of the interesting things about this bill, it says that we're never going to give up on a school that's performing poorly, that when we find poor performance, a school will be given time and incentives and resources to correct their problems. A school will be given time to try other methodologies, perhaps other leadership, to make sure that people can succeed. If, however, schools don't perform, if, however, given the new resources, focused resources, they are unable to solve the problem of not educating their children, there must be real consequences. There must be a moment in which parents can say, "I've had enough of this school." Parents must be given real options in the face of failure in order to make sure reform is meaningful. And so, therefore, this bill's second principle is, is that we trust parents to make the right decisions for their children. Any school that doesn't perform, any school that cannot catch up and do its job, a parent will have these options a better public school, a tutor, or a charter school. We do not want children trapped in schools that will not change and will not teach. The third principle of this bill is that we have got to trust the local folks on how to achieve standards, to meet the standards. In Washington, there's some smart people there, but the people who care most about the children in Hamilton are the citizens of Hamilton. The people who care most about the children in this school are the teachers and parents and school board members. And therefore, schools not only have the responsibility to improve they now have the freedom to improve. The Federal Government will not micromanage how schools are run. We believe strongly we believe strongly the best path to education reform is to trust the local people. And so the new role of the Federal Government is to set high standards, provide resources, hold people accountable, and liberate school districts to meet the standards. I can't think of any better way to say to teachers, "We trust you." And first of all, we've got to thank all the teachers who are here. I thank you for teaching. Yours is indeed a noble profession, and our society is better off because you decided to teach. And by saying we trust local folks, we're really saying we trust you. We trust you. We want you to have as much flexibility as possible to see to it that every child that walks in your classroom can succeed. So thank you for what you do. And a fourth principle is that we're going to spend more money, more resources, but they'll be directed at methods that work, not feel good methods, not sound good methods, but methods that actually work, particularly when it comes to reading. We're going to spend more on our schools, and we're going to spend it more wisely. If we've learned anything over the last generations, money alone doesn't make a good school. It certainly helps. But as John mentioned, we've spent billions of dollars with lousy results. So now it's time to spend billions of dollars and get good results. As John mentioned, too many of our kids can't read. You know, a huge percentage of children in poverty can't read at grade level. That's not right in America. We're going to win the war overseas, and we need to win the war against illiteracy here at home, as well. And so this bill so this bill focuses on reading. It sets a grand goal for the country Our children will be reading by the third grade. That's not an impossible goal. It's a goal we must meet if we want every child to succeed. And so, therefore, we tripled the amount of Federal funding for scientifically based early reading programs. We've got money in there to make sure teachers know how to teach what works. We've got money in there to help promote proven methods of instruction. There are no more excuses, as far as I'm concerned, about not teaching children how to read. We know what works, the money is now available, and it's up to each local district to make sure it happens. It's up to you, the citizens of Hamilton, to make sure no child is left behind. And the Federal Government can spend money, and we can help set standards, and we can insist upon accountability. But the truth of the matter is, our schools will flourish when citizens join in the noble cause of making sure no child is left behind. This is the end of a legislative process. Signing this bill is the end of a long, long time of people sitting in rooms trying to hammer out differences. It's a great symbol of what is possible in Washington when good people come together to do what's right. But it's just the beginning of change. And now it's up to you, the local citizens of our great land, the compassionate, decent citizens of America, to stand up and demand high standards, and to demand that no child not one single child in America is left behind. Thank you for letting us come. May God bless. January 08, 2002 The President. Thank you very much for that warm welcome. Winter wouldn't just be right without a trip to New Hampshire. Laughter I've got some fond memories of your great State, candlepin bowling laughter sledding down hills laughter and the people. What a great State you've got. Governor, thank you for coming. I'm honored you're here. Madam President, thank you for opening up the university. It's an honor to be on this campus. Sorry I don't have time to watch the hockey team play. Laughter They tell me they're pretty good. Laughter It's good to be with Bob Smith and John Sununu. Thank you both for being here as well. I want to thank all the students who are here. My advice is, listen to your mother. Laughter I'm still listening to mine. Laughter I do want to like Judd, I want to thank those of the National Guard who are here, those who serve in the guard and those families of guardspeople who have been called up to active duty. I want to tell you that your families are engaged in a noble and just cause. We will not let terrorists stand. You know, the enemy made a big mistake. They didn't understand America. They thought, because of our richness, that we were soft, that we didn't believe in anything, that we weren't willing to stand up for what we think is right. And they're paying a dear price for messing with America. I want the youngsters here to understand that this war is really about your future, that we fight not to seek revenge, but we fight to protect America and freedom, a system that is so fair, so optimistic, and so just, that this Nation is making sacrifices so that your children and your grandchildren can grow up in peace. I long for peace. But so long as there is terror and evil that want to do harm to the American people, I will not relent, and I will not tire until we bring them to justice. We have an important mission overseas, and we've got an important mission at home. And we must never lose sight of this mission, and that's to make sure every single child every child receives a first class education. The hope of the future for this country is not only to make sure that we're secure and we're safe, but the true hope for the country is to make sure everybody gets a good education. This morning I signed a significant piece of legislation, a major piece of reform, and I did so in John Boehner's district in Ohio. Most of the time, you sign a piece of legislation at the White House. I chose to sign it at one of our most precious assets that we have in America, and that was in a public school. I did so because I want the country to remember that we've got to battle illiteracy and hopelessness through quality education. This was a significant work done by the Congress. My friend Judd Gregg had a lot to do with it, and that's why we've come to New Hampshire, to not only praise the legislation, but to praise his work. He's not a real chatty kind of guy. Laughter But when he talks, people actually pay attention. He did really good work, as did the other three leaders on this stage. I emphasize the word "leaders" because it would have been easy to quit on the process. It would have been easy to allow the process to dissipate into the same old, tired politics that dominates sometimes dominate Washington. That's that attitude that said, "I can't work with anybody of a different political party." Folks, this bill I signed today shows what can happen when good people get together. It is more important to focus on our children than political parties in the country. Big George Miller out of California came to the Audience member. What about the dead Afghani children, Mr. Bush? What about the dead Afghani children? Audience member. We love you, President Bush! The President. Big George is out of California. He came to the Governor's Mansion to talk about public education when I was still the Governor heading to Washington. You know, he's from the different side of the political aisle and, frankly, the ideological spectrum than I am. And yet, he shares the same passion I have, and that is that we can't allow any systems and schools to exist that simply shuffle children through that every person matters. We decided right then and there, we're going to put aside our differences and see if we couldn't work together, and we did. John Boehner from Ohio, he and George used to battle occasionally because they let their party labels get in the way. But they did magnificent work on the floor of the House of Representatives. And then, of course, some of the folks in Crawford coffee shop will be amazed to hear me say that I like Ted Kennedy. I will tell you this If you have a legislative battle, you want him on your side you don't want him against you. Laughter He made an enormous difference, as did Judd, in passing a piece of legislation that sets high standards and high expectations, one that provides greater resources, one that understands the role of parents in public education. This a good piece of legislation for which America should be proud. I want to thank my friend Rod Paige for being here as well. Rod is the Secretary of Education. He was the superintendent at the Houston Independent School District. I figured that anybody that could survive being superintendent of the Houston Independent School District can survive Washington. Laughter His job will be to make sure that the piece of legislation that I signed this morning is implemented in the spirit of the legislation, the principles involved remain intact. And I want to share those principles with you. I wish the bill were here. It's about this tall. Laughter I haven't read it all yet. Laughter In my line of work, they give you an executive briefing. Laughter But I know the principles involved in the bill, and I want to share some of those with you. One of the key principles in this bill is that we must hold schools accountable for results. And so therefore, if you receive Federal money, in return for Federal money, the States not the Federal Government the States must develop a test for third through eighth graders on reading and math. For the first time at the Federal level, we've asked a simple question Is our money being spent wisely? Are people learning? I want to quote to you what a young girl said from New York City. She said, "I don't even remember taking exams. They just kept passing me along. I ended up dropping out in the seventh grade. I basically felt that nobody cared." You see, in some schools, it is so much easier to take a look at the classroom and say, "Let's just move them through." In some school districts in some parts of our country, it is so much easier to walk into a classroom full of kids who may not supposed to be able to learn, and say, "We're just going to move you along. We don't really care what you know." That day is going to end in America. Every child matters. I'm sure there's somebody out there saying, "I don't like to take tests." Tough. Laughter We want to know we need to know. We need to know whether a curriculum is working. We need to know whether the teachers, the methodology that teachers use is working. We need to know whether or not people are learning. And if they are, there will be hallelujahs all over the place. But if not, we intend to do something about it. Now, we're going to say to failed schools, you've got some time to correct yourselves. You've got some time to take remedial action. Not only will you have time, but there will be incentives and additional resources for you to improve. In other words, when we find failure, we're going to do something about it. We're going to take corrective action in society. But if a school can't change, if a school can't show the parents and community leaders that they can teach the basics, something else has to take place. In order for there to be accountability, there has to be consequences. And the consequence in this bill is that after a period of time, if a parent is tired of their child being trapped into a failed school, that parent will have different options, public school choice, charter, and private tutoring. One of Judd Gregg's contributions to this bill was, he advocated supplemental services and the resources to back them up. He basically said that parents whose children go to failed schools must be given different alternatives. These children must be given an opportunity to receive additional education if the status quo is unacceptable. And so, when we say no child is left behind, the cornerstone of that is accountability, coupled with consequences in the accountability system. The third principle involved in this bill is, you've got to trust the local people to make the decisions for the schools. The people of New Hampshire understand how to run their school system. This bill passes power out of Washington and provides flexibility for the Governors who, in turn, I hope, provide flexibilities for the local districts. Listen, we have the Teacher of the Year here, and I want to thank her, and I want to thank all the teachers who are in this auditorium. There is nothing more that expresses our confidence, that says more about our confidence in you, than saying, "We're going to give you all the power you need to make the right decisions for the classrooms in which you teach." Local control, flexibility, less strings from Washington really means that parents and teachers and community activists must not be bystanders when it comes to making sure every child learns. It's really important. A lot of people after 9 11 said, "What can I do to help in America? What can I do to make America a better place?" You can support your public schools. You can mentor a child. You can teach a child to read. You can make sure your child turns off their TV at night, so they can learn to read better. You can make education the number one priority in your neighborhood. And while we're waging war overseas, we're after illiteracy here at home. One of the most appalling statistics of our great land is the illiteracy rate amongst poor children. It's really high at the fourth grade level, and that's unacceptable. I think Chairman Boehner said about 70 percent of the fourth grade impoverished children can't read. If you can't read in the fourth grade, you're likely not to be able to read in the eighth grade. And if you can't read in the eighth, you're likely not be able to read in high school. And if you can't read in high school, you're likely to fall into a life that a life of despair and hopelessness. And that's not right in America. And so therefore, this bill pays attention to reading. It's got a lot of money in it to develop programs that work. I'm tired, and I know these congressional leaders are tired of putting money into programs that don't work. Well, in reading, we know what works. It's time to fund curriculum and teacher training programs and reading programs not based upon what sounds good or some theory but based upon what works, so that children can learn to read in America. We are focusing on early reading initiatives, so that the country can achieve this goal Every child be reading at grade level by the third grade. That's an achievable goal. It's one that's going to insist upon making sure we've got accountability standards, flexibility, resource focusing our resources, and using the things that work, proven curriculum. But we can do that in America. We can achieve this objective. We can meet this goal. And when we do, America will be a much better place. You know, after 9 11, a lot of us have taken a hard look at how we live our lives, you know, the meaning of life. And that's good for our country. It's been an incredibly positive experience for Americans to sit around their dinner table and moms and dads to take a look at their kids and say, "You know something, being a mom or dad is the most important job I'll ever have." It's been good for our country to for people to go to their houses of worship and pray for guidance. It's been good for our country for people to say, "Gosh, I want to fight terror by being kind to somebody else." And it's going to be good for our country, good for our country, when we as a nation focus on education again, focus on making sure our public education is the best school system in the entire world. That's what America is about. It has been an honor for me to travel and to work with the four men on the stage who've made this bill possible. They have shown the country what can happen when good, honorable people set their minds on getting something done. They have shown that when you work with an administration, that when you set clear goals and you set aside all the bickering and you push aside all those on the fringes trying to tear down the process, that good people from both parties can achieve something strong for America. And that's exactly what we've done. Thank you all for coming, and God bless. January 08, 2002 Thank you all very much. Thank you, please. You know, I told the folks at the coffee shop in Crawford, Texas, that Ted Kennedy was all right. Laughter They nearly fell out. Laughter But he is. I've come to admire him. He's a smart, capable Senator. You want him on your side, I can tell you that. And as a result of his hard work, we put together a good piece of legislation that has put Republicans and Democrats on the side of the schoolchildren in America. And Senator, thank you very much for your leadership. On September the 11th, my wife was heading to was on Capitol Hill to testify in front of Senator Kennedy. And before she could go testify in front of his committee, obviously the evildoers hit America. And I want to thank him publicly, in front of his home folks, for providing such comfort to Laura during an incredibly tough time. Ironically enough, Judd Gregg was there, as well, and both those men went out of their way to put their arm around Laura and let her know all would be right. So, Mr. Senator, not only are you a good Senator you're a good man. Speaking about September the 11th, I want the young folks here to know that the mission we are on to rid the world of terror is a noble and just mission. I long for peace. But we learned a terrible lesson, and that lesson is, we must rout out terror wherever it exists, in order for you and your children to grow up in a free and peaceful society. This Nation will not tire we will not rest until we bring those who are willing to harm Americans to justice. And that's exactly what we intend to do. We have a job to do overseas, and our military is performing brilliantly. For those of you who have got relatives in the military or those of you who are in the military, thank you from the bottom of our Nation's collective heart. And we've got a job to do here at home, as well, and that's to make sure every child in America every child receives a good education. Senator Kennedy and I, on the way in here, were talking about the Latin School. And I want to thank the headmistress Kelley for having us here. Thank you very much. After he had finished the litany of all the Kennedys that had gone to school here laughter we talked about the quality of education that the kids receive here. And the truth of the matter is, if you look at this bill that I signed this morning in Ohio, it says this is the way this is Boston Latin all over again. This is what Boston Latin is about. It's about expecting high standards, understanding every child can learn, demanding the best, insisting upon hard work, rewarding success, solving failure. It is a great school, and I am grateful that I could come and herald the signing of an important piece of legislation here at this school. This is not only a testimony to Senator Ted Kennedy's hard work it's a testimony to a fine public school. Thank you for having us. I appreciate the Governor coming, and I know the Governor is committed to quality education as well. Jane, thank you for being here. I'm honored that members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation came. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to come by and say hello. I appreciate so very much the mayor being here. Mr. Mayor, thank you for coming it's good to see you again. I want to thank all of you for coming. I particularly want to thank the students who are here. I you're seeing Government at its best with this piece of legislation. I know there's a lot of folks who look at Washington and say, "Can't they ever get along? All they do is argue. All they do is call each other names." But on this piece of legislation, on this important piece of legislation, we figured out how to put our parties aside and focus on what's right for the American children. We showed the country that, if we so desire, it is possible in Washington to say the Nation matters more than our political parties matter. That was not as easy as it sounds. Laughter It took a lot of hard work, and it took the leadership of four fine Americans who are on this stage with me today. These four people decided they would rather see results than have empty rhetoric dominate the scene. These people said, "Look, we disagree on some issues, but why don't we figure out where we agree and get something done." And it was in that spirit that we crafted a great piece of legislation. Big George Miller is out of California. He is he might be considered left in Massachusetts. Laughter What do you think, Congressman? Laughter That's saying something. Laughter Before I went to Washington, I had a group of the gentlemen come down to Austin to talk about education reform, and George and I had a discussion about making sure that the systems did not simply shuffle children through, that we wanted to call a halt to what some call social promotion. I knew right then and there, when I heard his passion about focusing on each child, that there was a potential ally when it came to writing good legislation. And then Boehner from Ohio showed up. He did a fabulous job, by the way. I signed the bill this morning in his district to really express my gratitude and the Nation's gratitude for his leadership on shepherding this bill through the House of Representatives. Without John Boehner, without George Miller, this bill never would have made it throughout the House, and I want to thank them both from the bottom of my heart. And then there's the Kennedy Gregg alliance. Laughter It was amazing that it worked, but it did. And the truth of the matter is, the bill wouldn't have gotten out of the Senate had not Senator Kennedy and Judd Gregg put their minds to it. This bill could have easily have stalled. It was a convenient time for people to say, "Well, we'd better not move anything out of the Senate because there's a war." But Ted Kennedy and Judd Gregg went to their respective caucuses and demanded action. And as a result, the bill came to the Senate floor, passed overwhelmingly, and I had the honor of signing it this morning. I wish you could have seen the piece of legislation. It's really tall. And I admit, I haven't read it yet. Laughter You'll be happy to hear I don't intend to. Laughter But I know the principles behind the bill, and I want to describe some of them to you. First, this bill says that we will hold people accountable for results. It says, in return for receiving Federal money, States must design accountability systems to measure to determine whether or not children are learning to read and write and add and subtract. In return for Federal money, the State of Massachusetts or the State of Texas or any other State in the Union must develop an accountability system to let us know whether children in grades three through eight are meeting standards. It basically says, every child can learn. And if they're not learning, we want to know early, before it is too late. Now, I've heard them say, "Well, tests we're testing too much." If you don't like to take a test, too bad, because we need to know. We need to know whether you're learning. I read a quote from a little girl from New York the other day that touched my heart, and I hope it touches yours. She said, "I don't remember taking exams. They just kept passing me along. I ended up dropping out in the seventh grade. I basically felt no one cared." Well, she was she's blowing the whistle on what happens in some of our schools in America. You see, sometimes it's easy to walk into a classroom and say, "Certain children can't learn. Therefore, let's just move them through. Let's don't test them. Let's just push them out at the end." And that's wrong in America. Every child matters every child should be diagnosed on whether or not they can read and write and add and subtract. And if they can't, we need to correct their problems early, before it's too late. The cornerstone of reform is strong accountability measures, just like you do here in the State of Massachusetts. Secondly, in order for reform to mean anything, there must be consequences. Something must happen if there's failure. Now in this bill, it says schools will be given time to correct. After posting the test scores and mailing out the report cards that show mediocrity or failure, schools will still be given a chance to correct the problems. And therefore, we provide incentives and resources to make sure that failing schools have got the opportunity to meet standards. But if they don't, the consequence is that parents must be empowered to make different choices. We must not trap children in schools that will not teach and will not change. And so, therefore, this bill says parents in failed schools can send their children to another public school or charter school or be able to get tutoring for their children in either the public or private sector. It is important to free families from failure in public education, and that's what this bill does. The third principle it says that we trust the local people to make the right decisions for the schools. It says we trust the Governors and the school boards to design the path to excellence for every child. It says Washington has a role of providing money, and now Washington is demanding results. But Washington should not micromanage the process. And so, this bill provides a lot more flexibility for the local folks. In essence, it says the people of Boston care more about the children of Boston than people in Washington, DC. Rod Paige understands that. The reason I picked Rod to become the Secretary of Education is because he was the superintendent of schools in the Houston Independent School District. He knows what it means to run a school district. And when we implement this bill, I can assure you, Rod is going to make sure that the spirit of "no child is left behind" is a part of the regulations. But this bill says there one size doesn't fit all when it comes to public schools. It fosters change by pushing power to the lowest level, and that is at the local school districts, which should make the teachers in this audience feel good. First of all, I want to thank all the teachers who are here. Yours is a noble profession, and thank you for taking on this tough job. But a system that devolves power says we've got to trust the teachers and principals to make the right decisions in the classrooms. And that's what this bill says. This bill also wages a battle against illiteracy. It recognizes that spending money is important, but you need to spend money effectively in order to make a difference. We've spent a lot of money in education a lot. And a lot of it hasn't made a difference. Well, one area where we're going to make a difference from this point forward in America is in reading teaching every child to read. The numbers for inner city kids or impoverished kids from impoverished families their ability to read, or the illiteracy rate let me put it to you that way is astounding. It is pitiful. It is not right for America that over 60 percent of the children in the fourth grade from impoverished families cannot read. If you can't read in the fourth grade, you're not going to read in the eighth grade. And if you can't read in the eighth, you're not going to read in high school. And if you can't read, you've got a tough life ahead of you. And we need to do something about it, America, and this bill does. It triples the amount of money for early reading programs, programs based upon the science of reading, not something that sounds good or feels good but something that works. There's money for teacher training. There's money for enhanced methodology. There's money that says we're going to stay focused until we teach every child to read by the third grade in America. So those are the principles of a good bill. The bill is not only good for education, but it's a good go by to show what can happen in Washington. And that's why the five of us or the six of us, including Rod Paige have been traveling around the Nation today, heralding the success the joint success the success of people from both political parties in both Houses of Congress. It shows what is possible when people say, "I want to get something done." I know what's possible when it comes to educating children. You've seen it here in your own State, how the numbers have improved dramatically. It starts with an attitude that says public education is crucial every child can learn and we must set high standards. And that's what we've got to do in America, it seems like, all over the country. After 9 11, a lot of people have asked, "What can I do to help? How can I make a difference in America?" Well, my advice is, first, love your children like you've never loved them before. Show them that they're the most important people in the world. But a way you can help America is to mentor a child, to teach a child to read. You can make sure your kids turn off your TV and read. You can make sure that you support the public school in your neighborhood. You can make sure you thank a teacher. You can help by going into classrooms, to make a difference. If you're really interested in how to help fight terrorists, if you want to make sure that the terrorists aren't able to affect the heart and soul of America, support your public schools. Insist upon the best demand accountability, because every child in America can learn. And when they do, this country is going to be a heck of a lot better off. Thank you for letting me come. May God bless. January 07, 2002 The President. I want to thank Chairman Greenspan for coming. He's here to offer his independent advice and counsel about the state of our economy. I want to thank my economic team for keeping me abreast of what we're learning during our Christmas break. I look forward to a substantive discussion about how to wisely put policy in place that will help this economy recover. I'm we're making good progress in winning the war in Afghanistan, and we've got to make good progress about helping people find work. The cornerstone of any good policy is going to be to take care of help people help themselves, and take care of those who may have lost their job as a result of 9 11. But always remember, the most important thing for those who have lost their job is to be able to find work. And so the question I'm going to ask and the question I hope Congress asks is, how best to create jobs? What can you do to encourage economic growth so that people who want to work can find work? I'm optimistic that 2002 is going to be a better year than 2001. And we will discuss ways here to make to figure out how Government can make that happen. One thing I will do, after the course of these discussions and some discussions later on this week, will put in my budget an economic stimulus package. And speaking of that, I hope that when Congress comes back, they will have listened to their constituents and that Congress will realize that America, like me, is tired of partisan bickering, that we ought to come together, we ought to unify around some sensible policy and not try to play politics with tax relief or, for that matter, economic stimulus packages. I'll be glad to answer a few questions. Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press . National Priorities and the Federal Budget Q. Mr. President, can you increase funding for the military and homeland security without dipping into the Social Security and Medicare accounts? And Chairman Greenspan, if I could The President. Well, wait. I promised him that he could come. He's an independent soul, and he can have a press conference elsewhere. But one of the things we're not going to do is drag the Chairman into a press conference. Otherwise, he won't come back laughter to the White House. Q. I'm sure he would The President. Well, you can find him at his place of business. Sorry to tell you how to do it's a new year. Laughter I plan to be much more assertive with the press. Q. Inaudible going to ask him if he thought the recession was over, that's all. The President. Okay. I said to the American people that this Nation might have to run deficits in time of war, in times of a national emergency, or in times of a recession. And we're still in all three. We had a national emergency we're trying to win a war and we're in a recession. So I have no problem figuring out ways to win the war, figuring out ways to protect the homeland and those will be the priorities of my budget and at the same time and spending the money necessary to do both and at the same time, recognizing that we may not balance the budget for this year. It makes sense to spend money necessary to win the war it makes sense to spend money necessary to protect the homeland. And we're in a recession. There are some talk about raising taxes. That would be a disaster, to raise taxes in the midst of a recession. Even I think you'll find that to be most economists agree with that point of view. Certainly, if they're fair about it, they will say that. And so I as I said out there, somebody must be reading a different kind of economics textbook here in Washington. And most of the people that I spoke to in California and Oregon understood that we shouldn't be raising taxes in a recession. Yes. Economic Stimulus Package Q. Mr. President, given that there was real progress on a stimulus package in December inaudible will your package, your proposal take effect more quickly than the one you proposed in December? And in addition to that, do you think, in the meantime, further interest rate cuts might be a way to provide an immediate boost? The President. Well, first in terms of monetary policy, I'll leave that in the hands of our Chairman, Chairman Greenspan. He's done a fabulous job in running the Federal Reserve. And for that, America should be grateful. Secondly, we did make very good progress on an economic stimulus package. We had a bill come out of the House of Representatives, and there was a bill that could have passed the United States Senate. There was enough votes, had the bill been brought up on the floor, that it would have passed. It took good features from the Republican point of view it took good features from the Democrat point of view. We brought it together and made a very good package. That's pretty darn good progress, except along the way there was an attitude that said, "Well, maybe we don't need a package." I happen to believe we do need one, and there was a good one that could have passed. Stretch. I mean, Little Stretch David Gregory, NBC News . Laughter Q. Thank you for that. Laughter The President. That's your new name, by the way. Q. Oh, it is? Okay, good. Thank you. The President. It's a new year. Q. Inaudible new year. Why does everything have to be so black and white? Is there not room to maybe phase in the tax cut in the out years more slowly to protect the Government's bottom line don't start laughing yet. And the second thing is, what will you say as elements of a new stimulus package? Do you think there's a way to break this logjam? The President. Well, first of all, the logjam was broken in December of this year. Republicans and Democrats realized it was time to act. We came together, and something would have passed the Senate. In terms of finding a solution that bridged good ideas from both parties, that's happened. And your first question was, Little Stretch? Taxes and Economic Recovery Q. Why does it have to be so black and white on the issue of raising taxes? Couldn't you The President. Because a tax cut is part of the prescription for economic recovery. By reducing taxes at a time when our economy was slowing down, the Congress, working with the administration, did the absolute right thing to provide a stimulus. And to change in the midst of the phasing in of the tax relief plan would send the absolute wrong signal to the economy. It would say we weren't real about it we weren't serious about tax relief. Tax relief is a part of the economic recovery plan. Listen, thank you all very much yes, a couple more. It's a new spirit. Q. Which one? The President. You're after Steve Steve Holland, Reuters , I promise. Situation in South Asia Q. Does it appear that war now has been averted between India and Pakistan, and has Pakistan done enough to crack down on terrorists? The President. I think it's very important for President Musharraf to make a clear statement to the world that he intends to crack down on terror. And I believe if he does that and continues to do what he's doing, it will provide the it will provide relief, pressure relief, on a situation that's still serious. I don't believe the situation is defused yet. But I do believe there is a way to do so. And we're working hard to convince both the Indians and the Pakis there's a way to deal with their problems without going to war. Airline Treatment of Secret Service Agent Q. Mr. President, during the holidays you stood by your Secret Service agent. And American Airlines has come out with a new statement today saying that he was bitter and hostile. What are your thoughts about the situation with your Arab American agent now as it pertains to him trying to The President. Well, I know there's an investigation going on, and I look forward to see the findings. But as I said, if he was mistreated because of his ethnicity, I'm going to be plenty hot that means angry. And I know the man. I am most appreciative of his service to me and my wife. He is an honorable fellow. But I don't know enough about the details of this particular incident, but I know there's an investigation going on, and I look forward to seeing it. I would be surprised if he was hostile. But I wasn't there, so it's hard for me to comment on something which I did not see. Listen, thank you all for giving me a chance to visit with you. January 05, 2002 The President. Thank you all very much. Mario, muchas gracias por tu palabras. Thank you all for coming. At this point, the President spoke in Spanish, and no translation was provided. Thank you for letting me come. Thank you for taking time out of your fin de semana para hablar con el Presidente. I'm honored that so many came out for this weekend. It gives me a great chance to share some thoughts with you as we begin a new year that I believe is going to be a fantastic year for America. And I look forward to answering some questions you may have. I want to thank your Governor for being here. Governor Gray Davis kindly took time out of his schedule for coming. Governor, thank you for coming. I want to thank some of the members of the mighty and I mean, mighty congressional delegation from the State of California. We've got Gary Miller, whose district this is. Gary, thank you for coming. David Dreier, chairman of the Rules Committee David, thank you for being here. David and I worked closely together to get a trade bill out of the House of Representatives. He knows what I know, that trade is good for creating jobs in the State of California. Fearful people, people who don't trust the ability of our entrepreneurs, build walls around America. Confident people tear them down, and I'm confident in the American spirit. I'm confident that the entrepreneurs of our country Hispanic, Anglo, African American compete with anybody, anyplace, anytime, and let's trade freely. Congressman Calvert, Congressman Issa are with us as well. Thank you two for coming. And finally, Congressman Jerry Lewis is with us today. I notice the people in the uniforms here applauding a little louder. They understand that Congressman Lewis plays an incredibly important role when it comes to appropriating monies for the United States military. There is no he's been strong on the defense of America. I look forward to working with Jerry Lewis in the next budget cycle to make sure that the defense of this Nation is the number one priority of the budget of the United States. I want to thank Rosario Marin, the Treasurer of the United States, for being here. It's nice to be back in your neighborhood, Rosario. I want to thank Hector Barreto, the Administrator of the SBA Ruben Barrales, who works for me in the White House. Thank you for coming, Ruben. I want to thank our host organizations, the Latin Business Association, the Ontario Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Orange County, and the Latino Coalition, for your sponsorship. One of the things that I am most proud of, of our Nation, is the number of Latinos who own their own business, the number of Latinos who really work hard to access the American Dream. The growth of Latino owned small businesses in California is astounding. It is amazing how many people now can say, "I am a proud business owner." To me, that is what America is all about, somebody who has a dream, somebody who works hard and can say to themselves and their community, "This is my business. This is something I own, and nobody can take it away from me." And the job of Government is always to remember the importance of the small business and the entrepreneurial dream. The job of Government is not to try to create wealth. The job of Government is to create an environment in which people are willing to take risks to realize their dream. It's to educate people. It's to provide opportunity and then make the playing field as level as it is and see who can succeed or not in the great country called America. This has been an amazing year for Laura and me. Some things occurred that we expected. Some things happened that we didn't expect. I'm going to talk about one thing we were able to anticipate and one we weren't. First, I will tell you that nearly a year ago I hosted a group of business leaders to Austin, Texas, before I had become sworn in as the President. And leaders all around the country came and made it very clear that our economy was pretty darn slow, and I knew we needed to do something about it, and I'm going to talk about that in a second. So it was expected that there would be unemployment on the rise, expected that after a period of great prosperity, the economy would slow down. And we took some action that I'll describe here in a second. Obviously, what was not expected was what took place on September the 11th, and we're doing something about that, as well. This great land of ours made a clear statement that we will not let terror stand, that those who inflicted damage on America would pay a severe price. We learned some interesting lessons, that we're now vulnerable at home. I remember giving a speech to a group of high school seniors right after September the 11th, and it dawned on me in the middle of this talk that this is the first high school class that in a long time, that is graduating in a time when somebody is attacking America. These evil ones still want to hit us. But after September the 11th, America is now ready. We're after them. Any hint of somebody wanting to harm our country, we're acting. We've got thousands of FBI agents chasing down every single lead. We respect people's constitutional rights, and we will continue to do so. But if we think somebody is fixing to hurt the American people, we will move in this country. We're now on an alert because of September the 11th. And I want to thank the police officers who are here. And I want to thank whoever if any FBI agents are here, and all law enforcement officials in the State of California and all across our country who are working endless hours to make sure with gather any information possible to protect the American people. My most important job is the security and safety of the American people. Every morning I wake up, and when I wake up, I go to the Oval Office. I'm kind of an early morning guy, by the way. I take Barney and Spot out. Laughter They take a good look at the Rose Garden laughter up close and personal. Laughter And then I head into the Oval Office, and I read about the potential threats to America. And one of my first meetings is to visit with the head of the FBI, and my question every morning is, "Mr. Director, what are you doing about this threat? What's happening with this lead? Are you taking care of this piece of business?" The culture of our law enforcement has changed to the point where they now know what I know, that we've got to do everything in our power to protect the American people. But the best way to secure the homeland of America is to find the evil ones wherever they try to hide and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what the United States military applause . I am very proud of the U.S. military. They've done exactly what we've asked them to do. For those of you who wear the uniform, thank you. For those of you who have got loved ones who wear the uniform, thank you as well. We're making steady progress in Afghanistan. The evil ones awakened a mighty giant. You know, we're a compassionate people, and we're a decent people, but if you come after us, you will learn that you have made a big mistake. It seems like the more TV channels there are, the more anxious people become on TV. But I want to remind my fellow citizens, we've only been at war for 90 days. That's not a very long period of time. But in 90 days, we've made incredible progress. The Al Qaida, the Usama bin Laden group, can't claim Afghanistan as a haven anymore. You know, they were like parasites. I know we've got some ranchers and farmers here you understand what a parasite is. Parasites try to take over the host, and if there's enough parasites and if they've been there long enough, the host itself becomes ill. The host no longer is in a position of power in Afghanistan the Taliban has been routed. But you know what my most meaningful memory has been recently? And that has been the joy on the face of women and young girls in Afghanistan as they have been liberated from one of the most brutal regimes. We're taking action. We're taking action against evil people, because this great Nation of many religions understands, our war is not against Islam or against faith practiced by the Muslim people our war is a war against evil. This is clearly a case of good versus evil, and make no mistake about it, good will prevail. The American people are patient, very patient, and for that, I'm grateful. I appreciate so very much the fact that the Americans from all walks of life have stepped back and have figured out that this is going to require a lot of effort and energy to succeed in our war against terror. And I want to thank you for your patience. We're now in a dangerous phase of the first front in the war against terror. Because of the terrain in Afghanistan and because there's still hostile elements, we're pursuing our objective cave by cave. You see, the people that tend to send young, innocent boys to their death in the name of Allah want to save their own skins by hiding in caves. And I've told the world, just like I've told our military, we will do whatever it takes to bring them to justice. They think they can run, and they think they can hide, because they think this country is soft and impatient. But they are going to continue to learn the terrible lesson that says, don't mess with America. This conflict will have its casualties as we pursue our objective. And we mourn for Sergeant Nathan Chapman, and we pray with his family for God's blessings on them. Nathan lost his life yesterday, but I can assure the parents and loved ones of Nathan Chapman that he lost his life for a cause that is just and important. And that cause is the security of the American people, and that cause is the cause of freedom and a civilized world. Our hunt for any terrorist activity is not just confined to Afghanistan. I truly believe this is a defining moment in history, and this country must lead. We must seize the moment. We must make our country and other countries that embrace freedom a place where children can grow up in peace and be able to realize their dreams. And therefore, we must find terror where it exists and pull it out by the roots and bring it to justice. Terror is evil, and wherever evil exists, the free nations of the world must come together in a massive coalition that says, terror will not stand. And the United States is ready to lead that coalition, not only in Afghanistan but wherever we find terror. And we're making good progress. We're cutting off their money. There's going to be all kinds of fronts in this war on terror, and one of them is the financial front. They like to move money around, and obviously, in order to fight a war against the United States or any of our allies or anybody who embraces freedom, you've got to have money. And so they set up front groups, groups that sound good, the such and such foundation for making sure people have got a good life. And yet what ends up happening is, a chunk of that money ends up in the pockets of evil people who don't respect civilization, who don't like freedom, who resent the fact that men and women should be free. And so, we're working with our allies in our coalition to cut off their money. And we're beginning to have an effect. We're beginning to have good progress about finding who is funding them, and we're chasing the money all the way to the source. And when we find somebody in some country who is writing checks on behalf of groups of people that would hurt us, we're asking that country to hold them accountable. You see, there's no shades of gray in this war against terror. Either you're with the United States, or you're not with the United States. And because this Nation has shown such strong resolve and unity, because we're patient, and because we're going to be successful in the first theater, a lot of the fence sitters or those who would like to be on the fence are beginning to realize it's in their best interests to be with us. The Nation is united, and there is a resolve and a spirit that is just so fantastic to feel. And I am obviously grateful to be the President of such a strong and vibrant land. We have responded to the issues abroad with unanimity and clarity of purpose and resolve. And that's the way we should respond to problems here at home as well. We ought to come together to do the right thing. We need to focus on asking the question, what's the best thing for America? It's time to take the spirit of unity that has been prevalent when it comes to fighting the war and bring it to Washington, DC. The terrorists not only attacked our freedom, but they also attacked our economy. And we need to respond in unison. We ought not to revert to the old ways that used to dominate Washington, DC. The old ways is, "What's more important, the country or my political party?" I stand here as a proud party man, but let me tell you something The country is far more important than the applause . We've made some good progress about working together. I'm getting ready to sign an education bill next week. It's a really good piece of legislation. I'm real proud of it. I want to thank the teachers who are here and the people who are concerned about educating our making sure our public schools are the best they can be. And by the way, the cornerstone of that bill is that every child can learn every child in America. And a lot of my friends in Midland, Texas, are going to be amazed when I stand up and say nice things about Ted Kennedy. Laughter He deserves it. He worked hard on this education bill. And I can proudly sign it, and I can proudly say I appreciate Senator Kennedy's strong work and input into making this bill a good bill. But there are troubling signs that the old way is beginning to creep into the people's minds in Washington. After all, it's an election year. It's tempting to revert back to the old ways. But America is better than that. We're better than that. This economic debate is troubling me. You see, I'm the kind of fellow who says, "Let's work together and focus on results, not rhetoric. Let's do what's right for the people who have been hurt. We need to work and then share credit, not pass blame." And there is no question that the attacks of September the 11th hurt our economy. I mean, there's no question about it. It was slow beginning last year it started to recover a little bit and then the attacks hurt. I mean, after all, who wouldn't think it would? The attacks affected the confidence of the American people. It affected our psychology. It makes sense that it affected our psychology. But we're recovering. And there are some good signs. But my attitude is, so long as any willing and able worker can't find work, we need to do something about it. The unemployment rate is 5.8 percent, but if you're unemployed, it's 100 percent for you. The principle I have been operating on is this In tough times, people need a check to help them when they're unemployed, but what they need for the long term is a paycheck. And we ought to be asking the question, how do you create jobs in America? I do think we need to help those who have been affected by the attacks by expanding unemployment benefits, including help with health care costs. I think that makes sense, to help somebody whose life was severely affected, and we ought to do that, and we ought to make sure that we get that done. But I also understand that we need to ask the question, how do we expand jobs? What can we do to encourage investment so that employers are able to go out and provide more work for American people? I had the honor of meeting with JCM Corporation officials today. Applause As you can tell, they're here. Laughter Carlo Moyano his daddy started the firm he's now running it. I'm going to get it mixed up, but they had 10,000 square foot of warehouse now they've got hundreds of thousands of square foot of warehouse. He's living the American Dream. This is a company that started in a garage. It's now a major manufacturer. He said the best thing Government can do is to provide incentives for the expansion of plant and equipment, because he understands what I understand If you expand plant and equipment, you expand jobs. And he had asked the question, what about jobs? How do we create jobs? And when we ask that question, we've got to understand that the major job growth occurs in the small business community in America those are the creators of new jobs. And that's why, in the beginning of last year, I worked so hard to get the tax cut passed. That's why, because let me explain. If you think the economy is going to slow down, the best way to recover is to let people have their own money in their pockets to spend, not the Government. Somebody told me the funniest thing. They said, "There are some in Washington saying that the tax cut caused the recession." I don't know what economic textbook they're reading. Laughter The best way to come out of a recession is to say to the small business person, "We'll let you keep your own money." When we cut taxes on all rates, we said to the sole proprietor or the limited partner, "It's your money. You spend it in order to expand the job base in America." We have priorities in Washington. Defending our homeland is going to be a priority. A strong defense is a priority. But something that shouldn't be a priority is to raise your taxes. There's going to be people who say, "We can't have the tax cut go through anymore." That's a tax raise. And I challenge their economics, when they say, "Raising taxes will help the country recover." Not over my dead body will they raise your taxes. I'm confident that a new spirit can prevail in Washington. I hope people come together and do what's right for the American people. It's going to be a task for some, it's kind of a steep hill. But I believe if that's what the American people want, it can happen. It's certainly what your President wants. I also want our country to continue to embrace the values that make our Nation so wonderful. I've always told people that I believe the great strength of our country lies not in our halls of government but in the hearts and souls of the American people. I got to see running for President is certainly not a distant memory. Laughter It really puts you through the paces. But it's important because if you pay attention to what you see, you will begin to really see the strength of America. I see the strength of our country in our classrooms. I see the strength of our country in faith based institutions that of Christian faith, Jewish faith, Muslim faith, all of which exist to help people in need. It's the true strength of America. After September the 11th, many of our fellow countrymen took a step back and said, "Is my life worth it now? Am I living my life the way that in a worthwhile way?" People have begun to assess their priorities. I've been pleased to read story after story about how moms and dads are beginning to realize the most important job they will ever have is to love their children with all their heart and all their soul. I love the story that came out of Michigan about the women of cover, of Muslim faith, who didn't feel comfortable about going to their home. And so Jewish and Christian groups, ladies' groups, went to the neighborhood and said, "We'll walk you to the store," because the America we know is not one that castigates an individual based upon their religion. The America we know is a society that's open and free and a society that says, if you dream the big dream, you can realize it if you work hard. It's a society that says, you can worship the way you want to worship, and a society which says, you've got to love your neighbor just like you love yourself. That's the spirit of America that I know. It's a million acts of kindness and compassion on a daily basis that define the true spirit and the true strength of America. We live in a blessed land. The values are great the system is wonderful but most of all, the people are the best in the world. Thank you for coming. God bless. Thank you all. I'll be glad to answer some questions. Now that I'm in California, I've got to walk around like a talk show host. Laughter California Water Resources Q. Mr. President, my name is Al Lopez. I'm a member of the Western Municipal Water District. Our agency works in cooperation with all the water agencies throughout the Inland Empire to provide adequate drinking water for our Inland Empire. California has to reduce its dependency on the Colorado River. Congressman Calvert is working very closely with legislation to reauthorize Cal Fed, and we would hope that one of those projects would meet your support, especially for the Riverside Corona theater that will provide much water to our Inland Empire for its economic base. The President. Thank you, sir. Tell Calvert to come on by and drop it off. Laughter Thank you very much. I appreciate your work. Listen, I understand water. I grew up in Midland, Texas. There you go. Laughter You remember how much water we didn't have there. Laughter Yes, sir, back in the back. Energy Policy Q. First, sir, a message from the crew that just recently returned from the U.S.S. Enterprise. My son in law was aboard that. From the last man and woman on that crew, they are honored to call you their Commander in Chief. The President. Okay. Q. And my question, sir, after you make Tommy Daschle go to his room for being bad, tell us something about your plans to end our dependency on foreign oil. The President. There you go. He brings up a very important point, because in order to make sure our economy remains strong and vital in the long run, we have got to have an energy plan. Over 50 percent of our energy comes from overseas. Fortunately, a lot of it comes from Canada. But a lot of it comes from the Middle East. And it seems like to me, we've got to do a couple of things One, find more oil in an environmentally friendly way. I think we can do this without drilling off the coast of California. I know that we have got the technologies necessary to explore in places like Alaska without damaging the environment the technologies have changed so dramatically. I know you all had a fright here in California. It's an indication of what could happen again. When you start running out of energy and demand is high, there's either going to be price spikes or shortages. I've worked with your Governor to try to help get through this situation. One of the things that California has done is, they have expedited permitting for plants driven by natural gas. But we better figure out where we're going to get the natural gas from in order to make sure that you've got ample electricity in the future, and therefore, we need to explore. And I repeat, we can do so without damaging our environment. I am absolutely confident of that. The other thing that's important to note is that in our own hemisphere, Mexico, which is obviously a vital neighbor, imports natural gas from the United States. So we've got to find more. We've got to find more not only for ourselves but to make sure our neighbor to the south is able to grow. There's nothing more important for America than for Mexico to be strong and vibrant and to have good growth. We also can do a better job of conservation. Governor Davis, the last time I met with him, reminded me that California has done a very good job of conservation, that you have been able to reduce dependency by conserving better. And so we've got plans, an energy plan that passed the House, that's stuck in the Senate, that do provide incentives for better means to conserve. Thirdly, technology will help lead us away from dependency. I notice our Department of Energy was talking about a new automobile research plan to help develop a new fuel cell system for automobiles. It's coming. And the fundamental question is, how do we get from here to the day when the new technologies become market accepted? And it starts with getting a plan out of the United States Congress. It passed the House it's stuck in the Senate. It's time to get the bill moving and get it to my desk. Go ahead and yell it out. If I don't like the question, I'll just change it. Laughter Prayer Q. Mr. President, I'm a Navy chaplain, serving with the Marines in Twentynine Palms, California. I am also honored to have you as my Commander in Chief. The President. Do you have a question? Q. My question is very simple How can we, as pastors, pray specifically for you and your family? The President. Well, first thank you. I have first of all, I believe in the power of prayer. And I have felt the prayers of the American people for me and my family. I have. And I want to thank all of you who have prayed. People say, "Well, how do you know?" I say, "Well, I can just feel it." I can't describe it very well, but I feel comforted by the prayer. I think the thing that the prayer that I would like America is to ask for is to pray for God's protection for our land and our people, to pray against that there's a shield of protection, so that if the evil ones try to hit us again, that we've done everything we can, physically, and that there is a spiritual shield that protects the country. Do you have a question? Come on underneath. The man's got a question. September 11 Q. First of all, I'm very impressed in how you handled the situation on September 11th. The President. That's plenty. No. Thank you. Q. What was the first thing that went through your head when you heard that a plane crashed into the first building? The President. Yes. Well, I was sitting in a schoolhouse in Florida. I had gone down to tell my little brother what to do, and just kidding, Jeb. Laughter And it's the mother in me. Laughter Anyway, I was in the midst of learning about a reading program that works. I'm a big believer in basic education, and it starts with making sure every child learns to read. And therefore, we need to focus on the science of reading, not what may feel good or sound good when it comes to teaching children to read. I'm just getting a plug in for my reading initiative. Anyway, I was sitting there, and my Chief of Staff well, first of all, when we walked into the classroom, I had seen this plane fly into the first building. There was a TV set on. And you know, I thought it was pilot error, and I was amazed that anybody could make such a terrible mistake, and something was wrong with the plane, or anyway, I'm sitting there, listening to the briefing, and Andy Card came and said, "America is under attack." And in the meantime, this teacher was going on about the curriculum, and I was thinking about what it meant for America to be under attack. It was an amazing thought. But I made up my mind that if America was under attack, we'd get them. I wasn't interested in lawyers I wasn't interested in a bunch of debate. I was interested in finding out who did it and bringing them to justice. I also knew that they would try to hide, and anybody who provided haven, help, food, would be held accountable by the United States of America. Anyway, it was an interesting day. Higher Education Q. Senor Presidente, mi nombre is Andrea. I'm a teacher in Rancho Cucamonga. The President. Yes, I was there. I gave my Social Security speech there. Q. I'm a professor at Chaffey Community College in Rancho Cucamonga. What is your vision for higher education for all people? The President. Thank you. First, let me tell you, I am a big believer in making sure our community colleges remain affordable, available, and flexible. And the reason I believe that is that I understand that the best way to make sure people have got the ability to work is for there to be a training a retraining opportunity. In other words, communities must figure out how to match up a community college system with jobs that actually exist. It seems like to me, in order for America to be hopeful for everybody, we need to have flexibility, at some point, in the higher education system. And the best place for that flexibility to occur is at the community college level. Technologies race through the country, our economies, but people get left behind. And therefore, there needs to be a system to retrain people for the jobs that actually exist, and the best place to do that, in my judgment, is the community college. I'm not pandering. I happen to believe that. Now, higher education takes all kinds of there's all kinds of different ways to achieve higher education. A community college system is one, a 4 year college there's others. One of the things I think we need to do is expand the Pell grant system to help people afford higher education. I've got a couple of more, and then I've got to hustle. Yes, ma'am. Q. Inaudible The President. Thank you. You can repeat that if you want to. Laughter The First Lady's Wardrobe Small Business Q. Well, like you, Mr. President, I too believe in the American Dream. I am a young Latina entrepreneur who caters to top level executive women in their clothing needs. One of my dreams is to design an exclusive garment for the First Lady, Laura Bush. The President. Yes, well, you've got a very good marketing department, I see that. Laughter Q. How can you, as President, help me realize that dream? Laughter The President. Well, you just helped yourself, which is part of realizing a dream. Laughter Secondly, I can take the tape of this show I'm confident somebody back there is making a tape laughter and present it firsthand to the First Lady. But the other thing the other way to help you on your business and to help you expand is to let you keep some of your own money, so that you can reinvest it, and so that your business can grow. It's one thing to be able to have a good marketing plan and I appreciate your boldness laughter but it's another thing to be able to have the cashflow necessary to implement the strategy. It's important for Government to set priorities, and we're going to set priorities. But it's also important for Congress to realize that one way to put a halt to any economic recovery that's beginning is to overspend, is to keep too much of the people's money. And therefore, one of the interesting debates is going to be, do we let the people keep the money that we promised them or not? And you heard my position on it loud and clear. The answer is, absolutely they get to keep the money like this entrepreneur right here. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. You probably think the Marines are the best branch in the service, don't you? Montgomery GI Bill Q. Yes, sir, I do. I was a recruiter for 3 years, so I know we are. Sir, the question I have, it goes back to education inaudible all marines, all soldiers, sailors, and airmen, we pay into the Montgomery GI bill. And there was talk in Congress about us being able to share that money that we've put in and the Government's going to match for our educations, to go towards our family. I was wondering what you thought of that so we could use The President. I'm not sure what the status of that proposal is. I remember discussing it with my OMB Director. I thought it was a good idea when we discussed it I just don't know where the proposal is right now. Last question, then I've got to go up to Oregon. Yes, ma'am. Then I've got to go back out to the ranch. There are a couple of cows waiting for me. Laughter You know, when I first got back from Washington, it seemed like the cows were talking back. Laughter But now that I've spent some time in Crawford, they're just cows. Laughter Yes, ma'am. Amendment To Prohibit Flag Desecration Q. What is the status and your feeling on the amendment to prohibit flag desecration? The President. I don't know what it is. I'm for it. And that's a good question. I just don't know exactly where it stands right now. I need to okay. Como esta? Immigration Q. Muy bien. I'm so proud you came here from the largest State of Texas, and the biggest President of the world. The President. Thank you. Q. Jorge The President. Si. Q. For those of you who don't speak English, it's "George." I have a question. As an American Mexican, we face the problem with immigration. The President. Yes. Q. I'm very concerned. And I want to ask you what we can do to help to solve this problem, not only with the illegal immigration but with the millions of people living in the United States with the proper papers to work. The President. Right. A couple of things. First, short term, is to make sure that the INS functions, that the INS is able to expedite the paperwork for people who are legitimately here in the country, and expedite the paperwork necessary for families to reunite. If you believe in family values, you've got to have families together, it seems like to me. And yet, we're too bureaucratic when it comes to the INS, and we need to streamline it and make it work. Secondly, we've got to understand that in the past, at least, there have been people who were trying to hire people and people willing to work. And it makes sense to me to have a system that matches willing employer with willing employee. Thirdly, the long term solution is for Mexico to grow a middle class so that people don't feel like they have to come here to work. The long term solution family values don't stop at the Rio Bravo. If there's somebody who has got children to feed, somebody, a mom or a dad who has got little ones to take care of, and they make 50 cents in a State in Mexico or they could make 5 in America, they're going to come to America if they believe in their children, if they have the same values you and I have. Values don't stop. And so therefore, it seems like to me, the best thing we can do is to have a strong relationship with Mexico, a free trading relationship with Mexico so that Mexico is more likely to grow a middle class, which means that person who is willing to walk miles across Texas desert to work to feed her children will be able to find work close to home. That's why I said one of the most important foreign policy relations we have is with Mexico. The stronger Mexico is, the less pressure on our border. The stronger Mexico is, the more prosperity there will be in both our countries. Listen, thank you all for coming. God bless, and God bless America. January 05, 2002 Well, thank you all very much for such a gracious and warm welcome. It's nice to be back here in Oregon. I'm impressed by the Mighty Ducks they're awfully good. I wasn't a believer now I am. Laughter They're good. Of course, they gave my Texas boys a good lesson last year, as I recall. Laughter But thanks for coming out on a Saturday afternoon to say hello. I was earlier in California, and then I'm here went to a community college. You've got a wonderful community college here in the Portland area, which is worried about helping people find work. And I went by and saw the good instructors there that are trying to help people help themselves. And I come in here to be able to share some thoughts with you. And then I'm going to hustle on home for dinner laughter right there in Crawford, Texas. I want to thank Katie Harman for being here. It was a pleasure to meet your mayor. Mayor Katz, thank you for coming. It's very gracious for you to be here today. I picked a good man from Portland to represent us in New Zealand that's my friend Butch Swindells, who is now the Ambassador to New Zealand. I spent a little time with some people that work for a company called InFocus, which is a company applause John, it sounds like you packed the crowd. Laughter Either that, or you've got a big family. Laughter But I want to thank John Harker and his team for coming to talk to me about how best they think we can stimulate growth. I want to thank them for employing people in this part of the world, for trying to figure out how to grow their economy, for worrying about their workforce, as well as making a quality product. I'm going to share some thoughts that John shared with me in a little bit. But I do want to thank you for coming. I also want to thank my friends Senator Gordon Smith and Greg Walden. They were hitchhiking in California, and they needed laughter they were looking for a free ride, and Air Force One happened to be available. Laughter But they did fly down with me. I'm impressed by these two good men. We spent a lot of time talking about Oregon. They're deeply concerned about the fact that a lot of people aren't working I am, too. They're deeply concerned about the fact that parts of your State are not being treated very well. We spent time talking about the Klamath Basin. I share their concern about people who make a living off the land. And I told these two good men that we'll do everything we can to make sure water is available for people who farm. I also want to thank two of the Congressmen from this area, Earl Blumenauer and Darlene Hooley, for being here as well. Thank you so much for coming I appreciate you being here. I know you had better things to do on Saturday afternoon, and here you are, stuck with me. Laughter Thanks for coming it means a lot. You know, there were some some of the things that are happening in Washington, I expected. And there was one thing that happened was not expected. It's been a heck of a year. Laughter I will tell you, before I get into the expected and unexpected, I believe 2002 is going to be a fabulous year for America. I remember meeting with business leaders in Austin, Texas this is before I began heading north to become sworn in as your President and there was deep concern about the economy then. A year ago December, people were saying, "This economy is soft, and we're going to be in for a rough ride." It was not unexpected to see the economic slowdown. And I want to share some thoughts with you about how we can reverse the trend although I'm optimistic about our economy. There are some numbers coming out that appear that things are getting a little better The unemployment rate is 5.8 percent. But if you're unemployed, it's 100 percent, and I'm worried about that. The unexpected, obviously, was September the 11th, when evil people decided to attack America. I say "evil people" because I don't view this as a religious war. I view this as a struggle of good versus evil. And make no mistake about it, good will prevail. We are making steady progress in the first theater on the war against terror. We have made it clear to people that we weren't going to allow the injustice done to America to stand, and that if anybody harbored these people or fed them or clothed them or tried to provide them help, they were just as guilty as the terrorists were. These people are like parasites, and they find a host. And for those of you who ranch, you understand what a parasite can do to the host cow, for example too many parasites weaken the host. What happened was, was that they became parasites in Afghanistan. But we weakened the host the Taliban no longer is in power. And as a result, this great nation should be proud of the fact that we led a coalition that liberated women and children, a coalition that brought down a government that was so incredibly repressive it's hard for those of us who live in America to understand. Some of my finest memories thus far of this war against terror was the joy that came on people's faces when they realized that the Taliban would no longer hold them hostage to an outdated, outmoded, dictatorial point of view. I am so proud of our country. I'm proud of the fact that at the same time that we waged a war against Al Qaida and the Taliban, we fed the people. I read an important headline the other day that it said it looked like we avoided a terrible disaster by providing food for thousands of people in Afghanistan. While we dropped bombs, we also dropped food and medicine and clothing to make sure that the innocents in Afghanistan could survive the brutal winter in that part of the world. We're a great nation. We're making steady progress, and I use the word "steady" because sometimes it seems like there is a certain impatience in the airwaves. But I don't believe there's an impatience amongst the American people. As a matter of fact, I think the American people are very patient. They understand this is a difficult assignment, and they understand, like I do, that we've got to be patient in order to be successful. But we've accomplished a lot in 90 days. That's not a very long period of time. It's been a long period of time for Al Qaida laughter but it hasn't been a very long period of time for us. The reason we've had we've got a good strategy, and we've got a great military. For those of you who serve in our military or for those of you whose sons or daughters or relatives serve in the military, thank you. But I do want to remind our fellow citizens that we're now in a dangerous phase of this war in Afghanistan, because those who are willing to send young people to their suicide death hide in caves themselves, to save their own skin. And I told the world, just like I told the American people You can hide, but we will smoke you out and bring you to justice. I'm so sorry to report that Sergeant Nathan Chapman lost his life yesterday. But I wanted I want Sergeant Chapman's family to know that the cause for which he died is just and noble, the cause of freedom and the hope that our children and grandchildren will be able to grow up in a world that is free of the barbaric behavior of terrorism. We're on a mission, and we will not yield until the mission is complete. The war against terror is broader than just Afghanistan, and that is exactly what I have made clear to members of the vast coalition which we have put together. I said there are no shades of gray in this fight for civilization there are no shades of gray. Either you're with the United States of America, or you're against the United States of America. I'm sure there were some people who were anxious to sit on the fence for a while. But what they've come to realize is that this Nation, when aroused, is a mighty nation, a nation that, when we make up our mind we're going to do something, we're going to do it. We're going to shake terrorism loose wherever it exists and bring those to justice who have hurt America and bring those to justice who might hurt America. Let me tell you that part of this war is overseas, but part of it is here at home. My biggest job as your President is to make sure no one harms the American people. My biggest job is to rally the resources of this country, and have a homeland defense that will take every lead, every idea, every hint that somebody may harm us and rout them out, and give them a chance to protect America, and give them a chance to make this land secure. And if we find somebody who wants to harm America, who espouses the philosophy that's terrorist and bent, I can assure you we will bring that person to justice. This Nation is on alert, and it should be, but one of the things we're not going to let the terrorists do is to cause us not to behave like Americans and enjoy our freedoms and enjoy our neighborhoods and enjoy travel and enjoy the great wonders of our country. They think they can shut us down they've got the wrong country they're dealing with. There is a new spirit in this country, and a unity that is so powerful and so real that even a fellow who is hermetically sealed in the White House can feel it. Laughter I am proud of the Nation. And we should not respond one way abroad and have a different attitude about issues that face us at home. Here's what I think I think it's time for Congress to focus on what's best for America, and not political parties. I believe we need to set priorities and get positive things done. I'm getting ready to sign an education bill on Tuesday. My friends in Midland, Texas, will not believe it when they turn on C SPAN or one of these other channels, because I am going to stand up and say to the Nation, one, this is a good piece of legislation, and two, I want to thank Senator Ted Kennedy for working on it with me. He's done a fine job. It shows what's possible when you set aside party listen, I'm a proud party man, but I'm American first, and that's what we ought to be dealing with when it comes to legislation. And there are troubling signs that some in the Nation's Capital want to go back to the old ways, and I don't think we ought to let them do that. I think we ought to focus on what's good for the country. And take the issue of the economy. Like yourselves, I'm deeply concerned about the fact that Oregon leads the country when it comes to unemployment, and we've got to do something about that. First, my principle is this In tough times, people need an unemployment check, but for the long term, what they need is a paycheck. And we've got to figure out how to get jobs going. I think it's very important for us to extend unemployment benefits, including monies to help people pay for their health care, for those whose lives were affected on 9 11. I think it's very important for our country to do this. I know there is the will to get that done in Washington, DC. It makes sense that we help people. I met with the people in the community college today, a chemical engineer and an electrical engineer who were reliant upon the high tech world to make a living. They got laid off. They need these benefits so they can help themselves and be prepared when the economy recovers. But any economic stimulus plan must also expand the job base. We ought to be asking ourselves, what does it take to increase more jobs so people can find work? And that starts with understanding that the biggest job creators in America are the small businesses and entrepreneurs of America. I mentioned that last winter we got the indications that the economy was slowing down. And that's one of the reasons I fought so hard for tax relief, because I understand that if the economy is growing down slowing down, the best thing to do is to give people their own money back. The best thing to do is because the Government doesn't create wealth the Government creates an environment in which the entrepreneurial spirit can flourish. There is an amazing new kind of economic theory working its way through Washington, and it said that tax relief causes recessions. Laughter I'm not exactly sure what economic book that came out of, but if you want to get your way out of a recession, you provide tax relief. The worst thing you can do the worst thing you can do is raise taxes in a recession. And yet, some in Washington, DC, are talking about getting rid of the tax cuts. I can't think of anything worse for growing our economy. The answer to those who want to raise taxes is No, you're not going to raise taxes. Most small businesses are sole proprietorships or perhaps a limited partnership. And when you cut personal income taxes, you're really affecting the ability of small businesses to grow. The question we ought to ask is, how do you expand the job base? I spent time with John and the people of his good company. I like the idea of providing incentives to encourage corporate America to make investments in capital which is equal to jobs eventually. We ought to have an economic stimulus package that says, let's create more jobs for the American people. And we ought to get on about the American people's business put politics aside and come together and do what's right for this country. We have the ingredients for a plan. There's a bill that came out of the House there was one that could have come out of the Senate the votes were there. And so I just hope some of the Senators that kind of stood in the way of getting an economic plan done listen to the people and hear the voices of the people and come back and do what's right for the country. I'll tell you something about America The people are the true strength of this country. And we can talk about government all we want to talk about, but the thing that makes this country great is our people. I have been so proud of the American people. I love the stories that had to do with the aftermath of September the 11th. When they heard that women of cover, women of the Muslim faith, were worried about going outside their home because somebody might take severe action against them, Jewish women and Christian women in the suburb of Detroit called up on the phone and said, "We want to help you go to the store. We want to provide whatever comfort we can, so you can go about your lives." That's the America I know, and that's the America I love. It's been an amazing event series of events that have taken place. One of the most heartening things for me is to know that thousands of Americans are reassessing their values, moms and dads are asking what they can do to be better parents that as a result of the evildoer, not only are we responding militarily and not only have we put this broad coalition together that says we'll rid the world of terror, but here at home people are saying, "Gosh, let me reassess my life." It's so important for moms and dads to know that the most important job they will ever have is to love their children with all their heart and all their soul. I'm so pleased to report to you that the great fabric of the country, in terms of helping people, exists because of faith based institutions, regardless of their religion all across neighborhoods in America, that people are asking the question, "What can I do to help" that the great mosaic of America is made up of the millions of acts of kindness which takes place every single day. September the 11th was an attack on our country, but it didn't affect our heart it didn't affect our soul. My great hope for the year 2002 is that people who want to work can find a job. My hope is that our military is safe in their mission. I understand the war on terror is going to beyond probably 2002. I have no unrealistic aspirations about a calendar, a quick calendar. But my true hope, as well, is that the great compassion of America and the value system that has made us so different and so unique continues to be vibrant and strong that people, when they want to know how to help America, turn to a neighbor in need and say, "I want to help, to provide comfort for a child who may need a loving mentor," to say to somebody elderly on your block, "Gosh, I want to provide you company." That's the great that's my hope for the country, that our compassion continues to well up and that this great American experience continues to touch every possible heart. I pray for peace, I pray for prosperity, and I pray for the greatest land on the face of the Earth America. Thank you. December 31, 2001 The President. First of all, I wish everybody a Happy New Year 2002 is going to be a great year for America. And we will continue to pursue our mission in fighting terror. We'll work hard to make sure our economy rebounds. But most of all, the Nation will continue to embrace the culture of compassion, which really, really flourished right after September the 11th. I'm looking forward to an early evening tonight. I guess at the age of 55, it's expected that or it's okay for a guy to go to bed at about 9 p.m., maybe 10 p.m. So I don't plan anything glamorous for New Year's Eve. I've got to tell you, there's nothing more relaxing than being in Crawford, Texas. I'm spending as much time outdoors as I can. I spent after my briefing this morning with National Security Council, I was able to spend about 3 hours in the canyons, cleaning underbrush. And I feel refreshed and fortunate that we've got such a beautiful piece of land to live on. I'll be glad to answer a few questions then I'm going to go have a cheeseburger. Usama bin Laden and Mullah Omar Q. Any information on the whereabouts of bin Laden or Omar? Is there a new pursuit underway now? The President. No. Yes, I mean, the same pursuit We're going to get him, and it's just a matter of when. You know, you hear all kinds of reports and all kinds of rumors. You've got people saying he's in a cave, people saying he's dead, people saying he's in Pakistan. And all I know is that he's running, and anytime you get a person running, it means you're going to get him pretty soon. And same with Mullah Omar. It's just a matter of time, and I'm patient, and so is our military. There is no artificial timelines or, you know, deadlines. The definition of success is making sure the Taliban is out of existence, helping rebuild Afghanistan, and disrupting this international terrorist network. And we're doing a darn good job of it, too. Situation in South Asia Q. Sir, are tensions easing in India and Pakistan, now that Pakistan has arrested the leader of a militant group? And just one more. The President. Sure. Q. Would you urge President or Prime Minister Vajpayee to meet with President Musharraf next week? The President. Well, a couple of days ago I had a good talk with both Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Musharraf. I urged President Musharraf to do everything he could to crack down on the terrorist network that had bombed the Indian Parliament or raided the Indian Parliament. In my conversation with the Prime Minister, I said I can understand how he feels. If someone attacked the U.S. Capitol, I'd feel angry, too. I urged however, I urged I explained to the Indian Prime Minister that while I understood his anger, I was hoping that they were not headed for war. I said, "Give us all a chance to work with President Musharraf to bring the terrorists to justice." And today, as you know, he apprehended the head of what they call LET. That's after he had apprehended the head of JEM. So he's cracking down hard, and I appreciate his efforts. Terror is terror, and the fact that the Pakistani President is after terrorists is a good sign. Argentina Q. Mr. President, with the middle class now rioting in Argentina, are you concerned that that country's economic crisis is developing into a real political crisis? And has the time come for the U.S. to do something more substantial The President. Well, I talked to President interim President Saa, and no longer President Saa and I'm, you know, obviously, I'm worried about it. Argentina is a very important part of our hemisphere. I've heard that they're thinking about expediting elections, and that will be good. And as soon as they can get I'm confident the country will stay together until they get elections. And once they elect a President, we'll work with him. But the future President has got to deal with the economic crisis at hand. And once they come up with a plan that will sustain economic growth, then we're willing to work with them. We're willing to provide technical assistance to the Government, through the IMF, and hopefully, they'll get their house in order here pretty quickly. Q. Still no need for more direct U.S. intervention or aid? The President. I'm not sure what that means. You know, Argentina is a vibrant democracy they've been around a long time they have elections. You know, they're going to have elections here pretty quickly. As soon as they get a democratically elected President in place, we'll work with him as as a matter of fact, I anticipate I'll be calling the person as soon as he wins. Homeland Security Q. What can Americans expect in the upcoming year, in terms of homeland security? What's next, sir? The President. Well, what's next is really a focus on health, a focus on in terms of making sure the public health systems work. We're reviewing all our visa policies. We're looking at our immigration policies. We're looking at border policies, both with Canada and with Mexico. And we'll continue doing what we're doing now, which is, anytime we get a lead, we're going to disrupt we're going to bring them in and give them a chance to protect Americans. The FBI, the whole culture of the FBI has changed, for the better. The FBI's main task now is to protect Americans from further attack. The country is on alert. And a classic case was the person who tried to put the bomb in his shoe, and a flight attendant on the American flight alertly notified people, and they got it. And he's now we're now giving him a chance to tell us what he knows about terror and about Al Qaida. But 2002 will the country will still be on alert we'll still be working hard to protect the American people. Q. Is there a special alert now? The terrorists have shown an inclination to strike around New Year's The President. Well, or Christmas. I mean, there's all kinds of excuses for them to attack. Let's just put it this way, that the administration and the Government has not is on alert and have been since 9 11. And the American people realize we have a new culture, and that is one of being vigilant. We've got people working overtime during the holidays you know, we've got CAPs still flying around. Anybody tries to harm an American, there's a good chance we're going to get him. Vision for 2002 Q. Inaudible for the American people? The President. Well, it is that we're a blessed nation. God has richly blessed America. And for that, we ought to be grateful. We're a nation that has gone through incredible suffering and hardship. Yet, as a result of it, we're a strong nation and a united nation. And 2002, in my judgment, is going to be a great year. It's going to be a great year because people are going to be able to find work again. It's going to be a great year because our military is going to do the job the Americans expect. It'll be a great year because at home we'll protect the American people. And it's going to be a great year primarily because Americans have taken a look inward, reassessed their values, have realized that some of the basics in life are that which is most important love of faith, love of family. And as a result, our communities have been stronger. So I'm really looking forward to 2002. I'm also looking forward to my cheeseburger. Laughter Q. Any resolutions? The President. Resolutions? Eat fewer cheeseburgers. Laughter Thank you all. New Year's Eve Plans Q. Do you have friends coming over tonight? The President. Yes, we've got two couples from Austin and a couple from Lubbock. And the Lubbock couple are generally has spent, I guess, New Year's Eve with us for, like, a decade now, I think. And that's it. Have fun enjoy yourselves. Thanks. December 29, 2001 Good morning. Two thousand and one has been a year that Americans will always remember. We suffered great loss, and we found a new unity. We were attacked, and we responded swiftly. We have seen the strength of America in countless acts of kindness, compassion, and courage. This year ends with progress on the battlefield and accomplishment at home. The men and women of our military have successfully fought a new kind of war. They applied new tactics and new technology to rout a new kind of enemy. The lessons we learn in Afghanistan will guide our military to the future and make our country stronger and more secure. On the homefront, we're strengthening our defenses against terrorist attack while upholding our constitutional liberties. Our airways are more secure, and we are standing on alert. And here in Washington, we have built a record of achievement. We've set out clear priorities of tax relief and education reform, and we achieved them. Strengthening a troubled economy was one of my first priorities, so we passed the biggest tax reduction in a generation. And on January 1st, the next round of tax relief takes effect. As of January 1st, the marginal tax rate for moderate income taxpayers falls to 10 percent. Tax credits to encourage businesses to provide daycare will expand, and the adoption tax credit will increase to 10,000. Yet, we cannot stop here. I was disappointed by the failure of the Senate to act on my proposals to help laid off workers and to stimulate job creation. I outlined these proposals in October, more than 800,000 lost jobs ago. My ideas passed the House of Representatives, and, according to the Council of Economic Advisers, they could save 300,000 endangered jobs, but the Senate would not schedule them for a vote. I hope that we can resolve in the new year to put politics aside and get the job done for the American people. Education was another top priority, and we passed the boldest reform of the Federal education program in nearly four decades. We raised standards, put a new emphasis on reading, protected local control, and made sure that our schools teach all of our children. These are real achievements, and we must do more. We must have quick action on other issues that passed the House of Representatives but languished in the Senate. I'm counting on the Senate to take up my proposals to assure America's energy independence, to stimulate our economy and create jobs, to adopt a solid Patients' Bill of Rights, to mobilize faith based institutions for a new era of effective compassion, and to enhance our ability to negotiate favorable trade agreements for the United States. We have work to do to strengthen Social Security and put Medicare on sound footing for the future. Above all, this coming year will require our sustained commitment to the war against terrorism. We cannot know how long this struggle will last. But it can end only one way in victory for America and the cause of freedom. We look back on 2001 with sadness and with pride. We must look forward with determination and with resolve. Thank you so much for listening, and Happy New Year to you all. December 28, 2001 The President. Good morning. As you can see, I've invited a guest to come to the ranch. Tommy Franks is no stranger to Texas. After all, he was raised in Midland, Texas. And I'm looking forward to taking him over to the house here in a minute to say hello to Laura. Both of them went to Midland Lee High School, at about the same time. But Tommy has just come back from the Afghan theater. He gave me a full briefing on what he saw and what he heard. We just got off of a teleconference with the national security team, to discuss his trip and to discuss what's taking place in Afghanistan. I want to thank you for coming, Tommy. I am real proud of the military, and I'm proud of the commander. Tommy has done everything we've asked. He is fulfilling the mission with patience and discipline and success. He's a down to earth, no nonsense guy, precisely the kind of man we need to lead a complex mission such as this. You know, a couple of months ago, a lot of people said that this administration and our military really weren't sure what we were doing. But I had confidence all along, and the reason why I did confidence in the success of what we set out to do was because I had a chance to be briefed by Tommy Franks on the strategy and on the plan and on how we were going to use our United States military. And he hasn't let us down. The country needs to be proud of the military, and one reason that I'm so pleased to welcome Tommy is to be able to say that out loud in Tommy's presence. So I'm going to have Tommy say a few words, and then we'll be glad to answer a couple of questions. General Franks. Thank you, Mr. President. As the President said, my wife and I recently have had an opportunity to be with a bunch of great young people, soldiers and sailors, airmen, marines, in the frontline states around Afghanistan and in Afghanistan and Kandahar and at Camp Rhino and up in Kabul. We had a chance to meet with these young people who are doing the work for the Nation. We also had a chance to attend the installation ceremony in Afghanistan, where we saw Mr. Karzai and members of that team form an interim government in Afghanistan, where for the first time in decades, more than 26 million people will have an opportunity to have their way represented in that government. And the combination of seeing these great young people and seeing this momentous event just filled me with a desire to be able to brief the President on what's going on over there in the theater, on what our people are doing, how they feel about what they're doing. And so, Mr. President, thanks very much for having me out here in Crawford. The President. You bet. Scott Scott Lindlaw, Associated Press . Videotape of Usama bin Laden War on Terrorism Q. Mr. President, what's your reaction to the new bin Laden tape this week? And do you fear he's now eluded the manhunt? Also, are you concerned that if military tribunals require a unanimous verdict for the death penalty, some terrorists could avoid execution? The President. Let me start with the first of your three questions, which was what? I've already forgotten. Q. What's your reaction to the bin Laden tape? Are you afraid he's eluded the manhunt? The President. Oh, the tape, yes. I didn't watch it all. I saw snippets of it on TV. You know, it's who knows when it was made. Secondly, he is not escaping us. This is a guy who, 3 months ago, was in control of a country. Now he's maybe in control of a cave. He's on the run. Listen, a while ago I said to the American people, our objective is more than bin Laden, but one of the things for certain is we're going to get him running and keep him running and bring him to justice. And that's what's happening. He's on the run, if he's running at all. So we don't know whether he's in a cave with the door shut or a cave with the door open we just don't know. There's all kinds of reports and all kinds of speculation, but one thing we know is that he's not in charge of Afghanistan anymore. He's not in charge of the he's not the parasite that invaded the host, the Taliban. We know that for certain. And we also know that we're on the hunt, and he knows that we're on the hunt. And I like our position better than his. In terms of whether or not the tribunals will be able to render the justice necessary, that I spoke to the Secretary of Defense today about the story in the newspaper. Evidently, somebody in our Government wanted to show off to his family or her family in between Christmas and New Year's by leaking information in the press that he or she thought would be helpful to the Government. The truth of the matter is, the Secretary of Defense hadn't even seen the report that was on the front page of America's newspapers. So my answer to your question, Scott, is I know that the leaked report is preliminary, that they're still in discussions about how best to bring justice. But one thing is for certain, that whatever the procedures are for the military tribunals, our system will be more fair than the system of bin Laden and the Taliban. That is for certain. The prisoners that we capture will be given a heck of a lot better chance in court than those citizens of ours who were in the World Trade Center or in the Pentagon were given by Mr. bin Laden. David David Gregory, NBC News . Good to see you, lad. Q. Good to see you. The President. Thank you. Q. Can you say with confidence now that Usama bin Laden is no longer in a position to mastermind another terrorist attack against the United States or our allies? And related to that, you talked about 2002 being a year of war. What can you say to prepare the American people for what that vision is, what they need to be prepared for, as compared to what they've seen in Afghanistan? The President. Well, I hope 2002 is a year of peace. But I am also realistic, and I know full well that bin Laden and his cronies would like to harm America again bin Laden and his cronies would like to harm our allies. How do I know that? I receive intelligence reports on a daily basis that indicates that that's his desires. And therefore, the United States must be vigilant, must make sure we continue to focus on our homeland security measures, must disrupt, must use our intelligence gathering network to prevent the enemy from attacking. And so, while I hope 2002 is a year of peace, I'm realistic. As to whether or not bin Laden is in control of some network, who knows? The thing we're certain about is that he's on the run, that he's hiding in caves, if hiding at all. And the other thing I'm certain about is we will bring him to justice. I don't know whether it's going to be tomorrow, but Tommy will tell you that I haven't said, "Tommy, get him tomorrow." I said, "Just get him," and we will. We will bring him to justice. We don't know, David, whether or not he's given any orders to any of his soldiers, but we take nothing for granted. And so our country still remains on alert, and we're actively looking for anybody who would harm America. The shoe bomber was a case in point, where the country has been on alert. A stewardess on an American Airlines flight or a flight attendant on an American Airlines flight was vigilant, saw something amiss, and responded. It's an indication that the culture of America has shifted to one of alertness. And I'm grateful for the flight attendant's response, as I'm sure the passengers on that airplane. But we've got to be aware that there are still enemies to the country. And our Government is responding accordingly. Situation in South Asia Q. Mr. President, do you think that India and Pakistan are sliding toward war? The President. One of the things that we discussed today in the national security conference, and I discussed yesterday with members of my national security team, was the India and Pakistan issue. Colin Powell has spoke to both sides today, urging restraint, urging calm. I was pleased to I'm pleased to note that President Musharraf has announced the arrest of 50 extreme terrorists extremists or terrorists. And I hope India takes note of that, that the President is responding forcefully and actively to bring those who would harm others to justice. The war on terror is not just an American war on terrorists it's a civilized government war on terror that we're talking about here. But my Government and my administration is working actively to bring some calm in the region, to hopefully convince both sides to stop the escalation of force. And as I say, I'm pleased that President Musharraf is responding to the Indian requests to round up those who would do harm to others and incarcerate them, which he did. Argentina Q. Are you making any calls yourself, sir? The President. Not yet. I will if need be. As a matter of fact, I have been making calls recently to leaders in our own hemisphere. I spoke to the Presidents of Mexico and Uruguay, Chile and Brazil about the Argentinean situation. I made it clear to those Governments that we want to work with them, to work together to make sure that the Argentineans understand that we will support a plan that sustains economic growth we're willing to offer technical assistance through the IMF that our Government is aware of what's taking place and that we're fully engaged in the issue. Impact of September 11 on the President Q. Mr. President, some say that the events of 2001 have changed you, while others say that you're the same person you always were. The President. Yes. Q. Who's right? Or is it fair to say there's some truth in both arguments? The President. Talk to my wife. Laughter I don't know. I don't spend a lot of time looking in the mirror, except when I comb my hair. And listen, I'll give you a hint. I liked coming to the ranch before September the 11th I like coming to the ranch after September the 11th. Enron Corporation Q. Inaudible the war for a moment. Have you had any contact with Ken Lay or other Enron officials in the last 6 weeks The President. No. Q. and do you think that there is something the Government should do to help Enron The President. I have had no contact with Enron officials in the last 6 weeks. Do I think the Government ought to help what now? Q. Help Enron or do something to help prevent some of these employees from losing their life savings. The President. Well, I think the life savings issue is something we need to look into. I think it's very important to understand what took place. The Government will be looking into this. I mean, the SEC will be looking into matters Congress appears to be looking into matters. There will be a lot of Government inquiry into Enron and what took place there. I'm deeply concerned about the citizens of Houston who worked for Enron who lost life savings. It's very troubling to read the stories about those who locked up Enron stock had their Enron stock locked up in their 401(k) plans and then saw their savings dissipate. I think it's very important for us to fully understand the why's of Enron. And there will be plenty of investigations. Recess Appointments Q. Sir, will you make recess appointments The President. Thinking about it. I don't know yet. I'm right now focused on the military operations in Afghanistan and giving Tommy a tour of my ranch. But I, at the appropriate time, will take a good, hard look at recess appointments. I'm disappointed that a lot of my appointments were stalled in the United States Senate, weren't given a hearing. This Scalia man got out of committee, but never given a vote on the floor of the Senate. He's a good fellow he ought to be approved. But I'll take a good, hard look at all the options available to me. Operation Enduring Freedom Q. Mr. President, is there a timetable in your mind for withdrawing U.S. troops from Afghanistan? Or as long as bin Laden is still on the run, do you imagine them being there indefinitely? The President. I imagine us being there for quite a long period of time. But my timetable is going to be set by Tommy Franks. Tommy is in charge of the military operations he's in charge of the military. I'll let Tommy speak for himself, but I will tell you this We won't be making political decisions about what to do with our military. I gave Tommy a mission it was a welldefined mission. And Tommy is in charge of getting that mission done, and when Tommy says, "Mission complete, Mr. President," that's when we start moving troops out. But until he says that, I am I will make the case to the American people that we're doing the right thing. Q. What's your definition of the mission being complete in Afghanistan, sir? The President. In Afghanistan? Well, Taliban gone, the country secure, the country stable, that Al Qaida cells rounded up, Taliban fighters brought to justice. The over 6,000 troops, prisoners being held prisoners of war being held by our allies interrogated, finger printing I mean, there's a lot to do. And the American people just must understand when I said that we need to be patient, that I meant it. And we're going to be there for a while. And I don't know the exact moment when we leave, David, but it's not until this mission is complete. The world must know that this administration will not blink in the face of danger, and will not tire when it comes to completing the missions that we said we would do. The world will learn that when the United States is harmed, we will follow through. The world will see that when we put a coalition together that says, "Join us," I mean it. And when I ask others to participate, I mean it. And in order to lead the coalition, we must show that we will complete the mission. And part of that mission is, as Tommy will tell you, is to make sure that Afghanistan is a stable country. And he's got a lot to say on that if you want him to talk about it. Okay, bring the man to the mike. Q. General Franks, could you talk about how you took evasive action when you were fired upon the other day? There was a report yesterday that your helicopter was fired upon. Q. You should get right to that, sir, after you do the first question. Laughter General Franks. Let me take that let me take your question first. As we look around, today we have more than 50 nations involved in this coalition effort and around Afghanistan, providing support and so forth. We have 26 nations represented at our headquarters down in Tampa, Florida. We have 16 nations represented on the ground or in the air or at sea around Afghanistan. And it's interesting that over the past 10 days, the numbers I've just described have grown, rather than shrinking. I think the view is that Afghanistan is a part of a global effort against terrorism, that we'll stay in Afghanistan as long as it takes to do what the President has said. We will do away with the Taliban, and that has been done. We now have a legitimate interim government in Kabul. We will destroy the Al Qaida terrorist network inside Afghanistan. We will take care of the screening and the work that needs to be done with all these detainees finger printing, DNA work, photography, screening, interrogation. We'll determine which ones need to be brought out and need to be handled in some form of legal process. How long will that take? I think the President said it immediately after the 11th of September, and I think many of us have said it about every day since then It will take as long as it takes. Interesting to me, the fact that these young people standing at Kandahar Airport a few nights ago, in the middle of the night, watching the USO show, showed me absolutely no desire to leave their mission at all. And so, I think it's best for all of us to recognize that we will not be hurried we will not be pressed into doing something that does not represent our national objectives and we will take as long as it takes. And a very short answer to the business of the helicopter I have been told since I took that helicopter ride that someone took a shot at the helicopter. I didn't see it when it happened, and I believe it may have happened, but then again, this is Afghanistan, and we have pockets of Taliban still in that country. And that's one of the reasons that we're going to stay there until we have mopped all that up. Q. Mr. President The President. Yes. It's your big day, Scott, two questions. Q. A one part question this time, I promise. The President. Four questions, excuse me. Laughter Usama bin Laden Q. Would you prefer to see bin Laden captured and questioned about the attacks and possible future attacks? The President. You know, dead or alive is fine with me. Argentina Q. Mr. President, you mentioned Argentina, and you talked about you support more technical assistance from the IMF for them. Would you support more money for Argentina from the IMF, or has the well kind of run dry there? The President. Well, it depends upon what Argentina decides to do. The key for Argentina is to get her fiscal house in order, get monetary policy in order, and to develop a plan that will show sustained economic vitality and economic growth. But it's up to Argentina on how to develop the plan. As you know, there's been an interim government in place there will be elections in a couple of months. And the point we've made to the Argentinean Government, as well as to our friends in the region, is that we will be willing to help them develop the plan, if they ask for technical advice. It will all be done through the IMF. But the first order of business is for the Argentineans to develop a plan to show us how they're going to get their house in order. They've got a lot of work to do, but and all of us that are concerned about Argentina are willing to work together to get the job done. There was near unanimity on my phone calls to the other leaders in the region that of the course of action that I just laid out. Military Tribunals John Walker Lindh Q. Have you decided that anybody should be subjected to a military tribunal? The President. Well, Americans shouldn't, as you know. I mean, I excluded any Americans. Q. Of the prisoners, have you decided that anyone The President. Oh, have I made any decisions yet? Not at all not yet, Dave. We're still I still want to make sure that the I still want to see what the Secretary of Defense recommends as to how to proceed. He has as I said, he hasn't seen the nowfamous document that some American decided to leak. I don't know why people do that. I guess either to make you feel good and or to make themselves feel good. But nevertheless, it was not very helpful. And as the Secretary of Defense said, he hasn't even seen the document yet. But they're working through, and we're working through, as you know, all the other types of cases that have come forward. I mean, as Tommy said, there's a lot of people to be questioned, and there's also a lot of decisions to be made as to how to run these folks through our system. And we're just not quite there yet. We've got time. Q. What about Walker? The President. Well, same situation. We've got time. And Walker is well berthed on a U.S. warship. It's a heck of a lot more comfortable on that ship than he was in the basement of that prison. When he decided when he was captured, Walker made a terrible decision, and our system is such that he'll have proper justice. But he's working with the enemy, and we'll see how the courts deal with that. Airline Treatment of Secret Service Agent Q. Sir, were you upset that that Secret Service agent was kept off that plane? Because you have been saying this The President. Yes, I was. I talked to the man this morning. I told him how proud I was that he was by my side. He's here on the ranch, and he's guarding me. And of course, I was. We'll let the facts they're going to get the facts out. There's an inquiry going on as to specifically what took place. But if he was treated that way because of his ethnicity, that will make me madder than heck. Usama bin Laden Q. There are increasing news reports that bin Laden escaped to Pakistan The President. Oh, yeah? Well, sorry to interrupt your question, but if you'd asked me the question yesterday, you would have said there's increasing news reports that he's dead, and the day before, that he's hiding in a cave. In other words, there's increasing speculation about bin Laden. But what one shouldn't speculate on is if he's alive, he's on the run. And you don't need to worry about whether or not we're going to get him, because we are. And it's just a matter of time. I mean, I've read reports where he dyed his hair red. That's not going to stop us from finding him. Q. But what assurances have you gotten from President Musharraf that if that is the case, that he'll find him and turn him The President. Well, I appreciate that. President Musharraf has been very helpful. Tommy has visited with him I visited with him the Secretary of Defense has visited with him. And he said he will help in all matters. And we believe he'll help with Mr. bin Laden, too, if in fact he happens to be in Pakistan. Who knows where he is? But one thing is for certain He's on the losing side of a rout. And the other thing for certain is we're not going to stop until we get him and all those murderers that are associated with him. And who knows how many we've gotten to date, because we're gathering evidence. We don't know whether some of those people are in those caves. And Tommy did a fine job of shutting them down. They may still be locked up in there. And as you know, we're sending troops up in that region to take a look at some of the caves to find out what's in there. And we're going to have to dig some of them out. But as time will go on, we will know more and more about how successful we've been. The point is, is that we are going to be there for a while. I'm patient. The commander on the ground is executing the plan, and the American people are in strong support of what's taking place. Listen, thank you all for being here today. It's great to see you. Welcome back to Prairie Chapel Ranch, and maybe we'll get you back out here before the New Year's. If not, Happy New Year. Thank you. President's Visit to Crawford Q. What are you doing for New Year's? The President. Probably going to bed early. Laughter Q. What are you doing with your days here? The President. Well, I'm up I was up this morning at 5 a.m., spent a little quality time with the First Lady. And I just finished my book, "Theodore Rex," by Edmund Morris, which is a fabulous book on Teddy Roosevelt. I recommend people reading it. I am going to I would have gotten up and run 3 or 4 miles this morning, which I'll probably do that this afternoon. I'm going to take Tommy around to show him parts of the ranch. But if Tommy weren't here, I'd be working down there, a little chainsaw work, clearing some brush, burning some brush. We're making great progress in one of our one of the bottom areas that was heretofore relatively inaccessible. One of these days I'll take you down there. It's a beautiful place. It's a bodark grove bodark tree is a native tree, real hard wood that grows these giant green, kind of applelooking things. But I'll spend time doing that. And then this afternoon it gets dark here about 5 30 p.m., and so I'll probably watch a little University of Texas football tonight. Q. What about the tree you planted yesterday? The President. Tree plant, very good. My senior staff gave me a beautiful oak, 10inch oak. And we planted her right outside the house. I haven't written my thank you note yet, so I'll give them a verbal "Thanks for the tree." It is a beauty. And we planted about I think we planted so far about 35 trees, live oaks and cedar elms here. And it's going to be a beautiful sight for when these trees when they take off. Did a little fishing yesterday, by the way. Not very successful. The water is cold the fish are at the bottom. They're not biting very much. But just the fact that I was able to fish was a nice treat. Thank you all. December 25, 2001 Good morning, and Merry Christmas. During this time of conflict and challenge, Christmas is a day on which we celebrate hope and joy, when our thoughts turn to justice and compassion and to a Prince of Peace born long ago. This is a day on which we give thanks for the wonder of God's love, for the blessings we have received, and for the families we love. And this year all of these things seem particularly important. Charles Dickens wrote that Christmas is a time when abundance rejoices and want is keenly felt. This Christmas finds many facing hurt and loss, especially the families of terror victims and of our young men killed in battle. America grieves with you, and we hope you'll especially find the comfort and hope of Christmas. Laura and I send our good wishes to all the families in America that have come together in celebration. We're especially grateful to all the men and women of our military, many of whom are today separated from their loved ones because they're serving our country. Even in this time of war, we pray for peace on Earth and good will toward men, and we continue to ask God's blessings on the United States. Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year. December 21, 2001 Review of 2001 The President. Don't step on the new rug! Laughter We wanted you to see the new rug. It's a tradition for each President to design a rug. And Laura helped design this rug, and I think she did a fantastic job, as you can see. It's just beautiful. That's the seal in the middle. The border here has got a little Texan in it. The First Lady. We have the Lone Star. The President. The Lone Star. The rays are, I think, very dramatic. And so we wanted you to come by and take a look at it. The other thing is, it's been an extraordinary year for us. We will continue to ask the good Lord's blessings on America during the holiday season, particularly on those who've suffered incredible loss. And we I hope our soldiers are safe overseas. We appreciate the job they do. I'm real proud of how the administration and our Government has responded to the attacks on America Got a good strategy in the first phase of the war, to rout out terror upheld the doctrine that says that we will bring the murderers to justice and we will hold those accountable who help the murderers responded quickly to threats to our homeland. Tom Ridge is doing a really good job in coordinating the agencies whose job it is to keep Americans safe. Every morning I come in here to the desk, and I would read the threat assessments to America. And it reminds me that my most important job of all is to protect the American people from further attack. On the domestic front, I'm really pleased with what's happened in the Congress to get the education bill, a significant piece of education reform that believes that the Nation should have high standards for every single child and that we ought to make sure that when we spend money that there's results. And along those lines, we also in this bill trust the local governments to make many decisions about educating children. We also recognize there's a Federal responsibility to make sure that we help schools achieve a very important goal, and that is every child learn to read, something that Laura's been very much involved in. I'm pleased that we were able to pass the tax relief plan that gave working people their own let them keep their own money. It turned out to be by simplifying the code and dropping the bottom rate, for example, to 10 percent, as well as making sure that there's a child credit, increasing the child credit, getting rid of the death tax all the tax measures were very fortuitous because the economy began to slow down in March. And I strongly believe that by providing the first phase of tax relief, it helped cushion what could have been a very, very hard landing. In the House, we passed an energy plan. It's the first time an administration laid out an energy plan. And the House passed it it's stuck in the Senate. I'm pleased that a good piece of environmental policy was passed last night and that I intend to sign, which is the brownsfield legislation, legislation that will help cities around America clean up old industrial sites. It's really good work, bipartisan work. We've worked closely with members of both parties to get the bill passed, and I look forward to signing that. The Faith Based Initiative is such a vital initiative for making sure that there's something beyond welfare for people who have lost hope in life. And that bill passed the House. I look forward to working with the Senate sponsors, Senator Lieberman and Senator Santorum, to get it past the Senate. We need to get a Patients' Bill of Rights done Bill of Rights done next year. I must tell you, I'm disappointed that the Senate did not follow up on the opportunity to pass a stimulus package that would have taken care of workers. We worked really hard with members of both parties to get legislation that would do two things one, help workers by extending unemployment insurance, as well as helping them with their health care and then there was the stimulating part of the package that would encourage investment and job creation. It just didn't get done, and that's a big disappointment. I know there was enough votes to get it out of the Senate, had there been the will to get the bill done. And maybe early next year we can work on it again. But all in all, it's been a fabulous year for Laura and me. We're so grateful to be living in this compound, and I'm grateful to be working in this office. It's a joy to walk in here every morning, realizing that I'm the President of the greatest country on the face of the Earth. Anything you want to say? The First Lady. Happy holidays to everybody and The President. Why don't you say something about the rug? The First Lady. Do you want to hear more about the rug? Q. Where was it made? The President. Thank you, Terry Terry Moran, ABC News . Laughter The First Lady. It was made, actually, in New York. Edward Fields is the company. I went and watched as it was being made. They have it was very interesting. They have huge racks that the rug is up on, and then they developed this electric needle that sort of looks like a drill, and the yarn is actually sort of painted on with this electric drill. We took a long time working on the design of it and the colors. We went back and forth several times with strike offs on the colors until we got what we liked. I think it's really pretty. They've done a beautiful job. In late January, we're going to ask everyone who had to do with the Oval Office Scalamandre, who made the couches and the fabric on the couches Brunschwig, the fabric on the drapes the Drapery House, which is also out of New York, that made them the museums that loaned these paintings from Texas Tom Lea's widow, Sarah Lea W.H.D. Koerner's son, who we found through Joey O'Neill, who loaned that painting to us. So we'll ask you back at that time to meet all the people who had something to do with the decorating of the Oval Office. Q. Mr. President, can we ask you a question? The President. Sure. Situation in Afghanistan Q. Do you think that perhaps the ceasefires and the talks about possible surrender negotiations gave bin Laden a chance to sneak out of Afghanistan or The President. Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press , I don't know where he is. I haven't heard much from him recently. And which means he could be in a cave that doesn't have an opening to it anymore or could be in a cave where he can get out or may have tried to slither out into neighboring Pakistan. We don't know. But I will tell you this We're going to find him. And one of the things I said early on in this war was that I told the American people that this administration would be patient and would be relentless. And you're talking to a patient man when it comes to achieving the objectives, because I understand the degree of difficulty has increased significantly. The first part of the objective was to destroy the Taliban's military. That was relatively easy. Secondly, the objective was to hold those accountable who had harbored Al Qaida. It took a while, but once we were able to bring our military strength, made our military strength air strength, in particular with boots on the ground, commitment of troops, it unfolded well. Now we're on the hunt. And we're chasing one or 2, 3 or 4, 20 individuals at a time. And this is pretty rugged country, as you know. And so we're slowly but surely chasing down every single lead. And as our friends and allies take over more and more of the country and as the new Government gets, in the beginning, gets into place, we'll continue to get good intelligence, and we'll continue to chase Mr. bin Laden and others, Abu Zubaydah, Zawahiri I could give you the list of names. But if they think they can hide from the United States, they're making a terrible mistake again. And we'll get him we'll bring him to justice. I wish I could give you the exact moment, but I can't. And frankly, since this administration is in the fight against terror for the long pull, I am not the least bit anxious about bringing a particular individual to justice. I know that we've disrupted the Al Qaida network. Today I was briefed that there are hundreds of Al Qaida fighters being held hostage. And by the way, we're in the process of developing a system to deal with each and every fighter, depending upon the nature of the fighter how to deal with them legally. And I've instructed the National Security Council to take their time and to come up with a process to deal with foreign Al Qaida fighters, Taliban, Walker. I have no answer on Walker yet because I want the process to be able to address all the different circumstances that may arise, and then we'll be able to brief the country as to how we're going to deal with these people. John Walker Lindh Q. Mr. President, on John Walker, are you nearing, though, a decision? Can you describe who you're consulting with, and have you inaudible up anything? The President. Well, I tasked the National Security Council to work up a strategy on how to deal with each and every person that we capture. And obviously, Walker is unique in that he's the first American Al Qaida fighter that we have captured. And we will announce to the country when we have made up our mind on all on how to deal with a wide variety of cases. Walker, himself, is being well treated on a ship of ours that is I suspect he's finding his berth a little better than it was when he was placed in the prison in Afghanistan. And we've heard, the administration has heard from his lawyer, and we've told his lawyer that at the appropriate time we'll let everybody know, including his family, how we're going to proceed with Walker, as well as others that have become captured during this war. But no, we don't have an announcement today. Q. And nothing has been ruled out? Like treason have you ruled out treason? The President. No, nothing has been ruled out because I want to make obviously, every decision we make at this point will set precedent for future decisions. And I want us to fully think through all the ramifications of the different options. And Defense and the Justice Department are taking the lead on preparing a strategy. This ought to be a strategy, by the way, that when we capture somebody who has a certain characteristic to him, that then the process ought to automatically kick in as to how that person is dealt with. And I think we owe that to the country, to take our time. And then I'll make it clear somebody will make it clear once the decision is made. Economic Stimulus Package Q. Sir, would you consider bringing or asking Congress to come back early and finish the economic stimulus? The President. No. Q. Are you angry at anyone in Congress? The President. No, I'm not angry at all. I'm joyous. I welcome the holiday season. No, but I don't intend to bring them back early. Q. What is the impact of not passing a stimulus before the end of the year? The President. Well, the impact was, it was disappointing. Q. What about for the American people? The President. Well, we'll just have to see. We'll have to see what the effects are. And we'll have time when they come back to take a looksee at the state of the economy. We're continuing to get mixed signals. Hopefully, the economy will be good, but we'll just have to we'll deal with it when we get back. But I think the people, a lot of people are going to ask the question, why couldn't they get something done? And one of my jobs was to facilitate an agreement. And I went up to Capitol Hill, as you know one of my rare appearances up there and sat down with Democrats and Republicans from both bodies who had made the commitment to work together to get a bill. And there was a great it's a very good bill, by the way, billions of dollars of help for displaced workers. And the will to get something done just wasn't there. Q. Mr. President, do you think a stimulus is a must? The President. Is a Q. Is a must. The President. Oh, a must. We'll see. I thought it was important to get a good stimulus package out, as well as I thought it was very important to take care of displaced workers. And the bill that I have supported and my administration helped craft, with both the Democrats and Republicans, would have done just that. But we'll see when we come back and take a look. Nature of the Coalition Q. Mr. President, you had said that the next phase of the war, following the defeat of the military in Afghanistan, would be hunting down these groups wherever they existed across the globe and that countries who didn't work with us were against us. So do we have any sort of timelines or goals that we've set up for these countries where we know Al Qaida and other groups that we've put on our list of terrorism are functioning, where we're going to say at a certain point, you're not doing as much as we had expected of you? The President. Yes, I hear what you're saying. Well, I also said that sometimes the war will take place and actions will take place that the American people won't be able to see. And by that I mean that this is a multifront war that will be effective when we cut off money or encourage governments to round up Al Qaida cells. And we are encouraging governments to try to round up and sometimes and bring to justice Al Qaida cells. But it wouldn't be very wise for me to describe those to you because the Al Qaida cell we're trying to round up may flee. But yes, we're constantly talking to countries, reminding them that "If you're with us, perform." I'm a performance oriented person I believe in results. And many of the world leaders that have been here in the Oval Office will tell you that one of the strong messages that I send is, "Thank you for your condolences. I appreciate your flowers. Now arrest somebody if they're in your country, and we will help you. We'll give you the intelligence necessary to show you who they are and where they are. And we will if you need be, we'll be glad to lend some troops." Now, that hasn't happened yet, but the enemy needs to know that we're on the hunt. And part of being and our friends need to know, if you're a member of the coalition, we expect you to perform. Q. Are there any I mean, obviously, you're not going to delineate for us the conversations that are happening, but are there any phone calls going to countries, our friends, our allies, you know, "We're watching what you're doing" inaudible ? The President. All the time. All the time we're reminding people that this is a performance oriented world. If you want to win the war on terror, you must perform. And a good area, for example, is in the financial area, where we're constantly working with nations to help them chase down money that is moving illegally. There's a lot of cooperation. But you asked a very interesting question, "Do you keep a scorecard?" And the answer is, I do. I do, because I'm an old baseball guy, and I like to keep the score. I like to see who's performing and who's not performing. It's a part of being a coalition. Tommy Franks said something interesting the other day and by the way, he was one year ahead of Laura at Midland Lee High School. Laughter They were "Fighting Rebels" together. Laughter But Tommy said, "This war the phase of this war is kind of like a baseball game." Of course, my ears perked up. He said, "There will be a lot of moments of boredom, and then there would be some great joy as we" what he was saying is that we're in a slow pursuit to achieve the objective that Ron talked about. Last question. Domestic Security Q. Sir, can you say that the country is more secure today and less vulnerable to terrorism than it was before September 11th? The President. Yes, sir. The country is more secure today and less vulnerable to attack than before September the 11th because the enemy has made it clear that we are a target, and we've responded. America never dreamt before September the 11th anybody would attack us. We knew there were threats. During the summer there had been some threats to overseas assets that we responded to. But we really never felt that we had the sense that we're invulnerable. And now they've made it clear that they're not afraid to attack us. And so, one, we're aware. Secondly, we have got a much better system of sharing information information we gather overseas to agencies here at home. When we get a hint and by the way, as a result of the coalition, there is much more intelligence sharing going on. So oftentimes we'll get a lead from an intelligence service, say in the Middle East or in Europe, and that piece of information will be analyzed and passed immediately on to the FBI, that has now shifted its culture from one of doing important work like white collar crime or spy on spy work to prevention. That is the most primary job of the FBI, is to prevent a further attack. And there's over 4,000 agents working on every single lead we get, leads that sometimes prove to be false but sometimes indicate that there could be somebody here in the country that intends to do us harm. And we will use whatever resources necessary to haul them in if that's the case. So yes, the country is safer. Is it still totally safe? No. And that's why, as I've told you, my main job, my main worry for America, is to prevent another attack. Every morning at 6 50 a.m. in the morning, I come in here, and I think about the possibilities. And every day I meet with the FBI Director and Tom Ridge and John Ashcroft, along with George Tenet, reminding them that we have an awesome responsibility to do whatever we can to protect the American people. And we've made great progress since September the 11th. The American people need to know that even though we go into a holiday season, this Government will be doing everything we can to keep our country safe. We're keeping the CAPs up, we're keeping those are military flights around just to make sure if somebody tries to attack us, there will be we'll have the measures in place to prevent it. Listen, I hope you all have a great holiday. Thank you. December 20, 2001 Thank you all. It must be hard to describe how to cause people to love one another, which is precisely why this program is so meaningful and so real to people. I'm here because I want the American people to understand the greatest gift they can give this holiday season is to programs such as Martha's Table. We're such a generous nation, and after September the 11th, people gave very generously to those whose lives were affected as a result of the terrorist activity. But unfortunately, contributions to organizations, community based organizations all aimed at helping brothers and sisters in need, have fallen off. And so my wish for Christmas, for the holiday season, is for our country to be at peace, to be protected, that our men and women overseas are protected, but that the great generosity of Americans come to the surface again to help people whose sole purpose is to say, "What can I do to help somebody? What can I do? How can I live the Biblical admonition to treat somebody just like I'd like to be treated myself?" I want to thank the leadership of this great program. It's a pretty strong leadership. First of all, they got my mother to come laughter who said, "When you get up there, you make sure you go by Martha's Table." I said, "Yes, ma'am." Laughter And by the way, I'm going to see her Saturday, and I look forward to telling her you're doing great. I got to see the expansion, the new addition to this program. And I want to congratulate the members of the board and the hard workers who've gone out to raise the money to see that the expansion came to be. I want to thank all the volunteers who are here. You know, part of my vision for a better America is that our country understands the power of faith based and community based organizations and government should do everything it can to facilitate their expansion all around the country that a lot of times faith can do things that others can't. And while governments should never promote a particular religion, governments should not fear faith and should welcome those programs based upon faith, because government couldn't possibly duplicate what goes on inside this building. There is no way that our Government could mandate love. I used to tell people, I wish I could make people love one another, and I'd sign the bill, but that's not the way life works. What happens is, dedicated citizens decide they're going to do something to embetter the community in which they live and, without government, say, "Let's go. Let's roll. Let's make it happen." And that's what's happened here at Martha's Table. So I urge my fellow citizens to find ways to contribute not only time but money. Instead of giving a gift this year, for example, one of the things I hope people do instead of sending Laura and me something, if they choose to do so, I would hope they would figure out a way to help a community, a charitable based organization. It would be the best gift you could possibly give us. If they're trying to send Barney a gift, they ought to send it to a charitable based organization. That would make our hearts feel great, and I know it would help people in need. And while we're here in this joyous season, we've also got to remember, people hurt in our society. And as a result of September the 11th, people have lost work. And I'm worried about that. I've been working hard to try to get the Congress to take care of unemployed people, people who lost their jobs. I thought we made pretty good progress yesterday when Republicans and Democrats decided to set aside the typical partisanship that takes place in Washington and put a pretty good package out there not a pretty good, a real good package that said that we're going to extend the unemployment benefits for displaced workers, that we're going to help people with health care needs in a significant way over 30 billion to help unemployed people take care of themselves during this period of national tragedy. As well, in the package that passed the House of Representatives, there are ways to stimulate small business growth. And the truth of the matter is, we've got to figure out ways to create jobs in America. A job is the best thing that you can do to help anybody. And unfortunately, that particular piece of legislation was declared dead before it even got to the Senate floor, even though I'm confident that, if it was ever voted on, it would pass. I think we need to pass that bill. I think, for the good of the American people, that bill ought to get out of the United States Senate and get to my desk so that we can help the unemployed people and help grow jobs. And I hope, as well, next year when we come back, that the Faith Based Initiative passes. I think this again, this isn't a partisan issue this is a good American issue. This is an issue that will help people. And that's what I want to see. I want to see people in need have hope, people who live with despair in their lives have sunshine. And I know how to get it done, and that is to encourage places like Martha's Table to flourish and grow. My fellow Americans need to know that as we head into this time of joy, that our Nation is doing everything we can to protect our citizens, that we'll be on alert during the holiday season, that if we have any hint anybody wants to hurt us, we'll respond, to make sure that the good citizens of our land are able to celebrate peacefully with their families. I wish everybody a happy holiday season. I want to thank you all for giving me the chance to come by a place of love and compassion. I want to thank you for what you do, on behalf of all Americans. God bless. December 20, 2001 The President. Thank you all for coming. I'm honored to be joined by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of the Treasury. The Secretary of Treasury will stay over afterwards to answer any questions you have on this particular initiative that we'll be announcing today. This is the 100th day of our campaign against global terrorism. And in those 100 days, we've accomplished much. We've built a broad international coalition against terror, and I want to thank the Secretary of State for his hard work. We broke the Taliban's grip on Afghanistan. We took the war to the Al Qaida terrorists. We're securing our airways. We're defending our homeland. And we're attacking the terrorists' international financial network, and I want to thank the Secretary of the Treasury for his hard work. Today I'm announcing two more strikes against the financing of terror. We know that Al Qaida would like to obtain nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons. And we know that oftentimes they do not act alone. Al Qaida has international supporters, and some of those supporters hide themselves in the disguise of charity. Last year a former official of the Pakistani Atomic Energy Commission set up an organization known as the UTN. UTN claims to serve the hungry and needy of Afghanistan. But it was the UTN that provided information about nuclear weapons to Al Qaida. So today I'm adding UTN and three of its directors to our list of terrorist supporting financial organizations and individuals. We're issuing orders to block any of their assets within U.S. jurisdiction and putting the world on notice that anyone who continues to do business with UTN and its principal figures will not do business with the United States. Since September the 11th, we've witnessed a series of terrorist attacks aimed at the United States and our friends around the world anthrax mailings here at home suicide bombings against Israel and only last week, an armed attack on the Indian Parliament. The legislature of the world's largest democracy, a nation founded on the principles of freedom of speech, freedom of worship, was ruthlessly attacked. The terrorists killed eight innocent people. If their mission had succeeded, they would have kidnapped and killed many of India's elected representatives. Last week's attack was only the most recent terrorist assault on the institutions of Indian democracy. More than 30 people were killed in a car bombing of the State Legislative Assembly in Srinagar on October the 1st. These attacks on India's Parliament buildings remind us that, whatever grievances or causes the terrorists may cite, their real target is democracy and freedom. The United States condemns these terrorist attacks against India. And we extend our sympathies and friendship to the families of the murdered. American power will be used against all terrorists of global reach. So today I'm adding another terrorist organization to the list of those whose assets are blocked by my Executive order. Lashkar e Tayyiba is an extremist group based in Kashmir. LET is a stateless sponsor of terrorism, and it hopes to destroy relations between Pakistan and India and to undermine Pakistani President Musharraf. To achieve its purpose, LET has committed acts of terrorism inside both India and Pakistan. LET is a terrorist organization that presents a global threat. And I look forward to working with the Governments of both India and Pakistan in a common effort to shut it down and to bring the killers to justice. I'm optimistic about the future of our struggle against terror. I know we've accomplished a lot so far, and we've got a lot more to do. Over the past 100 days, we and our British allies and others in the coalition have destroyed at least 11 terrorist training camps inside Afghanistan, terrorist factories that produce thousands of trained operatives. We've also destroyed 39 Taliban command and control sites. Senior Al Qaida and Taliban officials have been captured or killed, and potential escape routes for the survivors are constantly being blocked to prevent the cowards from running. American, Australian, and German aid workers held hostage by the Taliban have been liberated. We've dropped some 2.5 million humanitarian rations to the hungry people inside Afghanistan. Our attack on terrorist finances is progressing. The assets of more than 150 known terrorists, their organizations, and their bankers have been frozen by the United States. One hundred forty two countries have issued freezing orders of their own. The result More than 33 million in terrorist assets have been blocked inside the United States more than 33 million more have been blocked abroad by our partners in the international coalition. At home, we've created a new Office of Homeland Security, under my friend Tom Ridge, and worked with Congress to provide more than 20 billion to safeguard our territory. New airline security legislation has been signed into law. Our law enforcement agencies are protecting our safety, while respecting the constitutional rights of our citizens. We listed the 22 most wanted foreign terrorists. We're reorganizing the INS so it can more effectively prevent the entry into the United States by those who want to threaten our national security. We arrested one of the murderers of the September 5, 1986, hijacking of Pan Am Flight 73, showing would be terrorists and current terrorists that we have a long memory, that we're patient, that if you think you can hide, we'll come and find you and bring you to justice. We made the first indictment against the terrorists, those murderers of September the 11th. We and our coalition have done much in the past 100 days. And with the help of freedom loving countries around the world, we will do much more to rid the world of evil and of terrorists. Thank you very much. Q. Mr. President, can you tell us where you are, sir, on your deliberations over John Walker, and have you ruled out a charge of treason? The President. I'm heading into the Oval Office. December 19, 2001 Gov. Mike Foster. And now, Chief, it's your turn. That's an intro. Laughter President Bush. I guess he meant Commander in Chief. Laughter Governor Foster. I just called you "Chief " you're big into nicknames. Laughter President Bush. Well, Governor, thanks for coming. You know, I always love Louisiana, and I love the people of Louisiana. And I always knew the people of Louisiana were a little different laughter in a good way. And you just showed the Nation why. So I want to welcome you all for coming. Thanks for being here, Mike, and it's good to see the first lady, too. Welcome to the White House, and welcome you all. This "Spirit of Louisiana" truck really does show the deep concern of the good folks of Louisiana. Everybody in our Nation realized on September 11th, we were all affected. They might have hit right around the corner here, and they might have hit in New York City, but it affected all of us. And the good people of Louisiana realize that. I particularly love this story, about how Ronnie decides to do something on behalf of the fellow citizens. So he gets on the phone and calls a local radio personality the Governor. Laughter And out of that came a huge volunteer effort in the State of Louisiana to provide help and aid to the good people of New York City. And I think the Americans need to understand that this is the kind of story that makes our country so unique and so different. It's a story that makes me so proud to be the President of such a great such great land. I want to thank Senator for coming thank you, Mary, for being here. I want to thank the two Congressmen for being here John and David, thank you all for coming. Welcome. I want to thank all the volunteers who worked on this project. I want to thank the firefighters and police officers from the State of Louisiana who've come. You obviously represent a noble profession and a profession that really knows no borders. And you're on your way to express your solidarity with people who fight fires. They may talk with a different accent, but they share the same dangers. And I appreciate you all coming, and I know people in New York City are really anxious to have you up there. One of the things I like to remind the enemy is, "You thought you were going to change America when you hit us you thought, by your actions and by your attacks, that somehow this Nation was so soft that we didn't know how to respond." And they're paying a terrible price for their miscalculation. We're making great progress in the first theater of this long war to rout terror where it may exist. I'm really proud of our military. I'm proud of the job they're doing. I'm proud of the fact that we've set a clear goal with certain objectives, and those objectives are being met. I know the Governor likes to hunt rabbits down in Louisiana. Sometimes those rabbits think they can hide from the Governor, but eventually, he smokes them out and gets them. And that's exactly what is happening to Mr. bin Laden and all the murderers that he's trying to hide in Afghanistan. But the other thing that the terrorist doesn't understand was how strong our the strength of America. They didn't understand that. And the strength of America is our citizens citizens who love each other citizens who are decent citizens who, when called upon, can respond to any adversity. And that's exactly what's happening here on the White House lawn today. People from all walks of life, all political parties, some of who probably have never been to New York City before, have said, "What can I do to help? How can I help somebody whose lives have been adversely affected by the evil ones?" And behind me sits the answer, one beautiful, well manufactured truck, made by an entrepreneur in Louisiana who asked his people to work overtime, and they did, to deliver it here today. I know I speak on behalf of all Americans Thank you for what you're doing. No, they roused a mighty nation. They roused a mighty nation, and we will not be stopped. We're not going to be stopped overseas, and we're sure not going to be stopped here at home. I hope every family here and all the folks who volunteered to make this happen have a wonderful holiday season. May God bless your families, and may God continue to bless America. Thank you for coming. December 17, 2001 The President. Welcome. It's good to see everybody. Thank you all for coming. We want to thank you for coming to the White House to celebrate Eid. It's so nice of you to be here. It reminds us how much we all have in common, how similar boys and girls are, no matter what their religion may be. So thanks for being here today. We're really thrilled you're here. Eid is a time of joy, after a season of fasting and prayer and reflection. Each year, the end of Ramadan means celebration and thanksgiving for millions of Americans. And your joy during this season enriches the life of our great country. This year, Eid is celebrated at the same time as Hanukkah and Advent. So it's a good time for people of these great faiths, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity, to remember how much we have in common devotion to family, a commitment to care for those in need, a belief in God and His justice, and the hope for peace on earth. We also share a custom I know all of you are excited about, and that's giving gifts to children. And after this is over, I have a little gift for you from the White House. This season is meant to be a time of rejoicing as well as a time of generosity. I'm proud that our country, during Eid, is helping the people of Afghanistan. And I'm proud that the children of America, through America's Fund for Afghan Children, are giving food and clothes and toys to the children of Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan have suffered so much, and we're committed to helping them in their time of hardship and in their time of need. These are challenging days for our Nation, but holidays like this one remind us about how much we have to be thankful for and that God delights in joy and generosity of men and women and children. People of every faith are welcome here in the people's house. People of every background are welcome to come here to the White House. I want to thank you all for coming, and I'd like to go read if you don't mind, read from a book to you. Is that okay? How about that? Let's go do that, and then we'll go back over here. We've got a special gift for you. At this point, the President read a poem entitled "Good Deeds." The President. Thank you all for coming. We're getting ready to leave. I may answer a few questions if you have some. Stretch, Richard Keil, Bloomberg News and then Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Usama bin Laden Q. Mr. President, have you with the campaign against the Taliban winding down to a very small area of Afghanistan, will you consider this operation a success if Usama bin Laden is at large? The President. Usama bin Laden is going to be brought to justice. It may happen tomorrow it may happen in a month it may happen in a year. But he is going to be brought to justice. He's on the run. He thinks he can hide, but he can't. We've been at this operation now for about 2 1 2 months, and we've made incredible progress. And one of the objectives I've said, in this theater, in all theaters for that matter, is that we want Al Qaida killers brought to justice. And we'll bring him to justice. Q. What do you know, sir, about whether he's still in Afghanistan? And have you spoken to the Pakistani Government about helping you to track him down if, in fact, he has fled across the border? The President. Well, the Pakistanis will help us, and they are helping us look for not only one Usama bin Laden, but for all Al Qaida murderers and killers. They will be brought to justice. And it's just a matter of time, as far as I'm concerned. We've got all kinds of reports that he's in a cave, that he's not in a cave, that he's escaped, that he hasn't escaped. And there's all kinds of speculation. But when the dust clears, we'll find out where he is, and he'll be brought to justice. Q. Will you order a military tribunal for him? The President. You know, one thing at a time, Ron. I do have the option of military tribunals, because I think it's going to be a way to protect national security matters. But I'll make that judgment when we bring him to justice. Anthrax Attacks Q. On another matter, sir, have investigators concluded the anthrax used in the mailings have a domestic source? Are you looking for The President. Well, we're still looking on that. We've all got different feelings about it. I and we're gathering as much information. And as soon as we make definitive conclusions, we'll share it with the American people. Counterterrorism Efforts Q. Inaudible what the next steps might be in fighting terrorism in other countries or regions? The President. Yes, we're looking. I mean, any time there is somebody harboring a killer or a terrorist, we will work with them to bring those people to justice. And one of the things I won't do, of course, is tell the enemy what our next move will be. I'm working to build to keep our coalition strong. Colin Powell and myself and others in the administration are constantly talking to world leaders to encourage them to cut off money or disrupt killer cells that might be hiding in their countries. We've made great progress. We've arrested over I think it's over 300 now. We're beginning to shut down financial institutions around the world. Not every operation needs to be a military operation to be successful against the terrorist networks. And I'm pleased to tell you that the coalition is working cooperatively. And we're sharing a lot of intelligence between nations, and it's having effect. Q. So might Iraq be next, probably? The President. Oh, no, I'm not going to tell the enemy what's next. They just need to know that so long as they plan, and have got plans to murder innocent people, America will be breathing down their neck. John Walker Lindh Q. Mr. President, what are you learning about John Walker's involvement in the Taliban or Al Qaida, and should he face the death penalty if he's found to be a The President. I'm going to let the appropriate law enforcement agencies make recommendations to me. He has been questioned, properly questioned by the U.S. Government. I have yet to see the transcript myself. But we'll make the decision on what to do with Mr. Walker. He is a U.S. citizen. Obviously, I've said that U.S. citizens will not go into military tribunals. And so we'll make the determination whether or not he stays within the military system or comes into the civil justice system, the civil system in America. Thank you all. Let's go in here. December 15, 2001 Good morning. As too many Americans know firsthand, the economy began to slow early last year, and terrorism has hit us hard. Many workers have lost jobs, and others are seeing their hours cut. The American people want action to improve our economy, and so do I. More than 2 months, and more than 700,000 lost jobs ago, I proposed an economic security package to help workers who have been laid off and to take action to create jobs and promote long term economic growth. The House of Representatives quickly responded, passing its own legislation to help jumpstart the economy. The Senate has failed to act. And while the Senate has failed to do its work, more and more Americans have been thrown out of work. To break the logjam in the Senate, I reached out this week to moderate Democrats and Republicans to build a consensus that gave both parties some of what they want and, most important, will give our economy the boost it needs. This bipartisan package will give workers who have lost a job since the recession began last March an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits. It will also help unemployed workers keep their health insurance and will give Governors greater resources and more flexibility to assist those in need. These new bipartisan measures help working families who are struggling to make ends meet, giving up to 600 cash refund to low income families who don't earn enough to pay income tax but still pay part of their income in payroll taxes. And this plan helps middle class families, couples earning approximately 60,000, and individuals earning 40,000 by speeding up planned tax relief for them, as well. This installment of tax relief was scheduled for 2004. Under this new idea, many middle class families will see a rise in their take home pay in just a couple of weeks. And finally, this agreement will create jobs. Among other steps, it gives employers incentives to invest in new equipment right away. It lowers the tax rate for 10 million small businesses and entrepreneurs, making it easier for them to expand and grow and hire new workers. It focuses on other policies that will also increase investment and produce new jobs. This economic growth package is urgently needed. Today the Federal Government's Council of Economic Advisers released a report that estimates the bipartisan agreement reached this week can save 300,000 American jobs that might otherwise be lost if we fail to act. Democrats and Republicans set aside partisan politics to arrive at this agreement. They want to get something done for America's workers. We believe this agreement has enough votes to be approved by the United States Senate, and I'm ready to sign it into law. But first the Senate leader must schedule a vote. On behalf of the American workers and our American economy, I call on the leadership of the Senate to bring this bipartisan economic recovery plan to a vote, to bring help to unemployed workers and a crucial boost to our economy. The holidays are upon us, and time is running out. While some in Washington are looking for reasons not to act, many in Congress in both parties want to find a way to get the job done. America's workers are counting on us. Thank you for listening. December 14, 2001 The President. I want to welcome the Prime Minister of our longtime friend Thailand to the Oval Office. Mr. Prime Minister, thank you so much for being here. Prime Minister Thaksin. Thank you, Mr. President. The President. This is not the first time I've had a chance to have a meaningful discussion with the Prime Minister. We sat next to each other in Shanghai, and we had a couple of hours worth of very substantive discussions about our relationships, about our mutual concerns, about our desire to work closely together on a variety of fronts. The Prime Minister has assured me and this visit is further confirmation that our longtime friend will be a steady ally in the fight against terror. Mr. Prime Minister, I thank you for that. And secondly, today our Secretary of State and the Foreign Minister of his government are going to work on a framework for economic cooperation which will be completed. And it's further evidence that this relationship is a strong, strong relationship. And so, Mr. Prime Minister, I'm so thrilled you are here, and welcome to the Oval Office. Prime Minister Thaksin. Thank you, Mr. President. Thailand and the U.S. has been treaty allies since 1833. This is very right for me to visit and giving full support to U.S., which is our very long ally. And it's very right for me to discuss war against terrorism and also economic issues that we should further enhance the cooperation among our two countries. The President. Thank you. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters what we're going to do is two questions from the American press, two questions from our visitors, if there are any. Steve. Usama bin Laden Q. Sir, what do you expect Americans to get out of the bin Laden tape? And what do you say to some of the Islamic world who contend it's a farce or a fake? The President. Well, for those who contend it's a farce or a fake are hoping for the best about an evil man. I mean, this is bin Laden unedited. This is bin Laden the bin Laden who has murdered people. This is the man who sent innocent people to their death by this is a man who is so devious and so coldhearted that he laughs about the suicide so called suicide bombers that lost their lives. It is preposterous for anybody to think that this tape is doctored. That's just a feeble excuse to provide weak support for an incredibly evil man. And you know, I had mixed emotions about this tape because there's a lot of people who suffered as a result of his evil. And I was hesitant to allow there to be a vivid reminder of their loss and tragedy displayed on our TVs. On the other hand, I knew that it would be that the tape would be a devastating declaration of guilt for this evil person. Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Q. Sir, two things. Is Usama bin Laden cornered? And when you weigh the pros and cons of either option, would you rather take him alive so you can question him or dead so you don't have to deal with him? The President. I don't care. Dead or alive, either way. I mean, I it doesn't matter to me. Secondly, I don't know whether we're going to get him tomorrow, or a month from now, or a year from now. I really don't know. But we're going to get him. And I the American people must understand that I have no timetable in mind. There's no I don't have a calendar that I say, "Well, gosh, if he's not gotten by this certain moment, then I'll be disappointed," because I am pleased with the progress that we're making in Afghanistan. I mean, there is no such thing as a Taliban. We have liberated, literally liberated village after village from incredible barbaric behavior toward women and children. I think one of the joyous parts of this war, if there is such a thing as a joyous part of a war, is to see the is to see what it means for our country and our alliance to free people. We're achieving a lot of our objectives, but we're chasing a person, obviously, who is willing to send suicide bombers, on the one hand, and hide in a cave somebody who is encourages young people to go kill themselves, and he, himself, refuses to stand and fight. And so he may hide for a while, but we'll get him. Anybody care to talk to the Prime Minister? Situation in the Middle East Q. I'll ask one. Mr. President, do you see any signs of hope or progress in stopping the killing in the Middle East? And do you believe that Israel has been justified in its retaliatory actions against the Palestinian leadership and in the Prime Minister's decision to cut off contacts with Chairman Arafat? The President. First, let me talk about Chairman Arafat. Chairman Arafat has said that he intends to fight terror and to bring those to justice who are killing murderers in the Middle East, and now is his time to perform. The world expects Chairman Arafat to lead, and so do I. And I will continue to work with our friends and allies to make it to talk to Mr. Arafat in very blunt terms. And that is, if you want to achieve the Mitchell if you want to get in the Mitchell process, if you want there to be a peace, you must do everything in your power you must use your security forces to bring to justice those who murder to keep peace from happening. The world has now seen that there are killers and murderers around the world and in the Middle East that are not interested in peace. Our Government strongly desires peace. We have sent emissaries throughout my administration to work to get a secure enough environment to get into the Mitchell process. We still have a man in place, General Zinni, working to get there to be some kind of security arrangements so we could possibly get into Mitchell. But so long as there's killers and people who would derail the peace process by murdering others, it's going to be very difficult to do. I will continue to make peace in the Middle East a priority, and it starts with routing out terror wherever it exists. Listen, thank you all very much. Have a great weekend. December 14, 2001 Thank you all very much. It's an honor to be here. Let me first say, we're winning. We've got a new war, and I want you to know your Government is doing everything we can to defeat those who hate freedom. We will defeat them abroad, thanks to a fabulous military. We are patient. We're relentless, because our cause is just, and it is noble. Plus we're doing everything we can at home to prevent the enemy from hitting us again. There's another war at home, too, and that's to win the war against the scourge of drugs. I'm so glad it's an honor to be introduced by America's new Director of National Drug Policy Council. John Walters brings a passionate concern and a strong background to the fight against drugs. In the late 1980s, he was one of the architects of the Federal Government's most successful antidrug policies. And he'll lead our administration's effort with determination and intelligence, with resolve and moral clarity. I am proud to have John as a member of my Cabinet. And I'm honored to speak to the Community Anti Drug Coalitions of America. I want to thank you all for being here. You're a part of America's armies of compassion, examples of service and citizenship. You restore hope to lives and safety to neighborhoods. All Americans admire your dedication. And the bill that I will soon sign will strengthen your work. We share an important commitment For the sake of our children and for the good of our Nation, we will reduce drug use in America. I want to thank General Art Dean for being the CEO of this important group of soldiers in the armies of compassion. I want to thank the three Members of the United States Congress who stand up here with me today, leaders in this important effort, not only leaders in Washington but, as you'll soon hear, leaders in the communities in which they live. Thank you so much for being here. Drug use threatens everything everything that is best about our country. It breaks the bonds between parents and children. It turns productive citizens into addicts. It transforms schools into places of violence and chaos. It makes playgrounds into crime scenes. It supports gangs here at home. And abroad, it's so important for Americans to know that the traffic in drugs finances the work of terror, sustaining terrorists terrorists use drug profits to fund their cells to commit acts of murder. If you quit drugs, you join the fight against terror in America. And above all, we must reduce drug use for one great moral reason Over time, drugs rob men, women, and children of their dignity and of their character. Illegal drugs are the enemies of ambition and hope. And when we fight against drugs, we fight for the souls of our fellow Americans. And in this struggle, we know what works. We must aggressively and unabashedly teach our children the dangers of drugs. We must aggressively treat addiction wherever we find it. And we must aggressively enforce the laws against drugs at our borders and in our communities. America cannot pick and choose between these goals. All are necessary if any are to be effective. And my administration will pursue these goals with energy and focus and strong commitment. It's important for the future of this country that we do so. This comprehensive approach has been tried before, and it's worked. From the mid eighties to the early nineties, drug use amongst high school seniors was reduced each and every year. Progress was steady and, over time, dramatic. Yet recently, we've lost ground in this important battle. According to the most recent data, the percentage of 12th graders using an illicit drug in the previous month rose from less than 15 percent in 1992 to about 25 percent in the year 2000. Over the same period, the percentage of 10th graders using an illicit drug in the previous month rose from 11 percent to more than 22 percent. Marijuana use amongst eighth graders rose, while their perceptions of the dangers of marijuana use fell. There was a similar decrease in the perception of risk involved with LSD and powder and crack cocaine. Behind these numbers are countless personal tragedies, and my administration will not be indifferent to them. We must return the fight against drugs to the center of our national agenda. And as we win this fight, America will be a more hopeful place. And as we battle against a major, significant problem in America and show progress, this country's promise will be more available to more of our citizens. It's a national imperative that we win. And I understand that you all are amongst the most important allies we have to achieve this goal. You've got a track record of success. You sponsor drug education programs and youth summits and parent training courses. You support drug intervention programs and foster great counseling services. You're helping to build a culture of responsibility, one that respects the law, one that teaches our children right from wrong, and one that strengthens our commitments to our fellow citizens. In Troy, Michigan, the Troy Community Coalition for the Prevention of Drug and Alcohol Abuse is building leadership skills to help teens to say no to drugs and alcohol. As a result, alcohol use among high schoolers has declined in dramatic fashion. I want to thank Sandy Levin, the Congressman from the great State of Michigan, who is on the stage with us, for helping lead that effort. And I want to thank the good people from Troy, Michigan, for standing up and doing what's right for your community. I'm particularly proud that the coalition's leader, Mary Ann Solberg, has agreed to join John Walters as the Deputy Director of the National Drug Control Policy. Now that you have your uniform on, go get them. Laughter Also on the stage with us is Congressman Rob Portman, who is the President of the Coalition for a Drug Free Greater Cincinnati, a winner of CADCA's Outstanding Coalition Award. I understand this program well because I saw it first hand in Cincinnati. I want to thank Rob for his leadership. I appreciate this coalition's practical approach, by providing tips to parents on how to deal with drug use, provide financial incentives to businesses that have drug free workplace programs. And the most aggressive antidrug media campaign is in Cincinnati, for a market its size. The result is that for the first time in a decade, teen drug use in greater Cincinnati is beginning to level off. They're making great progress in that important city. It goes to show what happens when our Nation invigorates the grassroots to deal with a problem that we must solve, early, before it is too late. And also on this stage is the fine United States Senator from the State of Iowa, Chuck Grassley. He's worked with the people of Iowa to begin what they call the Face It Together Coalition, the first ever statewide antidrug coalition led by a United States Senator. The coalition has a comprehensive workplace drug education program. It works with coalitions around the State for best practices for communitybased antidrug efforts. It conducts workshops to train faith based leaders on effective drug prevention strategies. Senator Grassley, I appreciate you taking the lead. It's a hard job being a Senator, but it's easy to forget the community responsibilities when you get elected to such a high office as Senator. And yet this Senator never forgot where he came from. This Senator asked a question, "What can I do?" just like you asked that question, "What can I do?" to improve the lives of the citizens of a State he so dearly loves. And he chose to fight, stand side by side with the good citizens of Iowa to fight drug use. And Mr. Senator, thank you for your leadership. I'm so happy to be able to sign an important piece of legislation in your presence. The bill I sign today increases the total amount of funds authorized for programs like the ones we just described, from more than 50 million a year in the current fiscal year to nearly 100 million by the year 2007. It allows coalitions to reapply for grants even after 5 years, as long applause make sure you meet your matching fund requirement. Laughter It instructs Director Walters to focus the greatest resources on areas of the greatest needs, by giving priority to coalitions that serve economically disadvantaged neighborhoods. The reauthorization bill creates a new class of grants that will help established coalitions assist new ones, assist new folks on how to battle this scourge called drug use. And the bill creates a National Community Antidrug Coalition Institute to provide education and training and technical assistance to coalitions all throughout our country. There are other steps we must take. Many of you are working with faith based institutions, because you've seen the power of faith to transform lives. Last month, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, led by Joe Califano, released a report on substance abuse, religion, and spirituality. The report found that "religion and spirituality can play a powerful role in the prevention and treatment of substance abuse and on the maintenance of sobriety." My armies of compassion legislation will provide support to faith based institutions working to prevent and treat drug abuse. The House passed this legislation. I urge the Senate to do so. This Nation must not fear faith based programs we must welcome them. We must welcome anybody who is willing to join in this important goal and in this important cause. We've got a responsibility here in Washington to lead the fight against drug abuse. But we understand here that one of the best ways to do so is to support the people in the neighborhoods, on the streets, the community coalitions which are truly the frontline in our battle to save people's lives. You've devoted your lives to the well being of others, and for this I'm incredibly grateful. On behalf of all Americans, thank you for your compassion thank you for your concern thank you for your love for your country and your fellow human being. And now it is my honor to invite Director Walters and General Dean, along with the sponsors of this important piece of legislation, to join me as I sign this bill. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. December 13, 2001 Good morning. I've just concluded a meeting of my National Security Council. We reviewed what I discussed with my friend President Vladimir Putin over the course of many meetings, many months. And that is the need for America to move beyond the 1972 Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty. Today I have given formal notice to Russia, in accordance with the treaty, that the United States of America is withdrawing from this almost 30 year old treaty. I have concluded the ABM Treaty hinders our Government's ability to develop ways to protect our people from future terrorist or rogue state missile attacks. The 1972 ABM Treaty was signed by the United States and the Soviet Union at a much different time, in a vastly different world. One of the signatories, the Soviet Union, no longer exists, and neither does the hostility that once led both our countries to keep thousands of nuclear weapons on hair trigger alert, pointed at each other. The grim theory was that neither side would launch a nuclear attack because it knew the other would respond, thereby destroying both. Today, as the events of September the 11th made all too clear, the greatest threats to both our countries come not from each other or other big powers in the world but from terrorists who strike without warning or rogue states who seek weapons of mass destruction. We know that the terrorists and some of those who support them seek the ability to deliver death and destruction to our doorstep via missile. And we must have the freedom and the flexibility to develop effective defenses against those attacks. Defending the American people is my highest priority as Commander in Chief, and I cannot and will not allow the United States to remain in a treaty that prevents us from developing effective defenses. At the same time, the United States and Russia have developed a new, much more hopeful and constructive relationship. We are moving to replace mutually assured destruction with mutual cooperation. Beginning in Ljubljana and continuing in meetings in Genoa, Shanghai, Washington, and Crawford, President Putin and I developed common ground for a new strategic relationship. Russia is in the midst of a transition to free markets and democracy. We are committed to forging strong economic ties between Russia and the United States and new bonds between Russia and our partners in NATO. NATO has made clear its desire to identify and pursue opportunities for joint action at 20. I look forward to visiting Moscow to continue our discussions as we seek a formal way to express a new strategic relationship that will last long beyond our individual administrations, providing a foundation for peace for the years to come. We're already working closely together as the world rallies in the war against terrorism. I appreciate so much President Putin's important advice and cooperation as we fight to dismantle the Al Qaida network in Afghanistan. I appreciate his commitment to reduce Russia's offensive nuclear weapons. I reiterate our pledge to reduce our own nuclear arsenal between 1,700 and 2,200 operationally deployed strategic nuclear weapons. President Putin and I have also agreed that my decision to withdraw from the treaty will not, in any way, undermine our new relationship or Russian security. As President Putin said in Crawford, we are on the path to a fundamentally different relationship. The cold war is long gone. Today we leave behind one of its last vestiges. But this is not a day for looking back. This is a day for looking forward with hope and anticipation of greater prosperity and peace for Russians, for Americans, and for the entire world. Thank you. December 13, 2001 The President. We were looking for a little entertainment for tonight's Christmas party laughter but we didn't find it. Laughter I want to welcome the mighty Diamondbacks to the White House. It didn't take you long to get here. I'm developing a severe case of trophy envy. Laughter We were lucky to get out of last place with the Rangers, and here you are thanks, in part, to you. But I do want to congratulate you all. First, let me say welcome to the Arizona delegation. I'm glad to see the Senator and Members of the United States Congress here. Thank you all for coming. It's an amazing year, obviously, for our country. And the World Series couldn't have come at a better time. It gave the American people a chance to think about something other than the war. And what a fabulous World Series it was. I want to thank I want to congratulate Bob Brenly, rookie of the year. Laughter What a great job he did. Laughter I still think I remember meeting you after throwing out that ball. I was about 5 feet off the ground I went with kind of a rising slider. Laughter But it was an amazing experience, and Bob was there with Joe Torre. And I really felt proud to be an American at that moment. I know the players did, as well. I want to congratulate the vice president and general manager, Joe Garagiola, Jr. I'm always suspicious of guys who's got a famous father. Laughter And Rich Dozer and of course, Jerry, I want to congratulate you and the ownership group and all the great players. The players gave us a fabulous Series. I can't think of a better way to end a World Series, particularly in a time of national need, than in the bottom of the ninth, in the seventh game everybody watching in the country, people cheering one way or the other, such joy and jubilation. So I want to thank the players. I also particularly want to thank the players for going to Ground Zero. I know Matt Williams' quote was one that caught my attention, when he said, "We're glad to get a chance to shake the hands and talk to some of the true American heroes." It really meant a lot to the people of New York to see the Diamondbacks, kind of the foe of the mighty Yankees, go to Ground Zero and to thank those people whose lives were hurting a lot, people who had spent enormous amounts of energy trying to rescue a fallen brother or sister because of what the enemy had done. And I really want to thank you all for doing that. It was a true class act not only a great baseball team but you're obviously a group of really fine human beings. And for that the Nation is grateful, and thank you. God bless the players here and their families. It's a fabulous time of year, as you can see. The White House is just majestic in its beauty. It's a special honor to be the President of the United States at any time. It's especially a special honor to be at a time when our Nation is bound together for a common cause, and that's to fight and win the war against terror. So welcome to the White House, congratulations, and may God bless you all. At this point, Jerry Colangelo, Arizona Diamondbacks chairman and chief executive officer, made brief remarks, and pitchers Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson presented the President with a gift. The President. Thanks. You can just stay down there, and I'll stand here laughter kind of like the jockey. Laughter Curt, thanks I love the relationship you have with your son. Inaudible Thank you all. December 12, 2001 Thank you all. For several years, the people of Afghanistan have suffered under one of the most brutal regimes brutal regimes in modern history, a regime allied with terrorists and a regime at war with women. Thanks to our military and our allies and the brave fighters of Afghanistan, the Taliban regime is coming to an end. Yet, our responsibilities to the people of Afghanistan have not ended. We work for a new era of human rights and human dignity in that country. The agreement reached in Bonn last week means that in 10 days the international community will have a new partner, an interim government of a new Afghanistan. We join those in the interim government who seek education and better health for every Afghan woman and child. And today, with the Afghan Women and Children Relief Act, we take an important step toward that goal. I want to thank Laura for her introduction, and I want to thank her for her steadiness during this crisis. I want to thank Farida for her courage. I want to thank the Members of the House and the Senate who sponsored this piece of legislation, and all the Members of Congress who are here today. I want to thank Sima Wali, who is the president and CEO of Refugee Women in Development, a key advocate for women's rights at the conference of Bonn negotiations last week. I thank the members of my Cabinet who are here, Secretary Veneman and Administrator Whitman, thank you all for being here. I want to thank the Ambassadors who are here representing the diplomatic corps. Thank you all for coming. And I also want to thank Billie Holladay for opening up this beautiful museum for all of us to come and celebrate this important piece of legislation. America is beginning to realize that the dreams of the terrorists and the Taliban were a waking nightmare for Afghan women and their children. The Taliban murdered teenagers for laughing in the presence of soldiers. They jailed children as young as 10 years old and tortured them for supposed crimes of their parents. Afghan women were banned from speaking or laughing loudly. They were banned from riding bicycles or attending school. They were denied basic health care and were killed on suspicion of adultery. One news magazine reports, "It's hard to find a woman in Kabul who does not remember a beating at the hands of the Taliban." In Afghanistan, America not only fights for our security, but we fight for the values we hold dear. We strongly reject the Taliban way. We strongly reject their brutality toward women and children. They not only violate basic human rights they're barbaric in their indefensible meting of justice. It's wrong. Their attitude is wrong for any culture. Their attitude is wrong for any religion. You know, life in Afghanistan wasn't always this way. Before the Taliban came, women played an incredibly important part of that society. Seventy percent of the nation's teachers were women. Half of the government workers in Afghanistan were women, and 40 percent of the doctors in the capital of Kabul were women. The Taliban destroyed that progress, and in the process, they offered us a clear image of the world they and the terrorists would like to impose on the rest of us. The central goal of the terrorists is the brutal oppression of women, and not only the women of Afghanistan. The terrorists who help rule Afghanistan are found in dozens and dozens of countries around the world. And that is the reason this great Nation, with our friends and allies, will not rest until we bring them all to justice. America is so proud of our military and our allies, because like the rest of us here, we've seen the pictures of joy when we liberated city after city in Afghanistan. And none of us will ever forget the laughter and the music and the cheering and the clapping at a stadium that was once used for public execution. Children now fly kites, and they play games. Women now come out of their homes from house arrest, able to walk the streets without chaperons. "It feels like we've all been released from prison," said one young person in Kabul, "that the whole of Afghanistan has been released from prison." This is an important achievement. Yet, a liberated Afghanistan must now be rebuilt so that it will never again practice terror at home or abroad. This work begins by ensuring the essential rights of all Afghans. This week is Human Rights Week, when we celebrate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights more than a century ago a half century ago. The preamble to that document declares that the people of the world reaffirm their "faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, and in equal rights of men and women." This is a great goal, and that's why I'm so pleased that Afghanistan's new government will respect the rights of all people, women and men. America and our allies will do our part in the rebuilding of Afghanistan. We learned our lessons from the past. We will not leave until the mission is complete. We will work with international institutions on long term development on the long term development of Afghanistan. We will provide immediate humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. After years of civil war and misrule by the Taliban, this is going to be an incredibly difficult winter in Afghanistan. We're doing what we can to help alleviate the suffering. In the month of November, the United Nations World Food Program, with our strong support, provided enough supplies to feed 4.3 million Afghans. And the Defense Department will continue to make sure that food is delivered in remote regions of that impoverished, poor, starving country. The bill I sign today extends and strengthens our efforts. The Afghan Women and Children Relief Act commits the United States to providing education and medical assistance to Afghan women and children and to Afghan refugees in surrounding countries. The overwhelming support for this legislation sends a clear message As we drive out the Taliban and the terrorists, we are determined to lift up the people of Afghanistan. The women and children of Afghanistan have suffered enough. This great Nation will work hard to bring them hope and help. To the bill's sponsors, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You show the true compassion of this great land. May God bless the women and children of Afghanistan. December 11, 2001 A great writer has said that the struggle of humanity against tyranny is the struggle of memory against forgetting. When we fight terror, we fight tyranny, and so we remember. We remember the perfect blueness of the sky that Tuesday morning. We remember the children traveling without their mothers when the planes were hijacked. We remember the cruelty of the murderers and the pain and anguish of the murdered. Every one of the innocents who died on September the 11th was the most important person on Earth to somebody. Every death extinguished a world. We remember the courage of the rescue workers and the outpouring of friendship and sympathy from nations around the world. We remember how we felt that day our sadness, the surge of love for our country, our anger, and our determination to right this huge wrong. Today, the wrong is being righted, and justice is being done. We still have far to go, and many dangers lie ahead. Yet, there can be no doubt how this conflict will end. Our enemies have made the mistake that America's enemies always make. They saw liberty and thought they saw weakness, and now they see defeat. In time, this war will end, but our remembrance never will. All around this beautiful city are statues of our heroes, memorials, museums, and archives that preserve our national experience, our achievements and our failures, our defeats and our victories. This Republic is young, but its memory is long. Now we have inscribed a new memory alongside those others. It's a memory of tragedy and shock, of loss and mourning but not only of loss and mourning. It's also a memory of bravery and selfsacrifice and the love that lays down its life for a friend, even a friend whose name it never knew. We are privileged to have with us today the families of many of the heroes on September the 11th, including the family of Jeremy Glick of Flight 93. His courage and self sacrifice may have saved the White House. It is right and fitting that it is here we pay our respects. In time, perhaps, we will mark the memory of September the 11th in stone and metal, something we can show children as yet unborn to help them understand what happened on this minute and on this day. But for those of us who lived through these events, the only marker we'll ever need is the tick of a clock at the 46th minute of the 8th hour of the 11th day. We will remember where we were and how we felt. We will remember the dead and what we owe them. We will remember what we lost and what we found. And in our time, we will honor the memory of the 11th day by doing our duty as citizens of this great country, freedom's home and freedom's defender. God bless. December 11, 2001 Thank you all very much. Please be seated. Thank you for that warm welcome. I'm glad to be back here at the Citadel. I have come to talk about the future security of our country, in a place where I took up this subject 2 years ago as candidate for President. In September 1999 I said here at the Citadel that America was entering a period of consequences that would be defined by the threat of terror and that we faced a challenge of military transformation. That threat has now revealed itself, and that challenge is now the military and moral necessity of our time. So today I will set forth the commitments essential to victory in our war against terror. I want to thank Major General John Grinalds for his hospitality. I want to thank the Citadel Board of Visitors, the staff, and the faculty. I understand the Governor is here. And I know my friends the Lieutenant Governor, the speaker, and the attorney general are here, and it was great to have seen them at the airport. I thank my friend Adjutant General Stan Spears for being here. I'm grateful that Senator Hollings and members of the South Carolina congressional delegation flew down on Air Force One. I only wish that the senior Senator was on the airplane so I could have wished him a happy 99th birthday. But most of all most of all I want to say how much I appreciate being in the presence of some of America's finest, the South Carolina Corps of Cadets of Citadel. Four days ago, I joined the men and women of the U.S.S. Enterprise to mark the 60th anniversary of Pearl Harbor. December 7th, 1941, was a decisive day that changed our Nation forever. In a single moment, America's "splendid isolation" was ended. And the 4 years that followed transformed the American way of war. The age of battleships gave way to the offensive capability of aircraft carriers. The tank, once used only to protect infantry, now served to cut through enemy lines. At Guadalcanal and Normandy and Iwo Jima, amphibious warfare proved its worth. And by war's end, no one would ever again doubt the value of strategic air power. Even more importantly, an American President and his successors shaped a world beyond a war. They rebuilt Europe with the Marshall plan, formed a great alliance for freedom in NATO, and expressed the hope of collective security in the United Nations. America took the lead, becoming freedom's defender and assuming responsibilities that only we could bear. September the 11th, 2001 3 months and a long time ago set another dividing line in our lives and in the life of our Nation. An illusion of immunity was shattered. A faraway evil became a present danger. And a great cause became clear We will fight terror and those who sponsor it, to save our children from a future of fear. To win this war, we have to think differently. The enemy who appeared on September the 11th seeks to evade our strength and constantly searches for our weaknesses. So America is required once again to change the way our military thinks and fights. And starting on October 7th, the enemy in Afghanistan got the first glimpses of a new American military that cannot and will not be evaded. When I committed U.S. forces to this battle, I had every confidence that they would be up to the task, and they have proven me right. The Taliban and the terrorists set out to dominate a country and intimidate the world. Today, from their caves, it's all looking a little different. And no cave is deep enough to escape the patient justice of the United States of America. We are also beginning to see the possibilities of a world beyond the war on terror. We have a chance, if we take it, to write a hopeful chapter in human history. All at once, a new threat to civilization is erasing old lines of rivalry and resentment between nations. Russia and America are building a new cooperative relationship. India and the United States are increasingly aligned across a range of issues, even as we work closely with Pakistan. Germany and Japan are assuming new military roles appropriate to their status as great democracies. The vast majority of countries are now on the same side of a moral and ideological divide. We're making common cause with every nation that chooses lawful change over chaotic violence, every nation that values peace and safety and innocent life. Staring across this divide are bands of murderers supported by outlaw regimes. They are a movement defined by their hatreds. They hate progress and freedom and choice and culture and music and laughter and women and Christians and Jews and all Muslims who reject their distorted doctrines. They love only one thing They love power, and when they have it, they use it without mercy. The great threat to civilization is not that the terrorists will inspire millions only the terrorists themselves would want to live in their brutal and joyless world. The great threat to civilization is that a few evil men will multiply their murders and gain the means to kill on a scale equal to their hatred. We know they have this mad intent, and we're determined to stop them. Our lives, our way of life, and our every hope for the world depend on a single commitment The authors of mass murder must be defeated and never allowed to gain or use the weapons of mass destruction. America and our friends will meet this threat with every method at our disposal. We will discover and destroy sleeper cells. We will track terrorist movements, trace their communications, disrupt their funding, and take their network apart piece by piece. Above all, we're acting to end the state sponsorship of terror. Rogue states are clearly the most likely sources of chemical and biological and nuclear weapons for terrorists. Every nation now knows that we cannot accept and we will not accept states that harbor, finance, train, or equip the agents of terror. Those nations that violate this principle will be regarded as hostile regimes. They have been warned. They are being watched, and they will be held to account. Preventing mass terror will be the responsibilities of Presidents far into the future. And this obligation sets three urgent and enduring priorities for America. The first priority is to speed the transformation of our military. When the cold war ended, some predicted that the era of direct threats to our Nation was over. Some thought our military would be used overseas not to win wars but mainly to police and pacify, to control crowds and contain ethnic conflict. They were wrong. While the threats to America have changed, the need for victory has not. We are fighting shadowy, entrenched enemies, enemies using the tools of terror and guerrilla war. Yet we are finding new tactics and new weapons to attack and defeat them. This revolution in our military is only beginning, and it promises to change the face of battle. Afghanistan has been a proving ground for this new approach. These past 2 months have shown that an innovative doctrine and high tech weaponry can shape and then dominate an unconventional conflict. The brave men and women of our military are rewriting the rules of war with new technologies and old values like courage and honor, and they have made this Nation proud. Our commanders are gaining a real time picture of the entire battlefield and are able to get targeting information from sensor to shooter almost instantly. Our intelligence professionals and special forces have cooperated in battle friendly with battlefriendly Afghan forces, fighters who know the terrain, who know the Taliban, and who understand the local culture. And our special forces have the technology to call in precision airstrikes, along with the flexibility to direct those strikes from horseback, in the first cavalry charge of the 21st century. This combination real time intelligence, local allied forces, special forces, and precision air power has really never been used before. The conflict in Afghanistan has taught us more about the future of our military than a decade of blue ribbon panels and think tank symposiums. The Predator is a good example. This unmanned aerial vehicle is able to circle over enemy forces, gather intelligence, transmit information instantly back to commanders, then fire on targets with extreme accuracy. Before the war, the Predator had skeptics because it did not fit the old ways. Now it is clear the military does not have enough unmanned vehicles. We're entering an era in which unmanned vehicles of all kinds will take on greater importance in space, on land, in the air, and at sea. Precision guided munitions also offer great promise. In the Gulf war, these weapons were the exception while in Afghanistan, they have been the majority of the munitions we have used. We're striking with greater effectiveness, at greater range, with fewer civilian casualties. More and more, our weapons can hit moving targets. When all of our military can continuously locate and track moving targets with surveillance from air and space, warfare will be truly revolutionized. The need for military transformation was clear before the conflict in Afghanistan and before September the 11th. Here at the Citadel in 1999, I spoke of keeping the peace by redefining war on our terms. The same recommendation was made in the strategic review that Secretary Rumsfeld briefed me on last August, a review that I fully endorse. What's different today is our sense of urgency, the need to build this future force while fighting a present war. It's like overhauling an engine while you're going at 80 miles an hour. Yet we have no other choice. Our military has a new and essential mission. For states that support terror, it's not enough that the consequences be costly they must be devastating. The more credible this reality, the more likely that regimes will change their behavior, making it less likely that America and our friends will need to use overwhelming force against them. To build our future force, the armed services must continue to attract America's best people with good pay and good living conditions. Our military culture must reward new thinking, innovation, and experimentation. Congress must give defense leaders the freedom to innovate, instead of micromanaging the Defense Department. And every service and every constituency of our military must be willing to sacrifice some of their own pet projects. Our war on terror cannot be used to justify obsolete bases, obsolete programs, or obsolete weapon systems. Every dollar of defense spending must meet a single test It must help us build the decisive power we will need to win the wars of the future. Our country is united in supporting a great cause and in supporting those who fight for it. We will give our men and women in uniform every resource, every weapon, every tool they need to win the long battle that lies ahead. America's next priority to prevent mass terror is to protect against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the means to deliver them. I wish I could report to the American people that this threat does not exist, that our enemy is content with car bombs and box cutters, but I cannot. One former Al Qaida member has testified in court that he was involved in an effort 10 years ago to obtain nuclear materials. And the leader of Al Qaida calls that effort a religious duty. Abandoned Al Qaida houses in Kabul contained diagrams for crude weapons of mass destruction. And as we all know, terrorists have put anthrax into the U.S. mail and used sarin gas in a Tokyo subway. And almost every state that actively sponsors terror is known to be seeking weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them at longer and longer ranges. Their hope is to blackmail the United States into abandoning our war on terror and forsaking our friends and allies and security commitments around the world. Our enemies are bound for disappointment. America will never be blackmailed, and we will never forsake our commitment to liberty. To meet our new threats, I have directed my National Security Adviser and my Homeland Security Director to develop a comprehensive strategy on proliferation. Working with other countries, we will strengthen nonproliferation treaties and toughen export controls. Together, we must keep the world's most dangerous technologies out of the hands of the world's most dangerous people. A crucial partner in this effort is Russia, a nation we are helping to dismantle strategic weapons, reduce nuclear material, and increase security at nuclear sites. Our two countries will expand efforts to provide peaceful employment for scientists who formerly worked in Soviet weapons facilities. The United States will also work with Russia to build a facility to destroy tons of nerve agent. I'll request an overall increase in funding to support this vital mission. Even as we fight to prevent proliferation, we must prepare for every possibility. At home, we must be better prepared to detect, protect against, and respond to the potential use of weapons of mass destruction. Abroad, our military forces must have the ability to fight and win against enemies who would use such weapons against us. Biodefense has become a major initiative of ours. This year we've already requested nearly 3 billion additional dollars for biodefense, more than doubling the level of funding prior to September the 11th. The attacks on our Nation made it even more clear that we need to build limited and effective defenses against a missile attack. Our enemies seek every chance and every means to do harm to our country, our forces, and our friends, and we will not permit it. Suppose the Taliban and the terrorists had been able to strike America or important allies with a ballistic missile. Our coalition would have become fragile, the stakes in our war much, much higher. We must protect Americans and our friends against all forms of terror, including the terror that could arrive on a missile. Last week we conducted another promising test of our missile defense technology. For the good of peace, we're moving forward with an active program to determine what works and what does not work. In order to do so, we must move beyond the 1972 Anti Ballistic Missile Treaty, a treaty that was written in a different era for a different enemy. America and our allies must not be bound to the past. We must be able to build the defenses we need against the enemies of the 21st century. Our third and final priority in the fight against mass terror is to strengthen the advantage that good intelligence gives our country. Every day I make decisions influenced by the intelligence briefing of that morning. To reach decisions, a President needs more than data and information a President needs real and current knowledge and analysis of the plans, intentions, and capabilities of our enemies. The last several months have shown that there is no substitute for good intelligence officers, people on the ground. These are the people who find the targets, follow our enemies, and help us disrupt their evil plans. The United States must rebuild our network of human intelligence. And we will apply the best new technology to gather intelligence on the new threats. Sophisticated systems like Global Hawk, an unmanned surveillance plane, are transforming our intelligence capabilities. Our technological strengths produce great advantages, and we will build on them. Our intelligence services and Federal law enforcement agencies must work more closely together and share timely information with our State and local authorities. The more we know, the more terrorist plans we can prevent and disrupt, and the better we'll be able to protect the American people. And in all they do, our intelligence agencies must attract the best people, the best collectors, the best analysts, the best linguists. We will give them the training they need and the compensation they deserve. There have been times here in America when our intelligence services were held in suspicion and even contempt. Now, when we face this new war, we know how much we need them. And for their dedication and for their service, America is grateful. We're also grateful to you, the students of the Citadel. Your uniforms symbolize a tradition of honor and sacrifice, renewed in your own lives. Many of you will enter our military, taking your place in the war against terror. That struggle may continue for many years, and it may bring great costs. But you will have chosen a great calling at a crucial hour for our Nation. The course we follow is a matter of profound consequence to many nations. If America wavers, the world will lose heart. If America leads, the world will show its courage. America will never waver America will lead the world to peace. Our cause is necessary our cause is just. And no matter how long it takes, we will defeat the enemies of freedom. In all that is to come, I know the graduates of the Citadel will bring credit to America, to the military, and to this great institution. In the words of your school song, you will go where you've always gone "in the paths our fathers showed us.... Peace and Honor, God and Country, we will fight for thee." God bless. December 10, 2001 The President. Tonight, for the first time in American history, a Hanukkah menorah will be lit at the White House Residence. It's a symbol that this house may be a temporary home for Laura and me, but it's the people's house, and it belongs to people of all faiths. The magnificent menorah before us was crafted over a century ago in the city of Lvov, which was an important center of Jewish life and culture. The Jews of Lvov fell victim to the horror of the Nazi Holocaust, but their great menorah survived. And as God promised Abraham, the people of Israel still live. This has been a year of much sadness in the United States and for our friends in Israel. America and Israel have been through much together this year we have grieved together. But as we watch the lighting of this second candle of Hanukkah, we're reminded of the ancient story of Israel's courage and of the power of faith to make the darkness bright. We can see the heroic spirit of the Maccabees lives on in Israel today, and we trust that a better day is coming, when this festival of freedom will be celebrated in a world free from terror. Laura and I wish all the people of Jewish faith in America and Israel and around the world many joyous Hanukkahs in the years ahead. And all right, now we call on young Talia to help us light the candles. Thank you so much for being here. At this point, 8 year old Talia Lefkowitz, daughter of Office of Management and Budget General Counsel Jay P. Lefkowitz, lit the menorah and sang a Hebrew prayer. The President and First Lady Laura Bush then presented gifts to the children in attendance. The President. It's great to see everybody. Thanks for coming to the White House. Videotape of Usama bin Laden Q. Sir, on this occasion of peace and celebration, can you tell us how you were struck by this bin Laden videotape? The President. It just reminded me of what a murderer he is and how right and just our cause is. I couldn't imagine somebody like Usama bin Laden understanding the joy of Hanukkah or the joy of Christmas or celebrating peace and hope. This man wants to destroy any semblance of civilization for his own power and his own good. He's so evil that he's willing to send young men to commit suicide while he hides in caves. And while we celebrate peace and lightness, I fully understand in order to make sure peace and lightness exist in the future, we must bring him to justice. And we will. But for those who see this tape, they'll realize that not only is he guilty of incredible murder, he has no conscience and no soul, that he represents the worst of civilization. December 08, 2001 Good morning. Earlier this week I flew to Florida to meet with people who had lost their jobs because of the September 11th attacks. Then I took part in a townhall meeting in Orlando. I listened to people's concerns and answered their questions. I heard Americans are proud of our Armed Forces, and Americans are grateful for their sacrifices. Our country is on alert, and we are not intimidated. And as we wage war against terror, Americans made it clear they are also worried about the challenges we are facing here at home. Americans want action that will strengthen the economy and create jobs. They want greater energy independence, and they want reforms in our public schools. As I listened to the concerns of these Americans, I hoped Congress was listening, too, because it became clear the American people want action on an agenda of economic growth, energy independence, patients' rights, education, faith based legislation all of which are important issues that are stuck in Congress. I heard hard working people say they're worried about losing their jobs or seeing their hours cut. They know the terrorist attacks of September the 11th hurt our economy. That's why in the weeks just after the attacks, I proposed help for those who need it most, immediate help in the form of extended unemployment benefits and cash grants for workers who have been laid off. I also proposed the most important help for American workers, a long term strategy to accelerate economic growth to create more opportunities and more jobs. It's now early December. The House acted quickly on my proposals to aid the unemployed and create jobs the Senate has not. Americans at the townhall meeting in Florida seemed to agree on the importance of America becoming less reliant on foreign oil. Last spring I sent Congress a comprehensive energy plan that encourages conservation and greater energy independence. The House has acted the Senate has not. At this season of the year we're especially reminded of the importance of compassion. I sent Congress a bill to encourage charitable giving and to support the good work done by people of faith without entangling government and religion. The House has acted the Senate has not. I know that the Senate is closely divided among Republicans and Democrats, but the American people expect the Senate and its leaders to find a way to work together and bridge their differences. Now is not the time for partisan politics now is the time for leadership. It's time to act. Congress has other important business to finish before it goes home for the holidays. Education is vital to our country's future. We need a new emphasis on reading, higher standards, more flexibility, and greater local control. Congress has made great progress toward the most comprehensive education reform in a generation, so no child is left behind. But this important education reform is stuck in a conference committee. And the Patients' Bill of Rights passed by both Houses of Congress also remains unfinished. These are important measures. They have bipartisan support. They should be law. I am ready to sign them. I hope you'll let Congress hear from you. Let them know you want action not just on national security or homeland security you want action to protect America's economic security, as well. I thank you for listening. And during this holiday season, I wish Americans of Jewish faith a happy Hanukkah. December 07, 2001 Well, thank you all very much. I'm grateful for this warm welcome on the deck of the "Big E." America is proud of this fine carrier, and we're really proud of her crew. You're serving at a crucial moment for the cause of peace and freedom, and your country thanks you. This is a fitting place to mark one of the most fateful days in American history. On December the 7th, 1941, the enemy attacked. Today is an anniversary of a tragedy for the United States Navy. Yet, out of that tragedy, America built the strongest Navy in the world. And there is no better symbol of that strength than the U.S.S. Enterprise. What happened at Pearl Harbor was the start of a long and terrible war for America. Yet, out of that surprise attack grew a steadfast resolve that made America freedom's defender. And that mission our great calling continues to this hour, as the brave men and women of our military fight the forces of terror in Afghanistan and around the world. We are joined this afternoon by some distinguished guests. The Governor of this great Commonwealth is with us, Jim Gilmore. Members of the congressional delegation from Virginia are here with us, and I want to thank them for coming as well. I want to thank my friend Tony Principi, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs who is here, a Naval Academy grad who served our country with bravery and distinction during the Vietnam era. I want to thank Gordon England, the Secretary of the Navy, who is doing such a fine job representing the Navy in the Pentagon. I want to thank Admiral Natter, the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. I always like a good Southern accent up here on the East Coast. Laughter I thank Sandy Winnefeld, the Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise. And I want to thank the crew of this fine ship and all your families who are here as well. And I thank General Kernan for being here as well. We are especially honored to share this anniversary with 25 living witnesses to Pearl Harbor on December the 7th, 1941. Thank you all for being here. They saw the attack and knew its victims by name. They can recall the last moments of peace, the first moments of war, and the faces of lost friends, forever young in memory. These veterans represent the noble history and traditions of the United States military. And I ask the Navy of today to please join me in honoring these fine men from the military of yesterday. The attack on Pearl Harbor was plotted in secret, waged without mercy, taking the lives of 2,403 Americans. The shock and chaos came on a quiet Sunday morning. There were acts of great heroism amongst those who survived and those who did not. Nine who fell that day had Navy ships named after them. In 2 hours' time, for bravery above and beyond the call of duty, 15 men earned the Medal of Honor, and 10 of them did not live to wear it. Young sailors refused to abandon ship, even as waters washed over the decks. They chose instead to stay and try to save their friends. A mess steward carried his commander to safety and then manned a machine gun for the first time in his life. Two pilots ran through heavy fire to get into their P 40 fighters. They proceeded to chase and shoot down four enemy aircraft. Those were among the scenes of December the 7th. On December the 8th, as the details became known, the Nation's grief turned to resolution. During 4 years of war, no one doubted the rightness of our cause no one wavered in the quest of victory. As a result of the efforts and sacrifice of the veterans who are with us today and millions like them, the world was saved from tyranny. Many of you in today's Navy are the children and grandchildren of the generation that fought and won the Second World War. Now your calling has come. Each one of you is commissioned by history to face freedom's enemies. When the Enterprise sailed out of Norfolk last April, we were a nation at peace. All of that changed on the morning of September the 11th. You were among the first to fight in the first war of the 21st century. You were ready. You performed with skill and honor. And you have made your Nation proud. On board this ship when you returned to port 4 weeks ago was a young man named Ruben Rodriguez. Two days later, Petty Officer Rodriguez lost his life in a plane crash. His wife and his family are in our thoughts and prayers. One of the last things this sailor did was to visit Ground Zero in New York City. He saw what the terrorists did to America, and he said to a friend, "That's why I fought." And that's why we're all fighting. We're fighting to protect ourselves and our children from violence and fear. We're fighting for the security of our people and the success of liberty. We're fighting against men without conscience but full of ambition to remake the world in their own brutal images. For all the reasons, we're fighting to win. And win we will. There is a great divide in our time, not between religions or cultures but between civilization and barbarism. People of all cultures wish to live in safety and dignity. The hope of justice and mercy and better lives are common to all humanity. Our enemies reject these values, and by doing so, they set themselves not against the West but against the entire world. Our war against terror is not a war against one terrorist leader or one terrorist group. Terrorism is a movement, an ideology that respects no boundary of nationality or decency. The terrorists despise creative societies and individual choice, and thus they bear a special hatred for America. They desire to concentrate power in the hands of a few and to force every life into grim and joyless conformity. They celebrate death, making a mission of murder and a sacrament of suicide. Yet for some reason for some reason only young followers are ushered down this deadly path to paradise, while terrorist leaders run into caves to save their own hides. We've seen their kind before. The terrorists are the heirs to fascism. They have the same will to power, the same disdain for the individual, the same mad global ambitions. And they will be dealt with in just the same way. Like all fascists, the terrorists cannot be appeased. They must be defeated. This struggle will not end in a truce or a treaty. It will end in victory for the United States, our friends, and for the cause of freedom. The Enterprise has been part of this campaign. And when we need you again, I know you'll be ready. Our enemies doubt this. They believe that free societies are weak societies. But we're going to prove them wrong. Just as we were 60 years ago, in a time of war, this great Nation will be patient we'll be determined and we will be relentless in the pursuit of freedom. This is becoming clear to Al Qaida terrorists and the Taliban. Not long ago, that regime controlled most of Afghanistan. Today, they control not much more than a few caves. Laughter Not long ago, Al Qaida's leader dismissed America as a paper tiger. That was before the tiger roared. Throughout history, other armies have sought to conquer Afghanistan, and they failed. Our military was sent to liberate Afghanistan, and you are succeeding. We're a long way from finished in Afghanistan. Much difficult and dangerous work is yet to come. Many terrorists are still hiding in heavily fortified bunkers in very rugged territory. They are said to be prepared for a long stay underground. Laughter But they are in for a sudden change of plans laughter because one by one, we're going to find them. And piece by piece, we'll tear their terrorist network apart. As we fight the terrorists, we are also helping the people they have persecuted. We have brought tons of food and medicine to the Afghan people. They will need more help as winter comes, and we'll provide it. Most of all, that country needs a just and stable government. America is working with all concerned parties to help form such a government. After years of oppression, the Afghan people, including women, deserve a government that protects the rights and dignity of all its people. America is pleased by the Afghan progress in creating an interim government, and we're encouraged by the inclusion of women in positions of authority. And the war on terror continues beyond Afghanistan, with the closing of bank accounts and the arrests of known terrorists. We've put the terrorists and the nations in the world on notice We will not rest until we stop all terrorists of global reach. And for every nation that harbors or supports terrorists, there will be a day of reckoning. A few days from now, I will go to a great American institution, the Citadel, to describe the new capabilities and technologies we will need to wage this broad war on terrorism for years to come. We will need the intelligence to find the enemy where he dwells and the means to strike swiftly across the world. We must have a military organized for decisive and total victory. And to you, the men and women of our military, I make this pledge You will have every resource, every weapon, every tool you need to win the long battle that lies ahead. This war came oh so suddenly, but it has brought out the best in our Nation. We have learned a lot about ourselves and about our friends in the world. Nations stand with us, because this is civilization's fight. Today we take special pride that one of our former enemies is now among America's finest friends We're grateful to our ally, Japan, and to its good people. Today, our two Navies are working side by side in the fight against terror. The bitterness of 60 years ago has passed away. The struggles of our war in the Pacific now belong to history. For Americans who fought it and suffered its losses, what remains is the lasting honor of service in a great cause and the memory of ones who fell. Today at Pearl Harbor, veterans are gathering to pay tribute to the young men they remember who never escaped the sunken ships. And over the years, some Pearl Harbor veterans have made a last request. They asked that their ashes be brought down and placed inside the U.S.S. Arizona. After the long lives given them, they wanted to rest besides the best men they ever knew. Such loyalty and love remain the greatest strength of the United States Navy. And the might of our Navy is needed again. When America looks at you, the young men and women who defend us today, we're very grateful. On behalf of the people of the United States, I thank you for your commitment, your dedication, and your courage. May God bless you, and may God bless America. December 05, 2001 President Bush. I'm going to make a statement the Prime Minister will make a statement. We'll be glad to answer a couple of questions apiece. First, I want to welcome our friend to the White House. The Prime Minister has been a strong supporter in the war against terror, and for that, Mr. Prime Minister, we are very grateful. Early on in this war, Norway stood strong against terror. I don't know if many Americans understand, but one of the key parts of the war against terror is to cut off the financing to the terrorists. And Norway, thanks to the Prime Minister and his team, shut down Al Barakaat, which we did shortly thereafter. Thanks to the information we received from you, we made a major strike against cutting off funding for Al Qaida and the murderers. And Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for that. I'm so glad you're here. I look forward to a really good discussion about how we can combine together. I want to say a couple of other things. First, I, along with all the rest of America, grieve for the loss of life in Afghanistan. Three of our soldiers were killed by an inadvertent bomb, and our prayers and sympathies go to the families. And I want the families to know that they died for a noble and just cause, that the fight against terror is noble and it's just, and they defend freedom. And for that, we're grateful. On a more encouraging note, there has been great progress in Bonn. Our Government is pleased with the progress being made, that the interim government is being formed to include women. It's a major change for that part of the world and a positive change. It's encouraging to show, Mr. Prime Minister, that not only making progress on the military front, we're making progress on the political front, as well. This interim government, as well, has pledged to fight terror, and for that, we're grateful. And finally, next Tuesday our Nation will play the national anthem at 8 34 a.m. eastern standard time. We will do so, and we're encouraging other nations to play their anthems and or appropriate tunes at about the same time or an appropriate time, to send this clear signal to the terrorists. They want us to be silent. They want us to shirk from our duties. They want us to forget what took place on September the 11th. We will not do so. The United States will not do so, and our friends and allies will not do so. We won't forget what took place. And we will bring them to justice. We'll bring them to justice in Afghanistan, and we'll bring them to justice wherever they try to hide. Civilization is at stake. And the Prime Minister of Norway and the President of the United States stand united in protecting freedom and civilization. Mr. Prime Minister, welcome to the Oval Office. Prime Minister Bondevik. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. I want to express my how grateful I am that you received me here, so few weeks after I once more took office as Prime Minister of Norway. And I also want to express my condolences to the soldiers you lost in Afghanistan. And I want to express my sympathy and solidarity with the American people. We stand firmly by you in fighting terrorism. And as you are aware of, we have also contributed we have offered contributions to the military operations in Afghanistan, and we will talk more about that. And I think it's also so important to discuss the more long term fight against terrorism. I also will welcome the positive outcome of the meeting in Bonn, which I think we've paved the way for a political solution for Afghanistan, hopefully also for the women in the country, and also for reconstruction assistance and humanitarian aid. For Norway also will play a key role as the chair of the Afghanistan Support Group, from the 1st of January next year. So I want to end up by saying that the United States is the most important ally for Norway. President Bush. Thank you. Prime Minister Bondevik. We share many common fundamental values. And now we will stand together, fighting terrorism for humanity. President Bush. Thank you, sir. Prime Minister Bondevik. Thank you. President Bush. We'll take a couple of questions. Q. Mr. President, has the PLO, sir Q. Mr. President President Bush. I'll go with Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press , and then Bill Bill Plante, CBS News . Q. Excuse me? President Bush. You're first. Q. Thank you, sir. President Bush. Unless it's a tough question, in which case you won't go at all. Laughter Q. Oh, then let's go to Mr. Plante, then. Laughter No. Laughter President Bush. Go ahead. Palestine Liberation Organization Q. Has the PLO been harboring terrorists? If so, should they be treated like the Taliban? President Bush. The PLO, Ron, needs to stand up and rout out those killers, those murderers who are preventing us from getting a peace process in place. My Nation is committed to peace in the Middle East. Norway is committed to peace in the Middle East. But there are obviously folks who want to use the weapon of terror to derail peace. And Mr. Arafat must show leadership and bring those to justice who would use murder as a weapon to derail peace and to destroy innocent life. He must show leadership. Now is his time. And other nations around the world that are interested in peace must encourage Mr. Arafat, must insist that Mr. Arafat use everything in his power to prevent further terrorist attacks in Israel. Q. And if not? Q. Mr. President, may I? From Norwegian Broadcasting. President Bush. Please, yes. Military Tribunals Q. A lot of people in Europe and also in Norway, sir, are very worried about the military tribunals that you're proposing. Many people are saying that when you want to save democracy, then this might be part of the way undermining democracy, itself. President Bush. Well, I appreciate that question, and I want the people of the world to understand that our great Nation will never forgo the values that have made us unique that we believe in democracy and rule of law and the Constitution. But we're under attack. Every morning I wake up and read the threat assessments. The evil ones still intend to harm America. And if it's in our national security interests, to bring people to justice, I will use a military tribunal. And I may give you one example of why I would use one. We haven't used one yet it's simply an option. If we capture an Al Qaida representative if we capture a murderer, and in order to convict that murderer it would require us giving means of how we knew he was guilty that would jeopardize the security of the United States, he'll be tried in a military tribunal. In other words, this is an ongoing conflict. There are still real threats. And I, in order to get a conviction of a murderer, will not jeopardize the people of the United States. I will not show our secrets. I will not tip our hand. I will not let the world at large, particularly our enemy, understand how we put a case together if it's going to jeopardize and compromise national security secrets of the United States of America. My job is to protect the United States people from further attack. And that's exactly what I'm going to do and, at the same time, bring Al Qaida to justice. Future Action Against Terrorists Q. Mr. President, you said yesterday that you might use U.S. troops elsewhere. Where, and under what circumstances? President Bush. Bill, I am going to work with our friends and allies to rout terror wherever it exists. But one of the things I will not do is signal to the enemy where we might strike next. I will not tip our hand in any way, shape, or form. But I will tell you this Those who want to commit terror against the United States or our friends and allies must beware that they will be hunted down. And those nations which harbor a terrorist or feed a terrorist or hide a terrorist or clothe a terrorist better be aware of the United States and our friends, because they will be brought to justice. Now is a time for the free world to stand up and defend the freedoms that these evil ones hate. Norway's Role in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, what kind of role do you see for Norway in the Middle East? President Bush. Well, that's going to be up to the Prime Minister. And we haven't had this discussion yet. I do know he's committed to peace, and for that I am most grateful. I look forward to getting his advice and counsel. I think he would share with me the same sentiment, that it's going to be very difficult to have any kind of peace in the Middle East so long as terror runs loose, so long as there are people individuals who feel like they can kill and murder to prevent us from getting to any kind of peace process. There is a plan in place, called the Mitchell process. But evidently, there are terrorists who can't stand the thought of peace, and they must be brought to justice. Prime Minister Bondevik. Yes, let me add, I fully agree with the President. And I will also inform him now, during our talk, that I today had a telephone conversation with Chairman Arafat and with Prime Minister Sharon before I came here. So I have fresh messages to the President from them. And I urged Arafat to do his utmost to stop the terror, to arrest the people behind the terror. It's time for him now to show leadership. I also urged Prime Minister Sharon to avoid further escalation of violence, because I am afraid that this will bring us into a terrible situation which can end up in a war. Now they have stopped the bombing of Palestinian targets for the last 26 hours. I hope that this ceasefire will continue and that there will be a possibility after some time to again establish contacts between the parties in the Middle East, because the alternative is so bad, to all of us. September 11 Commemoration President Bush. Let me make one correction, if you don't mind. The anthem will be played at 8 46 a.m., here on the White House grounds. And we're asking other nations to play their anthems or respective tunes. I wanted to correct the time, so that as we prepare this reminder about the evil and as we stand fast against terror, that we've got the correct time that we're going to do so. Thank you all for coming. December 04, 2001 The President. Thank you very much. Please be seated. Thank you all very much. I'm really happy to visit Florida. The weather is beautiful. There's a lot of interesting things to do here. I recommend people from outside of Florida to come and take a look at Florida. It's a nice place to visit and a great place to live. One reason why is because you've got a great Governor. I'm not very objective. Laughter I also I'm proud to be traveling today with two members of my Cabinet. First, somebody who made a living and raised his family right here in Orange County, and that's Mel Martinez of the Housing applause . There's no better person to help promote a significant part of the American Dream that being homeownership than somebody who came to our country from a country that doesn't encourage homeownership, somebody whose parents had the foresight to encourage him to be extricated from a tyrannical society, somebody who understood Fidel Castro doesn't trust people to own property and that's Mel Martinez. We're working together to make sure homeownership becomes a reality for any citizen in America who shares that dream, regardless of where they live or their background. I'm also traveling today with the Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao. And there's a lot of Members of the United States Congress who have traveled here homegrown Congressman Ric Keller Ander Crenshaw is with us thank you for coming, Ander Congressman Mark Foley, I appreciate you Congressman John Mica. I recently worked closely with John and other Republicans and Democrats to forge an airport security bill which will allow the Federal Government to supervise the security of our airports, to make sure that those who travel are comfortable with the fact that we're doing everything in our power to make air travel as safe as it can possibly be. Thank you, John, for your leadership on that issue. Congressman Adam Putnam I had to check to make sure he was old enough, but Adam, thank you Congressman Dave Weldon thank you, Dave, for being here Congressman Cliff Stearns, from Florida, as well. And finally, I want to thank the mayor, Glenda Hood, and all those who helped encourage you all to come so that I can answer any questions you may have about what's going on in the country and the world today. Before I answer a few questions and I thought it was right. I know a lot of citizens in Florida and around our country may have some questions to the President, and I'm more than happy to answer some. Before I do, I do want to say a few comments. One of the other reasons I came here is to herald a program called "Operation Paycheck." It's a program that Jeb has put in place to help displaced workers find the training necessary to find work, to help displaced workers around this part of the world, to help those who want to help themselves find the training necessary to allow them to learn new skills to find work again. There's nothing that hurts me more than to know, as we head into the holiday season, that some of our citizens and some of their families hurt because they've been laid off as a result of 9 11. And we have a role in the Government in the State Government, in the Federal Government to provide immediate help as part of an economic security package, is to provide immediate help. And so one of the things I did was announce a grant for the State of Florida to encourage programs like Operation Paycheck, one stop centers for people to find help. And today I was pleased to announce that grant on behalf of the Federal Government, but there's more to be done. You probably read about the fact that we're working with Congress. And I must say, relations with Congress are a heck of a lot better than they have been in the past, because Congressmen and Senators of both parties are interested about what's doing right for the American people. And part of an economic security package is to make sure that we extend unemployment insurance benefits for those who have been laid off as a result of 9 11 and provide money monies to help those who have been laid off with things such as child care or health insurance or transportation to a community college, to enable them to learn a new skill. We have a role to play. And I urge the United States Congress to stop talking and to get an economic security bill to my desk. The House has acted, and for that I'm grateful. And there's always the Speaker can tell you there's always a difference of opinion sometimes between the House and the Senate, whether it's at the State or Federal level. But the Senate needs to get a bill, get it reconciled, and get it to my desk, so we can say we're doing the people's business in a way that will make you proud. The truth of the matter is, economic security, however, the long term, depends upon our ability to get our economy cranked up again, so new jobs are being created. We've got to think about how to stimulate job creation. The question that needs to be answered is how to create more jobs, and I've laid out a blueprint to do just that. I think we ought to and help people with more money as we head into the Christmas season, by making sure that those who filed but didn't pay taxes get a rebate, just similar to the rebates you all have just recently received. That will help low and moderate income Americans. We ought to accelerate the tax cuts that we have in place. More money in people's pockets mean more economic activity. We ought to reform the corporate income tax system. This current system says that as you lose money, you begin to pay more taxes. That doesn't make any sense if we're worried about job creation. I don't think we ought to be looking back for a decade, but I do think we ought to reform the system as we head forward, to make sense. And finally, I think we ought to provide incentives for corporate America to buy more plant and equipment. That will encourage job creation. We ought to ask the question in Washington, what's it take to create more jobs, so hard working Americans can be able to put food on the table? That's what we ought to be asking. Two other points I want to make before I answer your questions is, there's no question, as well, that in order to make sure our economy recovers and people are able to find work, we've got to do everything we can to prevent the enemy from hitting us again. We've got to be diligent. And so we're following every hint, every lead, every possibility, within the confines of the Constitution. My job is to provide security for the American people. My job is to make sure that we use the assets at our disposal to ferret out those who might hurt America and to bring them to justice. We can protect our homeland by beefing up law enforcement, by encouraging the FBI to focus on prevention, by working closely with local authorities, and we're doing that. But in the long term, the best way to make sure America is safe is to find those who would commit terror against America, no matter where they run or where they hide, and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what we're doing. For those of you who are the parents or the spouse or the brother or sister of a member of our military who may not be home during the holiday season, first, I want to thank you for your sacrifice but let you know that the cause is just. And I know you're as proud as I am of how our military is fighting the war on terror. We rescued humanitarian aid workers. We're slowly but surely demolishing the Government that felt comfortable in housing and abetting and feeding and hiding those who committed murder in America. And slowly but surely we're tightening the net on Usama bin Laden and Al Qaida. They think they can run, and we'll tire. They think they can hide, and we will tire. But they have sorely misunderstood America. They don't understand our will and our determination. This great land is united to bring freedom to the world. We will bring them to justice, and we will prevail. And so I'm honored that such a huge crowd would turn out. I want to thank you all for coming. I look forward to answering your questions. I want to thank you for your prayers, thank you for your love for the country. And now, if you've got any questions, I'm here to answer them. Yes, sir. Job Training and Unemployment Benefits Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Since the September 11th tragedy, many Americans with college degrees, including myself, have been laid off. What are some of the things you're doing to help people like me, who have been out of work for the past few months? The President. Well, first of all, there's a lot of money spent from the Federal level to help to help with reeducation. And one of the programs that I just mentioned is the use of Federal monies to empower State Governments to provide opportunities for reeducation. I just went by a center today. I sat next to a TWA pilot, highly skilled, college educated man who got laid off as a pilot. His dream is to go back to a local community college, become reeducated to become a computer programmer. In other words, the idea is to mate those with skills with jobs that actually exist. The problem with the kind of Federal approach and only Federal approach is, is that we may encourage you to become trained in a job that doesn't exist. And so the real thing is, is there money available for job training? Is there money available from the Federal Government to say to Governor Bush of Florida, "Here is some dough. Set up a system that will actually match people with skills and jobs that exist." There are jobs in Florida, and the fundamental question is, how do we encourage those with skills, to funnel those with skills into those jobs? Secondly, I do believe we ought to extend the amount of time one can receive unemployment insurance benefits. I think that's important. And I also believe that we need to have what's called national emergency grants, which are basically Federal expenditures to States to allow people to help, for example, make health care payments. And one of the things I worry about and I'm deeply concerned about is, somebody who has had a good health care plan is no longer able to afford health care. And so we ought to help people be able to afford those premiums and those benefits until they're able to get back to work. The long term, though, is and I keep repeating it is, let's stimulate job growth. The best thing for you to be able to find a job is for there to be more jobs available. And I believe I believe we're on the verge of doing just that. I mean, we've got great tax policy in place. We cut taxes this year we've got taxes cut for the next years coming, which will stimulate economic growth. Alan Greenspan has got monetary policy in such a shape that interest rates are low. Energy prices are reasonable. And so, we've got the framework for growth. And by the way, the same entrepreneurial spirit that existed in America prior to September 11th still exists today. They can't take that away from us. Responsive Government Q. Mr. President, we appreciate you coming to the community and putting a great spotlight on the tourism industry. For the past 16 years, I own a small transportation company here, 10 of which I operate at the Orlando International Airport. Due to the slowdown in the economy and certainly the events of September 11, I was forced to close my doors, putting 252 employees out of work, not to mention their families and others who support my business. We have taken advantage of some of the programs you've put into place, such as the SBA disaster loan plan. We've been monitoring that and found out that the application is bogged down in the bureaucracy of the system. What can you do to help us, as small business, speed that process, as our window is closing rapidly on us? Thank you for your answer. The President. Well, first get your card, and find out why your case is bogged down in bureaucracy. I can't stand bureaucracy. I appreciate the hard working people who work for the Federal Government. I appreciate people who care enough to work for the Government to make people's to do their job. I like that. But what I don't like is systems that get so cumbersome that those who are trying to help you don't get the product out. I put a good man as the head of the SBA, and I believe that he's doing everything he can to make sure that applications don't get stuck in a system, that hard working Federal employees are able to match their desires to help you with the ability to do so. So to answer your question, I need to know your case, and I'm going to send a man right out here to ask you. Where's Logan? Advice to Youth Q. First of all, I'd like to thank you for being here today, Mr. President Bush. My name is Adam Hallsman, and I'm a seventh grader at Shelley Boone Middle School in Haines City, Florida. I'd like to know what the children and the small and the young people in America, how can they help the economy? The President. Listen to your mother. I'm still listening to mine. Laughter I'll tell you what you can do I'll tell you how you can help the economy Study hard learn a skill have ambition make the right choices in life so that when you get old enough, you're a productive citizen. That's the absolute best thing you can do. But there are other things you can do. I see women of cover here, and I want to thank you for coming from the Muslim community here in America. Right after the attacks, I went to a mosque to send the signal that the war against terror had nothing to do with the Muslim faith. It has everything to do with evil, evil people. What you can do to help America, beyond the economy, is to remind people that regardless of our religious beliefs, we're all, first and foremost, Americans that this is a country applause And you know what else you can do? You can find somebody in need and give them a hand. I'm worried about the fact that charitable giving in America has dropped off as a result of 9 11. It didn't drop off because of 9 11 it dropped off because a lot of people gave money to help the victims, which is great. But there's an aftermath to the attacks that we've got to worry about. There are still people in America who hurt. They were hurting before September 11th they hurt today. And one of the things you can do as a seventh grader, and all of us can do, is remember that and give of time and money to help fellow Americans in need. I can't think of any way better to make sure our country remains strong in the aftermath of the terrorist attack, is to help is to ask the question, "What can I do" is to not only honor the values of America but honor the values of a good neighborhood, which is neighbor helping neighbor in need. Small Business Q. Good afternoon, Mr. President. First of all, it is an honor to be here with you, and we want to thank you for your godly leadership in serving this country. My name is Irma Yapur. And my question today is in regards also to small business and selfemployment. As many Americans are losing their corporate jobs and are going into business for themselves, is the Government planning to provide assistance to the selfemployed in small business who do not have the tangible collateral and livelihood to support a loan approval? The President. Well, we do. We've got an SBA whose job it is to encourage entrepreneurial growth. Evidently, it may be somewhat bound in paperwork, unnecessary paperwork requirements. Laughter It's good to get out of Washington to get the real story laughter but the job but that's what the SBA is for. It's to encourage and you're bogged down in paperwork, as well, I take it? Okay, my man Logan laughter . Look, the Government can never guarantee success in the private sector. That's not what happens in a system based upon free enterprise. We can help people, but there are no guarantees about business. We're a risk and reward oriented society. And so the best thing we can do is help you to get your business started. But it's up to you to have a good product it's up to you to understand the market and it's up to you to fashion a game plan that will work. And what we can do is help there, and there all kinds of ways to do that. You're next. Yes, sir. Tax Rebates Q. The first one is a thank you from all of our employees and many people who have worked. When the taxpayer rebates came, for many of them, they said they don't know what they would have done if it hadn't been for those. So very much a sincere thank you for that. The President. Thank you very much. Terrorist Attacks in Israel Q. The second one is a question. What are we doing right now to assist our allies in Israel during their time of terrorist attacks? The President. Yes. The question is about Israel. I had the Prime Minister of Israel in my office on Sunday. He was coming Monday but decided to come sooner because of the attacks. And I commiserated with him, because a lot of innocent people had been killed or hurt as a result of terrorist activity. The terrorist attacks on Israel first of all, Israel has got no better friend than the United States, as far as I'm concerned. Israel is a democracy. We share a lot of values with Israel. I have a dream I can't think of anything better than to have a dream for peace for Israel. I think the Israeli people want to have peace. But we learned in such a vivid way that there are elements in the Middle East that hate the thought of peace and will be willing to use terror to derail any type of peace process. And so the spotlight now flashes on the Middle East in a terrible way, obviously. But it also reminds people around the world that if we want peace, that it's important for those advocates of peace to help rout out terror and to bring it to justice. It is incumbent upon Mr. Arafat now to respond forcefully, to rout out those who killed. It's incumbent upon other friends and allies of ours around the world to help bring those terrorists to justice if we want peace in the Middle East, which I do which I do. We've got to bring the terrorists to justice. We cannot let a few we cannot let a few prevent the many from achieving a dream which is lasting peace in the Middle East. I hope that happens. I hope it happens for the sake of Israel. I hope it happens for the sake of the Palestinians, who suffer because of the lack of job opportunity and killing and war. I hope it happens. But first things first. We must rid the world of terror. Worker Benefits Economic Stimulus Q. Thank you, President Bush. It's great to have you here in the State of Florida. I work at the airport at the Hyatt Hotel. And I'm worried I have, luckily, kept my job, but now we're getting our hours cut and stuff. And they're trying to do the best that they can, and I'm in jeopardy of losing my benefits. Now, I'm a single mother of three kids, and I can't be without benefits, like health insurance, per se. The President. Right. Well, I think that one of the things that we need to work on during the next session is how to make sure that the working uninsured have benefits. I proposed a plan through the tax credit system to provide just that to make sure that you don't lose your benefits if this were to happen. Of course, the key thing again, I keep harking back to this is, we've got to grow our economy, is we've got to put a stimulus security package a stimulus package in place that encourages job growth. Now, the Government did act quickly when it came to your industry. After all, we provided a significant amount of loans and grants for the airline industry to make sure the airplanes, which were directly hit by the attacks, continue to fly. And I hope that the measures we have put in place, financial measures plus the security measures, will convince the American people to get on airplanes and come down to Florida so that your hotel has got customers. Education Q. Mr. President, I'm an educator for the Orange County Public School System. And, first of all, I'd like to thank you very much for your ethics and integrity, because that's what we're all about in education. The President. Thank you. Q. I'd like to share that I am very appreciative of the focus that you and the First Lady have brought to your administration on reading instruction. And we were very happy when that took place. And we can also appreciate the fact that since 9 11, your energy and your focus has been diverted to issues that are to protect our country, and we thank you very much for that. But the reality is that 9 11 has also impacted education. We are about to experience one of the biggest cuts that we have experienced in many years here in Florida, and we're very concerned about our children and about our teachers and their future, as well. And I would just like to hear from you where you are today with education, in terms of your focus and energy. The President. You bet. Thank you very much. I appreciate that question. Education needs to be the number one priority of any State. I'm convinced it's the number one priority of this Governor here. I believe that there needs to be a clear role for local people, State people, and a limited role for the Federal Government, because I do not believe one size fits all when it comes to educating children. Now, having said that, I do believe that the Federal Government has got responsibilities for providing funds for disadvantaged and for beefing up reading programs around the country. So one of the things that we're going to do is to work with Jeb and other States on enhancing reading programs. There's no question about it, that if a child can't read, all the rest of the subjects are basically irrelevant. Reading is the absolute gateway to knowledge, and therefore what needs to be done is a comprehensive national reading agenda. To answer your question, it's about to happen when the Congress passes the education reform bill and the education bill, the funding mechanism necessary for education. But education is a priority not only here, but as my good wife reminded everybody on the radio, it's got to be a priority around the world. There is no excuse for the Taliban Government to have treated women and young girls the way they have and not educated people. Education is a domestic priority. No question about it, it's a domestic priority. And we're increasing education spending at the Federal Government to help local districts. But we also have got to remind people around the world, if we want peace in the world, other nations must do a better job of treating people with respect by making sure that they are educated, as well. Speaking about education, you go to school, don't you? Let's hear your question. President's Visit Q. Hi. My name is Ashley. I just wanted to I don't have a comment, but I have a question. Actually, I don't have a question I have a comment. The President. Okay. Laughter Q. You've been doing a good job for the United States. Can you shake my hand? The President. Yes. I will in a minute. Oh, you want to do it right now? I'll do better I'll give you a kiss. You're a sweet girl. Thank you. Q. Thank you very much for coming to Florida. We love you. The President. Thanks. Local Economies International Trade Q. And God bless you. This area is so dependent on tourism. Since 9 11, as you know, everyone knows it's so bad. Is there anything that the Government is doing to attract other industry into our area and to other areas that are so dependent on this? The President. I think I would actually get Governor Bush to answer that question. Laughter I'm afraid to share the mike with him he might never give it up, though. Laughter Absolutely, there is a diversification program. There is. And Jeb is wise enough to understand that this part of the world needs to be diversified. And tourism will always be an integral part of the central Florida economy, but there is a lot of interesting diversification going on here. Now, the Federal Government's role is not to tell States how to diversify their economies the Federal Government's role is to provide an overall picture for economic vitality and growth. Our job is to think about how best to grow the entire national economy and let States figure out and local districts and communities figure out how to diversify. One of the interesting battles we've got going in Congress is trade. We need to be able to trade freely, it seems like to me, in the world. We've got the best farmers in the world in the United States the best farmers. It seems like it makes sense to open up other people's markets so we can sell our products around the world. Now, that is the place where the Federal Government, it seems like to me, has got to address job growth and diversification through large national issues. I'm sure the Congress these Congressmen understand the value of free trade. I look forward to working with them when it comes to trade promotion authority, if it ever makes it to my desk. But it requires wise Governors and local officials to understand the opportunities through diversification. And I believe you've got a good Governor. I keep hating to tout the guy too much, because they'll think I'm not very objective, but I'm not. Laughter Yes, ma'am. Health Insurance Q. Hi. President Bush, we'd like to thank you for coming here today. And just to help you out with her question about I wanted to tap our Governor on about, because we do have a program for people that I'm self employed, and I don't make a lot of money, but we do have a program in this State for people like ourselves who we can buy insurance through the State for our children, in case you lose your job. So I wanted to tap our Governor on that The President. It's the CHIPS program. Q. No, it's Florida Healthy Kids here. The President. Same thing. Q. Right. Laughter She said she don't qualify, but if you lost your job, you would. The President. All right. Yes, sir. Travel Industry Military Tribunals Q. First of all, thank you. Second of all, I work in a Hard Rock Hotel here in Orlando, and we love to have people come through our doors, just as every hotel and every theme park here does. My question is for the Federal Government Not just for Orlando but for everywhere, what is being done to encourage travel? I've seen a few commercials, not just within the country but abroad. We're a great place to come The President. Well, there's a marketing plan. One of the things if you noticed how I started off my talk here I've got a rather large microphone these days, and I've been encouraging people to travel. I think the best thing we can do in America to first of all, you can't make people do what they don't want to do. I mean, if they're not interested in traveling, they're not going to travel. On the other hand, if they're worried about security on airplanes, we can do something about that. That's why we've rallied guard troops all across the country in airports. Until we have the new security plan in place, we're putting guards in place. And we've sped up the training and placement of air marshals on airplanes. I want the American people to know that if you want to travel and if that's your desire, if you're planning to do this in your budget and you've been thinking about it, air travel is getting safer and safer and safer. And that's the best thing the Federal Government can do. Now, we can we're not going to, you know, pick one part of the region over another. I don't think that's the role of the Federal Government. But and therefore, that's why Jeb and other States, my old State of Texas, for example, is trying to encourage, always trying to compete for people who want to travel to come to our respective States. But the Federal Government can help by making sure things are more secure and people feel safe. That's really our fundamental responsibility right now, is the safety of the American people. I know a lot of people have got some concerns about how safe we can make the country, and if we're doing are we doing things within the Constitution. I want to talk about a couple of things to put your mind at ease. I'll ask myself a question Why are you having the opportunity to have a military tribunal? Now, I want you to remember that we are at war. The United States of America is under attack. And at war, the President needs to have the capacity to protect the national security interests and the safety of the American people. And so I asked, what are all my options as your Commander in Chief? What are the options to protect America? What do I need to know about what might occur to make sure that I can come in front of the folks in Orlando, Florida, and say we're doing everything in our power, or we have every option in our power to keep you safe? Well, one of those scenarios is military tribunals. No one has been tried in a military tribunal except I, by Executive order, provided myself with the option of having a military tribunal, which will be used for no American citizen will go to a military tribunal. They would only be used for those who aren't American citizens. And let me give you one example of why it may be necessary, why it may be necessary to use such a tribunal. What happens if, in the course of this war, that we apprehend or capture an enemy and we want to bring him to justice? In the course of bringing him to justice, what if the information necessary to bring him to justice would compromise our capacity to keep America safe? In a court of law, there would be all kinds of questions that might compromise our ability to gather incredibly important intelligence to prevent the next attack from happening to America. It seems like to me that the President of the United States ought to have the option to protect the national security interests of the country and, therefore, protect America from further attack. You've probably read about the interviews that are taking place. There are countries that we're certain of where people who come from those countries are likely to commit a terrorist act against America. And they're here on our soil certain citizens from those countries, on our soil. We're a free country. They're here because we're a great country. And we've got liberties that we'll protect. But we're asking those who are here as guests, enjoying our freedom, to voluntarily participate in helping us understand how best to protect the country. Nobody is being forced into an interview. People are being "Why don't you help us? Why don't those of you who are guests in our country help us make the land more secure? It's in your interests, and it's certainly in our interests. If you know somebody or know something, help us." We're in the business now of gathering as much information as we possibly can gather, and we're acting on that information. People are detained in America under material witness claims. It's against the law, by the way, to publish the name of those people before they get up in front of a grand jury. We've got people that we've pulled aside because of who they may or may not know, and it turns out they violated their immigration status. It turns out, as we're looking for leads, we've found people who have actually committed other crime. All of them in America are entitled to a lawyer. All of them in America are entitled to make phone calls. We're the freest society in the world. That's what America is all about. And at the same time, we're doing what's necessary to protect the people at home. Airline Industry Hospitality Industry Q. How are you doing, Mr. President? The President. Pretty darn good. Laughter Q. Thanks for coming to Florida and talking to us. You've given billions of dollars to the airline industry, to try to help get them stimulated and get them going. Are you going to do any kind of grants or any type of benefits for the hospitality industry, as we're struggling to get by? The President. Well, part of the key is, is that the first industry deeply affected after 9 11 was the airline industry. And without an airline industry, there is no hospitality oh, there may be a hospitality industry, certainly not as vibrant a hospitality industry as we would like. It is the first major industry affected. And so our strategy was to make sure that we provide the industry that actually affects hospitality directly the means necessary to stay in business. To me, that seemed like the most important initial leg of a strategy. And in the meantime, we're trying to help those workers who have been affected within the hospitality industry. I am hopeful that as a result of a airline stimulus package, or airline security package, as well as a safety package and an economic stimulus package, this economy will come back people will have the money necessary to travel people will feel safe to travel and the hospitality industry to recover. But to answer your question directly, no, the answer is that the first step, and we think the primary step, needed to be what we've already done. Yes, ma'am. Q. Mr. President, what about tax incentives The President. Tax incentives for travel? That hasn't made it to my radar screen yet. Laughter Yes, sir. Youth, Education, and the Faith Based Initiative Q. Inaudible and my wife and my mother in law and friends, they're in the tourism industry. Yes, my family has been very well affected by 9 11. But I have a question about the youth. Is there anything that you or your brother, Governor Bush, can do to give the youth the drive and will to look for a better future? Because it seems like a lot of them don't it seems as if they don't have anything to lose, so they don't have anything to drive for. The President. I can think of a couple of things. One is to remind moms and dads of America that no matter what you're doing during the day job, your most important job you'll ever have is to love your children, is to tell your children you love them. Secondly it goes to this lady's point right here is to make sure that every child in America is well educated, starting with every child learning to read. There's nothing like an education to provide hope for people. Part of the reason why people are discouraged is because they lose hope. They say, "Well, this society isn't meant for me." A hopeful society is an educated society. And so we've got to make sure we get it right, we have an education a focus on education, understanding that education is the gateway to such great freedom and opportunity. And finally, one of my initiatives that I'm most proud of, that passed the House of Representatives and I think will have a significant impact in America, is to rally one of the great strengths of our country, and that is the faith based initiatives and faithbased programs which exist all across the country. I want to talk about one. I want to talk about a couple. First of all, governments shouldn't worry about faith. We ought to welcome faith. We ought to understand that we ought to welcome those programs that exist because somebody will say, "What can I do? What can I do to help a neighbor in need? What can I do?" And it's not a particular faith I'm talking about. I'm talking about the Muslim faith I'm talking about Judaism and I'm talking about Christianity. No, the faith doesn't have a lock on a certain religion. I'm talking about people who have heard a call. And there all kinds of programs all around America based upon faith. And many of them have asked the question, what can I do to surround a child with love? What can I do to make sure that a child has got somebody has got their arm around them saying, "Somebody loves you."? There's a lot of children who have no love in their life. Imagine what it would be like growing up in America, how tough it would be if your mom or your dad were in prison. How tough is that? The degree of difficulty for success is incredibly hard for a person. And we've got a program that we hope to get out of Congress the House passed it get it out of the Senate that says, we want to fund, make monies available for mentoring programs, faithbased or not, but mentoring programs, the sole purpose of which will be to take a son or a daughter of a person in prison and encourage some loving soul to say, "I love you. America is meant for you. This country belongs to you. Get educated and go after it with all your heart and all your soul." So there's a lot that can be done in society. You know, Government Government must not fear these programs that exist in neighborhoods all around the country, based upon faith. We must not fear. We must fear Government embracing religion. We fear a state religion that's not what we're for. We don't want for one government or religion. Government will never say, "This is the religion." We're a free society for religion. But Government can embrace programs started because of faith and religion and encourage those programs to foster in neighborhoods all across America. I'm passionate on the subject because I understand the power of faith in people's lives, and I understand what it can mean. Energy Policy Q. Mr. President, early in your administration there was a lot of discussion of drilling for oil in Alaska and the Gulf. Now that prices are low at the pump, what are you doing to ensure that? The President. Yes well, I'm trying to get an energy plan out of Congress. Laughter The House of Representatives the House of Representatives passed a good energy bill. It is stuck in the Senate. And I believe it is in our national interests to have an energy plan, to have a strategy to get us less dependent on foreign sources of crude oil. Part of that energy plan means that we've got to enhance conservation. We've got to encourage technologies that will enable us to conserve better, and we can do that with the proper incentives. And this plan of ours that passed the House has got incentives to encourage conservation. And we're making great strides in our society, by the way, of conserving. We're doing a much better job, and we can do an even better job. Part of it also recognizes that we need more supply. And there are several places we can find supply. One is, I believe that the nuclear industry is safe enough now to encourage more nuclear power in America. I believe that is necessary. I also strongly believe that we can explore for natural gas in Alaska without damaging the environment. And I believe that's necessary, to do that. You know, when the vote came up in the House, a lot of people came forward to work on behalf of the vote because they understood not only did it mean energy security, it also meant jobs. I was pleased to report that the Teamsters, for example, led by Jimmy Hoffa, Jr., was out campaigning for or lobbying or working for this bill, because it meant jobs. But I've got great faith in the technology and the ability of our country, if given proper incentive, to become less dependent and more wise about how we develop our energy sources I truly do. But we need a bill, and we need to get it out of the Senate. Energy prices are low, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't worry about our future. Because if the economies of the world come back, we might be in a tight again, in which case we're going to be wondering where was the energy policy that the President was arguing for back in the year 2001. Yes, ma'am. Families and American Values Q. Hi, Mr. President. The President. I'm not nervous as you are. Laughter Q. I wrote it out, because I thought I would be nervous, and I'm here with my sister, Maggie, and my family, and The President. Good. Hi, Maggie. Laughter Q. And I'm Caitlin. Our family wants to help out our country, and we think that making families strong will make our country strong. My parents believe that eating meals together will do that. Is it something that you did when you were a kid, and that you and Mrs. Bush believe in? The President. I did eat with my family, so long as my mother wasn't cooking. Laughter Wait a minute. Just kidding, Mom. Laughter She was one of the great fast food cooks of all time. Laughter Just kidding, Mom. We ate a lot together. We did. And I think it's important to do that. That's a very interesting question. You know, we live in a society that's a busy society. We live in a society where it's so easy to forget the fundamentals. But one of the really positive things that has come out of the evil of 9 11 was that people are beginning to ask, what's important what's important? I think you've touched on something really important, and that's family. And the idea of a mom and dad prioritizing family is all about not only enhancing the quality of life of their children but, collectively, making America so much stronger and so much better after the evils. There has been this is an unbelievably great country we live in. The values of America are so strong the people are so real and so good. And 9 11 has brought out, in many instances, the best in America. Part of that is the individual the decisions individual families make about setting new priorities in their lives. A lot of it has to do with helping people in need. I'll never forget the story of people in a Midwestern city, when they heard me on TV talk about how distressed I was that women of cover would not leave their homes for fear of some other American treating them harshly, and then Jewish citizens and Christians alike getting on the phone and saying, "We want to help you. We want to take you to the neighborhood store. This isn't the America we know." No, the country this country is a fabulous country. They thought they hurt us, the evil ones. They have made us stronger, more real, and a better land. Role of Religious Leaders Q. Mr. President, we thank you for coming, on behalf of the clergy of Orlando. We're going to be having a summit this next week, 12 12 summit, and I'm a pastor. And we want to know what we can do we're praying for strategies of how we can assist you in our Government and assist our communities. The President. First thing you can do is make sure people of all faiths are represented at your prayer session. It sends such a strong signal it reminds people of the greatness of America. The evil people we fight, they don't believe in religious freedom. They want it their way or no way, and if you're not their way, they'll treat you harshly. That's why, by the way, when we liberated cities throughout Afghanistan, people lined the roads and cheered out of joy and happiness. Secondly, you need to pray for the good Lord to protect America, provide a shield over our country, to prevent us from harm. September 11 Q. Hi, Mr. President. I want to say, they haven't won. I got in my car today, and I'm in the same building with you, speaking to you. They have not won. The President. Thank you very much. Q. And would you say hello to my son Jordan and my daughter Patricia. The President. Jordan and who? Q. Patricia. The President. Hi, Patricia. How are you? How old is Patricia? Q. Five, and Jordan is in third grade. And Jordan has a question, if I could give him the microphone. The President. You bet. Your mother is relaying the mike to you, Jordan. Q. One thing, Mr. President, is that you have no idea how much you've done for this country. And another thing is that, how did you feel when you heard about the terrorist attack? The President. Thank you, Jordan. Well, Jordan, you're not going to believe what State I was in when I heard about the terrorist attack. I was in Florida. And my Chief of Staff, Andy Card actually, I was in a classroom talking about a reading program that works. I was sitting outside the classroom waiting to go in, and I saw an airplane hit the tower the TV was obviously on. And I used to fly, myself, and I said, "Well, there's one terrible pilot." I said, "It must have been a horrible accident." But I was whisked off there. I didn't have much time to think about it. And I was sitting in the classroom, and Andy Card, my Chief of Staff, who is sitting over here, walked in and said, "A second plane has hit the tower. America is under attack." And Jordan, I wasn't sure what to think at first. You know, I grew up in a period of time where the idea of America being under attack never entered my mind just like your daddy's and mother's mind, probably. And I started thinking hard in that very brief period of time about what it meant to be under attack. I knew that when I got all of the facts that we were under attack, there would be hell to pay for attacking America. I tried to get as many facts as I could, Jordan, to make sure I knew, as I was making decisions, that I knew exactly what I was basing my decisions on. I've got a fabulous team. A President can't possibly be President without a good team. It starts with having a great wife, by the way. And so, I got on the phone from Air Force One, asking to find out the facts. You've got to understand, Jordan, during this period of time, there were all kinds of rumors floating around. Some of them were erroneous. Obviously for example, there was a news report saying that the State Department had been attacked. I needed to know what the facts were. But I knew I needed to act. I knew that if the Nation's under attack, the role of the Commander in Chief is to respond forcefully to prevent other attacks from happening. And so, I've talked to the Secretary of Defense one of the first acts I did was to put our military on alert. An interesting thing happened shortly thereafter. Condoleezza Rice, who was not with me but was with the Vice President because they were in the White House compound, called me on Air Force One after that and said that she had gotten a call from Russia, from Vladimir Putin, who understood why we were putting our troops on alert and therefore wasn't going to respond. That was an important phone call, because when I was coming up, and a lot of other older looking people here who were coming up with me laughter that would never have happened in the past. An alert by the United States would have caused Russia to go on alert, which would have created a complicated situation. But that wasn't the case. By the way, we're heading into a new era. One of the positive things that comes out of the evil was, we're reassessing relationships in order to make the world more peaceful. I believe it's important for us to have positive relations with our former enemy and to rethink the defenses of the United States of America. At any rate, I knew I had a job to do. And I was quoted in the press the other day as saying I haven't regretted one thing I've decided. And that's the truth. Every decision I made, I stand by. And I'm proud of the decisions I've made. Support for the Muslim Community Q. Mr. President, peace and blessings be unto you. I'm representing the Muslim community of Orlando. And I would really like to thank you for being such a great role model, practicing what this country believes in, the higher ideals that this country believes in, your support to the Muslim community in combating racism. I am an educator I'm a mother and I have a strong faith. Thank you so much for holding these values high and trying to wipe the stereotypes that the Taliban has been represented of Muslim women. I am an educator, educating Muslim children in this Orlando city. Thank you very much, Mr. President. The President. God bless. Thank you. Listen, I've got a job to do. Laughter I've got to get back to my temporary home. By the way, my address is in Washington my home is going to be back in Texas one of these days. But I am I have got to go back. I wish I could stay and answer questions all night, but I've got I'll be right there, ma'am. He's fine. I've got to get back and go to work. I can't tell you what an honor it is to have been here. I want to thank you all for your great questions and for your incredibly warm reception. It's a huge honor to be the greatest to be the President of the greatest country in the world. God bless you all, and may God bless America. December 04, 2001 The President. Good morning. Today we take another important step in the financial fight against terror. From the beginning of this fight I have said our enemies are terrorist networks of global reach, and all who harbor them and support them are our enemies, as well. We began with Al Qaida and the Taliban. We identified some of Al Qaida's financial backers, and we moved against their accounts. In November we advanced further and identified 22 more global terrorist organizations. And now we are moving against their financing, as well. At midnight yesterday the Treasury Department froze the assets and accounts of the Holy Land Foundation in Richardson, Texas, whose money is used to support the Hamas terror organization. Earlier today Federal agents secured the offices and records of the Holy Land Foundation in Texas, California, New Jersey, and Illinois as a part of an ongoing investigation. At the same time, we have blocked the accounts of an Hamas linked bank, an Hamas linked holding company based in the West Bank. The message is this Those who do business with terror will do no business with the United States or anywhere else the United States can reach. Hamas is an extremist group that calls for the total destruction of the state of Israel. It is one of the deadliest terrorist organizations in the world today. Hamas openly claimed responsibility for this past weekend's suicide attacks in Israel that killed 25 innocent people, many of them teenagers, and wounded almost 200 other people. Hamas is guilty of hundreds of other deaths over the years and just in the past 12 months have killed two Americans. And today we act. Hamas has obtained much of the money that it pays for murder abroad right here in the United States, money originally raised by the Holy Land Foundation. The Holy Land Foundation is registered with the IRS as a tax exempt charity based in Richardson. It raised 13 million from people in America last year. The Holy Land Foundation claims that the money it solicits goes to care for needy Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. Money raised by the Holy Land Foundation is used by Hamas to support schools and indoctrinate children to grow up into suicide bombers. Money raised by the Holy Land Foundation is also used by Hamas to recruit suicide bombers and to support their families. America has called on other nations to suppress the financing of terror. Today we take further steps to suppress it inside our borders. I am confident that most of the donors to the Holy Land Foundation, and perhaps even some of the individuals who are associated with the Foundation, had no idea how its money was being used. They wanted to relieve suffering in the region of the world that has suffered too much. But the facts are clear The terrorists benefit from the Holy Land Foundation. And we're not going to allow it. Our action today is another step in the war on terrorism. It's not the final step. There are more terrorist networks of global reach and more front groups who use deceit to support them. The net is closing. Today it just got tighter. And now it's my honor to welcome to the podium the Secretary of the Treasury, Paul O'Neill. December 04, 2001 I, first of all, understand that the attacks on September the 11th affected a lot of people. Not only did we lose a lot of life, not only are Americans worried about future attacks, but a lot of people lost their jobs. And I'm here at this program to assure the American people and yourselves that our governments, both Federal and State governments, want to help you help yourself. I've just come from a little discussion with people who find themselves in the same position you're in, about how best to use resources to enable them to retrain for jobs that actually exist. Today we announced a grant for the State of Florida for over 3 million to encourage programs in one stop centers such as this, so that they're available for people who are looking for new skills. And the other thing that makes it important is, the Federal Government can write checks, but it seems like, to me, it makes sense to empower the local folks to design the programs to meet the needs so that you can train for jobs that actually exist in your neighborhood. And that's why I'm so proud of my little brother for seizing this initiative to develop a program that will meet your needs and the needs of people that are looking for workers. I want you to know that I'm optimistic about the future of the country. There's no question in my mind we will win the war on terror. There's no question that those who the evil ones who murdered innocent citizens will be brought to justice. I believe that we're making taking everything we possibly can to I know we're doing everything we can to prevent further attacks. It's going to be important for the economic vitality of our country to prevent future attacks. And we're taking the steps necessary within our Constitution to do just that. If we get any whiff or any sniff that somebody is going to harm an American again, we're acting just the way you would want us to. And I believe that we've got in place the framework for economic growth We've got good fiscal policy interest rates are low energy prices are reasonable. But I hope the Congress does pass legislation that will take care of displaced workers for the short term, provide the short term help necessary for you all extending unemployment insurance, national emergency grants to help with the health care payments, and then put other stimuluses in place to encourage job creation. The long term solution is more jobs, and I believe, acting together, we can do that. There seems to be a little bit of a logjam in Washington, DC, right now. And I know that Senators from both parties, if they could hear the stories about and I'm sure they do I'm sure they listen when they go home. But they need to act. They need to stop fussing and stop talking and get something to my desk that will take care of the workers and provide stimulus to this economy. I wish you all the best. I'm an optimist. We live in a great country, a resilient country, a country that will rise to the task. And I believe that the effects of 9 11 will when we do our job, will be mitigated with job increases for you all. I really wish you the best. I hurt, that coming into the holiday season, that you're not working. But I admire your courage for going out to try to improve yourselves so you can find jobs around here. God bless you all. Thank you for letting me come by to say hello. I wish you all the best. December 02, 2001 In a couple of minutes I'll have the honor of receiving the Prime Minister from Israel. We obviously changed our schedule because of the horrific acts of murder that took place in his land. I will tell him that I strongly condemn the acts of murder that killed innocent people in Israel. I will tell him our Nation grieves for those whose lives have been affected by the murderers. This is a moment where the advocates for peace in the Middle East must rise up and fight terror. Chairman Arafat must do everything in his power to find those who murdered innocent Israelis and bring them to justice. Clearly, there are some in the world who do not want us to achieve peace in the Middle East. Clearly, there are some that, every chance they have, they will use violence and terror to disrupt any progress that's being made. We must not allow them to succeed. We must not allow terror to destroy the chance of peace in the Middle East. Now is the time for leaders throughout the world who urge there to be a peace to do something about the terror that prevents peace from happening in the first place. May God bless the Israeli citizens who lost their lives, and their families. Thank you. December 01, 2001 Good morning. This week, the official announcement came that our economy has been in recession since March. And unfortunately, to a lot of Americans, that news comes as no surprise. Many have lost jobs or seen their hours cut. Many have seen friends or family laid off. The long economic expansion that started 10 years ago, in 1991, began to slow last year. Many economists warned me when I took office that a recession was beginning, so we took quick action. We passed the biggest tax cut in a generation, and we imposed some much needed discipline on Federal spending. And by the end of the summer, we could see signs that the economy was responding. But the terrorist attacks of September the 11th hit our economy hard. They hurt our airlines and hotels and restaurants and undermined consumer and business confidence. Now we need to act boldly to protect America's economic security. There are two immediate priorities for America's recovery We must bring quick help to those who need it most, and we must restore our economy's growth. It's the holiday season. It's a time to reach out to Americans who are hurting, to help them put food on the table, and to keep a roof over their heads. I've offered a plan to provide immediate assistance to those who have lost their jobs in the wake of the terrorist attack. My plan extends unemployment compensation by 13 weeks in the States hardest hit by terrorism. My plan helps States offer Medicaid to uninsured workers in need and their families. And my plan offers emergency grants to States to help displaced workers get job training and find new work and continue their health insurance practical help in a difficult time. And I'm working with congressional leaders on more ideas to help Americans who have lost their jobs. In the long run, the right answer to unemployment is to create more jobs. I have proposed a package of job creating measures. I've asked Congress for tax relief for low and moderate income people to put more money into the hands of consumers and to put people to work making things that consumers want. I have proposed we lower taxes on employers who buy new equipment to expand their business and hire more people. We should reform our tax laws so that employers don't pay more taxes as their profits shrink. And I propose we speed up the income tax cuts Congress passed in the spring so that people can keep more of their own money to spend or pay their debts. I asked for this job creation package on October the 5th. The House of Representatives responded swiftly. Yet I'm still waiting for a bill to sign, and more importantly, so are more than 415,000 Americans who have lost their jobs since then. You know, after September the 11th my administration and the Congress made a conscious decision to show the terrorists we could work together. We had an obligation to show that democracy works. We've done that. And now we need to do it again by helping dislocated workers and spurring economic growth. Thank you for listening. November 29, 2001 Well, John, thank you very much for those kind words. And I appreciate your strong leadership. It is a principled leadership it is a steady leadership and it is a leadership that is good for America. I guess we call you General. Laughter That means you all are in the Army. Laughter And I am glad you are. I also want to thank Larry Thompson for his good work. Thank you for being here, Larry. And where's Al Gonzales, who is my Al led the effort to scour the country for the best to serve as U.S. attorneys, and I appreciate his hard work. And I suspect you new U.S. attorneys appreciate his hard work, as well. Laughter But Al has been my lawyer for a long time and was a lawyer for the State of Texas and was a judge for the State of Texas. And he is a pretty special guy, and I'm glad he's here in Washington with me. And I'm glad you all are here, as well. Thank you for coming. I want to welcome you here. I want to welcome the new U.S. attorneys. I want to congratulate you. I must tell you that we set a high standard, and you met it. And for that, I hope you're proud. And I am grateful that you are willing to serve the country, particularly at this time. I know you know this, but I want to remind you that you have got a significant commitment to the security and safety of the American people. We all do. That's our job, and it's a job we will keep. The security and safety of our people was threatened before September the 11th. In many neighborhoods, there's too much gun violence in America. Despite all the progress against crime, teenagers almost as many teenagers die from gunshot wounds as from all natural causes combined. And that's not right, and we are going to do something about it. We must help people reclaim their neighborhoods and their streets. We must help those who want to live in a comfortable environment feel safe. That's one of our primary jobs. And so I proposed a program called Project Safe Neighborhoods. And you have a clear charge to fight gun violence in America. U.S. Attorneys will work with State and local authorities in an all out campaign, in a focused and vigorous effort to cut gun crime. By September of this year of next year, 2002, we hope to have 200 new attorneys hired to prosecute crimes committed with a gun, 200 new attorneys to help you stay focused on an important mission, which is the safety of our citizens. Investigators will have the best training and the latest technology available. We want to enhance the technology so we can find those, track those, communicate better with each other to bring people to justice who commit a crime with a gun. We'll improve data sharing and criminal recordkeeping to ensure that people who shouldn't have guns don't get them. We've got to prevent those people who want to use guns to hurt our fellow citizens from getting them in the first place. And finally, we want to make sure that the Federal Government works more closely with communities and community based programs and faith based groups to steer our children away from guns before they take a life or lose their own. In other words, on the one hand, I want you to be tough, and on the other hand, I want you to rally the compassionate, loving souls in neighborhoods who can teach children lessons from right, from wrong. This is an important calling. The methods work in those cities where they've we tried a program that I just outlined they work. Statistics show it, and now we've got to make sure it exists all across the country. This is an important charge for you. It's one of your top priorities, because it's one of mine. We have got to send this message and I mean a clear message, an unambiguous message that if you illegally carry or use a gun, there is one consequence in America arrest and jail. The best way to make sure our neighborhoods are safe is to enforce the laws on the books, and to the best of our ability, we will give you more tools to do that. The safety and security of America also faces a new threat, and that is the threat of terror. It is the calling of our time to rid the world of terror. And it is the calling of our time to protect the American people. You know, it's interesting I can't imagine what a speech like this would have been like prior to September the 11th, but I doubt I would have ever said, "You are now on the frontline of war." And that's where you are. And make no mistake about it, we've got a war here just like we've got a war abroad. And we have a huge responsibility, and that's to defend America while protecting our great liberties. And I'm confident you can do the job otherwise, you wouldn't be sitting here. Our enemies are resourceful, and they are incredibly ruthless. They hide, and they plot, and they target freedom. They can't stand what America stands for. It must bother them greatly to know we're such a free and wonderful place, a place where all religions can flourish, a place where women are free, a place where children can be educated. It must grate on them greatly, but that's what we're going to keep doing, because that's what America is about. And we owe it to the American people. We owe it to our citizens, to the families, to be relentless and methodical in tracking down terrorists and bringing each and every one of them to justice. That's our calling. It's the calling of the 21st century, and it's a calling that we will not tire for. It's a calling that we will keep in our minds, and you must keep it in your minds, because I can assure you I'm going to keep it in mine. The Government and the people are determined. And I have been able to travel our country some, and I know you can if you were to report back to me, you would tell me you've seen the same determination and the same patience and the same unity to achieve this objective. I like to remind people that the evil ones have roused a mighty nation, and they will pay a serious price. Abroad, our military and our alliance is making good progress good, steady, significant progress. We're disrupting their cashflows. We're finding their bankers, and we're shutting them down. And it's not just America. There are a lot of other countries who have participated with us, and that's heartening. We've got great intelligence sharing now, around the world. I've been able to say to a lot of leaders, face to face, "You tell us when they're coming, and if we find out something about you, we'll let you know, too." And that's important. It's important to know as much information as possible about the enemy. It's important to try to figure out where they hide and their intentions. It helps to have a vast coalition willing to share that kind of information. And we're bringing a lot of terrorists to justice around the world, as well. I think we've arrested over 300 we, the coalition, has arrested over 350 Al Qaida members and terrorists. I was able to thank President Aznar of Spain this week, for arresting eight eight terrorists, eight people who hate freedom are now in jail, where they should be. And hopefully, they'll give us some information that we will share with other coalition members, to keep us all safe. And as we speak, we're enforcing the doctrine that makes it plain that not only do we seek the terrorists, but we also hold governments that harbor them and feed them and house them and hide them accountable for their behavior, as well. Afghanistan is the first overseas front in this war against terror. And I'm pleased to report the military is performing really well. In a short period of time, most of the country now is in the hands of our allies and friends. We've rescued the humanitarian aid workers. We've destroyed the Taliban military. They're in total confusion. The Government that used to hate women and not educate its children and disrupt humanitarian supplies and destroy religious symbols of other religions is now in rout. And we've got Al Qaida on the run, too. Now, they think they can hide, but they can't hide for long. And they think they can run, but they can't run forever, because we will patiently, diligently, pursue them until they are brought to justice. And on the homefront, terrorist violence must be prevented and must be defeated, and it will be, with vigilance, aggressive investigation, and certain punishment. Already, we've committed significant new resources to homeland security. We've improved our ability to detect and stop terrorist activity, but we've still got a lot of work to do. I'm pleased to report the culture of the FBI is changing the people you'll be working with in the field is changing. Now, one in four employees of the FBI are directly involved with the efforts to track down every lead and to disrupt the evil ones. And our new investigations are moving forward. And as we do so, our laws are being enforced fairly and in full. We'll hear from material witnesses. We'll give them a chance to participate in the war against terror by telling us what they know. We will apply the immigration laws. We're interviewing people on a voluntary basis. We're saying, "Welcome to America. You have come to our country why don't you help make us safe? Why don't you share information with us? Why don't you help us protect innocent people, women and children and men? Why don't you help us value life? As you enjoy the freedoms of our country, help us protect those freedoms." But there is no doubt about our intentions, and there shouldn't be. Those who plot terror and those who help them will be held accountable in America. That's what we're going to do. Protecting the innocent against violence is a solemn duty of this country. It is our most important responsibility now. And all of us in this room accept that responsibility. And we will tell the American people plainly, we will fulfill that responsibility. To meet that obligation, a wartime reorganization is underway at the Justice Department. More investigators will go to frontlines. The Federal Government will work more closely with State and local authorities, and so will you. Agents will receive better training and new technology to help track and capture terrorists or those who support them. And these changes are essential, and I want to thank the Attorney General and Director Mueller for beginning this transformation. I have also reserved the option of trial by military commission for foreign terrorists who wage war against our country. Noncitizens, non U.S. citizens who plan and or commit mass murder are more than criminal suspects. They are unlawful combatants who seek to destroy our country and our way of life. And if I determine that it is in the national security interest of our great land to try by military commission those who make war on America, then we will do so. We will act with fairness, and we will deliver justice, which is far more than the terrorists ever grant to their innocent victims. Ours is a great land, and we'll always value freedom. We're an open society. But we're at war. The enemy has declared war on us. And we must not let foreign enemies use the forums of liberty to destroy liberty, itself. Foreign terrorists and agents must never again be allowed to use our freedoms against us. Many of you will play a crucial part in our victory against terrorism, and make no mistake, we're going to win the war. Decisions important to millions of Americans will be made in your offices. Your work in the cause of justice will help ensure the security of this Nation. And as you join this fight, you will honor the Constitution. You will not only protect our people, but you will uphold our values. Every Federal prosecutor has the unique privilege of standing up in a court and telling the judge that you are there on behalf of the United States. In a time of war, these words are even more deeply felt, are even more significant. Yours is a great trust and one of the great professions. Today you carry not only the confidence and respect of the American people, but you carry our deep gratitude, as well. God bless. November 28, 2001 President Bush. It's my honor to welcome a friend of mine and a friend of our country, the President of Spain, to the White House. Jose Maria was on the phone early, right after September the 11th. He assured me that he would cooperate in any way possible in our mutual desire to fight terror. And he has lived up to his word, and for that, I am grateful. I asked nations to join us in bringing people to justice who are evil, who don't respect the law, and this President responded. Recently, Spain has arrested Al Qaida members and has shared information about those Al Qaida members, and it's incredibly helpful. And for that, Mr. President, the American people are very grateful. And in our meetings today I assured the President that our Nation would help Spain in any way possible to fight terror. And Mr. President, you've got that assurance. So it's a great honor un honor para mi para decir a mi amigo, bienvenidos a los Estados Unidos. President Aznar. Dear President Bush, may I thank you for your invitation. It is, indeed, a great honor and tremendous satisfaction for me to visit the White House. We have very fond memories of the visit that you made to us in Spain last June, and we recall your commitment and your words of support to Spain's fight against terrorism. And several months later, we have managed to see this solidarity this alliance is a two way alliance. Spain supports, has supported, and will support all the United States' efforts to track down, to eradicate, and to eliminate terrorism wherever it may be worldwide. We intend to maintain and, if necessary, strengthen our political commitment, our cooperation in the area of intelligence and security and information sharing, and if need be, to commit military forces to that battle. Our battle is a battle for the same ideas, for the same freedoms, for the same society and civilizations, and we will share all those efforts as long as is necessary to combat. The only fate that awaits terrorists is defeat, and the only option for terrorists is going to be brought to justice. Thank you. President Bush. Tenemos hambre, y por eso, solamente cuatros preguntas. Dos de la prensa de la Estados Unidos, dos de la prensa de Espana, por favor. Four questions, two from the American press, two from Spanish press, because we're hungry we've got a big meal. Laughter Legislative Agenda Q. Yes, sir. Do you support suspending the payroll tax as a compromise on the stimulus? President Bush. The question is, do I support providing a credit on the payroll tax? Q. Correct. President Bush. The Domenici idea in the Senate? Here's what I support I support the Senate coming together and getting a bill moving as quickly as possible, so that we can get it to conference and get the differences resolved. The Senate must pass a stimulus package. The American people expect them to do so I expect them to do so. I had a good conversation today with Senator Daschle and Senator Lott on this very subject and urged them to get the business done get the appropriations bills passed, to get a stimulus package passed, and then go home and enjoy the Christmas vacation. And I hope they do so. There are differences, but the differences aren't that big. Any good package must be stimulative in effect and, at the same time, take care of displaced workers. There's agreement on that. They just now have got to work out the details, and I hope they're able to do so. Detained Spanish Nationals Q. Mr. President, according to The New York Times, 13 Spanish nationals are being held in the United States in relation to the attacks on the Twin Towers. Did you speak about that to President Bush? President Aznar. No. Airport and Airline Security Q. Mr. President, how can you assure the American people safety in the skies, given that your Transportation Secretary now thinks it may be impossible to meet that initial deadline for screening baggage? President Bush. David David Gregory, NBC News , we're doing everything we can to meet the deadline. And we're doing everything we can to make sure that the American people feel safe. And one way we're doing it is to have guardsmen at the airports over the Christmas holidays. Another way to do it is to have the planes full of air marshals. And finally, obviously, we need to expedite the ability for us to inspect baggage, and we're doing everything we can to do that. Military Tribunals Extradition Q. Did you discuss the military tribunals with regard to extradition President Bush. Military tribunals was the question. President Aznar. I said at the beginning of this press conference that political cooperation between Spain and the United States is full on this issue. And I just reiterate that and also say that cooperation between the United States and Spain, Spain and the United States, is also full as regards Spain's own terrorism problem. And I think that is the most important point to bear in mind. You asked about the extradition of the Al Qaida members in Spain. Can I just say that if and when the United States requests that extradition, we will study the issue. Can I also say that the United States is free to organize its own jurisdiction as it sees fit, as a free and democratic country. Any action taken on the extradition issue will be taken with full respect of Spanish and United States law. We are also working on this issue at the European Union level, and we do hope to reach agreement on that issue in the very near future. President Bush. Thank you all. Thank you. November 28, 2001 Well, thank you so very much for that warm welcome. And it is great to be here with the farmers and ranchers and researchers and business leaders who make America the most innovative and most productive farm nation in the world. I am somewhat nostalgic for our place in Crawford. But I've been a little busy lately. Laughter I want to thank you for the opportunity to speak about the future of agriculture and the future of our economy, because they both begin with your work. I want to thank Andy for providing this opportunity for me to come and speak. And I want to thank our Secretary of Agriculture for doing such a fine job of not only representing farmers and ranchers here at home but doing a fine job of making sure our farmers and ranchers are heard overseas, as well. She and Bob Zoellick went to Doha. I told them, "No longer are we going to treat our farmers as trading commodities." Agriculture is the cornerstone of our economy, and our international agreements must reflect that. And so, Madam Secretary, thank you for your hard work in Doha. I appreciate it very much. The success of agriculture contributes to the strength of this Nation. It is in our national interests, in our national security interests that we have a strong farm economy. And the farmers of America contribute to the values of our Nation and to the generosity of our Nation. As we speak, trucks and planes are delivering American food to the hungry in Afghanistan. Those rations say, "A gift from the people of the United States." This gift is made possible by the farmers in our country, and I want to thank you for it. The farmers represent and preserve the values of our Nation hard work, risktaking, love of the land. I always like to say people who own their own land understand the necessity to be good stewards every day is Earth Day if you own your own land. The farmers represent love of family and love of our country. And farming is our first industry, the industry that feeds us, that clothes us and, increasingly, provides our energy. As Andy mentioned, I was the Governor of the State of Texas it happens to be the second largest agricultural State in the country. I understand how tough it is to make a living on the farm. I understand how much hard work goes into making the land productive. And I understand how valuable an asset land is and how important it is that it stay from one generation to the next. And that's why I'm glad to have signed a law that is sending the death tax on its way to extinction. Today, our Nation is challenged by a great conflict. We face new threats, and they require a fight on many fronts, both overseas and here at home. After September the 11th, I vowed to the world that we would bring to justice those who killed innocent women and children and men here in America. I also said that any nation that harbored a terrorist, that aided a terrorist, that abetted a terrorist would be held accountable, and that's exactly what's taking place today. Thanks to our military, thanks to friends and allies, we are destroying the Taliban military, and we're destroying the camps that terrorists use to plan attacks on nations such as America. We're meeting our goals in Afghanistan. After all, our allies now control most of the country. One of the objectives I laid out in front of Congress is that we would rescue those who were held, detained against their will. And so I had the honor last Monday of welcoming two young Baylor graduates to the White House, part of the humanitarian rescue mission that we pulled off successfully. As I mentioned, we're feeding the hungry and providing medicine and clothes to those poor, suffering, innocent citizens of Afghanistan. And we're after Al Qaida. The evil ones think they can hide. They think they can run. But they're learning that this is a patient nation, a nation that is determined to smoke them out and to bring them to justice. And that's exactly what we're going to do. I also recognize that we've got a war here on the homefront. And it's important for the American people to know that their Government is doing everything we possibly can to disrupt and deny the enemy, that we take every threat seriously, that we run down every lead, that we're on full alert. The thing I'm most proud of is that the American people will not be intimidated by the evil ones, that they understand that the intent of the Al Qaida murderers was to freeze our Nation in place. But they don't understand America like I do. America is resolved. We are united. And we will not relent until we make sure that those who believe they can harm our Government and our friends are brought to justice, whether it be in Afghanistan or any other place they hide. I said, when this war first started, that the farther away we get from September the 11th, the more likely it is people will forget that there are evil ones in the world who want to destroy our country, what we stand for. And that may be the case amongst some. But that's not what I've seen in America. This Nation is resolved to do whatever it takes, in whatever theater is necessary, to make sure that civilization itself remains intact, to make sure that our children and our grandchildren can grow up in a world that is free and peaceful. It is the calling of our time, and it's a calling that we accept. And we're going to win. I view this as a fight between good and evil, and good will always prevail. We also have difficulties here on the homefront because of our economic situation. Statistics recently showed that shortly after I was sworn in as President, our economy was slow and had been slowing for a while. I made the case and fortunately, Congress listened that a slow economy required immediate action when it came to tax relief, and they delivered. That's an important part of making sure that we generate growth, is to let people keep more of their hard earned money so they can spend it, and not the Government. And at the same time, in order to address an economic slowdown, we brought sorely needed fiscal discipline to Washington, DC, that we fought for and got a budget that was realistic, that didn't grow way beyond the means of our Government. And by the end of summer, the economy was beginning to stabilize. Yet the terrorist attack of September the 11th, no question, dealt our economy a serious blow. So while we fight our enemies and states that harbor terrorism and while we defend our homeland and our airways, we must take further action to strengthen our economy. Americans know our economy was targeted for terror by terror. And they're asking us to fight back, and we must. These are incredibly tough times for some of our fellow Americans. Some have lost their jobs. Some have had their hours curtailed. Many have seen their savings shrink, and small businesses are struggling just to stay in business. We're facing tough times, but if we act quickly, I'm confident we can grow our economy. On October the 5th, 7 weeks ago, I asked Congress to send me an economic stimulus package, and I outlined the principles that should guide the plan. First, any plan must help displaced workers. Any plan must recognize that folks have been severely hurt by the attack on September the 11th, and we must help them. Secondly, the plan should speed up the individual income tax cuts Congress approved last May. The sooner rates come down, the faster our economy will rise. The plan should provide tax relief for low and moderate income workers to help them through these tough times. The plan should allow companies and entrepreneurs to deduct the cost of new investments more quickly, to encourage businesses to grow and to create job opportunities for Americans. And the plan should reform the corporate income tax to do away with the alternative minimum tax, a tax that pushes tax rates up at exactly the moment when corporate America's profits are going down. The House of Representatives acted on a stimulus bill, but it seems to be stuck in the Senate. It is important for the Senate not to look for ways to spend new money but to look for ways to create new jobs. And so I ask the Senate leadership to work out their differences and pass an economic stimulus plan, so they can get it in conference and get a bill to my desk as quickly as possible. The American people expect it, and I expect it. This country is waiting for action. And in the time that we have been waiting, more than 415,000 workers have lost their jobs. Further delay could put more Americans and more families at risk. So let's move. Let's get the job done. I also want to improve our homeland security and our economy by having a national energy plan. I want to thank the Farm Journal Forum for emphasizing the importance of ethanol and biofuels. These fuels are gentle on the environment. They are fuels that can be renewed year after year and fuels that can expand our farm economy. These fuels are made right here in America, so they can't be threatened by any foreign power. Ethanol and biofuels are fuels of the future for this country. Since the beginning of my administration, I have strongly supported ethanol and biofuels. And the energy plan I sent to Congress back in the spring supports biofuels. The House passed an energy plan. Now it's time for the Senate to act and pass an energy plan. It's in our national security interests to do so. I look forward to signing a national energy bill. I'm also ready to sign trade promotion authority, to open up markets for American industry and American farmers. This authority sends an unmistakable signal to our trading partners that the Congress and the administration are united on trade. The House will soon vote on trade promotion authority. I hope you'll join me in pressing for its passage and, in the process, helping to restore U.S. leadership in support of free trade. U.S. leadership matters. We recently helped bring China into the World Trade Organization, and that is good for American farmers. It is in our interests, in our agricultural interests to help feed China. We helped start a new world trade round in Doha. Our negotiators came back from Doha with excellent news for American farmers. American farmers too often lose markets or suffer low prices because of unfair export subsidies. The Doha Declaration calls for reducing export subsidies and, ultimately, phasing them out. For too long, the agricultural market has been rigged against farmers who play fair. Doha shows the way toward a more level playing field. That's good news for the world's hungry it's good news for the world's most productive food producers, the American farmers. We've got a good stimulus bill, a sound energy plan, and it's important to have a good farm bill, too. A good farm bill should keep the safety net under our food producers, without misleading our farmers into overproducing crops that are already in oversupply, by increasing loan rates. A good farm bill should help farmers help themselves with farm savings accounts. These accounts would help farmers set aside money in good years to sustain them in hard times. A good farm bill should promote responsible stewardship of America's farms and ranchers by promoting conservation on working lands. A good farm bill should honor our trade obligations, as we expect our competitors to honor their obligations. And a good farm bill should be generous but affordable. It should honor the budget limits that Congress has agreed to live by. You know, we've learned a lot about our country since September the 11th. We've learned that our people are strong, that our military is very good at what it does, and that our country's heart has never been more generous and good. And we have much to mourn and much to rebuild, but much to be grateful for. Just a few days ago we gave thanks for God's bounty to America. But we should never forget that it takes the hard toil on the land to turn that bounty into the food we eat and that we share with the world's hungry our bounty. We should never forget who does that toil. It's the American farmer and the American rancher. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. November 26, 2001 The President. Good morning. I'm so honored to welcome two courageous souls to the Rose Garden to celebrate a story of joy and a story of hope, a story of two women who were rescued, a story about the faith that sustained them and a family that clearly loves them. Heather Mercer and Dayna Curry decided to go to help people who needed help. Their faith led them to Afghanistan. One woman who knows them best put it this way They had a calling to serve the poorest of the poor, and Afghanistan is where that calling took them. And Heather and Dayna's faith in God sustained them throughout their ordeal. It's a wonderful story about prayer, about a faith that can sustain people in good times and in bad times. Their faith was a source of hope that kept them from becoming discouraged. I talked to them right after their release, their freedom, and I sensed no bitterness in their voice, no fatigue, just joy. It was an uplifting experience for me to talk to these courageous souls. Theirs is also a story about people who in our country who rallied for them. People prayed all around the country. I was particularly struck by the fact that Heather's dad offered to take her place in prison. I was struck by the fact that a country preacher out of central Texas flew to Afghanistan to lend his presence in any way that would help. I know there are a lot of people right outside of Crawford that were praying for these girls' release. And when they were, people all across Baylor University cheered. Something besides football became more important in their lives life, itself. This is a story of a military that is committed to achieving certain objectives. In my speech in front of the United States Congress, I said to the Taliban that one of the objectives was to release the humanitarian aid workers that were being detained against their will. We've achieved that objective. And I want to thank our military for rescuing these girls. And I want to thank those on the ground in Afghanistan who helped with their rescue, as well. So it's a joyous day to welcome two good souls to the Rose Garden. I'll ask them to say a few comments, and then I'll be glad to answer some questions, if you have any. At this point, Heather Mercer and Dayna Curry made brief remarks. The President. Good job. Operation Enduring Freedom Q. Mr. President, following up on the talk of the military's role in rescuing these two ladies, can you tell us why you have deployed 1,000 marines, at least 1,000 marines this weekend on the ground, what their mission is? How many more are coming? And how much more risky has their mission become with this advancement of the troops? The President. Well, first, I'll let the Defense Department explain the mission. Well, first of all, we know the mission. The mission is to bring Al Qaida to justice and to make sure Afghanistan no longer serves as a haven for terrorists. And we've got a military strategy that we're implementing. I'll let the Secretary of Defense, in his daily briefing, go into the operational details as he sees fit. But this is a dangerous period of time. This is a period of time in which we're now hunting down the people who are responsible for bombing America. I said a long time ago, one of our objectives is to smoke them out and get them running and to bring them to justice. We're smoking them out they're running and now we're going to bring them to justice. I also said we'll use whatever means is necessary to achieve that objective. And that's exactly what we're going to do. The American people must understand that we've got a long way to go in order to achieve our objective in this theater. But we're patient we're resolved and we will stay the course until we achieve our objective. National Economy Q. Mr. President, what's your reaction, sir, to news that the U.S. economy has been in a recession since March? The President. My reaction that since March? Well, I knew that the economy was not in good shape right after I took office that's why I urged that we pass a tax relief plan. I remember the debate clearly, about people saying, "Well, the economy is strong." But it wasn't. It was flagging it was weakening. And that tax relief plan is going to be part of an economic recovery package that will make sense for the long term of the country. We've got low interest rates. We've got reasonable energy prices. We've got good tax policy in place. We've got the framework for economic recovery. I hope Congress moves quickly on an economic stimulus package. The Senate needs to get a bill and get it into conference, so we can resolve differences and I can sign it before Christmas. But I am, obviously, aware that our economy is slow. And we will do everything we can to enhance recovery. Operation Enduring Freedom Q. Mr. President, getting back to the earlier question, aside from September 11th, which cannot be forgotten, the war on terrorism has been truly relatively American casualty free. And in recent years, Americans have been generally casualtyaverse in its military operations. Are you concerned that Americans may suddenly start getting back into that pattern where they're less accepting of American casualties? The President. Well, first of all, obviously, no President or Commander in Chief hopes anybody loses life in the theater. But it's going to happen. I said this early on, as the campaign began America must be prepared for loss of life. I believe the American people understand that we've got a mighty struggle on our hands and that there will be sacrifice. After all, some people made the greatest sacrifice possible on September the 11th, and that is those who took the airplane down. They said the Lord's Prayer on the phone to their loved ones the loved ones heard, "Let's roll" and they took a plane down so that it might not kill others, such as people working in the White House or at the Capitol. No, I think the American people understand we're in for a long, long struggle in order to rid the world of terrorism and that there might be loss of life. I pray that not be the case. But our brave men and women who signed up for the military understand the risk inherent with being in the military. Major Major Garrett, Cable News Network . Q. Mr. President, at Fort Campbell, you said, "Across the world and across the years, we will fight the evil ones, and we will win" The President. Yes. Future Counterterrorism Efforts Q. suggesting very strongly that Afghanistan is only the first step. What would you say about Iraq, as you begin to look at the next steps in the campaign against global terrorism? What message would you like to send to them now? The President. Well, my message is, is that if you harbor a terrorist, you're a terrorist. If you feed a terrorist, you're a terrorist. If you develop weapons of mass destruction that you want to terrorize the world, you'll be held accountable. And I also have said, as I recall, at the White House, we're going to make sure that we accomplish each mission that we tackle. First things first. Now having said that, we the coalition has arrested over 300 people. I can't wait to thank my friend President Aznar of Spain for having arrested eight terrorists in Spain. In other words, there is an international drag international effort to bring people to justice. And over 300 people that have been involved with Al Qaida have been brought to justice. Terrorism is terrorism. In this country, we'll deal with it. Bill Bill Plante, CBS News . Military Tribunals Q. Sir, you mentioned President Aznar of Spain. Spain says that they don't want to extradite those people unless they can be tried under our standard court system and not by a military tribunal. Are you concerned with the amount of dissent over your decision to establish military tribunals? The President. Not the least bit concerned. I made the right decision. A President must have the option of using a military tribunal in times of war. I look forward to explaining to my friend the President of Spain why I made that decision. It makes eminent sense to have the military tribunal option available. It makes sense for national security purposes. It makes sense for the protection of potential jurors. It makes sense for homeland security. It is the right decision to make, and I will explain that to any leader who asks. Terry Terry Moran, ABC News . Human Cloning Q. Mr. President, it seems an important line has been crossed with the attempt to clone a human being by a private laboratory. What's your reaction to that? Do you think there's any way to put this genie back in the bottle? The President. My reaction, Terry, is that the use of embryos to clone is wrong. We should not, as a society, grow life to destroy it. And that's exactly what's taking place. And I have made that position very clear. I haven't changed my mind. And this evidence today that they're trying to achieve that objective, to grow an embryo in order to extract a stem cell, in order for that embryo to die, is bad public policy. Not only that, it's morally wrong, in my opinion. Yes. The Vice President Q. Mr. President, does the current threat justify the Vice President remaining in an undisclosed location? And even though he's not The President. I just ate breakfast with him. It's no longer undisclosed. Laughter And he looks great. I think my adjective was "swell." He still looks swell. Q. How long is this separation going to go on? Do you think that The President. I had breakfast with him. I mean, I shouldn't say that. Right after I had breakfast, I met with him. I spent the morning with him. As a matter of fact, he was here to welcome these families into the White House. Q. But do you still consider him, even though he's not as visible and doesn't, in terms of visibility, appear to be playing the same kind of role we saw before September 11th The President. No, the Vice President is very much engaged in the administration, and I value his advice. I trust his judgment. I talk to him every single day. And today I was visiting with him face to face. As I say, he looks swell. Stretch. Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . Iraq Q. To follow up on Major's question. The President. What was his question? Q. Whether Iraq could be the next target of the antiterror campaign. The President. Oh, okay. Q. Does Saddam Hussein have to agree to allow weapons inspectors back into Iraq? Is that an unconditional demand of yours? The President. Saddam Hussein agreed to allow inspectors in his country. And in order to prove to the world he's not developing weapons of mass destruction, he ought to let the inspectors back in. Yes. Q. And if he does not do that, sir, what will be the consequence? If he does not do that, what will be the consequences? The President. That's up for he'll find out. Q. Sir, what is your thinking right now about taking the war to Iraq? You suggested that on Wednesday, when you said Afghanistan was just the beginning. The President. I stand by those words. Afghanistan is still just the beginning. If anybody harbors a terrorist, they're a terrorist. If they fund a terrorist, they're a terrorist. If they house terrorists, they're terrorists. I mean, I can't make it any more clearly to other nations around the world. If they develop weapons of mass destruction that will be used to terrorize nations, they will be held accountable. And as for Mr. Saddam Hussein, he needs to let inspectors back in his country to show us that he is not developing weapons of mass destruction. Yes, David David Gregory, NBC News . Weapons of Mass Destruction Q. Mr. President, following up on that thought, when you initially made defined terrorism in your speech before Congress, you did not include the weapons of mass destruction. Are you now extending this to countries like North Korea, other places where we have had evidence over the years that there's been development of such weapons? The President. Well, clearly, in terms of North Korea, we want North Korea to allow inspectors in, to determine whether or not they are. We've had that discussion with North Korea. I made it very clear to North Korea that in order for us to have relations with them, that we want to know, are they developing weapons of mass destruction? And they ought to stop proliferating. So part of the war on terror is to deny terrorist weapons getting I mean, weapons to be used for means of terror getting in the hands of nations that will use them. And so I'm not quite sure of the Q. I'm just asking if you've expanded your definition to countries who don't just harbor terrorists but also develop such weapons. The President. Have I expanded the definition? I've always had that definition, as far as I'm concerned. Yes, ma'am. Pakistan Q. Mr. President, you've said a number of times you will go to all lengths to get members of Al Qaida. There's now news that Pakistan has airlifted some of its citizens back to Pakistan. Are you concerned that they may be taking members of Al Qaida and will not turn them over? The President. No, I'm not. We've had good discussions with Pakistan. They understand the objective is to bring Al Qaida to justice, and they've indicated they'll help us do so. All right, thank you all very much. November 24, 2001 Good morning. Thanksgiving this year comes 72 days after a terrible national shock, an act of evil that caused, and continues to cause, so much suffering. Yet, the evil the terrorists intended has resulted in good they never expected. And this holiday season, Americans have much to be thankful for. We're thankful for the character of our fellow citizens who are flying flags and donating to charity and comforting those who grieve. Americans have aided the families of victims and the starving children of Afghanistan, half a world away. This country has a good and generous heart. We're thankful for the decency of the American people who have stood for the American tradition of tolerance and religious liberty, a tradition that has welcomed and protected generations of immigrants from every faith and background. We are thankful for new heroes, police officers and firefighters and emergency workers, who have renewed our respect for public service and provided lasting lessons in courage. We're thankful for the men and women of our military, who are defending our lives and liberty with such skill, honor, and success. We're thankful, this year even more intensely, for our lives and our families and the love of those around us. Americans are remembering what really matters holding our children more closely, giving them more time. And we're thankful to God, who turned suffering into strength and grief into grace. Offering thanks in the midst of tragedy is an American tradition, perhaps because in times of testing, our dependence on God is so clear. The Pilgrims gave thanks even after the many deaths of a bitter winter. Abraham Lincoln proclaimed days of national thanksgiving even during a bloody Civil War. Lincoln asked God to heal the wounds of the Nation and to restore it, as soon as it may be consistent with the divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility. We pray for this goal, and we work for it. In America, blessings are meant to be shared, and our Thanksgiving is revealed in concern for others. At this season, Laura and I hope you'll find ways to reach out and share your blessings and talents in your own communities Tutor or mentor a child volunteer in a hospital support our troops by becoming active in the USO comfort those who feel afraid show your kindness to a Muslim neighbor help someone in need of shelter or food or words of hope and continue to pray for America. We will face difficult times ahead. The fight we have begun will not be quickly or easily finished. Our enemies hide and plot in many nations. They are devious and ruthless. Yet we are confident in the justice of our cause. We will fight for as long as it takes, and we will prevail. May God grant us patience, resolve, and wisdom in all that is to come. Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you for listening. November 21, 2001 The President. Thank you all very much. At ease. Thank you all very much. Laura and I are proud, really proud, to be with the men and women of the finest army in the whole world. This Thanksgiving, Americans are especially thankful for our freedom, and we are especially thankful to you, the people who keep us free. I want to thank your general, "Commander Cody," for his hospitality and for his leadership. I took a good look at him. I'm glad he's on my side, and I'm glad you are, as well. I want to thank General Ellis. General Ellis has got a huge job. We've called upon a good man to accomplish that job. I want to thank Sergeant Major Clifford West. I want to thank the Governors from the States represented here at Fort Campbell Governor Paul Patton and Governor Don Sundquist, from Kentucky and Tennessee. I want to thank the Senators who are here with us from the two States Senator Mitch McConnell, my good friend I hope to see him in DC for a lot of years coming and I want to thank Jim Bunning. He was telling me he thought my fastball, when I threw it at Yankee Stadium, had a little zip on it. Nothing like his fastballs. Laughter I want to thank Senator Fred Thompson and Senator Bill Frist, two fine United States Senators from Tennessee. I want to thank Congressman Ed Bryant from Tennessee for being here, as well. All of these men respect and support the United States military, and they represent the best of our country in the Halls of our Congress. Congressman Ed Whitfield, who represents this district, wanted to be here today, but he's spending the holiday with the U.S. service men and women from Kentucky who are stationed in Kosovo. They're in our prayers this Thanksgiving, as are all the troops overseas. And I want to thank Congressman Whitfield's dad, Mr. E.O. Whitfield, for coming here in his stead. At this point, a woman cheered. The President. Sounds like E.O. brought his wife. Laughter We're honored to be at the home of the 101st Airborne. I've got two words I want to say to you "Air assault!" I met some of you all when I visited Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo, and some of you invited me to your home. I came, and I'm glad I'm here. I will always remember this as the day I ate turkey with the Screaming Eagles. More than 3,000 soldiers from this post have been deployed to Kosovo for 6 month rotations. They kept supplies away from rebels in Macedonia, made the recent election in Kosovo possible. I'm glad to report that all of them from this base will be home by Thanksgiving. And there are other fine units that call Fort Campbell home the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment the 5th Special Forces Group other essential groups that shall remain nameless. Laughter All Americans are especially grateful especially grateful for the sacrifice of our military families, the husbands and wives, the sons and daughters, the mothers and dads. Some of you have loved ones that are deployed or will be deployed far from home in a war against terror and evil. And our Nation and the world are counting on your loved ones. They're making us secure, and they are making us proud. Men and women of Fort Campbell, your country and your President are proud of you, as well. The 101st Airborne the 101st Airborne is living out its motto once again, you have a "rendezvous with destiny." And so does our country. We're freedom's home and defender. And today, we're the target of freedom's enemies. Our enemies are evil, and they're ruthless. They have no conscience. They have no mercy. They have killed thousands of our citizens and seek to kill many more. They seek to overthrow friendly governments to force America to retreat from the world. They seek weapons of mass destruction. But we're seeking them. We're fighting them, and one by one, we're bringing them to justice. We fight now this great Nation fights now to save ourselves and our children from living in a world of fear. We fight now because we will not permit the terrorists, these vicious and evil men, to hijack a peaceful religion and to impose their will on America and the world. We fight now, and we will keep on fighting until our victory is complete. We cannot know every turn this war will take. But I'm confident of the outcome. I believe in the strong resolve of the American people. I believe good triumphs over evil, and I believe in the fearless hearts of the United States military. We fight the terrorists, and we fight all of those who give them aid. America has a message for the nations of the world If you harbor terrorists, you are terrorists if you train or arm a terrorist, you are a terrorist if you feed a terrorist or fund a terrorist, you're a terrorist, and you will be held accountable by the United States and our friends. The Taliban know that. Our military forces and the forces of our allies, and many Afghans seeking a better future, are liberating Afghanistan. And the Afghan people are celebrating. Today 27 of 30 Afghanistan provinces are no longer under Taliban control. We've cut the Taliban and terrorists' lines of communications, and they're on the run. We've made a good start in Afghanistan yet, there is still a lot to be done. There are still terrorists on the loose in Afghanistan, and we will find and destroy their network, piece by piece. The most difficult steps in this mission still lie ahead. Our enemies hide in sophisticated cave complexes, located in some of the most mountainous and rugged territory. These hideouts are heavily fortified and defended by fanatics who will fight to the death. Unlike efforts to liberate a town or destroy Taliban equipment, success against these cells may come more slowly. But we'll prevail. We'll prevail with a combination of good information, decisive action, and great military skill. The enemy the enemy hopes they can hide until we tire. But we're going to prove them wrong. We will never tire, and we will hunt them down. The Afghan people deserve a just and stable government. And we will work with the United Nations to help them build it. Our diplomats in the region, in Europe, in New York, and in Washington, are in communications with all parties. We're urging them to move quickly toward a government that is broadly based, multiethnic, and protects the rights and dignity of all Afghan citizens, including women. Winter is coming, and years of drought and Taliban misrule have placed many Afghans on the brink of starvation. We will work with the world to bring them food and medicine. While we fight evil, this great country will help those who suffer. Afghanistan is just the beginning on the war against terror. There are other terrorists who threaten America and our friends, and there are other nations willing to sponsor them. We will not be secure as a nation until all of these threats are defeated. Across the world and across the years, we will fight these evil ones, and we will win. Great causes are not easy causes. It was a long way from Bunker Hill to Yorktown. It was a long way for the 101st from Normandy to final victory over fascism in Europe. When wronged, our great Nation has always been patient and determined and relentless, and that's the way we are today. We have defeated enemies of freedom before, and we will defeat them again. And this struggle must be won at home, in our own cities, on our own soil. A lot of good people police officers, FBI agents, intelligence agents, and health officials are working hard to protect Americans from new threats. And Americans are being vigilant, themselves. No matter what lies ahead, we'll be alert we'll be careful and we'll never be intimidated. We're proud Americans, and we'll live like Americans We'll travel we'll build on our prosperity we'll live the lives of free people. Yet, make no mistake about it Wars are not won on the homefront alone. Wars are won by taking the fight to the enemy. America is not waiting for terrorists to try to strike us again. Wherever they hide, wherever they plot, we will strike the terrorists. This mission will require sacrifice by our men and women in uniform. America appreciates that sacrifice. And I make a promise in return Our military will have everything you need to win in the long battle that lies ahead. You'll have every resource, every weapon, every possible tool to ensure full victory for the cause of freedom. These have been hard months for Americans. Yet, this Thanksgiving we have so much to be thankful for. We're thankful for the love of our families. We're thankful for the goodness and generosity of our fellow citizens. We're thankful for the freedoms of our country. And we're so very thankful to you, the men and women who wear our uniform. Thanks to you, the people of Afghanistan have the hope of a better life. Thanks to you, many Afghan women are walking in public again and walking with dignity. Thanks to you, eight humanitarian aid workers, including two Americans, are free today, instead of sitting in a Taliban jail. Thanks to you, every nation is seeing what will happen if you cast your lot with the terrorists. Thanks to you, there is less fear in the world and more freedom and more hope and a better chance for peace. Every one of you is dedicated to something greater than yourself. You put your country ahead of your comfort. You live by a code, and you fight for a cause. And I'm honored to be your Commander in Chief. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. I want to thank you all for such a warm greeting. I want to thank your service to a great nation. May God bless the men and women who wear our uniform, and may God bless America. November 20, 2001 President Bush. It's my honor to welcome the President of the Philippines here to the Oval Office. I had the honor of not only meeting the President but having a great discussion with her in Shanghai, China. She is a highly intelligent, dedicated public servant, to not only better the Philippines but to work with us to make the world more peaceful. I could tell the first time I talked to her that we had a great ally and friend in our cause. And I look forward to having a good, long discussion today about how we can work together how to work together more. We've been working together a lot. We've been sharing intelligence we've been talking strategies. The United States has got a very close relationship with the Philippines, and I intend to keep it that way. The Philippines have been great allies and friends for a long period of time, and it's in our national interests that we maintain a very close and strong relationship. And so I've really been looking forward to this visit. I'm so honored for your strong support and for your able leadership. I want to welcome you to the Oval Office. President Macapagal Arroyo. Thank you. Thank you. President Bush. You're welcome to say a few words, if you'd like. President Macapagal Arroyo. It's my honor to be here, and the occasion is the 50th anniversary of our mutual defense treaty between our two countries. And this treaty just demonstrates how we've been allies for so long allies in the Second World War, allies in the cold war, allies in the Korean war, allies in the Vietnam war, and now allies in the war against terrorism. We're allies, too, in the economic front. The U.S. is our number one trading partner cumulatively, our number one source of investments. And the Filipinos who live in America are number one in income earning and also number one in education. They are 3 million, and 1.5 of them are voters 1.5 million. So I know that they are very happy about this partnership. President Bush. Thank you, Madam President. I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions. White House Tours Q. Mr. President, why is it okay for the American public to return to normal and fly and travel in this country, but it is not okay for public tours to enter the White House? President Bush. Well, Laura and I regret that the public tours aren't going on. It's particularly during the Christmas holiday season, I know a lot of Americans look forward to touring the White House during this period of time. But we're in extraordinary times, and as I said yesterday, evil knows no holiday evil knows no it doesn't welcome a Thanksgiving or Christmas season. And in these extraordinary times, we're taking extraordinary measures. It is a further reason why we must continue to wage a diligent and consistent fight against terror and to rid the world of terror, to make our country safe so that we can have tours at the White House. Abu Sayyaf Terrorist Group Q. Mr. President, we have advisers on the ground helping the Filipino Army in tracking down and getting rid of Abu Sayyaf. Are you prepared to go the next step, sir? Are you willing to put American combat troops on the ground there? And President Arroyo, would your Constitution allow that? President Bush. Well, first of all, I'm willing to listen to President Arroyo I'm willing to work with her in any way that she wants to. We've had a discussion about Abu Sayyaf. She's got a clear vision about how to fight Abu Sayyaf, and I'll let her speak for herself. But the Philippines are a great ally. They're close friends, and we will cooperate in any way she suggests in getting rid of Abu Sayyaf. Q. Including combat troops, sir? President Bush. That's going to be up to the President. It's up to the President to make those decisions. I have asked her pointblank, what help does she need. She says she's got a great military, a competent military she's confident that her military can deal with Abu Sayyaf. And for that I applaud her and will wish her all the best. And we want to help her military deal with them. Q. My question was, would your Constitution allow U.S. ground troops to join in an active engagement against Abu Sayyaf? President Macapagal Arroyo. We would have to check that. But in any case, as President Bush said, we have a framework on how to fight the Abu Sayyaf, how to fight terrorism in the southwestern part of the Philippines. And the framework covers what we need in terms of diplomatic assistance, technical assistance, assistance in winning hearts and minds, and military assistance. We have advisers from the U.S. we have equipment from the U.S. All of these are part of our mutual defense treaty. It just so happens that now the mutual defense treaty facilities are being used in the fight against terrorism. But we've had this pattern for many years now, and I think the pattern is going very well as it is. President Bush. Let me say something just in general. Your question points up what I have been saying, that the front against terror is not just in Afghanistan, that we're going to fight terror wherever it exists. And we will work with our allies and friends to use whatever resources we have to win the war against terror. President Arroyo understands now is the time to make a stand against terrorist activity, whether it be in Afghanistan or in the Philippines or anywhere else Al Qaida exists. Because if we don't make a stand now, our children and grandchildren will not be able to grow up in a free world. And so we are looking for opportunities to help friends and allies strike Al Qaida wherever they exist. There's a lot of focus, of course, on Afghanistan these days, and I can understand why. But I want people in America to understand that, first of all, the theater in Afghanistan is entering a difficult period of time. We could be there for quite a while, which is fine because we've got an objective in mind, and we'll stay there until we get our objective. But there's going to be other fronts in this theater there will be other places where we need to work to rout out Al Qaida and other terrorist organizations. And the President and I are going to have a good discussion, a continued discussion, about how we can help the Philippines. Robert F. Kennedy Building Dedication Education Legislation Q. Sir, later today you're going to the Justice Department for a ceremony renaming it for Mr. Kennedy. President Bush. Yes. Q. Why now? And do you hope that you get some help with the education bill out of this? Laughter President Bush. Well, I'm not quite that devious. I made the decision to name the Justice Department building after Robert Kennedy because he is deserving his memory is and his family are such a great part of American history. He was a wonderful Attorney General, and I think it's fitting to do such. I'll get an education bill based on its merits, not based upon renaming a building for a great American. Today, interestingly enough, is Robert Kennedy's birthday. And you said, why today? I think it's fitting that we name the building for him on his birthday. I look forward to the event. Mrs. Kennedy will be there, as are a lot of the Kennedy family. Senator Kennedy will be there I presume that's who you were referring to about the education bill. I think Senator Kennedy wants to get a bill to my desk, and I feel good that we'll get a bill to the desk here pretty soon. One from the Philippine press. Excuse me. Philippines U.S. Relations Q. Mrs. President, are you signing any agreement with President Bush regarding our security? President Macapagal Arroyo. No, no, we're not. What we're going to talk about is how we can make our partnership against terrorism both terrorism in the world and terrorism in southern Philippines more useful, more efficient. Q. Could you, sir, give more elaborate on the assistance that will be given to the Philippines? President Bush. I think the Philippine Government will make that announcement when the President feels comfortable making the announcement. There's been a lot of discussions about military items, discussions about trade, discussions about enhanced commerce, and we look forward to listening to our close friend and ally in ways that we can help. We've got no better friend in that part of the world than the Philippines. And as the President has said, there are a lot of proud Filipinos living in America. And one of the things that's going to happen after this meeting, she has graciously agreed to have her picture taken with Filipino Americans working here in the White House. And I've got a confession to make they're looking forward to having they're more looking forward to having their picture taken with her than with me. Laughter Filipino Veterans Equity Legislation Q. Did you ask the U.S. President to support the veterans equity bill? President Bush. The what bill? Q. The Filipino veterans equity bill. President Bush. Oh, the veterans security. She did bring up the issue. And she strongly brought it up, and she was an advocate for the Filipino veterans bill, which has been an issue around here for a long period of time. Q. Inaudible President Bush. Good question. I hope by December 1st. November 20, 2001 Thank you. Mel, thank you very much. I appreciate your leadership I appreciate your vision and I appreciate your heart. Father Adams referred to Mel Mel's rescue from Cuba. He came over in a program called Pedro Pan, Peter Pan. And it's when his mother and dad decided that life in Cuba would be rough on young people, and they had great faith in America and great faith in a program that encouraged them to put their little boy on an airplane, and he flew to America. When we swore in Mel, I'll never forget meeting his adoptive parents that provided a loving home. Mel's a perfect choice to understand what a loving home means. He saw one in a foreign land that enabled him to go from scared little boy to now Secretary of HUD. It's a marvelous story about America. It also helps me to be able to assure people that the Secretary who runs HUD has got a heart of gold and a deep compassion about all Americans, those newly arrived as well as those who have been here for a long period of time. I'm honored that Mel has agreed to serve our Government. And I'm absolutely confident America and the needs of America will be more easily met as a result of his leadership. Oftentimes, when I speak around the Nation, I talk about the great strength of the Nation lies in the hearts and souls of our citizens. I was using military terms at times even before the war began. I talked about armies of compassion. I truly believe that's one of the wonderful strengths of America, that we've got armies of compassion all across our country. And Father Adams is a general in the army of compassion. He won't admit it. He'll say he's a lowly foot soldier. Laughter But I saw the way he got people snapping to when it came time to introduce people in the kitchen. Laughter I see everybody with green aprons on. I suspect the general ordered that to be the case. But anyway laughter but I want to thank Father Adams and everybody else who works here for really bringing out the best in our country by helping people in need. The other thing that I'm most impressed about the vision of Father Adams, besides being a social entrepreneur, somebody willing to think as aggressively as possible to help people in need, is that this is a program that attracts people from all faiths. That's important for the world to see, that our country is a country of a variety of faiths, that we respect other faiths, and that we're bound by some common principles Love a neighbor just like you would like to be loved yourself. That's common to faith. Last night we had an Iftaar dinner at the White House. That's a part of breaking the fast of Ramadan. I wanted to assure people that there are common values, even though we may have different ways to worship God. This program shows those common values. A neighbor in need needs to be helped. We need to constantly figure out ways to reach out and help somebody who may not be as fortunate as we are. And as we come into the holiday season, the Thanksgiving season, the traditional holiday seasons of our country, we must always remember there are people who hurt in our society. And we will always remember, with blessings come the responsibility to help those in need. And so that's why I've come to So Others Might Eat, to highlight the successful programs that do make a difference in people's lives and to thank people for their concern and care for our fellow Americans who are in need. There's no question that our country has been deeply wounded. We were attacked. After all, we're never used to being attacked. Never did we dream I certainly never dreamt that I'd be the President where there is a war on our homefront. But the evildoers never really they must have not known who they were attacking. Laughter They must have thought we were soft and hateful. In fact, the attacks have united our country, have rallied a nation. And out of evil will come good, and part of my purpose as the President is to remind people of the good that can come out of these attacks. No question that the outpouring of support for in the direct aftermath of the September 11th attack was astounding. People gave They gave blood they gave money they gave time to help. And that's great, and I want to thank those Americans who have helped. But in order to make sure the homefront is secure, in order to make sure that we don't allow the terrorists to achieve any objective, Americans must give generously to programs like SOME, community based programs that help make their neighborhoods a better place for all. I have been disturbed by reports that charitable giving has dropped off. I hope Americans will not substitute the gifts they've given in the aftermath of September 11th for neighborhood groups such as SOME or mentoring programs or programs that understand that when you change a person's heart, you can change their life for the better, that faith is such an integral part of our society and faith is such an integral part of helping people help themselves, and that as we think about ways to recognize the true blessings we have in America, that we must never forget the food banks and the hungry and the poor, and that the most effective programs are those that have sprung from the hearts and souls of social entrepreneurs such as Father Adams. And so, I hope America I encourage America that as we head into Thanksgiving, to find a program that needs help. Or, if you have been helping a program in the past, continue your help. The generosity of this country will say to the world that we're a nation that will not be affected by terror and evil that, in fact, we encourage good to overcome evil through our actions and deeds, not just our bravado, not just our waving of flag but true actions and true compassionate acts of giving, in order to make sure this Nation remains whole and strong and complete. Government's got a responsibility, as well. There is a role for the Federal Government in making sure that charitable organizations thrive and flourish. Today I am pleased to announce that the Department of Housing and Urban Development is distributing more than 1 billion this year in grants to community charities which serve the homeless. It is the largest such grant in the history of the country. It is a grant program that will help provide food and shelter, drug treatment, job training, and other vital services. It is a part of our Government's desire to support the armies of compassion. We don't want Government to take the good Father's place. We want the Government to stand side by side with the good people of SOME and programs like it all around the country. We must also promote more private sector giving, besides just words of encouragement. And so I want to make sure that the Tax Code is changed, and we've got time to do so with the Congress. I've been working closely with Joe Lieberman and Rick Santorum to say that you can deduct non itemizers can deduct charitable giving, or that out of your IRA you should be allowed to give gifts to charitable organizations. It is a wise use of the Tax Code to encourage more charitable giving to programs that are positively affecting people's lives, and I think we can get a bill out of Congress to do just that. I know that the House has responded J.C. Watts and Tony Hall, Republican and Democrat, work closely together. Lieberman and Santorum are doing the same thing. And so why doesn't Congress, in order to help fight poverty and fight hopelessness, do something smart with legislation and bring it to my desk so I can sign it before Christmas? Laughter It makes a lot of sense. I think, as well, we ought to have a tax incentive for food donation. I know that we ought to create what's called a Compassion Capital Fund that will give communitybased organizations needed resources and training. I suspect that if we have kind of a capital fund that will encourage people to duplicate that which works, there will be a lot of people coming here to SOME to see why this program is so successful. And I suspect the good Father will be willing to share with others from different communities as to how to make a program like this work. And the Federal Government ought to be in the process of encouraging the formation of community based programs, and to that end, we need to simplify the process by which community based organizations gain tax exempt status. The mindset of the Federal Government has been that only Government sponsored programs should receive Federal money. That's not my attitude. My attitude is, Government should be nondiscriminatory about how we use taxpayers' money. We ought to ask the question, does the program work? And if faith is the integral part of a program being successful, the Government ought to say, "Hallelujah." We ought to say, "We welcome the good work of faith in our society." We ought not to fear it. We ought to welcome it and encourage it. And so the Faith Based Initiative that has passed the House and, hopefully, will pass the Senate recognizes the great power of faith in our society and says that Government ought to encourage the social entrepreneurship that we find here at SOME, and Government ought to encourage the armies of compassion to flourish all around our neighborhoods, that Government ought to welcome faith and not shy away from it. And as well as in this piece of legislation, we recognize there are some specific tasks that the social entrepreneurial system can deal with, such as a son or daughter of a person in prison. I can't think of anything more profound than to have a national mentoring program, where somebody whose dad or mother is in prison will have somebody put their arm around them and say, "I love you somebody loves you in our society." There's nothing more profound for a child than to be surrounded by love and care and compassion. So part of this initiative is to encourage the funding of a national mentoring program aimed at some of the most vulnerable in our society those whose mom or dad may be sitting in prison right now. The fundamental question is, can America address these problems? And certainly, we can't address them with money alone. But as I'm sure Father Adams will testify, money can help. Laughter It's part of how a program succeeds. Laughter And so, therefore, I ask Americans to dig a little deeper in their pocket. In the aftermath of the tragedy that so deeply affected our Nation, I ask the American people to understand that in order to make America whole, that programs such as SOME make an enormous difference in people's lives that we are a blessed nation, and as we go into Thanksgiving we ought to thank God for our blessings for our families, for our fantastic country, for the greatest country on the face of the Earth we ought to thank Him for the protection that we've received since the attack, thank Him for our blessings, but at the same time seek ways to help, seek ways to help our fellow human, seek ways to save a heart, seek ways to save a soul. I am so honored to be able to come to this program and highlight the great successes that can take place in neighborhoods when loving Americans come together with the singular purpose of helping a neighbor in need. May God bless SOME. May God bless America. November 19, 2001 Operation Enduring Freedom The President. We just had a very productive Cabinet meeting. We discussed a variety of subjects, spent a fair amount of time on the war and the progress we're making in Afghanistan. We have made great progress there, but there's still a lot of work to do. And the degree of difficulty is increasing as we work hard to achieve our objectives, not the least of which is to bring the Al Qaida to justice. They're running, and they're trying to hide, and we're in pursuit. And we will stay the course until we bring them to justice. The American people must know it may take longer than some anticipate. They also need to know that we're a very patient group. Secondly, we've been briefed by Andrew Natsios of the USAID about the humanitarian aid mission. And that, too, is a tough mission. There are millions of Afghans who were starving prior to September the 11th as a result of drought. Obviously, to complicate matters, there has been a war in that land. And yet, this good Nation is doing everything we can to move enormous amounts of food into the areas where people are likely to starve. I'm talking about thousands of tons, metric tons, of food. There are over 2,000 trucks now in place that are able to move more freely now that the Northern Alliance and our military have liberated the northern part of Afghanistan, where the starvation is most likely to occur. And so we've had a great discussion. And I'm proud of the way our Cabinet has been performing during these very difficult periods. I'd be glad to answer a few questions. John John Roberts, CBS News , have you got one? Situation in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, your Secretary of State a little while ago said that he would use U.S. influence to try to bring the two sides together and forge a Middle East peace. Wouldn't it be swifter, sir, if you used the power of your office to do it personally, by meeting with these individuals? And at what point would you do that? The President. Well, John, first of all, this administration has been working the Middle East ever since we came into office. I've been on the phone with the Prime Minister of Israel, our longtime friend, a lot, as has the Secretary of State. We've been dealing with the Europeans all kinds of people are interested in the Middle East reminding them that it takes willing parties. It takes people must say that they want to work for peace. And so our objective is to convince both parties to make a conscious decision to come to the peace table. And when they do so, we're more than willing to help. But first things first is to convince the parties that peace is necessary. It also is important for us to remind Mr. Arafat that in order for the peace discussions to begin, that the level of violence must substantially be reduced. And so we're working hard with not only the Palestinians but as well as with others who have an interest in the area to work to reduce violence, so that peace discussions can begin in relative security. Our mind is, of course, on the war in Afghanistan, but it hasn't diverted our attention away from the need to work hard to bring peace to the Middle East. And we would hope to be able to do so. Usama bin Laden Q. Mr. President, there have been reports out of Afghanistan that the U.S. military knows or thinks they know where bin Laden might be. Does that mean The President. I certainly hope so. Q. Does that mean the fellow to your left knows? And how soon might America see bin Laden The President. Listen, if our military knew where Mr. bin Laden was, he would be brought to justice. We're hunting him down. He runs, and he hides. But as we've said repeatedly, the noose is beginning to narrow the net is getting tighter. But this is a difficult assignment. Things happened very quickly in Afghanistan recently, as went to show that our strategy was a wellthought out strategy. But the objective is yet to be achieved, and we're not leaving until we do achieve the objective. And the Secretary of Defense and General Tommy Franks, who is doing a magnificent job, understand the objective. We talk about it every single morning. And we will achieve the objective. But I've told the American people right from the get go of this effort It may take a month it may take a year or however long it takes, we'll succeed. Economic Stimulus Legislation Q. Sir, what can you do personally to jumpstart negotiations further on an economic stimulus package? And do you still need one? The President. Well, I think we need an economic stimulus package. I've said so from the beginning. I'll be meeting a week from tomorrow with the leadership of the Senate and the House and urge the Senators to bring a bill to the floor and get it into conference, so we can resolve whatever differences there may be. There was a period of time when people said we'd never get an airline security bill. And after a lot of hours of hard work, we got a good bill, which I signed today. And I hope I'll be able to sign an economic stimulus package I think I will be able to do so. But it's going to require the Senators to come together and move a bill, and then we can reconcile the differences with the House version. Usama bin Laden Q. Mr. President, you just said the noose is getting tighter. Without compromising the search, do you have evidence you're getting closer to bin Laden? The President. Well, it's going to be hard for me to tell you that without compromising the search, except I can point to the map of Afghanistan where more and more territory are now in friendly hands. And the people of Afghanistan understand what Al Qaida and the Taliban Government have meant to their ordinary lives. Women are treated lower than low. There's no respect for human life. There's jubilation in the cities that we have liberated. And the sooner Al Qaida is brought to justice, the sooner Afghanistan will return to normal. People understand that. And so we've got let me put it to you this way the more territory we gain, the more success there is on the ground, the more people we've got looking to help us in our mission. The Secretary of Defense is doing everything he can, as are our military, to bring these people to justice, and we will. Press Assistant Reed Dickens. Thank you all. Lights. Thank you all. The President. Go ahead, Terry Terry Moran, ABC News . Military Order Q. On the subject of justice, what do you say to the Members of Congress and people in law schools and civil liberties The President. On what subject? Q. On justice, that your order establishing military The President. Yes. Q. to try terrorists, they argue, represents a retreat or an abandonment of traditional American principles. The President. I say it's the absolute right thing to do. And it is to set up the option to use a military tribunal in the time of war makes a lot of sense. We're fighting a war, Terry, against the most evil kinds of people. And I need to have that extraordinary option at my fingertips. I ought to be able to have that option available should we ever bring one of these Al Qaida members in alive. It's our national interests it's our national security interests we have a military tribunal available. It is in the interests of the safety of potential jurors that we have a military tribunal. These are extraordinary times. And I would remind those who don't understand the decision I made, that Franklin Roosevelt made the same decision in World War II. Those were extraordinary times, as well. This Government will do everything we can to defend the American people within the confines of our Constitution. And that's exactly how we're proceeding. And so, to the critics, I say, I made the absolute right decision. Press Assistant Reed Dickens. Thank you all. At this point, the President turned toward Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. The President. Do you know where Al Qaida is? Laughter November 19, 2001 Thank you all very much. Today we take permanent and aggressive steps to improve the security of our airways. The events of September the 11th were a call to action, and the Congress has now responded. The law I will sign should give all Americans greater confidence when they fly. All Members of Congress care deeply about this issue. Despite divergent views, the Congress worked closely with my administration to develop a bipartisan conclusion that will help protect American air travelers. I want to thank the House and Senate leadership for their patience in this issue. I want to thank the Speaker and the minority leader, the leader of the Senate, Senator Lott, for working hard to make sure this bill came to fruition. I also want to thank Chairman Don Young and John Mica and Jim Oberstar who have joined us today from the House. I want to thank you for your hard work. And I want to thank Members of the United States Senate Chairman Hollings and John McCain and Kay Bailey Hutchison for their hard work. I appreciate so very much the Secretary of Transportation and his steadiness and his ability to bring confidence to the process. I picked a good man in Norm Mineta, who is rising to the occasion. I also want to thank his deputy, Michael Jackson, for his hard work. As well, I appreciate Jane Garvey joining us up here today. I see other Members of Congress who are here. Thank you all for coming. I appreciate you doing the right thing for America. I also want to thank the pilots and flight attendants and the people of the airline industry who have joined us today. I want to thank you for your courage in the face of terror. I want to thank you for inspiring confidence amongst the American people. The broad support for this bill shows that our country is united in this crisis. We have our political differences, but we're united to defend our country. And we're united to protect our people. For our airways, there is one supreme priority security. Since September the 11th, the Federal Government has taken action to raise safety standards. We've made funds available to the aviation industry to fortify cockpits. More Federal air marshals now ride on our airplanes. The Department of Transportation instituted a zero tolerance crackdown on security breaches. Our National Guard protects us in our airports. And I want to thank the National Guards men and women who will be working the holiday season. I want to thank them for being away from their families, thank them for providing more security for people who travel. I appreciate the work the airlines have done with the Federal Aviation Administration. The airlines have started intense nighttime security sweeps of aircraft. They've tightened background checks for employees and implemented nondiscriminatory government approved criterion for identifying passengers who require additional security. Now, we take the next important step. For the first time, airport security will become a direct Federal responsibility overseen by a new Under Secretary of Transportation for Security. Additional funds will be provided for Federal air marshals, and a new team of Federal security managers, supervisors, law enforcement officers, and screeners will ensure all passengers and carry on bags are inspected thoroughly and effectively. The new security force will be well trained, made up of U.S. citizens. And if any of its members do not perform, the new Under Secretary will have full authority to discipline or remove them. At the same time, we will adopt strict new requirements to screen checked baggage, to tighten security in all other areas of airports, and to provide greater security for travelers by bus and by train. This bill sets a one year deadline for the transition to the new system. It gives my administration the flexibility we need to make that transition work. Ultimately, this bill offers local authorities the option to bring in outside experts a method that's worked well in Israel and Western Europe provided those outside experts can meet our rigorous new safety standards and requirements. Security comes first. The Federal Government will set high standards, and we will enforce them. These have been difficult days for Americans who fly and for American aviation. A proud industry has been hit hard. But this Nation has seen the dedication and spirit of our pilots and flightcrews and the hundreds of thousands of hard working people who keep America flying. We know they will endure. I'm confident this industry will grow and prosper. The holidays will soon be here. Even after the last few months, we have much to be thankful for. We have a great country. We're a great people. We have our faith, our families, and our friends. And, thanks to this bill, we have a new commitment to security in the air. And that's good news, as Americans travel to celebrate this season with their loved ones. It is now my honor to sign this important piece of legislation. November 19, 2001 Good evening, and welcome to the White House. I'm so honored to welcome such distinguished guests and ambassadors during the holy month of Ramadan. America is made better by millions of Muslim citizens. America has close and important relations with many Islamic nations. So it is fitting for America to honor your friendship and the traditions of a great faith by hosting this Iftaar at the White House. I want to thank our Secretary of State for being here, as well as members of my administration. I want to thank the Ambassadors for taking time in this holy month to come to join us in this feast. Ramadan is a time of fasting and prayer for the Muslim faithful. So tonight we are reminded of God's greatness and His Commandments to live in peace and to help neighbors in need. According to Muslim teachings, God first revealed His word in the Holy Koran to the Prophet Muhammad during the month of Ramadan. That word has guided billions of believers across the centuries, and those believers built a culture of learning and literature and science. All the world continues to benefit from this faith and its achievements. Ramadan and the upcoming holiday season are a good time for people of different faiths to learn more about each other. And the more we learn, the more we find that many commitments are broadly shared. We share a commitment to family, to protect and love our children. We share a belief in God's justice and man's moral responsibility. And we share the same hope for a future of peace. We have much in common and much to learn from one another. This evening we gather in a spirit of peace and cooperation. I appreciate your support of our objectives in the campaign against terrorism. Tonight that campaign continues in Afghanistan, so that the people of Afghanistan will soon know peace. The terrorists have no home in any faith. Evil has no holy days. This evening we also gather in the spirit of generosity and charity. As this feast breaks the Ramadan fast, America is also sharing our table with the people of Afghanistan. We are proud to play a leading role in humanitarian relief efforts, with airdrops and truck convoys of food and medicine. America's children are donating their dollars to the Afghan children. And my administration is committed to help reconstruct that country and to support a stable government that represents all of the people of Afghanistan. We are working for more opportunity and a better life for the people of Afghanistan and all the people of the Islamic world. America respects people of all faiths, and America seeks peace with people of all faiths. I thank you for your friendship, and I wish you a blessed Ramadan. November 15, 2001 President Bush. Thank you all. Sit down, please. Thank you all for that warm welcome. This is a great day for central Texas. It's a great day because Laura and I have had the honor of welcoming the Putins to our beloved State. It's a great day because it's raining. Laughter It's a great day, as well, because I just got off the telephone with two central Texas women Heather Mercer, who used to live in Crawford, and Dayna Curry. They both said to say thanks to everybody for their prayers. They realize there is a good and gracious God. Their spirits were high, and they love America. I remember clearly when I stood up in front of the Congress and said, we have three conditions to the Taliban One, release those who are being detained two, destroy terrorist training camps so that country can never be used for terror again, either against us or against Russia, for example three, bring Al Qaida to justice. Yesterday I was able to report to the Nation that one of those conditions had been met, with the release and rescue of the humanitarian aid workers. And make no mistake about it, the other two will be met particularly bringing Al Qaida to justice. I wanted to bring President Putin to Crawford. I wanted him to see a State that Laura and I love. I particularly wanted to be able to introduce him to the citizens of Crawford, because this part of the State represents the independent minded nature of Texans. It represents the hard working Texans, people who have great values faith and family. The people here, Mr. President, love their country, and they like countries that work with America to keep the peace. We had a great dinner last night we had a little Texas barbecue, pecan pie laughter a little Texas music. And I think the President really enjoyed himself. I told him he was welcome to come back next August laughter to get a true taste of Crawford. Laughter He said, "Fine, and maybe you'd like to go to Siberia in the winter." Laughter It's my honor also to introduce President Putin to Crawford. I bet a lot of folks here, particularly the older folks, never dreamt that an American President would be bringing the Russian President to Crawford, Texas. Laughter A lot of people never really dreamt that an American President and a Russian President could have established the friendship that we have. We were enemies for a long period of time. When I was in high school, Russia was an enemy. Now, the high school students can know Russia as a friend that we're working together to break the old ties, to establish a new spirit of cooperation and trust so that we can work together to make the world more peaceful. Russia has been a strong partner in the fight against terrorism. It's an interesting story for me to report. I was on Air Force One the day of the attack, working my way back to Washington via Louisiana and Nebraska laughter making sure that the President was safe and secure. The first phone call I got from a foreign leader was President Putin. He told us that he recognized that I had put our troops on alert. I did so because, for the first time in a long period of time, America was under attack. It only happened once twice, I guess the War of 1812 and Pearl Harbor. In the old days when America put their troops on attack, Russia would have responded and put her troops on alert, which would have caused the American President maybe to put a higher alert, and Russia a higher alert, and all of a sudden we would have had two conflicts instead of one. But not this President. This President recognized we're entering into a new era, and his call was, "Don't worry we know what you're up against. We stand with you, and we will not put our troops on alert, for the good of the United States of America." I brought him to my ranch because, as the good people in this part of the world know, that you only usually invite your friends into your house. Oh, occasionally, you let a salesman in, or two, but laughter . But I wanted the Putins to see how we live. And even though we changed addresses, our hearts are right here in our home State. We've got a lot to do together. We've had great discussions in Washington, as well as here in Texas. We're both pledging to reduce the amount of nuclear weapons, offensive weapons, we have in order to make the world more secure. We're talking about ways to cooperate in antiterrorism and antiproliferation. We're talking about ways to make sure our economies can grow together. What we're talking about is a new relationship a relationship that will make your lives better when you get older, and it will make your kids' lives better as they grow up. But in order to have a new relationship, it requires a new style of leader. And it's my honor to welcome to central Texas a new style of leader, a reformer, a man who loves his country as much as I love mine, a man who loves his wife as much as I love mine, a man who loves his daughters as much as I love my daughters, and a man who is going to make a huge difference in making the world more peaceful, by working closely with the United States. Please welcome Vladimir Putin. Applause President Putin. Dear friends, when we were riding here in the Presidential car, I'll divulge to you a small secret of ours. The First Lady of the United States told me, "You know, some kind of special people live here. These are people with a special kind of pride of their position and of their heritage." And the more I come to know the President of the United States, the more I realize that the First Lady was right He is right from the heart of Texas, and he is a Texan. And herself, being a wise woman, she complimented her husband in an indirect and very sensible way. Laughter My wife and myself are also trying to help ourselves as we go along this life. And it gives me pleasure to introduce my First Lady, my wife, Lyudmila Putin. Applause And like President Bush did, I would also like to congratulate three Texans and two people from Waco, with the liberation by the U.S. special forces and their withdrawal from the land of Afghanistan. Of course, it is very important to be born under a happy star and to have destiny facing your way. And indeed, I'm in agreement with the President Perhaps God was looking quite positively on this. But there are different approaches to addressing such kind of problem. There are people deeply religious who usually say that God knows what is to befall a nation, a people, or a person. But there are people no less devoted to God, but who still believe that the people, a person should also take care of their own destiny and lives. And it gives me great pleasure to deal and to work with President Bush, who is a person, a man who does what he says. And I congratulate those who have been liberated by the Armed Forces, and their relatives. And also, I would like to congratulate on this, President Bush. On our way here, we didn't expect at all that things would be so warm and homey as they were at the ranch of President Bush here. Yesterday we had a surprise, but today's meeting is yet another and very pleasant surprise, indeed, for us. Indeed, in any country, the backbone of any country is not only the people who live in the capitals but also and mostly the people who live hundreds and thousands of miles from the capital. It is especially pleasant and pleasing for me to be here in your high school. And my being here brings me to remembering those distinguished Russian Americans who contributed so much to the development and prosperity of this Nation, including a world known composer and musician, Rachmaninoff a well known designer and inventor of aircraft, helicopters and airplanes, Sikorsky and a world renowned economist and Nobel Prize winner, Leontiev and many others. And it is extremely pleasant for me to know that here in this room we have some people, boys and girls from Russia, who have come here to study. Of course, serious people work in the capital cities, and much depends on them. But in any circumstances and in any situation, what they must do is to fulfill the will of their people. And being here, I can feel the will of these people, the will to cooperate with the Russian Federation, the will to cooperate with Russia. And I can assure you that the Russian people fully share this commitment and is also committed to fully cooperating with the American people. Together, we can achieve quite a lot, especially if we are helped in this by such a young and active and beautiful generation as the one we are meeting with now. Thank you very much. President Bush. Okay. The President and I have agreed to take a few questions from the students. I figured this would be a pretty good opportunity for you all to ask President Putin. Only questions. No math questions, please. Laughter President Bush. Good idea. Particularly no fuzzy math questions. Laughter Anybody got any questions? Yes, ma'am. Hold on. We've got a mike coming so everybody gets to hear it, too. What is your name, and what grade are you in? Student. I'm Amanda Lemmons. I'm a senior. President Bush. Senior? Good. Future Visit to Russia Student. Have you decided on whether you're going to go to Russia or not? President Bush. Well laughter the President invited me, and I accepted. We haven't figured out a time yet. But, in that I'm from Texas and kind of like the warm weather, I was hoping to wait a couple of months. Laughter I'm really looking forward to going to Russia. I would hope that I could not only go to Moscow but maybe go to the President's hometown of St. Petersburg, which they tell me is one of the most spectacular cities in Europe. But I look forward to going. I think it is going to be a very important trip. We have met four times now. We have made a lot of progress on coming together on some key issues. There is more work to be done. I believe the U.S. Russian relationship is one of the most important relationships that our country can have. And the stronger the relationship is, the more likely it is the world will be at peace, and the more likely it is that we'll be able to achieve a common objective, which is to defeat the evil ones that try to terrorize governments such as the United States and Russia. And we must defeat the evil ones in order for you all to grow up in a peaceful and prosperous world. Okay. Wait for the mike. I'm kind of getting hard of hearing. Visit of President Putin Student. My name is Jana Heller, and I'm in the eighth grade. And I was wondering, what is President Putin's favorite thing about Texas? President Bush. What does he think about Texas? Student. Yes, sir. President Bush. Oh, favorite thing. Favorite thing. Crawford, of course. Laughter President Putin. We in Russia have known for a long time that Texas is the most important State in the United States. Laughter But seriously speaking, we in Russia somehow tend to know about Texas rather better than about the rest of the United States, somehow except maybe for Alaska, which we sold to you. Laughter In my view, first of all, because, like in Russia, here in Texas the oil business is quite well developed, and we have numerous contacts in this area. And we have very many contacts in such areas as hightech and the exploration of space. And the fact that the parliament of the State of Texas declared April the 12th the day when Yuri Gagarin, the first man to fly to space, accomplished this as a State holiday, like it is a national holiday in Russia, is yet another testimony of the closeness of our outlook and achievements. President Bush. Name and grade? Student. I'm Brian Birch. I'm a senior here. In what ways has this summit helped bring Russia and the U.S. closer together? President Bush. Well, first of all his question is, in what ways has the summit brought us together? Well, in order for countries to come together, the first thing that must happen is, leaders must make up their mind that they want this to happen. And the more I get to know President Putin, the more I get to see his heart and soul, and the more I know we can work together in a positive way. And so anytime leaders can come together and sit down and talk about key issues in a very open and honest way, it will make relations stronger in the long run. There's no doubt the United States and Russia won't agree on every issue. But you probably don't agree with your mother on every issue. Laughter You still love her, though, don't you? Well, even though we don't agree on every issue, I still respect him and like him as a person. The other thing is, is that the more we talk about key issues, the more likely it is we come to an understanding. And so the summit enabled us to continue a very personal dialog. As well, we agreed to some significant changes in our relationship. I, after long consultations with people inside our Government, I announced that our Government was going to reduce our nuclear arsenal to between 1,700 and 2,200 warheads over the next decade. That's a tangible accomplishment. I shared that information with President Putin. He, too, is going to make a declaration at some point in time. In other words, this particular summit has made us closer because we've agreed on some concrete steps, as well, specific things we can do together. We're working on counterproliferation, which is an incredibly important issue, to make sure that arms and potential weapons of mass destruction do not end up in the hands of people who will be totally irresponsible, people that hate either one of our nations. And so we made great progress. And I look forward to future meetings with the President because there's more to do to make sure the relationship outlives our term in office. It's one thing for he and me to have a personal relationship. The key is that we establish a relationship between our countries strong enough that will endure beyond our Presidencies. And that's important so that in the long run, as you come up and as your kids grow up, that Russia and the United States will cooperate in ways that will make the world more stable and more peaceful, and ways in which we can address the common threats. And terrorism and evil are common threats to both our governments, and will be tomorrow, as well as today, unless we do something about it now. And that's exactly what we're doing. Yes, ma'am. Ask the President a question the other one. Women's Rights Student. We, as women in America, are very appreciative of all the rights we have. So, with the fall of the Taliban Government, how do you think that women's rights will affect Afghanistan? President Bush. How do I think what? Q. How do you think the fall of the Taliban Government will affect women's rights? President Bush. Yes, I appreciate that. I'm going to answer it quickly, and then I want Vladimir to discuss that. He knows about women's rights and the importance of them because he's raising two teenage daughters. Laughter He and I share something in common. I'll tell you an interesting story, and then I'm going to let him speak about it. First of all, there's no question the Taliban is the most repressive, backward group of people we have seen on the face of the Earth in a long period of time, including and particularly how they treat women. But President Putin, I think it would be interesting for him to discuss the concept of women's rights inside of Russia and his vision of how Afghanistan treats women. But I'll tell you an interesting story. So, we are getting ready to have the first press conference we had together in Slovenia. And by the way, there was, I think, a thousand reporters there it seemed like a thousand. Laughter And we were walking in. I said, "Say, I understand you've got two daughters." He said, "Yes." He said, "They're teenagers." I said, "I've been through that myself." Laughter I said, "Who did you name them for?" He said, "Well, we named them for our mothers, my mother and my mother in law." I said, "That's interesting. That's exactly what Laura and I did, too. We named our girls for our my mother and Laura's mom." And I said, "Gosh, the thing I want most in life is for those girls to be able to grow up in a free world and prosper and realize their dreams." He said, "That's exactly what I hope as well." There's a lot in common, even though between our countries, even though it's a long way away. And it all starts with the human element, the thing that matters most in life, and that is our faiths and our families and our respective loves as dads for our daughters. But anyway, I think it would be appropriate for President Putin to talk about women in Russia and his keen desire, like mine, to free the women of Afghanistan as well. President Putin. I do agree with the President that, indeed, such a problem does exist in the world. And in Afghanistan this phenomenon has taken an extreme form, and the disrespect of human rights has acquired extreme dimensions. Overall, women in Afghanistan are basically not treated as people. And the testimony of the people's attitude towards this problem, this issue in Afghanistan is, in the liberated areas, people burn their veils, or as they're called, chadors. This is the testimony of the attitude of the people to this in Afghanistan. In many countries of the world, especially in the poor countries, this problem exists and has acquired quite dramatic dimensions. To overcome this, one needs to develop specific gender oriented programs that would include, primarily and first of all, questions related to proper education for women. And I would like to reiterate, there are many programs and many people devoted to implementing such specific, special activities for the benefit of women. And we should not allow any atrocities or violations of human rights to happen. But what we should avoid in the course of the implementation of such programs, and as an end result of their implementation, is that a lady would turn into a man. Laughter Future of Afghanistan Student. Inaudible I'm a senior. At the end of the war, do you foresee the United States and Russia being involved in the new implementation of a government in Afghanistan? President Bush. I do. I think and it started yesterday, in my house in Crawford, where the President and I had a very long discussion about how to make sure that the post Taliban Afghanistan accomplish some certain objectives one, that it be a peaceful neighbor to everybody in the region secondly, that it never harbor and serve as a training ground for terrorism again and third, that it be a country that doesn't export drugs. I don't know if you know this or not, but the Taliban Government and Al Qaida the evil ones use heroin trafficking in order to fund their murder. And one of our objectives is to make sure that Afghanistan is never used for that purpose again. And so we had a long discussion about a post Taliban Afghanistan. The President understands, like I do, that any government, in order for it to achieve its objectives, must represent all the interests in Afghanistan not only the Northern Alliance, which has been very effective fighters on the ground, but also the Pashtun tribes, which are generally in the southern part of the country. And we are working to figure out a strategy to make sure that that happens. There's three phases to this battle in Afghanistan One is bringing Al Qaida to justice, and we will not stop until we do that that's what people need to know. Secondly is to make sure that the good hearts of the American people and the Russian people, and people all over the world, are affected. By that I mean that we get the aid to the starving folks in Afghanistan. By the way, they were starving prior to September the 11th, because of the Taliban Government's neglect. And we're doing everything we can to make sure we get food and medicine into the regions. Part of the problem has been the Taliban. They've been stopping the shipments of food, believe it or not. It won't surprise the President, because he understands how evil they are. We're just learning how evil they are in America. The other problem is to make sure that the distribution lines are now open, so that we can get food not only from places like Mazar e Sharif, that we have now liberated, but from there into the remote regions of northern Afghanistan, in particular. It's important that we do that. And so we're working hard to make sure that we accomplish that mission. And the third objective is to make sure that, after we leave, that there is a stable government. As part of the way we built our coalition was to assure Russia who has got a particular interest in this part of the world and other countries that we weren't just going to come and achieve a military objective and disappear. We were going to come achieve a military objective, but also help this country become a reasonable partner in the world, a country that's able to foster peace and prosperity for its citizens. And that's an important part of this campaign. It's important. It's also important that we stay the course and be strong, because the stronger we are as a coalition, the stronger we are in achieving our objective, it is less likely somebody else is going to try to harbor a terrorist. Our objective is not just Al Qaida and Afghanistan. Our objective is to root out terrorism wherever it may hide, wherever it may exist, so the world can be more free. And that's a common objective of the President and mine. You've got a question for the President? We just call him "Red." Laughter Student. My name is Danny White, and I'm a senior. President Bush. Danny White or Danny Red? Laughter Student. Danny White. President Bush. Oh, Danny White. Nuclear Weapons Reduction Student. You say that we've reached an agreement to declare to reduce our nuclear weapons. In reducing our nuclear weapons, are we talking about de alerting them and taking them off of alert status? Or are we actually talking about taking apart the warheads and destroying the weapon? President Bush. We are talking about reducing and destroying the number of warheads to get down to specific levels, from significantly higher levels today to significantly lower levels tomorrow. And, as well, most of our weapons are de alerted. They're not on alert. However, it doesn't take them long to fire up, if we need them. Our mission is to make sure we never need them on each other. We need to get beyond the notion that in order to keep the peace, we've got to destroy each other. That's an old way of thinking. Now we're working together to figure out ways to address the new threats of the 21st century. I would like for the President to address that, as well. President Putin. First of all, I would like to say that it gives me great pleasure to be here in this room. And it's not quite clear for me whether I am here in the school or at NASA. Laughter Looking at the questions of the 12th graders, it comes to my mind that everything is fine with this Nation and in this school. President Bush. That's right. President Putin. There indeed exists a number of scenarios of behavior in this situation. And the question was quite professionally put, mind you. You can just dismantle the warheads and rest them by the weapons, and to preserve the so called strike back capability, in order to be able to retaliate. But one may, on the other hand, destroy the arsenal. What do we do with those arsenals is subject to negotiations, with the result of those negotiations depending on the level of trust between the United States and Russia. Yesterday we tasted steak and listened to music, and all of this with a single purpose and objective, to increase the level of confidence between the leaders and the people. And if we are to follow this road further, we will certainly arrive at a solution, decision acceptable both to Russia, to the United States, and indeed to the entire world. Advice to Youth Student. My name is Alicia Stanford. I'm a senior. As we go out into the world, do you have any advice for us? President Bush. Yes, listen to your mother. Laughter I do. I think, follow your dreams, would be my advice. Work hard make the right choices, and follow your dreams. The other thing is, you never know where life is going to take you. I can assure you, when I was a senior in high school, I never sat in an audience saying, "Gosh, if I work hard, I'll be President of the United States." Laughter Didn't exactly fit into my vocabulary in those days. Laughter But you never know. You never know. Trust the Lord, too. Visit of President Putin Student. Did President Putin like the barbecue last night? President Bush. Ask him. Laughter President Putin. Just I had a hard time imagining how could a living person create such a masterpiece of cooking, a fantastic meal. And when I said so to the President, he said, "Indeed, this cannot be done except for in Texas." Laughter President Bush. I think, Mr. President, we ought to ask one of the Russian high school students for a question. Please. Student. My name is Maria Vasulkova. President Bush. How old are you? Russian U.S. Economic Relations Student. Eighteen. What do you think, how are the improved relations between the two countries would influence the Russian economy and the future prospects for the entire world? In general, what do you think of this? President Putin. Russia has changed greatly recently. And today, the Russian economy is on the rise. The growth rates are considerably higher than the average for the world. Last year the growth rate was about 8.3 percent this year we're expecting the growth rates close to 6 percent. I would like to say that, unlike other economic negotiations and negotiators, Russia is not seeking and is not expecting any preferences or any free buys. We even pay return the debts of Russia to the international financial institutions ahead of schedule. Russia needs only one thing to develop normally. We need normal standards, conditions, and relations with all the leading economies of the world, and primarily with the United States. And we have to get rid of the ideological barricades of the preceding decades. And the President is helping. President Bush. Let me tell you an interesting story. We've sent teams of our economic people over to Russia. And Don Evans, who is a Texan, from Midland, Texas, who is now the Secretary of Commerce, came back and told me about an encounter her had. He met a guy, a young man in Russia who told him that 5 years ago he was really not a business guy, but he had a dream, and he realized that he could buy bread in Moscow and transport it to St. Petersburg, and make a little profit, which was a pretty new concept for the Russian Federation. And as a result of working hard and having an environment which President Putin is working hard to create, which is an environment where there is a tax system that's fair and, by the way, they've got a flat tax in Russia laughter he built his own business. He now owns a grocery store type business. To me, that's an example of where the reforms that the President is putting in place are making sense, where people can own something own their own business, own their own land, own the opportunity, if you work hard, to be able to have a future that you dream about. And the President understands that. Our job as a country is to help where asked. If there's ways that we can work together for our mutual interest, we will do so. And so one of the areas where I think the average Russian will realize that the stereotypes of America have changed is that it's a spirit of cooperation, not oneupmanship that we now understand one plus one can equal three, as opposed to us and Russia we hope to be zero. It's just a different attitude in a different era. It's time to get the past behind us, and it's time to move forward. And that's exactly why we're here in Crawford, to show the world we are moving forward. A couple more questions, then I've got to go have lunch, and so does the President. Back there in the back. National Missile Defense Student. My name is Sean Law. I was wondering if you've come to a conclusion about whether or not to deploy a national missile defense system? President Bush. Are you with the national press corps or laughter ? I noticed my friends in the national press corps are giving you a thumbs up. Laughter Oh, you're a debater. That's okay, then. Laughter This is an area that we've had a lot of discussions about. As you might remember, in the Presidential campaign I said, in very plain terms, that I felt the ABM Treaty signed in 1972 is outdated, that the treaty was signed during a period of time when we really hated each other, and we no longer hate each other that I view the treaty as something we need to move beyond. And I made this very clear to the President. He understands our position, that it is in our Nation's interest and, I think, in his nation's interest and other peaceful nations' interest to be able to explore the ability to determine whether or not we can be able to deploy defensive systems to prevent people who might have weapons of mass destruction from hurting us or holding us hostage or being able to blackmail free nations. He'll be glad to give you his position. We have a difference of opinion. But the great thing about our relationship is, our relationship is strong enough to endure this difference of opinion. And that's the positive development. We've found many areas in which we can cooperate, and we've found some areas where we disagree. But nevertheless, our disagreements will not divide us as nations that need to combine to make the world more peaceful and more prosperous. So, Mr. President, if you'd like to address defenses, you're welcome to. President Putin. I feel that time was not wasting by coming here. Laughter The President told me that we'll just limit ourselves to generalities, but he was mistaken. Laughter You are applauding yourselves. Laughter Our objective is a common both for the United States and for Russia. The objective is to achieve security for our states, for our nations, and for the entire world. We share the concerns of the President of the United States to the fact that we must think of the future threats. And here is a common ground for our further discussions. What we differ in is that we differ in the ways and means we perceive that are suitable for reaching the same objective. And given the nature of the relationship between the United States and Russia, one can rest assured that whatever final solution is found, it will not threaten or put to threat the interests of both our countries and of the world. And we shall continue our discussions. President Bush. This is the last question, and then what we're going to do is, we're going to walk around and say hello to everybody, and then we're going to go back to the ranch. Yes, ma'am. Student. My name is Judy Swinson, and I'm in seventh grade. President Bush. Seventh grade. Good. Future Visit to Russia Student. And if you do go to Russia, are you going to be taking some kids from Crawford? Laughter President Bush. No. Laughter President Putin. I am extremely grateful for this question. The whole audience basically started on this note, and you finalized the whole thing with your question. Laughter This is not a mere coincidence, I believe. On our way here, the President invited to come here when it's plus 40 Celsius, more than 110, and he invited me to join a plus 40 club who jog when it is 110 and more. Laughter Well, I'll think about it. Laughter Indeed, in our country, there are regions where people live, by the way, in Siberia, where for one last year, for 2 weeks in a row, the temperatures were about around or below minus 50 Celsius for 2 weeks running. My promise is, I will not terrorize your President with such low temperatures laughter and would be glad to see any of you present here in Russia. But first of all, I would like to address here at this juncture our hosts, the schoolchildren, the young audience here. At the count of three, those who want your President to come to Russia, raise your hands and say yes. One, two Audience members. Yes! President Bush. Thank you all. Very good night. November 14, 2001 The President. Good evening. Today we've got incredibly good news. Our United States military rescued eight humanitarian workers who had beenin prison in Afghanistan. I'm really proud of our Armed Forces, and I'm also thankful for the folks in Afghanistan who helped with this rescue. There have been a lot of people praying for the eight eight innocent folks. Particularly interesting for me, since I'm here in Crawford and the two Americans were from Waco. And I know a lot of the Waco citizens have been in deep prayer that they be rescued, and their prayers were answered. I'm thankful they're safe. I am pleased with the way our military has conducted its operations, and I am glad to report to the American people this chapter of the Afghan theater has ended in a very positive and constructive way. Q. Sir, did the rescuers encounter any resistance? The President. You're going to have to talk to the Secretary of Defense about that. Q. Were they rescued or turned over by the Taliban? The President. Well, I think Secretary Rumsfeld will be making a statement. We're calling it a rescue. They have been helped by I know the International Red Cross have been involved, and they were flown to safety by U.S. troops. Q. Where are they now? The President. In Pakistan. Q. Sir, is it your understanding that this was an operation where our forces had to go in and extricate them? The President. No, I don't think it was a mission of that it was set up, as I understand it. In other words, there was people on the ground were facilitated the ability of our troops to move in and put them on a chopper and bring them to safety. I have been I had spent a lot of time worrying about all eight, particularly the two young ladies. I was worried that about the reports that perhaps the enemy would put them in a house and then, for whatever reason, would encourage that house to get bombed. I was worried for their safety. We had thought of different ways in which we could extricate them from the prison they were in. And there were some people on the ground that helped, including the International Red Cross, and our military responded. And it's great Q. How soon will you be able to speak to them or see them, sir? The President. I'm not sure. The good news is, they'll be home for Thanksgiving. And I would obviously if they come back to the States or are in a position where I can call, I'd love to call them, and most of all, tell their parents that I can imagine how they feel, how thrilled they are that their daughters are safe. Q. Other than the Red Cross, who else The President. I'm not sure yet, Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press . I think we had Secretary Rumsfeld is going to brief here in a second. Q. Was it a handover to U.S. troops or The President. I think it was a I don't think it was I think it was, as I understand it and again, the Secretary of Defense will be briefing, the Defense Department will be briefing that it was a facilitated rescue. In other words, there were people and I say "rescued" because it's a very unstable part of the world still, obviously, and you never know what the Taliban is going to do. They, first and foremost, detained these people against their will and imprisoned them. And I was deeply concerned for their safety. But the really incredibly positive news is that, thanks to help on the ground and thanks to our U.S. military, they're now safe in Pakistan. I've got to go to dinner with my guests. I've got my guests. You'll have to talk to the Secretary of Defense. Operation Enduring Freedom Q. Should the Taliban surrender now, sir? The President. It's up to the Taliban to make that decision. But we're not going to end our mission until we accomplish the mission, and the mission is Al Qaida and terrorists and terrorist training camps. One of the things I said in front of Congress was that one of the conditions were that these humanitarian aid workers be turned over. That part of the mission is complete. We still want Al Qaida, and we want to make sure that Afghanistan is no longer a safe haven for terrorist activity. That has yet to be accomplished. In the meantime, we're making substantial gains on the ground. But this is I told the American people, this could take a while. And I'm patient, and I am steady. And our military is and our troops on the ground are on the hunt to accomplish the objective. And we will stay there until we do accomplish the objective. Thank you all. I've got to go have dinner Visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin Q. Are you going The President. I've got my guests waiting Q. Did the rain ruin the dinner? The President. No, it's perfect. Listen, any time it rains in Texas, it enhances the dinner. Laughter Thank you all for bringing it. November 13, 2001 President Bush. It's a great honor for me to welcome President Vladimir Putin to the White House and to welcome his wife as well. This is a new day in the long history of Russian American relations, a day of progress and a day of hope. The United States and Russia are in the midst of a transformation of a relationship that will yield peace and progress. We're transforming our relationship from one of hostility and suspicion to one based on cooperation and trust that will enhance opportunities for peace and progress for our citizens and for people all around the world. The challenge of terrorism makes our close cooperation on all issues even more urgent. Russia and America share the same threat and the same resolve. We will fight and defeat terrorist networks wherever they exist. Our highest priority is to keep terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction. Today we agreed that Russian and American experts will work together to share information and expertise to counter the threat from bioterrorism. We agreed that it is urgent that we improve the physical protection and accounting of nuclear materials and prevent illicit nuclear trafficking. And we will strengthen our efforts to cut off every possible source of biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons, materials, and expertise. Today we also agreed to work more closely to combat organized crime and drug trafficking, a leading source of terrorist financing. Both nations are committed to the reconstruction of Afghanistan, once hostilities there have ceased and the Taliban are no longer in control. We support the U.N.'s efforts to fashion a post Taliban government that is broadly based and multiethnic. The new government must export neither terror nor drugs, and it must respect fundamental human rights. As Russia and the United States work more closely to meet new 21st century threats, we're also working hard to put the threats of the 20th century behind us once and for all, and we can report great progress. The current levels of our nuclear forces do not reflect today's strategic realities. I have informed President Putin that the United States will reduce our operationally deployed strategic nuclear warheads to a level between 1,700 and 2,200 over the next decade, a level fully consistent with American security. Russia and the United States have also had vast discussions about our defensive capabilities, the ability to defend ourselves as we head into the 21st century. We have different points of view about the ABM Treaty, and we will continue dialog and discussions about the ABM Treaty, so that we may be able to develop a new strategic framework that enables both of us to meet the true threats of the 21st century as partners and friends, not as adversaries. The spirit of partnership that now runs through our relationship is allowing the United States and Russia to form common approaches to important regional issues. In the Middle East, we agree that all parties must take practical actions to ease tensions so that peace talks can resume. We urge the parties to move without delay to implement the Tenet work plan and the Mitchell report recommendations. In Europe, we share a vision of a European Atlantic community whole, free, and at peace, one that includes all of Europe's democracies, and where the independence and sovereignty of all nations are respected. Russia should be a part of this Europe. We will work together with NATO and NATO members to build new avenues of cooperation and consultation between Russia and NATO. NATO members and Russia are increasingly allied against terrorism, regional instability, and other threats of our age. And NATO must reflect this alliance. We're encouraged by President Putin's commitment to a political dialog in Chechnya. Russia has also made important strides on immigration and the protection of religious and ethnic minorities, including Russia's Jewish community. On this issue, Russia is in a fundamentally different place than it was during the Soviet era. President Putin told me that these gains for freedom will be protected and expanded. Our Foreign Ministers have sealed this understanding in an exchange of letters. Because of this progress, my administration will work with Congress to end the application of Jackson Vanik amendment to Russia. Russia has set out to strengthen free market institutions and the rule of law. On this basis, our economic relationship is developing quickly, and we will look for further ways to expand it. A strong, independent media is a vital part of a new Russia. We've agreed to launch a dialog on media entrepreneurship, so that American and Russian media representatives can meet and make practical recommendations to both our Governments, in order to advance our goal of free media and free exchange of ideas. Russia and the United States will continue to face complex and difficult issues. Yet, we've made great progress in a very short period of time. Today, because we are working together, both our countries and the world are more secure and safe. I want to thank President Putin for the spirit of our meetings. Together, we're making history, as we make progress. Laura and I are looking forward to welcoming the Putins to our ranch in Crawford, Texas. I can't wait to show you my State and where I live. In the meantime, I hope you have a fine stay here in Washington, DC. And it's my honor to welcome you to the White House, sir, and welcome you to the podium. President Putin. Ladies and gentlemen, I don't know whether I would have an opportunity to address such a representative audience of the press and media. I would like to begin, anyway, with words of thanks to the President of the United States, not only for his kind invitation to visit the United States and Washington but also for his very informal initiation of our negotiations earlier today. Myself and my colleagues are very pleased to be here, this historic building of the White House. And President Bush deemed it appropriate not only to tour me, to guide me through the premises of this house where he lives, he saw almost every picture hanging on the walls of this great building. But it is not only very interesting, but it also changes for the better the quality of our relationship. I would like to once again thank the President and the American people, and I would like to express our condolences in connection with the recent plane crash in the United States. As they say in Russia, tragedy does not come alone, and tragedies always come in many numbers. I am confident that the U.S. American people would face this tragedy very bravely. I would like to inform you that the Washington part of our negotiations is being completed, and our discussions proved very constructive, interesting, and useful and will continue at Crawford. But the preliminary results we evaluate as extremely positive. This is our fourth meeting with President Bush in the last few months. I believe this is a vivid demonstration of the dynamic nature of the Russian American relations. We have come to understand each other better, and our positions are becoming closer on the key issues of bilateral and international relations. We are prepared now to seek solutions in all areas of our joint activities. We intend to dismantle conclusively the vestiges of the cold war and to develop new entirely new partnership for long term. Of course, we discussed in detail the subject matter of fight against terrorism. The tragic developments of September the 11th demonstrated vividly the need for a joint effort to counter this global threat. We consider this threat as a global threat, indeed, and the terrorists and those who help them should know that the justice is inescapable, and it will reach them wherever they try to hide. Also, post crisis political settlement in Afghanistan was discussed. The most important thing for today is to return peace and the life in honor to Afghanistan, so that no threat originate from Afghanistan to the international stability. Of course, we do not intend to force upon the Afghani people the solutions it is for them to resolve those issues with the active participation of the United Nations. We discussed in detail our dialog related to strategic offensive and defensive weapons. Here, we managed to achieve certain progress. First of all, it has to do with the prospects of reaching a reliable and verifiable agreement on further reductions of the U.S. and Russian weapons. Here I must say, we appreciate very much the decision by the President to reduce strategic offensive weapons to the limits indicated by him. And we, for our part, will try to respond in kind. On the issues of missile defense, the position of Russia remains unchanged, and we agreed to continue dialog and consultations on this. I believe that it's too early now to draw the line under the discussions of these issues, and we will have an opportunity to continue the work on this one of the very difficult issues at the Crawford ranch. We also exchanged on a number of topical issues of international importance, the Balkans, Iraq. And we reiterated in a joint statement the resolve of the United States and Russia to facilitate settlement in the Middle East and the early resumption of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians. We also discussed seriously the development of relations between Russia and NATO, including taking into account a changed international situation. We consider that there are opportunities for an entirely new mechanism, joint decisionmaking, and coordinated action in the area of security and stability. We considered in detail a number of economic cooperation issues. The Russian American dialog in this area has become recently more constructive and more tangible. Such major investment projects as Sakhalin I and Caspian Pipeline Consortium are gaining momentum. Successful is cooperation in the air space, mining, chemistry, car building, and other industries. Direct contacts are expanding between entrepreneurs of the two countries, including within the Russian American business dialog. It is with satisfaction that we note a certain progress in issues related to the Russia's accession to the WTO, in recognizing Russia as a market economy country, and we've felt a great degree of understanding that such issues should be resolved, I mean, dealing with the Jackson Vanik amendment, not de facto but in legal terms. And in this context, our Foreign Minister and the Secretary of State, Messrs. Ivanov and Powell, exchanged letters reiterating the resolve of Russia and the United States to observe human rights and religious freedoms. Of course, the capabilities embedded in the bilateral relationship have not been fully implemented. The key we have quite a lot of things to do, but we are confident that the success is, by and large, predetermined by our resolve to cooperate energetically and constructively. That, and I'm confident, would benefit both countries and which is reflected, also, in our visit to this country today. Thank you. Situation in Afghanistan Q. Mr. President, welcome to the White House, sir. Mr. President, the Northern Alliance forces took over Kabul, and there are reports of executions of POWs and other violent reprisals. Can the Alliance be trusted to form a broad based government? If not, what should happen next to stabilize Afghanistan, and what role, if any, should U.S. troops play in that political phase? President Bush. First of all, we're making great progress in our objective, and that is to tighten the net and eventually bring Al Qaida to justice, and at the same time, deal with the Government that has been harboring them. President Putin and I spent a lot of time talking about the Northern Alliance and their relationship to Kabul, as well as Mazar e Sharif and other cities that have now been liberated from the Taliban. I made it very clear to him that we would continue to work with the Northern Alliance to make sure they recognized that in order for there to be a stable Afghanistan, which is one of our objectives, after the Taliban leaves, that the country be a good neighbor, that they must recognize that a future government must include a representative from all of Afghanistan. We listened very carefully to the comments coming out of the Northern Alliance today. And they made it very clear they had no intention of occupying Kabul. That's what they said. I have seen reports, which you refer to, and I also saw a report that said, on their way out of town, the Taliban was wreaking havoc on the citizenry of Kabul. And if that be the case I haven't had it verified one way or the other, but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised. After all, the Taliban has been wreaking havoc on the entire country for over a decade. This has been on of the most repressive regimes in the history of mankind. But we will continue to work with our Northern Alliance with the Northern Alliance commanders to make sure they respect the human rights of the people that they are liberating. I also saw reports and I think President Putin mentioned this today as well that in some of the northern cities, there was great joyous a wonderful, joyous occasion as the citizens were free, free from repression, free from a dictatorial government. But we are both mindful, particularly mindful of the need for us to work with our Northern Alliance friends to treat people with respect. President Putin. All our actions were aimed at liberating the northern parts of Afghanistan and the capital of Afghanistan, liberate from the Taliban regime. And any military action is accompanied not only by the military resistance but also an information resistance, what we are witnessing right now, exactly. We tend to forget now the destruction of the cultural heritage of humankind. We tend to forget now the atrocities by Taliban. And we are talking less than usual of the Taliban harboring international terrorism. The information that Northern Alliance are shooting are shooting the prisoners of war was launched a few days ago. The Northern Alliance was not in Kabul a few days ago they were liberating northern parts of the country. And for those who do not know, I will tell, the northern part of the country is inhabited by the ethnic groups represented in the Northern Alliance I mean, Uzbeks and Tajiks. It is very difficult for me to imagine them shooting their own population. I utterly exclude this. If there are any instances in the course of the military action of the violation of human rights and treatment of the prisoners of war, we must investigate and take action. But we need proof. Talking of this, we should not forget the things that we see the way people meet advancing Northern Alliance troops, liberating the cities and villages of the Taliban the women getting rid of chadors and burning them. And this, I would like you, ladies and gentlemen of the press, to pay attention to. Thank you. Possible Visit to Russia Nuclear Arms Reduction Q. Specific numbers were mentioned here with regard to the reductions of offensive weapons. When, and if at all, one could expect that such specific numbers made public be substantiated by some papers, maybe during a possible visit by President Bush to Moscow? And by the way, when could this visit take place? President Bush. Got to get invited first. Laughter Do you want to start? President Putin. President Bush is aware of that, and I would like to reiterate He has an open invitation to visit the Russian Federation, with an official working or a private visit, in any format, at any time convenient for him. I mean, the best time would be during the time of the beginning of the year, White Nights in St. Petersburg. Laughter Of course, the official part would start in Moscow, in the capital of the Russian Federation. But as for the business part, I think that before that time, our advisers will continue working. And we, for our part, for the Russian part, are prepared to present all our agreements in a treaty form, including the issues of verification and control. President Bush. I think it's interesting to note that a new relationship based upon trust and cooperation is one that doesn't need endless hours of arms control discussions. I can remember watching the news years ago and seeing that people would sit at tables for hours and hours and hours trying to reach reduced levels of nuclear armament. My attitude is Here's what we can live with. And so I've announced a level that we're going to that we'll stick by. To me, that's how you approach a relationship that is changed and different. And we'd be glad to and I looked the man in the eye and shook his hand, but if we need to write it down on a piece of paper, I'll be glad to do that. But that's what our Government is going to do over the next 10 years. And we don't need an arms control agreement or an arms control let me say this we don't need arms control negotiations to reduce our weaponry in a significant way. And today you've now heard for the first time the level that I think is commensurate with the spirit of reducing our own weaponry and, at the same time, keeping the peace. ABM Treaty Q. You mentioned vast discussions on the ABM Treaty. What progress are you making? And are you convinced you won't have to withdraw from the treaty now? President Bush. Well, I'm convinced that the treaty is outdated, and we need to move beyond it. And we're having discussions along those lines. We had good discussions today we had good discussions in Shanghai we had good discussions in Slovenia and we'll have good discussions in Crawford. This is obviously a subject that's got a lot of ramifications to it. I clearly heard what the President has had to say and his view of the ABM Treaty. He's heard what I've had to say, and we'll continue working it. But my position is, is that it is a piece of paper that's codified a relationship that no longer exists, codified a hateful relationship. And now we've got a friendly relationship. And I think we need to have a new strategic framework that reflects the new relationship, based upon trust and cooperation. But we'll continue to work it. Freedom of the Press Q. A question to President Bush. His advisers expressed concern over the situation with the freedom of speech in Russia. But after September 11th, it would seem to me that the situation is changing somewhat in the United States, too. There are special rules for covering anti terrorist operation, bin Laden is denied any opportunity to present his views in the media quite appropriately, in my view and so on and so forth. The authority of the special services have been extended, and there have been rumors that some of your members of your administration went to Hollywood explaining to them a few things. Where is the line in the sand where beyond which it is impossible to cross, delineating a voluntary restraint on the part of the media and President Bush. Yes. First of all, I have been trying to tame our press corps ever since I got into politics, and I've failed miserably. Laughter They get to express their opinions, sometimes in the form of news laughter any way they want to. I asked them the other day, "Would it be okay if I cut a 30 minute tape, a piece of propaganda? No questions. Just here here it is here's 30 minutes of me talking. Please run it not only across your airwaves but run it internationally, if you don't mind. I've got something to say about the conflict and our fight against evil." They said, no, they're not going to do that. If I'm going to have to get on the news, they've got to ask me questions. And so we extended the same courtesy to Usama bin Laden. He doesn't get to just cut a 30 minute tape, where he may be calling his soldiers to action, where he is definitely condemning all Jews, Christians, threatening individuals, to be able to put a 30 minute propaganda tape on the free airwaves. And we made that suggestion. We didn't dictate we just suggested. And some of the news organizations or all the news organizations readily agreed that was a responsible posture to take. And for that, I'm grateful. But the press in America has never been stronger and never been freer and never been more vibrant sometimes to my chagrin and a lot of times to my delight. But whoever thinks that I have the capability or my government has the capability of reining in this press corps simply doesn't understand the American way. President Putin. I would also offer a couple of words. Today, giving a rostrum to international terrorists would be equal to giving an opportunity to inaudible newspapers of the Second World War times to an opportunity to print Dr. Goebbels' articles. This question could be turned in the following way What is the limit and what is the measure of giving an opportunity to the terrorists and destructive element to use media in pursuit of their antihuman, inhuman objectives? Let's look at it this way. Situation in Afghanistan Q. Yes, sir, Mr. President, thank you. If I could return to the situation in Afghanistan, where the concern seems to be a potential breakdown in civil order and a possible dramatic increase in civil conflict between the tribes in the Northern Alliance and other groups, which President Putin's country has experience with, what specifically can be done in the next several days to ensure the safety of the citizens of Kabul? And does the Northern Alliance, now that they've taken that city, enjoy pride of place at the bargaining table in the future of Afghanistan? President Bush. There is no preferential place at the bargaining table. All people will be treated the same. That's what we're working with our friends the Russians on. That's the concept we're working on with the U.N. And that's only fair. That's been the vision all along. That's been the vision we talked about in Shanghai. It's the vision we have shared again today. Secondly, I repeat, the Northern Alliance, with whom President Putin has got some influence and I've got some influence, has told us both they have no intention of occupying and they've said this publicly they intend not to occupy Kabul, which is fine. That's the way it ought to be. And we will continue to work with their commanders. We've got troops there with their commanders, and we will continue to urge restraint. Again, I think before we jump to conclusions, we want to make sure we understand what the facts are, because the evacuating army has been one that has held this country has terrorized this country for a long period of time. But any regardless of that, any any army, advancing or retreating, needs to treat people with respect. And we will continue to work that they do so. President Putin. Well, the thing is that the Northern Alliance did not take Kabul by storm. The Northern Alliance is looming over has been looming over Kabul for a long time. That was our mutual agreement with President Bush. And suddenly, they discovered, all of a sudden, that Kabul had been abandoned, and they had to insert there certain security elements to prevent looting and robberies and murders. There was complete lawlessness in that city, and the situation must be put under control, and it was very difficult. It would be very difficult for us if we to meet with the Northern Alliance leaders to tell them that they've negated their obligation. The city of Kabul was abandoned by Taliban. They were trying to preserve their manpower and their equipment, a very cunning move on the part of Taliban. Maybe, technically, their decision was right, but we should not be deluded on that score. Quite a serious amount of work is still ahead. They did not disappear they just moved out of the city, a few kilometers from there. And I am absolutely in agreement with the President on the need to follow the developments with a view to preventing abuses of human rights and maltreatment of the POWs, although the line we agreed upon has not been yet reached. Dear colleagues, the final question. Pakistan Uzbekistan and Tajikistan Q. Two questions to two Presidents. Mr. Bush, what is your evaluation of the situation in Pakistan, which was always in the sphere of influence of the United States, and whether there are any dangers that the forces up in opposition to General Musharraf would gain control of the nuclear weapons? And to President Putin, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan made available their airbases and their air corridors to the United States Armed Forces, giving the green light. Can you tell us whether you gave a green light to that? Aren't you apprehensive of the struggle for power and influence in that area? President Bush. I had a very good dinner with President Musharraf last Saturday night in New York City. It's the first time I had met him. My Secretary of State had met him in Pakistan, as had my Secretary of Defense and other officials in my administration. All of us came away with our respect for President Musharraf and our desire to make sure that his administration is successful in Pakistan. The best way to make sure that terrorists do not end up with nuclear weaponry in that part of the world is for President Musharraf to provide a stable government and to fulfill what he said he would do, which is to have elections in a short period of time. And I believe he is he deserves our Nation's support, and so we are putting together a economic package that will help him with debt, help him with the expenses of the ongoing operations, help him with trade. And we will continue a dialog with the Pakistan leader, with the full intent of finding ways we can cooperate, in order to bring stability to that part of the world. President Putin. With regard to the possible redrawing of the spheres of influence and the enhanced American influence in the central Asia, I would like to say the following I am more concerned with the presence of the terrorist training camps in the northern Afghanistan, who send guerrillas to the Caucasus have been sending in the recent years. After Ahmed Shah Massoud was killed, I had a very, very sad feeling. That was prior to September 11th. And I told President Bush at that time that perhaps some serious developments are in the making. And this is concerning this concerns me very much. If we look at the relationship between the Russian Federation and the United States from the old standpoint, distrust and the enmity, that's one thing. If we are looking through the prism of partnership and alliance, we have nothing to be afraid of. This is one thing. Secondly, one shouldn't forget that both Uzbekistan and Tajikistan are independent states and decide, therefore, in policies independently, who cooperate with and at which level. But focusing my attention at the following circumstance, and I related it to President Bush quite frankly we've just mentioned President Musharraf. We all should support President Musharraf. This would be the right thing to do. And we agree with this, and we accept this. It is also true that American flags are being burned in the streets of the Pakistani cities one should not leave that unnoticed. In Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, the Muslim countries, too, American flags are not being burned. Moreover, those countries cooperate, for the first time, so openly and so consistently with the United States and with the international alliance against terrorism. Being Muslim countries with their own problems, none of them are squeaking or crying foul they are trying to address their own problems on their own. And in these conditions, the continued application of Jackson Vanik amendment to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and so on and so forth, one wouldn't call it justified and just. We need to and want to build a new relationship in the new 21st century. Thank you very much. President Bush. Thank you. November 13, 2001 The President's remarks were joined in progress. The President. Texas. We haven't been back since the war began on September the 11th, and we're delighted to be home. I am also honored to be hosting Vladimir Putin tomorrow. He's going to start off in Houston, and then he's going to come over to Crawford, Texas. He has a he's been a great about how to improve our relations, about how to cooperate more wide variety of issues, and we will continue the dialog tomorrow. I can't wait for him to get to see Texas. I made the decision that we'd have formal things in Washington we'd have formal meetings in Washington, but it's also very important for him to get to see the finest State of all 50, in my judgment. He'll also get a taste of rural life here in Texas. He'll get to see Houston, and he's also going to get to come to Crawford. And it's going to be such an honor for us to receive him here. We're making great progress on the war. I have great confidence in the ability of the U.S. military, but I've even got greater confidence in the people of our country. We're united we're strong we're determined and we will prevail. We're going to win this war. And we're glad to be home and looking forward to spending time here. Humanitarian Aid Workers Q. Mr. President, what about the two girls that are being detained in Afghanistan? What do you think about their current situation? The President. Well, we're working. I know one of them is from this area. Q. I think from Baylor? The President. Yes. And we have made it clear to the Taliban that we expect them to be treated humanely. I hope they listen to our request. We're obviously very concerned about their safety. Our military is very aware that they're in that part of the world, and we are doing everything we can gathering to make sure they stay out of harm's way. It's up to the Taliban, however, to protect them. We expect them to do so. Visit of Russian President Q. Mr. President, how important is this meeting tomorrow? The President. Well, it's a continuation of a series of meetings I've had with him. I met with him in Slovenia and then Shanghai, and of course, today we had a long series of meetings, announced some major initiatives. One initiative I announced is something I campaigned on. I said that we would in order to get rid of the vestiges of the past would reduce our nuclear arsenal, our offensive weapons, of nuclear warheads to a level commensurate with keeping the peace and at the same time signaling loud and clear that we need a new relationship with Russia. And I did that. We're also going to talk about missile defense, the ABM Treaty. He has got some concerns about getting rid of the ABM Treaty. I've listened very carefully to him, but I've made the case to him that we need to move beyond the vestiges of the past in order to address the true threats facing our nation and his nation, and that is the ability of some terrorist nation to end up with a weapon of mass destruction, which could hold each of us hostage and or cause serious harm to our people. Q. Mr. President The President. Well, we're going to be riding John Deere Gators. They're a little more compassionate than some horses. We're going to have a barbecue tomorrow night. A local resident, David Sibley, is coming and his wife, Pam. We've got a friend of ours from Buffalo Gap, Texas, who will be cooking the barbecue. Laura has ordered up a swing band. And then Thursday morning we'll go for a down, boy that's Barney, by the way. Laughter Mrs. Bush. And this is Spot. The President. And Spot. And we'll go for a couple of nice, long walks. The best diplomacy starts with getting to know each other. And I want him to know my values, and I want to know his values. I want him to see things. One of the interesting things that happened in Slovenia I said to him as we were walking to the press conference, I said, "I understand you've got two daughters." He said, "Yes." I said, "Who did you name your daughters after?" He said, "My mother and my mother in law." So did I. Laughter So there's a lot we can find with these world leaders that you've got in common with them, if you just spend some time listening. So we'll have a good stay. Q. Mr. President, is this going to be a breakthrough weekend? The President. Pardon me? Q. Is this going to be a breakthrough weekend? The President. I don't think there's a particular moment where things where a relationship breaks through. Obviously, it takes a while. It takes a while to build up the trust necessary for him to know that I intend to keep my word when I say I'm going to do something and vice versa. It is very important for both of us to convince some parties in our countries that we should no longer harbor suspicions about each other. I will continue to make the case that it is in our nations' interest that Russia and the United States enter into a wide variety of agreements offensive weapons, talk about the ABM, work on counterproliferation, work on counterterrorism measures. He's been very helpful, by the way, in our efforts in Afghanistan. It's a new day in a relationship that when I was growing up and when we were both growing up was one based upon hostility, mistrust, and anger. And now it's the exact opposite. We're finding ways to find areas where we can work together for the benefit of both of our countries. Listen, thank you all very much. It's great to see some familiar faces Q. Will you be showing Mr. Putin some Texas dance steps, Mr. President? You'll be showing him some Texas dance steps out there, I'm sure. The President. You know from following me as the Governor, I can cut a pretty mean rug. Laughter November 12, 2001 President Bush. It's been my honor to welcome a man whose name symbolizes freedom and courage, to the Oval Office. President Mandela is going to say a few words, and I will say some after he finishes. Welcome. President Mandela. Well, firstly, I would like to express my deepest sympathies for the crash that took place today. And it's unfortunate that that would happen at this time, when the United States lost so many people on the 11th of September. But I know that you have quite a strong leader, and the people of the United States of America can face disaster, and I'm sure that they will overcome this unfortunate incident. I also want to say that one of the reasons for coming here is to be able to express my support for the President for his action in Afghanistan. The United States of America lost 5,000 people innocent people and it is quite correct for the President to ensure that the terrorists, those masterminds as well as those who have executed the action and survived, are to be punished heavily. And it would be disastrous if the President gave in to the call that the Army must now withdraw, before he has actually flushed out the terrorists. That would be disaster. They will claim that they have defeated the United States of America, and they will continue doing the same thing. So I support him to continue until those terrorists have been tracked down. President Bush. Mr. President, you don't have to worry about me. We are going to bring them to justice. And I want to thank you for your support. I also want to thank you for your wisdom and your leadership in Burundi. You made a huge difference. The President said, why would I welcome a pensioner to the Oval Office? And the reason why is because he is such a strong man. And it's been my honor to greet you and welcome you. And thank you for your words of condolences. American Airlines Flight 587 Crash I, too, want to express my heartfelt sympathies for the citizens of New York, those on the airplane, those whose houses were damaged, those who were hurt on the ground, for the recent incident that took place. It is heartbreaking to have picked up the phone and called my friend Rudy Giuliani and Governor George Pataki and once again expressed our condolences and, at the same time, assured the people of New York our Federal Government will respond as quickly as possible. We sent our FEMA teams over the FBI is over there. And this investigation is being led by the National Transportation Safety Board to make sure that the facts are fully known to the American people. The New York people have suffered mightily they suffer again. But there's no doubt in my mind that the New Yorkers are resilient and strong and courageous people and will help their neighbors overcome this recent incident that took place. May God bless the victims and their families. Mr. President, welcome to Washington, and thank you for coming. President Mandela. Thank you. November 11, 2001 The President. Thank you very much. At ease. Audience member. Let's roll! The President. Let's roll. Thank you so much, Commissioner. I'm so pleased to be back in New York City to pay honor to our veterans, those from the New York State and New York City area and those all around America. It's such an honor to say on behalf of the American people, thanks for your service. It's such an honor to be in the presence of Cardinal Egan, a man who brings such comfort and solace to those who mourn and hope to those of us who live. So, Cardinal Egan, thank you so much for your leadership and your strength. And also, I am so pleased and thrilled to be with my friend the Governor, who is doing a fabulous job for the people of New York. And you know something, I'm going down to Crawford next Wednesday that's Crawford, Texas, that is. There you go. Laughter And there's a new household name down there Rudy. What a great job Rudy has done. He's done a fabulous job. And I agree with Rudy he's being replaced by a really good man, Michael Bloomberg. Michael, good luck. Congratulations, and we appreciate you running. Leo, thank you for being here. You represent the best of those who came from the private sector to serve our Government. I want to thank you for your leadership at the VA. I also want to recognize a person who I became friends with in a very difficult moment, and that's Ms. Arlene Howard. Arlene, would you stand up for a second, please? Applause Good to see you, Arlene. Arlene is a veteran. She served in the United States Navy, as did her late husband, Robert. And she's a veteran of September the 11th in a sad way. Her son George was at the World Trade Center. She gave me something that I showed the Nation a while ago, the badge of George. It's a reminder of the wrong done to our country, Arlene. Thank you for that reminder. It is also a reminder of the great purpose of our great land, and that is to rid this world of evil and terror. The evil ones have roused a mighty nation, a mighty land. And for however long it takes, I am determined that we will prevail. And prevail we must, because we fight for one thing, and that is the freedom of our people and the freedom of people everywhere. And I want to thank the commissioner, who is a veteran as well a veteran in the military and a veteran of a new kind of war, one fought here on the homefront. He represents the fabulous men and women who wear the uniform of the police and fire and rescue units, the Port Authority here in New York City, people who serve with such distinction and such courage that whenever an American hears the word "police" or "fire," we think differently. We think differently about the job. We think differently about the character of those who serve on a daily basis. We think differently about those who go to work every single day to protect us and save us and comfort us. What a noble profession the commissioner represents, and what a great job he's done for New York City. And in a time of war, we look a little differently at our veterans, too. We pay tributes on Veterans Day, today, and they're made with a little greater feeling, because Americans have seen the terrible harm that an enemy can inflict. And it has left us deeply grateful for the men and women who rise strongly in the defense of our Nation. We appreciate the sacrifices that our military is making today. We appreciate the sacrifices that their families make with them. When the call comes to defend our country, our military is ready and is making us proud. Al Qaida and the Taliban have made a serious mistake. And because our military is brave and prepared and courageous, they will pay a serious price. America has always needed such bravery and such people, and we have always found them amongst us. Generations of our service men and women have not only fought for our country in the past they have upheld our honorable traditions and represented our country with courage and honor. And wherever our military has gone, they have brought pride to our own people and hope to millions of others. One veteran of World War II recalled the spirit of the American military and the relief it brought to suffering peoples. "America," he said, "has sent the best of her young men around the world, not to conquer but to liberate, not to terrorize but to help." And this is true in Afghanistan today. And this has always been true of the men and women who have served our Nation. This Nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. And we owe so much so much to the men and women, our veterans, who step forward to protect those freedoms. Our veterans gave America some of the best years of their lives and stood ready to give life itself. For all that, America's 25 million veterans have the deep respect of their fellow citizens and the enduring gratitude of a nation they so nobly served. May God bless our veterans, and may God continue to bless America. November 10, 2001 President Bush. Good evening. In our hour of need, just after the terrorist attacks on September the 11th, President Musharraf quickly condemned the evildoers. He's shown even greater courage and vision and leadership in the weeks since. Our nations share an urgent mission, which is to stop and defeat terrorism wherever it may exist. That mission is not directed against those who practice Islam. That mission is directed against evil people. We discussed ways to accelerate our progress in Afghanistan against Al Qaida and the Taliban. We also discussed our humanitarian efforts to help Afghans through the winter. And we spent time on the need to work together for long term reconstruction of Afghanistan, once the Taliban no longer hold power. Pakistan's efforts against terror are benefiting the entire world and linking Pakistan more closely with the world. The United States wants to help build these linkages. I've authorized a lifting of sanctions and over 1 billion in U.S. support. I will also back debt relief for Pakistan. I want to thank Senators Grassley and Baucus of our United States Congress for introducing legislation that will improve market access in the United States to Pakistan's products. I'm pleased that the President is committed to restore democracy in Pakistan. Pakistan is a strong ally. President Musharraf is a strong leader, and the world is deeply appreciative for his leadership. Mr. President. President Musharraf. Thank you very much, Mr. President. It's my pleasure to be talking to all of you. Let me first of all say that I, myself, my government, and the people of Pakistan condemn in the strongest terms the wanton act of terrorism on the 11th of September against the United States. We condole with all the grieved. Having said that, let me right away say that Pakistan has taken the considered decision to be a part of the coalition, to be with the United States, to fight terrorism in all its forms wherever it exists. And let me also assure the President that Pakistan will remain committed to this, to the fight against terrorism. We also or I also see now the start of or a dawn of a new era of relationship between Pakistan and United States. Pakistan will hope for a very sustainable and longstanding, futuristic relationship developing between Pakistan and United States a relationship which we always have had in the past. Having said that, let me say that I had very fruitful discussions with the President on Afghanistan and on the matter of fighting terrorism. On Afghanistan, we have unanimity of views on a political dispensation which needs to be encouraged through the people of Afghanistan, to be brought into Afghanistan and a rehabilitation and a humanitarian relief strategy that needs to be worked out. We have total unanimity of views on these. Lastly, I did apprise the President on Pakistan's concerns and Pakistan's difficulties from the fallout of whatever is happening in our region. And let me very gladly say that the President showed total concern for it and also assured us, assured Pakistan to help out in the maximum possible way. I remain extremely grateful to the President for his concern for Pakistan and for his desire to assist Pakistan through the difficulties that we are facing at the moment. Thank you very much. President Bush. The President has agreed to take some questions, and so have I. Both of us will take two questions from each side, starting with Mr. Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press of Associated Press. Afghanistan Northern Alliance Q. Thank you, sir. I'd like to ask both of you about the same topic. Secretary Powell suggested yesterday that the Northern Alliance shouldn't take control of Kabul. Does that mean you would discourage them from seizing the capital? And please explain what he meant when he said that Kabul should become an open city and used post World War II Berlin as an example. And to you, Mr. President, why don't you think Kabul should be taken by the Northern Alliance? President Bush. Well, I think we share a common view that in order for there to be a country that is stable and peaceful on this good leader's western border, that any power arrangement must be shared with the different tribes within Afghanistan. And a key signal of that will be how the city of Kabul is treated. We will encourage our friends to head south, across the Shamali Plains, but not into the city of Kabul, itself. And we believe we can accomplish our military missions by that strategy. So it's a the Secretary I don't want to put words in the good Secretary's mouth, but we believe a strategy that makes sense for the long run is one that is all encompassing. And a signal of that strategy will be how the city of Kabul is treated. President Musharraf. Well, I agree with the President totally. Why I have been recommending that Kabul should not be occupied by the Northern Alliance basically is because of the past experience that we've had when the various ethnic groups were in hold of Kabul after the Soviets left. There was total atrocities, killings, and mayhem within the city. And I think if the Northern Alliance enters Afghanistan enters Kabul, we'll see the same kind of atrocities being perpetuated against the people there, against the populace there, which needs to be avoided. Q. Do you agree with that rationale, President Bush? President Bush. I said one question now you're going with three. Laughter Why don't you call on somebody, General? Q. Mr. President Q. Mr. President President Musharraf. Ladies first. President Bush. Which one? Laughter Kashmir Conflict Q. This is for President Bush. I ask my President questions at home. President Bush, your government and the U.S. Government, in the past and currently, has been proactively using the U.N. Security Council to solve problems in conflict areas. When will you invoke the U.N. Security Council to intervene on the issue of Kashmir, which is clearly an issue which is at the basis of conflict in South Asia? President Bush. Well, we've had a very good discussion on this subject, and I assured the President that my country will do what we can to bring parties together, to have good, meaningful discussions on the subject so that we can come up with a solution. Q. And United Nations involvement in it, Mr. President? President Bush. I think our involvement is exactly how I described it to the President. Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters . Usama bin Laden Q. Mr. President, Usama bin Laden says he already has nuclear and chemical weapons. Do you believe him, and where do you think he would get them from? President Bush. The only thing I know certain about him is that he's evil. And I don't know what to believe about him, except that he wants to hurt Americans. I suspect he now wants to hurt the people of Pakistan. And we're not going to let him. We will do everything we can to stop him here at home, and we're doing everything we can to hunt him down, and we're going to bring him to justice. Those kind of statements he utters reinforces the coalition's efforts to bring him to justice. And that's exactly what's going to happen with Mr. Usama bin Laden all the more reason for us to pursue him diligently and to get him. And that's what we're going to do. Q. It's Pakistan's turn now. Laughter President Bush. Fine by me. Laughter Terrorism Q. My question is addressed to President George Bush. Mr. President, United States of America, time and again, has said that it is against and it will eradicate all sort of terrorism. My question to you, Mr. President, is, when you are going to deal with the question of state sponsored terrorism? My question is in reference to the Kashmir situation, first. And the other part of my question is, how do you view the personal contribution and role of Pakistan's leader, General Pervez Musharraf, in countering global terrorism? Thank you. President Bush. Well, thank you very much. My government strongly condemned the terrorist attacks on October the 1st strongly condemned them as did President Musharraf. He condemned those attacks as well. We share the same vision about terror, that it should not exist anywhere in the world. The President is working hard to strengthen Pakistan. He's got an education vision which I find to be enlightened. After all, he's got a very brilliant woman running the education department of Pakistan. The reason I bring that up is, both of us work hard to make our countries hopeful and optimistic. And we recognize that a terrorist attack on either one of us will disrupt the lives of ordinary citizens and disrupt our plans to bring prosperity and hope and opportunity for our respective countries. Thank you all very much. Have a good evening tonight in New York City. November 10, 2001 Thank you, Mr. Secretary General, Mr. President, distinguished delegates, and ladies and gentlemen. We meet in a hall devoted to peace, in a city scarred by violence, in a nation awakened to danger, in a world uniting for a long struggle. Every civilized nation here today is resolved to keep the most basic commitment of civilization We will defend ourselves and our future against terror and lawless violence. The United Nations was founded in this cause. In a Second World War, we learned there is no isolation from evil. We affirmed that some crimes are so terrible, they offend humanity itself. And we resolved that the aggressions and ambitions of the wicked must be opposed early, decisively, and collectively, before they threaten us all. That evil has returned, and that cause is renewed. A few miles from here, many thousands still lie in a tomb of rubble. Tomorrow the Secretary General, the President of the General Assembly, and I will visit that site, where the names of every nation and region that lost citizens will be read aloud. If we were to read the names of every person who died, it would take more than 3 hours. Those names include a citizen of Gambia whose wife spent their fourth wedding anniversary, September the 12th, searching in vain for her husband. Those names include a man who supported his wife in Mexico, sending home money every week. Those names include a young Pakistani who prayed toward Mecca five times a day and died that day trying to save others. The suffering of September the 11th was inflicted on people of many faiths and many nations. All of the victims, including Muslims, were killed with equal indifference and equal satisfaction by the terrorist leaders. The terrorists are violating the tenets of every religion, including the one they invoke. Last week the Sheikh of Al Azhar University, the world's oldest Islamic institution of higher learning, declared that terrorism is a disease and that Islam prohibits killing innocent civilians. The terrorists call their cause holy, yet they fund it with drug dealing. They encourage murder and suicide in the name of a great faith that forbids both. They dare to ask God's blessing as they set out to kill innocent men, women, and children. But the God of Isaac and Ishmael would never answer such a prayer. And a murderer is not a martyr he is just a murderer. Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children. And the people of my country will remember those who have plotted against us. We are learning their names. We are coming to know their faces. There is no corner of the Earth distant or dark enough to protect them. However long it takes, their hour of justice will come. Every nation has a stake in this cause. As we meet, the terrorists are planning more murder perhaps in my country, or perhaps in yours. They kill because they aspire to dominate. They seek to overthrow governments and destabilize entire regions. Last week, anticipating this meeting of the General Assembly, they denounced the United Nations. They called our Secretary General a criminal and condemned all Arab nations here as traitors to Islam. Few countries meet their exacting standards of brutality and oppression. Every other country is a potential target. And all the world faces the most horrifying prospect of all These same terrorists are searching for weapons of mass destruction, the tools to turn their hatred into holocaust. They can be expected to use chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons the moment they are capable of doing so. No hint of conscience would prevent it. This threat cannot be ignored. This threat cannot be appeased. Civilization itself, the civilization we share, is threatened. History will record our response and judge or justify every nation in this hall. The civilized world is now responding. We act to defend ourselves and deliver our children from a future of fear. We choose the dignity of life over a culture of death. We choose lawful change and civil disagreement over coercion, subversion, and chaos. These commitments hope and order, law and life unite people across cultures and continents. Upon these commitments depend all peace and progress. For these commitments, we are determined to fight. The United Nations has risen to this responsibility. On the 12th of September, these buildings opened for emergency meetings of the General Assembly and the Security Council. Before the Sun had set, these attacks on the world stood condemned by the world. And I want to thank you for this strong and principled stand. I also thank the Arab and Islamic countries that have condemned terrorist murder. Many of you have seen the destruction of terror in your own lands. The terrorists are increasingly isolated by their own hatred and extremism. They cannot hide behind Islam. The authors of mass murder and their allies have no place in any culture and no home in any faith. The conspiracies of terror are being answered by an expanding global coalition. Not every nation will be a part of every action against the enemy. But every nation in our coalition has duties. These duties can be demanding, as we in America are learning. We have already made adjustments in our laws and in our daily lives. We're taking new measures to investigate terror and to protect against threats. The leaders of all nations must now carefully consider their responsibilities and their future. Terrorist groups like Al Qaida depend upon the aid or indifference of governments. They need the support of a financial infrastructure and safe havens to train and plan and hide. Some nations want to play their part in the fight against terror, but tell us they lack the means to enforce their laws and control their borders. We stand ready to help. Some governments still turn a blind eye to the terrorists, hoping the threat will pass them by. They are mistaken. And some governments, while pledging to uphold the principles of the U.N., have cast their lot with the terrorists. They support them and harbor them, and they will find that their welcomed guests are parasites that will weaken them and eventually consume them. For every regime that sponsors terror, there is a price to be paid. And it will be paid. The allies of terror are equally guilty of murder and equally accountable to justice. The Taliban are now learning this lesson. That regime and the terrorists who support it are now virtually indistinguishable. Together, they promote terror abroad and impose a reign of terror on the Afghan people. Women are executed in Kabul's soccer stadium. They can be beaten for wearing socks that are too thin. Men are jailed for missing prayer meetings. The United States, supported by many nations, is bringing justice to the terrorists in Afghanistan. We're making progress against military targets, and that is our objective. Unlike the enemy, we seek to minimize, not maximize, the loss of innocent life. I'm proud of the honorable conduct of the American military. And my country grieves for all the suffering the Taliban have brought upon Afghanistan, including the terrible burden of war. The Afghan people do not deserve their present rulers. Years of Taliban misrule have brought nothing but misery and starvation. Even before this current crisis, 4 million Afghans depended on food from the United States and other nations, and millions of Afghans were refugees from Taliban oppression. I make this promise to all the victims of that regime The Taliban's days of harboring terrorists and dealing in heroin and brutalizing women are drawing to a close. And when that regime is gone, the people of Afghanistan will say with the rest of the world, "Good riddance." I can promise, too, that America will join the world in helping the people of Afghanistan rebuild their country. Many nations, including mine, are sending food and medicine to help Afghans through the winter. America has airdropped over 1.3 million packages of rations into Afghanistan. Just this week, we airlifted 20,000 blankets and over 200 tons of provisions into the region. We continue to provide humanitarian aid, even while the Taliban try to steal the food we send. More help eventually will be needed. The United States will work closely with the United Nations and development banks to reconstruct Afghanistan after hostilities there have ceased and the Taliban are no longer in control. And the United States will work with the U.N. to support a post Taliban Government that represents all of the Afghan people. In this war of terror, each of us must answer for what we have done or what we have left undone. After tragedy, there is a time for sympathy and condolence. And my country has been very grateful for both. The memorials and vigils around the world will not be forgotten. But the time for sympathy has now passed the time for action has now arrived. The most basic obligations in this new conflict have already been defined by the United Nations. On September the 28th, the Security Council adopted Resolution 1373. Its requirements are clear Every United Nations member has a responsibility to crack down on terrorist financing. We must pass all necessary laws in our own countries to allow the confiscation of terrorist assets. We must apply those laws to every financial institution in every nation. We have a responsibility to share intelligence and coordinate the efforts of law enforcement. If you know something, tell us. If we know something, we'll tell you. And when we find the terrorists, we must work together to bring them to justice. We have a responsibility to deny any sanctuary, safe haven, or transit to terrorists. Every known terrorist camp must be shut down, its operators apprehended, and evidence of their arrest presented to the United Nations. We have a responsibility to deny weapons to terrorists and to actively prevent private citizens from providing them. These obligations are urgent, and they are binding on every nation with a place in this chamber. Many governments are taking these obligations seriously, and my country appreciates it. Yet, even beyond Resolution 1373, more is required, and more is expected of our coalition against terror. We're asking for a comprehensive commitment to this fight. We must unite in opposing all terrorists, not just some of them. In this world, there are good causes and bad causes, and we may disagree on where that line is drawn. Yet, there is no such thing as a good terrorist. No national aspiration, no remembered wrong can ever justify the deliberate murder of the innocent. Any government that rejects this principle, trying to pick and choose its terrorist friends, will know the consequences. We must speak the truth about terror. Let us never tolerate outrageous conspiracy theories concerning the attacks of September the 11th, malicious lies that attempt to shift the blame away from the terrorists, themselves, away from the guilty. To inflame ethnic hatred is to advance the cause of terror. The war against terror must not serve as an excuse to persecute ethnic and religious minorities in any country. Innocent people must be allowed to live their own lives, by their own customs, under their own religion. And every nation must have avenues for the peaceful expression of opinion and dissent. When these avenues are closed, the temptation to speak through violence grows. We must press on with our agenda for peace and prosperity in every land. My country is pledged to encouraging development and expanding trade. My country is pledged to investing in education and combating AIDS and other infectious diseases around the world. Following September 11th, these pledges are even more important. In our struggle against hateful groups that exploit poverty and despair, we must offer an alternative of opportunity and hope. The American Government also stands by its commitment to a just peace in the Middle East. We are working toward a day when two states, Israel and Palestine, live peacefully together within secure and recognize borders as called for by the Security Council resolutions. We will do all in our power to bring both parties back into negotiations. But peace will only come when all have sworn off forever incitement, violence, and terror. And finally, this struggle is a defining moment for the United Nations, itself. And the world needs its principled leadership. It undermines the credibility of this great institution, for example, when the Commission on Human Rights offers seats to the world's most persistent violators of human rights. The United Nations depends, above all, on its moral authority, and that authority must be preserved. The steps I described will not be easy. For all nations, they will require effort. For some nations, they will require great courage. Yet, the cost of inaction is far greater. The only alternative to victory is a nightmare world where every city is a potential killing field. As I've told the American people, freedom and fear are at war. We face enemies that hate not our policies but our existence, the tolerance of openness and creative culture that defines us. But the outcome of this conflict is certain There is a current in history, and it runs toward freedom. Our enemies resent it and dismiss it. But the dreams of mankind are defined by liberty the natural right to create and build and worship and live in dignity. When men and women are released from oppression and isolation, they find fulfillment and hope, and they leave poverty by the millions. These aspirations are lifting up the peoples of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, and they can lift up all of the Islamic world. We stand for the permanent hopes of humanity, and those hopes will not be denied. We're confident, too, that history has an author who fills time and eternity with His purpose. We know that evil is real, but good will prevail against it. This is the teaching of many faiths, and in that assurance we gain strength for a long journey. It is our task, the task of this generation, to provide the response to aggression and terror. We have no other choice, because there is no other peace. We did not ask for this mission, yet there is honor in history's call. We have a chance to write the story of our times, a story of courage defeating cruelty and light overcoming darkness. This calling is worthy of any life and worthy of every nation. So let us go forward, confident, determined, and unafraid. Thank you very much. November 10, 2001 Good morning. It's been a week of international progress in the war against terror. On Wednesday, our friends and allies around the world joined the U.S. Treasury to freeze the assets of two terrorist supporting financial networks, one known as Al Barakaat and the other as Al Taqwa. We are taking aggressive measures to starve terrorists of their funding. Throughout the week I have been meeting at the White House with world leaders who support our cause. At the beginning of the week I spoke via satellite to leaders of new democracies in Central and Eastern Europe. Earlier today I addressed leaders from around the world at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. To every leader, I have delivered a consistent message All civilized nations are threatened by terrorism, and all civilized nations have a responsibility to join in fighting it. The United States is grateful for the words of sympathy we have received from nations around the world since September the 11th. Now the time for words has passed. And now the time for action has arrived. Some actions are already required by international law. Under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373, adopted soon after the September the 11th attack, every nation must crack down on terrorist financing. Every nation that possesses useful intelligence about terrorism must share it. Every nation must close down terrorist camps inside its borders. Every nation must deny weapons to terrorists. These obligations are binding on every country, and many nations are meeting those obligations. Yet, we expect even more of the countries that wish to be counted as members of the global coalition against terror. We expect nations to oppose all terrorists, not just some of them. No political cause can justify the deliberate murder of civilians. There is no such thing as a good terrorist. Any government that tries to pick and choose its terrorist friends will be regarded by us as a supporter of terrorism. We expect nations to speak the truth about terror. They shouldn't encourage malicious lies and outrageous conspiracy theories concerning the attacks of September the 11th. No government should promote the propaganda of terrorists. We expect nations not to misuse the war against terror as an excuse to persecute ethnic and religious minorities in any country. When avenues for peaceful dissent are closed, the temptation to speak through violence grows. We expect nations to encourage development by expanding trade, investing in education, and combating AIDS and other infectious diseases around the world. In our struggle against hateful groups that exploit poverty and despair, we must offer an alternative of opportunity and hope. These are some of the steps I've described today at the United Nations. For all nations, they will require effort. For some nations, they will require courage. Yet, the cost of inaction is far higher. The only alternative to victory is a future of terror, so we will fight for victory. We are determined to defend ourselves and defend our children from lawless violence. Thank you for listening. November 09, 2001 President Bush. Mr. Prime Minister, welcome to the United States. It's my honor to welcome the Prime Minister of India to the White House for a series of discussions. My administration is committed to developing a fundamentally different relationship with India, one based upon trust, one based upon mutual values. After all, the Prime Minister leads a nation that is the largest democratic nation in the world. I look forward to working to foster ties that will help both our economies. Trade with India is going to be an important part of our growth in the future. India has got a fantastic ability to grow because her greatest export is intelligence and brainpower, as our country has learned over the last decades. We lifted sanctions on India so that our relationship can prosper. We will fight terrorism together. Our initial discussions focused on the battle against terror, and the Prime Minister understands that we have no option but to win. And he understands that there is a commitment there needs to be a commitment by all of us to do more than just talk. It's to achieve certain objectives to cut off the finances to put diplomatic pressure on the terrorists in some cases, to help militarily but, in any case, stand firm in the face of terror. We also talked about the need to make sure humanitarian aid reaches those who hurt in Afghanistan. And we discussed a post Taliban Afghanistan that enables the country to survive and move forward and one that represents all the interests of the people of Afghanistan. Over lunch, I look forward to talking about a new joint cyberterrorism initiative and a civilian space cooperation program, as well as discussing our mutual concerns about energy and the ability to conserve it, as well as to have plentiful supplies as we go into the future. So, Mr. Prime Minister, I am extremely optimistic about our relationship. It's an important relationship for our country. And I welcome you to the United States. Thank you for coming. Prime Minister Vajpayee. Thank you, Mr. President, for your kind words. It is a pleasure to be here to continue the practice of regular dialog that India and the USA have established in recent years. I was happy to be able to personally reiterate our sympathy, solidarity, and support for the American people in the aftermath of terrible events of September 11th. We admire the decisive leadership of President Bush in the international coalition against terrorism. We also applaud the resilience and resolve of the American people in this hour of trial. This terrible tragedy has created the opportunity to fashion a determined global response to terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, wherever it exists and under whatever name. I assured President Bush of India's complete support in this. At the same time, as material leaders, pluralist democracies, we should clearly spread the message that the war against terrorism is not against any religion but against terrorists whose propaganda misuses religion. President Bush and I had a very good conversation, which we will continue over lunch. In the last few months, there has been an intensive interaction between our two countries on a wide range of bilateral subjects. We have moved forward on the dialog architecture and on defense cooperation. A resumption of the bilateral defense policy group should promote technical cooperation in defense and security. The Joint Working Group on Counterterrorism has made good progress, and we have agreed to launch a joint cyberterrorism initiative. Economic and commercial relations are expanding. We have agreed to broaden the bilateral economic dialog to include new areas of cooperation. Both of us agree that the synergies and complementarities between our two countries should be more fully exploited. We discussed the urgent need for a political order in Afghanistan which would be broad based, representative, and friendly with all countries in its neighborhood. Equally important is sustained international assistance for rehabilitation and reconstruction work in that country. We agreed that India and the USA, in partnership with other countries, would work towards these goals. Today the President and I continued, face to face, the dialog which we have been conducting over the last 10 months on the phone and through letters. It has been an extremely rewarding experience. To sustain the momentum of the dialog, I have reiterated to President Bush my invitation to visit India. I look forward to receiving him in New Delhi. Thank you. Q. Mr. President Q. Mr. President President Bush. Hold on for a minute, please. The Prime Minister has agreed to take a couple of questions, and so have I. I think I will start, Mr. Prime Minister, with Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press , Associated Press man. War on Terrorism Q. Thank you, sir. Before meeting with you today, the Prime Minister told the Washington Post that the U.S. was not prepared for the war in Afghanistan, which he said was "less than satisfactory" and "slackening." The Saudi Foreign Minister, who you are meeting with later today, told the New York Times that you can't be an honest broker in the Middle East peace process until you meet with Arafat. Is it helpful that your coalition members are airing their gripes in public? And what will you say to them about these charges, face to face? President Bush. Well, the Prime Minister and I had a very good discussion about the progress we're making on this particular part of the war against terror. He understands what I understand, that we're just only beginning to fight terrorism in Afghanistan. I assured him exactly what I've been assuring the American people, that I've got the patience necessary to achieve our objective in the Afghan theater, and the objective is to bring the Al Qaida to justice and to make sure that Afghanistan has got a stable form of government after we leave. I also told the Prime Minister that we're achieving our military objectives. This is a different kind of war. It's a war that matches high technology weapons with people on horseback. It's a war in which the enemy thinks they can hide in caves and we'll forget about them. It is a war that's going to take a deliberate, systematic effort to achieve our objectives. And our Nation has not only got the patience to achieve that objective, we've got the determination to achieve the objective. And we will achieve it. I appreciate the candid discussions we have with our coalition partners. I think it's important that we have these discussions. And the Prime Minister and I had such a discussion, and I was glad to be able to make the case as to why we're going to be successful. Having said all the newspaper stories and all that business, I will tell you, our coalition has never been stronger. Q. Mr. President President Bush. Excuse me for a minute, please. The coalition has never been stronger. I'll make the case tomorrow at the United Nations that the time of sympathy is over. We appreciate the condolences. Now is the time for action. Now is the time for coalition members to respond in their own way. And the Prime Minister of India understands that, and he is responding. And the Saudi Arabian Government understands that, and they are responding as well. Mr. Prime Minister. Q. This is a question for President Bush. Sir, why are there two laws in this world, one for America and one for the rest of us? President Bush. Why is there excuse me, two? Q. Two laws in this world one for America and one for the rest of us? When terrorism hits America, you go halfway across the world and make war in Afghanistan. But when we suffer terrorism, you ask us to be restrained. Is an Indian life less precious than an American life? President Bush. I think there is one universal law, and that's Terrorism is evil, and all of us must work to reject evil. Murder is evil, and we must reject murder. When the terrorist attacks took place on October the 1st, I strongly condemned them, and I will continue to condemn them. And that's excuse me. Our coalition is strong because leaders such as the Prime Minister fully understand that we must reject terrorism in all its forms and murder in all its causes in order for the world to be peaceful. Holland Steve Holland, Reuters . Q. Can we get a reaction from the Indian Prime Minister to that? President Bush. Excuse me, please, sir. Aviation Security Q. Sir, with the aviation security bill still languishing on the Hill, why won't you agree to make the baggage screeners Federal employees? What's the holdup here? President Bush. Steve, I think that I've asked for the Senate and the House to come up with a plan that will work, that will not only make sure that as we transition to a new system that there is security for the American people, that in the long run there is security for the American people. And I believe progress is being made. Like yourself, or like your question implies, it would be nice to have had the bill done yesterday. But sometimes democracy doesn't work quite that fast. But the negotiators are working hard to come up with a bill that I can sign, and I believe they will come up with a bill that I can sign. The House had a version the Senate had a version and now they're reconciling their differences. I don't believe they're that far apart, nor did I believe they were that far apart when the process began. And I think that, from what I'm told, progress is being made. And for that, I'm grateful. Mr. Prime Minister. War on Terrorism Q. Mr. Prime Minister, was India's concerns of cross border terrorism specifically reflected in your endorsement of the American President? And have you achieved some headway in convincing him that countries that are part of the problem cannot be part of the solution today? Prime Minister Vajpayee. This question of cross border terrorism has been getting our attention in both the countries. Recently, a bomb attack was made on the Legislative Assembly of the Jammu and Kashmir. Even Pakistan realized that it was a case of terrorism. We have to fight terrorism in all its forms. We have to win this battle against terrorism. There is no other option. President Bush. That's the two question limit. Thank you all for coming. Q. Mr. President President Bush. Our food is getting cold. The Prime Minister is hungry, and so am I. Mr. Prime Minister, thank you. Prime Minister Vajpayee. And the dividing line between hunger and anger Visit to India Q. When are you going to India? President Bush. As soon as possible, I am going to India. November 09, 2001 Welcome to the White House. Thank you all for coming. I am pleased to be here today to salute the national guardsmen and reservists and their employers for serving their country and to announce some important new measures to make air travel more secure over the holidays. America is engaged in a long and difficult struggle. At a key moment in our history, an important moment in the history of freedom, members of the National Guard and Reserve are answering their country's call. They are performing their duty with skill and with courage. And by supporting their mobilization, many employers are demonstrating their own patriotism. In a moment, I will sign a proclamation naming next week National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week. It is a way to express our appreciation to these employers and to thank them for their selfless devotion to our great country. I want to thank the Secretary of Transportation, who is here, Norm Mineta. Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary, for your hard work. I appreciate Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz for being here as well. Thank you, Paul. And of course, I want to thank John McHugh, Representative from New York. Thank you for coming, John. America faces an evil and a determined enemy. They committed mass murder against innocent citizens, and they have brought misery and terror to the people of Afghanistan. They persecute women. They destroy great monuments of human culture and religious faith. They execute people who convert to other religions. They steal food that we send to help starving people. They hope to spread their terror around the world, but we're not going to let them. The Al Qaida terrorist network and every nation that supports it are enemies of liberty and human dignity. We will oppose them. We'll find them. And we'll defeat them. The American people have responded magnificently to this challenge. The terrorists thought they could break the spirit of this country. They really didn't understand America. Their attacks have had the opposite effect, for we're strong. We're united. We are patient. We're determined. And all of us are ready to serve the great cause of freedom. The National Guard and Reserve are examples of this service. Since September the 11th, we have called to active duty nearly 53,000 Guard and Reserve personnel. They are guarding energy plants. They are meeting the military's intelligence, medical, and supply needs with specialized training. And they are securing our airports. In order to increase security of airline travelers during the holiday season, we will increase by 25 percent the number of National Guard personnel who protect our airports and airlines and American travelers. We are calling up these guards men and women immediately. This increase in security will last through the busy holiday period, and it is in addition to more than the 6,000 members of the Guard already mobilized at airports since September the 11th. These are temporary measures, and we believe they'll help a lot. And we are making fundamental changes to airport security as well. The Federal Government must take and, I believe, will take control of aviation security. I am pleased that both Houses of Congress have passed bills that do just that. And I urge Congress to work hard to resolve the differences between the two bills they're not that far apart and to get to my desk as quickly as possible a bill that will make air travel much safer for the American people. While Congress finishes its business, I have instructed our good Secretary, Secretary of Transportation Mineta, to begin a series of high level transition planning sessions with airport operators, security device manufacturers, airline CEOs, and other parties that will play a direct role in the transition to the new airport security system. There are additional steps we are taking to increase the public's safety and its confidence in air travel. The FAA is deploying a core team of security professionals to improve oversight of screening and other security functions at our airports. I am instructing the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation to conduct undercover audits of security performance at airports nationwide, to ensure the strict compliance of FAA security standards. And in September, I announced a 300 million grant program to secure airport secure cockpit doors on airplanes. And I commend the airlines for acting quickly. Major airlines have now fortified cockpit doors on 100 percent of their airplanes. We're fighting a war on many fronts. It's a diplomatic war it's a financial war. The military is performing brilliantly in Afghanistan, and we could not win the war without the help of the Guard and the reservists. And they, in turn, could not do their vital work without the support of their employers. Many employers are putting the national interests above their own self interest, including the five recipients of the Secretary of Defense Employers Support Freedom Award. They have representatives with us today Southwest Airlines, Boeing, EDS Electronic Data Systems, BAE Systems, and the City of Bedford, Virginia. These employers are supporting the National Guard and Reserve in practical and important ways, including providing full pay, benefits, and job security to employees who are called to active service. Employers do these things because they recognize that their workers are fighting to keep America free. They recognize that we have such huge stakes. They also know that America's military forces are the best trained in the world. And when you hire a member of the Guard or Reserve, you bring that training to your workplace. Since September the 11th, more than 1,000 State and local chambers of commerce have signed statements of support for employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve. Well, the Federal Government, it turns out, is the largest employer of Guard and Reserve personnel in America. And I am proud to sign a statement of support on behalf of our Federal Government. I am also pleased to sign the proclamation naming next week National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week. I would like to welcome up to the stage for the signing Paul Wolfowitz, who represents the Defense Department, and the five winners of the Secretary of Defense Employers Support Freedom Award. I want to thank you all for your service to America. Thank you for coming to the White House. And may God bless America. November 08, 2001 The President. You know, a lot of Americans never heard of the CDC. They're wondering what CDC means. And they have learned that the folks who work at CDC are part of a vast army to fight off the terrorist attacks in America. And I'm so fortunate to be able to come by and say hello to the people that are working endless hours to provide good public health information, remedies, a quick response to people who have been affected by this evil attack. I believe firmly believe that because of the good folks who work in this building and other buildings throughout Atlanta, Georgia, and throughout the country for CDC, that we've saved a lot of lives in America. And the very least I can do is come by and thank them for their hard work and their dedication to the country. So, for a group of folks that have made a difference in America, it's and no one ever heard about, they're going to hear about be heard about tonight. I'm going to talk about public health officials as part of being the new heroes of America. And that's why I've come by today, to thank them. Resources for the Centers for Disease Control Q. Mr. President, what sort of inaudible does the CDC need now from the administration? The President. Well, one of the things that they need is for there to be an organization that allows for the free flow of information that when the CDC finds something, gets information, they're able to pass it throughout our Government. And we're getting really well organized. The CDC's whole function is to help save lives, and the faster information can move, the more analysis can happen on a real time basis, the more likely it is people will live. In terms of the CDC budget, one of the jobs of Tom Ridge, the new Homeland Security Director, is to collect information. And we'll present a budget to Congress. And if we need to present a supplemental, we'll do so next year. But we're collecting all the information to make sure that our strategy is seamless and the budget reflects a seamless strategy. Smallpox Vaccines Q. Mr. President, what's your take on the call for a universal application of smallpox vaccines for all Americans? The President. We're in the process of I'm looking at different options for smallpox. One thing is for certain, we need to make sure vaccines are available if there were to ever be an outbreak. As to whether or not we ought to have mandatory vaccinations, I'm working with Tommy Thompson on that. One of my concerns is, if we were to have universal vaccination, some might lose their life. And I would be deeply concerned about a vaccination program that would cause people to lose their life. But I'm looking at all options, all possibilities, and we'll work with the smartest minds in America to develop the best strategies in how to deal with a potential smallpox attack. Homeland Security Q. Mr. President, do you think the Postal Service should be bailed out? The Postmaster General is suggesting billions may be needed. The President. We are looking at all opportunities to spend money in our Government, and we're going to make sure that any supplemental that may or may not occur next year fits into an overall national strategy. I told the appropriators in Congress that we believe we've got ample money to make it through the holiday season and the beginning of next year, that the 40 billion that they appropriated in the supplemental is ample to meet our homeland security needs as well as our defense needs, and that before we spend more money, let's make sure we have a national strategy to deal with the homeland defense issue. And that's the Postal Service is part of the homeland defense. So we'll look at all opportunities to spend money. But I urge Congress not to break the budget agreement that we signed off to in early October. And I remind them that the 40 billion of supplemental is enough to meet the Nation's needs. We have hardly even begun to spend the 40 billion that they presented. But we're listening to all requests. Thank you, everybody. Q. Thank you, Mr. President. The President. My pleasure. November 08, 2001 Thank you so very much. We meet tonight after two of the most difficult and most inspiring months in our Nation's history. We have endured the shock of watching so many innocent lives ended in acts of unimaginable horror. We have endured the sadness of so many funerals. We have faced unprecedented bioterrorist attack, delivered in our mail. Tonight many thousands of children are tragically learning to live without one of their parents. And the rest of us are learning to live in a world that seems very different than it was on September the 10th. The moment the second plane hit the second building when we knew it was a terrorist attack many felt that our lives would never be the same. What we couldn't be sure of then and what the terrorists never expected was that America would emerge stronger, with a renewed spirit of pride and patriotism. I said in my speech to a Joint Session of Congress that we are a nation awakened to danger. We're also a nation awakened to service and citizenship and compassion. None of us would ever wish the evil that has been done to our country, yet we have learned that out of evil can come great good. During the last 2 months, we have shown the world America is a great nation. Americans have responded magnificently, with courage and caring. We've seen it in our children, who have sent in more than 1 million for the children of Afghanistan. We have seen it in the compassion of Jewish and Christian Americans who have reached out to their Muslim neighbors. We have seen it as Americans have reassessed priorities, parents spending more time with their children and many people spending more time in prayer and in houses of worship. We have gained new heroes those who ran into burning buildings to save others, our police and our firefighters those who battled their own fears to keep children calm and safe, America's teachers those who voluntarily placed themselves in harm's way to defend our freedom, the men and women of the Armed Forces. And tonight we join in thanking a whole new group of public servants who never enlisted to fight a war but find themselves on the frontlines of a battle nonetheless those who deliver the mail, America's postal workers. We also thank those whose quick response provided preventative treatment that has no doubt saved thousands of lives, our health care workers. We are a different country than we were on September the 10th, sadder and less innocent, stronger and more united, and in the face of ongoing threats, determined and courageous. Our Nation faces a threat to our freedoms, and the stakes could not be higher. We are the target of enemies who boast they want to kill kill all Americans, kill all Jews, and kill all Christians. We've seen that type of hate before, and the only possible response is to confront it and to defeat it. This new enemy seeks to destroy our freedom and impose its views. We value life the terrorists ruthlessly destroy it. We value education the terrorists do not believe women should be educated or should have health care or should leave their homes. We value the right to speak our minds for the terrorists, free expression can be grounds for execution. We respect people of all faiths and welcome the free practice of religion our enemy wants to dictate how to think and how to worship, even to their fellow Muslims. This enemy tries to hide behind a peaceful faith. But those who celebrate the murder of innocent men, women, and children have no religion, have no conscience, and have no mercy. We wage a war to save civilization, itself. We did not seek it, but we will fight it, and we will prevail. This is a different war from any our Nation has ever faced, a war on many fronts, against terrorists who operate in more than 60 different countries. And this is a war that must be fought not only overseas but also here at home. I recently spoke to high school students in Maryland and realized that for the first time ever, these seniors will graduate in the midst of a war in our own country. We have entered a new era, and this new era requires new responsibilities, both for the Government and for our people. The Government has a responsibility to protect our citizens, and that starts with homeland security. The first attack against America came by plane, and we are now making our airports and airplanes safer. We have posted the National Guard in America's airports and placed undercover air marshals on many flights. I call on Congress to quickly send me legislation that makes cockpits more secure, baggage screening more thorough, and puts the Federal Government in charge of all airport screening and security. The second attack against America came in the mail. We do not know whether this attack came from the same terrorists. We don't know the origin of the anthrax, but whoever did this unprecedented and uncivilized act is a terrorist. Four Americans have now died from anthrax, out of a total of 17 people who have been infected. The Postal Service has processed more than 30 billion pieces of mail since September the 11th, and so far we've identified 3 different letters that contained anthrax. We can trace the source of infection for all but one of the individuals, and we are still trying to learn how a woman who died in New York was exposed. I'm proud of the way our health care and postal workers and the American people are responding with calm in the face of this deadly new threat. Public health officials have acted quickly to distribute preventative antibiotics to thousands of people who may have been exposed. The Government is purchasing and storing medicines and vaccines as a precaution against future attacks. We are cleaning facilities where anthrax has been detected and purchasing equipment to sanitize the mail. Thousands of law enforcement officials are aggressively investigating this bioterrorism attack, and public health officials are distributing the most accurate, up to date information we have to medical professionals and to the public. To coordinate our efforts we've created the new Office of Homeland Security. Its Director, my good friend and former Governor Tom Ridge, reports directly to me and works with all our Federal agencies, State and local governments, and the private sector on a national strategy to strengthen our homeland protections. For example, the Coast Guard has taken on expanded duties to protect our shores and our ports. The National Guard has increased an increased role in surveillance at our border. We're imposing new licensing requirements for safer transportation of hazardous material. We've passed a new antiterrorism law which gives our law enforcement officers the necessary tools to track terrorists before they harm Americans. A new terrorism task force is tightening immigration controls to make sure no one enters or stays in our country who would harm us. We are a welcoming country. We will always value freedom. Yet we will not allow those who plot against our country to abuse our freedoms and our protections. Our enemies have threatened other acts of terror. We take each threat seriously, and when we have evidence of credible threats, we will issue appropriate alerts. A terrorism alert is not a signal to stop your life. It is a call to be vigilant, to know that your Government is on high alert, and to add your eyes and ears to our efforts to find and stop those who want to do us harm. A lot of people are working really hard to protect America. But in the long run, the best way to defend our homeland, the best way to make sure our children can live in peace is to take the battle to the enemy and to stop them. I have called our military into action to hunt down the members of the Al Qaida organization who murdered innocent Americans. I gave fair warning to the Government that harbors them in Afghanistan. The Taliban made a choice to continue hiding terrorists, and now they are paying a price. I'm so proud of our military. Our military is pursuing its mission. We are destroying training camps, disrupting communications, and dismantling air defenses. We are now bombing Taliban frontlines. We are deliberately and systematically hunting down these murderers, and we will bring them to justice. Throughout this battle, we adhere to our values. Unlike our enemy, we respect life. We do not target innocent civilians. We care for the innocent people of Afghanistan, so we continue to provide humanitarian aid, even while their Government tries to steal the food we send. When the terrorists and their supporters are gone, the people of Afghanistan will say with the rest of the world Good riddance. We are at the beginning of our efforts in Afghanistan, and Afghanistan is only the beginning of our efforts in the world. No group or nation should mistake Americans' intentions Where terrorist groups exist of global reach, the United States and our friends and allies will seek it out, and we will destroy it. After September the 11th, our Government assumed new responsibilities to strengthen security at home and track down our enemies abroad. And the American people are accepting new responsibilities, as well. I recently received a letter from a fourth grade girl that seemed to say it all. "I don't know how to feel," she said, "sad, mad, angry. It has been different lately. I know the people in New York are scared because of the World Trade Center and all, but if we're scared, we are giving the terrorists all the power." In the face of this great tragedy, Americans are refusing to give terrorists the power. Our people have responded with courage and compassion, calm and reason, resolve and fierce determination. We have refused to live in a state of panic or a state of denial. There is a difference between being alert and being intimidated, and this great nation will never be intimidated. People are going about their daily lives, working and shopping and playing, worshiping at churches and synagogues and mosques, going to movies and to baseball games. Laughter Life in America is going forward, and as the fourth grader who wrote me knew, that is the ultimate repudiation of terrorism. And something even more profound is happening across our country. The enormity of this tragedy has caused many Americans to focus on the things that have not changed, the things that matter most in life our faith, our love for family and friends, our commitment to our country and to our freedoms and to our principles. In my Inaugural Address, I asked our citizens to serve their Nation, beginning with their neighbors. This fall, I had planned a new initiative called Communities of Character, designed to spark a rebirth of citizenship and character and service. The events of September the 11th have caused that initiative to happen on its own, in ways we could never have imagined. Flags are flying everywhere, on houses, in store windows, on cars and lapels. Financial donations to the victims' families have reached more than a billion dollars. Countless Americans gave blood in the aftermath of the attacks. New Yorkers opened their homes to evacuated neighbors. We are waiting patiently in long security lines. Children across America have organized lemonade and cookie sales for children in Afghanistan. And we can do more. Since September the 11th, many Americans, especially young Americans, are rethinking their career choices. They're being drawn to careers of service, as police or firemen, emergency health workers, teachers, counselors, or in the military. And this is good for America. Many ask, "What can I do to help in our fight?" The answer is simple. All of us can become a September the 11th volunteer by making a commitment to service in our own communities. So you can serve your country by tutoring or mentoring a child, comforting the afflicted, housing those in need of shelter and a home. You can participate in your Neighborhood Watch or Crime Stoppers. You can become a volunteer in a hospital, emergency medical, fire, or rescue unit. You can support our troops in the field and, just as importantly, support their families here at home by becoming active in the USO or groups in communities near our military installations. We also will encourage service to country by creating new opportunities within the AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs for public safety and public health efforts. We'll ask State and local officials to create a new modern civil defense service similar to local volunteer fire departments, to respond to local emergencies when the manpower of governments is stretched thin. We will find ways to train and mobilize more volunteers to help when rescue and health emergencies arise. Americans have a lot to offer, so I've created a task force to develop additional ways people can get directly involved in this war effort, by making our homes and neighborhoods and schools and workplaces safer. And I call on all Americans to serve by bettering our communities and, thereby, defy and defeat the terrorists. Our great national challenge is to hunt down the terrorists and strengthen our protection against future attacks. Our great national opportunity is to preserve forever the good that has resulted. Through this tragedy, we are renewing and reclaiming our strong American values. Both Laura and I were touched by a recent newspaper article that quoted a little 4 year old girl, who asked a telling and innocent question. Wondering how terrorists could hate a whole nation of people they don't even know, she asked, "Why don't we just tell them our names?" Laughter Well, we can't tell them all our names, but together we can show them our values. Too many have the wrong idea of Americans as shallow, materialistic consumers who care only about getting rich or getting ahead. But this isn't the America I know. Ours is a wonderful nation, full of kind and loving people, people of faith who want freedom and opportunity for people everywhere. One way to defeat terrorism is to show the world the true values of America through the gathering momentum of a million acts of responsibility and decency and service. I'm encouraging schoolchildren to write letters of friendship to Muslim children in different countries. Our college students and those who travel abroad for business or vacation can all be ambassadors of American values. Ours is a great story, and we must tell it, through our words and through our deeds. I came to Atlanta today to talk about an all important question How should we live in the light of what has happened? We all have new responsibilities. Our Government has a responsibility to hunt down our enemies, and we will. Our Government has a responsibility to put needless partisanship behind us and meet new challenges better security for our people, and help for those who have lost jobs and livelihoods in the attacks that claimed so many lives. I made some proposals to stimulate economic growth which will create new jobs and make America less dependent on foreign oil. And I ask Congress to work hard and put a stimulus plan into law to help the American people. Our citizens have new responsibilities. We must be vigilant. Obviously, we must inspect our mail and stay informed on public health matters. We will not give in to exaggerated fears or passing rumors. We will rely on good judgment and good, old common sense. We will care for those who have lost loved ones and comfort those who might at times feel afraid. We will not judge fellow Americans by appearance, ethnic background, or religious faith. We will defend the values of our country, and we will live by them. We will persevere in this struggle, no matter how long it takes to prevail. Above all, we will live in a spirit of courage and optimism. Our Nation was born in that spirit, as immigrants yearning for freedom courageously risked their lives in search of greater opportunity. That spirit of optimism and courage still beckons people across the world who want to come here. And that spirit of optimism and courage must guide those of us fortunate enough to live here. Courage and optimism led the passengers on Flight 93 to rush their murderers to save lives on the ground led by a young man whose last known words were the Lord's Prayer and "Let's roll." He didn't know he had signed on for heroism when he boarded the plane that day. Some of our greatest moments have been acts of courage for which no one could have ever prepared. We will always remember the words of that brave man, expressing the spirit of a great country. We will never forget all we have lost and all we are fighting for. Ours is the cause of freedom. We've defeated freedom enemies before, and we will defeat them again. We cannot know every turn this battle will take. Yet we know our cause is just and our ultimate victory is assured. We will, no doubt, face new challenges. But we have our marching orders My fellow Americans, "Let's roll." November 07, 2001 President Bush. The last time we were standing here, I was getting ready to give an address to the United States Congress. And I knew then that the Prime Minister and the people he represents were going to be great friends of the United States in our mutual struggle against terrorism, and he has certainly proven that over the last weeks. We've got no better friend in the world than Great Britain. I've got no better person that I would like to talk to about our mutual concerns than Tony Blair. He brings a lot of wisdom and judgment as we fight evil. He also is, like me, determined. Nothing will deter us in this all important goal. We both recognize that we wage a fight to save civilization and that we must prevail and not only must prevail, will prevail. We've had a great discussion about progress in Afghanistan. I fully believe we're making great progress. I told the American people many times, and I've told the press corps many times that this is a struggle that's going to take a while, that it's not one of these Kodak moments. There is no moment to this this is a long struggle and a different kind of war. But we're patient, and our close friends are patient, which is bad news for the Taliban and the people they harbor. Secondly, we talked a lot about making sure that our great compassion for the innocents in Afghanistan is fulfilled. We must feed the people. And the Prime Minister has every time I've talked to him, which is a lot, is constantly talking about how we make sure that we fulfill the mission, not only military but fulfill the mission of helping people in need. And also, we continue to discuss the vision of a post Taliban Afghanistan and how do we make sure that all parties involved in that part of the world have a stake in the future. He's got a clear vision he is a strong friend and I welcome him back to the White House. Prime Minister Blair. First of all, can I say how pleased I am to be back at the White House in the company of President Bush and to have continued the discussions we've been having over these past weeks and continue them face to face. And can I thank him once again for his leadership and his strength at this time. And can I say to him, on behalf of the people of my country, but I believe people right across the world, that the determination to see that justice is done is every bit as strong today as it was on September the 11th. The cause is just. The strategy is there. The determination is there, and there is a complete and total commitment to making sure that this is a battle in which we will prevail. And we will. I have no doubt about that at all. What we've discussed already and will carry on discussing is, obviously, the military strategy in Afghanistan. We have discussed the humanitarian issues to make sure that we are doing everything we possibly can to help the plight of people in Afghanistan. And we should never forget that some 4 1 2 million of them were refugees before the 11th of September. We have discussed also the reconstruction of Afghanistan, how we make sure that after the present Taliban regime led by Mullah Omar is out of the way, that we construct a broad based regime that is representative of all the different groupings in Afghanistan and offers some hope of stability and prosperity for that part of the world. And we have, obviously, also discussed how important it is that, at this moment in time, we carry on building that strong coalition against international terrorism in all its forms. And I believe that that coalition, if anything, is even stronger today. Certainly, from the discussions I had with European leaders just a few days ago, their commitment is real, and their determination is also absolute to see this thing done. So can I once again thank President Bush very much for his kindness in welcoming me here. President Bush. The Prime Minister has consented to take a couple of questions, as will I. We are going to enforce the onequestion rule, however, Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press . And that is, you get to ask me or him a question. Laughter Q. That's an Executive order? President Bush. Well laughter . Prime Minister Blair. It looks like it. Are you going to go first, George, or what? Progress in the War on Terrorism Q. It has been 8 weeks since the September 11th attacks, and we don't know where Usama bin Laden is. It has been several weeks since the anthrax attacks, but we don't know who sent the letters. What do you say to Americans who might be frustrated and impatient despite your admonition about the "Kodak moment"? President Bush. Yes. I will say to them, we fight a new kind of war. Never would we dream that someone would use our own airplanes to attack us and or the mail to attack us. I will tell them that we have put a sound strategy in place that has got Usama bin Laden and the Al Qaida thugs on the run. And I will tell them that we will bring them to justice. I can't tell them exactly when. But I will tell them that we will prevail. There's no question in my mind. We know he hides in caves, and we're shutting down caves. We know he moves around at night, and we're looking for him. We know that, slowly but surely, the Taliban is crumbling its defenses are crumbling its folks are defecting. We know that if you're on the frontline and if you're a Taliban soldier, you're likely to get injured, because we're relentless in our pursuit of the mission. In terms of the anthrax, we don't know who did it yet. We do know it's a terrorist. Anybody who would use the mail to try to kill an American is a terrorist. But we do know this, Ron, that we've responded rapidly, that our health officials are performing really fine work. And I truly believe, as I've said many times, I believe they have saved a lot of lives. We know how to treat anthrax. And we now know we need sanitation machines in our post offices, machines to sanitize the mail, and we're putting those in. We know that we're fighting evil. And the American people are patient. They've heard the call. And tomorrow night I'm going to put out an address that reminds the Nation that we're truly a great nation, that we've responded in ways that the enemy could never have imagined. And I'm so proud of the patience and steadfast nature of our people. Mr. Prime Minister. Prime Minister Blair. Inaudible say a word on that? President Bush. No, you can call on somebody. Prime Minister Blair. Yes. Situation in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, since we're limited to only one leader, can I ask you whether you think you can win this struggle against terrorism without a settlement in the Middle East? And in view of the rather strident notes struck by both sides on the Prime Minister's tour of the Middle East last week, what do you think the United States can do to bring that resolution about? President Bush. Of course we can win the war against Al Qaida. Q. Without a Middle East settlement? President Bush. Oh, I believe we can. I believe we're going to we are hunting them down as we speak, and we will bring them to justice. But remember, the war is beyond just Afghanistan. There are over 60 Al Qaida organizations around the world. And today we struck a blow for freedom by cutting off their money one of their money sources. And I'm absolutely convinced we can. Having said that, however, we are both working hard to try to bring peace to the Middle East. My Secretary of State, who is here, spends enormous amounts of time on the phone with both parties, urging for there to be calm so that we can get into the Mitchell process. There is a process in place that will lead to peace, called Mitchell. It has been embraced by all or most of the nations of the world, and we are working hard to get us into the Mitchell process. There is no doubt in my mind no doubt in my mind we will bring Al Qaida to justice, peace or no peace in the Middle East. Prime Minister Blair. Can I just say a word on that? There is no way whatever in which our action in Afghanistan is conditional on progress in the Middle East. And indeed, one of the things that bin Laden wants to do is to try and hijack the Palestinian cause for his own purposes. Now, we are taking the action in Afghanistan, and I believe, incidentally, people are patient about this. I think they understand this is not a conventional conflict it is not fought in a conventional way. It takes a lot of strategy and planning and determination over a period of time to be successful. But be under no doubt at all Our objectives, which is to close down that terrorist network in Afghanistan, those objectives will be achieved. Now, even though it is not conditional in any sense, of course we want to see progress in the Middle East. That's why we are devoting enormous amounts of time to it. And I believe it is possible to see how we can make progress in the Middle East. And I described some of the ways that could happen when I was in the Middle East last week. So be under no doubt, either, that, irrespective of the action in Afghanistan, it is in everybody's interest that we make progress in the Middle East, and we will strain every sinew we possibly can to do so. Nuclear Arms Reduction ABM Treaty Q. Mr. President, have you decided on a figure for how far you can cut the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, and do you agree with President Putin, who said that a common approach can be devised for interpreting the ABM Treaty to allow for missile defense without abandoning the treaty? And if Mr. Blair could address the issue of, would a failure to reach an arms agreement undermine the momentum of the international coalition? President Bush. So much for Executive orders. Laughter Q. It was an umbrella question. Laughter President Bush. Oh, it was an umbrella question. I think it's best that I share with Mr. Putin the acceptable level of offensive weapons with him, before I do with you. And so I'm going to reserve I'm not going to tell you until I tell him. Laughter Q. Have you reached a decision? Prime Minister Blair. And then, I guess I had better not, either. President Bush. I have reached a decision. And I've spent time thinking about the issue. I've told the American people that the United States will move to reduce our offensive weapons to a level commensurate with being able to keep the peace and, at the same time, much lower levels than have been negotiated in previous arms control agreements. We don't need an arms control agreement to convince us to reduce our nuclear weapons down substantially, and I'm going to do it. And I can't wait to share that information with the President. I will do so. Listen, the ABM Treaty is outmoded and outdated, and we need to move beyond it. It's exactly what I've been telling the President ever since I've been meeting with him, and my position has not changed. And if he's got some interesting suggestions on how to make the ABM Treaty not outdated and not outmoded, I'm more than willing to listen. But our Nation and this terrorist war says to me more than ever that we need to develop defenses to protect ourselves against weapons of mass destruction that might fall in the hands of terrorist nations. If Afghanistan or if the Taliban had a weapon that was able to deliver a weapon of mass destruction, we might be talking a little different tune about our progress against Al Qaida than we are today. So it's important for us to be able to develop defenses that work. And the ABM Treaty prevents us from doing that. Open Skies Agreements Q. Mr. Prime Minister, I'd like to divert your attention a little bit away from military conflicts toward the economic side of things. I'd like to ask you if you've had a chance at all to ask the President if they would formally launch open skies agreements and, if not, if that means that the UK's position is now that the EU is going to be handling this matter? Prime Minister Blair. No. I mean, no doubt we will discuss these issues, but we haven't yet. President Bush. We haven't had dinner yet. Q. But does that mean that the EU is going to be in charge of it now? Prime Minister Blair. No, it doesn't mean that at all. Operation Enduring Freedom Q. Mr. President, could I ask a question of your guest? But feel free to jump in if you so desire. President Bush. It depends on what the question is. Q. Well, sir, it is a multiple part question, for which I am famous. But anyway, Prime Minister, as you know, the air war in Afghanistan is one month old today. There are many experts on both sides of the Atlantic who believe that the air war is limited in its ability to really inflict a decisive blow against the Taliban. Many say the only way you can defeat the Taliban is to put boots on the ground. One, do you agree? And two, are you willing to commit large numbers of British troops, beyond the SAS and the Royal Marines, to the effort to defeat the Taliban? Prime Minister Blair. Well, first of all, let me say something to you I often say to our own media when I am asked a question about the precise nature of our military operations. And that is that I have learned in these situations that it is not a sensible thing to discuss in detail the types of military operation that you may undertake, for very obvious reasons. But we are completely committed to seeing this thing through. I think people know that the strategy has to encompass more than airstrikes alone. Although, do not underestimate the enormous damage that is now being done to Taliban frontline troops, because that is where the air power is being concentrated. But of course, there are other operations that we will mount as well. And there are, obviously, the support and the assistance that we are giving to the Northern Alliance. There are the measures that we are taking of a political and diplomatic nature as well. And when you said a moment or two ago that the airstrikes were just and the conflict was a month old, I think it is probably just as well to reflect upon that for a moment. It is simply a month old. And we have begun this action. We have taken it at a number of different levels. I think it is already having a huge impact. Some of the information that I have seen I think sometimes people don't always reflect on maybe enough when we state it to people but literally, we have destroyed virtually all the terrorist training camps of Al Qaida. We have destroyed an enormous amount of the military infrastructure of the Taliban. Their air power, insofar as it exists, is completely taken out. We therefore have a very, very strong situation from which to move forward. And I think what is what is different about this conflict is that every part of it has to come together in other words, not just the military part but also the support for those parties in opposition to the Taliban, and the political and diplomatic aspects that help build a strong coalition that can secure the objectives we want to see. And I have absolutely no doubt at all that we will achieve the objectives that we want. And those objectives are very simple. Sometimes people say to me, "Well, you know, clarify the military objectives." There's no difficulty about doing that at all. It's Al Qaida and the terrorist network shut down it's the Taliban regime out it's a new regime in that is broad based and it's a decent future for the people of Afghanistan, based on some stability and progress, not based on a regime that oppresses its people, treats its people appallingly, is a threat to regional stability, and basically thrives on the drugs trade. Now, I think those are pretty clear objectives, and I've absolutely no doubt at all that we will achieve them in full, and we will not let up until we do. President Bush. Thank you all. November 07, 2001 The United States is pressing the war against terror on every front, from the mountains of Afghanistan to the bank accounts of terrorist organizations. The first strike in the war against terror targeted the terrorists' financial support. We put the world's financial institutions on notice If you do business with terrorists, if you support them or sponsor them, you will not do business with the United States of America. Today we are taking another step in our fight against evil. We are shutting down two major elements of the terrorists' international financial network, both at home and abroad. Ours is not a war just of soldiers and aircraft. It's a war fought with diplomacy, by the investigations of law enforcement, by gathering intelligence, and by cutting off the terrorists' money. I want to thank Secretary Paul O'Neill for being here today and for being the leader of this fine organization. I want to thank the Director, Jim Sloan, as well. You're doing some imaginative work here at the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, and I want to thank all the fine Americans who are on the frontline of our war, the people who work here. I want to thank Secretary Colin Powell for being here, as well. He's doing a magnificent job of stitching together one of the greatest coalitions ever, a coalition of nations that stands for freedom. And I want to thank our Attorney General for coming the man whose job it is to make sure that any time we find anybody inside our country who will threaten an American, threaten our institutions, they will be brought to justice. And that's exactly what our Nation is doing. Acting on solid and credible evidence, the Treasury Department of the United States today blocked the U.S. assets of 62 individuals and organizations connected with two terror supporting financial networks, the Al Taqwa and the Al Barakaat. Their offices have been shut down in four U.S. States. And our G 8 partners and other friends, including the United Arab Emirates, have joined us in blocking assets and coordinating enforcement action. Al Taqwa is an association of offshore banks and financial management firms that have helped Al Qaida shift money around the world. Al Barakaat is a group of moneywiring and communication companies owned by a friend and supporter of Usama bin Laden. Al Taqwa and Al Barakaat raise funds for Al Qaida they manage, invest, and distribute those funds. They provide terrorist supporters with Internet service, secure telephone communications, and other ways of sending messages and sharing information. They even arrange for the shipment of weapons. They present themselves as legitimate businesses. But they skim money from every transaction for the benefit of terrorist organizations. They enable the proceeds of crime in one country to be transferred to pay for terrorist acts in another. The entry point to these networks may be a small storefront operation, but follow the network to its center and you discover wealthy banks and sophisticated technology, all at the service of mass murderers. By shutting these networks down, we disrupt the murderers' work. Today's action interrupts Al Qaida's communications. It blocks an important source of funds. It provides us with valuable information and sends a clear message to global financial institutions You are with us, or you are with the terrorists. And if you're with the terrorists, you will face the consequences. We fight an enemy who hides in caves in Afghanistan and in the shadows within in our own society. It's an enemy who can only survive in darkness. Today we've taken another important action to expose the enemy to the light and to disrupt its ability to threaten America and innocent life. I'm proud of the actions of our agencies. We're making a difference. We're slowly but surely tightening the noose, and we will be victorious. Now it's my honor to welcome the Secretary of Treasury, Paul O'Neill. November 06, 2001 President Bush. Good morning. It's my honor to welcome our close friend and my personal friend back to Washington, DC. President Chirac, thank you for being here, sir. We've had a good discussion about our common efforts to fight terror. I thank the French people, the French Government for their strong support. And I appreciate your help on the military front, Mr. President. We recognize that our war against terror is more than just military action in Afghanistan, that we have an obligation to help feed the innocent people in Afghanistan, and that we've got to make sure that there is a post Taliban government that reflects the values of both our countries. And so we had a good discussion and it's I value the advice of the President. I value his friendship. And I'm so glad he came back to the country. Mr. President, welcome. President Chirac. Well, thank you, Mr. President. I must say, it's always a pleasure and a delight to be here and to be at your side. And I must say that I admire you. I admire your calm and your determination in the difficult circumstances that we have to face together. The ultimate responsibility of any political official, be he head of state or head of government, is to ensure the safety of his people. And that is exactly what President Bush is doing, what I am doing, what all our colleagues are doing. And to ensure the safety of the people, we have to use all the tools at our disposal, the domestic tools and also the international tools. And by "international tool," of course, I refer to the eradication of the current terrorism. In this spirit, we talked about the military operations, about French support, about the political actions that we must take to establish in Afghanistan all the trappings of a modern state, and also the urgent need for humanitarian aid, both for refugees and all the people of Afghanistan. And also, we mentioned the crises across the world, crises that can fuel terrorism. And of course, by that I mean that we mentioned, amongst other things, the Middle East and the need for the peace process to be restored there. And on all these issues, I wanted to contribute a few thoughts in the general debate, and that is what I did. And I'd like to thank him for welcoming me here. President Bush. We'll take a couple of questions. I'll take two the President's agreed to take two, starting with Mr. Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Al Qaida and Weapons of Mass Destruction Q. Sir, this morning you said that the terrorists Al Qaida terrorists are seeking to obtain weapons of mass destruction. Can you tell us how close they are to getting a nuclear bomb, or even a bomb that would distribute deadly nuclear waste across the country? And to President Chirac, your government says about 2,000 of your troops will be involved in the U.S. led effort. How many of those will be on the ground in Afghanistan? President Bush. This morning I did say that Usama bin Laden, Al Qaida were seeking to develop weaponry that weapons of mass destruction. And the reason I said that is because I was using his own words. He announced that this was his intention. And I believe we need to take him seriously. We will do everything we can to make sure he does not acquire the means to deliver weapons of mass destruction. If he doesn't have them, we will work hard to make sure he doesn't if he does, we'll make sure he doesn't deploy them. And that's why it is so important that we continue our search for Al Qaida in Afghanistan, to hunt them down, to get them on the run, and to bring them to justice. But this is an evil man that we're dealing with. And I wouldn't put it past him to develop evil weapons to try to harm civilization as we know it. And that's why our coalition is that's why I work hard to keep our coalition bound together. And that's why we're going to keep relentless military pressure on him in Afghanistan. And that's why we must prevail. That's why we must win. And I told my friend the President, there's no doubt in my mind we will win. The question to Mr. Chirac. France's Role in the War on Terrorism President Chirac. I didn't say that France was ready to put 2,000 men at the disposal of the military operation on the contrary, I said that we already had 2,000 men of all three forces involved in the operation. President Bush. Question from the French press. No, only one question, Mr. Fournier. This is the old two question trick you say you've got one question, and he has two questions. Would you call on somebody from your press? Future of Afghanistan Q. We are I'll ask the question in French, a question that is directed to both Presidents. And we are already involved in the military phase. Have we already have you already started thinking about the political phase and the possible increased involvement of the U.N. for the future in that phase? President Chirac. Of course, we have mentioned all this. And I must say that the military aspect is necessary, yes, but there are other aspects. And the U.S. and its allies are currently making efforts to speed up the political process and the quest for a political settlement in Afghanistan. And in this respect, we do support Mr. Brahimi and what he is doing. We are all also involved in increasing and stepping up the humanitarian aid, and we mentioned that this morning. We spoke about all these issues because they are all closely intertwined, as are other issues that haven't yet been mentioned in front of you ladies and gentlemen for instance, the financing of the fight against terrorism, or financial measures to fight against terrorism and also the havens that are offered to terrorists in some countries because of national legislation and also the fight against the opportunities that our democratic societies give these terrorists. President Bush. Yes, I have nothing more to add to that. I'm in agreement with what the President said. Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters . Nature of the Coalition Q. Mr. President, you said this morning that you wanted more than sympathy or words from other countries. What nations were you specifically talking about, and what do you want from them? President Bush. I am going to the United Nations to give a speech on Saturday. And I am going to praise those nations who have joined our coalition. But a coalition partner must do more than just express sympathy a coalition partner must perform. And our coalition partner here has performed we work together. And that means different things for different nations. Some nations don't want to contribute troops, and we understand that. Other nations can contribute intelligence sharing, and for that we're grateful. But all nations, if they want to fight terror, must do something. It is time for action. And that's going to be the message of my speech at the United Nations. I have no specific nation in mind, at least as I stand here now. Everybody ought to be given the benefit of the doubt. But over time, it's going to be important for nations to know they will be held accountable for inactivity. You are either with us or you are against us in the fight against terror. And that's going to be part of my speech at the United Nations. Last question. President Chirac. Just one comment. I would just like to remind you, ladies and gentlemen, that through Resolution 1373, the Security Council of the United Nations acknowledged the legitimacy of U.S. action and also outlined the obligation for all countries to join the fight against terrorism. So, of course, all nations and countries contribute according to their capabilities. But there is no way they can get out of this commitment. It is the legitimacy and the legitimate reaction of the U.S. that was endorsed. President Bush. The soup is getting cold. Do you want one more question from the French press? President Chirac. You are the you're the boss. President Bush. I'm the boss? Well, let's go eat, then. Laughter Thank you, Mr. President. November 06, 2001 Well, thank you very much, Mr. President. It is a real pleasure to be back in Warsaw, this time by telecast. I had a wonderful visit to the region in June, and I know I'm among friends today. I thank all the nations of Central and Eastern Europe at this conference. You are our partners in the fight against terrorism, and we share an important moment in history. For more than 50 years, the peoples of your region suffered under repressive ideologies that tried to trample human dignity. Today, our freedom is threatened once again. Like the Fascists and totalitarians before them, these terrorists Al Qaida, the Taliban regime that supports them, and other terror groups across our world try to impose their radical views through threats and violence. We see the same intolerance of dissent, the same mad global ambitions, the same brutal determination to control every life and all of life. We have seen the true nature of these terrorists in the nature of their attacks. They kill thousands of innocent people and then rejoice about it. They kill fellow Muslims, many of whom died in the World Trade Center that terrible morning, and then they gloat. They condone murder and claim to be doing so in the name of a peaceful religion. We have also seen the true nature of these terrorists in the nature of the regime they support in Afghanistan, and it's terrifying. Women are imprisoned in their homes and are denied access to basic health care and education. Food sent to help starving people is stolen by their leaders. The religious monuments of other faiths are destroyed. Children are forbidden to fly kites or sing songs or build snowmen. A girl of 7 is beaten for wearing white shoes. Our enemies have brought only misery and terror to the people of Afghanistan, and now they are trying to export that terror throughout the world. Al Qaida operates in more than 60 nations, including some in Central and Eastern Europe. These terrorist groups seek to destabilize entire nations and regions. They are seeking chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons. Given the means, our enemies would be a threat to every nation and eventually to civilization, itself. So we're determined to fight this evil and fight until we're rid of it. We will not wait for more innocent deaths. We will not wait for the authors of mass murder to gain the weapons of mass destruction. We act now because we must lift this dark threat from our age and save generations to come. The people of my Nation are now fighting this war at home. We face a second wave of terrorist attacks in the form of deadly anthrax that has been sent through the U.S. mail. Our people are responding to this new threat with alertness and calm. Our Government is responding to treat the sick, provide antibiotics to those who have been exposed, and track down the guilty, whether abroad or at home. And we fight abroad with our military, with the help of many nations, because the Taliban regime of Afghanistan refused to turn over the terrorists. And we're making good progress in a just cause. Our efforts are directed at terrorist and military targets because, unlike our enemies, we value human life. We do not target innocent people, and we grieve for the difficult times the Taliban have brought to the people of their own country. Our military is systematically pursuing its mission. We've destroyed many terrorist training camps. We have severed communication links. We're taking out air defenses, and now we're attacking the Taliban's frontlines. I've seen some news reports that many Afghan citizens wish the Taliban had never allowed the Al Qaida terrorists into their country. I don't blame them. And I hope those citizens will help us locate the terrorists, because the sooner we find them, the better the people's lives will be. It may take a long time, but no matter how long it takes, those who killed thousands of Americans and citizens from over 80 other nations will be brought to justice, and the misuse of Afghanistan as a training ground for terror will end. As I've said from the start, this is a difficult struggle of uncertain duration. We hunt an enemy that hides in shadows and caves. We are at the beginning of our efforts in Afghanistan. And Afghanistan is the beginning of our efforts in the world. No group or nation should mistake America's intentions We will not rest until terrorist groups of global reach have been found, have been stopped, and have been defeated. And this goal will not be achieved until all the world's nations stop harboring and supporting such terrorists within their borders. The defeat of terror requires an international coalition of unprecedented scope and cooperation. It demands the sincere, sustained actions of many nations against the network of terrorist cells and bases and funding. Later this week, at the United Nations, I will set out my vision of our common responsibilities in the war on terror. I will put every nation on notice that these duties involve more than sympathy or words. No nation can be neutral in this conflict, because no civilized nation can be secure in a world threatened by terror. I thank the many nations of Europe, including our NATO Allies, who have offered military help. I also thank the nations who are sharing intelligence and working to cut off terrorist financing. And I thank all of you for the important, practical work you are doing at this conference. The war against terrorism will be won only when we combine our strengths. We have a vast coalition that is uniting the world and increasingly isolating the terrorists, a coalition that includes many Arab and Muslim countries. I am encouraged by what their leaders are saying. The head of the 22 nation Arab League rejected the claims of the terrorist leader and said, he Usama bin Laden "doesn't speak in the names of Arabs and Muslims." Increasingly, it is clear that this is not just a matter between the United States and the terror network. As the Egyptian Foreign Minister said, "There is a war between bin Laden and the whole world." All of us here today understand this We do not fight against Islam we fight against evil. I thank all of our coalition partners and all of you for your steadfast support. The last time I was in Warsaw, I talked of our shared vision of a Europe that is whole and free and at peace. I said, we are building a house of freedom whose doors are open to all of Europe's people and whose windows look out to global opportunities beyond. Now that vision has been challenged, but it will not change. With your help, our vision of peace and freedom will be realized. And with your help, we will defend the values we hold in common. Thank you for joining us. And may God bless you all. November 03, 2001 Good morning. As all Americans know, recent weeks have brought a second wave of terrorist attacks upon our country, deadly anthrax spores sent through the U.S. mail. There's no precedent for this type of biological attack, and I'm proud of the way our law enforcement officers, our health care and postal workers, and the American people are responding in the face of this new threat. At this point in our investigation, we have identified several different letters that contained anthrax spores. Among them were the letters mailed to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle on Capitol Hill, NBC News in New York, and the New York Post newspaper. Four Americans have died as a result of these acts of terrorism. At least 13 others have developed forms of anthrax disease, either in the lungs or, less severely, on the skin. Public health officials have acted quickly to distribute antibiotics to people who may have been exposed to anthrax. When anthrax exposure is caught early, preventative treatment is effective. Anthrax can be treated with many antibiotics, and several pharmaceutical companies have offered medicine at reduced prices. The Government is swiftly testing post offices and other sites for anthrax spores and is closing them where potential threats to health are detected. We are working to protect people based on the best information available. And as we deal with this new threat, we are learning new information every day. Originally, experts believed the anthrax spores could not escape from sealed envelopes. We now know differently, because of cases where postal workers were exposed even though the envelopes they processed were not open. Anthrax apparently can be transferred from one letter to another, or from a letter to mail sorting equipment. But anthrax is not contagious, so it does not spread from human to human the way a cold or a flu can. Anthrax can be killed by sterilization, and the Postal Service is purchasing sterilizing equipment to be installed across the country. More than 30 billion pieces of mail have moved through the Postal Service since September the 11th, so we believe the odds of any one piece of mail being tainted are very low. But still, people should take appropriate precautions Look carefully at your mail before opening it tell your doctor if you believe you may have been exposed to anthrax. An excellent summary of the symptoms of this disease can be found on the web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov. Remember, doctors warn that you can put your health at risk by taking antibiotics when you don't need them, so use antibiotics only after consulting a health care professional. If you see anything suspicious or have useful information, please contact law enforcement authorities. The Postal Service and the FBI have offered a reward of up to 1 million for information leading to the arrest and the conviction of the anthrax terrorists. And those who believe this is an opportunity for a prank should know that sending false alarms is a serious criminal offense. At least 20 individuals have already been arrested for anthrax hoaxes, and we will pursue anyone who tries to frighten their fellow Americans in this cruel way. We do not yet know who sent the anthrax, whether it was the same terrorists who committed the attacks on September the 11th or whether it was the other international or domestic terrorists. We do know that anyone who would try to infect other people with anthrax is guilty of an act of terror. We will solve these crimes, and we will punish those responsible. As we learn more about these anthrax attacks, the Government will share the confirmed and credible information we have with you. I'm proud of our citizens' calm and reasoned response to this ongoing terrorist attack. Thank you for listening. November 02, 2001 President Bush. I'm proud to welcome President Obasanjo back to the White House. We just had a very good visit. We discussed our mutual concern, our mutual desire, and that is to fight and win the war against terror. The President has been a steadfast friend of the United States Government and the United States people before and after September 11th for that we're most grateful. He has got a huge Muslim population in his country, and I assure him and assure those Muslims who live in his country that our war that we now fight is against terror and evil. It's not against Muslims. We both understand that the Islamic faith teaches peace, respects human life, is nonviolent. And I want to thank the President's leadership in sending a not only a message of tolerance and respect but also his vision, which I share, that our struggle is going to be long and difficult, but we will prevail. We will win. Good will overcome evil. Part of the reason why is we've got a strong coalition. And the President is a part of that coalition. So welcome, Mr. President. Thank you. President Obasanjo. Mr. President, thank you for receiving me once again at the White House. Of course, we have come this time to express solidarity, to express support, to express condolence for the terrorist attack on this country, on innocent people of all faiths and of all races on the 11th of September. We have no doubt in our own mind that terrorism must be fought and it must be fought to a standstill. And as you have rightly said, we must distinguish and we must lead people to understand that there's a difference between fighting terrorism and it doesn't matter what mask the terrorist wears and of course the love that we have for humanity and the love that we have for men and women of all faiths. I want to particularly commend your effort, Mr. President, for the way you have built up a coalition, because the tendency and the feeling we need to do something quickly that you take time to build coalition. And as you rightly said, we are part of that coalition, and we will remain steadfastly part of that coalition. We, as I said, we are unique in a way, because we have the highest population of Muslims in Africa. We are also unique in the fact that almost 50 percent of our population are Muslims and almost 50 percent are Christians. That has advantage and also has disadvantage. It is up to us to let our people, the citizens of our country, know that whatever faith they belong to, they are not safe as long as we allow terrorism to take hold of the world. Whatever ideal they stand for, their ideal will amount to nothing if terrorism rules the world. Whatever ambitions or aspirations they have, their ambition and aspiration will come to naught if terrorism is allowed to take over a ruling of the world. And as I said to the President, if leaders who are brought into power through democratic means will abandon their responsibility to terrorists, then they might as well go home. The President, in that case, will have to go back to his ranch, and in that case, I will have to go back to my chicken farm. Laughter But we are not going to do that, because that would be height of irresponsibility. We have a duty. We have a commitment. And we believe that the duty and the commitment we have is the duty and commitment given to us by our people. And we should not shirk that responsibility. I believe that the coalition and I know you are anxious to ask questions I believe that the coalition has this challenge, the challenge to fight terrorism. It is also a challenge to make the world wholesome, more equitable, fairer, and safer for all of us to live in. I believe that the coalition should not relax until that objective is achieved. And I believe that we have a leader in President Bush to ensure that the world achieves that objective. President Bush. Very eloquent. Thank you. President Obasanjo's Visit Q. Mr. President, President Bush, why did it take so long to have an African leader visit here, when African leaders had made such strong statements of sympathy and statement of condemnation of the terrorists? Why did it take so long? President Bush. One of the first phone calls I received was from President Obasanjo. His support has never been has never wavered. There's no question about where we stood in the coalition. And I'm proud to have him by my side. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Operation Enduring Freedom Q. Sir, is it still your position that the bombing campaign would stop if the Taliban turned over bin Laden and his followers? Or has the war gone beyond that? President Bush. We still have the same objective, and that is for the Taliban to hand over Al Qaida, the leaders, to release those who are being detained, and to destroy any terrorist training camps. And they've been given ample time to meet those demands, and now they're paying a price for not having met the demands. Sonya Sonya Ross, Associated Press . Wait a minute, let me get the "prints" out of the way. Thank you. Relations With the Muslim World Q. Could you tell us a little bit more about what you discussed, in terms of reaching out to young people in Muslim countries and addressing the poverty and the despair that they feel, so that they do not become foot soldiers for terrorist networks? And for President Obasanjo, could you tell us how you plan to deal with the military action in east central Nigeria last week, where some civilians were killed? President Bush. We did spend time talking about the totality of a war against terror not only requires strong military action, strong diplomatic action, strong financial action, but it also recognizes that we need to share a message that our respective governments respect tolerance, respect other points of view. We don't share the point of view that evil is religious. We don't appreciate the fact that somebody has tried to hijack a religion in order to justify terror activities. And we also recognize that economic prosperity throughout the world is more likely to make people appreciate rule of law, appreciate other people's points of view. That's one reason why I've been such a strong supporter of AGOA, which is the African Trade Act. That's why I believe we ought to start a new round at Qatar, a new round for world trade. I mean, I believe prosperity can best be enhanced by a world that trades in freedom. And I think that's a significant part of making sure people are able to rise out of poverty. But on the other hand, I don't accept the excuse that poverty promotes evil. That's like saying poor people are evil people. I disagree with that. Usama bin Laden is an evil man. His heart has been so corrupted that he's willing to take innocent life. And we are fighting evil, and we will continue to fight evil, and we will not stop until we defeat evil. Anyway, you've got a question for the President? Military Action in Nigeria Q. On the actions in east central Nigeria by the Nigerian military, in which some civilians were killed? President Obasanjo. Maybe you don't know what happened. Let me just put you into exactly what happened. That is an area where there have been some clashes between two or three groups, the Tiv, the Jukun, and the Fulanis. And this has been going on for, oh, maybe 15, 10 years. At times it goes down at times it goes up. And this time when it went up, the Governors of the two States where this happened, Taraba State and Benue State, separately invited to the military, through me, to take care of the what I call the lawlessness of young men who put illegal roadblock on either side of the State boundary, and if you do not belong to their ethnic group, they take you and kill you. And then we sent soldiers there to clear the roadblock and keep this menace out of the way. And they did that. And the last roadblock, the last roadblock, in a place called Vaase, the soldiers were ambushed and taken, disarmed, and killed and their bodies were dismembered, chopped up. And then I got in touch with the Governor, and I said, "Do everything to apprehend those who committed this heinous crime, and hand them over to us." After 3 days, they called on me and said that, "I have failed. I will ask you to send soldiers to help me in apprehending these people." And that's what we did. Q. Mr. President, thank you very much. President Bush. Good morning. Q. James Rosen, Fox News. President Bush. If that's the case, then I'll call on somebody else. Laughter Presidential Records Act Executive Order Q. Now that you're a wartime President, sir, interest in your decisionmaking processes, and those that you involve your staff in, is going to be greater than even normal times. And yet, the Executive order that you signed yesterday makes it harder for journalists, scholars, historians to write anything about what decisions you're going to be making and have made, even sympathetically. And I wonder why you took that action? President Bush. We responded to a new law written by Congress that lays out a procedure that I think is fair for past Presidents. And it is a process that I think will enable historians to do their job and at the same time protect state secrets. That's why I did what I did. Q. Inaudible be able to get their hands on documents for many years? President Bush. There are some documents that are privileged and protected. And this is just to make sure those documents remain protected and privileged. I don't see this as anything other than setting a set of procedures that I believe is fair and reasonable. Plante Bill Plante, CBS News . Terrorist Threat Alerts Q. Mr. President, the Director of Homeland Security, Governor Ridge, has just said that the state of alert which was introduced last Monday, the high state of alert, is now indefinite. A lot of Americans are rattled by what they see as a mixed message, being told to go about their business on the one hand and yet having to look for some unspecified threat on the other. What's your message? President Bush. Well, I wasn't rattled when I went out and threw out the ball at Yankee Stadium, right after I had instructed the Justice Department to inform 17,000 law enforcement agencies to be aware, to harden targets, to harden assets. Most Americans, Bill, understand that there is a new day here in America. They appreciate the efforts the Government is making, and they're going to fight terrorism by going about their daily lives. But what Governor Ridge is saying and what I've been saying all along is, we're in a new day here in America. We're fighting a two front war, and I believe most Americans understand that now. And I appreciate the courage of most Americans, but we have a responsibility at the Government to protect the people. When we see something that we think is credible, we hear something that might be real, we're going to notify the respective authorities to help harden targets. Nature of the Conflict Q. Mr. President, given these terror alerts given that these terror alerts are indefinite, should the American people conclude that despite the bombing campaign, that Usama bin Laden and the Al Qaida network are no less potent or able to conduct a terror campaign than they were before the 9 11 attack? President Bush. Oh, no. As a matter of fact, I think that the American people ought to conclude that our enemy is fighting an army not only overseas but at home, that the enemy is being hunted down abroad and at home. We've detained over 1,000 people here in America. We're running down every single lead. We're hardening assets. We're on the hunt. We're going to chase them down. And the American people fully understand that we're in for a long struggle. And I appreciate the patience of the American people. We are making progress overseas in Afghanistan. We're slowly but surely tightening the net on the enemy. We're making it harder for the enemy to communicate. We're making it harder for the enemy to protect himself. We're making it harder for the enemy to hide. And we're going to get him and them. There are some that say, "Well, shouldn't this have happened yesterday?" This is not an instant gratification war. This is a struggle for freedom and liberty. This is a struggle for the ability for America and America's children to live in peace. This is a struggle for the people of this good man's country to be able to live in peace. And that's why I can assure our allies, assure the American people, for so long as I'm the President, this will be my focus. And we're making very good progress. Q. Mr. President, were you surprised, even if you weren't looking for instant gratification, at the resilience of the Taliban regime under these attacks? And are you concerned, sir, about the future, about the disarray among the people who may take over Afghanistan if the Taliban should fall? President Bush. Terry Terry Moran, ABC News , we've been at this part of the battle for a couple of weeks. And as I explained to the American people, this is going to be a long struggle. And I am very satisfied, and the American people should be satisfied, with the progress we're making on the ground. The Taliban's air defenses have been completely demolished. Their assets, whatever assets they had, have been demolished, and we're slowly but surely tightening the net to achieve our objective. This is a different kind of war. The country has been used to Desert Storm, or have been used to Kosovo, where we were able to have massive formations marching across the desert and or simply an air campaign that eventually brought a country to its knees. This is a different type of struggle, and our strategy reflects that. And I believe the American people understand that and are very patient, as am I. I am mindful of the objective the military is mindful of the objective in Afghanistan. But the objective goes beyond just Afghanistan. That's why we're working on the financial front to cut off money. That's why I have encouraged nations all around the world to apprehend those who are known terrorists, and over 280 have been arrested thus far. That's why this coalition is so important, that it remain strong, to raise the risk for those who would like to conduct terrorist activities. That's why we're standing in solidarity with the Philippines, for example, that's working hard to get rid of Abu Sayyaf. In other words, this is a global battle. There happens to be two known fronts, two visible fronts one, Afghanistan and the other, the United States of America. And we're making good progress on both fronts. Microsoft Antitrust Case Q. Mr. President, could you tell us, sir, why the administration made the deal it did this morning in the Microsoft case and what you would say to the State attorneys general, who feel the concessions are so great they're walking away? President Bush. I think you need to talk to the Attorney General on that, if you don't mind. Kelly Kelly Wallace, Cable News Network . Governor Gray Davis of California Q. Mr. President, two quick, unrelated questions. Number one, have you made a decision, and have you ruled out stopping or lessening the military action during Ramadan? And number two, if you could just comment on how California Governor Davis handled that FBI alert yesterday, and if you think your administration wants to issue any guidelines for State and local authorities to handle this in the future? President Bush. Well, as a former Governor, I didn't particularly care when the Federal Government tried to tell me how to do my business. When I was the Governor of Texas, I was elected by the people of Texas, and I handled my State's business the way I thought was necessary. And I think any Governor should be able to conduct their business the way they see fit. I think what should be noticed is, is that we are constantly in touch with State and local authorities as to general and or specific threats. Part of the homeland defense is active and strong communications, so that Governors and or local authorities can harden targets, respond to uncorroborated evidence, and to protect their people. First part of the question? This is the old two question two part question. It's one of the old press tricks, Mr. President. You're allowed one question, and then they ask two. Laughter Bombing During Ramadan Q. Have you made a decision are you ruling out stopping or lessening the military action during Ramadan? President Bush. I'll let our military speak to that. My own personal attitude is, is that the enemy won't rest during Ramadan and neither will we. We're going to pursue this war until we achieve our objective. As to the specific times and dates, we'll let the military speak to that. They're in charge of this operation. This is not a political campaign this is a war. And I respect the chain of command I honor the chain of command. And I will tell you, our military is doing a very good job. Anthrax Q. Sir, what would you say to Americans who are concerned they haven't heard a clear answer on how this anthrax got to this woman in New York, how it killed her, and who are afraid it could happen to them? President Bush. I would say to the American people that we're learning a lot about anthrax, and we're doing everything we can to find out all the facts. And when we get the facts, we'll share it with the American people. I will also say to the American people, I believe that the hard work of our public health officials has saved lives. I believe the fact that we've got people all around our country working hours upon hours have helped save life in America. And for that, the American people are grateful, and so am I. Thank you all. November 02, 2001 Good afternoon. Laura and I want to welcome you all to the White House. Welcome. Thanks for coming. I also want to thank all who work with the USO. It is important. It's important for our country, and it's important for the world. And I want to thank you for coming so we can honor such a fine, fine organization. I also want to thank Wayne Newton for being here. I appreciate so very much your leading the USO Celebrity Circle. I don't know whether or not you spent much time with Bob Hope before you took the assignment, but this job has got a 60 year term limit to it. Laughter I want to thank Dick Myers and the other members of the Joint Chiefs who are here. I am proud of the job you all are doing. I want to thank the Secretary of the Navy, Gordon England, for coming, as well. I appreciate so very much Members of the United States Congress who are here. Senator Reed, thank you so very much. I don't know if Congressman Edwards is here my Congressman. He's the Congressman for Crawford, Texas. Good to see you, sir. Answer my mail, will you? Laughter I appreciate Norm Mineta, who is here. Part of our battle against terrorism is to have a strong homefront and to make sure our airlines are secure. And we've got a really good man running the Department of Transportation to make sure that happens. Norm, I'm proud of the work you're doing. I'm proud of your leadership. I'm glad Joyce Rumsfeld is here. Thanks for coming, Joyce. Don is on his way overseas. And he, like the rest of the Pentagon, is doing a fabulous job, I mean a really good job, of defending our country. I look forward to getting him back. I'm looking forward to hearing how the trip went. John Gottschalk, thank you very much for taking on this assignment. And General Tilelli, thank you, as well. I appreciate so very much your being here. I want to thank Neil McCoy. I want to thank Rob Schneider and Jessica Simpson, as well. These are some of the great talent who are going to entertain our troops and bring smiles to the faces of people who are a long way away from home. It's a noble cause, and I appreciate you all doing this. Next week, when the tour begins, people are going to travel all around the globe. And there they will find young men and women of the highest caliber of the highest caliber some of whom will be facing extreme danger in the months to come, all of whom are proud to serve. In our war against terrorism, we can be thankful all of us in America and, for that matter, all the people who have joined our vast coalition can be thankful that we are defended by men and women of such incredible character and such great courage. Our USO performers are all a part of a very special American institution. For more than six decades, the USO has brought a touch of home to Americans in distant places. Millions of veterans still cherish memories of USO shows, hospitality centers, and the good folks who have traveled thousands of miles to show their support. The USO brought more than entertainment to the troops. Here is what Harry Truman had to say. He said, "The USO lets our service men and women know the people of the United States are behind them." Well, that's still true at the beginning of this century and for a very different kind of war, a war that is being fought on many fronts a war that's being fought here in the homeland a war that's being fought because of the relentless efforts of our law enforcement a war that's being fought by a diplomatic front the likes of which the world has never seen before a war that's being fought by cutting off funds to the evil ones and a war that's being fought on the field of battle. We face an enemy an enemy the likes of which we've never seen before, an enemy without a government, an enemy that's tried to hijack a great religion, an enemy that is so evil that those of us in America can't possibly comprehend why they do what they do. But it will be an enemy that will be defeated. This enemy will be defeated because this Nation is strong and this Nation is united. This enemy will be defeated because this Nation won't stand for evil. This enemy will be defeated because we understand we fight for our very freedoms. This enemy will be defeated because we understand that what we do today will determine whether our children and our grandchildren can grow up in a free society in a free world. This enemy will be defeated because across the world, our soldiers, marines and sailors, airmen, and coastguardsmen are the defenders of freedom. And once again, they will know that the American people stand squarely behind them. This is a war that has required our military to adjust. It is a different kind of war. And we have got a strategy that meets this different kind of war. After all, these days we've got a B 2 bomber pilot who boards his aircraft in Missouri, delivers his ordnance, and comes back to Missouri. And the men and women of today's armed services also are different from the past. Most are likely to be married. Most are likely to have young children. And the good news is, the USO has kept pace with these changes. It, too, has changed to reflect the nature of modern war and a modern military. And it, too, is directing its mission not just for those in the military but for their family members, as well. The USO leadership is as diverse and talented as ever. And I want to thank you all very much, and so do the American people. Some of the members of the Celebrity Circle Executive Committee, including Tom Hanks and Quincy Jones, could not be here. But tell them I thanked them, and tell them we appreciate their hard work. And for our troops abroad, USO's touch of home will mean even more even more as we head toward Thanksgiving and eventually the holiday seasons of the winter. And you can tell them they are greatly needed where they are and they are greatly missed back home. And you can tell them the American people and the President are proud of their service. May God bless the USO, and may God bless America. October 31, 2001 Thank you all. Welcome. Nice to see everybody. Thank you very much. I've just finished icing down my arm. Laughter Today there's some news out on our economy, and it confirms that the events of September the 11th really shocked the Nation. It affected our workforce and affected our business base. The gross domestic product for the third quarter was negative. People are having tough times in America. People are losing their jobs. And I'm deeply concerned about that, and I know you are as well. Consumer confidence is down. After all, we're at war, and for the first time in our Nation's history, part of the battlefront is here at home. Shipments, particularly in the manufacturing sector, declined dramatically in recent months. And it's time for our Government to act in a positive and constructive way. The Congress needs to pass a stimulus package and get it to my desk before the end of November. I had breakfast today with the Speaker and Minority Leader, Majority Leader Daschle and Senator Lott. All five of us agreed that we need to work together to get a package, that we've got to put aside political differences and act swiftly and strongly on behalf of the American worker and the American business person. And so my call to Congress is Get to work, and get something done. The American people expect us to do just that. I want to thank Paul O'Neill for being here. He is leading the charge on Capitol Hill for a commonsense economic stimulus package. He brings a lot of experience to the job. After all, he was a manufacturer at one time. He knows the struggles that you go through. And like me, he hurts with the workers who aren't finding work these days. And I appreciate Christie Todd being here, as well. One of the smartest things I've done is to tap some of my former Governor colleagues and ask them to come to the Government. I tapped a great one when I tapped Christie Todd Whitman. She brings a lot of sense and a good view of our environmental policy. And the American people are proud of the job she's doing, and so am I. Thank you for both being here. I also want to thank Tim very much for his friendship and his introduction. I didn't realize you were quite so eloquent. Laughter You must be taking speech lessons. Laughter I want to thank Don Wainwright as well and, of course, Jerry Jasinowski for his friendship and support. I the American people know that we have acted quickly in terms of this attack that has taken place, and we've done so on the domestic front in quick order. Both Republicans and Democrats decided to spend a considerable sum of money to address the country's needs. We've allocated 55 billion, and it didn't take long to spend it, I might add. A big chunk of that is going to go to make sure we defend our country, make sure our Defense Department is bolstered during this war. A significant amount of money went to help New York City recover as it should. We want New York City to be on her feet. It's an important symbol for the world that New York City be strong and vibrant. We spent a considerable amount of money for airplane security. My attitude was that the most directly affected industry was the airline industry, and therefore, we had to spend money to make sure the airlines survived and make sure there was loan money and make sure that the consumer realized that the Government was acting in a positive way to bring security to our airports. And the first act we took was to empower Governors to say, bring your guard to the gates put troops so that people will see a visible presence. And we started to increase the air marshals. And Congress is now working on an airport security bill, and I hope I am able to sign that pretty quickly, too. But we are taking action. And we need to spend money on helping workers who were lost their job as a result of the attack of September the 11th. I believe we need to expend extend and expand the unemployment benefits to those workers. And I know we need to expand what they call national emergency grants, which will give Governors the latitude to take Federal monies and apply that money to workers special workers' needs, such as health care benefits, to make sure that any laid off worker can have be able to pay the premiums of their health care plans. And so there will be there's more need. But I caution the Congress not to overspend. The temptation is to fund everybody's good idea. And my attitude is that our money ought to be focused and effective the spending ought to be focused. And we ought to ask the question, is this effective spending? We need to make sure that when we spend there's a strategy and a reason. And so I look forward to working with the appropriators to be responsible about how we spend taxpayers' money, particularly as we run up to what I hope is a recess around the Thanksgiving period. And we also ought to make sure that we offset any spending with tax relief, that the way to have a balanced stimulus package is to recognize we've spent a considerable amount of money up to date, and we need to spend some more for our workers, but we ought to offset that with tax relief. And I have laid out some ideas for Congress to consider. On the one hand, we've got to make sure that we bolster consumer demand by both accelerating the tax cuts that now exist, as well as providing rebates for nontaxpayers but who filed. In other words, there are some people who didn't get rebates last year generally low income people that filed an income tax return, but they didn't pay tax, and they ought to get a rebate. And Congress ought to act as quickly as possible to get that money into people's hands as quickly as possible to bolster demand. And then we've got to make sure our tax relief encourages investment, encourages the flow of capital. And therefore, I think we need to reform the alternative minimum tax on corporate America so corporate America doesn't have to get penalized during times of declining earnings that doesn't make any sense to do that as well as encourage investment in new plant and equipment. The House has passed some elements of that plan, and the Senate needs to act. And any differences we can work out in conference. But time is of the essence. As I mentioned, the leadership is prepared to spend the time necessary to get a good package out, and I'm grateful for that. And I hope the bill writers get moving. That's what the American people expect. I also want the Congress to know that there is more to helping our economy grow than just tax relief or just spending. And there's two items I want to briefly touch on. One is an energy plan. Our Nation needs an energy plan, an energy plan that encourages conservation and encourages exploration, and I believe we can do both in a responsible way. And we need to modernize the infrastructure that develops energy from point A to point B, from plant to consumer. We need to get after it. It is in our national interest that we have an energy plan, one designed to make us less reliant upon foreign sources of energy. And as Tim mentioned, I need to have what's called trade promotion authority. I need to be able to negotiate trade agreements with nations who want to trade with America. The Congress can vote the trade agreement down if they don't like it. But we need to be aggressive when it comes to opening up markets and taking advantage of opportunities around the world. This Nation should not stand on the sidelines when it comes to free trade. We must be confident. People who build walls around America aren't confident in America they're not confident in American workers they're not confident in American businesses. I'm confident in America's ability to compete. I want to tear walls down. I want to make it easier for the world to trade in freedom. I think it's good for American workers that we trade. I think it's good for American business that we trade. And I know it's good for the spread of American values if we trade freely around the world. And so I ask the Congress to be confident as we approach these big issues, be confident in the ability of the American people, be confident in the ability of the entrepreneur to succeed, be confident in our future of the country. And that's exactly the way I feel. This is a very unusual period in American history, obviously. We've never been attacked like this before. We're still being attacked. Our heart goes out to anybody who suffers in America. And so, we're bolstering our homeland defense. We're disrupting and denying anybody who wants to harm the American people. We spend hours tracking down every possible lead of somebody who would come into this country or who might be buried in this country, trying to hurt any American. And I'm proud of our law enforcement officials who work nonstop, around the clock, taking every single lead and pursuing it to its end. Yesterday or a couple of days ago, I put the country on alert for a reason, that, on the one hand, while we will go about our business of going to World Series games or shopping or traveling to Washington, DC, I want our law enforcement officials to know we had some information that made it necessary for us to protect the United States' assets, to protect those areas that might be vulnerable. And that's exactly what's taking place today. And we're also fighting a war overseas, with the purpose of hunting down the evildoers and bringing them to justice. And I'm patient, and I'm focused, and I will not yield. We must win. We have no other choice, for our children and our grandchildren, that we bring any terrorist to justice and hold those nations who harbor them which harbor them or feed them or clothe them to justice, as well. And the United States will prevail. People ask me about the economy. They say, "Are you worried?" I say, "I'm worried any time anybody loses a job. But in the long term, I'm optimistic about the U.S. economy. We've got good tax policy. We've got low interest rates. We've got the best workers in the world. We've got an entrepreneurial spirit that is infectious and strong and alive and well. We are the best place to do business in the entire globe. And that hasn't changed." But I'm optimistic for another reason. I'm optimistic because the spirit of this country is incredibly strong. This is a fabulous nation. The evil ones thought they could affect the spirit of America, but it's had an opposite effect. Our country is patient. Our country is resolved. Our country is united, regardless of our religion, regardless of where we live, regardless of our political party. We're united behind the fact that we must rise to this occasion. And rise we will. We will plant that flag of freedom forever by winning the war against terrorism, by rallying our economy, and by keeping strong and adhering to the values we hold so dear, starting with freedom. I want to thank you all for letting me come by. Thank you for letting me come by. Laughter Keep working hard. Keep working hard. And may God continue to bless America. October 30, 2001 Thank you all very much. Sit down. Behave yourself. Laughter Thank you for the warm welcome. Laughter I'm honored to be here to announce a national effort to bring together veterans and students all across America during the week of Veterans Day, to give our young examples of duty and courage at a time when both are sorely needed. I want to thank Senator Dole for being here. I appreciate his eloquence and his service to the country. He is a applause . I want to thank the two members of my Cabinet who traveled with me today, Secretary Principi and Secretary Paige, both of whom represent the best of public service. I want to thank Congresswoman Connie Morella for being here, as well. Rebecca, thank you for opening up your beautiful school. I want to thank you, and I want to thank the teachers who are here. Teaching is such a noble profession. And if some of you students are wondering what you might want to do when you get older, think about teaching. I also want to thank the students and the veterans and my fellow Americans. I can assure you it makes some of us old guys feel warm in our hearts when we see the enthusiasm you have for your school and the love you have for your country. I am proud to be standing with the Patriots. We're a nation of patriots. The attacks of September the 11th and the attacks that have followed were designed to break our spirit. But instead, they've created a new spirit in America. We have a renewed spirit of patriotism. We see it in the countless flags that are flying everywhere in America. We hear it in familiar phrases that move us more deeply than ever before. We all know that this is one Nation, under God. And we pray that God will bless America, the land that we all love, regardless of our race, regardless of our religion, regardless of where we live. We have a renewed appreciation of the character of America. We are a generous people, a thoughtful people who hurt and share the sadness when people lose their life or when people are hurt. We've helped each other in every way we know, in donations, in acts of kindness, in public memorials, in private prayer. We have shown in difficult times that we're not just a world power, that we're a good and kind and courageous people. As we pursue the enemy in Afghanistan, we feed the innocents. As we try to bring justice to those who have harmed us, we find those who need help. The events of these 7 weeks have shown something else. They have shown a new generation, your generation, that America and the cause of freedom have determined enemies, that there are people in this world who hate what America stands for. They hate our success they hate our liberty. We have learned all too suddenly that there are evil people who have no regard for human life and will do whatever it takes to try to bring this mighty Nation to its knees. On the Korean War Memorial in Washington are these words "Freedom is not free." Our commitment to freedom has always made us a target of tyranny and intolerance. Anyone who sets out to destroy freedom must eventually attack America, because we're freedom's home. And we must always be freedom's home and freedom's defender. We must never flinch in the face of adversity, and we won't. You've been learning this by studying your history at least some of you by studying your history. Laughter Now you're learning the price of freedom by following the news. You're learning that to be an American citizen in a time of war is to have duties. You're learning how a strong country responds to a crisis by being alert and calm, resolute and patient. And you're the first students who ever learned the who have had to learn the reality that we're having to fight a war on our own land. You're the first generation of students who has ever witnessed a war fought in America. This is a two front war we fight. On one front is the homefront. Our Government is doing everything we possibly can to disrupt and deny and destroy anyone who would harm America again. And the truth of the matter is, the best way to fight for the homeland is to find the terrorists wherever they hide, wherever they run, and to bring them to justice. I also want to make it clear that the doctrine I laid out to the United States Congress is a doctrine this Nation will enforce. It says clearly that if you harbor a terrorist, if you feed a terrorist, if you provide sanctuary to a terrorist, if you fund a terrorist, you are just as guilty as the terrorist that inflicted the harm on the American people. Our Nation gave those who harbor the Al Qaida organization ample opportunity to respond to reasonable demands. Our demands were just, and they were fair. We said very simply, "Turn over Al Qaida. Send the terrorists out of your land. Release the innocent Americans and other foreigners you hold hostage in Afghanistan, and destroy Al Qaida terrorist camps and training activity camps." And we gave them ample opportunity to respond, and they chose the wrong course. And then they will now pay a price for choosing the wrong course. This is a nation that is resolved to win. And win we must, not only for your generation but for generations to come. This country has always been able to count on men and women of great courage. From the day America was founded, 48 million have worn the uniform of the United States. More than 25 million veterans are living today, some of whom are with us at Wootton High, and you may know some of them in your families. I know one such veteran. He fought in World War II, like Senator Dole my dad. We must remember that many who served in our military never lived to be called veterans. We must remember many had their lives changed forever by experiences or the injuries of combat. All veterans are examples of service and citizenship for every American to remember and to follow. In 12 days, on Veterans Day, we will honor them. We will remember the Bob Doles of the world. We will remember a generation that liberated Europe and Asia and put an end to concentration camps. We will remember generations that fought in the cold mountains of Korea and manned the outposts of the cold war. We will remember those who served in the jungles of Vietnam and on the sands of the Persian Gulf. In each of these conflicts, Americans answered danger with incredible courage. We were equal to every challenge. And now a great mission has been given a new generation, our generation, and we vow not to let America down. Today I have a special mission for our veterans and a special request of our schools. I ask all public, private, and home schools to join our Lessons for Liberty initiative by inviting a veteran to speak to your students during the week of Veterans Day. I'm particularly pleased to announce that Wootton High has already put out the call, and Ron Ten Eyck has answered. Ron's a veteran of World War II. You need to listen to what he has to say. Lessons of Liberty is supported by veterans groups all across America American Legion, VFW, Military Order of the World Wars, as well as education groups all across our country. Anyone interested in participating in this important event should go to this web page, www.va.gov, and then click on Veterans Day. In addition to launching Lessons of Liberty, I will sign a proclamation in a minute asking all Americans to observe the week of November 11th as National Veterans Awareness Week. In these difficult days here in America, I ask all of us, children and adults, to remember the valor and sacrifice of our veterans. American veterans have extraordinary stories. We should listen to them. American veterans preserved our world and freedom, and we should honor them. American veterans show us the meaning of sacrifice and citizenship, and we should learn from them. Americans should always honor our veterans. At this moment, we especially need the example of their character. And we need a new generation to set examples of its own, examples in service and sacrifice and courage. These veterans have shaped our history, and with their values, your generation will help guide our future. God bless. May God bless America. October 29, 2001 The President. Today I had the first official meeting of the Homeland Security Council Governor that has been chaired by when I'm not here, by Governor Ridge. And as you can see, I've assembled many of the members of my administration here, senior members of the administration, because our task is to do everything we can to protect the American people from any threat whatsoever. The American people are beginning to understand that we fight a two front war against terror. We fight in Afghanistan, and I appreciate so very much the efforts of our men and women who wear the uniform. And we fight it at home here, to make sure America is as safe is possible. Along these lines, we've set up a Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force to make sure that the Land of the Free is as safe as possible from people who might come to our country to hurt people. We welcome legal immigrants, and we welcome people coming to America. We welcome the process that encourages people to come to our country to visit, to study, and to work. What we don't welcome are people who come to hurt the American people. And so, therefore, we're going to be very diligent with our visas and observant with the behavior of people who come to this country. As an example, if a person applies for a student visa and gets that visa, we want to make sure that person actually goes to school in other words, if they're using the visas for the intended purpose. The American people need to know that we're doing everything we possibly can to prevent and disrupt any attack on America and that we're doing everything we can to respond to attacks. And I'm proud of the public health workers, people that report to Tommy Thompson's agency, about their hard work. They're working hours on hours. And I believe that lives have been saved as a result of their diligent efforts. Be glad to answer a couple of questions. Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press , then Dave David Gregory, NBC News , then Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News , then Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Operation Enduring Freedom Q. Mr. President, thank you. Yesterday there was quite a bit of talk on Capitol Hill about the need for ground troops to step up the military action another notch Senator McCain, Senator Dodd, among others. Do you think the American public is ready for a significant number of ground troops in Afghanistan? The President. I think the most important thing that the American people realize is that we're steady and determined and patient, that we've got a strategy in place to bring Al Qaida to justice and at the same time make it clear that any nation which harbors terrorists will be held accountable for their decisions. And we are implementing our strategy, and we appreciate any suggestions people may have. But the strategy we have at the time right now is to use our military to dismantle Taliban defenses, use our military to destroy Al Qaida training bases, and to work with troops that now exist on the ground to fulfill our mission. And I am pleased with the progress we're making. And I'm really pleased with the fact that the American people are patient. They realize this is a war the likes of which they have never seen before. And therefore, they are rooting on their Government and the men and women who wear the uniform. They understand that it's going to take a while to achieve our objective, and I appreciate that patience. Steve. Immigration Policy Q. Sir, since so many of the hijackers were in the country legally, do you plan to crack down on student visas or political asylum cases, things of that sort? The President. Well, we plan on making sure that if a person has applied for a student visa, they actually go to college or a university. And therefore, we're going to start asking a lot of questions that heretofore have not been asked. We're going to tighten up the visa policy. That's not to say that we're not going to let people come into our country of course we are. But we're going to make sure that when somebody comes, we understand their intended purpose and that they fulfill the purpose that they on their application. You bring up a very good point, Steve, and that is that sometimes people come here with no intention to fulfill their purpose. And when we find those, they will be escorted out of the United States. Domestic Response to Terrorism Q. Mr. President, a couple of weeks ago the FBI issued an alert indicating that within several days the country could be attacked by terrorists again. Does the Government still believe and have information to support the notion that Usama bin Laden is planning a second wave of attacks, and do you believe that all of the resources now dedicated to the anthrax situation reduce the country's level of preparedness? The President. We believe that the country must stay on alert, that there is that our enemies still hate us. Our enemies have no values that regard life as precious. They're active, and therefore, we're constantly in touch with our law enforcement officials to be prepared. Now, having said that, the American people must go about their lives. And I recognize it's a fine balance. But the American people also understand that the object of any terrorist activity is to cause Americans to abandon their lifestyles. Every American is a soldier, and every citizen is in this fight. And I am proud of our country. Our country is united and strong, and we're prepared. We've got ample resources to fight the war on the homefront on many fronts. And part of our purpose for being here is to make sure that those resources are well organized and that fit into a strategy that this administration is designing. Stretch. National Economy Q. We have some new consumer confidence numbers coming out tomorrow, so perhaps this would be a better question to ask then. But based on what you're hearing from all of the people in this room, what is your sense of the extent which the terrorist attacks, now the anthrax mailings, are having on the consumer? And is it your sense that people really are hunkering down, they're apprehensive, they're are they finding it difficult to get back to their daily routines? The President. Well, I haven't seen the numbers, but my view of the mood of the country is, is that the country understands we've entered into a new period in our history, and that there is a that lives are simply not going to be as normal as they were in the past, and that so long as there is terrorist activities in the world and directed toward our country, that people are going to have to be diligent and on guard. And they are. Now, having said that, the American people are very patient, and they appreciate the efforts of the Government, and they appreciate the efforts of our military. They understand better than most, better than the world, that this is going to take a long period of time, and they are prepared for this. They are prepared to wait in long lines at airports. They're prepared to support our military. They are prepared to support local law enforcement as local law enforcement works hard with Federal officials to disrupt any potential terrorist activities. And so, the mood of the country is certainly different from what it was on September the 10th, but I find the mood of the country to be incredibly refreshing and strong and powerful. It is a clear statement to anybody who would want to harm us that instead of weakening America, they have strengthened America. And how that what that means to the economy, it means that the it means that over time, our economy is going to be just as strong as the American spirit. And so I'm very optimistic about the economy. How long it will take to recover to the levels that we hope is just is beyond my pay grade. But I can tell you that the people of this country are strong and resolute, and for that I am grateful and incredibly proud. Last question. Immigration Policy Q. Mr. President, we understand this task force is to help tighten and close the loopholes in immigration laws. Why were these loopholes so vast, and why were they left for so long? And also, what do you say to the American public who is concerned about anti American sentiment among Americans who may have helped these immigrants who came in and started September the 11th? The President. Well, first, I you know, our country has been an incredibly generous country, the most generous country in the world. We're generous with our universities we're generous with our job opportunities we're generous with the what a beautiful system it is, that if you come here and you work hard, you can achieve a dream. Never did we realize then that people would take advantage of our generosity to the extent they have. September the 11th taught us an interesting lesson, that while by far the vast majority of people who have come to America are really good, decent people, people that we're proud to have here, there are some who are evil. And our job now is to find the evil ones and to bring them to justice, to disrupt anybody who might have designs on hurting further hurting Americans. The second part of your question? Sorry. Domestic Support for Terrorists Q. The second part is about the Americans in this country who some may have helped the terrorists. The President. I think Americans who unwittingly helped people that hurt Americans regret that now. Americans who are willingly participants and have plans to hurt America, they will be brought to justice. My judgment is, anybody who is a terrorist or helps a terrorist are equally culpable. And so, we're doing everything we can, obviously within the law. And we've got now a new law that will help us pursue those who would harm Americans and those who would help them harm Americans. People need to be held accountable in America, and we're going to do just that. Thank you all. October 29, 2001 Well, thank you very much for that warm welcome. Many of you have traveled half a world for this gathering, and I'm honored to be with you. I want to thank you all for coming. This conference was delayed by the events of September the 11th, but our common goal will not be delayed or denied. We have a unique opportunity to build ties of trade and trust that will improve the lives on both our continents. And we will seize this opportunity. I appreciate so very much the leadership of our Secretary of State. He has done a fabulous job of assembling a coalition of people from all around the world to fight terror. I picked the right man for this time in history. I want to thank the Ministers and Ambassadors from the 35 African nations who are represented here. Thank you all for coming. I appreciate the three members of my Cabinet who are on the stage with us today, members who represent trade and economic activity and economic development, people who join me in my commitment for a freer world and a prosperous Africa. I want to thank Secretary of Treasury O'Neill, Secretary of Commerce Evans, and U.S. Trade Representative Zoellick for being here as well. Thank you all for coming. I appreciate USAID Administrator Andrew Natsios for being here as well. Andy, thank you for coming. And I, too, want to thank Members of the United States Congress, Republican and Democrat, who have come to join on this important effort. Senator Lugar, Congressman Royce, Congressman Levin, and Congressman Jefferson, I'm honored you all would take time to be here to represent the solidarity of our entire Government in promoting what's right and responsible on the African Continent. And I want to thank members of the business and NGO communities who are here, as well. And thank you for working so hard to put together the coalition that enabled the passage of one of the most hopeful acts that Congress has passed. I appreciate your time I appreciate your efforts and I appreciate your concern. Let me begin by thanking the nations of Africa for their support following September the 11th. America will never forget the many messages of sympathy and solidarity sent by African heads of state. Ambassadors from southern Africa presented a check to the American Red Cross to assist the families of the victims. One Rwandan journalist wrote in a condolence book at the U.S. Embassy, "We feel and understand what the Americans must be experiencing. The forces of evil must be fought and defeated wherever they are." That represents exactly the firm resolve of the American people. We will fight and defeat the forces of evil wherever they are. Over 80 countries, including Ethiopia and Egypt, Ghana and Gambia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Togo, and Zimbabwe, lost citizens along with the Americans on September the 11th. The United States is deeply grateful to all countries and all African countries that have now joined in a great coalition against terror. We are grateful for the political support offered by the Organization of African Unity and by many African regional organizations. We appreciate the basing and overflight rights offered by African countries and the growing number of African nations that have committed to cracking down on terrorist financing. We are encouraged by the strong declaration issued at Dakar by 28 African countries calling on all African nations to ratify the 1999 Algiers Convention Against Terrorism. I spoke to Senegal's President Wade, to thank him for his leadership in convening the Dakar meeting. The Algiers Convention was developed following the 1998 Embassy bombings by Al Qaida, which took 12 lives and over 200 African lives, including many Muslims. Now it is critically important that this convention be ratified so that African nations have additional judicial, diplomatic, and financial tools to root out terrorism. And as nations begin to put these measures in place, the United States will look for ways to work together. In an era of global trade and global terror, the futures of the developed world and the developing world are closely linked. We benefit from each other's success. We're not immune from each other's troubles. We share the same threats, and we share the same goal to forge a future of more openness, trade, and freedom. Recent events have provided the world with a clear and dramatic choice. Our enemies, the terrorists and their supporters, offer a narrow and backward vision. They feed resentment, envy, and hatred. They fear human creativity, choice, and diversity. Powerless to build a better world, they seek to destroy a world that is passing them by. And they will not succeed. We offer a better way. When nations respect the creativity and enterprise of their people, they find social and economic progress. When nations open their markets to the world, their people find new ways to create wealth. When nations accept the rules of the modern world, they discover the benefits of the modern world. This vision of progress is not owned by any nation or any culture. It belongs to humanity, every African, every Muslim, every man or woman who wants to make it real. Good governments, of course, will look different from place to place. Cultures must preserve their unique values. Yet, everywhere east and west, north and south there is a model of successful development, a market economy trading with the world that respects human rights and the rule of law. Every nation that adopts this vision will find in America a trading partner, an investor, and a friend. And it's for this reason that America welcomes and supports the new African initiative put forward by visionary African leaders. To fulfill this vision of progress, we must return to the steady, patient work of building a world that trades in freedom. No nation in our time has entered the fast track of development without first opening up its economy to world markets. The African Growth and Opportunity Act is a roadmap for how the United States and Africa can tap the power of markets to improve the lives of our citizens. This law is just over a year, but it is already showing its tremendous power. During the first half of this year, the total trade with sub Sahara Africa rose nearly 17 percent, compared to last year. U.S. imports from the region now exceed 11.5 billion. Some individual countries have shown staggering increases in trade. Four countries Senegal, Seychelles, Eritrea, and Madagascar saw their exports to the United States grow by over 100 percent. Behind these numbers are investments in projects that are making a real impact on people's lives. In Kenya, the Government projects that AGOA will create 150,000 new jobs over the next several years. Propose new projects in Lesotho, textiles sectors alone are expected to inject 122 million of investment into that country's economy, 4 times the amount of all official development assistance the country received in 1999. We need to build on these successes. Across the continent, African governments are reforming their economies and their governments in order to take advantage of AGOA. These nations are working hard to fight corruption, improve labor standards, and reform their customs regimes. The United States will work in partnership with African nations to help to help them build the institutions and expertise they need to benefit from trade. Today I'm pleased to announce the creation of 200 million Overseas Private Investment Corporation support facility that will give American firms access to loans, guarantees, and political risk insurance for investment projects in sub Sahara Africa. I've asked our Trade and Development Agency to establish a regional office in Johannesburg, to provide guidance to governments and companies which seek to liberalize their trade laws, improve the investment environment, and take advantage of the free trade act between our two continents. I'm also announcing today the launch of the Trade for African Development and Enterprise Program. With 15 million in initial funding, the trade program will establish regional hubs for global competitiveness that will help African businesses take advantage of AGOA, to sell more of their products on the global markets. Countries gathered here today have seen the benefits of trade. And we have an obligation to make the case for more open trade throughout the entire world. I hope that African nations will be a powerful voice for the launch of a new round of global trade talks in Doha, beginning next month. Trade and sound economic policies are essential to growth and development, but they are not, themselves, sufficient to seize the hopeful opportunities of markets and trade. Nations need citizens that are educated and are healthy. My Government will continue its strong support for responsible debt relief, so that nations can devote more resources to education and health. We will continue to press multilateral development banks to provide more assistance in the form of grants, instead of loans. We are moving forward on an initiative I announced in July to improve basic education and teacher training in Africa. And the United States is ready to commit more resources to the new global fund to combat HIV AIDS and other infectious diseases, once the fund demonstrates success. And finally, as AGOA makes clear, economic freedom and political freedom must go hand in hand. People who trade in freedom want to live in freedom. From Nigeria to South Africa, African nations have made great strides great strides toward democracy. The democratic transitions of the last decade mean that a majority of Africans now live in democratic states. That is progress we will praise and progress we must work hard to continue. Our times present many challenges. Yet, I'm optimistic about our shared future. I know we can build a world that grows in prosperity and trades in freedom. I know we can bring health and education to more people. I know we can defeat terror defeat terror now, so that our children and grandchildren can grow up in free societies. Out of the sorrow of September 11th, I see opportunity, a chance for nations to strengthen and rethink and reinvigorate their relationships. We share more than a common enemy we share a common goal to expand our ties of commerce and culture, to renew our commitment to development and democracy. And together, we will meet that goal. May God bless Africa, and may God continue to bless America. October 27, 2001 Good morning. I'm pleased to report that our Nation continues to take important steps in the war against terrorism. Next week, the House of Representatives will be voting on an airline security bill that Congressman Don Young has introduced. It was modeled after proposals I made last month. Under the Young bill, the Federal Government will assume complete control of airport security and screening. It also greatly expands the Federal air marshal program and provides substantial new funding for secure cockpits and other security measures aboard airplanes. There's a critical difference between the Young bill and the bill the Senate passed a few weeks ago. My approach gives the Government the flexibility it needs to assemble a skilled and disciplined screening workforce. The Senate bill mandates that all passenger and baggage screeners be Federal workers in all circumstances. While that bill is well intended, the best approach will be one that provides flexibility. The Young bill allows the use of private contractors operating under tough Federal standards on background checks with Federal law enforcement at every gate to promote better screening services, and ensure that security managers can move aggressively to discipline or fire employees who fail to live up to the rigorous new standards. The Young bill is the quickest, most effective way to increase aviation security. And time is of the essence. I urge Congress to move quickly on this vital legislation, as it did this week in passing new legislation to fight terrorism. The bill I signed yesterday gives intelligence and law enforcement officials additional tools they need to hunt and capture and punish terrorists. Our enemies operate by highly sophisticated methods and technologies, using the latest means of communication and the new weapon of bioterrorism. When earlier laws were written, some of these methods did not even exist. The new law recognizes the realities and dangers posed by the modern terrorist. It will help us to prosecute terrorist organizations and also to detect them before they strike. Since 11th of September, the men and women of our intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been relentless in their work. In return for their exceptional service, these public servants deserve our full support and every means of help that we can provide. Intelligence operations and criminal investigations have often had to operate on separate tracks. The new law will make it easier for all agencies to share vital information about terrorist activity. Surveillance of communications is another essential method of law enforcement. But for a long time, we have been working under laws written in the era of rotary telephones. Under the new law, officials may conduct court ordered surveillance of all modern forms of communication used by terrorists. In recent years, some investigations have been hindered by limits on the reach of Federal search warrants. Officials had to get a new warrant for each new district and investigation covered, even when involving the same suspect. As of now, warrants are valid across districts and across State lines. And finally, the new legislation greatly enhances the penalties that will fall on terrorists or anyone who helps them. Federal law now provides harsh penalties for possession of biological weapons. It is now easier to seize the assets of groups or individuals involved in terrorism. Government has greater ability to deport known terrorists and their supporters. And the statute of limitations on terrorist acts have been lengthened, along with prison sentences, for terrorist crimes. These measures were enacted with broad support in both parties. They reflect a firm resolve to uphold and respect the civil liberties guaranteed by the Constitution, while dealing swiftly and severely with terrorists. Now comes the duty of carrying them out. And I can assure all Americans that these important new statutes will be enforced to the full. Thank you for listening. October 26, 2001 Good morning and welcome to the White House. Today we take an essential step in defeating terrorism, while protecting the constitutional rights of all Americans. With my signature, this law will give intelligence and law enforcement officials important new tools to fight a present danger. I commend the House and Senate for the hard work they put into this legislation. Members of Congress and their staffs spent long nights and weekends to get this important bill to my desk. I appreciate their efforts and bipartisanship in passing this new law. I want to thank the Vice President and his staff for working hard to make sure this law was passed. I want to thank the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Treasury for being here, both of whom lead important parts of our war against terrorism. I want to thank Attorney General John Ashcroft for spending a lot of time on the Hill to make the case for a balanced piece of legislation. I want to thank the Director of the FBI and the Director of the CIA for waging an incredibly important part on the two front war, one overseas and a front here at home. I want to thank Governor Tom Ridge for his leadership. I want to thank the Members of Congress who are here on the stage, the leaders, on this impressive effort Senator Hatch and Senator Leahy and Senator Sarbanes and Senator Graham and Senator Reid. I also want to thank Representative Porter Goss, LaFalce, Oxley, and Sensenbrenner for their hard work. And I want to welcome the men and women of law enforcement who are here in the White House with us today, as well. The changes, effective today, will help counter a threat like no other our Nation has ever faced. We've seen the enemy and the murder of thousands of innocent, unsuspecting people. They recognize no barrier of morality. They have no conscience. The terrorists cannot be reasoned with. Witness the recent anthrax attacks through our Postal Service. Our country is grateful for the courage the Postal Service has shown during these difficult times. We mourn the loss of the lives of Thomas Morris and Joseph Curseen, postal workers who died in the line of duty. And our prayers go to their loved ones. I want to assure postal workers that our Government is testing more than 200 postal facilities along the entire eastern corridor that may have been impacted. And we will move quickly to treat and protect workers where positive exposures are found. But one thing is for certain These terrorists must be pursued they must be defeated and they must be brought to justice. And that is the purpose of this legislation. Since the 11th of September, the men and women of our intelligence and law enforcement agencies have been relentless in their response to new and sudden challenges. We have seen the horrors terrorists can inflict. We may never know what horrors our country was spared by the diligent and determined work of our police forces, the FBI, ATF agents, Federal marshals, custom officers, Secret Service, intelligence professionals, and local law enforcement officials. Under the most trying conditions, they are serving this country with excellence and often with bravery. They deserve our full support and every means of help that we can provide. We're dealing with terrorists who operate by highly sophisticated methods and technologies, some of which were not even available when our existing laws were written. The bill before me takes account of the new realities and dangers posed by modern terrorists. It will help law enforcement to identify, to dismantle, to disrupt, and to punish terrorists before they strike. For example, this legislation gives law enforcement officials better tools to put an end to financial counterfeiting, smuggling, and money laundering. Secondly, it gives intelligence operations and criminal operations the chance to operate not on separate tracks but to share vital information so necessary to disrupt a terrorist attack before it occurs. As of today, we're changing the laws governing information sharing. And as importantly, we're changing the culture of our various agencies that fight terrorism. Countering and investigating terrorist activity is the number one priority for both law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Surveillance of communications is another essential tool to pursue and stop terrorists. The existing law was written in the era of rotary telephones. This new law that I sign today will allow surveillance of all communications used by terrorists, including e mails, the Internet, and cell phones. As of today, we'll be able to better meet the technological challenges posed by this proliferation of communications technology. Investigations are often slowed by limit on the reach of Federal search warrants. Law enforcement agencies have to get a new warrant for each new district they investigate, even when they're after the same suspect. Under this new law, warrants are valid across all districts and across all States. And finally, the new legislation greatly enhances the penalties that will fall on terrorists or anyone who helps them. Current statutes deal more severely with drug traffickers than with terrorists. That changes today. We are enacting new and harsh penalties for possession of biological weapons. We're making it easier to seize the assets of groups and individuals involved in terrorism. The Government will have wider latitude in deporting known terrorists and their supporters. The statute of limitations on terrorist acts will be lengthened, as will prison sentences for terrorists. This bill was carefully drafted and considered. Led by the Members of Congress on this stage and those seated in the audience, it was crafted with skill and care, determination and a spirit of bipartisanship for which the entire Nation is grateful. This bill met with an overwhelming overwhelming agreement in Congress because it upholds and respects the civil liberties guaranteed by our Constitution. This legislation is essential not only to pursuing and punishing terrorists but also preventing more atrocities in the hands of the evil ones. This Government will enforce this law with all the urgency of a nation at war. The elected branches of our Government and both political parties are united in our resolve to find and stop and punish those who would do harm to the American people. It is now my honor to sign into law the USA PATRIOT ACT of 2001. October 26, 2001 Thank you for that warm welcome, and welcome to the White House. I appreciate you giving us a chance to share with you our strategy on how we're going to win the war against terror. It starts with assembling a good team, and I put together a fabulous administration. I picked a great Vice President in Dick Cheney. Applause Some of you may know him. Laughter But I know him a man who gives solid advice, and he's got great judgment. And the Nation's lucky that he left the left his previous occupation to serve our country. I'm also pleased to be joined by three members of my Cabinet who are all involved with shepherding through an economic stimulus plan through the United States Congress. Secretary Paul O'Neill is doing a fabulous job. I've got great confidence in Paul and his ability to sell to the American people and to the United States Congress that which we're trying to do to make sure our economy grows. And I want to thank you, Paul, for your service, as well. Bob Zoellick is traveling the world promoting free trade. I'll talk a little bit about trade later on. But I want to thank his tireless efforts. One thing that we're all hopeful for is that we start a new round of WTO talks at Doha, Qatar. And Bob's working hard to make that happen. I just have come from China, as you know, and he preceded me there, and they were still talking about the Zoellick touch. Laughter And I want to thank Spence Abraham, as well, who's helping us shepherd a realistic energy plan through the United States Congress. So thank you all for being here. We are at the beginning of what I view as a very long struggle against evil. We're not fighting a nation we're not fighting a religion we're fighting evil. And we have no choice but to prevail. We're fighting people that hate our values. They can't stand what America stands for. And they really don't like the fact that we exist. And I want to assure you all that we will fight this fight on every front. We will use every resource we have. And there is no doubt in my time in my mind that in our time, we will prevail. There's no doubt. And we're fighting this war on a variety of fronts. We've put together a vast coalition of nations to slowly but surely encircle those who would terrorize and to send the message that their actions will not stand. I really appreciate the hard work of Secretary of State Powell. He is working endlessly to not only keep a coalition together but to broaden it. And it's working and it's working. We're fighting them on a financial front. We're choking off their money. We're seizing their assets. We will be relentless as we pursue their sources of financing. And I want to thank the Secretary of Treasury for leading that effort. We're sharing intelligence because in order to fight a war, the new war of the 21st century, we've got to know more about the enemy, where they try to hide, where they may try to strike next. And so we've got great cooperation with intelligence services from around the world, as well as great cooperation internally between the CIA and the FBI. The culture in our agencies have changed. We are now interested in preventing attack. We're now interested in finding those who may attack America and arrest them before they do. We've had over nearly 1,000 people have been detained in America and questioned about their motives and their intentions. The FBI is on full alert, and they take information garnered from around the world and share that information in a way that will make Americans proud. And we've also put our military into action. I've got great confidence in the American military. I've also got great confidence in our strategy, as we uphold this doctrine It says, if you harbor a terrorist, you're a terrorist. If you harbor anybody who has harmed America, you're just as guilty as those who have harmed our country. And therefore the Taliban Government, which we gave ample time to respond to reasonable demands, are now paying the price for harboring the Al Qaida organization, as they should. We're slowly but surely dismantling Taliban defenses, Taliban military installations, the Taliban command and control structure, all aimed at bringing the Al Qaida criminals to justice. It is the first battle in the war of terrorism. The American people are going to have to be patient, just like we are. They're going to have to be determined, just like our military is. And with that patience and with that determination, we will eventually smoke them out of their holes and get them and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what the world demands, and that's what the United States will deliver. It's hard for some Americans to realize that this is a two front war. After all, history has basically said there would never be two fronts, one abroad and one in America. But we now have a second front on this war against terror here at home. We've been struck, obviously, on September the 11th, and we're being struck again. Anytime anybody puts anthrax in a letter, it's an act of terror. The press often ask me, "Well, is this the is the evil one hiding from us in Afghanistan, the ones who have done this to America?" I said, "I don't know." We don't know yet. But we do know the evil one who hides thinks in ways that we can't possibly think in America so destructive, such a low regard for human life. And anybody who puts anthrax, trying to kill American citizens, shares the same set of values. Whoever has done it shares that same value of evil that we saw on September the 11th. And we'll find them and bring them to justice, as well. But we've got a strategy to fight the war on the homefront. As I mentioned, we're disrupting, as much as we possibly can, any possible attack on America. Every day I meet with the FBI Director and the Attorney General and Tom Ridge, who heads the Office of Homeland Security, to get a report on the activities that were taking place. We take every threat seriously. We respond to every piece of information we receive. As I mentioned, we have arrested or detained over 1,000 people here in America, to determine to find out what they know. And if they know something that is helpful, we will act on it. And we've got a great response mechanism in place. Today I mourned the lives of two who two postal officers who lost their life in the line of duty. But I can tell the American people that because of the hard work of many in our public health offices, I believe we've saved a lot of lives, too, by responding as quickly as we have. Today, right here in this room, I had the honor of signing a piece of antiterrorist legislation widely supported by Members of both parties in both Houses. It's needed legislation to help us do the job the American people expect, which is to protect the homeland. This is a two front war. It's a two front war, and it's a war we're going to win on both fronts. But make no mistake the best way to make sure we protect our homeland is to succeed by bringing the terrorists abroad who try to strike us to justice. Now, there's another front on the war, as well, and that's our economy. And there's no question the terrorists want to cast a shadow of fear on the businesses of America. They understand how important our businesses are to our way of life. After all, the entrepreneurial spirit is strong in America. It's part of our culture. It's part of a hopeful society. And the more that can be disrupted, that spirit of commerce and enterprise, the more successful they think they will be. But they're not going to succeed there, either. In all our wars, the productive power of the economy has been one of our Nation's great advantages. And that's true today. But it's clear that our economy has been shocked. There's been shockwaves sent throughout all parts of the Nation's economic fabric. Obviously, we took a huge hit at the financial center of our country, in New York City. Our transportation system has been severely disrupted, which has, in turn, affected hotels and people who work in hotels. This administration is deeply concerned about those who have lost jobs. And we know there are a lot of Americans who hurt, and we hurt for them. And we're going to work with Congress to take the appropriate actions. I also know that some in this room have made a tough economic decision by delaying any layoffs or have chosen not to lay off workers, and I applaud you for that. And I thank you for making that decision, on behalf of the workers in America. I believe it's the right thing to do during this national emergency. But our Government must act wisely, as well. We must understand that our job is to help restore confidence in the future of the country in a way that is wise and sound. Buildings can be rebuilt, and they will be. Transportation systems will be invigorated, and they will be, as well. But the vitality of our economy depends upon the willingness of Americans to spend and for Americans to start new businesses to purchase new equipment and to invest in the future of this country. And I understand that. And we're taking practical steps, and let me share some of those with you. We're supporting American aviation with money and loans, to make sure the planes fly. We're also beefing up security at our airports, to make sure people feel safe in flying. And we're working with Congress to get a long term law passed that will say to the American consumer and the American flyer, this Government is doing everything in our power to secure the airways on your behalf. As I mentioned, we're we've spent money in a supplemental to rebuild New York City and the Pentagon. It's the right thing to do. We've got SBA, the Small Business Administration, helping small businesses in the areas impacted by the attacks from the evil ones. We're paying for improved security at our post offices. We're just beginning to secure the post offices, in a way. You see, the post office obviously was set up as a way to efficiently deliver mail, not understanding that someone would dare use the mail as a weapon against America, and we're adjusting quickly to the new realities that we face. All this costs money, and we're spending it here in Washington. And when the money we've committed is spent, we believe it will have a positive effect on the economy. But we must be careful not to overspend. There's a lot of good ideas in Washington, and a lot of them cost a lot of money. And we must be careful to assess our needs and make sure we're cautious about how we spend taxpayers' money. We believe the best way to stimulate and restore confidence to the economy is not through additional spending but through tax relief. Tax relief arrives quickly. If we can get a bill out of both the House and the Senate, it will happen in quick fashion. Unlike spending programs, we won't have to wait for plans to be drafted and contracts to be let. The tax relief for new investment in the House stimulus package will go into effect as soon as the bill is signed, if we can get it out of the Senate. New lower tax rates for consumers and entrepreneurs will show up in paychecks on the first day of the next year of the new year, if we can get that passed out of the Senate. The tax rebates for low and moderate income folks would begin to arrive soon, if we can get it out of the Senate. Tax relief will put money rapidly into the hands of consumers. Tax relief will improve incentives to save and invest and will give a powerful boost to our national economy. And tax relief is efficient. When we've tried in the past to spend our way out of an economic slowdown, we have found that the money has often been spent unwisely. Tax relief, on the other hand, lets individuals decide for themselves what they need most. Tax relief lets economic resources flow to places where they can do the most good for the country. The House's tax relief plan accelerates some income tax reductions already planned for individuals and entrepreneurs and small businesses. This will give people opportunity to make decisions for themselves. And we've learned from experience that free decisions are usually the best decisions for our economy as a whole. And third, and most important, tax relief will expand productive investment. The House plan allows businesses to speed up the expensing of new equipment. And it reforms the corporate Tax Code, so that companies do not face higher effective rates as their profits decline. Together, these two changes will persuade many companies that time has come to reinvest in America. And when we invest in America, we create jobs for American workers. Tax relief is an essential step. But it's not the only step we should take. We need an energy plan for America. Under the leadership of the Vice President, we drafted a comprehensive, commonsense plan for the future of this country. It passed the House of Representatives. It needs a vote in the United States Senate. Oh, I understand energy prices are low right now, thank goodness. But that shouldn't lead our Nation to complacency. We need to be more self reliant and selfsufficient. It is in our Nation's national interest that we develop more energy supplies at home. It is in our national interest that we look at safe nuclear power. It is in our national interest that we conserve more. It is in our national interest that we modernize the energy infrastructure of America. It's in our national interest to get a bill to my desk, and I urge the Senate to do so. And we can restore economic confidence by expanding trade. More open trade is essential to the growth of our Nation's economy. A part of our economic recovery program is to give me the ability to negotiate trade agreements. I need trade promotion authority to expand opportunity for businesses large and small, for entrepreneurs in America. I need trade promotion authority to expand the job base of this great Nation. I'm the first President who hasn't had trade promotion authority. I need it now. It's in our Nation's best interest that we have it. And it's in the best interests of our world that we trade in freedom. We have a chance to draw all the people into the world in the world into an open market economy, and that will offer better living standards and more political freedom and will enhance human dignity all across our globe. And it's our Nation's interest that that happen. Nobody is disqualified from an open world that trades freely. No one will be disqualified by religion, no one by nationality. No one will be disqualified by geography. Our enemies fear this world precisely because they know how attractive modernization is to the oppressed people around the globe. Our enemies fear open societies in which men and women can think for themselves, can decide their own destinies, can decently support their own families, can educate their sons and their daughters in a modern world. Our enemies fear a society which is pluralistic and open to worship an almighty God. Our enemies are right to fear open societies, because those societies leave no room for bigotry and tyranny. The promise of our time has no room for the vision of the Taliban or Al Qaida. This is a time of promise for America. I'm incredibly optimistic about this Nation's future, because I understand America and I understand the people of America. Franklin Roosevelt warned us 70 years ago that fear feeds on itself and contributes to the very problems that first gave it rise. America has prevailed over fear in a Great Depression and in a global war, and we will do so again. The character of our country has not changed. Oh, the TV sets have changed the telephones have changed the cars have changed but not the heart and soul of America. When they struck America, they did not understand our Nation. They did not understand our resolve. They did not understand our patience. They did not understand our will to win. I want to thank the Business Council for coming and for joining this war. All of us need to understand, it is now time to plant the flag of freedom firmly in our Nation and around the world, because what we do today will determine whether or not our children and our grandchildren can grow up in a life that we knew. What we do today will determine how free America is for the future. And we will not fail. Thank you all for coming, and God bless. October 25, 2001 The President. Thank you all very much. Americans believe in patriotism. We don't believe in prejudice. We're determined to fight terror. That's what we're going to do. And we're equally determined to build ties of trust and friendship with people all around the world, particularly with children and people in the Islamic world. As you all know, our Nation is at war right now. We're going to defend America and defend the values that we all hold dear. And our Nation is united in the defense of our country. We are not at war with Muslims. We don't have a beef with Muslims. We want to be friends with Muslims and Muslim children. We're fighting evil people. It's important for the boys and girls of Thurgood Marshall to know that we're fighting evil with good. And one way to fight evil with good is, you can help by writing letters to boys and girls your age. You can let boys and girls know what you think are important. You can let boys and girls know what your dreams are and ask them about theirs, too. I want to thank very much the Secretary of Education for being here with me. He's a fellow Texan who is doing a great job of running the Education Department. He helps herald our number one domestic agenda item, and that is making sure every boy and girl in America gets a good education. And he's right. We hope Congress gets the business done and gets us a good education bill. They're close all they've got to do is work a little harder to get us a bill, one that I can sign. I'm confident they will do so with a little extra work. I want to thank very much the principal of this fine school. Ms. Wilson, thank you so much for your hospitality. And I want to thank all the teachers who are here, as well. It's really important for all of us to thank our teachers. And I wish the First Lady were here with me, because she could thank you, too. One of the things she's trying to do is go around the country reminding people what a noble profession teaching is, and we need more people to become teachers. But thank you all for being such good role models for your children here. I want to thank Paul Vance, as well. Gosh, it seems like I see Paul every other week. I appreciate your hard work. I want to thank the boys and girls of this school for letting me come by to say hello. It's been my honor to be able to come to Thurgood Marshall and to see all the future leaders of the country. I guess I don't need to ask I'm sure all of you are going to be going to college, aren't you? Students. Yes. The President. Yes, that's good. I hope you read more than you watch TV, too. It's really important to be a good reader. But thanks for letting me come by. We're here talking about how we can best conduct a war against evil. And you can play a part. You can be an integral part of that by establishing friendship. And I want to thank some of the adults who have helped set up programs that enable boys and girls all across America to reach out to boys and girls all across the world. And one such person is Mary Eisenhower, who is the chief executive officer of a program called People to People. Thank you very much, Mary, for being here. She had a relative named Eisenhower, and he and I share something in common We're both Presidents. And I appreciate you, Mary, for working here. And I also want to thank Ed Gragert, as well, the executive director of iEARN. iEARN is the umbrella organization that's encouraging organizations to help fund and organize the effort for our schoolchildren to reach out to children, particularly in the Muslim world. Thank you for coming, as well, Ed. And we've got Issa Al Nashit from the country of Bahrain. Issa, thank you for coming so much. The reason he is here is that he represents a country to which you're sending letters. We were in the fourth grade class, and we had four letters read by fourth graders to fourth graders in Bahrain. And it's part of our effort to outreach to boys and girls all across the world. So I want to thank you for coming, Issa. I'm looking forward to meeting with the Crown Prince of Bahrain this afternoon. It is a perfect opportunity for me to remind him that, one, we appreciate the alliances we're forming around the world with Muslim nations and non Muslim nations. And we also remind him that we've all got to work hard to make sure we establish trust at the most basic level, and that's people to people. And so today I'm here to announce a new initiative called Friendship Through Education. And we're going to ask schools all across the country to join with schools in other countries to spread the message that we care for each other, that we want to understand each other better. I think the best way to attack to handle the attacks of September the 11th is to fight fear with friendship, is to fight fear with hope, is to remind people all around the world we have much more in common than people might think, that we share basic values the importance of family and the importance of faith and the importance of friendship. And do you know something? Boys and girls all across America can do that job pretty darn well. And so I'm asking schools all across the country to join up. And I want to thank you for actively recruiting schools. We've got St. Patrick Elementary School in Arlington, Virginia, is helping. Mott Hall School in New York City has joined up, as has, of course, Thurgood Marshall here in Washington, DC. The students here and students all across our country witnessed a terrible tragedy. It is a terrible moment in our country, and it's got to have affected a lot of our students in a way where they ask the question, "Why would this have happened to America? Why would somebody do this to our country?" And I want to assure the boys and girls, these attacks didn't come from a nation or a religion. These attacks are from some people who just are so evil it's hard for me to describe why. It's hard for us to comprehend why somebody would think the way they think and devalue life they way they devalue and to harm innocent people the way they harmed innocent people. It's just hard for all of us adults to explain. But what we can do is, we can find common ground with others who wonder about America. We can prove them wrong by acting in a way that's good. We can show the world what a great, compassionate, and decent nation America is. I can do that through diplomacy. I can do that through our actions, through the alliances we form. But children all across America can do it, as well can do it through letters and emails and pictures and drawings, and reaching out to boys and girls. I thought it was really interesting, the letters that I heard today. Every letter said, "Would you write me back? Would you share with me your experiences so I can understand you better?" And that's exactly the spirit of the program and the initiative we're announcing, and it makes a lot of sense. It is very important for us to combat evil with understanding. It's very important for us to reinforce our message in all ways possible to the people in the Islamic world that we don't hold you accountable for what took place. As a matter of fact, we want to be friends. The average citizen in America harbors no ill will toward you. As a matter of fact, the average citizen in America would like to do everything we can to explain what our country is about, to explain what our future is about. And this is a great way to do this, in my judgment. And so we're going to work hard to encourage other schools, other principals to sign up, other boys and girls to write letters. And one way that people who are interested in participating can do, they can call up on a web site to find out how to participate. And I'd like to give the address of the web site It is www.friendshipthrougheducation.org it is www.friendshipthrougheducation.org. And that's a way for other principals and parents and concerned citizens to participate in this outreach. Rod Paige mentioned the fact that we've got a we've asked boys and girls all across America to contribute a dollar to help feed and provide medicine for Afghan children who are suffering. The response has been great, and I can't thank the boys and girls of America enough. That's one initiative. The initiative we're announcing today is a second initiative, all to send a message about the goodness and decency of our great country. I want the boys and girls to know that the action that we're taking in our Government is all aimed to make sure that you can grow up in a free country. The military action, the diplomatic action, the intelligence gathering, what you read and hear on the TV and newspapers has got one goal, and that's to make sure you can live in freedom in our great land. And so thank you for giving me a chance to come by to thank you for your hard work. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. October 24, 2001 Thank you all very much. Please be seated. Newth, thank you very much. And Ray and Susan Blavatt, thank you for being here, as well. I'm glad my SBA Director is here Hector Barreto is in charge of the Small Business Association. And Hector, thank you for coming. I want to thank the employees of Dixie Printing and my fellow Americans. Some might ask why, in the midst of war, I would come to Dixie Printing. They say, "Here you are conducting a campaign against terrorists, and you take time to come to a small business." And the answer is, because we fight in the war on two fronts. We fight a war at home, and part of the war we fight is to make sure that our economy continues to grow. When the terrorists struck our homeland, they thought we would fold. They thought our economy would crater. That's what they wanted. But they don't understand America. They don't understand the entrepreneurial spirit of our country. They don't understand the spirit of the working men and women of America. They don't understand that small business owners all across our country are saying, "We're not going to allow you to terrorize us." We're going to make sure our applause . I am here to report that we're doing well on both fronts. Overseas, our diplomatic efforts are strong. Nations all across the globe have bound with the United States to send a clear message that we'll fight terrorism wherever it may exist. Recently I was in China. I had an interesting meeting, as you can imagine, with the President of Russia, the head of China, Mexico, Chile were all represented. And to a leader, from all kinds of nations, some Muslim, some not, the people said, "We stand with America. We stand with America in our noble goal of finding the evildoers and bringing them to justice." As you know, I have asked our military to take an active role in the campaign. I set out a doctrine to America that said the following Not only will we hold terrorists accountable for their activities, we will also hold those accountable, those nations accountable that harbor them, that hide them, that try to feed them. And that's exactly what we're doing in Afghanistan. I gave the Afghan Government, the Taliban Government, plenty of time to respond to the demands of the United States. I said, "You must hand over the Al Qaida leadership which hides in your country." I said, "You must free those who you illegally detain in your country." And I said, "You must destroy the camps that have been used to train the terrorists." And they had time to respond, and they didn't respond positively, and therefore, they're paying a price. Our military is conducting a campaign to bring the terrorists to justice, not to harm the Afghan people. While we are holding the Taliban Government accountable, we're also feeding Afghan people. You need to be proud of the United States military. It's doing its job. It is slowly but surely encircling the terrorists so that we'll bring them to justice. We're patient. We're firm. We have got a strategy that is going to work. And make no mistake about it, justice will be done. But there is another front in this war, and the front is here at home. It's something that, obviously, we're not used to in America. We've had oceans which have protected us over our history. Except for Pearl Harbor, we've never really been hit before. And yet, on September 11th, this great land came under attack. And it's still under attack as we speak. Anybody who puts poison in mail is a terrorist. Anybody who tries to affect the lives of our good citizens is evil. I'm oftentimes asked by our friends in the press, do I know if there's a direct connection between what took place on September the 11th and what's happening today. I have no direct evidence, but there are some links. Both series of actions are motivated by evil and hate. Both series of actions are meant to disrupt Americans' way of life. Both series of actions are an attack on our homeland. And both series of actions will not stand. It's important for the American people to know our Government is doing everything we can on both fronts of this war. On the homefront, we've got an Office of Homeland Security, the job of which is to organize and coordinate our functions of Government in such a way as to disrupt and find those who would harm our citizens. We've got thousands of FBI agents scouring the information, asking questions, following up leads, all aimed to raise the risk of someone who would harm our citizens. And as well, we've responded to every incident that has occurred. Our Nation has responded with bravery and courage. I'm proud of our health officials who responded so quickly to the incidents that took place. And unfortunately, we lost life, and our prayers are with anybody who lose life in America. But I firmly believe their quick actions saved many lives, as well. We're learning about terror and evil, and our country is responding forcefully. The American people have got remarkable spirit and remarkable resolve. We are strong. We are united. And we are determined to prevail. One of the effects of the attacks has been on our economy. Make no mistake about it September 11th affected economic growth, and our Government must respond in an effective way. And so I'm here to talk about an important part of the homefront security, and that is our economy. First of all, the bases for economic growth are very strong. The entrepreneurial spirit is really strong in America. We're the haven for small business opportunity in our country. I mean, more jobs are created through small business owners and the entrepreneurs of America than they are through large corporate America. And so as we think through how to encourage economic growth, we've got to always keep in mind the small business and the medium sized businesses of America. Secondly, our tax structure has been improved. In other words, we're giving people more of their own money back. And that's an important part of economic growth. We just finished distributing about 40 billion in rebate checks. Maybe some of you have received a 600 or 300 check. That's part of encouraging growth. And by the way, those tax cuts that have just begun will continue next year and the year after that, as well. And we've acted confidently and quickly to spend money necessary to help the country recover from the attacks. We spent money on helping rebuild New York City and the Pentagon. We have spent money to stabilize our airline industry, which was the industry most directly affected by the attacks of September the 11th. We've spent money to take care of workers who have lost jobs, and that's necessary, and that's important. And we've taken enough money spending money to make sure we defend our country and accomplish our mission overseas. That spending has amounted to about 60 billion above and beyond our budget. That money will help with job creation and will help our economy grow. It's necessary to spend that kind of money in a time of emergency, and we're in times of emergency. But I strongly believe it's time to balance this amount of spending with additional tax relief. My judgment, we've provided a lot of money in the short run, and in order to encourage and stimulate our economy, we ought to offset that money with additional tax relief. And I want to describe some of what that means. First, we need to accelerate the tax relief that is already going to happen. In other words, instead of waiting for next year's tax relief to happen, let's put it into this year, to bolster consumer spending. We want you to have more money to spend, particularly as we head into the Christmas season. We want our consumers feeling confident. One way to feel confident is for the people to know there's a strong homeland security initiative and strategy, that our country is doing everything we can to succeed. And there's nothing like boosting confidence than a little extra money in the pocket, too. I also believe we ought to have rebates for low and moderate income workers, people who might have filed an income tax return but didn't get any rebate last time. Those good folks have been particularly hard hit as a result of September the 11th. And that ought to be a part of our consumer confidence package. And then there's the business side, and I want you to know that we've thought very carefully about how to stimulate economic vitality and growth. And it's a package that will help small business America. It's a package that will do two things One, encourage more investment, immediate investment in plant and equipment, and therefore, one that will help small businesses not only retain their workforce but hopefully expand their workforces. And, therefore, we need to reform the corporate income tax to get rid of the alternative minimum tax, which so severely affects small businesses like Dixie. As well, we need to allow businesses to deduct more of the cost of new investments immediately. We need to say to the Dixie Printings of America, "If you invest in equipment now, you're rewarded for that investment." To me, that makes common sense. It's a good way to make sure that we enhance the employment opportunities of America. The terrorists wanted our economy to stop. It hasn't. They wanted to diminish the spirit of America. It didn't. They thought the Government wouldn't be able to react. The Government is going to react with an economic stimulus package that is good for workers. The House is getting ready to vote on that package. I urge them to pass it, and then I urge the Senate to act quickly to make sure that the American people understand that at this part of our homeland defense, our country and the Congress is united. You know, I said early on that through my tears I see opportunity. And I believe my faith teaches that out of evil can come good, and there's been a lot of good that has come out of this terrible situation. By the way, there's a spirit of cooperation in Washington that is very positive. We've got Republicans and Democrats talking to each other. Laughter That's good. It's very important during this time in our history that we in Washington, DC, show that we can work together. I don't know if you know this or not, but I'm now having a weekly breakfast with the leaders of the House and the Senate, both Republicans and Democrats. And I can report that there is no party that has got a lock on patriotism. The Democrats, just like Republicans, want to win this war. And we're talking about how to best solve the problems with which we're confronted. But there's also a lot of other good, too. We've got moms and dads reassessing values, recognizing there are things that are so precious in life, like their children and their marriage and their family and their church and their synagogue and their mosque. Values are strong in America. Those who struck our country didn't realize didn't realize, because they're so evil and so dark and so negative, they couldn't realize that there's going to be such good that comes out of what took place in America. We're resolved. We are strong. We're determined. We're patient. And this Nation is going to do whatever it takes. You see, my attitude is, is that how the Dixie Printings behave and how the workers behave here and how the citizens of Maryland behave are incredibly important. How you respond to these attacks are incredibly important, not only to help win the war today but to set the example for future generations of Americans. It's important that we win today, place that flag of freedom squarely in the world, because this is the first battle of the 21st century, and it's a battle we must win we have no choice for our children and our grandchildren. And it means that the country is going to have to do what it takes. And I'm here to report, we are. We are going to do it. So I want to thank you for giving me a chance to drop in to say hello. I am so honored to be the President of this great Nation, and I mean great. What a fabulous land we have. And the reason why is because we've got such fabulous citizens. Thank you for letting me come by. God bless. October 23, 2001 The President. It's been my honor to brief key Members of the Senate and the House on our trip to the Far East. It was a very successful trip, in that we were able to have an honest dialog about the need to fight terror. And the 21 nations 20 other nations represented there agreed with our country, and they appreciate our determination to fight and win the war against terror. They understand that an attack on America could have been an attack on them. And the cooperation was very strong and very evident, and I am most grateful. And I am most grateful for the opportunity to share with the Members of the House and the Senate this essential and I want to, first, thank Chairman Biden and Chairman Hyde and the other Members here for standing solidly with the administration to formulate and conduct a foreign policy that's in the best interest of our country. It is oftentimes said that when it comes to foreign policy, partisanship stops, and that's exactly what has happened here at this table. I've had a lot of discussions with both Chairmen up to now, and I will continue having discussions with the leaders of the House and the Senate, because whether you're Republican or Democrat, we all want to win this war. I'd be glad to answer a couple of questions. Anthrax at the White House Complex Q. Sir, is the White House under attack now the latest anthrax case? The President. Well, there is no question that evildoers are continuing to try to harm America and Americans. Today, at a remote facility, we detected some anthrax. And just like at the Congress, our Government is responding very quickly. We're working hard to find out who is doing this and bring them to justice. We're also working to develop measures necessary to protect American citizens and postal workers. All of us around this table grieve when we hear the fact that a citizen has lost a life. Two postal workers passed away, and our hearts are with their families. Our prayers are with their loved ones. And the evil ones continue. Q. Is there any way, sir, that whatever contaminated that machine, whether it be a letter or a package, got into the West Wing? Or has all mail been cut off to prevent that from happening? The President. Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press , we're making sure that the West Wing, the White House is safe. Let me put it this way I'm confident, when I come to work tomorrow, that I'll be safe. U.S. Response to Anthrax Q. Mr. President, have you or the Vice President been tested for anthrax? And what is your sense of this latest development, sir? For the most part, these attacks have been aimed at prominent people and prominent places. Is it your sense that the real purpose here is to sow fear and confusion in the American public? The President. First of all, I don't have anthrax. It's hard for Americans to imagine how evil the people are who are doing this. We're having to adjust our thinking. We're a kind nation. We're a compassionate nation. We're a nation of strong values, and we value life. And we're learning people in this world want to terrorize our country by trying to take life. They won't succeed. This country is too strong to allow terrorists to affect the lives of our citizens. I understand people are concerned, and they should be. But they need to know our Government is doing everything we possibly can to protect the lives of our citizens everything. We're waging an aggressive campaign overseas to bring Al Qaida to justice. Today I've in working with the Postmaster General got our OMB to allocate 175 million for immediate relief, immediate safety at post offices around the country. This is what he requested he thinks this is what is necessary to assure the post office employees that they will be as safe as possible. And we're going to spend that money. Our health care workers are working around the clock to help people in need, and I will tell you that I think not only are they doing a good job I think they probably saved a lot of lives by their quick action. And I'm proud of how quickly and how hard they're working. The object of terrorism is to try to force us to change our way of life, is to force us to retreat, is to force us to be what we're not. And that's they're going to fail. They're simply going to fail. I want to assure my fellow Americans that our determination I say "our " I'm talking about Republicans and Democrats here in Washington has never been stronger to succeed in bringing terrorists to justice, protecting our homeland, because what we do today will affect our children and grandchildren. This is our calling. This is the time for us to act in a bold way, and we are doing just that. Situation in the Middle East Q. Mr. President, are you now operating on the assumption that the September 11th attacks and the anthrax attacks, anthrax letters, are linked? And if I may shift gears for a second and ask about your meeting with Foreign Minister Peres. Would an Israeli failure to withdraw from the Palestinian areas make it harder to keep Arab states in the international antiterrorism The President. Well, I told Shimon Peres that, first of all, our country and the people of our country are saddened by the fact that a Cabinet Minister was assassinated. It's just unacceptable behavior. I also told him that we continue to call upon Chairman Arafat to do everything he can to bring the killer to justice. It's very important that he arrest the person who did this, or those who did this act, and continue to arrest those who would disrupt and harm Israeli citizens. He must he must show the resolve necessary to bring peace to the region. And finally, I did express our concern about troops in Palestinian territory, and I would hope the Israelis would move their troops as quickly as possible. Q. Did you get any satisfaction? The President. Well, he's a very thoughtful man. He's a friend, a friend of America's, and I listened very carefully. Your first question was? Anthrax and September 11 Attacks Q. The link between September 11th and The President. Well, we don't have any hard evidence. But there's no question that anybody who would mail anthrax with the attempt to harm American citizens is a terrorist. And there's no question that Al Qaida is a terrorist organization. So it wouldn't put it past me that there you know, it wouldn't surprise me that they're involved with it. But I have no direct evidence. I do know that this country is strong enough to endure, to endure the evil ones. And we're making great progress on the ground in Afghanistan, and we'll bring the Al Qaida to justice, and we'll we're doing everything we can to find out who mailed these letters. Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . President's Health Q. Mr. President, have you been tested for anthrax? The President. I don't have anthrax. Q. So you've been tested, sir? The President. I don't have it. October 21, 2001 President Putin. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. We will briefly inform you about the meeting and talks with the U.S. President. In our assessment, in Russian assessment, the meeting was really productive and useful, as well as during our previous negotiations at Ljubljana and Genoa. It was a forthright and trustful talk. Today, Russian U.S. cooperation develops smoothly, and we take full note of the global changes that took place in the world, and we consistently strengthen the foundation of our new relations. In this century, our strategic priority is a long term cooperation and partnership, a partnership which is based upon common values of one civilization, the partnership which works for our common goals of development and progress. And precisely in this direction we intend to move. November this year, our full fledged negotiations with the United States are to take place. And we will discuss U.S. Russia relations in detail and the most significant issues of the world's policies. And the relevant instructions to prepare this meeting were given to our experts and agencies. The consequences of the tragic events of September 11th political, economic, psychological consequences today are acutely felt in many countries and in all the continents. I think nobody has doubts the unprecedented carnage of the terrorists requires our united efforts, unification of the efforts of international community to fight terrorism. And we prepared and we issued a joint statement in this regard. We analyzed in detail the developments of the Russia U.S. dialog on strategic stability issue. As you remember, during Genoa meeting, there was an agreement to reach about joint work on strategic offensive and defensive weapons, which are interrelated. And in our assessment, we made progress here. First of all, it relates to START issue. We reaffirmed our mutual intention to reduce strategic offensive weapons. And now our task is to develop parameters of such reductions and to design a reliable and verifiable method to reduce nuclear arsenals of Russia and United States. As for the ABM related issues, we also made some progress at least, I believe we do have understanding that we can reach agreements, taking into account national interests of Russia, United States, and taking into account the necessity to strengthen international stability in this very important area. During the meeting, we exchanged opinions on the most pressing regional issues Iraq, Middle East, the Balkans. We intend to discuss relations of Russian Federation with NATO. We attach special importance to deepening business relations between Russia and the United States. We agreed in Ljubljana and Genoa to pay increased attention to that, and this agreement works. Russia American trade, economic, and investment links have been considerably broadened. Over the last months, U.S. Secretary of Trade Minister Evans came to Moscow twice, and we received Paul O'Neill and Robert Zoellick in Moscow. And we felt a clear signal from the U.S. President, and all our partners displayed a sincere desire to develop our relations. Business in Russia with the United States is moving forward, and not only U.S. and Russian companies big companies participate in it but also small and medium enterprises. We agreed to work on concrete measures in economic interaction. We will discuss it with more details in November in Texas. Thank you for your attention. President Bush. My administration seeks a new relationship with Russia based on cooperation and mutual interests, instead of confrontation and mutual vulnerability. We must truly and finally move beyond the cold war. Today, after my third meeting with Vladimir Putin in 5 months and after the events of the last 5 weeks, we can report progress toward that goal, positive progress. Within hours after September the 11th attacks, President Putin called. He extended his sympathy, and he extended his support. He did something more. He knew that the American military was moving to high alert status. To simplify our situation, to show solidarity, he ordered Russia's military to stop a set of exercises that were getting underway. America, and I in particular, will remember this act of friendship in a time of need. Today, the world is building a broad international coalition against terrorism, and Russia is taking a full and responsible role in the coalition. Russia is sharing valuable intelligence on terrorist organizations, providing overflight clearance for humanitarian missions, and helping out diplomatically. It is clear that President Putin understands the magnitude of the terrorist threat. It is clear there's a lot the United States and Russia can do together to defeat terrorism. The challenges and goals we share provide an opportunity to rethink and renew a broader relationship. Both our nations are working to prevent proliferation and to reduce the threat from cold war weapon stockpiles throughout the former Soviet Union. We also see progress in our efforts to build a new strategic framework. Today we discussed significantly lowering offensive nuclear weapon arsenals within a framework that includes limited defenses, defenses that are able to protect both our lands from political blackmail, from potential terrorist attack. Both our nations must be able to defend ourselves against the new threats of the 21st century, including long range ballistic missiles. The events of September the 11th make it clearer than ever that a cold war ABM treaty that prevents us from defending our people is outdated and, I believe, dangerous. Economic cooperation and progress will be an important part of our new relationship. With the right incentives and a firm commitment to rule of law, there is no question in my mind a new class of entrepreneurs can grow and flourish in Russia. And there's no question in my mind that American businesses and American investment can foster that trend. Both President Putin and I are anxious to see this happen. And our new relationship is one of candor. I emphasized to Vladimir Putin that the war on terror is not and cannot be a war on minorities. It's important to distinguish between those who pursue legitimate political aspirations, and terrorists. We're also looking at ways we can work together in the development of a free media in Russia. We had a good and serious exchange. Both of us see great opportunity. Both of us see positive good that has come out of the evil of September the 11th. Both of us are willing to work hard to seize the moment, to make sure we foster a new and unique and constructive relationship between our two great lands. I'll be glad to answer some questions. Mr. Fournier Ron Fournier, Associated Press , I take it you're the first one. International Support Against Terrorism ABM Treaty Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Sir, your communique did not mention the war in Afghanistan, and several leaders at this meeting have urged America to end the conflict quickly. What do you intend to do to cure this queasiness about your military initiative? And to President Putin, do you agree with President Bush that the ABM, post September 11th, is dangerous to the world? And if so, are you more open to modifying it or scrapping it? President Bush. I think I listened to probably 3 or 4 hours of discussions about our campaign against terrorism. And there was a very strong support for our activities, strong support for sharing intelligence, strong support for the diplomatic front we're waging, strong support to disrupt the financial operations of the terrorists, and strong support for our military operations in Afghanistan. The people who came to this conference came because they wanted to show the world that they were not afraid of terrorists. They weren't going to let terrorists disrupt an important meeting. They also came to stand with solidarity with the United States. And I'm most appreciative of the support we received. It was strong it was steady and it's real. And the people of the United States need to know that we're not conducting these operations alone. We've got universal support around the world. President Putin. I would like to tell a couple of words about the first question. First of all, I fully agree with the position of President Bush, and I believe that his action was measured and adequate to the threat that the United States was confronted with. It's first. Second, and it is very important for everybody to know, if we started fighting terrorism, it should be completed, because otherwise, terrorists might have an impression that they are not vulnerable. And in that case, their actions would be more dangerous, more insolent, and would result in worse consequences. As for the ABM Treaty of 1972, our position is well known, and I can reproduce it once again. We believe it is an important element of stability in the world. But we agree, and I said it several times, that we should think about future. We should look into the future, and we should react adequately to possibly threats in future. And we are prepared to discuss that with our American partners, of course, in case if certain parameters for this discussion is provided to us. Russia U.S. Relations Q. I have a question to the American President. Recently you talked much that U.S. Russia relations gained a new strategic nature. And you even called Vladimir Putin your friend. Could you give specific examples of the changes in political, military, and especially economic sphere? President Bush. Well, I think the first sign of our new relationship is that he knows I don't view Russia as an enemy, that we're not a threat to Russia. And I know that he's not going to threaten the United States. That's a different attitude from the old days. The old days, we used to distrust each other. The old days, the discussions were not very frank and candid. They were probably bureaucratic in nature. And we have a very frank and open relationship because we're not a threat. As a matter of fact, we're looking for ways to form alliances and to find common ground. We actively seek ways to fight terrorism. Vladimir Putin was the first person to call. That's what a friend does, calls in a time of need, and he called. It's clear to me that he understands that we're developing a new relationship. After all, in the old days, had an American President put their troops on alert, Russia would have responded. And then America would have upped the ante, and then Russia would have upped the ante, and we would have had two issues on our hands one, a terrorist attack on America, plus a military standoff. Instead, his first reaction was to stand down so as not to create any confusion, any doubt, so that the United States could stay focused on the terrorist attack. To me, that signals a brand new attitude, a different point of view, someone who doesn't fear America but someone who wants to find ways to work with America. And so it's an attitude change, for starters. Secondly, I look forward to working with him on a new strategic framework. I also look forward to working with him on ways to encourage the flow of capital from the United States into Russia. Russia is a land of vast natural resources. It's also a land of a different kind of resource, and that's brainpower. Russia has got a lot of entrepreneurial talent. And I'm confident that the United States and our entrepreneurs and Russian entrepreneurs will find ways to work together. So we've got a lot in common. But the thing that really bound us together most right now is our common desire to fight terrorism. And he understands what I understand, that the new wars of the 21st century will be fought fighting evildoers, people that have no country, people that may try to take a country, parasites that may try to leech onto a host country. But that's the true threat and the true threat for both our Governments. And we'll work together to fight terrorism. And he is an active participant in the coalition, and I'm grateful for his support and advice. Holland Steve Holland, Reuters , I presume it's you, since you're about to stand up. ABM Treaty Nuclear Arms Reductions Q. Yes, thank you very much, sir. Did you tell Mr. Putin that you would begin the process of withdrawing from the ABM Treaty by the end of the year? And did you give him a figure on missile cuts? President Bush. Let's see no, to the second. Let me be a little more expansive. I told Mr. Putin that we are in the process of analyzing our nuclear arsenal and that I intended to fulfill a campaign process, which was that we were going to reduce our nuclear arsenal to a level that would help maintain the peace, on the one hand on the other hand, that would also represent the realities of the 21st century. Secondly, I reiterated exactly what I told Vladimir in Slovenia that I felt like the ABM Treaty was outmoded and outdated, and it was time for us to see if we couldn't work together to move beyond the ABM Treaty. Q. Inaudible President Bush. Well, we've got work to do between now and Crawford, and I look forward to continuing to work with him. Let me just rephrase that now and Washington Crawford. But he knows my feelings about the ABM Treaty, and so does America actually, the world now, I think, fully understands it. It was a treaty written when our nations hated each other. We no longer hate each other. As a matter of fact, we're finding ways to cooperate. It's also a treaty that prevents peace loving nations from developing systems necessary to hold terrorists who might acquire weapons of mass destruction to be delivered by ballistic missiles won't be able to hold them accountable. And we're in a new war, a new environment. And it seems wise to me to react to that environment in a positive way. We'll continue working with each other and see if we can't find common ground on the ABM Treaty. Russia U.S. Cooperation Q. I have question to both Presidents. It attracts our attention that you are building a good understanding on key problems. Can you say with certainty that your teams will act in the same spirit? President Bush. Laughter That's a very interesting question, isn't it a man who understands bureaucracy. Well, I can assure you that the Secretary of State understands my point of view and is working hard with his counterpart to achieve the common ground we seek. We have sent as Vladimir mentioned, we sent our Secretary of Treasury and Secretary of Commerce and our Trade Representative to Russia to talk about ways to cooperate, talk about ways to enhance the flow of capital from the United States into Russia. And so the answer to your question is, absolutely, that we will that this attitude will be shared throughout our Government. And it's a very good question you ask, because sometimes the intended top doesn't necessarily get translated throughout the levels of Government. I'm confident, though, in this case, that it will happen. It's too important a relationship to allow bureaucratic intransigence to delay what I believe is going to be one of the more interesting relationships as we head into the 21st century. I think it's necessary that United States and Russia cooperate. I think it's going to make the world more peaceful. I think it will lend a lot of stability in Europe, as well, when we find ways to cooperate. President Putin. President Bush told a lot of warm words about myself in public, and I'm grateful to him for that. And I feel his attitude outside formal events, and I hope that he has the same feeling when he talks to me. By the way, it does not prevent us from protecting our viewpoints and from having our viewpoints, defending the national interests of our countries. In particular, with regard to the ABM, we continue our discussion. You can see that. I agree with many positions that President Bush puts forward, and one cannot but agree with them. In such complex issue like the ABM Treaty, we have common approach on the basis of which we can discuss it and propose solutions. But it would be difficult for me to agree that some terrorists will be able to capture intercontinental missiles and will be able to use them. So we always have discussions, but our good relations does not impede this process. Speaking about teams, of course, there is always a bureaucratic threat. But I would like to draw attention to the fact that, if we talk about teams, it's a group of likeminded men that we choose ourselves. And if a team, a so called team does something different from what we recognize as the right way of developing our relations, I wouldn't like to have such people around us. Thank you very much. October 20, 2001 President Bush. It's an honor to be with our with my friend. And we have no stronger friend in the fight against terror than the Prime Minister of Japan. I have been impressed by his resolve and his determination. I'm also very impressed by his resolve and determination to make economic reforms within Japan. He's got a very good strategy, an economic strategy, and I support it. And I support the fact that he is a strong leader. I regret that I didn't have an opportunity to take advantage of the kind invitation to go to Tokyo. But Mr. Prime Minister, I assure you that when things settle down, if I'm still invited, I would like to come back. Prime Minister Koizumi. Of course. President Bush. Thank you, sir. Prime Minister Koizumi. I appreciate your strong leadership to fight terrorism. Your determination and the patience, I appreciate. President Bush. Thank you, sir. Thank you. I'll be glad to take yes, Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Q. A question, sir? President Bush. Sure. Operation Enduring Freedom Q. Your reaction, please, to the crash of the helicopter that cost the lives of two servicemen. And can you tell us what mission it was that they were supporting? President Bush. My heart goes out to the family and friends of those who lost their life. It is hard to express my gratitude in proper words for people that are willing to sacrifice for freedom. The Nation feels the same gratitude. And I want to assure the loved ones that the soldiers died in a cause that is just and right and that we will prevail. In the addresses I've given to our Nation, I have said that sometimes the American people and our allies will see actions we take, and sometimes people won't see the actions we take. But they can rest assured that we will use the resources of our country, all the resources of our country, to ferret out and find and bring to justice those who would harm our country and harm other countries, as well. And that's exactly what we're doing. Q. Sir, are you satisfied with the progress in the first day of the ground war by the Special Forces? President Bush. I am satisfied we're making very good progress. We are dismantling Taliban defenses, Taliban military. We are destroying terrorist hideaways. We are slowly but surely encircling the terrorists so that we can bring them to justice. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Q. Do you feel like you've prepared the American people adequately for the possibility of casualties, sir? President Bush. Steve, I think the American people understand that ours will be a long struggle against terror. And they understand there will be sacrifice. After all, there was no greater example of that sacrifice than on Flight 93, when American citizens, after having said the Lord's Prayer, said, "Let's roll." And they stormed that airplane so as to save lives on the ground. I think the American people now fully understand that we are in an important struggle, a struggle that will take time, and that the country there will be moments of sacrifice. We've seen two such examples today. The thing that's important for me to tell the American people, that these soldiers will not have died in vain. This is a just cause. It's an important cause. The Prime Minister of Japan understands how important this cause is. He's a strong friend and ally in our fight against terror. We must succeed, and we will succeed. Nature of the Coalition Q. Mr. President, both you and Dr. Rice have talked about how much cooperation you're getting from other countries. Is it the case that all countries around the world are cooperating in this effort, or are there still countries that we would like to see more determination from to join this fight against terror? President Bush. Well, I fully understand that some countries will participate with military forces, and others won't feel comfortable doing that. Some countries will be very good about sharing intelligence other countries may not be so good. Some countries will be much more efficient about cutting off money other countries may be a little lax about cutting off money. But the point is, is that the coalition is broad and deep and strong and committed. And we are very pleased with not only the commitment but the collective contribution. And we're making great progress. We're not only are we doing well militarily, but we're sharing intelligence all across the globe, in ways that people could never envision up to now. So I'm very pleased. And I want to commend the Secretary of State for not only working hard to put the coalition together but working hard to reinforce the coalition. And one of the reasons I came to this important meeting was to be able to look at my friend and thank him for his commitment, his support, and thank other world leaders for their support. Q. Should the American people expect more from Discussions With Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad of Malaysia Q. Sir, can you tell us how the meeting went with the Prime Minister of Malaysia, who has expressed concern about the military action? President Bush. Well, we had a very good visit today. He is concerned about the death of innocent people in Afghanistan, and I assured him I am, too. Our beef is not with the Afghan people. Our beef is with a government that houses and feeds and tries to hide terrorists. And I assured him that our campaign was that we were trying to be as careful as we possibly could to achieve our military objective. Secondly, I want the American people to understand that we're a compassionate Government. We're spending a great deal of money to help the people of Afghanistan. And I'm concerned about the fact that food isn't getting to some Afghan citizens, and the reason why is, is because the Taliban is preventing food distribution. They're disrupting food they're stealing food. These are people that are willing to starve their people, which is yet another reason why the Taliban must go. Q. Should the American people expect more Operation Enduring Freedom Q. Inaudible to his question, were you commenting on the success of today's mission, or to the success of the mission in general? President Bush. The success of the mission in general. We're making great progress. We're making great progress. As you know, I'm not going to comment on a specific operation. I will tell you, though, that we're using all the resources of the country. And in general, we're making very good progress. We're pleased with the progress being made. Q. Should the American people expect more raids like today, sir? Upcoming Discussions With President Vladimir Putin of Russia Q. Inaudible what about Putin tomorrow President Bush. Oh, I think it's a very important meeting with President Putin tomorrow. I'm sorry, Mr. Prime Minister. But I look forward to the continued progress toward our Crawford meeting. Somebody said, "Well, there's great anticipation that there will be so called breakthroughs." Well, the breakthrough occurred in our first meeting, where we made a determined effort to work together to find common ground when it comes to new strategic arrangements. But I wouldn't expect any startling news, except for the fact that we're continuing our dialog. The Prime Minister has got a few comments. Baseball At this point, a question was asked in Japanese, and a translation was not provided. Prime Minister Koizumi. My treasure, precious, for Ripken, world famous baseball player. I love baseball very much. I love baseball very much American sports. President Bush. He's got a very nice arm, too. Laughter I saw his fastball at Camp David. Laughter Prime Minister Koizumi. Yes quite a spirit, very strong. Reliable. President Bush. Plus, we've been very impressed by Ichiro. Laughter Prime Minister Koizumi. My name is "Jun Ichiro." Laughter "Jun" is "pure" "Jun" means "pure," "purity" "Ichiro." President Bush. Got you. Laughter October 20, 2001 Good morning. I'm speaking to you today from Shanghai, China, at an international meeting of Pacific Rim nations where we are continuing to enlist the resources of the civilized world in our war against terrorism. I am meeting with leaders from China and Mexico, Russia and Canada, Australia and Japan, and many other friends, allies, and trading partners. We're discussing ways to cooperate to improve intelligence, freeze funding, and better track down terrorist groups. We're also discussing ways to better protect all our citizens from a new threat, the threat of bioterrorism. America has now confirmed several different cases of anthrax exposure in Florida, New York, New Jersey, and Washington, DC. I commend the many health and law enforcement officials who have worked quickly to identify people who may have been exposed and provide preventative antibiotic treatment. Their quick work has no doubt saved lives. We do not yet know who sent anthrax to the United States Capitol or several different media organizations. We do not, at this point, have any evidence linking the anthrax to the terror network that carried out the attacks of September 11. We do know that anyone who deliberately delivers anthrax is engaged in a crime and an act of terror, a hateful attempt to harm innocent people and frighten our citizens. Our health care laboratories and law enforcement officials continue to work overtime to test samples, to track leads, and prosecute hoaxes that have now been reported not only across America but across the world. These attacks once again reveal the evil at the heart of terrorism, the evil we must fight. The nations meeting here in Shanghai understand what is at stake. If we do not stand against terrorism now, every civilized nation will at some point be its target. We will defeat the terrorists by destroying their network, wherever it is found. We will also defeat the terrorists by building an enduring prosperity that promises more opportunity and better lives for all the world's people. We will oppose envy, resentment, and anger with growth, trade, and democracy. The countries of the Pacific Rim made the decision to open themselves up to the world, and the result is one of the great development success stories of our time. The peoples of this region are more prosperous, healthier, and better educated than they were only two decades ago. Many more live under democratically elected governments. This progress has been achieved by people of all cultures and all religions, by Christian and Buddhist South Korea, and majority Muslim Malaysia and Indonesia. And this progress proves what openness can accomplish. The terrorists attacked the World Trade Center. They fear trade because they understood that trade brings freedom and hope. We're in Shanghai to advance world trade because we know that trade can conquer poverty and despair. In this struggle of freedom against fear, the outcome is not in doubt freedom will win. And it will bring new hope to the lives of millions of people in Asia and throughout the world. Thank you for listening. October 20, 2001 Thank you all very much. Bob, thank you so much for your kind words, and thank you for your great service to our country. Thank you, Chairman Yu, as well, for your good work in organizing this event. I want to thank our hosts. I was telling Chairman Yu that I was here in 1975 with my mother. Laughter Shanghai has finally recovered. Laughter I can't tell you what a startling difference it is Shanghai is today than what it was in 1975. It's a great testimony to the Chinese people and the leadership of Shanghai and the leadership of this great land. I also want to say that I'm proud to be accompanied by our great Secretary of State, who is doing such a fantastic job for the United States of America, Colin Powell. We meet today with recent memories of great evil, yet great hope for this region and its future. The attacks of September 11th took place in my country, but they were really an attack on all civilized countries. The roll of the dead and the missing includes citizens from over 80 nations 96 Russians, 23 Australians, at least 30 Chinese, 24 Japanese, 20 Malaysians, 16 Mexicans, 21 Indonesians. This was truly a crime against humanity, and it stands condemned by humanity. The American people are grateful for the world's sympathy and support following September 11th. We truly are. We won't forget the American Stars and Stripes flying in solidarity from every firetruck in Montreal, Canada, or children kneeling in silent prayer outside the embassy in Seoul, baseball players in Japan observing moments of silence, a sign handwritten in English at a candlelight vigil in Beijing that read, "Freedom and justice will not be stopped." I can't tell you how much I appreciate the phone calls from leaders from around the world. We're deeply grateful to countries, including all the APEC countries, that have now joined in a great coalition against terror. In our world, there is no isolation from evil. Our enemies are murderers with global reach. They seek weapons to kill on a global scale. Every nation now must oppose this enemy or be, in turn, its target. Those who hate all civilization and culture and progress, those who embrace death to cause the death of the innocent, cannot be ignored, cannot be appeased. They must be fought. This is my firm resolve and the firm resolve of my Nation. This is the urgent task of our time. The most visible part of our response is taking place in Afghanistan. The Taliban regime has allied itself with murderers. I gave Taliban leaders a choice Turn over the terrorists, or face your ruin. They chose unwisely. Yet, even as we oppose the Taliban, we seek friendship with the Afghan people. Our military actions are accompanied by food drops. We have substantially increased aid to Afghanistan. My Government supports international efforts to bring help and stability and peace to that unfortunate nation. There's frustration about the delivery of food and medicine and help in Afghanistan. I share that frustration. The guilty ones are the Taliban. They disrupt they steal they prevent supplies of food from delivery. They starve their people, and that is another reason they must go. Our war on terror has many fronts, and military action is only part of our plan. This campaign will take strong diplomacy and intelligence, diligent law enforcement and financial cooperation. It will span every continent and require varied contributions from many nations. Tomorrow APEC leaders will pledge to work together to deny the terrorists any sanctuary, any funding, any material or moral support. Together, we will patiently and diligently pursue the terrorists from place to place until justice is done. This conflict is a fight to save the civilized world and values common to the West, to Asia, to Islam. Throughout the world, people of strong faith, of all faiths, condemn the murder of the innocent. Throughout the world, people value their families, and nowhere do civilized people rejoice in the murder of children or the creation of orphans. By their cruelty, the terrorists have chosen to live on the hunted margin of mankind. By their hatred, they have divorced themselves from the values that define civilization itself. The stakes of this fight for all nations are high our lives, our way of life, and our economic future. By attacking two great economic symbols, the terrorists tried to shatter confidence in the world economic system, but they failed. The terrorists hoped world markets would collapse, but markets have proven their resiliency and fundamental strength. And this week in these halls, we return to the steady work of building the marketbased economic system that has brought more prosperity more quickly to more people than at any time in human history. We know a future of greater trade and growth and human dignity is possible, and we will build it. When nations allow their citizens to exercise conscience and creativity, the result is economic and social progress. When nations accept the rules of the modern world, they discover the benefits of the modern world. This vast region and its people, 21 economies on the shores of a peaceful ocean, are demonstrating the power and appeal of markets and trade. China's per capita GDP has grown by 513 percent since 1975. Seventy three percent of all South Korean households have personal computers. Slashing trade barriers has helped Chile raise per capita incomes by 53 percent over the past 10 years. And the wealth generated by markets and trade brings dramatic improvement to human lives. Indonesia has cut its infant mortality rate in half since 1980. Malaysia's illiteracy rate is one third of what it was in 1975 Mexico is less than half. I'm here in Shanghai to assure our friends and to inform our foes that the progress of trade and freedom will continue. The ties of culture and commerce will grow stronger. Economic development will grow broader. The Asia Pacific region provides the world with a model and a choice Choose openness, trade, and tolerance, and you will find prosperity, liberty, and knowledge. Choose isolation, envy, and resentment, and you will find poverty, stagnation, and ignorance. Our nations have chosen We have chosen freedom over fear. Out of the sorrow of September 11th, I see opportunity, a chance for nations and their leaders to strengthen and to rethink and reinvigorate our relationships. We share more than a common enemy we share a common goal, to expand our ties of trade and trust. And now we must seize the opportunity. First, our governments must keep the path of economic progress. That progress begins with freer trade. Trade is the engine of economic advancement. On every continent, in every culture, trade generates opportunity, enhances entrepreneurial growth. And trade applies the power of markets to the needs of the poor. It has lifted countless lives in this region, from Asia to Australia to the Americas. Together, we must meet the Bogor Goals, including free trade for every nation in this region by 2020. The Shanghai Accord we'll sign tomorrow gives us new and useful tools to enhance trade and investment. We must also launch a new global trade round in November in Doha. We're committed to the goal of a world that lives and trades in freedom, and we must meet any challenge that stands in our way. There's much work to be done, and all of us, every nation, must redouble our efforts to see that Doha is a success. And every CEO in this room knows the strong case for free trade, and I urge all of you to press that case with your own governments. The United States will do its part to restore economic momentum for the world. We'll keep our markets open and our country open for business. We've already announced additional spending to assist and rebuild New York City, to stabilize the airline industry, and defend our country. Tax rebates have been arriving in America's mailboxes. Interest rates have been cut to historically low levels. In addition, I'm working with Congress to help workers who have lost their jobs and to stimulate the American economy with additional tax relief, relief that will bolster consumer spending and provide incentives for business investment. The economic fundamentals in America are strong, and our Nation will recover. Even before September 11th, this region faced economic uncertainty. The answer is more trade and openness, not less. This region needs regulatory systems that attract investors. Banking systems must be more transparent. Corporations must be more open and accountable. And as called for in the Shanghai Accord, we must dramatically reduce the cost of doing business across borders by streamlining customs procedures, by harmonizing technology standards, and by cutting redtape. Even in the midst of our current slowdown, there are many encouraging signs. Reform programs have been put in place in Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia. China and Taiwan have made great strides as they prepare for WTO membership. Russia and Mexico are tracking new sources of capital. All of this is progress, and we must build on it. Our second broad challenge is to fight terrorism within our countries without undermining the ties of commerce and friendship between our countries. Terrorists want to turn the openness of the global economy against itself. We must not let them. We need customs, financial, immigration, and transportation systems that make it easier for us to do our business and much harder for terrorists to do theirs. Pursuing both openness and security is difficult. But it is necessary, and it is the aim of the counterterror measures the APEC leaders will commit themselves to tomorrow. Our third challenge is to see to it that the benefits of prosperity and freedom are widely shared. The great alternative to hate is hope. And to seize the hopeful opportunities of markets and trade, people must be educated and healthy, and governments must be fair and just and committed to the rule of law. All of our citizens need basic education. The greatest resource of any nation is the creative energies of its people. They must gain the skills demanded by a new economic world. Only when literacy and learning are widespread will the benefits of the global economy be widely shared. All our citizens must have the advantage of basic health. Diseases such as AIDS destroy countless lives and undermine the success of many nations. Prosperous nations must work in partnership with developing nations to help remove the cloud of disease from our world's future. Our governments must continue to fight official corruption in every form. Good economies can be suffocated by bureaucrats that serve themselves and not the public. Corrupt officials can destroy people's faith in fairness and in progress. All nations must also realize that, in the long run, the habits of economic freedom will create expectations of greater democracy. All people, of every religious or ethnic group, have a right to participate in their nation's political life. No government should use our war against terrorism as an excuse to persecute minorities within their borders. Ethnic minorities must know that their rights will be safeguarded, that their churches and temples and mosques belong to them. We must respect legitimate political aspirations and, at the same time, oppose all who spread terror in the name of politics or religion. Our times present many challenges. Yet I'm confident about our shared future. I know that our region and our world can trade in freedom. I know we can bring health and education and prosperity to our people. And I know we can defeat terror so our children and grandchildren can live in peace and security. In the struggle of freedom against fear, the outcome is certain. We speak for the common hopes of mankind, to live as we choose, to follow our faith, to build better lives for all who follow us. These hopes have carried us a long way, bringing progress and prosperity to millions. And they carry us forward to even greater achievement. Now is the time to act boldly, to build and defend an age of liberty. Thank you for having me. October 19, 2001 President Jiang. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, I've just had a very good talk with President Bush. This is our first meeting, and we have had an indepth exchange of views and reached a series of consensus with respect to such major issues as Sino U.S. relations, counterterrorism, and maintenance of world peace and stability. China and the United States are two countries with significant influence in the world. As such, we share common responsibility and interest in maintaining peace and security in the Asia Pacific and the world at large, promoting regional and global economic growth and prosperity, and working together with the rest of the international community to combat terrorism. China attaches importance to its relations with the United States and stands ready to make joint efforts with the U.S. side to develop a constructive and cooperative relationship. We live in a world of diversity. Given the differences in national conditions, it is not surprising that there are certain disagreements between China and the United States. I believe that different civilizations and social systems ought to have long term coexistence and achieve common development in the spirit of seeking common ground while shelving differences. The Sino U.S. relations are currently faced with the important opportunities of development. We will conduct high level strategic dialog, advance exchanges in cooperation in economic, trade, energy, and other fields, and strengthen consultation and coordination on major international and regional issues. I'm confident that so long as the two sides keep a firm hold of the common interests of the two countries, properly handled, bilateral ties, especially the question of Taiwan, in accordance with the three Sino U.S. joint communiques, the relations between China and the United States will continuously move forward. President Bush. Mr. President, thank you very much. I, too, felt like we had a very good meeting. I've come to Shanghai because China and other Asia Pacific nations are important partners in the global coalition against terror. I've also come because the economic future of my Nation and this region are inseparable. The nations of APEC share the same threat, and we share the same hope for greater trade and prosperity. Thank you so much for hosting this meeting. You and the city of Shanghai have done an outstanding job. Mr. President, I visited this city 25 years ago a little over 25 years ago. Then, I could not have imagined the dynamic and impressive Shanghai of 2001. It's an impressive place, and I know you're proud. It's a tribute to the leadership of the current officials of Shanghai, as well as to your leadership as a former mayor, Mr. President. We have a common understanding of the magnitude of the threat posed by international terrorism. All civilized nations must join together to defeat this threat. And I believe that the United States and China can accomplish a lot when we work together to fight terrorism. The President and the Government of China responded immediately to the attacks of September 11th. There was no hesitation there was no doubt that they would stand with the United States and our people during this terrible time. There is a firm commitment by this Government to cooperate in intelligence matters, to help interdict financing of terrorist organizations. It is President Jiang and the Government stand side by side with the American people as we fight this evil force. China is a great power, and America wants a constructive relationship with China. We welcome a China that is a full member of world community, that is at peace with its neighbors. We welcome and support China's accession into the World Trade Organization. We believe it's a very important development that will benefit our two peoples and the world. In the long run, the advance of Chinese prosperity depends on China's full integration into the rules and norms of international institutions. And in the long run, economic freedom and political freedom will go hand in hand. We've had a very broad discussion, including the fact that the war on terrorism must never be an excuse to persecute minorities. I explained my views on Taiwan and preserving regional stability in East Asia. I stressed the need to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and missile technology. Today's meetings convinced me that we can build on our common interests. Two great nations will rarely agree on everything I understand that. But I assured the President that we'll always deal with our differences in a spirit of mutual respect. We seek a relationship that is candid, constructive, and cooperative. I leave my country at a very difficult time. But this meeting is important because of the campaign against terror, because of the ties between two great nations, because of the opportunity and hope that trade provides for both our people. I regret, Mr. President, I couldn't accept your invitation to visit Beijing, but it will happen at a different time. President Jiang. Next time. President Bush. That's right. Thank you for your hospitality. China U.S. Relations Q. I'm a correspondent from China Central Television. Recently, there has been improvement in Sino U.S. relations. Just now you've had your first meeting with President Bush. How would you envisage the future growth of the bilateral ties? President Jiang. The developments of international situation has, time and again, shown that despite our disagreements of this type or that, the two countries share extensive common responsibility and interest on major issues that bear on the survival and development of mankind. I'm pleased to note that, recently, there has been improvement in our bilateral ties. The two sides have maintained close consultation and cooperation on major issue of counterterrorism. We've also made new headway in our economic and trade fields in such exchanges and cooperation. China and the United States are different in their national conditions, so it's normal that there are certain disagreements between us. So long as both sides respect each other, treat each other with sincerity, enhance trust through frequent exchange of views, then the disagreements can get addressed properly. Just now, in my meeting with President Bush, we once again had an extensive and indepth exchange of views on bilateral relations. We also reached important consensus. We stand ready to work together with the U.S. side to increase our exchanges and cooperation, enhance understanding and trust, and develop a constructive and cooperative relations between us. I'm convinced that so long as the three signed U.S. joint communiques and fundamental norms governing international relations are adhered to, and so long as the problems between us, especially the problem of Taiwan the question of Taiwan is properly addressed, then there will be a bright future of our relationship. Response to Terrorism Anthrax Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, sir, for having us here. Mr. President, do you know yet whether there is a definite link between the anthrax attacks and any foreign interests, particularly Al Qaida or Iraq? And separately, there's a report that we have special forces in southern Afghanistan now. Can you confirm that the ground war has begun? And a quick question to our host, sir. Do you support the U.S. military action in Afghanistan, which President Bush says could last 1 or 2 years? President Bush. First, I spent some time explaining to the President of my determination to bring people to justice that murdered our citizens. And I told the President that our Nation will do what it takes to bring them to justice, no matter how long it takes. And Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press , I don't know the time, but I do know the desire. And secondly, I explained to the President that we will hold people accountable who harbor terrorists. And that's exactly what we're doing. I will not comment upon military operations. I made it very clear from the outset of this campaign that I will not respond to rumors and information that seeps into the public consciousness, for fear of disrupting the operations that are taking place. But let me reiterate what I've told the American people and the world We will use whatever means are necessary to achieve our objective. Thirdly, I do not have a direct I don't have knowledge of a direct link of the anthrax incidents to the enemy. But I wouldn't put it past them. These are evil people, and the deeds that have been conducted on the American people are evil deeds. And anybody who would mail anthrax letters, trying to affect the lives of innocent people, is evil. And I want to say this as clearly as I can, that anybody in America who will use this opportunity to threaten our citizens, will think it's funny as a hoax to put out some kind of threat, will be held accountable and will be prosecuted. Now is the time in America now is the time for us to stand up against terror and for American citizens to unite against terror. And we're looking we're on the search to find out who's conducting these evil acts. I'm also pleased that the Government is responding very quickly, that people who have been exposed to anthrax are getting the necessary treatments. I think it's very important for people of all the world to understand that if anthrax if people are exposed to anthrax, there is a treatment for it. And it's very important for all our governments to react and respond as quickly as possible to make sure the citizens who get exposed receive the necessary antibiotics. And we're doing that in America. And the American people also have got to understand that we will make sure that there is ample supplies, as we deal with this evil act, that we'll make sure there's ample supplies available for the American people. At this point, President Bush's comments were translated in Chinese. President Bush. Couldn't have said it any better. Laughter President Jiang. In my discussion with President Bush this morning, I've made clear that we are opposed to terrorism of all forms. And what we have done in the past has shown this attitude of ours very clearly. We hope that antiterrorism efforts can have clearly defined targets. And efforts should hit accurately and also avoid innocent casualties. And what is more, the role of the United Nations should be brought into full play. I'd also like to make a comment on anthrax. I've also heard about it. And I think with regard to this problem, all countries should take a unanimous stand, because it's a public hazard. We should all unite and work to prevent it from spreading any further. That's the end of the press conference. Thank you. October 19, 2001 President Bush. I've been looking forward to yet another meeting with our friend the leader of South Korea. We had a good meeting in Washington, DC. Now we have a second meeting to discuss our common interests. First, we'll spend a lot of time talking about the war against terror. South Korea has been very firm in their support for the United States and the people of the United States. The President was very quick to respond, and I want to thank you, sir. Secondly, I look forward to affirming our support for trade with South Korea. We'll discuss the new round of trade negotiations. Thirdly, and as importantly, I'll confirm our support for the President's Sunshine Policy with North Korea. We appreciate his leadership on this very important issue, and I have looked forward to explaining to the President that we, after having reviewed our policy, like I told him we would do, our policy toward North Korea we have done so, and we've offered Kim Chongil the chance to meet with United States representatives. So we look forward to hearing a positive response from him. In the meantime, the President is taking his policy and moving it forward, and we're very supportive of that policy. President Kim. First of all, ladies and gentlemen, what I would like to say is that I would like to convey our most sincere condolences and sympathies to the people of America for their tremendous loss and the pain and the suffering that they suffer due to the terrorist attack. And also, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to applaud and show my great respect for the leadership of President Bush, for his calm composure and his very wise decisions in bringing together, first of all, the people of America together so that they will be able to effectively fight this war against terrorism, and also for his outstanding leadership in bringing together the international community together in this fight to eradicate terrorism. I would like to take this opportunity to convey my most sincere congratulations and respect. As a very close, staunch ally and friend and partner of the United States of America, the Republic of Korea will continue to take active participation in this war against terrorism. We will render all the necessary cooperation and assistance that they might need. And also as for the specifics as to what the Republic of Korea will do, we have already publicly stated our measures to help this war against terrorism, and we have notified the U.S. Government as well. And also, ladies and gentlemen, after September 11th, the world has tremendously become a completely different place for us. No country, nobody on this Earth is safe from terrorism and from these heinous terrorists. We must work together we must cooperate with each other so that the world will become once again a safe place for us to travel freely by air, so that all of us will be able to freely go live and to visit highrises and large apartment buildings, and also so that all of us will be able to safely open our own private mail. All these are very much in doubt these days, and we must cooperate with each other to fight this and eradicate terrorism. And I have great faith that we will, indeed, succeed and that we will be victorious in this war against terrorism. And once again, I would like to applaud the efforts of President Bush for leading this effort to this endeavor. And ladies and gentlemen, so, during today's meetings with President Bush, it is my hope to have indepth discussions on the effective ways to counter terrorism. And also I wish to discuss, as President Bush mentioned, other issues of common interest. APEC Support for Military Action in Afghanistan Q. Mr. President, the APEC terrorism declaration will not mention Afghanistan or Usama bin Laden by name. Does this indicate a lack of support for military action in Afghanistan? President Bush. I believe the APEC nations fully understand that not only terrorists should be brought to justice, but those who harbor terrorists should be brought to justice as well. I am confident that we've got strong support here with the leaders who are present here at Shanghai I've talked to most of them on the phone. I can tell you that the support is near unanimous for not only the activities that are going on now but for the strategy of fighting terrorism in the long run. These leaders understand that we're in a new type of war. They understand that the evil ones are a threat to established governments. They understand that for there to be peace throughout the generations, that we must be decisive and victorious. You heard the South Korean President. He's got a conviction about the need to fight terror so do other world leaders. Q. Is it not important to have the APEC nations endorse the kind of military action the United States is leading? President Bush. The APEC leaders that I have talked to all at least the ones I've talked to, fully understand that the United States, as well as other allies, will do what it takes to bring people to justice. And secondly, the doctrine is more than just the people who perpetuate these crimes on the American people. It is any country that harbors them, feeds them, houses them, or funds them. And the world leaders understand that. And I am very grateful for the breadth of support we have received. So far you've heard from two world leaders today, President Jiang of China, President Kim of South Korea, both of whom stand side by side with the American Government and the American people. And I am most pleased with the support we're receiving here, and I look forward to continuing to describe our efforts to our close friends and allies. And they will see in me a determination to succeed. And I fully understand that some, over time, may grow weary and may tire. But they'll realize the United States of America, under my leadership, will not. We must be successful in the war against terror. The United States I'm looking forward to sharing with our friend the President about the recent news in the United States, that we've there have been some anthrax cases, where people have sent anthrax through the mail. And although I cannot pinpoint directly who did it, I will tell him, however, that anybody who were to do that in any country is obviously an evil person. And we're fighting evil. We don't fight a religion we fight evil people. There is widespread support for the coalition and widespread support for the aims and goals of this country. APEC Terrorism Declaration South Korea U.S. Cooperation At this point, a question was asked in Korean, and a translation was not provided. President Kim. First of all, the Republic of Korea, the Government of the Republic of Korea during this APEC meeting will endorse, and we have been actively participating in endorsing this statement and the declaration condemning terrorism, international terrorism. We will continue to take a leading role in this fight against terrorism. And secondly, we have notified and announced to the Government of the United States our own measures to help in this fight against terrorism. For example, we've decided to send, dispatch a mobile medical team. And also we will be dispatching not only transportation assets and equipment, but also we will be dispatching our military liaison officers, among other measures. And also, whenever the need arises, the Republic of Korea, the Government will continue to closely consult with the U.S. Government. Chairman Kim Chong il of North Korea At this point, a question was asked in Korean, and a translation was not provided. President Bush. First, I look forward to talking to our friend about his attitudes. After all, President Kim has been a leader in seeking exchanges between families. Secondly, as I mentioned, my administration wishes to begin a dialog with the Government of Kim Chong il, yet he has refused to accept our invitation. I would hope that he would accept not only our invitation but seize an opportunity to bring more peaceful relations to the Korean Peninsula. He has an opportunity to lead. President Kim has given him that opportunity, and so have I. And I would hope he would seize the opportunity. I would hope he would show the world that he's interested in peace and interested in improving the lives of the citizens who live in North Korea. This is a moment in history where he can prove his worth. This is part of our discussions today, of course, will be the Korean Peninsula. Final question. Relief Efforts in Afghanistan Q. Relief organizations say that Afghanistan faces what could be the worst humanitarian crisis ever. Should there be any consideration to halting U.S. military strikes in order to get enough food into the country by winter? President Bush. First of all, my Government and, I know, the leaders involved in the coalition are worried about the suffering in Afghanistan. The Taliban Government is seizing food. The Taliban Government refuses to allow for an efficient distribution of aid that has been assembled to help the Afghan people. We will continue our military operations in such a way that it will not disrupt the delivery of food. And not only that, as a matter of fact, concurrent with our military operations will be the distribution of food. But the world must understand that the primary reason why food is not making it to starving people is the Taliban. If they were that interested in serving as representatives of the people, they would be encouraging the distribution of food. We will continue to do everything we can to make sure that our commitment to aid to the Afghan people is fulfilled. We are the leading country, in terms of providing aid to the Afghan people. I have increased our budget from 170 million to or asked to increase the budget to over 300 million of aid. Our beef is not with the Afghan people. Our beef is with a repressive government that houses, aids, and abets terrorists. Thank you all. October 19, 2001 Thank you all very much. Look who I brought with me Ambassador Randt's boss, the Secretary of State, who, by the way, is doing a fabulous job on behalf of the American people. I want to thank all my fellow Americans who are here, those of you who are working for a great land and a great people. I also want to thank the Foreign Service nationals who are here as well. All of us are very proud of the job that you're doing. I want to say that I sent a clear signal to China that I take this relationship very seriously, that it's of paramount concern to my administration, when I picked my longtime friend to be the Ambassador to this country. I've known Clark T. for a long, long period of time. I know him to be a man who is bright, intelligent, a man who understands China well. He's going to be a great ambassador to this country. Hank, I want to thank you as well. I know how much work goes into making sure one of these trips goes well. After all, our delegation is only occupying three full hotels. Laughter It's good for the economy when the President shows up. Laughter But I want to thank you, and I want to thank your office and all the people who have helped with the arrangements for this important trip. Sergeant, I want to thank you, as well, for your service to the country. As you all know, I committed American troops to a very important cause in the last couple of weeks. And I did so with the full confidence that our military is the best in the world. The American people have got the full confidence that our military will fulfill its mission. And one of the reasons that I've got so much confidence is, I know many of the people who wear the uniform. Sergeant Khaled represents the fine quality of the men and women who serve our country. And Sergeant, thank you very much for being here. Before I work my way through the ropeline to shake everybody's hand and thank you for coming, maybe take a picture or two, I want to give you a report from the homefront, what it's like in the United States. The United States of America is united. It is strong. It is determined to reject evil, to fight terrorism. The United States people are very patient. They understand that we've entered into a new kind of conflict, and they, like the President and the Secretary of State, are ready to do whatever it takes to win. We will not let terrorism stand. Our fight is not against a religion or a nation. Our fight is against evil people and a government that houses them. Our fight is against the evildoers, individuals who think so evil that they're willing to murder innocent people, and those who house them. The doctrine is, is that those who have committed crimes against America and crimes against freedom will be held accountable. But so will nations who harbor them, who feed them, and who hide them. And our great Government, along with others, is now making that statement clear to the world. And we're making good progress. We've got them on the run. And slowly but surely we're pulling the net of justice around them "they" being the Taliban as the host and the Al Qaida as the parasite. And we will bring them to justice make no mistake about it. And the world will be better for it when we do. I had a very good meeting with President Jiang today. He understands that he understands the threat that terrorism means not only to America but to nations around the world. And he also is willing to join with us in the war against terror. The war against terror is more than just conventional means, the war against terror using conventional means. The war against terror means smart diplomacy, and for those of you on the diplomatic front, thank you for helping wage that war. The war against terror means sharing of information. And the Chinese Government is more than willing to work with us as we share information, as we hunt these evildoers down. The war against terror is fought on all kinds of fronts. And whether you realize it or not, you're on the front on the frontlines of this war. And we want to thank you for that. I come to this important I come to this meeting in a time of uncertainty in America. And I did so because I wanted our country to have the confidence that our Government is doing everything we can to win, that we're going to continue to build coalitions, we're going to continue to rally the world. At home, I want to assure you that we're responding quickly. Perhaps you've read about these anthrax mailings. We don't know who did it yet. But if you've got relatives at home, I can assure you that our Government is taking the necessary actions to make sure Americans are treated quickly when we find any exposure to our fellow citizens. We're doing everything we can at home to disrupt the evildoers. The Justice Department is on full alert. The FBI is active, within the Constitution of the United States of America. We're protecting your loved ones and your relatives in America. But I also will remind you that the surest way to make sure America is protected, and other governments and countries are protected, is to win the war, is to find them, patiently hunt them down, and bring them to justice. And that's exactly what our great land is going to do. I'm glad to be back in China. I was here when my mother and dad lived here in the mid seventies. You weren't here then, were you? Laughter There's a man who's got a lot of tenure. I've got to tell you, I was amazed as a matter of fact, my mother and my family except for my dad got on a train in 1975 and motored down from Beijing to Shanghai. And I still remember Shanghai. But what I drove through last night from the airport just was mind boggling. It is a great testament to the ingenuity and drive of the Chinese people. It was it's going to be hard to describe to my fellow citizens what I saw. It is miraculous and incredible, really. And I think it's those of you probably who have been here for a while take it for granted. I didn't, and I was amazed. But it speaks to the great opportunities that exist between China and the United States. The relationship is a very important relationship, one that I take seriously and one that I'm confident will be a positive relationship that will lead to not only strong relations at the governmental level but good relations between our two peoples. I want to thank you again for working on behalf of the great land called America. We're strong. We are steady. We're united. I'm so proud of the American people, and I'm honored to be the President of the greatest land on the face of the Earth. Thank you for coming, and may God bless. October 17, 2001 Thank you all very much. I appreciate such a warm welcome. I'm about to cross the Pacific on my favorite Air Force airplane. And there's really only one place to leave from that's called the Gateway to the Pacific. Thank you for your hospitality. I can't tell you how proud I am to be with the men and women who wear the uniform of the great United States of America. I want to thank the Air Force and the Army and the Navy troops who are here. I'm also proud to be with the husbands and wives and sons and daughters. And to the families of those of you whose mom or dad or husband or wife have been deployed, I want you to know that they're on a noble mission. The cause is just, and we will win. I want to thank "Lone Star" Lefforge for the introduction, my fellow Texan. Applause There may be a few other Texans here as well. I want to thank General Becker and Colonel Rubeor as well for your hospitality. Thank you, Colonel. Thank you, General, very much. And I want to thank the Air Force Band of the Golden West. Thank you all for your entertainment. I want to thank the State and local officials who have come today. I'm honored that you took time out of your day. The planes to the left and right of where we stand here represent the unmatched air power of the United States. But that's not our real strength. Our real strength are the people who fly them and who maintain them, the people who make the military go. The real strength of this proud Nation are the men and women who wear the uniform. That's the real strength of this country. You're among the first to be deployed in America's new war against terror and against evil. And I want you to know America is proud, proud of your deeds, proud of your talents, proud of your service to our country. I'm told that one of the pilots here, a fellow named Randy, was asked if anyone at Travis had personal connections to any of the victims of the attacks on September the 11th. And here's what he said "I think we all do. They're all Americans. When you strike one American, you strike us all." The victims of September 11th were innocent, and this Nation will never forget them. The men and women who murdered them were instruments of evil, and they have died in vain. This Nation is strong. This Nation is united. This Nation is resolved. This Nation will defeat terror wherever we find it across the globe. And not only will we find the terrorists we will enforce the doctrine that says, if you harbor a terrorist, you're a terrorist. If you feed a terrorist, if you fund a terrorist, you're a terrorist. And this great, proud Nation of free men and women will hold you just as responsible for the actions that take place on American soil. And that's what's happening in Afghanistan. I gave the people in Afghanistan a choice. I said to the Taliban, "Turn them over. Destroy the camps. Free people you're unjustly holding." I said, "You've got time to do it." But they didn't listen. They didn't respond, and now they're paying a price. They are learning that anyone who strikes America will hear from our military, and they're not going to like what they hear. In choosing their enemy, the evildoers and those who harbor them have chosen their fate. We don't quarrel with the innocent folks of Afghanistan they're not our enemy. Nor is any religion the enemy of the United States of America. The evil ones have tried to hijack a religion to justify their murder. But I want to assure the people of the world that our military fights not against Muslims or fights not against the Islam religion. We fight against evil people. We fight against people who believe that they can harm the United States of America. We fight against people who have no country, no ideology they're motivated by hate. And make no mistake about it, this great Nation will do what it takes to win. We are determined. We are patient. We are steadfast. We are resolved. We will not tire, and we will not fail. And we're making progress. We're making progress. The terrorist camps are being destroyed. The enemy's air force and air defenses are being demolished. We're paving the way for friendly troops on the ground to slowly but surely tighten the net to bring them to justice. I can't tell you how proud, as Commander in Chief, I am to know that we've got a great United States military backing our Nation. A Commander in Chief must know he can count on the skill and resolve of our military. And from Secretary Rumsfeld to General Myers to the good troops of this base, I have all the confidence in the world that our military will fulfill its mission. And you must have confidence in this, my commitment that for the mission that lies ahead, our military, the men and women who wear our uniform, will have everything you need to win, every resource, every weapon, every means to assure full victory for the United States and our allies and our friends in the cause of freedom. There is no question that we're inflicting pain upon the Taliban Government. There is also no question that we're a compassionate nation at the same time we do so, we're dropping airlifts of food and medicine so the innocent citizens of that country can survive the brutal winter. As I walked up, I saw some of the schoolchildren here holding dollar bills. We've got schoolchildren all across the country out raising a dollar to send to the children of Afghanistan. We've got boys and girls from all religions and all walks of life who have heard the call to love a neighbor just as they'd like to be loved themselves. The evildoers have struck our Nation, but out of evil comes good. We are a good, kind hearted, decent people, and we're showing the world just that in our compassion and our resolve. And one thing I fully understand is that when American forces answer the call of duty, they count on their families for support and encouragement. Every deployment brings uncertainty, and I know every deployment brings worry and concern. Our military is made up of brave men and women and brave families as well. Recently, a 4 year old son of a cargo specialist said goodbye to his dad here at Travis. And according to his mom, the boy has been telling the neighbors that "Daddy is saving the world." The boy is right. The boy is right. The future of the world is at stake. Freedom is at stake. But I want to tell that boy his daddy has got plenty of help. There are a lot of people like his daddy fighting this war. We fight it overseas, and we fight it at home, as well. We must be steadfast. We must be resolved. We must not let the terrorists cause our Nation to stop traveling, to stop buying, to stop living ordinary lives. We can be alert, and we will be alert, but we must show them that they cannot terrorize the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. And we won't. We will not be terrorized. We will not be cowed. We've got a homeland security that's strong. I want to tell the moms and dads here that we're doing everything we can to find them and disrupt them and stop them, if they happen to try to strike on American soil. We're strong at home. We're active at home. But make no mistake about it the best homeland defense is to find them and bring them to justice, and that's exactly what our Nation will do. Now that they got the plane fueled up, I'm heading over to China. Of course, we'll talk about economics and trade. But the main thing that will be on my mind is to continue to rally the world against terrorists is to remind people that it happened to us, sure, but it could happen to them as well is to remind them that evil knows no borders, no boundaries, and to remind them that we must take a stand that those of us who have been given the responsibility of high office must not shirk from our duty that now is the time to claim freedom for future generations. The people have struck us. They've tested our mettle and tested our character. But they are going to find that this Nation understands we've reached a pivotal moment in history, where we will plant our flag on the ground, a flag that stands for freedom, and say to anybody who wants to harm us or our friends or allies, "You will pay a serious price, because we're a nation that is strong and resolved and united." You all are here to serve your country, and your country is grateful. You have confidence in America. But make no mistake about it America has confidence in you. Thank you all for such a warm greeting. May God bless. May God bless the men and women who wear our uniform. May God protect this great land. And may God bless America. Thank you all very much. October 17, 2001 Thank you all so much for that warm welcome. And I also want to thank the hundreds of our fellow Americans who lined the road coming in from the helicopter pad. It's really good to be here in California to report on our progress in the struggle against terror. Now, there's the long version, and there's a short version. So I'm going to start with the short version Our people are united our Government is determined our cause is right and justice will be done. I want to thank Gerry Parsky. I want to thank all the folks who put on this organized this event. I appreciate so much the Governor, Gray Davis, coming, and all the elected officials. I particularly want to say hello to the members of the Sacramento Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 7. They may not remember, but I do I got to meet them in New York City. Laughter They were part of an incredible outpouring of compassion and support from all across the country. I've got to tell you, I was amazed when I went into the building, and they said they were from California. I said, "This country is fabulous, when we've got people from California, from Sacramento, going all the way over to help their brothers and sisters at the World Trade Center." And I know you're just as proud of them as I am, and thank you all for being here. This great State is known for its diversity, people of all races, all religions, and all nationalities. They've come here to live a better life, to find freedom, to live in peace and security, with tolerance and with justice. When the terrorists attacked America, this is what they attacked. And when we defend America, this is what we defend. We are fighting for the security of our people, for the success of our ideals, and for stability in large parts of the world. We fight evil people who are distorting and betraying a great religion to justify their murder. Our cause is just. We will not tire. We will not falter, and my fellow Americans, we will not fail. New York City and Washington, DC, are 2,500 miles from here. Yet, for all of us, an American is an American, no matter where we live, no matter what our race, no matter how we pray. The people of New York and Washington are our neighbors, and when terrorists attack them, they attack us all. And the terrorists are hearing from us all. They are hearing from a compassionate nation, a nation that sends food and medicine to starving people of Afghanistan, a nation whose children and I know we've got some here who have raised money at the elementary school whose children are sending their dollars to save the children of Afghanistan. They are hearing from a tolerant nation, a nation that respects Islam and values our many Muslim citizens. They are hearing from a prayerful nation, a nation that prays to an almighty God for protection and for peace. And they are hearing from a patient and determined nation, a nation that will continue this war for as long as it takes to win. Ours will be a broad campaign fought on many fronts. It's a campaign that will be waged by day and by night, in the light and in the shadow, in battles you will see and battles you won't see. It's a campaign waged by soldiers and sailors, marines and airmen, and also by FBI agents and law enforcement officials and diplomats and intelligence officers. It's a campaign that is being waged in distant lands and a campaign being waged by our new Office of Homeland Security. To keep us safe, we're working around the clock. We're on the lookout. We have questioned and detained more than 750 terror suspects and material witnesses in our country. And the broad coalition we put together has detained hundreds of suspected members of the Al Qaida organization. Our world coalition is working. We are taking apart the terrorist network, piece by piece. We're taking away their money by freezing their assets and choking off their incomes. Our campaign will be difficult, and it's going to take time. But I can promise you this It will be waged with determination, and it will be waged until we win. We will do whatever it takes to protect our country, protect the good American families. And we will do whatever it takes to punish those who have attacked us. We'll do whatever it takes to defeat terror abroad, wherever it grows or wherever it hides. In Afghanistan, our Armed Forces are performing their duty with skill and success. We've destroyed many terrorist camps. We've damaged the Taliban's air defenses. We've seriously weakened all those in Afghanistan who wish to inflict harm on people anywhere in the world. We're paving the way for friendly troops to defeat the Taliban and root out the Al Qaida parasites that the Taliban hosts and protects. We're enforcing the doctrine that says this If you harbor the terrorists, you are guilty of terror, and like the terrorists, you will be held responsible. We are not alone in this struggle. The war against terrorism is an international war, and we're fighting with a broad, broad coalition. Many nations around the world have joined with us in this cause, including nations from the Islamic world. Some countries contribute intelligence. Some help with law enforcement. Some join with military power, like our friends Great Britain. We are supported by the conscience of the world. And we are surrounding terrorists and their sponsors in a tightening net of justice. Later today I fly to Shanghai to meet with leaders from all round the Far East and leaders whose nations touch the Pacific, including Russia and China. We'll be strengthening our cooperation in the war on terror. We'll strengthen the economic ties that bring growth and hope to the entire world. The terrorists attacked the World Trade Center, and we will defeat them by expanding and encouraging world trade. In order to help me expand world trade, I've asked the Congress to give me what's called trade promotion authority, the ability to seek America's interests around the world. America will do whatever it takes to strengthen our security here at home. I've named former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge to head the new Office of Homeland Security, to help expose and to frustrate the plans of terrorists. We've adopted new measures to protect our airlines, so Americans can fly with greater confidence. We're responding rapidly to investigate anthrax reports and to quickly give preventative treatment to any who are exposed. Thousands of FBI agents are aggressively following every lead in our antiterror campaign. And I urge Congress to act quickly to update our laws and procedures so we can better protect our country and punish those who threaten us. The terrorists want us to stop our lives that's what they want. They want us to stop flying, and they want us to stop buying. But this great Nation will not be intimidated by the evildoers. America will do whatever it takes to get our economy moving again. These are difficult times. Too many Americans are hurting. Too many are worried about their jobs and their businesses. And I know that California has been hit especially hard. America has got great resources, though. We've got the most skilled workers in the world, the best workforce. Taxpayers have just received their rebates. Interest rates have been cut to the lowest level in years. Energy prices are declining. The entrepreneurial spirit has never been stronger in America. The basics of our economy are ripe for growth. Yet, recent events have been a shock no question about it have shocked our economy. And people need help. And the Government in Washington is actively responding. We've already announced additional spending to rebuild New York and the Pentagon, to stabilize our airline industry, and to make sure we have enough money to defend our country. And I'll work with Congress to help workers who have lost their jobs because of the sudden economic slowdown. I've outlined additional economic stimulus package. I've listened carefully to members from both political parties. It's a package that will provide a needed lift for our economy. I urge Congress to act now to accelerate the tax relief we've already planned for the years ahead, so consumers will have more money to spend. I urge Congress to have more tax relief for lower and moderate income families in America who are especially hard hit. And I urge Congress to reform the corporate income tax, and as well, allow businesses to deduct more of the costs of new investments immediately, so as to create jobs for American people. And I ask Congress to now act on an energy bill that the House of Representatives passed back in August. This is an issue of special importance to California. Too much of our energy comes from the Middle East. The plan I sent up to Congress promotes conservation, expands energy supplies, and improves the efficiency of our energy network. Our country needs greater energy independence. This issue is a matter of national security, and I hope the Senate acts quickly. On all these great issues, there's a spirit of respect and cooperation in Washington, I'm pleased to report. Laughter This morning I had breakfast with the four leaders of the Congress. And while we have our differences, I do want you to know, there is a strong determination to do what's right for the American people. I have butted heads in the past laughter with the leadership. But I want you to know, I applaud their love for America and their determination their determination to get the people's business done in a way that will make you proud. We're making good progress about changing the tone. The terrorists thought they affected us, but they've only made this Nation stronger. Not only do I applaud the leadership I applaud the American people for your courage in a time of trial. We're living through a unique moment in American history. This is a time of rediscovery, of heroism and sacrifice and duty and patriotism. These are core values of our country, and they're being renewed. We found them waiting for us just when we needed them. Our forefathers would be proud, really proud of what they see in America today. They would be proud of the selfless duty of the firefighters and police officers of New York, firefighters and police officers all around our country, and the men and women who wear the uniform of the United States of America. Our forefathers would salute the modern day sacrifice of the brave passengers on Flight 93, who, after reciting the Lord's Prayer, said, "Let's roll," and stormed the hijackers, taking the plane down and probably saving thousands of lives on the ground. Our forefathers would know and recognize the spirit of unity and patriotism everywhere in our country, and they would say, "Well done, America." No, the true character of this great land has been revealed in adversity. Americans are generous to our neighbors in need. Americans are tolerant toward our fellow citizens of every background. Americans are alert to danger but calm and determined in the work ahead. And Americans are reaching out across the world to say We wage a war on the guilty, not the innocent we're friends to people of all faiths and enemies only to those who choose to make enemies of us. And Americans know we must act now. We must be strong, and we must be decisive. We must stop the evil ones, so our children and grandchildren can know peace and security and freedom in the greatest nation on the face of the Earth. Our Nation has felt great sorrow. Yet, this can be a time of great achievement. A great evil can be turned to greater good. The terrorists did not intend to create a new American spirit of unity and resolve, but they are powerless to stop it. At my Inaugural, I said that some Americans feel as if they share a continent but not a country. We don't feel that any longer. We know we're one people. We know we're one country. We're united from coast to coast by a determination and a firm resolve to see that right prevails. I will take that determination with me to meet leaders of the world in Shanghai. And America will take that determination all the way to victory. Thank you for having me. God bless. Thank you all. October 16, 2001 The President. Well, thank you for coming. First, let me give some introductory remarks. First, I'm looking forward to my trip. I leave tomorrow morning. I leave with great anticipation of a very positive trip. First, I'm looking forward to going to Shanghai. I went there in 1975, when I visited my dad. And I understand it's a city transformed it's a changed city. I look forward to seeing the changed city. It's going to be a very interesting experience. Secondly, I'm looking forward to meeting with world leaders, leaders from China, my first experience. I'm looking forward to seeing my friend the Prime Minister Koizumi again. I've had two or three meetings three meetings with him, and we've got a very good relationship. Finally, I'm looking forward to meeting with your leader as well, Kim Dae jung. He was right here in the Oval Office the last time I saw him. I'm looking forward to a second meeting. We've got a lot to discuss. So on the one hand, we'll have our joint meetings, and then we'll have the bilateral meetings. The joint meetings are important the bilateral meetings are very important. And I'm really looking forward to it. Obviously, I leave at a very difficult time in my country, because of these terrorist attacks, the recent anthrax that has made it in the news. On the other hand, I think it is very important for me to go, to not only discuss our economic interests and our bilateral interests but to continue to talk about the war on terrorists, terrorism. And it's also important for my Nation to see that I leave because of that international affairs are still a very important part of making the world more safe. I'll be glad to answer questions. APEC Summit Q. Mr. President, you are going to Shanghai for the APEC Summit. Could you tell me your opinion about the summit, and what's your expectation? The President. Sure. I expect to have a very frank dialog with Jiang Zemin about and I will tell him how important it is for the United States and China to have good relations. And I look forward to having an honest discussion with other world leaders about a variety of issues. Obviously, the Korean Peninsula, we'll talk about the relationship between South and North Korea. As far as Japan goes, we'll talk about our national defense relations, as well as the Japanese economy, and Koizumi will want to know about our economy as well. And also, with all three leaders we'll be talking about trade and the need to fight against international terrorism. So my expectations are very solid, that this will be a very good and a very important meeting. Q. Second question? The President. We'll go around everybody will get to ask. Upcoming Discussions With President Jiang Zemin of China Q. Mr. President, you are going to meet our President, Mr. Jiang Zemin. What's the priority topic you're going to discuss? The President. I think the first priority is, of course, for Jiang Zemin to look me in the eye, take the measure of the American President. We've only spoken over the phone. We haven't had a chance to meet. So it's to establish a personal relationship. I will have met most of the leaders at APEC. I will have not met Jiang Zemin. I look forward to meeting him, so he can see that I'm a sincere person when I say that I want to have good relations, that I understand there will be moments where we agree and moments where we disagree, but we'll work to have good relations. As you recall, we had a start that tested our relationship, and that was over the EP 3 incident. Yet, we were very calm. Both sides were calm both sides gathered the facts and both sides worked to resolve an incident which could have been a difficult incident. But it wasn't. It turned out to be a much more peaceful resolution than a lot of people in the world thought was possible. It was very interesting to get reactions from other world leaders during that incident, because they didn't know me. They weren't sure how we'd react, and they weren't sure how the chemistry would be between our two governments. And I think we showed the world that we can work things together. And that's going to be very important. Trade is going to be very important for us to discuss, too. I think it's going to be very important for us to talk about proliferation. I think it's going to be very important for us to talk about human rights. There's a wide range of issues that we can discuss. But I know we'll discuss them in the spirit of a desire to have good, close relations. China is a very important country, and I understand how important it is. Q. Mr. President, I have three questions. The President. Okay. Each person gets three questions, so you can think of another one. Japan's Role in the War on Terrorism Q. Beyond the economic and financial contribution, what kind of role do you think Japan can play in fighting the war against terrorists? The President. Well, first of all, as you know, the Prime Minister has talked about possibly participating with some defense forces, not combat forces but defense forces. We're more than open minded to talk about a way for Japan to contribute. But I want to remind you that you should not discount the importance of disrupting the financial networks of the terrorists. If we starve them of money, that's just as effective as conventional armament. And also we need to share intelligence all three countries need to share intelligence back and forth. If we hear or see there is a threat on Japan or China or South Korea, we will share that information so that each of us can protect our own homeland. It's a different kind of war we're fighting. So the contributions can be varied and different. And each nation represented here will contribute in different ways. And I recognize that, and we're not going to ask nations to contribute in ways that their people won't understand or accept. So there are going to be some nations that will contribute in this area and won't be able to help here. But that's okay, just so long as we're all focused on the goal of ridding the world of terrorism. And we must make that decision now. And that's what I look forward to telling all the three world leaders. I want them to see how determined I am to succeed, and that I'm patient and resolved and will not yield until we send a clear signal to terrorists There will be a consequence, and if you harbor a terrorist as a nation, you will be held accountable. And that's just as important, and I think all three leaders understand that. I know the Prime Minister of Japan does. Japan and the International Economy Q. The second question, Mr. President, what would you like Japan to do for revitalizing the world economy after the terrorist attacks? The President. Well, I think what Japan needs to do is what Prime Minister Koizumi campaigned on, and that is to push for significant economic reform, significant restructuring to work on bad loans and bad assets, to get them off the books, so to speak. I felt like the Prime Minister and I, in our discussions about the internal situation in Japan, understood each other well. And I have always urged him at every conversation to be as bold and as strong as he can, because it's very important for the world that the Japanese economy be strong and recover. Now, we have to do some things in our own country. We have been severely affected by the economic by the attacks, and therefore, we need an economic revitalization plan. And we've taken some steps. We've spent money to help New York recover. We've spent money, obviously, to help our defenses. We've spent money to help our airline industry, which has been badly affected. I think we need to cut taxes again. We cut taxes in the summer. I want to cut taxes again to offset the spending to create a stimulus. Finally, however and this is going to be an important part of the meeting we must confirm our mutual desire to have the world trade more freely. It is important for all our economies that we trade freely, that markets be open. Listen, I understand there are some issues involved with opening markets, but we've got to work toward an ideal of more open markets. Last question. Japan and the Future of Afghanistan Q. The third question, Mr. President, what kind of a contribution do you expect Japan to make to stabilizing future government problem in Afghanistan? The President. Well, let me say that the last time the Prime Minister was here, he told me that the Japanese had dedicated 40 million to relief in Afghanistan. And I praised him here, in front of the American press corps, for that generous contribution. I think that goes to show that Prime Minister Koizumi understands there is an international role for a stable Afghanistan. I understand that we need to worry about what Afghanistan looks like and that we must restore a sense of stability in that country and take care of the poor people that have been victimized by the Taliban regime. On the other hand, I want to assure everybody my focus is on achieving the objective, which is bringing the Al Qaida organization hiding in Afghanistan to justice and holding the Government that harbors them accountable as well. But I appreciate Japan's role. I appreciate the Prime Minister's understanding of the need not only to provide short term relief, like we are as well, but also to be a part of a longer term solution in Afghanistan. He understands that, and for that, I'm grateful. Last question for here, and then you get three. You were probably wondering whether I knew you were even sitting there, but I knew. China U.S. Relations Q. My last question. The Chinese readers of my paper most want to know, what's your idea for the development in the bilateral relationship between China and the U.S.A.? The President. Well, first, the most important thing about a relationship between our two nations is for the two leaders to get to know each other as people, as individuals. I want to be able to hear from your leader, the leader of China, what's on his mind. I'll be able to tell more about this leader when I see him and hear him, and he'll be able to tell more from me, about me, by listening to me. Secondly, I think it's very important for us to continue to foster good trading relations. Trade is mutually beneficial to our nations. I argued strongly during the campaign and since I've been President that China should ascend to WTO Q. Thank you. The President. because that is a very important part of encouraging China to have market oriented growth. But at the same time, it's in our nations' interests. I was most pleased with the progress we've made about China accepting U.S. farm products as part of the WTO process. It was a very important breakthrough. I think it's going to be very important for us to discuss areas not only where we agree but areas where we don't agree. But one place where we do agree and it's important for your readers to know is I support a "one China" policy. And I also expect there to be a peaceful reconciliation of the differences. And I look forward to reaffirming that with Jiang Zemin. We need to talk about a variety of issues, which we will. And I'm confident we can have a very constructive relationship. It starts with the desire to have a constructive relationship, and my desire is to have a constructive relationship. Korean Peninsula Security Q. As the war on the terrorism goes on, one of the utmost important issue for the Korean people should be the security of Korean Peninsula. The President. Yes. Q. If the war prolongs, as you have expected, 1 or 2 years, and North Korea sometime in the future change their reconciliatory stance and become hostile again and if there occurs some kind of conflict in the Korean Peninsula, how would you respond to that? The President. We will fulfill our obligations to the South Korean people and to our pact with South Korea. North Korea should not in any way, shape, or form think that because we happen to be engaged in Afghanistan, we will not be prepared and ready to fulfill our end of our agreement with the South Korean Government. They should not use this as an opportunity to threaten our close friend and ally South Korea. Not only will we have troops there and have them there, we will be prepared to defend and stand side by side with our long time friend the South Korean people. Chairman Kim Chong il of North Korea Q. Thank you. And the second question is, South Korea North Korea talks have been stalled after the inauguration of your administration, virtually. And North Korean leader Kim Chong il has not returned his visit, which he has agreed last year. And earlier this month, North Korea has canceled the plan, agreed plan to exchange to separate families. And things are a little bit changing right now. About all these, there are some Korean people blame it, in part, to your administration North Korean policy. Do you have any comment on that? And I wonder if you have any message concerning about Kim Chong il? The President. I've got a message to Kim Chong il Fulfill your end of the bargain. You said you would meet. Meet. No one in the United States is stopping him from doing this. This is a decision he made. He can blame it on who he wants, but he ought to fulfill his end of the agreement. And secondly, I want to remind your readers that we offered to meet with Kim Chong il. In June of this year we said, "At a time of your choosing, we'll be glad to send a representative to meet with you to discuss a variety of issues." And yet, he chooses not to meet with us, either. He won't meet with you he won't meet with us, which kind of leads me to believe that perhaps he doesn't want to meet. So he can blame it on who he wants, but it's up to him to make that decision. Secondly, I think that he needs to earn the trust of the world. I think he needs to take pressure off of South Korea and off of DMZ. I think he needs to say send a signal, clearest message, that he's for peace, not for war. And he can do that very easily by removing conventional forces back. That's very simple to do. I know he needs to stop spreading weapons of mass destruction around the world. And I look forward to my Government looks forward to explaining that to him, in no uncertain terms. In the meantime, we have great sympathy for the North Korean people. Anywhere there is starvation, Americans, like other nations, worry about what causes the starvation. How can people starve in a world where there is food? So my heart breaks when I hear the stories of North Korean families not being able to feed their children children are children, regardless of who their leaders are and I'm sad about that. I want to applaud Kim Dae jung for his leadership in instituting the Sunshine Policy. As I said right here in the Oval Office, I support the Sunshine Policy. I think it makes sense. I think the more interchange there is, the more likely it is there will be peace. And after all, we're for peace. By the way, I fully understand how this issue affects the other nations of the Far East as well. And so we want to have discussions with Kim Chong il. We've made the offer to have discussions with Kim Chong il. But he refuses to talk. And I'm always which makes me wonder, why? Why would he not want to talk? What is it about this man who refuses to not only to talk with us but to fulfill an agreement he made with your Government? U.S. Military Presence on the Korean Peninsula Reunification Q. Actually, I'd like to have two questions, if you allow me, Mr. President. The President. Okay. Q. I'd like to hear your opinion on the reunification of Korean Peninsula. And what kind of role the United States can do after the reunification? And the status of the American military forces? The President. Sure. Let me start with that. The last one's easy. We'll have a military presence on the Peninsula. We think it's important for providing stability, not only on the Korean Peninsula but throughout that part of the Far East, and I think most governments recognize that. And so we'll keep a presence there, and I don't have any intention of diminishing our presence. As a matter of fact, I think the United States plays a very unique role of providing assurance and providing stability, and we'll continue that role. Secondly, our role what do I think about the chances for reunification? You know, it's hard for me to tell. I would say that I am I believe that anything is possible. However, if a leader refuses to meet to discuss reunification, it's going to be hard to achieve. It takes two parties, two willing parties, who make the commitment to proceed forward. I know the leader of South Korea has made that commitment. It's easy to see when you talk to him. He's got this firm, fervent belief that better relations with North Korea leading to talks about different types of reunifications, starting with families, is very important. I mean, you can there's no question in his mind and no question in my mind, having talked to him, about his strong belief. But I fully recognize it takes two leaders to share the same vision and the same hopes. And it's apparent that Kim Chong il doesn't share the same vision otherwise, talks would be ongoing. You see, I believe in the art of the possible. I believe if leaders want something to happen and they're willing to work to make it happen, it can happen. But it requires will and drive and perseverance and persistence. And I don't see that from one part of the one side of the equation. I do see it from Kim Dae jung, however. Thirdly, about our role. Well, first of all, we believe that any kind of discussions and talks between South Korea and North Korea will make the Peninsula more peaceful. Dialog is important, particularly the human to human exchange, that sometimes people are ahead of their governments you know, the will of the people gets out ahead of a government, and that in itself and I think most people are peaceful people. I think most people want there to be peace. The timetable of such a reunification is obviously up in air, since there's no discussions. But we'd be willing to help. We want to help our friend. If this is what our friend and ally South Korea thinks is important, we will help. We will help do so. Listen, I am interested in again, I repeat something I said before I want our Government to help starving people. On the other hand, I don't want to send aid to a government that doesn't help its people. It's one thing to help the people it's another thing to send the aid, and then the government doesn't help the people. And so I must tell you that I've been disappointed in Kim Chong il not rising to the occasion, being so suspicious, so secretive. I believe he must lead his nation into the modern era, starting with making sure his people are fed and well treated, and working with his neighbor. He ought to assume the responsibility of a good leader and do that. But there's time, and we'll see. I look forward to talking to Kim Dae jung this issue. I know he'll bring it up. It's on his mind. He's a believer, as we say. He's passionate about the subject. And I appreciate that passion very much. I think I like passionate people. I like people who believe in a cause and are willing to lead. And I'm looking as you can tell, this is a part of the world that I've thought a lot about. It's a very important part of the world. It's significant because not only of the histories and traditions, but the future is so strong in all three countries present here. We've got great futures. And we want to be friends, and we want to be a part of the futures, working together. And I'm confident we can. Q. Because of the belief President Kim Dae jung has, a politically difficult time right now. The President. Let me tell you, in life, you've just got to do what you think is right. That's what a leader does. Leaders take a position not because of some poll or focus group they should take a position on what they think is right and suffer the consequences. That's what a good leader does. Abraham Lincoln is on the wall here. He took a position in what he thought was right and stuck by it. He was severely criticized. They made fun of him, the press did. They treated him they accused him of not being able to put sentences together sometimes. Sounds familiar. Laughter But he turned out to be a great President, because he did what he thought was right. Winston Churchill, he did what he thought was right. George Washington you notice I don't have people in this office who tried to figure out what was right. You either know what you think is right or not what you think is right. And so I admire a person for taking a stand. Sometimes the people like it, and sometimes they don't. But at least by taking a stand you believe in, you'll be able to live with yourself, which ultimately, to me, that's what's most important for a leader, to be able to be comfortable about who you see in the mirror when you wake up in the morning. Look, I understand the political consequences of making tough decisions. You mark my words, people are going to get tired of the war on terrorism. And by the way, it may take more than 2 years. There's a variety of theaters. So long as anybody's terrorizing established governments, there needs to be a war. And so I've asked you said 1 or 2 years. I envision something taking longer than that. Now, maybe the Afghan theater will be shorter than that or that length. Who knows? But we're patient. But some people are going to start to say, "We're tired, but President Bush keeps going on." And when that happens, I want you to know, I will be doing it because I think it's the right thing to do. That's what I'm supposed to do. So that's a long answer to a very important question, the most fundamental question of all. Thank you all for coming. I'm looking forward to my trip. October 15, 2001 President Bush. It's my honor to welcome the leader of one of our Nation's best friends, the Prime Minister of a country that has had so much to do with our Nation and its development. I'm also pleased to be able to give him a lunch. After all, I had one of the best lunches I've had at his since I've been the President, because of the Prime Minister. We had a long discussion about our mutual desire to rout out terrorism where it might exist. He understands as well as I understand that the war on terrorism will be waged on many fronts, and I'm so pleased with the efforts of his Government to join with us in disrupting the financial networks of terrorist organizations. I'm pleased that we're sharing intelligence. I'm pleased that the Prime Minister understands that Al Qaida has cells all around the world, and he's more than willing to work with us to disrupt those cells, to bring people to justice. We're making progress. One reason we're making progress is because we've got good, strong friends such as the Italians and the Italian Government. So Mr. Prime Minister, welcome. It's my honor to have you here. Prime Minister Berlusconi. Thank you, Mr. President. I am here, first of all, to express our great pain and sadness for the attack on September the 11th and to say to you that if the same attack had been had occurred on an Italian city, we would have felt the same pain as you are. And also I'm here to express to you our desire to be as close as possible and to provide both moral and material support. As I mentioned earlier this morning, this attack was an attack not only against citizens but also against freedom and liberty. The U.S. is the defensor of liberty all over the world, and that's what this attack was about. President Bush. We'll answer a couple of questions. Anthrax Q. These anthrax attacks, sir, do you believe that there is any connection to bin Laden's organization? Your Vice President, on Friday, seemed to indicate there may be some possible link. President Bush. There may be some possible link. We have no hard data yet, but it's clear that Mr. bin Laden is a man who is an evil man. He and his spokesmen are openly bragging about how they hope to inflict more pain on our country. So we're watching every piece of evidence. We're making sure that we connect any dots that we have to find out who's doing this. I wouldn't put it past him, but we don't have hard evidence, yet. Yes, Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Q. Do you have anything that points towards bin Laden, besides your gut? And has there been any other reports of anthrax tainted mail being received by U.S. businesses or Government offices today? President Bush. There has been today. I just talked to Leader Daschle. His office received a letter, and it had anthrax in it. The letter was field tested. The staffers that have been exposed are being treated. The powder that had been field tested is now, obviously, going to the CDC lab. Beyond that, I don't know more about it. I spoke to the leader. He is, obviously, concerned, as am I. The key thing for the American people is to be cautious about letters that come from somebody you may not know, unmarked letters, letters that have got that look suspicious, and give those letters and packages to local law authorities. Again, the process is working, but today the Senate majority leader his office did receive a letter. Q. Was it definitely anthrax, or just a preliminary test, do you know? President Bush. The field test shows it to be anthrax. Ron, there's more tests being conducted as we speak. The leader believes it is anthrax, but we'll find out more as time goes on. They've got the letter. As he said, it was a letter that had been wrapped a lot and that the powder was within the confines of the within the envelope. It wasn't on the outside of the envelope it was within the envelope. And a staffer opened the letter. They obviously became suspicious of the material within the letter and immediately called in for a field test. The field test was done, shows it to be anthrax, and then all people are being treated. India and Pakistan Q. India says it opened fire on Pakistani positions in the Kashmir region today, this just an hour or two after Secretary Powell landed in Pakistan. How helpful is something like that? President Bush. I haven't see a report yet, John John King, Cable News Network . And I think it is very important that India and Pakistan stand down during our activities in Afghanistan down, for that matter, forever. But I am I need to find out more about the report I will find out more about the report. As you noted, our Secretary of State is in the region. One reason he's there is to talk to both sides about making sure that there is no that if there are tensions and obviously, there are that they be reduced, that we are mindful that activities around Kashmir could create issues in that part of the region, particularly as we're conducting our operations in Afghanistan. Yes, sir. National Economy Italian Cooperation Q. Mr. President, you have mentioned that you would the other evening in your press conference, that you would like to see more action from the allies, and you mentioned what the U.K. is doing. What would you say about what Italy has done? And what was the subject of your conversation? Would you like to see something more done by Italy? And also from Europe, would you like to see more economic action from the European side to help the U.S. economy? Thank you. President Bush. Thank you. First of all, we're taking measures here at home to get our economy started. There is some optimism, as some numbers recently have shown that consumer confidence is getting stronger, that people are beginning to get on the airways more, that people are traveling. So there are some positive signs. I hope to work with I am working with Congress and hope to get a stimulus package that will dovetail nicely with the tax cuts we had this summer, coupled with some of the spending measures we've taken since September the 11th. First of all, I'm very pleased with the cooperation and support of Italy. They have been very strong from the beginning. The Prime Minister has been very not only supportive but has asked how to help in significant ways to fight terrorism. Again, I repeat to you, this is a war that's going to be fought on a variety of fronts. One such front will be to disrupt financial the finances of the terrorist organizations. And he was discussing with me some Executive orders that had been taken recently that showed Italy's desire to be very firm about disrupting finances. There is a sharing of information that goes on. I'm confident that if we put out the word that we needed more help from Italy, they would be more than willing to help. Each of us has a role to play. And the Italian Government, under this good man's leadership, is playing a very significant role. We're going to go eat lunch. Thank you. Prime Minister Berlusconi. Grazie. October 15, 2001 Thank you all. Thank you very much. Mr. Chairman, thanks for those kind remarks, and congratulations once again. I know your family is proud, and I want to congratulate Mary Jo, Rich, and your daughters, Nicole and Erin. I also want to congratulate Pete Pace, who succeeds General Myers as the Vice Chairman. Pete, I want to congratulate Lynne as well, Tiffany, Lieutenant Pete Pace and of course, I've got to congratulate your mom, Doris. Moms are pretty important, as I learned firsthand, and so did you. Mr. Secretary, we did a fine job in picking these two men. There's no question we made the right choice. And there's no question I made the right choice when I named you Secretary of Defense. The country is coming to know Don like I know him. He's a no nonsense kind of guy. He speaks his mind. He's results oriented. He's the right man at the right time to defeat the evil ones. I appreciate your service. I appreciate the service of Paul Wolfowitz, your Deputy, and all the folks you've assembled at the Defense Department. I also want to welcome the Members of Congress who are here. I know Congressman Ike Skelton is here, and others are as well. General Myers and I have spent a lot of quality time together recently. He has my complete confidence. Richard B. Myers is the 15th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, taking his place in a line that began with another general who was born in Missouri, Omar Bradley. And like Omar Bradley, General Myers is known for his calm manner, sound judgment, and his clear strategic thinking. Now, at any time those qualities would be important but today, they're indispensable. When General Myers and General Pace stood at my side in Crawford, Texas, this summer, I spoke of our duty to protect and defend America's values and interests in the world. Since that time, those values and interests have come under direct attack. America has awakened to a great danger. We have entered a different kind of war. And the enemy is finding out we are ready. We are fighting this war, and we will win this war on many fronts by diplomacy, law enforcement, financial sanctions, and intelligence. And our military is playing an essential role. Eight days ago, I sent the Armed Forces into action. They have performed with skill and precision. They know their work, and they know the American people are behind them. I made a commitment to every service man and woman For the mission that lies ahead, you will have everything you need, every resource, every weapon, every means to assure full victory for the United States, our allies, our friends, and the cause of freedom. In the war against terror, there will be times of swift and visible action. There will be times of steady and quiet progress. We will be patient, and we will be persistent. The terrorists are beginning to understand There is no place to run there is no place to hide there is no place to rest. During last week's memorial service at the Pentagon, Secretary Rumsfeld observed that the terrorists reserve special contempt for the United States military. And it's easy to see why. In the values and traditions of our military, you represent everything they hate. You defend human freedom. You value life. Here and around the world, you keep the peace that they seek to destroy. You live by a code of honor and a tradition of loyalty and decency. The new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs represents the best in this tradition. Since the day he was commissioned as second lieutenant in 1965, Dick Myers has brought great credit to his uniform and to his country. He and his outstanding Vice Chairman have assumed crucial positions at a crucial hour, and our country is thankful for your service. May God bless you all, and may God bless the United States. October 15, 2001 Thank you all. I order you to stop. Laughter Thanks for the kind introduction, and thanks for such a warm welcome. These are extraordinary times, times of testing for our Government and for our Nation. Yet, all of us can be proud of the response of our Government and the exceptional character of the Nation we serve. I've never felt more certain about America's goodness or more confident about America's future. I have come to Constitution Hall today to express my appreciation for your dedication and integrity, your commitment to excellence, and your love of our country. The work of both career and political employees during the last 9 months has been outstanding. We've accomplished a great deal together. And since September 11th, Federal employees have acted with remarkable professionalism and purpose. And on behalf of the American people, I thank you. I want to thank my old college roommate and friend Clay Johnson for thinking of this idea of coming to Constitution Hall to speak to you. I want to thank Ruth Sanchez Way for her warm introduction and her work on behalf of the American people. I want to thank my friend Kay James for being here as well. I want to thank the Navy Band. Every time you play, I step a little lighter. Laughter I'm really proud of my Cabinet. I want to thank the members of my Cabinet who are here, and I'm proud of you all as well. I want to start by recognizing the 65 winners of the Presidential Rank of Distinguished Executive who are seated behind me. Congratulations. And I want to congratulate the Meritorious Executives who are here in the audience with us as well all career members of the Senior Executive Service, and today we honor their exceptional performance. Their work covers a tremendous range of issues, yet they share some things in common an outstanding work ethic, commitment to public service, and pride in a job well done. One person who was chosen to receive a Presidential Rank Award is not with us today. Bryan Jack headed the Defense Department's Programming and Fiscal Economics Division. He was a brilliant mathematician and top budget analyst. A native Texan, a graduate of Stanford Business School, and newly married, Bryan was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 77 when it crashed on September 11th. Bryan's wife, Barbara Rachko, is with us today. I know how proud you are, Barbara, of your husband. And in this hour of grief in your hour of grief, the Nation is on bended knee with you. Where is Barbara? Since September 11th, we've seen America more united and resolute than at any point in our lifetimes. We've seen a nation that is generous and patriotic and a nation that is determined to see justice be done. We've also seen acts of great sacrifice and heroism. And many of those acts were performed by people who serve in government at the local, State, and Federal level the police and firefighters, medics, FEMA employees, members of the military, and civilian employees of Government. They've worked past exhaustion. They have risked their lives. And some gave their lives as well. Our Nation is grateful for all these men and women who have shown the meaning of duty and public sacrifice. In times of war, the American people look to the Government more than they do in times of peace. They count on Government to help protect them, and we will. They count on the Government to defeat those who are trying to destroy us, and we will. Yet, while our Government is focused on the war against terrorism, it continues to have vital responsibilities in other areas. We will give our best to America in war effort, in all other areas of responsibility as well. In doing so, we must resist pressure to unwisely expand Government. We need to affirm a few important principles, that Government should be limited but effective, should do a few things and do them well. It should welcome market based competition wherever possible. It should respect the role and authority of State and local governments, which are closest to the people. And Government should do everything it can to strengthen families, which are the cornerstone of our society. Today, we're seeing one of the highest levels of trust in Government since the mid sixties, which is due partly to the surge of national pride that has swept our country since the terrorist attacks. But it's also because of how you've performed your jobs, particularly during the last month. The American people have placed their trust in us, and we will honor that trust. Let me say a few words about important values we must demonstrate while all of us serve in Government. First, we must always maintain the highest ethical standards. We must always ask ourself not only what is legal but what is right. There is no goal of Government worth accomplishing if it cannot be accomplished with integrity. Second, I want us to set an example of humility. As you work for the Federal Government, there is no excuse for arrogance, and there's never a reason to show disrespect for others. A new tone in Washington must begin with decency and fairness. I want everyone who represents our Government to be known for these values. Third, we must confront the tough problems, not avoid them and leave them for others. This is never easy, but it's what conscience demands and what leadership requires. We must keep the long view and remind ourselves that we're here to serve the public's long term interests. Fourth, I hope you'll never take the honor of public service for granted. Some of us will serve in Government for a season others will spend an entire career here. But all of us should dedicate ourselves to great goals. We are not here to mark time but to make progress, to achieve results, and to leave a record of excellence. Fifth, we should never forget that we're part of the same team. The American people do not distinguish between political and career employees. They don't hold us to separate standards. The public has high expectations for the entire Government, and together we will meet those expectations. And sixth, we should always remember, every dollar we spend is the taxpayers' money. People worked hard to earn it, and so we should spend it wisely and reluctantly. That will take discipline and creative leadership, and I urge all of us to show that kind of leadership. I know that you face barriers in trying to lead creatively. Some of them are imposed by Congress, including barriers to hiring people you need, rewarding men and women of merit, and contracting services which would save the taxpayers money. And that's why, last August, my administration released a strategy for improving the performance of the Federal Government. And that is why, shortly, we will be sending to Congress the "Freedom to Manage Act" and the "Managerial Flexibility Act," which will allow you to manage more efficiently and serve the public in better fashion. Those of you in high places of Government are more than administrators and experts. You hold the ideals and hopes of the Nation in trust. And I want to thank you for your willingness to serve our great Nation. It is an incredible honor for me to be the leader of such a strong team on behalf of the American people, a team of men and women who could be doing something else but have decided, "I want to serve the greatest land on the face of the Earth." Let's do our duty. Let's hold ourselves to the highest of standards. And we'll leave this city and this Government better than we found it. Thank you for having me. May God bless your work, and may God bless America. October 14, 2001 Taliban Q. Mr. President, there's a new offer from the Taliban to turn over bin Laden. What's your response to that, sir? The President. Turn him over. Turn him over turn his cohorts over turn any hostages they hold over destroy all the terrorist camps. There's no need to negotiate. There's no discussions. I told them exactly what they need to do. And there's no need to discuss innocence or guilt. We know he's guilty. Turn him over. If they want us to stop our military operations, they've just got to meet my conditions. Now, when I said no negotiation, I meant no negotiation. Q. You reject his offer? The President. I don't know what the offer is. All they've got to do is turn him over, and his colleagues and the stocks he hides, as well as destroy his camps, and the innocent people being held hostage in Afghanistan. Q. They want you to stop the bombing and see evidence. The President. There's no negotiation they must have not heard there's no negotiation. This is nonnegotiable. These people, if they're interested in us stopping our military operations we will do so if they meet the conditions that I outlined in my speech to the United States Congress. It's as simple as that. There's nothing to negotiate about. They're harboring a terrorist, and they need to turn him over and not only turn him over, turn the Al Qaida organization over, destroy all the terrorist camps actually, we're doing a pretty good job of that right now and release the hostages they hold. That's all they've got to do, but there is no negotiation, period. October 14, 2001 Thank you very much. I'm honored to have this opportunity to speak to the American Society of Anesthesiologists. During the past few days, our Nation has experienced one of the darkest moments in our history. Yet, even in the midst of this tragedy, the eternal lights of America's goodness and greatness have shown through. We've seen it in the countless Americans who gave blood or donated money. We've seen it in the tales of heroic police officers and firemen who went into the World Trade Centers to save lives. And we've seen it in the simple yet profound gestures of love and patriotism from every part of the American family. It's been said that public service is not limited to public office. And the events of the past few days have shown how true that is. I want to thank all of you in the American Society of Anesthesiologists for doing your part during the difficult past few days. Whether it was the doctors who worked overtime to help victims in New York and Washington or those who gave money and offered prayers, our Nation is blessed by so many dedicated health care professionals. But the business of our Nation goes forward. America faces many challenges, including those in health care. Let me be clear about this We will win the war on terrorism, and we will also continue to fight important battles at home. And that means my administration remains committed to improving the quality of health care for all Americans and improving Medicare for all seniors. My administration remains committed to passing a real Patients' Bill of Rights. With your help, we'll pass a bill that puts the care of patients in the hands of doctors, not trial lawyers. I will continue to support commonsense reforms that enhance the rights of the patient without unnecessarily raising the cost of health care and increasing the number of uninsured. And I believe this can be done. The compromise Congressman Norwood and I forged this summer and passed by the House of Representatives represents the best and most real solution. Simply put, it achieves both the goals of improving the quality of health without unnecessarily raising health care costs. And for our seniors, we're committed to reforming Medicare. For too long, too many doctors and too many Medicare patients have had to fight not only illness but also bureaucracy. My goal in reforming Medicare is to make it less bureaucratic and more efficient. Here are the main principles for strengthening and improving Medicare Nobody on Medicare will see any change in Medicare unless he or she wants it. There will be new Medicare choices, and all of these new choices will offer prescription drugs. Medicare plans will compete by offering better service and lower premiums. Medicare will respond better to the needs of seniors, especially low income seniors and seniors with high medical bills. And Medicare modernization will strengthen the program's long term financial security. These are principles which will strengthen one of our Nation's most sacred obligations, the health of our senior citizens. We will protect seniors now, offering exciting new services and more choices to seniors in the future, and guarantee prescription drug coverage. And we will do it without overtaxing our children and our grandchildren. Medicine is constantly improving. Medicare must keep pace. That's my administration's commitment today and its exciting new vision for health care in America. Again, thank you all for allowing me to join you. And thanks for all you are doing to make America great. God bless you all, and may God bless America. October 13, 2001 Good morning. This week we opened some important new fronts in the war on terror. We're taking the war to the enemy, and we are strengthening our defenses here at home. In last week's radio address, I warned that time was running out for the Taliban to turn over the terrorists they shelter. They did not listen, and they are paying a price. On Sunday American and British forces launched strikes at terrorist camps and Taliban military targets in Afghanistan. Our men and women in uniform are performing as they always do, with skill and courage, and they have achieved the goals of the first phase of our campaign. We have disrupted the terrorist network inside Afghanistan. We have weakened the Taliban's military, and we have crippled the Taliban's air defenses. American forces dominate the skies over Afghanistan, and we will use that dominance to make sure terrorists can no longer freely use Afghanistan as a base of operations. This campaign will not be completed in one attack. Our enemy prefers to attack the helpless. He hides from our soldiers. But we're making a determined effort to take away his hiding places. The best defense against terrorism is a strong offensive against terrorists. That work continues. At the same time, we are taking further action to strengthen our protections against terrorism here at home. This week I signed an Executive order creating a new Office of Homeland Security. The Office is headed by a skilled and tested leader, former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge. Governor Ridge is a decorated Vietnam combat veteran. He's an effective executive, and he knows what we're up against because his own State was one of the three where Americans died on September the 11th. Governor Ridge is charged with coordinating a comprehensive national effort to protect our country against terrorism, to frustrate terrorists' plans, to help protect vulnerable points, and to prepare our response to potential threats. Tom Ridge will report directly to me, and he will have the full support of our entire Government. I understand that many Americans are feeling uneasy. But all Americans should be assured We are taking strong precautions we are vigilant we are determined. The country is alert, and the great power of the American Nation will be felt. Our Nation is grateful to so many Americans who are rallying to our cause and preparing for the struggle ahead FBI agents intelligence officers emergency response workers public health authorities State and local officials our diplomats abroad law enforcement teams who safeguard our security at home and soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen who defend us so far away. Many others are asking, "What can I do?" Americans already contribute to the war on terror by their patience and patriotism, by their resolve and generosity. Yet, I have one more task, one especially for America's children. I urge you to show the best of America by directly helping the children of Afghanistan who are suffering from the oppression and misrule of their own Government. Many are malnourished many are starving. Put a dollar in an envelope. Mark it, "America's Fund for Afghan Children," and send it here to the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20509 1600. Working with the American Red Cross, we will get that money to Afghan children in need. This is something the children of America can do for the children of Afghanistan, even as we oppose the brutal Taliban regime. We will oppose their evil with firm justice, and we will answer their hatred with compassion for the Afghan people. Thank you for listening. October 12, 2001 Thank you all. Thank you very much. Please be seated. Bienvenidos. Here's the way I like to put it Mi Casa Blanca es su Casa Blanca. Laughter We're gathered here to celebrate the contributions of Hispanic Americans to our life. In a few moments, I will sign a Executive order creating a Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans, to open new doors of opportunity for Hispanic boys and girls all across America. Before I do, I have some thanks. First, I want to thank mi abogado y tambien mi amigo. I want to thank Judge Gonzales for his sound advice. I love him dearly. I want to thank the boys and girls for leading us in the pledge. Thank you all for being here. I don't know whether you know this or not, but 52 million other children joined us at 2 o'clock today, saying the Pledge of Allegiance, all across America. The past weeks have given new meaning to those old words and have only deepened our allegiance to our Nation and to our flag. I want to thank Jaci and Arturo for lending their voice and horn to this room. We've had some great music here throughout the years, and it's going to be hard to top what we heard today. I want to thank them both for coming. I want to thank all los voces Americanos that sang today. I am honored that you all are here. I love your music. I love your passion. I love your love for America. And we're glad you're here. And I'm glad America got to see some of our country's finest artists perform here in the East Room on a song that talks about the solidarity and love for our country, a love that knows no bounds, a love that knows no culture, a love that everybody can share who's lucky enough to live in America. And you all are welcome. Thank you for coming. I want to thank Emilio, especially, for lending your talents. The last time you were here was Cinco de Mayo. I said, "The next time you come, make sure you bring Gloria." Laughter It just goes to show the power of the Presidency. Laughter I want to thank Luis Palau as well, for your prayer. And I want to thank Don Francisco as well. It's good to see you again, sir. Thank you for coming. I'm proud that there's dos Embajadores aqui, uno de Mexico good to see you, Ambassador Juan Jose Bremer from Mexico y tambien el Embajador de Espan a esta aqui, Javier bienvenidos, Javier. I should have said there was three Ambassadors. I meant, two Ambassadors to America, but one of a friend of mine I named the Ambassador to the Dominican Republic has joined us, Hans Hertell. Hans, good to see you, Hans. I named a person who participated in Operation Pedro Pan. For those of you who don't know Operation Pedro Pan, years ago, Cuban moms and dads put their sons or daughters on a boat to America in order that they could live freely. They were uncertain about their own fate, but they knew they wanted their children to grow up in America, one of whom is now here. He's in my Cabinet, Mel Martinez. I named a good man to be on the U.S. Court of Appeals, the DC Circuit, a man named Miguel Estrada. Miguel, where are you? Thank you for coming, Miguel. You know, there's a lot of talk in Washington about making sure we have diversity on our courts, and there should be. I ask the Senate to move this man's nomination through. He's smart. He's capable. He needs that job. America needs to have him on the bench. Get him moving, before it's too late. Ambassador to the OAS representing America, Roger Noriega. Roger there he is. Roger, how are you, buddy? The next time, we'll try to get you a better seat. Laughter Either that, or show up on time. Laughter Al Rascon, who is the National Director of the U.S. Selective Service and, more importantly, a recipient of the Medal of Honor, is with us today. Thank you, Al, for being here. A man whose service has been called upon a lot, particularly for the businesses that were severely affected during the attack, Hector Barreto, the SBA Director. Leslie Sanchez, who is the Executive Director to the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. Where are you, Leslie? Leslie, right in front of me. The Treasurer of the United States, Rosario Marin Rosario. Cristina Saralegui where is she? Cristina. As you know, I used to be associated with the baseball world, and we're honored to have some Major Leaguers here with us today. And we've got a great White Sox outfielder. Donde esta Senor Ordonez from the White Sox? There he is. Como esta, Magglio? Welcome. Glad you're here. Another Ordonez, Rey Ordonez. Good to see you, Rey. Thank you for coming. Maybe next year. Laughter Nelson Figueroa de la Phillies. Good to see you, Nelson. Thank you for coming. I'll get you afterwards. And from the San Francisco Giants, Russ Ortiz. Russ, thank you for coming. I'm honored you all are here. Thanks for coming. Thanks for setting a good example. Thanks for understanding that people look at you off the field of play as well as on the field of play. It's important that there be young boys and girls look up to our baseball players and see a good example, and you're setting that. We're honored that you're here with us. We also have three with us today who represent the thousands of Hispanic Americans who serve in law enforcement and public safety. It's been a particularly trying time in New York City for the firefighters and police officers. Fortunately, we have three gentlemen today who represent those fine men and women Anthony Miranda of the New York City Latino Officers Association Anthony, thank you for coming applause let me try this a different way. Laughter We have two others to introduce. Laughter From the Hispanic Society of the New York City Police Department, we've got Louis Hernandez, and laughter from the Hispanic Society of the New York City Fire Department, Miguel Ramos. Now, thank you all for coming. Good job. Thanks for coming. Applause It is clear America is pulling for you all. And please pass on the word to the men and women who wear the uniform how proud we are and how much we mourn with you and how heroic you have been. The Nation appreciates it very much. You know, obviously this is a time of great national unity. The evil ones struck, but they forgot who they were striking, evidently. They thought they were going to weaken us, but they didn't. We're strong and united. I've been amazed by the incredible acts of kindness that I've heard about, and obviously we've all been impressed by the acts of heroism. This is the good news that has come during this tragedy. We've all come to realize how much we need each other. Today there's been another reported case of anthrax, in New York City at NBC News. And it has got to cause concern for our Nation. But I want everybody in the country to know we're responding rapidly. First of all, the person is feeling fine. She's doing well. She obviously didn't ingest enough to cause death, thank God. But we've got teams on the ground the CDC, Center for Disease Control, the FBI, working closely with local agencies to respond quickly. Our Nation is still in danger. But the Government is doing everything in our power to protect our citizenry. We need each other more than ever, and we're responding as quickly and as forcefully as we can. The American people need to go about their lives. We cannot let the terrorists lock our country down. We can't let terrorists, a few evildoers, hold us hostage. Our Government will fight terrorism across the seas, and we'll fight it here at home. And the American people need to fight terrorism as well, by going to work, going to ball games, getting on airplanes, singing with joy and strength, like you all did today. They will not take this country down. We will not be cowed, and we're certainly not going to be divided. The evil ones, as well as the rest of the world, are learning that we're a nation made up of many cultures, many races, and many religions, but we are one strong nation. We've suffered loss together we have entered a mighty struggle together and we will prevail together. The diversity of America has always been always been a great strength of this country. Here, you can be proud of your cultural heritage, proud of your ancestry, proud of your native language, and still be a proud American. We see the spirit of pride today, most vividly in the ties between our country and los que viven en Latin America y tambien el sur de America. A lifetime in Texas has given me many things to be thankful for one of them, for certain, is my appreciation for the Hispanic culture. I realize how much the Hispanic culture has enriched my State. And I realize how much the Hispanic culture enriches my Nation, as well. This month, our country recognizes just how much we owe to the Hispanic culture and, more important, to the Hispanic Americans we're proud to call our fellow citizens. And we do so as we do so, we recognize as well our obligation to ensure that every American has an equal place in our society from the earliest years in life. This Nation of immigrant heritage believes that all children, whatever their circumstances, deserve a chance to learn and rise and succeed. This principle has guided my education reforms as we work to raise the standards of public schools across America and bring hope to every classroom for every child I mean every child, not just a few, not just those whose parents may speak English. We want educational excellence para todos que viven en este pais. So today I am creating a commission to help chart the path to greater achievement amongst Hispanic American students in every part of our country. I am pleased to sign this order in front of such distinguished company. And I'm proud I'm proud to be the President of such a great nation. Thank you for coming. And God bless. October 12, 2001 Thank you all very much for your warm welcome. I'm honored to be here. I understand that for more than six decades, the volunteers and supporters of the March of Dimes have given help and hope to those in need, and I'm here to say thanks on behalf of the American people. I'm also here to ask Americans for a good deed, something the children of America can do to help the children of Afghanistan. Before I begin, I want to thank Tommy Thompson for his leadership. He left a great State almost as good as Texas laughter to come and serve his country. And he's doing a fabulous job. As you know, there was a recent incident with anthrax in Florida. And Tommy handled that incident with such calm and such purpose and got the facts on the table early so that the American people were able to react in a way that did not disrupt their lives and, at the same time, felt comfortable that our Government was doing everything we could possibly do to protect the lives of citizens. Tommy is doing a great job. I'm glad I picked him, and I'm glad he came. I, too, want to thank Gary and Jennifer for their leadership thank the members of the trustees who are here. I want to thank the sponsors of the March of Dimes and this convention who are here. And I particularly want to thank the volunteers from all across America who have come today. I not only appreciate your hard work on behalf of children in America I appreciate you setting a good example by getting on the airplanes and trains and buses and going about the business of America. We will not let the terrorists hold us hostage in our country. I'm especially proud to be here with an organization that's one of the most successful voluntary health organizations in the history of our Nation. For more than 60 years, 60 long years, the March of Dimes has coupled compassion and persistence. Your resolve in combating disease has changed the world in which we live. Today, you're advocating better access to prenatal care, expanded health care coverage, and a greater awareness of proper nutrition and immunization. You're supporting genetic testing, screening, and research. These efforts are saving the lives of women and children and advancing the frontiers of medicine. You're working to reduce birth rates by 10 percent, reduce infant mortality to 7 per 1,000 live births, limit low birth rate to no more than 5 percent of all live births, and increase the number of women who get prenatal care in the first trimester to 90 percent such important goals for our country, such an admirable cause, and I'm here to thank you for it. Advancing these frontiers is also a priority of my administration, as Tommy pointed out. We're working with Congress to increase funding for the National Institutes of Health by 2.8 billion next year. And that's part of an effort to double NIH's funding to develop treatments and cures for some of the most deadly and debilitating diseases, diseases that affect Americans of all ages. The March of Dimes is a great influence, and it's important for America to understand its history as well. In the 1930s, America lived in fear of contracting a disease simply known as "the crippler." Parents were afraid to send their children to public swimming pools or movie theaters. Countless children were in leg braces, transported in wheelchairs, or confined to what was called iron lungs. In 1938, in the course of 4 months, America sent 2.6 million dimes to the White House in 4 short months, beginning a campaign that eventually resulted in the end of polio. This effort was even more extraordinary because it took place during the Great Depression, when a dime meant a heck of a lot more then than it means today. Laughter At the height of the Depression, onethird of Americans were unemployed. Nearly 40 percent of banks had failed, and there was great anxiety and uncertainty in our country. Yet, hard times drew people together. The Great Depression tested America's character and revealed America at its best. Americans have shown a similar strength since September the 11th. Terrorists hoped our Nation would come apart. That's what they hoped for. But instead, we've come together. Our country is more resolved, more united, and guided by a greater sense of purpose than any time during our lifetimes. And some important things about our culture seem to be shifting. After the attacks, moms and dads held their children closer, and maybe for a moment longer. Millions have gone to synagogues and churches and mosques to renew their faith, to find perspective, to be reminded of the true values of life. As Americans, we've mourned together, felt the same outrage and resolve, and we've helped our neighbors even when they're strangers. People are looking to things that are precious and permanent, things like family and faith, community, love of country, and love of one another. In America, it seems like we're putting first things first. In my Inaugural Address, I said that some Americans feel like they share a continent but not a country. Today, that feeling is gone. We know we are a single nation, each a part of one another. The terrorists did not intend this unity and resolve, but they're powerless to stop them. Our Nation has suffered a great loss. Yet, we are told that tribulation brings about perseverance and perseverance, proven character and proven character, hope. And hope does not disappoint. Late in life, Eleanor Roosevelt was asked what her husband had learned from the experience of polio. She said that Franklin had gained strength and courage he had not had before. "He had to think out the fundamentals of living," she said, "and learn the greatest of all lessons, infinite patience and never ending persistence." We all need to have a bit of Franklin Roosevelt in us today. We are engaged in a struggle that calls for patience and persistence. We face an enemy that plans in secret and acts without morality and without remorse. We must fight this enemy wherever he plans or hides or runs, abroad and here at home. That will take time and determination. Yet, they're going to learn that we will not rest, and we will not fail. Ours is a war against terrorism and evil, not against Islam. Americans respect and admire that religion of peace. And I'm proud our country is home to many followers of the Islamic faith. Those who hijacked four airliners on September the 11th are also trying to hijack Islam. But the mass killing of innocent people clearly violates Islam, and countries and clerics throughout the Islamic world have rejected these acts. Nor is our war against global terrorism a war against the people of Afghanistan. The Afghan people are victims of oppression and misrule of the Taliban regime. There are few places on Earth that face greater misery. One out of every four children dies before the age of 5 in Afghanistan. It is estimated that one in every three children in Afghanistan is an orphan. Almost half suffer from chronic malnutrition millions face the threat of starvation. The situation is so bad, so bad, that we read about 3 year old children in Afghanistan who weigh less than the average newborn in America. We're trying to get food to starving Afghans. In contrast, the Taliban regime, those who house the evildoers, has harnessed international aid harassed international aid workers and chased them out of their country. The people of Afghanistan have suffered too long under Taliban rule. That suffering provides us with a task. I'm asking every child in America to give not a dime but a dollar to a specific cause, a relief effort for the children of Afghanistan. And I want to report to the Nation that after I laid out this initiative last night, and confirming it here at your convention, that I've received the first dollar. Laughter It came from Justin Washington. I know Justin pretty well. Laughter I got to see him in the Oval Office, and he made it clear, his boots were better than mine. Laughter But Justin, I want to thank you. Justin knows what I know A dollar today is roughly equivalent to what a dime was in the late 1930s. It's an appropriate place to announce this initiative of compassion. I hope American children in their classrooms and families in their homes put a dollar in an envelope and send it to America's Fund for Afghan Children, to the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue laughter Washington, DC 20509. Laughter Schools, community and youth organizations can organize events to raise money for this cause. And they can, at the same time, demonstrate compassion and mercy in this hour of need. This effort is an opportunity to help others while teaching our children a valuable lesson about service and character. We will work with the Red Cross to make sure the money is used for food and medicine, to make sure the money provides hope and help to the children of Afghanistan. We'll also coordinate with the Administrator of USAID to ensure that our efforts build on the important humanitarian work already being done. During the last month, Americans have been extraordinarily generous in their giving of time and money. We still face many needs and challenges at home. And that's why Americans should continue supporting community based organizations like the March of Dimes, which is doing so much good all across the country. And Americans are the most generous people on Earth. And because the suffering is so great, I know we need to lend a hand to the children who live a world a halfway around the a place a halfway around the world from here. By embracing Afghan children, we assert the American ideal. Our Nation is the greatest force for good in the world history. We value the lives and rights of all people. Our compassion and concern do not stop at our border. They reach across the world. Americans are determined to fight for our security, no question about it. And we're all equally determined to live up to our principles. And I hope, I hope all Americans will help us show those principles to the entire world. Thank you for what you do, and may God bless America. October 11, 2001 The President. Good evening. Thank you. Good evening. I would like to report to the American people on the state of our war against terror, and then I'll be happy to take questions from the White House press corps. One month ago today, innocent citizens from more than 80 nations were attacked and killed, without warning or provocation, in an act that horrified not only every American but every person of every faith and every nation that values human life. The attack took place on American soil, but it was an attack on the heart and soul of the civilized world. And the world has come together to fight a new and different war, the first, and we hope the only one, of the 21st century, a war against all those who seek to export terror and a war against those governments that support or shelter them. We've accomplished a great deal in one month. Our staunch friends, Great Britain, our neighbors Canada and Mexico, our NATO Allies, our allies in Asia, Russia, and nations from every continent on the Earth have offered help of one kind or another, from military assistance to intelligence information, to crack down on terrorists' financial networks. This week 56 Islamic nations issued a statement strongly condemning the savage acts of terror and emphasizing that those acts contradict the peaceful teachings of Islam. All is strong and united on the diplomatic front. The men and women of the United States military are doing their duty with skill and success. We have ruined terrorist training camps, disrupted their communications, weakened the Taliban military, and destroyed most of their air defenses. We're mounting a sustained campaign to drive the terrorists out of their hidden caves and to bring them to justice. All missions are being executed according to plan on the military front. At the same time, we are showing the compassion of America by delivering food and medicine to the Afghan people, who are, themselves, the victims of a repressive regime. On the law enforcement front, terrorists are being swept up in an international dragnet. Several hundred have been arrested. Thousands of FBI agents are on the trail of other suspects here and abroad. Working with countries around the world, we have frozen more than 24 million in Al Qaida or Taliban assets. We are aggressively pursuing the agents of terror around the world, and we are aggressively strengthening our protections here at home. This week we established America's new Office of Homeland Security, directed by former Governor Tom Ridge. Americans tonight can know that while the threat is ongoing, we are taking every possible step to protect our country from danger. Your Government is doing everything we can to recover from these attacks and to try to prevent others. We're acting to make planes and airports safer, rebuild New York and the Pentagon. We must act to stimulate a slow economy, to help laid off workers, and we must fund our military. This is a time of testing this time of testing has revealed the true character of the American people. We're angry at the evil that was done to us, yet patient and just in our response. Before September 11th, my administration was planning an initiative called Communities of Character. It was designed to help parents develop good character in our children and to strengthen a spirit of citizenship and service in our communities. The acts of September 11th have prompted that initiative to occur on its own, in ways far greater than I could have ever imagined. We've shown great love for our country and great tolerance and respect for all our countrymen. I was struck by this, that in many cities, when Christian and Jewish women learned that Muslim women, women of cover, were afraid of going out of their homes alone, that they went shopping with them, that they showed true friendship and support, an act that shows the world the true nature of America. Our war on terrorism has nothing to do with differences in faith. It has everything to do with people of all faiths coming together to condemn hate and evil and murder and prejudice. One month after great suffering and sorrow, America is strong and determined and generous. I'm honored to lead such a country, and I know we are ready for the challenges ahead. And now I welcome your questions. Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press . FBI Warning Domestic Response Q. Thank you, sir. You said that the threat is ongoing, and, indeed, the deadly virus of anthrax was found in three Florida people this week. Usama bin Laden's spokesman says storms of planes are yet to be hijacked. Your FBI warned just today that terrorist attacks could be happening again in the next couple of days. If the FBI knows of a credible threat, can you assure the public that you would take the precaution of locking down any system involved, whether it's buildings, airports, water systems, to prevent more deaths? And most importantly, is there anything you can say to Americans who feel helpless to protect themselves and their families from the next wave of attacks, if there are more to come? What can people do to protect themselves? The President. Sure. Today the Justice Department did issue a blanket alert. It was in recognition of a general threat we received. This is not the first time the Justice Department have acted like this. I hope it's the last, but given the attitude of the evildoers, it may not be. I have urged our fellow Americans to go about their lives, to fly on airplanes, to travel, to go to work. But I also want to encourage them by telling them that our Government is on full alert. And that the alert put out today from the Justice Department was such an action. Now, if we receive specific intelligence, where we a credible threat that targets a specific building or city or facility, I can assure you our Government will do everything possible to protect the citizens around and in or near that facility. And let me give you one example of a specific threat we received. You may remember recently there was a lot of discussion about crop dusters. We received knowledge that perhaps an Al Qaida operative was prepared to use a crop duster to spray a biological weapon or a chemical weapon on American people. And so we responded. We contacted every crop dust location, airports from which crop dusters leave. We notified crop duster manufacturers to a potential threat. We knew full well that in order for a crop duster to become a weapon of mass destruction would require a retrofitting, and so we talked to machine shops around where crop dusters are located. We took strong and appropriate action. And we will do so any time we receive a credible threat. Now, the American people have got to go about their business. We cannot let the terrorists achieve the objective of frightening our Nation to the point where we don't where we don't conduct business, where people don't shop. That's their intention. Their intention was not only to kill and maim and destroy. Their intention was to frighten to the point where our Nation would not act. Their intention was to so frighten our Government that we wouldn't seek justice, that somehow we would cower in the face of their threats and not respond, abroad or at home. We're both responding abroad and at home. The American people, obviously, if they see something that is suspicious, something out of the norm that looks suspicious, they ought to notify local law authorities. But in the meantime, they ought to take comfort in knowing our Government is doing everything we possibly can. We've got a Homeland Security Office now running, as I mentioned, headed by Tom Ridge. We're sharing intelligence with our friends in countries from overseas. We follow every lead. And information sharing between the CIA and the FBI is seamless, so that the reaction to any threat is realtime. But the truth of the matter is, in order to fully defend America, we must defeat the evildoers where they hide. We must round them up, and we must bring them to justice. And that's exactly what we're doing in Afghanistan, the first battle in the war of the 21st century. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Action Against Al Qaida and the Taliban Q. Thank you. You've been careful to avoid saying how long the military strikes in Afghanistan might take place. But can you promise to say how long American can you avoid being drawn into a Vietnamlike quagmire in Afghanistan? The President. We learned some very important lessons in Vietnam. Perhaps the most important lesson that I learned is that you cannot fight a guerrilla war with conventional forces. That's why I've explained to the American people that we're engaged in a different type of war, one obviously that will use conventional forces but one in which we've got to fight on all fronts. I remember saying to you all that the first shot in the war was when we started cutting off their money, because an Al Qaida organization can't function without money. And we're continuing our efforts to reach out to willing nations to disrupt and seize assets of the Al Qaida organization. We are in the process of rounding up Al Qaida members around the world. There are Al Qaida organizations in, roughly, 68 countries. And over 200 have now been apprehended. And every time I talk to a world leader, I urge them to continue finding the Al Qaida representatives and bring them to justice. As far as the use of conventional forces, we've got a clear plan, and it's to say to the host government that you have been given your chance and by the way, I gave them ample opportunity to turn over Al Qaida. I made it very clear to them, in no uncertain terms, that in order to avoid punishment, they should turn over the parasites that hide in their country. They obviously refused to do so, and now they're paying a price. We are dismantling their military, disrupting their communications, severing their ability to defend themselves. And slowly but surely, we're smoking Al Qaida out of their caves so we can bring them to justice. People often ask me, how long will this last? This particular battlefront will last as long as it takes to bring Al Qaida to justice. It may happen tomorrow it may happen a month from now it may take a year or 2. But we will prevail. And what the American people need to know is what our allies know I am determined to stay the course. And we must do so. We must do so. We must rid the world of terrorists so our children and grandchildren can grow up in freedom. It is essential. It is now our time to act, and I'm proud to lead a country that understands that. Nature and Scope of Antiterrorist Action Q. Mr. President, today Defense Secretary Rumsfeld said that Usama bin Laden was probably still in Afghanistan. How can the U.S. get him, dead or alive, to use words that you've used recently, if we're not entirely sure whether he's in the country? And can we win the war on terrorism if bin Laden is not found? The President. Ours is a war against terrorism in general. Mr. bin Laden is a is one of the worst. But as you may remember, we published the 22 Most Wanted. He's one of 22 we're after. In terms of Mr. bin Laden himself, we'll get him running. We'll smoke him out of his cave, and we'll get him eventually. But success or failure depends not on bin Laden success or failure depends upon routing out terrorism where it may exist all around the world. He's just one person, a part of a network, and we're slowly, but surely, with determined fashion, routing that network out and bringing it to justice. We've been active for a month. I intend to be giving you a briefing for as long as I'm the President. I understand this is a unconventional war. It's a different kind of war. It's not the kind of war that we're used to in America. The greatest generation was used to storming beachheads baby boomers, such as myself, were used to getting caught in a quagmire of Vietnam where politics made decisions more than the military sometimes generation X was able to watch technology right in front of their TV screens you know, burrow into concrete bunkers in Iraq and blow them up. This is a different kind of war that requires a different type of approach and a different type of mentality. And so we're going to slowly but surely tighten the net on terrorists, wherever they live. And it's essential to do so now it's essential to do so now. The actions my Government takes, in concert with other countries, the actions we take at home to defend ourselves will serve as a go by for future Presidents, or future Prime Ministers in Britain, for example, or future FBI Directors. It is important that we stay the course, bring these people to justice, to show and show others how to fight the new wars of the 21st century. Helen Helen Thomas, Hearst Newspapers . Q. Mr. President, on that note, we understand you have advisers who are urging you to go after Iraq, take out Iraq, Syria, and so forth. Do you really think that the American people will tolerate you widening the war beyond Afghanistan? And I have a followup. Laughter The President. Thank you for warning me. Laughter Our focus is on Afghanistan and the terrorist network hiding in Afghanistan, right now. But as well, we're looking for Al Qaida cells around the world. If we find an Al Qaida cell operating, we will urge the host country to bring them to justice, and we're having some progress we're making progress. As I mentioned, Helen, this is a long war against terrorist activity. And the doctrine I spelled out to the American people in front of Congress said not only will we seek out and bring to justice individual terrorists who cause harm to people, to murder people we will also bring to justice the host governments that sponsor them, that house them and feed them. You mentioned Iraq. There's no question that the leader of Iraq is an evil man. After all, he gassed his own people. We know he's been developing weapons of mass destruction. And I think it's in his advantage to allow inspectors back in his country to make sure that he's conforming to the agreement he made, after he was soundly trounced in the Gulf war. And so we're watching him very carefully. We're watching him carefully. Your followup, please. Situation in the Middle East Q. It's a little offbeat, but laughter The President. Okay. Well, I expect an offbeat question, frankly. Q. you've met twice in the White House, since you've been in office, with Prime Minister Sharon. But you have refused to meet with Yasser Arafat. Now that you envision a Palestinian state, will you meet with Arafat and, if so, when? The President. I want to assure the American people, in particular our allies who are interested in our position in the Middle East, that we're spending a lot of time dealing with the Middle East. I know there was some concern amongst our allies when the September 11th right after the September 11th attack, that we would forgo any responsibility we have in the Middle East. Secretary of State Powell is doing a great job of staying in contact with both Mr. Arafat and Prime Minister Sharon. I have met with Prime Minister Sharon, and I've assured him every time we've met that he has no better friend than the United States of America. I also stated the other day that if we ever get into the Mitchell process where we can start discussing a political solution in the Middle East, that I believe there ought to be a Palestinian state, the boundaries of which will be negotiated by the parties, so long as the Palestinian state recognizes the right of Israel to exist and will treat Israel with respect. Obviously, the events of September 11th have prevented overt diplomacy in the Middle East not prevented it, it just made it my calendar is a little crowded. On the other hand, I am very much engaged. I have spoken to Prime Minister Sharon again. And if I am convinced that a meeting with a particular party at this point in time will further the process, I will do so. If it turns out to be an empty photo opportunity that creates expectations that will become dashed, I won't meet. I hope progress is being made. I was pleased to see that Mr. Arafat is trying to control the radical elements within the Palestinian Authority. And I think the world ought to applaud him for that. I hope he's taking measures necessary to reduce the violence in the Middle East, so that we can get into the Mitchell process. We're working hard on the topic, Helen. It's a very important part of our foreign policy. David David Gregory, NBC News . Usama bin Laden and Al Qaida Q. Mr. President, good evening. I'd like to ask you for a more complete portrait of your progress so far. Can you tell the American people, specifically, what is the state of Usama bin Laden? What is the state of the Al Qaida network? Are they on the run? To what extent have you been able to disrupt their activities? Do you believe there are members of those cells still in the United States capable of carrying out terrorist acts? And, again, do you know whether Usama bin Laden is dead or alive? The President. Yes. Let me start backwards. I don't know if he's dead or alive. I want him brought to justice, however. We are following every possible lead to make sure that any Al Qaida member that could be in the United States is brought to justice. The FBI has got thousands of agents who are following every hint of a possibility of an Al Qaida member in our country. We're chasing down the leads of that have been given to us as a result of the bombing, and we're following other leads. Let me say one thing about the FBI that I think people will find interesting. All of us in Government are having to adjust our way of thinking about the new war. The military is going to have to adjust. They've recognized and Secretary Rumsfeld clearly understands this that we need to have a that we need to rethink how we configure our military there's been some stories to that effect so that we can more effectively respond to asymmetrical responses from terrorist organizations. The FBI must think differently, and Director Mueller is causing them to do so. The FBI, as you know, spent a lot of manpower and time chasing spies in a postcold war era. They were still chasing spies nothing wrong with that, except we have a new enemy. And now the FBI is rightly directing resources toward homeland security. It's been an adjustment. And I'm proud to report that Director Mueller has adjusted quickly. I am confident that the Al Qaida organization is moving around Afghanistan. They think they might find safe haven? Not if we think they're there. And we've got them on the run. The other day we brought to justice a person that killed an American citizen in 1986. He was charged with murder. And I made a point of talking about that in a press conference because I wanted not only terrorists to understand but the American people to understand that we'll be patient, if need be, to bring them to justice. We'll find them. And he thought his this is an interesting case in Afghanistan because it's he thought he had hijacked a country. He actually did for a while. He forced a country to accept his radical thoughts. And it became a safe haven for bin Laden and the Al Qaida organization. It's no longer a safe haven, that's for sure, because of our military activity, David. Yes, Elisabeth Elisabeth Bumiller, New York Times . Ensuring Continuity of Government Q. Mr. President, you've tried very hard to assure Americans that the country is safe, and yet your own Vice President has spent most of this week in a secure location. Can you explain why that is and also how long that will last? The President. Sure. I shook hands with the Vice President today in the Oval Office. I welcomed him out of his secure location. Laughter There are some times when the Vice President and I will be together, and sometimes we won't be. We take very seriously the notion of the continuity of Government. It's a responsibility we share, to make sure that under situations such as this, when there are possible threats facing our Government, that we separate ourselves, for the sake of continuity of our Government. And I was pleased to see him. He's looking swell. Laughter Jim Jim Angle, Fox News . Nature of the Coalition Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Sir, some critics have expressed doubts about trying to get nations that once sponsored terrorism to now cooperate in the effort against terrorism. Would you share your thinking with us, sir, and is it your view that every sinner should get a chance to redeem himself that there is, in effect, an amnesty for nations that once sponsored terrorism if they will now stop and cooperate with us? The President. Of course. But our ability to affect host nations harboring terrorists will depend upon our determination, our will, our patience. We are sending a signal to the world, as we speak, that if you harbor a terrorist, there will be a price to pay. And there are nations in the world that have expressed a desire to help. Helen mentioned Syria. The Syrians have talked to us about how they can help in the war against terrorism. We take that we take that seriously, and we'll give them an opportunity to do so. I'm a performance oriented person. I believe in results. And if you want to join the coalition against terror, we'll welcome you in. I have recognized some countries will do things that others won't do. All I ask is for results. If you say you want to join us to cut off money, show us the money. If you say you want to join us militarily, like Great Britain does, do so and they have done so in a fashion that should make the people of Great Britain proud. If you're interested in sharing intelligence, share intelligence all ways. I appreciate diplomatic talk, but I'm more interested in action and results. I am absolutely determined absolutely determined to rout terrorism out where it exists and bring them to justice. We learned a good lesson on September the 11th, that there is evil in this world. I know there's a lot of children in America wondering what took place. I think it's essential that all moms and dads and citizens tell their children we love them and there is love in the world, but also remind them there are evil people. And it's my duty as the President of the United States to use the resources of this great Nation, a freedom loving nation, a compassionate nation, a nation that understands values of life, and rout terrorism out where it exists. And we're going to give plenty of nations a chance to do so. Terry Terry Moran, ABC News . FBI Warning Q. Back to the FBI warning of today, which was based, it said, on certain information that there would be retaliatory attacks over the next several days. Given the complete generality of that warning, what does it really accomplish, aside from scaring people into not doing what you've urged them to do getting back to their normal lives what should they do with it, and did you personally approve the issuance of that warning? The President. I'm aware of the intelligence that caused the warning to be issued, and it was a general threat on America. And as I mentioned earlier, had it been a specific threat, we would have contacted those to whom the threat was directed. But Terry, I think it is important for the American people to know their Government is on full alert, and that's what that warning showed. We take every threat seriously, and the American people shouldn't be surprised that we're issuing alerts. After all, on our TV screens the other day, we saw the evil one threatening calling for more destruction and death in America. And so we should take these threats seriously. And we had another threat, a general threat. Had it been specific, we would have dealt with the specifics of the threat. I think the American people should take comfort in the fact that their Government is doing everything we possibly can do to run down every possible lead and take threats and we take threats seriously. I think the American people do understand that after September 11th, that we're facing a different world. And they accept that responsibility. They accept that responsibility. There is, I think, some positive news about the American people reacting to what we're doing. The load factors on airplanes are increasing. Now, I recognize certain routes have been reduced, but nevertheless, people are getting back on airplanes. That's important that that be the case. Hotels are getting more customers. That's important for the working people of the country. We are getting back to normal. We're doing so with a new sense of awareness. And the warning that went out today helped heighten that sense of awareness. John John Roberts, CBS News . Afghanistan Q. Mr. President, you've said on repeated occasions that you're not into nation building. Yet, it appears in this case, given the politics of the region, it may play a crucial role in resolving this crisis. Prime Minister Blair of Britain has said that the coalition, if the Taliban falls, will work to create a broadly based government. I'm wondering, sir, has that become a priority of your administration now, to devise a plan for a new government in Afghanistan? And what part might King Zahir Shah play in that? The President. Well, I think it's John, it's a first let me reiterate, my focus is bringing Al Qaida to justice and saying to the host Government, you had your chance to deliver. Actually, I will say it again if you cough him up, and his people, today, that we'll reconsider what we're doing to your country. You still have a second chance. Just bring him in, and bring his leaders and lieutenants and other thugs and criminals with him. I think we did learn a lesson, however, from and should learn a lesson from the previous engagement in the Afghan area, that we should not just simply leave after a military objective has been achieved. That's why and I sent that signal by announcing that we're going to spend 320 million of aid to the Afghan people. That's up from roughly 170 million this year. I personally think that a and I appreciate Tony Blair's and I've discussed this with him his vision about Afghan after we're successful Afghanistan after we're successful. One of the things we've got to make sure of is that all parties, all interested parties have an opportunity to be a part of a new government, that we shouldn't play favorites between one group or another within Afghanistan. Secondly, we've got to work for a stable Afghanistan so that her neighbors don't fear terrorist activity again coming out of that country. Third, it would be helpful, of course, to eradicate narcotrafficking out of Afghanistan, as well. I believe that the United Nations would could provide the framework necessary to help meet those conditions. It would be a useful function for the United Nations to take over the so called nationbuilding I would call it the stabilization of a future government after our military mission is complete. We'll participate other countries will participate. I've talked to many countries that are interested in making sure that the post operations Afghanistan is one that is stable and one that doesn't become yet again a haven for terrorist criminals. Ken Ken Walsh, U.S. News World Report . Domestic Reaction Q. Mr. President, I'm sure many Americans are wondering where all this will lead. And you've called upon the country to go back to business and to go back to normal. But you haven't called for any sacrifices from the American people. And I wonder, do you feel that any will be needed? Are you planning to call for any? And do you think that American life will really go back to the way it was on September 10th? The President. Well, you know, I think the American people are sacrificing now. I think they're waiting in airport lines longer than they've ever had before. I think that I think there's a certain sacrifice when you lose a piece of your soul. And Americans listen, I was standing up there at the Pentagon today, and I saw the tears of the families whose lives were lost in the Pentagon. And I said in my talk there that America prays with you. I think there's a sacrifice, there's a certain sense of giving themselves to share their grief with people they'll never, maybe, ever see in their lives. So America is sacrificing. America I think the interesting thing that has happened, and this is so sad an incident, but there are some positive things developed that are developing. One is, I believe that many people are reassessing what's important in life. Moms and dads are not only reassessing their marriage and the importance of their marriage but of the necessity of loving their children like never before. I think that's one of the positives that have come from the evildoers. The evil ones have sparked an interesting change in America, I think a compassion in our country that is overflowing. I know their intended act was to destroy us and make us cowards and make us not want to respond. But quite the opposite has happened. Our nation is united. We are strong. We're compassionate neighbors care about neighbors. The story I talked about earlier was one that really touched my heart, about women of cover fearing to leave their homes. And there was such an outpouring of compassion for people within our own country, a recognition that the Islamic faith should stand side by side, hand to hand with the Jewish faith and the Christian faith in our great land. It is such a wonderful example. You know, I'm asked all the time I'll ask myself a question. Laughter How do I respond to it's an old trick laughter how do I respond when I see that in some Islamic countries there is vitriolic hatred for America? I'll tell you how I respond I'm amazed. I'm amazed that there is such misunderstanding of what our country is about, that people would hate us. I am, I am like most Americans, I just can't believe it, because I know how good we are, and we've got to do a better job of making our case. We've got to do a better job of explaining to the people in the Middle East, for example, that we don't fight a war against Islam or Muslims. We don't hold any religion accountable. We're fighting evil. And these murderers have hijacked a great religion in order to justify their evil deeds. And we cannot let it stand. John John King, Cable News Network . Nature of the Coalition ABM Treaty Q. Mr. President, you have spoken with great pride of this international coalition. I want to ask you, before the events of September 11th, one of the big questions you faced this fall was, would you violate the Antiballistic Missile Treaty and go ahead with the missile defense plan if Russia did not strike a deal? Will you do that now because Russia's cooperation is so important? And separately but related, are you disappointed that while there have been some statements of support from the Muslim world and the Arab world, that there have not been more vocal and repeated statements agreeing with you that this is a war against terrorism, not Islam? The President. John, let me start with the latter part. I was heartened by the Organization of Islamic Conference's statement of support for our war against terror. I think that that statement spoke volumes about the attitude of Muslim nations, and I was pleased to see that support. Some coalition members will feel more comfortable doing certain things than other coalition members will. And my attitude is, and the attitude of my administration is, we'll accept any help that a government is comfortable in giving. And we should not try to force governments to do something that they can't do. Any help is better than no help. And so, I am so appreciative of the help we're getting in the Middle East. Somebody asked me the other day, was I pleased with the actions of Saudi Arabia. I am I appreciate the actions of that Government. In terms of missile defense, I can't wait to visit with my friend Vladimir Putin, in Shanghai, to reiterate once again that the cold war is over, it's done with, and that there are new threats that we face, and no better example of that new threat than the attack on America on September 11th. And I'm going to ask my friend to envision a world in which a terrorist thug and or a host nation might have the ability to develop to deliver a weapon of mass destruction via a via rocket. And wouldn't it be in our nations' advantage to be able to shoot it down? At the very least, it should be in our nations' advantage to determine whether we can shoot it down. And we're restricted from doing that because of an ABM Treaty that was signed during a totally different era. The case cannot be even the case is more strong today than it was on September the 10th that the ABM is outmoded, outdated, reflects a different time. And I'm more than I am more than anxious to continue making my case to them. And we will do what's right in regards to Q. Inaudible not agree, would you withdraw this year? The President. Excuse me, I'm having trouble hearing, John. Q. If he does not agree with you, would you withdraw from the ABM Treaty this year? The President. I have told Mr. Putin that the ABM Treaty is outdated, antiquated, and useless. And I hope that he will join us in a new strategic relationship. One more question, please. Thank you Domestic Response America's Fund for Afghan Children Q. You talk about the general threat toward Americans. You know, the Internet is crowded with all sorts of rumor and gossip and, kind of, urban myths. And people ask us, what is it they're supposed to be on the lookout for? Other than the 22 most wanted terrorists, what are Americans supposed to look for and report to the police or to the FBI? The President. Well, Ann Ann Compton, ABC News , you know, if you find a person that you've never seen before getting in a crop duster that doesn't belong to you laughter report it. Laughter If you see suspicious people lurking around petrochemical plants, report it to law enforcement. I mean, people need to be logical. Now, listen, I want to urge my fellow Americans not to use this as an opportunity to pick on somebody that doesn't look like you or doesn't share your religion. The thing that makes our Nation so strong and that will ultimately defeat terrorist activity is our willingness to tolerate people of different faiths, different opinions, different colors within the fabric of our society. And so I would urge my fellow Americans, obviously, if they see something suspicious, abnormal, something that looks threatening, report it to local law enforcement. Let me conclude by one final statement. Thank you all for coming. Before we leave, I want to make a special request to the children of America. I ask you to join in a special effort to help the children of Afghanistan. Their country has been through a great deal of war and suffering. Many children there are starving and are severely malnourished. One in three Afghan children is an orphan. Almost half suffer chronic malnutrition. And we can, and must, help them. We've created a special relief effort that will be supervised by the Red Cross. We are asking every child in America to earn or give a dollar that will be used to provide food and medical help for the children of Afghanistan. You can send your dollar in an envelope, marked America's Fund for Afghan Children, right here to the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC. This is an opportunity to help others, while teaching our own children a valuable lesson about service and character. I hope school classes or Boys and Girl Scout troops, other youth organizations will participate in any way to raise the money to send to the children. Wash your car. Do a yard for a neighbor. And I hope the adults will help them, as well. Ultimately, one of the best weapons, one of the truest weapons that we have against terrorism is to show the world the true strength of character and kindness of the American people. Americans are united in this fight against terrorism. We're also united in our concern for the innocent people of Afghanistan. Winter is coming, and by acting today we can help the children survive. Thank you for your questions. May God bless America. October 11, 2001 Please be seated. President and Senator Clinton, thank you all for being here. We have come here to pay our respects to 125 men and women who died in the service of America. We also remember 64 passengers on a hijacked plane, those men and women, boys and girls who fell into the hands of evildoers and also died here exactly one month ago. On September 11th, great sorrow came to our country. And from that sorrow has come great resolve. Today, we are a nation awakened to the evil of terrorism and determined to destroy it. That work began the moment we were attacked, and it will continue until justice is delivered. Americans are returning, as we must, to the normal pursuits of life. But we know that if you lost a son or daughter here or a husband or wife or mom or dad, life will never again be as it was. The loss was sudden and hard and permanent, so difficult to explain, so difficult to accept three schoolchildren traveling with their teacher an Army general a budget analyst who reported to work here for 30 years a lieutenant commander in the Naval Reserve who left behind a wife, a 4 year old son, and another child on the way. One life touches so many others. One death can leave sorrow that seems almost unbearable. But to all of you who lost someone here, I want to say You are not alone. The American people will never forget the cruelty that was done here and in New York and in the sky over Pennsylvania. We will never forget all the innocent people killed by the hatred of a few. We know the loneliness you feel in your loss. The entire Nation the entire Nation shares in your sadness. And we pray for you and your loved ones, and we will always honor their memory. The hijackers were instruments of evil who died in vain. Behind them is a cult of evil which seeks to harm the innocent and thrives on human suffering. Theirs is the worst kind of cruelty, the cruelty that is fed, not weakened, by tears. Theirs is the worst kind of violence, pure malice while daring to claim the authority of God. We cannot fully understand the designs and power of evil. It is enough to know that evil, like goodness, exists. And in the terrorists, evil has found a willing servant. In New York, the terrorists chose as their target a symbol of America's freedom and confidence. Here, they struck a symbol of our strength in the world. And the attack on the Pentagon, on that day, was more symbolic than they knew. It was on another September 11th September 11th, 1941 that construction on this building first began. America was just then awakening to another menace, the Nazi terror in Europe. And on that very night, President Franklin Roosevelt spoke to the Nation. The danger, he warned, "has long ceased to be a mere possibility. The danger is here now not only from a military enemy but from an enemy of all law, all liberty, all morality, all religion." For us too, in the year 2001, an enemy has emerged that rejects every limit of law, morality, and religion. The terrorists have no true home in any country or culture or faith. They dwell in dark corners of Earth. And there, we will find them. This week, I have called the Armed Forces into action. One by one, we are eliminating power centers of a regime that harbors Al Qaida terrorists. We gave that regime a choice Turn over the terrorists, or face your ruin. They chose unwisely. The Taliban regime has brought nothing but fear and misery to the people of Afghanistan. These rulers call themselves holy men, even with their record of drawing money from heroin trafficking. They consider themselves pious and devout, while subjecting women to fierce brutality. The Taliban has allied itself with murderers and gave them shelter. But today, for Al Qaida and the Taliban, there is no shelter. As Americans did 60 years ago, we have entered a struggle of uncertain duration. But now, as then, we can be certain of the outcome because we have a number of decisive assets. We have a unified country. We have the patience to fight and win on many fronts, blocking terrorist plans, seizing their funds, arresting their networks, disrupting their communications, opposing their sponsors. And we have one more great asset in this cause, the brave men and women of the United States military. From my first days in this office, I have felt and seen the strong spirit of the Armed Forces. I saw it at Fort Stewart, Georgia, when I first reviewed our troops as Commander in Chief and looked into the faces of proud and determined soldiers. I saw it in Annapolis on a graduation day, at Camp Pendleton in California, Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo. And I have seen this spirit at the Pentagon, before and after the attack on this building. You've responded to a great emergency with calm and courage. And for that, your country honors you. A Commander in Chief must know must know that he can count on the skill and readiness of service men and women at every point in the chain of command. You have given me that confidence. And I give you these commitments The wound to this building will not be forgotten, but it will be repaired. Brick by brick, we will quickly rebuild the Pentagon. In the missions ahead for the military, you will have everything you need, every resource, every weapon, every means to assure full victory for the United States and the cause of freedom. And I pledge to you that America will never relent on this war against terror. There will be times of swift, dramatic action. There will be times of steady, quiet progress. Over time, with patience and precision, the terrorists will be pursued. They will be isolated, surrounded, cornered, until there is no place to run or hide or rest. As military and civilian personnel in the Pentagon, you are an important part of the struggle we have entered. You know the risks of your calling, and you have willingly accepted them. You believe in our country, and our country believes in you. Within sight of this building is Arlington Cemetery, the final resting place of many thousands who died for our country over the generations. Enemies of America have now added to these graves, and they wish to add more. Unlike our enemies, we value every life, and we mourn every loss. Yet we're not afraid. Our cause is just and worthy of sacrifice. Our Nation is strong of heart, firm of purpose. Inspired by all the courage that has come before, we will meet our moment, and we will prevail. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. October 11, 2001 I have asked my Cabinet to come in and give me a briefing on the progress that we're making on the war on terrorism. I can report to the American people we're making substantial progress. First, our Secretary of State and our diplomats around the world have put together a broad coalition of nations to make a stand against terrorists, terrorism, and those who harbor terrorists. And I'm really pleased. This coalition includes not only our friends in Europe and South America, but as we saw at the OIC conference, the Organization of Islamic Conferences, many Muslim nations have taken a very firm stand against terrorist activities, as well. Obviously, the Secretary of Defense and the Defense Department has been busy. As I said today, America is very proud of the men and women who wear the uniform they're proud of your leadership too, sir. We'll leave the military briefing for the Pentagon. I had a good visit with our Secretary of Treasury, who informed me that we've now frozen 40 million worth of assets Taliban and Al Qaida assets all around the world, and we've just begun. We want the terrorists to know that we're after them in all kinds of ways, and one good way to make them ineffective is to cut off their money. The Attorney General has reported that here at the homeland in the homeland we've interrogated over 600 people that may have been involved with the bombings, as well as spending a great deal of time analyzing information that could lead to the disruption of any potential attack on America. And then we discussed our legislative priorities before the Congress goes home. One of those, of course, is an economic stimulus package that must include tax relief that has got a positive effect on the economy in the short run. But there are two other aspects to a good, strong economic stimulus package, one of which is trade promotion authority. And the other is an energy bill. Now, there was a good energy bill passed out of the House of Representatives. And the reason it passed is because members of both parties understand an energy bill is not only good for jobs, it's important for our national security to have a good energy policy. And I urge the Senate to listen to the will of the Senators and move a bill move a bill that will help Americans find work and also make it easier for all of us around this table to protect the security of the country. The less dependent we are on foreign sources of crude oil, the more secure we are at home. We've spent a lot of time talking about homeland security. An integral piece of homeland security is energy independence. And I ask the Senate to respond to the call to get an energy bill moving. We have got a lot of work to do, and everybody around this table understands that. We're a patient group of people we're a disciplined group of people. But one thing we've got in mind as well is, we've got the best interests of the American people in mind. And I'm proud of the job everybody is doing here. I want to thank you on behalf of America for your hard work. I will see you all tonight. October 10, 2001 The President. Lord Robertson, thank you very much for coming. I appreciate your friendship, and I appreciate the consultations we just had. I want to welcome Nick Burns, our Ambassador to NATO, and of course, Secretary of State Colin Powell, as well. Within 28 hours of the assault on September 11th, NATO, for the first time in its 52 years of existence, invoked the collective defense clause. It didn't take long for our friends to respond. A lot of that had to do with the leadership of Lord Robertson. This was an act of great friendship in a time of great need, and our country will never forget. Today, NATO nations are acting together in a broad campaign against terror. Britain is side by side with us in Afghanistan. The nations of NATO are sharing intelligence, coordinating law enforcement, and cracking down on the financing of terrorist organizations. Some NATO members will provide logistic support to military operations, and others have offered to fight if we deem necessary. And right now, in a unprecedented display of friendship, NATO air surveillance aircraft are on their way to the United States to help keep our country safe. Lord Robertson, I want to thank you for that as well, and so do the American people. This has never happened before, that NATO has come to help defend our country. But it happened in this time of need, and for that, we're grateful. Together, we're building a very strong coalition against terror, and NATO is the cornerstone of that coalition. But I want to remind my fellow citizens, the coalition goes way beyond NATO. Russia is sharing intelligence and offering strong diplomatic support. The Organization of American States invoked the collective defense clause of the Rio Treaty. Japan and Korea are offering logistical and other support. I had a great conversation with Jiang Zemin of China about his desire to join us in fighting terrorist activities. Military forces from Australia and New Zealand are standing by to assist in combat roles if needed. In Africa, the Organization of African Unity has moved quickly and strongly to condemn the attacks, and many are offering basic services, such as overflight and the sharing of intelligence. In the Middle East, many nations, including Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, are offering law enforcement, intelligence, and other cooperation. In short, many nations understand what NATO expressed, that an attack on us is really an attack on legitimate governments and on freedom. I want to welcome, again, our friend to the Rose Garden. Lord Robertson has provided extraordinary leadership for an incredibly important alliance. He's a good Scotsman, like many Americans are. He could have been a Texan, it seems like to me, because he is courageous, open, forthright, and not afraid to take a stand and to do what's right for freedom. Lord Robertson, welcome to the Rose Garden. Secretary General Lord Robertson. Mr. President, thank you for these kind and generous words. I'll take them back to the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, because that is the organization that you're part of, we're part of, and which has stood in solidarity over all of these years. I want to pay a tribute to your leadership during this difficult time for your country, in this difficult time for the world, as well. We stand shoulder to shoulder in a new kind of struggle, and a struggle that we have to win. The NATO Allies, in the wake of the terrible atrocities of the 11th of September, wanted to move beyond sadness and sympathy, and we moved to solidarity and support. And that is why we invoked Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, conceived here in Washington in 1949 in very difficult circumstances and where the language is clear and simple An attack on one is an attack on all of the nations of the Alliance. NATO still represents the biggest permanent coalition on this planet 19 nations in the Alliance, 27 nations in addition in the Partnership For Peace and part of the Euro Atlantic Partnership Council. And NATO is providing now, as you said, serious and strong practical support to the United States and the U.S. led coalition operations that are going on in the world today a unique contribution, political cohesion through Article 5 real capabilities, like the AWACS aircraft that will be flying over continental United States by Friday of this week the tying in of the partners and the partnership, military interoperability that worked so well for the coalition in the Gulf war and a new look at the adaptation of forces so that we're ready to deal with the threats of the future, just as we were able to deal with the enemies of the past. So the Alliance will continue to combine the best of America and Europe at this difficult and troubled time. These terrorists are not 10 feet tall they are not insuperable they're not unvanquishable. But we are, and we can win, and we certainly will win. And I'm very, very proud that NATO and the 19 nations of the Alliance are at the heart of a global coalition against the most evil criminals of our age. I'm very proud, Mr. President, that you thought fit to describe me as a candidate for being a Texan. Laughter Given my background, I know that you've been in Scotland before, and I haven't been in Texas, but I'll take it as a compliment. And I believe that you could be a Scotsman as well laughter like the great Scotsmen who made this great country as well and who, at the moment, happen to be leading this Alliance. And this Scotsman, in particular, is proud to be doing it and is determined that we'll win. Thank you very much. The President. Thank you, sir. God bless you. Thank you for coming. October 10, 2001 Well, thank you very much for that warm welcome. I'm pleased to be back at the FBI to unveil a new line of attack on our war against terrorism, the Most Wanted Terrorist list. Terrorists try to operate in the shadows. They try to hide, but we're going to shine the light of justice on them. We list their names we publicize their pictures we rob them of their secrecy. Terrorism has a face, and today we expose it for the world to see. Mr. General, thank you very much for your leadership, your strong resolve, the values you espouse. I want to thank all the Justice Department folks who are here today. I'm so honored to be up here with the Secretary of State. He's doing a fabulous job of rallying the world to our cause. And I want to thank the State Department officials who are here today, as well. And of course, Director Mueller, I want to thank you and the fine men and women of the FBI for your diligent efforts to disrupt and find anybody who tries to harm Americans. I also want to introduce Tom Ridge, the Director of the Office of Homeland Security. Thank you for being here, Governor, as well as General Wayne Downing, the Deputy National Security Adviser for Combating Terrorism. Thank you all for coming. The men on the wall here have put themselves on the list because of great acts of evil. They plan, promote, and commit murder. They fill the minds of others with hate and lies. And by their cruelty and violence, they betray whatever faith they espouse. These 22 individuals do not account for all the terrorist activity in the world, but they're among the most dangerous, the leaders and key supporters, the planners and strategists. They must be found. They will be stopped, and they will be punished. This effort is part of a worldwide assault on terror. All our allies and friends will now be familiar with these evildoers and their associates. For those who join our coalition, we expect results. And a good place to start help us bring these folks to justice. Eventually, no corner of the world will be dark enough to hide in. I want to thank all the State Department employees for helping to build an unprecedented I mean unprecedented coalition to stand with us for freedom. I want to thank the American people for understanding that we are engaged in a new war, a war that will require a new way of thinking. There is a fascination about the conventional aspects of the military operations that are taking place now, and I can understand that. But the American people must understand that we're making great progress in other fronts, that we're halting their money, that we've got allies around the world helping us close the net. And today, by shining the spotlight on the first 22, it's going to make it more likely they will be brought to justice. I say "the first 22" because our war is not just against 22 individuals. Our war is against networks and groups, people who coddle them, people who try to hide them, people who fund them. This is our calling. This is the calling of the United States of America, the most free nation in the world, a nation built on fundamental values, that rejects hate, rejects violence, rejects murderers, rejects evil. And we will not tire. We will not relent. It is not only important for the homeland security of America that we succeed it is equally as important for generations of Americans who have yet be born. Now is the time to draw the line in the sand against the evil ones. And this Government is committed to doing just that. I also want to remind my fellow Americans, as we round up the evildoers, as we look for those who might harm our fellow Americans, we must remember not to violate the rights of the innocent. Our war is not against a religion. Our war is against evil. There are thousands of Muslim Americans who love America just as much as I do. And we will respect their rights. We will not let the terrorists cause decay of the fundamental rights that make our Nation unique. As a matter of fact, what they'll find out is that our Nation has responded in a way they never envisioned. We're united. People of all faiths, all religions, all areas of our country are united in the common effort to stamp out evil where we find it. It is the right thing to do. It is the right course of action for our Nation and the world, and I want to thank you all for helping. It is now my honor to bring the Director of the FBI to the podium. October 09, 2001 The President. It's been my honor to welcome a great friend of America to the Oval Office again. Chancellor Schroeder came to talk about our war against terrorist activities. We had a great discussion. First, I want to thank the Chancellor for his solidarity with the American people and his strong statement of support for the American people right after the evildoers struck on September the 11th. I also want to thank Chancellor Schroeder and the German people for their outpouring of support for the victims. And I also want to thank him for being a steadfast friend in a broad coalition that is determined to rout terrorism out where it may exist, to not only bring the Al Qaida organization to justice but to declare a broad campaign against terrorists and terrorism all across the world. There is no more steadfast friend in this coalition than Germany, and I'm proud to have him here. We also talked about the Middle East and the importance that both of us recognize for that process to get into Mitchell as quickly as possible. The German Government has been very strong about working with both parties in the Middle East to get into Mitchell. I assured him we're doing the same thing. There would be no better stabilizer for our coalition than for the Mitchell process to begin in the Middle East. But Mr. Chancellor, we're so thrilled to have you here. Thank you for coming. Chancellor Schroeder. Thank you very much, indeed, Mr. President. I, obviously, very happily came here. And I'm pleased to be here, because it is important to us to show that very much in these difficult times friendship must prevail and does prevail. And I'm also here to express the deepest solidarity from the German side, which is not just words being said, but it's a fact. We very much are in agreement about the fact that this fight against terrorism, which we are all involved in by now, must be a very comprehensive approach, indeed. The action that is being taken right now must be added to through political measures, through diplomatic action, too. We also find it very important to maintain the strong degree of cohesion that we see at this point in time within the antiterror alliance that has formed around the world. We went on to agree that it was crucially important to dry up the financing for the terrorists. And we also find it very important to highlight that the action that is presently being taken in Afghanistan is not at all directed against the people of Afghanistan it is not at all directed against Islam it is far rather directed against Usama bin Laden and the very ruthless regime behind him. We have also very strongly emphasized how important we find it that we do provide relief for the refugees and cope with the refugee problem that will arise. And I can only yet again emphasize the high degree of respect that I feel vis a vis the United States of America and the American President, how he has gone about linking humanitarian aid and assistance up with the strike in this fantastic way he has done. The President. Thank you, sir. Military Action in Afghanistan German Contribution Q. Mr. President, how close are we to using U.S. ground troops in Afghanistan? And Mr. Chancellor, what extra commitments did you make of German military assets today to the United States cause? The President. Well, first, I think the American people are beginning to realize that this is a unique type of war. The first shot we took in this war against terrorism was when we started cutting off their money. And I want to thank the German Chancellor and the German Government for cooperating and joining with us in not only sharing information but making it clear to Al Qaida and other terrorist groups, we're going to cut you off financially. Secondly, as you know, we've started conventional operations. And I believe Secretary Rumsfeld summed it up pretty well today when he made it clear that the skies were now free for U.S. planes to fly without being harassed in any way and that the missions have been successful. And as to whether or not we will put troops on the ground, I'm not going to tell you. I think it's you've got to understand, we will not share intelligence, nor will we talk about military plans that we may or may not have in the future. Chancellor Schroeder. I have and you might remember me saying that never excluded military contributions coming from the Federal Republic of Germany. We most obviously addressed this topic today. But as you might easily understand, it would be entirely unhelpful to spread this type of information. It would only help the enemy that we're trying to bring down. It is obvious that at the given point in time, details will be discussed in all friendship, and we'll come to good decisions. Intelligence Briefings Anthrax Exposures Q. Mr. President, can you tell us what prompted you to write the memo to Congress about briefing on intelligence matters, why you think such restrictions are appropriate? And could you also address what threat you think these limited anthrax exposures pose more generally? Is it linked to terrorism at all? The President. Well first, Mr. Chancellor, we had a we had some security briefings take place up on Capitol Hill that were a discussion about classified information, and some of that information was shared with the press. Chancellor Schroeder. Oh, we know that trouble. Laughter The President. Oh, you know that trouble, too. Laughter These are extraordinary times. Our Nation has put our troops at risk. And therefore, I felt it was important to send a clear signal to Congress that classified information must be held dear, that there's a responsibility, that if you receive a briefing of classified information you have a responsibility. And some Members did not accept that responsibility somebody didn't. So I took it upon myself to notify the leadership of the Congress that I intend to protect our troops. And that's why I sent the letter I sent. It's a serious matter, Dave David Gregory, NBC News it's very serious that people in positions of responsibility understand that they have a responsibility to people who are being put in harm's way. I'm having breakfast tomorrow with Members of Congress. I will be glad to bring up this subject. I understand there may be some heartburn on Capitol Hill. But I suggest if they want to relieve that heartburn, that they take their positions very seriously and that they take any information they've been given by our Government very seriously, because this is serious business we're talking about. And the second question about anthrax, that is serious as well. I want to first tell the American people that an incident obviously came up, in the form of a sick male who unfortunately passed away. And the local authorities, along with the CDC, responded very quickly. There is a system in place to notify our Government and governments in the case of some kind of potential biological incident or chemical incident. And the system worked. And now the system is even working better, because we have, in essence, gone into the building, cleaned the building out, taken all the samples as possible, and are following any trail, any possible trail. So thus far, it looks like it's a very isolated incident. But any any type of incident, any type of information that comes into our Government, we take very seriously, because we understand we're dealing with evil people. And as you know, I've assured the American people that life should go on as normal. But they also should know, the American people should know, that our Government is doing everything we can to make our country as safe as possible. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Military Action in Afghanistan Q. Mr. President, the Pakistani President says he was told that the bombing campaign would be relatively short. How long do you think it will take? And what do you say to some of these people in the Islamic world who are protesting the campaign? The President. Yes. Well, Steve, I don't know who told the Pakistani President that. Generally, you know, we don't talk about military plans. And there is one way to shorten the campaign in Afghanistan, and that's for the Usama bin Laden and his leadership to be turned over so they can be brought to justice. We will have a sustained effort. But I want to remind you that this is a part of a larger effort, that our war, the war of freedom loving people, such as the Germans and the Americans, is against terrorists as a whole. And this is one part of a large campaign. We the coalition has arrested over 200 people that have been associated with the Al Qaida organization. All around the world, freedom loving people are gathering information, sharing information, and bringing people to justice. And what was the second part of your question? Protests in Islamic Nations Q. The Islamic protesters. What do you say to those people? The President. I say that if they think that the first of all, I think the message of the Al Qaida organization is one of evil and hate. I understand people's willingness to protest, but they should not protest the decisions our coalition is making, because it is in the best interests of freedom and humankind. Al Qaida and Nations Supporting Terrorism Q. Do you still want him dead or alive? The President. Ours is a compassionate nation, as is Germany. We're both combining our resources to help people in need. There are thousands of starving Afghans, because there is a Taliban Government in place that has caused starvation and deprivation and discrimination. And they are now housing terrorists. And make no mistake about it The doctrine that says if you house a terrorist, you're just as guilty as a terrorist, will stand. We're making that very evident to the world as we speak. Q. Do you still want Mr. bin Laden dead or alive, sir? The President. I want there to be justice. I want there to be justice. And it's Al Qaida, but it's anybody who feeds Al Qaida, who houses Al Qaida, who encourages Al Qaida. Any other terrorist organization that is affiliated with Al Qaida is just as guilty, as far as I'm concerned. We're very patient people. The American people understand, and I know that the Chancellor understands, that this is a different kind of war. There's a certain sense of fascination with previous wars in Kosovo and Desert Storm, where people could turn on their TV screens and see high tech weaponry burrowing into bunkers and massive explosions. This is a different type of war. There will be a conventional component to the conflict, but much of what takes place will never make it onto the TV screens. Much of the efforts that we talked about in the Oval Office will be efforts that you will never see until people are brought to justice. And therefore, there has to be a certain patience. I think the American people are beginning to understand that. I will assure you that the people the terrorists of the world will understand that I am determined and, having talked with the Chancellor, that he is determined to lend the resources of our Government to bring them to justice. If it takes one day, one month, one year, or one decade, we're patient enough, because we understand that the actions we take together are not only important for today but will say to future Chancellors or future Presidents, "Here is how we fight terrorism." We also understand the actions we take today will make it more likely that our children's children will be able to grow up in a free world. The first shot of the new war of the 21st century was fired September the 11th. The first battle is being waged, but it's only one of a long series of battles. Yes, Bill Bill Plante, CBS News . Domestic Reaction Q. Mr. President, as you noted on Sunday, there's a certain amount of nervous anxiety in the Nation, fear of new attacks, now that the military campaign has begun. Will the new Office of Homeland Security do anything concrete to recommend to average people, that they can do to protect themselves? The President. Well, Bill, I think the you know, the people of America should go about their business, should go about their daily lives, knowing full well that our Government, at all levels, is doing everything we can to disrupt any potential action and or to provide the security necessary for people to travel, for example. I'm briefed every single morning about what somebody may or may not have heard and what actions are taking place. And their Government is responding as forcefully and actively as humanly possible. One of the reasons why this coalition is so important is because we share information. When Germany hears something about something that may take place here and vice versa, we share information. And so, we're on high alert at the governmental level. But the American people should go about their business. And people ought to travel. And people ought to feel comfortable going to see the mighty Houston Astros play. People ought to feel comfortable going about their lives, knowing that their Government is doing everything humanly possible to disrupt any potential activity that the evil ones may try to inflict upon us. Intelligence Briefings Q. Mr. President, when you meet with the congressional leadership tomorrow, will you be specific about what they can and cannot relay back up to the Hill? Or do you just expect them not to relay anything? The President. Well, I'm going to talk to the leaders about this. I have talked to them about it. I mean, when the classified information first seeped into the public, I called them on the phone and said, "This can't stand. We can't have leaks of classified information. It's not in our Nation's interests." But we're now in extraordinary times. And I was in the when those leaks occurred, by the way, it was right before we committed troops. And I knew full well what was about to happen. And yet, I see in the media that somebody, or somebodies, feel that they should be able to talk about classified information. And that's just wrong. The leadership understands that. And if there's concerns, we'll work it out. I mean, obviously I understand there needs to be some briefings. I want Don Rumsfeld to feel comfortable briefing members of the Armed Services Committee. But I want Congress to hear loud and clear It is unacceptable behavior to leak classified information when we have troops at risk. I'm looking forward to reiterating that message. And we will work together. We've got a great relationship. Listen, the four leaders, with whom I have breakfast on a weekly basis, fully understand the stakes. They fully understand the decision I made. And they will have gotten feedback from their Members, and we will discuss it. But one thing is for certain I have made clear what I expect from Capitol Hill when it comes to classified information. Chancellor Schroeder. Let me add something. I hope that the German press corps did hear it. Laughter President Vladimir Putin of Russia Q. We did hear it, Mr. Chancellor. Mr. President, do you consider Russia's war in Chechnya to be, first, a war against terrorists? And has your view on that changed since September 11th? The President. I've had very good conversations with Vladimir Putin about the war on terrorism. I know the Chancellor has, as well. I'm, as a matter of fact, going to be meeting with the President of Russia within 2 weeks, in Shanghai, and I'm looking forward to those meetings. I have made it clear to him that I appreciate his strong statements about America's efforts and the coalition's efforts to fight terrorism where we find it. I also made it clear to him that he needs to respect minority rights within his country. And he listened very carefully, and I think he's appreciative that our message has been consistent. From the very first conversation I had with President Putin, I expressed concern about how his government was viewing the minority that exists and how they were being treated. So my position has been very consistent. To the extent that there's Al Qaida organizations in his neighborhood, they need to be brought to justice, as well. And we look forward to sharing information with him, just like he's sharing information with us. He is he was one of the first I will tell you an interesting story. I was airborne on Air Force One and put our on September the 11th and put our troops to a high alert status. And one of the first phone calls I got through my national security office was from Vladimir Putin, announcing that he has stood his troops down which is significant. In the old days, if we'd have put our troops on heightened alert, they would have put their troops on more heightened alert laughter which would have caused our troops to go on higher alert. And all of a sudden we would have had a conflict, a potential conflict out of the realm of the incident that caused the troops to go on alert. So he quickly called and said, "We're standing our troops down." It's a new attitude toward relationship. He understands the cold war is over, and so do I, which provides great opportunity for not only America but Germany to work with Mr. Putin for our nations' interests and his nation's interests. And I think we're going to find a lot of common ground, one of which will be to fight terrorism. But as I explained to him, it's going to be hard to have common ground if he represses the press and or treats minorities within his own country in a way that the Western world simply doesn't understand. Listen, thank you all for coming. Thank you, Chancellor. I appreciate you, sir. October 08, 2001 Please be seated. Thank you all. Welcome to the White House. Today I signed an Executive order creating a new Homeland Security Office, charged with strengthening America's protections against terrorism. And I've picked a really good man to lead that office. In case you hadn't figured it out, it's Tom Ridge. Laughter Together, we will confront the threat of terrorism. We will take strong precautions aimed at preventing terrorist attacks and prepare to respond effectively if they might come again. We will defend our country, and while we do so, we will not sacrifice the freedoms that make our land unique. The best defense against terror is a global offensive against terror, wherever it might be found. Yesterday we opened another front on the war on terrorism as we began conventional military operations designed to destroy terrorist training camps and military installations of the Taliban Government. Secretary Don Rumsfeld, who is leading a really fine team, will brief the country this afternoon. But he informed me this morning that the military mission of yesterday was executed as planned, and at the same time, that our good Nation dropped over 37,000 kits of food and medicine. This is an important part of a war already underway that is being conducted on many fronts. The first shot of the war was fired several weeks ago, as we began freezing bank accounts and cutting off funding of known terrorist organizations and front groups that support them. And I appreciate so very much the Secretary of Treasury's work, Paul O'Neill. We've worked aggressively on the diplomatic front, developing a broad and strong coalition of countries who are united with us and involved in our campaign. And Mr. Secretary Powell and his team have done a remarkable job of rallying the lovers of freedom to our side. Mr. Secretary, thank you. Our intelligence and law enforcement agencies are working around the clock and around the world. Attorney General Ashcroft and George Tenet and Bob Mueller are all doing a fantastic job of making sure we've got the best intelligence and the best information, not only to protect ourselves but to bring the evildoers to justice. On all efforts and all fronts, we're going to be ongoing and relentless as we tighten the net of justice. This will be a long war. It requires understanding and patience from the American people. Members of my Cabinet understand that, and I appreciate them all being here. These are fine Americans who understand the nature of the conflict and are prepared to join me in doing whatever it takes to win the war, not only for our country today but for generations to come tomorrow. It's an honor for me to welcome the Ridge family here to the White House the former first lady of Pennsylvania, Michele Ridge, and of course, Lesley and Tommy, thank you all for being here, and thank you for your sacrifice. I want to thank all of Tom's friends for coming up from Pennsylvania. It looks like he's got a few who don't live in Pennsylvania, as well. Thank you all for being here. I'm so appreciative that Clarence Thomas is here to swear in Tom. I appreciate the Mayor of Washington, DC, being here. Mr. Mayor, thank you for your cooperation. It's just the beginning of what we need to do together to make sure our Nation's Capital is safe and secure. As we've learned, we face new threats, and therefore we need new defenses for our country. And I've found the right man to coordinate that effort. Tom Ridge has been a chief executive. He is a leader who has shown he can draw the best out of people and out of organizations. He's a decorated combat veteran of the Vietnam war. He's a patriot who has heard the sound of battle. He's seen the reach of terror in a field in his own State. He's a man of compassion who has seen what evil can do. I've given Tom and the Office of Homeland Security a mission to design a comprehensive, coordinated national strategy to fight terror here at home. We face a united, determined enemy. We must have a united and determined response. The Homeland Security Office has a series of specific goals and will have my authority to meet them One, take the strongest possible precautions against terrorism by bringing together the best information and intelligence in the war on terror, knowledge is power strengthen and help protect our transportation systems, our food and water systems, and our critical infrastructure by making them less vulnerable to attack respond effectively to terrorist actions if they come. The Office will coordinate Federal assistance with State and local efforts. America is going to be prepared. The Office will work in conjunction with the new Homeland Security Council, chaired by me and made up of my Cabinet and other senior officials. The Office mission will have the full attention and complete support of the very highest levels of our Government. I know that many Americans at this time have fears. We've learned that America is not immune from attack. We've seen that evil is real. It's hard for us to comprehend the mentality of people that will destroy innocent folks the way they have. Yet, America is equal to this challenge, make no mistake about it. They've roused a mighty giant. A compassionate land will rise united to not only protect ourselves, not only make our homeland as secure as possible but to bring the evildoers to justice so that our children might live in freedom. It's now my honor to call Clarence Thomas up here to swear in Tom Ridge. October 07, 2001 Good afternoon. On my orders, the United States military has begun strikes against Al Qaida terrorist training camps and military installations of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. These carefully targeted actions are designed to disrupt the use of Afghanistan as a terrorist base of operations and to attack the military capability of the Taliban regime. We are joined in this operation by our staunch friend Great Britain. Other close friends, including Canada, Australia, Germany, and France, have pledged forces as the operation unfolds. More than 40 countries in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, and across Asia have granted air transit or landing rights. Many more have shared intelligence. We are supported by the collective will of the world. More than 2 weeks ago, I gave Taliban leaders a series of clear and specific demands Close terrorist training camps hand over leaders of the Al Qaida network and return all foreign nationals, including American citizens, unjustly detained in your country. None of these demands were met. And now the Taliban will pay a price. By destroying camps and disrupting communications, we will make it more difficult for the terror network to train new recruits and coordinate their evil plans. Initially, the terrorists may burrow deeper into caves and other entrenched hiding places. Our military action is also designed to clear the way for sustained, comprehensive, and relentless operations to drive them out and bring them to justice. At the same time, the oppressed people of Afghanistan will know the generosity of America and our allies. As we strike military targets, we'll also drop food, medicine, and supplies to the starving and suffering men and women and children of Afghanistan. The United States of America is a friend to the Afghan people, and we are the friends of almost a billion worldwide who practice the Islamic faith. The United States of America is an enemy of those who aid terrorists and of the barbaric criminals who profane a great religion by committing murder in its name. This military action is a part of our campaign against terrorism, another front in a war that has already been joined through diplomacy, intelligence, the freezing of financial assets, and the arrests of known terrorists by law enforcement agents in 38 countries. Given the nature and reach of our enemies, we will win this conflict by the patient accumulation of successes, by meeting a series of challenges with determination and will and purpose. Today we focus on Afghanistan, but the battle is broader. Every nation has a choice to make. In this conflict, there is no neutral ground. If any government sponsors the outlaws and killers of innocents, they have become outlaws and murderers, themselves. And they will take that lonely path at their own peril. I'm speaking to you today from the Treaty Room of the White House, a place where American Presidents have worked for peace. We're a peaceful nation. Yet, as we have learned so suddenly and so tragically, there can be no peace in a world of sudden terror. In the face of today's new threat, the only way to pursue peace is to pursue those who threaten it. We did not ask for this mission, but we will fulfill it. The name of today's military operation is Enduring Freedom. We defend not only our precious freedoms but also the freedom of people everywhere to live and raise their children free from fear. I know many Americans feel fear today, and our Government is taking strong precautions. All law enforcement and intelligence agencies are working aggressively around America, around the world, and around the clock. At my request, many Governors have activated the National Guard to strengthen airport security. We have called up Reserves to reinforce our military capability and strengthen the protection of our homeland. In the months ahead, our patience will be one of our strengths patience with the long waits that will result from tighter security patience and understanding that it will take time to achieve our goals patience in all the sacrifices that may come. Today those sacrifices are being made by members of our Armed Forces who now defend us so far from home, and by their proud and worried families. A Commander in Chief sends America's sons and daughters into a battle in a foreign land only after the greatest care and a lot of prayer. We ask a lot of those who wear our uniform. We ask them to leave their loved ones, to travel great distances, to risk injury, even to be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice of their lives. They are dedicated they are honorable they represent the best of our country. And we are grateful. To all the men and women in our military every sailor, every soldier, every airman, every coastguardsman, every marine I say this Your mission is defined your objectives are clear your goal is just you have my full confidence and you will have every tool you need to carry out your duty. I recently received a touching letter that says a lot about the state of America in these difficult times, a letter from a fourthgrade girl with a father in the military "As much as I don't want my dad to fight," she wrote, "I'm willing to give him to you." This is a precious gift, the greatest she could give. This young girl knows what America is all about. Since September 11, an entire generation of young Americans has gained new understanding of the value of freedom and its cost in duty and in sacrifice. The battle is now joined on many fronts. We will not waver we will not tire we will not falter and we will not fail. Peace and freedom will prevail. Thank you. May God continue to bless America. October 06, 2001 Good morning. Today I want to update Americans on our global campaign against terror. The United States is presenting a clear choice to every nation Stand with the civilized world, or stand with the terrorists. And for those nations that stand with the terrorists, there will be a heavy price. America is determined to oppose the state sponsors of terror. Yet we are equally determined to respect and help the men and women those regimes oppress. Our enemy is not the Arab world. Many friendly Arab governments are, themselves, the targets of extremist terror. Our enemy is not Islam, a good and peace loving faith that brings direction and comfort to over one billion people, including millions of Americans. And our enemy is not the people of any nation, even when their leaders harbor terrorists. Our enemy is the terrorists themselves and the regimes that shelter and sustain them. Afghanistan is a case in point. Its Taliban regime has made that nation into a sanctuary and training ground for international terrorists, terrorists who have killed innocent citizens of many nations, including our own. The Taliban promotes terror abroad and practices terror against its people, oppressing women and persecuting all who dissent. The Taliban has been given the opportunity to surrender all the terrorists in Afghanistan and to close down their camps and operations. Full warning has been given, and time is running out. The Afghan people, however, are the victims of oppression, famine, and misrule. Many refugees from that unfortunate nation are on the move, and sadly, many Afghans are on the verge of starvation. America respects the Afghan people, their long tradition, and their proud independence, and we will help them in this time of confusion and crisis in their country. America has long been the largest source of food and humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan. This week I announced an additional 320 million in aid to the Afghan people, to those within Afghanistan and those who have fled across borders. Despite efforts by the Taliban to disrupt these critical aid shipments, we will deliver food and seeds, vaccines and medicine by truck and even by draft animals. Conditions permitting, we will bring help directly to the people of Afghanistan by airdrops. This aid will help Afghans make it through the upcoming winter. For the longer term, I urge Congress to make funds available so that one day the United States can contribute, along with other friends of Afghanistan, to the reconstruction and development of that troubled nation. Helping people in great need is a central part of the Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions, as well as many other faiths. It is also a central part of the American tradition. Even as we fight evil regimes, we are generous to the people they oppress. Following World War II, America fed and rebuilt Japan and Germany, and their people became some of our closest friends in the world. In the struggle ahead, we will act in accordance with American ideals. We're offering help and friendship to the Afghan people. It is their Taliban rulers and the terrorists they harbor who have much to fear. Thank you for listening. October 05, 2001 Good afternoon. I just concluded a meeting with my economic policy team. Secretary O'Neill has been up on the Hill talking to Members of Congress and brought back some encouraging news. And that is, the United States Congress is interested in working as quickly as possible to pass an economic stimulus package. I want to remind the American people that the Congress has been working with us to provide relief. We passed monies for disaster relief, monies to help the people in New York. We passed appropriations to help beef up our security. We passed appropriations to help airlines. Yesterday I proposed additional expenditures to help workers who have been laid off as a result of the September 11th tragedy. That spending totals about 60 billion. And in order to stimulate the economy, Congress doesn't need to spend any more money. What they need to do is to cut taxes. So I propose this I propose that the United States Congress, as quickly as possible, pass tax relief equal to or a little bit greater than the monies that we have already appropriated. Tax relief should come in this kind of form One, that we ought to stimulate demand by cutting accelerating the marginal tax cuts that we've passed and I've signed as well as, there ought to be a provision in the tax relief package to make sure that low and moderate income workers get tax relief as well. And on the business side, we need to stimulate investment by allowing for enhanced expensing of capital expenditures, and we believe they ought to eliminate alternative minimum tax on corporate America. This is a package which will dovetail nicely with the marginal cuts and the increased child credit that will kick in next year as well. The American people expect us to act, and here is a way for us to act. We've spent money, and that will have a stimulative effect of some kind. But to make sure that the economy gets the boost it needs, Congress ought to come together quickly and accept the ideas that I've just laid out. We believe that will be the best way to make sure that America recovers from the terrorist attack of September the 11th. The terrorists attacked us, but they did not diminish our spirit, nor did they undermine the fundamentals of our economy. And we believe if we act expeditiously, that those fundamentals will kick back in, and people will be able to find work again. I hope you all have a fine weekend. Thank you all very much. October 04, 2001 President Bush. It is my honor to welcome my friend back to the White House. It wasn't all that long ago that we were standing out here for the opening ceremony of the first and only state dinner I've had since I've been the President. He came as a friend then, and he's come back as a loyal friend to the United States. September 11th really changed America. President Fox understood that right off the bat. One of the first calls I got was from Vicente Fox. He called expressing his deep condolences to the American people. He was very kind to me. He wished me well. President Fox understands that an attack on America affects Mexico in a significant way. After all, there are millions of Mexican Americans and Mexican nationals living in America, men and women who saw a land they love attacked, men and women who have united around a great cause of defending freedom. In this country we don't ask the question, what is your religion, or where are you from? We ask the question, are you united to defend freedom? And there are millions of Mexican Americans who understand that call. So when the President said, "We stand with you," he is not only saying, "We stand with the United States Government" he's saying, "We stand with millions of people living in our country as well." President Fox and I had a great discussion about ways we can continue to cooperate. We need to cooperate on security matters along our border, which we are. We need to continue working on other agenda items that we have been working on, and we will. Obviously, our Nation is now focused on the incidents of September 11th. But I assured him our relationship will go forward, that we'll work on the issues that we had discussed the last time we were here. I talked to my friend about our economy. It has been affected significantly by the actions of September the 11th. But I assured him that we will take an aggressive role at the Federal level to try to spur economic growth, which is very important since we've got a significant amount of trade between our nations. In sum, I'm so glad he came back. It's comforting to know that our friend to the south is going to be a friend in good times and in tough times. So, Mr. President, welcome back. Thank you for coming. President Fox. Thank you. And thank you, President, for the opportunity to be back here again, the opportunity to express very clearly, loudly, our sorrow, our solidarity with your Government, with the American people, with the victims and all those who suffered under these attacks, but also the opportunity to reaffirm our commitments. We are a friend we are neighbors we are partners. And we want to make very clear that this means commitment all the way and that we will keep our commitments. And we are working on an everyday basis, either in the border, either in customs, either in migration, either on each of the subjects that have to do with security. We will be side by side in your efforts to defeat terrorism in the world and wherever it is. We will be coordinating, participating, collaborating on our side with our resources that we have at hand. And we know of your efforts not only to meet this challenge we know the efforts also to keep America moving. And that's something that we very proudly see, that this Nation does not know about defeat, on the contrary. But it's working to come back to be the leader, to be that strong spirit and economy that is an example for all of us. And we're working in the same direction. We know that in economic terms, things are interactive as well, as we buy a lot of products, services from the United States, we sell a lot of products to the United States, being one of the largest trading two economies in the world. And through working in that direction, we can also contribute to overcoming this situation. So, thanks again for giving us this opportunity. And we go back knowing that we have a lot of work to do, that we've been doing and that we will keep on doing. So, thank you, President. President Bush. Thank you, Mr. President. October 04, 2001 Well, thank you all very much for that warm welcome. I'm glad to be in the midst of patriots, people who love their country and people willing to work hard to help our fellow Americans who may be in need. First, I want to thank Elaine Chao for her leadership. I knew I picked a good one when I picked her to become the Secretary of Labor, and she's proven me right. And my old Governor buddy is doing a pretty good job, too. Laughter I appreciate the hard work of our Cabinet during this period. Like the country, we're united. We know we've got a job to do. The evildoers struck. But they may have hurt our buildings, and they are obviously affecting some family lives in such a profound and sad way, but they will not touch the soul of America. They cannot dim our spirit. We've got a job to do, all of us. And I'm here to thank you in the Department of Labor for your hard work, your concern for your fellow Americans. All of us, from the President all the way throughout our Government, must be diligent and strong and unwavering in our determination and our dedication to win the war on terrorism. I've got a job to do, and that's to explain to the American people the truth. And the truth is that we're now facing a new threat for freedom, that on September the 11th, war was declared on the United States, not by a religious group, not by one country versus another but by people motivated by evil. And I'm going to make it clear to the world what I've made clear to America, that this great country will not let evil stand. The attack on our land roused a mighty nation. We're never been united like we have been as we are today. And we're examining a lot of things. We're examining, as moms and dads, what it means to be a parent. There are many Americans on bended knee from all different religions, praying to an almighty God. We're a nation united in our conviction that we must find those evildoers and bring them to justice. We seek not revenge in America we seek justice. Americans understand that this is a different type of campaign it's a different type of struggle to defeat an enemy that's sometimes hard to see and sometimes hard to find. But what the enemy has found out is, we're a determined people, and we're patient, and we will do what it takes to bring them to justice. We built a vast coalition of nations from all around the world to join us, nations which understand that what happened in New York and Washington could happen to them as well. They understand it's now time to unite to defeat evil. Each nation comes with a different set of capabilities and a different set of a different willingness to help. America says, "We don't care how you help just help. Either you're for us, or you're against us." And the progress to date has been positive, really positive. We've got nations around the world willing to join us in cutting off the money of the evil ones. Our attitude is, if they can't fund evil deeds, they're not going to be able to affect freedom. And so we're talking to countries and banks and financial institutions and saying, "Either you're with us, or against us. Cut off their money." We're applying diplomatic pressure from around the world. I promise you this I will enforce the doctrine that says that if you house a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorists themselves. This is our calling. This is our Nation's time to lead the world, and we're going to do that. And we must do so in a bold and strong and determined fashion. We will not waver. I fully understand, as I said to Congress, there will be times when people feel a sense of normalcy and I hope that happens sooner rather than later and that September 11th may be a distant memory to some, but not to me, and not to this Nation. Now is the time now is the time to root out evil so that our children and grandchildren can live with freedom as the beacon all around the world. The evildoers cost America a lot of lives. And for the two here in the Justice I mean, in the Labor Department, I say We will get justice, and we grieve with you, the two good folks who suffer as a result of September the 11th. I can't tell you how many people are praying for you and praying for the victims all across America. People you can't even imagine, can't even will never know, are on bended knee. And they've also changed a lot of lives, these evil actions. It's clear, as a result of today's new unemployment claims, that the attack of September the 11th sent a shock wave throughout our economy. And we need to do something about it. And I'm going to lead the Congress in a way that provides the help and stimulus necessary for there to be economic growth. It is not time to worry about partisan politics here in America. It is time for our Government to continue to work together, to say We hear the cries of those who have been laid off we worry about the shock waves throughout our economy and instead of talking, we're going to do something about it. And we've started. We have started. There are 40 billion of tax rebates that have been disbursed over the last months that should help our economy. The Congress came together and passed 15 billion in emergency help for airlines and 40 billion in supplemental spending that will help New York rebuild herself and will be a part of a means for enhancing our economic growth. But there's more to do. Now is not the time to be timid. It's the time to be wise. It's also the time to act. And that's why yesterday the Secretary of Treasury and I both said that we need to have more stimulus available. We need for there to be more tax cuts. I want to remind my fellow Americans that starting next year, there will be 70 billion additional dollars of tax reductions and larger child credits coming, as a result of the tax package we passed and I signed. So there's stimulus available. But I look forward to working with Congress in the interim, between now and when those tax cuts kick in, to do more. I think we must do more. I know we must do more to make sure that our economy gets started. And I'm going to ask Congress to ask this question, "Will what I vote for encourage economic growth?" Not "Will it make me look better at home," or "Will it satisfy a narrow constituency," but "Will my vote stimulate economic vitality and growth?" That's the question that Americans are asking when we vote on a tax reduction package. And that's the question I will be asking. I strongly believe we need to make sure that consumer confidence stays high, by giving people more of their own money back. We need to counter the shock wave of the evildoer by having individual rate cuts accelerated and by thinking about tax rebates. Secondly, in order to make sure our economy grows, within the 60 to 75 billion dollar package that we've the parameters of which we outlined, we need to make sure we have investment incentives for U.S. businesses, both large and small. Not only should we make sure that the individual consumer confidence remains high but that we've got to understand that by encouraging investment, it will encourage employment. And one of the things that Elaine mentioned is that you're a Department that makes sure that people find work. We've got to have good policy coming out of Congress to make sure that as you work hard to help people find work, there's a stimulus package that does so. People say, "Well, why did you say that the parameters ought to be 60 to 75 billion dollars?" Well, one, we think that's the right size to encourage growth without affecting the economy in the long term. And secondly, I think it makes sense to have parameters, so that Congress doesn't feel like it has to invent a series of new programs in order to stimulate economic growth. We know what we need to do. And I look forward to working with both Republicans and Democrats to get it done. It's the right thing for the American people. And there is no question that not only should our Government act to encourage economic growth our Government ought to act to take care of people whose lives were affected on September the 11th. We need to move, and I've got some ideas as to how we ought to move. First, in the post attack economy, some workers need more help for more time. So I propose extending the unemployment benefits by 13 weeks in States that have been hardest hit by job losses related to the September 11th attack. This emergency extension will be paid entirely by Federal dollars and should remain in place for 18 months. And secondly, I believe the best way to help people meet health care needs or job training needs or income support is to fund the National Emergency Grant System by an additional 3 billion. This will be Federal money that will go to States so they can distribute monies directly to people whose lives have been affected. I urge the Congress, as they plan ways to deal with this tragedy, to look at the Government programs that already exist. We don't have time to try to invent new programs. What we ought to do is make those programs that exist work better, and here's two solutions to do so. And finally, I want to remind Governors and folks in the States what Tommy told me earlier today. Tommy said there's 11 billion available to help States provide health insurance for low income workers and their families through the SCHIP program. It's an important opportunity for States to expand coverage to people whose lives have been severely affected by the September 11th attack. This is a way we can help. This is a set of principles for Congress to work together to help the American people, stimulate growth, and at the same time take care of the workers whose lives have been impacted by the September 11th attack. And that's what we must do, because, you see, the terrorists hope to change our way of life. On the one hand, they hoped that America would become timid and cower in the face of their barbaric acts. They were wrong. On the other hand, they would hope that we'd become paralyzed and unable to act at home in order to do what's right for the American people. They were wrong again. Instead, they have provided interesting opportunities for America. I told some world leaders, through our tears we see opportunity that we're sad and angry, but we've got a clear vision of the world that this is a remarkable moment in history which our Nation will seize. We'll act boldly at home to encourage economic growth. We'll take care of people who hurt. We will comfort those who lost lives. We'll be compassionate as to how we deal with Afghan citizens, for example, by making sure there's humanitarian aid. And we'll be tough and resolute as we unite, to make sure freedom stands, to rout out evil, to say to our children and grandchildren, "We were bold enough to act, without tiring, so that you can live in a great land and in a peaceful world." And there's no doubt in my mind not one doubt in my mind that we will fail failure is not a part of our vocabulary. This great Nation will lead the world, and we will be successful. Thank you for working for the Government. Thank you for caring about our fellow Americans. May God bless you all and your families, and may God bless America. October 04, 2001 Thank you very much. Please be seated. Thank you all. Mr. Secretary, I'm honored you invited me back. Laughter I'm glad to be back to be able to say thanks, on behalf of the American people, to the patriots who work for our Department of State. Thanks for your hard work. Thanks for your dedication. Thanks for your love of America. I'm also here to announce an initiative to help the Afghan people in a time of crisis and in a time of need. America will stand strong and will oppose the sponsors of terror, and America will stand strong and help those people who are hurt by those regimes. Mr. Secretary, I am proud of your leadership. Last time I came, I predicted you would be a great Secretary of State. You have not let me down. And neither have the folks who work at the State Department, not only here in Washington but in Embassies throughout the world. America is proud of your service. And America is comforted by the fact that we are united as we stand to fight terror. We are engaged in a noble cause, and that is to say loud and clear to the evildoers that we reject you, that we will stand firm against terror, and that this great Nation, along with many other nations, will defend freedom. I want to thank those of you who have worked extra long hours to help forge this fantastic coalition that we're building, a coalition of people all around the world who understand that the evil acts could have happened to them, just like they happened to us. People understand that now is the time to take a stand, to seize this moment, to say that out of this evil act will come good. And the State Department has helped lead the way. And I'm proud of your efforts, and I'm proud of your hard work. After all, many of you understand the effects of terror. We had two of our Embassies bombed. Your colleagues were injured and died. I mean, the State Department has been on the frontline of battling terror and the frontline of seeing the effects of terror. And the American people appreciate the heroism of the people who serve our country overseas. This is a unique type of war. It's a war that is going to require us building a broad coalition of nations who will contribute, one way or the other, to make sure that we all win. Some nations may be willing to commit troops, if that's a decision that we make. Other nations will help in cutting off funding. Truth of the matter is, the first shot we fired in this war against evildoers was when the Secretary and I and the Secretary of Treasury said, we're going to find their money, and we're going to starve them of their money. We're going to find their bank accounts, and we will freeze them. We're going to talk to banks all around the world and make it clear that if they are on our side, if they join the folks who are fighting evil, that they've got to do everything they can to cut off their funds. When we starve them of their funds, we starve them of their capacity to move against freedom. I'm proud of the coalitions that we've built. I'm proud of the fact that the Secretary of State and the able team here at the State Department is a results oriented group of folks. We've said not only, "Join the coalition" we've said, "Here's what we expect you to do. Here is your assignment." One of the things the American people appreciate about our administration is that we're results oriented folks, that we expect there to be results. We expect, if you're on our team, that we want your performance. And it's making a difference. As I announced the other day, we've collectively rounded up 150 terrorists, people associated with the Al Qaida organization. Thanks to the Secretary of State's work and others' work and the work of people around the world, we've convinced those who joined our coalition to rout out terrorists, to find them, to incarcerate them, to question them, to find out what's in their mind and what their future activities may be. And we're making great progress. This is a strong coalition. It's a strong coalition because we've got great leadership, but it's a strong coalition because we're right, because it's a strong coalition because we've made it clear, this is not a war between Christianity or Judaism and Islam. As a matter of fact, the teachings of Islam make it clear that peace is important, that compassion is a part of life. This is a war between good and evil. And we have made it clear to the world that we will stand strong on the side of good, and we expect other nations to join us. This is not a war between our world and their world. It is a war to save the world, and people now understand that. And I want to thank you for all your work of making that simple, yet profound, mission clear. We have no compassion for terrorists in this country. We have no compassion, nor will we have any compassion for any state that sponsors them. Oh yes, we're a compassionate nation, but our compassion is limited. We have great compassion, however, for the millions around the world who are victims of hate, of victims of oppressive government, including the people who live in Afghanistan. Today I'm announcing, along with the Secretary of State, that America will contribute an additional 320 million in humanitarian assistance for Afghans for more food, more medicine, to help the innocent people of Afghanistan deal with the coming winter. This is our way of saying that while we firmly and strongly oppose the Taliban regime, we are friends of the Afghan people. We will work with the U.N. agencies such as the World Food Program and work with private volunteer organizations to make sure this assistance gets to the people. We will make sure that not only the folks in Afghanistan who need help get help, but we will help those who have fled to neighboring countries to get help as well. There's no question that we're an angry people about what happened to our country. But in our anger, we must never forget we're a compassionate people as well. We will fight evil, but in order to overcome evil, the great goodness of America must come forth and shine forth. And one way to do so is to help the poor souls in Afghanistan. And we're going to do so. I want to remind the world that helping people in need is a central part of not only the Christian faith but of Judaism and the Hindu faith and of course a central part of Islamic traditions. And that's why our coalition is more than just one to rout terrorism out of the world. It's one to bind together, to knit those traditions in a way that helps people in need. You know, I talked to a lot of world leaders, and Colin has as well. And I told him, "Through our tears, we see opportunity, that in our sadness and grief, we see an opportunity to not only defend freedom but to make the world more peaceful." I see an opportunity at home when I hear the stories of Christian and Jewish women alike, helping women of cover, Arab American women, go shop because they're afraid to leave their home. I see a great opportunity when I see moms and dads spend more time with their children here at home. I see out of this sadness and grief an opportunity for America to reexamine our culture, to reexamine how we view the need to help people in need, whether it be in our own neighborhood and around the world. I see out of this evil will come good, not only here at home, as youngsters all of a sudden understand the definition of sacrifice, the sacrifice of those brave souls on Flight 93, who after the Twenty third Psalm said, "Let's roll," to save America. I see an opportunity as well to bring peace to the world, the likes of which we've never seen. I appreciate the Secretary of State's hard work in the Middle East. It has been diligent. It has been consistent. It has been true to the principles of America, that in order for there to be peace, we must reduce the level of violence. I see an opportunity to make sure the subcontinent is more peaceful. No, in our grief and in our sadness, I see an opportunity to make the world a better place for generations to come. And we will seize the opportunity. I fully understand that some will grow weary and some will tire not this administration and not the people of the State Department. I know there will be some nations that will become frustrated over time because we're fighting a different kind of campaign. But we won't weary. This is a nation that has determined made a determination to rise up in a united way, to not only spread good will around the world but to find terrorists where they may live and may hide, and those who harbor them, and bring them to justice. Now is the time. Now is the time for this great Nation to lead. And I'm proud of the Secretary of State and the hardworking people of the State Department for joining us in this cause. Thank you for letting me come by again. May God bless you all, and may God bless America. October 03, 2001 The President. It's an honor to be back in New York City. I want to thank the mayor and the Governor for welcoming us back. I'm pleased that Secretary Don Evans and Larry Lindsey from the White House staff are traveling with me, and I want to thank the business leaders from not only New York but others who have come from around the country to discuss the state of the Nation. And we've had a very frank discussion about the state of our economy. I think there's no question we all agree that the events of September 11th shocked our economy, just like it shocked the conscience of our Nation. But like those terrorists, they can't affect our soul they can't affect the greatness of America. We all believe that the underpinnings are there for economic recovery. And we all must do our part, and the Federal Government has a role to play. Today Secretary Paul O'Neill testified at Congress, saying that the administration believes that we ought to have 60 to 75 billion dollars more of stimulus to encourage consumer confidence, to enhance business investment, as well as to take care of displaced workers. I have shared that with the business leaders here. They understand that there is a role for the Federal Government, a strong and active role. And I assured them it's a role that we intend to play. I know there are people hurting in America there are people who have lost their jobs. But as I assured these leaders, that our Government will do everything we can to get our economy growing, to make it as strong as possible. I am saddened by the sight of the World Trade Center again, once again. But through my tears I do see a much better future for the country. This is a great nation. It's an entrepreneurial nation. It's a nation that has got such generous and kind people. The leadership, the business leadership here has contributed 150 million to the funds, the variety of funds here in the New York City area, to help people, the victims. It speaks volumes about what America is about. And I want to thank everybody for coming. I'm now going to ask Ken Chenault to say a few words. Ken. At this point, Kenneth I. Chenault, chairman and chief executive officer, American Express Company, made brief remarks. The President. Thank you, Ken. Betsy. Betsy Holden, chief executive, Kraft Foods, made brief remarks. The President. I appreciate that. Thanks. I'd be glad to take a few questions. Economic Stimulus Plan Q. What form might this stimulus take? Are we looking at tax cuts for individuals, corporations? The President. You bet. I know we need to provide more tax relief to individuals to boost consumer confidence. We've just finished passing out 40 billion of rebate checks they were completed by October 1st of this year. There is going to be tax relief started next year as a part of the package that the Congress and I agreed to. We believe there ought to be more, to make sure that the consumer has got money to spend, money to spend in the short term. Secondly, there needs to be business relief as well, to encourage investment. And finally, there needs to be a displaced worker package. We've got to recognize that as a result of September 11th, folks have been laid off, and we need to make sure they're able to survive until this economy gets going again. And I've got to tell you, I had a great conversation with the leadership of the Congress yesterday. We're coming together on a plan that I believe needs to get passed as quickly as possible. Q. Mr. President, is this going to eat up the rest of the surplus for the year, and does it matter? The President. Well, as I said in Chicago during the campaign, when asked about should the Government ever deficit spend, I said only under these circumstances should Government deficit spend if there is a national emergency, if there is a recession, or if there's a war. And you know, we've now got a reason to do what it takes to not only provide security at home, to do what it takes to win the war on terrorism, but we've also got to do what it takes to make sure this economy gets growing, so people can find work. And we've got the basis for growth. We're an entrepreneurial nation. There's a lot of small business growth in America. By and large, the banking system is very solid. The energy prices are reasonable. And now we've just got to be aggressive and make sure we do what we need to do at the Federal level to provide a kick start to give people reasons to be confident. And we will do that. This isn't a Republican idea or Democrat idea it's an American idea. And it's the right time for us to come together to get it done. Yes, ma'am. Q. Mr. President, should the country brace itself for a recession? I mean, one of your advisers said yesterday that he can forecast it being likely that two negative quarters of growth are The President. We'll leave all that talk up to the statisticians. You're asking me about statistics, and we've got people who count numbers there in Washington, DC, and that's fine. Here's my attitude One person laid off is one person too many. And therefore, we've got to do what it takes to make sure that that person who got laid off is able to find work. I'm not going to dwell on the past I'm looking forward. And I believe we've got a fantastic opportunity to invigorate this economy and to assure the business leaders around America that the Government is playing a very active role and that we will take the steps necessary to provide growth and stimulus. And that's why I believe we need additional stimulus beyond some of the spending that we've already put in place, to the tune of about 60 to 75 billion dollars. We'll let the accountants come up they call it what they want there's no question that the economy has been affected by September 11th. Q. Inaudible signed off on that 60 billion to 75 billion The President. No, they have not, yet. But they do understand we need to have a range, that as you go into a debate about or discussions about how to stimulate the economy, first and foremost, it's important to come up with a total figure so that we don't undershoot or overshoot the mark. And they do recognize that some of the actions that we've all taken together, including the 40 billion supplemental plus the 15 billion for the airline, will have a positive effect on economic growth, and I do believe they recognize there needs to be more. And so one of the things that I'm doing is providing the leadership necessary to try to set the parameters on what the definition of "more" is. Again, I want to repeat We've just finished with 40 billion of rebate from the tax package we agreed upon earlier in the year, plus we'll have about 70 billion in the rate reductions starting next year. And so, what we're looking at is how to bridge into next year. Q. Sir, are you confident that the size of the package you're talking about will do the stimulating you need at this end, without putting pressure on interest rates The President. That's a very good question. I finally got one no anyway laughter I believe I think you ought to ask the I wish you could have heard the discussion we had, let me put it to you that way, where I believe people around this table, for example, believe it's important to be aggressive on the front end that the risk reward ratio is beneficial to be more aggressive on the front end. And obviously, we agree with that that's why we've proposed up to 60 to 75 billion. But we're mindful of the effect on long term interest rates, and we think that number is the right number. Discussions With Business Leaders Q. Mr. President, can you tell us anything specific about these discussions with these men and women, specifically about did you speak about corporate relief? The President. Yes, we did. I can be very specific, just like I have been. They do believe we need to stimulate the economy through boosting consumer confidence with some kind of money in the hands of consumers. And there's a variety of ways to excuse me? I'm sorry there's a variety of ways to do that. There's rebates there's acceleration of the tax cuts are the two most effective ways to do that, and we discussed both of those. Secondly, we discussed a variety of options for corporate relief. One, we talked about ways to encourage investment through expensing of depreciation. Some people thought we ought to look at onetime ITCs, investment tax credits. People talked about the idea of corporate tax relief. And so we did have specific discussions about ways to make sure that our economy continues to grow. And I am most grateful for the input that we have been given here. It has been incredibly helpful. The thing I come away with is that these are men and women dedicated to America, first and foremost. They're dedicated to the workers that work for their company they're dedicated to providing the security for their workers so they can go to work feeling safely. And they love their country, and they're going to do what it takes to join all of us together to recover from this awful incident of September 11th. You only get one question a day. Domestic Response Q. Inaudible ask your average American to do besides spend, to help? The President. Well, I think the average American must not be afraid to travel. We opened Reagan Airport yesterday for a reason We think it's safe and that people ought to feel comfortable about traveling around our country. They ought to take their kids on vacations. They ought to go to ball games. The mayor wants them to come to the Yankee games, of course. Laughter Mayor Giuliani. The World Series. The President. The World Series, yes. Laughter No question he's an incurable optimist. Laughter But people ought to listen, we ought to be aware in America we are aware how can you not be aware that we've entered into a new era? The imagery is vivid in people's minds. But nevertheless, Americans must know that their Government is doing everything we can to track down every rumor, every hint, every possible evildoer. And therefore, Americans ought to go about their business, and they are beginning to do so. The load factors were up on the airlines, which means more people will be going to hotels and restaurants. I fulfilled my pledge, my promise last night to take the Mayor of Washington, DC, for dinner. I did Morton's Steakhouse. We had a nice slice of beef plus, I paid. Laughter Defense Secretary Rumsfeld's Visit to the Middle East Q. Mr. President, why did you send Secretary Rumsfeld over to the Middle East to visit some countries? The President. Pardon me, John John Dickerson, Time ? Q. Why did you send him, and what is he doing over there, visiting those countries? The President. John, he's visiting with our friends. As you know, we've put together a broad coalition of nations that are interested in battling, joining us to battle terrorism. And Secretary Rumsfeld went over to visit with the leaders of a group of nations to share with them information, to discuss the determination of our Nation. People need to be able to look us in the eye and know that when we say that we're in this for the long run, that we're going to find terrorism terrorists and bring them to justice, we mean it that this is a nation see, it's hard for people around the world to understand the resolve of America. They may hear my speech occasionally, but they need to look at the eyes in the eyes of members of my administration, because and hear them say that not only is this President resolved, but America is resolved to rout out terrorism, to make sure that legitimate governments can survive as we head into the 21st century, and to make a strong stand for freedom. And Secretary Rumsfeld is going to do a fine job of delivering that message, because he knows exactly how I feel about the mission we have ahead of us. Thank you all for coming. October 02, 2001 The President. I want to thank the leaders of the Congress for coming down for breakfast this morning. We had a really good discussion, starting with the progress we're making on the war against terrorism. I briefed the Members about the fact that we're beginning to make progress in freezing assets freezing assets of the Al Qaida organization. I also talked about that the net we're casting is wide and strong, that we've put together an international coalition that is impressive, and that the members of that coalition are staying steady. It is my desire to make sure that as this war unfolds, that the leaders of both the Senate and the House are fully informed of what the Government is doing. I can't think of a better way to conduct foreign policy than to consult regularly with the leadership. We also talked about airport security. I told the Members that I'm going to be going to Reagan Airport today to announce its opening, and that we need to work together to make sure that the package that's evolving in the House and the Senate is put together pretty quickly. We talked about economic stimulus. There is agreement that we've got to come together with a vision about how big the package ought to be, to make sure that we affect the economy in the short run in a positive way, but don't affect it in the long run in a negative way. We agree on principles, that we've got to make sure that demand for U.S. products stays strong, demand for products throughout our economy stays strong. Therefore, we talked about ways to stimulate demand. We understand that investment has fallen off in the corporate sector, and we talked about constructive ways to stimulate investments so that the manufacturing sector, for example, of the United States has got some added wind in order to grow, to make sure that people find work. We talked about worker displacement. And we had a good discussion. And there's one thing that the American people must understand, that as we work through these important subjects, we will do so in a spirit of cooperation and consultation. And finally, all of us want to get a budget done as quickly possible, get the appropriations process done. We're making very good progress on coming up with the size of the ultimate budget. And once that's decided, we pledged to work together to get the appropriations bills moving as quickly as possible. That would be a welcome relief from the old budget battles of the past. And I'm most pleased with the conversations we've had. I admired all four leaders prior to September 11th I admire them even more after September 11th, because they're dedicated patriots, anxious to bring our Government together to make sure that we respond to the American people in a positive way. I'll answer a couple of questions. Situation in the Middle East Taliban Q. Mr. President, is the time running out on the Taliban regime? Are you prepared, sir, to recognize a Palestinian state as a part of a broader Middle East peace process, itself? The President. Those are two questions, Major Major Garrett, Cable News Network . Q. It's been a while since I've seen you. The President. Don't take it personally. Q. I never do, sir. The President. The idea of a Palestinian state has always been a part of a vision, so long as the right to Israel to exist is respected. But first things first, when it comes to the Middle East, and we've got to get to Mitchell, the Mitchell accord. Senator Mitchell put together a viable blueprint that most of the world agrees with as the necessary path to ultimately solving the problems of the Middle East. And we are working diligently with both sides to encourage the reduction of violence so that meaningful discussions can take place. Secondly, there is no timetable for the Taliban, just like there are no negotiations. I have said that the Taliban must turn over Al Qaida organization living within Afghanistan and must destroy the terrorist camps. And they must do so otherwise, there will be a consequence. There are no negotiations there's no calendar. We'll act on our time, and we'll do it in a manner that not only secures the United States as best as possible but makes the freedom in the world more likely to exist in the future. Q. Mr. President, to follow up on the Middle East, sir. Were you prepared to support the idea of a Palestinian state before the United Nations conference that was canceled? The President. Oh, I read all kinds of speculation about what this administration was or was not going to do. What I'm telling you is, is that we are fully committed to the Mitchell process. And we are fully committed to working with both sides to bring the level of terror down to an acceptable level for both. And I fully understand that progress is made in centimeters in the Middle East. And we believe we're making some progress. Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . National Economy Q. How big a stimulus package do you think is needed, sir, and what do you think is the best way to stimulate demand? The President. Well, the definition a stimulus package big enough what is needed is big enough to get the economy moving in the short run but small enough so it doesn't affect long term interest rates, for example. We are all of us are listening to the voices of leading economists. We're all open for suggestions. The best way to stimulate demand is to give people some money, so they can spend it. Domestic Reaction to September 11 Q. Mr. President, out of this terror comes fear. The President. What? Out of what? Q. Out of this terror on September 11th comes fear. Many Americans are still gripped with this fear, and they're buying gas masks in exuberant numbers. And they're also looking to for anthrax vaccinations. What do you say to those people? Is their fear warranted? The President. I say that America ought to be on alert, but we need to get back to business. That's why I'm opening up Reagan Airport. That's why we had Cabinet members get on commercial airlines over the weekend. The good news is, is that some of the load factors on American airlines looked like they increased over the weekend. Americans know their Government is doing everything they can to disrupt any terrorist activity that may occur. We're following every lead we're interrogating every possible suspect. We're on full alert in America. But the good news is, Americans also realize that in order to fight terrorism, they're going to go about their lives in a normal way. And Americans are. National Economy Q. Are we in a recession, sir? The President. Are we in a what? Q. Are we in a recession? The President. You let the numbercrunchers tell us that. But there's no question our economy is hurt as a result of September 11th. And the leaders here understand that. These Members go back to their districts and hear the plight of families who have been laid off. I, of course, hear it all the time as well. And we're going to do something about it. That's exactly what these discussions are about. In terms of how you call it, what the numbers look like, we've got statisticians who will be crunching the numbers and let us know exactly where we stand. But we don't need numbers to tell us people are hurting. October 02, 2001 The President. Thank you all. Governor, thank you very much. I am here to make an announcement that this Thursday, ticket counters and airplanes will fly out of Ronald Reagan Airport. The ticket counters will be open for business. We will start a schedule of airplane flights that will reflect the new and tight security concerns that all Americans share. Ronald Reagan Airport is very important for our local economy, but it's also a national symbol, as the Governor mentioned. So Thursday, flights will resume. I want to thank all the captains and flight attendants and maintenance folks and ticket counter personnel, people who make this good airport run, for your patience and understanding. We're doing the right thing. We've taken our time. We can assure the American public as best as we can that we're taking the necessary safety precautions. Now it's time to start flying again. I want to thank the Governor of Virginia for his hard work and concern about the working people in this part of the State. I want to thank Secretary Norm Mineta, the Transportation Secretary, for working hard to bring people together, to bring sensible policy to airports all across America. He's been working overtime. That's what we expect from the Secretary of Transportation during this period of time. And I'm proud of the work he's done. I want to thank the Mayor of Washington, DC, for being here. The Mayor's a good, solid man. I want to thank Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton from Washington, DC, for being here as well. Two United States Senators from the State of Virginia, John Warner and George Allen, have been deeply concerned about this airport. Members of the congressional delegation, Tom Davis, Jim Moran, and Frank Wolf, as well, have been working hard with us to come up with reasonable, sound policies to get the Reagan Airport started. I'm glad you all are here, as well as Connie Morella from the neighboring State of Maryland. There really is no greater symbol that America's back in business than the reopening of this airport. After all, this is the airport that brings our Nation's leaders to Washington to do the people's business. It's the airport that welcomes millions of tourists to our Nation's Capital. And of course, the Mayor would want me to say, we want the tourists coming back to see our great monuments. But one of the things those of us who live in the area understand, this airport is really important for the local economy as well. There's a lot of people, a lot of smallbusiness people, a lot of people who service the airport, obviously a lot of people who work here, depend upon this airport being open. And I understand that. And I appreciate once again your patience and understanding, as our Nation obviously is dealing with a tragedy, the likes of which we never envisioned. I also know full well that the Nation is asking this question Are we taking the necessary safety precautions as we open not only Ronald Reagan Airport but other airports? The answer is, you bet. We sure are. We're spending a lot of time consulting with local officials to make sure that the security that all of us expect is in place. Not only have we worked with Members of the Congress to develop what we hope is a security plan that will enhance confidence from the traveling public, but we work with local officials as well to make sure this airport has got the toughest security measures possible. We also, as you well know, are increasing the number of air marshals, armed marshals on airplanes. They'll be undercover let me rephrase that they'll be wearing civilian clothes. Laughter They will blend in. But we'll have many more air marshals on flights. It should send two signals One to the American public that there will be protection and to somebody who thinks they can disrupt America, we're watching for you we're paying attention to you. Every person who gets on an airplane, who goes to work, who takes their family to visit relatives, is taking a stand against terrorism. You see, the terrorists, they want to intimidate America. The terrorists, by conducting their evil deeds, wanted our Nation to stop. But they underestimated our spirit, didn't they? Audience member. Yes, they did. The President. Yes, they made a mistake. And the spirit is strong in America. Our confidence is strong. We've put together a coalition of nations that says terrorism won't stand. We've got our military alert on alert for a reason Terrorism won't stand. We're cutting off their money, because we're saying terrorism won't stand. And we're saying that at home as well. People who travel say terrorism is not going to intimidate us. Tonight I've asked the Mayor to go out to dinner with me, on a Washington here in the District. He said he's going so long as I pay. Laughter You've got a deal. Laughter When people go to ball games, they're sending a signal. I mean, we got struck hard on September the 11th. All of us know that. But you can't strike the American spirit. It's strong. It's vibrant. It's united. And by opening this airport, we're making yet another statement to the terrorists You can't win. Thank you all for being here. God bless you. October 01, 2001 Thank you all very much. Thank you. I admit he's not very pretty to look at. Laughter But he's doing a heck of a job. I'm so proud of my friend. It's become clear to all the hard working FEMA employees that I didn't pick Joe Allbaugh because of his haircut. Laughter But I picked him because he's a good man who knows how to run a very important organization. And I'm proud of my friend. I'm proud of the job he's doing. And I'm proud of the work that the FEMA employees all across the country are doing on behalf of America. I'm here to thank you all. I was up in the operations room, thanking the folks who are working 12 to 13, 14, 15 hours a day, still, to this day. I had the honor of going to New York City I saw what they call "dirty boot" operations, from Sacramento and Puerto Rico all FEMA employees, all people who love their fellow Americans, all who want to join in to say loud and clear to the evildoers, "Your actions won't stand in America." Joe said it best. He said, "This is something I hope I never have to go through again as long as I live." I know every FEMA employee feels that way. After all, yours was an organization that was used to dealing with, generally, acts of nature, hurricanes or tornadoes and fires or floods. And then all of a sudden, some evil people came and they declared war on America. And your agency and the good working people, true Americans, had to rise to the occasion. And rise, you did. And for that, the people of New York and Connecticut and New Jersey and Pennsylvania and every other State in the Union are proud of the job you're doing. So on behalf of the American people, I say thanks from the bottom of our hearts for the FEMA employees. I also want to talk about the battle we face, the campaign to protect freedom the willingness of the American people to not only repair the damage done but the willingness of our Nation to stand united, to say loud and clear that freedom will stand, that you can tear down our buildings but you can't tear down our spirit, that we're strong and united in the cause of freedom not only here in America but all around the world. This will be a different kind of campaign than Americans are used to. It's a campaign that must be fought on many fronts. And I'm proud to report that we're making progress on many fronts. Not only have the FEMA employees showed the world what it's like to stand up and help a neighbor in need we're also beginning to make progress on the financial front. As you may remember, I made it clear that part of winning the war against terror would be to cut off these evil people's money it would be to trace their assets and freeze them, cut off their cash flows, hold people accountable who fund them, who allow the funds to go through their institutions, and not only do that at home but to convince others around the world to join us in doing so. Thus far, we've frozen 6 million in bank accounts linked to terrorist activity. We've frozen 30 Al Qaida accounts in the United States and 20 overseas. And we're just beginning. Also, on the military front, we're making progress. We've deployed 29,000 military personnel and 2 carrier battle groups, as well as an amphibious ready group and several hundred military aircraft. We've called about 17,000 members of the reserve to active duty, as well as several thousand National Guard operating under State authority. As I said, this is a different kind of war. It's hard to fight a guerrilla war with conventional forces. But our military is ready. And as I said to the Congress, they will make us proud. In this new kind of war, one that requires a coalition, we're making good progress on the diplomatic front. At our request, the United Nations unanimously enacted a binding resolution requiring all its members to deny financing support or safe harbor to terrorists. We've had 46 declarations of support from organizations including NATO, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and the Organization of American States. You see, the evildoers like to hit, and then they try to hide. And slowly but surely, we're going to make sure they have no place to hide. Slowly but surely, we're going to move them out of their holes and what they think is safe havens and get them on the move. We're a patient nation. We're a nation who has got a long term view, a nation that's come to realize that in order to make freedom prevail, the evildoers will be forced to run and will eventually be brought to justice. Now, along those lines, we're taking any threat seriously here at home. The FBI has conducted hundreds of interviews and searches, issued hundreds of subpoenas, and arrested or detained more than 400 people as it investigates the attacks. About 150 terrorists and their supporters, as well, have been arrested or detained in 25 different countries. In my speech to the Congress, I said, sometimes the American people aren't going to see exactly what's taking place on their TV screens. But slowly but surely, the results are coming in. You see, we've said to people around the world, "This could have happened to you. This could have easily have taken place on your soil. So you need to take threats seriously as well." We're beginning to share intelligence amongst our nations. We're finding out members of the Al Qaida organization, who they are, where they think they can hide. And we're slowly but surely bringing them to justice. We're slowly but surely calling their hand and reining them in. We've just begun. There's 150 detained and more to come. And along these lines, this weekend, through the collaborative efforts of intelligence and law enforcement, we've arrested a known terrorist who was responsible for the deaths of two U.S. citizens during a hijacking in 1986, a terrorist by the name of Zayd Hassan Safarini. He's not affiliated with Al Qaida, yet he's an example of the wider war on terrorism and what we intend to do. Here's a man who killed two of our own citizens when he hijacked a plane in Pakistan. By the way, obviously, there's only two Americans that's two too many but there was a lot of people from other countries, as well, involved. And he was convicted and sentenced to death, yet he only served 14 years. Well, we arrested him we got him we brought him into Alaska. And today the United States of America will charge him with murder. Sometimes we'll have success in the near term sometimes we have to be patient. Sometimes we'll be able to round somebody up who threatens us today sometimes it may take us awhile to catch him. But the lesson of this case, and every case, is that this mighty Nation won't rest until we protect ourselves, our citizens, and freedom loving people around the world. The evildoers struck, and when they did, they aroused a mighty land, a land of compassionate people, a land who wants to help a neighbor in need, but a land who stands solidly on principles, the principles of freedom freedom to worship, freedom to govern, freedom to speak, freedom to assemble. We sent a loud message to the world We will not be cowed by a few. We sent another message to the world Together, we're going to bring these people to justice. And that's exactly what we're going to do. Thank you for your hard work. I want to thank you all so very much for your hard work and for your love for America. May God bless you all. May God continue to bless America. Thank you very much. September 29, 2001 Good morning. I want to report to you on the progress being made on many fronts in our war against terrorism. This is a different kind of war, which we will wage aggressively and methodically to disrupt and destroy terrorist activity. In recent days, many members of our military have left their homes and families and begun moving into a place for missions to come. Thousands of reservists have been called to active duty. Soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coastguardmen are being deployed to points around the globe, ready to answer when their country calls. Our military families have accepted many hardships, and our Nation is grateful for their willing service. The men and women of the Armed Forces are united in their dedication to freedom, and they will make us proud in the struggle against terrorism. International cooperation is gaining momentum. This week I met with the Prime Ministers of two of America's closest friends, Canada and Japan. Other countries, from Russia to Indonesia, are giving strong support as the war against terrorism moves forward. America is grateful to the nations that have cut off diplomatic ties with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, which is sheltering terrorists. The United States respects the people of Afghanistan, and we are their largest provider of humanitarian aid. But we condemn the Taliban and welcome the support of other nations in isolating that regime. We have also launched a strike against the financial foundation of the global terror network. Our goal is to deny terrorists the money they need to carry out their plans. We began by identifying 27 terrorist organizations, terrorist leaders, and foreign businesses and charities that support or front for terrorism. We froze whatever assets they had here in the United States, and we blocked them from doing business with people, companies, or banks in our country. Many governments and financial institutions around the world are joining in this effort to starve terrorists of funding. This week I visited the headquarters of the FBI and the CIA. Their agents and analysts have been on the case around the clock, uncovering and pursuing the enemy. In the long campaign ahead, they will need our continued support and every necessary tool to do their work. I'm asking Congress for new law enforcement authority to better track the communications of terrorists and to detain suspected terrorists until the moment they are deported. I will also seek more funding and better technology for our country's intelligence community. This week we also took strong steps to improve security on planes and in airports and to restore confidence in air travel. We're providing airlines with Federal grants to make cockpits more secure through measures including fortified doors and stronger locks. And we're dramatically increasing the number of Federal air marshals on our planes. Americans will have the confidence of knowing that fully equipped officers of the law are flying with them in far greater numbers. I'm also working with Congress to put Federal law enforcement in charge of all bag and passenger screening at our airports. Standards will be tougher and enforced by highly trained professionals who know exactly what they're looking for. To enhance safety immediately, I've asked Governors to place National Guardsmen at security checkpoints in airports. As all these actions make clear, our war on terror will be much broader than the battlefields and beachheads of the past. This war will be fought wherever terrorists hide or run or plan. Some victories will be won outside of public view, in tragedies avoided and threats eliminated. Other victories will be clear to all. Our weapons are military and diplomatic, financial and legal. And in this struggle, our greatest advantages are the patience and resolve of the American people. We did not seek this conflict, but we will win it. America will act deliberately and decisively, and the cause of freedom will prevail. Thank you for listening. September 28, 2001 President Bush. Your Majesty, welcome back. King Abdullah. Thank you. President Bush. It's great to see you. I look forward to our discussions. Jordan is a strong, strong friend of America. And right after September 11th, one of the early messages I received was from His Majesty, expressing the condolences of the Jordanian people, as well as his own personal condolences. I'm so pleased with our cooperative the cooperation we have in fighting terror. I have assured His Majesty that our war is against evil, not against Islam. There are thousands of Muslims who proudly call themselves Americans, and they know what I know, that the Muslim faith is based upon peace and love and compassion the exact opposite of the teachings of the Al Qaida organization, which is based upon evil and hate and destruction. And finally, Your Majesty, as a welcoming gift, it is my honor to present you with a pen. This is no ordinary pen, since it's the pen I used to sign the Free Trade Agreement with Jordan this morning. At long last, we have together accomplished one of your main objectives in terms of economic cooperation, which is the Free Trade Agreement. I'm proud of the actions of our leadership in the House and the Senate, from both political parties, that recognize the importance of trade with Jordan. And so, Your Majesty, it's now officially the law, and here's the pen that signed it. King Abdullah. Thank you very much, sir. Very grateful. President Bush. Welcome back to the Oval Office. King Abdullah. Sir, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for seeing us today. Obviously, I wish our meeting was under better circumstances, but obviously we're here to give our full, unequivocal support to you and to the people of America. And we will stand by you in these very difficult times. And we're proud of our friendship. We're proud of the relations we've had with your country over many, many years, as far back as his late Majesty, King Hussein. And it's in difficult times like this that true friends must stand with each other, and we'll be by your side, and we'll be there to support you. And I'm here to see what we can do to help. President Bush. Thank you, sir. We'll take a few questions. Q. Mr. President President Bush. You're after the retirement lady. Laughter Q. I'm now the retirement lady. I feel very old. Laughter President Bush. Well, once you leave the White House, we view it as retirement. But go ahead. Laughter Saudi Arabia Q. What's your reaction to the Saudis' announcement that we can that the U.S. can use airbases? And also, do you feel the military deployment is adequate? Do you feel comfortable with where it is? President Bush. Well, first, we will not be discussing any of the our military plans. It is very important for the American people to know that any public discussion of military or intelligence matters could jeopardize any mission that we may be thinking about. Secondly, that I am most pleased with the cooperation we're getting in the Middle East. Clearly, the cooperation with our friend the Jordanians is strong and powerful, and we're united but the Saudis as well. Not only are they helping stabilize Pakistan, which is a very important part of our diplomatic efforts they are also cooperating with us in terms of any military planning we might be doing. And I'm really pleased. I had very good discussions I know the King has as well with our Saudi Arabian friends. Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Russian Experience in Afghanistan Q. Mr. President, thank you. Have you had any chance to study the long and difficult conflict that the Russians had in Afghanistan? And if so, what, if anything, did you learn that might be helpful in the conflict you have coming ahead? President Bush. Well, one of the things we will do is enforce the doctrine, part of the doctrine that says, if you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as a terrorist. And in my speech to the Nation, I laid out the conditions that we expect the current Government of Afghanistan to follow. I am fully aware of the difficulties the Russians had in Afghanistan. Our intelligence people and our State Department people are also fully aware. It is very hard to fight a conventional war a guerrilla war with conventional forces. And we understand that. That's why I have explained to the American people that the new war on terror is going to be a different war. It will be fought on a variety of fronts. It will be fought on a financial front. It will require the best of intelligence and the sharing of intelligence. There may or may not be a conventional component to it. I said loud and clear, sometimes people will be able to see what we do on the television screens. Other times the American people won't be able to see what we're doing. But make no mistake about it we're in hot pursuit. We're going to enforce the doctrine. We're going to be diligent and patient and determined to bring people to justice and to rout out terrorist activity around the world. And so there have been lessons learned in the past, and our Government is very aware of those lessons. Jim Jim Angle, FOX News . Afghanistan Middle Eastern Response Q. Mr. President, if I may, for Your Highness, how difficult is it for Middle Eastern nations to unite against someone who claims to be speaking and acting on behalf of Islam? And Mr. President, what's your reaction to word today that the Taliban says it has now located Usama bin Laden and has delivered an invitation to him to leave the country? President Bush. First of all I'll answer first, and then Your Majesty. First, there is no negotiations with the Taliban. They heard what I said. And now they can act. And it's not just Mr. bin Laden that we expect to see and brought to justice it's everybody associated with his organization that's in Afghanistan. And not only those directly associated with Mr. bin Laden, any terrorist that is housed and fed in Afghanistan needs to be handed over. And finally, we expect there to be complete destruction of terrorist camps. That's what I told them that's what I mean. And we expect them we expect them to not only hear what I say but to do something about it. And I want to tell His Majesty what I said the other day, and then he can respond to your question. The Al Qaida people don't represent Islam, as far as America is concerned. They represent evil. They're evil people. And that's not the Muslim faith that I know and understand, nor is it the Muslim faith of millions of Americans who are proud and devout Muslims. King Abdullah. Well, sir, as the President so well put it, what these people stand for is completely against all the principles that Arab Muslims believe in. And so, on those principles alone, I think it will be very, very easy for people to stand together. As the President said, this is a fight against evil, and the majority of Arabs and Muslims will band together with our colleagues all over the world to be able to put an end to this horrible scourge of international terrorism. And you'll see a united front. September 27, 2001 The President. Thank you all very much for such a warm welcome. I first want to thank Craig and Michele for their love and compassion for their friends and for being such great representatives of an incredibly important industry for America's future. I want to thank all the airline employees who are here from all the airlines around America. I want to thank you for your dedication, for your concern, and for being such great patriots for this great country. Besides you all, I'm keeping pretty good company today. First, I'm pleased to introduce the Secretary of Transportation, Norm Mineta. I want you to know that Norm took a United flight, and he said the flight was just perfect. I appreciate Norm's hard work and concern about our mutual goal, and that's to get the airplanes flying again all across America. I'm proud to be on the stage with your Governor and with his honor, the mayor. The mayor said he's going to buy me lunch today. Laughter I like my cheeseburger medium. Laughter I appreciate so very much Jane Garvey from the FAA being here. Thank you for coming. I'm really proud of the attitude in Washington, DC, right now. Traveling with me today were Republicans and Democrats, but make no mistake about it, they're first and foremost patriotic Americans. The State of Illinois has produced a good man and a good Speaker, and that's Denny Hastert. Thank you, Denny, for being here. Also traveling is Minority Leader Dick Gephardt. Dick has been a joy to work with as we do what's right for America. I appreciate Senator Dick Durbin for being with us today, and I want to thank you coming, Dick. Henry Hyde of the great State of Illinois, Mark Kirk of Illinois, Jerry Weller of Illinois we've got quite a crowd traveling today, all of whom all of whom are here to say as clearly as we can to the American public, "Get on the airlines get about the business of America." That's got a nice ring to it, doesn't it? I want to thank not only the employees, the people that make the airlines go, but I want to thank the chief executive officers from American Airlines and United Airlines, as well as old Herb Kelleher from Southwest Airlines, Jim Goodwin, and Don Carty. George Mikelsons of American Trans Air is here, as well. Thank you all for coming, and thank all your employees for being here. I know this will make Representative Gephardt feel good There's a lot of folks from TWA here. I'm so honored to be here. I think it's interesting that on one side, we see American on the other side, it says United. Because that's what we are America is united. We are united. We are united in bringing justice to those folks who did the evil deed on September 11th. We're not only united we're determined. We're determined to find those terrorists who tried to affect our way of life. We're determined to find them and to bring them to justice, and we will. But our determination goes beyond the immediate and the short term. This is a nation that's determined to defend freedom from any terrorist, anyplace in the world. This is a determined nation, and we're a strong nation. We're a nation based upon fabulous values. We're also a nation that is adjusting to a new type of war. This isn't a conventional war that we're waging. Ours is a campaign that will have to reflect the new enemy. There's no longer islands to conquer or beachheads to storm. We face a brand of evil, the likes of which we haven't seen in a long time in the world. These are people who strike and hide, people who know no borders, people who are people who depend upon others. And make no mistake about it, the new war is not only against the evildoers, themselves the new war is against those who harbor them and finance them and feed them. We will need patience and determination in order to succeed. We must understand that sometimes we will see our resources deployed, and sometimes we won't. But we will use every resource at our disposal. We will use the military might of the United States. We will use our intelligence gathering capacity of the United States. We will use every diplomatic means of the United States. We will disrupt their financial networks. We will do everything we can to achieve our objective, which is to rout out and destroy global terrorism. Americans understand we fight not a religion ours is not a campaign against the Muslim faith. Ours is a campaign against evil. And there is a broad coalition of nations that understand what's at stake that have come rallying to our side. And I want to thank the nations of the world that have stood side by side with our country to defend freedom. It's heartening to know that we stand not alone in the world. It's a coalition that will require different efforts from different countries. Some countries may want to participate in one way but not in another. All we ask is that you participate. All we ask is that you use the same amount of effort the United States will to win this war against freedom, to win this battle against global terrorism. This coalition will exist to achieve the mission, and I can assure you our mission will not change to fit any coalition's. America will stand strong. Others will tire and weary I understand that but not our Nation. Others will get others will secondguess, but not our Nation. Others will become impatient, but not this great Nation. We will stand firm and stand strong until we've achieved our mission. We hope everybody follows, but we're marching on. We're marching on to do what's right. This great Nation will not only deploy resources overseas, but we will work at home as well to fight terrorism and to win this war. I had the honor of announcing an Office of Homeland Security the other night in front of Congress. My good friend the Governor of Pennsylvania has agreed to leave his office early to serve the Nation, to coordinate activities to make sure that anybody who wants to harm America will have a hard time doing so, to make sure that we're strong at home as we are abroad, to make sure our resources are deployed effectively. We have thousands of FBI agents working today to chase down any lead, to look at any hint, to make sure America is as secure as can possibly be. And we must stand against terror by going back to work. Everybody here who showed up for work at this important industry is making a clear statement that terrorism will not stand, that the evildoers will not be able to terrorize America and our workforce and our people. America understands America understands that these have been incredibly tense days for the people who work in the airline industry, difficult times for stewardesses and captains and baggage handlers and people who are running the desks. America knows that, and we appreciate we appreciate your steadfast willingness to fight terror in your own way. You stand against terror by flying the airplanes and by maintaining them. You stand against terror by loading a bag or serving a passenger. And by doing so, you're expressing a firm national commitment that's so important that we will not surrender our freedom to travel that we will not surrender our freedoms in America that while you may think you have struck our soul, you haven't touched it that we are too strong a nation to be carried down by terrorist activity. When they struck, they wanted to create an atmosphere of fear. And one of the great goals of this Nation's war is to restore public confidence in the airline industry. It's to tell the traveling public Get on board do your business around the country fly and enjoy America's great destination spots get down to Disney World in Florida take your families and enjoy life the way we want it to be enjoyed. And we've got a role the Government's got a role. Not only do you have a role to play, which you're playing in such fine fashion, but the Government has a role to play as well. We've got a significant responsibility to deal with this emergency in a strong and bold way. And we are doing so. The first action we took was when Republicans and Democrats alike came together and put together a package to provide stability for the airline industry. We approved it was the first part of an economic recovery package. We understand, when we get our airlines up and running, it's going to affect so much of our economy. And so we jointly approved 15 billion of monies available to provide not only relief for airlines but loan guarantees for airlines, to make sure our airlines are strong and healthy in the aftermath of this national emergency. And I want to thank the Speaker and Leader Gephardt for taking the lead. They showed folks that Washington can work in concert and in a constructive way. But there's more to do. We must address the issue of airline safety in a constructive, smart way. For the sake of every passenger, every crewmember, and every pilot, we are going to make our airline security stronger and more reliable. Last week I reserved 3 billion in funding to achieve this goal. And today I want to outline some of our plans to do just that. First, I will work with Congress to put the Federal Government in charge of passenger and bag screening and all safety inspections. We will make our standards tougher and better and consistent all around the country. I understand it takes time for legislation to work through the halls of Congress, and you need to understand that, too. And so, to make sure we improve security right now, the Federal Government will pay for Governors to call up National Guard and place guardsmen at inspection stations in airports. Some airports already meet high standards, and you all know that. But for those airports that need help, we will work with the Governors to provide security measures visible security measures so the traveling public will know that we are serious about airline safety in America. Secondly, we are going to dramatically increase the number of Federal air marshals on our airplanes. When Americans fly, there need to be more highly skilled and fully equipped officers of law flying alongside them. Now, these marshals, of course, will wear plainclothes they're going to be they'll be like any other passenger. But Americans will know that there's more of them. And our crews will know there's more of them. And the terrorists will know there's more of them. And third, we will set aside 500 million in new funding for aircraft security. Grants will go to airlines for enhanced cockpit protection. We look forward to working with the pilots and airlines to fortify doors and provide stronger locks, so our pilots will always be in command of the airplanes. We will invest in new technology for aircraft security, with grants to develop transponders that cannot be switched off from the cockpit, video monitors in the cockpit to alert pilots to trouble in the cabin. And we will look at all kinds of technologies to make sure that our airlines are safe and for example, including technology to enable controllers to take over distressed aircraft and land it by remote control. With all these actions, we're returning America's airlines back to the American people. We're making a strong statement that together together the Government and the private sector will make flying a way of life again in America. The American people must know that my administration is confident. Tomorrow nine Cabinet members will board U.S. airlines to fly around our country to do their jobs, and so will thousands of other citizens, from all walks of life, will board aircraft. And these are good things for our Nation, because this Nation will not live in fear. We have awakened to a new danger, but our resolve is great, and the spirit of America is incredibly strong. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. The attacks on America were intended to break our spirit. But the evildoers failed. It's a fabulous land we're lucky to live in it. It's a land they have stirred a mighty nation to action, and the world is seeing what we're made out of. The world sees our resolve and is willing to follow. The world sees our commitment to freedom, as it impressed. The world sees our compassion toward one another, as neighbor helps neighbor, as neighbor grieves with neighbor, as people from all across our country want to hold the families who have been dangered and have been hurt in their arms. The world sees a nation at prayer, Christian, Jew, and Muslim alike, praying for strength to an almighty and merciful God. The world is beginning to see the best of this great land. The world is beginning to understand why we all treasure America so much our values, our freedom, and the strength of the American character. No, they thought they attacked America and hurt us. We are stronger than ever, and we will prove it to the world. Thank you all for coming. May God bless America. And now it is my honor to introduce the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Illinois' own, Denny Hastert. Mr. Speaker. September 26, 2001 The President. It's my honor to welcome to the White House my fellow Americans, Arab Americans, Americans who are Muslim by faith, to discuss about the current incident that took place, the aftermath of the incident, and what our country is going to do to make sure that everybody who is an American is respected. I have told the Nation more than once that ours is a war against evil, against extremists, that the teachings of Islam are the teachings of peace and good. And the Al Qaida organization is not an organization of good, an organization of peace it's an organization based upon hate and evil. I also want to assure my fellow Americans that when you pledge allegiance to the flag with your hand on your heart, you pledge just as hard to the flag as I do that the outpouring of support for our country has come from all corners of the country, including many members of the Muslim faith. And for that I am grateful. I appreciate the contributions of time, the contributions of blood to help our fellow Americans who have been injured. And I'm proud of the Muslim leaders across America who have risen up and who have not only insisted that America be strong but that America keep the values intact that have made us so unique and different, the values of respect, the values of freedom to worship the way we see fit. And I also appreciate the prayers to the universal God. And so, thank you all for coming. I don't know if you all remember, the imam led the service at the National Cathedral. He did a heck of a good job, and we were proud to have him there. And I want to thank you very much for the gift you gave me, Imam, the Koran. It's a very thoughtful gift. I said, "Thank you very much for the gift." He said, "It's the best gift I could give you, Mr. President." I appreciate that very much. Q. Mr. President Assistant Press Secretary Gordon Johndroe. Thank you all very much. Thank you all. Q. Mr. President The President. Yes? Wait a minute. I feel guilty that John John Roberts, CBS News couldn't yes? U.S. Intelligence Q. Sir, Senator Shelby this morning had some pretty direct comments about his thinking that somebody needs to be held accountable for what has been characterized by some people as a massive intelligence failure. I wonder what you think of his comments. Is he trying to inject politics in this? Does someone need to fall on their sword, if you will? The President. Well, John, the intelligence gathering capacity of the United States is doing a fine job. These terrorists had burrowed in our country for over 2 years. They were well organized. They were well planned. They struck in a way that was unimaginable. And we are a united nation. We're going to go forward with our war against these terrorists. And our Nation should have all the confidence that the intelligence gathering capacity of the United States is doing everything possible to not only keep us informed about what's happening overseas but to keep us informed about what might happen here at home. Q. So how would you characterize his comments over the last few days? The President. Well, he's a concerned American. I'm sure other Americans are asking how could this have happened, including the President. But what Americans need to know is that I'm receiving excellent intelligence the CIA is doing a fine job the FBI is responding on every single lead we're getting and that we're doing everything we can to make the homeland safe, as well as everything we can to bring people to justice. Usama bin Laden Q. Granted the extremism, do you and I'd like to ask the imam the same question do you consider bin Laden a religious leader or a political leader? The President. I consider bin Laden an evil man. And I don't think there's any religious justification for what he has in mind. Islam is a religion of love, not hate. This is a man who hates. This is a man who's declared war on innocent people. This is a man who doesn't mind destroying women and children. This is man who hates freedom. This is an evil man. Q. But does he have political goals? The President. He has got evil goals. And it's hard to think in conventional terms about a man so dominated by evil that he's willing to do what he thinks he's going to get away with. But he's not going to get away with it. Airline Industry Q. Sir, there were thousands of more layoffs in the airline industry today. What is the administration going to do about it? The President. Come to Chicago tomorrow. Assistant Press Secretary Johndroe. Thanks. Thank you all. Can we go now? Thank you. I don't want to shout you down, so let's just leave. Thank you. Situation in the Middle East Q. On the Middle East think that's going to lead to a durable peace in the Middle East? The President. Steve's Steve Holland, Reuters question was on the Middle East. Sorry, Gordon. That's what happens when you invite guys laughter . You invite John Roberts in here aggressive reporters, you get Steve asked about the Middle East. We're encouraged that there are discussions going on that could lead to the implementation of Mitchell. There is the framework for peace. There is the process now available. It's the Mitchell plan, which everybody agreed to, is the right way to get to a peaceful resolution in the Middle East. And there is a series of discussions that took place. Hopefully, there will be more discussions and that both parties get into Mitchell. And that's going to be good for America, and it will be good for the Middle East and good for the world. And so we're hopeful. I don't know if you remember, but I said, out of this crisis, this tragedy that hit America, I do see opportunity. And one of the opportunities would be that there's some sensible thinking that goes into the Middle East and that people now realize that this violence, this terrible destruction of human life, is not the correct path to follow and that, hopefully, people use this example as the incidents that took place on September 11th to bring some reality to the Middle East. The discussions are moving on. And I want to thank the Secretary of State for staying with it, staying on the phone, and encouraging both parties to get to the table. And we'll see what happens. We're hopeful. Chechnya Q. Mr. President, have you changed your thinking on Chechnya, in light of what's happened since September 11th? The President. Well, first of all, to the extent that there are terrorists in Chechnya, Arab terrorists associated with the Al Qaida organization, I believe they ought to be brought to justice as you heard me say, that our initial phase of the war on terrorism is against the Al Qaida organization. And we do believe there are some Al Qaida folks in Chechnya. However, I do believe it's very important for President Putin to deal with the Chechen minority in this country with respect, respect of human rights and respect of difference of opinion about religion, for example. And so I would hope that the Russian President, while dealing with the Al Qaida organization, also respects minority rights within his country. Airport and Airline Security Q. Mr. President, tomorrow you'll be announcing some new security measures, one of them likely to include some Federal role in training airport security personnel and monitoring their work as time goes on, moving forward. The President. Well, we're going to deal with airport security tomorrow, as well as other measures, to try to convince the American public it is safe to fly. One of my concerns is that this terrible incident has said to many Americans convinced many Americans to stay at home. And one of the keys to economic recovery is going to be a vital the vitality of the airline industry. I presume many of you came to Washington today by flying, and you're here safely. And it's a we'll announce some confidence boosting measures, some concrete proposals, and I believe we'll be able to work with Congress to get them done in an expeditious way. Q. You don't support arming pilots? The President. Army pilots? Q. Arming pilots. The President. Oh, arming. As I said, I look forward to any suggestion that there may be better ways to do it than that, but I'm open for any suggestion. And the good news is, is that there's a willingness on Capitol Hill to work with the administration, and vice versa, to come up with constructive, sound ways to convince the American public it's safe to fly. Q. How quickly do you think you can put these plans in place? The President. Oh, some of them will be some of them will take a while some of them could happen very quickly. Just give me a chance to give my speech. You're trying to jump the gun on me, Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . Laughter Q. It's my job, sir. The President. You're doing it well, too, my boy. Laughter John, no longer can you say, I haven't answered your questions. Laughter Q. One of the three ain't bad. Thank you, sir. Laughter The President. Inaudible batting .333. All right. Q. Thank you. The President. Gordon, good job no questions. Laughter September 25, 2001 President Bush. I am really pleased and honored that my personal friend and a friend of the United States has come all the way from Japan to express his solidarity with the American people and our joint battle against terrorism. The Prime Minister and I had a wideranging discussion about ways that we can cooperate with each other to fight global terrorism. Most notably, we talked about the need to work in a way to cut off their funding. The Prime Minister also talked about ways that Japan will share intelligence, that we'll work cooperatively on the diplomatic front. We had a great discussion. Not only am I pleased with the great cooperation that we're having with our friend the Japanese, I am most pleased that the Saudi Arabians yesterday cut off relations with the Taliban and that President Putin, in a strong statement to the world, talked about the cooperation that Russia and the United States will have in combating global terrorism as well. The coalition of legitimate governments and freedom loving people is strong. People will contribute in different ways to this coalition. But the mission won't change. The duties of the coalition may alter, but the mission won't alter, and that is to rout out and destroy international terrorism. The Prime Minister understands this requires a long term vision, requires a patience amongst both our people. And it also requires a determination and a strong will. I know he's got a determination and strong will, and he knows I am determined and willful in this struggle. Mr. Prime Minister. Prime Minister Koizumi. I'm very pleased to say, we are friends. Had a great talk, friendly, and I conveyed what I am thinking. We Japanese are ready to stand by the United States to fight terrorism. We could make sure of this global objective. We must fight terrorism with determination and patience. Very good meeting fantastic meeting. President Bush. I'll take a few questions. Airline Security Airline Labor Issues Q. Mr. President, on the domestic front, sir, why not extend unemployment and health insurance benefits to airline workers? And what do you think of the proposals to put reservists and military police on airplanes and to allow pilots to carry guns? President Bush. Well, we're looking at all options this doesn't require translation, by the way we're looking at all options as to how to enhance airline security. I had a breakfast this morning with leaders of the Senate and the House. This was one of the topics we discussed. Secretary of Transportation Mineta is coming over this afternoon to present me with some of the options. And I look forward to working with Congress to put some concrete steps in place that will assure the American public that the Government and the airlines are doing as much as we can to enhance security and safety. In terms of the labor issues, Elaine Chao is developing a list of recommendations, a list of options, to make sure that the displaced worker is given due consideration in the halls of Government. That subject came up as well. There is no consensus yet. There is a desire to work toward taking care of displaced workers. And both the Congress and the White House will be presenting options. Yes, Steve Steve Holland, Reuters . Pakistan Saudi Arabia Q. Mr. President, you mentioned Saudi Arabia. What does this mean in terms of isolating the Taliban? And would you now encourage Pakistan to do the same? President Bush. Well, we've gotten broad cooperation from Pakistan. We're most pleased with their response. They are a country that has going to be, obviously, deeply affected by actions we may or may not take in that part of the world. It's very interesting that the Prime Minister shared with me the fact that his country has provided 40 million in humanitary assistance to the Pakistanis, and I want to thank him for that. We, too, are providing humanitary assistance for people in that world, as are the Saudis. And that's an important part of the coalition, to understand that one of the issues is to make sure that Pakistan is a stable country and that whatever consequences may occur as a result of actions we may or may not take is one that we do the best we can to manage. In terms of Q. Isolation of the Taliban. President Bush. Oh, isolating the Taliban. Well, I think most people in the world understand that I was very serious and they're serious when we say if you harbor a terrorist, you're just as guilty as the terrorist. That's pretty isolated, it seems like to me. Japan Q. Mr. President, according to opinion poll, about 90 percent of the Japanese are concerned that Japan's support of the U.S. military action could trigger terrorist attacks on Japan, itself. Do you have anything to say to them, to their concern? President Bush. Well, I think this I think 100 percent of the Japanese people ought to understand that we're dealing with evil people who hate freedom and legitimate governments, and that now is the time for freedom loving people to come together to fight terrorist activity. We cannot be we cannot fear terrorists. We can't let terrorism dictate our course of action. And we will not let a terrorist dictate the course of action in the United States, and I'm sure the Prime Minister feels the same way about Japan. No threat no threat will prevent freedom loving people from defending freedom. And make no mistake about it This is good versus evil. These are evildoers. They have no justification for their actions. There's no religious justification there's no political justification. The only motivation is evil. And the Prime Minister understands that, and the Japanese people, I think, understand that as well. Afghanistan Q. Mr. President, amid signs of increasing turmoil in Afghanistan and signs that there may be splits within the Taliban regime, itself, do you believe that the people of Afghanistan, themselves, are trying to liberate themselves from the Taliban rule, and would you support that as part of your campaign against terrorism? President Bush. We have no issue and no anger toward the citizens of Afghanistan. We have, obviously, serious problems with the Taliban Government. They're an incredibly repressive government, a government that has a value system that's hard for many in America, or in Japan for that matter, to relate to incredibly repressive toward women. They have made the decision to harbor terrorists. The mission is to rout terrorists, to find them and bring them to justice. Or, as I explained to the Prime Minister in western terms, to smoke them out of their caves, to get them running so we can get them. The best way to do that, and one way to do that, is to ask for the cooperation of citizens within Afghanistan who may be tired of having the Taliban in place or tired of having Usama bin Laden, people from foreign soils, in their own land, willing to finance this repressive government. I understand the reality of what's taking place inside Afghanistan, and we're going to have a listen, as I've told the Prime Minister, we're angry, but we've got a clear vision. We're upset, but we know what we've got to do. And the mission is to bring these particular terrorists to justice and, at the same time, send a clear signal, Terry Terry Moran, ABC News , that says if you harbor a terrorist, if you aid a terrorist, if you hide terrorists, you're just as guilty as the terrorists. And this is an administration we're not into nation building we're focused on justice. And we're going to get justice. It's going to take a while, probably. But I'm a patient man. Nothing will diminish my will and my determination nothing. Japan Q. Mr. President, do you expect any financial support also from Japan, including President Bush. Financial proposals? Q. Yes. President Bush. You mean, related to our Q. For the entire mission against terrorism. President Bush. For our well, first of all, the Prime Minister, as he said, talked about 40 million of aid to Pakistan. That's a very important contribution. And I repeat the reason why A stable Pakistan is very important to a stable world. After all, Pakistan has nuclear weapons, and we want stability in countries that may have nuclear weapons. And so that's a very important financial contribution. Remember, this war will be fought on a variety of fronts. It is not like wars that we're used to. There's very little that's conventional about it. It's different. And so, for example, the sharing of information is vital to find and rout out terrorism. It's vital that we have a cooperative relationship. It's vital that if we hear anything that may affect the security of Japan, that we're forthcoming with that information and vice versa. And so the resources again, you the tendency is to think in terms of a conventional war, where people might put money in to support a military operation. That's not the kind of war we're talking about now. And so resources will be deployed in different ways intelligence gathering, diplomacy, humanitarian aid, as well as cutting off resources. And one effective tool in getting these people is to cut off their money. And yesterday I made an announcement here about how we intend to do so. Prime Minister Koizumi. I believe there are many ways to cooperate. It is one way to provide financial assistance, but there are diplomatic means there are ways to provide medical assistance there is assistance to refugees there is ways to transport supplies. And I believe these are all various ways in which we can cooperate. President Bush. Thank you all very much. September 25, 2001 Thank you all. Thanks. It's been my honor to come over to thank everybody for their hard work. I know there's a lot of folks here at the FBI who are working long hours. People are away from their families more than they want. But my presence here should assure you that I recognize the important contribution you make and that the FBI and the wonderful men and women who work here are an incredibly important part of the army that is going to win the war on terrorism. You've got some pretty good generals here, starting with General Ashcroft, who is doing a fine job as the Attorney General of America. I told the country when I picked the man that you don't have to worry where he stands and the values he brings to the job. I'm proud of the service. And I appreciate so very much Larry as well, coming up from Atlanta, Georgia, to serve our country. As you know, I made an important pick to head the agency. I picked a good, solid American, a man who has been under fire before and who doesn't flinch under fire this time around, either, and that's Bob Mueller. Thank you for your service. First, I as I mentioned to many of your colleagues, we're facing a different kind of war than our country is used to that 2 weeks ago there was an act of war declared on America. No one could have possibly dreamed that it would come in the way it did, and it shocked our Nation, of course. And we've had time to think about it here in the country, and we're angry. But we're also clear we've got clear vision about what the country needs to do. This is a nation that has come together to defend our freedom and our way of life. I see things this way The people who did this act on America and who may be planning further acts are evil people. They don't represent an ideology they don't represent a legitimate political group of people. They're flat evil. That's all they can think about, is evil. And as a nation of good folks, we're going to hunt them down, and we're going to find them, and we will bring them to justice. Ours is a nation that does not seek revenge, but we do seek justice. And I don't care how long it takes to rout out terrorism, we're going to do it. We will take the time and effort and spend the resources necessary to not only find these who these evildoers who did what they did to America on September the 11th this is a larger campaign against anybody who hates freedom, anybody who can't stand what America and our allies and friends stand for. And so I'm here at the FBI to thank you for your work. Most of your job is to help us win the war here at home. Most of your job is to prevent something else from happening. And I know that hundreds of FBI agents and other employees of the agency are working long, long hours to do that. I was able to see the war rooms where information is being collected and analyzed and dispersed. I was able to see the consoles where people have been sitting at long hours, detailing every piece of information that is being gathered across the country. I know there are over 4,000 employees of the FBI working on not only gathering evidence for the particular actions that took place on September the 11th but running down every scrap of information that is being found all across our land and analyzing that information and preparing our great Nation to disrupt any action that may be being planned. There are some other things we can do in the country, and our Congress needs to work with us. And I believe I had breakfast this morning with Republican and Democrat leaders, and I will tell you, the spirit on Capitol Hill is good for America. It's a united spirit, and I want to thank the leaders from both parties and both Houses for their willingness to listen to anybody who has got a good idea about how to fight terrorist activity in the country. And I believe the Attorney General has taken some good ideas to Capitol Hill, and I'd like to share some of them with you. First, what we've seen is these terrorists are very sophisticated, and so are their communications. They must their calls must be penetrated when we feel there's a threat to America. We've got to know what's on their mind. And so, therefore, we must give the FBI the ability to track calls when they make calls from different phones, for example. Now, this is what we do for drug dealers and members of organized crime. And it seems like to make sense to me, if it's good enough for the FBI to use these techniques for facing down those threats to America, that now that we're at war, we ought to give the FBI the tools necessary to track down terrorists. And so I hope Congress will listen to the wisdom of the proposals that the Attorney General brought up, to give the tools necessary to our agents in the field to find those who may think they want to disrupt America again. We're asking Congress for the authority to hold suspected terrorists who are in the process of being deported, until they're deported. That seems to make sense laughter that if a suspected terrorist is detained, and our Nation has decided to deport the person, then they ought to be held in custody until the action actually takes place. We believe it's a necessary tool to make America a safe place. Now, this would of course be closely supervised by an immigration judge. Now, the only alternative is to let suspected terrorists loose in our country. I don't think anybody wants to do that. Laughter I certainly hope not. And we're asking for the authority to share information between intelligence operations and law enforcement, so we can direct the best of both in the critical effort. That, too, is a reasonable request to make of Congress. I want you to know that every one of the proposals we've made on Capitol Hill, carried by the Attorney General, has been carefully reviewed. They are measured requests they are responsible requests they are constitutional requests. Ours is a land that values the constitutional rights of every citizen, and we will honor those rights, of course. But we're at war, a war we're going to win. And in order to win the war, we must make sure that the law enforcement men and women have got the tools necessary, within the Constitution, to defeat the enemy. And there's going to be one other thing that's required to defeat the enemy, and that's the will and determination of the American people. I believe the evildoers miscalculated when they struck America. They thought we would shy away. They thought their threats could hold this Nation hostage. They must have felt like they could diminish our soul. But quite the opposite has taken place. They've strengthened the spirit of America. They have united the country. They have awoken a mighty nation that understands that freedom is under assault, a mighty nation that will not rest until those who think they can take freedom away from any citizen in the world are brought to justice. They've got a problem on their hands. We're going to find them. And if they're hiding, we're going to smoke them out. And we'll bring them to justice. And not only will we bring them to justice, we will bring those who harbor them, who hide them, who feed them, who encourage them, to justice. America is a nation built upon freedom and the principles of freedom, the values of freedom. And this is a nation that will not will not blink from the fight. This is a nation that will stand strong for the great values that have made us unique. I'm proud of the work of the FBI. I want to thank you all for your dedication. Stay at it. The Nation is counting on you. You're making a great, great contribution for the country. May God bless you all and your families, and may God continue to bless the United States of America. September 24, 2001 President Bush. It's my honor to welcome our close friend Jean Chretien to the White House again. Thank you for coming. You know, after this terrible incident on September 11th, one of the first phone calls I received was from the Prime Minister, offering all his support and condolences to the United States and our citizens. It was like getting a phone call from a brother, and I appreciate that so very much. We've got a great partner in our neighborhood who understands what I know, that we are facing a new type of war. And those of us who love freedom, like the Canadians love freedom, now understand that freedom is under attack. And we've combined together to fight to fight against a new enemy. And the Prime Minister understands that. We had a great discussion about a variety of issues. We discussed the need for us to continue to work peacefully along a huge border. Border relations between Canada and Mexico have never been better. And there is no doubt in my mind that the Prime Minister and the Canadian people will work hard to make sure that Canada is secure from any terrorist activity that takes place, just like I can assure the Prime Minister we're doing the same. We both have a mutual responsibility in our hemisphere to find and disrupt terrorist organizations. An amazing thing came up the other day. Somebody said to me, "Well, you know, in your speech to Congress, there were some that took affront in Canada" because I didn't mention the name. I didn't necessarily think it was important to praise a brother after all, we're talking about family. There should be no doubt in anybody's mind about how honored we are to have the support of the Canadians and how strong the Canadian Prime Minister has been, and not only his condolences but his offer of support for the American people. I guess there's somebody is playing politics with you, Mr. Prime Minister. But I suggest those who try to play politics with my words and drive wedges between Canada and me understand that at this time, when nations are under attack, now is not the time for politics. Now is the time to develop a strategy to fight and win the war. And Mr. Prime Minister, I want to thank you for being here to continue those efforts with me. Prime Minister Chretien. Thank you, Mr. President. And I am happy to be with you. I think that, as you say, we're part of not America we're your neighbor, friends, and family. And we have to work together. This problem of terrorism is a problem that concerns all the nations of the world. And we're working together to build a coalition that will defeat that, because it will disrupt the societies around the world. And I think that you know you have the support of Canadians. When you will need us, we will be there. We had a very good discussion this morning on the element of the solutions, and we will carry on during the lunchtime. I guess that the Canadians were traumatized by what happened 2 weeks ago. And we had the occasion to receive 45,000 Americans on the Canadian soil who had to be diverted to Canada. And we had a great demonstration of support when 100,000 Canadians appeared on the hill to offer support to our neighbor and friends and family, the Americans. So we will work together. We will have occasion to carry this message that we have to be together, because Canada participates in the meeting of the Commonwealth next 10 days from now, in Australia. And later on, there will be the meeting of the Francophone in Lebanon, where, again, we'll have to talk to all the leaders and tell them that we're all in that fight. At this point, Prime Minister Chretien spoke in French, and a translation was not provided. President Bush. Thank you. September 24, 2001 The President. Good morning. At 12 01 this morning, a major thrust of our war on terrorism began with the stroke of a pen. Today we have launched a strike on the financial foundation of the global terror network. Make no mistake about it, I've asked our military to be ready for a reason. But the American people must understand this war on terrorism will be fought on a variety of fronts, in different ways. The frontlines will look different from the wars of the past. So I told the American people we will direct every resource at our command to win the war against terrorists, every means of diplomacy, every tool of intelligence, every instrument of law enforcement, every financial influence. We will starve the terrorists of funding, turn them against each other, rout them out of their safe hiding places, and bring them to justice. I've signed an Executive order that immediately freezes United States financial assets of and prohibits United States transactions with 27 different entities. They include terrorist organizations, individual terrorist leaders, a corporation that serves as a front for terrorism, and several nonprofit organizations. Just to show you how insidious these terrorists are, they oftentimes use nice sounding nongovernmental organizations as fronts for their activities. We have targeted three such NGOs. We intend to deal with them just like we intend to deal with others who aid and abet terrorist organizations. This Executive order means that United States banks that have assets of these groups or individuals must freeze their accounts, and United States citizens or businesses are prohibited from doing business with them. We know that many of these individuals and groups operate primarily overseas and they don't have much money in the United States, so we've developed a strategy to deal with that. We're putting banks and financial institutions around the world on notice. We will work with their governments, ask them to freeze or block terrorists' ability to access funds in foreign accounts. If they fail to help us by sharing information or freezing accounts, the Department of the Treasury now has the authority to freeze their banks' assets and transactions in the United States. We have developed the international financial equivalent of law enforcement's "Most Wanted" list. And it puts the financial world on notice If you do business with terrorists, if you support or sponsor them, you will not do business with the United States of America. I want to assure the world that we will exercise this power responsibly. But make no mistake about it, we intend to, and we will, disrupt terrorist networks. I want to assure the American people that in taking this action and publishing this list, we're acting based on clear evidence, much of which is classified, so it will not be disclosed. It's important, as this war progresses, that the American people understand we make decisions based upon classified information, and we will not jeopardize the sources. We will not make the war more difficult to win by publicly disclosing classified information. And by the way, this list is just a beginning. We will continue to add more names to the list. We will freeze the assets of others as we find that they aid and abet terrorist organizations around the world. We've established a Foreign Terrorist Asset Tracking Center at the Department of the Treasury to identify and investigate the financial infrastructure of the international terrorist networks. It will bring together representatives of the intelligence, law enforcement, and financial regulatory agencies to accomplish two goals to follow the money as a trail to the terrorists to follow their money so we can find out where they are and to freeze the money to disrupt their actions. We're also working with the friends and allies throughout the world to share information. We're working closely with the United Nations, the EU, and through the G 7 G 8 structure to limit the ability of terrorist organizations to take advantage of the international financial systems. The United States has signed but not yet ratified two international conventions, one of which is designed to set international standards for freezing financial assets. I'll be asking Members of the U.S. Senate to approve the U.N. Convention on Suppression of Terrorist Financing and a related convention on terrorist bombings and to work with me on implementing the legislation. We will lead by example. We will work with the world against terrorism. Money is the lifeblood of terrorist operations. Today we're asking the world to stop payment. Now, the Secretary of Treasury would like to say a few remarks, followed by Secretary Powell, then I'll answer a few questions. At this point, Treasury Secretary Paul H. O'Neill and Secretary of State Colin L. Powell made brief remarks. The President. Bill Bill Plante, CBS News . Usama bin Laden Q. Mr. President, when will you publish the paper which Secretary Powell mentioned yesterday, outlining some of the proof that you have of the involvement of bin Laden and Al Qaida and others? The President. The Secretary said that he'd be glad to talk about the paper. Let me first tell you that I gave a speech to the Nation last Thursday in which I spent a great deal of time talking about the Al Qaida organization as the first terrorist organization that we're going to deal with. And the reason I did is there is a lot of classified information that leads to one person, as well as one global terrorist organization. But for those of you looking for a legal peg, we've already indicted Usama bin Laden. He's under indictment for terrorist activity. Our war is against terrorism those who would conduct terrorist acts against the United States, those who sponsor them, those who harbor them, those who challenge freedom wherever it may exist. And Mr. Secretary, if you'd like to make a comment on that. Secretary Powell. I just might point out that he has been under indictment for the bombings of our Embassy. And as we gather information and as we talk to our friends and allies around the world and as we get more cooperation, more information is coming in with respect to his activities and the activities of this network. Most of it is classified, and as we look through it, and we can find areas that are unclassified, and it will allow us to share this information with the public, we will do so. That would be our intent. But most of it is classified. But there's no question that this network, with this gentleman at the head if one can call a terrorist a gentleman, just for purposes of illustration this guy at the head of this network, the chairman of this holding company of terrorism, is the one who is responsible. And as we are able to provide information that is not sensitive or classified, I think we will try to do that in every way. The President. Yes, Helen Helen Thomas, Hearst Newspapers . Russia Saudi Arabia Q. How much cooperation are you getting from Russia? And is Saudi Arabia going to allow us to use its airbase, or aren't you allowed to talk about it? The President. Well, first, I had an hourlong discussion nearly an hour long discussion with President Putin on Saturday. He was very forthcoming in his willingness to work closely with the United States in our efforts to battle terrorism. I was very pleased with my discussion, Helen. I found him to be a person who first of all, understands the vision that we've entered into a new conflict in the 21st century. You need to know that when I was on Air Force One and ordered alerts increased alert status for our troops, President Putin was the first call I got. And he made it clear that he would stand down their troops. In other words, to me it was a moment where it clearly said to me, he understands the cold war is over. In the past, as you well know, that had the President put the raised the DEFCON levels of our troops, Russia would have responded accordingly. There would have been inevitable tension. Along those the reason I bring that up is that Vladimir Putin clearly understands that the cold war is over and that the United States and Russia can cooperate. We can cooperate with a new strategic arrangement. We can cooperate in the battle against terrorism. We talked about a lot of areas of the world. We talked about the Central Asian republics. And as you know, they have been forthcoming in their statements about their understanding of a potential campaign. And I told him I appreciated his willingness to work with us in that area. And so it was a very constructive dialog. He also understands that terrorist activity is going to require a to fight terrorist activity is going to require a broad front, and that his nation, like ours, is subject to terrorist attack. As far as the Saudi Arabians go and again, the Secretary can comment on this he's had more recent contact with them than I have but they've been nothing but cooperative. Our dialog has been one of as you would expect friends to be able to discuss issues. And my discussion with the Foreign Minister, as well as the Ambassador, have been very positive. And there's been no indication, as far as I'm concerned, that the Saudis won't cooperate once they understand exactly our mission. Secretary Powell. That's exactly right, Mr. President. They have not turned down any requests that we have presented to them. Waiver of Sanctions Q. Mr. President, are you asking Congress for the power to waive military restrictions on countries on all countries that help us, including those we've considered as rogue nations? And if so, why? The President. No, you're I think you're referring to first of all, we've waived the sanctions on Pakistan and India, as related to the Glenn act. But I think you're referring to a report that we were going to ask for a blanket blanket exceptions or blanket waivers for and the answer is no, we're not. That's an erroneous report. Q. Inaudible just case by case now, is that the idea, like you did The President. Well, where given the where the law allows, I will do it case by case. But we don't intend to ask Congress for a blanket waiver, as reported in one of the journals. Afghanistan Q. Mr. President, last week you condemned the Taliban regime and said that if they did not comply with your demands, they would share the fate of the terrorists. That raises the question, what is your administration and other coalition members planning to do to maintain stability and order in Central Asia? Are we supporting this exiled King, the northern insurgents, some U.N. administration? What are our goals there, if the Taliban are to be removed? The President. Terry Terry Moran, ABC News , I first of all, we were mindful that every action could have a consequence. And as you know, we have spent a lot of time and effort and focus on Pakistan. I just talked about the waiving of sanctions with Pakistan and India. We believe that will bring stability to that part of the world. We have talked to other friends about how to make sure that the Musharraf Presidency is a stable presence in that part of the world. In terms of activities within Afghanistan, I'm not going to talk about those. I will not jeopardize our mission in any way by talking about military or in country plans. We have a responsibility as an administration to speak as candidly as we can to the American people, but without jeopardizing life. And so, therefore, we will be willing to discuss that very important question at an appropriate time, and now is not the appropriate time. Financial Sanctions Against Terrorist Assets Q. Mr. President, to put some perspective into all of this, how much can you tell us a rough estimate of how much the Al Qaida network is worth domestically, and perhaps and or worldwide? The President. Well, I think in my statement I made it clear that we don't anticipate many assets to be frozen here in the United States and that most of the assets will be overseas. And one of the jobs that the Secretary of Treasury is going to do is to help us identify the size of the organization's balance sheet. I can't give you a rough estimate right now. Q. Inaudible tens of millions? Hundreds of millions? The President. But let's put it this way enough to fund terrorist activity that threatens freedom. And there are take, for example, the nongovernmental organizations. They run a fair amount of money through their organizations and we're beginning, as you can tell from the list we've laid out, or will be able to tell from the list, that we're beginning to set priorities of those most egregious and they're serving as fronts for terrorist activities. I don't know the full amount of their cashflows, but one dime of money into a terrorist activity is one dime too much. And we know that these organizations cannot function if we're able to the way they want to if we're able to chop off their monies. And we intend to do so. And we've got a big task ahead. In Europe, for example, there are probably going to need to be some laws changed in order for those governments to react the way we expect them to. That's why I said in my comment, while we now while the Secretary of Treasury now has the option of providing some draconian measure, we will look at it on a case by case basis. We expect there to be a complete and full effort to join us in affecting terrorist organizations in all ways, shapes, and forms. The reason why we held this statement in the Rose Garden is it helps the American people understand we are waging a different kind of war. It is a war that is going to take a while. It is a war that will have many fronts. It is a war that will require the United States to use our influence in a variety of areas in order to win it. And one area is financial. We know there are some banks, for example, that provide easy access money for terrorist organizations. We will deal with them. And if we can't deal with them individually, we will call upon our friends to deal with them. One of the interesting things that the Secretary can tell you both Secretaries will tell you is a lot of nations and their representatives have asked, "How can we help? What can we do to join the effort?" Some nations will feel comfortable providing troops. Some nations will feel comfortable providing intelligence. Some nations will only feel comfortable helping us wage the battle on the financial front. And that's fine by us, because we understand how important it is to stop the flow of funds. National Economy Q. Mr. President, one question on the economy. How concerned are you about consumer confidence right now? People are afraid to fly they're not traveling. And are you, at this point, concerned that the economy has already dipped into a recession? The President. Well, I'm I haven't seen I'm not a statistician, but I've got enough anecdotal evidence to tell you there are people hurting, and there are a little too many layoffs. And any time somebody loses a job in America, I'm concerned. And I'm concerned about the shock this has had on our economy, and I'm concerned about, obviously, the effect of the airlines, for example, the weakness in the airline sector has had on the economy. That's why I signed the bill as soon as Congress passed it, to provide some nonrecourse loans to the airlines, to keep them up and running right now. But I want to assure the American people that the fundamentals for growth are very strong. That which made us unique in the world existed prior to September that existed prior to September 11th exists today. We're still a nation of entrepreneurs and small business vitality. We're still a nation of innovation. We've got a very good tax structure. There is no question the attacks have affected America, but I think when the investors sit back and take a hard look at the fundamentals of the economy, they'll get back in the market. I think that consumers will realize life is going on. I think people appreciate the fact that our Government has come together to act in a very significant way, to provide monies where necessary for whether it be to help rebuild New York or whether it be to provide a financial basis for airlines to stay in business. We'll come out of this, and we'll come out of it strong. See, these terrorists thought they could affect the United States. They thought they could diminish our soul. They just strengthened our country. And while the numbers aren't going to look too good in the short run, we'll be a stronger nation as a result of this. And they've miscalculated. They made a terrible mistake. They thought somehow they could affect the psyche of our country. They're wrong. And not only that, we'll prove them wrong. They have roused the ire of a great nation. And we're going to smoke them out of their caves and get them running. And we're going to use every means at our disposal to do so. And this is going to require patience and focus and discipline on behalf of the by the American people and by my administration. No, I understand 6 months from now we'll be sitting around talking about some statistic or something maybe there will be an argument in Congress about some issue or something like that. But the American people have got to understand that when I held up that badge, I meant it This war on terrorism is my primary focus. Of course I'm concerned about people being laid off. Of course I'm concerned about the pieces of legislation that may be stalled. But we are talking about a campaign against people who hate freedom. And the legacy that this administration and this generation can leave for future generations is a legacy that is so vital for the underpinnings of this nation and others who love freedom. And so I we're a great nation, and the world has seen how great we are. And you bet there are problems with our economy short run but not long run. And you bet there's a concern about whether or not we'll be able to wrap up every financial instrument used to fund terrorism. But make no mistake about it, we're going after them all. And we'll win we're going to win. Terrorists are going to realize they can't face down freedom. Terrorists are going to realize they made a big mistake they miscalculated America. And I think they miscalculate a lot of our allies and friends too. There is a determined will, and we accept the challenge in this administration. Thank you all. September 22, 2001 Good morning. The terrorists who attacked the United States on September 11th targeted our economy, as well as our people. They brought down a symbol of American prosperity, but they could not touch its source. Our country's wealth is not contained in glass and steel. It is found in the skill and hard work and entrepreneurship of our people, and those are as strong today as they were 2 weeks ago. Our economy has had a shock. Many workers lost their jobs this week, especially in the airline and hospitality industries, in restaurants and in tourism, as companies struggle to remain afloat. I applaud those companies who are making extra efforts to avoid laying off workers even during difficult times. Many Americans have also seen the value of their stocks decline. Yet, for all these challenges, the American economy is fundamentally strong. We have the best educated, most productive workforce in the world. Our factories produce more goods and a broader variety of goods than any country in the world. Our scientists continue to push forward the frontiers of technology and science, and our entrepreneurs continue to invent new ways to bring these advances to market. This is why people from around the world invest in America. We have taken action to address our yearlong economic slowdown. Tax rebate checks continue to arrive in Americans' mailboxes. The 40 billion in tax relief these rebates represent will nearly double next year to over 70 billion in tax relief, with more in each of the next 10 years as the child credit gets bigger, tax rates come down, and the marriage penalty relief kicks in. You can look forward to an improved business climate in America in the years ahead. The Federal Reserve has done its job of keeping our financial system strong and stable, cutting interest rates in half in the last 8 months. Energy prices have remained steady. In fact, they are lower now than they were in the spring. And Members of Congress are working together, regardless of party, in the best American spirit, to help get our economy moving again. The administration and congressional leaders of both parties have agreed to deliver emergency aid to keep our airlines flying. This will help the airlines maintain short term stability as they work toward long term viability for the benefit of all the workers and companies that depend on air travel. And as well, we can assure the American traveler we are working hard to make sure that a tough new security program is implemented in our airports and our airplanes. I appreciate so very much working with Congress to assure the safety of the travelers in America. I'm also working with Congress to strengthen our broader economy and to get Americans back to work. Both parties in both Houses of Congress are united in our determination to use the fundamental strength of our economy to meet our immediate economic challenges. I'm deeply grateful to Speaker Hastert and Minority Leader Gephardt, to Majority Leader Senator Tom Daschle and Senator Trent Lott for their helpful advice and for their constant support and for their extraordinary service to our country in a difficult time. I want to thank America for the outpouring of support. I want to thank America for their strong will. And I want to remind the people of America, we're still the greatest nation on the face of the Earth, and no terrorist will ever be able to decide our fate. May God bless you all, and thank you for listening. September 20, 2001 Mr. Speaker, Mr. President Pro Tempore, Members of Congress, and fellow Americans In the normal course of events, Presidents come to this Chamber to report on the state of the Union. Tonight, no such report is needed. It has already been delivered by the American people. We have seen it in the courage of passengers, who rushed terrorists to save others on the ground, passengers like an exceptional man named Todd Beamer. And would you please help me to welcome his wife, Lisa Beamer, here tonight. Applause We have seen the state of our Union in the endurance of rescuers, working past exhaustion. We have seen the unfurling of flags, the lighting of candles, the giving of blood, the saying of prayers in English, Hebrew, and Arabic. We have seen the decency of a loving and giving people who have made the grief of strangers their own. My fellow citizens, for the last 9 days, the entire world has seen for itself the state of our Union, and it is strong. Tonight we are a country awakened to danger and called to defend freedom. Our grief has turned to anger and anger to resolution. Whether we bring our enemies to justice or bring justice to our enemies, justice will be done. I thank the Congress for its leadership at such an important time. All of America was touched, on the evening of the tragedy, to see Republicans and Democrats joined together on the steps of this Capitol, singing "God Bless America." And you did more than sing you acted, by delivering 40 billion to rebuild our communities and meet the needs of our military. Speaker Hastert, Minority Leader Gephardt, Majority Leader Daschle, and Senator Lott, I thank you for your friendship, for your leadership, and for your service to our country. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the world for its outpouring of support. America will never forget the sounds of our national anthem playing at Buckingham Palace, on the streets of Paris, and at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate. We will not forget South Korean children gathering to pray outside our Embassy in Seoul, or the prayers of sympathy offered at a mosque in Cairo. We will not forget moments of silence and days of mourning in Australia and Africa and Latin America. Nor will we forget the citizens of 80 other nations who died with our own dozens of Pakistanis more than 130 Israelis more than 250 citizens of India men and women from El Salvador, Iran, Mexico, and Japan and hundreds of British citizens. America has no truer friend than Great Britain. Once again, we are joined together in a great cause so honored the British Prime Minister has crossed an ocean to show his unity with America. Thank you for coming, friend. On September 11th, enemies of freedom committed an act of war against our country. Americans have known wars, but for the past 136 years, they have been wars on foreign soil, except for one Sunday in 1941. Americans have known the casualties of war, but not at the center of a great city on a peaceful morning. Americans have known surprise attacks, but never before on thousands of civilians. All of this was brought upon us in a single day, and night fell on a different world, a world where freedom itself is under attack. Americans have many questions tonight. Americans are asking, who attacked our country? The evidence we have gathered all points to a collection of loosely affiliated terrorist organizations known as Al Qaida. They are some of the murderers indicted for bombing American Embassies in Tanzania and Kenya and responsible for bombing the U.S.S. Cole. Al Qaida is to terror what the Mafia is to crime. But its goal is not making money. Its goal is remaking the world and imposing its radical beliefs on people everywhere. The terrorists practice a fringe form of Islamic extremism that has been rejected by Muslim scholars and the vast majority of Muslim clerics, a fringe movement that perverts the peaceful teachings of Islam. The terrorists' directive commands them to kill Christians and Jews, to kill all Americans, and make no distinctions among military and civilians, including women and children. This group and its leader, a person named Usama bin Laden, are linked to many other organizations in different countries, including the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. There are thousands of these terrorists in more than 60 countries. They are recruited from their own nations and neighborhoods and brought to camps in places like Afghanistan, where they are trained in the tactics of terror. They are sent back to their homes or sent to hide in countries around the world to plot evil and destruction. The leadership of Al Qaida has great influence in Afghanistan and supports the Taliban regime in controlling most of that country. In Afghanistan, we see Al Qaida's vision for the world. Afghanistan's people have been brutalized. Many are starving, and many have fled. Women are not allowed to attend school. You can be jailed for owning a television. Religion can be practiced only as their leaders dictate. A man can be jailed in Afghanistan if his beard is not long enough. The United States respects the people of Afghanistan after all, we are currently its largest source of humanitarian aid but we condemn the Taliban regime. It is not only repressing its own people it is threatening people everywhere by sponsoring and sheltering and supplying terrorists. By aiding and abetting murder, the Taliban regime is committing murder. And tonight the United States of America makes the following demands on the Taliban Deliver to United States authorities all the leaders of Al Qaida who hide in your land. Release all foreign nationals, including American citizens, you have unjustly imprisoned. Protect foreign journalists, diplomats, and aid workers in your country. Close immediately and permanently every terrorist training camp in Afghanistan, and hand over every terrorist and every person in their support structure to appropriate authorities. Give the United States full access to terrorist training camps, so we can make sure they are no longer operating. These demands are not open to negotiation or discussion. The Taliban must act and act immediately. They will hand over the terrorists, or they will share in their fate. I also want to speak tonight directly to Muslims throughout the world. We respect your faith. It's practiced freely by many millions of Americans and by millions more in countries that America counts as friends. Its teachings are good and peaceful, and those who commit evil in the name of Allah blaspheme the name of Allah. The terrorists are traitors to their own faith, trying, in effect, to hijack Islam itself. The enemy of America is not our many Muslim friends it is not our many Arab friends. Our enemy is a radical network of terrorists and every government that supports them. Our war on terror begins with Al Qaida, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped, and defeated. Americans are asking, why do they hate us? They hate what we see right here in this Chamber, a democratically elected government. Their leaders are self appointed. They hate our freedoms our freedom of religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and disagree with each other. They want to overthrow existing governments in many Muslim countries, such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. They want to drive Israel out of the Middle East. They want to drive Christians and Jews out of vast regions of Asia and Africa. These terrorists kill not merely to end lives but to disrupt and end a way of life. With every atrocity, they hope that America grows fearful, retreating from the world and forsaking our friends. They stand against us, because we stand in their way. We are not deceived by their pretenses to piety. We have seen their kind before. They are the heirs of all the murderous ideologies of the 20th century. By sacrificing human life to serve their radical visions, by abandoning every value except the will to power, they follow in the path of fascism and nazism and totalitarianism. And they will follow that path all the way, to where it ends, in history's unmarked grave of discarded lies. Americans are asking, how will we fight and win this war? We will direct every resource at our command every means of diplomacy, every tool of intelligence, every instrument of law enforcement, every financial influence, and every necessary weapon of war to the disruption and to the defeat of the global terror network. This war will not be like the war against Iraq a decade ago, with a decisive liberation of territory and a swift conclusion. It will not look like the air war above Kosovo 2 years ago, where no ground troops were used and not a single American was lost in combat. Our response involves far more than instant retaliation and isolated strikes. Americans should not expect one battle but a lengthy campaign, unlike any other we have ever seen. It may include dramatic strikes, visible on TV, and covert operations, secret even in success. We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive them from place to place, until there is no refuge or no rest. And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism. Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime. Our Nation has been put on notice We are not immune from attack. We will take defensive measures against terrorism to protect Americans. Today dozens of Federal departments and agencies, as well as State and local governments, have responsibilities affecting homeland security. These efforts must be coordinated at the highest level. So tonight I announce the creation of a Cabinet level position reporting directly to me, the Office of Homeland Security. And tonight I also announce a distinguished American to lead this effort to strengthen American security, a military veteran, an effective Governor, a true patriot, a trusted friend, Pennsylvania's Tom Ridge. He will lead, oversee, and coordinate a comprehensive national strategy to safeguard our country against terrorism and respond to any attacks that may come. These measures are essential. But the only way to defeat terrorism as a threat to our way of life is to stop it, eliminate it, and destroy it where it grows. Many will be involved in this effort, from FBI agents to intelligence operatives to the reservists we have called to active duty. All deserve our thanks, and all have our prayers. And tonight, a few miles from the damaged Pentagon, I have a message for our military Be ready. I've called the Armed Forces to alert, and there is a reason. The hour is coming when America will act, and you will make us proud. This is not, however, just America's fight, and what is at stake is not just America's freedom. This is the world's fight. This is civilization's fight. This is the fight of all who believe in progress and pluralism, tolerance and freedom. We ask every nation to join us. We will ask, and we will need, the help of police forces, intelligence services, and banking systems around the world. The United States is grateful that many nations and many international organizations have already responded with sympathy and with support, nations from Latin America to Asia, to Africa, to Europe, to the Islamic world. Perhaps the NATO Charter reflects best the attitude of the world An attack on one is an attack on all. The civilized world is rallying to America's side. They understand that if this terror goes unpunished, their own cities, their own citizens may be next. Terror, unanswered, can not only bring down buildings, it can threaten the stability of legitimate governments. And you know what? We're not going to allow it. Americans are asking, what is expected of us? I ask you to live your lives and hug your children. I know many citizens have fears tonight, and I ask you to be calm and resolute, even in the face of a continuing threat. I ask you to uphold the values of America and remember why so many have come here. We are in a fight for our principles, and our first responsibility is to live by them. No one should be singled out for unfair treatment or unkind words because of their ethnic background or religious faith. I ask you to continue to support the victims of this tragedy with your contributions. Those who want to give can go to a central source of information, libertyunites.org, to find the names of groups providing direct help in New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The thousands of FBI agents who are now at work in this investigation may need your cooperation, and I ask you to give it. I ask for your patience with the delays and inconveniences that may accompany tighter security and for your patience in what will be a long struggle. I ask your continued participation and confidence in the American economy. Terrorists attacked a symbol of American prosperity. They did not touch its source. America is successful because of the hard work and creativity and enterprise of our people. These were the true strengths of our economy before September 11th, and they are our strengths today. And finally, please continue praying for the victims of terror and their families, for those in uniform, and for our great country. Prayer has comforted us in sorrow and will help strengthen us for the journey ahead. Tonight I thank my fellow Americans for what you have already done and for what you will do. And ladies and gentlemen of the Congress, I thank you, their representatives, for what you have already done and for what we will do together. Tonight we face new and sudden national challenges. We will come together to improve air safety, to dramatically expand the number of air marshals on domestic flights and take new measures to prevent hijacking. We will come together to promote stability and keep our airlines flying, with direct assistance during this emergency. We will come together to give law enforcement the additional tools it needs to track down terror here at home. We will come together to strengthen our intelligence capabilities, to know the plans of terrorists before they act and find them before they strike. We will come together to take active steps that strengthen America's economy and put our people back to work. Tonight we welcome two leaders who embody the extraordinary spirit of all New Yorkers, Governor George Pataki and Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. As a symbol of America's resolve, my administration will work with Congress and these two leaders to show the world that we will rebuild New York City. After all that has just passed, all the lives taken and all the possibilities and hopes that died with them, it is natural to wonder if America's future is one of fear. Some speak of an age of terror. I know there are struggles ahead and dangers to face. But this country will define our times, not be defined by them. As long as the United States of America is determined and strong, this will not be an age of terror this will be an age of liberty, here and across the world. Great harm has been done to us. We have suffered great loss. And in our grief and anger, we have found our mission and our moment. Freedom and fear are at war. The advance of human freedom, the great achievement of our time and the great hope of every time, now depends on us. Our Nation this generation will lift a dark threat of violence from our people and our future. We will rally the world to this cause by our efforts, by our courage. We will not tire we will not falter and we will not fail. It is my hope that in the months and years ahead, life will return almost to normal. We'll go back to our lives and routines, and that is good. Even grief recedes with time and grace. But our resolve must not pass. Each of us will remember what happened that day and to whom it happened. We'll remember the moment the news came, where we were, and what we were doing. Some will remember an image of a fire or a story of rescue. Some will carry memories of a face and a voice gone forever. And I will carry this It is the police shield of a man named George Howard, who died at the World Trade Center trying to save others. It was given to me by his mom, Arlene, as a proud memorial to her son. It is my reminder of lives that ended and a task that does not end. I will not forget this wound to our country and those who inflicted it. I will not yield I will not rest I will not relent in waging this struggle for freedom and security for the American people. The course of this conflict is not known, yet its outcome is certain. Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty have always been at war, and we know that God is not neutral between them. Fellow citizens, we'll meet violence with patient justice, assured of the rightness of our cause and confident of the victories to come. In all that lies before us, may God grant us wisdom, and may He watch over the United States of America. Thank you. September 20, 2001 President Bush. It's my honor to welcome my friend, and a friend to America, Prime Minister Tony Blair to the White House. I appreciate him coming to America in our time of need. One of the first phone calls I got after that terrible day was from the Prime Minister. He was reassuring to me. He was he showed to be a true friend, and I appreciate that. I'm so honored you're here. And I look forward to giving a speech tonight. The Prime Minister has kindly agreed to come and listen to it. So I'm not going to answer any questions tonight. I'm going to let my speech be exactly what I want to say. In the meantime, the Prime Minister has agreed to say a few comments and then take a couple of questions from you. Prime Minister Blair. Thank you, Mr. President. It's my honor to be here and also to pay tribute to your leadership at this immensely difficult time. I was in New York earlier today, and it's perhaps only when you are actually there that the full enormity and horror of what happened comes home to you. And I said then I would like to repeat that my father's generation went through the experience of the Second World War, when Britain was under attack during the days of the Blitz. And there was one nation and one people that, above all, stood side by side with us at that time. And that nation was America, and those people were the American people. And I say to you, we stand side by side with you now, without hesitation. This is a struggle that concerns us all, the whole of the democratic and civilized and free world. And we have to do two things, very clearly We have to bring to account those responsible, and then we have to set about at every single level, in every way that we can, dismantling the apparatus of terror and eradicating the evil of mass terrorism in our world. And I know that America, Britain, and all our allies will stand united together in that task. And I give you, on behalf of our country, our solidarity, our sympathy, and our support. President Bush. Thank you, sir. United Kingdom's Response Q. Mr. Prime Minister, have you discussed what Britain's involvement in any military action might be? Prime Minister Blair. Well, of course, we've discussed the full range of issues. Now is not the moment to go into the details of whatever response we make. But I think that you can be in no doubt at all of our determination to act to make sure, as I say, that those responsible for this event are brought to account. And in the talks I had in Europe before I left, I believe that sense of solidarity is echoed right round the world. Q. Prime Minister, how are you prepared to go on supporting a full scale war inaudible Prime Minister Blair. I believe we have to go on fighting terrorism as long as it takes, because what happened on the 11th of September was, of course, a brutal and horrific attack on America, but it was a demonstration of what these people are capable of in any part of the world. And the important thing to realize is that there is no limit on what they would do that is moral. They have no regard for the sanctity of human life. They don't share the values of democracy or freedom or justice. The only limits on what they do are practical or technical. And that is why it is our duty I believe this it is our duty to take action to make sure that at every level we can how these groups are financed, how they operate, how they move about, the weapons that they acquire at every single level, we have to take the action necessary to put an end to it. International Support Q. Prime Minister, the President said tonight that countries have to choose between being with you or being with the terrorists. How many countries do you believe are making the choice to be with terrorists? And what are the consequences to countries still not sure which side they're on? Prime Minister Blair. Well, I just wanted to say this to you in conclusion to that question. I believe right round the world there is support for firm action now, and I believe the coalition of support for that action is growing. It is strengthening it is not diminishing. And that is the impression that I have had from many of the conversations I've had with world leaders in all different parts of the world. Because this struggle is something that should unite people of all faiths, of all nations, of all democratic political persuasions, and I believe it will. President Bush. We've got to go. Thank you all. September 19, 2001 President Bush. President Megawati was just telling me she had visited Washington during President Kennedy's time. It is my honor to welcome you back to Washington and to the Oval Office as President of your great nation. I look forward to having a very good discussion about our relations, as well as what we're going to do, as people who love freedom, about terrorism. I want to thank you very much for your strong statements of support for the American people and your strong statement against terrorist activities. It meant a lot to us. You represent the nation with the most Muslim people in the world. I've made it clear, Madam President, that the war against terrorism is not a war against Muslims, nor is it a war against Arabs. It's a war against evil people who conduct crimes against innocent people. And so, welcome to Washington, DC. I look forward to a long discussion. I appreciate so very much your vision for your very important country. Welcome. President Megawati. Thank you, Mr. President. I will speak in Indonesian. I'm very honored to be your guest here today, even though we are in a moment of grief. I would like to express on behalf of the people and Government of Indonesia our deepest condolences to the American people. And we share this moment of grief with you. I also want to say thank you, because even though you're having a difficult time, you're still able to meet me in this place which I'm quite familiar with. Thank you very much, Mr. President. The President. Yes. Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Response to Terrorist Attacks Q. Mr. President, do you have any reason to believe Iraq is connected with the terrorist attack? And if so, what would your response be? And could I ask your guest if she could respond to her Vice President saying that the tragedy would cleanse the sins of the United States? President Bush. First, let me anybody who harbors terrorists needs to fear the United States and the rest of the free world. Anybody who houses a terrorist, encourages terrorism will be held accountable. And we are gathering all evidence on this particular crime and other crimes against freedom loving people. And I would strongly urge any nation in the world to reject terrorism, expel terrorists. I would strongly urge the Taliban to turn over the Al Qaida organizers who hide in their country. We're we're on the case. We're gathering as much evidence as we possibly can to be able to make our case to the world about all countries and their willingness to harbor or not harbor terrorists. Q. A specific message to Iraq? President Bush. The message to every country is, there will be a campaign against terrorist activity, a worldwide campaign. And there is an outpouring of support for such a campaign. Freedom loving people understand that terrorism knows no borders, that terrorists will strike in order to bring fear, to try to change the behavior of countries that love liberty. And we will not let them do that. Now, this is a campaign in which nations will contribute in a variety of ways. Some nations will be willing to join in a very overt way. Other nations will be willing to join by sharing information. And information, in a campaign such as this, is going to be incredibly important. It's very important for us to be able to find where these people are. There's going to need to be a campaign there needs to be a financial component of the campaign, where we need to cooperate to make sure we cut off funds, find these organizations that serve as front groups for funding these terrorist cells. And so my message to all nations is we look forward to full cooperation. Did you have a question for the President? Indonesia's Response Q. Yes. Could you respond, please, to the Vice President of your country who said that the tragedy will cleanse the Nation the sins? Thank you. President Megawati. After I heard and witnessed and saw what happened, the tragic events in New York and Washington, I immediately issued a statement which strongly condemned these attacks, which were very inhumane. And afterwards I sent a letter to President Bush expressing my condolences. So this is the position of my Government on this issue. So it's very clear. Response to Terrorist Attacks Q. Mr. President, since you've declared war against terrorism, there are a number of countries who seem to be saying, not so fast. China, in particular, has said that any strike must be preceded by irrefutable evidence. Others have raised concerns about civilian casualties. So the first question is, are you now prepared to provide such irrefutable evidence to countries? And what, in your mind, is the biggest challenge that you face in trying to construct this coalition? President Bush. Well, first of all, we'll do what we need to do to achieve the first objective of a long campaign. And the first objective is to bring people to justice who we feel like committed this particular set of atrocities, and to hold the organization accountable and to hold those who harbor them accountable. That's the first objective of a very long campaign. David David Gregory, NBC News , I think that the real challenge for America and our allies in this effort is to do a couple of things One, condition the world, starting with our own country, that this will be a different kind of battle, a series of battles, that they will be fought visibly sometimes and sometimes we'll never see what may be taking place that the and that we fully understand that some nations will be comfortable supporting overt activities, some nations will be comfortable supporting covert activities, some nations will only be comfortable in providing information, others will be helpful and only feel comfortable helping on financial matters I understand that thirdly, that as these various as the campaign evolves, some nations may take a more active role than others. The mindset of war must change. It is a different type of battle. It's a different type of battlefield. It's a different type of war. And that, in itself, is going to be a real challenge for America and those other nations who understand that, because sometimes look, the mission is to rout out terrorist activities. And there's a variety of ways in which that can happen. Clearly, one of our focuses is to get people out of their caves, smoke them out and get them moving and get them. That's about as plainly as I can put it. And we're focused on that. But we're also focused, and we recognize that the Al Qaida organization exists in some 60 plus countries, and we're beginning to work with other nations that are receptive to the notion of fighting terrorism, and say, "Help us round up these people. You can play a constructive role." We fully understand that certain NGOs, nongovernmental organizations, serve as fronts, as a funding mechanism for terrorist organizations. We expect there to be activity on those fronts, as well. So the challenge is to redefine the terms of the conflict, the campaign, in a way that the leaders understand, and in a way that the people of the world understand. There's a certain impatience with war of the past. People demand a certain clarity of a specific battlefield. But this is the first this is a new type of struggle. It's really the first series of battles in the 21st century. Again I repeat, terrorism knows no borders. It has no capital, but it does have a common ideology, and that is they hate freedom, and they hate freedom loving people. And they particularly hate America at this moment. But many leaders understand that what happened in New York City and Washington, DC, could have easily have happened in their capital, as well. It's a long answer to a short question. Q. Can I follow on one point? Do you, to your mind, have irrefutable evidence that links Al Qaida and specifically Usama bin Laden to these attacks? President Bush. When we take action, we will take action because we believe because we know we'll be on the right. And I want to remind people that there have been terrorist activities on America in the past as well. And there has been there have been indictments have been handed down. This is a war not against a specific individual, nor will it be a war against solely one organization. It is a war against terrorist activities. Our Nation must do everything we can to protect the homeland, and we are. The Attorney General briefs on a daily basis, as does the Director of the FBI, talking about what we're doing to do the best we can to protect the American people from any further activity. But the best way to make sure that America is safe, the people of Indonesia are safe is to find terrorism at its roots and to root it out, to get them out of their caves and get them moving, cut off their finances, and hold them accountable. Chairman Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority Q. Mr. President, now that Chairman Arafat has said he was willing to fight terrorism and he wants to join your coalition, are you willing to talk to him? And for President Megawati, a quick question is, are you able to offer your Government and your people's support for this coalition, or do you have that support in your country? President Bush. Let me first I would hope that Chairman Arafat backs up his strong statement with action. We take his words very seriously that he is interested in doing everything he can to reduce terrorism and violence in the Middle East. That was a very positive statement he made. And I hope he stays focused on achieving the goal he stated. And so to that end, our administration and our Government is continuing to talk to Chairman Arafat to encourage him to live up to his words, and at the same time working with the Israelis to encourage them to seize the moment. Progress is being made. Madam President, I said at the time, through my tears I see opportunity. One of the opportunities I saw was the ability not to put not only for freedom loving nations to come together to say resolutely we will fight terrorism, but I felt like there would be that this event may shake up the attitudes of the Middle East where people would end up resolving to show the world that there could be peace there as well. And progress is being made. And I want to tell the American people, the Secretary of State even though we're focused on what happened in New York and Washington, DC, we're also very much involved in the Middle East, and Secretary Powell was on the phone yesterday with leaders in the Middle East, urging them to seize this moment. And so we have a sense of we now have a sense of optimism that something positive may take place in the Middle East. Your question to the President? Indonesia's Response Q. Are you able to offer the support of your country to this coalition against terrorism? President Megawati. Indonesia has always been against violence. Anything that relates to violence, including acts of terrorism, we will definitely be against it. President Bush. Thank you all. September 19, 2001 The President. I want to welcome the Members, the leadership of the Congress here, and I want the Nation to know how proud I am of how they have helped unite our country. Senator Daschle and the Speaker and Senator Lott and Representative Gephardt have really showed that in times of emergency and crisis, that our Government can function in a way that is just exemplary. And I want to thank them for coming down. I'm also so pleased to accept the invitation of the Speaker and the leaders to come and address the Congress tomorrow night. I look forward to the opportunity to explain to the American people who it is and who would do this to our great country and why why would people choose America? A lot of our citizens have got a lot of questions about what has taken place on September the 11th and subsequent to that, and I owe it to the country to give an explanation. And I want to thank the Congress for giving me a chance. I can't think of a better place than to talk about freedom and the battle to maintain freedom in one of the greatest halls of freedom, and that is in the United States Congress. So, thank you for the invitation. I accept wholeheartedly, and I will see you all tomorrow night. I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions. Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Public Safety Q. Mr. President, will you be able to tell all Americans whether they're going to be safe while you prepare to retaliate, or could terrorists strike again while we prepare for war? The President. Ron, I think America needs to know that we in Government are on alert, that we recognize life around the White House or around the Congress is not normal, is not the way it used to be because we're very aware that people have conducted an act of war on our country, and that all of us urge our fellow Americans to go back to work and to work hard, but we must be on alert. And our Government is working hard to make sure that we run down every lead, every opportunity to find someone who would want to hurt any American. The American people are united. They're united in their resolve to help heal the Nation. But they're also united in the understanding that we've entered into a new day, and we'll deal with it. Role of Religions Q. Sir, you've been stressing that this is not a war against Islam. However, there are some around the world who view the coming battle along religious lines. I'm wondering how worried you are that some view this as a holy war, and are declarations of jihad at all affecting U.S. plans? The President. I appreciate that question. First of all, it is so important for my fellow Americans, as well as everybody in the world to understand that America will hold those evildoers accountable. We don't view this as a war of religion, in any way, shape, or form. As a matter of fact, Islam preaches peace. The Muslim faith is a peaceful faith, and there are millions of good Americans who practice the Muslim faith who love their country as much as I love the country, who salute the flag as strongly as I salute the flag. And for those who try to pit religion against religion, our great Nation will stand up and reject that kind of thought. We won't allow that to creep into the consciousness of the world. We're going to lead the world to fight for freedom, and we'll have Muslim and Jew and Christian side by side with us. Social Security Surplus Q. Mr. President, you promised only to dip into the Social Security surplus in an emergency, a recession, or war. And in your words, this constitutes a war. How much of the Social Security surplus are you prepared to spend? The President. We are not only has someone conducted an act of war on us, our economy has slowed way down, and this is an emergency. We've had all three, it seems like to me. And I'm going to work with Congress to send a clear message to American American workers, American business people that this Government will respond to this emergency. We'll respond to the emergency in terms of working on a package for the airline industry that has been severely affected. We'll respond to work to fight terrorism. The Congress has already responded with a supplemental that will not only help fund our military but, as importantly, will send a clear message to the people of New York and New Jersey and Connecticut that we'll help you rebuild. And this is exactly the subject we talked about, the definition of how much is enough to get America going again, as to be able to endure this emergency. Q. And if that means all the surplus, are you prepared to spend all the surplus? The President. We're reasonable people. The Members here, the leaders from the Congress, are very reasonable. And they are mindful about Government money as well as anybody else. But we're dedicated we're dedicated to saying to the American people, "This is an emergency, the likes of which we have not seen in a long time in this country, and this Government will come together and deal with it." And that's exactly what's going to happen. National Economy Q. Sorry to ask another one, but did you mean to say just now that we are in a recession? You said, "It looks to me like we've got all three." The President. No, I said well, I said let me put it this way, tough economic times. There's no question it's tough times. And Ron, I don't have all the numbers, but let me just say this I can pick up all the statistics, but make no mistake about it, this has affected our economy in a big way. Now, I've still got faith that we'll recover. The strength of the American economy has always been our entrepreneurial spirit and our workers, and that's still prevalent. But you've seen the statistics on the airlines they're beginning to lay off people. Big airline manufacturing companies are responding. And this Government will respond. Now, I don't have don't get me wrong I don't have all the numbers at my disposal because they have to start counting them up, but this has shocked our economy. And we're going to respond. And that's exactly what this leadership and I have been talking about. Pakistan's Response Q. Mr. President, do you feel like you've got the full support of President Musharraf? And how hard is it going to be for him to live up to his pledges, given his domestic situation? The President. Well, there's no question that President Musharraf has taken a bold position, which is to say he will work to the extent he can with America and our allies as we deal with the prime suspect in the case. And we appreciate so very much his statement of support. I said we'll give the President a chance to perform, and I believe he has done done so. We will work and consult closely with Pakistan and India to make sure that that part of the world is as stable as can possibly be stable. Let me say that, in terms of foreign policy and in terms of the world, this horrible tragedy will provide us with an interesting opportunity. One of the opportunities is in the Middle East. I'm pleased with the fact that Chairman Arafat and Prime Minister Sharon have taken positive steps toward bringing peace to the region. I think we have an opportunity to refashion the thinking between Pakistan and India. I think there's some interesting opportunities to shake terrorism loose from sponsor states. And this Government, working with Congress, are going to seize the moment. Out of our tears I said I see opportunity, and we will seek opportunity, positive developments from this horrible tragedy that has befallen our Nation. Thank you all. September 18, 2001 President Bush. It is my honor to welcome a good friend, a good personal friend and a good friend of America, to the Oval Office. It's the first formal visit I've had with any world leader since the terrible day a week ago. After the incident, after that day, I got a lot of phone calls, and one of the most meaningful phone calls of all was from Jacques Chirac, who expressed his concern for the American citizens. He expressed his desire to stand solidly with America during this terrible, terrible day. President Chirac understands that we have entered a new type of war. It's a war against people who hate freedom. And I am honored to welcome our friend here to the Oval Office. Welcome, sir. President Chirac. Thank you. I've come here to tell you of the emotion the emotion of France, of the French people, an emotion which has no precedent in history before this tragedy, which does not have a parallel. Indeed, it is a tragic event, something which is beyond crime there are no words to qualify it. I want to tell President Bush, who is my friend, that we stand in total solidarity. We bring you the total solidarity of France and the French people. It is solidarity of the heart. I also wanted to say that we are completely determined to fight by your side this new type of evil, of absolute evil, which is terrorism. And I also wanted to say that France is prepared and available to discuss all means to fight and eradicate this evil. President Bush. Thank you, sir. Yes, Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press . Response to Terrorist Attacks Q. Mr. President, sir, do you expect French and British soldiers to fight side by side with ours? And President Chirac, do you agree that we are in a war, and is France in it? Will you fight side by side with U.S. troops? President Bush. This is a new kind of war. This war will require determination and patience. People who love freedom, such as Jacques Chirac and the people of France, will join us I'm confident of that in finding those who feel like they can terrorize nations because they hate freedom. We will it's a policy of my Government not to discuss any plans we may have as to how we intend to deal with the terrorists and the terrorist networks that believe they can disrupt lives anyplace, anytime in the world. I look forward to talking with one of our strongest allies in private about what's on my mind. But make no mistake about it This administration has got a firm goal and a determination to achieve the goal, and that is to rally the world toward a campaign to find terrorists, to smoke them out of their holes, and to get them, and to bring them to justice. And there's no doubt in my mind France joins with us in this most important campaign. Jacques Chirac has this is my fourth meeting with this leader. He's a man of vision. He's a man who understands what I understand, that we've entered into a new era. And I feel confident that we're going to work in a collaborative way to achieve a common objective. If you love freedom, you must join with us you must join with America and France. That's the message of this meeting. And we will discuss ways that we can work in a way that will achieve the goal. And there's no doubt in my mind that we'll find solidarity with the French and the French Government. Q. Will your citizens fight shoulder to shoulder with ours? President Chirac. I don't know whether we should use the word "war," but what I can say is that now we are faced with a conflict of a completely new nature. It is a conflict which is attempting to destroy human rights, freedom, the dignity of man. And I believe that everything must be done to protect and safeguard these values of civilization. Therefore and we are, naturally, prepared to work in complete solidarity with the United States and do everything which is necessary, in consultation with them, to reach this target which is the elimination of terrorism. And I would also like to add that practically all the leaders of the world are following the same line. Q. Mr. President, don't you think it's high time for the occidental world to review in a very tougher way its relationship with a certain number of, let's say, Arabic countries which have been helping or harboring the terrorists? President Bush. In my statement to our Nation, I told the people of the United States that we would not only hold those who committed these horrible acts accountable, that we would also hold those accountable who harbored them, who fed them, who hide them. That's our policy. Many, many Arab first of all, it is important to know that this is not a campaign against Islam. This is not a campaign against Arab people. This is a campaign against terrorists. This is a campaign against evildoers who hate freedom. I have had and I'm sure Jacques, as well, has had strong statements of solidarity from governments in the Middle East. I've talked to many world leaders, Arab leaders, all of whom are outraged by the acts of terrorism against America, all of whom understand it could be them as well. Terrorism knows no borders. And so I've been very pleased with the outpouring of support. And we will take the governments for their word and will work with them to disrupt the finances, the travel, the communications. We will find them in their hiding places, and we'll get them moving, and we'll bring them to justice. Make no mistake about it. Q. Mr. President President Bush. Yes, Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters . Middle East Cease Fire Q. Do you think the Middle East ceasefire will hold? And what do you think the next step should be for both the Israelis and the Palestinians? President Bush. We've had very positive developments in the Middle East today, and it's one of the subjects that my friend and I will discuss. I was very pleased by the statements by Chairman Arafat, followed by the strong statements by the Israelis that they would stand down troops. And I hope in my heart of hearts that out of this evil comes good. I think it will I'm a very optimistic person. And one of the goods that can come is that people involved with the Middle East conflict, that both leaders here want to resolve, realize that a terrorist way of life is not going to lead to a peaceful resolution for people. The next step, of course, is to stay involved in the region, is to work with both the Palestinians and the Israelis to encourage them to seize the moment, to hold Mr. Arafat to his word that he will fight violence, and to encourage the Israelis to sit down and have meaningful dialog, with the attempt to get into the Mitchell process. And it's a glimmer of hope that all of us hope that the parties involved will seize. U.S. Response to Terrorist Attacks Q. Mr. President, how will this new war be fought, this new war against terrorism? President Bush. It is new, and it's important for the world to understand that there are no beaches to storm, there are no islands to conquer, there are no battle lines to be drawn. It's a war that is going to take an international effort. It's going to take all of us to gather the necessary intelligence, the necessary information, to be able to find the location of terrorists, to work with governments to smoke them out of their safe houses, to get them moving, and then have the courage to bring them to justice. My Government will commit whatever resources is necessary to be effective in this all important cause. I repeat We're fighting for liberty and freedom, a way of life that is so essential for humankind, mankind to be able to realize their full potential. And we are focused on achieving the goal. There's going to be a time when free nations settle into what is viewed as an ordinary life, and I hope that happens soon I hope that happens soon. But make no mistake about it My goal, my intentions will not diminish with time. I am absolutely I know that we are called to respond to terror now. This is the time, and the world is ready for leadership. And Jacques Chirac is ready to provide that leadership, as am I. I want to thank you all for being here. September 18, 2001 Please be seated. Welcome. Last week America suffered greatly. Thousands of our citizens lost lives. Thousands were hurt, but thousands of our citizens rose to the occasion to help. Last week was a really horrible week for America, but out of our tears and sadness, we saw the best of America as well. We saw a great country rise up to help. Tens of millions of dollars and thousands of hours and tons of food and clothing have all been donated to help rebuild shattered lives. Americans' love for America was channeled through our Nation's great charities, and as President of this great land, nothing made me more proud. In the week since the attack, our compassionate and generous citizens have led the first phase in the war on terrorism. They have sustained and strengthened the homefront. Today I'm joined by representatives of charities which have brought relief to citizens in New York City and Virginia and Pennsylvania. We've got representatives of firefighters, police officers, entrepreneurs who have helped out all across America. We've got many good citizens here who represent the large national charities like the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and the United Way. We've got folks here in the Nation's Rose Garden who represent the community based programs and faith based programs, firefighter and police associations, local businesses, nonprofits. Large and small, these important charitable efforts are saving lives and, as importantly, are restoring hope. I'm also joined by Libby Pataki, the better half of the Governor of New York Tony Carbonetti, the chief of staff to Rudy Giuliani and my friends and former fellow Governors actually, they're Governors I was a former Governor Jim Gilmore and Tom Ridge. These Governors and their wives and the mayor of New York have shown impressive leadership impressive leadership in the face of the challenges that faced their cities and their States. They put public agencies on full alert to provide immediate assistance to victims and their families. And for all those who helped, our Nation is most grateful. They've called on the men and women of the National Guard to help maintain calm and order. And we thank those who wear the uniform as well. And they've led and supported valiant rescueworkers in New York City and northern Virginia, whose bravery is seared into our national consciousness. I was honored to be able to stand amidst the rescueworkers and looked in their eyes and saw the determination that would make all Americans proud. In spite of their exhaustion, in spite of the fact that they had worked themselves into a state of total fatigue, they still wanted to keep fighting on for their fellow brothers and sisters trapped in the rubble. Mayor Giuliani, and Pataki, have led New York City through its most difficult of all days, and they have done so with class and bravery and distinction. And we owe them a debt of gratitude. The mayor, the Governors, all New Yorkers, have demonstrated the very best American values to a world that has been watching to see how our Nation would react. The world watches the great country called America, and they say, "What will they do? What will Americans do?" And what they've seen the best of America. They've seen leadership they've seen courage and as importantly, they've seen compassion. Last evening marked the start of Rosh Hashanah. In Jewish teaching, this holy day is the anniversary of the creation of the world. It is a season of renewal and of hope, and people of every faith, all across America, embrace that spirit of renewal and hope. Funds in New York and Washington are providing food, clothing, and financial help to husbands and wives and sons and daughters who suffer mightily. Citizens near Ground Zero in New York have provided sandwiches, drinks, and clean clothes to the tired and hungry rescueworkers. And in one of America's greatest traditions, a handful of entrepreneurs from Springfield, Virginia, collected 600 by selling lemonade and gave it to the Red Cross. These acts of generosity and kindness are spreading all across America. There are challenges that remain for those who suffer today. Make no mistake about it We've got a lot of work to do as a nation. And these good efforts, these good, charitable, compassionate efforts need the full support of Americans everywhere. People all across the country are asking how they can help. What can they do to provide hope? What can they do to help heal the wounds by helping their fellow Americans? Well, there are many ways to contribute. Local stores and businesses on Main Street America are collecting money to send to appropriate relief and help agencies. National media organizations are helping collect Internet portals providing an interesting opportunity for people to contribute and provide their help. Many of the charities, themselves, welcome donations through web sites. So I urge my fellow Americans to continue contributing through web sites. If you're interested in helping, call up one of the great charities of America and contribute. Thus far, I'm proud to report, through the web sites of our charities, Americans have donated 55 million in 7 short days. Some of America's high tech leaders, AOL Time Warner and Microsoft, Amazon, eBay, Cisco Systems, and Yahoo have joined together in a private effort to encourage online giving so that we can funnel resources to help our citizens in need. They have formed what's called the American Liberty Partnership. It has a web site called libertyunites.org. And this will help Americans find out how to help. If a concerned American wants to help a neighbor in need, even though the neighborhood might not be right next to each other, they can get on libertyunites.org and find out how to help. And I urge my fellow Americans to do so. Americans can not only make online donations, they can figure out where to send food, where to donate blood, where to give clothes. They can find out how best to donate their time. Now, it's important to realize that at this moment, many of our charities are overwhelmed by the public response. That's the kind of problem we like in America. But because the portals may be jammed, because the phones may be busy is not an excuse for Americans not to continue to fight to help their neighbors. And so, I ask my fellow Americans to be patient with those charities that want their help, to keep trying to give, to not lose sight of the mission. And that is, we'll fight terrorism on all fronts we will not be terrorized so that our hearts are hardened. Nobody can threaten this country. Oh, they may be able to bomb buildings and obviously disrupt lives. But we're too great a nation to allow the evildoers to affect our soul and our spirit. Today I herald the soul and spirit of America with live examples of people who have made a huge difference in those who suffer and those who hurt. This is a great land. It's a great land, because our people are so decent and strong and compassionate. God bless. September 17, 2001 The President. I'm here to remind people that the best way to fight terrorism is to not let terrorism intimidate America. A lot of people who work in this building were deeply worried about their lives last week. There are a lot of courageous people here, and they're coming back to work. And I want to thank them for that and remind them we've all got a job to do, people digging out the rubble in New York have got a job to do, those of us in Government have a job to do. Q. Mr. President, any reaction to the Taliban's refusal to The President. I'll talk to you all later. September 17, 2001 The President. First, let me start off by saying to the members of the Pentagon press, the Secretary told me about how you conducted your business on that fateful day. I want to congratulate you and thank you. Many of your members of the Pentagon press went out to help in the evacuation and the aid of the people who work here in the Pentagon, and the country appreciates that very much. Thank you. Pass the word on to your colleagues as well. Today we're talking about the mobilization of Reserve and Guard troops. Such a mobilization is a strong symbol of this Nation's resolve. And I want to thank the Secretary and David and members of our team for giving me a complete and full briefing. I fully understand that a mobilization affects the lives of thousands of Americans. I mean, after all, we're talking about somebody's mom or somebody's dad, somebody's employee, somebody's friend, or somebody's neighbor. But the world will see that the strength of this Nation is found in the character and dedication and courage of everyday citizens. We are last week I proclaimed a national emergency and authorized the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Transportation to call up the Ready Reserve Units of the Armed Forces and the Coast Guard to active duty. We are in the process of calling up as many as 35,000 such troops. They will serve in a number of essential roles. They will help maintain our air defenses so they can stay on high alert. They will check shipping in ports. They will help our military with airlift and logistics. They will provide military police. They will participate in engineering projects. They will help gather intelligence. And they will perform work as chaplains. I know this means a lot of sacrifice for those who will be called up and their families. But you understand the troops who will be called up understand better than most that freedom has a cost and that we're willing to bear that cost. An act of war has been committed on this country, and the dedication of our guardsmen and reservists will serve not only as a strong symbol to all that we're prepared to take the necessary actions but will be a part of helping define the spirit and courage of America. And I'm grateful. I want to thank the employers who understand that there is more to corporate life than just profit and loss, that the employee who is getting ready to serve the country is an essential part of winning the of defeating terrorism, evildoers so emboldened that they feel like they could attack the great bastion of freedom. Before I answer a few questions, I also want to wish the American Jewish community and Jews around the world a healthy and happy new year. As the high holy days begin, I know you'll find strength and determination during this time of reflection. I'll be glad to answer a few questions. Ron Ron Fournier, Associated Press . U.S. Military Response National Economy Q. Mr. President, does the cost of freedom today in this war we're about to wage include the loss of civilian and military casualties? And can you keep us out of a depression recession during this crisis? The President. The only thing I can do is to reflect upon the spirit of the U.S. military, and the U.S. military is ready to defend freedom at any cost. The men and women who wear our uniforms, both active duty and reservists and national guardspeople, are ready to respond to the call of the Commander in Chief and the Secretary of Defense. There's no question in my mind that the resolve of our military has never been stronger. And we will win the war, and there will be costs. But the military folks understand that, and so do I, and so does the Secretary of Defense. In terms of our economy, I've got great faith in the economy. I understand it's tough right now. Transportation business is hurting. Obviously, the market was correcting prior to this crisis. But the underpinnings for economic growth are there. We're the greatest entrepreneurial society in the world. We've got the best farmers and ranchers. We've got a strong manufacturing base. But there's a challenge ahead of us, and I'm confident that our business community will rise to the challenge. Secondly, I'm confident we can work with Congress to come up with an economic stimulus package, if need be, that will send a clear signal to the risktakers and capital formatters of our country that the Government's going to act too. Thirdly, we've got a tax cut that's still working its way through the economy, as well as a reconstruction plan for New York and the area. After all, the Congress, in a bipartisan fashion, overwhelmingly passed a supplemental of billions of dollars, which will help not only get New York City up and running again but will help provide some economic stimulus. Airline Industry Q. Mr. President, in the airline industry, in particular, it is in trouble and looking for some relief. I know that Secretary Mineta was supposed to meet with representatives from the industry this week. As you look down the road, does he think and expect some The President. Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News , I think these are the kinds of subjects that we will talk with the Secretary of Transportation, with the airline industry, and as importantly, with Members of Congress. Congress must be involved, obviously, with these deliberations. And I look forward to I've already encouraged my administration to reach out to Members of Congress, and we will continue doing so. Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters . Usama bin Laden Q. Mr. President, the Taliban apparently has refused to hand over Usama bin Laden to the Pakistanis. Does this mean that the U.S. will be prepared to move militarily? The President. Patsy, I want to make it clear to the American people that this administration will not talk about any plans we may or may not have. We will not jeopardize, in any way, shape, or form, anybody who wears the uniform of the United States. All I can tell you is that Usama bin Laden is a prime suspect, and the people who house him, encourage him, provide food, comfort, or money are on notice. Last Tuesday last week I spoke clearly about our Nation's policy, and that is, we're going to find those who those evildoers, those barbaric people who attacked our country, and we're going to hold them accountable, and we're going to hold the people who house them accountable. The people who think they can provide them safe havens will be held accountable. The people who feed them will be held accountable. And the Taliban must take my statement seriously. Yes, ma'am. Prospects of War Q. Mr. President, is it the case, based on what you've said now, that war is inevitable, and can you tell the American people what that war is going to look like? The President. I believe I know that an act of war was declared against America. But this will be a different type of war than we're used to. In the past, there have been beaches to storm, islands to conquer. We've been able to watch on our television screens sophisticated weaponry find a building, and we've seen dramatic reports from the front where Pulitzer Prize to bewinning reporters stood up and declared, "The United States has attacked," and all that. There may be some of that, who knows. But I know that this is a different type of enemy than we're used to. It's an enemy that likes to hide and burrow in, and their network is extensive. There's no rules. It's barbaric behavior. They slit throats of women on airplanes in order to achieve an objective that is beyond comprehension. And they like to hit, and then they like to hide out. But we're going to smoke them out. And we're adjusting our thinking to the new type of enemy. These are terrorists that have no borders. And by the way, it's important for the world to understand that we know in America that more than just Americans suffered loss of life in the World Trade Center. People from all kinds of nationalities lost life. That's why the world is rallying to our call to defeat terrorism. Many world leaders understand that that could have easily that the attack could have as easily happened on their land. And they also understand that this enemy knows no border. But they know what I know, that when we start putting the heat on those who house them, that we'll get them running. And once we get them running, we have got a good chance to getting them. And that's exactly what our intent is. The focus right now is on Usama bin Laden, no question about it. He's the prime suspect, and his organization. But there are other terrorists in the world. There are people who hate freedom. This is a fight for freedom. This is a fight to say to the freedom loving people of the world We will not allow ourselves to be terrorized by somebody who thinks they can hit and hide in some cave somewhere. It's going to require a new thought process. And I'm proud to report our military, led by the Secretary of Defense, understands that, understands it's a new type of war. It's going to take a long time to win this war. The American people are going to have to be more patient than ever with the efforts of our combined efforts, not just ourselves but the efforts of our allies, to get them running and to find them and to hunt them down. But as the Vice President said, you know, Usama bin Laden is just one person. He is representative of networks of people who absolutely have made their cause to defeat the freedoms that we take that we understand. And we will not allow them to do so. Usama bin Laden Q. Do you want bin Laden dead? The President. I want him held I want justice. There's an old poster out West, as I recall, that said, "Wanted Dead or Alive." Q. Do you see this being long term? You were saying it's long term do you see an end, at all? The President. I think that this is a longterm battle war. There will be battles. But this is long term. After all, our mission is not just Usama bin Laden, the Al Qaida organization. Our mission is to battle terrorism and to join with freedom loving people. We are putting together a coalition that is a coalition dedicated to declaring to the world, we will do what it takes to find the terrorists, to rout them out, and to hold them accountable. And the United States is proud to lead the coalition. Q. Are you saying you want him dead or alive, sir? Can I interpret The President. I just remember all I'm doing is remembering when I was a kid, I remember that they used to put out there, in the Old West, a wanted poster. It said, "Wanted Dead or Alive." All I want and America wants him brought to justice. That's what we want. September 17, 2001 Thank you all very much for your hospitality. We've just had a wide ranging discussions on the matter at hand. Like the good folks standing with me, the American people were appalled and outraged at last Tuesday's attacks. And so were Muslims all across the world. Both Americans, our Muslim friends and citizens, taxpaying citizens, and Muslims in nations were just appalled and could not believe what we saw on our TV screens. These acts of violence against innocents violate the fundamental tenets of the Islamic faith. And it's important for my fellow Americans to understand that. The English translation is not as eloquent as the original Arabic, but let me quote from the Koran itself "In the long run, evil in the extreme will be the end of those who do evil. For that they rejected the signs of Allah and held them up to ridicule." The face of terror is not the true faith of Islam. That's not what Islam is all about. Islam is peace. These terrorists don't represent peace. They represent evil and war. When we think of Islam, we think of a faith that brings comfort to a billion people around the world billions of people find comfort and solace and peace and that's made brothers and sisters out of every race out of every race. America counts millions of Muslims amongst our citizens, and Muslims make an incredibly valuable contribution to our country. Muslims are doctors, lawyers, law professors, members of the military, entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, moms and dads. And they need to be treated with respect. In our anger and emotion, our fellow Americans must treat each other with respect. Women who cover their heads in this country must feel comfortable going outside their homes. Moms who wear cover must not be intimidated in America. That's not the America I know. That's not the America I value. I've been told that some fear to leave some don't want to go shopping for their families some don't want to go about their ordinary daily routines because, by wearing cover, they're afraid they'll be intimidated. That should not and that will not stand in America. Those who feel like they can intimidate our fellow citizens to take out their anger don't represent the best of America. They represent the worst of humankind, and they should be ashamed of that kind of behavior. This is a great country. It's a great country because we share the same values of respect and dignity and human worth. And it is my honor to be meeting with leaders who feel just the same way I do. They're outraged they're sad. They love America just as much as I do. I want to thank you all for giving me a chance to come by. And may God bless us all. Thank you. September 16, 2001 The President. Today millions of Americans mourned and prayed, and tomorrow we go back to work. Today people from all walks of life gave thanks for the heroes they mourned the dead they asked for God's good graces on the families who mourn. And tomorrow the good people of America go back to their shops, their fields, American factories, and go back to work. Our Nation was horrified, but it's not going to be terrorized. We're a great nation. We're a nation of resolve. We're a nation that can't be cowed by evildoers. I've got great faith in the American people. If the American people had seen what I have seen in New York City, you'd have great faith too. You'd have faith in the hard work of the rescuers. You'd have great faith because of the desire for people to do what's right for America. You'd have great faith because of the compassion and love that our fellow Americans are showing each other in times of need. I also have faith in our military. And we have got a job to do. Just like the farmers and ranchers and businessowners and factory workers have a job to do, my administration has a job to do, and we're going to do it. We will rid the world of the evildoers. We will call together freedom loving people to fight terrorism. And on this day of on the Lord's Day, I say to my fellow Americans Thank you for your prayers thank you for your compassion thank you for your love for one another. And tomorrow when you get back to work, work hard like you always have. But we've been warned. We've been warned there are evil people in this world we've been warned so vividly and we'll be alert. Your Government is alert. The Governors and mayors are alert that evil folks still lurk out there. As I said yesterday, people have declared war on America. And they have made a terrible mistake, because this is a fabulous country. Our economy will come back. We'll still be the best farmers and ranchers in the world. We're still the most innovative entrepreneurs in the world. On this day of faith, I've never had more faith in America than I have right now. National Economy Q. Mr. President, are you worried this crisis might send us into a recession? The President. David David Gregory, NBC News , I understand that there are some businesses that hurt as a result of this crisis. Obviously, New York City hurts. Congress acted quickly. We worked together, the White House and the Congress, to pass a significant supplemental. A lot of that money was dedicated to New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, as it should be. People will be amazed at how quickly we rebuild New York, how quickly people come together to really wipe away the rubble and show the world that we're still the strongest nation in the world. But I have great faith in the resiliency of the economy. And no question about it, this incident affected our economy. But the markets open tomorrow, people go back to work, and we'll show the world. Yes, Bill Bill Plante, CBS News . Usama bin Laden Q. Mr. President, do you believe Usama bin Laden's denial that he had anything to do with this? The President. No question, he is the prime suspect. No question about that. International Cooperation Against Terrorism Q. Mr. President, can you describe your conversation with the President of Pakistan and the specific promises he made to you? And in addition to that, do you see other promises, similar I know you've asked Saudi Arabia to help out other countries? The President. John John King, Cable News Network , I will obviously I made a call to the leader of Pakistan. We had a very good, open conversation. And there is no question that he wants to cooperate with the United States. I'm not at liberty to detail specifically what we have asked him to do. In the course of this conduct of this war against terrorism, I'll be asked a lot and members of my administration will be asked a lot of questions about our strategies and tactics. And in order to protect the lives of people that will be involved in the different operations, I'm not at liberty to talk about it, and I won't talk about it. But I can tell you that the response from Pakistan, Prime Minister Vajpayee today of India, Saudi Arabia has been very positive and very straightforward. They know what my intentions are. They know my intentions are to find those who did this, find those who encouraged them, find those who housed them, find those who comfort them, and bring them to justice. I made that very clear. There is no doubt in anybody's mind with whom I've had a conversation about the intent of the United States. I gave them ample opportunity to say they were uncomfortable with our goal. And the leaders you've asked about have said they were comfortable. They said, "We understand, Mr. President, and we're with you." U.S. Response to Terrorist Attacks Q. Mr. President, the Attorney General is going to ask for enhanced law enforcement authority to surveil and do other things to disrupt terrorism that might be planned here in the United States. What will that mean for the rights of Americans? What will that mean for Americans The President. Terry Terry Moran, ABC News , I ask you to talk to the Attorney General about that subject. He'll be prepared to talk about it publicly at some point in time. But what he is doing is, he's reflecting what I said earlier in my statement, that we're facing a new kind of enemy, somebody so barbaric that they would fly airplanes into buildings full of innocent people. And therefore, we have to be on alert in America. We're a nation of law, a nation of civil right. We're also a nation under attack. And the Attorney General will address that in a way that I think the American people will understand. We need to go back to work tomorrow, and we will. But we need to be alert to the fact that these evildoers still exist. We haven't seen this kind of barbarism in a long period of time. No one could have conceivably imagined suicide bombers burrowing into our society and then emerging all in the same day to fly their aircraft fly U.S. aircraft into buildings full of innocent people and show no remorse. This is a new kind of a new kind of evil. And we understand. And the American people are beginning to understand. This crusade, this war on terrorism is going to take a while, and the American people must be patient. I'm going to be patient. But I can assure the American people, I am determined. I'm not going to be distracted. I will keep my focus to make sure that not only are these brought to justice, but anybody who's been associated with them will be brought to justice. Those who harbor terrorists will be brought to justice. It is time for us to win the first war of the 21st century decisively, so that our children and our grandchildren can live peacefully into the 21st century. Patsy Patricia Wilson, Reuters . Q. Mr. President, you've declared that we're at war and asked the military to get ready. Should the American people also be ready to expect casualties in this war? The President. Patsy, the American people should know that my administration is determined to find, to get them running, and to hunt them down, those who did this to America. Now, I want to remind the American people that the prime suspect's organization is in a lot of countries. It's a widespread organization based upon one thing, terrorizing. They can't stand freedom. They hate what America stands for. So this will be a long campaign, a determined campaign, a campaign that will use the resources of the United States to win. They have roused a mighty giant. And make no mistake about it We're determined. Oh, there will be times when people don't have this incident on their mind I understand that. There will be times down the road where citizens will be concerned about other matters, and I completely understand that. But this administration, along with those friends of ours who are willing to stand with us all the way through, will do what it takes to rout terrorism out of the world. Stretch Richard Keil, Bloomberg News . International Cooperation Against Terrorism Q. Mr. President, getting back to your conversation with the leader of Pakistan, did you make any requests or demands of him that he turned you down on, or did you get what you asked for? The President. The leader of Pakistan has been very cooperative. He has agreed with our requests to aid our Nation to hunt down, to find, to smoke out of their holes the terrorist organization that is the prime suspect. And I am pleased with his response. We will continue to work with Pakistan and India. We will work with Russia. We will work with the nations that one would have thought a couple of years ago would have been impossible to work with to bring people to justice but, more than that, to win the war against terrorist activity. The American people are used to a conflict where there was a beachhead or a desert to cross or known military targets. That may occur. But right now we're facing people who hit and run. They hide in caves. We'll get them out. The other day I said, not only will we find those who have affected America or who might affect America in the future, we'll also deal with those who harbor them. September 11 National Security Decisions Q. Mr. President, would you confirm what the Vice President said this morning, that at one point during this crisis you gave an order to shoot down any civilian airliner that approached the Capitol? Was that a difficult decision to make? The President. I gave our military the orders necessary to protect Americans do whatever it would take to protect Americans. And of course, that's difficult. Never did, in anybody's thought process about how to protect America, did we ever think that the evildoers would fly not one but four commercial aircraft into precious U.S. targets never. And so, obviously, when I was told what was taking place, when I was informed that a unidentified aircraft was headed to the heart of the Capital, I was concerned. I wasn't concerned about my decision I was more concerned about the lives of innocent Americans. I had realized, there on the ground in Florida, we were under attack. But never did I dream we would have been under attack this way. That's why I say to the American people, we've never seen this kind of evil before. But the evildoers have never seen the American people in action before, either, and they're about to find out. Thank you all very much. September 15, 2001 The President. I've asked the highest levels of our Government to come to discuss the current tragedy that has so deeply affected our Nation. Our country mourns for the loss of life and for those whose lives have been so deeply affected by this despicable act of terror. I am going to describe to our leadership what I saw the wreckage of New York City, the signs of the first battle of war. We're going to meet and deliberate and discuss, but there's no question about it, this act will not stand. We will find those who did it we will smoke them out of their holes we will get them running and we'll bring them to justice. We will not only deal with those who dare attack America we will deal with those who harbor them and feed them and house them. Make no mistake about it Underneath our tears is the strong determination of America to win this war. And we will win it. I'm going to ask the Secretary of State to say a few things, and then the Attorney General. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell. Thank you, Mr. President. I might just say that I'm very pleased with the response we've been getting from the international community. I think every civilized nation in the world recognizes that this was an assault not just against the United States but against civilization. We should also take note, it's not just Americans who lost lives in the World Trade Center. Dozens of countries lost lives, and they realize that this was an attack against them as well. We are receiving expressions of support from around the world and not just rhetorical support but real support for whatever may lay ahead in this campaign that is ahead of us to win the war that the President has spoken of. I might especially want to thank the President and the people of Pakistan for the support that they have offered and their willingness to assist us in whatever might be required in that part of the world as we determine who those perpetrators are. It's a coalition that will stay intact, that will be built upon over time. And what we have to do is not just go after these perpetrators and those who gave them haven but the whole curse of terrorism that is upon the face of the Earth. And this is a campaign that we have begun this week, and we will stick with it until we are successful. The President. Attorney General. Attorney General John D. Ashcroft. Four days ago we began an investigative effort to understand not only those who perpetrate this heinous assault against America and free people everywhere but to develop an understanding of those who are associated with it and how it was conducted. The FBI, together with very cooperative local and State officials and law enforcement agencies, has processed thousands of leads. We are making the kinds of contacts and developing the information that allow us to describe this as proceeding with reasonable success. We believe that the picture is developing a kind of clarity that's appropriate. We have named 19 individuals that we have high levels of confidence were the hijackers. And we are further refining our understanding of the ways in which this terrible crime was developed. I might add that we have put in place very serious measures that we believe will provide greater security and provide a basis for our country returning to the kind of freedom and business and conduct that is characteristic of this great Nation. U.S. Response to Terrorist Attacks Q. Sir, what do you say to Americans who are worried that the longer it takes to retaliate, the more chance the perpetrators have to escape and hide and just escape justice? The President. They will try to hide. They will try to avoid the United States and our allies, but we're not going to let them. They run to the hills. They find holes to get in, and we will do whatever it takes to smoke them out and get them running, and we'll get them. Listen, this is a great nation. We're a kind people. None of us could have envisioned the barbaric acts of these terrorists. But they have stirred up the might of the American people, and we're going to get them, no matter what it takes. In my radio address today I explained to the American people that this effort may require patience. But we're going to Q. How long The President. As long as it takes. And it's not just one person. We're talking about those who fed them, those who house them, those who harbor terrorists will be held accountable for this action. Usama bin Laden Q. Sir, are you satisfied that Usama bin Laden is at least a kingpin of this operation? The President. There is no question he is what we would call a prime suspect. And if he thinks he can hide and run from the United States and our allies, he will be sorely mistaken. U.S. Military Q. Mr. President, do you have a message for the reservists that you called up yesterday? Can you tell us whether you think more may have to be called up? The President. The message is for everybody who wears the uniform Get ready. The United States will do what it takes to win this war. And I ask patience of the American people. There is no question in my mind, we'll have the resolve. I witnessed it yesterday on the construction site. Behind the sadness and the exhaustion, there is a desire by the American people to not seek only revenge but to win a war against barbaric behavior, people that hate freedom and hate what we stand for. And this is an administration that is going to dedicate ourselves to winning that war. Pakistan Q. What did Pakistan say it would do to help the United States? Secretary Powell. We put before the Pakistani Government a specific list of things that we would like cooperation on, and they've agreed to all those items. I'm not prepared to announce today what those specific items are. But the Pakistani Government was very forthcoming, and we're appreciative. U.S. Response to Terrorist Attacks Q. Mr. President, what kind of military options are you considering, if you could talk broadly? The President. This is an administration that will not talk about how we gather intelligence, how we know what we're going to do, nor what our plans are. When we move, we will communicate with you in an appropriate manner. We're at war. There has been an act of war declared upon America by terrorists, and we will respond accordingly. And I appreciate very much the American people understanding that. As we plan, as we put our strategy into action, we will let you know when we think it's appropriate, not only to protect the lives of our service men and women but to make sure our coalition has had proper time to be noticed, as well. But we're going to act. Q. What is the risk of additional attacks on us at this point? The President. I would think the American people need to be go about their business on Monday but with a heightened sense of awareness that a group of barbarians have declared war on the American people. Q. Sir, how much of a sacrifice are ordinary Americans going to have to be expected to make in their daily lives, in their daily routines? The President. Our hope, of course, is that they make no sacrifice whatsoever. We would like to see life return to normal in America. But these people have declared war on us, and we will do whatever it takes to make sure that we're safe internally. So, therefore, people may not be able to board flights as quickly. Our borders are tighter than they've ever been before. We're taken a variety of measures to make sure that the American people are safe, just as the Attorney General spoke about. But we hope, obviously, that the measures we take will allow the American economy to continue on. I urge people to go to their businesses on Monday. I understand Major League Baseball is going to start playing again. It is important for America to get on about its life. But our Government will be on full alert, and we'll be tracing every lead, every potential, to make sure that the American people are safe. Q. How long do you envision The President. The definition is, whatever it takes. September 15, 2001 Good morning. This weekend I am engaged in extensive sessions with members of my National Security Council, as we plan a comprehensive assault on terrorism. This will be a different kind of conflict against a different kind of enemy. This is a conflict without battlefields or beachheads, a conflict with opponents who believe they are invisible. Yet, they are mistaken. They will be exposed, and they will discover what others in the past have learned Those who make war against the United States have chosen their own destruction. Victory against terrorism will not take place in a single battle but in a series of decisive actions against terrorist organizations and those who harbor and support them. We are planning a broad and sustained campaign to secure our country and eradicate the evil of terrorism. And we are determined to see this conflict through. Americans of every faith and background are committed to this goal. Yesterday I visited the site of the destruction in New York City and saw an amazing spirit of sacrifice and patriotism and defiance. I met with rescuers who have worked past exhaustion, who cheered for our country and the great cause we have entered. In Washington, DC, the political parties and both Houses of Congress have shown a remarkable unity, and I'm deeply grateful. A terrorist attack designed to tear us apart has instead bound us together as a nation. Over the past few days, we have learned much about American courage, the courage of firefighters and police officers who suffered so great a loss, the courage of passengers aboard United 93 who may well have fought with the hijackers and saved many lives on the ground. Now we honor those who died and prepare to respond to these attacks on our Nation. I will not settle for a token act. Our response must be sweeping, sustained, and effective. We have much to do and much to ask of the American people. You will be asked for your patience, for the conflict will not be short. You will be asked for resolve, for the conflict will not be easy. You will be asked for your strength, because the course to victory may be long. In the past week, we have seen the American people at their very best everywhere in America. Citizens have come together to pray, to give blood, to fly our country's flag. Americans are coming together to share their grief and gain strength from one another. Great tragedy has come to us, and we are meeting it with the best that is in our country, with courage and concern for others, because this is America. This is who we are. This is what our enemies hate and have attacked. And this is why we will prevail. Thank you for listening. September 14, 2001 Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. Thank you all. I want you all to know Audience member. Can't hear you. The President. I can't go any louder. Laughter I want you all to know that America today America today is on bended knee in prayer for the people whose lives were lost here, for the workers who work here, for the families who mourn. This Nation stands with the good people of New York City and New Jersey and Connecticut as we mourn the loss of thousands of our citizens. Audience member. I can't hear you. The President. I can hear you. I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! The President. The Nation sends its love and compassion to everybody who is here. Thank you for your hard work. Thank you for making the Nation proud. And may God bless America. Audience members. U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.! September 14, 2001 We are here in the middle hour of our grief. So many have suffered so great a loss, and today we express our Nation's sorrow. We come before God to pray for the missing and the dead and for those who love them. On Tuesday our country was attacked with deliberate and massive cruelty. We have seen the images of fire and ashes and bent steel. Now come the names, the list of casualties we are only beginning to read. They are the names of men and women who began their day at a desk or in an airport, busy with life. They are the names of people who faced death and in their last moments called home to say, "Be brave," and, "I love you." They are the names of passengers who defied their murderers and prevented the murder of others on the ground. They are the names of men and women who wore the uniform of the United States and died at their posts. They are the names of rescuers, the ones whom death found running up the stairs and into the fires to help others. We will read all these names. We will linger over them and learn their stories, and many Americans will weep. To the children and parents and spouses and families and friends of the lost, we offer the deepest sympathy of the Nation. And I assure you, you are not alone. Just 3 days removed from these events, Americans do not yet have the distance of history. But our responsibility to history is already clear To answer these attacks and rid the world of evil. War has been waged against us by stealth and deceit and murder. This Nation is peaceful, but fierce when stirred to anger. This conflict was begun on the timing and terms of others. It will end in a way and at an hour of our choosing. Our purpose as a nation is firm. Yet, our wounds as a people are recent and unhealed and lead us to pray. In many of our prayers this week, there is a searching and an honesty. At St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York on Tuesday, a woman said, "I prayed to God to give us a sign that He is still here." Others have prayed for the same, searching hospital to hospital, carrying pictures of those still missing. God's signs are not always the ones we look for. We learn in tragedy that his purposes are not always our own. Yet, the prayers of private suffering, whether in our homes or in this great cathedral, are known and heard and understood. There are prayers that help us last through the day or endure the night. There are prayers of friends and strangers that give us strength for the journey. And there are prayers that yield our will to a will greater than our own. This world He created is of moral design. Grief and tragedy and hatred are only for a time. Goodness, remembrance, and love have no end. And the Lord of life holds all who die and all who mourn. It is said that adversity introduces us to ourselves. This is true of a nation as well. In this trial, we have been reminded, and the world has seen, that our fellow Americans are generous and kind, resourceful and brave. We see our national character in rescuers working past exhaustion, in long lines of blood donors, in thousands of citizens who have asked to work and serve in any way possible. And we have seen our national character in eloquent acts of sacrifice. Inside the World Trade Center, one man, who could have saved himself, stayed until the end at the side of his quadriplegic friend. A beloved priest died giving the last rites to a firefighter. Two officeworkers, finding a disabled stranger, carried her down 68 floors to safety. A group of men drove through the night from Dallas to Washington to bring skin grafts for burn victims. In these acts, and in many others, Americans showed a deep commitment to one another and an abiding love for our country. Today we feel what Franklin Roosevelt called the warm courage of national unity. This is a unity of every faith and every background. It has joined together political parties in both Houses of Congress. It is evident in services of prayer and candlelight vigils and American flags, which are displayed in pride and wave in defiance. Our unity is a kinship of grief and a steadfast resolve to prevail against our enemies. And this unity against terror is now extending across the world. America is a nation full of good fortune, with so much to be grateful for. But we are not spared from suffering. In every generation, the world has produced enemies of human freedom. They have attacked America because we are freedom's home and defender. And the commitment of our fathers is now the calling of our time. On this National Day of Prayer and Remembrance, we ask Almighty God to watch over our Nation and grant us patience and resolve in all that is to come. We pray that He will comfort and console those who now walk in sorrow. We thank Him for each life we now must mourn and the promise of a life to come. As we have been assured, neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, can separate us from God's love. May He bless the souls of the departed. May He comfort our own, and may He always guide our country. God bless America. September 13, 2001 President Bush. Good morning, men. Mayor Giuliani. Good morning, Mr. President. Governor Pataki. Good morning, Mr. President. President Bush. Thank you all very much for taking my phone call. First of all, I can't tell you how sad I am, and America is, for the people of New York City and the tristate area. I want to let you know there is a quiet anger in America that really is real. Also, though, I can't tell you how proud I am of the good citizens of your part of the world and the extraordinary job you all are doing. You're doing, really, a great job on behalf of the citizens of New York City, New York State, and in the tristate area. So I want to thank you very much for your leadership and dedication. Mayor Giuliani. Thank you, Mr. President. President Bush. Secondly, I've been in touch with you all. You've extended me a kind invitation to come to New York City. I accept. I'll be there tomorrow afternoon, after the prayer service at the National Cathedral. I look forward to joining with both of you in thanking the police and fire, the construction trade workers, the restaurant owners, the volunteers all of whom have really made a huge display for the world to see of the compassion of America and the bravery of America and the strength of America. Every world leader I've talked to in recent days has been impressed by what they have seen about our Nation and the fabric of our Nation. And I want to thank everybody when I come, so thank you for your hospitality. Governor Pataki. Well, Mr. President, thank you for coming to New York. I'm sure it's going to be a great inspiration to all of us and particularly those thousands of men and women still downtown trying to help us with the rescue efforts. I also want to thank you for all the help we've gotten from the Federal Government it's been tremendous and for your words. You are right, our Nation is united as never before, and we will triumph over this evil with your leadership and your inspiration. And I also have to congratulate the mayor for the tremendous effort he has made. Mr. President, you would be proud of the leadership and the cooperation we've seen here. The city has taken the lead. Your people have been enormously supportive, and we're very grateful. President Bush. Well, thanks, George and Rudy thank you all. I know you've put in a request, and I've directed the Attorney General to expedite any payments of benefits for those fallen public safety officers to their families, any benefits to their families. And the Attorney General, as I understand it, will be making a formal announcement of your request today. I told Allbaugh, anything anything it takes to help New York. I have been in touch with the Congress they are expediting a supplemental. We've worked in great cooperation with Members of the Congress in both political parties. So just keep in touch. I know you will. This isn't the first time we've talked, and I really appreciate the fact that you all are in charge, and I know the citizens of New York and the tristate area, people of New Jersey and Connecticut are appreciative as well. Mayor Giuliani. Mr. President, the uniformed officers, the police, the fire, the emergency services officers, their families will really appreciate this. We're going to sustain a tremendous loss of our bravest and our best people, and the relief that you're now making available to the families is going to mean a lot to them. They're going to be able to think about the fact that their children are going to be taken care of, that they're going to be able to go to college, that they're going to be able to carry on. So I can't express to you how appreciative we are of your acting so swiftly. And also, on that terrible day when our city was being attacked, you were in immediate communication with us, Mr. President, and helped to secure the city. And the work you've done for us, we all eternally appreciate. You've been a terrific leader, and we're taking direction from you, and we're following your example. You've done a terrific job, Mr. President. President Bush. Well, thanks, Rudy, and thanks, George. Let me make it clear to you all as my close friends that my mindset is this One, I weep and mourn with America. I'm going to a hospital right after this to comfort families. I wish I could comfort every single family whose lives have been affected. But make no mistake about it, my resolve is steady and strong about winning this war that has been declared on America. It's a new kind of war. And I understand it's a new kind of war. And this Government will adjust. And this Government will call others to join us, to make sure this act these acts the people who conducted these acts and those who harbor them are held accountable for their actions. Make no mistake. And as we do so, I urge I know I don't need to tell you all this, but our Nation must be mindful that there are thousands of Arab Americans who live in New York City who love their flag just as much as the three of us do. And we must be mindful that as we seek to win the war, that we treat Arab Americans and Muslims with the respect they deserve. I know that is your attitudes as well it's certainly the attitude of this Government, that we should not hold one who is a Muslim responsible for an act of terror. We will hold those who are responsible for the terrorist acts accountable and those who harbor them. You'll see and I look forward to visiting with you in person tomorrow about the resolve of this Government. And so I thank you very much for your leadership on the ground. I wish I was visiting under better circumstances. But it will be a chance for all three of us to thank and hug and cry with the citizens of your good area. Mayor Giuliani. Thank you very much, Mr. President. We really appreciate this very much. President Bush. We'll see you tomorrow. Governor Pataki. Mr. President, we're looking forward to your visit. It will inspire us all. And we will be with you when the United States takes firm and appropriate action to those who conducted this evil. President Bush. Thank you all very much. See you tomorrow. Governor Pataki. Thank you. Mayor Giuliani. Thank you, Mr. President. President Bush. God bless. Safety of Air Travel Q. Mr. President, is it safe to fly? And specifically, would you want a close member of your family to get on a commercial air flight today? President Bush. We have taken every precaution to make sure that it is safe to fly in America. There is beefed up security at our airports. There is increased presence on the airplanes. Yes, I would if a family member asked whether they should fly, I'd say yes. Response to September 11 Terrorist Attacks Q. Mr. President, how close are you, sir, to finding out, to nailing down who is responsible for these acts? And what kind of international coalition are you trying to build? Is it similar to the one your father built for the Persian Gulf war? President Bush. First, let me condition the press this way. Any sources and methods of intelligence will remain guarded and secret. My administration will not talk about how we gather intelligence, if we gather intelligence, and what the intelligence says. That's for the protection of the American people. It is important, as we battle this enemy, to conduct ourselves that way. Secondly, I've been on the phone this morning, just like I was yesterday and will be on this afternoon, on the phone with leaders from around the world who express their solidarity with this Nation's intention to rout out and to whip terrorism. They understand, fully understand that an act of war was declared on the United States of America. They understand, as well, that that act could have as easily been declared on them, that these people can't stand freedom they hate our values they hate what America stands for. Many of the leaders understand it could have easily have happened to them. Secondly, they understand that, unlike previous war, this enemy likes to hide. They heard my call loud and clear, to those who feel like they can provide safe harbor for the terrorists, that we will hold them responsible as well. And they join me in understanding not only the concept of the enemy but that the enemy is a different type of enemy. They join me also in solidarity about holding those who fund them, who harbor them, who encourage them responsible for their activities. I'm pleased with the outpouring of support Jiang Zemin Vladimir Putin had a great visit this morning with His Royal Highness Prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. I will continue to stay on the phone. And there is universal support for the American people, sadness in their voice but understanding that we have just seen the first war of the 21st century. And there is universal approval of the statements I have made, and I am confident there will be universal approval of the actions this Government takes. Pakistan and Afghanistan Q. Mr. President, if this is a different kind of war, it might require, perhaps, a different kind of coalition. Many people believe that for a real war on terrorism to work, you'll need cooperation from Governments that haven't necessarily done so in the past, specifically Pakistan and Afghanistan. Have you made any progress on that front, and do you have a message for those President Bush. I would refer you to the statements that the Pakistani leader gave about his I don't have the exact words in front of me but his willingness to work with the United States. And I appreciate that statement, and now we'll just find out what that means, won't we? We will give the Pakistani Government a chance to cooperate and to participate as we hunt down those people who committed this unbelievable, despicable act on America. Intelligence Gathering Congressional Support Q. Mr. President, how confident are you that Usama bin Ladin is behind these attacks? Do you know what his whereabouts are? And secondly, what kind of support are you looking for from Congress, in terms of your willingness to act? President Bush. We are we will not discuss intelligence matters, how we gather intelligence, and what we know about anybody. When our Government acts, you'll be informed. Secondly, I am we had a great meeting yesterday here in the Cabinet Room with leadership of the House and the Senate. I was touched by their response, their encouragement, and their willingness to work together. And I would be very pleased to see a strong resolution come out of Congress supporting the administration and what we intend to do, and we're working closely with Congress. Secondly, progress is being made on a supplemental. I thought that was very swift action, and I'm most appreciative, again, of Senator Daschle and Representative Gephardt, as well as my Republican colleagues, for really showing solidarity again and uniting the Nation. Now is the time for the country to be united. You know, through the tears of sadness I see an opportunity. Make no mistake about it, this Nation is sad, but we're also tough and resolute. And now is an opportunity to do generations a favor by coming together and whipping terrorism, hunting it down, finding it, and holding them accountable. The Nation must understand, this is now the focus of my administration. We will very much engage in domestic policy, of course. I look forward to working with Congress on a variety of issues. But now that war has been declared on us, we will lead the world to victory, to victory. Air Force One Q. Mr. President, what is your understanding of the threat to Air Force One? And do you believe that the terrorists attempted to assassinate you, sir? President Bush. I will not discuss the intelligence that our country has gathered. Q. Do you believe they tried to assassinate you? President Bush. I believe I took the I know I don't believe I know I took the appropriate actions as the Commander in Chief, to be in a position to be able to make the decisions necessary for our Government to handle the crisis. You didn't hear the end of the phone call with the mayor and George Pataki, both of whom thanked me for the fact that we were immediately on the phone with them from Air Force One, and our Government responded quickly. Day of Prayer Q. About the prayer day tomorrow, Mr. President. Could you give us a sense as to what kind of prayers you are thinking and where your heart is, for yourself, as you President Bush. Well, I don't think about myself right now. I think about the families, the children. I am a loving guy, and I am also someone, however, who has got a job to do, and I intend to do it. And this is a terrible moment. But this country will not relent until we have saved ourselves and others from the terrible tragedy that came upon America. September 13, 2001 We have just seen some really brave men and women. We met with the people who work for our Government, that work inside the building. We met with their families. This is a great hospital. The doctors and nurses are not only accomplished, they're loving people. There's a wonderful spirit up on the floor that we went to. We told them that our country is praying for each and every one there, praying for their families. Some of the folks could talk, and they described the horror of the incident, the moment. They talked about escaping, going through fire, crawling through debris. It was clear that they were fighting for their survival then, and like every patient up there, they're still fighting for survival. And it was just a sobering moment for Laura and me. But we again thank the hospital, the docs, the nurses and, of course, again tell the families that the Nation prays for those who have been injured by this unbelievable act of terror. Thank you all. September 12, 2001 The Secretary and I first of all, I must tell you I am overwhelmed by the devastation. I am so grateful for the people who are working here. We're here to say thanks to not only the workers on this site but the workers who are doing the same work in New York City. I want to say thanks to the folks who have given blood to the Red Cross. I want to say thanks for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who pray for the victims and their families. Secretary Rumsfeld told me, when I talked to him, that he felt the blast shake the Pentagon even though he was on the other side of the building, the building rocked. And now I know why. Coming here makes me sad, on the one hand it also makes me angry. Our country will, however, not be cowed by terrorists, by people who don't share the same values we share, by people who are willing to destroy people's lives because we embrace freedom. The Nation mourns, but our Government will go on the country will function. We are on high alert for possible activity. But coming here confirms what the Secretary and I both know, that this is a great nation. People here working hard prove it people out here working their hearts out to answer families' questions, to remove the rubble and debris from this office. I want to thank everybody not only on this site but all across America for responding so generously, so kindly, in their prayers, in their contributions of love and their willingness to help in any way they can. September 12, 2001 I have just completed a meeting with our national security team, and we have received the latest intelligence updates. The deliberate and deadly attacks which were carried out yesterday against our country were more than acts of terror. They were acts of war. This will require our country to unite in steadfast determination and resolve. Freedom and democracy are under attack. The American people need to know we're facing a different enemy than we have ever faced. This enemy hides in shadows and has no regard for human life. This is an enemy who preys on innocent and unsuspecting people, then runs for cover. But it won't be able to run for cover forever. This is an enemy that tries to hide, but it won't be able to hide forever. This is an enemy that thinks its harbors are safe, but they won't be safe forever. This enemy attacked not just our people but all freedom loving people everywhere in the world. The United States of America will use all our resources to conquer this enemy. We will rally the world. We will be patient we will be focused and we will be steadfast in our determination. This battle will take time and resolve. But make no mistake about it We will win. The Federal Government and all our agencies are conducting business, but it is not business as usual. We are operating on heightened security alert. America is going forward, and as we do so, we must remain keenly aware of the threats to our country. Those in authority should take appropriate precautions to protect our citizens. But we will not allow this enemy to win the war by changing our way of life or restricting our freedoms. This morning I am sending to Congress a request for emergency funding authority so that we are prepared to spend whatever it takes to rescue victims, to help the citizens of New York City and Washington, DC, respond to this tragedy, and to protect our national security. I want to thank the Members of Congress for their unity and support. America is united. The freedom loving nations of the world stand by our side. This will be a monumental struggle of good versus evil, but good will prevail. Thank you very much. September 11, 2001 Good evening. Today our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices secretaries, business men and women, military and Federal workers, moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror. The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings, fires burning, huge structures collapsing have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness, and a quiet, unyielding anger. These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our Nation into chaos and retreat, but they have failed. Our country is strong. A great people has been moved to defend a great nation. Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. America was targeted for attack because we're the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining. Today our Nation saw evil, the very worst of human nature. And we responded with the best of America, with the daring of our rescueworkers, with the caring for strangers and neighbors who came to give blood and help in any way they could. See APP Note. Immediately following the first attack, I implemented our Government's emergency response plans. Our military is powerful, and it's prepared. Our emergency teams are working in New York City and Washington, DC, to help with local rescue efforts. Our first priority is to get help to those who have been injured and to take every precaution to protect our citizens at home and around the world from further attacks. The functions of our Government continue without interruption. Federal agencies in Washington which had to be evacuated today are reopening for essential personnel tonight and will be open for business tomorrow. Our financial institutions remain strong, and the American economy will be open for business as well. The search is underway for those who are behind these evil acts. I've directed the full resources of our intelligence and law enforcement communities to find those responsible and to bring them to justice. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed these acts and those who harbor them. I appreciate so very much the Members of Congress who have joined me in strongly condemning these attacks. And on behalf of the American people, I thank the many world leaders who have called to offer their condolences and assistance. America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism. Tonight I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us, spoken through the ages in Psalm 23 "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me." This is a day when all Americans from every walk of life unite in our resolve for justice and peace. America has stood down enemies before, and we will do so this time. None of us will ever forget this day. Yet, we go forward to defend freedom and all that is good and just in our world. Thank you. Good night, and God bless America. September 11, 2001 Freedom, itself, was attacked this morning by a faceless coward, and freedom will be defended. I want to reassure the American people that the full resources of the Federal Government are working to assist local authorities to save lives and to help the victims of these attacks. Make no mistake The United States will hunt down and punish those responsible for these cowardly acts. I've been in regular contact with the Vice President, the Secretary of Defense, the national security team, and my Cabinet. We have taken all appropriate security precautions to protect the American people. Our military at home and around the world is on high alert status, and we have taken the necessary security precautions to continue the functions of your Government. We have been in touch with the leaders of Congress and with world leaders to assure them that we will do whatever is necessary to protect America and Americans. I ask the American people to join me in saying a thanks for all the folks who have been fighting hard to rescue our fellow citizens and to join me in saying a prayer for the victims and their families. The resolve of our great Nation is being tested. But make no mistake We will show the world that we will pass this test. God bless. September 11, 2001 Ladies and gentlemen, this is a difficult moment for America. I, unfortunately, will be going back to Washington after my remarks. Secretary Rod Paige and the Lieutenant Governor will take the podium and discuss education. I do want to thank the folks here at Booker Elementary School for their hospitality. Today we've had a national tragedy. Two airplanes have crashed into the World Trade Center in an apparent terrorist attack on our country. I have spoken to the Vice President, to the Governor of New York, to the Director of the FBI and have ordered that the full resources of the Federal Government go to help the victims and their families and to conduct a full scale investigation to hunt down and to find those folks who committed this act. Terrorism against our Nation will not stand. And now if you would join me in a moment of silence. A moment of silence was observed. May God bless the victims, their families, and America. Thank you very much.